OGDEN i
 
 A REPRINT 
 
 of his 
 
 As put forth in 1623 
 
 P/RT II CONTAINING 
 
 THE HISTORIES 
 
 Printed for Lion^ Booth 307 Regent Street 1863
 
 LON'DON: 
 Printed by jf. Strangeways and H. . Wald 
 Leicefter Square. 
 
 28 Caftle Street,
 
 Stack 
 Annex 
 
 PR 
 27SI 
 A I*? 
 
 SHAKESPEARE; 
 
 A REPRINT OF THE FAMOUS FOLIO OF 1623." 
 
 y. 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 "A reprint of the firft Folio, not free from inaccuracies, was publifhed in 1807. A fecond 
 reprint is now in courfe of publication by Mr. Lionel Booth. The firft part, containing the Comedies, 
 has already appeared. It is probably the moft correft reprint ever iffued." 
 
 The Cambridge Edition of Sbakefpeare, vol. i. Preface, p. xxvi. 
 
 AMONG the many commendations beftowed on this Reprint of the Firft Edition of 
 Shakefpeare, none has occafioned fo much fatisfaHon as the above, becaufe, from 
 the very nature of the labours of the learned Editors, it bears certain evidence that the 
 principal object aimed at in the reproduction accuracy has been duly tefted. 
 
 At the commencement of the undertaking, it was thought that a Reprint of the 
 moft important edition of Shakefpeare, unlefs- attended with that care which could alone 
 fecure thorough identity with the Original, had better remain unattempted ; indeed, 
 without extreme caution being devoted to it, the moft likely refult would be an increafe 
 to the perplexities of Shakefpearian criticifm whereas, to put forth a book, the cor- 
 re&nefs of which might in every way be depended on, could not fail to be an acceptable 
 aid to Shakefpearian ftudies. 
 
 That the effort has been ujccefsful in refpedt to Part I., now nearly two years in 
 circulation, is certified by the jfacT: that not a fingle queftion of its accuracy has been 
 encountered, which has not proved to be an error or mifapprehenfion of the queftioner.
 
 ( 4 ) 
 
 Yet at no time has this fat occafioned an overweening confidence ; and the anxious 
 endeavour to fecure thorough correhiefs for Part I. has been continued in the production 
 of the prefent portion, and fhall be to the completion of the work. 
 
 As the concluding paragraph of the Advertifement to Part I. fet forth the defign 
 with which this Reprint was begun namely, that it fhould, as far as poffible, be 
 " one in femblance " with the Original, but more efpecially, in the important matter of 
 contents, "one and the felf-fame thing" that paragraph is now repeated: "The 
 chances of error in the paffing of an elaborate work through the prefs are multifarious 
 occafionally their origin is moft myfterious and unaccountable ; experience, not lefs 
 than inclination, precludes the leaft pretenfion to infallibility, and though not fearing the 
 complaints made againft the laft reprint of this book, they are not out of memory; 
 therefore, the communication of any the moft trifling departure from the Original 
 which may be difcovered will be moft thankfully acknowledged, and the required 
 corre&ion effected by a cancel." 
 
 307 REGENT STREET, W. 
 
 Oftober \yb, 1863.
 
 Great Homer's birth fev'n rival cities claim, 
 
 Too mighty fuch monopoly of fame ; 
 
 Yet not to birth alone did Homer owe 
 
 His wond'rous worth ; what Egypt could beftow, 
 
 With all the fchools of Greece and Aria join'd, 
 
 Enlarg'd the immenfe expanfion of his mind : 
 
 Nor yet unrivaFd the Afeonian ftrain ; 
 
 The Britifh Eagle* and the Mantuan Swan 
 
 Tow'r equal heights. But, happier Stratford, thou 
 
 With incontefted laurels deck thy brow ; 
 
 Thy bard was thine unfcbooPd^ and from thee brought 
 
 More than all Egypt, Greece, or Aria taught ; 
 
 Not Homer's felf fuch matchlefs laurels won, 
 
 The Greek has rivals, but thy Shakefpeare none. 
 
 T. SEWARD, 
 
 * Milton.
 
 SHAKESPEARE. 
 
 COLLATION OF THE EDITION OF 1623. 
 
 (Continued!) 
 
 THE HISTORIES. 
 
 The Collation is given with each Part, to prevent the reproduction of any peculiarity 
 of the Original Work being mi/taken for a defett. 
 
 King John pages I to 22. 
 
 Richard the Second pages 23 to 45 (in fome copies page 37 is mifprinted 39). 
 
 Henry the Fourth, Part I. pages 46 to 73 (pages 47, 48, are omitted). 
 
 Henry the Fourth, Part II. pages 74 to 100, with a leaf containing the " EPILOGVE," 
 and, on its reverfe, " THE ACTORS NAMES" (pages 89, 90, are mifprinted 
 91, 92). 
 
 Henry the Fift pages 69 to 95 (as will be perceived, the pagination of this portion of 
 the work, 69 to 100, has been repeated). 
 
 Henry the Sixt, Part I. pages 96 to 119. 
 
 Henry the Sixt, Part II. pages 120 to 146. 
 
 Henry
 
 Henry the Sixt, Part III. pages 147 to 172 (pages 165, 166 are mifprinted 167, 168). 
 
 Richard the Third pages 173 to 204. 
 
 Henry the Eight pages 205 to 232 (page 216 is mifprinted 218). 
 
 There are flight variations in the head-lines of Henry the Fourth, Part I. page 57, and of 
 Henry the Sixt, Part III. pages 153 to 172; thefe variations do not exift in the 
 Second Edition. 
 
 * # * This Collation will be completed in Part III. 
 
 As copies of the Original are known to vary, any fuch variations or peculiarities, not noticed 
 above, being communicated will greatly oblige ; alfo any information that may tend to render 
 thoroughly complete the collation of the whole work. 
 
 It will be obferved that this Reprint has a diftinft pagination, alfo a diftinft fet of fignatures, 
 in fours j both, to facilitate reference, will be continuous throughout the volume. It may be as 
 well to remark to prevent the chance of proofs of care being taken rather to indicate the lack 
 of that eflential that, wherever type may be feen out of gear, in any way defective or irregular, 
 all fuch " typographical phenomena," as Mr. Lettfom has aptly termed thofe charafteriftics of 
 the precious old book, have been reproduced in accordance with the prefcribed plan " in fetting 
 forth" No departure from the Original.
 
 The life anddeath of King lohn. 
 
 Affius Primus , Sccena 
 
 Enter King lohn, Queene Elinor, Pembroke, Effex, and Sa- 
 lisbury, ivitb the Cbattylion of France. 
 
 King lohn. 
 
 Ow fay Chatillion, what would France with vs ? 
 Chat. Thus (after greeting )fpeakes the King 
 
 of France, 
 
 In my behauiour to the Maiefty, 
 The borrowed Maiefty of England heere. 
 
 Slea. A ftrange beginning : borrowed Maiefty ? 
 
 K.Iohn. Silence fgood mother) heare the Embaffie. 
 
 Chat. Philip of France, in right and true behalfe 
 Of thy deceafed brother, Geffreyes fonne, 
 Arthur Plantaginet, laies moft lawfull claime 
 To this faire lland,and the Territories : 
 To Ireland, Poyffiers, Amove, Torayne, Maine, 
 Defiring thee to lay afide the fword 
 Which fwaies vfurpingly thefe feuerall titles, 
 And put the fame into yong Arthurs hand , 
 Thy Nephew, and right royall Soueraigne. 
 
 K.Iohn. What followes if we difallow of this? 
 
 Chat . The proud controle of fierce and bloudy warre, 
 To inforce thefe rights, fo forcibly with-held, 
 
 K.Io. Heere haue we war for war,& bloud for bloud, 
 Controlement for controlement: fo anfwer France. 
 
 Chat. Then take my Kings defiance from my mouth, 
 The fartheft limit of my Embaffie. 
 
 K.Iohn. Beare mine to him, and fo depart in peace, 
 Be thou as lightning in the eies of France; 
 For ere thou canft report, I will be there : 
 The thunder of my Cannon fliall be heard. 
 So hence ibe thou the trumpet of our wrath, 
 And fullen prefage of your owne decay : 
 An honourable condudl let him haue, 
 Pembroke looke too't : farewell Chattillion. 
 
 Exit Chat, and fern. 
 
 Ele. What now my fonne, haue I not euer faid 
 How that ambitious Conitance would not ceafe 
 Till fhe had kindled France and all the world, 
 Vpon the right and party of her fonne. 
 This might haue beene preuented,and made whole 
 With very eafie arguments of loue, 
 Which now the mannage of two kingdomes muft 
 With fearefull bloudy ifiue arbitrate. 
 
 K.Iohn. Our ftrong poiTefllon, and our right for vs. 
 
 Eli. Your ftrong pofiefsio much more then your right, 
 Or elfe it muft go wrong with you and me, 
 So much my confcience whifpers in your eare, 
 
 305 
 
 Which none but heauen, and you, and I, fliall heare. 
 Snter a Sherijfe. 
 
 EJJex. My Liege, here is the ftrangeft controuerfie 
 Come from the Country to be iudg'd by you 
 That ere I heard : fhall I produce the men ? 
 
 K. lohn. Let them approach : 
 Our Abbies and our Priories fhall pay 
 This expeditious charge : what men are you ? 
 Enter Robert Faulconbridge,andfbUip. 
 
 Philip. Your faithful! fubiecl, I a gentleman, 
 Borne in Northamptonshire, and eldeft fonne 
 As I fuppofe, to Robert Faulconbridge , 
 A Souldier by the Honor-giuing-hand 
 Of fyrdelion, Knighted in the field. 
 
 K.Iohn. What art thou ? 
 
 Robert. The fon and heire to that fame Faulconbridge. 
 
 K.Iobn. Is that the elder, and art thou the heyre ? 
 You came not of one mother then it feemes. 
 
 Philip. Moft certain of one mother, mighty King, 
 That is well knowne,and as I thinke one father : 
 But for the cerraine knowledge of that truth, 
 I put you o're to heauen, and to my mother ; 
 Of that I doubr,as all mens children may. 
 
 Eli. Out on thee rude man, y doft fhame thy mother, 
 And wound her honor with this diffidence. 
 
 Phil. I Madame ? No,I haue no reafon for it, 
 That is my brothers plea, and none of mine, 
 The which if he can proue, a pops me out, 
 At leaft from faire fiue hundred pound a yeere : 
 Heauen guard my mothers honor, and my Land. 
 
 K.Iohn. A good blunt fellow: why being yonger born 
 Doth he lay claime to thine inheritance ? 
 
 Thil. I know not why, except to get the land : 
 But once he flanderd me with baftardy : 
 But where I be as true begot or no, 
 That ftill I lay vpon my mothers head, 
 But that I am as well begot my Liege 
 (Faire fall the bones that tooke the paines for me) 
 Compare our faces, and be Judge your felfe 
 If old Sir Robert did beget vs both, 
 And were our father, and this fonne like him : 
 
 old fir 'Robert Father, on my knee 
 
 1 giue heauen thankes I was not like to thee. 
 K.Iobn.Why what a mad-cap hath heauen lent vs here? 
 Elen. He hath a tricke of Cordelions face, 
 
 The accent of his tongue affecleth him : 
 Doe you not read fome tokens of my fonne 
 In the large compofition of this man ? 
 
 a K.Ioh n
 
 The life and death of^ingjohn. 
 
 K.Iobn. Mine eye hath well examined his parts, 
 And findes them perfedl Richard : firra fpeake, 
 What doth moue you to claime your brothers land. 
 
 Phi/if. Becaufe he hath a half-face like my father f 
 With halfe that face would he haue all my land , 
 A halfe-fac'd groat, flue hundred pound a yeere? 
 
 Rob. My gracious Liege, when that my father liu'd, 
 Your brother did imploy my father much. 
 
 Phil. Well fir, by this you cannot get my land, 
 Your tale muft be how he employ'd my mother. 
 
 Rob. And once difpatch'd him in an Embattle 
 To Germany, there with the Emperor 
 To treat of high affaires touching that time : 
 Th'aduantage of his abfence tooke the King, 
 And in the meane time foiourn'd at my fathers ; 
 Where how he did preuaile,! fliame to fpeake : 
 But truth is truth, large lengths of feas and fliores 
 Betweene my father, and my mother lay, 
 As I haue heard my father fpeake himfelfe 
 When this fame lufty gentleman was got : 
 Vpon his death. bed he by will bequeath'd 
 His lands to me, and tooke it on his death 
 That this my mothers fonne was none of his; 
 And if he were, he came into the world 
 Full fourteene weekes before the courfe of time : 
 Then good my Liedge let me haue what is mine, 
 My fathers land, as was my fathers will. 
 
 K.Iobn. Sirra,your brother is Legitimate, 
 Your fathers wife did after wedlocke beare him : 
 And if ftie did play falfe, the fault was hers , 
 Which fault lyes on the hazards of all husbands 
 That marry wiues : tell me, how if my brother 
 Who as you fay, tooke paines to get this fonne , 
 Had of your father claim'd this fonne for his, 
 Infooth,good friend, your father might haue kept 
 This Calfe, bred from his Cow from all the world : 
 Infooth he might: then if he were my brothers, 
 My brother might not claime him, nor your father 
 Being none of his, refufe him : this concludes, 
 My mothers fonne did get your fathers heyre, 
 Your fathers heyre muft haue your fathers land. 
 
 Rob. Shal then my fathers Will be of no force, 
 To difpoflefle that childe which is not his. 
 
 Phil. Of no more force to difpoffefle me fir, 
 Then was his will to get me, as I think. 
 
 Eli. Whether hadft thou rather be a Faulconbrldge , 
 And like thy brother to enioy thy land : 
 Or the reputed fonne of Cordelion, 
 Lord of thy prefence,and no land befide. 
 
 Baft. Madam, and if my brother had my fliape 
 And I had his, fir Roberts his like him , 
 And if my legs were two fuch riding rods, 
 My armes.fuch eele-skins ftuft, my face fo thin, 
 That in mine eare I durft not fticke a rofe, 
 Left men fliould fay,looke where three farthings goes, 
 And to his fliape were heyre to all this land, 
 Would I might neuer ftirre from off this place , 
 I would giue it euery foot to haue this face : 
 It would not be fir nobbe in any cafe. 
 
 Elinor. I like thee well: wilt thou forfake thy fortune, 
 Bequeath thy land to him, and follow me ? 
 I am a Souldier,and now bound to France. 
 
 Baft. Brother, take you my land, He take my chance; 
 Your face hath got fiue hundred pound a yeere, 
 Yet fell your face for fiue pence and 'tis deere : 
 Madam, lie follow you vnto the death. 
 
 Elinor. Nay, I would haue you go before me thither. 
 
 'Baft. Our Country manners giue our betters way. 
 
 K.Iobn. What is thy name? 
 
 Baft, fhilip my Liege, fo is my name begun, 
 Philip, good old Sir Roberts wiues eldeft fonne. 
 
 K.Iobn. From henceforth beare his name 
 Whofe forme thou beareft : 
 Kneele thou downe Philip, but rife more great, 
 Arife Sir Richard, and Plantagenet. 
 
 Baft. Brother by th'mothers fide, giue me your hand, 
 My father gaue me honor, yours gaue land : 
 Now blefied be the houre by night or day 
 When I was got, Sir Robert was away. 
 
 Ele. The very fpirit of Plantaginet : 
 I am thy grandame Rjcbard, call me fo. 
 
 Baft. Madam by chance, but not by truth, what tho y 
 Something about a little from the right, 
 In at the window, or elfe ore the hatch : 
 Who dares not ftirre by day,muft walke by night, 
 And haue is haue, how euer men doe catch : 
 Neere or farre off, well wonne is ftill well fliot, 
 And I am I, how ere I was begot. 
 
 K.Iobn. Goe,Faulconbridge,novt haft thou thy defire, 
 A landleffe Knight,makes thee a landed Squire : 
 Come Madam, and come Richard, we muft fpeed 
 For France, for France, for it is more then need. 
 
 'Baft. Brother adieu, good fortune come to thee, 
 For thou waft got i'th way of honefty. 
 
 Exeunt all but baftard. 
 
 Baft. A foot of Honor better then I was, 
 But many a many foot of Land the worfe. 
 Well, now can I make any loane a Lady, 
 Good den Sir Richard, Godamercy fellow, 
 And if his name be Cfeorge, He call him Pettr; 
 For new made honor doth forget mens names : 
 'Tis two refpedliue, and too fociable 
 For your conuerfion, now your traueller, 
 Hee and his tooth-picke at my worfliips meffe, 
 And when my knightly ftomacke is fuffis'd, 
 Why then I fucke my teeth, and catechize 
 My picked man of Countries : my deare fir, 
 Thus leaning on mine elbow I begin , 
 I fliall befeech you ; that is queftion now, 
 And then comes anfwer like an Abfey booke : 
 O fir, fayes anfwer, at your beft command , 
 At your employment, at your feruice fir : 
 No fir, faies queftion, j fweet fir at yours, 
 And fo ere anfwer knowes what queftion would, 
 Sauing in Dialogue of Complement, 
 And talking of the Alpes and Appenines, 
 The Perennean and the riuer Poe, 
 It drawes toward fupper in conclusion fo. 
 But this is worfliipfull fociety, 
 And fits the mounting fpirit like my felfe j 
 For he is but a baftard to the time 
 That doth not fmoake of obferuation, 
 And fo am I whether I fmacke or no : 
 And not alone in habit and deuice, 
 Exterior forme, outward accoutrement; 
 But from the inward motion to deliuer 
 Sweet, fweet, fweet poyfon for the ages tooth , 
 Which though I will not practice to deceiue, 
 Yet to auoid deceit I meane to learne; 
 For it {hall ftrew the footfteps of my rifing : 
 But who comes in fuch hafte in riding robes? 
 
 What
 
 The life and death ofJQngJohn. 
 
 What woman poft is this? hath fhe no husband 
 That will take paines to blow a home before her? 
 
 me, 'tis my mother : how now good Lady, 
 What brings you heere to Court fo haftilyf 
 
 Enter Lady Faulconbridge and lames Gurney. 
 
 Lady. Where is that flaue thy brother ? where is he ? 
 That holds in chafe mine honour vp and downe. 
 
 'Baft. My brother Robert, old Sir Roberts fonne: 
 Co/brand the Gyant,that fame mighty man, 
 Is it Sir Roberts fonne that you feeke fo ? 
 
 Lady. Sir Roberts fonne, I thou vnreuerend boy, 
 Sir Roberts fonne ? why fcorn'ft thou at fir Robert ? 
 He is Sir Roberts fonne, and fo art thou. 
 
 Baft. lames Gournie,-w\lt thou giue vs leaue a while? 
 
 Gour. Good leaue good Philip. 
 
 Baft. Philip, fparrow, lames, 
 There's toyes abroad, anon He tell thee more. 
 
 Exit lames. 
 
 Madam, I was not old Sir Roberts fonne , 
 Sir Robert might haue eat his part in me 
 Vpon good Friday, and nere broke his fa ft: 
 Sir Robert could doe well,marrie to confefTe 
 Could get me fir Robert could not doe it ; 
 We know his handy-worke, therefore good mother 
 To whom am I beholding for thefe limmes ? 
 Sir l^obert neuer holpe to make this legge. 
 
 Lady. Haft thou confpired with thy brother too, 
 That for thine owne gaine fhouldft defend mine honor ? 
 What meanes this fcorne, thou moft vntoward knaue ? 
 
 Bail. Knight, knight good mother, Bafilifco-like: 
 What, I am dub'd, I haue it on my fhoulder : 
 But mother, I am not Sir Roberts fonne, 
 
 1 haue difclaim'd Sir Robert and my land, 
 Legitimation, name, and all is gone ; 
 
 Then good my mother, let me know my father, 
 Some proper man I hope, who was it mother? 
 
 Lady, Haft thou denied thy felfe a Faulconbridge ? 
 
 Baft. As faithfully as I denie the deuill. 
 
 Lady. King Richard Cordelion was thy father, 
 By long and vehement fuit I was feduc'd 
 To make roome for him in my husbands bed : 
 Heauen lay not my transgreflion to my charge , 
 That art the iffue of my deere offence 
 Which was fo ftrongly vrg'd paft my defence. 
 
 'Baft. Now by this light were I to get againe, 
 Madam I would not wifh a better father : 
 Some finnes doe beare their priuiledge on earth, 
 And fo doth yours : your fault, was not your follie, 
 Needs muft you lay your heart at his difpofe, 
 Subletted tribute to commanding loue, 
 Againft whofe furie and vnmatched force, 
 The awlefTe Lion could not wage the fight, 
 Nor keepe his Princely heart from Richards hand : 
 He that perforce robs Lions of their hearts , 
 May eafily winne a womans: aye my mother, 
 With all my heart I thanke thee for my father : 
 Who Hues and dares but fay, thou didft not well 
 When I was got, He fend his foule to hell. 
 Come Lady I will fhew thee to my kinne, 
 And they fhall fay, when Richard me begot, 
 Jf thou hadft fayd him nay, it had beene finne; 
 Who fayes it was, he lyes, I fay twas not. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Secunda. 
 
 Enter before tAngiers, Philip King of France, Lexis ,*Daul- 
 pbin^AnsJria, Conjiance, Arthur. 
 
 Lewis. Before Algiers well met braue Auftria, 
 Arthur that great fore-runner of thy bloud, 
 Richard that rob'd the Lion of his heart, 
 And fought the holy Warres in Paleftine, 
 By this braue Duke came early to his graue: 
 And for amends to his pofleritie , 
 At our importance hether is he come, 
 To fpread his colours boy, in thy behalfe, 
 And to rebuke the vfurpation 
 Of thy vnnaturall Vncle, Englifh John, 
 Embrace him, loue him, giue him welcome hether. 
 
 Artb. God fhall forgiue you Cirdelions death 
 The rather, that you giue his ofF-fpring life , 
 Shadowing their right vnder your wings of warre: 
 I giue you welcome with a powerlefle hand, 
 But with a heart full of vnftained loue, 
 Welcome before the gates of Anglers Duke. 
 
 Levii. A noble boy, who would net doe thee right? 
 
 Auft. Vpon thy cheeke lay I this zelous kifie, 
 As feale to this indenture of my loue: 
 That to my home I will no more returne 
 Till Anglers, and the right thou haft in France, 
 Together with that pale, that white-fac'd fhore, 
 Whofe foot fpurnes backe the Oceans roaring tides, 
 And coopes from other lands her Ilanders, 
 Euen till that Sngland hedg'd in with the maine, 
 That Water- walled Bulwark e,ftill fecure 
 And confident from forreine purpofes, 
 Euen till that vtmoft corner of the Weft 
 Salute thee for her King, till then faire boy 
 Will I not thinke of home, but follow Armes. 
 
 Conft. O take his mothers thanks, a widdows thanks, 
 Till your ftrong hand (hall helpe to giue him ftrength, 
 To make a more requitall to your loue. 
 
 Auft. The peace of heauen is theirs y lift their fwords 
 In fuch a iuft and charitable warre. 
 
 King. Well, then to worke our Cannon fhall be bent 
 Againft the browes of this refifting towne , 
 Call for our cheefeft men of difcipline , 
 To cull the plots of beft aduantages : 
 Wee'll lay before this towne our Royal bones, 
 Wade to the market-place in Frencb-mens bloud, 
 But we will make it fubieft to this boy. 
 
 Con. Stay for an anfwer to your Embaflie, 
 Left vnaduis'd you ftaine your fwords with bloud, 
 My Lord Cbattilion may from England bring 
 That right in peace which heere we vrge in warre , 
 And then we fhall repent each drop of bloud , 
 That hot rafh hafte fo indiredtly fhedde. 
 Snter Cbattilion. 
 
 King. A wonder Lady:lo vpon thy wifh 
 Our MefTenger Cbattilion is arriu'd, 
 What England faies, fay breefely gentle Lord, 
 We coldly paufe for thee, CbatUion fpeake, 
 
 Chat. Then turne your forces from this paltry fiege , 
 And ftirre them vp againft a mightier taske : 
 England impatient of your iuft demands, 
 Hath put himfelfe in Armes, the aduerfe windes 
 
 a 2 Whofe
 
 'The life and death of JQng'John. 
 
 Whofe leifure I haue ftaid, haue giuen him time 
 
 To land his Legions all as foone as I : 
 
 His marches are expedient to this towne , 
 
 His forces ftrong, his Souldiers confident : 
 
 With him along is come the Mother Queene, 
 
 An Ace ftirring him to bloud and ftrife , 
 
 With her her Neece, the Lady Blanch of Spaine , 
 
 With them a Baftard of the Kings deceaft, 
 
 And all th'vnfetled humors of the Land, 
 
 Rafh/mconfiderate, fiery voluntaries, 
 
 With Ladies faces, and fierce Dragons fpleenes , 
 
 Haue fold their fortunes at their natiue homes , 
 
 Bearing their birth-rights proudly on their backs, 
 
 To make a hazard of new fortunes heere : 
 
 In briefe, a brauer choyfe of dauntleffe fpirits 
 
 Then now the Englijh bottomes haue waft o're, 
 
 Did neuer flote vpon the fwelling tide , 
 
 To doe offence and fcathe in Chriftendome : 
 
 The interruption of their churlifh drums 
 
 Cuts off more circumftance, they are at hand, 
 
 Drum beatt. 
 To parlie or to fight, therefore prepare. 
 
 Kin. How much vnlook'd for, is this expedition. 
 
 Auft. By how much vnexpefted, by fo much 
 We muft awake indeuor for defence, 
 For courage mounteth with occafion, 
 Let them be welcome then, we are prepar'd. 
 
 Enter K. of England, Baftard, Queene, 'Blanch, Pembroke, 
 and others. 
 
 K.Iobn. Peace be to France'. If France in peace permit 
 Our iuft and lineall entrance to our owne ; 
 If not, bleede France, and peace afcend to heauen. 
 Whiles we Gods wrathfull agent doe correct 
 Their proud contempt that beats his peace to heauen. 
 
 Fran. Peace be to England, if that warre returne 
 From France to England, there to liue in peace : 
 England we loue, and for that England; fake, 
 With burden of our armor heere we fweat : 
 This toyle of ours fliould be a worke of thine ; 
 But thou from louing England art fo farre, 
 That thou haft vnder-wrought his lawfull King, 
 Cut off the fequence of pofterity, 
 Out-faced Infant State, and done a rape 
 Vpon the maiden vertue of the Crowne : 
 Looke heere vpon thy brother Geffreyes face, 
 Thefe eyes, thefe browes, were moulJed out of his; 
 This little abftraft doth containe that large , 
 Which died in Geffrey.znd the hand of time, 
 Shall draw this breefe into as huge a volume: 
 That Geffrey was thy elder brother borne , 
 And this his fonne, England was Jeffreys right, 
 And this is Geffreyes in the name of God : 
 How comes it then that thou art call'd a King, 
 When liuing blood doth in thefe temples beat 
 Which owe the crowne, that thou ore-maftereft ? 
 
 K.Iobn. From whom haft thou this great commiflion 
 To draw my anfwer from thy Articles? (France, 
 
 Fra. Fro that fupernal ludge that ftirs good thoughts 
 In any beaft of ftrong authoritie, 
 To looke into the blots and ftaines of right, 
 That ludge hath made me guardian to this boy, 
 Vnder whofe warrant I impeach thy wrong, 
 And by whofe helpe I meane to chaftife it. 
 
 K. lobn. Alack thou doft vfurpe authoritie. 
 
 Fran. Excufe it is to beat vfurping downe. 
 
 Queen. Who is it thou doft call vfurper France? 
 
 Conft. Let me make anfwer : thy vfurping fonne. 
 
 Queen. Out infolent,thy baftard fhall be King, 
 That thou maift be a Queen, and checke the world. 
 
 Con. My bed was euer to thy fonne as true 
 As thine was to thy husband, and this boy 
 Liker in feature to his father Geffrey 
 Then thou and Iabn,'m manners being as like, 
 As raine to water, or deuill to his damme ; 
 My boy a baftard f by my foule I thinke 
 His father neuer was fo true begot, 
 It cannot be, and if thou wert his mother. ( ther 
 
 Queen. Theres a good mother boy, that blots thy fa- 
 
 Conft. There's a good grandame boy 
 That would blot thee. 
 
 Auft. Peace. 
 
 'Baft. Heare the Cryer. 
 
 Auft. What the deuill art thou ? 
 
 'Baft. One that wil play the deuill fir with you, 
 And a may catch your hide and you alone: 
 You are the Hare of whom the Prouerb goes 
 Whofe valour plucks dead Lyons by the beard ; 
 He fmoake your skin-coat and I catch you right, 
 Sirra looke too't,yfaith I will, yfaith. 
 
 'Blan. O well did he become that Lyons robe, 
 That did difrobe the Lion of that robe. 
 
 Baft. It lies as fightly on the backe of him 
 As great Alcides fhooes vpon an AfTe: 
 But Afle, lie take that burthen from your backe, 
 Or lay on that fhall make your fhoulders cracke. 
 
 Auft. What cracker is this fame that deafes our eares 
 With this abundance of fuperfluous breath? 
 King Lewii, determine what we fhall doe ftrait. 
 
 Lev. Women & fooles, breake off your conference. 
 King lobn, this is the very fumme of all : 
 England and Ireland, Algiers, Toraine , Maine, 
 In right of Arthur doe I claime of thee : 
 Wilt thou refigne them, and lay downe thy Armes ? 
 
 lobn. My life as foone : I doe defie thee France, 
 Arthur of Brita'me, yeeld thee to my hand, 
 And out of my deere loue lie giue thee more, 
 Then ere the coward hand of France can win j 
 Submit thee boy. 
 
 Queen. Come to thy grandame child. 
 
 Conf. Doe childe,goe to yt grandame childe, 
 Giue grandame kingdome, and it grandame will 
 Giue yt a plum, a cherry, and a figge, 
 There's a good grandame. 
 
 Arthur. Good my mother peace, 
 I would that I were low laid in my graue, 
 I am not worth this coyle that's made for me. (weepes. 
 
 Qu. Mo. His mother fhames him fo , poore boy hee 
 
 C'M. Now fhame vpon you where fhe does or no, 
 His grandames wrongs, and not his mothers fhames 
 Drawes thofe heauen-mouing pearles fro his poor eies, 
 Which heauen fhall take in nature of a fee: 
 I, with thefe Chriftall beads heauen fhall be brib'd 
 To doe him Iuftice,and reuenge on you. 
 
 Q. Thou monftrous flanderer of heauen and earth. 
 
 Con. Thou monftrous Iniurer of heauen and earth, 
 Call not me flanderer, thou and thine vfurpe 
 The Dominations,Royalties, and rights 
 Of this opprefled boy ; this is thy eldeft fonnes fonne, 
 Infortunate in nothing but in thee: 
 
 Thy 
 
 308
 
 The life and death of JQngJohn. 
 
 Thy finnes are vifited in this poore childe, 
 The Canon of the Law is laide on him, 
 Being but the fecond generation 
 Remoued from thy finne-conceiuing wombe. 
 
 lobn. Bedlam haue done. 
 
 Con. I haue but this to fay, 
 That he is not onely plagued for her fin, 
 But God hath made her finne and her, the plague 
 On this remoued iflue, plagued for her, 
 And with her plague her finne: his iniury 
 Her iniurie the Beadle to her finne, 
 All punifh'd in the perfon of this childe, 
 And all for her, a plague vpon her. 
 
 Que. Thou vnaduifed fcold, I can produce 
 A Will, that barres the title of thy fonne. 
 
 Qon. I who doubts that, a Will : a wicked will, 
 A womans will, a cankred Grandams will. 
 
 Fra. Peace Lady, paufe, or be more temperate, 
 It ill befeemes this prefence to cry ayme 
 To thefe ill -tuned repetitions : 
 Some Trumpet fummon hither to the walles 
 Thefe men of Anglers, let vs heare them fpeake," 
 Whofe title they admit, Arthurs or Johns. 
 
 Trumpet founds. 
 Enter a Citizen "upon the walles. 
 
 Cit, Who is it that hath warn'd vs to the walles ? 
 
 Fra. 'Tis France, for England. 
 
 lobn. England for it felfe : 
 You men of Anglers, and my louing fubiedts. 
 
 Fra. You louing men of Anglers, Arthurs fubiedts, 
 Our Trumpet call'd you to this gentle parle. 
 
 lohn. For our aduantage, therefore heare vs firft : 
 Thefe flagges of France that are aduanced heere 
 Before the eye and profpedt of your Towne, 
 Haue hither march'd to your endamagement. 
 The Canons haue their bowels full of wrath, 
 And ready mounted are they to fpit forth 
 Their Iron indignation 'gainft your walles : 
 All preparation for a bloody fiedge 
 And merciles proceeding, by thefe French. 
 Comfort yours Citties eies, your winking gates : 
 And but for our approch, thofe fleeping ftones, 
 That as a wafte doth girdle you about 
 By the compulfion of their Ordinance, 
 By this time from their fixed beds of lime 
 Had bin difhabited, and wide hauocke made 
 For bloody power to rufh vppon your peace. 
 But on the fight of vs your lawfull King, 
 Who painefiilly with much expedient march 
 Haue brought a counter-checke before your gates, 
 To faue vnfcratch'd your Citties threatned cheekes : 
 Behold the French amaz'd vouchfafe a parle, 
 And now indeed of bulletts wrapt in fire 
 To make a Shaking feuer in your walles, 
 They fhoote but calme words, folded vp in fmoake, 
 To make a faithleffe errour in your eares, 
 Which truft accordingly kinde Cittizens, 
 And let vs in. Your King, whofe labour'd fpirits 
 Fore-wearied in this action of fwift fpeede, 
 Craues harbourage within your Citie walles. 
 
 France. When I haue faide, make anfwer to vs both. 
 Loe in this right hand, whofe protection 
 Is moft diuinely vow'd vpon the right 
 Of him it holds, ftands yong Tlantagenet, 
 Sonne to the elder brother of this man, 
 
 309 
 
 And King ore him, and all that he enioyes : 
 
 For this downe-troden equity, we tread 
 
 In warlike march, thefe greenes before your Towne, 
 
 Being no further enemy to you 
 
 Then the conftraint of hofpitable zeale, 
 
 In the releefe of this opprefled childe, 
 
 Religioufly prouokes. Be pleafed then 
 
 To pay that dutie which you truly owe, 
 
 To him that owes it, namely, this yong Prince, 
 
 And then our Armes, like to a muzled Beare, 
 
 Saue in afpect, hath all offence feal'd vp : 
 
 Our Cannons malice vainly fhall be fpent 
 
 Againft th'involuerable clouds of heauen, 
 
 And with a blefTed and vn-vext retyre, 
 
 With vnhack'd fwords, and Helmets all vnbruis'd, 
 
 We will beare home that luftie blood againe, 
 
 Which heere we came to fpout againft your Towne, 
 
 And leaue your children, wiues, and you in peace. 
 
 But if you fondly pafle our proffer' d offer, 
 
 'Tis not the rounder of your old-fac'd walles, 
 
 Can hide you from our meflengers of Warre, 
 
 Though all thefe Englifh, and their difcipline 
 
 Were harbour'd in their rude circumference : 
 
 Then tell vs, Shall your Citie call vs Lord, 
 
 In that behalfe which we haue challenged it? 
 
 Or fhall we giue the fignall to our rage, 
 
 And ftalke in blood to our pofTeffion ? 
 
 Cit. In breefe, we are the King of Englands fubiedts 
 For him, and in his right, we hold this Towne. 
 
 lohn. Acknowledge then the King, and let me in. 
 Cit. That can we not : but he that proues the King 
 To him will we proue loyall, till that time 
 Haue we ramm'd vp our gates againft the world. 
 
 lobn. Doth not the Crowne of England, prooue the 
 
 King? 
 
 And if not that, I bring you WitnefTes 
 Twice fifteene thoufand hearts of Englands breed. 
 
 Baft. Baftards and elfe. 
 
 lohn. To verifie our title with their Hues. 
 
 Fran. As many and as well-borne bloods as thofe. 
 
 'Baft. Some Baftards too. 
 Fran. Stand "in his face to contradict his claime. 
 
 Cit. Till you compound whofe right is worthieft, 
 We for the worthieft hold the right from both. 
 
 lobn. Then God forgiue the finne of all thofe foules, 
 That to their euerlafting refidence, 
 Before the dew of euening fall, fhall fieete 
 In dreadfull triall of our kingdomes King 
 
 Fran. Amen, Amen, mount Cheualiers to Armes. 
 
 'Baft. Saint George that fwindg'd the Dragon, 
 And ere fince fit's on's horfebacke at mine Hofteffe dore 
 Teach vs fome fence. Sirrah, were I at home 
 At your den firrah, with your Lionnefle, 
 I would fet an Oxe-head to your Lyons hide: 
 And make a monfter of you. 
 
 Auft. Peace, no more. 
 
 'Baft. O tremble: for you heare the Lyon rore. 
 
 lohn. Vp higher to the plaine, where we'l fet forth 
 In beft appointment all our Regiments. 
 
 Baft . Speed then to take aduantage of the field. 
 
 Fra. It fhall be fo, and at the other hill 
 Command the reft to ftand, God and our right. Exeunt 
 Heere after excurfions, Enter the Herald of France 
 iitb Trumpets to the gates. 
 
 F. Her. You men of Angiers open wide your gates, 
 And let yong Arthur Duke of Britaine in, 
 
 A a 3 Wh
 
 The life and death oflQngJohn. 
 
 Who by the hand of France, this day hath made 
 Much worke for teares in many an Englifli mother, 
 Whofe fonnes lye fcattered on the bleeding ground : 
 Many a widdowes husband groueling lies, 
 Coldly embracing the difcoloured earrh, 
 And vidtorie with little loffe doth play 
 Vpon the dancing banners of the French, 
 Who are at hand triumphantly difplayed 
 To enter Conquerors, and to proclaime 
 Arthur of Britaine, Englands King, and yours. 
 
 Enter Sr.glijh Herald rtitb Trumpet. 
 E.Har. Reioyce you men of Angier$,nng your bels, 
 King lobn, your king and Englands, doth approach, 
 Commander of this hot malicious day, 
 Their Armours that march'd hence Ib filuer bright, 
 Hither returne all gilt with Frenchmens blood : 
 There (hicke no plume in any Englifli Creft, 
 That is remoued by a ftafte or France ; 
 Our colours do returne in thofe fame hands 
 That did difplay them when we firft marcht forth : 
 And like a iolly troope of Huntfmen come 
 Our luftie Englifli, all with purpled hands, 
 Dide in the dying (laughter of their foes, 
 Open your gates, and giue the Victors way. 
 
 Hubert. Hera Ids, from off our towres we might behold 
 From firft to laft, the on-fet and retyre 
 Of both yonr Armies, whole equality 
 
 By our beft eyes cannot be cenfured : (blowes : 
 
 Blood hath bought blood, and blowes haue anfwerd 
 Strength matcht with ftrength, and power confronted 
 
 power, 
 
 Both are alike, and both alike we like : 
 One muft proue greateft. While they weigh fo euen, 
 We hold our Towne for neither : yet for both. 
 
 Enter the two Kingt with their pervert, 
 atjeuerall doaret, 
 
 lobn. France, haft thou yet more blood to caft away? 
 Say, fliall the currant of our right rome on, 
 Whofe paffage vext with thy impediment, 
 Shall leaue his natiue channel!, and ore-fwell 
 with courfe difturb'd euen thy confining ftiores, 
 Vnlefle thou let his filuer Water, keepe 
 A peacefull progreffe to the Ocean. 
 
 Fra. England thou haft not fau'd one drop of blood 
 In this hot triall more then we of France, 
 Rather loft more. And by this hand I fweare 
 That fwayes the earth this Climate ouer-lookes, 
 Before we will lay downe our iuft-borne Armes, 
 Wee'l put thee downe,'gainft whom thefe Armes wee 
 Or adde a royal 1 number to the dead : (beare, 
 
 Gracing the fcroule that tels of this warres loffe, 
 With (laughter coupled to the name of kings. 
 
 Baft . Ha Maiefty : how high thy glory towres, 
 When the rich blood of kings is fet on fire : 
 Oh now doth death line his dead chaps with fteele, 
 The fwords of fouldiers are his teeth, his phangs, 
 And now he feafts, moufang the flefli of men 
 In vndetermin'd differences of kings. 
 Why ftand thefe royall fronts amazed thus : 
 Cry hauocke kings, backe to the ftained field 
 You equall Potents, fierie kindled fpirits, 
 Then let confufion of one part confirm 
 The others peace : till then, blowes, blood, and death. 
 
 John. Whole party do the Townefmen yet admit, ? 
 
 Fra. Speeke Citizens for England, whofe your king. 
 
 Hub. The king ofngland,when we know the king. 
 
 Fra. Know him in vs, that heere hold vp his right. 
 
 lobn. In Vs, that are our owne great Deputie, 
 And beare poffeflion of our Perfon heere, 
 Lord of our prefence Angiers, and of you. 
 
 Fra. A greater powre then We denies all this, 
 And till it be vndoubted,we do locke 
 Our former fcruple in our ftrong barr'd gates : 
 Kings of our feare, vntill our feares refolu'd 
 Be by fome certaine king, purg'd and depos'd. 
 
 Baft. By heauen, thefe fcroyles of Angiers flout you 
 And ftand fecurely on their battelments, ('kings, 
 
 As in a Theater, whence they gape and point 
 At your induftrious Scenes and adts of death. 
 Your Royall prefences be rul'd by mee, 
 Do like the Mutines of lerufalem, 
 Be friends a-while, and both conioyntly bend 
 Your fharpeft Deeds of malice on this Towne. 
 By Eaft and Weft let France and England mount. 
 Their battering Canon charged to the mouthes, 
 Till their foule-fearing clamours haue braul'd downe 
 The flintie ribbes of this contemptuous Citie, 
 I'de play inceffantly vpon thefe lades, 
 Euen till vnfenced defolation 
 Leaue them as naked as the vulgar ayre : 
 That done, diffeuer your vnited ftrengths, 
 And part your mingled colours once againe, 
 Turne face to face, and bloody point to point: 
 Then in a moment Fortune (hall cull forth 
 Out of one fide her happy Minion, 
 To whom in fauour fhe fliall giue the day, 
 And kiffe him with a glorious victory : 
 How like you this wilde counfell mighty States, 
 Smackes it not fomething of the pollcie. 
 
 lobn. Now by the sky that hangs aboue our heads, 
 I like it well. France, (hall we knit our powres, 
 And lay this Angiers euen with the ground, 
 Then after fight who ftiall be king of it ? 
 
 'Baft. And if thou haft the mettle of a king, 
 Being wrong'd as we are by this peeuifh Towne : 
 Turne thou the mouth of thy Artillerie, 
 As we will ours, againft thefe fawcie walles, 
 And when that we haue dafli'd them to the ground, 
 Why then defie each other, and pell-mell, 
 Make worke vpon our felues,for heauen or hell. 
 
 Fra. Let it be fo : fay, where will you affault ? 
 
 lobn. We from the Weft will fend deftrudlion 
 Into this Cities bofome. 
 
 Aufl. I from the North. 
 
 Fran. Our Thunder from the South, 
 Shall raine their drift of bullets on this Towne. 
 
 'Baft. O prudent difcipline ! From North to South : 
 Auftria and France {hoot in each others mouth. 
 He ftirre them to it : Come, away, away. 
 
 Hub. Heare vs great kings, vouchfafe awhile to ftay 
 And I fliall fliew you peace, and faire-fac'd league : 
 Win you this Citie without ftroke, or wound, 
 Refcue thofe breathing Hues to dye in beds, 
 That heere come facrifices for the field. 
 Perfeuer not, but heare me mighty kings. 
 
 lobn. Speake on with fauour,we are bent to heare. 
 
 Hub. That daughter there of Spaine,the Lady Blanch 
 Is neere to England, looke vpon the yeeres 
 OfLe-cees the Dolphin, and that louely maid. 
 If luftie loue fliould go in queft of beautie, 
 
 Where 
 
 310
 
 The life and death ofJ^Jng "John. 
 
 7 
 
 Where fliould he finde it fairer, then in 'Blanch : 
 
 If zealous loue fliould go in fearch of vertue, 
 
 Where fliould he finde it purer then in Blanch? 
 
 If loue ambitious, fought a match of birth, 
 
 Whofe veines bound richer blood then Lady ^BAzc A? 
 
 Such as flie is, in beautie, vertue, birth, 
 
 Is the yong Dolphin euery way compleat, 
 
 If not compleat of, fay he is not fhee, 
 
 And (he againe wants nothing, to name want, 
 
 If want it be not, that (he is not hee : 
 
 He is the halfe part of a blefied man, 
 
 Left to be finiflied by fuch as fhee, . 
 
 And fhe a faire diuided excellence, 
 
 Whofe fulnefie of perfection lyes in him. 
 
 O two fuch filuer currents when they ioyne 
 
 Do glorifie the bankes that bound them in : 
 
 And two fuch fliores, to two fuch ftreames made one, 
 
 Two fuch controlling bounds fliall you be, kings, 
 
 To thefe two Princes, if you marrie them: 
 
 This Vnion fhall do more then batterie can 
 
 To our faft clofed gates : for at this match, 
 
 With fwifter fpleene then powder can enforce 
 
 The mouth of paffage fhall we fling wide ope, 
 
 And glue you entrance : but without this match, 
 
 The fea enraged is not halfe fo deafe, 
 
 Lyons more confident, Mountaines and rockes 
 
 More free ftom morion, no not death himfelfe 
 
 In mortall furie halfe fo peremptorie, 
 
 As we to keepe this Citie. 
 
 'Bafl. Heeres a flay, 
 
 That fhakes the rotten carkafTe of old death 
 Out of his ragges. Here's a large mouth indeede, 
 That fpits forth death, and mountaines, rockes, and feas, 
 Talkes as familiarly of roaring Lyons, 
 As maids of thirteene do of puppi-dogges. 
 What Cannoneere begot this luftie blood, 
 He fpeakes plaine Cannon fire, and fmoake, and bounce, 
 He giues the baftinado with his tongue : 
 Our eares are cudgel'd, not a word of his 
 But buffets better then a fift of France : 
 Zounds, I was neuer fo bethumpt with words, 
 Since I firft cal'd my brothers father Dad. 
 
 Old Qu. Son, lift to this conjunction, make this match 
 Giue with our Neece a dowrie large enough, 
 For by this knot, thou fhalt fo furely tye 
 Thy now vnfur d affurance to the Crowne, 
 That yon greene boy fhall haue no Sunne to ripe 
 The bloome that promifeth a mightie fruite. 
 I fee a yeelding in the lookes of France : 
 Marke how they whifper, vrge them while their foules 
 Are capeable of this ambition, 
 Leaft zeale now melted by the windie breath 
 Of foft petitions, pittie and remorfe, 
 Coole and congeale againe to what it was. 
 
 Hub. Why anfwer not the double Maiefties, 
 This friendly treatie of our threatned Towne. 
 
 Fra. Speake England fir ft, that hath bin forward firft 
 To fpeake vnto this Cittie : what fay you ? 
 
 lobn.lf that the Dolphin there thy Princely fbnne, 
 Can in this booke of beautie read, I loue : 
 Her Dowrie fhall weigh equall with a Queene : 
 For Anglers, and faire Toraine Maine, Pay filers , 
 And all that we vpon this fide the Sea, 
 (Except this Cittie now by vs befiedg'd) 
 Finde liable to our Crowne and Dignitie, 
 Shall gild her bridall bed and make her rich 
 
 In titles, honors, and promotions, 
 
 As fhe in beautie, education, blood, 
 
 Holdes hand with any PrincefTe of the world. 
 
 Fra. What fai'ft thou boy f looke in the Ladies face, 
 
 Dol. I do my Lord, and in her eie I find 
 A wonder, or a wondrous miracle, 
 The fhadow of my felfe form'd in her eye, 
 Which being but the fhadow of your fonne, 
 Becomes a fonne and makes your fonne a fhadow: 
 I do proteft I neuer lou'd my felfe 
 Till now, infixed I beheld my felfe, 
 Drawne in the flattering table of her eie. 
 
 Whiff ers with Blanch. 
 
 Baft. Drawne in the flattering table of her eie, 
 Hang'd in the frowning wrinkle of her brow, 
 And quarter'd in her heart, hee doth efpie 
 Himfelfe loues traytor, this is pittie now 5 
 That hang'd, and drawne, and quarter'd there fliould be 
 In fuch a loue, fo vile a Lout as he. 
 
 Blan. My vnckles will in this refpect is mine, 
 If he fee ought in you that makes him like, 
 That any thing he fee's which moues his liking, 
 I can with eafe tranfiate it to my will : 
 Or if you will, to fpeake more properly, 
 I will enforce it eaflie to my loue. 
 Further I will not flatter you, my Lord, 
 That all I fee in you is worthie loue, 
 Then this, that nothing do I fee in you, 
 Though churlifh thoughts themfelues fliould bee your 
 
 ludge, 
 That I can finde, fhould merit any hate. 
 
 lobn. What faie thefe yong-ones ? What fay you my 
 Neece ? 
 
 Blan. That fhe is bound in honor ftill to do 
 What you in wifedome ftill vouchfafe to fay. 
 
 lobn. Speake then Prince Dolphin, can you loue this 
 Ladie ? 
 
 Dol. Nay aske me if I can refraine from loue, 
 For I doe loue her moft vnfainedly. 
 
 lobn. Then do I giue TJolqueffen, Toraine, Maine, 
 Poyf}iers,and Anlovn, thefe fiue Prouinces 
 With her to thee, and this addition more, 
 Full thirty thoufand Markes of Englifh coyne : 
 Phillip of France, if thou be pleaf'd withall, 
 Command thy fonne and daughtet to ioyne hands. 
 
 Fra. It likes vs well young Princes : clofe your hands 
 
 Auft . And your lippes too, for I am well aflur'd, 
 That I did fo when I was firft aflur'd. 
 
 Fra. Now Cittizens of Angires ope your gates, 
 Let in that amitie which you haue made, 
 For at Saint Maries Chappell prefently, 
 The rights of marriage fhallbe folemniz'd. 
 Is not the Ladie Con/lance in this trooped 
 I know fhe is not for this match made vp, 
 Her prefence would haue interrupted much. 
 Where is fhe and her fonne, tell me, who knowes ? 
 
 Dol. She is fad and pafsionate at your highnes Tent. 
 
 Fra. And by my faith, this league that we haue made 
 Will giue her fadnefTe very little cure : 
 Brother of England, how may we content 
 This widdow Lady ? In her right we came, 
 Which we God knowes, haue turn d another way, 
 To our owne vantage. 
 
 lobn. We will heale vp all, 
 For wee'l create yong Arthur Duke of Britaine 
 And Earle ofRichmond, and this rich faire Towne 
 
 We
 
 8 
 
 'The life and death offing lohn. 
 
 We make him Lord of. Call the Lady Con/lance, 
 
 Some fpeedy Meflenger bid her repaire 
 
 To our folemnity : 1 truft we fliall , 
 
 (If not fill vp the meafure of her will) 
 
 Yet in fome meafure fatisfie her fo, 
 
 That we {hall flop her exclamation, 
 
 Go we as well as haft will fufter vs, 
 
 To this vnlook'd for vnprepared pompe. Exeunt. 
 
 Baft. Mad world, mad kings, mad competition : 
 lobn to flop Arthurs Title in the whole, 
 Hath willingly departed with a part, 
 And France, whofe armour Confcience buckled on, 
 Whom zeale and charitie brought to the field, 
 As Gods owne fouldier, rounded in the eare, 
 With that fame purpofe-changer, that flye diuel, 
 That Broker, that flill breakes the pate of faith, 
 That dayly breake-vow, he that winnes of all, 
 Of kings, of beggers, old men, yong men, maids, 
 Who hauing no external! thing to loofe, 
 But the word Maid, cheats the poore Maide of that. 
 That fmooth-fac'd Gentleman, tickling commoditie, 
 Commoditie, the byas of the world, 
 The world, who of it felfe is peyfed well, 
 Made to run euen, vpon euen ground ; 
 Till this aduantage, this vile drawing byas, 
 This fway of motion, this commoditie, 
 Makes it take head from all indifferency, 
 From all direction, purpofe, courfe, intent. 
 And this fame byas, this Commoditie, 
 This Bawd, this Broker, this all-changing-word, 
 Clap'd on the outward eye of fickle France, 
 Hath drawne him from his owne determin'd ayd, 
 From a refolu'd and honourable warfe, 
 To a moft bafe and vile-concluded peace. 
 And why rayle I on this Commoditie ? 
 But for becaufe he hath not wooed me yet : 
 Not that I haue the power to clutch my hand, 
 When his faire Angels would falute my palme, 
 But for my hand, as vnattempted yet, 
 Like a poore begger, raileth on the rich. 
 Well, whiles I am a begger, I will raile, 
 And fay there is no fin but to be rich : 
 And being rich, my vertue then fliall be, 
 To fay there is no vice, but beggerie : 
 Since Kings breake faith vpon commoditie, 
 Gaine be my Lord, for I will worfliip thee. Bxlt. 
 
 Secundus 
 
 Enter Conftance, Arthur, and Salisbury. 
 
 Con. Gone to be married? Gone to fweare a peace ? 
 Falfe blood to falfe blood ioyn'd. Gone to be freinds ? 
 Shall LtTvis haue Blaunch, and *Blauncb thofe Prouinces? 
 It is not fo, thou haft mifpoke,mifheard, 
 Be well aduifd, tell ore thy tale againe. 
 It cannot be, thou do'ft but fay 'tis fo. 
 I truft I may not truft thee, for thy word 
 Is but the vaine breath of a common man: 
 Beleeue me, I doe not beleeue thee man, 
 I haue a Kings oath to the contrarie. 
 Thou flialt be punifli'd for thus frighting me, 
 For I am ficke, and capeable of feares, 
 
 Oppreft with wrongs, and therefore full of feares, 
 A widdow, husbandles, fubiedl to feares, 
 A woman naturally borne to feares ; 
 And though thou now confefle thou didft but ieft 
 With my vext fpirits, I cannot take a Truce, 
 But they will quake and tremble all this day. 
 What doft thou meane by fliaking of thy head f 
 Why doft thou looke fo fadly on my fonne ? 
 What meanes that hand vpon that breaft of thine ? 
 Why holdes thine eie that lamentable rhewme, 
 Like a proud riuer peering ore his bounds ? 
 Be thefe fad fignes confirmers of thy words ? 
 Then fpeake againe, not all thy former tale, 
 But this one word, whether thy tale be true. 
 
 Sal. As true as I beleeue you thinke them falfe, 
 That giue you caufe to proue my faying true. 
 
 Con. Oh if thou teach me to beleeue this forrow, 
 Teach thou this forrow, how to make me dye, 
 And let beleefe, and life encounter fo, 
 As doth the furie of two defperate men, 
 Which in the very meeting fall, and dye. 
 Levees marry Blauncb? O boy, then where art thou ? 
 France friend with England, what becomes of me f 
 Fellow be gone : I cannot brooke thy fight, 
 This newes hath made thee a moft vgly man. 
 
 Sal. What other harme heue I good Lady done, 
 But fpoke the harme, that is by others done ? 
 
 Con. Which harme within it felfe fo heynous is, 
 As it makes harmefull all that fpeake of it. 
 
 Ar. I do befeech you Madam be content. 
 
 Con. If thou that bidft me be content, wert grim 
 Vgly, and flandrous to thy Mothers wombe, 
 Full of vnpleafing blots, and fightlefle ftaines, 
 Lame, foolifli, crooked, fwart, prodigious, 
 Patch'd with foule Moles, and eye-ofFending markes, 
 I would not care, I then would be content, 
 For then I fliould not loue thee : no, nor thou 
 Become thy great birth, nor deferue a Crowne. 
 But thou art faire, and at thy birth (deere boy) 
 Nature and Fortune ioyn'd to make thee great. 
 Of Natures guifts, thou mayft with Lillies boaft, 
 And with the halfe-blowne Rofe. But Fortune, oh, 
 She is corrupted, chang'd, and wonne from thee, 
 Sh'adulterates hourely with thine Vnckle lobn, 
 And with her golden hand hath pluckt on France 
 To tread downe faire refpect of Soueraigntie, 
 And made his Maieftie the bawd to theirs. 
 France is a Bawd to Fortune, and king lobn, 
 That ftrumpet Fortune, that vfurping lobn : 
 Tell me thou fellow, is not France forfworne ? 
 Euvenom him with words, or get thee gone, 
 And leaue thofe woes alone, which I alone 
 Am bound to vnder-beare. 
 
 Sal. Pardon me Madam, 
 I may not goe without you to the kings. 
 
 Con. Thou maift, thou flialt, I will not go with thee, 
 I will inftrudr. my forrowes to bee proud, 
 For greefe is proud, and makes his owner ftoope, 
 To me and to the ftate of my great greefe, 
 Let kings aflemble : for my greefe's fo great, 
 That no fupporter but the huge firme earth 
 Can hold it vp : here I and forrowes fit, 
 Heere is my Throne, bid kings come bow to it. 
 
 AEltu
 
 The life and death ofRjngJohn. 
 
 Tertius,Sc<zna prima. 
 
 Enter King lohn, France, "Dolphin, Blanch, Blianor, Philip, 
 Aujiria, Conftance. 
 
 Fran. Tis true (faire daughter) and this blefled day, 
 Euer in France fhall be kept feftiuall : 
 To folemnize this day the glorious funne 
 Stayes in his courfe, and playes the Alchymift, 
 Turning with fplendor of his precious eye 
 The meager cloddy earth to glittering gold : 
 The yearely courfe that brings this day about, 
 Shall neuer fee it, but a holy day. 
 
 Conjl. A wicked day, and not a holy day. 
 What hath this day deferu'd ? what hath it done, 
 That it in golden letters fhould be fet 
 Among the high tides in the {Calender f 
 Nay, rather turne this day out of the weeke, 
 This day of lhame, opprefiion, periury. 
 Or if it muft ftand ftill, let wiues with childe 
 Pray that their burthens may not fall this day, 
 Left that their hopes prodigioufly be croft : 
 But ( on this day) let Sea-men feare no wracke, 
 No bargaines breake that are not this day made } 
 This day all things begun, come to ill end, 
 Yea, faith it felfe to hollow falfhood change. 
 
 Fra. By heauen Lady, you fliall haue no caufe 
 To curfe the faire proceedings of this day : 
 Haue I not pawn'd to you my Maiefty ? 
 
 Conft. You haue beguil'd me with a counterfeit 
 Refembling Maiefty, which being touch'd and tride, 
 Proues valuelefle : you are forfworne, forfworne , 
 You came in Armes to fpill mine enemies bloud, 
 But now in Armes, you ftrengthen it with yours. 
 The grapling vigor, and rough frowne of Warre 
 Is cold in amitie, and painted peace, 
 And our oppreflion hath made vp this league : 
 Arme, arme, you heauens, againft thefe periur'd Kings, 
 A widdow cries, be husband to me (heauens) 
 Let not the howres of this vngoJly day 
 Weare out the daies in Peace ; but ere Sun-fet, 
 Set armed difcord 'twixt thefe periur'd Kings, 
 Heare me, Oh, heare me. 
 
 Aufl. Lady Conjlance, peace. 
 
 Conft. War, war, no peace, peace is to me a warre : 
 O Lymoges, O Auftria, thou doft fhame 
 That bloudy fpoyle : thou flaue, thou wretch, y coward, 
 Thou little valiant, great in villanie, 
 Thou euer ftrong vpon the ftronger fide ; 
 Thou Fortunes Champion, that do'ft neuer fight 
 But when her humourous Ladifhip is by 
 To teach thee fafety : thou art periur'd too, 
 And footh'ftvp greatnefTe. What a foole art thou, 
 A ramping foole, to brag, and ftamp, and fweare, 
 Vpon my partie : thou cold blooded flaue, 
 Haft thou not fpoke like thunder on my fide? 
 Beene fworne my Souldier, bidding me depend 
 Vpon thy ftarres, thy fortune, and thy ftrength, 
 And doft thou now fall ouer to my foes? 
 Thou weare a Lyons hide, doff it for fhame, 
 And hang a Calues skin on thofe recreant limbes. 
 
 Auj, O that a man fhould fpeake thofe words to me. 
 
 Phil. And hang a Calues-skin on thofe recreant limbs 
 
 Auj. Thou dar'ft not fay fo villaine for thy life. 
 
 Pj&/7.And hang a Calues-skin on thofe recreant limbs. 
 
 Lbn.We like not this, thou doft forget thy felfe. 
 Enter Par.dulph. 
 
 Fra. Heere comes the holy Legat of the Pope. 
 
 Pan. Haile you annointed deputies of heauenj 
 To thee King lohn my holy errand is : 
 I fandulph, of faire Millane Cardinall , 
 And from Pope Innocent the Legate heere, 
 Doe in his name religioufly demand 
 Why thou againft the Church, our holy Mother, 
 So wilfully doft fpurne ; and force perforce 
 Keepe Stephen Langton chofen Arfhbifhop 
 Of Canterbury from that holy Sea : 
 This in our forefaid holy Fathers name 
 Pope Innocent, I doe demand of thee. 
 
 lohn. What earthie name to Interrogatories 
 Can taft the free breath of a facred King ? 
 Thou canft not (Cardinall) deuife a name 
 So flight, vn worthy, and ridiculous 
 To charge me to an anfwere, as the Pope : 
 Tell him this tale,and from the mouth of England, 
 Adde thus much more, that no Italian Prieft 
 Shall tythe or toll in our dominions : 
 But as we, vnder heauen, are fupreame head, 
 So vnder him that great fupremacy 
 Where we doe reigne, we will alone vphold 
 Without th'afliftance of a mortall hand : 
 So tell the Pope, all reuerence fet apart 
 To him and his vfurp'd authoritie. 
 
 Fra, Brother of England, you blafpheme in this. 
 
 lohn. Though you, and all the Kings of Chriftendom 
 Are led fo groiTely by this medling Prieft, 
 Dreading the curfe that money may buy out, 
 And by the merit of vilde gold, droffe, duft, 
 Purchafe corrupted pardon of a man, 
 Who in that fale fels pardon from himfelfe : 
 Though you, and al the reft fo groffely led , 
 This iugling witchcraft with reuennue cheriih, 
 Yet I alone, alone doe me oppofe 
 Againft the Pope, and count his friends my foes. 
 
 Pand. Then by the lawfull power that I haue, 
 Thou malt ftand curft,and excommunicate, 
 And blefled fhall he be that doth reuolt 
 From his Allegeance to an heretique, 
 And meritorious fhall that hand be call'd, 
 Canonized and worfliip'd as a Saint, 
 That takes away by any fecret courfe 
 Thy hatefull life. 
 
 Con. O lawfull let it be 
 
 That I haue roome with Rome to carfe a while, 
 Good Father Cardinall, cry thou Amen 
 To my keene curfes; for without my wrong 
 There is no tongue hath power to curfe him right. 
 
 Pan. There's Law and Warrant (Lady) for my curfe. 
 
 Conf. And for mine too, when Law can do no right. 
 Let it be lawfull, that Law barre no wrong: 
 Law cannot giue my childe his kingdome heere ; 
 For he that holds his Kingdome, holds the Law: 
 Therefore lince Law it felfe is perfect wrong, 
 How can the Law forbid my tongue to curfe ? 
 
 Pand. Philip of France, on perill of a curfe , 
 Let goe the hand of that Arch-heretique , 
 And raife the power of France vpon his head, 
 Vnlefle he doe fubmit himfelfe to Rome. 
 
 /<w.Look'ft thou pale Francetdo not let go thy hand. 
 
 Cb.Looke to that Deuill, left that France repent, 
 
 And
 
 10 
 
 The life and death ofj^ingjohn. 
 
 And by difioyning hands hell lofe a foule. 
 
 Auft. King Pbi/if, liften to the Cardinall. 
 
 Baft, And hang a Calues-skin on his recreant limbs. 
 
 Auft. Well ruffian, I muft pocket vp thefe wrongs, 
 Becaufe, 
 
 'Baft. Your breeches beft may carry them. 
 
 lobn. Pbilif,what faift thou to the Cardinall ? 
 
 Con. What fhould he fay, but as the Cardinall ? 
 
 Dolpb. Bethinke you father, for the difference 
 Is purchafe of a heauy curfe from Rome , 
 Or the light loffe of England, far a friend : 
 Forgoe the eafier. 
 
 Bla . That s the curfe of Rome. 
 
 Con. O Ltffii, ftand faft, the deuill tempts thee heere 
 In likeneffe of a new vntrimmed Bride. 
 
 'Bla. The Lady Conftance fpeakes not from her faith , 
 But from her need. 
 
 Con. Oh, if thou grant my need, 
 Whi c h onely Hues but by the death of faith, 
 That need, muft needs inferre this principle, 
 That faith would liue againe by death of need : 
 O then tread downe my need, and faith mounts vp, 
 Keepe my need vp,and faith is trodden downe. 
 
 lobn. The king is moud, and anfwers not to this. 
 
 Con. O be remou'd from him, and anfwere well. 
 
 Auft. Doe fo king f hi/if, hang no more in doubt. 
 
 2?<j/?.Hang nothing but a Calues skin moft fweet lout. 
 
 Fra. I am perplext,and know not what to fay. 
 
 Pan. What canft thou fay, but wil perplex thee more? 
 If thou ftand excommunicate, and curft ? 
 
 Fra. Good reuerend father, make my perfon yours, 
 And tell me how you would beftow your felfe ? 
 Thisroyall hand and mine are newly knit, 
 And the conjunction of our inward foules 
 Married in league, coupled, and link'd together 
 With all religous ftrength of facred vowes , 
 The lateft breath that gaue the found of words 
 Was deepe-fworne faith, peace, amity, true loue 
 Betweene our kingdomes and our royall felues, 
 And euen before this truce, but new before, 
 No longer then we well could wafh our hands , 
 To clap this royall bargaine vp of peace, 
 Heauen knowes they were befmear'd and ouer-ftaind 
 With (laughters pencill ; where reuenge did paint 
 The fearefull difference of incenfed kings : 
 And fhall thefe hands fo lately purg'd ofbloud ? 
 So newly ioyn'd in loue ? fo ftrong in both, 
 Vnyoke this feyfure, and this kinde regreete? 
 Play faft and loofe with faith ? fo left with heauen, 
 Make fuch vnconftant children of onr felues 
 As now againe to fnatch our palme from palme : 
 Vn-fweare faith fworne, and on the marriage bed 
 Of fmiling peace to march a bloody hoaft, 
 And make a ryot on the gentle brow 
 Of true fmcerity?O holy Sir 
 My reuerend father, let it not be fo ; 
 Out of your grace, deuife, ordaine, impofe 
 Some gentle order, and then we fhall be bleft 
 To doe your pleafure, and continue friends. 
 
 Pand. All forme is formelefle, Order orderlefTe, 
 Saue what is oppofite to England: loue. 
 Therefore to Armes, be Champion of our Church, 
 Or let the Church our mother breathe her curfe, 
 A mothers curfe, on her reuolting fonne : 
 France, thou maift hold a ferpent by the tongue, 
 A cafed Lion by the mortall paw, 
 
 A fafting Tyger fafer by the tooth , 
 
 Then keepe in peace that hand which thou doft hold. 
 
 Fra . I may dif-ioyne my hand, but not my faith. 
 
 Pand. So mak'ft thou faith an enemy to faith, 
 And like a ciuill warre fetft oath to oath , 
 Thy tongue againft thy tongue. O let thy vow 
 Firft made to heauen, firft be to heauen perform'd, 
 That is, to be the Champion of our Church, 
 What fince thou fworft, is fworne againft thy felfe, 
 And may not be performed by thy felfe, 
 For that which thou haft fworne to doe amifle, 
 Is not amifle when it is truely done : 
 And being not done, where doing tends to ill, 
 The truth is then moft done not doing it: 
 The better Adt of purpofes miftooke , 
 Is to miftake again, though indirect, 
 Yet indirection thereby growes diredl, 
 And falfhood, falfhood cures, as fire cooles fire 
 Within the fcorched veines of one new burn'd: 
 It is religion that doth make vowes kept, 
 But thou haft fworne againft religion: 
 By what thou fwear'ft againft the thing thou fwear'ft, 
 And mak'ft an oath the furetie for thy truth , 
 Againft an oath the truth, thou art vnfure 
 To fweare, fweares onely not to be forfworne, 
 Elfe what a mockerie fhould it be to fweare ? 
 But thou doft fweare, onely to be forfworne, 
 And moft forfworne, to keepe what thou doft fweare, 
 Therefore thy later vowes, againft thy firft, 
 Is in thy felfe rebellion to thy felfe : 
 And better conqueft neuer canft thou make , 
 Then arme thy conftant and thy nobler parts 
 Againft thefe giddy loofe fuggeftions: 
 Vpon which better part, our prayrs come in , 
 If thou vouchfafe them. But if not, then know 
 The perill of our curfes light on thee 
 So heauy, as thou fhalt not /hake them off 
 But in defpaire, dye vnder their blacke weight. 
 
 Auft. Rebellion, flat rebellion. 
 
 Baft. Wil't not be ? 
 Will not a Calues-skin ftop that mouth of thine? 
 
 Daul. Father, to Armes. 
 
 Blanch. Vpon thy wedding day f 
 Againft the blood that thou haft married? 
 What, fhall our feaft be kept with flaughtered men? 
 Shall braying trumpets, and loud churlifh drums 
 Clamors of hell, be meafures to our pomp? 
 
 husband heare me : aye, alacke, how new 
 Is husband in my mouth ? euen for that name 
 Which till this time my tongue did nere pronounce; 
 Vpon my knee I beg, goe not to Armes 
 
 Againft mine Vncle. 
 
 Conft. O, vpon my knee made hard with kneeling, 
 
 1 doe pray to thee, thou vertuous Daulfbin, 
 Alter not the doome fore-thought by heauen. 
 
 'Blan. Now fhall I fee thy loue, what motiue may 
 Be ftronger with thee, then the name of wife ? 
 
 Con. That which vpholdeth him, that thee vpholds, 
 His Honor, Oh thine Honor, Lewis thine Honor. 
 
 Dolpb. I mufe your Maiefty doth feeme fo cold, 
 When fuch profound refpefts doe pull you on ? 
 
 Pand. I will denounce a curfe vpon his head. 
 
 Fra. Thou fhalt not need..Ewj;/<W,I will fall fro thee. 
 
 Conft. O faire returne of banifh'd Maieftie. 
 
 Blea. O foule reuolt of French inconftancy. 
 
 En?. France, y fhalt rue this houre within this houre. 
 
 'Baft.
 
 'The life and death of J^jngjohn. 
 
 Ii 
 
 'Ba/l.Old Time the clocke fetter, y bald fexton Time: 
 Is it as he will? well then, France fhall rue. 
 
 'Bla. The Sun's orecaft with bloud : faire day adieu, 
 Which is the fide that I muft goe withall ? 
 I am with both, each Army hath a hand, 
 And in their rage, I hauing hold of both, 
 They whurle a-funder, and difmember mee. 
 Husband, I cannot pray that thou maift winne : 
 Vncle, I needs muft pray that thou maift lofe : 
 Father, I may not wifh the fortune thine : 
 Grandam, I will not wifh thy wifhes thriue : 
 Who-euer wins,on that fide /hall I lofe : 
 AfTured loflTe, before the match be plaid. 
 
 Dolpb. Lady,with me, with me thy fortune lies. 
 
 Bla. There where my fortune liues,there my life dies. 
 
 John. Cojen, goe draw our puifance together, 
 France,! am burn'd vp with inflaming wrath, 
 A rage, whofe heat hath this condition ; 
 That nothing can allay,nothing but blood, 
 The blood and deereft valued bloud of France. 
 
 Fra. Thy rage fhall burne thee vp,& thou fhalt turne 
 To afhes, ere our blood fhall quench that fire : 
 Looke to thy felfe,thou art in ieopardie. 
 
 lobn.No more then he that threats. To Arms le'ts hie. 
 
 Sxeunt. 
 
 Sccena Secunda. 
 
 Allarunti , Sxcurjions 
 bead. 
 
 Enter Baftard mitb Aujtria'i 
 
 'Baft. Now by my life,this day grows wondrous hot, 
 Some ayery Deuill houers in the skie, 
 And pour's downe m\fch\efe.AuJ}rias head lye there, 
 
 Enter Iobn,Artbur, Hubert. 
 While Philip breathes. 
 
 John. Hubert, keepe this boy : Philip make vp, 
 My Mother is afl'ayled in our Tent, 
 And tane I feare. 
 
 'Baft. My Lord I refcued her, 
 Her HighnefTe is in fafety, feare you not : 
 But on my Liege, for very little paines 
 Will bring this labor to an happy end. Exit. 
 
 Alarums, excurjions, Retreat. Enter John, Eleanor, Arthur 
 Baftard, Hubert, Lords. 
 
 lobn. So fhall it be : your Grace fhall ftay behinde 
 So ftrongly guarded : Cofen,looke not fad, 
 ThyGrandame loues thee, and thy Vnkle will 
 As deere be to thee, as thy father was. 
 
 Artb. O this will make my mother die with griefe. 
 
 lobn. Cofen away for England, hafte before, 
 And ere our comming fee thou fhake the bags 
 Of hoording Abbots, imprifoned angells 
 Set at libertie : the fat ribs of peace . 
 Muft by the hungry now be fed vpon : 
 Vfe our Commiflion in his vtmoft force. 
 
 'Baft. Bell, Booke,& Candle, fhall not driue me back, 
 When gold and filuer becks me to come on. 
 I leaue your highnefie : Grandame, I will pray 
 (If euer I remember to be holy ) 
 For your faire fafety : fo I kifle your hand. 
 
 Bit. Farewell gentle Cofen. 
 
 J'S 
 
 lobn. Coz, farewell. 
 
 Sle. Come hether little kinfman,harke,a worde. 
 
 John.Come hether Hubert. O my gentle Hubert, 
 We owe thee much : within this wall of flefh 
 There is a foule counts thee her Creditor, 
 And with aduantage meanes to pay thy loue : 
 And my good friend, thy voluntary oath 
 Liues in this bofome, deerely cherifhed. 
 Giue me thy hand, I had a thing to fay, 
 But I will fit it with fome better tune. 
 By heauen Hubert, I am almoft afham'd 
 To fay what good refpect I haue of thee. 
 
 Hub. I am much bounden to your Maiefty. 
 
 lohn. Good friend, thou haft no caufe to fay fo yet, 
 But thou fhalt haue :and creepe time nere fo flow, 
 Yet it fhall come, for me to doe thee good. 
 I had a thing to fay, but let it goe : 
 The Sunne is in the heauen, and the proud day, 
 Attended with the pleafures of the world, 
 Is all too wanton, and too full of gawdes 
 To giue me audience : If the mid-night bell 
 Did with his yron tongue,and brazen mouth 
 Sound on into the drowzie race of night : 
 If this fame were a Church-yard where we ftand , 
 And thou pofTefled with a thoufand wrongs : 
 Or if that furly fpirit melancholy 
 Had bak'd thy bloud,and made it heauy,thicke, 
 Which elfe runnes tickling vp and downe the veines, 
 Making that idiot laughter keepe mens eyes , 
 And ftraine their cheekes to idle merriment, 
 A paflion hatefull to my purpofes : 
 Or if that thou couldft fee me without eyes, 
 Heare me without thine eares, and make reply 
 Without a tongue, vfing conceit alone , 
 Without eyes, eares, and harmefull found of words : 
 Then, in defpight of brooded watchfull day, 
 I would into thy bofome poure my thoughts : 
 But (ah) I will not, yet I loue thee well , 
 And by my troth I thinke thou lou'ft me well. 
 
 Hub. So well, that what you bid me vndertake, 
 Though that my death were adiundl to my Aft, 
 By heauen I would doe it. 
 
 lohn. Doe not I know thou wouldft ? 
 Good Hubert, Hubert, Hubert throw thine eye 
 On yon young boy : lie tell thee what my friend, 
 He is a very ferpent in my way, 
 And wherefoere this foot of mine doth tread, 
 He lies before me : doft thou vnderftand me f 
 Thou art his keeper. 
 
 Hub. And He keepe him fo, 
 That he fhall not offend your Maiefty. 
 
 lobn. Death. 
 
 Hub. My Lord. 
 
 lohn. A Graue. 
 
 Hub. He fhall not liue. 
 
 lohn. Enough. 
 
 I could be merry now, Hubert, I loue thee. 
 Well, He not fay what I intend for thee : 
 Remember : Madam, Fare you well, 
 He fend thofe powers o're to your Maiefty. 
 
 Ele. My blefllng goe with thee. 
 
 lobn. For England Cofen, goe. 
 Hubert fhall be your man, attend on you 
 Withal true duetie : On toward Ca///,hoa. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Scena
 
 12 
 
 The life and death of J^jng John. 
 
 Sctena Tertia. 
 
 Enter France, Dolphin, Pandulpho, Attendants. 
 
 Fra. So by a roaring Tempeft on the flood, 
 A whole Armado of conuidted faile 
 Is fcattered and dif-ioyn'd from fellow/hip. 
 
 Pand. Courage and comfort,all fhall yet goe well. 
 
 Fra. What can goe we!l,when we haue runne fo ill? 
 Are we not beaten ? Is not Anglers loft? 
 Arthur tane prifoner? diuers deere friends flaine? 
 And bloudy England into England gone, 
 Ore- bearing interruption fpight of France? 
 
 "Do/. What he hath won, that hath he fortified : 
 So hot a fpeed, with fuch aduice difpos'd, 
 Such temperate order in fo fierce a caufe, 
 Doth want example : who hath read, or heard 
 Of any kindred-aclion like to this? 
 
 Fra. Well could I beare that Englandhzd this praife, 
 So we could finde fome patterne of our fhame : 
 
 Enter Qonftance. 
 
 Looke who comes heere ? a graue vnto a foule, 
 Holding th'eternall fpirit againft her will, 
 In the vilde prifon of afflicted breath : 
 I prethee Lady goe away with me. 
 
 Con. Lo; now: now fee the iflue of your peace. 
 
 Fra. Patience good Lady,comfort gentle Con/lance. 
 
 Con. No, I defie all Counfell, all redrefle, 
 But that which ends all counfell, true Redrefle : 
 Death, death, O amiable, louely death , 
 Thou odoriferous ftench : found rottennefle, 
 Arife forth from the couch of lafting night, 
 Thou hate and terror to profperitie, 
 And I will kifle thy deteftable bones , 
 And put my eye-balls in thy vaultie browes, 
 And ring thefe fingers with thy houfliold wormes , 
 And flop this gap of breath with fulfome duft, 
 And be a Carrion Monfter like thy felfe ; 
 Come, grin on me, and I will thinke thou fmiFft, 
 And bufle thee as thy wife : Miferies Loue, 
 O come to me. 
 
 Fra. O faire affliction, peace. 
 
 Con. No, no, I will not, hauing breath to cry : 
 
 that my tongue were in the thunders mouth , 
 Then with a paflion would I fhake the world, 
 And rowze from fleepe that fell Anatomy 
 Which cannot heare a Ladies feeble voyce, 
 Which fcornes a moderne Inuocation. 
 
 Pand. Lady, you vtter madnefle,and not forrow. 
 Con. Thou art holy to belye me fo, 
 
 1 am not mad : this haire I teare is mine , 
 My name is Conftance, I was Geffreyes wife, 
 Yong ^Arthur is my fonne, and he is loft : 
 I am not mad, I would to heauen I were, 
 For then 'tis like I fhould forget my felfe : 
 O, if I could, what griefe fhould I forget ? 
 Preach fome Philofophy to make me mad, 
 And thou {halt be Canoniz'd(Cardina)l.) 
 For, being not mad, but fenfible of greefe, 
 My reafonable part produces reafon 
 
 How I may be deliuer'd of thefe woes, 
 And teaches mee to kill or hang my felfe : 
 If I were mad, I fhould forget my fonne, 
 
 Or madly thinke a babe of clowts were he ; 
 I am not mad : too well, too well I feele 
 The different plague of each calamitie. 
 
 Fra. Binde vp thofe trefles : O what loue I note 
 In the faire multitude of thofe her haires ; 
 Where but by chance a filuer drop hath falne, 
 Euen to that drop ten thoufand wiery fiends 
 Doe glew themfeluesin fociable griefe, 
 Like true, infeparable, faithfull loues, 
 Sticking together in calamitie. 
 
 Con. To England, if you will. 
 
 Fra. Binde vp your haires. 
 
 Con. Yes that I will : and wherefore will I do it f 
 I tore them from their bonds, and cride aloud , 
 O, that thefe hands could fo redeeme my fonne, 
 As they haue giuen thefe hayres their libertie : 
 But now I enuie at their libertie , 
 And will againe commit them to their bonds, 
 Becaufe my poore childe is a prifoner. 
 And Father Cardinal!, I haue heard you fay 
 That we fhall fee and know our friends in heauen : 
 jf that be true, I fhall fee my boy againe ; 
 For fince the birth of Caine, the firft male-childe 
 To him that did but yefterday fufpire , 
 There was not fuch a gracious creature borne : 
 But now will Canker-forrow eat my bud , 
 And chafe the natiue beauty from his cheeke, 
 And he will looke as hollow as a Ghoft, 
 As dim and meager as an Agues fitte, 
 And fo hee'll dye : and rifing fo againe, 
 When I fhall meet him in the Court of heauen 
 I fhall not know him : therefore neuer, neuer 
 Muft I behold my pretty Arthur more. 
 
 Pand. You hold too heynous a refpeft of greefe. 
 
 Conji. He talkes to me, that neuer had a fonne. 
 
 Fra. You are as fond of greefe, as of your childe. 
 
 Con. Greefe fils the roome vp of my abfent childe : 
 Lies in his bed,walkes vp and downe with me, 
 Put son his pretty lookes, repeats his words, 
 Rerrembets me of all his gracious parts, 
 Stuffes out his vacant garments with his forme ; 
 Then, haue I reafon to be fond of griefe? 
 Fareyouwell : had you fuch a lofle as I , 
 I could giue better comfort then you doe. 
 I will not keepe this forme vpon my head , 
 When there is fuch diforder in my witte : 
 O Lord, my boy, my Arthur, my faire fonne, 
 My life, my ioy, my food, my all the world : 
 My widow-comfort, and my forrowes cure. Exit. 
 
 Fra. I feare fome out-rage,and He follow her. Exit. 
 
 Dol. There's nothing in this world can make me ioy, 
 Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale, 
 Vexing the dull eare of a drowfie man ; 
 And bitter fhame hath fpoyl'd the fweet words tafte, 
 That it yeelds nought but fhame and bitternefle. 
 
 Pand. Before the curing of a ftrong difeafe , 
 Euen in the inftant of repaire and health, 
 The fit is ftrongeft : Euils that take leaue 
 On their departure, moft of all fhew euill: 
 What haue you loft by lofing of this day? 
 
 Dol. All dales of glory, ioy, and happinefle. 
 
 Pan. If you had won it, certainely you had. 
 No, no : when Fortune meanes to men moft good, 
 Shee lookes vpon them with a threatning eye: 
 'Tis ftrange to thinke how much King John hath loft 
 In this which he accounts fo clearely wonne : 
 
 Are
 
 'The life and death of JQngJohn. 
 
 Are not you grieu'd that Arthur is his prifoner t 
 
 Dol. As heartily as he is glad he hath him. 
 
 Pan. Your minde is all as youthfull as your blood. 
 Now heare me fpeake with a propheticke fpirit : 
 For euen the breath of what I meane to fpeake, 
 Shall blow each duft, each ftraw, each little rub 
 Out of the path which fliall directly lead 
 Thy foote to Englands Throne. And therefore marke : 
 lohn hath feiz'd Arthur, and it ca-nnot be, 
 That whiles warme life playes in that infants veines, 
 The mif-plac'd-/o fliould entertaine an houre, 
 One minute, nay one quiet breath of reft. 
 A Scepter fnatch'd with an vnruly hand, 
 Muft be as boyfteroufly maintain'd as gain'd. 
 And he that ftands vpon a flipp'ry place, 
 Makes nice of no vilde hold to ftay him vp: 
 That lohn may ftand, then Arthur needs muft fall, 
 So be it, for it cannot be but fo. 
 
 Dol. But what fliall I gaine by yong Arthurs fallf 
 
 Pan. You, in the right of Lady 'Blanch your wife, 
 May then make all the claime that Arthur did. 
 
 Dol. And loofe it, life and all, as Arthur did. 
 
 Pan. How green you are, and frefli in this old world? 
 lohn layes you plots : the times confpire with you, 
 For he that fteepes his fafetie in true blood, 
 Shall finde but bloodie fafety, and vntrue. 
 This Act fo euilly borne fliall coole the hearts 
 Of all his people, and freeze vp their zeale, 
 That none fo fmall aduantage fliall ftep forth 
 To checke his reigne, but they will cherifli it. 
 No naturall exhalation in the skie, 
 No fcope of Nature, no diftemper'd day, 
 No common winde, no cuftomed euent, 
 But they will plucke away his naturall caufe, 
 And call them Meteors, prodigies, and fignes, 
 Abbortiues, prefages, and tongues of heauen, 
 Plainly denouncing vengeance vpon lohn. 
 
 Dol. May be he will not touch yong Arthurs life, 
 But hold himfelfe fafe in his prifonment. 
 
 Pan. O Sir, when he fliall heare of your approach, 
 If that yong Arthur be not gone alreadie, 
 Euen at that newes he dies : and then the hearts 
 Of all his people fliall reuolt from him, 
 And kifTe the lippes of vnacquainted change, 
 And picke ftrong matter of reuolt, and wrath 
 Out of the bloody fingers ends of lohn. 
 Me thinkes I fee this hurley all on foot ; 
 And O, what better matter breeds for you, 
 Then I haue nam'd. The Baftard Falconbrldge 
 Is now in England ranfacking the Church, 
 Offending Charity : If but a dozen French 
 Were there in Armes, they would be as a Call 
 To traine ten thoufand Englifli to their fide ; 
 Or, as a little fnow, tumbled about, 
 Anon becomes a Mountaine. O noble Dolphine, 
 Go with me to the King, 'tis wonderful!, 
 What may be wrought out of their difcontent, 
 Now that their foules are topfull of offence, 
 For England go; I will whet on the King. 
 
 Dol. Strong reafons makes ftrange adtions:let vs go, 
 If you fay I, the King will not fay no. Exennt. 
 
 , Sccenaprima. 
 
 Snter Hubert and Executioners. 
 
 Hub. Heate me thefe Irons hot, and looke thou ftand 
 Within the Arras : when I ftrike my foot 
 Vpon the bofome of the ground, rufli forth 
 And binde the boy, which you fliall finde with me 
 Faft to the chaire : be heedfull : hence, and watch. 
 
 Sxec. I hope your warrant will beareout the deed. 
 
 Hub. Vncleanly fcruples feare not you : looke too't. 
 Yong Lad come forth ; I haue to fay with you. 
 Enter Arthur. 
 
 Ar. Good morrow Hubert. 
 
 Hub. Good morrow, little Prince. 
 
 Ar. As little Prince, hauing fo great a Title 
 To be more Prince, as may be : you are fad. 
 
 Hub. Indeed I haue beene merrier. 
 
 Art. 'Mercie on me : 
 Me thinkes no body fliould be fad but I : 
 Yet I remember, when I was in France, 
 Yong Gentlemen would be as fad as night 
 Onely for wantonneffe : by my Chriftendome, 
 So I were out of prifon,and kept Sheepe 
 I fliould be as merry as the day is long : 
 And fo I would be heere, but that I doubt 
 My Vnckle pradtifes more harme to me : 
 He is affraid of me, and I of him : 
 Is it my fault, that I was Gejfreyes fonne ? 
 No in deede is't not : and 1 would to heauen 
 I were your fonne, fo you would loue me, Hubert: 
 
 Hub. If I talke to him, with his innocent prate 
 He will awake my mercie, which lies dead : 
 Therefore I will be fodaine, and difpatch. 
 
 Ar. Are you ficke Hubert? you looke pale to day, 
 Infooth I would you were a little ficke, 
 That I might fit all night,and watch with you. 
 I warrant I loue you more then you do me. 
 
 Hub. His words do take poffeffion of my bofome. 
 Reade heere yong Arthnr. How now foolifli rheume ? 
 Turning difpitious torture out of doore ? 
 I muft be breefe, leaft refolution drop 
 Out at mine eyes, in tender womanifli teares. 
 Can you not reade it ? Is it not faire writ ? 
 
 Ar. Too fairely Hubert, for fo foule effect, 
 Muft you with hot Irons, burne out both mine eyes ? 
 
 Hub. Yong Boy, I muft. 
 
 Art. And will you ? 
 
 Hub. And I will. 
 
 Art. Haue you the heart ? When your head did but 
 
 ake, 
 
 I knit my hand-kercher about your browes 
 (The beft I had, a Princefle wrought it mej 
 And I did neuer aske it you againe : 
 And with my hand, at midnight held your head; 
 And like the watchfull minutes, to the houre, 
 Still and anon cheer'd vp the heauy time ; 
 Saying, what lacke you? and where lies your greefe? 
 Or what good loue may I performe for you f 
 Many a poore mans fonne would haue lyen ftjll, 
 And nere haue fpoke a louing word to you: 
 But you, at your ficke feruice had a Prince : 
 Nay, you may thinke my loue was craftie loue, 
 And call it cunning. Do, and if you will, 
 
 b If
 
 The life and death ofJ\in 
 
 If heauen be pleas'd that you muft vfe me ill, 
 Why then you muft. Will you put out mine eyes? 
 Thefe eyes, that neuer did, nor neuer fliall 
 So much as frowne on you. 
 
 Hub. I haue fworne to do it : 
 And with hot Irons muft I burne them out. 
 
 Ar. Ah, none but in this Iron Age, would do it: 
 The Iron of it felfe, though heate red hot, 
 Approaching neere thefe eyes, would drinke my teares, 
 And quench this fierie indignation, 
 Euen in the matter of mine innocence : 
 Nay, after that, confume away in ruft, 
 But for containing fire to harme mine eye : 
 Are you more ftubborne hard, then hammer'd Iron ? 
 And if an Angell fhould haue come to me, 
 And told me Hubert fliould put out mine eyes, 
 I would not haue beleeu'd him : no tongue but Huberts. 
 
 Hub. Come forth : Do as I bid you do. 
 
 Art. O faue me Hubert, hue me : my eyes are out 
 Euen with the fierce 1 ookes of thefe bloody men. 
 
 Hub. Giue me the Iron I fay, and binde him heere. 
 
 Art. Alas, what neede you be fo boiftrous rough? 
 I will not ftruggle, I will ftand ftone ftill : 
 For heauen fake Hubert let me not be bound : 
 Nay heare me Hubert, drive thefe men away, 
 And I will fit as quiet as a Lambe. 
 I will not ftirre, nor winch, nor fpeake a word, 
 Nor looke vpon the Iron angerly : 
 Thruft but thefe men away, and lie forgiue you, 
 What euer torment you do put me too. 
 
 Hub. Go ftand within : let me alone with him. 
 
 Exec. I am beft pleas'd to be from fuch a deede. 
 
 Art. Alas, I then haue chid away my friend, 
 He hath a fterne looke, but a gentle heart: 
 Let him come backe, that his companion may 
 Giue life to yours. 
 
 Hub. Come ( Boy ) prepare your felfe. 
 
 Art. Is there no remedied 
 
 Hub. None, but to lofe your eyes. 
 
 Art. O heauen: that there were but a moth in yours, 
 A graine, a duft,a gnat, a wandering haire, 
 Any annoyance in that precious fenfe : 
 Then feeling what fmall things are boyfterous there, 
 Your vilde intent muft needs feeme horrible. 
 
 Hub. Is this your promife ? Go too, hold your toong. 
 
 Art. Hubert, the vtterance of a brace of tongues, 
 Muft needes want pleading for a paire of eyes: 
 Let me not hold my tongue : let me not Hubert, 
 Or Hubert, if you will cut out my tongue, 
 So I may keepe mine eyes. O fpare mine eyes, 
 Though to no vfe, but ftill to looke on you. 
 Loe, by my troth, the Inftrument is cold, 
 And would not harme me. 
 
 Hub. I can heate it, Boy. 
 
 Art. No, in good footh : the fire is dead with griefe, 
 Being create for comfort, to be vs'd 
 In vndeferued extreames : See elfe your felfe, 
 There is no malice in this burning cole, 
 The breath of heauen, hath blowne his fpirit out, 
 And ftrew'd repentant afhes on his head. 
 
 Hub. But with my breath I can reuiue it Boy. 
 
 Art. And if you do, you will but make it blu/h, 
 And glow with fhame of your proceedings, Hubert: 
 Nay, it perchance will fparkle in your eyes : 
 And, like a dogge that is compell'd to fight, 
 Snatch at his Mafter that doth tarre him on. 
 
 All things that you fliould vfe to do me wrong 
 Deny their office : onely you do lacke 
 That mercie, which fierce fire, and Iron extends, 
 Creatures of note for mercy, lacking vfes. 
 
 Hub. Well, fee to Hue : I will not touch thine eye, 
 For all the Treafure that thine Vnckle owes, 
 Yet am I fworne, and I did purpofe, Boy, 
 With this fame very Iron, to burne them out. 
 
 Art, O now you looke like Hubert . All this while 
 You were difguis'd. 
 
 Hub. Peace : no more. Adieu, 
 Your Vnckle muft not know but you are dead. 
 He fill thefe dogged Spies with falfe reports : 
 And, pretty childe, fleepe doubtleffe, and fecure, 
 That Hubert for the wealth of all the world, 
 Will not offend thee. 
 
 Art. O heauen I I thanke you Hubert. 
 
 Hub. Silence, no more ; go clofely in with mee, 
 Much danger do I vndergo for thee. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter lobn, Pembroke, Salisbury, and other Lordes* 
 
 lohn. Heere once againe we fit : once againft crown'd 
 And look'd vpon, I hope, with chearefull eyes. 
 
 POT.This once again (but that your Highnes pleas'd) 
 Was once fuperfluous : you were Crown'd before, 
 And that high Royalty was nere pluck'd off: 
 The faiths of men, nere ftained with reuolt : 
 Frefli expectation troubled not the Land 
 With any long'd-for-change, or better State. 
 
 Sal. Therefore, to be poffefs'd with double pompe, 
 To guard a Title, that was rich before ; 
 To gilde refined Gold, to paint the Lilly; 
 To throw a perfume on the Violet, 
 To fmooth the yce, or adde another hew 
 Vnto the Raine-bow; or with Taper-light 
 To feeke the beauteous eye of heauen to garnifli, 
 Is waftefull,and ridiculous excefle. 
 
 Pent. But that your Royall pleafure muft be done, 
 Thisadte, is as an ancient tale new told, 
 And, in the laft repeating, troublefome, 
 Being vrged at a time vnfeafonable. 
 
 Sal. In this the Anticke, and well noted face 
 Of plaine old forme, is much disfigured, 
 And like a fhifted winde vnto a faile, 
 It makes the courfe of thoughts to fetch about, 
 Startles, and frights confideration : 
 Makes found opinion ficke, and truth fufpedted, 
 For putting on fo new a fafhion'd robe. 
 
 Pern. When Workemen ftriue to do better then wel, 
 They do confound their skill in couetoufneffe, 
 And oftentimes excufing of a fault, 
 Doth make the fault the worfe by th'excufe : 
 As patches fet vpon a little breach, 
 Difcredite more in hiding of the fault, 
 Then did the fault before it was fo patch'd. 
 
 Sal. To this effect, before you were new crown'd 
 We breath'd our Councell : but it pleas'd your Highnes 
 To ouer-beare it, and we are all well pleas'd, 
 Since all, and euery part of what we would 
 Doth make a ftand, at what your Highnefle will. 
 
 lobn.
 
 The life and death offing John. 
 
 lob. Some reafons of this double Corronation 
 I haue pofleft you with, and thinke them ftrong. 
 And more, more ftrong, then leffer is my feare 
 I /hall indue you with : Meane time, but aske 
 What you would haue reform'd. that is not well, 
 And well fhall you perceiue, how willingly 
 I will both heare, and grant you your requefts. 
 
 Pern. Then I, as one that am the tongue of thefe 
 To found the purpofes of all their hearts, 
 Both for my felfe, and them : but chiefe of all 
 Your fafety : for the which, my felfe and them 
 Bend their beft ftudies, heartily requeft 
 Th'infranchifement oftArtbur, whofe reftraint 
 Doth moue the murmuring lips of difcontent 
 To breake into this dangerous argument. 
 If what in reft you haue, in right you hold, 
 Why then your feares, which (as they fay) attend 
 The fteppes of wrong, fljould moue you to mew vp 
 Your tender kinfman, and to choake his dayes 
 With barbarous ignorance, and deny his youth 
 The rich aduantage of good exercife, 
 That the times enemies may not haue this 
 To grace occasions : let it be our fuite, 
 That you haue bid vs aske his libertie, 
 Which for our goods, we do no further aske, 
 Then, whereupon our weale on you depending, 
 Counts it your weale : he haue his liberty. 
 Enter Hubert. 
 
 lobn. Let it be fo : I do commit his youth 
 To your direction : Hubert, what newes with you ? 
 
 Pern. This is the man fhould do the bloody deed : 
 He fhew'd his warrant to a friend of mine, 
 The image of a wicked heynous fault 
 Liues in his eye : that clofe afpedr. of his, 
 Do fliew the mood of a much troubled breft, 
 And I do fearefully beleeue 'tis done, 
 What we fo fear'd he had a charge to do . 
 
 Sal. The colour of the King doth come, and go 
 Betweene his purpofe and his confcience, 
 Like Heralds 'twixt two dreadfull battailes fet: 
 His pafsion is fo ripe, it needs muft breake. 
 
 Pern. And when it breakes, 1 feare will iflue thence 
 The foule corruption of a fweet chiides death. 
 
 lobn. We cannot hold mortalities ftrong hand. 
 Good Lords, although my will to giue, is liuing, 
 The fuire which you demand is gone, and dead. 
 He tels vs Arthur is deceas'd to night. 
 
 Sal. Indeed we fear'd his ficknefle was paft cure. 
 
 Pern. Indeed we heard how neere his death he was, 
 Before the childe himfelfe felt he was ficke : 
 This muft be anfwer'd either heere, or hence. 
 
 lob. Why do you bend fuch folemne browes on me? 
 Thinke you I beare the Sheeres of deftiny ? - 
 Haue I commandement on the pulfe of life ? 
 
 Sal. It is apparant foule-play, and'tis fhame 
 That Greatnefle fhould fo groflely offer it ; 
 So thriue it in your game, and fo farewell. 
 
 Pern. Stay yet (Lord Salisbury) He go with thee, 
 And finde th'inheritance of this poore childe, 
 His little kingdome of a forced graue. 
 That blood which ow'd the bredth of all this He, 
 Three foot of it doth hold; bad world the while : 
 This muft not be thus borne, this will breake out 
 To all our forrowes, and ere long I doubt. Exeunt 
 
 lo. They burn in indignation : I repent : Enter Mef. 
 There is no fure foundation fet on blood : 
 
 3 '9 
 
 No certaine life atchieu'd by others death : 
 A fearefull eye thou haft. Where is that blood, 
 That I haue feene inhabite in thofe cheekes* 
 So foule a skie, cleeres not without a ftorme, 
 Poure downe thy weather : how goes all in France? 
 
 Mef. From France to England, neuer fuch a powre 
 For any forraigne preparation, 
 Was leuied in the body of a land. 
 The Copie of your fpeede is learn'd by them: 
 For when you fliould be told they do prepare, 
 The tydings comes, that they are all arriu'd. 
 
 lob. Oh where hath our Intelligence bin drunke ? 
 Where hath it flept? Where is my Mothers care ? 
 That fuch an Army could be drawne in France, 
 And flie not heare of it? 
 
 cflfef. My Liege, her eare 
 Is ftopt with duft : the firft of Aprill di'de 
 Your noble mother; and as I heare, my Lord, 
 The Lady Conftance in a frenzie di'de 
 Three dayes before : but this from Rumors tongue 
 I idely heard : if true, or falfe I know not. 
 
 lobn. With-hold thy fpeed, dreadfull Occafion : 
 
 make a league with me, 'till I haue pleas'd 
 My difcontented Peeres. What? Mother dead ? 
 How wildely then walkes my Eftate in France ? 
 Vnder whofe conduct came thofe powres of France, 
 That thou for truth giu'ft out are landed heere? 
 
 Mef. Vnder the Dolphin. 
 
 Enter ^Baftard and Peter of Pomfret. 
 
 lob. Thou haft made me giddy 
 With thefe ill tydings : Now ? What fayes the world 
 To your proceedings? Do not feeke to ftuffe 
 My head with more ill newes : for it is full. 
 
 "Baft. But if you be a-feard to heare the worft, 
 Then let the worft vn-heard, fall on your head. 
 
 lobn. Beare with me Cofen, for I was amaz'd 
 Vnder the tide ; but now I breath againe 
 Aloft the flood, and can giue audience 
 To any tongue, fpeake it of what it will. 
 
 f Bajl. How I haue fped among the Clergy men, 
 The fummes I haue collected fhall exprefle : 
 But as I trauail'd hither through the land, 
 
 1 finde the people ftrangely fantafied, 
 PofTeft with rumors, full of idle dreames, 
 
 Not knowing what they feare, but full of feare. 
 And here's a Prophet that I brought with me 
 From forth the ftreets of Pomfrer, whom I found 
 With many hundreds treading on his heeles: 
 To whom he fung in rude harfh founding rimes, 
 That ere the next Afcenfion day at noone, 
 Your Highnes fliould deliuer vp your Crowne. 
 
 lobn. Thou idle Dreamer, wherefore didft thou fo ? 
 
 Pet. Fore-knowing that the truth will fall out fo. 
 
 John. Hubert , away with him : imprifon him, 
 And on that day at noone, whereon he fayes 
 I fhall yeeld vp my Crowne, let him be hang'd. 
 Deliuer him to fafety, and returne, 
 For I muft vfe thee. O my gentle Cofen, 
 Hear'ft thou the newes abroad, who are arriu'd? 
 
 Baft .The French (my Lord) mens mouths are ful of it: 
 Befides I met Lord Bigot, and Lord Saluburie 
 With eyes as red as new enkindled fire, 
 And others more, going to feeke the graue 
 Of Arthur, whom they fay is kill'd^ to night, on your 
 
 lobn. Gentle kinfman, go (fuggeftion. 
 
 And thruft thy felfe into their Companies, 
 
 b 2 I
 
 i6 
 
 The life and death ofl^ingjobn. 
 
 I haue a way to winne their loues againe : 
 Bring them before me. 
 
 'Baft. I will feeke them out. 
 
 John. Nay, but make hafte : the better foote before. 
 O, let me haue no fubiedt enemies, 
 When aduerfe Forreyners affright my Townes 
 With dreadfull pompe of ftout inuafion. 
 Be Mercuric, fet feathers to thy heeles, 
 And flye (like thought) from them, to me againe. 
 
 Baft. The fpirit of the time ftiall teach me fpeed.Exit 
 
 lobn. Spoke like a fprightfull Noble Gentleman. 
 Go after him : for he perhaps fliall neede 
 Some Mefienger betwixt me, and the Peeres, 
 And be thou hee. 
 
 Mej. With all my heart, my Liege. 
 
 lobn. My mother dead ? 
 
 Enter Hubert. 
 
 Hub. My Lord, they fay fiue Moones were feene to 
 Foure fixed, and the fift did whirle about (night: 
 
 The other foure, in wondrous motion. 
 
 lob. Fiue Moones ? 
 
 Hub. Old men, and Beldames, in the ftreets 
 Do prophefie vpon it dangeroufly : 
 Yong Arthurs death is common in their mouths, 
 And when they talke of him, they fhake their heads, 
 And whifper one another in the eare. 
 And he that fpeakes, doth gripe the hearers wrift, 
 Whilft he that heares, makes fearefull action 
 With wrinkled browes, with nods, with rolling eyes. 
 I faw a Smith ftand with his hammer (thus) 
 The whilft his Iron did on the Anuile coole, 
 With open mouth fwallowing a Taylors newes, 
 Who with his Sheeres, and Meafure in his hand, 
 Standing on flippers, which his nimble hafte 
 Had falfely thruft vpon contrary feete, 
 Told of a many thoufand warlike French, 
 That were embattailed, and rank'd in Kent. 
 Another leane, vnwafh'd Artificer, 
 Cuts off his tale, and talkes of Arthurs death. 
 
 Jo. Why feek'ft thou to poffefle me with thefe feares?. 
 Why vrgeft thou fo oft yong Arthurs death ? 
 Thy hand hath murdred him : I had a mighty caufe 
 To wifti him dead, but thou hadft none to kill him. 
 
 f/.No had (my Lord?) why, did you not prouoke me? 
 
 lobn. It is the curfe of Kings, to be attended 
 By flaues, that take their humors for a warrant, 
 To breake within the bloody houfe of life, 
 And on the winking of Authoritie 
 To vnderftand a Law; to know the meaning 
 Of dangerous Maiefty, when perchance it frownes 
 More vpon humor, then aduis'd refpedl. 
 
 Ha^.Heere is your hand and Scale for what I did. 
 
 lob. Oh, when the laft accompt twixt heauen & earth 
 Is to be made, then fliall this hand and Scale 
 Witnefle againft vs to damnation. 
 How oft the fight of meanes to do ill deeds, 
 Make deeds ill done ? Had'ft not thou beene by, 
 A fellow by the hand of Nature mark'd, 
 Quoted, and fign'd to do a deede of fliame, 
 This murther had not come into my minde. 
 But taking note of thy abhorr'd Afpeft, 
 Finding thee fit for bloody villanie : 
 Apt, liable to be employ'd in danger, 
 I faintly broke with thee of Arthurs death : 
 And thou, to be endeered to a King, 
 Made it no confcience to dettroy a Prince. 
 
 Hub. My Lord. 
 
 /e&.Had'ft thou but fhooke thy head, or made a paufe 
 When I fpake darkely, what I purpofed: 
 Or turn'd an eye of doubt vpon my face ; 
 As bid me tell my tale in exprefle words : 
 Deepe fliame had ftruck me dumbe, made me break off, 
 And thofe thy feares, might haue wrought feares in me. 
 But, thou didft vnderftand me by my fignes, 
 And didft in fignes againe parley with finne, 
 Yea, without ftop, didft let thy heart confent, 
 And confequently, thy rude hand to acle 
 The deed, which both our tongues held vilde to name. 
 Out of my fight, and neuer fee me more : 
 My Nobles leaue me, and my State is braued, 
 Euen at my gates, with rankes of forraigne powres; 
 Nay, in the body of this fleftily Land, 
 This kingdome, this Confine of blood, and breathe 
 Hoftilitie, and ciuill tumult reignes 
 Betweene my confcience, and my Cofins death. 
 
 Hub. Arme you againft your other enemies : 
 lie make a peace betweene your foule, and you. 
 Yong Arthur is aliue : This hand of mine 
 Isyet a maiden, and an innocent hand. 
 Not painted with the Crimfon fpots of blood, 
 Within this bofome, neuer entred yet 
 The dreadfull motion of a murderous thought, 
 And you haue flander'd Nature in my forme, 
 Which howfueuer rude exteriorly, 
 Is yet the couer of a fayrer minde, 
 Then to be butcher of an innocent childe. 
 
 lobn. Doth Arthur liue?O haft thee to the Peeres, 
 Throw this report on their incenfad rage, 
 And make them tame to their obedience. 
 Forgiue the Comment that my paffion made 
 Vpon thy feature, for my rage was blinde, 
 And foule immaginarie eyes of blood 
 Prefented thee more hideous then thou art. 
 Oh, anfwer not 5 but to my ClolTet bring 
 The angry Lords, with all expedient haft, 
 I coniure thee but flowly : run more faft. Exeunt. 
 
 Scaena Tertia. 
 
 Enter Arthur on the walks. 
 
 Ar. The Wall is high, and yet will I leape downe. 
 Good ground be pittifull, and hurt me not : 
 There's few or none do know me, if they did, 
 This Ship-boyes femblance hath difguis'd me quite. 
 I am afraide, and yet He venture it. 
 If I get downe, and do not breake my limbes, 
 He finde a thoufand fliifts to get away ; 
 As good to dye, and go ; as dye, and ftay. 
 Oh me, my Vnckles fpirit is in thefe ftones, 
 Heauen take my foule, and England keep my bones. Dies 
 
 Enter Pembroke, Salisbury t & 'Bigot. 
 Sal. Lords, I will meet him at S. Edmondsbury t 
 It is our fafetie, and we muft embrace 
 This gentle offer of the perillous time. 
 
 Pern. Who brought that Letter from the Cardinall? 
 Sal. The Count Meloone, a Noble Lord ofF ranee, 
 Whofe pr'uate with me of the Dolphincs loue, 
 Is much more general!, then thefe lines import. 
 
 Big. 
 
 Jio
 
 The life and death ofl^ing'John. 
 
 Big. To morrow morning let vs meete him then. 
 
 Sal. Or rather then fet forward, for 'twill be 
 Two long dayes iourney (Lords) or ere we meete. 
 Enter 'Baftard. 
 
 'BaJl.Once more to day well met, diftemper'd Lords, 
 The King by me requefts your prefence ftraight. 
 
 Sal. The king hath difpoffeft himfelfe of vs, 
 We will not lyne his thin-beftained cloake 
 With our pure Honors : nor attend the foote 
 That leaues the print of blood where ere it walkes. 
 Returne,and tell him fo : we know the worft. 
 
 'Baft. What ere you thinke,good words I thinke 
 were bed. 
 
 Sal. Our greefes, and not our manners reafon now. 
 
 Baft. But there is little reafon in your greefe. 
 
 Therefore 'twere reafon you had manners now. 
 
 Pern. Sir, fir, impatience hath his priuiledge. 
 
 'Baft. 'Tis true, to hurt his mafter, no mans elfe. 
 
 Sal. This is the prifon : What is he lyes heere ? 
 
 P. Oh death, made proud with pure & princely beuty, 
 The earth had not a hole to hide this deede. 
 
 Sal. Murther, as hating what himfelfe hath done, 
 Doth lay it open to vrge on reuenge. 
 
 Big. Or when he doom'd this Beautie to a graue, 
 Found it too precious Princely, for a graue. 
 
 Sal. Sir Richard, what thinke you? you haue beheld, 
 Or haue you read, or heard, or could you thinke f 
 Or do you almoft thinke, although you fee, 
 That you do fee ? Could thought, without this obiedt 
 Forme fuch another ? This is the very top, 
 The heighth, the Creft : or Creft vnto the Creft 
 Of murthers Armes: This is the bloodieft fhame, 
 The wildeft Sauagery, the vildeft ftroke 
 That euer wall-ey'd wrath, or ftaring rage 
 Prefented to the teares of foft remorfe. 
 
 Pern. All murthers pafV, do ftand excus'd in this : 
 And this fo fole, and fo vnmatcheable, 
 Shall giue a holineffe, a puritie, 
 To the yet vnbegotten finne of times; 
 And proue a deadly blood-fhed, but a left, 
 Exampled by this heynous fpedtacle. 
 
 'Baft. It is a damned, and a bloody worke, 
 The gracelefle action of a heauy hand, 
 If that it be the worke of any hand. 
 
 Sal. If that it be the worke of any hand ? 
 We had a kinde of light, what would enfue: 
 It is the fhamefull worke of Huberts hand, 
 The practice, and the purpofe of the king : 
 From whofe obedience I forbid my foule. 
 Kneeling before this ruine of fweete life, 
 And breathing to his breathlefie Excellence 
 The Incenfe of a Vow, a holy Vow: 
 Neuer to tafte the pleafures of the world, 
 Neuer to be infected with delight, 
 Nor conuerfant with Eafe,and Idlenefle, 
 Till I haue fet a glory to this hand, 
 By giuing it the worfhip of Reuenge. 
 
 Pent. Big. Our foules religioufly confirme thy words. 
 Enter Hubert. 
 
 Hub. Lords, I am hot with hafte, in feeking you, 
 Arthur doth Hue, the king hath.fent for you. 
 
 Sal. Oh he is bold, and blufhes not at death, 
 Auant thou hatefull villain, get thee gone. (the Law ? 
 
 Hu. I am no villaine. Sal. Muft I rob 
 
 Baft. Your fword is bright fir, put it vp againe. 
 Sal. Not till I flieath it in a murtherers skin. 
 
 321 
 
 Hub. Stand backe Lord Salsbury, ftand backe I fay 
 By heauen, I thinke my fword's as fharpe as yours. 
 I would not haue you ( Lord ) forget your felfe, 
 Nor tempt the danger of my true defence} 
 Leaft I, by marking of your rage, forget 
 your Worth, your Greatnefle, and Nobility. 
 
 'Big. Out dunghill : dar'ft thou braue a Nobleman ? 
 
 Hub. Not for my life : But yet I dare defend 
 My innocent life againft an Emperor. 
 
 Sal. Thou art a Murtherer. 
 
 Hub. Do not proue me fo : 
 
 Yet I am none. Whofe tongue fo ere fpeakes falfe, 
 Not truely fpeakes : who fpeakes not truly , Lies. 
 
 Pern. Cut him to peeces. 
 
 Baft. Keepe the peace, I fay. 
 
 Sal. Stand by, or I fhall gaul you Faulcotibridge . 
 
 'Baft. Thou wer't better gaul the diuell Salsbury. 
 If thou but frowne on me, or ftirre thy foote, 
 Or teach thy haftie fpleene to do me fhame, 
 He ftrike thee dead. Put vp thy fword betime, 
 Or He fo maule you, and your tofting-Iron, 
 That you fhall thinke the diuell is come from hell. 
 
 Big. What wilt thou do, renowned Faukonbndge} 
 Second a Villaine, and a Murtherer? 
 
 Hnb. Lord 'Bigot, I am none. 
 
 Big. Who kill'd this Prince ? 
 
 Hub. 'Tis not an houre fince I left him well : 
 I honour'd him, I lou'd him, and will weepe 
 My date of life out, for his fweete Hues loffe. 
 
 Sal. Truft not thofe cunning waters of his eyes, 
 For villanie is not without fuch rheume, 
 And he, long traded in it, makes it feeme 
 Like Riuers of remorfe and innocencie. 
 Away with me, all you whofe foules abhorre 
 Th'vncleanly fauours of a Slaughter-houfe, 
 For I am ftifled with this fmell of finne. 
 
 'Big. Away, toward 'Burie,^ the Dolphin there. 
 
 P.There tel the king, he may inquire vs out.Ex. Lord's . 
 
 IBa.Here's a good world:knew you of this faire work? 
 Beyond the infinite and boundlefTe reach of mercie, 
 (If thou didft this deed of death) art y damn'd Hubert. 
 
 Hub Do but heare me fir. 
 
 'Baft. Ha? He tell thee what. 
 
 Thou'rt damn'd as blacke, nay nothing is fo blacke, 
 Thou art more deepe damn'd then Prince Lucifer : 
 There is not yet fo vgly a fiend of hell 
 As thou fhalt be, if thou didft kill this childe. 
 
 Hub. Vpon my foule. 
 
 Baft. If thou didft but confent 
 To this moft cruell Act : do but difpaire, 
 And if thou want'ft a Cord, the fmalleft thred 
 That euer Spider twifted from her wombe 
 Will ferue to ftrangle thee : A rufh will be a beame 
 To hang thee on. Or wouldft thou drowne thy felfe, 
 Put but a little water in a fpoone, 
 And it fhall be as all the Ocean, 
 Enough to ftifle fuch a villaine vp. 
 I do fufpedt thee very greeuoufly. 
 
 Hub. If I in act, confent, or finne of thought, 
 Be guiltie of the ftealing that fweete breath 
 Which was embounded in this beauteous clay, 
 Let hell want paines enough to torture me : 
 I left him well. 
 
 Baft. Go,beare him in thine armes: 
 I am amaz'd me thinkes, and loofe my way 
 Among the thornes,and dangers of this world. 
 
 K How
 
 i8 
 
 The life and death ofTQng'John. 
 
 How eafie doft thou take all England vp , 
 
 From forth this morcell of dead Royaltie ? 
 
 The life, the right, and truth of all this Realme 
 
 Is fled to heauen : and England now is left 
 
 To tug and fcamble, and to part by th'teeth 
 
 The vn-owed intereft of proud fwelling State: 
 
 Now for the bare-piclct bone of Maiefty, 
 
 Doth dogged warre briftle his angry creft , 
 
 And fnarleth in the gentle eyes of peace : 
 
 Now Powers from home, and difcontents at home 
 
 Meet in one line : and vaft confufion waites 
 
 As doth a Rauen on a ficke-falne beaft, 
 
 The iminent decay of wrefted pompe. 
 
 Now happy he, whofe cloake and center can 
 
 Hold out this tempeft. Beare away that childe, 
 
 And follow me with fpeed : He to the King: 
 
 A thoufand bufineffes are briefe in hand , 
 
 And heauen it felfe doth frowne vpon the Land. Exit. 
 
 Quartus, Sccena prima. 
 
 Enter King lobn and Pandolph, attendants. 
 
 K.Iobn. Thus haue I yeelded vp into your hand 
 The Circle of my glory. 
 
 Pan. Take againe 
 
 From this my hand, as holding of the Pope 
 Your Soueraigne greatnefle and authoritie. 
 
 lobn. Now keep your holy word, go meet the French, 
 And from his holinefle vfe all your power 
 To flop their marches 'fore we are enflam'd : 
 Our difcontented Counties doe reuolt : 
 Our people quarrell with obedience, 
 Swearing Allegiance, and the loue of foule 
 To ftranger-bloud, to forren Royalty ; 
 This inundation of miftempred humor, 
 Refts by you onely to be qualified. 
 Then paufe not : for the prefent time's fo ficke , 
 That prefent medcine muft be miniftred , 
 Or ouerthrow incureable enfues. 
 
 Pand. It was my breath that blew this Tempeft vp, 
 Vpon your ftubborne vfage of the Pope: 
 But fince you are a gentle conuertite, 
 My tongue fhall hufh againe this ftorme of warre, 
 And make faire weather in your bluftring land : 
 On this Afcention day, remember well, 
 Vpon your oath of feruice to the Pope, 
 Goe I to make the French lay downe their Armes. Sxit . 
 
 lobn. Is this Afcenfion day? did not the Prophet 
 Say, that before Afcenfion day at noone, 
 My Crowne I fhould giue off? euen fo I haue : 
 I did fuppofe it fhould be on constraint, 
 But(heau'n be thank'd) it is but voluntary. 
 Enter <BaJlard. 
 
 Baft. All Kent hath yeelded : nothing there holds out 
 But Douer Caftle : London hath receiu'd 
 Like a kinde Hoft, the Dolphin and his powers. 
 Your Nobles will not heare you, but are gone 
 To offer feruice to your enemy : 
 And wilde amazement hurries vp and downe 
 The little number of your doubtfull friends. 
 
 lobn. Would not my Lords returne to me againe 
 After they heard yong tArtbur was aliue ? 
 
 Bait. They found him dead, and caft into the ftreets, 
 An empty Casket, where the lewell of life 
 By fome damn'd hand was rob'd,and tane away. 
 
 lobn. That villaine Hubert told me he did liue. 
 
 Baft. So on my foule he did, for ought he knew : 
 But wherefore doe you droope ? why looke you fad ? 
 Be great in a6t, as you haue beene in thought : 
 Let not the world fee feare and fad diftruft 
 Gouerne the motion of a kinglye eye : 
 Be ftirringas the time, be fire with fire, 
 Threaten the threatner,and out-face the brow 
 Of bragging horror : So fhall inferior eyes 
 That borrow their behauiours from the great , 
 Grow great by your example, and put on 
 The dauntleffe fpirit of refolution. 
 Away, and glifter like the god of warre 
 When he intendeth to become the field : 
 Shew boldnefle and afpiring confidence: 
 What, fliall they feeke the Lion in his denne, 
 And fright him there ? and make him tremble there? 
 Oh let it not be faid : forrage,and runne 
 To meet difpleafure farther from the dores , 
 And grapple with him ere he come fo nye. 
 
 lobn. The Legat of the Pope hath beene with mee, 
 And I haue made a happy peace with him , 
 And he hath promis'd to difmiffe the Powers 
 Led by the Dolphin. 
 
 Baft. Oh inglorious league : 
 Shall we vpon the footing of our land, 
 Send fayre-play-orders,and make comprimife, 
 Infinuation, parley, and bafe truce 
 To Armes Inuafiue f Shall a beardleffe boy, 
 A cockred-filken wanton braue our fields, 
 And flefh his fpirit in a warre-like foyle, 
 Mocking the ayre with colours idlely fpred, 
 And finde no checke ? Let vs my Liege to Armes : 
 Perchance the Cardinall cannot make your peace ; 
 Or if he doe, let it at leaft be faid 
 They faw we had a purpofe of defence. 
 
 lobn. Haue thou the ordering of this prefent time. 
 
 Baft. Away then with good courage : yet I know 
 Our Partie may well meet a prowder foe. Exeunt. 
 
 Sccena Secunda. 
 
 Enter [in Armes} Dolphin , Salisbury , t&felocne , Pern 
 brotg) Bigot , Souldiers. 
 
 Dol. My Lord Melloone,\e.l this be coppied out, 
 And keepe it fafe for our remembrance : 
 Returne the prefident to thefe Lords againe, 
 That hauing our faire order written downe, 
 Both they and we, perufing ore thefe notes 
 May know wherefore we tooke the Sacrament, 
 And keepe our faithes firme and inuiolable. 
 
 Sal. Vpon our fides it neuer /hall be broken. 
 And Noble Dolphin, albeit we fweare 
 A voluntary zeale, and an vn-urg'd Faith 
 To your proceedings : yet beleeue me Prince, 
 I am not glad that fuch a fore of Time 
 Should feeke a plafter by contemn'd reuolt, 
 And heale the inueterate Canker of one wound,
 
 'The life and death offing John. 
 
 By making many : Oh it grieues my foule , 
 
 That I muft draw this mettle from my fide 
 
 To be a widdow-maker : oh, and there 
 
 Where honourable refcue, and defence 
 
 Cries out vpon the name of Salisbury. 
 
 But fuch is the infection of the time , 
 
 That for the health and Phyficke of our right, 
 
 We cannot deale but with the very hand 
 
 Of fterne Iniuftice,and confufed wrong : 
 
 And is't not pitty, (oh my grieued friends ) 
 
 That we, the fonnes and children of this Ifle, 
 
 Was borne to fee fo fad an houre as this , 
 
 Wherein we ftep after a ftranger, march 
 
 Vpon her gentle bofom, and fill vp 
 
 Her Enemies rankes ? I muft withdraw, and weepe 
 
 Vpon the fpot of this inforced caufe, 
 
 To grace the Gentry of a Land remote, 
 
 And follow vnacquainted colours heere : 
 
 What heere ? O Nation that thou couldft remoue, 
 
 That Neptunes Armes who clippeth thee about, 
 
 Would beare thee from the knowledge of thy felfe, 
 
 And cripple thee vnto a Pagan fliore, 
 
 Where thefe two Chriftian Armies might combine 
 
 The bloud of malice, in a vaine of league, 
 
 And not to fpend it fo vn-neigh hourly. 
 
 Dolpb. A noble temper doft thou fliew in this, 
 And great affections wraftling in thy bofome 
 Doth make an earth-quake of Nobility : 
 Oh, what a noble combat haft fought 
 Between compulfion,and a braue refpect : 
 Let me wipe off this honourable dewe , 
 That filuerly doth progrefie on thy cheekes : 
 My heart hath melted at a Ladies teares , 
 Being an ordinary Inundation : 
 But this effufion of fuch manly drops, 
 This fliowre, blowne vp by temped of the foule, 
 Startles mine eyes, and makes me more amaz'd 
 Then had I feene the vaultie top of heauen 
 Figur'd quite ore wirh burning Meteors. 
 Lift vp thy brow (renowned Saluburie) 
 And with a great heart heaue away this ftorme: 
 Commend thefe waters to thofe baby-eyes 
 That neuer faw the giant-world enrag'd , 
 Nor met with Fortune, other then at feafts , 
 Full warm of blood, of mirth, of gofiipping : 
 Come, come ; for thou flialt thruft thy hand as deepe 
 Into the purfe of rich profperity 
 As Lewis himfelfe : fo (Nobles) fliall you all, 
 That knit your finewes to the ftrength of mine. 
 
 Enter Pandulpho. 
 
 And euen there, methinkes an Angell fpake, 
 Looke where the holy Legate comes apace, 
 To giue vs warrant from the hand of heauen, 
 And on our actions fet the name of right 
 With holy breath. 
 
 Pand. Haile noble Prince of France : 
 The next is this : King lobn hath reconcil'd 
 Himfelfe to Rome, his fpirit is come in , 
 That fo flood out againft the holy Church, 
 The great Metropolis and Sea of Rome : 
 Therefore thy threatning Colours now winde vp , 
 And tame the fauage fpirit of wilde warre, 
 That like a Lion foftered vp at hand, 
 It may lie gently at the foot of peace, 
 And be no further harmefull then in fliewe. 
 
 Dol. Your Grace fliall pardon me, I will not backe : 
 
 I am too high-borne to be propertied 
 
 To be a fecondary at controll, 
 
 Or vfefull feruing-man, and Inftrument 
 
 To any Soueraigne State throughout the world. 
 
 Your breath firft kindled the dead coale of warres, 
 
 Betweene this chaftiz'd kingdome and my felfe, 
 
 And brought in matter that fliould feed this fire ; 
 
 And now 'tis farre too huge to be blowne out 
 
 With that fame weake winde, which enkindled it : 
 
 You taught me how to know the face of right, 
 
 Acquainted me with intereft to this Land , 
 
 Yea, thruft this enterptize into my heart, 
 
 And come ye now to tell me lobn hath made 
 
 His peace with Rome? what is that peace to me^ 
 
 I (by the honour of my marriage bed ) 
 
 After yong Arthur, claime this Land for mine ,. 
 
 And now it is halfe conquer'd, muft I backe, 
 
 Becaufe that lohn hath made his peace with ~E(ome ? 
 
 Am I Romes flaue? What penny hath Rome borne? 
 
 What men prouided ? What munition fent 
 
 To vnder-prop this Action ? Is't not I 
 
 That vnder-goe this charge? Who elfe but I , 
 
 And fuch as to my claime are liable, 
 
 Sweat in this bufinefie,and maintaine this warred 
 
 Haue I not heard thefe Iflanders fliout out 
 
 fJiue le Roy, as I haue bank'd their Townes? 
 
 Haue I not heere the beft Cards for the game 
 
 To winne this eafie match, plaid for a Crowne ? 
 
 And fliall I now giue ore the yeelded Set ? 
 
 No, no, on my foule it neuer fliall be faid. 
 
 Pand. You looke but on the out-fide of this worke. 
 
 Dol. Out-fide or in-fide,I will not returne 
 Till my attempt fo much be glorified , 
 As to my ample hope was prom i fed , 
 Before I drew this gallant head of warre , 
 And cull'd thefe fiery fpirits from the world 
 To out-looke Conqueft,and to winne renowne 
 Euen in the iawes of danger, and of death : 
 What lufty Trumpet thus doth fummon vs f 
 Snter 'Bajlard. 
 
 e Baft. According to the faire-play of the world, 
 Let me haue audience : I am fent to fpeake : 
 My holy Lord of Millane, from the King 
 I come to learne how you haue dealt for him : 
 And, as you anfwer, I doe know the fcope 
 And warrant limited vnto my tongue. 
 
 Pand. The Dolphin is too wilfull oppofite 
 And will not temporize with my intreaties: 
 He flatly faies, heell not lay downe his Armes. 
 
 'Baft. By all the bloud that euer fury breath'd, 
 The youth faies well. Now heare our Englijh King, 
 For thus his Royaltie doth fpeake in me : 
 He is prepar'd, and reafon to he fliould, 
 This apifti and vnmannerly approach, 
 This harnefs'd Maske, and vnaduifed Reuell, 
 This vn-heard fawr.inefle and boyifli Troopes, 
 The King doth fmile at,and is well prepar'd 
 To whip this dwarfifli warre, this Pigmy Armes 
 From out the circle of his Territories. 
 That hand which had the ftrength, euen at your dore, 
 To cudgell you, and make you take the hatch, 
 To diue like Buckets in concealed Welles, 
 To crowch in litter of your ftable plankes, 
 To lye like pawnes, lock'd vp in chefts and truncks, 
 To hug with fwine, to feeke fweet fafety out 
 In vaults and prifons, and to thrill and (hake,
 
 20 
 
 The life and death of^ing'John. 
 
 Euen at the crying of your Nations crow, 
 Thinking this voyce an armed Englishman. 
 Shall that victorious hind be feebled heere, 
 That in your Chambers gaue you chafticement? 
 No : know the gallant Monarch is in Armes, 
 And like an Eagle, o're his ayerie towres, 
 To fowfle annoyance that comes neere his Neft; 
 And you degenerate, you ingrate Reuolts, 
 you bloudy Nero's, ripping vp the wombe 
 Of your deere Mother-England: blufli for fliame: 
 For your owne Ladies, and pale-vifag'd Maides, 
 Like Amaxons, come tripping after drummes : 
 Their thimbles into armed Gantlets change, 
 Their Needl's to Lances, and their gentle hearts 
 To fierce and bloody inclination. 
 
 e Dol. There end thy braue, and turn thy face in peace, 
 We grant thou canft out-fcold vs : Far thee well, 
 We hold our time too precious to be fpent 
 With fuch a brabler. 
 
 Pan. Giue me leaue to fpeake. 
 
 Baft. No, I will fpeake. 
 
 Do/. We will attend to neyther : 
 Strike vp the drummes, and let the tongue of warre 
 Pleade for our intereft, and our being heere. 
 
 Baft. Indeede your drums being beaten, wil cry out } 
 And fo fliall you, being beaten : Do but ftart 
 AH eccho with the clamor of thy drumme, 
 And euen at hand, a drumme is readie brac'd, 
 That fliall reuerberate all, as lowd as thine. 
 Sound but another, and another fhall 
 (As lowd as thine) rattle the Welkins eare, 
 And mocke the deepe mouth'd Thunder : for at hand 
 (Not trufting to this halting Legate heere, 
 Whom he hath vs'd rather for fport, then neede) 
 Is warlike lobn : and in his fore-head fits 
 A bare-rib'd death, whofe office is this day 
 To feaft vpon whole thoufands of the French. 
 
 Do/. Strike vp our drummes, to finde this danger out. 
 
 Baft, And thou flialt finde it ('Dolphin) do not doubt 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Sctena Tertia. 
 
 Alarums. Enter lobn and Hubert, 
 
 lobn. How goes the day with vs? oh tell me Hubert. 
 
 Hub. Badly I feare ; how fares your Maiefty ? 
 
 lobn. This Feauer that hath troubled me fo long, 
 Lyes heauie on me : oh, my heart is ficke. 
 Enter a fftfejjenger. 
 
 Mef. My Lord : your valiant kinfman Falconbridge, 
 Defires your Maieftie to leaue the field, 
 And fend him word by me, which way you go. 
 
 lobn. Tell him toward Sivinfted, to the Abbey there. 
 
 cftfef. Be of good comfort: for rhe great fupply 
 That was expected by the Dolphin heere, 
 Are wrack'd three nights ago on Goodwin fands. 
 This newes was brought to Richard but euen now, 
 The French fight coldly,and retyre themfelues. 
 
 lobn. Aye me, this tyrant Feauer burnes mee vp, 
 And will not let me welcome this good newes. 
 Set on toward Svinjied : to my Litter ftraight, 
 Weaknefle pofTefleth me, and I am faint. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Quart a. 
 
 Enter Salisbury, "Pembroke, and 'Bigot. 
 
 Sal. I did not thinke the King fo ftor'd with friends. 
 
 Pern. Vp once againe : put fpirit in the French, 
 If they mifcarry : we mifcarry too. 
 
 Sat. That misbegotten diuell Falconbridge, 
 In fpight of fpight, alone vpholds the day. 
 
 Pern. They fay King lobn fore fick, hath left the field. 
 Enter Meloon tviunded. 
 
 Mel. Lead me to the Reuolts of England heere. 
 
 Sal. When we were happie, we had other names. 
 
 Pern. It is the Count Meloone. 
 
 Sal. Wounded to death. 
 
 Mel. Fly Noble Englifli, you are bought and fold, 
 Vnthred the rude eye of Rebellion, 
 And welcome home againe difcarded faith, 
 Seeke out King lobn, and fall before his feete : 
 For if the French be Lords of this loud day, 
 He meanes to recompence the paines you take, 
 By cutting off your heads: Thus hath he fworne, 
 And I with him, and many moe with mee, 
 Vpon the Altar at S. Edmotidstury, 
 Euen on that Altar, where we fwore to you 
 Deere Amity, and euerlafting loue. 
 
 Sal. May this be poflible? May this be true? 
 
 Mel. Haue I not hideous death within my view, 
 Retaining but a quantity of life, 
 Which bleeds away, euen as a forme of waxe 
 Refolueth from his figure 'gainft the fire? 
 What in the world fliould make me now deceiue, 
 Since I muft loofe the vfe of all deceite? 
 Why fliould I then be falfe, fince it is true 
 That I muft dye heere, and Hue hence, by Truth ? 
 I fay againe, if Letvis do win the day, 
 He is forfworne, if ere thofe eyes of yours 
 Behold another day breake in the Eaft : 
 But euen this night, whofe blacke contagious breath 
 Already fmoakes about the burning Creft 
 Of the old, feeble, and day-wearied Sunne, 
 Euen this ill night, your breathing fliall expire, 
 Paying the fine of rated Treachery, 
 Euen with a treacherous fine of all your liues: 
 If Lewis, by your afsiftance win the day. 
 Commend me to one Hubert, with your King ; 
 The loue of him, and thisrefpedl befides 
 (For that my Grandfire was an Englifliman) 
 Awakes my Confcience to confefle all this. 
 In lieu whereof, I pray you beare me hence 
 From forth the noife and rumour of the Field; 
 Where I may thinke the remnant of my thoughts 
 In peace : and part this bodie and my foule 
 With contemplation, and deuout defires. 
 
 Sal. We do beleeue thee, and belhrew my foule, 
 But I do loue the fauour, and the forme 
 Of this moft faire occafion, by the which 
 We will vntread the fteps of damned flight, 
 And like a bated and retired Flood, 
 Leauing our ranknefle and irregular courfe, 
 Stoope lowe within thofe bounds we haue ore-look'd, 
 And calmely run on in obedience 
 Euen to our Ocean, to our great King lobn. 
 My arme fliall giue thee helpe to beare thee hence, 
 
 For 
 
 3*4
 
 The life and death ofT^ing ''John. 
 
 21 
 
 For I do fee the cruell pangs of death 
 
 Right in thine eye. Away, my friends, new flight, 
 
 And happie newnefie, that intends old right. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Quinfa. 
 
 Enter 'Dolphin, and bis Traine. 
 
 Del. The Sun of heauen(me thought) was loth to fet; 
 But ftaid,and made the Wefterne Welkin blufh, 
 When Englifh meafure backward their owne ground 
 In faint Retire : Oh brauely came we off, 
 When with a volley of our needlefle /hot, 
 After fuch bloody toile, we bid good night. 
 And woon'd our tott'ring colours clearly vp, 
 Laft in the field, and almoft Lords of it. 
 Enter a Mejjenger. 
 
 Mef. Where is my Prince, the Dolphin ? 
 
 Dol. Heere : what newes ? 
 
 Mef. The Count Meloone is flaine: The Engli/h Lords 
 By his perfwafion, are againe falne off, 
 And your fupply, which you haue wifh'd fb long, 
 Are caft away, and funke on Goodwin fands. 
 
 Dol, Ah fowle, fhrew'd newes. Beflirew thy very 
 I did not thinke to be fo fad to night (hart : 
 
 As this hath made me. Who was he that faid 
 King lobn did flic an houre or two before 
 The ftumbling night did part our wearie powres? 
 
 Mef. Who euer fpoke it, it is true my Lord. 
 
 Z)o/.Well : keepe good quarter, & good care to night, 
 The day fhall not be vp fo foone as I, 
 To try the faire aduenture of to morrow. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Sexta. 
 
 Enter Baftard and Hubert ,feuerally. 
 
 Hub. Whofe there t Speake hoa, fpeake quickely, or 
 I flioote. 
 
 'Baft. A. Friend. What art thou ? 
 
 Hub. Of the part of England. 
 
 'Baft. Whether doeft thou go ? 
 
 Hub. What's that to thee ? 
 Why may not I demand of thine affaires, 
 As well as thou of mine ? 
 
 'Baft. Hubert, I thinke . 
 
 Hub. Thou haft a perfed thought : 
 I will vpon all hazards well beleeue 
 Thou art my friend, that know'ft my tongue fo well : 
 Who art thou ? 
 
 Baft. Who thou wilt : and if thou pleafe 
 Thou maift be-friend me fo much, as to thinke 
 I come one way of the Plantagenets. 
 
 Hub. Vnkinde remembrance : thou, & endles night, 
 Haue done me fliame : Braue Soldier, pardon me, 
 That any accent breaking from thy tongue, 
 Should fcape the true acquaintance of mine eare. 
 
 Baft. Come, come : fans complement, What newes 
 abroad ? 
 
 Hub. Why heere walke I, in the black brow of night 
 To finde you out. 
 
 3*5 
 
 Baft. Brcefe then : and what's the newes? 
 
 Hub. O my fweet fir, newes fitting to the night, 
 Blacke, fearefull, comfortlefie, and horrible. 
 
 'Baft. Shew me the very wound of this ill newes, 
 I am no woman, He not fwound at it. 
 
 Hub. The King I feare is poyfon'd by a Monke, 
 I left him almoft fpeechlefTe, and broke out 
 To acquaint you with this euill,that you might 
 The better arme you to the fodaine time, 
 Then if you had at leifure knowne of this. 
 
 'Baft. How did he take it ? Who did tafte to him ? 
 
 Hub. A Monke I tell you, a refolued villaine 
 Whofe Bowels fodainly burft out : The King 
 Yet fpeakes, and peraduenture may recouer. 
 
 Baft. Who didft thou leaue to tend his Maiefty ? 
 
 Hub. Why know you not? The Lords are all come 
 
 backe, 
 
 And brought Prince Henry in their companie, 
 At whofe requeft the king hath pardon'd them, 
 And they are all about his Maieftie. 
 
 'Baft. With- hold thine indignation, mighty heauen, 
 And tempt vs not to beare aboue our power. 
 He tell thee Hubert, halfe my power this night 
 Pafsing thefe Flats, are taken by the Tide, 
 Thefe Lincolne-Wafhes haue deuoured them, 
 My felfe, well mounted, hardly haue efcap'd. 
 Away before : Conduct me to the king, 
 I doubt he will be dead, or ere I come. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Septima. ' 
 
 Enter Prince Henry , Salulurie , and Bigot. 
 
 Hen. It is too late, the life of all his blood 
 Is touch'd, corruptibly : and his pure braine 
 (Which fome fuppofe the foules fraile dwelling houfe) 
 Doth by the idle Comments that it makes, 
 Fore-tell the ending of mortality. 
 Enter Pembroke. 
 
 Pern. His Highnefle yet doth fpeak, Be holds beleefe, 
 That being brought into the open ayre, 
 It would allay the burning qualitie 
 Of that fell poifon which afiayleth him. 
 
 Hen. Let him be brought into the Orchard heere : 
 Doth he ftill rage t 
 
 Pern. He is more patient 
 Then when you left him ; euen now he fung. 
 
 Hen. Oh vanity of fickneffe: fierce extreames 
 In their continuance, will not feele themfelues. 
 Death hauing praide vpon the outward parts 
 Leaues them inuifible, and his feige is now 
 Againft the winde, the which he prickes and wounds 
 With many legions of ftrange fantafies, 
 Which in their throng, and prefle to that laft hold, 
 Counfound themfelues. 'Tis ftrange y death fhold fing: 
 I am the Symet to this pale faint Swan, 
 Who chaunts a dolefull hymne to his owne death, 
 And from the organ-pipe of frailety lings 
 His fbule and body to their lafting reft. 
 
 Sal. Be of good comfort (Prince) for you are borne 
 To fet a forme vpon that indigeft 
 Which he hath left fo fliapelefle, and fo rude. 
 lobn brought in. 
 
 lobn. I marrie, now my foule hath elbow roome,
 
 22 
 
 'The life and death ofJ^ing'John. 
 
 It would not out at windowes, nor at doores, 
 There is fo hot a Cummer in my bofome, 
 That all my bowels crumble vp to duft : 
 I am a fcribled forme drawne with a pen 
 Vpon a Parchment, and againft this fire 
 Do I fhrinke vp. 
 
 Hen. How fares your Maiefty ? 
 
 lob. Poyfon'd, ill fare : dead, forfooke, caft off, 
 And none of you will bid the winter come 
 To thruft his ycie fingers in my maw ; 
 Nor let my kingdomes Riuers take their courfe 
 Through my burn'd bofome : nor intreat the North 
 To make his bleake windes kifle my parched lips, 
 And comfort me with cold. I do not aske you much, 
 I begge cold comfort : and you are fo ftraight 
 And fo ingratefull, you deny me that. 
 
 Hen. Oh that there were fome vertue in my teares, 
 That might releeue you. 
 
 lobn. The fait in them is hot. 
 Within me is a hell, and there the poyfon 
 Is, as a fiend, confin'd to tyrannize, 
 On vnrepreeuable condemned blood. 
 Enter 'Baftard. 
 
 Baft. Oh, I am fcalded with my violent motion 
 And fpleene offpeede, to fee your Maiefty. 
 
 lobn. Oh Cozen, thou art come to fet mine eye : 
 The tackle of my heart, is crack'd and burnt, 
 And all the fhrowds wherewith my life fhould faile, 
 Are turned to one thred, one little haire : 
 My heart hath one poore ftring to ftay it by, 
 Which holds but till thy newes be vttered, 
 And then all this thou feeft, is but a clod, 
 And module of confounded royalty. 
 
 'Baft. The Dolphin is preparing hither-ward, 
 Where heauen he knowes how we fliall anfwer him. 
 For in a night the beft part of my powre, 
 As I vpon aduantage did remoue, 
 Were in the IVajhes all vnwarily, 
 Deuoured by the vnexpedled flood. 
 
 Sal. You breath thefe dead newes in as dead an eare 
 My Liege, my Lord : but now a King, now thus. 
 
 Hen. Euen fo muft I run on, and euen fo flop. 
 What furety of the world, what hope, what ftay, 
 When this was now a King, and now is clay ? 
 
 'Baft. Art thou gone fo ? I do but ftay behinde, 
 To do the office for thee, of reuenge, 
 And then my foule fliall waite on thee to heauen, 
 
 As it on earth hath bene thy feruant ftill. 
 
 Now, now you Starres, that moue in your right fpheres, 
 
 Where be your powres? Shew now your mended faiths, 
 
 And inftantly returne with me againe. 
 
 To pufli deftrudlion,and perpetuall fliame 
 
 Out of the weake doore of our fainting Land: 
 
 Straight let vs feeke, or ftraight we fhall be fought, 
 
 The Dolphine rages at our verie heeles. 
 
 Sal. It feemes you know not then fo much as we, 
 The Cardinall Pandulph is within at reft, 
 Who halfe an houre iincecame from the Dolphin, 
 And brings from him fuch offers of our peace, 
 As we with honor and refpecl may take, 
 With purpofe prefently to leaue this warre. 
 
 'Baft. He will the rather do it, when he fees 
 Our felues well finew'd to our defence. 
 
 Sal. Nay, 'tis in a manner done already, 
 For many carriages hee hath difpatch'd 
 To the fea fide, and put his caufe and quarrell 
 To the difpofing of the Cardinall, 
 With whom your felfe, my felfe, and other Lords, 
 If you thinke meete, this afternoone will poaft 
 To confummate this bufmefle happily. 
 
 Baft. Let it be fo, and you my noble Prince, 
 With other Princes that may beft be fpar'd, 
 Shall waite vpon your Fathers Funeral!. 
 
 Hen. At Worfter muft his bodie be interr'd, 
 For fo he will'd it. 
 
 Baft. Thither fhall it then, 
 And happily may your fweet felfe put on 
 The lineall ftate, and glorie of the Land, 
 To whom with all fubmifsion on my knee, 
 I do bequeath my faithfull feruices 
 And true fubieclion euerlaftingly. 
 
 Sal. And the like tender of our loue wee make 
 To reft without a fpot for euermore. 
 
 Hen. I haue a kinde foule, that would glue thankes, 
 And knowes not how to do it, but with teares. 
 
 'Baft. Oh let vs pay the time : but needfull woe, 
 Since it hath beene before hand with our greefes. 
 This England neuer did, nor neuer fliall 
 Lye at the proud foote of a Conqueror, 
 But when it firft did helpe to wound it felfe. 
 Now, thefe her Princes are come home againe, 
 Come the three corners of the world in Armes, 
 And we fliall fhocke them : Naught fhall make vs rue, 
 If England to it felfe, do reft but true. Exeunt. 
 
 } z6
 
 2 3 
 
 The life and death of KingRichard 
 
 the Second. 
 
 ASlus^Primus , 
 
 ''Prima. 
 
 Enter King Richard, lobn of Gaunt, with other Nobles 
 and Attendants. 
 
 King Richard. 
 
 Ld lobn of Qaunt, time-honoured Lancafter, 
 Haft thou according to thy oath and band 
 Brought hither Henry Herford thy bold fbn : 
 Heere to make good e boiftrous late appeale, 
 Which then our leyfure would not let vs heare, 
 Againft the Duke of Norfolke, Thomas Motvbray ? 
 Gaunt. I haue my Liege. 
 
 King. Tell me moreouer, haft thou founded him, 
 If he appeale the Duke on ancient malice, 
 Or worthily as a good fubiedt fhould 
 On fome knowne ground of treacherie in him. 
 
 Gaunt. As neere as I could fift him on that argument, 
 On fbme apparant danger feene in him, 
 Aym'd at your Highnefie, no inueterate malice. 
 
 Kin. Then call them to our prefence face to face, 
 And frowning brow to brow, our felues will heare 
 Th'accufer, and the accufed, freely fpeake ; 
 High ftomackd are they both, and full of ire, 
 In rage, deafe as the fea; haftie as fire. 
 
 Enter i BuHingbrool$e and Moivbray. 
 
 ''Bui. Many yeares of happy dayes befall 
 My gracious Soueraigne, my moft louing Liege. 
 
 Mow. Each day ftill better others happinefie, 
 Vntill the heauens enuying earths good hap, 
 Adde an immortall title to your Crowne. 
 
 King. We thanke you both, yet one but flatters vs, 
 As well appeareth by the caufe you come, 
 Namely, to appeale each other of high treafon. 
 Coolin of Hereford, what doft thou obieft 
 Againft the Duke of Norfolke, Thomas Mowbray ? 
 
 Bui. Firft, heauen be the record to my fpeech, 
 In the deuotion of a fubie&s loue, 
 Tendering the precious fafetie of my Prince, 
 And free from other misbegotten hate, 
 Come I appealant to rhis Princely prefence. 
 Now Thomas Motvbray do I turne to thee, 
 And marke my greeting well : for what I fpeake, 
 My body /hall make good vpon this earth, 
 Or my diuine foule anfwer it in heauen. 
 Thou art a Traitor, and a Mifcreant ; 
 Too good to be fo, and too bad to liue, 
 Since the more faire and chriftall is the skie, 
 
 The vglier feeme the cloudes that in it flye : 
 
 Once more, the more to aggrauate the note, 
 
 With a foule Traitors name ftuffe I thy throte, 
 
 And wifh (fo pleafe my Soueraigne ) ere I moue, 
 
 What my tong fpeaks, my right drawn {word may proue 
 
 More. Let not my cold words heere accufe my zeale: 
 'Tis not the triall of a Womans warre, 
 The bitter clamour of two eager tongues, 
 Can arbitrate this caufe betwixt vs twaine : 
 The blood is hot that muft be cool'd for this. 
 Yet can I not of fuch tame patience boaft, 
 As to be hufht, and nought at all to fay. 
 Firft the faire reuerence of your Highnefie curbes mee, 
 From giuing reines and fpurres to my free fpeech, 
 Which elfe would poft, vntill it had return'd 
 Thefe tearmes of treafon, doubly downe his throat. 
 Setting afide his high bloods royalty, 
 And let him be no Kinfman to my Liege, 
 I do defie him, and I fpit at him, 
 Call him a flanderous Coward, and a Villaine : 
 Which to maintaine, I would allow him oddes, 
 And meete him, were I tide to runne afoote, 
 Euen to the frozen ridges of the Alpes, 
 Or any other ground inhabitable, 
 Where euer Engli/hman durft fet his foote. 
 Meane time, let this defend my loyaltie, 
 By all my .hopes moft falfely doth he lie. 
 
 'Bul.Pzle trembling Co ward, there I throw my gage, 
 Difclaiming heere the kindred of a King, 
 And lay afide my high bloods Royalty, 
 Which feare, not reuerence makes thee to except. 
 If guilty dread hath left thee fo much ftrength, 
 As to take vp mine Honors pawne, then ftoope. 
 By that, and all the rites of Knight-hood elfe, 
 Will I make good againft thee arme to arme, 
 What I haue fpoken, or thou canft deuife. 
 
 Moiv. I take it vp-, and by that fword I fweare, 
 Which gently laid my Knight-hood on my fhoulder, 
 He anfwer thee in any faire degree, 
 Or Chiualrous defigne of knightly triall : 
 And when I mount, aliue may I not light, 
 If I be Traitor, or vniuftly fight. 
 
 King.What doth our Cofin lay to Matobraies charge ? 
 It muft be great that can inherite vs, 
 So much as of a thought of ill in him. 
 
 "Ba/.Looke what I faid,my life fhall proue it true, 
 That Motvbray hath receiu'd eight thoufand Nobles, 
 
 In 
 
 3*7
 
 The life and death of^c bard the Second. 
 
 In name of landings for your Highnefle Soldiers, 
 
 The which he hath detain'd for lewd employments, 
 
 Like a falfe Traitor, and iniurious Villaine. 
 
 Befides I fay, and will in battaile proue, 
 
 Or heere, or elfewhere to the furtheft Verge 
 
 That euer was furuey'd by Englifh eye, 
 
 That all the Treaibns for thefe eighteene yeeres 
 
 Complotted, and contriued in this Land, 
 
 Fetch'd from falfe <^MoTtbray their firft head and fpring. 
 
 Further I fay, and further will maintaine 
 
 Vpon his bad life, to make all this good. 
 
 That he did plot the Duke of Gloufters death, 
 
 Suggeft his foone beleeuing aduerfaries, 
 
 And confequently, like a Traitor Coward, 
 
 Sluc'd out his innocent foule through ftreames of blood : 
 
 Which blood, like facrificing Abels cries, 
 
 (Euen from the toonglefle cauernes of the earth) 
 
 To me for iuftice, and rough chafticement : 
 
 And by the glorious worth of my difcent, 
 
 This arme /hall do it, or this life be fpent. 
 
 King. How high a pitch his refolution foares : 
 Thomas of Norfolke, what fayeft thou to this? 
 
 Mt.iv. Oh let my Soueraigne turne away his face, 
 And bid his eares a little while be deafe, 
 Till I haue told this Dander of his blood, 
 How God, and good men, hate fo foule a lyar. 
 
 King. Moifbray t impartiall are our eyes and eares, 
 Were he my brother, nay our kingdomes heyre, 
 As he is but my fathers brothers fonne ; 
 Now by my Scepters awe, I make a vow, 
 Such neighbour-neerenefle to our facred blood, 
 Should nothing priuiledge him, nor partialize 
 The vn-ftooping firmenefle of my vpright foule. 
 He is our fubiedt ( Mowbray ) fo art thou, 
 Free fpeech, and fearelefle, I to thee allow. 
 
 M>,tv. Then 'Bullingbrooke, as low as to thy heart, 
 Through the falfe paflage of thy throat; thou lyeft: 
 Three parts of that receipt I had for Callice, 
 Disburft I to his Highnefle fouldiersj 
 The other part referu'd I by confent, 
 For that my Soueraigne Liege was in my debt, 
 Vpon remainder of a deere Accompt, 
 Since laft I went to France to fetch his Queene : 
 Now fwallow downe that Lye. For Gloufters death, 
 I flew him not; but (to mine owne difgrace) 
 Negledted my fworne duty in that cafe : 
 For you my noble Lord of Lanca/ier, 
 The honourable Father to my foe, 
 Once I did lay an ambufh for your life, 
 A trefpafle that doth vex my greeued foule : 
 But ere I laft receiu'd the Sacrament, 
 I did confefle it, and exactly begg'd 
 Your Graces pardon, and I hope I had it. 
 This is my fault : as for the reft appeal'd, 
 It iflues from the rancour of a Villaine, 
 A recreant, and moft degenerate Traitor, 
 Which in my felfe I boldly will defend, 
 And interchangeably hurle downe my gage 
 Vpon this ouer-weening Traitors foote, 
 To proue my felfe a loyall Gentleman, 
 Euen in the beft blood chamber'd in his bofome. 
 In haft whereof, moft heartily I pray 
 Your Highnefle to afligne our Triall day. 
 
 King. Wrath-kindled Gentlemen be rul'd by me : 
 Let's purge this choller without letting blood: 
 This we prefcribe, though no Phyfition, 
 
 Deepe malice makes too deepe incifion. 
 
 Forget, forgiue, conclude, and be agreed, 
 
 Our Doctors lay, This is no time to bleed. 
 
 Good Vnckle, let this end where it begun, 
 
 Wee'l calme the Duke of Norfolke ; you, your fon. 
 
 Gaunt. To be a make-peace fhall become my age, 
 Throw downe (my fonne) the Duke of Norfolkes gage. 
 
 King. And Norfolke, throw downe his. 
 
 Gaunt. When Harris when? Obedience bids, 
 Obedience bids I fhould not bid agen. 
 
 King. Norfolke, throw downe, we bidde ; there is 
 no boote. 
 
 Mow.My felfe I throw"( dread Soueraigne )at thy foot. 
 My life thou fhalt command, but not my fliame, 
 The one my dutie owes, but my faire name 
 Defpight of death, that Hues vpon my graue 
 To darke dishonours vfe, thou fhalt not haue. 
 I am difgrac'd, impeach'd, and baffel'd heere, 
 Pierc'd to the foule with flanders venom'd fpeare : 
 The which no balme can cure, but his heart blood 
 Which breath'd this poyfon. 
 
 King. Rage muft be withftood : 
 Giue me his gage : Lyons make Leopards tame. 
 
 JI4e.Yea, but not change his fpots:take but my lhame, 
 And I refigne my gage. My deere, deere Lord, 
 The pureft treafure mortall times afford 
 Is fpotlefle reputation : that away, 
 Men are but gilded loame, or painted clay. 
 A lewell in a ten times barr'd vp Cheft, 
 Is a bold fpirit, in a loyall breft. 
 Mine Honor is my life ; both grow in one: 
 Take Honor from me, and my life is done. 
 Then (deere my Liege) mine Honor let me trie, 
 In that I liue ; and for that will I die. 
 
 King. Coofin, throw downe your gage, 
 Do you begin. 
 
 "Bui. Oh heauen defend my foule from fuch foule fin. 
 Shall I feeme Creft-falne in my fathers fight, 
 Or with pale beggar-feare impeach my hight 
 Before this out-dar'd daftard ? Ere my toong, 
 Shall wound mine honor with fuch feeble wrong; 
 Or found fo bafe a parle : my teeth fhall teare 
 The flaui/h motiue of recanting feare, 
 And fpit it bleeding in his high difgrace, 
 Where fhame doth harbour, euen in i^fotvbrayes face. 
 
 Exit Gaunt. 
 
 King. We were not borne to fue, but to command, 
 Which fince we cannot do to make you friends, 
 Be readie, (as your Hues fhall anfwer it) 
 At Couentree, vpon S. Lamberts day : 
 There fhall your fwords and Lances arbitrate 
 The fwelling difference of your fetled hate : 
 Since we cannot attone you, you fhall fee 
 Iuftice defigne the Victors Chiualrie. 
 Lord Marfhall, command our Officers at Armes, 
 Be readie to direft thefe home Alarmes. Exeunt. 
 
 Sccena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Cjaunt ^and^Dutcbeffe of Gloucefter. 
 Gaunt. Alas, the part I had in Gloufters blood, 
 Doth more folicite me then your exclaimes, 
 To ftirre againft the Butchers of his life. 
 
 But
 
 The life and death of 'Richard the fecond. 
 
 But fince correction lyeth in thofe hands 
 Which made the fault that we cannot correct, 
 Put we our quarrell to the will of heauen, 
 Who when they fee the houres ripe on earth, 
 Will raigne hot vengeance on offenders heads. 
 
 Dut. Findes brotherhood in thee no (harper fpurre ? 
 Hath loue in thy old blood no liuing fire? 
 Edwards feuen fonnes (whereof thy felfe art one) 
 Were as feucn violles of his Sacred blood, 
 Or feuen faire branches fpringing from one roote : 
 Some of thofe feuen are dride by natures courfe, 
 Some of thofe branches by the deftinies cut: 
 But Thomas, my deere Lord, my life, my Gloufter, 
 One Violl full of Edwards Sacred blood, 
 One flourishing branch ofhis moft Royall roote 
 Is crack'd, and all the precious liquor fpiltj 
 Is hackt downe, and his fummer leafes all vaded 
 By Enuies hand, and Murders bloody Axe. 
 Ah Gaunt ! His blood was thine, that bed, that wombe, 
 That mettle, that felfe-mould that fafhion'd thee, 
 Made him a man : and though thou liu'ft, and breath'ft, 
 Yet art thou flaine in him : thou doft confent 
 In fome large meafure to thy Fathers death, 
 In that thou feeft thy wretched brother dye, 
 Who was the model! of thy Fathers life. 
 Call it not patience (Gaunt] it is difpaire, 
 In fuffring thus thy brother to be flaughter'd, 
 Thou fhew'ft the naked pathway to thy life, 
 Teaching fterne murther how to butcher thee : 
 That which in meane men we intitle patience 
 Is pale cold cowardice in noble brefts : 
 What (hall I fay, to fafegard thine owne life, 
 The beft way is to venge my Gloufters death. 
 
 <7az<. Heauens is the quarrell : for heauens fubftitute 
 His Deputy annointed in his fight, 
 Hath caus'd his death, the which if wrongfully 
 Let heauen reuenge : for I may neuer lift 
 An angry arme againft his Minifter. 
 
 'Dut. Where then (alas may I)complaint my felfe 
 Gau. To heauen, the widdowes Champion to defence 
 Dut. Why then I will: farewell old Gaunt. 
 Thou go'ft to Couentrie, there to behold 
 Our Cofine Herford, and fell Mowbray fight : 
 
 fit my husbands wrongs on Herfords fpeare, 
 That it may enter butcher Mo wbrayes breft: 
 Or if misfortune mifle the firft carreere, 
 
 Be Mowbrayes finnes fo heauy in his bofome, 
 That they may breake his foaming Courfers backe, 
 And throw the Rider headlong in the Lifts, 
 A Caytiffe recreant to my Cofine Herford: 
 Farewell old Gaunt, thy forr.etimes brothers wife 
 With her companion Greefe, muft end her life. 
 
 Gau. Sifter farewell : I muft to Couentree, 
 As much good ftay with thee, as go with mee. 
 
 Dut. Yet one wotd more : Greefe boundeth where it 
 Not with 'the emptie hcllownes,but weight : (falls, 
 
 1 take my leaue, before I haue begun, 
 
 For forrow ends not, when it feemeth done. 
 Commend me to my brother Edmund Yerl^e. 
 Loe, this is all : nay, yet depart not fo, 
 Though this be all, do not fo quickly go, 
 I (hall remember more. Bid him, Oh, what? 
 With all good fpeed at Plafliie vifit mee. 
 Alacke, and what (hall good old Yorke there fee 
 But empty lodgings, and vnfurnifli'd walles, 
 Vn-peopel'd Offices, vntroden (tones ? 
 
 And what heare there for welcome, but my grones? 
 
 Therefore commend me, let him not come there, 
 
 To feeke out forrow, that dwels euery where : 
 
 Defolate, defolate will I hence, and dye, 
 
 The laft leaue of thee, takes my weeping eye. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Tertia. 
 
 Enter cMarJhall, and Aumerle. 
 
 Mar. My L. Aumerle, is Harry Herford arm'd. 
 
 Aum. Yea, at all points, and longs to enter in. 
 
 Mar. The Duke of Norfolke, fprightfully and bold, 
 Stayes but the fummons of the Appealants Trumpet. 
 
 Au, Why then the Champions, "are prepar'd,and ftay 
 For nothing but his Maiefties approach. FJouriJb. 
 
 Enter King, Gaunt, Bu/hy , Bagot, Greene, & 
 others : Then (^Mo-abray in Ar- 
 mor, and Harrold. 
 
 Rich. Marshall, demand of yonder Champion 
 The caufe ofhis arriuall heere in Armes, 
 Aske him his name, and orderly proceed 
 To fweare him in the iuftice ofhis caufe. 
 
 Mar. In Gods name, and the Kings,fay who y art, 
 And why thou com'ft thus knightly clad in Armes? 
 Againft what man thou com'ft,and what's thy quarrell, 
 Speake truly on thy knighthood, and thine oath, 
 As fo defend thee heauen, and thy valour. 
 
 cflfciv. My name is Tho. Mirebray,Duke of Norfolk, 
 Who hither comes engaged by my oath 
 (Which heauen defend a knight fhould violate) 
 Both to defend my loyalty and truth, 
 To God, my King, and his fucceeding ifiue, 
 Againft the Duke of Herford, that appeales me : 
 And by the grace of God, and this mine arme, 
 To proue him (in defending of my felfe) 
 A Traitor to my God, my King, and me, 
 And as I truly fight, defend me heauen. 
 
 Tucket. Enter Hereford, and Harold. 
 
 Rich. Marfliall : Aske yonder Knight in Armes, 
 Both who he is, and why he commeth hither, 
 Thus placed in habiliments of warre : 
 And formerly according to our Law 
 Depofe him in the iuftice of his caufe. 
 
 Mar. What is thy name? and wherfore comft y hither 
 Before King Richard in his Royall Lifts? 
 Againft whom com'ft thou? and what's thy quarrell? 
 Speake like a true Knight, fo defend thee heauen. 
 
 'Bui. Harry of Herford, Lancafter, and Derbie, 
 Am I : who ready heere do (land in Armes, 
 To proue by heauens grace, and my bodies valour, 
 In Lifts, on Thomas Mwbray Duke of Norfolke, 
 That he's a Traitor foule, and dangerous, 
 To God of heauen, King Richard, and to me, 
 And as I truly fight, defend me heauen. 
 
 Mar. On paine of death, no perfon be fo bold, 
 Or daring hardie as to touch the Liftes, 
 Except the Marftiall, and fuch Officers 
 Appointed to direct thefe faire defignes. 
 
 'Bui. Lord Marfliall, let me kifle my Soueraigns hand, 
 And bow my knee before his Maieftie : 
 For Motvbrcy and my felfe are like two men, 
 That vow a long and weary pilgrimage, 
 
 r Then
 
 26 
 
 The life and death ofT^chardthefecond. 
 
 Then let vs take a ceremonious leaue 
 And louing farwell of our feuerall friends. 
 
 Mar.The Appealant in all duty greets your Highnes, 
 And craues to kille your hand, and take his leaue. 
 
 'Rjcb. We will defcend,and fold him in our armes. 
 Cofm of Herford, as thy caufe is iuft, 
 So be thy fortune in this Royall fight : 
 Farewell, my blood, which if to day thou fhead, 
 Lament we may, but not reuenge thee dead. 
 
 'Bull. Oh let no noble eye prophane a teare 
 For me, if I be gor'd with <&fo-ubrayes fpeare : 
 As confident, as is the Falcons flight 
 Againft a bird, do I with Mmbray fight. 
 My louing Lord, I take my leaue of you, 
 Of you (my Noble Cofm) LorAtAumerle; 
 Not ficke, although I haue to do with death, 
 But luftie, yong, and cheerely drawing breath. 
 Loe, as at Englifh Feafts, fo I regreete 
 The daintieft laft, to make the end moft fweet. 
 Oh thou the earthy author of my blood, 
 Whofe youthfull fpirit in me regenerate, 
 Doth with a two-fold rigor lift mee vp 
 To reach at victory aboue my head, 
 Adde proofe vnto mine Armour with thy prayres, 
 And with thy blefsings fteele my Lances point, 
 That it may enter Mcwtrayes waxen Coate, 
 And furnifli new the name of lobn a Gaunt, 
 Euen in the lufty hauiourof his fonne. 
 
 Gaunt.Hezuen in thy good caufe make thee profp'rous 
 Be fwift like lightning in the execution, 
 And let thy blowes doubly redoubled, 
 Fall like amazing thunder on the Caske 
 Of thy amaz'd pernicious enemy. 
 Roaze vp thy youthfull blood, be valiant,and liue. 
 
 *Bul. Mine innocence, and S.George to thriue. 
 
 Mov. How euer heauen or fortune caft my lot, 
 There liues, or dies, true to Kings Richards Throne, 
 A loyall, iuft, and vpright Gentleman : 
 Neuer did Captiue with a freer heart, 
 Caft oft" his chaines of bondage, and embrace 
 His golden vncontrouFd enfranchifement, 
 More then my dancing foule doth celebrate 
 This Feaft of Battell, with mine Aduerfarie. 
 Moft mighty Liege, and my companion Peeres, 
 Take from my mouth, the wifli of happy ycares, 
 As gentle, and as iocond,as to ieft, 
 Go I to fight : Truth, hath a quiet breft. 
 
 Rich. Farewell, my Lord, fecurely I efpy 
 Vertue with Valour, couched in thine eye : 
 Order the triall Marshall, and begin. 
 
 e/War. Harrle of Herford, Lancafter, and Derby, 
 Receiue thy Launce, and heauen defend thy right. 
 
 'Bui. Strong as a towre in hope, I cry Amen. 
 
 Mar. Go beare this Lance to Thomas D. of Norfolke. 
 I.Har. Harry of Herford, Lancajler, and Derbie, 
 Stands heere for God, his Soueraigne, and himfelfe, 
 On paine to be found falfe, and recreant, 
 To proue the Duke of Norfolke, Thomas Mwbray, 
 A Traitor to his God, his King, and him, 
 And dares him to fet forwards to the fight. 
 
 2. Har. Here ftandeth Tbo:Moivbray Duke of Norfolk 
 On paine to be found falfe and recreant, 
 Both to defend himfelfe, and to approue 
 Henry of Herford, Larcafter, and Derby, 
 To God, his Soueraigne, and to him difloyall: 
 Couragioufly,and with a free defire 
 
 Attending but the fignall to begin. A charge founded 
 
 Mar. Sound Trumpets, and fet forward Combatants: 
 Stay, the King hath throwne his Warder downe. 
 
 Rich. Let them lay by their Helmets & their Speares, 
 And both returne backe to their Chaires againe : 
 Withdraw with vs, and let the Trumpets found, 
 While we returne thefe Dukes what we decree. 
 
 A long Flourijb. 
 Draw neere and lift 
 
 What with our Councell we haue done. 
 For that our kingdomes earth fliould not be foyld 
 With that deere blood which it hath foftered, 
 And for our eyes do hate the dire afpedt 
 Of ciuill wounds plowgh'd vp with neighbors fwords, 
 Which fo rouz'd vp with boyftrous vntun'd drummes, 
 With harih refounding Trumpets dreadfull bray, 
 And grating fliocke of wrathfull yron Armes, 
 Might from our quiet Confines fright faire peace, 
 And make vs wade euen in our kindreds blood : 
 Therefore, we banifh you our Territories. 
 You Cofin Herford, vpon paine of death, 
 Till twice fiue Summers haue enrich'd our fields, 
 Shall not regreet our faire dominions, 
 But treade the ftranger pathes of banifhment. 
 
 Bui. Your will be done: This muft my comfort be, 
 That Sun that warmes you heere, fhall fliineon me: 
 And thofe his golden beames to you heere lent, 
 Shall point on me, and gild my banifhment. 
 
 Rich. Norfolke: for thee remaines a heauier dombe, 
 Which I with fume vnwillingnefie pronounce, 
 The flye flow houres fliall not determinate 
 The datelefle limit of thy deere exile: 
 The hopeleffe word, of Neuer to returne, 
 Breath I againft thee, vpon paine of life. 
 
 Mow. A heauy fentence, my moft Soueraigne Liege, 
 And all vnlook'd for from your HighnefTe mouth : 
 A deerer merit, not fo deepe a maime, 
 As to be caft forth in the common ayre 
 Haue I deferued at your Highneffe hands. 
 The Language I haue learn'd thefe forty yeares 
 (My natiue Englifli) now I muft forgo, 
 And now my tongues vfe is to me no more, 
 Then an vnftringed Vyall, or a Harpe, 
 Or like a cunning Inftrument cas'd vp, 
 Or being open, put into his hands 
 That knowes no touch to tune the harmony. 
 Within my mouth you haue engaol'd my tongue, 
 Doubly percullift with my teeth and lippes, 
 And dull, vnfeeling, barren ignorance, 
 Is made my Gaoler to attend on me : 
 I am too old to fawne vpon a Nurfe, 
 Too farre in yeeres to be a pupill now : 
 What is thy fentence then, but fpecchlefle death, 
 Which robs my tongue from breathing natiue breath ? 
 
 RJcb, It boots thee not to be compafsionate, 
 After our fentence, plaining comes too late. 
 
 c^fcw. Then thus I turne me from my countries light 
 To dwell in folemne ihades of endlefle night. 
 
 Rie. Returne againe, and take an oath with thee, 
 Lay on our Royall fword, your baniflit hands ; 
 Sweare by the duty that you owe to heauen 
 (Our part therein we banifh with your felues) 
 To keepe the Oath that we adminifter : 
 You ueuer fliall (fo helpe you Truth, and Heauen) 
 Embrace each others loue in banifliment, 
 Nor euer looke vpon each others face, 
 
 Nor
 
 The life and death of^ichardthefccond. 
 
 Nor euer write, regreete, or reconcile 
 
 This lowring tempeft of your home-bred hate, 
 
 Nor euer by aduiled purpofe meete, 
 
 To plot, contriue, or complot any ill, 
 
 'Gainft Vs, our State, our Subie&s, or our Land. 
 
 ''Bull. I fweare. 
 
 Mow. And I, to keepe all this. 
 
 Bui. Norfolke, fo fare, as to mine enemie, 
 By this time ('had the King permitted vs) 
 One of our faults had wandred in the ayre, 
 Banifh'd this fraile fepulchre of our flefh, 
 As now our flefli is banifh'd from this Land. 
 Confefle thy Treafons, ere thou flye this Realme, 
 Since thou haft farre to go, beare not along 
 The clogging burthen of a guilty foule. 
 
 cflfc,w. No 'Bullingbrolfe : If euer I were Traitor, 
 My name be blotted from the booke of Life, 
 And I from heauen banifh'd,as from hence : 
 But what thou art, heauen, thou, and I do know, 
 And all too foone (I feare) the King /hall rue. 
 Farewell (my Liege) now no way can I ftray, 
 Saue backe to England, all the worlds my way. Sxit, 
 
 'Rjch. Vncle, euen in the glafies of thine eyes 
 I fee thy greeued heart : thy fad afpedt, 
 Hath from the number of his banifh'd yeares 
 Pluck'd foure away : Six frozen Winters fpent, 
 Returne with welcome home, from banifhment: 
 
 'Bui. How long a time lyes in one little word: 
 Foure lagging Winters, and foure wanton fprings 
 End in a word, fuch is the breath of Kings. 
 
 Gaunt. I thanke my Liege, that in regard of me 
 He fhortens foure yeares of my fonnes exile : 
 But little vantage fhall I reape thereby. 
 For ere the fixe yeares that he hath to fpend 
 Can change their Moones, and bring their times about, 
 My oyle-dride Lampe, and time-bewafted light 
 Shall be extincl: with age, and endlefle night : 
 My inch ofTaper, will be burnt, and done, 
 And blindfold death, not let me fee my fonne. 
 
 Rich. Why Vncle, thou haft many yeeres to liue, 
 
 Gaunt. But not a minute (King) that thou canft giue ; 
 Shorten my dayes thou canft with fudden forow, 
 And plucke nights from me, but not lend a morrow : 
 Thou canft helpe time to furrow me with age, 
 But ftop no wrinkle in his pilgrimage : 
 Thy word is currant with him, for my death, 
 But dead, thy kingdome cannot buy my breath. 
 
 Ric . Thy fonne is banifh'd vpon good aduice, 
 Whereto thy tongue a party-verdidl gaue, 
 Why at our luftice feem'ft thou then to lowre? 
 
 Gau. Things fweet to taft, proue in digeftion fowre : 
 You vrg'd me as a ludge, but I had rather 
 you would haue bid me argue like a Father. 
 Alas, I look'd when fome of you fhould fay, 
 I was too ftricSl to make mine owne away: 
 But you gaue leaue to my vnwilling tong, 
 Againft my will, to do my felfe this wrong. 
 
 Sjcb, Cofine farewell : and Vncle bid him fo : 
 Six yeares we banifh him, and he fhall go. Exit. 
 
 Flour ijh. 
 
 Au. Cofine farewell : what prefence muft not know 
 From where you do remaine, let paper fhow. 
 
 Mar. My Lord, no leaue take I, for I will ride 
 As farre as land will let me, by your fide. 
 
 Gaunt.Oh to what purpofe doft thou hord thy words, 
 That thou teturnft no greeting to thy friends? 
 
 'Bull. I haue too few to take my leaue of you, 
 When the tongues office ftiould be prodigall, 
 To breath th'abundant dolour of the heart. 
 
 Gau. Thy greefe is but thy abfence for a time. 
 
 Bull. loy abfent, greefe is prefent for that time. 
 
 Gau, What is fixe Winters, they are quickely gone ? 
 
 Bui. To men in ioy, but greefe makes one houre ten. 
 
 Qau. Call it a trauell that thou tak'ft for pleafure. 
 
 'Bui. My heart will figh, when I mifcall it fo, 
 Which findes it an inforced Pilgrimage. 
 
 Gau. The fullen paflage of thy weary fteppes 
 Efteeme a foyle, wherein thou art to fet 
 The precious lewell of thy home returne. 
 
 'Bui. Oh who can hold a fire in his hand 
 By thinking on the froftie Caucafus? 
 Or cloy the hungry edge of appetite, 
 by bare imagination of a Feaft? 
 Or Wallow naked in December fnow 
 by thinking on fantafticke fummers heate ? 
 Oh no, the apprehenfion of the good 
 Giues but the greater feeling to the worfe : 
 Fell forrowes tooth, doth euer ranckle more 
 Then when it bites, but lanceth not the fore. 
 
 G<za.Come,come (my fon) He bring thee on thy way 
 Had I thy youth, and caufe, I would not ftay. 
 
 .Btf/.Then Englands ground farewell: fweet foil adieu, 
 My Mother, and my Nurfe, which beares me yet : 
 Where ere I wander, boaft of this I can, 
 Though banifli'd, yet a true-borne Englishman. 
 
 Sctena Quarta. 
 
 Enter King, Aumerle, Greene, and Bagot. 
 
 Rich. We did obferue. Cofine Anmerle, 
 How far brought you high Herford on his way? 
 
 iAum. I brought high Herford (if you call him fo) 
 but to the next high way, and there I left him. 
 
 Rich. And fay, what ftore of parting tears were fried? 
 
 Aum. Faith none for me : except the Northeaft wind 
 Which then grew bitterly againft our face, 
 Awak'd the fieepie rhewme, and fo by chance 
 Did grace our hollow parting with a teare. 
 
 RicA.Whzt faid our Cofin when you parted with him? 
 
 ./fa.Farewell: and for my hart difdained y my tongue 
 Should fo prophane the word, that taught me craft 
 To counterfeit opprefsion of fuch greefe, 
 That word feem'd buried in my forrowes graue. 
 Marry,would the word Farwell,haue lengthen'd houres, 
 And added yeeres to his fliort banifhment, 
 He fhould haue had a volume of Farwels, 
 but fince it would not, he had none of me. 
 
 Rich. He is our Cofin (Cofin) but 'tis doubt, 
 When time fhall call him home from banifhment, 
 Whether our kinfman come to fee his friends, 
 Our felfe, and 'Bujhy : heere 'Bagot and Greene 
 Obferu'd his Courtfhip to the common people : 
 How he did feeme to diue into their hearts, 
 With humble, and familiat courtefie, 
 What reuerence he did throw away on flaues; 
 Wooing poore Craftef-men, with the craft of foules, 
 And patient vnder-bearing of his Fortune, 
 As 'twere to banifh their affedls with him. 
 Off goes his bonnet to an Oyfter-wench, 
 
 c 2, A
 
 The life and death of ^I^ic hard the fee ond. 
 
 A brace of Dray-men bid God fpeed him well, 
 
 And had the tribute of his fupple knee, 
 
 With thankes my Countrimen, my louing friends, 
 
 As were our England in reuerfion his, 
 
 And he our fubiedb next degree in hope. 
 
 Gr. Well,he is gone,& with him go thefe thoughts: 
 Now for the Rebels, which ftand out in Ireland, 
 .Expedient manage muft be made my Liege 
 Ere further leyfure, yeeld them further meanes 
 For their aduantagc, and your HighnefTe lotfe. 
 
 Ric. We will our felfe in perfon to this warre, 
 And for our Coffers, with too great a Courr, 
 And libsrall LargefTe, are growne fornewhat light, 
 We are inforc'd to farme our royall Realme, 
 The Reuennew whereof fhall furnifh vs 
 For our affayres in hand : if that come fhort 
 Our Subftitutes at home fhall haue Blanke-charters : 
 Whereto, when they fhall know what men are rich, 
 They fhall fubfcribe them for large fummes of Gold, 
 And fend them after to fupply our wants: 
 For we will make for Ireland prefently. 
 
 Enter Bujby, 
 "Bujby, what newes ? 
 
 'Bu. Old lobn of Gaunt is verie ficke my Lord, 
 Sodainly taken, and hath fent poft hafte 
 To entreat your Maiefty to vifit him. 
 
 T(ic. Where lyes he f 
 
 Bu. At Ely houfe. 
 
 Ric. Now put it (heauen) in his Phyfitians minde, 
 To helpe him to his graue immediately : 
 The lining of his coffers fhall make Coates 
 To decke our fouldiers for thefe Irifh warres. 
 Come Gentlemen, let's all go vifit him : 
 Pray heauen we may make haft, and come too late. Exit. 
 
 <>A5ius Secundus. Scena ^Prima. 
 
 Enter Gaunt, fu\e with Torfy, 
 
 Gau. Will the King come, that I may breath my bft 
 In wholfome counfell to his vnftaid youth ? 
 
 Tor. Vex not your felfe, nor ftriue not with your breth, 
 For all in vaine comes counfell to his eare. 
 
 Gau. Oh but (they fay) the tongues of dying men 
 Inforce attention like deepe harmony ; 
 Where words are fcarfe, they are feldome fpent in vaine, 
 For they breath truth, that breath their words in paine. 
 He that no more muft fay, is liften'd more, 
 Then they whom youth and eafe haue taught to glofe, 
 More are mens ends markf, then their liues before, 
 The fetting Sun, and Muficke is the clofe 
 As the laft tafte of fweetes, is fweeteft laft, 
 Writ in remembrance, more then things long paft; 
 Though Richard my liues counfell would not heart, 
 My deaths fad tale, may yet vndeafe his eare. 
 
 Tor. No, it is ftopt with other flatt'ring founds 
 As praifes of his ftate : then there are found 
 Lafciuious Meeters, to whofe venom found 
 The open eare of youth doth alwayes liften. 
 Report of fafhions in proud Italy, 
 Whofe manners ftill our tardie apifh Nation 
 Limpes after in bafe imitation. 
 
 Where doth the world thruft forth a vanity, 
 
 So it be new, there's no refpedr. how vile, 
 
 That is not quickly buz'd into his eares c 1 
 
 That all too late comes counfell to be heard, 
 
 Where will doth mutiny with wits regard: 
 
 Direct not him, whofe way himfelfe will choofe, 
 
 Tis breath thou lackft, and that breath wilt thou loofe. 
 
 Gaunt. Me thinkes I am a Prophet new infpir'd, 
 And thus expiring, do foretell of him, 
 His rafh fierce blaze of Ryot cannot laft, 
 For violent fires foone burne out themfelues, 
 Small fhowres laft long, but fodaine ftorrr.es are fhort, 
 He tyres betimes, that fpurs too faft betimes; 
 With eager feeding, food doth choake the feeder: 
 Light vanity, infatiate cormorant, 
 Confuming meanes foone preyes vpon it felfe. 
 This royall Throne of Kings, this fceptred Ifle, 
 This earth of Maiefty, this feate of Mars, 
 This other Eden, demy paradife, 
 This Fortrefle built by Nature for her felfe, 
 Againft infection, and the hand of warre : 
 This happy breed of men, this little world, 
 This precious ftone, fet in the filuer fea, 
 Which ferues it in the office of a wall, 
 Or as a Moate defenfiue to a houfe, 
 Againft the enuy of lefle happier Lands, 
 This blefTed plot, this earth, this Realme, this England, 
 This Nurfe, this teeming wombe of Royall Kings, 
 Fear'd by their breed, and famous for their birth, 
 Renowned for their deeds, as farre from home, 
 For Chriftian feruice, and true Chiualrie, 
 As is the fepulcher in ftubborne lury 
 Of the Worlds ranfome, blefled sflfaria Sonne. 
 This Land of fuch deere foules, this deere-deere Land, 
 Deere for her reputation through the world, 
 Is now Leas'd out (I dye pronouncing h) 
 Like to a Tenement or pelting Farme. 
 England bound in with the triumphant fea, 
 Whofe rocky fhore beates backe the enuious fiedge 
 Of watery Neptune, is now bound in with fhame, 
 With Inky blottes, and rotten Parchment bonds. 
 That England, that was wont to conquer others, 
 Hath made a fhamefull conqueft of it felfe. 
 Ah! would the fcandall vanifh with my life, 
 How happy then were my enfuing death ? 
 
 Enter King, Queene,tAumer!e,BuJhy,Greene, 
 Bagot, Ras, andWilkughby. 
 
 Tor. The King is come, deale mildly with his youth, 
 For young hot Colts, being rag'd, do rage the more. 
 
 Sty. How fares our noble Vncle Lancafter ? 
 
 T(i. What comfort man? How ift with aged Gaunt ? 
 
 Ga. Oh how that name befits my compofition : 
 Old Gaur.t indeed, and gaunt in being old : 
 Within me greefe hath kept a tedious faft, 
 And who abftaynes from meate, that is not gaunt? 
 For fleeping England long time haue I watcht, 
 Watching breeds leannefie, leannefTe is all gaunt. 
 The plea fu re that fome Fathers feede vpon, 
 Is my ftrit faft, I meane my Childrens lookes, 
 And therein fafting, haft thou made me gaunt: 
 Gaunt am I for the graue, gaunt as a graue, 
 Whofe hollow wombe inherits naught but bones. 
 
 Ric. Can ficke men play fo nicely with their names? 
 
 Qau. No, mifery makes fport to mocke it felfe : 
 Since thou doft feeke to kill my name in mec, 
 
 I 
 
 532
 
 The life and death of^^ichardthefecond. 
 
 I mocke my name (great King) to flatter thee. 
 
 Ric. Should dying men flatter thofe that Hue ? 
 
 Gau. No, no, men liuing flatter thofe- that dye. 
 
 Rich. Thou now a dying, fayft thou flatter'ft me. 
 
 Gau. Oh no, thou dyeft, though I the ficker be. 
 
 I(icb. I am in health, I breath, I fee thee ill. 
 
 Gau. Now he that made me, knowes I fee thee ill : 
 111 in my felfe to fee, and in thee, feeing ill, 
 Thy death-bed is no lefler then the Land, 
 Wherein thou lyeft in reputation ficke, 
 And thou too care-lefle patient as thou art, 
 Commit'ft thy' anointed body to the cure 
 Of thofe Phyfuians, that firft wounded thee. 
 A thoufand flatterers fit within thy Crowne, 
 Whofe compafle is no bigger then thy head, 
 And yet incaged in fo fmall a Verge, 
 The wafte is no whit lefler then thy Land : 
 Oh had thy Grandfire with a Prophets eye, 
 Scene how his fonnes fonne, fliould deftroy his fonnes, 
 From forth thWreach he would haue laid thy fliame, 
 Depofing thee before thou wert pofi'eft, 
 Which art pofleft now to depofe thy felfe. 
 Why (Cofme) were thou Regent of the world, 
 It were a fliame to let his Land by leafe : 
 But for thy world enioying but this Land, 
 Is it not more then fliame, to fliame it fo ? 
 Landlord of England art thou, and not King: 
 Thy ftate of Law, is bondflaue to the law, 
 And 
 
 Rich. And thou, a lunaticke leane-witted foole, 
 Prefuming on an Agues priuiledge, 
 Dar'ft with thy frozen admonition 
 Make pale our cheeke, chafing the Royall blood 
 With fury, from his natiue refidence? 
 Now by my Seates right Royall Maieftie, 
 Wer't thou not Brother to great Edwards fonne, 
 This tongue that runs fo roundly in thy head, 
 Should run thy head from thy vnreuerent flioulders. 
 
 Qau. Oh fpare me not, my brothers Edwards fonne, 
 For that I was his Father Edwards fonne : 
 That blood already (like the Pellican) 
 Thou haft tapt out, and drunkenly carows'd. 
 My brother Gloucefter, plaine well meaning foule 
 (Whom faire befall in heauen 'mongft happy foules) 
 May be a prefident, and witnefle good, 
 That thou refpedYft not fpilling Edwards blood : 
 loyne with the prefent ficknefle that I haue, 
 And thy vnkindnefle be like crooked age, 
 To crop at once a too-long wither'd flowre. 
 Liue in thy fliame, but dye not fhame with thee, 
 Thefe words heereafter, thy tormentors bee. 
 Conuey me to my bed, then to my graue, 
 Loue they to liue, that loue and honor haue. Exit 
 
 Rich. And let them dye, that age and fullens haue, 
 For both haft thou, and both become the graue. 
 
 Tor. I do befeech your Maieftie impute his words 
 To wayward ficklinefle, and age in him : 
 He loues you on my life, and holds you deere 
 As Harry Duke of Herford, were he heere. 
 
 Rich. Right, you fay true : as Herfords loue, fo his; 
 As theirs, fo mine : and all be as it is. 
 
 Snter Northumberland. 
 
 Nor. My Liege, olde Gaunt commends him to your 
 Maieftie. 
 
 333 
 
 Rich. What fayes he ? 
 
 Nor. Nay nothing, all is faid : 
 His tongue is now a ftringlefle inftrument, 
 Words, life, and all, old Lancafter hath fpent. 
 
 Tor. Be Yorke the next, that muft be bankrupt fo, 
 Though death be poore, it ends a mortall wo. 
 
 Rich. The ripeft fruit firft fals, and fo doth he, 
 His time is fpent, our pilgrimage muft be : 
 So much for that. Now for our Irifli warres, 
 We muft fupplant thofe rough rug-headed Kernes, 
 Which liue like venom, where no venom elfe 
 But onely they, haue priuiledge to liue. 
 And for thefe great affayres do aske fome charge 
 Towards our afsiftance, we do feize to vs 
 The plate, coine, reuennewes, and moueables, 
 Whereof our Vncle Gaunt did ftand pofleft. 
 
 Tor. How long fhall I be patient? Oh how long 
 Shall tender dutie make me fuffer wrong ? 
 Not Gloufters death, nor Herfords banifhment, 
 Nor Gauntes rebukes, nor Englands priuate wrongs, 
 Nor the preuention of poore BuUingl>roo%f t 
 About his marriage, nor my owne difgrace 
 Haue euer made me fowre my patient cheeke, 
 Or bend one wrinckle on my Soueraignes face: 
 I am the laft of noble Edwards fonnes, 
 Of whom thy Father Prince of Wales was firft, 
 In warre was neuer Lyon rag'd more fierce : 
 In peace, was neuer gentle Lambe more milde, 
 Then was that yong and Princely Gentleman, 
 His face thou haft, for euen fo look'd he 
 Accomplifli'd with the number of thy howers: 
 But when he frown'd, it was againft the French, 
 And not againft his friends: his noble hand 
 Did win what he did fpend : and fpent not that 
 Which his triumphant fathers hand had won: 
 His hands were guilty of no kindreds blood, 
 But bloody with the enemies of his kinne: 
 Oh Richard, Tor^e is too farre gone with greefe, 
 Or elfe he neuer would compare betweene. 
 
 Rich. Why Vncle, 
 What's the matter ? 
 
 Tor. Oh my Liege, pardon me if you pleafe, if not 
 I pleas'd not to be pardon'd, am content with all : 
 Seeke you to feize, and gripe into your hands 
 The Royalties and Rights of banifli'd Herford f 
 Is not Gaunt dead? and doth not Herford liue ? 
 Was not Gaunt iuft? and is not Harry true ? 
 Did not the one deferue to haue an heyre ? 
 Is not his heyre a wcll-deferuing fonne ? 
 Take Herfords rights away, and take from time 
 His Charters, and his cuftomarie rights: 
 Let not to morrow then infue to day, 
 Be not thy felfe. For how art thou a King 
 But by faire fequence and fuccefsion ? 
 Now afore God, God forbid I fay true, 
 If you do wrongfully feize Herfords right, 
 Call in his Letters Patents that he hath 
 By his Atrurneyes generall, to fue 
 His Liuerie, and denie his offer' d homage, 
 You plucke a thoufand dangers on your head, 
 You loofe a thoufand well-difpofed hearts, 
 And pricke my tender patience to thofe thoughts 
 Which honor and allegeance cannot thinke. 
 
 Ric. Thinke what you will : we feife into our hands, 
 His plate, his goods, his money, and his lands. 
 
 Tor. He not be by the while : My Liege farewell, 
 
 c 3 What
 
 The life and death ofT^chardthefecond. 
 
 What will enfue hcereof, there's none can tell. 
 
 But by badcoutfes may be vnderftood, 
 
 That their euents can neuer fall out good. Exit. 
 
 Rich. Go <BuJbie to the Earle of Wilt/hire ftreight, 
 Bid him rcpaire to vs to Ely houfe, 
 To fee this bufinefie : to morrow next 
 We will for Ireland, and 'tis time, I trow: 
 And we create in abfence of our felfe 
 Our Vncle Yorke, Lord Gouernor of England : 
 For he is iuft, and alwayes lou'd vs well. 
 Come on our Queene, to morrow muft we part, 
 Be merry, for our time of ftay is fliort. Flourijb. 
 
 <3ttanet North. Willougbby, & 'S^ff. 
 
 Nor. Well Lords, the Duke of Lancafter is dead. 
 
 Rofl'. And liuing too, for now his fonne is Duke. 
 
 Wil. Barely in title, not in reuennew. 
 
 Nor. Richly in both, if iuftice had her right. 
 
 Roff.My heart is great : but it muft break with filence, 
 Er't be disburthen'd with a liberall tongue. 
 
 .ZVer.Nay fpe.ike thy mind : & let him ne'r fpeak more 
 That fpeakes thy words againe to do thee harme. 
 
 Wil.Tends that thou'dft fpeake to th'Du. of Hereford, 
 If it be fo, out with it boldly man, 
 Quicke is mine eare to heare of good towards him. 
 
 RoJJ". No good at all that I can do for him, 
 VnlelFe you call it good to pitie him, 
 Bereft and gelded of his patrimonie. 
 
 Nor. Now afore heauen, 'tis fhame fuch wrongs are 
 
 borne, 
 
 In him a royall Prince, and many moe 
 Of noble blood in this declining Land; 
 The King is not himfelfe, but bafely led 
 By Flatterers, and what they will informe 
 Meerely in hate 'gainft any of vs all, 
 That will the King feuerely profecute 
 'Gainft vs, our Hues, our children, and our heires. 
 
 RoJ'. The Commons hath he pil'd with greeuous taxes 
 And quite loft their hearts : the Nobles hath he finde 
 For ancient quarrels, and quite loft their hearts. 
 
 Wil. And daily new exactions are deuis'd, 
 As blankes, beneuolences, and I wot not what: 
 But what o'Gods name doth become of this? 
 
 Nor. Wars hath not wafted it, for war'd he hath not. 
 But bafely yeelded vpon comprimize, 
 That which his Anceftorsatchieu'd with blowes : 
 More hath he fpent in peace, then they in warres. 
 
 Rof. The Earle of Wilt/hire hath the realme in Farme. 
 
 Wil. The Kings growne bankrupt like a broken man. 
 
 Nor. Reproach and diflblution hangeth ouer him. 
 
 Rof. He hath not monie for thefe Irifh warres : 
 (His burthenous taxations notwithftanding) 
 But by the robbing of the banifh'd Duke. 
 
 Nor. His noble Kinfman, moft degenerate King: 
 But Lords, we heare this fearefull tempeft fing, 
 Yet feeke no flielter to auoid the ftorme: 
 We fee the winde fit fore vpon our failes, 
 And yet we ftrike not, but fecurely perifh. 
 
 Rof. We fee the very wracke that we muft fuffer, 
 And vnauoyded is the danger now 
 For fufrering fo the caufes of our wracke. 
 
 Nor. Not fo : euen through the hollow eyes of death, 
 I fpie life peering : but I dare not fay 
 How neere the tidings of our comfort is. 
 
 Wil. Nay let vs ftiare thy thoughts, as thou doft ours 
 
 Rof. Be confident to fpeake Northumberland, 
 We three, are but thy felfe, and fpeaking fo, 
 
 Thy words are but as thoughts, therefore be bold. 
 
 Nor. Then thus : I haue from Port It Blan 
 A Bay in 'Britaine ,receiu*d intelligence, 
 That Harry Duke of Herford, ^ainald Lord Csbbam, 
 That late broke from the Duke of Exeter, 
 His brother Archbifhop, late of Canterbury^ 
 Sir Thomas Erpingbam,S\r lubn Rainjlon, 
 Sir lobn Norbfrie, Sir Robert Waterton,c Francis Quaint, 
 All thefe well furniih'd by the Duke of'Britaine, 
 With eight tall ihips, three thoufand men of warre 
 Are making hither with all due expedience, 
 And mortly meane to touch our Northerne fhore : 
 Perhaps they had ere this, but that they ftay 
 The firft departing of the King for Ireland. 
 If then we ihall /hake oft our flauifli yoake, 
 Impe out our drooping Countries broken wing, 
 Redeeme from breaking pawne the blemhh'd Crowne, 
 Wipe off the duft that hides our Scepters gilt, 
 And make high Maieftie looke like it felfe, 
 Away with me in pofte to Rauenspurgh, 
 But if you faint, as fearing to do Ib, 
 Stay, and be fecret, and my felfe will go. 
 
 Rof. To horfe, to horfe, vrge doubts to them y feare. 
 
 Wil. Hold out my horfe, and I will firft be there. 
 
 Sxeunt. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Queene, Bujhy, ar.d 'Bagot. 
 
 Bujb. Madam, your Maiefty is too much fad, 
 You promis'd when you parted with the King, 
 To lay afide felfe-harming heauinefle, 
 And entertaine a cheerefull difpofition. 
 
 Qu. To pleafe the King, 1 did : to pleafe my felfe 
 I cannot do it : yet I know no caufe 
 Why I fhould welcome fuch a gueft as greefe, 
 Saue bidding farewell to fo fweet a gueft 
 As my fweet Richard; yet againe me thinkes, 
 Some vnborne forrow, ripe in fortunes wombe 
 Is comming towards me, and my inward foule 
 With nothing trembles, at fomething it greeues, 
 More then with parting from my Lord the King. 
 
 Bujh. Each fubftance of a greefe hath twenty fhadows 
 Which fhewes like greefe it felfe, but is not fo : 
 For forrowes eye, glazed with blinding teares, 
 Diuides one thing intire, to many obiecls, 
 Like perfpecliues, which rightly gaz'd vpon 
 Shew nothing but confufion, ey'd awry, 
 Diftinguim forme : fo your fweet Maieftie 
 Looking awry vpon your Lords departure, 
 Finde fhapes of greefe, more then himfelfe to waile, 
 Which look'd on as it is, is naught bur fhadowes 
 Of what it is not : then thrice-gracious Queene, 
 More then your Lords departure weep not, more's not 
 Or if it be, 'tis with falfe forrowes eie, (feene; 
 
 Which for things true, weepe things imaginary. 
 
 Qu. It may be fo : but yet my inward foule 
 Perfwades me it is otherwife : how ere it be, 
 I cannot but be fad : fo heauy fad, 
 As though on thinking on no thought I thinke, 
 Makes me with heauy nothing faint and ftuinke. 
 
 Bujh. 'Tis nothing but conceit (my gracious Lady.) 
 
 Queene. 
 
 334
 
 The life and death of*f(ichardthefecond. 
 
 Qu. 'Tis nothing lefTe : conceit is ftill deriu'd 
 From ibme fore-father greefe, mine is not fo, 
 For nothing hath begot my fomething greefe, 
 Or fomething, hath the nothing that I greeue, 
 'Tis in reuerfion that I do poffefTe, 
 But what it is, that is not yet knowne, what 
 I cannot name, 'tis namelefle woe I wot. 
 Enter Greene. 
 
 Gree. Heauen faue your Maiefty, and wel met Gentle- 
 I hope the King is not yet fhipt for Ireland. (men: 
 
 Qu Why hop'ft thou fo? Tis better hope he is : 
 For his defignes craue haft, his haft good hope, 
 Then wherefore doft thou hope he is not (hipt ? 
 
 Gre. That he our hope, might haue retyr'd his power, 
 and driuen into difpaire an enemies hope, 
 Who ftrongly hath fet footing in this Land. 
 The banifli'd *Bz////Vg-r0o<: repeales himfelfe, 
 And with vp-lifted Armes is fafe arriu'd 
 At Rauenjpurg. 
 
 Qu. Now God in heauen forbid. 
 
 Gr. O Madam 'tis too true : and that is worfe, 
 The L.Northumberland, his yong fonne Hsnrie Terete, 
 The Lords of RoJJe, Beaumond, and Willonghby, 
 With all their powrefull friends are fled to him. 
 
 BuJb.Why haue you not proclaim'd Northumberland 
 And the reft of the reuolted faction, Traitors? 
 
 Gre. We haue : whereupon the Earle of Worcefter 
 Hath broke his ftaffe, refign'd his Stewardship, 
 And al the houihold feruants fled with him to e Bullinbrool(_ 
 
 Qu. So (jreene, thou art the midwife of my woe, 
 And Bullinbrookf my forrowes difmall heyre : 
 Now hath my foule brought forth her prodegie, 
 And I a gasping new deliuered mother, 
 Haue woe to woe, forrow to fbrrow ioyn'd. 
 
 'Bnjb. Difpaire not Madam. 
 
 Qu. Who fliill hinder me ? 
 I will difpaire, and be at enmitie 
 With couzening hope ; he is a Flatterer, 
 A Parafite, a keeper backe of death, 
 Who gently would diflolue the bands of life, 
 Which falfe hopes linger in extremity. 
 Enter Yorfe 
 
 Gre. Heere comes the Duke of Yorke. 
 Qu. With fignes of warre about his aged necke, 
 Oh full of carefull bufinefie are his lookes : 
 Vncle, for heauens fake fpeake comfortable words : 
 
 Ter.Comfort's in heauen, and we are on the earth, 
 Where nothing Hues but crofles, care and greefe: 
 Your husband he is gone to faue farre off, 
 Whilft others come to make him loofe at home: 
 Heere am I left to vnder-prop his Land, 
 Who weake with age, cannot fupport my felfe : 
 Now comes the ficke houre that his furfet made, 
 Now fhall he try his friends that flattered him. 
 Enter a feruant. 
 
 Ser. My Lord, your fonne was gone before I came. 
 
 Yor. He was : why fo : go all which way it will : 
 The Nobles they are fled, the Commons they are cold, 
 And will I feare reuolt on Herfords fide. 
 Sirra, get thee to Plafhie to my fifter Glofter, 
 Bid her fend me prefently a thoufand pound, 
 Hold, take my Ring. 
 
 Ser. My Lord, I had forgot 
 
 To tell your Lordfhip, to day I came by, and call'd there, 
 But I fliall greeue you to report the reft. 
 
 Yor. What is't knaue ? 
 
 3)5 
 
 Ser. An houre before I came, the Dutchefle di'de, 
 
 Yor. Heau'n for his mercy, what a tide of woes 
 Come rufhing on this wofull Land at once ? 
 I know not what to do : I would to heauen 
 (So my vntruth had not prouok'd him to it) 
 The King had cut off my head with my brothers. 
 What, are there poftes difpatcht for Ireland ? 
 How lhall we do for money for thefe warres? 
 Come fifter (Cozen I would fay) pray pardon me. 
 Go fellow, get thee home, poouide fome Carts, 
 And bring away the Armour that is there. 
 Gentlemen, will you mufter men? 
 If I know how, or which way 30 order thefe affaires 
 Thus diforderly thruft into my hands, 
 Neuer beleeue me. Both are my kinfmen, 
 Th'one is my Soueraigne, whom both my oath 
 And dutie bids defend : th'other againe 
 Is my kinfman,whom the King hath wrong'd, 
 Whom confcience, and my kindred bids to right : 
 Well, fomewhat we muft do : Come Cozen, 
 He difpofe of you. Gentlemen, go mufter vp your men, 
 And meet me prefently at Barkley Caftle: 
 I fhould to Plafliy too : but time will not permit, 
 All is vneuen, and euery thing is left at fix and feuen. Exit 
 
 'Bujh. The winde fits faire for newes to go to Ireland, 
 But none returnes : For vs to leuy power 
 Proportionable to th 'enemy, is all impolsible. 
 
 Qr. Befides our neeJenefle to the King in loue, 
 Is neere the hate of thofe loue not the King . 
 
 'Ba And that's the wauering Commons, for theirloue 
 Lies in their purfes, and who fo empties them, 
 By fo much fils their hearts with deadly Via'e. 
 
 'Bujh. Wherein the king ftands generally condemn'd 
 
 ''Bag. If Judgement lye in them, then fo do we, 
 Becaufe we haue beene euer neere the King. 
 
 Gr. Well: I will for refuge ftraight to Briftoll Caftle, 
 The Earle of Wiltshire is alreadie there. 
 
 'Bujh. Thither will I with you, for little office 
 Will the hatefull Commons performe for vs, 
 Except like Curres, to teare vs all in peeces : 
 Will you go along with vs? 
 
 Bag. No, I will to Ireland to his Maieftie: 
 Farewell, if hearts prefages be not vaine, 
 We three here part, that neu'r fliall meete againe. 
 
 'Bu. That's as Yorke thriues to beate back Bullinbro^e 
 
 Gr. Alas poore Duke, the taske he vndertakes 
 Is numbring fands, and drinking Oceans drie, 
 Where one on his fide fights, thoufands will flye. 
 
 Bujh. Farewell at once, for once, for all, and euer. 
 Well, we may meete againe. 
 
 'Bag, I feare me neuer. Exit. 
 
 Sctena Tertta. 
 
 Enter the Duly of Hereford, and Northum- 
 berland. 
 
 'Bui. How farre is it my Lord to Berkley now ? 
 Nor. Beleeue me noble Lord, 
 I am a ftranger heere in Gloufterfhire, 
 Thefe high wilde hilles, and rough vneeuen waies, 
 Drawes out our miles, and makes them wearifome: 
 And yet our faire difcourfe hath beene as fugar, 
 
 Mak in
 
 The life and death of^chardtbefecond. 
 
 Making the hard way fweet and dele&able : 
 
 But I bethinke me, what a wearie way 
 
 From Rauenfpurgh to Cottfhold will be found, 
 
 In RoJ/e and Willoughby , wanting your companic, 
 
 Which I proteft hath very much beguild 
 
 The tedioufnefTe,and procefTe of my trauell : 
 
 But theirs is fweetned with the hope to haue 
 
 The prefent benefit that I poflefle ; 
 
 And hope to ioy, is little lefle in ioy, 
 
 Then hope enioy'd : By this, the wearie Lords 
 
 Shall make their way feeme fhort,as mine hath done, 
 
 By fight of what I haue, your Noble Companie. 
 
 'Bull. Of much lefTe value is my Companie, 
 Then your good words : but who comes here f 
 Enter H. fercie. 
 
 North. It is my Sonne, young Harry Perch, 
 Sent from my Brother Worcefter : Whence foeuer. 
 Harry, how fares your Vnckle ? 
 
 Percie. 1 had thought, my Lord, to haue learn'd his 
 health of you. 
 
 North. Why,is he not with the Queene ? 
 
 fercie. No, my good Lord, he hath forfook the Court, 
 Broken hisStafte of Office, and difperft 
 The Houfehold of the King. 
 
 North. What was his reafon ? 
 He was not fo refolu'd,when we laft fpake together. 
 
 Percie. Becaufe your Lordfhip was proclaimed Traitor. 
 But hee, my Lord, is gone to Rauenfpurgh, 
 To offer feruice to the Duke of Hereford, 
 And fent me ouer by Barkely, to difcouer 
 What power the Duke of Yorke had leuied there, 
 Then with direction to repaire to Rauenfpurgh. 
 
 North. Haue you forgot the Duke of Hereford (Boy. ) 
 
 Percie. No, my good Lord j for that is not forgot 
 Which ne're I did remember : to my knowledge, 
 I neuer in my life did looke on him. 
 
 North. Then learne to know him now : this is the 
 Duke. 
 
 Percie. My gracious Lord, I tender you my feruice, 
 Such as it is, being tender,raw,and young, 
 Which elder dayes fliall ripen, and confirme 
 To more approued feruice, and defert. 
 
 Bull. I thanke thee gentle Percie, and be fure 
 I count my felfe in nothing elfe fo happy, 
 As in a Soule remembring my good Friends : 
 And as my Fortune ripens with thy Loue, 
 It fhall be ftill thy true Loues recompence, 
 My Heart this Couenant makes, my Hand thus feales it. 
 
 North. How farre is it to Barkely ? and what ftirre 
 Keepes good old TorJ^e there, with his Men of Warre ? 
 
 Percie. There ftands the Caftle,by yond tuft of Trees, 
 Mann'd with three hundred men, as I haue heard, 
 And in it are the Lords of Yorty, Barkely, and Seymor, 
 None elfe of Name, and noble eftimate. 
 Enter Roffe and Willougbby. 
 
 North. Here come the Lords of Roffe and Willougbby, 
 Bloody with fpurring,fierie red with hafte. 
 
 Bull. Welcome my Lords, I wot your loue purfues 
 A banifht Traytor ; all my Treafurie 
 Is yet but vnfelt thankes, which more enrich'd, 
 Shall be your loue, and labours recompence. 
 
 Roff. Your prefence makes vs rich,moft Noble Lord. 
 Willo. And farre furmounts our labour to attaine it. 
 
 'Bull. Euermore thankes, th'Exchequer of the poore, 
 Which till my infant-fortune comes to yeeres, 
 Stands for my Bountie : but who comes here ? 
 
 Enter 'Bar/ply. 
 
 North. It is my Lord of Barkely, as I ghefle. 
 
 'Barl^. My Lord of Hereford, my Meflage is to you. 
 
 'Bull. My Lord, my Anfwere is to Lancafler, 
 And I am come to feeke that Name in England, 
 And I muft finde that Title in your Tongue, 
 Before I make reply to aught you fay. 
 
 Bar/i. Miftake me not, my Lord, 'tis not my meaning 
 To raze one Title of your Honor out. 
 To you, my Lord, I come (what Lord you will) 
 From the moft glorious of this Land, 
 The Duke of Yorke, to know what pricks you on 
 To take aduantage of the abfent time, 
 And fright our Natiue Peace with felfe-borne Armes. 
 Enter Torl^e. 
 
 Bull. I fhall not need tranfport my words by you, 
 Here comes his Grace in Perfon. My Noble Vnckle. 
 
 Tor/(_. Shew me thy humble heart, and not thy knee, 
 Whofe dutie is deceiuable,and falfe. 
 
 'Bull. My gracious Vnckle. 
 
 Torl^. Tut, tut, Grace me no Grace, nor Vnckle me, 
 I -am no Traytors Vnckle ; and that word Grace, 
 In an vngracious mouth, is but prophane. 
 Why haue thefe banifh'd,and forbidden Legges, 
 Dar'd once to touch a Duft of Englands Ground 1 ? 
 But more then why, why haue they dar'd to march 
 So many miles vpon her peacefull Bofome, 
 Frighting her pale-fac'd Villages with Warre, 
 And orientation of defpifed Armes? 
 Com'ft thou becaufe th'anoynted King is hence? 
 Why foolifh Boy, the King is left behind, 
 And in my loyall Bofome lyes his power. 
 Were I but now the Lord of fuch hot youth, 
 As when braue Gaunt, thy Father,and my felfe 
 Refcued the Blac^ Prince, that yong cflfars of men, 
 From forth the Rankes of many thoufand French : 
 Oh then, how quickly fhould this Arme of mine, 
 Now Prifoner to the Palfie, chaftife thee, 
 And minifter correction to thy Fault. 
 
 'Bull. My gracious Vnckle, let me know my Fault, 
 On what Condition ftands it, and wherein ? 
 
 "for\. Euen in Condition of the worft degree, 
 In grolfe Rebellion, and detefted Treafon: 
 Thou art a banifh'd man, and here art come 
 Before th'expiration of thy time, 
 In brauing Atmes againft thy Soueraigne. 
 
 Bull. As I was banifh'd,! was banifh'd Hereford, 
 But as I come, I come for Lancafler. 
 And Noble Vnckle,! befeech your Grace 
 Looke on my Wrongs with an indifferent eye: 
 You are my Father, for me thinkes in you 
 I fee old Qaunt aliue. Oh then my Father, 
 Will you permit,that I fhall ftand condemn'd 
 A wandring Vagabond ; my Rights and Royalties 
 Pluckt from my armes perforce, and giuen away 
 To vpftart Vn thrifts^ Wherefore was I borne f 
 If that my Coufm King, be King of England, 
 It muft be graunted, I am Duke of Lancafter. 
 You haue a Sonne,.Aumerle,my Noble Kinfman, 
 Had you firft died, and he beene thus trod downe, 
 He fhould haue found his Vnckle Gaunt a Father, 
 To rowze his Wrongs, and chafe them to the bay. 
 I am denyde to fue my Liuerie here, 
 And yet my Letters Patents giue me leaue : 
 My Fathers goods are all diflraynd,and fold, 
 And thefe, and all,are all amiffe imployd. 
 
 What 
 
 336
 
 The life and death of ^c bard thefecond. 
 
 33 
 
 What would you haue me doe ? I am a Subiecl:, 
 And challenge Law: Attorneyes are deny'd me; 
 And therefore perfonally I lay my claime 
 To my Inheritance of free Difcent. 
 
 North. The Noble Duke hath been too much abus'd. 
 
 ^Rojf. It ftands your Grace vpon,to doe him right. 
 
 Wil/o. Bafe men by his endowments are made great. 
 
 Yor\. My Lords of England, let me tell you this, 
 I haue had feeling of my Cofens Wrongs, 
 And labour'd all 1 could to doe him right: 
 But in this kind, to come in brauing Armes, 
 Be his owne Caruer, and cut out his way, 
 To find out Right with Wrongs, it may not be ; 
 And you that doe abett him in this kind, 
 Cherifh Rebellion, and are Rebels all. 
 
 North. The Noble Duke hath fworne his comming is 
 But for his owne; and for the right of that, 
 Wee all haue ftrongly fworne to giue him ayd, 
 And let him neu'r fee Ioy,that breakes that Oath. 
 
 Torl(. Well,well,I fee the iflue of thefe Armes, 
 I cannot mend it, I muft needes confefle, 
 Becaufe my power is weake, and all ill left : 
 But if I could, by him that gaue me life, 
 I would attach you all, and make you ftoope 
 Vnto the Soueraigne Mercy of the King. 
 But fince I cannot, be it knowne to you, 
 I doe remaine as Neuter. So fare you well, 
 Vnlefle you pleafe to enter in the Caftle, 
 And there repofe you for this Night. 
 
 'Bull. An offer Vnckle,that wee will accept: 
 But wee muft winne your Grace to goe with vs 
 To Briftow Caftle, which they fay is held 
 By BuJhie,Bagot,3.n& their Complices, 
 The Caterpillers of the Commonwealth, 
 Which I haue fworne to weed, and plucke away. 
 
 Tor/(. It may be I will go with you: but yet lie pawfe, 
 For I am loth to breake our Countries Lawes : 
 Nor Friends, nor Foes, to me welcome you are, 
 Things part redrefTe, are now with me paft care. Exeunt. 
 
 Sccena Quarta. 
 
 Enter Salisbury, and a Cap taint. 
 
 Capt. My Lord of Salisbury, we haue ftayd ten dayes, 
 And hardly kept our Countreymen together, 
 And yet we heare no tidings from the King ; 
 Therefore we will difperfe our felues: farewell. 
 
 Sal. Stay yet another day,thou truftie Welchman, 
 The King repofeth all his confidence in thee. 
 
 Capt. 'Tis thought the King is dead, we will not ftay ; 
 The Bay-trees in our Countrey all are wither'd, 
 And Meteors fright the fixed Starres of Heauen ; 
 The pale-fac'd Moone lookes bloody on the Earth, 
 And leane-look'd Prophets whifper fearefull change ; 
 Rich men looke fad, and Ruffians dance and leape, 
 The one^in feare,to loofe what theyenioy, 
 The other to enioy by Rage, and Warre : 
 Thefe fignes fore-run the death of Kings. 
 Farewell, our Countreymen are gone and fled, 
 As well afiur'd Richard their King is dead. Exit, 
 
 Sal. Ah Richard, with eyes of heauie mind, 
 I fee thy Glory, like a /hooting Starre, 
 Fall to the bafe Earth, from the Firmament: 
 Thy Sunne fets weeping in the lowly Weft, 
 Witneffing Stormes to come, Woe, and Vnreft: 
 Thy Friends are fled, to wait vpon thy Foes, 
 And croflely to thy good, all fortune goes. Exit. 
 
 <iA5lus Tertius. 
 
 Enter 'Bullingbroofy, Torl>e, Northumberland, 
 
 Roffe, Perch, Wilkughby, with 'Bujbie 
 
 and Greene Trijoners. 
 
 'Bull. Bring forth thefe men : 
 'Bujbie and Qreene, I will not vex your foules, 
 (Since prefently your foules muft part your bodies) 
 With too much vrging your pernitious liues, 
 For 'twere no Charitie : yet to wafh your blood 
 From off my hands, here in the view of men, 
 I will vnfold fome caufes of your deaths. 
 You haue mis-led a Prince, a Royall King, 
 A happie Gentleman in Blood, and Lineaments, 
 By you vnhappied,and disfigur'd cleane: 
 You haue in manner with your finfull houres 
 Made a Diuorce betwixt his Queene and him, 
 Broke the pofleflion of a Royall Bed, 
 And ftayn'd the beautie of a faire Queenes Cheekes, 
 With teares drawn fro her eyes, with your foule wrongs. 
 My felfe a Prince, by fortune of my birth, 
 Neere to the King in blood, and neere in loue, 
 Till you did make him mif-interprete me, 
 Haue ftoopt my neck vnder your iniuries, 
 And figh'd my Englifh breath in forraine Clouds, 
 Eating the bitter bread of bani/hment ; 
 While you haue fed vpon my Seignories, 
 Dif-park'd my Parkes,and fell'd my Forreft Woods; 
 From mine owne Windowes torne my Houfehold Coat, 
 Raz'd out my Imprefle, leauing me no figne, 
 Saue mens opinions, and my liuing blood, 
 To fliew the World I am a Gentleman. 
 This, and much more, much more then twice all this, 
 Condemnes you to the death : fee them deliuered ouer 
 To execution, and the hand of death. 
 
 Bujbie. More welcome is the ftroake of death to me, 
 Then 'Bullingbrooke to England. 
 
 Greene. My comfort is, that Heauen will take our foules, 
 And plague Iniuftice with the paines of Hell. 
 
 Bull. My Lord Northumberland,^ them difpatch'd : 
 Vnckle,you fay the Queene is at your Houfe, 
 For Heauens fake fairely let her be entreated, 
 Tell her I fend to her my kind commends ; 
 Take fpeciall care my Greetings be deliuer'd- 
 
 Torl^. A Gentleman of mine I haue difpatch'd 
 "With Letters of your loue, to her at large. 
 
 Bull. Thankes gentle Vnckle : come Lords away, 
 To fight with Glendoure, and his Complices; 
 A while to worke,and after holliday. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Sccena
 
 34 
 
 The life and death of^cbardthefecond. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Drums: Flourijb t and (Colours. 
 Enter Richard, Numeric, Carlile, and Souldicn. 
 
 Rich. Barkloughly Caftle call you this at hand ? 
 
 Au. Yea, my Lord: how brooks your Grace the ayre, 
 After your late tofiing on the breaking Seas? 
 
 Rich. Needs muft 1 like it well : I weepe for ioy 
 To ftand vpon my Kingdome once againe. 
 Deere Earth, I doe falute thee with my hand, 
 Though Rebels wound thee with their Horfes hoofes : 
 As a long parted Mother with her Child, 
 Playes fondly with her teares, and fmiles in meeting; 
 So weeping,fmiling,greet I thee my Earth, 
 And doe thee fauor with my Royall hands. 
 FeeJ not thy Soueraignes Foe, my gentle Earth, 
 Nor with thy Sweetes, comfort his rauenous fence : 
 But let thy Spiders, that fuck vp thy Venome, 
 And heauie-gated Toades lye in their way, 
 Doing annoyance to the trecherous feete, 
 Which with vfurping fteps doe trample thee. 
 Yeeld ftinging Nettles to mine Enemies; 
 And when they from thy Bofome pluck a Flower, 
 Guard it I prethee with a lurking Adder, 
 Whofe double tongue may with a mortall touch 
 Throw death vpon thy Soueraignes Enemies. 
 Mock not my fencelefle Coniuration, Lords; 
 This Earth fliall haue a feeling, and thefe Stones 
 Proue armed Souldiers, ere her Natiue King 
 Shall falter vnder foule Rebellious Armes. 
 
 Car.Feare not my Lord, that Power that made you King 
 Hath power to keepe you King, in fpight of all. 
 
 Aum. He meanes, my Lord, that we are too remifle, 
 Wh\\eA e Bullingbrool(e through our fecuritie, 
 Crowes ftrong and great, in fubftance and in friends. 
 
 Rid. Difcomfortable Coufin,knoweft thou not, 
 That when the fearching Eye of Heauen is hid 
 Behind the Globe,that lights the lower World, 
 Then Theeues and Robbers raunge abroad vnfeene, 
 In Murthers and in Out-rage bloody here : 
 But when from vnder this Terreftriall Ball 
 He fires the prowd tops of the Eafterne Pines, 
 And darts his Lightning through eu'ry guiltie hole, 
 Then Murthers, Treafons,and detefted fmnes 
 (The Cloake of Night being pluckt from off their backs) 
 Stand bare and naked, trembling at themfelues. 
 So when this Theefe,this TraytoilSuinngiroofa 
 Who all this while hath reuell'd in the Night, 
 Shall fee vs rifing in our Throne, the Eaft, 
 His Treafons will fit blufhing in his face, 
 Not able to endure the fight of Day ; 
 But felfe-affrighted, tremble at his finne. 
 Not all the Water in the rough rude Sea 
 Can wafli the Balme from an anoynted King ; 
 The breath of worldly men cannot depofe 
 The Deputie elected by the Lord : 
 For euery man that Bullingbroofy hath preft, 
 To lift flirewd Steele againft our Golden Crowne, 
 Heauen for his Richard hath in heauenly pay 
 
 A glorious Angell : then if Angels fight, 
 
 Weake men muft fall, for Heauen ftill guards the right. 
 Enter Salisbury. 
 
 Welcome my Lord, how farre off lyes your Power? 
 Salisb. Nor neere,nor farther off, my gracious Lord, 
 
 Then this weake arme ; difcomrbrt guides my tongue, 
 
 And bids me fpeake of nothing but defpaire : 
 
 One day too late, I feare (my Noble Lord) 
 
 Hath clouded all thy happie dayes on Earth : 
 
 Oh call backe Yefterday,bid Time returne, 
 
 And thou flialt haue twelue thoufand fighting men : 
 
 To day, to day,vnhappie day too late 
 
 Orethrowes thy loves, Friends, Fortune, and thy State; 
 
 For all the Welchmen hearing thou wert dead, 
 
 Are gone to 2?//;nn?c^,difperft, and fled. 
 
 Aum. Comfort my Liege, why lookes your Grace fo 
 
 pale ? 
 
 ^Rjcb. But now the blood of twentie thoufand men 
 
 Did triumph in my face, and they are fled, 
 
 And till fo much blood thither come againe, 
 
 Haue I not reafon to looke pale, and dead ? 
 
 All Soules that will be fate, flye from my fide, 
 
 For Time hath fet a blot vpon my pride. 
 
 tAum. Comfort my Liege, remember who you are. 
 Rich. I had forgot my felfe. Am I not King? 
 
 Awake thou fluggard Maieftie,thou fleepeft : 
 
 Is not the Kings Name fortie thoufand Names? 
 
 Arme,arme my Name : a punie fubieft ftrikes 
 
 At thy great glory. Looke not to the ground, 
 
 Ye Fauorites of a King: are wee not high ? 
 
 High be our thoughts : I know my Vnckle TTor^e 
 
 Hath Power enough to ferue our turne, 
 
 But who comes here ? Enter Scroofe. 
 
 Scroofe. More health and happineffe betide my Liege, 
 
 Then can my care-tun'd tongue deliuer him. 
 
 Rich. Mine eare is open, and my heart prepared : 
 The worft is worldly lolfejthou canft vnfold: 
 Say, Is my Kingdome loft? why 'twas my Care: 
 And what lofle is it to be rid of Care ? 
 Striues Bullingbrool^e to be as Great as wee f 
 Greater he fliall not be : If hee ferue God, 
 Wee'l ferue him too, and be his Fellow fo. 
 Reuolt our Subiecls?That we cannot mend, 
 They breake their Faith to God, as well as vs : 
 Cry Woe, Deftru&ion, Ruine, Loffe, Decay, 
 The worft is Death, and Death will haue his day. 
 
 Scroofe. Glad am I, that your Highneffe is fo arm'd 
 To beare the tidings of Calamitie. 
 Like an vnfeafonable ftormie day, 
 Which make the Siluer Riuers drowne their Shores, 
 As if the World were all diflblu'd to teares : 
 So high,aboue his Limits, fwells the Rage 
 Of Bullingbroo^e^ couering your fearefull Land 
 With hard bright Steele, and hearts harder then Steele: 
 White Beares haue arm'd their thin and haireleffe Scalps 
 Againft thy Maieftie,and Boyes with Womens Voyces, 
 Striue to fpeake bigge, and clap their female ioints 
 In ftiffe vnwieldie Armes : againft thy Cro'vne 
 Thy very Beadf-men learne to bend their Bowes 
 Of double fatall Eugh : againft thy State 
 Yea Diftaffe-"Women manage ruftie Bills : 
 Againft thy Seat both young and old rebell, 
 And all goes worfe then I haue power to tell. 
 
 Rich. Too well,too well thou tell'ft a Tale fo ill. 
 Where is the Earle of Wilt/hire? where is 'Bagot? 
 What is become ofBuJbie* where is Qreene ? 
 
 That 
 
 338
 
 The life and death of 'Richard the fecond. 
 
 35 
 
 That they haue let the dangerous Enemie 
 Meafure our Confines with fuch peacefull fteps ? 
 If we preuaile, their heads fliall pay for it. 
 I warrant they haue made peace with 'Bullingbroofy. 
 
 Scroope. Peace haue they made with him indeede(my 
 Lord.) 
 
 Rich. Oh Villains, Vipers, damn'd without redemption, 
 Dogges, eafily woon to fawne on any man, 
 Snakes in my heart blood warm'd, that fting my heart, 
 Three ludafles, each one thrice worfe then ludtu, 
 Would they make peace? terrible Hell make warre 
 Vpon their fpotted Soules for this Offence. 
 
 Scroope. Sweet Loue(I fee) changing his propertie, 
 Turnes to the fowreft, and moft deadly hate: 
 Againe vncarfe their Soules ; their peace is made 
 With Heads,and not with Hands: thofe whom you curfe 
 Haue felt the worft of Deaths deftroying hand, 
 And lye full low,grau'd in the hollow ground. 
 
 Aum. Is 'Bujhie, Greene, and the Earle of Wilt/hire 
 dead* 
 
 Scroope. Yea, all of them at Briftow loft their heads. 
 
 Aum. Where is the Duke my Father with his Power? 
 
 Rich. No matter where ; of comfort no man fpeake : 
 Let's talke of Graues,of Wormes,and Epitaphs, 
 Make Duft our Paper, and with Raynie eyes 
 Write Sorrow on the Bofome of the Earth. 
 Let's chufe Executors,and talke of Wills: 
 And yet not fo ; for what can we bequeath, 
 Saue our depofed bodies to the ground f 
 Our Lands,our Liues,and all are Bul/ingbroofo, 
 And nothing can we call our owne, but Death, 
 And that fmall Modell of the barren Earth, 
 Which ferues as Pafte,and Couer to our Bones: 
 For Heauens fake let vs fit vpon the ground, 
 And tell fad fiories of the death of Kings: 
 How fome haue been depos'd, fome flaine in warre, 
 Some haunted by the Ghofts they haue depos'd, 
 Some poyfon'd by their Wiues, fome fleeping kill'd, 
 All murther'd. For within the hollow Crowne 
 That rounds the mortall Temples of a King, 
 Keepes Death his Court,and there the Antique fits 
 Scoffing his State, and grinning at his Pompe, 
 Allowing him a breath, a little Scene, 
 To Monarchize, be fear'd,and kill with lookes, 
 Infufing him with felfe and vaine conceit, 
 As if this Flefti, which walls about our Life, 
 Were BrafTe impregnable : and humor'd thus, 
 Comes at the laft, and with a little Pinne 
 Bores through his Caftle Walls,and farwell King. 
 Couer your heads, and mock not flefh and blood 
 With folemne Reuerence : throw away Refpecft, 
 Tradition, Forme, and Ceremonious dutie, 
 For you haue but miftooke me all this while: 
 I liue with Bread like you, feele Want, 
 Tafte Griefe,need Friends: fubiedted thus, 
 How can you fay to me, I am a King ? 
 
 Carl.My Lord, wife men ne're waile their prefent woes, 
 But prefently preuent the wayes to waile : 
 To feare the Foe,fince feare opprefleth ftrength, 
 Giues in your weakenefle, ftrength vnto your Foe; 
 Feare, and be flaine,no worfe can come to fight, 
 And fight and die,is death deftroying death, 
 Where fearing, dying, payes death feruile breath. 
 
 Aum. My Father hath a Power, enquire of him, 
 And learne to make a Body of a Limbe. 
 
 Ricb.Thou chid'ft me well:proud f Bullingi>roo^e I come 
 
 339 
 
 To change Blowes with thee,for our day of Doome : 
 
 This ague fit of feare is ouer-blowne, 
 
 An eafie taske it is to winne our owne. 
 
 Say Scroope, where lyes our Vnckle with his Power? 
 
 Speake fweetly man, although thy lookes be fowre. 
 
 Scroope. Men iudge by the complexion of the Skie 
 The ftate and inclination of the day; 
 So may you by my dull and heauie Eye : 
 My Tongue hath but a heauier Tale to fay : 
 I play the Torturer, by fmall and fmall 
 To lengthen out the worft,that muft be fpoken. 
 Your Vnckle Torfe is ioyn'd with Bullingbroofy, 
 And all your Northerne Caftles yeelded vp, 
 And all your Southerne Gentlemen in Armes 
 Vpon his Faction. 
 
 Rjcb. Thou haft faid enough. 
 Beflirew thee Coufin, which didft lead me forth 
 Of that fweet way I was in, to defpaire : 
 What fay you now? What comfort haue we now f 
 By Heauen He hate him euerlaftingly, 
 That bids me be of comfort any more. 
 Goe to Flint Caftle, there He pine away, 
 A King, Woes flaue, fliall. Kingly Woe obey: 
 That Power I haue, difcharge, and let'em goe 
 To eare the Land, that hath fome hope to grow, 
 For I haue none. Let no man fpeake againe 
 To alter this, for counfaile is but vaine. 
 
 Aum. My Liege, one word. 
 
 Rich. He does me double wrong, 
 That wounds me with the flatteries of his tongue. 
 Difcharge my followers : let them hence away, 
 From Richards Night, to BuUingbroofys faire Day.. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Sccena Tertia. 
 
 Enter with Drum and Colour3, f BuHlngbroo^e t 
 Torfy, Northumberland, Attendants. 
 
 'Bull. So that by this intelligence we learne 
 The Welchmen are difpers'd,and Salisbury 
 Is gone to meet the King, who lately landed 
 With fome few priuate friends, vpon this Coaft. 
 
 North. The newes is very faire and good, my Lord, 
 Richard,not farre from hence, trath hid his head. 
 
 Torl^. It would befeeme the Lord Northumberland, 
 To fay King Richard : alack the heauie day, 
 When fuch a facred King fliould hide his head. 
 
 North. Your Grace miftakes : onely to be briefe, 
 Left I his Title out. 
 
 Tor%. The time hath beene, 
 
 Would you haue beene fo briefe with him, he would 
 Haue beene fo briefe with you, to ihorten you, 
 For taking fo the Head, your whole heads length. 
 
 'Bull. Miftake not (Vnckle) farther then you ftiould. 
 
 Torl(. Take not(good Coufin) farther then you fliould. 
 Leaft you miftake the Heauens are ore your head. 
 
 Bull. I know it(Vnckle)and oppofe not my felfe 
 Againft their will. But who comes here? 
 
 Enter ferae. 
 Welcome Har>y:what, will not this Caftle yeeld f 
 
 Per. The Caftle royally is mann'd,my Lord, 
 Againft thy entrance. 
 
 'Bull. Roy.
 
 The life and death of c Rj,chard the fecond. 
 
 Bull. Royally Why,it containes no King? 
 
 Per. Yes (my good Lord) 
 It doth containe a King : King Richard lyes 
 Within the limits of yond Lime and Stone, 
 And with him, the Lord Aumerle,Lord Salisbury, 
 Sir Stephen Scroope, befides a Clergie man 
 Of holy reuerence ; who,I cannot learne. 
 
 North. Oh, belike it is the Bifliop of Carlile. 
 
 'Bull. Noble Lord, 
 
 Goe to the rude Ribs of that ancient Caftle, 
 Through Brazen Trumpet fend the breath of Parle 
 Into his ruin'd Eares, and thus deliuer : 
 Henry BullingbrooJ^e vpon his knees doth kifle 
 King Richards hand, and fends allegeance 
 And true faith of heart to his Royall Ferfon: hither come 
 Euen at his feet, to lay my Armes and Power, 
 Prouided,that my Banifhment repeal'd, 
 And Lands reftor'd againe,be freely graunted : 
 If not, He vfe th'aduantage of my Power, 
 And lay the Summers duft with ihowers of blood, 
 Rayn'd from the wounds of flaughter'd Englishmen ; 
 The which, how farre off from the mind of 'Bullingbroo^e 
 It is, fuch Crimfon Tempeft fhould bedrench 
 The frefh grcene Lap of faire King Richards Land, 
 My (looping dutie tenderly fhall fhew. 
 Goe fignifie as much, while here we march 
 Vpon the Graflie Carpet of this Plaine: 
 Let's march without the noyfe of threatning Drum, 
 That from this Caftles tatter'd Battlements 
 Our faire Appointments may be well perus'd. 
 Me thinkes King Richard and my felfe fhould meet 
 With no lefle terror then the Elements 
 Of Fire and Water, when their thundring fmoake 
 At meeting teares the cloudie Cheekes of Heauen : 
 Be he the fire, He be the yeelding Water; 
 The Rage be his, while on the Earth I raine 
 My Waters on the Earth, and not on him. 
 March on, and marke King 'Rjchard how he lookes. 
 
 Parle without, and anfrrere within : then a Flourijh. 
 Enter on the Walls , Richard, Carlile, Aumerle, Scroop , 
 Salisbury. 
 
 See, fee, King Richard do'th himfelfe appeare 
 As doth the blufhing difcontented Sunne, 
 From out the fierie Portall of the Eaft, 
 When he perceiues the enuious Clouds are bent 
 To dimme his glory,and to ftaine the tract 
 Of his bright paflage to the Occident. 
 
 Vort(. Yet lookes he like a King : behold his Eye 
 (As bright as is the Eagles) lightens forth 
 Controlling Maieftie : alack,alack,for woe, 
 That any harme fhould ftaine fo faire a fhew. 
 
 Rich. Wee are amaz'd,and thus long haue we ftood 
 To watch the fearefull bending of thy knee, 
 Becaufe we thought our felfe thy lawfull King : 
 And if we be, how dare thy ioynts forged 
 To pay their awfull dutie to our prefence ? 
 If we be not, fhew vs the Hand of God, 
 That hath difmifs'd vs from our Stewardfhip, 
 For well wee know, no Hand of Blood and Bone 
 Can gripe the facred Handle of our Scepter, 
 VnlefTe he doe prophane,fteale,or vfurpe. 
 And though you thinke,that all, as you haue done, 
 Haue torne their Soules,by turning them from vs, 
 And we are barren, and bereft of Friends : 
 Yet know,my Matter, God Omnipotent, 
 Is muftring in his Clouds, on our behalfe, 
 
 Armies of Peftilence, and they fliall ftrike 
 Your Children yet vnborne,and vnbegot, 
 That lift your Vaflall Hands againft my Head, 
 And threat the Glory of my precious Crowne. 
 Tell i Bullingbrool(e, for yond me thinkes he is, 
 That euery ftride he makes vpon my Land, 
 Is dangerous Treafon : He is come to ope 
 The purple Teftament? of bleeding Warre ; 
 But ere the Crowne he lookes for.liue in peace, 
 Ten thoufand bloody crownes of Mothers Sonnes 
 Shall ill become the flower of Englands face, 
 Change the complexion of her Maid-pale Peace 
 To Scarlet Indignation, and bedew 
 Her Paftors Graffe with faithfull Englifh Blood. 
 
 North. The King of Heauen forbid our Lord the King 
 Should fo with ciuill and vnciuill Armes 
 Be rufli'd vpon : Thy thrice-noble Coufin, 
 Harry 'Bul/ingbroc-fadoth humbly kifle thy hand, 
 And by the Honorable Tombe he fweares, 
 That ftands vpon your Royall Grand fires Bones, 
 And by the Royalties of both your Bloods, 
 (Currents that fpring from onemoft gracious Head) 
 And by the buried Hand of Warlike Gaunt, 
 And by the Worth and Honor of himfelfe, 
 Comprifing all that may be fworne,or faid, 
 His comming hither hath no further fcope, 
 Then for his Lineall Royalties,and to begge 
 Infranchifement immediate on his knees : 
 Which on thy Royall partie graunted once, 
 His glittering Armes he will commend to'Ruft, 
 His barbed Steedes to Stables,and his heart 
 To faithfull feruice of your Maieftie : 
 This fweares he, as he is a Prince, is iuft, 
 And as I am a Gentleman,! credit him. 
 
 Rich. Northumberland, fay thus : The King returnes, 
 His Noble Coufin is right welcome hither, 
 And all the number of his faire demands 
 Shall be accomplifh'd without contradiction : 
 With all the gracious vtterance thou haft, 
 Speake to his gentle hearing kind commends. 
 We doe debafe our felfe(Coufin)doe we not, 
 To looke fo poorely, and to fpeake fo faire ? 
 Shall we call back Northumberland, and fend 
 Defiance to the Traytor, and fo die ? 
 
 Aum. No, good my Lord, let's fight with gentle words, 
 Till time lend friends,and friends their helpeful Swords. 
 
 Rich. Oh God, oh God, that ere this tongue of mine, 
 That layd the Sentence of dread Bani/hment 
 On yond prowd man, fhould take it off againe 
 With words of' footh : Oh that I were as great 
 As is my Griefe,or lefler then my Name, 
 Or that I could forget what I haue beene, 
 Or not remember what I muft be now: 
 Swell'ft thou prowd heart? lie giue thee fcope to beat, 
 Since Foes haue fcope to beat both thee and me. 
 
 Aum. Northumberland comes backe from 'Bulling- 
 broolte. 
 
 Rich. What muft the King doe nowfmuft he fubmit 1 ? 
 The King fhall doe it : Muft he be depos'd ? 
 The King fhall be contented: Muft he loofe 
 The Name of King? o' Gods Name let it goe. 
 He giue my lewels for a fett of Beades, 
 My gorgeous Pallace, for a Hermitage, 
 My gay Apparrell,for an Almes-mans Gowne, 
 My figur'd Goblets, for a Difh of Wood, 
 My Scepter, for a Palmers walking Staffe, 
 
 My 
 
 : 34
 
 'The Life and "Death ofT^chardthe Second. 
 
 37 
 
 My Subiedts,for a payre of carued Saints, 
 
 And my large Kingdome, for a little Graue, 
 
 A little little Graue, an obfcure Graue. 
 
 Or lie be buryed in the Kings high-way, 
 
 Some way of common Trade, where Subiedb feet 
 
 May howrely trample on their Soueraignes Head : 
 
 For on my heart they tread now,whileft I Hue ; 
 
 And buryed once, why not vpon my Head f 
 
 tAumerle,thou weep'ft(my tender-hearted Coufin) 
 
 Wee'le make foule Weather with defpifed Teares : 
 
 Our fighes,and they,fliall lodge the Summer Corne, 
 
 And make a Dearth in this reuolting Land. 
 
 Or fliall we play the Wantons with our Woes, 
 
 And make fome prettie Match, with fliedding Teares? 
 
 As thus : to drop them ftill vpon one place, 
 
 Till they haue fretted vs a payre of Graues, 
 
 Within the Earth : and therein lay'd, there lyes 
 
 Two Kinfmen,digg'd their Graues with weeping Eyes? 
 
 Would not this ill,doe well? Well, well,I fee 
 
 I talke but idly,and you mock at mee. 
 
 Moft mightie Prince, my Lord Northumberland, 
 
 What fayes King BuHingbrooly? Will his Maieftie 
 
 Giue Richard leaue to Hue, till Richard die f 
 
 You make a Legge,and 'Bullingbrooty fayes I. 
 
 North. My Lord, in the bafe Court he doth attend 
 To fpeake with you, may it pleafe you to come downe. 
 
 Rich. Downe, downe I come, like glift'ring Phaeton, 
 Wanting the manage of vnruly lades. 
 In the bafe Court? bafe Court, where Kings grow bafe, 
 To come atTraytors Calls, and doe them Grace. 
 In the bafe Court come down: down Court, down King, 
 For night-Owls flirike, where mouting Larks fliould fing. 
 
 'Bull. What fayes his Maieftie ? 
 
 North. Sorrow,and griefe of heart 
 Makes him fpeake fondly, like a frantick man: 
 Yet he is come. 
 
 'Bull. Stand all apart, 
 And fliew faire dutie to his Maieftie. 
 My gracious Lord. 
 
 Rich. Faire Coufin, 
 You debafe your Princely Knee, 
 To make the bafe Earth prowd with kifling it. 
 Me rather had, my Heart might feele your Loue, 
 Then my vnpleas'd Eye fee your Courtefie. 
 Vp Coufin, vp, your Heart is vp,l know, 
 Thus high at leaft, although your Knee be low. 
 
 Bull. My gracious Lord, I come but for mine 
 owne. 
 
 Rich. Your owne is yours, and I am yours, and 
 all. 
 
 Bull. So farre be mine, my moft redoubted Lord, 
 As my true feruice flnll deferue your loue. 
 
 Rich. Well you deferu'd : 
 They well deferue to haue, 
 That know the ftrong'ft, and fureft way to get. 
 Vnckle giue me your Hand : nay,drie your Eyes, 
 Teares ihew their Loue, but want their Remedies. 
 Coufin,! am too young to be your Father, 
 Though you are old enough to be my Heire. 
 What you will haue, He giue, and willing to, 
 For doe we muft, what force will haue vs doe. 
 Set on towards London : 
 Coufin, is it fo? 
 
 'Bull. Yea, my good Lord. 
 
 Rich. Then I muft not fay, no. 
 
 Flourijh. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Quarta. 
 
 Enter the Queene^and two Ladies. 
 
 ^tt.What fport fliall we deuife here in this Garden, 
 To driue away the heauie thought of Care? 
 
 La. Madame, wee'le play at Bowles. 
 
 ^a.Twill make me thinke the World is full of Rubs, 
 And that my fortune runnes againft the Byas. 
 La. Madame, wee'le Dance. 
 
 <%u. My Legges can keepe no meafure in Delight, 
 When my poore Heart no meafure keepes in Griefe. 
 Therefore no Dancing(Girle y ) fome other fport. 
 
 La. Madame, wee'le tell Tales. 
 
 QU. Of Sorrow, or of Griefe ? 
 
 La. Of eyther, Madame. 
 
 $u. Of neyther,Girle. 
 For if of luy, being altogether wanting, 
 It doth remember me the more of Sorrow: . 
 Or if of Griefe, being altogether had, 
 It addes more Sorrow to my want of loy : 
 For what I haue, I need not to repeat; 
 And what I want, it bootes not to complaine. 
 
 La. Madame, He fing. 
 
 ^w.'Tis well that thou haft caufe : 
 But thou fliould'ft pleafe me better, would'ft thou weepe. 
 
 La. I could weepe, Madame, would it doe you good. 
 
 <^a. And I could fing, would weeping doe me good, 
 And neuer borrow any Teare of thee. 
 
 Enter a Gardiner ^and two Seruants. 
 But ftay, here comes the Gardiners, 
 Let's ftep into the fliadow of thefe Trees. 
 My wretchednefle,vnto a Rowe of Pinnes, 
 They'le talke of State: for euery one doth fo, 
 Againft a Change; Woe is fore-runne with Woe. 
 
 Gard. Goe binde thou vp yond dangling Apricocks, 
 Which like vnruly Children, make their Syre 
 Stoupe with opprefiion of their prodigall weight : 
 Giue fome fupportance to the bending twigges. 
 Goe thou, and like an Executioner 
 Cut oft the heads of too faft growing fprayes, 
 That looke too loftie in our Common-wealth : 
 All muft be euen.in our Gouernment. 
 You thus imploy'd, 1 will goe root away 
 The noyfome Weedes,that without profit fucke 
 The Soyles fertilitie from wholefome flowers. 
 
 &r. Why fliould we, in the compafle of a Pale, 
 Keepe Law and Forme,and due Proportion, 
 Shewing as in a Modell our firme Eftate ? 
 When our Sea-wailed Garden, the whole Land, 
 Is full of Weedes,her faireft Flowers choakt vp, 
 Her Fruit-trees all vnpruin'd,her Hedges ruin'd, 
 Her Knots diforder'd,and her wholefome Hearbes 
 Swarming with Caterpillers. 
 
 Gard. Hold thy peace. 
 He that hath fuffer'd this diforder'd Spring, 
 Hath now himfelfe met with the Fall of Leafe. 
 The Weeds that his broad-fpreading Leaues did flicker, 
 That feem'djin eating him, to hold him vp, 
 Are pull'd vp,Root and all, by Bullingbroo^e : 
 I meane,the Earle of Wiltfliire, Bu/bie,Greene. 
 
 d &r.What,
 
 The Life and 'Death of 'T^ichard the Second. 
 
 Ser. What are they dead ? 
 
 Card. They are, 
 
 And f Bullingbrool(e hath feiz'd the waftefull King. 
 Oh, what pitty is it, that he had not fo trim'd 
 And dreft his Land, as we this Garden, at time of yeare, 
 And wound the Barke, the skin of our Fruit-trees, 
 Leaft being ouer-proud with Sap and Blood, 
 With too much riches it confound it felfe? 
 Had he done fo, to great and growing men, 
 They might haue liu'd to beare, and he to tafte 
 Their fruites of dutie. Superfluous branches 
 We lop away, that bearing boughes may Hue: 
 Had he done fo, himfelfe had borne the Crowne, 
 Which wafte and idle houres,hath quite thrown downe. 
 
 Ser. What thinke you the King lhall be depos'd ? 
 
 Gar. Depreft he is already, and depos'd 
 'Tis doubted he will be. Letters came laft night 
 To a deere Friend of the Duke of Yorkes, 
 That tell blacke tydings. 
 
 Q.Q\\ I am preft to death through want of fpeaking: 
 Thou old Adams likenefle, fet to drefle this Garden : 
 How dares thy har/h rude tongue found this vnpleafing 
 What Eue? what Serpent hath fuggefted thee, (newes 
 
 To make a fecond fall of curfed man? 
 Why do'ft thou fay, King 'Rjchard is depos'd, 
 Dar'ft thou, thou little better thing then earth, 
 Diuine his downfall ? Say, where, when, and how 
 Cam'ft thou by this ill-tydings? Speake thou wretch. 
 
 Card. Pardon me Madam. Little ioy haue I 
 To breath thefe newes; yet what I fay, is true ; 
 King Richard, he is in the mighty hold 
 Of BulHngbrooly, their Fortunes both are weigh'd : 
 In your Lords Scale, is nothing but himfelfe, 
 And fome few Vanities, that make him light: 
 But in the Ballance of great Bullingbroo^e, 
 Befides himfelfe, are all the Englifh Peeres, 
 And with that oddes he weighes King Richard downe. 
 Pofte you to London, and you'l finde it fo, 
 I fpeake no more, then euery one doth know. 
 
 <$u. Nimble mifchance,that art fo light of foote, 
 Doth not thy EmbaflTage belong to me ? 
 And am I laft that knowes it? Oh thou think'ft 
 To ferue me laft, that I may longeft keepe 
 Thy forrow in my breaft. Come Ladies goe, 
 To meet at London, Londons King in woe. 
 What was I borne to this : that my fad looke, 
 Should grace the Triumph of great Bullingiroo^e. 
 Gard'ner, for telling me this newes of woe, 
 I would the Plants thou graft'ft, may neuer grow. Exit. 
 
 G.Poore Queen, fo that thy State might be no worfe, 
 I would my skill were fubiedr. to thy curfe: 
 Heere did (he drop a teare, heere in this place 
 He fet a Banke of Rew, fowre Herbe of Grace: 
 Rue, eu'n for ruth, heere fhortly fliall be/eene, 
 In the remembrance of a Weeping Queene. Exit. 
 
 Attus Quartus. Sccena Trima. 
 
 Enter as to the Parliament, 'Bullingbroo^e , Numeric, Nor- 
 thumberland, Tercie, Fitz-ffater, Surrey,Qarlile, Abbot 
 of Weftminjier. Herauld, Officers, and Bagtt. 
 
 ^: Call forth 'Bagot. 
 
 Now 'Bagot, freely fpeake thy minde, 
 What thou do'ft know of Noble Gloufters death : 
 Who wrought it with the King, and who perform'd 
 The bloody Office of his Timelefle end. 
 
 'Bag. Then fet before my face, the LordAumerie. 
 
 Bui. Cofin,ftand forth, and looke vpon that man. 
 
 Bag. My Lord Aumerle, I know your daring tongue 
 Scornes to vnfay, what it hdth once deliuer'd. 
 In that dead time, when Gloufters death was plotted, 
 I heard you fay, Is not my arme of length, 
 That reacheth from the reftfull Englifh Court 
 As farre as Callis, to my Vnkles head. 
 Amongft much other talke, that very time, 
 I heard you fay, that you had rather refufe 
 The offer of an hundred thoufand Crownes, 
 Then Bullingbroo^es returne to England ; adding withall, 
 How bleft this Land would be, in this your Cofins death. 
 
 Aum. Princes,and Noble Lords : 
 What anfwer fhall I make to this bafe man ? 
 Shall I fo much diflionor my faire Starres, 
 On equall termes to giue him chafticement? 
 Either I muft, or haue mine honor foyl'd 
 With th' Attainder of his fland'rous Lippes. 
 There is my Gage, the manuall Scale of death 
 That markes thee out for Hell. Thou lyeft, 
 And will maintaine what thou haft faid, is falfe, 
 In thy heart blood, though being all too bafe 
 To ftaine the temper of my Knightly fword. 
 
 'Bui. 'Bagot forbeare, thou fhait not take it vp. 
 
 Aum, Excepting one, I would he were the beft 
 In all this prefence, that hath mou'd me fo. 
 
 \t%. If that thy valour ftand on fympathize : 
 There is my Gage, Aumcrle, in Gage to thine : 
 By that faire Sunne, that fhewes me where thou ftand'ft, 
 I heard thee fay (and vauntingly thou fpak'ft it) 
 That thou wer't caufe of Noble Gloufters death. 
 If thou denied it, twenty times thou lyeft, 
 And I will turne thy falihood to thy hart, 
 Where it was forged with my Rapiers point. 
 
 Aum. Thou dar'ft not (Coward) Hue to fee the day. 
 
 FfVz. Now by my Soule, I would it were this houre. 
 
 Aum. Fitxnater thou art damn'd to hell for this. 
 
 Per. Aumerle, thou lye'ft : his Honor is as true 
 In this Appeale, as thou art all vniuft : 
 And that thou art fo, there I throw my Gage 
 To proue it on thee, to th'extreameft point 
 Of mortall breathing. Seize it, if thou dar'ft. 
 
 Aum. And if I do not, may my hands rot off, 
 And neuer brandifh more reuengefull Steele, 
 Ouer the glittering Helmet of my Foe. 
 
 Surrey. My Lord Fitz-n>ater : 
 I do remember well, the very time 
 tAumerle, and you did talke. 
 
 F//z. My Lord, 
 
 'Tis very true : You were in prefence then, 
 And you can witnefTe with me, this is true. 
 
 Surrey. As falfe, by heauen, 
 As Heauen it felfe is true. 
 
 Fitz. Surrey, thou Lyeft. 
 
 Surrey. Dishonourable Boy ; 
 That Lye, fhall He fo heauy on my Sword, 
 That it fliall render Vengeance, and Reuenge, 
 Till thou the Lye-giuer, and that Lye, doe lye 
 In earth as quiet, as thy Fathers Scull. 
 In proofe whereof, there is mine Honors pawne, 
 Engage it to the Triall, if thou dar'ft.
 
 The Life and 'Death of ^c hard the Second. 
 
 39 
 
 Fitxw. How fondly do'ft them fpurre a forward Horfe? 
 If I dare eate,or drinke,or breathe, or liue, 
 I dare meete Surrey in a Wilderneffe, 
 And fpit vpon him, whileft I fay he Lyes, 
 And Lyes, and Lyes : there is my Bond of Faith, 
 To tye thee to my ftrong Correction. 
 As I intend to thriue in this new World, 
 Aumerle is guiltie of my true Appeale. 
 Befides,! heard the banifiVd Norfoi^e fay, 
 That thou Numeric didft fend two of thy men, 
 To execute the Noble Duke at Callis. 
 
 Aum. Some honeft Chriftian truft me with a Gage, 
 That Norfollfe lyes : here doe I throw downe this, 
 If he may be repeal'd, to trie his Honor. 
 
 'Bull. Thefe differences mall all reft vnder Gage, 
 Till Norfolfe be repeal'd : repeal'd he fhall be ; 
 And (though mine Enemie)reftor'd againe 
 To all his Lands and Seignories: when hee's return'd, 
 Againft Aumerle we will enforce his Tryall. 
 
 Carl. That honorable day mail ne're be feene. 
 Many a time hath banifli'd Norfoify fought 
 For lefu Chrift, in glorious Chriftian field 
 Streaming the Enfigne of the Chriftian Croffe, 
 Againft black Pagans, Turkes,and Saracens: 
 And toyl'd with workes of Warre, retyr'd himfelfe 
 To Italy,and there at Venice gaue 
 His Body to that pleafant Countries Earth, 
 And his pure Soule vnto his Captaine Chrift, 
 Vnder whofe Colours he had fought fo long. 
 
 Bull. Why Bimop,is Norfolkf dead ? 
 
 Carl. As fure as I liue, my Lord. 
 
 Bull. Sweet peace conduct his fweet Soule 
 To the Bofome of good old Abraham. 
 Lords Appealants,your differeces fhal all reft vnder gage, 
 Till we afiigne you to your dayes of Tryall. 
 Enter Yort^e. 
 
 Torfy. Great Duke of Lancafter,! come to thee 
 From plume-pluckt ^Rkbard, who with willing Soule 
 Adopts thee Heire,and his high Scepter yeelds 
 To the poffefiion of thy Royall Hand. 
 Afcend his Throne, descending now from him, 
 And long liue Henry, of that Name the Fourth. 
 
 'Bull. In Gods Name, He afcend the Regall Throne. 
 
 Carl. Mary, Heauen forbid. 
 Worft in this Royall Prefence may I fpeake, 
 Yet beft befeeming me to fpeake the truth. 
 Would God, that any in this Noble Prefence 
 Were enough Noble, to be vpright ludge 
 Of Noble Richard: then true NoblenefTe would 
 Learne him forbearance from fo foule a Wrong. 
 What Subieft can giue Sentence on his King 
 And who fits here, that is not Richards SubiecT: 2 
 Theeues are not iudg'd,but they are by to heare, 
 Although apparant guilt be feene in them : 
 And /hall the figure of Gods Maieftie, 
 His Captaine, Steward, Deputie ele&, 
 Anoynted,Crown'd, planted many yeeres, 
 Be iudg'd by fubiedl, and inferior breathe, 
 And he himfelfe not prefent? Oh, forbid it, God, 
 That in a Chriftian Climate,Soules refin'de 
 Should mew fo heynous, black, obfcene a deed. 
 I fpeake to Subiec~h,and a Subiecl: fpeakes, 
 Stirr'd vp by Heauen, thus bojdly for his King. 
 My Lord of Hereford here, whom you call King, 
 Is a foule Traytor to prowd Hereford* King. 
 And if you Crowne him, let me prcfphecie, 
 
 343 
 
 The blood of Englifh mail manure the ground, 
 
 And future Ages groane for his foule Adi. 
 
 Peace mall goe fleepe with Turkes and Infidels, 
 
 And in this Seat of Peace, tumultuous Warres 
 
 Shall Kin ne with Kinne,and Kinde with Kinde confound. 
 
 Diforder, Horror, Feare, and "Mutinie 
 
 Shall here inhabite,and this Land be call'd 
 
 The field of Golgotha, and dead mens Sculls. 
 
 Oh, if you reare this Houfe, againft this Houfe 
 
 It will the wofulleft Diuifion proue, 
 
 That euer fell vpon this curfed Earth. 
 
 Preuent it, refift it, and let it not be fo, 
 
 Leaft Child, Childs Children cry againft you, Woe. 
 
 North. Well haue you argu'd Sir: and for your paines, 
 Of Capital! Treafon we arreft you here. 
 My Lord of Weftminfter, be it your charge, 
 To keepe him fafely,till his day of Tryall. 
 May it pleafe you, Lords, to grant the Commons Suit? 
 
 'Bull. Fetch hither l^icbard, that in common view 
 He may furrender : fo we mail proceede 
 Without fufpition. 
 
 Tor^e. I will be his Conduct. Exit. 
 
 'Bull. Lords, you that here are vnder our Arreft, 
 Procure your Sureties for your Dayes of Anfwer : 
 Little are we beholding to your Loue, 
 And little look'd for at your helping Hands. 
 
 Enter 'RJcbarJ and Torfe. 
 Rich. Alack, why am I fent for to a King, 
 Before I haue fhooke off the Regall thoughts 
 Wherewith I reign'd ? I hardly yet haue learn'd 
 To infinuate, flatter, bowe, and bend my Knee. 
 Giue Sorrow leaue a while, to tuture me 
 To this fubmiflion. Yet I well remember 
 The fauors of thefe men : were they not mine ? 
 Did they not fometime cry, All hayle to me ? 
 So ludai did to Chrift: but he in twelue, 
 Found truth in all, but one;I,in twelue thoufand,none. 
 God faue the King: will no man fay, Amen? 
 Am I both Prieft,and Clarke? well then, Amen. 
 God faue the King, although I be not hee : 
 And yet Amen, if Heauen doe thinke him mee. 
 To doe what feruice, am I fent for hither <? 
 
 Ydrl(e. To doe that office of thine owne good will, 
 Which tyred Maieftie did make thee offer : 
 The Refignation of thy State and Crowne 
 To Henry 'Bullingbroofy . 
 
 Rich. Glue me the Crown. Here Coufin,feize y Crown : 
 Here Coufin,on this fide my Hand, on that fide thine. 
 Now is this Golden Crowne like a deepe Well, 
 That owes two Buckets, filling one another, 
 The emptier euer dancing in the ayre, 
 The other downe,vnfeene,and full of Water: 
 That Bucket downe, and full of Teares am I, 
 Drinking my Griefes, whil'ft you mount vp on high. 
 
 Bull. I thought you had been willing to refigne. 
 
 Rich. My Crowne I am, but ftill my Griefes are mine: 
 You may my Glories and my State depofe, 
 But not my Griefes; ftill am I King of thofe. 
 
 Bull.Pzrt of your Cares you giue me with your Crowne. 
 
 Rich. Your Cares fet vp, do not pluck my Cares downe. 
 My Care, is loffe of Care, by old Care done, 
 Your Care, is gaine of Care, by new Care wonne : 
 The Cares I giue, I haue, though giuen away, 
 They 'tend the Crowne, yet ftill with me they ftay: 
 'Bull. Are you contented to refigne the Crowne ? 
 
 d z Rich. I,
 
 The Life and "Death of*3(ichard the Second. 
 
 Rich. I, no; no, I : for I muft nothing bee : 
 Therefore no, no, for I refigne to thee. 
 Now,marke me how I will vndoe my felfe. 
 I giue this heauie Weight from off my Head, 
 And this vnwieldie Scepter from my Hand, 
 The pride of Kingly fway frontl out my Heart. 
 With mine owne Teares I wafh away my Balme, 
 With mine owne Hands I giue away my Crowne, 
 With mine owne Tongue denie my Sacred State, 
 With mine owne Breath releafe all dutious Oathes ; 
 All Pompe and Maieftie I doe forfweare : 
 My Manors, Rents, Reuenues, I forgoe; 
 My Afts, Decrees, and Statutes I denie : 
 God pardon all Oathes that are broke to mee, 
 God keepe all Vowes vnbroke are made to thee. 
 Make me, that nothing haue,with nothing grieu'd, 
 And thou with all pleas'd,that haft all atchieu'd. 
 Long may'ft thou Hue in Richards Seat to fit, 
 And foone lye Richard in an Earthie Pit. 
 God faue King Henry, vn-King'd Richard fayes, 
 And fend him many yeeres of Sunne-fhine dayes. 
 What more remaines ? 
 
 North. No more : but that you reade 
 Thefe Accufations, and thefe grieuous Crymes, 
 Committed by your Perfon, and your followers, 
 Againft the State,and Profit of this Land : 
 That by confeffing them, the Soules of men 
 May deeme, that you are worthily depos'd. 
 
 Rich. Muft I doe fo ? and muft I rauell out 
 My weau'd-vp follyes ? Gentle Northumberland^ 
 If thy Offences were vpon Record, 
 Would it not flnme thee,in fo faire a troupe, 
 To reade a Lecture of them ? If thou would'ft, 
 There fhould'ft thou finde one heynous Article, 
 Contayning the depofing of a King, 
 And cracking the ftrong Warrant of an Oath, 
 Mark'd with a Blot,damn'd in the Booke of Heauen. 
 Nay, all of you, that ftand and looke vpon me, 
 Whil'ft that my wretchedneflTe doth bait my felfe, 
 Though fome of you, with Pilate,wi(h your hands, 
 Shewing an outward pittie : yet you Pilates 
 Haue here deliuer'd me to my fowre Crofle, 
 And Water cannot wafh away your finne. 
 
 North. My Lord difpatch, reade o're thefe Articles. 
 
 Rich. Mine Eyes are full of Teares,! cannot fee: 
 And yet falt-Water blindes them not fo much, 
 But they can fee a fort of Traytors here. 
 Nay,if I turne mine Eyes vpon my felfe, 
 I finde my felfe a Traytor with the reft : 
 For I haue giuen here my Soules confent, 
 T'vndeck the pompous Body of a King; 
 Made Glory bafe ; a Soueraigntie,a Slaue ; 
 Prowd Maieftie, a Subiedl ; State,a Pefant. 
 
 North. My Lord. 
 
 Rich. No Lord of thine, thou haught-infulting man; 
 No, nor no mans Lord : I haue no Name, no Title; 
 No, not that Name was giuen me at the Font, 
 But 'tis vfurpt : alack the heauie day, 
 That I haue worne fo many Winters out, 
 And know not now, what Name to call my felfe. 
 Oh, that I were a Mockerie, King of Snow, 
 Standing before the Sunne of ( Bullingbrool(e t 
 To melt my felfe away in Water-drops. 
 Good King, great King, and yet not greatly good, 
 And if my word be Sterling yet in England, 
 Let it command a Mirror hither ftraight, 
 
 That it may fhew me what a Face I haue, 
 Since it is Bankrupt of his Maieftie. 
 
 'Bull. Goe Ibme of you, and fetch a Looking-Glafle. 
 
 North. Read o're this Pjper, while y Glafie doth come. 
 
 Rich. Fiend, thou torments me, ere I come to Hell. 
 
 2?//.Vrge it no more, my Lord Northumberland. 
 
 North.The Commons will not then be fatisfy'd. 
 
 Rich. They ftiall be fatisfy'd : lie reade enough, 
 When I doe fee the very Booke indeede, 
 Where all my finnes are writ, and that's my felfe. 
 
 Enter one with a GlaJJe. 
 
 Giue me that GlafTe,and therein will I reade. 
 No deeper wrinckles yet? hath Sorrow ftrucke 
 So many Blowes vpon this Face of mine, 
 And made no deeper Wounds? Oh flatt'ring Glade, 
 Like to my followers in profperitie, 
 Thou do'ft beguile me. Was this Face, the Face 
 That euery day, vnder his Houfe-hold Roofe, 
 Did keepe ten thoufand men ? Was this the Face, 
 That like the Sunne, did make beholders winke 
 Is this the Face, which fac'd fo many follyes, 
 That was at laft out-fac'd by Bullingbrac/l^e} 
 A brittle Glory fhineth in this Face, 
 As brittle as the Glory, is the Face, 
 For there it is, crackt in an hundred fhiuers. 
 Marke filent King, the Morall of this fport, 
 How foone my Sorrow hath deftroy'd my Face. 
 
 Bull. The fhadow of your Sorrow hath deftroy'd 
 The fhadow of your Face. 
 
 Rich. Say that againe. 
 The fhadow of my Sorrow : ha, let's fee, 
 'Tis very true, my Griefe lyes all within, 
 And thefe externall manner of Laments, 
 Are meerely fhadowes,to the vnfeene Griefe, 
 That fwells with filence in the tortur'd Soule. 
 There lyes the fubftance : and I thanke thee King 
 For thy great bountie,that not onely giu'ft 
 Me caufe to wayle, but teacheft me the way 
 How to lament the caufe. He begge one Boone, 
 And then be gone, and trouble you no more. 
 Shall I obtaine it ? 
 
 Bull. Name it, faire Coufin. 
 
 J(icb. Faire Coufin ? I am greater then a King: 
 For when I was a King, my flatterers 
 Were then but fubie&s; being now a fubiecl, 
 I haue a King here to my flatterer: 
 Being fo great, I haue no neede to begge. 
 
 'Bull. Yet aske. 
 
 Rich. And fhall I haue f 
 
 'Bull. You fhall. 
 
 Rich. Then giue me leaue to goe. 
 
 Bull. Whither? 
 
 Rich. Whither you will,fo I were from your fights. 
 
 Bull. Goe fome of you,conuey him to the Tower. 
 
 Rich. Oh good: conuey: Conueyers are you all, 
 That rife thus nimbly by a true Kings fall. 
 
 'Bull. On Wednefday next, we folemnly fet downe 
 Our Coronation: Lords, prepare your felues. Exeunt. 
 
 Abbot. A wofull Pageant haue we here beheld. 
 
 Carl. The Woes to come, the Children yet vnborne, 
 Shall feele this day as fharpe to them as Thorne. 
 
 tAum. You holy Clergie-men, is there no Plot 
 To rid the Realme of this pernicious Blot. 
 
 tAbbot.Rthrz I freely fpeake my minde herein, 
 You fhall not onely take the Sacrament, 
 To bury mine intents, but alfo to effect 
 
 What 
 
 344
 
 The Life and 'Death of^chard the Second. 
 
 4 1 
 
 _What euer I fliall happen to deuife. 
 
 I fee your Browes are full of Difcontent, 
 
 Your Heart of Sorrow,and your Eyes of Teares. 
 
 Come home with me to Supper,Ile lay a Plot 
 
 Shall (hew vs all a merry day. Exeunt. 
 
 Aftus Quintus. Scena^Prima. 
 
 Enter Queene,and Ladles. 
 
 Qu. This way the King will come: this is the way 
 To luliui Ctfjars ill-erected Tower : 
 To whofe flint Boibme, my condemned Lord 
 Is doom'd a Prifoner, by prowd 'Bulllngbroo^e. 
 Here let vs reft, if this rebellious Earth 
 Haue any refting for her true Kings Queene. 
 
 Enter Richard, and Quard. 
 But foft, but fee, or rather doe not fee, 
 My faire Rofe wither : yet looke vp ; behold, 
 That you in pittie may diflblue to dew, 
 And wafli him frefli againe with truejoue Teares. 
 Ah thou,the Modell where old Troy did ftand, 
 Thou Mappe of Honor, thcu King Ricbardi Tombe, 
 And not King Richard: thou molt beauteous Inne, 
 Why fliould hard-fauor'd Griefe be lodg'd in thee, 
 When Triumph is become an Ale-houfe Gueft. 
 
 Rich. loyne not with griefe, faire Woman, do not fo, 
 To make my end too fudden : learne good Soule, 
 To thinke our former State a happie Dreame, 
 From which awak'd,the truth of what we are, 
 Shewes vs but this. I am fworne Brother (Sweet) 
 To grim Necefiitie ; and hee and I 
 Will keepe a League till Death. High thee to France, 
 And Cloyfter thee in fome Religious Houfe : 
 Our holy liues muft winne a new Worlds Crowne, 
 Which our prophane houres here haue ftricken downe. 
 
 Qu. What, is my Richard both in fliape and minde 
 Transform'd,and weaken'd? Hath Bullingbroo^e 
 Depos'd thine Intellect ? hath he beene in thy Heart? 
 The Lyon dying, thrufteth forth his Paw, 
 And wounds the Earth, if nothing elfe,with rage 
 To be o're-powr'd : and wilt thou,Pupill-like, 
 Take thy Correction mildly, kifle the Rodde, 
 And fawne on Rage with bafe Humilitie, 
 Which art a Lyon, and a King of Beafts? 
 
 Rich. A King of Beafts indeed: if aught but Beafts, 
 I had beene ftill a happy King of Men. 
 Goodffbmetime Queene)prepare thee hence for France: 
 Thinke I am dead, and that euen here thou tak'ft, 
 As from my Death-bed, my laft liuing leaue. 
 In Winters tedious Nights fit by the fire 
 With good old folkes, and let them tell thee Tales 
 Of wofull Ages, long agoe betide : 
 And ere thou bid good-night, to quit their griefe, 
 Tell thou the lamentable fall of me, 
 And fend the hearers weeping to their Beds : 
 For why? the fencelefie Brands will fympathize 
 The heauie accent of thy mouing Tongue, 
 And in com paflion, weepe the fire out: 
 And fome will mourne in aflies.fome coale-black, 
 For the depofing of a rightfull King. 
 Enter Northumberland. 
 
 Nortb.My Lord, the mind of BuUingbroofy is chang'd. 
 
 345 
 
 You muft to Pomfret, not vnto the Tower. 
 And Madame,there is order ta'ne for you: 
 With all fwift fpeed,you muft away to France. 
 
 Rich. Northumberland, thou Ladder wherewithall 
 The mounting 'Bullingbroo^e afcends my Throne, 
 The time fliall not be many houres of age, 
 More then it is, ere foule fmne, gathering head, 
 Shall breake into corruption: thou fhalt thinke, 
 Though he diuide the Realme,and giue thee halfe, 
 It is too little,helping him to all : 
 He fliall thinke, that thou which know'ft the way 
 To plant vnrightfull Kings, wilt know againe, 
 Being ne're fo little vrg'd another way, 
 To pluck him headlong from the vfurped Throne. 
 The Loue of wicked friends conuerts to Feare ; 
 That Feare, to Hate ; and Hate turnes one, or both, 
 To worthie Danger,and deferued Death. 
 
 North. My guilt be on my Head, and there an end : 
 Take leaue, and part, for you muft part forthwith. 
 
 Rich. Doubly diuorc'd?(bad men) ye violate 
 A two-fold Marriage; 'twixt my Crowne, and me, 
 And then betwixt me, and my marryed Wife. 
 Let me vn-kifle the Oath 'twixt thee, and me ; 
 And yet not fo,for with a Kifle 'twas made. 
 Part vs, Northumberland: I, towards the North, 
 Where fliiuering Cold and Sicknefle pines the Clyme : 
 My Queene to France : from whence, fet forth in pompe, 
 She came adorned hither like fweet May; 
 Sent back like Hollowmas.or fliort'ft of day. 
 
 Qu. And muft we be diuided ? muft we part ? 
 
 Rich. I,hand from hand(my Loue)and heart fro heart. 
 
 Qu. Banifli vs both, and fend the King with me. 
 
 North. That were fome Loue, but little Pollicy. 
 
 Qu. Then whither he goes, thither let me goe. 
 
 Rich. So two together weeping,make one Woe. 
 Weepe thou for me in France; l,for thee heere: 
 Better farre off, then neere,be ne're the neere. 
 Goe, count thy Way with Sighes ; I, mine with Groanes. 
 
 Qtt. So longeft Way fliall haue the longeft Moanes. 
 
 3(icb.Tw}ce for one ftep He groane,y Way being fliort, 
 And peece the Way out with a heauie heart. 
 Come, come, in wooing Sorrow let's be briefe, 
 Since wedding it, there is fuch length in Griefe : 
 One Kifle fliall flop our mouthes, and dumbely part ; 
 Thus giue I mine, and thus take I thy heart. 
 
 Qu. Giue me mine owne againe:'twere no good part, 
 To take on me to keepe, and kill thy heart. 
 So, now I haue mine owne againe, be gone, 
 That I may ftriue to kill it with a groane. 
 
 Ricb.We make Woe wanton with this fond delay: 
 Once more adieu; the reft,let Sorrow fay. Exeunt. 
 
 Sccena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Yorl(e,and bis Ducbejfc. 
 
 Ducb. My Lord, you told me you would tell the reft, 
 When weeping made you breake the ftory off, 
 Of our two Coufins comming into London. 
 
 Tori;?. Where did I leaue? 
 
 Ducb. At that fad ftoppe,my Lord, 
 
 Where rude mif-gouern'd hands, from Windowes tops, 
 Threw duft and rubbifh on King Richards head. 
 
 d 3 TVfc.Then
 
 The Life and 'Death ofTZj.chardthe Second. 
 
 Torfe. Then, as I faid, the Duke, great 'Bullingbroo^ 
 Mounted vpon a hot and fierie Steed, 
 Which his afpiring Rider feem'd to know, 
 With flow, but ftately pace, kept on his courfe : 
 While all tongues cride, God faue thee Bullingbrool(e. 
 You would haue thought the very windowes (pake, 
 So many greedy lookes of yong and old, 
 Through Cafements darted their defiring eyes 
 Vpon his vifage : and that all the walles, 
 With painted Imagery had faid at once, 
 lefu preferue thee, welcom Bullingbroo^e. 
 Whil'ft he, from one fide to the other turning, 
 Bare-headed, lower then his proud Steeds necke, 
 Befpake them thus : I thanke you Countrimen : 
 And thus ftill doing, thus he paft along. 
 
 'Dutch. Alas poore Richard, where rides he the whilft? 
 
 Yorfy. As in a Theater, the eyes of men 
 After a well grac'd Adtor leaues the Stage, 
 Are idlely bent on him that enters next, 
 Thinking his prattle to be tedious : 
 Euen fo, or with much more contempt, mens eyes 
 Did fcowle on 'Richard : no man cride, God faue him : 
 No ioyfull tongue gaue him his welcome home, 
 But duft was throwne vpon his Sacred head, 
 Which with fuch gentle forrow he fhooke off, 
 His face ftill combating with teares and fmiles 
 (The badges of his greefe and patience) 
 That had not God (for fome ftrong purpofe) fteel'd 
 The hearts of men, they muft perforce haue melted, 
 And Barbarifme it felfe haue pittied him. 
 But heauen hath a hand in thefe euents, 
 To whofe high will we bound our calme contents. 
 To 'Bullingbroofy, are we fworne Subiefts now, 
 Whofe State, and Honor, I for aye allow. 
 Enter cAumerle. 
 
 Dut. Heere comes my fonne Aumerle. 
 
 Tor. Aumerle that was, 
 But that is loft, for being Richards Friend. 
 And Madam, you muft call him 'Rutland now: 
 I am in Parliament pledge for his truth, 
 And lafting fealtie to the new-made King. 
 
 Dut. Welcome my fonne : who are the Violets now, 
 That ftrew the greene lap of the new-come Spring 
 
 Aum. Madam, I know not, nor I greatly care not, 
 God knowes, I had as liefe be none, as one. 
 
 2Tw^.Well, beare you well in this new-fpring of time 
 Leaft you be cropt before you come to prime. 
 What newes from Oxford? Hold thofe lufts & Triumphs? 
 
 Aum. For ought I know my Lord, they do. 
 
 Yortft. You will be there I know. 
 
 Aum. If God preuent not, I purpofe fb. 
 
 TV. What Scale is that that hangs without thy bofom? 
 Yea, look'ft thou pale ? Let me fee the Writing. 
 
 Aum. My Lord, 'tis nothing. 
 
 Yorty. No matter then who fees it, 
 I will be fatisfied, let me fee the Writing. 
 
 Aum. I do befeech your Grace to pardon me, 
 It is a matter of fmall confequence, 
 Which for fome reafons I would not haue feene. 
 
 Tor/if. Which for fome reafons fir, I meane to fee: 
 I feare, I feare. 
 
 Dut. What fliould you feare ? 
 
 "Tis nothing but fome bond, that he is enter'd into 
 For gay apparrell,againft the Triumph. 
 
 Yor\e. Bound to himfelfe? What doth he with a Bond 
 That he is bound to ? Wife, thou art a foole. 
 
 Boy, let me fee the Writing. 
 
 Aum. I do befeech you pardon me, I may not fliew it. 
 
 Tor. I will be fatisfied:let me fee it I fay. Snatches it 
 Treafon, foule Treafon, Villaine, Traitor, Slaue. 
 
 Dut. What's the matter, my Lord ? 
 
 Yorlfe. Hoa, who's within there ? Saddle my horfe. 
 Heauen for his mercy : what treachery is heere ? 
 
 Dut. Why, what is't my Lord? 
 
 Tbrly. Giue me my boots, 1 fay : Saddle my horfe : 
 Now by my Honor, my life, my troth, 
 I will appeach the Villaine. 
 
 Dut. What is the matter? 
 
 Yorfy. Peace foolifh Woman. 
 
 T)ut. I will not peace. What is the matter Sonne ? 
 
 Aum. Good Mother be content, it is no more 
 Then my poore life muft anfwer. 
 
 Dut. Thy life anfwer? 
 
 Enter Seruant with Boots. 
 
 Yor. Bring me my Boots, I will vnto the King. 
 
 e Dut. Strike him Aumerle. Poore boy, y art amaz'd, 
 Hence Villaine, neuer more come in my fight. 
 
 Yor. Giue me my Boots, I fay. 
 
 Dut. Why Yorke, what wilt thou do? 
 Wilt thou not hide the TrefpafTe of thine owne ? 
 Haue we more Sonnes? Or are we like to haue ? 
 Is not my teeming date drunke vp with time? 
 And wilt thou plucke my faire Sonne from mine Age, 
 And rob me of a happy Mothers name? 
 Is he not like thee? Is he not thine owne? 
 
 Yor. Thou fond mad woman : 
 Wilt thou conceale this darke Confpiracy? 
 A dozen of them heere haue tane the Sacrament, 
 And interchangeably fet downe their hands 
 To kill the King at Oxford. 
 
 Dut. He lhall be none : 
 Wee'l keepe him heere : then what is that to hinr? 
 
 Yor. Away fond woman : were hee twenty times my 
 Son, I would appeach him. 
 
 'Dut. Hadft thou groan'd for him as I haue done, 
 Thou wouldeft be more pittifull : 
 But now I know thy minde ; thou do'ft fufpedt 
 That I haue bene difloyall to thy bed, 
 And that he is a Baftard, not thy Sonne : 
 Sweet Yorke, fweet husband, be not of that minde : 
 He is as like thee, as a man may bee, 
 Not like to me v nor any of my Kin, 
 And yet I loue him. 
 
 Yor^e. Make way, vnruly Woman. Exit 
 
 Dut. After Aumerle. Mount thee vpon his horfe, 
 Spurre poft, and get before him to the King, 
 And begge thy pardon, ere he do accufe thee, 
 lie not be long behind : though I be old, 
 I doubt not but to ride as faft as Yorke: 
 And neuer will I rife vp from the ground, 
 Till Bullingbroo^e haue pardon'd thee:Away be gone. Exit 
 
 Sccena Tertia. 
 
 Enter BulUngbroo^e, Percie, and other Lords. 
 Bui. Can no man tell of my vnthriftie Sonne ? 
 *Tis full three monthes fince I did fee him laft. 
 If any plague hang ouer vs, 'tis he, 
 I would to heauen(my Lords)he might be found: 
 Enquire at London, 'mongft the Tauernes there : 
 
 For 
 
 346
 
 The Life and 'Death of^chard the Second. 
 
 43 
 
 For there (they fay) he dayly doth frequent, 
 
 With vnreftrained loofe Companions, 
 
 Euen fuch (they fay) as ftand in narrow Lanes, 
 
 And rob our Watch, and beate our paflengers, 
 
 Which he, yong wanton, and effeminate Boy 
 
 Takes on the point of Honor, to fupport 
 
 So diflblute a crew. 
 
 Per. My Lord, fome two dayes fince I faw the Prince, 
 And told him of thefe Triumphes held at Oxford. 
 
 Bui. And what faid the Gallant ? 
 
 Per. His anfwer was : he would vnto the Stewes, 
 And from the common'ft creature plucke a Gloue 
 And weare it as a fauour, and with that 
 He would vnhorfe the luftieft Challenger. 
 
 Bui. As diflblute as defp'rate, yet through both, 
 I fee fome fparkes of better hope : which elder dayes 
 May happily bring forth. But who comes heere? 
 Enter Aumerle. 
 
 Aum. Where is the King? 
 
 'Bui. What meanes our Cofin, that hee flares 
 And lookes fo wildely ? 
 
 Aum.GoA faue your Grace. I do befeech your Maiefty 
 To haue fome conference with your Grace alone. 
 
 Bui. Withdraw your felues,and leaue vs here alone: 
 What is the matter with our Cofin now ? 
 
 Aum. For euer may my knees grow to the earth, 
 My tongue cleaue to my roofe within my mouth, 
 VnlefTe a Pardon, ere I rife, or fpeake. 
 
 'Bui. Intended, or committed was this fault? 
 If on the firft, how heynous ere it bee, 
 To win thy after loue, I pardon thee. 
 
 Aum. Then giue me leaue, that I may turne the key, 
 That no man enter, till my tale me done. 
 
 'Bui. Haue thy defire. Torfy tvitbiu. 
 
 Tor. My Liege beware, looke to thy felfe, 
 Thou haft a Traitor in thy prefence there. 
 
 Bui. Villaine, lie make thee fafe. 
 
 Aum. Stay thy reuengefull hand, thou haft no caufe 
 to feare. 
 
 Tor^e. Open the doore, fecure foole-hardy King : 
 Shall I for loue fpeake treafon to thy face? 
 Open the doore, or I will breake it open. 
 Enter Torl^e. 
 
 ^Ba/.What is the matter (Vnkle)fpeak,recouer breath, 
 Tell vs how neere is danger, 
 That we may arme vs to encounter it. 
 
 Tor. Perufe this writing heere, and thou fhalt know 
 The reafon that my hafte forbids me fliow. 
 
 Aum. Remember as thou read'ft, thy promife paft : 
 I do repent me, reade not my name there, 
 My heart is not confederate with my hand. 
 
 Tor. It was (villaine) ere thy hand did fet it downe. 
 I tore it from the Traitors bofome, King. 
 Feare, and not Loue, begets his penitence ; 
 Forget to pitty him, leaft thy pitty proue 
 A Serpent, that will fling thee to the heart. 
 
 'Bui. Oh heinous, flrong, and bold Confpiracie, 
 O loyall Father of a treacherous Sonne : 
 Thou fheere, immaculate, and filuer fountaine, 
 From whence this ftreame, through muddy paflages 
 Hath had his current, and defil'd himfelfe. 
 Thy ouerflow of good, conuerts to bad, 
 And thy abundant goodnefle fhall excufe 
 This deadly blot, in thy digrefling fonne. 
 
 Torfy. So fhall my Vertue be his Vices bawd, 
 And he fhall fpend mine Honour, with his Shame ; 
 
 347 
 
 As thriftlefle Sonnes, their fcraping Fathers Gold. 
 Mine honor liues, when his difhonor dies, 
 Or my fham'd life, in his difhonor lies : 
 Thou kill'ft me in his life, giuing him breath, 
 The Traitor liues, the true man's put to death. 
 
 Dutcheffe within. 
 
 'Dut. What hoa(my Liege)for heauens fake let me in. 
 Bui. What fhrill-voic'd Suppliant, makes this eager cry? 
 
 Dut. A woman, and thine Aunt (great King) 'tis I. 
 Speake with me, pitty me, open the dore, 
 A Begger begs, that neuer begg'd before. 
 
 'Bui. Our Scene is alter'd from a ferious thing, 
 And now chang'd to the Begger,and the King. 
 My dangerous Cofin, let your Mother in, 
 I know fhe's come, to pray for your foule fin. 
 
 Torly. If thou do pardon, whofoeuer pray, 
 More finnes for this forgiuenefTe, profper may. 
 This fefter'd ioynt cut off, the reft refts found, 
 This let alone, will all the reft confound. 
 Enter Dutcheffe. 
 
 Dut. O King, beleeue not this hard-hearted man, 
 Loue, louing not it felfe, none other can. 
 
 Tor. Thou franticke woman, what doft y make here, 
 Shall thy old dugges, once more a Traitor reare ? 
 
 'Dut. Sweet Yorke be patient, heare me gentle Liege. 
 
 'Bui. Rife vp good Aunt. 
 
 Dut. Not yet, I thee befeech. 
 For euer will I kneele vpon my knees, 
 And neuer fee day, that the happy fees, 
 Till thou giue ioy : vntill thou bid me ioy. 
 By pardoning Rutland, my tranfgrefling Boy. 
 
 Aum. Vnto my mothers prayres, I bend my knee. 
 
 Torfy. Againft them both, my true ioynts bended be. 
 
 Dut. Pleades he in earneft? Looke vpon his Face, 
 His eyes do drop no teares: his prayres are in left : 
 His words come from his mouth, ours from our breft. 
 He prayes but faintly, and would be denide, 
 We pray with heart, and foule, and all befide : 
 His weary ioynts would gladly rife, I know, 
 Our knees fhall kneele, till to the ground they grow : 
 His prayers are full of falfe hypocrifie, 
 Ours of true zeale, and deepe integritie : 
 Our prayers do out-pray his, then let them haue 
 That mercy, which true prayers ought to haue. 
 
 Bui. Good Aunt ftand vp. 
 
 Dut. Nay, do not fay ftand vp. 
 But Pardon firft, and afterwards ftand vp. 
 And if I were thy Nurfe,thy tongue to teach, 
 Pardon fhould be the firft word of thy fpeach. 
 I neuer long'd to heare a word till now : 
 Say Pardon (King,) let pitty teach thee how. 
 The word is fhort: but not fb fhort as fweet, 
 No word like Pardon, for Kings mouth's fo meet. 
 
 TorJ^e. Speake it in French (King) fay PardotCne may. 
 
 Dut. Doft thou teach pardon, Pardon to deftroy ? 
 Ah my fowre husband, my hard-hearted Lord, 
 That fet's the word it felfe, againft the word. 
 Speake Pardon, as 'tis currant in our Land, 
 The chopping French we do not vnderftand. 
 Thine eye begins to fpeake, fet thy tongue there, 
 Or in thy pitteous heart, plant thou thine eare, 
 That hearing how our plaints and prayres do pearce, 
 Pitty may moue thee, Pardon to rehearfe. 
 
 Bui. Good Aunt, ftand vp. 
 
 Dut. I do not fue to ftand, 
 Pardon is all the fuite I haue in hand. 
 
 Bui.
 
 44 
 
 The Life and 'Death of Richard the Second. 
 
 Bui. I pardon him, as heauen fliall pardon mee. 
 
 Dut. O happy vantage of a kneeling knee : 
 Yet am I ficke for feare : Speake it againe, 
 Twice faying Pardon, doth not pardon twaine, 
 But makes one pardon ftrong. 
 
 'Bui. I pardon him with all my hart. 
 
 Dut. A Gad on earth thou art. 
 
 'Bui. But for our trufty brother-in-Law,the Abbot, 
 With all the reft of that conforted crew, 
 DeftrudrJon ftraight fhall dogge them at the heeles: 
 Good Vnckle helpe to order feuerall powres 
 To Oxford, or where ere thefe Traitors are : 
 They ftiall not liue within this world I fweare, 
 But I will haue them, if I once know where. 
 Vnckle farewell, and Cofin adieu: 
 Your mother well hath praid,and proue you true. 
 
 Dut. Come my old fon,I pray heauen make thee new. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Exton and Seruants. 
 Ext. Didft thou not marke the King what words hee 
 
 fpake? 
 
 Haue I no friend will rid me of this liuing feare : 
 Was it not fo? 
 
 Ser. Thofe were his very words. 
 
 Ex. Haue I no Friend?(quoth he:) he fpake it twice, 
 And vrg'd it twice together, did he not? 
 
 Ser. He did. 
 
 x. And fpeaking it, he wiftly look'd on me, 
 As who fhould fay, I would thou wer't the man 
 That would diuorce this terror from my heart, 
 Meaning the King at Pomfret : Come, let's goe ; 
 I am the Kings Friend, and will rid his Foe. Exit. 
 
 Sctena Quarta. 
 
 Enter Richard. 
 
 Rich. I haue bin ftudying, how to compare 
 This Prifon where I liue, vnto the World : 
 And for becaufe the world is populous, 
 And heere is not a Creature, but my felfe, 
 I cannot do it : yet He hammer't out. 
 My Braine, He proue the Female to my Soule, 
 My Soule, the Father: and thefe two beget 
 A generation of (till breeding Thoughts; 
 And thefe fame Thoughts, people this Little World 
 In humors, like the people of this world, 
 For no thought is contented. The better fort, 
 As thoughts of things Diuine, are intermixt 
 With fcruples, and do fet the Faith it felfe 
 Againft the Faith:as thus: Come Title ones:& then again, 
 It is as hard to come, as for a Camell 
 To thred the pofterne of a Needles eye. 
 Thoughts tending to Ambition, they do plot 
 Vnlikely wonders; how thefe vaine weake nailes 
 May teare a paflage through the Flinty ribbes 
 Of this hard world, my ragged prifon walles: 
 And for they cannot, dye in their owne pride. 
 Thoughts tending to Content, flatter themfelues, 
 That they are not the firft of Fortunes ilaues, 
 Nor fliall not be the laft. Like filly Beggars, 
 Who fitting in the Stockes, refuge their fhame 
 That many haue, and others muft fit there; 
 And in this Thought, they finde a kind of eafe, 
 
 Bearing their owne misfortune on the backe 
 
 Of fuch as haue before indur'd the like. 
 
 Thus play I in one Prifon, many people, 
 
 And none contented. Sometimes am I King ; 
 
 Then Treafon makes me wifh my felfe a Beggar, 
 
 And fo I am. Then crufliing penurie, 
 
 Perfwades me, I was better when a King : 
 
 Then am 1 king'd againe: and by and by, 
 
 Thinke that I am vn-king'd by 'Bullingbroefa 
 
 And ftraight am nothing. But what ere I am, Mujicl(_ 
 
 Nor I,nor any man, that but man is, 
 
 With nothing fliall be pleas'd,till he be eas'd 
 
 With being nothing. Muficke do I heare? 
 
 Ha, haPkeepe time : How fowre fweet Muficke is, 
 
 When Time is broke, and no Proportion kept ? 
 
 So is it in the Muficke of mens liues : 
 
 And heere haue I the daintinefle of eare, 
 
 To heare time broke in a diforder'd ftring : 
 
 But for the Concord of my State and Time, 
 
 Had not an eare to heare my true Time broke. 
 
 I wafted Time, and now doth Time wafte me : 
 
 For now hath Time made me his numbring clocke ; 
 
 My Thoughts,are minutes; and with Sighes they iarre, 
 
 Their watches on vnto mine eyes, the outward Watch, 
 
 Whereto my finger, like a Dialls point, 
 
 Is pointing (till, in cleanfing them from teares. 
 
 Now fir, the found that tels what houre it is, 
 
 Are clamorous groanes, that ftrike vpon my heart, 
 
 Which is the bell : fo Sighes, and Teares, and Grones, 
 
 Shew Minutes, Houres,and Times : but my Time 
 
 Runs poafting on, in e Bullingbrool(es proud ioy, 
 
 While I ftand fooling heere, his iacke o'th'Clocke. 
 
 This Muficke mads me, let it found no more, 
 
 For though it haue holpe madmen to their wits, 
 
 In me it feemes, it will make wife-men mad : 
 
 Yet blefling on his heart that giues it me ; 
 
 For 'tis a figne of loue, and loue to Richard, 
 
 Is a ftrange Brooch, in this all-hating world. 
 
 Enter Groome. 
 Groo. Haile Royall Prince. 
 Rich. Thankes Noble Peere, 
 The cheapeft of vs, is ten groates too deere. 
 What art thou ? And how com'ft thou hither? 
 Where no man euer comes, but that fad dogge 
 That brings me food, to make misfortune liue ? 
 
 Groo. I was a poore Groome of thy Stable (King) 
 When thou wer't King:who trauelling towards Yorke, 
 With much adoo, at length haue gotten leaue 
 To looke vpon my(fometimes Royall) mafters face. 
 O how it yern'd my heart, when I beheld 
 In London ftreets, that Coronation day, 
 When 'Bullingbroofy rode on Roane Barbary, 
 That horfe, that thou fo often haft bedrid, 
 That horfe, that I fo carefully haue dreft. 
 
 Rich. Rode he on Barbary?Tell me gentle Friend, 
 How went he vnder him ? 
 
 Groo. So proudly,as if he had difdain'd the ground. 
 Rich. So proud, that 'Bullingiroofe was on his backe; 
 That lade hath eate bread from my Royall hand. 
 This hand hath made him proud with clapping him. 
 Would he not ftumble?Would he not fall downe 
 (Since Pride muft haue a fall) and breake the necke 
 Of that proud man, that did vfurpe his backe? 
 Forgiuenefle horfe : Why do I raile on thee, 
 Since thou created to be aw'd by man 
 Was't borne to beare? I was not made a horfe, 
 
 And 
 
 348
 
 The Life and 'Death of 'Richard the Second. 4 5 
 
 And yet I beare a burthen like an AfTe, 
 
 The manner of their taking may appeare 
 
 Spur-gall'd, and tyrd by iauncing Bullingbroo^e. 
 
 At large difcourfed in this paper heere. 
 
 Enter Keeper with a Dijb, 
 
 Bu/.Vfe thank thee gentle Percy for thy paines, 
 
 Keep. Fellow, giue place, heere is no longer ftay. 
 
 And to thy worth will adde right worthy gaines. 
 
 "^Ich. If thou loue me, 'tis time thou wer't away. 
 
 Enter Fitz-naters. 
 
 Grew. What my tongue dares not, that my heart fhall 
 
 Fitz. My Lord, I haue from Oxford fent to London, 
 
 fay. Exit. 
 
 The heads of Broccas, and Sir Bennet See/y, 
 
 Keep. My Lord, wilt pleafe you to fall too? 
 
 Two of the dangerous conforted Traitors, 
 
 Rich. Tafte of it firft, as thou wer't wont to doo. 
 
 That fought at Oxford, thy dire ouerthrow. 
 
 Keep. My Lord I dare not : Sir Pierce of Exton, 
 
 Bui. Thy paines Fitvnvaters /hall not be forgot, 
 
 Who lately came from th'King,commands the contrary. 
 
 Right Noble is thy merit, well I wot. 
 
 Rich, The diuell take Henrie of Lancafter,and thee ; 
 
 Enter Percy and Carlile. 
 
 Patience is ftale, and I am weary of it. 
 
 Per. The grand Confpirator, Abbot of Weftminfter, 
 
 Keep. Helpe,helpe,helpe. 
 
 With clog of Confcience, and fowre Melancholly, 
 
 
 Hath yeelded vp his body to the graue : 
 
 Enter Exton and Seruants. 
 
 But heere is Carlile, liuing to abide 
 
 Ri. Hownow?what meanes Death in this rude aflalt? 
 
 Thy Kingly doome, and fentence of his pride. 
 
 Villaine, thine owne hand yeelds thy deaths inftrument, 
 
 Bui. Qarlile, this is your doome : 
 
 Go thou and fill another roome in hell. 
 
 Choofe out fome fecret place, fome reuerend roome 
 
 Exton ftri^es him dotvne. 
 
 More then thou haft, and with it ioy thy life : 
 
 That hand fhall burne in neuer-quenching fire, 
 
 So as thou liu'ft in peace, dye free from ftrife : 
 
 That daggers thus my perfon. Exton, thy fierce hand, 
 
 For though mine enemy, thou haft euer beene, 
 
 Hath with the Kings blood, ftain'd the Kings own land. 
 
 High fparkes of Honor in thee haue I feene. 
 
 Mount, mount my foule, thy feate is vp on high, 
 
 Enter Exton with a Coffin. 
 
 Whil'ft my grofle flefh finkes downward, heere to dye. 
 
 Bxton. Great King, within this Coffin I prefent 
 
 Bxton. As full of Valor, as of Royall blood, 
 
 Thy buried feare. Heerein all breath lefle lies 
 
 Both haue I fpilt: Oh would the deed were good. 
 
 The mightieft of thy greateft enemies 
 
 For now the diuell, that told me I did well, 
 
 Richard of Burdeaux, by me hither brought. 
 
 Sayes, that this deede is chronicled in hell. 
 
 'Bui. Exton, I thanke thee not, for thou haft wrought 
 
 This dead King to the liuing King lie beare, 
 
 A deede of Slaughter, with thy fatall hand, 
 
 Take hence the reft, and giue them buriall heere. Sxit. 
 
 Vpon my head, and all this famous Land. 
 
 
 -Ejc.From your owne mouth my Lord, did I this deed. 
 
 Sccena Quinta. 
 
 ""Bui. They loue not poyfon, that do poyfon neede, 
 Nor do I thee : though I did wifh him dead, 
 I hate the Murtherer, loue him murthered. 
 
 
 The guilt of confcience take thou for thy labour, 
 
 Flourijh. Enter 'Bullingbroofy, Tor fy, with 
 
 But neither my good word, nor Princely fauour. 
 
 other Lords & attendants. 
 
 With Qaine go wander through the fhade of night, 
 
 Bui. Kinde Vnkle Yorke,the lateft newes we heare, 
 
 And neuer fhew thy head by day, nor light. 
 
 Is that the Rebels haue confum'd with fire 
 
 Lords, I proteft my foule is full of woe, 
 
 Our Towne ofCiceter in Gloucefterfhire, 
 
 That blood fhould fprinkle me, to make me grow. 
 
 But whether they be tane or flaine, we heare not. 
 
 Come mourne with me, for that I do lament, 
 
 Bnter Northumberland. 
 
 And put on fullen Blacke incontinent : 
 
 Welcome my Lord : What is the newes ? 
 
 He make a voyage to the Holy-land, 
 
 Nor. Firft to thy Sacred State, wifh I all happineffe : 
 
 To wafh this blood off from my guilty hand. 
 
 The next newes is, I haue to London fent 
 
 March fadly after, grace my mourning heere, 
 
 The heads of Sahbury,SpencerfBlunt,znA Kent: 
 
 In weeping after this vntimely Beere. Exeunt 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 
 
 349
 
 4 6 
 
 The Firft Part of Henry the Fourth, 
 
 with the Life and Death of HENRY 
 
 Sirnamed HOT.SPVRRE. 
 
 Primus. Sccena 
 
 Enter the King, Lord lobn ofLancafter, Ear It 
 of Weftmerland,ivitb others. 
 
 King. 
 
 O /haken as we are, fo wan with care, 
 Finde we a time for frighted Peace to pant, 
 And breath fliortwinded accents of new broils 
 To be commenc'd in Stronds a-farre remote : 
 No more the thirfty entrance of this Soile, 
 Shall daube her lippes with her owne childrens blood : 
 No more /hall trenching Warre channell her fields, 
 Nor bruife her Flowrets with the Armed hoofes 
 Of hoftile paces. Thofe oppofed eyes, 
 Which like the Meteors of a troubled Heauen, 
 All of one Nature, of one Subftance bred, 
 Did lately meete in the inteftine fliocke, 
 And furious cloze of ciuill Butchery, 
 Shall now in mutuall well-befeeming rankes 
 March all one way, and be no more oppos'd 
 Againft Acquaintance, Kindred, and Allies. 
 The edge of Warre, like an ill-flieathed knife, 
 No more /hall cut his Mafter. Therefore Friends, 
 As farre as to the Sepulcher of Chrift, 
 Whofe Souldier now vnder whofe blefled Crofle 
 We are impre/Ted and ingag'd to fight, 
 Forthwith a power of Engli/h fliall we leuie, 
 Whofe armes were moulded in their Mothers wombe, 
 To chace thefe Pagans in thofe holy Fields, 
 Ouer whofe Acres walk'd thofe blefled feete 
 Which fourteene hundred yeares ago were nail'd 
 For our aduantage on the bitter Crofle. 
 But this our purpofe is a tweluemonth old, 
 And bootlefle 'tis to tell you we will go : 
 Therefore we meete not now. Then let me heare 
 Of you my gentle Coufin Weftmerland, 
 What yefternight our Councell did decree, 
 In forwarding this deere expedience. 
 
 Weft. My Liege : This hafte was hot in queftion, 
 And many limits of the Charge fet downe 
 But yefternight : when all athwart there came 
 A Port from Wales, loaden with heauy Newes ; 
 Whofe worft was, That the Noble cMortlmer, 
 Leading the men of Hereford/hire to fight 
 Againft the irregular and wilde Glendvner, 
 Was by the rude hands of that Wel/hman taken, 
 And a thoufand of his people butchered : 
 
 Vpon whofe dead corpes there was fuch mifufe, 
 Such beaftly,/hamelefie transformation, 
 By thofe Wel/hwomen done, as may not be 
 (Without much /hame) re-told or fpoken of. 
 
 King. It feemes then, that the tidings of this broile, 
 Brake off our bufineffe for the Holy land. 
 
 Weft. This matcht with other like ,my gracious Lord, 
 Farre more vneuen and vnwelcome Newes 
 Came from the North, and thus it did report : 
 On Holy-roode day, the gallant Hotjpurre there, 
 Young Harry Percy, and braue ^Archibald, 
 That euer-valiant and approoued Scot, 
 At Holmeden met, where they did fpend 
 A fad and bloody houre : 
 As by difcharge of their Artillerie, 
 And fhape of likely-hood the newes was told : 
 For he that brought them, in the very heate 
 And pride of their contention, did take horfe, 
 Vncertaine of the i/Tue any way. 
 
 King. Heere is a deere and true induftrious friend, 
 Sir Walter 'Blunt, new lighted from his Horfe, 
 Strain'd with the variation of each foyle, 
 Betwixt that Holmedon,zn& this Seat of ours : 
 And he hath brought vs fmooth and welcomes newes. 
 The Earle of "Dong/as is difcomfited, 
 Ten thoufand bold Scots, two and twenty Knights 
 Balk'd in their owne blood did Sir Walter fee 
 On Holmedons Plaines. Of Prifoners, Hotjpurre tooke 
 Mordafy Earle of Fife, and eldeft fonne 
 To beaten T>owglas, and the Earle of Atboll, 
 Of Murry, tAngui, and Menteitb. 
 And is not this an honourable fpoyle ? 
 A gallant prize ? Ha Cofin, is it not? Infaith it is. 
 
 Weft. A Conqueft for a Prince to boaft of. 
 
 King. Yea, there thou mak'ft me fad, & mak'ft me fin, 
 In enuy, that my Lord Northumberland 
 Should be the Father of fo bleft a Sonne : 
 A Sonne, who is the Theame of Honors tongue ; 
 Among'ft a Groue, the very ftraighteft Plant, 
 Who is fweet Fortunes Minion,and her Pride : 
 Whil'ft I by looking on the praife of him, 
 See Ryot and Di/honor ftaine the brow 
 Of my yong Harry. O that it could be prou'd, 
 That fome Night-tripping-Faiery, had exchang'd 
 In Cradle-clothes, our Children where the) lay, 
 And call'd mine Percy, his Plantagenet : 
 
 35
 
 The Firji ^Part offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 49 
 
 Then would I haue his Harry, and he mine: 
 
 But let him from my thoughts. What thinke you Coze 
 
 Of this young Percies pride?The Prifoners 
 
 Which he in this aduenture hath furpriz'd, 
 
 To his owne vfe he keepes, and fends me word 
 
 I fliall haue none but Morda^e Earle of Fife. 
 
 Weft. This is his Vnckles teaching. This is Worcefter 
 Maleuolent to you in all Afpecls : 
 Which makes him prune himfelfe,and briftle vp 
 The creft of Youth againft your Dignity. 
 
 King. But I haue fent for him to anfwer this: 
 And for this caufe a-while we muft neglect 
 Our holy purpofe to lerufalem. 
 
 Cofin, on Wednefday next,our Councell we will hold 
 At Windfor, and fo informe the Lords : 
 But come your felfe with fpeed to vs againe, 
 For more is to be faid, and to be done, 
 Then out of anger can be vttered. 
 
 Weft. I will my Liege. Exeunt 
 
 Sccena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Henry Prince of Wales, Sir loin Fal- 
 ftaffe, and Point*. 
 
 Fal. Now Hal, what time of day is it Lad ? 
 
 Prince. Thou art fo fat-witted with drinking of olde 
 Sacke, and vnbuttoning thee after Supper, and fleeping 
 vpon Benches in the afternoone, that thou haft forgotten 
 to demand that truely, which thou wouldeft truly know. 
 What a diuell haft thou to do with the time of the day ? 
 vnlefle houres were cups of Sacke, and minutes Capons, 
 and clockes the tongues of Bawdes, and dialls the fignes 
 of Leaping-houfes, and the blefled Sunne himfelfe a faire 
 hot Wench in Flame-coloured Taffata ; I fee no reafon, 
 why thou fhouldeft bee fo fuperfluous, to demaund the 
 time of the day. 
 
 Fal. Indeed you come neere me now Hal, for we that 
 take Purfes, go by the Moone and feuen Starres, and not 
 by Phoebus hee, that wand'ring Knight fo faire. And I 
 prythee fweet Wagge, when thou art King, as God faue 
 thy Grace, Maiefty I fliould fay, for Grace thou wilte 
 haue none. 
 
 Prin. What, none ? 
 
 Fal. No, not fo much as will ferue to be Prologue to 
 an Egge and Butter. 
 
 Prin. Well,how then? Come roundly, roundly. 5 
 
 Fal. Marry then,fweet Wagge, when thou art King, 
 let not vs that are Squires of the Nights bodie, bee call'd 
 Theeues of the Dayes beautie. Let vs be Dianaes Forre- 
 fters, Gentlemen of the Shade, Minions of the Moone ; 
 and let men fay, we be men of good Gouernment, being 
 gouerned as the Sea is, by our noble and chad miftris the 
 Moone, vnder whofe countenance we fteale. 
 
 Prin. Thou fay'ft well, and it holds well too : for the 
 fortune of vs that are the Moones men, doeth ebbe and 
 flow like the Sea, beeing gouerned as the Sea is, by the 
 Moone : as for proofe. Now a Purfe of Gold mod refo- 
 lutely fnatch'd on Monday night, and mod diflblutely 
 fpent on Tuefday Morning; got with fwearing,Lay by: 
 and fpent with crying, Bring in : now, in as low an ebbe 
 as the foot of the Ladder, and by and by in as high a flow 
 as the ridge of the Gallowes. 
 
 351 
 
 Fal. Thou fay'ft true Lad : and is not my Hoftefle of 
 the Tauerne a moft fweet Wench ? 
 
 frin. As is the hony, my old Lad of the Caftle : and is 
 not a Buffe lerkin a moft fweet robe of durance? 
 
 Fal. How now? how now mad Wagge ? What in thy 
 quips and thy quiddities ? What a plague haue I to doe 
 with a BufFe-Ierkin ? 
 
 Prin. Why, what a poxe haue I to doe with my Ho 
 ftefle of the Tauerne? 
 
 Fal. Well, thou haft call'd her to a reck'ning many a 
 time and oft. 
 
 Prin. Did I euer call for thee to pay thy part ? 
 Fal. No, lie giue thee thy due, thou haft paid al there. 
 Prin. Yea and elfewhere, fb farre as my Coine would 
 ftretch, and where it would not, I haue vs'd my credit. 
 
 Fal. Yea, and fo vs'd it, that were it heere apparant, 
 that thou art Heire apparant. But I prythee fweet Wag, 
 fliall there be Gallowes ftanding in England when thou 
 art King? and refolution thus fobb'd as it is, with the ru- 
 ftie curbe of old Father Anticke the Law? Doe not thou 
 when thou art a King,hang a Theefe. 
 Prin. No, thou (halt. 
 
 Fal. Shall I? O rare! He be a braue ludge. 
 Prin. Thou iudgeft falfe already. I meane, thou flialt 
 haue the hanging of the Theeues, and fo become a rare 
 Hangman. 
 
 Fal. Well Hal, well : and in fome fort it iumpes with 
 my humour, as well as waiting in the Court, I can tell 
 you. 
 
 Trin. For obtaining of fuites ? 
 
 Fal. Yea, for obtaining of fuites, whereof the Hang- 
 man hath no leane Wardrobe. I am as Melancholly as a 
 Gyb-Cat,or a lugg'd Beare. 
 
 Prin. Or an old Lyon, or a Louers Lute. 
 Fal. Yea, or the Drone of a Lincolnshire Bagpipe. 
 Prin. What fay'ft thou to a Hare, or the Melancholly 
 of Moore-Ditch ? 
 
 Fal. Thou haft the moft vnfauoury fmiles, and art in- 
 deed the moft comparatiue rafcalleft fweet yong Prince. 
 But Hal, I prythee trouble me no more with vanity, I wold 
 thou and I knew, where a Commodity of good names 
 were to be bought : an olde Lord of the Councell rated 
 me the other day in the ftreet about you fir ; but I mark'd 
 him not, and yet hee talk'd very wifely, but I regarded 
 him not, and yet he talkt wifely, and in the ftreet too. 
 Prin. Thou didft well: for no man regards it. 
 Fal. O, thou haft damnable iteration, and art indeede 
 able to corrupt a Saint. Thou haft done much harme vn- 
 to me Hall, God forgiue thee for it. Before I knew thee 
 Hal,l knew nothing:and now I am(if a man Jhold fueake 
 truly) little better then one of the wicked. I muft giue o- 
 uer this life, and I will giue it ouer : and I do not, I am a 
 Villaine. He be damn'd for neuer a Kings fonne in Chri- 
 ftendome. 
 
 frin. Where fliall we take a purfe to morrow, lacke? 
 Fal. Where thou wilt Lad, He make one : and I doe 
 not, call me Villaine, and bafflle me. 
 
 Prin. I fee a good amendment of life in thee : From 
 Praying, to Purfe -taking. 
 
 Fal. Why, Hal, 'tis my Vocation Hal: 'Tis no fin for a 
 man to labour in his Vocation. 
 
 Points:. Now fliall wee know if Gads hill haue fet a 
 Watch. O, if men were to be faued by merit, what hole 
 in Hell were hot enough for him ? This is the moft omni- 
 potent Villaine, that euer cryed, Stand, to a true man. 
 Prin. Good morrow Ned. 
 
 Point
 
 5 
 
 The Firji Tarf of ^jng Henry the Fourth. 
 
 Points. Good morrow fweet Hal. What faies Mon- 
 fieur Remorfe ? What fayes Sir lohn Sacke and Sugar : 
 Iacke?How agrees the Diuell and thee about thy Soule, 
 that thou folded him on Good-Friday laft, for a Cup of 
 Madera,and a cold Capons legge? 
 
 Prin. Sir lohn (lands to his word, the diuel (hall haue 
 his bargaine,for he was neuer yet a Breaker of Prouerbs : 
 He n III glue the diuel I bit due. 
 
 Poin.Then art thou damn'd for keeping thy word with 
 the diuell. 
 
 Prin. Elfe he had damn'd for cozening the diuell. 
 
 Pay. But my Lads, my Lads, to morrow morning, by 
 foure a clocke early at Gads hill, there are Pilgrimes go- 
 ing to Canterbury with rich Offerings, and Traders ri- 
 ding to London with fat Purfes. I haue vizards for you 
 all ; you haue horfes for your felues : Gads-hill lyes to 
 night in Rochefter, I haue befpoke Supper to morrow in 
 Eaftcheape ; we may doe it as fecure as fleepe: if you will 
 go, I will ftuffe your Purfes full of Crownes : if you will 
 not, tarry at home and be hang'd. 
 
 Fal. Heare ye Yedward,if I tarry at home and go not, 
 He hang you for going. 
 
 Pay. You will chops. 
 
 Fal. Holy wilt thou make one? 
 
 Prin. Who, I rob? I a Theefe? Not I. 
 
 Fal. There's neither honefty, manhood, nor good fel- 
 lowfhip in thee, nor thou cam'ft not of the blood-royall, 
 if thou dar'ft not ftand for ten (hillings. 
 
 Trin. Well then, once in my dayes He be a mad-cap. 
 
 Fal. Why, that's well faid. 
 
 Prin. Well, come what will, He tarry at home. 
 
 Fal. He be a Traitor then, when thou art King. 
 
 Prin. I care not. 
 
 Ptyn. Sir Iobn,l prythee leaue the Prince & me alone, 
 I will lay him downe fuch reafons for this aduenture,that 
 he (hall go. 
 
 Fal. Well, maift thou haue the Spirit of perfwafion ; 
 and he the eares of profiting, that what thou fpeakeft, 
 may moue ; and what he heares may be beleeued,that the 
 true Prince, may (for recreation fake) proue a falfe theefe ; 
 for the poore abufes of the time, want countenance. Far- 
 well, you (hall finde me in Eaftcheape. 
 
 Prin. Farwell the latter Spring. Farewell Alhollown 
 Summer. 
 
 Pay. Now, my good fweet Hony Lord, ride with vs 
 to morrow. I haue a ieft to execute, that I cannot man- 
 nage alone. Faljiafe, Haruey, Rojfill, and Qadi-bill, (hall 
 robbe thofe men that wee haue already way-layde, your 
 felfe and I, wil not be there:and when they haue the boo- 
 ty, if you and I do not rob them, cut this head from my 
 (boulders. 
 
 Prin. But how (hal we part with them in fetting forth? 
 
 Poyn. Why, we wil fet forth before or after them,and 
 appoint them a place of meeting, wherin it is at our plea- 
 fure to faile ; and then will they aduenture vppon the ex- 
 ploit rhemfelues, which they (hall haue no fooner atchie- 
 ued, but wee'l fet vpon them. 
 
 Prin. I, but tis like that they will know vs by our 
 horfes, by our habits, and by euery other appointment to 
 be our felues. 
 
 fey. Tut our horfes they (hall not fee, He tye them in 
 the wood, our vizards wee will change after wee leaue 
 them : and firrah, I haue Cafes of Buckram for the nonce, 
 to immaske our noted outward garments. 
 
 Prin. But I doubt they will be too hard for vs. 
 
 Pain. Well, for two of them, I know them to bee as 
 
 true bred Cowards as euer turn'd backe.-and for the third 
 
 if he fight longer then he fees reafon,lle forfwear Armes. 
 
 The vertue of this left will be, the incomprehenfible lyes 
 
 that this fat Rogue will tell vs,when we meete at Supper: 
 
 how thirty at lead he fought with, what Wardes, what 
 
 blowes, what extremities he enduredjand in the reproofe 
 
 of this, lyes the ieft. 
 
 Trin. Well, He goe with thee, prouide vs all things 
 
 neceflary, and meete me to morrow night in Eaftcheape, 
 
 there He fup. Farewell. 
 
 Poyn. Farewell, my Lord. Exit Pointz 
 
 Prin. I know you all, and will a-while vphold 
 
 The vnyoak'd humor of your idleneffe : 
 
 Yet heerein will I imitate the Sunne, 
 
 Who doth permit the bafe contagious cloudes 
 
 To fmother vp his Beauty from the world, 
 
 That when he pleafe againe to be himfelfe, 
 
 Being wanted, he may be more wondred at, 
 
 By breaking through the foule and vgly mifts 
 
 Of vapours, that did feeme to ftrangle him. 
 
 If all the yeare were playing holidaies, 
 
 To fport, would be as tedious as to worke ; 
 
 But when they feldome come, they wi(ht-for come, 
 
 And nothing pleafeth but rare accidents. 
 
 So when this loofe behauiour I throw off, 
 
 And pay the debt I neuer promifed ; 
 
 By how much better then my word I am, 
 
 By fo much (hall I falfifie mens hopes, 
 
 And like bright Mettall on a fullen ground : 
 
 My reformation glittering o're my fault, 
 
 Shall (hew more goodly, and attradt more eyes, 
 
 Then that which hath no foyle to fet it off. 
 
 He fo offend, to make offence a skill, 
 
 Redeeming time, when men thinke lead I will. 
 
 Sccena Tertia. 
 
 Enter the King, Northumberland, Worcefter, Hctjfiurre, 
 Sir Walter 'Blunt, and otbert. 
 
 King. My blood hath beene too cold and temperate, 
 Vnapt to ftirre at thefe indignities, 
 And you haue found me ; for accordingly, 
 You tread vpon my patience :But be fure, 
 I will from henceforth rather be my Selfe, 
 Mighty, and to be fear'd, then my condition 
 Which hath beene fmooth as Oyle, foft as yong Downe, 
 And therefore loft that Title of refpeft, 
 Which the proud foule ne're payes,but to the proud. 
 
 Wor. Our houfe (my Soueraigne Liege) little deferues 
 The fcourge of greatnefle to be vfed on it, 
 And that fame greatneffe too, which our owne hands 
 Haue holpe to make fo portly. 
 
 Nor. My Lord. 
 
 King. Worcefter get thee gone : for I do fee 
 Danger and difobedience in thine eye. 
 O fir, your prefence is too bold and peremptory, 
 And Maieftie might neuer yet endure 
 The moody Frontier of a fernant brow, 
 You haue good leaue to leaue vs. When we need 
 Your v(e and counfell,we (hall fend for you. 
 You were about to fpeake. 
 
 North. Yea, my good Lord. 
 
 Thofe 
 
 3S*
 
 The Firft ^Part offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 5 1 
 
 Thofe Prifoners in your Highnefle demanded, 
 Which Harry Percy heere at Holmedon tooke, 
 Were (as he fayes) not with fuch ftrength denied 
 As was deliuered to your Maiefty : 
 Who either through enuy, or mifprifion, 
 Was guilty of this fault ; and not my Sonne. 
 
 Hot. My Liege, I did deny no Prifoners. 
 But, I remember when the fight was done, 
 When I was dry with Rage, and extreame Toyle, 
 Breathlefle,and Faint, leaning vpon my Sword, 
 Came there a certaine Lord, neat and trimly dreft; 
 Frefli as a Bride-groome, and his Chin new reapt, 
 Shew'd like a ftubble Land at Harueft-home. 
 He was perfumed like a Milliner, 
 And 'twixt his Finger and his Thumbe, he held 
 A Pouncet-box : which euer and anon 
 He gaue his Nofe, and took't away againe : 
 Who therewith angry, when it next came there, 
 Tooke it in Snuffe : And ftill he fmil'd and talk'd : 
 And as the Souldiers bare dead bodies by, 
 He call'd them vntaught Knaues, Vnmannerly,. 
 To bring a fiouenly vnhandfome Coarfe 
 Betwixt the Winde,and his Nobility. 
 With many Holiday and Lady tearme 
 He queftion'd me : Among the reft, demanded 
 My Prifoners, in your Maiefties behalfe. 
 I then, all-fmarting, with my wounds being cold, 
 (To be fo peftered with a Popingay) 
 Out of my Greefe, and my Impatience, 
 Anfwer'd (negleftingly) I know not what, 
 He mould, or fhould not : For he made me mad, 
 To fee him fliine fo briske, and fmell fo fweet, 
 And talke fo like a Waiting-Gentlewoman, 
 Of Guns, & Drums, and Wounds: God faue the msrke; 
 And telling me, the Soueraign'ft thing on earth 
 Was Parmacity, for an inward bruife : 
 And that it was great pitty, fo it was, 
 That villanous Salt-peter mould be digg'd 
 Out of the Bowels of the harmlefle Earth, 
 Which many a good Tall Fellow had deftroy'd 
 So Cowardly. And but for thefe vile Gunnes, 
 He would himfelfe haue beene a Souldier. 
 This bald, vnioynted Chat of his (my Lord) 
 Made me to anfwer indiredlly (as I faid.) 
 And I befeech you, let not this report 
 Come currant for an Accufation, 
 Betwixt my Loue,and your high Maiefty. 
 
 Blunt. The circumftance confidered,good my Lord, 
 What euer Harry Percie then had faid, 
 To fuch a perfon, and in fuch a place, 
 At fuch a time, with all the reft retold, 
 May reafonably dye, and neuer rife 
 To do him wrong, or any way impeach 
 What then he faid, fo he vnfay it now. 
 
 King. Why yet doth deny his Prifoners, 
 But with Prouifo and Exception, 
 That we at our owne charge, mall ranfome ftraight 
 His Brother-in-Law, the foolifh Mortimer, 
 Who (in my foule)hath wilfully betraid 
 The liues of thofe, that he did leade to Fight, 
 Againft the great Magitian, damn'd Glendover : 
 Whofe daughter (as we heare)the Earle of March 
 Hath lately married. Shall our Coffers then, 
 Be emptied, to redeeme a Traitor home? 
 Shall we buy Treafon f and indent with Feares, 
 When they haue loft and forfeyted themfelues. 
 
 353 
 
 No : on the barren Mountaine let him fterue : 
 For I fhall neuer hold that man my Friend, 
 Whofe tongue fhall aske me for one peny coft 
 To ranfome home reuolted Mortimer. 
 
 Hot. Reuolted cXfortimer ? 
 He neuer did fall off, my Soueraigne Liege, 
 But by the chance of Warre : to proue that true, 
 Needs no more but one tongue. For all thofe Wounds, 
 Thofe mouthed Wounds, which valiantly he tooke, 
 When on the gentle Seuernes fiedgie banke, 
 In (ingle Oppofition hand to hand, 
 He did confound the beft part of an houre 
 In changing hardiment with great Glendomer : 
 Three times they breath'd, and three times did they drink 
 Vpon agreement, of fwift Seuernes flood ; 
 Who then affrighted with their bloody lookes, 
 Ran fearefully among the trembling Reeds, 
 And hid his crifpe-head in the hollow banke, 
 Blood-ftained with thefe Valiant Combatants. 
 Neuer did bafe and rotten Policy 
 Colour her working with fuch deadly wounds} 
 Nor neuer could the Noble cflfortimer 
 Receiue fo many, and all willingly : 
 Then let him not be fland'red with Reuolt. 
 
 King. Thou do'ft bely him Percy, thou doft bely him; 
 He neuer did encounter with Glendower: 
 I tell thee, he durft as well haue met the diuell alone, 
 As Owen Glendotver for an enemy. 
 Art thou not afham'd? But Sirrah, henceforth 
 Let me not heare you fpeake of Mortimer. 
 Send me your Prifoners with the fpeedieft meanes, 
 Or you fhall heare in fuch a kinde from me 
 As will difpleafe ye. My Lord Northumberland, 
 We Licenfe your departure with your fonne, 
 Send vs your Prifoners, or you'l heare of it. Exit King. 
 
 Hot. And if the diuell come and roare for them 
 I will not fend them. I will after ftraight 
 And tell him fo : for I will eafe my heart, 
 Although it be with hazard of my head. 
 
 JVor.What? drunke with chollerfftay & paufe awhile, 
 Heere comes your Vnckle. Enter Worcejler. 
 
 Hot. Speake of Mortimer ? 
 Yes, I will fpeake of him, and let my foule 
 Want mercy, if I do not ioyne with him. 
 In his behalfe, He empty all thefe Veines, 
 And fhed my deere blood drop by drop i'th duft, 
 But I will lift the downfall cflfortimer 
 As high i'th Ayre,as this Vnthankfull King, 
 As this Ingrate and Cankred 'Bullingbroo^e. 
 
 Nor. Brother, the King hath made your Nephew mad 
 
 Wor. Who ftrooke this heate vp after I was gonef 
 
 Hot. He will (forfooth)haue all my Prifoners : 
 And when I vrg'd the ranfbm once againe 
 Of my Wiues Brother, then his cheeke look'd pale, 
 And on my face he turn'd an eye of death, 
 Trembling euen at the name of Mortimer. 
 
 Wor. I cannot blame him: was he not proclaim'd 
 "By Richard that dead is, the next of blood ? 
 
 Nor. He was: I heard the Proclamation, 
 And then it was, when the vnhappy King 
 (Whofe wrongs in vs God pardon) did fet forth 
 Vpon his Irifli Expedition : 
 From whence he intercepted, did returne 
 To be depos'd, and fhortly murthered. 
 Wor. And for whofe death, we in the worlds wide mouth 
 Liue fcandaliz'd, and fouly fpoken of. 
 
 e Hot.
 
 5 2 
 
 The Firft Tart offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 Hot. But foft I pray you ; did King Richard then 
 Proclaime my brother Mortimer, 
 Heyre to the Crowne ? 
 
 Nor. He did, my felfe did heare it. 
 Hot. Nay then I cannot blame his Coufin King, 
 That wifli'd him on the barren Mountaines ftaru'd. 
 But fhall it be, that you that fet the Crowne 
 Vpon the head of this forgetfull man, 
 And for his fake, wore the-detefted blot 
 Of murtherous fubornation? Shall it be, 
 That you a world of curfes vndergoe, 
 Being the Agents, or bafe fecond meanes, 
 The Cords, the Ladder, or the Hangman rather ? 
 O pardon, if that I defcend fo low, 
 To fliew the Line, and the Predicament 
 Wherein you range vnder this fubtill King. 
 Shall it for fliame, be fpoken in thefe dayes, 
 Or fill vp Chronicles in time to come, 
 That men of your Nobility and Power, 
 Did gage them both in an vniuft behalfe 
 (As Both of you, God pardon it, haue done) 
 To put downe Richard, that fweet louely Rofe, 
 And plant this Thorne, this Canker 'BuHingbroofy'i 
 And fliall it in more fliame be further fpoken, 
 That you are fooPd, difcarded, and fliooke off 
 By him, for whom thefe fliames ye vnderwent ? 
 No :yet time femes, wherein you may redeeme 
 Your baniflTd Honors, and reftore your felues 
 Into the good Thoughts of the world againe. 
 Reuenge the geering and difdain'd contempt 
 Of this proud King, who ftudies day and night 
 To anfwer all the Debt he owes vnto you, 
 Euen with the bloody Payment of your deaths : 
 Therefore I fay 
 
 War. Peace Coufin, fay no more. 
 And now I will vnclaspe a Secret booke, 
 And to your quicke conceyuing Difcontents, 
 lie reade you Matter, deepe and dangerous, 
 As full of perill and aduenturous Spirit, 
 As to o're-walke a Current, roaring loud 
 On the vnftedfaft footing of a Speare. 
 
 Hot. If he fall in, good night, or finke or fwimme : 
 Send danger from the Eaft vnto the Weft, 
 So Honor crofle it from the North to South, 
 And let them grapple : The blood more ttirres 
 To rowze a Lyon,then to ftart a Hare. 
 
 Nor. Imagination of fome great exploit, 
 Driues him beyond the bounds of Patience. 
 
 Hot. By heauen, me thinkes it were an eafie leap, 
 To plucke bright Honor from the pale-fac'd Moone, 
 Or diue into th bottome of the deepe, 
 Where Fadome-line could neuer touch the ground, 
 And plucke vp drowned Honor by the Lockes : 
 So he that doth redeeme her thence, might weare 
 Without Co-riuall, all her Dignities: 
 But out vpon this halfe-fac'd Fellowfliip. 
 
 Wor. He apprehends a World of Figures here, 
 Bnt not the forme of what he fliould attend : 
 Good Coufin giue me audience for a-while, 
 And lift to me. 
 
 Hot. I cry you mercy. 
 
 [for. Thofe fame Noble Scottes 
 That are your Prifoners. 
 
 Hot. lie keepe them all. 
 By heauen, he fliall not haue a Scot of them : 
 No, if a Scot would faue his Soule,he fliall not. 
 
 He keepe them, by this Hand. 
 
 Wor. You ftart away, 
 And lend no eare vnto my purpofes. 
 Thofe Prifoners you fliall keepe. 
 
 Hot. Nay, I will ; that's flat : 
 He faid, he would not ranfome Mortimer: 
 Forbad my tongue to fpeake of Mortimer. 
 But I will finde him when he lyes afleepe, 
 And in his eare, lie holla Mortimer. 
 Nay, He haue a Starling fliall be taught to fpeake 
 Nothing but Mortimer, and giue it him, 
 To keepe his anger ftill in motion. 
 
 Wor. Heare you Coufin : a word. 
 
 Hot. All ftudies heere I folemnly defie, 
 Saue how to gall and pinch this BuIIingbroofy, 
 And that fame Sword and Buckler Prince of Wales. 
 But that I thinke his Father loues him not, 
 And would be glad he met with fome mifchance, 
 I would haue poyfon'd him with a pot of Ale. 
 
 Wor. Farewell Kinfman : He talke to you 
 When you are better temper'd to attend. 
 
 Nor. Why what a Wafpe-tongu'd & impatient foole 
 Art thou, to fcreake into this Womans mood, 
 Tying thine eare to no tongue but thine owne ? 
 
 Hot. Why look you, I am whipt & fcourg'd with rods, 
 Netled,and ftung with Pifmires, when I heare 
 Of this vile Politician f BuUingbrool$e. 
 In Rjchards time : What de'ye call the place ? 
 A plague vpon't, it is in Gloufterfliire : 
 'Twas, where the madcap Duke his Vncle kept, 
 His Vncle Yorke, where I firft bow'd my knee 
 Vnto this King of Smiles, this Bullingbrooke : 
 When you and he came backe from Rauenfpurgh. 
 
 Nor. At Barkley Caftle. 
 
 Hot. You fay true : 
 Why what a caudie deale of curtefie, 
 This fawning Grey-hound then did proffer me. 
 Looke when his infant Fortune came to age, 
 And gentle Harry "Percy, and kinde Coufin : 
 O, the Diuell take fuch Couzeners,God forgiue me, 
 Good Vncle tell your tale, for I haue done. 
 
 Wor. Nay, if you haue not, too't againe, 
 Wee'l ftay your leyfure. 
 
 Hot. I haue done infooth. 
 
 Wor. Then once more to your Scottifli Prifoners. 
 Deliuer them vp without their ranfome ftraight, 
 And make the Doteglas fonne your onely meane 
 For powres in Scotland : which for diuers reafons 
 Which I fliall fend you written, be aflur'd 
 Will eafily be granted you, my Lord. 
 Your Sonne in Scotland being thus impl y'd, 
 Shall fecretly into the bofome creepe 
 Of that fame noble Prelate, well belou'd, 
 The Archbifliop. 
 
 Hot. Of Yorke, is't not ? 
 
 Wor. True, who beares hard 
 His Brothers death at Briftt'tv, the Lord Scroope. 
 I fpeake not this in eftimation, 
 As what I thinke might be, but what I know 
 Is ruminated, plotted, and fet downe, 
 And onely ftayes but to behold the face 
 Of that occafion that fliall bring it on. 
 
 Hot. I fmell it : 
 Vpon my life, it will do wond'rous well. 
 
 Nor. Before the game's a-foot, thou ftill let'ft flip. 
 Hot. Why, it cannot choofe but be a Noble plot, 
 
 And 
 
 354
 
 The Firji ^art offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 53 
 
 And then the power of Scotland, and of Yorke 
 To ioyne with Mortimer , Ha. 
 
 Wor. And fo they fhall. 
 
 Hot. Infaith it is exceedingly well aym'd. 
 
 War, And 'tis no little reafon bids vs fpeed, 
 To faue our heads, by railing of a Head : 
 For, beare our felues as euen as we can, 
 The King will alwayes thinke him in our debt, 
 And thinke, we thinke our felues vnfatisfied, 
 Till he hath found a time to pay vs home. 
 And fee already, how he doth beginne 
 To make vs ftrengers to his lookes of loue. 
 
 Hot. He does, he does; wee'l be reueng'd on him. 
 
 Wor. Coufin, farewell. No further go in this, 
 Then I by Letters /hall diredt your courfe 
 When time is ripe, which will be fodainly: 
 lie fteale to Glendwer, and loe, Mortimer, 
 Where you, and Don>g/as,and our powres at once, 
 As I will fafhion it, fhall happily meete, 
 To beare our fortunes in our owne ftrong armes, 
 Which now we hold at much vncertainty. 
 
 Nor. Farewell good Brother, we fhall thriue, I truft. 
 
 Hot. Vncle,adieu : O let the houres be fhort, 
 Till fields, and blowes,and grones , applaud our {port. exit 
 
 ASlus Secundus. Scena ^Prima. 
 
 Enter a Carrier with a Lanterne in bis hand. 
 i.Car. Heigh-ho, an't be not foure by the day, He be 
 hang'd. Charles tvaine is ouer the new Chimney, and yet 
 our horfe not packt. What Oftler ? 
 Of}. Anon,anon. 
 
 I. Car. I prethee Tom, beate Cuts Saddle, put a few 
 Flockes in the point : the poore lade is wrung in the wi- 
 thers,out of all cefTe. 
 
 Enter another Carrier. 
 
 z. Car. Peafe and Beanes are as danke here as a Dog, 
 and this is the next way to giue poore lades the Bottes : 
 This houfe is turned vpfide downe fince 'Robin the Oftler 
 dyed. 
 
 I. Car. Poore fellow neuer ioy'd fince the price of oats 
 rofe, it was the death of him. 
 
 2. Car. I thinke this is the moft villanous houfe in al 
 London rode for Fleas : I am ftung like a Tench. 
 
 I .Qar. Like a Tench ? There is ne're a King in Chri- 
 ftendome,could be better bit, then I haue beene fince the 
 firft Cocke. 
 
 2. Car. Why, you will allow vs ne're a lourden, and 
 then we leake in your Chimney: and your Chamber-lye 
 breeds Fleas like a Loach. 
 
 I. Car. What Oftler, come away,and be hangd: come 
 away. 
 
 2. Car. I haue a Gammon of Bacon, and two razes of 
 Ginger, to be deliuered as farre as Charing-crofTe. 
 
 i. Car. The Turkies in my Pannier are quite ftarued. 
 What Oftler? A plague on thee, haftthou neuer an eye in 
 thy head ? Can'ft not heare ? And t'were not as good a 
 deed as drinke, to break the pate of thee, I am a very Vil- 
 laine. Come and be hang'd,haft no faith in thee ? 
 
 Enter Gads -hill. 
 
 Cfad. Good-morrow Carriers. What's a clocke? 
 Car. I thinke it be two a clocke. 
 Gad. I prethee lend me thy Lanthorne to fee my Gel- 
 
 355 
 
 ding in the ftable. 
 
 i. Car. Nay foft I pray ye, I know a trick worth two 
 of that. 
 
 Gad. I prethee lend me thine. 
 
 a. Car. I, when, canft tell ? Lend mee thy Lanthorne 
 (quoth-a) marry He fee thee hang'd firft. 
 
 Gad. Sirra Carrier : What time do you mean to come 
 to London ? 
 
 i.Car. Time enough to goe to bed with a Candle, I 
 warrant thee. Come neighbour <&fugges, wee'll call vp 
 the Gentlemen, they will along with company, for they 
 haue great charge. Exeunt 
 
 Enter Cbamberlaine. 
 
 Gad. What ho, Chamberlaine ? 
 
 Cham, At hand quoth Pick-purfe. 
 
 Gad, That's euen as faire,as at hand quoth the Cham- 
 berlaine : For thou varieft no more from picking of Pur- 
 fes, then giuing direction, doth from labouring . Thou 
 lay'ft the plot, how. 
 
 Qham. Good morrow Mafter Gads-Hill, it holds cur- 
 rant that I told you yefternight. There's a Franklin in the 
 wilde of Kent, hath brought three hundred Markes with 
 him in Gold: I heard him tell it to one of his company laft 
 night at Supper; a kinde of Auditor, one that hath abun- 
 dance of charge too (God knowes what) they are vp al- 
 ready, and call for Egges and Butter. They will away 
 prefently. 
 
 Gad. Sirra, if they meete not with S. Nicholas Clarks, 
 He giue thee this necke. 
 
 Qham. No, He none of it : I prythee keep that for the 
 Hangman, for I know thou worfhipft S. Nicholas as tru- 
 ly as a man of falfhood may. 
 
 Gad. What talkeft thou to me of the Hangman ? If I 
 hang, He make a fat payre of Gallowes. For, if I hang, 
 old Sir lohn hangs with mee, and thou know'ft hee's no 
 Starueling. Tut, there are other Troians that y dream'ft 
 not of, the which (for fport fake) are content to doe the 
 Profefiion fome grace ; that would (if matters fhould bee 
 look'd into) for their owne Credit fake, make all Whole. 
 I am ioyned with no Foot-land-Rakers, no Long-ftaffe 
 fix-penny ftrikers, none of thefe mad Muftachio-purple- 
 hu'd-Maltwormes, but with Nobility, and Tranquilitie ; 
 Bourgomafters, and great Oneyers, fuch as can holde in, 
 fuch as will ftrike fooner then fpeake ; and fpeake fooner 
 then drinke, and drinke fooner then pray : and yet I lye, 
 for they pray continually vnto their Saint the Common- 
 wealth ; or rather, not to pray to her, but prey on henfor 
 they ride vp & downe on her,and make hir their Boots. 
 
 Cham. What, the Commonwealth their Bootes *. Will 
 fhe hold out water in foule way ? 
 
 Gad. She will,fhe will; luftice hath liquor'd her. We 
 fleale as in a Caftle,cockfure : we haue the receit of Fern- 
 feede,we walke inuifible. 
 
 Cham. Nay, I thinke rather, you are more beholding 
 to the Night, then to the Fernfeed, for your walking in- 
 uifible. 
 
 Gad. Giue me thy hand. 
 Thou /halt haue a fhare in our purpofe, 
 As I am a true man. 
 
 Cham. Nay, rather let mee haue it, as you are a falfe 
 Theefe. 
 
 Gad. Goe too : Homo is a common name to all men. 
 Bid the Oftler bring the Gelding out of the ftable. Fare- 
 well, ye muddy Knaue. Exeunt. 
 e 2 Scena
 
 54 
 
 'The Fir ft^ art offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 Secunda. 
 
 Enter frince, Poynes, and Peto. 
 
 Poines. Come flicker, flicker, I haue remoued Falftafs 
 Horfe, and he frets like a gum'd Veluet. 
 
 Pr'in. Stand clofe. 
 
 Enter Falftaffe. 
 
 Fal. Poines, Poines, and be hang'd Points. 
 
 Pr'tn. Peace ye fat-kidney'd Rafcall, what a brawling 
 doft thou keepe. 
 
 Fal. What Points. Haft 
 
 Prin. He is walk'd vp to the top of the hill, He go feek 
 him. 
 
 Fal. I am accnrft to rob in that Theefe company: that 
 Rafcall hath remoued my Horfe, and tied him I know not 
 where. If I trauell but foure foot by the fquire further a 
 foote, I fliall breake my winde. Well, I doubt not but 
 to dye a faire death for all this, if I fcape hanging for kil- 
 ling that Rogue, I haue forfworne his company hourely 
 any time this two and twenty yeare, & yet I am bewitcht 
 with the Rogues company. If the Rafcall haue not giuen 
 me medicines to make me loue him,Ile behang'djit could 
 not be elfe : I haue drunke Medicines. Points, Hal, a 
 Plague vpon you both. 'Bardolpb, Peto : He ftarue ere I 
 rob a foote further. And 'twere not as good a deede as to 
 drinke, to turne True-man, and to leaue thefe Rogues, I 
 am the verieft Varlet that euer chewed with a Tooth. 
 Eight yards of vneuen ground, is threefcore & ten miles 
 afoot with me : and the ftony-hearted Villaines knowe it 
 well enough. A plague vpon't, when Theeues cannot be 
 true one to another. They Wbiflle. 
 
 Whew : a plague light vpon you alL Giue my Horfe you 
 Rogues : giue me my Horfe,and be hang'd. 
 
 Prin. Peace ye fat gurtes, lye downe, lay thine eare 
 clofe to the gronnd, and lift if thou can heare the tread of 
 Trauellers. 
 
 Fal. Haue you any Leauers to lift me vp again being 
 downe ? He not beare mine owne flefh fo far afoot again, 
 for all the coine in .t!iy Fathers Exchequer. What a plague 
 meane ye to colt me thus ? 
 
 Prin. Thou ly'ft,thou art not colted,thou art vncolted. 
 
 Fal. I prethee good Prince Hal, help me to my horfe, 
 good Kings fonne. 
 
 Triti. Out you Rogue, fhall I be your Oftler? 
 
 Fal. Go hang thy felfe in thine owne heire-apparant- 
 Garters : If I be tane, He peach for this : and I haue not 
 Ballads made on all, and fung to filthy tunes, let a Cup of 
 Sacke be my poyfon : when a ieft is fo forward, & a foote 
 too, I hate it. 
 
 Enter Gads-bill. 
 
 Gad. Stand. 
 
 Fal. So I do againft my will. 
 
 Pcin. O 'tis our Setter, I know his vpyce : 
 Bardclfe, what newes ? 
 
 'Bar. Cafe ye,cafe ye ; on with your Vizards, there's 
 mony of the Kings comming downe the hill, 'tis going 
 to the Kings Exchequer. 
 
 Fal. You lie you rogue,'tis going to the Kings Tauern. 
 
 Gad. There's enough to make vs all. 
 
 Fal. To he hang'd. 
 
 Prin. You foure fliall front them in the narrow Lane : 
 Ned and I, will walke lower; if they fcape from your en- 
 counter,then they light on vs. 
 
 feto. But how many be of them ? 
 
 Gad. Some eight or ten. 
 
 Fal. Will they not rob vs ? 
 
 Prin. What,a Coward Sir lohn Paunch ? 
 
 Fal. Indeed I am not Isbn of Gaunt your Grandfather; 
 but yet no Coward, Hal. 
 
 Prin. Wee'l leaue that to the proofe. 
 
 Poin. Sirra lacke, thy horfe ftands behinde the hedg, 
 when thon need'ft him, there thou flialt finde him. Fare- 
 well, and ftand faft. 
 
 Fal. Now cannot I ftrike him, if I fhould be hang'd. 
 
 Prin. Ned, where are our difguifes ? 
 
 Poin. Heere hard by : Stand clofe. 
 
 Fal. Now my Matters, happy man be his dole, fay I : 
 euery man to his bufinefle. 
 
 Enter Trauellers. 
 
 Tra. Come Neighbor: the boy fliall leade our Horfes 
 downe the hill : Wee'l walke a-foot a while, and eafe our 
 Legges. 
 
 Tbeeues. Stay. 
 
 Tra. lefu blefle vs. 
 
 Fal. Strike: down with them, cut the villains throats; 
 a whorfon Caterpillars : Bacon-fed Knaues, they hate vs 
 youth ; downe with them, fleece them. 
 
 Tra. O, we are vndone,both we and ours for euer. 
 
 Fal. Hang ye gorbellied knaues,are you vndone ? No 
 ye Fat ChufFes, I would your ftore were heere. On Ba- 
 cons, on, what ye knaues ? Yong men muft liue, you are 
 Grand Iurers,are ye ? Wee'l iure ye ifaith. 
 
 Heere they rob them ,and binde them. Enter the 
 Prince and Poines. 
 
 Prin. The Theeues haue bound the True-men : Now 
 could thou and I rob the Theeues,and go merily to Lon- 
 don, it would be argument for a Weeke, Laughter for a 
 Moneth, and a good ieft for euer. 
 
 Paynes. Stand clofe, I heare them comming. 
 
 Enter Tbeeues againe. 
 
 Fal. Come my Mafters, let vs fliare,and then to horfle 
 before day : and the Prince and Poynes bee not two ar- 
 rand Cowards, there's no equity ftirring. There's no moe 
 valour in that Poynes,than in a wilde Ducke. 
 
 Prin. Your money. 
 
 Poin. Villaines. 
 tAs they are Jharing,the Prince and Poynes fet 'upon them. 
 
 They all run atcay,leauing the booty behind them. 
 
 Prince. Got with much eafe. Now merrily to Horfe : 
 The Theeues are fcattred,and poffeft with fear fo ftrong- 
 ly, that they dare not meet each other : each takes his fel- 
 low for an Officer. Away good Ned, Falflaffe fweates to 
 death, and Lards the leane earth as he walkes along :wer't 
 not for laughing,! fliould pitty him. 
 
 Poin. How the Rogue roar'd. Exeunt. 
 
 Sccena Tertia. 
 
 Enter Hotjburrc folus, reading a Letter. 
 'Buffer mine owne fart, my Ldrd, I could bee tfell contented to 
 be there, in rejpeil of the loue I beare your boufe. 
 
 He 
 __
 
 The Firft ^Part offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 55 
 
 He could be contented : Why is he not then ? in refpeft of 
 the loue he beares our houfe. He fhewes in this, he loues 
 his owne Barne better then he loues our houfe. Let me 
 fee fome more. The purpofe you -undertake ts dangerous. 
 Why that's certaine : "Fis dangerous to take a Colde, to 
 fleepe, to drinke : but I tell you (my Lord foole) out of 
 this Nettle, Danger; we plucke this Flower, Safety. The 
 purpoje you -undertake is dangerous, the Friends you haue na- 
 med -vncertaine, the Time it felfe -vnforted, and your whole 
 Plot too light , for the counterpoize of Jo great an Oppojition. 
 Say you fo, fay you fo : I fay vnto you again e, you are a 
 fhallow cowardly Hinde, and you Lye. What a lacke- 
 braine is this ? I proteft, our plot is as good a plot as euer 
 was laid ; our Friend true and conftant : A good Plotte, 
 good Friends, and full of expectation : An excellent plot, 
 very good Friends. What a Frofty-fpirited rogue is this? 
 Why, my Lord of Yorke commends the plot, and the 
 general! courfe of the adlion. By this hand, if I were now 
 by this Rafcall, I could braine him with his Ladies Fan. 
 Is there not my Father , my Vnckle, and my Selfe, Lord 
 Edmund Mortimer, my Lord of Tor ^e, and Owen Cflendour? 
 Is there not befides, the Dowglcu ? Haue I not all their let- 
 ters, to meete me in Armes by the ninth of the next Mo- 
 neth ? and are they not fome of them fet forward already? 
 What a Pagan Rafcall is this ? An Infidell. Ha, you fliall 
 fee now in very fincerity of Feare and Cold heart, will he 
 to the King, and lay open all our proceedings. O,I could 
 diuide my felfe, and go to buffets, for mouing fuch a difh 
 of skim'd Milk with fo honourable an Adlion. Hang him, 
 let him tell the King we are prepared. I will fet forwards 
 to night. 
 
 Enter bis Lady. 
 
 How now Kate, I muft leaue you within thefe two hours. 
 
 La. O my good Lord, why are you thus alone f 
 For what offence haue I this fortnight bin 
 A banifh'd woman from my Harries bed ? 
 Tell me (fweet Lord) what is't that takes from thee 
 Thy ftomacke,pleafure,and thy golden fleepe f 
 Why doft thou bend thine eyes vpon the earth ? 
 And ftart fo often when thou fitt'ft alone? 
 Why haft thou loft the frefh blood in thy cheekes? 
 And giuen my Treafures and my rights of thee, 
 To thicke-ey'd mufing, and curft melancholly ? 
 In my faint-flumbers, I by thee haue watcht, 
 And heard thee murmore tales of Iron Warres : 
 Speake tearmes of manage to thy bounding Steed, 
 Cry courage to the field. And thou haft talk'd 
 Of Sallies, and Retires; Trenches,Tents, 
 Of Palizadoes, Frontiers,Parapets, 
 Of Bafiliskes, of Canon, Culuerin, 
 Of Prifoners ranfome, and of Souldiers flaine, 
 And all the current of a headdy fight. 
 Thy fpirit within thee hath beene fo at Warre, 
 And thus hath fo beftirr'd thee in thy fleepe, 
 That beds of fweate hath flood vpon thy Brow, 
 Like bubbles in a late-difturbed Streame ; 
 And in thy face ftrange motions haue appear'd, 
 Such as we fee when men reftraine their breath 
 On fome great fodaine haft. O what portents are thefe ? 
 Some heauie bufinefle hath my Lord in hand, 
 And I muft know it : elfe he loues me not. 
 
 Hot. What ho ; Is Gilliams with the Packet gone ? 
 
 Ser. He is my Lord, an houre agone. 
 
 He*. Hath Butler brought thofe horfes fro the Sheriffe? 
 
 357 
 
 Ser. One horfe,my Lord,he brought euen now. 
 
 Hot, What Horfe ? A Roane, a crop eare, is it not. 
 
 Ser. It is my Lord. 
 
 Hot. That Roane fhall' be my Throne. Well, I will 
 backe him ftraight. E/fierance, bid Butler lead him forth 
 into the Parke. 
 
 La. But heare you, my Lord. 
 
 Hot, What fay'ft thou my Lady? 
 
 La. What is it carries you away ? 
 
 Hot. Why,my horfe(my Loue)my horfe. 
 
 La. Out you mad-headed Ape, a Weazell hath not 
 fuch a deale of Spleene, as you are toft with. In footh He 
 know your bufineffe Harry, that I will. I feare my Bro- 
 ther Mortimer doth ftirre about his Title, and hath fent 
 for you to line his enterprize. But if you go 
 
 Hot. So farre a foot, I fhall be weary, Loue. 
 
 La. Come,come,you Paraquito, anfwer me direclly 
 vnto this queftion, that I fhall aske. Indeede He breake 
 thy little finger Harry, if thou wilt not tel me true. 
 
 Hot. Away, away you trifler : Loue, I loue thee not, 
 I care not for thee Kate : this is no world 
 To play with Mammets, and to tilt with lips. 
 We muft haue bloodie Nofes,and crack'd Crownes, 
 And paflTe them currant too. Gods me, my horfe. 
 What fay'ft thou Kate?what wold'ft thou haue with me ? 
 
 La. Do ye not loue me? Do ye not indeed ? 
 Well, do not then. For fince you loue me not, 
 I will not loue my felfe. Do you not loue me ? 
 Nay,tell me if thou fpeak'ft in ieft,or no. 
 
 Hot. Come, wilt thou fee me ride ? 
 And when I am a-horfebacke, I will fweare 
 I loue thee infinitely. But hearke you Kate, 
 I muft not haue you henceforth, queftion me, 
 Whether I go : nor reafon whereabout. 
 Whether I muft, I muft: and to conclude, 
 This Euening muft I leaue thee, gentle Kate. 
 I know you wife, but yet no further wife 
 Then Harry Percies wife. Conftant you are, 
 But yet a woman : and for fecrecie, 
 No Lady clofer. For I will beleeue 
 Thou wilt not vtter what thou do'ft not know, 
 And fo farre wilt I truft thee,gentle Kate. 
 
 La. How fo farre ? 
 
 Hot.Not an inch further. But harke you Kate, 
 Whither I go, thither fhall you go too : 
 To day will I fet forth, ro morrow you. 
 Will this content you Kate ? 
 
 La. It muft of force. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Quarta. 
 
 Enter Prince and Poines. 
 
 Prin. Ned,prethee come out of that fat roome, & lend 
 me thy hand to laugh a little. 
 
 Poines. Where haft bene Hall ? 
 
 Trin. With three or foure Logger-heads, amongft 3. 
 or fourefcore Hogfheads. I haue founded the verie bafe 
 firing of humility. Sirra, I am fworn brother to a leafh of 
 Drawers, and can call them by their names,as Tom, Dicl^e, 
 and Francis. They take it already vpon their confidence, 
 that though I be but Prince of Wales, yet I am the King 
 of Curtefie: telling me flatly I am no proud lack like Fal- 
 Jtaffe, but a Corinthian, a lad of mettle, a good boy, and 
 when I am King of England,! fhall command al the good 
 Laddes in Eatt-cheape. They call drinking deepe, dy- 
 ing Scarlet ; and when you breath in your watering, then 
 e 3 they
 
 The Fir ft 'Part offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 they cry hem, and bid you play it off. To conclude, I am 
 fo good a proficient in one quarter of an houre, that I can 
 drinke with any Tinker in his owne Language during my 
 life. I tell thee AW,thou haft loft much honor, that thou 
 wer't not with me in this ac"lion : but fweet Ned,to fwee- 
 ten which name of AW, I giue thee this peniworth of Su- 
 gar, clapt euen now into my hand by an vnder Skinker, 
 one that neuer fpake other Englifli in his life, then Eight 
 Jbillings and Jtx pence, and, You are welcome : with this fliril 
 addition, tAnon, tAnon Jtr, Score a Pint of 'Baftard in the 
 Halfe Moone, or fo. But Ned, to driue away time till Fal- 
 ftaffe come, I prythee doe thou ftand in fome by-roome, 
 while I queftion my puny Drawer, to what end hee gaue 
 me the Sugar, and do neuer leaue calling Yrancit, that his 
 Tale to me may be nothing but, Anon : ftep aiide, and He 
 ihew thee a President. 
 
 Poines. Francis. 
 
 Prin. Thou art perfect. 
 Poin. Francis. 
 
 Enter 'Drawer. 
 
 Fran. Anon, anon fir ; looke downe into the Pomgar- 
 net, Ralfe. 
 
 Prince. Come hither Francis. 
 
 Fran. My Lord. 
 
 Prin. How long haft thou to ferue, Francis ? 
 
 Fran. Forfooth fiue yeares, and as much as to 
 
 Poin. Francis. 
 
 Fran. Anon, anon fir. 
 
 Prin. Fiue yeares : Berlady a long Leafe for the clin- 
 king of Pewter. But Francis, dareft thou be fo valiant, as 
 to play the coward with thy Indenture, & fhew it a faire 
 paire of heeles, and run from it ? 
 
 Fran. O Lord fir, He be fworne vpon all the Books in 
 England,! could finde in my heart. 
 
 Poin. Francis. 
 
 Fran. Anon, anon fir. 
 
 Prin. How old art thou, Francis ? 
 
 Fran. Let me fee, about Michaelmas next I flialbe 
 
 Poin. Francis. 
 
 Fran. Anon fir, pray you ftay a little,my Lord. 
 
 Prin. Nay but harke you Francis, for the Sugar thou 
 gaueft me, 'twas a peny worth, was't not? 
 
 Fran. O Lord fir, I would it had bene two. 
 
 Prin. I will giue thee for it a thouiand pound : Aske 
 me when thou wilt, and thou flialt haue it. 
 
 Poin. Francis. 
 
 Fran. Anon, anon. 
 
 Prin. Anon Francis? No Francis,but to morrow Fran- 
 cis : or Francis,on thurfday:or indeed Francis when thou 
 wilt. But Francis. 
 
 Fran. My Lord. 
 
 Prin. Wilt thou rob this Leatherne lerkin, Chriftall 
 button, Not-pated, Agat ring, Puke flocking, Caddice 
 garter, Smooth tongue, Spanifh pouch. 
 
 Fran. O Lord fir, who do you meane ? 
 
 Prin. Why then your browne Baftard is your onely 
 drinke : for looke you Francis,your white Canuas doub- 
 let will fulley. In Barbary fir, it cannot come to fo much. 
 
 Fran. What fir? 
 
 Poin. Francis. 
 
 Prin. Away you Rogue,doft thou heare them call ? 
 Heere they both call him, the Drawer Jiands ama%ed, 
 not gnawing which way to go. 
 
 Enter Vintner. 
 Vint. What, ftand'ft thou ftill, and hear'ft fuch a cal- 
 
 ling ? Looke to the Guefts within: My Lord, olde Sir 
 lobn with halfe a dozen more,are at the doore : fhall I let 
 them in? 
 
 Prin. Let them alone awhile, and then open the doore. 
 Poines. 
 
 Enter Poines. 
 
 Pc/n.Anon,anon fir. 
 
 Prin. Sirra, Faljtaffe and the reft of the Theeues,are at 
 the doore, fliall we be merry ? 
 
 Poin. As merrie as Crickets my Lad. But harke yee, 
 What cunning match haue you made with this ieft of the 
 Drawer ? Come, what's the ifiue ? 
 
 Prin. I am now of all humors, that haue fhewed them, 
 felues humors, fince the old dayes of goodman Adam, to 
 the pupill age of this prefent twelue a clock at midnight. 
 What's a clocke Francis ? 
 
 Fran. Anon, anon fir. 
 
 Prin. That euer this Fellow fhould haue fewer words 
 then a Parret, and yet the fonne of a Woman. His indu- 
 ftry is vp-ftaires and down-ftaires, his eloquence the par- 
 celL-of a reckoning. I am not yet of Percies mind, the Hot- 
 fpurre of the North, he that killes me fome fixe or feauen 
 dozen of Scots at a Breakfaft, wafties his hands, and faies 
 to his wife 5 Fie vpon this quiet life, I want worke. O my 
 fweet Harry fayes fhe, how many haft thou kill'd to day? 
 Giue my Roane horfe a drench (fayes hee) and anfweres, 
 fome fourteene,an houre after : a trifle, a trifle. I prethee 
 call in Faljiaffe, He play Perry, and that damn'd Bravvne 
 fhall play Dame <iMortimer his wife./J/'o,fayes the drun- 
 kard. Call in Ribs, call in Tallow. 
 
 Enter Faljla/e. 
 
 Poin. Welcome lacke, where haft thou beene? 
 
 Fal. A plague of all Cowards I fay, and a Vengeance 
 too, marry and Amen. Giue me a cup of Sacke Boy. Ere 
 I leade this life long, lie fowe nether ftockes, and mend 
 them too. A plague of all cowards. Giue me a Cup of 
 Sacke, Rogue. Is there no Vertue extant? 
 
 Prin. Didft thou neuer fee Titan kilfe a dilh of Butter, 
 pittifull hearted Titan that melted at the fweete Tale of 
 the Sunne? If thou didft, then behold that compound. 
 
 Fal. You Rogue, heere's Lime in this Sacke too:there 
 is nothing but Roguery to be found in Villanous manjyet 
 a Coward is worfe then a Cup of Sack with lime. A vil- 
 lanous Coward, go thy wayes old lacke, die when thou 
 wiltjif manhood, good manhood be not forgot vpon the 
 face of the earth, then am I a fliotten Herring : there liues 
 not three good men vnhang'd in England, & one of them 
 is fat, and growes old, God helpe the while, a bad world I 
 fay. I would I were a Weauer, I could fing all manner of 
 fongs. A plague of all Cowards,! fay ftill. 
 
 Prin. How now Woolfacke,what mntter you ? 
 
 Fal. A Kings Sonnef If I do not beate thee out of thy 
 Kingdome with a dagger of Lath, and driue all thy Sub- 
 lets afore thee like a flocke of Wilde-geefe, He neuer 
 weare haire on my face more. You Prince of Wales ? 
 Prin. Why you horfon round man?what's the matter ? 
 
 Fal. Are you not a Coward? Anfwer me to that, and 
 Poines there ? 
 
 Prin. Ye fatch paunch, and yee call mee Coward, He 
 ftab thee. 
 
 Fal. I call thee Coward ? lie fee thee damn'd ere I call 
 the Coward: but I would giue a thoufand pound I could 
 run as faft as thou canft. You are ftraight enough in the 
 fhoulders, you care not who fees your backe : Call you 
 
 that
 
 The Firji Tart of Henry the Fourth. 
 
 57 
 
 that backing of your friends? a plague vpon fuch bac- 
 king : giue me them that will face me. Giue me a Cup 
 of Sack, I am a Rogue if I drunke to day. 
 
 Prince. O Villaine, thy Lippes are fcarce wip'd, fince 
 thou drunk'ft laft. 
 
 Falft. All's one for that. He drinks. 
 
 A plague of all Cowards ftill,fay I. 
 
 Trince. What's the matter ? 
 
 Falft. What's the matter ? here be foure of vs, haue 
 ta'ne a thoufand pound this Morning. 
 
 Prince. Where is \t,Iacl(_ ? where is it ? 
 
 Falft. Where is it ? taken from vs, it is : a hundred 
 vpon poore foure of vs. 
 
 Prince. What, a hundred, man ? 
 
 FalH. I am a Rogue ,if I were not at halfe Sword with 
 a dozen of them two houres together. I haue fcaped by 
 miracle. I am eight times thruft through the Doublet, 
 foure through the Hofe, my Buckler cut through and 
 through, my Sword hackt like a Hand-fa w, ecce Jtgnum. 
 I neuer dealt better fince I was a man : all would not doe. 
 A plague of all Cowards : let them fpeake ; if they fpeake 
 more or lefle then truth, they are villaines, and the fonnes 
 of darknefle. 
 
 Prince. Speake firs, how was it ? 
 
 Gad. We foure fet vpon fome dozen. 
 
 Falft. Sixteene,at leaft,my Lord. 
 
 Gad. And bound them. 
 
 Peto. No, no, they were not bound. 
 
 Falft. You Rogue, they were bound, euery man of 
 them, or I am a lew elfe,an Ebrew lew. 
 
 Gad. As we were fharing,fome fixe or feuen frefh men 
 fet vpon vs. 
 
 Falft. And vnbound the reft , and then come in the 
 other. 
 
 "Prince. What , fought yee with them all ? 
 
 Falft. All ? I know not what yee call all : but if I 
 fought not with fiftie of them, I am a bunch of Radifh : 
 if there were not two or three and fiftie vpon poore olde 
 lac^ then am I no two-legg'd Creature. 
 
 Poin. Pray Heauen, you haue not murthered fome of 
 them. 
 
 Falft. Nay, that's paft praying for; I haue pepper'd 
 two of them : Two I am fure I haue payed, two Rogues 
 in Buckrom Sutes. I tell thee what, Hal, if I tell thee a 
 Lye,fpit in my face, call me Horfe: thou knoweft my olde 
 word: here I lay,and thus I bore my point ; foure Rogues 
 in Buckrom let driue at me. 
 
 Pr;'re.What,foure? thou fayd'ft but two,euen now. 
 
 Falft. Foure Hal, I told thee foure. 
 
 Poin. I, I, he faid foure. 
 
 Falft. Thefe foure came all a-front, and mainely thruft 
 at me ; I made no more adoe, but tooke all their feuen 
 points in my Targuet, thus. 
 
 Prince. Seuen? why there were but foure, euen now. 
 
 Falft. In Buckrom. 
 
 Poin. I,foure,in Buckrom Sutes. 
 
 Falft. Seuen, by thefe Hilts,or I am a Villaine elfe. 
 
 Prin. Prethee let him alone,we fhall haue more anon. 
 
 Falft. Doeft thou heare me, Hal ? 
 
 Prin. I,and marke thee too, lac^. 
 
 Falft. Doe fo, for it is worth the liftning too : thefe 
 nine in Buckrom, that I told thee of. 
 
 frin. Sojtwo more alreadie. 
 
 Falft. Their Points being broken. 
 
 Poin. Downe fell his Hofe. 
 
 Falft. Began to giue me ground : but I followed me 
 
 359 
 
 clofe,came in foot and hand;and with a thought, feuen of 
 the eleuen I pay'd. 
 
 Prin. O monftrous ! eleuen Buckrom men growne 
 out of two ? 
 
 Falft. But as the Deuill would haue it, three mif-be- 
 gotten Knaues, in Kendall Greene, came at my Back, and 
 let driue at me ; for it was fo darke,fla/,that thou could'ft 
 not fee thy Hand. 
 
 Prin. Thefe Lyes are like the Father that begets them, 
 grofle as a Mountaine, open, palpable. Why thou Clay- 
 brayn'd Guts, thou Knotty-pated Foole, thou Horfon ob- 
 fcer.e greafie Tallow Catch. 
 
 Falft. What, art thou mad ? art thou mad ? is not the 
 truth,the truth ? 
 
 Prin. Why, how could'ft thou know thefe men in 
 Kendall Greene, when it was fo darke, thou could'ft not 
 fee thy Hand t Come, tell vs your reafon:what fay 'ft thou 
 to this ? 
 
 Poin. Come,your reafon Iac%_, your reafon. 
 
 Falft. What, vpon compulfion ? No : were I at the 
 Strappado, or all the Racks in the World, I would not 
 tell you on compulfion. Giue you a reafon on compulfi- 
 on ? If Reafons were as plentie as Black-berries,! would 
 giue no man a Reafon vpon compulfion,!. 
 
 Prin. He be no longer guiltie of this finne. This fan- 
 guine Coward, this Bed-prefTer,this Horf-back-breaker, 
 this huge Hill of Flefli. 
 
 Falft. Away you Starueling, you Elfe-skin, you dried 
 Neats tongue, Bulles-piflell, you ftocke-fifh:O for breth 
 to vtter. What is like thee ? You Tailors yard,you fheath 
 you Bow-cafe,you vile ftanding tucke. 
 
 Prin. Well, breath a-while,and then to't againe : and 
 when thou haft tyr'd thy felfe in bafe companions, heare 
 me fpeake but thus. 
 
 Toin. Marke lacke. 
 
 frin. We two,faw you foure fet on foure and bound 
 them,and were Mafters of their Wealth : mark now how 
 a plaine Tale fhall put you downe. Then did we two, fet 
 on you foure,and with a word, outfac'd you from your 
 prize,and haue it: yea, and can (hew it you in the Houfe . 
 And Fa/Jiajfe,yo\i caried your Guts away as nimbly,with 
 as quicke dexteritie,and roared for mercy, and ftill ranne 
 and roar'd, as euer I heard Bull-Calfe. What a Slaue art 
 thou, to hacke thy fword as thou haft done,and then fay 
 it was in fight. What trick? what deuice ? what ftarting 
 hole canft thou now find out, to hide thee from this open 
 and apparant fhame ? 
 
 Pomes. Come, let's heare lacke : What tricke haft 
 thou now f 
 
 Fa/. I knew ye as well as he that made ye. Why heare 
 ye my Mafters, was it for me to kill the Heire apparant ? 
 Should I turne vpon the true Prince? Why, thou knoweft 
 I am as valiant as Hercules : but beware Inftindt, the Lion 
 will not touch the true Prince : Inftinct is a great matter. 
 I was a Coward on Inftindt : I fhall thinke the better of 
 my felfe, and thee, during my life : I, for a valiant Lion, 
 and thou for a true Prince. But Lads, I am glad you haue 
 the Mony. HoftefTe, clap to the doores: watch to night, 
 pray to morrow. Gallants, Lads, Boyes, Harts of Gold, 
 all the good Titles of Fellow/hip come to you . What, 
 fhall we be merry? fhall we haue a Play extempory. 
 
 Prin. Content, and the argument fhall be, thy runing 
 away. 
 
 Fal. A, no more of that Ha/l, and thou loueft me. 
 
 Enter HofteJJe. 
 Hoft. My Lord, the Prince ? 
 
 Prin.
 
 The Firfl ^Part of f^ng Henry the Fourth. 
 
 Prin. How now my Lady the Hoftefle , what fay'ft 
 thou to me ? 
 
 Hoftefle. Marry,my Lord, there is a Noble man of the 
 Court at doore would fpeake with you: hee fayes,hee 
 comes from your Father. 
 
 Prln. Giue him as much as will make him a Royall 
 man,and fepd him backe againe to my Mother. 
 
 Fa/ft. What manner of man is hee ? 
 
 Hofteffe. An old man. 
 
 Falft. What doth Grauitie out of his Bed at Midnight? 
 Shall I giue him his anfwere? 
 
 Prln. Prethee doe lacl^e, 
 
 Falft. Taith,and He fend him packing. Exit. 
 
 Prince. Now Sirs : you fought faire ; fo did you 
 Peto, fo did you Bardol : you are Lyons too, you ranne 
 away vpon inftinCt : you will not touch the true Prince ; 
 no, fie. 
 
 Bard. 'Faith,! ranne when I faw others runne. 
 
 Pnn. Tell mee now in earneft, how came Falftaffei 
 Sword fo hackt 
 
 Peto. Why, he hackt it with his Dagger, and faid, hee 
 would fweare truth out of England, but hee would make 
 you beleeue it was done in fight,and perfwaded vs to doe 
 the like. 
 
 'Bard. Yea,and to tickle our Nofes with Spear-grafle, 
 to make them bleed, and then to beflubber our garments 
 with it, and fweare it was the blood of true men. I did 
 that I did not this feuen yeeres before, I bluflit to heare 
 his monftrous deuices. 
 
 Priit. O Villaine, thou ftoleft a Cup of Sacke eigh- 
 teene yeeres agoe, and wert taken with the manner, and 
 euer fince thou haft bluflit extempore : thou hadft fire 
 and fword on thy fide, and yet thou ranft away ; what 
 inftinct hadft thou for it ? 
 
 'Bard. My Lord, doe you fee thefe Meteors ? doe you 
 behold thefe Exhalations ? 
 
 Prln. I doe. 
 
 'Bard. What thinke you they portend ? 
 
 Prin. Hot Liuers,and cold Purfes. 
 
 'Bard. Choler,my Lord, if rightly taken. 
 
 frln. No, if rightly taken, Halter. 
 
 Enter Falftaffe. 
 
 Heere comes leane /ac^e, heere comes bare-bone. How 
 now my fweet Creature of Bombaft, how long is't agoe, 
 lacl^e, fince thou faw'ft thine owne Knee ? 
 
 Falft. My owne Knee ? When I was about thy yeeres 
 (Hal) I was not an Eagles Talent in the Wafte, I could 
 haue crept into any Aldermans Thumbe-Ring : a plague 
 of fighing and griefe, it blowes a man vp like a Bladder 
 There's villanous Newes abroad : heere was Sir lobn 
 'Braby from your Father ; you muft goe to the Court in 
 the Morning. The fame mad fellow of the North, Percy; 
 and hee of Wales, that gaue tAmamon the Baftinado, 
 and made Lucifer Cuckold, and fwore the Deuill his true 
 Liege-man vpon the Croffe of a Welch-hooke ; what a 
 plague call you him ? 
 
 Pain. O , Glendoner. 
 
 Falft. Oven , Owe n ; the fame, and his Sonne in Law 
 cWortimer, and old Northumberland, and the fprightly 
 Scot of Scots, Dongliu, that runnes a Horfe-backe vp a 
 Hill perpendicular. 
 
 Prln. Hee that rides at high fpeede,and with a Piftoll 
 kills a Sparrow flying. 
 
 Falft. You haue hit it. 
 
 Prln. So did he neuer the Sparrow. 
 
 Falft. Well, that Rafcall hath good mettall in him, 
 hee will not runne. 
 
 Prin. Why, what a Rafcall art thou then, to prayfe him. 
 fo for running ? 
 
 Falft. A Horfe-backe (ye Cuckoe) but a foot hee will 
 not budge a foot. 
 
 Trln. Yes lacfe, vpon inftinct. 
 
 Falft. I grant ye, vpon inftinct: Well, hee is there too, 
 and one e^forda/^e, and a thoufand blew-Cappes more. 
 Worcefter is ftolne away by Night : thy Fathers Beard is 
 turn'd white with the Newes ; you may buy Land now 
 as cheape as ftinking Mackrell. 
 
 Prin. Then 'tis like,if there come a hot Sunne,and this 
 ciuill buffetting hold, wee mall buy Maiden-heads as 
 they buy Hob-nayles, by the Hundreds. 
 
 Falft. By the Mafie Lad, thou fay'ft true, it is like wee 
 mall haue good trading that way. But tell me Hal, art 
 not thou horrible afear'd ? thou being Heire apparant, 
 could the World picke thee out three fuch Enemyes a- 
 gaine, as that Fiend Dotvglas, that Spirit Percy, and that 
 Deuill Glendoner ? Art not thou horrible afraid ? Doth 
 not thy blood thrill at it ? 
 
 Prin. Not a whit: I lacke fome of thy inftindt. 
 
 Falft. Well, thou wilt be horrible chidde to morrow, 
 when thou commeft to thy Father : if thou doe loue me, 
 practife an anfwere. 
 
 Prin. Doe thou ftand for my Father, and examine mee 
 vpon the particulars of my Life. 
 
 Falft. Shall I ? content : This Chayre fhall bee my 
 State , this Dagger my Scepter , and this Cumion my 
 Crowne. 
 
 Prin. Thy State is taken for a loyn'd-Stoole, thy Gol- 
 den Scepter for a Leaden Dagger, and thy precious rich 
 Crowne, for a pittifull bald Crowne. 
 
 Falft. Well, and the fire of Grace be not quite out of 
 thee, now malt thou be moued. Giue me a Cup of Sacke 
 to make mine eyes looke redde, that it may be thought I 
 haue wept, for I muft fpeake in pafiion, and J will doe it 
 in King Cambyfes vaine. 
 
 Prln. Well, heere is my Legge. 
 
 Falit. And heere is my fpeech : ftand afide Nobilitie. 
 
 Hofteffe. This is excellent fport,yfaith. 
 
 Falft. Weepe not, fweet Queene, for trickling teares 
 are vaine. 
 
 Hofteffe. O the Father, how hee holdes his counte- 
 nance ? 
 
 Falft. For Gods fake Lords, conuey my truftfull Qiieen, 
 For teares doe flop the floud-gates of her eyes. 
 
 Hofteffe. O rare, he doth it as like one of thefe harlotry 
 Players, as euer I fee. 
 
 Falft. Peace good Pint-pot, peace good Tickle-braine. 
 Harry, I doe not onely maruell where thou fpendeft thy 
 time ; but alfo, how thou art accompanied : For though 
 the Camomile, the more it is troden,the fafter it growes; 
 yet Youth, the more it is wafted, the fooner it weares. 
 Thou art my Sonne : I haue partly thy Mothers Word, 
 partly my Opinion ; but chiefely, a villanous tricke of 
 thine Eye, and a foolifli hanging of thy nether Lippe, that 
 doth warrant me. If then thou be Sonne to mee, heere 
 lyeth the point : why, being Sonne to me , art thou fo 
 poynted at ? Shall the blefied Sonne of Heauen proue a 
 Micher, and eate Black-berryes f a queftiom not to bee 
 askt. Shall the Sonne of England proue a Theefe, and 
 take Purfes ? a queftion to be askt. There is a thing, 
 Harry, which thou haft often heard of,and it is knowne to 
 
 many
 
 The Firji fart ofJ^lng Henry the Fourth. 
 
 59 
 
 many in our Land, by the Name of Pitch : this Pitch (as 
 ancient Writers doe report)doth defile; fo doth the com- 
 panie thou keepeft : for Harry, now I doe not fpeake to 
 thee in Drinke,but in Teares; not in Pleafure, but in Paf- 
 fion ; not in Words onely, but in Woes alfo : and yet 
 there is a vertuous man, whom I haue often noted in thy 
 companie, but I know not his Name. 
 
 Prin. What manner of man, and it like your Ma- 
 ieftie ? 
 
 Falft. A goodly portly man yfaith, and a corpulent, 
 of a chearefull Looke, a pleafmg Eye, and a moft noble 
 Carriage, and as I thinke,his age fome fiftie, or(byrlady) 
 inclining to threefcore ; and now I remember mee, his 
 Name is Falftaffe : if that man fhould be lewdly giuen, 
 hee deceiues mee ; for Harry, I fee Vertue in his Lookes. 
 If then the Tree may be knowne by the Fruit,as the Fruit 
 by the Tree, then peremptorily I fpeake it, there is Vertue 
 in that Falftaffe : him keepe with, the reft banifli. And 
 tell mee now, thou naughtie Varlet, tell mee, where haft 
 thou beene this moneth 
 
 Prin. Do'ft thou fpeake like a King ? doe thou ftand 
 for mee, and lie play my Father. 
 
 Falft. Depofe me : if thou do'ft it halfe fo grauely, fo 
 maieftically , both in word and matter, hang me vp by the 
 heeles for a Rabbet-fucker, or a Poulters Hare. 
 
 frin. Well,heere I am fet. 
 
 Fa/ft. And heere I ftand : iudge my Mafters. 
 
 Prin. Now Harry, whence come you ? 
 
 Falfl. My Noble Lord, from Eaft-cheape. 
 
 Prin. The complaints I heare of thee, are grieuous. 
 
 Falft. Yfaith, my Lord, they are falfe : Nay, He tickle 
 ye for a young Prince. 
 
 Tnn. Sweareft thou, vngracious Boy ? henceforth 
 ne're looke on me: thou art violently carryed away from 
 Grace : there is a Deuill haunts thee, in the likenefle of a 
 fat old Man ; a Tunne of Man is thy Companion: Why 
 do'ft thou conuerfe with that Trunke of Humors , that 
 Boulting-Hutch of Beaftlinefle, that fwolne Parcell of 
 Dropfies, that huge Bombard of Sacke, that ftuft Cloake- 
 bagge of Guts, that rofted Manning Tree Oxe with the 
 Pudding in his Belly, that reuerend Vice, that grey Ini- 
 quitie, that Father Ruffian, that Vanitie in yeeres? where- 
 in is he good, but to tafte Sacke, and drinke it ? wherein 
 neat and cleanly, but to carue a Capon, and eat it ? where- 
 in Cunning, but in Craft ? wherein Craftie, but in Villa- 
 nie ? wherein Villanous,but in all things ? wherein wor- 
 thy, but in nothing c 1 
 
 Falll. I would your Grace would take me with you : 
 whom meanes your Grace f 
 
 Prince. That villanous abhominable mis-leader of 
 Youth, Falftaffe, that old white-bearded Sathan. 
 
 Falft. My Lord, the man I know. 
 
 Prince. I know thou do'ft. 
 
 Falft. But to fay, I know more harme in him then in 
 my felfe, were to fay more then I know. That hee is olde 
 (the more the pittie) his white hayres doe witnefie it : 
 but that hee is (fauing your reuerence) a Whore-ma- 
 fter, that I vtterly deny. If Sacke and Sugar bee a fault, 
 Heauen helpe the Witked : if to be olde and merry, be a 
 fmne,then many an olde Hofte that I know, is damn'd : 
 if to be fat, be to be hated, then Pharaohs leane Kine are 
 to be loued. No, my good Lord, banifli Peto, banifli 
 Bardolpb, banifli Poines : but for fweete lackf Falftaffe, 
 kinde lacke Falftaffe, true lac^e Falftaffe, valiant lac ke Fal- 
 J}affe,and therefore more valiant, being as hee is olde Iact(_ 
 Falftaffe, banifli not him thy Harryes companie, banifli 
 
 j6f 
 
 not him thy Harryes companie; banifli plumpe lacl^e ,znA 
 banifli all the World. 
 Prince. I doe, I will. 
 
 Enter "Bardolfh running. 
 
 'Bard. O, my Lord, my Lord, the Sherife, with a moft 
 moft monftrous Watch, is at the doore. 
 
 Falji. Out you Rogue, play out the Play: I haue much 
 to fay in the behalfe of that Falftaffe. 
 
 Enter the HofteJJe. 
 
 HofteJJe. O, my Lord, my Lord. 
 
 Falft. Heigh, heigh, the Deuill rides vpon a Fiddle- 
 fticke : what's the matter ? 
 
 HofteJJe. The Sherife and all the Watch are at the 
 doore : they are come to fearch the Houfe , fliall I let 
 them in ? 
 
 Falft. Do'ft thou heare Hal , neuer call a true peece of 
 Gold a Counterfeit : thou art effentially made, without 
 feeming fo. 
 
 Prince. And thou a naturall Coward , without in- 
 ftin<3. 
 
 Falft. I deny your cMaior : if you will deny the 
 Sherife, fo : if not, let him enter. If I become not a Cart 
 as well as another man, a plague on my bringing vp : I 
 hope I fliall as foone be ftrangled with a Halter, as ano- 
 ther. 
 
 Prince. Goe hide thee behinde the Arras, the reft 
 walke vp aboue. Now my Mafters, for a true Face and 
 good Confcience. 
 
 Falft. Both which I haue had : but their date is out, 
 and therefore He hide me. Exit. 
 
 Prince. Call in the Sherife. 
 
 Enter Sberife and the Carrier. 
 
 Prince. Now Mafter Sherife , what is your will with 
 mee ? 
 
 She. Firft pardon me, my Lord. A Hue and Cry hath 
 followed certaine men vnto this houfe. 
 
 Prince. What men ? 
 
 She. One of them is well knowne, my gracious Lord, 
 a grofle fat man. 
 
 Car. As fat as Butter. 
 
 "Prince. The man, I doe affure you, is not heere, 
 For I my felfe at this time haue imploy'd him : 
 And Sherife, I will engage my word to thee, 
 That I will by to morrow Dinner time, 
 Send him to anfwere thee, or any man, 
 For any thing he fliall be charg'd withall : 
 And fo let me entreat you,leaue the houfe. 
 
 She. I will, my Lord : there are two Gentlemen 
 Haue in this Robberie loft three hundred Markes. 
 
 Prince. It may be fo : if he haue robb'd thefe men, 
 He fliall be anfwerable : and fo farewell. 
 
 She. Good Night, my Noble Lord. 
 
 Prince. I thinke it is good Morrow,is it not? 
 
 She. Indeede,my Lord, I thinke it be two a Clocke. 
 
 exit. 
 
 Prince. This oyly Rafcall is knowne as well as Poules: 
 goe call him forth. 
 
 Peto. Falftaffe ? faft afleepe behinde the Arras , and 
 fnorting like a Horfe. 
 
 Prince. Harke, how hard he fetches breath : fearch his 
 Pockets. He
 
 6o 
 
 The Fir ft ^art offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 He fearcbetb bu Pockets , and jindetb 
 certaine Papers. 
 
 Prince. What haft thou found? 
 
 Peto. Nothing but Papers, my Lord. 
 
 Prince. Let's fee, what be they ? reade them. 
 
 Peto. Item, a Capon. ii.s.ii.d. 
 
 Item,Sawce. iiii.d. 
 
 Item,Sacke,two Gallons. v.s.viii.d. 
 
 Item, Anchoues and Sacke after Supper. ii.s.vi.d. 
 
 Item, Bread. ob. 
 
 Prince. O monftrous, but one halfe penny-worth of 
 Bread to this intolerable deale of Sacke What there is 
 elfe,keepe clofe,wee'le reade it at more aduantage : there 
 let him fleepe till day. He to the Court in the Morning: 
 Wee muft all to the Warres,and thy place fhall be hono- 
 rable. He procure this fat Rogue a Charge of Foot, 
 and I know his death will be a Match of Twelue-fcore. 
 The Money fliall be pay'd backe againe with aduantage. 
 Be with me betimes in the Morning : and fo good mor- 
 row Peto. 
 
 Peto. Good morrow, good my Lord. Exeunt. 
 
 Aftus Tertius. 
 
 Enter Hotjfiurre, JVorceflcr , Lord Mortimer , 
 Owen Glendvwer. 
 
 Mart. Thefe promifes are faire, the parties fure, 
 And our induction full of profperous hope. 
 
 Hotjp. Lord cWortimer, and Coufm Glendwcr, 
 Will you fit downe ? 
 
 And Vnckle Worceftcr ; a plague vpon it, 
 I haue forgot the Mappe. 
 
 Glend. No,here it is : 
 
 Sit Coufm Percy, fit good Coufin Hotjpurre : 
 For by that Name,as oft as Lancafter doth fpeake of you, 
 His Cheekes looke pale, and with a rifing figh, 
 He wifheth you in Heauen. 
 
 Hotjp. And you in Hell, as oft as he heares Oven Glen- 
 doiver fpoke of. 
 
 Gltnd. I cannot blame him : At my Natiuitie, 
 The front of Heauen was full of fierie fhapes, 
 Of burning CrefTets : and at my Birth, 
 The frame and foundation of the Earth 
 Shak'd like a Coward. 
 
 Hotjj>. Why fo it would haue done at the fame feafon, 
 if your Mothers Cat had but kitten'd, though your felfe 
 had neuer beene borne. 
 
 Glend. I fay the Earth did /hake when I was borne. 
 
 Hotjp. And I fay the Earth was not of my minde, 
 If you fuppofe, as fearing you, it fhooke. 
 
 Glend. The Heauens were all on fire , the Earth did 
 tremble. 
 
 Hotfy. Oh, then the Earth fhooke 
 To fee the Heauens on fire, 
 And not in feare of your Natiuitie. 
 Difeafed Nature oftentimes breakes forth 
 In ftrange eruptions ; and the teeming Earth 
 Is with a kinde of Coliick pincht and vext, 
 By the imprifoning of vnruly Winde 
 Within her Wombe : which for enlargement ftriuing, 
 Shakes the old Beldame Earth, and tombles downe 
 
 Steeples, and mofle-growne Towers. At your Birth, 
 Our Grandam Earth, hauing this diftemperature, 
 In paffion fhooke. 
 
 Glend. Coufin : of many men 
 1 doe not beare thefe Croffings : Giue me leaue 
 To tell you once againe, that at my Birth 
 The front of Heauen was full of fierie fhapes, 
 The Goates ranne from the Mountaines,and the Heards 
 Were ftrangely clamorous to the frighted fields: 
 Thefe fignes haue markt me extraordinarie, 
 And all the courfes of my Life doe mew, 
 I am not in the Roll of common men. 
 Where is the Liuing,clipt in with the Sea, 
 That chides the Bankes of England, Scotland, and Wales, 
 Which calls me Pupill,or hath read to me? 
 And bring him out, that is but Womans Sonne, 
 Can trace me in the tedious wayes of Art, 
 And hold me pace in deepe experiments. 
 
 Hotjfr. I thinke there's no man fpeakes better Welfh : 
 He to Dinner. 
 
 Mort. Peace Coufin Percy, you will make him mad. 
 
 Glend. I can call Spirits from the vaftie Deepe. 
 
 Hctjp. Why fo can I, or fo can any man : 
 "But will they come, when you doe call for them ? 
 
 Glend. Why, I can teach thee, Coufin, to command the 
 Deuill. 
 
 Hotjfi.And I can teach thee, Coufin, to fhame the Deuil, 
 By telling truth. Tell truth, andjhame the Deuill. 
 If thou haue power to rayfe him, bring him hither, 
 And He be fworne, I haue power to fhame him hence. 
 Oh, while you Hue, tell truth, and fhame the Deuill. 
 
 effort. Come, come, no more of this vnprofitable 
 Chat. 
 
 Glend. Three times hath Henry Bullingbroo^e made head 
 Againft my Power: thrice from the Banks of Wye, 
 And fandy-bottom'd Seuerne, haue I hent him 
 BootlefTe home,and Weather-beaten backe. 
 
 Hotjj). Home without Bootes, 
 And in foule Weather too, 
 How fcapes he Agues in the Deuils name ? 
 
 Glend. Come, heere's the Mappe : 
 Shall wee diuide our Right, 
 According to our three-fold order ta'ne ? 
 
 Mort. The Arch-Deacon hath diuided it 
 Into three Limits, very equally : 
 England, from Trent, and Seuerne, hitherto, 
 By South and Eaft, is to my part afiign'd : 
 All Weftward, Wales, beyond the Seuerne more, 
 And all the fertile Land within that bound, 
 To Onva Glendoreer : And deare Couze, to you 
 The remnant North ward, lying oft from Trent. 
 And our Indentures Tripartite are drawne : 
 Which being fealed enterchangeably, 
 (A BufinefTe that this Night may execute,) 
 To morrow, Coufin Percy , you and I, 
 And my good Lord of Worcefter,will fet forth, 
 To meete your Father, and the Scottifh Power, 
 As is appointed vs at Shrewsbury. 
 My Father Glendorrer is not readie yet, 
 Nor fhall wee neede his helpe thefe foureteene dayes : 
 Within that fpace,you may haue drawne together 
 Your Tenants, Friends, and neighbouring Gentlemen. 
 
 Glend. A fhorter time fhall fend me to you, Lords : 
 And in my Condudl fhall your Ladies come, 
 From whom you now muft fteale, and take no leaue, 
 For there will be a World of Water fhed, 
 
 Vpon 
 
 jlfc
 
 'The Firft^art of ^ing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 61 
 
 Vpon the parting of your Wiues and you. 
 
 Hot/p. Me thinks my Moity, North from Burton here, 
 In quantitie equals not one of yours : 
 See, how this Riuer comes me cranking in, 
 And cuts me from the bed of all my Land, 
 A huge halfe Moone,a monftrous Cantle out. 
 lie haue the Currant in this place damn'd vp, 
 And here the fmug and Siluer Trent fhall runne, 
 In a new Channel!, faire and euenly : 
 It fhall not winde with fuch a deepe indent, 
 To rob me of fo rich a Bottome here. 
 
 Glend. Not winde? it fhall,it muft,you fee it doth. 
 
 Mart. Yea, but marke how he beares his courfe, 
 And runnes me vp, with like aduantage on the other fide, 
 Gelding the oppofed Continent as much, 
 As on the other fide it takes from you. 
 
 Wore. Yea, but a little Charge will trench him here, 
 And on this North fide winne this Cape of Land, 
 And then he runnes ftraight and euen. 
 
 Hotffi. He haue it fo,a little Charge will doe it. 
 
 Glend. lie not haue it alter'd. 
 
 Hotjj>. Will not you ? 
 
 Glend. No, nor you fhall not. 
 
 Hatjp. Who fhall fay me nay ? 
 
 Glend. Why, that will I. 
 
 Hotjp. Let me not vnderftand you then, fpeake it in 
 Welfh. 
 
 Glend. I can fpeake Englifh,Lord,as well as you : 
 For I was trayn'd vp in the Englifh Court ; 
 Where, being but young, I framed to the Harpe 
 Many an Englifh Dittie, louely well, 
 And gaue the Tongue a helpefull Ornament; 
 A Vertue that was neuer feene in you. 
 
 Hotjp. Marry, and I am glad of it with all my heart, 
 I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew, 
 Then one of thefe fame Meeter Ballad-mongers: 
 I had rather heare a Brazen Candleftick turn'd, 
 Or a dry Wheele grate on the Axle-tree, 
 And that would fet my teeth nothing an edge, 
 Nothing fo much, as mincing Poetrie ; 
 'Tis like the fbrc't gate of a fhuffling Nagge. 
 
 Glend. Come, you fhall haue Trent turn'd. 
 
 Hotjp. I doe not care: He giue thrice fo much Land 
 To any well-deleruing friend ; 
 But in the way of Bargaine, marke ye me, 
 lie cauill on the ninth part of a hayre. 
 Are the Indentures drawne? fhall we be gone ? 
 
 Glend. The Moone fhines faire, 
 You may away by Night : 
 He hafte the Writer ; and withall, 
 Breake with your Wiues, of your departure hence : 
 I am afraid my Daughter will runne madde, 
 So much fhe doteth on her Mortimer. Exit. 
 
 M.ort. Fie, Couiin Percy , how you crofTe my Fa- 
 ther. 
 
 HotJ}>. I cannot chufe : fometime he angers me, 
 With telling me of the Moldwarpe and the Ant, 
 Of the Dreamer zTlferlin, and his Prophecies ; 
 And of a Dragon, and a finne-lefle Fifh, 
 A clip-wing' d Griffin, and a moulten Rauen, 
 A couching Lyon,and a ramping Cat, 
 And fuch a deale of skimble-skamble Stuffe, 
 As puts me from my Faith. I tell you what, 
 He held me laft Night,at leaft,nine howres, 
 In reckning vp the feuerall Deuils Names, 
 That were his Lacqueyes : 
 
 363 
 
 I cry'd hum, and well, goe too, 
 
 But mark'd him not a word. O,he is as tedious 
 
 As a tyred Horfe, a rayling Wife, 
 
 Worfe then a fmoakie Houfe. I had rather Hue 
 
 With Cheefe and Garlick in a Windmill farre, 
 
 Then feede on Gates, and haue him talke to me, 
 
 In any Summer-Houfe in Chriftendome. 
 
 Mart. In faith he was a worthy Gentleman, 
 Exceeding well read, and profited, 
 In ftrange Concealements : 
 Valiant as a Lyon,and wondrous affable, 
 And as bountifull, as Mynes of India. 
 Shall Itellyou,Coufin, 
 He holds your temper in a high refpeft, 
 And curbes himfelfe, euen of his naturall fcope, 
 When you doe crofTe his humorr'faith he does. 
 I warrant you, that man is not aliue, 
 Might fo haue tempted him, as you haue done, 
 Without the tafte of danger,and reproofe : 
 But doe not vfe it oft, let me entreat you. 
 
 Wore. In faith, my Lord, you are too wilfull blame, 
 And fince your comming hither, haue done enough, 
 To put him quite befiies his patience. 
 You muft needes learne, Lord, to amend this fault: 
 Though fometimes it fhew GreatnefTe, Courage, Blood, 
 And that's the deareft grace it renders you; 
 Yet oftentimes it doth prefent harfh Rage, 
 Defect of Manners, want of Gouernment, 
 Pride, HaughtinefTe, Opinion, and Difdaine : 
 The leaft of which, haunting a Nobleman, 
 Lofeth mens hearts, and leaues behinde a ftayne 
 Vpon the beautie of all parts befides, 
 Beguiling them of commendation. 
 
 HotJ>. Well, I am fchool'd : 
 Good-manners be your fpeede ; 
 Heere come your Wiues, and let vs take our leaue. 
 
 Enter Glendcwer^ -with the Ladles. 
 
 Mart. This is the deadly fpight,that angers me, 
 My Wife can fpeake no Englifh,! no Welfh. 
 
 Glend.My Daughter weepes,fhee'le not part with you, 
 Shee'le be a Souldier too,fhee'le to the Warres. 
 
 Mart. Good Father tell her, that fhe and my Aunt Percy 
 Shall follow in your Condudt fpeedily. 
 
 CflendoTver Jpeal^es to her in Weljk, and Jhe an- 
 frveres him in the fame. 
 
 Qlend. Shee is defperate heere : 
 A peeuifh felfe-will'd Harlotry, 
 One that no perfwafion can doe good vpon. 
 
 in Weljh. 
 
 Mart. I vnderftand thy Lookes: that pretty Welfh 
 Which thou powr'ft down from thefe fwelling Heauens, 
 I am too perfect in : and but for fhame, 
 In fuch a parley fhould I anfwere thee. 
 
 The Lady againe in Weljh. 
 
 Mart. I vnderftand thy KifTes,and thou mine, 
 And that's a feeling difputation : 
 But I will neuer be a Truant, Loue, 
 Till I haue learn'd thy Language: for thy tongue 
 
 Makes
 
 62 
 
 The Firft 'Part offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 Makes Welfh as fweet as Ditties highly penn'd, 
 Sung by a faire Queene in a Summers Bowre, 
 With rauifhing Diuifion to her Lute. 
 
 Qlend. Nay,if thou melt, then will /he runne madde. 
 
 The Lady Jfiealys againe in Weljb. 
 
 effort. O,Iam Ignorance it felfe in this. 
 
 Qlend. She bids you, 
 On the wanton Rufhes lay you downe, 
 And reft your gentle Head vpon her Lappe, 
 And flie will fing the Song that pleafeth you, 
 And on your Eye-lids Crowne the God of Sleepe, 
 Charming your blood with pleafing heauinefle ; 
 Making fuch difference betwixt Wake and Sleepe, 
 As is the difference betwixt Day and Night, 
 The houre before the Heauenly Harneis'd Teeme 
 Begins his Golden ProgreflTe in the Eaft. 
 
 e/Werr.With all my heart He fit, and heare her fing: 
 By that time will our Booke,! thinke, be drawne. 
 
 Qlend. Doe fo : 
 
 And thofe Mufitians that fhall play to you, 
 Hang in the Ayre a thoufand Leagues from thence ; 
 And ftraight they fliall be here : fit, and attend. 
 
 Hotjp. Come Kate t thou art perfedl in lying downe : 
 Come, quicke, quicke, that I may lay my Head in thy 
 Lappe. 
 
 Lady. Goe,ye giddy-Goofe. 
 
 flayes. 
 
 Hotjp. Now I perceiue the Deuill vnderftands Welfh, 
 And 'tis no maruell he is fo humorous : 
 Byrlady hee's a good Mufitian. 
 
 Lady. Then would you be nothing but Muficall, 
 For you are altogether gouerned by humors : 
 Lye ftill ye Theefe,and heare the Lady fing in Welfh. 
 
 Hotjp. I had rather heare (Lady) my Brach howle in 
 Irifh. 
 
 Lady. Would'ft haue thy Head broken ? 
 
 Haifa. No. 
 
 Lady. Then be ftill. 
 
 Hot fa. Neyther,'tis a Womans fault. 
 
 Lady. Now God helpe thee. 
 
 Haifa. To the Welfh Ladies Bed. 
 
 Lady. What's that ? 
 
 Hotjp. Peace,fhee fings. 
 
 Heere the Ladyjings a Weljb Song. 
 
 Hotjp. Come, lie haue your Song too. 
 
 Lady. Not mine, in good footh. 
 
 Hotfy. Not yours, in good footh? 
 You fweare like a Comfit-makers Wife : 
 Not you, in good footh ; and, as true as I liue ; 
 And, as God fhall mend me ; and, as fure as day: 
 And giueft fuch Sarcenet furetie for thy Oathes, 
 As if thou neuer walk'ft further then Finsbury. 
 Sweare me, Kate,l\kt a Lady,as thou art, 
 A good mouth-filling Oath: and leaue in footh, 
 And fuch proteft of Pepper Ginger-bread, 
 To Veluet-Guards,and Sunday-Citizens. 
 Come, fing. 
 
 Lady. I will not fing. I 
 
 Hotfy. 'Tis the next way to turne Taylor, or be Red- 
 breft teacher : and the Indentures be drawne, lie away 
 
 within thefe two howres : and fo come in, when yee 
 will. Exit. 
 
 Glcnd. Come, come, Lord Mortimer, you are as flow, 
 As hot Lord Percy is on fire to goe. 
 By this our Booke is drawne: wee'le but fealc, 
 And then to Horfe immediately. 
 
 Mart. With all my heart. Exeunt. 
 
 Sccena Secunda. 
 
 Enter the King, Prince of Wales, and others. 
 
 King. Lords, giue vs leaue : 
 The Prince of Wales,and I, 
 Muft haue fome priuate conference : 
 But be neere at hand, 
 For wee fhall prefently haue neede of you. 
 
 Exeunt Lords. 
 
 I know not whether Heauen will haue it fo, 
 For fome difpleafing feruice I haue done} 
 That in his fecret Doome,out of my Blood, 
 Hee'le breede Reuengement,and a Scourge for me : 
 But thou do'ft in thy paffages of Life, 
 Make me beleeue,that thou art onely mark'd 
 For the hot vengeance, and the Rod of heauen 
 To punifh my Miftreadings. Tell me elfe, 
 Could fuch inordinate and low defires, 
 Such poore,fuch bare, fuch lewd, fuch meane attempts, 
 Such barren pleafures, rude focietie, 
 As thou art matcht withall,and grafted too, 
 Accompanie the greatnefTe of thy blood, 
 And hold their leuell with thy Princely heart? 
 
 Prince. So pleafe your Maiefty, I would I could 
 Quit all offences with as cleare excufe, 
 As well as I am doubtlefTe I can purge 
 My felfe of many I am charg'd withall : 
 Yet fuch extenuation let me begge, 
 As in reproofe of many Tales deuis'd, 
 Which oft the Eare of GreatnefTe needes muft heare, 
 By fmiling Pick-thankes, and bafe Newes-mongers ; 
 I may for fome things true, wherein my youth 
 Hath faultie wandred,and irregular, 
 Finde pardon on my true fubmiflion. 
 
 King. Heauen pardon thee : 
 Yet let me wonder, Harry, 
 At thy affeftions, which doe hold a Wing 
 Quite from the flight of all thy anceftors. 
 Thy place in Councell thou haft rudely loft, 
 Which by thy younger Brother is fupply'de j 
 And art almoft an alien to the hearts 
 Of all the Court and Princes of my blood. 
 The hope and expectation of thy time 
 Is ruin'd,and the Soule of euery man 
 Prophetically doe fore-thinke thy fall. 
 Had I fo lauifh of my prefence beene, 
 So common hackney 'd in the eyes of men, 
 So ftale and cheape to vulgar Company ; 
 Opinion, that did helpe me to the Crowne, 
 Had ftill kept loyall to pofTeffion, 
 And left me in reputeleffe banifhment, 
 A fellow of no marke,nor likely hood. 
 By being feldome feene,! could not ftirre, 
 But like a Comet, I was wondred at, 
 
 That
 
 of^jng Henry the Fourth. 
 
 That men would tell their Children, This is hee : 
 
 Others would fay; Where, Which is Bullingbrool^e. 
 
 And then I ftole all Courtefie from Heauen, 
 
 And dreft my felfe in fuch Humilide, 
 
 That I did plucke Allegeance from mens hearts, 
 
 Lowd Showts and Salutations from their mouthes, 
 
 Euen in the prefence of the Crowned King. 
 
 Thus I did keepe my Perfon frefh and new, 
 
 My Prefence like a Robe Pontificall, 
 
 Ne're feene,but wondred at : and fo my State* 
 
 Seldome but fumptuous, fliewed like a Feaft, 
 
 And wonne by rarenefle fuch Solemnitie. 
 
 The skipping King hee ambled vp and downe, 
 
 With fhallow Iefters,and rafh Bauin Wits, 
 
 Soone kindled, and foone burnt, carded his State, 
 
 Mingled his Royaltie with Carping Fooles, 
 
 Had his great Name prophaned with their Scornes, 
 
 And gaue his Countenance, againft his Name, 
 
 To laugh at gybing Boyes, and ftand the pufh 
 
 Of euery BeardlefTe vaine Comparatiue ; 
 
 Grew a Companion to the common Streetes, 
 
 Enfeoff'd himfelfe to Popularitie : 
 
 That being dayly fwallowed by mens Eyes, 
 
 They furfeted with Honey, and began to loathe 
 
 The tafte of SweetnefiTe, whereof a little 
 
 More then a little, is by much too much. 
 
 So when he had occafion to be feene, 
 
 He was but as the Cuckow is in lune, 
 
 Heard, not regarded : feene but with fuch Eyes, 
 
 As ficke and blunted with Communitie, 
 
 AfFoord no extraordinarie Gaze, 
 
 Such as is bent on Sunne-like Maieftie, 
 
 When it fhines feldome in admiring Eyes : 
 
 But rather drowz'd ,and hung their eye-lids downe, 
 
 Slept in his Face, and rendred fuch afpecl: 
 
 As Cloudie men vfe to doe to their aduerfaries, 
 
 Being with his prefence glutted, gorg'd, and full. 
 
 And in that very Line, Harry, ftandeft thou : 
 
 For thou haft loft thy Princely Priuiledge, 
 
 With vile participation. Not an Eye 
 
 But is awearie of thy common fight, 
 
 Saue mine, which hath defir'd to fee thee more : 
 
 Which now doth that I would not haue it doe, 
 
 Make blinde it felfe with foolifh tenderneffe. 
 
 Prince. I fhall hereafter, my thrice gracious Lord, 
 Be more my felfe. 
 
 King. For all the World, 
 As thou art to this houre, was Richard then, 
 When I from France fet foot at Rauenfpurgh 5 
 And euen as I was then, is Percy now : 
 Now by my Scepter, and my Soule to boot, 
 He hath more worthy intereft to the State 
 Then thou, the fhadow of Succefiion ; 
 For of no Right, nor colour like to Right. 
 He doth fill fields with Harneis in the Realme, 
 Turnes head againft the Lyons armed lawes ; 
 And being no more in debt to yeeres,then thou, 
 Leades ancient Lords, and reuerent Bifhops on 
 To bloody Battailes,and to brufing Armes. 
 What neuer-dying Honor hath he got, 
 Againft renowned Dcm>glas ? whofe high Deedes, 
 Whofe hot Incurfions, and great Name in Armes, 
 Holds from all Souldiers chiefe Maioritie, 
 And Militarie Title Capitall. 
 
 Through all the Kingdomes that acknowledge Chrift, 
 Thrice hath the Hotjpur tflfars, in fwathing Clothes, 
 
 365 
 
 This Infant Warrior, in his Enterptifes, 
 
 Difcomfited great Dowglas, ta'ne him once, 
 
 Enlarged him, and made a friend of him, 
 
 To fill the mouth of deepe Defiance vp, 
 
 And fhake the peace and fafetie of our Throne. 
 
 And what fay you to this ? Percy, Northumberland, 
 
 The Arch-bifhops Grace of Yorke, Dotvglas, Mortimer, 
 
 Capitulate againft vs, and are vp. 
 
 But wherefore doe I tell thefe Newes to thee? 
 
 Why, Harry, doe I tell thee of my Foes, 
 
 Which art my neer'ft and deareft Enemie ? 
 
 Thou, that art like enough, through vaflall Feare, 
 
 Bafe Inclination, and the ftart of Spleene, 
 
 To fight againft me vnder Percies pay, 
 
 To dogge his heeles,and curtfie at his frownes, 
 
 To fhew how much thou art degenerate. 
 
 Prince. Doe not thinke fo, you /hall not finde it fo : 
 And Heauen forgiue them , that fo much haue fway'd 
 Your Maiefties good thoughts away from me : 
 I will redeeme all this on Percies head, 
 And in the clofmg of fome glorious day, 
 Be bold to tell you, that I am your Sonne, 
 When I will weare a Garment all of Blood, 
 And ftaine my fauours in a bloody Maske : 
 Which wafht away, fhall fcowre my fhame with it. 
 And that fhall be the day, when ere it lights, 
 That this fame Child of Honor and Renowne, 
 This gallant Hotjfiur,this all-prayfed Knight, 
 And your vnthought-of Harry chance to meet : 
 For euery Honor fitting on his Helme, 
 Would they were multitudes, and on my head 
 My fhames redoubled. For the time will come, 
 That I fhall make this Northerne Youth exchange 
 His glorious Deedes for my Indignities : 
 Percy is but my Factor, good my Lord, 
 To engrofie vp glorious Deedes on my behalfe : 
 And I will call him to fo ftridl: account, 
 That he fhall render euery Glory vp, 
 Yea, euen the fleighteft worfhip of his time, 
 Or I will teare the Reckoning from his Heart. 
 This, in the Name of Heauen, I promife here : 
 The which, if I'performe, and doe furuiue, 
 I doe befeech your Maieftie, may falue 
 The long-growne Wounds of my intemperature : 
 If not, the end of Life cancells all Bands, 
 And I will dye a hundred thoufand Deaths, 
 Ere breake the fmalleft parcell of this Vow. 
 
 King. A hundred thoufand Rebels dye in this : 
 Thou fhalt haue Charge,and foueraigne truft herein. 
 
 Enter 'Blunt. 
 
 How now good Blunt? thy Lookes are full of fpeed. 
 
 'Blunt. So hath the Bufinefie that I come to fpeake of. 
 Lord <^tort'imer of Scotland hath fent word, 
 That f Dovfgla6 and the Englifh Rebels met 
 The eleuenth of this moneth, at Shrewsbury : 
 A mightie and a fearefull Head they are, 
 (If Promifes be kept on euery hand) 
 As euer offered foule play in a State. 
 
 King. The Earle of Weftmerland fet forth to day : 
 With him my fonne, Lord lohn of Lancafter, 
 For this aduertifement is fiue dayes old. 
 On Wednefday next, Harry thou fhalt fet forward : 
 On Thurfday,wee our felues will march. 
 Our meeting is Bridgenorth: and Harry,yo\i fhall march 
 f Through
 
 The Firfl ^Part of I\jng Henry the Fourth. 
 
 Through Glocefterlhire : by which account, 
 Our Bufinefle valued fome twelue dayes hence, 
 Our generall Forces at Bridgenorth fliall meete. 
 Our Hands are full of Bufinefle : let's away, 
 Aduantage feedes him fat, while men delay. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Tertla. 
 
 Enter FalRaffe and 'Bardolfb. 
 
 FalH. Bardolfb, am I not falne away vilely, fince this 
 laft adtion? doe I not bate? doe I not dwindle? Why 
 my skinne hangs about me like an olde Ladies loofe 
 Gowne : I am withered like an olde Apple lobn. Well, 
 He repent, and that fuddenly, while I am in fome liking : 
 I /hall be out of heart fhortly , and then I {hall haue no 
 ftrength to repent. And I haue not forgotten what the 
 in-fide of a Church is made of, I am a Pepper-Come, a 
 Brewers Horfe,the in-fide of a Church. Company , villa- 
 nous Company hath beene the fpoyle of me. 
 
 Bard. Sir lobn, you are fo fretfull, you cannot liue 
 long. 
 
 Falft. Why there is it : Come,fing me a bawdy Song, 
 make me merry : I was as vertuoufly giuen, as a Gentle- 
 man need to be ; vertuous enough , fwore little, dic'd not 
 aboue feuen times a weeke, went to a Bawdy-houfe not 
 aboue once in a quarter of an houre, payd Money that I 
 borrowed, three or foure times ; liued well, and in good 
 compafie : and now I liue out of all order, out of corn- 
 pa He. 
 
 'Bard. Why, you are fo fat, Sir lobn , that you muft 
 needes bee out of all compafle ; out of all reafonable 
 compafle, Sir lobn. 
 
 Falft. Doe thou amend thy Face, and lie amend thy 
 Life : Thou art our Admirall, thou beared the Lanterne 
 in the Poope, but 'tis in the Nofe of thee 5 thou art the 
 Knight of the burning Lampe. 
 
 *Bard. Why, Sir lobn, my Face does you no harme. 
 
 Falft. No, lie be fworne : I make as good vfe of it, as 
 many a man doth of a Deaths-Head, or a Memento effort. 
 I neuer fee thy Face, but I thinke vpon Hell fire, and Diues 
 that liued in Purple j for there he is in his Robes burning, 
 burning. If thou wert any way giuen to vertue, I would 
 fweare by thy Face ; my Oath fhouli bee, 'By this Fire : 
 But thou art altogether giuen ouer ; and wert indeede, 
 but for the Light in thy Face, the Sunne of vtter Darke- 
 nefle. When thou ran'ft vp Gads-Hill in the Night, to 
 catch my Horfe, if I did not thinke that thou hadft beene 
 an Ignis fatutu , or a Ball of Wild-fire, there's no Purchafe 
 in Money. O, thou art a perpetual! Triumph, an euer- 
 lafting Bone-fire-Light : thou haft faued me a thoufand 
 Markes in Linkes and Torches, walking with thee in the 
 Night betwixt Tauerne and Tauerne : But the Sack that 
 thou haft drunke me, would haue bought me Lights as 
 good cheape,as the deareft Chandlers in Europe. I haue 
 maintain'd that Salamander of yours with fire, any time 
 this two and thirtie yeeres, Heauen reward me for it. 
 
 Bard. I would my Face were in your Belly. 
 
 FalSl. So fhould I be fure to be heart-burn'd. 
 
 Enter Hofte/e. 
 
 How now, Dame Partlet the Hen, haue you enquir'd yet 
 who pick'd my Pocket ? 
 
 HofteJJe. Why Sir lobn, what doe you thinke, Sir lobn ? 
 doe you thinke I keepe Theeues in my Houfe ? I haue 
 fearch'd, I haue enquired, fo haz my Husband, Man by 
 Man, Boy by Boy, Seruant by Seruant : the tight of a 
 hayre was neuer loft in my houfe before. 
 
 Fa/J}. Ye lye Hofteffe : 'Bardolpb was fliau'd, and loft 
 many a hayre 5 and He be fworne my Pocket was pick'd : 
 goe to, you are a Woman, goe. 
 
 HofteJJe. Who I ? I defie thee : I was neuer call'd fo 
 in mine ovfne houfe before. 
 
 Falft. Goe to, I know you well enough. 
 
 HofteJJe. No, Sir lobn, you doe not know me, Sir lobn: 
 I know you. Sir lobn : you owe me Money, Sir lobn, and 
 now you picke a quarrell, to beguile me of it : I bought 
 you a dozen of Shirts to your Backe. 
 
 Falft. Doulas, filthy Doulas : I haue giuen them 
 away to Bakers Wiues,and they haue made Boulters of 
 them. 
 
 HofteJJe. Now as I am a true Woman, Holland of eight 
 Shillings an Ell: You owe Money here befides, Sir lobr., 
 for your Dyet, and by-Drinkings, and Money lent you, 
 foure and twentie pounds. 
 
 Falft. Hee had his part of it, let him pay. 
 
 HofteJJe. Hee ? alas hee is poore , hee hath no- 
 thing. 
 
 Falft. How? Poore? Looke vpon his Face : What call 
 you Rich ? Let them coyne his Nofe , let them coyne his 
 Cheekes, He not pay a Denier. What, will you make a 
 Younker of me ? Shall I not take mine eafe in mine Inne, 
 but I fliall haue my Pocket pick'd ? I haue loft a Scale- 
 Ring of my Grand-fathers, worth fortie Marke. 
 
 HofteJJe. I haue heard the Prince tell him, I know not 
 how oft, that that Ring was Copper. 
 
 Falft. How? the Prince is a Iacke,a Sneake-Cuppe: 
 and if hee were heere,! would cudgell him like a Dogge, 
 if hee would fay fo. 
 
 Enter the frince marching, and Falftaffe meets 
 
 him, playing on bit Truncbion 
 
 /% a Fife. 
 
 Falft. How now Lad is the Winde in that Doore? 
 Muft we all march ? 
 
 Bard. Yea, two and two,Newgate fafhion. 
 
 HosJeJ/e. My Lord, I pray you heare me. 
 
 Trince. What fay'ft thou, Miftrefle Quickly ? How 
 does thy Husband ? I loue him well , hee is an honeft 
 man. 
 
 HofteJJe. Good, my Lord, heare mee. 
 
 Falft. Prethee let her alone, and lift to mee. 
 
 Prince. What fay'ft thou, Iact(e f 
 
 Falft. The other Night I fell afleepe heere behind the 
 Arras, and had my Pocket pickt : this Houfe is turn'd 
 Bawdy-houfe, they picke Pockets. 
 
 Prince. What didft thou lofe, Iac{e ? 
 
 Falft. Wilt thou beleeue me, Hal? Three or foure Bonds 
 of fortie pound apeece, and a Scale-Ring of my Grand- 
 fathers. 
 
 Prince. A Trifle, fome eight-penny matter. 
 
 Heft. So I told him, my Lord ; and I laid, I heard your 
 Grace fay fo : and (my Lord) hee fpeakes moft vilely of 
 you, like a foule-mouth'd man as hee is, and faid, hee 
 would cudgell you. 
 
 Prince. What hee did not ? 
 
 Hoft. There's neyther Faith, Truth, nor Woman-hood 
 in me elfe. 
 
 Falft. There's
 
 The Firji ^Partof^ing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 Falft. There's no more faith in thee then a ftu'de Prune; 
 nor no more truth in thee, then in a drawne Fox : and for 
 Wooman-hood,Maid-marian may be the Deputies wife 
 of the Ward to thee. Go, you nothing: go. 
 
 Hoft. Say, what thing? what thing ? 
 
 Falft. What thing? why a thing to thanke heauen on. 
 
 Hoft. I am no thing to thanke heauen on, I wold thou 
 mouldft know it : I am an honeft mans wife : and fetting 
 thy Knighthood afide, thou art a knaue to call me fo. 
 
 Falft. Setting thy woman-hood afide,thou art a beaft 
 to fay otherwife. 
 
 Hoft. Say, what beaft, thou knaue thou? 
 
 Fal. What beaft? Why an Otter. 
 
 Prin. An Otter, fir lobn? Why an Otter ? 
 
 Fal. Why? She's neither fi/h nor flefli; a man knowes 
 not where to haue her. 
 
 Hoft . Thou art vniuft man in faying fo ; thou, or anie 
 man knowes where to haue me, thou knaue thou. 
 
 Prince. Thou fay'ft true Hoftefle,and he flanders thee 
 moft grofTely. 
 
 Hoft. So he doth you, my Lord, and fayde this other 
 day, You ought him a thoufand pound. 
 
 Prince. Sirrah, do I owe you a thoufand pound f 
 
 Falft. A thoufand pound Hatt A Million. Thy loue is 
 worth a Million : thou ow'ft me thy loue. 
 
 Hoft. Nay my Lord, he call'd you lacke, and faid hee 
 would cudgell you. 
 
 Fal. Did I, Bardolpbt 
 
 'Bar. Indeed Sir John, you faid fo. 
 
 Fal. Yea, if he faid my Ring was Copper. 
 
 Prince. 1 fay 'tis Copper. Dar'ft thou bee as good as 
 thy word now ? 
 
 Fal. Why Hal} thou know'ft,as thou art but a man, I 
 dare : but, as thou art a Prince, I feare thee, as I feare the 
 roaring of the Lyons Whelpe. 
 
 Prince. And why not as the Lyon ? 
 
 Fal. The King himfelfe is to bee feared as the Lyon : 
 Do'ft thou thinke He feare thee, as I feare thy Father ?nay 
 if I do, let my Girdle breake. 
 
 Prin. O,if it fhould. how would thy guttes fall about 
 thy knees. But firra : There's no roome for Faith, Truth, 
 nor Honefty, in this bofome of thine : it is all fill'd vppe 
 with Guttes and Midriffe. Charge an honeft Woman 
 with picking thy pocket ? Why thou horfon impudent 
 imboft Rafcall, if there were any thing in thy Pocket but 
 Tauerne Recknings, Memorandums of Bawdie-houfes, 
 and one poore peny-worth of Sugar-candie to make thee 
 long-winded : if thy pocket were enrich'd with anie o- 
 ther injuries but thefe, I am a Villains : And yet you will 
 ftand to it, you will not Pocket vp wrong. Art thou not 
 aiham'd ? 
 
 Fal. Do'ft thou heare Hal} Thou know'ft in the ftate 
 of Innocency, Adam fell : and what fliould poore lacfy 
 Falftaffe do, in the dayes of Villany ? Thou feeft, I haue 
 more flelh then another man, and therefore more frailty. 
 You confefle then you pickt my Pocket? 
 
 Prin. It appeares fo by the Story. 
 
 Fal. Hoftefie, I forgiue thee : 
 Go make ready Breakfaft, loue thy Husband, 
 Looke to thy Seruants, and cherifli thy Guefts : 
 Thou malt find me traceable to any honeft reafon: 
 Thou feeft, I am pacified ftill. 
 Nay, I prethee be gone. 
 
 Exit HofteJJe. 
 
 Now Hal, to the newes at Court for the Robbery, Lad ? 
 How is that anfwered ? 
 
 367 
 
 Prin. O my fweet Beefe : 
 I muft ftill be good Angell to thee. 
 The Monie is paid backe againe. 
 
 Fal. O,I do not like that paying backe, 'tis a double 
 Labour. 
 
 Prin. I am good Friends with my Father, and may do 
 any thing. 
 
 Fal. Rob me the Exchequer the firft thing thou do'ft, 
 and do it with vnwafh'd hands too. 
 
 'Bard. Do my Lord. 
 
 Prin. I haue procured thee Iac%e,a Charge of Foot. 
 
 Fal. I would it had beene of Horfe. Where fhal I finde 
 one that can fteale well ? O, for a fine theefe of two and 
 twentie,or thereabout : I am heynoufly vnprouided. Wei 
 God be thanked for thefe Rebels , they offend none but 
 the Vertuous. I laud them, I praife them. 
 
 Prin. 'Bardolfb. 
 
 'Bar. My Lord. 
 
 Prin. Go beare this Letter to Lord John of Lancafter 
 To my Brother lohn. This to my Lord of Weftmerland, 
 Go Peto, to horfe : for thou, and I, 
 Haue thirtie miles to ride yet ere dinner time. 
 /ar^,meet me to morrow in the Temple Hall 
 At two a clocke in the afternoone, 
 There malt thou know thy Charge, and there receiue 
 Money and Order for their Furniture. 
 The Land is burning, Percie ftands on hye, 
 And either they, or we muft lower lye. 
 
 Fal. Rare words! braue world. 
 HofteiTe,my breakfaft, come : 
 Oh, I could wifli this Tauerne were my drumme. 
 
 Exeunt omnes. 
 
 AffiusQuartus. Sccena^Prima. 
 
 Enter Harrie Hotjfiurre, Worcefter, 
 and 
 
 Hot. Well faid, my Noble Scot, if fpeaking truth 
 In this fine Age, were not thought flatterie, 
 Such attribution mould the Dowglas haue, 
 As not a Souldiour of this feafons ftampe, 
 Should go fo generall currant through the world. 
 By heauen I cannot flatter : I defie 
 The Tongues of Soothers. But a Brauer place 
 In my hearts loue, hath no man then your Selfe. 
 Nay,taske me to my word : approue me Lord. 
 
 Dow. Thou art the King of Honor : 
 No man fo potent breathes vpon the ground, 
 But I will Beard him. 
 
 Snter a MeJJenger. 
 
 Hot. Do fo, and 'tis well. What Letters haft there ? 
 I can but thanke you. 
 
 Meff. Thefe Letters come from your Father. 
 
 Hot. Letters from him ? 
 Why comes he not himfelfe ? 
 
 Mef. He cannot come, my Lord, 
 He is greeuous ficke. 
 
 Hot. How? haz he the leyfure to be ficke new 
 In fuch a iuftling time? Who leades his power ? 
 Vnder whofe Gonernment come they along? 
 
 f 2 Mef
 
 66 
 
 The Fir ft ^art of K^ing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 McJJ~. His Letters beares his minde,not I his minde. 
 
 Wor. I prethee tell me, doth he keepe his Bed? 
 
 Mejf. He did, my Lord,foure dayes ere I fet forth : 
 And at the time of my departure thence, 
 He was much fear'd by his Phyfician. 
 
 Wor. I would the ftate of rime had firft beene whole, 
 Ere he by ficknefle had beene vifited : 
 His health was neuer better worth then now. 
 
 l&r^.Sicke jnow? droope now? this ficknes doth infeft 
 The very Life-blood of our Enterprife, 
 *Tis catching hither, euen to our Campe. 
 He writes me here, that inward ficknefle, 
 And that his friends by deputation 
 
 Could not fo foone be drawne: nor did he thinke it meet, 
 To lay fo dangerous and deare a truft 
 On any Soule remou'd,but on his owne. 
 Yet doth he giue vs bold aduertifement, 
 That with our fmall conjunction we fhould on, 
 To fee how Fortune is difpos'd to vs : 
 For, as he writes, there is no quailing now, 
 Becaufe the King is certainely pofieft 
 Of all our purpofes. What fay you to it ? 
 
 Wor. Your Fathers ficknefle is a mayme to vs. 
 
 Hotft. A perillous Gafh,a very Limme lopt oft': 
 And yet, in faith, it is not his prefent want 
 Seemes more then we fhall finde it. 
 Were it good, to fet the exact wealth of all our ftates 
 All at one Caft ? To fet fo rich a mayne 
 On the nice hazard of one doubtful! houre, 
 It were not good : for therein fhould we reade 
 The very Bottome,and the Soule of Hope, 
 The very Lift, the very vtmoft Bound 
 Of all our fortunes. 
 
 Dowg. Faith, and fo wee fhould, 
 Where now remaines a fweet reuerfion. 
 We may boldly fpend, vpon the hope 
 Of what is to come in : 
 A comfort of retirement Hues in this. 
 
 Hotjp. A Randeuous,a Home to flye vnto, 
 If that the Deuill and Mifchance looke bigge 
 Vpon the Maydenhead of our Affaires. 
 
 Wor. But yet I would your Father had beene here: 
 The Qualitie and Heire of our Attempt 
 Brookes no diuifion : It will be thought 
 By fome,that know not why he is away, 
 That wifedome,loyaltie, and meere diflike 
 Of our proceedings, kept the Earle from hence. 
 And thinke, how fuch an apprehenfion 
 May turne the tyde of fearefull Faction, 
 And breede a kinde of queftion in our caufe : 
 For well you know, wee of the offring fide, 
 Muft keepe aloofe from ftridt arbitrement, 
 And ftop all fight-holes, euery loope,from whence 
 The eye of reafon may prie in vpon vs : 
 This abfence of your Father drawes a Curtaine, 
 That fhewes the ignorant a kinde of feare, 
 Before not dreamt of. 
 
 Hotjp. You ftrayne too farre. 
 I rather of his abfence make this vfe : 
 It lends a Luftre,and more great Opinion, 
 A larger Dare to your great Enterprize, 
 Then if the Earle were here : for men muft thinke, 
 If we without his helpe, can make a Head 
 To pufh againft the Kingdome ; with his helpe, 
 We fhall o're-turne it topfie-turuy downe : 
 Yet all goes well, yet all our ioynts are whole. 
 
 D(,irg. As heart can thinke : 
 There is not fuch a word fpoke of in Scotland, 
 At this Dreame of Feare. 
 
 Enter Sir Richard Vernon. 
 
 Hotjp. My Coufin Vernon, welcome by my Soule. 
 
 Vern. Pray God my newes be worth a welcome, Lord. 
 The Earle of Weftmerland, feuen thoufand ftrong, 
 Is marching hither- wards, with Prince lobn. 
 
 Hotjp. No harme: what more ? 
 
 Vern. And further, I haue learn'd, 
 The King himfelfe in perfon hath fet forth, 
 Or hither-wards intended fpeedily, 
 With ftrong and mightie preparation. 
 
 Hotfy. He fhall be welcome too. 
 Where is his Sonne, 
 
 The nimble-footed Mad-Cap, Prince of Wales, 
 And his Cumrades,that daft the World afide, 
 And bid it pafle ? 
 
 Vern. All furnifht, all in Armes , 
 All plum'd like Eftridges, that with the Winde 
 Bayted like Eagles, hauing lately bath'd, 
 Glittering in Golden Coates, like Images, 
 As full of fpirit as the Moneth of May, 
 And gorgeous as the Sunne at Mid-fummer, 
 Wanton as youthfull Goates,wilde as young Bulls. 
 I faw young Harry with his Beuer on, 
 His Cufhes on his thighes, gallantly arm'd, 
 Rife from the ground like feathered (Jlfercury, 
 And vaulted with fuch eafe into his Seat, 
 As if an Angell dropt downe from the Clouds, 
 To turne and winde a fierie Pegafus, 
 And witch the World with Noble Horfemanfhip. 
 
 Hotjp. No more, no more, 
 Worfe then the Sunne in March : 
 This prayfe doth nourifh Agues: let them come. 
 They come like Sacrifices in their trimme, 
 And to the fire-ey'd Maid of fmoakie Warre, 
 All hot, and bleeding, will wee offer them : 
 The mayled cMars fhall on his Altar fit 
 Vp to the eares in blood. I am on fire, 
 To heare this rich reprizall is fo nigh, 
 And yet not ours. Come, let me take my Horfe, 
 Who is to beare me like a Thunder-bolt, 
 Againft the bofome of the Prince of Wales. 
 Harry to Harry, fhall not Horfe to Horfe 
 Meete,and ne're part, till one drop downe a Coarfe 
 Oh, that Glendovrer were come. 
 
 Ver. There is more newes : 
 I learned in Worcefter,as I rode along, 
 He cannot draw his Power this foureteene dayes. 
 
 Dtmg. That's the worft Tidings that I heare of 
 yet. 
 
 Wor. I by my faith, that beares a frofty found. 
 
 Hotjp. What may the Kings whole Battaile reach 
 vnto ? 
 
 Ver. To thirty thoufand. 
 
 Hot. Forty let it be, 
 
 My Father and Glendcmer being both away, 
 The powres of vs, may ferue fo great a day. 
 Come, let vs take a mufter fpeedily: 
 Doomefday is neere; dye all, dye merrily. 
 
 Dcnv. Talke not of dying,! am out of feare 
 Of death, or deaths hand, for this one halfe yeare. 
 
 Sxeunt Omnes. 
 
 Scena
 
 'The Firji fart offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 Sctena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Falftaffe and Bardolpb. 
 
 Falft. 'Bardolpb, get thee before to Couentry, fill me a 
 Bottle of Sack, our Souldiers fhall march through:wee'le 
 to Sutton-cop-hill to Night. 
 
 'Bard. Will you giue me Money, Captaine ? 
 
 Falit. Lay out, lay out. 
 
 'Bard. This Bottle makes an Angell. 
 
 Fa/ft. And if it doe, take it for thy labour : and if it 
 make twentie, take them all, He anfwere the Coynage. 
 Bid my Lieutenant Peto meete me at the Townes end. 
 
 'Bard. I will Captaine : farewell. Exit. 
 
 Falft. If I be not afliam'd of my Souldiers , I am a 
 fowc't-Gurnet : I haue mif-vs'd the Kings Prefle dam- 
 nably. I haue got, in exchange of a hundred and fiftie 
 Souldiers, three hundred and odde Pounds. I prefie me 
 none but good Houfe-holders, Yeomens Sonnesrenquire 
 me out contracted Batchelers, fuch as had beene ask'd 
 twice on the Banes: fuch a Commoditie of warme flaues, 
 as had as lieue heare the Deuill, as a Drumme ; fuch as 
 feare the report of a Caliuer,worfe then a ftruck-Foole, 
 or a hurt wilde-Ducke. I preft me none but fuch Toftes 
 and Butter, with Hearts in their Bellyes no bigger then 
 Pinnes heads, and they haue bought out their feruices : 
 And now, my whole Charge confifts of Ancients, Cor- 
 porals, Lieutenants, Gentlemen of Companies, Slaues as 
 ragged as Lazaruf in the painted Cloth, where the Glut- 
 tons Dogges licked his Sores ; and fuch, as indeed were 
 neuer Souldiers, but dif-carded vniuft Seruingmen, youn- 
 ger Sonnes to younger Brothers, reuolted Tapfters and 
 Oftlers, Trade-falne, the Cankers of a calme World, and 
 long Peace , tenne times more dis-honorable ragged, 
 then an old-fac'd Ancient ; and fuch haue I to fill vp the 
 roomes of them that haue bought out their feruices: that 
 you would thinke, that I had a hundred and fiftie totter'd 
 Prodigalls, lately come from Swine-keeping, from eating 
 Drafte and Huskes. A mad fellow met me on the way, 
 and told me, I had vnloaded all the Gibbets, and preft the 
 dead bodyes. No eye hath feene fuch skar-Crowes : He 
 not march through Couentry with them, that's flat. Nay, 
 and the Villaines march wide betwixt the Legges, as if 
 they had Gyues on; for indeede, I had the moft of them 
 out of Prifbn. There's not a Shirt and a halfe in all my 
 Company : and the halfe Shirt is two Napkins tackt to- 
 gether, and throwne ouer the fhoulders like a Heralds 
 Coat, without fleeues : and the Shirt, to fay the truth, 
 ftolne from my Hoft of S. Albones, or the Red-Nofe 
 Inne-keeper of Dauintry. But that's all one,they'le finde 
 Linnen enough on euery Hedge. 
 
 Enter the Prince,and the LordofWeftmerland. 
 
 Prince. How now blowne lacl^f how now Quilt? 
 
 Faljl. What Hal? How now mad Wag, what a Deuill 
 do'ft thou in Warwickfhire ? My good Lord of Weft- 
 merland,! cry you mercy, I thought your Honour had al- 
 ready beene at Shrewsbury. 
 
 Weft. 'Faith, Sir 7e,6,'tis more then time that I were 
 there, and you too : but my Powers are there alreadie. 
 The King, I can tell you, lookes for vs all : we muftaway 
 all to Night. 
 
 369 
 
 Falft. Tut, neuer feare me, I am as vigilant as a Cat, to 
 fteale Creame. 
 
 Prince. I thinke to fteale Creame indeed, for thy theft 
 hath alreadie made thee Butter : but tell me, 7<2f^,whofe 
 fellowes are thefe that come after ? 
 
 Falft. Mine, Hal, mine. 
 
 Prince. I did neuer fee fuch pittifull Rafcals. 
 
 Falft. Tut, tut, good enough to tofle:foode for Pow- 
 der, foode for Powder: they'le fill a Pit, as well as better: 
 tuih man,mortall men,mortall men. 
 
 Weftm. I, but Sir Lbn, me thinkes they are exceeding 
 poore and bare, too beggarly. 
 
 Falft. Faith, for their pouertie,! know not where they 
 had that; and for their bareneffe, I am fure they neuer 
 learn'd that of me. 
 
 Prince. No,Ile be fworne,vnlefle you call three fingers 
 on the Ribbes bare. But firra, make hafte, Percy is already 
 in the field. 
 
 Falft. What, is the King encamp'd? 
 
 Weftm. Hee is, Sir lobn , I feare wee fliall ftay too 
 long. 
 
 Falft. Well, to the latter end of a Fray, and the begin- 
 ning of a Feaft, fits a dull fighter, and a keene Gueft. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Sccena Terfia. 
 
 Enter Hotjfiur, Worcefter, Doteglas , and 
 fernon. 
 
 Hotjp. Wee'le fight with him to Night. 
 
 Wore. It may not be. 
 
 Dotvg. You giue him then aduantage. 
 
 "Uern. Not a whit. 
 
 Hot Ip . Why fay you fo ? lookes he not for fupply? 
 
 'Uern. So doe wee. 
 
 Hotjp. His is certaine,ours is doubtfull. 
 
 Wore. Good Coufm be aduis'd,ftirre not to night. 
 
 1)ern. Doe not, my Lord. 
 
 Domg. You doe not counfaile well : 
 You fpeake it out of feare, and cold heart. 
 
 1)ern. Doe me no flander,Do-n>g/o4: by my Life, 
 And I dare well maintaine it with my Life, 
 If well-refpedted Honor bid me on, 
 I hqld as little counfaile with weake feare, 
 As you, my Lord, or any Scot that this day Hues. 
 Let it be feene to morrow in the Battell, 
 Which of vs feares. 
 
 Dowg. Yea, or to night. 
 Vern. Content. 
 
 Hotjp. To night, fay I. 
 
 "Uern. Come, come, it may not be. 
 
 I wonder much,being me of fuch great leading as you are 
 That you fore-fee not what impediments 
 Drag backe our expedition : certaine Horfe 
 Of my Coufin Pernons are not yet come vp, 
 Your Vnckle Worcefters Horfe came but to day, 
 And now their pride and mettall is afleepe, 
 Their courage with hard labour tame and dull, 
 That not a Horfe is halfe the halfe of himfelfe. 
 
 Hotjp. So are the Horfes of the Enemie 
 In generall iourney bated, and brought low : 
 The better part of ours are full of reft. 
 
 f 3 Wor. The
 
 68 
 
 'The 
 
 art ofJ^ing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 Wore. The number of the King exceedeth ours : 
 For Gods fake, Cou(in,ftay till all come in. 
 
 The Trumpet founds a Parley. Enter Sir 
 Walter 'Blunt . 
 
 'Blunt. I come with gracious offers from the King, 
 If you vouchfafe me hearing,and refpedt. 
 
 Hotjp. Welcome, Sir Walter 'Blunt : 
 And would to God you were of our determination. 
 Some of vs loue you well : and euen thofe fome 
 Enuie your great deferuings,and good name, 
 Becaufe you are not of our qualitie, 
 But ftand againft vs like an Enemie. 
 
 'Blunt. And Heauen defend, but ftill I fhould ftand fo, 
 So long as out of Limit, and true Rule, 
 You ftand againft anoynted Maieftie. 
 But to my Charge. 
 The King hath fent to know 
 The nature of your Griefes,and whereupon 
 You coniure from the Breft of Ciuill Peace, 
 Such bold Hoftilitie, teaching his dutious Land 
 Audacious Crueltie. If that the King 
 Haue any way your good Deferts forgot, 
 Which he confefleth to be manifold, 
 He bids you name your Griefes,and with all fpeed 
 You fhall haue your defires,with intereft; 
 And Pardon abfolute for your felfe, and thefe, 
 Herein mis-led, by your fuggeftion. 
 
 Hotjj>. TheKingiskinde: 
 And well wee know, the King 
 Knowes at what time to promife,when to pay. 
 My Father, my Vnckle,and my felfe, 
 Did giue him that fame Royaltie he weares : 
 And when he was not fixe and twentie ftrong, 
 Sicke in the Worlds regard, wretched, and low, 
 A poore vnminded Out-law, fneaking home, 
 My Father gaue him welcome to the fhore : 
 And when he heard him fweare,and vow to God, 
 He came but to be Duke of Lancafter, 
 To fue his Liuerie,and begge his Peace, 
 With teares of Innocencie,and tearmes of Zeale; 
 My Father, in kinde heart and pitty mou'd, 
 Swore him affiftance,and perform'd it too. 
 Now, when the Lords and Barons of the Realme 
 Perceiu'd Northumberland did leane to him. 
 The more and lefle came in with Cap and Knee, 
 Met him in Boroughs, Cities, Villages, 
 Attended him on Bridges, ftood in Lanes, 
 Layd Gifts before him,proffer'd him their Oathes, 
 Gaue him their Heires,as Pages followed him, 
 Euen at the heeles,in golden multitudes. 
 He prefently,as Greatnefle knowes it felfe, 
 Steps me a little higher then his Vow 
 Made to my Father, while his blood was poore, 
 Vpon the naked fhore at Rauenfpurgh : 
 And now ( forfooth ) takes on him to reforme 
 Some certaine Edits,and fome ftrait Decrees, 
 That lay too heauie on the Common-wealth; 
 Cryes out vpon abufes,feemes to weepe 
 Ouer his Countries Wrongs: and by this Face, 
 This feeming Brow of luftice,did he winne 
 The hearts of all that hee did angle for. 
 Proceeded further, cut me off the Heads 
 Of all the Fauorites,that the abfent King 
 In deputation left behinde him heere, 
 
 When hee was perfonall in the Irifh Warre. 
 
 'Blunt. Tut, I came not to heare this. 
 
 Hotjfi. Then to the point. 
 In fhort time after, hee depos'd the King. 
 Soone after that,depriu'd him of his Life : 
 And in the neck of that,task't the whole State. 
 To make that worfe,fuffer'd his Kinfman cftfarch, 
 Who is,if euery Owner were plac'd, 
 Indeede his King,to be engag'd in Wales, 
 There, without Ranfome,to lye forfeited: 
 Difgrac'd me in my happie Vidlories, 
 Sought to intrap me by intelligence, 
 Rated my Vnckle from the Councell-Boord, 
 In rage difmifs'd my Father from the Court, 
 Broke Oath on Oath, committed Wrong on Wrong, 
 And in conclufion,droue vs to feeke out 
 This Head of fafetie; and withall, to prie 
 Into his Title : the which wee finde 
 Too indirect, for long continuance. 
 
 'Blunt. Shall I returne this anfwer to the King ? 
 
 Hotjp. Not fo, Sir Walter. 
 Wee'le with-draw a while : 
 Goe to the King, and let there be impawn'd 
 Some furetie for a fafe returne againe, 
 And in the Morning early fhall my Vnckle 
 Bring him our purpofe : and fo farewell. 
 
 Blunt. I would you would accept of Grace and Loue. 
 
 Hotjfi. And't may be, fo wee fhall. 
 
 Blunt. Pray Heauen you doe. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Quarta. 
 
 Enter the Arcb-BlJhcp of Tariff, and Sir Michell. 
 
 Arch. Hie, good Sir Mtcbell, beare this fealed Briefe 
 With winged hafte to the Lord Marfhall, 
 This to my Coufin Scroofe, and all the reft 
 To whom they are diredled. 
 If you knew how much they doe import, 
 You would make hafte. 
 
 Sir Mich. My good Lord, I guefle their tenor. 
 
 Arcb. Like enough you doe. 
 To morrow, good Sir Micbell,is a day, 
 Wherein the fortune often thoufand men 
 Muft bide the touch. For Sir, at Shrewsbury, 
 As I am truly giuen to vnderftand, 
 The King, with mightie and quick-rayfed Power, 
 Meetes with Lord Harry: and I feare, Sir Michel/, 
 What with the fickneffe of Northumberland, 
 Whofe Power was in the firft proportion ; 
 And what with Oven Ghndifcers abfence thence, 
 Who with them was rated firmely too, 
 And comes not in, ouer-rul'd by Prophecies, 
 I feare the Power of Percy is too weake, 
 To wage an inftant tryall with the King. 
 
 Sir Afir>.Why, my good Lord, you need not feare, 
 There is tD<nrgIas,and Lord eflfartimer. 
 
 Arcb. No, aJJferf/mw is not there. 
 
 SirMic. But there is Mordal^e ,J^ernon, Lord Harry Tercy, 
 And there is my Lord of Worcefter, 
 And a Head of gallant Warriors, 
 Noble Gentlemen. 
 
 Arcb. And 
 
 370
 
 'The Firft ^Part ofJ^jng Henry the Fourth. 
 
 tArcb. And fo there is, but yet the King hath drawne 
 The fpeciall head of all the Land together: 
 The Prince of Wales, Lord lobn of Lancafter, 
 The Noble Weftmerland, and warlike 'Blunt j 
 And many moe Corriuals,and deare men 
 Of eftimation, and command in Armes. 
 
 Sir M. Doubt not my Lord, he mall be well oppos'd 
 tArcb. I hope no lefle? Yet needfull 'tis to feare, 
 And to preuent the worft, Sir Micbell fpeed ; 
 For if Lord Percy thriue not, ere the King 
 Difmifle his power, he meanes to vifit vs : 
 For he hath heard of our Confederacie, 
 And, 'tis but Wifedome to make ftrong againft him : 
 Therefore make haft, I muft go write againe 
 To other Friends : and fo farewell, Sir Micbell. Exeunt. 
 
 ASius Quintus. Scena^rima. 
 
 Enter the King, Prince of Wales, Lord lobn of Lane after , 
 Earle ofWeJimerland,Sir Walter Blunt, 
 and Faljlaffe. 
 
 King. How bloodily the Sunne begins to peere 
 Aboue yon busky hill : the day lookes pale 
 At his diftemperature. 
 
 Prin. The Southerne winde 
 Doth play the Trumpet to his purpofes, 
 And by his hollow whiftling in the Leaues, 
 Fortels a Tempeft,and a bluft'ring day. 
 
 King. Then with the lofers let it fympathize, 
 For nothing can feeme foule to thofe that win. 
 
 The Trumpet founds. 
 Enter Worcefter. 
 
 King. How now my Lord ofWorfter? 'Tis not well 
 That you and I mould meet vpon fuch tearmes, 
 As now we meet. You haue deceiu'd our truft, 
 And made vs doffe our eafie Robes ofPeace, 
 To crum our old limbes in vngentle Steele : 
 This is not well, my Lord, this is not well. 
 What fay you to it? Will you againe 'vnknit 
 This churlifh knot of all-abhorred Warre? 
 And moue in that obedient Orbe againe, 
 Where you did giue a faire and naturall light, 
 And be no more an exhall'd Meteor, 
 A prodigie of Feare, and a Portent 
 Of broached Mifcheefe, to the vnborne Times? 
 
 Wor. Heare me, my Liege : 
 For mine owne part, I could be well content 
 To entertaine the Lagge-end of my life 
 With quiet houres : For I do proteft, 
 I haue not fought the day of this diflike, 
 
 King. You haue not fought it : how comes it then? 
 
 Fal. Rebellion lay in his way, and he found it. 
 
 Prin. Peace, Chewet, peace. 
 
 War. It pleas'd your Maiefty, to turne your lookes 
 Of Fauour, from my Selfe, and all our Houfe ; 
 And yet I muft remember you my Lord, 
 We were the firft, and deareft of your Friends : 
 For you, my ftaffe of Office did I breake 
 In Richards time, and poafted day and night 
 To meete you on the way, and kiile your hand, 
 
 When yet you were in place, and in account 
 
 Nothing fo ftrong and fortunate, as I ; 
 
 It was my Selfe, my Brother, and his Sonne, 
 
 That brought you home, and boldly did out-dare 
 
 The danger of the time. You fwore to vs, 
 
 And you did fweare that Oath at Doncafter, 
 
 That you did nothing of purpofe'gainft the State, 
 
 Nor claime no further, then your new-falne right, 
 
 The feate of Gaunt , Dukedome of Lancafter, 
 
 To this, we fware our aide : But in mort fpace, 
 
 It rain'd downe Fortune mowring on your head, 
 
 And fuch a floud of Greatnefle fell on you, 
 
 What with our helpe,what with the abfent King, 
 
 What with the iniuries of wanton time, 
 
 The feeming fufterances that you had borne, 
 
 And the contrarious Windes that held the King 
 
 So long in the vnlucky Irifti Warres, 
 
 That all in England did repute him dead : 
 
 And from this fwarme of faire aduantages, 
 
 You tooke occafion to be quickly woo'd, 
 
 To gripe the generall fway into your hand, 
 
 Forgot your Oath to vs at Doncafter, 
 
 And being fed by vs, you vs'd vs fo, 
 
 As that vngentle gull the Cuckowes Bird, 
 
 Vfeth the Sparrow, did oppreffe our Neft, 
 
 Grew by our Feeding, to fo great a bulke, 
 
 That euen our Loue durft not come neere your fight 
 
 For feare of fwallowing : But with nimble wing 
 
 We were inforc'd for fafety fake, to flye 
 
 Out of your fight, and raife this prefent Head, 
 
 Whereby we ftand oppofed by fuch meanes 
 
 As you your felfe, haue forg'd againft your felfe, 
 
 By vnkinde vfage, dangerous countenance, 
 
 And violation of all faith and troth 
 
 Sworne to vs in yonger enterprize. 
 
 Kin. Thefe things indeede you haue articulated, 
 Proclaimed at Market Crofles,read in Churches, 
 To face the Garment of Rebellion 
 With fome fine colour, that may pleafe the eye 
 Of fickle Changelings, and poore Difcontents, 
 Which gape, and rub the Elbow at the newes 
 Of hurly burly Innouation : 
 And neuer yet did Infurreftion want 
 Such water-colours, to impaint his caufe : 
 Nor moody Beggars, ftaruing for a time 
 Of pell-mell hauocke, and confufion. 
 
 Prin. In both our Armies, there is many a foule 
 Shall pay full dearely for this encounter, 
 If once they ioyne in triall. Tell your Nephew, 
 The Prince of Wales doth ioyne with all the world 
 In praife of Henry Percie: By my Hopes, 
 This prefent enterprize fet off his head, 
 I do not thinke a brauer Gentleman, 
 More adViue, valiant, or more valiant yong, 
 More daring, or more bold, is now aliue, 
 To grace this latter Age with Noble deeds. 
 For my part, I may fpeake it to my fhame, 
 I haue a Truant beene to Chiualry, 
 And fo I heare, he doth account me too : 
 Yet this before my Fathers Maiefty, 
 I am content that he mall take the oddes 
 Of his great name and eftimation, 
 And will, to faue the blood on either fide, 
 Try fortune with him, in a Single Fight. 
 
 King. And Prince of Wales,fo dare we venter thee, 
 Albeit, considerations infinite 
 
 Do
 
 7 
 
 Firft Tart of JZjng Henry the Fourth. 
 
 Do make againft it: No good Worfter,no, 
 We loue our people well ; euen thofe we loue 
 That are mifled vpon your Coufms part : 
 And will they take the offer of our Grace : 
 Both he, and they , and you ; yea,euery man 
 Shall be my Friend againe, and lie be his. 
 So tell your Coufm,and bring me word, 
 What he will do. But if he will not yeeld, 
 Rebuke and dread correction waite on vs, 
 And they {hall do their Office. So bee gone, 
 We will not now be troubled with reply, 
 We offer faire, take it aduifedly. 
 
 Exit Worcefter. 
 
 Pr'm. It will not be accepted, on my life, 
 The Dowglai and the Hctjpurre both together, 
 Are confident againft the world in Armes. 
 
 King. Hence therefore, euery Leader to his charge, 
 For on their anfwer will we fet on them ; 
 And God befriend vs, as our caufe is iuft. Exeunt. 
 
 Manet Prince and Falftaffe. 
 
 Fal. Hal, ifthou feemedownein the battell, 
 And beftride me, fo ; 'tis a point of friend/hip. 
 
 JVm.Nothing but a Coloflus can do thee that frendlhip 
 Say thy prayers, and farewell. 
 
 Fal. I would it were bed time Hal,and all well. 
 
 frin. Why, thou ow'ft heauen a death. 
 
 Faljt. 'Tis not due yet : I would bee loath to pay him 
 before his day. What neede I bee fo forward with him, 
 that call's not on me? Well, 'tis no matter, Honor prickes 
 me on. But how if Honour pricke me off when I come 
 on ? How then ? Can Honour fet too a legge?No : or an 
 arme ? No : Or take away the greefe of a wound ? No. 
 Honour hath no skill in Surgerie,then ? No. What is Ho- 
 nour ? A word. What is that word Honour ? Ayre : A 
 trim reckoning. Who hath it ? He that dy'de a Wednef- 
 day. Doth he feele it? No. Doth hee heare it? No. Is it 
 infenfible then? yea, to the dead. But wil it not liue with 
 the liuing? No. Why ? Detraction wil not fuffer it,ther- 
 fore He none of it. Honour is a meere Scutcheon, and fo 
 ends my Catechifme. Exit. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Worcejier, and Sir 'Richard "Vernon. 
 
 Wor. O no, my Nephew muft not know, Sir Richard, 
 The liberal! kinde offer of the King. 
 
 Ver. 'Twere beft he did. 
 
 Wor, Then we are all vndone. 
 It is not poflible, it cannot be, 
 The King would keepe his word in louing vs, 
 He will fufpect vs ftill, and finde a time 
 To puni(h this offence in others faults : 
 Suppofition,all our liues, fhall be ftucke full of eyes; 
 For Treafon is but trufted like the Foxe, 
 Who ne're fo tame, fo cherifht,and lock'd vp, 
 Will haue a wilde tricke of his Anceftors : 
 Looke how he can, or fad or merrily, 
 Interpretation will mifquote our lookes, 
 And we fhall feede like Oxen at a ftall, 
 The better cherifht, ftill the nearer death. 
 My Nephewes trefpaffe may be well forgot, 
 It hath the excufe of youth, and heate of blood, 
 
 And an adopted name of Ptiuiledge, 
 
 A haire-brain'd Hotjpurre , gouern'd by a Spleene: 
 
 All his offences liue vpon my head, 
 
 And on his Fathers. We did traine him on, 
 
 And his corruption being tane from vs, 
 
 We as the Spring of all, fhall pay for all : 
 
 Therefore good Coufin, let not Harry know 
 
 In any cafe, the offer of the King. 
 
 Ver. Deliuer what you will,Ile fay 'tis fo. 
 Heere comes your Cofin. 
 
 Enter Hotjfiurre. 
 
 Hot. My Vnkle is return'd, 
 Deliuer vp my Lord of Weftmerland. 
 Vnkle, what newe-f 
 
 Wor. The King will bid you battell prefently. 
 
 "Dotv. Defie him by the Lord of Weftmerland. 
 
 Hot. Lord Dowglas : Go you and tell him fo. 
 
 Dote. Marry and fhall, and verie willingly. 
 
 Sxit Douglas. 
 
 Wor. There is no feeming mercy in the King. 
 
 Hot. Did you begge any? God forbid. 
 
 Wor. I told him gently of our greeuances, 
 Of his Oath-breaking : which he mended thus, 
 By now forfwearing that he is forfworne, 
 He cals vs Rebels, Traitors, and will fcourge 
 With haughty armes, this hatefull name in vs. 
 Enter Dovglas. 
 
 "Dctv. Arme Gentlemen, to Armes, for I haue thrown 
 A braue defiance in King Henries teeth : 
 And Weftmerland that was ingag'd did beare it, 
 Which cannot choofe but bring him quickly on. 
 
 Wor. The Prince of Wales ftept forth before the king, 
 And Nephew, challeng'd you to fingle fight. 
 
 Hot. O, would the quarrell lay vpon our heads, 
 And that no man might draw fhort breath to day, 
 But I and Harry Monmouth. Tel] me, tell mee, 
 How fhew'd his Talking ?Seem'd it in contempt? 
 
 Ver. No, by my Soule : I neuer in my life 
 Did heare a Challenge vrg'd more modeftly, 
 Vnleffe a Brother fhould a Brother dare 
 To gentle exercife, and proofe of Armes. 
 He gaue you all the Duties of a Man, 
 Trimm'd vp your praifes with a Princely tongue, 
 Spoke your deferuings like a Chronicle, 
 Making you euer better then his praife, 
 By ftill difpraifing praife, valew'd with you : 
 And which became him like a Prince indeed, 
 He made a blufhing citall of himfelfe, 
 And chid his Trewant youth with fuch a Grace, 
 As if he maftred there a double fpirit 
 Of teaching, and of learning inftantly : 
 There did he paufe. But let me tell the World, 
 If he out-liue the enuie of this day, 
 England did neuer owe fo fweet a hope, 
 So much mifconftrued in his Wantonneffe. 
 
 Hot. Coufin, I thinke thou art enamored 
 On his Follies : neuer did I heare 
 Of any Prince fo wilde at Liberty. 
 But be he as he will, yet once ere night, 
 I will imbrace him with a Souldiers arme, 
 That he fhall fhrinke vnder my curtefie. 
 Arme,arme with fpeed. And Fellow's,Soldiers, Friends, 
 Better confider what you haue to do, 
 That I that haue not well the gift of Tongue, 
 
 Can 
 
 37*
 
 The Firft 'Part ofJfyng Henry the Fourth. 
 
 7 1 
 
 Can lift your blood vp with perfwafion. 
 Enter a <&fejjenger. 
 
 Afef. My Lord, heere are Letters for you. 
 
 Hot. I cannot reade them now. 
 OGentlemen, the time of life is fhort ; 
 To fpend that fliortnefle bafely,were too long. 
 If life did ride vpon a Dials point, 
 Still ending at the arriuall of an houre, 
 And if we liue, we liue to treade on Kings: 
 If dye; braue death, when Princes dye with vs; 
 Now for our Confciences, the Armes is faire, 
 When the intent for bearing them is iuft. 
 
 Enter another cMeJJ'enger. 
 Mef. My Lord prepare, the King comes on apace. 
 
 Hot. I thanke him, that he cuts me from my tale: 
 For I profefle not talking: Onely this, 
 Let each man do his beft. And heere I draw a Sword, 
 Whofe worthy temper I intend to ftaine 
 With the beft blood that I can meete withall, 
 In the aduenture of this perillous day. 
 Now Efperance Percy, and fet on : 
 Sound all the lofty Inftruments of Warre, 
 And by that Muficke, let vs all imbrace : 
 For heauen to earth, fome of vs neuer mall, 
 A fecond time do fuch a curtefie. 
 
 They embrace, the Trumpets found, the King enter etb 
 with his fewer, alarum tin to the bat tell. Then enter 
 Dowglas, and Sir Walter 'Blunt. 
 
 Blu.Vfhat is thy name, that in battel thus y crofieftme? 
 What honor doft thou feeke vpon my head ? 
 
 'Dow. Know then my name is Dowglas, 
 And I do haunt thee in the battell thus, 
 Becaufe fome tell me, that thou art a King. 
 
 Blunt. They tell thee true. 
 
 Dew. The Lord of Stafford deere to day hath bought 
 Thy likenefle : for infted of thee King Harry, 
 This Sword hath ended him, fo fhall it thee, 
 Vnleffe thou yeeld thee as a Prifoner. 
 
 Blu. I was not borne to yeeld, thou haughty Scot, 
 And thou /halt finde a King that will reuenge 
 Lords Staffords death. 
 
 Fight, Blunt itjlalne,then enters Hotfyur. 
 
 Hot. O Dowg/as,hzd& thou fought at Holmedon thus 
 I neuer had triumphed o're a Scot. 
 
 DOTV. All's done,all's won, here breathles lies the king 
 Hot. Where? 
 Dow. Heere. 
 
 Hot. This Dowglas? No, I know this face full well : 
 A gallant Knight he was, his name was1B/af, 
 Semblably furnifh'd like the King himfelfe. 
 
 Dorv. Ah foole : go with thy foule whether it goes, 
 A borrowed Title haft thou bought too deere. 
 Why didft thou tell me, that thou wer't a King ? 
 
 Hot. The King hath many marching in his Coats. 
 
 "Dow. Now by my Sword, I will kill all his Coates, 
 He murder all his Wardrobe peece by peece, 
 Vntill I meet the King. 
 
 Hot. Vp,and away, 
 
 Our Souldiers ftand full fairely for the day. Exeunt 
 
 tAlarum,and enter Falftaffe folut. 
 
 Fal. Though I could fcape foot-free at London,! fear 
 the mot heere : here's no fcoring, but vpon the pate. Soft 
 who are you ? Sir Walter 'Blunt, there's Honour for you : 
 here's no vanity, I am as hot as molten Lead, and as hea- 
 uy too; heauen keepe Lead out of mee, I neede no more 
 weight then mine owne Bowelles. I haue led my rag of 
 
 37J 
 
 Muffins where they are pepper'd : there's not three of my 
 150. left aliue, and they for the Townes end, to beg du- 
 ring life. But who comes heere f 
 Enter the Prince. 
 
 Pr/.Whar,ftand'ft thou idle here? Lend me thy fword, 
 Many a Nobleman likes ftarke and ftiffe 
 Vnder the hooues of vaunting enemies, 
 Whofe deaths are vnreueng'd. Prethy lend me thy fword 
 
 Fal. O Hal, I prethee giue me leaue to breath awhile : 
 Turke Gregory neuer did fuch deeds in Armes, as I haue 
 done this day. I haue paid Percy, I haue made him fure. 
 
 Pr'tn. He is indeed, and liuing to kill thee : 
 I prethee lend me thy fword. 
 
 Falft. Nay Hal, if Percy bee aliue, thou getft not my 
 Sword ; but take my Piftoll if thou wilt. 
 
 Prin. Giue it me : What, is it in the Cafe f 
 
 Fal. I Hal, 'tis hot : There's that will Sacke a City. 
 The frlnce drawes cut a 'Bottle of Sacfe. 
 
 Prin. What, is it a time to ieft and dally now. Sxit. 
 Thrones It at him. 
 
 Fal. If Percy be aliue, He pierce him : if he do come in 
 my way,fo : if he do not, if I come in his (willingly) let 
 him make a Carbonado of me. I like not fuch grinning 
 honour as Sir Walter hath : Giue mee life, which if I can 
 faue, fo : if not, honour comes vnlook'd for, and ther's an 
 end. Exit 
 
 Scena Tertia. 
 
 tAlarum,excurJions, enter the King, the Prince , 
 
 Lord lohn of Lancajier, and Earle 
 
 of Wejlmerland. 
 
 King. I prethee Harry withdraw thy felfe, thou blee- 
 deft too much: Lord lohn of Lancafte r, go you with him. 
 
 P. lob. Not I, my Lord,vnle(Te I did bleed too. 
 
 Prin. I befeech your Maiefty make vp, 
 Leaft you retirement do amaze your friends. 
 
 King. I will do fo : 
 My Lord of Weftmerland leade him to his Tent. 
 
 Weft. Come my Lord, lie leade you to your Tent. 
 
 Prin. Lead me my Lord? I do not need your helpe : 
 And heauen forbid a fliallow fcratch ihould driue 
 The Prince of Wales from fuch a field as this, 
 Where ftain'd Nobility lyes troden on, 
 And Rebels Armes triumph in maflacres. 
 
 lob. We breath too long: Come cofm Weftmerland, 
 Our duty this way lies, for heauens fake come. 
 
 Prin. By heauen thou haft deceiu'd me Lancafter, 
 I did not thinke thee Lord of fuch a fpirit: 
 Before, I lou'd thee as a Brother, lobn ; 
 But now, I do refpedl thee as my Soule. 
 
 King. I faw him hold Lord Percy at the point, 
 With luftier maintenance then I did looke for 
 Of fuch an vngrowne Warriour. 
 
 Prin. O this Boy, lends mettall to vs all. Exit. 
 
 Enter Dowglas. 
 
 Dow. Another King?They grow like Hydra's heads: 
 I am the Dowglas, fatall to all thofe 
 That weare thofe colours on them. What art thou 
 That counterfeit^ the perfon of a King ? 
 
 King. The King himfelfe : who Dowglas grieues at hart 
 
 So
 
 The Firft ^Part o 
 
 enry the Fourth. 
 
 So many of his fhadowes thou haft met, 
 And not the very King. I haue two Boyes 
 Seeke Tercy and thy felfe about the Field : 
 But feeing thou fall'ft on me fo luckily, 
 I will aflay thee : fo defend thy felfe. 
 
 f Dva>. I feare thou art another counterfeit : 
 And yet infaith thou bear'ft thee like a King: 
 But mine I am fure thou art, whoere thou be, 
 And thus I win thee. Theyjigbt, the K.bdng in danger, 
 Enter Prince. 
 
 Prin. Hold vp they head vile Scot, or thou art like 
 Neuer to hold it vp againe : the Spirits 
 Of valiant Sberly,Staford, f Blunt,zrt in my Armes; 
 It is the Prince of Wales that threatens thee, 
 Who neuer promifeth, but he meanes to pay. 
 
 They Fight , "Do-agios flyetb. 
 Cheerely My Lord: how fare's your Grace ? 
 Sir Nicholas Garrfey hath for fuccour fent, 
 And fo hath C l 'f ton ' Ile to Clifton ftraight. 
 
 King. Stay, and breath awhile. 
 Thou haft redeem'd thy loft opinion, 
 And fhew'd thou mak'ft fome tender of my life 
 In this faire refcue thou haft brought to mee. 
 
 Prin. O heauen, they did me too much iniury, 
 That euer faid I hearkned to your death. 
 If it were fo, I might haue let alone 
 The infulting hand of Doing/as ouer you, 
 Which would haue bene as fpeedy in your end, 
 As all the poyfonous Potions in the world, 
 And fau'd the Treacherous labour of your Sonne. 
 
 K. Make vp to Qlifton,l\e to Sir Nicholas Gaufey. Exit 
 Enter Hotjpur. 
 
 Hot. If I miftake not, thou art Harry Montnoutb. 
 
 Prin, Thou fpeak'ft as if I would deny my name. 
 
 Hot. My name is Harrie Percie. 
 
 Prin.Why then I fee a very valiant rebel of that name. 
 I am the Prince of Wales,and thinke not fercy, 
 To fhare with me in glory any more : 
 Two Starres keepe not their motion in one Sphere, 
 Nor can one England brooke a double reigne, 
 Of Harry Percy, and the Prince of Wales. 
 
 Hot. Nor fhall it Harry, for the houre is come 
 To end the one of vs; and would to heauen, 
 Thy name in Armes, were now as great as mine, 
 
 Prin. He make it greater, ere I part from thee, 
 And- all the budding Honors on thy Creft, 
 He crop, to make a Garland for my head. 
 
 Hot. I can no longer brooke thy Vanities. Fight. 
 
 Enter Falftaffe. 
 
 Fal. Well faid Hal, to it Hal. Nay you /hall finde no 
 Boyes play heere,! can tell you. 
 
 Enter DoTt>glas,he Rights with Falftaffe ,who fah down 
 
 as if he were dead.Tbe Prince tylletb Percie. 
 
 Hoi. Oh Harry, thou haft rob'd me of my youth : 
 I better brooke the lofle of brittle life, 
 Then thofe proud Titles thou haft wonne of me, 
 They wound my thoghts worfe, then the fword my flefh: 
 But thought's the flaue of Life, and Life, Times foole ; 
 And Time, that takes furuey of all the world, 
 Muft haue a ftop. O, I could Prophetic, 
 But that the Earth, and the cold hand of death, 
 Lyes on my Tongue : No Percy,tho\i art duft 
 And food for 
 
 Prin. For Wormes,braue Percy. Farewell great heart: 
 Ill-weau'd Ambition, how much art thou fhrunke? 
 When that this bodie did containe a fpirit, 
 
 A Kingdome for it was too fmall a bound : 
 But now two paces of the vileft Earth 
 Is roome enough. This Earth that beares the dead, 
 Beares not aliue fo ftout a Gentleman. 
 If thou wer't fenfible of curtefie, 
 I fhould not make fo great a fhew of Zeale. 
 But let my fauours hide thy mangled face, 
 And euen in thy behalfe,Ile thanke my felfe 
 For doing thefe fayre Rites of TendernefTe. 
 Adieu,and take thy praife with thee to heauen, 
 Thy ignomy fleepe with thee in the graue, 
 But not remembred in thy Epitaph. 
 What? Old Acquaintance? Could not all this flefh 
 Keepe in a little life.?Poore lacke, fare well : 
 I could haue better fpar'd a better man. 
 O, I fhould haue a heauy mifle of thee, 
 If I were much in loue with Vanity. 
 Death hath not ftrucke fo fat a Deere to day, 
 Though many dearer in this bloody Fray : 
 Imbowell'd will I fee thee by and by, 
 Till then, in blood, by Noble Pereie lye. Exit. 
 
 Falftaffe rifeth -vp. 
 
 Falft. Imbowell'd? If thou imbowell mee to day, lie 
 giue you leaue to powder me, and eat me too to morow. 
 'Twas time to counterfet, or that hotte Termagant Scot, 
 had paid me fcot and lot too.Counterfeit? I am no coun- 
 terfeit; to dye, is to be a counterfeit, for hee is but the 
 counterfeit of a man, who hath not the life of a man : But 
 to counterfeit dying, when a man thereby liueth,is to be 
 no counterfeit, but the true and perfect image of life in- 
 deede. The better part of Valour, is Difcretion ; in the 
 which better part, I haue faued my life. I am affraide of 
 this Gun-powder Percy though he be dead. How if hee 
 fhould counterfeit too, and rife? I am afraid hee would 
 proue the better counterfeit: therefore He make him fure: 
 yea, and He fweare 1 kill'd him. Why may not hee rife as 
 well as I : Nothing confutes me but eyes, and no-bodie 
 fees me.Therefore firra, with a new wound in your thigh 
 come you along me. Tafys Hotjfiurre on bu bac\e. 
 
 Enter Prince and John of Lancaftcr. 
 
 Prin. Come Brother lobn, full brauely haft thou flefht 
 thy Maiden fword. 
 
 lobn. But foft, who haue we heere ? 
 Did you not tell me this Fat man was dead ? 
 
 Prin. I did, I faw him dead, 
 
 Breathlefie,and bleeding on the ground: Art thou aliue? 
 Or is it fantafie that playes vpon our eye-fight ? 
 I prethee fpeake, we will not truft our eyes 
 Without our eares. Thou art not what thou feem'ft. 
 
 Fal. No, that's certaine : I am not a double man : but 
 if I be not lac^e FalJ}a/e,then am I a lacke : There is Per- 
 <ry,if your Father will do me any Honor, fo : if not, let him 
 kill the next Percie himfelfe. I looke to be either Earle or 
 Duke, I can allure you. 
 
 Prin. Why, Percy I kill'd my felfe, and faw thee dead. 
 
 Fal. Did'ft thou? Lord, Lord, how the world is giuen 
 to Lying? I graunt you I was downe, and out of Breath, 
 and fo was he, but we rofe both at an inftant,and fought 
 a long houre by Shrewsburie clocke. If I may bee belee- 
 ued,fo : if not, let them that fhould reward Valour, beare 
 the finne vpon their owne heads, lie take't on my death 
 I gauehim this wound in the Thigh : if the man were a- 
 liue,and would deny it, I would make him eate a peece 
 of my fword. 
 
 lobn. This is the ftrangeft Tale that e're I heard. 
 
 Prin. This is the ftrangeft Fellow,Brother lobn. 
 
 Come 
 
 374
 
 The Firft <? *art ofl^jng Henry the Fourth. 
 
 73 
 
 Come bring your luggage Nobly on your backe : 
 
 For my part,if a lye may do thee grace, 
 
 He gil'd it with the happieft tearmes I haue. 
 
 tA Retreat is founded, 
 
 The Trumpets found Retreat, the day is ours: 
 Come Brother, let's to the higheft of the field, 
 To fee what Friends are liuing, who are dead. Exeunt 
 Fal. He follow as they fay, for Reward. Hee that re- 
 wards me, heauen reward him. If I do grow great again, 
 He grow lefle ? For He purge, and leaue Sacke, and liue 
 cleanly, as a Nobleman fhould do. Exit 
 
 Sctena Quart a. 
 
 The Trumpets found. 
 
 Enter the King, Prince of Wales, Lord lobn of Lancafter, 
 
 Earle of Wejimerland, with Worcefler & 
 
 "Demon Prijbners. 
 
 King. Thus euer did Rebellion finde Rebuke. 
 Ill-fpirited Worcefter, did we not fend Grace, 
 Pardon, and tearmes of Loue to all of you? 
 And would'ft thou turne our offers contrary ? 
 Mifufe the tenor of thy Kinfmans truft? 
 Three Knights vpon our party flaine to day, 
 A Noble Earle, and many a creature elfe, 
 Had beene aliue this houre, 
 If like a Chriftian thou had'ft truly borne 
 Betwixt out Armies, true Intelligence. 
 
 Wcr. What I haue done, my fafety vrg'd me to, 
 
 And I embrace this fortune patiently, 
 Since not to be auoyded,it fals on mee. 
 
 King. Beare Worcefter to death, and 1)ernon too: 
 Other Offenders we will paufe vpon. 
 
 Exit Worafter and Vernon. 
 How goes the Field ? 
 
 Prin. The Noble Scot Lord Doivgla?, when hee (aw 
 The fortune of the day quite turn'd from him, 
 The Noble Percy flaine, and all his men, 
 Vpon the foot of feare, fled with the reft ; 
 And falling from a hill, he was fo bruiz'd 
 That the purfuers tooke him. At my Tent 
 The Deng/as is, and I befeech your Grace. 
 I may difpofe of him. 
 
 King. With all my heart. 
 
 Prin. Then Brother lobn of Lancafter, 
 To you this honourable bounty fhall belong : 
 Go to the Wg7#j,and deliuer him 
 Vp to his pleafure, ranfomlefle and free : 
 His Valour fhewne vpon our Crefts to day, 
 Hath taught vs how to cherifli fuch high deeds, 
 Euen in the bofome of our Aduerfaries. 
 
 King. Then this remaines : that we diuide our Power. 
 You Sonne lobn, and my Coufin Weftmerland 
 Towards Yorke fhall bend you, with your deereft fpeed 
 To meet Northumberland, and the Prelate Scroope, 
 Who(as we heare)are bufily in Armes. 
 My Selfe, and you Sonne Harry will towards Wales, 
 To fight with G/endc'er,3nd the Earle of March. 
 Rebellion in this Land fliall lofe his way, 
 Meeting the Checke of fuch another day : 
 And fince this Bufinefle fo faire is done, 
 Let vs not leaue till all our owjie be wonne. Exeunt. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 375
 
 74 
 
 The SecondPartof Henry the Fourth 
 
 Containinghis Death : and the Coronation 
 
 of King Henry the Fift. 
 
 zASlus 'Primus. Sccena ^rlma. 
 
 INDVCTION. 
 
 Enter 'Rumour. 
 
 Pen your Eares : For which of you will flop 
 The vent of Hearing, when loud Rumor fpeakes? 
 I, from the Orient, to the drooping Weft 
 (Making the winde my Poft-horfe) ftill vnfold 
 The Adts commenced on this Ball of Earth. 
 Vpon my Tongue, continuall Slanders ride, 
 The which, in euery Language, I pronounce, 
 Stuffing the Eares of them with falfe Reports: 
 I fpeake of Peace, while couert Enmitie 
 (Vnder the fmile of Safety) wounds the World: 
 And who but Rumour, who but onely I 
 Make fearfull Mufters, and prepar'd Defence, 
 Whil'ft the bigge yeare, fwolne with fome other griefes, 
 Is thought with childe, by the fterne Tyrant, Warre, 
 And no fuch matter? Rumour, is a Pipe 
 Blowne by Surmifes, leloufies, Conjectures; 
 And of fo eafie, and fo plaine a flop, 
 That the blunt Monfter, with vncounted heads, 
 The ftill difcordant, wauering Multitude, 
 Can play vpon it. But what neede I thus 
 My well-knowne Body to Anathomize 
 Among my houfhold ? Why is Rumour heere? 
 I run before King Harries vidtory, 
 Who in a bloodie field by Shrewsburie 
 Hath beaten downe yong Hotfiurre, aud his Troopes, 
 Quenching the flame of bold Rebellion, 
 Euen with the Rebels blood. But what meane I 
 To fpeake fo true at firft f My Office is 
 To noyfe abroad, that Harry i&fonmoutb fell 
 Vnder the Wrath of Noble Hotfyurres Sword : 
 And that the King, before the < Dowgl<u Rage 
 Stoop'd his Annointed head, as low as death. 
 This haue I rumour'd through the peafant-Townes, 
 Betweene the Royall Field of Shrewsburie, 
 And this Worme-eaten-Hole of ragged Stone, 
 Where Hotjfiurres Father, old Northumberland, 
 Lyes crafty ficke. The Poftes come tyring on, 
 And not a man of them brings other newes 
 Then they haue learn'd of Me. From Rumours Tongues, 
 They bring fmooth-Comforts-falfe, worfe then True- 
 wrongs. Exit. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Lord c Bardolfe t and the Porter. 
 
 L.'Bar. Who keepes the Gate heere hoa ? 
 Where is the Earle ? 
 
 Par. What fliall I fay you are ? 
 
 Bar. Tell thou the Earle 
 That the Lord Bardolfe doth attend him heere. 
 
 Per. His Lordfhip is walk'd forth into the Orchard, 
 Pleafe it your Honor, knocke but at the Gate, 
 And he himfelfe will anfwer. 
 
 Enter Northumberland. 
 
 L.'Bar. Heere comes the Earle. 
 
 Nor. What newes Lord Bardolfe* Eu'ry minute now 
 Should be the Father of fome Stratagem; 
 The Times are wilde : Contention (like a Horfe 
 Full of high Feeding) madly hath broke loofe, 
 And beares downe all before him. 
 
 L.Bar. Noble Earle, 
 I bring you certaine newes from Shrewsbury. 
 
 Nor. Good, and heauen will. 
 
 L.Bar. As good as heart can wifli : 
 The King is almoft wounded to the death : 
 And in the Fortune of my Lord your Sonne, 
 Prince Harrie flaine out-right : and both the Blunts 
 Kill'd by the hand of Doirglas. Yong Prince lobn, 
 And Weftmerland, and Stafford, fled the Field. 
 And Harrie Monmouth's Brawne (the Hulke Sir lobn) 
 Is prifoner to your Sonne. O.fuch a Day, 
 (So fought, fo follow'd, and fo fairely wonne) 
 Came not, till now, to dignifie the Times 
 Since Ctefars Fortunes. 
 
 Nor. How is this deriu'd? 
 Saw you the Field? Came you from Shrewsbury ? 
 
 L.Bar. I fpake with one (my L.)that came fr6 thence, 
 A Gentleman well bred, and of good name, 
 That freely render'd me thefe newes for true. 
 
 Nor. Heere comes my Seruant Trauers, whom I fent 
 On Tuefday laft, to liften after Newes. 
 Enter 'Trauers. 
 
 L.'Bar. My Lord, I ouer-rod him on the way, 
 And he is furnifli'd with no certainties, 
 More then he (haply)may retaile from me. 
 
 .Wbr.Now Trauers, what good tidings comes fro you? 
 
 Tra.
 
 Tbefecond^Part offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 75 
 
 Tra. My Lord, Sir lobn "Umfreulll turn'd me backe 
 With ioyfull tydings; and (being better hors'd) 
 Out-rod me. After him, came fpurring head 
 A Gentleman (almoft fore-fpent with fpeed) 
 That ftopp'd by me, to breath his bloodied horfe. 
 He ask'd the way to Chefter : And of him 
 I did demand what Newes from Shrewsbury : 
 He told me, that Rebellion had ill lucke, 
 And that yong Harry Percies Spurre was cold. 
 With that he gaue his able Horfe the head, 
 And bending forwards ftrooke his able heeles 
 Againft the panting fides of his poore lade 
 Vp to the Rowell head, and ftarting fo, 
 He feem'd in running, to deuoure the way, 
 Staying no longer queftion. 
 
 North. Ha?Againe: 
 
 Said he yong Harrle Percyes Spurre was cold ? 
 (Of //c/-.S^wn',cold-Spurre?) that Rebellion, 
 Had met ill lucke ? 
 
 LfBar. My Lord : He tell you what, 
 If my yong Lord your Sonne,haue not the day, 
 Vpon mine Honor, for a filken point 
 He giue my Barony. Neuer talke of it. 
 
 Nor.Why fhould the Gentleman that rode by Trailers 
 Giue then fuch inftances of Lofle ? 
 
 L.<Bar. Who, he ? 
 
 He was fome hielding Fellow, that had ftolne 
 The Horfe .he rode-on : and vpon my life 
 Speake at aduenture. Looke, here comes more Newes. 
 
 Enter eflforton. 
 
 Nor. Yea, this mans brow, like to a Title-leafe, 
 Fore-tels the Nature of a Tragicke Volume : 
 So lookes the Strond, when the Imperious Flood 
 Hath left a witneft Vfurpation. 
 Say Morton, did'ft thou come from Shrewsbury ? 
 
 Mor. I ran from Shrewsbury (my Noble Lord) 
 Where hatefull death put on his vglieft Maske 
 To fright our party. 
 
 North. How doth my Sonne,and Brother? 
 Thou trembl'ft; and the whitenefle in thy Cheeke 
 Is apter then thy Tongue, to tell thy Errand. 
 Euen fuch a man, fo faint, fo fpiritlefle, 
 So dull, fo dead in looke, fo woe-be-gone, 
 Drew Priams Curtaine,in the dead of night, 
 And would haue told him, Halfe his Troy was burn'd. 
 But Priam found the Fire,ere he his Tongue : 
 And I, my Percies death, ere thou report'ft it. 
 This, thou would'ft fay : Your Sonne did thus, and thus: 
 Your Brother, thus . So fought the Noble Dov>glo6, 
 Stopping my greedy eare,with their bold deeds. 
 But in the end (to ftop mine Eare indeed) 
 Thou haft a Sigh, to blow away this Praife, 
 Ending with Brother, Sonne, and all are dead. 
 
 Mor. "Dong/as is liuing,and your Brother,yet: 
 But for my Lord, your Sonne. 
 
 North. Why.he is dead. 
 See what a ready tongue Sufpition hath : 
 He that but feares the thing, he would not know, 
 Hath by Inftinft, knowledge from others Eyes, 
 That what he feard, is chanc'd. Yet fpeake(Morfo) 
 Tell thou thy Earle,his Diuination Lies, 
 And I will take it, as a fweet Difgrace, 
 And make thee rich, for doing me fuch wrong. 
 
 Mor. You are too great, to be (by me) gainfaid : 
 
 377 
 
 Your Spirit is too true, your Feares too certaine. 
 
 North. Yet for all this, fay not that Percies dead. 
 I fee a ftrange Confefiion in thine Eye : 
 Thou /hak'ft thy head, and hold'ft it Feare, or Sinne, 
 To fpeake a truth. If he be flaine,fay fo : 
 The Tongue offends not, that reports his death : 
 And he doth finne that doth belye the dead : 
 Not he, which fayes the dead is not aliue : 
 Yet the firft bringer of vnwelcome Newes 
 Hath but a loofing Office : and his Tongue, 
 Sounds euer after as a fullen Bell 
 Remembred, knolling a departing Friend. 
 
 L.'Bar. I cannot thinke(my Lord)your fon is dead. 
 
 Mor. I am forry, I fliould force you to beleeue 
 That, which I would to heauen, I had not feene. 
 But thefe mine eyes,faw him in bloody ftate, 
 Rend'ring faint quittance (wearied, and out-breath'd) 
 To Henrie Monmoutb f vfho(e fwift wrath beate downe 
 The neuer-daunted Perot to the earth, 
 From whence (with life)he neuer more fprung vp. 
 In few; his death (whofe fpiritlent a fire, 
 Euen to the dulleft Peazant in his Campe) 
 Being bruited once, tooke fire and heate away 
 From the beft temper'd Courage in his Troopes. 
 For from his Mettle, was his Party fteel'd ; 
 Which once, in him abated, all the reft 
 Turn'd on themfelues, like dull and heauy Lead : 
 And as the Thing, that's heauy in it felfe, 
 Vpon enforcement, flyes with greateft fpeede, 
 So did our Men, heauy in Hotjfiurres \offe, 
 Lend to this weight, fuch lightnefie with their Feare, 
 That Arrowes fled not fwifter toward their ayme, 
 Then did our Soldiers fayming at their fafety) 
 Fly from the field. Then was that Noble Worcefter 
 Too foone ta'ne prifoner : and that furious Scot, 
 (The bloody Dotvglai) whofe well-labouring fword 
 Had three times flaine th'appearance of the King, 
 Gan vaile his ftomacke, and did grace the fhame 
 Of thofe that turn'd their backes : and in his flight, 
 Stumbling in Feare, was tooke. The fumme of all, 
 Is, that the King hath wonne : and hath fent out 
 A fpeedy power, to encounter you my Lord, 
 Vnder the Condudl of yong Lancafter 
 And Weftmerland. This is the Newes at full. 
 
 North. For this, I fhall haue time enough to mourne. 
 In Poy fon, there is Phyficke : and this newes 
 (Hauing beene well)that would haue made me ficke, 
 Being ficke, haue in fome meafure,made me well. 
 And as the Wretch, whofe Feauer-weakned ioynts, 
 Like ftrengthlefle Hindges, buckle vr.der life, 
 Impatient of his Fit, breakes like a fire 
 Out of his keepers armes : Euen fo, my Limbes 
 (Weak'ned with greefe) being now inrag'd with greefe, 
 Are thrice themfelues. Hence therefore thou nice crutch, 
 A fcalie Gauntlet now, with ioynts of Steele 
 Muft gloue this hand. And hence thou fickly Qupife, 
 Thou art a guard too wanton for the head, 
 Which Princes, flefh'd with Conqueft,ayme to hit. 
 Now binde my Browes with Iron, and approach 
 The ragged'ft houre,that Time and Spight dare bring 
 To frowne vpon th'enrag'd Northumberland. 
 Let Heauen kiflfe Earth : now let not Natures hand 
 Keepe the wilde Flood confin'd : Let Order dye, 
 And let the world no longer be a ftage 
 To feede Contention in a ling'ring Act : 
 But let one fpirit of the Firft-borne Caine 
 
 g Reigne
 
 76 
 
 Thefecond^art of I^jng Henry the Fourth. 
 
 Reigne in all bofomes, that each heart being fet 
 
 On bloody Courfes, the rude Scene may end, 
 
 And darknefle be the burier of the dead. (Honor. 
 
 L.Bar. Sweet arle,diuorce not wifedom from your 
 
 Mar. The Hues of all your louing Complices 
 Leane-on your health, the which if you giue-o're 
 To ftormy Paffion, muft perforce decay. 
 You caft th'euent of Warre(my Noble Lord) 
 And fumm'd the accompt of Chance, before you faid 
 Let vs make head : It was your prefurmize, 
 That in the dole of blowes,your Son might drop. 
 You knew he walk'd o're perils, on an edge 
 More likely to fall in, then to get o're : 
 You were aduis'd his fle/h was capeable 
 Of Wounds, and Scarres ; and that his forward Spirit 
 Would lift him, where moft trade of danger rang'd, 
 Yet did you fay go forth : and none of this 
 (Though ftrongly apprehended) could reftraine 
 The ftiffe-borne Attion : What hath then befalne ? 
 Or what hath this bold enterprize bring forth, 
 More then that Being, which was like to be ? 
 
 L. Bar. We all that are engaged to this lofle, 
 Knew that we ventur'd on fuch dangerous Seas, 
 That if we wrought out life, was ttn to one : 
 And yet we ventur'd for the gaine propos'd, 
 Choak'd the refpedb of likely perill fear'd, 
 And fince we are o're-fet, venture againe. 
 Come, we will all put forth; Body, and Goods, 
 
 A/er.'Tis more then time : And (my moft Noble Lord) 
 I heare for certaine, and do fpeake the truth : 
 The gentle Arch-bi(hop of Yorke is vp 
 With well appointed Powres : he is a man 
 Who with a double Surety bindes his Followers. 
 My Lord (your Sonne)had onely but the Corpes, 
 But /hadowes, and the fliewes of men to fight. 
 For that fame word(Rebellion) did diuide 
 The action of their bodies, from their foules, 
 And they did fight with queafinefie, conftrain'd 
 As men drinke Potions; that their Weapons only 
 Seem'd on our fide : but for their Spirits and Soules, 
 This word (Rebellion)it had froze them vp, 
 As Fifh are in a Pond. But now the Bifliop 
 Turnes InfurrecYion to Religion, 
 Suppos'd fincere,and holy in his Thoughts: 
 He's follow'd both with Body,and with Minde: 
 And doth enlarge his Rifmg, with the blood 
 Of faire King Richard, fcrap'd from Pomfret ftones, 
 Deriues from heauen,hisQuarrell,and his Caufe : 
 Tels them, he doth beftride a bleeding Land, 
 Gafping for life, vnder great BuHingbroo^tj 
 And more, and lefl"e,do flocke to follow him. 
 
 North. I knew of this before. But to fpeake truth, 
 This prefent greefe had wip'd it from my minde. 
 Go in with me,and councell euery man 
 The apteft way for fafety, and reuenge : 
 Get Ports, and Letters, and make Friends with fpeed, 
 Neuer fo few, nor neuer yet more need. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Tertia. 
 
 Enter Falftaffe,and Page. 
 
 F<j/.Sirra,you giant, what faies the Docl.to my water? 
 
 Pag. He faid fir, the water it felfe was a good healthy 
 watertbut for the party that ow'd it, he might haue more 
 difeafes then he knew for. 
 
 Fa/. Men of all forts take a pride to gird at mee: the 
 
 braine of this fooli/h compounded Clay-man, is not able 
 to inuent any thing that tends to laughter, more then I 
 inuent,or is inuented on me. I am not onely witty in my 
 felfe, but the caufe that wit is in other men. I doe heere 
 walke before thee, like a Sow, that hath o'rewhelm'd all 
 her Litter, but one. If the Prince put thee into my Ser- 
 uice for any other reafon , then to fet mee off, why then I 
 haue no Judgement. Thou horfon Mandrake, thou art 
 fitter to be worne in my cap, then to wait at my heeles. I 
 was neuer mann'd with an Agot till now : but I will fette 
 you neyther in Gold, nor Siluer, but in vilde apparell,and 
 fend you backe againe to your Mafter, for a lewell. The 
 IuuenaU(the Prince your Mafter) whofe Chin is not yet 
 fiedg'd, I will fooner haue a beard grow in the Palme of 
 my hand, then he flull get one on his cheeke : yet he will 
 not fticke to fay, his Face is a Face-Royall. Heauen may 
 finifh it when he will, it is not a haire amifie yet : he may 
 keepe it ftill at a Face-Royall , for a Barber fliall neuer 
 earne fix pence out of it; and )tet he will be crowing, as if 
 he had writ man euer fince his Father was a Batchellour. 
 He may keepe his owne Grace, but he is almoft out of 
 mine, I can afTure him. What faid M.Dombledon, about 
 the Satten for my fliort Cloake,and Slops f 
 
 Pag. He faid fir,you fhould procure him better AflTu- 
 rance,then <Bardolfe : he wold not take his Bond & yours, 
 he lik'd not the Security. 
 
 Fal. Let him bee damn'd like the Glutton, may his 
 Tongue be hotter,a horfon Acbitopbel; a Rafcally-yea- 
 forfooth-knaue,to beare a Gentleman in hand, and then 
 ftand vpon Security ? The horfon fmooth-pates doe now 
 weare nothing but high fhoes, and bunches of Keyes at 
 their girdles : and if a man is through with them in ho- 
 neft Taking-vp, then they muft ftand vpon Securitie : I 
 had as liefe they would put Rats-bane in my mouth, as 
 offer to ftoppe it with Security. I look'd hee fhould haue 
 fent me two and twenty yards of Satten (as I am true 
 Knight) and he fends me Security. Well, he may fleep in 
 Security, for he hath the home of Abundance : and the 
 lightneffe of his Wife fliines through it, and yet cannot 
 he fee, though he haue his owne Lanthorne to light him. 
 Where's 'Bardolftf 
 
 Pag. He's gone into Smithfield to buy your worihip 
 a horfe. 
 
 Fal. I bought him in Paules,and hee'l buy mee a horfe 
 in Smithfield. If I could get mee a wife in the Stewes, I 
 were Mann'd, Hors'd, and Wiu'd. 
 
 nter Chief e Iujlice,and Seruant. 
 
 Tag. Sir, heere comes the Nobleman that committed 
 the Prince for ftriking him, about "Bardolfe. 
 
 Fal. Wait clofe, I will not fee him. 
 
 Cb.IuJl. What's he that goes there ? 
 
 Ser. Falftaffe,anA\ pleafe your Lord/hip. 
 
 luft. He that was in queftion for the Robbery ? 
 
 Ser. He my Lord, but he hath fince done good feruice 
 at Shrewsbury: and(as I heare) is now going with fome 
 Charge, to the Lord Icbn of Lancafler. 
 
 lutf. What to Yorke? Call him backe againe. 
 
 Ser. Sir John Faljlaffe. 
 
 Fal. Boy, tell him, I am deafe. 
 
 Pag. You muft fpeake lowder, my Mafter is deafe. 
 
 luft. I am fure he is, to the hearing of any thing good. 
 Go plucke him by the Elbow,! muft fpeake with him. 
 
 Ser. Sir lobn. 
 
 Frf/.What? a yong knaue and beg? Is there not wars? Is 
 there not imployment^Doth not the K.lack fubjec'b? Do 
 not the Rebels want Soldiers?Though it be a fhame to be 
 
 on
 
 Tbefecond^art offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 77 
 
 on any fide but one, it is worfe fhame to begge, then to 
 be on the word fide, were it worfe then the name of Re- 
 bellion can tell how to make it. 
 
 Ser. You miftake me Sir, 
 
 Fal. Why fir? Did I fay you were an honeft manPSet- 
 ting my Knight-hood, and my Souldierfhip afide, I had 
 lyed in my throat, if I had faid fo. 
 
 Ser. I pray you (Sir) then fet your Knighthood and 
 your Souldier-fhip afide, and giue mee leaue to tell you, 
 you lye in your throat, if you fay I am any other then an 
 honeft man. 
 
 Fal. I giue thee leaue to tell me fo ? I lay a-fide that 
 which growes to me? If thou get'ft any leaue of me,hang 
 me : if thou tak'ft leaue, thou wer't better be hang'd : you 
 Hunt-counter, hence : Auant. 
 
 Ser. Sir, my Lord would fpeake with you. 
 
 luft. Sir lohn Falftaffe,& word with you." 
 
 Fal. My good Lord:giue your Lordfhip good time of 
 the day. I am glad to fee your Lordfhip abroad: I heard 
 fay your Lord/hip was ficke. I hope your Lordfhip goes 
 abroad by aduife. Your Lordfhip (though not clean paft 
 your youth)hath yet fome fmack of age in you: fome rel- 
 lifh of the faltnefle of Time, and I moft humbly befeech 
 your Lordfhip, to haue a reuerend care of your health. 
 
 luft. Sir lobn, I fent you before your Expedition, to 
 Shrewsburie. 
 
 Fal. If it pleafe your Lordfhip, I heare his Maieftie is 
 return'd with fome difcomfort from Wales. 
 
 luft. I talke not of his Maiefty : you would not come 
 when I fent for you ? 
 
 Fal. And I heare moreouer, his Highnefle is falne into 
 this fame whorfon Apoplexie. (y ou - 
 
 7/?. Well, heauen mend him. I pray let me fpeak with 
 
 Fal. This Apoplexie is(as I take it)a kind of Lethar- 
 gic, a fleeping of the blood, a horfon Tingling. 
 
 luft. What tell you me of it? be it as it is. 
 
 Fal. It hath it originall from much greefe; from ftudy 
 and perturbation of the braine. 1 haue read the caufe of 
 his effects in Galen. It is a kinde of deafenefle. 
 
 luft. I thinke you are falne into the difeafe : For you 
 heare not what I fay to you. 
 
 Fal. Very well(my Lord)very well : rather an't pleafe 
 you) it is the difeafe of not Liftning, the malady of not 
 Marking, that I am troubled withall. 
 
 luft. To punifh you by the heeles, would amend the 
 attention of your eares,& I care not if I be your Phyfitian 
 
 Fal. I am as poore as 7c,my Lord;but not fo Patient: 
 your Lordfhip may minifter the Potion of imprifonment 
 to me, in refped of Pouertie : but how I fhould bee your 
 Patient, to follow your prefcriptions, the wife may make 
 fome dram of a fcruple,or indeede,a fcruple it felfe. 
 
 luft. I fent for you (when there were matters againft 
 you for your life) to come fpeake with me. 
 
 Fal. As I was then aduifed by my learned Councel,in 
 the lawes of this Land-feruice, I did not come. 
 
 7u/?.Wel,the truth is (fir Iobn)you liue in great infamy 
 
 Fal.He that buckles him in my belt,canot liue in lefle. 
 
 luft.Your Meanes is very flender,and your waft great. 
 
 Fal. I would it were otherwife : I would my Meanes 
 were greater, and my wafte flenderer. 
 
 luft. You haue mifled the youthfull Prince. 
 
 Fal. The yong Prince hath mifled mee. I am the Fel- 
 low with the great belly, and he my Dogge. 
 
 7/?.WeIl,I am loth to gall a new-heal'd wound: your 
 daies feruice at Shrewsbury, hath a little gilded ouer 
 your Nights exploit on Gads-hill. You may thanke the 
 
 379 
 
 vnquiet time, for your quiet o're-pofting that Aclion. 
 
 Fal. My Lord f (Wolfe. 
 
 7w/?.But fince all is wel,keep it fo: wake not a fleeping 
 
 Fal. To wake a Wolfe, is as bad as to fmell a Fox. 
 
 7.What?you are as a candle, the better part burnt out 
 
 Fal. A WafTell-Candle, my Lord; all Tallow: if I did 
 fay of wax, my growth would approue the truth. 
 
 luft. There is not a white haire on your face, but fhold 
 haue his effect of grauity. 
 
 Fal. His eft'edl of grauy, grauy, grauy. 
 
 luft You follow the yong Prince vp and downe, like 
 his euill Angell. 
 
 Fal. Not fo (my Lord) your ill Angell is light : but I 
 hope, he that lookes vpon mee, will take mee without, 
 weighing: and yet,in fome refpects I grant,! cannot go : 
 I cannot tell.Vertue is of fo little regard in thefe Coftor- 
 mongers, that true valor is turn'd Beare-heard. Pregnan- 
 cie is made a Tapfter, and hath his quicke wit wafted in 
 gluing Recknings : all the other gifts appertinent to man 
 (as the malice of this Age fhapes them) are not woorth a 
 Goofeberry. You that are old, confider not the capaci- 
 ties of vs that are yong : you meafure the heat of our Li- 
 uers, with the bitternes of your gals: & we that are in the 
 vaward of our youth,! muft confefle,are wagges too. 
 
 luft. Do you fet downe your name in the fcrowle of 
 youth, that are written downe old, with all the Charrac- 
 ters of age?Haue you not a moift eye ? a dry hand? a yel- 
 low cheeke?a white beard? a decreafing leg? an increfing 
 belly? Is not your voice brokenfyour winde fhort?your 
 wit fingle? and euery part about you blafted with Anti- 
 quity?and wil you cal your felfe yong?Fy,fy,fy, fir lobn. 
 
 Fal. My Lord,! was borne with a white hejd, & fom- 
 thing a round belly. For my voice, I haue loft it with hal- 
 lowing and finging of Anthemes. To approue my youth 
 farther,! will not: the truth is, I am onely olde in Judge- 
 ment and vnderftanding: and he that will caper with mee 
 for a thoufand Markes, let him lend me the mony,& haue 
 at him. For the boxe of th'eare that the Prince gaue you, 
 he gaue it like a rude Prince, and you tooke it like a fenfi- 
 ble Lord. I haue checkt him for it,and the yong Lion re- 
 pents : Marry not in afhes and facke-cloath, but in new 
 Silke,and old Sacke. 
 
 7a/.Wel, heauen fend- the Prince a better companion. 
 
 Fal, Heauen fend the Companion a better Prince : I 
 cannot rid my hands of him. 
 
 luft. Well, the King hath feuer'd you and Prince Har- 
 ry^ heare you are going with Lord lohn of Lancafter, a- 
 gainft the Archbifhop,and the Earle of Northumberland 
 
 Fal. Yes, I thanke your pretty fweet wit for it : but 
 looke you pray, (all you that kiffe my Ladie Peace, at 
 home)that our Armies ioyn not in a hot day: for it"! take 
 but two fhirts out with me,and I meane not to fweat ex- 
 traordinarily : if it bee a hot day, if I brandifh any thing 
 but my Bottle, would I might neuer fpit white againe : 
 There is not a daungerous Action can peepe out his head, 
 but I am thruft vpon it. Well,! cannot laft euer. 
 
 luft. Well,be honeft,be honeft,and heauen blefle your 
 Expedition. 
 
 Fal. Will your Lordfhip lend mee a thoufand pound, 
 to furnifh me forth ? 
 
 luft. Not a peny , not a peny : you are too impatient 
 to beare crofles. Fare you well. Commend mee to my 
 Cofin Weftmerland. 
 
 Fal. If I do,fillop me with a rhree-man-Beetle. A man 
 
 can no more feparate Age and CouetoufnefTe,then he can 
 
 part yong limbes and letchery : but the Gowt galles the 
 
 g 2 one ,
 
 Thefecond^Partof^ing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 one, and the pox pinches the other ; and fo both the De- 
 grees preuent my curfes. Boy ? 
 
 Page. Sir. 
 
 Fat. What money is in my purfe ? 
 
 Page. Seuen groats, and twopence. 
 
 Fal. I can get no remedy againft this Confumption of 
 the purfe. Borrowing onely lingers, and lingers it out, 
 but the difeafe is incureable. Go beare this letter to my 
 Lord of Lancafter, this to the Prince, this to the Earle of 
 Weftmerland, and this to old Miftris Vrfula, whome I 
 haue weekly fworne to marry, fmce I perceiu'd the firft 
 white haire on my chin. About it : you know where to 
 finde me. A pox of this Gowt, or a Gowt of this Poxe : 
 for the one or th'other playes the rogue with my great 
 toe : It is no matter, if I do halt, I haue the warres for my 
 colour, and my Penfion fhall feeme the more reafonable. 
 A good wit will make vfe of any thing : I will turne dif- 
 eafes to commodity. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Quarta. 
 
 Enter tArcbbiJhop , Haftings , <&fovt>bray , and 
 
 Lord 'Bardolfe. 
 
 Ar. Thus haue you heard our caufes,& kno our Means : 
 And my moft noble Friends, I pray you all 
 Speake plainly your opinions of our hopes, 
 And firft (Lord Marfhall)what fay you to it? 
 
 Man. I well allow the occafion of our Armes, 
 But gladly would be better fatisfied, 
 How (in our MeanesJ we fhoulJ aduance our felues 
 To looke with forhead bold and big enough 
 Vpon the Power and puifance of the King. 
 
 Haft, Our prefent Mufters grow vpon the File 
 To flue and twenty thoufand men of choice: 
 And our Supplies, Hue largely in the hope 
 Of great Northumberland, whofe bofome burnes 
 With an incenfed Fire of Iniuries. 
 
 L.Bar.The queftion then(Lord //a^?/g-j)ftandeth thus 
 Whether our prefent fiue and twenty thoufand 
 May hold-vp-head, without Northumberland: 
 Haft. With him, we may. 
 LfBar. I marry,there's the point: 
 But if without him we be thought to feeble, 
 My Judgement is, we fhould not ftep too farre 
 Till we had his Afsiftance by the hand. 
 For in a Theame fo bloody fac'd,as this, 
 Coniedture, Expectation, and Surmife 
 Of Aydes incertaine,fliould not be admitted. 
 
 Arch. 'Tis very true Lord f BardoIfe,for indeed 
 It was yong Hotjfiurres cafe, at Shrewsbury. 
 
 L.Bar. It was(my Lord)who lin'd himfelf with hope, 
 Eating the ayre, on promife of Supply, 
 Flatt'ring himfelfe with Proiedt of a power, 
 Much fmaller, then the fmalleft of his Thoughts, 
 And fo with great imagination 
 (Proper to mad men) led his Powers to death, 
 And f winking) leap'd into deftru&ion. 
 
 Haft. But (by your leaue)it neuer yet did hurt, 
 To lay downe likely-hoods, and formes of hope. 
 L. Bar. Yes, if this prefent quality of warre, 
 Indeed the inftant action: a caufe on foot, 
 Liues fo in hope : As in an early Spring, 
 We fee th'appearing buds, which to proue fruite, 
 Hope giues not fo much warrant, as Difpaire 
 That Frofts will bite them. When we meane to build, 
 We firft furuey the Plot, then draw the Modell, 
 
 And when we fee the figure of the houfe, 
 
 Then muft we rate the coft of the EredYion, 
 
 Which if we finde out-weighes Ability, 
 
 What do we then, but draw a-new the Modell 
 
 In fewer offices? Or at leaft, defift 
 
 To builde at all? Much more,in this great worke, 
 
 (Which is(almoft) to plucke a Kingdome downe, 
 
 And fet another vp)fhould we furuey 
 
 The plot of Situation, and the Modell; 
 
 Confent vpon a fure Foundation : 
 
 Queftion Surueyors, know our owne eftate, 
 
 How able fuch a Worke to vndergo, 
 
 To weigh againft his Oppolite? Or elfe, 
 
 We fortifie in Paper,and in Figures, 
 
 Vfing the Names of men, inftead of men : 
 
 Like one, that drawes the Modell of a houfe 
 
 Beyond his power to builde it; who(halfe through) 
 
 Giues o' re, and leaues his part-created Coft 
 
 A naked fubiedt to the Weeping Clouds, 
 
 And wafte, for churlifh Winters tyranny. 
 
 Haft. Grant that our hopes(yet likely of faire byrth) 
 Should be ftill-borne ; and that we now pofleft 
 The vtmoft man of expectation : 
 I thinke we are a Body ftrong enough 
 
 (Euen as we are) to equall with the King. 
 
 .L. 'Bar. What is the King but fiue & twenty thoufand ? 
 Haft. To vs no more : nay not fo much Lord 'Bardolf. 
 
 For his diuifions (as the Times do braul) 
 
 Are in three Heads : one Power againft the French, 
 
 And one againft Glendotrer: Perforce a third 
 
 Muft take vp vs : So is the vnfirme King 
 
 In three diuided : and his Coffers found 
 
 With hollow Pouerty,and Emptinefle. 
 
 tAr.That he fliould draw his feuerall ftrengths togither 
 
 And come againft vs in full puiflance 
 
 Need not be dreaded. 
 
 Haft. If he fhould do fo, 
 
 He leaues his backe vnarm'd, the French, and Welch 
 
 Baying him at the heeles : neuer feare that. 
 
 L.Bar. Who is it like fhould lead his Forces hither ? 
 Haft. The Duke of Lancafter, and Weftmerland : 
 
 Againft the Welfh himfelfe, and Harrle Monmoutb. 
 
 But who is fubftituted 'gainft the French, 
 
 I haue no certaine notice. 
 Arch. Let vs on : 
 
 And publifh the occafion of our Armes. 
 
 The Common-wealth is ficke of their owne Choice, 
 
 Their ouer-greedy loue hath furfetted : 
 
 An habitation giddy, and vnfure 
 
 Hath he that buildeth on the vulgar heart. 
 
 O thou fond Many, with what loud applaufe 
 
 Did'ft thou beate heauen with blefling f Bullingbroo](e, 
 
 Before he was, what thou would'ft haue him be? 
 
 And being now trimm'd in thine owne defires, 
 
 Thou (beaftly Feeder)art fo full of him, 
 
 That thou prouok'ft thy felfe to caft him vp . 
 
 So,fo,(thou common Dogge) did'ft thou difgorge 
 
 Thy glutton-bofome of the Royall Richard, 
 
 And now thou would'ft eate thy dead vomit vp, 
 
 And howl'ft to finde it. What truft is in thel'e Times ? 
 
 They,that when Richard liu'd, would haue him dye, 
 
 Are now become enamour'd on his graue. 
 
 Thou that threw'ft duft vpon his goodly head 
 
 When through proud London he came fighing on, 
 
 After th'admired heeles ofBuHingbroo^e, 
 
 Cri'ft now, O Earth, yeeld vs that King agine, 
 
 And
 
 Tbefecond'Part ofl^jng Henry the Fourth. 
 
 79 
 
 And take thou this (O thoughts of men accurs'd) 
 " P 'aft, and to Come, J'eemes heft; things Prefent,worft. 
 
 Mow. Shall we go draw our numbers, and fet on ? 
 
 HasI.We are Times fubiedls, and Time bids, be gon. 
 
 ASlusSecundus. Sc&nafrima. 
 
 Enter Hofteffe, with two Officers , Fang, and Snare. 
 
 HofleJJe. Mr.EzH^,haue you entred the Aftion? 
 
 Fang. It is enter'd. 
 
 HoHeffe. Wher's your Yeoman/ Is it a lufty yeoman? 
 Will he ftand to it ? 
 
 Fang. Sirrah, where's Snare? 
 
 HoSieJfe. I, I, good M. Snare. . 
 
 Snare. Heere, heere. 
 
 Fang. Snare, we muft Arreft Sir lohn Falftaffe. 
 
 Hoji. I good M. Snare, I haue enter'd him, and all. 
 
 Sn.lt may chance coft fome of vs our liues:he wil ftab 
 
 He/left. Alas the day: take heed of him : he ftabd me 
 in mine owne houfe, and that moft beaftly : he cares not 
 what mifcheefe he doth, if his weapon be out. Hee will 
 foyne like any diuell, he will fpare neither man, woman, 
 nor childe. 
 
 Fang. If I can clofe with him, I care not for his thruft. 
 
 HofteJJe. No, nor I neither : He be at your elbow. 
 
 Fang. If I but fift him once:if he come but within my 
 Vice. 
 
 Hoft. I am vndone with his going:! warrant he is an 
 infinitiue thing vpon my fcore. Good M.Fang hold him 
 fure:good M. Snare let him not fcape, he comes continu- 
 antly to Py-Corner(fauing your manhoods)to buy a fad- 
 die, and hee is indited to dinner to the Lubbars head in 
 Lombardftreet, to M. Smoothes the Silkman.I pra'ye, fince 
 my Exion is enter'd, and my Cafe fo openly known to the 
 world, let him be brought in to his anfwer: A loo.Marke 
 is a long one, for a poore lone woman to beare: & I haue 
 borne,and borne,and borne, and haue bin fub'doff, and 
 fub'd-off, from this day to that day, that it is a fhame to 
 be thought on.There is no honefty in fuch dealing, vnles 
 a woman mould be made an Afie and a Beaft, to beare e- 
 uery Knaues wrong. Enter Falftaffe and Bardolfe. 
 
 Yonder he comes, and that arrant Malmefey-Nofe Bar- 
 dolfe with him. Do your Offices, do your offices:M..Fimg-, 
 & M.Snare,do me, do me, do me your Offices. 
 
 .FW.How nowfwhofe Mare's dead?what's the matter ? 
 
 Fang. Sir lohn,! arreft you, at the fuit of Mift.^a/V^/y. 
 
 Falft. Away Varlets, draw <Bardolfe : Cut me off the 
 Villaines head: throw the Queane in the Channel. 
 
 HoJl.Throw me in the channell? He throw thee there. 
 Wilt thou?wilt thou'Jthou baftardly rogue. Murder, mur- 
 der, O thou Hony-fuckle villaine,wilt thou kill Gods of- 
 ficers, and the Kings? O thou hony-feed Rogue, thou art 
 a honyfeed,a Man-quel!er,and a woman-queller. 
 
 Falft. Keep them off, Bardolfe. Fang. A refcu,a refcu. 
 
 Hoft. Good people bring a refcu.Thou wilt not?thou 
 wilt not? Do, do thou Rogue: Do thou Hempfeed. 
 
 Page. Away you Scullion, you Rampallian, you Fuftil- 
 lirian:Ile tucke your Cataftrophe. Enter. Cb.Iuftice. 
 
 luft. What's the matter? Keepe the Peace here, hoa. 
 Hoft. Good my Lord be good to mee. I befeech you 
 ftand to me. 
 
 Ch.Iuft.How now fir Join? What are you brauling here? 
 Doth this become your place, your time,and bufineffe? 
 You fhould haue bene well on your way to Yorke. 
 Stand from him Fellow ; wherefore hang'ft vpon him f 
 
 381 
 
 Hoft. Oh my moft worfliipfull Lord,and*t pleafe your 
 Grace, I am a poore widdow of Eaftcheap, and he is arre- 
 fted at my fuit. Ch. 7/?.For what fumme ? 
 
 Hoft. It is more then for fome(my Lord)it is for all: all 
 I haue, he hath eaten me out of houfe and home; hee hath 
 put all my fubftance into that fat belly of his : but I will 
 haue fome of it out againe, or I will ride thee o'Nights, 
 like the Mare. 
 
 Falft. I thinke I am as like to ride the Mare, if I haue 
 any vantage of ground, to get vp. 
 
 Ch:Iuft. How comes this,Sir lohn ? Fy, what a man of 
 good temper would endure this tempeft of exclamation ? 
 Are you not afham'd to inforce a poore Widdowe to fo 
 rough a courfe, to come by her owne ? 
 
 Falft. What is the grofle fumme that I owe thee? 
 
 Hoft. Marry (if thou wer't an honeft man)thy felfe,& 
 the mony too. Thou didft fweare to mee vpon a parcell 
 gilt Goblet, fitting in my Dolphin-chamber at the round 
 table, by a fea-cole fire, on Wednefday in Whitfon week, 
 when the Prince broke thy head forlik'ning him to a fin- 
 ging man of Windforj Thou didft fweare to me then(as I 
 was wafhing thy wound)to marry me, and make mee my 
 Lady thy wife.Canft y deny it ? Did not goodwife Keecb 
 the Butchers wife come in then, and cal me goffip ^uic{- 
 /y? comming in to borrow a mefle of Vinegar: telling vs, 
 flie had a good difh of Prawnes:whereby y didft defire to 
 eat fome : whereby I told thee they were ill for a greene 
 wound? And didft not thou ( when fhe was gone downe 
 ftaires)defire me to be no more familiar with fuch poore 
 people, faying, that ere long they fhould call me Madam? 
 And did'ft y not kifTe me, and bid mee fetch thee 30.5 ? I 
 put thee now to thy Book-oath, deny it if thou canft? 
 
 Fal. My Lord, this is a poore mad foule:and fhe fayes 
 vp & downe the town, that her eldeft fon is like you. She 
 hath bin in good cafe,& the truth is, pouerty hath diftra- 
 cled her : but for thefe foolifh Officers, I befeech you, I 
 may haue redrefle againft them. 
 
 luft. Sir lohn, fir John, I am well acquainted with your 
 maner of wrenching the true caufe, the falfe way. It is not 
 a confident brow, nor the throng of wordes, that come 
 with fuch (more then impudent) fawcines from you, can 
 thruft me from a leuell confederation,! know you ha' pra- 
 &is'd vpon the eafie-yeelding fpirit of this woman. 
 
 Hoft. Yes in troth my Lord. 
 
 7i//?.Prethee peace:pay her the debt you owe her, and 
 vnpay the villany you haue done henthe one you may do 
 with fterling mony, & the other with currant repentance, 
 
 Fal. My Lord, I will not vndergo this fneape without 
 reply. You call honorable Boldnes, impudent SawcinefTe: 
 If a man wil curt'fie,and fay nothing,he is vertuous : No, 
 my Lord(your humble duty remebred)! will not be your 
 (utor.I fay to you, I defire deliu'rance from thefe Officers 
 being vpon hafty employment in the Kings Affaires. 
 
 luft. You fpeake, as hauing power to do wrong : But 
 anfwer in the effect of your Reputation, and fatisfie the 
 poore woman. 
 
 Falft. Come hither Hoftefle. Enter M. Cower 
 
 Cb.Iuft. Now Mafter Cmer; What newes ? 
 
 GW.The King(my Lord) and Henrie Prince of Wales 
 Are neere at hand: The reft the Paper telles. 
 
 Falft. As I am a Gentleman. 
 Hoft. Nay,you faid fo before. 
 Fal. As I am a Gentleman. Come, no more words of it 
 
 Hoft. By this Heauenly ground I tread on, I muft be 
 faine to pawne both my Plate, and the Tapiftry of my dy- 
 ning Chambers. 
 
 g 3 Felft.
 
 8o 
 
 Thefecond ^Part offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 Fa/. GlafTes, glafies, is the onely drinking : and for 
 thy walles a pretty flight Drollery, or the Storie of the 
 Prodigall, or the Germane hunting in Waterworke, is 
 worih a thoufand of thefe Bed-hangings, and thefe Fly- 
 bitten Tapiftries. Let it be tenne pound (if thou canft.) 
 Come, if it were not for thy humors, there is not a better 
 Wench in England. Go, wafli thy face, and draw thy 
 Action : Come, thou muft not bee in this humour with 
 me, come, I know thou was't fet on to this. 
 
 Hoft. Prethee ( Sir lobn) let it be but twenty Nobles, 
 I loath to pawne my Plate, in good earned la. 
 
 Fat, Let it alone, He make other fhift : you'l be a fool 
 ftill. 
 
 Hoft. Well, you fhall haue it although I pawne my 
 Gowne. I hope you'l come to Supper: You'l pay me al- 
 together ? 
 
 Fal. Will I liuef Go with her, with her : hooke-on, 
 hooke-on. 
 
 Hoft. Will you haue Doll Teart-fhcet meet you at fup- 
 per/ 
 
 Fal. No more words. Let's haue her. 
 
 Cb.Iutt. I haue heard bitter newes. 
 
 Fal What's the newes (my good Lord?) 
 
 Cb.Iu. Where lay the King laft night? 
 
 MeJ. At Bafingftoke my Lord. 
 
 Fal. I hope (my Lord,) all's well. What is the newes 
 my Lord ? 
 
 Cb.Iu/}. Come all his Forces backe ? 
 
 Mef. No: Fifteene hundred Foot, fiue hundred Horfe 
 Are march'd vp to my Lord of Lancafter, 
 Againft Northumberland, and the Archbilhop. 
 
 Fal. Comes the King backe from Wales, my noble L? 
 
 Cb.IuJt. You /hall haue Letters of me presently. 
 Come, go along with me, good M. Gown. 
 
 Fal. My Lord. 
 
 Cb.Iu/}. What's the matter ? 
 
 Fal. Mafter Genre, fhall I entreate you with mee to 
 dinner ? 
 
 Gov. I muft waite vpon my good Lord heere. 
 I thanke you, good Sir John. 
 
 Cb.Iuft. Sir Iobn,you loyter heere too long, being you 
 are to take Souldiers vp, in Countries as you go. 
 
 Fal. Will you fup with me, Mafter Gvnre? 
 
 Cb.Iuft. What foolifh Mafter taught you thefe man- 
 ners, Sir lobn ? 
 
 Fal. Mafter Cover, if they become mee not, hee was a 
 Foole that taught them mee. This is the right Fencing 
 grace (my Lord) tap for tap, and fo part faire. 
 
 Cb.Iu/}. Now the Lord lighten thee, thou art a great 
 Foole. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Prince Henry, Point*, 'Bardolfe, 
 
 and Page. 
 
 Prln. Truft me, I am exceeding weary. 
 Pain. Is it come to that? I had thought wearines durft 
 not haue attach'd one of fo high blood. 
 
 Prln. It doth me: though it difcolours the complexion 
 of my Greatnefle to acknowledge it. Doth it not fliew 
 yildely in me, to defire fmall Beere ? 
 
 Pain. Why, a Prince fhould not be fo loofely ftudied, 
 
 as to remember fo weake a Compofition. 
 
 Prince. Belike then, my Appetite was not Princely 
 got : for (in troth) I do now remember the poore Crea- 
 ture, Small Beere. But indeede thefe humble confedera- 
 tions make me out of loue with my Greatnefle. What a 
 difgrace is it to me, to remember thy name? Or to know 
 thy face to morrow ? Or to take note how many paire of 
 Silk ftockings y haft? (Viz. thefe,and thofe that were thy 
 peach-colour'd ones: ) Or to beare the Inuentorie of thy 
 fhirts, as one for fuperfluity, and one other, for vfe. But 
 that the Tennis-Court-keeper knowes better then I, for 
 it is a low ebbe of Linnen with thee, when thou kept'ft 
 not Racket there, as thou haft not done a great while, be- 
 caufe the reft of thy Low Countries, haue made a fliift to 
 eate vp thy Holland. 
 
 Pain. How ill it followes, after you haue labour'd fo 
 hard, you fhould talke fo idlely? Tell me how many good 
 yong Princes would do fo, their Fathers lying fo ficke, as 
 yours is ? 
 
 Prln. Shall I tell thee one thing, Point* f . 
 
 Poln. Yes : and let it be an excellent good thing. 
 
 Prln. It fliall ftrue among wittes of no higher breed- 
 ing then thine. 
 
 Toin. Go to : I ftand the pufli of your one thing, that 
 you'l tell. 
 
 Prln. Why, I tell thee, it is not meet, that I fhould be 
 fad now my Father is ficke : albeit I could tell to thee (as 
 to one it pleafes me, for fault of a better, to call my friend) 
 I could be fad, and fad indeed too. 
 
 Poln. Very hardly, vpon fuch a fubiedl. 
 
 Prln. Thou think'ft me as farre in the Diuels Booke, as 
 thou, and Falftaffe, for obduracie and perfiftencie. Let the 
 end try the man. But I tell thee, my hart bleeds inward- 
 ly, that my Father is fo ficke : and keeping fuch vild com- 
 pany as thou art, hath in reafon taken from me, all often- 
 tation of forrow. 
 
 Poln. The reafon ? 
 
 frin. What would'ft thou think of me, if I fhold weep ? 
 
 Poln. I would thinke thee a moft Princely hypocrite. 
 
 Prln. It would be euery mans thought : and thou art 
 a blefled Fellow, to thinke as euery man thinkes : neuer a 
 mans thought in the world, keepes the Rode-way better 
 then thine : euery man would thinke me an Hypocrite in- 
 deede. And what accites your moft worfliipful thought 
 to thinke fo ? 
 
 Poln. Why,becaufe you haue beene fo lewde, and fo 
 much ingrafted to Falftaffe. 
 
 Prln. And to thee. 
 
 Polntz. Nay, I am well fpoken of, I can heare it with 
 mine owne eares:the worft that they can fay of me is, that 
 I am a fecond Brother, and that I am a proper Fellowe of 
 my hands : and thofe two things I confeffe I canot helpe. 
 Looke,looke, here comes 'Bardolfe. 
 
 Prince. And the Boy that I gaue Falftaffe, he had him 
 from me Chriftian,and fee if the fat villain haue not trans 
 form'd him Ape. 
 
 Enter Eardolfe. 
 
 f Bffr. Saue your Grace. 
 
 Prln. And yours, moft Noble 'Eardolfe. 
 
 Poln. Come you pernitious Afl"e,you bafhfull Foole, 
 muft you be blufhing ? Wherefore blufli you now? what 
 a Maidenly man at Armes are you become ? Is it fuch a 
 matter to get a Pottle-pots Maiden-head f 
 
 Page. He call'd me euen now (my Lord)through a red 
 Lattice, and I could difcerne no part of his face from the 
 
 window:
 
 Thefecond ^Part offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 81 
 
 window : at laft I fpy'd his eyes, and me thought he had 
 made two holes in the Ale-wiues new Petticoat, & pee- 
 ped through. 
 
 Prin. Hath not the boy profited ? 
 
 'Bar. Away, you horfon vpright Rabbet,away. 
 
 Page. Away, you rafcally Altbeas dreame,away. 
 
 Prin. Inftrutt vsBoy : what dreame, Boy ? 
 
 Page. Marry (my Lord) tAlthea dream'd, me was de- 
 liuer'd of a Firebrand, and therefore I call him hir dream. 
 
 Prince. A Crownes-worth of good Interpretation : 
 There it is, Boy. 
 
 Pain. O that this good Bloflbme could bee kept from 
 Cankers : Well, there is fix pence to preferue thee. 
 
 'Bard. If you do not make him be hang'd among you, 
 the gallowes fhall be wrong'd. 
 
 Prince. And how doth thy Mafter, Bardolpb* 
 
 'Bar. Well, my good Lord : he heard of your Graces 
 comming to Towne. There's a Letter for you. 
 
 foin. Deliuer'd with good refpect: And how doth the 
 Martlemas, your Mafter ? 
 
 'Bard. In bodily health Sir. 
 
 Poin f Marry, the immortall part needes a Phyfirian : 
 but that moues not him : though that bee ficke, it dyes 
 not. 
 
 Prince. I do allow this Wen to bee as familiar with 
 me, as my dogge : and he holds his place, for looke you 
 he writes. 
 
 Poin. Letter. lohn Falftaffe Knigbt \ (Euery man mud 
 know that,as oft as hee hath occafion to name himfelfe:) 
 Euen like thofe that are kinnetothe King, for they neuer 
 pricke their finger, but they fay, there is fom of the kings 
 blood fpilt. How comes that ( fayes he) that takes vpon 
 him not to conceiue? the anfwer is as ready as a borrow- 
 ed cap : I am the Kings poore Cofin,Sir. 
 
 Prince. Nay, they will be kin to vs, but they wil fetch 
 
 it from lapbet. But to the Letter: Sir lobn Faljiaffe, 
 
 Knight, to the Sonne of the King, neereft bis Father, Harris 
 Prince of Wales , greeting. 
 
 Poin. Why this is a Certificate. 
 
 Prin. Peace. 
 / will imitate the honourable Romaines in breuitie. 
 
 fain. Sure he meanes breuity in breath:mort-winded. 
 / commend me to tbee, I commend tbee,and I leaue tbee. Bee 
 not too familiar with Pointz, for bee mifujes thy Fauoursfo 
 much, that be ftveares tbou art to marrie bis Sifter Nell. Re- 
 pent at idle times 06 tbou mayft, and fo farewell. 
 
 Thine, by yea and no : which # as v.ucb as to fay, as tbou 
 
 vfeft him. lacke Falftaffe -with my Familiars: 
 
 lohn with my 'Brothers and Sifter:&Sir 
 
 lohn, with all Europe. 
 
 My Lord, I will fteepe this Letter in Sack, and make him 
 eate it. 
 
 Prin. That's to make him eate twenty of his Words. 
 But do you vfe me thus Ned'? Muft I marry your Sifter? 
 
 Toin. May the Wench haue no worfe Fortune. But I 
 neuer faid fo. 
 
 Prin. Well, thus we play the Fooles with the time,& 
 the fpirits of the wife,fit in the clouds,and mocke vs : Is 
 your Mafter heere in London? 
 
 'Bard. Yes my Lord. 
 
 Prin. Where fuppes he ? Doth the old Bore, feede in 
 the old Franke? 
 
 'Bard. At the old place my Lord, in Eaft-cheape. 
 
 Trin. What Company ? 
 
 Page. Ephefians my Lord, of the old Church. 
 
 Prin. Sup any women with him ? 
 
 38} 
 
 Page. None my Lord, but old Miftris Quickly, znA M. 
 Doll Teare-Jbeet. 
 
 Prin. What Pagan may that be ? 
 
 Page' A proper Gentlewoman, Sir, and a Kinfwoman 
 of my Mafters. 
 
 trin. Euen fuch Kin, as the Pari/h Heyfors are to the 
 Towne-Bull ? 
 Shall wefteale vpon them (Ned) at Supper? 
 
 Poin. I am your madow,my Lord, lie follow you. 
 
 Prin. Sirrah, you boy, and 'Bardolph, no word to your 
 Mafter that I am yet in Towne. 
 There's for your filence. 
 
 Bar. I haue no tongue, fir. 
 
 Page. And for mine Sir, I will gouerne it. 
 
 Prin. Fare ye well: go. 
 This Doll Teare-Jheet mould be fome Rode. 
 
 Poin. I warrant you, as common as the way betweene 
 S.Albans,and London, 
 
 Prin. How might we fee Falftaffe beftow himfelfe to 
 night, in his true colours, and not our felues be feenef 
 
 Poin. Put on two Leather lerkins, and Aprons, and 
 waite vpon him at his Table, like Drawers. 
 
 Prin. From a God, to a Bull? A heauie declenfion : It 
 was loues cafe. From a Prince, to a Prentice,a low tranf- 
 formation, that mall be mine: for in euery thing, the pur- 
 pofe muft weigh with the folly. Follow me Ned. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Tertia. 
 
 Enter Northumberland bis Ladie,and Harrie 
 Percies Ladie. 
 
 North. I prethee louing Wife, and gentle Daughter, 
 Giue an euen way vnto my rough Affaires: 
 Put not you on the viiage of the Times, 
 And be like them to Percie, troublefome. 
 
 JPife. I haue giuen ouer, I will fpeak no more, 
 Do what you will : your Wifedome, be your guide. 
 
 North. Alas(fweet Wife) my Honor is at pawne, 
 And but my going, nothing can redeeme it. 
 
 La. Oh yet, for heauens fake, go not to thefe Warrs ; 
 The Time was (Father) when you broke your word, 
 When you were more endeer'd to it, then now, 
 When your owne Percy, when my heart-deere-Harry, 
 Threw many a Northward looke, to fee his Father 
 Bring vp his Powres : but he did long in vaine. 
 Who then perfwaded you to ftay at home ? 
 There were two Honors loft; Yours, and your Sonnes. 
 For Yours,may heauenly glory brighten it: 
 For His, it ftucke vpon him, as the Sunne 
 In the gray vault of Heauen : and by his Light 
 Did all the Cheualrie of England moue 
 To do braue Acls. He was ( indeed )the Glafle 
 Wherein the Noble-Youth did dreffe themfelues. 
 He had no Legges, that pradlic'd not his Gate : 
 And fpeaking thicke ('which Nature made his blemifh) 
 Became the Accents of the Valiant. 
 For thofe that could fpeake low, and tardily, 
 Would turne their owne Perfection, to Abufe, 
 To feeme like him. So that in Speech, in Gate, 
 In Diet, in Affections of delight, 
 In Militarie Rules, Humors of Blood,
 
 82 
 
 Thefecond ''Part offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 He was the Marke,and Glafle, Coppy,and Booke, 
 That fafliion'd others. And him, O wondrous! him, 
 
 Miracle of Men ! Him did you leaue 
 (Second to none) vn-feconded by you, 
 To looke vpon the hideous God of Warre, 
 In dif-aduantage,to abide a field, 
 
 Where nothing but the found of Hotjpun Name 
 Did feeme defenfible : fo you left him. 
 Neuer,O neuer doe his Ghoft the wrong, 
 To hold your Honor more precife and nice 
 With others,then with him. Let them alone : 
 The Marshall and the Arch-bifhop are ftrong. 
 Had my fweet Harry had but halfe their Numbers, 
 To day might I (hanging on Hotfyun Necke) 
 Haue talk'd of sflfonmoutb's Graue. 
 
 North. Befluew your heart, 
 
 (Faire Daughter) you doe draw my Spirits from me, 
 With new lamenting ancient Ouer-fights. 
 But I muft goe,and meet with Danger there, 
 Or it will feeke me in another place, 
 And finde me worfe prouided. 
 
 Wife. O flye to Scotland, 
 Till that the Nobles,and the armed Commons, 
 Haue of their Puiflance made a little tafte. 
 
 Lady. If they get ground, and vantage of the King, 
 Then ioyne you with them, like a Ribbe of Steele, 
 To make Strength ftronger. But, for all our loues, 
 Firft let them trye themfelues. So did your Sonne, 
 He was (b fuffer'd ; fo came I a Widow : 
 And neuer fttall haue length of Life enough, 
 Toraine vpon Remembrance with mine Eyes, 
 That it may grow,and fprowt, as high as Heauen, 
 For Recordation to my Noble Husband. 
 
 .M>r/>.Come,come,go in with me:'tis with my Minde 
 As with the Tyde,fwell % d vp vnto his height, 
 That makes a ftill-ftand, running neyther way. 
 Faine would I goe to meet the Arch-bi/hop, 
 But many thoufand Reafons hold me backe. 
 
 1 will r el blue for Scotland : there am I, 
 
 Till Time and Vantage craue my company. Exeunt. 
 
 Sctena Quarta. 
 
 Enter two Drawers. 
 
 1. Dr enter. What haft thou brought there? Apple- 
 lohns? Thou know'ft Sir lobn cannot endure an Apple- 
 lohn . 
 
 z.Draw. Thou fay'ft true : the Prince once fet a Difli 
 of Apple-Iohns before him, and told him there were fiue 
 more Sir lobns: and, putting off his Hat,faid,I will now 
 take my leaue of thefe fixe drie, round, old-wither'd 
 Knights. It anger'd him to the heart : but hee hath for- 
 got that. 
 
 I. Draw. Why then couer, and fet them downe : and 
 fee if thou canft finde out Snea^es Noyfe ; Miftris Teare- 
 jheet would faine haue fome Mufique. 
 
 2. Draw. Sirrha, heere will be the Prince, and Mafter 
 Pc/a/j,anon : and they will put on two of our lerkins, 
 and Aprons, and Sir lobn muft not know of it : f Bardolpb 
 hath brought word. 
 
 i . Draw. Then here will be old Vtit : it will be an ex- 
 cellent ftratagem. 
 
 2. Draw. lie fee if I can finde out Sneaig. Exit. 
 Enter Hoftejft, and 'Dol. 
 
 HoJ}. Sweet-heart, me thinkes now you are in an ex- 
 cellent good temperalitie : your Pulfidge beates as ex- 
 traordinarily, as heart would defire ; and your Colour 
 (I warrant you) is as red as any Rofe : But you haue 
 drunke too much Canaries, and that's a maruellous fear- 
 ching Wine ; and it perfumes the blood, ere wee can fay 
 what's this. How doe you now ? 
 
 Dot. Better then 1 was : Hem. 
 
 HoJ}. Why that was well faid : A good heart's worth 
 Gold. Looke, here comes Sir lobn. 
 
 Enter Faljlafe. 
 
 Falft. When Arthur frjt in Court (emptie the lordan) 
 and was a worthy King: How now Miftris W? 
 
 Hoff. Sick of a Calme : yea,good-footh. 
 
 Falil. So is all her Se& : if they be once in a Calme, 
 they are fick. 
 
 Dot. You muddle Rafcall,is that all the comfort you 
 giue me ? 
 
 Falft. You make fat Rafcalls, Miftris 'Dol. 
 
 Dot. I make them ? Gluttonie and Difeafes make 
 them, I make them not. 
 
 Falft. If the Cooke make the Gluttonie, you helpe to 
 make the Difeafes (^Dol) we catch of you (Dol) we catch 
 of you : Grant that,my poore Vertue, grant that. 
 
 'Dol. I marry, our Chaynes,and our lewels. 
 
 Falft. Your Brooches, Pearles, and Owches : For to 
 feme brauely,is to come halting off: you know, to come 
 off the Breach, with his Pike bent brauely, and to Surge- 
 rie brauely ; to venture vpon the charg'd-Chambers 
 brauely. 
 
 Hoft. Why this is the olde fafhion : you two neuer 
 meete,but you fall to fome difcord : you are both (in 
 good troth) as Rheumatike as two drie Toftes, you can- 
 not one beare with anothers Confirmities. What the 
 good-yere ? One muft beare, and that muft bee you : 
 you are the weaker VefTell ; as they fay, the emptier 
 VefTell. 
 
 Dol. Can a weake emptie Vefiell beare fuch a huge 
 full Hogs-head f There's a whole Marchants Venture 
 of Burdeux-Stuffe in him: you haue not feene a Hulke 
 better ftufft in the Hold. Come, lie be friends with thee 
 lacfy : Thou art going to the Warres, and whether I 
 fhall euer fee thee againe, or no, there is no body 
 cares. 
 
 Enter 'Drawer. 
 
 Drawer. Sir, Ancient PiSloll is below, and would 
 fpeake with you. 
 
 'Dol. Hang him, fwaggering Rafcall , let him not 
 come hither : it is the foule-mouth'dft Rogue in Eng- 
 land. 
 
 Hoft. If hee fwagger, let him not come here : I muft 
 Hue amongft my Neighbors, He no Swaggerers : I am 
 in good name, and fame, with the very beft : fliut the 
 doore, there comes no Swaggerers heere : I haue not 
 liu'd all this while, to haue fwaggering now : fliut the 
 doore, I pray you. 
 
 Falft. Do'ft thou heare,Hoftefle ? 
 
 Hcft.'Pray you pacific your felfe(Sir /is&)there comes 
 no Swaggerers heere. 
 
 Falft.Do'A
 
 < Tbefecor\d <: Part ofKjng Henry the Fourth. 
 
 Falsi. Do'ft thou hearer it is mine Ancient. 
 
 Hi.St. Tilly-fally(Sir /o)neuer tell me, your ancient 
 Swaggerer comes not in my doores, I was before Mafter 
 Tificl^ the Deputie, the other day: and as hee (aid to me, 
 it was no longer agoe then Wednefday laft : Neighbour 
 Quicty (fayes hee;) Mafter Dombt,o\ir Minifter, was by 
 then : Neighbour Quickly (fayes heej receiue thofe that 
 are Ciuill ; for (fayth hee) you are in an ill Name : now 
 hee faid fo, I can tell whereupon : for(fayes hee) you are 
 an honeft Woman, and well thought on ; therefore take 
 heede what Guefts you receiue : Receiue (fayes hee) no 
 fwaggering Companions. There comes none heere. You 
 would blefle you to heare what hee laid. No, lie no 
 Swaggerers. 
 
 Faljt. Hee's no Swaggerer(Hoftefle: )a tame Cheater, 
 hee: you may ftroake him as gently, as a Puppie Grey- 
 hound : hee will not fwagger with a Barbaric Henne, if 
 her feathers turne backe in any fhew of refiftance. Call 
 him vp (Drawer.) 
 
 Hojt. Cheater, call you him ? I will barre no honeft 
 man my houfe, nor no Cheater : but I doe not loue fwag- 
 gering ; I am the worfe when one fayes, fwagger : Feele 
 Matters, how 1 fliake: looke you, I warrant you. 
 
 Dol. So you doe, Hofteffe. 
 
 Hofl. Doe I ? yea, in very truth doe I, if it were an Af- 
 pen Leafe : I cannot abide Swaggerers. 
 
 Enter Pijtol,and 'Bardolpb and bu Boy, 
 
 Pifl. 'Saue you, Sir lobn. 
 
 Falfl. Welcome Ancient Pijlol. Here(P//?e/)I charge 
 you with a Cup of Sacke : doe you difcharge vpon mine 
 HoftefTe. 
 
 Pi/I. I will difcharge vpon her (Sir lobn) with two 
 Bullets. 
 
 Fa/ft. She is Piftoll-proofe (Sir) you fliall hardly of- 
 fend her. 
 
 Hofl. Come,Ile drinke no Proofes,nor no Bullets: I 
 will drinke no more then will doe me good, for no mans 
 plea fu re, I. 
 
 Pi/I. Then to you (Miftris Dorotbie) I will charge 
 you. 
 
 'Dol. Charge me ? I fcorne you (fcuruie Companion) 
 what? you poore, bafe, rafcally, cheating, lacke-Linnen- 
 Mate : away you mouldie Rogue,away; I am meat for 
 your Mafter. 
 
 Pift. I know you, Miftris Dorothie. 
 
 Dot. Away you Cut-purfe Rafcall, you filthy Bung, 
 away : By this Wine, He thruft my Knife in your mouldie 
 Chappes,if you play the fawcie Cuttle with me. Away 
 you Bottle- Ale Rafcall, you Basket-hilt ftale Iugler,you. 
 Since when, I pray you,Sir? what, with two Points on 
 your ftijulder ? much. 
 
 2V/?. I will murcher your Ruffe, for this. 
 
 Hofl. No, good Captaine Piflol : not heere, fweete 
 Captaine. 
 
 Dol. Captaine ? thou abhominable damn'd Cheater, 
 art thou not afham'd to be call'd Captaine? If Captaines 
 were of my minde,they would trunchion you out, for ta- 
 king their Names vpon you, before you haue earn'd them. 
 You a Captaine? you (hue, for what ? for tearing a poore 
 Whores Ruffe in a Bawdy-houfe? Hee a Captaine? hang 
 him Rogue, hee liues vpon mouldie ftew'd-Pruines, and 
 dry'de Cakes. A Captaine ? Thefe Villaines will make 
 the word Captaine odious : Therefore Captaines had 
 needc looke to it. 
 
 385 
 
 Bard. 'Pray thee goe downe, good Ancient. 
 
 Falfl. Hearke thee hither, Miftris Dol. 
 
 PisJ. Not I : I tell thee what, Corporall 'Bardolpby I 
 could teare her : lie be reueng'd on her. 
 
 Page. 'Pray thee goe downe. 
 
 Pifl. He fee her damn'd firft: to Pluto's damn'd Lake, 
 to the Infernall Deepe, where Erebiu and Tortures viide 
 alfo. Hold Hooke and Line, fay I : Downe : downe 
 Doggesjdowne Fates: haue wee not Hiren here? 
 
 Ho/}. Good Captaine PeeJ'el be quiet, it is very late : 
 I befeeke you now, aggrauate your Choler. 
 
 Pift. Thefe be good Humors indeede. Shall Pack- 
 Horfes, and hollow-pamper'd lades of Afia, which can- 
 not goe but thirtie miles a day, compare with Caejar, and 
 with Caniballs,and Troian Greekes? nay, rather damne 
 them with King drberM,zn.A let the Welkin roare: fliall 
 wee fall foule for Toyes? 
 
 Hoft. By my troth Captaine, thefe are very bitter 
 words. 
 
 'Bard. Be gone, good Ancient : this will grow to a 
 Brawle anon. 
 
 Fiji. Die men, like Doggesjgiue Crownes like Pinnes: 
 Haue we not Hiren here ? 
 
 Hofl. On my word (Captaine) there's none fuch here. 
 What the good-yere,doe you thinke I would denye her ? 
 I pray be quiet. 
 
 Pih. Then feed, and be fat (my faire QalipoKs.') Come, 
 giue me fome Sack, Si fortune me tormente, Jperato me con- 
 tente. Feare wee broad-fides f No, let the Fiend giue fire: 
 Giue me fome Sack : and Sweet-heart lye thou there : 
 Come wee to full Points here , and are et cetera*! no- 
 thing ? 
 
 Fal. PiSlol,l would be quiet. 
 
 Pisl. Sweet Knight,! kifle thy Neaffe: what? wee haue 
 feene the feuen Starres. 
 
 Dol. Thruft him downe ftayres, I cannot endure fuch 
 a Fuftian Rafcall. 
 
 Pi/}. Thruft him downe ftayres ? know we not Gallo- 
 way Nagges ? 
 
 Fal. Quoit him downe (Bardolph) like a flioue-groat 
 fliilling : n=iy,if hee doe nothing but fpeake nothing, hee 
 fhall be nothing here. 
 
 f Bard. Come, get you downe ftayres. 
 
 Pifl. What ? fliall wee haue Incifion ? fliall wee em- 
 brew ? then Death rocke me afleepe, abridge my dolefull 
 dayes : why then let grieuous, gaftly, gaping Wounds, 
 vntwin'd the Sifters three: Come sitropos,l fay. 
 
 Hcff. Here's good ftuffe toward. 
 
 Fal. Giue me my Rapier, Boy. 
 
 Dol. I prethee lac/^, 1 prethee doe not draw. 
 
 Fal. Get you downe ftayres. 
 
 Hofl. Here's a goodly tumult : lie forfweare keeping 
 houfe,before lie be in thefe tirrits,and frights. So: Mur- 
 ther I warrant now. Alas, alas, put vp your naked Wea- 
 pons, put vp your naked Weapons. 
 
 Dol. I prethee lac^_ be quiet, the Rafcall is gone : ah, 
 you whorfon little valiant Villaine,you. 
 
 Hotf. Are you not hurt i'th'Groyne ? me thought hee 
 made a flirewd Thruft at your Belly. 
 
 Fal. Haue you turn'd him out of doores f 
 
 Bard. Yes Sir : the Rafcall's drunke : you haue hurt 
 him (Sir) in the flioulder. 
 
 Fal. A Raicali to braue me. 
 
 Dol. Ah, you fweet little Rogue, you : alas, poore Ape, 
 how thou fweat'ftf Come, let me wipe thy Face: Come 
 on, you whorfon Chops: Ah Rogue,! loue thee: Thou 
 
 art 
 
 fc
 
 84 
 
 Thefecond ^Partof E^ing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 art as valorous as Heclor of Troy,worrh fiue of Agamem- 
 non, and tenne times better then the nine Worthies : ah 
 Villaine. 
 
 Fal. A rafcally Slaue,! will toffe the Rogue in a Blan- 
 ket. 
 
 Dol. Doe,if thou dar'ft for thy heart: if thou doo'ft, 
 lie canuas thee betweene a paire of Sheetes. 
 
 Enter 
 
 Page. The Mufique is come, Sir. 
 
 Fal. Let them play : play Sirs. Sit on my Knee, Dol. 
 A Rafcall, bragging Slaue : the Rogue fled from me like 
 Qmck-filuer. 
 
 Dol. And thou followd'ft him like a Church: thou 
 whorfon little tydie Bartholmew Bore-pigge, when wilt 
 thou leaue fighting on dayes,and foyning on nights, and 
 begin to patch vp thine old Body for Heauen ? 
 
 Enter the Prince and Polnes duguisd. 
 
 Fal. Peace (good Dol) doe not fpeake like a Deaths- 
 head : doe not bid me remember mine end. 
 
 Dol. Sirrha,what humor is the Prince of? 
 
 Fal. A good fhallow young fellow : hee would haue 
 made a good Pantler, hee would haue chipp'd Bread 
 well. 
 
 Dol. They fay Polnes hath a good Wit. 
 
 Fal. Hee a good Wit? hang him Baboone,his Wit is 
 as thicke as Tewksburie Muftard : there is no more con- 
 ceit in him, then is in a Mallet. 
 
 Dol. Why doth the Prince loue him fo then ? 
 
 Fal. Becaufe their Legges are both of a bigneffe: and 
 hee playes at Quoits well,and eates Conger and Fennell, 
 and drinkes off Candles ends for Flap-dragons, and rides 
 the wilde-Mare with the Boyes,and iumpes vpon loyn'd- 
 ftooles, and fweares with a good grace, and weares his 
 Boot very fmooth,like vnto the Signe of the Legge; and 
 breedes no bate with telling of difcreete ftories: and fuch 
 other Gamboll Faculties hee hath, that ihew a weake 
 Minde,and an able Body, for the which the Prince admits 
 him ; for the Prince himfelfe is fuch another : the 
 weight of an hayre will turne the Scales betweene their 
 Haber-de-poit. 
 
 Prince. Would not this Naue of a Wheele haue his 
 Eares cut off? 
 
 Poln. Let vs beat him before his Whore. 
 
 Prince. Looke, if the wither'd Elder hath not his Poll 
 claw'd like a Parrot. 
 
 Poln. Is it not ftrange, that Defire fhould fo many 
 yeeres out-liue performance ? 
 
 Fal. Kifie me Dol. 
 
 Prince. Saturne and Veniu this yeere in Conjunction ? 
 What fayes the Almanack to that ? 
 
 Toin. And looke whether the fierie Trigon,h\s Man, 
 be not lifping to his Mafters old Tables, his Note-Booke, 
 his Councell-keeper ? 
 
 Fal. Thou do'ft giue me flatt'ring Buffes. 
 
 Dol. Nay truely, I kiffe thee with a moft conftant 
 heart. 
 
 Fal. I am olde, I am olde. 
 
 Dol. I loue thee better, then I loue ere a fcuruie young 
 Boy of them all. 
 
 Fal. What Stuffe wilt thou haue a Kirtleof? I fliall 
 receiue Money on Thurfday : thou ftialt haue a Cappe 
 to morrow. A merrie Song, come : it growes late, 
 
 wee will to Bed. Thou wilt forget me, when I am 
 gone. 
 
 Dol. Thou wilt fet me a weeping, if thou fay'ft fo : 
 proue that euer I drefTe my felfe handfome, till thy re- 
 turne : well, hearken the end. 
 
 Fal. Some Sack,Fra/zt. 
 
 fr'm.Po'm. Anon, anon, Sir. 
 
 Fal. Ha? a Baftard Sonne of the Kings? And art not 
 thou Pc/n,his Brother? 
 
 Prince. Why thou Globe of fmfull Continents, what 
 a Lire do'ft thou lead ? 
 
 Fal. A better then thou : I am a Gentleman, thou art 
 a Drawer. 
 
 Prince. Very true, Sir : and I come to draw you out 
 by the Eares. 
 
 Hojl. Oh, the Lord preferue thy good Grace: Wel- 
 come to London. Now Heauen blefie that fweete Face 
 of thine : what,are you come from Wales? 
 
 Fal. Thou whorfon mad Compound of Maieftie : by 
 this light Flefh,and corrupt Blood, thou art welcome. 
 
 Dol. How?you fat Foole, I fcorne you. 
 
 Poln. My Lord, hee will driue you out of your re- 
 uenge, and turne all to a merryment, if you take not the 
 heat. 
 
 Prince. You whorfon Candle-myne you, how vildly 
 did you fpeake of me euen now, before this honeft, ver- 
 tuous, ciuill Gentlewoman? 
 
 Hojt. 'Bleffmg on your good heart, and fo fliee is by 
 my troth. 
 
 Fal. Did ft thou heare me ? 
 
 Trince. Yes: and you knew me, as you did when you 
 ranne away by Gads-hill : you knew I was at your back, 
 and fpoke it on purpofe,to trie my patience. 
 
 Fal. No,no,no : not fo : I did not thinke, thou waft 
 within hearing. 
 
 Prince. I ftiall driue you then to confeffe the wilfull 
 abufe, and then I know how to handle you. 
 
 Fal. No abufe (Hall) on mine Honor, no abufe. 
 
 Prince. Not to difprayfe me? and call me Pantler, and 
 Bread-chopper, and I know not what? 
 
 Fal. No abufe(#*/J 
 
 Pain. No abufe ? 
 
 Fal. No abufe (Ned) in the World : honeft Ned none. 
 I difprays'd him before the Wicked, that the Wicked 
 might not fall in loue with him : In which doing, I haue 
 done the part of a carefull Friend, and a true Subieft, and 
 thy Father is to giue me thankes for it. No abufe (Hal:) 
 none (Ned) none 5 no Boyes,none. 
 
 Prince. See now whether pure Feare,and entire Cow- 
 ardife, doth not make thee wrong this vertuous Gentle- 
 woman, to clofe with vs? Is /hee of the Wicked ? Is thine 
 Hofteffe heere, of the Wicked ? Or is the Boy of the 
 Wicked? Or honeft Bardolpb ( whofe Zeale burnes in his 
 Nofe) of the Wicked? 
 
 Toin. Anfwere thou dead Elme,anfwere. 
 
 Fal. The Fiend hath prickt downe 'Bardolpb irrecoue- 
 rable, and his Face is Lucifers Priuy-Kitchin, where hee 
 doth nothing but roft Mault-Wormes : for the Boy, 
 there is a good Angell about him, but the Deuill out- 
 bids him too. 
 
 Prince. For the Women ? 
 
 Fal. For one of them, fliee is in Hell alreadie, and 
 burnes poore Soules : for the other , I owe her Mo- 
 ney j and whether fhee bee damn'd for that, I know 
 not. 
 
 Hoft. No, I warrant you. 
 
 Fa/.No, 
 
 386
 
 Tbefecond ''Part ofJ^ing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 Fal. No, I thinke thou art not : I thinke thou art quit 
 for that. Marry, there is another Indi&ment vpon thee, 
 for fuffering flefh to bee eaten in thy houfe, contrary to 
 the Law, for the which I thinke thou wilt howle. 
 
 Ho&. All Viduallers doe fo : What is a loynt of 
 Mutton, or two, in a whole Lent? 
 
 Prince. You, Gen tie woman. 
 
 'Del. What fayes your Grace ? 
 
 Falfl. His Grace fayes that , which his flelh rebells 
 againrt. 
 
 Hoft. Who knocks fo lowd at doore ? Looke to the 
 doore there, Francis ? 
 
 Enter Peto. 
 
 Prince. Peto, how now ? what newes ? 
 
 Peto. The King, your Father, is at Weftminfter, 
 And there are twentie weake and wearied Poftes, 
 Come from the North : and as I came along, 
 I met, and ouer-tooke a dozen Captaines, 
 Bare-headed, fweating, knocking at the Tauernes, 
 And asking euery one for Sir John Falflaffe. 
 
 Prince. By Heauen (Poines) I feele me much to blame, 
 So idly to prophane the precious time, 
 When Tempeft of Commotion, like the South, 
 Borne with black Vapour, doth begin to melt, 
 And drop vpon our bare vnarmed heads. 
 Giue me my Sword, and Cloake : 
 Fa//iajfe,good night. Exit. 
 
 Fattt. Now comes in the fweeteft Morfell of the 
 night, and wee muft hence, and leaue it vnpickt. More 
 knocking at the doore? How now? what's the mat- 
 ter? 
 
 'Bard. You muft away to Court, Sir, prefently, 
 A dozen Captaines ftay at doore for you. 
 
 Falfl. Pay the Mufitians, Sirrha : farewell Hofteffe, 
 farewell Do/. You fee (my good Wenches) how men of 
 Merit are fought after : the vndeferuer may fleepe,when 
 the man of Action is call'd on. Farewell good Wenches: 
 if I be not fent away pofte , I will fee you againe, ere I 
 goe. 
 
 Do/. I cannot fpeake : if my heart bee not readie 
 to burft- Well ( fweete lacke ) haue a care of thy 
 felfe. 
 
 Falfl. Farewell, farewell. Exit. 
 
 Hofl. Well, fare thee well : I haue knowne thee 
 thefe twentie nine yeeres, come Pefcod-time : but an 
 
 honefter , and truer-hearted man Well, fare thee 
 
 well. 
 
 Bard. Miftris Teare-Jheet. 
 
 Hoft. What's the matter ? 
 
 Bard. Bid Miftris Teare-Jheet come to my Mafter. 
 
 Hoft. Oh runne "Dol, runne : runne, good *2)o/. 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Aftus Tertius. Scena ^Prima. 
 
 Enter the King, with a Tage. 
 
 AT/'g\Goe,call the Earles of Surrey,and of Warwick : 
 But ere they come, bid them ore-reade thefe Letters, 
 And well confider of them : make good fpeed. Exit. 
 
 387 
 
 How many thoufand of my pooreft Subiedls 
 
 Are at this howre afleepe ? O Sleepe,O gentle Sleepe, 
 
 Natures foft Nurfe, how haue I frighted thee, 
 
 That thou no more wilt weigh my eye-lids downe, 
 
 And fteepe my Sences in Forgetfulneffe ? 
 
 Why rather (Sleepe) lyeft thou in fmoakie Cribs, 
 
 Vpon vneafie Pallads ftretching thee, 
 
 And huifht with buffing Night, flyes to thy (lumber, 
 
 Then in the perfum'd Chambers of the Great? 
 
 Vnder the Canopies of coftly State, 
 
 And lull'd with founds of fweeteft Melodic ? 
 
 O thou dull God, why lyeft thou with the vilde, 
 
 In loathfome Beds, and leau'ft the Kingly Couch, 
 
 A Watch-cafe, or a common Larum-Bell? 
 
 Wilt thou, vpon the high and giddie Maft, 
 
 Seale vp the Ship-boyes Eyes, and rock his Braines, 
 
 In Cradle of the rude imperious Surge, 
 
 And in the vifitation of the Windes, 
 
 Who take the Ruffian Billowes by the top, 
 
 Curling their monftrous heads,and hanging them 
 
 With deafPning Clamors in the flipp'ry Clouds, 
 
 That with the hurley, Death it felfe awakes? 
 
 Canft thou (O partiall Sleepe) giue thy Repofe 
 
 To the wet Sea-Boy, in an houre fo rude : 
 
 And in the calmeft,and moft ftilleft Night, 
 
 With all appliances, and meanes to boote, 
 
 Deny it to a King ? Then happy Lowe, lye downe, 
 
 Vneafie lyes the Head, that weares a Crowne. 
 
 Enter Warwic^e and Surrey. 
 
 War. Many good-morrowes to your Maieftie. 
 
 King. Is it good-morrow, Lords? 
 
 War. 'Tis One a Clock, and paft. 
 
 King.Vfhy then good-morrow to you all(my Lords:) 
 Haue you read o're the Letters that I fent you ? 
 
 War. We haue (my Liege.) 
 
 King. Then you perceiue the Body of our Kingdome, 
 How foule it is : what ranke Difeafes grow, 
 And with what danger, neere the Heart of it ? 
 
 War. It is but as a Body, yet diftemper'd, 
 Which to his former ftrength may be reftor'd, 
 With good aduice,and little Medicine : 
 My Lord Northumberland will foone be cool'd. 
 
 King.Oh Heauen, that one might read the Book of Fate, 
 And fee the reuolution of the Times 
 Make Mountaines leuell,and the Continent 
 (Wearie of folide firmenefTe)melt it felfe 
 Into the Sea : and other Times, to fee 
 The beachie Girdle of the Ocean 
 Too wide for Nef tunes hippes ; how Chances mocks 
 And Changes fill the Cuppe of Alteration 
 With diuers Liquors, 'Tis not tenne yeeres gone, 
 Since Richard, and Northumberland, great friends, 
 Did feaft together; and in two yeeres after, 
 Were they at Warres. It is but eight yeeres fince, 
 This Percie was the man, neereft my Soule, 
 Who, like a Brother, toyl'd in my Affaires, 
 And layd his Loue and Life vnder my foot : 
 Yea, for my fake,euen to the eyes of 'Richard 
 Gaue him defiance. But which of you was by 
 (You Coufin Neui/,as I may remember) 
 When Richard, -with his Eye, brim -full of Teares, 
 (Then check'd,and rated by Northumberland) 
 Did fpeake thefe words (now prou'd a Prophecie:) 
 Northumberland, thou Ladder, by the which 
 
 My
 
 86 
 
 Thefecond ''Tart ofJ^ing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 My Coufin 'Bullingbrooke afcends my Throne : 
 
 (Though then,Heauen knowes, I had no fuch intent, 
 
 But that neceflitie fo bow'd the State, 
 
 That I and Greatnefle were compelFd to kifie:) 
 
 The Time fhall come (thus did hee follow it) 
 
 The Time will come,that foule Sinne gathering head, 
 
 Shall breake into Corruption : fo went on, 
 
 Fore-telling this fame Times Condition, 
 
 And the diuilion of our Amitie. 
 
 War. There is a Hiftorie in all mens Liues, 
 Figuring the nature of the Times deceas'd : 
 The which obferu'd, a man may prophecie 
 With a neere ayme,of the maine chance of things, 
 As yet not come to Life, which in their Seedes 
 And weake beginnings lye entreafured : 
 Such things become the Hatch and Brood of Time ; 
 And by the neceflarie forme of this, 
 King Richard might create a perfect guefTe, 
 That great Northumberland, then falfe to him, 
 Would of that See J, grow to a greater falfenefle, 
 Which fhould not finde a ground to roote vpon, 
 Vnlefle on you. 
 
 King. Are thefe things then Neceffities ? 
 Then let vs meete them like Neceflities ; 
 And that fame word,euen now cryes out on vs: 
 They fay, the Bifhop and Northumberland 
 Are fifcie thoufand ftrong. 
 
 War. It cannot be (my Lord:) 
 Rumor doth double,like the Voice, and Eccho, 
 The numbers of the feared. Pleafe it your Grace 
 To goe to bed, vpon my Life (my Lord) 
 The Pow'rs that you alreadie haue fent forth, 
 Shall bring this Prize in very eafily. 
 To comfort you the more, I haue receiu'd 
 A certaine inftance,that Glendour is dead. 
 Your Maieftie hath beene this fort-night ill, 
 And thefe vnfeafon'd howres perforce mud adde 
 Vnto your Sicknefle. 
 
 King. I will take your counfaile : 
 And were thefe inward Warres once out of hand, 
 Wee would ( deare Lords,) vnto the Holy-Land. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Shallow and Silence : with Mouldie, Shadow, 
 Wart, Feeble, <Bull-ca/fe. 
 
 Sbal. Come-on, come-on, come-on : giue mee your 
 Hand, Sir; giue mee your Hand, Sir: an early ftirrer, by 
 the Rood. And how doth my good Coufin Siler.ee? 
 
 Sil. Good-morrow, good Coufin Shallow. 
 
 Shal. And how doth my Coufin, your Bed-fellow ? 
 and your faireft Daughter, and mine,my God-Daughter 
 Ellen ? 
 
 Sil. Alas.a blacke Ouzell (Coufin Shallow.} 
 
 Sbal.Ey yea and nay,Sir, I dare fay my Coufin William 
 is become a good Scholler ? hee is at Oxford ftill, is hee 
 not? 
 
 Sil. Indeede Sir, to my coft. 
 
 Sbal. Hee muft then to the Innes of Court fhortly : I 
 was once of Clements Inne ; where (I thinke) they will 
 talke of mad Shallot* yet. 
 
 5/7. You were call'd luftie Shall then(Coufin.) 
 
 Sbal. I was call'd any thing : and I would haue done 
 any thing indeede too, and roundly too. There was I, and 
 little John Doit of Staftbrdfhire, and blacke George 'Bare, 
 and Francii Picl^-bone,and Will Squile a Cot-fal-man, you 
 had not foure fuch Swindge-buctclers in all the Innes of 
 Court againe : And I may fay to you, wee knew where 
 the 'Bona-^ia's were, and had the beft of them all at 
 commandement. Then was lac^e FalJ}affe(no\v Sir Lhn] 
 a Boy , and Page to Thomas fflfowbray, Duke of Nor- 
 folke. 
 
 Sil. This Sir lobn ( Coufin) that comes hither anon a- 
 bout Souldiers? 
 
 Shal. The fame Sir lobn, the very fame : I faw him 
 breake Scoggan's Head at the Court-Gate, when hee was 
 a Crack, not thus high : and the very fame day did I fight 
 with one Sampjon Stoc/^-fiJb, a Fruiterer, behinde Greyes- 
 Inne. Oh the mad dayes that I haue fpent ! and to fee 
 how many of mine olde Acquaintance are dead ? 
 
 Sil. Wee fhall all follow (Coufin.) 
 
 Sbal. Certaine: 'tis certaine : very fure, very fure : 
 Death is certaine to all, all fhall dye. How a good Yoke 
 of Bullocks at Stamford Fayre ? 
 
 Sil. Truly Coufin,! was not there. 
 
 Sbal. Death is certaine. Is old Double of your Towne 
 liuing yet ? 
 
 &7. Dead, Sir. 
 
 Sbal. Dead f See, fee : hee drew a good Bow : and 
 dead ? hee fhot a fine fhoote. lobn of Gaunt loued 
 him well, and betted much Money on his head. Dead ? 
 hee would haue clapt in the Clowt at Twelue-fcore,and 
 carryed you a fore-hand Shaft at foureteene, and foure- 
 teene and a halfe, that it would haue done a mans heart 
 good to fee. How a fcore of Ewes nowf 
 
 Sil. Thereafter as they be : a fcore of good Ewes 
 may be worth tenne pounds. 
 
 Sbal. And is olde Double dead ? 
 
 Enter 'Bardolph and bit Boy. 
 
 Sil. Heere come two of Sir lohn Faljiajfcs Men (as I 
 thinke.) 
 
 Sbal. Good-morrow, honeft Gentlemen. 
 
 'Bard. I befeech you, which is luftice Shallow? 
 
 Sbal. I am Robert Sbal/;.w(S>ir)a. poore Efquire of this 
 Countie, and one of the Kings luftices of the Peace : 
 What is your good pleafure with me ? 
 
 Bard. My Captaine (Sir) commends him to you : 
 my Captaine,Sir lobn Falflaffe : a tall Gentleman, and a 
 moft gallant Leader. 
 
 Sbal. Hee greetes me well : ( Sir) I knew him a 
 good Back-Sword -man. How doth the good Knight ? 
 may I aske, how my Lady his Wife doth ? 
 
 Bard. Sir, pardon : a Souldier is better accommoda- 
 ted, then with a Wife. 
 
 Shal. It is well faid,Sir; and it is well faid, indeede, 
 too : Better accommodated ? it is good, yea indeede is 
 it : good phrafes are fure ly, and euery where very com- 
 mendable. Accommodated , it comes of Accommodo : 
 very good, a good Phrafe. 
 
 'Bard. Pardon, Sir, I haue heard the word. Phrafe 
 call you it? by this Day, I know not the Phrafe : but 
 I will maintaine the Word with my Sword, to bee a 
 Souldier-like Word, and a Word of exceeding good 
 Command. Accommodated : that is, when a man is 
 (as they fay) accommodated : or, when a man is, being 
 
 whereby
 
 Tbefecond ^Part of J^jng Henry the Fourth. 
 
 whereby he thought to be accommodated , which is an 
 excellent thing. 
 
 Enter Falftaffe. 
 
 Sbal. It is very iuft : Looke, heere comes good Sir 
 lobn. Giue me your hand, giue me your Worships good 
 hand : Truft me, you looke well : and beare your yeares 
 very well. Welcome, good Sir John. 
 
 Fal. I am glad to fee you well, good M . Robert Shal- 
 low: Mafter Sure-card as 1 thinke? 
 
 Sbal. No fir Lhn, it is my Cofm Silence: in Commifii- 
 on with mee. 
 
 Fal. Good M. Silence, it well befits you fliould be of 
 the peace. 
 
 Si/. Your good Worfhip is welcome. 
 
 Fal Fye, this is hot weather (Gentlemen) haue you 
 prouided me heere halre a dozen of fufficient men? 
 
 Sbal. Marry haue we fir : Will you fit? 
 
 Fal. Let me fee them, I befeech you. 
 
 Sbal. Where's the Roll* Where's the Roll ? Where's 
 the Roll ? Let me fee, let me fee, let me fee : fo,fo, fo, fo : 
 yea marry Sir. Rafbe Mouldie: let them appeare as I call: 
 let them do fo, let them do fo : Let mee fee, Where is 
 Mouldie ? 
 
 Maul. Heere, if it pleafe you. 
 
 Sbal. What thinke you (Sir lobn) a good limb'd fel- 
 low: yong,ftrong, and of good friends. 
 
 Fal, Is thy name Mouldie ? 
 
 t&foul. Yea, if it pleafe you. 
 
 Fal. Tis the more time thou wert vs'd. 
 
 Shal. Ha, ha, ha, moft excellent. Things that are moul- 
 die, lacke v(e : very fingular good. Well faide Sir lobn, 
 very well faid. 
 
 Fal. Pricke him. 
 
 Moul. I was prickt well enough before, if you could 
 haue let me alone : my old Dame will be vndone now, for 
 one to doe her Husbandry, and her Drudgery ; you need 
 not to haue prickt me, there are other men fitter to goe 
 out, then I. 
 
 Fal. Go too: peace Mouldie, you /hall goe. <&fouldie, 
 it is time you were fpent. 
 
 Moul. Spent? 
 
 Shallow. Peace, fellow, peace; ftand afide : Know you 
 where you are? For the other fir lobn : Let me fee:Simon 
 Shadow. 
 
 Fal. I marry, let me haue him to fit vnder : he's like to 
 be a cold fouldier. 
 
 Shal. Where's Shadow ? 
 
 Shad. Heere fir. 
 
 Fal. Shadow, whofe fonne art thou ? 
 
 Shad. My Mothers fonne, Sir. 
 
 Falft. Thy Mothers fonne: like enough, and thy Fa- 
 thers fliadow : fo the fonne of the Female, is the fliadow 
 of the Male : it is often fo indeede, but not of the Fathers 
 fubftance. 
 
 Sbal. Do you like him, fir Lbn ? 
 
 Falft. Shadow will ferue for Summer : pricke him : For 
 wee haue a number of ihadowes to fill vppe the Mufter- 
 Booke. 
 
 Shal. Thomas Wart ? 
 
 Falft. Where's he? 
 
 Wart. Heere fir. 
 
 Falft. Is thy name Wart ? 
 
 Wart. Yea fir. 
 
 Fal. Thou art a very ragged Wart. 
 
 389 
 
 Shal. Shall I pricke him downe, 
 Sir John ? 
 
 Falft. It were fuperfluous: for his apparrel is built vp- 
 on his backe, and the whole frame ftands vpon pinsrprick 
 him no more. 
 
 Sbal. Ha, ha, ha, you can do it fir : you can doe it : I 
 commend you well. 
 Francis Feeble. 
 
 Feeble. Heere fir. 
 
 Sbal. What Trade art thou Feeble ? 
 
 Feeble. A Womans Taylor fir. 
 
 Sbal. Shall I pricke him, fir ? 
 
 Fal. You may : 
 
 But if he had beene a mans Taylor, he would hane prick'd 
 you. Wilt thou make as many holes in an enemies Bat- 
 taile,as thou haft done in a Womans petticote ? 
 
 Feeble. I will doe my good will fir, you can haue no 
 more. 
 
 Falft. Well faid, good Womans Tailour : Well fayde 
 Couragious Feeble : thou wilt bee as valiant as the wrath- 
 full Doue,or moft magnanimous Moufe. Pricke the wo- 
 mans Taylour well Mafter Shallow, deepe Maifter Shal- 
 low. 
 
 Feeble. I would Wart might haue gone fir. 
 
 Fal. I would thou wert a mans Tailor, that y might'ft 
 mend him, and make him fit to goe. I cannot put him to 
 a priuate fouldier, that is the Leader of fo many thou- 
 fands. Let that fuffice,moft Forcible Feeble. 
 
 Feeble. It fliall fuffice. 
 
 Falft. I am bound to thee, reuerend Feeble. Who is 
 the next ? 
 
 Shal. Peter Bulcalfe of the Greene. 
 
 Falft. Yea marry, let vs fee f Bulcalfe. 
 
 Bui. Heere fir. 
 
 Fal. Truft me, a likely Fellow. Come, pricke me 'Bnl- 
 calfe till he roare againe. 
 
 'Bui. Oh, good my Lord Captaine. 
 
 Fal. What? do'ft thou roare before th'art prickt. 
 
 Bui. Oh fir, I am a difeafed man. 
 
 Fal. What difeafe haft thou ? 
 
 Bui. A whorfon cold fir, a cough fir, which I caught 
 with Ringing in the Kings affayres, vpon his Coronation 
 day, fir. 
 
 Fal. Come, thou {halt go to the Warres in a Gowne : 
 we will haue away thy Cold, and I will take fuch order, 
 that thy friends fliall ring for thee. Is heere all ? 
 
 Sbal. There is two more called then your number : 
 you muft haue but foure heere fir, and fo I pray you go in 
 with me to dinner. 
 
 Fal. Come, I will goe drinke with you, but I cannot 
 tarry dinner. I am glad to fee you in good troth, Mafter 
 Shallow. 
 
 Sbal. O fir lobn, doe you remember fince wee lay all 
 night in the Winde-mill ,in S Georges Field. 
 
 Falftaffe. No more of that good Mafter Shallow : No 
 more ofthat. 
 
 Sbal. Ha? it was a merry night. And is lane Night- 
 wor^e aliue ? 
 
 Fal. She \\ues, M. Shallow. 
 
 Sbal. She neuer could away with me. 
 
 Fal. Neuer, neuer : flie would alwayes fay fliee could 
 not abide M. Shallow. 
 
 Shal. I could anger her to the heart : fliee was then a 
 Bona-Roba. Doth flie hold her owne well. 
 
 Fal. Old, old, M. Shallow. 
 
 Sbal. Nay,flie muft be old, (he cannot choofe but be 
 e z old:
 
 Tbefecond ^Part offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 old : certaine fhee's old : and had Robin Nigbt-ifor^e , by 
 old Nigbt-worly, before I came to Clements Inne. 
 
 Si/. That's fiftie fiue yeeres agoe. 
 
 Sbal. Hah, Coufm Silence, that thou hadft feene that, 
 that this Knight and I haue feene : hah, Sir lobn, faid I 
 well ? 
 
 Falft. Wee haue heard the Chymes at mid-night, Ma- 
 fter Shallow. 
 
 Sbal. That wee haue, that wee haue ; in faith, Sir lobn, 
 wee haue : our watch- word was,Hem-Boyes. Come, 
 let's to Dinner ; come, let's to Dinner : Oh the dayes that 
 wee haue feene. Come, come. 
 
 Bui. Good Mafter Corporate 'Bardolfb , ftand my 
 friend, and heere is foure Harry tenne /hillings in French 
 Crownes for you : in very truth, fir, I had as lief be hang'd 
 fir, as goe: and yet,for mine owne part, fir, I do not care ; 
 but rather, becaufe 1 am vn willing, and for mine owne 
 part, haue a defire to ftay with my friends : elfe, fir, I did 
 not care, for mine owne part, fo much. 
 
 Bard. Go-too : ftand afide. 
 
 Mould. And good Mafter Corporall Captaine, for my 
 old Dames fake, ftand my friend : fhee hath no body to 
 doe any thing about her, when I am gone : and fhe is old, 
 and cannot helpe her felfe : you fhall haue fortie,fir. 
 
 'Bard. Go-too : ftand afide. 
 
 Feeble. I care not, a man can die but once : wee owe a 
 death. I will neuer beare a bafe minde : if it be my defti- 
 nie,fo : if it be not, fo : no man is too good to ferue his 
 Prince : and let it goe which way it will, he that dies this 
 yeere, is quit for the next. 
 
 Bard. Well faid, thou art a good fellow. 
 
 Feeble. Nay, I will beare no bafe minde. 
 
 Falft. Come fir, which men fhall I haue ? 
 
 Sbal. Foure of which you pleafe. 
 
 Bard. Sir, a word with you : I haue three pound, to 
 free <fyfouldie and Bull-calfe. 
 
 Falft. Go-too: well. 
 
 Sbal. Come, fir I&bn, which foure will you haue ? 
 
 Falft. Doe you chufe for me. 
 
 Sbal. Marry then , <&fouldie, Bull-calfe, Feeble, and 
 Shadow. 
 
 Falft. Mouldie, and 'Bull-calfe : for you Mouldie , ftay 
 at home, till you are paft feruice : and for your part,1Ba//- 
 calfe,grow till you come vnto it : I will none of you. 
 
 Sbal. Sir Iobn,Sir lobn, doe not your felfe wrong, they 
 are your likelyeft men, and I would haue you feru'd with 
 the beft. 
 
 Falft. Will you tell me (Mafter Shallow) how to chufe 
 a man ? Care I for the Limbe, the Thewes, the ftature, 
 bulke, and bigge aflemblance of a man ? giue mee the 
 fpirit (Mafter Sbalkir.') Where's Wart* you fee what 
 a ragged appearance it is : hee fhall charge you, and 
 dilcharge you, with the motion of a Pewterers Ham- 
 mer : come off, and on, fwifter then hee that gibbets on 
 the Brewers Bucket. And this fame halfe-fac'd fellow, 
 Sbadciv, giue me this man : hee prefents no marke to the 
 Enemie, the foe-man may with as great ayme leuell at 
 the edge of a Pen-knife : and for a Retrait, how fwiftly 
 will this Feeble, the Womans Taylor, runne off. O, giue 
 me the fpare men, and fpare me the great ones. Put me a 
 Calyuer into Warts hand, Bardolfb. 
 
 Bard. Hold Wart, Trauerfe : thus, thus, thus. 
 Falft. Come, manage me your Calyuer: fo:very well, 
 go-too, very good, exceeding good. O, giue me alwayes 
 a little, leane, old, chopt, bald Shot. Well faid Wart, thou 
 art a good Scab : hold, there is a Tefter for thee. 
 
 Sbal. Hee is not his Crafts-mafter, hee doth not doe 
 it right. I remember at Mile-end-Greene, when I lay 
 at Clements Inne, I was then Sir "Dagonet in tArtbun 
 Show : there was a little quiuer fellow, and hee would 
 manage you his Peece thus : and hee would about, 
 and about, and come you in, and come you in : Rah, 
 tah, tah, would hee fay, Bownce would hee fay, and 
 away againe would hee goe, and againe would he come: 
 I fhall neuer fee fuch a fellow. 
 
 Falft. Thefe fellowes will doe well , Mafter Sballc,n>. 
 Farewell Mafter Silence, I will not vfe many wordes with 
 you : fare you well, Gentlemen both : I thanke you : 
 I muft a dozen mile to night. e Bardclpb,giut the Souldiers 
 Coates. 
 
 Sbal. Sir lobn, Heauen bleffe you, and profper your 
 Affaires , and fend vs Peace. As you returne , vifit 
 my houfe. Let our old acquaintance be renewed : per- 
 aduenture I will with you to the Court. 
 
 Falft. I would you would, Mafter Shallow. 
 
 Sbal. Go-too : I haue fpoke at a word. Fare you 
 well. Exit. 
 
 Falft. Fare you well , gentle Gentlemen. On 'Bar- 
 dolpb, leade the men away. As I returne, I will fetch off 
 thefe luftices : I doe fee the bottome of luftice Shal- 
 low. How fubieft wee old men are to this vice of Ly- 
 ing? This fame ftaru'd luftice hath done nothing but 
 prate to me of the wildenefle of his Youth, and the 
 Feates hee hath done about Turnball-ftreet, and euery 
 third word a Lye , duer pay'd to the hearer, then the 
 Turkes Tribute. I doe remember him at Clements Inne, 
 like a man made after Supper, of a Cheefe-paring. When 
 hee was naked, hee was, for all the world, like a forked 
 Radifh, with a Head fantaftically caru'd vpon it with a 
 Knife. Hee was fo forlorne, that his Dimenfions ( to 
 any thicke fight ) were inuincible. Hee was the very 
 Genius of Famine : hee came euer in the rere-ward of 
 the Fafhion : And now is this Vices Dagger become a 
 Squire, and talkes as familiarly of lobn of Gaunt, as if 
 hee had beene fworne Brother to him : and He be fworne 
 hee neuer faw him but once in the Tilt-yard, and then he 
 burft bis Head, for crowding among the Marfhals men. 
 I faw it , and told lobn of Gaunt, hee beat his owne 
 Name, for you might haue trufs'd him and all his Ap- 
 parrell into an Eele-skinne : the Cafe of a Treble Hoe- 
 boy was a Manfion for him : a Court : and now hath 
 hee Land, and Beeues. Well, I will be acquainted with 
 him, if I returne : and it fhall goe hard, but I will make 
 him a Philofophers two Stones to me. If the young 
 Dace be a Bayt for the old Pike , I fee no reafon,in the 
 Law of Nature, but I may fnap at him. Let time fhape, 
 and there an end. Exeunt. 
 
 Aftus Quartus. Scena ^Prima. 
 
 Enter the tArch-biJhop, <^lfo-a.'bray , Haftings, 
 land, Ccleuile. 
 
 'Bijh. What is this Forreft call'd ? 
 
 Haft. 'Tis Gualtree Forreft, and't fhall pleafe your 
 Grace. 
 
 f BiJb. Here ftand (my Lords) and fend difcouerers forth, 
 To know the numbers of our Enemies. 
 
 HaSt. Wee 
 
 390
 
 Tbefecond 'Part offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 9 1 
 
 Hasi. Wee haue fent forth alreadie. 
 
 'Bijh. 'Tis well done. 
 
 My Friends, and Brethren (in thefe great Affaires) 
 I muft acquaint you, that I haue receiu'd 
 New-dated Letters from Northumberland: 
 Their cold intent, tenure, and fubftance thus. 
 Here doth hee wifti his Perfon,with fuch Powers 
 As might hold fortance with his Qualitie, 
 The which hee could not leuie : whereupon 
 Hee is retyr'd,to ripe his growing Fortunes, 
 To Scotland ; and concludes in heartie prayers, 
 That your Attempts may ouer-liue the hazard, 
 And fearefull meeting of their Oppolite. 
 
 Mvte. Thus do the hopes we haue in him, touch ground, 
 And dafh themfelues to pieces. 
 
 Enter a Meffenger. 
 
 Haft. Now ? what newes ? 
 
 Meffl Weft of this Forreft, fcarcely off a mile, 
 In goodly forme, comes on the Enemie : 
 And by the ground they hide, I iudge their number 
 Vpon,or neere, the rate of thirtie thoufand. 
 
 Mow. The iuft proportion that we gaue them out. 
 Let vs fway-on,and face them in the field. 
 
 Enter Weftmerland. 
 
 'Bj/fc.What well-appointed Leader fronts vs here? 
 
 Mow. I thinke it is my Lord of Weftmerland. 
 
 Wefl. Health, and faire greeting from our Generall, 
 The Prince, Lord /o&H,and Duke of Lancafter. 
 
 'Bijh. Say on ( my Lord of Weftmerland) in peace : 
 What doth concerne your comming ? 
 
 West. Then (my Lord) 
 Vnto your Grace doe I in chiefe addreffe 
 The fubftance of my Speech. If that Rebellion 
 Came like itfelfe,in bafe and abiedl Routs, 
 Led on by bloodie Youth, guarded with Rage, 
 And countenanc'd by Boyes,and Beggerie : 
 I fay, if damn'd Commotion fo appeare, 
 In his true, natiue, and moft proper fhape, 
 You(Reuerend Father, and thefe Noble Lords) 
 Had not beene here, to dreffe the ougly forme 
 Of bafe,and bloodie Infurreclion, 
 With your faire Honors. You, Lord Arch-bifhop, 
 Whofe Sea is by a Ciuill Peace maintain'd, 
 Whofe Beard, the Siluer Hand of Peace hath touch'd, 
 Whofe Learning, and good Letters, Peace hath tutor'd, 
 Whofe white Inueftments figure Innocence, 
 The Doue,and very bleffed Spirit of Peace. 
 Wherefore doe you fo ill tranflate your felfe, 
 Out of the Speech of Peace, that beares fuch grace, 
 Into the harfh and boyftrous Tongue of Warre ? 
 Turning your Bookes to Graues, your Inke to Blood, 
 Your Pennes to Launces,and your Tongue diuine 
 To a lowd Trumpet,and a Point of Warre. 
 
 'Bi/b. Wherefore doe I this? fo the Queftion ftands. 
 Briefely to this end : Wee are all difeas'd, 
 And with our furfetting,and wanton howres, 
 Haue brought our felues into a burning Feuer, 
 And wee muft bleede for it : of which Difeafe, 
 Our late King Richard ( being infected) dy'd. 
 But (my moft Noble Lord of Weftmerland) 
 I take not on me here as a Phyfician, 
 Nor doe I, as an Enemie to Peace, 
 
 39' 
 
 Troope in the Throngs of Militarie men : 
 
 But rather fhew a while like fearefull Warre, 
 
 To dyet ranke Mindes,ficke of happinefle, 
 
 And purge th'obftrudVions, which begin to flop 
 
 Our very Veines of Life : heare me more plainely. 
 
 I haue in equall ballance iuftly weigh'd, 
 
 What wrongs our. Arms may do, what wrongs we fuffer, 
 
 And finde our Griefes heauier then our Offences. 
 
 Wee fee which way the ftreame of Time doth runne, 
 
 And are enforc'd from our moft quiet there, 
 
 By the rough Torrent of Occafion, 
 
 And haue the fummarie of all our Griefes 
 
 (When time fhall ferue) to (hew in Articles ; 
 
 Which long ere this, wee offer'd to the King, 
 
 And might,by no Suit, gayne our Audience : 
 
 When wee are wrong'd,and would vnfold our Griefes, 
 
 Wee are deny'd acceffe vnto his Perfon, 
 
 Euen by thofe men, that moft haue done vs wrong. 
 
 The dangers of the dayes but newly gone, 
 
 Whofe memorie is written on the Earth 
 
 With yet appearing blood ; and the examples 
 
 Of euery Minutes inftance (prefent now) 
 
 Hath put vs in thefe ill-befeeming Armes : 
 
 Not to breake Peace, or any Branch of it, 
 
 But to eftabli/h here a Peace indeede, 
 
 Concurring both in Name and Qualitie. 
 
 Wefl. When euer yet was your Appcale deny'd ? 
 Wherein haue you beene galled by the King f 
 What Peere hath beene fuborn'd,to grate on you, 
 That you mould feale this lawleffe bloody Booke 
 Of forg'd Rebellion, with a Scale diuine? 
 
 Bijh. My Brother general!, the Common-wealth, 
 I make my Quarrell,in particular. 
 
 Wefl. There is no neede of any fuch redrefle : 
 Or if there were, it not belongs to you. 
 
 Mow. Why not to him in part, and to vs all, 
 That feele the bruizes of the dayes before, 
 And fuffer the Condition of thefe Times 
 To lay a heauie and vnequall Hand vpon our Honors? 
 
 Wefl. O my good Lord cMotvbray, 
 Conftrue the Times to their Neceffities, 
 And you mall fay (indeede) it is the Time, 
 And not the King, that doth you iniuries. 
 Yet for your part, it not appeares to me, 
 Either from the King, or in the prefent Time, 
 That you fhould haue an ynch of any ground 
 To build a Griefe on : were you not reftor'd 
 To all the Duke of Norfolkes Seignories, 
 Your Noble, and right well-remembred Fathers? 
 
 Mow. What thing, in Honor, had my Father loft, 
 That need to be reuiu'd,and breath'd in me? 
 The King that lou'd him, as the State flood then, 
 Was forc'd, perforce compell'd to banifh him : 
 And then, that Henry Bullingbroofy and hee 
 Being mounted, and both rowfed in their Seates, 
 Their neighing Courfers daring of the Spurre, 
 Their armed Staues in charge, their Beauers downe, 
 Their eyes of fire,fparkling through fights of Steele, 
 And the lowd Trumpet blowing them together : 
 Then, then, when there was nothing could haue ftay'd 
 My Father from the Breaft of 'Bullingbroc/kf ; 
 O, when the King did throw his Warder downe, 
 (His owne Life hung vpon the Staffe hee threw) 
 Then threw hee downe himfelfe,and ail their Liues, 
 That by Indictment, and by dint of Sword, 
 Haue fmce mif-carryed vnder 'Bullingbroo^e. 
 
 g g 2 Pfeft.You
 
 TbefecondTart of^jng Henry the Fourth. 
 
 We/l.You fpeak(Lord Mcwbray) now you know not what. 
 
 The Earle of Hereford was reputed then 
 
 In England the moft valiant Gentleman. 
 
 Who knowesjon whom Fortune would then haue fmil'd? 
 
 But if your Father had beene Victor there, 
 
 Hee ne're had borne it out of Couentry. 
 
 For all the Countrey,in a generall voyce, 
 
 Cry'd hate vpon him : and all their prayers, and loue, 
 
 Were fet on Herford, whom they doted on, 
 
 And blefs'd,and grac'd,and did more then the King. 
 
 But this is meere digrefiion from my purpofe. 
 
 Here come I from our Princely Generall, 
 
 To know your Griefes; to tell you, from his Grace, 
 
 That hee will giue you Audience : and wherein 
 
 It fliall appeare,that your demands are iuft, 
 
 You fliall enioy them,euery thing fet off, 
 
 That might fo much as thinke you Enemies. 
 
 Mow. But hee hath forc'd vs to compell this Offer, 
 And it proceedes from Pollicy,not Loue. 
 
 Weft, f^fctrbray^jou ouer-weene to take it fo: 
 This Offer comes from Mercy, not from Feare. 
 For loe, within a Ken our Army lyes, 
 Vpon mine Honor, all too confident 
 To giue admittance to a thought of feare. 
 Our Battaile is more full of Names then yours, 
 Our Men more perfect in the vfe of Armes, 
 Our Armor all as ftrong,our Caufe the beft; 
 Then Reafon will, our hearts mould be as good. 
 Say you not then, our Offer is compell'd. 
 
 .M/w.Well, by my will, wee fliall admit no Parley. 
 
 ffefi. That argues but the fhame of your offence: 
 A rotten Cafe abides no handling. 
 
 Haft. Hath the Prince lobn a full CommilTion, 
 In very ample vertue of his Father, 
 To heare,and abfolutely to determine 
 Of what Conditions wee fhall ftand vpon ? 
 
 Weft. That is intended in the Generals Name : 
 I mufe you make fo flight a Queftion. 
 
 BtJh.The.n take(my Lord of Weftmerland)this Schedule, 
 For this conta'mes our generall Grieuances: 
 Each feuerall Article herein redrefs'd, 
 All members of our Caufe, both here,and hence, 
 That are infinewed to this Action, 
 Acquitted by a true fubftantiall forme, 
 And prefent execution of our wills, 
 To vs,and to our purpofes confin'd, 
 Wee come within our awfull Banks againe, 
 And knit our Powers to the Arme of Peace. 
 
 fVcJi.ThK will I fliew the Generall. Pleafe you Lords, 
 In fight of both our Battailes, wee may meete 
 At either end in peace : which Heauen fo frame, 
 Or to the place of difference call the Swords, 
 Which muft decide it. 
 
 'Bijb. My Lord, wee will doe fo. 
 
 Mow. There is a thing within my Bofome tells me, 
 That no Conditions of our Peace can ftand. 
 
 Hatt. Feare you not, that if wee can make our Peace 
 Vpon fuch large termes, and fo abfolute, 
 As our Conditions (hall cunfift vpon, 
 Our Peace mail ftand as firme as Rockie Mountaincs. 
 
 cftfow. I, but our valuation fliall be fuch, 
 That euery Highland falfe-deriued Caufe, 
 Yea,euery idle, nice, and wanton Reafjn, 
 Shall, to the King, tafte of this Action: 
 That were our Royall faiths, Martyrs in Loue, 
 Wee fliall be winnowed with fo rough a winde, 
 
 That euen our Corne mall feeme as light as Chaffe, 
 And good from bad finde no partition. 
 
 Bijh. No, no (my Lord) note this: the King is wearie 
 Of daintie,and fuch picking Grieuances: 
 For hee hath found, to end one doubt by Death, 
 Reuiues two greater in the Heires of Life. 
 And therefore will hee wipe his Tables cleane, 
 And keepe no Tell-tale to his Memorie, 
 That may repeat, and Hiftorie his lofle, 
 To new remembrance. For full well hee knowes, 
 Hee cannot fo precifely weede this Land, 
 As his mif-doubrs prefent occafion : 
 His foes are fo en-rooted with his friends, 
 That plucking to vnfixe an Enemie, 
 Hee doth vnfaften fo,and fliake a friend. 
 So that this Land, like an offenfiue wife, 
 That hath enrag'd him on, to offer ftrokes, 
 As hs is ftriking, holds his Infant vp, 
 And hangs refolu'd Correction in the Arme, 
 That was vprear'd to execution. 
 
 Haft. Befides,the King hath wafted all his Rods, 
 On late Offenders, that he now doth lacke 
 The very Inftruments of Chafticement : 
 So that his power, like to a Fangleffe Lion 
 May offer, but not hold. 
 
 'Bijb. 'Tis very true : 
 
 And therefore be affur'd (my good Lord Marflial) 
 If we do now make our attonement well, 
 Our Peace, will (like a broken Limbe vnited) 
 Grow ftronger, for the breaking. 
 
 Mow. Be it fo : 
 Heere is return'd my Lord of Weftmerland. 
 
 Enter Weftmerland. 
 
 W'eft.The Prince is here at hand:pleafeth your Lordfhip 
 To meet his Grace, iuft diftance'tweene our Armies? 
 
 Mow. Your Grace of Yorke, in heauen's name then 
 forward. 
 
 'Bijb. Before, and greet his Grace(my Lord) we come. 
 
 Enter Prince lohn. 
 
 lohn.You are wel encountred here(my cofin Motrbray) 
 Good day to you, gentle Lord Archbiftiop, 
 And fo to you Lord Haftings,znd to all. 
 My Lord of Yorke, it better (hew'd with you, 
 When that your Flocke (aflembled by the Bell) 
 Encircled you, to heare with reuerence 
 Your expofition on the holy Text, 
 Then now to fee you heere an Iron man 
 Chearing a rowt of Rebels with your Drumme, 
 Turning the Word, to Sword; and Life to death : 
 That man that fits within a Monarches heart, 
 And ripens in the Sunne-fhine of his fauor, 
 Would heeabufe the Countenance of the King, 
 Alack, what Mifchiefes might hee fet abroach, 
 In (hadow of fuch GreatnefTc? With you, Lord Bifliop, 
 It is euen fo. Who hath not heard it fpoken, 
 How deepe you were within the Bookes of Heauen? 
 To vs,the Speaker in his Parliament; 
 To vs, th'imagine Voyce of Heauen it felfe : 
 The very Opener, and Intelligencer, 
 Betweene the Grace, the Sanctities of Heauen, 
 And our dull workings. O,who (hall beleeue, 
 But you mif-vfe the reuerence of your Place, 
 Employ the Countenance, and Grace of Heauen, 
 As a falfe Fauorite doth his Princes Name, 
 In deedes dif-honorable ? You haue taken vp, 
 
 Vnder 
 
 39*
 
 The fecond 1?art of ^jng Henry the Fourth. 
 
 9 1 
 
 Vnder the counterfeited Zeale of Heauen, 
 The Subie&s of Heauens Subftitute, my Father, 
 And both againft the Peace of Heauen, and him, 
 Haue here vp-fwarmed them. 
 
 Bijh. Good my Lord of Lancafter, 
 I am not here againft your Fathers Peace : 
 But (as I told my Lord of Weftmerland) 
 The Time (mif-order'dj doth in common fence 
 Crowd vs,and crufh vs,to this monftrous Forme, 
 To hold our fafetie vp. I fent your Grace 
 The parcels, and particulars of our Griefe, 
 The which hath been with fcorne fhou'd from the Court: 
 Whereon this Hydra-Sonne of Warre is borne, 
 Whofe dangerous eyes may well be charm'd afleepe, 
 With graunt of our moft iuft and right defiresj 
 And true Obedience, of this Madnefle cur'd, 
 Stoope tamely to the foot of Maieftie. 
 
 MLVP. If not, wee readie are to trye our fortunes, 
 To the laft man. 
 
 Haft. And though wee here fall downe, 
 Wee haue Supplyes, to fecond our Attempt : 
 If they mif-carry, theirs flnll fecond them. 
 And fo,fuccefTe of Mifchiefe fhall be borne, 
 And Heire from Heire fhill hold this Quarrell vp, 
 Whiles England fhall haue generation. 
 
 John. You are too /hallow (Hajiings) 
 Much too fhallow, 
 To found the bottome of the after-Times. 
 
 Weft. Pleafeth your Grace,to anfwere them directly, 
 How farre-forth you doe like their Articles. 
 
 lobn. I like them all, and doe allow them well : 
 And fweare here, by the honor of my blood, 
 My Fathers purpoles haue beene miftooke, 
 And iome, about him, haue too lauifhly 
 Wrefled his meaning, and Authoritie. 
 My Lord,thefe Griefcs fhall be with fpeed redreft : 
 Vpon my Life, they fhall. If this may pleafe you, 
 Difcharge your Powers vnto their feuerall Counties, 
 As wee will ours : and here,betweene the Armies, 
 Let's drinke together friendly.and embrace, 
 That all their eyes may beare thofe Tokens home, 
 Of our reftored Loue,and Amitie. 
 
 Bijh. I take your Princely word, for thefe redrefies. 
 
 Icbn. I giue it you, and will maintaine my word: 
 And thereupon I drinke vnto your Grace. 
 
 Haft. Goe Captaine,and deliuer to the Armie 
 This newes of Peace : let them haue pay, and part : 
 I know, it will well pleafe them. 
 High thee Captaine. Exit. 
 
 'Bijh. To you, my Noble Lord of Weftmerland. 
 West. I pledge your Grace : fc 
 
 And if you knew what paines I haue beftow'd, 
 To breede this prefent Peace, 
 You would drinke freely : but my loue to ye, 
 Shall fhew it felfe more openly hereafter. 
 
 Bijh. I doe not doubt you. 
 
 Weft. I am glad of it. 
 Health to my Lord, and gentle Coufin e^fotfkray. 
 
 Moiv. You wifh me health in very happy feafbn, 
 For I am, on the fodaine,fomething ill. 
 
 'Bijh. Againft ill Chances, men are euer merry, 
 But heauinefle fore-runnes the good euent. 
 
 Weft . Therefore be merry (Cooze) fince fodaine forrow 
 Serues to fay thus: fbme good thing comes to morrow. 
 
 Bijb. Beleeue me, I am paffing light in fpirit. 
 
 Mc,r<>. So much the worfe,if your owne Rule be true. 
 
 395 
 
 John. The word of Peace is render'd : hearke how 
 they fhowt. 
 
 M'stv. This had been chearefull, after Vidlorie. 
 
 Bijb. A Peace is of the nature of a Conqueft : 
 For then both parties nobly are fubdu'd, 
 And neither partie loofer. 
 
 lobn. Goe (my Lord) 
 And let our Army be difcharged too : 
 And good my Lord (fo pleafe you) let our Traines 
 March by vs,that wee may perufe the men Exit. 
 
 Wee fhould haue coap'd withall. 
 
 Bijh. Goe, good Lord Hajiings : 
 And ere they be difmifs'd, let them march by. Exit. 
 
 John. I truft(Lords) wee fhall lye to night together. 
 
 Enter Weftmerland. 
 Now Coufin, wherefore ftands our Army ftill? 
 
 Weff.The Leaders hauing charge from you to ftand, 
 Will not goe off, vntill they heare you fpeake. 
 
 loin. They know their duties. Enter Hajiings. 
 
 Haft. Our Army is difpers'd : 
 
 Like youthfull Steeres, vnyoak'd, they tooke their courfe 
 Eaft,Weft, North, South: or like a Schoole, broke vp, 
 Each hurryes towards his home, and fpordng place. 
 
 Weft. Good tidings(my Lord Hajiings) for the which, 
 I doe arreft thee(Traytor) of high Treafon: 
 And you Lord Arch-bifhop, and you Lord MLirbray, 
 Of Capitall Treafon,! attach you both. 
 
 M'jw. Is this proceeding iuft, and honorable? 
 
 Weft. Is your AfTembly fo ? 
 
 'Bijh. Will you thus breake your faith ? 
 
 lobn. I pawn'd thee none : 
 I promis'd you redrefle of thefe fame Grieuances 
 Whereof you did complaine ; which, by mine Honor, 
 I will performe, with a moft Chriftian care. 
 But for you (Rebels,) looke to tafte the due 
 Meet for Rebellion, and fuch Adls as yours. 
 Moft (hallowly did you thefe Armes commence, 
 Fondly brought here, and foolifhly fent hence. 
 Strike vp our Drummes,purfue the fcatter'd ftray, 
 Heauen, and not wee, haue fafely fought to day. 
 Some guard thefe Traitors to the Block of Death, 
 Treafons true Bed, and yeelder vp of breath. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Falftaffe and Colleulle. 
 
 Falft. What's your Name. Sir? of what Condition are 
 you ? and of what place , I pray ? 
 
 Col. I am a Knight. Sir: 
 And my Name is Colleuile of the Dale. 
 
 Falft. Well then, Colleulle is your Name, a Knight is 
 your Degree, and your Place, the Dale. Colleuile fhall 
 ftill be your Name, a Traytor your Degree, and the Dun- 
 geon your Place, a place deepe enough : fo fhall you be 
 ftill Colleuile of the Dale. 
 
 Col. Are not you Sir lobn Falftaffe ? 
 
 Falft. As good a man as he fir, who ere I am : doe yee 
 yeelde fir,or fhall I fweate for you? if I doe fweate, they 
 are the drops of thy Louers, and they weep for thy death, 
 therefore rowze vp Feare and Trembling, and do obfer- 
 uance to my mercy. 
 
 Col. I thinke you are Sir lobn Falftaffe , & in that thought 
 yeeld me. 
 
 Fa/. I haue a whole Schoole of tongues in this belly of 
 mine, and not a Tongue of them all, fpeakes anie other 
 word but my name : and I had but a belly of any indiffe- 
 rencie, I were fimply the moft acliue fellow in Europe : 
 my wombe, my wombe, my wombe vndoes mee. Heere 
 comes our Generall. 
 
 g g 3 Enter
 
 9 2 
 
 Tbefecond ^art offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 Enter Prince lobn, and Weftmer land. 
 
 lobn. The heat is paft, follow no farther now : 
 Call in the Powers, good Coufin Weslmerlard. 
 Now FatsiajTe t where haue you beene all this while ? 
 When euery thing is ended, then you come. 
 Thefe tardie Tricks of yours will (on my life) 
 One time, or other, breake fome Gallowes back. 
 
 Falfl. I would bee forry (my Lord) but it fliould bee 
 thus : 1 neuer knew yet, but rebuke and checke was the 
 reward of Valour. Doe you thinke me a Swallow, an Ar- 
 row, or a Bullet? Haue 1, in my poore and olde Motion, 
 the expedition of Thought? 1 haue fpeeded hither with 
 the very extremeft ynch of pofiibilitie. I haue fowndred 
 nine fcore and odde Foftes : and heere ( trauell-uinted 
 as I am) haue, in my pure and immaculate Valour, taken 
 Sir lobn Colleuile of the Dale, a moft furious Knight, and 
 valorous Enemie : But wh^t of that ? hee faw mee, and 
 yeelded : that I inay iuftly fay with the hooke-nos'd 
 fellow of Rome, I came, faw, and ouer-came. 
 
 lobn. It was more of his Courtefie, then your defer- 
 uing. 
 
 Ftilft. I know not : heere hee is, and heere I yeeld 
 him : and I befeech your Grace, let it be book'd, with 
 the reft of this dayes deedes ; or I fweare, I will haue it 
 in a particular Ballad, with mine owne Picture on the top 
 of it ( Colleuile kiffing my foot : ) To the which courfe, if 
 I be enforc'd, if you do not all fliew like gilt two-pences 
 to me; and I, in the cleare Skie of Fame, o're-fhine you 
 as much as the Full Moone doth the Cynders of the Ele- 
 ment (which fliew like Pinnes-heads to her) beleeue not 
 the Word of the Noble : therefore let mee haue right, 
 and let defert mount. 
 
 lobn. Thine's too heauie to mount. 
 
 Falft. Let it fhine then. 
 
 lobn. Thine's too thick to fhine. 
 
 Falfl. Let it doe fomething(my good Lord) that may 
 doe me good, and call it what you will. 
 lobn. Is thy Name Colleuile ? 
 Col. It is (my Lord.) 
 
 Lbn. A famous Rebell art thou, Colleuile. 
 Falft. And a famous true Subiedl tooke him. 
 Col. I am (my Lord) but as my Betters are, 
 That led me hither : had they beene rul'd by me, 
 You mould haue wonne them dearer then you haue. 
 
 Falft. I know not how they fold themielues, but thou 
 like a kinde fellow, gau'ft thy felfe away ; and I thanke 
 thee,for thee. 
 
 Enter We&merland. 
 
 lobn. Haue you left purfuit ? 
 
 Weft. Retreat is made, and Execution ftay'd. 
 
 lobn. Send Qolleui/e,with his Confederates, 
 To Yorke,to prefent Execution. 
 IB/anfjleade him hence,and fee you guard him fure. 
 
 Exit vitb Colleuile. 
 
 And now difpatch we toward the Court (my Lords^ 
 I heare the King, my Father, is fore ficke. 
 Our Newes mall goe before vs,to his Maieftie, 
 Which (Coufm) you mall beare.to comfort him : 
 And wee with fober fpeede will follow you. 
 
 Falft. My Lord, 1 beleech you, giue me leaue to goe 
 through Gloucefterfliire: and when you come to Court, 
 ftand my good LorJ,'pray,in your good report. 
 
 lobn. Fare you well, Falflajfe : I, in my condition, 
 Shall better fpeake of you, then you deferue. Exit. 
 
 Falft. I would you had but the wit : 'twere better 
 then your Dukedome. Good faith, this lame young fo- 
 ber-blooded Boy doth no^ loue me , nor a man cannot 
 make him laugh : but that's no maruaile, hee diinkes no 
 Wine. There's neuer any of thefe demure Boyes come 
 to any proofe : for thinne Drinke doth fo ouer-coole 
 their blood, and making many Fim-Meales, that they 
 fall into a kinde of Male Greene-ficknefle : and then, 
 when they marry, they get Wenches. They are generally 
 Fooles,and Cowards; which fome of vs fliould be too, 
 but for inflamation. A good Sherris-Sack hath a two- 
 ! fold operation in it : it afcends me into the Braine, dryes 
 me there all the foolifti, and dull , and cruddie Vapours, 
 which enuiron it : makes it apprehenfiue, quicke, forge - 
 I tiue, full of nimble, fierie, and delectable ftupes; which 
 | deliuer'd o're to the Voyce, the Tongue, which is the 
 | Birth, becomes excellent Wit. The fecond propertie of 
 | your excellent Sherris, is, the warming of the Blood : 
 j which before (cold, and felled) left the Liuer white, and 
 I pale ; which is the Badge of Pufillanimitie, and Cowar- 
 | dize : but the Sherris warmes it, and makes it courfe 
 j from the inwards, to the parts extremes : it illuminateth 
 the Face, which (as a Beacon) giues warning to all the 
 reft of this little Kingdome (Man) to Arme : and then 
 the Vitall Commoners, and in-land pettie Spirits, mufter 
 me all to their Captaine, the Heart; who great, and pufft 
 ! vp with his Retinue, doth any Deed of Courage: and this 
 ! Valour comes of Sherris. So, that skill in the Weapon 
 . is nothing, without Sack (for that fets it a-worke:) and 
 | Learning, a meere Hoord of Gold, kept by a Deuill, till 
 Sack commences it, and fets it in act, and vfe. Hereof 
 comes it, that Prince Harry is valiant: for the cold blood 
 hee did naturally inherite of his Father, hee hath, like 
 leane, ftirrill, and bare Land, manured, husbanded, and 
 tyll'd, with excellent endeauour of drinking good, and 
 good ftore of fertile Sherris, that hee is become very hot, 
 and valiant. If I had a thoufknd Sonnes,the firft Principle 
 '. I would teach them, fhould be to forfweare thinne Pota- 
 tions, and to addict themfelues to Sack. Enter Bardolpb. 
 How nosv ^Bardolfb? 
 
 'Bard. The Armie is difcharged all, and gone. 
 Falft. Let them goe : He through Gloucefterfliire, 
 and there will 1 vifit Mafter Robert Sballctf, Efquire : I 
 haue him alreadie tempering betweene my finger and my 
 thombe,and fliortly will I feale with him. Come away. 
 
 Exeunt . 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter King, Warwick?, Clarence, Gloucefter. 
 King.Now Lords, if Heauen doth giue fuccefiefull end 
 To this Debate, that bleedeth at our doores, 
 Wee will our Youth lead on to higher Fields, 
 And draw no Swords, but what are fancYify'd. 
 Our Nauie is addre(Fed,our Power collected, 
 Our SubftiruteSjin abfence,well inuefted, 
 And euery thing lyes leuell to our wifh ; 
 Onely wee want a little perfonall Strength : 
 And pawfe vs, till thefe Rebels, now a-foot, 
 Come vnderneath the yoake of Gouernment. 
 
 War. Both which we doubt not, but your Maieftie 
 Shall foone enioy. 
 
 King. Hum-
 
 Thefecond ''Part offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 93 
 
 King. Humphrey (my Sonne of Gloucefter) where is 
 the Prince, your Brother? 
 
 Glo. I thinke hee's gone to hunt (my Lord) at Wind- 
 for. 
 
 King. And how accompanied ? 
 
 Glo. I doe not know (my Lord.) 
 
 King. Is not his Brother, Thoma6 of Clarence, with 
 him? 
 
 Glo. No (my good Lord) hee is in prefence heere. 
 
 Clar. What would my Lord, and Father? 
 
 King. Nothing but well to thee, Thomas of Clarence. 
 How chance thou art not with the Prince, thy Brother? 
 Hee loues thee, and thou do'ft negledt h\m(Tboma6.) 
 Thou haft a better place in his Affedlion, 
 Then all thy Brothers : cherifh it (my Boy) 
 And Noble Offices thou may'ft eft'edr. 
 Of Mediation (after I am dead) 
 Betweene his Greatnefie,and thy other Brethren, 
 Therefore omit him not: blunt not his Loue, 
 Nor Joofe the good aduantage of his Grace, 
 By feeming cold, or carelefie of his will. 
 For hea is gracious, if hee be obferu'd : 
 Hee hath a Teare for Pitie,and a Hand 
 Open (as Day) for melting Charitie : 
 Yet notwithftanding, being incens'd, hee's Flint, 
 As humorous as Winter, and as fudden, 
 As Flawes congealed in the Spring of day. 
 His temper therefore muft be well obferu'd : 
 Chide him for faults,and doe it reuerently, 
 When you perceiue his blood enclin'd to mirth: 
 But being moodie,giue him Line, and fcope, 
 Till that his paffions (like a Whale on ground) 
 Confound thernfelues with working. Learne this ThomM, 
 And thou fhalt proue a flielter to thy friends, 
 A Hoope of Gold, to binde thy^Brothers in: 
 That the vnited Veflell of their Blood 
 (Mingled with Venome of Suggeftion, 
 As force, perforce, the Age will powre it in) 
 Shall neuer leake, though it doe worke as ftrong 
 As yfo/tf/'/KW, or rafh Gun-powder. 
 
 Qlar. I fhall obferue him with all care, and loue. 
 
 King. Why art thou not at Windfor with him (Tho- 
 ma6 ?} 
 
 Clar. Hee is not there to day : hee dines in Lon- 
 don. 
 
 King. And how accompanyed ? Canft thou tell 
 that? 
 
 Clar. With Points;, and ether his continuall fol- 
 lowers. ' 
 
 King. Moft fubieft is the fatteft Soyle to Weedes : 
 And hee (the Noble Image of my Youth) 
 Is ouer-fpread with them : therefore my griefe 
 Stretches it felfe beyond the howre of death. 
 The blood weepes from my heart, when I doe fhape 
 (In formes imaginarie) th'vnguided Dayes, 
 And rotten Times, that you fhall looke vpon, 
 When I am fleeping with my Anceftors. 
 For when his head-ftrong Riot hath no Curbe, 
 When Rage and hot-Blood are his Counfailors, 
 When Meanes and lauifh Manners meete together; 
 Oh, with what Wings fhall his Affections flye 
 Towards fronting Perill,and oppos'd Decay ? 
 
 War. My gracious Lord, you looke beyond him quite : 
 The Prince but ftudies his Companions, 
 Like a ftrange Tongue : wherein, to gaine the Language, 
 'Tis needfull, that the mod immodeft word 
 
 39J 
 
 Be look'd vpon, and learn'd : which once attayn'd, 
 Your KighnefTe knovves, comes to no farther vfe, 
 But to be knowne,and hated. So, like grofle termes, 
 The Prince will, in the perfedTmeffe of time, 
 Caft off his followers : and their memorie 
 Shall as a Patterns, or a Meafure,liue, 
 By which his Grace muft mete the liues of others, 
 Turning paft-euills to aduantages. 
 
 King.' f is feldome,when the Bee doth leaue her Combe 
 In the dead Carrion. 
 
 Enter Wejlmerland. 
 Who's heere ? Weftmerland? 
 
 Weft, Health to my Soueraigne,and new happineffe 
 Added to that, that 1 am to deliuer. 
 Prince Iobn,your Sonne, doth kifie your Graces Hand : 
 <&foivbray) the Bifhop, Scroofe, Hu/lings, and all, 
 Are brought to the Correction of your Law. 
 There is not now a Rebels Sword vnfheath'd, 
 But Peace puts forth her Oliue euery where : 
 The manner how this Action hath beene borne, 
 Here (at more leyfure) may your Highnefie reade, 
 With euery courfe,in his particular. 
 
 King. O Weftmerland) thou art a Summer Bird, 
 Which euer in the haunch of Winter fings 
 The lifting vp of day. 
 
 Enter Harcourt. 
 Looke, heere's more newes. 
 
 Hare. From Enemies, Heauen keepe your Maieftie : 
 And when they ftand againft you, may they fall, 
 As thofe that I am come to tell you of. 
 The Earle Northumberland, and the Lord Bardolfe, 
 With a great Power of Englifh,and of Scots, 
 Are by the Sherife of Yorkefhire ouerthrowne : 
 The manner, and true order of" the fight, 
 This Packet (pleafe it you ) containes at large. 
 
 King. And wherefore fhould thele good newes 
 Make me ficke ? 
 
 Will Fortune neuer come with both hands full, 
 But write her faire words ftill in fouleft Letters? 
 Shee eyther giues a Stomack, and no Foode, 
 (Such are the poore,in health) or elfe a Feaft, 
 And takes away the Stomack (fuch are the Rich, 
 That haue aboundance, and enioy it not.) 
 I fhould reioyce now,at this happy newes, 
 And nowcmy Sight fayles,and my Braine is giddie. 
 O me, come neere me, now I am much ill. 
 
 Glo. Comfort your Maieftie, 
 
 Cla. Oh, my Royall Father. 
 
 Weft. My Soueraigne Lord,cheare vp your felfe, looke 
 vp. 
 
 War. Be patient (Princes) you doe know,thefe Fits 
 Are with his HighnefTe very ordinarie. 
 Stand from him, giue him ayre : 
 Hee'le ftraight be well. 
 
 Clar. No, no, hee cannot long hold out: thefe pangs, 
 Th'inceffant care, and labour of his Minde, 
 Hath wrought the Mure, that fhould confine it in, 
 So thinne,that Life lookes through, and will breake out. 
 
 Glo. The people fijare me : for they doe obferue 
 Vnfather'd Heires, and loathly Births of Nature: 
 The Seafons change their manners, as the Yeere 
 Had found fome Moneths afleepe,and leap'd them ouer. 
 
 Clar. The Riuer hath thrice flow'd.no ebbe betweene: 
 And the old folke (Times doting Chronicles) 
 Say it did fo,a little time before 
 That our great Grand-fire Edtoard fick'd,and dy'de. 
 
 g g 4 War. Speake
 
 94 
 
 Tbefecond ^art offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 War. Speake lower ( Princes ) for the King reco- 
 uers. 
 
 Glo. This Apoplexie will (certaine) be his end. 
 
 King. I pray you take me vp,and beare me hence 
 Into fome other Chamber : foftly 'pray. 
 Let there be no noyfe made ( my gentle friends) 
 Vnleffe Come dull and fauourable hand 
 Will whifper Muficke to my wearie Spirit. 
 
 War. Call for the Muficke in the other Roome. 
 
 King. Set me the Crowne vpon my Pillow here. 
 
 Clar. His eye is hollow, and hee changes much. 
 
 War. Leffe noyfe, leffe noyfe. 
 
 Enter 7rir.ce Henry. 
 
 P.Hen. Who faw the Duke of Clarence? 
 
 Clar. I am here (Brother) full of heauineffe. 
 
 P.Hen. How now? Raine within doores, and none 
 abroad ? How doth the King ? 
 
 Glo. Exceeding ill. 
 
 P.Hen. Heard hee the good newes yet ? 
 Tell it him. 
 
 Glo. Hee alter' d much, vpon the hearing it. 
 
 P.Hen. If hee be ficke with loy, 
 Hee'le recouer without Phyficke. 
 
 War. Not fo much noyfe (my Lords) 
 Sweet Prince fpeake lowe. 
 The King, your Father, is difpos'd to fleepe. 
 
 Clar. Let vs with-draw into the other Roome. 
 
 War. Wil't pleafe your Grace to goe along with vs ? 
 
 P.Hen. No: I will fit, and watch here, by the King. 
 Why doth the Crowne lye there, vpon his Pillow, 
 Being fo troublefome a Bed-fellow ? 
 O pallifli'd Perturbation ! Golden Care ! 
 That keep'ft the Ports of Slumber open wide, 
 To many a watchfull Night : fleepe with it now, 
 Yet not fo found, and halfe fo deepely fweete, 
 As hee whofe Brow (with homely Biggen bound) 
 Snores out the Watch of Night. O Maieftie J 
 When thou do'ft pinch thy Bearer,thou do'ft fit 
 Like a rich Armor, worne in heat of day, 
 That fcald'ft with fafetie : by his Gates of breath, 
 There lyes a dowlney feather, which ftirres not : 
 Did hee fufpire,that light and weightlefTe dowlne 
 Perforce muft moue. My gracious Lord, my Father, 
 This fleepe is found indeede : this is a fleepe, 
 That from this Golden Rigoll hath diuorc'd 
 So many Englifh Kings. Thy due, from me, 
 Is Teares,and heauie Sorrowes of the Blood, 
 Which Nature, Loue, and filiall tenderneffe, 
 Shall (O deare Father) pay thee plenteoufly. 
 My due, from thee, is this Imperiall Crowne, 
 Which(as immediate from thy Place and Blood) 
 Deriues it felfe to me. Loe, heere it fits, 
 Which Heauen fliall guard : 
 
 And put the worlds whole ftrengf.h into one gyant Arme, 
 It fliall not force this Lineall Honor from me. 
 This, from thee, will I to mine leaue, 
 As 'tis left to me. Exit. 
 
 Enter Warv:cl(e t Gkucefler^ Clarence. 
 
 King. Warwick, Gloucejier, Clarence. 
 Clar. Doth the King call? 
 
 War. What would your Maieftie ? how fares your 
 Gnce ? 
 
 King. Why did you leaue me here alone(my Lords?) 
 
 C/a.We left the Prince(my Brother)here(my Liege) 
 Who vndertooke to fit and watch by you. 
 
 King. The Prince of Wales ? where is hee ? let mee 
 fee him. 
 
 War. This doore is open, hee is gone this way. 
 
 Glo. Hee came not through the Chamber where wee 
 ftayd. 
 
 King. Where is the Crowne ? who tooke it from my 
 Pillow ? 
 
 War. When wee with-drew (my Liege^ wee left it 
 heere. 
 
 King. The Prince hath ta'ne it hence : 
 Goe feeke him out. 
 Is hee fo haftie,that hee doth fuppofe 
 My fleepe, my death ? Finde him(my Lord of Warwick) 
 Chide him hither: this part of his conioynes 
 With my difeafe,and helpes to end me. 
 See Sonnes, what things you are : 
 How quickly Nature falls into reuolt, 
 When Gold becomes her Obiect f 
 For this, the foolifli ouer-carefull Fathers 
 Haue broke their fleepes with thoughts, 
 Their braines with care, their bones with induftry. 
 For this, they haue ingroffed and pyl'd vp 
 The canker'd heapes of ftrange-atchieued Gold: 
 For this, they haue beene though trull, to inueft 
 Their Sonnes with Arts,and Martiall Exercifes : 
 When, like the Bee,culling from euery flower 
 The vertuous Sweetes,our Thighes packt with Wax, 
 Our Mouthes with Honey, wee bring it to the Hiue ; 
 And like the Bees, are murthered for our paines. 
 This bitter tafte yeelds his engroflements, 
 To the ending Father. 
 
 Enter Waraicfy. 
 
 Now, where is hee, that will not ftay fo long, 
 Till his Friend Sickneffe hath determin'd me ? 
 
 War. My Lord, I found the Prince in the next Roome, 
 Wafliing with kindly Teares his gentle Cheekes, 
 With fuch a deepe demeanure,in great forrow, 
 That Tyranny, which neuer quafft but blood, 
 Would(by beholding him)haue wafli'd his Knife 
 With gentle eye-drops. Hee is comming hither. 
 
 King.But wherefore did hee take away the Crowne ? 
 
 nter Prince Henry. 
 
 Loe, where hee comes. Come hither to me(Harty.) 
 Depart the Chamber, leaue vs heere alone. Sxit. 
 
 P.Hen. I neuer thought to heare you fpeake againe. 
 
 King. Thy wifli was Fathcr(HarryJto that thought: 
 I ftay too long by thee, I wearie thee. 
 Do'ft thou fo hunger for my emptie Chayre, 
 That thou wilt needes inueft thee with mine Honors, 
 Before thy howre be ripe ? O foolifli Youth ! 
 Thou feek'ft the Greatneffe, that will ouer-whelme thee. 
 Stay but a little : for my Cloud of Dignitie 
 Is held from falling, with fo weake a winde, 
 That it will quickly drop : my Day is dimme. 
 Thou haft ftolne that, which after fome few howres 
 Were thine, without offence : and at my death 
 Thou haft feal'd vp my expectation. 
 Thy Life did manifeft,thou lou'dftme not, 
 And thou wilt haue me dye afTur'd of it. 
 Thou hid'ft a thoufand Daggers in thy thoughts, 
 Which thou haft whetted on thy ftonie heart, 
 To ftab at halfe an howre of my Life. 
 What? canft thou not forbeare me halfe an howre? 
 
 Then
 
 The fecond ^Part of %jng Henry the Fourth. 
 
 95 
 
 Then get thee gone, and digge my graue thy felfe, 
 
 And bid the merry Bels ring to thy eare 
 
 That thou art Crowned, not that I am dead. 
 
 Let all the Teares, that fliould bedew my Hearfe 
 
 Be drops of" Balme, to fanctifie thy head : 
 
 Onely compound me with forgotten duft. 
 
 Glue that, which gaue thee life, vnto the Wormes : 
 
 Plucke downe my Officers, breake my Decrees ; 
 
 For now a time is come, to mocke at Forme. 
 
 Henry the fif't is Crown'd : Vp Vanity, 
 
 Downe Royall State : All you fage Counfailors, hence : 
 
 And to the Englifh Court, aflemble now 
 
 From eu'ry Region, Apes of Idlenefle. 
 
 Now neighbor-Confines, purge you of your Scum : 
 
 Haue you a Ruffian that fwill fweare? drinke? dance? 
 
 Reuell the night? Rob? Murder? and commit 
 
 The oldeft finnes, the neweft kinde of wayes ? 
 
 Be happy, he will trouble you no more: 
 
 England, fhall double giil'd, his trebble guilt. 
 
 England, (hall giue him Office, Honor, Might: 
 
 For the Fift Harry, from curb'd Licenfe pluckes 
 
 The muzzle of Reftraint; and the wilde Dogge 
 
 Shall flefh his tooth in euery Innocent. 
 
 my poore Kingdome (ficke, with ciuill blowes) 
 When that my Care could not with-hold thy Ryots, 
 What wilt thou do, when Ryot is thy Care ? 
 
 O, thou wilt be a WildernefTe againe, 
 Peopled with Wolues (thy old Inhabitants. 
 
 Prince. O pardon me (my Liege) 
 But for my Teares, 
 The moft Impediments vnto my Speech, 
 
 1 had fore-ftall'd this deere, and deepe Rebuke, 
 Ere you (with greefe) had fpoke, and I had heard 
 The courfe of it fo farre. There is your Crowne, 
 And he that weares the Crowne immortally, 
 Long guard it yours. If I affect it more, 
 
 Then as your Honour, and as your Renowne, 
 Let me no more from this Obedience rife, 
 Which my moft true, and inward duteous Spirit 
 Teacheth this proftrate, and exteriour bending. 
 Heauen witnefle with me, when I heere came in, 
 And found no courfe of breath within your Maieftie, 
 How cold it ftrooke my heart. If I do faine, 
 
 let me, in my prefent wildenefle, dye, 
 And neuer Hue, to fliew th'incredulous World, 
 The Noble change that I haue purpofed. 
 Comming to looke on you, thinking you dead, 
 (And dead almoft(my Liege)to thinke you were) 
 
 1 fpake vnto the Crowne (as hauing fenfe) 
 
 And thus vpbraided it. The Care on thee depending, 
 
 Hath fed vpon the body of my Father, 
 
 Therefore, thou beft of Gold, art worft of Gold. 
 
 Other, leffe fine in Charract, is more precious, 
 
 Preferuing life, in Med'cine potable : 
 
 But thou, moft Fine, moft Honour'd, moft Renown'd, 
 
 Haft eate the Bearer vp. 
 
 Thus (my Royall Liege) 
 
 Accufing it, I put it on my Head, 
 
 To try with it (as with an Enemie, 
 
 That had before my face murdred my Father) 
 
 The Quarrell of a true Inheritor. 
 
 But if it did infect my blood with loy, 
 
 Or fwell my Thoughts, to any ftraine of Pride, 
 
 If any Rebell, or vaine fpirit of mine, 
 
 Did, with the lead Affection of a Welcome, 
 
 Giue entertainment to the might of it, 
 
 397 
 
 Let heauen, for euer, keepe it from my head, 
 And make me, as the pooreft VafTaile is, 
 That doth with awe, and terror kneele to it. 
 
 King. O my Sonne ! 
 
 Heauen put it in thy minde to take it hence, 
 That thou might'ft ioyne the more, thy Fathers loue, 
 Pleading fo wifely, in excufe of it. 
 Come hither Harrie, fit thou by my bedde, 
 And heare (I thinke, the very lateft Counfell 
 That euer I fhall breath : Heauen knowes, my Sonne) 
 By what by-pathes, and indirect crook'd-wayes 
 I met this Crowne : and I my felfe know well 
 How troublefome it fate vpon my head. 
 To thee, it fhall defcend with better Qmet, 
 Better Opinion, better Confirmation : 
 For all the foyle of the Atchieuement goes 
 With me, into the Earth. It feem'd in nice, 
 But as an Honour fnatch'd with boyft'rous hand, 
 And I had many liuing, to vpbraide 
 My gaine of it, by their Affiftances, 
 Which dayly grew to Quarrell, and to Blood-fhed, 
 Wounding fuppofed Peace. 
 All thefe bold Feares, 
 Thou feeft (with perill) I haue anfwered : 
 For all my Reigne, hath beene but as a Scene 
 Acting that argument. And now my death 
 Changes the Moode : For what in me, was purchas'd, 
 Falles vpon thee, in a more Fayrer fort. 
 So thou, the Garland wear'ft fucceffiuely. 
 Yet, though thou ftand'ft more fure, then I could do, 
 Thou art not firme enough, fince greefes are greene : 
 And all thy Friends, which thou muft make thy Friends 
 Haue but their ftings,and teeth, newly tak'n out, 
 By whofe fell working, I was firft aduanc'd, 
 And by whofe power, I well might lodge a Feare 
 To be againe difplac'd. Which to auoyd, 
 I cut them off: and had a purpofe now 
 To leade out many to the Holy Land ; 
 Leaft reft, and lying ftill, might make them looke 
 Too neere vnto my State. 
 Therefore (my Harrie) 
 Be it thy courfe to bufie giddy Mindes 
 With Forraigne Quarrels : that Action hence borne out, 
 May wafte the memory of the former dayes. 
 More would I, but my Lungs are wafted fo, 
 That ftrength of Speech is vtterly deni'de mee. 
 How I came by the Crowne, O heauen forgiue : 
 And grant it may, with thee, in true peace Hue. 
 
 Trince. My gracious Liege : 
 You wonne it , wore it : kept it, gaue it me, 
 Then plaine and right muft my pofTefiion be ; 
 Which I, with more, then with a Common paine, 
 'Gainft all the World, will rightfully maintaine. 
 
 Enter Lord lohn ofLancafter, 
 and Warwlcl^e. 
 
 King. Looke, looke, 
 Heere comes my Lbn of Lancafter: 
 
 John. Health, Peace, and Happinefle, 
 To my Royall Father. 
 
 King. Thou bring'ft me happinefTe and Peace 
 
 (Sonne Lbn : 
 
 But health (alacke) with youthfull wings is flowne 
 From this bare, wither'd Trunke. Vpon thy fight 
 My worldly bufineffe makes a period. 
 
 Where
 
 96 
 
 Tbefecond Tart of %jng Henry the Fourth. 
 
 Where is my Lord of Warwicke f 
 
 frin. My Lord of Warwicke. 
 
 King. Doth any name particular, belong 
 Vnto the Lodging, where I firft did fwoon'd ? 
 
 War. 'Tis call'd LrufaUm, my Noble Lord. 
 
 King. Laud be to heauen : 
 Euen there my life muft end. 
 It hath beene prophefi'de to me many yeares, 
 I fhould not dye, but in lerufalem : 
 Which ( vainly) I fuppos'd the Holy-Land. 
 But beare me to that Chamber, there He lye : 
 In that lerujalem, ihall Harry dye. Exeunt. 
 
 Aftus Quintus. Sccena ^Prima. 
 
 Enter Shallow, Silence, Falfta/e, Bardolfe, 
 Page, and Dauie. 
 
 Sbal. By Cocke and Pye,you flull not away to night. 
 What Dauy, I fay. 
 
 Fa/. You muft excufe me, M. Robert Sballw. 
 
 Sbal. I will not excufe you : you /hall not be excufed. 
 Excufes flnll not be admitted : there is no excufe fhall 
 ferue : you fhall not be excus'd. 
 Why Dauie. 
 
 Dauie. Heere fir. 
 
 Sbal. Dauy, Dauy, Dauy, let me fee (Daisy) let me fee : 
 William Cooke, bid him come hither. Sir 7oj6,you flu I 
 not be excus'd. 
 
 Dauy. Marry fir, thus : thofe Precepts cannot bee 
 feru'd : and againe fir, fhall we fowe the head-land with 
 Wheate ? 
 
 Sbal. With red Wheate Dauy. But for William Cook: 
 are there no yong Pigeons ? 
 
 Dauy. Yes Sir. 
 
 Heere is now the Smithes note, for Shooing, 
 And Plough-Irons. 
 
 Sbal. Let it be caft, and payde : Sir John, you fhall 
 not be excus'd. 
 
 Dauy. Sir, a new linke to the Bucket muft needes bee 
 had : And Sir, doe you meane to ftoppe any of Williams 
 Wages, about the Sacke he loft the other day, at Hlnckley 
 Fayre ? 
 
 Sbal. He fliall anfwer it : 
 
 Some Pigeons Dauy, a couple of fhort-legg'd Hennes : a 
 ioynt of Mutton, and any pretty little tine Kickfhawes, 
 tell William Cooke. 
 
 Dauy. Doth the man of Warre,ftay all night fir? 
 
 Sbal. Yes Dauy : 
 
 I will vfe him well. A Friend i'th Court, is better then a 
 penny in purfe. Vfe his men well 'Dauy, for they are ar- 
 rant Knaues, and will backe-bite. 
 
 'Dauy. No worfe then they are bitten, fir : For they 
 haue maruellous fowle linnen. 
 
 Sbalktv. Well conceited 'Dauy : about thy Bufinefle, 
 Dauy. 
 
 Dauy. I befeech you fir, 
 
 To countenance William "Uifor of Woncot, againft de- 
 ment Perils of the hill. 
 
 Shal. There are many Complaints Dauy, againft that 
 Uifor, that Vifor is an arrant Knaue, on my know- 
 ledge. 
 
 Dauy. I graunt your Worfhip, that he is a knaue Sir :) 
 But yet heauen forbid Sir, but a Knaue fhould haue fume 
 Countenance, at his Friends requeft. An honeft man fir, 
 is able to fpeake for himfelfe, when a Knaue is not. I haue 
 feru'd your Worfhippe truely fir, thefe eight yeares: and 
 if I cannot once or twice in a Quarter beare out a knaue, 
 againft an honeft man, I haue but a very litle credite with 
 your Worlhippe. The Knaue is miae honeft Friend Sir, 
 therefore 1 befeech your Worfhip, let him bee Counte- 
 nanc'd. 
 
 Shal. Go too, 
 
 I fay he fhall haue no wrong : Looke about Dauy. 
 Where are you Sir Lbn ? Come, off with your Boots. 
 Giue me your hand M. Eardolfe. 
 
 Bard. I am glad to fee your Worfhip. 
 
 Sbal. 1 thanke thee, with all my heart, kinde Matter 
 'Bardolfe : and welcome my tall Fellow : 
 Come Sir lobn. 
 
 Falftaffe. He follow you, good Mafter Robert Shallow. 
 'Bardolfe, looke to -our HorfTes. If I were faw'de into 
 Quantities, I fhuuld make foure dozen of fuch bearded 
 Hermitcs ftaues, as Mafter Shallow. It is a wonderfull 
 thing to fee the femblable Coherence of his mens fpirits, 
 and his : They, by obferuing of him, do beare themfelues 
 like foolifh luftices : Hee, by conuerfing with them, is 
 turn'd into a luftice-like Seruingman. Their fpirits are 
 fo married in Coniun&ion, with the participation of So- 
 ciety, that they flocke together in confent, like fo ma- 
 ny Wilde-Geefe. If I had a fuite to Mayfter Shallow, I 
 would humour his men, with the imputation of beeing 
 neere their Mayfter. If to his Men, I would currie with 
 Maifter Sbalkv, that no man could better command his 
 Seruants. It is certaine, that either wife bearing, or ig- 
 norant Carriage is caught, as men take difeafes, one of 
 another: therefore, let men take heede of their Compa- 
 nie. I will deuife matter enough out of this Shalli/tv, to 
 keepe Prince Harry in continuall Laughter, the wearing 
 out of fixe Fafhions (which is foure Tearmes) or two Ac- 
 tions, and he fhall laugh with Interuallums. O it is much 
 that a Lye (with a flight Oath) and a left (with a fadde 
 brow) will doe, with a Fellow, that neuer had the Ache 
 in his fhoulders. O you fhall lee him laugh, till his Face 
 be like a wet Cloake, ill laid vp. 
 
 Shal. Sir lohn, 
 
 Falft. I come Mafter Shallow, I come Mafter Shall. 
 
 Exeunt 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter the Earle of Warwicke, and the Lord 
 Cb'ufe luftice. 
 
 Warwicke. How now, my Lord Chiefe luftice, whe- 
 ther away ? 
 
 Cb.Iuft. How doth the King ? 
 
 Warn. Exceeding well : his Cares 
 Are now, all ended. 
 
 Ch.Iuft. I hope, not dead. 
 
 Warn. Hee's walk'd the way of Nature, 
 And to our purpofes, he liues no more. 
 
 Cb.IuJl. I would his Maiefty had call'd me with him, 
 The feruice, that I truly did his life, 
 Hath left me open to all iniuries. 
 
 War.
 
 The fecond'Part of RjngHenry the Fourth. 
 
 97 
 
 War. Indeed I thinke the yong King loues you not. 
 
 Cb.Iuft. I know he doth not, and do arme my felfe 
 To welcome the condition of the Time, 
 Which cannot looke more hideoufly vpon me, 
 Then I haue drawne it in my fantafie. 
 
 Enter lohn of Lane afte r, Gloucester y 
 and Clarence. 
 
 War. Heere come the heauy Iflue of dead Harriet 
 O, that the liuing Harrie had the temper 
 Of him,the worft of thefe three Gentlemen: 
 How many Nobles then, fhould hold their places, 
 That muft ftrike faile, to Spirits of vilde fort? 
 
 Qb.IuJi. Alas, I feare, all will be ouer-turn'd. 
 
 lobn. Good morrow Cofin War wick, good morrow. 
 
 Glou. Cla. Good morrow, Cofin. 
 
 lobn. We meet, like men, that had forgot to fpeake. 
 
 War. We do remember : but our Argument 
 Is all too heauy, to admit much talke. 
 
 lotb.Well: Peace be with him, that hath^made vs heauy 
 
 Cb.IuJi. Peace be with vs, lead we be heauier. 
 
 G/ou.O, good my Lord, you haue loft a friend indeed: 
 And I dare fweare,you borrow not that face 
 Of feeming forrow, it is fure your owne. 
 
 lobn. Though no man be affur'd what grace to finde, 
 You ftand in coldeft expectation. 
 I am the forrier, would 'twere otherwife. 
 
 C/a.Wel,you muft now fpeake Sir Lbn Falffaffe faire, 
 Which fwimmes againft your ftreame of Quality. 
 
 Qb.Iuji. Sweet Princes: what I did, I did in Honor, 
 Led by th'Imperiall Conduct of my Soule, 
 And neuer mall you fee, that I will begge 
 A ragged, and fore-ftall'd Remiflion. 
 If Troth, and vpright Innocency fayie me, 
 He to the King (my Mafter) that is dead, 
 And tell h'm, who hath fent me after him. 
 
 War. He;re comes the Prince. 
 
 Ent;r Prince Henrie. 
 
 Cb.Iuft.Good moirow: and heauen {aue your Maiefty 
 Prince. This new, and gorgeous Garment, Maiefty, 
 Sits not fo eafie on me, as you thinke. 
 Brothers, you mixe your Sadnefle with fome Feare : 
 This is the Englifh, not the Turkifli Court : 
 Not Amurah, an Amurab fucceeds, 
 But Harry, Harry : Yet be fad (good Brothers) 
 For (to fpeake truth) it very well becomes you : 
 Sorrow, fo Royally in you appeares, 
 That I will deeply put the Fafhion on, 
 And weare it in my heart. Why then be fad, 
 But entertaine no more of it (good Brothers) 
 Then a ioynt burthen, laid vpon vs all. 
 I For me, by Heauen (I bid you be aflur'd) 
 I lie be your Father, and your Brother too : 
 I Let me but beare your Loue, He beare your Cares ; 
 
 But weepe that Horrie's dead, and fo will I. 
 
 | But Harry Hues, that mall conuert thofe Teares 
 
 By number, into houres of Happinefle. 
 
 lobnffic. We hope no other from your Maiefty. 
 
 Prln. You all looke ftrangely on me : and you moft, 
 You are (I thinke) afiur'd, I loue you not. 
 
 Cb.Iuft. I am affur'd (if I be meafur'd rightly) 
 Your Maiefty hath no iuft caufe to hate mee. 
 
 Pr.No? How might a Prince of my great hopes forget 
 So great Indignities you laid vpon me ? 
 
 399 
 
 What? Rate? Rebuke? and roughly fend to Prifon 
 Th'immediate Heire of England/" Was this cafie? 
 May this be waih'd in Lethe, and forgotten f 
 
 Cb.Iuft. I then did vfe the Perfun of your Father: 
 The Image of his power, lay then in me, 
 And in th'adminiftration of his Law, 
 Whiles I was bufie for the Commonwealth, 
 Your HighnefTe pleafed to forget my place, 
 The Maiefty, and power of Law, and iuftice, 
 i he Image of the King, whom I prefented, 
 And ftrooke me in my very Seate ot ludgement: 
 Whereon (as an Offender to your Father) 
 I gaue bold way to my Authority, 
 And did commit you. If the deed were ill, 
 Be you contented, wearing now the Garland, 
 To haue a Sonne, fet your Decrees at naught ? 
 To plucke downe Iuftice from your awefull Bench? 
 To trip the courfe of Law, and blunt the Sword 
 That guards the peace, and fafety of your Perfon ? 
 Nay mare, to fpurne at your mort Royall Image, 
 And mocke your workings, in a Second body? 
 Queftion your Royall Thoughts, make the cafe yours: 
 Be now the Father, and propofe a Sonne : 
 Heare your owne dignity fo much prophan'd, 
 See your moft dreadfull Lawes, fo loofely flighted; 
 Behold your felre, fo by a Sonne difd-iined: 
 And then imagine me, taking you part, 
 And in your power, foft filencing your Sonne : 
 After this cold confiJeiance, fentence me; 
 And, as you are a King, fpeake in your State, 
 What I haue done, that misbecame my place, 
 My perfon, or my Lieges Soueraigntie. 
 
 Prln. You are right Iuftice,and you weigh this well: 
 Therefore ftill beare the Ballance, and the Sword : 
 And 1 do wim your Honors may encreafe, 
 Till you do liue, to fee a Sonne of mine 
 Offend you, and obey you, as I did. 
 So mall I liue, to fpeake my Fathers words: 
 Happy am I, that haue a man fo bold, 
 That dares do Iuftice, on my proper Sonne ; 
 And no leffe happy, hauing fuch a Sonne, 
 That .would deliuer vp his GreatnefTe fo, 
 Into the hands of Iuftice. You did commit me: 
 For which, 1 do commit into your hand, 
 Th'vnftained Sword that you haue vs'd to beare : 
 With this Remembrance; That you vfe the fame 
 With the like bold, iuft, and impartiall fpirit 
 As you haue done 'gainft me. There is my hand, 
 You fliall be as a Father, to my Youth : 
 My voice mall found, as you do prompt mine eare, 
 And I will ftoope, and humble my Intents, 
 To your well-pra&is'd, wife Directions. 
 And Princes all, beleeue me, I befeech you : 
 My Father is gone wilde into his Graue, 
 (For in his Tombe,lye my Affections) 
 And with his Spirits, fadly I furuiue, 
 To mocke the expectation of the World; 
 To fruftrate Prophefies, and to race out 
 Rotten Opinion, who hath writ me downe 
 After my feeming. The Tide of Blood in me, 
 Hath prowdly flow'd in Vanity, till now. 
 Now doth it turne, and ebbe backe to the Sea, 
 Where it mail mingle with the ftare of Floods, 
 And flow henceforth in formall Maiefty. 
 Now call we our High Court of Parliament, 
 And let vs choofe fuch Limbes of Noble Counfaile, 
 
 That
 
 T^hefecond^Part ofT^ing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 That the great Body of our State may go 
 
 In equall ranke, with the beft gouern'd Nation, 
 
 That Warre, or Peace, or both at once may be 
 
 As things acquainted and familiar to vs, 
 
 In which you (Father) lhall haue formoft hand. 
 
 Our Coronation done, we will accite 
 
 (As I before remembred) all our State, 
 
 And heauen (configning to my good intents) 
 
 No Prince, nor Peere, /hall haue iuft caufe to fay, 
 
 Heauen fliorten Harries happy life, one day. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Tertia. 
 
 Enter Falfta/e, SbalLv, Silence, Bardclfe, 
 fage,and Piftoll. 
 
 Sbal. Nay, you fliall fee mine Orchard : where, in an 
 Arbor we will eate a laft yeares Pippin of my owne graf- 
 fing, with a difh of Carrawayes,and fo forth (Come Co- 
 fin Silence, and then to bed. 
 
 Fal. You haue heere.a goodly dwelling, and a rich. 
 
 Sbal. Barren, barren, barren : Beggers all, beggers all 
 Sir Lbn\ Marry, good ayre. Spread *Dauy, fpread Dauie : 
 Well faid Dauie. 
 
 Faljt. This Dauie femes you for good vfes: he is your 
 Seruingman,and your Husband. 
 
 Sbal. A good Varlet, a good Varlet, a very good Var- 
 let, Sir lobn: I haue drunke too much Sacke at Supper. A 
 good Varlet. Now fit downe, now fit downe : Come 
 Cofin. 
 
 5/7. Ah firra(quoth-a) we fliall doe nothing but eate, 
 and make good cheere, and praife heauen for the merrie 
 yeere: when flefli is cheape,and Females deere, and luftie 
 Lads rome heere, and there : fo merrily, and euer among 
 fo merrily. 
 
 Fal. There's a merry heart, good M. Silence, lie giue 
 you a health for that anon. 
 
 Sbal. Good M.'Bardolfe: fome wine, Dauie. 
 
 "Da. Sweet fir, fit: lie be with you anon : moft fweete 
 fir, fit. Matter Page, good M. Page, fit: Preface. What 
 you want in meate, wee'l haue in drinke : but you beare, 
 the heart's all. 
 
 Sbal. Be merry M. Bardilfe, and my little Souldiour 
 there, be merry. 
 
 Sil. Be merry, be merry, my wife ha's all. 
 For women are Shrewes, both ftiort,and tall : 
 Tis merry in Hall, when Beards wagge all ; 
 And welcome merry Shrouetide. Be merry, be merry. 
 
 Fal. I did not thinke M. Silence had bin a man of this 
 Mettle. 
 
 Sil. Who \? I haue beene merry twice and once, ere 
 now. 
 
 'Dauy. There is a difli of Lether-coats for you. 
 
 Sbal. f Dauie. 
 
 Dau. Your Worfhip : He be with you ftraight. A cup 
 of Wine, fir? 
 
 Sil. A Cup of Wine, that's briske and fine, & drinke 
 vnto the Leman mine: and a merry heart liues long-a. 
 
 Fal. Well faid, M. Silence. 
 
 Sil. If we fliall be merry, now comes in the fweete of 
 the night. 
 
 Fal. Health, and long life to you, M. Silence. 
 
 Sil. Fill the Cuppe, and let it come. lie pledge you a 
 mile to the bottome. 
 
 Sbal. Honeft Bardolfe, welcome : If thou want'ft any 
 thing, and wilt not call, beflirew thy heart. Welcome my 
 little tyne theete,and welcome indeed too: lie drinke to 
 JA.'Bardolfe, and to all the Cauileroes about London. 
 
 Dau. 1 hope to fee London, once ere I die, 
 
 Bar. Ir'I might fee you there, Dauie. 
 
 Sbal. You'l cracke a quart together? Ha, will you not 
 M. Bardolfe? 
 
 liar. Yes Sir, in a pottle pot. 
 
 Sbal. I thanke thee : the knaue will fticke by thee, I 
 can aflure thee that. He will not out, he is true bred. 
 
 'Bar. And He fticke by him, fir. 
 
 Sbal.Why there fpoke a King: lack nothing, be merry. 
 Looke, who's at doore there,ho : who knockes? 
 
 Fal Why now you haue done me right. 
 
 Sil. Do me right,and dub me Knight, Samingo. Is't 
 not fo ? 
 
 Fal. 'Tisfo. 
 
 S/V.Is't fo? Why then fay an old man can do fomwhat. 
 
 'Dau. If it pleafe your Worfliippe, there's one Tiftcll 
 come from the Court with newes. 
 
 Fal. From the Court? Let him come in. 
 
 Enter Pijloll. 
 How now Piftoll ? 
 
 Pi/}. Sir lobn, "faue you fir. 
 
 Fal. What winde blew you hither, Piftoll ? 
 
 Pift. Not the ill winde which blowes none to good, 
 fweet Knight :Thou art now one of the greateft men in 
 the Realme. 
 
 5/7. Indeed, I thinke he bee, but Goodman Puffe of 
 Barfon. 
 
 Pifl. Puffe ? puffe in thy teeth, moft recreant Coward 
 bafe. Sir lobn, 1 am thy Piftoll, and thy Friend : helter 
 skelter haue I rode to thee,and tydings do I bring, and 
 luckie ioyes, and golden Times, and happie Newes of 
 price. 
 
 Fal. I prethee now deliuer them, like a man of this 
 World. 
 
 Pift. A footra for the World, and Worldlings bafe, 
 I fpeake of Affrica,and Golden ioyes. 
 
 Fal. O bafe Afiyrian Knight, what is thy newes ? 
 Let King Ccuitba know the truth thereof. 
 
 5/7. And Robin-hood, Scarlet, and lohn. 
 
 Pift. Shall dunghill Curres confront the HelUconsl 
 And fliall good newes be baffel'd ? 
 Then Piftoll lay thy head in Furies lappe. 
 
 Sbal. Honeft Gentleman, 
 I know not your breeding. 
 
 Pift. Why then Lament therefore. 
 
 Sbal. Giue me pardon, Sir. 
 
 If fir, you come with news from the Court, I take it, there 
 is but two wayes, either to vt:er them, or to conceale 
 them. I am Sir, vnder the King, in fome Authority. 
 
 Pift. Vnder which King? 
 'Bezonian, fpeake, or dye. 
 
 Sbal. Vnder King Harry. 
 
 Pift. Harry the Fourth? or Fift ? 
 
 Sbal. Harry the Fourth. 
 
 Pift . A footra for thine Office. 
 Sir lobn, thy tender Lamb-kinne, now is King, 
 Harry the Fift's the man, I fpeake the truth. 
 When Piftoll lyes, do this, and figge-me, like 
 The bragg'ng Spaniard. 
 
 Fal.
 
 The fecond ^Part offing Henry the Fourth. 
 
 99 
 
 Fal. What. is the old King dead ? 
 
 Fiji. As naile in doore. 
 The things I fpeake, are iuft. 
 
 Fal. Away Bardolfe, Sadie my Horfe, 
 Mafter Robert Shallow, choofe what Office thou wilt 
 In the Land, 'tis thine. Ptftol, I will double charge thee 
 With Dignities. 
 
 'Bard. O ioyfiill day : 
 I would not take a Knighthood for my Fortune. 
 
 Pi/l. What? I do bring good newes. 
 
 Fal. Carrie Mafter Silence to bed : Mafter Shallow, my 
 Lord Shallow, be what thou wilt, I am Fortunes Steward. 
 Get on thy Boots, wee'l ride all night. Oh fweet Piftoll : 
 Away Bardolfe : Come Piftoll, vtter more to mee : and 
 withall deuile fomething to do thy felfe good . Boote, 
 boote Mafter Shallow, I know the young King is fick for 
 mee. Let vs take any mans HorfTes : The Lawes of Eng- 
 land are at my command'ment. Happie are they, which 
 haue beene my Friendes : and woe vnto my Lord Chiefe 
 luftice. 
 
 Pift. Let Vultures vil'de feize on his Lungs alfo : 
 Where is the life that late I led,fay they? 
 Why heere it is, welcome thofe pleafant dayes. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Quarta. 
 
 Enter Hojleffe Quickly, Dol Teare-fheete, 
 and 'BeadUi. 
 
 HofteJJe. No, thou arrant knaue : I would I might dy, 
 that I might haue thee hang'd : Thou haft drawne my 
 fhoulder out of ioynt. 
 
 Off. The Conftables haue deliuer'd her ouer to mee : 
 and fliee /hall haue Whipping cheere enough, I warrant 
 her. There hath beene a man or two (lately) kill'd about 
 her. 
 
 'Dol. Nut-hooke, nut-hooke, you Lye: Come on, He 
 tell thee what, thou damn'd Tripe-vifag'd Rafcall, if the 
 Childe I now go with, do mifcarrie, thou had'ft better 
 thou had'ft ftrooke thy Mother, thou Paper-fac'd Vil- 
 la! ne. 
 
 Ho/}. O that Sir lohn were come, hee would make 
 this a bloody day to fome body. But I would the Fruite 
 of her Wombe might mifcarry. 
 
 Officer, If it do, you /hall haue a dozen of Cufhions 
 againe, you haue but eleuen now. Come, I charge you 
 both go with me : for the man is dead, that you and Pi- 
 ftoll beate among you. 
 
 'Dol. lie tell thee what, thou thin man in a Cenfor; I 
 will haue you as foundly fwindg'd for this, you blew- 
 Bottel'd Rogue : you filthy famifh'd Corredtioner, if you 
 be not fwing'd, He forfweare halfe Kirtles. 
 
 Off. Come, come, you ftiee-Knight-arrant, come. 
 
 Ho/}. O, that right fhould thus o'recome might. Wei 
 of fufferance, comes eafe. 
 
 Dol. Come you Rogue, come : 
 Bring me to a luftice. 
 
 Hojt. Yes, come you ftaru'd Blood-hound. 
 
 Dol. Goodman death, goodman Bones. 
 
 He/}. Thou Anatomy, thou. 
 
 Dol. Come you thinne Thing : 
 Come you Rafcall. 
 
 Off. Very well. Exeunt. 
 
 401 
 
 Scena Quinta. 
 
 Enter two Groomes. 
 I .Groo. More Ruflies,more Ruflies. 
 i.Groo. The Trumpets haue founded twice. 
 i.Groo. It will be two of the Clocke, ere they come 
 from the Coronation. Exit Groo. 
 
 Enter Faljiaffe, Shallow, Piftoll, e Bardolfe,and Page. 
 
 Falftaffe. Stand heere by me, M. Robert Shallow, I will 
 make the King do you Grace. I will leere vpon him, as 
 he comes by : and do but marke the countenance that hee 
 will giue me. 
 
 Plftd. Blefie thy Lungs, good Knight. 
 
 Fal/}. Come heere P//fo/,ftand behind me. O if I had 
 had time to haue made new Liueries, I would haue be- 
 ftowed the thoufand pound I borrowed of you. But it is 
 no matter, this poore fliew doth better : this doth inferre 
 the zeale I had to fee him. 
 
 Shal. It doth fo. 
 
 Fal/}. It fliewes my earneftnefle in affedlion. 
 
 flfl. It doth fo. 
 
 Fal. My deuotion. 
 
 Pi/}. It doth, it doth, it doth. 
 
 Fal. As it were, to ride day and night, 
 And not to deliberate, not to remember, 
 Not to haue patience to flaift me. 
 
 Shal. It is moft certaine. 
 
 Fal. But to ftand ftained with Trauaile, and fweating 
 with defire to fee him, thinking of nothing elfe, putting 
 all afFayres in obliuion,as if there were nothing els to bee 
 done, but to fee him. 
 
 Pift. 'Tisfemfer idem : for abfque hoc nibileff. 'Tis all 
 in euery part. 
 
 Shal. 'Tis fo indeed. 
 
 Pift. My Knight, I will enflame thy Noble Liuer, and 
 make thee rage. Thy Do/,and Helen of thy noble thoghts 
 is in bafe Durance, and contagious prifon : Hall'd thi- 
 ther by moft Mechanicall and durty hand. Rowze vppe 
 Reuenge from Ebon den, with fell Aledo's Snake, for 
 Dol is in. Piftol,fpeakes nought but troth. 
 
 Fal. I will deliuer her. 
 
 Piftol. There roar'd the Sea : and Trumpet Clangour 
 founds. 
 
 The Trumpett found. Enter King Henrie the 
 
 Fift, Brothers, Lord Chiefe 
 
 luftice. 
 
 Fal/}. Saue thy Grace, King Hall, my Royall Hall. 
 
 Tijt. The heauens thee guard, and keepe, moft royall 
 Impe of Fame. 
 
 Fal. 'Saue thee my fweet Boy. 
 
 King. My Lord Chiefe luftice, fpeake to that vaine 
 man. 
 
 Cb.Iuft. Haue you your wits ? 
 Know you what 'tis you fpeake ? 
 
 Falft. My King, my loue ; I fpeake to thee, my heart. 
 
 King. I know thee not, old man: Fall to thy Prayers: 
 How ill white haires become a Foole, and lefter ? 
 
 I haue
 
 I oo Thefecond^art ofJ^Jng Henry the Fourth. 
 
 I haue long dream'd of fuch a kinde of man, 
 
 So furfeit-fwell'd, fo old, and fo prophane: 
 
 But being awake, 1 do defpife my dreame. 
 
 Make lefle thy body (hence) and more thy Grace, 
 
 Leaue gourmandizing ; Know the Graue doth gape 
 
 For thee, thrice wider then for other men. 
 
 Reply not to me, with a Foole-borne left, 
 
 Prefume not, that I am the thing I was, 
 
 For heauen doth know (fo fhall the world perceiue) 
 
 That I haue turn'd away my former Selfe, 
 
 So will I thofe that kept me Companie. 
 
 When thou doft heare I am, as I haue bin, 
 
 Approach me, and thou flialt be as thou was't 
 
 The Tutor and the Feeder of my Riots : 
 
 Till then, I banifh thee, on paine of death, 
 
 As I haue done the reft of my Mifleaders, 
 
 Not to come neere our Perfon, by ten mile. 
 
 For competence of life, I will allow you, 
 
 That lacke of meanes enforce you not to euill : 
 
 And as we heare you do reforme your felues, 
 
 We will according to your ftrength, and qualities, 
 
 Giue you aduancement. Be it your charge (my Lord) 
 
 To fee perform'd the tenure of our word. Set on. 
 
 Exit King. 
 
 Fal. Mafter Shallow, I owe you a thoufand pound. 
 
 Sbal. I marry Sir lobn, which I befeech you to let me 
 haue home with me. 
 
 F<j/.That can hardly be, M. Shall, do not you grieue 
 at this : I fhall be fent for in priuate to him : Looke you, 
 he muft feeme thus to the world: feare not your aduance- 
 ment : I will be the man yet, that (hall make you great. 
 
 Sbal. I cannot well perceiue how, vnleffe you fhould 
 giue me your Doublet, and ftuffe me out with Straw. I 
 befeech you, good Sir lobn, let mee haue flue hundred of 
 my thoufand. 
 
 Fal. Sir, I will be as good as my word. This that you 
 heard, was but a colour. 
 
 Shall. A colour I feare, that you will dye, in Sir lobn. 
 
 Fal. Feare no colours, go with me to dinner : 
 Come Lieutenant Pistol, come 'Bardolfe, 
 I fliall be lent for foone at night. 
 
 Cb.Iuft. Go carry Sir Icbn Falftaffe to the Fleete, 
 Take all his Company along with him. 
 
 Fal. My Lord, my Lord. 
 
 Cb.Iuft. I cannot now fpeake, I will heare you foone: 
 Take them away. 
 
 Fiji. Si for tuna me tormento,Jf>era me content o. 
 
 Exit. cXfanet Lancafter and Cbiefe lujlicc . 
 
 lobn. I like this faire proceeding of the Kings : 
 He hath intent his wonted Followers 
 Shall all be very well prouided for : 
 But all are banifht,till their conuerfations 
 Appeare more wife,and modeft to the world. 
 
 Cb.Iuft. And fo they are. 
 
 lobn. The King hath call'd his Parliament, 
 My Lord. 
 
 Cb.Iuft. He hath. 
 
 lobn. I will lay oddes,that ere this yeere expire, 
 We beare our Ciuill Swords, and Natiue fire 
 As farre as France. I heare a Bird fo fing, 
 Whofe Muficke (to my thinking)pleas'd the King. 
 Come, will you hence ? Exeunt 
 
 FINIS.
 
 EPILOGVE. 
 
 T, my Feare : then, my Qurt/te : last, my Speech. 
 My Fear e, is your Displeafure : My fartfie, my T)utie : 
 And my speech, to Begge your "Pardons. If you loo\efor a 
 good speech no"to,you vndoe me : For what I haue to fay, is 
 of mine owne making : and what (indeed] IJhouldfay, 'Will 
 (I doubt) prooue mine owne marring. But to the T?urpofe, 
 andfo to the Venture Be it \nowne to you (as it is very 
 Well} I was lately heere in the end of a displeajing 'Play, to pray your 'Patience 
 forit,andtopromifeyouaBetter: Ididmeane (indeede) to pay you "with this, 
 "Which if(li\e an HI Venture} it come vnluctyly home, Ibreafy; and you, my gen* 
 tie Creditors lofe. Heere Ipromift you I would be, and heere I commit my Bodie 
 to your Mercies : Bate mefome,andlwillpayy6ufome,and(asmoft Debtors do) 
 promife you infinitely. 
 
 If my Tongue cannot entreate you to acquit me : 'will you command me to vfe 
 my Legges? And yet that were but light payment, toT)ance out of your debt: But 
 a good fynfcience, will make any pofsiblefathfaftion, andfo 'will I. All the Gem 
 tleWomen heere, haue f or giuen me, if the Gentlemen 'Will not, then the Gentlemen 
 do not agree with the Gentlewowen, which "Was neuerfeene before, infuch an Af* 
 fembly. 
 
 One word more, Ibefeechyou : if you be not too much cloid with Fat Me ate, 
 our humble Author will continue the Story (with Sir lohn in ify and ma\e you 
 merry, 'Wtthfaire Katherine of France : 'Where (for any thing I^no'W ) Fal- 
 ftaffe Jhall dye ofafweat, vn/ej/e already he be kiltd wit by our hard Opinions : 
 For Old-Caftle dyed a Martyr, and this is not the man. My Tongue is 'Wearie, 
 when my Legs are too, I will bid you good night', andfo \neele downe before you: 
 But (indeed) to pray for the Queene. 
 
 403
 
 THE 
 
 ACTORS 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 >VMOVR the Prefentor. 
 
 King Henry the Fourth. 
 
 f Prince Henry, afterwards Crowned King Henrie the Fift. 
 Prince lohn of Lancafter. \ 
 
 Humphrey of Gloucefter. \ Sonnes to Henry the Fourth,& brethren to Henry 5. 
 Thomas of Clarence. ) 
 
 Northumberland. 
 
 The Arch Byfhop of Yorke. 
 
 Mowbray. 
 
 Haftings. 
 
 Lord Bardolfe. 
 
 Trauers. 
 
 Morton. 
 
 Coleuile. 
 
 Oppofites againft King Henrie the 
 Fourth. 
 
 Warwicke. 
 
 Weftmerland. 
 
 Surrey. 
 
 Gowre. 
 
 Harecourt. 
 
 Lord Chiefe luftice. 
 
 Of the Kings 
 fPartie. 
 
 I 
 
 Pointz. 
 
 Falftaffe. 
 
 Bardolphe. 
 
 Piftoll. 
 
 Peto. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Irregular 
 I Humorifts. 
 
 Shallow. ) Both Country 
 
 Silence. y luftices. 
 
 Dauie, Seruant to Shallow. 
 
 Phang, and Snare, 2. Serieants 
 
 Mouldie. , 
 
 Shadow. 
 
 Wart. ^ Country Soldiers 
 
 Feeble. 
 
 Bullcalfe. 
 
 Drawers 
 
 Beadles. 
 Groomes 
 
 Northumberlands Wife. 
 Percies Widdow. 
 Hoftcffe Quickly. 
 Doll Teare-fheete. 
 Epilogue. 
 
 404
 
 6 9 
 
 Enter Prologue. 
 
 J\ For a cflfufe of Fire, that would afcend 
 
 ^-^ The brighteji Heauen of Invention : 
 
 A Kingdomefor a Stage, Princes to Aft, 
 
 And <M 'anarchs to behold the falling Scene. 
 
 Then Jhould the Warlike Harry, li\e bimfelfe, 
 
 AJfume the Port of Mars , and at hu beeles 
 
 (Leajbt in, lil(e Hounds) Jhould Famine ,Sword,and Fire 
 
 Crouch for employment. 'But far don ,Gentles all : 
 
 The flat -unrayfed Spirits, that hath dar"d t 
 
 On this -unworthy Scaffold, to bring forth 
 
 So great an ObieEi. Can this Coc^-Pit hold 
 
 The vaftiejields of France f Or may we cramme 
 
 Within this Woodden 0, the -very Cat^es 
 
 That did affright the Ayre at Agincourt f 
 
 pardon : fince a crooked Figure may 
 
 Attejl in little place a Million, 
 
 And let vs , Cyphers to this great Accompt, 
 
 On your imaginarie Forces wor!(e. 
 
 Suppofe -within the Girdle of tbefe Walls 
 
 Are now confined two mightie Monarchies , 
 
 Wbofe high, vp-reared, and abutting Fronts^ 
 
 The pcrillout narrow Ocean parti ajunder. 
 
 feece out our imperfecJions with your thoughts : 
 
 Into a thoufand parts diuide one Man, 
 
 And ma^e imaginarie Puiffance . 
 
 Tbinfy when we tal^e of Horjes,that you fee themi 
 
 Printing their prowd Hoofes fib' receiuing Barth : 
 
 For 'tit your thoughts that now muji dec/^ our Kings, 
 
 Carry them here and there : lumping o^re Times ; 
 
 Turning th 1 accomplijhment ofmanyyeeres 
 
 Into an Howre-glaJ/e : for the which fupplie, 
 
 Admit me Chorus to this Hiilorie ; 
 
 Who Prologue- li%e, your bumble patience pray , 
 
 Gently to beare, tyndly to iudge our Play. 
 
 Exit. 
 
 <iA5tus Primus. Sccena ^Prima. 
 
 Enter the two "Bijhops of Canterbury and Ely. 
 
 'Bijh. Cant. 
 
 Y Lord, He tell you, that felfe Bill is vrg'd. 
 Which in th'eleueth yere of y laft Kings reign 
 Was like, and had indeed againft vs paft, 
 But that the fcambling and vnquiet time 
 Did pufh it out of farther queftion. 
 "BiJb.Ely. But how my Lord /hall we refift it now? 
 'BiJh.Cant. It muft be thought on:if it pafle againft vs, 
 We loofe the better halfe of our Pofleffion : 
 For all the Temporall Lands, which men deuout 
 By Teftament haue giuen to the Church, 
 Would they ftrip from vs ; being valu'd thus, 
 As much as would maintaine, to the Kings honor, 
 Full fifteene Earles, and fifteene hundred Knights, 
 Six thoufand and two hundred good Efquires : 
 And to reliefe of Lazars, and weake age 
 Of indigent faint Soules,paft corporall toyle, 
 A hundred Almes-houfes,right well fupply'd : 
 And to the Coffers of the King befide, 
 A thoufand pounds by th'yeere. Thus runs the Bill. 
 f Bi/b.Ely.Th\s would drinke deepe. 
 e BiJh.Cant: r Y would drinke the Cup and all. 
 ISiJb.Ely.But what preuention ? 
 
 405 
 
 Bijh. Cant. The King is full of grace , and faire re- 
 gard. 
 
 BiJb.Sly. And a true louer of the holy Church. 
 
 BiJh.Cant. The courfes of his youth promis'd it not. 
 The breath no fooner left his Fathers body, 
 But that his wildneffe, mortify'd in him, 
 Seem'd to dye too : yea, at that very moment, 
 Confideration like an Angell came, 
 And whipt th'offending Adam out of him ; 
 Leauing his body as a Paradife, 
 T'inuelop and containe Celeftiall Spirits. 
 Neuer was fuch a fodaine Scholler made: 
 Neuer came Reformation in a Flood, 
 With fuch a heady currance fcowring faults : 
 Nor neuer /f/Wr/z-headed Wilfulneffe 
 So foone did loofe his Seat ; and all at once ; 
 As in this King. 
 
 Bifh.Ely: We are blefled in the Change. 
 
 BiJh.Cant. Heare him but reafon in Diuinitie ; 
 And all-admiring, with an inward wifli 
 You would defire the King were made a Prelate ' 
 Heare him debate of Common-wealth Affaires ; 
 You would fay, it hath been all in all his ftudy : 
 Lift his difcourfe of Warre ; and you fhall heare 
 A fearerull Battaile rendred you in Mufique. 
 
 h Turne
 
 7 
 
 The Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 Turne him to any Caufe of Pollicy, 
 
 The Gordian Knot of it he will vnloofe, 
 
 Familiar as his Garter : that when he fpeakes, 
 
 The Ay re, a Charter'd Libertine, is ftill, 
 
 And the mute Wonder lurketh in mens eares, 
 
 To fteale his fweet and honyed Sentences: 
 
 So that the Art and PradYique part of Life, 
 
 Muft be the Miftrefle to this Theorique. 
 
 Which is a wonder how his Grace fhould gleane it, 
 
 Since his addiction was to Courfes vaine, 
 
 His Companies vnletter'd, rude, and fliallow, 
 
 His Houres fill'd vp with Ryots, Banquets, Sports ; 
 
 And neuer noted in him any ftudie, 
 
 Any retyrement, any fequeftration, 
 
 From open Haunts and Popularitie. 
 
 B.Bly. The Strawberry growes vnderneath the Nettle, 
 And holefome Berryes thriue and ripen beft, 
 Neighbour'd by Fruit of bafer qualitie : 
 And fo the Prince obfcur'd his Contemplation 
 Vnder the Veyle of Wildnefle, which (no doubt) 
 Grew like the Summer Graffe, fafteft by Night, 
 Vnfeene, yet crefliue in his facultie. 
 
 'B.Cant. It muft be fo ; for Miracles are ceaft : 
 And therefore we muft needes admit the meanes, 
 How things are perfected. 
 
 B. Ely. But my good Lord : 
 How now for mittigation of this Bill, 
 Vrg'd by the Commons ? doth his Maieftie 
 Incline to it,or no ? 
 
 B-Cant. He feemes indifferent : 
 Or rather fwaying more vpon our part, 
 Then cherifhing th'exhibiters againft vs: 
 For I haue made an offer to his Maieftie, 
 Vpon our Spiritual! Conuocation, 
 And in regard of Caufes now in hand, 
 Which I haue open'd to his Grace at large, 
 As touching France, to giue a greater Summe, 
 Then euer at one time the Clergie yet 
 Did to his PredecefTors part withall. 
 
 B.Bly. How did this offer feeme receiu'd,my Lord ? 
 
 B. Cant. With good acceptance of his Maieftie : 
 Saue that there was not time enough to heare, 
 As I perceiu'd his Grace would faine haue done, 
 The feueralls and vnhidden paflages 
 Of his true Titles to fome certaine Dukedomes, 
 And generally, to the Crowne and Seat of France, 
 Deriu'd from Edward,\\is great Grandfather. 
 
 3?./y.What was th'impediment that broke this off? 
 
 'B.Cant. The French EmbafTador vpon that inftant 
 Crau'd audience ; and the howre I thinke is come, 
 To giue him hearing : Is it foure a Clock ? 
 
 'B.Ely. It is. 
 
 'B.Qant. Then goe we in, to know his Embafiie: 
 Which I could with a ready gueffe declare, 
 Before the Frenchman fpeake a word of it. 
 
 'B.Ely. He wait vpon you,and I long to heare it. 
 
 Sxtunt . 
 
 Enter the King, Humfrey, 'Bedford, Clarence , 
 Wamic^ Wettmerland,and Exeter. 
 
 King.~WbeTt is my gracious Lord of Canterbury ? 
 
 Sxeter.'Not here in prefence. 
 
 King. Send for him, good Vnckle. 
 
 Weftm. Shall we call in th'Ambafladorjmy Liege? 
 
 King. Not yet, my Coufin: we would be refolu'd, 
 Before we heare him, of fome things of weight, 
 That taske our thoughts,concerning vs and France. 
 
 Enter fa>o 'Bi/bops. 
 
 'B.Cant. God and his Angels guard your facied Throne, 
 And make you long become it. 
 
 King. Sure we thanke you. 
 My learned Lord, we pray you to proceed, 
 And iuftly and religioufly vnfold, 
 Why the Law &/%,that they haue in France, 
 Or fhould or Ihould not barre vs in our Clayme : 
 And God forbid ,my deare and faithfull Lord, 
 That you fhould fafhion, wreft, or bow your reading, 
 Or nicely charge your vnderftanding Soule, 
 With opening Titles mifcreate, whofe right 
 Sutes not in natiue colours with the truth: 
 For God doth know, how many now in health, 
 Shall drop their blood, in approbation 
 Of what your reuerence {hall incite vs to. 
 Therefore take heed how you impawne our Perfon, 
 How you awake our fleeping Sword of Warre; 
 We charge you in the Name of God take heed : 
 For neuer two fuch Kingdomes did contend, 
 Without much fall of blood, whofe guiltlefle drops 
 Are euery one, a Woe, a fore Complaint, 
 'Gainft him, whofe wrongs giues edge vnto the Swords, 
 That makes fuch wafte in briefe mortalitie. 
 Vnder this Conjuration, fpeake my Lord : 
 For we will heare, note, and beleeue in heart, 
 That what you fpeake, is in your Confcience wafht, 
 As pure as finne with Baptifme. 
 
 "B.Qan.Thcn heare me gracious Soueraign,& you Peers, 
 That owe your felues,your Hues, and feruices, 
 To this Imperiall Throne. There is no barre 
 To make againft your Highnefle Clayme to France, 
 But this which they produce from Pbaramond, 
 In terram Sallcam Mulieres ne fuccedaul, 
 No Woman fliall fucceed in Saline Land : 
 Which Sality? Land,tbe French vniuftly gloze 
 To be the Realme of France, and Pbaramond 
 The founder of this Law, and Female Barre. 
 Yet their owne Authors faithfully affirme, 
 That the Land Saline is in Germanic, 
 Betweene the Flouds of Sala and of Elue : 
 Where Charles the Great hauing fubdu'd the Saxons, 
 There left behind and fettled certaine French : 
 Who holding in difdaine the German Women, 
 For fome difhoneft manners of their life, 
 Eftablifht then this Law; to wit, No Female 
 Should be Inheritrix in Saline Land : 
 Which Saline (as I faid) 'twixt Elue and Sala, 
 Is at this day in Germanic, call'd Meifen. 
 Then doth it well appeare, the Saline Law 
 Was not deuifed for the Realme of France : 
 Nor did the French poflefle the Saline Land, 
 Vntill foure hundred one and twentie yeeres 
 After defundlion of King Pbaramond, 
 Idly fuppos'd the founder of this Law, 
 Who died within the yeere of our Redemption, 
 Foure hundred twentie fix : and Charles the Great 
 Subdu'd the Saxons, and did feat the French 
 Beyond the Riuer Sala, in the yeere 
 Eight hundred fiue. Befides, their Writers fay, 
 King Pepln, which depofed CbilderH(e, 
 Did as Heire Generall, being defcended 
 Of 2?/V/'A/, which was Daughter to King Clotbair, 
 Make Clayme and Title to the Crowne of France. 
 Hugh Capet alfo, who vfurpt the Crowne
 
 The Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 7 1 
 
 Of Charles the Duke of Loraine, fole Heire male 
 
 Of the true Line and Stock of Charles the Great : 
 
 To find his Title with fome fhewes of truth, 
 
 Though in pure truth it was corrupt and naught, 
 
 Conuey'd himfelfe as th'Heire to th' Lady Lingare, 
 
 Daughter to Cbarlemaine,v/ho was the Sonne 
 
 To Lewes the Emperour,and Lewes the Sonne 
 
 Of Charles the Great :alfo King Lewes the Tenth, 
 
 Who was fole Heire to the Viurper Capet, 
 
 Could not keepe quiet in his conscience, 
 
 Wearing the Crowne of France, 'till fatisfied, 
 
 That faire Queene Ifabe/,h\s Grandmother, 
 
 Was Lineall of the Lady Ermengare, 
 
 Daughter to Charles the forefaid Duke of Loraine : 
 
 By the which Marriage,the Lyne of Charles the Great 
 
 Was re-vnited to the Crowne of France. 
 
 So, that as cleare as is the Summers Sunne, 
 
 King fefins Title, and Hugh Capets Clayme, 
 
 King Lerves his fatisfaction, all appeare 
 
 To hold in Right and Title of the Female : 
 
 So doe the Kings of France vnto this day. 
 
 Howbeitjthey would hold vp this Salique Law, 
 
 To barre your Highnefle clayming from the Female, 
 
 And rather chufe to hide them in a Net, 
 
 Then amply to imbarre their crooked Titles, 
 
 Vfurpt from you and your Progenitors. 
 
 King.May I with right and confcience make this claim ? 
 
 BiJh.Cant. The finne vpon my head, dread Soueraigne : 
 For in the Booke of Numbers is it writ, 
 When the man dyes, let the Inheritance 
 Defcend vnto the Daughter. Gracious Lord, 
 Stand for your owne,vnwind your bloody Flagge, 
 Looke back into your mightie Anceftors : 
 Goe my dread Lord, to your great Grandfires Tombe, 
 From whom you clayme ; inuoke his Warlike Spirit, 
 And your Great Vnck\es,EdTvard the Black Prince, 
 Who on the French ground play'd a Tragedie, 
 Making defeat on the full Power of France : 
 Whiles his moft mightie Father on a Hill 
 Stood fmiling,to behold his Lyons Whelpe 
 Forrage in blood of French Nobilitie. 
 O Noble Englifli, that could entertaine 
 With halfe their Forces, the full pride of France, 
 And let another halfe ftand laughing by, 
 All out of worke, and cold for action. 
 
 'Bijb. Awake remembrance of thefe valiant dead, 
 And with your puiflant Arme renew their Feats ; 
 You are their Heire, you fit vpon their Throne : 
 The Blood and Courage that renowned them, 
 Runs in your Veines : and my thrice-puiflant Liege 
 Is in the very May-Morne of his Youth, 
 Ripe for Exploits and mightie Enterprifes. 
 
 Exe. Your Brother Kings and Monarchs of the Earth 
 Doe all expect, that you fliould rowfe your felfe, 
 As did the former Lyons of your Blood. (might; 
 
 Weft, They know your Grace hath caufe,and means,and 
 So hath your Highnefle : neuer King of England 
 Had Nobles richer, and more loyall Subiedts, 
 Whofe hearts haue left their bodyes here in England, 
 And lye pauillion'd in the fields of France. 
 
 'BiJh.Can. O let their bodyes follow my deare Liege 
 With Bloods,and Sword and Fire, to win your Right : 
 In ayde whereof, we of the Spiritualtie 
 Will rayfe your Highnefle fuch a mightie Summe, 
 As neuer did the Clergie at one time 
 Bring in to any of your Anceftors. 
 
 King. We muft not onely arme t'inuade the French, 
 But lay downe our proportions, to defend 
 Againft the Scot, who will make roade vpon vs, 
 With all aduantages. 
 
 BiJb.Can.'They of thofe Marches, gracious Soueraign, 
 Shall be a Wall fufficient to defend 
 Our in-land from the pilfering Borderers. 
 
 King, We do not meane the courfing fnatchers onely, 
 But feare the maine intendment of the Scot, 
 Who hath been ftill a giddy neighbour to vs: 
 For you mail reade, that my great Grandfather 
 Neuer went with his forces into France, 
 But that the Scot, on his vnfurniflit Kingdome, 
 Came pouring like the Tyde into a breach, 
 With ample and brim fulnefle of his force, 
 Galling the gleaned Land with hot Afiayes, 
 Girding with grieuous fiege,Caftles and Townes: 
 That England being emptie of defence, 
 Hath fhooke and trembled at th'ill neighbourhood. 
 B.Can. She hath bin the more fear'd the harm'd, my Liege: 
 For heare her but exampl'd by her felfe, 
 When all her Cheualrie hath been in France, 
 And ftjee a mourning Widdow of her Nobles, 
 Shee hath her felfe not onely well defended, 
 But taken and impounded as a Stray, 
 The King of Scots: whom fhee did fend to France, 
 To fill King Edwards fame with prifoner Kings, 
 And make their Chronicle as rich with prayfe, 
 As is the Owfe and bottome of the Sea 
 With funken Wrack, and fum-lefle Treafuries. 
 
 BiJh.Ely. But there's a faying very old and true, 
 If that you if ill France win, then with Scotland jirfl begia. 
 For once the Eagle (England) being in prey, 
 To her vnguarded Neft,the Weazell (Scot) 
 Comes fneaking,and fo fucks her Princely Egges, 
 Playing the Moufe in abfence of the Cat, 
 To tame and hauocke more then me can eate. 
 
 Exet. It followes theu, the Cat muft ftay at home, 
 Yet that 'is but a crufli'd necefsity, 
 Since we haue lockes to fafegard neceflaries, 
 And pretty traps to catch the petty theeues . 
 While that the Armed hand doth fight abruad, 
 Th'aduifed head defends it felfe at home: 
 For Gouernment, though high, and low, and lower, 
 Put into parts, doth keepe in one confent, 
 Congreeing in a full and natural clofe, 
 Like Muficke. 
 
 Cant. Therefore doth heauen diuide 
 The ftate of man in diuers functions, 
 Setting endeuour in continual motion: 
 To which is fixed as an ayme or butt, 
 Obedience: for fo worke the Hony Bees, 
 Creatures that by a rule in Nature teach 
 The Act of Order to a peopled Kingdome. 
 They haue a King, and Officers efforts, 
 Where fome like Magiftrates correct at home: 
 Others, like Merchants venter Trade abroad: 
 Others, like Souldiers armed in their ftings, 
 Make boote vpon the Summers Veluet buddes: 
 Which pillage, they with merry march bring home 
 To the Tent-royal of their Emperor : 
 Who bulled in his Maiefties furueyes 
 The tinging Mafons building rootes of Gold, 
 The ciuil Citizens kneading vp the hony ; 
 The poore Mechanicke Porters,crowding in 
 Their heauy burthens at his narrow gate : 
 
 h 2 The
 
 The Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 The fad-ey'd luftice with his furly humme, 
 
 Deliuering ore to Executors pale 
 
 The lazie yawning Drone : I this inferre, 
 
 That many things hauing full reference 
 
 To one confent,may worke contrarioufly, 
 
 As many Arrowes loofed feuerall wayes 
 
 Come to one marke : as many wayes meet in one towne, 
 
 As many frefh ftreames meet in one fait fea ; 
 
 As many Lynes clofe in the Dials center : 
 
 So may a thoufand actions once a foote, 
 
 And in one purpofe, and be all well borne 
 
 Without defeat. Therefore to France, my Liege, 
 
 Diuide your happy England into foure, 
 
 Whereof, take you one quarter into France, 
 
 And you withall {hall make all Gallia {hake. 
 
 If we with thrice fuch powers left at home, 
 
 Cannot defend our owne doores from the dogge, 
 
 Let vs be worried, and our Nation lofe 
 
 The name of hardinefle and policie. 
 
 King. Call in the Meflengers fent from the Dolphin. 
 Now are we well refolu'd, and by Gods helpe 
 And yours, the noble finewes of our power, 
 France being ours, wee'l bend it to our Awe, 
 Or breake it all to peeces. Or there wee'l fit, 
 (Ruling in large and ample Emperie, 
 Ore France, and all her (almoft) Kingly Dukedomes) 
 Or lay thefe bones in an vnworthy Vrne, 
 Tomblefle, with no remembrance ouer them : 
 Either our Hiftory {hall with full mouth 
 Speake freely of our Acts, or elfe our graue 
 Like Turkifh mute, {hall haue a tongueleffe mouth, 
 Not worfliipt with a waxen Epitaph. 
 
 Enter AmbaJJadors of France. 
 Now are we well prepar'd to know the pleafure 
 Of our faire Cofm Dolphin : for we heare, 
 Your greeting is from him, not from the King. 
 
 Ami. May't pleafe your Maieftie to giue vs leaue 
 Freely to render what we haue in charge : 
 Or fliall we fparingly {hew you farre off 
 The Dolphins meauing, and our Embafsie. 
 
 King. We are no Tyrant, but a Chriftian King, 
 Vnto whofe grace our pafsion is as fubiect 
 As is our wretches fettred in our prifons, 
 Therefore with franke and with vncurbed plainnefle, 
 Tell vs the Dolphin* minde. 
 
 Antb. Thus than in few : 
 Your Highnefle lately fending into France, 
 Did claime fome certaine Dukedomes, in the right 
 Of your great Predeceflbr, King Edward the third. 
 In anfwer of which claime, the Prince our Matter 
 Sayes, that you fauour too much of your youth, 
 And bids you be aduis'd : There's nought in France, 
 That can be with a nimble Galliard wonne : 
 You cannot reuell into Dukedomes there. 
 He therefore fends you meeter for your fpirit 
 This Tun of Treafure; and in lieu of this, 
 Defires you let the dukedomes that you claime 
 Heare no more of you. This the Dolphin fpeakes. 
 
 King. What Treafure Vncle ? 
 
 Bxe. Tennis balles, my Liege. 
 
 Kin, We are glad the Dolphin is fo pleafant with vs, 
 His Prefent, and your paines we thanke you for : 
 When we haue matcht our Rackets to thefe Balles, 
 We will in France (by Gods grace) play a fet, 
 Shall ftrike his fathers Crowne into the hazard. 
 Tell him, he hath made a match with fuch a Wrangler, 
 
 That all the Courts of France will be difturb'd 
 
 With Chaces. And we vnderftand him well, 
 
 How he comes o're vs with our wilder dayes, 
 
 Not meafuring what vfe we made of them. 
 
 We neuer valew'd this poore feate of England, 
 
 And therefore liuing hence, did giue our felfe 
 
 To barbarous licenfe : As 'tis euer common, 
 
 That men are merrieft, when they are from home. 
 
 But tell the 'Dolphin, I will keepe my State, 
 
 Be like a King, and fhew my fayle of Greatnefle, 
 
 When I do rowfe me in my Throne of France, 
 
 For that I haue layd by my Maieftie, 
 
 And plodded like a man for working dayes : 
 
 But I will rife there with fo full a glorie, 
 
 That I will dazle all the eyes of France, 
 
 Yea ftrike the Dolphin blinde to looke on vs, 
 
 And tell the pleafant Prince, this Mocke of his 
 
 Hath turn'd his balles to Gun-ftones, and his foule 
 
 Shall ftand fore charged, for the waftefull vengeance 
 
 That {hall flye with them : for many a thoufand widows 
 
 Shall this his Mocke, mocke out of their deer hnsbands; 
 
 Mocke mothers from their fonnes,mock Caftles downe: 
 
 And fome are yet vngotten and vnborne, 
 
 That flial haue caufe to curfe the Dolphin* fcorne. 
 
 But this lyes all within the wil of God, 
 
 To whom I do appeale, and in whofe name 
 
 Tel you the 'Dolphin, I am comming on, 
 
 To venge me as I may, and to put forth 
 
 My rightfull hand in a wel-hallow'd caufe. 
 
 So get you hence in peace : And tell the Dolphin, 
 
 His left will fauour but of {hallow wit, 
 
 When thoufands weepe more then did laugh at it. 
 
 Conuey them with fafe conduct. Fare you well. 
 
 Exeunt AmbaffadoTs. 
 
 Exe. This was a merry Mefiage. 
 
 King. We hope to make the Sender blufli at it : 
 Therefore, my Lords, omit no happy howre, 
 That may giue furth'rance to our Expedition : 
 For we haue now no thought in vs but France, 
 Saue thofe to God, that runne before our bufinefie. 
 Therefore let our proportions for thefe Warres 
 Be foone collected, and all things thought vpon, 
 That may with reafonable fwiftnefle adde 
 More Feathers to our Wings : for God before, 
 Wee'le chide this Dolphin at his fathers doore. 
 Therefore let euery man now taske his thought, 
 That this faire Action may on foot be brought. Exeunt. 
 
 Flourijb. Enter Cborui. 
 Now all the Youth of England are on fire, 
 And filken Dalliance in the Wardrobe lyes : 
 Now thriue the Armorers, and Honors thought 
 Reignes folely in the breaft of euery man. 
 They fell the Pafture now, to buy the Horfe; 
 Following the Mirror of all Chriftian Kings, 
 With winged heeles,as Englifti Mercuries. 
 For now fits Expectation in the Ayre, 
 And hides a Sword, from Hilts vnto the Point, 
 With Crownes Imperiall, Crownes and Coronets, 
 Promis'd to Harry, and his followers. 
 The French aduis'd by good intelligence 
 Of this moft dreadfull preparation, 
 Shake in their feare,and with pale Pollicy 
 Seeke to diuert the Englifli purpofes. 
 O England: Modell to thy inward Greatnefle, 
 Like little Body with a mightie Heart: 
 
 What 
 
 408
 
 The Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 73 
 
 What mightft thou do, that honour would thee do, 
 
 Were all thy children kinde and naturall : 
 
 But fee, thy fault France hath in thee found out, 
 
 A neft of hollow bofomes, which he filles 
 
 With treacherous Crownes, and three corrupted men: 
 
 One, Richard Earle of' Cambridge, and the fecond 
 
 Henry Lord Scroope of <&fajbam, and the third 
 
 Sir Thomas Grey Knight of Northumberland, 
 
 Haue for the Gilt of France (O guilt indeed) 
 
 Confirm'd Confpiracy with fearefull France, 
 
 And by their hands, this grace of Kings muft dye. 
 
 If Hell and Treafon hold their promiles, 
 
 Ere he take fliip for France ; and in Southampton. 
 
 Linger your patience on, and wee'l digeft 
 
 Th'abufe of diftance; force a play: 
 
 The fumme is payde, the Traitors are agreed, 
 
 The King is fet from London, and the Scene 
 
 Is now tranfported (Gentles) to Southampton, 
 
 There is the Play-houfe now, there muft you fit, 
 
 And thence to France fliall we conuey you fafe, 
 
 And bring you backe: Charming the narrow feas 
 
 To giue you gentle Pafle : for if we may, 
 
 Wee'l not offend one ftomacke with our Play. 
 
 But till the King come forth, and not till then, 
 
 Vnto Southampton do we fhift our Scene. Sxlt 
 
 Enter Carper all Nym, and Lieutenant 'Bardelfe. 
 
 'Bar. Well met Corporall Nym. 
 
 Nym. Good morrow Lieutenant 'Bardolfe. 
 
 Bar. What, are Ancient Pijloll and you friends yet? 
 
 Nym. For my part, 1 care not : I fay little : but when 
 time fliall ferue, there fliall be fmiles, but that fliall be as 
 it may. I dare not fight, but 1 will winke and holde out 
 mine yron : it is a fimple one, but what though? It will 
 tofte Cheefe, and it will endure cold, as another mans 
 fword will : and there's an end. 
 
 'Bar. I will beftow a breakfaft to make you friendes, 
 and wee'l bee all three fworne brothers to France: Let't 
 be fo good Corporall Nym. 
 
 .ZVyw.Faith, I will liue fo long as I may, that's the cer- 
 taine of it : and when I cannot liue any longer, I will doe 
 as I may : That is my reft, that is the rendeuous of it. 
 
 'Bar. It is certaine Corporall, that he is marryed to 
 Nell Quickly, and certainly fhe did you wrong, for you 
 were troth-plight to her. 
 
 Nym. I cannot tell, Things muft be as they maysmen 
 may fleepe, and they may haue their throats about them 
 at that time, and fome fay, kniues haue edges : It muft 
 be as it may, though patience be a tyred name, yet fliee 
 will plodde, there muft be Conclufions, well, I cannot 
 tell. 
 
 enter fiftoll, & Quickly. 
 
 Bar. Heere comes Ancient Pijioll and his wife: good 
 Corporall be patient heere. How now mine Hoafte Pi- 
 Jloin 
 
 Pift. Bafe Tyke, cal'ft thou mee Hofte, now by this 
 hand I fweare I fcorne the terme : nor fliall my Net keep 
 Lodgers. 
 
 Hoft.No by my troth, not long: For we cannot lodge 
 and board a dozen or fourteene Gentlewomen that liue 
 honeftly by the pricke of their Needles, but it will bee 
 thought we keepe a Bawdy-houfe ftraight. O welliday 
 Lady, if he be not hewne now, we fliall fee wilful adulte- 
 ry and murther committed. 
 
 Bar. Good Lieutenant, good Corporal offer nothing 
 heere. Nym. Pifli. 
 
 409 
 
 Pifl. Pifli for thee, Ifland dogge : thou prickeard cur 
 oflfland. 
 
 Ho/}. Good Corporall Nym fhew thy valor, and put 
 vp your fword. 
 
 Nym. Will you fliogge off? I would haue you folus. 
 
 Piji. Solus, egregious dog ? O Viper vile ; The folus 
 in thy moft meruailous face, the folus in thy teeth, and 
 in thy throate, and in thy hateful! Lungs,yea in thy Maw 
 perdy ; and which is worfe, within thy naftie mouth. I 
 do retort the fbius in thy bowels, for 1 can take, and Pi- 
 Jiols cocke is vp, and flafliing fire will follow. 
 
 Nym. I am not 'Barbajon, you cannot coniure mee : I 
 haue an humor to knocke you indifferently well : If you 
 grow fowle with me Piftoll, I will fcoure you with my 
 Rapier, as I may, in fayre tearmes. If you would walke 
 off, I would pricke your guts a little in good tearmes, as 
 I may, and that's the humor of it. 
 
 Pift. O Braggard vile, and damned furious wight, 
 The Graue doth gape, and doting death is neere, 
 Therefore exhale. 
 
 'Bar. Heare me, heare me what I fay: Hee that ftrikes 
 the firft ftroake, He run him vp to the hilts, as I am a fol- 
 dier. 
 
 Pifl. An oath of mickle might,and fury fliall abate. 
 Giue me thy fift, thy fore-foote to me giue : Thy fpirites 
 are moft tall. 
 
 Nym. I will cut thy throate one time or other in faire 
 termes, that is the humor of it. 
 
 Piftoll. Couple a gorge, that is the word. I defie thee a- 
 gaine.O hound of Creet, think'ft thou my fpoufe to get ? 
 No, to the fpittle goe, and from the Poudring tub of in- 
 famy, fetch forth the Lazar Kite of Crejfids kinde, Doll 
 Teare-Jbeete, flie by name, and her efpoule. I haue, and I 
 will hold the Quondam Quickfly for the onely fliee : and 
 Pauca, there's enough to go to. 
 Enter the Boy. 
 
 'Boy. Mine Hoaft Tijloll, you muft tome to my May- 
 fter, and your Hoftefle:He is very ficke,& would to bed. 
 Good Bardolfe, put thy face betweene his fheets, and do 
 the Office of a Warming-pan : Faith, he's very ill. 
 
 'Bard. Away you Rogue. 
 
 H(:ft. By my troth he'l yeeld the Crow a pudding one 
 of thefe dayes: the King has kild his heart. Good Huf- 
 band come home prefently. Exit 
 
 Bar. Come, fliall I make you two friends. Wee muft 
 to France togethenwhy the diuel fliould we keep kniues 
 to cut one anothers throats? 
 
 Pift. Let floods ore-fwell, and fiends for food hovvle 
 on. 
 
 Nym. You'l pay me the eight /hillings I won of you 
 at Betting? 
 
 fift. Bafe is the Slaue that payes. 
 
 Nym. That now I wil haue: that's the humor of it. 
 
 Pift. As manhood flial compound:pufli home. Draw 
 
 Bard. By this fword, hee that makes the firft thruft, 
 He kill him : By this fword, I wil. 
 
 Pi. Sword is an Oath,& Oaths muft haue their courfe 
 
 Bar. Coporall Nym,Sc thou wilt be friends be frends, 
 and thou wilt not, why then be enemies with me to:pre- 
 thee put vp. 
 
 Pift. A Noble flialt thou haue, and prefent pay, and 
 Liquor likewife will I giue to thee, and friendfliippe 
 fljall combyne, and brotherhood. He liue by Nymme,8t 
 Nymme fliall liue by me, is not this iuft ? For I flial Sut- 
 ler be vnto the Campe, and profits will accrue. Giue mee 
 thy hand. 
 
 h 3 Nym.
 
 74 
 
 The Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 Nym. I fliall haue my Noble? 
 Pijt. In cafli, moft iuftly payd. 
 Nym. Well, then that the humor oft. 
 
 Enter HtJleJJe. 
 
 Hoft. As euer you come of women, come in quickly 
 to fir lobn : A poore heart, hee is fo fliak'd of a burning 
 quotidian Tertian, that it is moft lamentable to behold. 
 Sweet men, come to him. 
 
 Nym. The King hath run bad humors on the Knight, 
 that's the euen of it. 
 
 fijl. Nym, thou haft fpoke the right, his heart is fra- 
 ted and corroborate. 
 
 Nym. The King is a good King, but it muft bee as it 
 may : he pafles fome humors, and carreeres. 
 
 Pijl. Let vs condole the Knight, for (Lambekins)we 
 will liue. 
 
 Enter Exeter, Bedford, & Weftmtrland. 
 "Bed Fore God his Grace is bold to truft thefe traitors 
 Exe. They fliall be apprehended by and by. 
 ffe/l.How fmooth and euen they do bear themfelues, 
 As if allegeance in their bofomes fate 
 Crowned with faith, and conftant loyalty. 
 
 Bed. The King hath note of all that they intend, 
 By interception, which they dreame not of. 
 
 Exe. Nay, but the man that was his bedfellow, 
 Whom he hath dull'd and cloy'd with gracious fauours ; 
 That he fhould for a forraigne purfe, fo fell 
 His Soueraignes life to death and treachery. 
 
 Sound Trumpets. 
 
 Enter the King, Scroope, Cambridge, and Gray. 
 King. Now fits the winde faire, and we will aboord. 
 My Lord of Cambridge, and my kinde Lord of Ma/bam, 
 And you my gentle Knight, giue me your thoughts: 
 Thinke you not that the powres we beare with vs 
 Will cut their pafTage through the force of France ? 
 Doing the execution, and the adle, 
 For which we haue in head aflembled them. 
 
 Scro. No doubt my Liege, if each man do his beft. 
 King. I doubt not that, fince we are well perf waded 
 We carry not a heart with vs from hence, 
 That growes not in a faire confent with ours: 
 Nor leaue not one behinde, that doth not wifli 
 Succefle and Conqueft to attend on vs. 
 
 Cam. Neuer was Monarch better fear'd and lou'd, 
 Then is your Maiefty ; there's not I thinke a fubiedl 
 That fits in heart-greefe and vneafinefle 
 Vnder the fweet fliade of your gouernment. 
 
 Kni. True : thofe that were your Fathers enemies, 
 Haue fteep'd their gauls in hony, and do feme you 
 With hearts create of duty, and of zeale. 
 
 King. We therefore haue great caufe of thankful nes, 
 And fliall forget the office of our hand 
 Sooner then quittance of defert and merit, 
 According to the weight and worthinefle. 
 
 Scro. So feruice fliall with fteeled finewes toyle, 
 And labour fliall refrefli it felfe with hope 
 To do your Grace inceflant feruices. 
 
 King. We ludge no lefle. Vnkle of Exeter, 
 Inlarge the man committed yefterday, 
 That rayl'd againft our perfon: We confider 
 It was excefTe of Wine that fet him on, 
 And on his more aduice, We pardon him. 
 
 Scro. That's mercy, but too much fecurity : 
 Let him be punifli'd Soueraigne, leaft example 
 Breed (by his fufferance) more of fuch a kind. 
 Kiug. O let vs yet be merciful!. 
 
 Cam. So may your Highnefle, and yet punifli too. 
 Grey. Sir, you fliew great mercy if you giue him life, 
 After the tafte of much correction. 
 
 King. Alas, your too much loue and care of me, 
 Are heauy Orifons'gainft this poore wretch: 
 If little faults proceeding on diftemper, 
 Shall not be wink'd at, how fliall we ftretch our eye 
 When capitall crimes, chew'd, fwallow'd, and digefted, 
 Appeare before vs ? Wee'l yet inlarge that man, 
 Though Cambridge, Scroope, and Gray, in their deere care 
 And tender preferuation of our perfon 
 Wold haue him punifli'd. And now to our French caufes, 
 Who are the late Commiflioners ? 
 
 Cam. I one my Lord, 
 Your Highnefle bad me aske for it to day. 
 Scro. So did you me my Liege. 
 Gray. And I my Royall Soueraigne. 
 King.Then RicbardEzrle of Cambridge, there is yours: 
 There yours Lord Scroope cf&lajbam, and Sir Knight : 
 Gray of Nortbumbet land, this fame is yours : 
 Reade them, and know I know your worthinefle. 
 My Lord of Weftmerland, and Vnkle Exeter, 
 We will aboord to night. Why how now Gentlemen ? 
 What fee you in thofe papers, that you loofe 
 So much complexion ? Looke ye how they change : 
 Their cheekes are paper. Why, what reade you there, 
 That haue fo cowarded and chac'd your blood 
 Out of apparance. 
 
 Cam. I do confefle my fault, 
 And do fubmit me to your Highnefle mercy. 
 Gray. Scro. To which we all appeale. 
 King. The mercy that was quicke in vs but late, 
 By your owne counfaile is fuppreft and kill'd : 
 You muft not dare (for fliame)to talke of mercy, 
 For your owne reafons turne into your bofomes, 
 As dogs vpon their maifters, worrying you : 
 See you my Princes, and my Noble Peeres, 
 Thefe Englifli monfters : My Lord of Cambridge heere, 
 You know how apt our loue was, to accord 
 To furnifli with all appertinents 
 Belonging to his Honour ; and this man, 
 Hath for a few light Crownes, lightly confpir'd 
 And fworne vnto the pradtifes of France 
 To kill vs heere in Hampton. To the which, 
 This Knight no lefle for bounty bound to Vs 
 Then Cambridge is, hath likewife fworne. But O, 
 What fliall I fay to thee Lord Scroope, thou cruell, 
 Ingratefull, fauage,and inhumane Creature? 
 Thou that didft beare the key of all my counfailes, 
 That knew'ft the very bottome of my foule, 
 That (almoftj might'ft haue coyn'd me into Golde, 
 Would'ft thou haue pradtis'd on me, for thy vfe ? 
 May it be pofsible, that forraigne hyer 
 Could out of thee extract one fparke of euill 
 That might annoy my finger ? 'Tis fo ftrange, 
 That though the truth of it (lands off as grofle 
 As blacke and white, my eye will fcarfely fee it. 
 Treafon, and murther, euer kept together, 
 As two yoake diuels fworne to eythers purpofe, 
 Working fo grofiely in an naturall caufe, 
 That admiration did not hoope at them. 
 But thou (gainft all proportion) didft bring in 
 Wonder to waite on treafon, and on murther : 
 And whatfoeuer cunning fiend it was 
 That wrought vpon thee fo prepofteroufly, 
 Hath got the voyce in hell for excellence : 
 
 And
 
 The Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 75 
 
 And other diuels that fuggeft by treafons, 
 
 Do botch and bungle vp damnation, 
 
 With patches, colours, and with formes being fetcht 
 
 From glift'ring femblances of piety : 
 
 But he that temper' d thee, bad thee ftand vp, 
 
 Gaue thee no inftance why thou fhouldft do treafon, 
 
 Vnlefle to dub thee with the name of Traitor. 
 
 If that fame Daemon that hath gull'd thee thus, 
 
 Should with his Lyon-gate walke the whole world, 
 
 He might returne to vaftie Tartar backe, 
 
 And tell the Legions, I can neuer win 
 
 A foule fb eafie as that Engliflimans. 
 
 Oh, how haft thou with iealoufie infected 
 
 The fweetneffe of affiance? Shew men dutifull, 
 
 Why fo didft thou : feeme they graue and learned ? 
 
 Why fo didft thou. Come they of Noble Family ? 
 
 Why fo didft thou.Seeme they religious ? 
 
 Why fo didft thou. Or are they fpare in diet, 
 
 Free from grofie, pafsion, or of mirth, or anger, 
 
 Conftant in fpirit, not fweruing with the blood, 
 
 Garnifh'd and deck'd in modeft complement, 
 
 Not working with the eye, without the eare, 
 
 And but in purged iudgement trufting neither, 
 
 Such and fo finely boulted didft thou feeme : 
 
 And thus thy fall hath left a kinde of blot, 
 
 To make thee full fraught man, and beft indued 
 
 With fome fufpition, I will weepe for thee. 
 
 For this reuolt of thine, me thinkes is like 
 
 Another fall of Man. Their faults are open, 
 
 Arreft them to the anfwer of the Law, 
 
 And God acquit them of their pradifes. 
 
 Exe. I arreft thee of High Treafon, by the name of 
 Richard Earle of Cambridge . 
 
 I arreft thee of High Treafon, by the name of Thomas 
 Lord Scroope of tMarfham. 
 
 I arreft thee of High Treafon by the name ofThomas 
 Grey, Knight of Northumberland. 
 
 Scro. Our purpofes, God iuftly hath difcouer'd, 
 And I repent my fault more then my death, 
 Which I befeech your Highnefle to forgiue, 
 Although my body pay the price of it. 
 
 Cam. For me, the Gold of France did not feduce, 
 Although I did admit it as a motiue, 
 The fooner to effect what I intended : 
 But God be thanked for preuention, 
 Which in fufferance heartily will reioyce, 
 Befeeching God, and you, to pardon mee. 
 
 Gray. Neuer did faithfull fubieft more reioyce 
 At the difcouery of moft dangerous Treafon, 
 Then I do at this houre ioy ore my felfe, 
 Preuented from a damned enterprize ; 
 My fault, but not my body, pardon Soueraigne. 
 
 King, God quit you in his mercy: Hear your fentence 
 You haue confpir'd againft Our Royall perfon, 
 loyn'd with an enemy proclaim'd,and from his Coffers, 
 Receyu'd the Golden Earned of Our death : 
 Wherein you would haue fold your King to flaughter, 
 His Princes, and his Peeres to feruitude, 
 His Subiefts to opprefsion, and contempt, 
 And his whole Kingdome into defolation : 
 Touching our perfon, feeke we no reuenge, 
 But we our Kingdomes fafety uiuft fo tender, 
 Whofe ruine you fought, that to her Lawes 
 We do deliuer you. Get you therefore hence, 
 (Poore miferable wretches )to your death: 
 The tafte whereof, God of his mercy giue 
 
 411 
 
 You patience to indure, and true Repentance 
 
 Of all your deare offences. Beare them hence. Sxit. 
 
 Now Lords for France : the enterprife whereof 
 
 Shall be to you as vs,like glorious. 
 
 We doubt not of a faire and luckie Warre, 
 
 Since God fo gracioufly hath brought to light 
 
 This dangerous Treafon, lurking in our way, 
 
 To hinder our beginnings. We doubt not now, 
 
 But euery Rubbe is fmoothed on our way. 
 
 Then forth, deare Countreymen : Let vs deliuer 
 
 Our PuifTance into the hand of God, 
 
 Putting it ftraight in expedition. 
 
 Chearely to Sea, the fignes of Warre aduance, 
 
 No King of England, if not King of France. Flourijh. 
 
 Enter Pifo/1, Nim, 'Bardolph, 'Boy , and Hofi/e. 
 HofleJJe. 'Prythee honey fweet Husband, let me bring 
 thee to Staines. 
 
 Piftoll. No : for my manly heart doth erne. 'Bardolph, 
 be blythe : AZl,rowfe thy vaunting Veines: Boy, briisle 
 thy Courage vp : for Falflaffe hee is dead, and wee muft 
 erne therefore. 
 
 'Bard. Would I were with him, wherefomere hee is, 
 eyther in Heauen, or in Hell. 
 
 HofleJJe. Nay fure, hee's not in Hell : hee's in Arthurs 
 Bofome,if euer man went to Arthurs Bofome : a made a 
 finer end, and went away and it had beene any Chriftome 
 Child: a parted eu'n iuft betweene Twelue and One, eu'n 
 at the turning o'th'Tyde: for after I faw him fumble with 
 the Sheets,and play with Flowers, and fmile vpon his fin- 
 gers end, I knew there was but one way: for his Nofe was 
 as fharpe as a Pen, and a Table of greene fields. How now 
 Sir lohn (quoth I ? ) what man ? be a good cheare : fo a 
 cryed out, God, God, God, three or foure times : now I, 
 to comfort him, bid him a fliould not thinke of God ; I 
 hop'd there was no neede to trouble bimfelfe with any 
 fuch thoughts yet : fo a bad me lay more Clothes on his 
 feet : I put my hand into the Bed, and felt them, and they 
 were as cold as any ftone : then I felt to his knees, and fo 
 vp-peer'd,and vpward,and all was as cold as any ftone. 
 Nim. They fay he cryed out of Sack. 
 Hofle/e. I, that a did. 
 'Bard. And of Women. 
 HofleJJe. Nay, that a did not. 
 
 Boy. Yes that a did, and faid they were Deules incar- 
 nate. 
 
 Woman. A could neuer abide Carnation, 'twas a Co- 
 lour he neuer lik'd. 
 
 'Boy. A faid once, the Deule would haue him about 
 Women. 
 
 HofleJJe. A did in fome fort (indeed) handle Women: 
 but then hee was rumatique, and talk'd of the Whore of 
 Babylon. 
 
 'Boy. Doe you not remember a faw a Flea fticke vpon 
 Bardolphs Nofe, and a faid it was a blacke Soule burning 
 in Hell. 
 
 Bard. Well, the fuell is gone that maintain'd that fire: 
 that's all the Riches 1 got in his feruice. 
 
 Nim. Shall wee fhogg? the King will be gone from 
 Southampton. 
 
 Pifl. Come,let's away. My Loue,giue me thy Lippes : 
 Looke to my Chattels, and my Moueables : Let Sences 
 rule : The world is, Pitch and pay: truft none: for Oathes 
 are Strawes, mens Faiths are Wafer-Cakes, and hold-faft 
 is the onely Dogge : My Ducke, therefore Caueto bee 
 thy Counfailor. Goe , cleare thy Chryftalls. Yoke- 
 fellowes in Armes , let vs to France , like Horfe- 
 
 leeches
 
 The Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 leeches my Boyes, to fucke, to fucke, the very blood to 
 fucke. 
 
 'Boy. And that's but vnwholefome food, they fay. 
 
 ft'ift. Touch her foft mouth, and march. 
 
 Bard. Farwell Hoftefle. 
 
 Nim. I cannot kifle , that is the humor of it : but 
 adieu. 
 
 Pift. Let Hufwiferie appeare : keepe clofe , I thee 
 command. 
 
 Hofte/e. Farwell : adieu. Sxeunt 
 
 Flourijb. 
 
 Enter the French King, the Dolphin, the Dukes 
 ofBcrry and 'Britaine. 
 
 King. Thus comes the Engli/h with full power vpon vs, 
 And more then carefully it vs concernes, 
 To anfwer Royally in our defences. 
 Therefore the Dukes of Berry and of Britaine, 
 Of Brabant and of Orleance, fliall make forth, 
 And you Prince Dolphin, with all fwift difpatch 
 To lyne" and new repayre our Townes of Warre 
 With men of courage, and with meanes defendant: 
 For England his approaches makes as fierce, 
 As Waters to the fucking of a Gulfe. 
 It fits vs then to be as prouident, 
 As feare may teach vs,out of late examples 
 Left by the fatall and negledted Englifti, 
 Vpon our fields. 
 
 Dolphin. My moft redoubted Father, 
 It is moft meet we arme vs 'gainft the Foe : 
 For Peace it felfe fliould not fo dull a Kingdome, 
 (Though War nor no knowne Quarrel were in queftion) 
 But that Defences, Mufters, Preparations, 
 Should be maintain'd,3flembled,and collected, 
 As were a Warre in expectation. 
 Therefore I fay, 'tis meet we all goe forth, 
 To view the fick and feeble parts of France : 
 And let vs doe it with no fliew of feare, 
 No, with no more, then if we heard that England 
 Were bufied with a Whitfon Morris-dance : 
 For, my good Liege, fliee is fo idly King'd, 
 Her Scepter fo phantaftically borne, 
 By a vaine giddie (hallow humorous Youth, 
 That feare attends her not. 
 
 Contt. O peace, Prince Dolphin, 
 You are too much miftaken in this King : 
 Qtieftion your Grace the late Embafladors, 
 With what great State he heard their Embafiie, 
 How well fupply'd with Noble Councellors, 
 How modeft in exception ; and withal], 
 How terrible in conftant refolution : 
 And you fliall find, his Vanities fbre-fpent, 
 Were but the out-fide of the Roman Bruttu, 
 Couering Difcretion with a Coat of Folly ; 
 As Gardeners doe with Ordure hide thofe Roots 
 That fliall firft fpring,and be moft delicate. 
 
 Dolphin. Well,'tis not fo,my Lord High Conftable. 
 But though we thinke it fo,it is no matter: 
 In cafes of defence, 'tis beft to weigh 
 The Enemie more mightie then he feemes, 
 So the proportions of defence are fill'd : 
 Which of a weake and niggardly proiedlion, 
 Doth like a Mifer fpoyle his Coat, with fcanting 
 A little Cloth. 
 
 King. Thinke we King Harry ftrong : 
 And Princes, looke you ftrongly arme to meet him. 
 The Kindred of him hath beene fleflit vpon vs : 
 
 And he is bred out of that bloodie ftraine, 
 That haunted vs in our familiar Pathes : 
 Witnefle our too much memorable flume, 
 When Crefly Battell fatally was ftrucke, 
 And all our Princes captiu'd,by the hand 
 | Of that black Nam e, Edward, black Prince of Wales : 
 Whiles that his Mountaine Sire, on Mountaine Handing 
 Vp in the Ayre,crown'd with the Golden Sunne, 
 Saw his Heroicall Seed, and fmil'd to fee him 
 Mangle the Worke of Nature, and deface 
 The Patternes, that by God and by French Fathers 
 Had twentie yeeres been made. This is a Stem 
 Of that Victorious Stock : and let vs feare 
 The Natiue mightinefle and fate of him. 
 
 Enter a cftfejjenger . 
 
 <&[eff. Embafiadors from Harry King of England, 
 Doe craue admittance to your Mateftie. 
 
 King. Weele giue them prefent audience. 
 Goe, and bring them. 
 You fee this Chafe is hotly followed, friends. 
 
 Dolphin. Turne head, and ftop purfuit:for coward Dogs 
 Moft fpend their mouths,whe what they feem to threaten 
 Runs farre before them. Good my Soueraigne 
 Take vp the Englifli ftiort,and let them know 
 Of what a Monarchic you are the Head : 
 Selfe-loue,my Liege, is not fo vile a fmne, 
 As felfe-negledting. 
 
 Enter Exeter. 
 
 King. From our Brother of England ? 
 
 Exe. From him, and thus he greets your Maieftie: 
 He wills you in the Name of God Almightie, 
 That you deueft your felfe,and lay apart 
 The borrowed Glories, that by gift of Heauen, 
 By Law of Nature, and of Nations, longs 
 To him and to his Heires, namely, the Crowne, 
 And ail wide-ftretched Honors, that pertaine 
 By Cuftome, and the Ordinance of Times, 
 Vnto the Crowne of France : that you may know 
 'Tis no fmifter, nor no awk-ward Clayme, 
 Pickt from the worme-holes of long-vaniflit dayes, 
 Nor from the duft of old Obliuion rakt, 
 He fends you this moft memorable Lyne, 
 In euery Branch truly demonftratiue ; 
 Willing you ouer-looke this Pedigree : 
 And when you find him euenly deriu'd 
 From his moft fam'd, of famous Anceftors, 
 Edtoard the third ; he bids you then refigne 
 Your Crowne and Kingdome, indiredly held 
 From him, the Natiue and true Challenger. 
 
 King. Or elfe what followes ? 
 
 Exe. Bloody conftraint: for if you hide the Crowne 
 Euen in your hearts, there will he rake for it. 
 Therefore in fierce Tempeft is he comming, 
 In Thunder and in Earth-quake, like a loue : 
 That if requiring faile.he will compell. 
 And bids you, in the Bowels of the Lord, 
 Deliuer vp the Crowne, and to take mercie 
 On the poore Soules, for whom this hungry Warre 
 Opens his vaftie Iawes:and on your head 
 Turning the Widdowes Teares, the Orphans Cryes, 
 The dead-mens Blood, the priuy Maidens Groanes, 
 For Husbands, Fathers, and betrothed Louers, 
 That fliall be fwallowed in this Controuerfie. 
 This is his Clayme, his Threatning,and my Meflage : 
 Vnlefle the Dolphin be in prefence here; 
 To whom expreflely 1 bring greeting to. 
 
 King. For 

 
 The Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 77 
 
 King. For vs, we will confider of this further: 
 To morrow fliall you beare our full intent 
 Back to our Brother of England. 
 
 Dolfh. For the Dolphin, 
 I ftand here for him: what to him from England ? 
 
 Exe. Scorne and defiance, Height regard, contempt, 
 And any thing that may not mif-become 
 The mightie Sender, doth he prize you at. 
 Thus (ayes my King: and if your Fathers Highnefle 
 Doe not, in graunt of all demands at large, 
 Sweeten the bitter Mock you fent his Maieftie; 
 Hee'le call you to fo hot an Anfwer of it, 
 That Caues and Wombie Vaultages of France 
 Shall chide your Trefpas, and returne your Mock 
 In fecond Accent of his Ordinance. 
 
 Dolph. Say: if my Father render faire returne, 
 It is againft my will : for I defire 
 Nothing but Oddes with England. 
 To that end, as matching to his Youth and Vanitie, 
 I did prefent him with the Paris-Balls. 
 
 Sxe. Hee'le make your Paris Louer lhake for it, 
 Were it the Miftrefie Court of mightie Europe: 
 And be aflur'djyou'le find a difference, 
 As we his Subjects haue in wonder found, 
 Betweene the promife of his greener dayes, 
 And thefe he matters now: now he weighes Time 
 Euen to the vtmoft Graine: that you {hall reade 
 In your owne Lofles,if he ftay in France. 
 
 King. To morrow fliall you know our mind at full. 
 
 Flourijb. 
 
 Exe. Difpatch vs with all fpeed, leaft that our King 
 Come here himfelfe to queftion our delay; 
 For he is footed in this Land already. 
 
 King. You (halbe foone difpatcht,with faire conditions, 
 A Night is but fmall breathe, and little pawfe, 
 To anfwer matters of this confequence. Exeunt. 
 
 Secundus. 
 
 Flourijb. Enter Chorus. 
 
 Thus with imagin'd wing our iwift Scene flyes, 
 In motion of no lefle celeritie then that of Thought. 
 Suppofe, that you haue feene 
 The well-appointed King at Douer Peer, 
 Embarke his Royaltie: and his braue Fleet, 
 With filken Streamers,the young Phebus fayning; 
 Play with your Fancies: and in them behold, 
 Vpon the Hempen Tackle, Ship-boyes climbing; 
 Heare the fhrill Whiftle, which doth order giue 
 To founds confus'd : behold the threaden Sayles, 
 Borne with th'inuifible and creeping Wind, 
 Draw the huge Bottomes through the furrowed Sea, 
 Brefting the loftie Surge. O,doe but thinke 
 You ftand vpon the Riuage,and behold 
 A Citie on th'inconftant Billowes dauncing: 
 For fo appeares this Fleet Maiefticall, 
 Holding due courfe to Harflew. Follow, follow: 
 Grapple your minds to fternage of this Nauie, 
 And leaue your England as dead Mid-night, ftill, 
 Guarded with Grandfires, Babyes,and old Women, 
 Eyther paft, or not arriu'd to pyth and puiffance : 
 For who is he,whofe Chin is but enricht 
 
 With one appearing Hayre, that will not follow 
 Thefe cull'd and choyfe-drawne Caualiers to France? 
 Worke,worke your Thoughts, and therein fee a Siege : 
 Behold the Ordenance on their Carriages, 
 With fatall mouthes gaping on girded Harflew. 
 Suppofe th'Embaflador from the French comes back : 
 Tells Harry,T:hat the King doth offer him 
 Katherine his Daughter, and with her to Dowrie, 
 Some petty and vnprofitable Dukedomes. 
 The offer likes not : and the nimble Gunner 
 With Lynftock now the diuelliih Cannon touches, 
 
 Alarum, and Chambers goe off. 
 And downe goes all before them. Still be kind, 
 And eech out our performance with your mind. Exit. 
 
 Enter the King, Exeter, Bedford, and Gloucejler. 
 
 Alarum : Scaling Ladders at Harflew, 
 King. Once more vnto the Breach, 
 Deare friends, once more ; 
 Or clofe the Wall vp with our Englifh dead : 
 In Peace, there's nothing fo becomes a man, 
 As modeft ftillneffe,and humilitie : 
 But when the blaft of Warre blowes in our eares, 
 Then imitate the action of the Tyger: 
 Stiffen the finewes, commune vp the blood, 
 Difguife faire Nature with hard-fauour'd Rage : 
 .Then lend the Eye a terrible afpecl: : 
 Let it pry through the portage of the Head, 
 Like the Brafle Cannon : let the Brow o'rewhelme it, 
 As fearefully,as doth a galled Rocke 
 O're-hang and iutty his confounded Bafe, 
 Swill'd with the wild and waftfull Ocean. 
 Now fet the Teeth, and ftretch the Nofthrill wide, 
 Hold hard the Breath, and bend vp euery Spirit 
 To his full height. On, on, you Noblifh English, 
 Whofe blood is fet from Fathers of Warre-proofe - 
 Fathers, that like fo many Alexanders, 
 Haue in thefe parts from Morne till Euen fought, 
 And flieath'd their Swords, for lack of argument. 
 Di/honour not your Mothers : now atteft, 
 That thofe whom you call'd Fathers, did beget you. 
 Be Coppy now to me of grofler blood, 
 And teach them how to Warre. And you good Yeomen, 
 Whofe Lyms were made in England ; fhew vs here 
 The mettell of your Pafture : let vs fweare, 
 That you are worth your breeding: which I doubt not: 
 For there is none of you fo meane and bafe, 
 That hath not Noble lufter in your eyes. 
 I fee you ftand like Grey-hounds in the (lips, 
 Straying vpon the Start. The Game's afoot : 
 Follow your Spirit ; and vpon this Charge, 
 Cry,God for Harry, England, and S. George. 
 
 Alarum, and Chambers goe off. 
 
 Enter Nim, Bardolfh, Piftoll,and Boy. 
 
 'Bard. On, on, on, on, on, to the breach, to the breach. 
 
 Nim. 'Pray thee Corporall ftay, the Knocks are too 
 hot : and for mine owne part, I haue not a Cafe of Liues: 
 the humor of it is too hot, that is the very plaine-Song 
 of it. 
 
 fiji. The plaine-Song is moft iuft : for humors doe a- 
 bound : Knocks goe and come : Gods Vaflals drop and 
 dye : and Sword and Shield, in bloody Field, doth winne 
 immortall fame. 
 
 'Boy. Would I were in an Ale-houfe in London , I 
 would giue all my fame for a Pot of Ale, and fafetie. 
 
 Tifl.And
 
 The Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 Fiji. And I : If wiflies would preuayle with me, my 
 purpofe fhould not fayle with me 5 but thither would I 
 high. 
 
 'Boy. As duly, but not as truly, as Bird doth fing on 
 bough. 
 
 Enter Fluellen. 
 
 Flu. Vp to the breach , you Dogges ; auaunt you 
 Cullions. 
 
 Pift. Be mercifull great Duke to men of Mould : a- 
 bate thy Rage, abate thy manly Rage ; abate thy Rage, 
 great Duke. Good Bawcock bate thy Rage: vfe lenitie 
 fweet Chuck. 
 
 Nim. Thefe be good humors : your Honor wins bad 
 humors. Exit. 
 
 'Boy. As young as I am , I haue obferu'd thefe three 
 Swafhers : I am Boy to them all three, but all they three, 
 though they would feme me, could not be Man to me ; 
 for indeed three fuch Antiques doe not amount to a man: 
 for 'Bardolpb, hee is white-liuer'd, and red-fac'd ; by the 
 meanes whereof,a faces it out, but fights not: for Pi/toll, 
 hee hath a killing Tongue, and a quiet Sword ; by the 
 meanes whereof, a breakes Words , and keepes whole 
 Weapons : for Nim, hee hath heard , that men of few 
 Words are the beft men, and therefore hee fcornes to fay 
 his Prayers, left a fhould be thought a Coward : but his 
 few bad Words are matcht with as few good Deeds; for 
 a neuer broke any mans Head but his owne, and that was 
 againft a Poft,when he was drunke. They will fteale any 
 thing, and call it Purchafe. 'Bardolph ftole a Lute-cafe, 
 bore it twelue Leagues, and fold it for three halfepence. 
 Nim and Bardolpb are fworne Brothers in filching : and 
 in Callice they ftole a fire-fliouell. I knew by that peece 
 of Seruice , the men would carry Coales. They would 
 haue me as familiar with mens Pockets, as their Gloues 
 or their Hand-kerchers : which makes much againft my 
 Manhood, if I fhould take from anothers Pocket, to put 
 into mine ; for it is plaine pocketting vp of Wrongs. 
 I muft leaue them, and feeke fome better Seruice : their 
 Villany goes againft my weake ftomacke, and therefore 
 I muft caft it vp. Exit. 
 
 Enter Goner. 
 
 Cover. Captaine Fluellen ,you muft come prefently to 
 the Mynes; the Duke of Gloucefter would fpeake with 
 you. 
 
 Flu. To the Mynes ? Tell you the Duke, it is not fo 
 good to come to the Mynes : for looke you, the Mynes 
 is not according to the difciplines of the Warre;the con- 
 cauities of it is not fufficient : for looke you, th'athuer- 
 farie,you may difcufle vnto the Duke, looke you, is digt 
 himfelfe foure yard vnder the Countermines : by Chejbu, 
 I thinke a will plowe vp all, if there is not better directi- 
 ons. 
 
 Goner. The Duke of Gloucefter, to whom the Order 
 of the Siege is giuen, is altogether directed by an Irifh 
 man, a very valiant Gentleman yfaith. 
 
 Welch. It is Captaine Matynorrice, is it not ? 
 
 Goner. I thinke it be. 
 
 Welch. By Cbejhu he is an AfTe, as in the World, I will 
 verifie as much in his Beard : he ha's no more directions 
 in the true difciplines of the Warres, looke you, of the 
 Roman difciplines, then is a Puppy-dog. 
 
 Enter Makmorr\ce,and Captaine lamy. 
 
 Gcner. Here a comes,and the Scots Captaine, Captaine 
 lamy, with him. 
 
 Welch. Captaine lamy is a maruellous falorous Gen- 
 tleman, that is certain, and of great expedition and know- 
 
 ledge in th'aunchiant Warres, vpon my particular know- 
 ledge of his directions : by Cbejhu he will maintaine his 
 Argument as well as any Militarie man in the World, in 
 the difciplines of the Priftine Warres of the Romans. 
 Scot. I fay gudday, Captaine Fluellen. 
 Welch. Godden to your Worfhip , good Captaine 
 lames. 
 
 Goner. How now Captaine Mactynorrke , haue you 
 quit the Mynes f haue the Pioners giuen o're 
 
 Irijh. By Chrifh Law tifh ill done : the Worke ifh 
 giue ouer, the Trompet found the Retreat. By my Hand 
 I fweare, and my fathers Soule, the Worke ifh ill done : 
 it ifh giue ouer : I would haue blowed vp the Towne, 
 fo Chrifh faue me law, in an houre. O tifh ill done, tifh ill 
 done: by my Hand tifh ill done. 
 
 Welch. Captaine Mackmornce, I befeech you now, 
 will you voutfafe me, looke you, a few difputations with 
 you, as partly touching or concerning the difciplines of 
 the Warre, the Roman Warres, in the way of Argument, 
 looke you, and friendly communication: partly to fatisfie 
 my Opinion, and partly for the fatisfadtion, looke you, of 
 my Mind : as touching the direction of the Militarie dif- 
 cipline, that is the Point. 
 
 Scot. It fall be vary gud,gud feith,gud Captens bath, 
 and I fall quit you with gud leue, as I may pick occafion : 
 that fall I mary. 
 
 Infh. It is no time to difcourfe, fo Chrifh faue me : 
 the day is hot, and the Weather, and the Warres, and the 
 King, and the Dukes : it is no time to difcourfe, the Town 
 is befeech'd : and the Trumpet call vs to the breech, and 
 we talke, and be Chrifh do nothing, tis fhame for vs all : 
 fo God fa'me tis fhame to ftand ftill, it is fhame by my 
 hand : and there is Throats to be cut, and Workes to be 
 done, and there ifh nothing done, fo Chrift fa'me law. 
 
 Sect. By the Mes, ere theife eyes of mine take them- 
 felues to flomber, ayle de gud feruice, or He ligge i'th' 
 grund for it ; ay, or goe to death : and He pay't as valo- 
 roufly as I may, that fal I fuerly do, that is the breff and 
 the long : mary, I wad full faine heard fome queftion 
 tween you tway. 
 
 Welch. Captaine cMactynorrice, I thinke, looke you, 
 vnder your correction , there is not many of your Na- 
 tion. 
 
 Irijh. Of my Nation ? What ifh my Nation ? Ifh a 
 Villaine, and a Bafterd, and a Knaue, and a Rafcall. What 
 ifh my Nation ? Who talkes of my Nation? 
 
 Welch. Looke you, if you take the matter otherwife 
 then is meant, Captaine <&faefy*orritt , peraduenture I 
 fhall thinke you doe not vfe me with that affabi]irie,as in 
 difcretion you ought to vfe me,looke you, being as good 
 a man as your felfe, both in the difciplines of Warre, and 
 in the deriuation of my Birth , and in other particula- 
 rities. 
 
 Irijh. I doe not know you fo good a man as my felfe : 
 fo Chrifh faue me, I will cut off your Head. 
 
 Goner. Gentlemen both, you will miftake each other. 
 
 Scot. A, that's a foule fault. A Parley. 
 
 Goner. The Towne founds a Parley. 
 
 Welch. Captaine <&fackmorrice, when there is more 
 better oportunitie to be required, looke you, I will be 
 fo bold as to tell you, I know the difciplines of Warre : 
 and there is an end. Exit. 
 
 Enter the King and all hu Traine before the Gates. 
 King. How yet refolues the Gouernour of the Towne? 
 This is the lateft Parle we will admit : 
 
 There-
 
 The Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 79 
 
 Therefore to our beft mercy glue your felues, 
 Or like to men prowd of defhudtion, 
 Defie vs to our worft : for as I am a Souldier, 
 A Name that in my thoughts becomes me beft j 
 If I begin the batt'rie once againe, 
 I will not leaue the halfe-atchieued Harflew, 
 Till in her aflies flie lye buryed. 
 The Gates of Mercy fliall be all fhut vp, 
 And the flefli'd Souldier, rough and hard of heart, 
 In libertie of bloody hand,fhall raunge 
 With Confcience wide as Hell, mowing like Grafle 
 Your frefh faire Virgins,and your flowring Infants. 
 What is it then to me, if impious Warre, 
 Arrayed in flames like to the Prince of Fiends, 
 Doe with his fmyrcht complexion all fell feats, 
 Enlynckt to waft and defolation ? 
 What is't to me, when you your felues are caufe, 
 If your pure Maydens fall into the hand 
 Of hot and forcing Violation ? 
 What Reyne can hold licentious Wickednefle, 
 When downe the Hill he holds his fierce Carriere ? 
 We may as bootlefle fpend our vaine Command 
 Vpon th'enraged Souldiers in their fpoyle, 
 As fend Precepts to the Leuiatban,to come afhore. 
 Therefore, you men of Harflew, 
 Take pitty of your Towne and of your People, 
 Whiles yet my Souldiers are in my Command, 
 Whiles yet the coole and temperate Wind of Grace 
 O're-blowes the filthy and contagious Clouds 
 Of headly Murther,Spoyle,and Villany. 
 If not : why in a moment looke to fee 
 The blind and bloody Souldier, with foule hand 
 Defire the Locks of your fhrill-fliriking Daughters: 
 Your Fathers taken by the filuer Beards, 
 And their moft reuerend Heads daflit to the Walls : 
 Your naked Infants fpitted vpon Pykes, 
 Whiles the mad Mothers, with their howles confus'd, 
 Doe breake the Clouds; as did the Wiues of lewry, 
 At Herods bloody-hunting flaughter-men. 
 What fay you ? Will you yeeld,and this auoyd? 
 Or guiltie in defence, be thus deftroy'd. 
 Enter Gouernour. 
 
 Gouer. Our expectation hath this day an end : 
 The Dolphin, whom of Succours we entreated, 
 Returnes vs, that his Powers are yet not ready, 
 To rayfe fo great a Siege : Therefore great King, 
 We yeeld our Towne and Liues to thy foft Mercy : 
 Enter our Gates, difpofe of vs and ours, 
 For we no longer are defenfible. 
 
 King. Open your Gates: Come Vnckle Exeter, 
 Goe you and enter Harflew ; there remaine, 
 And fortifie it ftrongly 'gainft the French : 
 Vfe mercy to them all for vs,deare Vnckle. 
 The Winter comming on, and Sicknefle growing 
 Vpon our Souldiers, we will retyre to Calis. 
 To night in Harflew will we be your Gueft, 
 To morrow for the March are we addreft. 
 
 Flourijh, and enter the Towne. 
 
 Enter Katberine and an old Gentlewoman. 
 Katbe. Alice, tu as e/le en Angleterre, & tu bien parlas 
 le Language. 
 
 Alice. En peu Madame. 
 
 Katb. le te frie m'enjignie-z, il faut que ie apprend a par- 
 len : Comient appelle -VOM le main en Anglais f 
 Alice. Le main il & appelle de Hand. 
 
 Katb. *De Hand, 
 
 Alice. E le doyts. 
 
 Kat . Le doyts, mafoy Ie oublie, e doyt mays, ie me fouemeray 
 Ie doyts ie penje quils ont appelle dejingres, ou de Jingres. 
 
 Alice. Le main de Hand,le doyts le Fingres, ie penje que ie 
 Juit le ban efcbolier. 
 
 Katb. Pay gaynie diux mots a" Anglou -viftement, coment 
 appelle -vous le t/ngltf ? 
 
 Alice. Le angles, les appellons de Nayles. 
 
 Katb. De Nayles ejcoute : dites moy, Ji ie parle bien : de 
 Hand,de Fingres, e de Nayles. 
 
 Alice. C'eft bien diEi Madame, il & fort bon Anglou. 
 
 Katb. Dites moy /' Anglou pour le bras. 
 
 Alice. De Arme, Madame. 
 
 Katb. E de coudee. 
 
 Alice. D'EIbow. 
 
 Katb. D' Elbow : Ie men fay le repiticio de touts let mots 
 que -VOM ma-ves,apprins des a prejent. 
 
 Alice. II & trap difficile Madame, comme Ie penje. 
 
 Katb. Excufe moy tAlice ejcoute, d'Hand, de Fingre, de 
 Nayles, d"Arma, de *Bilbow. 
 
 Alice. D'Blbow, Madame. 
 
 Katb. Seigneur Dieu, ie men oublie d* Elbow, coment ap- 
 pelle -voiu le col. 
 
 Alice. De Nic^ , Madame. 
 
 Katb. De Nicl^ , e le menton. 
 
 Alice. De Chin. 
 
 Katb. De Sin : le col de Nicl^ , le menton de Sin. 
 
 Alice. Ouy. Sauf -voftre bonneur en 'verite -voui pronoun- 
 cies les mots auji droif}, que le Natifs a" Angleterre. 
 
 Katb. Ie ne doute point d"apprendre par de grace de Dieu, 
 & en peu de temps. 
 
 Alice. N'aue <vos y dejia oublie ce que ie <VOM a enjignie. 
 
 Katb. Nome ie recitera a -vous promptement, d'Hand, de 
 Fingre, de Maylees. 
 
 Alice. De Nayles, Madame. 
 
 Katb. De Nay les, de Arme, de Ilbow. 
 
 cAlice. Sans 'vojlre boneui d' 'Elbow. 
 
 Katb. Ainji de ie a" Elbow, de NicI^, & de Sin: coment ap- 
 pelle -voui les pied & de roba. 
 
 Alice. Le Foot Madame, & It Count. 
 
 Katb. Le Foot, & le Count : Seignieur Dieu, il font le 
 mots de fan mauvau corruptible grojje & impudique, <o non 
 pour le "Dames de Honeur d'-vjer : Ie ne -voudray pronouncer ce 
 mots deuant le Seigneurs de France, pour toute le monde,fo le 
 Foot & le Count, neant mays, Ie recitera -vn autrefoys ma lecon 
 enfembe, d'Hand, de Fingre, de Nayles, a" Arme, a" Elbow, de 
 Nicl^, de Sin,de Foot, le Count. 
 
 Alice. Excellent, Madame. 
 
 Katb. C'eji aJJ'es pour <vnefoyes,alons noui a diner. 
 
 Sxit. 
 
 Enter the King of France, the Dolphin, the 
 
 Qonftable of France, and others. 
 King. 'Tis certaine he hath paft the Riuer Some. 
 Conft. And if he be not fought withall,my Lord, 
 Let vs not liue in France : let vs quit all, 
 And giue our Vineyards to a barbarous People. 
 
 Dolph. 'Dieu -viuant : Shall a few Spray es of vs, 
 The emptying of our Fathers Luxurie, 
 Our Syens,put in wilde and fauage Stock, 
 Spirt vp fo fuddenly into the Clouds, 
 And ouer-looke their Grafters? 
 
 IBr/V.Normans, but baftard Normans, Norman baftards: 
 Mart du ma -vie, if they march along 
 Vnfought withall, but I will fell my Dukedome, 
 
 To
 
 8o 
 
 The Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 To buy a flobbry and a durtie Farme 
 In that nooke-fhotten He of Albion. 
 
 Canft. 1)1(11 de 'Battailes, where haue they this mettell? 
 Is not their Clymate foggy, raw, and dull? 
 On whom, as in defpight, the Sunne lookes pale, 
 Killing their Fruit with frownes. Can fodden Water, 
 A Drench for fur-reyn'd lades, their Barly broth, 
 Decodl their cold blood to fuch valiant heat ? 
 And fhall our quick blood, fpiri ted with Wine, 
 Seeme froftie O,for honor of our Land, 
 Let vs not hang like roping Ifyckles 
 Vpon our Houfes Thatch, whiles a more froftie People 
 Sweat drops of gallant Youth in our rich fields: 
 Poore we call them, in their Natiue Lords. 
 
 'Dolphin. By Faith and Honor, 
 Our Madames mock at vs,and plainely fay, 
 Our Mettell is bred out, and they will giue 
 Their bodyes to the Luft of Englifli Youth, 
 To new-ftore France with Baftard Warriors. 
 
 Brit. They bid vs to the Englifh Dancing-Schooles, 
 And teach Lauoltas high, and fwift Carranto's , 
 Saying, our Grace is onely in our Heeles, 
 And that we are moft loftie Run-awayes. 
 
 King. Where is Afontioy the Herald? fpeed him hence, 
 Let him greet England with our fharpe defiance. 
 Vp Princes,and with fpirit of Honor edged, 
 More fharper then your Swords, high to the field : 
 Charles De/abretb,H'igh Conftable of France, 
 You Dukes of Orleance, e Burbon,an& of Berry, 
 tAlanJon, f Brabant, c Bar t a.n& Burgonie, 
 laques Cbattillion , Rambures, Vandemont^ 
 f Beumont ) Qrand Free, Roujfi, and Faulconbridge , 
 Lays, Leftrale, Bouciquall, and Cbaraloyes , 
 High Dukes, great Princes, Barons, Lords, and Kings; 
 For your great Seats, now quit you of great fhames : 
 Barre Harry England, that fweepes through our Land 
 With Penons painted in the blood of Harflew : 
 Rufh on his Hoaft,as doth the melted Snow 
 Vpon the Valleyes, whofe low Vaffall Seat, 
 The Alpes doth i'pit, and void his rhewme vpon. 
 Goe downe vpon him, you haue Power enough, 
 And in a Captiue Chariot, into Roan 
 Bring him our Prifoner. 
 
 Confl. This becomes the Great. 
 Sorry am I his numbers are fo few, 
 His Souldiers fick,and famifht in their March: 
 For I am fure,when he fhall fee our Army, 
 Hee'le drop his heart into the finck of feare, 
 And for atchieuement, offer vs his Ranfome. 
 
 King. Therefore Lord Conftable, haft on Montioy, 
 And let him fay to England, that we fend, 
 To know what willing Ranfome he will giue. 
 Prince Dolpbin,you fhall ftay with vs in Roan. 
 
 Dolfb. Not fo,I doe befeech your Maieftie. 
 
 King. Be patient, for you fhall remaine with vs. 
 Now forth Lord Conftable, and Princes all, 
 And quickly bring vs word of Englands fall. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Qaptaines, Englijh and Welcb, Qoner 
 
 and Fluellen. 
 
 Goner. How now Captaine F/ucllen, come you from 
 the Bridge ? 
 
 Flu. I afTure you, there is very excellent Seruices com- 
 mitted at the Bridge. 
 
 Cover . Is the Duke of Exeter fafe ? 
 
 Flu. The Duke of Exeter is as magnanimous as Aga- 
 
 memnon, and a man that I loue and honour with my foule, 
 and my heart, and my dude, and my liue, and my liuing, 
 and my vttermoft power. He is not, God be prayfed and 
 blefTed, any hurt in the World, but keepes tne Bridge 
 moft valiantly, with excellent discipline. There is an aun- 
 chient Lieutenant there at the Fridge, I thinke in my very 
 confcience hee is as valiant a man as Marine Anthony, and 
 hee is a man of no eftimation in the World, but I did fee 
 him doe as gallant feruice. 
 
 Cower. What doe you call him? 
 
 Flu. Hee is call'd aunchient Tiftoll. 
 
 Goner. I know him not. 
 
 Enter Pi/loll. 
 
 Flu. Here is the man. 
 
 ?//?. Captaine,! thee befeech to doe me fauours: the 
 Duke of Exeter doth loue thee well. 
 
 Flu. I, I prayfe God, and 1 haue merited fome loue at 
 his hands. 
 
 Pisl. Bardolph, a Souldier firme and found of heart, 
 and of buxome valour , hath by cruell Fate, and giddie 
 Fortunes furious fickle Wheele, that Goddelfe blind, that 
 ftands vpon the rolling reftlefle Stone. 
 
 Flu. By your patience, aunchient fiftoll : Fortune is 
 painted blinde, with a Muffler afore his eyes, to fignifie 
 to you, that Fortune is blinde ; and /hee is painted alfo 
 with a Wheele, to fignifie to you, which is the Morall of 
 it, that fhee is turning and inconftant, and mutabilitie, 
 and variation : and her foot, looke you, is fixed vpon a 
 Sphericall Stone, which rowles, and rowles, and rowles : 
 in good truth, the Poet makes a moft excellent defcripti- 
 on of it : Fortune is an excellent Morall. 
 
 Fiji. Fortune is Bardolfhs foe, and frownes on him : 
 for he hath ftolne a Pax.and hanged muft a be : a damned 
 death : let Ga Howes gape for Dogge, let Man goe free, 
 and let not Hempe his Wind-pipe fuffbcate : but Exeter 
 hath giuen the doome of death, for Pax of little price. 
 Therefore goe fpeake, the Duke will heare thy voyce ; 
 and let not 'Bardi.lphs vitall thred bee cut with edge of 
 Penny-Cord , and vile reproach. Speake Captaine for 
 his Life, and I will thee requite. 
 
 Flu. Aunchient Tijloll, I doe partly vnderftand your 
 meaning. 
 
 Pift. Why then reioyce therefore. 
 
 Flu. Certainly Aunchient, it is not a thing to reioyce 
 at : for if, looke you, he were my Brother, I would defire 
 the Duke to vfe his good pleafure, and put him to execu- 
 tion ; for difcipline ought to be vfed. 
 
 Fiji. Dye,and be dam'd,and Figo for thy friend/hip. 
 
 Flu. It is well. 
 
 Fiji. The Figge of Spaine. Exit. 
 
 Flu. Very good. 
 
 Goner. Why, this is an arrant counterfeit Rafcall, I 
 remember him now : a Bawd, a Cut-purfe. 
 
 Flu. He affure you, a vtt'red as praue words at the 
 Pridge,as you fhall fee in a Summers day : but it is very 
 well: what he ha'sfpoke to me, that is well I warrant you, 
 when time is ferue. ' 
 
 Goner. Why 'tis a Gull, a Foole,a Rogue, that now and 
 then goes to the Warres,to grace himfelfe at his returne 
 into London, vnder the forme of a Souldier : and fuch 
 fellowes are perfit in the Great Commanders Names,and 
 they will learne you by rote where Seruices were done ; 
 at fuch and fuch a Sconce, at fuch a Breach, at fuch a Con- 
 uoy : who came off brauely, who was fhot, who dif- 
 grac'd,what termes the Enemy ftood on : and this they 
 conne perfidy in the phrafe of Warre j which they tricke 
 
 416
 
 The Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 81 
 
 vp with new-tuned Oathes: and what a Beard of the Ge- 
 neralls Cut, and a horride Sute of the Campe, will doe a- 
 mong foming Bottles, and Ale-wafht Wits, is wonder- 
 full to be thought on: but you muft learne to know fuch ; 
 flanders of the age, or elfe you may be maruelloufly mi- j 
 flooke. 
 
 Flu. I tell you what, Captaine Goner: I doe perceiue 
 hee is not the man that hee would gladly make fhew to 
 the World hee is : if I finde a hole in his Coat, I will tell 
 him my minde : hearke you, the King is comming, and I 
 muft fpeake with him from the Fridge. 
 
 'Drum and Colours. Enter the King and bis 
 poore Souldiers. 
 
 Flu. God plefle your Maieftie. 
 
 King. How now Fluellen,cam'& thou from the Bridge? 
 
 Flu. I, fo pleafe your Maieftie : The Duke of Exeter 
 ha's very gallantly maintain'd the Fridge ; the French is 
 gone oft", looke you, and there is gallant and moft praue 
 paflages : marry, th'athuerfarie was haue pofleflion of 
 the Fridge, but he is enforced to retyre,and the Duke of 
 Exeter is Mafter of the Fridge : I can tell your Maieftie, 
 the Duke is a praue man. 
 
 King. What men haue you loK^Fluellen? 
 
 Flu. The perdition of th'athuerfarie hath beene very 
 great, reafonnable great : marry for my part, I thinke the 
 Duke hath loft neuer a man, but one that is like to be exe- 
 cuted for robbing a Church, one f Bardolpb,\f your Maie- 
 ftie know the man : his face is all bubukles and whelkes, 
 and knobs, and flames a fire, and his lippes blowes at his 
 nofe, and it is like a coale of fire, fometimes plew, and 
 fometimes red , but his nofe is executed, and his fire's 
 out. 
 
 King. Wee would haue all fuch offenders fo cut off: 
 and we giue exprefle charge, that in our Marches through 
 the Countrey, there be nothing compell'd from the Vil- 
 lages; nothing taken, but pay'd for : none of the French 
 vpbrayded or abufed in difdainefull Language; for when 
 Leuitie and Crueltie play for a Kingdome , the gentler 
 Gamefter is the fooneft winner. 
 
 Tucket. Enter Mountioy. 
 
 Mountioy. You know me by my habit. 
 
 King. Well then, I know thee : what fliall I know of 
 thee? 
 
 Mountioy. My Matters mind. 
 
 King. Vnfold it. 
 
 Mountioy. Thus fayes my King : Say thou to Harry 
 of England, Though we feem'd dead, we did but fleepe: 
 Aduantage is a better Souldier then rafhnefTe. Tell him, 
 wee could haue rebuk'd him at Harflewe, but that wee 
 thought not good to bruile an iniurie, till it were full 
 ripe. Now wee fpeake vpon our Q._and our voyce is im- 
 periall : England fhall repent his folly, fee his weake- 
 nefie, and admire our fufferance. Bid him therefore con- 
 fider of his ranfome, which muft proportion the lofles we 
 haue borne, the fubiedb we haue loft, the difgrace we 
 haue digefted ; which in weight to re-anfwer, his petti- 
 nefTe would bow vnder. For our lofles, his Exchequer is 
 too poore ; for th'effufion of our bloud, the Mufter of his 
 Kingdome too faint a number; and for our difgrace, his 
 owne perfon kneeling at our feet, but a weake and worth- 
 lefie fatisfa&ion. To this adde defiance : and tell him for 
 conclufion, he hath betrayed his followers, whofe con- 
 demnation is pronounc't : So farre my King and Mafter; 
 fo much my Office. 
 
 King. What is thy name ? I know thy qualitie. 
 
 Mount, cflfountioy. 
 
 King. Thou doo'ft thy Office fairely.Turne thee back, 
 And tell thy King, I doe not feeke him now, 
 But could be willing to march on to Callice, 
 Without impeachment : for to fay the footh, 
 Though 'tis no wifdome to confefle fo much 
 Vnto an enemie of Craft and Vantage, 
 My people are with ficknefle much enfeebled, 
 My numbers leflen'd : and thofe few I haue, 
 Almoft no better then fo many French ; 
 Who when they were in health, I tell thee Herald, 
 I thought, vpon one payre of Englifh Legges 
 Did march three Frenchmen. Yet forgiue me God, 
 That I doe bragge thus ; this your ayre of France 
 Hath blowne that vice in me. I muft repent : 
 Goe therefore tell thy Mafter, heere I am ; 
 My Ranfome, is this frayle and worthlefle Trunke j 
 My Army, but a weake and fickly Guard : 
 Yet God before, tell him we will come on, 
 Though France himfelfe, and fuch another Neighbor 
 Stand in our way. There's for thy labour zWountiy. 
 Goe bid thy Mafter well aduife himfelfe. 
 If we may pafle,we will : if we be hindred, 
 We fhall your tawnie ground with your red blood 
 Difcolour : and fo cftfc/untioy, fare you well. 
 The fumme of all our Anfwer is but this : 
 We would not feeke a Battaile as we are, 
 Nor as we are, we fay we will not fhun it : 
 So tell your Mafter. 
 
 cMount. I fhall deliuer fo : Thankes to your High- 
 nefie. 
 
 Glouc. I hope they will not come vpon vs now. 
 King. We are in Gods hand, Brother, not in theirs: 
 March to the Bridge, it now drawes toward night, 
 Beyond the Riuer wee'le encampe our felues, 
 And on to morrow bid them march away. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter the Conftable of France, the Lord Ramburs, 
 Orleance, Dolphin, rvitb others. 
 
 Con/}. Tut , I haue the beft Armour of the World : 
 would it were day. 
 
 Orleance. You haue an excellent Armour : but let my 
 Horfe haue his due. 
 
 Con/1. It is the beft Horfe of Europe. 
 
 Orleance. Will it neuer be Morning t 
 
 Dolpb.My Lord of Orleance, and my Lord High Con- 
 ftable,you talke of Horfe and Armour? 
 
 Orleance. You are as well prouided of both, as any 
 Prince in the World. 
 
 Dolpb. What a long Night is this ? I will not change 
 my Horfe with any that treades but on foure poftures : 
 ch'ha : he bounds from the Earth, as if his entrayles were 
 hayres : le Cbeual volante, the Pegafus, cbes Us narines de 
 /CK.When I beftryde him, I foare, I am a Hawke: he trots 
 the ayre : the Earth fings, when he touches it : the bafeft 
 home of his hoofe , is more Muficall then the Pipe of 
 Hermes. 
 
 Orleance. Hee's of the colour of the Nutmeg. 
 
 Dolpb. And of the heat of the Ginger. It is a Beaft 
 for Perfetu : hee is pure Ayre and Fire ; and the dull Ele- 
 ments of Earth and Water neuer appeare in him, but on- 
 ly in patient ftillnefle while his Rider mounts him : hee 
 is indeede a Horfe , and all other lades you may call 
 Beafts. 
 
 i Conft. In-
 
 82 
 
 Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 Conft. Indeed my Lord, it is a moft abfolute and ex- 
 cellent Horfe. 
 
 Dolpb. It is the Prince of Palfrayes, his Neigh is like 
 the bidding of a Monarch, and his countenance enforces 
 Homage. 
 
 Orleance. 'No more Coufin. 
 
 Dolpb. Nay, the man hath no wit, that cannot from 
 the rifing of the Larke to the lodging of the Lambe, 
 varie deferued prayfe on my Palfray : it is a Theame as 
 fluent as the Sea: Turne the Sands into eloquent tongues, 
 and my Horfe is argument for them all : 'tis a fubiedl 
 for a Soueraigne to reafon on, and for a Soueraignes So- 
 ueraigne to ride on : And for the World, familiar to vs, 
 and vnknowne , to lay apart their particular Functions, 
 and wonder at him, I once writ a Sonnet in his prayfe, 
 and began thus, Wonder of Nature. 
 
 Orleance. I haue heard a Sonnet begin fo to ones Mi- 
 ftrefle. 
 
 Dolpb. Then did they imitate that which I composed 
 to my Courfer,for my Horfe is my Miftrefle. 
 
 Orleance. Your Miftrefle beares well. 
 
 Dolpb. Me well, which is the prefcript prayfe and per- 
 fection of a good and particular Miftrefle. 
 
 Con/}. Nay, for me thought yefterday your Miftrefle 
 flirewdly fliooke your back. 
 
 Dolph. So perhaps did yours. 
 
 Conft. Mine was not bridled. 
 
 Dclpb. O then belike flie was old and gentle, and you 
 rode like a Kerne of Ireland, your French Hofe off,and in 
 your ftrait Stroflers. 
 
 Conft. You haue good iudgement in Horfeman- 
 fliip. 
 
 Dolpb. Be warn'd by me then : they that ride fo, and 
 ride not warily, fall into foule Boggs : 1 had rather haue 
 my Horfe to my Miftrefle. 
 
 Conft. I had as Hue haue my Miftrefle a lade. 
 
 Dolpb. I tell thee Conftable, my Miftrefle weares his 
 owne hayre. 
 
 Con/}. I could make as true a boaft as that, if I had a 
 Sow to my Miftrefle. 
 
 Dclpb. Le Men eft retourne a fon propre vemijjement eft 
 la leuye lauee au bourbier:thou mak'ft vfe of any thing. 
 
 Conft. Yet doe I not vfe my Horfe for my Miftrefle, 
 or any fuch Prouerbe,fo little kin to the purpofe. 
 
 Ramb. My Lord Conftable, the Armour that I faw in 
 your Tent to night, are thofe Starres or Sunnes vpon it 
 
 Conft. Starres my Lord. 
 
 Dolpb. Some of them will fall to morrow,! hope. 
 
 Conft. And yet my Sky (hall not want. 
 
 Dolpb. That may be, for you beare a many fuperflu- 
 oufly, and 'twere more honor fome were away. 
 
 Conft. Eu'n as your Horfe beares your prayfes, who 
 would trot as well, were fome of your bragges difmoun- 
 ted. 
 
 Dolpb. Would I were able to loade him with his de- 
 fert. Will it neuer be day ? I will trot to morrow a mile, 
 and my way fliall be paued with Englifli Faces. 
 
 Conft. I will not fay fo, for feare I fliould be fac't out 
 of my way : but I would it were morning , for I would 
 faine be about the eares of the Englifli. 
 
 Ramb. Who will goe to Hazard with me for twentie 
 Prifoners ? 
 
 Conft. You muft firft goe your felfe to hazard, ere you 
 haue them. 
 
 Dolpb. 'Tis Mid-night, lie goe arme my felfe. Exit. 
 Orleancf.The Dolphin longs for morning. 
 
 Ramb. He longs to eate the Englifli. 
 
 Conft. I thinke he will eate all he kills. 
 
 Orleance. By the white Hand of my Lady, hee's a gal- 
 lant Prince. 
 
 Conft. Sweare by her Foot, that flie may tread out the 
 Oath. 
 
 Orleance. He is fimply the moft acYiue Gentleman of 
 France. 
 
 Conft. Doing is a&iuitie, and he will ftill be doing. 
 
 Orleance. He neuer did harme, that I heard of. 
 
 Conft. Nor will doe none to morrow: hee will keepe 
 that good name ftill. 
 
 Orleance. I know him to be valiant. 
 
 Conft. I was told that, by one that knowes him better 
 then you. 
 
 Orleance. What's hee ? 
 
 Conft. Marry hee told me fo himfelfe,and hee fayd hee 
 car'd not who knew it. 
 
 Orleance. Hee needes not, it is no hidden vertue in 
 him. 
 
 Conil. By my faith Sir, but it is : neuer any body faw 
 it, but his Lacquey: 'tis a hooded valour, and when it 
 appeares, it will bate. 
 
 Orleance. Ill will neuer fayd well. 
 
 Conft. I will cap that Prouerbe with, There is flatterie 
 in friendfliip. 
 
 Orleance. And I will take vp that with,Giue the Deuill 
 his due. 
 
 Conft. Well plac't : there ftands your friend for the 
 Deuill : haue at the very eye of that Prouerbe with , A 
 Pox of the Deuill. 
 
 Orleance. You are the better at Prouerbs, by how much 
 a Fooles Bolt is foone fliot. 
 
 Conft. You haue fliot ouer. 
 
 Orleance. 'Tis not the firft time you were ouer-fiiot. 
 
 Enter a MeJJenger. 
 
 Meff. My Lord high Conftable, the Englifli lye within 
 fifreene hundred paces of your Tents. 
 
 Conft. Who hath meafur'd the ground? 
 
 Mejf. The Lord Qrandpree. 
 
 Conft. A valiant and moft expert Gentleman. Would 
 it were day? Alas poore Harry of England : hee longs 
 not for the Dawning, as wee doe. 
 
 Orleance. What a wretched and peeuifli fellow is this 
 King of England, to mope with his fat-brain'd followers 
 fo farre out of his knowledge. 
 
 Conft. If the Englifli had any apprehenfion , they 
 would runne away. 
 
 Orleance. That they lack : for if their heads had any in- 
 telledluall Armour, they could neuer weare fuch heauie 
 Head-pieces. 
 
 Ramb. That Hand of England breedes very valiant 
 Creatures ; their Maftiffes are of vnmatchable cou- 
 rage. 
 
 Orleance. Foolifli Curres, that runne winking into 
 the mouth of a Ruflian Beare, and haue their heads cruflit 
 like rotten Apples : you may as well fay, that's a valiant 
 Flea , that dare eate his breakefaft on the Lippe of a 
 Lyon. 
 
 Cft- luft, iuft : and the men doe fympathize with 
 the Maftiffes , in robuftious and rough comming on, 
 leauing their Wits with their Wiues : and then giue 
 them great Meales of Beefe, and Iron and Steele; they 
 will eate like Wolues,and fight like Deuils. 
 
 Orleance. I, 
 
 41*
 
 'The Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 Orleancc. I, but thefe Englifh are fhrowdly but of 
 Beefe. 
 
 Conff. Then fhall we finde to morrow, they haue only 
 ftomackes to eate, and none to fight. Now is it time to 
 arme : come, (hall we about it ? 
 
 Orleance. It is now two a Clock: but let me fee, by ten 
 Wee fliall haue each a hundred Englifh men. Exeunt. 
 
 Tertius. 
 
 ChorW. 
 
 Now entertaine coniedture of a time, 
 When creeping Murmure and the poring Darke 
 Fills the wide Veflell of the Vniuerfe. 
 From Camp to Camp, through the foule Womb of Night 
 The Humme of eyther Army ftilly founds ; 
 That the fixt Centinels almoft receiue 
 The fecret Whifpers of each others Watch. 
 Fire anfwers fire, and through their paly flames 
 Each Battaile fees the others vmber'd face. 
 Steed threatens Steed, in high and boaftfull Neighs 
 Piercing the Nights dull Eare : and from the Tents, 
 The Armourers accompli/hing the Knights, 
 With bufie Hammers clofing Riuets vp, 
 Giue dreadfull note of preparation. 
 The Countrey Cocks doe crow, the Clocks doe towle: 
 And the third howre of drowfie Morning nam'd, 
 Prowd of their Numbers, and fecure in Soule, 
 The confident and ouer-luftie French, 
 Doe the low-rated Englifh play at Dice; 
 And chide the creeple-tardy-gated Night, 
 Who like a foule and ougly Witch doth limpe 
 So tedioufly away. The poore condemned Englifh, 
 Like Sacrifices, by their watchfull Fires 
 Sit patiently, and inly ruminate 
 The Mornings danger : and their gefture fad, 
 Inuefting lanke-leane Cheekes, and Warre-worne Coats, 
 Prefented them vnto the gazing Moone 
 So many horride Ghofts. O now, who will behold 
 The Royall Captaine of this ruin'd Band 
 Walking from Watch to Watch, from Tent to Tent; 
 Let him cry,Prayfe and Glory on his head : 
 For forth he goes, and vifits all his Hoaft, 
 Bids them good morrow with a modeft Smyle, 
 And calls them Brothers, Friends, and Countreymen. 
 Vpon his Royall Face there is no note, 
 How dread an Army hath enrounded him ; 
 Nor doth he dedicate one iot of Colour 
 Vnto the wearie and all-watched Night : 
 But frefhly lookes,and ouer-beares Attaint, 
 With chearefull femblance,and fweet Maieftie : 
 That euery Wretch, pining and pale before, 
 Beholding him, plucks comfort from his Lookes. 
 A Largefle vniuerfall,like the Sunne, 
 His liberall Eye doth giue to euery one, 
 Thawing cold feare,that meane and gentle all 
 Behold, as may vnworthinefie define. 
 A little touch of Harry in the Night, 
 And fo our Scene muft to the Battaile flye : 
 Where, O for pitty,we fhall much difgrace, 
 With foure or flue moft vile and ragged foyles, 
 (Right ill difpos'd, in brawle ridiculous) 
 
 419 
 
 The Name of Agincourt : Yet fit and fee, 
 Minding true things, by what their Mock'ries bee. 
 
 Exit. 
 
 Enter the King^edford^and Gkucefter. 
 
 King. GIoJier,\\s true that we are in great danger, 
 The greater therefore fhould our Courage be. 
 God morrow Brother 'Bedford : God Almightie, 
 There is fome foule of goodnefTe in things euill, 
 Would men obferuingly diftill it out. 
 For our bad Neighbour makes vs early ftirrers, 
 Which is both healthful!, and good husbandry. 
 Be fides, they are our outward Confciences, 
 And Preachers to vs all ; admonifhing, 
 That we fhould drefle vs fairely for our end. 
 Thus may we gather Honey from the Weed, 
 And make a Morall of the Diuell himfelfe. 
 
 Enter Erpingham. 
 
 Good morrow old Sir Thomas Srfingham : 
 A good foft Pillow for that good white Head, 
 Were better then a churlifh turfe of France. 
 
 Erf ing. Not fo my Liege, this Lodging likes me better, 
 Since I may fay, now lye I like a King. 
 
 King. "Pis good for men to loue their prefent paines, 
 Vpon example, fo the Spirit is eafed : 
 And when the Mind is quickned,out of doubt 
 The Organs, though defuncT: and dead before, 
 Breake vp their drowfie Graue,and newly moue 
 With cafted f)ough,and frefh legeritie. 
 Lend me thy Cloake Sir Thomas : Brothers both, 
 Commend me to the Princes in our Campe; 
 Doe my good morrow to them, and anon 
 Defire them all to my Pauillion. 
 
 Glojler. We fhall, my Liege. 
 
 Erping, Shall I attend your Grace ? 
 
 King. No, my good Knight : 
 Goe with my Brothers to my Lords of England : 
 I and my Bofome muft debate a while, 
 And then I would no other company. 
 
 Erfing. The Lord in Heauen blefle thee , Noble 
 Harry. Sxeunt. 
 
 King. God a mercy old Heart , thou fpeak'ft cheare- 
 fully. Enter Piftoll. 
 
 Pift. fye-vouila? 
 
 King. A friend. 
 
 Pi/}. Difcufle vnto me , art thou Officer, or art thou 
 bafe, common, and popular ? 
 
 King. I am a Gentleman of a Company. 
 
 Tift. Trayl'ft thou the puiflant Pyke ? 
 
 King. Euen fo: what are you? 
 
 Pift. As good a Gentleman as the Emperor. 
 
 King. Then you are a better then the King. 
 
 Pift. The King's a Bawcock, and a Heart of Gold, a 
 Lad of Life, an Impe of Fame, of Parents good, of Fift 
 moft valiant : I kifTe his durtie fhooe , and from heart- 
 ftring I loue the louely Bully. What is thy Name ? 
 King. Harry le Roy. 
 
 fift.Le Roy? a Cornifh Name: art thou of Cornifh Crew? 
 King. No, I am a Welchman. 
 Pift. Know'ft thou Fluellen ? 
 King. Yes. 
 
 fift. Tell him He knock his Leeke about his Pate vpon 
 S. ^Dauies day. 
 
 King. Doe not you weare your Dagger in your Cappe 
 that day,leaft he knock that about yours. 
 
 i 2 P/iZ.Art
 
 84 
 
 The Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 fijl. Art thou his friend ? 
 
 King. And his Kinfman too. 
 
 Pift. The Figo for thee then. 
 
 King. I thank e you: God be with you. 
 
 Pift. My name is Pittol call'd. Exit. 
 
 King. It forts well with your fierceneffe. 
 
 Manet King. 
 
 Enter Fluellen and Goiter. 
 
 Gcver. Captaine Fluellen. 
 
 Flu. 'So, in the Name of lefu Chrift, fpeake fewer: it 
 is the greateft admiration in the vniuerfall World , when 
 the true and aunchient Prerogatifes and Lawes of the 
 Warres is not kept : if you would take the paines but to 
 examine the Warres of Pompey the Great,you fliall finde, 
 I warrant you, that there is no fiddle tadle nor pibble ba- 
 ble in fomfeyes Campe : I warrant you , you fliall finde 
 the Ceremonies of the Warres, and the Cares of it, and 
 the Formes of it, and the Sobrietie of it, and the Modeftie 
 of it, to be otherwife. 
 
 Gower. Why the Enemie is lowd, you heare him all 
 Night. 
 
 Flu. If the Enemie is an Affe and a Foole, and a pra- 
 ting Coxcombe ; is it meet, thinke you, that wee fliould 
 alfo,looke you, be an Afle and a Foole,and a prating Cox- 
 combe,in your owne conference now? 
 
 Gotv. I will fpeake lower. 
 
 Flu. I pray you, and befeech you, that you will. Exit. 
 
 King. Though it appeare a little out of fafliion, 
 There is much care and valour in this Welchman. 
 
 Enter three Souldiers, lobn 'Bates, Alexander Court, 
 and Michael Williams. 
 
 Court. Brother lobn Bates , is not that the Morning 
 which breakes yonder ? 
 
 'Bates. I thinke it be : but wee haue no great caufe to 
 defire the approach of day. 
 
 Williams. Wee fee yonder the beginning of the day, 
 but I thinke wee fliall neuer fee the end or it. Who goes 
 there ? 
 
 King. A Friend. 
 
 Williams. Vnder what Captaine ferue you 
 
 King. Vnder Sir lobn Erpingbam. 
 
 Williams. A good ojd Commander, and a moft kinde 
 Gentleman : I pray you, what thinkes he of our eftate ? 
 
 King. Euen as men wrackt vpon a Sand, that looke to 
 be wafht off the next Tyde. 
 
 Bates. He hath not told his thought to the King? 
 
 King. No : nor it is not meet he fliould : for though I 
 fpeake it to you, I thinke the King is but a man, as I am : 
 the Violet fmells to him, as it doth to me ; the Element 
 fliewes to him, as it doth to me ; all his Sences haue but 
 humane Conditions : his Ceremonies layd by, in his Na- 
 kednefle he appeares but a man ; and though his affecYi- 
 ons are higher mounted then ours, yet when they ftoupe, 
 they ftoupe with the like wing : therefore, when he fees 
 reafon of feares,as we doe; his feares, out of doubt, be of 
 the fame rellifli as ours are : yet in reafon, no man fliould 
 poffeffe him with any appearance of feare ; leaft hee, by 
 fliewing it, fliould dis-hearten his Army. 
 
 Bates. He may fliew what outward courage he will : 
 but I beleeue,as cold a Night as 'tis, hee could wifli him- 
 felfe in Thames vp to the Neck ; and fo I would he were, 
 and I by him, at all aduentures,fo we were quit here. 
 
 King. By my troth, I will fpeake my confcience of the 
 
 King : I thinke hee would not wifli himfelfe any where, 
 but where hee is. 
 
 'Bates. Then I would he were here alone; fo fliould he be 
 fure to be ranfomed,and a many poore mens liues faued. 
 
 King. I dare fay, you loue him not fo ill, to wifli him 
 here alone : howfoeuer you fpeake this to feele other 
 mens minds, me thinks I could not dye any where fo con- 
 tented, as in the Kings company; his Caufe being iuft, and 
 his Quarrell honorable. 
 
 Williams. That's more then we know. 
 
 'Rates. I, or more then wee fliould feeke after; for wee 
 know enough, if wee know wee are the Kings Subiedb : 
 if his Caufe be wrong, our obedience to the King wipes 
 the Cryme of it out of vs. 
 
 Williams. But if the Caufe be not good, the King him- 
 felfe hath a heauie Reckoning to make , when all thofe 
 Legges, and Armes, and Heads, chopt off in a Battaile, 
 flull ioyne together at the latter day, and cry all, Wee dy- 
 ed at fuch a place, fome fwearing, fome crying for a Sur- 
 gean ; fome vpon their Wiues, left poore behind them ; 
 fome vpon the Debts they owe, fome vpon their Children 
 rawly left : I am afear'd, there are few dye well, that dye 
 in a Battaile : for how can they charitably difpofe of any 
 thing, when Blood is their argument? Now,if thefe men 
 doe not dye well, it will be a black matter for the King, 
 that led them to it ; who to difobey, were againft all pro- 
 portion of fubiedYion. 
 
 King. So, if a Sonne that is by his Father fent about 
 Merchandize, doe finfully mifcarry vpon the Seajthe im- 
 putation of his wickedneffe, by your rule, fliould be im- 
 pofed vpon his Father that fent him : or if a Seruant, vn- 
 der his Mafters command, tranfporting a fumme of Mo- 
 ney, be aflayled by Robbers, and dye in many irreconcil'd 
 Iniquities ; you may call the bufinefle of the Mafter the 
 author of the Seruants damnation : but this is not fo : 
 The King is not bound to anfwer the particular endings 
 of his Souldiers, the Father of his Sonne, nor the Mafter 
 of his Seruant ; for they purpofe not their death , when 
 they purpofe their feruices. Befides, there is no King, be 
 his Caufe neuer fo fpotlefle, if it come to the arbitre- 
 ment of Swords, can trye it out with all vnfpotted Soul- 
 diers : fome ( peraduenture ) haue on them the guilt of 
 premeditated and contriued Murther ; fome, of begui- 
 ling Virgins with the broken Scales of Periurie ; fome, 
 making the Warres their Bulwarke,that haue before go- 
 red the gentle Bofome of Peace with Pillage and Robbe- 
 rie. Now, if thefe men haue defeated the Law, and out- 
 runne Natiue punifliment ; though they can out-ftrip 
 men, they haue no wings to flye from God. Warre is 
 his Beadle, Warre is his Vengeance : fo that here men 
 are puniflit, for before breach of the Kings Lawes, in 
 now the Kings Quarrell : where they feared the death, 
 they haue borne life away ; and where they would bee 
 fafe, they perifli. Then if they dye vnprouided,no more 
 is the King guiltie of their damnation, then hee was be- 
 fore guiltie of thofe Impieties , for the which they are 
 now vifited. Euery Subiecls Dutie is the Kings , but 
 euery Subjects Soule is his owne. Therefore fliould 
 euery Souldier in the Warres doe as euery ficke man in 
 his Bed, wafli euery Moth out of his Conicience : and 
 dying fo, Death is to him aduantage ; or not dying, 
 the time was blefiedly loft, wherein fuch preparation was 
 gayned : and in him that efcapes, it were not finne to 
 thinke, that making God fo free an offer, he let him out- 
 liue that day, to fee his Greatneffe , and to teach others 
 how they fliould prepare. 
 
 Will. 'Tis 
 
 410
 
 'The Life of Henry tbeFift. 
 
 Will. 'Tis certaine, euery man that dyes ill, the ill vpon 
 his owne head, the King is not to anfwer it. 
 
 'Bates. I doe not defire hee Ihould anfwer for me, and 
 yet I determine to fight luftily for him. 
 
 King. I my felfe heard the King fay he would not be 
 ranfom'd. 
 
 Will. I, hee faid fo, to make vs fight chearefully : but 
 when our throats are cut, hee may be ranfom'd, and wee 
 ne're the wifer. 
 
 King. If I Hue to fee it, I will neuer truft his word af- 
 ter, 
 
 Will. You pay him then : that's a perillous /hot out 
 of an Elder Gunne,that a poore and a priuate difpleafure 
 can doe againft a Monarch : you may as well goe about 
 to turne the Sunne to yce, with fanning in his face with a 
 Peacocks feather : You'le neuer truft his word after ; 
 come, 'tis a foolifli faying. 
 
 King. Your reproofe is fomething too round,! fliould 
 be angry with you, if the time were conuenient. 
 
 Will. Let it bee a Quarrell betweene vs , if you 
 liue. 
 
 King. I embrace it. 
 
 Will. How lhall I know thee againe? 
 
 King. Giue me any Gage of thine, and I will weare it 
 in my Bonnet : Then if euer thou dar'ft acknowledge it, 
 I will make it my Quarrell. 
 
 Will. Heere's my Gloue : Giue mee another of 
 thine. 
 
 King. There. 
 
 Will. This will I alfo weare in my Cap : if euer thou 
 come to me, and fay, after to morrow, This is my Gloue, 
 by this Hand I will take thee a box on the eare. 
 
 King. If euer I liue to fee it,I will challenge it. 
 
 Will. Thou dar'ft as well be hang'd. 
 
 King. Well, I will doe it , though I take thee in the 
 Kings companie, 
 
 Will. Keepe thy word : fare thee well. 
 
 'Bates. Be friends you Englifh fooles, be friends, wee 
 haue French Quarrels enow, if you could tell how to rec- 
 kon. Exit Souldiers. 
 
 King. Indeede the French may lay twentie French 
 Crownes to one, they will beat vs, for they beare them 
 on their flioulders : but it is no Englifli Treafon to cut 
 French Crownes, and to morrow the King himfelfe will 
 be a Clipper. 
 
 Vpon the King, let vs our Liues,our Soules, 
 Our Debts, our carefull Wiues, 
 Our Children, and our Sinnes,lay on the King: 
 We muft beare all. 
 
 O hard Condition, Twin-borne with Greatnefie, 
 SubiecT: to the breath of euery foole,whofe fence 
 No more can feele, but his owne wringing. 
 What infinite hearts-eafe muft Kings neglect, 
 That priuate men enioy f 
 
 And what haue Kings, that Priuates haue not too, 
 Saue Ceremonie, faue generall Ceremonie ? 
 And what art thou, thou Idoll Ceremonie? 
 What kind of God art thou? that fuffer'ft more 
 Of mortall griefes, then doe thy worfhippers. 
 What are thy Rents? what are thy Commings in ? 
 O Ceremonie, fhew me but thy worth. 
 What ? is thy Soule of Odoration ? 
 Art thou ought elfe but Place, Degree, and Forme, 
 Creating awe and feare in other men ? 
 Wherein thou art leffe happy, being fear'd, 
 Then they in fearing. 
 
 Whatdrink'ft thouoft,in ftead of Homage fweet, 
 
 But poyfon'd flatterie ? O,be fick, great Greatnefle, 
 
 And bid thy Ceremonie giue thee cure. 
 
 Thinks thou the fierie Feuer will goe out 
 
 With Titles blowne from Adulation ? 
 
 Will it giue place to flexure and low bending 9 
 
 Canft thou, when thou command'ft the beggers knee, 
 
 Command the health of it f No, thou prowd Dreame, 
 
 That play'ft fo fubtilly with a Kings Repofe. 
 
 I am a King that find thee : and I know, 
 
 'Tis not the Balme,the Scepter, and the Ball, 
 
 The Sword, the Mafe,the Crowne Imperiall, 
 
 The enter-tiffued Robe of Gold and Pearle, 
 
 The farfed Title running 'fore the King, 
 
 The Throne he fits on : nor the Tyde of Pompe, 
 
 That beates vpon the high fhore of this World : 
 
 No,not all thefe, thrice-gorgeous Ceremonie j 
 
 Not all thefe, lay 'd in Bed Maiefticall, 
 
 Can fleepe fo foundly, as the wretched Slaue: 
 
 Who with a body fiH'd,and vacant mind, 
 
 Gets him to re(r,cram'd with diftrefTefull bread, 
 
 Neuer fees horride Night, the Child of Hell : 
 
 But like a Lacquey, from the Rife to Set, 
 
 Sweates in the eye of Phebui ; and all Night 
 
 Sleepes in Slis&ium : next day after dawne, 
 
 Doth rife and helpe Hiferio to his Horfe, 
 
 And followes fo the euer-running yeere 
 
 With profitable labour to his Graue: 
 
 And but for Ceremonie, fuch a Wretch, 
 
 Winding vp Dayes with toyle,and Nights with fleepe, 
 
 Had the fore-hand and vantage of a King. 
 
 The Slaue,a Member of the Countreyes peace, 
 
 Enioyes it ; but in grofTe braine little wots, 
 
 What watch the King keepcs, to matntaine the peace; 
 
 Whofe howres, the Pefant beft aduantages. 
 
 Enter Erpingham. 
 
 Erf. My Lord, your Nobles iealous of your abfence, 
 Seeke through your Campe to find you. 
 
 King. Good old Knight, collect them all together 
 At my Tent : He be before thee. 
 
 Erp. I /hall doo't, my Lord. Exit. 
 
 King. O God of Battailes, fteele my Souldiers hearts, 
 PoflefTe them not with feare : Take from them now 
 The fence of reckning of th'oppofed numbers : 
 Pluck their hearts from them. Not to day, O Lord, 
 
 not to day, thinke not vpon the fault 
 My Father made,in comparling the Crowne. 
 
 1 Richards body haue interred new, 
 
 And on it haue beftowed more contrite teares, 
 Then from it ifiued forced drops of blood. 
 Fiue hundred poore I haue in yeerely pay, 
 Who twice a day their wither'd hands hold vp 
 Toward Heauen,to pardon blood: 
 And I haue built two Chauntries, 
 Where the fad and folemne Priefts fing ftill 
 For Richards Soule. More will I doe : 
 Though all that I can doe, is nothing worth ; 
 Since that my Penitence comes after all, 
 Imploring pardon. 
 
 Enter C/louceJier, 
 
 Gloue. My Liege. 
 
 King. My Brother Gloucejters voyce ? I : 
 I know thy errand, I will goe with thee : 
 The day, my friend, and all things ftay for me. 
 Exeunt. 
 
 1 3 
 
 Ente
 
 86 
 
 The Life of Henry the Fiji. 
 
 Enter the Dolphin, Orleance ^ Rambun, and 
 'Beaumont. 
 
 Orlcance. The Sunne doth gild our Armour vp, my 
 Lords. 
 
 'Dolpb. Monte Cbeual : My Horfe, Verht Lacquay : 
 Ha. 
 
 Orleance. Oh braue Spirit. 
 
 Dc/fb. Via les eves & terre. 
 
 Orleance. Rien puts It air & feu. 
 
 'Dolpb. Gr/>, Coufin Orleance. Enter Conftable. 
 
 Now my Lord Conftable? 
 
 Con/}. Hearke how our Steedes, for prefent Seruice 
 neigh. 
 
 Dolpb. Mount them, and make incifion in their Hides, 
 That their hot blood may fpin in Englifh eyes, 
 And doubt them with fuperfluous courage : ha. 
 
 .RaOT.What,wil you haue them weep our Horfes blood? 
 How fhall we then behold their naturall teares ? 
 Enter zflfejjenger . 
 
 <&fejfeng. The Englifh are embattail'd, you French 
 Peeres. 
 
 Conft. To Horfe you gallant Princes, ftraight to Horfe. 
 Doe but behold yond poore and ftarued Band, 
 -And your faire {hew fhall fuck away their Soules, 
 Leauing them but the fhales and huskes of men. 
 There is not worke enough for all our hands, 
 Scarce blood enough in all their fickly Veines, 
 To giue each naked Curtleax a ftayne, 
 That our French Gallants fliall to day draw out, 
 And fheath for lack of fport. Let vs but blow on them, 
 The vapour of our Valour will o're-turne them. 
 'Tis politiue againft all exceptions, Lords, 
 That our fuperfluous Lacquies,and our Pefants, 
 Who in vnnecefTarie action fwarme 
 About our Squares of Battaile, were enow 
 To purge this field of fuch a hilding Foe ; 
 Though we vpon this Mountaines Bails by, 
 Tooke ftand for idle fpeculation : 
 But that our Honours muft not. What's to fay 
 A very little little let vs doe, 
 And all is done : then let the Trumpets found 
 The Tucket Sonuance,and the Note to mount : 
 For our approach fliall fo much dare the field, 
 That England fliall couch downe in feare,and yeeld. 
 
 Enter Graundpree. 
 
 Grand free. "Why do you flay fo long, my Lords of France? 
 Yond Hand Carrions, defperate of their bones, 
 Ill-fauoredly become the Morning field : 
 Their ragged Curtaines poorely are let loofe, 
 And our Ayre fliakes them parting fcornefully. 
 Bigge cflfars feemes banqu'rout in their begger'd Hoaft, 
 And faintly through a ruftie Beuer peepes. 
 The Horfemen fit like fixed Candlefticks, 
 With Torch-ftaues in their hand: and their poore lades 
 Lob downe their heads, dropping the hides and hips : 
 The gumme downe roping from their pale-dead eyes, 
 And in their pale dull mouthes the lymold Bitt 
 Lyes foule with chaw'd-grafTe, ft'tll and motionleffe. 
 And their executors, the knauifli Crowes, 
 Flye o're them all, impatient for their howre. 
 Defcription cannot fute it felfe in words, 
 To demonftrate the Life of fuch a Battaile, 
 In life fo liuelefle, as it fliewes it felfe. 
 
 Conft. They haue faid their prayers, 
 And they ftay for death. 
 Dolpb. Shall we goe fend them Dinners, and frefh Sutes, 
 
 And giue their fafting Horfes Prouender, 
 And after fight with them ? 
 
 Conft. I ftay but for my Guard : on 
 To the field,! will the Banner from a Trumpet take, 
 And vfe it for my hafte. Come, come away, 
 The Sunne is high, and we out-weare the day. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Gloucefter, 'Bedford, Exeter, Srpingbam 
 
 with all bu Hoaft : Salisbury, and 
 
 Weftmerland. 
 
 Glouc. Where is the King ? 
 
 Bedf. The King himfelfe is rode to view their Bat- 
 taile. 
 
 Weft. Of fighting men they haue full threefcore thou- 
 fand. 
 
 Exe. There's fiue to one, befides they all are frefh. 
 
 Xa/ifA.Gods Arme ftrike with vs,'tis a fearefull oddes. 
 God buy' you Princes all ; He to my Charge: 
 If we no more meet, till we meet in Heauen ; 
 Then ioy fully, my Noble Lord of Bedford, 
 My deare Lord Gloucefter, and my good Lord Exeter, 
 And my kind Kinfman, Warriors all, adieu. 
 
 Jta/f.Farwell good Salisbury, $c good luck go with thee: 
 And yet I doe thee wrong, to mind thee of it, 
 For thou art fram'd of the firme truth of valour. 
 
 Exe. Farwell kind Lord: fight valiantly to day. 
 
 Bedf. He is as full of Valour as of Kindneffe, 
 Princely in both. 
 
 Enter the King. 
 
 Weft. O that we now had here 
 But one ten thoufand of thofe men in England, 
 That doe no worke to day. 
 
 King. What's he that'wifhes fo ? 
 My Coufin Weftmerland. No, my faire Coufin : 
 If we are marict to dye, we are enow 
 To doe our Countrey lofle : and if to Hue, 
 The fewer men, the greater fhare of honour. 
 Gods will, I pray thee wifh not one man more. 
 By loue, I am not couetous for Gold, 
 Nor care I who doth feed vpon my coft : 
 It yernes me not, if men my Garments weare ; 
 Such outward things dwell not in my defires. 
 But if it be a finne to couet Honor, 
 i I am the moft offending Soule aliue. 
 I No 'faith, my Couze,wifli not a man from England : 
 Gods peace,! would not loofe fo great an Honor, 
 As one man more me thinkes would fliare from me, 
 For the beft hope I haue. O, doe not wifh one more : 
 Rather proclaime it (Weftmerland') through my Hoaft, 
 That he which hath no ftomack to this fight, 
 Let him depart, his Pafport fliall be made, 
 And Crownes for Conuoy put into his Purfe : 
 We would not dye in that mans com panic, 
 That feares his fellowfliip, to dye with vs. 
 This day is call'd the Feaft of Crijpian : 
 He that out-liues this day, and comes fafe home, 
 Will ftand a tip-toe when this day is named, 
 And rowfe him at the Name of Crijpian. 
 He that fliall fee this day, and liue old age, 
 Will yeerely on the Vigil feaft his neighbours, 
 And fay, to morrow is Saint Crijpian. 
 Then will he ftrip his fleeue,and fhew his skarres : 
 Old men forget ; yet all fliall be forgot : 
 But hee'le remember, with aduantages, 
 What feats he did that day. Then fliall our Names, 
 Familiar in his mouth as houfehold words, 
 
 Harry 
 
 4"
 
 The Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter, 
 Warwick^ and Talbot, Salisbury and Qloucefter, 
 Be in their flowing Cups freflily remembred. 
 This ftory fliall the good man teach his fonne : 
 And Crijfiine Crljpian /hall ne're goe by, 
 From this day to the ending of the World, 
 But we in it fliall be remembred ; 
 We few, we happy few, we band of brothers: 
 For he to day that flieds his blood with me, 
 Shall be my brother: be he ne're fo vile, 
 This day fliall gentle his Condition. 
 And Gentlemen in England, now a bed, 
 Shall thinke themfelues accurft they were not here; 
 And hold their Manhoods cheape,whiles any fpeakes, 
 That fought with vs vpon Saint Crljplnes day. 
 Enter Salisbury. 
 
 Sal. My Soueraign Lord,beftow your felfe with fpeed: 
 The French are brauely in their battailes fet, 
 And will with all expedience charge on vs. 
 
 King. All things are ready, if our minds be fo. 
 
 Weft. Perifli theman,whofe mind is backward now. 
 
 King. Thou do'ft not wifli more helpe from England, 
 Couze ? 
 
 Weft. Gods will, my Liege, would you and I alone, 
 Without more helpe, could fight this Royall battaile. 
 
 King.Why now thou haft vnwiflit fiue thoufand men: 
 Which likes me better, then to wifli vsone. 
 You know your places : God be with you all. 
 
 Tucket. Enter Monday. 
 
 Mont. Once more I come to know of thee King Harry, 
 If for thy Ranfome thou wilt now compound, 
 Before thy moft allured Ouerthrow: 
 For certainly, thou art fo neere the Gulfe, 
 Thou needs muft be englutted. Betides, in mercy 
 The Conftable deiires thee, thou wilt mind 
 Thy followers of Repentance ; that their Soules 
 May make a peacefull and a fweet retyre 
 From off thefe fields: where(wretches)their poore bodies 
 Muft lye and fefter. 
 
 King. Who hath fent thee now ? 
 
 Mont. The Conftable of France. 
 
 King. I pray thee beare my former Anfwer back : 
 Bid them atchieue me, and then fell my bones. 
 Good God, why fliould they mock poore fellowes thus f 
 The man that once did fell the Lyons skin 
 While the beaft liu'd,was kill'd with hunting him. 
 A many of our bodyes fliall no doubt 
 Find Natiue Graues: vpon the which,! truft 
 Shall witnefle Hue in Brafle of this dayes worke. 
 And thofe that leaue their valiant bones in France, 
 Dying like men, though buryed in your Dunghills, 
 They fliall be fam'd : for there the Sun fliall greet them, 
 And draw their honors reeking vp to Heauen, 
 Leauing their earthly parts to choake your Clyme, 
 The fmell whereof fliall breed a Plague in France. 
 Marke then abounding valour in our Englifli : 
 That being dead,like to the bullets crafing, 
 Breake out into a fecond courfe of mifchiefe, 
 Killing in relapfe of Mortalitie. 
 Let me fpeake prowdly : Tell the Conftable, 
 We are but Warriors for the working ddy : 
 Our Gaynefle and our Gilt are all befmyrcht 
 With raynie Marching in the painefull field. 
 There's not a piece of feather in our Hoaft : 
 Good argument(I hope)we will not flye : 
 
 And time hath worne vs into flouenrie. 
 But by the Made, our hearts are in the trim : 
 And my poore Souldiers tell me, yet ere Night, 
 They'le be in freflier Robes, or they will pluck 
 The gay new Coats o're the French Souldiers heads, 
 And turne them out of feruice. If they doe this, 
 As if God pleafe, they fliall ; my Ranfome then 
 Will foone be leuyed. 
 Herauld, faue thou thy labour : 
 Come thou no more for Ranfome, gentle Herauld, 
 They fliall haue none, I fweare, but thefe my ioynts: 
 Which if they haue, as I will leaue vm them, 
 Shall yeeld them little, tell the Conftable. 
 
 [Mont. I fliall, King Harry. And fo fare thee well : 
 Thou neuer flialt heare Herauld any more. Exit. 
 
 King. I feare thou wilt once more come againe for a 
 Ranfome. 
 
 Enter Yor^e. 
 
 Yorkg. My Lord, moft humbly on my knee I begge 
 The leading of the Vaward. 
 
 King. Take it, braue Yortg. 
 Now Souldiers march away, 
 And how thou pleafeft God,difpofe the day. Exeunt. 
 
 Alarum. Sxcurjions . 
 Enter Piftoll, French Souldier, Boy. 
 
 Fiji. Yeeld Curre. 
 
 French. le penfe que -votu eftes le Gentilhome de ban qua- 
 litee. 
 
 Plft. gualtitie calmie cufture me. Art thou a Gentle- 
 man ? What is thy Name ? difcufie. 
 
 French. Seigneur D'teu. 
 
 Fiji. O Signieur Dewe fliould be a Gentleman : per- 
 pend my words O Signieur Dewe, and marke: O Signieur 
 Dewe, thou dyeft on point of Fox, except O Signieur 
 thou doe giue to me egregious Ranfome. 
 
 French. prennes mijerecordie aye pite-z de moy. 
 
 fift. Moy fliall not ferue, I will haue fortie Moyes: for 
 I will fetch thy rymme out at thy Throat, in droppes of 
 Crimfon blood. 
 
 French. Eft il impoffible a"efchapper le force de ton brai. 
 
 Pift. Brafle, Curre? thou damned and luxurious Moun- 
 taine Goat, offer'ft me Brafle ? 
 
 French. perdonne moy. 
 
 Pift. Say'ft thou me fo ? is that a Tonne of Moyes ? 
 Come hither boy,aske me this flaue in French what is his 
 Name. 
 
 'Boy. Efcoute comment eftes vota appelle ? 
 
 French. Mounjieur le Fer. 
 
 'Boy. He fayes his Name is M.Fer. 
 
 Fiji. M.Fer : lie fer him, and firke him, and ferret him : 
 difcufle the fame in French vnto him. 
 
 'Boy. I doe not know the French for fer, and ferret, and 
 firke. 
 
 Tift. Bid him prepare, for I will cut his throat. 
 
 French. Que dit il Mounjieur ? 
 
 'Boy. II me commande a "vous dire que "voiti faite -voui 
 preft, car cejoldat icy ell dijpofa tout afture de couppes iioftre 
 gorge. 
 
 Pift. Owy, cuppele gorge permafoy pefant , vnleffe 
 thou giue me Crownes, braue Crownesjor mangled flialt 
 thou be by this my Sword. 
 
 French. le -vous fupplie pour t 'amour de "Dieu : ma par- 
 donner, It fuit le Gentilhome de bon maijon, garde ma "vie, & le 
 vous donneray deux cent efctu. 
 
 Pift. What are his words f 
 
 Boy. He
 
 The Life of Henry the Ftft. 
 
 Boy. He prayes you to faue his life, he is a Gentleman 
 of a good houfe, and for his ranfom he will giue you two 
 hundred Crownes. 
 
 Pifl. Tell him my fury fliall abate, and I the Croxvnes 
 will take. 
 
 Fren.fetit cflfon/itur que dlt lit 
 
 Boy. Encore qtfil el contra fan lurement, de pardonner au- 
 cune prijonner: neant-mons four Its efcues que -uous layt a pro- 
 met s t il eft content a "vout donna le liber te lefrancbijement. 
 
 Fre. Sur met genoux Je "voui donnes milles remercious, et 
 le me eflimc beurex que le intombe, entre les main. d*-vn Cbe- 
 ualier le peufe le pliu braue -valiant et tres diftinie Jignieur 
 d'Angleterre. 
 
 Pifl. Expound vnto me boy. 
 
 Boy. He giues you vpon his knees a thoufand thanks, 
 and he efteemes himielfe happy, that he hath falne into 
 the hands of one (as he thinkes) the moft braue, valorous 
 and thrice-worthy figneur of England. 
 
 Pift. As I fucke blood, I will fome mercy fliew. Fol- 
 low mee. 
 
 'Boy. Saaue voui le grand Capitaine? 
 
 I did neuer know fo full a voyce iflue from fb emptie a 
 heart : but the faying is true, The empty veflel makes the 
 greateft found, f Bardolfe and Nym had tenne times more 
 valour, then this roaring diuell i'th olde play, that euerie 
 one may payre his nayles with a woodden dagger, and 
 they are both hang'd, and fo would this be, if hee durft 
 fteale any thing aduenturoufly. 1 muft ftay with the 
 Lackies with the luggage of our camp, the French might 
 haue a good pray of vs, if he knew of it, for there is none 
 to guard it but boyes. Exit. 
 
 Enter Cwftabk , Orleance, Burton , Dolpbtn t 
 and Ramburs. 
 
 &n. Diable. 
 
 Orl. OJigueur le lour et perdia, toute et perdie. 
 
 DoL <&for Dieu ma -vie, all is confounded all, 
 Reproach, and euerlafting fliame 
 
 Sits mocking in our Plumes. AJhort Alarum. 
 
 mefcbante Fortune, do not runne away. 
 
 Con. Why all our rankes are broke. 
 
 Dol, O perdurable fhame, let's ftab our felues : 
 Be thefe the wretches that we plaid at dice for ? 
 
 Orl, Is this the King we fent too, for his ranfome ? 
 
 "Bur. Shame, and eternall fliame, nothing but fliame, 
 Let vs dye in once more backe againe, 
 And he that will not follow Burton now, 
 Let him go hence, and with his cap in hand 
 Like a bafe Pander hold the Chamber doore, 
 Whilft a bafe flaue, no gentler then my dogge, 
 His faireft daughter is contaminated. 
 
 Con. Diforder that hath fpoyl'd vs, friend vs now, 
 Let vs on heapes go offer vp our Hues. 
 
 Orl. We are enow yet liuing in the Field, 
 To fmother vp the Englifli in our throngs, 
 If any order might be thought vpon. 
 
 'Bur. The diuell take Order now, lie to the throng ; 
 Let life be fliort, elfe fliame will be too long. Exit. 
 
 Alarum. Enter the King and bit trayne, 
 tf'itb Prisoners. 
 
 King.WeM haue we done, thrice-valiant Countrimen, 
 But all's not done, yet keepe the French the field. 
 
 Sxe. The D. of York commends him to your Maiefty 
 
 AT/j>-.Liues he good Vnckle : thrice within this houre 
 I faw him downe ; thrice vp againe, and fighting, 
 From Helmet to the fpurre, all blood he was. 
 
 Sxe. In which array (braue Soldier) doth he lye, 
 Larding the plaine : and by his bloody fide, 
 (Yoake-fellow to his honour-owing-wounds) 
 The Noble Earle of Suffolke alfo lyes. 
 Suffolke firft dyed, and Yorke all hagled ouer 
 Comes to him, where in gore he lay infteeped, 
 And takes him by the Beard, kifles the gafhes 
 That bloodily did yawne vpon his face. 
 He cryes aloud; Tarry my Cofin Suffolke, 
 My foule fliall thine keepe company to heauen : 
 Tarry (fweet foule) for mine, then flye a-breft : 
 As in this glorious and well-foughten field 
 We kept together in our Chiualrie. 
 Vpon thefe words I came, and cheer'd him vp, 
 He fmil'd me in the face, raught me his hand, 
 And with a feeble gripe, fayes : Deere my Lord, 
 Commend my feruice to my Soueraigne, 
 So did he turne, and ouer Suffolkes necke 
 He threw his wounded arme, and kift his lippes, 
 And fo efpous'd to death, with blood he feal'd 
 A Teftament of Noble-ending-loue : 
 The prettie and fweet manner of it forc'd 
 Thofe waters from me, which I would haue ftop'd, 
 But I had not fo much of man in mee, 
 And all my mother came into mine eyes, 
 And gaue me vp to teares. 
 
 King. I blame you not, 
 For hearing this, I muft perforce compound 
 With mixtfull eyes, or they will ifiue to. Alarum 
 
 But hearke, what new alarum is this fame ? 
 The French haue re-enforc'd their fcatter'd men : 
 Then euery fouldiour kill his Prifoners, 
 Giue the word through. Bxit 
 
 Quartus. 
 
 Enter Fluellen and Cover. 
 
 Flu. Kill the poyes and the luggage, *Tis exprefTely 
 againft the Law of Armes, tis as arrant a peece of knaue- 
 ry marke you now, as can bee offert in your Confcience 
 now, is it not? 
 
 GOT?. Tis certaine, there's not a boy left aliue, and the 
 Cowardly Rafcalls that ranne from the battaile ha' done 
 this Slaughter : befides they haue burned and carried a- 
 way all that was in the Kings Tent, wherefore the King 
 moft worthily hath caus'd euery foldiour to cut his pri- 
 foners throat. O 'tis a gallant King. 
 
 Flu. I, hee was porne at Monmoutb Captaine Cower : 
 What call you the Townes name where Alexander the 
 pig was borne ? 
 
 Cow. Alexander the Great. 
 
 Flu. Why I pray you, is not pig, great? The pig, or 
 the grear, or the mighty, or the huge, or the magnani- 
 mous, are all one reckonings, faue the phrafe is a litle va- 
 riations. 
 
 Cover. I thinke Alexander the Great was borne in 
 cMacedon, his Father was called Phillip of Macedon, as I 
 take it. 
 
 Flu. I thinke it is in Macedon where ^Alexander is 
 
 porn e .
 
 The Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 porne : J tell you Captaine, if you looke in the Maps of 
 the Orld, I warrant you fall finde in the comparifons be- 
 tweene zflfacedon & Monmoutb, that the fituations looke 
 you, is both alike. There is a Riuer in <&facedon,&t there 
 is alfo moreouer a Riuer at Monmoutb, it is call'd Wye at 
 Monmoutb : but it is out of my praines, what is the name 
 of the other Riuer : but 'tis all one, tis alike as my ringers 
 is to my fingers, and there is Salmons in both. If you 
 marke Alexanders life well, Harry of Monmoutbes life is 
 come after it indifferent well, for there is figures in all 
 things. Alexander God knovves, and you know, in his 
 rages, and his furies, and his wraths, and his chollers, and 
 his moodes, and his difpleafures, and his indignations, 
 and alfo being a little intoxicates in his praines, did in 
 his Ales and his angers (looke you) kill his beft friend 
 Clytui. 
 
 GGTV. Our King is not like him in that, he neuer kill'd 
 any of his friends. 
 
 Flu. It is not well done (marke you now) to take the 
 tales out of my mouth, ere it is made and finished. I fpeak 
 but in the figures, and comparifons of it : as Alexander 
 kild his friend Qlytus, being in his Ales and his Cuppes; fo 
 alfo Harry <^Monmouth being in his right wittes, and his 
 good iudgements, turn'd away the fat Knight with the 
 great belly doublet : he was full of iefts, and gypes, and 
 knaueries, and mockes, I haue forgot his name. 
 
 Com. Sir John Falflaffe. 
 
 Flu. That is he : lie tell you,there is good men porne 
 at i^Tonmontb. 
 
 GOTV. Heere comes his Maiefty. 
 
 Alarum. Enter King Harry and Burbon 
 with prijoners. Flourijh, 
 
 King. I was not angry fince I came to France, 
 Vntill this inftant. Take a Trumpet Herald, 
 Ride thou vnto the Horfemen on yond hill : 
 If they will fight with vs, bid them come downe, 
 Or voyde the field : they do offend our fight. 
 If they'l do neither, we will come to them, 
 And make them sker away, as fwift as ftones 
 Enforced from the old Affyrian (lings: 
 Befides, wee'l cut the throats of thofe we haue; 
 And not a man of them that we fhall take, 
 Shall tafte our mercy. Go and tell them fo. 
 Enter Montioy. 
 
 Exe. Here comes the Herald of the French, my Liege 
 
 Glou. His eyes are humbler then they vs'd to be. 
 
 King. How now, what meanes this Herald ? Knowft 
 
 thou not, 
 
 That I haue fin'd thefe bones of mine for ranfome? 
 Com'ft thou againe for ranfome? 
 
 Her. No great King : 
 I come to thee for charitable Licenfe, 
 That we may wander ore this bloody field, 
 To booke our dead, and then to bury them, 
 To fort our Nobles from our common men. 
 For many of our Princes fwoe the while) 
 Lye drown'd and foak'd in mercenary blood : 
 So do our vulgar drench their peafant limbes 
 In blood of Princes, and with wounded fteeds 
 Fret fet-locke deepe in gore, and with wilde rage 
 Yerke out their armed hecles at their dead mafters, 
 Killing them twice. O giue vs leaue great King, 
 To view the field in fafety, and difpofe 
 Of their dead bodies. 
 
 415 
 
 Kin. I tell thee truly Herald, 
 I know not if the day be ours or no, 
 For yet a many of your horfemen peere, 
 And gallop ore the field. 
 
 Her. The day is yours. 
 
 Kin. Praifed be God, and not our ftrength for it : 
 What is this Caftle call'd that ftands hard by. 
 
 Her. They call it Agmcourt. 
 
 King. Then call we this the field of Agincourt, 
 Fought on the day of Crijpin Qrijpianus. 
 
 Flu. Your Grandfather of famous memory (an't pleafe 
 your Maiefty) and your great Vncle Edward the Placke 
 Prince of Wales, as I haue read in the Chronicles, fought 
 a moft praue pattle here in France. 
 
 Kin. They did Fluellen. 
 
 Flu. Your Maiefty fayes very true : If your Maiefties 
 is remembred of it, the Welchmen did good feruice in a 
 Garden where Leekes did grow, wearing Leekes in their 
 Monmoutb caps, which your Maiefty know to this houre 
 is an honourable badge of the feruice : And I do beleeue 
 your Maiefty takes no fcorne to weare the Leeke vppon 
 S. Tauies day. 
 
 King. I weare it for a memorable honor : 
 For I am Welch you know good Countriman. 
 
 Flu. All the water in Wye, cannot wafh your Maie- 
 fties Welfli plood out of your pody, I can tell you that : 
 God plefle it, and preferue it, as long as it pleafes his 
 Grace, and his Maiefty too. 
 
 Kin. Thankes good my Countrymen. 
 
 Flu. By lefliu, I am your Maiefties Countreyman, I 
 care not who know it : I will confefle it to all the Orld, I 
 need not to be afhamed of your Maiefty, praifed be God 
 fo long as your Maiefty is an honeft man. 
 
 King, Good keepe me fo. 
 
 Snter Williams. 
 Our Heralds go with him, 
 Bring me iuft notice of the numbers dead 
 On both our parts. Call yonder fellow hither. 
 
 Exe. Souldier, you muft come to the King. 
 
 Kin. Souldier, why wear'ft thou that Gloue in thy 
 Cappe ? 
 
 Will. And't pleafe your Maiefty, tis the gage of one 
 that I fhould fight withall,if he be aliue. 
 
 Kin. An Englifhman ? 
 
 Wit. And't pleafe your Maiefty, a Rafcall that fwag- 
 ger'd with me laft night : who if aliue, and euer dare to 
 challenge this Gloue, I haue fworne to take him a boxe 
 a'th ere : or if I can fee my Gloue in his cappe, which he 
 fwore as he was a Souldier he would weare (if aliue,)! wil 
 ftrike it out foundly. 
 
 Kin. What thinke you Captaine Fluellen , is it fit this 
 fouldier keepe his oath. 
 
 Flu. Hee is a Crauen and a Villaine elfe, and't pleafe 
 your Maiefty in my confcience. 
 
 King. It may bee, his enemy is a Gentleman of great 
 fort quite from the anfwer of his degree. 
 
 Flu. Though he be as good a lentleman as the diuel is, 
 as Lucifer and Belzebub himfelfe, it is neceflary (looke 
 your Grace) that he keepe his vow and his oath: If hee 
 bee periur'd (fee you now) his reputation is as anrant a 
 villaine and a lacke fawce, as euer his blacke fhoo trodd 
 vpon Gods ground, and his earth, in my confcience law 
 
 King. Then keepe thy vow firrah, when thou meet'fl. 
 the fellow. 
 
 Wil. So, I wil my Liege, as I liue. 
 Kin?. Who feru'ft thou vnder ? 
 
 Wil.
 
 9 
 
 The Life of Henry the 'Fift. 
 
 Will. Vnder Captaine Cover, my Liege. 
 
 Flu. Cover is a good Captaine , and is good know- 
 ledge and literatured in the Warres. 
 
 King. Call him hither to me, Souldier. 
 
 Will. I will my Liege. Exit. 
 
 King. Here Ftuellen, weare thou this fauour for me, and 
 fticke it in thy Cappe : when Alanfon and my felfe were 
 downe together,! pluckt this Gloue from his Helme : If 
 any man challenge this, hee is a friend to cAlanfon,znd an 
 enemy to our Perfon; if thou encounter any fuch, appre- 
 hend him, and thou do'ft me loue. 
 
 Flu. Your Grace doo's me as great Honors as can be 
 defir'd in the hearts of his Subiefts : I would faine fee 
 the man, that ha's but two legges, that fliall find himfelfe 
 agreefd at this Gloue ; that is all : but I would faine fee 
 it once, and pleafe God of his grace that I might fee. 
 
 King. Know'ft thou Cover ? 
 
 Flu. He is my deare friend, and pleafe you. 
 
 King. Pray thee goe feeke him, and bring him to my 
 Tent. 
 
 Flu. I will fetch him. Exit. 
 
 King. My Lord of Warvic^and my Brother Glofter , 
 Follow Fluellen clofely at the heeles. 
 The Gloue which I haue giuen him for a fauour, 
 May haply purchafe him a box a'th'eare. 
 It is the Souldiers : I by bargaine fliould 
 Weare it my felfe. Follow good Coufin Warvicl^ : 
 If that the Souldier ftrike him, as I iudge 
 By his blunt bearing, he will keepe his word ; 
 Some fodaine mifchiefe may arife of it : 
 For I doe know Fluellen valiant, 
 And toucht with Cho!er,hot as Gunpowder, 
 And quickly will returne an iniurie. 
 Follow, and fee there be no harme betweene them. 
 Goe you with me,Vnckle of Exeter. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Cover and Williams. 
 
 Will. I warrant it is to Knight you, Captaine. 
 Enter Fluellen. 
 
 Flu. Gods will, and his pleafure, Captaine, I befeech 
 you now, come apace to the King : there is more good 
 toward you peraduenture, then is in your knowledge to 
 dreame of. 
 
 Will. Sir, know you this Gloue? 
 
 Flu. Know the Gloue? I know the Gloue is a Gloue. 
 
 Will. I know this, and thus I challenge it. 
 
 Strifes bint. 
 
 Flu. *Sblud,an arrant Traytor as anyes in the Vniuer- 
 fall World, or in France, or in England. 
 
 Cover. How now Sir? you Villaine. 
 
 Will, Doe you thinke He be forfworne ? 
 
 Flu. Stand away Captaine Cover,! will giue Treafon 
 his payment into plowes, I warrant you. 
 
 Will. I am no Traytor, 
 
 Flu. That's a Lye in thy Throat. I charge you in his 
 Maiefties Name apprehend him, he's a friend of the Duke 
 
 Enter Warvicl(_ and Qloucejler. 
 Warv. How now, how now, what's the matter? 
 Flu. My Lord of Warwick, heere is, prayfed be God 
 for it, a moft contagious Treafon come to light, looke 
 you, as you fliall defire in a Summers day. Heere is his 
 Maieftie. Enter King and Exeter. 
 
 King. How now, what's the matter ? 
 Flu. My Liege, heere is a Villaine, and a Traytor, 
 that looke your Grace , ha's ftrooke the Gloue which 
 
 your Maieftie is take out of the Helmet of tAlan- 
 Jbn. 
 
 Will. My Liege, this was my Gloue, here is the fellow 
 of it: and he that I gaue it to in change, promis'd to weare 
 it in his Cappe : I promis'd to ftrike him, if he did : I met 
 this man with my Gloue in his Cappe, and I haue been as 
 good as my word. 
 
 Flu. Your Maieftie heare now, fauing your Maiefties 
 Manhood , what an arrant rafcally , beggerly , lowfie 
 Knaue it is : I hope your Maieftie is peare me teftimonie 
 and witnefle, and will auouchment, that this is the Gloue 
 of Alanfon, that your Maieftie is giue me, in your Con- 
 fcience now. 
 
 King. Giue me thy Gloue Souldier ; 
 Looke, heere is the fellow of it : 
 'Twas I indeed thou promifed'ft to ftrike, 
 And thou haft giuen me moft bitter termes. 
 
 Flu. And pleafe your Maieftie, let his Neck anfwere 
 for it, if there is any Marftull Law in the World. 
 
 King. How canft thou make me fatisfadlion ? 
 
 Will. All offences, my Lord, come from the heart: ne- 
 uer came any from mine, that might offend your Ma- 
 ieftie. 
 
 King. It was our felfe thou didft abufe. 
 
 Will. Your Maieftie came not like your felfe : you 
 appear' d to me but as a common man : witnefle the 
 Night , your Garments , your Lowlinefle : and what 
 your Highnefle fuffer'd vnder that fliape , I befeech you 
 take it for your owne fault, and not mine : for had you 
 beene as I tooke you for, I made no ofience j therefore I 
 befeech your Highnefle pardon me. 
 
 King. Here Vnckle Exeter, fill this Gloue with Crownes, 
 And giue it to this fellow. Keepe it fellow, 
 And weare it for an Honor in thy Cappe, 
 Till I doe challenge it. Giue him the Crownes : 
 And Captaine, you muft needs be friends with him. 
 
 Flu. By this Day and this Light, the fellow ha's met- 
 'tell enough in his belly : Hold, there is twelue-pence for 
 you, and I pray you to ferue God, and keepe you out of 
 prawles and prabbles, and quarrels and diflentions, and I 
 warrant you it is the better for you. 
 
 Will. I will none of your Money. 
 
 Flu. It iS with a good will: I can tell you it will ferue 
 you to mend your fliooes : come, wherefore fliould you 
 be fo paflifull, your fliooes is not fo good : 'tis a good 
 filling I warrant you, or I will change it. 
 Enter Herauld. 
 
 King. Now Herauld, are the dead numbred ? 
 
 Herald. Heere is the number of the flaught'red 
 French. 
 
 King. What Prifoners of good fort are taken, 
 Vnckle ? 
 
 Exe. Charles Duke of Orleance, Nephew to the King, 
 lobn Duke of Burbon,and Lord Bouchiquald : 
 Of other Lords and Barons, Knights and Squires, 
 Full fifteene hundred, befides common men. 
 
 King. This Note doth tell me of ten thoufand French 
 That in the field lye flaine : of Princes in this number, 
 And Nobles bearing Banners, there lye dead 
 One hundred twentie fix : added to thefe, 
 Of Knights, Efquires, and gallant Gentlemen, 
 Eight thoufand and foure hundred: of the which, 
 Fiue hundred were but yefterday dubb'd Knights. 
 So that in thefe ten thoufand they haue loft, 
 There are but fixteene hundred Mercenaries : 
 The reft are Princes, Barons, Lords, Knights, Squires, 
 
 And 
 
 4x6
 
 'The Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 9 1 
 
 And Gentlemen of bloud and qualitie. 
 
 The Names of thofe their Nobles that lye dead : 
 
 Charles Delabreth, High Conftable of France, 
 
 latjues of Chatilion, Admirall of France, 
 
 The Mafter of the Crofie-bowes,Lord Rambures, 
 
 Great Mafter of France, the braue Sir Gulchard 'Dolphin, 
 
 lohn Duke of Ahnfon,^4ntbonie Duke of Brabant, 
 
 The Brother to the Duke of Burgundie, 
 
 And Edward Duke of Barr : of luftie Earles, 
 
 Grandfree and RouJJie, Fauconbridge and Foyes, 
 
 Beaumont and Marie, Vandemont and Lejlrale. 
 
 Here was a Royall fellow/hip of death. 
 
 Where is the number of our Englifh dead ? 
 
 Edward the Duke of Yorke,the Earie of Suftblke, 
 
 Sir Richard Ketly, Dauy Gam Enquire ; 
 
 None elfe of name : and of all other men, 
 
 But fiue and twentie. 
 
 O God, thy Arme was heere : 
 And not to vs, but to thy Arme alone, 
 Afcribe we all : when, without ftratagem, 
 But in plaine fhock,and euen play of Battaile, 
 Was euer knowne fo great and little loffe ? 
 On one part and on th'other, take it God, 
 For it is none but thine. 
 
 Exet. 'Tis wonderfull. 
 
 King. Come,goe me in procefiion to the Village : 
 And be it death proclaymed through our Hoaft, 
 To boaft of this, or take that prayfe from God, 
 Which is his onely. 
 
 Flu. Is it not lawfull and pleafe your Maieftie, to tell 
 how many is kill'd ? 
 
 King. Yes Captaine: but with this acknowledgement, 
 That God fought for vs. 
 
 Flu. Yes, my confcience,he did vs great good. 
 
 King. Doe we all holy Rights : 
 Let there be fung Non cir,and Te Deutn, 
 The dead with charitie enclos'd in Clay : 
 And then to Callice,and to England then, 
 Where ne're from France arriu'd more happy men. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Qulntus. 
 
 Snter Choriu. 
 
 Vouchfafe to thofe that haue not read the Story, 
 That I may prompt them : and of fuch as haue, 
 I humbly pray them to admit th'excufe 
 Of time, of numbers, and due courfe of things, 
 Which cannot in their huge and proper life, 
 Be here prefented. Now we beare the King 
 Toward Callice : Graunt him there ; there leene, 
 Heaue him away vpon your winged thought, 
 Athwart the Sea : Behold the Englifh beach 
 Pales in the flood ; with Men, Wiues,and Boyes, 
 Whofe fhouts & claps out-voyce the deep-mouth'd Sea, 
 Which like a mightie Whiffler 'fore the King, 
 Seemes to prepare his way : So let him land, 
 And folemnly fee him fet on to London. 
 So fwift a pace hath Thought, that euen now 
 You may imagine him vpon Black-Heath : 
 Where, that his Lords defire him, to haue borne 
 His bruifed Helmet,and his bended Sword 
 Before him, through the Citie : he forbids it, 
 
 4*7 
 
 Being free from vain-nefTe, and felfe-glorious pride; 
 Gluing full Trophee,Signall,and Oftent, 
 Quite from himfelfe,to God. But now behold, 
 In the quick Forge and working-houfe of Thought, 
 How London doth powre out her Citizens, 
 The Maior and all his Brethren in beft fort, 
 Like to the Senatours of thTantique Rome, 
 With the Plebeians fwarming at their heeles, 
 Goe forth and fetch their Conqu'ring Cafar in : 
 As by a lower, but by louing likelyhood, 
 Were now the Generall of our gracious Emprefle, 
 As in good time he may, from Ireland comming, 
 Bringing Rebellion broached on his Sword ; 
 How many would the peacefull Citie quit, 
 To welcome him ? much more, and much more caufe, 
 Did they this Harry. Now in London place him. 
 As yet the lamentation of the French 
 Inuites the King of Englands ftay at home : 
 The Emperour's comming in behalfe of France, 
 To order peace betweene them : and omit 
 All the occurrences, what euer chanc't, 
 Till Harryes backe returne againe to France: 
 There muft we bring him; and my felfe haue play'd 
 The ititerim,by remembring you 'tis paft. 
 Then brooke abridgement,and your eyes aduance, 
 After your thoughts, ftraight backe againe to France. 
 
 Sxit. 
 
 Snter Flue lien and Go-ver. 
 
 Gotver. Nay, that's right : but why weare you your 
 Leeke to day t S. Dauies day is paft, 
 
 Flu. There is occafions and caufes why and wherefore 
 in all things: I will tell you afle my friend, Captaine 
 Goner ; the rafcally, fcauld, beggerly, lowfie, pragging 
 Knaue Tijioll, which you and your felfe, and all the World, 
 know to be no petter then a fellow, looke you now, of no 
 merits : hee is come to me, and prings me pread-and 
 fault yefterday, looke you, and bid me eate my Leeke : 
 it was in a place where I could not breed no contention 
 with him ; but I will be fo bold as to weare it in my Cap 
 till I fee him once againe, and then I will tell him a little 
 piece of my defires. 
 
 Snter Piftoll. 
 
 Goner. Why heere hee comes, fwelling like a Turky- 
 cock. 
 
 Flu. 'Tis no matter for his fwellings, nor his Turky- 
 cocks. God pleffe you aunchient Piffol/:you fcuruie low- 
 He Knaue, God plefle you. 
 
 Pi/}. Ha, art thou bedlam ? doeft thou thirft, bafe 
 Troian, to haue me fold vp Parcas fatall Web? Hence; 
 I am qualmifh at the fmell of Leeke. 
 
 Flu. I pefeech you heartily, fcuruie lowfie Knaue, at 
 my defires, and my requefts, and my petitions, to eate, 
 looke you, this Leeke ; becaufe, looke you, you doe not 
 loue it, nor your affecYions,and your appetites and your 
 difgeftions doo's not agree with it, I would defire you 
 to eate it. 
 
 PiJ}. Not for Cadnallader and all his Goats. 
 
 Flu. There is one Goat for you. Strides him. 
 
 Will you be fo good, fcauld Knaue,as eate it? 
 
 Pijt. Bafe Troian, thou fhalt dye. 
 
 Flu. You fay very true , fcauld Knaue , when Gods 
 will is : I will defire you to liue in the meane time, and 
 eate your Victuals : come, there is fawce for it. You 
 call'd me yefterday Mountaine-Squier, but I will make 
 
 you
 
 9 2 
 
 The Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 you to day a fquire of low degree. I pray you fall too, if 
 you can mocke a Leeke, you can eate a Leeke. 
 
 Gour. Enough Captaine, you haue aftonifht him. 
 
 F/u.l fay, I will make him eate fome part of my leeke, 
 or I will peate his pate foure dayes : bite I pray you, it is 
 good for your greene wound, and your ploodie Coxe- 
 combe. 
 
 Tifl. Muft I bite. 
 
 Flu. Yes certainly, and out of doubt and out of que- 
 ftion too, and ambiguities. 
 
 fift. By this Leeke, I will moft horribly reuenge I 
 eate and eate I fweare. 
 
 Flu. Eate I pray you, will you haue fome more fauce 
 to your Leeke : there is not enough Leeke to fweare by. 
 
 Fiji. Quiet thy Cudgell,thou doft fee I eate. 
 
 Flu. Much good do you fcald knaue, heartily. Nay, 
 pray you throw none away, the skinne is good for your 
 broken Coxcombe ; when you take occafions to fee 
 Leekes heereafter, I pray you mocke at 'em, that is all. 
 
 fiji. Good. 
 
 Flu. I, Leekes is good : hold you, there is a groat to 
 heale your pate. 
 
 Pift. Me a gro at ? 
 
 Flu Yes verily, and in truth you fhall take it, or I haue 
 another Leeke in my pocket, which you fhall eate. 
 
 Pift. I take thy groat in earned of reuenge. 
 
 Flu. If I owe you any thing, I will pay you in Cud- 
 gels, you fhall be a Woodmonger, and buy nothing of 
 me but cudgels : God bu'y you, and keepe you, & heale 
 your pate. Gxit 
 
 Pift. All hell fhall ftirre for this. 
 
 Gow.Go, go, you are a counterfeit cowardly Knaue, 
 will you mocke at an ancient Tradition began vppon an 
 honourable refpeft, and worne as a memorable Trophee 
 of predeceafed valor, and dare not auouch in your deeds 
 any of your words. I haue feene you gleeking & galling 
 at this Gentleman twice or thrice. You thought, becaufe 
 he could not fpeake Englifh in the natiue garb, he could 
 not therefore handle an Englifh Cudgell : you finde it o- 
 therwife, and henceforth let a Welfh correction, teach 
 you a good Englifh condition, fare ye well. Exit 
 
 Pift. Doeth fortune play the hufwife with me now? 
 Newes haue I that my Doll is dead i'th Spittle of a mala- 
 dy of France, and there my rendeuous is quite cut off: 
 Old I do waxe, and from my wearie limbes honour is 
 Cudgeld. Well, Baud He turne, and fomething leane to 
 Cut-purfe of quicke hand : To England will 1 fteale, and 
 there He fteale : 
 
 And patches will I get vnto thefe cudgeld fcarres, 
 And fwore I got them in the Gallia warres. Exit. 
 
 Enter at one doore, King Henry t Exeter, Bedford, Wanvicke, 
 
 and other Lords. At another, Queene IJabel , 
 
 the King, the Duly of 'Bourgongne , and 
 
 other French. 
 
 King. Peace to this meeting, wherefore we are metj 
 Vnto our brother France, and to our Sifter 
 Health and faire time of day : loy and good wifhes 
 To our moft faire and Princely Cofine Katherine : 
 And as a branch and member of this Royalty, 
 By whom this great afTembly is contriu'd, 
 We do falute you Duke of Burgogne, 
 And Princes French and Pceres health to you all. 
 
 Fra. Right ioyous are we to behold your face, 
 Moft worthy brother England, fjirely met, 
 So are you Princes (Englifh) euery one. 
 
 Quee. So happy be the IfTue brother Ireland 
 Of this good day, and of this gracious meeting, 
 As we are now glad to behold your eyes, 
 Your eyes which hitherto haue borne 
 In them againft the French that met them in their bent, 
 The fatall Balls of murthering Bafiliskes : 
 The venome of fuch Lookes we fairely hope 
 Haue loft their qualitie, and that this day 
 Shall change all griefes and quarrels into loue. 
 
 Eng. To cry Amen to that, thus we appeare. 
 
 Quee. You Englifh Princes all, I doe falute you. 
 
 'Burg. My dutie to you both, on equall loue. 
 Great Kings of France and England:that I haue labour'd 
 With all my wits, my paines,and ftrong endeuors, 
 To bring your moft Imperiall Maiefties 
 Vnto this Barre, and Royall enterview; 
 Your Mightinefle on both parts beft can witnefle. 
 Since then my Office hath fo farre preuayl'd, 
 That Face to Face, and Royall Eye to Eye, 
 You haue congreeted : let it not difgrace me, 
 If I demand before this Royall view, 
 What Rub, or what Impediment there is, 
 Why that the naked, poore, and mangled Peace, 
 Deare Nourfe of Arts, PIentyes,and ioyfull Births, 
 Should not in this beft Garden of the World, 
 Our fertile France, put vp her louely Vifage? 
 AlaSjfhee hath from France too long been chas'd, 
 And all her Husbandry doth lye on heapes, 
 Corrupting in it owne fertilitie. 
 Her Vine, the merry chearer of the heart, 
 Vnpruned,dyes : her Hedges euen pleach'd, 
 Like Prifoners wildly ouer-growne with hayre, 
 Put forth diforder'd Twigs : her fallow Leas, 
 The Darnell, Hemlock, and ranke Femetary, 
 Doth root vpon ; while that the Culter rufts, 
 That fhould deracinate fuch Sauagery : 
 The euen Meade,that erft brought fweetly forth 
 The freckled Co wflip, Burnet, and greene Clouer, 
 Wanting the Sythe, withall vncorrecled, ranke j 
 Conceiues by idlenefie, and nothing teemes, 
 But hatefull Docks, rough Thirties, Kekfyes, Burres, 
 Loofing both beautie and vtilitie ; 
 And all our Vineyards, Fallowes, Meades,and Hedges, 
 Defedtiue in their natures, grow to wildneffe. 
 Euen fo our Houfes,and our felues,and Children, 
 Haue loft, or doe not learne, for want of time, 
 The Sciences that fhould become our Countrey ; 
 But grow like Sauages, as Souldiers will, 
 That nothing doe, but meditate on Blood, 
 To Swearing, and fterne Lookes, defus'd Attyre, 
 And euery thing that feemes vnnaturall. 
 Which to reduce into our former fauour, 
 You are aflembled : and my fpeech entreats, 
 That I may know the Let, why gentle Peace 
 Should not expell thefe inconueniences, 
 And blefTe vs with her former qualities. 
 
 Eng. If Duke of Burgonie,you would the Peace, 
 Whole wantgiues growth to th'imperfedlions 
 Which you haue cited ; you muft buy that Peace 
 With full accord to all our iuft demands, 
 Whofe Tenures and particular effects 
 You haue enfchedul'd briefely in your hands. 
 
 'Burg. The King hath heard them: to the which,as yet 
 There is no Anfwer made. 
 
 Eng. Well then : the Peace which you before fo vrg'd, 
 Lyes in his Anfwer. 
 
 France. \
 
 The Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 93 
 
 France. I haue but with a curfelarie eye 
 O're-glanc't the Articles: Pleafeth your Grace 
 To appoint fome of your Councell prefently 
 To fit with vs once more, with better heed 
 To re-furuey them; we will fuddenly 
 Pafie our accept and peremptorie Anfwer. 
 
 England. Brother we fhall. Goe Vnckle Exeter, 
 And Brother Clarerce, and you Brother Gloucejler, 
 Warwick and Huntington, goe with the King, 
 And take with you free power, to ratifie, 
 Augment, or alter, as your Wifdomes beft 
 Shall fee aduantageable for our Dignitie, 
 Any thing in or out of our Demands, 
 And wee'le configne thereto. Will you,faire Sifter, 
 Goe with the Princes, or ftay here with vs ? 
 
 Quee . Our gracious Brother, I will goe with them : 
 Happily a Womans Voyce may doe fome good, 
 When Articles too nicely vrg'd,be flood on. 
 
 England. Yet leaue our Coufin Katberine here with vs, 
 She is our capitall Demand, compris'd 
 Within the fore-ranke of our Articles. 
 
 Quee. She hath good leaue. Exeunt omnes. 
 
 Manet King and Katberine. 
 
 King. Faire Katberine ) and moft faire, 
 Will you vouchfafe to teach a Souldier tearmes, 
 Such as will enter at a Ladyes eare, 
 And pleade his Loue-fuit to her gentle heart. 
 
 Katb.Your Maieftie fhall mock at me, I cannot fpeake 
 your England. 
 
 King. O faire Katherine , if you will loue me foundly 
 with your French heart, I will be glad to heare you con- 
 fefle it brokenly with your Englifh Tongue. Doe you 
 like me, Kate ? 
 
 Katb. Pardonne may, I cannot tell wat is like me. 
 
 King. An Angell is like you Kate, and you are like an 
 Angell. 
 
 Katb. Que dlt il que le futs femblable a les Anges ? 
 
 Lady. Ouy -verayment (Jauf'voftre Grace) ainfi dlt il. 
 
 Kin?. I laid fo. deare Katberine. and I muft not blufh 
 
 o f 
 
 to affirme it. 
 
 Katb. ban "Dieu, les langues des bommes font plein de 
 tromperies. 
 
 King. What fayes fhe, faire one^ that the tongues of 
 men are full of deceits ? 
 
 Lady. Ouy,dat de tongeus of de mans is be full of de- 
 ceits : dat is de PrincefTe. 
 
 King. The Princefie is the better Englifh-woman : 
 yfaith Kate,my wooing is fit for thy vnderftanding, I am 
 glad thou canft fpeake no better Engliih , for if thou 
 could'ft, thou would'ft finde me fuch a plaine King, that 
 thou wouldft thinke, I had fold my Farme to buy my 
 Crowne. I know no wayes to mince it in loue, but di- 
 reftly to fay, I loue you ; then if you vrge me farther, 
 then to fay, Doe you in faith? I weare out my fuite : Giue 
 me your anfwer, yfaith doe, and fo clap hands,and a bar- 
 gaine : how fay you, Lady ? 
 
 Katb. Sauf-voflre boneur, me vnderftand well. 
 
 King. Marry, if you would put me to Verfes, or to 
 Dance for your fake, Kate, why you vndid me: for the one 
 I haue neither words nor meafure ; and for the other,! 
 haue no ftrength in meafure, yet a reafonable meafure in 
 ftrength. If I could winne a Lady at Leape-frogge,or by 
 vawting into my Saddle, with my Armour on my backe; 
 vnder the correction of bragging be it fpoken, I fhould 
 quickly leape into a Wife : Or if I might buffet for my 
 
 419 
 
 Loue, or bound my Horfe for her fauours, I could lay on 
 like a Butcher,and fit like a lack an Apes, neuer off. But 
 before God Kate, I cannot looke greenely, nor gafpe out 
 my eloquence , nor I haue no cunning in proteftation ; 
 onely downe-right Oathes, which I neuer vfe till vrg'd, 
 nor neuer breake for vrging. If thou canft loue a fellow 
 of this temper, Kate,\vho(e face is not worth Sunne-bur- 
 ning that neuer lookes in his GlafTe, for loue of any 
 thing he fees there? let thine Eye be thy Cooke. I fpeake 
 to thee plaine Souldier : If thou canft loue me for this, 
 take me? if not? to fay to thee that I fhall dye,is true; but 
 for thy loue, by the L. No : yet I loue thee too. And 
 while thou liu'ft, deare Kate, take a fellow of plaine and 
 vncoyned Conftancie, for he perforce muft do thee right, 
 becaufe he hath not the gift to wooe in other places : for 
 thefe fellowes of infinit tongue, that can ryme themfelues 
 into Ladyes fauours, they doe alwayes reafon themfelues 
 out againe. What ? a fpeaker is but a prater, a Ryme is 
 but a Ballad ; a good Legge will fall, a ftrait Backe will 
 ftoope, a blacke Beard will turne white, a curl'd Pate will 
 grow bald, a faire Face will wither, a full Eye will wax 
 hollow : but a good Heart, Kate, is the Sunne and the 
 Moone, or rather the Sunne, and not the Moone; for it 
 fhines bright, and neuer changes, but keepes his courfe 
 truly. If thou would haue fuch a one, take me ? and 
 take me ; take a Souldier : take a Souldier; take a King. 
 And what fay'ft thou then to my Loue ? fpeake my faire, 
 and fairely, I pray thee. 
 
 Katb. Is it poflible dat I fould loue de ennemie of 
 Fraunce ? 
 
 King. No, it is not poflible you fhould loue the Ene- 
 mie of France, Kate ; but in louing me, you fhould loue 
 the Friend of France : for I loue France fo well, that I 
 will not part with a Village of it ; I will haue it all mine : 
 and Kate, when France is mine, and I am yours; then yours 
 is France, and you are mine. 
 
 Katb. I cannot tell wat is dat. 
 
 King. No, Kate? I will tell thee in French, which I am 
 fure will hang vpon my tongue, like a new-married Wife 
 about her Husbands Necke, hardly to be fhooke off; le 
 quand fur le poj/ejjlon de Fraunce, & quand -voui aues le fof- 
 fejfion de may. (Let mee fee, what then ? Saint Dennu bee 
 my fpeede) Done -voftre eft Fraunce, & -voia ejles mienne. 
 It is as eafie for me, Kate, to conquer the Kingdome, as to 
 fpeake fo much more French : I fhall neuer moue thee in 
 French, vnlefle it be to laugh at me. 
 
 Katb. Sauf -voftre boneur, le Francois ques irouf parlets, il 
 & melieus que /' ' Angku le quel le parle . 
 
 King. No faith is't not, Kate : but thy fpeaking of 
 my Tongue , and I thine, moft truely falfely , muft 
 needes be graunted to be much at one. But Kate, doo'ft 
 thou vnderftand thus much Englifh? Canft thou loue 
 mee ? 
 
 Katb. I cannot tell. 
 
 King. Can any of your Neighbours tell, Kate} He 
 aske them. Come, I know thou loueft me : and at night, 
 when you come into your Clofet, you'le queftion this 
 Gentlewoman about me ; and I know, Kate, you will to 
 her difprayfe thofe parts in me, that you loue with your 
 heart : but good Kate, mocke me mercifully, the rather 
 gentle PrincefTe, becaufe I loue thee cruelly. If euer thou 
 beeft mine, Kate , as I haue a fauing Faith within me tells 
 me thou fhalt ; I get thee with skambling , and thou 
 muft therefore needes proue a good Souldier-breeder : 
 Shall not thou and I, betweene Saint Dennis and Saint 
 George, compound a Boy, halfe French halfe Englifh, 
 k that
 
 94 
 
 The Life of Henry tbeFift. 
 
 that fhall goe to Conftantinople, and take the Turke by 
 the Beard. Shall wee not ? what fay'ft thou, my faire 
 Flower-de-Luce. 
 
 Kate. I doe not know dat. 
 
 King. No:'tis hereafter to know, but now to promife : 
 doe but now promife Kate, you will endeauour for your 
 French part of fuch a Boy ; and for my Englifh moytie, 
 take the Word of a King, and a Batcheler. How ani'wer 
 you, La pita belle Katberine du monde man trefcber & deuin 
 deejje. 
 
 Katb. Your Maieftee aue faufe Frenche enough to 
 deceiuc de moft fage Damoifeil dat is en Fraunce. 
 
 King. Now fye vpon my falfe French : by mine Honor 
 in true Englifh, J loue thee Kate; by which Honor, I dare 
 not fweare thou loueft me, yet my blood begins to flat- 
 ter me, that thou doo'ft ; notwithftanding the poore and 
 vntempering eftedr. of my Vifage. Now beftirew my 
 Fathers Ambition , hee was thinking of Ciuill Warres 
 when hee got me , therefore was I created with a ftub- 
 borne out-fide, with an afpetl of Iron, that when I come 
 to wooe Ladyes, I fright them : but in faith Kate, the el- 
 der I wax, the better I fhall appeare. My comfort is, that 
 Old Age, that ill layer vp of Beautie, can doe no more 
 fpoyle vpon my Face. Thou haft me, if thou haft me, at 
 the worft ; and thou fhalt weare me, if thou weare me, 
 better and better : and therefore tell me, moft faire Ka- 
 tberine, will you haue me ? Put oft" your Maiden Bluflies, 
 auouch the Thoughts of your Heart with the Lookes of 
 an Emprefle, take me by the Hand , and fay, Harry of 
 England, I am thine : which Word thou fhalt no fooner 
 blefle mine Eare withall, but I will tell thee alowd, Eng- 
 land is thine, Ireland is thine, France is thine, and Henry 
 flantaginet is thine ; who, though I fpeake it before his 
 Face, if he be not Fellow with the beft King, thou fhalt 
 finde the beft King of Good-fellowes. Come your An- 
 fwer in broken Mufick j for thy Voyce is Mufick, and 
 thy Englifh broken : Therefore Queene of all, Katberine, 
 breake thy minde to me in broken Englifh ; wilt thou 
 haue me ? 
 
 Katb. Dat is as it fhall pleafe de Roy man fere. 
 King. Nay, it will pleafe him well, Kate; it fhall pleafe 
 him, Kate. 
 
 Katb, Den it fall alfo content me. 
 
 King. Vpon that I kifle your Hand, and I call you my 
 Queene. 
 
 Katb. LaiJJc men Seigneur, laijje , laijjir , may foy : le ne 
 vttu point que voui abbaiffe voftre grandeus , en baifant le 
 main d"une noflre Seigneur indignie Jeruiteur excuje may. le 
 <voui fupplie man tref-puiffant Seigneur. 
 
 King. Then I will kifle your Lippes, Kate. 
 Katb. Les Daires & Damoijels pour eftre baijee deuant 
 leur nopcefe il net pat le coftume de Fraunce. 
 
 King. Madame, my Interpreter,what fayes fhee ? 
 Lady. Dat it is not be de fafhon pour le Ladies 6lf 
 Fraunce ; I cannot tell wat is buifle en Anglifh. 
 King. To kifle. 
 
 Lady. Your Maieftee entendre bettre que moy. 
 King. It is not a fafhion for the Maids in Fraunce to 
 kifle before they are marryed, would fhe fay? 
 Lady. Ouy verayment. 
 
 King. O Kate, nice Cuftomes curfie to great Kings. 
 Deare Kate , you and I cannot bee confin'd within the 
 weake Lyft of a Countreyes fafhion : wee are the ma- 
 kers of Manners, Kate ; and the libertie that followes 
 our Places, ftoppes the mouth of all finde-faults , as I 
 will doe yours , for vpholding the nice fafhion of your 
 
 Countrey, in denying me a Kifle : therefore patiently, 
 and yeelding. You haue Witch-craft in your Lippes, 
 Kate : there is more eloquence in a Sugar touch of 
 them, then in the Tongues of the French Councell ; and 
 they fhould fooner perfwade Harry of England, then a 
 generall Petition of Monarchs. Heere comes your 
 Father. 
 
 Enter the French Potter, and the Englifh 
 Lords. 
 
 'Burg. God faue your Maieftie, my Royall Coufin , 
 teach you our Princefle Englifh ? 
 
 King. I would haue her learne, my faire Coufin, how 
 perfectly I loue her,and that is good Englifh. 
 
 Burg. Is fhee not apt ? 
 
 King. Our Tongue is rough, Coze, and my Conditi- 
 on is not fmooth : fo that hauing neyther the Voyce nor 
 the Heart of Flatterie about me, I cannot fo coniure vp 
 the Spirit of Loue in her, that hee will appeare in his true 
 likenefTe. 
 
 'Burg. Pardon the franknefle of my mirth, if I anfwer 
 you for that. If you would coniure in her , you muft 
 make a Circle : if coniure vp Loue in her in his true 
 likenefle, hee muft appeare naked, and blinde. Can you 
 blame her then, being a Maid , yet ros'd ouer with the 
 Virgin Crimfon of Modeftie, if fhee deny the apparance 
 of a naked blinde Boy in her naked feeing felfe? It were 
 (my Lord) a hard Condition for a Maid to configne 
 to. 
 
 King. Yet they doe winke and yeeld, as Loue is blind 
 and enforces. 
 
 'Burg. They are then excus'd,my Lord, when they fee 
 not what they doe. 
 
 King. Then good my Lord, teach your Coufin to 
 confent winking. 
 
 'Burg. I will winke on her to confent, my Lord, if you 
 will teach her to know my meaning : for Maides well 
 Summer'd, and warme kept, are like Flyes at Bartholo- 
 mew-tyde, blinde, though they haue their eyes, and then 
 they will endure handling, which before would not abide 
 looking on. 
 
 King. This Morall tyes me ouer to Time, and a hot 
 Summer ; and fo I fhall catch the Flye , your Coufin, in 
 the latter end, and fhee muft be blinde to. 
 
 'Burg. As Loue is my Lord, before it loues. 
 
 King. It is fo : and you may, fome of you, thanke 
 Loue for my blindnefle , who cannot fee many a faire 
 French Citie for one faire French Maid that ftands in my 
 way. 
 
 French King. Yes my Lord , you fee them perfpec- 
 tiuely : the Cities turn'd into a Maid ; for they are 
 all gyrdled with Maiden Walls, that Warre hath en- 
 tred. 
 
 England. Shall Kate be my Wife ? 
 
 France. So pleafe you. 
 
 England. I am content , fo the Maiden Cities you 
 talke of, may wait on her : fo the Maid that ftood in 
 the way for my Wifh , fhall fhew me the way to my 
 Will. 
 
 France. Wee haue confented to all tearmes of rea- 
 fon. 
 
 England. Is't fo, my Lords of England? 
 
 Weft. The King hath graunted euery Article : 
 His Daughter firft; and in fequele,all, 
 According to their firme propofed natures. 
 
 Exet. Onely 
 
 43
 
 The Life of Henry the Fift. 
 
 95 
 
 Exet. Onely he hath not yet fubfcribed this : 
 Where your Maieftie demands, That the King of France 
 hauing any occafion to write for matter of Graunt, (hall 
 name your Highnefle in this forme, and with this additi- 
 on, in French : No/ire trefcber fix Henry Roy d" Angle terre 
 Heretere de Fraunce : and thus in Latine ; PrteclariJJimw 
 Filiui ntjfter Henricui Rex Anglite & Heres Franciee. 
 
 France. Nor this I haue not Brother fo deny'd, 
 But your requeft fliall make me let it pafie. 
 
 England. I pray you then, in loue and deare allyance, 
 Let that one Article ranke with the reft, 
 And thereupon giue me your Daughter. 
 France.Take her faire Sonne,and from her blood rayfe vp 
 Iflue to me, that the contending Kingdomes 
 Of France and England, whofe very ftioares looke pale, 
 With enuy of each others happinefle, 
 May ceafe their hatred ; and this deare ConiuncYion 
 Plant Neighbour-hood and Chriftian-like accord 
 In their fweet Bofomes : that neuer Warre aduance 
 His bleeding Sword 'twixt England and faire France. 
 
 Lords. Amen. 
 
 King. Now welcome Kate: and beare me witnefle all, 
 That here I kiffe her as my Soueraigne Queene. 
 
 Flourijh. 
 
 Quee. God, the beft maker of all Marriages, 
 Combine your hearts in one, your Realmes in one : 
 As Man and Wife being two,are one in loue, 
 So be there 'twixt your Kingdomes fuch a Spoufall, 
 That neuer may ill Office, or fell lealoufie, 
 
 Which troubles oft the Bed of blefied Marriage, 
 Thruft in betweene the Pation of thefe Kingdomes, 
 To make diuorce of their incorporate League : 
 That Engli/h may as French, French Englilhmen, 
 Receiue each other. God fpeake this Amen. 
 
 All. Amen. 
 
 King. Prepare we for our Marriage : on which day, 
 My Lord of Burgundy wee'le take your Oath 
 And all the Peeres,fur furetie of our Leagues. 
 Then (hall I fweare to Kate, and you to me, 
 And may our Oathes well kept and profp'rous be. 
 Senet. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter CborM. 
 
 Thus farre with rough, and all-vnable Pen, 
 
 Our bending Author hath purfu'd the Story, 
 
 In little roome confining mightie men, 
 
 Mangling by ftarts the full courfe of their glory. 
 
 Small time : but in that fmall,moft greatly liued 
 
 This Starre of England. Fortune made his Sword ; 
 
 By which, the Worlds beft Garden he atchieued : 
 
 And of it left his Sonne Imperiall Lord. 
 
 Henry the Sixt,in Infant Bands crown'd King 
 
 Of France and England, did this Kingfucceed: 
 
 Whofe State fo many had the managing, 
 
 That they loft France, and made his England bleed : 
 
 Which oft our Stage hath ihowne ; and for their fake, 
 
 In your faire minds let this acceptance take. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 k2 
 
 The 
 
 4J i
 
 9 6 
 
 The firft Part of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 <>A5lus ^Primus. Sccena ^Prima. 
 
 Dead vMarcb. 
 
 Enter the Funeral! of King Henry the Fift, attended on by 
 
 the Duly of Bedford, Regent of France ; the Duly 
 
 of Gloftcr,Proteior; the Duke of Exeter War- 
 
 ificly, the 'Bijhop of Jfincbefter,and 
 
 the fDuly of Somerjet. 
 
 'Bedford. 
 
 Vng be yheauenswith black, yield day to night; 
 Comets importing change of Times and States, 
 Brandifh your cryftall TrefTes in the Skie, 
 And with them fcourge the bad reuolting Stars, 
 That haue confented vnto Henries death : 
 King Henry the Fift, too famous to liue long, 
 England ne're loft a King of fo much worth. 
 
 Cfloji. England ne're had a King vntill his time: 
 Vertue he had,deferuing to command, 
 His brandiflit Sword did blinde men with his beames, 
 His Armes fpred wider then a Dragons Wings: 
 His fparkling Eyes, repleat with wrathfull fire, 
 More dazled and droue back his Enemies, 
 Then mid-day Sunne, fierce bent againft their faces. 
 What mould I fay? his Deeds exceed all fpeech : 
 He ne're lift vp his Hand, but conquered. 
 
 Exe.We mourne in black, why mourn we not in blood? 
 Henry is dead, and neuer {hall reuiue: 
 Vpon a Woodden Coffin we attend; 
 And Deaths dishonourable Vi&orie, 
 We with our ftately prefence glorifie, 
 Like Captiues bound to a Triumphant Carre. 
 What? mall we curfe the Planets of Mi/hap, 
 That plotted thus our Glories ouerthrow? 
 Or fhall we thinke the fubtile-witted French, 
 Coniurers and Sorcerers, that afraid of him, 
 By Magick Verfes haue contriu'd his end. 
 
 Winch. He was a King, bleft of the King of Kings. 
 Vnto the French, the dreadfull ludgement-Day 
 So dreadfull will not be, as was his fight. 
 The Battailes of the Lord of Hofts he fought : 
 The Churches Prayers made him fo profperous. 
 
 Glojt. The Church? where is it? 
 Had not Church-men pray'd, 
 His thred of Life had not fo foone decay'd. 
 None doe you like, but an effeminate Prince, 
 Whom like a Schoole-boy you may ouer-awe. 
 
 Winch, Giofter, what ere we like,thou art Protector, 
 And looked to command the Prince and Realme, 
 Thy Wife is prowd, me holdeth thee in awe, 
 More then God or Religious Church-men may. 
 
 Gloft. Name not Religion, for thou lou'ft the Flefli, 
 And ne're throughout the yeere to Church thou go'ft, 
 Except it be to pray againft thy foes. 
 
 2W.Ceafe,ceafe thefe Iarres,& reft your minds in peace: 
 Let's to the Altar : Heralds wayt on vs ; 
 In ftead of Gold, wee'le offer vp our Armes, 
 Since Armes auayle not, now that Henry's dead, 
 Pofteritie await for wretched yeeres, 
 When at their Mothers moiftned eyes, Babes mail fuck, 
 Our He be made a Nourifh of fait Teares, 
 And none but Women left to wayle the dead. 
 Henry the Fift, thy Ghoft I inuocate : 
 Profper this Realme, keepe it from Ciuill Broyles, 
 Combat with aduerfe Planets in the Heauens ; 
 A farre more glorious Starre thy Soule will make, 
 Then lulita C<ffar,or bright 
 
 Enter a MeJJenger. 
 
 Mejf. My honourable Lords,health to you all: 
 Sad tidings bring I to you out of France, 
 Of loffe, of Slaughter, and difcomfiture : 
 Guyen, Champaigne, Rheimes, Orleance, 
 Paris, Guyfors, Poidtiers,are all quite loft. 
 
 Bedf.What fay'ft thou man, before dead Henry's Coarfe? 
 Speake foftly,or the loffe of thofe great Townes 
 Will make him burft his Lead, and rife from death. 
 
 GloR. Is Paris loft? is Roan yeelded vp ? 
 If Henry were recall'd to life againe, 
 Thefe news would caufe him once more yeeld the Ghoft. 
 
 Exe. How were they loft? what trecherie was vs'df 
 Mejjf. No trecherie, but want of Men and Money. 
 Amongft the Souldiers this is muttered, 
 That here you maintaine feuerall Factions : 
 And whil'ft a Field mould be difpatcht and fought, 
 You are difputing of your Generals. 
 One would haue lingring Warres,with little coft ; 
 Another would flye fwift,but wanteth Wings: 
 A third thinkes, without expence at all, 
 By guilefull faire words,Peace may be obtayn'd. 
 Awake, awake, Englifli Nobilitie, 
 Let not flouth dimme your Honors, new begot; 
 Cropt are the Flower-de-Luces in your Armes 
 Of Englands Coat, one halfe is cut away. 
 
 Exe. Were our Teares wanting to this Funerall, 
 Thefe Tidings would call forth her flowing Tides. 
 
 'Bedf. Me they concerne, Regent I am of France: 
 Giue me my fteeled Coat, He fight for France. 
 Away with thefe difgracefull wayling Robes ; 
 Wounds will I lend the French, in ftead of Eyes, 
 To weepe their intermiffiue Miferies. 
 
 Enter
 
 The fir ft Tart of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 97 
 
 Enter to them another MeJJenger. 
 
 MeJJ". Lords view thefe Letters,full of bad mifchance. 
 France isj-euolted from the Englifli quite, 
 Except fome petty Townes,of no import. 
 The Dolphin Charles is crowned King in Rheimes : 
 The Baftard of Orleance with him is ioyn'd : 
 Reynold, Duke of Aniou, doth take his part, 
 The Duke of Alanfon flyeth to his fide. Sxit. 
 
 Sxe. The Dolphin crown'd King? all flye to him? 
 
 whither fhall we flye from this reproach f 
 
 Glojt. We will not flye, but to our enemies throats. 
 "Bedford,'^ thou be flacke, He fight it out. 
 
 ^Bed. Glofter, why doubtft thou of my forwardneffe? 
 An Army haue I mufter'd in my thoughts, 
 Wherewith already France is ouer-run. 
 
 Enter another MeJJenger. 
 
 cflfej. My gracious Lords, to adde to your laments, 
 Wherewith you now bedew King Henries hearfe, 
 
 1 muft informe you of a difmall fight, 
 Betwixt the flout Lord Talbot, and the French. 
 
 Win. What?wherein Talbot ouercame, is't fo ? 
 
 3.C/WV/1O no : wherein Lord Talbot was o'rethrown: 
 The circumftance He tell you more at large. 
 The tenth of Auguft laft, this dreadfull Lord, 
 Retyring from the Siege of Orleance, 
 Hauing full fcarce fix thoufand in his troupe, 
 By three and twentie thoufand of the French 
 Was round incompaffed,and fet vpon : 
 No leyfure had he to enranke his men. 
 He wanted Pikes to fet before his Archers : 
 Inftead whereof, fharpe Stakes pluckt out of Hedges 
 They pitched in the ground confufedly, 
 To keepe the Horfemen off, from breaking in. 
 More then three houres the fight continued : 
 Where valiant Talbot, aboue humane thought, 
 Enadted wonders with his Sword and Lance. 
 Hundreds he fent to Hell, and none durft ftand him: 
 Here, there, and euery where enrag'd, he flew. 
 The French exclaym'd, the Deuill was in Armes, 
 All the whole Army ftood agaz'd on him. 
 His Souldiers fpying his vndaunted Spirit, 
 A Talbot, A Talbot , cry'd out amaine, 
 And rufht into the Bowels of the Battaile. 
 Here had the Conqueft fully been feal'd vp, 
 If Sir lohn Fa/Jiaffe had not play'd the Coward. 
 He being in the Vauward, plac't behinde, 
 With purpofe to relieue and follow them, 
 Cowardly fled, not hauing ftruck one ftroake. 
 Hence grew the generall wrack and maffacre : 
 Enclofed were they with their Enemies. 
 A bafe Wallon,to win the Dolphins grace, 
 Thruft Talbot with a Speare into the Back, 
 Whom all France, with their chiefe afTembled ftrength, 
 Durft not prefume to looke once in the face. 
 
 Bedf. Is Talbot flaine then* I will flay my felfe , 
 For lining idly here, in pompe and eafe, 
 Whil'ft fuch a worthy Leader, wanting ayd, 
 Vnto his daftard foe-men is betray 'd. 
 
 ^.MeJJ". O no, he Hues, but is tooke Prifoner, 
 And Lord Scales with him, and Lord Hungerford : 
 Moft of the reft flaughter'd,or tooke likewife. 
 
 Bedf. His Ranfome there is none but I fhall pay. 
 He hale the Dolphin headlong from his Throne, 
 His Crowne fliall be the Ranfome of my friend: 
 Foure of their Lords He change for one of ours. 
 
 453 
 
 Farwell my Mafters, to my Taske will I, 
 Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make, 
 To keepe our great Saint Georges Feaft withall. 
 Ten thoufand Souldiers with me I will take, 
 Whofe bloody deeds fhall make all Europe quake. 
 
 > > .<^MeJ]'. So you had need, for Orleance is befieg'd, 
 The Englifh Army is growne weake and faint : 
 The Earle of Salisbury craueth fupply, 
 And hardly keepes his men from mutinie, 
 Since they fo few, watch fuch a multitude. 
 
 Sxe. Remember Lords your Oathes to Henry fworne : 
 Eyther to quell the Dolphin vtterly, 
 Or bring him in obedience to your yoake. 
 
 'Bedf. I doe remember it, and here take my leaue, 
 To goe about my preparation. Exit Bedford. 
 
 Glojl. He to the Tower with all the haft I can, 
 To view th'Artillerie and Munition, 
 And then I will proclayme young Henry King. 
 
 Exit Glofter. 
 
 Exe. To Eltam will I, where the young King is, 
 Being ordayn'd his fpeciall Gouernor, 
 And for his fafetie there lie beft deuife. Exit. 
 
 Winch. Each hath his Place and Function to attend: 
 I am left out ; for me nothing remaines : 
 But long I will not be lack out of Office. 
 The King from Eltam I intend to fend, 
 And fit at chiefeft Sterne of publique Weale. 
 
 Exit. 
 
 Sound a Flourijh. 
 
 Enter Charles, Alanfon, and Reigneir, marching 
 with Drum and Souldiers. 
 
 Charles. Mars his true mouing, euen as in the Heauens, 
 So in the Earth, to this day is not knowne. 
 Late did he fhine vpon the Englifh fide : 
 Now we are Victors, vpon vs he fmiles. 
 What Townes of any moment, but we haue ? 
 At pleafure here we lye,neere Orleance : 
 Otherwhiles,the famifht Englifh, like pale Ghofts, 
 Faintly befiege vs one houre in a moneth. 
 
 jflan.They want their Porredge,& their fat Bui Beeues: 
 Eyther they muft be dyeted like Mules, 
 And haue their Prouender ty'd to their mouthes, 
 Or pitteous they will looke, like drowned Mice. 
 
 Reigneir. Let's rayfe the Siege: why Hue we idly here? 
 Talbot is taken, whom we wont to feare : 
 Remayneth none but mad-brayn'd Salisbury, 
 And he may well in fretting fpend his gall, 
 Nor men nor Money hath he to make Warre. 
 
 Charles. Sound, found Alarum, we will rufh on them. 
 Now for the honour of the forlorne French : 
 Him I forgiue my death, that killeth me, 
 When he fees me goe back one foot, or flye. Exeunt. 
 Here Alarum, they are beaten bacl^ by the 
 Englifh, with great loffe. 
 
 Enter Charles, Alan/on, and Reigneir. 
 Charles.Who euer faw the like?what men haue I? 
 Dogges, Cowards, Daftards : I would ne're haue fled, 
 But that they left me 'midft my Enemies. 
 
 Reigneir. Salisbury is a defperate Homicide, 
 He fighteth as one weary of his life : 
 The other Lords, like Lyons wanting foode, 
 Doe rufh vpon vs as their hungry prey. 
 
 k 3 AlanJ. Froy-
 
 The firft <Parf of Henry theSixt. 
 
 Alanfon. Froyfard, a Countreyman of ours, records, 
 England all Olivers and Rowlands breed, 
 During the time Edward the third did raigne : 
 More truly now may this be verified ; 
 For none but Samjons and Goliaffes 
 It fendeth forth to skirmifh : one to tenne ? 
 Leane raw-bon'd Rafcals, who would e're fuppofe, 
 They had fuch courage and audacitie ? 
 
 Charles. Let's leaue this Towne, 
 For they are hayre-brayn'd Slaues, 
 And hunger will enforce them to be more eager: 
 Of old I know them ; rather wirh their Teeth 
 The Walls they'le teare downe.then forfake the Siege. 
 
 Relgneir. I thinke by Come odde Gimmors or Deuice 
 Their Armes are fet,like Clocks, ftill toftrike on ; 
 Elfe ne're could they hold out fo as they doe : 
 By my confent, wee'le euen let them alone. 
 
 Alanfon. Be it fo. 
 
 Enter the 'BaJiarJ of Orleance. 
 
 'Bajlard. Where's the Prince Dolphin ? I haue newes 
 for him. 
 
 'Dolfb. Baftard of Orleance,thrice welcome to vs. 
 
 Baft. Me thinks your looks are fad, your chear appal'd. 
 Hath the late ouerthrow wrought this offence ? 
 Be not difmay'd,for fuccour is at hand : 
 A holy Maid hither with me I bring, 
 Which by a Vifion fent to her from Heauen, 
 Ordayned is to rayfe this tedious Siege, 
 And driue the English forth the bounds of France : 
 The fpirit of deepe Prophecie fhe hath, 
 Exceeding the nine Sibyls of old Rome: 
 What's paft, and what's to come, fhe can defcry. 
 Speake,fhall I call her inf beleeue my words, 
 For they are certaine,and vnfallible. 
 
 Dolfb. Goe call her in: but firft, to try her skill, 
 Relgnier ftand thou as Dolphin in my place ; 
 Queftion her prowdly, let thy Lookes be fterne, 
 By this meanes {hall we found what skill fhe hath. 
 
 Enter loane Puzel. 
 
 Relgneir. Faire Maid, is't thou wilt doe thefe won- 
 drous feats ? 
 
 Puzel. Reignier,h't thou that thinkeft to beguile me? 
 Where is the Dolphin ? Come, come from behinde, 
 I know thee well, though neuer feene before. 
 Be not amaz'd, there's nothing hid from me ; 
 In priuate will I talke with thee apart : 
 Stand back you Lords, and giue vs leaue a while. 
 
 Reigneir. She takes vpon her brauely at firft dafti. 
 
 Puzel. Dolphin, I am by birth a Shepheards Daughter, 
 My wit vntrayn'd in any kind of Art : 
 Heauen and our Lady gracious hath it pleas'd 
 To fhine on my contemptible eftate. 
 Loe,whileft I wayted on my tender Lambes, 
 And to Sunnes parching heat difplay'd my cheekes, 
 Gods Mother deigned to appeare to me, 
 And in a Vifion full of Maieftie, 
 Will'd me to leaue my bafe Vocation, 
 And free my Countrey from Calamitie : 
 Her ayde fhe promis'd,and affur'd fuccefle. 
 In compleat Glory fliee reueal'd her felfe : 
 And whereas I was black and fwart before, 
 With thofe cleare Rayes, which fhee infus'd on me, 
 That beautie am I bleft with, which you may fee. 
 
 Aske me what queftion thou canft poflible, 
 And I will anfwer vnpremeditated : 
 My Courage trie by Combat, if thou dar'ft, 
 And thou fhaltfinde that I exceed my Sex. 
 Refolue on this, thou fhalt be fortunate, 
 If thou receiue me for thy Warlike Mate. 
 
 Dolfb. Thou haft aftonifht me with thy high termes: 
 Onely this proofe He of thy Valour make, 
 In fingle Combat thou fhalt buckle with me ; 
 And if thou vanquifheft, thy words are true, 
 Otherwife I renounce all confidence. 
 
 fuzel. I am prepar'd: here is my keene-edg'd Sword, 
 Deckt with fine Flower-de-Luces on each fide, 
 The which at Touraine,in S.Katberines Church-yard, 
 Out of a great deale of old Iron, I chofe forth. 
 
 Dolfb. Then come a Gods name, I feare no woman. 
 
 Puzel. And while I liue,Ile ne're flye from a man. 
 Here' they fight ,and loane de fuzel ouercomcs. 
 
 Dolfb. Stay, ftay thy hands, thou art an Amazon, 
 And fighteft with the Sword of Debora. 
 
 Puzel. Chrifts Mother helpes me , elfe I were too 
 weake'. 
 
 Dolfb.Who e're helps thee,'tis thou that muft help me : 
 Impatiently I burne with thy defire, 
 My heart and hands thou haft at once fubdu'd. 
 Excellent Puzel, if thy name be fo, 
 Let me thy feruant,and not Soueraigne be, 
 'Tis the French Dolphin fueth to thee thus. 
 
 Puzel. I muft not yeeld to any rights of Loue, 
 For my Profeffion's facred from aboue : 
 When I haue chafed all thy Foes from hence, 
 Then will I thinke vpon a recompence. 
 
 'Dolpb. Meane time looke gracious on thy proftrate 
 Thrall. 
 
 Reigneir. My Lord me thinkes is very long in talke. 
 
 /tf/fl/z/.DoubtlefTe he fhriues this woman to her fmock, 
 Elfe ne're could he fo long protradl his fpeech. 
 
 Reigneir. Shall wee difturbe him, fince hee keepes no 
 meane ? 
 
 ^/an.He may meane more then we poor men do know, 
 Thefe women are fhrewd tempters with their tongues. 
 
 Reigneir. My Lord, where are you? what deuife you on? 
 Shall we giue o're Orleance, or no ? 
 
 Puzel.V/hy no, I fay: diftruftfull Recreants, 
 Fight till the laft gafpe : He be your guard. 
 
 Dolfb. What fhee fayes , He confirme : wee'le fight 
 it out. 
 
 Puzel. Aflign'd am I to be the Englifh Scourge. 
 This night the Siege afluredly He rayfe : 
 Expedl Saint cWartins Summer, Halcyons dayes, 
 Since I haue entred into thefe Warres. 
 Glory is like a Circle in the Water, 
 Which neuer ceafeth to enlarge it felfe, 
 Till by broad fpreading, it difperfe to naught. 
 With Henries death, the Englifh Circle ends, 
 Difperfed are the glories it included : 
 Now am I like that prowd infulting Ship, 
 Which Ctffar and his fortune bare at once. 
 
 Dolfb. Was Mabomet infpired with a Doue ? 
 Thou with an Eagle art infpired then. 
 Helen, the Mother of Great Qonftantine, 
 Nor yet S.fbilifs daughters were like thee. 
 Bright Starre of fenu4,fa\ne downe on the Earth, 
 How may I reuerently worfhip thee enough ? 
 
 tAlanJon. Leaue off delayes , and let vs rayfe the 
 Siege. 
 
 Reigneir. Wo-
 
 Tbejirft Tarf of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 99 
 
 Reignelr. Woman, do what thou canft to faue our honors, 
 Driue them from Orleance, and be immortaliz'd. 
 
 Dolph. Prefently wee'le try : come, let's away about it, 
 No Prophet will I truft, if fhee proue falfe. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Glofter, tf'itb bis Serulng-men. 
 
 Gloft. I am come to furuey the Tower this day ; 
 Since Henries death, I feare there is Conueyance : 
 Where be thefe Warders, that they wait not here? 
 Open the Gates,'tis Glofter that calls. 
 
 l. Warder. Who's there, that knocks fo imperioufly ? 
 Gloft. i. Man. It is the Noble Duke of Glofter. 
 z. Warder. Who ere he be, you may not be let in. 
 J.Man. Villaines,anfwer you fo the Lord Protestor? 
 1. Warder. The Lord protect him, fo we anfwer him, 
 We doe no otherwife then wee are will'd. 
 
 G7e.ff.Who willed you?or whofe will ftands but mine? 
 There's none Protector of the Realme,but I : 
 Breake vp the Gates, He be your warrantize ; 
 Shall I be flowted thus by dunghill Groomes ? 
 
 Glofter s men rujh at the Totver Gates, and Wooduile 
 
 the Lieutenant Jpeakgs -within. 
 
 Wooduile. What noyfe is this ? what Traytors haue 
 wee here ? 
 
 Glott. Lieutenant, is it you whofe voyce I heare ? 
 Open the Gates, here's Cflofter that would enter. 
 
 Wooduile. Haue patience Noble Duke, I may not open, 
 The Cardinall of Winchefter forbids : 
 From him I haue exprefle commandement, 
 That thou nor none of thine lhall be let in. 
 
 Glojt. Faint-hearted Wooduile.frizsK. him 'fore me? 
 Arrogant Winchefter, that haughtie Prelate, 
 Whom Henry our late Soueraigne ne're could brooke ? 
 Thou art no friend to God, or to the King : 
 Open the Gates, or He fliut thee out fliortly. 
 
 Seruingmen. Open the Gates vnto the Lord Protector, 
 Or wee'le burft them open, if that you come not quickly. 
 
 Enter to the Proteflor at the Totver Cfates, Wincbejter 
 and bit men in Tawney Coates. 
 
 Wincbett. How now ambitious Vmpheir, what meanes 
 this ? 
 
 Gloft. Piel'd Prieft, doo'ft thou command me to be 
 fliut out ? 
 
 Winch. I doe, thou moft vfurping Proditor, 
 And not Protector of the King or Realme. 
 
 Gloft. Stand back thou manifeft Confpirator, 
 Thou that contriued'ft to murther our dead Lord, 
 Thou that giu'ft Whores Indulgences to fmne, 
 He canuas thee in thy broad Cardinalls Hat, 
 If thou proceed in this thy infolence. 
 
 Winch. Nay, ftand thou back, I will not budge a foot : 
 This be Damafcus, be thou curfed Cain, 
 To (lay thy Brother Abel, if thou wilt. 
 
 Gloft. I will not flay thee, but He driue thee back : 
 Thy Scarlet Robes, as a Childs bearing Cloth, 
 He vfe, to carry thee out of this place. 
 
 Winch. Doe what thou dar'ft , I beard thee to thy 
 face. 
 
 Qloft. What? am I dar'd, and bearded to my face 9 
 Draw men, for all this priuiledged place, 
 Blew Coats to Tawny Coats. Prieft, beware your Beard, 
 I meane to tugge it, and to cuffe you foundly. 
 Vnder my feet I ftampe thy Cardinalls Hat: 
 
 435 
 
 In fpight of Pope, or dignities of Church, 
 
 Here by the Cheekes lie drag thee vp and downe. 
 
 Winch. Glofter , thou wilt anfwere this before the 
 Pope. 
 
 Gloft. Winchefter Goofe,! cry, a Rope, a Rope, 
 Now beat them hence, why doe you let them ftay ? 
 Thee He chafe hence, thou Wolfe in Sheepes array. 
 Out Tawney-Coates,out Scarlet Hypocrite. 
 
 Here Glofters men beat out the Cardinalls men t 
 and enter in the hurly-burly the Maior 
 of London, and his Officers . 
 
 Maior. Fye Lords, that you being fupreme Magiftrates, 
 Thus contumelioufly fliould breake the Peace. 
 
 Gloft. Peace Maior, thou know'ft little of my wrongs: 
 Here's "Beauford, that regards nor God nor King, 
 Hath here diftrayn'd the Tower to his vfe. 
 
 Winch. Here's Glofter, a Foe to Citizens, 
 One that ftill motions Warre,and neuer Peace, 
 O're-charging your free Purfes with large Fines ; 
 That feekes to ouerthrow Religion, 
 Becaufe he is Protector of the Realme ; 
 And would haue Armour here out of the Tower, 
 To Crowne himfelfe King, and fupprefTe the Prince. 
 
 Qloft. I will not anfwer thee with words, but blowes. 
 
 Here they slfirmijh againe. 
 
 Maior. Naught refts for me, in this tumultuous ftrife, 
 But to make open Proclamation. 
 Come Officer, as lowd as e're thou canft, cry : 
 
 All manner of men, ajjembled here in Artnes this day, 
 againft Gods Peace and the Kings, tvee charge and command 
 you, in bis Higbnejje Name, to repayre to your feuerall dwel- 
 ling places, and not to ware, handle, or <vfe any Sword, Wea- 
 pon, or ''Dagger bence-for-a>ard,'vpon paine of death. 
 
 Gloft. Cardinall, He be no breaker of the Law : 
 But we fliall meet,and breake our minds at large. 
 
 Winch. G/o/??r,wee'le meet to thy coft, be fure : 
 Thy heart-blood I will haue for this dayes worke. 
 
 Maior. He call for Clubs,if you will not away: 
 This Cardinall's more haughtie then the Deuill. 
 
 Gloft . Maior farewell : thou doo'ft but what thou 
 may'ft. 
 
 Winch. Abhominable Glofter, guard thy Head, 
 For I intend to haue it ere long. Exeunt. 
 
 Maior. See the Coaft clear'd, and then we will depart. 
 Good God, thefe Nobles fliould fuch ftomacks beare, 
 I my felfe fight not once in fortie yeere. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter the Mafter Gunner of Orleance, and 
 
 bis Boy. 
 
 -M.GKr.Sirrha,thou know'ft how Orleance is befieg'd, 
 And how the Englifli haue the Suburbs wonne. 
 
 'Boy. Father I know, and oft haue ftiot at them, 
 How e're vnfortunate, I mifs'd my ayme. 
 
 M.Gunner. But now thou flialt not. Be thou rul'd by me: 
 Chiefe Mafter Gunner am I of this Towne, 
 Something I muft doe to procure me grace : 
 The Princes efpyals haue informed me, 
 How the Englifh, in the Suburbs clofe entrencht, 
 Went through a fecret Grate of Iron Barres, 
 In yonder Tower, to ouer-peere the Citie, 
 And thence difcouer, how with moft aduantage 
 They may vex vs with Shot or with Aflault. 
 To intercept this inconuenience, 
 A Peece of Ordnance 'gainft it I haue plac'd, 
 
 And
 
 100 
 
 T. "he 'fa 'ft Tart of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 And euen thefe three dayes haue I watcht, 
 
 If I could fee them. Now doe thou watch, 
 
 For I can ftay no longer. . 
 
 If thou fpy'ft any, runne and bring me word, 
 
 And thou {halt finde me at the Gouernors. Exit. 
 
 Boy. Father,! warrant you, take you no care, 
 He neuer trouble you, if I may fpye them. Exit. 
 
 Enter Salisbury and Talbot on the Turrets, 
 aitb others. 
 
 Salisb. Talbot,my life, my ioy,againe return'd ? 
 How wert thou handled, being Prifoner ? 
 Or by what meanes got's thou to be releas'd ? 
 Difcourie I prethee on this Turrets top. 
 
 Talbot. The Earle of Bedford had a Prifoner, 
 Call'd the braue Lord Ponton de Santrayle, 
 For him was I exchang'd,and ranfom'd. 
 But with a bafer man of Armes by farre, 
 Once in contempt they would haue barter'd me : 
 Which I difdaining,fcorn'd,and craued death, 
 Rather then I would be fo pil'd efteem'd : 
 In fine, redeem'd I was as I defir'd. 
 But O, the trecherous Falftaffe wounds my heart, 
 Whom with my bare fifts I would execute, 
 If I now had him brought into my power. 
 
 Salisb. Yet telFft thou not , how thou wert enter- 
 tain'd. 
 
 Tal. With fcoffes and fcornes, and contumelious taunts, 
 In open Market-place produc't they me, 
 To be a publique fpedtacle to all : 
 Here,fayd they, is the Terror of the French, 
 The Scar-Crow that affrights our Children fo. 
 Then broke I from the Officers that led me, 
 And with my nayles digg'd ftones out of the ground, 
 To hurle at the beholders of my fliame. 
 My grifly countenance made others flye, 
 None durft come neere,for feare of fuddaine death. 
 In Iron Walls they deem'd me not fecure : 
 So great feare of my Name'mongft them were fpread, 
 That they fuppos'd I could rend Barres of Steele, 
 And fpurne in pieces Ports of Adamant. 
 Wherefore a guard of chofen Shot I had, 
 That walkt about me euery Minute while : 
 And if I did but ftirre out of my Bed, 
 Ready they were to flioot me to the heart. 
 Enter the Boy with a Lin/loci^. 
 
 Salisb. I grieue to heare what torments you endur'd, 
 But we will be reueng'd fafficiently. 
 Now it is Supper time in Orleance : 
 Here, through this Grate,! count each one, 
 And view the Frenchmen how they fortifie : 
 Let vs looke in, the fight will much delight thee: 
 Sir Thomas Qargraue,*.nA Sir William Glanjdale, 
 Let me haue your exprefle opinions, 
 Where is beft place to make our Batt'ry next ? 
 
 Gargraue. I thinke at the North Gate, for there ftands 
 Lords. 
 
 Glatifdale. And I heere , at the Bulwarke of the 
 Bridge. 
 
 Tail. For ought I fee, this Citie muft be fami/ht, 
 Or with light Skirmilhes enfeebled. Here they jhrt, and 
 
 Salisbury falls downe. 
 
 Salisb. O Lord haue mercy on vs, wretched fmners. 
 
 Gargraue. O Lord haue mercy on me, wofull man. 
 
 Talb.What chance is this, that fuddenly hath croft vs? 
 Speake Salisbury ; at leaft, if thou canft, fpeake : 
 
 How far'ft thou, Mirror of all Martiall men ? 
 
 One of thy Eyes, and thy Cheekes fide ftruck off? 
 
 Accurfed Tower, accurfed fatall Hand, 
 
 That hath contriu'd this wofull Tragedie. 
 
 In thirteene Battailes, Salisbury o'recame : 
 
 Henry the Fift he firft trayn'd to the Warres. 
 
 Whil'ft any Trumpe did found, or Drum ftruck vp, 
 
 His Sword did ne're leaue ftriking in the field. 
 
 Yet liu'ft thou Salisbury ? though thy fpeech doth fayle, 
 
 One Eye thou haft to looke to Heauen for grace. 
 
 The Sunne with one Eye vieweth all the World. 
 
 Heauen be thou gracious to none aliue, 
 
 If Salisbury wants mercy at thy hands. 
 
 Beare hence his Body,! will helpe to bury it. 
 
 Sir Tbomat Gargraue, haft thou any life ? 
 
 Speake vnto Talbot, nay, looke vp to him. 
 
 Salisbury cheare thy Spirit with this comfort, 
 
 Thou {halt not dye whiles 
 
 He beckens with his hand, and fmiles on me : 
 As who fliould fay, When I am dead and gone, 
 Remember to auenge me on the French. 
 Plantaginet I will, and like thee, 
 Play on the Lute, beholding the Townes burne : 
 Wretched fliall France be onely in my Name. 
 
 Here an Alarum, and it Thunders and Lightens. 
 What ftirre is this f what tumult's in theHeauens? 
 Whence commeth this Alarum, and the noyfe? 
 
 Enter a MeJJenger. 
 
 Me/f.My Lord, my Lord, the French haue gather'd head. 
 The Dolphin, with one loane de Puzel ioyn'd, 
 A holy Propheteffe, new rifen vp, 
 Is come with a great Power, to rayfe the Siege. 
 
 Here Salisbury liftetb bimfelfe vp, and groanes. 
 Talb. Heare, heare, how dying Salisbury doth groane, 
 It irkes his heart he cannot be reueng'd. 
 Frenchmen, lie be a Salisbury to you. 
 Puzel or PuJJel, Dolphin or Dog-fifh, 
 Your hearts He ftampe out with my Horfes heeles, 
 And make a Qiaagmire of your mingled braines. 
 Conuey me Salisbury into his Tent, 
 
 And then wee'le try what thefe daftard Frenchmen dare. 
 Alarum. Exeunt. 
 
 Here an Alarum againe,and Talbot purfuetb the Dolphin, 
 
 and driuetb him : Then enter loane de Puzel, 
 
 driu'wg Englishmen before her. 
 
 Then enter Talbot. 
 
 Talb .Where is my ftrength, my valour, and my force? 
 Our Englilh Troupes retyre,! cannot ftay them, 
 A Woman clad in Armour chafeth them. 
 
 Enter Pussel. 
 
 Here, here fliee comes. He haue a bowt with thee : 
 Deuill,or Deuils Dam, He coniure thee : 
 Blood will I draw on thee, thou art a Witch, 
 And ftraightway giue thy Soule to him thou feru'ft. 
 
 fuzel. Come, come, 'tis onely I that muft difgrace 
 thee. Here theyfght. 
 
 Talb. Heauens,can you fuffer Hell fo to preuayle? 
 My breft He burft with {training of my courage, 
 And from my {houlders crack my Armes afunder, 
 But I will chaftife this high-minded Strumpet. 
 
 They fight againe. 
 
 Puzel. Talbct farwell.thy houre is not yet come, 
 I muft goe Vidluall Orleance forthwith : 
 
 AJhort Alarum : then enter the Twne 
 with Souldiers. 
 
 O're- 
 
 4*
 
 The firft^Part of 'Henry the Sixt. 
 
 101 
 
 O're-take me if thou canft, I fcorne thy ftrength. 
 Goe, goe, cheare vp thy hungry-ftarued men, 
 Helpe Salisbury to make his Teftament, 
 This Day is ours, as many more fhall be. Exit. 
 
 Talb. My thoughts are whirled like a Potters Wheele, 
 I know not where I am, nor what I doe : 
 A Witch by feare,not force, like Hannibal, 
 Driues back our troupes, and conquers as fhe lifts: 
 So Bees with fmoake, and Doues with noyfome ftench, 
 Are from their Hyues and Houfes driuen away. 
 They call'd vs, for our fiercenefTe,Englifh Dogges, 
 Now like to Whelpes, we crying runne away. 
 
 A Jhort Alarum. 
 
 Hearke Countreymen, eyther renew the fight, 
 Or teare the Lyons out of Englands Coat ; 
 Renounce your Soyle, giue Sheepe in Lyons ftead : 
 Sheepe run not halfe fo trecherous from the Wolfe, 
 Or Horfe or Oxen from the Leopard, 
 As you flye from your oft-fubdued flaues. 
 
 tAlarum. Here another Skjrmijb. 
 It will not be, retyre into your Trenches: 
 You all confented vnto Salisburies death, 
 For none would ftrike a ftroake in his reuenge. 
 Ptrzel is entred into Orleance, 
 In fpight of vs,or ought that we could doe. 
 O would I were to dye with Salisbury, 
 The fhame hereof, will make me hide my head. 
 
 Sxit Talbot. 
 Alarum , Retreat , Flourijb. 
 
 Enter on the Walls, Tu%el, Dolphin, \eigneir, 
 cAlanfon, and Souldiers, 
 
 Tuzel. Aduance our wauing Colours on the Walls, 
 Refcu'd is Orleance from the Englifh. 
 Thus loane de Pu%el hath perform'd her word. 
 
 Dolpb. Diuineft Creature, AJlrea's Daughter, 
 How fhall I honour thee for this fuccefie ? 
 Thy promifes are like Adonis Garden, 
 That one day bloom'd,and fruitfull were the next. 
 France, triumph in thy glorious Prophetefie, 
 Recouer'd is the Towne of Orleance, 
 More blefled hap did ne're befall our State. 
 
 Reigneir. Why ring not out the Bells alowd, 
 Throughout the Towne ? 
 Dolphin command the Citizens make Bonfires, 
 And feaft and banquet in the open ftreets, 
 To celebrate the ioy that God hath giuen vs. 
 
 Alanf. All France will be repleat with mirth and ioy, 
 When they fhall heare how we haue play'd the men. 
 
 Dolpb. 'Tis loane, not we, by whom the day is wonne : 
 For which, I will diuide my Crowne with her, 
 And all the Priefts and Fryers in my Realme, 
 Shall in procefiion fing her endlefie prayfe. 
 A ftatelyer Pyramis to her He reare, 
 Then (= B^hodophe 's or <JVLemfbu euer was. 
 In memorie of her, when (he is dead, 
 Her Afhes,in an Vrne more precious 
 Then the rich-iewel'd Coffer of Darius, 
 Tranfported, fhall be at high Feftiuals 
 Before the Kings and Qi^eenes of France. 
 No longer on Saint Dennis will we cry, 
 But loane de Puzel fhall be France's Saint. 
 Come in, and let vs Banquet Royally, 
 After this Golden Day of Vi&orie. 
 
 Flourijh. Exeunt. 
 
 4J7 
 
 A5lus Secundus. Scena ^rima. 
 
 Enter a Sergeant of a Band,tvith two Sentinels. 
 
 Ser. Sirs, take your places, and be vigilant: 
 If any noyfe or Souldier you perceiue 
 Neere to the walles, by fome apparant figne 
 Let vs haue knowledge at the Court of Guard. 
 
 Sent. Sergeant you fhall. Thus are poore Seruitors 
 (When others fleepe vpon their quiet beds) 
 Conftrain'd to watch in darknefie, raine, and cold. 
 
 Enter Talbot, 'Bedford, and Burgundy, with fcaling 
 Ladders : Their Drummes beating a 
 'Dea 
 
 Tal. Lord Regent, and redoubted Burgundy, 
 By whofe approach, the Regions of Artoys-, 
 Wallon, and Picardy, are friends to vs : 
 This happy night, the Frenchmen are fecure, 
 Hauing all day carows'd and banquetted, 
 Embrace we then this opportunitie, 
 As fitting beft to quittance their deceite, 
 Contriu'd by Art, and balefull Sorcerie. 
 
 Bed. Coward of France, how much he wrongs his fame, 
 Difpairing of his owne armes fortitude, 
 To ioyne with Witches, and the helpe of Hell. 
 
 Bur. Traitors haue neuer other company. 
 But what's that Puzell whom they tearme fo pure? 
 
 Tal. A Maid, they fay. 
 
 'Bed. A Maid ? And be fo martiall ? 
 
 Bur. Pray God fhe proue not mafculine ere long: 
 If vnderneath the Standard of the French 
 She carry Armour, as fhe hath begun. 
 
 Tal. Well, let them praftife and conuerfe with fpirits. 
 God is our Fortrefle, in whofe conquering name 
 Let vs refolue to fcale their flinty bulwarkes. 
 
 Bed. Afcend braue Talbot, we will follow thee. 
 
 Tal. Not altogether : Better farre I gueffe, 
 That we do make our entrance feuerall wayes : 
 That if it chance the one of vs do faile, 
 The other yet may rife againft their force. 
 
 Bed. Agreed ; lie to yond corner. 
 
 'Bur. And I to this. 
 
 Tal. And heere will Talbot mount, or make his graue. 
 Now Salisbury, for thee and for the right 
 Of Englifh Henry, fhall this night appeare 
 How much in duty, I am bound to both. 
 
 Sent. Arme, arme, the enemy doth make aflault. 
 
 Cry, S. George, A Talbot . 
 
 The French leape ore the walles in their Jhirts. Enter 
 
 feuerall tvayes, Baftard, Alanfon, Reignier, 
 
 halfe ready, and halfe -vnready. 
 
 Alan. How now my Lords ? what all vnreadie fo i 
 
 'Baft. Vnready? I and glad we fcap'd fo well. 
 
 Reig.'Twas time (I trow) to wake and leaue our beds, 
 Hearing Alarums at our Chamber doores. 
 
 Alan. Of all exploits fince firft I follow'd Armes, 
 Nere heard I of a warlike enterprize 
 
 More
 
 102 
 
 of Henry the Sixf. 
 
 More venturous, or defperate then this. 
 
 Baft. I thinke this Talbot be a Fiend of Hell. 
 Reig. If not of Hell, the Heauens fure fauour him. 
 Alanf. Here commeth Cbarles,l maruell how he fped? 
 
 Enter Charles and loane. 
 
 Baft. Tut, holy Lane was his defenfiue Guard. 
 
 Cbarl. Is this thy cunning, thou deceitfull Dame? 
 Didft thou at firft, to flatter vs withall, 
 Make vs partakers of a little gayne, 
 That now our lofle might be ten times fo much? 
 
 loane. Wherefore is Charles impatient with his friend? 
 At all times will you haue my Power alike? 
 Sleeping or waking, muft I ftill preuayle, 
 Or will you blame and lay the fault on me? 
 Improuident Souldiors, had your Watch been good, 
 This fudden Mifchiefe neuer could haue falne. 
 
 Cbarl. Duke of Alanfon, this was your default, 
 That being Captaine of. the Watch to Night, 
 Did looke no better to that weightie Charge. 
 
 Alanf. Had all your Quarters been as fafely kept, 
 As that whereof I had the gouernment, 
 We had not beene thus fliatnefully furpriz'd. 
 
 Baft. Mine was fecure. 
 
 Reig. And fo was mine, my Lord. 
 
 Cbarl. And for my felfe, moft part of all this Night 
 Within her Quarter, and mine owne Precindl, 
 I was imploy'd in pafiing to and fro, 
 About relieuing of the Centinels. 
 Then how, or which way,fliould they firft breake in t 
 
 loane. Queftion(my Lords) no further of the cafe, 
 How or which way ; 'tis fure they found fome place, 
 But weakely guarded, where the breach was made : 
 And now there refts no other fliift but this, 
 To gather our Souldiors, fcatter'd and difperc't, 
 And lay new Plat-formes to endammage them. 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Alarum. Enter a Souldier, crying , a Talbot , a Talbot : 
 tbeyfiye,leauing their Clothes behind. 
 
 Sould. He be fo bold to take what they haue left : 
 The Cry of Talbot ferues me for a Sword, 
 For I haue loaden me with many Spoyles, 
 Vfing no other Weapon but his Name. Exit. 
 
 Enter Talbot, 'Bedford, 'Burgundie. 
 e Bedf. The Day begins to breake, and Night is fled, 
 Whofe pitchy Mantle ouer-vayl'd the Earth. 
 Here found Retreat, and ceafe our hot purfuit. Retreat. 
 
 Talb. Bring forth the Body of old Salisbury, 
 And here aduance it in the Market-Place, 
 The middle Centure of this curfed Towne. 
 Now haue I pay'd my Vow vnto his Soule : 
 For euery drop of blood was drawne from him, 
 There hath at leaft fiue Frenchmen dyed to night. 
 And that hereafter Ages may behold 
 What ruine happened in reuenge of him, 
 Within their chiefeft Temple He ered 
 A Tombe, wherein his Corps fliall be inten'd: 
 Vpon the which, that euery one may reade, 
 Shall be engrau'd the facke of Orleance, 
 The trecherous manner of his mournefiill death, 
 And what a terror he had beene to France. 
 But Lords, in all our bloudy Maflacre, 
 I mufe we met not with the Dolphins Grace, 
 
 His new-come Champion, vertuous loane of Acre, 
 Nor any' of his falfe Confederates. 
 
 'Bedf.'Tis thought Lord Ta/^>of,when the fight began, 
 Rows'd on the fudden from their drowfie Beds, 
 They did amongft the troupes of armed men, 
 Leape o're the Walls for refuge in the field. 
 
 'Burg. My felfe, as farre as I could well difcernf, 
 For fmoake,and duskie vapours of the night, 
 Am fure I fcar'd the Dolphin and his Trull, 
 When Arrne in Arme they both came fwiftly running, 
 Like to a payre of louing Turtle-Doues, 
 That could not liue afunder day or night. 
 After that things are fet in order here, 
 Wee'le follow them with all the power we haue. 
 
 Enter a <&fejfenger. 
 
 MeJf.A\\ hayle,my Lords:which of this Princely trayne 
 Call ye the Warlike Talbot, for his Afts 
 So much applauded through the Realme of France f 
 
 Talb. Here is the Ta/bot,v/ho would fpeak with him? 
 Miff". The vertuous Lady, Countefie of Ouergne, 
 With modeftie admiring thy Renowne, 
 By me entreats (great Lord) thou would'ft vouchfafe 
 To vifit her poore Caftle where flie lyes, 
 That flie may boaft flie hath beheld the man, 
 Whofe glory fills the World with lowd report. 
 
 'Burg. Is it euen fo ? Nay, then I fee our Warres 
 Will turne vnto a peaceful! Comick fport, 
 When Ladyes craue to be encountred with. 
 You may not (my Lord) defpife her gentle fuit. 
 
 Talb. Ne're truft me then : for when a World of men 
 Could not preuayle with all their Oratorie, 
 Yet hath a Womans kindnefle ouer-rul'd : 
 And therefore tell her, I returne great thankes, 
 And in fubmifllon will attend on her. 
 Will not your Honors beare me company? 
 
 Bedf. No,truly,'tis more then manners will : 
 And I haue heard it fayd, Vnbidden Guefts 
 Are often welcommeft when they are gone. 
 
 Talb. Well then, alone (fince there's no remedie) 
 I meane to proue this Ladyes courtefie. 
 Come hither Captaine, you perceiue my minde. 
 
 Wtijpers. 
 
 Capt. I doe my Lord, and meane accordingly. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 Enter Counteffe. 
 
 Qount. Porter, remember what I gaue in charge, 
 And when you haue done fo, bring the Keyes to me. 
 
 Port. Madame, I will. Sxit. 
 
 Count. The Plot is layd, if all things fall out right, 
 I fliall as famous be by this exploit, 
 As Scythian Tomyris by Cyrtu death. 
 Great is the rumour of this dreadfull Knight, 
 And his atchieuements of no lefle account : 
 Faine would mine eyes be witnefle with mine eares, 
 To giue their cenfure of thefe rare reports. 
 
 Enter Mfflenger and Talbot. 
 
 Mejf. Madame, according as your Ladyfliip defir'd, 
 By Meflage crau'd, fo is Lord Talbot come. 
 
 Qount. And he is welcome: what? is this the man f 
 
 MeJJ". Madame, it is. 
 
 Count. Is this the Scourge of France ? 
 Is this the Talbot,fo much fear'd abroad ? 
 That with his Name the Mothers ftill their Babes? 
 I fee Report is fabulous and falfe. 
 
 458
 
 'Thefirft ^Part of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 103 
 
 I thought I fliould haue feene fome Hercules, 
 
 A fecond Hefior, for his grim afpeft, 
 
 And large proportion of his ftrong knit Limbes, 
 
 Alas, this is a Child, a filly Dwarfe : 
 
 It cannot be, this weake and writhled fhrimpe 
 
 Should ftrike fuch terror to his Enemies. 
 
 Talk. Madame, 1 haue beene bold to trouble you: 
 But fince your Lady/hip is not at leyfure, 
 He fort fome other time to vifit you. 
 
 Count. What meanes he now ? 
 Goe aske him, whither he goes? 
 
 Mejf. Stay my Lord Talbot, for my Lady craues, 
 To know the caufe of your abrupt departure? 
 
 Talb. Marry, for that fhee's in a wrong beleefe, 
 I goe to certifie her Talbofi here. 
 
 Enter Porter ttltb Keyes. 
 
 Count. If thou be he, then art thou Prifoner. 
 
 Talb. Prifoner ? to whom ? 
 
 Count. To me,blood-thirftie Lord: 
 And for that caufe I trayn'd thee to my Houfe. 
 Long time thy fliadow hath been thrall to me, 
 For in my Gallery thy Picture hangs : 
 But now the fubftance fliall endure the like, 
 And I will chayne thefe Legges and Armes of thine, 
 That haft by Tyrannic thefe many yeeres 
 Wafted our Countrey, flaine our Citizens, 
 And fent our Sonnes and Husbands captiuate. 
 
 Talb. Ha, ha, ha. 
 
 Count. Laugheft thou Wretch ? 
 Thy mirth fliall turne to moane. 
 
 Talb. I laugh to fee your Ladyfliip fo fond, 
 To thinke,that you haue ought but Talbott fliadow, 
 Whereon to pra&ife your feueritie. 
 
 Qount. Why f art not thou the man f 
 
 Talb. I am indeede. 
 
 Count. Then haue I fubftance too. 
 
 Talb. No, no, I am but fliadow of my felfe : 
 You are deceiu'd, my fubftance is not here j 
 For what you fee, is but the fmalieft part, 
 And leaft proportion of Humanitie : 
 I tell you Madame, were the whole Frame here, 
 It is of fuch a fpacious loftie pitch, 
 Your Roofe were not fufficient to contayn't. 
 
 Count. This is a Riddling Merchant for the nonce, 
 He will be here, and yet he is not here : 
 How can thefe contrarieties agree ? 
 
 Talb. That will I fliew you prefently. 
 
 Winds bis Home, Drummes ftrii^e "vf } a Peale 
 
 ofOrdenar.ee : Enter Souldiors. 
 How fay you Madame ? are you now perfwaded, 
 That Talbot is but fliadow of himfelfe ? 
 Thefe are his fubftance, finewes,armes, and ftrength, 
 With which he yoaketh your rebellious Neckes, 
 Razeth your Cities, and fubuerts your Townes, 
 And in a moment makes them defolate. 
 
 Count. Victorious Talbot, pardon my abufe, 
 I finde thou art no leffe then Fame hath bruited, 
 And more then may be gathered by thy fliape. 
 Let my prefumption not prouoke thy wrath, 
 For I am forry, that with reuerence 
 I did not entertaine thee as thou art. 
 
 Talb. Be not difmay'd, faire Lady, nor mifconfter 
 The minde of Talbot, as you did miftake 
 The outward compofition of his body. 
 What you haue done,hath not offended me : 
 Nor other fatisfaclion doe I craue, 
 
 459 
 
 But onely with your patience, that we may 
 Tafte of your Wine,and fee what Gates you haue, 
 For Souldiers ftomacks alwayes ferue them well. 
 
 Count. With all my heart, and thinke me honored, 
 To feaft fo great a Warrior in my Houfe. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter ^cbard Plantagenet, War *>/V, Somerset, 
 Poole, and others. 
 
 Torfy. Great Lords and Gentlemen, 
 What meanes this filence ? 
 Dare no man anfwer in a Cafe of Truth ? 
 
 Suff". Within the Temple Hall we were too lowd, 
 The Garden here is more conuenient. 
 
 Torl(. Then lay at once,if I maintain'd the Truth : 
 Or elfe was wrangling Somerjd in th'error? 
 
 Suff. Faith I haue beene a Truant in the Law, 
 And neuer yet could frame my will to it, 
 And therefore frame the Law vnto my will. 
 
 Som. lodge you, my Lord of Warwicke, then be- 
 tweene vs. 
 
 War. Between two Hawks, which flyes the higher pitch, 
 Between two Dogs, which hath the deeper mouth, 
 Between two Blades, which beares the better temper, 
 Between two Horfes, which doth beare him beft, 
 Between two Girles, which hath the merryeft eye, 
 I haue perhaps fome fliallow fpirit of Judgement : 
 But in thefe nice fliarpe Qujllets of the Law, 
 Good faith I am no wifer then a Daw. 
 
 TorJ(. Tut, tut, here is a mannerly forbearance : 
 The truth appeares fo naked on my fide, 
 That any purblind eye may find it out. 
 
 Som. And on my fide it is fo well apparrell'd, 
 So cleare, fo fliining, and fo euident, 
 That it will glimmer through a blind'mans eye. 
 
 Yor/^. Since you are tongue-ty'd,and fo loth to fpeake, 
 In dumbe fignificants proclayme your thoughts: 
 Let him that is a true-borne Gentleman, 
 And ftands vpon the honor of his birth, 
 If he fuppofe that I haue pleaded truth, 
 From off this Bryer pluck a white Rofe with me. 
 
 Som. Let him that is no Coward, nor no Flatterer, 
 But dare maintaine the partie of the truth, 
 Pluck a red Rofe from off this Thome with me. 
 
 War. I loue no Colours : and without all colour 
 Of bafe infinuating flatterie, 
 I pluck this white Rofe with Tlantagenet. 
 
 Suff. I pluck this red Rofe, with young Somerfct, 
 And fay withall, I thinke he held the right. 
 
 Vernon. Stay Lords and Gentlemen, and pluck no more 
 Till you conclude, that he vpon whofe fide 
 The feweft Rofes are cropt from the Tree, 
 Shall yeeld the other in the right opinion. 
 
 Som. Good Mafter Vernon^it is well obiedled : 
 If I haue feweft, I fubfcribe in filence. 
 
 Tori-, And I. 
 
 Vernon. Then for the truth, and plainnefle of the Cafe, 
 I pluck this pale and Maiden BlofTome here, 
 Giuing my Verdict on the white Rofe fide. 
 
 Som. Prick not your finger as you pluck it off, 
 Leaft bleeding, you doe paint the white Rofe red, 
 And fall on my fide fo againft your will. 
 
 Vernon. If I, my Lord, for my opinion bleed, 
 Opinion fliall be Surgeon to my hurt, 
 And keepe me on the fide where ftill I am. 
 
 Som. Well, well, come on, who elfe ? 
 
 Lawyer. Vn-
 
 The firft Tart of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Lawyer. Vnlefle my Studie and my Bookes be falfe, 
 The argument you held, was wrong in you ; 
 In figne whereof, I pluck a white Rofe too. 
 
 Yor^e. Now Somerfet, -where is your argument ? 
 
 Som. Here in my Scabbard, meditating, that 
 Shall dye your white Rofe in a bloody red. 
 
 Yor)(. Meane time your cheeks do counterfeit our Rofes: 
 For pale they looke with feare,as witneffing 
 The truth on our fide. 
 
 Som. No Plantagetiet : 
 
 'Tis not for feare, but anger, that thy cheekes 
 Bluih for pure fhame,to counterfeit our Rofes, 
 And yet thy tongue will not confefTe thy error. 
 
 Tariff. Hath not thy Rofe a Canker, Somerjet ? 
 
 Som. Hath not thy Rofe a Thorne, Plantagenet ? 
 
 Yorfy. I,fharpe and piercing to maintaine his truth, 
 Whiles thy confuming Canker eates his falfehood. 
 
 Som. Well, He find friends to weare my bleeding Rofes, 
 That fhall maintaine what I haue faid is true, 
 Where falfe Plantagenet dare not be feene. 
 
 Torfe. Now by this Maiden Bloflbme in my hand, 
 I fcorne thee and thy fafhion,peeuifli Boy. 
 
 Suff. Turne not thy fcornes this way, Plantagenet. 
 
 Yorkf. Prowd Toole, I will, and fcorne both him and 
 thee. 
 
 Suff~. He turne my part thereof into thy throat. 
 
 Som. Away, away, good William de la Poole, 
 We grace the Yeoman, by conuerfing with him. 
 
 Wartv.Novt by Gods will thou wrong'ft h\m,Somerfet : 
 His Grandfather was LyonelDulte of Clarence, 
 Third Sonne to the third Edward King of England : 
 Spring CreftlefTe Yeomen from fo deepe a Root ? 
 
 Yorl(e. He beares him on the place's Priuiledge, 
 Or durft not for his crauen heart fay thus. 
 
 Som, By him that made me, lie maintaine my words 
 On any Plot of Ground in Chriftendome. 
 Was not thy Father, Richard ,Ear]e of Cambridge, 
 For Treafon executed in our late Kings dayes 
 And by his Treafon, ftand'ft not thou attainted, 
 Corrupted, and exempt from ancient Gentry ? 
 His Trefpas yet Hues guiltie in thy blood, 
 And till thou be reftor'd, thou art a Yeoman. 
 
 Yorfy. My Father was attached, not attainted, 
 Condemn'd to dye for Treafon, but no Traytor ; 
 And that lie proue on better men then Somerjet, 
 Were growing time once ripened to my will. 
 For your partaker Poole, and you your felfe, 
 lie note you in my Booke of Memorie, 
 To fcourge you for this apprehenfion : 
 Looke to it well, and fay you are well warn'd. 
 
 Som. Ah, thou /halt finde vs ready for thee ftill : 
 And know vs by thefe Colours for thy Foes, 
 For thefe,my friends in fpight of thee fhall weare. 
 
 Yor](c. And by my Soule,this pale and angry Rofe, 
 As Cognizance of my blood-drinking hate, 
 Will I for euer,and my Faction weare, 
 Vntill it wither with me to my Grave, 
 Or flourifh to the height of my Degree. 
 
 Suff. Goe forward, and be choak'd with thy ambition : 
 And fo farwell,vntill I meet thee next. Sxit. 
 
 Som. Haue with thee Poole : Farwell ambitious JW- 
 chord. Sxlt. 
 
 Yorfy. How I am brau'd, and muft perforce endure 
 it? 
 
 Warn. This blot that they obieft againft your Houfe, 
 Shall be whipt out in the next Parliament, 
 
 Call'd for the Truce of Winchejier and Gloucefter : 
 And if thou be not then created Yori(e, 
 I will not liue to be accounted War-svicke. 
 Meane time, in fignall of my loue to thee, 
 Againft prowd Somerfet,nnd William Poole, 
 Will I vpon thy partie weare this Rofe. 
 And here I prophecie: this brawle to day, 
 Growne to this facYion in the Temple Garden, 
 Shall fend betweene the Red-Rofe and the White, 
 A thoufand Soules to Death and deadly Night. 
 
 Yorfe. Good Mafter "Demon,! am bound to you, 
 That you on my behalfe would pluck a Flower. 
 
 Ver. In your behalfe ftill will I weare the fame. 
 
 Lawyer. And fo will I, 
 
 Yor\e. Thankes gentle. 
 Come, let vs foure to Dinner : I dare fay, 
 This Qu_arrell will drinke Blood another day. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Mortimer, brought in a Cbayre, 
 and Taylors. 
 
 Mart. Kind Keepers of my weake decaying Age, 
 Let dying <&fortimer here reft himfelfe. 
 Euen like a man new haled from the Wrack, 
 So fare my Limbes with long Imprifonment : 
 And thefe gray Locks, the Purfuiuants of death, 
 NeJ}or-\\ke aged, in an Age of Care, 
 Argue the end of Edmund Mortimer. 
 Thefe Eyes, like Lampes, whofe wafting Oyle is fpent, 
 Waxe dimme,as drawing to their Exigent. 
 Weake Shoulders, ouer-borne with burthening Griefe, 
 And pyth-lefle Armes, like to a withered Vine, 
 That droupes his fappe-lefie Branches to the ground. 
 Yet are thefe Feet, whofe ftrength-lefie ftay is numme, 
 (Vnable to fupport this Lumpe of Clay) 
 Swift-winged with defire to get a Graue, 
 As witting I no other comfort haue. 
 But tell me, Keeper, will my Nephew come ? 
 
 Keeper. Richard T/antagettet,my Lord, will come : 
 We fent vnto the Temple, vnto his Chamber, 
 And anfwer was return'd,that he will come. 
 
 Mart. Enough : my Soule fhall then be fatisfied. 
 Poore Gentleman, his wrong doth equall mine. 
 Since Henry Monmouth firft began to reigne, 
 Before whofe Glory I was great in Armes, 
 This loathfome fequeftration haue I had ; 
 And euen fince then, hath Rjchardbeene obfcur'd, 
 Depriu'd of Honor and Inheritance. 
 But now, the Arbitrator of Defpaires, 
 luft Death, kinde Vmpire of mens miferies, 
 With fweet enlargement doth difmifle me hence : 
 I would his troubles likewife were expir'd, 
 That fo he might recouer what was loft. 
 
 Enter Richard. 
 
 Keeper. My Lord, your louing Nephew now is come. 
 Mor. Richard Plantagenet, my friend, is he come ? 
 Rich. I, Noble Vnckle,thus ignobly vs'd, 
 Your Nephew, late defpifed Richard, comes. 
 
 Mart. Diredt mine Armes,! may embrace his Neck, 
 And in his Bofome fpend my latter gafpe. 
 Oh tell me when my Lippes doe touch his Cheekes, 
 That I may kindly giue one fainting KifTe. 
 And now declare fweet Stem from Tories great Stock, 
 Why didft thou fay of late thou wert defpis'd ? 
 
 Rich. Firft 
 440
 
 The fir ft <Part of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 105 
 
 Rich. Firft,leane thine aged Back againft mine Arme, 
 And in that eafe,Iletell thee my Difeafe. 
 This day in argument vpon a Cafe, 
 Some words there grew'twixt Samerfet and me : 
 Among which tearmes,he vs'd his lauifh tongue, 
 And did vpbrayd me with my Fathers death ; 
 Which obloquie fet barres before my tongue, 
 EHewith the like I had requited him. 
 Therefore good Vnckle, for my Fathers fake, 
 In honor of a true Plantagenet, 
 And for Alliance fake, declare the caufe 
 My Father,Earle of Cambridge,loft his Head. 
 
 Mart. That caufe(faire Nephew) that imprifon'd me, 
 And hath detayn'd me all my flowring Youth, 
 Within a loathfome Dungeon, there to pyne, 
 Was curfed Inftrument of his deceafe. 
 
 Rich. Difcouer more at large what caufe that was, 
 For I am ignorant, and cannot guefle. 
 
 Mart. I will, rf that my fading breath permit, 
 And Death approach not, ere my Tale be done. 
 Henry the Fourth, Grandfather to this King, 
 Depos'd his Nephew J^/V bard, Edwards Sonne, 
 The firft begotten, and the lawfull Heire 
 Of Edward King, the Third of that Defcent. 
 During whofe Reigne, the Percies of the North, 
 Finding his Vfurpation moft vniuft, 
 Endeuour'd my aduancement to the Throne. 
 The reafon mou'd thefe Warlike Lords to this, 
 Was, for that ('young Richard thus remou'd, 
 Leauing no Heire begotten of his Body) 
 I was the next by Birth and Parentage : 
 For by my Mother, I deriued am 
 From Lionel Duke of Clarence, third Sonne 
 To King Edward the Third ; whereas hee, 
 From lobn of Gaunt doth bring his Pedigree, 
 Being but fourth of that Heroick Lyne. 
 But marke : as in this haughtie great attempt, 
 They laboured, to plant the rightfull Heire, 
 I loft my Libertie, and they their Liues. 
 Long after this, when Henry the Fift 
 (Succeeding his Father Bu/Jingbroofy ) did reigne ; 
 Thy Father, Earle of Cambridge, then deriu'd 
 From famous Edmund Lang/ey, Duke of Yorke, 
 Marrying my Sifter,that thy Mother was ; 
 Againe,in pitty of my hard diftrefle, 
 Leuied an Army, weening to redeeme, 
 And haue inftalPd me in the Diademe : 
 But as the reft,fo fell that Noble Earle, 
 And was beheaded. Thus the cMortimers, 
 In whom the Title refted,were fuppreft. 
 
 Rich. Of which, my Lord, your Honor is the laft. 
 
 Mart. True; and thou feeft,that I no Iflue haue, 
 And that my fainting words doe warrant death: 
 Thou art my Heire; the reft, I wifh thee gather : 
 But yet be wary in thy ftudious care. 
 
 '^icb.Thy graue admoni/hments preuayle with me: 
 But yet me thinkes,my Fathers execution 
 Was nothing lefle then bloody Tyranny. 
 
 Aforr.With filence, Nephew, be thou pollitick, 
 Strong fixed is the Houfe of Lancajter, 
 And like a Mountaine,not to be remou'd. 
 But now thy Vnckle is remouing hence, 
 As Princes doe their Courts, when they are cloy'd 
 With long continuance in a fetled place. 
 
 Ricb.O Vn-rkle, would fome part of my young yeeres 
 Might but redeeme the paflage of your Age. 
 
 Mort.lhou do'ft then wrong me, as y flaughterer doth, 
 Which giueth many Wounds, when one will kill. 
 Mourne not, except thou forrow for my good, 
 Onely giue order for my Funerall. 
 And fo farewell, and faire be all thy hopes, 
 And profperous be thy Life in Peace and Warre. Dyes. 
 Rich. And Peace, no Warre, befall thy parting Soule. 
 In Prifon haft thou fpent a Pilgrimage, 
 And like a Hermite ouer-paft thy dayes. 
 Well, I will locke his Councell in my Breft, 
 And what I doe imagine, let that reft. 
 Keepers conuey him hence, and I my felfe 
 Will fee his Buryall better then his Life. Exit. 
 
 Here dyes the duskie Torch of <&forttmer t 
 Choakt with Ambition of the meaner fort. 
 And for thofe Wrongs, thofe bitter Iniuries, 
 Which Somerset hath offer'd to my Houfe, 
 I doubt not, but with Honor to redrefle. 
 And therefore hafte I to the Parliament, 
 Eyther to be reftored to my Blood, 
 Or make my will th'aduantage of my good. Exit. 
 
 Aft us Tertius. Scena 'Prim a. 
 
 Flourijb. Enter King, Exeter, G/oJier, Wincbefter, War-trie^* 
 Somerj'et t Suffoll^,Ricbard Plantagenet . Glofler offers 
 
 to put -vf a Bill:Wmcbejler fnatcbes it, teares it. 
 Wincb. Com'ft thou with deepe premeditated Lines? 
 With written Pamphlets, ftudioufly deuis'd? 
 Humfrey of Glofter,if thou canft accufe, 
 Or ought intend'ft to lay vnto my charge, 
 Doe it without inuention,fuddenly, 
 As I with fudden,and extemporall fpeech, 
 Purpofe to anfwer what thou canft obiedl. 
 
 G/a.Prefumptuous Prieft,this place comands my patiece, 
 Or thou fliould'ft finde thou haft dis-honor'd me. 
 Thinke not, although in Writing I preferr'd 
 The manner of thy vile outragious Crymes, 
 That therefore I haue forg'd,or am not able 
 Verbatim to rehearfe the Methode of my Penne. 
 No Prelate, fuch is thy audacious wickednefTe, 
 Thy lewd,peftiferous,and diflentious prancks, 
 As very Infants prattle of thy pride. 
 Thou art a moft pernitious Vfurer, 
 Froward by nature, Enemie to Peace, 
 Lafciuious, wanton, more then well befeemes 
 A man of thy Profefllon,and Degree. 
 And for thy Trecherie, what's more manifeft? 
 In that thou layd'ft a Trap to take my Life, 
 As well at London Bridge, as at the Tower. 
 Befide, I feare me, if thy thoughts were fifted, 
 The King, thy Soueraigne,is not quite exempt 
 From enuious mallice of thy fwelling heart. 
 
 Wincb. Ghfter t \ doe defie thee. Lords vouchfafe 
 To giue me hearing what I fhall reply. 
 If I were couetous, ambitious, or peruerfe, 
 As he will haue me : how am I fo poore ? 
 Or how haps it, I feeke not to aduance 
 Or rayfe my felfe? but keepe my wonted Calling. 
 And for Diffention,who preferreth Peace 
 More then I doe ? except I be prouok'd. 
 No, my good Lords, it is not that offends, 
 It is not that, that hath incens'd the Duke : 
 It is becaufe no one fhould fway but hee, 
 No one, but hee, fhould be about the King; 
 And that engenders Thunder in his breaft, 
 
 1 And
 
 io6 
 
 Thejirji ^art of Henry the S/xf. 
 
 And makes him rore thefe Accufations forth. 
 But he flull know I am as good. 
 
 Glotf. As good ? 
 Thou Baftard of my Grandfather. 
 
 Winch. I, Lordly Sir: for what are you, I pray, 
 But one imperious in anothers Throne ? 
 
 Gloft. Am I not Protestor, fa wcie Prieft? 
 
 Wmcb. And am not I a Prelate of the Church? 
 
 Gloti. Yes, as an Out- law in a Caftle keepes, 
 And vfeth it, to patronage his Theft. 
 
 Winch. Vnreuerent Glocefter. 
 
 Gloft. Thou art reuerent, 
 Touching thy Spirituall Function, not thy Life. 
 
 Winch. Rome fliall remedie this. 
 
 Watts. Roame thither then. 
 My Lord, it were your dutie to forbeare. 
 
 Som. I, fee the Bifhop be not ouer-borne: 
 Me thinkes my Lord fliould be Religious, 
 And know the Office that belongs to fuch. 
 
 Warn. Me thinkes his Lordfhip fhould be humbler, 
 It fitr.eth not a Prelate fo to plead. 
 
 Som. Yes, when his holy State is toucht fo neere. 
 
 Warn. State holy, or vnhallow'd, what of that? 
 Is not his Grace Protector to the King ? 
 
 Rich. P/antageaet I fee muft hold his tongue, 
 Leaftit be faid,Speake Sirrha when you fhould : 
 Muft your bold Verdict enter talke with Lords? 
 Elfe would I haue a fling at Wtncbefter. 
 
 King. Vnckles of G/oJier,and of Wincbefter, 
 The fpeciall Watch-men of our Englifh Weale, 
 I would preuayle, if Prayers might preuayle, 
 To ioyne your hearts in loue and amitie. 
 Oh, what a Scandall is it to our Crowne, 
 That two fuch Noble Peeres as ye fhould iarre ? 
 Beleeue me, Lords, my tender yeeres can tell, 
 Ciuill diffention is a viperous Worme, 
 That gnawes the Bowels of the Common-wealth. 
 A. noyje within, Downe with the 
 Tawny-Coats. 
 
 King. What tumult's this ? 
 
 Warw. An Vprore, I dare warrant, 
 Begun through malice of the Bifhops men. 
 
 A ncyjie againe, Stones, Stones . 
 
 Enter cftfaior. 
 
 Malor. Oh my good Lords, and vertuous Henry, 
 Pitty the Citie of London, pitty vs: 
 The Bifhop,and the Duke of Glofters men, 
 Forbidden late to carry any Weapon, 
 Haue fill'd their Pockets full of peeble ftones; 
 And banding themfelues in contrary parts, 
 Doe pelt fo faft at one anothers Pate, 
 That many haue their giddy braynes knockt out : 
 Our Windowes are broke downe in euery Street, 
 And we, for feare,compeH'd to fhut our Shops. 
 
 Enter in styrmijb with bloody Pates. 
 
 King. We charge you, on allegeance to our felfe, 
 To hold your flaughtring hands,and keepe the Peace: 
 Pray' Vnckle Glofter mittigate this ftrife. 
 
 i.Seruing. Nay, if we be forbidden Stones, wee'le fall 
 to it with our Teeth. 
 
 z.&ruing. Doe what ye dare, we are as refolute. 
 Styrmijh againe. 
 
 Gloft. You of my houfehold, leaue this peeuilh broyle, 
 And fet this vnaccuftom'd fight afide. 
 
 3. &ru. My Lord, we know your Grace to be a man 
 Iuft,and vpright ; and for your Royall Birth, 
 Inferior to none, but to his Maieftie: 
 And ere that we will fuffer fuch a Prince, 
 So kinde a Father of the Common-weale, 
 To be difgraced by an Inke-horne Mate, 
 Wee and our Wiues and Children all will fight, 
 And haue our bodyes flaughtred by thy foes. 
 
 1 .Seru. I, and the very parings of our Nayles 
 Shall pitch a Field when we are dead. 
 
 'Begin againe. 
 
 Gloft. Stay,ftay,I fay: 
 And if you loue me, as you fay you doe, 
 Let me perfwade you to forbeare a while. 
 
 King. Oh, how this difcord doth afflict my Soule. 
 Can you, my Lord of Winchefter, behold 
 My fighes and teares, and will not once relent 
 Who fhould be pittifull,if you be not ? 
 Or who fhould ftudy to preferre a Peace, * 
 If holy Church-men take delight in broyles ? 
 
 Warn. Yeeld my Lord Protector, yeeld WincbeJIer, 
 Except you meane with obftinate repulfe 
 To flay your Soueraigne,and deftroy the Realme. 
 You fee what Mifchiefe,and what Murther too, 
 Hath beene enacted through your enmitie : 
 Then be at peace, except ye third for blood. 
 
 Winch. He fhall fubmit, or I will neuer yeeld. 
 
 Gloft. Compafiion on the King commands me ftoupe, 
 Or I would fee his heart out, ere the Prieft 
 Should euer get that priuiledge of me. 
 
 Warw. Behold my Lord of Winchefter, the Duke 
 Hath banifht moodie difcontented fury, 
 As by his fmoothed Browes it doth appeare : 
 Why looke you ftill fo fterne,and tragicall ? 
 
 Gloft. HerelFinchefter,! offer thee my Hand. 
 
 King. YieVnckle'Beauford, I haue heard you preach, 
 That Mallice was a great and grieuous finne : 
 And will not you maintaine the thing you teach ? 
 But proue a chiefe offender in the fame. 
 
 Warw. Sweet King: the Bifhop hath a kindly gyrd : 
 For fhame my Lord of Winchefter relent ; 
 What,fhall a Child inftruct you what to doe ? 
 
 Winch. Well, Duke of Glofter, I will yeeld to thee 
 Loue for thy Loue, and Hand for Hand I giue. 
 
 Gloft. I, but I feare me with a hollow Heart. 
 See here my Friends and louing Countreymen, 
 This token ferueth for a Flagge of Truce, 
 Betwixt our felues, and all our followers : 
 So helpe me God, as I diffemble not. 
 
 Winch. So helpe me God, as I intend it not. 
 
 King. Oh louing Vnckle, kinde Duke of Glofter, 
 How ioyfull am I made by this Contract. 
 Away my Mafters, trouble vs no move, 
 But ioyne in friendfhip,as your Lords haue done. 
 
 1. Seru. Content, lie to the Surgeons. 
 
 2. Seru. And fo will I. 
 
 3-&/-K. And I will fee what Phyfick the Tauerne af- 
 fords. Exeunt. 
 
 Warn. Accept this Scrowle, moft gracious Soueraigne, 
 Which in the Right of Richard flantagenet, 
 We doe exhibite to your Maieftie. 
 
 GVo.Well vrg'd,my Lord of Warwick: for fweet Prince, 
 And if your Grace marke euery circumftance, 
 You haue great reafon to doe Richard right, 
 Efpecially for thofe occafions 
 At Eltam Place I told your Maieftie. 
 
 King. And 
 
 44*
 
 Thefirft 'Part of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 107 
 
 King. And thofe occafions,Vnckle, were offeree : 
 Therefore my louing Lords, our pleafure is, 
 That Richard be reftored to his Blood. 
 
 Warn. Let Richard be reftored to his Blood, 
 So flull his Fathers wrongs be recompenc't. 
 
 Winch. As will the reft,fo willeth Wmchefter. 
 
 King. If Richard will be true, not that all alone, 
 But all the whole Inheritance I giue, 
 That doth belong vnto the Houfe of Tor fa 
 From whence you fpring, by Lineall Defcent. 
 
 Rich. Thy humble ieruant vowes obedience, 
 And humble feruice,till the point of death. 
 
 King. Stoope then, and fet your Knee againft my Foot, 
 And in reguerdon of that dutie done, 
 I gyrt thee with the valiant Sword of Torfy : 
 Rife Ricbard,l\ke a true Plantagenet, 
 And rife created Princely Duke of Tor fa 
 
 Rich. And fo thriue Richard, as thy foes may fall, 
 And as my dutie fprings,fo perifli they, 
 That grudge one thought againft youi Maiefty. 
 All. Welcome high Prince, the mighty Duke ofTerlp. 
 
 &m. Perifli bafe Prince, ignoble Duke of Tor fa 
 
 Gloft. Now will it beft auaile your Maieftie, 
 To crofle the Seas, and to be Crown'd in France : 
 The prefence of a King engenders loue 
 Amongft his Subiec~b,and his loyall Friends, 
 As it dif-animates his Enemies. 
 
 King. When Glofter fayes the word, King Henry goes, 
 For friendly counfaile cuts off many Foes. 
 
 Glojl. Your Ships alreadie are in readinefle. 
 Senet. Flourijh. Exeunt. 
 
 Manet Exeter. 
 
 Exet. I, we may march in England, or in France, 
 Not feeing what is likely to enfue: 
 This late diflention growne betwixt the Peeres, 
 Burnes vnder fained afhes of forg'd loue, 
 And will at laft breake out into a flame, 
 As feftred members rot but by degree, 
 Till bones and flefli and finewes fall away, 
 So will this bafe and enuious difcord breed. 
 And now I feare that fatall Prophecie, 
 Which in the time of Henry, nam'd the Fift, 
 Was in the mouth of euery fucking Babe, 
 That Henry borne at Monmouth fhoulii winne all, 
 And Henry borne at Windfor,loofe all : 
 Which is fo plaine, that Exeter doth wifh, 
 His dayes may finifh, ere that haplefle time. Exit. 
 
 Sccena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Pucell difguis'd, with four e Souldiors with 
 
 Sac\s -upon their bacl(s. 
 
 Pucell. Thefe are the Citie Gates, the Gates of Roan, 
 Through which our Pollicy muft make a breach. 
 Take heed, be wary how you place your words, 
 Talke like the vulgar fort of Market men, 
 That come to gather Money for their Corne. 
 If we haue entrance,as I hope we fhall, 
 And that we finde the floutnfull Watch but weake, 
 He by a figne giue notice to our friends, 
 That Charles the Dolphin may encounter them. 
 
 44} 
 
 Sculaier. Our Sacks fhall be a meane to fack the City, 
 And we be Lords and Rulers ouer Roan, 
 Therefore wee'le knock. Knoc/(. 
 
 Watch. Cbela. 
 
 Pucell, Peafauns la pouure gens de Fraunce, 
 Poore Market folkes that come to fell their Corne. 
 
 Watch. Enter, goe in, the Market Bell is rung. 
 
 Pucell. Now Roan, lie fhake thy Bulwarkes to the 
 ground. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Charles, Baftard, Alanfon. 
 
 Charles. Saint Dennis blefTe this happy Stratagefne, 
 And once againe wee'le fleepe fecure in Roan. 
 
 Baflard. Here entred Pucell, and her Pra&ifants : 
 Now fhe is there, how will fhe fpecifie? 
 Here is the beft and fafeft paflage in. 
 
 Reig. By thrufting out a Torch from yonder To^er, 
 Which once difcern'd, fliewes that her meaning is, 
 No way to that(for weaknefle )which fhe entred. 
 Enter Pucell on the top, thrufting out a 
 Torch burning. 
 
 Pucell. Behold, this is the happy Wedding Torch, 
 That ioyneth Roan vnto her Countreymen, 
 But burning fatall to the Talbonites. 
 
 'Baftard. See Noble Charles the Beacon of our friend, 
 The burning Torch in yonder Turret ftands. 
 
 Charles. Now fhine it like a Commet of Reuenge, 
 A Prophet to the fall of all our Foes. 
 
 fyig. Deferre no time,delayes haue dangerous ends, 
 Enter and cry, the Dolphin, prefently, 
 And then doe execution on the Watch. Alarum. 
 
 An Alarum. Talbot in an Excurfan, 
 Talb. France, thou fhalt rue this Treafon with thy teares, 
 If Talbot but furuiue thy Trecherie. 
 Pucell that Witch, that damned Sorcereffe, 
 Hath wrought this Hellifh Mifchiefe vnawares, 
 That hardly we efcap't the Pride of France. Exit. 
 
 An Alarum : Excwjions. Bedford brought 
 injicltf in a Chayre. 
 
 Enter Talbot and Burgonie without : within, Pucell, 
 
 Charles, Baftard , and Reigneir on the Walls. 
 Pucell. God morrow Gallants, want ye Corn for Bread? 
 I thinke the Duke of Burgonie will faft, 
 Before hee'le buy againe at fuch a rate. 
 'Twas full of Darnell : doe you like the tafte ? 
 
 Burg. Scoffe on vile Fiend, and fhamelefle Curtizan, 
 I truft ere long to choake thee with thine owne, 
 And make thee curfe the Harueft of that Corne. 
 
 Charles. Your Grace may ftarue ( perhaps ) before that 
 time. 
 
 Bedf. Oh let no words, but deedes,reuenge this Trea- 
 fon. 
 
 Tucell. What will you doe, good gray-beard? 
 Breake a Launce, and runne a-Tilt at Death, 
 Within a Chayre. 
 
 Talb. Foule Fiend of France, and Hag of all defpight, 
 Incompafs'd with thy luftfull Paramours, 
 Becomes it thee to taunt his valiant Age, 
 And twit with Cowardife a man halfe dead ? 
 Damfell,Ile haue a bowt with you againe, 
 Or elfe let Talbot perifh with this fhame. 
 
 Pucell. Art ye fo hot, Sir: yet Pucell hold thy peace, 
 If Talbot doe but Thunder, Raine will follow. 
 
 They -wbijfier together in counfell. 
 God fpeed the Parliament: who fhall be the Speaker? 
 
 1 2 Talb.Dzre
 
 io8 
 
 Tbefirft <PartofHenrytbeSixt. 
 
 Talb. Dare yee come forth, and meet vs in the field ? 
 
 Pucell. Belike your Lordfhip takes vs then for fooles, 
 To try if that our owne be ours, or no. 
 
 Talb. I fpeake not to that rayling Hecate, 
 But vnto thee Alanjon, and the reft. 
 Will ye, like Souldiors,come and fight it out ? 
 
 Alanj. Seignior no. 
 
 Talb. Seignior hang: bafe Muleters of France, 
 Like Pefant foot-Boyes doe they keepe the Walls, 
 And dare not take vp Armes, like Gentlemen. 
 
 Pucell. Away Captaines, let's get vs from the Walls, 
 For Talbot meanes no goodnefle by his Lookes. 
 God b'uy my Lord, we came but to tell you 
 That wee are here. Exeunt from the Walls. 
 
 Talb. And there will we be too, ere it be long, 
 Or elfe reproach be Talbots greateft fame. 
 Vow Burgonie, by honor of thy Houfe, 
 Prickt on by publike Wrongs fuftain'd in France, 
 Either to get the Towne againe, or dye. 
 And I, as fure as Englifli Henry Hues, 
 And as his Father here was Conqueror; 
 As fure as in this late betrayed Towne, 
 Great Cordelions Heart was buryed ; 
 So fure I fweare,to get the Towne, or dye. 
 
 'Burg. My Vowes are equall partners with thy 
 Vowes. 
 
 Talb. But ere we goe, regard this dying Prince, 
 The valiant Duke of Bedford : Come my Lord, 
 We will beftow you in fome better place, 
 Fitter for ficknefle,and for crafie age. 
 
 Bedf. Lord Talbot, Aot not fo dishonour me : 
 Here will I fit, before the Walls of Roan, 
 And will be partner of your weale or woe. 
 
 'Burg. Couragious 'Bedford, let vs now perfwade you. 
 
 'Bedf. Not to be gone from hence : for once I read, 
 That ftout Pendragon,\n his Litter fick, 
 Came to the field, and vanqui/hed his foes. 
 Me thinkes I ihould reuiue the Souldiors hearts, 
 Becaufe I euer found them as my felfe. 
 
 Talb. Vndaunted fpirit in a dying breaft, 
 Then be it fo : Heauens keepe old Bedford fafe. 
 And now no more adoe, braue f Burgonit t 
 But gather we our Forces out of hand, 
 And fet vpon our boafting Enemie. Exit. 
 
 tAn Alarum : Excurftons . Enter Sir John 
 Falftajfe, and a Captaine. 
 
 Capt. Whither away Sir lobn Faljlaffe,\n fuch haftec" 
 Faljt. Whither away ? to faue my felfe by flight, 
 We are like to haue the ouerthrow againe. 
 
 Capt. What? will you flye,and leaue Lord Talbot* 
 Falft. I, all the Talboti in the World, to faue my life. 
 
 Exit. 
 
 Capt. Cowardly Knight, ill fortune follow thee. 
 
 Exit. 
 
 Retreat. Bxcurjiont. Pucell, Alanfon, and 
 Charles jlye. 
 
 'Bedf. Now quiet Soule, depart when Heauen pleafe, 
 For 1 haue feene our Enemies ouerthrow. 
 What is the truft or ftrength of foolifli man ? 
 They that of late were daring with their fcoffes, 
 Are glad and faine by flight to faue themfelues. 
 Bedford dyes, and it carryed in by two in bis Cbaire. 
 
 An Alarum. Enter Talbot , Burgonie, and 
 the reft. 
 
 Talb. Loft, and recouered in a day againe, 
 This is a double Honor, Burgonie: 
 Yet Heauens haue glory for this Vidlorie. 
 
 'Burg. Warlike and Martiall Talbot, Burgonie 
 Infhrines thee in his heart,and there creels 
 Thy noble Deeds, as Valors Monuments. 
 
 Talb. Thanks gentle Duke: but where is Pucel now ? 
 I thinke her old Familiar is afleepe. 
 
 Now where's the Baftards braues, and Qbarles his glikes i 
 What all amort? Roan hangs her head for griefe, 
 That fuch a valiant Company are fled. 
 Now will we take fome order in the Towne, 
 Placing therein fome expert Officers, 
 And then depart to Paris, to the King, 
 For there young Henry with his Nobles lye. 
 
 Burg. What wills Lord TaMof,pleafeth Burgonie. 
 
 Talb. But yet before we goe, let's not forget 
 The Noble Duke of Bedford, late deceas'd, 
 But fee his Exequies fulfill'd in Roan. 
 A brauer Souldier neuer couched Launce, 
 A gentler Heart did neuer fway in Court. 
 But Kings and mightieft Potentates muft die, 
 For that's the end of humane miferie. Exeunt. 
 
 Sctena Tertia. 
 
 Enter Charles, Baftard, Alanfon, Tucell. 
 
 Pucell. Difmay not (Princes,) at this accident, 
 Nor grieue that Roan is fo recouered : 
 Care is no cure, but rather corrofiue, 
 For things that are not to be remedy'd. 
 Let frantike Talbot triumph for a while, 
 And like a Peacock fweepe along his tayle, 
 Wee'le pull his Plumes, and take away his Trayne, 
 If Dolphin and the reft will be but rul'd. 
 
 Charles. We haue been guided by thee hitherto, 
 And of thy Cunning had no diffidence, 
 One fudden Foyle fhall neuer breed diftruft. 
 
 Baftard. Search out thy wit for fecret pollicies, 
 And we will make thee famous through the World. 
 
 Alanf. Wee'le fet thy Statue in fome holy place, 
 And haue thee reuerenc't like a blefled Saint. 
 Employ thee then, fweet Virgin, for our good. 
 
 fucell. Then thus it muft be, this doth loane deuife : 
 By faire perfwafions, mixt with fugred words, 
 We will entice the Duke of Burgonie 
 To leaue the Talbot, *n& to follow vs. 
 
 Charles. I marry Sweeting, if we could doe that, 
 France were no place for Henryes Warriors, 
 Nor fliould that Nation boaft it fo with vs, 
 But be extirped from our Prouinces. 
 
 Alanf.Yor euer fliould they be expuls'd from France, 
 And not haue Title of an Earledome here. 
 
 Tucell. Your Honors /hall perceiue how I will worke, 
 To bring this matter to the wiftied end. 
 
 'Drumme founds a Jarre off. 
 
 Hearke,by the found of Drumme you may perceiue 
 Their Powers are marching vnto Paris-ward. 
 
 Here found an Englijh March. 
 There goes the Ta/i>ot,w\th his Colours fpred, 
 And all the Troupes of Englifli after him. 
 
 French
 
 The fir ft ^art of Henry the Sixf. 
 
 109 
 
 French March. 
 
 Now in the Rereward comes the Duke and his : 
 Fortune in fauor makes him lagge behinde. 
 Summon a Parley, we will talke with him. 
 
 Trumpets found a Parley. 
 
 Charles. A Parley with the Duke of Burgonie. 
 
 'Burg. Who craues a Parley with the Burgonie ? 
 
 Pucell. The Princely Charles of France, thy Countrey- 
 man. 
 
 'Burg. What fay'ft thou Charles ? for I am marching 
 hence. 
 
 Charles. Speake Pucell, and enchaunt him with thy 
 words. 
 
 Pucell. Braue e Burgonie,vndo\ibted hope of France, 
 Stay, let thy humble Hand-maid fpeake to thee. 
 
 'Burg. Speake on, but be not ouer-tedious. 
 
 Pucell. Looke on thy Country, look on fertile France, 
 And fee the Cities and the Townes defac't, 
 By wafting Ruine of the cruell Foe, 
 As lookes the Mother on her lowly Babe, 
 When Death doth clofe his tender-dying Eyes, 
 See, fee the pining Maladie of France : 
 Behold the Wounds, the moft vnnaturall Wounds, 
 Which thou thy felfe haft giuen her wofull Breft. 
 Oh turne thy edged Sword another way, 
 Strike thofe that hurt,and hurt not thofe that helpe : 
 One drop of Blood drawne from thy Countries Bofome, 
 Should grieue thee more then ftreames of forraine gore. 
 Returne thee therefore with a floud of Teares, 
 And waSh away thy Countries ftayned Spots. 
 
 'Burg. Either She hath bewitcht me with her words, 
 Or Nature makes me fuddenly relent. 
 
 Pa//.Befides,all French and France exclaimes on thee, 
 Doubting thy Birth and lawful! Progenie. 
 Who ioyn'ft thou with, but with a Lordly Nation, 
 That will not truft thee, but for profits fake? 
 When Talbot hath fet footing once in France, 
 And fafliion'd thee that Inftrument of 111, 
 Who then, but Englifh Henry, will be Lord, 
 And thou be thruft out, like a Fugitiue ? 
 Call we to minde, and marke but this for proofe: 
 Was not the Duke of Orleance thy Foe ? 
 And was he not in England Prifoner ? 
 But when they heard he was thine Enemie, 
 They fet him free, without his Ranfome pay'd, 
 In fpight of 'Burgonie and all his friends. 
 See then, thou fight'ft againft thy Countreymen, 
 And ioyn'ft with them will be thy daughter-men. 
 Come, come, returne ; returne thou wandering Lord, 
 Charles and the reft will take thee in their armes. 
 
 'Burg. I am vanquished : 
 Thefe haughtie wordes of hers 
 Haue batt'red me like roaring Cannon-Shot, 
 And made me almoft yeeld vpon my knees. 
 Forgiue me Countrey, and fweet Countreymen : 
 And Lords accept this heartie kind embrace. 
 My Forces and my Power of Men are yours. 
 So farwell Talbot, lie no longer truft thee. 
 
 Pucell. Done like a Frenchman : turne and turne a- 
 gaine. 
 
 Charles. Welcome braue Duke, thy friendship makes 
 vs freSh. 
 
 'BaRard. And doth beget new Courage in our 
 Breafts. 
 
 Alanf. Pucell hath brauely play'd her part in this, 
 And doth deferue a Coronet of Gold. 
 
 Charles. Now let vs on, my Lords, 
 And ioyne our Powers, 
 And feeke how we may preiudice the Foe. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Sccena Quarta. 
 
 Enter the King , Gloucefter, IVincbefter, Yortg, Suffice, 
 
 Somerfet, Warniclie, Exeter : To them, with 
 
 bis Souldiors, Talbot. 
 
 Tall. My gracious Prince, and honorable Peeres, 
 Hearing of your arriuall in this Realme, 
 I haue a while giuen Truce vnto my Warres, 
 To doe my dutie to my Soueraigne. 
 In Signe whereof, this Arme, that hath reclaym'd 
 To your obedience, fiftie Fortrefles, 
 Twelue Cities,and feuen walled Townes of ftrength, 
 Befide fiue hundred Prifoners of efteeme; 
 Lets fall his Sword before your HighneflTe feet : 
 And with fubmiffiue loyaltie of heart 
 Afcribes the Glory of his Conqueft got, 
 Firft to my God, and next vnto your Grace. 
 
 King. Is this the Lord Talbot, Vnckle Gloucejier, 
 That hath fo long beene refident in France ? 
 
 GloSt. Yes, if it pleafe your Maieftie, my Liege. 
 
 King. Welcome braue Captaine,and victorious Lord; 
 When I was young (as yet I am not old) 
 I doe remember how my Father faid, 
 A ftouter Champion neuer handled Sword. 
 Long Since we were refolued.of your truth, 
 Your faithfull feruice,and your toyle in Warre : 
 Yet neuer haue you tafted our Reward, 
 Or beene reguerdon'd with fo much as Thanks, 
 Becaufe till now, we neuer faw your face. 
 Therefore ftand vp,and for thefe good deferts, 
 We here create you Earle of Shrewsbury, 
 And in our Coronation take your place. 
 
 Senet. Flourijb. Exeunt. 
 
 <&fanet Vernon and Baffet. 
 
 fern. Now Sir, to you that were fo hot at Sea, 
 Difgracing of thefe Colours that I weare, 
 In honor of my Noble Lord of Yorke 
 Dar'ftthou maintaine the former words thou fpak'ft? 
 
 Bajf. Yes Sir, as well as you dare patronage 
 The enuious barking of your fawcie Tongue, 
 Againft my Lord the Duke of Somerfet. 
 
 Vern. Sirrha, thy Lord I honour as he is. 
 
 'Bajf. Why, what is he? as good a man as Yorfy. 
 
 Vern. Hearke ye: not fo : in witnefle take ye that. 
 
 Strides him. 
 
 'Bajf. Villaine , thou knoweft 
 The Law of Armes is fuch, 
 That who fo drawes a Sword,'tis prefent death, 
 Or elfe this Blow Should broach thy deareft Bloud. 
 But lie vnto his Maieftie, and craue, 
 I may haue libertie to venge this Wrong, 
 When thou Shalt fee, He meet thee to thy coft. 
 
 Vern. Well mifcreant,Ile be there as foone as you, 
 And after meete you, fooner then you would. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 l Snte 
 
 44J
 
 The firft Tart of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Aftus Quart us. ScenaTrima. 
 
 Enter King, Glocefter, Wincbefter, Yorfe, Suffol^e, Somer- 
 fet, JParveic^e , Talbot.and Geuernor Exeter. 
 
 Glo. Lord Bifhop fet the Crowne vpon his head. 
 
 Win. God faue King Henry of that name the fixt. 
 
 Glo. Now Gouernour of Paris take your oath, 
 That you eledl no other King but him; 
 Efteeme none Friends, but fuch as are his Friends, 
 And none your Foes, but fuch as /hall pretend 
 Malicious pradtifes againft his State : 
 This fhall ye do, fo helpe you righteous God. 
 Enter Falfiaffe. 
 
 Fal. My gracious Soueraigne, as I rode from Calice, 
 To hafte vnto your Coronation : 
 A Letter was deliuer'd to my hands, 
 Writ to your Grace, from th'Duke of Burgundy. 
 
 Tal. Shame to the Duke of Burgundy, and thee : 
 I vow'd ( bafe Knight) when I did meete the next, 
 To teare the Garter from thy Crauens legge, 
 Which I haue done, becaufe ( vnworthily ) 
 Thou was't inftalled in that High Degree. 
 Pardon me Princely Henry, and the reft : 
 This Daftard, at the battell of Poiffitrs, 
 When (but in all) I was fixe thoufand ftrong, 
 And that the French were almoft ten to one, 
 Before we met, or that a ftroke was giuen, 
 Like to a truftie Squire, did run away. 
 In which afTault, we loft twelue hundred men. 
 My felfe, and diuers Gentlemen befide, 
 Were thete furpriz'd, and taken prifoners. 
 Then iudge (great Lords) if I haue done amifle : 
 Or whether that fuch Cowards ought to weare 
 This Ornament of Knighthood, yea or no? 
 
 Glo. To fay the truth, this fadl was infamous, 
 And ill befeeming any common man ; 
 Much more a Knight, a Captaine, and a Leader. 
 
 Tal. When firft this Order was ordain'd my Lords, 
 Knights of the Garter were of Noble birth ; 
 Valiant, and Vertuous, full of haughtie Courage, 
 Such as were growne to credit by the warres : 
 Not fearing Death, nor Shrinking for Diftreffe, 
 But alwayes refolute, in moft extreames. 
 He then, that is not furnifh'd in this fort, 
 Doth but vfurpe the Sacred name of Knight, 
 Prophaning this moft Honourable Order, 
 And fhould (if I were worthy to be Judge) 
 Be quite degraded, like a Hedge-borne Swaine, 
 That doth prefume to boaft of Gentle blood. 
 
 K. Staine to thy Countrymen, thou hear'ft thy doom: 
 Be packing therefore, thou that was't a knight : 
 Henceforth we banifh thee on paine of death. 
 And now Lord Protedlor, view the Letter 
 Sent from our Vnckle Duke of Burgundy. 
 
 Glo. What meanes his Grace, that he hath chaung'd 
 
 his Stile ? 
 
 No more but plaine and bluntly ? (To the King.} 
 Hath he forgot he is his Soueraigne ? 
 Or doth this churlifh Superfcription 
 Pretend fome alteration in good will ? 
 What's heere ? / baue iipon ejpeciall caufe, 
 tflfoii'd with companion of my Countries tvrac^e, 
 Together rtitb the pittifull complaints 
 Offucb tu your cpprejjlon f cedes vpon, 
 
 Forfalgn your pernitious Faff ion, 
 
 And ioyn'd tv'nh Charles, the rightfull /(ing of France. 
 
 monftrous Treachery : Can this be fo ? 
 That in alliance, amity, and oathes, 
 
 There fhould be found fuch falfe diflembling guile? 
 
 King. What? doth my Vnckle Burgundy reuolt? 
 
 Glo. He doth my Lord, and is become your foe. 
 
 King. Is that the worft this Letter doth containe ? 
 
 Glo. It is the worft, and all (my Lord) he writes. 
 
 King.Why then Lord Talbot there fhal talk with him, 
 And giue him chafticement for this abufe. 
 How fay you (my Lord) are you not content? 
 
 Tal. Content, my Liege? Yes: But y I am preuented, 
 
 1 fhould haue begg'd I might haue bene employd. 
 
 King. Then gather ftrength, and march vnto him 
 
 ftraight: 
 
 Let him perceiue how ill we brooke his Treafon, 
 And what offence it is to flout his Friends. 
 
 Tal. I go my Lord, in heart defiring ftill 
 You may behold confufion of your foes. 
 Enter Vernon and 'Soffit. 
 
 Ver. Grant me the Combate, gracious Soueraigne. 
 
 'BaJ. And me (my Lord) grant me the Combate too. 
 
 Yorke. This is my Seruant, heare him Noble Prince. 
 
 Som. And this is mine (fweet Henry] fauour him. 
 
 King. Be patient Lords, and giue them leaue to fpeak. 
 Say Gentlemen, what makes you thus exclaime, 
 And wherefore craue you Combate? Or with whom f 
 
 J'V.With him (my Lord) for he hath done me wrong. 
 
 Eaf.And I with him, for he hath done me wrong. 
 
 King. What is that wrong, wherof you both complain 
 Firft let me know, and then lie anfwer you. 
 
 'BaJ. Croffing the Sea, from England into France, 
 This Fellow heere with enuious carping tongue, 
 Vpbraided me about the Rofe I weare, 
 Saying, the fanguine colour of the Leaues 
 Did reprefent my Mafters blufhing cheekes : 
 When ftubbornly he did repugne the truth, 
 About a certaine queftion in the Law, 
 Argu'd betwixt the Duke of Yorke, and him : 
 With other vile and ignominious tearmes. 
 In confutation of which rude reproach, 
 And in defence of my Lords worthinefle, 
 I craue the benefit of Law of Armes. 
 
 Uer. And that is my petition ( Noble Lord:) 
 For though he feeme with forged queint conceite 
 To fet a glofTe vpon his bold intent, 
 Yet knowfmy Lord) I was prouok'd by him, 
 And he firft tooke exceptions at this badge, 
 Pronouncing that the palenefTe of this Flower, 
 Bewray'd the faintnefTe of my Mafters heart. 
 
 Tor\e. Will not this malice Somerfet be left? 
 
 Som. Your priuate grudge my Lord of York,wil out, 
 Though ne're fo cunningly you fmother it. 
 
 King. 'Good Lord, what madnefie rules in braine- 
 
 ficke men, 
 
 When for fo flight and friuolous a caufe, 
 Such factious aemulations fhall arife ? 
 Good Cofins both of Yorke and Somerfet, 
 Qinet your felues (I pray) and be at peace. 
 
 Tor\e. Let this diflention firft be tried by fight, 
 And then your HighnefTe fhall command a Peace. 
 
 Som. The quarrell toucheth none but vs alone, 
 Betwixt our felues let vs decide it then. 
 
 Yor^e. There is my pledge, accept it Somerfet. 
 
 Ver. Nay, let it reft where it began at firft. 
 
 446
 
 Tbefirjl Tart of Henry tbeStxt. 
 
 in 
 
 . Confirme it fo, mine honourable Lord. 
 
 Glo. Confirme it fb .'Confounded be your ftrife, 
 And perifh ye with your audacious prate, 
 Prefumptuous vaflals, are you not alham'd 
 With this immodeft clamorous outrage, 
 To trouble and difturbe the King, and Vs f 
 And you my Lords, me thinkes you do not well 
 To beare with their peruerfe Obiections : 
 Much leffe to take occafion from their mouthes, 
 To raife a mutiny betwixt your felues. 
 Let me perfwade you take a better courfe. 
 
 Exet. It greeues his Highnefle, 
 Good my Lords, be Friends. 
 
 King. Come hither you that would be Combatants : 
 Henceforth I charge you, as you loue our fauour, 
 Qu_ite to forget this Quarrell, and the caufe. 
 And you my Lords : Remember where we are, 
 In France, amongft a fickle wauering Nation : 
 If they perceyue difiention in our lookes, 
 And that within our felues we difagree ; 
 How will their grudging ftomackes be prouok'd 
 To wilfull Difobedience, and Rebell ? 
 Befide, What infamy will there arife, 
 When Forraigne Princes fhall be certified, 
 That for a toy, a thing of no regard, 
 King Henries Peeres, and cheefe Nobility, 
 Deftroy'd themfelues, and loft the Realme of France ? 
 Oh thinke vpon the Conqueft of my Father, 
 My tender yeares, and let vs not forgoe 
 That for a trifle, that was bought with blood. 
 Let me be Vmper in this doubtfull ftrife : 
 I fee no reafon if I weare this Rofe, 
 That any one fhould therefore be fufpitious 
 I more incline to Somerfet, than Yorke : 
 Both are my kinfmen, and I loue them both. 
 As well they may vpbray'd me with my Crowne, 
 Becaufe(forfootbJ the King of Scots is Crown'd. 
 But your difcretions better can perfwade, 
 Then I am able to inftruft or teach : 
 And therefore, as we hither came in peace, 
 So let vs ftill continue peace, and loue. 
 Cofin of Yorke, we inftitute your Grace 
 To be our Regent in thefe parts of France : 
 And good my Lord of Somerfet, vnite 
 Your Troopes of horfemen, with his Bands of foote, 
 And like true Subie&s, fonnes of your Progenitors, 
 Go cheerefully together, and digeft 
 Your angry Choller on your Enemies. 
 Our Selfe, my Lord Protector, and the reft, 
 After fome refpit, will returne to Calice ; 
 From thence to England, where I hope ere long 
 To be prefented by your Victories, 
 With Charles, Alanjon, and that Traiterous rout. 
 
 Sxeunt. <^Manet Tcrkf^War-aic^Exeter^Vernon. 
 
 War. My Lord of Yorke, I promife you the King 
 Prettily (me thought) did play the Orator.) 
 
 Tor\e. And fo he did, but yet I like it not, 
 In that he weares the badge of Somerfet. 
 
 W ar> Tufh, that was but his fancie, blame him not, 
 I dare prefume (fweet Prince) he thought no harme. 
 
 Tor^. And if I wifti he did. But let it reft, 
 Other affayres muft now be managed. Exeunt. 
 
 Flourijb. Manet Bxeter. 
 
 Exet. Well didft thou Richard to fupprefle thy voice : 
 For had the pafiions of thy heart burft out, 
 I feare we ihould haue feene decipher'd there 
 
 447 
 
 More rancorous fpight, more furious raging broyles, 
 
 Then yet can be imagin'd or fuppos'd : 
 
 But howfoere, no fimple man that fees 
 
 This iarring difcord of Nobilitie, 
 
 This fhouldering of each other in the Court, 
 
 This factious bandying of their Fauourites, 
 
 But that it doth prefage fome ill euent. 
 
 'Tis much, when Scepters are in Childrens hands: 
 
 But more, when Enuy breeds vnkinde deuifion, 
 
 There comes the ruine, there begins confufion. Exit. 
 
 Enter Talbot wtb Trumpe and Drumme, 
 before Burdeaux. 
 
 Tail. Go to the Gates of Burdeaux Trumpeter, 
 Summon their Generall vnto the Wall. Sounds. 
 
 Enter Cjenerall aloft. 
 
 Englifh lobn Talbot (Captaines) call you forth, 
 Seruant in Armes to Harry King of England, 
 And thus he would. Open your Citie Gates, 
 Be humble to vs, call my Soueraigne yours, 
 And do him homage as obedient Subiec~b, 
 And He withdraw me, and my bloody power. 
 But if you frowne vpon this proffer'd Peace, 
 You tempt the fury of my three attendants, 
 Leane Famine, quartering Steele, and climbing Fire, 
 Who in a moment, eeuen with the earth, 
 Shall lay your ftately, and ayre-briuing Towers, 
 If you forfake the offer of their loue. 
 
 Cap. Thou ominous and fearefull Owle of death, 
 Our Nations terror, and their bloody fcourge, 
 The period of thy Tyranny approacheth, 
 On vs thou canft not enter but by death : 
 For I proteft we are well fortified, 
 And ftrong enough to iffue out and fight. 
 If thou retire, the Dolphin well appointed, 
 Stands with the fnares of Warre to tangle thee. 
 On either hand thee, there are fquadrons pitcht, 
 To wall thee from the liberty of Flight ; 
 And no way canft thou turne thee for redrefle, 
 But death doth front thee with apparant fpoyle, 
 And pale deftruclion meets thee in the face : 
 Ten thoufand French haue tane the Sacrament, 
 To ryue their dangerous Artillerie 
 Vpon no Chriftian foule but Engli/h Talbit : 
 Loe, there thou ftandft a breathing valiant man 
 Of an inuincible vnconquer'd fpirit : 
 This is the lateft Glorie of thy praife, 
 That I thy enemy dew thee withall : 
 For ere the Glafle that now begins to runne, 
 Finilh the procefle of his fandy houre, 
 Thefe eyes that fee thee now well coloured, 
 Shall fee thee withered, bloody, pale, and dead. 
 
 Drum a Jarre off. 
 
 Harke, harke, the Dolphins drumme, a warning bell, 
 Sings heauy Mulicke to thy timorous foule, 
 And mine fhall ring thy dire departure out. Exit 
 
 Tal. He Fables not, I heare the er.emie : 
 Out fome light Horfemen, and perufe their Wings. 
 O negligent and heedlefle Difcipline, 
 How are we park'd and bounded in a pale ? 
 A little Heard of Englands timorous Deere, 
 Maz'd with a yelping kennell of French Curres. 
 If we be Englifli Deere, be then in blood, 
 Not Rafcall-like to fall downe with a pinch, 
 But rather moodie mad : And defperate Stagges, 
 
 Turne
 
 112 
 
 Tbefirjl 'Part of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Turne on the bloody Hounds with heads of Steele, 
 And make the Cowards {land aloofe at bay : 
 Sell euery man his life as deere as mine, 
 And they {hall finde dtere Deere of vs my Friends. 
 God, and S. Qeorge, Talbot and Englands right, 
 Frolper our Colours in this dangerous fight. 
 
 Enter a c%feflinger that meets Tor^e. Enter Torl^e 
 nitb Trumpet^ and many Soldiers. 
 
 Torlp. Are not the fpeedy fcouts return'd againe, 
 That dog'd the mighty Army of the Dolphin ? 
 
 Mejf. They are return'd my Lord, and giue it out, 
 That he is march'd to Burdeaux with his power 
 To fight with Talbot as he march'd along. 
 By your efpyals were difcouered 
 Two mightier Troopes then that the Dolphin led, 
 Which ioyn'd with him, and made their march for 
 
 (Burdeaux 
 
 Tor{e. A plague vpon that Villaine Somerfet, 
 That thus delayes my promifed fupply 
 Of horfemen, that were leuied for this fiege. 
 Renowned Talbot doth expect my ayde, 
 And I am lowted by a Traitor Villaine, 
 And cannot helpe the noble Cheualier : 
 God comfort him in this neceflity : 
 If he mifcarry, farewell Warres in France. 
 
 Enter another MeJJenger. 
 
 z.Mtf. Thou Princely Leader of our Englifli ftrength, 
 Neuer fo needfull on the earth of France, 
 Spurre to the refcue of the Noble Talbot, 
 Who now is girdled with a wafte of Iron, 
 And hem'd about with grim destruction : 
 To Burdeaux warlike Duke, to Burdeaux Yorke, 
 Elfe farwell Talbot, France, and Englands honor. 
 
 Torly. O God, that Somerfet who in proud heart 
 Doth ftop my Cornets, were in Talbots place, 
 So mould wee faue a valiant Gentleman, 
 By forfeyting a Traitor, and a Coward : 
 Mad ire, and wrathfull fury makes me weepe, 
 That thus we dye, while remifle Traitors fleepe. 
 cMef. O fend fome fuccour to the diftreft Lord. 
 Tor^e. He dies, we loofe : I breake my warlike word: 
 We mourne, France fmiles : We loofe, they dayly get, 
 All long of this vile Traitor Somerfet. 
 
 cWcf. Then God take mercy on braue Talbots foule, 
 And on his Sonne yong lobn, who two houres fince, 
 I met in trauaile toward his warlike Father ; 
 This feuen yeeres did not Talbot fee his fonne, 
 And now they meete where both their liues are done. 
 
 Tariff. Alas, what ioy {hall noble Talbot haue, 
 To bid his yong fonne welcome to his Graue : 
 Away, vexation almoft ftoppes my breath, 
 That fundred friends greete in the houre of death. 
 Lucie farewell, no more my fortune can, 
 But curfe the caufe I cannot ayde the man. 
 Maine, Bloys, Toytiers, and Toures, are wonne away, 
 Long all of Somerfet, and his delay. Exit 
 
 Mef. Thus while the Vulture of fedition, 
 Feedes in the bofome of fuch great Commanders, 
 Sleeping neglection doth betray to lofle : 
 The Conqueft of our fcarfe-cold Conqueror, 
 That euer~liuing man of Memorie, 
 Henrie the fift : Whiles they each other crofle, 
 Liues, Honours, Lands, and all, hurrie to lofle. 
 
 Snter Somerfet vitb bis Armit. 
 
 Som. It is too late, I cannot fend them now : 
 This expedition was by Tcir/>e and Talbot, 
 Too rafhly plotted. All our generall force, 
 Might with a fally of the very Towne 
 Be buckled with : the ouer-daring Talbot 
 Hath fullied all his glofle of former Honor 
 By this vnheedfull, defperate, wilde aduenture : 
 Torfy fet him on to fight, and dye in fhame, 
 That Talbot dead, great Torfy might beare the name. 
 
 Cap. Heere is Sir William Lucie, who with me 
 Set from our ore-matcht forces forth for ayde. 
 
 Som. How now Sir William, whether were you fent ? 
 Lu. Whether my Lord, from bought & fold L. Talbot, 
 Who ring'd about with bold aduerfitie, 
 Cries out for noble Yorke and Somerfet, 
 To beate aflayling death from his weake Regions, 
 And whiles the honourable Captaine there 
 Drops bloody fwet from his warre-wearied limbes, 
 And in aduantage lingring lookes for refcue, 
 You his falfe hopes, the truft of Englands honor, 
 Keepe off aloofe with worthlefle emulation : 
 Let not your priuate difcord keepe away 
 The leuied fuccours that fhould lend him ayde, 
 While he renowned Noble Gentleman 
 Yeeld vp his life vnto a world of oddes. 
 Orleance the Baftard, Cbarlts, 'Burgundle, 
 jflanjon, Reignard, compafle him about, 
 And Talbot perifheth by your default. 
 
 Som, Yorke fet him on, Yorke mould haue fent him 
 ayde. 
 
 Luc. And Yorke as faft vpon your Grace exclaimes, 
 Swearing that you with-hold his leuied hoaft, 
 Collected for this expidition. 
 
 Som. York lyes : He might haue fent, & had the Horfe: 
 I owe him little Dutie, and lefie Loue, 
 And take foule fcorne to fawne on him by fending. 
 
 Lu. The fraud of England, not the force of France, 
 Hath now intraptthe Noble-minded Talbot: 
 Neuer to England mall he beare his life, 
 But dies betraid to fortune by your ftrife. 
 
 Som. Come go, I will difpatch the Horfemen ftrait : 
 Within fixe houres, they will be at his ayde. 
 
 Lu. Too late comes refcue, he is tane or flaine, 
 For flye he could not, if he would haue fled : 
 And flye would Talbot neuer though he might. 
 
 Som. If he be dead, braue Talbot then adieu. 
 
 Lu. His Fame liues in the world . His Shame in you. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Talbot and bis Sonne. 
 
 Tal. O yong lobn Talbot, I did fend for thee 
 To tutor thee in ftratagems of Warre, 
 That Talbots name might be in thee reuiu'd, 
 When faplefle Age, and weake vnable limbes 
 Should bring thy Father to his drooping Chaire. 
 But O malignant and ill-boading Starres, 
 Now thou art come vnto a Feaft of death, 
 A terrible and vnauoyded danger : 
 Therefore deere Boy, mount on my fwifteft horfe, 
 And He direct thee how thou {halt efcape 
 By fodaine flight. Come, dally not, be gone. 
 
 lobn. Is my name Talbot ? and am I your Sonne? 
 
 Shall
 
 The fir ft Wart of Henry the Sixf. 
 
 "3 
 
 And fhall I flye ? O, if you loue my Mother, 
 Difhonor not her Honorable Name, 
 To make a Baftard, and a Slaue of me : 
 The World will fay,he is not Talbots blood, 
 That bafely fled, when Noble Talbot flood. 
 
 Talk. Flye, to reuenge my death, if I be flaine 
 
 lobn. He that flyes fo, will ne're returne againe. 
 
 Talb. If we both ftay, we both are fure to dye. 
 
 lobn. Then let me ftay,and Father doe you flye : 
 Your lofie is great, fo your regard fhould be ; 
 My worth vnknowne,no lofle is knowne in me. 
 Vpon my death, the French can little boaft ; 
 In yours they will, in you all hopes are loft. 
 Flight cannot ftayne the Honor you haue wonne, 
 But mine it will, that no Exploit haue done. 
 You fled for Vantage, euery one will fweare : 
 But if I bow, they 'le fay it was for feare. 
 There is no hope that euer I will ftay, 
 If the firft howre I fhrinke and run away : 
 Here on my knee I begge Mortalitie, 
 Rather then Life,preferu'd with Infamie. 
 
 Talb. Shall all thy Mothers hopes lye in one Tombe ? 
 
 lobn. I, rather then He ftiame my Mothers Wombe. 
 
 Talb. Vpon my Bleffing I command thee goe. 
 
 lobn. To fight I will, but not to flye the Foe. 
 
 Talb. Part of thy Father may be fau'd in thee. 
 
 lohn. No part of him, but will be fhame in mee. 
 
 Talb. Thou neuer hadft Renowne, nor canft not lofe it. 
 
 lohn. Yes, your renowned Name: fhall flight abufe it? 
 
 Ta/b.Thy Fathers charge fhal cleare thee from y ftaine. 
 
 lobn. You cannot witneffe for me, being flaine. 
 If Death be fo apparant,then both flye. 
 
 Talb. And leaue my followers here to fight and .dye ? 
 My Age was neuer tainted with fuch fhame. 
 
 lohn. And fhall my Youth be guiltie of fuch blame 1 ? . 
 No more can I be feuered from your fide, 
 Then can your felfe,your felfe in twaine diuide ; 
 Stay, goe, doe what you will, the like doe I j 
 For liue I will not,if my Father dye. 
 
 Talb. Then here I take my leaue of thee, faire Sonne, 
 Borne to eclipfe thy Life this afternoone : 
 Come, fide by fide, together liue and dye, 
 And Soule with Soule from France to Heauen flye. Gxlt. 
 
 Alarum : Excursions, wherein Talbots Sonne 
 a bemm'd about , and Talbot 
 
 refcues him. 
 
 Talb. Saint George, and Victory; fight Souldiers, fight: 
 The Regent hath with Talbot broke his word, 
 And left vs to the rage of France his Sword. 
 Where is lobn Talbct? pawfe,and take thy breath, 
 I gaue thee Life, and refcu'd thee from Death. 
 
 lobn. O twice my Father, twice am I thy Sonne : 
 The Life thou gau'ft me firft, was loft and done, 
 Till with thy Warlike Sword, defpight of Fate, 
 To my determin'd time thou gau'ft new date. 
 
 Ta/^.When fro the Dolphins Creft thy Sword ftruck fire, 
 It warm'd thy Fathers heart with prowd defire 
 Of bold-fac't Vidtorie. Then Leaden Age, 
 Qujcken'd with Youthfull Spleene, and Warlike Rage, 
 Beat downe Alanfon, Orleance^urgundie, 
 And from the Pride of Gallia refcued thee. 
 The irefull Baftard Or/eance, that drew blood 
 From thee my Boy, and had the Maidenhood 
 Of thy firft fight, I foone encountred, 
 And interchanging blowes,! quickly fhed 
 
 449 
 
 Some of his Baftard blood, and in difgrace 
 
 Befpoke him thus: Contaminated, bafe, 
 
 And mis-begotten blood, I (pill of thine, 
 
 Meane and right poore, for that pure blood of mine, 
 
 Which thou didft force from Talbot, my braue Boy. 
 
 Here purpofing the Baftard to deftroy, 
 
 Came in ftrong refcue. Speake thy Fathers care: 
 
 Art thou not wearie,/c/j& ? How do'ft thou fare? 
 
 Wilt thou yet leaue the Battaile,Boy,and flie, 
 
 Now thou art feal'd the Sonne of Chiualrie ? 
 
 Flye, to reuenge my death when I am dead, 
 
 The helpe of one ftands me in little ftead. 
 
 Oh, too much folly is it, well I wot, 
 
 To hazard all our liues in one fmall Boat. 
 
 If I to day dye not with Frenchmens Rage, 
 
 To morrow I fhall dye with mickle Age. 
 
 By me they nothing gaine, and if I ftay, 
 
 'Tis but the fliortning of my Life one day. 
 
 In thee thy Mother dyes, our Houfeholds Name, 
 
 My Deaths Reuenge, thy Youth, and Englands Fame : 
 
 All thefe,and more, we hazard by thy ftay; 
 
 All thefe are fau'd, if thou wilt flye away. 
 
 lobn. The Sword of Orleance hath not made me fmart, 
 Thefe words of yours draw Life-blood from my Heart. 
 On that aduantage, bought with fuch a ftiame, 
 To faue a paltry Life, and flay bright Fame, 
 Before young Talbot from old Talbot flye, 
 The Coward Korfe that beares me,fall and dye : 
 And like me to the pefant Boyes of France, 
 To be Shames fcorne, and fubieft of Mifchance. 
 Surely,by all the Glorie you haue wonne, 
 And if I flye, I am not Talbots Sonne. 
 Then talke no more of flight,it is no boot, 
 If Sonne to Talbot, dye at Talbots foot. 
 
 Talb. Then follow thou thy defp'rate Syre of Greet, 
 Thou /<wz#, thy Life to me is fweet : 
 If, thou wilt fight, fight by thy Fathers fide, 
 And commendable prou'd, let's dye in pride. Sxit. 
 
 fAlarum. Excurjions. Enter old 
 Talbot led. 
 
 Talb. Where is my other Life? mine owne is gone. 
 O, where's young Talbot'? where is valiant lohn ? 
 Triumphant Death, fmear'd with Captiuitie, 
 Young Talbots Valour makes me fmile at thee. 
 When he perceiu'd mefhrinke, and on my Knee, 
 His bloodie Sword he brandifht ouer mee, 
 And like a hungry Lyon did commence 
 Rough_deeds of Rage, and fterne Impatience : 
 But when my angry Guardant flood alone, 
 Tendring mv'rujne, and afiayl'd of none, 
 Dizzie-ey'd Furie, and great rage of Heart, 
 Suddenly made him. from my fide to ftart 
 Into the cluftring Battaile of the French: 
 And in that Sea of Blood,my Boy did drench 
 His ouer-mounting Spirit ; and there di'de 
 My Icaru4 t my BlofTome,in his pride. 
 
 Enter tvltb lobn Talbot, borne. 
 
 Seru.O my deare Lord,loe where your Sonne is borne, 
 la/. Thou antique Death,which laugh'ft vs here to fcorn, 
 Anon from thy infulting Tyrannic, 
 Coupled in bonds of perpetuitie, 
 Two Talbots winged through the lither Skie, 
 In thy defpight fhall fcape Mortalitie.
 
 Thefirft Tart of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 thou whofe wounds become hard fauoured death, 
 Speake to thy father, ere thou yeeld thy breath, 
 Braue death by fpeaking, whither he will or no : 
 Imagine him a Frenchman, and thy Foe. 
 
 Poore Boy, he fmiles, me thinkes, as who fhould fay, 
 
 Had Death bene French, then Death had dyed to day. 
 
 Come, come, and lay him in his Fathers armes, 
 
 My fpirit can no longer beare thefe harmes. 
 
 Souldiers adieu : I haue what I would haue, 
 
 Now my old armes are yong lobn Talbots graue. Dyes 
 
 Enter (Charles, Alanfon, 'Burgundie, Baftard, 
 and Pucell. 
 
 Char. Had Yorke and Somerfet brought refcue in, 
 We fliould haue found a bloody day of this. 
 
 Baft. How the yong whelpe of Talbots raging wood, 
 Did flefh his punie-fword in Frenchmens blood. 
 
 Puc. Once I encountred him, and thus I faid : 
 Thou Maiden youth, be vanqui/ht by a Maide. 
 But with a proud Maiefticall high fcorne 
 He anfwer'd thus : Yong Talbot was not borne 
 To be the pillage of a Giglot Wench: 
 So rufliing in the bowels of the French, 
 He left me proudly, as vnworthy fight. 
 
 Bur. Doubtlefle he would haue made a noble Knight : 
 See where he lyes inherced in the armes 
 Of the moft bloody NurfTer of his harmes. 
 
 'Baft. Hew them to peeces, hack their bones afiunder, 
 Whofe life was Englands glory, Gallia's wonder. 
 
 Char. Oh no forbeare : For that which we haue fled 
 During the life, let vs not wrong it dead. 
 Enter Lucie. 
 
 Lu. Herald, conduct me to the Dolphins Tent, 
 To know who hath obtain'd the glory of the day. 
 
 Char. On what fubmifiiue mefiage art thou fent? 
 
 Lucy. Submiflion Dolphin? Tis a meere French word: 
 We Englifh Warriours wot not what it meanes. 
 
 1 come to know what Prifoners thou haft tane, 
 And to furuey the bodies of the dead. 
 
 Char. For prifoners askft thou? Hell our prifon is. 
 But tell me whom thou feek'ft? 
 
 Luc. But where's the great Alcides of the field, 
 Valiant Lord Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury < 
 Created for his rare fuccefle in Armes, 
 Great Earle of Wajhford, Waterford, and Valence, 
 Lord Talbot of Goodrig and Vrcbinfield, 
 Lord Strange of Blackmere, Lord Verdon of Alton, 
 Lord Cromwell of Wingefield, Lord Furniuall of Sbe/eild, 
 The thrice victorious Lord of Falconbridge, 
 Kjiight of the Noble Order of 5. George, 
 Worthy S. cMtcbael, and the gulden Fleece, 
 Great Marfhall to Henry the fixt, 
 Of all his Warres within the Realme of France. 
 
 Puc. Heere's a filly (lately ftile indeede : 
 The Turke that two and fiftie Kingdomes hath, 
 Writes not fo tedious a Stile as this. 
 Him that thou magnifi'ft with all thefe Titles, 
 Stinking and fly.blowne lyes heere at our feete. 
 
 Lucy. Is Talbot flaine, the Frenchmens only Scourge, 
 Your Kingdomes terror, and blacke Neme/ii ? 
 Oh were mine eye-balles into Bullets turn'd, 
 That I in rage might fhoot them at your faces. 
 Oh, that I could but call thefe dead to life, 
 It were enough to fright the Realme of France. 
 Were but his Picture left amongft you here, 
 
 It would amaze the prowdeft of you all. 
 
 Giue me their Bodyes,that I may beare them hence, 
 
 And giue them Buriall,as befeemes their worth. 
 
 Pucel. I thinke this vpftart is old Talbots Ghoft, 
 He fpeakes with fuch a proud commanding fpirit: 
 For Gods fake let him haue him, to keepe them here, 
 They would but ftinke, and putrifie the ayre. 
 Char. Go take their bodies hence. 
 
 Lucy. He beare them henceibut from their a/hes flial 
 
 be reard 
 A Phosnix that lhall make all France affear'd. 
 
 Qbar. So we be rid of them, do with him what y wilt. 
 And now to Paris in this conquering vaine, 
 All will be ours, now bloody Talbots flaine. Exit. 
 
 Scenafecunda. 
 
 SENNET. 
 Enter King, (flocefter, and Exeter. 
 
 King. Haue you perus'd the Letters from the Pope, 
 The Emperor, and the Earle of Arminack ? 
 
 Cjlo. I haue my Lord, and their intent is this, 
 They humbly fue vnto your Excellence, 
 To haue a godly peace concluded of, 
 Betweene the Realmes of England, and of France. 
 
 King. How doth your Grace affedt their motion ? 
 
 Glo. Well (my good Lord) and as the only meanes 
 To ftop effufion of our Chriftian biood, 
 And ftablifli quietnefle on euery fide. 
 
 King. I marry Vnckle, for I alwayes thought 
 It was both impious and vnnaturall, 
 That fuch immanity and bloody ftrife 
 Should reigne among ProfefTors of one Faith. 
 
 Qlo. Befide my Lord, the fooner to effect, 
 And furer binde this knot of amitie, 
 The Earle of Arminacke neere knit to Qharles, 
 A man of great Authoritie in France, 
 Proffers his onely daughter to your Grace, 
 In marriage, with a large and fumptuous Dowrie. 
 
 King. Marriage Vnckle? Alas my yeares are yong : 
 And fitter is my ftudie, and my Bookes, 
 Than wanton dalliance with a Paramour. 
 Yet call th'Embafladors, and as you pleafe, 
 So let them haue their anfweres euery one: 
 I /hall be well content with any choyce 
 Tends to Gods glory, and my Countries weale. 
 
 Enter Wincbtftcr, and three AmbaJJadors. 
 
 Exet. What, is my Lord of Wincbefter inftall'd, 
 And call'd vnto a Cardinalls degree ? 
 Then I perceiue, that will be verified 
 Henry the Fift did fometime prophefie. 
 If once he come to be a Cardinal!, 
 Hee'l make his cap coequall with the Crowne. 
 
 King. My Lords Ambafiadors, your feuerall fuites 
 Haue bin confider'd and debated on, 
 Your purpofe is both good and reafonable : 
 And therefore are we certainly refolu'd, 
 To draw conditions of a friendly peace, 
 
 Which 
 
 45
 
 'The fir ft ^Part of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Which by my Lord of Winchefter we meane 
 Shall be tranfported prefently to France. 
 
 Glo. And for the proffer of my Lord your Mafter, 
 I haue inform'd his Highneffe fo at large, 
 As liking of the Ladies vertuous gifts, 
 Her Beauty, and the vjlew of her Dower, 
 He doth intend fhe fhall be Englands Queene. 
 
 King. In argument and proofe of which contract, 
 Beare her this Jewell, pledge of my affecYion. 
 And fo my Lord Protestor fee them guarded, 
 And fafely brought to Douer, wherein fhip'd 
 Commit them to the fortune of the fea. Exeunt. 
 
 Win. Stay my Lord Legate, you fhall firft receiue 
 The fumme of money which I promifed 
 Should be deliuered to his Holineffe, 
 For cloathing me in thefe graue Ornaments. 
 
 Legal. I will attend vpon your Lordfhips leyfure. 
 
 Win. Now Winchefter will not fubmit, I trow, 
 Or be inferiour to the proudeft Peere; 
 Humfrey of Glofter, thou fhalt well perceiue, 
 That neither in birth, or for authoritie, 
 The Bifhop will be ouer-borne by thee : 
 He either make thee ftoope, and bend thy knee, 
 Or facke this Country with a mutiny. Exeunt 
 
 Sccena 
 
 Enter Charles, Burgundy, cA/anfon, 'Bajlard, 
 Relgnier, and lone. 
 
 Char. Thefe newes( my Lords) may cheere our droo- 
 ping fpirits : 
 
 'Tis faid, the ftout Parifians do reuolt, 
 And turne againe vnto the warlike French. 
 
 Alan. Then march to Paris Royall Charles of France, 
 And keepe not backe your powers in dalliance. 
 
 fucel. Peace be amongft them if they turne to vs, 
 Elfe ruine combate with their Pallaces. 
 Enter Scout. 
 
 Scout. Succeffe vnto our valiant Generall, 
 And happineffe to his accomplices. 
 
 Char. What tidings fend our Scouts?! prethee fpeak. 
 
 Scout. The Englifh Army that diuided was 
 Into two parties, is now conioyn'd in one, 
 And meanes to giue you battell prefently. 
 
 Char. Somewhat too fodaine Sirs, the warning is, 
 But we will prefently prouide for them. 
 
 'Bur. I truft the Ghoft of Talbot is not there : 
 Now he is gone my Lord, you neede not feare. 
 
 Pucel. Of all bafe paffions, Feare is moft accurft. 
 Command the Conqueft Charles, it fhall be thine : 
 Let Henry fret, and all the world repine. 
 
 Char. Then on my Lords, and France be fortunate. 
 
 Exeunt. Alarum. Sxcurjions. 
 
 Enter lone de Pucell. 
 
 Puc. The Regent conquers, and the Frenchmen flye. 
 Now helpe ye charming Spelles and Periapts, 
 And ye choife fpirits that admonifh me, 
 And giue me fignes of future accidents. Thunder. 
 
 You fpeedy helpers, that are fubftitutes 
 
 Vnder the Lordly Monarch of the North, 
 Appeare, and ayde me in this enterprize. 
 
 Enter Fiends. 
 
 This fpeedy and quicke appearance argues proofe 
 Of your accuftom'd diligence to me. 
 Now ye Familiar Spirits, that are cull'd 
 Out of the powerfuil Regions vnder earth, 
 Helpe me this once, that France may get the field. 
 
 They tvall^e, and Jj>eal(e not. 
 Oh hold me not with filenee ouer-long: 
 Where I was wont to feed you with my blood, 
 lie lop a member off, and giue it you, 
 In earneft of a further benefit : 
 So you do condifcend to helpe me now. 
 
 They hang their beads. 
 No hope to haue redreffe? My body fhall 
 Pay recompence, if you will graunt my fuite. 
 
 They Jbal^e their heads. 
 Cannot my body, nor blood-facrifice, 
 Intreate you to your wonted furtherance ? 
 Then take my fbule ; my body, foule,and all, 
 Before that England giue the French the foyle. 
 
 They depart. 
 
 See, they forfake me. Now the time is come, 
 That France muft vale her lofty plumed Creft, 
 And let her head fall into Englands lappe. 
 My ancient Incantations are too weake, 
 And hell too ftrong for me to buckle with: 
 Now France, thy glory droopcth to the duft. Sxit. 
 
 Excurjions. Burgundie and Yortyjigbt hand to 
 hand. French flye. 
 
 Yor^e. Damfell of France, I thinke I haue you faft, 
 Vnchaine your fpirits now with fpelling Charmes, 
 And try if they can gaine your liberty. 
 A goodly prize, fit for the diuels grace. 
 See how the vgly Witch doth bend her browes, 
 As if with Circe, fhe would change my fhape. 
 
 fuc. Chang'd to a worfer fhape thou canft not be: 
 Yor. Oh, Charles the Dolphin is a proper man, 
 No fhape but his can pleafe your dainty eye. 
 
 Puc. A plaguing mifcheefe light on Charles, and thee, 
 And may ye both be fodainly furpriz'd 
 By bloudy hands, in fleeping on your beds. 
 
 Yor fa. Fell banning Hagge, Inchantreffe hold thy 
 
 tongue. 
 
 Puc. I prethee giue me leaue to curfe awhile. 
 Yor fa. Curfe Mifcreant, when thou comft to the ftake 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 tAlarum. Enter Suffolk^ tfith Margaret 
 in his hand. 
 
 Suff. Be what thou wilt, thou art my prifoner. 
 
 Gazes on her. 
 
 Oh Faireft Beautie, do not feare, nor flye : 
 For I will touch thee but with reuerend hands, 
 I kiffe thefe fingers for eternall peace, 
 And lay them gently on thy tender fide. 
 Who art thou, fay? that I may honor thee. 
 
 cflfar. Margaret my name, and daughter to a King, 
 The King of Naples, who fo ere thou art. 
 
 Suff. An Earle I am, and Suffolke am I call'd. 
 Be not offended Natures myracle, 
 Thou art alotted to be tane by me : 
 So doth the Swan her downie Signets faue, 
 
 Oh ftay :
 
 u6 
 
 Tbejirft 'Part of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Keeping them prifoner vnderneath his wings: 
 
 Yet if this feruile vfage once offend, 
 
 Go, and be free againe, as Suffolkes friend. She if going 
 
 Oh ftay : I haue no power to let her pafle, 
 
 My hand would free her, but my heart fayes no. 
 
 As playes the Sunne vpon the glalTie ftreames, 
 
 Twinkling another counterfeited beame, 
 
 So feemes this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes. 
 
 Faine would I woe her, yet I dare not fpeake : 
 
 He call for Pen and Inke, and write my minde : 
 
 Fye De la Pole, difable not thy felfe : 
 
 Haft not a Tongue ? Is /he not heere ? 
 
 Wilt thou be daunted at a Womans fight? 
 
 I : Beauties Princely Maiefty is fuch, 
 
 'Confounds the tongue, and makes the fenfes rough. 
 
 <&far. Say Earle of Suffblke, if thy name be fo, 
 What ranfome muft I pay before I pafle ? 
 For I perceiue I am thy prifoner. 
 
 Suf. How canft thou tell Ae will deny thy fuite, 
 Before thou make a triall of her loue ? 
 
 M. Why fpeak'ft thou not? What ranfom muft I pay? 
 
 Suf. She's beautiful! ; and therefore to be Wooed : 
 She is a Woman ; therefore to be Wonne. 
 
 <&far, Wilt thou accept of ranfome, yea or no ? 
 
 Suf. Fond man, remember that thou haft a wife, 
 Then how can Margaret be thy Paramour ? 
 
 Mar. I were beft to leaue him, for he will not heare. 
 
 Suf. There all is marr'd : there lies a cooling card. 
 
 Mar. He talkes at randon : fure the man is mad. 
 
 Suf. And yet a difpenfation may bee had. 
 
 Mar. And yet I would that you would anfwer me: 
 
 Suf. lie win this Lady Margaret. For whom ? 
 Why for my King : Turn, that's a woodden thing. 
 
 Mar. He talkes of wood : It is fome Carpenter. 
 
 Suf. Yet fb my fancy may be {jtisfied, 
 And peace eftjblifhed betweene thefe Realmes. 
 But there remaines a fcruple in that too : 
 For though her Father be the King of Naples, 
 Duke of Amou and sftfayne, yet is he poore, 
 And our Nobility will fcorne the match. 
 
 Mar. Heare ye Captaine ? Are you not at leyfure? 
 
 Suf. It fliall be fo, difd line they ne're fo much: 
 Henry is youthful!, and will quickly yeeld. 
 Madam, I haue a fecret to reu-eate. 
 
 Mar. What though I be inthralM,he feems a knight 
 And will not any way dishonor me. 
 
 Suf. Lady, vouchsafe to liften what 1 fay. 
 
 Mar. Perhaps I fliall be refcu'd by the French, 
 And then I need not crauc his curtefie. 
 
 Suf. Sweet Madam, giue me hearing in a caufe. 
 
 cflfar. Tu/h, women haue bene captiuate ere now. 
 
 Suf. Lady, wherefore talke you fo ? 
 
 Mar. I cry you mercy, 'tis but Quid for Quo. 
 
 Suf. Say gentle Princefie, would you not iuppofe 
 Your bondage happy, to be made a Queene? 
 
 Mar. To be a Queene in bondage, is more vile, 
 Than is a flaue, in bafe feruility : 
 For Princes fliould be free. 
 
 Suf. And fo fliall you, 
 If happy Englands Royal! King be free. 
 
 Mar. Why what concernes his freedome vnto mee ? 
 
 Suf. lie vndertake to make thee Henries Queene, 
 To put a Golden Scepter in thy hand, 
 And fet a precious Crowne vpon thy head, 
 If thou wilt condifcend to be my 
 
 Mar. What? 
 
 Suf. His loue. 
 
 Mar. I am vnworthy to be Henries wife. 
 
 Suf. No gentle Madam, I vnworthy am 
 To woe fo faire a Dame to be his wife, 
 And haue no portion in the choice my felfe. 
 How fay you Madam, are ye fo content ? 
 
 Mar. And if my Father pleafe, I am content. 
 
 Suf. Then call our Captaines and our Colours forth, 
 And Madam, at your Fathers Caftle walles, 
 Wee'l craue a parley, to conferre with him. 
 
 Sound. Enter Reignier on the Walles. 
 See 1(tlgnler fee, thy daughter prifoner. 
 
 Reig. To whom ? 
 
 Suf. To me. 
 
 Reig. Suffolke, what remedy ? 
 I am a Souldier, and vnapt to weepe, 
 Or to exclaime on Fortunes fickleneffc. 
 
 Suf. Yes, there is remedy enough my Lord, 
 Content, and for thy Honor giue confent, 
 Thy daughter fliall be wedded to my King, 
 Whom I with paine haue wooed and wonne thereto : 
 And this her eafie held imprifonment, 
 Hath gain'd thy daughter Princely libertie. 
 
 Reig. Speakes Suffolke as he thinkes? 
 
 Suf. Faire Margaret knowes, 
 That Suffolke doth not flatter, face, or faine. 
 
 Reig. Vpon thy Princely warrant,! defcend, 
 To giue thee anfwer of thy iuft demand. 
 
 Suf. And heere I will cxpecl thy comming. 
 
 Trumpets found. Enter Reignier. 
 
 ^eig. Welcome braue Earle into our Territories, 
 Command in Aniou what your Honor pleafes. 
 
 Suf. Thankes Reignier, happy for fo fweet a Childe, 
 Fit to be made companion with a King: 
 What anfwer makes your Grace vnto my fuite ? 
 
 Reig. Since thou doft daigne to woe her little worth, 
 To be the Princely Bride of fuch a Lord : 
 Vpon condition I may quietly 
 Enioy mine owne, the Country Maine and Aniou, 
 Free from opprcfiion, or the ftroke of Warre, 
 My daughter flnll be Henries, if he pleafe. 
 
 Suf. That is her ranfome, I deliuer her, 
 And thofe two Counties I will vndertake 
 Your Grace fliall well and quietly enioy. 
 
 Reig. And I againe in Henries Royall name, 
 As Deputy vnto that gracious King, 
 Giue thee her hand for ligne of plighted faith. 
 
 Suf. Reignier of France, I giue thee Kingly thankes, 
 Becaufe this is in Trafiicke of a King. 
 And yet me thinkes I could be well content 
 To be mine owne Atturney in this cafe. 
 He ouer then to 'England with this newes. 
 And make this marriage to be folemniz'd : 
 So farewell /Jtr/gwVr, fet this Diamond fafe 
 In Golden Pallaces as it becomes. 
 
 ReJg. I do embrace thee, as I would embrace 
 The Chriftian Prince King Henrie were he heere. 
 
 Mar. Farewell my Lord, good wifhes, praife,& praiers, 
 Shall Suffolke euer haue of Margaret. Sbee is going. 
 
 Suf. Farwell fwect Madam: but hearke you Margaret, 
 No Princely commendations to my King f 
 
 Mar. Such commendations as becomes a Maide, 
 A Virgin, and his Seruant, fay to him. 
 
 Suf. Words fweetly plac'd, and modeftie directed, 
 
 But 
 
 45*
 
 Thefirft Tart of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 117 
 
 But Madame, I muft trouble you againe, 
 No louing Token to his Maieftie ? 
 
 n^far. Yes, my good Lord, a pure vnfpotted heart, 
 Neuer yet taint with loue, 1 fend the King. 
 
 Suf. And this withall. Ki/e her. 
 
 Mar. That for thy felfe, I will not fo prefume, 
 To fend fuch peeuiih tokens to a King. 
 
 Suf. Oh wert thou for my felfe : but Suffclly ftay, 
 Thou mayeft not wander in that Labyrinth, 
 There Minotaurs and vgly Treafons lurke, 
 Solicite Henry with 'her wonderous praife. 
 Bethinke thee on ; her Vertues that furmount, 
 Mad natural! Graces that extingukh Art, 
 Repeate their femblance often on the Seas, 
 That when thou com'ft to kneele at Henries feete, 
 Thou mayeft bereaue him of his wits with wonder. Sxit 
 
 Enter Ycrke .War-vicke, Shepbeard, Pucell. 
 Yt/r. Bring forth that Sorcerefle ccndemn'd to burne. 
 
 Sbef. Ah lone, this kils thy Fathers heart out-right, 
 Haue I fought euery Country farre and neere, 
 And now it is my chance to finde thee out, 
 Muft I behold thy timelefle cruell death : 
 Ah lone, fweet daughter lone, He die with thee. 
 
 fucel. Decrepit Mifer, bafe ignoble Wretch, 
 I am delcended of a gentler blood . 
 Thou art no Father, nor no Friend of -mine. 
 
 Sbep. Out, out: My Lords,and plea-fe you, 'tis not fo 
 I did beget her, all the Parifh knowes : 
 Her Mother liueth yet, can teftifie 
 She was the firft fruite of my Bach'ler-fliip. 
 
 War. GracelefTe, wilt thou deny thy Parentage ? 
 
 Yor^e. This argues what her kinde of life hath beene, 
 Wicked and vile, and fo her death concludes. 
 
 Sbef. Fye lone, that thou wilt be fo obftacle: 
 God knowes, thou art a collop of my flefli, 
 And for thy fake haue I died many a teare: 
 Deny me not, I pry thee, gentle lone. 
 
 Pucell. Pezant auant. You haue fuborn'd this man 
 Of purpofe, to obfcure my Noble birth. 
 
 Sbef. 'Tis true, 1 gaue a Noble to the Prieft, 
 The morne thai I was wedded to her mother. 
 Kneele downe and take my bkfling, good my Gyrle. 
 Wilt thou not ftoope ? Now curfed be the time 
 Of thy natiuitie : I would the Milke 
 Thy mother gaue thee when thou fuck'ft her breft, 
 Had bin a little Rats-bane for thy fake. 
 Or elfe, when thou didft keepe my Lambes a-field, 
 I wifti fome rauenous Wolfe had eaten thee. 
 Doeft thou deny thy Father, curfed Drab ? 
 
 burne her, burne her, hanging is too good. Exit. 
 Yorl^e. Take her away, for flje hath liu'd too long, 
 
 To fill the world with vicious qualities. 
 
 Puc. Firft let me tell you whom you haue condemn'd; 
 Not me, begotten of" a Shepheard Swaine, 
 But ifiued from the Progeny of Kings. 
 Vertuous and Holy, chofen from aboue, 
 By infpiration of Celeftiall Grace, 
 To worke exceeding myracles on earth. 
 
 1 neuer had to do with wicked Spirits. 
 But you that are polluted with your luftes, 
 Stain'd with the guiltlefle blood of Innocents, 
 Corrupt and tainted with a thoufand Vices: 
 Becaufe you want the grace that others haue, 
 You Judge ic ftraight a thing impofsible 
 
 To compafle Wonders, but by helpe of diuels. 
 
 No mifconceyued, lone of Aire hath beene 
 A Virgin from her tender infancie, 
 Chafte, and immaculate in very thought, 
 Whofe Maiden-blood thus rigoroufly effus'd, 
 Will cry for Vengeance, at the Gates of Heauen. 
 
 Yorfy. 1,1 : away with her to execution. 
 
 War. And hearke ye firs: becaufe /he is a Maide, 
 Spare for no Faggots, let there be enow : 
 Place barrelles of pitch vpon the fatall ftake, 
 That fo her tortute may be fliortned. 
 
 Puc. Will nothing turne your vnrelenting hearts? 
 Then I'jne difcouet thine infirmity, 
 That wartanteth by Law, to be thy priui ledge. 
 I am with childe ye bloody Homicides : 
 Murther not then the Fruite within my Wombe, 
 Although ye hale me to a violent death. 
 
 TV.Now heauen forfend, the holy Maid with child ? ; 
 War. The greateft miracle that ere ye wrought. 
 Is all your ftrift precifenefTe come to this ? 
 
 Yorkf. She and the Dolphin haue bin iugling, 
 I did imagine what would be her refuge. 
 
 War. Well go too, we'll haue no Baftards liue, 
 Efpecially fince Qbarlts muft Father it. 
 
 Puc. You are deceyu'd, my childe is none of his, 
 It was Alanfon that inioy'd my loue. 
 
 Yorfa tAlanfcn that notorious Macheuile ? 
 It dyes, and if it had a thoufand liues. 
 
 Pue. Oh giue me leaue, I haue deluded you, 
 'Twas neyther Charles, nor yet the Duke I nam'd, 
 But Relgnier King of Naples that preuayPd. 
 
 War. A married man, that's moft intollerable. 
 
 Yor. Why here's a Gyrle:! think (he knowes not wel 
 (There were fo many) whom fhe may accufe. 
 
 War. It's figne fhe hath beene liberal! and free. 
 
 Yor. And yet forfooth fhe is a Virgin pure. 
 Strumpet, thy words condemne thy Brat,and thee. 
 Vfe no intreaty, for it is in vaine. 
 
 P.Then lead me hence: with whom I leaue my curie. 
 May neuer glorious Sunne reflex his beames 
 Vpon the Countrey where you make abode : 
 But darknefle, and the gloomy fhade of death 
 Inuiron you, till Mifcheefe and Difpairc, 
 Driue you to break your necks, or hang your fclues..*r;f j 
 Enter Cardinal!. 
 
 Yurfe. Breakc thou in peeces, and confunric to afhes, 
 Thou fowle accurfed minifter of Hell. 
 
 Car. Lord Regent, I do greete your Excellence 
 With Letters of Com-miflion from the King. 
 For know my Lords, the States of Chriftendome, 
 Mou'd with remorfe of theie out-ragious broyles, 
 Haue earneftly implor'd a generall peace, 
 Betwixt our Nation, and the afpyring French ; 
 And heere at hand, the Dolphin and his Traine 
 Approacheth, to conferre about fome matter. 
 
 Ytrfy, Is all our trauell turn'd to this eftedt, 
 After the flaughter of fo many Peeres, 
 So many Captaincs, Gentlemen, and Soldiers, 
 TJiat in this quarrell haue beene ouerthrowne, 
 And fold their bodyes for their Countryes benefit, 
 Shall we at foft conclude effeminate peace ? 
 Haue we not loft moft part of all the Townes, 
 By Treafon, Falfhood, and by Treacherie, 
 Our great Progenitors had conquered: 
 Oh Warwicke, Warwicke, I forefee with greefe 
 The vtter lofle of all the Realme of France. 
 
 War. Be patient Yorke, if we conclude a Peace 
 
 m It 
 
 453
 
 n8 
 
 The fir ft Tart of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 It fliall be with fuch ftrict and feuere Couenants, 
 As little fliall the Frenchmen gaine thereby. 
 
 Enter Cbarles,^4lanfon, c Baftard ) Reignier. 
 
 Char. Since Lords of England, it is thus agreed, 
 That peacefull truce fliall be proclaim'd in France, 
 We come to be informed by your felues, 
 What the conditions of that league muft be. 
 
 Ybrfe. Speake Winchefter,for boyling choller chokes 
 The hollow pafiage of my poyfon'd voyce, 
 By fight of thefe our balefull enemies. 
 
 Win. Charles, and the reft, it is enacted thus : 
 That in regard King Henry giues confent, 
 Of meere compaffion, and of lenity, 
 To eafe your Countrie of diftreflefull Warre, 
 And furrier you to breath in fruitfull peace, 
 You fliall become true Liegemen to his Crowne. 
 And Charles, vpon condition thou wilt fweare 
 To pay him tribute, and fubmit thy felfe, 
 Thou (halt be plac'd as Viceroy vnder him, 
 And ftill enioy thy Regall dignity. 
 
 tAlan. Muft he be then as fhadow of himfelfe ? 
 Adorne his Temples with a Coronet, 
 And yet in fubftance and authority, 
 Retaine but priuiledge of a priuate man ? 
 This proffer is abfurd, and reafonlefle. 
 
 Char. 'Tis knowne already that I am pofleft 
 With more then halfe the Gallian Territories, 
 And therein reuerenc'd for their lawfull King. 
 Shall I for lucre of the reft vn-vanquiflit, 
 Detract fo much from that prerogatiue, 
 As to be calFd but Viceroy of the whole? 
 No Lord Ambaflador, He rather keepe 
 That which I haue, than coueting for more 
 Be caft from pofsibility of all. 
 
 Tor^e. Infulting Charles, haft thou by fecret meanes 
 Vs'd interceflion to obtaine a league, 
 And now the matter growes to compremize, 
 Stand'ft thou aloofe vpon Comparifon. 
 Either accept the Title thou vfurp'ft, 
 Of benefit proceeding from our King, 
 And not of any challenge of Defert, 
 Or we will plague thee with inceffant Warres. 
 
 Reig. My Lord, you do not well in obftinacy, 
 To cauill in the courfe of this Contract: 
 If once it be neglected, ten to one 
 We mall not finde like opportunity. 
 
 Alan. To fay the truth, it is your policie, 
 To faue your Subjects from fuch maflacre 
 And ruthlefle flaughters as are dayly feene 
 By our proceeding in Hoftility, 
 And therefore take this compact of a Truce, 
 Although you breake it, when your pleafure ferues. 
 
 War. How fayft thou Charles ? 
 Shall our Condition ftand ? 
 
 Char. It Shall: 
 
 Onely referu'd, you claime no intereft 
 In any of our Townes of Garrifon. 
 
 Tor. Then fweare Allegeance to his Maiefty, 
 As thou art Knight, neuer to difobey, 
 Nor be Rebellious to the Crowne of England, 
 Thou nor thy Nobles, to the Crowne of England. 
 So, now difmifle your Army when ye pleafe : 
 Hang vp your Enfignes, let your Drummes be ftill, 
 For heere we entertaine a folemne peace. Exeunt 
 
 ASlus Quintus. 
 
 Enter Sufoll^e in conference with the King, 
 (jlocefter t and Sxeter. 
 
 King. Your wondrous rare defcription (noble Earle) 
 Of beauteous Margaret hath aftonifli'd me : 
 Her vertues graced with externall gifts, 
 Do breed Loues fetled paflions in my heart, 
 Arid like as rigour of tempeftuous guftes 
 Prouokes the mightieft Hulke againft the tide, 
 So am I driuen by breath of her Renowne, 
 Either to fuffer Shipwracke, orarriue 
 Where I may haue fruition of her Loue. 
 
 Suf. Tufh my good Lord, this fuperficiall tale, 
 Is but a preface of her worthy praife : 
 The cheefe perfections of that louely Dame, 
 (Had I fufficient skill to vtter them) 
 Would make a volume of inticing lines, 
 Able to rauifh any dull conceit. 
 And which is more, fhe is not fo Diuine, 
 So full repleate with choice of all delights, 
 But with as humble lowlineflTe of minde, 
 She is content to be at your command : 
 Command I meane, of Vertuous chafte intents, 
 To Loue, and Honor Henry as her Lord. 
 
 King. And otherwife, will Henry ne're prefume : 
 Therefore my Lord Protector, giue confent, 
 That Margaret may be Englands Royall Queene. 
 
 Glo. So fhould I giue confent to flatter finne, 
 You know (my Lord) your Highnefie is betroath'd 
 Vnto another Lady of efteeme, 
 How fhall we then difpenfe with that contract, 
 And not deface your Honor with reproach? 
 
 Suf. As doth a Ruler with vnlawfull Oathes, 
 Or one that at a Triumph, hauing vow'd 
 To try his ftrength, forfaketh yet the Liftes 
 By reafon of his Aduerfaries oddes. 
 A poore Earles daughter is vnequall oddes, 
 And therefore may be broke without offence. 
 
 Gloucefter. Why what ( I pray ) is cflfargaret more 
 
 then that ? 
 
 Her Father is no better than an Earle, 
 Although in glorious Titles he excell. 
 
 Suf. Yes my Lord, her Father is a King, 
 The King of Naples, and lerufalem, 
 And of fuch great Authoritie in France, 
 As his alliance will confirme our peace, 
 And keepe the Frenchmen in Allegeance. 
 
 Glo. And fo the Earle of Arminacke may doe, 
 Becaufe he is neere Kinfman vnto Charles. 
 
 .m.Befide, his wealth doth warrant a liberal dower, 
 Where Reignier fooner will receyue, than giue. 
 
 Suf. A Dowre my Lords? Difgrace not fo your King, 
 That he {hould be fo abiect, bafe,and poore, 
 To choofe for wealth, and not for perfect Loue. 
 Henry is able to enrich his Queene, 
 And not to feeke a Queene to make him rich, 
 So worthlefle Pezants bargaine for their Wiues, 
 As Market men for Oxen, Sheepe, or Horfe. 
 Marriage is a matter of more worth, 
 Then to be dealt in by Atturney-fhip : 
 Not whom we will, but whom his Grace affects, 
 
 Muft
 
 Thefirft Tart of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 119 
 
 Muft be companion of his Nuptiall bed. 
 
 And therefore Lords, fince he affedb her moft, 
 
 Moft of all thefe reafons bindeth vs, 
 
 In our opinions fhe fhould be preferr'd. 
 
 For what is wedloeke forced 1 ? but a Hell, 
 
 An Age of difcord and continuall ftrife, 
 
 Whereas the contrarie bringeth blifie, 
 
 And is a patterne of Celeftiall peace. 
 
 Whom fhould we match with Henry being a King, 
 
 But cWargaret, that is daughter to a King : 
 
 Her peerelefle feature, ioyned with her birth, 
 
 Approues her fit for none, but for a King. 
 
 Her valiant courage, and vndaunted fpirit, 
 
 (More then in women commonly is feene) 
 
 Will anfwer our hope in iflue of a King. 
 
 For Henry, fonne vnto a Conqueror, 
 
 Is likely to beget more Conquerors, 
 
 If with a Lady of fo high refolue, 
 
 (As is faire Margaret] he be link'd in loue. 
 
 Then yeeld my Lords, and heere conclude with mee, 
 
 That Margaret fliall be Queene, and none but fliee. 
 
 King. Whether it be through force of your report, 
 My Noble Lord of Suffblke : Or for that 
 My tender youth was neuer yet attaint 
 With any paflion of inflaming loue , 
 I cannot tell : but this I am affur'd, 
 
 I feele fuch lharpe diflention in my breaft, 
 
 Such fierce alarums both of Hope and Feare, 
 
 As I am ficke with working of my thoughts. 
 
 Take therefore Shipping, pofte my Lord to France, 
 
 Agree to any couenants, and procure 
 
 That Lady Margaret do vouchfafe to come 
 
 To crofle the Seas to England, and be crown'd 
 
 King Henries faithfull and anoointed Queene. 
 
 For your expences and fufficient charge, 
 
 Among the people gather vp a tenth. 
 
 Be gone I fay, for till you do returne, 
 
 I reft perplexed with a thoufand Cares. 
 
 And you (good Vnckle) banifh all offence : 
 
 If you do cenfure me, by what you were, 
 
 Not what you are, I know it will excufe 
 
 This fodaine execution of my will. 
 
 And fo conduft me, where from company, 
 
 I may reuolue and ruminate my greefe. Exit. 
 
 Cflo. I greefe I feare me, both at firft and laft. 
 
 Exit Glocefter. 
 
 Suf. Thus Suffblke hath preuail'd,and thus he goes 
 As did the youthfull Paris once to Greece, 
 With hope to finde the like euent in loue, 
 But profper better than the Troian did : 
 Margaret fhall now be Queene, and rule the King: 
 But I will rule both her, the King, and Realme. Exit 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 m 2 
 
 The 
 
 4JJ
 
 120 
 
 The fecond Part of Henry the Sixt, 
 
 with the deatfiof the Good Duke 
 
 HVMFREY. 
 
 zAttus Primus. Sccena frima. 
 
 Flourljk of Trumpets : Then Hoboye:. 
 
 Enter King, Duly Humfrey , Salisbury , Warwic^e , and Beau- 
 ford on the one fide. 
 
 The Queene, Suffol^e, Tor fa Somerjet, and Buckingham, 
 on the other. 
 
 SuffoH(f. 
 
 S by your high Imperiall Maiefty, 
 I had in charge at my depart for France, 
 As Procurator to your Excellence, 
 _ To marry Princes Margaret for your Grace ; 
 So in the Famous Ancient City, Toures, 
 In prefence of the Kings of France, and Sicill, 
 The Dukes of Orleance, Qalaber, 'Britaigne, and Alanfon, 
 Seuen Earles, twelue Barons, & twenty reuerend Bi/hops 
 I haue perform'd my Taske, and was efpous'd, 
 And humbly now vpon my bended knee, 
 In fight of England, and her Lordly Peeres, 
 Deliuer vp my Title in the Qu_eene 
 To your moft gracious hands, that are the Subftance 
 Of that great Shadow I did reprefent : 
 The happieft Gift, that euer MarqueiTe gaue, 
 The Faireft Queene, that euer King receiu'd. 
 
 King. Suffolke arife. Welcome Queene Margaret , 
 I can exprefie no kinder figne of Loue 
 Then this kinde kiflTe : O Lord, that lends me life, 
 Lend me a heart repleate with thankfulnefle : 
 For thou haft giuen me in this beauteous Face 
 A world of earthly bleflings to my foule, 
 If Simpathy of Loue vnite our thoughts. 
 
 Queen. Great King of England, & my gracious Lord, 
 The mutuall conference that my minde hath had, 
 By day, by night; waking, and in my dreames, 
 In Courtly company, or at my Beades, 
 With you mine tAlder liefej} Soueraigne, 
 Makes me the bolder to falute my King, 
 With ruder termes, fuch as my wit affbords, 
 And ouer ioy of heart doth minifter. 
 
 King. Her fight did rauifh, but her grace in Speech, 
 Her words yclad with wifedomes Maiefty, 
 Makes .me from Wondring, fall to Weeping ioyes, 
 Such is the FulnefTe of my hearts content. 
 Lords, with one cheerefull voice, Welcome my Loue. 
 
 All kneel. Long Hue Qu. Mzrgwrf,EngIands happines. 
 Queene. We thanke you all. Florijb 
 
 Suf. My Lord Prote&or, fo it pleafe your Grace, 
 Heere are the Articles of contracted peace, 
 Betweene our Soueraigne, and the French King Charles, 
 For eighteene moneths concluded by confent. 
 
 Glo. Reads. Inprimis, It ii agreed betweene the French K. 
 Char let, and William de la Pole fMarqueffe ofSuffd^e,Am- 
 bajjador for Henry King of England, That the Jaid Hairy Jhal 
 ejpoufe the Lady Margaret, daughter i-nto Reignier King of 
 Naples, Sicillia, and lerufalem, and Crorvne her Queene of 
 England, ere the thirtieth of May next enfuing. 
 
 Item, That the Dutchy of Aniou,and the County of Main, 
 Jhall be releajed and deliuered to the King her father. 
 
 King. Vnkle, how now? 
 
 Qlo. Patdon me gracious Lord, 
 Some fodaine qualme hath ftrucke me at the heart, 
 And dim'd mine eyes, that I can reade no further. 
 
 King. Vnckle of Winchefter, I pray read on. 
 
 Win. Item, It it further agreed betveene them, That the 
 DutcheJJe of Aniou and Maine, Jhall be released and deliuered 
 ouer to the King her Father, and Jhee fent ouer of the King of 
 Englands cwne proper Co/} and (Charges, without hauing any 
 Dowry, 
 
 Ktng.They pleafe vs well. Lord Marques kneel down, 
 We heere create thee the firft Duke of Suffolke, 
 And girt thee with the Sword. Cofin of Yorke, 
 We heere discharge your Grace from being Regent 
 I'th parts of France, till terme of eighteene Moneths 
 Be full expyr'd. Thankes Vncle Winchefter, 
 Glofter, Yorke, Buckingham, Somerfet, 
 Salisburie, and Warwicke. 
 We thanke you all for this great fauour done, 
 In entertainment to my Princely Queene. 
 Come, let vs in, and with all Ipeede prouide 
 To fee her Coronation be perform'd. 
 
 Exit King, Queene, and Suffo/l^e. 
 
 Manet the reft. 
 
 Glo. Braue Peeres of England, Pillars of the State, 
 To you Duke Humfrey muft vnload his greefe : 
 Your greefe, the common greefe of all the Land. 
 What? did my brother Henry fpend his youth, 
 His valour, coine, and people in the wjrres ? 
 Did he fo often lodge in open field : 
 In Winters cold, and Summers parching heate, 
 To conquer France, his true inheritance? 
 And did my brother ^Bedford toyle his wits, 
 
 To 
 
 456
 
 The fecond^P art of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 121 
 
 To keepe by policy what Henrie got : 
 
 Hauj you your felues, Somerfet, 'Buckingham, 
 
 Bratie Yor^e, Salisbury, and victorious ff^arivic^e, 
 
 Rcceiud deepe fcarres in France and Normandie: 
 
 Or hath mine Vnckle 'Beauford, and my felfe, 
 
 With all the Learned Counfell of the Realme, 
 
 Studied fo long, fat in the Councell houfe, 
 
 Early and late, debating too and fro 
 
 How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe, 
 
 And hath his Highnefie in his infancie, 
 
 Crowned in Paris in defpight of foes, 
 
 And /hall thefe Labours, and thefe Honours dye ? 
 
 Shall Henries Conqueft, 'Bedfords vigilance, 
 
 Your Deeds of Warre, and all our Counfell dye? 
 
 Peeres of England, fliamefull is this League, 
 Fatall this Marriage, cancelling your Fame, 
 Blotting your names from Bookes of memory, 
 Racing the Charradters of your Renowne, 
 Defacing Monuments of Conquer'd France, 
 Vndoing all as all had neuer bin. 
 
 Car. Nephew, what meanes this pafllonate difcourfe? 
 This preroration with fuch circumftance : 
 For France, 'tis ours ; and we will keepe it ftill. 
 
 (jlo. I Vnckle, we will keepe it, if we can : 
 But now it is impofsible we fliould. 
 Suffolke, the new made Duke that rules the roft, 
 Hath giuen the Dutchy of Anlou and Mayne, 
 Vnto the poore King Reignier, whofe large ftyle 
 Agrees not with the leanneffe of his purfe. 
 
 Sal. Now by the death of him that dyed for all, 
 Thefe Counties were the Keyes of Normandie : 
 But wherefore weepes Warwicke, my valiant fonne? 
 
 War. For greefe that they are pair, recouerie. 
 For were there hope to conquer them againe, 
 My fword fhould flied hot blood, mine eyes no teares. 
 ^fc/'caand Maine ? My felfe did win them both : 
 Thofe Prouinces, thefe Armes of mine did conquer, 
 And are the Citties that I got with wounds, 
 Deliuer'd vp againe with peacefull words ? 
 Mart Dleu. 
 
 Torfe. For Suffolkes Duke, may he be fuffocate, 
 That dims the Honor of this Warlike Ifle : 
 France fliould haue tome and rent my very hart, 
 Before I would haue yeelded to this League. 
 
 1 neuer read but Englands Kings haue had 
 
 Large fummes of Gold, and Dowries with their wiues, 
 And our King Henry giues away his owne, 
 To match with her that brings no vantages. 
 
 Hum. A proper left, and neuer heard before, 
 That Suffolke fliould demand a whole Fifteenth, 
 For Cofts and Charges in tranfporting her : 
 She fliould haue ftaid in France, and fteru'd in France 
 Before 
 
 Car. My Lord of Glofter, now ye grow too hot, 
 It was the pleafure of my Lord the King. 
 
 Hum. My Lord of Winchefter I know your minde. 
 'Tis not my fpeeches that you do miflike : 
 But 'tis my prefence that doth trouble ye, 
 Rancour will out, proud Prelate, in thy face 
 I fee thy furie : If I longer ftay, 
 We fliall begin our ancient bickerings : 
 I Lordings farewell, and fay when I am gone, 
 j I prophefied, France will be loft ere long. Exit Humfrey. 
 
 Car. So, there goes our Protector in a rage : 
 *Tis knowne to you he is mine enemy : 
 Nay more, an enemy vnto you all, 
 
 457 
 
 And no great friend, I feare me to the King ; 
 Confider Lords, he is the next of blood, 
 And heyre apparant to the Englifti Crowne : 
 Had Henrie got an Empire by his marriage, 
 And all the wealthy Kingdomes of the Weft, 
 There's reafon he fliould be difpleas'd at it : 
 Looke to it Lords, let not his fmoothing words 
 Bewitch your hearts, be wife and circumfpedt. 
 What though the common people fauour him, 
 Calling him, Humfrey the good Du^e of Glofter, 
 Clapping their hands, and crying with loud voyce, 
 lefu maintaine your Royall Excellence, 
 With God preferue the good Duke Humfrey: 
 I feare me Lords, for all this flattering glofie, 
 He will be found a dangerous Protestor. 
 
 Buc. Why fliould he then protect our Soueraigne ? 
 He being of age to gouerne of himfelfe. 
 Cofin of Somerfet, ioyne you with me, 
 And altogether with the Duke of Suffolke, 
 Wee'l quickly hoyfe Duke Humfrey from his feat. 
 
 Car. This weighty bufmeffe will not brooke delay, 
 He to the Duke of Suffolke prefently. Exit Cardinall. 
 
 Som. Cofin of Buckingham, though Humfries pride 
 And greatnefle of his place be greefe to vs, 
 Yet let vs watch the haughtie Cardinall, 
 His infoience is more intolerable 
 Then all the Princes in the Land befide, 
 If Glofter be difplac'd, hee'l be Protector. 
 
 'Buc. Or thou, or I Somerfet will be Protectors, 
 Defpite Duke Humfrey, or the Cardinall. 
 
 Exit Buckingham, and Somerfet. 
 
 Sal. Pride went before, Ambition followes him. 
 While thefe do labour for their owne preferment, 
 Behooues it vs to labor for the Realme. 
 I neuer faw but Humfrey Duke of Glofter, 
 Did beare him like a Noble Gentleman: 
 Oft haue I feene the haughty Cardinall. 
 More like a Souldier then a man o'th'Church, 
 As ftout and proud as he were Lord of all, 
 Sweare like a Ruffian, and demeane himfelfe 
 Vnlike the Ruler of a Common-weale. 
 Warwicke my fonne, the comfort of my age, 
 Thy deeds, thy plainneffe, and thy houfe-keeping, 
 Hath wonne the greateft fauour of the Commons, 
 Excepting none but good Duke Humfrey. 
 And Brother Yorke, thy Acts in Ireland, 
 In bringing them to ciuill Difcipline : 
 Thy late exploits done in the heart of France, 
 When thou wert Regent for our Soueraigne, 
 Haue made thee fear'd and honor'd of the people, 
 Ioyne we together for the publike good, 
 In what we can, to bridle and fupprefle 
 The pride of Suffolke, and the Cardinall, 
 With Somerfets and Buckinghams Ambition, 
 And as we may, cherifli Duke Humfries deeds, 
 While they do tend the profit of the Land. 
 
 War. So God helpe Warwicke, as he loues the Land, 
 And common profit of his Countrey. 
 
 Tor. And fo fayes Yorke, 
 For he hath greateft caufe. 
 
 Salisbury. Then lets make haft away, 
 And looke vnto the maine. 
 
 Wortnejt. Vnto the maine? 
 Oh Father, cJVLaine is loft, 
 
 That Maine, which by maine force Warwicke did winne, 
 And would haue kept, fo long as breath did laft: 
 
 1 ^ Main 
 
 J~M
 
 122 
 
 The fecond^P art of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Main-chance father you meant, but I mea 
 Which I will win from France, or elfe be flaine. 
 
 Exit ffanficl^e,and Salisbury. Manet Torfe. 
 
 TTorl(f. Aiiou and Maine are giuen to the French, 
 Parts is loft, the ftate of Normandie 
 Stands on a tickle point, now they are gone : 
 Suffblke concluded on the Articles, 
 The Peeres agreed, and Henry was well pleas'd, 
 To change two Dukedomes for a Dukes fiire daughter. 
 I cannot blame them all, what is't to them? 
 'Tis thine they giue away, and not their owne. 
 Pirates may make cheape penyworths of their pillage, 
 And purchafe Friends, and giue to Curtezans, 
 Still reuellmg like Lords till all be gone, 
 While as the filly Owner of the goods 
 Weepes ouer them, and wrings his haplefie hands, 
 And flukes his head, and trembling (lands aloofe, 
 While all is (har'd, and all is borne away, 
 Ready to fterue, and dare not touch his owne. 
 So Yorke muft fit, and fret, and bite his tongue, 
 While his owne Lands are bargain'd for, and fold : 
 Me thinkes the Realmes of England, France, & Ireland, 
 Beare that proportion to my flefh and blood, 
 As did the fatall brand *AM:<ea burnt, 
 Vnto the Princes heart ofQalidon : 
 Aniou and Maine both giuen vnto the French f 
 Cold newes for me : for I had hope of France, 
 Euen as I haue of fertile Englands foile. 
 A day will come, when Yorke (hall claime his owne, 
 And therefore I will take the Neui/s parts, 
 And make a (hew of loue to proud Duke Humfrey, 
 And when I fpy aduantage, claime the Crowne, 
 For that's the Golden marke I feeke to hit : 
 Nor {hall proud Lancafter vfurpe my right, 
 Nor hold the Scepter in his childifli Fift, 
 Nor weare the Diadem vpon his head, 
 Whofe Church-like humors fits not for a Crowne. 
 Then Yorke be ftill a-while, till time do ferue : 
 Watch thou, and wake when others be afleepe, 
 To prie into the fecrets of the State, 
 Till Henrie furfetting in ioyes of loue, 
 With his new Bride, & Englands deere bought Queen, 
 And Humfrey with the Peeres be falne at iarres : 
 Then will I raife aloft the Milke-white-Rofe, 
 With whofe fweet fmell the Ayre fliall be perfum'd, 
 And in in my Standard beare the Armes of Yorke, 
 To grapple with the houfe of Lancafter, 
 And force perforce He make him yeeld the Crowne, 
 Whofe bookifli Rule, hath pull'd faire England downe. 
 
 Exit Torl^e. 
 Enter Du^e Humfrey and bis tfife Elianor. 
 
 Elia.Why droopes my Lord like ouer-ripen'd Corn, 
 Hanging the head at Ceres plenteous load ? 
 Why doth the Great Duke Humfrey knit his browes , 
 As frowning at the Fauours of the world ? 
 Why are thine eyes fixt to the fullen earth, 
 Gazing on that which feemes to dimme thy fight? 
 i What feeft thou there ? King Henries Diadem, 
 Inchac'd with all the Honors of the world? 
 If fo, Gaze on, and grouell on thy face, 
 Vntill thy head be circled with the fame. 
 Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious Gold. 
 What, is't too flurt ? lie lengthen it with mine, 
 And hauing both together heau'd it vp, 
 Wee'l both together lift our heads to heauen, 
 And neuer more abafe our fight fo low, 
 
 As to vouchfafe one glance vnto the ground. 
 
 Hum. O Nell, fweet AW/, if thou doft loue thy Lord, 
 Banifti the Canker of ambitious thoughts: 
 And may that thought, when I imagine ill 
 Againft my King and Nephew, vertuous Henry, 
 Be my laft breathing in this mortall worid. 
 My troublous dreames this night, doth make me fad. 
 
 //'. What dream'd my Lord, tell me, and lie requite it 
 With fweet rehearfall of my mornings dreamed 
 
 Hum. Me thought this ftaffe mine Office-badge in 
 
 Court 
 
 Was broke in twaine : by whom, I haue forgot, 
 But as I thinke, it was by'th Cardinal!, 
 And on the peeces of the broken Wand 
 Were plac'd the heads of Edmtnd Duke of Somerfet, 
 And William di la Pule firft Duke of Suffolke. 
 This was my dreame, what it doth bode God knowes. 
 
 Eli. Tut, this was nothing but an argument, 
 That he that breakes a fticke of Glofters groue, 
 Shall loofe his head for his prefumption. 
 But lift to me my Humfrey, my fweete Duke : 
 Me thought I fate in Seate of Maiefty, 
 In the Cathedrall Church of Weftminfter, 
 And in that Chaire where Kings & Queens wer crownd, 
 Where Henrie and Dame Margaret kneel'd to me, 
 And on my head did fet the Diadem. 
 
 Hum. Nay Elinor, then muft I chide outright : 
 Prefumptuous Dame, ill-nurter'd Eliar.er , 
 Art thou not fecond Woman in the Realme? 
 And the Protectors wife belou'd of him ? 
 Haft thou not worldly pleafure at command, 
 Aboue the reach or compafle of thy thought? 
 And wilt thou ftill be hammering Treachery, 
 To tumble downe thy husband, and thy felfe, 
 From top of Honor, to Difgraces feete ? 
 Away from me, and let me heare no more. 
 
 Elia. What, what, my Lord ? Are you fo chollericke 
 With Elianor, for telling but her dreame ? 
 Next time lie keepe my dreames vnto my felfe, 
 And not be check'd. 
 
 Hum. Nay be not angry, I am pleas'd againe. 
 Enter MeJJenger. 
 
 Meff". My Lord Proteftor, 'tis his Highnes pleafure, 
 You do prepare to ride vnto S. Albom, 
 Where as the King and Qu_eene do meane to Hawke. 
 
 Hu. I go. Come Nel thou wilt ride with vs?*. Hum 
 
 Eli. Yes my good Lord, He follow prefently. 
 Follow I muft, I cannot go before, 
 While Glofter beares this bafe and humble minde. 
 Were I a Man, a Duke, and next of blood, 
 I would remoue thefe tedious (tumbling blockes, 
 And fmooth my way vpon their headlefle neckes. 
 And being a woman, I will not be flacke 
 To play my part in Fortunes Pageant. 
 Where are you there? Sir lebn; nay feare not man, 
 We are alone, here's none but thee,& 1. Enter Hume. 
 
 Hume. lefus preferue your Royall Maiefty. 
 
 Elia. What faift thou? Maiefty : I am but Grace. 
 
 Hume. But by the grace of God, and Humes aduice, 
 Your Graces Title (hall be multiplied. 
 
 Ella. What faift thou man? Haft thou as yet confer'd 
 With Margerie lardane the cunning Witch, 
 With Roger c BoHingbrockf the Coniurer ? 
 And will they vndertake to do me good ? 
 
 Hume. This they haue promifed to fliew your Highnes 
 A Spirit rais'd from depth of vnder ground, 
 
 That
 
 Tbefecond ^Part of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 123 
 
 That fhall make anfwere to fuch Qu_eftions, 
 As by your Grace fhall be propounded him. 
 
 Elianor. It is enough, lie thinke vpon theQueftions: 
 When from Saint Albones we doe make returne, 
 Wee'le fee thefe things effected to the full. 
 Here Hume, take this reward, make merry man 
 With thy Confederates in this weightie caufe. 
 
 Exit Bliatwr. 
 
 Hume. Hume muft make merry with the Duchefle Gold: 
 Marry and fhall : but how now, Sir lobn Hume ? 
 Scale vp your Lips, and giue no words but Mum, 
 The bufinefle asketh filent fecrecie. 
 Dame Elianor giues Gold, to bring the Witch : 
 Gold cannot come amifle,were fhe a Deuill. 
 Yet haue I Gold flyes from another Coaft : 
 I dare not fay, from the rich Cardinall, 
 And from the great and new-made Duke of Suffblke j 
 Yet I doe finde it fo : for to be plaine, 
 They (knowing Dame Elianors afpiring humor) 
 Haue hyred me to vnder-mine the Duchefle, 
 And buzze thefe Coniurations in her brayne. 
 They fay, A craftie Knaue do's need no Broker, 
 Yet am I Suffice and the Cardinalls Broker. 
 Hume, if you take not heed, you fhail goe neere 
 To call them both a payre of craftie Knaues. 
 Well,fo it (lands: and thus I feare at laft, 
 Humes Knauerie will be the Ducheffe Wracke, 
 And her Attainture,will be Humfbreyes fall : 
 Sort how it will, I fhall haue Gold for all. Sxit 
 
 Enter three or four -e Petitioners, the Armorers 
 Man being one . 
 
 1. Pet. My Mafters, let's ftand clofe, my Lord Pro- 
 tector will come this way by and by, and then wee may 
 deliuer our Supplications in the Quill. 
 
 2. Pet. Marry the Lord protect him, for hee's a good 
 man, lefu blefTe him. 
 
 Enter Suffblke, and Queene. 
 
 Peter. Here a comes me thinkes,and the Qusene with 
 him: lie be the firft fure. 
 
 2. Pet. Come backe foole, this is the Duke of Suffolk, 
 and not my Lord Protector. 
 
 Suff. How now fellow: would'ft any thing with me? 
 
 i.Pet. I pray my Lord pardon me, I tooke ye for my 
 Lord Protector. 
 
 Queene. To my Lord Protector ? Are your Supplica- 
 tions to his Lord/hip? Let me fee them: what is thine? 
 
 i.Pet. Mine is, and't pleafe your Grace, againft lobn 
 Goodman, my Lord Cardinals Man, for keeping my Houfe, 
 and Lands, and Wife and all, from me. 
 
 Sujf. Thy Wife too ? that's fome Wrong indeede. 
 What's yours f What's heere ? Againft the Duke of 
 Suffblke, for enclofmg the Commons of Melforde. How 
 now, Sir Knaue ? 
 
 2. Pet. Alas Sir, I am but a poore Petitioner of our 
 whole Townefhip. 
 
 Peter. Againft my Mafter Thomas Homer, for faying, 
 That the Duke of Yorke was rightfull Heire to the 
 Crowne. 
 
 Queene. What fay'ft thou t Did the Duke of Yorke 
 fay/nee was rightfull Heire to the Crowne? 
 
 Peter. That, my Miftrefie was? No forfooth:my Mafter 
 faid,That he was, and that the King was an Vfurper. 
 
 459 
 
 Suff. Who is there f 
 
 Enter Seruant. 
 
 Take this fellow in, and fend for his Mafter with a Purfe- 
 uant prefently : wee'le heare more of your matter before 
 the King. Exit. 
 
 Queene. And as for you that loue to be protected 
 Vnder the Wings of our Protectors Grace, 
 Begin your Suites anew,and fue to him. 
 
 Teare the Supplication, 
 Away,bafe Cullions: Suffol^e let them goe. 
 
 All. Come, let's be gone. Exit. 
 
 Queene. My Lord of Suffblke, fay, is this the guife? 
 Is this the Fafhions in the Court of England ? 
 Is this the Gouernment of Britaines lie? 
 And this the Royaltie of Albions King ? 
 What, fhall King Henry be a Pupill ftill, 
 Vnder the furly Glojlers Gouernance ? 
 Am I a Queene in Title and in Stile, 
 And muft be made a Subiect to a Duke ? 
 I tell thee Toole, when in the Citie Tours 
 Thou ran'ft a. tile in honor of my Loue, 
 And ftol'ft away the Ladies hearts of France ; 
 I thought King Henry had refembled thee, 
 In Courage, Courtfhip, and Proportion: 
 But all his minde is bent to HolinefTe, 
 To number ^ue-Maries on his Beades : 
 His Champions,are the Prophets and Apoftles, 
 His Weapons, holy Sawes of facred Writ, 
 His Studie is his 'lilt-yard, and his Loues 
 Are brazen Images of Canonized Saints. 
 I would the Colledge of the Cardinalls 
 Would chufe him Pope, and carry him to Rome, 
 And fet the Triple Crowne vpon his Head ; 
 That were a State fit for his HolinefTe. 
 
 Suff. Madame be patient : as I was caufe 
 Your HighnefTe came to England, fo will I 
 In England worke your Graces full content. 
 
 Queene. Befide the haughtie Protector, haue we Beauford 
 The imperious Churchman ;Somerfet, Buckingham, 
 And grumbling Yor^e: and not the leaft of thefe, 
 But can doe more in England then the King. 
 
 Suff. And he of thefe, that can doe moft of all, 
 Cannot due more in England then the Neush : 
 Salisbury and IVartvicl^ are no fimple Peeres. 
 
 Queei:e.Not all thefe Lords do vex me halfe fo much, 
 As that prowd Dame, the Lord Protectors Wife: 
 She fweepes it through the Court with troups of Ladies, 
 More like an Emprefle,then Duke Humphreys Wife: 
 Strangers in Court, doe take her for the Queene : 
 She beares a Dukes Reuenewes on her backe, 
 And in her heart fhe fcornes our Pouertie : 
 Shall I not Hue to be aueng'd on her ? 
 Contemptuous bafe-borne Callot as fhe is, 
 She vaunted 'mongft her Minions t'other day, 
 The very trayne of her word wearing Gowne, 
 Was better worth then all my Fathers Lands, 
 Till Suffol^e gaue two Dukedomes for his Daughter. 
 
 Suff. Madame, my felfe haue lym'd a Bufh for her, 
 And plac't a Quier of fuch enticing Birds, 
 That fhe will light to liften to the Layes, 
 And neuer mount to trouble you againe. 
 So let her reft : and Madame lift to me, 
 For I am bold to counfaile you in this; 
 Although we fancie not the Cardinall, 
 Yet muft we ioyne with him and with the Lords, 
 Till we haue brought Duke Humphrey in difgrace. 
 
 As
 
 Thefecond^art of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 As for the Duke of Yorke,this late Complaint 
 
 Will make but little for his benefit : 
 
 So one by one wee'le weed them all at laft, 
 
 And you your felfe {hall fteere the happy Helme. Exit. 
 
 Sound a Sennet. 
 
 Enter the King, Duly Humfrey, Cardinall, Bucking- 
 ham, Torfa, Salisbury, ffarwicfa, 
 and the 'DucbeJJe. 
 
 King. For my part,Noble Lords,! care not which, 
 Or Somerfet, or Torfa, all's one to me. 
 
 Torfa. If Torfa haue ill demean'd himfelfe in France, 
 Then let him be denay'd the Regent-fliip. 
 
 Sam. If Somerfet be vnworthy of the Place, 
 Let Torfa be Regent, I will yeeld to him. 
 
 Warv. Whether your Grace be worthy, yea or no, 
 Difpute not that, Torfa is the worthyer. 
 
 Card. Ambitious fParmicfa, let thy betters fpeake. 
 
 ffarn. The Cardinall's not my better in the field. 
 
 Bucfa All in this prefence are thy betters, ffarwicfa. 
 
 Warn. Warmckf may liue to be the beft of all. 
 
 j/w.Peace Sonne,and fliew fome reafon Buckingham 
 Why Somerfet fliould be preferr'd in this? 
 
 Queene. Becaufe the King forfooth will haue it fo. 
 
 Humf. Madame, the King is old enough himfelfe 
 To giue his Cenfure : Thefe are no Womens matters. 
 
 Queene. If he be old enough, what needs your Grace 
 To be Prote&or of his Excellence ? 
 
 Humf. Madame,! am Prote&or of the Realme, 
 And at his pleafure will refigne my Place. 
 
 Suff. Religne it then, and leaue thine infolence. 
 Since thou wert King; as who is King, but thou ? 
 The Common-wealth hath djyly run to wrack, 
 The Dolphin hath preuayl'd beyond the Seas, 
 And all the Peeres and Nobles of the Realme 
 Haue beene as Bond-men to thy Soueraigntie. 
 
 Card.The Commons haft thou rackt, the Clergies Bags 
 Are lanke and leane with thy Extortions. 
 
 Som.Thy fumptuous Buildings, and thy Wiues Attyre 
 Haue coft a mafle of publique Treafurie. 
 
 e Buc)(. Thy Crueltie in execution 
 Vpon Offenders, hath exceeded Law, 
 And left thee to the mercy of the Law. 
 
 Queene. Thy fale of Offices and Townes in France, 
 If they were knowne, as the fufpeft is great, 
 Would make thee quickly hop without thy Head. 
 
 Exit Humfrey. 
 Giue me my Fanne: what, Mynion, can ye not? 
 
 She giues the DucheJJe a box on the eare. 
 I cry you mercy, Madame: was it you ? 
 
 Ducb. Was't I ? yea, I it was,prowd French-woman : 
 Could I come neere your Beautie with my Nayles, 
 I could fet my ten Commandements in your face. 
 
 King. Sweet Aunt be quiet,'twas againft her will. 
 
 "Duch. Againft her will, good King? looke to't in time, 
 Shee'le hamper thee, and dandle thee like a Baby : 
 Though in this place moft Mafter weare no Breeches, 
 She fliall not ftrike Dame Elianor vnreueng'd. 
 
 Exit Elianor. 
 
 Bucfa Lord Cardinall, I will follow Blianor, 
 And liften after Humfrey, how he proceedes : 
 Shee's tickled now, her Fume needs no fpurres, 
 Shee'le gallop farre enough to her deftru&ion. 
 
 8xit Buckingham. 
 
 Enter Humfrey. 
 
 Humf. Now Lords, my Choller being ouer-blowne, 
 With walking once about the Quadrangle, 
 I come to talke of Common-wealth Affayres. 
 As for your fpightfull falfe Obieftions, 
 Proue them, and I lye open to the Law: 
 But God in mercie fb deale with my Soule, 
 As I in dutie loue my King and Countrey. 
 But to the matter that we haue in hand : 
 I fay, my Soueraigne, Tor fa is meeteft man 
 To be your Regent in the Realme of France. 
 
 Suff. Before we make election, giue me leaue 
 To fnew fome reafon, of no little force, 
 That Tor fa is moft vnmeet of any man. 
 
 Tor fa. lie tell thee, Suffo/fa, why I am vnmeet. 
 Firft,for I cannot flatter thee in Pride : 
 Next, if I be appointed for the Place, 
 My Lord of Somerfet will keepe me here, 
 Without Difcharge, Money, or Furniture, 
 Till France be wonne into the Dolphins hands: 
 Laft time I danc't attendance on his will, 
 Till Paris was befieg'd,famifht,and loft. 
 
 Warw. That can I witnefle, and a fouler fat 
 Did neuer Traytor in the Land commit. 
 
 Buff. Peace head-ftrong Warwickf. 
 
 Wartf. Image of Pride, why ftiould I hold my peace ? 
 
 Enter Armorer and bu Man. 
 
 Suff". Becaufe here is a man accufed of Treafon, 
 Pray God the Duke of Yorke excufe himfelfe. 
 
 Torfa. Doth any one accufe Torfa for a Traytor? 
 
 King. What mean'ft thou, Suffolfa ? tell me, what are 
 thefe ? 
 
 Suff. Pleafe it your Maieftie, this is the man 
 That doth accufe his Mafter of High Treafon ; 
 His words were thefe : That J(ichard, Duke of Yorke, 
 Was rightfull Heire vnto the Englifh Crowne, 
 And that your Maieftie was an Vfurper. 
 
 King. Say man, were thefe thy words? 
 
 Armor w.And't flull pleafe your Maieftie, I neuer fayd 
 nor thought any fuch matter : God is my witnefle, I am 
 falfely accus'd by the Villaine. 
 
 Peter. By thefe tenne bones, my Lords, hee did fpeake 
 them to me in the Garret one Night, as wee were fcow- 
 ring my Lord of Yorkes Armor. 
 
 Torfa. Bjfe Dunghill Villaine, and Mechanicall, 
 lie haue thy Head for this thy Traytors fpeech: 
 I doe befeech your Royall Maieftie, 
 Let him haue all the rigor of the Law. 
 
 Armorer. Alas, my Lord, hang me if euer I fpake the 
 words : my accufer is my Prentice, and when I did cor- 
 redl him for his fault the other day, he did vow vpon his 
 knees he would be euen with me : I haue good witnefTe 
 of this ; therefore I befeech your Maieftie, doe not caft 
 away an honeft man for a Villaines accufation. 
 
 King. Vnckle, what /hall we fay to this in law ? 
 
 Humf. This doome,my Lord, if I may iudge : 
 Let Somerfet be Regent o're the French, 
 Becaufe in Torfa this breedes fufpition ; 
 And let thefe haue a day appointed them 
 For fingle Combat, in conuenient place, 
 For he hath witnefle of his feruants malice : 
 This is the Law, and this Duke Humfreyes doome. 
 
 Som. I 
 
 460
 
 Thefecond ^Part of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 125 
 
 Som. I humbly thanke your Royall Maieftie. 
 
 Armorer. And I accept the Combat willingly. 
 
 Peter. Alas, my Lord, I cannot fight ; for Gods fake 
 pitty my cafe : the fpight of man preuayleth againft me. 
 O Lord haue mercy vpon me , I mail neuer be able to 
 fight a blow : O Lord my heart. 
 
 Humf. Sirrha, or you muft fight, or elfe be hang'd. 
 
 King. Away with them to Prifon : and the day of 
 Combat, mall be the laft of the next moneth. Come 
 Somerfet, wee'le fee thee fent away. 
 
 Flourijb. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter the Witch, the two Prie/ls, and 'Bullingbrool'e. 
 
 Hume. Come my Matters, the Duchefle I tell you ex- 
 pefls performance of your promifes. 
 
 'Bulling. Mafter Hume,we are therefore prouided : will 
 her Ladyfliip behold and heare our Exorcifmes? 
 Hume. I, what elfe ? feare you not her courage, 
 'Bulling. I haue heard her reported to be a Woman of 
 an inuincible fpirit : but it mail be conuenient, Mafter 
 Hume, that you be by her aloft, while wee be bufie be- 
 low ; and fo I pray you goe in Gods Name, and leaue vs. 
 
 Exit Hume. 
 
 Mother Jordan, be you proftrate, and grouell on the 
 Earth ; lobn Southwell reade you, and let vs to our worke. 
 
 Enter Slianor aloft. 
 
 Elianor. Well faid my Mafters, and welcome all : To 
 this geere,the fooner the better. 
 
 Bullin. Patience, good Lady, Wizards know their times: 
 Deepe Night, darke Night, the filent of the Night, 
 The time of Night when Troy was fet on fire, 
 The time when Screech-owles cry,and Bandogs howle, 
 And Spirits walke,and Ghofts breake vp their Graues; 
 That time beft fits the worke we haue in hand. 
 Madame, fit you, and feare not: whom wee rayfe, 
 Wee will make faft within a hallow'd Verge. 
 
 Here doe the (Ceremonies belonging, and mal^e the Circle, 
 
 Bullingbrodfy or Southwell reades, Coniuro 
 
 te, &c. It Thunders and Lightens 
 
 terribly : then the Spirit 
 
 rifeth. 
 
 Spirit. Ad fum. 
 
 Witch. <dftnatb,by the eternall God, 
 Whole name and power thou trembleft at, 
 Anfwere that I mall aske ' for till thou fpeake, 
 Thou malt not pafTe from hence. 
 
 Spirit. Aske what thou wilt ; that I had fayd, and 
 done. 
 
 Bulling. Firft of the King : What mall of him be- 
 come? 
 
 Spirit. The Duke yet Hues, that Henry mall depofe : 
 But him out-liue,and dye a violent death. 
 
 'Bulling. What fates await the Duke of SurFolke ?. 
 Spirit. By Water ihall he dye, and take his end. 
 'Bulling. What mall befall the Duke of Somerfet? 
 Spirit. Let him fhun Caftles, 
 Safer mall he be vpon the fandie Plaines, 
 Then where Caftles mounted ftand. 
 Haue done, for more I hardly can endure. 
 
 Bulling. Difcend to Darkneffe,and the burning Lake : 
 Falfe Fiend auoide. 
 
 Thunder and Lightning. Exit Spirit. 
 
 461 
 
 Snter the Dufe of Tor ^e and the Dufy of 'Buckingham 
 with their Guard,and breake in. 
 
 Yorke. Lay hands vpon thefe Traytors,and their trafh : 
 Beldam I thinke we watcht you at an ynch. 
 What Madame,are you there? the King & Commonweale 
 Are deepely indebted for this peece of paines ; 
 My Lord Protedlor will, I doubt it not, 
 See you well guerdon'd for thefe good deferts. 
 
 Elianor. Not halfe fo bad as thine to Englands King, 
 Iniurious Duke, that threateft where's nocaufe. 
 
 Bucl(. True Madame, none at alhwhat call you this? 
 Away with them, let them be clapt vp clofe, 
 And kept afunder : you Madame mall with vs. 
 Stafford take her to thee. 
 
 Wee'le fee your Trinkets here all forth-comming. 
 All away. Exit. 
 
 Yorfy. Lord Buckingham, me thinks you watcht her well: 
 A pretty Plot, well chofen to build vpon. 
 Now pray my Lord, let's fee the Deuils Writ. 
 What haue we here ? Reades. 
 
 The Dukf yet Hues, that Henry jhall depofe : 
 But him out-Hue, and dye a -violent death. 
 Why this is iuft,ty4/0 e^Eacida Romanos sincere pojjb. 
 Well, to the reft : 
 
 Tell me what fate awaits the Duke of SurFolke? 
 By Water Jhall he dye, and takf bit end. 
 What mall betide the Duke of Somerfet? 
 Let him jhunne Caftles, 
 Safer Jhall he be -vpon the fandie Plaines, 
 Then where Caftles mounted Jtand. 
 Come, come, my Lords, 
 Thefe Oracles are hardly attain'd, 
 And hardly vnderftood. 
 
 The King is now in progrefle towards Saint Albones, 
 With him, the Husband of this louely Lady : 
 Thither goes thefe Newes, 
 As faft as Horfe can carry them : 
 A forry Breakfaft for my Lord Proteftor. 
 
 Ifor^.Your Grace ihal giue me leaue, my Lord of York, 
 To be the Pofte, in hope of his reward. 
 
 Toffy. At your pleafure,my good Lord. 
 Who's within there, hoe 
 
 Enter a Seruingman. 
 
 Inuite my Lords of Salisbury and Warwick 
 To fuppe with me to morrow Night. Away. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Enter the King, Queene, Proteftor, Cardinall, and 
 Suffolfy , with Fau/tyiers hallowing. 
 
 Queene. Beleeue me Lords, for flying at the Brooke, 
 I faw not better fport thefe feuen yeeres day : 
 Yet by your leaue, the Winde was very high, 
 And ten to one, old loane had not gone out. 
 
 King. But what a point, my Lord, your Faulcon made, 
 And what a pytch flie flew aboue the reft: 
 To fee how God in all his Creatures workes, 
 Yea Man and Birds are fayne of climbing high. 
 
 Stiff". No maruell,and it like your Maieftie, 
 My Lord Protectors Hawkes doe towre fo well, 
 They know their Mafter loues to be aloft, 
 And beares his thoughts aboue his Faulcons Pitch. 
 
 Gloft. My Lord, 'tis but a bafe ignoble minde, 
 That mounts no higher then a Bird can fore ; 
 
 Card. I
 
 126 
 
 The fecond ^Part of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Card. I thought as much, hee would be aboue the 
 Clouds. 
 
 Gloft. I my Lord Cardinall, how thinke you by that? 
 Were it not good your Grace could flye to Heauen ? 
 
 King. The Treafurie of euerlafting loy. 
 
 Card. Thy Heauen is on Earth, thine Eyes & Thoughts 
 Beat on a Crowne, the Treafure of thy Heart, 
 Pernitious Protedtor, dangerous Peere, 
 That fmooth'ft it fo with King and Common-weale. 
 
 Gloft. What, Cardinall ? 
 Is your Prieft-hood growne peremptorie f 
 Tanteene animu Cceleftibta tree, Church-men fo hot ? 
 Good Vnckle hide fuch mallice : 
 With fuch Holynefle can you doe it ? 
 
 Suf. No mallice Sir, no more then well becomes 
 So good a Quarrell.and fo bad a Peere. 
 
 Gloft. As who, my Lord ? 
 
 Suff. Why, as you, my Lord, 
 An't like your Lordly Lords Protedlorfhip. 
 
 Gloft. Why Suffolfy, England knowes thine infolence. 
 
 Queene. And thy Ambition, Glofter. 
 
 King. I prythee peace, good Queene, 
 And whet not on thefe furious Peeres, 
 For blefled are the Peace-makers on Earth. 
 
 Card. Let me be blefied for the Peace I make 
 Againft this prowd Protestor with my Sword. 
 
 Gl'jft. Faith holy Vnckle, would't were come to that. 
 
 Card. Marry, when thou dar'ft. 
 
 Gloft. Make vp no factious numbers for the matter, 
 In thine owne perfon anfwere thy abufe. 
 
 Card. I, where thou dar'ft not peepe : 
 And if thou dar'ft, this Euening, 
 On the Eaft fide of the Groue. 
 
 King. How now, my Lords 9 
 
 Card. Beleeue me, Coufin Glofter, 
 Had not your man put vp the Fowle fo fuddenly, 
 We had had more fport. 
 Come with thy two-hand Sword. 
 
 Gkfl. True Vnckle, are ye aduis'd ? 
 The Eaft fide of the Groue : 
 Cardinal!, I am with you. 
 
 King. Why how now, Vnckle Glofter r 
 
 Gloft. Talking of Hawking; nothing elfe,my Lord. 
 Now by Gods Mother, Prieft, 
 He fliaue your Crowne for this, 
 Or all my Fence fhall fayle. 
 
 Card. <&fedice teiffum,Prott&OT fee to't well, protect 
 your felfe. 
 
 King. The Windes grow high, 
 So doe your Stomacks, Lords : 
 How irkefome is this Mufick to my heart? 
 When fuch Strings iarre, what hope of Harmony ? 
 I pray my Lords let me compound this ftrife. 
 
 Enter one crying a Miracle. 
 
 Gkfl. What meanes this noyfe? 
 Fellow, what Miracle do'ft thou proclayme 9 
 
 One. A Miracle, a Miracle. 
 
 Suffol^e. Come to the King, and tell him what Mi- 
 racle. 
 
 One. Forfooth,a blinde man at Saint Albones Shrine, 
 Within this halfe houre hath receiu'd his fight, 
 A man that ne're faw in his life before. 
 
 King. Now God be prays'd,that to- beleeuing Soules 
 Giues Light in Darknefie, Comfort in Defpaire. 
 
 Safer the Maior of Saint Albonei^and bii 'Brethren, 
 bearing the man betweene two in a Cbayre. 
 
 Card. Here comes the Townef-men, on Proceflion, 
 To prefent your Highnefie with the man. 
 
 King.Great is his comfort in this Earthly Vale, 
 Although by his fight his finne be multiplyed. 
 
 Gloft. Stand by, my Mafters, bring him neere the King, 
 His Highnefle pleafure is to talke with him. 
 
 King. Good-fellow, tell vs here the circumftance, 
 That we for thee may glorifie the Lord. 
 What, haft thou beene long blinde, and now reftor'd ? 
 
 Simfc. Borne blinde, and't pleafe your Grace. 
 
 Wife. I indeede was he. 
 
 Suff. What Woman is this ? 
 
 Wife. His Wife, and't like your Worfhip. 
 
 Gloft. Hadft thou been his Mother, thou could'ft haue 
 better told. 
 
 King. Where wert thou borne 9 
 
 Simfc. At Barwick in the North , and't like your 
 Grace. 
 
 King. Poore Soule, 
 
 Gods goodnefle hath beene great to thee : 
 Let neuer Day nor Night vnhallowed pafle, 
 But ftill remember what the Lord hath done. 
 
 Queene. Tell me, good-fellow, 
 Cam'ft thou here by Chance, or of Deuotion, 
 To this holy Shrine 9 
 
 Simfc. God knowes of pure Deuotion, 
 Being call'd a hundred times, and oftner, 
 In my fleepe,by good Saint Atbon : 
 Who {aid ; Symon, come; come offer at my Shrine, 
 And I will helpe thee. 
 
 Wife. Moft true, forfooth : 
 
 And many time and oft my felfe haue heard a Voyce, 
 To call him fo. 
 
 Card. What,art thou lame? 
 
 Simfc. I, God Almightie helpe me. 
 
 Suff. How cam'ft thou fo ? 
 
 Simfc. A fall off of a Tree. 
 
 Wife. A Plum-tree, Mafter. 
 
 Gkft. How long haft thou beene blinde ? 
 
 Simfc. O borne fo, Mafter. 
 
 Gloft. What, and would'ft climbe a Tree ? 
 
 Simfc. But that in all my life, when I was a youth. 
 
 Wife. Too true, and bought his climbing very deare. 
 
 Gloft. 'Mafle, thou lou'dft Plummes well, that would'ft 
 venture fo. 
 
 Simfc. Alas, good Mafter, my Wife delired fome 
 Damfons , and made me climbe ,. with danger of my 
 Life. 
 
 Gloft. A fubtill Knaue,but yet it ihall not ferue : 
 Let me fee thine Eyes; winck now,nowopen them, 
 In my opinion, yet thou feeft not well. 
 
 Simfc. Yes Mafter, cleare as day, I thanke God and 
 Saint Albones. 
 
 Gloft. Say'ft thou me fo : what Colour is this Cloake 
 of? 
 
 Simfc. Red Mafter, Red as Blood. 
 
 Gloft. Why that's well faid : What Colour is my 
 Gowne of? 
 
 Simfc. Black forfooth, Coale-Black, as let. 
 
 King. Why then, thou know'ft what Colour let is 
 of? 
 
 Suff. And yet I thinke, let did he neuer fee. 
 
 Gloft. But 
 
 462
 
 Tbefecond 'Fart of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 127 
 
 Gloft. But Cloakes and Gownes, before this day, a 
 many. 
 
 Wife. Neuer before this day, in all his life. 
 
 Gloft. Tell me Sirrha, what's my Name ? 
 
 Simpc. Alas Mafter, I know not. 
 
 Gloft. What's his Name ? 
 
 Simpc. 1 know not. 
 
 Gloft. Nor his ? 
 
 Simpc. No indeede, Mafter. 
 
 Gl'ft. What's thine owne Name ? 
 
 Simpc. Sounder Simpcoxe,and if it pleafe you, Mafter. 
 
 Gloft. Then Sounder, fit there, 
 The lying'ft Knaue in Chriftendome. 
 If thou hadft beene borne blinde, 
 Thou might'ft as well haue knowne all our Names, 
 As thus to name the feuerall Colours we doe weare. 
 Sight may diftinguifli of Colours: 
 But fuddenly to nominate them all, 
 It is impofiible. 
 
 My Lords,Saint Albone here hath done a Miracle : 
 And would ye not thinke it, Cunning to be great, 
 That could reftore this Cripple to his Legges againe. 
 
 Simpc. O Mafter, that you could? 
 
 Gloft. My Mafters of Saint Albones, 
 Haue you not Beadles in your Towne, 
 And Things call'd Whippes? 
 
 Maior. Yes, my Lord, if it pleafe your Grace, 
 
 Gkft. Then fend for one prefently. 
 
 Maior. Sirrha, goe fetch the Beadle hither ftraight. 
 
 Exit. 
 
 Gloft. Now fetch me a Stoole hither by and by. 
 Now Sirrha, if you meane to faue your felfe from Whip- 
 ping, leape me ouer this Stoole, and runne away. 
 
 Simpc. Alas Mafter, I am not able to fland alone : 
 You goe about to torture me in vaine. 
 
 Enter a Beadle with Whippet. 
 
 Gloft. Well Sir, we muft haue you finde your Legges. 
 Sirrha Beadle, whippe him till he leape ouer that lame 
 Stoole. 
 
 'Beadle. I will, my Lord. 
 Come on Sirrha, off with your Doublet,quickly. 
 
 Simpc. Alas Mafter, what fliall I doe? I am not able to 
 ftand. 
 
 After the Beadle hath hit him once, he leapes ouer 
 
 the Stoole, and runnes away : and they 
 
 follow, and cry, A Miracle. 
 
 King. O God,feeft thou this, and beareft fo long ? 
 
 Queene. It made me laugh, to fee the Villaine runne. 
 
 Gloft. Follow the Knaue, and take this Drab away. 
 
 Wife. Alas Sir, we did it for pure need. 
 
 Gloft. Let the be whipt through euery Market Towne, 
 Till they come to Barwick,from whence they came. 
 
 Sxit. 
 
 Card. Duke Humfrey ha's done a Miracle to day. 
 
 Sujf. True: made the Lame to leape and flye away. 
 
 Gloft. But you haue done more Miracles then I : 
 You made in a day, my Lord, whole Townes to flye. 
 
 Enter *Buct(ingbam. 
 
 King. What Tidings with our Coufin Buckingham? 
 
 Buc%. Such as my heart doth tremble to vnfold : 
 A fort of naughtie perfons, lewdly bent, 
 Vnder the Countenance and Confederacie 
 
 46} 
 
 Of Lady Eliamr, the Protestors Wife, 
 The Ring-leader and Head of all this Rout, 
 Haue pradtis'd dangeroufly againft your State, 
 Dealing with Witches and with Coniurers, 
 Whom we haue apprehended in the Faft, 
 Rayfing vp wicked Spirits from vnder ground, 
 Demanding of King Henries Life and Death, 
 And other of your HighnefTe Priuie Councell, 
 As more at large your Grace fhall vnderftand. 
 
 Card. And fo my Lord Protector, by this meanes 
 Your Lady is forth-comming,yet at London. 
 This Newes I thinke hath turn'd your Weapons edge ; 
 'Tis like, my Lord, you will not keepe your houre. 
 
 Gloft. Ambitious Church-man, leaue to afflict my heart: 
 Sorrow and griefe haue vanquiflit all my powers; 
 And vanquiflit as I am, I yeeld to thee, 
 Or to the meaneft Groome. 
 
 King. O God, what mifchiefes work the wicked ones? 
 Heaping confufion on their owne heads thereby. 
 
 Queene. QloBer,kt here the Taincture of thy Neft, 
 And looke thy felfe be faultlefle,thou wert beft. 
 
 Gloft. Madame, for my felfe, to Heauen I doe appeale, 
 How I haue lou'd my King, and Common-weale : 
 And for my Wife, I know not how it ftands, 
 Sorry I am to heare what I haue heard. 
 Noble fhee is: but if fhee haue forgot 
 Honor and Vertue, and conuers't with fiich, 
 As like to Pytch, defile Nobilitie ; 
 I banifh her my Bed, and Companie, 
 And giue her as a Prey to Law and Shame, 
 That hath dis-honored Glofttrs honeft Name. 
 
 King. Well, for this Night we will repofe vs here : 
 To morrow toward London, back againe, 
 To looke into this Bufinefle thorowly, 
 And call thefe foule Offenders to their Anfweres; 
 And poyfe the Caufe in luftice equall Scales, 
 Whofe Beame ftands fure, whofe rightful caufe preuailes. 
 Flourijh. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Torfy, Salisbury, and Wanvicl(. 
 
 Torl^e. Now my good Lords of Salisbury & Warwick, 
 Our fimple Supper ended, giue me leaue, 
 In this clofe Walke, to fatisfie my felfe, 
 In crauing your opinion of my Title, 
 Which is infallible, to Englands Crowne. 
 
 Salisb. My Lord, I long to heare it at full. 
 
 Warn. Sweet Tor/^e begin: and if thy clayme be good, 
 The Neuills are thy Subiedls to command. 
 
 Yor^e. Then thus : 
 
 Edward the third, my Lords, had feuen Sonnes : 
 The firft, Edward the Black-Prince, Prince of Wales ; 
 The fecond, William of Hatfield ; and the third, 
 Lionel, Duke of Clarence; next to whom, 
 Was lohn of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancafter ; 
 The fift, was Edmond Langley, Duke of Yorke ; 
 The fixt, was 'Thomas of Woodftock,Duke of Glofter; 
 William of Windfor was the feuenth,and laft. 
 Edward the Black-Prince dyed before his Father, 
 And left behinde him Richard, hisonely Sonne, 
 Who after Edward the third's death, raign'd as King, 
 Till Henry Bullingbroo^e, Duke of Lancafter, 
 The eldeft Sonne and Heire of lobn of Gaunt, 
 Crown'd by the Name of Henry the fourth, 
 Seiz'd on the Realme, depos'd the rightfuil King, 
 Sent his poore Queene to France, from whence /he came, 
 
 And
 
 .128 
 
 The fecond ''Part of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 And him to Pumfret; where,as all you know, 
 Harmelefle Richard was murthered traiteroufly. 
 
 Wartt. Father, the Duke hath told the truth ; 
 Thus got the Houfe of Lancafle r the Crowne. 
 
 Tor fa. Which now they hold by force, and not by right: 
 For Richard, the firft Sonnes Heire, being dead, 
 The IlTue of the next Sonne fliould haue reign'd. 
 
 Salisb. But William of Hatfield dyed without an 
 Heire. 
 
 Tor fa. The third Sonne, Duke of Clarence, 
 From whofe Line I clayme the Crowne, 
 Had Iflue Phillip, a Daughter, 
 Who marryed Edmind Mortimer,Earle of March: 
 Edmond had Iflue, Roger, Earle of March ; 
 Roger had Iflue, Edmond, ^inne, 2nd Elianor. 
 
 Salisb. This Sdmond,'m the Reigne of Bul/ingbroofa, 
 As I haue read, layd clayme vnto the Crowne, 
 And but for Owen Glendour, had beene King } 
 Who kept him in Captiuitie, till he dyed. 
 But, to the reft. 
 
 Tor fa. His eldeft Sifter, *Anne, 
 My Mother, being Heire vnto the Crowne, 
 Marryed Ricbard,Ezr\e of Cambridge, 
 Who was to Edmond Langley, 
 Sdtvard the thirds fift Sonnes Sonne 5 
 By her I clayme the Kingdome : 
 She was Heire to Roger, Earle of March, 
 Who was the Sonne of Edmond Mortimer, 
 Who marryed Phillip, fole Daughter 
 Vnto Lionel, Duke of Clarence. 
 So, if the Iflue of the elder Sonne 
 Succeed before the younger, I am King. 
 
 Wariv. What plaine proceedings is more plain then this? 
 Henry doth clayme the Crowne from lobn of Gaunt, 
 The fourth Sonne, Tor fa claymes it from the third : 
 Till Lionels Iflue fayles,his fhould not reigne. 
 It fayles not yet, but flourifhes in thee, 
 And in thy Sonnes, faire flippes of fuch a Stock. 
 Then Father Salisbury, kneele we together, 
 And in this priuate Plot be we the firft, 
 That fhall falute our rightfull Soueraigne 
 With honor of his Birth-right to the Crowne. 
 
 'Both. Long liue our Soueraigne Richard, Englands 
 King. 
 
 Tor fa. We thanke you Lords : 
 But I am not your King, till I be Crown'd, 
 And that my Sword be ftayn'd 
 With heart-blood of the Houfe of Lancafter : 
 And that's not fuddenly to be perform'd, 
 But with aduice and filent fecrecie. 
 Doe you as I doe in thefe dangerous dayes, 
 Winke at the Duke of Suffolkes infolence, 
 At Beaufords Pride, at Somerfets Ambition, 
 At Buckingham, and all the Crew of them, 
 Till they haue fnar'd the Shepheard of the Flock, 
 That vertuous Prince, the good Duke Humfrey : 
 'Tis that they feeke ; and they, in feeking that, 
 Shall finde their deaths, if Tor fa Can prophecie. 
 
 Saliib. My Lord, breake we off; we know your minde 
 at full. 
 
 Warw. My heart afliires me, that the Earle of Warwick 
 Shall one day make the Duke of Yorke a King. 
 
 Tor fa. And //////, this I doe a flu re my felfe, 
 Richard fhall liue to make the Earle of Warwick 
 The greateft man in England, but the King. 
 Sxeunt. 
 
 Sound Trumpets. Enter the King and State, 
 with Guard, to banijb the DucbeJJe. 
 
 King. Stand forth Dame Elianor Cobham, 
 plotters Wife : 
 
 In fight of God,and vs,your guilt is great, 
 Receiue the Sentence of the Law for finne, 
 Such as by Gods Booke are adiudg'd to death. 
 You foure from hence to Prifon, back againe; 
 From thence, vnto the place of Execution : 
 The Witch in Smithfield fhall be burnt to afhes, 
 And you three fhall be ftrangled on the Gallowes. 
 You Madame, for you are more Nobly borne, 
 Defpoyled of your Honor in your Life, 
 Shall, after three dayes open Penance done, 
 Liue in your Countrey here, in Banifhment, 
 With Sir John Stanly, in the lie of Man. 
 
 Blianor. Welcome is Banifhment, welcome were my 
 Death. 
 
 G/(,Jl. Elianor,the Law thou feeft hath iudged thee, 
 I cannot iuftifie whom the Law condemnes: 
 Mine eyes are full of teares, my heart of griefe. 
 Ah Humfrey, this difhonor in thine age, 
 Will bring thy head with forrow to the ground. 
 I befeech your Maieftie giue me leaue to goe ; 
 Sorrow would follace,and mine Age would eafe. 
 
 King. Stay Humfrey, Duke of Glofter, 
 Ere thou goe, giue vp thy Staffe, 
 Henry will to himfelfe Protector be, 
 And God fhall be my hope, my flay, my guide, 
 And Lanthorne to my feete: 
 And goe in peace, Humfrey, no lefle belou'd, 
 Then when thou wert Protector to thy King. 
 
 Queene. I fee no reafon,why a King of yeeres 
 Should be to be protected like a Child, 
 God and King Henry gouerne Englands Realme : 
 Giue vpyour Staffe, Sir, and the King his Realme. 
 
 Gloft. My Staffe ? Here, Noble Henry, is my Staffe : 
 As willingly doe I the fame refigne, 
 As ere thy Father Henry made it mine; 
 And euen as willingly at thy feete I leaue it, 
 As others would ambitioufly receiue it. 
 Farewell good King: when I am dead, and gone, 
 May honorable Peace attend thy Throne. 
 
 Exit Glofter: 
 
 Queene.Why now is Henry King.and Margaret Queen, 
 And Humfrey ,Duke of Glofter, fcarce himfelfe, 
 That beares fo fhrewd a mayme : two Pulls at once ; 
 His Lady banifht, and a Limbe lopt off". 
 This Staffe of Honor raught, there let it ftand, 
 Where it beft fits to be, in Henries hand. 
 
 Suff. Thus droupes this loftie Pyne,& hangs his fprayes, 
 Thus Elianors Pride dyes in her youngeft dayes. 
 
 Tor fa. Lords, let him goe.Pleafe it your Maieftie, 
 This is the day appointed for the Combat, 
 And ready are the Appellant and Defendant, 
 The Armorer and his Man, to enter the Lifts, 
 So pleafe your HighnefTe to behold the fight. 
 
 Queene. I, good my Lord: for purpofely therefore 
 Left I the Court, to fee this Quarrel! try'de. 
 
 King. A Gods Name fee the Lyfts and all things fit, 
 Here let them end it,and God defend the right. 
 
 Torfa. I neuer faw a fellow worfe beflead, 
 Or more afraid to fight, then is the Appellant, 
 The feruant of this Armorer, my Lords. 
 
 Enter 
 
 464
 
 Tbefecond^art of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 129 
 
 Enter at one Doore the Armorer and bu Neighbors, drinking 
 to him Jo much, that bee drunke ; and be enters with a 
 Drumme before him , and bit Staffs, with a Sand-bagge 
 faftened to it : and at the other Doore his Man, iv'itb a 
 Drumme and Sand-bagge, and Prentices drinking to him. 
 
 I. Neighbor. Here Neighbour Homer,! drinke to you 
 in a Cup of Sack ; and feare not Neighbor, you fhall doe 
 well enough. 
 
 a. Neighbor. And here Neighbour, here's a Cuppe of 
 Charneco. 
 
 ^.Neighbor. And here's a Pot of good Double-Beere 
 Neighbor: drinke, and feare not your Man. 
 
 Armorer. Let it come yfaith, and He pledge you all, 
 and a figge for Peter. 
 
 1. Prent. Here Peter, I drinke to thee, and be not a_ 
 fraid. 
 
 2. Prent. Be merry Peter, and feare not thy Mafter, 
 Fight for credit of the Prentices. 
 
 Peter. I thanke you all:drinke,and pray for me, I pray 
 you, for I thinke I haue taken my laft Draught in this 
 World. Here Robin, and if I dye, I giue thee my Aporne ; 
 and Will, thou fhalt haue my Hammer : and here Tom, 
 take all the Money that I haue. O Lord blefie me, I pray 
 God, for I am neuer able to deale with my Mafter, hee 
 hath learnt fo much fence already. 
 
 Salisb. Come,leaue your drinking, and fall to blowes. 
 Sirrha, what's thy Name f 
 
 Peter. Peter forfooth. 
 
 Salub. Peter? what more ? 
 
 Peter. Thumpe. 
 
 SaKsb. Thumpe? Then fee thou thumpe thy Mafter 
 well. 
 
 Armorer. Mafters, I am come hither as it were vpon 
 my Mans inftigation, to proue him a Knaue,and my felfe 
 an honeft man : and touching the Duke of Yorke, I will 
 take my death, I neuer meant him any ill, nor the King, 
 nor the Queene : and therefore Peter haue at thee with a 
 downe-right blow. 
 
 Yorke. Difpatch,this Knaues tongue begins to double. 
 Sound Trumpets, Alarum to the Combattants. 
 
 They Jtght, and Peter ftrikes him downe. 
 
 Armorer. Hold Peter, hold, I confefle, I confefTe Trea- 
 fbn. 
 
 Yor^e. Take away his Weapon : Fellow thanke God, 
 and the good Wine in thy Mafters way. 
 
 Teter. O God, haue I ouercome mine Enemies in this 
 prefence ? O Teter,thou haft preuayl'd in right. 
 
 King. Goe, take hence that Traytor from our fight, 
 For by his death we doe perceiue his guilt, 
 And God in luftice hath reueal'd to vs 
 The truth and innocence of this poore fellow, 
 Which he had thought to haue murther'd wrongfully. 
 Come fellow, follow vs for thy Reward. 
 
 Sound a Jlourijh. Sxeunt. 
 
 Enter 'Duke Humfrey and bit Men in 
 Mourning Chaises. 
 
 Glojl. Thus fometimes hath the brighteft day a Cloud : 
 And after Summer, euermore fucceedes 
 Barren Winter, with his wrathfull nipping Cold j 
 So Cares and loyes abound, as Seafons fleet. 
 Sirs, what's a Clock? 
 
 Seru. Tenne, my Lord. 
 
 465 
 
 Gloft. Tenne is the houre that was appointed me, 
 To watch the comming of my punifht Ducheffe : 
 Vnneath may fhee endure the Flintie Streets, 
 To treade them with her tender-feeling feet. 
 Sweet Nell,\\\ can thy Noble Minde abrooke 
 The abiedt People, gazing on thy face, 
 With enuious Lookes laughing at thy fhame, 
 That erft did follow thy prowd Chariot- Wheeles, 
 When thou didft ride in triumph through the ftreets. 
 But foft, I thinke fhe comes,and lie prepare 
 My teare-ftayn'd eyes, to fee her Miferies. 
 
 Enter the Ducheffe in a white Sheet, and a Taper 
 
 burning in her hand, with the Sherife 
 
 and Officers. 
 
 Seru. So pleafe your Grace, weele take her from the 
 Sherife. 
 
 Glojter. No , ftirre not for your liues , let her pafTe 
 by. 
 
 Elianor. Come you, my Lord, to fee my open fliame? 
 Now thou do'ft Penance too. Looke how they gaze, 
 See how the giddy multitude doe point, 
 And nodde their heads, and throw their eyes on thee. 
 Ah Qhfter, hide thee from their hatefull lookes, 
 And in thy Clofet pent vp, rue my fhame, 
 And banne thine Enemies, both mine and thine. 
 Glojl. Be patient,gentle Nell, forget this griefe. 
 Elianor. Ah G/oIier, teach me to forget my felfe : 
 For whileft I thinke I am thy married Wife, 
 And thou a Prince, Proteftor of this Land; 
 Me thinkes I fhould not thus be led along, 
 Mayl'd vp in fhame, with Papers on my back, 
 And follow'd with a Rabble, that reioyce 
 To fee my teares, and heare my deepe-fet groanes. 
 The ruthlefle Flint doth cut my tender feet, 
 And when I ftart, the enuious people laugh, 
 And bid me be aduifed how I treade. 
 Ah Humfrey, can I beare this fhamefull yoake ? 
 Troweft thou, that ere He looke vpon the World, 
 Or count them happy, that enioyes the Sunne? 
 No: Darke fhall be my Light,and Night my Day. 
 To thinke vpon my Pompe.fhall be my Hell. 
 Sometime He fay, I am Duke Humfreyes Wife, 
 And he a Prince, and Ruler of the Land : 
 Yet fb he rul'd,and fuch a Prince he was, 
 As he ftood by, whileft I, his forlorne DuchefTe, 
 Was made a wonder,and a pointing ftock 
 To euery idle Rafcall follower. 
 But be thou milde,and blufh not at my fhame, 
 Nor ftirre at nothing, till the Axe of Death 
 Hang ouer thee, as fure it (hortly will. 
 For Suffbll(e,he that can doe all in all 
 With her,that hateth thee and hates vs all, 
 And Yor%e,and impious Beauford,that falfe Prieft, 
 Haue all lym'd Bufhes to betray thy Wings, 
 And flye thou how thou canft, they'le tangle thee. 
 But feare not thou, vntill thy foot be fnar'd, 
 Nor neuer feeke preuention of thy foes. 
 
 Glojl. Ah JW//,forbeare:thou aynieft all awry. 
 I muft offend, before I be attainted : 
 And had I twentie times fo many foes, 
 And each of them had twentie times their power, 
 All thefe could not procure me any fcathe, 
 So long as I am loyall,true,and crimelefie. 
 Would'ft haue me refcue thee from this reproach ? 
 
 n Why
 
 hefecond ^art of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Why yet thy fcandall were not wipt away, 
 But I in danger for the breach of Law. 
 Thy greateft helpe is quiet, gentle Nell: 
 I pray thee fort thy heart to patience, 
 Thefe few dayes wonder will be quickly worne: 
 En'.er a Herald. 
 
 Her. I fummon your Grace to his Maiefties Parliament, 
 Holden at Bury, the firft of this next Moneth. 
 
 Gloft.And my confent ne're ask'd herein before? 
 This is clofe dealing. Well, I will be there. 
 My Nell,l take my leaue : and Mafter Sherife, 
 Let not her Penance exceede the Kings Commiffion. 
 
 S&.And't pleafe your Grace, here my Commiffion ftayes: 
 And Sir loin Stanly is appointed now, 
 To take her with him to the He of Man. 
 
 Glofl. Muft you, Sir 7o6n, proteft my Lady here ? 
 
 Stanly. So am I giuen in charge, may't pleafe your 
 Grace. 
 
 Glofl. Entreat her not the worfe,in that I pray 
 You vie her well : the World may laugh againe, 
 And I may Hue to doe you kindneffe,if you doe it her. 
 And fo Sir lobn, fare well. 
 
 E/ianor. What, gone my Lord, and bid me not fare- 
 well > 
 
 Glofl. Witnefle my teares, I cannot ftay to fpeake. 
 
 Exit Glofter. 
 
 Blianor.Art thou gone to? all comfort goe with thee, 
 For none abides with me : my loy, is Death ; 
 Death, at whofe Name I oft haue beene afear'd, 
 Becaufe I wifli'd this Worlds eternitie. 
 Stanley, I prethee goe, and take me hence, 
 I care not whither, for I begge no fauor ; 
 Onely conuey me where thou art commanded. 
 
 Stanley. Why, Madame, that is to the He of Man, 
 There to be vs'd according to your State. 
 
 Elianor. That's bad enough, for I am but reproach : 
 And fliall I then be vs'd reproachfully f 
 
 Stanley. Like to a Duchefle,and Duke Humfreyes Lady, 
 According to that State you fliall be vs'd. 
 
 Slianor. Sherife farewell, and better then I fare, 
 Although thou haft beene Conduct of my fliame. 
 
 Sberife. It is my Office, and Madame pardon me. 
 
 Elianor. I, I, farewell, thy Office is difcharg'd : 
 Come Stanley, fliall we goe ? 
 
 Stanley. Madame, your Penance done, 
 Throw off this Sheet, 
 And goe we to attyre you for our lourney. 
 
 Elianor. My fliame will not be fliifted with my Sheet : 
 No, it will hang vpon my richeft Robes, 
 And fliew it felfe, attyre me how I can. 
 Goe, leade the way, I long to fee my Prifon. Exeunt 
 
 Sound a Senet. Enter King, Qtteene, Cardinally Suffol^e, 
 Tor^e, 'Buckingham, Salisbury, and War-nlckf, 
 
 to the Parliament. 
 
 King. I mufe my Lord of Glofter is not come: 
 'Tis not his wont to be thehindmoft man, 
 What e're occafion keepes him from vs now. 
 
 Queene. Can you not fee? or will ye not obferue 
 The ftrangeneffe of his alter'd Countenance ? 
 With what a Maieftie he beares himfelfe, 
 How infolent of late he is become, 
 How prowd,how peremptorie,and vnlike himfelfe. 
 We know the time fince he was milde and affable, 
 And if we did but glance a farre-off Looke, 
 Immediately he was vpon his Knee, 
 
 That all the Court admir'd him for fubmifiion. 
 
 But meet him now, and be it in the Morne, 
 
 When euery one will giue the time of day, 
 
 He knits his Brow, and fliewes an angry Eye, 
 
 And pafleth by with ftiffe vnbowed Knee, 
 
 Difdaining dutie that to vs belongs. 
 
 Small Curres are not regarded when they grynne, 
 
 But great men tremble when the Lyon rores, 
 
 And Humfrey is no little Man in England. 
 
 Firft note, that he is neere you in difcent, 
 
 And fliould you fall, he is the next will mount. 
 
 Me feemeth then, it is no Pollicie, 
 
 Refpedling what a rancorous minde he beares, 
 
 And his aduantage following your deceafe, 
 
 That he fliould come about your Royall Perfon, 
 
 Or be admitted to your Highnefle Councell. 
 
 By flatterie hath he wonne the Commons hearts : 
 
 And when he pleafe to make Commotion, 
 
 'Tis to be fear'd they all will follow him. 
 
 Now'tis the Spring, and Weeds are fliallow-rooted, 
 
 Suffer them now,and they'le o're-grow the Garden, 
 
 And choake the Herbes for want of Husbandry. 
 
 The reuerent care I beare vnto my Lord, 
 
 Made me colledr. thefe dangers in the Duke. 
 
 If it be fond, call it a Womans feare : 
 
 Which feare, if better Reafons can fupplant, 
 
 I will fubfcribe,and fay I wrong'd the Duke. 
 
 My Lord of Suffolke, Buckingham, and Yorke, 
 
 Reproue my allegation, if you can, 
 
 Or elfe conclude my words erFedhiall. 
 
 Suff. Well hath your Highneffe feene into this Duke: 
 And had I firft beene put to fpeake my rr/mJe, 
 I thinke I fliould haue told your Graces Tale. 
 The Duchefle, by his fubornation, 
 Vpon my Life began her diuellifli pradYifes : 
 Or if he were not priuie to thofe Faults, 
 Yet by reputing of his high difcent, 
 As next the King, he was fucceffiue Heire, 
 And fuch high vaunts of his Nobilitie, 
 Did inftigate the Bedlam braine-fick Ducheffe, 
 By wicked meanes to frame our Soueraignes fall. 
 Smooth runnes the Water, where the Brooke is deepe, 
 And in his fimpie fliew he harbours Treafon. 
 The Fox barkes not, when he would fteale the Lambe. 
 No, no, my Soueraigne, Gloujter is a man 
 Vnfounded yet, and full of deepe deceit. 
 
 Qard. Did he not,contrary to forme of Law, 
 Deuife ftrange deaths, for fmall offences done 
 
 Yorfy. And did he not, in his Protedorfliip, 
 Leuie great fummes of Money through the Realme, 
 For Souldiers pay in France,and neuer fent it f 
 By meanes whereof, the Townes each day reuolted. 
 
 'Bucl^. Tut, thefe are petty faults to faults vnknowne, 
 Which time will bring to light in fmooth Duke Humfrey. 
 
 King. My Lords at once: the care you haue of vs, 
 To mowe downe Thornes that would annoy our Foot, 
 Is worthy prayfe: but fliall I fpeake my confcience, 
 Our Kinfman Glofter is as innocent, 
 From meaning Treafon to our Royall Perfon, 
 As is the fucking Lambe,or harmelefie Doue : 
 The Duke is vertuous, milde, and too well giuen, 
 To dreame on euill,or to worke my downefall. 
 
 ^a.Ah what's more dangerous, then this fond affiance? 
 Seemes he a Doue? his feathers are but borrow'd, 
 For hee's difpofed as the hateful! Rauen. 
 Is he a Lambe? his Skinne is furely lent him, 
 
 For 
 
 466
 
 Tbefecond ^Part of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 For hee's enclin'd as is the rauenous Wolues. 
 Who cannot fteale a fhape, that meanes deceit? 
 Take heed, my Lord, the welfare of vs all, 
 Hangs on the cutting fhort that fraudfull man. 
 
 Enter Somerfet. 
 
 Som. All health vnto my gracious Soueraigne. 
 
 King. Welcome Lord SomerJ'et : What Newes from 
 France ? 
 
 Som. That all your Intereft in thofe Territories, 
 Is vtterly bereft you : all is loft. 
 
 King. Cold Newes,Lord Somerfet: but Gods will be 
 done. 
 
 Yorkf. Cold Newes for me: for I had hope of France, 
 As firmely as I hope for fertile England. 
 Thus are my Blofibmes blafted in the Bud, 
 And Caterpillers eate my Leaues away : 
 But I will remedie this geare ere long, 
 Or fell my Title for a glorious Graue. 
 
 Enter Gloucefter. 
 
 Gloft. All happinefie vnto my Lord the King: 
 Pardon, my Liege, that I haue ftay'd fo long. 
 
 Suff. Nay Glofter , know that thou art come too foone, 
 Vnlefie thou wert more loyall then thou art : 
 I doe arreft thee of High Treafon here. 
 
 Gloft. Well Suffolfa thou flialt not fee me blufh, 
 Nor change my Countenance for this Arreft: 
 A Heart vnfpotted,is not eafily daunted. 
 The pureft Spring is not fo free from mudde, 
 As I am cleare from Treafon to my Soueraigne. 
 Who can accufe me.? wherein am I guiltie ? 
 
 Yor^e-'' Tis thought, my Lord, 
 That you tooke Bribes of France, 
 And being Protector, ftay'd the Souldiers pay, 
 By meanes whereof, his HighnefTe hath loft France. 
 
 G/oJi. Is it but thought fo ? 
 What are they that thinke it ? 
 I neuer rob'd the Souldiers of their pay, 
 Nor euer had one penny Bribe from France. 
 So helpe me God, as I haue watcht the Night, 
 I, Night by Night, in ftudying good for England. 
 That Doyt that ere I wrefted from the King, 
 Or any Groat I hoorded to my vfe, 
 Be brought againft me at my Tryall day. 
 No: many a Pound of mine owne proper ftore, 
 Becaufe I would not taxe the needle Commons, 
 Haue I dif-purfed to the Garrifons, 
 And neuer ask'd for reftitution. 
 
 Card. It ferues you well, my Lord, to fay fo much. 
 
 Gloft. I fay no more then truth, fo helpe me God. 
 
 Yor^e. In your Protectorfhip, you did deuife 
 Strange Tortures for Offenders, neuer heard of, 
 That England was defam'd by Tyrannic. 
 
 Gloji. Why 'tis well known, that whiles I was Protector, 
 Pittie was all the fault that was in me : 
 For I fhould melt at an Offenders teares, 
 And lowly words were Ranfome for their fault : 
 Vnlefle it were a bloody Murtherer, 
 Or foule felonious Theefe,that fleec'd poore pafiengers, 
 I neuer gaue them condigne punifhment. 
 Murther indeede,that bloodie finne, I tortur'd 
 Aboue the Felon, or what Trefpas elfe. 
 
 Suff; Mv Lord,thefe faults are eafie, quickly anfwer'd : 
 But mightier Crimes are lay'd vnto your charge, 
 Whereof you cannot eafily purge your felfe. 
 
 467 
 
 I doe arreft you in his HighnefTe Name, 
 And here commit you to my Lord Cardinall 
 To keepe,vntill your further time of Tryall. 
 
 King. My Lord of Glofter,'tis my fpeciall hope, 
 That you will cleare your felfe from all fufpence, 
 My Confcience tells me you are innocent. 
 
 Gloft. Ah gracious Lord,thefe dayes are dangerous: 
 Vertue is choakt with foule Ambition, 
 And Charitie chas'd hence by Rancours hand ; 
 Foule Subornation is predominant, 
 And Equitie exil'd your HighnefTe Land. 
 I know, their Complot is to haue my Life : 
 And if my death might make this Hand happy, 
 And proue the Period of their Tyrannic, 
 I would expend it with all willingnefle. 
 But mine is made the Prologue to their Play : 
 For thoufands more, that yet fufpedt no perill, 
 Will not conclude their plotted Tragedie. 
 Beaufords red fparkling eyes blab his hearts mallice, 
 And Suffill^s cloudie Brow his ftormie hate ; 
 Sharpe Buckingham vnburthens with his tongue, 
 The enuious Load that lyes vpon his heart : 
 And Hogged Tor^that reaches at the Moone, 
 Whofe ouer-weening Arme I haue pluckt back, 
 By falfe accufe doth leuell at my Life. 
 And you, my Soueraigne Lady, with the reft, 
 CaufelefTe haue lay'd difgraces on my head, 
 And with your beft endeuour haue ftirr'd vp 
 My liefeft Liege to be mine Enemie : 
 I,all of you haue lay'd your heads together, 
 My felfe had notice of your Conuenticles, 
 And all to make away my guiltlefTe Life. 
 I fhall not want falfe Witneffe, to condemne me, 
 Nor ftore of Treafons, to augment my guilt : 
 The ancient Prouerbe will be well effected, 
 A Staffe is quickly found to beat a Dogge. 
 
 Card. My Liege, his rayling is intolerable. 
 If thofe that care to keepe your Royall Perfon 
 From Treafons fecret Knife, and Traytors Rage, 
 Be thus vpbrayded, chid, and rated at, 
 And the Offender graunted fcope of fpeech, 
 'Twill make them coole in zeale vnto your Grace. 
 
 Si^Hath he not twit our Soueraigne Lady here 
 With ignominious \vords,though Clarkely coucht? 
 As if fhe had fuborned fome to fweare 
 Falfe allegations, to o'rethrow his ftate. 
 
 Qu. But I can giue the lofer leaue to chide. 
 
 G/o/?.Farre truer fpoke then meant : I lofe indeede, 
 Befhrew the winners, for they play'd me falfe, 
 And well fuch lofers may haue leaue to fpeake. 
 
 Bucl(. Hee'le wreft the fence, and hold vs here all day. 
 Lord Cardinall, he is your Prifoner. 
 
 Card. Sirs, take away the Duke,and guard him fure. 
 
 Glosl. Ah, thus King Henry throwes away his Crutch, 
 Before his Legges be firme to beare his Body. 
 Thus is the Shepheard beaten from thy fide, 
 And Wolues are gnarling,who fhall gnaw thee firft. 
 Ah that my feare were falfe, ah that it were ; 
 For good King Henry, thy decay I feare. Exit Glofter. 
 
 King'.My Lords, what to your wifdomes feemeth beft, 
 Doe, or vndoe,as if our felfe were here. 
 
 >geene. What, will your Highneffe leaue the Parlia- 
 ment ? 
 
 King. I Margaret : my heart is drown'd with griefe, 
 Whofe floud begins to flowe within mine eyes; 
 My Body round engyrt with miferie : 
 
 n 2. For
 
 132 
 
 Tbefecond ^art of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 For what's more miferable then Difcontent ? 
 
 Ah Vnckle Humfrey, in thy face I fee 
 
 The Map of Honor,Truth,and Loyaltie : 
 
 And yet, good Humfrey, is the houre to come, 
 
 That ere I prou'd thee falfe.or fear'd thy faith. 
 
 What lowring Starre now enuies thy eftate ? 
 
 That thefe great Lords, and Margaret our Q^eene, 
 
 Doe feeke fubuerfion of thy harmelefle Life. 
 
 Thou neuer didft them wrong, nor no man wrong: 
 
 And as the Butcher takes away the Calfe, 
 
 And binds the Wretch, and beats it when it ftrayes, 
 
 Bearing it to the bloody Slaughter-houfe ; 
 
 Euen fo remorfelefle haue they borne him hence : 
 
 And as the Damme runnes lowing vp and downe, 
 
 Looking the way her harmelefle young one went, 
 
 And can doe naught but wayle her Darlings lofle ; 
 
 Euen fo my felfe bewayles good Glofters cafe 
 
 With fad vnhelpefull teares, and with dimn'd eyes; 
 
 Looke after him, and cannot doe him good : 
 
 So mightie are his vowed Enemies. 
 
 His fortunes I will weepe, and'twixt each groane, 
 
 Say, who's a Traytor ? GIoRer he is none. Exit. 
 
 Queene. Free Lords : 
 
 Cold Snow melts with the Sunnes hot Beames : 
 henry, my Lord, is cold in great Affaires, 
 Too full of foolifh pittie : and Glofters fliew 
 Beguiles him, as the mournefull Crocodile 
 With forrow fnares relenting paflengers ; 
 Or as the Snake, roll'd in a flowring Banke, 
 With fliining checker' d flough doth fting a Child, 
 That for the beautie thinkes it excellent. 
 Beleeue me Lords, were none more wife then I, 
 And yet herein I iudge mine owne Wit good ; 
 This Gloflcr fliould be quickly rid the World, 
 To rid vs from the feare we haue of him. 
 
 Card. That he fliould dye, is worthie pollicie, 
 But yet we want a Colour for his death : 
 'Tis meet he be condemn'd by courfe of Law. 
 
 Suff. But in my minde, that were no pollicie: 
 The King will labour ftill to faue his Life, 
 The Commons haply rife, to faue his Life ; 
 And yet we haue but triuiall argument, 
 More then miftruft,that fliewes him worthy death. 
 
 Tarty. So that by this, you would not haue him dye. 
 
 Suff. Ah Torino man aliue,fo faine as I. 
 
 Tor^e. 'Tis Torfe that hath more reafon for his death. 
 But my Lord Cardinall,and you my Lord of Suffblke, 
 Say as you thinke,and fpeake it from your Soules : 
 Wer't not all one, an emptie Eagle were fet, 
 To guard the Chicken from a hungry Kyte, 
 As place Duke Humfrey for the Kings Protestor ? 
 
 Queene. So the poore Chicken fliould be fure of death. 
 
 Suff. Madame 'tis true : and wer't not madnefie then, 
 To make the Fox furueyor of the Fold ? 
 Who being accus'd a craftie Murtherer, 
 His guilt fliould be but idly ported ouer, 
 Becaufe his purpofe is not executed. 
 No: let him dye, in that he is a Fox, 
 By nature prou'd an Enemie to the Flock, 
 Before his Chaps be ftayn'd with Crimfon blood, 
 As Humfrey prou'd by Reafons to my Liege. 
 And doe not ftand on QuHlers how to flay him : 
 Beit by Gynnes, by Snares, by Subtletie, 
 Sleeping, or Waking, 'tis no matter how, 
 So he be dead ; for that is good deceit, 
 Which mates him firft, that firft intends deceit. 
 
 Queene. Thrice Noble Suffil^e, 'tis refolutely fpoke. 
 
 Suff. Not refolute, except fo much were done, 
 For things are often fpoke, and feldome meant, 
 But that my heart accordeth with my tongue, 
 Seeing the deed is meritorious, 
 And to preferue my Soueraigne from his Foe, 
 Say but the word, and I will be his Prieft. 
 
 Card.Eut I would haue him dead, my Lord of Suffblke, 
 Ere you can take due Orders for a Prieft : 
 Say you confent,and cenfure well the deed, 
 And He prouide his Executioner, 
 I tender fo the fafetie of my Liege. 
 
 Stiff. Here is my Hand, the deed is worthy doing. 
 
 Queene. And fo fay I. 
 
 Yorke. And I : and now we three haue fpoke it, 
 It skills not greatly who impugnes our doome. 
 
 Enter a Pojte. 
 
 To/}. Great Lords, from Ireland am I come amaine, 
 To fignifie, that Rebels there are vp, 
 And put the Engliflimen vnto the Sword, 
 Send Succours(Lords)and flop the Rage betime, 
 Before the Wound doe grow vncurable ; 
 For being greene, there is great hope of helpe. 
 
 Card. A Breach that craues a quick expedient ftoppe. 
 What counfaile giue you in this weightie caufe? 
 
 Tor{e. That Somerfet be fent as Regent thither: 
 'Tis meet that luckie Ruler be imploy'd, 
 Witnefle the fortune he hath had in France. 
 
 Sam. If Yorfy, with all his farre-fet pollicie, 
 Had beene the Regent there, in ftead of me, 
 He neuer would haue ftay'd in France fo long. 
 
 7orj^.No,not to lofe it all, as thou haft done. 
 I rather would haue loft my Life betimes, 
 Then bring a burthen of dis-honour home, 
 By ftaying there fo long, till all were loft. 
 Shew me one skarre, charadter'd on thy Skinne, 
 Mens flefli preferu'd fo whole, doe feldome winne. 
 
 Qu. Nay then, this fparke will proue a raging fire, 
 If Wind and Fuell be brought, to feed it with : 
 No more, good Yor/^e; fweet Somerfet be ftill. 
 Thy fortune, Yor^e, hadft thou beene Regent there, 
 Might happily haue prou'd farre worfe then his. 
 
 Yorfa. What, worfe then naught? nay, then a fliame 
 take all. 
 
 Somerfet. And in the number , thee , that wiflieft 
 fliame. 
 
 Card. My Lord of Yorke,trie what your fortune is: 
 Th'vnciuill Kernes of Ireland are in Armes, 
 And temper Clay with blood of Engliflimen. 
 To Ireland will you leade a Band of men, 
 Collected choycely,from each Countie fome, 
 And trie your hap againft the Irishmen f 
 
 Yor\e. I will, my Lord, fo pleafe his Maieftie. 
 
 Suff. Why, our Authoritie is his confent, 
 And what we doe eftablifli, he confirmes: 
 Then, Noble Fer,take thou thisTaske in hand. 
 
 Yorke. I am content: Prouide me Souldiers, Lords, 
 Whiles I take order for mine owne affaires. 
 
 Suff. A charge, Lord Yorfy, that I will fee perform'd. 
 But now returne we to the falfe Duke Humfrey. 
 
 Card. No more of him : for I will deale with him, 
 That henceforth he fliall trouble vs no more : 
 And fo breake off", the day is almoft fpent, 
 Lord Suffil%e,yo\i and I muft talke of that euent. 
 
 Yorfyc. My 
 
 468
 
 Thefecond^Partof Henry the Sixf. 
 
 Tbrfy. My Lord of Suffblke, within foureteene dayes 
 At Briftow I expert my Souldiers, 
 For there lie fhippe them all for Ireland. 
 
 Sujf. He fee it truly done, my Lord of Yorke. Exeunt. 
 Manet Torl^e. 
 
 TV/^.Now Yorfy,OT neuer, fteele thy fearfull thoughts, 
 And change mifdoubt to refolution ; 
 Be that thou hop'ft to be, or what thou art; 
 Refigne to death, it is not worth th'enioying: 
 Let pale-fac't feare keepe with the meane-bornc man, 
 And finde no harbor in a Royall heart. 
 Fafter the Spring-time fhowres, comes thoght on thoght, 
 And not a thought, but thinkeson Dignitie. 
 My Brayne,more bufie then the laboring Spider, 
 Weaues tedious Snares to trap mine Enemies. 
 Well Nobles, well : 'tis politikely done, 
 To fend me packing with an Hoaft of men : 
 I feare me, you but warme the ftarued Snake, 
 Who cherifht in your breafts, will fling your hearts. 
 'Twas men I lackf, and you will giue them me ; 
 I take it kindly : yet be well affur'd, 
 You put fharpe Weapons in a mad-mans hands. 
 Whiles I in Ireland nourifh a mightie Band, 
 I will ftirre vp in England fome black Storme, 
 Shall blowe ten thoufand Soules to Heauen,or Hell : 
 And this fell Tempeft {hall not ceafe to rage, 
 Vntill the Golden Circuit on my Head, 
 Like to the glorious Sunnes tranfparant Beames, 
 Doe calme the furie of this mad-bred Flawe. 
 And for a minifter of my intent, 
 1 haue feduc'd a head-ftrong Kentifhman, 
 lobn Cade of Afhford, 
 To make Commotion, as full well he can, 
 Vnder the Title of lobn ^Mortimer. 
 In Ireland haue I feene this ftubborne Cade 
 Oppofe himfelfe againft a Troupe of Kernes, 
 And fought fo long, till that his thighes with Darts 
 Were almoft like a fharpe-quiU'd Porpentine : 
 And in the end being refcued,! haue feene 
 Him capre vpright,like a wilde Morifco, 
 Shaking the bloody Darts, as he his Bells. 
 Full often, like a fhag-hayr'd craftie Kerne, 
 Hath he conuerfed with the Enemie, 
 And vndifcouer'd,come to me againe, 
 And giuen me notice of their Villanies. 
 This Deuill here fhall be my fubftitute ; 
 For that lobn Mortimer, which now is dead, 
 In face, in gate, in fpeechhedoth refemble. 
 By this, I fhall perceiue the Commons minde, 
 How they afrecl: the Houfe and Clayme of Torly. 
 Say he be taken, rackt, and tortured ; 
 I know, no paine they can inflict vpon him, 
 Will make him fay, I mou'd him to thofe Armes. 
 Say that he thriue,as 'tis great like he will, 
 Why then from Ireland come I with my firength, 
 And reape the Harueft which that Rafcall fow'd. 
 For Humfrey ; being dead, as he fhall be, 
 And Henry put apart: the next for me. Exit. 
 
 Enter two or three running ouer the Stage, from the 
 Murtber of Du^e Humfrey. 
 
 1. Runne to my Lord of Suffblke: let him know 
 We haue difpatcht the Duke, as he commanded. 
 
 2. Oh, that it were to doe : what haue we done? 
 Didft euer heare a man fo penitent ? Bnter Suffblke. 
 
 I. Here comes my Lord. 
 
 469 
 
 Suff. Now Sirs, haue you difpatcht this thing? 
 
 1. I, my good Lord,hee's dead. 
 
 Suff. Why that's well faid.Goe,get you to my Houfe, 
 I will reward you for this venturous deed: 
 The King and all the Peeresare here at hand. 
 Haue you layd faire the Bed ? Is all things well, 
 According as I gaue directions ? 
 
 I . *Tis,my good Lord. 
 
 Suff. Away, be gone. Exeunt. 
 
 Sound Trumpets. Enter tbe King, the Queene, 
 
 Cardinal/, Suffdkf, Somerjet, with 
 
 Attendants. 
 
 King. Goe call our Vnckle to our prefence ftraight: 
 Say, we intend to try his Grace to day, 
 If he be guiltie, as 'tis publifhed. 
 
 Sujf. He call him prefently,my Noble Lord. Exit. 
 
 King. Lords take your places : and I pray you all 
 Proceed no ftraiter 'gainft our Vnckle Glofter, 
 Then from true euidence,of good efteeme, 
 He be approu'd in pradlife culpable. 
 
 Queene.GoA forbid any Malice fhould preuayle, 
 That faultlefle may condemne a Noble man : 
 Pray God he may acquit him of fufpition. 
 
 King. I thanke thee Nell, thefe wordes content mee 
 much. 
 
 Enter Suffolfy. 
 
 How now? why look'ft thou pale? why trembled thou? 
 Where is our Vnckle? what's the matter, Suffb/fy ? 
 
 Suff. Dead in his Bed, my Lord: Glofter is dead. 
 
 Queene. Marry God forfend. 
 
 Card. Gods fecret ludgement: I did dreame to Night, 
 The Duke was dumbe, and could not fpeake a word. 
 
 King founds. 
 
 Qu. How fares my Lord ? Helpe Lords, the King is 
 dead. 
 
 Sam. Rere vp his Body, wring him by the Nofe. 
 
 ^w.Runne,goe, helpe, helpe :Oh Henry ope thine eyes. 
 
 Suff. He doth reuiue againe, Madame be patient. 
 
 King. Oh Heauenly God. 
 
 Qu. How fares my gracious Lord ? 
 
 Suff. Comfort my Soueraigne ; gracious Henry com- 
 fort. 
 
 King. What, doth my Lord of Suffblke comfort me? 
 Came he right now to ling a Rauens Note, 
 Whofe difmall tune bereft my Vitall powres: 
 And thinkes he, that the chirping of a Wren, 
 By crying comfort from a hollow bread, 
 Can chafe away the firft-conceiued found ? 
 Hide not thy poyfon with fuch fugred words, 
 Lay not thy hands on me : forbeare I fay, 
 Their touch affrights me as a Serpents fting. 
 Thou balefull Meflenger,out of my fight: 
 Vpon thy eye-balls, murderous Tyrannic 
 Sits in grim Maieftie,to fright the World. 
 Looke not vpon me, for thine eyes are wounding ; 
 Yet doe not goe away : come Bafiliske, 
 And kill the innocent gazer with thy fight : 
 For in the fhade of death, I fhall finde ioy ; 
 In life, but double death, now Glofter't dead. 
 
 Queene. Why do you rate my Lord of Suffblke thus ? 
 Although the Duke was enemie to him, 
 Yet he moft Chriftian-like laments his death : 
 And for my felfe, Foe as he was to me, 
 Might liquid teares,or heart-offending groanes, 
 Or blood-confuming fighes recall his Life ; 
 
 n 3
 
 '34 
 
 The fecond ^art of 'Henry the Sixt. 
 
 I would be blinde with weeping, ficke with grones, 
 
 Looke pale as Prim-rofe with blood-drinking fighes, 
 
 And all to haue the Noble Duke aliue. 
 
 What know I how the world may deeme of me? 
 
 For it is knowne we were but hollow Friends : 
 
 It may be iudg'd I made the Duke away, 
 
 So fliall my name with Slanders tongue be wounded, 
 
 And Princes Courts be fill'd with my reproach : 
 
 This get I by his death : Aye me vnhappie, 
 
 To be a Queene, and Crown'd with infamie. 
 
 King. Ah woe is me for Glofter, wretched man. 
 
 Queen. Be woe for me, more wretched then he is. 
 What, Doft thou turne away, and hide thy face ? 
 I am no loathfome Leaper, looke on me. 
 What? Art thou like the Adder waxen deafe? 
 Be poyfonous too, and kill thy forlorne Queene. 
 Is all thy comfort fliut in Glofters Tombe ? 
 Why then Dame Elianor was neere thy ioy. 
 Erect his Statue, and worfhip it, 
 And make my Image but an Ale-houfe figne. 
 Was I for this nye wrack'd vpon the Sea, 
 And twice by aukward winde from Englands banke 
 Droue backe againe vnto my Natiue Clime. 
 What boaded this? but well fore-warning winde 
 Did feeme to fay, feeke not a Scorpions Neft, 
 Nor fet no footing on this vnkinde Shore. 
 What did I then ? But curft the gentle gufts, 
 And he that loos'd them forth their Brazen Caues, 
 And bid them blow towards Englands blefled fhore, 
 Or turne our Sterne vpon a dreadfull Rocke : 
 Yet ^Eolus would not be a murtherer, 
 But left that hatefull office vnto thee. 
 The pretty vaulting Sea refus'd to drowne me, 
 Knowing that thou wouldft haue me drown'd on fhore 
 With teares as fait as Sea, through thy vnkindneffe. 
 The fplitting Rockes cowr'd in the finking fands, 
 And would not dafh me with their ragged fides, 
 Becaufe thy flinty heart more hard then they, 
 Might in thy Pallace, perifli Elianor. 
 As farre as I could ken thy Chalky Cliffes, 
 When from thy Shore, the Tempeft beate vs backe, 
 I ftood vpon the Hatches in the ftorme: 
 And when the duskie sky, began to rob 
 My earneft-gaping-fight of thy Lands view, 
 I tooke a coftly lewell from my necke, 
 A Hart it was bound in with Diamonds, 
 And threw it towards thy Land : The Sea receiu'd it, 
 And fo I wifli'd thy body might my Heart : 
 And euen with this, I loft faire Englands view, 
 And bid mine eyes be packing with my Heart, 
 And call'd them blinde and duskie Spectacles, 
 For looting ken of Albions wifhed Coaft. 
 How often haue I tempted Suffblkes tongue 
 (The agent of thy foule inconftancie) 
 To fit and watch me as Afcaniui did, 
 When he to madding Dido would vnfold 
 His Fathers Acts, commenc'd in burning Troy. 
 Am T not witcht like her ? Or thou not falfe like him ? 
 Aye me, I can no more : Dye Elinor, 
 For Henry weepes, that thou doft Hue fo long. 
 
 Noyft tfitbtn. Enter Wartflc^e, and many 
 Commont. 
 
 War. It is reported, mighty Soueraigne, 
 That good Duke Humfrey Traiteroufly is murdred 
 
 By Suffolke, and the Cardinall Beaufords meanes : 
 The Commons like an angry Hiue of Bees 
 That want their Leader, fcatter vp and downe, 
 And care not who they fting in his reuenge. 
 My felfe haue calm'd their fpleenfull mutinie, 
 Vntill they heare the order of his death. 
 
 King. That he is dead good Warwick, 'tis too true, 
 But how he dyed, God knowes, not Henry : 
 Enter his Chamber, view his breathlefie Corpes, 
 And comment then vpon his fodaine death. 
 
 War. That /hall I do my Liege ; Stay Salsburie 
 With the rude multitude, till I returne. 
 
 King.O thou that iudgeft all things, ftay my thoghts: 
 My thoughts, that labour to perfwade my foule, 
 Some violent hands were laid on Humfries life : 
 If my fufpect be faife, forgiue me God, 
 Fcr iudgement onely doth belong to thee : 
 Faine would I go to chafe his palie lips, 
 With twenty thoufand kifles,and to draine 
 Vpon his face an Ocean of fait teares, 
 To tell myloue vnto his dumbe deafe trunke, 
 And with my fingers feele his hand, vnfeeling : 
 But all in vaine are thefe meane Obfequies, 
 
 lied put forth. 
 
 And to furuey his dead and earthy Image : 
 What were it but to make my forrow greater 
 
 Warm. Come hither gracious Soueraigne, view this 
 body. 
 
 King. That is to fee how deepe my graue is made, 
 For with his foule fled all my worldly folace : 
 For feeing him, I fee my life in death. 
 
 War. As furely as my foule intends to Hue 
 With that dread King that tooke our ftate vpon him, 
 To free vs from his Fathers wrathfull curfe, 
 I do beleeue that violent hands were laid 
 Vpon the life of this thrice-famed Duke. 
 
 Suf. A dreadfull Oath, fworne with a folemn tongue: 
 What inftance giues Lord Warwicke for his vow. 
 
 War. See how the blood is fetled in his face. 
 Oft haue I feene a timely-parted Ghoft, 
 Of afhy femblance, meager, pale, and bloodlefle, 
 Being all defcended to the labouring heart, 
 Who in the Conflict that it holds with death, 
 Attracts the fame for aydance 'gainft the enemy, 
 Which with the heart there cooles, and ne're returneth, 
 To blu/h and beautifie the Cheeke againe. 
 But fee, his face is blacke, and full of blood : 
 His eye-balles further out, than when he liued, 
 Staring full gaftly, like a ftrangled man : 
 His hayre vprear'd, his noftrils ftretcht with ftrugling : 
 His hands abroad difplay'd, as one that grafpt 
 And tugg'd for Life, and was by ftrength fubdude. 
 Looke on the flieets his haire (you fee) is flicking, 
 His well proportion'd Beard, made rufie and rugged, 
 Like to the Summers Corne by Tempeft lodged : 
 It cannot be but he was murdred heere, 
 The leaft of all thefe fignes were probable. 
 
 Suf. Why Warwicke, who fliould do the D.to death? 
 My felfe and Beauford had him in protection, 
 And we I hope fir, are no murtherers. 
 
 War. But both of you were vowed D. Humfries foes, 
 And you (forfooth) had the good Duke to keepe: 
 Tis like you would not feaft him like a friend, 
 And 'tis well feene, he found an enemy. 
 
 Queen. Than you belike fufpect thefe Noblemen, 
 As guilty of Duke Humfries timelefle death. 
 
 War. 
 
 470
 
 Thefecond 'Part of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Warn. Who finds the Heyfer dead,and bleeding frefh, 
 And fees faft-by, a Butcher with an Axe, 
 But will fufpect,'twas he that made the flaughter? 
 Who finds the Partridge in the Puttocks Neft, 
 But may imagine how the Bird was dead, 
 Although the Kyte foare with vnbloudied Beake? 
 Euen fo fufpitious is this Tragedie. 
 
 Qu. Are you the Butcher, &/^o/y^?where's your Knife? 
 Is Beauford tearm'd a Kyte? where are his Tallons? 
 Stiff. I weare no Knife, to flaughter fleeping men, 
 But here's a vengefull Sword, rufted with eafe, 
 That /hall be fcowred in his rancorous heart, 
 That flanders me with Murthers Crimfon Badge. 
 Say, if thou dar'ft,prowd Lord of Warwick/hire, 
 That I am faultie in Duke Huntfreyes death. 
 
 Warn. What dares not Warwick^ if falfe Suffd^e dare 
 him ? 
 
 Qu. He dares not calme his contumelious Spirit, 
 Nor ceafe to be an arrogant Controller, 
 Though Suffol^e dare him twentie thoufand times. 
 
 Warn. Madame be ftill : with reuerence may I fay, 
 For euery word you fpeake in his behalfe, 
 Is flander to your Royall Dignitie. 
 
 Suff. Blunt- witted Lord, ignoble in demeanor, 
 If euer Lady wrong'd her Lord fo much, 
 Thy Mother tooke into her blamefull Bed 
 Some fterne vntutur'd Churle; and Nobie Stock 
 Was graft with Crab-tree flippe, whofe Fruit thou art, 
 And neuer of the Neuils Noble Race. 
 
 J^rf'-w.But that the guilt of Murther bucklers thee, 
 And I mould rob the Deaths-man of his Fee, 
 Quitting thee thereby of ten thoufand fliames, 
 And that my Soueraignes prefence makes me milde, 
 I would, falfe murd'rous Coward, on thy Knee 
 Make thee begge pardon for thy pa/Ted fpeech, 
 And fay, it was thy Mother that thou meant'ft, 
 That thou thy felfe waft borne in Baftardie ; 
 And after all this fearefull Homage done, 
 Giue thee thy hyre,and fend thy Soule to Hell, 
 Pernicious blood-fucker of fleeping men. 
 
 Suff. Thou malt be waking, while I flied thy blood, 
 If from this prefence thou dar'ft goe with me. 
 
 ffariv.A-way euen now, or I will drag thee hence: 
 Vnworthy though thou art, He cope with thee, 
 And doe fome feruice to Duke Humfreyes Ghoft. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 King.Vfhat ftronger Bred-plate then a heart vntainted ? 
 Thrice is he arm'd,that hath his Quarrell iuft; 
 And he but naked, though lockt vp in Steele, 
 Whofe Confcience with Iniuftice is corrupted. 
 j4 noyfe within. 
 
 Queene. What noyfe is this ? 
 
 Enter Suffoll^e and JParwidtfy "cuitb their 
 Weapons dra-ame. 
 
 King. Why how now Lords ? 
 Your wrathfull Weapons drawne, 
 Here in our prefence ? Dare you be fo bold ? 
 Why what tumultuous clamor haue we here ? 
 
 Suff. The trayt'rous Warwic^, with the men of Bury, 
 Set all vpon me, mightie Soueraigne. 
 
 Enter Salisbury. 
 
 Salub. Sirs ftand apart, the King mall know your 
 minde. 
 
 Dread Lord, the Commons fend you word by me, 
 
 VnlefTe Lord Suffolk* ftraight be done to death, 
 
 Or baniflied faire Englands Territories, 
 
 They will by violence teare him from your Pallace, 
 
 And torture him with grieuous lingring death. 
 
 They fay, by him the good Duke Humfrey dy'de : 
 
 They fay, in him they feare your Highneffe death} 
 
 And meere inftinct of Loue and Loyaltie, 
 
 Free from a ftubborne oppofite intent, 
 
 As being thought to contradict your liking, 
 
 Makes them thus forward in his Banifhment. ' 
 
 They fay, in care of your moft Royall Perfon, 
 
 That if your Highnefle fhould intend to fleepe, 
 
 And charge, that no man mould difturbe your reft, 
 
 In paine of your diflike, or paine of death ; 
 
 Yet notwithstanding fuch a ftrait Edict, 
 
 Were there a Serpent feene, with forked Tongue, 
 
 That flyly glyded towards your Maieftie, 
 
 It were but neceffarie you were wak't: 
 
 Leaft being fuffer'd in that harmefull flumber, 
 
 The mortall Worme might make the fleepe eternall. 
 
 And therefore doe they cry, though you forbid, 
 
 That they will guard you, where you will, or no, 
 
 From fuch fell Serpents as falfe Suffol^e is ; 
 
 W^th whofe inuenomed and fatall fting, 
 
 Your louing Vnckle, twentie times his worth, 
 
 They fay is mamefully bereft of life. 
 
 Commons within. An anfwer from the King, my Lord 
 of Salisbury. 
 
 Suff. 'Tis like the Commons, rude vnpoliiht Hindes, 
 Could fend fuch Meflage to their Soueraigne : 
 But you, my Lord, were glad to be imploy'd, 
 To /hew how queint an Orator you are. 
 But all the Honor Salisbury hath wonne, 
 Is, that he was the Lord Embaflador, 
 Sent from a fort of Tinkers to the King. 
 
 Within. An anfwer from the King , or wee will all 
 breake in. 
 
 King. Goe Salisbury ,and tell them all from me, 
 I thanke them for their tender louing care ; 
 And had I not beene cited fo by them, 
 Yet did I purpofe as they doe entreat : 
 For fure, my thoughts doe hourely prophecie, 
 Mifchance vnto my State by Suffol^es meanes. 
 And therefore by his Maieftie I fweare, 
 Whofe farre-vnworthie Deputie I am, 
 He /hall not breathe infection in thisayre, 
 But three dayes longer,on the paine of death. 
 
 >. Oh Henry, let me pleade for gentle Suffolkf. 
 
 AT/ng-.Vngentle Queene, to call him gentle Suffolkf. 
 No more I fay : if thou do'ft pleade for him, 
 Thou wilt but adde encreafe vnto my Wrath. 
 Had I but fayd, I would haue kept my Word ; 
 But when I fweare, it is irreuocable : 
 If after three dayes fpace thou here bee'ft found, 
 On any ground that I am Ruler of, 
 The World /hall not be Ranfome for thy Life. 
 Come Warwic](e,Qome good ffarjcly } gos with mee, 
 I haue great matters to impart to thee. Exit. 
 
 Qu. Mifchance and Sorrow goe along with you, 
 Hearts Difcontent, and fowre Affliction, 
 Be play-fellowes to keepe you companie : 
 There's two of you, the Deuill make a third, 
 And three-fold Vengeance tend vpon your fteps, 
 
 Suff. Ceafe, gentle Queene, thefe Execrations, 
 And let thy Suffolfe take his heauie leaue. 
 
 Queene. Fye
 
 136 
 
 'The fecond fart of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Queen. Fye Coward woman, and foft harted wretch, 
 Haft thou not fpirit to curfe thine enemy. 
 
 Suf. A plague vpon them : wherefore fhould I curfle 
 
 them ? 
 
 Would curfes kill, as doth the Mandrakes grone, 
 I would inuent as bitter fearching termes, 
 As curft, as harfh, and horrible to heare, 
 Deliuer'd ftrongly through my fixed teeth, 
 With full as many fignes of deadly hate, 
 As leane-fac'd enuy in her loathfome caue. 
 My tongue fhould ftumble in mine earneft words, 
 Mine eyes fhould fparkle like the beaten Flint, 
 Mine haire be fixt an end, as one diftradt : 
 I, euery ioynt fhould feeme to curfe and ban, 
 And euen now my burthen'd heart would breake 
 Should I not curfe them. Poyfon be their drinke. 
 Gall, worfe then Gall, the daintieft that they tafte : 
 Their fweeteft {hade, a groue of CyprefTe Trees: 
 Their cheefeft Profpeft, murd'ring Bafiliskes: 
 Their fofteft Touch, as fmart as Lyzards ftings: 
 Their Muficke, frightfull as the Serpents hifle, 
 And boading Screech-Owles, make the Confort full. 
 All the foule terrors in darke feated hell 
 
 Q^ Enough fweet Suffolke,thou torment'ft thy felfe, 
 And thefe dread curfes like the Sunne'gainft glafle, , 
 Or like an ouer-charged Gun, recoile, 
 And turnes the force of them vpon thy felfe. 
 
 Suf. You bad me ban, and will you bid me leaue? 
 Now by the ground that I am baniih'd from, 
 Well could I curfe away a Winters night, 
 Though (landing naked on a Mountaine top, 
 Where byting cold would neuer let grafle grow, 
 And thinke it but a minute fpent in fport. 
 
 Qu. Oh, let me intreat thee ceafe,giue me thy hand, 
 That I may dew it with my mournfull tea.ej : 
 Nor let the raine of heauen wet this place, 
 To wafli away my wofull Monuments. 
 Oh, could this kifle be printed in thy hand, 
 That thou might'ft thinke vpon thefe by the Scale, 
 Through whom a thoufand fighes are breath'd for thee. 
 So get thee gone, that I may know my greefe, 
 *Tis but furmiz'd, whiles thou art ftanding by, 
 As one that furfets, thinking on a want: 
 I will repeale thee, or be well aflur'd, 
 Aduenrure to be banifhed my felfe : 
 And baniihed I am, if but from thee. 
 Go, fpeake not to me ; euen now be gone. 
 Oh go not yet. Euen thus, two Friends condemn'd, 
 Embrace, and kifle, and take ten thoufand leaues, 
 Leather a hundred times to part then dye ; 
 Yet now farewell, and farewell Life with thee. 
 
 Suf. Thus is poore Suffblke ten times baniflied, 
 Once by the King, and three times thrice by thee. 
 "Tis not the Land I care for, wer't thou thence, 
 A Wildernefle is populous enough, 
 So Suffblke had thy heauenly company: 
 For where thou art, there is the World it felfe, 
 With euery feuerall pleafure in the World : 
 And where thou art not, Defolation. 
 I can no more : Liue thou to ioy thy life ; 
 My felfe no ioy in nought, but that thou liu'ft. 
 
 Enter faux. 
 
 Queene. Whether goes Vaux fo faft ? What newes I 
 prethee ? 
 
 "Uaux. To fignifie vnto his Maiefty, 
 That Cardinall 'Beauford is at point of death : 
 For fodainly a greeuous ficknefie tooke him, 
 That makes him gaspe, and ftare, and catch the aire, 
 Blafpheming God, and curfing men on earth. 
 Sometime he talkes, as if Duke Humfries Ghoft 
 Were by his fide : Sometime, he calles the King, 
 And whifpers to his pillow, as to him, 
 The fecrets of his ouer-charged foule, 
 And I am fent to tell his Maieftie, 
 That euen now he cries alowd for him. 
 
 %u. Go tell this heauy Mefiage to the King. Exit 
 Aye me I What is this World ? What newes are thefe ? 
 But wherefore greeue I at an houres poore lofle, 
 Omitting Suffolkes exile, my foules Treafure? 
 Why onely Suffblke mourne I not for thee ? 
 And with the Southerne clouds, contend in teares? 
 Theirs for the earths encreafe, mine for my forrowes. 
 Now get thee hence, the King thou know'ft is comming, 
 If thou be found by me, thou art but dead. 
 
 Suf. If I depart from thee, I cannot Hue, 
 And in thy fight to dye, what were it elfe, 
 But like a pleafant flumberin thy lap? 
 Heere could I breath my foule into the ayre, 
 As milde and gentle as the Cradle-babe, 
 Dying with mothers dugge betweene it's lips. 
 Where from thy fight, I ihould be raging mad, 
 And cry out for thee to clofe vp mine eyes : 
 To haue thee with thy lippes to ftop my mouth : 
 So fhould'ft thou eyther turne my flying foule, 
 Or I fhould breathe it fo into thy body, 
 And then it liu'd in fweete Elizium. 
 To dye by thee, were but to dye in ieft, 
 From thee to dye, were torture more then death : 
 Oh let me ftay, befall what may befall. 
 
 S^ueen. Away : Though parting be a fretfull corofiue, 
 Ir is applyed to a deathfull wound. 
 To France fweet Sufrblke : Let me heare from thee : 
 For wherefoere thou art in this worlds Globe, 
 He haue an Iris that fhall finde thee out. 
 
 Suf. I go. 
 
 Qu. And take my heart with thee. 
 
 Suf. A lewell lockt into the wofulft Caske, 
 That euer did containea thing of worth, 
 Euen as a fplitted Barke, fo funder we : 
 This way fall I to death. 
 
 ^u. This way for me. Exeunt 
 
 Enter the King, Salisbury, andWartficl^e, to the 
 Cardinal in bed. 
 
 King. How fare's my Lord ? Speake 'Beauford to thy 
 Soueraigne. 
 
 Ca. If thou beeft death, lie giue thee Englands Treafure, 
 Enough to purchafe fuch another Ifland, 
 So thou wilt let me liue, and feeie no paine. 
 
 King. Ah, what a figne it is of euill life, 
 Where death's approach is feene fo terrible. 
 
 JVar. Beauford) it is thy Soueraigne fpeakes to thee. 
 
 'Beau. Bring me vnto my Triall when you will. 
 Dy'de he not in his bed? Where fhould he dye ? 
 Can I make men liue where they will or no? 
 Oh torture me no more, I will confefle. 
 Aliue againe? Then fhew me where he is, 
 He giue a thoufand pound to looke vpon him. 
 He hath no eyes, the duft hath blinded them. 
 
 Comb 
 e_ 
 
 47*
 
 Tbefecond 'Part of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 '37 
 
 Combe downe his haire ; looke,looke, it flands vpright, 
 Like Lime-twigs fet to catch my winged foule : 
 Giue me fome drinke, and bid the Apothecarie 
 Bring the ftrong poyfon that I bought of him. 
 
 King. Oh thou eternall mouer or the heauens, 
 Looke with a gentle eye vpon this Wretch, 
 Oh beate away the bufie medling Fiend, 
 That layes ftrong fiege vnto this wretches foule, 
 And from his bofome purge this blacke difpaire. 
 
 War. See how the pangs of death do make him grin. 
 
 Sal. Difturbe him not, let him paflc peaceably. 
 
 King. Peace to his foule, if Gods good pleafure be. 
 Lord Card'nall, if thou think'ft on heauens blifle, 
 Hold vp thy hand, make fignall of thy hope. 
 He dies and makes no figne : Oh God forgiue him. 
 
 War. So bad a death, argues a monftrous life. 
 
 King. Forbeare to iudge, for we are finners all. 
 Clofe vp his eyes, and draw the Curtaine clofe, 
 And let vs all to Meditation. Exeunt. 
 
 tAlarum. Fight at Sea. Ordnance goes off'. 
 
 Enter Lieutenant, Suffolke, and others. 
 Lieu. The gaudy blabbing and remorfefull day, 
 Is crept into the bofome of the Sea : 
 And now loud houling Wolues aroufe the lades 
 That dragge the Tragicke melancholy night: 
 Who with their drowfie, flow,and flagging wings 
 Cleape dead-mens graues, and from their mifty lawes, 
 Breath foule contagious darkneffe in the ayre : 
 Therefore bring forth the Souldiers of our prize, 
 For whilft our Pinnace Anchors in the Downes, 
 Heere (hall they make theit ranfome on the fand, 
 Or with their blood ftaine this difcoloured (hore. 
 Maifter, this Prifoner freely giue I thee, 
 And thou that art his Mate, make boote of this : 
 The other Walter Whitmore is thy ihare. 
 
 I. Qent. What is my ranfome Mafter, let me know. 
 
 Ma.A. thoufand Crownes, or elfe lay down your head 
 
 Mate, And fo much (hall you giue, or off goes yours. 
 
 Lieu. What thinke you much to pay 2000. Crownes, 
 And beare the name and port of Gentlemen ? 
 Cut both the Villaines throats, for dy you (hall : 
 The Hues of thofe which wehaueloft in fight, 
 Be counter- poys'd with fuch a pettie fumme. 
 
 I.Gent, lie giue it fir, and therefore fpare my life. 
 
 z.Gent.And fo will I, and write home for it ftraight. 
 
 Wbitm. i loft mine eye in laying the prize aboord, 
 And therefore to reuenge it, (halt thou dye, 
 And fo (hould thefe, if I might haue my will. 
 
 Lieu; Be not fo ra(h, take ranfome, let him Hue. 
 
 Suf. Looke on my George, I am a Gentleman, 
 Rate me at what thou wilt, thou (halt be payed. 
 
 Wbit. And fo am I : my name '^Walter Wbitmore. 
 How now? why ftarts thou? What doth death affright? 
 
 Suf. Thy name affrights me, in whofe found is death: 
 A cunning man did calculate my birth, 
 And told me that by Water I (hould dye : 
 Yet let not this make thee be bloody-minded, 
 Thy name is Gualtitr, being rightly founded. 
 
 Whit. Gualtier or Walter, which it is 1 care not, 
 Neuer yet did bafe diflionour blurre our name, 
 But with our fword we wip'd away the blot. 
 Therefore, when Merchant-like I fell reuenge, 
 Broke be my fword, my Armes tome and defac'd, 
 And I proclaim'd a Coward through the world. 
 
 47} 
 
 Suf. Stay Wbitmore, for thy Prifoner is a Prince, 
 The Duke of Suffolke, William de la Pole. 
 
 Whit. The Duke of Suffolke, muffled vp in ragges? 
 
 Suf. I, but thefe ragges are no part of the Duke. 
 Lieu. But loue was neuer fljine as thou (halt be, 
 Obfcure and lowfie Swaine, King Henries blood. 
 
 Suf. The honourable blood or Lancafter 
 Muft not be (hed by fuch a iaded Groome : 
 Haft thou not kift thy hand, and held my ftirrop? 
 Bare-headed plodded by my foot-cloth Mule, 
 And thought thee happy when I fhooke my head. 
 How often haft thou waited at my cup, 
 Fed from my Trencher, kneel'd downe at the boord, 
 When I haue feafted with Queene Margaret ? 
 Remember it, and let it make thee Creft-falne, 
 I, and alay this thy 'abortiue Pride : 
 How in our voyding Lobby haft thou ftood, 
 And duly wayted for my comming forth ? 
 This hand of mine hath writ in thy behalfe, 
 And therefore (hall it charme thy riotous tongue. 
 
 Whit. Speak Captaine, (hall I (tab the forlorn Swain. 
 
 Lieu. Firft let my words ftab him, as he ha'h me. 
 
 Suf. Bafe (hue, thy words are blunt, and fo art thou. 
 
 Lieu. Conuey him hence,and on our long boats fide, 
 Strike off his head. Suf.Thou dar'ft not for thy owne. 
 
 Lieu. Poole, Sir Pooled Lord, 
 I kennell, puddle, finke, whofe filth and dirt 
 Troubles the filuer Spring, where England drinkes: 
 Now will I dam vp this rhy yawning mouth, 
 For fwallowing the Treafure of the Realme. 
 Thy lips that kift the Queene, (hall fweepe the ground : 
 And thou that fmil'dft at good Duke Hun:fries death, 
 Againft the fenfeleffe windes (hall grin in vaine, 
 Who in contempt (hall hiffe at thee againe. 
 And wedded be thou to the Hagges or' hell, 
 For daring to affye a mighty Lord 
 Vnto the daughter of a worthleffe King, 
 Hauing neyther Subied, Wealth, nor Diadem : 
 By diuellifli policy art thou growne great, 
 And like ambitious Sylla ouer-gorg'd, 
 With gobbets of thy Mother-bleeding heart. 
 By thee Anku and Maine were fold to France. 
 The falfe reuolting Normans thorough thee, 
 Difdaine to call vs Lord, and Ticcardie 
 Hath flaine their Gouernors, furpriz'd our Forts, 
 And fent the ragged Souldiers wounded home. 
 The Princely Warwicke, and the Neuils all, 
 Whofe dreadfull fwords were neuer drawne in vaine, 
 As hating thee, and rifing vp in armes . 
 And now the Houfe of Yorke thruft from the Crowne, 
 By (hamefull murther of a guiltlefle King, 
 And lofty proud incroaching tyranny, 
 Burnes with reuenging fire, whofe hopefull colours 
 Aduance our halfe-fac'd Sunne, ftriuing to (hine 5 
 Vnder the which is writ, Iiuitii nub.bus, 
 The Commons heere in Kent are vp in armes, 
 And to conclude, Reproach and Beggerie, 
 Is crept into the Pallace of our King, 
 And all by thee : away, conuey him hence. 
 
 Suf. O that I were a God, to (hoot forth Thunder 
 Vpon thefe paltry, feruile,abie6t Drudges: 
 Small things make bafe men proud. 1 his Villaine heere, 
 Being Captaine of a Pinnace, threatens more 
 Then ^Barguluf the ftrong Illyrian Pyrate. 
 Drones fucke not Eagles blood, but rob Bee-hiues: 
 It is impoflible that I fhould dye 
 
 By
 
 '38 
 
 Thefecond ^art of Henry the Sixf. 
 
 By fuch a lowly Vaflall as thy felfe. 
 Tliy words moue Rage, and not remorfe in me : 
 I go of MefTage from the Qneene to France : 
 I charge thee waft me fafely croffe the Channell. 
 
 Lieu. Water : W. Come Suffolke, I muft waft thee 
 to thy death. 
 
 Suf. Pine gelldui timor occupat artus, it is thee I feare. 
 
 Wa/.Thou /halt haue caufe to feare before I leaue thee. 
 What, are ye danted now? Now will ye ftoope. 
 
 J.Gent. My gracious Lord intreat him, fpeak him fair. 
 
 Suf. Suffolkes Imperial! tongue is fterne and rough: 
 Vs'd to command, vntaught to pleade for fauour. 
 Farre be it, we fhould honor fuch as thefe 
 With humble fuite : no, rather let my head 
 Stoope to the blocke, then thefe knees bow to any, 
 Saue to the God of heauen, and to my King : 
 And fooner dance vpon a bloody pole, 
 Then ftand vncouer'd to the Vulgar Groome. 
 True Nobility, is exempt from feare : 
 More can I beare, then you dare execute. 
 
 Lieu. Hale him away, and let him talke no more : 
 Come Souldiers, fliew what cruelty ye can. 
 
 Suf. That this my death may neuer be forgot. 
 Great men oft dye by vilde Bezonions. 
 A Romane Sworder, and Bandetto flaue 
 Murder'd fweet Tully. Bruttn Baftard hand 
 Stab'd luliui Ctffar. Sauage Iflanders 
 Pompey the Great, and Suffolke dyes by Pyrats. 
 
 Exit Water with Suffolke. 
 
 Lieu. And as for thefe whofe ranfome we haue let, 
 It is our pleafure one of them depart : 
 Therefore come you with vs, and let him go. 
 
 Sxit Lieutenant, and the reft. 
 
 dWanet the firft Gent. Enter Walter nith the body. 
 
 Wai. There let his head, and liuelefle bodie lye, 
 Vntill theQueene his Miftris bury it. Exit Walter. 
 
 I.Gent. O barbarous and bloudy fpeftacle, 
 His body will I beare vnto the King : 
 If he reuenge it not, yet will his Friends, 
 So will the Queene, that liuing, held him deere. 
 
 Enter 'Beuis, and lobn Holland. 
 
 Beuu. Come and get thee a fword, though made of a 
 Lath, they haue bene vp thefe two dayes. 
 
 Hoi. They haue the more neede to fleepe now then. 
 
 Beuu. I tell thee, lacl^e Cade the Cloathier, meanes to 
 drefTe the Common-wealth and turne it, and fet a new 
 nap vpon it. 
 
 Hoi. So he had need, for 'tis th red-bare. Well, I fay, 
 it was neuer merrie world in England, fince Gentlemen 
 came vp. 
 
 Beuii. O miferable Age : Vertue is not regarded in 
 Handy-crafts men. 
 
 Hoi. The Nobilitie thinke fcorne to goe in Leather 
 Aprons. 
 
 Btuif. Nay more, the Kings Councell are no good 
 Workemen. 
 
 Hoi. True : and yet it is faid, Labour in thy Vocati- 
 on : which is as much to fay, as let the Magiftrates be la- 
 bouring men, and therefore Ihould we be Magiftrates. 
 
 Beuii. Thou haft hit it : for there's no better figne of a 
 braue minde, then a hard hand. 
 
 He/. I fee them, I fee them : There's "Be/Is Sonne, the 
 Tanner of Wingham. 
 
 "Beuis. Hee fhall haue the skinncs of our enemies, to 
 
 make Dogges Leather of. 
 
 Hoi. And Dicke the Butcher. 
 
 'Beuii. Then is fin ftrucke downe like an Oxe, and ini- 
 quities throate cut like a Calfe. 
 
 Hoi. And Smith the Weauer. 
 
 Beu. Argo, their thred or' life is fpun. 
 
 Hoi. Come, come, let's fall in with them. 
 
 Drumme. Enter Cade, Dicke 'Butcher, Smith the Weauer, 
 and a Sawyer, with infinite numbers. 
 
 Cade. Wee John Cade, fo tearm'd of our fuppofed Fa- 
 ther. 
 
 But. Or rather of ftealing a Cade of Herrings. 
 
 Cade. For our enemies fhall faile before vs, infpired 
 with the fpirit of putting down Kings and Princes. Com- 
 mand filence. 
 
 'But. Silence. 
 
 Cade. My Father was a Mortimer. 
 
 But . He was an honeft man, and a good Bricklayer. 
 
 ade. My mother a Plantagenet. 
 
 Butch. I knew her well, {he was a Midwife. 
 
 Cade . My wife defcended of the Lades. 
 
 But. She was indeed a Pedlers daughter, & fold many 
 Laces. 
 
 Weauer. But now of late, not able to trauell with her 
 furr'd Packe, fhe waflies buckes here at home. 
 
 Cade. Therefore am I of an honorable houfe. 
 
 But. I by my faith, the field is honourable, and there 
 was he borne, vnder a hedge : for his Father had neuer a 
 houfe but the Cage. 
 
 Cade. Valiant I am. 
 
 Weauer A muft needs, for beggery is valiant. 
 
 Cade. I am able to endure much. 
 
 But. No queftion of that : for I haue feene him whipt 
 three Market dayes together. 
 
 Cade. I feare neither fword, nor fire. 
 
 Wea. He neede not feare the fword, for his Coate is of 
 proofe. 
 
 But. But me thinks he fliould ftand in feare of fire, be- 
 ing burnt i'th hand for ftealing of Sheepe. 
 
 Cade. Be braue then, for your Captaine is Braue, and 
 Vowes Reformation. There fliill be in England, feuen 
 halfe peny Loaues fold for a peny : the three hoop'd pot, 
 fhall haue ten hoopes, and I wil make it Fellony to drink 
 fmall Beere. All the Realme fhall be in Common, and in 
 Cheapfide fhall my Palfrey go to grafle : and when I am 
 King, as King I will be. 
 
 All, God faue your Maiefty. 
 
 Cade. I thanke you good people. There fhall bee no 
 mony, all fhall eate and drinke on my fcore, and I will 
 apparrell them all in one Liuery, that they may agree like 
 Brothers, and worfhip me their Lord. 
 
 But. The firft thing we do, let's kill all the Lawyers. 
 
 Cade. Nay, that I meane to do. Is not this a lamenta- 
 ble thing, that of the skin of an innocent Lambe fhould 
 be made Parchment ; that Parchment being fcribeld ore, 
 fhould vndoe a man. Some fay the Bee ftings, but I fay, 
 'tis the Bees waxe : for I did but feale once to a thing, and 
 I was neuer mine owne man fince. How now f Who's 
 there ? 
 
 Enter a QlearJfe. 
 
 Weauer. The Clearke of Chartam : hee can write and 
 reade, and cart accompt. 
 
 Cade. O monftrous. 
 
 Wea. We tooke him fetting of boyes Copies. 
 
 Cade. 
 
 474
 
 Thefecond ^Part of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Cade. Here's a Villaine. 
 
 JVea. Ha's a Booke in his pocket with red Letters in't 
 
 Qade. Nay then he is a Coniurer. 
 
 But. Nay, he can make Obligations, and write Court 
 hand. 
 
 Cade. I am forry for't : The man is a proper man of 
 mine Honour : vnleffe I finde him guilty, he fhall not die. 
 Come hither firrah, I muft examine thee : What is thy 
 name ? 
 
 Clearly. Emanuell. 
 
 'But. They vfe to writ it on the top of Letters: 'Twill 
 go hard with you. 
 
 W?.Let me alone : Doft thou vfe to write thy name? 
 Or haft thou a marke to thy felfe, like a honeft plain dea- 
 ling man ? 
 
 C/earfe. Sir I thanke God, I haue bin fo well brought 
 vp, that I can write my name. 
 
 All. He hath confeft : away with him : he's a Villaine 
 and a Traitor. 
 
 Cade. Away with him I fay : Hang him with his Pen 
 and Inke-horne about his necke. 
 
 Exit one tvitb the dearie 
 Enter <J\flcbael. 
 
 Micb. Where's our General! ? 
 
 Cade. Heere I am thou particular fellow. 
 
 Mich. Fly, fly, fly, Sir Humfrey Stafford and his brother 
 are hard by, with the Kings Forces. 
 
 Cade. Stand villaine, ftand, or He fell thee downe : he 
 | /hall be encountred with a man as good as himfelfe. He 
 is but a Knight, is a ? 
 
 Micb. No. 
 
 Cade. To equall him I will make my felfe a knight pre- 
 fently ; Rife vp Sir lobn <&fortimer. Now haue at him . 
 
 Snter Sir Humfrey Stafford, and bis Brother, 
 ffith Drum and Soldiers. 
 
 Staf. Rebellious Hinds, the filth and fcum of Kent, 
 Mark'd for the Gallowes: Lay your Weapons downe, 
 Home to your Cottages : forfake this Groome. 
 The King is merciful!, if you reuolt. 
 
 'Bro. But angry, wrathfull, and inclin'd to blood, 
 If you go forward : therefore yeeld, or dye. 
 
 Cade. As for thefe filken-coated flaues I pafle not, 
 It is to you good people, that I fpeake, 
 Ouer whom (in time to come) I hope to raigne: 
 For I am rightfull heyre vnto the Crowne. 
 
 Staff". Villaine, thy Father was a Playfterer, 
 And thou thy felfe a Sheareman, art thou not? 
 
 Cade. And Adam was a Gardiner. 
 
 Bro. And what of that ? 
 
 Cade. Marry, this Edmund Mortimer Earle of March, 
 married the Duke of Clarence daughter, did he not ? 
 
 Staf. I fir. 
 
 Cade. By her he had two children at one birth. 
 
 Bro. That's falfe. 
 
 Cade. I, there's the queftion ; But I fay, 'tis true : 
 The elder of them being put to nurfe, 
 Was by a begger-woman ftolne away, 
 And ignorant of his birth and parentage, 
 Became a Bricklayer, when he came to age. 
 His fonne am I, deny it if you can. 
 
 'But. Nay, 'tis too true, therefore he fhall be King. 
 
 Wea. Sir, he made a Chimney in my Fathers houfe, & 
 the brickes are aliue at this day to teftifie it : therefore 
 deny it not. 
 
 Staf. And will you credit this bafe Drudges Wordes, 
 that fpeakes he knowes not what. 
 
 tAll. I marry will we : therefore get ye gone. 
 'Bro. Iacl(e Cade, the D.of York hath taught you this. 
 Cade. He lyes, for I inuented it my felfe. Go too Sir- 
 rah, tell the King from me, that for his Fathers fake Hen- 
 ry the fift, (in whofe time, boyes went to Span-counter 
 for French Crownes) I am content he fhall raigne, but lie 
 be Protedlor ouer him. 
 
 'Butcher. And furthermore, wee'l haue the Lord Sayes 
 head, for felling the Dukedome of Maine. 
 
 Cade And good reafon : for thereby is England main'd 
 And faine to go with a ftaffe, but that my puiflance holds 
 it vp. Fellow-Kings, I tell you, that that Lord Say hath 
 gelded the Commonwealth, and made it an Eunuch : & 
 more then that, he can fpeake French, and therefore hee is 
 a Traitor. 
 
 Staf. O grofie and miferable ignorance. 
 
 Cade. Nay anfwer if you can : The Frenchmen are our 
 enemies : go too then, I ask but this: Can he that fpeaks 
 with the tongue of an enemy, be a good Councellour, or 
 no ? 
 
 All. No, no, and therefore wee'l haue his head. 
 
 Bro. Well, feeing gentle words will not preuayle, 
 Afiaile them with the Army of the King. 
 
 Staf. Herald away, and throughout euery Towne, 
 Proclaime them Traitors that are vp with Cade, 
 That thofe which flye before the battell ends, 
 May euen in their Wiues and Childrens fight, 
 Be hang'd vp for example at their doores : 
 And you that be the Kings Friends follow me. Exit. 
 
 Cade. And you that loue the Commons, follow me: 
 Now mew your felues men, 'tis for Liberty. 
 We will not leaue one Lord, one Gentleman: 
 Spare none, but fuch as go in clouted fhooen, 
 For they are thrifty honeft men, and fuch 
 As would (but that they dare not) take our parts. 
 
 'But. They are all in order, and march toward vs. 
 
 Cade. But then are we in order, when we are moft out 
 of order. Come, march forward. 
 
 Alarums to thejigbt, wherein both the Stafford* arejlaine. 
 Enter Cade and the reft. 
 
 Cade. Where's Dicke, the Butcher of Afhford ? 
 
 'But. Heere fir. 
 
 Cade. They fell before thee like Sheepe and Oxen, & 
 thou behaued'ft thy felfe, as if thou hadft beene in thine 
 owne Slaughter-houfe: Therfore thus will I reward thee, 
 the Lent fhall bee as long againe as it is , and thou fhalt 
 haue a Licenfe to kill for a hundred lacking one. 
 
 But. I defire no more. 
 
 Cade. And to fpeake truth, thou deferu'ft no lefle. 
 This Monument of the victory will I beare, and the bo- 
 dies fhall be dragg'd at my horfe heeles, till I do come to 
 London, where we will haue the Maiors fword born be- 
 fore vs. 
 
 But. If we meane to thriue,and do good, breake open 
 the Gaoles, and let out the Prisoners. 
 
 Cade. Feare not that I warrant thee. Come, let's march 
 towards London. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter the King -ith a Supplication, and the Queene with Suf- 
 foi^es head, the Du{e of Buckingham, and the 
 
 Lord Say. 
 
 Queene. Oft haue I heard that greefe foftens the mind, 
 
 And 
 
 475
 
 140 
 
 The fecond ^art of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 And makes it fearefull and degenerate, 
 Thinke therefore on reuenge, and ceafe to weepe. 
 But who can ceafe to weepe, and looke on this. 
 Heere may his head lye on my throbbing breft : 
 But whete's the body that I fhould imbrace ? 
 
 'Buc. What anfwer makes your Grace to the Rebells 
 Supplication ? 
 
 King. He fend fome holy Bifhop to intreat : 
 For God forbid, fo many fimple foules 
 Should perifh by the Sword. And I my felfe, 
 Rather then bloody Warre fhall cut them fliort, 
 Will parley with lac^e Cade their General!. 
 But ftay, He read it ouer once againe. 
 
 Qit. Ah barbarous villaines : Hath this louely face, 
 Rul'd like a wandering Plannet ouer me, 
 And could it not inforce them to relent, 
 That were vnworthy to behold the fame. 
 
 King. Lord Say, lacJ^e Cade hath fworne to huae thy 
 head. 
 
 Say. I, but I hope your Highneffe fhall haue his. 
 
 King. How now Madam? 
 
 Still lamenting and mourning for SurFolkes death? 
 I feare me (Loue) if that I had beene dead, 
 Thou would'ft not haue mourn'd fo much for me. 
 
 Qu. No my Loue, I fhould not mourne, but dye for 
 thee. 
 
 Enter a MeJJenger. 
 
 King. How now? What newes ? Why com'ft thou in 
 fuch hade ? 
 
 Mef. The Rebels are in Southwatke : Fly my Lord : 
 lacfe Cade proclaimes himfelfe Lord Mortimer, 
 Defcended from the Duke of Clarence houfe, 
 And calles your Grace Vfurper, openly, 
 And vowes to Crowne himfelfe in Weftminfter. 
 His Army is a ragged multitude 
 Of Hindes and Pezants, rude and mercilefTe : 
 Sir Humfrey Stafford, and his Brothers death, 
 Hath giuen them heart and courage to proceede : 
 All Schollers, Lawyers, Courtiers, Gentlemen, 
 They call falfe Catterpillers, and intend their death. 
 
 Kin. Oh graceleffe men: they know not what they do. 
 
 Bucl(. My gracious Lord, retire to Killingworth, 
 Vntill a power be rais'd to put them downe. 
 
 Q_u. Ah were the Duke ofSuffblke now aliue, 
 Thelcr Kentifh Rebels would be foone appeas'd. 
 
 King. Lord Say, the Traitors hateth thee, 
 Therefore away with vs to Killingworth. 
 
 Say. So might your Graces perfon be in danger : 
 The fight of me is odious in their eyes : 
 And therefore in this Citty will I ftay, 
 And liue alone as fecret as I may. 
 
 Enter another MeJJenger. 
 
 Mejf. lac^e ade hath gotten London-bridge. 
 The Citizens five and forfake their houfes : 
 The Rafcall people, thirfting after prey, 
 loyne with the Traitor, and they ioyntly fweare 
 To fpoyle the City, and your Royall Court. 
 
 Buc. Then linger not my Lord, away, take horfe. 
 
 King. Come Margaret, God our hope will fuccor vs. 
 
 5>w. My hope is gone, now Suffolke is deceaft. 
 
 King. Farewell my Lord, truft not the Kentifh Rebels 
 
 Buc. Truft no body for feare you betraid. 
 
 Say. The truft I haue, is in mine innocence, 
 
 And therefore am I bold and refolute. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Lord Scales vpon the Tcwer wallyng. Then enters 
 two or three Citizens belotv. 
 
 Scales. How now? Is Iacl(e Cade flaine ? 
 l.Cit. No my Lord, nor likely to be flaine : 
 For they haue wonne the Bridge, 
 Killing all thofe that withftand them : 
 The L. Maior craues ayd of your Honor from the Tower 
 To defend the City from the Rebels. 
 
 Scales. Such ayd as I can fpare you fhall command, 
 But I am troubled heere with them my felfe, 
 The Rebels haue affay'd to win the Tower. 
 But get you to Smithfield, and gather head, 
 And thither I will fend you Mathcv G'jffe. 
 Fight for your King, your Countrey,and your Liues, 
 And fo farwell, for I muft hence againe. Exeunt 
 
 Enter lackf Cade and the reft, and Jtril^es bis 
 ftaffe on London ftone. 
 
 Cade. Now is Mortimer Lord of this City, 
 And heere fitting vpon London Stone, 
 I charge and command, that of the Cities coft 
 The p'ifling Conduit run nothing but Clarret Wine 
 This firft yeare of our raigne. 
 
 And now henceforward it fhall be Treafon for any, 
 That calles me other then Lord Mortimer. 
 Enter a Soldier running. 
 
 Soul. lacke Cade, lacl^e Cade. 
 
 Cade. Knocke him downe there. They kill him. 
 
 'But. If this Fellow be wife, hee'l neuer call yee lac^e 
 Cade more, I thinke he hath a very faire warning. 
 
 Dicfy. My Lord, there's an Army gathered together 
 in Smithfield. 
 
 Cade. Come, then let's go fight with them : 
 But firft, go and fet London Bridge on fire, 
 And if you can, burne downe the Tower too. 
 Come, let's away. Exeunt omncs. 
 
 Alarums. <&tatbev> (joffe it Jlain,and all the reft. 
 Then enter lacl^e Cade,ttitb ha Company. 
 
 Cade. So firs : now go fome and pull down the Sauoy : 
 Others to'th Innes of Court, downe with them all. 
 
 Hut. I haue a fuite vnto your LorJfhip. 
 
 Cade. Bee it a Lordfhippe, thou fhalt haue it for that 
 word. 
 
 'But. One'y that the Lawes of England may come out 
 of your mouth. 
 
 Lhn. Maffe 'twill be fore Law then, for he was thruft 
 in the mouth with a Speare, and 'tis not whole yet. 
 
 Smith. Nay Iobn,\t wil be ftinking Law, for his breath 
 ftinkes with citing toafted cheefe. 
 
 Cade. I haue thought vpon it, it fhall bee fo. Away, 
 burne all the Records of the Realme, my mouth fhall be 
 the Parliament of England. 
 
 libn. Then we are like to haue biting Statutes 
 VnlefTe his teeth be pull'd out. 
 
 Cade. And hence-forward all things fhall be in Com- 
 mon. Enter a MeJJenger. 
 
 Mef. My Lord, a prize, a prize, heeres the Lord Say, 
 which fold the Townes in France. He that made vs pay 
 one and twenty Fifteenes, and one fhilling to the pound, 
 the laft Subfidie. 
 
 Enter 
 
 476 '
 
 Tbefecond 'Part of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 141 
 
 Enter George , with the Lord Say. 
 
 Cade. Well, hee fliall be beheaded for it ten times : 
 Ah thou Say, thou Surge, nay thou Buckram Lord, now 
 art thou within point-blanke of our lurifdiftion Regall. 
 What canft thou anfwer to my Maiefty, for giuing vp of 
 Normandie vnto Mounfieur Bafimecu, the Dolphine of 
 France ? Be it knowne vnto thee by thefe prefence, euen 
 the prefence of Lord Mortimer, that I am the Beefome 
 that muft fweepe the Court cleane of fuch filth as thou 
 art : Thou haft moft traiteroufly corrupted the youth of 
 the Realme, in erecting a Grammar Schoole : and where- 
 as before, our Fore-fathers had no other Bookes but the 
 Score and the Tally, thou haft caufed printing to be vs'd, 
 and contrary to the King, his Crowne, and Dignity, thou 
 haft built a Paper-Mill. It will be prooued to thy Face, 
 that thou haft men about thee, that vfually talke of a 
 Nowne and a Verbe, and fuch abhominable wordes, as 
 no Chriftian eare can endure to heare. Thou haft appoin- 
 ted luftices of Peace, to call poore men before them, a- 
 bout matters they were not able to anfwer. Moreouer, 
 thou haft put them in prifon, and becaufe they could not 
 reade, thou haft hang'd them, when (indeede) onely for 
 that caufe they haue beene moft worthy to liue . Thou 
 doft ride in a foot-cloth, doft thou not? 
 
 Say. What of that? 
 
 Cade. Marry, thou ought'ft not to let thy horfe weare 
 a Cloake, when honefter men then thou go in their Hofe 
 and Doublets. 
 
 Dicfe. And worke in their fliirt to, as my felfe for ex- 
 ample, that am a butcher. 
 
 Say. You men of Kent. 
 
 Die. What fay you of Kent. 
 
 Say. Nothing but this : 'Tis bona terra, mala gens. 
 
 Cade. Away with him, away with him, he fpeaks La- 
 tine. 
 
 Say. Heare me but fpeake , and beare mee wher'e you 
 
 will: 
 
 Kent, in the Commentaries Cafar writ, 
 Is term'd the ciuel'ft place of all this Ifle : 
 Sweet is the Covntry, becaufe full of Riches, 
 The People Liberal!, Valiant, Acliue, Wealthy, 
 Which makes me hope you are not void of pitty. 
 I fold not ftyfaine, I loft not Normandie, 
 Yet to recouer them would loofe my life : 
 luftice with fauour haue I alwayes done, 
 Prayres and Teares haue mou'd me, Gifts could neuer. 
 When haue I ought exacled at your hands ? 
 Kent to maintaine, the King, the Realme and you, 
 Large gifts haue I beftow'd on learned Clearkes, 
 Becaufe my Booke preferr'd me to the King. 
 And feeing Ignorance is the curie of God, 
 Knowledge the Wing wherewith we flye to heauen. 
 Vnlefle you be pofieft with diuellifti fpirits, 
 You cannot but forbeare to murther me : 
 This Tongue hath parlied vnto Forraigne Kings 
 For your behoofe. 
 
 Cade. Tut, when ftruck'ft thou one blow in the field ? 
 
 Say. Great men haue reaching hands:oft haue I ftruck 
 Thofe that I neuer fa w, and ftrucke them dead. 
 
 Qeo. O monftrous Coward! What, to come behinde 
 Folkes ? 
 
 Say. Thefe cheekes are pale for watching for your good 
 Cade. Giue him a box o'th'eare, and that wil make 'em 
 red againe. 
 
 477 
 
 Say. Long fitting to determine poore mens caufes, 
 Hath made me full of ficknefle and difeafes. 
 
 Cade. Ye ihall haue a hempen Candle then,& the help 
 of hatchet. 
 
 Di(t(e. Why doft thou quiuer man ? 
 
 Say. The Palfie, and not feare prouokes me. 
 
 Cade. Nay, he noddes at vs, as who fliould fay, He be 
 euen with you. He fee if his head will ftand fteddier on 
 a pole, or no : Take him away, and behead him. 
 
 Say. Tell me : wherein haue 1 offended moft? 
 Haue I affecled wealth, or honor ? Speake. 
 Are my Chefts fill'd vp with extorted Gold ? 
 Is my Apparrell fumptuous to behold ? 
 Whom haue I iniur'd, that ye feeke my death ? 
 Thefe hands are free from guiltlefie bloodfliedding, 
 This breaft from harbouring foule deceitfull thoughts. 
 O let me liue. 
 
 Cade. I feele remorfe in my felfe with his words : but 
 He bridle it : he fliall dye, and it bee but for pleading fo 
 well for his life. Away with him, he ha's a Familiar vn- 
 der his Tongue, he fpeakes not a Gods name. Goe, take 
 him away I fay. and ftrike oft" his head prefently,and then 
 breake into his Sonne in Lawes houfe, Sir lames Cramer, 
 and ftrike oft' his head, and bring them both vppon two 
 poles hither. 
 
 All. It fliall be done. 
 
 Say. Ah Countrimen : If when you make your prair's, 
 God fliould be fo obdurate as your lelues : 
 How would it fare with your departed foules, 
 And therefore yet relent, and faue my life. 
 
 Cade. Away with him, and do as I command ye : the 
 proudeft Peere in the Realme, fliall not weare a head on 
 his flioulders, vnlefle he pay me tribute : there fliall not 
 a maid be married, but flie fliall pay to me her Mayden- 
 head ere they haue it : Men fliall hold of mee in Capite. j 
 And we charge and command, that their wiues be as free j 
 as heart can wifli, or tongue can tell. 
 
 Dic^e. My Lord, 
 
 When fliall we go to Cheapfide, and take vp commodi- ; 
 ties vpon our billes ? 
 
 Cade. Marry prefently. 
 
 All. O braue. 
 
 Enter one with the heads. 
 
 Cade. But is not this brauer : 
 Let them kifle one another : For they lou'd well 
 When they were aliue. Now part them againe, 
 Leaft they confult about the giuing vp 
 Of fbme more Townes in France. Soldiers, 
 Deferre the fpoile of the Citievntill night: 
 For with thefe borne before vs,in fteed of Maces, 
 Will we ride through the ftreets, & at euery Corner 
 Haue them kifle. Away. Exit 
 
 tAlarum, and Retreat. Enter againe Cade, 
 and all bis rabblement . 
 
 Cade. Vp Fifli-ftreete, downe Saint Magnes corner, 
 kill and knocke downe, throw them into Thames : 
 
 Sound a parley. 
 
 What noife is this I heare ? 
 
 Dare any be fo bold to found Retreat or Parley 
 
 When I command them kill ? 
 
 o Enter
 
 142 
 
 Thefecond^art of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Enter Buckingham, and old Clifford. 
 
 'Buc. I heere they be, that dare and will difturb thee : 
 Know Cade, we come Ambafiadors from the King 
 Vnto the Commons, whom thou haft mifled, 
 And heere pronounce free pardon to them all, 
 That will forfake thee, and go home in peace. 
 
 Clif. What fay ye Countrimen, will ye relent 
 And yeeld to mercy, wbil'ft 'tis offered you, 
 Or let a rabble leade you to your deaths. 
 Who loues the King, and will im brace his pardon, 
 Fling vp his cap, and fay, God faue his Maiefty. 
 Who hateth him, and honors not his Father, 
 Henry the fift, that made all France to quake, 
 Shake he his weapon at vs, and pafle by. 
 
 tAll. God faue the King, God faue the King. 
 CW^.What Buckingham and Clifford are ye fo braue ? 
 And you bafe Pezants, do ye beleeue him, will you needs 
 be hang'd with your Pardons about your neckes? Hath 
 my fword therefore broke through London gates, that 
 you fhould leaue me at the White-heart in Southwarke. 
 I thought ye would neuer haue giuen out thefe Armes til 
 you had recouered your ancient Fteedome. But you are 
 all Recreants and Daftards, and delight to liue in (lauerie 
 to the Nobility. Let them breake your backes with bur- 
 thens, take your houfes ouer your heads, rauifh your 
 Wiues and Daughters before your faces. For me, I will 
 make fliift for one, and fo Gods CurfTe light vppon you 
 all. 
 
 All. Wee'l follow Cade, 
 Wee'l follow Cade. 
 
 Clif Is ade the fonne of Henry the fift, 
 That thus you do exclaime you'l go with him. 
 Will he conduct you through the heart of France, 
 And make the meaneft of you Earlesand Dukes? 
 Alas, he hath no home, no place to flye too : 
 Nor knovves he how to liue, but by the fpoile, 
 Vnlefie by robbing of your Friends, and vs. 
 Wer't not a fhame, that whilft you liue at iarre, 
 The fearfull French, whom you late vanquished 
 Should make a ftart ore-feas, and vanquish you ? 
 Me thinkes alreadie in this ciuill broyle, 
 I fee them Lording it in London ftreets, 
 Crying TJilliago vnto all they meete. 
 Better ten thoufand bafe-borne Cades mifcarry, 
 Then you fhould ftoope vnto a French mans mercy. 
 To France^ to France, and get what you haue loft : 
 Spare England, for it is your Natiue Coaft: 
 Henry hath mony, you are ftrong and manly : 
 God on our fide, doubt not of Vidtorie. 
 
 All. A Clifford, a Clifford, 
 Wee'l follow the King, and Clifford. 
 
 Cade. Was euer Feather fo lightly blowne too & fro, 
 as this multitude ? The name of Henry the fift, hales them 
 to an hundred mifchiefes, and makes them leaue mee de- 
 folate. I fee them lay their heades together to furprize 
 me. My fword make way for me, for heere is no ftaying: 
 in defpight of the diuels and hell, haue through the verie 
 mtddeft of you, and heauens and honor be witneffe, that 
 no want of reiblution in mee, but onely my Followers 
 bafe and ignominious treafons, makes me betake mee to 
 my heeles. Exit 
 
 i Bucl(. What, is he fled? Go fome and follow him, 
 And he that brings his head vnto the King, 
 Shall haue a thoufand Crownes for his reward. 
 
 Exeunt feme of them. 
 
 Follow me fouldiers, wee'l deuife a meane, 
 
 To reconcile you all vnto the King. Exeunt omnes. 
 
 Sound Trumpets. Enter King, Queene, and 
 Somerjet on the Tar r as. 
 
 King. Was euer King that ioy'd an earthly Throne, 
 And could command no more content then I? 
 No looner was I crept out of my Cradle, 
 But I was made a King, at nine months olde. 
 Was neuer Subiedl long'd to be a King, 
 As I do long and wifli to be a Subiedt. 
 
 Enter Buckingham and Clifford. 
 
 Buc. Health and glad tydings to your Maiefty. 
 Kin. -Why Buckingham, is the Traitor Cade furpris'd ? j 
 Or is he but retir'd to make him ftrong? 
 
 Enter Multitudes -with Halters about their 
 Nee fa . 
 
 Clif. He is fled my Lord, and all his powers do yeeld, 
 And humbly thus with halters on their neckes, 
 Expedt your Highnefie doome of life, or death. 
 
 King. Then heauen fet ope thy euerlafting gates, 
 To entertaine my vowes of thankes and praile. 
 Souldiers, this day haue you redeem'd your Hues, 
 And fhew'd how well you loue your Prince & Countrey : 
 Continue ftill in this fo good a minde, 
 And Henry though he be infortunate, 
 Allure your felues will neuer be vnkinde : 
 And fo with thankes, and pardon to you all, 
 I do difmiffe you to your feuerall Countries. 
 
 tAll. God faue the King, God faue the King. 
 
 Enter a Meffenger. 
 
 Mef. Pleafe it your Grace to be aduertifed, 
 The Duke of Yorke is newly come from Ireland, 
 And with a puiflant and a mighty power 
 Of Gallow-glafTes and ftout Kernes, 
 Is marching hitherward in proud array. 
 And ftill proclaimeth as he comes along, 
 His Armes are onely to remoue from thee 
 The Duke of Somerfet,whom he tearmes a Traitor. 
 
 King. Thus ftands my ftate, 'twixt Cade and Yorke 
 
 diftreft, 
 
 Like to a Ship, that hauing fcap'd a Tempeft, 
 Is ftraight way calme, and boorded with a Pyrate. 
 But now is Cade driuen backe, his men difpierc'd, 
 And now is Yorke in Armes, to fecond him. 
 I pray thee Buckingham go and meete him, 
 And aske him what's the reafon of thefe Armes: 
 Tell him, He fend Duke Edmund to the Tower, 
 And Somerjet we will commit thee thither, 
 Vntill his Army be difmift from him. 
 
 Somerjet. My Lord, 
 He yeelde my felfe to prifon willingly, 
 Or vnto death, to do my Countrey good. 
 
 King. In any caie, be not to rough in termes, 
 For he is fierce, and cannot brooke hard Language. 
 Buc. I will my Lord, and doubt not lo to deale, 
 As all things fliall redound vnto your good, 
 
 King. Come wife, let's in, and learne to gouern better, 
 For yet may England curfe my wretched raigne. 
 
 Flourijb. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter 
 
 478
 
 Tbefecond 3* art of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 J 43 
 
 Enter Cade. 
 
 Qade. Fye on Ambitions : fie on my felfe, that haue a 
 fword, and yet am ready to famifli. Thefe fiue daies haue 
 I hid me in thefe Woods, and durft not peepe out, for all 
 the Country is laid for me : but now am I fo hungry, that 
 if I might haue a Leafe of my life for a thoufand yeares, I 
 could ftay rfo longer. Wherefore on a Bricke wall haue 
 I climb'd into this Garden, to fee if I can eate Grafle, or 
 picke a Sallet another while, which is not amifie to coole 
 a mans ftomacke this hot weather : and I think this word 
 Sallet was borne to do me good : fur many a time but for 
 a Sallet, my braine-pan had bene cleft with a brown Bill; 
 and many a time when I haue beene dry, & brauely mar- 
 ching, it hath feru'd me infteede of a quart pot to drinke 
 in : and now the word Sallet muft ferue me to feed on. 
 
 Snter Iden. 
 
 Iden. Lofd, who would Hue turmoyled in the Court, 
 And may enioy fuch quiet walkes as thefe? 
 This fmall inheritance my Father left me, 
 Contenteth me, and worth a Monarchy. 
 I feeke not to waxe great by others warning, 
 Or gather wealth I care not with what enuy : 
 Sufficeth, that I haue maintaines my ftate, 
 And fends the poore well pleafed from my gate. 
 
 Cade. Heere's the Lord of the foile come to feize me 
 for a ftray, for entering his Fee-fjmple without leaue. A 
 Villaine, thou wilt betray me, and get a 1000. Crownes 
 of the King by carrying my head to him, but He make 
 thee eate Iron like an Oftridge, and fwallow my Sword 
 like a great pin ere thou and 1 part. 
 
 Iden. Why rude Companion, whatfoere thou be, 
 I know thee not, why then fhould I betray thee? 
 Is't not enough to breake into my Garden, 
 And like a Theefe to come to rob my grounds: 
 Climbing my walles infpight of me the Owner, 
 But thou wilt braue me with thefe fawcie termes ? 
 
 Cade. Braue thee ? I by the beft blood that euer was 
 broach'd, and beard thee to. Looke on mee well, I haue 
 eate no meate thefe fiue dayes, yet come thou and thy 
 fiue men, and if I doe not leaue you all as dead as a doore 
 naile, I pray God I may neuer eate gralfe more. 
 
 Iden. Nay, it fliall nere be faid, while England ftands, 
 That ^Alexander Iden an Efquire of Kent, 
 Tooke oddes to combate a poore famiflit man. 
 Oppofe thy ftedfaft gazing eyes to mine, 
 See if thou canft out-face me with thy lookes : 
 Set limbe to limbe, and thou art farre the lefler : 
 Thy hand is but a finger to my fift, 
 Thy legge a fticke compared with this Truncheon, 
 My foote fliall fight with all the ftrength thou haft, 
 And if mine arme be heaued in the Ayre, 
 Thy graue is digg'd already in the earth : 
 As for words, whofe greatnefle anfwer's words, 
 Let this my fword report what fpeech forbeares. 
 
 Cade. By my Valour : the moft compleate Champi- 
 on that euer I heard. Steele, if thou turne the edge, or 
 cut not out the burly bon'd Clowne in chines of Beefe, 
 ere thou fleepe in thy Sheath, I befeech loue on my knees 
 thou mayft be turn'd to Hobnailes. 
 
 Heere they Fight. 
 O I am flaine, Famine and no other hath flaine me, let ten 
 
 479 
 
 thoufand diuelles come againft me, and giue me but the 
 ten meales I haue loft, and 1'de defie them all. Wither 
 Garden, and be henceforth a burying place to all that do 
 dwell in this houfe, becaufe the vnconquered foule of 
 Cade is fled. 
 
 Iden. Is't Cade that I haue flain,that monftrous traitor? 
 Sword, I will hallow thee for this thy deede, 
 And hang thee o're my Tombe, when I am dead. 
 Ne're fliall this blood be wiped from thy point, 
 But thou flialt weare it as a Heralds coate, 
 To emblaze the Honor that thy Mafter got. 
 
 Cade. Iden farewell, and be proud of thy victory: Tell 
 Kent from me, flie hath loft her beft man, and exhort all 
 the World to be Cowards : For I that neuer feared any, 
 am vanquished by Famine, not by Valour. Dyes. 
 
 Id.Hovi much thou wrong'ft me, heauen be my iudge ; 
 Die damned Wretch, the curfe of her that bare thee: 
 And as I thruft thy body in with my fword, 
 So wifli I, I might thruft thy foule to hell. 
 Hence will I dragge thee headlong by the heeles 
 Vnto a dunghill, which fliall be thy graue, 
 And there cut off thy moft vngracious head, 
 Which I will beare in triumph to the King, 
 Leauing thy trunke for Crowes to feed vpon. Exit. 
 
 Enter Tor fa, and hu eArmy of Irijh, tvilb 
 Drum and Colours. 
 
 Yor.From Ireland thus comes York to claim his right, 
 And plucke the Crowne from feeble Henries head. 
 Ring Belles alowd, burne Bonfires cleare and bright 
 To entertaine great Englands lawfull King. 
 Ah Sanfia Maiejlas\ who would not buy thee deere ? 
 Let them obey, that knowes not how to Rule. 
 This hand was made to handle nought but Gold. 
 I cannot giue due adYion to my words, 
 Except a Sword or Scepter ballance it. 
 A Scepter fliall it haue, haue I a foule, 
 On which He toffe the Fleure-de-Luce of France. 
 
 Enter Buckingham. 
 
 Whom haue we heere ? Buckingham to difturbe me ? 
 The king hath fent him fure : I muft diffemble. 
 
 *Buc. Yorke,if thou meaneft wel, I greet thee well. 
 
 Tor. Humfrey of Buckingham, I accept thy greeting. 
 Art thou a Meflenger, or come of pleafure. 
 
 'Buc. A Mefienger from Henry, our dread Liege, 
 To know the reafon of thefe Armes in peace. 
 Or why, thou being a SubiecT:, as I am, 
 Againft thy Oath, and true Allegeance fworne, 
 Should raife fo great a power without his leaue ? 
 Or dare to bring thy Force fo neere the Court f 
 
 Tor. Scarfe can I fpeake, my Choller is fo great. 
 Oh I could hew vp Rockes, and fight with Flint, 
 I am fo angry at theie abiecT: tearmes. 
 And now like Aiax Telamoniu6 t 
 On Sheepe or Oxen could I fpend my furie. 
 I am farre better borne then is the king : 
 More like a King, more Kingly in my thoughts. 
 But I muft make faire weather yet a while, 
 Till Henry be more weake,and I more ftrong. 
 Buckingham, I prethee pardon me, 
 That 1 haue giuen noanfwer all this while: 
 My minde was troubled with deepe Melancholly. 
 The caufe why I haue brought this Armie hither, 
 
 02 Is
 
 Thefecond 'Parf of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Is to remoue proud Somerfet from the King, 
 Seditious to his Grace, and to the State. 
 
 f Buc. That is too much prefumption on thy part : 
 But if thy Armes be to no other end, 
 The King hath yeelded vnto thy demand : 
 The Duke of Somerfet is in the Tower. 
 
 Yorly. Vpon thine Honor is he Frifoner ? 
 
 Bucl(. Vpon mine Honor he is Prifoner. 
 
 Tor^e. Then Buckingham I do difmifle my Powres. 
 Souldiers, I thanke you all : difperfe your felues : 
 Meet me to morrow in S. Georges Field , 
 You fhall haue pay, and euery thing you wifli. 
 And let my Soueraigne, vertuous Henry, 
 Command my eldeft fonne, nay all my fonnes, 
 As pledges of my Fealtie and Loue, 
 He lend them all as willing as I liue : 
 Lands, Goods, Horfe, Armor, any thing I haue 
 Is his to vfe, fo Somerfet may die. 
 
 Buc. Yorke, I commend this kinde fubmiflion, 
 We twaine will go into his HighnefTe Tent. 
 
 Enter King and ^Attendants. 
 
 King. Buckingham, doth Yorke intend no harme to vs 
 That thus he marcheth with thee arme in arme? 
 
 Yorl(c. In all fubmiflion and humility, 
 Yorke doth prefent himfelfe vnto your Highnefle. 
 
 K. Then what intends thefe Forces thou doft bring? 
 Yor. To heaue the Traitor Somerfet from hence, 
 And fight againft that monftrous Rebell Cade, 
 Who fince 1 heard to be difcomfited. 
 
 Enter Iden with Cades bead. 
 
 Idea. If one fo rude, and of fo meane condition 
 May pafle into the prefence of a King : 
 Loe, I prefent your Grace a Traitors head, 
 The head of Cade, whom I in combat flew. 
 
 Aj.The head of Cadef Great God, how iuft art thou ? 
 Oh let me view his Vifage being dead, 
 That liuing wrought me fuch exceeding trouble. 
 Tell me my Friend, art thou the man that flew him ? 
 
 Iden. I was, an't like your Maiefty. 
 
 King. How art rhou call'd? And what is thy degree ? 
 
 Iden. ^Alexander Lien, that's my name, 
 A poore Efquire of Kent, that loues his King. 
 
 Buc. So pleafe it you my Lord, 'twere not amifle 
 He were created Knight for his good feruice. 
 
 King. Iden, kneele do;vne, rife vp a Knight : 
 We giue thee for reward a thoufand Markes, 
 And will, that thou henceforth attend on vs. 
 
 Iden. May Iden liue to merit fuch a bountie, 
 And neuer liue but true vnto his Liege. 
 
 Enter Queene and Somerfet. 
 
 K.See Buckingham. Somerfet comes with th'Queene, 
 Go bid her hide him quickly from the Duke. 
 
 Qi. For thoufand Yorkes he fliall not hide his head, 
 But boldly ftand, and front him to his face. 
 
 Tor. How now? is Somerfet at libertie ? 
 Then Yorke vnloofe thy long imprifoned thoughts, 
 And let thy tongue be equall with thy heart. 
 Shall I endure the fight of Somerfet? 
 Falfe King, why haft thou broken faith with me, 
 Knowing how hardly I can brooke abufe? 
 King did I call thee? No: thou art not King: 
 Not fit to gouerne and rule multitudes, 
 Which dar'ft not, no nor canft not rule a Traitor. 
 
 That Head of thine doth not become a Crowne : 
 Thy Hand is made to graspe a Palmers ftaffe, 
 And not to grace an awefull Princely Scepter. 
 That Gold, muft round engirt thefe browes of mine, 
 Whole Smile and Frowne, like to Achilles Speare 
 Is able with the change, to kill and cure. 
 Heere is a hand to hold a Scepter vp, 
 And with the fame to adte controlling Lawes : 
 Giue place : by heauen thou flialt rule no more 
 O're him, whom heauen created for thy Ruler. 
 
 Som. O monftrous Traitor ! I arreft thee Yorke 
 Of Capitall Treafon 'gainft the King and Crowne : 
 Obey audacious Traitor, kneele for Grace. 
 
 Tor)(. Wold'ft haue me kneele?Firft let me ask of thee, 
 If they can brooke 1 bow a knee to man : 
 Sirrah, call in my fonne to be my bale : 
 I know ere they will haue me go to Ward, 
 They'l pawne their fwords of my infranchifement. 
 
 Qu. Call hither Clifford, bid him come amaine, 
 To fay, if that the Baftard boyes of Yorke 
 Shall be the Surety for their Traitor Father. 
 
 Yorl(t. O blood-befpotted Neopolitan, 
 Out-caft of Nafles, Englands bloody Scourge, 
 The fonnes of Yorke, thy betters in their birth, 
 Shall be their Fathers baile, and bane to thofe 
 That for my Surety will refufe the Boyes. 
 
 Enter Edward and Richard. 
 
 See where they come, lie warrant they'l make it good. 
 Enter CLfford. 
 
 ju. And here comes Clifford to deny their baile. 
 
 Clif. Health, and all happinefle to my Lord the King. 
 
 Yor.l thanke thee Clifford: Say, what newes with thee ? 
 Nay, do not fright vs with an angry looke : 
 We are thy Soueraigne Clifford, kneele againe ; 
 For thy miftaking fo, We pardon thee. 
 
 Clif. This is my King Yorke, I do not miftake, 
 But thou miftakes me much to thinke I do, 
 To Bedlem with him, is the mangrowne mad. 
 
 King. I Clifford, a Bedlem and ambitious humor 
 Makes him oppofe himfelfe againft his King. 
 
 Clif. He is a Traitor, let him to the Tower, 
 And chop away that factious pate of his. 
 
 Qu. He is atrefted, but will not obey : 
 His fonnes(he fayes)fhall giue their words for him. 
 
 Yor. Will you not Sonnes? 
 
 Edtf. I Noble Father, if our words will ferue. 
 
 Rich. And if words will not, then our Weapons fhal. 
 
 Clif. Why what a brood of Traitors haue we heere ? 
 
 Yor^e. Looke in aGlafle, and call thy Image fo. 
 I am thy King, and thou a falfe-heart Traitor : 
 Call hither to the ftake my two braue Beares, 
 That with the very fliaking of their Chaines, 
 They may aftonifh thefe fell-lurking Curres, 
 Bid Salsbury and Warwicke come to me. 
 
 Enter the Ear/es of Warwicke, and 
 Salisbury. 
 
 C/if.Are thefe thy Beares? Wee'l bate thy Bears to death, 
 And manacle the Berard in their Chaines, 
 If thou dar'ft bring them to the bayting place. 
 
 l^icb. Oft haue I feene a hot ore-weening Curre, 
 Run backe and bite, becaufe he was with-held, 
 Who being fufFer'd with the Beares fell paw, 
 Hath clapt his taile, betweene his legges and cride, 
 And fuch a peece of feruice will you do, 
 
 If 
 
 480
 
 Tbefecond ''Part of Henry the Stxt. 
 
 If you oppofe your felues to match Lord Warwicke. 
 
 Clif. Hence heape of wrath, foule indigefted lumpe, 
 As crooked in thy manners, as thy fhape. 
 
 Tor. Nay we /hall heate you thorowly anon. 
 
 Clif. Take heede leaft by your heate you burne your 
 felues : 
 
 King. Why Warwicke, hath thy knee forgot to bow? 
 Old Salsbury, fhame to thy filuer haire, 
 Thou mad mifleader of thy brain-ficke fonne, 
 What wilt thou on thy death-bed play the Ruffian? 
 And feeke for forrow with thy Spectacles ? 
 Oh where is Faith ?Oh, where is Loyalty ? 
 If it be banifht from the froftie head, 
 Where fhall it finde a harbour in the earth ? 
 Wilt thou go digge a graue to finde out Warre, 
 And fhame thine honourable Age with blood ? 
 Why art thou old, and want'ft experience <i 
 Or wherefore doeft abufe it, if thou haft it? 
 For fhame in dutie bend thy knee to me, 
 That bowes vnto the graue with mickle age. 
 
 Sal. My Lord, I haue confidered with my felfe 
 The Title of this moft renowned Duke, 
 And in my confcience, do repute his grace 
 The rightfull heyre to Englands Royall feate. 
 
 King. Haft thou not fworne Allegeance_ vnto me? 
 
 Sal. I haue. 
 
 Ki. Canft thou difpenfe with heauen for fuch an oath ? 
 
 Sal. It is great finne, to fweare vnto a finne : 
 But greater finne to keepe a finfull oath : 
 Who can be bound by any fblemne Vow 
 To do a murd'rous deede, to rob a man, 
 To force a fpotleffe Virgins Chaftitie, 
 To reaue the Orphan of his Patrimonie, 
 To wring the Widdow from her cuftom'd right, 
 And haue no other reafon for this wrong, 
 But that he was bound by a folemne Oath? 
 
 Qu. A fubtle Traitor needs no Sophifter. 
 
 King. Call Buckingham, and bid him arme himfelfe. 
 
 Tor\e. Call Buckingham, and all the friends thou haft, 
 I am refolu'd for death and dignitie. 
 
 Old Clif .The. firft I warrant thee, if dreames proue true 
 
 War. You were beft to go to bed, and dreame againe, 
 To keepe thee from the Tempeft of the field. 
 
 Old Clif. I am refolu'd to beare a greater ftorme, 
 Then any thou canft coniure vp to day : 
 And that lie write vpon thy Burgonet, 
 Might I but know thee by thy houfed Badge. 
 
 War. Now by my Fathers badge, old Neuils Creft, 
 The rampant Beare chain' d to the ragged ftaffe, 
 This day He weare aloft my Burgonet, 
 As on a Mountaine top, the Cedar fhewes, 
 That keepes his leaues infpight of any ftorme, 
 Euen io affright thee with the view thereof. 
 
 Old Clif. And from thy Burgonet lie rend thy Beare, 
 And tread it vnder foot with all contempt, 
 Defpight the Bearard, that protects the Beare. 
 
 To. Clif. And fo to Armes victorious Father, 
 To quell the Rebels, and their Complices. 
 
 Rich. Fie, Charitie for fhame, fpeake not in fpight, 
 For you fhall fup with lefu Chrift to night. 
 
 To Clif. Foule ftygmaticke that's more then thou 
 canft tell. 
 
 Ric. If not in heauen, you'l furely fup in hell. Exeunt 
 Enter Warwic^e. 
 
 War. Clifford of Cumberland, 'tis Warwicke calles : 
 And if thou doft not hide thee from the Beare, 
 
 Now when the angrie Trumpet founds alarum, 
 And dead mens cries do fill the emptie ayre, 
 Clifford I fay, come forth and fight with me, 
 Proud Northerne Lord, Clifford of Cumberland, 
 Warwicke is hoarfe with calling thee to armes. 
 Enter Torl^e. 
 
 War. How now my Noble Lord? What all a-foot. 
 
 Tor. The deadly handed Clifford flew my Steed : 
 But match to match I haue encountred him, 
 And made a prey for Carrion Kytes and Crowes 
 Euen of the bonnie beaft he loued fo well. 
 Enter Clifford. 
 
 War.. Of one or both of vs the time is come. 
 
 Tor. Hold Warwick: feek thee out fome other chace 
 For I my felfe muft hunt this Deere to death. 
 
 War. Then nobly Yorke, 'tis for a Crown thou fightft: 
 As I intend Clifford to thriue to day, 
 It greeues my foule to leaue theee vnaffail'd. Exit War. 
 
 Clif. What feeft thou in me Yorke ? 
 Why doft thou paufe ? 
 
 TorJ^e. With thy braue bearing fhould I be in loue, 
 But that thou art fo faft mine enemie. 
 
 Clif. Nor fhould thy proweffe want praife & efteeme, 
 But that 'tis fhewne ignobly, and in Treafon. 
 
 Torfy. So let it helpe me now againft thy fword, 
 As I in iuftice, and true right expreffe it. 
 
 Clif. My foule and bodie on the action both. 
 
 Tor. A dreadfull lay, addreffe thee inftantly. 
 
 Clif. La Jin Corrone les eumenes. 
 
 Tor. Thus Warre hath giuen thee peace, for y art ftill, 
 Peace with his foule, heauen if it be thy will. 
 Enter yong Clifford. 
 
 Clif. Shame and Confufion all is on the rout, 
 Feare frames diforder, and diforder wounds 
 Where it fhould guard. O Warre, thou fonne of hell, 
 Whom angry heauens do make their minifter, 
 Throw in the frozen bofomes of our part, 
 Hot Coales of Vengeance. Let no Souldier flye. 
 He that is truly dedicate to Warre, 
 Hath no felfe-loue : nor he that loues himfelfe, 
 Hath not effentially, but by circumftance 
 The name of Valour. O let the vile world end, 
 And the premifed Flames of the Laft day, 
 Knit earth and heauen together. 
 Now let the generall Trumpet blow his blaft, 
 Particularities, and pettie founds 
 To ceafe. Was't thou ordain'd (deere Father) 
 To loofe thy youth in peace, and to atcheeue 
 The Siluer Liuery of aduifed Age, 
 And in thy Reuerence, and thy Chaire-dayes, thus 
 T o die in Ruffian battell ? Euen at this fight, 
 My heart is turn'd to ftone : and while 'tis mine, 
 It fhall be ftony. Yorke, not our old men fpares : 
 No more will I their Babes, Teares Virginall, 
 .Shall be to me, euen as the Dew to Fire, 
 And Beautie, that the Tyrant oft reclaimes, 
 Shall to my flaming wrath, be Oyle and Flax : 
 Henceforth, I will not haue to do with pitty. 
 Meet I an infant of the houfe of Yorke, 
 Into as many gobbits will I cut it 
 As wilde <^Medea yong Abfirtis did. 
 In cruelty, will I feeke out my Fame. 
 Come thou new ruine of olde Cliffords houfe : 
 As did <^neai old j4nchyfes beare, 
 So beare I thee vpon my manly fhoulders : 
 But then, tJEneas bare a liuing loade 5 
 
 o 3 Nothing
 
 146 
 
 Thefecond^art of 'Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Nothing fo heauy as thefe woes of mine. 
 
 Enter Richard, and Somerfet tofgbt. 
 
 Rich. So lye thou there : 
 For vnderneath an Ale-houfe paltry figne, 
 The Caftle in S. tAlbons, Somerfet 
 Hath made the Wizard famous in his death : 
 Sword, hold thy temper ; Heart, be wrathfull Itill : 
 Priefts pray for enemies, but Princes kill. 
 F'tgbt. Excurfions. 
 
 Enter King, <%ueene,and others. 
 
 Qtt. Away my Lord, you are flow, for fhame away. 
 
 King. Can we outrun the Heauens ? Good Margaret 
 ftay. 
 
 Qu. What are you made of? You'l nor fight nor fly: 
 Now is it manhood, wifedome, and defence, 
 To giue the enemy way, and to fecure vs 
 By what we can, which can no more but flye. 
 
 fAlarum a far re off. 
 
 If you be tane, we then /hould fee the bottome 
 Of all our Fortunes : but if we haply fcape, 
 fAs well we may, if not through your neglect) 
 We fhall to London get, where you are lou'd, 
 And where this breach now in our Fortunes made 
 May readily be ftopt. 
 
 Enter Clifford. 
 
 Hf. But that my hearts on future mifcheefe fet, 
 I would fpeake blafphemy ere bid you flye : 
 But flye you muft : Vncureable difcomfite 
 Reignes in the hearts of all our prefent parts. 
 Away for your releefe, and we will liue 
 To fee their day, and them our Fortune giue. 
 Away my Lord, away. Exeunt 
 
 Alarum. "Retreat. Enter TorJ^e, Richard, 
 and Soldiers, with Drum & Colours. 
 
 Torl^e. Of Salsbury, who can report of him, 
 That Winter Lyon, who in rage forgets 
 Aged contufions, and all brufh of Time : 
 And like a Gallant, in the brow of youth, 
 Repaires him with Occafion. This happy day 
 Is not it felfe, nor haue we wonne one foot, 
 If Salsbury be loft. 
 
 Rich. My Noble Father : 
 Three times to day I holpe him to his horfe, 
 Three times beftrid him : Thrice I led him oft", 
 Perfwaded him from any further act : 
 But ftill where danger was, ftill there I met him, 
 And like rich hangings in a homely houfe, 
 So was his Will, in his old feeble body, 
 But Noble as he is, looke where he comes. 
 Enter Salisbury, 
 
 Sal. Now by my Sword, well haft thou fought to day : 
 By'th'Mafle fo did we all. I thanke you Richard. 
 God knowes how long it is I haue to liue: 
 And it hath pleas'd him that three times to day 
 You haue defended me from imminent death. 
 Well Lords, we haue not got that which we haue, 
 'Tis not enough our foes are this time fled, 
 Being oppofites of fuch repayring Nature. 
 
 Yorl^e. I know our fafety is to follow them, 
 For (as I heare) the King is fled to London, 
 To call a prefent Court of Parliament : 
 Let vs purfue him ere the Writs go forth. 
 What fayes Lord Warwicke,fliall we alter them ? 
 
 War. After them : nay before them if we can : 
 Now by my hand (Lords) 'twas a glorious day. 
 Saint Altxms battell wonne by famous Yorke, 
 Shall be eterniz'd in all Age to come. 
 Sound Drumme and Trumpets, and to London all, 
 And more fuch dayes as thefe, to vs befall. Sxeunt. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 The third Part of Henry the Sixt, 
 
 with the death of the Duke of 
 
 YORKE. 
 
 <iA5lus ^Primus. Sccena ^Prima. 
 
 tAlarum. 
 
 Enter flantagenet , Sdward, Richard, Norfoll^e, Mount- 
 ague, Wartticl^e, and Souldiers. 
 
 ,Wonder how the King efcap'd our hands? 
 
 P/.While we purfu'd the Horfmen of y North, 
 He flyly ftole away, and left his men : 
 Whereat the great Lord of Northumberland, 
 Whofe Warlike eares could nener brooke retreat, 
 Chear'd vp the drouping Army,and himfelfe, 
 Lord Clifford and Lord Stafford all a-breft 
 Charg'd ourmaine Battailes Front: and breaking in, 
 Were by the Swords of common Souldiers flaine. 
 
 Sdtv. Lord Staffer -ds Father, Duke oi "Buckingham, 
 Is either flaine or wounded dangerous. 
 I cleft his Beauer with a down-right blow : 
 That this is true (Father) behold his blood. 
 
 Mount. And Brother, here's the Earle of Wildhires 
 Whom I encountred as the Battels ioyn'd. (blood, 
 
 Rich. Speake thou for me, and tell them what I did. 
 
 Plan. Richard hath beft deferu'd of all my fonnes : 
 But is your Grace dead, my Lord of Somerfet? 
 
 Nor. Such hope haue all the line of lohn of Gaunt. 
 
 Rich. Thus do I hope to fliake King Henries head. 
 
 War-n. And fo doe I, victorious Prince of Tor^e. 
 Before I fee thee feated in that Throne, 
 Which now the Houfe of Lancafter vfurpes, 
 I vow by Heauen,thefe eyes fliail neuer clofe. 
 This is the Pallace of the fearefull King, 
 And this the Regall Seat : poflefle it TorT^e, 
 For this is thine, and not King Henries Heires. 
 
 flant. Affift me then,fweet IVar-svicl^, and I will, 
 For hither we haue broken in by force. 
 
 Norf. Wee'le all afiift you: he that flyes, fhall dye: 
 
 P/anf.Thankes gentle Norfo/fy,ftzy by me my Lords, 
 And Souldiers ftay and lodge by me this Night. 
 
 They goe i>p. 
 
 Warn. And when the King comes, offer him no violence, 
 Vnlefie he feeke to thruft you out perforce. 
 
 Plant.The Q^eene this day here holds her Parliament, 
 But little thinkes we fhall be of her counfaile, 
 By words or blowes here let vs winne our right. 
 
 Rich. Arm'd as we are,let's ftay within this Houfe. 
 
 War-rr. The bloody Parliament fhall this be call'd, 
 Vnlefie Plantagenet, Duke of Yorke, be King, 
 
 48? 
 
 And bafhfull Henry depos'd, whofe Cowardize 
 Hath made vs by-words to our enemies. 
 
 Plant. Then leaue me not, my Lords be refolute, 
 I meane to take pofleffion of my Right. 
 
 Wartf, Neither the King, nor he that loues him beft, 
 The prowdeft hee that holds vp Lancajter, 
 Dares ftirre a Wing, if War&icl^ fhake his Bells. 
 He plant Plantagenet, root him vp who dares : 
 Refolue thee Richard, clayme the Englifh Crowne. 
 
 Flourijh. Enter King Henry, Clifford, Northumberland, 
 Weflmerland, Exeter, and the reft. 
 
 Henry. My Lords, looke where the fturdie Rebell fits, 
 Euen in the Chayre of State: belike he meanes, 
 Backt by the power of ffarmc^f, that falfe Peere, 
 To afpire vnto the Crowne, and reigne as King. 
 Earle of Northumberland, he flew thy Father, 
 And thine, Lord Clifford, & you both haue vo'.v'd reuenge 
 On him, his fonnes,his fauorices,and his friends. 
 
 Northumb. If I be not, Heauens be reueng'd on me. 
 
 Clifford. The hope thereof, makes Clijfird mourne in 
 Steele. 
 
 Weftm. What, fliall we fuffer this? lets pluck him down, 
 My heart for anger burnes, I cannot brooke it. 
 
 Henry. Be patient, gentle Earle of Weftmerland. 
 
 Clifford. Patience is for Poultroones,fuch as he : 
 He durft not fit there, had your Father liu'd. 
 My gracious Lord, here in the Parliament 
 Let vs aflayle the Family of Torfy. 
 
 North. Well haft thou fpoken,Coufin be itfo. 
 
 Henry. Ah, know you not the Citie fauours them, 
 And they haue troupes of Souldiers at their beck? 
 
 Weftm. But when the Duke is flaine, they'le quickly 
 flye. 
 
 Henry. Farre be the thought of this from Henna heart, 
 To make a Shambles of the Parliament Houfe. 
 Coufin of Exeter, frownes, words, and threats, 
 Shall be the Warre that Henry meanes to vfe. 
 Thou factious Duke of Yorke defcend my Throne, 
 And kneele for grace and mercie at my feet, 
 I am thy Soueraigne. 
 
 Ybr^e. I am thine. 
 
 Exet. For fhame come downe,he made thee Duke of 
 Yorke. 
 
 Torke. It was my Inheritance, as the Earledome was. 
 
 Sxet. Thy
 
 148 
 
 The third ^ art of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Exet.Thy Father was a Traytor to the Crowne. 
 
 Warn. Exeter thou art a Traytor to the Crowne, 
 In following this vfiirping Henry. 
 
 Clifford. Whom fliould hee follow, but his naturall 
 King ? 
 
 Warn. True Clifford, that's Richard Duke of Yorke. 
 
 Henry. And ftiall I (rand, and thou fit in my Throne? 
 
 Tor^e. It muft and fliall be fo, content thy felfe. 
 
 Warn. Be Duke of Lancafter,let him be King. 
 
 Weftm. He is both King,and Duke of Lancafter, 
 And that the Lord of Weftmerland fliall maintaine. 
 
 Warn. And Wamict^ fliall difproue it. You forget, 
 That we are thofe which chas'd you from the field, 
 And flew your Fathers, and with Colours fpread 
 Marr ht through the Citie to the Pallace Gates. 
 
 Nortbumb.Yesffarnicl(e,l remember it to my griefe, 
 And by his Soule, thou and thy Houfe fliall rue it. 
 
 Weftm. Plantagene t , of thee and thefe thy Sonnes, 
 Thy Kinfmen,and thy Friends, He haue more Hues 
 Then drops of bloud were in my Fathers Veines. 
 
 Cl'ff- Vrge it no more, left that in ftead of words, 
 I fend thee, Warnic^e, fuch a MeflTenger, 
 As fliall reuenge his death, before I ftirre. 
 
 Warn. Poore Clifford, how I fcorne his worthlefie 
 Threats. 
 
 Tlant. Will you we fliew our Title to the Crowne ? 
 If not,our Swords fliall pleade it in the field. 
 
 Henry. What Title haft thou Traytor to the Crowne? 
 My Father was as thou art, Duke of Yorke, 
 Thy Grandfather Roger Mart imer, Earle of March. 
 I am the Sonne of Henry the Fift, 
 Who made the Dolphin and the French to ftoupe, 
 And feiz'd vpon their Townes and Prouinces. 
 
 Warn. Talke not of France, fith thou haft loft it all. 
 
 Henry. The Lord Protestor loft it, and not I : 
 When I was crown'd,! was but nine moneths old. 
 
 Rich. You are old enough now, 
 And yet me thinkes you loofe : 
 Father teare the Crowne from the VTurpers Head. 
 
 Edward. Sweet Father doe fo,fet it on your Head. 
 
 Mount. Good Brother, 
 As thou lou'ft and honoreft Armes, 
 Let's fight it out, and not ftand cauilling thus. 
 
 ^cbard. Sound Drummes and Trumpets , and the 
 King will flye. 
 
 Plant. Sonnes peace. 
 
 Henry. Peace thou , and giue King Henry leaue to 
 fpeake. 
 
 Warn. Plantagenet fhal fpeake firft: Heare him Lords, 
 And be you filent and attentiue too, 
 For he that interrupts him, fliall not liue. 
 
 //<;. Think'ft thou, that I will leaue my Kingly Throne, 
 Wherein my Grandfire and my Father fat ? 
 Norfirft fliall Warre vnpeople this my Reaime; 
 I, and their Colours often borne in France, 
 And now in England, to our hearts great forrow, 
 Shall be my Winding-fheet. Why faint you Lords? 
 My Title's good, and better farre then his. 
 
 Warn. Proue it Henry,and thou flult be King. 
 
 Hen. Henry the Fourth by Conqueft got the Crowne. 
 
 Plant. 'Twas by Rebellion againft his King. 
 
 Henry. I know not what to fay, my Titles weake: 
 Tell me, may not a King adopt an Heire? 
 
 Plant. What then*? 
 
 Henry. And if he may, then am I lawfull King: 
 For ^icbard,\n the view of many Lords, 
 
 Refign'd the Crowne to Henry the Fourth, 
 Whofe Heire my Father was, and I am his. 
 
 'Plant. He rofe againft him, being his Soueraigne, 
 And made him to refigne his Crowne perforce. 
 
 Warn. Suppofe,my Lords, he did it vnconftrayn'd, 
 Thinke you 'twere preiudiciall to his Crowne ? 
 
 Exst. No: for he could not fo refigne his Crowne, 
 But that the next Heire fliould fucceed and reigne. 
 
 Henry. Art thou againft vs, Duke of Exeter? 
 
 Exet. His is the right, and therefore pardon me. 
 
 Plant. Why whifper you, my Lords, and anfwer not ? 
 
 Exet.My Confcience tells me he is lawfull King. 
 
 Henry. All will reuolt from me, and turne to him. 
 
 Nortbumb. Plantagenet, for all the Clayme thou lay'ft, 
 Thinke not, that Henry fliall be fo depos'd. 
 
 Warn. Depos'd he fliall be, in defpight of all. 
 
 Nortbumb. Thou art deceiu'd : 
 'Tis not thy Southerne power 
 Of Eflex,Norfolke,Suffolke,nor of Kent, 
 Which makes thee thus prefumptuous and prowd, 
 Can fet the Duke vp in defpight of me. 
 
 Clifford. King Henry, be thy Title right or wrong, 
 Lord Clifford vowes to fight in thy defence : 
 May that ground gape,and fwallow me aliue, 
 Where I fliall kneele to him that flew my Father. 
 
 Henry. Oh Clifford,\iow thy words reuiue my heart. 
 
 Plant. Henry of Lancafter, refigne thy Crowne: 
 What mutter you, or what confpire you Lords ? 
 
 Warty. Doe right vnto this Princely Duke of Yorke, 
 Or I will fill the Houfe with armed men, 
 And ouer the Chayre of State, where now he fits, 
 Write vp his Title with vfurping blood. 
 
 He ftampes with bit foot, and the Souldiers 
 Jben tbemfelues. 
 
 Henry. My Lord of Warwick, heare but one word, 
 Let me for this my life time reigne as King. 
 
 Plant. Confirms the Crowne to me and to mine Heires, 
 And thou (halt reigne in quiet while thou liu'ft. 
 
 Henry. I am content : Trichord Plantagenet 
 Enioy the Kingdome after my deceafe. 
 
 Clifford. What wrong is this vnto the Prince, your 
 Sonne ? 
 
 Warn. What good is this to England, and himfelfe ? 
 
 Weftm. Bafe, fearefull,and defpayring Henry. 
 
 Clifford. How haft thou iniur'd both thy felfe and vs? 
 
 Weftm. I cannot ftay to heare thefe Articles. 
 
 Nortbumb. Nor I. 
 
 Clifford. Come Coufin, let vs tell the Queene thefe 
 Newes. 
 
 Wtftm. Farwell faint-hearted and degenerate King, 
 In whofe cold blood no fparke of Honor bides. 
 
 Nortbumb.Re thou a prey vnto the Houfe of Torfy, 
 And dye in Bands,for this vnmanly deed. 
 
 Cliff. In dreadhill Warre may'ft thou be ouercome, 
 Or liue in peace abandon'd and defpis'd. 
 
 Warn. Turne this way Henry, and regard them not. 
 
 Exeter. They feeke reuenge, and therefore will not 
 yeeld. 
 
 Henry. Ah Exeter. 
 
 Warn. Why fliould you figh,my Lord? 
 
 Henry. Not for my felfe Lord tt'<z/-w;c^,but my Sonne, 
 Whom I vnnaturally fliall dif-inherite. 
 But be it as it may: I here entayle 
 The Crowne to thee and to thine Heires for euer, 
 Conditionally, that heere thou take an Oath, 
 To ceafe this Ciuill Warre : and whil'ft I liue, 
 
 To 
 
 484
 
 The third 'Part of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 149 
 
 To honor me as thy King,and Soueraigne: 
 
 And neyther by Treafon nor Hoftilitie, 
 
 To feeke to put me downe,and reigne thy felfe. 
 
 Plant. This Oath I willingly take, and will performe. 
 
 Wartv. Long Hue King Henry : Plantagenet embrace 
 him. 
 
 Henry. And long liue thou , and thefe thy forward 
 Sonnes. 
 
 Plant. Now Forty and Lancafler are reconcil'd. 
 
 Exet. Accurft be he that feekes to make them foes. 
 Senet. Here they come downe. 
 
 Plant. Farewell my gracious Lord, He to my Caftle. 
 
 Wartv. And He keepe London with my Souldiers. 
 
 Norf. And I to Norfolke with my followers. 
 
 Mount. And I vnto the Sea, from whence I came. 
 
 Henry. And I with griefe and forrow to the Court. 
 
 Enter the Queene. 
 
 Exeter. Heere comes the Queene, 
 Whofe Lookes bewray her anger: 
 He fteale away. 
 
 Henry. Bxeter fo will I. 
 
 Queene. Nay,goe not from me, I will follow thee. 
 
 Henry. Be patient gentle Queene, and I will ftay. 
 
 Queene. Who can be patient in fuch extreames ? 
 Ah wretched man, would I had dy'de a Maid f 
 And neuer feene thee, neuer borne thee Sonne, 
 Seeing thou haft prou'd fo vnnaturall a Father. 
 Hath he deferu'd to loofe his Birth-right thus? 
 Hadft thou but lou'd him halfe fo well as I, 
 Or felt that pjine which I did for him once, 
 Or nourifht him, as I did with my blood } 
 Thou would'ft haue left thy deareft heart-blood there, 
 Rather then haue made that fauage Duke thine Heire, 
 And dif-inherited thine onely Sonne. 
 
 Prince. Father, you cannot dif-inherite me: 
 If you be King, why fhould not I fucceede ? 
 
 Henry. Pardon me Margaret, pardon me fweet Sonne, 
 The Earle of Warwick and the Duke enforc't me. 
 
 }uee. Enforc't thee? Art thou King, and wilt be forc't? 
 I fhame to heare thee fpeake: ah timorous Wretch, 
 Thou haft vndone thy felfe, thy Sonne, and me, 
 And giu'n vnto the Houfe of Tor\e fuch head, 
 As thou fhalt reigne but by their fufferance. 
 To entayle him and his Heires vnto the Crowne, 
 What is it, but to make thy Sepulcher, 
 And creepe into it farre before thy time ? 
 Warwc^'is Chancelor,and the Lord of Callice, 
 Sterne Falconbridge commands the Narrow Seas, 
 The Duke is made Proteftor of the Realme, 
 And yet fhalt thou be fafe ? Such fafetie findes 
 The trembling Lambe, inuironned with Wolues. 
 Had I beene there, which am a filly Woman, 
 The Souldiers fhould haue tofs'd me on their Pikes, 
 Before I would haue granted to that Aft. 
 But thou preferr'ft thy Life, before thine Honor. 
 And feeing thou do' ft, I here diuorce my felfe, 
 Both from thy Table Henry, and thy Bed, 
 Vntill that Act of Parliament be repeal'd, 
 Whereby my Sonne is dif-inherited. 
 
 The Northerne Lords, that haue forfworne thy Colours, 
 Will follow mine, if once they fee them fpread : 
 And fpread they fhall be, to thy foule difgrace, 
 And vtter ruine of the Houfe of Tor^e. 
 Thus doe I leaue thee: Come Sonne, let's away, 
 Our Army is ready ; come, wee'le after them. 
 
 485 
 
 Henry. Stay gentle Margaret, and heare me fpeake. 
 
 Queene. Thou haft fpoke too much already: get thee 
 gone. 
 
 Henry. Gentle Sonne Edward, thou wilt ftay me? 
 
 Queene. I, to be murther'd by his Enemies. 
 
 Prince. When I returne with viftorie to the field, 
 lie fee your Grace : till then, He follow her. 
 
 Queene. Come Sonne away, we may not linger thus, 
 
 Henry. Poore Queene, 
 How loue to me, and to her Sonne, 
 Hath made her breake out into termes of Rage. 
 Reueng'd may fhe be on that hatefull Duke, 
 Whofe haughtie fpirit, winged with defire, 
 Will coft my Crowne, and like an emptie Eagle, 
 Tyre on the flefh of me, and of my Sonne. 
 The lofle of thofe three Lords torments my heart : 
 He write vnto them, and entreat them faire ; 
 Come Coufin, you fhall be the MefTenger. 
 
 Exet. And 1,1 hope, fhall reconcile them all. Exit. 
 
 f Flourijh. Enter Richard, Edward, and 
 
 cftfountague. 
 
 Richard. Brother, though I bee youngeft, glue mee 
 leaue. 
 
 Sdward. No, I can better play the Orator. 
 Mount. But I haue reafons ftrong and forceable. 
 
 Snter the Dui(e of Yorke. 
 
 Yor^e. Why how now Sonnes, and Brother, at a ftrife ? 
 What is your Quarrell ? how began it firft ? 
 
 Edward. No Quarrell, but a flight Contention. 
 
 Yorfy. About what t 
 
 Rich. About that which concernes your Grace and vs, 
 The Crowne of England, Father, which is yours. 
 
 Yor^e. Mine Boy? not till King Henry be dead. 
 
 Richard. Your Right depends not on his life, or death. 
 
 Edward.Novt you are Heire, therefore enioy it now: 
 By giuing the Houfe of Lancafler leaue to breathe, 
 It will out-runne you, Father, in the end. 
 
 Yorfy. I tooke an Oath , that hee Ihould quietly 
 reigne. 
 
 Sdward.'But for a Kingdome any Oath may be broken: 
 I would breake a thoufand Oathes,to reigne one yeere. 
 
 Richard. No: God forbid your Grace fhould be for- 
 fworne. 
 
 Yor^e. I fhall be, if I clayme by open Warre. 
 
 Richard. He proue the contrary, if you'le heare mee 
 fpeake. 
 
 Yortg. Thou canft not, Sonne : it is impoffible. 
 
 Richard. An Oath is of no moment, being not tooke 
 Before a true and lawfull Magiftrate, 
 That hath authoritie ouer him that fweares. 
 Henry had none, but did vfurpe the place. 
 Then feeing 'twas he that made you to depofe, 
 Your Oath, my Lord, is vaine and friuolous. 
 Therefore to Armes : and Father doe but thinke, 
 How fweet a thing it is to weare a Crowne, 
 Within whofe Circuit is Elixium, 
 And all that Poets faine of BliiTe and loy. 
 Why doe we linger thus? I cannot reft, 
 Vntill the White Rofe that I weare, be dy'de 
 Euen in the luke-warme blood of Henries heart. 
 
 Yorfy. Richard ynough: I will be King, or dye. 
 Brother, thou fhalt to London prefently, 
 And whet on Warwicl^ to this Enterprife. 
 
 Thou
 
 150 
 
 The thirds art of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Thou Richard flialt to the Duke of Norfolke, 
 
 And tell him priuily of our intent. 
 
 You Edward fliall vnto my Lord Cobbam, 
 
 With whom the Kentiflimen will willingly rife. 
 
 In them I truft: for they are Souldiors, 
 
 Wittie, courteous, liberal), full of fpirit. 
 
 While you are thus imploy'd, what refteth more ? 
 
 But that I feeke occafion how to rife, 
 
 And yet the King not priuie to my Drift, 
 
 Nor any of the Houfe of Lancafter. 
 
 Enter Gabriel. 
 
 But ftay, what Newes ? Why comm'ft thou in fuch 
 pofte? 
 
 Gabriel. The Queene, 
 With all the Northerne Earles and Lords, 
 Intend here to befiege you in your Caftle. 
 She is hard by, with twentie thoufand men: 
 And therefore fortifie your Hold, my Lord. 
 
 Yorfy. I, with my Sword. 
 What ? think'ft thou, that we feare them ? 
 Sdward and Richard, you /hall ftay with me, 
 My Brother Mountague fliall pofte to London. 
 Let Noble Warvic^e, Qobbam, and the reft, 
 Whom we haue left Protedtors of the King, 
 With powrefull Pollicie ftrengthen themfelues, 
 And truft not fimple Henry, nor his Oathes. 
 
 Mount. Brother, I goe: He winne them, feare it not. 
 And thus moft humbly I doe take my leaue. 
 
 Exit cflfountague. 
 
 Enter cftfortimer, and bu Brother. 
 
 Yor\.. Sir 7c,and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine Vnckles, 
 You are come to Sandall in a happie houre. 
 The Armie of the Queene meane to befiege vs. 
 
 John. Shee fliall not neede, wee'le meete her in the 
 field. 
 
 Yorfy. What, with fiue thoufand men? 
 
 Trichord. I, with fiue hundred, Father, for a neede. 
 A Woman's generall : what fhould we feare ? 
 
 A March afarre off. 
 
 Edward. I heare their Drummes : 
 Let's fet our men in order, 
 And iffue forth, and bid them Battaile ftraight. 
 
 Tcir^e.F'iue men to twentie : though the oddes be great, 
 I doubt not, Vnckle, of our Vi&orie. 
 Many a Battaile haue I wonne in France, 
 When as the Enemie hath beene tenne to one: 
 Why fhould I not now haue the like fuccefle ? 
 
 Alarum. Exit. 
 
 Enter Rutland, and bit 'Tutor. 
 
 Rutland. Ah, whither fliall I flye,to fcape their hands? 
 Ah Tutor, looke where bloody Clifford comes. 
 
 Enter Clifford. 
 
 Clifford. Chaplaine away, thy Priefthood faues thy life. 
 As for the Brat of this accurfed Duke, 
 Whofe Father flew my Father, he fliall dye. 
 
 Tutor. And I, my Lord, will beare him company. 
 
 Clifford. Souldiers,away with him. 
 
 Tutor. Ah Clifford, murther not this innocent Child, 
 Leaft thou be hated both of God and Man. Exit. 
 
 Clifford. How now? is he dead alreadie f 
 Or is it feare, that makes him clofe his eyes t 
 He open them. 
 
 Rutland. So looks the pent-vp Lyon o're the Wretch, 
 That trembles vnder his deuouring Pawes: 
 And fo he walkes,infulting o're his Prey, 
 And fo he comes, to rend his Limbes afunder. 
 Ah gentle Clijford,k\ll me with thy Sword, 
 And not with fuch a cruell threatning Looke. 
 Sweet Clifford heare me fpeake, before I dye: 
 I am too meane a fubieft for thy Wrath, 
 Be thou reueng'd on men, and let me Hue. 
 
 Clifford. In vaine thou fpeak'ft, poore Boy : 
 My Fathers blood hath ftopt the pafTage 
 Where thy words fhould enter. 
 
 Rutland. Then let my Fathers blood open it againe, 
 He is a man, and (Clifford cope with him. 
 
 Clifford. Had I thy Brethren here, their liues and thine 
 Were not reuenge fufficient for me : 
 No, if I digg'd vp thy fore-fathers Graues, 
 And hung their rotten Coffins vp in Chaynes, 
 It could not flake mine ire,noreafe my heart. 
 The fight of any of the Houfe of Yorfy, 
 Is as a furie to torment my Soule : 
 And till I root out their accurfed Line, 
 And leaue not one aliue, I liue in Hell. 
 Therefore 
 
 Rutland. Oh let me pray, before I take my death : 
 To thee I prayjfweet Clifford pitty me. 
 
 Clifford. Such pitty as my Rapiers point affords. 
 
 Rutland. I neuer did thee harme: why wilt thou flay 
 me ? 
 
 Clifford. Thy Father hath. 
 
 Rutland. But 'twas ere I was borne. 
 Thou haft one Sonne, for his fake pitty me, 
 Leaft in reuenge thereof, fith God is iuft, 
 He be as miierably flaine as I. 
 Ah, let me liue in Prifon all my dayes, 
 And when I giue occafion of offence, 
 Then let me dye, for now thou haft no caufe. 
 
 Clifford. No caufe ? thy Father flew my Fathenthere- 
 fore dye. 
 
 Rutland. Dij faciant laudit fumma Jit ifla tua. 
 
 Clifford. Plantagenet, I come Plantagenet : 
 And this thy Sonnes blood cleauing to my Blade, 
 Shall ruft vpon my Weapon, till thy blood 
 Congeal'd with this,doe make me wipe off" both. Exit. 
 
 cAlarum. Enter Richard, Dufy of Yorfy. 
 
 TV^.The Army of the Queene hath got the field: 
 My Vnckles both are flaine, in refcuing me; 
 And all my followers, to the eager foe 
 Turne back, and flye,like Ships before the Winde, 
 Or Lambes purfu'd by hunger-ftarued Wolues. 
 My Sonnes, God knowes what hath bechanced them: 
 But this I know, they haue demean'd themfelues 
 Like men borne to Renowne, by Life or Death. 
 Three times did Richard make a Lane to me, 
 And thrice cry'de, Courage Father, fight it out : 
 And full as oft came Edward to my fiJe, 
 With Purple Faulchion, painted to the Hilt, 
 In blood of thofe that had encountred him : 
 And when the hardyeft Warriors did retyre, 
 Richard cry'de, Charge, and giue no foot of ground, 
 And cry'de, ACrowne,or elfe a glorious Tombe, 
 
 486
 
 The third ^Part of Henry the Sixf. 
 
 A Scepter, or an Earthly Sepulchre. 
 With this we charg'd againe : but out alas, 
 We bodg'd againe, as I haue feene a Swan 
 With bootleffe labour fvvimme againft the Tyde, 
 And fpend her ftrength with ouer-matching Waues. 
 
 A Jbort Alarum within. 
 Ah hearke, the fat all followers doe purfue, 
 And I am faint, and cannot flye their furie : 
 And were I ftrong, I would not fhunne their furie. 
 The Sands are numbred,that makes vp my Life, 
 Here muft I ftay,and here my Life muft end. 
 
 Enter the >ueene, Clifford, Northumberland, 
 the young Prince, and Souldiers. 
 
 Come bloody Clifford, rough Northumberland^ 
 I dare your quenchlefle furie to more rage : 
 I am your Butt,and I abide your Shot. 
 
 Northumb. Yeeld to our mercy, proud Plantagenet. 
 
 Clifford. I, to fuch mercy, as his ruthlefie Arme 
 With downe-right payment, fhew'd vnto my Father. 
 Now Phaeton hath tumbled from his Carre, 
 And made an Euening at the Noone-tide Prick. 
 
 Torkf. My aflies,as the Phcenix, may bring forth 
 A Bird, that will reuenge vpon you all : 
 And in that hope, I throw mine eyes to Heauen, 
 Scorning what ere you can afflicT: me with. 
 Why come you not ? what, multitudes, and feare ? 
 
 Cliff. So Cowards fight, when they can flye no further, 
 So Doues doe peck the Faulcons piercing Tallons, 
 So defperate Theeues, all hopeleffe of their Liues, 
 Breathe out InuedHues 'gainft the Officers. 
 
 Yorfy. Oh Clifford, but bethinke thee once againe, 
 And in thy thought ore-run my former time : 
 And if thou canft, for blufhing, view this face, 
 And bite thy tongue, that flanders him with Cowardice, 
 Whofe frowne hath made thee faint and flye ere this. 
 
 Clifford. I will not bandie with thee word for word, 
 But buckler with thee blowes twice two for one. 
 
 Queene. Hold valiant Clifford, for a thoufand caufes 
 I would prolong a while the Traytors Life: 
 Wrath makes him deafe; fpeake thou Northumberland. 
 
 Northumb.Holdi Clifford, toe. not honor him fo much, 
 To prick thy finger,though to wound his heart. 
 What valour were it, when a Curre doth grinne, 
 For one to thruft his Hand betweene his Teeth, 
 When he might fpurne him with his Foot away ? 
 It is Warres prize, to take all Vantages, 
 And tenne to one,is no impeach of Valour. 
 
 Clifford. I, I, fo ftriues the Woodcocke with the 
 Gynne, 
 
 Nortbumb. So doth the Connie ftruggle in the 
 Net. 
 
 Yor%. So triumph Theeues vpon their conquer'd Booty, 
 So True men yeeld with Robbers, fo o're-matcht. 
 
 Northumb. What would your Grace haue done vnto 
 him now ? 
 
 Queene. Braue Warriors, Clifford and Northumberland, 
 Come make him ftand vpon this Mole-hill here, 
 That raught at Mountaines with out-ftretched Armes, 
 Yet parted but the fliadow with his Hand. 
 What, was it you that would be Englands King? 
 Was't you that reuell'd in our Parliament, 
 And made a Preachment of your high Defcent ? 
 Where are your Mefle of Sonnes, to back you now ? 
 The wanton Edn>ard,and the luftie George ? 
 
 And where 's that valiant Crook-back Prodigie, 
 
 Dickie, your Boy, that with his grumbling voyce 
 
 Was wont to cheare his Dad in Mutinies ? 
 
 Or with the reft, where is your Darling, 'Jutland? 
 
 Looke Tariff, I ftayn'd this Napkin with the blood 
 
 That valiant Clifford, with his Rapiers point, 
 
 Made iflue from the Bofome of the Boy : 
 
 And if thine eyes can water for his death, 
 
 I giue thee this to drie thy Cheekes withall. 
 
 Alas poore Yorfa but that I hate thee deadly, 
 
 I mould lament thy miferable ftate. 
 
 I prythee grieue, to make me merry, Yorkg. 
 
 What,hath thy fierie heart fo parent thine entrayles, 
 
 That not a Teare can fall, for Rutlands death ? 
 
 Why art thou patient, man ? thou fhould'ft be mad: 
 
 And I, to make thee mad, doe mock thee thus. 
 
 Stampe, raue,and fret, that I may fing and dance. 
 
 Thou would'ft be fee'd,! fee, to make me fport : 
 
 Yorfy cannot fpeake, vnlefle he weare a Crowne. 
 
 A Crowne for Yorl^e ; and Lords, bow lowe to him : 
 
 Hold you his hands, whileft I doe fet it on. 
 
 I marry Sir, now lookes he like a King : 
 
 I, this is he that tooke King Henries Chaire, 
 
 And this is he was his adopted Heire. 
 
 But how is it, that great Plantagenet 
 
 Is crown'd fo foone, and broke his folemne Oath? 
 
 As I bethinke me, you fhould not be King, 
 
 Till our King Henry had fhooke hands with Death. 
 
 And will you pale your head in Henries Glory, 
 
 And rob his Temples of the Diademe, 
 
 Now in his Life,againft your holy Oath ? 
 
 Oh 'tis a fault too too vn pardonable. 
 
 Off with the Crowne;and with the Crowne, his Head, 
 
 And whileft we breathe, take time to doe him dead. 
 
 Clifford. That is my Office, for my Fathers fake. 
 
 Queene. Nay ftay , let's heare the Orizons hee 
 makes. 
 
 Yorke. Shee-Wolfe of France, 
 But worfe then Wolues of France, 
 
 Whofe Tongue more poyfons then the Adders Tooth : 
 How ill-befeeming is it in thy Sex, 
 To triumph like an Amazonian Trull, 
 Vpon their Woes, whom Fortune captiuates ? 
 But that thy Face is Vizard-like, vnchanging, 
 Made impudent with vfe of euill deedes. 
 I would aflay, prowd Queene, to make thee blu/h. 
 To tell thee whence thou cam'ft, of whom deriu'd, 
 Were fhame enough, to fhame thee, 
 Wert thou not fhamelefle. 
 Thy Father beares the type of King of Naples, 
 Of both the Sicils, and lerufalem, 
 Yet not fo wealthie as an Englifh Yeoman. 
 Hath that poore Monarch taught thee to infult ? 
 It needes not, nor it bootes thee not, prowd Queene, 
 Vnlefle the Adage muft be verify'd, 
 That Beggers mounted, runne their Horfe to death. 
 'Tis Beautie that doth oft make Women prowd, 
 But God he knowes, thy mare thereof is fmall. 
 'Tis Vertue, that doth make them moft admir'd, 
 The contrary, doth make thee wondred at. 
 'Tis Gouernment that makes them feeme Diuine, 
 The want thereof, makes thee abhominable. 
 Thou art as oppofite to euery good, 
 As the Antipodes are vnto vs, 
 Or as the South to the Seftentrion. 
 Oh Tygres Heart, wrapt in a Womans Hide, 
 
 How
 
 152 
 
 The third 'Part of Henry the Sixt. 
 
 How could'ft thou drayne the Life-blood of the Child, 
 To bid the Father wipe his eyes withall, 
 And yet be feene to beare a Womans face ? 
 Women are fbft,milde,pittifull,and flexible; 
 Thou, fterne, obdurate, flintie, rough, remorfelefle. 
 Bidft thou me rage? why now thou haft thy wifh. 
 Would'ft haue me weepe? why now thou haft thy will. 
 For raging Wind blowes vp inceflant fhowers, 
 And when the Rage allayes,the Raine begins. 
 Thefe Teares are my fweet Rut lands Obfequies, 
 And euery drop cryes vengeance for his death, 
 'Gainft thee fell Clifford, and thee falfe French-woman. 
 
 Nortbumb. Beftirew me, but his paflions moues me fo, 
 That hardly can I check my eyes from Teares. 
 
 Tarty. That Face of his, 
 The hungry Caniballs would not haue toucht, 
 Would not haue ftayn'd with blood: 
 But you are more inhumane, more inexorable, 
 Oh,tenne times more then Tygers of Hyrcania. 
 See,ruthlefTe Queene, a haplefle Fathers Teares: 
 This Cloth thou dipd'ft in blood of my fweet Boy, 
 And I with Teares doe wafli the blood away. 
 Keepe thou the Napkin, and goe boaft of this, 
 And if thou tell'ft the heauie ftorie right, 
 Vpon my Soule, the hearers will fhed Teares : 
 Yea,euen my Foes will ihed faft-falling Teares, 
 And fay, Alas, it was a pittious deed. 
 
 There, take the Crowne, and with the Crowne, my Curfe, 
 And in thy need,fuch comfort come to thee, 
 As now I reape at thy too cruell hand. 
 Hard-hearted Clifford, take me from the World, 
 My Soule to Heauen,my Blood vpon your Heads. 
 
 Nortbumb.Had he been flaughter-man to all my Kinne, 
 I fhould not for my Life but weepe with him, 
 To fee how inly Sorrow gripes his Soule. 
 
 Queen. What, weeping ripe, my Lord Northumberland f 
 Thinke but vpon the wrong he did vs all, 
 And that will quickly drie thy melting Teares. 
 
 Clifford. Heere's for my Oath, heere's for my Fathers 
 Death. 
 
 Queene. And heere's to right our gentle-hearted 
 King. 
 
 Yorty. Open thy Gate of Mercy, gracious God, 
 My Soule flyes through thefe wounds, to feeke out thee. 
 
 Queene. Off with his Head, and fet it on Yorke Gates, 
 So Yorfe may ouer-looke the Towne of Yorke. 
 Flourijh. Exit. 
 
 A March. Enter Edward, Richard, 
 and their power. 
 
 Edward. I wonder how our Princely Father fcap't: 
 Or whether he be fcap't away,or no, 
 From Cliffords and Northumberland* purfuit ? 
 Had he been ta'ne, we fhould haue heard the newes; 
 Had he beene flaine, we fhould haue heard the newes: 
 Or had he fcap't, me thinkes we fhould haue heard 
 The happy tidings of his good efcape. 
 How fares my Brother? why is he fo fad? 
 
 Richard. I cannot ioy, vntill I be refolu'd 
 Where our right valiant Father is become. 
 I faw him in the Battaile range about, 
 And watcht him how he fingled Clifford forth. 
 Me thought he bore him in the thickeft troupe, 
 As doth a Lyon in a Heard of Neat, 
 Or as a Beare encompafs'd round with Dogges : 
 
 Who hauing pincht a few, and made them cry, 
 The reft ftand all aloofe,and barke at him. 
 So far'd our Father with his Enemies, 
 So fled his Enemies my Warlike Father: 
 Me thinkes 'tis prize enough to be his Sonne. 
 See how the Morning opes her golden Gates, 
 And takes her farwell of the glorious Sunne. 
 How well refembles it the prime of Youth, 
 Trimm'd like a Yonker, prauncing to his Loue ? 
 
 Ed. Dazle mine eyes, or doe I fee three Sunnes ? 
 
 Ricb.Three glorious Sunnes, each one a perfedl Sunne, 
 Not feperated with the racking Clouds, 
 But feuer'd in a pale cleare-fhining Skye. 
 See, fee, they ioyne,embrace,and feeme to kifle, 
 As if they vow'd fome League inuiolable. 
 Now are they but one Lampe,one Light, one Sunne : 
 In this, the Heauen figures fome euent. 
 
 Edward. 'Tis wondrous ftrange, 
 The like yet neuer heard of. 
 I thinke it cites vs(Brother)to the field, 
 That wee, the Sonnes of braue Plantagenct, 
 Each one alreadie blazing by our meedes, 
 Should notwithftanding ioyne our Lights together, 
 And ouer-fhine the Earth, as this the World. 
 What ere it bodes, hence-forward will I beare 
 Vpon my Targuet three faire fhining Sunnes. 
 
 Richard. Nay, beare three Daughters : 
 By your leaue, I fpeake it, 
 You loue the Breeder better then the Male. 
 
 Enter one blowing. 
 
 But what art thou,whofe heauie Lookes fore-tell 
 Some dreadfull ftory hanging on thy Tongue f 
 
 Meff. Ah, one that was a worull looker on, 
 When as the Noble Duke of Yorke was flaine, 
 Your Princely Father, and my louing Lord. 
 
 Edward. Oh fpeake no more, for I haue heard too 
 much. 
 
 Richard. Say how he dy'de,for I will heare it all. 
 
 Meff. Enuironed he was with many foes, 
 And flood againft them, as the hope of Troy 
 Againft the Greekes,that would haue entred Troy. 
 But Hercules himfelfe muft yeeld to oddes : 
 And many ftroakes, though with a little Axe, 
 Hewes downe and fells the hardeft-tymber'd Oake. 
 By many hands your Father was fubdu'd, 
 But onely flaught'red by the irefull Arme 
 Of vn-relenting C/ffora'.and the Queene: 
 Who crown'd the gracious Duke in high defpight, 
 Laugh'd in his face : and when with griefe he wept, 
 The ruthlefle Queene gaue him, to dry his Cheekes, 
 A Napkin, fteeped in the harmelefle blood 
 Of fweet young Rut/and,by rough Clifford flaine : 
 And after many fcornes, many foule taunts, 
 They tooke his Head, and on the Gates of Yorke 
 They fet the fame, and there it doth remaine, 
 The faddeft fpectacle that ere 1 view'd. 
 
 Ea'ward.Sweet Duke of Yorke,our Prop to leane vpon, 
 Now thou art gone, wee haue no Staffe,no Stay. 
 Oh C/$ir^,boyft'rous Clijford,thou haft flaine 
 The flowre of Europe, for his Cheualrie, 
 And trecheroufly haft thou vanquifht him, 
 For hand to hand he would haue vanquifht thee. 
 Now my Soules Pallace is become a Prifon: 
 Ah, would fhe breake from hence, that this my body 
 
 Might 
 
 488
 
 The third^ art offing Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Might in the ground be clofed vp in reft : 
 For neuer henceforth /hall I ioy againe : 
 Neuer, oh neuer fhall I fee more ioy. 
 
 ^ch. I cannot weepe : for all my bodies moyfture 
 Scarfe ferues to quench my Furnace-burning hart : 
 Nor can my tongue vnloade my hearts great burthen, 
 For felfe-fame winde that I fhould fpeake withall, 
 Is kindling coales that fires all my breft, 
 And burnes me vp with flames, that tears would quench. 
 To weepe, is to make lefTe the depth of greefe: 
 Teares then for Babes; Blowes,and Reuenge for mee. 
 Richard, I beare thy name, He venge thy death, 
 Or dye renowned by attempting it. 
 
 Ed. His name that valiant Duke hath left with thee: 
 His Dukedome, and his Chaire with me is left. 
 
 Rich. Nay, if thou be that Princely Eagles Bird, 
 Shew thy defcent by gazing 'gainft the Sunne: 
 For Chaire and Dukedome, Throne and Kingdome fay, 
 Either that is thine, or elfe thou wer't not his. 
 
 March. Enter Warwicke, Mar quejje Mountacute, 
 
 and their Army. 
 Warwic^ How now faire Lords ? What faire? What 
 
 newes abroad ? 
 
 I(icb. Great Lord of Warwicke,if we /hould recompt 
 Our balefull newes, and at each words deliuerance 
 Stab Poniards in our fle/h, till all were told, 
 The words would adde more angui/h then the wounds. 
 
 valiant Lord, the Duke of Yorke is flaine. 
 
 Edtv. O Warwicke, Warwicke, that Plantagenet 
 Which held thee deerely, as his Soules Redemption, 
 Is by the fterne Lord Clifford done to death. 
 
 War. Ten dayes ago, I drown'd thefe newes in teares. 
 And now to adde more meafure to your woes, 
 Icome to tell you things fith then befalne. 
 After the bloody Fray at Wakefield fought, 
 Where your braue Father breath'd his lateft gaspe, 
 Tydings, as fwiftly as the Poftes could runne, 
 Were brought me of your Lode, and his Depart. 
 
 1 then in London, keeper of the King, 
 Mufter'd my Soldiers, gathered flockes of Friends, 
 Marcht toward S. Albons,to intercept the Queene, 
 Bearing the King in my behalfe along : 
 
 For by my Scouts, I was aduertifed 
 
 That /he was comming with a full intent 
 
 To dafh our late Decree in Parliament, 
 
 Touching King Henries Oath, and your Succefsion : 
 
 Short Tale to make, we at S. Albons met, 
 
 Our Battailes ioyn'd, and both fides fiercely fought: 
 
 But whether 'twas the coldnefle of the King, 
 
 Who look'd full gently on his warlike Queene, 
 
 That robb'd my Soldiers of their heated Spleene. 
 
 Or whether 'twas report of her fuccefie, 
 
 Or more then common feare of Cliffords Rigour, 
 
 Who thunders to his Captiues, Blood and Death, 
 
 I cannot iudge : but to conclude with truth, 
 
 Their Weapons like to Lightning, came and went: 
 
 Our Souldiers like the Night.Owles lazie flight, 
 
 Or like a lazie Thre/her with a Flaile, 
 
 Fell gently downe, as if they ftrucke their Friends. 
 
 I cheer'd them vp with iuftice of our Caufe, 
 
 With promife of high pay, and great Rewards: 
 
 But all in vaine, they had no heart to fight, 
 
 And we (in them) no hope to win the day, 
 
 So that we fled : the King vnto the Queene, 
 
 Lord George, your Brother, Norfolke, and my Selfe, 
 
 489 
 
 In hafte, poft hafte, are come to ioyne with you : 
 For in the Marches heere we heard you were, 
 Making another Head, to fight againe. 
 
 Ed. Where is the Duke of Norfolke, gentle Warwick? 
 And when came George from Burgundy to England? 
 
 War. Some fix miles off the Duke is with the Soldiers, 
 And for your Brother he was lately fent 
 From your kinde Aunt DutchefTe of Burgundie, 
 With ayde of Souldiers to this need full Warre. 
 
 /J/'cA.'Twas oddes belike, when valiant Warwick fled; 
 Oft haue I heard his praifes in Purfuite, 
 But ne're till now, his Scandall of Retire. 
 
 War. Nor now my Scandall Richard, doft thou heare: 
 For thou /halt know this ftrong right hand of mine, 
 Can plucke the Diadem from faint Henries head, 
 And wring the awefull Scepter from his Fift, 
 Were he as famous, and as bold in Warre, 
 As he is fam'd for Mildnefle, Peace, and Prayer. 
 
 Rich. I know it well Lord Warwick, blame me not, 
 'Tis loue I beare thy glories make me fpeake : 
 But in this troublous time, what's to be done? 
 Shall we go throw away our Coates of Steele, 
 And wrap our bodies in blacke mourning Gownes, 
 Numb'ring our Aue-Maries with our Beads ? 
 Or /hall we on the Helmets of our Foes 
 Tell our Deuotion with reuengefull Armes ? 
 If for the laft, fay I, and to it Lords. 
 
 War. Why therefore Warwick came to feek you out, 
 And therefore comes my Brother Mountague : 
 Attend me Lords, the proud infulting Queene, 
 With Clifford, and the haught Northumberland, 
 And of their Feather, many moe proud Birds, 
 Haue wrought the eafie-melting King, like Wax. 
 He fwore confent to your Succeffion, 
 His Oath enrolled in the Parliament. 
 And now to London all the crew are gone, 
 To fruftrate both his Oath, and what befide 
 May make againft the houfe of Lancafter. 
 Their power ( I thinke)is thirty thoufand ftrong : 
 Now, if the helpe of Norfolke, and my felfe, 
 With all the Friends that thou braue Earle of March, 
 Among'ft the louing Wel/hmen can'ft procure, 
 Will but amount to fiue and twenty thoufand, 
 Why Via, to London will we march, 
 And once againe, beftride our foaming Steeds, 
 And once againe cry Charge vpon our Foes, 
 But neuer once againe turne backe and flye. 
 
 Rich. I, now me thinks I heare great Warwick fpeak; 
 Ne're may he liue to fee a Sun-fhine day, 
 That cries Retire, if Warwicke bid him ftay. 
 
 Ed. Lord Warwicke, on thy /houlder will I leane, 
 And when thou failft(as God forbid the houre) 
 Muft Ed-ward fall, which perill heauen forefend. 
 
 War. No longer Earle of March, but Duke of Yorke: 
 The next degree, is Englands Royall Throne : 
 For King of England /halt thou be proclaim'd 
 In euery Burrough as we pafle along, 
 And he that throwes not vp his cap for ioy, 
 Shall for the Fault make forfeit of his head. 
 King Edward, valiant Richard Mountague : 
 Stay we no longer, dreaming of Renowne, 
 But found the Trumpets, and about our Taske. 
 
 Rich. Then Clifford, were thy heart as hard as Steele, 
 As thou haft fliewne it flintie by thy deeds, 
 I come to pierce it, or to giue thee mine. 
 
 </.Then ftrike vp Drums, God and S.George for vs. 
 p War. 
 
 TQ
 
 '54 
 
 The third Tart ofRJng Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Enter a <&fejjenger. 
 War. How now? what newes ? 
 
 Mef. The Duke of Norfolke fends you word by me, 
 The Queene is comming with a puiffant Hoaft, 
 And craues your company, for fpeedy counfell. 
 
 War. Why then it forts, braue Warriors, let's away. 
 
 Exeunt Omnei. 
 
 Flourijh. Snter the King, the Queene, Clifford, Nortbum- 
 
 andTong Prince, with Drumme and 
 
 Trumpettes. 
 
 Qu. Welcome my Lord, to this braue town of Yorke, 
 Yonders the head of that Arch-enemy, 
 That fought to be incompaft with your Crowne. 
 Doth not the obiecl cheere your heart, my Lord. 
 
 K. I, as the rockescheare them that feare their wrack, 
 To fee this fight, it irkes my very foule: 
 With-hold reuenge (deere God) 'tis not my fault, 
 Nor wittingly haue 1 infring'd my Vow. 
 
 Clif. My gracious Liege, this too much lenity 
 And harmfull pitty muft be layd afide : 
 To whom do Lyons caft their gentle Lookesf 
 Not to the Beaft, that would vfurpe their Den. 
 Whofe hand is that the Forreft Beare doth licke ? 
 Not his that fpoyles her yong before her face. 
 Who fcapes the lurking Serpents mortall fting? 
 Not he that fets his foot vpon her backe. 
 The fmalleft Worme will turne, being troden on, 
 And Doues will pecke in fafegard of their Brood. 
 Ambitious Yorke, did leuell at thy Crowne, 
 Thou fmiling, while he knit his angry browes. 
 He but a Duke, would haue his Sonne a King, 
 And raife his iflue like a louing Sire. 
 Thou being a King, bleft with a goodly fonne, 
 Did'ft yeeld confent to difinherit him : 
 Which argued thee a moft vnlouing Father. 
 Vnreafonable Creatures feed their young, 
 And though mans face be fearefull to their eyes, 
 Yet in protection of their tender ones, 
 Who hath not feene them euen with thofe wings, 
 Which fometime they haue vs'd with fearfull flight, 
 Make warre with him that climb'd vnto their neft, 
 Offering their owne liues in their yongs defence? 
 For fliame,my Liege, make them your Frefident: 
 Were it not pitty that this goodly Boy 
 Should loofe his Birth-right by his Fathers fault, 
 And long heereafter fay vnto his childe, 
 What my great Grandfather, and Grandfire got, 
 My careleffe Father fondly gaue away. 
 Ah, what a fhame were this? Looke on the Boy, 
 And let his manly face, which promifeth 
 Succeflefull Fortune fteele thy melting heart, 
 To hold thine owne,and leaue thine owne with hjm. 
 
 King. Full well hath Clifford plaid the Orator, 
 Inferring arguments of mighty force : 
 But Clifford tell me, did'ft thou neuer heare, 
 That things ill got, had euer bad fuccefle. 
 And happy alwayes was it for that Sonne, 
 Whofe Father for his hoording went to hell t 
 He leaue my Sonne my Vertuous deeds behinde, 
 And would my Father had left me no more : 
 For all the reft is held at fuch a Rate, 
 As brings a thoufand fold more care to keepe, 
 Then in pofleflion any iot of pleafure. 
 Ah Cofin Yorke, would thy beft Friends did know, 
 
 How it doth greeue me that thy head is heere. 
 
 Qt^.My Lord cheere vp your fpirits, our foes are nye, 
 And this foft courage makes your Followers faint : 
 You promift Knighthood to our forward fonne, 
 Vnflieath your fword,and dub him prefently. 
 Edfoard ) linee\e downe. 
 
 King. Edward Plantagenet, arife a Knight, 
 And learne this Leflbnj Draw thy Sword in right. 
 
 Pr\n My gracious Father, by your Kingly leaue, 
 He draw it as Apparant to the Crowne, 
 And in that quarrcll, vfe it to the death. 
 
 Clif. Why that is fpoken like a toward Prince. 
 
 Enter a MeJJenger. 
 
 Meff. Royall Commanders, be in readinefTe, 
 For with a Band of thirty thoufand men,, 
 Comes Warwicke backing of the Duke of Yorke, 
 And in the Townes as they do march along, 
 Proclaimes him King, and many flye to him, 
 Darraigne your battell,for they are at hand. 
 
 Clif. I would your Highnefle would depart the field, 
 The Q^eene hath beft fuccefle when you are abfent. 
 
 }u. I good my Lord, and leaue vs to our Fortune. 
 
 King. Why, that's my fortune too, therefore lie ftay. 
 North. Be it with refolution then to fight. 
 Prin. My Royall Father, cheere thefe Noble Lords, 
 And hearten thofe that fight in your defence: 
 Vnflieath your Sword,good Father: Cry S.George. 
 
 March. Enter Edward, Warwicke, Richard, Clarence, 
 Norfill(e, Mount ague, and Soldiers. 
 
 Edt*. Now periur'd Henry, wilt thou kneel for grace? 
 And fet thy Diadem vpon my head? 
 Or bide the mortall Fortune of the field. 
 
 Qu. Go rate thy Minions, proud infulting Boy, 
 Becomes it thee to be thus bold in termes, 
 Before thy Soueraigne,and thy lawfull King ? 
 
 d. I am his King,and he ftiould bow his knee : 
 I was adopted Heire by his confent. 
 
 Cla. Since when, his Oath is broke: for as I heare, 
 You that are King, though he do weare the Crowne, 
 Haue caus'd him by new Aft of Parliament, 
 To blot out me, and put his owne Sonne in. 
 
 Clif. And reafon too, 
 Who fliould fucceede the Father, but the Sonne. 
 
 Rich* Are you there Butcher? O,I cannot fpeake. 
 
 Clif. 'I Crooke-back, here I ftand to anfwer thee, 
 Or any he, the proudeft of thy fort. 
 
 Rich. 'Twas you that kill'd yong Rutland, was it not? 
 
 Qlif. I, and old Yorke,and yet not fatisfied. 
 
 Rich. For Gods fake Lords giue fignall to the fight. 
 
 War. What fay 'ft thou Henry, 
 Wilt thou yeeld the Crowne? (you fpeak? 
 
 Qu. Why how now long-tongu'd Warwicke, dare 
 When you and I, met at S.tAIbons laft, 
 Your legges did better feruice then your hands. 
 
 War. Then 'twas my turne to fly, and now 'tis thine : 
 
 Clif: You faid fo much before, and yet you fled. 
 
 War. 'Twas not yout valor Clifford droue me thence. 
 
 TVcr.No, nor your manhood that durft make you ftay. 
 
 Rich. Northumberland,! hold thee reuerently, 
 Breake off the parley, for fcarfe I can refraine 
 The execution of my big-fwolne heart 
 Vpon that Cli/ord,that cruell Child-killer. 
 
 Clif. I flew thy Father, cal'ft thou him a Child ? 
 
 Ricb. 
 
 49
 
 The third 'Fart ofT^ing Henry the Sixt. 
 
 '55 
 
 Rich. I like a Daftard,and a treacherous Coward, 
 As thou didd'ft kill our tender Brother Rutland, 
 But ere Sunfet, He make thee curie the deed. 
 
 King. Haue done with words (my Lords) and heare 
 me fpeake. 
 
 Q. Defie them then, or els hold clofe thy lips. 
 
 King. I prythee giue no limits to my Tongue, 
 I am a King, and priuiledg'd to fpeake. 
 
 C/if.My Liege, the wound that bred this meeting here, 
 Cannot be cur'd by Words, therefore be ftill. 
 
 Rich. Then Executioner vnflieath thy fword : 
 By him that made vs all, I am refolu'd, 
 That Cliffords Manhood, lyes vpon his tongue. 
 
 Ed. Say Henry,(hM 1 haue my right,or no: 
 A thoufand men haue broke their Fafts to day, 
 That ne're /hall dine, vnlefTe thou yeeld the Crowne. 
 
 War. If thou deny, their Blood vpon thy head, 
 For Yorke in iuftice put's his Armour on. 
 
 Pr.Ed. If that be right, which Warwick faies Js right, 
 There is no wrong, but euery thing is right. 
 
 War. Who euer got thee, there thy Mother ftands, 
 For well I wot, thou haft thy Mothers tongue. 
 
 ju. But thou art neyther like thy Sire nor Damme, 
 But like a foule mifhapen Stygmaticke, 
 Mark'd by the Deftinies to be auoided, 
 As venome Toades, or Lizards dreadfull ftings. 
 
 ^cb. Iron of Naples, hid with Englifh gilt, 
 Whofe Father beares the Title of a King, 
 (As if a Channel! fhould be call'd the Sea) 
 Sham'ft thou not, knowing whence thou art extraught, 
 To let thy tongue detect thy bafe-borne heart. 
 
 Sd. A wifpe of ftraw were worth a thoufand Crowns, 
 To make this fhamelefie Callet know her felfe : 
 Helen of Greece was fayrer farre then thou, 
 Although thy Husband may beMene/attf; 
 And ne're was Agamemnons Brother wrong'd 
 By that falfe Woman, as this King by thee. 
 His Father reuel'd in the heart of France, 
 And tam'd the King, and made the Dolphin ftoope : 
 And had he match'd according to his State, 
 He might haue kept that glory to this day. 
 But when he tooke a begger to his bed, 
 And grac'd thy poore Sire with his Bridall day, 
 Euen then that Sun-fhine brew'd a fhowre for him, 
 That wafht his Fathers fortunes forth of France, 
 And heap'd fedition on his Crowne at home : 
 For what hath broach'd this tumult but thy Pride ? 
 Had'ft thou bene meeke,our Title ftill had flept, 
 And we in pitty of the Gentle King, 
 Had flipt our Claime, vntill another Age. 
 
 C/a.But when we faw, our Sunfliine made thy Spring, 
 And that thy Summer bred vs no increafe, 
 We fet the Axe to thy vfurping Roote : 
 And though the edge hath fomething hit our felues, 
 Yet know thou, fince we haue begun to ftrike, 
 Wee'l neuer leaue, till we haue hewne thee downe, 
 Or bath'd thy growing, with our heated bloods. 
 
 Edff. And in this refolution, I defie thee, 
 Not willing any longer Conference, 
 Since thou denied'ft the gentle King to fpeake. 
 Sound Trumpets, let our bloody Colours waue, 
 And either Vicftorie, or elfe a Graue. 
 %u. Stay Edtvard. 
 
 Ed. No wrangling Woman, wee'l no longer ftay, 
 Thefe words will coft ten thoufand liues this day. 
 Exeunt omnes. 
 
 491 
 
 Alarum. Excurjkns, Enter Warwic^c. 
 
 War. Fore-fpent with Toile, as Runners with a Race, 
 I lay me downe a little while to breath : 
 For ftrokes receiu'd,and many blowes repaid, 
 Haue robb'd my ftrong knit finewes of their ftrength, 
 And fpight of fpight, needs muft I reft a-while, 
 
 Enter Edrcard running. 
 
 Ed. Smile gentle heauen, or ftrike vngentle death, 
 For this world frownes, and Bdnards Sunne is clowded. 
 
 War* How now my Lord, what happe? what hope of 
 good? 
 
 Enter Clarence. 
 
 Cla. Our hap is lofTe, our hope but fad difpaire, 
 Our rankes are broke, and ruine followes vs. 
 What counfaile giue you? whether fhall we flye ? 
 
 Ed. Bootlefle is flight, they follow vs with Wings, 
 And weake we are, and cannot fhun purfuite. 
 
 Enter Richard. 
 
 T(icb. Ah Warwicke, why haft y withdrawn thy felfe? 
 Thy Brothers blood the thirfty earth hath drunk, 
 Broach'd with the Steely point of Cliffords Launce : 
 And in the very pangs of death, he cryde, 
 Like to a difmall Clangor heard from farre, 
 Warwicke, reuenge; Brother, reuenge my death. 
 So vnderneath the belly of their Steeds, 
 That ftain'd their Fetlockes in his fmoaking blood, 
 The Noble Gentleman gaue vp the ghoft. 
 
 War. Then let the earth be drunken with our blood: 
 He kill my Horfe,becaufe I will not flye : 
 Why ftand we like foft-hearted women heere, 
 Wayling our lofles, whiles the Foe doth Rage, 
 And looke vpon, as if the Tragedie 
 Were plaid in left, by counterfeiting Actors. 
 Heere on my knee, I vow to God aboue, 
 He neuer pawfe againe, neuer ftand ftill, 
 Till either death hath clos'd thefe eyes of mine, 
 Or Fortune giuen me meafure ofReuenge. 
 
 Ed. Oh Warwicke, I do bend my knee with thine, 
 And in this vow do chaine my foule to thine : 
 And ere my knee rife from the Earths cold face, 
 I throw my hands, mine eyes, my heart to thee, 
 Thou fetter vp, and plucker downe of Kings: 
 Befeeching thee (if with thy will it ftands) 
 That to my Foes this body muft be prey, 
 Yet that thy brazen gates of heauen may ope, 
 And giue fweet paflage to my finfull foule. 
 Now Lords, take leaue vntill we meete againe, 
 Where ere it be, in heauen, or in earth. 
 
 Rich. Brother, 
 
 Giue me thy hand, and gentle Warwicke, 
 Let me imbrace thee in my weary armes : 
 I that did neuer weepe, now melt with wo, 
 That Winter fhould cut off" our Spring-time fo. 
 
 War . Away,away: 
 Once more fweet Lords farwell. 
 
 Cla.. Yet let vs altogether to our Troopes, 
 And giue them leaue to flye, that will not ftay: 
 And call them Pillars that will ftand to vs : 
 And if we thriue, promife them fuch rewards 
 As Victors weare at the Olympian Games. 
 This may plant courage in their quailing breafts, 
 For yet is hope of Life and Victory : 
 
 2 Fore-
 
 56 
 
 The third fart offing Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Foreflow no longer, make we hence amaine. Exeunt 
 
 Excurjions. Enter Richard and Clifford. 
 
 Rich. Now Clifford,! haue fmgled thee alone, 
 Suppofe this arme is for the Duke of Yorke, 
 And this for Rutland, both bound to reuenge, 
 Wer't thou inuiron'd with a Brazen wall. 
 
 C/ifj Now Richard, I am with thee heere alone, 
 This is the hand that ftabb'd thy Father Yorke, 
 And this the hand, that flew thy Brother Rutland, 
 And here's the heart, that triumphs in their death, 
 And cheeres thefe hands, that flew thy Sire and Brother, 
 To execute the like vpon thy felfe, 
 And fo haue at thee. 
 
 They Fight, fParrvicfy comes, Clifford flies. 
 
 Rich. Nay Warwicke, fmgle out fome other Chace, 
 For I my felfe will hunt this Wolfe to death. Exeunt. 
 
 iMarum. Enter King Henry alone. 
 Hen. This battell fares like to the mornings Warre, 
 When dying clouds contend, with growing light, 
 What time the Shepheard blowing of his nailes, 
 Can neither call it perfect day, nor night. 
 Now fwayes it this way, like a Mighty Sea, 
 Forc'd by the Tide, to combat with the Winde : 
 Now fwayes it that way, like the felfe-fame Sea, 
 Forc'd to retyre by furie of the Winde. 
 Sometime, the Flood preuailes; and than the Winde : 
 Now, one the better : then, another beft ; 
 Both tugging to be Victors, breft to breft: 
 Yet neither Conqueror, nor Conquered. 
 So is the equall poife of this fell Warre. 
 Heere on this Mole-hill will I fit me downe, 
 To whom God will, there be the Vidtorie: 
 For cWargaret my Qiaeene,and Clifford too 
 Haue chid me from the Battell : Swearing both, 
 They profper beft of all when I am thence. 
 Would I were dead, if Gods good will were fo j 
 For what is in this world, but Greefe and Woe. 
 Oh God! me thinkes it were a happy life, 
 To be no better then a homely Swaine, 
 To fit vpon a hill, as I do now, 
 To carue out Dialls queintly, point by point, 
 Thereby to fee the Minutes how they runoe : 
 How many makes the Houre full compleate, 
 How many Houres brings about the Day, 
 How many Dayes will finifli vp the Yeare, 
 How many Yeares, a Mortall man may Hue. 
 When this is knowne, then to diuide the Times: 
 So many Houres, muft I tend my Flocke; 
 So many Houres, muft I take my Reft: 
 So many Houres, muft I Contemplate : 
 So many Houres, muft I Sport my felfe J 
 So many Dayes, my Ewes haue bene with yong : 
 So many weekes, ere the poore Fooles will Eane: 
 So many yeares, ere I fliall fheere the Fleece : 
 So Minutes, Houres, Dayes, Monthes,and Yeares, 
 Paft ouer to the end they were created, 
 Would bring white haires, vnto aXJjjiet graue. 
 Ah! what a life were this? How fweet? how louely ? 
 Giues not the Hawthorne bufli a fweeter fliade 
 To Shepheards, looking on their filly Sheepe, 
 Then doth a rich Imbroider'd Canopie 
 To Kings, that feare their Subiedts treacherie? 
 Oh yes, it doth; a thoufand fold it doth. 
 And to conclude, the Shepherds homely Curds, 
 
 His cold thinne drinke out of his Leather Bottle, 
 
 His wonted fleepe, vnder a frelh trees fliade, 
 
 All which fecure, and fweetly he enioyes, 
 
 Is farre beyond a Princes Delicates : 
 
 His Viands fparkling in a Golden Cup, 
 
 His bodie couched in a curious bed, 
 
 When Care, Miftruft, and Treafon waits on him. 
 
 Alarum. Enter a Sonne that bath tyird bis Father, at 
 
 one doore : and a Father that bath tyird bu Sonne at ano- 
 ther doore. 
 
 Son. Ill blowes the winde that profits no body, 
 This man whom hand to hand I flew in fight, 
 May be poflefled with fome ftore of Crownes, 
 And I that (haply) take them from him now, 
 May yet (ere night) yeeld both my Life and them 
 To fome man elfe, as this dead man doth me. 
 Who's this? Oh God! It is my Fathers face, 
 Whom in this Conflict,! (vnwares)haue kill'd : 
 Oh heauy times! begetting fuch Euents. 
 From London, by the King was I preft forth, 
 My Father being the Earle of Warwickes man, 
 Came on the part of Yorke, preft by his Mafter : 
 And I, who at his hands receiu'd my life, 
 Haue by my hands, of Life bereaued him. 
 Pardon me God, I knew not what I did : 
 And pardon Father, for I knew not thee. 
 My Teares fhall wipe away thefe bloody markes : 
 And no more words, till they haue flow'd their fill. 
 
 King. O pitteous fpectacle' O bloody Times ! 
 Whiles Lyons Warre,and battaile for their Dennes, 
 Poore harmlefie Lambes abide their enmity. 
 Weepe wretched man : lie ayde thee Teare for Teare, 
 And let our hearts and eyes, like Ciuill Warre, 
 Be blinde with teares,and break ore'charg'd with griefe 
 Enter Father, bearing of bis Sonne. 
 
 Fa. Thou that fo ftoutly hath relifted me, 
 Giue me thy Gold, if thou haft any Gold : 
 For I haue bought it with an hundred blowes. 
 But let me fee : Is this our Foe-mans face? 
 Ah, no, no, no, it is mineonely Sonne. 
 Ah Boy, if any life be left in thee, 
 Throw vp thine eye : fee, fee, what fhowres arife, 
 Blowne with the windie Tempeft of my heart, 
 Vpon thy wounds, that killes mine Eye,and Heart. 
 O pitty God, this miferable Age! 
 What Stragems* how fell? how Butcherly? 
 Erreoneous, mutinous, and vnnaturall, % 
 
 This deadly quarrell daily doth beget? 
 O Boy! thy Father gaue thee life too foone, 
 And hath bereft thee of thy life too late. 
 
 King. Wo aboue wo:greefe, more the common greefe 
 O that my death would ftay thefe ruthfull deeds : 
 O pitty, pitty, gentle heauen pitty : 
 The Red Rofe and the White are on his face, 
 The fatall Colours of our ftriuing Houfes : 
 The one, his purple Blood right well refembles, 
 The other his pale Cheekes(me thinkes )prefenteth : 
 Wither one Rofe, and let the other flourifli : 
 If you contend, a thoufand liues muft wither. 
 
 Sin. How will my Mother, for a Fathers death 
 Take on with me, and ne're be fatisfi'd ? 
 
 Fa. How will my Wife, for flaughter of my Sonne, 
 Shed feas of Teares. and ne're be fatisfi'd ? 
 
 King.How will the Country, for thefe woful chances, 
 
 Mif-thinke 
 
 49*
 
 The third^ art of ^jng Henry the Sixt. 
 
 '57 
 
 Mif-thinke the King, and not be fatisfied ? 
 
 Son. Was euer fonne, fo rew'd a Fathers death ? 
 
 Fatb. Was euer Father fo bemoan'd his Sonne ? 
 
 Hen. Was euer King fo greeu'd for Subiedb woe? 
 Much is your forrow; Mine, ten times fo much. 
 
 Son. lie beare thee hence, where I may weepe my fill. 
 
 Fatb.Thek armes of mine fliall be thy winding flieet : 
 My heart (fweet Boy) fliall be thy Sepulcher, 
 For from my heart, thine Image ne're fliall go. 
 My fighing breft, fliall be thy Funerall bell ; 
 And fo obfequious will thy Father be, 
 Men for the lofle of thee,hauing no more, 
 As Priam was for all his Valiant Sonnes, 
 He beare thee hence, and let them fight that will, 
 For I haue murthered where I fliould not kill. Exit 
 
 Hen. Sad-hearted-men, much ouergone with Care ; 
 Heere fits a King, more wofull then you are. 
 
 Alarums. Excurjions. Enter the Queen,tbe 
 Prince, and Exeter. 
 
 Prin. Fly Father, flye : for all your Friends are fled. 
 And Warwicke rages like a chared Bull : 
 Away, for death doth hold vs in purfuite. 
 
 Qu. Mount you my Lord, towards Barwicke poft a- 
 
 maine : 
 
 Edward and Richard like a brace of Grey-hounds, 
 Hauing the fearfull flying Hare in fight, 
 With fiery eyes,fparkling for very wrath, 
 And bloody fteele grafpt in their yrefull hands 
 Are at our bac Ices, and therefore hence amaine. 
 
 Sxet. Away : for vengeance comes along with them. 
 Nay, flay not to expoftulate, make fpeed, 
 Or elfe come after, He away before. 
 
 Hen. Nay take me with thee, good fweet Exeter: 
 Not that I feare to ftay, but loue to go 
 Whether the Queene intends. Forward, away. Exeunt 
 
 tA l<md alarum. Enter Clifford Wounded. 
 
 Clif. Heere burnes my Candle out; I,heere it dies, 
 Which whiles it lafted, gaue King Henry light. 
 O Lancafter] I feare thy ouerthrow, 
 More then my Bodies parting with my Soule : 
 My Loue and Feare, glew'd many Friends to thee, 
 And now I fall. Thy tough Commixtures melts, 
 Impairing Henry, ftrength'ning mifproud Yorke ; 
 And whether flye the Gnats, but to the Sunne ? 
 And who fliines now, but Henries Enemies ? 
 O Phoebus! had'ft thou neuer giuen confent, 
 That Phaeton fliould checke thy fiery Steeds, 
 Thy burning Carre neuer had fcorch'd the earth. 
 And Henry, had'ft thou fway'd as Kings fliould do, 
 Or as thy Father, and his Father did, 
 Gluing no ground vnto the houfe of Yorke, 
 They neuer then had fprung like Sommer Flyes : 
 I, and ten thoufand in this lucklefle Realme, 
 Hed left no mourning Widdowes for our death, 
 And thou this day, had'ft kept thy Chaire in peace. 
 For what doth cherrifli Weeds, but gentle ayre? 
 And what makes Robbers bold, but too much lenity ? 
 Bootlefle are Plaints, and Curelefle are my Wounds : 
 No way to flye, nor ftrength to hold out flight : 
 The Foe is mercilefle, and will not pitty : 
 For at their hands I haue deferu'd no pitty. 
 The ayre hath got into my deadly Wounds, 
 
 493 
 
 And much effufe of blood, doth make me faint: 
 Come Torfaand Richard, Wartvicfe, and the reft, 
 I ftab'd your Fathers bofomes; Split my breft. 
 
 Alarum & Retreat. Snter Edvrard, Warnic^e, Richard, and 
 
 Soldiers, Montague, & Clarence. 
 
 </.Now breath we Lords, good fortune bids vs paufe, 
 And fmooth the frownes of War, with peacefull lookes : 
 Some Troopes purfue the bloody-minded Queene, 
 That led calme Henry, though he were a King, 
 As doth a Saile, fill'd with a fretting Guft 
 Command an Argofie to ftemme the Waues. 
 But thinke you(Lords)that Clifford fled with them? 
 
 War. No, 'tis impofsible he fliould efcape : 
 (For though before his face I fpeake the words) 
 Your Brother Richard markt him for the Graue, 
 And wherefoere he is, hee's furely dead. (Clifford gronei 
 
 Rich. Whofe foule is that which takes hir heauy leaue? 
 A deadly grone, like life and deaths departing. 
 See who it is. 
 
 Ed. And now the Battailes ended, 
 If Friend or Foe, let him be gently vfed. 
 
 Rich. Reuoke that doome of mercy, for 'tis Clifford, 
 Who not contented that he lopp'd the Branch 
 In hewing Rutland, when his leaues put forth, 
 But fet his murth'ring knife vnto the Roote, 
 From whence that tender fpray did fweetly fpring, 
 I meane our Princely Father, Duke of Yorke. 
 
 War. From off" the gates of Yorke, fetch down y head, 
 Your Fathers head, which Clifford placed there : 
 In ftead whereof, let this fupply the roome, 
 Meafure for meafure, muft be anfwered. 
 
 Ed.Bring forth that fatall Schreechowle to our houfe, 
 That nothing fung but death, to vs and ours : 
 Now death fliall flop his difmall threatning found, 
 And his ill-boading tongue.no more fliall fpeake. 
 
 War. I thinke is vnderftanding is bereft: 
 Speake Clifford, doft thou know who fpeakes to thee ? 
 Darke cloudy death ore-fliades his beames of life, 
 And he nor fees, nor heares vs, what we fay. 
 
 Rich. O would he did, and fo ( perhaps )he doth, 
 *Tis but his policy to counteract, 
 Becaufe he would auoid fuch bitter taunts 
 Which in the time of death he gaue our Father. 
 
 Cla. If fo thou think'ft, 
 Vex him with eager Words. 
 
 Rich. Clifford, aske mercy, and obtaine no grace. 
 
 Ed. Clifford, repent in bootiefle penitence. 
 
 War. Clifford, deuife excufes for thy faults. 
 
 Cla. While we deuife fell Tortures for thy faults. 
 
 Rich. Thou didd'ft loue Yorke, and I am fon to Yorke. 
 
 Edtv. Thou pittied'ft Rutland,! will pitty thee: 
 
 Cla. Where's Captaine <&>fargaret,to fence you now? 
 
 War. They mocke thee Clifford, 
 Sweare as thou was't wont. 
 
 Ric. What, not an Oath? Nay then the world go's hard 
 When Clifford cannot fpare his Friends an oath : 
 I know by that he's dead, and by my Soule, 
 If this right hand would buy two houres life, 
 That I(in all defpight) might rayle at him, 
 This hand fliould chop it off : & with the iffuing Blood 
 Stifle the Villaine,whofe vnftanched thirft 
 Yorke, and yong Rutland could not fatisfie 
 
 War. I, but he's dead. Of with the Traitors head, 
 And reare it in the place your Fathers (lands. 
 And now to London with Triumphant march, 
 
 p 3 There
 
 158 
 
 third ^art ofJ^jng Henry the Sixt. 
 
 There to be crowned Englands Royall King : 
 
 From whence, fhall Warwicke cut the Sea to France, 
 
 And aske the Ladie Etna for thy Queene : 
 
 So fhalt thou finow both thefe Lands together, 
 
 And hauing France thy Friend, thou flialt not dread 
 
 The fcattred Foe, that hopes to rife againe : 
 
 For though they cannot greatly fting to hurt, 
 
 Yet looke to haue them buz to offend thine eares : 
 
 Firft, will I fee the Coronation, 
 
 And then to Britanny lie crofle the Sea, 
 
 To effect this marriage, fo it pleafe my Lord. 
 
 Bd. Euen as thou wilt fweet Warwicke, let it bee : 
 For in thy flioulder do 1 builde my Seate ; 
 And neuer will I vndertake the thing 
 Wherein thy counfaile and confent is wanting: 
 Richard, I will create thee Duke of Gloucefter, 
 And George of Clarence ; Warwicke as our Selfe, 
 Shall do, and vndo as him p'leafeth beft. 
 
 Rich. Let me be Duke of Clarence, George of Glofter, 
 For Glofters Dukedome is too ominous. 
 
 War. Tut, that's a fbolifh obferuation : 
 Richard, be Duke of Glofter : Now to London, 
 To fee thefe Honors in pofTeflion. Exeunt 
 
 Enter Sin%/o,and Humfrey,v?itb Crcffe-iowes 
 in their bands. 
 
 (our felues: 
 
 Sin%. Vnder this thicke growne brake, wee'l fhrowd 
 For through this Laund anon the Deere will come, 
 And in this couert will we make our Stand, 
 Culling the principall of all the Deere. 
 
 Hum. He ftay aboue the hill, fo both may /hoot. 
 
 Siul^. That cannot be, the noife of thy Crofle-bow 
 Will fcarre the Heard, and fo my fhoot is loft: 
 Heere ftand we both, and ayme we at the beft : 
 And for the time fhall not feeme tedious, 
 He tell thee what befell me on a day, 
 In this felfe-place, where now we meane to ftand. 
 
 '. Heere comes a man, let's ftay till he be paft: 
 Enter the King with a Prayer boo^e. 
 
 Hen. From Scotland am I ftolne euen of pure loue, 
 To greet mine owne Land with my wifhfull fight : 
 No Harry, Harry, 'tis no Land of thine, 
 Thy place is fill'd, thy Scepter wrung from thee, 
 Thy Balme wafht off, wherewith thou was Annointed : 
 No bending knee will call thee Cajar now, 
 No humble futers preafe to fpeake for right : 
 No, not a man comes for redrefTe of thee : 
 For how can I helpe them, and not my felfe ? 
 
 Sin%. I, heere's a Deere, whofe skin's a Keepers Fee : 
 This is the quondam King ; Let's feize vpon him. 
 
 Hen. Let me embrace the fower Aduerfaries, 
 For Wife men fay, it is the wifeft courfe. 
 
 Hum. Why linger we? Let vs lay hands vpon him. 
 
 &'. Forbeare a-while, wee'l heare a little more. 
 
 Hen. My Queene and Son are gone to France for aid: 
 And (as I heare )the great Commanding Warwicke 
 I: thither gone, to craue the French Kings Sifter 
 To wife for Edward. If this newes be true, 
 Poore Queene, and Sonne,your labour is but loft: 
 For Warwicke is a fubtle Orator : 
 And Lewis a Prince foone wonne with mouing words: 
 By this account then, Margaret rmy winne him, 
 For fhe's a woman to be pittied much : 
 Her fighes will make a batt'ry in his breft, 
 Her teares will pierce into a Marble heart : 
 
 The Tyger will be milde, whiles fhe doth mourne ; 
 
 And Nero will be tainted with remorfe, 
 
 To heare and fee her plaints, her Brinifh Teares. 
 
 I, but fhee's come to begge, Warwicke to giue : 
 
 Shee on his left fide, crauing ayde for Henrie ; 
 
 He on his right, asking a wife for Edward. 
 
 Shee Weepes, and fayes, her Henry is depos'd: 
 
 He Smiles, and fayes, his Edward is inftaul'd; 
 
 That fhe (poore Wretch) for greefe can fpeake no more: 
 
 Whiles Warwicke tels his Title, fmooths the Wrong, 
 
 Inferreth arguments of mighty ftrength, 
 
 And in conclufion winnes the King from her, 
 
 With promife of his Sifter, and what elfe, 
 
 To ftrengthen and fupport King Edwards place. 
 
 O Margaret, thus 'twill be, and thou (poore foule) 
 
 Art then forfaken,as thou went'ft forlorne. 
 
 Hum. Say, what art thou talk'ft of Kings & Queens? 
 
 King.More then I feeme, and lefle then I was born to: 
 A man at leaft, for lefle I fhould not be : 
 And men may talke of Kings, and why not I? 
 
 Hum. I, but thou talk'ft, as if thou wer't a King. 
 
 King. Why fo I am (in Minde)and that's enough. 
 
 Hum. B"ut if thou be a King, where is thy Crowne ? 
 
 King. My Crowne is in my heart, not on my head : 
 Not deck'd with Diamonds,and Indian ftones : 
 Nor to be feene : my Crowne, is call'd Content, 
 A Crowne it is, that fildome Kings enioy. 
 
 Hum. Well, if you be a King crown'd with Content, 
 Your Crowne Content,and you,muft be contented 
 To go along with vs. For (as %ve thinke) 
 You are the king King Edward hath depos'd : 
 And we his fubiefts, Iworne in all Allegeance, 
 Will apprehend you, as his Enemie. 
 
 King. But did you neuer fweare,and breake an Oath. 
 
 Hum. No, neuer fuch an Oath, nor will not now. 
 
 King. Where did you dwell when I was K. of England? 
 
 Hum. Heere in this Country, where we now remaine. 
 
 King. I was annointed King at nine monthes old, 
 My Father,and my Grandfather were Kings: 
 And you were fworne true Subiedts vnto me: 
 And tell me then, haue you not broke your Oathes? 
 
 Stn.No, for we were Subie6ts, but while you wer king 
 King. Why? Am I dead? Do I not breath a Man? 
 Ah fimple men, you know not what you fweare : 
 Looke, as I blow this Feather from my Face, 
 And as the Ayre blowes it to me againe, 
 Obeying with my winde when I do blow, 
 And yeelding to another, when it blowes, 
 Commanded alwayes by the greater guft : 
 Such is the lightnefTe of you, common men. 
 But do not breake your Oathes, for of that finne, 
 My milde intreatie fhall not make you guiltie. 
 Go where you will, the king fhall be commanded, 
 And be you kings, command, and He obey. 
 
 Single. We are true Subiedb to the king, 
 King Edward. 
 
 King. So would you be againe to Henrie, 
 If he were feated as king Edward is. 
 
 Sint(lo. We charge you in Gods name & the Kings, 
 To go with vs vnto the Officers. 
 
 King. In Gods name lead, your Kings name be obeyd, 
 And what God will, that let your King performe, 
 And what he will, I humbly yeeld vnto. Exeunt 
 
 Enter K.Sdward, Glofter, Clarence, Lady Gray. 
 King. Brother of Glofter,at S.Albons field 
 
 This 
 
 494
 
 The third 'Part of Rjng Henry the Sixt. 
 
 This Ladyes Husband, Sir Richard Grey, was flaine, 
 His Land then feiz'd on by the Conqueror, 
 Her fuit is now, to repofTefle thofe Lands, 
 Which wee in luftice cannot well deny, 
 Becaufe in Quarrell of the Houfe of Torfy, 
 The worthy Gentleman did lofe his Life. 
 
 ^/c/&.Your Highnefie fhall doe well to graunt her fuit: 
 It were difhonor to deny it her. 
 
 King. It were no lefle, but yet He make a pawfe. 
 
 1(icb. Yea, is it fo : 
 I fee the Lady hath a thing to graunt, 
 Before the King will graunt her humble fuit. 
 
 Clarence. Hee knowes the Game, how true hee keepes 
 the winde f 
 
 Rich. Silence. 
 
 King. Widow, we will confider of your fuit, 
 And come fome other time to know our minde. 
 
 Wid. Right gracious Lord, I cannot brooke delay: 
 May it pleafe your HighnefTe to refolue me now, 
 And what your pleafure is, fhall fatisfie me. 
 
 Rich. I Widow? then lie warrant you all your Lands, 
 And if what pleafes him, fhall pleafure you : 
 Fight clofer, or good faith you'le catch a Blow. 
 
 Clarence. I feare her not,vnlefle fhe chance to fall. 
 
 Rich. God forbid that, for hee'le take vantages. 
 
 King. How many Children haft thou, Widow? tell 
 me. 
 
 Clarence. I thinke he meanes to begge a Child of her. 
 
 Rich. Nay then whip me : hee'le rather giue her two. 
 
 Wid. Three, my moft gracious Lord. 
 
 Rich. You fhall haue foure, if you'le be rul'd by him. 
 
 King. 'Twere pittie they fhould lofe their Fathers 
 Lands. 
 
 Wid. Be pittifull, dread Lord, and graunt it then. 
 
 King. Lords giue vs leaue , He trye this Widowes 
 wit. 
 
 Rich. I, good leaue haue you, for you will haue leaue, 
 Till Youth take leaue,and leaue you to the Crutch. 
 
 King. Now tell me , Madame , doe you loue your 
 Children ? 
 
 Wid. I, full as dearely as I loue my felfe. 
 
 King. And would you not doe much to doe them 
 good ? 
 
 Wid. To doe them good, I would fuflayne fome 
 harme. 
 
 King. Then get your Husbands Lands, to doe them 
 good. 
 
 Wid. Therefore I came vnto your Maieftie. 
 
 King. He tell you how thefe Lands are to be got. 
 
 Wid. So fhall you bind me to your Highnefle feruice. 
 
 King. What feruice wilt thou doe me, if 1 giue them? 
 
 Wid. What you command, that reftsin me to doe. 
 
 King. But you will take exceptions to my Boone. 
 
 Wid. No, gracious Lord, except I cannot doe it. 
 
 King. I, but thou canft doe what I meane to aske. 
 
 Wid. Why then I will doe what your Grace com- 
 mands. 
 
 Rich. Hee plyes her hard, and much Raine weares the 
 Marble. 
 
 Clar. As red as fire f nay then, her Wax muft melt. 
 
 Wid. Why ftoppes my Lord ? fhall I not heare my 
 Taske ? 
 
 King. An eafie Taske,'tis but to loue a King. 
 
 Wid. That's foone perform'd, becaufe I am a Subiecl. 
 
 King. Why then, thy Husbands Lands I freely giue 
 thee. 
 
 495 
 
 Wid. I take my leaue with many thoufand thankes. 
 
 Rich. The Match is made, fhee feales it with a Curfie. 
 
 King. But flay thee, 'tis the fruits of loue I meane. 
 
 Wid. The fruits of Loue, I meane,my louing Liege. 
 
 King. I, but I feare me in another fence. 
 What Loue, think'ft thou, I fue fo much to get? 
 
 Wid. My loue till death, my humble thanks, my prayers, 
 That loue which Vertue begges,and Vertue graunts. 
 
 King. No, by my troth,! did not meane fuch loue. 
 
 Wid. Why then you meane not,as I thought you did. 
 
 King. But now you partly may perceiue my minde. 
 
 Wid. My minde will neuer graunt what I perceiue 
 Your Highnefle aymes at, if I ayme aright. 
 
 King. To tell thee plaine,! ayme to lye with thee. 
 
 Wid. To tell you plaine,! had rather lye in Prifon. 
 
 King. Why then thou fhalt not haue thy Husbands 
 Lands. 
 
 Wid. Why then mine Honeftie fhall be my Dower, 
 For by that lofle,! will not purchafe them. 
 
 King. Therein thou wrong'ft thy Children mightily. 
 
 Wid. Herein your Highnefle wrongs both them & me: 
 But mightie Lord, this merry inclination 
 Accords not with the fadnefle of my fuit : 
 Pleafe you difmifle me,eyther with I, or no. 
 
 King. I, if thou wilt fay I to my requeft : 
 No, if thou do'ft fay No to my demand. 
 
 Wid. Then No, my Lord: my iuh is at an end. 
 
 Rich. The Widow likes him not , fhee knits her 
 Browes, 
 
 Clarence. Hee is the blunteft Wooer in Chriften- 
 dome. 
 
 King. Her Looks doth argue her replete with Modefty, 
 Her Words doth fhew her Wit incomparable, 
 All her perfections challenge Soueraigntie, 
 One way, or other, fhee is for a King, 
 And fhee fhall be my Loue, or elfe my Queen e. 
 Say, that King Bdward take thee for his Queene ? 
 
 Wid. 'Tis better faid then done, my gracious Lord: 
 I am a fubiedt fit to ieaft withall, 
 But farre vnfit to be a Soueraigne. 
 
 King. Sweet Widow, by my State I fweare to thee, 
 I fpeake no more then what my Soule intends, 
 And that is, to enioy thee for my Loue. 
 
 Wid. And that is more then I will yeeld vnto : 
 I know, I am too meane to be your Queene, 
 And yet too good to be your Concubine. 
 
 King. You cauill, Widow, I did meane my Queene. 
 
 Wid. 'Twill grieue your Grace, my Sonnes fhould call 
 you Father. 
 
 King. No more, then when my Daughters 
 Call thee Mother. 
 
 Thou art a Widow, and thou haft fome Children, 
 And by Gods Mother, I being but a Batchelor, 
 Haue other-fome. Why, 'tis a happy thing, 
 To be the Father vnto many Sonnes : 
 Anfwer no more, for thou fhalt be my Queene. 
 
 Rich. The Ghoftly Father now hath done his Shrifr. 
 
 Clarence. When hee was made a Shriuer, 'twas for fhift. 
 
 King. Brothers, you mufe what Chat wee two haue 
 had. 
 
 Rich. The Widow likes it not, for fhee lookes very 
 fad. 
 
 King. You'ld thinke it ftrange, if I fhould marrie 
 her. 
 
 Clarence. To who, my Lord ? 
 
 King. Why Clarence, to my felfe. 
 
 "Rjcb. That
 
 i6o 
 
 The third fart offing Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Rich. That would be tenne dayes wonder at the leaft. 
 Clarence. That's a day longer then a Wonder lafts. 
 Rich. By fo much is the Wonder in extremes. 
 King. Well,ieaft on Brothers: I can tell you both, 
 Her fuit is graunted for her Husbands Lands. 
 
 Enter a Noble man. 
 
 Nob. My gracious Lord, Henry your Foe is taken, 
 And brought your Prifoner to your Pallace Gate. 
 
 King. See that he be conuey'd vnto the Tower : 
 And goe wee Brothers to the man that tooke him, 
 To queftion of his apprehenfion. 
 Widow goe you along: Lords vfe her honourable. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Manet Richard. 
 
 Rich. I, Edward will vfe Women honourably: 
 Would he were wafted, Marrow, Bones, and all, 
 That from his Loynes no hopefull Branch may fpring, 
 To crofie me from the Golden time I looke for: 
 And yet, betweene my Soules delire,and me, 
 The luftfull Edwards Title buryed, 
 Is Clarence, Henry, and his Sonne young Edward, 
 And all the vnlook'd-for Iflue of their Bodies, 
 To take their Roomes, ere I can place my felfe: 
 A cold premeditation for my purpofe. 
 Why then I doe but dreame on Soueraigntie, 
 Like one that ftands vpon a Promontorie, 
 And fpyes a farre-off fhore, where hee would tread, 
 Wifhing his foot were equall with his eye, 
 And chides the Sea, that funders him from thence, 
 Saying,hee'le lade it dry, to haue his way : 
 So doe I wifh the Crowne, being fo farre off, 
 And fo I chide the meanes that keepes me from it, 
 And fo (I fay) He cut the Caufes off, 
 Flattering me with impoflibilities : 
 My Eyes too quicke,my Heart o're-weenes too much, 
 Vnleffe my Hand and Strength could equall them. 
 Well, fay there is no Kingdome then for Richard: 
 What other Pleafure can the World affoord ? 
 He make my Heauen in a Ladies Lappe, 
 And decke my Body in gay Ornaments, 
 And 'witch fweet Ladies with my Words and Lookes. 
 Oh miferable Thought! and more vnlikely, 
 Then to accomplish twentie Golden Crownes. 
 Why Loue forfwore me in my Mothers Wombe: 
 And for I Should not deale in her foft Lawes, 
 Shee did corrupt frayle Nature with fome Bribe, 
 To fhrinke mine Arme vp like a wither'd Shrub, 
 To make an enuious Mountaine on my Back, 
 Where fits Deformitie to mocke my Body ; 
 To Shape my Legges of an vnequall fize, 
 To dif-proportion me in euery part : 
 Like to a Chaos, or an vn-lick'd Beare-whelpe, 
 That carryes no impreflion like the Damme. 
 And am I then a man to be belou'd ? 
 Oh monftrous fault, to harbour fuch a thought. 
 Then fince this Earth affbords no loy to me, 
 But to command, to check, to o're-beare fuch, 
 As are of better Perfon then my Strife : 
 He make my Heauen, to dreame vpon the Crowne, 
 And whiles 1 liue, t'account this World but Hell, 
 Vntill my mis-Shap'd Tninke, that beares this Head, 
 Be round impaled with a glorious Crowne. 
 And yet I know not how to get the Crowne, 
 For many Liues (land betweene me and home : 
 
 And I, like one loft in a Thornie Wood, 
 
 That rents the Thornes, and is rent with the Thornes, 
 
 Seeking a way, and ftraying from the way, 
 
 Not knowing how to finde the open Ayre, 
 
 But toyling defperately to finde it out, 
 
 Torment my felfe, to catch the Englifli Crowne : 
 
 And from that torment I will free my felfe, 
 
 Or hew my way out with a bloody Axe. 
 
 Why I can fmile, and murther whiles I fmile, 
 
 And cry, Content, to that which grieues my Heart, 
 
 And wet my Cheekes with artificial! Teares, 
 
 And frame my Face to all occafions. 
 
 He drowne more Saylers then the Mermaid Shall, 
 
 lie flay more gazers then the Bafiliske, 
 
 He play the Orator as well as Ncjlor, 
 
 Deceiue more flyly then VHJJes could, 
 
 And like a Synon, take another Troy. 
 
 I can adde Colours to the Camelion, 
 
 Change Shapes with Protein, for aduantages, 
 
 And let the murtherous <&facbeuill to Schoole. 
 
 Can I doe this, and cannot get a Crowne ? 
 
 Tut, were it farther off, He plucke it downe. Exit. 
 
 Flourijh. 
 
 Enter Leant the French King, bis Sister f Bona, his 
 tAdmirall, calfd 'Bourbon : Prince Edward, 
 Queene Margaret, and the Sarle of Oxford. 
 Lewis Jits , and rifetb vf againe. 
 
 Lewis. Faire Queene of England, worthy Margaret, 
 Sit downe with vs : it ill befits thy State, 
 And Birth, that thou fliould'ft ftand, while Lewis doth fit. 
 
 Marg. No, mightie King of France: now Margaret 
 Muft ftrike her fayle, and learne a while to ferue, 
 Where Kings command. I was (I muft confeffe) 
 Great Albions Queene, in former Golden dayes : 
 But now mifchance hath trod my Title downe, 
 And with dif-honor layd me on the ground, 
 Where I muft take like Seat vnto my fortune, 
 And to my humble Seat conforme my felfe. 
 
 Lewis. Why fay, faire Queene, whence fprings this 
 deepe defpaire? 
 
 Marg.ftom fuch a caufe,as fills mine eyes with teares, 
 And ftops my tongue, while heart is drown'd in cares. 
 
 Lewis. What ere it be, be thou ftill like thy felfe, 
 And fit thee by our fide. Seats her by him. 
 
 Yeeld not thy necke to Fortunes yoake, 
 But let thy dauntlefle minde ftill ride in triumph, 
 Ouer all mifchance. 
 
 Be plaine, Queene Margaret, and tell thy griefe, 
 It Shall be eas'd, if France can yeeld reliefe. 
 
 Marg. Thofe gracious words 
 Reuiue my drooping thoughts, 
 And giue my tongue-ty'd forrowes leaue to fpeake. 
 Now therefore be it knowne to Noble Lewis, 
 That Henry, fole pofleflbr of my Loue, 
 Is, of a King, become a baniSht man, 
 And forc'd to liue in Scotland a Forlorne ; 
 While prowd ambitious Edward, Duke of Yorke, 
 Vfurpes the Regall Title, and the Seat 
 Of Englands true anoynted lawful! King. 
 This is the caufe that I, poore ^Margaret, 
 With this my Sonne, Prince Edward, Henries Heire, 
 Am come to craue thy iuft and lawfull ayde : 
 And if thou faile vs, all our hope is done. 
 Scotland hath will to helpe,but cannot helpe : 
 
 Our 
 
 496
 
 'The third ^Part offing Henry the Sixt. 
 
 161 
 
 Our Peqple,and our Peeres,are both mis-led, 
 Our Treafure feiz'd,our Souldiorsput to flight, 
 And (as thou feeftj our felues in heauie plight. 
 
 Lewis. Renowned Queene, 
 With patience calme the Storme, 
 While we bethinke a meanes to breake it off. 
 
 Marg. The more wee ftay, the ftronger growes our 
 Foe. 
 
 Lewis. The more I ftay, the more He fuccour thee. 
 
 Marg. O,but impatience waiteth on true forrow. 
 And fee where comes the breeder of my forrow. 
 
 Enter Warwicfy. 
 
 Lewis. What's hee approacheth boldly to our pre- 
 fence ? 
 
 Marg. Our Earle of Warwicke, Edwards greateft 
 Friend. 
 
 Lewis, Welcome braue WarwlcJ^e, what brings thee 
 to France ? Hee descends. Shee arifetb. 
 
 Marg. I now begins a fecond Storme to rife, 
 For this is hee that moues both Winde and Tyde. 
 
 Warty. From worthy Edward, King of Albion, 
 My Lord and Soueraigne,and thy vowed Friend, 
 I come (in KindnefTe, and vnfayned Loue^ 
 Firft, to doe greetings to thy Royall Perfon, 
 And then to craue a League of Amitie : 
 And laftly,to confirme that Amitie 
 With Nuptiall Knot, if thou vouchfafe to graunt 
 That vertuous Lady 'Bona,thy faire Sifter, 
 To Englands King,in lawfull Marriage. 
 
 Marg. If that goe forward, Henries hope is done. 
 
 Wartv. And gracious Madame, Spealyng to "Bona. 
 
 In our Kings behalfe, 
 
 I am commanded, with your leaue and fauor, 
 Humbly to kifle your Hand, and with my Tongue 
 To tell the paflion of my Soueraignes Heart ; 
 Where Fame, late entring at his heedfull Eares, 
 Hath plac'd thy Beauties Image, and thy Vertue. 
 
 Marg. King Lewis,and Lady 'Bona, heare me fpeake, 
 Before you anfwer Warwic^e. His demand 
 Springs not from Edwards welKmeant honeft Loue, 
 But from Deceit, bred by Neceflitie: 
 For how can Tyrants fafely gouerne home, 
 VnlefTe abroad they purchafe great allyance? 
 To proue him Tyrant, this reafon may fuffice, 
 That Henry liueth ftill : but were hee dead, 
 Yet here Prince Edward ftands, King Henries Sonne. 
 Looke therefore Lewis, that by this League and Mariage 
 Thou draw not on thy Danger, and Dis-honor: 
 For though Vfurpers fway the rule a while, 
 Yet Heau'ns are iuft,and Time fupprefleth Wrongs, 
 
 Warw. Injurious cflfargaret. 
 Edw. And why not Queene ? 
 
 Warw. Becaufe thy Father Henry did vfurpe, 
 And thou no more art Prince, then fliee is Queene. 
 
 Oxf. Then Warwicke difanulls great lohn of Gaunt, 
 Which did fubdue the greateft part of Spaine ; 
 And after lohn of Gaunt, Henry the Fourth, 
 Whofe Wifdome was a Mirror to the wifeft : 
 And after that wife Prince, Henry the Fift, 
 Who by his ProwefTe conquered all France : 
 From thefe,our Henry lineally defcends. 
 
 Warw. Oxford,how haps it in this fmooth difcourfe, 
 You told not,how Henry the Sixt hath loft 
 All that, which Henry the Fift had gotten : 
 
 497 
 
 Me thinkes thefe Peeres of France fhould fmile at that. 
 But for the reft ; you tell a Pedigree 
 Of threefcore and two yeeres,a filly time 
 To make prefcription for a Kingdomes worth. 
 
 Oxf. Why Warwlcl\e, canft thou fpeak againft thy Liege, 
 Whom thou obeyd'ft thirtie and fix yeeres, 
 And not bewray thy Treafon with a Blufh ? 
 
 Warw. Can Oxford, that did euer fence the right, 
 Now buckler Falsehood with a Pedigree? 
 For fhame leaue Henry, and call Edward King. 
 
 Oxf. Call him my King, by whofe iniurious doome 
 My eider Brother, the Lord ^Aubrey Vere 
 Was done to death ? and more then fo, my Father, 
 Euen in the downe-fall of his mellow'd yeeres, 
 When Nature brought him to the doore of Death? 
 No Warwic^e, no: while Life vpholds this Arme, 
 This Arme vpholds the Houfe of Lancajier. 
 
 Warw. And I the Houfe of Torkf. 
 
 Lewis. Queene Margaret, Prince Sdvard,and Oxford, 
 Vouchfafe at our requeft,to ftand afide, 
 While I vfe further conference with Warwicke. 
 They ftand aloofe. 
 
 Marg. Heauens graunt, that Warwicfys wordes be- 
 witch him not. 
 
 Lew. Now Warwicke, ttll me euen vpon thy confcience 
 Is Sdward your true King ? for I were loth 
 To linke with him, that were not lawfull chofen. 
 
 Warw. Thereon I pawne my Credit, and mine Ho- 
 nor. 
 
 Lewis. But is hee gracious in the Peoples eye ? 
 
 Warw. The more, that Henry was vnfortunate. 
 
 Lewis. Then further : all diffembling fet afide, 
 Tell me for truth, the meafure of his Loue 
 Vnto our Sifter Bona. 
 
 War. Such it feemes, 
 As may befeeme a Monarch like himfelfe. 
 My felfe haue often heard him fay, and fweare, 
 That this his Loue was an externall Plant, 
 Whereof the Root was fixt in Vertues ground, 
 The Leaues and Fruit maintain'd with Beauties Sunne, 
 Exempt from Enuy, but not from Difdaine, 
 Vnleffe the Lady 'Bona quit his paine. 
 
 Lewis. Now Sifter, let vs heare your firme refolue. 
 
 Bona. Your graunt,or your denyall,mall be mine. 
 Yet I confefTe, that often ere this day, Speaks to War. 
 When I haue heard your Kings defert recounted, 
 Mine eare hath tempted iudgement to defire. 
 
 Lewis. Then Warwicl^e, thus : 
 Our Sifter fhall be Edwards. 
 And now forthwith fhall Articles be drawne, 
 Touching the loynture that your King muft make, 
 Which with her Dowrie fhall be counter- poys'd: 
 Draw neere, Queene Margaret, and be a witnefTe, 
 ThafBona fhall be Wife to the Englifh King. 
 
 Pr.Edw. To Edward, but not to the Englifh King. 
 
 Marg. Deceitfull ffarwicfait was thy deuice, 
 By this alliance to make void my fuit : 
 Before thy comming, Lewis was Henries friend. 
 
 Lewis. And ftill is friend to him, and Margaret. 
 But if your Title to theCrowne be weake, 
 As may appeare by Edwards good fuccefle : 
 Then 'tis but reafon, that I be releas'd 
 From giuing ayde, which late I promifed. 
 Yet fhall you haue all kindnefie at my hand, 
 That your Eftate requires, and mine can yeeld. 
 
 Warw. Henry now liues in Scotland, at his eafe; 
 
 Where
 
 162 
 
 The third ^art offing Henry the Sixt. 
 
 Where hauing nothing; nothing can he lofe. 
 And as for you your felfe (our quondam Queene) 
 You haue a Father able to maintaine you, 
 And better 'twere, you troubled him, then France. 
 
 Mar. Peace impudent, and fliamelefie Warwicke, 
 Proud fetter vp, and puller downe of Kings, 
 I will not hence, till with my Talke and Teares 
 (Both full of Truth) I make King Lewis behold 
 Thy flye conueyance,and thy Lords falfe loue, 
 
 Toft blowing a borne Within. 
 For both of you are Birds of felfe-fame Feather. 
 
 Lewes. Warwicke, this is fome pofte to vs, or thee. 
 Enter the Pofte. 
 
 Poft. My Lord AmbafTador, 
 
 Thefe Letters are for you. Speafys to WarwicI^, 
 
 Sent from your Brother Marquefle Montague. 
 Thefe from our King, vnto your Maiefty. To Lewis. 
 
 And Madam, thefe for you: To Margaret 
 
 From whom, I know not. 
 
 They all reade their Letters. 
 
 Oxf. I like it well, that our faire Queene and Miftris 
 Smiles at her newes, while fParwicke frownes at his. 
 
 Prince Ed. Nay marke how Lewis ftampes as he were 
 netled. I hope, all's for the beft. 
 
 Lew, Warwicke, what are thy Newes? 
 And yours, faire Queene. 
 
 Mar. Mine fuch,as fill my heart with vnhop'd ioyes. 
 
 War. Mine full of forrow, and hearts difcontent. 
 
 Lew. What? has your King married the Lady Grey ? 
 And now to footh your Forgery, and his, 
 Sends me a Paper to perfwade me Patience ? 
 Is this th'Alliance that he feekes with France ? 
 Dare he prefume to fcorne vs in this manner? 
 
 Mar. I told your Maiefty as much before : 
 This proueth Edwards Loue, and Warwickes honefty. 
 
 War. King Lewis, I heere proteft in fight of heauen, 
 And by the hope I haue of heauenly blifle, 
 That I am cleere from this mifdeed of Edwards} 
 No more my King, for he difhonors me, 
 But moft himfelfe, if he could fee his mame. 
 Did I forget, that by the Houfe of Yorke 
 My Father came vntimely to his death ? 
 Did I let pafle th'abufe done to my Neece ? 
 Did I impale him with the Regall Crowne ? 
 Did I put Henry from his Natiue Right ? 
 And am I guerdon'd at the laft, with Shame ? 
 Shame on himfelfe, for my Defert is Honor. 
 And to repaire my Honor loft for him, 
 I heere renounce him, and returne to Henry. 
 My Noble Queene, let former grudges pafle, 
 And henceforth, I am thy true iseruitour : 
 I will reuenge his wrong to Lady 'Bona, 
 And replant Henry in his former ftate. 
 
 <&far. Warwicke, 
 
 Thefe words haue turn'd my Hate, to Loue, 
 And I forgiue, and quite forget old faults, 
 And ioy that thou becom'ft King Henries Friend. 
 
 War. So much his Friend, i,his vnfained Friend, 
 That if King Lewis vouchfafe to furnifli vs 
 With fome few Bands of chofen Soldiours, 
 lie vndertake to Land them on our Coaft, 
 And force the Tyrant from his feat by Warre. 
 'Tis not his new-made Bride {hall fuccour him. 
 And as for Clarence, as my Letters tell me, 
 Hee's very likely now to fall from him, 
 For matching more for wanton Luft,then Honor, 
 
 Or then for ftrength and fafety of our Country. . 
 
 'Bona. Deere Brother, how fliall Sana be reueng'd, 
 But by thy helpe to this diftrefled Queene ? 
 
 Mar. Renowned Prince, how fliall Poore Henry Hue, 
 VnlefTe thou rekue him from foule difpaire ? 
 
 Bona. My quarrel, and this Englifh Queens, are one. 
 
 War. And mine faire Lady ^Boij,ioynes with yours. 
 
 Lew. And mine, with hers,and thine, and Margarets. 
 Therefore, at laft, I firmely am refolu'd 
 1 You fhall haue ayde. 
 
 Mar. Let me giue humble thankes for all, at once. 
 
 Lew. Then Enghnds Meflenger, returne in Pofte, 
 And tell falfe Edward, thy fuppofed King, 
 That Lewis of France, is fending ouer Maskers 
 To reuell it with him, and his new Bride. 
 Thou feeft what's paft,go feare thy King withall. 
 
 Bona. Tell him, in hope hee'l proue a widower fliortly, 
 I weare the Willow Garland for his fake. 
 
 Mar. Tell him, my mourning weeds are layde afide, 
 And I am ready to put Armor on. 
 
 War. Tell him from me, that he hath done me wrong, 
 And therefore He vn-Crowne him, er't be long. 
 There's thy reward, be gone. Exit Poft. 
 
 Lew. But Warwicke, 
 
 i Thou and Oxford, with fiue thoufand men 
 Shall crofle the Seas,and bid falfe Edward battaile: 
 And as occafion femes, this Noble Queen 
 And Prince, mail follow with a frefli Supply. 
 Yet ere thou go, but anfwer me one doubt : 
 What Pledge haue we of thy firme Loyalty? 
 
 War. This fliall aflure my conftant Loyalty, 
 That if our Queene, and this young Prince agree, 
 lie ioyne mine eldeft daughter,and my Ioy, 
 To him forthwith, in holy Wedlocke bands. 
 
 Mar. Yes, I agree, and thanke you for your Motion. 
 Sonne Edward, me is Faire and Vertuous, 
 Therefore delay not, giue thy hand to Warwicke, 
 And with thy hand, thy faith irreuocable, 
 That onely Warwickes daughter lhall be thine. 
 
 Trin.Ed. Yes, I accept her, for flie well deferues it, 
 And heere to pledge my Vow, I giue my hand. 
 
 He giues bis hand to Warw. 
 
 Lew. Why ftay we now ? Thefe foldiers flialbe leuied, 
 And thou Lord Bourbon, our High Admirall 
 Shall waft them ouer with our Royall Fleete. 
 I long till Edward fall by Warres mifchance, 
 For mocking Marriage with a Dame of France. 
 
 Exeunt. Manet Warwicke. 
 
 War. I came from Edward as Ambaflador, 
 But I returne his fworne and mortall Foe : 
 Matter of Marriage was the charge he gaue me, 
 But dreadful! Warre fhall anfwer his demand. 
 Had he none elfe to make a ftale but me ? 
 Then none but I, fliall turne his left to Sorrow. 
 I was the Cheefe that rais'd him to the Crowne, 
 And lie be Cheefe to bring him downe againe : 
 Not that I pitty Henries mifery, 
 But feeke Reuenge on Edwards mockery. Exit. 
 
 Enter Richard, Clarence, Somerfet, and 
 
 Mountague. 
 
 
 
 1(icb. Now tell me Brother C/arence,what thinke you 
 Of this new Marriage with the Lady Gray? 
 Hath not our Brother made a worthy choice? 
 
 Cla. Alas, you know, tis farre from hence to France, 
 
 How
 
 The third Tart of I(ing Henry the Sixt. 
 
 163 
 
 How could he ftay till Warwic^e made returne ? 
 
 Sam. My Lords, forbeare this talke : heere comes the 
 King. 
 
 Flourijh. 
 
 Enter King Edward, Lady Grey , Penbroofy , Staf- 
 ford, Haftings : foure ftand on one Jide , 
 and four e on the other. 
 
 Rich. And his well-chofen Bride. 
 
 Clarence. I minde to tell him plainly what I thinke. 
 
 King. Now Brother of Clarence, 
 How like you our Choyce, 
 That you ftand penfiue,as halfe malecontent ? 
 
 Clarence. As well as Lewis of France, 
 Or the Earle of Warwicke, 
 
 Which are fo weake of courage, and in Judgement, 
 That they'le take no oftence at our abufe. 
 
 King. Suppofe they take oftence without a caufe ! 
 They are but Lewis and fPanricfal am Edward, 
 Your King and Warwict^es, and muft haue my will. 
 
 Rich. And fliall haue your will, becaufe our King : 
 Yet haftie Marriage feldome proueth well. 
 
 King. Yea, Brother Richard, are you offended too ? 
 
 Rich. Not I : no : 
 
 God forbid, that I ftiould wifh them feuer'd, 
 Whom God hath ioyn'd together : 
 I, and 'twere pittie, to funder them, 
 That yoake fo well together. 
 
 King. Setting your skornes,and your miflike afide, 
 Tell me fome reafon,why the Lady Grey 
 Should not become my Wife, and Englands Queene? 
 And you too, Somerfet,and <^Tountague, 
 Speake freely what you thinke. 
 
 Clarence. Then this is mine opinion : 
 That King Lewis becomes your Enemie, 
 For mocking him about the Marriage 
 Of the Lady Bona. 
 
 Rich. And fParwicfe, doing what you gaue in charge, 
 Is now dis-honored by this new Marriage. 
 
 King. What, if both Leva and fFarwicl^ be appeas'd, 
 By fuch inuention as I can deuife? 
 
 Mount. Yet, to haue ioyn'd with France in fuch alliance, 
 Would more haue ftrength'ned this our Commonwealth 
 'Gainft forraine ftormes, then any home-bred Marriage. 
 
 Hall. Why,knowes not Mountague,that of it felfe, 
 England is fafe,if true within it felfe ? 
 
 Mount. But the fafer, when 'tis back'd with France. 
 
 Hasl . 'Tis better vfing France,then trufting France : 
 Let vs be back'd with God, and with the Seas, 
 Which he hath giu'n for fence impregnable, 
 And with their helpes,onely defend our felues : 
 In them, and in our felues, our fafetie lyes. 
 
 Clar . For this one fpeech, Lord Haftings well deferues 
 To haue the Heire of the Lord Hungerford. 
 
 King. I, what of that? it was my will, and graunt, 
 And for this once,my Will {hall ftand for Law. 
 Rich. And yet me thinks, your Grace hath not done well, 
 To giue the Heire and Daughter of Lord Scales 
 Vnto the Brother of your louing Bride ; 
 Shee better would haue fitted me,or Clarence : 
 But in your Bride you burie Brotherhood. 
 
 Clar. Or eife you would not haue beftow'd the Heire 
 Of the Lord 'Bonuill on your new Wiues Sonne, 
 And leaue your Brothers to goe fpeede elfewhere. 
 
 King. Alas,poore Clarence: is it for a Wife 
 That thou art malecontent ? I will prouide thee. 
 
 499 
 
 Clarence. In chufing for your felfe, 
 You fliew'd your iudgement : 
 Which being fhallow, you fliall giue me leaue 
 To play the Broker in mine owne behalfe ; 
 And to that'end, I Shortly minde to leaue you. 
 
 King. Leaue me, or tarry, Edward will be King, 
 And not be ty'd vnto his Brothers will. 
 
 Lady Grey. My Lords, before it pleas'd his Maieftie 
 To rayfe my State to Title of a Queene, 
 Doe me but right, and you muft all confefle, 
 That I was not ignoble of Defcent, 
 And meaner then my felfe haue had like fortune. 
 But as this Title honors me and mine, . 
 
 So your diflikes, to whom I would be pleating, 
 Doth cloud my ioyes with danger, and with forrow. 
 
 King. My Loue, forbeare to fawne vpon their frownes : 
 What danger, or what forrow can befall thee, 
 So long as Edward is thy conftant friend, 
 And their true Soueraigne,whom they muft obey ? 
 Nay, whom they fliall obey, and loue thee too, 
 VnlefTe they feeke for hatred at my hands : 
 Which if they doe, yet will I keepe thee fafe, 
 And they fliall feele the vengeance of my wrath. 
 
 SJch. I heare, yet fay not much, but thinke the more. 
 
 Enter a Pofte . 
 
 King. Now MefTenger, what Letters, or what Newes 
 from France -i 
 
 Poft. My Soueraigne Liege, no Letters, & few words, 
 But fuch, as I (without your fpeciall pardon) 
 Dare not relate. 
 
 King. Goe too, wee pardon thee : 
 Therefore, in briefe, tell me their words, 
 As neere as thou canft guefie them. 
 What anfwer makes King Lewis vnto our Letters ? 
 
 Pott. At my depart, thefe were his very words : 
 Goe tell falfe Edward,the fuppofed King, 
 That Lewis of France is fending ouer Maskers, 
 To reuell it with him, and his new Bride. 
 
 King. Is Lewis fo braue ? belike he thinkes me Henry. 
 But what faid Lady Bona to my Marriage ? 
 Poft. Thefe were her words, vtt'red with mild difdaine : 
 Tell him, in hope hee'le proue a Widower fliortly, 
 lie weare the Willow Garland for his fake. 
 
 King. I blame not her ; (he could fay little leffe : 
 She had the wrong. But what faid Henries Queene ? 
 For I haue heard, that flie was there in place. 
 
 Poft. Tell him (quoth flie) 
 My mourning Weedes are done, 
 And I am readie to put Armour on. 
 
 King. Belike flie minds to play the Amazon. 
 But what faid Warwicke to thefe iniuries ? 
 
 Toft. He, more incens'd againft your Maieftie, 
 Then all the reft, difcharg'd me with thefe words : 
 Tell him from me, that he hath done me wrong, 
 And therefore He vncrowne him,er't be long. 
 
 AT/ng-. HaPdurft the Traytor breath out fo prowd words? 
 Well, I will arme me, being thus fore-warn'd : 
 They fliall haue Warres,and pay for their prefumption. 
 But fay, is Warwick^ friends with Margaret? 
 
 Poft. I, gracious Soueraigne, 
 They are fo link'd in friend/hip, 
 That yong Prince Edward marryes Wartvic^s Daughter. 
 
 Clarence. Belike, the elder ; 
 Clarence will haue the younger. 
 
 Now
 
 164 
 
 The third ^art offing Henry the Sixt 
 
 Now Brother King farewell, and fit you faft, 
 For I will hence to Wartfic^ts other Daughter, 
 That though I want a Kingdome, yet in Marriage 
 I may not proue inferior to your felfe. 
 You that loue me,and Wartvicfy, follow me. 
 
 Exit Clarence t and Somerfetjblloves. 
 
 Rich. Not I : 
 
 My thoughts ayme at a further matter : 
 I ftay not for the loue of Edward, but the Crowne. 
 
 King. Clarence and Somcrjiet both gone to WarTticl(f ? 
 Yet am I arm'd againft the worft can happen : 
 And hafte is needfull in this defp'rate cafe. 
 Pembroo^e and Stafford, you in our behalfe 
 Goe leuie men, and make prepare for Warre ; 
 They are alreadie,or quickly will be landed: 
 My felfe in perfon will ftraight follow you. 
 
 Exeunt Pembroo^e and Stafford. 
 But ere I goe, Haftings and Mauntague 
 Refolue my doubt : you twaine,of all the reft, 
 Are neere to Wana>ic%?,by bloud, and by allyance : 
 Tell me,if you loue Wanticl(e more then me j 
 If it be fo, then both depart to him : 
 I rather wi/h you foes, then hollow friends. 
 But if you minde to hold your true obedience, 
 Giue me affurance with fome friendly Vow, 
 That I may neuer haue you in fufpeft. 
 
 cWcunt. So God helpe cflfountague, as hee proues 
 true. 
 
 HaR. And Haffings, as hee fauours Sdvardi caufe. 
 
 King. Now, Broth er Richard, will you ftand by vs? 
 
 Rich. I, in defpight of all that fliall withftand you. 
 
 King. Why fo : then am I fure of Victorie. 
 Now therefore let vs hence, and lofe no howre, 
 Till wee meet Warinic/^e,\vith his forreine powre. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Warn'ickf and Oxford in England, 
 Vfitb French Souldiors. 
 
 Warts Truft me, my Lord, all hitherto goes well, 
 The common people by numbers fwarme to vs. 
 
 Enter Clarence and Somerset. 
 But fee where Scmerftt and Clarence comes : 
 Speake fuddenly, my Lords, are wee all friends? 
 
 Clar. Feare not that, my Lord, 
 
 Warn. Then gentle Clarence, welcome vnto Warvicfy, 
 And welcome Somerfet : I hold it cowardize, 
 To reft miftruftfull, where a Noble Heart 
 Hath pawn'd an open Hand, in figne of Loue ; 
 Elfe might I thinke,that Qlarence, Edwards Brother, 
 Were but a fained friend to our proceedings : 
 But welcome fweet Clarence, my Daughter mail be thine. 
 And now, what refts ? but in Nights Couerture, 
 Thy Brother being careleflely encamp'd, 
 His Souldiors lurking in the Towne about, 
 And but attended by a fimple Guard, 
 Wee may furprize and take him at our pleafure, 
 Our Scouts haue found the aduenture very eafie : 
 That as yiyjjes, and ftout Diomede, 
 With fleight and manhood ftole to Rbeftu Tents, 
 And brought from thence the Thracian fatall Steeds ; 
 So wee, well couer'd with the Nights black Mantle, 
 At vnawares may beat downe Edwards Guard, 
 And feize himfelfe : I fay not, (laughter him, 
 For I intend but onely to furprize him. 
 You that will follow me to this attempt, 
 
 Applaud the Name of Henry, with your Leader. 
 
 They all cry, Henry. 
 
 Why then, let's on our way in filent fort, 
 For Warwicfy and his friends, God and Saint George. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Enter three Watchmen to guard the Kings Tent. 
 
 i. Watch. Come, on my Mafters,each man take his ftand, 
 The King by this, is fet him downe to fleepe. 
 2. Watch. What, will he not to Bed ? 
 
 1. Watch. Why, no: for he hath made a folemne Vow, 
 Neuer to lye and take his naturall Reft, 
 
 Till Wara>ic%e,or himfelfe, be quite fuppreft. 
 
 2. Watch. To morrow then belike fliall be the day, 
 If Warrricfy be fo neere as men report. 
 
 3. Watch. But fay, I pray, what Noble man is that, 
 That with the King here refteth in his Tent? 
 
 1. Watch. 'Tis the Lord Hajtings, the Kings chiefeft 
 friend. 
 
 3. Watch. O,is it fo? but why commands the King, 
 That his chiefe followers lodge in Townes about him, 
 While he himfelfe keepes in the cold field ? 
 
 2. Watch. 'Tis the more honour, becaufe more dange- 
 rous. 
 
 3. Watch. I, but giue me worfliip, and quietnefle, 
 I like it better then a dangerous honor. 
 If Warvlc^e knew in what eftate he ftands, 
 'Tis to be doubted he would waken him. 
 
 l. Watch. Vnlefle our Halberds did fliut vp his paf- 
 fage. 
 
 ^. Watch. I: wherefore elfe guard we his Royall Tent, 
 But to defend his Perfon from Night-foes ? 
 
 Enter Warwic^e, Clarence, Ox fora 1 , Somerfet, 
 and French Souldiors , filent all. 
 
 Warw. This is his Tent,and fee where ftand his Guard : 
 Courage my Mafters: Honor now, or neuer: 
 But follow me, and Edward fliall be ours. 
 
 1. Watch. Who goes there? 
 
 2. Watch. Stay, or thou dyeft. 
 
 Warrvicl^e and the reft cry all,Wariwicl(e,Wartficl(e, 
 and fet <vpon the Guard,whoflye , crying, Arme,Arme, 
 Warwickf and the reft following them. 
 
 The Drumme playing , and Trumpet founding. 
 
 Enter Warwic^e, Somerfet, and the reft, bringing the King 
 
 out in bit Gowne , fating in a Chair e : Richard 
 
 and Haftings ftyes ouer the Stage. 
 
 &>m. What are they that flye there ? 
 
 Warw. Richard and Haftings : let them goe, heere is 
 the Duke. 
 
 K.Edw. The Duke ? 
 Why Warwict(e, when wee parted, 
 Thou call'dft me King. 
 
 Wartr. I, but the cafe is alter'd. 
 When you difgrac'd me in my Embaflade, 
 Then I degraded you from being King, 
 And come now to create you Duke of Yorke. 
 Alas, how fliould you gouerne any Kingdome, 
 That know not how to vfe EmbafTadors, 
 Nor how to be contented with one Wife, 
 Nor how to vfe your Brothers Brotherly, 
 Nor how to ftudie for the Peoples Welfare, 
 Nor how to fhrowd your felfe from Enemies ? 
 
 K.Edw. Yea, 
 
 500
 
 The third 'Part of ^ing Henry the Sixt. 
 
 167 
 
 K. Sdw. Yea, Brother of Clarence, 
 Art thou here too ? 
 
 Nay then I fee, that Edward needs muft downe. 
 Yet Warwicke, in defpight of all mifchance, 
 Of thee thy felfe,and all thy Complices, 
 Edward will alwayes beare himfelfe as King : 
 Though Fortunes mallice ouerthrow my State, 
 My minde exceedes the compafle of her Wheele. 
 Warn. Then for his minde, be Edward Englands King, 
 
 Tafes off bis Crowne. 
 
 But Henry now (hall weare the Englifh Crowne, 
 And be true King indeede: thou but the fliadow. 
 My Lord of Somerfet, at my requeft, 
 See that forthwith Duke Edward be conuey'd 
 Vnto my Brother Arch-Bifhop of Yorke : 
 When I haue fought with Pemiroofaand his fellowes, 
 lie follow you, and tell what anfwer 
 Lewis and the Lady 'Bona fend to him. 
 Now for a-while farewell good Duke of Yorke. 
 They leade him out forcibly. 
 
 K.Ed.What Fates impofe, that men muft needs abide; 
 It boots not to refift both winde and tide. Exeunt. 
 
 Oxf. What now remaines my Lords for vs to do, 
 But march to London with our Soldiers? 
 
 War. I, that's the firft thing that we haue to do, 
 To free King Henry from imprifonment, 
 And fee him feated in the Regall Throne. exit. 
 
 Enter Riuers,and Lady Gray, 
 
 T(iu. Madam, what makes you in this fodain change? 
 
 Gray. Why Brother Riuers, are you yet to learne 
 What late misfortune is befalne King Edward? 
 
 Riu. What lofle of fome pitcht battell 
 Againft Warwicke? 
 
 Gray. No, but the lofle of his ovvne Royall psrfon. 
 
 Riu. Then is my Soueraigne flaine ? 
 
 Gray. I almoft flaine, for he is taken prifoner, 
 Either betrayd by falfhood of his Guard, 
 Or by his Foe furpriz'd at vnawares : 
 And as I further haue to vnderftand, 
 Is new committed to the Bifhop of Yorke, 
 Fell Warwickes Brother, and by that our Foe. 
 
 Riu. Thefe Newes I muft confeffe are full of greefe, 
 Yet gracious Madam, beare it as you may, 
 Warwicke may loofe, that now hath wonne the day. 
 Gray. Till then,faire hope muft hinder Hues decay: 
 And I the rather waine me from difpaire 
 For loue of Edwards OfF-fpring in my wombe: 
 This is it that makes me bridle paflion, 
 And beare with MildnefTe my misfortunes crofle : 
 I, I, for this I draw in many a teare, 
 And ftop the riling of blood-fucking fighes, 
 Leaft with my fighes or teares, I blaftor drowne 
 King Edwards Fruite, true heyre to th'Englifh Crowne. 
 
 Riu. But Madam, 
 Where is Warwicke then become ? 
 
 Gray. I am infbrm'd that he comes towards London, 
 To fet the Crowne once more on Henries head, 
 Guefle thou the reft, King Edwards Friends muft downe. 
 But to preuent the Tyrants violence, 
 (For truft not him that hath once broken Faith) 
 lie hence forthwith vnto the San&uary, 
 
 JOI 
 
 To faue (at leaftj the heire of Edwards right : 
 
 There fhall I reft fecure from force and fraud s 
 
 Come therefore let vs flye, while we may flye, 
 
 If Warwicke take vs,we are fure to dye. .exeunt. 
 
 Snter Richard, Lord Haftings,and Sir William 
 Stanley. 
 
 Rich. Now my Lord Hajlings,and Sir William Stanley 
 Leaue off to wonder why I drew you hither, 
 Into this cheefeft Thicket of the Parke. 
 Thus ftand the cafe : you know our King, my Brother, 
 Is prifoner to the Bifhop here, at whofe hands 
 He hath good vfage, and great liberty, 
 And often but attended with weake guard, 
 Come hunting this way to difport himfelfe. 
 I haue aduertis'd him by fecret meanes, 
 That if about this houre he make this way, 
 Vnder the colour of his vfuall game, 
 He mall heere finde his Friends with Horfe and Men, 
 To fet him free from his Captiuitie. 
 
 Snter King Edward, and a Huntfman 
 with him. 
 
 Huntfman. This way my Lord, 
 For this way lies the Game. 
 
 King Edw. Nay this way man, 
 See where the Huntfmen ftand. 
 Now Brother of Glofter, Lord Haftings,and the reft, 
 Stand you thus clofe to fteale the Bifhops Deere ? 
 
 Rich. Brother, the time and cafe, requireth haft, 
 Your horfe ftands ready at the Parke-corner. 
 
 King Ed. But whether {hall we then ? 
 
 Haft. To Lyn my Lord, 
 And fhipt from thence to Flanders. 
 
 'Rjcb. Wei gueft beleeue me,for that was my meaning ' 
 
 K.Ed. Stanley,! will requite thy forwardnefle. 
 
 1(icb. But wherefore ftay we? 'tis no time to talke. 
 
 K.Ed. Huntfman, what fay'ft thou ? 
 Wilt thou go along ? 
 
 Huntf. Better do fo,then tarry and be hang'd. 
 
 Rich. Come then away, lets ha no more adoo. 
 
 K.Ed. Bifhop farwell, 
 Sheeld thee from Warwickes frowne, 
 And pray that I may re-poflefle the Crowne. exeunt 
 
 Flourijh. Enter King Henry the jixt, Clarence, Warwicke, 
 Somerfet, young Henry, Oxford, Mountague, 
 and Lieutenant. 
 
 K.Hen. M. Lieutenant, now that God and Friends 
 Haue (haken Edward from the Regall feate, 
 And turn'd my captiue ftate to libertie, 
 My feare to hope, my forrowes vnto ioyes, 
 At our enlargement what are thy due Fees ? 
 
 Lieu. Subie&s may challenge nothing of their Sou'rains 
 But, if an humble prayer may preuaile, 
 I then craue pardon of your Maieftie. 
 
 K.Hen. For what, Lieutenant ? For well vfmg me ? 
 Nay, be thou fure, He well requite thy kindnefle. 
 For that it made my imprifonment, a pleafure : 
 I, fuch a plea fure, as incaged Birds 
 Conceiue; when after many moody Thoughts, 
 At laft, by Notes of Houfhold harmonic, 
 They quite forget their lofle of Libertie. 
 
 a But
 
 i68 
 
 third ^Part offing Henry the Sixt. 
 
 But Wanvic Rafter God,thou fet'ft me free, 
 And chiefely therefore,! thanke God, and thee, 
 He was the Author, thou the Instrument. 
 Therefore that I may conquer Fortunes fpight, 
 By liuing low, where Fortune cannot hurt me, 
 And that the people of this blefled Land 
 May not be punifht with my thwarting ftarres, 
 Wantickf, although my Head ftill weare the Crowne, 
 I here refigne my Gouernment to thee, 
 For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds. 
 
 Warn. Your Grace hath ftill beene fam'd for vertuous, 
 And now may feeme as wife as vertuous, 
 By fpying and auoiding Fortunes malice, 
 For few men rightly temper with the Starres : 
 Yet in this one thing let me blame your Grace, 
 For chufing me, when Clarence is in place. 
 
 Gar. No ffanficfathou art worthy of the fway, 
 To whom the Heau'ns in thy Natiuitie, 
 Adiudg'd an Oliue Branch, and Lawrell Crowne, 
 As likely to be bleft in Peace and Warre : 
 And therefore I yeeld thee my free confent. 
 
 Warm. And I chufe Clarence onely for Protector. 
 
 Klng.Warvicl^ and Clarence, gme me both your Hands: 
 Now ioyne your Hands, & with your Hands your Hearts, 
 That no diflention hinder Gouernment : 
 I make you both Protectors of this Land, 
 While I my felfe will lead a priuate Life, 
 And in deuotion fpend my latter dayes, 
 To finnes rebuke, and my Creators prayfe. 
 
 Wane. What anfweres Clarence to his Soueraignes 
 will? 
 
 Clar. That he confents, if Warwlc^e yeeld confent, 
 For on thy fortune I repofe my felfe. 
 
 Warn. Why then, though loth, yet muft I be content : 
 Wee'le yoake together,like a double fhadow 
 To Henries Body, and fupply his place; 
 I meane,in bearing weight of Gouernment, 
 While he enioyes the Honor, and his eafe. 
 And C/arence,now then it is more then needfull, 
 Forthwith that Edward be pronounc'd a Traytor, 
 And all his Lands and Goods confifcate. 
 
 Clar. What elfe ? and that Succeffion be determined. 
 
 Warw. I, therein Clarence fhall not want his part. 
 
 King. But with the firft, of all your chiefe affaires, 
 Let me entreat (for I command no more) 
 That Margaret your Queene, and my Sonne Edward, 
 Be fent for, to returne from France with fpeeJ : 
 For till I fee them here, by doubtfull feare, 
 My ioy of libertie is halfe eclips'd. 
 
 Clar. It fhall bee done, my Soueraigne , with all 
 fpeede. 
 
 King. My Lord of Somerfet,what Youth is that, 
 Of whom you feeme to haue fo tender care ? 
 
 Somerf. My Liege, it is young Henry, Earle of Rich- 
 mond. 
 
 King. Come hither,Englands Hope : 
 
 Layes bit Hand on bit Head. 
 If fecret Powers fuggeft but truth 
 To my d mining thoughts, 
 This prettie Lad will proue our Countries bliffe. 
 His Lookes are full of peacefull Maieftie, 
 His Head by nature fram'd to weare a Crowne, 
 His Hand to wield a Scepter, and himfelfe 
 Likely in time to blefle a Regall Throne : 
 Make much of him, my Lords; for this is hee 
 Muft helpe you more, then you are hurt by mee. 
 
 Enter a Pofte. 
 
 Warn. What newes, my friend ? 
 
 Pofte. That Edward is efcaped from your Brother, 
 And fled (as hee heares fince) to Burgundie. 
 
 Warw. Vnfauorie newes : but how made he efcape f 
 
 fofte. He was conuey'd by Ricbard,Duke of Glofter, 
 And the Lord Hajiings,\vho attended him 
 In fecret ambufh,on the Forreft fide, 
 And from the Bifhops Huntfmen refcu'd him : 
 For Hunting was his dayly Exercife. 
 
 Warw. My Brother was too carelefle of his charge. 
 But let vs hence, my Soueraigne, to prouide 
 A falue for any fore, that may betide. Exeunt. 
 
 cManet Somerfet, Richmond, and Oxford. 
 
 Som.My Lord, I like not of this flight of Edwards : 
 For doubt\effe,^Burgundie will yeeld him helpe, 
 And we fhall haue more Warres befor't be long. 
 As Henries late prefaging Prophecie 
 Did glad my heart, with hope of this young Richmond: 
 So doth my heart mif-giue me, in thefe Conflicts, 
 What may befall him, to his harme and ours. 
 Therefore, Lord Oxford, to preuent the worft, 
 Forthwith wee'le fend him hence to Brittanie, 
 Till ftormes be paft of Ciuill Enmitie. 
 
 Oxf. I : for if Edward re-pofleffe the Crowne, 
 'Tis like that Richmond, with the reft, fhall downe. 
 
 Som. It fhall be fo: he fhall to Brittanie. 
 Come therefore, let's about it fpeedily. Exeunt. 
 
 Flourijb. Enter Edward, Richard, Ha/lings, 
 and Souldiers. 
 
 Edw.tiow Brother Richard, Lord HaJ}ings,and the reft, 
 Yet thus farre Fortune maketh vs amends, 
 And fayes,that once more I fhall enterchange 
 My wained ftate, for Henries Regall Crowne. 
 Well haue we pafs'd, and now re-pafs'd the Seas, 
 And brought defired helpe from Burgundie. 
 What then remaines,we being thus arriu'd 
 From Rauenfpurre Hauen, before the Gates of Yorke, 
 But that we enter, as into our Dukedome? 
 
 Rich. The Gates made faft ? 
 Brother, I like not this. 
 
 For many men that ftumble at the Threfhold, 
 Are well fore-told, that danger lurkes within. 
 
 Edw,'Tu{ti man,aboadments muft not now affright vs : 
 By faire or foule meanes we muft enter in, 
 For hither will our friends repaire to vs. 
 
 Halt. My Liege, He knocke once more,to fummon 
 them. 
 
 Enter on the Walls, the zflfaior of Torl^e, 
 and bis 'Brethren. 
 
 cflfaior. My Lords, 
 We were fore-warned of your comming, 
 And fhut the Gates, for fafetie of our felues; 
 For now we owe allegeance vnto Henry. 
 
 Edw. But, Mafter Maior,if Henry be your King, 
 Yet Edward,zt the Ieaft,is Duke of Yorke. 
 
 cftfaior. True, my good Lord, I know you for no 
 lefTe. 
 
 &/tr.Why,and I challenge nothing but my Dukedome, 
 As being well content with that alone. 
 
 Rich. But
 
 The third*!? art offing Henry the Sixf. 
 
 167 
 
 Rich. But when the Fox hath once got in his Nofe, 
 Hee'le foone finde meanes to make the Body follow. 
 
 HaB. Why,Mafter Maior,why ftand you in a doubt? 
 Open the Gates, we are King Henries friends. 
 
 Maior. I, fay you fo ? the Gates fhall then be opened. 
 He defends. 
 
 1(tcb. A wife ftout Captaine,and foone perfwaded. 
 
 Haft. The good old man would faine that all were wel, 
 So 'twere not long of him : but being entred, 
 I doubt not I, but we fhall foone perfwade 
 Both him, and all his Brothers, vnto reafon. 
 
 Enter the <&aior,and two tAldermen. 
 Edw. So, Mafter Maior: thefe Gates muft not be fhut, 
 But in the Night, or in the time of Warre. 
 What, feare not man, but yeeld me vp the Keyes, 
 
 Tal^es his Keyes. 
 
 For Edward will defend the Towne,and thee, 
 And all thofe friends, that deine to follow mee. 
 
 March. Enter Mountgomerie, with Drumme 
 and Souldiers. 
 
 Rich. Brother, this is Sir lohn Mountgomerie t 
 Our truftie friend, vnlefle I be deceiu'd. 
 
 Edw. Welcome Sir lohn : but why come you in 
 Armes ? 
 
 Mount. To helpe King Edward in his time of ftorme, 
 As euery loyall SubiecT: ought to doe. 
 
 Edw. Thankes good cMountgomerie : 
 But we now forget our Title to the Crowne, 
 And onely clayme our Dukedome, 
 Till God pleafe to fend the reft. 
 
 Mount. Then fare you well, for I will hence againe, 
 I came to ferue a King, and not a Duke : 
 Drummer ftrike vp,and let vs march away. 
 
 The Drumme begins to march. 
 
 Edw. Nay ftay, Sir lohn, a while, and wee'le debate 
 By what fafe meanes the Crowne may be recouer'd. 
 
 Mount. What talke you of debating ? in few words, 
 If you'le not here proclaime your felfe our King, 
 lie leaue you to your fortune, and be gone, 
 To keepe them back, that come to fuccour you. 
 Why fhall we fight,if you pretend no Title ? 
 
 Rich. Why Brother, wherefore ftand you on nice 
 points ? 
 
 Edw. When wee grow ftronger, 
 Then wee'le make our Clayme : 
 Till then, 'tis wifdome to conceale our meaning. 
 
 Haft. Away with fcrupulous Wit, now Armes muft 
 rule. 
 
 Rich. And fearelefle minds clyme fooneft vnto Crowns. 
 Brother, we will proclaime you out of hand, 
 The bruit thereof will bring you many friends. 
 
 Edw. Then be it as you will: for 'tis my right, 
 And Henry but vfurpes the Diademe. 
 
 Mount. I, now my Soueraigne fpeaketh like himfelfe, 
 And now will I be Edwards Champion. 
 
 Haft. Sound Trumpet, Edward fhal be here proclaim'd: 
 Come, fellow Souldior, make thou proclamation. 
 Flourijh. Sound. 
 
 Soul. Edward the Fourth, by the Grace of God, -King of 
 England and France, and Lord of Ireland, &c. 
 
 Mount. And whofoe're gainfayes King Edwards right, 
 By this I challenge him to fmgle fight. 
 
 Throwes dotvne his Gauntlet. 
 All. Long liue Edward the Fourth. 
 
 Edw. Thankes braue Mountgomery, 
 And thankes vnto you all : 
 If fortune ferue me, lie requite this kindnefle. 
 Now for this Night, let's harbor here in Yorke: 
 And when the Morning Sunne fhall rayfe his Carre 
 Aboue the Border of this Horizon, 
 Wee'le forward towards Warwicke,and his Mates; 
 For well I wot, that Henry is no Souldier. 
 Ah froward C/arence,how euill it befeemes thee, 
 To flatter Henry, and forfake thy Brother ? 
 Yet as wee may, wee'le meet both thee and Warwickf. 
 Come on braue Souldiors : doubt not of the Day, 
 And that once gotten, doubt not of large Pay. Exeunt. 
 
 Flourijh. Enter the King,Warwicl^e,Mountague, 
 Clarence, Oxford, and Somerjet. 
 
 War. What counfaile, Lords? Edward from Belgia, 
 With haftie Germanes,and blunt Hollanders, 
 Hath pafs'd in fafetie through the Narrow Seas, 
 And with his troupes doth march amaine to London, 
 And many giddie people flock to him. 
 
 King. Let's leuie men, and beat him backe againe, 
 
 Clar. A little fire is quickly trodden out, 
 Which being fuffer'd,Riuers cannot quench. 
 
 War. In Warwickfhire I haue true-hearted friends, 
 Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in Warre, 
 Thofe will I mufter vp : and thou Sonne Clarence 
 Shalt ftirre vp in SufFolke,Norfolke,and in Kent, 
 The Knights and Gentlemen, to come with thee. 
 Thou Brother Mountague,'m Buckingham, 
 Northampton, and in Leiceflerfhire, fhalt find 
 Men well enclin'd to heare what thou command'ft. 
 And thou, braue Oxford, wondrous well belou'd, 
 In Oxfordfhire fhah mufter vp thy friends. 
 My Soueraigne, with the louing Citizens, 
 Like to his lland,gyrtin with the Ocean, 
 Or modeft Dyan, circled with her Nymphs, 
 Shall reft in London, till we come to him : 
 Faire Lords take leaue, and ftand not to reply. 
 Farewell my Soueraigne. 
 
 King. Farewell my Hefior,and my Troyes true hope. 
 
 Clar. In figne of truth,! kifTe your Highnefie Hand. 
 
 King. Well-minded C/arence,be thou fortunate. 
 
 Mount. Comfort,my Lord, and fo I take my leaue. 
 
 Oxf. And thus I feale my truth, and bid adieu. 
 
 King. Sweet Oxford, and my louing Mountague, 
 And all at once,once more a happy farewell. 
 
 War. Fare well, fweet Lords, let's meet at Couentry. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 King. Here at the Pallace will I reft a while. 
 Coufin of Exeter, what thinkes your Lordfhip ? 
 Me thinkes, the Power that Edward hath in field, 
 Should not be able to encounter mine. 
 
 Exet. The doubt is, that he will feduce the reft. 
 
 King. That's not my feare, my meed hath got me fame: 
 I haue not ftopt mine eares to their demands, 
 Nor ported oft" their fuites with flow delayes, 
 My pittie hath beene balme to heale their wounds, 
 My mildnefle hath allay'd their fwelling griefes, 
 My mercie dry'd their water-flowing teares. 
 I haue not been defirous of their wealth, 
 Nor much oppreft them with great Subsidies, 
 Nor forward of reuenge, though they much err'd. 
 Then why fhould they loue Edward more then me? 
 No Exeter, thefe Graces challenge Grace : 
 
 q 2 And
 
 i68 
 
 The third ^art offing Henry the Sixt 
 
 And when the Lyon fawnes vpon the Lambe, 
 The Lambe will neuer ceafe to follow him. 
 
 Shout within, A Lancafter, A Lancafter. 
 Exet. Hearke, hearke, my Lord , what Shouts are 
 thefe ? 
 
 Enter Edward and bis Souldiers. 
 
 Edit. Seize on the fliamefac'd Henry, beare him hence, 
 And once againe proclaime vs King of England. 
 You are the Fount, that makes fmall Brookes to flow, 
 Now ftops .thy Spring, my Sea fliall fuck them dry, 
 And fwell fo much the higher, by their ebbe. 
 Hence with him to the Tower,let him not fpeake. 
 
 Exit frith King Henry. 
 
 And Lords, towards Couentry bend we our courfe, 
 Where peremptorie Warwic^e now remaines : 
 The Sunne fhines hot, and if we vfe delay, 
 Cold biting Winter marres our hop'd-for Hay. 
 
 Rich. Away betimes, before his forces ioyne, 
 And take the great-growne Traytor vnawares : 
 Braue Warriors, march amaine towards Couentry. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Warwic^e, the Maior of Couentry , two 
 MeJJengers,and others -upon the Walls. 
 
 War. Where is the Poft that came from valiant Oxford? 
 How farre hence is thy Lord, mine honeft fellow? 
 
 Mcjf.i. By this at Dunfmore, marching hitherward. 
 
 War. How farre off is our Brother Mountague ? 
 Where is the Poft that came from Mountague ? 
 
 Mtff.'i. By this at Daintry, with a puiflant troope. 
 Enter Someruile. 
 
 War. Say Someruile,-whzt fayes my louing Sonne ? 
 And by thy gue(Te,how nigh is Clarence now ? 
 
 Someru. At Southam I did leaue him with his forces, 
 And doe expeft him here fome two howres hence. 
 
 War. Then Clarence is at hand, I heare his Drumme. 
 
 Someru. It is not his, my Lord, here Southam lyes: 
 The Drum your Honor heares,marcheth from Warnickf. 
 
 fPar.Who fhould that be? belike vnlook'd for friends. 
 
 Someru. They are at hand, and you fliall quickly know. 
 
 March. Fhurijh. Br.ter Edward, Richard, 
 and Souldien. 
 
 Edw. Goe, Trumpet, to the Walls, and found a Parle. 
 
 Rich. See how the furly Warwickf mans the Wall. 
 
 War. Oh vnbid fpight,is fportfull Edward come ? 
 Where flept our Scouts, or how are they feduc'd, 
 That we could heare no newes of his repayre. 
 
 dw. Now Warwiclfe, wilt thou ope the Citie Gates, 
 Speake gentle words, and humbly bend thy Knee, 
 Call Ed-ward King, and at his hands begge Mercy, 
 And he (hall pardon thee thefe Outrages? 
 
 War. Nay rather, wilt thou draw thy forces hence, 
 Confefie who fet thee vp, and pluckt thee downe, 
 Call Warwicl(e Patron, and be penitent, 
 And thou fhalt ftill remaine the Duke of Yorke. 
 
 Rich. I thought at leaft he would haue faid the King, 
 Or did he make the leaft againft his will ? 
 
 War. Is not a Dukedome,Sir, a goodly gift ? 
 
 Rich. I, by my faith, for a poore Earle to giue, 
 He doe thee feruice for fo good a gift. 
 
 War. 'Twas I that gaue the Kingdome to thy Bro- 
 ther. 
 
 dw. Why then 'tis mine, if but by Wamlclyi gift. 
 
 War. Thou art no Atla6 for fo great a weight : 
 And Weakeling, Warwick^ takes his gift againe, 
 And Henry is my King, Warwicfy his Subiedt. 
 
 Edw. But Warwictgs King is Edwards Prifoner : 
 And gallant Warwic^e, doe but anfwer this, 
 What is the Body, when the Head is off? 
 
 jRjcb. Alas, that Warwiclff had no more fore-caft, 
 But whiles he thought to fteale the fingle Ten, 
 The King was flyly finger'd from the Deck : 
 You left poore Henry at the Bifhops Pallace, 
 And tenne to one you'le meet him in the Tower, 
 
 Edw. 'Tis euen fo,yet you are Warwic^e ftill. 
 
 Rich. Come Warwickf, 
 
 Take the time, kneele downe, kneele downe : 
 Nay when? ftrike now,or elfe the Iron cooles. 
 
 War. I had rather chop this Hand off at a blow, 
 And with the other, fling it at thy face, 
 Then beare fo low a fayle,to ftrike to thee. 
 
 Edw. Sayle how thou canft, 
 Haue Winde and Tyde thy friend, 
 This Hand,faft wound about thy coale-black hayre, 
 Shall, whiles thy Head is warme, and new cut off, 
 Write in the duft this Sentence with thy blood, 
 Wind-changing Wanricl^e now can change no more. 
 
 Enter Oxford,witb Drumme and Colours. 
 
 War. Oh chearefull Colours, fee where Oxford comes. 
 
 Oxf. Oxford, Oxford, for Lancafter. 
 
 Rich. The Gates are open, let vs enter too. 
 
 Edw. So other foes may fet vpon our backs. 
 Stand we in good array : for they no doubt 
 Will ifiue out againe, and bid vs battaile ; 
 If not, the Citie being but of fmall defence, 
 Wee'le quickly rowze the Traitors in the fame. 
 
 War. Oh welcome Oxford, for we want thy helpe. 
 
 Snter Mountague, with Drumme and Colours. 
 
 Mount. Mountague, Mountague, for Lancafter. 
 
 Rich.Thou and thy Brother both fhall buy this Treafon 
 Euen with the deareft blood your bodies beare. 
 
 dw. The harder matcht, the greater Vi&orie, 
 My minde prefageth happy gaine, and Conqueft. 
 
 Enter Somerfet,witb Drumme and Colours. 
 
 Som. Somerjet,&merfft,for Lancafter. 
 
 Rich. Two of thy Name, both Dukes of Somerfet, 
 Haue fold their Liues vnto the Houfe of Torfc, 
 And thou flialt be the third,if this Sword hold. 
 
 Enter Clarence, with Drumme and Colours. 
 
 War. And loe, where George of Clarence fweepes along, 
 Of force enough to bid his Brother Battaile : 
 With whom, in vpright zeale to right, preuailes 
 More then the nature of a Brothers Loue. 
 Come Clarence, come : thou wilt, if Warwicty call. 
 
 C/ar. Father of Warwick, know you what this meanes ? 
 Looke here, I throw my infamie at thee : 
 I will not ruinate my Fathers Houfe, 
 Who gaue his blood to lyme the ftones together, 
 And fet vp Lancafter. Why, troweft thou, Warwickf, 
 That C/arenceis fo harfh,fo blunt, vnnaturall, 
 To bend the fatall Inftruments of Warre 
 
 Againft 
 
 S4
 
 'The third ^Part ofXjng Henry the Sixt. 
 
 169 
 
 Againft his Brother, and his lawful 1 King. 
 Perhaps thou wilt obiedt my holy Oath : 
 To keepe that Oath, were more impietie, 
 Then lefhah, when he facrifk'd his Daughter. 
 I am fo forry for my Trefpas made, 
 That to deferue well at my Brothers hands, 
 I here proclayme my felfe thy mortall foe : 
 With refolution, wherefoe're I meet thee, 
 (As I will meet thee, if thou ftirre abroad^ 
 To plague thee, for thy foule mis-leading me. 
 And fo, prowd-hearted Warwicke, I defie thee, 
 And to my Brother turne my blufliing Cheekes. 
 Pardon me Edward, I will make amends : 
 And Richard, doe. not frowne vpon my faults, 
 For I will henceforth be no more vnconftant. 
 
 .EJw.Now welcome more,and ten times more belou'd, 
 Then if thou neuer hadft deferu'd our hate. 
 
 Rich. Welcome good Clarence, this is Brother- like. 
 
 Warrv. Oh pafiingTraytor,periur'd and vniuft, 
 
 Edvp. What Warvvkke, 
 Wilt thou leaue the Towne,and fight 
 Or fhall we beat the Stones about thine Eares ? 
 
 Warv>. Alas, I am not coop'd here for defence : 
 I will away towards Barnet prefently, 
 And bid thee Battaile, Edvpard,\f thou dar'ft. 
 
 Edtv. Yes Warnicfy, Edward dares, and leads the way: 
 Lords to the field: Saint George, and Vidlorie. Bxeunt. 
 March. Warwk^e and bis comfanle Jbllotvei. 
 
 fAlarum, and Excurjions. Enter Edward bringing 
 forth Warwick? wounded. 
 
 Bdw. So, lye thou there: dye thou, and dye our feare, 
 For Warvnicl^e was a Bugge that fear'd vs all. 
 Now Mountague fit faft, I feeke for thee, 
 That Warwic^es Bones may keepe thine companie. 
 
 Exit. 
 
 Warn. Ah, who is nigh? come to me, friend, or foe, 
 And tell me who is Vidlor, Tor^e,or W'arwic^e? 
 Why aske I that ? my mangled body fhewes, 
 My blood, my want of ftrength,my ficke heart fliewes, 
 That I muft yeeld my body to the Earth, 
 And by my fall, the conqueft to my foe. 
 Thus yeelds the Cedar to the Axes edge, 
 Whofe Armes gaue flicker to the Princely Eagle, 
 Vnder whofe fliade the ramping Lyon flept, 
 Whofe top-branch ouer-peer'd loues fpreading Tree, 
 And kept low Shrubs from Winters pow'rfull Winde. 
 Thefe Eyes, that now are dim'd with Deaths black Veyle, 
 Haue beene as piercing as the Mid-day Sunne, 
 To fearch the fecret Treafons of the World : 
 The Wrinckles in my Browes,now fill'd with blood, 
 Were lik'ned oft to Kingly Sepulchers: 
 For who liu'd King, but I could digge his Graue ? 
 And who durft fmile, when Warvic^e bent his Brow ? 
 Loe, now my Glory fmear'd in duft and blood. 
 My Parkes,my Walkes,my Manners that I had, 
 Euen now forfake me ; and of all my Lands, 
 Is nothing left me, but my bodies length. 
 Why, what is Pompe, Rule, Reigne, but Earth and Duft? 
 And Hue we how we can, yet dye we muft. 
 
 Enter Oxford and Somerjet. 
 
 Som. Ah Wartolc^e, Warwicl^e, wert thou as we are, 
 We might recouer all our Lofle againe : 
 
 505 
 
 The Queene from France hath brought a puifiant power. 
 Euen now we heard the newes : ah,could'ft thou flye. 
 
 Warn. Why then I would not flye. Ah Mountague, 
 If thou be there, fweet Brother, take my Hand, 
 And with thy Lippes keepe in my Soule a while. 
 Thou lou'ft me not : for, Brother, if thou didft, 
 Thy teares would wafh this cold congealed blood, 
 That glewes my Lippes, and will not let me fpeake. 
 Come quickly Mountague, or I am dead. 
 
 Som. &hffarfricl(e,Mc,untague hath breath 'd his laft, 
 And to the lateft gafpe,cry'd out for Wanvicly : 
 And faid, Commend me to my valiant Brother. 
 And more he would haue faid, and more he (poke, 
 Which founded like a Cannon in a Vault, 
 That mought not be diftinguifht : but at laft, 
 I well might heare, deliuered with a groane, 
 Oh farewell Warwicfy. 
 
 Warm. Sweet reft his Soule : 
 Flye Lords, and faue your felues, 
 For Warviclfebids you all farewell, to meet in Heauen. 
 
 Oxf. Away, a way, to meet the Queenes great power. 
 Here they bears away his ''Body. Exeunt. 
 
 Flourijh. Enter King Edward in triumph, with 
 Richard, Clarence, and the reft. 
 
 .KT/wjr.Thus farre our fortune keepes an vpward courfe, 
 And we are grac'd with wreaths of Vidlorie : 
 But in the midft of this bright-lhining Day, 
 I fpy a black fufpicious threatning Cloud, 
 That will encounter with our glorious Sunne, 
 Ere he attaine his eafefull Wefterne Bed : 
 I meane, my Lords, thofe powers that the Queene 
 Hath rays'd in Gallia,haue arriued our Coaft, 
 And, as we heare, march on to fight with vs. 
 
 Clar. A little gale will foone difperfe that Cloud, 
 And blow it to the Source from whence it came, 
 Thy very Beames will dry thofe Vapours vp, 
 For euery Cloud engenders not a Storme. 
 
 Rich. The Queene is valued thirtie thoufand ftrong, 
 And Somerset , with Oxford, fled to her: 
 If flie haue time to breathe, be well affur'd 
 Her fadtion will be full as ftrong as ours. 
 
 King. We are aduertis'd by our louing friends, 
 That they doe hold their courfe toward Tewksbury. 
 We hauing now the beft at Barnet field, 
 Will thither ftraight, for willingnefle rids way, 
 And as we march, our ftrength will be augmented : 
 In euery Countie as we goe along, 
 Strike vp the Drumme,cry courage, and away. Exeunt. 
 
 Flourijh. March. Enter the Queene, young 
 Edward, Somerjet, Oxford, and 
 
 Souldiers. 
 
 Qu. Great Lords, wife men ne'r fit and waile their lofle, 
 But chearely feeke how to redrefle their harmes. 
 What though the Maft be now blowne ouer-boord, 
 The Cable broke, the holding-Anchor loft, 
 And halfe our Saylors fwallow'd in the flood? 
 Yet Hues our Pilot ftill. Is't meet, that hee 
 Should leaue the Helme,and like a fearefull Lad, 
 With tearefull Eyes adde Water to the Sea, 
 And giue more ftrength to that which hath too much, 
 Whiles in his moane,the Ship fplits on the Rock, 
 Which Induftrie and Courage might haue fau'd ? 
 Ah what a ihame,ah what a fault were this. 
 Say Warwicly was our Anchor : what of that f 
 
 q j And 
 
 38
 
 I/O 
 
 The third^ art of %jng Henry the Sixt 
 
 And Mountague our Top-Maft: what of him ? 
 
 Our flaught'red friends, the Tackles: what of thefe? 
 
 Why is not Oxford here, another Anchor ? 
 
 And Somerfet, another goodly Maft ? 
 
 The friends of France our Shrowds and Tacklings ? 
 
 And though vnskilfull, why not Ned and I, 
 
 For once allow'd the skilfull Pilots Charge? 
 
 We will not from the Helme, to fit and weepe, 
 
 But keepe our Courfe ( though the rough Winde fay no) 
 
 From Shelues and Rocks, that threaten vs with Wrack. 
 
 As good to chide the Waues,as fpeake them faire. 
 
 And what is Edward, but a ruthlefleSea ? 
 
 What Clarence, but a Qmck-fand of Deceit? 
 
 And 1(icbard,\)ut a raged fatallRocke ? 
 
 All thefe, the Enemies to our poore Barke. 
 
 Say you can fwim,alas 'tis but a while : 
 
 Tread on the Sand, why there you quickly finke, 
 
 Beftride the Rock, the Tyde will wafh you off", 
 
 Or elfe you famifh, that's a three-fold Death. 
 
 This fpeake I (Lords) to let you vnderftand, 
 
 If cafe fome one of you would flye from vs, 
 
 That there's no hop'd-for Mercy with the Brothers, 
 
 More then with ruthlefle Waues,with Sands and Rocks. 
 
 Why courage then, what cannot be auoided, 
 
 'Twere childifh weakenefle to lament,or feare. 
 
 Prince. Me thinkes a Woman of this valiant Spirit, 
 Should, if a Coward heard her fpeake thefe words, 
 Infufe his Breaft with Magnanimitie, 
 And make him, naked, foyle a man at Armes. 
 I fpeake not this, as doubting any here : 
 For did I but fufpedt a fearefull man, 
 He fhould haue leaue to goe away betimes, 
 Lead in our need he might infeci another, 
 And make him of like fpirit to himfelfe. 
 If any fuch be here, as God forbid, 
 Let him depart, before we neede his helpe. 
 
 Oxf. Women and Children of fo high a courage, 
 And Warriors faint, why 'twere perpetuall fhame. 
 Oh braue young Prince: thy famous Grandfather 
 Doth Hue againe in thee ; long may'ft thou liue, 
 To beare his Image, and renew his Glories. 
 
 Son. And he that will not fight for fuch a hope, 
 Goe home to Bed, and like the Owle by day, 
 If he arife, be mock'd and wondred at. 
 
 <^a. Thankes gentle Somerfet, fweet Oxford thankes. 
 
 Trince. And take his thankes, that yet hath nothing 
 elfe. 
 
 Enter a <iMeffengtr. 
 
 Meff. Prepare you Lords, for Edward is at hand, 
 Readie to fight: therefore be refolute. 
 
 Oxf. I thought no lefle : it is his Policie, 
 To hafte thus faft, to finde vs vnprouided. 
 
 Som. But hee's deceiu'd, we are in readinefle. 
 
 ^. This cheares my heart, to fee your forwardnefle. 
 
 Oxf. Here pitch our Battaile, hence we will not budge. 
 
 Fkurijh,and march. Enter Sdward, Richard, 
 Clarence, and Souldiers. 
 
 Edw. Braue followers, yonder ftands the thornie Wood, 
 Which by the Heauens affi(tance,and your ftrength, 
 Muft by the Roots be hew'ne vp yet ere Night, 
 I need not adde more fuell to your fire, 
 For well I wot, ye blaze, to burne them out: 
 Giue fignall to the fight, and to it Lords. 
 
 <^.Lords. Knights, and Gentlemen, what I fliould fay, 
 My teares gaine-fay : for euery word 1 fpeake, 
 Ye fee I drinke the water of my eye. 
 Therefore no more but this : Henry your Soueraigne 
 Is Prifoner to the Foe, his State vfurp'd, 
 His Realme a flaughter-houfe, his Subiedls flaine, 
 His Statutes cancell'd,and his Treafure fpent : 
 And yonder is the Wolfe, that makes this fpoyle. 
 You fight in luftice : then in Gods Name, Lords, 
 Be valiant,and giue fignall to the fight. 
 
 Alarum, Retreat, Excursions. Exeunt. 
 
 Flourijb. Enter Edward, Richard, Queene, Clarence, 
 Oxford, Somerfet. 
 
 Bdvu. Now here a period of tumultuous Broyles. 
 Away with Oxford to Hames Caftle ftraight : 
 For Somerfet, off with his guiltie Head. 
 Goe beare them hence,! will not heare them fpeake. 
 
 Oxf. For my part, He not trouble thee with words. 
 
 Som. Nor I, but ftoupe with patience to my fortune. 
 
 Bxeunt. 
 
 Qu. So part we fadly in this troublous World, 
 To meet with loy in fweet lerufalem. 
 
 Edtv. Is Proclamation made, That who finds Edward, 
 Shall haue a high Reward, and he his Life? 
 
 ^cb. It is, and loe where youthfull Edward comes. 
 
 Enter the frince. 
 
 Edtv. Bring forth the Gallant, let vs heare him fpeake. 
 What? can fo young a Thorne begin to prick? 
 EdTvard,what fatisfa&ion canft thou make, 
 For bearing Armes, for ftirring vp my Subjects, 
 And all the trouble thou haft turn'd me to ? 
 
 Prince. Speake like a Subiedl, prowd ambitious Yorl^e. 
 Suppofe that I am now my Fathers Mouth, 
 Refigne thy Chayre, and where I ftand,kneele thou, 
 Whil'ft I propofe the felfe-fame words to thee, 
 Which (Traytor) thou would'ft haue me anfwer to. 
 
 Qu. Ah, that thy Father had beene fo refolu'd. 
 
 Rich. That you might ftill haue worne the Petticoat, 
 And ne're haue ftolne the Breech from Lancafter. 
 
 Prince. Let cx/i^> fable in a Winters Night, 
 His Currifli Riddles forts not with this place. 
 
 'Rjch. By Heauen,Brat, He plague ye for that word. 
 
 .>. I, thou waft borne to be a plague to men. 
 
 Rich. For Gods fake, take away this Captiue Scold. 
 
 Prince. Nay, take away this fcolding Crooke-backe, 
 rather. 
 
 Edn. Peace wilfull Boy,orl will charme your tongue. 
 
 Clar. Vntutor'd Lad, thou art too malapert. 
 
 Prince. I know my dutie,you are all vndutifull : 
 Lafciuious dward,an& thou periur'd George, 
 And thou mif-ftiapen Dicfe,! tell ye all, 
 I am your better, Tray tors as ye are, 
 And thou vfurp'ft my Fathers right and mine. 
 
 Edff. Take that, the likenefie of this Rayler here. 
 
 Stabs bint. 
 
 Rich. Sprawl'ft thou ? take that, to end thy agonie. 
 Rich. Jlabs him. 
 
 Clar. And ther's for twitting me with periurie. 
 
 Clar. ftabs him. 
 <$u. Oh, kill me too. 
 
 Rich. Many, and (hall. Offers to ^ill her. 
 
 Edvp. Hold, Richard, hold, for we "haue done too much. 
 
 Rich. Why 
 
 506
 
 The third ^art ofJ^ing Henry the Sixt. 
 
 171 
 
 Rich. Why fliould fliee liue, to fill the World with 
 words. 
 
 Eda>. What? doth fliee fwowne ? vfe meanes for her 
 recouerie. 
 
 Rich. Clarence excufe me to the King my Brother : 
 He hence to London on a ferious matter, 
 Ere ye come there, be fure to heare fome newes. 
 
 da. What? what? 
 
 Rich Tower, the Tower. Exit. 
 
 Qu. Oh AW, fweet AW, fpeake to thy Mother Boy. 
 Can'ft thou not fpeake? O Traitors, Murtherers ! 
 They that ftabb'd Cafar, flied no blood at all : 
 Did not offend, nor were not worthy Blame, 
 If this foule deed were by, to equall it. 
 He was a Man; this (in refpec~t)a Childe, 
 And Men, ne're fpend their fury on a Childe. 
 What's worfe then Murtherer, that I may name it ? 
 No, no, my heart will burft, and if I fpeake, 
 And I will fpeake, that fo my heart may burft. 
 Butchers and Villaines, bloudy Caniballes, 
 How fweet a Plant haue you vntimely cropt : 
 You haue no children (Butchers) if you had, 
 The thought of them would haue ftirr'd vp remorfe, 
 But if you euer chance to haue a Childe, 
 Looke in his youth to haue him fo cut off. 
 As deathfmen you haue rid this fweet yong Prince. 
 King. Away with her, go beare her hence perforce. 
 Qu. Nay, neuer beare me hence, difpatch me heere : 
 Here iheath thy Sword, He pardon thee my death: 
 What? wilt thou not? Then Clarence do it thou. 
 
 Qla. By heauen, I will not do thee fo much eafe. 
 
 Qu. Good Clarence do: fweet Clarence do thou do it. 
 
 Cla. Did'ft thou not heare me fweare I would not do it? 
 
 Qu. I, but thou vfeft to forfweare thy felfe. 
 'Twas Sin before, but now 'tis Charity. 
 What wilt y not? Where is that diuels butcher Richard! 
 Hard fauor'd Richard? Richard, where art thou ? 
 Thou art not heere; Murther is thy Almef-deed : 
 Petitioners for Blood, thou ne're put'ft backe. 
 
 Ed. Away I fay, I charge ye beare her hence, 
 
 Qu. So come to you, and yours, as to this Prince. 
 Sxit Queene. 
 
 Ed. Where's Richard gone. 
 
 C/a. To London all in poft, and as I guefle, 
 To make a bloody Supper in the Tower. 
 
 d. He's fodaine if a thing comes in his head. 
 Now march we hence, difcharge the common fort 
 With Pay and Thankes, and let's away to London, 
 And fee our gentle Queene how well flie fares, 
 By this (I hope) flie hath a Sonne for me. Sxit, 
 
 Enter Henry the Jixt, and Richard, with the Lieutenant 
 on the Wallet. 
 
 Rich. Good day, my Lord, what at your Booke fo 
 hard? 
 
 Hen. I my good Lord : my Lord I fliould fay rather, 
 Tis finne to flatter, Good was little better : 
 'Good Glofter,and good Deuill, were alike, 
 And both prepofterous: therefore, not Good Lord. 
 
 Rich. Sirra, leaue vs to our felues, we muft conferre. 
 
 Hen. So flies the wreakleffe fliepherd from y Wolfe : 
 So firft the harmlefie Sheepe doth yeeld his Fleece, 
 And next his Throate, vnto the Butchers Knife. 
 What Scene of death hath Rofotu now to Adle ? 
 
 Rich. Sufpition alwayes haunts the guilty minde, 
 
 So? 
 
 The Theefe doth feare each bufli an Officer, 
 
 Hen. The Bird that hath bin limed in a bufli, 
 With trembling wings mifdoubteth euery bufli ; 
 And I the haplefle Male to one fweet Bird, 
 Haue now the fatall Obieft in my eye, 
 Where my poore yong was lim'd, was caught, and kill'd. 
 
 Rich. Why what a peeuifti Foole was that of Greet, 
 That taught his Sonne the office of a Fowle, 
 And yet for all his wings, the Foole was drown'd. 
 
 Hen. I Dedalus, my poore Boy Icarus, 
 Thy Father Minos, that deni'de our courfe, 
 The Sunne that fear'd the wings of my fweet Boy. 
 Thy Brother Edward, and thy Selfe, the Sea 
 Whofe enuious Gulfe did fwallow vp his life : 
 Ah, kill me with thy Weapon, not with words, 
 My breft can better brooke thy Daggers point, 
 Then can my eares that Tragicke Hiftory. 
 But wherefore doft thou come? Is't for my Life ? 
 
 Rich. Think'ft thou I am an Executioner ? 
 
 Hen. A Perfecutor I am fure thou art, 
 If murthering Innocents be Executing, 
 Why then thou art an Executioner. 
 
 Rich. Thy Son I kill'd for his prefumption. 
 
 Hen. Hadft thou bin kill'd, when firft y didft prefume, 
 Thou had'ft not liu'd to kill a Sonne of mine : 
 And thus I prophefie, that many a thoufand, 
 Which now miftruft no parcell of my feare, 
 And many an old mans fighe, and many a Widdowes, 
 And many an Orphans water-ftanding-eye, 
 Men for their Sonnes, Wiues for their Husbands, 
 Orphans, for their Parents timeles death, 
 Shall rue the houre that euer thou was't borne. 
 The Owle fliriek'd at thy birth, an euill figne, 
 The Night-Crow cry'de, aboding lucklefle time, 
 Dogs howl'd, and hiddeous Tempeft (hook down Trees: 
 The Rauen rook'd her on the Chimnies top, 
 And chatt'ring Pies in difmall Difcords fung : 
 Thy Mother felt more then a Mothers paine, 
 And yet brought forth lefle then a Mothers hope, 
 To wit, an indigefted and deformed lumpe, 
 Not like the fruit of fuch a goodly Tree. 
 Teeth had'ft thou in thy head, when thou was't borne, 
 To fignifie, thou cam'ft to bite the world : 
 And if the reft be true, which I haue heard, 
 Thou cam'ft 
 
 Rich. lie heare no more : 
 
 Dye Prophet in thy fpeech, Stabbes him. 
 
 For this (among'ft the reft) was I ordain'd. 
 
 Hen. I, and for much more Slaughter after this, 
 O God forgiue my finnes, and pardon thee. Dyes. 
 
 Rich. What? will the afpiring blood of Lancafter 
 Sinke in the ground? I thought it would haue mounted. 
 See how my fword weepes for the poore Kings death. 
 
 may fuch purple teares be alway flied 
 
 From thofe that wifli the downfall of our houfe. 
 
 If any fparke of Life be yet remaining, 
 
 Downe, downe to hell, and fay I fent thee thither. 
 
 Stats him againe. 
 
 1 that haue neyther pitty,loue, nor feare, 
 Indeed 'tis true that Henrie told me of: 
 For I haue often heard my Mother fay, 
 
 I came into the world with my Legges forward. 
 Had I not reafon (thinke ye) to make haft, 
 And feeke their Ruine, that vfurp'd our Right ? 
 The Midwife wonder'd, and the Women cri'de 
 O lefus blefle vs,he is borne with teeth, 
 
 And
 
 172 
 
 The third^PartofJ^ing Henry the Sixt 
 
 And fo I was, which plainly fignified, 
 
 That I fhould fnarle, and bite, and play the dogge: 
 
 Then fmce the Heauens haue fhap'd my Body fo, 
 
 Let Hell make crook'd my Minde to anfwer it. 
 
 I haue no Brother, I am like no Brother : 
 
 And this word [Loue] which Gray-beards call Diuine, 
 
 Be refident in men like one another, 
 
 And not in me : I am my felfe alone. 
 
 Clarence beware, thou keept'ft me from the Light, 
 
 But I will fort a pitchy day for thee : 
 
 For I will buzze abroad fuch Prophefies, 
 
 That Edrrard fhall be fearefull of his life, 
 
 And then to purge his feare, He be thy death. 
 
 King Henry, and the Prince his Son are gone, 
 
 Clarence thy turne is next, and then the reft, 
 
 Counting my felfe but bad, till I be beft. 
 
 He throw thy body in another roome, 
 
 And Triumph Henry, in thy day of Doome. Exit. 
 
 Flounjh. 
 
 Enter King , Queene, Clarence , Richard, Hajiiugs , 
 Nurfe,and ^Attendants. 
 
 King. Once more we fit in Englands Royall Throne, 
 Re-purchac'd with the Blood of Enemies: 
 What valiant Foe-men, like to Autumnes Corne, 
 Haue we mow'd downe in tops of all their pride ? 
 Three Dukes of Somerfet, threefold Renowne, 
 For hardy and vndoubted Champions : 
 Two Cliffords, as the Father and the Sonne, 
 And two Northumberlands : two brauer men, 
 Ne're fpurr'd their Courfers at the Trumpets found. 
 With them, the two braue Beares, Wartcicl^ & Montague^ 
 That in their Chaines fetter'd the Kingly Lyon, 
 And made the Forreft tremble when they roar'd. 
 
 Thus haue we fwept Sufpition from our Seate, 
 And made our Footftoole of Security. 
 Come hither 'Bejfe, and let me kifle my Boy : 
 Yong Ned, for thee, thine Vnckles, and my felfe, 
 Haue in our Armors watcht the Winters night, 
 Went all afoote in Summers fcalding heate, 
 That thou might'ft repoffcfle the Crowne in peace, 
 .And of our Labours thou /halt reape the gaine. 
 
 Rich. lie blaft his Harueft, if your head were laid, 
 For yet I am not look'd on in the world. 
 This fhoulder was ordain'd fo thicke, to heaue, 
 And heaue it fhall fome waight, or breake my backe, 
 Worke thou the way, and that /halt execute. 
 
 King. Clarence and Ghfter, loue my louely Queene, 
 And kis your Princely Nephew Brothers both. 
 
 Cla. The duty that I owe vnto your Maiefty, 
 I Scale vpon the lips of this fweet Babe. 
 
 Cla. Thanke Noble Clarence, worthy brother thanks. 
 
 ^cb. And that I loue the tree fio whence y fprang'ft : 
 Witnefle the louing kifle I giue the Fruite, 
 To fay the truth, fo ludas kift his mafter, 
 And cried all haile,when as he meant all harme. 
 
 King. Now am I feated as my foule delights, 
 Hauing my Countries peace, and Brothers loues. 
 
 Cla. What will your Grace haue done with Margaret, 
 Reynardher Father, to the King of France 
 Hath pawn'd the Sicils and lerufalem, 
 And hither haue they fent it for her ranfome. 
 
 King. Away with her, and waft her hence to France : 
 And now what refts, but that we fpend the time 
 With (lately Triumphes, mirthfull Comicke fliewes, 
 Such as befits the pleafure of the Court. 
 Sound Drums and Trumpets, farwell fowre annoy, 
 For heere I hope begins our lafting ioy. Exeunt omnes 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 jo!s
 
 The Tragedy of Richard the Third: 
 
 with the Landing of Earle Richmond, and the 
 
 Battell at Bofworth Field. 
 
 Primus. Sccena 
 
 Enter Richard T>u{e of Glofter,folut. 
 
 Ow is the Winter of our Difcontent, 
 Made glorious Summer by this Son of Yorke: 
 And all the clouds that lowr'd vpon our houfe 
 In the deepe bofbme of the Ocean buried. 
 
 Now are our browes bound with Victorious Wreathes, 
 
 Our bruifed armes hung vp for Monuments ; 
 
 Our fterne Alarums chang'd to merry Meetings ; 
 
 Our dreadfull Marches, to delightfull Meafures. 
 
 Grim-vifag'd Warre, hath fmooth'd his wrinkled Front: 
 
 And now, in ftead of mounting Barbed Steeds, 
 
 To fright the Soules of fearfull Aduerfaries, 
 
 He capers nimbly in a Ladies Chamber, 
 
 To the lafciuious pleafing of a Lute. 
 
 But I, that am not fliap'd for fportiue trickes, 
 
 Nor made to court an amorous Looking-glafle : 
 
 I, that am Rudely ftampt, and want loues Maiefly, 
 
 To ftrut before a wonton ambling Nymph : 
 
 I, that am curtail'd of this faire Proportion, 
 
 Cheated of Feature by difiembling Nature, 
 
 Deform'd, vn-finifh'd, fent before my time 
 
 Into this breathing World, fcarfe halfe made vp, 
 
 And that fo lamely and vnfaftiionable, 
 
 That dogges barke at me, as I halt by them. 
 
 Why I (in this weake piping time of Peace) 
 
 Haue no delight to pafle away the time, 
 
 VnlefTe to fee my Shadow in the Sunne, 
 
 And defcant on mine owne Deformity. 
 
 And therefore, fmce I cannot proue a Louer, 
 
 To entertaine thefe faire well fpoken dayes, 
 
 I am determined to proue a Villaine, 
 
 And hate the idle pleafures of thefe dayes. 
 
 Plots haue I laide, Inductions dangerous, 
 
 By drunken Prophefies, Libels,and Dreames, 
 
 To fet my Brother Clarence and the King 
 
 In deadly hate, the one againft the other : 
 
 And if King Edwardbe as true and iuft, 
 
 As I am Subtle, Falfe,and Treacherous, 
 
 This day fliould Clarence clofely be mew'd vp : 
 
 About a Prophefie, which fayes that G, 
 
 Of Edwards heyres the murtherer lhall be. 
 
 Diue thoughts downe to my foule, here Clarence comes. 
 
 Enter Clarence, and 'Era^enbury, guarded. 
 Brother, good day : What meanes this armed guard 
 
 509 
 
 That waites vpon your Grace.? 
 
 Cla. His Maiefty tendring my perfons fafety, 
 Hath appointed this Condudt, to conuey me to th'Tower 
 
 Rich. Vpon what caufe ? 
 
 Cla. Becaufe my name is George. 
 
 ^ch. Alacke my Lord, that fault is none of yours : 
 He fhould for that commit your Godfathers. 
 O belike, his Maiefty hath fome intent, 
 That you fliould be new Chriftned in the Tower. 
 But what's the matter Clarence, may I know ? 
 
 Cla. Yea Richard, when I know : but I proteft 
 As yet I do not : But as I can learne, 
 He hearkens after Prophefies and Dreames, 
 And from the Crofie-row pluckes the letter G : 
 And fayes, a Wizard told him, that by G, 
 His iffue difinherited fliould be. 
 And for my name of George begins with G, 
 It followes in his thought, that I am he. 
 Theie (as I learne) and fuch like toyes as thefe, 
 Hath moou'd his Highnefie to commit me now. 
 
 Rich. Why this it is, when men are rul'd by Women : 
 'Tis not the King that fends you to the Tower, 
 My Lady Grey his Wife, Clarence 'tis fliee. 
 That tempts him to this harfh Extremity. 
 Was it not fliee, and that good man of Worlhip, 
 Anthony Woodeulle her Brother there, 
 That made him fend Lord Hajtings to the Tower ? 
 From whence this prefent day he is deliuered ? 
 We are not fafe Qlarence, we are not fafe. 
 
 Cla. By heauen, I thinke there is no man fecure 
 But the Qu_eenes Kindred, and night-walking Heralds, 
 That trudge betwixt the King, and Miftris Shore. 
 Heard you not what an humble Suppliant 
 Lord Haftings was, for her deliuery ? 
 
 Rich. Humbly complaining to her Deitie, 
 Got my Lord Chamberlaine his libertie. 
 He tell you what, I thinke it is our way, 
 If we will keepe in fauour with the King, 
 To be her men, and weare her Liuery. 
 The iealous ore-worne Widdow,and her felfe, 
 Since that our Brother dub'd them Gentlewomen, 
 Are mighty Gofsips in our Monarchy. 
 
 Bra. I beleech your Graces both to pardon me, 
 His Maiefty hath ftraightly giuen in charge, 
 That no man fliall haue priuate Conference 
 (Of what degree foeuer) with your Brother. 
 
 "Sjcb.
 
 '74 
 
 The Life and "Death of Richard the Third. 
 
 Rich. Euen fo,and pleafe your Worfhip Br^^enbury , 
 You may partake of any thing we fay : 
 We fpeake no Treafon man ; We fay the King 
 Is wife and vertuous, and his Noble Queene 
 Well ftrooke in yeares, faire.and not iealious. 
 We fay, that Shores Wife hath a pretty Foot, 
 A cherry Lip, a bonny Eye, a pafsing pleafing tongue : 
 And that the Queenes Kindred are made gentle Folkes. 
 How fay you fir? can you deny all this f 
 
 'Bra. With this (my Lord) my felfe haue nought to 
 doo. 
 
 Rich. Naught to do with Miftiis Shore? 
 I tell thee Fellow, he that doth naught with her 
 (Excepting one ) were beft to do it fecretly alone. 
 
 "Bra. What one, my Lord ? 
 
 Rich. Her Husband Knaue, would'ft thou betray me? 
 
 'Bra. I do befeech your Grace 
 To pardon me, and withall forbeare 
 Your Conference with the Noble Duke. 
 
 Qla. We know thy charge 'Bra/century, znd wil obey. 
 
 Rich. We are the Queenes abiets,and muft obey. 
 Brother farewell, I will vnto the King, 
 And whatfoe're you will imploy me in, 
 Were it to call King Sdnards Widdow, Sifter, 
 I will performe it to infranchife you. 
 Meane time, this deepe difgrace in Brotherhood, 
 Touches me deeper then you can imagine. 
 
 Qla. I know it pleafeth neither of vs well. 
 
 Rich. Well, your imprifonment {hall not be long, 
 I will deliuer you, or elfe lye for you : 
 Meane time, haue patience. 
 
 Cla. I muft perforce : Farewell. Exit Clar. 
 
 Rich Go treade the path that thou /halt ne're return: 
 Simple plaine Qlarence, I do loue thee fo, 
 That I will fliortly fend thy Soule to Heauen, 
 If Heauen will take the prefent at our hands. 
 But who comes heere? the new deliuered Haftings ? 
 
 Enter Lord Haftings. 
 
 Haft. Good time of day vnto my gracious Lord. 
 
 Rich. As much vnto my good Lord Chamberlaine : 
 Well are you welcome to this open Ayre, 
 How hath your Lordfhip brook'd imprifonment? 
 
 Haft. With patience ( Noble Lord) as prifoners muft: 
 But I fhall liue (my Lord) to giue them thankes 
 That were the caufe of my imprifonment. 
 
 Rich. No doubt, no doubt, and fo fhall Clarence too, 
 For they that were your Enemies, are his, 
 And haue preuail'd as much on him, as you, 
 
 Haft. More pitty,that the Eagles fhould be mew'd, 
 Whiles Kites and Buzards play at liberty. 
 
 Rich. What newes abroad ? 
 
 Haft. No newes fo bad abroad, as this at home : 
 The King is fickly,weake,and melancholly, 
 And his Phyfitians feare him mightily. 
 
 Rich. Now by S.Iohn,that Newes is bad indeed. 
 O he hath kept an euill Diet long, 
 And ouer-much confum'd his Royall Perfon: 
 'Tis very greeuous to be thought vpon. 
 Where is he, in his bed ? 
 
 Haft. He is. 
 
 Rich. Go you before, and I will follow you. 
 
 Sxit Haftings. 
 
 He cannot liue I hope, and muft not dye, 
 Till George be pack'd with poft-horfe vp to Heauen. 
 
 He in to vrge his hatred more to Clarence, 
 
 With Lyes well fteel'd with weighty Arguments, 
 
 And if I faile not in my deepe intent, 
 
 Clarence hath not another day to liue : 
 
 Which done, God take King Edward to his mercy, 
 
 And leaue the world for me to bufsle in. 
 
 For then, He marry Warwickes yongeft daughter. 
 
 What though I kill'd her Husband, and her Father, 
 
 The readieft way to make the Wench amends, 
 
 Is to become her Husband, and her Father : 
 
 The which will I, not all fo much for loue, 
 
 As for another fecret clofe intent, 
 
 By marrying her, which I muft reach vnto. 
 
 But yet I run before my horfe to Market : 
 
 Clarence ftill breathes, Sdward ftill Hues and raignes, 
 
 When they are gone, then muft I count my gaines. Exit 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter the Coarfe of Henrie tbejlxt with Halberds to guard it, 
 Lady Anne being the cflfourner. 
 
 tAnne. Set downe, fet downe your honourable load, 
 If Honor may be fhrowded in a Herfe ; 
 Whil'ft I a-while obfequioufly lament 
 Th'vntimely fall of Vertuous Lancafter. 
 Poore key-cold Figure of a holy King, 
 Pale Aflies of the Houfe of Lancafter ; 
 Thou bloodlefie Remnant of that Royall Blood, 
 Be it lawfull that I inuocate thy Ghoft, 
 To heare the Lamentations of poore Anne, 
 Wife to thy Edward, to thy flaughtred Sonne, 
 Stab'd by the felfefame hand that made thefe wounds. 
 Loe,in thefe windowes that let forth thy life, 
 I powre the helplefle Balmeof my poore eyes. 
 O curfed be the hand that made thefe holes : 
 Curfed the Heart, that had the heart to do it : 
 Cnrfed the Blood, that let this blood from hence : 
 More direfull hap betide that hated Wretch 
 That makes vs wretched by the death of thee, 
 Then I can wifh to Wolues,to Spiders, Toades, 
 Or any creeping venom'd thing that liues. 
 If euerhe haue Childe, Abortiue be it, 
 Prodigeous, and vntimely brought to light, 
 Whofe vglyand vnnaturall Afpedt 
 May fright the hopefull Mother at the view, 
 And that be Heyre to his vnhappinefTe. 
 If euer he haue Wife, let her be made 
 More miferable by the death of him, 
 Then I am made by my young Lord, and thee. 
 Come now towards Chertfey with your holy Lode, 
 Taken from Paules, to be interred there. 
 And ftill as you are weary of this waight, 
 Reft you, whiles I lament King Henries Coarfe. 
 
 Enter Richard Du{e of Glojter. 
 
 *:Rjch. Stay you that beare the Coarfe, & fet it down. 
 
 An. What blacke Magitian coniures vp this Fiend, 
 To ftop deuoted charitable deeds ? 
 
 Rich. Villaines fet downe the Coarfe, or by S. Paul, 
 lie make a Coarfe of him that difobeyes. 
 
 Gen.
 
 The Life and 'Death of c (ichard the Third. 
 
 Gen, My Lord ftand backe, and let the Coffin pafle. 
 
 Rich, Vnmanner'd Dogge, 
 Stand'ft thou when I commaund : 
 Aduance thy Halbert higher then my breft, 
 Or by S. Paul lie ftrike thee to my Foote, 
 And fpurne vpon thee Begger for thy boldnefle. 
 
 Anne. What do you tremble? are you all affraid ? 
 Alas, I blame you not, for you are Mortall, 
 And Mortall eyes cannot endure the Diuell. 
 Auant thou dreadfull minifter of Hell ; 
 Thou had'ft but power ouer his Mortall body, 
 His Soule thou canft not haue: Therefore be gone. 
 
 Rich. Sweet Saint, for Charity, be not fo curft. 
 
 An. Foule Diuell, 
 
 For Gods fake hence, and trouble vs not, 
 For thou haft made the happy earth thy Hell : 
 Fill'd it with curling cries, and deepe exclaimes : 
 If thou delight to view thy heynous deeds, 
 Behold this patterne of thy Butcheries. 
 Oh Gentlemen, fee, fee dead Henries wounds, 
 Open their congeal'd mouthes, and bleed afrefh. 
 Blufli, blufli, thou lumpe of fowle Deformitie: 
 For 'tis thy prefence that exhales this blood 
 From cold and empty Veines where no blood dwels. 
 Thy Deeds inhumane and vnnaturall, 
 Prouokes this Deluge moft vnnaturall. 
 O God! which this Blood mad'ft, reuenge his death: 
 O Earth! which this Blood drink'ft, reuenge his death. 
 Either Heau'n with Lightning ftrike the murth'rer dead : 
 Or Earth gape open wide, and eate him quicke, 
 As thou doft fwallow vp this good Kings blood, 
 Which his Hell-gouern'd arme hath butchered. 
 
 Rich. Lady, you know no Rules of Charity, 
 Which renders good for bad, Bleffings for Curfes. 
 
 An. Villaine, thou know'ft nor law of God nor Man, 
 No Beaft fo fierce, but knowes fome touch of pitty. 
 
 Rich. But I know none, and therefore am no Beaft. 
 
 An. O wonderful!, when diuels tell the truth ! 
 
 Rich. More wonderfull, when Angels are fo angry: 
 Vouchfafe (diuine perfection of a Woman) 
 Of thefe fuppofed Crimes, to giue me leaue 
 By circumftance, but to acquit my felfe. 
 
 An. Vouchfafe (defus'd infection of man) 
 Of thefe knowne euils, but to giue me leaue 
 By circumftance, to curfe thy curfed Selfe. 
 
 Rich. Fairer then tongue can name thee, let me haue 
 Some patient leyfure to excufe my felfe. 
 
 An. Fouler then heart can thinke thee, 
 Thou can'ft make no excufe currant, 
 But to hang thy felfe. 
 
 Rich. By fuch difpaire, I fhould accufe my felfe. 
 
 An. And by difpairing {halt thou ftand excufed, 
 For doing worthy Vengeance on thy felfe, 
 That did'ft vnworthy daughter vpon others. 
 
 Rich. Say that I flew them not. 
 
 An. Then fay they were not flaine : 
 But dead they are, and diuellifli flaue by thee. 
 
 Rich. I did not kill your Husband. 
 
 An. Why then he is aliue. 
 
 T^icb. Nay, he is dead, and flaine by Edwards hands. 
 
 An. In thy foule throat thou Ly'ft, 
 Queene <&[argaret faw 
 
 Thy murd'rous Faulchion fmoaking in his blood : 
 The which, thou once didd'ft bend againft her breft, 
 But that thy Brothers beate afide the point. 
 
 Rich. I was prouoked by her fland'rous tongue, 
 
 That laid their guilt, vpon my guiltleffe Shoulders. 
 
 An. Thou was't prouoked by thy bloody minde, 
 That neuer dream'ft on ought but Butcherhes: 
 Did'ft thou not kill this King ? 
 
 Rich. I graunt ye. 
 
 An. Do'ft grant me Hedge-hogge, 
 Then God graunt me too 
 
 Thou may'ft be damned for that wicked deede, 
 O he was gentle, milde, and vertuous. 
 
 Rich. The better for the King of heauen that hath him. 
 
 An. He is in heauen, where thou fhalt neuer come. 
 
 Rich. Let him thanke me, that holpe to fend him thi- 
 ther : 
 For he was fitter for that place then earth. 
 
 An. And thou vnfit for any place, but hell. 
 
 Rich. Yes one place elfe, if you will heare me name it. 
 
 An. Some dungeon. 
 
 Rich. Your Bed-chamber. 
 
 tAn. Ill reft betide the chamber where thou lyeft. 
 
 Rich. So will it Madam, till I lye with you. 
 
 An. I hope fo. 
 
 Rich. I know fo. But gentle Lady Anne t 
 To leaue this keene encounter of our wittes, 
 And fall fomething into a flower method. 
 Is not the caufer of the timelefle deaths 
 Of thefe Plantage nets , Henrie and Edward, 
 As blamefull as the Executioner. 
 
 An. Thou was't the caufe, and moft accurft effect. 
 
 Rich. Your beauty was the caufe of that effect : 
 Your beauty, that did haunt me in my fleepe, 
 To vndertake the death of all the world, 
 So I might liue one houre in your fweet bofome. 
 
 An. If I thought that, I tell thee Homicide, 
 Thefe Nailes fhould rent that beauty from my Cheekes. 
 
 Rich. Thefe eyes could not endure y beauties wrack, 
 You fhould not blemifh it, if I flood by $ 
 As all the world is cheared by the Sunne, 
 So I by that : It is my day, my life. 
 
 An. Blacke night ore-fhade thy day, & death thy life. 
 
 Rich. Curfe not thy felfe faire Creature, 
 Thou art both. 
 
 An. 1 would I were, to be reueng'd on thee. 
 
 Rich. It is a quarrell moft vnnaturall, 
 To be reueng'd on him that loueth thee. 
 
 An. It is a quarrell iuft and reafonable, 
 To be reueng'd on him that kill'd my Husband. 
 
 Rich. He that bereft the Lady of thy Husband, 
 Did it to helpe thee to a better Husband. 
 
 An. His better doth not breath vpon the earth. 
 
 Rich. He liues, that loues thee better then he could. 
 
 An. Name him. 
 
 Rich. Plantagenet. 
 
 An. Why that was he. 
 
 Rich. The felfefame name, but one of better Nature. 
 
 An. Where is he ? 
 
 l= Rich. Heere : Spits at him. 
 
 Why doft thou fpit at me. 
 
 An. Would it were mortall poyfon, for thy fake. 
 
 Rich. Neuer came poyfon from fo fweet a place. 
 
 An. Neuer hung poyfon on a fowler Toade. 
 Out of my fight, thou doft infect mine eyes. 
 
 Rich. Thine eyes (fweet Lady) haue infected mine. 
 
 An. Would they were Bafiliskes, to ftrike thee dead. 
 
 Rich. I would they were, that I might dye at once : 
 For now they kill me with a liuing death. 
 Thofe eyes of thine, from mine haue drawne fait Teares ; 
 
 For
 
 176 
 
 The Life and 'Death of ^c hard the Third. 
 
 Sham'd their Afpefts with ftore of childifh drops : 
 Thefe eyes, which neuer flied remorfefull teare, 
 No, when my Father Yorke, and Edward wept, 
 To heare the pittious moane that Rutland made 
 When black-fac'd Clifford fhooke his fword at him. 
 Nor when thy warlike Father like a Childe, 
 Told the fad ftorie of my Fathers death, 
 And twenty times, made paufe to fob and weepe: 
 That all the ftanders by had wet their cheekes 
 Like Trees bedafh'd with raine. In that fad time, 
 My manly eyes did fcorne an humble teare : 
 And what thefe forrowes could not thence exhale, 
 Thy Beauty hath, and made them blinde with weeping. 
 I neuer fued to Friend, nor Enemy : 
 My Tongue could neuer learne fweet fmoothing word. 
 But now thy Beauty is propos'd my Fee, 
 My proud heart fues, and prompts my tongue to fpeake. 
 She looses fcornfully at him. 
 Teach not thy lip fuch Scorne ; for it was made 
 For kifiing Lady, not for fuch contempt. 
 If thy reuengefull heart cannot forgiue, 
 Loe heere I lend thee this fharpe-pointed Sword, 
 Which if thou pleafe to hide in this true breft, 
 And let the Soule forth that adoreth thee, 
 I lay it naked to the deadly ftroke, 
 And humbly begge the death vpon my knee. 
 
 He laya bis breft ofen,jfbe offers at with bis fword. 
 Nay do not paufe : For I did kill King Henrie, 
 But 'twas thy Beauty that prouoked me. 
 Nay now difpatch : 'Twas I that ftabb'd yong 'Edward, 
 But 'twas thy Heauenly face that fet me on. 
 
 Sbefals the Sword. 
 Take vp the Sword againe, or take vp me. 
 
 An. Arife Diflembler, though I wim thy death, 
 I will not be thy Executioner. 
 
 Rich. Then bid me kill my felfe, and I will do it. 
 
 An. I haue already. 
 
 Rich. That was in thy rage: 
 Speake it againe, and euen with the word, 
 This hand, which for thy loue, did kill thy Loue, 
 Shall for thy loue, kill a farre truer Loue, 
 To both their deaths flialt thou be acceflary. 
 
 tAn. I would I knew thy heart. 
 
 ISjcb. 'Tis figur'd in my tongue. 
 
 An. I feare me, both are falfe. 
 
 e R^cb. Then neuer Man was true. 
 
 An. Well, well, put vp your Sword. 
 
 ^icb. Say then my Peace is made. 
 
 tAa, That (halt thou know heereafter. 
 
 Rich. But fliall I Hue in hope. 
 
 An. All men I hope liue fo. 
 
 Vouch fafe to weare this Ring. 
 
 Rich. Looke how my Ring incompafifeth thy Finger, 
 Euen fo thy Breft incloleth my poore heart : 
 Weare both of them, for both of them are thine. 
 And if thy poore deuoted Seruant may 
 But beg one fauour at thy gracious hand, 
 Thou doft confirme his happinefle for euer. 
 
 An. What is it ? 
 
 Rich. That it may pleafe you leaue thefe fad defignes, 
 To him that hath moft caufe to be a Mourner, 
 And prefently repayre to Crosbie Houfe : 
 Where (after I haue folemnly interr'd 
 At Chertfey Monaft'ry this Noble King, 
 And wet his Graue with my Repentant Teares) 
 I will with all expedient duty fee you, 
 
 For diuers vnknowne Reafons, I befeech you, 
 Grant me this Boon. 
 
 An. With all my heart, and much it ioyes me too, 
 To fee you are become fo penitent. 
 TreJJel and 'Bartyey, go along with me. 
 
 Rich. Bid me farwell. 
 
 An. 'Tis more then you deferue : 
 But fince you teach me how to flatter you, 
 Imagine I haue faide farewell already. 
 
 Exit two with Anne. 
 
 Gent. Towards Chertfey, Noble Lord? 
 
 Rich. No: to White Friars, there attend my comming 
 
 Exit C ear f e 
 
 Was euer woman in this humour woo'd ? 
 Was euer woman in this humour wonne? 
 He haue her, but I will not keepe her long. 
 What? I that kill'd her Husband, and his Father, 
 To take her in her hearts extreameft hate, 
 With curfes in her mouth, Teares in her eyes, 
 The bleeding witnefle of my hatred by, 
 Hauing God, her Confcience,and thefe bars againft me, 
 And I, no Friends to backe my fuite withall, 
 But the plaine Diuell, and diflembling lookes ? 
 And yet to winne her? All the world to nothing. 
 Hah! 
 
 Hath flie forgot alreadie that braue Prince, 
 Edward, her Lord, whom I(fome three monthes fince) 
 Stab'd in my angry mood, at Tewkesbury? 
 A fvveeter, and a louelier Gentleman, 
 Fram'd in the prodigallity of Nature : 
 Yong, Valiant, Wife, and (no doubt)right Royal, 
 The fpacious World cannot againe affbord : 
 And will fhe yet abafe her eyes on me, 
 That crept the Golden prime of this fweet Prince, 
 And made her Widdow to a wofull Bed ? 
 On me, whofe All not equals Edwards Moytie ? 
 On me, that halts,and am milhapen thus? 
 My Dukedome, to a Beggerly denier ! 
 I do miftake my perfon all this while : 
 Vpon my life me findes (although I cannot^ 
 My felfe to be a maru'llous proper man. 
 lie be at Charges for a Looking-glafTe, 
 And entertaine a fcore or two of Taylors, 
 To ftudy fafhions to adorne my body : 
 Since I am crept in fauour with my felfe, 
 I will maintaine it with fome little coft. 
 But firft He turne yon Fellow in his Graue, 
 And then returne lamenting to my Loue. 
 Shine out faire Sunne, till 1 haue bought a glafle, 
 That I may fee my Shadow as I pafle. exit. 
 
 Scena Tertia. 
 
 Enter the Queene %f other. Lord Riuers t 
 and Lcrd Gray. 
 
 Riu. Haue patience Madam, ther's no doubt his Maiefty 
 Will foone recouer his accuftom'd health. 
 
 Gray. In that you brooke it ill, it makes him worfe, 
 Therefore for Gods fake entertaine good comfort, 
 And cheere his Grace with quicke and merry eyes 
 
 Qu. If he were dead, what would betide on me? 
 
 Gray.
 
 The Life and 'Death of^RJchard the Third. 177 
 
 | If he were dead, what would betide on me ? 
 
 Gray. No other harme, but lofle of fuch a Lord. 
 
 Qu. The lofle of fuch a Lord, includes all harmes. 
 
 Gray. The Heauens haue bleft you with a goodly Son, 
 To be your Comforter, when he is gone. 
 
 Qu. Ah! he is yong ; and his minority 
 Is put vnto the truft of Richard G'.oufter, 
 A man that loues not me, nor none of you. 
 
 *RJu. Is it concluded he fliall be Protector ? 
 
 Qu. It is determin'd, not concluded yet: 
 But lo it muft be, if the King mifcarry. 
 
 Enter Buckingham and Derby. 
 
 Gray. Here comes the Lord of Buckingham & Derby. 
 
 Buc. Good time of day vnto your Royall Grace. 
 
 "Der. God make your Maiefty ioyful,as you haue bin 
 
 Qu. The Countefle 'Richmond, good my L.of Derby. 
 To your good prayer, will fcarfely fay, Amen. 
 Yet Derby, notwithftanding fliee's your wife, 
 And loues not me, be you good Lord affur'd, 
 I hate not you for her proud arrogance. 
 
 f Der. I do befeech you, either not beleeue 
 The enuious (landers of her falfe Accufers : 
 Or if flie be accus'd on true report, 
 Beare with her weakneffe, which I thinke proceeds 
 From wayward ficknefle.and no grounded malice. 
 
 Qu. Saw you the King to day my Lord of Deiby. 
 
 Der. But now the Duke of Buckingham and I, 
 Are come from vifiting his Maiefty. 
 
 Que. What likelyhood of his amendment Lords. 
 
 "Sue. Madam good hope, his Grace fpeaks chearfully. 
 
 Qu. God grant him health, did you confer with him? 
 
 Buc . I Madam, he defires to make attonement 
 Betweene the Duke of Gloufter, and your Brothers, 
 And betweene them, and my Lord Chamberlaine, 
 And fent to warne them to his Royall prefence. 
 
 Qu. Would all were well, but that will neuer be, 
 Ifeare our happineffe is at the height. 
 
 Enter Richard, 
 
 Rich. They do me wrong, and I will not indure it, 
 Who is it that complaines vnto the King, 
 Thar I(forfooth) am fterne,and loue them not? 
 By holy Paul, they loue his Grace but lightly, 
 That fill his eares with fuch diflentious Rumors. 
 Becaufe I cannot flatter,and looke faire, 
 Smile in mens faces, fmooth,deceiue, and cogge, 
 Ducke with French nods, and Apifh curtefie, 
 I muft be held a rancorous Enemy. 
 Cannot a plaine man liue,and thinke no harme, 
 But thus his fimple truth muft be abus'd, 
 With filken, flye,infinuating lackes? 
 
 Grey. To who in all this prefence fpeaks your Grace ? 
 
 Rich. To thee, that haft nor Honefty, nor Grace : 
 When haue I iniur'd thee? When done thee wrong? 
 Or thee? or thee? or any of your Fadtion ? 
 A plague vpon you all. His Royall Grace 
 (Whom God prcferue better then you would wifh) 
 Cannot be quiet fcarfe a breathing while, 
 But you muft trouble him with lewd complaints. 
 
 Qu. Brother of Gloufter, you miftake the matter: 
 The King on his owne Royall difpofition, 
 (And not prouok'd by anySutor elfe) 
 Ayming (belike)at your interiour hatred, 
 
 That in your outward action fhewes it felfe 
 Againft my Children, Brothers,and my Selfe, 
 Makes him to fend, that he may learne the ground. 
 
 'Rjch. I cannot tell, the world is growne fo bad, 
 That Wrens make prey, where Eagles dare not pearch. 
 Since euerie laeke became a Gentleman, 
 There's many a gentle perfon made a lacke. 
 
 Qu. Come, come, we know your meaning Brother 
 You enuy my aduancement,and my friends: (Glofter 
 God grant we neuer may haue neede of you. 
 
 Rich.Meane time, God grants that I haue need of you. 
 Our Brother is imprifon'd by your meanes, 
 My felfe difgrac'd, and the Nobilitie 
 Held in contempt, while great Promotions 
 Are daily giuen to ennoble thofe 
 That fcarfe fome two dayes fince were worth a Noble. 
 
 Qu. By him that rais'd me to this carefull height, 
 From that contented hap which I inioy'd, 
 I neuer did incenfe his Maieftie 
 Againft the Duke of Clarence, but haue bin 
 An earned aduocate to plead for him. 
 My Lord you do me fliamefull iniurie, 
 Falfely to draw me in thefe vile fufpects. 
 
 Rich\ You may deny that you were not the meane 
 Of my Lord Hajiings late imprifonment. 
 
 Riu. She may my Lord, for 
 
 Rich. She may Lord Riuers, why who knowes not fo? 
 She may do more fir then denying that : 
 She may helpe you to many faire preferments, 
 And then deny her ayding hand therein, 
 And lay thofe Honors on your high defert. 
 What may flie not, flie may, I marry may ihe. 
 
 Riu. What marry may flie ? 
 
 Ric. What marrie may fhe ? Marrie with a King, 
 A Batcheller, and a handfome ftripling too, 
 I wis your Grandam had a worfer match. 
 
 Qu. My Lord of Gloufter, I haue too long borne 
 Your blunt vpbraidings,and your bitter fcoffes : 
 By heauen, I will acquaint his Maieftie 
 Of thofe groffe taunts that oft I haue endur'd. 
 I had rather be a Countrie feruant maide 
 Then a great Queene, with this condition, 
 To be fo baited, fcorn'd, and ftormed at, 
 Small ioy haue I in being Englands Queene. 
 
 Enter old Queene Margaret. 
 
 Mar. And lefned be that fmall, God I befeech him, 
 Thy honor, ftate, and feate,is due to me. 
 
 Rich. What? threat you me with telling of the King ? 
 I will auouch't in prefence of the King: 
 I dare aduenture to be fent to th'Towre. 
 Tis time to fpeake, 
 My paines are quite forgot. 
 
 Margaret. Out Diuell, 
 I do remember them too well : 
 Thou killd'ft my Husband Henrie in the Tower, 
 And Edward my poore Son, at Tewkesburie. 
 
 Rich. Ere you were Queene, 
 I, or your Husband King : 
 I was a packe-horfe in his great affaires : 
 A weeder out of his proud Aduerfaries, 
 A liberall rewarder of his Friends, 
 To royalize his blood, I fpent mine owue. 
 
 Margaret. I and much better blood 
 Then his, or thine. 
 
 r Rich.
 
 The Life and "Death of ^c hard the Third. 
 
 Rich. In all which time, you and your Husband Grey 
 Were factious, for the Houfe of Lancafter ; 
 And Riuers,(o were you : Was not your Husband, 
 In eftfargareti Battaile,at Saint .^/cnj,flaine ? 
 Let me put in your mindes, if you forget 
 What you haue beene ere this, and what you are : 
 Withall,what I haue beene, and what I am. 
 
 ^M. A murth'rous Villaine, and fo ftill thou art. 
 
 Rich. Poore Qlarence did forfake his Father War-aicfy, 
 I,and forfwore himfelfe (which lefu pardon.) 
 Q^M. Which God reuenge. 
 Rich. To fight on Edwards partie, for the Crowne, 
 And for his meede,poore Lord, he is mewed vp : 
 I would to God my heart were Flint, like Edwards, 
 Or Edwards foft and pittifull,like mine ; 
 I am too childifh foolifh for this World. 
 
 ^.Af.High thee to Hell for flume, &leaue this World 
 Thou Cacodemon, there thy Kingdome is. 
 
 Riu. My Lord of Glofter: in thofe bufie dayes, 
 Which here you vrge, to proue vs Enemies, 
 We follow'd then our Lord, our Soueraigne King, 
 So fliould we you, if you fliould be our King. 
 
 Rich. If I fliould be f I had rather be a Pedler : 
 Farre be it from my heart, the thought thereof. 
 Qu. As little ioy (my Lord,) as you fuppofe 
 You fliould enioy,were you this Countries King, 
 As little ioy you may fuppofe in me, 
 That I enioy, being the Queene thereof. 
 
 Q_-M. A little ioy enioyes the Queene thereof, 
 For I am fliee,and altogether ioylefie : 
 I can no longer hold me patient. 
 Heare me, you wrangling Pyrates, that fall out, 
 In fliaring that which you haue pill'd from me : 
 Which off you trembles not, that lookes on me ? 
 If not, that I am Queene, you bow like Subiecls; 
 Yet that by you depos'd,you quake like Rebells. 
 Ah gentle Villaine, doe not turne away. (fight ? 
 
 Rich. Foule wrinckled Witch, what mak'ft thou in my 
 Q^M. But repetition of what thou haft marr'd, 
 That will I make, before I let thee goe. 
 
 Rich. Wert thou not baniflied, on paine of death? 
 
 QJM. I was : but I doe find more paine in banifliment, 
 Then death can yeeld me here, by my abode. 
 A Husband and a Sonne thou ow'ftto me, 
 And thou a Kingdome; all of you, allegeance : 
 This Sorrow that I haue, by right is yours, 
 And all the Pleafures you vfurpe,are mine. 
 
 Rich. The Curfe my Noble Father layd on thee, 
 When thou didft Crown his Warlike Brows with Paper, 
 And with thy fcornes drew'ft Riuers from his eyes, 
 And then to dry them.gau'ft the Duke a Clowt, 
 Steep'd in the faultlefle blood of prettie Rutland: 
 His Curfes then, from bitternefTe of Soule, 
 Denounc'd againft thee, are all falne vpon thee : 
 And God, not we, hath plagu'd thy bloody deed. 
 
 t%u. So iuft is God, to right the innocent. 
 
 Haft. O,'twas the fouleft deed to flay that Babe, 
 And the moft mercilefle,that ere was heard of. 
 
 .Rw.Tyrants themfelues wept when it was reported. 
 
 ^Dor/".No man but prophecied reuenge for it. 
 
 'Buc^. Northumberland, then prefent, wept to fee it. 
 
 ^M. What? were you fnarling all before I came, 
 Ready to catch each other by the throat, 
 And turne you all your hatred now on me ? 
 Did Tories dread Curfe preuaile fo much with Heauen, 
 That Henries death, my louely Edwards death, 
 
 Their Kingdomes lofle, my wofull Banifliment, 
 Should all but anfwer for that peeuifli Brat ? 
 Can Curfes pierce the Clouds,and enter Heauen? 
 Why then giue way dull Clouds to my quick Curfes. 
 Though not by Warre, by Surfet dye your King, 
 As ours by Murther,tomake him a King. 
 Edward thy Sonne, that now is Prince of Wales, 
 For Edward OUT Sonne, that was Prince of Wales, 
 Dye in his youth, by like vntimely violence. 
 Thy felfe a Queene, for me that was a Queene, 
 Out-liue thy glory, like my wretched felfe: 
 Long may'ft thou liue,to wayle thy Childrens death, 
 And fee another, as I fee thee now, 
 Deck'd in thy Rights, as thou art ftall'd in mine. 
 Long dye thy happie dayes, before thy death, 
 And after many length'ned howres of griefe, 
 Dye neyther Mother, Wife, nor Englands Queene. 
 'RJuers and Dorfet, you were ftanders by, 
 And fo waft thou, Lord HaJ}ings,when my Sonne 
 Was ftab'd with bloody Daggers:God,I pray him, 
 That none of you may liue his naturall age, 
 But by fome vnlook'd accident cut off. 
 .R/rA.Haue done thy Charme,y hateful wither'd Hagge. 
 QJM. And leaue out thee? ftay Dog, for y ftialt heare me. 
 If Heauen haue any grieuous plague in ftore, 
 Exceeding thofe that I can wifli vpon thee, 
 O let them keepe it, till thy fmnes be ripe, 
 And then hurle downe their indignation 
 On thee, the troubler of the poore Worlds peace. 
 The Worme of Confcience ftill begnaw thy Soule, 
 Thy Friends fufpect for Traytors while thou liu'ft, 
 And take deepe Traytors for thy deareft Friends : 
 No fleepe clofe vp that deadly Eye of thine, 
 VnlefTe it be while fome tormenting Dreame 
 Affrights thee with a Hell of ougly Deuills. 
 Thou eluifli mark'd, abortiue rooting Hogge, 
 Thou that waft feal'd in thy Natiuitie 
 The flaue of Nature,and the Sonne of Hell : 
 Thou flander of thy heauie Mothers Wombe, 
 Thou loathed Iflue of thy Fathers Loynes, 
 Thou Ragge of Honor, thou detefted 
 Rjch. zflfargaret. 
 
 Q^.M. Richard. Rich. Ha. 
 
 Q^M. I call thee not. 
 
 Rich. I cry thee mercie then : for I did thinke, 
 That thou hadft call'd me all thefe bitter names. 
 
 Q^M. Why fo I did, but look'd for no reply. 
 Oh let me make the Period to my Curfe. 
 
 Rich. 'Tis done by me, and ends in cflfargaret. 
 
 ^u.Thus haue you breath'd your Curie againft your felf. 
 
 Q^M. Poore painted Queen, vain flourifli of my fortune, 
 Why ftrew'ft thou Sugar on that Bottel'd Spider, 
 Whofe deadly Web enfnareth thee about ? 
 Foole, foole, thou whet'ft a Knife to kill thy felfe : 
 The day will come, that thou /halt wifh for me, 
 To helpe thee curfe this poyfonous Bunch-backt Toade. 
 
 Ha/i.a\fe boding Woman, end thy frantick Curfe, 
 Leaft to thy harme,thou moue our patience. 
 
 ^.^f.Foule flume vpon you, you haue all mou'd mine. 
 
 J?;.Were you wel feru'd,you would be taught your duty. 
 
 ^.MTo ferue me well, you all fliould do me duty, 
 Teach me to be your Queene, and you my Subjects : 
 O ferue me well, and teach your felues that duty. 
 
 Dorf. Difpute not with her,fhee is lunaticke. 
 
 Q^-M. Peace Mafter Marquefle,you are malapert, 
 Your fire-new ftampe of Honor is icarce currant. 
 
 O 
 
 5'4
 
 The Life and 'Death of 'Trichord the Third. 179 
 
 O that your yong Nobility could iudge 
 
 What 'twere to lofe it, and be miferable. 
 
 They that ftand high, haue many blafts to {hake them, 
 
 And if they fall, they dafh themfelues to peeces. 
 
 Rich. Good counfaile marry, learne it, learne it Mar- 
 quefie. 
 
 Dor. It touches you my Lord, as much as me. 
 
 Rich. I, and much more : but I was borne fo high: 
 Our ayerie buildeth in the Cedars top, 
 And dallies with the winde, and fcornes the Sunne. 
 
 Mar. And turnes the Sun to {hade : alas,alas, 
 Witnefle my Sonne, now in the {hade of death, 
 Whofe bright out-fhining beames, thy cloudy wrath 
 Hath in eternall darknefle folded vp. 
 Your ayery buildeth in our ayeries Neft : 
 O God that feeft it, do not fuffer it, 
 As it is wonne with blood, loft be it fo. 
 
 Buc. Peace, peace for {hame : Jf not, for Charity. 
 Mar. Vrge neither charity, nor {hame to me: 
 Vncharitably with me haue you dealt, 
 And Shamefully my hopes (by you) are butcher'd. 
 My Charity is outrage, Life my {hame, 
 And in that fhame, ftill liue my forrowes rage. 
 
 'Buc, Haue done, haue done. 
 
 Mar. O Princely Buckingham, He kifle thy hand, 
 In figne of League and amity with thee : 
 I Now faire befall thee, and thy Noble houfe : 
 i Thy Garments are not fpotted with our blood : 
 Nor thou within the eompafle of my curfe. 
 
 'Buc. Nor no one heere : for Curfes neuer paffe 
 The lips of thofe that breath them in the ayre. 
 
 Mar. I will not thinke but they afcend the sky, 
 And there awake Gods gentle fleeping peace. 
 O Buckingham, take heede of yonder dogge : 
 Looke when he fawnes, he bites; and when he bites, 
 His venom tooth will rankle to the death. 
 Haue not to do with him, beware of him, 
 Sinne, death, and hell haue fet their markes on him, 
 And all their Minifters attend on him. 
 
 1(icb. What doth {he fay, my Lord of Buckingham. 
 
 Buc. Nothing that I refpeft my gracious Lord. 
 
 Mar. What doft thou fcorne me 
 For my gentle counfell? 
 And footh the diuell that I warne thee from. 
 
 but remember this another day : 
 
 When he fhall fplit thy very heart with forrow : 
 
 And fay (foore Margaret Jwas a Prophetefle : 
 
 Liue each of you the fubie&s to his hate, 
 
 And he to yours, and all of you to Gods. Exit. 
 
 Buc. My haire doth ftand an end to heare her curfes. 
 
 Riu. And fo doth mine, I mufe why {he's at libertie. 
 
 Rich. I cannot blame her, by Gods holy mother, 
 She hath had too much wrong, and I repent 
 My part thereof, that I haue done to her. 
 
 Mar. I neuer did her any to my knowledge. 
 
 Rich. Yet you haue all the vantage of her wrong: 
 
 1 was too hot, to do fomebody good, 
 That is too cold in thinking of it now : 
 Marry as for Clarence, he is well repayed : 
 He is frank'd vp to fatting for his paines, 
 God pardon them, that are the caufe thereof. 
 
 Riu. A vertuous,and a Chriftian-like conclufion 
 To pray for them that haue done fcath to vs. 
 
 Rich. So do I euer, being well aduis'd. 
 
 Sfeai^es to bimjelfe. 
 For had I curft now, I had curft my felfe. 
 
 Enter Catesby. 
 
 Gates. Madam, his Maiefty doth call for you, 
 And for your Grace, and yours my gracious Lord. 
 
 Qu. Catesby I come, Lords will you go with mee. 
 
 Riu. We wait vpon your Grace. 
 
 Exeunt all but Glofter. 
 
 Rich. I do the wrong, and firft begin to brawle. 
 The fecret Mifcheefes that I fet abroach, 
 I lay vnto the greeuous charge of others. 
 Clarence, who I indeede haue caft in darknefle, 
 I do beweepe to many fimple Guiles, 
 Namely to Derby, Haftings, Buckingham, 
 And tell them 'tis the Queene, and her Allies, 
 That ftirre the King againft the Duke my Brother. 
 Now they beleeue it, and withall whet me 
 To be reueng'd on Riuers, Dorj'et,Grey. 
 But then I figh, and with a peece of Scripture, 
 Tell them that God bids vs do good for euill : 
 And thus I cloath my naked Villanie 
 With odde old ends, ftolne forth of holy Writ, 
 And feeme a Saint, when moft I play the deuill. 
 
 Enter two murtherers. 
 But foft, heere come my Executioners, 
 How now my hardy ftout refolued Mates, 
 Are you now going to difpatch this thing ? 
 
 Vi/.We are my Lord, and come to haue the Warrant, 
 That we may be admitted where he is. 
 
 Ric. Well thought vpon, I haue it heare about me : 
 When you haue done, repayre to Crosby place ; 
 But firs be fodaine in t the execution, 
 Withall obdurate, do not heare him pleade ; 
 For Clarence is well fpoken, and perhappes 
 May moue your hearts to pitty, if you marke him. 
 
 Vil. Tut, tut, my Lord, we will not ftand to prate, 
 Talkers are no good dooers, be affur'd : 
 We go to vfe our hands,and not our tongues. 
 
 Rich. Your eyes drop Mill-ftones, when Fooles ejes ! 
 fall Teares : 
 
 I like you Lads,about your bufinefle ftraight. 
 Go, go, difpatch. 
 
 Vil. We will my Noble Lord. 
 
 Scena Quarta. 
 
 Enter Clarence and Keeper. 
 
 Keep. Why lookes your Grace fo heauily to day. 
 
 Cla. O,I haue paft a miferable night, 
 So full of fearefull Dreames, of vgly fights, 
 That as I am a Chriftian faithfull man, 
 I would not fpend another fuch a night 
 Though 'twere to buy a world of happy daies: 
 So full of difmall terror was the time. 
 Keef.Vfhst was your dream my Lord, I pray you tel me 
 
 Cla.Me thoughts that I had broken from the Tower, 
 And was embark'd to crofle to Burgundy, 
 And in my company my Brother Gloufter, 
 Who from my Cabin tempted me to walke, 
 Vpon the Hatches : There we look'd toward England, 
 And cited vp a thoufand heauy times, 
 
 r 2 During
 
 i8o 
 
 The Life and'Deatbof^cbardthe Third. 
 
 During the warres of Yorke and Lancafter 
 
 That had befalne vs.As we pac'd along 
 
 Vpon the giddy footing of the Hatches, 
 
 Me thought that Gloufter ftumbled,and in falling 
 
 Strooke me (that thought to ftay him)ouer-boord, 
 
 Into the tumbling billowes of the maine. 
 
 O Lord, me thought what paine it was to drowne, 
 
 What dreadfull noife of water in mine eares, 
 
 What fights of vgly death within mine eyes. 
 
 Me thoughts, I faw a thoufand fearfull wrackes : 
 
 A thoufand men that Fifhes gnaw'd vpon : 
 
 Wedges of Gold, great Anchors, heapes of Pearle, 
 
 Ineftimable Stones, vnvalewed Jewels, 
 
 All fcattred in the bottomeof the Sea, 
 
 Some lay in dead-mens Sculles,and in the holes 
 
 Where eyes did once inhabit, there were crept 
 
 (As 'twere in fcorne of eyes) reflecting Gemmes, 
 
 That woo'd the flimy bottome of the deepe, 
 
 And mock'd the dead bones that lay fcattred by. 
 
 Keep. Had you fuch leyfure in the time of death 
 To gaze vpon thefe fecrets of the deepe ? 
 
 Cla. Me thought I had, and often did I ftriue 
 To yeeld the Ghoft : but (till the enuious Flood 
 Stop'd in my foule, and would not let it forth 
 To find the empty, vaft, and wand'ring ayre : 
 But fmother'd it within my panting bulke, 
 Who almoft burft, to belch it in the Sea. 
 Keep. Awak'd you not in this fore Agony ? 
 
 Clar. No, no, my Dreame was lengthen'd after life. 
 
 then, began the Tempeft to my Soule. 
 
 1 paft ('me thought) the Melancholly Flood, 
 With that fowre Ferry-man which Poets write of, 
 Vnto the Kingdome of perpetuall Night. 
 
 The firft that there did greet my Stranger-foule, 
 Was my great Father-in-Law, renowned Warwicke, 
 Who fpake alowd : What fcourge for Periurie, 
 Can this darke Monarchy affoord falfe (Clarence ? 
 And fo he vanim'd. Then came wand'ring by, 
 A Shadow like an Angell, with bright hayre 
 Dabbel'd in blood, and he fhriek'd out alowd 
 Clarence is come, falfe, fleeting, periur'd Clarence, 
 That ftabb'd me in the field by Tewkesbury : 
 Seize on him Furies, take him vnto Torment. 
 With that (me thought) a Legion of foule Fiends 
 Inuiron'd me, and howled in mine eares 
 Such hiddeous cries, that with the very Noife, 
 I (trembling) wak'd, and for a feafon after, 
 Could not beleeue, but that I was in Hell, 
 Such terrible Imprefsion made my Dreame. 
 
 Keep. No maruell Lord, though it affrighted you, 
 I am affraid fme thinkes) to heareyou tell it. 
 
 Cla. Ah Keeper, Keeper, I haue done thefe things 
 (That now giue euidence againft my Soule) 
 For Ed-wards fake, and fee how he requits mee. 
 O God! if my deepe prayres cannot appeafe thee, 
 But thou wilt be aueng'd on my mifdceds, 
 Yet execute thy wrath in me alone : 
 O fpare my guiltlefie Wife,and my poore children. 
 Keeper, I prythee fit by me a-while, 
 My Soule is heauy,and I faine would fleepe. 
 
 Keep.I will my Lord, God giue your Grace good reft. 
 
 Eater Brafynbury the Lieutenant. 
 
 'Bra. Sorrow breakes Seafons,and repofing houres, 
 Makes the Night Morning, and the Noon-tide night: 
 
 Princes haue but their Titles for their Glories, 
 An outward Honor, for an inward Toyle, 
 And for vnfelt Imaginations 
 They often feele a world of reftlefle Cares : 
 So that betweene their Titles, and low Name, 
 There's nothing differs, but the outward fame. 
 
 Enter t&o i^furtherers. 
 
 i.Mur. Ho, who's heere ? 
 
 'Bra. What would'ft thou Fellow ? And how camm'ft 
 thou hither. 
 
 l.cWur. I would fpeak with Clarence^ and I came hi- 
 ther on my Legges. 
 
 Bra. What fo breefe? 
 I . 'Tis better (Sir) then to be tedious : 
 Let him fee our Commiflion,and talke no more. Reads 
 
 'Bra. I am in this, commanded to deliuer 
 The Noble Duke of Clarence to your hands. 
 I will not reafon what is.meant heereby, 
 Becaufe I will be guiltlefie from the meaning. 
 The're lies the Duke aileepe,and there the Keyes. 
 He to the King, and fignifie to him, 
 That thus I haue vefign'd to you my charge. Exit. 
 
 1 You may fir, 'tis a point of wifedome : 
 Far you well. 
 
 2 What, lhall we ftab him as he fleepes. 
 
 1 No : hee'l fay 'twas done cowardly, when he wakes 
 
 2 Why he fhall neuer wake, vntill the great ludge- 
 ment day. 
 
 1 Why then hee'l fay, we ftab'd him fleeping. 
 
 2 The vrging of that word ludgement, hath bred a 
 kinde of remorfe in me. 
 
 1 What? art thou affraid ? 
 
 2 Not to kill him, hauing a Warrant, 
 
 But to be damn'd for killing him, from the which 
 No Warrant can defend me. 
 
 1 I thought thou had'ft bin refolute. 
 
 2 So I am, to let him liue. 
 
 1 He backe to the Duke of Gloufter, and tell him fo. 
 
 2 Nay, I prythee ftay a little : 
 
 I hope this pafiionate humor of mine, will change, 
 It was wont to hold me but while one tels twenty. 
 
 1 How do'ft thou feele thy felfe now ? 
 
 2 Some certaine dregges of confcience are yet with- 
 in mee. 
 
 1 Remember our Reward, when the deed's done. 
 
 2 Come, he dies : I had forgot the Reward. 
 
 1 Where's thy confcience now. 
 
 2 O, in the Duke of Gloufters purfe. 
 
 1 When hee opens his purfe to giue vs our Reward, 
 thy Confcience flycs out. 
 
 2 'Tis no matter, let it goe : There's few or none will 
 entertaine it. 
 
 1 What if it come to thee againe ? 
 
 2 He not meddle with it, it makes a man a Coward : 
 A man cannot fteale, but it accufeth him : A man cannot 
 Sweare, but it Checkes him ; A man cannot lye with his 
 Neighbours Wife, but it detects him. 'Tis a blufhing 
 lhamefac'd fpirit, that mutinies in a mans bofome : It 
 filles a man full of Obftacles. It made me once reftore a 
 Purfle of Gold that (by chance) I found : It beggars any 
 man that keepes it : It is turn'd out of Townes and Cit- 
 ties for a dangerous thing, and euery man that means to 
 liue well, endeuours to truft to himfelfe, and liue with- 
 out it. 
 
 i 'Tis 
 
 516
 
 The Life and "Death of ^c hard the Third. 1 8 1 
 
 1 'Tis euen now at my elbow, perfwading me not to 
 kill the Dkue. 
 
 2 Take the diuell in thy minde,and beleeue him not : 
 He would infinuate with thee but to make thee figh. 
 
 1 I am ftrong fram'd,he cannot preuaile with me. 
 
 2 Spoke like a tall man, that refpe<fb thy reputation. 
 Come, fliall we fall to worke? 
 
 1 Take him on the Coftard, with the hikes of thy 
 Sword, and then throw him into the Malmefey-Butte in 
 the nextroome. 
 
 2 O excellent deuice; and make a fop of him. 
 
 1 Soft, he wakes. 
 
 2 Strike. 
 
 1 No, wee'l reafon with him. 
 
 Cla. Where art thou Keeper? Giue me a cup of wine. 
 
 2 You {hall haue Wine enough my Lord anon. 
 Cla. In Gods name, what art thou ? 
 
 i A man, as you are. 
 
 Cla. But not as I am Royall. 
 
 I Nor you as we are, Loyall. 
 
 Cla. Thy voice is Thunder, but thy looks are humble. 
 
 1 My voice is now the Kings, my lookes mine owne. 
 Cla. How darkly,and how deadly doft thou fpeake ? 
 
 Your eyes do menace me : why looke you pale ? 
 Who fent you hither? Wherefore do you come ? 
 
 2 To, to, to 
 
 Cla. To murther me ? 
 <Both. 1,1. 
 
 Cla, You fcarfely haue the hearts to tell me fo, 
 And therefore cannot haue the hearts to do it. 
 Wherein my Friends haue I offended you ? 
 
 1 Offended vs you haue not, but the -King. 
 Cla. I fhall be reconcil'd to him againe. 
 
 2 Neuer my Lord, therefore prepare to dye. 
 
 Cla. Are you drawne forth among a world of men 
 To flay the innocent? What is my offence ? 
 Where is the Euidence that doth accufe me? 
 What lawfull Queft haue giuen their Verdict vp 
 Vnto the frowning ludge? Or who pronounc'd 
 The bitter fentence of poore Clarence death, 
 Before I be conuidt by courfe of Law ? 
 To threaten me with death, is moft vnlawrull. 
 I charge you, as you hope for any goodnefle , 
 That you depart,and lay no hands on me : 
 The deed you vndertakeis damnable. 
 
 1 What we will do, we do vpon command. 
 
 2 And he that hath commanded, is our King. 
 Cla. Erroneous VafTals, the great King of Kings 
 
 Hath in the Table of his Law commanded 
 That thou fhalt do no murther. WiH you then 
 Spurne at his Edi<ft,and fulfill a Mans? 
 Take heed : for he holds Vengeance in his hand, 
 To hurle vpon their heads that breake his Law. 
 
 2 And that fame Vengeance doth he hurle on thee, 
 For falfe Forfwearing,and for murther too: 
 Thou did'ft receiue the Sacrament, to fight 
 In quarrell of the Houfe of Lancafter. 
 
 1 And like a Traitor to the name of God, 
 
 Did'ft breake that Vow, and with thy treacherous blade, 
 Vnrip'ft the Bowels of thy Sou'raignes Sonne. 
 
 2 Whom thou was't fworne to cherifh and defend. 
 I How can ft thou vrge Gods dreadfull Law to vs, 
 
 When thou haft broke it in fuch deere degree ? 
 
 Cla. Alas! for whofe fake did I that ill deede ? 
 For Edward, for my Brother, for his fake. 
 He fends you not to murther me for this: 
 
 5*7 
 
 For in that finne, he is as deepe as I. 
 If God will be auenged for the deed, 
 
 know you yet, he doth it publiquely, 
 
 Take not the quarrell from his powrefull arme : 
 He needs no indirect, or lawlefle courfe, 
 To cut off thofe that haue offended him. 
 
 I Who made thee then a bloudy minifter, 
 When gallant fpringing braue Plantagenet, 
 That Princely Nouice was ftrucke dead by thee ? 
 
 Cla. My Brothers loue, the Diuell, and my Rage. 
 
 1 Thy Brothers Loue, our Duty, and thy Faults, 
 Prouoke vs hither now, to flaughter thee. 
 
 Cla. If you do loue my Brother, hate not me: 
 
 1 am his Brother, and I loue him well. 
 
 If you are hyr'd for meed, go backe againe, 
 And I will fend you to my Brother Gloufter: 
 Who mall reward you better for my life, 
 Then Edward will for tydingsof my death. 
 
 2 You are deceiu'd, 
 
 Your Brother Gloufter hates you. 
 
 Cla. Oh no, he loues me, and he holds me deere : 
 Go you to him from me. 
 
 i I fo we will. 
 
 Cla. Tell him, when that our Princely Father Yorke, 
 Bleft his three Sonnes with his victorious Arme, , 
 He little thought of this diuided Friendfhip : 
 Bid Gloufter thinke on this, and he will weepe. 
 
 I I Milftones,as he leffoned vs to weepe. 
 
 Cla. O do not flander him, for he is kinde. 
 
 1 Right,as Snow in Harueft: 
 Come, you deceiue your felfe, 
 
 'Tis he that fends vs to deftroy you heere. 
 
 Cla. It cannot be, for he bewept my Fortune, 
 And hugg'd me in his armes,and fwore with fobs, 
 That he would labour my deliuery. 
 
 I Why fo he doth, when he deliuersyou 
 From this earths thraldome, to the ioyes of heauen. 
 
 2 Make peace with God, for you muft die my Lord. 
 Cla. Haue you that holy feeling in your fcules, 
 
 To counfaile me to make my peace with God, 
 And are you yet to your owne foules fo blinde, 
 That you will warre with God, by murd'ring me. 
 O firs confider, they thatfet you on 
 To do this deede, will hate you for the deede. 
 
 2 What fliall we do ? 
 Clar. Relent, and faue your foules : 
 Which of you, if you were a Princes Sonne, 
 Being pent from Liberty, as I am now, 
 If two fuch murtherers as your felues came to you, 
 Would not intreat for life, as you would begge 
 Were you in my diftrefie. 
 
 1 Relent? no: 'Tis cowardly and womanifli. 
 Cla. Not to relent, is beaftly,fauage,diuellifh : 
 
 My Friend, I fpy fome pitty in thy lookes : 
 O, if thine eye be not a Flatterer, 
 Come thou on my fide, and intreate for mee, 
 A begging Prince, what begger pitties not. 
 
 2 Looke behinde you, my Lord. 
 
 1 Take that,and that,if all this will not do, Stabs bint. 
 He drowne you in the Malmefey-But within. Exit. 
 
 2 A bloody deed, and defperately difpatcht : 
 How faine (like Pi!ate)viould I wafh my hands 
 
 Of this moft greeuous murther. Enter i.Murtberer 
 
 I How now? what mean'ft thou that thou help'ft me 
 not ? By Heauen the Duke mall know how flacke you 
 haue beene. 
 
 r 3 2 I
 
 l82 
 
 'The Life andT>eath of Richard the Third. 
 
 z.<vWr.I would he knew that I had fau'd his brother, 
 Take thou the Fee, and tell him what I fay, 
 For I repent me that the Duke is flaine. Exit. 
 
 I .Mur. So do not I : go Coward as thou art. 
 Well, He go hide the body in fome hole, 
 Till that the Duke giue order for his buriall : 
 And when I haue my meede, I will away, 
 For this will out, and then I muft not flay. Exit 
 
 AftusSecundus. Sccena^rima. 
 
 Flouri, 
 
 Enter the King Jicke ,tbe Queens, Lord <&farquejje 
 
 f Dorfet t Riuers, Haftings, Catesby, 
 
 "But gingham , Wf>cduill. 
 
 King. Why fo : now haue I done a good daies work. 
 You Peeres,continue this vnited League : 
 I, euery day expect an Embafiage 
 From my Redeemer, to redeeme me hence. 
 And more to peace my foule fhall part to heauen, 
 Since I haue made my Friends at peace on earth. 
 Dorfet an'd Riuers, take each others hand, 
 Difiemble not your hatred, Svveare your loue. 
 
 Riu.By heauen, my foule is purg'd from grudging hate 
 And with my hand I feale my true hearts Loue. 
 Haft. So thriue I, as I truly fweare the like. 
 King. Take heed you dally not before your King, 
 Left he that is the fupreme King of Kings 
 Confound your hidden fal(hood,and award 
 Either of you to be the others end. 
 
 Haft. So profper I, as I fweare perfect loue. 
 Rl. And I, as I loue Haftings with my heart, 
 King. Madam, your felfe is not exempt from this : 
 Nor you Sonne Dorfet, Buckingham nor you ; 
 You haue bene factious one againft the other. 
 Wife, loue Lord Haftings, let him ki fie your hand, 
 And what you do, do it vnfeignedly. 
 
 ^u. There Haftings,! will neuer more remember 
 Our former hatred,fo thriue I, and mine. 
 
 King. Dorfet, imbrace him : 
 Haftings, loue Lord Marquefle. 
 
 "Dor. This interchange of loue, I heere proteft 
 Vpon my part,fhall be inuiolable. 
 Haft, And fo fweare I. 
 
 King. Now Princely 'Buckingham, feale y this league 
 With thy embracements to my wiues Allies, 
 And make me happy in your vnity. 
 
 Buc. When euer Buckingham doth turne his hate 
 Vpon your Grace, but with all dutious loue, 
 Doth cherifh you, and yours, God punifli me 
 With hate in thofe where I expect moft loue, 
 When I haue moft need to imploy a Friend, 
 And moft allured that he is a Friend, 
 Deepe, hollow, treacherous, and full of guile, 
 Be he vnto me : This do I begge of heauen, 
 When I am cold in loue, to you, or yours. Embrace 
 
 King. A pleafing Cordiall, Princely Buckingham^ 
 Is this thy Vow, vnto my fickely heart : 
 There wanteth now our Brother Glofter heere, 
 To make the blciTed period of this peace. 
 
 Buc. And in good time, 
 Heere comes Sir Richard Ratcliffe,nnd the Duke. 
 
 Enter %atclife, and Glofter. 
 
 Ricb.Good morrow to my Soueraigne King & Queen 
 And Princely Peeres,a happy time of day. 
 
 King, Happy indeed, as we haue fpent the day: 
 Glofter, we haue done deeds of Charity, 
 Made peace of enmity, faire loue of hate, 
 Betweene thefe fwelling wrong incenfed Peeres. 
 
 Rich. A blefled labour my moft Soueraigne Lord: 
 Among this Princely heape, if any heere 
 By falfe intelligence, or wrong furmize 
 Hold me a Foe : If I vnwillingly,or in my rage, 
 Haue ought committed that is hardly borne, 
 To any in this prefence, I defire 
 To reconcile me to his Friendly peace : 
 'Tis death to me to be at enmitie : 
 I hate it, and defire all good mens loue, 
 Firft Madam, I intreate true peace of you, 
 Which I will purchafe with my dutious feruice. 
 Of you my Noble Cofin Buckingham, 
 If euer any grudge were lodg'd betweene vs. 
 Of you and you, Lord Riuers and of 'Dorfet, 
 That all without defert haue frown'd on me : 
 Of you Lord Wocduill, and Lord Scales of you, 
 Dukes, Earles, Lords, Gentlemen, indeed of all. 
 I do not know that Englifhman aliue, 
 With whom my foule is any iot at oddes, 
 More then the Infant that is borne to night: 
 I thanke my God for my Humility. 
 
 Qu. A holy day (hall this be kept heereafter : 
 I would to God all ftrifes were well compounded. 
 My Soueraigne Lord, I do befeech your Highnefle 
 To take our Brother Clarence to your Grace. 
 
 Rich. Why Madam, haue I offred loue for this, 
 To be fo flowted in this Royall prefence? 
 Who knowes not that the gentle Duke is dead? They 
 You do him iniurieto fcorne his'Coarfe. allftart. 
 
 King. Who knowes not he is dead ? 
 Who knowes he is ? 
 
 Q. All-feeing heauen, what a world is this ? 
 
 Buc. Looke I fo pale Lord 'Dorfet, as the reft? 
 
 Dor. I my good Lord, and no man in the prefence, 
 But his red colour hath forfooke his cheekes. 
 
 King. Is Clarence dead The Order was reuerft. 
 
 Rich. But he (poore man) by your firft order dyed, 
 And that a winged Mercuric did beare : 
 Some tardie Cripple bare the Countermand, 
 That came too lagge to fee him buried. 
 God grant, that fome lefie Noble, and lefie Loyall, 
 Neerer in bloody thoughts,and not in blood, 
 Deferue not worfe then wretched Clarence did, 
 And yet go currant from Sufpition. 
 
 Enter Earle of Derby. 
 
 Der. A boone my Soueraigne for my feruice done. 
 
 King. I prethee peace, my foule is full of forrow. 
 
 'Der. I will not rife, vnlefie your Highnes heare me. 
 
 King. Then fay at once, what is it thou requefts. 
 
 'Der. The forfeit (Soueraigne) of my feruants life, 
 Who flew to day a Riotous Gentleman, 
 Lately attendant on the Duke of Norfolke. 
 
 King. Haue I a tongue to doome my Brothers death? 
 And /hall that tongue giue pardon to a flaue ? 
 My Brother kill'd no man, his fault was Thought, 
 And yet his punifhment was bitter death. 
 
 Who
 
 The Life and "Death of Richard the Third. 1 8 3 
 
 Who fued to me for him ? Who (in my wrath) 
 
 Kneel'd and my feet, and bid me be aduis'd ? 
 
 Who fpoke of Brother-hood? who fpoke of loue ? 
 
 Who told me how the poore foule did forfake 
 
 The mighty Warwicke,and did fight for me? 
 
 Who told me in the field at Tewkesbury, 
 
 When Oxford had me downe, he refcued me : 
 
 And faid deare Brother Hue, and be a King 1 ? 
 
 Who told me, when we both lay in the Field, 
 
 Frozen(almoft)to death, how he did lap me 
 
 Euen in his Garments, and did giue himfelfe 
 
 (All thin and naked) to the numbe cold night ? 
 
 All this from my Remembrance, brutifh wrath 
 
 Sinfully pluckt, and not a man of you 
 
 Had fo much grace to put it in my minde. 
 
 But when your Carters, or your wayting Vaflalls 
 
 Haue done a drunken Slaughter, and defac'd 
 
 The precious Image of our deere Redeemer, 
 
 You ftraight are on your knees for Pardon, pardon, 
 
 And I fvniuftly too) muft grant it you. 
 
 But for my Brother, not a man would fpeake, 
 
 Nor I (vngracious) fpeake vnto my felfe 
 
 For him poore Soule. The proudeft of you all, 
 
 Haue bin beholding to him in his life : 
 
 Yet none of you, would onee begge for his life. 
 
 O God! I feare thy iuftice will take hold 
 
 On me, and you; and mine,and yours forthis. 
 
 Come Haftings helpe me to my Cloflet. 
 
 Ah poore Clarence. Exeunt fame with K.& S^neen. 
 
 Rich. This is the fruits of rafhnes: Markt you not, 
 How that the guilty Kindred of the Queene 
 Look'd pale, when they did heare of Clarence death. 
 O! they did vrge it ftill vnto the King, 
 God will reuenge it. Come Lords will you go, 
 To comfort Edward with our company. 
 
 Buc. We wait vpon your Grace. exeunt. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter the old DutcheJJe of Yor^e, with the two 
 children of Clarence. 
 
 Edw. Good Grandam tell vs,is our Father dead? 
 
 Dutch. No Boy. 
 
 T>augh. Why do weepe fo oft? And beate your Breft? 
 And cry, O Clarence, my vnhappy Sonne. 
 
 Boy. Why do you looke on vs, and fhake your head, 
 And call vs Orphans, Wretches, Caftawayes, 
 If that our Noble Father were aliue ? 
 
 Dut. My pretty Cofms.you miftake me both, 
 I do lament the ficknefle of the King, 
 As loath to lofe him, not your Fathers death: 
 It were loft forrow to waile one that's loft. 
 
 'Boy. Then you conclude, (my Grandam) he is dead: 
 The King mine Vnckle is too blame for it. 
 God will reuenge it, whom I will importune 
 With earneft prayers, all to that effeft. 
 
 Daugh. And fo will I. 
 
 Daf.Peace children peace,the King doth loue you wel. 
 Incapeable, and fhallow Innocents, 
 You cannot guefle who caus'd your Fathers death. 
 
 Boy. Grandam we can: for my good Vnkle Glofter 
 
 Told me, the King prouok'd to it by the Queene, 
 Deuis'd impeachments to imprifon him ; 
 And when my Vnckle told me fo,he wept, 
 And pittied me, and kindly kift my cheeke: 
 Bad me rely on him, as on my Father, 
 And he would loue me deerely as a childe. 
 
 Dut. Ah! that Deceit fhould fteale fuch gentle fhape, 
 And with a vertuous Vizor hide deepe vice, 
 He is my fonne, I, and therein my fliame, 
 Yet from my dugges, he drew not this deceit. 
 
 Boy. Thinke you my Vnkle did diflemble Grandam ? 
 
 Dut. I Boy. 
 
 Boy. I cannot thinke it. Hearke, what noife is this? 
 
 Snter the Queene frith her haire about her ears, 
 Riuers & Dorfet after her. 
 
 Qu. Ah 1 who fliall hinder me to waile and weepe ? 
 To chide my Fortune, and torment my Selfe. 
 He ioyne with blacke difpaire againft my Soule, 
 And to my felfe, become an enemie. 
 
 Dut. What meanes this Scene of rude impatience ? 
 Qit. To make an acT: of Tragicke violence. 
 Edward my Lord, thy Sonne, our King is dead. 
 Why grow the Branches, when the Roote is gone? 
 Why wither not the leaues that want their fap ? 
 If you will liue, Lament : if dye, be breefe, 
 That our fwift-winged Soules may catch the Kings, 
 Or like obedient Subiedts follow him, 
 To his new Kingdome of nere-changing night. 
 
 Dut. Ah fo much intereft hauein thy forrow, 
 As I had Title in thy Noble Husband : 
 I haue be wept a worthy Husbands death, 
 And liu'd with looking on his Images: 
 But now two Mirrors of his Princely femblance, 
 Arecrack'd in pieces, by malignant death, 
 And I for comfort, haue but one faife Glafle, 
 That greeues me, when I fee my fhame in him. 
 Thou art a Widdow: yet thou art a Mother, 
 And haft the comfort of thy Children left, 
 But death hath fnatch'd my Husband from mine Armes, 
 And pluckt two Crutches from my feeble hands , 
 Clarence, and Edward. O, what caufe haue I, 
 (Thine being but a moity of my moane) 
 To ouer-go thy woes, and drowne thy cries. 
 
 f Boy. Ah Aunt! you wept not for our Fathers death : 
 How can we ayde you with our Kindred teares ? 
 
 Daugh. Our fatherlefle diftreffe was left vnmoan'd, 
 Your widdow-dolour, likewife be vnwept. 
 
 Qu. Giue me no helpe in Lamentation, 
 I am not barren to bring forth complaints: 
 All Springs reduce their currents to mine eyes, 
 That I being gouern'd by the waterie Moone, 
 May fend forth plenteous teares to drowne the World. 
 Ah, for my Husband, for my deere Lord Edvcard. 
 
 Chi/. Ah for our Father, for our deere Lord Clarence. 
 
 Dut. Alas for both, both mine Edward and Clarence. 
 
 Qu. What ftay had I but 8a l irard,and hee's gone ? 
 
 Chil. What ftay had we but Clarence*, and he's gone. 
 
 Dut. What ftayes had I, but they ? and they are gone. 
 
 Qu. Was neuer widdow had fo deere a lofle . 
 
 Chil. Were neuer Orphans had fo deere a lofle. 
 
 Dut. Was neuer Mother had fo deere a lofle. 
 Alas! I am the Mother of thefe Greefes, 
 Their woes are parcell'd, mine is generall. 
 She for an Edward weepes,and fo do I :
 
 184 
 
 The Life andT)eath of ^c hard the Third. 
 
 I for a Clarence weepes, fo doth not fhee : 
 Thefe Babes for Clarence weepe, fo do not they. 
 Alas! you three, on me threefold diftreft : 
 Power all your teares, I am your forrowes Nurfe, 
 And I will pamper it with Lamentation. 
 
 Dor. Comfort deere Mother, God is much jdifpleas'd, 
 That you take with vnthankfulnefle his doing. 
 In common worldly things, 'tis call'd vngratefull, 
 With dull vnwillingnefie to repay a debt, 
 Which with a bounteous hand was kindly lent : 
 Much more to be thus oppofite with heauen, 
 For it requires the Royall debt it lent you. 
 
 Riuers. Madam, bethinke you like a carefull Mother 
 Of the young Prince your fonne: fend ftraight for him, 
 Let him be Crown'd, in him your comfort Hues. 
 Drowne defperate forrow in dead Edwards graue, 
 And plant your ioyes in liuing Edwards Throne. 
 
 Enter Ifjcbard, 'Buckingham, Derbie, Ha- 
 Jlings,and Ratcliffe. 
 
 Rich. Sifter haue comfort, all of vs haue caufe 
 To waile the dimming of our fhining Starre : 
 But none can helpe our harmes by wayling them. 
 Madam, my Mother, I do cry you mercie, 
 I did not fee your Grace. Humbly on my knee, 
 I craue your Bleiling. 
 
 Dut. God blefle thee, and put meeknes in thy breaft, 
 Loue Charity, Obedience, and true Dutie. 
 
 Rich. Amen, and make me die a good old man, 
 That is the butt-end of a Mothers bleffing ; 
 I maruell that her Grace did leaue it out. 
 
 Buc. You clowdy-Princes, & hart-forowing-Peeres, 
 That beare this heauie mutuall loade of Moane, 
 Now cheere each other,in each others Loue : 
 Though we haue fpent our Harueft of this King, 
 We are to reape the Harueft of his Sonne. 
 The broken rancour of your high-fwolne hates, 
 But lately fplinter'd, knit,and ioyn'd together, 
 Muft gently be preferu'd,cherifht.and kept : 
 Me feemeth good, that with fome little Traine, 
 Forthwith from Ludlow, the young Prince be fet 
 Hither to London, to be crown'd our King. 
 
 Riuers. Why with fome little Traine, 
 My Lord ofBuckingham ? 
 
 'Buc. Marrie my Lord,leaft by a multitude, 
 The new-heal'd wound of Malice fhould breake out, 
 Which would be fo much the more dangerous, 
 By how much the eftate is greene,and yet vngouern'd. 
 Where euery Horfe beares his commanding Reine, 
 And may direct his courfe as pleafe himfelfe, 
 As well the feare of harme, as harme apparant, 
 In my opinion, ought to be preuented. 
 
 Rich. I hope the King made peace with all of vs, 
 And the compact is firme,and true in me. 
 
 Riu. And fo in me, and fo (I thinke)in all. 
 Yet fince it is but greene, it fhould be put 
 To no apparant likely-hood of breach, 
 Which haply by much company might be vrg'd : 
 Therefore I fay with Noble Buckingham, 
 That it is meete fo few fhould fetch the Prince. 
 
 Haft. And fo fay I. 
 
 Rich. Then be it fo, and go we to determine 
 Who they fhall be that ftrait (hall pofte to London. 
 Madam, and you my Sifter, will you go 
 To giue your cenfures in this bufinefle. Exeunt. 
 
 Manet Buckingham, and *RJcbard. 
 
 'Buc. My Lord, who euer iournies to the Prince, 
 For God fake let not vs two ftay at home : 
 For by the way, He fort occafion, 
 As Index to the ftory we late talk d of, 
 To part the Queenes proud Kindred from the Prince. 
 
 Rich. My other felfe, my Counfailes Confiftory, 
 My Oracle, My Prophet, my deere Cofin, 
 I, as a childe, will go by thy direction, 
 Toward London then, for wee'l not ftay behinde. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Tertia. 
 
 Enter one Citi-zen at one doore, and another at 
 the other. 
 
 i-C't- Good morrow Neighbour, whether away fo 
 faft? 
 
 z.Cit. I promife you, I fcarfely know my felfe : 
 Heare you the newes abroad ? 
 
 1. Yes, that the King is dead. 
 
 2. Ill newes byrlady, feldome comes the better : 
 I feare, I feare, 'twill proue a giddy world. 
 
 Enter another Citizen. 
 
 3. Neighbours, God fpeed. 
 
 1. Giue you good morrow fir. 
 
 3. Doth the newes hold of good king Edwards death? 
 
 2. I fir, it is too true, God helpe the while. 
 
 3. Then Mafters looke to fee a troublous world. 
 
 1. No,no,by Gods good gra*.e,his Son, fhall reigne. 
 3. Woe to that Land that's gouern'd by a Childe. 
 
 2. In him there is a hope of Gouernment, 
 Which in his nonage, counfeil vnder him, 
 And in his full and ripened yeares, himfelfe 
 No doubt fhall then, and till then gouerne well. 
 
 i. So flood the State, when Henry the fixt 
 Was crown'd in Paris, but at nine months old. 
 
 3. Stood the State fo ? No,no,good friends, God wot 
 For then this Land was famoufly enrich'd 
 
 With politike graue Counfeil; then the King 
 Had vertuous Vnkles to protect his Grace. 
 
 I. Why fo hath this, both by his Father and Mother. 
 
 3. Better it were they all came by his Father: 
 Or by his Father there were none at all : 
 For emulation, who fhall now be neereft, 
 Will touch vs all too neere,if God preuent not. 
 O full of danger is the Duke of Gloufter, 
 And the Queenes Sons, and Brothers, haught and proud: 
 And were they to be rul'd,and not to rule, 
 This fickly Land, might folace as before. 
 
 1. Come, come, we feare the worft : all will be well. 
 3. When Clouds are feen,wifemen put on their clokes; 
 
 When great leaues fall, then Winter is at hand ; 
 When the Sun fets,who doth not looke for night? 
 Vntimely ftormes, makes men expect a Dearth : 
 All may be well ; but if God fort it fo, 
 'Tis more then we deferue,or I expect. 
 
 2. Truly, the hearts of men are full of feare: 
 You cannot reafon f almcft)with a man, 
 That lookes not heauily,and full of dread. 
 
 3. Before the dayes of Change,ftill is it fo, 
 By a diuine inftinct, mens mindes miftruft 
 
 Enfuing 
 
 $10
 
 The Life and 'Death of ^c bard the Third. 185 
 
 Purfuing danger : as by proofe we fee 
 
 The Water fwell before a boyft'rous ftorme : 
 
 But leaue it all to God. Whither away ? 
 
 2 Marry we were fent for to the luftices. 
 
 3 And fo was I : He beareyou company. 
 
 Exennt. 
 
 Scena Quarta. 
 
 Enter Arcb-bi/hop ,yong Yorfye , the Queene, 
 and the DutcbeJ/e. 
 
 Arch. Laft night I heard they lay at Stony Stratford, 
 And at Northampton they do reft to night : 
 To morrow, or next day, they will be heere. 
 
 Dut. I long with all my heart to fee the Prince : 
 I hope he is much growne fince laft I faw him. 
 
 Qu. But I heare no, they fay my fonne of Yorke 
 Ha's almoft ouertane him in his growth. 
 
 Yorfe. I Mother, but I would not haue it fb. 
 
 Dut. Why my good Cofin,it is good to grow. 
 
 Tor. Grandam, one night as we did fit at Supper, 
 My Vnkle Rluers talk'd how I did grow 
 More then my Brother. I, quoth my Vnkle Gloufter, 
 Small Herbes haue grace, great Weeds do grow apace. 
 And fince, me thinkes I would not grow fo faft, 
 Becaufe fweet Flowres are flow, and Weeds make haft. 
 
 Dut. Good faith, good faith, the faying did not hold 
 In him that did obiedT: the fame to thee. 
 He was the wretched'ft thing when he was yong, 
 So long a growing, and fo leyfurely, 
 That if his rule were true, he fliould be gracious. 
 
 Yor. And fo no doubt he is, my gracious Madam. 
 
 Dut. I hope he is, but yet let Mothers doubt. 
 
 Yor. Now by my troth, if I had beene remembred, 
 I could haue giuen my Vnkles Grace, a flout, 
 To touch his growth, neerer then he toucht mine. 
 
 Dut. How my yong Yorke, 
 I prythee let me heare it. 
 
 Yor. Marry (they fay) my Vnkle grew fo faft, 
 That he could gnaw a cruft at two houres old, 
 'Twas full two yeares ere I could get a tooth. 
 Grandam, this would haue beene a byting left. 
 
 Dut . I prythee pretty Yorke, who told thee this ? 
 
 Yor. Grandam, his Nurfle. 
 
 T)ut. His Nurfe? why flie was dead, ere y waft borne. 
 
 Yor. If'twere not flie, I cannot tell who told me. 
 
 Qtt. A parlous Boy:go too,you are too flirew'd. 
 
 Dut. Good Madam, be not angry with the Childe. 
 
 Qtt, Pitchers haue eares. 
 
 Enter a cflfeffenger. 
 
 Arch. Heere comes a Meflenger: What Newes? 
 
 MeJ. Such newes my Lord, as greeues me to report. 
 
 Qu. How doth the Prince ? 
 
 cMef. Well Madam, and in health. 
 
 Dut. What is thy Newes ? 
 
 MeJJT. Lord Riuers, and Lord Grey, 
 Are fent to Pomfret, and with them, 
 Sir Thomas "Uaughan, Prifoners. 
 
 Dut. Who hath committed them ? 
 
 Mef. The mighty Dukes, Gloufter and 'Buckingham. 
 
 Arch. For what offence? 
 
 <&fcf. The fumme of all I can, I haue difclos'd : 
 Why, or for what, the Nobles were committed, 
 Is all vnknowne to me, my gracious Lord. 
 
 Qit. Aye mej I fee the ruine of my Houfe : 
 The Tyger now hath feiz'd the gentle Hinde, 
 Infulting Tiranny beginnes to lutt 
 Vpon the innocent and awelefle Throne : 
 Welcome Deftrudlion, Blood, and Maflacre, 
 I fee ( as in a Map ) the end of all. 
 
 Dut. Accurfed,and vnquiet wrangling dayes, 
 How many of you haue mine eyes beheld? 
 My Husband loft his life, to get the Crowne, 
 And often vp and downe my fonnes were toft 
 For me to ioy, and weepe, their gaine and lofle. 
 And being feated, and Domefticke broyles 
 Cleane ouer-blowne, themfelues the Conquerors, 
 Make warre vpon themfelues, Brother to Brother; 
 Blood to blood, felfe againft felfe : O prepoftorous 
 And franticke outrage, end thy damned fpleene, 
 Or let me dye, to looke on earth no more. 
 
 Qu. Come, come my Boy, we will to Sanftuary. 
 Madam, farwell. 
 
 Dut. Stay, I will go with you. 
 
 Qu. You haue no caufe. 
 
 Arch. My gracious Lady go, 
 
 And thether beare your Treafure and your Goodes, 
 For my part, He refigne vnto your Grace 
 The Seale I keepe,and fo betide to me, 
 As well I tender you, and all of yours. 
 Go, He conduct you to the Sanctuary. Exeunt 
 
 Attus c Tertius. Sccena^rima. 
 
 The Trumpets found* 
 
 Enter yong Prince, the "Duties of Glocefter, and Buckingham, 
 Lord Cardinal!, with others. 
 
 IBtfc. Welcome fweete Prince to London, 
 To your Chamber. 
 
 Rich. Welcome deere Cofin, my thoughts Soueraign 
 The wearie way hath made you Melancholly. 
 
 Trin. No Vnkle, but our crofles on the way, 
 Haue made it tedious, wearifome, and heauie. 
 I want more Vnkles heere to welcome me. 
 
 Rich. Sweet Prince, the vntainted vertue of your yeers 
 Hath not yet diu'd into the Worlds deceit : 
 No more can you diftinguifli of a man, 
 Then of his outward fhew, which God he knowes, 
 Seldome or neuer iumpeth with the heart. 
 Thofe Vnkles which you want, were dangerous : 
 Your Grace attended to their Sugred words, 
 But look'd not on the poyfon of their hearts : 
 God keepe you from them, and from fuch falfe Friends. 
 
 Prin. God keepe me from falfe Friends, 
 But they were none. 
 
 Rich. My Lord, the Maior of London comes to greet 
 you. 
 
 Enter Lord Maior. 
 
 Lo.<&faior. God blefle your Grace, with health and 
 happie dayes. 
 
 Prin. I thanke you, good my Lord, and thank you all :
 
 'The Life andT^eath of 'Richard the Third. 
 
 I thought my Mother,and my Brother YorJy, 
 Would long, ere this, haue met vs on the way. 
 Fie, what a Slug is Hajiings,that he comes not 
 To tell vs, whether they will come, or no. 
 
 Enter Lord Hajlings. 
 
 "Buc^. And in good time, heere comes the fweating 
 Lord. 
 
 Prince. Welcome, my Lord : what, will our Mother 
 come? 
 
 Haft. On what occafion God he knowes, not I ;] 
 The Queene your Mother, and your Brother Yer^e, 
 Haue taken Sandtuarie : The tender Prince 
 Would faine haue come with me, to meet your Grace, 
 But by his Mother was perforce with-held. 
 
 Buct(. Fie, what an indiredt and peeuifh courfe 
 Is this of hers? Lord Cardinall, will your Grace 
 Perfwade the Qu^eene, to fend the Duke ofYorke 
 Vnto his Princely Brother prefently? 
 If flie denie, Lord Haflings goe with him, 
 And from her iealous Armes pluck him perforce. 
 
 Card.My Lord of Buckingham, if my weake Oratorie 
 Can from his Mother winne the Duke of Yorke, 
 Anon expedt him here : but if (he be obdurate 
 To milde entreaties, God forbid 
 We fliould infringe the holy Priuiledge 
 Of blefled Sandtuarie : not for all this Land, 
 Would I be guiltie of fo great a finne. 
 
 "Bucl(. You are too fencelefie obftinate, my Lord, 
 Too ceremonious, and traditionall. 
 Weigh it but with the groffenefTe of this Age, 
 You breake not San<Suarie,in feizing him : 
 The benefit thereof is alwayes granted 
 To thofe, whofe dealings haue deferu'd the place, 
 And thofe who haue the wit to clayme the place : 
 This Prince hath neyther claym'd it, nor deferu'd it, 
 And therefore, in mine opinion^ cannot haue it. 
 Then taking him from thence, that is not there, 
 You breake no Priuiledge, nor Charter there : 
 Oft haue I heard of Sanftuarie men, 
 But Sandtuarie children, ne're till now. 
 
 Card. My Lord, you fliall o're-rule my mind for once. 
 Come on, Lord Hajlings, will you goe with me ? 
 
 Haft. I goe, my Lord. Exit Cardinall and Hajlings. 
 
 Prince.Good Lords, make all the fpeedie haft you may. 
 Say, Vnckle Glocejier, if our Brother come, 
 Where fhall we foiourne, till our Coronation ? 
 
 G/o. Where it think'ft beft vnto your Royall felfe. 
 If I may counfaile you,fome day or two 
 Your Highneffe fliall repofe you at the Tower : 
 Then where you pleafe,and fliall be thought moft fit 
 For your beft health, and recreation. 
 
 Prince. I doe not like the Tower, of any place : 
 Did luliui Ctefar build that place, my Lord ? 
 
 e Bucl(. He did, my gracious Lord, begin that place, 
 Which fince, fucceeding Ages haue re-edify*d. 
 
 Prince. Is it vpon record ? or elfe reported 
 Succefliuely from age to age, he built it ? 
 
 'Bucl^. Vpon record, my gracious Lord. 
 
 Prince. But fay, my Lord, it were not regiftred, 
 Me thinkes the truth fliould liue from age to age, 
 As 'twere retayl'd to all pofteritie, 
 Euen to the generall ending day. 
 
 Glo. So wife, Co young, they fay doe neuer liue long. 
 
 Prince. What fay you, Vnckle ? 
 
 Glo. I fay, without Characters, Fame liues long. 
 Thus, like the formall Vice, Iniquitie, 
 I morallize two meanings in one word. 
 
 "Prince. That lulitu Carfar was a famous man, 
 With what his Valour did enrich his Wit, 
 His Wit fet downe,to make his Valour liue : 
 Death makes no Conqueft of his Conqueror, 
 For now he liues in Fame, though not in Life. 
 He tell you what, my Coufin 'Buckingham. 
 
 Buct^. What, my gracious Lord ? 
 
 Prince. And if I liue vntill I be a man, 
 He win our ancient Right in France againe, 
 Or dye a Souldier, as I liu'd a King. 
 
 Glo. Short Summers lightly haue a forward Spring. 
 
 Enter young Yorfy, Haftings t and Cardinall. 
 
 'BucI^. Now in good time, heere comes the Duke of 
 Yorke. 
 
 Trince. Richard of Yorke, how fares our Noble Bro- 
 ther ? 
 
 Yorl(e. Well, my deare Lord, fo muft I call you now. 
 
 Prince. I, Brother, to our griefe,as it is yours: 
 Too late he dy'd,that might haue kept that Title, 
 Which by his death hath loft much Maieftie. 
 
 Glo. How fares our Coufin, Noble Lord of Yorke? 
 
 Yor^e. I thanke you, gentle Vnckle. O my Lord, 
 You faid,that idle Weeds are fa ft in growth : 
 The Prince, my Brother, hath out-growne me farre. 
 
 Glo. He hath, my Lord. 
 
 Yor^e. And therefore is he idle ? 
 
 Glo. Oh my faire Coufin, I muft not fay fo. 
 
 Yor^e. Then he is more beholding to you, then I. 
 
 Glo. He may command me as my Soueraigne, 
 But you haue power in me, as in a Kinfman. 
 
 Yorfy. I pray you, Vnckle, giue me this Dagger. 
 
 Glo. My Dagger, little Coufin? with all my heart. 
 
 Prince. A Begger, Brother ? 
 
 Yor^e. Of my kind Vnckle, that I know will giue, 
 And being but a Toy, which is no griefe to giue. 
 
 Glo. A greater gift then that, He giue my Coufin. 
 
 Yorfy. A greater gift ? O, that's the Sword to it. 
 
 Glo. I, gentle Coufin, were it light enough. 
 
 Yorly. O then I fee, you will part but with light gifts, 
 In weightier things you'le fay a Begger nay. 
 
 Glo. It is too weightie for your Grace to weare. 
 
 Yor^e. I weigh it lightly, were it heauier. 
 
 Glo. What, would you haue my Weapon,little Lord? 
 
 Yorly. I would that I might thanke you, as, as, you 
 call me. 
 
 Glo. How? 
 
 Yorfy. Little. 
 
 Prince. My Lord ofYorke will ftill be croffe in talke : 
 Vnckle, your Grace knowes how to beare with him. 
 
 Yorfy. You meane to beare me, not to beare with me : 
 Vnckle, my Brother mockes both you and me, 
 Becaufe that I am little, like an Ape, 
 He thinkes that you fliould beare me on your flioulders. 
 
 Bucl(. With what a fliarpe prouided wit he reafons : 
 To mittigate the fcorne he giues his Vnckle, 
 He prettily and aptly taunts himfelfe : 
 So cunning, and fo young, is wonderful!; 
 
 Glo. My Lord, wilt pleafe you pafTe along? 
 My felfe, and my good Coufin 'Buckingham, 
 Will to your Mother, to entreat of her 
 To meet you at the Tower, and welcome you. 
 
 Yerfy. What, 
 
 5"
 
 The Life and 'Death of^Kj. chard the Third. 
 
 .87 
 
 Yorfy. What, will you goe vnto the Tower, my Lord? 
 
 Prince. My Lord Protestor will haue it fo. 
 
 Yorfy. I fhall not fleepe in quiet at the Tower. 
 
 Glo. Why, what fhould you feare ? 
 
 Torke. Marry, my Vnckle Clarence angry Ghoft : 
 My Grandam told me he was murther'd there. 
 
 Prince. I feare no VncJdes dead. 
 
 Glo. Nor none that Hue, I hope. 
 
 Prince. And if they Hue, I hope I need not feare. 
 But come my Lord : and with a heauie heart, 
 Thinking on them, goe I vnto the Tower. 
 
 A Senet. Sxeunt Prince, Yor^e, Haftings, and Dorfet. 
 
 Manet Richard, Buckingham, and Catesby. 
 
 "Buc^. Thinke you, my Lord, this little prating Yorfy 
 Was not incenfed by his fubtile Mother, 
 To taunt and fcorne you thus opprobrioufly ? 
 
 Cflo. No doubt, no doubt : Oh 'tis a perillous Boy, 
 Bold, quicke, ingenious, forward, capable : 
 Hee is all the Mothers, from the top to toe. 
 
 'Buc{. Well, let them reft : Come hither C at "fy> 
 Thou art fworne as deepely to effect what we intend, 
 As clofely to conceale what we impart : 
 Thou know'ft our reafons vrg'd vpon the way. 
 What think'ft thou ? is it not an eafie matter, 
 To make William Lord Haftings of our minde, 
 For the inftallment of this Noble Duke 
 In the Seat Royall of this famous He? 
 
 Gates. He for his fathers fake fo loues the Prince, 
 That he will not be wonne to ought againft him. 
 
 <Buc}(. What think'ft thou then of Stanley? Will 
 not hee ? 
 
 Cafes. Hee will doe all in all as Haftings doth. 
 
 c Buc!(. Well then, no more but this : 
 Goe gentle Catesbj, and as it were farre off, 
 Sound thou Lord Haflings, 
 How he doth ftand affected to our purpofe, 
 And fummon him to morrow to the Tower, 
 To fit about the Coronation. 
 If thou do'ft finde him tractable to vs, 
 Encourage him, and tell him all our reafons: 
 If he be leaden, ycie, cold, vnwilling, 
 Be thou fo too, and fo breake off the talke, 
 And giue vs notice of his inclination : 
 For we to morrow hold diuided Councels, 
 Wherein thy felfe fhalt highly be employ'd. 
 
 Rich. Commend me to Lord William: tell him Catesby, 
 His ancient Knot of dangerous Aduerfaries 
 To morrow are let blood at Pom fret Caftle, 
 And bid my Lord, for ioy of this good newes, 
 Giue Miftreffe Shore one gentle Kiffe the more. 
 
 'Buc^. Good Catesby, goe effect this bufineffe foundly. 
 
 Gates. My good Lords both, with all the heed I can. 
 
 Rich. Shall we heare from you, Catesby, ere we fleepe ? 
 
 Gates. You fhall, my Lord. 
 
 Rich. At Crosby Houfe, there fhall you find vs both. 
 Exit Catesby. 
 
 Bucl{. Now, my Lord, 
 What fhall wee doe, if wee perceiue 
 Lord Haftings will not yeeld to our Complots ? 
 
 Rich. Chop off his Head : 
 Something wee will determine : 
 And looke when I am King, clayme thou of me 
 The Earledome of Hereford, and all the moueables 
 Whereof the King, my Brother, was poffeft. 
 
 5*3 
 
 Buc%. lie clayme that promife at your Graces hand. 
 
 Rich. And looke to haue it yeelded with all kindneffe. 
 Come, let vs fuppe betimes, that afterwards 
 Wee may digeft our complots in fome forme. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter a fftfejjenger to the Doore of Haftings. 
 
 HasJ. 
 
 My Lord, my Lord. 
 
 Who knockes ? 
 
 One from the Lord Stanley. 
 Haft. What is't a Clocke ? 
 MeJJ'. Vpon the ftroke of foure, 
 
 Enter Lord Haftings. 
 
 Halt. Cannot my Lord Stanley fleepe thefe tedious 
 Nights ? 
 
 Mejf. So it appeares, by that I haue to fay : 
 Firft, he commends him to your Noble felfe, 
 
 Haft. What then? 
 
 M.cff. Then certifies your Lordfliip, that this Night 
 He dreamt, the Bore had rafed off his Helme : 
 Befides, he fayes there are two Councels kept; 
 And that may be determin'd at the one, 
 Which may make you and him to rue at th'other. 
 Therefore he fends to know your Lordfhips pleafure, 
 If you will prefently take Horfe with him, 
 And with all fpeed poft with him toward the North, 
 To fhun the danger that his Soule diuines. 
 
 Hafl. Goe fellow, goe, returne vnto thy Lord, 
 Bid him not feare the feperated Councell : 
 His Honor and my felfe are at the one, 
 And at the other, is my good friend Catesby ; 
 Where nothing can proceede, that toucheth vs, 
 Whereof I fhall not haue intelligence : 
 Tell him his Feares are fhdlow, without inftance. 
 And for his Dreames,! wonder hee's fo fimple, 
 To truft the mock'ry of vnquiet (lumbers. 
 To flye the Bore, before the Bore purfues, 
 Were to incenfe the Bore to follow vs, 
 And make purfuit, where he did meane no chafe. 
 Goe, bid thy Mafter rife, and come to me, 
 And we will both together to the Tower, 
 Where he fhall fee the Bore will vfe vs kindly. 
 
 Meff. He goe, my Lord, and tell him what you fay. 
 
 Exit. 
 Enter Catesby. 
 
 Gates. Many good morrowes to my Noble Lord. 
 Haff. Good morrow Catesby, you are early flirring: 
 What newes, what newes, in this our tott'ring State ? 
 
 Gates. It is a reeling World indeed, my Lord : 
 And I beleeue will neuer ftand vpright, 
 Till Richard weare the Garland of the Realme. 
 
 Haft. How weare the Garland ? 
 Doeft thou meane the Crowne ? 
 
 Gates. I, my good Lord. 
 
 Haft. He haue this Crown of mine cut fro my fhoulders, 
 Before He fee the Crowne fo foule mif-plac'd : 
 But canft thou gueffe, that he doth ayme at it? 
 
 Gates. I,
 
 I 
 
 The Life and "Death of^chardthe Third. 
 
 Gates. I, on my life, and hopes to find you forward, 
 Vpon his partie, for the gaine thereof: 
 And thereupon he fends you this good newes, 
 That this fame very day your enemies, 
 The Kindred of the Q^ieene,muft dye at Pomfret. 
 
 Haft. Indeed I am no mourner for that newes, 
 Becaufe they haue beene ftill my aduerfaries : 
 But, that He giue my voice on Richards fide, 
 To barre my Mafters Heires in true Defcent, 
 God knowes I will not doe it, to the death. 
 
 Gates. God keepe your Lordfliip in that gracious 
 minde. 
 
 Haft. But I fliall laugh at this a twelue-month hence, 
 That they which brought me in my Mafters hate, 
 I Hue to looke vpon their Tragedie. 
 Well Catesby, ere a fort-night make me older, 
 lie fend fome packing, that yet thinke not on't. 
 
 Gates. 'Tis a vile thing to dye, my gracious Lord, 
 When men are vnprepar'd, and looke not for it. 
 
 Haft. O monftrous, monftrous! and fo falls it out 
 With Riuers, "Uaugban, Grey : and fo 'twill doe 
 With fome men elfe, that thinke themfelues as fafe 
 As thou and I, who (as thou know'ft) are deare 
 To Princely Richard, and to Buckingham. 
 
 Gates. The Princes both make high account of you, 
 For they account his Head vpon the Bridge. 
 
 Haft. I know they doe, and I haue well deferu'd it. 
 
 Enter Lord Stanley. 
 
 Come on, come on, where is your Bore-fpeare man ? 
 Feare you the Bore, and goe fo vnprouided ? 
 
 Stan. My Lord good morrow, good morrow Qatesby : 
 You may ieaft on, but by the holy Rood, 
 I doe not like thefe feuerall Councels, I. 
 
 Haft. My Lord, I hold my Life as deare as yours, 
 And neuer in my dayes, I doe proteft, 
 Was it fo precious to me, as 'tis now : 
 Thinke you, but that I know our ftate fecure, 
 I would be fo triumphant as I am ? 
 
 Sta.The Lords at Pomfret, whe they rode from London, 
 Were iocund, and fuppos'd their ftates were fure, 
 And they indeed had no caufe to miftruft : 
 But yet you fee, how foone the Day o're-caft. 
 This fudden ftab of Rancour I mifdoubt : 
 Pray God (I fay) I proue a needlefie Coward. 
 What, fliall we toward the Tower ? the day is fpent. 
 
 Haft. Come, come, haue with you : 
 Wot you what, my Lord, 
 To day the Lords you talke of, are beheaded. 
 
 6Va.They, for their truth, might better wear their Heads, 
 Then fome that haue accus'd them, weare their Hats. 
 But come, my Lord, let's away. 
 
 Enter a Purfuiuant. 
 
 Haft. Goe on before, He talke with this good fellow. 
 
 Exit Lord Stanley, and Catesby. 
 How now,Sirrha? how goes the World with thee? 
 
 Purf. The better, that your Lord/hip pleafe to aske. 
 
 Haft. I tell thee man, 'tis better with me now, 
 Then when thou met'ft me laft, where now we meet : 
 Then was I going Prifoner to the Tower, 
 By the fuggeftion of the Queenes Allyes. 
 But now I tell thee (keepe it to thy felfe) 
 This day thofe Enemies are put to death, 
 
 And I in better ftate then ere I was. 
 
 Purf. God hold it, to your Honors good content. 
 Haft. Gramercie fellow : there, drinke that for me. 
 
 Throives htm bis Purfe. 
 Purf. I thanke your Honor. Exit Purfuiuant. 
 
 Enter a Prieft. 
 
 frieft. Well met, my Lord, I am glad to fee your Ho- 
 nor. 
 
 HaSt. I thanke thee, good Sir lohn, with all my heart. 
 I am in your debt, for your laft Exercife : 
 Come the next Sabboth, and I will content you. 
 
 Prieft. He wait vpon your Lordfliip. 
 
 Enter 'Buckingham. 
 
 'Buc. What, talking with a Prieft, Lord Chamberlaine ? 
 Your friends at Pomfret, they doe need the Prieft, 
 Your Honor hath no fliriuing worke in hand. 
 
 Haft. Good faith, and when I met this holy man, 
 The men you talke of, came into my minde. 
 What, goe you toward the Tower ? 
 
 Buc. I doe, my Lord, but long I cannot ftay there: 
 I fliall returne before your Lordfliip, thence. 
 
 Haft. Nay like enough, for I ftay Dinner there. 
 
 Buc . And Supper too, although thou know'ft it not. 
 Come, will you goe ? 
 
 Haft. lie wait vpon your Lordfliip. Exeunt. 
 
 Seen a Tertla. 
 
 Enter Sir Richard Ratcliffe, with Halberds, carrying 
 the Nobles to death at Tomfret. 
 
 Riuers. Sir Richard Ratcliffe, let me tell thee this, 
 To day flialt thou behold a Subiedt die, 
 For Truth, for Dutie, and for Loyaltie. 
 
 Cfrey. God blefle the Prince from all the Pack of you, 
 A Knot you are, of damned Blood-fuckers. 
 
 1)augb. You liue, that fliall cry woe for this heere- 
 after. 
 
 Rat. Difpatch, the limit of your Liues is out. 
 
 Riuers. O Pomfret, Pomfret ! O thou bloody Prifon ! 
 Fatall and ominous to Noble Peeres : 
 Within the guiltie Clofure of thy Walls, 
 "Richard the Second here was hackt to death : 
 And for more flander to thy difmall Seat, 
 Wee giue to thee our guiltlefle blood to drinke. 
 
 Grey. 'Now Margarets Curfe is falne vpon our Heads, 
 When fliee exclaim'd on Hastings, you, and I, 
 For ftanding by, when Richard ftab'd her Sonne. 
 
 Riuers. Then curs'd fliee Richard, 
 Then curs'd fliee 'Buckingham, 
 Then curs'd fliee Hastings. Oh remember God, 
 To heare her prayer for them, as now for vs : 
 And for my Sifter, and her Princely Sonnes, 
 Be fatisfy'd, deare God, with our true blood, 
 Which, as thou know'ft, vniuftly muft be fpilt. 
 
 Rat. Make hafte, the houre of death is expiate. 
 
 Riuers. Come Grey, come Vaughan, let vs here embrace. 
 Farewell, vntill we meet againe in Heauen. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Scena 
 
 SM
 
 The Life and 'Death of Richard the Third. 
 
 Sctena Quarta. 
 
 Enter 'Buckingham, Darby, Hailings^ijbop of Ely, 
 Norfol^e, Ratcliffe, Loue//, with others, 
 at a Table. 
 
 Haft. Now Noble Peeres,the caufe why we are met, 
 Is to determine of the Coronation : 
 In Gods Name fpeake, when is the Royall day ? 
 
 Bucl(. Is all things ready for the Royall time ? 
 
 Darb. It is, and wants but nomination. 
 
 Ely. To morrow then I iudge a happie day. 
 
 .Bw^.Who knowes the Lord Protectors mind herein? 
 Who is moft inward with the Noble Duke ? 
 
 Sly. Your Grace, we thinke, fhould fooneft know his 
 minde. 
 
 f Buck_. We know each others Faces : for our Hearts, 
 He knowes no more of mine, then I of yours, 
 Or I of his, my Lord, then you of mine : 
 Lord Hajiings, you and he are neere in loue. 
 
 Haft. I thanke his Grace, I know he loues me well : 
 But for his purpofe in the Coronation, 
 I haue not founded him, nor he deliuer'd 
 His gracious pleafure any way therein : 
 But you, my Honorable Lords, may name the time, 
 And in the Dukes behalfe He giue my Voice, 
 Which I prefume hee'le take in gentle part. 
 
 Enter Gloucefter. 
 
 Ely. In happie time, here comes the Duke himfelfe. 
 
 Rich. My Noble Lords, and Coufins all, good morrow: 
 I haue beene long a fleeper: but I truft, 
 My abfence doth neglect no great defigne, 
 Which by my prefence might haue beene concluded. 
 
 Bucl{. Had you not come vpon your Q_my Lord, 
 William, Lord Ha/lings, had pronounc'd your part; 
 I meane your Voice, for Crowning of the King. 
 
 Ricb.Then my Lord Hajiings, no man might be bolder, 
 His Lordfhip knowes me well, and loues me well. 
 My Lord of Ely, when I was laft in Holborne, 
 I faw good Strawberries in your Garden there, 
 I doe befeech you, fend for fome of them. 
 
 Sly. Mary and will, my Lord, with all my heart. 
 Exit Bijhop. 
 
 'Rjch. Coufin of Buckingham, a word with you. 
 Catesby hath founded Hastings in our bufinefle, 
 And findes the teftie Gentleman fo hot, 
 That he will lofe his Head, ere giue confent 
 His Mafters Child, as wodhipfully he tearmes it, 
 Shall lofe the Royaltie of Englands Throne. 
 
 Buc^. Withdraw your felfe a while, He goe with you. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Darb.We haue not yet fet downe this day of Triumph: 
 To morrow, in my iudgement, is too fudden, 
 For I my felfe am not fo well prouided, 
 As elfe I would be, were the day prolong'd. 
 
 Enter the Bijhop of Sly. 
 
 Ely. Where is my Lord, the Duke of Glofter ? 
 I haue fent for thefe Strawberries. 
 
 Ha.H'is Grace looks chearfully & fmooth this morning, 
 
 5*5 
 
 There's fome conceit or other likes him well, 
 When that he bids good morrow with fuch fpirit. 
 I thinke there's neuer a man in Chriftendome 
 Can lefler hide his loue, or hate, then hee, 
 For by his Face ftraight /hall you know his Heart. 
 
 Darb.Whzt of his Heart perceiue you in his Face, 
 By any liuelyhood he fliew'd to day ? 
 
 Haft. Mary, that with no man here he is offended: 
 For were he, he had fhewne it in his Lookes. 
 
 Enter Richard, and Buckingham. 
 
 Rich. I pray you all, tell me what they deferue, 
 That doe confpire my death with diuelli/h Plots 
 Of damned Witchcraft, and that haue preuail'd 
 Vpon my Body with their Hellifh Charmes. 
 
 Haji. The tender loue I beare your Grace, my Lord, 
 Makes me moft forward, in this Princely prefence, 
 To doome th'Offcndors, whofoe're they be : 
 I lay, my Lord, they haue deferued death. 
 
 Rich. Then be your eyes the witnefie of their euill. 
 Looke how I am bewitch'd : behold, mine Arme 
 Is like a blafted Sapling, wither' d vp : 
 And this is Edwards Wife, that monftrous Witch, 
 Conforted with that Harlot, Strumpet Shore, 
 That by their Witchcraft thus haue marked me. 
 
 Haft. If they haue done this deed, my Noble Lord. 
 
 Rich. If? thou Protector of this damned Strumpet, 
 Talk'ft thou to me of Ifs : thou art a Traytor, 
 Off with his Head ; now by Saint Taul I fweare, 
 I will not dine,vntill I fee the fame. 
 Louell and ^Ratcliffe, looke that it be done : Exeunt. 
 
 The reft that loue me, rife, and follow me. 
 
 <JVEanet Louell and Ratcliffe, -with the 
 Lord Hajiings. 
 
 Haft. Woe, woe for England, not a whit for me, 
 For I, too fond, might haue preuented this: 
 Stanley did dreame,the Bore did rowfe our Helmes, 
 And I did fcorne it, and difdaine to flye : 
 Three times to day my Foot-CIoth-Horfe did ftumble, 
 And ftarted, when he look'd vpon the Tower, 
 As loth to beare me to the flaughter-houfe. 
 
 now I need the Prieft, that fpake to me : 
 
 1 now repent I told the Purfuiuant, 
 
 As too triumphing, how mine Enemies 
 To day at Pomfret bloodily were butcher'd, 
 And I my felfe fecure, in grace and fauour. 
 Oh Margaret, Margaret, now thy heauie Curfe 
 Is lighted on poore Hayings wretched Head. 
 
 Ra.Come, come, difpatch, the Duke would be at dinner: 
 Make a fhort Shrift, he longs to fee your Head. 
 Haft. O momentarie grace of mortall men, 
 Which we more hunt for, then the grace of God ! 
 Who builds his hope in ayre of your good Lookes, 
 Liues like a drunken Sayleron a Maft, 
 Readie with euery Nod to tumble downe, 
 Into the fatall Bowels of the Deepe. 
 
 Lou. Come, come, difpatch, 'tis bootlefle to exclaime. 
 
 Haft. O bloody Richard: miferable England, 
 I prophecie the fearefull'ft time to thee, 
 That euer wretched Age hath look'd vpon. 
 Come,lead me to the Block, beare him my Head, 
 They fmile at me, who fliortly fhall be dead. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 { Enter
 
 190 
 
 The Life and "Death of^chardthe Third. 
 
 Enter Richard, and 'Buckingham, in rotten Armour, 
 maruelhtu ill-fauoured. 
 
 Richard. Come Coufin, 
 Canft thou quake, and change thy colour, 
 Murther thy breath in middle of a word, 
 And then againe begin, and flop againe, 
 As if thou were diftraught,and mad with terror? 
 
 Bucl(. Tut, I can counterfeit the deepe Tragedian, 
 Speake,and looke backe,and prie on euery fide, 
 Tremble and ftart at wagging of a Straw : 
 Intending deepe fufpition, gaftly Lookes 
 Are at my feruice, like enforced Smiles j 
 And both are readie in their Offices, 
 At any time to grace my Stratagemes. 
 But what, is Catesby gone ? 
 
 "^icb. He is, and fee he brings the Maior along. 
 
 Enter the Maior, and Catesby. 
 'Bucl^. Lord Maior. 
 
 Rich. Looke to the Draw-Bridge there. 
 f BucI^. Hearke,a Drumme. 
 Rub. Catesby, o're-looke the Walls. 
 'Buct(. Lord Maior, the reafon we haue fent. 
 Rich. Looke back, defend thee, here are Enemies. 
 'Buc^. God and our Innocencie defend, and guard vs. 
 
 Enter Lcuell and Ratcliffe, with Haftings Head. 
 
 Rich. Be patient, they are friends: Ratcliffe, and Louell. 
 
 Louell. Here is the Head of that ignoble Traytor, 
 The dangerous and vnfufpefted Haftings. 
 
 Rich. So deare I lou'd the man, that I muft weepe : 
 I tooke him for the plaineft harmeleffe Creature, 
 That breath'd vpon the Earth, a Chriftian. 
 Made him my Booke, wherein my Soule recorded 
 The Hiftorie of all her fecret thoughts. 
 So fmooth he dawb'd his Vice with fliew of Vertue, 
 That his apparant open Guilt omitted, 
 I meane, his Conuerfation with Shores Wife, 
 He liu'd from all attainder of fufpe&s. 
 
 e Bucl{. Well, well, he was the couertft flieltred Traytor 
 That euer liu'd. 
 
 Would you imagine, or almoft beleeue, 
 Wert not, that by great preferuation 
 We liue to tell it, that the fubtill Traytor 
 This day had plotted, in the Councell-Houfe, 
 To murther me, and my good Lord of Glofter. 
 
 Maior. Had he done fo ? 
 
 Rich. What? thinke'yon we are Turkes,or Infidels? 
 Or that we would, againft the forme of Law, 
 Proceed thus raflily in the Villaines death, 
 But that the extreme perill of the cafe, 
 The Peace of England, and our Perfons fafetie, 
 Enforc'd vs to this Execution. 
 
 Maior. Now faire befall you, he deferu'd his death, 
 And your good Graces both haue well proceeded, 
 To warne falfe Traytors from the like Attempts. 
 
 f Bucl(. I neuer look'd for better at his hands, 
 After he once fell in with Miftrefle Shore : 
 Yet had we not determin'd he fhould dye, 
 Vntill your Lord&ip came to fee his end, 
 Which now the louing hafte of thefe our friends, 
 Something againft our meanings, haue preuented ; 
 Becaufe,my Lord, I would haue had you heard 
 The Traytor fpeake, and timoroufly confefle 
 The manner and the purpofeof his Treafons : 
 
 That you might well haue fignify'd the fame 
 Vnto the Citizens, who hapjy may 
 Mifconfter vs in him, and wayle his death. 
 
 Afa.But,my good Lord, your Graces words fhal ferue, 
 As well as I had feene,and heard him fpeake : 
 And doe not doubt, right Noble Princes both, 
 But He acquaint our dutious Citizens 
 With all your iuft proceedings in this cafe. 
 
 Rich. And to that end we wifh'd your Lordmip here, 
 T'auoid the Cenfures of the carping World. 
 
 *Buc%. Which fince you come too late of our intent, 
 Yet witnefie what you heare we did intend : 
 And fo,my good Lord Maior, we bid farwell. 
 
 Exit Maior. 
 
 Rich. Goe after, after, Coufin ^uclyngbam. 
 The Maior towards Guild-Hall hyes him in all pofte : 
 There, at your meeteft vantage of the time, 
 Inferre the Baftardie of Edwards Children : 
 Tell them, how Edward put to death a Citizen, 
 Onely for faying, he would make his Sonne 
 Heire to the Crowne, meaning indeed his Houfe, 
 Which, by the Signe thereof, was tearmed fo. 
 Moreouer, vrge his hatefull Luxurie, 
 And beaftiall appetite in change of Luft, 
 Which ftretcht vnto their Seruants, Daughters, Wiues, 
 Euen where his raging eye, or fauage heart, 
 Without controll,lufted to make a prey. 
 Nay, for a need, thus farre come neere my Perfon : 
 Tell them, when that my Mother went with Child 
 Of that infatiate Edward; Noble Ybrfa 
 My Princely Father, then had Warrei in France, 
 And by true computation of the time, 
 Found, that the Iflue was not his begot : 
 Which well appeared in his Lineaments, 
 Being nothing like the Noble Duke, my Father : 
 Yet touch this fparingly, as 'twere farre off, 
 Becaufe, my Lord, you know my Mother Hues. 
 
 'Buc^. Doubt not, my Lord, lie play the Orator, 
 As if the Golden Fee, for which I plead, 
 Were for my felfe : and fo, my Lord,adue. 
 
 J^ich.If you thriue wel, bring them to Baynards Caftle, 
 Where you fhall finde me well accompanied 
 With reuerend Fathers, and well-learned Bifhops. 
 
 Bucl(. I goe, and towards three or foure a Clocke 
 Looke for the Newes that the Guild-Hall affoords. 
 Exit Buckingham. 
 
 Rich. Goe Louell with all fpeed to Doftor Shaw, 
 Goe thou to Fryer Peufyr, bid them both 
 Meet me within this houre at Baynards Caftle. Exit. 
 Now will I goe to take fome priuie order, 
 To draw the Brats of Clarence out of fight, 
 And to giue order, that no manner perfon 
 Haue any time recourfe vnto the Princes. Bxeunt. 
 
 Enter a Scrivener. 
 
 &r. Here is the Indictment of the good Lord Hajiings, 
 Which in a fet Hand fairely is engrofs'd, 
 That it may be to day read o're in faults. 
 And marke how well the fequell hangs together : 
 Eleuen houres I haue fpent to write it ouer, 
 For yefter-night by Catesby was it fent me, 
 The Precedent was full as long a doing, 
 And yet within thefe fiue houres Hajiings liu'd, 
 Vntainted, vnexamin'd, free, at libertie. 
 Here's a good World the while. 
 
 Who is lo groffe, that cannot fee this palpable deuice ? 
 
 Yet
 
 The Life and 'Death of^chard the Third. 
 
 191 
 
 Yet who fo bold, but fayes he fees it not ? 
 
 Bad is the World, and all will come to nought, 
 
 When fuch ill dealing muft be feene in thought. Exit. 
 
 Enter Richard and 'Buckingham at feuerall Doores. 
 
 Rich. How now, how now, what fay the Citizens ? 
 
 f Bucl(. Now by the holy Mother of our Lord, 
 The Citizens are mum, fay not a word. 
 
 Rich. Toucht you the Baftardie of Edwards Children ? 
 
 "Buc^ I did, with his Contract with Lady Lucy, 
 And his Contradl by Deputie in France, 
 Th'vnfatiate greedinefle of his defire, 
 And his enforcement of the Citie Wiucs, 
 His Tyrannic for Trifles, his owne Baftardie, 
 As being got, your Father then in France, 
 And his refemblance, being not like the Duke. 
 Withall, I did inferre your Lineaments, 
 Being the right Idea of your Father, 
 Both in your forme, and NoblenefTe of Minde : 
 Layd open all your Victories in Scotland, 
 Your Difcipline in Warre, Wifdome in Peace, 
 Your Bountie, Vertue, faire Humilitie : 
 Indeed, left nothing fitting for your purpofe, 
 Vntoucht, or fleightly handled in difcourfe. 
 And when my Oratorie drew toward end, 
 I bid them that did loue their Countries good, 
 Cry, God faue Richard, Englands Royall King. 
 
 *E(ich. And did they fo ? 
 
 Suci(. No, fo God helpe me, they fpake not a word, 
 But like dumbe Statues, or breathing Stones, 
 Star'd each on other, and look'd deadly pale : 
 Which when I faw, I reprehended them, 
 And ask'd the Maior, what meant this wilfull filence ? 
 His aufwer was, the people were not vfed 
 To be fpoke to, but by the Recorder. 
 Then he was .vrg'd to tell my Tale againe : 
 Thus fayth the Duke, thus hath the Duke inferr'd, 
 But nothing fpoke, in warrant from himfelfe. 
 When he had done, fome followers of mine owne, 
 At lower end of the Hall, hurld vp their Caps, 
 And fome tenne voyces cry'd, God faue King Richard : 
 And thus I tooke the vantage of thofe few. 
 Thankes gentle Citizens, and friends, quoth I, 
 This generall applaufe, and chearefull ihowt, 
 Argues your wifdome, and your loue to Richard : 
 And euen here brake off, and came away. 
 
 Rich. What tongue-leffe Blockes were they, 
 Would they not fpeake ? 
 Will not the Maior then, and his Brethren, come ? 
 
 Bucl(. The Maior is here at hand : intend fome feare, 
 Be not you fpoke with, but by mightie fuit : 
 And looke you get a Prayer-Booke in your hand, 
 And ftand betweene two Church-men, good my Lord, 
 For on that ground lie make a holy Defcant : 
 And be not eafily wonne to our requefts, 
 Play the Maids part, ftill anfwer nay, and take it. 
 
 Rich. I goe : and if you plead as well for them, 
 As I can fay nay to thee for my felfe, 
 No doubt we bring it to a happie iffue. 
 
 c Bucl(. Go, go vp to the Leads, the Lord Maior knocks. 
 
 Enter the <&faior, and Citizens. 
 
 Welcome, my Lord, I dance attendance here, 
 I thinke the Duke will not be fpoke withall. 
 
 517 
 
 Enter Catetby. 
 
 'Buck; Now Catesby, what fayes your Lord to my 
 requeft ? 
 
 Catesby. He doth entreat your Grace, my Noble Lord, 
 To viiit him to morrow, or next day : 
 He is within, with two right reuerend Fathers, 
 Diuinely bent to Meditation, 
 And in no Worldly fuites would he be mou'd, 
 To draw him from his holy Exercife. 
 
 'BUC/I. Returne, good Catesby, to the gracious Duke, 
 Tell him, my felfe, the Maior and Aldermen, 
 In deepe defignes, in matter of great moment, 
 No leffe importing then our generall good, 
 Are come to haue fome conference with his Grace. 
 
 Catesby. He fignifie fo much vnto him ftraight. Exit. 
 
 'Buc!(. Ah ha, my Lord, this Prince is not an Edward, 
 He is not lulling on a lewd Loue-Bed, 
 But on his Knees, at Meditation : 
 Not dallying with a Brace of Curtizans, 
 But meditating with two deepe Diuines : 
 Not fleeping, to engrofle his idle Body, 
 But praying, to enrich his watchfull Soule. 
 Happie were England, would this vertuous Prince 
 Take on his Grace the Soueraigntie thereof. 
 But fure I feare we fhall not winne him to it. 
 
 Maior. Marry God defend his Grace fhould fay vs 
 nay. 
 
 BucJ(. I feare he will : here Catesby comes againe. 
 
 Enter Catesby. 
 Now Catesby, what fayes his Grace ? 
 
 Catesby. He wonders to what end you haue affembled 
 Such troopes of Citizens, to come to him, 
 His Grace not being warn'd thereof before : 
 He feares, my Lord, you meane no good to him. 
 Buc%. Sorry I am, my Noble Coufin fhould 
 Sufpeft me, that I meane no good to him : 
 By Heauen, we come to him in perfit loue, 
 And fo once more returne,and tell his Grace. Exit. 
 
 When holy and deuout Religious men 
 Are at their Beades,'tis much to draw them thence, 
 So fweet is zealous Contemplation. 
 
 Enter Richard aloft, betweene two 'Bijhops. 
 Maior. See where his Grace ftands, tweene two Clergie 
 men. 
 
 'Buc/t- Two Props of Vertue, for a Chriftian Prince, 
 To ftay him from the fall of Vanitie : 
 And fee a Booke of Prayer in his hand, 
 True Ornaments to know a holy man. 
 Famous Plantagenet, moft gracious Prince, 
 Lend fauourable eare to our requefts, 
 And pardon vs the interruption 
 Of thy Deuotion, and right Chriftian Zeale. 
 
 SJcb. My Lord, there needes no fuch Apologie : 
 I doe befeech your Grace to pardon me, 
 Who earned in the feruice of my God, 
 Deferr'd the vifitation of my friends. 
 But leauing this, what is your Graces pleafure ? 
 
 Bucl(. Euen that (I hopej which pleafeth God aboue, 
 And all good men, of this vngouern'd He. 
 
 Rich. I doe fufpedt I haue done fome offence, 
 That feemes difgracious in the Cities eye, 
 And that you come to reprehend my ignorance. 
 
 f 2 Buc{. You
 
 192 
 
 The Life and T>eath of^ichardthe Third. 
 
 e Buct(. You haue, my Lord : 
 Would it might pleafe your Grace, 
 On our entreaties, to amend your fault. 
 
 Rich. Elfe wherefore breathe I in a Chriftian Land. 
 
 e Buc\. Know then, it is your fault, that you refigne 
 The Supreme Seat, the Throne Maiefticall, 
 The Sceptred Office of your Anceftors, 
 Your State of Fortune, and your Deaw of Birth, 
 The Lineall Glory of your Royall Houfe, 
 To the corruption of a blemiflit Stock j 
 Whiles in the mildnefle of your fleepie thoughts, 
 Which here we waken to our Countries good, 
 The Noble He doth want his proper Limmes : 
 His Face defac'd with skarres of Infamie, 
 His Royall Stock grafft with ignoble Plants, 
 And almoft fliouldred in the fwallowing Gulfe 
 Of darke Forgetfulnefle,and deepe Obliuion. 
 Which to recure, we heartily folicite 
 Your gracious felfe to take on you the charge 
 And Kingly Gouernment of this your Land : 
 Not as Protector, Steward, Subftitute, 
 Or lowly Factor, for anothers gaine ; 
 But as fucceffiuely, from Blood to Blood, 
 Your Right of Birth, your Empyrie, your owne. 
 For this, conforted with the Citizens, 
 Your very Worihipfull and louing friends, 
 And by their vehement inftigation, 
 In this iuft Caufe come I to moue your Grace. 
 
 1(icb. I cannot tell, if to depart in filence, 
 Or bitterly to fpeake in your reproofe, 
 Beft fitteth my Degree, or your Condition. 
 If not to anfwer, you might haply thinke, 
 Tongue-ty'd Ambition, not replying, yeelded 
 To beare the Golden Yoake of Soueraigntie, 
 Which fondly you would here impofe on me. 
 If to reproue you for this fuit of yours, 
 So feafon'd with your faithfull loue to me, 
 Then on the other fide I check'd my friends. 
 Therefore to fpeake, and to auoid the firft, 
 And then in fpeaking, not to incurre the laft, 
 Definitiuely thus I anfwer you. 
 Your loue deferues my thankes, but my defert 
 Vnmeritable, fliunnes your high requeft. 
 Firft, if all Obftacles were cut away, 
 And that my Path were euen to the Crowne, 
 As the ripe Reuenue, and due of Birth : 
 Yet fo much is my pouertie of fpirit, 
 So mightie, and fo manie my defects, 
 That I would rather hide me from my Greatnefle, 
 Being a Barke to brooke no mightie Sea ; 
 Then in my Greatnefle couet to be hid, 
 And in the vapour of my Glory fmother'd. 
 But God be thank'd, there is no need of me, 
 And much I need to helpe you, were there need : 
 The Royall Tree hath left vs Royall Fruit, 
 Which mellow'd by the ftealing howres of time, 
 Will well become the Seat of Maieftie, 
 And make (no doubt) vs happy by his Reigne. 
 On him I lay that, you would lay on me, 
 The Right and Fortune of his happie Starres, 
 Which God defend that I fhould wring from him. 
 
 Buc\. My Lord, this argues Confcience in your Grace, 
 But the refpects thereof are nice, and triuiall, 
 1 All circumftances well confidered. 
 You fay, that Edward is your Brothers Sonne, 
 So fay we too, but not by Edwards Wife : 
 
 For firft was he contract to Lady Lucie, 
 
 Your Mother liues a Witnefle to his Vow ; 
 
 And afterward by fubftitute betroth'd 
 
 To 'Bona, Sifter to the King of France. 
 
 Thefe both put off, a poore Petitioner, 
 
 A Care-eras' d Mother to a many Sonnes, 
 
 A Beautie-waining, and diftrefTed Widow, 
 
 Euen in the after-noone of her beft dayes, 
 
 Made prize and purchafe of his wanton Eye, 
 
 Seduc'd the pitch, and height of his degree, 
 
 To bafe declenfion,and loath'd Bigamie. 
 
 By her, in his vnlawfull Bed, he got 
 
 This Edward, whom our Manners call the Prince. 
 
 More bitterly could I expoftulate, 
 
 Saue that for reuerence to fome aliue, 
 
 I giue a fparing limit to my Tongue. 
 
 Then good, my Lord, take to your Royall felfe 
 
 This proffer'd benefit of Dignitie : 
 
 If not to blefle vsand the Land withall, 
 
 Yet to draw forth your Noble Anceftrie 
 
 From the corruption of abufing times, 
 
 Vnto a Lineall true deriued courfe. 
 
 Maior. Do good my Lord, your Citizens entreat you. 
 
 f Buc\. Refufe not, mightie Lord, this proffer'd loue. 
 
 Catesb. O make them ioyfull, grant their lawfull fuit. 
 
 Rich. Alas, why would you heape this Care on me ? 
 I am vnfit for State, and Maieftie : 
 I doe befeech you take it not amifTe, 
 I cannot, nor I will not yeeld to you. 
 
 Buc\. If you refufe it, as in loue and zeale, 
 Loth to depofe the Child, your Brothers Sonne, 
 As well we know your tendernefle of heart, 
 And gentle, kinde, effeminate remorfe, 
 Which we haue noted in you to your Kindred, 
 And egally indeede to all Eftates : 
 Yet know, where you accept our fuit, or no, 
 Your Brothers Sonne fliall neuer reigne our King, 
 But we will plant fome other in the Throne, 
 To the difgrace and downe-fall of your Houfe : 
 And in this refolution here we leaue you. 
 Come Citizens, we will entreat no more. Sxeunt. 
 
 Catesb.CM him againe, fweet Prince, accept their fuit: 
 If you denie them, all the Land will rue it. 
 
 Rich. Will you enforce me to a world of Cares. 
 Call them againe, I am not made of Stones, 
 But penetrable to your kinde entreaties, 
 Albeit againft my Confcience and my Soule. 
 
 Enter 'Buckingham, and the reft. 
 Coufin of Buckingham, and fage graue men, 
 Since you will buckle fortune on my back, 
 To beare her burthen, where I will or no. 
 I muft haue patience to endure the Load : 
 But if black Scandall,or foule-fac'd Reproach, 
 Attend the fequell of your Impofition, 
 Your meere enforcement fliall acquittance me 
 From all the impure blots and ftaynes thereof; 
 For God doth know, and you may partly fee, 
 How farre I am from the defire of this. 
 
 Maior. God blefle your Grace, wee fee it, and will 
 fay it. 
 
 Rich. In faying fo, you fliall but fay the truth. 
 
 e Bucl(. Then I falute you with this Royall Title, 
 Long liue King Richard, Englands worthie King. 
 
 All. Amen. 
 
 Bucl(.To morrow may it pleafe you to be Crown'd. 
 
 Rich. Euen when you pleafe, for you will haue it fo. 
 
 <Bucks To 
 
 " 5*8
 
 'The Life and 'Death of 'Richard the 'Third. 1 93 
 
 f Bucl(. To morrow then we will attend your Grace, 
 And fo moft ioyfully we take our leaue. 
 
 *Rjcb. Come, let vs to our holy Worke againe. 
 Farewell my Coufins, farewell gentle friends. Exeunt. 
 
 Aftus Quartus. 
 
 Enter the Queene, Anne Ducheffe of Gloucejier, the 
 Ducbejje of Yorfe, and MarqueJJe Dorfet. 
 
 Ducb.Yor^e. Who meetes vs heere? 
 My Neece T/antagenet, 
 
 Led in the hand of her kind Aunt of Glofter ? 
 Now, for my Life,/hee's wandring to the Tower, 
 On pure hearts loue, to greet the tender Prince. 
 Daughter, well met. 
 
 Anne. God giue your Graces both, a happie 
 And a ioyfull time of day. 
 
 Q. As much to you, good Sifter: whither away ? 
 
 Anne. No farther then the Tower, and as I guefle, 
 Vpon the like deuotion as your felues, 
 To gratulate the gentle Princes there. 
 
 Qu. Kind Sifter thankes, wee'le enter all together: 
 
 Enter the Lieutenant. 
 
 And in good time, here the Lieutenant comes. 
 
 Mafter Lieutenant, pray you, by your leaue, 
 
 How doth the Prince, and my young Sonne of Yorlp? 
 
 Lieu. Right well, deare Madame : by your patience, 
 I may not fuffer you to vifit them, 
 The King hath ftridlly charg'd the contrary. 
 
 Qu. The King ? who's that ? 
 
 Lieu. I meane, the Lord Protector. 
 
 %u. The Lord protect him from that Kingly Title. 
 Hath he fet bounds betweene their loue, and me ? 
 I am their Mother, who /hall barre me from them ? 
 
 f Ducb. Yorfy. I am their Fathers Mother, 1 will fee 
 them. 
 
 Anne.The'ir Aunt I am in law,in loue their Mother: 
 Then bring me to their fights, He beare thy blame, 
 And take thy Office from thee,on my perill. 
 
 Lieu. No, Madame, no; I may not leaue it fo : 
 I am bound by Oath, and therefore pardon me. 
 
 Exit Lieutenant. 
 
 Enter Stanley. 
 
 Stanley. Let me but meet you Ladies one howre hence, 
 And He falute your Grace of Yorke as Mother, 
 And reuerend looker on of two faire Queenes. 
 Come Madame,you muft ftraight to Weftminfter, 
 There to be crowned ^chords Royall Queene. 
 
 Qu. Ah, cut my Lace afunder, 
 That my pent heart may haue fome fcope to beat, 
 Or elfe I fwoone with this dead-killing newes. 
 
 Anne. Defpightfull tidings, O vnpleafing newes. 
 
 Dorf. Be of good cheare : Mother, how fares your 
 Grace ? 
 
 Qu. O Dorfet, fpeake not to me, get thee gone, 
 Death and Deftruclion dogges thee at thy heeles, 
 Thy Mothers Name is ominous to Children. 
 
 519 
 
 If thou wilt out-ftrip Death, goe crofle the Seas, 
 And Hue with Rjcbmond,from the reach of Hell. 
 Goe hye thee, hye thee from this flaughter-houfe, 
 Left thou encreafe the number of the dead, 
 And make me dye the thrall of Margarets Curfe, 
 Nor Mother, Wife, nor Englands counted Queene. 
 
 Stanley. full of wife care, is this your counfaile, Madame: 
 Take all the fwift aduantage of the howres : 
 You /hall haue Letters from me to my Sonne, 
 In your behalfe, to meet you on the way : 
 Be not ta'ne tardie by vnwife delay. 
 
 Ducb. Yorfe. O ill difperfing Winde of Miferie, 
 O my accurfed Wombe,the Bed of Death : 
 A Cockatrice haft thou hatcht to the World, 
 Whofe vnauoided Eye is murtherous. 
 
 Stanley. Come, Madame, come, I in all hafte was fent. 
 
 Anne. And I with all vnwillingnefle will goe. 
 
 would to God, that the inclufiue Verge 
 
 Of Golden Mettall,that muft round my Brow, 
 Were red hot Steele,to feare me to the Braines, 
 Anoynted let me be with deadly Venome, 
 And dye ere men can fay, God fane the Queene. 
 
 %u. Goe,goe,poore foule, I enuie not thy glory, 
 To feed my humor, wi/h thy felfe no harme. 
 
 Anne. No: why? When he that is my Husband now, 
 Came to me, as I follow'd Henries Corfe, 
 When fcarce the blood was well wafht from his hands, 
 Which iflued from my other Angell Husband, 
 And that deare Saint, which then I weeping follow'd : 
 O,when I fay I look'd on Richards Face, 
 This was my Wi/h : Be thou ( quoth I ) accurft, 
 For making me, fo young, fo old a Widow : 
 And when thou wed'ft, let forrow haunt thy Bed ; 
 And be thy Wife, if any be fo mad, 
 More miferable, by the Life of thee, 
 Then thou haft made me, by my deare Lords death. 
 Loe, ere I can repeat this Curfe againe, 
 Within fo fmall a time, my Womans heart 
 Gro/Tely grew captiue to his honey words, 
 And prou'd the fubiect of mine owne Soules Curfe, 
 Which hitherto hath held mine eyes from reft : 
 For neuer yet one howre in his Bed 
 Did I enioy the golden deaw of fleepe, 
 But with his timorous Dreames was ftill awak'd. 
 Befides,he hates me for my Father Warrcic^e, 
 And will (no doubt) fhortly be rid of me. 
 
 $u. Poore heart adieu,! pittie thy complaining. 
 
 eAnne. No more, then with my foule I mourne for 
 yours, 
 
 Dorf. Farewell, thou wofull welcommer of glory. 
 
 tAnne. Adieu , poore foule , that tak'ft thy leaue 
 of it. 
 
 Du.Y.Go thou to Richmond, & good fortune guide thee, 
 Go thou to Ricbard,znd good Angels tend thee, 
 Go thou to Santuarie,and good thoughts po/TefTe thee, 
 
 1 to my Graue, where peace and reft lye with mee. 
 Eightie odde yeeres of forrow haue I feene, 
 
 And each howres ioy wrackt with a weeke of teene. 
 
 >u. Stay, yet looke backe with me vnto the Tower. 
 Pitty,you ancient Stones, thofe tender Babes, 
 Whom Enuie hath immur'd within your Walls, 
 Rough Cradle for fuch little prettie ones, 
 Rude ragged Nurfe,old fullen Play-fellow, 
 For tender Princes : vfe my Babies well; 
 So fooliih Sorrowes bids your Stones farewell. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 f 3 Sound
 
 'The Life andT>eath of ^c hard the Third. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Sound a Sennet. Enter Richard in pompe, Buc- 
 fyngham, Catesby, Ratclffi, Louel. 
 
 Rich. Stand all apart. Coufm of Buckingham. 
 
 Buc\. My gracious Soueraigne. 
 
 Rich. Giue me thy hand. Sound. 
 
 Thus high, by thy aduice,and thy afiiftance, 
 Is King Richard feated : 
 But /hall we weare thefe Glories for a day ? 
 Or (hall they laft,and we reioyce in them ? 
 
 'Bucl^. Still Hue they, and for euer let them laft. 
 
 Rich. Ah Buckingham, now doe I play the Touch, 
 To trie if thou be currant Gold indeed : 
 Young EdwardYiueSfthtnke now what I would fpeake. 
 
 "Buc^. Say on my louing Lord. 
 
 Rich. Why 'Buckingham, I fay I would be King. 
 
 "Buc^. Why fo you are, my thrice-renowned Lord. 
 
 Rich. Ha ? am I King ? 'tis fo : but Edward liues. 
 
 'Bucl^ True, Noble Prince. 
 
 Rich. O bitter confequence ! 
 That Edward ftill fhould liue true Noble Prince. 
 Coufin,thou waft not wont to be fo dull. 
 Shall I be plaine? I wifh the Baftards dead, 
 And I would haue it fuddenly perform'd. 
 What fay'ft thou now? fpeake fuddenly, be briefe. 
 
 f BucI(. Your Grace may doe your pleafure. 
 
 Rich. Tut, tut, thou art all Ice, thy kindnefle freezes : 
 Say, haue I thy confent, that they fhall dye ? 
 
 Buc.G'mt me fome litle breath, fome pawfe,deare Lord, 
 Before I pofitiuely fpeake in this : 
 I will refolue you herein prefently. Exit Buc%. 
 
 Catesby. The King is angry, fee he gnawes his Lippe. 
 
 Rich. I will conuerfe with Iron-witted Fooles, 
 And vnrefpecYme Boyes : none are for me, 
 That looke into me with confederate eyes, 
 High-reaching 'Buckingham growes circumfpeft. 
 Boy. 
 
 Page. My Lord. 
 
 Rich. Know'ft thou not any, whom corrupting Gold 
 Will tempt vnto a clofe exploit of Death ? 
 
 Page. I know a difcontented Gentleman, 
 Whofe humble meanes match not his haughtie fpirit : 
 Gold were as good as twentie Orators, 
 And will (no doubt) tempt him to any thing. 
 
 $jcb. What is his Name? 
 Page. His Name, my Lord, is Tirrell. 
 "^ch. I partly know the man : goe call him hither, 
 Boy. Exit. 
 
 The deepe reuoluing wittie 'Buckingham, 
 No more fhall be the neighbor to my counfailes. 
 Hath he fo long held out with me,vntyr'd, 
 And flops he now for breath ? Well, be it fo. 
 
 Enter Stanley. 
 
 How now, Lord Stanley, what's the newes ? 
 
 Stanley. Know my louing Lord, the MarquefTe Dorfet 
 As I heare, is fled to Richmond, 
 In the parts where he abides. 
 
 Rich. Come hither Catesby, rumor it abroad, 
 That Anne my Wife is very grieuous ficke, 
 
 I will take order for her keeping clofe. 
 
 Inquire me out fome meane poore Gentleman, 
 
 Whom I will marry ftraight to Clarence Daughter : 
 
 The Boy is foolifh,and I feare not him. 
 
 Looke how thou dream'ft : I fay againe, giue out, 
 
 That Anne, my Queene,is ficke, and like to dye. 
 
 About it, for it ftands me much vpon 
 
 To flop all hopes, whofe growth may dammage me. 
 
 I muft be marryed to my Brothers Daughter, 
 
 Or elfe my Kingdome ftands on brittle Glafle : 
 
 Murther her Brothers,and then marry her, 
 
 Vncertaine way of gaine. But I am in 
 
 So farre in blood, that finne will pluck on fmne, 
 
 Teare-falling Pittie dwells not in this Eye. 
 
 Snter Tyrrel. 
 
 Is thy Name Tyrrel ? 
 
 Tyr. lames Tyrrel,znd your moft obedient fubiecl. 
 
 Rich. Art thou indeed ? 
 
 Tyr. Proue me, my gracious Lord. 
 
 Rich. Dar'ft thou refolue to kill a friend of mine ? 
 
 Tyr. Pleafe you : 
 But I had rather kill two enemies. 
 
 Rich. Why then thou haft it-: two deepe enemies, 
 Foes to my Reft, and my fweet fleepes difturbers, 
 Are they that I would haue thee deale vpon : 
 Tyrrel, I meane thofe Baftards in the Tower. 
 
 Tyr. Let me haue open meanes to come to them, 
 And foone lie rid you from the feare of them. 
 
 Rich. Thou fing'ft fweet Mufique : 
 Hearke,come hither Tyrrel, 
 
 Goe by this token : rife, and lend thine Eare, Wb'ifytn. 
 There is no more but fo : fay it is done, 
 And I will loue thee, and preferre thee for it. 
 
 Tyr. I will difpatch it ftraight. Exit. 
 
 Enter 'Buckingham. 
 
 e Bucl(. My Lord, I haue confider'd in my minde, 
 The late requeft that you did found me in. 
 
 Rich. Well, let that reft: Dorfet is fled to Richmond. 
 
 'Bucl(. I heare the newes, my Lord. 
 
 Rich. Stanley, hee is your Wiues Sonne : well, looke 
 vnto it. 
 
 BUC/I. My Lord, I clayme the gift, my due by promife, 
 For which your Honor and your Faith is pawn'd, 
 Th'Earledome of Hertford, and the moueables, 
 Which you haue promifed I fhall pofiefie. 
 
 'Rjcb. Stanley looke to your Wife : if fhe conuey 
 Letters to Richmond,you fhall anfwer it. 
 
 C 3r. What fayes your HighnefTe to my iuft requeft ? 
 
 Rich. I doe remember me, Henry the Sixt 
 Did prophecie, that Richmond fhould be King, 
 When Richmond was a little peeuifh Boy. 
 A King perhaps. 
 
 e Bucl(. May it pleafe you to refolue me in my fuit. 
 
 Rich. Thou troubleft me, I am not in the vaine. Exit. 
 
 Bucl(. And is it thus? repayes he my deepe feruice 
 With fuch contempt? made I him King for this ? 
 O let me thinke on Hajiings,nnd be gone 
 To Brecnock, while my fearefull Head is on. Exit. 
 
 Enter Tyrrel. 
 
 Tyr. The tyrannous and bloodie A61 is done, 
 The moft arch deed of pittious mafTacre 
 
 That
 
 The Life and T>eath of ^c hard the Third. 195 
 
 That euer yet this Land was guilty of: 
 
 Digbton and Forreft, who I did fuborne 
 
 To do this peece of ruthfull Butchery, 
 
 Albeit they were fleflit Villaines, bloody Dogges, 
 
 Melted with tendernefie, and milde compafiion, 
 
 Wept like to Children, in their deaths fad Story. 
 
 O thus fquoth Digbton} lay the gentle Babes : 
 
 Thus, thus (quoth Forrejf) girdling one another 
 
 Within their Alablafter innocent Armes : 
 
 Their lips were foure red Rofes on a ftalke, 
 
 And in their Summer Beauty kift each other. 
 
 A Booke of Prayers on their pillow lay, 
 
 Which one (quoth ForreSt) almoft chang'd my minde : 
 
 But oh the Diuell, there the Villaine ftopt : 
 
 When 'Digbton thus told on, we fmothered 
 
 The moft replenished fweet worke of Nature, 
 
 That from the prime Creation ere Ihe framed. 
 
 Hence both are gone with Confcience and Remorfe, 
 
 They could not fpeake, and fo I left them both, 
 
 To beare this tydings to the bloody King. 
 
 Enter Richard. 
 
 And heere he comes. All health my Soueraigne Lord. 
 
 Ric. Kinde Tirrell, am I happy in thy Newes. 
 
 Tir. If to haue done the thing you gaue in charge, 
 Beget your happinefle, be happy then, 
 For it is done. 
 
 Rick. But did'ft thou fee them dead. 
 
 Tir. I did my Lord. 
 
 Rich. And buried gentle Tirrell. 
 
 Tir. The Chaplaine of the Tower hath buried them, 
 But where (to fay the truth) I do not know. 
 
 Rich. Come to me Tirrel (bone, and after Supper, 
 When thou /halt tell the procefle of their death. 
 Meane time, but thinke how I may do the good, 
 And be inheritor of thy defire. 
 Farewell till then. 
 
 Tir. I humbly take my leaue. 
 
 Rich. The Sonne of Clarence haue I pent vp clofe, 
 His daughter meanly haue I matcht in marriage, 
 The Sonnes of Edward fleepe in Abrahams bofome, 
 And Anne my wife hath bid this world good night. 
 Now for I know the Britaine Richmond aymes 
 At yong Elizabeth my brothers daughter, 
 And by that knot lookes proudly on the Crowne, 
 To her go I, a iolly thriuing wooer. 
 
 Enter Ratcliffe. 
 
 Rat. My Lord. 
 
 Rich. Good or bad newes, that thou com'ft in fo 
 bluntly ? 
 
 Rat. Bad news my Lord, cWourton is fled to Richmond, 
 And Buckingham backt with the hardy Welflimen 
 Is in the field, and ftill his power encreafeth. 
 
 l(icb. Ely with Richmond troubles me more neere, 
 Then Buckingham and his rafli leuied Strength. 
 Come, I haue learn'd, that fearfull commenting 
 Is leaden feruitor to dull delay. 
 Delay leds impotent and Snaile-pac'd Beggery : 
 Then fierie expedition be my wing, 
 loues Mercury, and Herald for a King : 
 Go mufter men : My counfaile is my Sheeld, 
 We muft be breefe, when Traitors braue the Field. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 53' 
 
 Scena Tertta. 
 
 Snter old Queene Margaret. 
 
 Mar. So now profperity begins to mellow, 
 And drop into the rotten mouth of death : 
 Heere in thefe Confines flily haue I lurkt, 
 To watch the waining of mine enemies. 
 A dire induction, am I witnefle to, 
 And will to France, hoping the confequence 
 Will proue as bitter, blacke, and Tragicall. 
 Withdraw thee wretched Margaret, who comes heere ? 
 
 Enter e DutcbeJfe and Queene. 
 
 Qu. Ah my poore Princes! ah my tender Babes : 
 My vnblowed Flowres, new appearing fweets : 
 If yet your gentle foules flye in the Ayre, 
 And be not fixt in doome perpetuall, 
 Houer about me with your ayery wings, 
 And heare your mothers Lamentation. 
 
 Mar. Houer about her, fay that right for right 
 Hath dim'd your Infant morne, to Aged night. 
 
 Dut. So many miferies haue craz'd my voyce, 
 That my woe-wearied tongue is ftill and mute. 
 Edward Plantagenet, why art thou dead ? 
 
 Mar. Plantagenet doth quit Plantagenet, 
 Edward for Edward, payes a dying debt. 
 
 QU. Wilt thou, O God, flye from fuch gentle Lambs, 
 And throw them in the intrailes of the Wolfe ? 
 When didft thou fleepe, when fuch a deed was done ? 
 
 Mar. When holy Harry dyed, and my fweet Sonne. 
 
 Dut Dead life, blind fight, poore mortall liuing ghoft, 
 Woes Scene, Worlds fhame, Graues due, by life vfurpt, 
 Breefe abftraft and record of tedious dayes, 
 Reft thy vnreft on Englands lawfull earth, 
 Vnlawfully made drunke with innocent blood. 
 
 Qu. Ah that thou would'ft aflbone affoord a Graue, 
 As thou canft yeeld a melancholly feate : 
 Then would I hide my bones, not reft them heere, 
 Ah who hath any caiife to mourne but wee ? 
 
 c/W<zr. If ancient forrow be moft reuerent, 
 Giue mine the benefit of figneurie, 
 And let my greefes frowne on the vpper hand 
 If forrow can admit Society. 
 I had an Edward, till a Richard kill'd him : 
 I had a Husband, till a Richard kill'd him : 
 Thou had'ft an Edward, till a "Richard kill'd him : 
 Thou had'ft a Richard, till a Richard kill'd him. 
 
 Dut. I had a !(icbard too, and thou did'ft kill him ; 
 I had a Rutland too, thou hop'ft to kill him. 
 
 Mar. Thou had'ft a Clarence too, 
 And Richard kill'd him. 
 
 From forth the kennell of thy wombe hath crept 
 A Hell-hound that doth hunt vs all to death : 
 That Dogge, that had his teeth before his eyes, 
 To worry Lambes, and lap their gentle blood : 
 That foule defacer of Gods handy worke : 
 That reignes in gauled eyes of weeping foules : 
 That excellent grand Tyrant of the earth, 
 Thy wombe let loofe to chafe vs to our graues. 
 O vpright, iuft, and true-difpofing God, 
 How do I thanke thee, that this carnall Curre 
 
 Prayes
 
 196 
 
 The Life andT)eath of Richard the^Thlrd. 
 
 Prayes on the iffue of his Mothers body, 
 And makes her Pue-fellow with others mone. 
 
 Dut. Oh Harries wife, triumph not in my woes : 
 God witnefle with me, I haue wept for thine. 
 
 Mar. Beare with me : I am hungry for reuenge, 
 And now I cloy me with beholding it. 
 Thy Edward he is dead, that kill'd my Edward, 
 The other Edvard dead, to quit my Edward: 
 Yong Yorke, he is but boote, becaufe both they 
 Matcht not the high perfection of my loflfe. 
 Thy Clarence he is dead, that ftab'd my Sdrvard, 
 And the beholders of this franticke play, 
 Th'adulterate Haftings, Riuen,1)aughan,Gray, 
 Vntimely fmother'd in their dusky Graues. 
 Richard yet Hues, Hels blacke Intelligencer, 
 Onely referu'd their Factor, to buy foules, 
 And fend them thither : But at hand, at hand 
 Infues his pittious and vnpittied end. 
 Earth gapes, Hell burnes, Fiends roare, Saints pray, 
 To haue him fodainly conuey'd from hence : 
 Cancell his bond of life, deere God I pray, 
 That I may liue and fay, The Dogge is dead. 
 
 !$u. O thou did'ft prophefie, the rime would come, 
 That I mould wifh for thee to helpe me curfe 
 That bottel'd Spider, that foule bunch-back'd Toad. 
 
 Mar. I call'd thee then, vaine flourish of my fortune: 
 I call'd thee then, poore Shadow, painted Queen, 
 The prefentation of but what I was ; 
 The flattering Index of a direfull Pageant ; 
 One heau'd a high, to be hurl'd downe below : 
 A Mother onely mockt with two faire Babes ; 
 A dreame of what thou waft, a garifli Flagge 
 To be the ayme of euery dangerous Shot ; 
 A figne of Dignity, a Breath, a Bubble ; 
 A Queene in ieaft, onely to fill the Scene. 
 Where is thy Husband now? Where be thy Brothers? 
 Where be thy two Sonnes? Wherein doft thou loy? 
 Who fues, and kneeles, and fayes, God faue the Queene ? 
 Where be the bending Peeres that flattered thee? 
 Where be the thronging Troopes that followed thee? 
 Decline all this, and fee what now thou art. 
 For happy Wife, a moft diftrefled Widdow : 
 For ioyfull Mother, one that wailes the name : 
 For one being fued too, one that humbly fues : 
 For Queene, a very Caytiffe, crown'd with care : 
 For me that fcorn'd at me, now fcorn'd of me : 
 For me being feared of all, now fearing one : 
 For flie commanding all, obey'd of none. 
 Thus hath the courfe of luftice whirFd about, 
 And left thee but a very prey to time, 
 Hauing no more but Thought of what thou waft. 
 To torture thee the more, being what thou art, 
 Thou didft vfurpe my place, and doft thou not 
 Vfurpe the iuft proportion of my Sorrow ? 
 Now thy proud Necke, beares halfe my burthen'd yoke, 
 From which, euen heere I flip my wearied head, 
 And leaue the burthen of it all, on thee. 
 Farwell Yorkes wife, and Queene of fad mifchance, 
 Thefe Englifh woes, mall make me fmile in France. 
 Sju. O thou well skill'd in Curfes, ftay a-while, 
 And teach me how to curfe mine enemies. 
 
 Mar. Forbeare to fleepe the night, and faft the day : 
 Compare dead happinefle, with liuing woe : 
 Thinke that thy Babes were fweeter then they were, 
 And he that flew them fowler then he is : 
 Bett'ring thy lofle, makes the bad caufer worfe, 
 
 Reuoluing this, will teach thee how to Curfe. 
 
 H^u. My words are dull, O quicken them with thine. 
 Mar. Thy woes will make them fharpe, 
 And pierce like mine. Exit Margaret. 
 
 Dut. Why fhould calamity be full of words ? 
 
 Qu. Windy Atturnies to their Clients Woes, 
 Ayery fucceeders of inteftine ioyes, 
 Poore breathing Orators of miferies, 
 Let them haue {cope, though what they will impart, 
 Helpe nothing els, yet do they eafe the hart. 
 
 Dut. If fo then, be not Tongue-ty'd : go with me, 
 And in the breath of bitter words, let's fmother 
 My damned Son, that thy two fweet Sonnes fmother'd. 
 The Trumpet founds, be copious in exclaimes. 
 
 Enter King Richard, and bis Traine. 
 
 Rich. Who intercepts me in my Expedition ? 
 
 Dut. O flie, that might haue intercepted thee 
 By ftrangling thee in her aceurfed wombe, 
 From all the (laughters (Wretch) that thou haft done. 
 
 Qtt. Hid'ft thou that Forhead with a Golden Crowne 
 Where't fhould be branded, if that right were right ? 
 The flaughter of the Prince that ow'd that Crowne, 
 And the dyre death of my poore Sonnes, and Brothers. 
 Tell me thou Villaine-flaue, where are my Children ? 
 
 Dut. Thou Toad, thou Toade, 
 Where is thy Brother Clarence? 
 And little Ned Plantagenet his Sonne ? 
 
 <$u. Where is the gentle e Rjuers,'Uaugban, Gray t 
 
 Dut. Where is kinde Hajtings ? 
 
 Rich. A flourish Trumpets, ftrike Alarum Drummes : 
 Let not the Heauens heare thefe Tell-tale women 
 Raile on the Lords Annointed. Strike I fay. 
 Flourijh. tAlarums, 
 
 Either be patient, and intreat me fayre, 
 Or with the clamorous report of Warre, 
 Thus will I drowne your exclamations. 
 
 Dut. Art thou my Sonne ? 
 
 Rich. I, I thanke God, my Father, and your felfe. 
 
 Dut. Then patiently heare my impatience. 
 
 Rich. Madam, I haue a touch of your condition, 
 That cannot brooke the accent of reproofe. 
 
 Dut. O let me fpeake. 
 
 Rich. Do then, but He not heare. 
 
 Dut: I will be milde, and gentle in my words. 
 
 Rich. And breefe (good Mother) for I am in haft. 
 
 'Dut. Art thou fo hafty? I haue ftaid for thee 
 (God knowes)in torment and in agony. 
 
 Rich. And came I not at laft to comfort you ? 
 
 T>ut. No by the holy Rood, thou know'ft it well, 
 Thou cam'ft on earth, to make the earth my Hell. 
 A greeuous burthen was thy Birth to me, 
 Tetchy and wayward was thy Infancie. 
 Thy School-dales frightfull, defp'rate, wilde, and furious, 
 Thy prime of Manhood, daring, bold, and venturous: 
 Thy Age confirm'd, proud, fubtle, flye, and bloody, 
 More milde, but yet more harmful! ; Kinde in hatred : 
 What comfortable houre canft thou name, 
 That euer grac'd me with thy company ? 
 Rich. Faith none, but Humfrey Hotter, 
 That call'd your Grace 
 To Breakefaft once, forth of my company. 
 If I be fo difgracious in your eye, 
 Let me march on, and not offend you Madam. 
 Strike vp the Drumme. 
 
 Dut. I prythee heare me fpeake. 
 
 Rich. 
 
 53*
 
 The Life and c Death of ^c bard the Third. 1 97 
 
 Rich. You fpeake too bitterly. 
 Dut. Heare me a word : 
 For I mall neuer fpeake to thee againe. 
 Rich. So. 
 
 Dut. Either thou wilt dye, by Gods iuft ordinance 
 Ere from this warre thou turne a Conqueror : 
 Or I with greefe and extreame Age fhall perifh, 
 And neuer more behold thy face againe. 
 Therefore take with thee my moft greeuous Curfe, 
 Which in the day of Battell tyre thee more 
 Then all the compleat Armour that thou wear'ft. 
 My Prayers on the aduerfe party fight, 
 And there the little foules of Edwards Children, 
 Whifper the Spirits of thine Enemies, 
 And promife them Succefle and Vidlory : 
 Bloody thou art, bloody will be thy end : 
 Shame ferues thy life, and doth thy death attend. Exit. 
 ^/.Though far more caufe,yet much lefie fpirit to curfe 
 Abides in me, I fay Amen to her. 
 
 Rich. Stay Madam,! muft talke a word with you. 
 Qu. I haue no more fonnes of the Royall Blood 
 For thee to (laughter. For my Daughters [Richard) 
 They mall be praying Nunnes,not weeping Queenes : 
 And therefore leuell not to hit their Hues. 
 
 Rich. You haue a daughter call'd Elizabeth, 
 Vertuous and Faire, Royall and Gracious? 
 
 Qu. And muft me dye for this? O let her liue, 
 And He corrupt her Manners, ftaine her Beauty, 
 Slander my Selfe, as falfe to Edwards bed : 
 Throw ouer her the vaile of Infamy, 
 So fhe may liue vnfcarr'd of bleeding Slaughter, 
 I will confefle fhe was not Edwards daughter. 
 
 Rich. Wrong not her Byrth,flie is a Royall Princeffe. 
 Qu. To faue her life, He fay fhe is not fo. 
 ^ch. Her life is fafeft onely in her byrth. 
 Qu, And onely in that fafety,dyed her Brothers. 
 Rich. Loe at their Birth, good ftarres were oppolite. 
 Qu. No, to their liues,ill friends were contrary. 
 ^ch\ All vnauoyded is the doome of Deftiny. 
 Qu. True : when auoyded grace makes Deftiny. 
 My Babes were deftin'd to a fairer death, 
 If grace had bleft thee with a fairer life. 
 
 Rich, You fpeake as if that I had flaine my Cofins ? 
 Qu. Cofins indeed, and by their Vnckle couzend, 
 Of Comfort, Kingdome, Kindred, Freedome, Life, 
 Whofe hand foeuer lanch'd their tender hearts, 
 Thy head (all indirectly) gaue direction. 
 No doubt the murd'rous Knife was dull and blunt, 
 Till it was whetted on thy ftone-hard heart, 
 To reuell in the Intrailes of my Lambes. 
 But that ftill vfe of greefe, makes wilde greefe tame, 
 My tongue mould to thy eares not name my Boyes, 
 Till that my Nayles were anchor'd in thine eyes : 
 And I in fuch a defp'rate Bay of death, 
 Like a poore Barke, of failes and tackling reft, 
 Rufh all to peeces on thy Rocky bofome. 
 
 Rich, Madam, fo thriue I in my enterprize 
 And dangerous fuccefle of bloody warres, 
 As I intend more good to you and yours, 
 Then euer you and yours by me were harm'd. 
 
 Qu. What good is couer'd with the face of heauen, 
 To be difcouered,that can do me good. 
 
 Rich. Th'aduancement of your children, gentle Lady 
 Qu. Vp to fome Scaffold, there to lofe their heads. 
 *Rjcb. Vnto the dignity and height of Fortune, 
 The high Imperiall Type of this earths glory. 
 
 53J 
 
 Qu. Flatter my forrow with report of it : 
 Tell me, what State, what Dignity, what Honor, 
 Canft thou demife to any childe of mine. 
 
 Rich. Euen all I haue; I, and my felfe and all, 
 Will I withall indow a childe of thine: 
 So in the Lethe of thy angry foule, 
 Thou drowne the fad remembrance of thofe wrongs, 
 Which thou fuppofeft I haue done to thee. 
 
 Qu. Be breefe,leaft that the precede of thy kindneffe 
 Laft longer telling then thy kindnefle date. 
 
 Rich. Then know, 
 That from my Soule, I loue thy Daughter. 
 
 Qu. My daughters Mother thinkes it with her foule. 
 
 Rich. What do you thinke ? 
 
 Qu. That thou doft loue my daughter from thy foule 
 So from thy Soules loue didft thou loue her Brothers, 
 And from my hearts loue, I do thanke thee for it. 
 
 Rjch. Be not fo hafty to confound my meaning : 
 I meane that with my Soule I loue thy daughter, 
 And do intend to make her Queene of England. 
 
 Qu' Well then, who doft y meane fhallbe her King. 
 
 Rich. Euen he that makes her Queene : 
 Who elfe mould bee ? 
 
 Qj. What, thou? 
 
 Rich. Euen fo: How thinke you of it ? 
 
 Qu. How canft thou woo her ? 
 
 Rich. That I would learne of you, 
 As one being beft acquainted with her humour. 
 
 Qu. And wilt thou learne of me f 
 
 Rich. Madam, with all my heart. 
 
 Qu. Send to her by the man that flew her Brothers, 
 A paire of bleeding hearts : thereon ingraue 
 Edward and Tor^e, then haply will fhe weepe : 
 Therefore prefent to her, as fometime Margaret 
 Did to thy Father, fteept in Rutlands blood, 
 A hand-kercheefe, which fay to her did dreyne 
 The purple fappe from her fweet Brothers body, 
 And bid her wipe her weeping eyes withall. 
 If this inducement moue her not to loue, 
 Send her a Letter of thy Noble deeds : 
 Tell her, thou mad'ft away her Vnckle Clarence, 
 Her Vnckle Riuers, I (and for her fake) 
 Mad'ft quicke conueyance with her good Aunt Anne. 
 
 Rich. You mocke me Madam, this not the way 
 To win your daughter. 
 
 Qu. There is no other way, 
 Vnlefle thou could'ft put on fome other fhape, 
 And not be Richard,that hath done all this. 
 
 Ric. Say that I did all this for loue of her. 
 
 Qu. Nay then indeed fhe cannot choofe but hate thee 
 Hauing bought loue, with fuch a bloody fpoyle. 
 
 l(ich. Looke what is done, cannot be now amended : 
 Men fhall deale vnaduifedly fometimes, 
 Which after-houres giues leyfure to repent. 
 If I did take the Kingdome from your Sonnes, 
 To make amends, He giue it to your daughter : 
 If I haue kill'd the iffue of your wombe, 
 To quicken your encreafe, 1 will beget 
 Mine yflue of your blood, vpon your Daughter: 
 A Grandams name is little lefle in loue, 
 Then is the doting Title of a Mother; 
 They are as Children but one fteppe below, 
 Euen of your mettall,of your very blood : 
 Of all one paine, faue for a night of groanes 
 Endur'd of her, for whom you bid like forrow. 
 Your Children were vexation to your youth, 
 
 But
 
 The Life and'Deathof'^chardthe Third. 
 
 But mine fhall be a comfort to your Age, 
 
 The lofTe you haue, is but a Sonne being King, 
 
 And by that lofle,your Daughter is made Queene. 
 
 I cannot make you what amends I would, 
 
 Therefore accept fuch kindnefle as I can. 
 
 Dorfetyour Sonne, that with a fearfull foule 
 
 Leads discontented fteppes in Forraine foyle, 
 
 This faire Alliance, quickly fhall call home 
 
 To high Promotions, and great Dignity. 
 
 The King that calles your beauteous Daughter Wife, 
 
 Familiarly (hall call thy 'Dorfet, Brother : 
 
 Againe fhall you be Mother to a King : 
 
 And all the Ruines r/f diftrefiefull Times, 
 
 Repayr'd with double Riches of Content. 
 
 What? we haue many goodly dayes to fee : 
 
 The liquid drops of Teares that you haue fhed, 
 
 Shall come againe, transform'd to Orient Pearle, 
 
 Aduantaging their Loue,with intereft 
 
 Of ten-times double gaine of happinefle. 
 
 Go then (my Mother) to thy Daughter go, 
 
 Make bold her bafhfull yeares, with your experience, 
 
 Prepare her eares to heare a Woers Tale. 
 
 Put in her tender heart, th'afpiring Flame 
 
 Of Golden Soueraignty : Acquaint the Princefle 
 
 With the fweet filent houres of Marriage ioyes : 
 
 And when this Arme of mine hath chaftifed 
 
 The petty Rebell, dull-brain'd 'Buckingham, 
 
 Bound with Triumphant Garlands will I come, 
 
 And leade thy daughter to a Conquerors bed : 
 
 To whom I will retaile my Conqueft wonne, 
 
 And flie fhalbe fole Vidrorefle, Cxfars Ctefar. 
 
 QIJ. What were I beft to fay, her Fathers Brother 
 Would be her Lord f Or fhall 1 fay her Vnkle ? 
 Or he that flew her Brothers, and her Vnkles ? 
 Vnder what Title fhall I woo for thee, 
 That God, the Law, my Honor, and her Loue, 
 Can make feeme pleafing to her tender yeares? 
 
 Rich. Inferre faire Englands peace by this Alliance. 
 
 Qu Which fhe fhall purchaie with ftil lafting warre. 
 Rich. Tell her, the King that may command, intreats. 
 
 Qu. That at her hands, which the kings King forbids. 
 
 Rich. Say fhe fhall be a High and Mighty Queene. 
 
 %u. To vaile the Title, as her Mother doth. 
 
 Rich. Say I will loue her euerlaftingly. 
 
 Qu. But how long fhall that title euer laft ? 
 
 Rich. Sweetly in force, vnto her faire liues end. 
 
 ju. But how long fairely fhall her fweet life laft ? 
 
 Rich. As long as Heauen and Nature lengthens it. 
 
 Qu. As long as Hell and Richard likes of it. 
 
 l(icb. Say 1 her Soueraigne,am her Subieft low. 
 
 Qu. But fhe your Subiedt,lothes fuch Soueraignty. 
 
 I(icb. Be eloquent in my behalfe to her. 
 
 Qu. An honeft tale fpeeds beft, being plainly told. 
 
 Rich. Then plainly to her, tell my louing tale. 
 
 Qu. Plaine and not honeft,is too harfh a ftyle. 
 
 Rich. Your Reafons are too (hallow, and to quicke. 
 
 QJJ. O no, my Reafons are too deepe and dead, 
 Too deepe and dead (poore Infants Jin their graues, 
 Harpe on it ftill fhall I, till heart-ftrings breake. 
 
 Rich. Harpe not on that firing Madam, that is paft. 
 Now by my George, my Garter, and my Crowne. 
 
 Qu. Prophan'd, difhonor'd,and the third vfurpt. 
 
 Rich. I fweare. 
 
 %u. By nothing, for this is no Oath : 
 Thy George prophan'd, hath loft his Lordly Honor; 
 Thy Garter blemifti'd, pawn'd his Knightly Vertue ; 
 
 Thy Crowne vfurp'd, difgrac'd his Kingly Glory : 
 If Something thou would'ft fweare to be beleeu'd, 
 Sweare then by Something, that thou haft not wrong'd. 
 
 Rich. Then by my Selfe. 
 
 Qu. Thy Selfe,is felfe-mifvs'd. 
 
 Rich. Now by the World. 
 
 <%u. 'Tis full of thy foule wrongs. 
 
 Rich. My Fathers death. 
 
 Qu. Thy life hath it difhonor'd. 
 
 'RJch. Why then, by Heauen. 
 
 Qu. Heanens wrong is moft of all : 
 If thou didd'ft feare to breake an Oath with him, 
 The vnity the King my husband made, 
 Thou had'ft not broken, nor my Brothers died. 
 If thou had'ft fear'd to breake an oath by him, 
 Th'Imperiall mettall, circling now thy head, 
 Had grac'd the tender temples of my Child, 
 And both the Princes had bene breathing heere, 
 Which now two tender Bed-fellowes for duft, 
 Thy broken Faith hath made the prey for Wormes. 
 What can'ft thou fweare by now. 
 
 Rich. The time to come. 
 
 Qu. That thou haft wronged in the time ore-paft: 
 For I my felfe haue many teares to wafh 
 Heereafter time, for time paft, wrong'd by thee. 
 The Children liue, whofe Fathers thou haft flaughter'd, 
 Vngouern'd youth, to waile it with their age : 
 The Parents liue, whofe Children thou haft butcher'd, 
 Old barren Plants, to waile it with their Age. 
 Sweare not by time to come, for that thou haft 
 Mifvs'd ere vs'd, by times ill-vs'd repaft. 
 
 Rich. As I entend to profper, and repent: 
 So thriue I in my dangerous Affayres 
 Of hoftile Armes : My felfe, my felfe confound : 
 Heauen,and Fortune barre me happy houres: 
 Day,yeeld me not thy light; nor Night, thy reft. 
 Be oppofite all Planets of good lucke 
 To my proceeding, if with deere hearts loue, 
 Immaculate deuotion,holy thoughts, 
 I tender not thy beautious Princely daughter. 
 In her, confifts my Happinefle, and thine: 
 Without her, followes to my felfe, and thee ; 
 Her felfe, the Land, and many a Chriftian foule, 
 Death, Defolation, Ruine, and Decay : 
 It cannot be auoyded, but by this: 
 It will not be auoyded, but by this. 
 Therefore deare Mother ( I muft call you fo) 
 Be the Atturney of my loue to her : 
 Pleade what I will be, not what I haue beene ; 
 Not my deferts, but what I will deferue : 
 Vrge the Neceflity and ftate of times, 
 And be not peeuifh found, in great Defignes. 
 Qu. Shall I be tempted of the Diuel thus? 
 Rich. I, if the Diuell tempt you to do good. 
 <%u. Shall I forget my felfe, to be my felfe. 
 Rich. I, if your felfes remembrance wrong your felfe. 
 >u. Yet thou didft kil my Children. 
 Rich. But in your daughters wombe I bury them. 
 Where in that Neft of Spicery they will breed 
 Selues of themfelues, to your recomforture. 
 
 %u. Shall I go win my daughter to thy will ? 
 
 Rich. And be a happy Mother by the deed. 
 <5>tt. I go, write to me very fhortly, 
 And you fhal vnderftand from me her mind. Exit Q. 
 
 Rich. Beare her my true loues kifTe,and fo farewell. 
 Relenting Foole,and fhallow-changing Woman. 
 
 How 
 
 534
 
 'The Life and 'Death of^chard the 'Third. 199 
 
 How now, what newes ? 
 
 Enter Ratclife. 
 
 Rat. Moft mightie Soueraigne, on the Wefterne Coaft 
 Rideth a puiflant Nauie : to our Shores 
 Throng many doubtfull hollow-hearted friends, 
 Vnarm'd,and vnrefolu'd to beat them backe. 
 'Tis thought, that Richmond is their Admirall : 
 And there they hull, expecting but the aide 
 Of Buckingham, to welcome them aihore. 
 
 Rich. Some light-foot friend poft to y Duke of Norfolk : 
 Ratcliffe thy felfe, or Catesby, where is hee ? 
 
 Qat. Here, my good Lord. 
 
 'Rjcb. Catesby, flye to the Duke. 
 
 Cat. I will, my Lord, with all conuenient hafte. 
 
 Rich, Catesby come hither, pofte to Salisbury: 
 When thou com'ft thither: Dull vnmindfull Villaine, 
 Why ftay'ft thou here,and go'ft not to the Duke? 
 
 Gtt.Firft, mighty Liege, tell me your Highneffe pleafure, 
 What from your Grace I fliall deliuer to him. 
 
 Rich. O true, good Qatesby, bid him leuie ftraight 
 The greateft ftrength and power that he can make, 
 And meet me fuddenly at Salisbury. 
 
 Cat. I goe. Exit. 
 
 Rat. What, may it pleafe you, fliall I doe at Salis- 
 bury ? 
 
 Rich. Why, what would'ft thou doe there, before I 
 goe ? 
 
 e l(at. Your HighnefTe told me I fliould pofte before. 
 
 ^cb. My minde is chang'd : 
 
 Enter Lord Stanley. 
 
 Stanley, what newes with you ? 
 
 &<z.None, good my Liege, to pleafe you with y hearing, 
 Nor none fo bad, but well may be reported. 
 
 Rich. Hoyday,a Riddle, neither good nor bad: 
 What need'ft thou runne fo many miles about, 
 When thou mayeft tell thy Tale the neereft way ? 
 Once more, what newes ? 
 
 Stan. Richmond is on the Seas. 
 
 Rich. There let him fmke,and be the Seas on him, 
 White-liuer'd Runnagate, what doth he there? 
 
 Stan. I know not,mightie Soueraigne, but by guefle. 
 
 Rich. Well, as you guefle. 
 
 Stan. Stirr'd vp by DorJet,'Bucl(ingbam } and Morton, 
 He makes for England, here to clayme the Crowne. 
 
 Rich. Is the Chayre emptie ? is the Sword vnfway'd ? 
 Is the King dead ? the Empire vnpofleft? 
 What Heire of Yorjy is there aliue,but wee ? 
 And who is Englands King, but great Tories Heire ? 
 Then tell me, what makes he vpon the Seas ? 
 
 Stan. Vnlefle for that, my Liege,! cannot guefle. 
 
 Rich. Vnlefle for that he comes to be your Liege, 
 You cannot guefle wherefore the Welchman comes. 
 Thou wilt reuolt,and flye to him, I feare. 
 
 Stan. No,my good Lord, therefore miftruft me not. 
 
 Rich. Where is thy Power then, to beat him back ? 
 Where be thy Tenants,and thy followers ? 
 Are they not now vpon the Wefterne Shore, 
 Safe-condudting the Rebels from their Shippes ? 
 
 Stan. No , my good Lord , my friends are in the 
 North. 
 
 Rich. Cold friends to me : what do they in the North, 
 When they fhould ferue their Soueraigne in the Weft ? 
 
 5J5 
 
 Stan. They haue not been commanded, mighty King! 
 Pleafeth your Maieftie to giue me leaue, 
 He mufter vp my friends, and meet your Grace, 
 Where, and what time your Maieftie fliall pleafe. 
 
 Rich. I, thou would'ft be gone, to ioyne with Richmond: 
 But He not truft thee. 
 
 Stan. Moft mightie Soueraigne, 
 You haue no caufe to hold my friendship doubtfull, 
 I neuer was, nor neuer will be falfe. 
 
 Rich. Goe then, and mufter men:but leaue behind 
 Your Sonne George Stanley : looke your heart be firme, 
 Or elfe his Heads aflurance is but fraile. 
 
 Stan. So deale with him, as I proue true to you. 
 Exit Stanley, 
 
 Enter a <&fejjenger. 
 
 Mejf. My gracious Soueraigne, now in Deuonfliire, 
 As I by friends am well aduertifed, 
 Sir Edward (Courtney, and the haughtie Prelate, 
 Bifliop of Exeter, his elder Brother, 
 With many moe Confederates, are in Armes. 
 
 Enter another <&fejjenger. 
 
 Mejf. In Kent, my Liege, the Guilfords are in Armes, 
 And euery houre more Competitors 
 Flocke to the Rebels, and their power growes ftrong. 
 
 Enter another zflfeffenger. 
 
 Meff. My Lord, the Armie of great Buckingham. 
 
 :Rjcb. Out on ye, Owles, nothing but Songs of Death, 
 
 He ftrifyt b him. 
 There, take thou that, till thou bring better newes. 
 
 Mejf. The newes I haue to tell your Maieftie, 
 Is, that by fudden Floods, and fall of Waters, 
 "Buckingbams Armie is difpers'd and fcatter'd, 
 And he himfelfe wandred away alone, 
 No man knowes whither. 
 
 Rich. I cry thee mercie : 
 
 There is my Purfe,to cure that Blow of thine. 
 Hath any well-aduifed friend proclaym'd 
 Reward to him that brings the Traytor in ? 
 
 Meff. Such Proclamation hath been made, my Lord. 
 
 Snter another cMeJ/etiger. 
 
 MeJJ". Sir Tboma6 Loue/I,and Lord Marquefle Dorfet, 
 'Tis faid,my Liege, in Yorkefhire are in Armes : 
 But this good comfort bring I to your Highneffe, 
 The Brittaine Nauie is difpers'd by Tempeft. 
 Richmond in Dorfetfliire lent out a Boat 
 Vnto the fliore,to aske thofe on the Banks, 
 If they were his Affiftants, yea, or no ? 
 Who anfwer'd him, they came from 'Buckingham, 
 Vpon his partie : he miftrufting them, 
 Hoys'd fayle,and made his courfe againe for Brittaine. 
 
 Rich. March on, march on,(ince we are vp in Armes, 
 If not to fight with forraine Enemies, 
 Yet to beat downe thefe Rebels here at home. 
 
 Enter Catesby. 
 
 Cat. My Liege, the Duke of Buckingham is taken, 
 That is the beft newes : that the Earle of Richmond
 
 200 
 
 The Life andT>eath of Richard the Third. 
 
 Is with a mighty power Landed at Milford, 
 Is colder Newes, but yet they muft be told. 
 
 Rich. Away towards Salsbury, while we reafon here, 
 A Royall batteil might be wonne and loft: 
 Some one take order Buckingham be brought 
 To Salsbury, the reft march on with me. F lorijh. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Quart a. 
 
 Enter Derby , and Sir Cbriftopber. 
 
 Der. Sir Chri/lofber,tell Richmond this from me, 
 That in the ftye of the moft deadly Bore, 
 My Sonne George Stanley is frankt vp in hold : 
 If I reuolt, off goes yong Georges head, 
 The feare of that, holds off my prefent ayde. 
 So get thee gone : commend me to thy Lord. 
 Withall fay, that the Queene hath heartily confented 
 He fhould efpoufe Elizabeth hir daughter. 
 But tell me, where is Princely Richmond now? 
 
 Cbri. At Penbroke, or at Hertford Weft in Wales. 
 
 Der. What men of Name refort to him. 
 
 Cbri, Sir Walter Herbert, a renowned Souldier, 
 Sir Gilbert Ta/bot,Slr William Stanley, 
 Oxford, redoubted Pembroke, Sir lames Blunt, 
 And Rice ap Thomas, with a valiant Crew, 
 And many other of great name and worth: 
 And towards London do they bend their power, 
 If by the way they be not fought withall. 
 
 Der. Well hye thee to thy Lord : I kiffe his hand, 
 My Letter will refolue him of my minde. 
 Farewell. Exeunt 
 
 Aftus Quintus. 
 
 Enter 'Buckingham with Halberds, led 
 to Execution. 
 
 But. Will not King Richard let me fpeake with him? 
 
 Sher. No my good Lord, therefore be patient. 
 
 'Buc. Ha/lings, and Edwards children, Gray & 'RJuers, 
 Holy King Henry, and thy faire Sonne Edward, 
 IJaugban, and all that haue mifcarried 
 By vnder-hand corrupted foule iniuftice, 
 If that your moody difcontented foules, 
 Do through the clowds behold this prefent houre , 
 Euen for reuenge mocke my deftru&ion. 
 This is All-foules day (Fellow) is it not? 
 Sber. It is. 
 
 'Buc. Why then Al-foules day, is my bodies doomfday 
 This is the day, which in King Edwards time 
 I wifli'd might fall on me, when I was found 
 Falfe to his Children, and his Wiues Allies. 
 This is the day, wherein I wiflit to fall 
 By the falfe Faith of him whom moft I trufted. 
 This, this All-foules day to my fearfull Soule, 
 Is the determin'd refpit of my wrongs : 
 That high All-feer, which I dallied with, 
 
 Hath turn'd my fained Prayer on my head, 
 And giuen in earneft, what I begg'd in ieft. 
 Thus doth he force the fwords of wicked men 
 To turne their owne points in their Mafters bofomes. 
 Thus Margarets curfe falles heauy on my necke : 
 When he (quoth flie)fhall fplit thy heart with forrow, 
 Remember Margaret was a Prophetefle : 
 Come leade me Officers to the blocke of fliame, 
 Wrong hath but wrong, and blame the due of blame. 
 Exeunt Buckingham with Officers. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Richmond, Oxford, Blunt, Herbert, and 
 others, with drum and colours . 
 
 Ricbm Fellowes in Armes,and my moft louing Frends 
 Bruis'd vnderneath the yoake of Tyranny, 
 Thus rarre into the bowels of the Land, 
 Haue we marcht on without impediment; 
 And heere receiue we from our Father Stanley 
 Lines of faire comfort and encouragement : 
 The wretched, bloody, and vfurping Boare, 
 (That fpoyl'd your Summer Fields,and fruitfull Vines,) 
 Swilles your warm blood like wafh, & makes his trough 
 In your embowel'd bofomes : This foule Swine 
 Is now euen in the Gentry of this Ifle, 
 Ne're to the Towne of Leicefter,as we learne : 
 From Tamworth thither,is but one dayes march. 
 In Gods name cheerely on, couragious Friends, 
 To reape the Harueft of perpetuall peace, 
 By this one bloody tryall of fliarpe Warre. 
 
 Oxf. Euery mans Confcience is a thoufand men, 
 To fight againft this guilty Homicide. 
 
 Her. I doubt not but his Friends will turne to vs. 
 
 Blunt.He. hath no friends, but what are friends for fear, 
 Which in his deereft neede will flye from him. 
 
 Ricbm. All for our vantage, then in Gods name march, 
 True Hope is fwift, and flyes with Swallowes wings, 
 Kings it makes Gods, and meaner creatures Kings. 
 
 Exeunt Omnes. 
 
 Enter King Richard In tArmes, with Norfolke, Ratclife, 
 and the Earle of Surrey. 
 
 Ricb.Here pitch our Tent, euen here in Bofworth field, 
 My Lord of Surrey, why looke you fo fad ? 
 
 Sur. My heart is ten times lighter then my lookes. 
 
 Rich. My Lord of Norfolke. 
 
 Nor. Heere moft gracious Liege. 
 
 Rich. Norfolke, we muft haue knockes : 
 Ha, muft we not ? 
 
 Nor. We muft both giue and take my louing Lord. 
 
 Rich. Vp with my Tent, heere wil I lye to night, 
 But where to morrow ? Well, all's one for that. 
 Who hath defcried the number of the Traitors t 
 
 Nor. Six or feuen thoufand is their vtmoft power. 
 
 Rich. Why our Battalia trebbles that account: 
 Befides,the Kings name is a Tower of ftrength, 
 Which they vpon the aduerfe Fadlion want. 
 Vp with the Tent : Come Noble Gentlemen, 
 Let vs furuey the vantage of the ground. 
 Call for fome men of found direction : 
 
 Let's 
 
 5J6
 
 The Life and death of Richard the Third. 
 
 201 
 
 Let's lacke no Difcipline, make no delay, 
 For Lords, to morrow is a bufie day. 
 
 Exeunt 
 
 Enter Richmond, Sir William Brandon, Ox- 
 ford, and Dorfet. 
 
 Ricbm. The weary Sunne, hath made a Golden fet, 
 And by the bright Tract of his fiery Carre, 
 Giues token of a goodly day to morrow. 
 Sir William Brandon, you fliall beare my Standard : 
 Giue me fome Inke and Paper in my Tent : 
 He draw the Forme and Modell of our Battaile, 
 Limit each Leader to his feuerall Charge,J 
 And part in iuft proportion our fmall Power. 
 My Lord of Oxford, you Sir William 'Brandon, 
 And your Sir Walter Herbert flay with me : 
 The Earle of Pembroke keepes his Regiment; 
 Good Captaine 'Blunt, beare my goodnight to him, 
 And by the fecond houre in the Morning, 
 Defire the Earle to fee me in my Tent : 
 Yet one thing more (good Captaine) do for me : 
 Where is Lord Stanley quarter'd, do you know? 
 
 'Blunt. Vnleffe I haue miftane his Colours much, 
 (Which well I am aflur'd I haue not done) 
 His Regiment lies halfe a Mile at leaft 
 South, from the mighty Power of the King. 
 
 Ricbm. If without perill it be poffible, 
 Sweet Blunt, make fome good meanes to fpeak with him 
 And giue him from me, this mod needfull Note. 
 
 Blunt. Vpon my life, my Lord, lie vndertake it, 
 And fo God giue you quiet reft to night. 
 
 Ricbm. Good night good Captaine 'Blunt : 
 Come Gentlemen, 
 
 Let vs confult vpon to morrowes Bufinefle ; 
 Into my Tent, the Dew is rawe and cold. 
 
 They withdraw into the Tent. 
 
 Enter 'RJcbard, Rat diffe, Norfol\e, & Qatesby. 
 
 Rich. What is't a Clocke ? 
 
 Cat. It's Supper time my Lord, it's nine a clocke. 
 
 King. I will not fup to night, 
 Giue me fome Inke and Paper : 
 What, is my Beauer eafier then it was f 
 And all my Armour laid into my Tent ? 
 
 Cat. It is my Liege : and all things are in readinefle. 
 
 Rich. Good Norfolke, hye thee to thy charge, 
 Vfe carefull Watch, choofe trufty Centinels, 
 
 Nor. I go my Lord. 
 
 Rich. Stir with the Larke to morrow, gentle Norfolk. 
 
 Nor. I warrant you my Lord. Exit 
 
 Rich. Ratdiffe. 
 
 Rat. My Lord. 
 
 Rich, Send out a Purfuiuant at Armes 
 To Stanleys Regiment : bid him bring his power 
 Before Sun-rifing, leaft his Sonne George fall 
 Into the blinde Caue of eternall night. 
 Fill me a Bowie of Wine : Giue me a Watch, 
 Saddle white Surrey for the Field to morrow : 
 Look that my Staues be found, & not too heauy. Ratcliff. 
 
 Rat. My Lord. 
 
 Rich. Saw'ft the melancholly Lord Northumberland ? 
 
 Rat. Thomas the Earle of Surrey, and himfelfe, 
 Much about Cockfliut time, from Troope to Troope 
 Went through the Army, chearing vp the Souldiers. 
 
 King. So, I am fatisfied : Giue me a Bowie of Wine, 
 I haue not that Alacrity of Spirit, 
 
 537 
 
 Nor cheere of Minde that I was wont to haue. 
 Set it downe. Is Inke and Paper ready ? 
 
 Rat. It is my Lord. 
 
 Rich. Bid my Guard watch. Leaue me. 
 Ratdiffe, about the mid of night come to my Tent 
 And helpe to arme me. Leaue me I fay. Exit Ratclif. 
 
 Snter Derby to 'Richmond in his Tent. 
 
 Der. Fortune, and Victory fit on thy Helme. 
 
 S^ich. All comfort that the darke night can affbord, 
 Be to thy Perfon, Noble Father in Law. 
 Tell me, how fares our Noble Mother? 
 
 Der. I by Attourney, blefle thee from thy Mother, 
 Who prayes continually for Richmonds good : 
 So much for that. The filent houres fteale on, 
 And flakie darkenefle breakes within the Eaft. 
 In breefe, for fo the feafon bids vs be, 
 Prepare thy Battell early in the Morning, 
 And put thy Fortune to th'Arbitrement 
 Of bloody ftroakes,and mortall (taring Warre : 
 I, as I may, that which I would. I cannot, 
 With beft aduantage will deceiue thetime, 
 And ayde thee in this doubtfull fhocke of Armes. 
 But on thy fide I may not be too forward, 
 Leaft being feene, thy Brother, tender George 
 Be executed in his Fathers fight. 
 Farewell : the leyfure, and the fearfull time 
 Cuts off the ceremonious Vowes of Loue, 
 And ample enterchange of fweet Difcourfe, 
 Which fo long fundred Friends fliould dwell vpon: 
 God giue vs leyfure for thefe rites of Loue. 
 Once more Adieu, be valiant, and fpeed well. 
 
 Ricbm. Good Lords conduct him to his Regiment : 
 He ftriue with troubled noife, to take a Nap, 
 Left leaden flumber peize me downe to morrow, 
 When I fliould mount with wings of Victory : 
 Once more, good night kinde Lords, and Gentlemen. 
 
 Exeunt. Manet Richmond. 
 O thou, whofe Captaine I account my felfe, 
 Looke on my Forces with a gracious eye : 
 Put in their hands thy bruifing Irons of wrath, 
 That they may crufli downe with a heauy fall, 
 Th'vfurping Helmets of our Aduerfaries : 
 Make vs thy minifters of Chafticement, 
 That we may praife thee in thy victory : 
 To thee I do commend my watchfull foule, 
 Ere I let fall the windowes of mine eyes : 
 Sleeping, and waking, oh defend me ftill. Sleeps. 
 
 Snter the Ghoft of frince Edward, Sonne to 
 Henry tbejlxt.. 
 
 Gb.to Ri. Let me fit heauy on thy foule to morrow : 
 Thinke how thou ftab'ft me in my prime of youth 
 At Teukesbury : Difpaire therefore, and dye. 
 
 Gboft to Ricbm. Be chearefull Richmond, 
 For the wronged Soules 
 Of butcher'd Princes, fight in thy behalfe : 
 King Henries iflue Richmond comforts thee. 
 Enter the Ghojl of Henry tbejixt. 
 
 Gboft. When I was mortall, my Annointed body 
 By thee was punched full of holes ; 
 Thinke on the Tower, and me : Difpaire, and dye, 
 Harry the fixt, bids thee difpaire,and dye. 
 
 To Ricbm. Vertuous and holy be thou Conqueror : 
 Harry that prophefied thou fliould'ft be King, 
 Doth comfort thee in fleepe : Liue,and flourifli. 
 
 t Enter
 
 202 
 
 The Life and death of ^c hard the Third. 
 
 Enter the Gboft of Clarence. 
 
 Gboft. Let me lit heauy in thy foule to morrow. 
 I that was wafh'd to death with Fulfome Wine : 
 Poore Qlarence by thy guile betray'd to death : 
 To morrow in the battell thinke on me, 
 And fall thy edgelefle Sword, difpaire and dye. 
 
 To Ricbm. Thou off-fpring of the houfe of Lancafter 
 The wronged heyres of Yorke do pray for thee, 
 Good Angels guard thy battell, Liue and Flourifli. 
 Enter the: Gboft s of Riuers, Gray, and Vaugban. 
 
 Riu. Let me fit heauy in thy foule to morrow, 
 RiuerSjthat dy'de at Pomfret : difpaire,and dye. 
 
 Grey. Thinke vpon Grey, and let thy foule difpaire. 
 
 faugh. Thinke vpon faugban,and with guilty feare 
 Let fall thy Lance, difpaire and dye. 
 
 All to Ricbm. Awake, 
 
 And thinke our wrongs in Richards Bofome, 
 Will conquer him. Awake, and win the day. 
 Enter the Gboft of Lord Haftings. 
 
 Gbo. Bloody and guilty : guiltily awake, 
 And in a bloody Battell end thy dayes. 
 Thinke on Lord Haftings : difpaire, and dye. 
 
 Haft, to Rich. Quiet vntroubled foule, 
 Awake, awake : 
 
 Arme, fight, and conquer, for faire Englands fake. 
 Enter the Gbo&s of the tno yong Princes. 
 
 (jbofts. Dreame on thy Coufins 
 Smothered in the Tower : 
 Let vs be laid within thy bofome Richard, 
 And weigh thee downe to ruine, fhame,and death, 
 Thy Nephewes foule bids thee difpaire and dye. 
 
 Gbofts to Ricbm. Sleepe Richmond, 
 Sleepe in Peace, and wake in loy, 
 Good Angels guard thee from the Boares annoy, 
 Liue, and beget a happy race of Kings, 
 Edwards vnhappy Sonnes, do bid thee flourifli. 
 Enter the Gboft of*Anne,bu Wife. 
 
 Gboft to Rich. Richard, thy Wife, 
 That wretched Anne thy Wife, 
 That neuer flept a quiet houre with thee, 
 Now filles thy fleepe with perturbations, 
 To morrow in the Battaile, thinke on me, 
 And fall thy edgelefle Sword, difpaire and dye ; 
 
 Gboft to Ricbm. Thou quiet foule, 
 Sleepe thou a quiet fleepe : 
 Dreame of Succefle, and Happy Vidrory, 
 Thy Aduerfaries Wife doth pray for thee. 
 Enter the GboSl of Buckingham. 
 
 Gboft to Xjcb. The firft was I 
 That help'd thee to the Crowne : 
 The laft was I that felt thy Tyranny. 
 O, in the Battaile think on Buckingham, 
 And dye in terror of thy guiltineflfe. 
 Dreame on, dreame on, of bloody deeds'and death, 
 Fainting difpaire ; difpairing yeeld thy breath. 
 
 Qboft to Ricbm, I dyed for hope 
 Ere I could lend thee Ayde; 
 But cheere thy heart, and be thou not difmayde : 
 God, and good Angels fight on Richmonds fide, 
 And Richard fall in height of all his pride. 
 
 Richard ftarts out of his dreame. 
 
 Rich. Giue me another Horfe, bind vp my Wounds : 
 Haue mercy lefu. Soft, I did but dreame. 
 O coward Confcience! how doft thou afflict me? 
 The Lights burne blew. It is not dead midnight. 
 Cold fearefull drops ftand on my trembling fled). 
 
 What? do I feare my Selfe ? There's none elfe by, 
 
 Richard loues Richard, that is, I am I. 
 
 Is there a Murtherer heere? No j Yes, I am : 
 
 Then flye ; What from my Selfe f Great reafon : why ? 
 
 Left I Reuenge. What? my Selfe vpon my Selfe? 
 
 Alacke, I loue my Selfe. Wherefore ? For any good 
 
 That I my Selfe, haue done vnto my Selfe? 
 
 no. Alas, 1 rather hate my Selfe, 
 
 For hatefull Deeds committed by my Selfe. 
 
 1 am a Vlllaine : yet I Lye, I am not. 
 
 Foole, of thy Selfe fpeake well : Foole, do not flatter. 
 
 My Confcience hath a thoufand feuerall Tongues, 
 
 And euery Tongue brings in a feuerall Tale, 
 
 And euerie Tale condemnes me for a Villaine ; 
 
 Periurie, in the high'ft Degree, 
 
 Murther, fterne murther, in the dyr'ft degree, 
 
 All feuerall finnes, all vs'd in each degree, 
 
 Throng all to'th'Barre, crying all, Guilty, Guilty. 
 
 I fliall difpaire, there is no Creature loues me ; 
 
 And if 1 die, no foule (hall pittie me. 
 
 Nay, wherefore ftiould they ? Since that I my Selfe, 
 
 Finde in my Selfe, no pittie to my Selfe. 
 
 Me thought, the Soulesofall that I had murther'd 
 
 Came to my Tent, and euery one did threat 
 
 To morrowes vengeance on the head of Richard. 
 
 Enter Ratcliffe. 
 
 Rat. My Lord. 
 
 King. Who's there? 
 
 Rat. Ratcliffe my Lord,'tis I : the early Village Cock 
 Hath twice done faluration to the Morne, 
 Your Friends are vp, and buckle on their Armour. 
 
 King. O Ratcliffe, I feare,! feare. 
 
 Rat. Nay good my Lord, be not affraid of Shadows. 
 King. By the Apoftle Paul, fhadowes to night 
 Haue ftroke more terror to the foule of Richard, 
 Then can the fubftance often thoufand Souldiers 
 Armed in proofe, and led by fliallow Richmond. 
 'Tis not yet neere day. Come go with me, 
 Vnder our Tents He play the Eafe-dropper, 
 To heare if any meane to fhrinke from me. 
 
 Sxeunt Richard & Ratliffe, 
 
 Enter the Lords to Richmond Jilting 
 in bis Tent. 
 
 Richm. Good morrow Richmond. 
 
 Rich. Cry mercy Lords, and watchful! Gentlemen, 
 That you haue tane a tardie fluggard heere ? 
 
 Lords. How haue you flept my Lord ? 
 
 Rich. The fweeteft fleepe, 
 And faireft boading Dreames, 
 That euer entred in a drowfie head, 
 Haue I fince your departure had my Lords. 
 Me thought their Soules, whofe bodies Rich. murther'd, 
 Came to my Tent, and cried on /iftory : 
 I promife you my Heart is very iocond, 
 In the remembrance of fo faire a dreame, 
 How farre into the Morning is it Lords ? 
 
 Lor. Vpon the ftroke of foure. 
 
 Rich. Why then 'tis time to Arme, and giue direction. 
 
 His Oration to bis Souldiers. 
 More then I haue faid, louing Countrymen, 
 The leyfure and inforcement of the time 
 Forbids to dwell vpon : yet remember this, 
 
 God 
 ___
 
 The Life and death of^c hard the Third. 
 
 203 
 
 God, and our good caufe, fight vpon our fide, 
 
 The Prayers of holy Saints and wronged foules, 
 
 Like high rear'd Bulwarkes, ftand before our Faces, 
 
 (RJcbard except ) thofe whom we fight againft, 
 
 Had rather haue vs win, then him they follow. 
 
 For, what is he they follow ? Truly Gentlemen, 
 
 A bloudy Tyrant, and a Homicide : 
 
 One rais'd in blood, and one in blood eftablifh'd ; 
 
 One that made meanes to come by what he hath, 
 
 And flaughter'd thofe that were the meanes to help him : 
 
 A bafe foule Stone, made precious by the foyle 
 
 Of Englands Chaire, where he is falfely let ; 
 
 One that hath euer beene Gods Enemy. 
 
 Then if you fight againft Gods Enemy, 
 
 God will in iuftice ward you as his Soldiers. 
 
 If you do fweare to put a Tyrant downe, 
 
 You fleepe in peace, the Tyrant being flaine : 
 
 If you do fight againft your Countries Foes, 
 
 Your Countries Fat fhall pay your paines the hyre. 
 
 If you do fight in fafegard of your wiues, 
 
 Your wiues fhall welcome home the Conquerors. 
 
 If you do free your Children from the Sword , 
 
 Your Childrens Children quits it in your Age. 
 
 Then in the name of God and all thefe rights, 
 
 Aduance your Standards, draw your willing Swords. 
 
 For me, the ranfome of my bold attempt, 
 
 Shall be this cold Corpes on the earth's cold face. 
 
 But if I thriue, the gaine of my attempt, 
 
 The leaft of you fhall fhare his part thereof. 
 
 Sound Drummes and Trumpets boldly, and cheerefully, 
 
 God, and Saint George , Richmond, and Victory. 
 
 Enter King Richard, Ratcliffe , and Catesby. 
 
 K. What faid Northumberland as touching Richmond? 
 Rat. That he was neuer trained vp in Armes. 
 King. He faid the truth : and what faid Surrey then? 
 Rat. He fmil'd and faid, the better for our purpofe. 
 King. He was in the right, and fo indeed it is. 
 Tell the clocke there. C loc k e ft r 'k"- 
 
 Giue me a Kalender : Who faw the Sunne to day ? 
 Rat. Not I my Lord. 
 
 King. Then he difdaines to fhine : for by the Booke 
 He fhould haue brau'd the Eaft an houre ago, 
 A blacke day will it be to fomebody. Ratcliffe. 
 *Rat. My Lord. 
 
 King. The Sun will not be feene to day, 
 The sky doth frowne, and lowre vpon our Army. 
 I would thefe dewy teares were from the ground. 
 Not fhine to day? Why, what is that to me 
 More then to Richmond? For the felfe-fame Heauen 
 That frownes on me, lookes fadly vpon him. 
 
 Snter Norfolke. 
 
 Nor. Arme,arme,my Lord : the foe vaunts in the field. 
 
 King. Come, buftle, buftle. Caparifon my horfe. 
 Call vp Lord Stanley, bid him bring his power, - 
 I will leade forth my Soldiers to the plaine, 
 And thus my Battell fhal be ordred. 
 My Foreward fhall be drawne in length, 
 Confifting equally of Horfe and Foot: 
 Our Archers fhall be placed in the mid'ft ; 
 lohn Duke of Norfolke, Thomas Earle of Surrey, 
 Shall haue the leading of the Foot and Horfe. 
 They thus directed, we will f How 
 
 SJ9 
 
 In the maine Battell, whofe puiflance on either fide 
 Shall be well-winged with our cheefeft Horfe : 
 This, and Saint George to boote. 
 What think'ft thou Norfolke. 
 
 Nor. A good direction warlike Soueraigne, 
 This found I on my Tent this Morning. 
 lackey of Norfolke, be not fo bold, 
 For Dickon thy maifter id bought and fold. 
 
 King. A thing deuifed by the Enemy. 
 Go Gentlemen, euery man to his Charge, 
 Let not our babling Dreames affright our foules: 
 For Confcience is a word that Cowards vfe, 
 Deuis'd at firft to keepe the ftrong in awe, 
 Our ftrong armes be our Confcience, Swords our Law. 
 March on, ioyne brauely, let vs too't pell mell, 
 If not to heauen, then hand in hand to Hell. 
 What fhall I fay more then I haue inferr'd? 
 Remember whom you are to cope withall, 
 A fort of Vagabonds, Rafcals, and Run-awayes, 
 A fcum of Brittaines,and bafe Lackey Pezants, 
 Whom their o're-cloyed Country vomits forth 
 To defperate Aduentures,and affur'd Deftrudtion. 
 You fleeping fafe, they bring you to vnreft : 
 You hauing Lands, and bleft with beauteous wiues, 
 They would reftraine the one, diftaine the other, 
 And who doth leade them, but a paltry Fellow ? 
 Long kept in Britaine at our Mothers coft, 
 A Milke-fop, one that neuer in his life 
 Felt fo much cold, as ouer fhooes in Snow : 
 Let's whip thefe ftraglers o're the Seas againe, 
 Lafh hence thefe ouer-weening Ragges of France, 
 Thefe famifh'd Beggers, weary of their liues, 
 Who (but for dreaming on this fond exploit) 
 For want of meanes (poore Rats) had hang'd themfelues. 
 If we be conquered, let men conquer vs, 
 And not thefe baftard Britaines, whom our Fathers 
 Haue in their owne Land beaten, bobb'd,and thump'd, 
 And on Record, left them the heires of fhame. 
 Shall thefe enioy our Lands? lye with our Wiues ? 
 Rauifh our daughters? Drum afarre off 
 
 Hearke, I heare their Drumme, 
 Right Gentlemen of England, fight boldly yeomen, 
 Draw Archers draw your Arrowes to the head, 
 Spurre your proud Horfes hard, and ride in blood, 
 Amaze the welkin with your broken ftaues. 
 
 Enter a MeJJenger. 
 What fayes Lord Stanley, will he bring his power? 
 
 Mef. My Lord, he doth deny to come. 
 
 King. Off with his fonne Georges head. 
 
 Nor. My Lord, the Enemy is paft the Marfh : 
 After the battaile, let George Stanley dye. 
 
 King. A thoufand hearts are great within my bofom. 
 Aduance our Standards, fet vpon our Foes, 
 Our Ancient word of Courage, faire S.George 
 Infpire vs with the fpleene of fiery Dragons : 
 Vpon them, Vidtorie fits on our helpes. 
 
 Alarum^excurfions. Snter Catesby. 
 
 Cat. Refcue my Lord of Norfolke, 
 Refcue, Refcue : 
 
 The King enacts more wonders then a man, 
 Daring an oppofite to euery danger : 
 His horfe is flaine, and all on foot he fights, 
 Seeking for Richmond in the throat of death : 
 Refcue faire Lord, or elfe the day is loft. 
 * Alarums. t 2 Enter
 
 204 
 
 The Life and death of^cbard the Third". 
 
 Enter Richard. 
 
 Rich. A Horfe, a Horfe, my Kingdome for a Horfe. 
 Gates. Withdraw my Lord, lie helpe you to a Horfe 
 Rich. Slaue, I haue fet my life vpon a caft, 
 And I will ftand the hazard of the Dye : 
 I thinke there be fixe Richmonds in the field, 
 Fiue haue I flaine to day, in ftead of him. 
 A Horfe, a Horfe, my Kingdome for a Horfe. 
 
 jtlatum, Enter Richard and Richmond, they fight , Richard 
 if Jlaine. 
 
 Retreat , and Flourijb . Enter Richmond, Derby bearing the 
 Crowne, with diuen other Lords. 
 
 Ricbm. God, and your Armes 
 Be prais'd Victorious Friends ; 
 The day is ours, the bloudy Dogge is dead. 
 
 Der. Couragious Richmond, 
 Well haft thou acquit thee : Loe, 
 Heere thefe long vfurped Royalties, 
 From the dead Temples of this bloudy Wretch, 
 Haue I pluck'd off, to grace thy Browes withall. 
 Weare it,and make much ofit. 
 
 Ricbm. Great God of Heauen, fay Amen to all ; 
 But tell me, is yong George Stanley liuing? 
 
 Der. He is my Lord, and fafe in Leicefter Towne, 
 Whither (if you pleafe) we may withdraw vs. 
 
 Ricbm. What men of name are flaine on either fide? 
 
 Der. lohn Duke of Norfolke, Walter Lord Ferris, 
 Sir Robert Brol^enbury, and Sir William Brandon. 
 
 Ricbm. Interre their Bodies, as become their Births, 
 Proclaime a pardon to the Soldiers fled, 
 That in fubmifsion will returne to vs, 
 And then as we haue tane the Sacrament, 
 We will vnite the White Rofe,and the Red. 
 Smile Heauen vpon this faire ConiuncYion, 
 That long haue frown'd vpon their Enmity : 
 What Traitor heares me, and fayes not Amen ? 
 England hath long beene mad, and fcarr'd her felfe ; 
 The Brother blindely fhed the Brothers blood ; 
 The Father, raflily flaughtered his owne Sonne; 
 The Sonne compell'd, beene Butcher to the Sire ; 
 All this diuided Yorke and Lancafter, 
 Diuided, in their dire Diuifion. 
 O now, let T(ic hmond and Elizabeth, 
 The true Succeeders of each Royall Houfe, 
 By Gods faire ordinance, conioyne together : 
 And let thy Heires (God if thy will be fo) 
 Enrich the time to come, with Smooth-fac'd Peace, 
 With fmiling Plenty, and faire Profperous dayes. 
 Abate the edge of Traitors, Gracious Lord, 
 That would reduce thefe bloudy dayes againe, 
 And make poore England weepe in Streames of Blood ; 
 Let them not liue to tafte this Lands increafe, 
 That would with Treafon, wound this faire Lands peace. 
 Now Ciuill wounds are ftopp'd, Peace liues agen ; 
 That fhe may long liue heere, God fay, Amen. Exeunt 
 
 FINIS.
 
 205 
 
 The Famous Hiftory of the Life of 
 
 King HENRY the Eight. 
 
 me 
 
 Come no more to make you laugh, Things note, 
 fToat beare a Weighty, and a Serious Brow, 
 ySad,bigb, and working, full of State and woe: 
 Such Noble Sccenes, at draw the Eye to Jlow 
 We now prefent. Thofe that can Fifty, heere 
 May (if they thinke it well) let fall a Teare, 
 The Subiefi will deferue it. Such at glue 
 Their Money out of hope they may beleeue, 
 May heere Jinde Truth too. Thoje that come to fee 
 Onely a Jhow or two, and Jo a gree, 
 The Play may pajje : If they be ftill, and willing, 
 He -undertake may fee away their Jhilling 
 Richly in two Jhort boures. Onely they 
 That come to beare a Merry, Bawdy Play, 
 A noyfe of Targets : Or to fee a Fellow 
 In a long Motley Coate,garded with Yellow, 
 
 Will be deceyu'd. For gentle Hearers, know 
 
 To ranke our chofen Truth with fucb a Jhow 
 
 As Foole, and Fight it , bejide firfeyting 
 
 Our owne Braines, and the Opinion that we bring 
 
 To make that onely true, we now intend, 
 
 Will leaue vs neuer an -vnderftanding Friend. 
 
 Therefore, for Goodntffe fake, and M you are knowne 
 
 The Firft and HappiesJ Hearers of the Towne, 
 
 Be fad, tu we would make ye. Thinke ye fee 
 
 The -very Perfons of our Noble Story, 
 
 As they were Liuing : Thinke you fee them Great, 
 
 And followed with the general! throng, and fweat 
 
 Of thoufand Friends : Then, in a moment, fee 
 
 How foone this MigbtineJJe, meets Mifery : 
 
 And if you can be merry then, He fay, 
 
 A Man may weepe -upon his Wedding day. 
 
 ^Primus. Sccena 
 
 Enter the Duke of Norfolk^ at one doore. At the other, 
 
 the Duke of 'Buckingham, and the Lord 
 
 Aburgauenny. 
 
 Buckingham. 
 
 Ood morrow, and well met. How haue ye done 
 Since laft we faw in France ? 
 
 Norf. I thanke your Grace : 
 Healthfull, and euer fince a frefh Admirer 
 Of what I faw there. 
 
 i Buc\. An vntimely Ague 
 Staid me a Prifoner in my Chamber, when 
 Thofe Sunnes of Glory, thofe two Lights of Men 
 Met in the vale of Andren. 
 
 Nor. 'Twixt Guynes and Arde, 
 I was then prefent, faw them falute on Horfebacke, 
 Beheld them when they lighted, how they clung 
 In their Embracement,as they grew together, 
 Which had they, 
 
 What foure Thron'd ones could haue weigh'd 
 Such a compounded one ? 
 
 Buc{. All the whole time 
 I was my Chambers Prifoner. 
 
 Nor. Then you loft 
 
 The view of earthly glory : Men might fay 
 Till this time Pompe was fingle, but now married 
 To one aboue it felfe. Each following day 
 Became the next dayes mafter, till the laft 
 Made former Wonders, it's. To day the French, 
 All Clinquant all in Gold, like Heathen Gods 
 Shone downe the Englifh ; and to morrow, they 
 Made Britaine, India : Euery man that flood, 
 Shew'd like a Mine. Their Dwarfifh Pages were 
 As Cherubins, all gilt : the Madams too, 
 Not vs'd to toyle, did almoft fweat to beare 
 The Pride vpon them, that their very labour 
 Was to them, as a Painting. Now this Maske 
 Was cry'de incompareable ; and th'enfuing night 
 Made it a Foole, and Begger. The two Kings 
 Equall in luftre, were now beft, now worft 
 As prefence did prefent them : Him in eye, 
 Still him in praife, and being prefent both, 
 'Twas faid they faw but one, and no Difcerner 
 Durft wagge his Tongue in cenfure, when thefe Sunnes 
 (For fo they phrafe'em) by their Heralds challeng'd 
 The Noble Spirits to Armes, they did performe 
 
 t 3 Beyond
 
 2O6 
 
 The Life of %jng Henry the Eight. 
 
 Beyond thoughts Compafle, that former fabulous Storie 
 Being now feene, pofiible enough, got credit 
 That f Beuii was beleeu'd. 
 'Buc. Oh you go farre. 
 Nor. As I belong to worfliip,and affedt 
 In Honor, Honefty, the traft of eu'ry thing, 
 Would by a good Difcourfer loofe fome life, 
 Which Actions felfe,was tongue too. 
 
 'Buc. All was Royall, 
 To the difpofing of it nought rebell'd, 
 Order gaue each thing view. The Office did 
 Diftindlly his full Function : who did guide, 
 I meane who fet the Body, and the Limbes 
 Of this great Sport together ? 
 
 Nor. As you guefle: 
 One certes, that promifes no Element' 
 In fuch a bufineffe. 
 
 Buc, I pray you who, my Lord ? 
 Nor. All this was ordred by the good Difcretion 
 Of the right Reuerend Cardinal! of Yorke. 
 
 Buc. The diuell fpeed him : No mans Pye is freed 
 From his Ambitious finger. What had he 
 To do in thefe fierce Vanities/ 1 I wonder, 
 That fuch a Keech can with his very bulke 
 Take vp the Rayes o'th'beneficiall Sun, 
 And keepe it from the Earth. 
 
 Nor. Surely Sir, 
 
 There's in him ftuffe, that put's him to thefe ends : 
 For being not propt by Aunceftry, whofe grace 
 Chalkes Succeflbrs their way 5 nor call'd vpon 
 For high feats done to'th'Crowne ; neither Allied 
 To eminent Afiiftants ; but Spider-like 
 Out of his Selfe-drawing Web. O giues vs note, 
 The force of his owne merit makes his way 
 A guift that heauen giues for him, which buyes 
 A place next to the King. 
 
 fAtur. I cannot tell 
 
 What Heauen hath giuen him : let fome Grauer eye 
 Pierce into that, but I can fee his Pride 
 Peepe through each part of him : whence ha's he that, 
 If not from Hell ? The Diuell is a Niggard, 
 Or ha's giuen all before, and he begins 
 A new Hell in himfelfe. 
 
 'Buc. Why the Diuell, 
 
 Vpon this French going out, tooke he vpon him 
 ( Without the priuity o'th'King) t'appoint 
 Who fliould attend on him? He makes vp the File 
 Of all the Gentry; for the moft part fuch 
 To whom as great a Charge, as little Honor 
 He meant to lay vpon : and his owne Letter 
 The Honourable Boord of Councell, out 
 Muft fetch him in, he Papers. 
 
 Abur. I do know 
 
 Kinfmen of mine, three at the leaft, that haue 
 By this, fo ficken'd their Eftates, that neuer 
 They fliall abound as formerly. 
 
 'Buc. O many 
 
 Haue broke their backes with laying Mannors on 'em 
 For this great Journey. What did this vanity 
 But minifter communication of 
 A moft poore iffue. 
 
 Nor. Greeuingly I thinke, 
 
 The Peace betweene the French and vs, not valewes 
 The Coft that did conclude it. 
 
 Buc. Euery man, 
 After the hideous ftorme that follow'd, was 
 
 A thing Infpir'd, and not confulting, broke 
 Into a generall Prophefie; That this Tempeft 
 Daftiing the Garment of this Peace, aboaded 
 The fodaine breach on't. 
 
 Nor. Which is budded out, 
 
 For France hath flaw'd the League, and hath attach'd 
 Our Merchants goods at Burdeux. 
 
 Abur. Is it therefore 
 Th'Ambaflador is filenc'd ? 
 
 Nor. Marry is't. 
 
 Abur. A proper Title of a Peace, and purchas'd 
 At a fuperfluous rate. 
 
 'Buc. Why all this Bufinefle 
 Our Reuerend Cardinall carried. 
 
 Nor. Like it your Grace, 
 The State takes notice of the priuate difference 
 Betwixt you, and the Cardinall. I aduife you 
 (And take it from a heart, that wiflies towards you 
 Honor, and plenteous fafety) that you reade 
 The Cardinals Malice, and his Potency 
 Together ; To confider further, that 
 What his high Hatred would efted, wants not 
 A Minifter in his Power. You know his Nature, 
 That he's Reuengefull ; and I know, his Sword 
 Hath a fliarpe edge : It's long, and't may be faide 
 It reaches farre, and where 'twill not extend, 
 Thither he darts it. Bofome vp my counfell, 
 You'l finde it wholefome. Loe, where comes that Rock 
 That I aduice your fhunning. 
 
 Enter Cardinall Wo/fey, the Purfe borne before him, certaine 
 
 of the Guard, and two Secretaries with Papers : The 
 
 Cardinall In bis pajjage,fixeth his eye on Bucl^- 
 
 ham, and 'Buckingham on him, 
 
 both full of difdaine. 
 
 Qar. The Duke of Buckingham! Surueyor? Ha ? 
 Where's his Examination? 
 
 Seer. Heere fo pleafe you. 
 
 ar. Is he in perfon, ready ? 
 
 Seer. I, pleafe your Grace. 
 
 Car. Well, we fliall then know more, & Buckingham 
 Shall leflen this bigge looke. 
 
 Exeunt Cardinal!, and hu Tralne. 
 
 Buc. This Butchers Curre is venom'd-mouth'd, and I 
 Haue not the power to muzzle him, therefore beft 
 Not wake him in his (lumber. A Beggers booke, 
 Out-worths a Nobles blood. 
 
 Nor. What are you chafFd ? 
 
 Aske God for Temp' ranee, that's th'appliance onely 
 Which your difeafe requires. 
 
 Buc. I read ih's looks 
 Matter againft me, and his eye reuil'd 
 Me as his abiedl obie<3, at this inftant 
 He bores me with fome tricke ; He's gone to'th'King : 
 lie follow, and out-ftare him. 
 
 Nor. Stay my Lord, 
 
 And let your Reafon with your Choller queftion 
 What 'tis you go about : to climbe fteepe hilles 
 Requires flow pace at firft. Anger is like 
 A full hot Horfe, who being allow'd his way 
 Selfe-mettle tyres him : Not a man in England 
 Can aduife me like you : Be to your felfe, 
 As you would to your Friend. 
 
 Buc. He to the King, 
 And from a mouth of Honor, quite cry downe 
 
 This 
 
 54*
 
 The Life ofT^Jng Henry the Sight. 
 
 207 
 
 This Ipfaicb fellowes infolence; or proclaime, 
 There's difference in no perfons. 
 
 Norf. Be aduif'd; 
 
 Heat not a Furnace for your foe fo hot 
 That it do findge your felfe. We may out-runne 
 By violent fwiftneffe that which we run at; 
 And lofe by ouer-running : know you not, 
 The fire that mounts the liquor til't run ore, 
 In feeming to augment it, wafts it: be aduiPd; 
 I fay againe there is no Englifli Soule 
 More ftronger to direct you then your felfe ; 
 If with the fap of reafon you would quench, 
 Or but allay the fire of paflion. 
 
 <Buc\. Sir, 
 
 I am thankfull to you, and He goe along 
 By your prefcription : but this top-proud fellow, 
 Whom from the flow of gall I name not, but 
 From fincere motions, by Intelligence, 
 And proofes as cleere as Founts in Inly , when 
 Wee fee each graine of grauell; I doe know 
 To be corrupt and treafonous. 
 
 Norf. Say not treafonous. 
 
 'Buc^.To th'King He fay't, & make my vouch as ftrong 
 As fhore of Rocke: attend. This holy Foxe, 
 Or Wolfe, or both (for he is equall rau'nous 
 As he is fubtile, and as prone to mifchiefe, 
 As able to perform't) his minde, and place 
 Infecling one another, yea reciprocally, 
 Only to fhew his pompe, as well in France, 
 As here at home,fuggefts the King our Mafter 
 To this laft coftly Treaty: Th'enteruiew, 
 That fwallowed fo much treafure, and like a glafle 
 Did breake ith'wrenching. 
 
 Norf. Faith, and fo it did. 
 
 Buc^.Pray giue me fauour Sir: This cunning Cardinall 
 The Articles o'th' Combination drew 
 As himfelfe pleas'djand they were ratified 
 As he cride thus let be, to as much end, 
 As giue a Crutch to th'dead. But our Count-Cardinall 
 Has done this, and tis well: for worthy Wolfey 
 (Who cannot erre) he did it. Now this followes, 
 (Which as I take it, is a kinde of Puppie 
 To th'old darn Treafon) Charles the Emperour, 
 Vnder pretence to fee the Queene his Aunt, 
 (For twas indeed his colour, but he came 
 To whifper Wolfey}\\erz makes vifitation, 
 His feares were that the Interview betwixt 
 England and France, might through their amity 
 Breed him fome preiudice; for from this League, 
 Peep'd harmes thatmenac'd him. Priuily 
 Deales with our Cardinal, and as I troa 
 Which I doe well; for I am fure the Emperour 
 Paid ere he promis'd, whereby his Suit was granted 
 Ere it was ask'd. But when the way was made 
 And pau'd with gold : the Emperor thus defir'd, 
 Tha: he would pleafe to alter the Kings courfe, 
 And breake the forefaid peace. Let the King know 
 (As foone he (hall by me) that thus the Cardinall 
 Does buy and fell his Honour as he pleafes, 
 And for his owne aduantage. 
 
 Norf. I am forry 
 
 To heare this of him; and could wifli he were 
 Somthing miftaken in't. 
 
 <Buct. No, not a fillable: 
 I doe pronounce him in that very fhape 
 He fhall appeare in proofe. 
 
 543 
 
 Enter Brandon , a Sergeant at tArmes before him, and 
 two or tbeee of the Guard. 
 
 Brandon. Your Office Sergeant : execute it. 
 
 Sergeant. Sir, 
 
 My Lord the Duke of Buckingham, and Earle 
 Of Hertford, Stafford and Northampton, I 
 Arreft thee of High Treafon, in the name 
 Of our moft Soueraigne King. 
 
 f Bucl(. Lo you my Lord, 
 The net has falne vpon me, I fhall perifh 
 Vnder deuice, and practife: 
 
 Bran. I am forry, 
 
 To fee you tane from liberty, to looke on 
 The bu fines prefent. Tis his Highnes pleafure 
 You fhall to th' Tower. 
 
 Bucl(. It will helpe me nothing 
 To plead mine Innocence; for that dye is on me 
 Which makes my whit'ft part, black. The will of Heau'n 
 Be done in this and all things: I obey. 
 
 my Lord Aburgany : Fare you well. 
 
 Bran. Nay , he muft beare you company. The King 
 Is pleas'd you fhall to th'Tower, till you know 
 How he determines further. 
 
 Abur. As the Duke faid, 
 
 The will of Heauen be done, and the Kings pleafure 
 By me obey'd. 
 
 'Bran. Here is a warrant from 
 
 The King, t'attach Lord Mountacute, and the Bodies 
 Of the Dukes ConfefTor, John de la Car, 
 One Gilbert Ptc^e, his Councellour. 
 
 Bucl(, So, fo; 
 
 Thefe are the limbs o'th' Plot: no more I hope. 
 Bra. A Monke a'th' Cbartreux. 
 'Buck O Michael! Hopkins? 
 
 Bra. He. 
 
 e Bucl(. My Surueyor is falce : The ore-great Cardinall 
 Hath fhew'd him gold; my life is fpand already: 
 
 1 am the fhadow of poore Buckingham, 
 Whofe Figure euen this inftant Clowd puts on, 
 
 By Darkning my cleere Sunne.My Lords farewell. Exe. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Cornets. Enter King Henry, leaning on the Cardinals jhwl- 
 
 der, the Nobles, and Sir Tborr.af Lout II: the Cardinall 
 
 places himjelfe "under the Kings feete on 
 
 bu right Jlde. 
 
 King. My life it felfe, and the beft heart of it, 
 Thankes you for this great care: I flood i'th' ieuell 
 Of a full-charg'd confederacie, and giue thankes 
 To you. that choak'd it. Let be cald before vs 
 That Gentleman of Buckingham!, in perfon, 
 He heare him his confefflons iuftifie, 
 And point by point the Treafons of his Maifter, 
 He fhall againe relate. 
 
 A noyfe within crying roome for the Queene, -v/her'd by the 
 
 c Du^e of Norfol^e. Enter the Queene, Norfol^e and 
 
 Snjjolt^:Jhe tyeels . King rijethfrom his State, 
 
 takft her vp, %iffes and placetb 
 
 her by him. 
 
 Queen. Nay, we muft longer kneele;! am a' Suitor. 
 King. Arife,and take place by vs; halfe your Suit 
 Neuer name to vs; you haue halfe our power : 
 
 The
 
 208 
 
 The Life offing Henry the Sight. 
 
 The other moity ere you aske is giuen, 
 Repeat your will, and take it. 
 
 Queen. Thanke your Maiefty 
 That you would loue your felfe,and in that loue 
 Not vnconfidered leaue your Honour, nor 
 The dignity of your Office; is the poynt 
 Of my Petition. 
 
 Kin. Lady mine proceed- 
 
 Queen. I am folicited not by a few, 
 And thofe of true condition; That your Subiects 
 Are in great grieuance: There haue beene Commiffions 
 Sent downe among 'em, which hath flaw'd the heart 
 Of all their Loyalties; wherein, although 
 My good Lord Cardinal!, they vent reproches 
 Moft bitterly on you,as putter on 
 
 Of thefe exactions: yet the King, our Maifter (not 
 
 Whofe Honor Heauen fhield from foile;euen he efcapes 
 Language vnmannerly ;yea, fuch which breakes 
 The fides of loyalty,and almoft appeares 
 In lowd Rebellion. 
 
 Norf. Not almoft appeares, 
 It doth appeare; for, vpon thefe Taxations, 
 The Clothiers all not able to mainTaine 
 The many to them longing, haue put off 
 The Spinfters, Carders, Fullers, Weauers, who 
 Vnfit for other life, compeld by hunger 
 And lack of other meanes, in defperate manner 
 Daring th'euent too th'teeth,are all in vprore, 
 And danger ferues among them. 
 
 Kin. Taxation? 
 
 Wherein? and what Taxation? My Lord Cardinal!, 
 You that are blam'd for it alike with vs, 
 Know you of this Taxation? 
 
 Card. Pleafe you Sir, 
 I know but of a fingle part in ought 
 Pertaines to th'State; and front but in that File 
 Where others tell fteps with me. 
 
 Queen. No, my Lord ? 
 
 You know no more then others? But you frame 
 Things that are knowne alike, which are not wholfome 
 To thofe which would not know them, and yet muft 
 Perforce be their acquaintance. Thefe exactions 
 (Whereof my Soueraigne would haue note) they are 
 Moft peftilent to th'hearing,and to beare 'em, 
 The Backe is Sacrifice to th'load ; They fay 
 They are deuis'd by you, er elfe you fuffer 
 Too hard an exclamation. 
 
 Kin. Still Exaction : 
 
 The nature of it, in what kinde let's know, 
 Is this Exaction? 
 
 Queen. I am much too venturous 
 In tempting of your patience, but am boldned 
 Vnder your promis'd pardon. The Subiects griefe 
 Comes through Commiflions, which compels from each 
 The fixt part of his Subftance,to be leuied 
 Without delay; and the pretence for this 
 Is nam'd,your warres in France: this makes bold mouths, 
 Tongues 1'pit their duties out, and cold hearts freeze 
 Allegeance in them ; their curfes now 
 Liue where their prayers did: and it's come to pafle, 
 This tractable obedience is a Slaue 
 To each incenfed Will: I would your Highnefle 
 Would giue it quicke confideration; for 
 There is no primer bafenefle. 
 
 Kin. By my life, 
 This is againft our pleafure . 
 
 Card. And for me, 
 I haue no further gone in this, then by 
 A fingle voice, and that not paft me, but 
 By learned approbation of the ludges: If I am 
 Traduc'd by ignorant Tongues, which neither know 
 My faculties nor perfon,yet will be 
 The Chronicles of my doing : Let me fay, 
 'Tis but the fate of Place, and the rough Brake 
 That Vertue muft goe through : we muft not ftint 
 Our neceflary actions, in the feare 
 To cope malicious Cenfurers, which euer, 
 As rau'nous Fifties doe a Veflell follow 
 That is new trim'd ; but benefit no further 
 Then vainly longing. What we oft doe beft, 
 By ficke Interpreters (once weake ones) is 
 Not ours, or not allow'd; what worft,as oft 
 Hitting a grofier quality, is cride vp 
 For our beft Aft : if we ftiall ftand ftill, 
 In feare our motion will be mock'd,or carp'd at, 
 We fhould take roote here, where we fit; 
 Or fit State- Statues onely. 
 
 Kin. Things done well, 
 
 And with a care, exempt themfelues from feare : 
 Things done without example, in their iflue 
 Are to be fear'd. Haue you a Prefident 
 Of this Commiflion ? I beleeue,not any. 
 We muft not rend our Subiects from our Lawes, 
 And fticke them in our Will. Sixt part of each ? 
 A trembling Contribution; why we take 
 From euery Tree, lop, barke,and part o'th' Timber: 
 And though we leaue it with a roote thus hackt, 
 The Ayre will drinke the Sap. To euery County 
 Where this is queftion'd, fend our Letters, with 
 Free pardon to each man that hasdeny'de 
 The force of this Commiflion: pray looke too'tj 
 I put it to your care. 
 
 Card. A word with you. 
 Let there be Letters writ to euery Shire, 
 Of the Kings grace and pardon : the greeued Commons 
 Hardly conceiue of me. Let it be nois'd, 
 That through our Interceflion, this Reuokement 
 And pardon comes : I ftiall anon aduife you 
 Further in the proceeding. Exit Secret. 
 
 Enter Surueyor. 
 
 Queen. I am forry, that the Duke ofBuctyngbam 
 Is run in your difpleafure. 
 
 Kin. It grieues many : 
 
 The Gentleman is Learn'd,and a moft rare Speaker, 
 To Nature none more bound ; his trayning fuch, 
 That he may furnifli and inftruct great Teachers, 
 And neuer leeke for ayd out of himfelfe : yet fee, 
 When thefe fo Noble benefits fhall proue 
 Not well difpos'd, the minde growing once corrupt, 
 They turne to vicious formes, ten times more vgly 
 Then euer they were faire. This man fo compleat, 
 Who was enrold 'mongft wonders; and when we 
 Almoft with rauifti'd liftning,could not finde 
 His houre of fpeech,a minute: He, (my Lady) 
 Hath into monftrous habits put the Graces 
 That once were his,and is become as blacke, 
 As if befmear'd in hell. Sit by Vs,you ftiall heare 
 (This was his Gentleman in truft) of him 
 Things to ftrike Honour fad. Bid him recount 
 The fore-recited practifes, whereof 
 We cannot feele too little, heare too much. 
 
 Card. 
 
 544 "
 
 'The Life of I\jng Henry the Eight. 
 
 209 
 
 Card. Stand forth, & with bold fpirit relate what you 
 Moft like a carefull Subiel haue collected 
 Out of the Duke of^Buclyngbam. 
 
 Kin. Speake freely. 
 
 Sur. Firft, it was vfuall with him ; euery day 
 It would infect his Speech : That if the King 
 Should without ifTue dye; hee'l carry it fo 
 To make the Scepter his. Thefe very words 
 I'ue heard him vtter to his Sonne in Law, 
 Lord Aburgany, to whom by oth he menac'd 
 Reuenge vpon the Cardinal}. 
 
 Card. Pleafe your Highnefle note 
 This dangerous conception in this point, 
 Not frended by his wi/h to your High perfon ; 
 His will is moft malignant,and it ftretches 
 Beyond you to your friends. 
 
 S^ueen. My learn'd Lord Cardinal/, 
 Deliuer all with Charity. 
 
 Kin. Speake on ; 
 
 How grounded hee his Title to the Crowne 
 Vpon our faile; to this poynt haft thou heard him, 
 At any time fpeake ought? 
 
 Sur. He was brought to this, 
 By a vaine Prophefie of Nicholas Henton. 
 
 Kin. What was that Henton ? 
 
 Sur. Sir, a Cbartreux Fryer, 
 His Confe<Tor,who fed him euery minute 
 With words of Soueraignty. 
 
 Kin. How know'ft thou this? 
 
 Sur. Not long before your Hignefle fped to France, 
 The Duke being at the Rofe, within the Parifli 
 Saint Laurence Poultney, did of me demand 
 What was the fpeech among the Londoners, 
 Concerning the French lourney. I replide, 
 Men feare the French would proue perfidious 
 To the Kings danger : prefently, the Duke 
 Said, 'twas the feare indeed, and that he doubted 
 'Twould proue the verity of certaine words 
 Spoke by a holy Monke, that oft, fayeshe, 
 Hath fent to me, wilhing me to permit 
 lohn de la Car, my Chaplaine, a choyce howre 
 To heare from him a matter of fome moment: 
 Whom after vnder the Commifiions Seale, 
 He follemnly had fworne, that what he fpoke 
 My Chaplaine to no Creature liuing, but 
 To me, fliould vtter, with demure Confidence, 
 This paufingly enfu'de; neither the King, nor's Heyres 
 (Tell you the Duke) fhall profper, bid him ftriue 
 To the loue o'th'Commonalty, the Duke 
 Shall gouerne England. 
 
 Queen. If I know you well, 
 
 You were the Dukes Surueyor, and loft your Office 
 On the complaint o'th* Tenants; take good heed 
 You charge not in your fpleene a Noble perfon, 
 And fpoyle your nobler Soule; I fay, take heed; 
 Yes, heartily befeech you. 
 
 Kin. Let him on : Goe forward. 
 
 Sur. On my Soule, He fpeake but truth. 
 I told my Lord the Duke, by th'Diuels illufions 
 The Monke might be deceiu'd, and that 'twas dangerous 
 For this to ruminate on this fo farre, vntill 
 It forg'd him fome defigne, which being beleeu'd 
 It was much like to doe: Heanfwer'd.Tufh, 
 It can doe me no damage; adding further, 
 That had the King in his laftSicknefle faild, 
 The Cardinals and Sir Thomas Louels heads 
 
 Should haue gone off. 
 
 Kin. Ha? What, fo rancke ? Ah, ha, 
 There's mifchiefe in this man; canft thou fay further? 
 
 Sur. I can my Liedge. 
 
 Kin. Proceed. 
 
 Sur. Being at Greenwich, 
 After your Highneffe had reprou'd the Duke 
 About Sir William ^Blunter. (uant, 
 
 Kin. I remember of fuch a time, being my fworn fer- 
 The Duke retein'd him hi;. But on: what hence? 
 
 Sur. If (quoth he) I for this had beene committed, 
 As to the Tower, I thought; I would haue plaid 
 The Part my Father meant to aft vpon 
 Th'Vfurper Richard,who being at Salsbury, 
 Made fuit to come in's prefence; which if granted, 
 (As he made femblance of his duty ) would 
 Haue put his knife into him. 
 
 Kin. A Gyant Traytor. 
 
 Card. Now Madam, may his Highnes Hue in freedome, 
 And this man out of Prifon. 
 
 Queen. God mend all. (fay'ft ? 
 
 Kin. Ther's fomthing more would out of thee ; what 
 
 Sur. After the Duke his Father, with the knife 
 He ftretch'd him, and with one hand on his dagger, 
 Another fpread on's breaft, mounting his eyes, 
 He did discharge a horrible Oath,whofe tenor 
 Was, were he euill vs'd,he would outgoe 
 His Father, by as much as a performance 
 Do's an irrefolute purpofe. 
 
 Kin. There's his period, 
 To flieath his knife in vs : he is attach'd, 
 Call him to prefent tryall : if he may 
 Finde mercy in the Law, 'tis his; if none, 
 Let him not feek't of vs : By day and night 
 Hee's Traytor to th' height. Exeunt. 
 
 Sccena 'Tertia. 
 
 Enter L. Chatnberlaine^ and L . Sandys, 
 
 L.Cb. Is't poflible the fpels of France ihould iuggle 
 Men into fuch ftrange myfteries ? 
 
 L.San. New cuftomes, 
 Though they be neuer fo ridiculous, 
 (Nay let 'em be vnmanly) yet are follow'd. 
 
 L. Ch. As farre as I fee, all the good our Englifh 
 Haue got by the late Voyage, is but meerely 
 A fit or two o'th' face, (but they are fhrewd ones) 
 For when they hold 'em, you would fweare diredlly 
 Their very nofes had been Councellours 
 To Pepin or Clotbariui, they keepe State fo. 
 
 L. San, They haue all new legs, 
 And lame ones ; one would take it, 
 That neuer fee 'em pace before, the Spauen 
 A Spring-halt rain'd among 'em. 
 
 L. Ch. Death my Lord, 
 
 Their cloathes are after fuch a Pagan cut too't, 
 That fure th'haue worne out Ch iftendome:how now? 
 What newes, Sir Thomas Lcuell? 
 
 Enter Sir Thomas Louell. 
 Louell. Faith my Lord, 
 I heare of none but the new Proclamation, 
 That's clapt vpon the Court Gate. 
 
 L. Cham.
 
 210 
 
 The Life of^Jng Henry the Eight. 
 
 L. Cham. What is't for? 
 
 Lou. The reformation of our trauel'd Gallants, 
 That fill the Court with quarrels, talke, and Taylors. 
 
 L. Cham. I'm glad 'tis there; 
 Now I would pray our Monfieurs 
 To thinke an Englifli Courtier may be wife, 
 And neuer fee the Louure. 
 
 Lou: They muft either 
 
 (For fo run the Conditions) leaue thofe remnants 
 Of Foole and Feather, that they got in France, 
 With all their honourable points of ignorance 
 Pertaining thereunto ; as Fights and Fire-workes, 
 Abufing better men then they can be 
 Out of a forreigne wifedome, renouncing cleane 
 The faith they haue in Tennis and tall Stockings, 
 Short bliftred Breeches, and thofe types of Trauellj 
 And vnderftand againe like honeft men, 
 Or pack to their old Playfellowes; there, I take it, 
 They may Cum Prulllegio, wee away 
 The lag end of their lewdnefie,and be laugh'd at. 
 
 L . San. Tis time to giue 'em Phyficke, their difeafes 
 Are growne fo catching. 
 
 L . Cham What a lofle our Ladies 
 Will haue of thefe trim vanities? 
 
 Louell. I marry, 
 
 There will be woe indeed Lords, the flye whorfons 
 Haue got a fpeeding tricke to lay downe Ladies. 
 A French Song, and a Fiddle, ha's no Fellow. 
 
 L. San. The Diuell fiddle 'em, 
 I am glad they are going, 
 For fure there's no conuerting of 'em: now 
 An honeft Country Lord as I am, beaten 
 A long time out of play, may bring his plaine fong, 
 And haue an houre of hearing,and by'r Lady 
 Held currant Muficke too. 
 
 L. Cham. Well faid Lord Sands, 
 Your Colts tooth is not caft yet? 
 
 L.San. No my Lord, 
 Nor fliall not while I haue a fturnpe. 
 
 L. Cham. Sir Thomas, 
 Whither were you a going? 
 
 Lou. To the Cardinals ; 
 Your Lord/hip is a gueft too. 
 
 L.Cbam. O, 'tis true; 
 
 This night he makes a Supper,and a great one, 
 To many Lords and Ladies ; there will be 
 The Beauty of this Kingdome He allure you. 
 
 Lou. That Churchman 
 Beares a bounteous minde indeed, 
 A hand as fruitfull as the Land that feeds vs, 
 His dewes fall euery where. 
 
 L. Cham. No doubt hee's Noble ; 
 He had a blacke mouth that faid other of him. 
 
 L. San. He may my Lord, 
 Ha's wherewithall in him ; 
 
 Sparing would (hew a worfe finne,then ill Doftrine, 
 Men of his way, fliould be moft liberal!, 
 They are fet heere for examples. 
 
 L. Cham. True, they are fo; 
 But few now giue fo great ones: 
 My Barge ftayes ; 
 
 Your Lord/hip fliall along : Come, good Sir Thomas, 
 We fliall be late elfe, which I would not be, 
 For I was fpoke to, with Sir Henry Guilford 
 This night to be Comptrollers. 
 
 L.San. I am your Lordfliips. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Quarta. 
 
 Hoboies. A {mail Table -under a State for the Cardinal!, a 
 
 longer Table for the Guejh. Then Enter tAnne Bullen, 
 
 and diuers other Ladies,^ Gentlemen, as Quefts 
 
 at one T)oore ; at an other Doore enter 
 
 Sir Henry Guilford. 
 
 S. Hen.Guilf. Ladyes, 
 A generall welcome from his Grace 
 Salutes ye all ; This Night he dedicates 
 To faire content, and you : None heere he hopes 
 In all this Noble Beuy, has brought with her 
 One care abroad : hee would haue all as merry: 
 As fir ft, good Company, good wine, good welcome, 
 Can make good people. 
 
 Enter L. Chamberlaine L, Sands, and LouelL 
 
 my Lord, y'are tardy ; 
 
 The very thought of this faire Company, 
 Clapt wings to me. 
 
 Cham. You are young Sir Harry Guilford. 
 
 San. Sir Thomas Louell, had the Cardinall 
 But half's my Lay-thoughts in him, fome of thefe 
 Should finde a running Banket, ere they refted, 
 
 1 thinke would better pleafe'em : by my life, 
 They are a fweet fociety of faire ones. 
 
 Lou. O that your Lordfliip were but now Confeffor, 
 To one or two of thefe. 
 
 San. I would I were, 
 They fhould finde eafie pennance. 
 
 Lou. Faith how eafie ? 
 San. As eafie as a downe bed would affoord it. 
 
 Cham. Sweet Ladies will it pleafe you fit; Sir Harry 
 Place you that fide, He take the charge of this: 
 His Grace is entring. Nay, you muft not freeze, 
 Two women plac'd together, makes cold weather: 
 My Lord Sands, you are one will keepe 'em waking: 
 Pray fit betweene thefe Ladies. 
 
 San. By my faith, 
 
 And thanke your Lordfliip : by your leaue fweet Ladies, 
 If I chance to talke a little wilde, forgiue me: 
 I had it from my Father. 
 
 An. 'Bui. Was he mad Sir ? 
 
 San. O, very mad, exceeding mad, in loue too; 
 But he would bite none, iuft as I doe now, 
 He would Rifle you Twenty with a breath. 
 
 Cham. Well faid my Lord: 
 So now y'are fairely feated : Gntlemen, 
 The pennancelyes on you; if thefe faire Ladies 
 Pafle away frowning. 
 
 San. For my little Cure, 
 Let me alone. 
 
 Hoboyes. Enter Cardinall Wolfey, and takes his State* 
 
 Card Y'are wel ome my faire Guefts;that noble Lady 
 Or Gentleman that is not freely merry 
 Is not my Friend. This to confirme my welcome, 
 And to you all good health. 
 
 San. Your Grace is Noble, 
 Let me haue fuch a Bowie may hold my thankes, 
 And faue me fo much talking. 
 
 Card. My Lord Sands,
 
 The Life of^jng Henry the Eight. 
 
 211 
 
 I am beholding to you : cheere your neighbours : 
 Ladies you are not merry ; Gentlemen, 
 Whofe fault is this? 
 
 San, The red wine firft muft rife 
 
 In their faire cheekes my Lord, then wee fhall haue 'em, 
 Talke vs to filence. 
 
 An.'B. You are a merry Gamfter 
 My Lord Sands. 
 
 San. Yes, if I make my play : 
 Heer's to your Ladifhip, and pledge it Madam: 
 For tis to fuch a thing. 
 
 An.'B. You cannot fhew me. 
 
 Drum and Trumpet, Chambers difchargd. 
 
 San. I told your Grace, they would talke anon. 
 
 Card. What's that? 
 
 Cham. Looke out there, fome of ye. 
 
 Card. What warlike voyce, 
 
 And to what end is this ? Nay, Ladies, feare not ; 
 By all the lawes of Warre y'are priuiledg'd. 
 
 Enter a Seruant. 
 
 bam. How now, what is't? 
 
 Seru. A noble troupe of Strangers, 
 For fo they feeme ; th'haue left their Barge and landed, 
 And hither make, as great Embaffadors 
 From forraigne Princes. 
 
 Card. Good Lord Chamberlaine, 
 
 Go,giue'em welcomejyou can fpeake the French tongue 
 And pray receiue 'em Nobly, and conduct 'em 
 Into our prefence, where this heauen of beauty 
 Shall fhine at full vpon them. Some attend him. 
 
 All rife, and Tables remould. 
 
 You haue now a broken Banket, but wee'l mend it. 
 A good digeftion to you all ; and once more 
 I fhowre a welcome on yee : welcome all. 
 
 Hoboyes. Enter King and others as Masters, habited li^e 
 She f beards y vjber'd by the Lord Chamberlaine. They 
 pajje direcJly before the Cardinal!, and gracefully fa- 
 lute him. 
 
 A noble Company : what are their pleafures ? 
 
 Cham. Becaufe they fpeak no English, thus they praid 
 
 To tell your Grace : That hauing heard by fame 
 
 Of this fo Noble and fo faire aflembly, 
 
 This night to meet heere they could doe no lefle, 
 
 (Out of the great refpe<5t they beare to beauty) 
 
 But leaue their Flockes,and vnder your faire Conduit 
 
 Craue leaue to view thefe Ladies, and entreat 
 
 An houre of Reuels with 'em. 
 Card. Say, Lord Chamberlaine, 
 
 They haue done my poore houfe grace: 
 
 For which I pay 'em a thoufand thankes, 
 
 And pray 'em take their pleafures. 
 
 Cboofe Ladies, King and An Bullen. 
 King. The faireft hand I euer touch'd: O Beauty, 
 
 Till now I neuer knew thee. 
 
 Mujic^e, Dance. 
 Card. My Lord. 
 Cham. Your Grace. 
 Card. Pray tell 'em thus much from me : 
 
 There fhould be one amongft 'em by his perfon 
 
 More worthy this place then my felfe, to whom 
 
 (If I but knew him) with my loue aud duty 
 
 I would furrender it. 
 Cham. I will my Lord. 
 Card. What fay they ? 
 
 547 
 
 Cham. Such a one, they all confefle 
 There is indeed, which they would haue your Grace 
 Find out, and he will take it. 
 
 Card. Let me fee then, 
 
 By all your good leaues Gentlemen ; heere He make 
 My royall choyce. 
 
 Kin. Ye haue found him Cardinal!, 
 You hold a faire Aflembly; you doe well Lord: 
 You are a Churchman, or He tell you Cardinal!, 
 I fhould iudge now vnhappily. 
 
 Card. I am glad 
 Your Grace is growne fb pleafant. 
 
 Kin. My Lord Chamberlaine, 
 Prethee come hither, what faire Ladle's that f 
 
 Cham, An't pleafe your Grace, 
 
 Sir Thomas 'Bullens Daughter, the Vifcount "^ocbford, 
 One of her Highnefle women. 
 
 Kin. By Heauen flie is a dainty one. Sweet heart, 
 I were vnmannerly to take you out, 
 And not to kifle you. A health Gentlemen, 
 Let it goe round. 
 
 Card. Sir Thomas Louel!,\s the Banket ready 
 I'th' Priuy Chamber ? 
 Lou. Yes, my Lord. 
 
 Card. Your Grace 
 I feare, with dancing is a little heated. 
 
 Kin. I feare too much. 
 
 Card. There's frefher ayre my Lord, 
 In the next Chamber. 
 
 Kin, Lead in your Ladies eu'ry one : Sweet Partner, 
 I muft not yet forfake you : Let's be merry, 
 Good my Lord Cardinall : I haue halfe a dozen healths, 
 To drinke to thefe faire Ladies, and a meafure 
 To lead 'em once againe,and then let's dreame 
 Who's beft in fauour. Let the Muficke knock it. 
 Exeunt with Trumpets. 
 
 Attus Secundus. Scena ^Prima. 
 
 Enter two Gentlemen at feuerall Doores. 
 
 1. Whether away fo faft? 
 
 2. O, God faue ye : 
 
 Eu'n to the Hall, to heare what /hall become 
 Of the great Duke of Buckingham. 
 
 1. He faue you 
 
 That labour Sir. All's now done but the Ceremony 
 Of bringing backe the Prifoner. 
 
 2. Were you there? 
 
 1 . Yes indeed was I. 
 
 2. Pray fpeake what ha's happen'd. 
 
 1. You may guefle quickly what. 
 
 2. Is he found guilty ? 
 
 1. Yes truely is he, 
 And condemn'd vpon't. 
 
 2. I am forry fort. 
 
 1 . So are a number more. 
 
 2. But pray how paft it? 
 
 i. He tell you in a little. The great Duke 
 Came to the Bar; where, to his accufations 
 He pleaded ftill not guilty, and alleadged 
 Many fliarpe reafons to defeat the Law. 
 The Kings Atturney on the contrary, 
 Vrg'd on the Examinations, proofes, confeflions 
 
 Of
 
 212 
 
 'The Life offing Henry the Eight. 
 
 Of diuers witnefies, which the Duke defir'd 
 To him brought -viua -voce to his face ; 
 At which appear'd againft him, his Surueyor 
 Sir Gilbert Pec^e his L'hancellour,and lohn Car, 
 Confeflbr to him, wich that Diuell Monke, 
 Hopkins, that made this mifchiefe. 
 
 1. That was hee 
 That fed him with his Prophecies. 
 
 i. The fame, 
 
 All thefe accus'd him ftrongly, which he faine 
 Would haue flung from him; but indeed he couldnot; 
 And fo his Peeres vpon this euidence, 
 Haue found him guilty of high Treafon. Much 
 He fpoke,and learnedly for life: But all 
 Was either pittied in him, or forgotten. 
 2. After all this, how did he beare himfelfe? 
 
 1. When he was brought agen to th' Bar, to heare 
 His Knell rung out, his Judgement, he was ftir'd 
 With fuch an Agony, he fweat extreamly, 
 
 And fomthing fpoke in choller, ill, and hafty: 
 But he fell to himfelfe againe, and fweetly, 
 In all the reft fhew'd a mod Noble patience. 
 
 2. I doe not thinke he feares death. 
 
 1. Sure he does not, 
 
 He neuer was fo womanifh, the caufe 
 He may a little grieue at. 
 
 2. Certainly, 
 
 The Cardinall is the end of this. 
 
 1. Tis likely, 
 
 By all conjectures : Firft Kildares Attendure; 
 Then Deputy of Ireland, who remou'd 
 Earle Surrey, was fent thither, and in haft too, 
 Leaft he fhould helpe his Father. 
 
 2. That tricke of State 
 Was a deepe enuious one, 
 
 1. At his returne, 
 
 No doubt he will requite it ; this is noted 
 (And generally) who euer the King fauours, 
 The Cardnall inftantly will finde imployment, 
 And farre enough from Court too. 
 
 2. All the Commons * 
 Hate him pernicioufly,and o' my Confcience 
 
 Wifli him ten faddom deepe: This Duke as much 
 They loue and doate on: call him bounteous Buckingham, 
 The Mirror of all courtefie. 
 
 Enter Buckingham from hit Arraignment, Tipjlaues before 
 him, the Axe tv'itb the edge towards him, Halberds on each 
 Jide, accompanied with Sir Thomas Louell, Sir Nicholas 
 Vaux, Sir Walter Sands, and common people, &c. 
 
 1. Stay there Sir, 
 
 And fee the noble ruin'd man you fpeake of. 
 
 2. Let's ftand clofe and behold him. 
 'Buc/i All good people, 
 
 You that thus farre haue come to pitty me; 
 
 Heare what I {ay, and then goe home and lofe me. 
 
 I haue this day receiu'd a Traitors iudgement, 
 
 And by that name muft dye; yet Heauen beare witnes, 
 
 And if I haue a Confcience, let it fmcke me, 
 
 Euen as the Axe falls, if I be not faithfull. 
 
 The Law I beare no mallice for my death, 
 
 T'has done vpon the premifes,but luftice : 
 
 But thofe that fought it, I could wifh more Chriftians: 
 
 (Be what they will) I heartily forgiue 'em; 
 
 Yet let 'em looke they glory not in mifchiefe; 
 
 Nor build their euils on the graues of great men ; 
 
 For then, my guiltlelTe blood muft cry againft'em. 
 
 For further life in this world I ne're hope, 
 
 Nor will I fue, although the King haue mercies 
 
 More then I dare make faults. 
 
 You few that lou'd me, 
 
 And dare be bold to weepe for Buckingham, 
 
 His Noble Friends and Fellowes; whom to leaue 
 
 Is only bitter to him, only dying : 
 
 Goe with me like good Angels to my end, 
 
 And as the long diuorce of Stcele fals on me, 
 
 Make of your Prayers one fweet Sacrifice, 
 
 And lift my Soule to Heauen. 
 
 Lead on a Gods name. 
 
 Louell. I doe befeech your Grace, for charity 
 If euer any malice in your heart 
 Were hid againft me, now to forgiue me frankly. 
 
 <r Buc\. Sir Thomas Louell, I as free forgiue you 
 As I would be forgiuen : I forgiue all. 
 There cannot be thofe numberleffe offences 
 Gainft me, that I cannot take peace with: 
 No blacke Enuy fhall make my Graue. 
 Commend mee to his Grace : 
 And if he fpeake of Buckingham; pray tell him, 
 You met him halfe in Heauen: my vowes and prayers 
 Yet are the Kings; and till my Soule forfake, 
 Shall cry for blefiings on him. May he Hue 
 Longer then I haue time to tell his yeares ; 
 Euer belou'd and louing, may his Rule be ; 
 And when old Time fliall lead him to his end, 
 Goodnefle and he, fill vp one Monument. 
 
 Lou. To th' water fide I muft conduct your Grace; 
 Then giue my Charge vp to Sir Nicholas Vaux, 
 Who vndertakes you to your end. 
 
 Vaux. Prepare there, 
 
 The Duke is comming : See the Barge be ready; 
 And fit it with fuch furniture asfuites 
 The Greatneffe of his Perfon. 
 
 Buc{. Nay, Sir Nicholas, 
 Let it alone; my State now will but mocke me. 
 When I came hither, I was Lord High Conftable, 
 And Duke of 'Buckingham : now, poore Edward Bohun; 
 Yet I am richer then my bafe Accufers, 
 That neuer knew what Truth meant : I now feale it ; 
 And with that bloud will make 'em one day groane for't. 
 My noble Father Henry of 'Buckingham, 
 Who firft rais'd head againft Vfurping Richard, 
 Flying for fuccour to his Seruant 'Banijter, 
 Being diftreft; was by that wretch betraid, 
 And without Tryall, fell; Gods peace be with him. 
 Henry the Seauenth fucceeding, truly pittying 
 My Fathers lofle; like a moft Royall Prince 
 Reftor'd me to my Honours : and out of ruines 
 Made my Name once more Noble. Now his Sonne, 
 Henry the Eight, Life, Honour, Name and all 
 That made me happy; at one ftroake ha's taken 
 For euer from the World. I had my Tryall, 
 And muft needs fay a Noble one; which makes me 
 A little happier then my wretched Father : 
 Yet thus farre we are one in Fortunes; both 
 Fell by our Seruants, by thofe Men we lou'd moft: 
 A moft vnnaturall and faithlefle Seruice. 
 Heauen ha's an end in ail : yet, you that heare me, 
 This from a dying man receiue as certaine : 
 Where you are liberall of your loues and Councels, 
 Be fure you be not loofe ; for thofe you make friends, 
 
 And
 
 The Life offing Henry the Eight. 
 
 213 
 
 And giue your hearts to; when they once perceiue 
 
 The leaft rub in your fortunes, fall away 
 
 Like water from ye, neuer found againe 
 
 But where they meane to finke ye : all good people 
 
 Pray for me, I muft now forfake ye; the iaft houre 
 
 Of my long weary life is come vpon me : 
 
 Farewell; and when you would fay fomthing that is fad, 
 
 Speake how I fell. 
 
 I haue done; and God forgiue me. 
 
 Exeunt Du^e and Traine. 
 
 1 . O, this is full of pitty ; Sir, it cals 
 I feare, too many curfes on their heads 
 That were the Authors. 
 
 2. If the Duke be guiltlefle, 
 
 'Tis full of woe : yet I can giue you inckling 
 Of an enfuingeuill, if it fall, 
 Greater then this. 
 
 1. Good Angels keepe it from vs: 
 
 What may it be? you doe not doubt my faith Sir? 
 
 2. This Secret is fo weighty, 'twill require 
 A ftrong faith to conceale it. 
 
 i: Let me haue it : 
 I doe not talke much. 
 
 2. I am confident; 
 
 You /hall Sir : Did you not of late dayes heare 
 A buzzing of a Separation 
 Betweene the King and Katbenne ? 
 
 1. Yes, but it held not; 
 
 For when the King once heard it, out of anger 
 He fent command to the Lord Mayor ftraight 
 To flop the rumor;and allay thofe tongues 
 That durft difperfe it. 
 
 2. But that flander Sir, I '.->'' 
 Is found a truth now: for it growes agen 
 
 Fre/her then e're it was ; and held for certaine 
 The King will venture at it. Either the Cardinall, 
 Or fome about him neere, haue out of malice 
 To the good Queene, poffeft him with a fcruple 
 That will vndoe her: To confirme this too, 
 Cardinall Campeitu is arriu'd, and lately, 
 As all thinke for this bufines. 
 
 1. Tis the Cardinall; 
 
 And meerely to reuenge him on the Emperour, 
 
 For not beftowing on him at his asking, 
 
 The Archbifhopricke of Toledo, this is purpos'd. 
 
 2. I thinke 
 
 You haue hit the marke ; but is't not cruell, 
 
 That fhe mould feele the fmart of this : the Cardinall 
 
 Will haue his will, and me muft fall. 
 
 I. 'Tis worull. 
 
 Wee are too open heere to argue this : 
 Let's thinke in priuate more. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 enter Lord Chamberlaine, reading this Letter. 
 
 MT Lord, the Horfes your Lor djhip fent for, with all the 
 care I bad, I fatv well cbojen, ridden, and furnifad. 
 They were young and bandfome, and of the bejl breed in the 
 North. When they were ready to Jet out for London, a man 
 of my Lord Cardinalh,by Commiffion, and maine power toofy 
 'em from me, with this reafon:bu maifttr would bee ferud be- 
 
 549 
 
 fore a Subhtt, if not before the King, which Jlop' d our moutbes 
 Sir. 
 
 1 feare he will indeede ; well, let him haue them ; hee 
 will haue all I thinke. 
 
 Enter to the Lord Qbamberlaine, the Du^es of Nor- 
 
 folke and Suffb/^e. 
 
 Norf. Well met my Lord Chamberlaine. 
 Cham. Good day to both your Graces. 
 Suff~. How is the King imployd ? 
 Cham. I left him priuate, 
 Full of fad thoughts and troubles. 
 Norf. What's the caufe ? 
 
 Cham. It feemes the Marriage with his Brothers Wife 
 Ha's crept too neere his Confcience. 
 
 Suff. No, his Confcience 
 Ha's crept too neere another Ladie. 
 
 Norf. Tis fo; 
 
 This is the Cardinals doing : The King-Cardinall, 
 That blinde Prieft, like the eldeft Sonne of Fortune, 
 Turnes what he lift. The King will know him one day. 
 
 Suf. Pray God he doe, 
 Hee'l neuer know himfelfe elfe. 
 
 Norf. How holily he workes in all his bufinefle, 
 And with what zeale? For now he has crackt the League 
 Between vs & the Emperor (the Queens great Nephew) 
 He diues into the Kings Soule, and there fcatters 
 Dangers, doubts, wringing of the Confcience, 
 Feares, and defpaires, and all thefe for his Marriage. 
 And out of all thefe, to reftore the King, 
 He counfels a Diuorce, a loffe of her 
 That like a lewell, ha'shung twenty yeares 
 About his necke, yet neuer loft her luftre ; 
 Of her that loues him with that excellence, 
 That Angels loue good men with : Euen of her, 
 That when the greateft ftroake of Fortune falls 
 Will blefle the King : and is not this courfe pious ? 
 
 CAaw.Heauen keep me from fuch councel : tis moft true 
 Thefe newes are euery where, euery tongue fpeaks 'em, 
 And euery true heart weepes for't. All that da re 
 Looke into thefe affaires, fee this maine end, 
 The French Kings Sifter. Heauen will one day open 
 The Kings eyes, that fo long haue flept vpon 
 This bold bad man. 
 
 Suf. And free vs from his flauery. 
 
 Norf. We had need pray, 
 And heartily, for our deliuerance; 
 Or this imperious man will worke vs all 
 From Princes into Pages : all mens honours 
 Lie like one lumpe before him, to be falhion'd 
 Into what pitch he pleafe. 
 
 Sujf. For me, my Lords, 
 
 I loue him not, nor feare him, there's my Creede: 
 As I am made without him,fo He ftand, 
 If the King pleafe : his Curfes and his bleffings 
 Touch me alike: th'are breath I notbeleeue in. 
 I knew him, and I know him : fo I leaue him 
 To him that made him proud ; the Pope. 
 
 Norf. Let's in ; 
 
 And with fome other bufines, put the King 
 From thefe fad thoughts, that work too much vpon him: 
 My Lord, youle beare vs company? 
 
 Cham. Excufe me, 
 
 The King ha's fent me otherwhere : Befides 
 You'l finde a moft vnfit time to difturbe him: 
 Health to your Lordfhips. 
 
 v Nor.
 
 214 
 
 The Life offing Henry the Eight. 
 
 Norfoll(e. Thankes my good Lord Cbamberlaine. 
 
 Exit Lord Cbamberlaine, and the King dratfes the Curtaine 
 
 and Jit t reading penjiuely. 
 
 Suff. How fad he lookes; fure he is much afflidted. 
 
 Kin. Who's there ? Ha ? 
 
 Norff. Pray God he be not angry. (felues 
 
 Kin. Who's there I fay? How dare you thruft your 
 Into my priuate Meditations ? 
 Who am I ? Ha ? 
 
 Norff. A gracious King, that pardons all offences 
 Malice ne're meant : Our breach of Duty this way, 
 Is bufinefle of Eftate; in which, we come 
 To know your Royall pleafure. 
 
 Kin. Ye are too bold : 
 
 Go too; Jle make ye know your times of bufinefle : 
 Is this an howre for temporall affaires ? Ha ? 
 
 Enter Wolfey and Cam few tfitb a Commijfion. 
 Who's there ? my good Lord Cardinall ? O my Woljey y 
 The quiet of my wounded Confcience ; 
 Thou art a cure fit for a King; you'r welcome 
 Moft learned Reuerend Sir, into ourKingdome, 
 Vfe vs, and it: My good Lord, haue great care, 
 I be not found a Talker. 
 
 Wol. Sir, you cannot; 
 
 I would your Grace would giue vs but an houre 
 Of priuate conference. 
 
 Kin. We are bufie; goc. 
 
 Norff. This Prieft ha's no pride in him ? 
 
 Stiff. Not to fpeake of: 
 
 I would not be fo ficke though for his place: 
 But this cannot continue. 
 
 Norff. If it doe, He venture one; haue at him. 
 
 Suff. I another. 
 
 Exeunt Norfolfy and Suffolfy. 
 
 Wol. Your Grace ha's giuen a President of wifedome 
 Aboue all Princes,in committing freely 
 Your fcruple to the voyce of Chriftendome : 
 Who can be angry now ? What Enuy reach you ? 
 The Spaniard tide by blood and fauour to her, 
 Muft now confefle, if they haae any goodnefle, 
 The Tryall,iuft and Noble. All the Clerkes, 
 (I meane the learned ones in Chriftian Kingdomes) 
 Haue their free voyces. Rome (the Nurfe of ludgement) 
 Inuited by your Noble felfe, hath fent 
 One generall Tongue vnto vs. This good man, 
 This iuft and learned Prieft, Cardnall Camfeitu, 
 Whom once more. I prefent vnto your Highneffe. 
 
 Kin. And once more in mine armes I bid him welcome, 
 And thanke the holy Conclaue for their loues, 
 They haue fent me fuch a Man, I would haue wifh'd for. 
 Cam. Your Grace muft needs deferue all ftrangers loues, 
 You are fo Noble : To your Highnefle hand 
 I tender my Commiffion; by whofe vertue, 
 The Court of Rome commanding. You my Lord 
 Cardinall of Y"or%e, are ioyn'd with me their Seruant, 
 In the vnpartiall Judging of this Bufinefle. (ted 
 
 Kin. Two equall men : The Queene fhall be acquain- 
 Forthwith for what you come. Where's Gardiner? 
 
 Wol. I know your Maiefty,ha's alwayes lou'd her 
 So deare in heart, not to deny her that 
 A Woman of lefle Place might aske by Law ; 
 Schollers allow'd freely to argue for her. 
 
 Kin. I, and the beft flie fhall haue ; and my fauour 
 To him that does beft, God forbid els : Cardinall, 
 Pretheecall Gardiner to me, my new Secretary. 
 Ifind him a fit fellow. 
 
 Enter Qardiner. 
 
 Wol. Giue me your hand: much ioy & fauour to you; 
 You are the Kings now. 
 
 Card. But to be commanded 
 For euer by your Grace, whofe hand ha's rais'd me. 
 
 Kin. Come hither Gardiner. 
 
 Walkft and vcbifpers. 
 
 Camp. My Lord of Torfa was not one Doctor Tace 
 In this mans place before him ? 
 
 Wol. Yes, he was. 
 
 Camp. Was he not held a learned man ? 
 
 Wd. Yesfurely. 
 
 Camp. Beleeue me, there's an ill opinion fpread then, 
 Euen of your felfe Lord Cardinall. 
 
 Wol. How? of me? 
 
 Camp They will not fticke to fay, you enuide him; 
 And fearing he would rife (he was fo vertuous ) 
 Kept him a forraigne man ftill, which fo greeu'd him, 
 That he ran mad, and dide. 
 
 Wol. Heau'ns peace be with him: 
 That's Chriftian care enough : for liuing Murmurers, 
 There's places of rebuke. He was a Foole; 
 For he would needs be vertuous. That good Fellow, 
 If I command him followes my appointment, 
 I will haue none fo neere els. Learne this Brother, 
 We liue not to be grip'd by meaner perfons. 
 
 Kin. Deliuer this with modefty to th' Queene. 
 
 8xit Gardiner. 
 
 The moft conuenient place, that I can thinke of 
 For fuch receipt of Learning, is Black-Fryers : 
 There ye fhall meete about this waighty bufmes. 
 My Wolfey t fee it furnifh'd, O my Lord, 
 Would it not grieue an able man to leaue 
 So fweet a Bedfellow? But Confcience, Confcience; 
 O 'tis a tender place, and I muft leaue her. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Tertia. 
 
 Enter Anne 'Bullen, and an old Lady. 
 
 An. Not for that neither; here's the pang that pinches. 
 His Highneffe,hauing liu'd fo long with her, and fhe 
 So good a Lady, that no Tongue could euer 
 Pronounce dishonour of her; by my life, 
 She neuer knew harme-doing : Oh, now after 
 So many courfes of the Sun enthroaned, 
 Still growing in a Maiefty and pompe, the which 
 To leaue, a thoufand fold more bitter, then 
 'Tis fweet at firft t'acquire. After this Procefle. 
 To giue her the auaunt,it is a pitty 
 Would moue a Monfter. 
 
 Old La. Hearts of moft hard temper 
 Melt and lament for her. 
 
 An. Oh Gods will, much better 
 She ne're had knowne pompe ; though't be temporall, 
 Yet if that quarrell. Fortune, do diuorce 
 It from the bearer, 'tis a fufrerance, panging 
 As foule and bodies feuering. 
 
 Old L. Alas poore Lady, 
 Shee's a ftranger now againe. 
 
 An. So much the more 
 Muft pitty drop vpon her ; verily 
 I fweare,tis better to be lowly borne, 
 
 And 
 - -
 
 'The Life ofJ^ing Henry the 'Eight. 
 
 215 
 
 And range with humble liuers in Content, 
 Then to be perk'd vp in a gliftring griefe, 
 And weare a golden forrow. 
 
 Old L. Our content 
 Is our beft hauing. 
 
 Anne. By my troth, and Maidenhead, 
 I would not be a Queene. 
 
 Old. L. Befhrew me, I would, 
 And venture Maidenhead for't, and fo would you 
 For all this fpice of your Hipocrifie: 
 You that haue fb faire parts of Woman on you, 
 Haue (too) a Womans heart, which euer yet 
 Affected Eminence, Wealth, Soueraignty ; 
 Which, to fay footh, are Bleffings; and which guifts 
 (Sauing your mincing) the capacity 
 Of your foft Chiuerell Confcience, would receiue, 
 If you might pleafe to ftretch it. 
 
 Anne. Nay, good troth. 
 
 0/dL.Yes troth, & troth;you would not be a Queen? 
 
 Anne. No, not for all the riches vnder Heauen . 
 
 Old.L.Th ftrange; a threepence bow'd would hire me 
 Old as I am, to Queene it : but I pray you, 
 What thinke you of a Dutchefle ? Haue you limbs 
 To beare that load of Title? 
 
 An. No in truth. 
 
 Old. L. Then you are weakly made ;plucke off a little, 
 I would not be a young Count in your way, 
 For more then blufhing comes to : If your backe 
 Cannot vouchfafe this burthen, tis too weake 
 Euer to get a Boy. 
 
 *An. How you doe talke; 
 I fweare againe, I would not be a Queene, 
 For all the world : 
 
 Old. L. In faith, for little England 
 You'ld venture an emballing : I my felfe 
 Would for Carnaruanjhire, although there long'd 
 No more to th' Crowne but that : Lo, who comes here ? 
 
 Enter Lord Chamber laine. (know 
 
 L. Cham. Good morrow Ladies; what wer't worth to 
 The fccret of your conference? 
 
 An. My good Lord, 
 
 Not your demand; it values not your asking : 
 Our Miftris Sorrowes we were pittying. 
 
 Cham. It was a gentle bufinefle, and becomming 
 The action of good women, there is hope 
 All will be well. 
 
 An. Now I pray God, Amen. 
 
 Cham. You beare a gentle minde, & heau'nly bleffings 
 Follow fuch Creatures. That you may, faire Lady 
 Perceiue I fpeake fincerely, and high notes 
 Tane of your many vertues; the Kings Maiefty 
 Commends his good opinion of you, to you; and 
 Doe's purpofe honour to you no lefle flowing, 
 Then Marchioneffe of Pembrool^e; to which Title, 
 A Thoufand pound a yeare, Annuall fupport, 
 Out cf his Grace, he addes. 
 
 An. I doe not know 
 
 What kinde of my obedience, I fliould tenderj 
 More then my All, is Nothing : Nor my Prayers 
 Are not words duely hallowed; nor my Wifties 
 More worth, then empty vanities : yet Prayers & Wiflies 
 Are all I can returne. "Befeech your Lordfiiip, 
 Vouchfafe to fpeake my thankes, and my obedience, 
 As from a blufli ng Handmaid, to his Highneffe; 
 Whofe health and Royalty I pray for. 
 
 55 
 
 Cham. Lady ; 
 
 I fliall not faile t'approue the faire conceit 
 The King hath of you. I haue perus'd her well, 
 Beauty and Honour in her are fo mingled, 
 That they haue caught the King : and who knowes yet 
 But from this Lady, may proceed a lemme, 
 To lighten all this He. Tie to the King, 
 And fay I fpoke with you. 
 
 Exit Lord Chamberlalne. 
 
 An. My honour'd Lord. 
 
 Old. L. Why this it is : See, fee, 
 I haue beene begging fixteene yeares in Court 
 (Am yet a Courtier beggerly) nor could 
 Come pat betwixt too early, and too late 
 For anyfuit of pounds: and you, (oh fate) 
 A very frefli Fifli heere ; fye,fye, fye vpon 
 This compel'd fortune : haue your mouth fild vp, 
 Before you open it. 
 
 An. This is ftrange to me. 
 
 Old L. How tafts it? Is it bitter ? Forty pence, no: 
 There was a Lady once (tis an old Story) 
 That would not be a Queene, that would flie not 
 For all the mud in Egypt ; haue you heard it ? 
 
 An. Come you are pleafant. 
 
 Old, L. With your Theame, I could 
 
 O're-mount the Larke : The Marchionefle of Pembrool^ 
 A thoufand pounds a yeare, for pure refpecl ? 
 No other obligation ? by my Life, 
 That promifes mo thoufands : Honours traine 
 Is longer then his fore-skirt ; by this time 
 I know your backe will beare a Dutchefle. Say, 
 Are you not ftronger then you were? 
 
 An. Good Lady, 
 
 Make your felfe mirth with your particular fancy, 
 And leaue me out on't. Would I had no being 
 If this falute my blood a iot ; it faints me 
 To thinke what followes. 
 
 The Queene is comfortleffe, and wee forgetfull 
 In our long abfence : pray doe not deliuer, 
 What heere y'haue heard to her. 
 
 OldL. What doe you thinke me Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Quarta. 
 
 Trumpets , Sennet, and Cornets. 
 
 Enter two Mergers, with Jho-'t Jiluer wands ; next them two 
 Scribes in the habile of Doflors ; after them, the 'Bi/hop of 
 Canterbury alone ; after him, the Bijkops of Lincolne, Sly, 
 Rochefter, and S. Afapb : Next them, with fame fmall 
 dift ance, followes a Gentleman bearing the Purje, with the 
 great Scale, and a Cardinals Hat : Then two Priejis, bea- 
 ring each a Siluer CroJJe : Then a Gentleman Vjher bare- 
 beaded ,accompanyed with a Sergeant at Armes, bearing a 
 Siluer Mace : Then two Gentlemen bearing two great 
 Siluer Fillers : After them,Jide by fide, the two Cardinals, 
 two Noblemen,ivith the Sword and Mace. The King tal^es 
 place -under the Cloth of State. The two Cardinalls ft 
 under him as Judges. The S^ueene takes place Jome di- 
 ft ance from the King. The 'Bijbops place themf clues on 
 each Jids the Court in manner of a Conjlftory : 'Beloir them 
 the Scribes. The Lords ft next the Bijhops. The reft of the 
 Attendants ftand in conuenient order about the Stage. 
 
 v i Card.
 
 2l8 
 
 The Life offing Henry the Eight. 
 
 Car. Whil'ft our Commifiion from Rome is read, 
 Let filence be commanded. 
 King. What's the need ? 
 It hath already publiquely bene read, 
 And on all fides th'Authority allow'd, 
 You may then fpare that time. 
 
 Car. Bee't fo, proceed. 
 
 Sen. Say, Henry K. of England, come into the Court. 
 
 Crier. Henry King of England, &c. 
 
 King. Heere. 
 
 Scribe. Say, Katberine Queene of England, 
 Come into the Court. 
 
 Crier. Katberine Queene of England, &c. 
 
 The Queene maizes no anftaer, rifes out of her Qhaire, 
 goes about the Court, comes to the King,ar.d fyeeles at 
 bu Feete. Then Jpea^es . 
 Sir, I defire you do me Right and luftice, 
 And to beftow your pitty on me ; for 
 I am a moft poore Woman, and a Stranger, 
 Borne out of your Dominions : hauing heere 
 No Judge indifferent, nor no more aflurance 
 Of equall Friend/hip and Proceeding. Alas Sir : 
 In what haue I offended you ? What caufe 
 Hath my behauiour giuen to your difpleafure, 
 That thus you fhould proceede to put me off^ 
 And take your good Grace from me? Heauen witnefTe, 
 I haue bene to you, a true and humble Wife, 
 At all times to your will conformable : 
 Euer in feare to kindle your Diflike, 
 Yea, fubieft to your Countenance : Glad, or forry, 
 As I fa w it inclin'd ? When was the houre 
 I euer contradicted your Defire ? 
 Or made it not mine too? Or which of your Friends 
 Haue I not ftroue to loue, although I knew 
 He were mine Enemy ? What Friend of mine, 
 That had to him deriu'd your Anger, did I 
 Continue in my Liking? Nay, gaue notice 
 He was from thence difcharg'd ? Sir, call to minde, 
 That I haue beene your Wife, in this Obedience, 
 Vpward of twenty yeares, and haue bene bleft 
 With many Children by you. If in the courfe 
 And proceffe of this time, you can report, 
 And proue it too, againft mine Honor, aught; 
 My bond to Wedlocke, or my Loue and Dutie 
 Againft your Sacred Perfon ; in Gods name 
 Turne me away : and let the fowl'ft Contempt 
 Shut doore vpon me, and fo giue me vp 
 To the fharp'ft kinde of luftice. Pleafe you, Sir, 
 The King your Father, was reputed for 
 A Prince moft Prudent; of an excellent 
 And vnmatch'd Wit, and ludgement. Ferdinand 
 My Father, King of Spaine, was reckon'd one 
 The wifeft Prince, that there had reign'd, by many 
 A yeare before. It is not to be queftion'd, 
 That they had gather'd a wife Councell to them 
 Of euery Realme, that did debate this BufinefTe, 
 Who deem'd our Marriage lawful. Wherefore I humbly 
 Befeech you Sir, to fpare me, till I may 
 Be by my Friends in Spaine, aduis'd ; whofe Counfaile 
 I will implore. If not.i'th'name of God 
 Your pleafure be fulfill'd. 
 
 tPol. You haue heere Lady, 
 
 (And of your choice) thefe Reuerend Fathers, men 
 Of fingular Integrity, and Learning ; 
 Yea, the elet o'th'Land, who are affembled 
 To pleade your Caufe. It ihall be therefore bootlefle, 
 
 That longer you defire the Court, as well 
 For your owne quiet, as to re&ifie 
 What is vnfetled in the King. 
 
 Camp. His Grace 
 
 Hath fpoken well, and iuftly : Therefore Madam, 
 It's fit this Royall Seffion do proceed, 
 And that ( without delay,) their Arguments 
 Be now produc'd, and heard. 
 
 Qu. Lord Cardinal!, to you I fpeake. 
 
 Wol. Your pleafure, Madam. 
 
 Qu. Sir, I am about to weepe ; but thinking that 
 We are a Queene (or long haue dream'd fo) certaine 
 The daughter of a King, my drops of teares, 
 He turne to fparkes of fire. 
 
 JVol. Be patient yet. 
 
 Qu. I will, when you are humble; Nay before, 
 Or God will punifh me. I do beleeue 
 (Induc'd by potent Circumftances) that 
 You are mine Enemy, and make my Challenge, 
 You fhall not be my ludge. For it is you 
 Haue blowne this Coale, betwixt my Lord, and me; 
 (Which Gods dew quench) therefore, I fay againe, 
 I vtterly abhorre ; yea, from my Soule 
 Refufe you for my ludge, whom yet once more 
 I hold my moft malicious Foe, and thinke not 
 At all a Friend to truth. 
 
 Wot. I do profefle 
 
 You fpeake not like your felfe : who euer yet 
 Haue flood to Charity, and difplayd th'effecls 
 Of difpofition gentle, and of wifedome, 
 Ore-topping womans powre. Madam, you do me wrong 
 I haue no Spleene againft you, nor iniuftice 
 For you, or any : how farre I haue proceeded, 
 Or how farre further (Shall) is warranted 
 By a Commifiion from the Confiftorie, 
 Yea, the whole Confiftorie of Rome. You charge me, 
 That I haue blowne this Coale : I do deny it, 
 The King is prefent : If it be knowne to him, 
 That I gainfay my Deed, how may he wound, 
 And worthily my Falfehood, yea, as much 
 As you haue done my Truth. If he know 
 That I am free of your Report, he knowes 
 I am not of your wrong. Therefore in him 
 It lies to cure me, and the Cure is to 
 Remoue thefe Thoughts from you. The which before 
 His Highnefle fhall fpeake in, I do befeech 
 You (gracious Madam) to vnthinke your fpeaking, 
 And to fay fo no more. 
 
 Queen. My Lord, my Lord, 
 I am a fimple woman, much too weake 
 T'oppofe your cunning. Y'are meek, & humble-mouth'd 
 You figne your Place, and Calling, in full feeming, 
 With Meekeneffe and Humilitie : but your Heart 
 Is cramm'd with Arrogancie, Spleene, and Pride. 
 You haue by Fortune, and his Highneffe fauors, 
 Gone flightly o're lowe fteppes, and now are mounted 
 Where Powres are your Retainers, and your words 
 (Domeftickes to you) ferue your will, as't pleafe 
 Your felfe pronounce their Office. 1 muft tell you, 
 You tender more your perfons Honor, then 
 Your high profeffion Spirituall. That agen 
 I do refufe you for my ludge, and heere 
 Before you all, Apprale vnto the Pope, 
 To bring my whole Caufe 'fore his HolinefTe, 
 And to be iudg'd by him. 
 
 She Curtjies to the King, and offers to depart. 
 
 Camp. 
 
 55*
 
 'The Life offing Henry the Eight. 
 
 217 
 
 Camp. The Queene is obftinate, 
 Stubborne to luftice, apt to accufe it, and 
 Difdainfull to be tride by't; tis not well. 
 Shee's going away. 
 Kin. Call her againe. 
 
 Crier. Katherine, Q_ of England, come into the Court. 
 Gent.TJjh. Madam, you are cald backe. 
 Que. What need you note it? pray you keep your way, 
 When you are cald returne. Now the Lord helpe, 
 They vexe me paft my patience, pray you pafle on; 
 I will not tarry: no, nor euer more 
 Vpon this bufinefie my appearance make, 
 In any of their Courts. 
 
 Exit Queene, and her Attendants. 
 Kin. Goe thy wayes Kate, 
 That man i'th' world, who (hall report he ha's 
 A better Wife, let him in naught be trufted, 
 For fpeaking falfe in that ; thou art alone 
 (If thy rare qualities, fweet gentleneffe, 
 Thy meekneffe Saint-like, Wife-like Gouernment, 
 Obeying in commanding, and thy parts 
 Soueraigne and Pious els, could fpeake thee out) 
 The Queene of earthly Queenes : Shee's Noble borne 5 
 And like her true Nobility, flie ha's 
 Carried her felfe towards me. 
 
 Wol. Moft gracious Sir, 
 In humbleft manner I require your Highnes, 
 That it fliall pleafe you to declare in hearing 
 Of all thefe eares(for where I am rob'dand bound, 
 There muft I be vnloos'd, although not there 
 At once,and fully fatisfide) whether euer I 
 Did broach this bufines to your Highnes, or 
 Laid any fcruple in your way. which might 
 Induce you to the queftion on'f.or euer 
 Haue to you, but with thankes to God for fuch 
 A Royall Lady, fpake one, the leaft word that might 
 Be to the preiudice of her prefent State, 
 Or touch of her good Perfon ? 
 
 Kin. My Lord Cardinall, 
 I doe excufe you ; yea, vpon mine Honour, 
 I free you from't : You are not to be taught 
 That you haue many enemies, that know not 
 Why they are fo; but like to Village Curres, 
 Barke when their fellowes doe. By fome of thefe 
 The Queene is put in anger; y'are excus'd : 
 But will you be more iuftifi'de? You euer 
 Haue wifli'd the fleeping of this bufines, neuer defir'd 
 It to be ftir'd; but oft haue hindred,oft 
 The paflages made toward it; on my Honour, 
 I fpeake my good Lord Cardnall, to this point; 
 And thus farre cleare him. 
 Now, what mou'd me too't, 
 
 I will be bold with time and your attention : (too't: 
 
 Then marke th'inducement. Thus it came ; giue heede 
 My Confcience firft receiu'd a tendernes, 
 Scruple,and pricke,on certaine Speeches vtter'd 
 By th'Bifhop of Bayon,then French EmbafTador, 
 Who had beene hither fent on the debating 
 And Marriage 'twixt the Duke of Orkance, and 
 Our Daughter Mary : I'ch'Progrefle of this bufines, 
 Ere a determinate refolution, hee 
 (I meane the Biihop) did require a refpite, 
 Wherein he might the King his Lord aduertife, 
 Whether our Daughter were legitimate, 
 Refpecling this our Marriage with the Dowager, 
 Sometimes our Brothers Wife. This refpite ftiooke 
 
 5SJ 
 
 The bofome of my Confcience, enter'd me; 
 
 Yea, with a fpitting power, and made to tremble 
 
 The region of my Breaft, which forc'd fuch way, 
 
 That many maz'd confiderings, did throng 
 
 And preft in with this Caution. Firft, me thought 
 
 I flood not in the fmile of Heauen, who had 
 
 Commanded Nature, that my Ladies wombe 
 
 If it conceiu'd a male-child by me, fhould 
 
 Doe no more Offices of life too't; then 
 
 The Graue does to th' dead : For her Male Iflue, 
 
 Or di'de where they were made, or fhortly after 
 
 This world had ayr'd them. Hence I tooke a thought, 
 
 This was a ludgement on me, that my Kingdome 
 
 ('Well worthy the beft Heyre o'th' World ) fliould not 
 
 Be gladded in't by me. Then followes, that 
 
 I weigh'd the danger which my Realmes ftood in 
 
 By this my Iflues faile, and that gaue to me 
 
 Many a groaning throw : thus hulling in 
 
 The wild Sea of my Confcience, I did fteere 
 
 Toward this remedy, whereupon we are 
 
 Now prefent heere togethenthat's to fay, 
 
 I meant to re&ifie my Confcience, which 
 
 I then did feele full ficke,and yet not well, 
 
 By all the Reuerend Fathers of the Land, 
 
 And Doctors learn'd. Firft I began in priuate, 
 
 With you my Lord of Lincc/ne; you remember 
 
 How vnder my oppreflion I did reeke 
 
 When I firft mou'd you. 
 
 B. Lin. Very well my Liedge. 
 
 Kin. I haue fpoke long, be pleas'd your felfe to fay 
 How farre you fatisfide me. 
 
 Lin. So pleafe your Highnes, 
 The queftion did at firft fo ftagger me, 
 Bearing a State of mighty moment in't, 
 And confequence of dread, that I committed 
 The daringft Counfaile which I had to doubt, 
 And did entreate your Highnes to this courfe, 
 Which you- are running heere. 
 
 Kin. I then mou'd you, 
 My Lord of Canterbury, and got your leaue 
 To make this prefent Summons vnlblicited. 
 I left no Reuerend Perfon in this Court; 
 But by particular confent proceeded 
 Vnder your hands and Seales; therefore goe on, 
 For no diflike i'th' world againft the perfon 
 Of the good Queene; but the fharpe thorny points 
 Of my alleadged reafons, driues this forward : 
 Proue but our Marriage lawfull, by my Life 
 And Kingly Dignity, we are contented 
 To weare our mortall State to come, with her, 
 (Katberine our Queene) before the primeft Creature 
 That's Parragon'd o'th' World 
 
 Camp. So pleafe your Highnes, 
 The Queene being abfent, 'tis a needfull fitnefle, 
 That we adiourne this Court till further day; 
 Meane while, muft be an earneft motion 
 Made to the Queene to call backe her Appeale 
 She intends vnto his Holinefle. 
 
 Kin. I may perceiue 
 
 Thefe Cardinals trifle with me : I abhorre 
 This dilatory (loth, and trickes of Rome. 
 My learn'd and welbeloued Seruant Cranmer, 
 Prethee returne, with thy approch: I know, 
 My comfort comes along : breake vp the Court ; 
 I fay, fet on. 
 
 Exeunt, in manner as they entered. 
 v 3 
 
 AEliu
 
 2l8 
 
 The Life offing Henry the Eight. 
 
 Attus 'Tertius. Scena ^Prima. 
 
 Enter Queene and her Women at at toor^e. 
 Queen. Take thy Lute wench, 
 My Soule growes fad with troubles, 
 Sing, and difperfe'em if thoucanft: leaue working: 
 
 SONG. 
 
 ORpbeui tfitb bis Lute made Trees, 
 And the Mount ainc toft that freeze, 
 'Bow tbemjelues if ben be didjlng. 
 To bis Muficl(e, Plants and Flowers 
 Euer fprung ; as Sunne and Showers, 
 There bad made a lajling Spring. 
 Euery thing that beard him play , 
 Euen the Billowes of the Sea, 
 Hung their beads, & then lay by. 
 In facet Mujtc^e u fucb Art, 
 Killing care, & grief e of heart, 
 Fall ajleepe, or bearing dye. 
 
 Enter a Gentleman. 
 
 Queen. How now? 
 
 Gent. And't pleafe your Grace, the two great Cardinals 
 Wait in the prefence. 
 
 Queen. Would they fpeake with me ? 
 
 Gent. They wil'd me fay fo Madam. 
 
 Queen. Pray their Graces 
 To come neere : what can be their bufines 
 With me, a poore weake woman, falne from fauour? 
 I doe not like their comming; now I thinke on't, 
 They fliould bee good men, their affaires as righteous : 
 But all Hoods, make not Monkes. 
 
 Enter the two Cardinally Wolfey & Campion. 
 
 Wolf. Peace to your Highneffe. 
 
 Queen. Your Graces find me heere part of a Houfwife, 
 (I would be all) againft the worft may happen : 
 What are your pleafures with me, reuerent Lords ? 
 
 Wol. May it pleafe you Noble Madam, to withdraw 
 Into your priuate Chamber ; we fhall giue you 
 The full caufe of our comming. 
 
 Queen. Speake it heere. 
 
 There's nothing I haue done yet o' my Confcience 
 Deferues a Corner : would all other Women 
 Could fpeake this with as free a Soule as I doe. 
 My Lords, I care not (fo much I am happy 
 Aboue a number) if my aftions 
 Were tri'de by eu'ry tongue, eu'ry eye faw 'em, 
 Enuy and bafe opinion fet againft'em, 
 I know my life fo euen. If your bufines 
 Seeke me out, and that way I am Wife in ; 
 Out with it boldly : Truth loues open dealing. 
 Card. Tanta eft erga te mentis integritai Regina Jerenijfima. 
 
 Queen. O good my Lord, no Latin ; 
 I am not fuch a Truant fince my comming, 
 As not to know the Language I haue liu'd in : (ous : 
 A ftrange Tongue makes my caufe more ftrange, fufpiti- 
 Pray fpeake in Englifh ; heere are fome will thanke you, 
 If you fpeake truth, for their poore Miftris fake ; 
 Beleeue me fhe ha's had much wrong. Lord Cardinal!, 
 The willing'ft finne I euer yet committed, 
 May be abfolu'd in Englifli. 
 
 Card. Noble Lady, 
 
 lam forry my integrity fhoul breed, 
 
 (And feruice to his Maiefty and you) 
 
 So deepe fufpition, where all faith was meant; 
 
 We come not by the way of Accufation, 
 
 To taint that honour euery good Tongue blefies; 
 
 Nor to betray you any way to forrow; 
 
 You haue too much good Lady : But to know 
 
 How you ftand minded in the waighty difference 
 
 Betweene the King and you, and to deliuer 
 
 (Like free and honeft men) our iuft opinions, 
 
 And comforts to our caufe. 
 
 Camp. Moft honour'd Madam, 
 My Lordof Yorke, out of his Noble nature, 
 Zealeand obedience he ftill bore your Grace, 
 Forgetting (like a good man) your late Cenfure 
 Both of his truth and him (which was too farre) 
 Offers, as I doe, in a figne of peace, 
 His Seruice, and his Counfell. 
 
 Queen. To betray me. 
 
 My Lords, I thanke you both for your good wills, 
 Ye fpeake like honeft men, (pray God ye proue fo) 
 But how to make ye fodainly an Anfwere 
 In fuch a poynt of weight, fo neere mine Honour, 
 (More neere my Life I feare) with my weake wit; 
 And to fuch men of grauity and learning; 
 In truth I know not. I was fet at worke, 
 Among my Maids, full little (God knowes) looking 
 Either for fuch men, or fuch bufmeffe; 
 For her fake that I haue beene, for I feele 
 The laft fit of my Greatneffe ; good your Graces 
 Let me haue time and Councell for my Caufe : 
 Alas, I am a Woman frendlefle, hopelefle. 
 
 Wol. Madam, 
 
 You wrong the Kings loue with thefe feares, 
 Your hopes and friends are infinite. 
 
 Queen. In England, 
 
 But little for my profit can you thinke Lords, 
 That any Englifli man dare giue me Councell? 
 Or be a knowne friend 'gainft his Highnes pleafure, 
 (Though he be growne fo defperate to be honeft) 
 And Hue a Subied? Nay forfooth, my Friends, 
 They that muft weigh out my afflictions, 
 They that my truft muft grow to, liue not heere, 
 They are (as all my other comforts) far hence 
 In mine owne Countrey Lords. 
 
 Camp. I would your Grace 
 Would leaue your greefes, and take my Counfell. 
 
 Queen. How Sir ? 
 
 Camp. Put your maine caufe into the Kings protection, 
 Hee's louing and moft gracious. 'Twill be much, 
 Both for your Honour better, and your Caufe : 
 For if the tryall of the Law o'retake ye, 
 You'l part away difgrac'd. 
 
 Wol. He tels you rightly. 
 
 Queen. Ye tell me what ye wifli for both, my ruine : 
 Is this your Chriftian Councell ? Out vpon ye. 
 Heauen is aboue all yet; there fits a ludge. 
 That no King can corrupt. 
 
 Camp. Your rage miftakes vs. 
 
 Queen. The more fhame for ye; holy men I thought ye, 
 Vpon my Soule two reuerend Cardinall Vertues: 
 But Cardinall Sins, and hollow hearts I feare ye : 
 Mend 'em for fhame my Lords : Is this your comfort ? 
 The Cordiall that ye bring a wretched Lady ? 
 A woman loft among ye, laugh't at, fcornd ? 
 I will not wifli ye halfe my miferies, 
 
 SS4
 
 The Life offing Henry the Eight. 
 
 219 
 
 I haue more Charity. But fay I warn'd ye ; 
 
 Take heed, for heauens fake take heed, leaft at once 
 
 The burthen of my forrowes, fall vpon ye. 
 
 Car. Madam, this is a meere diftradtion, 
 You turne the good we offer, into enuy. 
 
 Quee. Ye turne me into nothing. Woe vpon ye, 
 And all fuch falfe Profeffbrs. Would you haue me 
 (If you haue any luftice,any Pitty, 
 If ye be any thing but Churchmens habits) 
 Put my ficke caufe into his hands, that hates me ? 
 Alas, ha's banifti'd me his Bed already, 
 His Loue, too long ago. I am old my Lords, 
 And all the Fellow/hip I hold now with him 
 Is onely my Obedience. What can happen 
 To me, aboue this wretchednefie f All your Studies 
 Make me a Curfe, like this. 
 
 Camp. Your feares are worfe. 
 
 Qu Haue I liu'd thus long (let me fpeake my felfe, 
 Since Vertue findes no friends) a Wife, a true one ? 
 A Woman (I dare fay without Vainglory) 
 Neuer yet branded with Sufpition? 
 Haue I, with all my full Affections 
 
 Still met the King ? Lou'd him next Heau'nfObey'd him? 
 Bin (out of fondneffe) fuperftitious to him ? 
 Almoft forgot my Prayres to content him ? 
 And am I thus rewarded? 'Tis not well Lords. 
 Bring me a conftant woman to her Husband, 
 One that ne're dream'd a loy, beyond his pleafure ; 
 And to that Woman fwhen ihe has done moft) 
 Yet will I adde an Honor 5 a great Patience. 
 
 Car. Madam, you wander from the good 
 We ayme at. 
 
 Q. My Lord, 
 
 I dare not make my felfe fo guiltie, 
 To giue vp willingly that Noble Title 
 Your Mafter wed me to : nothing but death 
 Shall e're diuorce my Dignities. 
 
 Car. Pray heare me. 
 
 Qu. Would I had neuer trod this Englifh Earth, 
 Or felt the Flatteries that grow vpon it : 
 Ye haue Angels Faces; but Heauen knowes your hearts. 
 What will become of me now, wretched Lady ? 
 I am the moft vnhappy Woman liuing. 
 Alas (poore Wenches) where are now your Fortunes ? 
 Shipwrack'd vpon a Kingdome, where no Pitty, 
 No Friends, no Hope, no Kindred weepe for me? 
 Almoft no Graue allow'd me ? Like the Lilly 
 That once was Miftris of the Field, and flourifli'd, 
 He hang my head, and perifli. 
 
 Qar. If your Grace 
 
 Could but be brought to know,our Ends are honeft, 
 Youl'd feele more comfort. Why fhold wefgood Lady) 
 Vpon what caufe wrong you ? Alas, our Places, 
 The way of our Profeffion is againft it ; 
 We are to Cure fuch forrowes, not to fowe'em. 
 For Goodneffe fake, confider what you do, 
 How you may hurt your felfe: I, vtterly 
 Grow from the Kings Acquaintance, by this Carriage. 
 The hearts of Princes kiffe Obedience, 
 So much they loue it. But to ftubborne Spirits, 
 They fwell and grow, as terrible as ftormes. 
 I know you haue a Gentle, Noble temper, 
 A Soule as euen as a Calme ; Pray thinke vs, 
 Thofe we profeffe, Peace-makers, Friends, and Seruants. 
 
 Camp. Madam, you'l finde it fo : 
 You wrong your Vertues 
 
 555 
 
 With thefe weake Womens feares. A Noble Spirit 
 
 As yours was, put into you, euer cafts 
 
 Such doubts as falfe Coine from it. The King loues you, 
 
 Beware you loofe it not : For vs(if you pleafe 
 
 To truft vs in your bufmeffe)we are ready 
 
 To vfe our vtmoft Studies, in your feruice. 
 
 Qu. Do what ye will, my Lords : 
 And pray forgiue me ; 
 If I haue vs'd my felfe vnmannerly, 
 You know I am a Woman, lacking wit 
 To make a feemely anfwer to fuch perfons. 
 Pray do my feruice to his Maieftie, 
 He ha's my heart yet, and {hall haue my Prayers 
 While I fliall haue my life. Come reuerend Fathers, 
 Beftow your Councels on me. She now begges 
 That little thought when fhe fet footing heere, 
 She fliould haue bought her Dignities fo deere. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter the Dul^e of Norfolt^e , Du\e of Suffolfy, Lord Surrey, 
 and Lord Chamber laine. 
 
 Norf. If you will now vnite in your Complaints, 
 And force them with a Conftancy, the Cardinall 
 Cannot ftand vnder them. If you omit 
 The offer of this time, I cannot promife, 
 But that you fliall fuftaine moe new difgraces, 
 With thefe you beare alreadie. 
 
 Sur. I am ioyfull 
 
 To meete the leaft occafion, that may giue me 
 Remembrance of my Father-in-Law, the Duke, 
 To be reueng'd on him. 
 
 Suf. Which of the Peeres 
 Haue vncontemn'd gone by him, or at leaft 
 Strangely neglefted? When did he regard 
 The ftampe of Nobleneffe in any perfon 
 Out of himfelfe ? 
 
 Cham. My Lords, you fpeake your pleafures : 
 What he deferues of you and me, I know : 
 What we can do to him (though now the time 
 Giues way to vs) I much feare. If you cannot 
 Barre his acceffe to'th'King, neuer attempt 
 Any thing on him : for he hath a Witchcraft 
 Ouer the King in's Tongue. 
 
 Nor. O feare him not, 
 His fpell in that is out : the King hath found 
 Matter againft him, that for euer marres 
 The Hony of his Language. No, he's fetled 
 (Not to come off) in his difpleafure. 
 
 Sur. Sir, 
 
 I fhould be glad to heare fuch Newes as this 
 Once euery houre. 
 
 Nor. Beleeue it, this is true. 
 In the Diuorce, his contrarie proceedings 
 Are all vnfolded : wherein he appeares, 
 As I would wifli mine Enemy. 
 
 Sur. How came 
 His praclifes to light? 
 
 Suf. Moft ftrangely. 
 
 Sur. O how? how ? 
 
 Suf. The Cardinals Letters to the Pope mifcarried, 
 
 And
 
 220 
 
 he Life of IQng Henry the Eight. 
 
 And came to th'eye o'th'King, wherein was read 
 How that the Cardinall did intreat his Holinefie 
 To ftay the Judgement o'th'Diuorce ; for if 
 It did take place, I do (quoth he) perceiue 
 My King is tangled in affec~lion,to 
 A Creature of the Queenes, Lady Anne 'Bullen ) 
 Sur. Ha's the King this ? 
 
 Suf. Beleeue it. 
 
 Sur. Will this worke ? 
 
 Cham. The King in this perceiues him, how he coafts 
 And hedges his owne way. But in this point, 
 All his trickes founder, and he brings his Fhyficke 
 After his Patients death; the King already 
 Hath married the faire Lady. 
 
 Sur. Would he had. 
 
 Suf. May you be happy in your wifh my Lord, 
 For I profefle you haue it. 
 
 Sur. Now all my ioy 
 Trace the Conjunction. 
 
 Suf. My Amen too't. 
 
 Nor. All mens. 
 
 Suf. There's order giuen for her Coronation : 
 Marry this is yet but yong, and may be left 
 To fome eares vnrecounted. But my Lords 
 She is a gallant Creature, and compleate 
 In minde and feature. I perfwade me, from her 
 Will fall fome bleffing to this Land, which fhall 
 In it be memoriz'd. 
 
 Sur. But will the King 
 Digeft this Letter of the Cardinals ? 
 The Lord forbid. 
 
 Nor. Marry Amen. 
 
 Suf. No, no : 
 
 There be moe Wafpes that buz about his Nofe, 
 Will make this fting the fooner. Cardinall Campeltu, 
 Is ftolne away to Rome, hath 'tane no leaue, 
 Ha's left the caufe o'th'King vnhandled, and 
 Is ported as the Agent of our Cardinall, 
 To fecond all his plot. I do afiure you, 
 The King cry'de Ha, at this. 
 
 Qbam. Now God incenfe him, 
 And let him cry Ha, lowder. 
 
 Norf. But my Lord 
 When returnes Cranmer ? 
 
 Suf. He is return'd in his Opinions, which 
 Haue fatisfied the King for his Diuorce, 
 Together with all famous Colledges 
 Almoft in Chriftendome : fhortly (I beleeue) 
 His fecond Marriage (hall be publifhd,and 
 Her Coronation. Katbenne no more 
 Shall be call'd Queene, but Princefle Dpwager, 
 And Widdow to Prince Arthur. 
 
 Nor. This fame Cranmer's 
 A worthy Fellow, and hath tane much paine 
 In the Kings bufinefle. 
 
 Suf. He ha's,and we fliall fee him 
 For it,an Arch-byfhop. 
 
 Nor. So I heare. 
 
 Suf. 'Tis fo. 
 
 Enter ffolfey and Cromwell. 
 The Cardinall. 
 
 Nor. Obferue, obferue, hee's moody. 
 
 Car. The Packet Cromwell, 
 Gau't you the King ? 
 
 Crom. To his owne hand,in's Bed-chamber. 
 
 Card. Look'd he o'th'infide of the Paper ? 
 
 Crom. Prefently 
 
 He did vnfeale them, and the firft he view'd, 
 He did it with a Serious minde ; a heede 
 Was in his countenance. You he bad 
 Attend him heere this Morning. 
 
 Card. Is he ready to come abroad ? 
 
 Crom. I thinke by this he is. 
 
 Card. Leaue me a while. Exit Cromwell. 
 
 It fhall be to the Dutches of Alanfon, 
 The French Kings Sifter ; He fliall marry her. 
 Anne Sullen? No : He no Anne Bullens for him, 
 There's more in't then faire Vifage. Builen ? 
 No, wee'l no 'Bullens : Speedily I wifh 
 To heare from Rome. The MarchionefTe of Penbroke ? 
 Nor. He's difcontented. 
 
 Suf. May be he heares the King 
 Does whet his Anger to him. 
 
 Sur. Sharpe enough, 
 Lord for thy luftice. 
 
 Car. The late Queenes Gentlewoman ? 
 A Knights Daughter 
 
 To be her Miftris Miftris ? The Queenes, Queene ? 
 This Candle burnes not cleere, 'tis 1 muft fnuffeit, 
 Then out it goes. What though I know her vertuous 
 And well deferuing ? yet I know her 'for 
 A fpleeny Lutheran, and not wholfome to 
 Our caufe, that /he fhould lye i'th'bofome of 
 Our hard rul'd King. Againe, there is fprung vp 
 An Heretique, an Arch-one; Cranmer, one 
 Hath crawl'd into the fauourof the King, 
 And is his Oracle. 
 
 Nor. He is vex'd at fomething. 
 
 Enter King, reading of a Scedule. 
 
 Sur. I would 'twer fomthing y would fret the firing, 
 The Mafter-cord on's heart. 
 
 Suf. The King, the King. 
 
 King. What piles of wealth hath he accumulated 
 To his owne portion ? And what expence by'th'houre 
 Seemes to flow from him? How, i'th'name of Thrift 
 Does he rake this together? Now my Lords, 
 Saw you the Cardinall? 
 
 Nor. My Lord, we haue 
 
 Stood heere obferuing him. Some ftrange Commotion 
 Is in his braine : He bites his lip, and {tarts, 
 Stops on a fodaine, lookes vpon the ground, 
 Then layes his ringer on his Temple : ftraight 
 Springs out into faft gate, then flops againe, 
 Strikes his breft hard, and anon, hecafts 
 His eye againft the Moone : in moft ftrange Poftures 
 _We haue feene him fet himfelfe. 
 
 King. It may well be, 
 
 There is a mutiny in's minde. This morning, 
 Papers of State he fent me, to perufe 
 As I requir'd : and wot you what I found 
 There (on my Confcience put vn wittingly) 
 Forfooth an Inuentory, thus importing 
 The feuerall parcels of his Plate. his Treafure, 
 Rich Stuffes and Ornaments of Houfhold, which 
 I finde atfuch proud Rate, that it out-fpeakes 
 Pofleflion of a Subied. 
 
 Nor. It's Heauens will, 
 Some Spirit put this paper in the Packet, 
 To blefle your eye withall. 
 
 King. If we did thinke 
 
 His 
 
 S56
 
 The Life of ^ing Henry the Eight. 
 
 221 
 
 His Contemplation were aboue the earth, 
 And fixt on Spirituall obiedt, he fliould ftill 
 Dwell in his Mufings, but I am affraid 
 His Thinkings are below the Moone,not worth 
 His ferious confidering. 
 
 King takes bis Seat, tfbijpen Louell, who goes 
 to the Cardinall. 
 
 Car. Heauen forgiue me, 
 Euer God blefle your Highnefle. 
 
 King. Good my Lord, 
 
 You are full of Heauenly ftuffe, and beare the Inuentory 
 Of your beft Graces, in your minde ; the which 
 You were now running o're: you haue fcarfe time 
 To fteale from Spirituall leyfure, a briefe fpan 
 To keepe your earthly Audit, fure in that 
 I deeme you an ill Husband, and am gald 
 To haue you therein my Companion. 
 
 Car. Sir, 
 
 For Holy Offices I haue a time ; a time 
 To thinke vpon the part of bufinefle, which 
 I beare i'th 'State : and Nature does require 
 Her times of preferuation, which perforce 
 I her fraile fonne, among' ft my Brethren mortal!, 
 Muft giue my tendance to. 
 
 King. You haue faid well. 
 
 Car. And euer may your Highnefle yoake together, 
 ( As I will lend you caufej my doing well, 
 With my well faying. 
 
 King. 'Tis well laid agen, 
 And 'tis a kinde of good deede to fay well, 
 And yet words are no deeds. My Father lou'd you, 
 He faid he did, and with his deed did Crowne 
 His word vpon you. Since I had my Office, 
 I haue kept you next my Heart, haue not alone 
 Imploy'd you where high Profits might come home, 
 But par'd my prefent Hauings, to beftow 
 My Bounties vpon you. 
 
 Car. What /hould this meane ? 
 
 Sur. The Lord increafe this bufinefle. 
 
 King. Haue I not made you 
 The prime man of the State ? I pray you tell me, 
 If what I now pronounce, you haue found true: 
 And if you may confefle it, fay withall 
 If you are bound to vs, or no. What fay you ? 
 
 Car. My Soueraigne, 1 confefle your Royall graces 
 Showr'd on me daily, haue bene more then could 
 My ftudied purpofes requite, which went 
 Beyond all mans endeauors. My endeauors, 
 Haue euer come too fhort of my Defires, 
 Yet filFd with my Abilities : Mine owne ends 
 Haue beene mine fo, that euermore they pointed 
 To'th'good of your moft Sacred Perfon, and 
 The profit of the State. For your great Graces 
 Heap'd vpon me(poore Vndeferuer) I 
 Can nothing render but Allegiant thankes, 
 My Prayres to heauen for you ; my Loyal tie 
 Which euer ha's, and euer (hall be growing, 
 Till death ( that Winter) kill it. 
 
 King. Fairely anfwer'd : 
 A Loyall, and obedient Subiedr. is 
 Therein illuftrated, the Honor of it 
 Does pay the Aft of it, as i'th'contrary 
 The fowlenefle is the punifhmenr. I prefume, 
 That as my hand ha's open'd Bounty to you, 
 My heart drop'd Loue, my powre rain'd Honor, more 
 On you, then any : So your Hand, and Heart, 
 
 557 
 
 Your Braine, and euery Function of your power, 
 Should, notwithftanding that your bond of duty, 
 As 'twer in Loues particular, be more 
 To me your Friend, then any. 
 
 Car. I do profefle, 
 
 That for your Highnefle good, I euer labour'd 
 More then mine owne : that am, haue, and will be 
 (Though all the world mould cracke their duty to you, 
 And throw it from their Soule., though perils did 
 Abound, as thicke as thought could make 'em, and 
 Appeare in formes more horrid) yet my Duty, 
 As doth a Rocke againft the chiding Flood, 
 Should the approach of this wilde Riuer breake, 
 And ftand vnfhaken yours. 
 
 King. 'Tis Nobly fpoken : 
 Take notice Lords, he ha's a Loyall breft, 
 For you haue feene him open't. Read o're this, 
 And after this, and then to Breakfaft with 
 What appetite you haue. 
 
 Sxit King, frowning -upon the Cardinall, the Nobles 
 throng after him fmiling,and Ttbijfering. 
 
 Car. What ihould this meane ? 
 What fodaine Anger's this? How haue I reap'd it/ 1 
 He parted Frowning from me, as if Ruine 
 Leap'd from his Eyes. So lookes the chafed Lyon 
 Vpon the darjng Huntfman that has gall'd him : 
 Then makes him nothing. I muft reade this paper : 
 I feare the Story of his Anger. 'Tis fo : 
 This paper ha's vndone me : 'Tisth'Accompt 
 Of all that world of Wealth I haue drawne together 
 For mine owne ends, (Indeed to gaine the Popedome, 
 And fee my Friends in Rome.) O Negligence / 
 Fit for a Foole to fall by : What crofle Diuell 
 Made me put this maine Secret in the Packet 
 I fent the King ? Is there no way to cure this ? 
 No new deuice to beate this from his Braines? 
 I know 'twill ftirre him ftrongly ; yet I know 
 A way, if it take right, in fpight of Fortune 
 Will bring me off againe. What's this? To tb'Pofe> 
 The Letter (as I Hue) with all the Bufinefle 
 I writ too's Holinefle. Nay then, farewell : 
 I haue touch'd the higheft point of all my Greatneffe, 
 And from that full Meridian of my Glory, 
 I hafte now to my Setting. I ihall fall 
 Like a bright exhalation in the Euening, 
 And no man fee me more. 
 
 Enter to Woolfcy, the Dulles of Norfol{e and Sufolke, the 
 Earle of Surrey, and the Lord Cbamberlaitie. 
 
 Nor. Heare the Kings pleafure Cardinall, 
 Who commands you 
 To render vp the Great Scale prefently 
 Into our hands, and to Confine your felfe 
 To Afher-houfe, my Lord of Winchefters, 
 Till you heare further from his Highnefle. 
 
 Car. Stay : 
 
 Where's your Commiffion? Lords, words cannot carrie 
 Authority fo weighty. 
 
 Suf. Who dare crofle 'em, 
 Bearing the Kings will from his mouth expreflely ? 
 
 Car. Till I finde more then will, or words to do it, 
 (I meane your malice) know, Officious Lords, 
 I dare, and muft deny it. Now I feele 
 Of what courfe Mettle ye are molded, Enuy, 
 How eagerly ye follow my Difgraces 
 
 As
 
 222 
 
 'The Life of f^ing Henry the Eight. 
 
 As if it fed ye, and how fleeke and wanton 
 
 Ye appeare in euery thing may bring my mine ? 
 
 Follow your enuious courfes, men of Malice ; 
 
 You haue Chriftian warrant for 'em, and no doubt 
 
 In time will finde their fit Rewards. That Scale 
 
 You aske with fuch a Violence, the King 
 
 (Mine, and your Mafter) with his owne hand,gaue me : 
 
 Bad me enioy it, with the Place, and Honors 
 
 During my life ; and to ccmfirme his Goodneffe, 
 
 Ti'de it by Letters Patents. Now, who'll take it? 
 
 Sur. The King that gaue it. 
 
 Car. It muft be himfelte then. 
 
 Sur. Thou art a proud Traitor, Prieft. 
 
 Car. Proud Lord, thou lyeft : 
 Within thefe fortie houres, Surrey durft better 
 Haue burnt that Tongue, then faide fo. 
 
 Sur. Thy Ambition 
 
 (Thou Scarlet finne) robb'd this bewailing Land 
 Of Noble Buckingham, my Father-in-Law, 
 The heads of all thy Brother-Cardinals, 
 (With thee, and all thy beft parts bound together) 
 Weigh'd not a haire of his. Plague of your policie, 
 You fent me Deputie for Ireland, 
 Farre from his fuccour; from the King, from all 
 That might haue mercie on the fault, thou gau'ft him : 
 Whil'ft your great Goodneffe, out of holy pitty , 
 Abfolu'd him with an Axe. 
 
 Wol. This, and all elfe 
 This talking Lord can lay vpon my credit, 
 I anfwer,is moftfalfe. The Duke by Law 
 Found his deferts. How innocent I was 
 From any priuate malice in his end, 
 His Noble lurie, and foule Caufe can witneffe. 
 If I lou'd many words, Lord, I Ihould tell you, 
 You haue as little Honeftie, as Honor, 
 That in the way of Loyaltie,and Truth, 
 Toward the King, my euer Roiall Mafter, 
 Dare mate a founder man then Surrie can be, 
 And all that loue his follies. 
 
 Sur. By my Soule, 
 Your long Coat (Prieft) protects you, 
 Thou fliould'ft feele 
 
 My Sword i'th'life blood of thee elfe. My Lords, 
 Can ye endure to heare this Arrogance ? 
 And from this Fellow ? If we liue thus tamely, 
 To be thus laded by a peece of Scarlet, 
 Farewell Nobilitie : let his Grace go forward, 
 And dare vs with his Cap, like Larkes. 
 
 Card. All Goodneffe 
 Is poyfon to thy Stomacke. 
 
 Sur. Yes, that goodneffe 
 Of gleaning all the Lands wealth into one, 
 Into your owne hands (Card'nall) by Extortion : 
 The goodneffe of your intercepted Packets 
 You writ to'th'Pope, againft the King : your goodneffe 
 Since you prouoke me, {hall be moft notorious. 
 My Lord of Norfolke,as you are truly Noble, 
 As you refpedt the common good, the State 
 Of our defpis'd Nobilitie, our Iffues, 
 (Whom if he liue, will fcarfe be Gentlemen) 
 Produce the grand fumme of his finnes, the Articles 
 Collected from his life. He ftartle you 
 Worfe then the Sacring Bell, when the browne Wench 
 Lay kifling in your Armes, Lord Cardinall. 
 
 Car. How much me thinkes, I could defpife this man, 
 But that I am bound in Charitie againft it. 
 
 Nor. Thofe Articles,my Lord, are in the Kings hand: 
 But thus much, they are foule ones. 
 
 Wol. So much fairer 
 
 And fpotleffe, {hall mine Innocence arife, 
 When the King knowes my Truth. 
 
 Sur. This cannot faue you ; 
 I thanke my Memorie, I yet remember 
 Some of thefe Articles, and out they fhall. 
 Now, if you can blufli, and crie guiltie Cardinall, 
 You'l {hew a little Honeftie. 
 
 Wo/. Speake on Sir, 
 
 I dare your worft Obiections : If I blufli, 
 It is to fee a Nobleman want manners. 
 
 Sur. I had rather want thofe, then my head ; 
 Haue at you. 
 
 Firft, that without the Kings affent or knowledge, 
 You wrought to be a Legate, by which power 
 You maim'd the lurifdiction of all Bifliops. 
 
 Nor. Then, That in all you writ to Rome, or elfe 
 To Forraigne Princes, Ego & Rex meui 
 Was ftill infcrib'd : in which you brought the King 
 To be your Seruant. 
 
 Suf. Then, that without the knowledge 
 Either of King or Councell, when you went 
 Ambaffador to the Emperor, you made bold 
 To carry into Flanders, the Great Scale. 
 
 Sur. Item, You fent a large Commiflion 
 To Qregory de Caffado, to conclude 
 Without the Kings will, or the States allowance, 
 A League betweene his Highneffe, and Ferrara. 
 
 Suf. That out of meere Ambition, you haue caus'd 
 Your holy-Hat to be ftampt on the Kings Coine. 
 
 Sur. Then, That you haue fent inumerable fubftance, 
 (By what meanes got, I leaue to your owne confcience) 
 To furnifli Rome, and to prepare the wayes 
 You haue for Dignities, to the meere vndooing 
 Of all the Kingdome. Many more there are, 
 Which fince they are of you, and odious, 
 I will not taint my mouth with. 
 
 Cham. O my Lord, 
 
 Preffe not a falling man too farre:'tis Vertue : 
 His faults lye open to the Lawes, let them 
 (Not you) correct him. My heart weepes to fee him 
 So little, of his great Selfe. 
 
 Sur. I forgiue him. 
 
 Suf. Lord Cardinall, the Kings further pleafure is, 
 Becaufe all thofe things you haue done of late 
 By your power Legatiue within this Kingdome, 
 Fall into'th'compaffe of a Premunire ; 
 That therefore fuch a Writ be fued againft you, 
 To forfeit all your Goods, Lands, Tenements, 
 Caftles, and whatfoeuer, and to be 
 Out of the Kings protection. This is my Charge. 
 
 Nor. And fo wee'l leaue you to your Meditations 
 How to liue better. For your ftubborne anfwer 
 About the giuing backe the Great Scale to vs, 
 The King {hall know it, and (no doubt) ftial thanke you. 
 So fare you well, my little good Lord Cardinall. 
 
 Exeunt all but Woljey. 
 
 Wol. So farewell, to the little good you beare me. 
 Farewell ? A long farewell to all my Greatneffe. 
 This is the ftate of Man ; to day he puts forth 
 The tender Leaues of hopes, to morrow Bloffomes, 
 And beares hisblufliing Honors thicke vpon him : 
 The third day, comes a Froft ; a killing Froft, 
 And when he thinkes, good eafie man, full furely 
 
 His
 
 'The Life of ^ing Henry the Eight. 
 
 223 
 
 His Greatnefle is a ripening, nippes his roote, 
 And then he fals as I do. 1 haue ventur'd 
 Like little wanton Boyes that fwim on bladders : 
 This many Summers in a Sea of Glory, 
 But farre beyond my depth: my high-blowne Pride 
 At length broke vnder me, and now ha's left me 
 Weary, and old with Seruice, to the mercy 
 Of a rude ftreame, that muft for euer hide me. 
 Vaine pompe, and glory of this World, I hate ye, 
 I feele my heart new open'd. Oh how wretched 
 Is that poore man, that hangs on Princes fauours? 
 There is betwixt that fmile we would afpire too, 
 That fweet AfpecT: of Princes, and their ruine, 
 More pangs, and feares then warres, or women haue ; 
 And when he falles,he falles like Lucifer, 
 Neuer to hope againe. 
 
 Enter Cromwell, fta ndlng amazed. 
 Why how now rormvell ? 
 
 Crom. I haue no power to fpeake Sir. 
 
 Car. What, amaz'd 
 
 At my misfortunes ? Can thy Spirit wonder 
 A great man fhould decline. Nay, and you weep 
 I am falne indeed. 
 
 Crom. How does your Grace. 
 
 Card. Why well : 
 
 Neuer fo truly happy, my good Cromwell, 
 I know my felfe now, and I feele within me, 
 A peace aboue all earthly Dignities, 
 A frill, and quiet Confcience. The King ha's cur'd me, 
 I humbly thanke his Grace : and from thefe fhoulders 
 Thefe ruin'd Fillers, out of pitty, taken . 
 A loade, would fmke a Nauy, (too much Honor.) 
 
 'tis a burden Cromvel, 'tis a burden 
 
 Too heauy for a man, that hopes for Heauen. 
 
 Crom. I am glad your Grace, 
 Ha's made that right vfe of it. 
 
 Card. I hope I haue : 
 
 1 am able now (me thinkes) 
 
 (Out of a Fortitude of Soule, I feele) 
 To endure more Miferies, and greater farre 
 Then my Weake-hearted Enemies, dare offer. 
 What Newes abroad? 
 
 Crom. The heauieft, and the worft, 
 Is your difpleafure with the King. 
 
 Card. God blefle him. 
 
 Crom. The next is, that Sir Thomas Moore is chofen 
 Lord Chancellor, in your place. 
 
 Card. That's fomewhat fodain. 
 But he's a Learned man. May he continue 
 Long in his Highnefle fauour, and do luftice 
 For Truths-fake, and his Confcience ; that his bones, 
 When he ha's run his courfe, and fleepes in Blefiings, 
 May haue a Tombe of Orphants teares wept on him. 
 What more ? 
 
 Crom. That Cranmer is return'd with welcome ; 
 InftalFd Lord Arch-byfhop of Canterbury. 
 
 Card. That's Newes indeed. 
 
 Crom. Laft, that the Lady Anne, 
 Whom the King hath in fecrecie long married, 
 This day was view'd in open, as his Queene, 
 Going to Chappell : and the voyce is now 
 Onely about her Corronation. 
 
 Card. There was the waight that pull'd me downe. 
 O Cromwell, 
 
 The King ha's gone beyond me : All my Glories 
 In that one woman, I haue loft for euer. 
 
 559 
 
 No Sun, fhall euer vfher forth mine Honors, 
 
 Or gilde againe the Noble Troopes that waighted 
 
 Vpon my fmiles. Go get thee from me Cromvuel, 
 
 I am a poore falne man, vnworthy now 
 
 To be thy Lord, and Mafter. Seeke the King 
 
 (That Sun, I pray may neuer fet) I haue told him, 
 
 What, and how true thou art j he will aduance thee : 
 
 Some little memory of me, will ftirre him 
 
 (I know his Noble Nature) not to let 
 
 Thy hopefull feruice perifh too. Good Cromwell 
 
 NeglecT: him not ; make vie now, and prouide 
 
 For thine owne future fafety. 
 
 Crom. O my Lord, 
 
 Muft I then leaue you ? Muft I needes forgo 
 So good, fb Noble, and fo true a Mafter ? 
 Beare witnefie, all that haue not hearts of Iron, 
 With what a forrow Croimrel leaues his Lord. 
 The King fhall haue my feruice ; but my prayres 
 For euer, and for euer fhall be yours. 
 
 Card. Crom-a-el, I did not thinke to fhed a teare 
 In all my Miferies : But thou haft forc'd me 
 (Out of thy honeft truth) to play the Woman. 
 Let's dry our eyes : And thus farre heare me Crorrmel, 
 And when I am forgotten, as I fhall be, 
 And fleepe in dull cold Marble, where no mention 
 Of me, more muft be heard of: Say I taught theej 
 Say ffolfey, that once trod the wayes of Glory, 
 And founded all the Depths, and Shoales of Honor, 
 Found thee a way (out of his wracke)to rife in : 
 A fure, and fare one, though thy Mafter mift it. 
 Marke but my Fall, and that that Ruin'd me : 
 Cromirel, I charge thee, fling away Ambition, 
 By that finne fell the Angels : how can man then 
 (The Image of his Makerjhope to win by it? 
 Loue thy felfe laft, cherifh thofe hearts that hate thee ; 
 Corruption wins not more then Honefty. 
 Still in thy right hand, carry gentle Peace 
 To filence enuious Tongues. Be iuft,and feare not; 
 Let all the ends thou aym'ft at, be thy Countries, 
 Thy Gods, and Truths. Then if thou fall'ft(O Cronmel!) 
 Thou fall'ft a blefTed Martyr. 
 Serue the King : And prythee leade me in : 
 There take an Inuentory of all I haue, 
 To the laft peny, 'tis the Kings. My Robe, 
 And my Integrity to Heauen, is all, 
 I dare now call mine owne. O Cromirel, Crotmrel, 
 Had I but feru'd my God, with halfe the Zeale 
 I feru'd my King : he would not in mine Age 
 Haue left me naked to mine Enemies. 
 
 Crom. Good Sir, haue patience. 
 
 Card. So I haue. Farewell 
 
 The Hopes of Court, my Hopes in Heauen do dwell. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 ASlus Quart us. Scena Trim a . 
 
 Enter two Gentlemen, meeting one another. 
 
 1 Y'are well met once againe. 
 
 2 So are you. 
 
 I You come to take your ftand heere, and behold 
 The Lady ./f/inf, pafle from her Corronation. 
 
 2 'Tis
 
 224 
 
 The Life ofJZjng Henry the Eight. 
 
 7. "Pis all my bufinefle. At our laft encounter, 
 The Duke of Buckingham came from his Triall. 
 
 1 'Tis very true. But that time offer'd forrow, 
 This generall ioy. 
 
 2 'Tis well : The Citizens 
 
 I am fure hauefhewne at full their Royall minds, 
 As let 'em haue their rights, they are euer forward 
 In Celebration of this day with Shevves, 
 'Pageants, and Sights of Honor. 
 
 1 Neuer greater, 
 
 Nor lie affure you better taken Sir. 
 
 2 May I be bold to aske what that containes, 
 That Paper in your hand. 
 
 i Yes, 'tis the Lift 
 
 Of thofe that claime their Offices this day, 
 By cuftome of the Coronation. 
 The Duke of Suffolke is the firft,and claimes 
 To be high Steward; Next the Duke of Norfolke, 
 He to be Earle Marfliall : you may reade the reft. 
 
 I I thanke you Sir : Had I not known thofe cuftoms, 
 I fliould haue beene beholding to your Paper : 
 But I befeech you, what's become of Katberinc 
 The Princefle Dowager? How goes her bufinefle ? 
 
 1 That I can tell you too. The Archbifliop 
 Of Canterbury, accompanied with other 
 Learned, and Reuerend Fathers of his Order, 
 Held a late Court at Dunftable ; fixe miles off 
 From Ampthill, where the Princefle lay, to which 
 She was often cyted by them, but appear'd not: 
 And to be (hort, for not Appearance, and 
 
 The Kings late Scruple, by the maine aflent 
 Of all thefe Learned men, (he was diuorc'd, 
 And the late Marriage made of none effect : 
 Since which, flie was remou'd to Kymmalton, 
 Where flje remaines now ficke. 
 
 2 Alas good Lady. 
 
 The Trumpets found : Stand clofe, 
 
 The Queene is comming. Ho-boyes. 
 
 The Order of the Coronation. . 
 
 1 A liuely Flourijh of Trumpets. 
 
 2 Then, two Judges. 
 
 3 Lord Chancellor, with Purfe and <&f ace before him. 
 
 4 QwrriAersJinging. Muficke. 
 
 5 Maior of London, tearing the Mace. Then Garter, in 
 bit Coate of Armss, and on bu bead be if ore a Gilt Copper 
 Qrowne. 
 
 6 Marquefle Dorfet, bearing a Scepter of Gold, on bis bead, 
 a Demy Coronall of Cfold. With him, the Earle of Surrey, 
 bearing the Rod of Siluer with the Doue, Crowned with an 
 Earles Coronet. Collars of EJJes. 
 
 7 Duke of Suffolke, in bis ~Rj,bc of Eftate , bis Coronet on bis 
 bead, bearing a long white Wand, at High Steward. With 
 him, the Dul^e of Norfolke, with the Rod of Marjbaljbip, 
 a Coronet on bit bead. Collars ofSJfes. 
 
 8 A Canopy, borne by foure of the Cinque-Ports, -under it 
 the Queene in her Robe, in her baire, richly adorned with 
 fearle. Crowned. On each fide her, the Bijbops of London, 
 and Winchefter. 
 
 9 The Olde Dutchefle of Norfolke, in a Coronall of Qold , 
 wrought with Flower;, bearing the Queenes Traine. 
 
 10 Certaine Ladies or Countefles, with plaine Circlets of 
 Qold, without Flowers. 
 
 Exeunt, frft pajfing outr the Stage in Order and State, and 
 tben,A great Flourijh of Trumpets. 
 
 2 A Royall Traine beleeue me : Thefe I know : 
 Who's that that beares the Scepter ? 
 
 1 Marquefle Dorfet, 
 
 And that the Earle of Surrey, with the Rod. 
 
 2 A bold braue Gentleman, That fliould bee 
 The Duke of Suffolke. 
 
 1 'Tis the fame : high Steward. 
 
 2 And that my Lord of Norfolke ? 
 
 1 Yes. 
 
 2 Heauen blefle thee, 
 
 Thou haft the fweeteft face I euer look'd on. 
 
 Sir, as I haue a Soule, flie is an Angell ; 
 
 Our King ha's all the Indies in his Armes, 
 
 And more, and richer, when he ftraines that Lady, 
 
 I cannot blame his Confcience. 
 
 I They that beare 
 
 The Cloath of Honour ouer her, are foure Barons 
 Of the Cinque -Ports. 
 
 2 Thofe men are happy, 
 And fo are all, are neere her. 
 I take it,flie that carries vp the Traine, 
 Is that old Noble Lady, Dutchefle of Norfolke. 
 
 1 It is,and all the reft are Countefles. 
 
 2 Their Coronets fay fo. Thefe are Starres indeed, 
 And fometimes falling ones. 
 
 2 No more of that. 
 
 Enter a third Gentleman. 
 I God faue you Sir. Where haue you bin broiling ? 
 
 3 Among the crow'd i'th'Abbey, where a finger 
 Could not be wedg'd in more : I am (lifted 
 
 With the meere ranknefle of their ioy. 
 
 2 You faw the Ceremony? 
 
 3 That I did. 
 
 1 How was it ? 
 
 3 Well worth the feeing. 
 
 2 Good Sir,fpeake it to vs ? 
 
 3 As well as I am able. The rich ftreame 
 
 Of Lords, and Ladies, hauing brought the Queene 
 To a prepar'd place in the Qujre, fell off 
 A diftance from her; while her Grace fate downe 
 To reft a while, fome halre an houre, or fo, 
 In a rich Chaire of State, oppofing freely 
 The Beauty of her Perfon to the People. 
 Beleeue me Sir, flie is the goodlieft Woman 
 That euer by by man : which when the people 
 Had the full view of, fuch a noyie arofe, 
 As the flirowdes make at Sea, in a ftiffe Tempeft, 
 As lowd,and to as many Tunes. Hats,Cloakes, 
 (Doublets, I thinke) flew vp, and had their Faces 
 Bin loofe, this day they had beene loft. Such ioy 
 I neuer (aw before. Great belled women, 
 That had not halfe a weeke to go; like Rammes 
 In the old time of Warre, would (hake the preafe 
 And make 'em reele before 'em. No man liuing 
 Could fay this is my wife there, all were wouen 
 So ftrangely in one peece. 
 
 2 But what follow'd-? 
 
 3 At length, her Grace rofe,and with modeft paces 
 Came to the Altar, where (he kneel'd,and Saint-like 
 Caft her faire eyes to Heauen, and pray'd deuoutly. 
 Then rofe againe,and bow'd her to the people: 
 When by the Arch-byfliop of Canterbury, 
 
 She had all the Royall makings of a Queene ; 
 
 As holy Oyle, Edward Confedors Crowne, 
 
 The Rod, and Bird of Peace, and all fuch Emblemes 
 
 Laid Nobly on her : which perform'd, the Quire 
 
 With 
 
 560"
 
 The Life offing Henry the Eight. 
 
 225 
 
 With all the choyfeft Muficke of the Kingdome, 
 Together fung Te Deum. So flie parted, 
 And with the fame full State pac'd backe againe 
 To Yorke-Place, where the Feaft is held. 
 
 1 Sir, 
 
 Youmuft no more call it Yorke-place, that's part : 
 For fmce the Cardinall fell, that Titles loft, 
 'Tis now the Kings, and calPd White-Hall. 
 
 3 I know it : 
 
 But 'tis fo lately alter'd, that the old name 
 Is frefh about me. 
 
 2 What two Reuerend Byfhops 
 
 Were thofe that went on each fide of the Queene? 
 
 3 Stokfley and Gardiner, the one of Winchefter, 
 Newly preferr'd from the Kings Secretary : 
 
 The other London. 
 
 a He of Winchefter 
 
 Is held no great good louer of the Archbifliops, 
 The vertuous Cranmer. 
 
 3 All the Land knowes that: 
 
 How euer,yet there is no great breach, when it comes 
 Qranmervr\\\ finde a Friend will not flirinke from him. 
 
 2 Who may that be, I pray you. 
 
 3 Thomas Cromwell, 
 
 A man in much efteeme with th'King, and truly 
 A worthy Friend. The King ha's made him 
 Mafter o'th'Iewell Houfe, 
 And one already of the Priuy Councell. 
 
 2 He will deferue more. 
 
 3 Yes without all doubt. 
 
 Come Gentlemen, ye fliall go my way, 
 Which is to'th Court, and there ye fhall be my Guefts: 
 Something I can command. As I walke thither, 
 He tell ye more. 
 
 Both. You may command vs Sir. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Katberine Dowager, Jicfy, lead betveeene (jriffitby 
 
 her Gentleman VJher , and "Patience 
 
 her Woman. 
 
 Grif. How do's your Grace ? 
 
 Katb. O Griff tb, ficke to death : 
 My Legges like loaden Branches bow to'th'Earth, 
 Willing to leaue their burthen : Reach a Chaire, 
 So now (me thinkes) I feele a little eafe. 
 Did'ft thou not tell me Griffith, as thou lead'ft mee, 
 That the great Childe of Honor, Cardinall Wolfey 
 Was dead ? 
 
 Grif. Yes Madam : but I thanke your Grace 
 Out of the paine you fuffer'd, gaue no eare too't. 
 
 Kath. Pre'thee good Qriffith, tell me how he dy'de. 
 If well, he ftept before me happily 
 For my example. 
 
 Grif. Well, the voyce goes Madam, 
 For after the ftout Earle Northumberland 
 Arrefted him at Yorke, and brought him forward 
 As a man forcly tainted, to his Anfwer, . 
 He fell ficke fodainly, and grew fo ill 
 He could not fit his Mule. 
 
 Katb. Alas poore man. 
 Grif. M laft, with eafie Rodes, he came to Leicefter, 
 
 561 
 
 Lodg'd in the Abbey ; where the reuerend Abbot 
 With all his Couent, honourably receiu'd him ; 
 To whom he gaue thefe words. O Father Abbot, 
 An old man, broken with the ftormes of State, 
 Is come to lay his weary bones among ye : 
 Giue him a little earth for Charity. 
 So went to bed ; where eagerly his ficknefle 
 Purfu'd him ftlll, and three nights after this, 
 About the houre of eight, which he himfelfe 
 Foretold fliould be his laft, full of Repentance, 
 Continuall Meditations, Teares, and Sorrowes, 
 He gaue his Honors to the world agen, 
 His blefled part to Heauen,and flept in peace. 
 
 Kath. So may he reft, 
 His Faults lye gently on him : 
 
 Yet thus farre Griffith, giue me leaue to fpeake him, 
 And yet with Charity. He was a man 
 Of an vnbounded ftomacke, euer ranking 
 Himfelfe with Princes. One that by fuggeftion 
 Ty'de all the Kingdome. Symonie, was raire play, 
 His owne Opinion was his Law. 1'th'prefence 
 He would fay vntruths, and be euer double 
 Both in his words, and meaning. He was neuer 
 (But where he meant to Ruine )pittifull. 
 His Promifes, were as he then was, Mighty: 
 But his performance, as he is now, Nothing : 
 Of his owne body he was ill, and gaue 
 The Clergy ill example. 
 
 Grif. Noble Madam : 
 
 Mens euill manners, liue in Brafle, their Vertues 
 We write in Water. May it pleafe your HighnefTe 
 To heare me fpeake his good now? 
 
 Katb. Yes good Griffith, 
 I were malicious elfe. 
 
 Grif. This Cardinall, 
 
 Though from an humble Stocke, vndoubtedly 
 Was fafhion'd to much Honor. From his Cradle 
 He was a Scholler, and a ripe, and good one : 
 Exceeding wife, faire fpoken, and perfwading : 
 Lofty, and fowre to them that lou'd him not : 
 But, to thofe men that fought him, fweet as Summer. 
 And though he were vnfatisfied in getting, 
 (Which was a finne) yet in beftowing, Madam, 
 He was moft Princely : Euerwitnefie for him 
 Thofe twinnes of Learning, that he rais'd in you, 
 Ipfwich and Oxford :one of which, fell with him, 
 Vnwilling to out-liue the good that did it. 
 The other (though vnfinifh'd) yet fo Famous, 
 So excellent in Art,and ftill fo rifing, 
 That Chriftendome fhall euer fpeake his Vertue. 
 His Ouerthrow, heap'd Happineffe vpon him : 
 For then, and not till then, he felt himfelfe, 
 And found the Bleflednefle of being little. 
 And to adde greater Honors to his Age 
 Then man could giue him; he dy'de, fearing God. 
 
 Katb. After my death, I wifh no other Herald, 
 No other fpeaker of my liuing Actions, 
 To keepe mine Honor, from Corruption, 
 But fuch an honeft Chronicler as Qriffitb. 
 Whom I moft hated Liuing, thou haft made mee 
 With thy Religious Truth, and Modeftie, 
 ('Now in his Afhes)Honor : Peace be with him. 
 Patience, be neere me ftill, and fet me lower, 
 I haue not long to trouble thee. Good Griffith, 
 Caufe the Mufitians play me that fad note 
 I nam'd my Knell ; whil'ft I fit meditating 
 
 On
 
 226 
 
 The Life ofJ^jng Henry the Eight. 
 
 Kath. Spirits of peace, where are ye? Are ye all gone ? 
 And lea ue me heere in wretchednefle, behinde ye? 
 Grif. Madam, we are heere. 
 Kath. It is not you I call for, 
 Saw ye none enter fince I flept ? 
 
 Grif. None Madam. 
 
 Katb. No? Saw you not euen now a blefled Troope 
 Inuite me to a Banquet, whofe bright faces 
 Caft thoufand beames vpon me, like the Sun? 
 They promis'd me eternall Happinefle, 
 And brought me Garlands (Griffith} which I feele 
 I am not worthy yet to weare : I fliall afluredly. 
 
 Grif. I am moft ioyfull Madam, fuch good dreames 
 Poflefie your Fancy. 
 
 Katb. Bid the Muficke leaue, 
 They are harfti and heauy to me. Muficke ceafes. 
 
 Pati. Do you note 
 
 How much her Grace is alter'd on the fodaine ? 
 How long her face is drawne ? How pale flie lookes, 
 And of an earthy cold? Marke her eyes? 
 
 Grif. She is going Wench. Pray,pray. 
 
 Pati. Heauen comfort her. 
 
 Enter a cftTeJJenger . 
 
 Mef. And't like your Grace - 
 
 Katb. You are a fawcy Fellow, 
 Deferue we no more Reuerence ? 
 
 Grif. You are too blame, 
 
 Knowing /he will not loofe her wonted Greatnefle 
 To vfe fo rude behauiour. Go too, knee le. 
 
 Mef. I humbly do entreat your Highnefle pardon, 
 My haft made me vnmannerly. There is ftaying 
 A Gentleman fent from the King, to fee you. 
 
 Katb. Admit him entrance Griffith. But this Fellow 
 Let me ne're fee againe. Exit MeJJeng. 
 
 Enter Lord Capuchius. 
 If my fight faile not, 
 
 You fliould be Lord Ambaflador from the Emperor, 
 My Royall Nephew, and your name Capucbitu. 
 
 Cap. Madam the fame. Your Seruant. 
 
 Katb. O my Lord, 
 
 The Times and Titles now are alter'd ftrangely 
 With me, fince firft you knew me. 
 But I pray you, 
 What is your pleafure with me f 
 
 On that Caleftiall Harmony I go too. 
 
 Sad and fclemne 
 
 Grif.She is afleep : Good wench, let's fit down quiet, 
 For feare we wake her. Softly, gentle Patience. 
 
 The Vifion. 
 
 Enter folemnely tripping one after another, Jixe Personages, 
 clad in white Robes, wearing on their heades Garlands of \ 
 Hayes, and golden lizards on their faces, Branches of B ayes 
 or falme in their hands . They jirji Conge -unto her, then 
 Dance : and at certaine Changes, the Jirjl tiro bold a Jpare 
 (jarland ouer her Head, at which the other foure malfe re- \ 
 uerend Curtfies. Then the two that held the Garland, deli- \ 
 uer the fame to the other next two, who obferue the fame or- \ 
 der in their Changes, and holding the Garland ouer her 
 head. Which done, they deliuer the fame (jarland to the 
 lajt two : who /i^ewife cbferue the fame Order. tAt which 
 (M it were by injf>iration)Jhe ma^es (in her Jleepe) Jignes of \ 
 reioycing, and holdeth i>p her bands to beauen. And ft, in 
 their "Dancing -vamjb , carrying the Garland with them-/ . 
 The <&fuicl{e continues. 
 
 Cap. Noble Lady, 
 
 Firft mine owne feruice to your Grace, the next 
 The Kings requeft,that I would vifit you, 
 Who greeues much for your weaknefl~e,and by me 
 Sends you his Princely Commendations, 
 And heartily entreats you take good comfort. 
 
 Katb.Q my good Lord, that comfort comes too late, 
 'Tis like a Pardon after Execution ; 
 That gentle Phyficke giuen in time, had cur'd me : 
 But now I am paft all Comforts heere, but Prayers. 
 How does his Highnefle ? 
 
 Cap. Madam, in good health. 
 
 Katb. So may he euer do, and euer flourish, 
 When I fliall dwell with Wormes, and my poore name 
 Banifli'd the Kingdome. Patience, is that Letter 
 I caus'd you write, yet fent away ? 
 
 Pat. No Madam. 
 
 Kath. Sir, I moft humbly pray you to deliuer 
 This to my Lord the King. 
 
 Cap. Moft willing Madam. 
 
 Kath. In which I haue commended to his goodnefle 
 The Modell of our chafte loues : his yong daughter, 
 The dewes of Heauen fall thicke in Bleflings on her, 
 Befeeching him to giue her vertuous breeding. 
 She is yong, and of a Noble modeft Nature, 
 I hope flie will deferue well ; and a little 
 To loue her for her Mothers fake, that lou'd him, 
 Heauen knowes how deerely. 
 My next poore Petition, 
 
 Is, that his Noble Grace would haue fome pittie 
 Vpon my wretched women, that fo long 
 Haue follow'd both my Fortunes, faithfully, 
 Of which there is not one, I dare auow 
 (And now I fliould not lye) but will deferue 
 For Vertue,and true Beautie of the Soule, 
 For honeftie,and decent Carriage 
 A right good Husband (let him be a Noble) 
 And fure thofe men are happy that fliall haue 'em. 
 The laft is for my men, they are the pooreft, 
 (But pouerty could neuer draw 'em from me) 
 That they may haue their wages, duly paid 'em, 
 And fomething ouer to remember me by. 
 If Heauen had pleas'd to haue giuen me longer life 
 And able meanes, we had not parted thus. 
 Thefe are the whole Contents, and good my Lord, 
 By that you loue the deereft in this world, 
 As you wifli Chriftian peace to foules departed, 
 Stand thefe poore peoples Friend, and vrge the King 
 To do me this laft right. 
 
 Cap. By Heauen I will, 
 Or let me loofe the fafhion of a man. 
 
 Katb. I thanke you honeft Lord. Remember me 
 In all humilitie vnto his Highnefle : 
 Say his long trouble now is pafling 
 Out of this world. Tell him in death I bleft him 
 (For fo I will) mine eyes grow dimme. Farewell 
 My Lord. Griffith farewell. Nay "Patience, 
 Vou muft not leaue me yet. I muft to bed, 
 Call in more women. When I am dead, good Wench, 
 Let me be vs'd with Honor; ftrew me ouer 
 With Maiden Flowers, that all the world may know 
 I was a chafte Wife, to my Graue : Embalme me, 
 Then lay me forth (although vnqueen'd) yet like 
 A Queene, and Daughter to a King enterre me. 
 lean no more. 
 
 Exeunt leading Katberine. 
 
 Scena
 
 The Life offing Henry the Eight. 
 
 227 
 
 Aftus Quintus. Scena ^Prima. 
 
 Enter Gardiner ~BiJhop of Wincbefter, a Pige with a Torch 
 before him, met by Sir Thomas Louell. 
 
 Card. It's one a clocke Boy, is' t not. 
 
 'Boy. It hath ftrooke. 
 
 Card. Thefe ihould be houres for necefsities, 
 Not for delights : Times to repayre our Nature 
 With comforting repofe, and not for vs 
 To wafte thefe times. Good houre of night Sir Thomas: 
 Whether fo late ? 
 
 Lou. Came you from the King, my Lord? 
 
 Gar. I did Sir Thomas, and left him at Primero 
 With the DukeofSuffolke. 
 
 Lou. I muft to him too 
 Before he go to bed. He take my leaue. 
 
 Card. Not yet Sir Thomas Louell'. what's the matter? 
 It feemes you are in haft : and if there be 
 No great offence belongs too't, giue your Friend 
 Some touch of your late bufinefle : Affaires that walke 
 (As they lay Spirits do) at midnight, haue 
 In them a wilder Nature, then the bufinefle 
 That feekes difpatch by day. 
 
 Lou. My Lord, I loue you ; 
 And durft commend a fecret to your eare 
 Much waightier then this worke. The Qiaeens in Labor 
 They fay in great Extremity, and fear'd 
 Shee'l with the Labour, end. 
 
 Card. The fruite /he goes with 
 I pray for heartily, that it may finde 
 Good time, and liue : but for the Stocke Sir Thomas, 
 I wifh it grubb'd vp now. 
 
 Lou. Me thinkes I could 
 Cry the Amen, and yet my Confcience fayes 
 Shee's a good Creature, and fweet-Ladie do's 
 Deferue our better wiflies. 
 
 Card. But Sir, Sir, 
 
 Heare me Sir Thomas, y'are a Gentleman 
 Of mine owne way. I know you Wife, Religious, 
 And let me tell you, it will ne're be well, 
 'Twill not Sir Thomas Louell, tak't of me, 
 Till Cranmer,Cromwel, her two hands, and fhee 
 Sleepe in their Graues. 
 
 Louell. Now Sir, you fpeake of two 
 The moft remark'd i'th'Kingdome : as for Cromwell, 
 Befide that of the lewell-Houfe, is made Mafter 
 O'th'Rolles, and the Kings Secretary. Further Sir, 
 Stands in the gap and Trade of moe Preferments, 
 With which the Lime will loade him. Th'Archbyfliop 
 Is the Kings hand, and tongue,and who dare fpeak 
 One fyllable againft him ? 
 
 Card. Yes, yes, Sir Thomas, 
 
 There are that Dare, and I my felfe haue ventur'd 
 To fpeake my minde of him : and indeed this day, 
 Sir (I may tell it you) I thinke I haue 
 Incenft the Lords o'th'Councell, that he is 
 (For fo I know he is, they know he is) 
 A moft Arch-Heretique, a Peftilence 
 That does infecT: the Land : with which, they moued 
 Haue broken with the King, who hath fo farre 
 Giuen eare to our Complaint, of his great Grace, 
 And Princely Care, fore-feeing thofe fell Mifchiefes, 
 
 563 
 
 Our Reafons layd before him, hath commanded 
 To morrow Morning to the Councell Boord 
 He be conuented. He's a ranke weed Sir Thomas, 
 And we muft root him out. From your Affaires 
 I hinder you too long :Good night, Sir Thomas. 
 
 Exit Gardiner and Page. 
 
 Lou.Many good nights, my Lord, I reft your feruant. 
 Enter King and Sujfolke. 
 
 King. Charles, I will play no more to night, 
 My mindes not on't, you are too hard for me. 
 
 Sujf. Sir, I did neuer win of you before, 
 
 King. But little Charles, 
 Nor lhall not when my Fancies on my play. 
 Now Louel, from the Queene what is the Newes. 
 
 Lou. I could not perfonally deliuer to her 
 What you commanded me, but by her woman, 
 I fent your Meffage, who return'd her thankes 
 In the great'ft humbleneffe, and defir'd your Highnefle 
 Moft heartily to pray for her. 
 
 King. What fay'ft thou? Ha ? 
 To pray for her? What, is Ihe crying out ? 
 
 Lou. So faid her woman, and that her fuffhmce made 
 Almoft each pang,a death. 
 
 King. Alas good Lady . 
 
 Suf. God fafely quit her of her Burthen, and 
 With gentle Trauaile, to the gladding of 
 Your HighnefTe with an Heire. 
 
 King. 'Tis midnight Charles, 
 Prythee to bed, and in thy Prayres remember 
 Th'eftate of my poore Queene. Leaue me alone, 
 For I muft thinke of that, which company 
 Would not be friendly too. 
 
 Suf. I wifh your Highneffe 
 A quiet night, and my good Miftris will 
 Remember in my Prayers. 
 
 King. Charles good night. Exit Suffdke. 
 
 Well Sir, what followes ? 
 
 Snter Sir Anthony Denny. 
 
 Den. Sir, I haue brought my Lord the Arch-byfliop, 
 As you commanded me. 
 
 King. Ha? Canterbury ? 
 
 Den. I my good Lord. 
 
 King. 'Tis true : where is he Denny ? 
 
 Den. He attends your Highnefle pleafure. 
 
 King. Bring him to Vs. 
 
 Lou. This is about that, which the Byfhop fpake, 
 I am happily come hither. 
 
 Enter Cranmer and Denny. 
 
 King. Auoyd the Gallery. Louel feemes to flay. 
 
 Ha? I haue faid. Begone. 
 What ? Exeunt Louell and Denny. 
 
 Cran. I am fearefull : Wherefore frownes he thus f 
 'Tis his Afpecl of Terror. All's not well. 
 
 King. How now my Lord ? 
 You do defire to know wherefore 
 I fent for you. 
 
 Cran. It is my dude 
 T'attend your Highnefle pleafure* 
 
 King. Pray you arife 
 
 My good and gracious Lord of Canterburie : 
 Come, you and I muft walke a turne together:, 
 I haue Newes to tell you. 
 Come, come, giue me your hand. 
 Ah my good Lord, I greeue at what I fpeake, 
 And am right forrie to repeat what followes. 
 I haue, and moft vnwillingly of late 
 
 x 2 Heard
 
 228 
 
 The Life offing Henry the Eight. 
 
 Heard many greeuous. I do fay my Lord 
 
 Greeuous complaints of you ; which being confider'd, 
 
 Haue mou'd Vs, and our Councell, that you fliall 
 
 This Morning come before vs, where I know 
 
 You cannot with fuch freedome purge your felfe, 
 
 But that till further Triall, in thofe Charges 
 
 Which will require your Anfwer, you muft take 
 
 Your patience to you, and be well contented 
 
 To make your houfe our Towre : you, a Brother of vs 
 
 It fits we thus proceed, or elfe no witnefle 
 
 Would come againft you. 
 
 Cran. I humbly thanke your HighnefTe, 
 And am right glad to catch this good occafion 
 Moft throughly to be winnowed, where my Chaffe 
 And Corne fliall flye afunder. For I know 
 There's none ftands vnder more calumnious tongues, 
 Then I my felfe, poore man. 
 
 King. Stand vp, good Canterbury, 
 Thy Truth, and thy Integrity is rooted 
 In vs thy Friend. Giue me thy hand, ftand vp, 
 Prythee let's walke. Now by my Holydame, 
 What manner of man are you ? My Lord, I look'd 
 You would haue giuen me your Petition, that 
 I fhould haue tane fome paines, to bring together 
 Your felfe, and your Accufers, and to haue heard you 
 Without indurance further. 
 
 Cran. Moft dread Liege, 
 
 The good I ftand on, is my Truth and Honeftie : 
 If they fliall faile, I with mine Enemies 
 Will triumph o're my perfon, which I waigh not, 
 Being of thofe Vertues vacant. I feare nothing 
 What can be faid againft me. 
 
 King. Know you not 
 
 How your ftate ftands i'th'world, with the whole world? 
 Your Enemies are many, and not fmall ; their pradifes 
 Muft beare the fame proportion, and not euer 
 The luftice and rhe Truth o'th'queftion carries 
 The dew o'th'Verdidl with it; at what eafe 
 Might corrupt mindes procure^ Knaues as corrupt 
 To fweare againft you : Such things haue bene done. 
 You are Potently oppos'd, and with a Malice 
 Of as great Size. Weene you of better lucke, 
 I meane in periur'd Witnefie, then your Matter, 
 Whofe Minifter you are, whiles heere he liu'd 
 Vpon this naughty Earth? Go too, go too, 
 You take a Precepit for no leape of danger, 
 And woe your owne deftrudYion. 
 
 Cran. God, and your Maiefty 
 Protedl mine innocence, or I fall into 
 The trap is laid for me. 
 
 King. Be of good cheere, 
 
 They fhall no more preuaile, then we giue way too : 
 Keepe comfort to you, and this Morning fee 
 You do appeare before them. If they fliall chance 
 In charging you with matters, to commit you : 
 The beft perfwafions to the contrary 
 Faile not to vfe, and with what vehemencie 
 Th'occafion fliall inftru<5l you. If intreaties 
 Will render you no remedy, this Ring 
 Deliuer them, and your Appeale to vs 
 There make before them. Looke, the goodman weeps : 
 He's honeft on mine Honor. Gods bleft Mother, 
 I fweare he is true-hearted, and a foule 
 None better in my Kingdome. Get you gone, 
 And do as I haue bid you. Exit Cranmer. 
 
 He ha's ftrangled his Language in his teares. 
 
 Enter Olde Lady. 
 
 Gent.nitbin. Come backe : what meane you? 
 Lady, lie not come backe, the tydings that I bring 
 Will make my boldnefie, manners. Now good Angels 
 Fly o're thy Royall head, and fliade thy perfon 
 Vnder their blefled wings. 
 
 King. Now by thy lookes 
 I gefle thy MefTage. Is the Queene deliuer'd ? 
 Say I, and of a boy. 
 
 Lady. 1,1 my Liege, 
 And of a louely Boy : the God of heauen 
 Both now, and euer blelTe her : 'Tis a Gyrle 
 Promifes Boyes heereafter. Sir, your Queen 
 Defires your Vifitation, and to be 
 Acquainted with this ftranger; 'tis as like you, 
 As Cherry, is to Cherry. 
 
 King. LouelL 
 
 Lou. Sir. 
 
 King. Giue her an hundred Markes. 
 He to the Queene. Exit King. 
 
 Lady, An hundred Markes? By this light, He ha more. 
 An ordinary Groome is for fuch payment. 
 I will haue more, or fcold it out of him. 
 Said I for this, the Gyrle was like to him? He 
 Haue more, or elfe vnfay't : and now, while 'tis hot, 
 He put it to the iflue. Exit Ladle. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Qranmcr, Arc bbyjhop of Canterbury. 
 
 Cran. I hope I am not too late, and yet the Gentleman 
 That was fent to me from the Councell, pray'd me 
 To make great haft. All faft ? What meanes this? Hoa? 
 Who waites there ? Sure you know me? 
 Enter Keeper. 
 
 Keep. Yes, my Lord : 
 But yet I cannot helpe you. 
 
 Cran. Why? 
 
 Keep. Your Grace muft waight till you be call'd for. 
 Enter Dofior 'Butt. 
 
 Cran. So. 
 
 Buts. This is a Peere of Malice : I am glad 
 I came this way fo happily. The King 
 Shall vnderftand it presently. Exit 'Buts 
 
 Cran. Tis 'Buts. 
 
 The Kings Phyfitian, as he paft along 
 How earneftly he caft his eyes vpon me : 
 Pray heauen he found not my difgrace : for certaine 
 This is of purpole laid by fome that hate me, 
 ('God turne their hearts, I neuer fought their malice) 
 To quench mine Honor ; they would fliame to make me 
 Wait elfe at doore : a fellow Councellor 
 'Mong Boyes, Groomes, and Lackeyes. 
 But their pleafures 
 Muft be fulfill'd, and I attend with patience. 
 
 Enter the King, and Buts, at a Windo-ae 
 aboue. 
 
 "But!. lie fhew your Grace the ftrangeft fight. 
 King. What's that 'Buts ? 
 
 Buts 
 564
 
 The Life offing Henry the Eight. 
 
 229 
 
 'B ut ts. I thinke your HighnefTe fa\v this many a day. 
 
 Kin. Body a me : where is it ? 
 
 'Butts. There my Lord : 
 
 The high promotion of his Grace of Canterbury ', 
 Who holds his State at dore 'mongft Purfeuants, 
 Pages, and Foot-boyes. 
 
 Kin. Ha ? 'Tis he indeed. 
 Is this the Honour they doe one another ? 
 'Tis well there's one aboue 'em yet; I had thought 
 They had parted fo much honefty among 'em, 
 At leaft good manners; as not thus to fuffer 
 A man of his Place, and fo neere our fauour 
 To dance attendance on their Lordfhips pleafures, 
 And at the dore too, like a Poft with Packets : 
 By holy Mary (Butts) there's knauery; 
 Let 'em alone, and draw the Curtaine clofe : 
 We fhall heare more anon. 
 
 A Councell Table brought in rvith Chayres and Stooles, and 
 
 placed -under the State. Enter Lord Cbancellour, places 
 
 bimfelfe at the -upper end of the Table, on the left band : A 
 
 State being left -void aboue him, at for Canterburies Seate. 
 
 Duly: of Suffbltp, Du{e of Norfoll^e, Surrey, Lord Cbam- 
 
 berlaine, Gardiner, feat tbemjelues in Order on each fide. 
 
 Cromwell at lower end} M Secretary. 
 
 Chan. Speake to the bufinefie, M. Secretary; 
 " hy are we met in Councell ? 
 
 Crom. Pleafe your Honours, 
 * n e chiefe caufe concernes his Grace of Canterbury. 
 
 Cfard. Ha's he had knowledge of it ? 
 
 Crom. Yes. 
 
 Norf. Who waits there' 
 
 Keep. Without my Noble Lords ? 
 
 Card. Yes. 
 
 Keep. My Lord Archbifhop : 
 And ha's done halfe an houre to know your pleafures. 
 
 Chan. Let him come in. 
 
 Keep. Your Grace may enter now. 
 
 Cranmer approches the Councell Table. 
 
 Chan. My good Lord Archbifhop, I'm very forry 
 To fit heere at this prefent,and behold 
 That Chayre ftand empty : But we all are men 
 In our owne natures fraile, and capable 
 Of our flefh, few are Angels; out of which frailty 
 And want of wifedome, you that beft fhould teach vs, 
 Haue mifdemean'd your felfe,and not a little : 
 Toward the King firft, then his Lawes, in filling 
 The whole Realme, by your teaching & your Chaplaines 
 (For fo we are inform'd) with new opinions, 
 Diuers and dangerous ; which are Herefies ; 
 And not reform'd, may proue pernicious. 
 
 Card. Which Reformation muft be fodaine too 
 My Noble Lords; for thofe that tame wild Horfes, 
 Pace 'em not in their hands to make 'em gentle; 
 But flop their mouthes with ftubborn Bits & fpurre 'em, 
 Till they obey the mannage. If we fuffer 
 Out of our eafinefle and childifh pitty 
 To one mans Honour, this contagious ficknefle ; 
 Farewell all Phyficke: and what followes then? 
 Commotions, vprores, with a generall Taint 
 Of the whole State; as of late dayes our neighbours, 
 The vpper Germany can deerely witnefle : 
 Yet frefhly pittied in our memories. 
 
 Cran. My good Lords ; Hitherto, in all the Progrefle 
 Both of my Life and Office,! haue labour'd, 
 And with no little ftudy, that my teaching 
 
 S6S 
 
 And the ftrong courfe of my Authority, 
 
 Might goe one way, and fafely;and the end 
 
 Was euer to doe well : nor is there liuing, 
 
 (I fpeake it with a fmgle heart, my Lords) 
 
 A man that more detefts, more ftirres againft, 
 
 Both in his priuate Confcience, and his place, 
 
 Defacers of a publique peace then I doe : 
 
 Pray Heauen the King may neuer find a heart 
 
 With lefTe Allegeance in it. Men that make 
 
 Enuy, and crooked malice, nourifhment ; 
 
 Dare bite the beft. 1 doe befeech your Lord/hips, 
 
 That in this cafe of luftice, my Accufers, 
 
 Be what they will, may ftand forth face to face, 
 
 And freely vrge againft me. 
 
 Suff. Nay, my Lord, 
 That cannot be; you are a Counfellor, 
 And by that vertue no man dare accufe you. (ment, 
 
 Card. My Lord, becaufe we haue bufines of more mo- 
 We will be fhort with you. 'Tis his Highnefie pleafure 
 And our confent, for better tryall of you, 
 From hence you be committed to the Tower, 
 Where being but a priuate man againe, 
 You fhall know many dare accufe you boldly, 
 More then (I feare) you are prouided for. 
 
 Cran. Ah my good Lord of Wincbefler : I thanke you, 
 You are alwayes my good Friend, if your will pafTe, 
 I fhall both firide your Lordfhip, ludge and luror, 
 You are fo mercifull. I fee your end, 
 'Tis my vndoing. Loue and meekenefTe, Lord 
 Become a Churchman, better then Ambition : 
 Win ftraying Soules with modefty againe, 
 Caft none away : That I fhall cleere my felfe, 
 Lay all the weight ye can vpon my patience, 
 I make as little doubt as you doe confcience, 
 In doing dayly wrongs. I could fay more, 
 But reuerence to your calling, makes me modeft. 
 
 Card. My Lord, my Lord, you are a Sectary, 
 That's the plaine truth ; your painted glofle difcouers 
 To men that vnderftand you, words and weakneffe. 
 
 Qrom. My Lord of IFWif/fcr, y'are a little, 
 By your good fauour, too fharpe; Men fo Noble, 
 How euer faultly, yet fhould finde refpecl 
 For what they haue beene : 'tis a cruelty, 
 To load a falling man. 
 
 Card. Good M. Secretary, 
 I cry your Honour mercie; you may worft 
 Of all this Table fay fo. 
 
 Crom. Why my Lord? 
 Card. Doe not I know you for a Fauourer 
 Of this new Sect? ye are not found. 
 
 Crom. Not found ? 
 
 Gard. Not found I fay. 
 
 Crom. Would you were halfe fo honeft : 
 Mens prayers then would feeke you, not their feares. 
 Cfard. I fhall remember this bold Language. 
 
 Crom. Doe. 
 Remember your bold life too. 
 
 Cham. This is too much; 
 Forbeare for fhame my Lords. 
 
 Gard. I haue done. 
 
 Crom. And I. 
 
 Cham. Then thus for you my Lord, it ftands agreed 
 I take it, by all voyces : That forthwith, 
 You be conuaid to th' Tower a Prifoner; 
 There to remaine till the Kings further pleafure 
 Be knowne vnto vs : are you all agreed Lords. 
 
 All
 
 230 
 
 The Life of %jng Henry the Eight. 
 
 All. We are. 
 
 Cran. Is there no other way of mercy, 
 But I muft needs to th' Tower my Lords? 
 
 Card. What other, 
 
 Would you expe& ? You are ftrangely troublefome : 
 Let fome o'th' Guard be ready there. 
 Enter the Guard. 
 
 Cran, For me ? 
 Muft I goe like a Traytor thither ? 
 
 Card. Receiue him, 
 And fee him fafe i'th' Tower. 
 
 Cran. Stay good my Lords, 
 I haue a little yet to fay. Looke there my Lords, 
 By vertue of that Ring, I take my caufe 
 Out of the gripes of cruell men, and giue it 
 To a moft Noble ludge, the King my Maifter. 
 
 Cham. This is the Kings Ring. 
 
 Sur. Tis no counterfeit. 
 
 Suff. 'Ts the right Ring, by Heau'n: I told ye all, 
 When we firft put this dangerous ftone a rowling, 
 'Twold fall vpon our felues. 
 
 Norf. Doe you thinke my Lords 
 The King will fuffer but the little finger 
 Of this man to be vex'd? 
 
 Cham. Tis now too certaine; 
 How much more is his Life in value with him? 
 Would I were fairely out on't. 
 
 Cram. My mind gaue me, 
 In feeking tales and Informations 
 Againft this man, whofe honefty the Diuell 
 And his Difciples onely enuy at, 
 Ye blew the fire that burnes ye: now haue at ye. 
 
 Enter King f reaming on them, takes bis Seate. 
 
 Card. Dread Soueraigne, 
 How much are we bound to Heauen, 
 In dayly thankes; that gaue vs fuch a Prince; 
 Not onely good and wife, but moft religious: 
 One that in all obedience, makes the Church 
 The cheefe ayme of his Honour, and to ftrengthen 
 That holy duty out of deare refpect, 
 His Royall felfe in ludgement comes to heare 
 The caufe betwixt her, and this great offender. 
 
 Kin. You were euer good at fodaine Commendations, 
 Bifliop of Wincbefter. But know I come not 
 To heare fuch flattery now, and in my prefence 
 They are too thin, and bafe to hide offences, 
 To me you cannot reach. You play the Spaniell, 
 And thinke with wagging of your tongue to win me : 
 But whatfoere thou tak'ft me for; I'm fure 
 Thou haft a cruell Nature and a bloody. 
 Good man fit downe : Now let me fee the proudeft 
 Hee, that dares moft, but wag his finger at thee. 
 By all that's holy, he had better ftarue, 
 Then but once thinke his place becomes thee not. 
 
 Sur. May it pleafe your Grace; 
 
 Kin. No Sir, it doe's not pleafe me, 
 I had thought, I had had men of fome vnderftanding, 
 And wifedome of my Councell; but I finde none : 
 Was it difcretion Lords, to let this man, 
 This good man (few of you deferue that Title) 
 This honeft man, wait like a lowfie Foot-boy 
 At Chamber dore ? and one, as great as you are? 
 Why, what a fhame was this ? Did my Commiffion 
 Bid ye fo farre forget your felues? I gaue ye 
 Power, as he was a Counfellour to try him, 
 
 Not as a Groome : There's fome of ye, I fee, 
 More out of Malice then Integrity, 
 Would trye him to the vtmoft, had ye meane, 
 Which ye fliall neuer haue while I liue. 
 
 Chan. Thus farre 
 
 My moft dread Soueraigne, may it like your Grace, 
 To let my tongue excufe all. What was purpos'd 
 Concerning his Imprifonment, was rather 
 (If there be faith in men) meant for bisTryall, 
 And faire purgation to the world then malice, 
 I'm fure in me. 
 
 Kin. Well, well my Lords refpedt him, 
 Take him, and vfe him well; hee's worthy of it. 
 I will fay thus much for him, if a Prince 
 May be beholding to a Subiedl ; I 
 Am for his loue and feruice, fo to him. 
 Make me no more adoe, but all embrace him ; 
 Be friends for fliame my Lords : My Lord of Canterbury 
 I haue a Suite which you muft not deny mee. 
 That is, a faire young Maid that yet wants Baptifme, 
 You muft be Godfather, and anfwere for her. 
 
 Cran. The greateft Monarch now aliue may glory 
 In fuch an honour : how may I deferue it, 
 That am a poore and humble Subiedl to you ? 
 
 Kin. Come, come my Lord, you'd fpare your fpoones; 
 You fliall haue two noble Partners with you : the old 
 Duchefie of Norfol^e, and Lady Marquefle Dorfet ? will 
 thefe pleafe you ? 
 
 Once more my Lord of Wmcbefter, I charge you 
 Embrace, and loue this man. 
 
 Card. With a true heart, 
 And Brother; loue I doe it. 
 
 Cran. And let Heauen 
 Witnefle how deare, I hold this Confirmation, (hearts, 
 
 Kin. Good Man, thofe ioyfull teares fhew thy true 
 The common voyce I fee is verified 
 
 Of thee, which fayes thus : Doe my Lord of Canterbury 
 A flirewd turne, and hee's your friend for euer : 
 Come Lords, we trifle time away : I long 
 To haue this young one made a Chriftian. 
 As I haue made ye one Lords, one remaine: 
 So I grow ftronger, you more Honour gaine. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Tertia. 
 
 Ncyfe and Tumult within : Enter Porter and 
 
 bis man. 
 
 Port. You'l leaue your noyfe anon ye Rafcals : doe 
 you take the Court for Parifh Garden : ye rude Slaues, 
 leaue your gaping: 
 
 Within. Good M. Porter I belong to th' Larder. 
 Port. Belong to th' Gallovves, and be hang'd ye Rogue: 
 Is this a place to roare in ? Fetch me a dozen Crab-tree 
 ftaues, and ftrong ones ; thefe are but fwitches to 'em : 
 lie fcratch your heads ; you muft be feeing Chriftenings? 
 Do you looke for Ale, and Cakes heere, you rude 
 Raskalls? 
 
 Man. Pray Sir be patient; 'tis as much impofiible, 
 VnleflTe wee fweepe 'em from the dore with Cannons, 
 To fcatter 'em, as 'tis to make 'em flcepe 
 On May-day Morning, which will neuer be : 
 We may as well pufh againft Powles as ftirre 'em. 
 Tor. How got they in, and be hang'd ? 
 
 Man. 
 
 566 "
 
 'The Life ofJ^ing Henry the Eight. 
 
 231 
 
 Man. Alas I know not, how gets the Tide in ? 
 As much as one found Cudgell of foure foote, 
 (You fee the poore remainder) could diftribute, 
 I made no fpare Sir. 
 
 Port. You did nothing Sir. 
 
 Man. I am not Sampfon, nor Sir Cfuy, nor Colebrand, 
 To mow 'em downe before me : but if I fpar'd any 
 That had a head to hit, either young or old, 
 He or fliee, Cuckold or Cuckold -maker : 
 Let me ne're hope to fee a Chine againe, 
 And that I would not for a Cow, God faue her. 
 
 Within. Do you heare M. Porter ? 
 
 Port. I {hall be with you prefently, good M. Puppy, 
 Keepe the dore clofe Sirha. 
 
 Man. What would you haue me doe ? 
 
 For. What fliould you doe, 
 
 But knock 'em downe by th' dozens ? Is this More fields, 
 to mufter in ? Or haue wee fome ftrange Indian with the 
 great Took, come to Court, the women fo befiege vs? 
 Blefle me, what a fry of Fornication is at dore ? On my 
 Chriftian Confcience this one Chriftening will beget a 
 thoufand , here will bee Father, God-father, and all to- 
 gether. 
 
 Man. The Spoones will be the bigger Sir : There is 
 a fellow fomewhat neere the doore, he fliould be a Brafi- 
 er by his face, for o'my confcience twenty of the Dog- 
 dayes now reigne in's Nofe; all that ftand about him are 
 vnder the Line, they need no other pennance : that Fire- 
 Drake did I hit three times on the head, and three times 
 was his Nofe difcharged againft mee ; hee Hands there 
 like a Morter-piece to blow vs. There was a Habberda- 
 fliers Wife of fmall wit, neere him, that rail'd vpon me, 
 till her pinck'd porrenger fell off her head, for kindling 
 fuch a combuftion in the State. I mift the Meteor once, 
 and hit that Woman, who cryed out Clubbes, when I 
 might fee from farre, fome forty Truncheoners draw to 
 her fuccour, which were the hope o'th' Strond where flie 
 was quartered ; they fell on, I made good my place ; at 
 length they came to th' broome ftaffe to me, 1 deride 'em 
 ftil, when fodainly a File of Boyes behind 'em, loofe fliot, 
 deliuer'd fuch a fliowre of Pibbles, that I was faine to 
 draw mine Honour in, and let 'em win the Worke, the 
 Diuell was amongft 'em I thinke furely. 
 
 Tor. Thefe are the youths that thunder at a Playhoufe, 
 and fight for bitten Apples, that no Audience but the 
 tribulation of Tower Hill, or the Limbes of Limehoufe, 
 their deare Brothers are able to endure. I haue fome of 
 'em in Limbo Tatrum, and there they are like to dance 
 thefe three dayes; befides the running Banquet of two 
 Beadles, that is to come. 
 
 Enter Lord Chamber laine. 
 
 Cham. Mercy o' me : what a Multitude are heere ? 
 They grow ftill too; from all Parts they are comming, 
 As if we kept a Faire heere? Where are thefe Porters ? 
 Thefe lazy knaues ? Y'haue made a fine hand fellowes ? 
 Theres a trim rabble let in: are all thefe 
 Your faithfull ftiends o'th' Suburbs? We fliall haue 
 Great ftore of roome no doubt, left for the Ladies, 
 When they pafle backe from the Chriftening ? 
 
 Par. And't pleafe your Honour, 
 We are but menjand what fo many may doe, 
 Not being torne a pieces, we haue done : 
 An Army cannot rule 'em. 
 
 Cham. As I Hue, 
 If the King blame me for't ; He lay ye all 
 
 567 
 
 By th' heeles, and fodainly:and on your heads 
 Clap round Fines fornegledt : y'are lazy knaues, 
 And heere ye lye baiting of Bombards, when 
 Ye fliould doe Seruice. Harke the Trumpets found, 
 Th'are come already from the Chriftening, 
 Go breake among the preafle, and finde away out 
 To let the Troope pafle fairely; or He finde 
 A Marfliallfey , flull hold ye play thefe two Monthes. 
 Tor. Make way there, for the Princefle. 
 
 Man. You great fellow, 
 Stand clofe vp, or lie make your head ake. 
 
 Par. You i'th'Chamblet,get vp o'th'raile, 
 lie pecke you o're the pales elle. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Quarta. 
 
 Enter Trumpets founding : Then two Aldermen, L. Maior, 
 Garter, Cranmer, Dufe of Norfoll^e with his Marjhals 
 Staffe, Du^e of Suffol^e, two Noblemen, bearing great 
 jianding 'Bowles for the Chriftening Guifts : Then foure 
 Noblemen bearing a Qanopy, tinder which the DutcheJJe of 
 Norfoll^e, Godmother, bearing the Childe richly habited in 
 a Mantle, &c. Traine borne by a Lady : Then followes 
 the MarchioneJJe Dorjet , the other Cfodmother, and La- 
 dies. The Troope pajje once about the Stage, and Gar- 
 ter fpeafes. 
 Gart. Heauen 
 
 From thy endlefle goodnefle, fend profperous life, 
 
 Long, and euer happie, to the high and Mighty 
 
 Princeffe of England Elizabeth. 
 
 Flourijh. Enter King and Guard. 
 
 Cran. And to your Royall Grace, & the good Queen, 
 My Noble Partners, and my felfe thus pray 
 All comfort, ioy in this moft gracious Lady, 
 Heauen euer laid vp to make Parents happy, 
 May hourely fall vpon ye. 
 
 Kin. Thanke you good Lord Archbifliop : 
 What is her Name ? 
 
 Cran. Slixabetb. 
 
 Kin. Stand vp Lord, 
 
 With this Kifie, take my Blefiing : God proted thee, 
 Into whofe hand, I giue thy Life. 
 
 Cran. Amen . 
 
 Kin. My Noble Goflips, y'haue beene too Prodigally 
 I thanke ye heartily : So fliall this Lady, 
 When flie ha's fo much Englifli. 
 
 Cran. Let me fpeake Sir, 
 
 For Heauen now bids me; and the words I vtter, 
 Let none thinke Flattery; forthey'l finde 'em Truth. 
 This Royall Infant, Heauen ftill moue about her; 
 Though in her Cradle; yet now promifes 
 Vpon this Land a thouland thoufand Bleffings, 
 Which Time fliall bring to ripenefie : She fliall be, 
 (But few now liuing can behold that goodnefle) 
 A Patterne to all Princes liuing with her, 
 And all that fliall fucceed : Saba was neuer 
 More couetous of Wifedome, and faire Vertue 
 Then this pure Soule fliall be. All Princely Graces 
 That mould vp fuch a mighty Piece as this is, 
 With all the Vertues that attend the good, 
 Shall ftill be doubled on her. Truth fliall Nurfe her, 
 
 Holy
 
 232 
 
 The Life of I\Jng Henry the Eight. 
 
 Holy and Heauenly thoughts ftill Counfell her : 
 
 She fliall be lou'd and fear'd. Her owne fliall blefle herj 
 
 Her Foes fliake like a Field of beaten Corne, 
 
 And hang their heads with forrow : 
 
 Good growes with her. 
 
 In her dayes, Euery Man fliall eate in lafety, 
 
 Vnder his owne Vine what he plants; and fmg 
 
 The merry Songs of Peace to all his Neighbours. 
 
 God fliall be truely knowne, and thofe about her, 
 
 From her fliall read the perfect way of Honour, 
 
 And by thofe claime their greatne(Te;not by Blood. 
 
 Nor fliall this peace fleepe with her : But as when 
 
 The Bird of Wonder dyes, the Mayden Phoenix, 
 
 Her Aflies new create another Heyre, 
 
 As great in admiration as her felfe. 
 
 So fliall flie leaue her Bleflednefle to One, 
 
 (When Heauen flial call her from this clowd of darknes) 
 
 Who, from the facred Arties of her Honour 
 
 Shall Star-like rife, as great in fame as flie was, 
 
 And fo ftand fix'd. Peace, Plenty, Loue, Truth, Terror, 
 
 That were the Seruants to this chofen Infant, 
 
 Shall then be his, and like a Vine grow to him ; 
 
 Where euer the bright Sunne of Heauen fliall fliine, 
 
 His Honour,and the greatnefle of his Name, 
 
 Shall be, and make new Nations. He fliall flourifli, 
 
 And like a Mountaine Cedar, reach his branches, 
 
 To all the Plaines about him : Our Childrens Children 
 
 Shall fee this, and blefle Heauen. 
 
 Kin. Thou fpeakeft wonders. 
 
 Cran. She fliall be to the happinefle of England, 
 An aged Princefle ; many dayes fliall fee her, 
 And yet no day without a deed to Crowne it. 
 Would I had knowne no more : But flie muft dye, 
 She muft, the Saints muft haue her ; yet a Virgin, 
 A moft vnfpotted Lilly fliall flie pafle 
 To th' ground, and all the World fliall mourne her. 
 
 Kin. O Lord Archbifliop 
 Thou haft made me now a man, neuer before 
 This happy Child, did I get any thing. 
 This Oracle of comfort, ha's fo pleas'd me, 
 That when I am in Heauen, I fliall defire 
 To fee what this Child does, and praife my Maker. 
 I thanke ye all. To you my good Lord Maior, 
 And you good Brethren, I am much beholding : 
 I haue receiu'd much Honour by your prefence, 
 And ye fliall find me thankfull. Lead the way Lords, 
 Ye muft all fee the Queene, and flie muft thanke ye, 
 She will be ficke els. This day, no man thinke 
 'Has bufinefle at his houfe; for all fliall ftay: 
 This Little-One fliall make it Holy-day. Exeunt. 
 
 THE EPILOGVE. 
 
 Th ten to one, this Play can neuer pleafe 
 All that are beere : Some come to tatg their eafe, 
 Andjleepe an Aft or two ; but tbofe we feare 
 Wbaue frighted with our Tumpets : fo 'tis cleare, 
 They'l fay tu naught. Others to beare the City 
 Abus'd extreamly,and to cry that's nitty, 
 ff^hicb vet baue not done neither; that Ifeare 
 
 All the expeEted good -dare life to beare. 
 For this Play at this time, onely in 
 The merciful! conftruflion of good women, 
 For Jucb a one wejbew'd 'em : If rbeyfmi/e, 
 And fay twill doe; I fyiorv Trithin a while, 
 All the beft men are ours; for 'tis ill hap, 
 If they bold, when their Ladies bid 'em clap. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 568
 
 The Prologue. 
 
 IN.Troy there lyes the Scene : From lies of Greece 
 The Princes Orgillow , their high blood c ha fd 
 Haue to the Port of Athens fent their Jhippes 
 Fraught with the minijiers and injiruments 
 Of crue II War-re : Sixty and nine that wore 
 Their Qrownets < ^egall t from tb* Athenian bay 
 Put forth toward Phrygia,and their"uo'w is made 
 'To ranfac\e Troy, within whofe Jirong emures 
 The rauiflid Helen, Menelaus Queene, 
 With wanton Paris Jleepes, and that's the Quarrell. 
 To Tenedos they come, 
 And the deepe-dr Owing Barke do there difgorge 
 Their "warlike frautage : now on (Dardan Plaines 
 The frefh and yet i}nbruifed Greenes do pitch 
 Their braue Pauif/tonJ.Ptiams faf gated City* 
 Dardan and Timbria, Helias, Chetas, Troien, 
 And Antenonidus 'with mafsie Staples 
 And correfyonfiue and fulfilling Bolts 
 Stirre*vp the Sonnes of Troy. 
 T&w Expectation tickling skittijh fpirits, 
 On one and other Jide, Troian and Greeks, 
 Sets all on hazard. And hit her am J come, 
 A Prologue arnfd, but not in confidence 
 Of Authors pen y or ASlors "voyce ; butfuited 
 jfn like conditions, a<s our Argument ; 
 To tell you (faire "Beholders) that our Play 
 Leapes ore the 'vaunt and Jirft lings ofthofe broyles, 
 'Beginning in the middle -.Jtarting thence dway, 
 To what may be digejied in a Play : 
 Like, or finde fault, do as your pleafures are, 
 Now good,or bad, 'tis but the chance ofWarre. 
 
 569
 
 THE TRAGEDIEOF 
 
 Troylus and Crefsida. 
 
 Attus ^Primus. Sc&na Trima. 
 
 Enter Pandarus and Troyltu. 
 
 Troyltu . 
 
 (All here my Varlet,Ile vnarmeagaine. 
 ! Why fhould I warre without the wals of Troy 
 ' That finde fuch cruell battell here within ? 
 1 Each Troian that is mafter of his heart, 
 Let him to field, Troyltu alas hath none. 
 
 Pan. Will this geere nere be mended ? 
 Trey. The Greeks are ftrong,& skilful to their ftrength, 
 Fierce to their skill, and to their fiercenefle Valiant: 
 But I am weaker then a womans teare ; 
 Tamer then fleepe, fonder then ignorance ; 
 Lefle valiant then the Virgin in the night, 
 And skillefle as vnpra&is'd Infancie. 
 
 Pan. Well, I haue told you enough of this : For my 
 part, He not meddle nor make no farther. Hee that will 
 haue a Cake out of the Wheate, muft needes tarry the 
 grinding. 
 
 Trey. Haue I not tarried ? 
 
 Pan. I the grinding ; but you muft tarry the bolting. 
 
 Troy. Haue I not tarried ? 
 
 Pan. I the boulting ; but you muft tarry the leau'mg. 
 
 Troy. Still haue I tarried. 
 
 Pan. I, to the leauening : but heeres yet in the word 
 hereafter, the Kneading, the making of the Cake , the 
 heating of the Ouen, and the Baking; nay, you muft ftay 
 the cooling too, or you may chance to burne your lips. 
 
 Troy. Patience her felfe, what Goddefie ere flie be, 
 Doth lefler blench at fufferance,then I doe : 
 At Priams Royall Table doe I fit ; 
 And when faire CreJJid comes into my thoughts, 
 So (Traitor) then flie comes, when flie is thence. 
 
 Pan. Well : 
 
 She look'd yefternight fairer,then euer I faw her looke, 
 Or any woman elfe. 
 
 Troy. I was about to tell thee, when my heart, 
 As wedged with a figh, would riue in twaine, 
 Leaft Hefior,or my Father ihould perceiue me : 
 I haue (as when the Sunne doth light a-fcorne) 
 Buried this figh, in wrinkle of a fmile : 
 But forrow,that is couch'd in feeming gladnefTe, 
 Is like that mirth, Fate turnes to fudden fadnefie. 
 
 Pan. And her haire were not fomewhat darker then 
 Hclens,vre\l go too, there were no more comparifon be- 
 tweene the Women. But for my part fhe is my Kinfwo- 
 man,I would not (as they tearme it) praife it, but I wold 
 
 fome-body had heard her talke yefterday as I did : J will 
 not difpraife your lifter Cajfandra's wit, but 
 
 Troy. Oh Pandarui \ I tell thee Pandaruf ; 
 When I doe tell thee, there my hopes lye drown'd : 
 Reply not in how many Fadomes deepe 
 They lye indrench'd. I tell thee, I am mad 
 In Crejjidi loue. Thou anfwer'ft flie is Faire, 
 Powr'ft in the open Vlcer of my heart, 
 Her Eyes, her Haire, her Cheeke, her Gate, her Voice, 
 Handleft in thy difcourfe. O that her Hand 
 (In whofe comparifon, all whites are Inke) 
 Writing their owne reproach ; to whofe foft feizure, 
 The Cignets Downe is harfli,and fpirit of Senfe 
 Hard as the palme of Plough-man. This thou tel'ft me ; 
 As true thou tel'ft me, when I fay I loue her : 
 But faying thus,inftead of Oyle and Balme, 
 Thou lai'ft in euery gafti that loue hath giuen me, 
 The Knife that made it. 
 
 Pan. I fpeake no more then truth. 
 
 Troy. Thou do'ft not fpeake fo much. 
 
 Pan. Faith, He not meddle in't : Let her be as fliee is, 
 if flie be faire, 'tis the better for her : and flie be not, flie 
 ha's the mends in her owne hands. 
 
 Troy. Good Pandariu : How now Pandartu ? 
 
 Pan. I haue had my Labour for my trauell,ill thought 
 on of her, and ill thought on of you : Gone betweene and 
 betweene, but fmall thankes for my labour. 
 
 Troy. What art thou angry Pandarui*. what with me ? 
 
 Pan. Becaufe flic's Kinne to me, therefore fliee's not 
 fo faire as Helen, and flie were not kin to me, flie would 
 be as faire on Friday, as Helen is on Sunday. But what 
 care I ? I care not and flie were a Black-a- Moore, 'tis all 
 one to me. 
 
 Troy. Say I flie is not faire ? 
 
 Troy. I doe not care whether you doe or no. Shee's a 
 Foole to ftay behinde her Father : Let her to the Greeks, 
 and fo lie tell her the next time I fee her : for my part, He 
 meddle nor make no more i'th'matter. 
 
 Troy. Pandarus ? Pan. Not I. 
 
 Troy. Sweete Tandarus. 
 
 T-jn. Pray you fpeake no more to me, I will leaue all 
 as I found it,and there an end. Exit Pand. 
 
 Sound Alarum. 
 
 Tro. Peace you vngracious Clamors, peace rude founds, 
 Fooles on both fides, Helen muft needs be faire, 
 When with your bloud you daily paint her thus. 
 I cannot fight vpon this Argument : 
 
 It
 
 The Tragedie of Troylus andQrefsida. 
 
 79 
 
 It is too ftaru'd a fubieft for my Sword, 
 But Pandarui : O Gods I How do you pla gue me ? 
 I cannot come to CreJJtd but by Pandar, 
 And he's as teachy to be woo'd to woe, 
 As fhe is ftubborne, chaft,againft all fuite. 
 Tell me Apollo for thy Daphnes Loue 
 What CreJJtd is,what Pandar,and what we: 
 Her bed is India, there fhe lies, a Pearle, 
 Between our Ilium, and where fhee recides 
 Let it be cald the wild and wandring flood , 
 Ourfelfe the Merchant, and thisfayling Pandar t 
 Our doubtfull hope, our conuoy and our Barke. 
 Alarum. Snter cJEneas. 
 
 vne. How now Prince Troylui ? 
 Wherefore not a field ? 
 
 Troy. Becaufe not there ; this womans anfwer forts. 
 For womanifh it is to be from thence: 
 What newes zsneai from the field to day ? 
 
 fyne. That Paris is returned home, and hurt. 
 
 Troy. By whom ^Eneai ? 
 
 <^ne. Troylui by Menelauf. 
 
 Troy. Let Paris bleed, 'tis but a fear to fcorne, 
 Paris is gor'd with Menelatu home. Alarum. 
 
 cdZne. Harke what good fport is out of Towne to day. 
 
 Troy. Better at home, if would I might were may : 
 But to the fport abroad, are you bound thither? 
 
 exW. In all fwift haft. 
 
 Tray. Come goe wee then togither. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter CreJJtd and her man. 
 Cre. Who were thofe went by ? 
 Man. Queene Hecuba, and Hellen. 
 Cre. And whether go they ? 
 Man. Vp to the Eafterne Tower, 
 Whofe height commands as fubieft all the vaile, 
 To fee the battell : Heflor whofe pacience, 
 Is as a Vertue fixt , to day was mou'd : 
 He chides Andromache and ftrooke his Armorer, 
 And like as there were husbandry in Warre 
 Before the Sunne rofe, hee was harneft lyte, 
 And to the field goe's he; where euery flower 
 Did as a Prophet weepe what it forfaw, 
 InHefiors wrath. 
 
 Cre. What was his caufe of anger ? 
 
 Man. The noife goe's this ; 
 There is among the Greekes, 
 A Lord of Troian blood, Nephew to Heftor t 
 They call him Aiax. 
 
 Cre. Good; and what of him ? 
 
 Man. They fay he is a very man per fe and (lands alone. 
 
 Cre. So do all men, vnlefle they are drunke, ficke,or 
 haue no legges. 
 
 Man. This man Lady, hath rob'd many beafts of their 
 particular additions, he is as valiant as the Lyon,churlifh 
 as the Beare, flow as the Elephant : a man into whom 
 nature hath fo crowded humors, that his valour is crufht 
 into folly, his folly fauced with difcretion : there is no 
 man hath a vertue, that he hath not a glimpfe of, nor a- 
 ny man an attaint, but he carries fome ftaine of it. He is 
 melancholy without caufe, and merry againft the haire, 
 hee hath the ioynts of euery thing, but euery thing fo 
 out ot ioynt, that hee is a gowtie Briaretu, many hands 
 and no vfe ; or purblinded Argus,a\\ eyes and no fight. 
 
 Cre. But how fhould this man that makes me fmile, 
 make Heflor angry? 
 
 Man. They fay he yefterday cop'd Heflor in the bat- 
 tell and ftroke him downe,the difdaind & fhame where- 
 
 57" 
 
 of, hath euer fince kept Heftor fafting and waking. 
 Enter Pandarui. 
 
 Cre. Who comes here ? 
 
 Man. Madam your Vncle Pandarui. 
 
 Cre. Heflors a gallant man. 
 
 Man. As may be in the world Lady. 
 
 Pan. What's thatfwhat's that ? 
 
 Cre. Good morrow Vricle Pandarui. 
 
 Pan. Good morrow Cozen CreJJtd: what do you talke 
 of? good morrow Alexander: how do you Cozen ? when 
 were you at Illium f 
 
 Cre. This morning Vncle. 
 
 Pan. What were you talking of when I came? Was 
 Heftor arm'd and gon ere yea came to Illium? Htllen was 
 not vp ? was fhe ? 
 
 Cre. Heftor was gone but Hellen was not vp ? 
 
 Pan. E'ene fo; Heflor was ftirring early. 
 
 (^re. That were we talking of, and of his anger. 
 
 Pan. Was he angry ? 
 
 Cre. So he faies here. 
 
 Pan. True he was fo; I know the caufe too, heele lay 
 about him to day I can tell them that, and there's Troylui 
 will not come farre behind him , let them take heede of 
 Troylui; I can tell them that too. 
 
 Cre. What is he angry too ? 
 
 Pan. Who Troyltu f 
 Trejhu is the better man of the two. 
 
 Cre. Oh lupiter; the re's no comparifbn. 
 
 Pan. What not betweene Troylui and Heflor ? do you 
 know a man if you fee him ? 
 
 Cre. I, if I euer fawhim before and knew him. 
 
 Pan. Well I fay Troylui is Troylus. 
 
 Cre. Then you fay as I fay, 
 For I am fure he is not Heflor. 
 
 Tan. No not Hector is not Troylui in fome degrees. 
 
 Cre. *Tis iuft,to each of them he is himfelfe. 
 
 Pan. Himfelfe ?alas poore Troylui I would he were. 
 
 Cre. So he is. 
 
 Pan. Condition I had gone bare-foote to India. 
 
 Cre. He is not Heftor. 
 
 Pan. Himfelfe ? no hee's not himfelfe, would a were 
 himfelfe: well, the Gods are aboue, time muft friend or 
 end: well Troyltu well, I would my heart were in her bo- 
 dy; no, Heflor is not a better man then Troylui. 
 
 Cre. Excufe me. 
 
 Pan. He is elder. 
 
 Cre. Pardon me, pardon me. 
 
 Pan. Th'others not come too't, you fhall tell me ano- 
 ther tale when th'others come too't : Heflor fhall not 
 haue his will this yeare. 
 
 Cre. He fhall not neede it if he haue his owne. 
 
 Pan. Nor his qualities. 
 
 Cre. No matter. 
 
 Pan. Nor his beautie. 
 
 Cre. 'Twould not become him, his own's better. 
 
 Pan, You haue no iudgement Neece; Hellen her felfe 
 fwore th'other day that Troylui for a browne fauour (for 
 fo 'tis I muft confefTe ) not browne neither. 
 
 Cre. No , but browne. 
 
 Pan. Faith to fay truth, browne and not browne. 
 
 Cre. To fay the truth, true and not true. 
 
 Pan. She prais'd his complexion aboue Paris. 
 
 Cre. Why Paris hath colour inough. 
 
 Pan. So, he has. 
 
 Cre. Then Troylui fhould haue too much, if fhe prasi'd 
 him aboue, his complexion is higher then his, he hauing 
 
 colour
 
 8o 
 
 'The Tr age die of Troylus and Qrefsida. 
 
 colour enough, and the other higher, is too flaming a 
 praife for a good complexion , I had as lieue Hillens gol- 
 den tongue had commended Troy/us for a copper nole. 
 
 Pan. I fweare to you, 
 I thinke Hellen loues him better then Para. 
 
 Cre. Then fliee's a merry Greeke indeed. 
 
 Jan. Nay I am fure flie does, /he came to him th'other 
 day into the compart- window, and you know he has not 
 part three or foure haires on his chinne. 
 
 Cref. Indeed a Tapfters Arithmetique may foone 
 bring his particulars therein, to a totall. 
 
 Pand. Why he is very yong, and yet will he within 
 three pound lift as much as his brother Heffor. 
 
 Cref. Is he is fo young a man, and fo old a lifter ? 
 
 Pan. But to prooue to you that Hellen loues him, flie 
 came and puts me her white hand to his clouen chin. 
 
 Cref. Juno haue mercy, how came it clouen ? 
 
 Pan. Why, you know 'tis dimpled, 
 I thinke his fmyling becomes him better then any man 
 in all Phrigia. 
 
 Cre. Oh he fmiles valiantly. 
 
 Pan. Dooes hee not? 
 
 Cre. Oh yes, and 'twere a clow'd in Autumne. 
 
 Pan. Why go to then, but to proue to you that Hellen 
 loues Troyltu. 
 
 Qre. Troyltu wil ftand to thee 
 Proofe,if youle prooue it fo. 
 
 Pan. Troyltu? why he efteemes her no more then I e- 
 fteeme an addle egge. 
 
 Cre. If you loue an addle egge as well as you loue an 
 idle head, you would eate chickens i'th'fhell. 
 
 Pan. I cannot chufe but laugh to thinke how flie tick- 
 led his chin, indeed fliee has a maruel's white hand I muft 
 needs confefle. 
 
 Cre. Without the racke. 
 
 Pan. And fliee takes vpon her to fpie a white haire on 
 his chinne. 
 
 Cre. Alas poore chin ? many a wart is richer. 
 
 Pand. But there was fuch laughing, Queene Hecuba 
 laught that her eyes ran ore. 
 
 Cre. With Milftones. 
 
 Pan. And CaJJandra laught. 
 
 Cre. But there was more temperate fire vnder the pot 
 of her eyes : did her eyes run ore too? 
 
 Pan. And Hefior laught. 
 
 Cre. At what was all this laughing ? 
 
 Pand. Marry at the white haire that Hellen fpied on 
 Troyltu chin. 
 
 Cref. And t'had beene a greene haire, I fliould haue 
 laught too. 
 
 Pand. They laught not fo much at the haire, as at his 
 pretty anfwere. 
 
 Cre. What was his anfwere 
 
 Pan. Qu_oth fliee, heere's but two and fifty haires on 
 your chinne;and one of thei/i is white. 
 
 Cre. This is her queftion. 
 
 fan d That's tree, make no queftion of that, two and 
 fiftie haires quoth hee, and one white,that white haire is 
 my Father, and all the reft are his Sonnes. lupiter quoth 
 flie, which of thefe haires is Paris my husband ? The for- 
 ked one quoth he, pluckt out and giue it him : but there 
 was fuch laughing, and Hellen fo bluflit, and Paris fo 
 chaft,and all the reft fo laught, that it paft. 
 
 Cre. So let it now, 
 For is has beene a great while going by. 
 
 Pan. Well Cozen, 
 
 I told you a thing yefterday, think on't. 
 
 Cre. So I does. 
 
 Pand. He be fworne 'tis true, he will weepe you 
 an'twere a man borne in Aprill. Sound a retreats. 
 
 Cref. And He fpring vp in his teares, an'twere a nettle 
 agamftMay. 
 
 Pan. Harke they are comming from the field, flial we 
 ftand vp here and fee them, as they pafle toward lllium, 
 good Neece do,fweet Neece CreJJlda. 
 
 Cre. At your pleafure. 
 
 Pan. Heere,heere, here's an excellent place, heere we 
 may fee moft brauely,Ile tel you them all by their names, 
 as they pafle by, but marke Troyltu aboue the reft. 
 Enter n&neaf. 
 
 Cre. Speake not fo low'd. 
 
 Pan. That's <^neas ,is not that a braue man,hee's one 
 of the flowers of Troy I can you, but merke Troyltu, you 
 flial fee anon. 
 
 Cre. Who's that ? 
 
 Enter Antenor, 
 
 Pan. That's Antenor , he has a fhrow'd wit I can tell 
 you, and hee's a man good inough, hee's one o'th foun- 
 deft iudgement in Troy whofoeuer, and a proper man of 
 perfon:when comes Troyltu ? He fliew you Troyltu anon, 
 if hee fee me, you fliall fee him him nod at me. 
 
 Cre. Will he giue you the nod ? 
 Pan. You fliall fee. 
 
 Cre, If he do, the rich fliall haue, more. 
 Enter Heffor. 
 
 Pan. That's Heffor, that, that, looke you, that there's a 
 fellow. Goe thy way Heffor, there's a braue man Neece, 
 O braue Heffor ! Looke how hee lookes .'there's a coun- 
 tenance; ift not a braue man ? 
 
 Cre. O brane man ! 
 
 Pan. Is a not ? It dooes a mans heart good, looke you 
 what hacks are on his Helmet, looke you yonder, do you 
 fee ? Looke you there .'There's no iefting,laying on,tak't 
 off, who ill as they fay, there be hacks. 
 
 Cre. Be thofe with Swords ? 
 
 Enter Paris. 
 
 Pan. Swords, any thing he cares not, and the diuell 
 come to him, it's all one, by Gods lid it dooes ones heart 
 good. Yonder comes Paris, yonder comes Tarts: looke 
 yee yonder Neece, ift not a gallant man to, ift not ? Why 
 this is braue now : who faid he came hurt home to day ? 
 Hee's not hurt, why this will do He/lens heart good 
 now, ha .'Would 1 could fee Troylui now, you fliall Troy- 
 Itu anon. 
 
 Cre. Whofethat* 
 
 Enter Hellentu . 
 
 Pan. That's Hellenic, I maruell where Troyltu is, that's 
 Helentu, I thinke he went not forth to day : that's Hel- 
 lentu. 
 
 Cre. Can Hellentu fight Vncle * 
 
 Pan. Hellentu no : yes heele fight indifferent, well, I 
 maruell where Troyltu is; harke, do you not haere the 
 people crie Troyliu i Hellentu is a Prieft. 
 
 Cre. What fneaking fellow comes yonder ? 
 Enter Tryltu. 
 
 Pan. Where i Yonder .' That's Dcephobtu. ' Tis Try- 
 ltu \ Ther's a man Neece, hem < Braue Troyltu,the Prince 
 of Chiualrie. 
 
 Cre. Peace, for fliame peace. 
 
 Pand. Marke him, not him : O braue Troyltu : looke 
 well vpon him Neece, looke you how his Sword is blou- 
 died, and hisHelme more hackt then Heffors,and how he 
 
 lookes, 
 
 57*
 
 Troylus and Crefsida. 
 
 lookes, and how he goes. O admirable youth ! he ne're 
 faw three and twenty. Go thy way Troy/wf , go thy way, 
 had I a fifter were a Qrace, or a daughter a Goddefle, hee 
 fhould take his choice. O admirable man ! Parti ? Paris 
 is durt to him, and I warrant, Helen to change, would 
 giue money to boot. 
 
 Enter common Souldiers. 
 
 Cref. Heere come more. 
 
 Pan. Afles, fooles, dolts, chaffe and bran, chaffe and 
 bran ; porredge after meat. I could liue and dye i'th'eyes 
 of Troylus. Ne're looke, ne're looke 5 the Eagles are gon, 
 Crowes and Dawes, Crowes and Dawes : I had rather be 
 fuch a man as Troylus, then Agamemnon, and all Greece. 
 
 Cref. There is among the Greekes Achilles, a better 
 man then Troylus. 
 
 fan. tAcbilles? a Dray-man, a Porter, a very Camell. 
 
 Cref. Well, well. 
 
 Pan. Well, well ? Why haue you any difcretion?haue 
 you any eyes? Do you know what a man is? Is not birth, 
 beauty, good fhape, difcourfe, manhood, learning, gen- 
 tlenefle, vertue, youth, liberality, and fo forth : the Spice, 
 and fait that feafons a man? 
 
 Cref. J,a minc'd man. and then to be bak'd with no Date 
 in the pye, for then the mans dates out. 
 
 Pan. You are fuch another woman, one knowes not 
 at what ward you lye. 
 
 Qref. Vpon my backe, to defend my belly ; vpon my 
 wit, to defend my wiles ; vppon my lecrecy, to defend 
 mine honefty; my Maske, to defend my beauty, and you 
 to defend all thefe : and at all thefe wardes I lye at, at a 
 thoufand watches. 
 
 Pan. Say one of your watches. 
 
 Cref. Nay He watch you for that, and that's one of 
 the cheefeft of them too : If I cannot ward what 1 would 
 not haue hit, I can watch you for telling how I took the 
 blow, vnlefle it fwell paft hiding, and then it's paft wat- 
 ching. 
 
 Enter Boy. 
 
 Pan. You are fuch another. 
 
 'Boy. Sir, my Lord would inftantly fpeake with you. 
 
 Pan. Where? 
 
 Boy. At your owne houfe. 
 
 Pan. Good Boy tell him I come, I doubt he bee hurt. 
 Fare ye well good Neece. 
 
 Cref. Adieu Vnkle. 
 
 Pan. He be with you Neece by and by. 
 
 Cref. To bring Vnkle. 
 
 Pan. I, a token from Troylus. 
 
 Cref. By the fame token,you are a Bawd. Exit Pand. 
 Word's, vowes, gifts, teares, & loues full facrifke, 
 He offers in anothers enterprife : 
 But more in Troylus thoufand fold I fee, 
 Then in the glafle of Pandar\ praife may be ; 
 Yet hold I off. Women are Angels wooing, 
 Things won are done, ioyes foule lyes in the dooing : 
 That fhe belou'd, knowes nought, that knowes not this; 
 Men prize the thing vngain'd, more then it is. 
 That fhe was neuer yet, that euer knew 
 Loue got fo fweet, as when defire did fue : 
 Therefore this maxime out of loue I teach ; 
 " Atchieuement , is command; -vngain'd, bejeech. 
 That though my hearts Contents firme loue doth beare, 
 Nothing of that fhall from mine eyes appeare. Exit. 
 
 57? 
 
 Senet. Enter Agamemnon, Ne/lor, Vlyjfes, Diome- 
 des, Menelaus, with others. 
 
 Agam. Princes : 
 
 What greefe hath fet the laundies on your cheekes f 
 The ample proportion that hope makes 
 In all defignes, begun on earth below 
 Fayles in the promift largenefTe : cheekes and difafters 
 Grow in the veines of actions higheft rear'd. 
 As knots by the conflux of meeting fap, 
 Infect the found Pine, and diuerts his Graine 
 Tortiue and erant from his courfe of growth. 
 Nor Princes, is it matter new to vs, 
 That we come fhort of our fuppofe fo farre, 
 That after feuen yeares fiege, yet Troy walles ftand, 
 Sith euery action that hath gone before, 
 Whereof we haue Record, Triall did draw 
 Bias and thwart, not anfwtring the ayme: 
 And that vnbodied figure of the thought 
 That gaue't furmifed fhape. Why then( you Princes) 
 Do you with cheekes abafh'd, behold our workes, 
 And thinke them fhame, which are (indeed )nought elfe 
 But the protractiue trials of great loue, 
 To finde perfiftiue conftancie in men ? 
 The finenefle of which Mettall is not found 
 In Fortunes loue: for then, the Bold and Coward, 
 The Wife and "Foole, the Artift and vn-read, 
 The hard and fbft, feeme all affin'd,and kin. 
 But in the Winde and Tempeft of her frowne, 
 Distinction with a lowd and powrefull fan, 
 Puffing at all, winnowes the light away ; 
 And what hath mafic, or matter by it felfe, 
 Lies rich in Vertue, and vnmingled. 
 
 Nettor. With due Obferuance of thy godly feat, 
 Great Agamemnon, Nejior fhall apply^ 
 Thy lateft words. 
 In the reproofe of Chance, 
 
 Lies the true proofe of men : The Sea being fmooth, 
 How many fhallow bauble Boates dare faile 
 Vpon her patient breft, making their way 
 With thofe of Nobler bulke ? 
 But let the Ruffian Boreas once enrage 
 The gentle Thetis, and anon behold 
 
 The flrong ribb'd Barke through liquid Mountaines cut, 
 Bounding betweene the two moyft Elements 
 Like Terfeus Horfe. Where's then the fawcy Bo ate, 
 Whofe weake vntimber'd fides but euen now 
 Co-riual'd Greatneffe / Either to harbour fled, 
 Or made a Tofte for Neptune. Euen fo, 
 Doth valours fhew,and valours worth diuide 
 In ftormes of Fortune. 
 For, in her ray and brightnefTe, 
 The Heard hath more annoyance by the Brieze 
 Then by the Tyger : But, when the fplitting winde 
 Makes flexible the knees of knotted Oakes, 
 And Flies fled vnder fhade, why then 
 The thing of Courage, 
 
 As rowz'd with rage, with rage doth fympathize, 
 And with an accent tun'd in felfe-fame key, 
 Retyres to chiding Fortune. 
 
 Vlyf- Agamemnon : 
 
 Thou great Commander, Nerue, and Bone of Greece, 
 Heart of our Numbers, foule, and onely fpirit, 
 In whom the tempers, and the mindes of all 
 Should be fhut vp : Heare whar VlyJJes fpeakes, 
 Befides the applaufe and approbation 
 The which moft mighty for thy place and fway, 
 
 J And
 
 Troylus and Crefsida. 
 
 And thou moft reuerend for thy ftretcht-out life, 
 I giue to both your fpeeches : which were fuch, 
 As Agamemncn and the hand of Greece 
 Should hold vp high in BrafTe : and fuch againe 
 As venerable Nejtor (hatch'd in Siluer) 
 Should with a bond of ayre, ftrong as the Axletree 
 In which the Heauens ride, knit all Greekes eares 
 To his experienc'd tongue : yet let it pleafe both 
 (Thou Great, and Wife) to heare VlyJJes fpeake. 
 
 Aga. Speak Prince of Itt>aca t zn& be't of lefle expect : 
 That matter needleffe of importleffe burthen 
 Diuide thy lips ; then we are confident 
 When ranke Therfltes opes his Mafticke iawes, 
 We fhall heare Muficke, Wit, and Oracle. 
 
 "Ulyf. Troy yet vpon his bafis had bene downe, 
 And the great Heflors fword had lack'd a Mafter 
 But for thefe inftances. 
 The fpecialty of Rule hath beene neglected ; 
 And looke how many Grecian Tents do ftand 
 Hollow vpon this Plaine, fo many hollow Factions. 
 When that the Generall is not like the Hiue, 
 To whom the Forragers fliall all repaire, 
 What Hony is expected? Degree being vizarded, 
 Th'vnworthieft fhewes as fairely in the Maske. 
 The Heauens themfelues, the Planets, and this Center, 
 Obferue degree, priority, and place, 
 Infifture, courfe, proportion, feafon, forme, 
 Office, and cuftome,in all line of Order : 
 And therefore is the glorious Planet Sol 
 In noble eminence, enthron'd and fphear'd 
 Amid'ft the other, whofe med'cinable eye 
 Corrects the ill Afpects of Planets euill, 
 And poftes like the Command'ment of a King, 
 Sans checke, to good and bad. But when the Planets 
 In euill mixture to diforder wander, 
 What Plagues, and what portents, what mutiny? 
 What raging of the Sea? fhaking of Earth ? 
 Commotion in the Windes? Frights, changes, horrors, 
 Diuert, and cracke, rend and deracinate 
 The vnity, and married calme of States 
 Quite from their fixure?O, when Degree is fliak'd, 
 (Which is the Ladder to all high defignes) 
 The enterprize is ficke. How could Communities, 
 Degrees in Schooles, and Brother-hoods in Cities, 
 Peaceful! Commerce from diuidable fhores, 
 The primogenitiue, and due of Byrth, 
 Prerogatiue of Age, Crownes, Scepters, Lawrels, 
 (But by Degree) ftand in Authentique place? 
 Take but Degree away, vn-tune that firing, 
 And hearke what Difcord followes : each thing meetes 
 In meere oppugnancie. The bounded Waters, 
 Should lift their bofomes higher then the Shores, 
 And make a foppe of all this folid Globe : 
 Strength fhould be Lord of imbecility, 
 And the rude Sonne fhould ftrike his Father dead : 
 Force fliould be right, or rattier, right and wrong, 
 (Betweene whofe endlefle iarre, luftice recides) 
 Should loofe her names, and fo fhould luftice too. 
 Then euery thing includes it felfe in Power, 
 Power into Will, Will into Appetite, 
 And Appetite(an vniuerfall Wolfe, 
 So doubly feconded with Will, and Power) 
 Muft make perforce an vniuerfall prey, 
 And laft, eate vp himfelfe. 
 Great Agamemnon : 
 This Chaos, when Degree is fuffocate, 
 
 Followes the choaking : 
 
 And this negledtion of Degree, is it 
 
 That by a pace goes backward in a purpofe 
 
 It hath to climbe. The Generall's difdain'd 
 
 By him one ftep below ; he, by the next, 
 
 That next, by him beneath : fo euery ftep 
 
 Exampled by the firft pace that is ficke 
 
 Of his Superiour, growes to an enuious Feauer 
 
 Of pale, and bloodleffe Emulation. 
 
 And 'tis this Feauer that keepesTroy on foote, 
 
 Not her owne fine wes. To end a tale of length, 
 
 Troy in our weakneffe Hues, not in her ftrength. 
 
 Nefl. Moft wifely hath Vlyfftt heere difcouer'd 
 The Feauer, whereof all our power is ficke. 
 
 Aga. The Nature of the fickneffe found (Vlyffes) 
 What is the remedie ? 
 
 Vlyf. The great Achilles, whom Opinion crownes, 
 The finew, and the fore-hand of our Hofte, 
 Hauing his eare full of his ayery Fame, 
 Growes dainty of his worth, and in his Tent 
 Lyes mocking our defignes. With him, Tatroclus, 
 Vpon a lazie Bed, the liue-long day 
 Breakes fcurrill lefts, 
 And with ridiculous and aukward action, 
 (Which Slanderer, he imitation call's) 
 He Pageants vs. Sometime great Agamemnon, 
 Thy toplefle deputation he puts on ; 
 And like a ftrurting Player, whofe conceif 
 Lies in his Ham-ftring, and doth thinke it rich 
 To heare the woodden Dialogue and found 
 "Fwixt his ftretcht footing, and the ScafFolage, 
 Such to be pittied, and ore-refted feeming 
 He acts thy Greatnefle in : and when he fpeakes, 
 'Tis like a Chime a mending. With tearmes vnfquar'd, 
 Which from the tongue of roaring Typbon dropt, 
 Would feemes Hyperboles. At this fufty ftuffe, 
 The large Achilles (on his preft-bed lolling) 
 From his deepe Cheft, laughes out a lowd applaufe, 
 Cries excellent, 'tis Agamemnon iuft. 
 Now play me Nejtor ; hum, and ftroke thy Beard 
 As he, being dreft to fome Oration : 
 That's done, as neere as the extreameft ends 
 Of paralels ; as like, as Vulcan and his wife, 
 Yet god Achilles ftill cries excellent, 
 'Tis Nejtor right. Now play him (me) Patroclia, 
 Arming to anfwer in a night- Alarme, 
 And then (forfooth) the faint defects of Age 
 Muft be the Scene of myrth, to cough, and fpit, 
 And with a palfie fumbling on his Gorget, 
 Shake in and out the Riuet : and at this fport 
 Sir Valour dies ; cries, O enough Patroc/us, 
 Or, giue me ribs of Steele, I fhall fplit all 
 In pleafureof my Spleene. And in this fafhion, 
 All our abilities, gifts, natures, fhapes, 
 Seuerals and generals of grace exact, 
 Atchieuments, plots, orders, preuentions, 
 Excitements to the field, or fpeech for truce, 
 SuccefTe or lofTe, what is, or is not, ferues 
 As ftuffe for thefe two, to make paradoxes. 
 
 Neft. And in the imitation of thefe twaine, 
 Who (as VlyJJes fayes) Opinion crownes 
 With an Imperiall voyce, many are infect: 
 Aiax is growne felfe-will'd, and beares his head 
 In fuch a reyne, in full as proud a place 
 As broad Achilles, and keepes his Tent like him ; 
 Makes factious Feafts,railes on our ftate of Warre 
 
 Bold 
 
 574
 
 Troylus and Cre/sida. 
 
 Bold as an Oracle, and fets Therjltes 
 
 A flaue, whofe Gall coines /landers like a Mint, 
 
 To match vs in comparifons with durt, 
 
 To weaken and difcredit our expofure, 
 
 How ranke foeuer rounded in with danger. 
 
 Vlyf. They taxe our policy, and call it Cowardice, 
 Count Wifedome as no member of the Warre, 
 Fore-ftall prefcience, and efteeme no ate 
 But that of hand : The ftill and mentall parts, 
 That do contriue how many hands /hall ftrike 
 When fitnefTe call them on, and know by meafure 
 Of their obferuant toyle, the Enemies waight, 
 Why this hath not a fingers dignity : 
 They call this Bed-worke, Mapp'ry, Cloflet- Warre : 
 So that the Ramme that batters downe the wall, 
 For the great fwing and rudenefTe of his poize, 
 They place before his hand that made the Engine, 
 Or thofe that with the finene/Te of their foules, 
 By Reafon guide his execution. 
 
 Neft. Let this be granted, and Achilles horfe 
 Makes many Thetit fonnes. Tucket 
 
 Aga. What Trumpet ? Looke Mentions. 
 
 Men. From Troy. Enter cdZneat. 
 
 Aga. What would you 'fore our Tent ? 
 
 z/Ene. Is this great Agamemnon* Tent, I pray you ? 
 Aga. Euen this. 
 
 csne. May one that is a Herald, and a Prince, 
 Do a faire meflage to his Kingly eares ? 
 
 Aga. With furety ftronger then Achilles arme, 
 'Fore all the Greeki/h heads, which with one voyce 
 Call Agamemnon Head and Generall. 
 
 vne. Faire leaue, and large fecurity. How may 
 A ftranger to thofe moft Imperial lookes, 
 Know them from eyes of other Mortals ? 
 
 Aga. How ? 
 
 cJEne. I : I aske , that I might waken reuerence, 
 And on the cheeke be ready with a blu/h 
 Modeft as morning, when /he coldly eyes 
 The youthfull Phcebus : 
 Which is that God in office guiding men ? 
 Which is the high and mighty Agamemnon'} 
 
 Aga. This Troyan fcornes vs, or the men of Troy 
 Are ceremonious Courtiers. 
 
 <^ne. Courtiers as free, as debonnaire ; vnarm'd, 
 As bending Angels : that's their Fame, in peace : 
 But when they would feeme Souldiers, they haue galles, 
 Good armes, ftrong ioynts, true fwords,& loues accord, 
 Nothing fo full of heart. But peace <^neat y 
 Peace Troyan, lay thy finger on thy lips, 
 The worthinefie of praife diftaines his worth : 
 If that he prais'd himfelfe, bring the praife forth. 
 But what the repining enemy commends, 
 That breath Fame blowes,that praife fole pure tranfceds. 
 
 Aga. Sir, you of Troy, call you your felfe c/W<w? 
 
 vne. I Greeke, that is my name. 
 
 Aga. What's your affayre I pray you ? 
 
 z/ne. Sir pardon, 'tis for Agamemnon* eares. 
 
 Aga. He heares nought priuatly 
 That comes from Troy. 
 
 cJEne. Nor I from Troy come not to whifper him, 
 I bring a Trumpet to awake hiseare, 
 To fet his fence on the attentiue bent, 
 And then to fpeake. 
 
 Aga. Speake frankely as the winde, 
 It is not Agamemnon* fleeping houre; 
 That thou /halt know Troyan he is awake, 
 
 S7S 
 
 He telsthee fo himfelfe. 
 
 e/n. Trumpet blow loud, 
 
 Send thy Brafle voyce through all thefe lazie Tents, 
 And euery Greeke of mettle, let him know, 
 What Troy meanes fairely , fhall be fpoke alowd. 
 
 The Trumpets found. 
 
 We haue great Agamemnon heere in Troy, 
 A Prince calld Heflor, Triam is his Father : 
 Who in this dull and long-continew'd Truce 
 Is rufty growne. He bad me take a Trumpet, 
 And to this purpofe fpeake : Kings,Princes, Lords, 
 If there be one among'ft the fayr'ft of Greece, 
 That holds his Honor higher then his eafe, 
 That feekes his praife, more then he feares his perill, 
 That knowes his Valour, and knowes not his feare, 
 That loues his Miftris more then in confefiion, 
 (With truant vowes to her owne lips he loues) 
 And dare avow her Beauty, and her Worth, 
 In other armes then hers : to him this Challenge. 
 HefJor, in view of Troyans, and of Greekes, 
 Shall make it good, or do his belt to do it. 
 He hath a Lady, wifer, fairer, truer, 
 Then euer Greeke did compafle in his armes, 
 And will to morrow with his Trumpet call, 
 Midway betweene your Tents, and walles of Troy, 
 To rowze a Grecian that is true in loue. 
 If any come, Hettor flial honour him : 
 If none, hee'lfay in Troy when he retyres, 
 The Grecian Dames are fun-burnt, and not worth 
 The fplinter of a Lance : Euen fo much. 
 
 Aga. This /hall be told our Louers Lord <^ne at , 
 If none of them haue foule in fuch a kinde, 
 We left them all at home : But we are Souldiers, 
 And may thatSouldier a meere recreant proue, 
 That meanes not, hath not, or is not in loue : 
 If then one is, or hath, or meanes to be, 
 That one meets Hefror; if none elfe,Ile be he. 
 
 Neft. Tell him ofNe/lor, one that was a man 
 When HeElors Grandfire fuckt : he is old now, 
 But if there be not in our Grecian mould, 
 One Noble man, that hath one fparkiof fire 
 To anfwer for his Loue ; tell him from me, 
 He hide mySiluer beard in a Gold Beauer, 
 And in my Vantbrace put this wither'd brawne, 
 And meeting him, wil tell him, that my Lady 
 Was fayrer then his Grandame, and as chafte 
 As may be in the world : his youth in flood, 
 lie pawne this truth with my three drops of blood. 
 
 <^ne. Now heauens forbid fuch fcarfitie of youth. 
 
 yiyf. Amen. 
 
 Aga. Faire Lord cJEneas, 
 Let me touch your hand : 
 To our Pauillion /hal I leade you firft : 
 Achilles /hall haue word of this intent, 
 So /hall each Lord of Greece from Tent to Tent : 
 Your felfe /hall Feaft with vs before you goe, 
 And finde the welcome of a Noble Foe. Exeunt. 
 
 cManet Vly/es,andNeftor. 
 
 Vlyf. NeBor. 
 
 Neft. What fayes Vlyjfa f 
 
 Vlyf. I haue a young conception in my braine, 
 Be you my time to bring it to fome fliape. 
 
 Neft. Whatis't? 
 
 Vly/es. This 'tis : 
 
 Blunt wedges riue hard knots : the feeded Pride 
 That hath to this maturity blowne vp 
 
 IT a In
 
 Troylus and Crefsida. 
 
 In ranke Achilla t BW& or now be cropt, 
 Or fhedding breed a Nurfery of like euil 
 To ouer-bulke vs all. 
 
 Neft. Wei, and how ? 
 
 Vlyf. This challenge that the gallant Hefior fends, 
 Howeuer it is fpred in general name, 
 Relates in purpofe onely to tAcbilles. 
 
 Neft. The purpofe is perfpicuous euen as fubftance, 
 Whole grofienefle little charradlers fumme vp, 
 And in the publication make no ftraine, 
 But that Achilles, were his braine as barren 
 As bankes of Lybia, though (Apollo knowes) 
 'Tis dry enough, wil with great fpeede of iudgement, 
 I, with celerity, finde Heflors purpofe 
 Pointing on him. 
 
 Ulyf. And wake him to the anfwer, thinke you ? 
 
 Neft. Yes, 'tis mod meet; who may you elfe oppofe 
 That can from Hefior bring his Honor off, I 
 If not Achilles ; though't be a fportfull Combate, 
 Yet in this triall, much opinion dwels. 
 For heere the Troyans tafte our deer'ft repute 
 With their fin'ft Pallate : and truft to me Vly/es, 
 Our imputation {hall be oddely poiz'd 
 In this wilde adtion. For the fuccefle 
 (Although particular) fhall giue a fcantling 
 Of good or bad, vnto the Generall : 
 And in fuch Indexes, although fmall prickes 
 To their fubfequent Volumes, there is feene 
 The baby figure of the Gyant-mafle 
 Of things to come at large. It is fuppos'd, 
 He that meets Hefior , iffues from our choyfe ; 
 And choife being mutuall adte of all our foules, 
 Makes Merit her election, and doth boyle 
 As 'twere, from forth vs all : a man d'lftill'd 
 Out of our Vertues; who mifcarrying, 
 What heart from hence receyues the conqu'ring part 
 To fteele a ftrong opinion to themfelues, 
 Which entertain'd, Limbes are in his inftruments, 
 In no lefle working, then are Swords and Bowes 
 Diredliue by the Limbes. 
 
 Vlyf. Giue pardon to my fpeech : 
 Therefore 'tis meet, Achilles meet not Hefior : 
 Let vs (like Merchants) fhew our fowleft Wares, 
 And thinke perchance they'l fell : If not, 
 The lufter of the better yet to {hew, 
 Shall {hew the better. Do not confent, 
 That euer Hefior and Achilles meete : 
 For both our Honour, and our Shame in this, 
 Are dogg'd with two ftrange Followers. 
 
 Neft. I fee them not with my old eies : what are they? 
 
 Vlyf. What glory our Achilles {hares from Hefior, 
 (Were he not proud) we all {hould weare with him : 
 But he already is too mfolent, 
 And we were better parch in Affricke Sunne, 
 Then in the pride and fait fcorne of his eyes 
 Should he fcape Hefior faire. If he were foyld, 
 Why then we did our maine opinion crufli 
 In taint of our beft man. No, make a Lott'ry, 
 And by deuice let blockifli Aiax draw 
 The fort to fight with Hefior : Among our felues,] 
 Giue him allowance as the worthier man, 
 For that will phyficke the great Myrmidon 
 Who broyles in lowd applaufe, and make him fall 
 His Creft, that prouder then blew Iris bends. 
 If the dull brain leffe Aiax come fafe off, 
 Wee'l drefle him vp in voyces : if he faile, 
 
 Yet go we vnder our opinion ftill, 
 That we haue better men. But hit or mifle, 
 Our proiedls life this fliape of fence aflumes, 
 Aiax imploy'd,pluckes downe Achilles Plumes. 
 
 Neft. Now Vlyjfis, I begin to rellifli thy aduice, 
 And I wil giue a tafte of it forthwith 
 To Agamemnon, go we to him ftraight : 
 Two Curres flial tame each other, Pride alone 
 Muft tarre the Maftiffes on, as 'twere their bone. Exeunt 
 Enter Aiax, and Tberfites. 
 
 Aia. Tberfites ? 
 
 Tber. tAgamemnon, how if he had Biles (ful) all ouer 
 generally. 
 
 Aia. Tberfies'? 
 
 Tber. And thofe Byles did runne, fay fo ; did not the 
 General run, were not that a botchy core,? 
 
 tAia. Dogge. 
 
 T*r.Then there would come fome matter from him : 
 I fee none now. 
 
 tAia. Thou Bitch-Wolfes-Sonne, canft y not heare ? 
 Feele then. Strifes him. 
 
 Tber.The plague of Greece vpon thee thou Mungrel 
 beefe-witted Lord. 
 
 Aia. Speake then you whinid'ft leauen fpeake, I will 
 beate thee into handfomnefle. 
 
 Tber. I flial iooner rayle thee into wit and holinefle: 
 but I thinke thy Horfe wil fooner con an Oration, then y 
 learn a prayer without booke : Thou canft ftrike, canft 
 thou? A red Murren o'th thy lades trickes. 
 
 Aia. To ads ftoole, learne me the Proclamation. 
 
 Tber. Doeft thou thinke I haue no fence thou ftrik'ft 
 
 tAia. The Proclamation. (me thus? 
 
 Tber. Thou art proclaim'd a foole, I thinke. 
 
 Aia. Do not Porpentine,do not; my fingers itch. 
 
 Tber. I would thou didft itch from head to foot, and 
 I had the fcratching of thee, I would make thee the loth, 
 fom'ft fcab in Greece. 
 
 Aia. I fay the Proclamation. 
 
 Ther. Thou grumbleft & raileft euery houre on A- 
 cbilles, and thou art as ful of enuy at his greatnes, as Cer- 
 beriu is at Proferpina's beauty. I, that thou barkft at him. 
 
 Aia. Miftrefle Tberfites. 
 
 Ther. Thou fliould'ft ftrike him. 
 
 Aia. Coblofe. 
 
 Tber. He would pun thee into {hiuers with his fift, as 
 a Sailor breakes a bisket.i 
 
 Aia. You horfon Curre. Tber. Do,do. 
 
 Aia. Thou ftoole for a Witch. 
 
 Tber. I, do, do, thou fodden-witted Lord : thou haft 
 no more braine then I haue in mine elbows : An Afinico 
 may tutor thee. Thou fcuruy valiant Affe,thou art heere 
 but to threflj Troyans, and thou art bought and folde a- 
 mong thofe of any wit, like a Barbarian flaue. If thou vfe 
 to beat me, I wil begin at thy heele, and tel what thou art 
 by inches, thou thing of no bowels thou. I 
 
 Aia. You dogge. 
 
 Tber. You fcuruy Lord. 
 
 Aia. You Curre. 
 
 Ther. Mars his Ideot : do rudenes, do Camell,do,do. 
 
 Enter Achilles , and Patroclut. 
 
 AMI. Why how now Aiaxl wherefore do you this? 
 How now Tberfites ? what's the matter man? 
 
 Tber. You fee him there, do you? 
 
 Achil. I, what's the matter. 
 
 Tber. Nay looke vpon him. 
 
 Achil. So I do : what's the matter ? 
 
 Tber.
 
 'Troylus and Crefsida. 
 
 Tber. Nay but regard him well. 
 Acbll. Well, why I do fo. 
 
 Tber. But yet you looke not well vpon him : for who 
 fome euer you take him to be, he is Aiax. 
 
 Acb'd. I know that fbole. 
 
 Tber. I, but that foole knowes not himfelfe. 
 
 Aiax. Therefore I beate thee. 
 
 Tber. Lo, lo,lo,lo, what modicums of wit he vtters : his 
 euafions haue eares thus long. I haue bobb'd his Braine 
 more then he has beate my bones : I will buy nine Spar- 
 rowes for a peny, and his Piamater is not worth the ninth 
 part of a Sparrow. This Lord (Achilles] Aiax who wears 
 his wit in his belly, and his guttes in his head, He tell you 
 what I fay of him. 
 
 Acbll. What? 
 
 Tber. I fay this 
 
 il. Nay good Aiax. 
 
 Tber. Has not fo much wit. 
 
 Acbll: Nay, I muft hold you. 
 
 Tber. As will ftop the eye of Helens Needle,for whom 
 hecomes to fight. 
 
 Acbll. Peace foole. 
 
 Tber. I would haue peace and quietnes,but the foole 
 will not : he there, that he, looke you there. 
 
 Aiax. O thou damn'd Curre, I /hall - 
 
 Acbll. Will you fet your wit to a Fooles. 
 
 Tber. No I warrant you, for a fooles will fliame it. 
 
 Pat. Good words Tberjites. 
 
 Acbll. What's the quarrell / 
 
 Aiax. I bad thee vile Owle, goe learne me the tenure 
 of the Proclamation, and he raylesvpon me. 
 
 Tber. I feme thee not. 
 Aiax. Well, go too, go too. 
 
 Tber. I ferue heere voluntary. 
 
 Acbll. Your laft feruice was fufferance, 'twas not vo- 
 luntary, no nun is beaten voluntary : Aiax was heere the 
 voluntary, and you as vnder an Imprefle. 
 
 Tber . E'ne fo, a great deale of your wit too lies in your 
 fmnewes, or elfe there be Liars. Hefior fliall haue a great 
 catch, if he knocke out either of your braines, he were as 
 good cracke a fuftie nut with no kernell. 
 
 Acbil. What with me to Tberjites ? 
 
 Tber. There's VlyJJes, and old Neftor, whofe Wit was 
 mouldy ere their Grandfires had nails on their toes,yoke 
 you like draft- Oxen, and make you plough vp the warre. 
 
 Acbil. What? what? 
 
 Tber. Yes good footh, to Achilles , to Aiax, to - 
 Aiax. I fliall cut out your tongue. 
 
 Tber. 'Tis no matter, I fliall fpeake as much as thou 
 afterwards. 
 
 fat. No more words Tberjites. 
 
 Tber.l will hold my peace when Achilles Brooch bids 
 me, fhall I/ 
 
 Acbil. There's for you Patrcclw. 
 
 Tber. I wi'l fee you hang'd like Clotpoles ere I come 
 any more to your Tents ; I will keepe where there is wit 
 ftirring, and leaue the faction of fooles. Exit. 
 
 Pat. A good riddance. 
 
 Acbil.Marry this Sir is proclaim'd through al our hoft, 
 That Heeler by the fift houre of the Sunne, 
 Will with a Trumpet, "twixt our Tents and Troy 
 To morrow morning call fome Knight to Armes, 
 That hath a ftomacke, and fuch a one that dare 
 Maintaine I know not what : 'tis trafh. Farewell. 
 
 Aiax. Farewell ? who fliall anfwer him ? 
 
 Acbll. I know not, 'tis put to Lottry: otherwife 
 
 577 
 
 Heknew his man. 
 
 Aiax. O meaning you, I wil go learne more of it. Exit. 
 Enter Priam, Hefior, Troy Itu, Paris and Heleniu. 
 
 Pri. After fo many houres,liues,fpeeches fpent, 
 Thus once againe fayes Neftor from the Greekes, 
 Deliuer Helen,and all damage elfe 
 (As honour, loffe of time, trauaile, expence, 
 Wounds, friends, and what els deere that is confum'd 
 In hot digeftion of this comorant WarreJ 
 Shall be ftroke off. Hefior, what fay you too't. 
 
 Heft. Though no man lefier feares the Greeks then I, 
 As farre as touches my particular : yet dread Priam, 
 There is no Lady of more foftcr bowels, 
 More fpungie, to fucke in the fenfe of reare, 
 More ready to cry out, who knowes what followes 
 Then Hefior is : the wound of peace is furety, 
 Surety fecure : but modeft Doubt is cal'd 
 The Beacon of the wife : the tent that fearches 
 To'th'bottome of the worft. Let Helen go, 
 Since the firft fword was drawne about this queftion, 
 Euery tythe foule 'mongft many thoufand difines, 
 Hath bin as deere as Helen : I meane of ours : 
 If we haue loft fo many tenths of ours 
 To guard a thing not ours, nor worth to vs 
 (Had it our name) the valew of one ten ; 
 What merit's in that reafon which denies 
 The yeelding of her vp. 
 
 Troy. Fie, fie, my Brother ; 
 Weigh you the worth and honour of a King 
 (So great as our dread Father) in a Scale 
 Of common Ounces ? Wil you with Counters fumme 
 The paft proportion of his infinite, 
 Andbucklein a wafte moft fathomleffe, 
 With fpannes and inches fo diminutiue, 
 As feares and reafons ? Fie for godly fliame ? 
 
 Hel. No maruel though you bite fo {harp at reafons, 
 You are fo empty of them, fliould not our Father 
 Beare the great fway of his affayres with reafons, 
 Becaufe your fpeech hath none that tels him fo. 
 
 Troy. You are for dreames & (lumbers brother Prieft ; 
 You furre your gloues with reafon : here are your realons I 
 You know an enemy intends you harme, 
 You know, a fword imploy'd is perillous, 
 And reafon flyes the obiet of all harme. 
 Who maruels then when Heleniu beholds 
 A Grecian and his fword, if he do fet 
 The very wings of reafon to his heeles: 
 Or like a Starre diforb'd. Nay, if wetalke of Reafon, 
 And flye like chidden Mercuric from loue, 
 Let's fliut our gates and fleepe : Manhood and Honor 
 Should haue hard hearts, wold they but fat their thoghts 
 With this cramm'd reafon : reafon and refpeft, 
 Makes Liuers pale, and luftyhood deleft. 
 
 Heft. Brother, (he is not worth 
 What flie doth coft the holding. 
 
 Troy. What's aught, but as 'tis valew'd ? 
 
 Heft. But value dwels not in particular will, 
 It holds his eftimate and dignitie 
 As well, wherein 'tis precious of it felfe,\ 
 As in the prizer : 'Tis made Idolatrie, 
 To make the feruice greater then the God, 
 And the will dotes that is inclineable 
 To what infeclioufly it felfe affe<3s, 
 Without fome image of th'aftedted merit. 
 
 Troy. I take to day a Wife, and my election 
 Is led on in the conduct of my Will j 
 
 f 3 My
 
 Troylus and Crefsida. 
 
 My Will enkindled by mine eyes and eares, 
 
 Two traded Pylots 'twixt the dangerous fliores 
 
 Of Will, and ludgement. How may I auoyde 
 
 (Although my will diftafte what it eledted) 
 
 The Wife I chofe, there can be no euafion 
 
 To blench from this, and to ftand firme by honour. 
 
 We turne not backe the Silkes vpon the Merchant 
 
 When we haue fpoyl'd them ; not the remainder Viands 
 
 We do not throw in vnrefpe&iue fame, 
 
 Becaufe we now are full. It was thought meete 
 
 Parit fhould do fome vengeance on the Greekes ; 
 
 Your breath of full confent bellied his Sailes, 
 
 The Seas and Windes (old Wranglers) tooke a Truce, 
 
 And did him feruice ; he touch'd the Forts defir'd, 
 
 And for an old Aunt whom the Greekes held Captiue, 
 
 He brought a Grecian Queen, whofe youth & frefhneffe 
 
 Wrinkles Apolloes, and makes ftale the morning. 
 
 Why keepe we her? the Grecians keepe our Aunt : 
 
 Is /he worth keeping ? Why flie is a Pearle, 
 
 Whofe price hath launch'd aboue a thoufand Ships, 
 
 And turn'd Crown'd Kings to Merchants. 
 
 If you'l auouch, 'twas wifedome Paris went, 
 
 (As you muft needs, for you all cride, Go, go:) 
 
 If you'l confefle, he brought home Noble prize, 
 
 (As you muft needs) for you all clapt your hands, 
 
 And cride ineftimable ; why do you now 
 
 The iffue of your proper Wifedomes rate, 
 
 And do a deed that Fortune neuer did ? 
 
 Begger the eftimation which you priz'd, 
 
 Richer then Sea and Land ? O Theft moft bafe ! 
 
 That we haue ftolne what we do feare to keepe. 
 
 But Theeues vnworthy of a thing fo ftolne, 
 
 That in their Country did them that difgrace, 
 
 We feare to warrant in ourNatiue place. 
 
 Eater CaJJandra tfitb her baire about 
 her eares. 
 
 CaJ. Cry Troy ant, cry. 
 
 Priam. What noyfe ? what flireeke is this ? 
 
 Troy. 'Tis our mad filter, I do know her voyce. 
 
 CaJ. Cry Troyans. 
 
 Hefl. It is Caffandra. 
 
 Caf. Cry Troyans cry ; lend me ten thoufand eyes, 
 And I will fill them with Propheticke teares. 
 
 Hefl. Peace fifter, peace. 
 
 Caf. Virgins, and Boyes; mid-age & wrinkled old, 
 Soft infancie, that nothing can but cry, 
 Adde to my clamour : let vs pay betimes 
 A moity of that mafle of moane to come. 
 Cry Troyans cry, pradVife your eyes with teares, 
 Troy muft not be, nor goodly Illion ftand, 
 Our fire-brand Brother Paris burnes vs all. 
 Cry Troyans cry, a Helen and a woe ; 
 Cry,cry,Troy burnes, or elfe let Helen goe. Exit. 
 
 Hefl. Now youth full Troyliu, do not thefe hie ftrains 
 Of diuination in our Sifter, worke 
 Some touches of remorfe ? Or is your bloud 
 So madly hot, that no difcourfe of reafon, 
 Nor feare of bad fucceffe in a bad caufe, 
 Can qualifie the fame ? 
 
 Troy. Why Brother Heflor, 
 We may not thinke the iuftnefle of each afte 
 Such, and no other then euent doth forme it, 
 Nor once deiedl the courage of our mindes ; 
 Becaufe Caflandra's mad, her brainficke raptures 
 Cannot diftafte the goodnefle of a quarrell, 
 
 Which hath our feuerall Honours all engag'd 
 To make it gracious. For my priuate part, 
 I am no more touch'd, then all Priams fonnes, 
 And loue forbid there fhould be done among'ft vs 
 Such things as might offend the weakeft fpleene, 
 To fight for, and maintaine. 
 
 Par. Elfe might the world conuince of leuitie, 
 As well my vnder-takings as your counfels : 
 But I atteft the gods, your full confent 
 Gaue wings to my propenfion, and cut off 
 All feares attending on fo dire a proieft. 
 For what (alas) can thefe my fingle armes ? 
 What propugnation is in one mans valour 
 To ftand the pufh and enmity of thofe 
 This quarrell would excite ? Yet I proteft, 
 Were I alone to pafle the difficulties, 
 And had as ample power, as I haue will, 
 Paris fhould ne're retradt what he hath done, 
 Nor faint in the purfuite. 
 
 Pri. Paris, you fpeake 
 Like one be-fotted on your fweet delights ; 
 You haue the Hony ftill, but thefe the Gall, 
 So to be valiant, is no praifeatall. 
 
 Par. Sir, 1 propofe not meerely to my felfe, 
 The pleafures fuch a beauty brings with it : 
 But I would haue the foyle of her faire Rape 
 Wip'd off in honourable keeping her. 
 What Treafon were it to the ranfkk'd Queene, 
 Difgrace to your great worths, and fliame to me, 
 Now to deliuer her poffefsion vp 
 On termes of bafe compulfion ? Can it be, 
 Thatfo degenerate a ftraine as this, 
 Should once fet footing in your generous bofomes ? 
 There's not the meaneft fpirit on our partie, 
 Without a heart to dare, or fword to draw, 
 When Helen is defended : nor none fo Noble, 
 Whofe life were ill beftow'd, or death vnfam'd, 
 Where Helen is the fubiedl. Then (I fay) 
 Well may we fight for her, whom we know well, 
 The worlds large fpaces cannot paralell. 
 
 Heft. Paris and Troylui, you haue both faid well : 
 And on the caufe and -queftion now in hand, 
 Haue gloz'd, but fuperficially ; not much 
 Vnlike young men, whom JSriftotle thought 
 Vnfit to heare MorallPhilofophie. 
 The Reafons you alledge, do more conduce 
 To the hot paffion of diftemp'red blood, 
 Then to make vp a free determination 
 'Twixt right and wrong : For pleafure, and reuenge, 
 Haue eares more deafe then Adders, to the voyce 
 Of any true decifion. Nature craues 
 All dues be rendred to their Owners : now 
 What neerer debt in all humanity, 
 Then Wife is to the Husband ? If this law 
 Of Nature be corrupted through affe&ion, 
 And that great mindes of partiall indulgence, 
 To their benummed wills refift the fame, 
 There is a La win each well-ordred Nation, 
 To curbe thofe raging appetites that are 
 Moft difobedient and refradturie. 
 If Helen then be wife to Sparta's King 
 (As it is knowne flie is) thefe Morall Lawes 
 Of Nature, and of Nation, fpeake alowd 
 To haue her backe return'd. Thus to perfift 
 In doing wrong, extenuates not wrong, 
 But makes it much more heauie. Hefiors opinion 
 
 578
 
 Troylus and Cre/sida. 
 
 | Is this in way of truth : yet nere the lefie, 
 My fpritely brethren, I propend to you 
 In refolution to keepe Helen ftill ; 
 For 'tis a caufe that hath no meane dependance, 
 Vpon our ioynt and feuerall dignities. 
 
 Tro. Why? there you touchtthe life of our defigne : 
 Were it not glory that we more affedled, 
 Then the performance of our heauing fpleenes, 
 1 would not wifli a drop of Troian blood, 
 Spent more in her defence. But worthy Heflor, 
 She is a theame of honour and renowne, 
 A Ipurre to valiant and magnanimous deeds, 
 Whofe prefent courage may beate downe our foes, 
 And fame in time to come canonize vs. 
 For I prefume braue Heflor would not loofe 
 So rich aduantage of a promil'd glory, 
 As fmiles vpon the fore-head of this adlion, 
 For the wide worlds reuenew. 
 
 Heft. I am yours, 
 
 You valiant off-fpring of great Priamus, 
 I haue a roifting challenge fentamong'ft 
 The dull and factious nobles of the Greekes, 
 Will ftrike amazement to rjieir drowfie fpirits, ' 
 I was aduertiz'd, their Great generall flept, 
 Whil'ft emulation in the armie crept : 
 This I prefume will wake him. Bxeunt. 
 
 Enter Therfites/e/atf. 
 
 How now Tberjites ? what loft in the Labyrinth of thy 
 furiePfhall the Elephant Aiax carry it thus? he beates 
 me, and I raile at him : O worthy fatisfadtion, would it 
 were otherwife : that I could beate him, whil'ft he rail'd 
 at me : Sfoote, He learne to coniure and raife Diuels,but 
 He fee fome iflue of my fpitefull execrations. Then trier's 
 Achilles, a rare Enginer. If Troy be not taken till thefe two 
 vr.dermine it, the walswill ftand till they fall of them- 
 ielues. O thou great thunder-darter of Olympus, forget 
 that thou art loue the King of gods; and ^.^Mercury, loofe 
 all the Serpentine craft of thy Caduceus, if thou take not 
 that little little leiTe then little wit from them that they 
 haue, which ftiort-arm'd ignorance it felfe knowes, is fo 
 abundant fcarfe, it will not in circumuention deliuer a 
 Flye from a Spider, without drawing the maffie Irons and 
 cutting the web : after this, the vengeance on the whole 
 Camp, or rather the bone-ach, for that me thinkes is the 
 curfe dependant on thofe that warre for a placket. I haue 
 faid my prayers and diuell, enuie, fay Amen : What ho? 
 my Lord ^Achilles ? 
 
 Enter Patroclui. 
 
 Pair. Who's there ? Tberjites. Good Therjites come 
 in and raile. 
 
 Ther. If I could haue remembred a guilt counterfeit, 
 thou would'ft not haue flipt out of my contemplation, 
 but it is no matter, thy felfe vpon thy felfe. The common 
 curfe of mankinde, follie and ignorance be thine in great 
 reuenew; heauen blefle thee from a Tutor, and Difcipline 
 come not neere thee. Let thy bloud be thy direction till 
 thy death , then if fhe that laies thee out fayes thou art a 
 faire coarfe, He be fworne and fworne vpon't fhe neuer 
 fhrowded any but Lazars, Amen. Wher's Achilles ? 
 Pair. What art thou deuout? waft thou in a prayer? 
 Tber, I, the heauens heare me. 
 
 Enter Achilles. 
 AMI. Who's there ? 
 Pair. Tberjites, my Lord. 
 
 579 
 
 Achil. Where, where, art thou come? why my cheefe, 
 my digeftion, why haft thou not feru'd thy felfe into my 
 Table, fo many meales? Come, what's Agamemnon! 
 
 Tber. Thy Commander Achilles, then tell me Patro- 
 clui, what's tAchillef. 
 
 Pair. Thy Lord Therjites : then tell me I pray thee, 
 what's thy felfe ? 
 
 Tber. Thy knower Patroclw. then tell me Patroclui, 
 what art thou ? 
 
 Pair. Thou maift tell that know'ft. 
 
 Achil. O tell, tell. 
 
 Tber. lie declin the whole c]\iefi\on:Agarr:emnon com- 
 mands Achilles,Achities is my Lord, I am Patrocltu know- 
 er, and Patroclus is a foole. 
 
 Patro. You rafcall. 
 
 Ter. Peace foole, I haue-not done. 
 
 Achil. He is a priuiledg'd man, proceede Tberjltes. 
 
 Ther. Agamemnon is a foole, Achilles is a foole, Tber- 
 jites is a foole, and as aforefaid, Patroclus is a foole. 
 
 Achil. Deriue this ? come ? 
 
 Ther. Agamemnon is a foole to offer to command A- 
 cbilles, Achilles is a foole to be commanded of Agamem'jn, 
 Tberjites is a foole to ferue fuch a foole : and fatroclus is a 
 foole pofitiue. 
 
 Patr. Why am I a foole ? 
 
 Enter Agamemnon, VliJJes, Neftor, T)iomedes, 
 Aiax, and CbalcM. 
 
 Tber. Make that demand to the Creator, it fuffifes me 
 thou art. Looke you, who comes here/ 
 
 Achil. Patroclus, He fpeake with no body : come in 
 with me Tberjites. Exit. 
 
 Ther. Here fs fuch patcherie, fuch iugling, and fuch 
 knauerie : all the argument is a Cuckold and a Whore, a 
 good quarrel to draw emulations, factions, and bleede to 
 death vpon :Now the dry Suppeago on the Subiecl, and 
 Warre and Lecherie confound all. 
 
 Again. Where is Achilles ? 
 
 Patr. Within his Tent, but ill difpof'd my Lord. 
 
 Agam. Let it be knowne to him that we are here : 
 He fent our Meflengers, and we lay by 
 Our appertainments, vifiting of him : 
 Let him be told of, fo perchance he thinke 
 We dare not moue the queftion of our place, 
 Or know not what we are. 
 
 Pat. I fliall fo fay to him. 
 
 1)1 if. We faw him at the opening of his Tent, 
 He is not ficke. 
 
 Ala. Yes, Lyon fickCj ficke of proud heart; you may 
 call it Melancholly if will fauour the man, but by my 
 head, it'is pride; but why,why,let him fhow vs the caufe? 
 A word my Lord. 
 
 Nef. What moues Aiax thus to bay at him ? 
 
 yiif. Achlllu hath inueigled his Foole from him. 
 
 Nef. Who, Tberfites? 
 
 Vlif. He. 
 
 Nef. Then will Aiax lacke matter, if he haue loft his 
 Argument. 
 
 Vlif. No, you fee he is his argument that has his argu- 
 ment Achilles. 
 
 Nef. All the better, their fraction is more our wifh 
 then their fadlicn ; but it was a ftrong counfcll that a 
 Foole could difunite. 
 
 Vlif. The amitie that wifedome knits, not folly may 
 eafily vntie. Enter Patrocltu. 
 
 Here
 
 Troylus and Crefsida. 
 
 Here comes Patrocliu. 
 
 Nej. No Achilla with him? 
 
 flif. The Elephant hath ioynts, but none for curtefie : 
 His legge are legs for neceffitie,not for flight. 
 
 Patro. Achilles bids me fay he is much forry : 
 If any thing more then your fport and pleafure, 
 Did moue your greatneffe, and this noble State, 
 To call vpon him ; he hopes it is no other, 
 But for your health, and your digeftion fake ; 
 An after Dinners breath. 
 
 Aga. Heare you Patrocltu : 
 We are 1 too well acquainted with thefe anfwers : 
 But his euafion winged thus fwift with fcorne, 
 Cannot outflye our apprehenfions. 
 Much attribute he hath, and much the reafon, 
 Why we afcribe it to him, yet all his vertues, 
 Not vertuoufly of his owne part beheld, 
 Doe in our eyes, begin to loofe their glofle ; 
 Yea, and like faire Fruit in an vnholdfome difh, 
 Are like to rot vntafted : goe and tell him, 
 We came to fpeake with him ; and you fhall not finne, 
 If you doe fay, we thinke him ouer proud, 
 And vnder honeft; in felfe-aflumption greater 
 Then in the note of iudgement:& worthier then himfelfe 
 Here tends the fauage ftrangenefle he puts on, 
 Difguife the holy ftrength of their command : 
 And vnder write in an obferuing kinde 
 His humorous predominance, yea watch 
 His petrifh lines, his ebs, his flowes, as if 
 The paflage and whole carriage of this adlion 
 Rode on his tyde. Goe tell him this, and adde, 
 That if he ouerhold his price fo much, 
 Weele none of him ; but let him, like an Engin 
 Not portable, lye vnder this report. 
 Bring action hither, this cannot goe to warre : 
 A ftirring Dwarfe, we doe allowance giue, 
 Before a fleeping Gyant : tell him fo. 
 
 Pat. I fhall, and bring his anfwere prefently. 
 
 Aga. In fecond voyce weele not be fatisfied, 
 We come to fpeake with ^\m,Vliff'.s enter you. 
 
 Exit fli/es. 
 
 Aiax. What is he more then another ? 
 
 Aga. No more then what he thinkes he is. 
 
 Aia. Is he fo much, doe you not thinke, he thinkes 
 himfelfe a better man then I am ? 
 
 Ag. No queftion. 
 
 Aiax. Will you fubfcribe his thought, and fay he is? 
 
 Ag. No, Noble Aiax, you are as ftrong, as valiant, as 
 wife, no lefTe noble, much more gentle, and altogether 
 more tractable. 
 
 Aiax. Why fhould a man be proud? How doth pride 
 grow? I know not what it is. 
 
 Aga. Your minde is the cleerer Aiax, and your vertues 
 the fairer; he that is proud, eates vp himfelfe; Pride is his 
 owne GlafTe, his owne trumpet, his owne Chronicle, and 
 what euer praifes it felfe but in the deede, deuoures the 
 deede in the praife. 
 
 nter Uly/es. 
 
 Aiax. I do hate a proud man, as I hate the ingendring 
 of Toades. 
 
 Neft. Yet he loues himfelfe:is't not ftrange? 
 
 flif. Achilles will not to the field to morrow. 
 
 Ag. What's his excufe ? 
 
 flif. He doth relye on none, 
 But carries on the ftreame of his difpofe, 
 Without obferuance or refpeft of any, 
 
 In will peculiar, and in felfe admiffion. 
 
 Aga. Why, will he not vpon our faire requeft, 
 Vntent his perfon, and fhare the ayre with vs? 
 
 flif. Things fmall as nothing, for requefts fake onely 
 He makes important; pofleft he is with greatneffe, 
 And fpeakes not to himfelfe, but with a pride 
 That quarrels at felfe-breath. lirugin'd wroth 
 Holds in his bloud fuch fwolne and hot difcourfe, 
 That twixt his mentall and his adtiue parts, 
 Kingdom'd Achilles in commotion rages, 
 And batters gainft it felfe; what fhould I fay? 
 He is fo plaguy proud, that the death tokens of it, 
 Cry no recouety. 
 
 Ag. Let Aiax goe to him. 
 
 Deare Lord, goe you and greete him in his Tent; 
 'Tis faid he holds you well, and will be led 
 At your requeft a little from himfelfe. 
 
 flif. O Agamemnon, let it not be fo. 
 Weele confecrate the fteps that Aiax makes, 
 When they goe from Achilles; fhall the proud Lord, 
 That baftes his arrogance with his owne feame, 
 And neuer fuffers matter of the world, 
 Enter his thoughts: faue fuch as doe reuolue 
 Aud ruminate himfelfe. Shall he be worfhipt, 
 Of that we hold an Idoll, more then hee ? 
 No. this thrice worthy and right valiant Lord, 
 Muft not fo ftaule his Palme, nobly acquir'd, 
 Nor by my will affubiugate his merit, 
 As amply titled as Achilles is: by going to Achilles, 
 That were to enlard his fat already, pride, 
 And adde more Coles to Cancer, when he burnes 
 With entertaining great Hiperion. 
 This L. goe to him? lupiter forbid, 
 And fay in thunder,.^W>/7/ goe to him. 
 
 Ne/i. O this is well, he rubs the veine of him. 
 
 Dio. And how his filence drinkes vp this applaufe. 
 
 Aia. If I goe to him, with my armed fift, He pafh him 
 ore the face. 
 
 Ag. O no, you fhall not goe. 
 
 Aia. And a be proud with me, ile phefe his pride : let 
 me goe to him. 
 
 Vlif. Not for the worth that hangs vpon our quarrel. 
 
 Aia. A paultry infolent fellow. 
 
 Neft. How he defcribes himfelfe. 
 
 Aia. Can he not be fociable? 
 
 flif. The Rauen chides blacknefie. 
 
 Aia. Ile let his humours bloud. 
 
 Ag. He will be the Phyfitian that fhould be the pa- 
 tient. 
 
 Ala. And all men were a my minde. 
 
 flif. Wit would be out of fafhion. 
 
 Aia. A fhould not beare it fo, a fhould eate Swords 
 firft : fhall pride carry itf 1 
 
 Neft. And 'twould, you'ld carry halfe. 
 
 Vlif. A would haue ten fhares. 
 
 Aia. I will knede him, Ile make him fupple, hee's not 
 yet through warme. 
 
 Ne/i.Force him with praifes, poure in,poure in:his am- 
 bition is dry. 
 
 flif. My L. you feede too much on this diflike. 
 
 Ne/i Our noble Generall, doe not doe fo. 
 
 Diom. You muft prepare to fight without Achilles. 
 
 flif. Why, 'tis this naming of him doth him harme. 
 Here is a man, but 'tis before his face, 
 I will be filent. 
 
 Neft. Wherefore fhould you fo ? 
 
 He 
 
 580
 
 Troylus and Cre/sida. 
 
 He is not emulous, as Achilles is. 
 
 y/if. 'Know the whole world, he is as valiant. 
 
 Aia. A horfon dog, that flial palter thus with vs, would 
 he were a Troian. 
 
 Neft. What a vice were it in Aiax now 
 
 1}liJ. If he were proud. 
 Dio. Or couetous of praife. 
 yiif. I, or furley borne. 
 'Dio. Or ftrange, or felfe affedted. 
 VI. Thank the heauens L.thou art of fweet compofure; 
 Praife him that got thee, (he that-gaue theefucke: 
 Fame be thy Tutor,and thy parrs of nature 
 Thrice fam'd beyond, beyond all erudition ; 
 But he that difciplin'd thyarmes to fight, 
 Let Mart deuide Eternity in twaine, 
 And giue him halfe.and for thy vigour, 
 Bull- bearing Milo: his addition yeelde 
 To finnowie Aiax : I will not praife thy wifdome, 
 Which like a bourne, a pale, a fliore confines 
 Thy fpacious and dilated parts ; here's Neftor 
 Inftrufted by the Antiquary times : 
 He muft, he is, he cannot but be wife. 
 But pardon Father Nejicr,were your dayes 
 As greene as Aiax, and your braine fo temper'd, 
 You fliould nothaue the eminence of him, 
 But be as Aiax. 
 
 tAia. Shall I call you Father ? 
 
 Ulif. I my good Sonne. 
 
 Dio. Be rul'd by him Lord Aiax. 
 
 Vlif. There is no tarrying here, the Hart Achilles 
 Keepes thicket: pleafe it our Gerierall, 
 To call together all his ftate of warre, 
 Frefh Kings are come to Troy ; to morrow 
 We muft with all our maine of power ftand faft : 
 And here's a Lord, come Knights from Eaft to Weft ? 
 And cull their flowre, Aiax ftiall cope the belt. 
 
 Ag. Goe we to Counfaile, let Achilles fleepe ; 
 Light Botes may faile fwift, though greater bulkes draw 
 deepe. Exeunt. Mujic%e founds within. 
 
 Enter Pandartu and a Seruant. 
 
 Pan. Friend, you, pray you a word : Doe not you fol- 
 low the yong Lord Parii ? 
 
 Ser. I fir, when he goes before me. 
 
 Pan. You depend vpon him I meane? 
 
 Ser. Sir, I doe depend vpon the Lord. 
 
 Pan. You depend vpon a noble Gentleman : I muft 
 needes praife him. 
 
 Ser. The Lord be praifed. 
 
 fa. You know me, doe you not? 
 
 Ser. Faith fir, fuperficially. 
 
 Pa. Friend know me better, I am the Lord Pandanu. 
 
 Ser. I hope I fliall know your honour better. 
 
 Pa. I doe defire it. 
 
 Ser. You are in the ftate of Grace? 
 Pa. Grace, not fo friend, honor and Lordfliip are my 
 title : What Mufique is this? 
 
 Ser. I doe but partly know fir : it is Muficke in parts. 
 
 Pa. Know you the Mufitians. 
 
 Ser. Wholly fir. 
 
 Pa. Who play they to? 
 
 Ser. To the hearers fir. 
 
 Pa. Atwhofe pleafure friend ? 
 
 Ser. At mine fir, and theirs that loue Muficke. 
 
 Pa. Command, I meane friend. 
 
 Ser. Who fhall I command fir? 
 
 $81 
 
 Pa. Friend, we vnderftand not one another : I am too 
 courtly, and thou art too cunning. At whofe requeft doe 
 thefe men play ? 
 
 Ser. That's too't indeede fir : marry fir, at the requeft 
 of Paris my L. who's there in perfon; with him the mor- 
 tall Venui, the heart bloud of beauty , loues inuifible 
 foule. 
 
 Pa. Who ? my Cofin Creffida. 
 
 Ser. No fir, Helen, could you not finde out that by 
 her attributes ? 
 
 Pa. It fliould feeme fellow, that thou haft not feen the 
 Lady CreJJida. I ccme to fpeake with. Paris from the 
 Prince Troylus : I will make a complementall aflault vpon 
 him, for my bufinefle feethes. 
 
 Ser. Sodden bufinefle, there's a ftewed phrafe indeede. 
 
 Enter farts and Helena. 
 
 Pan. Faire be to you my Lord, and to all this faire com- 
 pany: faire defires in all faire meafure fairely guide them, 
 efpecially to you faire Queene, faire thoughts be your 
 faire pillow. 
 
 Hel. Deere L. you are full of faire words . 
 
 Pan. You fpeake your faire pleafure fweete Queene : 
 faire Prince, here is good broken Muficke. 
 
 Par. You haue broke it cozen : and by my life you 
 fliall make it whole againe, you fliall peece it out with a 
 peece of your performance. Nel, he is full of harmony. 
 
 Pan. Truely Lady no. 
 Hel. O fir. 
 
 fan. Rude in footh, in good footh very rude. 
 
 Paris. Well faid my Lord : well, you fay fo in fits. 
 
 Tan. I haue bufinefle to my Lord,deere Qneene : my 
 Lord will you vouchfate me a word. 
 
 Hel. Nay, this fliall not hedge vs out, weele heare you 
 fing certainely. 
 
 Pan. Well fweete Queene you are pleafant with me, 
 but, marry thus my Lord, my deere Lord, and moft eftee- 
 med friend your brother Troyltu. 
 
 Hel. My Lord Tandarus , hony fweete Lord. 
 
 Pan. Go too fweete Queene, goe to. 
 Commends himfelfe moft affectionately to you. 
 
 Hel. You fliall not bob vs out of our melody: 
 If you doe, our melancholly vpon your head. 
 
 fan. Swcete Queene, fweete Queene, that's a fweete 
 Queene I faith 
 
 Hel. And to make a fweet Lady fad, is a fower offence. 
 
 Pan. Nay, that fliall not ferue your turne, that fliall it 
 not in truth la. Nay, I care not for fuch words, no, no. 
 And my Lord he defires you, that if the King call for him 
 at Supper, you will make his excufe. 
 
 Hel. My Lord Pandarus ? 
 
 Pan. What faies my fweete Qiieene, my very, very 
 fweete Queene ? 
 
 Tar. What exploit's in hand, where fups he to night? 
 
 Hel. Nay but my Lord ? 
 
 Pan. What faies my fweere Queene ? my cozen will 
 fall out with you. 
 
 Hel. You muft not know where he fups. 
 
 Par. With my difpofer Qt-efada. 
 
 Pan. No, no; no fuch matter, you are wide, come your 
 difpofer is ficke. 
 
 Par. Well, He make excufe. 
 
 Pan. I good my Lord : why fliould you fay Crefsida ? 
 no, your poore difpofer's ficke. 
 
 Par. I fpie. 
 
 Pan. You
 
 Troy'lus and Crefsida. 
 
 Pan. You fpie, what doe you fpie : come, giue me an 
 Inftrument now fweete Queene. 
 
 Hel. Why this is kindely done ? 
 
 Pan, My Neece is horrible in loue with a thing you 
 haue fweete Queene. 
 
 Hel. She flul! haue it my Lord, if it be not my Lord 
 Parti. 
 
 Pand. Hee ? no, flieele none of him , they two are 
 twaine. 
 
 Hel. Falling in after falling out, may make them three. 
 
 Pan. Come, come, lie heare no more of this, He fing 
 you a fong now. 
 
 Hel. I, I, prethee now: by my troth fweet Lord thou 
 haft a fine tore-head. 
 
 Pan. I you may,you may. 
 
 Hel. Let thy fong be loue : this loue will vndoe vs al. 
 Oh Cupid, Cupid, Cupid. 
 
 Pan. Loue ? I that it mall yfaith. 
 
 Par. I, good now loue, loue, no thing but loue. 
 
 Pan. In good troth it begins fo. 
 
 Loue. loue, nothing tut loue, ft ill more : 
 
 For louts 'Bow , 
 
 Sbootes 'Budy and Doe : 
 
 The Shaft confounds not that it wounds , 
 
 'But tickle* Jiill (before : 
 
 Theft Louers cry, oh ho they dye ; 
 
 Yet that which feemes the wound to /^//, 
 
 Doth turne oh bo, to ha ha be : 
 
 So dying loue Hues ftill, 
 
 O.ho a while, but ha ha ha] 
 
 bogrones out for ha ha ha hey ho. 
 
 Hel. In loue yfaith to the very tip of the nofe. 
 
 Par. He eates nothing but doues loue, and that breeds 
 hot bloud, and hot bloud begets hot thoughts, and hot 
 thoughts beget hot deedes. and hot deedes is loue. 
 
 Tan. Is this the generation of loue ? Hot bloud, hot 
 thoughts, and hot deedes, why they are Vipers, is Loue a 
 generation of Vipers? 
 Sweete Lord whofe a field to day ? 
 
 Par. Hefior , Deipbcebus , Helcntu , Antbenor, and all the 
 gallantry of Troy. I would faine haue arm'd today, but 
 my Nell would not haue it fo. 
 How chance my brother Troylut went not? 
 
 Hel He hangs the lippe at fomething; you know all 
 Lord Pandanu? 
 
 fan. Not I hony fweete Queene : I long to heare how 
 they fped to day : 
 Youle remember your brothers excufe ? 
 
 Par. To a hayre. 
 
 Pan. Farewell fweete Queene. 
 
 Htl. Commend me to your Neece. 
 
 Pan. I will fweete Queene. Sound a retreat . 
 
 Par. They're come from fielde : let vs to Priams Hall 
 To greete the Warriers. Sweet Hellen, I muft woe you, 
 To helpe vnarme our Hefior : his ftubborne Buckles, 
 With thefe your white enchanting fingers toucht, 
 Shall more obey then to the edge of Steele, 
 Or force of Greekiih finewes : you (hall doe more 
 Then all the Hand Kings, difarme great Hefior. 
 
 Hel. 'Twill make vs proud to be his feruant Paris: 
 Yea what he (hall receiue of vs in duetie, 
 Giues vs more palme in beautie then we haue : 
 Yea ouerfhines our felfe. 
 Sweete aboue thought I loue thee. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Pandariu andTroylus Man. 
 
 Pan. How now, where's thy Maifter, at my Couzen 
 Crejsidai? . 
 
 Man. No fir, he ftayes for you to conduct him thither. 
 Enter Troyliu. 
 
 Pan. O here he comes: How now, how now? 
 
 Troy. Sirra walke off. 
 
 Pan. Haue you feene my Coufin? 
 
 Troy. No Pandarui : I ftalke about her doore 
 k'ke a ftrange foule vpon the Stigian bankes 
 ^aying for waftage.O be thou my Charon, 
 "nd giue me fwift tranfportance to thofe fields, 
 Where I may wallow in the Lilly beds 
 Propos'd for the deferuer. O gentle Pandarus, 
 From Cupids moulder plucke his painted wings, 
 And flye with me to Crefsid. 
 
 Pan. Walke here ith'Orchard, He bring her ftraight. 
 Exit Pandariu. 
 
 Troy. I am giddy ; expectation whirles me round, 
 Th'imaginary relifh is fo fweete, 
 That it inchants my fence : what will it be 
 When that the watry pallats tafte indeede 
 Loues thrice reputed Nectar ? Death I feare me 
 Sounding diftruction, or fome ioy too fine, 
 Too fubtile, potent, and too fharpe in fweetnefle, 
 For the capacitie of my ruder powers; 
 I feare it much, and I doe feare befides, 
 That I fhall loofe diftinction in my ioyes, 
 As doth a battaile, when they charge on heapes 
 The enemy flying. Enter Pandarui. 
 
 Pan. Shee's making her ready, flieele come ftraight; you 
 muft be witty now, me does fo blufli,& fetches her winde 
 fo mort,as if me were fraid with a fprite : lie fetch her ; it 
 is the prettieft villaine,me fetches her breath fo fhort as a 
 newtane Sparrow. Exit Pand. 
 
 Troy. Euen fuch a paflion doth imbrace my bofome: 
 My heart beates thicker then a feauorous pulfe, 
 And all my powers doe their beftowing loofe, 
 Like vaflalage at vnawares encountting 
 The eye of Maieflie. 
 
 Enter Pandariu and Crefsida. 
 
 Pan. Come, come, what neede you blufh ? 
 Shames a babie ; here (he is now, fweare the oathes now 
 to her, that you h^ue fworne to me. What are you gone a- 
 gaine,you muft be watcht ere you be made tame, muft 
 you f come your wayes, come your waves, and you draw 
 , backward weele put you i'th fils : why doe you not fpeak 
 to her? Come draw this curtaine,& let's fee your picture. 
 AlafTe the day, how loath you are to offend day light ?and 
 'twere darke you'ld clofe fooner : So, fo, rub on, and kifTe 
 the miftrefle ; how now, a kifie in fee-firme ? build there 
 Carpenter, the ayre is fweete. Nay, you fhall fight your 
 hearts out ere I part you. The Faulcon,as the Tercell, for 
 all the Ducks ith Riuer : go too, go too. 
 
 Troy. You haue bereft me of all words Lady. 
 Pan. Words pay no debts ; giue her deedes : but fheele 
 bereaue you 'oth' deeds too, if fliee call your actiuity in 
 queftion : what billing againe ? here's in witnefTe where- 
 of the Parties interchangeably. Come in, come in, He go 
 get a fire ? 
 
 Cref. Will you walke in my Lord? 
 
 Troy. O Crefsida,how often haue I wifht me thus? 
 
 Cref. Wiflit my Lord ? the gods grant ? O my Lord. 
 
 Troy. What fliould they grant? what makes this pret- 
 ty abruption: what too curious dieg efpies my fweete La- 
 dy in the fountaine of our loue? 
 
 Cref. More
 
 Troylus and Crejsida. 
 
 Cref. More dregs then water,if my teares haue eyes. 
 Troy. Feares make diuels of Cherubins,they neuer fee 
 truely. 
 
 Cref. Blinde feare,that feeing reafon leads, findes fafe 
 footing, then blinde reafon, {tumbling without feare : to 
 feare the word, oft cures the worfe. 
 
 Troy. Oh let my Lady apprehend no feare, 
 In all Cupids Pageant there is prefented no monfter. 
 Cref. Not nothing monftrons neither? 
 
 Troy. Nothing but our vndertakings, when we vowe 
 to weepe feas, liue in fire,eate rockes,tame Tygersjthink- 
 ing it harder for our MiftrefTe to deuife impofition 
 inough, then for vs to vndergoe any difficultie impofed. 
 This is the monftruofitie in loue Lady, that the will is in- 
 finite,andthe execution confin'd;that the defire is bound- 
 lefle, and the adl a flaue to limit. 
 
 C re f- They fay all Louers fweare more performance 
 then they are able, and yet referue an ability that they 
 neuer performe: vowing more then the perfection of ten; 
 and difcharging lefle then the tenth part of one. They 
 that haue the voyce of Lyons, and the aft of Hares : are 
 they not Monfters ? 
 
 Troy. Are there fuch ? fuch are not we : Praife vs as we 
 are tailed, allow vs as we proue : our head /hall goe bare 
 till merit crowne it: no perfection in reuerfion {hall haue 
 a praife in prefent : wee will not name defert before his 
 birth, and being borne his addition fhall be humble : few 
 words to faire faith. Troyltu fhall be fuch to Creffid, as 
 what enuie can fay worft, fhall be a mocke for his truth j 
 and what truth can fpeake trueft, not truer then Troy- 
 lui. 
 
 Cref. Will you walke in my Lord ? 
 Enter Pandartu. 
 
 Pan. What blufhing ftill ? haue you not done talking 
 yet? 
 
 Cref. Well Vnckle, what folly I commit, I dedicate 
 to you. 
 
 Pan. I thanke you for that : if my Lord get a Boy of 
 you, youle giue him me: be true to my Lord, if he flinch, 
 chide me for it. 
 
 Tro. You know now your hoftages:your Vnckles word 
 and my firme faith. 
 
 Pan. Nay, He giue my word for her too : our kindred 
 though they be long ere they are wooed , they are con- 
 ftant being wonne : they are Burres I can tell you,they'le 
 fticke where they are throwne. 
 
 Cref. Boldnefle comes to mee now, and brings mee 
 heart: Prince Troy/us,! haue lou'd you night and day, for 
 many weary moneths. 
 
 Troy. Why was my Crefsid then fo hard to win ? 
 
 Cref. Hard to feeme won : but I was won my Lord 
 With the firft glance ; that euer pardon me, 
 If I confefTe much you will play the tyrant: 
 I loue you now, but not till now fo much 
 But I might maifter it ; infaith I lye : 
 My thoughts were like vnbrideled children grow 
 Too head-ftrong for their mother : fee we fooles, 
 Why haue I blab'd : who fhall be true to vs 
 When we are fo vnfecret to ourfelues? 
 But though I lou'd you well, I woed you not, 
 And yet good faith I wifht my felfe a man ; 
 Or that we women had mens priuiledge 
 Of fpeaking firft. Sweet, bid me hold my tongue, 
 For in this rapture I fhall furely fpeake 
 The thing I fhall repent: fee, fee, your filence 
 Comming in dumbnefle, from my weakenefle drawes 
 
 583 
 
 My foule of counfell from me. Stop my mouth. 
 
 Troy. And fhall, albeit fweete Muficke ifTues thence. 
 
 Pan. Pretty yfaith. 
 
 Cref. My Lord, I doe befeech you pardon me, 
 "Twas not my purpofe thus to beg a kifle : 
 I am afham'd ; O Heauens, what haue I done ! 
 For this time will I take my leaue my Lord. 
 
 Troy. Your leaue fweete CreJJldf 
 
 Pan. Leaue : and you take leaue till to morrow mor- 
 ning. 
 
 Cref. Pray you content you. 
 
 Troy. What offends you Lady ? 
 
 Cref. Sir, mine owne company. 
 
 Troy. You cannot fhun your felfe. 
 
 Cref. Let me goe and try: 
 I,haue a kinde or felfe recides with you : 
 But an vnkinde felfe, that it felfe will leaue, 
 To be anothers foole. Where is my wit ? 
 \ would be gone : I fpeake I know not what. 
 
 Troy. Well know they what they fpeake, that fpeakes 
 fo wifely. 
 
 Cre. Perchance my Lord, I fhew more craft then loue, 
 And fell fo roundly to a large confeflion, 
 To Angle for your thoughts: but you are wife, 
 Or elfe you loue not : for to be wife and loue, 
 Exceedes roans might, that dwels with gods aboue. 
 
 Troy. O that I thought it could be in a woman : 
 As if it can, I will prefume in you, 
 To feede for aye her lampe and flames of loue. 
 To keepe her conftancie in plight and youth, 
 Out-liuing beauties outward, with a minde 
 That doth renew fvvifter then blood decaies : 
 Or that perfwafion could but thus conuince me, 
 That my integritie and truth to you, 
 Might be affronted with the match and waight 
 Of fuch a winnowed puriritie in loue: 
 How were I then vp-lifted ! but alas, 
 I am as true, as truths fimplicitie, 
 And fimpler then the infancie of truth. 
 
 Crf. In that He warre with you. 
 
 Troy. O vertuous fight, 
 
 When right with right wars who fhall be moft right : 
 True fwaines in loue, fliall in the world to come 
 Approue their truths by Troylus, when their rimes, 
 Full of proteft, of oath and big compare; 
 Wants ilmiles, truth tir'd with iteration, 
 As true as fteele, as plantage to the Moone : 
 As Sunne to day : as Turtle to her mate : 
 As Iron to Adamant : as Earth to th'Center: 
 Yet after all comparifons of truth, 
 (As truths authenticke author to be cited) 
 As true as Troy/us, fhall crowne vp the Verfe, 
 And fancYifie the numbers. 
 
 Cref. Prophet may you be : 
 If I be falfe, or fwerue a haire from truth, 
 When time is old and hath forgot it felfe : 
 When water drops haue worne the Stones of Troy ; 
 And blinde obliuion fwallow'd Cities vp ; 
 And mightie States chara&erlefle are grated 
 To duftie nothing; yet let memory, 
 From falfe to falfe, among falfe Maids in loue,l 
 Vpbraid my falfehood, when they'aue faid as falfe, 
 As Aire, as Water, as Winde,as fandie earth ; 
 As Foxe to Lambe ; as Wolfe to Heifers Calfe ; 
 Pard to the Hinde, orStepdame to her Sonne; 
 Yea, let them fay, to fticke the heart of falfehood, 
 
 As
 
 Troy/us and Cre/sida. 
 
 As falfe as Cre/td. 
 
 Pand. Go too, a bargaine made : feale it, feale it, I!e 
 be the witneffe here I hold your hand : here my Coufins, 
 if euer you proue falfe one to another, fince I haue taken 
 fuch paines to bring you together, let all pittifull goers 
 betweene be cal'd to the worlds end after my name : call 
 them all Panders ; let all conftant men be Troyluffes, all 
 falfe women CreJ/ids, and all brokers betweene, Panders : 
 fay, Amen. 
 
 Trey. Amen. 
 
 Cref. Amen. 
 
 Pan. Amen. 
 
 Whereupon I will fhew you a Chamber, which bed, be- 
 caufe it fhall notfpeake of your prettie encounters, preffe 
 it to death : away. 
 
 And Cupid grant all'tong-tide Maidens heere, 
 Bed, Chamber, and Pander,to prouide this geere. Sxeunt. 
 
 Enter VlyJJes, Diomedes , Neftor , Agamemnon, 
 cflfene/aus and Cbalcas. Flurijb. 
 
 Cal. Now Princes for the feruice I haue done you, 
 Th'aduantage of the time promps me aloud, 
 To call for recompence : appeare it to your minde, 
 That through the fight I beare in things to loue, 
 I haue abandon'd Troy, left my pofTeffion, 
 Incur'd a Traitors name, expof'd my felfe, 
 From certaine and pofieft conueniences, 
 To doubtfull fortunes, fequeftring from me all 
 That time, acquaintance, cuftome and condition, 
 Made tame, and moft familiar to my nature : 
 And here to doe you feruice am become, 
 As new into the world, ftrange, vnacquainted. 
 I doe befeech you, as in way of tafte, 
 To giue me now a little benefit : 
 Out of thofe many regiftred in promife, 
 Which you fay, liue to come in my behalfe. 
 
 Agam. What would'ft thou of vs Troian ? make 
 demand ? 
 
 Cal. You haue a Troian prifoner, cal'd Anthenor, 
 Yefterday tooke : Troy holds him very deere. 
 Oft haue you ( often haue you, thankes therefore) 
 Defir'd my Crejfid in right great exchange. 
 Whom Troy hath ftill deni'd : but this Antbenor, 
 I know is fuch a wreft in their affaires ; 
 That their negotiations all muft flacke, 
 Wanting his mannage : and they will almoft, 
 Giue vs a Prince of blood, a Sonne of Priam, 
 In change of him. Let him be fent great Princes, 
 And he fhall buy my Daughter: and her prefence, 
 Shall quite ftrike off all feruice I haue done, 
 In moft accepted paine. 
 
 Ago. Let Diomedes beare him, 
 And bring vs C rc ffid hither: Ca/cM mall haue 
 What he requefts of vs : good Diomed 
 Furnifh you rairely for this enterchange ; 
 Withall bring word, if Heffor will to morrow 
 Be anfwer'd in his challenge. Aiax is ready. 
 
 Dio. This fhall I vndertake, and 'tis a burthen 
 Which I am proud to beare. Exit. 
 
 Safer Achilles and Patroclus in their Tent. 
 Vlif. Achilles ftands i'th entrance of his Tent ; 
 Pleafe it our Generall to pafle ftrangely by him, 
 As if he were forgot: and Princes all, 
 Lay negligent and loofe regard vpon him ; 
 1 will come laft, 'tis like heele queftion me, 
 
 Why fuch vnplaufiue eyes are bent? why turn'd on him r 
 If fo, I haue derilion medicinable, 
 To vfe betweene your ftrangenefTe and his pride, 
 Which his owne will fhall haue defire to drinke; 
 ; It may doe good, pride hath no other glafle 
 | To fhow it felfe, but pride : for fupple knees, 
 Feede arrogance, and are the proud mans fees. 
 
 Agam. Weele execute your purpofe, and put on 
 A forme of ftrangeneffe as we paffe along, 
 So doe each Lord, and either greete him not, . 
 
 Or elfe difdainfully, which fhall fhake him more, 
 Then if not lookton. I will lead the way. 
 
 Acbil. What comes the Generall to fpeake with me ? 
 You know my minde, lie fight no more 'gainft Troy. 
 
 Aga. What faies Achilles, would he ought with vs ? 
 
 Nef. Would you my Lord ought with the Generall? 
 
 Acbil. No. 
 
 NeJ. Nothing my Lord. 
 
 Aga. The better. 
 
 Acbil. Good day, good day. 
 
 Men. How doe you ? how doe you ? 
 
 Acbi. What, do's the Cuckold fcorne me? 
 
 Aiax. How now Patrccltu ? 
 
 Acbil. Good morrow Aiax? 
 
 Aiax. Ha. 
 
 Acbil. Good morrow. 
 
 Aiax. I, and good next day too. Exeunt. 
 
 Acbil. What meane thefe fellowes? know they not 
 Achilles ? 
 
 Pair. They pafie by ftrangely: they were vfd to bend 
 To fend their fmiles before them to Achilles : 
 To come as humbly as they vs'd to creepe to holy Altars. 
 
 Acbil. What am I poore of late ? 
 'Tis certaine, greatnefie once falne out with fortune, 
 Muft fall out with men too : what the declined is, 
 He fhall as Ibone reade in the eyes of others, 
 As feele in his owne fall : for men like butter-flies, 
 Shew not theit mealie wings, but to the Summer : 
 And not a man for being fimply man, 
 Hath any honour; but honour'd for thofe honours 
 That are without him ; as place,riches,and fauour, 
 Prizes of accident, as oft as merit: 
 Which when they fall, as being flippery ftanders; 
 The loue that leand on them as flippery too, 
 Doth one plucke downe another, and together 
 Dye in the fall. But 'tis not fo with me ; 
 Fortune and I are friends, I doe enioy 
 At ample point, all that I did pofiefle, 
 Saue thefe mens lookes : who do me thinkes finde out 
 Something not worth in me fuch rich beholding, 
 As they haue often giuen. Here is TJliJJes, 
 He interrupt his reading : how now Vlijfis? 
 
 VHf. Now great Thetis Sonne. 
 
 Acbil. What are you reading ? 
 
 VliJ. A ftrange fellow here 
 Writes me, that man, how dearely euer parted, 
 How much in hauing, or without,or in, 
 Cannot make boaft to haue that which he hath ; 
 Nor feeles not what he owes, but by reflection : 
 As when his vertues fhining vpon others, 
 Heate them, and they retort that heate againe 
 To the firft giuer. 
 
 Acbil. This is not ftrange Wi/fts : 
 The beautie that is borne here in the face, 
 The bearer knowes not, but commends it felfe, 
 Not going from it felfe : but eye to eye oppos'd, 
 
 Salutes 

 
 'Troylus and Crejsida. 
 
 Salutes each other with each others forme. 
 For fpeculation turnes not to it felfe, 
 Till it hath trauail'd, and is married there 
 Where it may fee it felfe : this is not ftrange at all. 
 
 Vlif. I doe not ftraine it at the pofition, 
 It is familiar ; but at the Authors drift, 
 Who in his circumftance, exprefly proues 
 That no may is the Lord of any thing, 
 (Though in and of him there is much confiding,) 
 Till he communicate his parts to others: 
 Nor doth he of himfelfe know them for ought, 
 Till he behold them formed in th'applaufe, 
 Where they are extended : who like an arch reuerb'rate 
 The voyce againe ; or like a gate of fteele, 
 Fronting the Sunne, receiues and renders backe 
 His figure, and his heate. I was much rapt in this, 
 And apprehended here immediately : 
 The vnknowne Aiax ; 
 
 Heauens what a man is there? a very Horfe, (are- 
 
 That has he knowes not what. Nature, what things there 
 Mod abiect in regard, and deare in vfe. 
 What things againe moft deere in the efteeme, 
 And poore in worth : now fhall we fee to morrow, 
 An act that very chance doth throw vpon him? 
 Aiax renown'd ? O heauens, what fome men doe, 
 While fome men leaue to doe ! 
 How fome mencreepe in bkittifh fortunes hall, 
 Whiles others play the Ideots in her eyes: 
 How one man eates into anothers pride, 
 While pride is feafting in his wantonnefle 
 To fee thefe Grecian Lords ; why, euen already, 
 They clap the lubber Aiax on the fhoulder, 
 As if his foote were on braue Hefiors breft, 
 And great Troy fhrinking. 
 
 Acbil. I doe beleeue it : 
 
 For they paft by me, as myfers doe by beggars, 
 Neither gaue to me good word, nor looke: 
 What are mydeedes forgot? 
 
 TJlij. Time hath(my Lord) a wallet at his backe, 
 Wherein he puts almes for obliuion : 
 A great fiz'd monfter of ingratitudes : 
 Thofe fcraps are good deedes paft, 
 Which are deuour'd as faft as they are made, 
 Forgot as foone as done : perfeuerance, deere my Lord, 
 Keepes honor bright, to haue done, is to hang 
 Quite out of fafliion, like a ruftie male, 
 In monumentallmockrie : take the inftant way, 
 For honour trauels in a ftraight fo narrow, 
 Where one but goes a breaft, keepe then the path: 
 For emulation hath a thoufand Sonnes, 
 That one by one purfue ; if you giue way, 
 Or hedge afide from the direct forth right ; 
 Like to an entred Tyde,they all rufh by, 
 And leaue you hindmoft : 
 Or like a gallant Horfe falne in firft ranke, 
 Lye there for pauement to the abiedt, neere 
 Ore-run and trampled on : then what they doe in prefent, 
 Though lefle then yours in paft,muft ore-top yours : 
 For time is like a fafhionable Hofte, 
 That flightly makes his parting Gueft by th'hand; 
 And with his armes out-ftretcht, as he would flye, 
 Grafpes in the commer : the welcome euerfmiles, 
 And farewels goes out fighing : O let not vertue feeke 
 Remuneration for the thing it was : for beautie, wit, 
 High birth, vigor of bone, defert in feruice, 
 Loue, friendship, charity, are fubiects all 
 
 To enuious and calumniating time: 
 
 One touch of nature makes the whole world kin : 
 
 That all with one confent praife new borne gaudes, 
 
 Though they are made and moulded of things paft, 
 
 And goe to duft, that is a little guilt, 
 
 More laud then guilt oredufted. 
 
 The prefent eye praifes the pref nt obiect : 
 
 Then maruell not thou great and compleat man, 
 
 That all the Greekes begin to worfhip Aiax ; 
 
 Since things in motion begin to catch the eye, 
 
 Then what not ftiis : the cry went out on thee, 
 
 And ftill it might, and yet it may againe, 
 
 If thou would'ft not entombe thy felfe aliue, 
 
 And cafe thy reputation in thy Tent ; 
 
 Whofe glorious deedes, but in thefe fields of late, 
 
 Made emulous millions 'mongft the gods themfelues, 
 
 And draue great Mart to faction. 
 
 Acbil. Of this my priuacie, 
 I haue ftrong reafons. 
 
 yitf. But 'gainft your priuacie 
 The reafons are more potent and heroycall : 
 "Tis knowne ./&;//, that you are in loue 
 With one of Priams daughters. 
 
 AMI. Ha ? knowne f 
 
 Vlif. Is that a wonder ? 
 The prouidence that's in a watchful! State, 
 Knowes almoft euery graine of Plutoes gold ; 
 Findes bottome in th'vncomprehenfiue deepes ; 
 Keepes place with thought; and almoft like the gods, 
 Doe thoughts vnuaile in their dumbe cradles : 
 There is a myfterie ( with whom relation 
 Durft neuer meddle) in the foule of State ; 
 Which hath an operation more diuine, 
 Then breath or pen can giue expreffure to : 
 All the commerfe that you haue had with Troy, 
 As perfectly is ours, as yours, my Lord. 
 And better would it fit Achilles much, 
 To throw downe Hefior then Tolixena. 
 But it muft grieue yong firhui now at home, 
 When fame fliall in her Hand found her trumpe; 
 And all the Greekifh Girles fhall tripping fing, 
 Great HecJors fifter did Achilles winne; 
 But our great Aiax brauely beate downe him. 
 Farewell my Lord : I as your louer fpeake ; 
 The foole flides ore the Ice that you fhould breake. 
 
 Patr. To this effect Achilles haue I mou'd you ; 
 A woman impudent and mannifh growne, 
 Is not more loth'd, then an effeminate man, 
 In time of action : I ftand condemn'd for this ; 
 They thinke my little ftomacke to the warre, 
 And your great loue to me,reftraines you thus : 
 Sweete,roufe your felfejand the weak e wanton C"f'd 
 Shall from your necke vnloofe his amorous fould, 
 And like a dew drop from the Lyons mane, 
 Be fhooke to ayrie ayre. 
 
 Acbil. Shall Aiax fight with EeEior} 
 
 Tatr. I, and perhaps receiue much honor by him. 
 
 Acbil. I fee my reputation is at ftake, 
 My fame is flirowdly gored. 
 
 Patr. O then beware : 
 
 Thofe wounds heale ill, that men doe giue themfelues : 
 Omifiion to doe what is neceflary, 
 Scales a commiffion to a blanke of danger, 
 And danger like an ague fubtly taints 
 Euen then when we fit idely in the funne. 
 
 Acbil. Goe call Tberjites hither fweet Patroclus, 
 
 Ile 
 
 4E
 
 Troylus and Crefsida. 
 
 I|e fend the foole to Aiax, and defire him 
 
 T'inuite the Troian Lords after the Combat 
 
 To fee vs here vnarm'd : I haue a womans longing, 
 
 An appetite that I am ficke withall, 
 
 To fee great Hefior in his weedes of peace j Enter Tkerfi. 
 
 To talke with him, and to behold his vifage, 
 
 Euen to my full of view. A labour fau'd. 
 
 Tber. A wonder. 
 
 Acbll. What? 
 
 Tber. tAiax goes vp and downe the field, asking for 
 himfelfe. 
 
 AMI. How fo? 
 
 Tber. Hee muft fight fingly to morrow with Hefior, 
 and is fo prophetically proud of an heroicall cudgelling, 
 that he raues in faying nothing. 
 
 Acbll. How can that be ? 
 
 Tber. Why he ftalkts vp and downe like a Peacock, a 
 ftride and a ftand: ruminates like an hoftefle,that hath no 
 Arithmatique but her braine to fet downe her recko- 
 ning : bites his lip with a politique regard, as who fhould 
 fay, there were wit in his head and twoo'd out; and fo 
 there is: but it lyes as coldly in him, as fire in a flint, 
 which will not fliew without knocking. The mans vn- 
 done for euerjfor if Hefior breake not his necke i'th'com- 
 bat, heele break't himfelfe in vaine-glory. He knowes 
 not mee : I faid, good morrow Aiax ; And he replyes, 
 thankes Agamemnon. What thinke you of this man, 
 that takes me for the Generall ? Hee's growne a very 
 land-fi/h , languagelefle , a monfter : a plague of o- 
 pinion, a man may weare it on both fides like a leather 
 lerkin. 
 
 Acbll. Thou muft be my AmbafTador to him Tberfites. 
 
 Tber. Who, I : why, heele anfwer no body : he pro- 
 fefles notanfwering ; fpeaking is for beggers : he weares 
 his tongue in'sarmes : I will put on hij prefence ; let Pa- 
 troclut make his demands to me , you fnall fee the Page- 
 ant of Aiax. 
 
 Acbll. To him fatrocltu; tell him, I humbly defire the 
 valiant Aiax, to inuite the moft valorous Hefior, to come 
 vnarm'd to my Tent, and to procure fafe conduct for his 
 perfon, of the magnanimious and moft illuftrious, fixe or 
 feauen times honour'd Captaine, Generall of the Grecian 
 Armie Agamemnon, Sec. doe this. 
 
 Patro. loue blefle great Aiax, 
 
 Tber. Hum. 
 
 Tatr. I come from the worthy Achilles. 
 
 Tber. Ha? 
 
 Pjtr. Who moft humbly defires you to inuite Hefior 
 to his Tent. 
 
 Tber. Hum. 
 
 Pair. And to procure fafe conduit from Agamemnon. 
 
 Tber. Agamemnon ? 
 
 Patr. I my Lord. 
 
 Tber. Ha? 
 
 Patr. What fay you too't. 
 
 Tber. God buy you with all my heart. 
 
 Patr. Your anfwer fir. 
 
 Tber. If to morrow be a faire day, by eleuen a clocke 
 it will goe one way or other ; howfoeuer, he ftiall pay for 
 me ere he has me. 
 
 fair. Your anfwer fir. 
 
 Tber. Fare you well withall my heart. 
 
 Acbll. Why, but he is not in this tune, is he? 
 
 Tber. No, but he's out a tune thus: what muficke will 
 be in him when Hefior has knocktouthis braines, I know 
 not : but I am fure none, vnlefle the Fidler Apollo get his 
 
 finewes to make catlings on. 
 
 Acbll. Come, thou fhalt beare a Letter to him 
 ftraight. 
 
 Tber. Let me carry another to his Horfejfor that's the 
 more capable creature. 
 
 Acbll. My minde is troubled like a Fountaine ftir'd, 
 And I my felfe fee not the bottome of it. 
 
 Tber. Would the Fountaine of your minde were cleere 
 againe, that I might water an Afle at it : I had rather be a 
 Ticke in a Sheepe, then fuch a valiant ignorance. 
 
 Enter at one doore &&neas with a Torch, at another 
 Paris, Diepbaebu4,At:tbenor ,Diomed the 
 Grecian, with Torches. 
 
 Par. See hoa, who is that there ? 
 
 'Diepb. It is the Lord <^neM. 
 
 e/*. I the Prince there in perfon ? 
 Had I fo good occafion to lye long 
 As you Prince Parti, nothing but heauenly bufinefle, 
 Should rob my bed-mate of my company. 
 
 Diom. That's my minde too : good morrow Lord 
 c&neat. 
 
 Par. A valiant Greeke <^neas, take his hand, 
 WitnefTe the procefle of your fpeech within ; 
 You told how Dlomed in a whole weeke by dayes 
 Did haunt you in the Field. 
 
 <^ne. Health to you valiant fir, 
 During all queftionof the gentle truce : 
 But when I meeteyou arm'd,asblacke defiance, 
 As heart can thinke, or courage execute. 
 
 'Diom. The one and other T) iomed em braces, 
 Our blouds are now in calme; and fo long health: 
 But when contention, and occafion meetes, 
 By loue, I!e play the hunter for thy life, 
 With all my force, purfuite and pollicy. 
 
 <^ne. And thou /halt hunt a Lyon that will flye 
 With his face backward, in humaine gentlenefle : 
 Welcome to Troy ; now by Ancbifes life, 
 Welcome indeede : by Vtmu hand I fweare, 
 No man aliue can loue in fuch a fort, 
 The thing he meanes to kill, more excellently. 
 
 'Diom. We fimpathize. loue let e^Eneai liue 
 (If to my fword his fate be not the glory,) 
 A thoufand compleate courfes of the Sunne, 
 But in mine emulous honor let him dye : 
 With euery ioynt a wound, and that to morrow. 
 
 cjne. We know each other well. 
 
 Dio. We doe, and long to know each other worfe. 
 
 far. This is the moft, defpightful'ft gentle greeting j 
 The nobleft hatefull loue, that ere 1 heard of. 
 What bufinefle Lord fo early ? 
 
 <^ne. I was fent for to the Kingjbut why, I know not. 
 
 Par. His purpofe meets youjit was to bring this Greek 
 To Calcba's houfe; and there to render him, 
 For the enfreed Antbenor,the faire CreJJtd: 
 Lers haue your company ; or if you pleafe, 
 Hafte there before vs. I conftantly doe thinke 
 (Or rather call my thought a certaine knowledge) 
 My brother Troy/us lodges there to night. 
 Roufe him, and giue him note of our approach, 
 With the whole quality whereof, I feare 
 We fliall be much vnwelcome. 
 
 <^ne. That 1 aflure you : 
 
 Troylus had rather Troy were borne to Greece, 
 Then CreJJld borne from Troy. 
 
 Par. There
 
 Troylus and Crefsida. 
 
 Par. There is no helpe : 
 
 The bitter difpofition of the time will haue it fo. 
 On Lord, weele follow you. 
 
 &ne. Good morrow all. Exit tAZnecu 
 
 Tar. And tell me noble 'Diomed; faith tell me true, 
 Euen in the foule of found good fellow fhip, 
 Who in your thoughts merits faire Helen morb? 
 My felfe, or c^Tetie/aus? 
 
 Diom. Both alike. 
 
 He merits well to haue her, that doth feeke her, 
 Not making any fcruple of her foylure, 
 With fuch a hell of paine, and world of charge. 
 And you as well to keepe her, that defend her, 
 Not pallating the tafte of her dishonour, 
 With fuch a coftly lofie of wealth and friends : 
 He like a puling Cuckold, would drinke vp 
 The lees and dregs of a flat tamed peece : 
 You like a letcher, out of whorim loynes, 
 Are pleaf'd to breede out your inheritors: 
 Both merits poyz'd, each weighs no leffe nor more, 
 But lie as he, which heauierfora whore. 
 
 Par. You are too bitter to your country-woman. 
 
 Dio. Shee's bitter to her countrey : heare me Parity 
 For euery falfe drop in her baudy veines, 
 A Grecians life hath funke : for euery fcruple 
 Of her contaminateJ carrion weight, 
 A Troian hath beene flaine. Since ihe could fpeake, 
 She hath not giuen fo many good words breath, 
 As for her, Greekes and Troians fuffred death. 
 
 Par. Faire Diomed, you doe as chapmen doe, 
 Dif praife the thing that you defire to buy : 
 But we in (Hence hold this vertue well ; 
 Weele not commend, what we intend to fell. 
 Here lyes our way. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter TroyliU and CreJJida. 
 
 Troy. Deere trouble not your felfe : the morne is cold. 
 
 Crej. Then fweet my Lord, He call mine Vnckle down; 
 He fliall vnbolt the Gates. 
 
 Troy. Trouble him not : 
 To bed, to bed : fleepe kill thofe pritty eyes, 
 And giue as foft attachment to thy fences, 
 As Infants empty of all thought. 
 
 Cref. Good morrow then. 
 
 Troy. I prithee now to bed. 
 
 Crej. Are you a weary of me ? 
 
 Troy. O CreJJida ! but that the bufie day 
 Wak't by the Larke, hath rouz'd the ribauld Crowes, ; 
 And dreaming night will hide our eyes no longer : 
 I would not from thee. 
 
 Crej. Night hath beene too briefe. (ftayes, 
 
 Troy. Befhrew the witch ! with venemous wights me 
 As hidioufly as hell ; but flies the grafpes of loue, 
 With wings more momentary, fwift then thought: 
 You will catch cold, and curfe me. 
 
 Cref. Prithee tarry, you men will neuer tarry ; 
 
 foolifli CreJJld, I might haue ftill held off, 
 
 And then you would haue tarried. Harke,ther's one vp? 
 Pand. within. What's all the doores open here ? 
 Troy. It is ycur Vnckle. Snter Pandariu. 
 
 Cref. A peftilence on him : now will he be mocking : 
 
 1 mail haue fuch a life. 
 
 Pan. How now, how now ? how goe maiden-heads ? 
 Heare you Maide : wher's my cozin CreJJld '? 
 
 Cref. Go hang your felf, you naughty mocking Vnckle: 
 
 587 
 
 You bring me to doo -and then you floute me too. 
 
 Pan. To do what? to do what ? let her fay what : 
 What haue I brought you to doe ? 
 
 Cref. Come, come, be/hrew your heart : youle nere be 
 good, nor fuffer others. 
 
 Pan. Ha, ha: alas poore wretch: a poore Cbipockia, haft 
 not flept to night? would he not (a naughty man) let it 
 fleepe: a bug-beaie take him. One fyocfy . 
 
 C re J- Did not I tell you ? would he were knockt ith' 
 head. Who's that at doore? good Vnckle goe and fee. 
 My Lord, come you againe into my Chamber: 
 You fmile and mocke me, as if I meant naughtily. 
 
 Troy. Ha, ha. 
 
 Cre. Come you are deceiu'd, I thinke of no fuch thing. 
 How earneftly they knocke : pray you come in. Knoc^e. 
 I would not for halfe Trey haue you feene here. Exeunt 
 
 Pan. Who's there ? what's the matter? will you beate 
 downe the doore ? How now, what's the matter? 
 
 e/W. Good morrow Lord, good morrow. 
 
 Tan. Who's there my Lord i <^neas ? by my troth I 
 knew you not : what newes with you fo early ? 
 
 e/>.'*. Is not Prince Troyltuheni 
 
 Pan. Here? what mould he doe here? 
 
 c&ne. Come he is here, my Lord, doe not deny him : 
 It doth import him much to fpeake with me. 
 
 Tan. Is he here fay you ? 'tis more then 1 know, He be 
 fworne: For my ownei part I came in late : what ihould 
 he doe here ? 
 
 csne. Who/nay then: Come, come, youle doe him 
 wrong, ere y'are ware : youle be fo true to him, to be 
 falfe to him : Doe not you know of him, but yet goe fetch 
 him hither, goe. 
 
 Snter Troyluf. 
 
 Troy. How now, what's the matter? 
 
 exfiw. My Lord, I fcarce haue leifure to falute you, 
 My matter is fo rafh : there is at hand, 
 Paris your brother, and Deiphasbui, 
 The Grecian Diomed, and our Ar.tbenor 
 Deliuer'd to vs, and for him forth-with, 
 Ere the firft facrifice, within this houre, 
 We muft giue vp to Diomeds hand 
 The Lady CreJJida. 
 
 Troy. Is it concluded fo ? 
 
 e/W. By Priam, and the generall ftate of Troy, 
 They are at hand, and ready to effect it. 
 
 Troy. How my atchieuements mocke me ; 
 I will goe meete them : and my Lord <vw<w, 
 We met by chance ; you did not finde me here. 
 
 cx. Good, good, my Lord, the fecrets of nature 
 Haue not more gift in taciturnitie. Exennt. 
 
 Enter Par.darm and Crefjid. 
 
 Pan. Is't poflible r no fooner got but loft : the diuell 
 take Antbentr; the yong Prince will goe mad: a plague 
 vpon Anthenvr ; I would they had brok's necke. 
 
 Crej. How now? what's the matter? who was here? 
 
 Tan. Ah, ha I 
 
 Crej. Why figh you fo profoundly? wher's my Lord? 
 gone ? tell me fweet Vnckle, what's the matter ? 
 
 Pan. Would I were as deepe vnder the earth as I am 
 aboue. 
 
 Cref. O the gods ! what's the matter ? 
 
 Pan. Prythee get thee in : would thou had'ft nere been 
 borne; I knew thou would'ft be his death. O poore Gen- 
 tleman : a plague vpon Ahtbenor. 
 
 f j 2 Cref. Good
 
 Troylus and Crefsida. 
 
 Qref. Good Vnckle I befeech you, on my knees, I be- 
 feech you what's the matter? 
 
 Pan. Thou muft be gone wench, thou muft be gone ; 
 thou art chang'd for Antbenor : thou muft to thy Father, 
 and be gone from Troylus : 'twill be his death : 'twill be 
 his baine, he cannot beare it.. 
 
 Cref. O you immortall gods ! I will not goe. 
 
 fan. Thou muft. 
 
 Cref. I will not Vnckle : I haue forgot my Father : 
 I know no touch of confanguinitie : 
 No kin, no loue, no bloud,no foule, fo neere me, 
 As the fweet Troy/us : O you gods diuine ! 
 Make Crejfids name the very crowne of falfliood .' 
 If euer /he leaue Troylus : time, orce and death, 
 Do to this body what extremitie you can ; 
 But the ftrong bafe and building of my loue, 
 Is as the very Center of the earth, 
 Drawing all things to it. I will goe in and weepe. 
 
 Tan. Doe, doe. 
 
 CreJ. Teare my bright heire, and fcratch my praifed 
 
 cheekes, 
 
 Cracke my cleere voyce with fobs, and breake my heart 
 With founding Troylus. I will not goe from Troy. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Parts, Troylus,csneas, Deif>bebus,An- 
 thenor and Diomedes. 
 
 Tar. It is great morning, and the houre prefixt 
 Of her deliuerie to this valiant Greeke 
 Comes faft vpon : good my brother Troylus, 
 Tell you the Lady what fhe is to doe, 
 And haft her to the purpofe. 
 
 Troy. Walke into her houfe : 
 He bring her to the Grecian prefently ; 
 And to his hand, when I deliuer her, 
 Thinke it an Altar, and thy brother Troylus 
 A Prieft, there offring to it his heart. 
 
 Par. I know what 'tis to loue, 
 And would, as I /hall pittie, I could helps. 
 Pleafe you walke in, my Lords. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Pandarus and Crefjld. 
 
 Pan. Be moderate, be moderate. 
 
 Cref, Why tell you me of moderation ? 
 The griefe is fine, full perfect that I tafte, 
 And no lefle in a fenfe as ftrong 
 As that which caufcth it. How can I moderate it ? 
 If I could temporife with my affedtion, 
 Or brew it to a weake and colder pallat, 
 The like alaiment could I giue my griefe: 
 My loue admits no qualifying cro/Te ; Enter Troylus. 
 
 No more my griefe, in fuch a precious lofle. 
 
 Pan. Here, here, here, he comes, a fweet ducke. 
 
 Cref. O Troylus, Troylus ! 
 
 Pan. What a paire of fpeftacles is here? let me em- 
 brace too : oh hart, as the goodly faying is ; O heart, hea- 
 uie heart, why figheft thou without breaking ? where he 
 anfwers againe ; becaufe thou canft not eafe thy fmart by 
 friendfliip, nor by fpeaking : there was neuer a truer rime; 
 let vs caft away nothing, for we may liue to haue neede 
 of fuch a Verfe : we fee it, we fee it : how now Lambs? 
 
 Troy. Creffid: I loue thee in fo ftrange a puritie ; 
 That the bleft gods, as angry with my fancie, 
 More bright in zeale, then the deuotion which 
 Cold lips blow to their Deities : take thee from me. 
 Cref. Haue the gods enuie ? 
 
 Pan. 1,1,1,1, 'tis too plainea cafe. 
 Cref. And is it true, that I muft goe from Troy ? 
 Trey. A hatefull truth. 
 Cref. What, and from Troylus too ? 
 Troy. From Troy, and Troylus. 
 CreJ. Ift pofiible? 
 
 Troy. And fodainely, where iniurie of chance 
 Puts backe leaue-taking, iuftles roughly by 
 All time of paufe ; rudely beguiles our lips 
 Of all reioyndure : forcibly preuents 
 Our lockt embrafures; ftrangles our deare vowes, 
 Euen in the birth of ourowne laboring breath. 
 We two, that with fo many thoufand fighes 
 Did buy each other, muft poorely fell our felues, 
 With the rude breuitie and difcharge of our 
 Iniurious time ; now with a robbers hafte 
 Crams his rich theeuerie vp, he knowes not how. 
 As many farwels as be ftars in heauen, 
 With diftindl breath, and confign'd kifies to them, 
 He fumbles vp into a loofe adiew ; 
 And fcants vs with a fingle fami/ht kifle, 
 Diftafting with the fait of broken teares. Enter csneus. 
 csEneatTfithin. My Lord, is the Lady ready ? 
 
 Troy. Harke, you are call'd : fome fay the genius fo 
 Cries, come to him that inftantly muft dye. 
 Bid them haue patience : /he /hall come anon. 
 
 Pan. Where are my teares? raine, to lay this winde, 
 or my heart will be blowne vp by the root. 
 
 Cref. I muft then to the Grecians? 
 
 Troy. No remedy. 
 
 Cref. A wofull O^Wmong'ft the merry Greekes. 
 
 Troy. When /hall we fee againe ? 
 
 Troy. Here me my loue : be thou but true of heart. 
 
 Cref. I true? how now? what wicked deeme is this? 
 
 Troy. Nay, we muft vfe expoftulation kindely, 
 For it is parting from vs : 
 I fpeake not, be thou true, as fearing thee : 
 For I will throw my Gloue to death himfelfe, 
 That there's no maculation in thy heart : 
 But be thou true, fay I, to fa/hion in 
 My fequent proteftation: be thou true, 
 And I will fee thee. 
 
 Cref. O you /hall be expofd, my Lord to dangers 
 As infinite, as imminent : but He be true. 
 
 Troy. And lie grow friend with danger ; 
 Weare this Sleeue. 
 
 Cref. And you this Gloue. 
 When /hall I fee you ? 
 
 Troy. I will corrupt the Grecian Centinels, 
 To giue thee nightly vifitation. 
 But yet be true. 
 
 Cref. O heauens : be true againe ? 
 
 Troy. Heare why 1 fpeake it; Loue : 
 The Grecian youths are full of qualitie, 
 Their louing well compos'd, with guift of nature, 
 Flawing and /welling ore with Arts and exercife : 
 How nouelties may moue, and parts with perfon. 
 Alas, a kinde of godly iealoufie ; 
 Which I befeech you call a vertuous finne : 
 Makes me affraid. 
 
 C re f. O heauens, you loue me not ! 
 
 Troy. Dye I a villaine then : 
 In this I doe not call your faith in queftion 
 So mainely as my merit : I cannot (ing, 
 Nor heele the high Lauolt; nor fweeten talke ; 
 Nor play at fubtill games ; faire vertues all; ] 
 
 To 
 
 JU*
 
 Troylus and Crefsida. 
 
 To which the Grecians are moft prompt and pregnant : 
 But I can tell that in each grace of thefe, 
 There lurkes a ftill and dumb-difcourfiue diuell, 
 That tempts moft cunningly : but be not tempted. 
 
 CreJ. Doe you thinke I will : 
 
 Troy. No, but fomething may be done that we wil not : 
 And fometimes we are diuels to our felues, 
 When we will tempt the frailtie of our powers, 
 Prefuming on their changefull potencie. 
 
 <^Enea6 within. Nay , good my Lord ? 
 
 Trey. Come kifle, and let vs part. 
 Paris within. Brother Troylui ? 
 
 Troy. Good brother come you hither, 
 And bring usEneas and the Grecian with you. 
 
 Cref. My Lord, will you be true? Exit. 
 
 Trey. Who I? alas it is my vice, my fault : 
 Whiles others fifh with craft for great opinion, 
 I, with great truth, catch meere fimplicitie ; 
 Whil'ft fome with cunning guild their copper crownes, 
 With truth and plainnefie I doe weare mine bare : 
 
 Enter the Greenes. 
 
 Feare not my truth ; the morrall of my wit 
 Is plaine and true, ther's all the reach of it. 
 Welcome fir Diomed, here is the Lady 
 Which for Antenor, we deliuer you. 
 At the port (Lord) He giue her to thy hand, 
 And by the way poffefle thee what fhe is. 
 Entreate her faire ; and by my foule,faire Greeke, 
 If ere thou ftand at mercy of my Sword, 
 Name CreJJtd, and thy life {hall be as fafe 
 As Priam is in Illion ? 
 
 Diom. Faire Lady Crefsid, 
 
 So pleafe you fauethe thankes this Prince experts : 
 The luftre in youreye, heauen in your cheeke, 
 Pleades your faire vifage, and to Diomed 
 You fhall be miftrefle, and command him wholly. 
 
 Troy. Grecian, thou do'ft not vfe me curteoufly, 
 To fhame the feale of my petition towards, 
 I praifing her. I tell thee Lord of Greece : 
 Shee is as farrehigh fearing o're thy praifes, 
 As thou vnworthy t o be cal'd her feruant : 
 I charge thee vfe her we ll, euen for my charge : 
 For by the dreadfull Pluto, ifthou do'ft not, 
 (Though th e great bulke iichil/es be thy guard) 
 He cut thy throate. 
 
 Diom. Oh be not mou'd Prince Troyliu; 
 Let me be priuiledg'd by myplace and meflage, 
 To be a fpeaker free ? when I am hence, 
 He anfwer to my luft : and know my Lord ; 
 He nothing doe on charge : to her owne worth 
 She fhall be priz'd : but that you fay, be't fo ; 
 llefpeake it in my fpirit and honor, no. 
 
 Troy. Come to the Port. He tell thee 'Diomed, 
 This braue, fhall oft make thee to hide thy head : 
 Lady, giue me your hand, and as we walke, 
 To our owne felues bend we our needefull talke. 
 Sound Trumpet. 
 
 Par. Harke, Hefiors Trumpet. 
 
 &ne. How haue we fpent this morning 
 The Prince muft thinke me tardy and remifle, 
 That fwore to ride before him in the field. 
 
 Par. 'Tis Troylui tault : come, come, to field with him. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Dio. Let vs make ready ftraight. 
 
 vne. Yea, with a Bridegroomes frefli alacritie 
 
 589 
 
 Let vs addreffe to tend on Heffors heeles : 
 The glory of our Troy doth this day lye 
 On his faire worth, and fingle Chiualrie, 
 
 Enter Aiax armed, Achilles, Patroduf, Agamemnon, 
 Menelaui ,VliJfes , Neftcr akas, &C. 
 
 Ago. Here art thou in appointment frefh and faire, 
 Anticipating time. With ftarting courage, 
 Giue with thy Trumpet a loud note to Troy 
 Thou dreadfull Aiax, that the appauled aire 
 May pierce the head of the great Combatant, 
 And hale him hither. 
 
 Ala. Thou, Trumpet, ther's my purfe; 
 Now cracke thy lungs, and fplit thy brafen pipe: 
 Blow villaine, till thy fphered Bias cheeke 
 Out-fwell the collicke of puft Aquilon : 
 Come, ftretch thy cheft, and let thy eyes fpout bloud : 
 Thou bloweft for Hefior. 
 
 Vllj. No Trumpet anfwers. 
 
 AMI. 'Tis but early dayes. 
 
 Aga. Is not yong Diomed with Calcas daughter? 
 
 VliJ. 'Tis he, I ken the manner of his gate, 
 He rifes on the toe : that fpirit of his 
 In afpiration lifts him from the earth. 
 
 Aga. Is this the Lady Crcflid? 
 
 Dio. Euen fhe. 
 
 Aga. Moft deerely welcome to the Greekes, fweete 
 Lady. 
 
 Neft. Our Generall doth falute you with a kifTe. 
 
 Vlif. Yet is the kindenefle but particular; 'twere bet- 
 ter fhe were kift in generall. 
 
 Neft. And very courtly counfell : He begin. So much 
 for Neftor. 
 
 Acbil. He take that winter from your lips faire Lady 
 Achilles bids you welcome. 
 
 Mene. I had good argument for killing once. 
 
 Patro. But that's no argument for kifling now ; 
 For thus pop't Paris in his hardiment. 
 
 Flif. Oh deadly gall, and theame of all our fcornes, 
 For which we loofe our heads, to gild his homes. 
 
 Patro. The firft was <&fer.elaus kifle, this mine : 
 Patroclut kifles you. 
 
 Mene. Oh this is trim. 
 
 Pair. Paris and I kifle euermore for him. 
 
 Mene. He haue my kifle fir : I Lady by your leaue. 
 
 Cref. In kiffing doe you render,or receiue. 
 
 Pair. Both take and giue. 
 
 Cref. lie make my match to liue, 
 
 The kifle you take is better then you giue : therefore no 
 kifle. 
 
 Mene. He giue you boote, He giue you three for one. 
 
 Cref. You are an odde man, giue euen, or giue none. 
 
 Mene. An odde man Lady, euery man is odde. 
 
 Cref. No, Parinsnot; for you know 'tis true, 
 That you are odde, and he is euen with you. 
 
 Mene. You fillip me a'th' head. 
 
 Cref. No, lie be fworne. 
 
 ft if. It were no match, your naile againft his home : 
 May 1 fweete Lady beg a kifle of you ? 
 Cref. You may. 
 Vlif. I doe defire it. 
 Cref. Why begge then ? 
 
 Vlif. Why then for Ventu fake, giue me a kifle : 
 
 When Hellen is a maide againe, and his 
 
 Cref. I am your debtor, claime it when 'tis due. 
 
 f y 3 Hif. Neuer's
 
 Troylus and Crejsida. 
 
 1)lif. Neuer's my day, and then a kifle of you. 
 
 'Diom. Lady a word, lie bring you to your Father. 
 
 Neft. A woman of quicke fence. 
 
 F/if. Fie, fie,vpon her : 
 
 Ther's a language in her eye, her cheeke,her lip; 
 Nay, her foote fpeakes, her wanton fpirites looke out 
 At euery ioynt,and motiue of her body : 
 Oh thefe encounterers fo glib of tongue, 
 That giue a coafting welcome etc it comes ; 
 And widevnclafpe the tables of their thoughts, 
 To euery tickling reader : fet them downe, 
 For fluttifh fpoyles ofopportunitie ; 
 
 And daughters of the game. Sxennt. 
 
 Enter all of Troy, Heftor, Paris, vne of, Helentu 
 and Attendants, Florijb. 
 
 All. The Troians Trumpet. 
 
 Ago. Yonder comes the troope. 
 
 c^Ene. Haile all you ftate ofGreece : what flialbe done 
 To him that victory commands? or doe you purpofe, 
 A victor fliall beknowne : will you the Knights 
 Shall to the edge of all extremitie 
 Purfue each other; or fhall be diuided 
 By any voyce,or order of the field : Heftor bad aske ? 
 
 Aga. Which way would HefJor haue it? 
 
 <^ne. He cares not, heele obey conditions. 
 
 Aga. 'Tis done like Heftor, but fecurely done, 
 A little proudly, and great deale difprifing 
 The Knight oppos'd. 
 
 cJEne. If not Achilles fir, what is your name ? 
 
 Acbil. If not Achilles, nothing. 
 
 e/W. Therefore Achilla: but what ere, know this, 
 In the extremity of great and little : 
 Valour and pride excell themfelues in Heflor j 
 Theonealmoft as infinite as all ; 
 The other blanke as nothing : weigh him well : 
 And that which lookeslike pride, is curtefie : 
 This Aiax is halfe made ofHefiors bloud; 
 In loue whereof, halfe Hector ftaies at home : 
 Halfe heart, halfe hand, halfe Heftor, comes to feeke 
 This blended Knight, halfe Troian,and halfe Greeke. 
 
 Acbil. A maiden battaile then ? O I perceiue you. 
 
 Aga. Here is fir,Diomed: goe gentle Knight, 
 Stand by our Aiax : as you and Lord csnea4 
 Confent vpon the order of their fight, 
 So be it: either to the vttermoft, 
 Or fife a breach: the Combatants being kin, 
 Halfe flints their ftrife, before their ftrokes begin. 
 
 Flif. They are oppos'd already. 
 
 Aga. What Troian is that fame that lookes fo heauy? 
 
 yiij. The yongeft Sonne of Priam; 
 A true Knight ; they call him Troylui ; 
 Not yet mature, yet matchlefle,firme of word, 
 Speaking in deedes, and deedelefle in his tongue ; 
 Not foone prouok'c, nor being prouok't,foone calm'd ; 
 His heart and hand both open, and both free : 
 For what he has, hegiues; what thinkes,he fhewesj 
 Yet giues he not till iudgement guide his bounty, 
 Nor dignifies an impaire thought with breath : 
 Manly as Heftor, but more dangerous ; 
 For Heftor in his blaze of wrath fubfcribes 
 To tender objects; but he,in heate of action, 
 Is more vindecatiue then iealous loue. 
 They call him Troyliu; and on him erect, 
 A fecond hope, as fairely built as Heffsr. 
 Thus faies z/Eneat, one that knowes the youth, 
 Euen to his inches : and with priuate foule, 
 
 Did in great Illion thus tranflate him to me. Alarum. 
 
 Aga. They are in action. 
 
 Neft. Now Aiax hold thine owne. 
 
 Troy. Heftor, thou fleep'ft, awake thee. 
 
 Aga. His blowes are wel difpos'd there Aiax. trufets 
 
 Diem. You muft no more. ceaje. 
 
 e/W. Princes enough, fo pleafe you. 
 
 Aia. I am not warme yet, let vs fight againe. 
 
 Diom. As Heftor pleafes. 
 
 Heft. Why then will I no more: 
 Thou art great Lord, my Fathers fitters Sonne ; 
 A coufen german to great Priams feede : 
 The obligation of our bloud forbids 
 A gorie emulation 'twixt vs twaine : 
 Were thy commixion. Greeke and Troian (b, 
 That thou could'ft fay, this hand is Grecian all, 
 And this is Troian: the finewes ofthis Legge, 
 All Greeke, and this all Troy : my Mothers bloud 
 Runs on the dexter cheeke, and this finifter 
 Bounds in my fathers : by /cairmultipotent, 
 Thou fhould'ft not beare from me a Grcekirti member 
 Wherein my fword had not impreflure made 
 Of our ranke feud : but the iuft gods gainfay, 
 That any drop thou borrwd'ft from thy mother, 
 My facred Aunt, fliould by my mortall Sword 
 Be drained. Let me embrace thee Aiax : 
 By him that thunders, thou haft luftie Armes; 
 Hector would haue them fall vpon him thus. 
 Cozen, all honor to thee. 
 
 Aia. I thanke thee Heflor : 
 Thou art too gentle, and too free a man : 
 I came to kill thee Cozen, and beare hence 
 A great addition, earned in thy death. 
 
 Heft. Not Neoptolynitu fo mirable, 
 On whofe bright creft, fame with her lowd'ft ('O yes) 
 Cries, This is he ; could'ft promife to himfelfe, 
 A thought of added honor, torne from Heftor. 
 
 e/W. There is expectance here from both the fides, 
 What further you will doej? 
 
 Heft. Weele anfwere it: 
 The iflue is embracement : Aiax, farewell. 
 
 Aia. If I might in entreaties finde fuccelTe, 
 As feld I haue the chance ; I would defire 
 My famous Coufin to our Grecian Tents. 
 
 Diom. 'Tis Agamemnons wifh,and great Achilles 
 Doth long to fee vnarm'd the valiant Heftor. 
 
 Heft. <^Enea6,cM my brother Troylus to me : 
 And fignifie this louing enterview 
 To the expedters of our Troian part: 
 Defire them home. Giue me thy hand, my Coufin : 
 I will goe eate with thee, and fee your Knights. 
 Enter Agamemnon and the reft. 
 
 Aia. Great Agamemnon comes to meete vs here. 
 Heft. The worthieft of them, tell me name by name : 
 But for Achilles, mine owne ferching eyes 
 Shall finde him by his large and portly fize. 
 
 Aga. Worthy of Armes : as welcome as to one I 
 That would be rid of fuch an enemie. 
 But that's no welcome : vnderftand more cleere 
 What's paft, and what's to come, is ftrew'd with huskesj 
 And formelefTe ruine of obliuion : 
 But in this extant moment, faith and troth, 
 Strain'd purely from all hollow bias drawing: 
 Bids thee with moft diuine integritie, 
 From heart of very heart, great Heflor welcome. 
 Heft. I thanke thee moft imperious ^Agamemnon. 
 
 Aga. My 
 590
 
 Troylus and Crefsida. 
 
 Aga. My well-fam'd Lord of Troy.no lefie to you. 
 
 Men. Let me confirme my Princely brothers greeting, 
 You brace of warlike Brothers, welcome hither. 
 
 Heft. Who muft we anfwer ? 
 
 e/e. The Noble Menelaui. 
 
 Hefl. O, you my Lord, by Mars his gauntlet thanks, 
 Mockenot, that I affect th'vntraded Oath, 
 Your quondam wife fweares ftill by Ventu Gloue 
 Shee's well, but bad me not commend her to you. 
 
 Men. Name her not now fir,fhe's a deadly Theame. 
 
 Hefl. O pardon, I offend. 
 
 Neft. I haue ( thou gallant Troyan ) feene thee oft 
 Labouring for deftiny, make cruell way 
 Through rankes of Greekifh youth : and I haue feen thee 
 As hot as Perfeus, fpurre thy Phrygian Steed, 
 And feene thee fcorning forfeits and fubduments, 
 When thou haft hung thy aduanced fword i'th'ayre, 
 Not letting it decline, on the declined : 
 That I haue faid vnto my ftanders by, 
 Loe lupiter is yonder, dealing life. 
 And I haue feene thee paufe, and take thy breath, 
 When that a ring of Greekes haue hem'd thee in, 
 Like an Olympian wreftling. This haue 1 feene, 
 But this thy countenance (ftill lockt in fteele) 
 I neuer faw till now. I knew thy Grandfire, 
 And once fought with him ; he was a Souldier good, 
 But by great Mars, the Captaine of vs all, 
 Neuer like thee. Let an oldman embrace thee, 
 And (worthy Warriour) welcome to our Tents. 
 
 t^Ene. 'Tis the old Nejior. 
 
 Hefl. Let me embrace thee good old Chronicle, 
 That haft fo long walk'd hand in hand with time: 
 Moft reuerend Nejlor, I am glad to clafpe thee. 
 
 Ne.l would my armes could match thee in contention 
 As they contend with thee in courtefie. 
 
 Hefl. I would they could. 
 
 Neft. Ha? by this white beard I'ld fight with thee to 
 morrow. Well, welcom, welcome : I haue feen the time. 
 
 Wyf- I wonder now, how yonder City (lands, 
 When we haue heere her Bafe and pillar by vs. 
 
 Hefl, I know your fauour Lord Vlyffes well. 
 Ah fir, there's many a Greeke and Troyan dead, 
 Since firft I faw your felfe, and Diomed 
 In Illion, on your Greekifh Embaflie. 
 
 Vlyf. Sir, I foretold you then what would enfue, 
 My prophefie is but halfe his iourney yet; 
 For yonder wals that pertly front your Townc, 
 Yond Towers, whofe wanton tops do bufTe the clouds, 
 Muft kifle their owne feet. 
 
 Hefl. I muft not beleeue you : 
 There they ftand yet : and modeftly I thinke, 
 The fall of euery Phrygian ftone will coft 
 A drop of Grecian blood : the end crownes all, 
 And that old common Arbitrator, Time, 
 Will one day end it. 
 
 Vlyf- So to him we leaue it. 
 Moft gentle, and moft valiant Heflor, welcome ; 
 After the Generall, I befeech you next 
 To Feaft with me, and fee me at my Tent. 
 
 AMI. I fhall foreftall thee Lord ffyj/es, thou: 
 Now Heflor 1 haue fed mine eyes on thee, I 
 I haue with exact view perus'd thee Heflor, 
 And quoted ioynt by ioynt. 
 
 Hefl. Is this Achilles ? 
 
 AMI. I am Achilles. 
 
 Hefl. Stand faire I prythee, let me looke on thee. 
 
 59' 
 
 Acbil. Behold thy fill. 
 
 Hefl. Nay, I haue done already. 
 
 Acbil. Thou art to breefe, I will the fecond time, 
 As I would buy thee, view thee, limbe by limbe. 
 
 Hefl. O like a Booke of fport thou'lt reade me ore : 
 But there's more in me then thou vnderftand'ft. 
 Why doeft thou fo opprefle me with thine eye? 
 
 Acbil. Tell me you Heauens, in which part of his body 
 Shall I deftroy him? Whether there, or there, or there, 
 That I may giue the locall wound a name, 
 And make diftinct the very breach, where-out 
 Heflors great fpirit fl'w. Anfwer me heauens. 
 
 Hefl. It would difcredit the bleft Gods, proud man, 
 To anfwer fuch a queftion : Stand againe ; 
 Think'ft thou to catch my life fo pleafantly, 
 As to prenominate in nice conjecture 
 Where thou wilt hit me dead ? 
 
 Acbil. 1 tell thee yea. 
 
 Hefl. Wert thou the Oracle to tell me fo, 
 I'ld not beleeue thee : henceforth guard thee well, 
 For He not kill thee there, nor there, nor there, 
 But by the forge that ftythied Mars his helme, 
 He kill thee euery where, yea, ore and ore. 
 You wifeft Grecians, pardon me this bragge, 
 His infolence drawes folly from my lips, 
 But lie endeuour deeds to match thefe words, 
 Or may I neuer 
 
 Aiax. Do not chafe thee Cofm: 
 And you Achilla, let thefe threats alone 
 Till accident, or purpofe bring you too't. 
 You may euery day enough of Heflor 
 If you haue ftomacke. The generall ftate I feare, 
 Can f carle intreat you to be odde with him. 
 
 Hefl. I pray you let vs fee you in the field, 
 We haue had pelting Warres fince you refus'd 
 The Grecians caufe. 
 
 Acbil. Doft thou intreat me Heflor} 
 To morrow do I meete thee fell as death, 
 To night, all Friends. 
 
 Hefl. Thy hand vpon that match. 
 
 Ago. Firft, all you Peeres of Greece go to my Tent, 
 There in the full conuiue you : Afterwards, 
 As Heflors leyfure, and your bounties fhall 
 Concurre together, feuerally intreat him. 
 Beate lowd the Taborins, let the Trumpets blow, 
 That this great Souldier may his welcome know. Exeunt 
 
 Troy. My Lord "VlyJJes, tell me I befeech you, 
 In what place of the Field doth Calchas keepe f 
 
 fJIyf. At Menelaui Tent, moft Princely Troyluf, 
 There 'Diomed doth feaft with him to night, 
 Who neither lookes on heauen, nor on earth, 
 But giues all gaze and bent of amorous view 
 On the faire Cre/id. 
 
 Troy. Shall I (fweet Lord)be bound to thee fo much, 
 After we part from Agametnnons Tent, 
 To bring me thither? 
 
 Vlyf. You fhall command me fir : 
 As gentle tell me, of what Honour was 
 This-CreJ/ida in Troy, had fhe no Louer there 
 That wailes her abfence ? 
 
 Troy. O fir, to fuch as boafting fhew their fcarres, 
 A mocke is due : will you walke on my Lord ? 
 She was belou'd, fhe lou'd; fhe is, and dooth ; 
 But ftill fweet Loue is food for Fortunes tooth. Exeunt 
 Enter Achilles ,and Patroclut. 
 
 Acbil.lle heat his blood with Greekifh wine to night, 
 
 Which
 
 Troylus and Crejsida. 
 
 Wh'.ch with my Cemitar He coole to morrow : 
 Tatroclu6, let vs Feaft him to the hight. 
 
 Pat. Heere comes Ther/itet. Enter Tberfites. 
 
 Acb'il. How now, thou core of Enuy ? 
 Thou crufty batch of" Nature, what's the newes ? 
 
 Tber. Why thou pidhire of what thou feem'ft, & Idoll 
 of Ideot-worfhippers, here's a Letter for thee. 
 
 AMI. From wnence, Fragment ? 
 
 Tber. Why thou full dirti of Foole, from Troy. 
 
 Pat. Who keepes the Tent now? 
 
 Tber. The Surgeons box, or the Patients wound. 
 
 Pair. Well faid aduerfity, and what need thefe tricks? 
 
 Tber. Prythee be filent boy, I profit not by thy talke, 
 thou art thought to be Achilles male Varlot. 
 
 Patro. Male Varlot you Rogue ? What's that? 
 
 Tber. Why his mafculine Whore. Now the rotten 
 difeafes of the South, guts-griping Ruptures, Catarres, 
 Loades a grauell i'th'backe, Lethargies, cold Palfies,and 
 the like, take and take againe, fuch prepoftrous difcoue- 
 ries. 
 
 Pat. Why thou damnable box of enuy thou, what 
 mean'ft thou to curfe thus? 
 
 Tber. Do I curfe thee? 
 
 Patr. Why no, you ruinous But, you whorfon indi- 
 ftinguifhable Curre. 
 
 Tber. No ? why art thou then exafperate, thou idle, 
 immateriall skiene of Sleyd filke ; thou greene Sarcenet 
 flap for a fore eye, thou talTell of a Prodigals purfe thou : 
 Ah how the poore world is peftred with fuch water-flies, 
 diminutiues of Nature. 
 
 Tat. Out gall. 
 
 Tber. Finch Egge. 
 
 Acb. My fweet Patrocliu, I am thwarted quite 
 From my great purpofe in to morrowes battell : 
 Heere is a Letter from Queene Hecuba, 
 A token from her daughter, my faire Loue, 
 Both taxing me, and gaging me to keepe 
 An Oath that I haue fworne. I will not breake it, 
 Fall Greekes, faile Fame, Honor or go, or ftay, 
 My maior vow lyes heere ; this He obay : 
 Come, come Tberfites, helpe to trim my Tent, 
 This night in banquetting muft all be fpent. 
 Away Patroclui. Exit- 
 
 Tber. With too much bloud,and too little Brain, thefe 
 two may run mad : but if with too much braine, and to<> 
 little blood, they do, He be a curer of madmen. Heere 's 
 Agamemnon, an honeft fellow enough, and one that loues 
 Quailes, but he has not fo much Braine as eare-wax ; and 
 the goodly transformation of lupiter there his Brother, 
 the Bull, the primatiue Statue, and oblique memoriall of 
 Cuckolds, a thrifty ihooing-horne in a chaine, hanging 
 at his Brothers legge, to what forme but that he is, ihold 
 wit larded with malice, and malice forced with wit,turne 
 him too : to an Afle were nothing ; hee is both A(Te and 
 Oxe; to an Oxe were nothing, hee is both Oxe and Afle : 
 to be a Dogge, a Mule, a Cat, a Fitchew, a Toade, a Li- 
 zard, an Owle, a Puttocke, or a Herring without a Roe, 
 I would not care : but to be <^Menelaiu, I would confpire 
 again ft Deftiny. Aske me not what I would be, if I were 
 not Tberfites : for I care not to bee the lowfe of a Lazar, 
 fo I were not Menelcnu. Hoy-day, fpirits and fires. 
 Enter Hefior , Aiax, Agamemnon, Vlyjjcs , Ne- 
 ftor, Diomed, vt'itb Lights. 
 
 Ago. We go wrong, we go wrong. 
 
 Aiax. No yonder 'tis, there where we fee the light. 
 
 Heft. I trouble you. 
 
 Aiax. No, not a whit. 
 
 Enter Achilles. 
 
 Vlyf. Heere comes himfelre to guide you ? 
 
 Acb'il. Welcome braue Hefior, welcome Princes all. 
 
 Agam. So now faire Prince of Troy, I bid goodnight, 
 Aiax commands the guard to tend on you. 
 
 Heft. Thanks,and goodnight to the Greeks general. 
 
 Men. Goodnight my Lord. 
 
 Heel. Goodnight fweet Lord Menelata. 
 
 Tber. Sweet draught : fweet quoth-a f fweet finke, 
 fweet fure. 
 
 Acbil. Goodnight and welcom, both at once, to thofe 
 that go, or tarry. 
 
 tAga. Goodnight. 
 
 Acb'il. Old Nejior tarries, and you too Diomed, 
 Keepe Hefior company an houre, or two. 
 
 Dio. I cannot Lord, I haue important bufinefie, 
 The tide whereof is now, goodnight great Hefior. 
 
 Hefi. Giue me your hand. 
 
 Vlyf. Follow his Torch, he goes to Cbalcas Tent, 
 He keepe you company. 
 
 Troy. Sweet fir, you honour me. 
 
 Hefi. And fo good night. 
 
 Acbil. Come, come, enter my Tent. Exeunt. 
 
 Tber. That fame Diomed's a falfe-hearted Rogue, a 
 moft vniuft Knaue; I will no more truft him when hee 
 leeres, then I will a Serpent when he hides : he will fpend 
 his mouth & promife, like Brabler the Hound 5 but when 
 he performes, Aftronomers foretell it, that it is prodigi- 
 ous, there will come fome change : the Sunne borrowes 
 of the Moone when Diomed keepes his word. I will ra- 
 ther leaue to fee Hefior, then not to dogge him:they fay, 
 he keepes a Troyan Drab, and vfes the Traitour Cbalcat 
 
 his Tent. He after Nothing but Letcherie ? All 
 
 incontinent Varlets. Exeunt 
 
 Snter Diomed. 
 
 Dio. What are you vp here ho ? fpeake ? 
 
 Cbal. Who cals? 
 
 Dio. Diomed, Cbalcat(\ thinke) wher's you Daughter? 
 
 Cbal. She comes to you. 
 
 Enter Troylui and Vliffet. 
 
 flif. Stand where the Torch may not difcouer vs. 
 Enter Crefsid. 
 
 Troy. Crefsid comes forth to him. 
 
 'Dio. How now my charge ? 
 
 Cref. Now my fweet gardian: harke a word with you. 
 
 Troy. Yea, fo familiar ? 
 
 Vl'ij. She will fing any man at firft fight. 
 
 Tber. And any man may finde her, if he can take her 
 life : fhe's noted. 
 
 Dio. Will you remember ? 
 
 Cal. Remember ? yes. 
 
 Dio. Nay, but doe then ; and let your minde be cou- 
 pled with your words. 
 
 Troy. What fliould flie remember f 
 
 Vlij. Lift ? 
 
 Cref. Sweete hony Greek, tempt me no more to folly. 
 
 Tber. Roguery. 
 
 Dio. Nay then. 
 
 Cref. He tell you what. 
 
 Dio. Fo, fo, eome tell a pin, you are a forfworne. 
 
 Cref. In faith I cannot : what would you haue me do? 
 
 Tber. A iugling tricke, to be fecretly open. 
 
 Dio. What did you fweare you would beftow on me? 
 
 Cref. I prethee do not hold me to mine oath, 
 Bid me doe not any thing but that fweete Greeke. 
 
 Dio. Good 
 
 59*
 
 Troylus and Crefsida. 
 
 Dio. Good night. 
 
 Troy. Hold, patience. 
 
 TJlif. How now Troian ? 
 
 Cref. Diomed. 
 
 'Dio. No, no, good night : lie be your foole no more. 
 
 Troy. Thy better muft. 
 
 Cref. Harke one word in your eare. 
 
 Troy. O plague and madneffe ! 
 
 Vlif. You are moued Prince, let vs depart I pray you, 
 Left your difpleafure fhould enlarge it felfe 
 To wrathfull tearmes : this place is dangerous; 
 The time right deadly : 1 befeech you goe. 
 
 Troy. Behold, I pray you. 
 
 Vlif. Nay, good my Lord goe off: 
 You flow to great diftra&ion : come my Lord ? 
 
 Troy. I pray thee ftay ? 
 
 Vlif. You haue not patience, come. 
 
 Troy. I pray you ftay ? by hell and hell torments, 
 I will not fpeake a word. 
 
 Dio. And fo good night. 
 
 Cref. Nay , but you part in anger. 
 
 Troy. Doth that grieue thee ? O withered truth ! 
 
 Vlif. Why, how now Lord ? 
 
 Troy. By hue I will be patient. 
 
 CreJ. Gardian ? why Greeke ? 
 
 'Dio. Fo, fo, adew, you palter. 
 
 Cref. In faith I doe not : come hither once againe. 
 
 Vlif. You fhake my Lord at fomething; will you goe? 
 you will breake out. 
 
 Troy. She ftroakes his cheeke. 
 
 Vlif. Come, come. 
 
 Troy. Nay ftay, by loue I will not fpeake a word. 
 There is betweene my will, and all offences, 
 A guard of patience; ftay a little while. 
 
 Tber. How the diuell Luxury with his fat rumpe and 
 potato finger, tickles thefe together : frye lechery, frye. 
 
 Dio. But will you then ? 
 
 Cref. In faith I will lo ; neuer truft me elfe. 
 
 'Dio. Giue me fome token for the furety of it. 
 
 Cref. lie fetch you one. Exit. 
 
 Vlif. You haue fworne patience. 
 
 Troy. Feare me not fweete Lord. 
 I will not be my felfe, nor haue cognition 
 Of what I feele : I am all patience. Enter CreJJld. 
 
 Tber. Now the pledge, now, now, now. 
 
 Cref. Here Diomed, keepe this Sleeue. 
 
 Troy. O beautie I where is thy Faith ? 
 
 Vlif. My Lord. 
 
 Troy. I will be patient, outwardly I will. 
 
 CreJ. You looke vpon that Sleeue ? behold it well : 
 He lou'd me : O falfe wench : giue't me againe. 
 
 Dio, Whofe was't ? 
 
 Cref. It is no matter now I haue't againe. 
 I will not meete with you to morrow night: 
 j prythee Diomed vifite me no more. 
 
 Tber. Now flie fharpens : well faid Whetftone. 
 
 Dio. I fhall haue it. 
 
 Cref. What, this ? 
 
 Dio. I that. 
 
 Cref. O all you gods ! O prettie, prettie pledge ; 
 Thy Maifter now lies thinking in his bed 
 Of thee and me, and fighes, and takes my Gloue, 
 And giues memoriall daintie kifles to it } 
 As I kifie thee. 
 
 'Dio. Nav, doe not fnatch it from me. 
 
 Cref. He that takes that, rakes my heart withall. 
 
 593 
 
 Dio. I had your heart before, this followes it. 
 Troy. I did fweare patience. 
 
 Cref. You (hall not haue it Diomed; faith youfhall not : 
 He giue you fomething elfe. 
 
 'Dio. I will haue this : whofe was it ? 
 Cref. It is no matter. 
 Dio. Come tell me whofe it was ? 
 Cref. 'Twas one that lou'd me better then you will. 
 But now you haue it, take it. 
 'Dio. Whofe was it f 
 
 Cref. By all Dianas waiting women yond : 
 And by her felfe, I will not tell you whofe. 
 
 Dio. To morrow will I weare it on my Helme, 
 And grieue his fpirit that dares not challenge it. 
 
 Troy. Wert thou the diuell, and wor'ft it on thy home, 
 It fhould be challeng'd. 
 
 C r 'f- Well, well, 'tis done, 'tis paft ; and yet it is not : 
 I will not keepe my word. 
 
 T> lo. Why then farewell, 
 Thou neuer fhalt mocke Diomed againe. 
 
 Cref. You fhall not goe : one cannot fpeake a word, 
 But it ftrait ftarts you. 
 
 Dio. I doe not like this fooling. 
 
 Tber. Nor I by Pluto: but that that likes not me, plea- 
 fes me beft. 
 
 Dio. What /hall I come ? the houre. 
 Cref. I, come : O loue! doe, come: 1 fhall be plagu'd. 
 Dio. Farewell till then. Exit. 
 
 Cref. Good night : I prythee come : 
 Troyltu farewell ; one eye yet lookes on thee ; 
 But with my heart, the other eye, doth fee. 
 Ah poore our fexe ; this fault in vs I finde : 
 The errour of our eye, directs our minde. 
 What errour leads, muft erre : O then conclude, 
 Mindes fwai'd by eyes, are full of turpitude. Exit. 
 
 Tber. A proofe of ftrength fhe could not publifh more; 
 VnlefTe fhe fay, my minde is now turn'd whore. 
 Vlif. Al's done my Lord. 
 Troy. It is. 
 
 Vlif. Why ftay we then? _ 
 Troy. To make a recordadon to my foule 
 Of euery fyllable that here was fpoke : 
 But if I tell how thefe two did coadr.; 
 Shall I not lye, in publifhing a truth ? 
 Sith yet there is a credence in my heart : 
 An efperance fo obftinately ftrong, 
 That doth inuert that teft of eyes and eares ; 
 As if thofe organs had deceptious functions, 
 Created onely to calumniate, 
 yyas Crejfed here? 
 
 Vlif. I cannot coniure Troian. 
 Troy, She was not fure. 
 Vlif. Moft fure fhe was. 
 
 Troy. Why my negation hath no tafte of madnefle? 
 Vlif. Nor mine my Lord : CreJJid was here but now. 
 Troy. Let it not be beleeu'd for womanhood : 
 Thinke we had mothers ; doe not giue aduantage 
 To ftubborne Criticks,apt without a theame 
 For deprauation,to fquare the generall fex 
 By Crejfids rule. Rather thinke this not CreJJid. 
 
 Vlif. What hath fhe done Prince, that can foyle our 
 
 mothers ? 
 
 Troy. Nothing at all, vnlefle that this were fhe. 
 Tber. Will he fwagger himfelfe out on's owne eyes? 
 Troy. This fhe ? no, this is 'Diomids Crefjida : 
 If beautie haue a foule, this is not fhe : 
 
 If 
 
 4*
 
 Troy/us and Crefsida. 
 
 If foules guide vowes; if vowes are fandtimonie ; 
 
 If fancHmonie be the gods delight : 
 
 If there be rule in vnitie it felfe, 
 
 This is not fhe : O madneffe of difcourfe ! 
 
 That caufe fets vp, with, and againft thy felfe 
 
 By foule authoritie : where reafon can reuolt 
 
 Without perdition, and lofle aflume all reafon, 
 
 Without reuolt. This is, and is not CreJJld: 
 
 Within my foule, there doth conduce a fight 
 
 Of this ftrange nature, that a thing infeperate, 
 
 Diuides more wider then theskieand earth : 
 
 And yet the fpacious bredth of this diuifion, 
 
 Admits no Orifex for a point as fubtle, 
 
 As Ariacbnes broken woofe to enter : 
 
 Inftance, O inftance ! ftrong as Plutoes gates : 
 
 CreJJld is mine, tied with the bonds of heauen; 
 
 Inftance, O inftance, ftrong as heauen it felfe: 
 
 The bonds of heauen are flipt,di(Tolu'd, and loos'd, 
 
 And with another knot fiue ringer tied, 
 
 The fractions of her faith, orts of her loue : 
 
 The fragments, fcraps, the bits, and greazie reliques, 
 
 Of her ore-eaten faith, are bound to Diomed 
 
 Vlif. May worthy Troyltu be halfe attached 
 With that which here his paffion doth exprefTe ? 
 
 Troy. I Greeke : and that fhall be divulged well 
 In Characters, as red as Mars his heart 
 Inflam'd with IJeniu : neuer did yong man fancy 
 With fo eternall,and fo fixt a foule. 
 Harke Greek : as much I doe Creffida loue ; 
 So much by weight, hate I her Diomed, 
 That Sleeue is mine, that heele beare in his Helme : 
 Were it a Caske compos 1 d by Vulcans skill, 
 My Sword ihould bite it : Not the dreadfull fpout, 
 Which Shipmen doe the Hurricano call, 
 Conftring'd in mafle by the almighty Fenne, 
 Shall dizzie with more clamour Neptuneseare 
 In his difcent ; then fhall my prompted fword, 
 Falling on Diomed. 
 
 Tber. Heele tickle it for his concupie. 
 
 Troy. O Creffldl O falfe Creflid! falfe, fclfe, falfe : 
 Let all vntruths ftand by thy ftained name, 
 And theyle feeme glorious. 
 
 VliJ. O containe your felfe : 
 Your paffion drawes eares hither. 
 Enter <i/neat. 
 
 csne. I haue beene feeking you this houre my Lord: 
 Hefior by this is arming him in Troy. 
 Aiax youa Guard, ftaies to condudl you home. 
 
 Troy. Haue with you Prince : my curteous Lord adew: 
 Farewell reuolted faire : and Diomed, 
 Stand faft,and weare a Caftle on thy head. 
 
 Vli. lie bring you to the Gates, 
 
 Troy. Accept difr.rac~r.ed thankes. 
 
 Exeunt Troy liu,c&neai, and "Uliffes. 
 
 Tber. Would I could meete that roague Diomed, I 
 would croke like a Rauen : I would bode, I would bode : 
 Patrocltu will giue me any thing for the intelligence of 
 his whore: the Parrot will not doe more for an Almond, 
 then he for a commodious drab : Lechery, lechery, ftill 
 warres and lechery, nothing elfe holds fafhion. A burning 
 diuell take them. 
 
 Enter Hefler and Andromache. 
 
 ^fW.When was my Lord fo much vngently temper'd, 
 To ftop his eares againft admonifhment ? 
 Vnarme, vnarme,and doe not fight to day. 
 
 Hefl. You traine me to offend you : get you gone. 
 
 By the euerlafting gods, He goe. 
 
 And. My dreames will fure proue ominous to the day. 
 Hefl. No more I fay. Enter Caffandra. 
 
 Caffa. Where is my brother HeBor ? 
 And. Here fitter, arm'd,and bloudy in intent : 
 Confort with me in loud and deere petition : 
 purfue we him on knees : for I haue dreampt 
 Of bloudy turbulence ; and this whole night 
 Hath nothing beene but fhapes,and formes of flaughter. 
 QaJJ'. O, 'tis true. 
 
 Hefl. Ho ? bid my Trumpet found. 
 Caff. No notes of faille, for the heauens,fweet brother. 
 Heft. Begon I fay : the gods haue heard me fweare. 
 Caff. The gods are deafe to hot and peeuifli vowes ; 
 They are polluted offrings, more abhord 
 Then fpotted Liuers in the facrifice. 
 
 And. O be perfwaded, doe not count it holy, 
 To hurt by being iuft ; it is as lawfull : 
 For we would count giue much to as violent thefts, 
 And rob in the behalfe of charitie. 
 
 Caff. It is the purpofe that makes ftrong the vowe ; 
 But vowes to euery purpofe muft not hold : 
 Vnatme fweete Hefior. 
 
 Hefl. Hold you ftill I fay ; 
 Mine honour keepes the weather of my fate : 
 Life euery man holds deere, but the deere man 
 Holds honor farre more precious, deere, then life. 
 
 Enter Troylus . 
 
 How now yong man ? mean'ft thou to fight to day ? 
 And. Caffandra, call my father to perfwade. 
 
 Exit Caffandra. 
 
 Heft. No faith yong Troyltu; doffe thy harnefle youth: 
 I am to day ith'vaine of Chiualrie : 
 Let grow thy Sinews till their knots be ftrong; 
 And tempt not yet the brufhes of the warre. 
 Vnarme thee, goe ; and doubt thou not braue boy, 
 He ftand to day, for thee, and me, and Troy. 
 
 Troy. Brother,you haue a vice of mercy in you ; 
 Which better fits a Lyon,then a man. 
 
 Heft. What vice is that? good Trcylus chide me for it. 
 Trey. When many times the captiue Grecian fals, 
 Euen in the fanne and winde of your faire Sword : 
 You bid them rife,and liue. 
 Heft. O 'tis faire play. 
 Troy. Fooles play, by heauen Hefior. 
 Heft. How now ? how now ? 
 Troy. For th'loue of all the gods 
 Let's leaue the Hermit Pitty with our Mothers; 
 And when we haue our Armors buckled on, 
 The venom'd vengeance ride vpon our fwords, 
 Spur them to ruthfull worke,reine them from ruth. 
 Hefl. , Fie fauage, fie. 
 Troy. Hefior, then 'tis warres. 
 Hefl. Troyltu, I would not haue you fight to day. 
 Troy. Who fhould with-hold me ? 
 Not fate, obedience, nor the hand of Mars, 
 Beckning with fierie trunchion my retire ; 
 Not Priamu4,and Hecuba on knees; 
 Their eyes ore-galled with recourfe of teares ; 
 Nor you my brother, with your true fword drawne 
 Oppof'd to hinder me, fhould ftop my way: 
 But by my ruine. 
 
 Enter Priam and Caffandra. 
 Caff". Lay hold vpon him Priam, hold him faft : 
 He is thy crutch ; now if thou loofe thy ftay, 
 Thou on him leaning, and all Troy on thee, 
 
 Fall 
 
 594
 
 Troylus and Crefsida. 
 
 Fall all together. 
 
 Priam. Come Heftor, come, goe backe : 
 Thy wife hath dreampt : thy mother hath had vifions; 
 Cajjandra doth forefee; and I my felfe, 
 Am like a Prophet luddenly eniapt, 
 to tell thee that this day is ominous : 
 Therefore come backe. 
 
 Heft &neas is a field, 
 And I do ftand engag'd to many Greekes, 
 Euen in the faith of valour, to appeare 
 This morning to them. 
 
 Priam. I, but thou flialt not goe, 
 
 HeEl. I muft not breake my faith : 
 You know me dutifull, therefore deare fir, 
 Let me not fliame refpedt ; but giue me leaue 
 To take that courfe by your confent and voice, 
 Which you doe here forbid me,RoyallPr/az. 
 Caff. O Priam, yeelde not to him. 
 And. Doe notdeere father. 
 Heft. Andromache I am offended with you : 
 Vpon the loue you beare me, get you in. 
 
 Sxlt Andromache. 
 
 Troy. This foolifli, dreaming, fuperftitious girle, 
 Makes all thefe bodements. 
 
 Ca/. O fare well, deere HeElor : 
 
 Looke how thou dieft; looke how thy eye turnes pale: 
 Looke how thy wounds doth bleede at many vents : 
 Harke how Troy roares ; how Hecuba cries out ; 
 How poore tAndromache flirils her dolour forth ; 
 Behold diftradlion, frenzie,and amazement, 
 Like witlefle Antickes one another meete, 
 And all cry HeElor, Hefiors dead : O HeElor \ 
 
 Troy. Away,away. 
 
 Caf. Farewell ;yes,foft: HeElor \ take my leaue; 
 Thou do'ft thy felfe, and all our Troy deceiue. Exit. 
 
 HeEl. You are amaz'd,my Liege, at her exclaime : 
 Goe in and cheere the Towne, weele forth and fight : 
 Doe deedes ofpraife, and tell you them at night. 
 
 Priam. Farewell : the gods with fafetie ftand about 
 thee. Alarum. 
 
 Troy. They are at it, harke : proud Diomed, beleeue 
 I come to loofe my arme, or winne my fleeue, 
 
 Enter Pandar. 
 
 Pand. Doe you heare my Lord ? do you heare? 
 
 Troy. What now ? 
 
 Pand. Here's a Letter come from yond poore girle. 
 
 Troy. Let me reade. 
 
 Pand. A whorfon tificke, a whorfon rafcally tificke, 
 fo troubles mej and the foolifli fortune of this girle, and 
 what one thing, what another, that I fliall leaue you one 
 o'th's dayes : and I haue a rheume in mine eyes too; and 
 fuch an ache in my bones ; that vnlefie a man were curft, 
 I cannot tell what to thinke on't. What fayes fliee 
 there ? 
 
 Troy. Words, words, meere words, no matter from 
 
 the heart ; 
 
 Th'effecl: doth operate another way. 
 Goe winde to winde, there turne and change together : 
 My loue with words and errors ftill fhe feedes ; 
 But edifies another with her deedes. 
 
 Pand. Why, but heare you ? 
 
 Trey. Hence brother lackie ; ignomie and fliame 
 Purfue thy life,and Hue aye with thy name. 
 
 A Larum. Exeunt, 
 
 595 
 
 Enter Tberjitet in excurpon. 
 
 Tber. Now they are clapper-clawing one another , lie 
 goe looke on : that difiembling abhominable varlet D'to- 
 mede, has got that fame fcuruie, doting, foolifli yong 
 knauesSleeue of Troy, there in his Helme : I would faine 
 fee them meet; that, that fame yong Troian afle, that loues 
 the whore there, might fend that Greekifli whore-mai- 
 fterly villaine, with the Sleeue, backe to the diflembling 
 luxurious drabbe, of a fleeuelefle errant.O'th'tother fide, 
 the pollicie of thofe craftie fwearing rafcals; that ftole 
 old Moufe-eaten dry cheefe, Neftor:and that fame dog- 
 foxe Vlifles' is not prou'd worth a Black-berry. They fet 
 me vp in pollicy, that mungrill curre Aiax, againft that 
 dogge of as bad a kinds, Achilles. And now is the curre 
 Aiax prouder then the curre Achilles, and will not arme 
 to day. Whereupon, the Grecians began to proclaime 
 barbarifme ; and pollicie growes into an ill opinion. 
 
 Bnter Diomed and Troylus. 
 Soft, here comes Sleeue, and th'other. 
 
 Troy. Flye-not:for fliould'ft thou take the Riuer Stix, 
 I would fwim after. 
 
 Diom. Thou do'ft mifcall retire : 
 I doe not flye; but aduantagious care 
 Withdrew me from the oddes of multitude: 
 Haue at thee? 
 
 Tber. Hold thy whore Grecian : now for thy whore 
 Troian : Now the Sleeue, now the Sleeue. 
 
 Euter Heftor, 
 
 Hetf.What art thou Greek? art thou for Heflors match? 
 Art thou of bloud,and honour? 
 
 Tber. No, no : I am a rafcall : a fcuruie railing knaue : 
 a very filthy roague. 
 
 HeEl. I doe beleeue thee, Hue. 
 
 Tber. God a mercy, that thou wilt beleeue me ; but a 
 plague breake thy necke for frighting me : what's be- 
 come of the wenching rogues ? I thinke they haue 
 fwallowed one anothar. I would laugh at that mira- 
 cle yet in a fort, lecherie eates it felfe : He feeke them. 
 
 Exit. 
 
 Enter Diomed and Seruants. 
 
 Dio. Goe, goe, my feruant, take thou Trcylut Horfe ; 
 Prefent the faire Steede to my Lady CreJJid: 
 Fellow, commend my feruice to her beauty; 
 Tell her, I haue chaftif'd the amorous Troyan. 
 And am her Knight by proofe. 
 
 Ser. I goe my Lord. Enter Agamemnon. 
 
 Ago. Renew, renew, the fierce Polidamui 
 Hath beate downe Menon : baftard Margarelon 
 Hath Doretu prifoner. 
 
 And ftands Caloflus-wife wauing his beame, 
 Vpon the paflied courfes of the Kings : 
 Epiftropus and Cedus, Polixines is flaine ; 
 Amfhimacus, and Tbotu deadly hurt ; 
 Patroclu6 tane orflaine, and Talamedes 
 Sore hurt and bruifed ; the dreadfull Sagittary 
 Appauls our numbers, hafte we Diomed 
 To re-enforcement, or we perifli all. 
 
 Enter Neftor. 
 
 Neft. Coe beare Patroclw body to Achilles, 
 And bid the fnaile-pac'd tAiax arme for fliame; 
 There is a thoufand Hefiors in the field : 
 Now here he fights on Galatbe his Horfe, 
 And there lacks worke: anon he's there a foote, 
 And there they flye or dye, like fcaled fculs, 
 
 Before
 
 Troylus and Crefsida. 
 
 Before the belching Whale ; then is he yonder, 
 And there the ftraying Greekes, ripe for his edge, 
 Fall downe before him, like the mowers fwath ; 
 Here, there, and euery where, he leaues and takes; 
 Dexteritie fo obaying appetite, 
 That what he will, he does, and does fo much, 
 That proofs is call'd impoflibility. 
 
 Enter Vliffes. 
 
 IJlif. Oh, courage, courage Princes : great Achilles 
 Is arming, weeping, curling, vowing vengeance ; 
 Patroclus wounds haue rouz'd his drowzie bloud, 
 Together with his mangled Myrmidons, 
 Thatno(ele(Te,handlefle, hackt and chipr,come to him ; 
 Crying on Hector. Aiax hath loft a friend, 
 And foames at mouth, and he is arm'd,and at it : 
 Roaring for Troy/us ; who hath done to day. 
 Mad and fantafticke execution ; 
 Engaging and redeeming of himfelfe, 
 With fuch a carelefle force, and forcelefle care, 
 As if that luck in very fpight of cunning, bad him win all. 
 
 Enter Aiax. 
 
 Aia. Troylus, thou coward Troylus. Exit. 
 
 1)io. I , there, there. 
 Neft. So,fo, we draw together. Exit. 
 
 Safer Acblllet. 
 
 Acbil. Where is this Hefior ? 
 Come, come, thou boy-queller, fliew thy face : 
 Know what it is to meete Achilla angry. 
 Hefior, wher's Hefior? I will none but Hefior. Exit. 
 
 Enter Aiax. 
 Aia. Troylus, thou coward Troylus, (hew thy head. 
 
 Enter Diomed. 
 
 Diom. Troylus, I fay, wher's Troylus ? 
 Ala. What would'ft thou ? 
 Diom. I would correct him. 
 Aia. Were I the Generall, 
 Thou fhould'ft haue my office, 
 Ere that correction : Troylus I fay, what Troylus ? 
 
 Enter Troylus. 
 
 Troy. Oh traitour T) iomed \ 
 Turne thy falfe face thou traytor, 
 And pay thy life thou oweft me for my horfe. 
 Dio. Ha, art thou there f 
 Aia. He fight with him alone, ftand f DiomeJ. 
 Dio. He is my prize, I will not looke vpon. 
 Troy. Come both you coging Greekes, haue at you 
 both. Exit Troylus. 
 
 Enter Hefior. 
 Heft. Yea Troylus ? O well fought my yongeft Brother. 
 
 Euter Achilles. 
 
 Acbil. Now doe I fee thee ; haue at thee Hefior. 
 Hefi. Paufe if thou wilt. 
 
 Acbil. I doe difdaine thy curtefie, proud Troian; 
 Be happy that my armes are out of vfe : 
 My reft and negligence befriends thee now, 
 But thou anon /halt heare of me againe : 
 Till when,goe feeke thy fortune. Sxit. 
 
 Hefi. Fare thee well : 
 
 I would haue beene much more a frefher man, 
 Had I expected thee : how now my Brother ? 
 
 Enter Troylus. 
 
 Troy. Aiax hath tane <^neai ; fliall it be? 
 No, by the flame of yonder glorious heauen, 
 He flwll not carry him : He be tane too, 
 Or bring him off: Fate heare me what I fay ; 
 
 I wreake not, though thou end my life to day. Exit- 
 
 Enter one in cArmour. 
 
 Hefi. Stand, ftand, thou Greeke, 
 Thou art a goodly marke : 
 No? wilt thou not? I like thy armour well, 
 lie frufh it, and vnlocke the riuets all, 
 But He be maifter of it : wilt thou not beaft abide? 
 Why then flye on, He hunt thee for thy hide. Exit. 
 
 Enter Achilles with Myrmidons. 
 
 Acbil. Come here about me you my Myrmidons : 
 Marke what I fay ; attend me where I wheele : 
 Strike not a ftroake, but keepe your felues in breath j 
 And when I haue the bloudy Hefior found, 
 Empale him with your weapons round about: 
 In felleft manner execute your arme. 
 Follow me firs, and my proceedings eye ; 
 It is decreed, Hefior the great muft dye. Sxit. 
 
 Enter TberJltei,Menelaui,and Paris. 
 
 Ther. The Cuckold and the Cuckold maker are at it : 
 now bull, now dogge, lowe ; Paris lowe ; now my dou- 
 ble hen'd fparrow ; lowe Paris, lowe ; the bull has the 
 game : ware homes ho ? 
 
 Sxit farts and Menelauf. 
 Enter 'Baftard. 
 
 Baft. Turne flaue and fight. 
 
 Tber. What art thou f 
 
 Baft. A Baftard Sonne of Priams. 
 
 Tber. I am a Baftnrd too, I loue Baftards, I am a Ba- 
 ftard begot, Baftard inftructed, Baftard in minde, Baftard 
 in valour, in euery thing illegitimate : one Beare will not 
 bite another, and wherefore fhould one Baftard ? take 
 heede,the quarrel's moft ominous to vs : if the Sonne of a 
 whore fight for a whore, he tempts Judgement : farewell 
 Baftard. 
 
 'Baft. The diuell take thee coward. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Hefior. 
 
 Hefi. Moft putrified core fo faire without: 
 Thy goodly armour thus hath coft thy life. 
 Now is my daies worke done ; He take good breath : 
 Reft Sword, thou haft thy fill of bloud and death. 
 Enter Achilles and bis Myrmidons. 
 
 Acbil. Looke Hefior how the Sunne begins to fet ; 
 How vgly night comes breathing at his heeles, 
 Euen with the vaile and Marking of the Sunne. 
 To clofe the day vp, Heffors life is done. 
 
 Hefi. I am vnarm'd, forgoe this vantage Greeke. 
 
 Acbil. Strike fellowes, ftrike,this is the man I feeke. 
 So Illion fall thou : now Troy finke downe ; 
 Here lyes thy heart, thy finewes, and thy bone. 
 On Myrtnidons,cry you all a maine, 
 
 Achilles hath the mighty Hefior flaine. "Retreat. 
 
 Harke, a retreat vpon our Grecian part. 
 
 Gree. The Troian Trumpets founds the like my Lord. 
 
 Acbi. The dragon wing of night ore-fpreds the earth 
 And ftickler-like the Armies feperates 
 My halfe fupt Sword, that frankly would haue fed, 
 Pleas'd with this dainty bed ; thus goes to bed. 
 Come, tye his body to my horfes tayle j 
 Along the field, I will the Troian traile. Exeunt. 
 
 Sound Retreat. Shout. 
 
 Enter Agamemnon, Aiax, Menelaui, Neftor, 
 Diomed, and the reft marching. 
 
 A%a. Harke, harke, what fhout is that ? 
 Neft. Peace Drums. 
 
 &/. Acblll 
 596"
 
 Troylus and Crefsida. 
 
 Sold. Achilles, Achilles, He floras flaine, Achilles. 
 Dio. The bruite is, Heftor's flaine, and \yy Achilles. 
 Aia. If it be fo,yet braglefle let it be : 
 Great Hefior was a man as good as he. 
 
 Agam. March patiently along ; let one be fent 
 To pray Achilles fee vs at our Tent. 
 If in his death the gods haue vs befrended, 
 Great Troy is ours, and our (harpe wars are ended. 
 
 Sxeunt. 
 Enter t&ncat, Paris, Anthenor and Deipbaebtu. 
 
 vne. Stand hoe, yet are we maifters of the field, 
 Neuer goe home ; here ftarue we out the night. 
 Enter Troylus. 
 
 Troy. Hefior is flaine. 
 
 All. Heeler? the gods forbid. 
 
 Troy. Hee's dead : and at the murtherers Horfes taile, 
 In beaftly fort, drag'd through the lhamefull Field.l 
 Frowne on you heauens, eftedl your rage with fpeede : 
 Sit gods vpon your throanes, and fmile at Troy. 
 I fay at once, let your briefe plagues be mercy, 
 And linger not our fure deft-ructions on. 
 
 e//ze. My Lord, you doe difcomfort all the Hofte. 
 
 Troy. You vnderftand me not, that tell me fo : 
 I doe not fpeake of flight, of feare,of death, 
 But dare all imminence that gods and men, 
 Addrefie their dangers in. Hefior is gone : 
 Who fliall tell Priam fo? or Hecuba? 
 Let him that will a fcreechoule aye be call'd, 
 Goe in to Troy, and fay there, Heir's dead : 
 There is a word will Priam turne to ftone; 
 Make wels,and Niobes of the maides and wiues; 
 Coole ftatues of the youth : and in a word, 
 Scarre Troy out of it felfe. But march away, 
 Hefior is dead : there is no more to fay. 
 
 Stay yet: you vile abhominable Tents, 
 Thus proudly pight vpon our Phrygian plaines : 
 Let Titan rife as early as he dare, 
 
 He through,and through you;&thou great fiz'd coward: 
 No fpace of Earth lhall funder our two hates, 
 He haunt thee, like a wicked confcience ftill, 
 That mouldeth goblins fwift as frenfies thoughts. 
 Strike a free march to Troy, with comfort goe : 
 Hope of reuenge, lhall hide our inward woe. 
 Enter Pandana. 
 
 fand. But heare you ? heare you ? 
 
 Troy. Hence broker, lackie,ignomy,and lhame 
 Purfue thy life, and liue aye with thy name. Exeunt. 
 
 Pan. A goodly medcine for mine akingbones:oh world, 
 world, world ! thus is the poore agent difpifde : Oh trai- 
 tours and bawdes ; how earneftly are you let aworke, and 
 how ill requited ? why Ihould our indeuour be fo defir'd, 
 and the performance fo loath'd? What Verfe for it? what 
 inftance for it ? let me fee. 
 Full merrily the humble Bee doth fing, 
 Till he hath loft his hony, and his fting. 
 And being once fubdu'd in armed taile, 
 Sweete hony, and fweete notes together faile. 
 Good traders in the flelh,fet this in your painted cloathes; 
 As many as be here of Panders hall, 
 Your eyes halfe out, weepe out at Pandar's fall : 
 Or if you cannot weepe, yet giue fome grones; 
 Though not for me, yet for your akingbones : 
 Brethren and fillers of the hold-dore trade, 
 Some two months hence, my will lhall here be made : 
 It Ihould be now, but that my feare is this : 
 Some galled Goofe of Winchefter would hifle : 
 Till then, He fweate, and feeke about for eafes ; 
 And at that time bequeath you my difeafes. Exeunt. 
 
 f 1T1 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 597
 
 The Tragedy of Goriolanus: 
 
 Primus. Sccena 
 
 Sitter a Company of cWutineuf Citizens, \-nitb Staues, 
 Clubs ytind other weapons. 
 
 I. C'ttmen. 
 
 Efore we proceed any further, heare me fpeake. 
 All. Speake, fpeake. 
 
 i.Cit. You are all refolu'd rather to dy then 
 to fa mi A ? 
 
 All. Refolu'd, refolu'd. 
 
 i.Cit. Firft you know, Qalus WEartius is chiefe enemy 
 to the people. 
 
 All. We know' t, we know't. 
 
 i.C/V.Let vs kill him, and wee'l haue Come at our own 
 price. Is't a Verdift ? 
 
 c/4//.No more talking on't; Let it be done, away, away 
 
 i.Cit. One word, good Citizens. 
 
 i.Cit. We are accounted poore Citizens, the Patri- 
 cians good : what Authority furfets one, would releeue 
 vs. If they would yeelde vs but the fuperfluitie while it 
 were wholfome, wee might gueffe they releeued vs hu- 
 manely : But they thinke we are too deere, the leannefle 
 that afflicts vs, the obiecT: of our mifery, is as an inuento- 
 ry to particularize their abundance, our fufferance is a 
 gaine to them. Let vs reuenge this with our Pikes, ere 
 we become Rakes. For the Gods know, I fpeake this in 
 hunger for Bread, not in thirft for Reuenge. 
 
 i.Cit. Would you proceede efpecially againft Cams 
 <&tartlus. 
 
 All. Againft him firft : He's a very dog to the Com- 
 monalty. 
 
 z.C't- Confider you what Seruices he ha's done for his 
 Country ? 
 
 i.Cit. Very well, and could bee content to giue him 
 good report for't, but that hee payes himfelfe with bee- 
 ing proud. 
 
 All. Nay, but fpeak not malicioufly. 
 
 I . Cit. I iay vnto you, what he hath done Famouflie, 
 he did it to that end : though foft confcienc'd men can be 
 content to fay it was for his Countrey,-he did it to pleafe 
 his Mother, and to be partly proud, which he is, euen to 
 the altitude of his vertue. 
 
 i.Cit. What he cannot helpe in his Nature, you ac- 
 count a Vice in him : You muft in no way fay he is co- 
 uetous. 
 
 I. Cit. If I muft not, I neede not be barren of Accufa- 
 tions he hath faults (with furplus)to tyre in repetition. 
 
 Sbotfts within. 
 
 What fliowts are thefe? The other fide a'th City is rifen: 
 why ftay we prating heere? To th'Capitoll. 
 
 All. Come, come. 
 
 599 
 
 1 Cit. Soft, who comes heere? 
 
 Enter Menenius Agrippa. 
 
 2 Cit. Worthy Menenius cAgrippa, one that hath al- 
 wayes lou'd the. people. 
 
 1 Cit. He's one honeft enough, wold al the reft wer fo. 
 Men. What work's my Countrimen in hand? 
 
 Where go you with Bats and Clubs? The matter 
 Speake I pray you. 
 
 2 Cit, Our bufines is not vnknowne to th'Senat, they 
 haue had inkling this fortnight what we intend to do , w 
 now wee'l fhew em in deeds : they fay poore Suters haue 
 ftrong breaths, they flial know we haue ftrong arms too. 
 
 Menen. Why Mafters,my good Friends, mine honeft 
 Neighbours, will you vndo your felues f 
 
 2 Cit. We cannot Sir, we are vndone already. 
 Men. I tell you Friends, moft charitable care 
 
 Haue the Patricians of you for your wants. 
 Your fuffering in this dearth, you may as well 
 Strike at the Heauen with your ftaues, as lift them 
 Againft the Roman State, whofe courfe will on 
 The way it takes : cracking ten thoufand Curbes 
 Of more ftrong linke affunder, then can euer 
 Appeare in your impediment. For the Dearth, 
 The Gods, not the Patricians make it, and 
 Your knees to them (not armes) muft helpe. Alacke, 
 You are tranfported by Calamity 
 Thether, where more attends you, and you (lander 
 The Helmes o'th State; who care for you like Fathers, 
 When you curfe them, as Enemies. 
 
 2 Cit. Care for vs/ 1 True indeed, they nere car'd for vs 
 yet. Suffer vs to famiih,and their Store-houfes cramm'd 
 with Graine : Make Edicts for Vfurie , to fupport Vfu- 
 rers; repeale daily any wholfome Adi eftabliihed againft 
 the rich, and prouide more piercing Statutes daily, to 
 chaine vp and reftraine the poore. If the Warres eate vs 
 not vppe, they will ; and there's allthe loue they beare 
 vs. 
 
 Menen. Either you muft 
 Confeffe your felues wondrous Malicious, 
 Or be accus'd of Folly. I fhall tell you 
 A pretty Tale, it may be you haue heard it, 
 But fince it femes my purpofe, I will venture 
 To fcale't a little more. 
 
 2 C'tiztn. Well, 
 
 He heare it Sir : yet you muft not thinke 
 To fobbe off our difgrace with a tale : 
 But and't pleafe you deliuer. 
 
 Afen.There was a time, when all the bodies members 
 Rebell'd againft the Belly; thus accus'd it: 
 That onely like a Gulfe it did remaine 
 
 a a I'th
 
 'The Tragedie ofQoriolanus. 
 
 th midd'ft a th'body, idle and vnadliue, 
 Still cubbording the Viand, neuer bearing 
 Like labour with the reft, where th 'other Instruments 
 Did fee, and heare, deuife, inftrut,walke,feele, 
 And mutually participate, did minifter 
 Vnto the appetite; and affe&ion common 
 Of the whole body, the Belly anfwer'd. 
 
 z.Cit. Well fir, what anfwer made the Belly. 
 
 Men. Sir, I fhall tell you with a kinde of Smile, 
 Which ne're came from the Lungs, but euen thus : 
 For looke you I may make the belly Smile, 
 As well as fpeake, it taintingly replyed 
 To'th'difcontented Members, the mutinous parts 
 That enuied his receite : euen fo moft fitly, 
 As you maligne our Senators, for that 
 They are not fuch as you. 
 
 z.Cit. Your Bellies anfwer : What 
 The Kingly crown'd head, the vigilant eye, 
 The Counfailor Heart, the Arme our Souldier,! 
 Our Steed the Legge, the Tongue our Trumpeter, 
 With other Muniments and petty helpes 
 In this our Fabricke, if that they 
 
 cWen. What then? Foreme, this Fellow fpeakes. 
 What then? What then ? 
 
 2 Cit. Should by the Cormorant belly be reftrain'd, 
 Who is the finke a th'body. 
 
 Men. Well, what then ? 
 
 2.C/V. The former Agents,if they did complaine, 
 What could the Belly anfwer? 
 
 Men. I will tell you, 
 
 If you'l beftow a fmall ( of what you haue little) 
 Patience awhile ; you'ft heare the Bellies anfwer. 
 
 z.C/Y. Y'are long about it. 
 
 <&fen. Note me this good Friend ; 
 Your moft graue Belly was deliberate, 
 Not rafli like his Accufers,and thus anfwered. 
 True is it my Incorporate Friends( quoth he) 
 That I receiue the generall Food at firft 
 Which you do Hue vpon : and fit it is, 
 Becaufe I am the S tore -houfe, and the Shop 
 Of the whole Body. But, if you do remember, 
 I fend it through the Riuers of your blood 
 Euen to the Court, the Heart, to th'feate o'th'Braine, 
 And through the Crankes and Offices of man, 
 The ftrongeft Nerues, and fmall inferiour Veines 
 From me receiue that naturall competencie 
 Whereby they Hue. And though that all at once 
 (You my good Friends, this fayes the Belly ) marke me. 
 
 2. Cit. I fir, well, well. 
 
 Men, Though all at once, cannot 
 See what I do deliuerout to each, 
 Yet I can make my Awdit vp, that all 
 From me do backe receiue the Flowre of all, 
 And leaue me but the Bran. What fay you too't ? 
 
 y.. Cit. It was an anfwer, how apply you this? 
 
 Men. The Senators of Rome, are this good Belly, 
 And you the mutinous Members : For examine 
 Their Counfailes, and their Cares;difgeft things rightly, 
 Touching the Weak a'th Common, you fhall finde 
 No publique benefit which you receiue 
 But it proceeds, or comes from them to you, 
 And no way from your felues. What do you thinke ? 
 You, the great Toe of this Afiembly * 
 
 z.Cit. I the great Toe ? Why the great Toe ? 
 
 Men. For that being one o'th loweft,bafeft,pooreft 
 Of this moft wife Rebellion, thou goeft formoft : 
 
 Thou Rafcall, that art worft in blood to run, 
 Lead'ft firft to win fome vantage. 
 But make you ready your ftiffe bats and clubs, 
 Rome, and her Rats, are at the point of bat tell, 
 The one fide muft haue baile. 
 
 Enter Caiui Martitu. 
 Hayle, Noble ^lartitu. 
 
 Afar. Thanks. What's the matter you diflentious rogues 
 That nibbing the poore Itch of your Opinion, 
 Make your felues Scabs. 
 
 z. Cit. We haue euer your good word. 
 
 Afar. He that will giue good words to thee, wil flatter 
 Beneath abhorring. What would you haue, you Curres, 
 That like nor Peace, nor Warre ? The one affrights you, 
 The other makes you proud. He that trufts to you, 
 Where he fhould finde you Lyons, findes you Hares : 
 Where Foxes, Geefe you are: No furer,no, 
 Then is the coale of fire vpon the Ice, 
 Or Hailftone in the Sun. Your Vertue is, 
 To make him worthy, whofe offence fubdues him, 
 And curfe that luftice did it. Who deferues Greatnes, 
 Deferues your Hate : and your AffedYions are 
 A fickmans Appetite; who defires moft that 
 Which would encreafe his euill. He that depends 
 Vpon your fauours, fwimmeswith finnes of Leade, 
 And hewes downe Oakes, with rufhes. Hang ye:truft ye ? 
 With euery Minute you do change a Minde, 
 And call him Noble, that was now your Hate: 
 Him vilde, that was your Garland. What's the matter, 
 That in thefe feuerall places of the Citie, 
 You cry againft the Noble Senate, who 
 (Vnder the Gods) keepe you in awe, which elfe 
 Would feede on one another? What's their feeking ? 
 
 Men. For Come at their owne rates, wherof they fay 
 The Citie is well ftor'd. 
 
 ttlfar. Hang 'em : They fay ? 
 They'l fit by th'fire, and prefume to know 
 What's done i'th Capitoll : Who's like to rife, 
 Who thriues,& who declines: Side facYions,& giue out 
 Coniedlurall Marriages, making parties ftrong, 
 And feebling fuch as ftand not in their liking, 
 Below their cobled Shooes. They fay ther's grain enough ? 
 Would the Nobility lay afide their ruth, 
 And let me vfe my Sword, I'de make a Quarrie 
 With thoufands of thefe quarter'd flaues,as high 
 As I could picke my Lance. 
 
 Menen. Nay thefe are almoft thoroughly perfwaded: 
 For though abundantly they la eke difcretion 
 Yet are they pafsing Cowardly. But I befeech you, 
 What fayes the other Troope ? 
 
 Mar. They are diflblu'd : Hang em ; 
 They faid they were an hungry, figh'd forth Prouerbes 
 That Hunger-broke ftone wals : that dogges muft eate 
 That meate was made for mouths. That the gods fent not 
 Corne for the Richmen onely : With thefe fhreds 
 They vented their Complainings, which being anfwer'd 
 And a petition granted them, a ftrange one, 
 To breake the heart of generofity, 
 
 And make bold power looke pale, they threw their caps 
 As they would hang them on the homes a'th Moone, 
 Shooting their Emulation. 
 
 Menen. What is graunted them? 
 
 Mar. Fiue Tribunes to defend their vulgar wifdoms 
 Of their owne choice. One's lunlus 'Brutus, 
 Sicinius Velutus. and I know not. Sdeath. 
 
 The
 
 The Tragedie of fyriolanus . 
 
 The rabble fhould haue firft vnroo'ft the City 
 Ere fo preuayl'd with me ; it will in time 
 Win vpon power,and throw forth greater Theames 
 For Infurreclions arguing. 
 
 Menen. This is ftrange. 
 
 Mar. Go get you home you Fragments. 
 Enter a Mejfenger baftily. 
 
 Miff. Where's Caiut Martlui ? 
 
 Mar. Heere: what's the matter? 
 
 Mef. The newes is fir, the Volcies are in Armes. 
 
 Mar. I am glad on't, then we {hall ha meanes to vent 
 Our muftie fuperfluity. See our beft Elders. 
 
 Enter Sicinius Velutui, Anniui Brutus Cominifn, Titiu 
 Lartiui, with other Senatours. 
 
 I . Sen. cflfartiui 'tis true, that you haue lately told vs, 
 The Voices are in Armes. 
 
 Mar. They haue a Leader, 
 Tulltu Auffidiui that will put you too't: 
 I finne in enuying his Nobility : 
 And were I anything but what I am, 
 I would wifh me onely he. 
 
 Com. You haue fought together ? 
 
 Mar. Were halfe to halfe the world by th'eares, & he 
 vpon my partie, I'de reuolt to make 
 Onely my warres with him. He is a Lion 
 That I am proud to hunt. 
 
 i.Sen. Then worthy Martiw, 
 Attend vpon Cominius to thefe Warres. 
 
 Com. It is your former promife. 
 Mar. Sir it is, 
 
 And I am conftant : Titus Lucius, thou 
 Shalt fee me once more ftrike at Tullui face. 
 What art thou ftiffe? Stand'ft out? 
 
 Tit. No Caius Martius, 
 
 He leane vpon one Crutch, and fight with tother, 
 Ere ftay behinde this Bufinefie, 
 
 Men. Oh true-bred. 
 
 Sen. Your Company to'th'Capitoll, where I know 
 Our greateft Friends attend vs. 
 
 Tit. Lead you on : Follow Cominius, v/e muft followe 
 you, right worthy you Priority. 
 
 Com. Noble Martius. 
 
 Sen. Hence to your homes, be gone. 
 
 Mar. Nay let them follow, 
 
 The Voices haue much Corne : take thefe Rats thither, 
 To gnaw their Garners. Worfhipfull Mutiners, 
 Your valour puts well forth : Pray follow. Exeunt. 
 
 Citizens fteale atvay. Manet Sicin.& Brutus. 
 
 Sicin. Was euer man fo proud as is this Martius? . 
 
 'Bru, He has no equal]. 
 
 &'a'n.When we were chofen Tribunes for the|people. 
 
 'Bru. Mark'd you his lip and eyes. 
 
 Sicin. Nay, but his taunts. 
 
 'Bru. Being mou'd,he will not fpare to gird the Gods. 
 
 Sicin. Bemocke the modeft Moone. 
 
 Bru. The prefent Warres deuoure him, he is growne 
 Too proud to be fo valiant. 
 
 Sicin. Such a Nature, tickled with good fuccefle, dif- 
 daines the fhadow which he treads on at noone,but I do 
 wonder, his infolence can brooke to be commanded vn- 
 der Cominius ? 
 
 Bru. Fame, at the which he aymes, 
 In whom already he's well grac'd, cannot 
 Better be held, nor more attain'd then by 
 
 601 
 
 A place below the firft : for what mifcarries 
 Shall be the Generals fault, though he performe 
 To th'vtmoft of a man, and giddy cenfure 
 Will then cry out of tjtfartius : Oh, if he 
 Had borne the bufinefle. 
 
 Sicin. Befides, if things go well, 
 Opinion that fo flick es on Martius, fhall 
 Of his demerits rob Cominius. 
 
 'Bru. Come: halfe all Cominius Honors are to Martius 
 Though Martius earn'd them not : and all his faults 
 To Martius fhall be Honors, though indeed 
 In ought he merit not. 
 
 Sicin. Let's hence, and heare 
 How the difpatch is made, and in what fafhion 
 More then his fingularity, he goes 
 Vpon this prefent Action. 
 
 'Bru. Let's along. Exeunt 
 
 Enter Tullus Auffidius -with Senators of Coriolus. 
 
 l. Sen. So, your opinion is Auffidius, 
 That they of Rome are entred in our Counfailes, 
 And know how we proceede, 
 
 Auf. Is it not yours ? 
 
 What euer haue bin thought one in this State 
 That could be brought to bodily aft, ere Rome 
 Had circumuention : 'tis not foure dayes gone 
 Since I heard thence, thefe are the words, I thinke 
 I [haue the Letter heere : yes, heereit is; 
 They haue preft a Power, but it is not knowne 
 Whether for Eaft or Weft : the Dearth is great, 
 The people Mutinous : And it is rumour'd, 
 Cominius, Martius your old Enemy 
 (Who is of Rome worfe hated then of you) 
 And Titus Lartius, a moft valiant Roman, 
 Thefe three leade on this Preparation 
 Whether 'tis bent : moft likely, 'tis for you : 
 Confider of it. 
 
 i.Sen. Our Armie'sin the Field : 
 We neuer yet made doubt but Rome was ready 
 To anfwer vs. 
 
 Auf. Nor did you thinke it folly, 
 To keepe your great pretences vayl'd, till when 
 They needs muft fhew themfelues, which in the hatching 
 It feem'd appear'd to Rome. By the difcouery, 
 We fhalbe fhortned in our ayme, which was 
 To take in many Townes, ere (almoft)Rome 
 Should know we were a-foot. 
 
 i.Sen. Noble Auffidiui, 
 
 Take your Commiflion, hye you to your Bands, 
 Let vs alone to guard Qorioles 
 If they fet downe before's : for the remoue 
 Bring vp your Army : but (\ thinke) you'l finde 
 Th'haue not prepar'd for vs. 
 
 Auf. O doubt not that, 
 I fpeake from Certainties. Nay more, 
 Some parcels of their Power are forth already, 
 And onely hitherward. I leaue your Honors. 
 If we, and Caius Martius chance to meete, 
 'Tis fworne betweene vs, we fhall euer ftrike 
 Till one can do no more. 
 
 All. The Gods afsift you. 
 
 Auf. And keepe your Honors fafe. 
 
 i.Sen, Farewell. 
 
 i.Sen. Farewell. 
 
 All. Farewell. Sxeunt omnes. 
 
 a a a Enter 
 
 4Q
 
 The T rage die of fyriolanus . 
 
 Enter Volumnia and TJirgiiia, mother and wife to Martius : 
 They Jet them dvwne on two l</we Jiooles and Jb-vc. 
 
 "Uolum.l pray you daughter fing, or exprefTe your felfe 
 in a more comfortable fort : If my Sonne were my Huf- 
 band, I fhould freelier reioyce in that abfence wherein 
 he wonne Honor, then in the embracements of his Bed, 
 where he would fhew moft loue. When yet hee was but 
 tender-bodied, and the onely Sonne of my womb; when 
 youth with comelinefle pluclc'd all gaze his way j when 
 for a day of Kings entreaties, a Mother fhould not fel him 
 an houre from her beholding; I confidering how Honour 
 would become fuch a perfon, that it was no better then 
 Pi6ture-like to hang by th'wall, if renowne made it not 
 ftirre, was pleas'd to let him feeke danger, where he was 
 like to finde fame : To a cruell Warre I fent him, from 
 whence he return'd, his browes bound with Oake. I tell 
 thee Daughter, I fprang not more in ioy at firft hearing 
 he was a Man-child, then now in firft feeing he had pro- 
 ued himfelfe a man. 
 
 Virg. But had he died in the Bufinefie Madame, how 
 then ? 
 
 Volum. Then his good report fhould haue beene my 
 Sonne, I therein would haue found ifTue. Heare me pro- 
 fefle fincerely, had I a dozen fons each in my loue alike, 
 and none lelTe deere then thine, and my good Martius, I 
 had rather had eleuen dye Nobly for their Countrey, then 
 one voluptuoufly furfet out of Adtion. 
 
 Enter a Gentlewoman. 
 
 Gent. Madam, the Lady Valeria is come to vifit you. 
 Virg. Befeech you giue me leaue to retire my felfe. 
 Volum. Indeed you fhall not : 
 
 Me thinkes, I heare hither your Husbands Drumme : 
 See him plucke cAuffidius downe by th'haire: 
 (As children from a Beare) the Voices fhunning him: 
 Me thinkes I fee him ftampe thus, and call thus, 
 Come on you Cowards, you were got in feare 
 Though you were borne in Rome ; his bloody brow 
 With his mail'd hand, then wiping, forth he goes 
 Like to a Harueft man, that task'd to mowe 
 Or all, or loofe his hyre. 
 
 Virg. His bloody Brow ? Oh lupiter, no blood. 
 
 1)dum. Away you Foole ; it more becomes a man| 
 Then gilt his Trophe. The brefts of Hecuba 
 When fhe did fuckle Heffor, look'd not louelier 
 Then Heflors forhead, when it fpit forth blood 
 At Grecian fword. Contenning, tell Valeria 
 We are fit to bid her welcome. Exit Gent. 
 
 1)ir. Heauens blefle my Lord from fell Auffidius. 
 
 1)ol t Hee'l beat Auffidius head below his knee, 
 And treade vpon his necke. 
 
 Enter Valeria toil ban VJber, and a Gentlewoman. 
 
 Vol. My Ladies both good day to you.| 
 
 Vol. Sweet Madam. 
 
 TJlr. I am glad to fee your Ladyfhip. 
 
 Vol. How do you both ? You are manifeft houfe-kee- 
 pers. What are you fowing heere ? A fine fpotte in good 
 faith. How does your little Sonne ? 
 
 Vlr. I thanke your Lady-fhip : Well good Madam. 
 
 Vol. He had rather fee the fwords, and heare a Drum, 
 then looke vpon his Schoolmafter. 
 
 Vol. A my word the Fathers Sonne : He fweare 'tis a 
 very pretty boy. A my troth, I look'd vpon him a Wenf- 
 day halfe an houre together : ha's fuch a confirm'd coun- 
 
 tenance. I faw him run after a gilded Butterfly, & when 
 he caught it, he let it go againe, and after it againe, and o- 
 uer and ouer he comes, and vp againe : catcht it again : or 
 whether his fall enrag'd him, or how 'twas, hee did fo fet 
 his teeth, and teare it. Oh, I warrant how he mammockt 
 it. 
 
 Vol. One on's Fathers moods. 
 
 Vol. Indeed la, tis a Noble childe. 
 
 Virg. A Cracke Madam. 
 
 Val. Come, lay afide your ftitchery, I muft haue you 
 play the idle Hufwife with me this afternoone. 
 
 Virg. No (good Madam) 
 I will not out of doores. 
 
 Val. Not out of doores ? 
 
 Volum. She fhall, flie fhall. 
 
 Virg. Indeed no, by your patience ; He not ouer the 
 threshold, till my Lord returne from the Warres. 
 
 Val. Fye, you confine your felfe moft vnreafonably : 
 Come, you muft go vifit the good Lady that lies in. 
 
 Virg. I will wifh her fpeedy ftrength, and vifite her 
 with my prayers : but I cannot go thither. 
 
 Volum. Why I pray you. 
 
 Vlug. 'Tis not to laue labour,nor that I want loue. 
 
 Val. You would be another Tentlope: yet they fay, all 
 the yearne fhe fpun in VliJJes abfence, did but fill Atbica 
 full of Mothes. Come, I would your Cambrick were fen- 
 fible as your finger, that you might leaue pricking it for 
 pitie. Come you fhill go with vs. 
 
 Vlr. No good Madam, pardon me, indeed I will not 
 foorth . 
 
 Val. In truth la go with me, and He tell you excellent 
 newes of your Husband. 
 
 Virg. Oh good Madam, there can be none yet. 
 
 TJal. Verily 1 do not ieft with you: there came newes 
 from him laft night. 
 
 1)\r. Indeed Madam. 
 
 Val. In earneft it's true ; I heard a Senatour fpeake it. 
 Thus it is: the Volcies haue an Army forth, againft who 
 Cominius the Generall is gone, with one part of our Ro- 
 mane power. Your Lord, and Titus Lartius, are fet down 
 before their Citie Cariotes, they nothing doubt preuai- 
 ling,and to make it breefe Warres, This is true on mine 
 Honor, and fo I pray go with vs. 
 
 Virg. Giue me excufe good Madame, I will obey you 
 in euery thing heereafter. 
 
 Vol. Let her alone Ladie,as fhe is now : 
 She will but difeafe our better mirth. 
 
 Valeria. In troth I thinke fhe would : 
 Fare you well then. Come good fweet Ladie. 
 Prythee Virgilia turne thy folemnefle out a doore, 
 And go along with vs. 
 
 Virgil. No 
 
 At a word Madam ; Indeed I muft not, 
 I wifh you much mirth. 
 
 Val. Well, then farewell. Exeunt Ladies 
 
 Enter cftfartitu , Titut Lartius , with Drumme and Ct- 
 lours, with Captaines and Souldiers, a& 
 before the City Corialus : to them 
 a <&fej/enger. 
 
 Martius. Yonder comes Newes : 
 A Wager they haue met. 
 
 Lar. My horfe to yours, no, 
 Mar. Tis done. 
 Lart. Agreed.
 
 The 'Tr age die of Qoriolanus. 
 
 . Say, ha's our Generall met the Enemy ? 
 
 l They lye in view, but haue not fpoke as yet. 
 
 Lart. So, the good Horfe is mine. 
 
 Mart. He buy him of you. 
 
 Lart.No, He nor fel,nor giue him: Lend you him I will 
 For halfe a hundred yeares: Summon the Towne. 
 
 Mar. How farre off lie thefe Armies ? 
 
 Me/. Within this mile and halfe. 
 
 Mar. Then lhall we heare their Larum, & they Ours. 
 Now Mars, I prythee make vs quicke in worke, 
 That we with fmoaking fwords may march from hence 
 To helpe our fielded Friends. Come, blow thy blaft. 
 
 They Sound a Parley : Snter ttvo Senators with others on 
 
 the Walks of Conalui. 
 Tulliu Auffidious, is he within your Walles ? 
 
 j.Senat. No, nor a man that feares you lefle then he, 
 That's lefler then a little ; Drum a farre off. 
 
 Hearke, our Drummes 
 
 Are bringing forth our youth : Wee'l breake our Walles 
 Rather then they fhall pound vs vp our Gates, 
 Which yet feeme fliut, we haue but pin'd with Ruflies, 
 They'le open of themfelues. Harke you, farre off 
 
 tAlarum farre off. 
 
 There is Auffidkus . Lift what worke he makes 
 Among'ft your clouen Army. 
 
 Mart. Oh they are at it. 
 
 Lart. Their noife be our inftru&ion. Ladders hoa. 
 
 Enter the Army of the Voices. 
 
 tWEar. They feare vs not, but iffue forth their Citie. 
 Now put your Shields before your hearts,and fight 
 With hearts more proofe then Shields. 
 Aduance braue Titus, 
 
 They do difdaine vs much beyond our Thoughts, 
 which makes me fweat with wrath. Come on my fellows 
 He that retires, He take him for a Volce t 
 And he /hall feele mine edge. 
 
 Alarum, the Romans are beat bacl^ to their Trenches 
 Enter Martius C ur ift"S' 
 
 Mar. All the contagion of the South, light on you, 
 You Shames of Rome : you Heard of Byles and Plagues 
 Plaifter you o're, that you may be abhorr'd 
 Farther then feene, and one infect another 
 Againft the Winde a mile : you foules of Geefe, 
 That beare the fliapes of men, how haue you run 
 From Slaues, that Apes would beate ; Pluto and Hell, 
 All hurt behinde, backes red, and faces pale 
 With flight and agued feare, mend and charge home, 
 Or by the fires of heauen, He leaue the Foe, 
 And make my Warres on you: Looke too't: Come on, 
 If you'l ftand faft, wee'l beate them to their Wiues, 
 As they vs to our Trenches followes. 
 
 Another Alarum, and Martius followes them to 
 
 gates, and it jhut in. 
 
 So, now the gates are ope: now proue good Seconds, 
 'Tis for the followers Fortune, widens them, 
 Not for the flyers : Marke me, and do the like. 
 Enter the Gati. 
 
 J.Sol. Foole-hardineffe, not I. 
 
 Z.Sol. Nor I. 
 
 J.Sol. See they haue fliut him in. eAlarum continues 
 
 All. To th'pot I warrant him. Enter Titus Lartius 
 
 Tit. What is become of <&fartius ? 
 
 All. Slaine (Sir) doubtleiTe. 
 
 J.Sol. Following the Flyers at the very heeles, 
 
 605 
 
 With them he enters : who vpon the fodaine 
 Clapt to their Gates, he is himfelfe alone, 
 To anfwer all the City. 
 
 Lar. Oh Noble Fellow ! 
 Who fenfibly out-dares his fenceleffe Sword, 
 And when it bowes,ftand'ft vp : Thou art left <&fartius, 
 A Carbuncle intire : as big as thou art 
 Weare not fo rich a Jewell. Thou was't a Souldier 
 Euen to Calues wi/h,not fierce and terrible 
 Onely in ftrokes, but with thy grim lookes,and 
 The Thunder-like percufiion of thy'founds 
 Thou mad'ft thine enemies fhake, as if the World 
 Were Feauorous, and did tremble. 
 
 Enter Martius bleeding,ajjaulted by the Enemy. 
 
 \.Sol. Looke Sir. 
 
 Lar. O 'tis Martius. 
 Let's fetch him off,or make remaine alike. 
 
 They fight) and all enter the City. 
 * Enter certaine Romanes tvithjpoiles. 
 
 J.Rom. This will I carry to Rome. 
 
 Z.Rom. And I this. 
 
 3. Rom. A Murrain on't, I tooke this for Siluer. exeunt. 
 
 Alarum continues ft ill a- farre off. 
 Enter Martius , and Titus with a Trumpet. 
 
 Mar.Set heere thefe mouers, that do prize their hours 
 At a crack'd Drachme : Cufhions, Leaden Spoones, 
 Irons of a Doit, Dublets that Hangmen would 
 Bury with thofe that wore them. Thefe bafe flaues, 
 Ere yet the fight be done,packe vp, downe with them. 
 And harke, what noyfe the Generall makes: To him 
 There is the man of my foules hate, Auffidious, 
 Piercing our Romanes : Then Valiant Titus take 
 Conuenient Numbers to make good the City, 
 Whil'ft I with thofe that haue the fpirit, wil hafte 
 To helpe Cominius. 
 
 Lar. Worthy Sir, thou bleed'ft, 
 Thy exercife hath bin too violent, 
 For a fecond courfe of Fight. 
 
 Mar. Sir,praife me not : 
 
 My worke hath yet not warm'd me. Fare you well : 
 The blood I drop, is rather Phyficall 
 Then dangerous to me : To Aujfidious thus, I will appear 
 
 Lar. Now the faire Goddefle Fortune, (and fight. 
 Fall deepe in loue with thee,and her great charmes 
 Mifguide thy Oppofers fwords, Bold Gentleman : 
 Prosperity be thy Page. 
 
 Mar. Thy Friend no lefle, 
 Then thofe flie placeth higheft : So farewell. 
 
 Lar. Thou worthieft Martius, 
 Go found thy Trumpet in the Market place , 
 Call thither all the Officers a'th'Towne, 
 Where they fliall know our minde. Away. Exeunt 
 
 Enter Cominius as it were in retire, -with foldiers. 
 
 Com. Breath you my friends, wel fought, we are come 
 Like Romans, neither foolifli in our ftands, (off, 
 
 Nor Cowardly in retyre : Beleeue me Sirs, 
 We fhall be charg'd againe. Whiles we haue ftrooke 
 By Interims and conueying gufts,we haue heard 
 The Charges of our Friends. The Roman Gods, 
 Leade their fuccefl~es,as we wifli our owne, 
 That both our powers, with fmiling Fronts encountring, 
 May giue you thankfull Sacrifice. Thy Newes? 
 Enter a Mefftnger. 
 
 Meff. The Cittizens of Conoles haue yffued, 
 And giuen to Lartius and to Martius Battaile : 
 
 333 
 
 Ifaw 

 
 The Tragedie of fyriolanus. 
 
 I faw our party to their Trenches driuen, 
 And then I came away. 
 
 Com. Though thou fpeakeft truth, 
 Me thinkes thou fpeak'ft not well. How long is't fince ? 
 
 Mcf, Aboue an houre,my Lord. 
 
 Com.'T'is not a mile:briefely we heard their drummes. 
 How could'ft thou in a mile confound an houre, 
 And bring thy Newes fo late f 
 
 MeJ. Spies of the Voices 
 
 Held me in chace, that I was forc'd to wheele 
 Three or foure miles fbout, elfe had I fir 
 Halfe an houre fince brought my report. 
 
 Enter cfifartiiu. 
 
 Com. Whofe yonder, 
 
 That doe's appeare as he were Plead ?O Gods, 
 He has the ftampe of Martius,and I haue 
 Before time feene him thus. 
 
 Mar. Come I too late ? 
 
 Cow. The Shepherd knowes not Thunder fro a Taber, 
 More then I know the found of Martiut Tongue 
 From euery meaner man. 
 
 Martitu. Come I too late ? 
 
 Com. I, if you come not in the blood of others, 
 But mantled in your owne. 
 
 Mart. Oh' let me clip ye 
 In Armes as found, as when I woo'd in heartj 
 As merry, as when our Nuptiall day was done, 
 And Tapers burnt to Bedward. 
 
 CW.Flower of Warriors, how is't with Tttiu Lartiui*. 
 
 Mar. As with a man bufied about Decrees : 
 Condemning fome to death, and fome to exile, 
 Ranfoming him, or pittying, threatning th'other; 
 Holding Corio/es in the name of Rome, 
 Euen like a fawning Grey-hound in the Lead), 
 To let him flip at will. 
 
 Com. Where is that Slaue 
 
 Which told me they had beate you to your Trenches ? 
 Where is he? Call him hither. 
 
 Mar. Let him alone, 
 
 He did informe the truth : but for our Gentlemen, 
 The common file, (a plague-Tribunes for them) 
 The Moufe ne're fliunn'd the Cat, as they did budge 
 From Rafcals worfe then they. 
 
 Com. But how preuail'd you ? 
 
 Mar. Will the time ferue to tell, I do not thinke : 
 Where is the enemy? Are you Lords a'th Field ? 
 If not, why ceafe you till you are fo ? 
 
 Com. <&fartius, we haue at difaduantage fought, 
 And did retyre to win our purpofe. 
 
 Mar. How lies their Battell? Know you on w fide 
 They haue plac'd their men oftruft? 
 
 Com. As I guefle Martius, 
 Their Bands i'th Vaward are the Antients 
 Of their beft truft : O're them Auffidhtu, 
 Their very heart of Hope. 
 
 Mar. I do befeech you, 
 By all the Battailes wherein we haue fought, 
 By th'Blood we haue flied together, 
 By th'Vowes we haue made 
 To endure Friends, that you directly fet me 
 Againft Affidictu, and his Antiats, 
 And that you not delay the prefent (but 
 Filling the aire with Swords aduanc'd) and Darts, 
 We proue this very houre. 
 Com. Though I could wifli, 
 
 You were conducted to a gentle Bath, 
 And Balmes applyed to you, yet dare I neuer 
 Deny your asking, take your choice of thofe 
 That beft can ayde your action. 
 
 Mar. Thofe are they 
 
 That moft are willing; if any fuch be heere, 
 (As it were finne to doubtjthat loue this painting 
 Wherein you fee me fmear'd, if any feare 
 Leflen his perfon, then an ill report : 
 If any thinke, braue death out-weighes bad life, 
 And that his Countries deerer then himfelfe, 
 Let him alone : Or fo many fo minded, 
 Waue thus to exprefle his difpofition, 
 And follow Martitu. 
 
 They alljbout and waue their jwords , tafy him -vp In their 
 
 A rmes , and c aft "vp their Caps, 
 Oh me alone, make you a fword of me : 
 If thefe fhewes be not outward, which of you 
 But is foure Voices'? None of you, but is 
 Able to beare againft the great AuffidkuA 
 A Shield, as hard as his . A certaine number 
 (Though thankes to all)muft I felect from all : 
 The reft fliall beare the bufinefle in fome other fight 
 (As caufe will be obey'd:) pleafe you to March, 
 And foure ihall quickly draw out my Command, 
 Which men are beft inclin'd. 
 
 Qom. March on my Fellowes : 
 Make good this oftentation, and you ihall 
 Diuide in all, with vs. Exeunt 
 
 Titus Lartius, baiting fet a guard -upon Carioles, going with 
 'Drum an d trumpet tonard Cominius, and Caius Mar- 
 tius, Enters with a Lieutenant, other Souldiours t and a 
 Scout. 
 
 Lar. So, let the Ports be guarded; keepe your Duties 
 As I haue fet them downe. If I do fend, difpatch 
 Thofe Centuries to our ayd, the reft will ferue 
 For a fliort holding, if we loofe the Field, 
 We cannot keepe the Towne. 
 
 Lieu. Feare not our care Sir. 
 
 Lart. Hence; and fhut your gates vpon's : 
 Our Guider come, to th'Roman Campe conduct vs. Exit 
 
 Alarum, as in Battaile. 
 
 Enter Martius and Auffidius at feueral doores. 
 
 Mar. He fight with none but thee,for I do hate thee 
 Worfe then a Promife-breaker. 
 
 Auffid. We hate alike: 
 Not Affricke ownes a Serpent I abhorre 
 More then thy Fame and Enuy: Fix thy foot. 
 
 Mar. Let the firft Budger dye the others Slaue, 
 And the Gods doome him after. 
 
 Auf. If I flye cflfartius, hollow me like a Hare. 
 
 Mar. Within thefe three houres Tullui 
 Alone I fought in your Corioles walles, 
 And made what worke I pleas'd: 'Tis not my blood, 
 Wherein thou feed me maskt, for thy Reuenge 
 Wrench vp thy power to th'higheft. 
 
 Auf. Wer't thou the Heflor, 
 That was the whip of your bragg'd Progeny, 
 Thou (hould'ft not fcape me heere. 
 
 Heere they fight , and certaine Voices come in the ayde 
 of Auffi. Martius fights til they be driuen in breathles. 
 Officious and not valiant, you haue fham'd me 
 In your condemned Seconds. 
 
 Flourijh. 
 
 604
 
 The Tragedie of Q oriolanus. 
 
 7 
 
 Flourijb. Alarum. *A Retreat ii founded. Enter at 
 
 one *Doore Cominiui, with the Romanes : At 
 
 another Doore e^fartiui , with bis 
 
 Arme in a Scarf e. 
 
 Com. If I fliould tell thee o're this thy dayes Worke, 
 Thou't not beleeue thy deeds : but He report it, 
 Where Senators fhall mingle teares with fmiles, 
 Where great Patricians fliall attend, and flirug, 
 I'th'end admire : where Ladies fliall be frighted, 
 And gladly quak'd, heare more : where the dull Tribunes, 
 That with the fuftie Plebeans,hate thine Honors, 
 Shall fay againft their hearts, We thanke the Gods 
 Our Rome hath fuch a Souldier. 
 Yet cam'ft thou to a Morfell of this Feaft, 
 Hauing fully din'd before. 
 
 Enter Titui with bis Power , from the Purfuit. 
 
 Titui Lartiui. Oh Generall : 
 Here is the Steed, wee the Caparifon : 
 Hadft thou beheld 
 
 Martiui. Pray now, no more : 
 My Mother, who ha's a Charter to extoll her Bloud, 
 When (he do's prayfe me, grieues me : 
 I haue done as you haue done, that's what I can, 
 Induc'd as you haue beene, that's for my Countrey : 
 He that ha's but effected his good will, 
 Hath ouerta'ne mine Adi. 
 
 Cum. You fliall not be the Graue of your deferuing, 
 Rome muft know the value of her owne : 
 'Twere a Concealement worfe then a Theft, 
 No lefle then a Traducement, 
 To hide your doings,and to faience that, 
 Which to the fpire,and top of prayfes vouch'd, 
 Would feeme but modeft : therefore I befeech you, 
 In figne of what you are, not to reward 
 What you haue done, before our Armie heare me. 
 
 Martiui. I haue fome Wounds vpon me,and they fmart 
 To heare themfelues remembred. 
 
 Com. Should they not: 
 Well might they fefter 'gainft Ingratitude, 
 And tent themfelues with death : of all the Horfes, 
 Whereof we haue ta'ne good, and good ftore of all, 
 The Treafure in this field atchieued,and Citie, 
 We render you the Tenth, to be ta'ne forth, 
 Before the common diftribution, 
 At your onely choyfe. 
 
 cflfartius. I thanke you Generall : 
 But cannot make my heart confent to take 
 A Bribe, to pay my Sword : I doe refufe it, 
 And ftand vpon my common part with thofe, 
 That haue beheld the doing. 
 
 A long flour ijb. They all cry , Martiui , Martiui , 
 cafl -up their Caps and Launces : Cominiui 
 and Lartiui Jl and bare. 
 
 Mar.May thefe fame Inftruments, which you prophane, 
 Neuer found more: when Drums and Trumpets fliall 
 I'th'field proue flatterers, let Courts and Cities be 
 Made all of falfe-fac'd foothing : 
 When Steele growes fort, as the Parafites Silke, 
 Let him be made an Ouerture for th' Warres : 
 No more I fay, for that I haue not wafli'd 
 
 605 
 
 My Nofe that bled, or foyl'd fome debile Wretch, 
 Which without note, here's many elfe haue done, 
 You flioot me forth in acclamations hyperbolical!, 
 As if I lou'd my little fliould be dieted 
 In prayfes, fawc'ft with Lyes. 
 
 Com. Too modeft are you : 
 More cruell to your good report, then gratefull 
 To vs, that giue you truly : by your patience, 
 If 'gainft your felfe you be incens'd, wee'le put you 
 (Like one that meanes his proper harme) in Manacles, 
 Then reafon fafely with you : Therefore be it knowne, 
 As to vs,to all the World, That Caiui Martiui 
 Weares this Warres Garland : in token of the which, 
 My Noble Steed, knowne to the Campe,! giue him, 
 With all his trim belonging ; and from this time, 
 For what he did before Corioles, call him, 
 With all th'applaufe and Clamor of the Hoaft, 
 t&farcui Caiui Qoriolanui. Beare th'addition Nobly euer? 
 F/ouriJh.' Trumpets foun d, and Drums. 
 
 Omnes. Marcui Caiui Csriolanui, 
 
 Martiui. I will goe wafli : 
 And when my Face is faire, you fliall perceiue 
 Whether I blufli,orno : howbeit,! thanke you, 
 I meane to ftride your Steed, and at all times 
 To vnder-creft your good Addition, 
 To th'fairenefle of my power. 
 
 Com. So, to our Tent : 
 Where ere we doe repofe vs, we will write 
 To Rome of our fuccefTe : you Titui Lartiui 
 Muft to Corioles backe, fend vs to Rome 
 The beft,with whom we may articulate, 
 For their owne good, and ours. 
 
 Lartitu. I fliall, my Lord. 
 
 Martiui. The Gods begin to mocke me : 
 I that now refus'd moft Princely gifts, 
 Am bound to begge of my Lord Generall. 
 
 Com. Tak't,'tis yours : what is't ? 
 
 Martiui. I fometime lay here in Corioles, 
 At a poore mans houfe: he vs'd me kindly, 
 He cry'd to me : 1 faw him Prifoner : 
 But then Auffidiui was within my view, 
 And Wrath o're-whelm'd my pittie : I requeft you 
 To giue my poore Hoft freedome. 
 
 Com. Oh well begg'd : 
 
 Were he the Butcher of my Sonne, he fliould 
 Be free,as is the Winde : deliuer him, Titui. 
 
 Lartiui. Martiut,his Name. 
 
 Martiui. By lupiter forgot : 
 I am wearie, yea, my memorie is tyr'd : 
 Haue we no Wine here ? 
 
 Com. Goe we to our Tent : 
 The bloud vpon your Vifage dryes,'tis time 
 It fliould be lookt too : come: Exeunt. 
 
 Ajlouri/b. Cornets. Enter Tullui Auffidiui 
 i>loudie,witb two or three Souldiors. 
 
 Auffi. The Towne is ta'ne. 
 
 Sould. 'Twill be deliuer'd backe on good Condition. 
 
 Auffid. Condition ? 
 
 I would I were a Roman, for I cannot, 
 Being a "Voice, be that I am. Condition ? 
 What good Condition can a Treatie finde 
 I'th'part that is at mercy? fiue times, Martitu, 
 I haue fought with thee ; fo often haft thou beat me : 
 And would'ft doe fo, I thinke,fliould we encounter 
 
 As
 
 8 
 
 The Tragedie of oriolanus. 
 
 As often as we eate. By th'Elements, 
 If ere againe I meet him beard to beard, 
 He's mine, or I am his : Mine Emulation 
 Hath not that Honor in't it had : For where 
 ] thought to crufli him in an equall Force, 
 True Sword to Sword : He potche at him fome way, 
 Or Wrath, or Craft may get him. 
 &/. He's the diuell. 
 
 Auf. Bolder, though not fo fubtletmy valors poifon'd, 
 With onely furFring ftaine by him : for him 
 Shall flye out of it felfe, nor fleepe, nor fan&uary, 
 Being naked, ficke; nor Phane, nor Capitoll, 
 The Prayers of Priefts, nor times of Sacrifice: 
 Embarquements all of Fury , fliall lift vp 
 Their rotten Priuiledge, and Cuftome 'gainft 
 My hate to Manias. Where I findehim, were it 
 At home, vpon my Brothers Guard, euen there 
 Againft the hofpitable Canon, would 1 
 Wafli my fierce hand in's heart. Go you to th'Citie, 
 Learne how 'tis held, and what they are thatmuft 
 Be Hoftages for Rome. 
 
 Soul. Will not you go ? 
 
 Auf. I am attended at the Cyprus groue. I pray you 
 (Tis South the City Mils) bring me word thither 
 How the world goes : that to the pace of it 
 I may fpurre on my iourney. 
 
 Soul. I fliall fir. 
 
 Aftus Secundus. 
 
 Enter Meneniiu with the tvo Tribunes of the 
 feofle, Sicinius & 'Brutus. 
 
 Men. The Agurer tels me, wee fliall haue Newes to 
 night. 
 
 <Bru. Good or bad ? 
 
 Men. Not according to the prayer of the people, for 
 they loue not Martius. 
 
 Sicin. Nature teaches Beafts to know their Friends. 
 
 Men. Pray you, who does the Wolfe loue ? 
 
 Sicin. The Lambe. 
 
 Men. I, to deuour him, as the hungry Plebeians would 
 the Noble Martius . 
 
 *Bru. He's a Lambe indeed, that baes like a Beare. 
 
 Men. Hee's a Beare indeede, that liues like a Lambe. 
 You two are old men, tell me one thing that I fliall aske 
 you. 
 
 Both. Well fir. 
 
 Men. In what enormity is Martius poore in, that you 
 two haue not in abundance ? 
 
 'Bru. He's poore in no one fault, but ftor'd withall. 
 
 Sicin. Efpecially in Pride. 
 
 Bru. And topping all others in boafting. 
 
 cfrfen. This is ftrange now : Do you two know, how 
 you are cenfured heere in the City, I mean of vs a'th'right 
 hand File, do you? 
 
 "Both. Why? ho ware we cenfur'd? 
 
 Men. Becaufe you talke of Pride now , will you not 
 be angry. 
 
 'Both. Well, well fir, well. 
 
 Men. Why 'tis no great matter : for a very little theefe 
 of Occafion, will rob you of a great deale of Patience : 
 
 Giue your difpofitions the reines, and bee angry at your 
 pleafures (at the leaft)if you take it as a pleafure to you, in 
 being fo : you blame Martius for being proud. 
 
 'Brut. We do it not alone, fir. 
 
 Men. I know you can doe very little alone, for your 
 helpes are many, or elfe your actions would growe won- 
 drous fingle : your abilities are to Infant-like, for dooing 
 much alone. You talke of Pride: Oh, that you could turn 
 your eyes toward the Napes of your neckes, and make 
 but an Interiour furuey of your good felues. Oh that you 
 could. 
 
 'Both. What then fir ? 
 
 Men. Why then you fliould difcouer a brace of vn- 
 meriting, proud, violent, teftie Magiftrates (alias Fooles) 
 as any in Rome. 
 
 Sicin. Menenius, you are knowne well enough too. 
 
 Men. I am knowne to be a humorous fatritian , and 
 one that loues a cup of hot Wine, with not a drop of alay- 
 ing Tiber in't : Said, to be fomething imperfect in fauou- 
 ring the firft complaint, hafty and Tinder-like vppon, to 
 triuiall motion : One, that conuerfes more with the But- 
 tocke of the night, then with the forhead of the morning. 
 What I think, I vtter, and fpend my malice in my breath. 
 Meeting two fuch Weales men as you are (I cannot call 
 you LicurguJJes,) if the drinke you giue me, touch my Pa- 
 lat aduerfly, I make a crooked face at it, I can fay, your 
 Worfliippes haue deliuer'd the matter well, when I finde 
 the Afle in compound, with the Maior part of your fylla- 
 bles. And though I muft be content to beare with thofe, 
 that fay you are reuerend graue men, yet they lye deadly, 
 that tell you haue good faces, if you fee this in the Map 
 of my Microcoime, followes it that I am knowne well e- 
 nough too? What harme can your beefome Confpe&ui- 
 ties gleane out of this Charra&er, if I be knowne well e- 
 nough too. 
 
 'Bru. Come fir come, we know you well enough. 
 
 Menen. You know neither mee, your felues, nor any 
 thing : you are ambitious, for poore knaues cappes and 
 legges : you weare out a good wholefome Forenoone,in 
 hearing a caufe betweene an Orendge wife, and a Forfet- 
 feller, and then reiourne the Controuerfie of three-pence 
 to a fecond day of Audience. When you are hearing a 
 matter betweene party and party, if you chaunce to bee 
 pinch'd with the Collicke, you make faces like Mum- 
 mers, fet vp the bloodie Flagge againft all Patience, and 
 in roaring for a Chamber-pot, difmifle the Controuerfie 
 bleeding, the more intangled by your hearing : All the 
 peace you make in their Caufe, is calling both the parties 
 Knaues. You are a payre of ftrange ones. 
 
 'Bru, Come, come, you are well vnderftood to bee a 
 perfecter gyber for the Table, then a neceflary Bencher in 
 the Capitoll. 
 
 Men. Our very Priefts muft become Mockers, if they 
 fliall encounter fuch ridiculous Subiefts as you are, when 
 you fpeake beft vnto the purpofe. It is not woorth the 
 wagging of your Beards, and your Beards deferue not fb 
 honourable a graue, as to ftuffe a Botchers Cufliion, or to 
 be intomb'd in an Afles Packe-faddle ; yet you muft bee 
 faying, Martius is proud : who in a cheape eftimation, is 
 worth all your predeceflbrs, fince Deucalion, though per- 
 aduenture fome of the beft of 'em were hereditarie hang- 
 men. Godden to your Worfliips, more of your conuer- 
 fation would infedt my Braine, being the Heardfmen of 
 the Beaftly Plebeans. I will be bold to take my leaue of 
 you. 
 
 'Bru. and Scic. tAfide. 
 
 Enter
 
 The Tr age die offyriolanus. 
 
 Enter Volumina,Vtrgilia,and Valeria. 
 
 How now (my as faire as Noble) Ladyes, and the Moone 
 were fhee Earthly, no Nobler ; whither doe you follow 
 your Eyes fo faft ? 
 
 Volum. Honorable Menenius, my Boy Martitu appro- 
 ches : for the loue of luno let's goe. 
 
 Menen. Ha ? Martitu comming home ? 
 
 Volum. I, worthy Meneniut, and with moft profperous 
 approbation. 
 
 Menen. Take my Cappe lupiter, and I thanke thee : 
 hoo,Martiiu comming home? 
 
 2. Ladies. Nay,'tis true. 
 
 Velum. Looke, here's a Letter from him, the State hath 
 another, his Wife another, and (\ thinke,) there's one at 
 home for you. 
 
 Menen. I will make my very houfe reele to night : 
 A Letter for me ? 
 
 Virgil. Yes certaine, there's a Letter for you, I faw't. 
 
 Menen. A Letter for me ? it giues me an Eftate of fe- 
 uen yeeres health ; in which time, I will make a Lippe at 
 the Phyfician:The moft foueraigne Prefcription in Galen, 
 is but Emperickqutique ; and to this Preferuatiue, of no 
 better report then a Horfe-drench. Is he not wounded ? 
 he was wont to come home wounded ? 
 
 Virgil. Oh no, no, no. 
 
 Volum. Oh, he is wounded, I thanke the Gods for't. 
 
 Menen. So doe I too, if it be not too much : brings a 
 Viclorie in his Pocket.'the wounds become him. 
 
 Volum. On's Browes : Menenitx,hee comes the third 
 time home with the Oaken Garland. 
 
 Menen. Ha's he difciplin'd Auffidiut foundly? 
 
 Volum. Titut Lartiiu writes, they fought together, but 
 Auffidlw got off. 
 
 Menen. And 'twas time for him too, lie warrant him 
 that : and he had ftay'd by him, I would not haue been fo 
 fiddious'd, for all the Chefts in Carioles, and the Gold 
 that's in them. Is the Senate poffeft of this ? 
 
 Volum. Good Ladies let's goe. Yes, yes, yes : The 
 Senate ha's Letters from the Generall, wherein bee giues 
 my Sonne the whole Name of the Warre : he hath in this 
 adlion out-done his former deeds doubly. 
 
 Valer. In troth, there's wondrous things fpoke of him. 
 
 Menen. Wondrous: 1,1 warrant you, and not with- 
 out his true purchasing. 
 
 Virgil. The Gods graunt them true. 
 
 Volum. True ? pow waw. 
 
 Mene. True ? lie be fworne they are true : where is 
 hee wounded, God faue your good Worfliips f sflfartnu 
 is comming home : hee ha's more caufe to be prowd : 
 where is he wounded ? 
 
 Volum. Ith' Shoulder, and ith'left Arme : there will be 
 large Cicatrices to {hew the People, when hee fhall ftand 
 for his place : he receiued in the repulTe of Tarquin feuen 
 hurts ith' Body. 
 
 Mene. One ith' Neck, and two ith' Thigh, there's nine 
 that I know. 
 
 Volum. Hee had, before this laft Expedition, twejitie 
 fiue Wounds vpon him. 
 
 Mene. Now it's twentie feuen ; euery gafh was an 
 Enemies Graue. Hearke,the Trumpets. 
 
 A. fhotvt , and fiourijh, 
 
 IJolum. Thefe are the V fliers of <^Martltu : 
 Before him, hee carryes Noyfe ; 
 And behinde him, hee leaues Teares : 
 
 607 
 
 Death, that darke Spirit, in's neruie Arme doth lye, 
 Which being aduanc'd, declines, and then men dye. 
 
 tA Sennet. Trumpets found. 
 
 Enter Cominitu the Generall, and Titus Latitu: be- 
 
 tTeeene them Coriolanus, crown" d with an Oaken 
 
 Garland, nitb Captaines and Soul- 
 
 dien, and a Herauld. 
 
 Herauld. Know Rome, that all alone Martiui did fight 
 Within Corioles Gates : where he hath wonne, 
 With Fame,a Name to <&artiuf Caiut ; 
 Thefe in honor followes cflfartitu Caiut Coriolaniu. 
 Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolaniu. 
 
 Sound. Flourijb. 
 
 All. Welcome to Rome, renowned Corialamu. 
 
 Coriol. No more of this, it does offend my heart: pray 
 now no more. 
 
 Com. Looke, Sir, your Mother. 
 
 Coriol. Oh! you haue, I know, petition'd all the Gods 
 for my profperitie. Kneeles. 
 
 "Volum. Nay, my good Souldier, vp: 
 My gentle cflfartiut, worthy Qaius, 
 And by deed-atchieuing Honor newly nam'd, 
 What is it (Coriolanui) muft I call thee ? 
 But oh, thy Wife. 
 
 Qorio. My gracious filence, hayle : 
 
 Would'ft thou haue laugh'd, had I come Coffin'd home, 
 That weep'ft to fee me triumph ? Ah my deare, 
 Such eyes the Widowes in Carioles were, 
 And Mothers that lacke Sonnes. 
 
 Mene. Now the Gods Crowne thee. 
 
 Com. And liue you yet? Oh my fweet Lady, pardon. 
 
 Volum. I know not where to turne. 
 Oh welcome home:and welcome Generall, 
 And y'are welcome all. 
 
 Mene. A hundred thoufand Welcomes : 
 I could weepe,and I could laugh, 
 I am light, and heauie ; welcome : 
 A Curfe begin at very root on's heart, 
 That is not glad to fee thee. 
 Yon are three, that Rome fhould dote on : 
 Yet by the faith of men, we haue 
 Some old Crab-trees here at home, 
 That will not be grafted to your Rallim. 
 Yet welcome Warriors : 
 Wee call a Nettle, but a Nettle ; 
 And the faults of fooles,but folly. 
 
 Com. Euer right. 
 
 Cor. Menenius, euer,euer. 
 
 Herauld. Giue way there, and goe on. 
 
 for. Your Hand, and yours? 
 Ere in our owne houfe I doe /hade my Head, 
 The good Patricians muft be vifited, 
 From whom I haue receiu'd not onely greetings, 
 But with them, change of Honors. 
 
 Volum. I haue liued, 
 To fee inherited my very Wiflies, 
 And the Buildings of my Fancie : 
 Onely there's one thing wanting, 
 Which (I doubt not) but our Rome 
 Will caft vpon thee. 
 
 far. Know, good Mother, 
 I had rather be their feruant in my way, 
 Then fway with them in theirs. 
 
 Com. On, to the Capitall. Flourijb. Cornets. 
 
 Exeunt in State, as before. 
 
 Enter
 
 10 
 
 The Tragedie ofQoriolanus. 
 
 Enter Brutut and Scicinitu. 
 
 Bru. All tongues fpeake of him, and the bleared fights 
 Are fpedbcled to fee him. Your pratling Nurfe 
 Into a rapture lets her Baby crie, 
 While flie chats him : the Kitchin Malkjn pinnes 
 Her richeft Lockram'bout her reechie necke, 
 Clambring the Walls to eye him: 
 Stalls, Bulkes, Windowes, are fmother'd vp, 
 Leades fill'd, and Ridges hors'd 
 With variable Complexions; all agreeing 
 In earneftnefle to fee him: feld-fliowne Flamins 
 Doe prefTe among the popular Throngs, and puffe 
 To winne a vulgar ftation : our veyl'd Dames 
 Commit the Warre of White and Damaske 
 In their nicely gawded Cheekes, toth' wanton fpoyle 
 Of Pbcebus burning Kifles : fuch a poother, 
 As if that whatfoeuer God, who leades him, 
 Were flyly crept into his humane powers, 
 And gaue him gracefull pofture. 
 
 Scicin. On the fuddaine, I warrant him Confull. 
 
 Brutus. Then our Office may, during his power, goe 
 fleepe. 
 
 Scicin. He cannot temp'rately tranfport his Honors, 
 From where he fhould begin, and end, but will 
 Lofe thofe he hath wonne. 
 
 'Brutus. In that there's comfort. 
 
 Scici. Doubt not, 
 
 The Commoners, for whom we ft.md, but they 
 Vpon their ancient mallice, will forget 
 With the leaft caufe, thefe his new Honors, 
 Which that he will giue them, make 1 as little queftion, 
 As he is prowd to doo't. 
 
 'Brutus. I heard him fweare, 
 Were he to ftand for Confull, neuer would he 
 Appeare i'th'Market place, nor on him put 
 The Naples Vefture of Humilitie, 
 Nor fliewing(as the manner is)his Wounds 
 Toth' People, begge their ftinking Breaths. 
 
 Scicia. Tis right. 
 
 'Brutus. It was his word : 
 Oh he would mifle it, rather then carry it, 
 But by the fuite of the Gentry to him, 
 And the defire of the Nobles. 
 
 Scicin. I wifli no better, then haue him hold that pur- 
 pofe,and to put it in execution. 
 
 'Brutus. 'Tis moft like he will. 
 
 Scicin. It fliall be to him then, as our good wills ; a 
 fure deftrucYion. . 
 
 'Brutus. So it muft fall out 
 To him, or our Authorities, for an end. 
 We muft fuggeft the People, in what hatred 
 He ftill hath held them : that to's power he would 
 Haue made them Mules, filenc'd their Pleaders, 
 And difpropertied their Freedomes; holding them, 
 In humane Action, and Capacitie, 
 Of no more Soule,nor fitnefle for the World, 
 Then Cammels in their Warre, who haue their Prouand 
 Onely for bearing Burthens, and fore blowes 
 For finking vnder them. 
 
 Scicin. This (as you fay) fuggefted, 
 At fome time, when his foaring Infolence 
 Shall teach the People, which time fliall not want, 
 If he be put vpon't,and that's as eafie, 
 As to fet Dogges on Sheepe, will be his fire 
 
 To kindle their dry Stubble : and their Blaze 
 Shall darken him for euer. 
 
 Enter a MeJJenger. 
 
 Brutus. What's the matter ? 
 
 Mejf. You are fent for to the Capitoll : 
 'Tis thought, that t&fartius fliall be Confull : 
 I haue feene the dumbe men throng to fee him, 
 And the blind to heare him fpeak:Matrons flong Gloues, 
 Ladies and Maids their Scarffes,and Handkerchers, 
 Vpon him as he pafs'd : the Nobles bended 
 As to loues Statue, and the Commons made 
 A Shower, and Thunder, with their Caps, and Showts: 
 I neuer faw the like. 
 
 'Brutus. Let's to the Capitoll, 
 And carry with vs Eares and Eyes forth' time, 
 But Hearts for the euent. 
 
 Scicin. Haue with you. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter two Officers , to lay Cujhions ,as it mere, 
 in the Capitoll. 
 
 1. Off. Come, come, they are almoft here : how many 
 ftand for Confulfliips ? 
 
 2. Off. Three, they fay : but 'tis thought of euery one, 
 Coriolanus will carry it. 
 
 1 . Off'. That's a braue fellow : but hee's vengeance 
 prowd, and loues not the common people. 
 
 "I. Off. 'Faith, there hath beene many great men that 
 haue flatter'd the people, who ne're loued them; and there 
 be many that they haue loued, they know not wherefore : 
 fo that if they loue they know not why, they hate vpon 
 no better a ground. Therefore, for Coriolanus neyther to 
 care whether they loue, or hate him, manifefts the true 
 knowledge he ha's in their difpofition, and out of his No- 
 ble carelefnefle lets them plainely fee't. 
 
 I. Of. If he did not care whether he had their loue, or 
 no, hee waued indifferently,'twixt doing them neyther 
 good, nor harme : but hee feekes their hate with greater 
 deuotion,then they can render it him; and leaues nothing 
 vndone, that may fully difcouer him their oppofite. Now 
 to feeme to affedt the mallice and difpleafure of the Peo- 
 ple, is as bad, as that which he diflikes, to flatter them for 
 their loue. 
 
 2. Off. Hee hath deferued worthily of his Countrey, 
 and his aflent is not by fuch eafie degrees as thofe, who 
 hauing beene fupple and courteous to the People, Bon- 
 netted, without any further deed, to haue them at all into 
 their eftimation, and report : but hee hath fo planted his 
 Honors in their Eyes, and his actions in their Hearts, that 
 for their Tongues to be filent,and not confeffe fo much, 
 were a kinde of ingratefull Iniurie : to report otherwife, 
 were a Mallice, that giuing it felfe the Lye, would plucke 
 reproofe and rebuke from euery Eare that heard it. 
 
 i. Off. No more of him, hee's a worthy man : make 
 way, they are comming. 
 
 A Sennet. Enter the Patricians, and the Tribunes of 
 the People, Liffors before them : Coriolanus, Mcne- 
 nius, Cominius the Conful: Scicinius and Brutut 
 tafy their places by tbemjelues : Corio- 
 lanus ftands. 
 
 Menen. Hauing determin'd of the Voices, 
 And to fend for Titus Lartius: it remaines, 
 As the maine Point of this our after-meeting, 
 
 To 
 _
 
 The fragedte of Qoriolanus. 
 
 1 1 
 
 To gratifie his Noble feruice, that hath 
 
 Thus flood for his Countrey. Therefore pleafe you, 
 
 Moft reuerend and graue Elders, to defire 
 
 Theprefent Con full, and laft Generall, 
 
 In our well-found SuccefTes, to report 
 
 A little of that worthy Worke, perform "d 
 
 By zflfartiuf Caitu Coriolaniu: whom 
 
 We met here, both to thanke,and to remember, 
 
 With Honors like himfelfe. 
 
 l. Sen. Speake, good Comlniui : 
 Leaue nothing out for length, and make vs thinke 
 Rather our ftates defecliue for requitall, 
 Then we to ftretch it out. Matters a'th People, 
 We doe requeft your kindeft eares: and after 
 Your louing motion toward the common Body, 
 To yeeld what pafles here. 
 
 Scicin. We are conuented vpon a pleating Treatie, and 
 haue hearts inclinable to honor and aduance the Theame 
 of our Affembly. 
 
 Bruttu. Which the rather wee fhall be bleft to doe, if 
 he remember a kinder value of the People, then he hath 
 hereto priz'd them at. 
 
 Mentn. That's off, that's off : I would you rather had 
 been filent : Pleafe you to heare Cominius fpeake ? 
 
 e Brutu&, Moft willingly : but yet my Caution was 
 more pertinent then the rebuke you giue it. 
 
 Menen. He loues your People, but tye him not to be 
 their Bed-fellow : Worthie Cominitu fpeake. 
 
 Corlolanuf rijes,and offers to goe away. 
 Nay, keepe your place. 
 
 Senat. Sit Coriolantu : neuer /ha me to heare 
 What you haue Nobly done. 
 
 Qorlol. , Your Honors pardon : 
 I had rather haue my Wounds to heale againe, 
 Then heare fay how I got them. 
 
 'Bruttu. Sir, I hope my words dis-bench'd you not? 
 
 fyriol. No Sir : yet oft, 
 
 When blowes haue made me ftay, I fled from words. 
 You footh'd not, therefore hurt not : but your People, 
 I loue them as they weigh 
 
 Menen. Pray now fit downe. 
 
 Corio.l had rather haue one fcratch my Head i'th'Sun, 
 When the Alarum were ftrucke, then idly fit 
 To heare my Nothings monfter'd. Exit Coriolanw 
 
 Menen. Mafters of the People, 
 Your multiplying Spawne,how can he flatter? 
 That's thouiand to one good one, when you now fee 
 He had rather venture all his Limbes for Honor, 
 Then on ones Eares to heare it. Proceed Cominitu. 
 
 Com. I fhall lacke voyce : the deeds of Coriolamu 
 Should not be vtter'd feebly : it is held, 
 That Valour is the chiefeft Vertue, 
 And moft dignifies the hauer : if it be, 
 The man I fpeake of, cannot in the World 
 Be fingly counter-poys'd. At fixteene yeeres, 
 When Taryuin made a Head for Rome, he fought 
 Beyond the marke of others : our then Dictator, 
 Whom with all prayfe I point at, faw him fight, 
 When with his Amazonian Shinne hedroue 
 The brizled Lippes before him : he beftrid 
 An o're-preft Roman, and i'th'Confuls view 
 Slew three Oppofers: Tarqulns felfe he met, 
 And ftrucke him on his Knee : in that dayes feates, 
 When he might a& the Woman in the Scene, 
 He prou'd beft man i'th' field, and for his meed 
 Was Brow-bound with the Oake. His Pupill age 
 
 609 
 
 Man-entred thus, he waxed like a Sea, 
 
 And in the brunt of feuenteene Battailes fince, 
 
 He lurcht all Swords of the Garland: for this laft, 
 
 Before, and in Corioles, let me fay 
 
 I cannot fpeake him home : he ftopt the flyers, 
 
 And by his rare example made the Coward 
 
 Turne terror into fport : as Weeds before 
 
 A Veffell vnder fayle,fo men obey'd, 
 
 And fell below his Stem : his Sword, Deaths ftampe, 
 
 Where it did marke, it tooke from face to foot : 
 
 He was a thing of Blood, whofe euery motion 
 
 Was tim'd with dying Cryes : alone he entred 
 
 The mortall Gate of th'Citie, which he painted 
 
 With fhunlefle deftinie : aydeleffe came off, 
 
 And with a fudden re-inforcement ftrucke 
 
 Carioles like a Planet : now all's his, 
 
 When by and by the dinne of Warre gan pierce 
 
 His readie fence : then ftraight his doubled fpirit 
 
 Requickned what in flefh was fatigate, 
 
 And to the Battaile came he, where he did 
 
 Runne reeking o're the liues of men, as if 'twere 
 
 A perpetuall fpoyle : and till we call'd 
 
 Both Field and Citie ours, he neuer flood 
 
 To eafe his Breft with panting. 
 
 Menen. Worthy man. 
 
 Senat. He cannot but with meafure fit the Honors 
 which we deuife him. 
 
 Com. Our fpoyles he kickt at, 
 And look'd vpon things precious, as they were 
 The common Muck of the World : he couets leffe 
 Then Miferie it felfe would giue, rewards his deeds 
 With doing them, and is content 
 To fpend the time, to end it. 
 
 Menen. Hee's right Noble, let him be call'd for. 
 
 Senat. Call Qcrio/anw. 
 
 Off". He doth appeare. 
 
 Enter Coriolantu. 
 
 Menen. The Senate, Coriolantu, are well pleas'd to make 
 thee Confull. 
 
 Carlo. I doe owe them ftill my Life, and Seruices. 
 
 Menen. It then remaines, that you doe fpeake to the 
 People. 
 
 Carlo. I doe befeech you, 
 Let me o're-leape that cuftome : for I cannot 
 Put on the Gowne,ftand naked, and entreat them 
 For my Wounds fake, to giue their fufferage : 
 Pleafe you that I may pafle this doing. 
 
 Scicin. Sir, the People muft haue their Voyces, 
 Neyther will they bate one lot of Ceremonie. 
 
 Menen. Put them not too't : 
 Pray you goe fit you to the Cuftome, 
 And take to you, as your Predeceffors haue, 
 Your Honor with your forme. 
 
 Cork. It is a part that I fhall blufh in acting, 
 And might well be taken from the People. 
 
 Bruttu. Marke you that. 
 
 Carlo. To brag vnto them, thus I did, and thus 
 Shew them th'vnaking Skarres, which I fhould hide, 
 As if I had receiu'd them for the hyre 
 Of their breath onely. 
 
 Menen. Doe not ftand vpon't : 
 We recommend to you Tribunes of the People 
 Our purpofe to them, and to our Noble Confull 
 Wifh we all Ioy,and Honor. 
 
 Senat. To
 
 12 
 
 The Tragedie of fyriolanus. 
 
 Senat. To Coriolaniu come all ioy and Honor. 
 
 Flourijh Corneti. 
 
 Then Exeunt, cfifanet Siciniui and Brutus. 
 'Bru. You fee how he intends to vfe the people. 
 
 &;V;.May they perceiue's intent: he wil require them 
 As if he did contemne what he requefted, 
 Should be in them to giue. 
 
 'Bru. Come, wee'l informe them 
 Of our proceedings heere on th'Market place, 
 I know they do attend vs. 
 
 Enter feuen or eight Citizens. 
 
 I. Cit. Once if he do require our voyces, wee ought 
 not to deny him. 
 
 2.C/V. We may Sir if we will. 
 
 3-OV. We haue power in our felues to do it, but it is 
 a power that we haue no power to do : For,if hee /hew vs 
 his wounds, and tell vs his deeds, 'we are to put our ton- 
 gues into thofe wounds, and fpeake for them : So if he tel 
 vs his Noble deeds, we muft alfo tell him our Noble ac- 
 ceptance of them. Ingratitude is monftrous, and for the 
 multitude to be ingratefull, were to make a Monfter of 
 the multitude; of the which, we being|members, fliould 
 bring our felues to be monftrous members. 
 
 i.Cit. And to make vs no better thought of a little 
 helpe will ferue : for once we flood vp about the Corne, 
 he himfelfe flucke not to call vs the many-headed Multi- 
 tude. 
 
 3-C/V. We haue beene call'd fo of many, not that our 
 heads are fome browne, feme blacke, fome Abram,fome 
 bald; but that our wits are fo diuerfly Coulord; and true- 
 ly I thinke, if all our wittes were to ifiue out of one Scull, 
 they would flye Eaft, Weft, North, South, and their con- 
 fent of one direct way, fluuld be at once to all the points 
 a'th Compafle. 
 
 a.C/f. Thinke you fo? Which way do you iudge my 
 wit would flye. 
 
 j.QV. Nay your \vit will not fo foone out as another 
 mans will, 'tis ftrongly wadg'd vp in a blocke-head : but 
 if it were at liberty, 'twould fure Southward. 
 
 2 Cit. Why that way ? 
 
 $Cit. To loofe it felfe in a Fogge, where being three 
 parts melted away with rotten Dewes, the fourth would 
 returne for Confcience fake, to helpe to get thee a Wife. 
 
 2 Cit . You are neuer without your trickes, you may, 
 you may. 
 
 3 Gt. Are you all refolu'd to giue your voyces ? But 
 that's no matter, the greater part carries it, I fay. If hee 
 would incline to the people, there was neuer a worthier 
 man. 
 
 Enter Coriolanus in a govne of Humility , with 
 
 Meneniui. 
 
 Heere he comes, and in the Gowne of humility, marke 
 his bchauiour : we are not to ftay altogether, but to come 
 by him where he ftands, by ones, by twoes, & by threes. 
 He's to make his requefts by particulars, wherein euerie 
 one of vs ha's a Angle Honor, in gluing him our own voi- 
 ces with our owne tongues, therefore follow me, and He 
 direct you how you fliall go by him. 
 
 All. Content, content. 
 
 Men. Oh Sir,you are not right:haue you not knowne 
 The worthieft men haue done't ? 
 
 Corio. What muft I fay, I pray Sir? 
 Plague vpon't, I cannot bring 
 
 My tougne to fuch a pace. Looke Sir, my wounds, 
 I got them in my Countries Seruice, when 
 Some certaine of your Brethren roar'd, and ranne 
 
 From th'noife of our owne Drummes. 
 
 Menen. Oh me the Gods, you muft not fpeak of that, 
 You muft defire them to thinke vpon you. 
 
 Coriol. Thinke vpon me? Hang 'em, 
 I would they would forget me, like the Vertues 
 Which our Diuines lofe by em. 
 
 Men. You'l marre all, 
 
 He leaue you : Pray you fpeake to em, I pray you 
 In wholfome manner. Exit 
 
 Enter three of the Citizens. 
 
 Corio. Bid them wafh their Faces, 
 
 And keepe their teeth cleane : So, heere comes a brace, 
 You know the caufe (Sir) of my ftanding heere. 
 
 3/'r. We do Sir, tell vs what hath brought you too't. 
 
 Corio. Mine owne defert. 
 
 2 Cit. Your owne defert. 
 Corio. I, but mine owne defire. 
 
 3 Cit. How not your owne defire ? 
 
 Corio. No Sir, 'twas neuer my defire yet to trouble the 
 poore with begging. 
 
 3 Cit. You muft thinke if we giue you any thing, we 
 hope to gaine by you. 
 
 Corio. Well then I pray, your price a'th'ConfuIfliip. 
 
 1 Cit. The price is, to aske it kindly. 
 
 Corio. Kindly fir, I pray let me ha't : I haue wounds to 
 (hew you, which fliall bee yours in priuate : your good 
 voice Sir, what fay you ? 
 
 2 Cit. You fliall ha't worthy Sir. 
 
 Qorio. A match Sir, there's in all two worthie voyces 
 begg'd : I haue your Almes, Adieu. 
 
 3 Cit. But this is fomething odde. 
 
 2 Cit. And 'twere to giue againe : but 'tis no matter. 
 Exeunt. Enter tiro other Citizens. 
 
 Coriol. Pray you now, if it may ftand with the tune 
 of your voices, that I may bee Confull, I haue heere the 
 Cuftomarie Gowne. 
 
 I. You haue deferued Nobly of your Countrey, and 
 you haue not deferued Nobly. 
 
 Coriol. Your j^Enigma. 
 
 1. You haue bin a fcourge to her enemies, you haue 
 bin a Rod to her Friends, you haue not indeede loued the 
 Common people. 
 
 Cone/. You fliould account mee the rrlore Vertuous, 
 that I haue not bin common in my Loue, I will fir flatter 
 my fworne Brother the people to earne a deerer eftima- 
 tion of them, 'tis a condition they account gentle: & fince 
 the wifedome of their choice, is rather to haue my Hat, 
 then my Heart, I will practice the infinuating nod, and be 
 off to them moft counterfetly, that is fir, I will counter- 
 fet the bewitchment of fome popular man, and giue it 
 bountifull to the defirers : Therefore befeech you, I may 
 be Confull: 
 
 2. Wee hope to finde you our friend : and therefore 
 giue you our voices heartily. 
 
 I. You haue receyued many wounds for your Coun- 
 trey. 
 
 Coriol. I wil not Scale your knowledge with {hewing 
 them. I will make much of your voycs, and fo trouble 
 you no farther. 
 
 Both. The Gods giue you ioy Sir heartily. 
 
 Coriol. Moft fweet Voyces : 
 Better it is to dye, better to fterue, 
 Then craue the higher, which firft we do deferue. 
 Why in this Wooluifli tongue fliould I ftand heere, 
 To begge of Hob and Dicke, that does appeere 
 
 Their 
 
 610
 
 The Tragedie of Coriolanus. 
 
 Their needlefle Vouches: Cuftome calls me too't. 
 What Cuftome wills in all things,fhould we doo't ? 
 The Duft on antique Time would lye vnfwept, 
 And mountainous Error be too highly heapt, 
 For Truth to o're-peere. Rather then foole it fo, 
 Let the high Office and the Honor go 
 To one that would doe thus. I am halfe through, 
 The one part fuffered,the other will I doe. 
 
 Enter three Citizens more, 
 Here come moe Voyces. 
 Your Voyces? for your Voyces I haue fought, 
 Watcht for your Voyces: for your Voyces, beare 
 Of Wounds, two dozen odde : Battailes thrice fix 
 I haue feene, and heard of :.for your Voyces, 
 Haue done many things,fome leffe,fome more : 
 Your Voyces ? Indeed I would be Confull. 
 
 i.Cit. Hee ha's done Nobly, and cannot goe without 
 any honeft mans Voyce. 
 
 i.Cit. Therefore let him be Cortfull : the Gods giue 
 him ioy,and make him good friend to the People. 
 
 All. Amen, Amen. God faue thee,Noble Confull. 
 
 Carlo, Worthy Voyces. 
 
 Enter MenenlM, with 'Bruttu and Sciciniiu. 
 
 Mene. You haue flood your Limitation : 
 And the Tribunes endue you with the Peoples Voyce, 
 Remaines,that in th'Officiall Markes inuefted, 
 You anon doe meet the Senate. 
 
 Carlo. Is this done / 
 
 &;'. The Cuftome ofRequeft you haue difcharg'd : 
 The People doe admit you, and are fummon'd 
 To meet anon, vpon your approbation. 
 
 Corio. Where ? at the Senate-houfe ? 
 
 Scicln. There, Qorlolamu, 
 
 Carlo. May I change thefe Garments ? 
 
 Scicln. You may, Sir. 
 
 Cer/.That He ftraight do: and knowing my felfe again, 
 Repayre toth' Senate-houfe. 
 
 Mene. He keepe you company. Will you along? 
 
 'Brut. We ftay here for the People. 
 
 Scicin. Fare you well. Exeunt Corlol. and Mene. 
 
 He ha's it now : and by his Lookes,me thinkes, 
 'Tis warme at's heart. 
 
 'Brut. With a prowd heart he wore his humble Weeds : 
 Will you difmifie the People? 
 
 Enter the Plebeians. 
 
 Scici.How now, my Mafters, haue you chofe this man? 
 
 i.Cit. He ha's our Voyces, Sir. 
 
 Brut. We pray the Gods, he may deferue your loues. 
 
 z.Cit. Amen, Sir: to my poore vnworthy notice, 
 He mock'd vs,when he begg'd our Voyces. 
 
 3-C/f. Certainely,he flowted vs downe-right. 
 
 i.C/r.No,'tis his kind of fpeech,he did not mock vs. 
 
 z.Cif.Not one amongft vs,faue your felfe, but fayes 
 He vs'd vs fcornefully : he mould haue fliew'd vs 
 His Marks of Merit, Wounds receiu'd for's Countrey. 
 
 Scicin. Why fo he did, I am fure. 
 
 All. No, no: no man fa w 'em. 
 
 3-C/V. Hee faid hee had Wounds, 
 Which he could fhew in priuate : 
 And with his Hat, thus wauing it in fcorne, 
 I would be Confull, fayes he : aged Cuftome, 
 But by your Voyces, will not fo permit me. 
 Your Voyces therefore : when we graunted that, 
 Here was, I thanke you for your Voyces, thanke you 
 
 6n 
 
 Your moft fweet Voycesmow you haue left your Voyces, 
 I haue no further with you. Was not this mockerie f 
 
 Scicin. Why eyther were you ignorant to fee't ? 
 Or feeing it, of fuch Childiih friendlinefle, 
 To yeeld your Voyces ? 
 
 "Brut. Could you not haue told him, 
 As you were leflon'd : When he had no Power, 
 But was a pettie feruant to the State, 
 He was your Enemie, euer fpake againft 
 Your Liberties, and the Charters that you beare 
 I'th'Body of the Weale : and now arriuing 
 A place of Potencie, and fway o'th' State, 
 If he ihould ftill malignantly remaine 
 Faft Foe totiiPlebelj, your Voyces might 
 Be Curfes to your felues. You ihould haue faid, 
 That as his worthy deeds did clayme no lefle 
 Then what he flood for: fo his gracious nature 
 Would thinke vpon you, for your Voyces, 
 And tranflate his Mallice towards you, into Loue, 
 Standing your friendly Lord. 
 
 Scicin. Thus to haue faidj 
 As you were fore-aduis'd, had toucht his Spirit, 
 And try'd his Inclination: from him pluckt 
 Eyther his gracious Promife, which you might 
 As caufe had call'd you vp, haue held him to ; 
 Orelfe it would haue gall'd hisfurly nature, 
 Which eafily endures not Article, 
 Tying him to ought, fo putting him to Rage, 
 You fhould haue ta'ne th'aduantageof his Choller, 
 And pafs'd him vnelefted. 
 
 Brut. Did you perceiue, 
 He did follicite you in free Contempt, 
 When he did need your Loues: and doe you thinke, 
 That his Contempt mall not be brufing to you, 
 When he hath power to cruflif Why, had your Bodyes 
 No Heart among you? Or had you Tongues, to cry 
 Againft the Reclormip of ludgement ? 
 
 Scicin. Haue you, ere now, deny' d the asker : 
 And nowagaine, of him that did not asske, but mock, 
 Beftow your fu'd-for Tongues ? 
 
 3.C/V.Hee's not confirm'd, we may deny him yet. 
 
 i.Cit. And will deny him : 
 lie haue fiue hundred Voyces of that found. 
 
 i.Cit.l twice fiue hundred, & their friends, to piece 'em. 
 
 'Brut.Get you hence inftantly,and tell thofe friends, 
 They haue chofe a Confull, that will from them take 
 Their Liberties, make them of no more Voyce 
 Then Dogges, that are as often beat for barking, 
 As therefore kept to doe fo. 
 
 &;'.Let them affembleiand on a fafer ludgement, 
 All reuoke your ignorant election : Enforce his Pride, 
 And his old Hate vnto you: befides, forget not 
 With what Contempt he wore the humble Weed, 
 How in his Suit he fcorn'd you: but your Loues, 
 Thinking vpon his Seruices,tooke from you 
 Th'apprehenfion of his prefent portance, 
 Which moft gibingly,vngrauely,he did fafliion 
 After the inueterate Hate he beares you. 
 
 Brut. Lay a fault on vs,your Tribunes, 
 That we labour'd (no impediment betweene) 
 But that you muft caft your Election on him. 
 
 SbV/.Say you chofe him, more after our commandment, 
 Then as guided by your owne true aftedlions,and that 
 Your Minds pre-occupy'd with what you rather muft do, 
 Then what you fhould,made you againft the graine 
 To Voyce him Confull. Lay the fault on vs. 
 
 b b 'Brut . I ,
 
 The Tragedie of Coriolanus. 
 
 Brut. I, fpare vs not : Say, we read Lectures to you, 
 How youngly be began to ferue his Countrey, 
 How long continued, and what ftock he fprings of, 
 The Noble Houfe,o'th*e/Warfwr/;j : from whence came 
 That Anctu Martlui,Numaes Daughters Sonne: 
 Who after great Hoftilius here was King, 
 Of the fame Houfe Tubllus and Qulntui were, 
 That our beft Water, brought by Conduits hither, 
 And Nobly nam'd, fo twice being Cenfor, 
 Was his great Anceftor. 
 
 Scicin. One thus defcended, 
 That hath befide well in his perfon wrought, 
 To be fet high in place, we did commend 
 To your remembrances : but you haue found, 
 Skaling his prefent bearing with his paft, 
 That hee's your fixed enemie ; and reuoke 
 Your fuddaine approbation. 
 
 Brut. Say you ne're had don't, 
 (Harpe on that ftill) but by our putting on: 
 And prefently, when you haue drawne your number, 
 Repaire toth' Capitoll. 
 
 All. We will lo : almoft all repent in their election. 
 Exeunt Tlcbeiam. 
 
 "Brut. Let them goe on : 
 This Mutinie were better put in hazard, 
 Then ftay paft doubt, for greater : 
 If, as his nature is, he fall in rage 
 With their refufall, both obferue and anfwer 
 The vantage of his anger. 
 
 Scic'tn. Toth' Capitoll, come : 
 We will be there before the ftreame o'th' People : 
 And this fliall feeme, as partly 'tis, their owne, 
 Which we haue goaded on-ward. Exeunt. 
 
 Aftus Tertius. 
 
 Cornets. Enter Coriolanus, Menenitu, all the Gentry, 
 Cominlui, Titus Latlus , and other Senators. 
 
 Ccr/o. Tullus Auffidliu then had made new head. 
 
 Latlus. He had. my Lord, and that it was which caus'd 
 Our fwifter Compofition. 
 
 Cork. So then the Voices ftand but as 5t firft, 
 Readie when time fliall prompt them, to make roade 
 Vpon's againe. 
 
 Com. They are worne ( Lord Confull) fo, 
 That we fliall hardly in our ages fee 
 Their Banners waue againe. 
 
 Carlo. Saw you Auffidlus ? 
 
 Latlus. On fafegard he came to me, and did curfe 
 Againft the Voices, for they had fo vildly 
 Yeelded the Towne : he is retyred to Antium. 
 
 Cork. Spoke he of me ? 
 
 Latlus. He did, my Lord. 
 
 Cork. How ? what ? 
 
 Latlus. How often he had met you Sword to Sword : 
 That of all things vpon the Earth, he hated 
 Your perfon moft : That he would pawne his fortunes 
 To hopelefle reftitution, fo he might 
 Be call'd your Vanquisher. 
 
 Cork. At Antium Hues he ? 
 
 Latlus. At Antium. 
 
 Cork. I wifli I had a caufe to feeke him there, 
 To oppofe his hatred fully. Welcome home. 
 
 Enter Scidnius and Brutus. 
 Behold, thefe are the Tribunes of the People, 
 The Tongues o'th' Common Mouth. I do defpife them : 
 
 For they doe pranke them in Authoritie, 
 Againft all Noble fufferance. 
 
 Scicin. PafTe no further. 
 
 Cor. Hah ? what is that ? 
 
 Brut. It will be dangerous to goe on--No further. 
 
 Cork. What makes this change ? 
 
 Mene. The matter ? 
 
 Com. Hath he not pafs'd the Noble,and the Common? 
 
 Brut. Cominlus,no. 
 
 Cork. Haue I had Childrens Voyces? 
 
 &>wf.Tribunes giue way, he fhall toth'Market place. 
 
 Brut, The People are incens'd againft him. 
 
 Scicin. Stop,or all will fall in broyle. 
 
 Cork. Are thefe your Heard ? 
 Muft thefe haue Voyces, that can yeeld them now, 
 And ftraight difclaim their toungs?what are your Offices? 
 You being their Mouthes,why rule you not their Teeth ? 
 Haue you not fet them on ? 
 
 Mene. Be calme, be calme. 
 
 Cork. It is a purpos'd thing, and growes by Plot, 
 To curbe the will of the Nobilitie : 
 Suffer't,and liue with fuch as cannot rule, 
 Nor euer will be ruled. 
 
 Brut. Call't not a Plot : 
 The People cry you mockt them : and of late, 
 When Corne was giuen them gratis, you repin'd, 
 Scandal'd the Suppliants : for the People, call'd them 
 Time- pleafers, flatterers, foes to Noblenefle. 
 
 Cork. Why this was knowne before. 
 
 Brut. Not to them all. 
 
 Cork. Haue you inform'd them fithence ? 
 
 'Brut. How? I informe them ? 
 
 Com. You are like to doe fuch bufinefle. 
 
 "Brut. Not vnlike each way to better yours. 
 
 Cork. Why then fhould I be Confull? by yond Clouds 
 Let me deferue fo ill as you, and make me 
 Your fellow Tribune. 
 
 Scicin. You fliew too much of that, 
 For which the People ftirre : if you will pafle 
 To where you are bound, you muft enquire your way, 
 Which you are out of, with a gentler fpirit, 
 Or neuer be fo Noble as a Confull, 
 Nor yoake with him for Tribune. 
 
 Mene. Let's be calme. 
 
 Com. The People are abus'd : fet on, this paltring 
 Becomes not Rome : nor ha's (Coriolanus 
 Deferu'd this fo diflionor'd Rub, layd falfely 
 I'th'plaine Way of his Merit. 
 
 Cork. Tell me of Corne : this was my fpeech, 
 And I will fpeak't againe. 
 
 Mene. Not now, not now. 
 
 Senat. Not in this heat,Sir,now. 
 
 Cork. Now as I liue, I will. 
 My Nobler friends, I craue their pardons : 
 For the mutable ranke-fented Meynie, 
 Let them regard me, as I doe not flatter, 
 And therein behold themfelues : I fay againe, 
 In foothing them, we nourifli 'gainft our Senate 
 The Cockle of Rebellion, Infolence, Sedition, 
 Which we our felues haue plowed for, fow'd,& fcatter'd, 
 By mingling them with vs,the honor'd Number, 
 Who lack not Vertue, no, nor Power, but that 
 Which they haue giuen to Beggers. 
 
 Mene. Well, no more. 
 
 Senat. No more words, we befeech you. 
 
 Cork. How ? no more ? 
 
 As 
 _
 
 'The Tragedie of Coriolanus. 
 
 As for my Country, I haue flied my blood, 
 Not fearing outward force : So fliall my Lungs 
 Coine words till their decay, againft thofe Meazels 
 Which we difdaine fliould Tetter vs, yet fought 
 The very way to catch them. 
 
 Bru. You fpeake a'th'people,as if you were a God, 
 To punifli; Not a man, of their Infirmity. 
 
 Sicin. "Twere well we let the people know't. 
 
 Mene. What, what? His Choller? 
 
 Csr.Choller? Were I as patient as the midnight fleep, 
 By loue, 'twould be my minde. 
 
 Sicin. It is a minde that mail remain a poifon 
 Where it is : not poyfon any further. 
 
 Cork. Shall remaine? 
 
 Heare you this Triton of the Minnoues ? Marke you 
 His abfolute Shall ? 
 
 Com. 'Twas from the Cannon. 
 
 Cor. Shall? O God ! but moft vnwife Patricians: why 
 You graue, but wreaklefle Senators, haue you thus 
 Giuen Hidra heere to choofe an Officer, 
 That with his peremptory Shall, being but 
 The home, and noife o'th'Monfters, wants not fpirit 
 To fay, hee'l turne your Current in a ditch, 
 And make your Channell his? If he haue power, 
 Then vale your Ignorance : If none, awake 
 Your dangerous Lenity : If you are Learn'd, 
 Be not as common Fooles ; if you are not, 
 Let them haue Cufliions by you. You are Plebeians, 
 If they be Senators : and they are no lefle, 
 When both your voices blended, the great'ft tafte 
 Moft pallates theirs. They choofe their Magiftrate, 
 And fuch a one as he, who puts his Shall, 
 His popular Shall, againft a grauer Bench 
 Then euer frown'd in Greece. By loue himfelfe, 
 It makes the Confuls bafe ; and my Soule akes 
 To know, when two Authorities are vp, 
 Neither Supreame ; How foone Confufion 
 May enter 'twixt the gap of Both, and take 
 The one by th'other. 
 
 Com. Well, on to'th'Market place. 
 
 Cork. Who euer gaue that Counfell,to giue forth 
 The Corne a'th'Store-houfe gratis, as 'twas vs'd 
 Sometime in Greece. 
 
 Mene. Well, well, no more of that. 
 
 Cor.Thogh there the people had more abfolute powre 
 I fay they noriflit difobedience: fed, the ruin of the State. 
 
 'Bru. Why (hall the people giue 
 One that fpeakes thus, their voyce ? 
 
 Corio. He giue my Reafons, 
 
 More worthier then their Voyces. They know the Corne 
 Was not our recompence, refting well aflur'd 
 They ne're did feruice for't ; being preft to'th'Warre, 
 Euen when the Nauell of the State was touch'd, 
 They would not thred the Gates: This kinde of Seruice 
 Did not deferue Corne gratis. Being i'th'Warre, 
 There Mutinies and Reuolts, wherein they fliew'd 
 Moft Valour, fpoke not for them. Th' Accufation 
 Which they haue often made againft the Senate, 
 All caufe vnborne, could neuer be the Natiue 
 Of our fo franke Donation. Well, what then? 
 How fhall this Bofome-multiplied, digeft 
 The Senates Courtefie ? Let deeds exprefle 
 What's like to be their words, We did requeft it, 
 We are the greater pole, and in true feare 
 They gaue vs our demands. Thus we debafe 
 The Nature of our Seats, and make the Rabble 
 
 Call our Cares, Feares ; which will in time 
 Breake ope the Lockes a'th'Senate, and bring in 
 The Crowes to pecke the Eagles. 
 
 Mene. Come enough. 
 
 e Bru. Enough, with ouer meafure. 
 
 Corio. No, take more. 
 
 What may be fworne by, both Diuine and Humane, 
 Scale what I end withall. This double worfhip, 
 Whereon part do's difdaine with caufe, the other 
 Infult without all reafon : where Gentry , Title, wifedom 
 Cannot conclude, but by the yea and no 
 Of generall Ignorance, it muft omit 
 Reall Neceffities, and giue way the while 
 To vnftable Slightnefle. Purpofe fo barr'd, it followes, 
 Nothing isidone to purpofe. Therefore befeech you, 
 You that will be lefle fearefull, then difcreet, 
 That loue the Fundamentall part of State 
 More then you doubt the change on't : That preferre 
 A Noble life, before a Long, and Wifli, 
 To iumpe a Body with a dangerous Phyficke, 
 That's fure of death without it : at once plucke out 
 The Multitudinous Tongue, let them not licke 
 The fweet which is their poyfon. Your diflionor 
 Mangles true Judgement, and bereaues the State 
 Of that Integrity which fliould becom't : 
 Not hauing the power to do the good it would 
 For th'ill which doth controul't. 
 
 Bru. Has laid enough. 
 
 Sicin. Ha's fpoken like a Traitor, and fliall anfwer 
 As Traitors do. 
 
 Corio. Thou wretch, defpight ore-whelme thee : 
 What mould the people do with thefe bald Tribunes ? 
 On whom depending, their obedience failes 
 To'th'greater Bench, in a Rebellion: 
 When what's not meet, but what muft be, was Law, 
 Then were they chofen : in a better houre, 
 Let what is meet, be faide it muft be meet, 
 And throw their power i'tb'duft. 
 
 Bru. Manifeft Treafon. 
 
 Stein. This a Conlull ? No. 
 
 Enter an njEdile. 
 
 *Bru. The Ediles hoe : Let him be apprehended : 
 
 Sieia. Go call the people, in whofe name my Selfe 
 Attach thee as a Traitorous Innouator : 
 A Foe to'th'publike Weale. Obey I charge thee, 
 And follow to thine anfwer. 
 
 Corio. Hence old Goat. 
 
 All. Wee'l Surety him. 
 
 Com. Ag'd fir, hands off. 
 
 Corio. Hence rotten thing, or I fliall fliake thy bones 
 Out of thy Garments. 
 
 Sicin, Helpe ye Citizens. 
 
 Enter a rabb le of Plebeians ttitb the &diles. 
 
 Mene. On both fides more refpeft. 
 
 Sicin. Heere's hee, that would take from you all your 
 power. 
 
 Bru. Seize himc/<//Y.l 
 
 All. Downe with him, downe with him. 
 
 2 Sen. Weapons, weapons, weapons : 
 
 They all buftle about Coriolanus. 
 Tribunes, Patricians, Citizens : what ho : 
 Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanut, Citizens. 
 
 All. Peace, peace, peace, ftay, hold, peace. 
 
 Mene. What is about to be/ I am out of Breath, 
 Confufions neere,! cannot fpeake. You, Tribunes 
 To'th'people : Coriolanus, patience : Speak good Sicinius . 
 B b 2 Sicin.
 
 i6 
 
 The Tragedie of Coriolanus. 
 
 Scici. Heare me, People peace. 
 
 All. Let's here our Tribune : peace, fpeake, fpeake, 
 fpeake. 
 
 Scici. You are at point to lofe your Liberties : 
 Martius would haue all from you ; Martius, 
 Whom late you haue nam'd for Confull. 
 
 Mene. Fie, fie, fie, this is the way to kindle, not to 
 quench. 
 
 Sena. To vnbuild the Citie,and to lay all flat. 
 
 Scici. What is the Cit ; e,but the People? 
 
 All. True,the People are the Citie. 
 
 'Brut. By the confent of all, we were eftablifli'd the 
 Peoples Magiftrates. 
 
 All. You fo remaine. 
 
 Mtne. And fo are like to doe. 
 
 Cam. That is the way to lay the Citie flat, 
 To bring the Roofe to the Foundation , 
 And burie all, which yet diftinclly raunges 
 In heapes, and piles of Ruine. 
 
 Scici. This deferues Death. 
 
 'Brut. Or let vs ftand to our Authorise, 
 Or let vs lofe it : we doe here pronounce, 
 Vpon the part o'th' People, in whofe power 
 We were elected theirs, Martitu is worthy 
 Of prefent Death. 
 
 Scici. Therefore lay hold of him : 
 Beare him toth' Rock Tarpeian, and from thence 
 Into deftrucYion caft him. 
 
 'Brut. SEdiles feize him. 
 
 All Pie. Yeeld Martiui, yeeld. 
 
 Mene. Heare me one word, 'befeech you Tribunes, 
 heare me but a word. 
 
 c&dilei. Peace, peace. 
 
 Mene. Be that you feeme, truly your Countries friend, 
 And temp'rately proceed to what you would 
 Thus violently redrefle. 
 
 Brut. Sir, thofe cold wayes, 
 
 That feeme like prudent helpes, are very poyfonous, 
 Where the Difeafe is violent. Lay hands vpon him, 
 And beare him to the Rock. Q/rio. draifei bis Sword. 
 
 Carlo. No, lie die here : 
 
 There's fome among you haue beheld me fighting, 
 Come trie vpon your felues, what you haue feene me. 
 
 Mene. Downe with that Sword, Tribunes withdraw 
 a while. 
 
 'Brut. Lay hands vpon him. 
 
 Mene. Helpe Martius t htlpe : you that be noble, helpe 
 him young and old. 
 
 All. Downe with him,downe with him. Exeunt. 
 
 In this Mutinie, the Tribunes, the f^Ediles , and the 
 People are beat in. 
 
 Mene. Goe, get you to our Houfe: be gone, away, 
 All will be naught elfe. 
 
 z. Sena. Get you gone. 
 
 Com. Stand faft, we haue as many friends as enemies. 
 
 Mene. Shall it be put to that? 
 
 Sena. The Gods forbid : 
 I prythee noble friend, home to thy Houfe, 
 Leaue vs to cure this Caufe. 
 
 Mene. For 'tis a Sore vpon vs, 
 You cannot Tent your (elfe : be gone, 'befeech you. 
 
 Ccrio. Come Sir, along with vs. 
 
 Mine. I would they were Barbarians, as they are, 
 Though in Rome litter'd: not Romans, as they are not, 
 Though calued i'th' Porch o'th' Capitoll : 
 Be gone, put not your worthy Rage into your Tongue, 
 
 One time will owe another. 
 
 Corjo. On faire ground,! could beat fortie of them. 
 
 Mene. I could my felfe take vp a Brace o'th' beft of 
 them, yea, the two Tribunes. 
 
 Com. But now 'tis oddes beyond Arithmetick, 
 And Manhood is call'd Foolerie, when it (lands 
 Againft a falling Fabrick. Will you hence, 
 Before the Tagge returne ? whofe Rage doth rend 
 Like interrupted Waters, and o're-beare 
 What they are vs'd to beare. 
 
 Mene. Pray you be gone : 
 He trie whether my old Wit be in requeft 
 With thofe that haue but little: this muft be patcht 
 With Cloth of any Colour. 
 
 Ce>m. Nay, come away. Exeunt Coriolanut and 
 
 C&miniui. 
 
 Patn. This man ha's marr'd his fortune. 
 
 Mene. His nature is too noble for the World : 
 He would not flatter Neptune for his Trident, 
 Or loue, for's power to Thunder: his Heart's his Mouth : 
 What his Breft forges, that his Tongue muft vent, 
 And being angry, does forget that euer 
 He heard the Name of Death. <A Noife -within. 
 
 Here's goodly worke. 
 
 Patri. I would they were a bed. 
 
 Mene. I would they were in Tyber. 
 What the vengeance, could he not fpeake 'em faire ? 
 Enter 'Brutus and Sicinius with the rabble againe. 
 
 Skin. Where is this Viper, 
 That would depopulate the city,& be euery man himfelf 
 
 Mene. You worthy Tribunes. 
 
 Scin. He fliall be throwne downe the Tarpeian rock 
 With rigorous hands : he hath refifted Law, 
 And therefore Law fliall fcorne him further Triall 
 Then the feuerity of the publike Power, 
 Which he fo fets at naught. 
 
 i Gt. He mall well know the Noble Tribunes are 
 The peoples mouths, and we their hands. 
 
 All. He fliall fure ont. 
 
 Mene. Sir, fir. Scin.' Peace. 
 
 cMe. Do not cry hauocke, where you /hold but hunt 
 With modeft warrant. 
 
 Sicin. Sir, how com'ft that you haue holpe 
 To make this refcue ? 
 
 Mene. Heere me fpeake? As I do know 
 The Confuls worthinefle, fo can I name his Faults. 
 
 Sicin. Confull? what Confull ? 
 
 Mene. The Confull Coriolanus. 
 
 Bru. He Confull. 
 
 All. No, no, no, no, no. 
 
 Mene. If by the Tribunes leaue, 
 And yours good people, 
 
 I may be heard, I would craue a word or two, 
 The which fliall turne you to no further harme, 
 Then fo much lofle of time. 
 
 Sic. Speake breefely then, 
 For we are peremptory to difpatch 
 This Viporous Traitor : to eiecl: him hence 
 Were but one danger, and to keepe him heere 
 Our certaine death: therefore it is decreed, 
 He dyes to night. 
 
 Menen. Now the good Gods forbid, 
 That our renowned Rome, whofe gratitude 
 Towards her deferued Children, is enroll'd 
 In loues owne Booke, like an vnnaturall Dam 
 Should now eate vp her owne. 
 
 Sicin. 
 
 614
 
 The Tragedie of Qoriolanus. 
 
 Sicin. He's a Difeafe that muft be cut away. 
 
 <&fene. Oh he's a Limbe, that ha's but a Difeafe 
 Mortall, to cut it off: to cure it, eafie. 
 What ha's he done to Rome, that's worthy death ? 
 Killing our Enemies, the blood he hath loft 
 (Which I dare vouch, is more then that he hath 
 By many an OunceJ he dropp'd it for his Country: 
 And what is left, to loofe it by his Countrey, 
 Were to vsall that doo't, and fuffer it 
 A brand to th'end a'th World. 
 
 Sicin. This is cleane kamme. 
 
 Brut. Meerely awry : 
 When he did loue his Country, it honour'd him. 
 
 Menen, The feruice of the foote 
 Being once gangren'd, is not then refpecled 
 For what before it was. 
 
 Bru. Wee'l heare no more ; 
 Purfue him to his houfe,and plucke him thence, 
 Leaft his infection being of catching nature, 
 Spred further. 
 
 Menen. One word more, one word : 
 This Tiger-footed-rage, when it fhall find 
 The harme of vnskan'd fwiftnefle, will (too late) 
 Tye Leaden pounds too's heeles. Proceed by ProcefTe, 
 Leaft parties (as he is belou'd) breake out, 
 And facke great Rome with Romanes. 
 
 Brut. If it were fo f 
 
 Sicin. What do ye talke f 
 Haue we not had a tafte of his Obedience ? 
 Our Ediles fmot : our felues refifted : come. 
 
 Mene. Confider this : He ha's bin bred i'th'Warres 
 Since a could draw a Sword, and is ill-fchool'd 
 In boulted Language : Meale and Bran together 
 He throwes without diftindion. Giue me leaue. 
 He go to him, and vndertake to bring him in peace, 
 Where he /hall anfwer by a lawfull Forme 
 (In peace) to his vtmoft perill. 
 
 i.Sen. Noble Tribunes, 
 It is the humane way : the other courfe 
 Will proue to bloody : and the end of it> 
 Vnknowne to the Beginning. 
 
 Sic. Noble Menenius, be you then as the peoples officer: 
 Mafters, lay downe your Weapons. 
 'Bru. Go not home. 
 
 Sic. Meet on the Market place: wee'l attend you there: 
 Where if you bring not Martiw, wee'l proceede 
 In our firft way. 
 
 Menen. lie bring him to you. 
 Let me defire your company : he muft come, 
 Or what is worft will follow. 
 
 Sena. Pray you let's to him. Exeunt Omnes. 
 
 Enter Qoriolanus tvith Nobles. 
 
 Cork. Let them pull all about mine eares, prefent me 
 Death on the Wheele, or at wilde Horfes heeles, 
 Or pile ten hilles on the Tarpeian Rocke, 
 That the precipitation might downe ftretch 
 Below the beame of fight; yet will I ftill 
 Be thus to them. 
 
 Enter Volumnia. 
 
 Noble. You do the Nobler. 
 
 Qorio. I mufe my Mother 
 Do's not approue me further, who was wont 
 To call them Wollen Vaflailes, things created 
 To buy and fell with Groats, to fhew bare heads 
 In Congregations, to yawne, be ftill, and wonder, 
 When one but of my ordinance flood vp 
 
 615 
 
 To fpeake of Peace, or Warre. I talke of you, 
 Why did you wifh me milder? Would you haue me 
 Falfe to my Nature ? Rather fay, I play 
 The man I am. 
 
 Volum. Oh fir, fir, fir, 
 
 I would haue had you put your power well on 
 Before you had worne it out. 
 
 Corio. Let go. 
 
 Vol. You might haue beene enough the man you are, 
 With ftriuing lefle to be fo : Lefier had bin 
 The things of your difpofitions, if 
 You had not fhew'd them how ye were difpos'd 
 Ere they lack'd power to crofle you. 
 
 Corio. Let them hang.i 
 
 Volum. I, and burne too. 
 
 Enter Menenius with the Senators. 
 
 Men. Come, come, you haue bin too rough, fbmthing 
 too rough": you muft returne, and mend it. 
 
 Sen. There's no remedy, 
 Vnleffe by not fo doing, our good Citie 
 Cleaue in the midd'ft,and perifh. 
 
 Volum. Pray be counfail'd ; 
 I haue a heart as little apt as yours, 
 But yet a braine, that leades my vie of Anger 
 To better vantage. 
 
 Mene. Well faid, Noble woman : 
 Before he fliould thus ftoope to'th'heart, but that 
 The violent fit a'th'time cranes it as Phyficke 
 For the whole State; I would put mine Armour on, 
 Which I can fcarfely beare. 
 
 Corio. What muft I do ? 
 
 Mene. Returne to th' Tribunes. 
 
 Corio. Well, what then?what then? 
 
 Mene. Repent, what you haue fpoke. 
 
 Corio. For them, I cannot do it to the Gods, 
 Muft I then doo't to them ? 
 
 Volum. You are too abfolute, 
 Though therein you can neuer be too Noble, 
 But when extremities fpeake. I haue heard you fay, 
 Honor and Policy, like vnfeuer'd Friends, 
 I'th'Warre do grow together : Grant that,and tell me 
 In Peace, what each of them by th'other loofe, 
 That they combine not there ? 
 
 Corio. Tufh,tufli. 
 
 cflfene. A good demand. 
 
 "Volum. If it be Honor in your Warres, to feeme 
 The fame you are not, which for your beft ends 
 You adopt your policy : How is it lefle or worfe 
 That it fliall hold Companion/hip in Peace 
 With Honour, as in Warre ; fince that to both 
 It ftands in like requeft. 
 
 Corio. Why force you this ? 
 
 Volum. Becaufe, that 
 
 Now it lyes you on to fpeake to th'people: 
 Not by your owne inftrudtion, nor by'th'matter 
 Which your heart prompts you, but with fuch words 
 That are but roated in your Tongue; 
 Though but Baftards,and Syllables 
 Of no allowance, to your bofomes truth. 
 Now, this no more dishonors you at all, 
 Then to take in a Towne with gentle words, 
 Which elfe would put you to your fortune,and 
 The hazard of much blood. 
 I would diflemble with my Nature, where 
 My Fortunes and my Friends at ftake, requir'd 
 I fhould do fo in Honor. I am in this 
 
 b b 3 Your
 
 i8 
 
 The Tragedie of fyriolanus. 
 
 Your Wife, your Sonne: Thefe Senators, the Nobles, 
 And you, will rather fliew our general! Lowts, 
 How you can frowne,then fpend a fawne vpon 'em, 
 For the inheritance of their loues, and fafegard 
 Of what that want might mine. 
 
 cWcnen. Noble Lady, 
 
 Come goe with vs, fpeake faire: you may falue fo, 
 Not what is dangerous prefent, but the lofle 
 Of what is paft. 
 
 "Uolum. 1 pry thee now, my Sonne, 
 Goe to them, with this Bonnet in thy hand, 
 And thus farre hauing ftretcht it (here be with them) 
 Thy Knee buffing the ftones: for in fuch bufinefle 
 Action is eloquence, and the eyes of th'ignorant 
 More learned then the eares, wauing thy head, 
 Which often thus correcting thy ftout heart, 
 Now humble as the ripeft Mulberry, 
 That will not hold the handling : or fay to them, 
 Thou art their Souldier,and being bred in broyles, 
 Haft not the foft way, which thou do'ft confeffe 
 Were fit for thee to vfe,as they to clayme, 
 In asking their good loues, but thou wilt frame 
 Thy felfe (forfooth) hereafter theirs fo farre, 
 As thou haft power and perfon. 
 
 Menen. This but done, 
 
 Euen as flie fpeakes,why their hearts were yours : 
 For they haue Pardons, being ask'd,as free, 
 As words to little purpofe. 
 
 Volum. Prythee now, 
 
 Goe, and be rul'd : although I know thou hadft rather 
 Follow thine Enemie in a fierie Gulfe, 
 Then flatter him in a Bower. Eater Comtmus. 
 
 Here is Cominitu. 
 
 Com. I haue beene i'th' Market place : and Sir 'tis fit 
 You make ftrong partie, or defend your felfe 
 By calmenefle, or by abfence: all's in anger. 
 Menen. Onely faire fpeech. 
 
 Com. I thinke 'twill ferue,if he can thereto frame his 
 fpirit. 
 
 Volum. He muft, and will : 
 Prythee now fay you will, and goe about it. 
 
 Cork. Muft I goe fliew them my vnbarb'd Sconce ? 
 Muft I with my bafe Tongue giue to my Noble Heart 
 A Lye, that it muft beare well ? 1 will doo't : 
 Yet were there but this fingle Plot, to loofe 
 This Mould of Martiw, they to duft fliould grinde it, 
 And throw't againft the Winde. Toth' Market place : 
 You haue put me now to fuch a part, which neuer 
 I fliall difcharge toth' Life. 
 
 Com. Come, come, wee'le prompt you. 
 Volum. I prythee now fweet Son, as thou haft faid 
 My praifes made thee firft a Souldier j fo 
 To haue my praife for this, performe a part 
 Thou haft not done before. 
 
 Csr/o. Well, I muft doo't : 
 Away my difpofition, and poflefie me 
 Some Harlots fpirit : My throat of Warre be turn'd, 
 Which quier'd with my Drumme into a Pipe, 
 Small as an Eunuch, or the Virgin voyce 
 That Babies lull a-fleepe : The fmiles of Knaues 
 Tent in my cheekes, and Schoole-boyes Teares take vp 
 The Glafles of my fight : A Beggars Tongue 
 Make motion through my Lips, and my Arm'd knees 
 Who bow'd but in my Stirrop, bend like his 
 That hath receiu'd an Almes. I will not doo't, 
 Leaft I furceafe to honor mine owne truth, 
 
 And by my Bodies adlion, teach my Minde 
 A moft inherent BafenefTe. 
 
 Volum, At thy choice then : 
 To begge of thee, it is my more dif-honor, 
 Then thou of them. Come all to ruine, let 
 Thy Mother rather feele thy Pride, then feare 
 Thy dangerous Stoutnefle : for I mocke at death 
 With as bigge heart as thou. Do as thou lift, 
 Thy Valiantnefie was mine, thou fuck'ft it from me : 
 But owe thy Pride thy felfe. 
 
 Corio. Pray be content : 
 Mother, I am going to the Market place : 
 Chide me no more. lie Mountebanke their Loues, 
 Cogge their Hearts from them, and come home belou'd 
 Of all the Trades in Rome. Looke, I am going : 
 Commend me to my Wife, He returne Confull, 
 Or neuer truft to what my Tongue can do 
 I'th way of Flattery further. 
 
 Volum. Do your will. Exit Volumnia 
 
 Com. Away, the Tribunes do attend you: arm your felf 
 To anfwer mildely : for they are prepar'd 
 With Accufations, as I heare more ftrong 
 Then are vpon you yet. 
 
 Cork. The word is, Mildely. Pray you let vs go, 
 Let them accufe me by inuention : I 
 Will anfwer in mine Honor. 
 
 Menen. I, but mildely. 
 
 Cork. Well mildely be it then, Mildely. Exeunt 
 
 Enter Sicinius and Brutus. 
 
 e Brrt. In this point charge him home, that he affects 
 Tyrannicall power : If he euade vs there, 
 Inforce him with his enuy to the people, 
 And that the Spoile got on the Antiats 
 Was ne're diftributed. What, will he come ? 
 
 Enter an Edile. 
 
 Bdile. Hee's comming. 
 
 Eru. How accompanied ? 
 
 Edile. With old Meneniui,and thofe Senators 
 That alwayes fauour'd him. 
 
 Sicin. Haue you a Catalogue 
 Of all the Voices that we haue procur'd, fet downe by'th 
 
 Edile. I haue : 'tis ready. (Pole ? 
 
 Sicin. Haue you collected them by Tribes? 
 
 Bdile. I haue. 
 
 Sicin. Aflemble prefently the people hither : 
 And when they heare me fay, it fliall be fo, 
 I'th'right and ftrength a'th'Commons : be it either 
 For death, for fine,or Baniftiment, then let them 
 If I fay Fine, cry Fine ; if Death, cry Death, 
 Infifting on the olde prerogatiue 
 And power i'th Truth a'th Caufe. 
 
 Edile. I fliall informe them. 
 
 'Bru. And when fuch time they haue begun to cry, 
 Let them not ceafe, but with a dinne confus'd 
 Inforce the prefent Execution 
 Of what we chance to Sentence. 
 Sdi. Very well. 
 
 Sicin. Make them be ftrong, and ready for this hint 
 When we fliall hap to giu't them. 
 
 'Bru. Go about it, 
 
 Put him to Choller ftraite, he hath bene vs'd 
 Euer to conquer, and to haue his worth 
 Of contradiction. Being once chaft, he cannot 
 Be rein'd againe to Temperance, then he fpeakes 
 
 What's 
 
 616
 
 The Tragedie of Qoriolanus. 
 
 What's in his heart, and that is there which lookes 
 With vs to breake his necke. 
 
 Enter Coriolanw,Meneniu4 t and Comi- 
 niuiyifitb others. 
 
 Sicin. Well, heere he comes. 
 
 Mene. Calmely, I do befeech you. 
 
 Corio. I, as an Hoftler, that fourth pooreft peece 
 Will beare the Knaue by'th Volume : 
 Th'honor'd Goddes 
 
 Keepe Rome in fafety, and the Chaires of luftice 
 Supplied with worthy men, plant loue amongs 
 Through our large Temples with y fliewes of peace 
 And not our ftreets with Warre. 
 
 I Sen, Amen, Amen. 
 
 ^.Mene. A Noble wifh. 
 
 Enter the Edile tvith the Plebeians. 
 
 Sicin. Draw neere ye people. 
 
 Bdile. Lift to your Tribunes. Audience : 
 Peace I fay. 
 
 Corio, Firft heare me fpeake. 
 
 'Both Tri, Well, fay : Peace hoe. 
 
 Qorio. Shall I be charg'd no further then this prefent 9 
 Muft all determine heere? 
 
 Sicin, I do demand, 
 If you fubmit you to the peoples voices, 
 Allow their Officers, and are content 
 To fuffer lawfull Cenfure for fuch faults 
 As fliall be prou'd vpon you. 
 
 Corio. I am Content. 
 
 Mene. Lo Citizens, he fayes he is Content. 
 The warlike Seruice he ha's done, confider : Thinke 
 Vpon the wounds his body beares, which fliew 
 Like Graues i'th holy Church-yard. 
 
 Corio. Scratches with Briars, fcarres to moue 
 Laughter onely. 
 
 Mene. Confider further : 
 That when he fpeakes not like a Citizen, 
 You finde him like a Soldier : do not take 
 His rougher Actions for malicious founds : 
 But as I fay, fuch as become a Soldier, 
 Rather then enuy you. 
 
 Com. Well, well, no more. 
 
 Corio. What is the matter, 
 That being paft for Confull with full vcyce : 
 I am fo diflionour'd, that the very houre 
 You take it off againe. 
 
 Sicin. Anfwer to vs. 
 
 Corio. Say then : 'tis true, I ought fo 
 
 Sicin. We charge you, that you haue contriu'd to take 
 From Rome all feafon'd Office, and to winde 
 Your felfe into a power tyrannicall, 
 For which you are a Traitor to the people. 
 
 Corio. How? Traytor ? 
 
 Mene. Nay temperately : your promife. 
 
 Corio. The fires i'th'loweft hell. Fould in the people : 
 Call me their Traitor, thou injurious Tribune. 
 Within thine eyes fate twenty thoufand deaths 
 In thy hands clutcht : as many Millions in 
 Thy lying tongue, both numbers. I would fay 
 Thou lyeft vnto thee, with a voice as free, 
 As I do pray the Gods. 
 
 Sicin. Marke you this people ? 
 
 All. To'th'Rocke, to'th'Rocke with him. 
 
 Sicin. Peace : 
 
 We neede not put new matter to his charge : 
 What you haue feene him do, and heard him fpeake : 
 
 617 
 
 Beating your Officers, curfing your fe'ues, 
 Oppofing Lawes with ftroakes, and heere defying 
 Thofe whofe great power muft try him. 
 Euen this fo criminall, and in fuch capitall kinde 
 Deferues th'extreameft death. 
 
 f Bru, But fince he hath feru'd well for Rome. 
 
 Corio. What do you prate of Seruice. 
 
 'Brut. I talke of that, that know it. 
 
 Corio. You ? 
 
 Mene, Is this the promife that you made your mother. 
 
 Com. Know, I pray you. 
 
 Corio. He know no further : 
 Let them pronounce the fteepe Tarpeian death, 
 Vagabond exile, Fleaing, pent to linger 
 But with a graine a day, I would not buy 
 Their mercie, at the price of one faire word, 
 Nor checke my Courage for what they can giue, 
 To haue't with faying, Good morrow. 
 
 Sicin. For that he ha's 
 
 (As much as in him lies,) from time to time 
 Enui'd againft the people ; feeking meanes 
 To plucke away their power: as now at laft, 
 Giuen Hoftile ftrokes, and that not in the prefence 
 Of dreaded luftice, but on the Minifters 
 That doth diftribute it. In the name a'th'people, 
 And in the power of vs the Tribunes, wee 
 (u'n from thisinftant) banifh himourCitie 
 In perill of precipitation 
 From off the Rocke Tarpeian, neuer more 
 To enter our Rome gates. I'th'Peoplesname, 
 I fay it fliall bee fo. 
 
 All. It fliall be fo, it /hall be fo : let him away : 
 Hee's banifli'd, and it fliall be fo. 
 
 Com. Heare me my Matters, and my common friends. 
 
 Sicin. He's fentenc'd : No more hearing. 
 
 Com. Let me fpeake : 
 
 I haue bene Confull, and can (hew from Rome 
 Her Enemies markes vpon me. I do loue 
 My Countries good, with a refpeft more tender, 
 More holy, and profound, then mine owne life, 
 My deere Wiues eftimate, her wombes encresfe, 
 And treafure of my Loynes: then if I would 
 Speake that. 
 
 Sicin. We know your drift. Speake what ? 
 
 'Bru. There's no more to be faid, but he is banifli'd 
 As Enemy to the people, and his Countrey. 
 It fliall bee fo. 
 
 All. It fliall be fo, it fhall be fo. 
 
 Corio. You common cry of Curs, whofe breath I hate, 
 As reeke a'th'rotten Fennes : whofe Loues I prize, 
 As the dead CarkafTes of vnburied men, 
 That do corrupt my Ayre : I banifli you, 
 And heere remaine with your vncertaintie. 
 Let euery feeble Rumor fluke your hearts : 
 Your Enemies^ith nodding of their Plumes 
 Fan you into difpaire : Haue the power ftill 
 To banifli your Defenders, till at length 
 Your ignorance ( which findes not till it feeles, 
 Making but referuatiori of your felues, 
 Still your owne Foes) deliuer you 
 As moft abated Captiues, to fome Nation 
 That wonne you without blowes, defpifing 
 For you the City. Thus I turne my backe; 
 There is a world elfewhere. 
 
 Exeunt Coriolanus , Comin'nu , with Cumalys. 
 They al/Jbout, and throw -vp their Caps. 
 
 Edile.
 
 20 
 
 The T rage die of Qoriolanus . 
 
 Sdlle. The peoples Enemy is gone, is gone. 
 
 tAll. Our enemy is baniih'd, he is gone: Hoo,oo. 
 
 Scin. Go fee him out at Gates,and follow him 
 As he hath follow' d you, with all defpight 
 Giue him deferu'd vexation. Let a guard 
 Attend vs through the City. 
 
 AIL Come, come, lets fee him out at gates, come: 
 The Gods preferue our Noble Tribunes, come. Exeunt. 
 
 Attus Quartus. 
 
 Enter Coriolanu6,fo!umnia, Virgilia, Menenitu, Cotninius, 
 
 with the yong Nobility of Rome. 
 
 C;r/s.Come leaue your teares:a brief farwel-.the bead 
 With many heads butts me away. Nay Mother, 
 Where is your ancient Courage? You were vs'd 
 To fay, Extreamities was the trier of fpirits, 
 That common chances. Common men could beare, 
 That when the Sea was calme, all Boats alike 
 Shew'd Mafterihip in floating. Fortunes blowes, 
 When moft ftrooke home, being gentle wounded, craues 
 A Noble cunning. You were vs'd to load me 
 With Precepts that would make inuincible 
 The heart that conn'd them. 
 
 Virg. Oh heauens ! O heauens .' 
 
 Corio. Nay, I prythee woman. 
 
 JV.Now the Red Peftilence ftrike al Trades in Rome, 
 And Occupations perifli. 
 
 Corio. What, what, what : 
 
 I fliall be lou'd when I am lack'd. Nay Mother, 
 Refume that Spirit, when you were wont to fay, 
 If you had beene the Wife of Hercules, 
 Six of his Labours youl'd haue done, and fau'd 
 Your Husband fo much fwet. Cominivt, 
 Droope not, Adieu: Farewell my Wife, my Mother, 
 He do well yet. Thou old and true Menenltu, 
 Thy teares are (alter then a yonger mans, 
 And venomous to thine eyes. My (fometime)Generall, 
 I haue feene the Sterne, and thou haft oft beheld 
 Heart-hardning fpeclacles. Tell thefe fad women, 
 'Tis fond to waile ineuitable ftrokes, 
 As 'tis to laugh at 'em. My Mother, you wot well 
 My hazards ftill haue beene your folace,and 
 Beleeu't not lightly, though I go alone 
 Like to a lonely Dragon, that his Fenne 
 Makes fear'd,and talk'd of more then feene : your Sonne 
 Will or exceed the Common, or be caught 
 With cautelous baits and practice. 
 
 Volum. My firft fonne, 
 
 Whether will thou go ? Take good Cominitu 
 With thee awhile : Determine on fome courfe 
 More then a wilde expofture, to each chance 
 That ftart's i'th'way before thee. 
 Corio. O the Gods ! 
 
 Ccm.llt follow thee a Moneth, deuife with thee 
 Where thou flialt reft, that thou may 'ft heare of vs, 
 And we of thee. So if the time thruft forth 
 A caufe for thy Repeale, we fliall not fend 
 O're the vaft world, to feeke a fingle man, 
 And loofe aduantage, which doth euer coole 
 Ith'abfence of the needer. 
 
 Corio. Fare ye well : 
 Thou haft yeares vpon thee, and thou art too full 
 
 Of the warres furfets, to go roue with one 
 That's yet vnbruis'd : bring me but out at gate. 
 Come my fweet wife, my deereft Mother, and 
 My Friends of Noble touch : when I am forth, 
 Bid me farewell, and fmile. I pray you come : 
 While I remaine aboue the ground, you {hail 
 Heare from me ftill, and neuer of me ought 
 But what is like me formerly. 
 
 cflfenen. That's worthily 
 As any eare can heare. Come, let's not weepe, 
 If 1 could ftiake off but one feuen yeeres 
 From thefe old armes and legges, by the good Gods 
 I'ld with thee, euery foot. 
 
 Corio. Giue me thy hand, come. Exeunt 
 
 Enter the two Tribunes, Siciniut, and 'Brutus, 
 with the Edile. 
 
 Sifin.E'id them all home, he's gone: & wee'l no further, 
 The Nobility are vexed, whom we fee haue fided 
 In his behalfe. 
 
 'Brut. Now we haue fhewne our power, 
 Let vs feeme humbler after it is done, 
 Then when it was a dooing. 
 
 Sicin. Bid them home: fay their great enemy is gone, 
 And they, ftand in their ancient ftrength. 
 
 'Brut. DifmifTe them home. Here comes his Mother. 
 Enter Volumnia, Virgilia, and ^feneniiu. 
 
 Sicin. Let's not meet her. 
 
 'Brut. Why? 
 
 Skin. They fay flic's mad. 
 
 'Brut. They haue tane note of vs:keepe on your way. 
 
 Volum. Oh y'are well met : 
 Th'hoorded plague a'th'Gods requit your loue. 
 
 Menen. Peace, peace, be not fo loud. 
 
 Volum. If that I could for weeping, vou fliould heare, 
 Nay, and you fhall heare fome. Will you be gone? 
 
 Virg. You fliall ftay too : I would I had the power 
 To fay fo to my Husband. I 
 
 &ci. Are you mankinde? 
 
 Volume I foole,is that a fliame. Note but this Foole, 
 Was not a man my Father? Had'ft thou Foxfliip 
 To banifh him that ftrooke more blowes for Rome 
 Then thou haft fpoken words. 
 
 Sciit. Oh blefied Heauens ! 
 
 Velum. Moe Noble blowes, then euer y wife words. 
 And for Romes good, He tell thee what : yet goe : 
 Nay but thou flialt ftay too : I would my Sonne 
 Were in Arabia, and thy Tribe before him, 
 His good Sword in his hand. 
 
 Sicin. What then ? 
 
 Virg. What then? Hee'ld make an end of thy pofterity 
 
 Volum. Baftards,and all. 
 Good man, the Wounds that he does beare for Rome ! 
 
 Menen. Come, come, peace. 
 
 Sicin. I would he had continued to his Country 
 As he began, and not vnknit himfelfe 
 The Noble knot he made. 
 
 Bru. I would he had. 
 
 Volum. I would he had ? 'Twas you incenft the rable. 
 Cats, that can iudge as fitly of his worth, 
 As I can of thofe Myfteries which heauen 
 Will not haue earth to know. 
 
 Brut. Pray let's go. 
 
 Velum. Now pray fir get you gone. 
 You haue done a braue deede : Ere you go, heare this : 
 As farre as doth the Capitoll exceede 
 The meaneft houfe in Rome; fo farre my Sonne 
 
 This 
 
 618 ' '
 
 The Tragedie of Coriolamis. 
 
 21 
 
 This Ladies Husband heere ; this fdo you fee) 
 Whom you haue banifh'd, does exceed you all. 
 
 'Bru. Well, well, wee'l leaue vou. 
 
 Skin. Why ftay we to be baited 
 With one that wants her Wits. Exit Tribunes. 
 
 1)olum. Take my Prayers with you. 
 I would the Gods had nothing elfe to do, 
 But to confirme my CurfTes. Could I meete 'em 
 But once a day, it would vnclogge my heart 
 Of what lyes heauy too't. 
 
 <^[ene. You haue told them home, 
 And by my troth you haue caufe : you'l Sup with me. 
 
 Volum. Angers my Meate : I fuppe vpon my felfe, 
 And fo fhall fterue with Feeding : Come, let's go, 
 Leaue this faint-puling, and lament as I do, 
 In Anger, /m>-like : Come, come, come. Exeunt 
 
 Mene. Fie, fie , fie. Exit. 
 
 Enter a ^oman , and a Voice . 
 
 Rom. I know you well fir, and you know mee : your 
 name I thinke \sAdrlan. 
 
 Voice. It is fo fir, truly I haue forgot you. 
 
 Rom. I am a Roman, and my Seruices are as you are, 
 againft'em. Know you me yet. 
 
 Voice. Nlcanor : no. 
 
 Rom. The fame fir. 
 
 Voice. You had more Beard when I laft faw you, but 
 your Fauour is well appear'd by your Tongue. What's 
 the Newes in Rome : I haue a Note from the Volcean 
 date to finde you out there. You haue well faued mee a 
 dayes iourney. 
 
 *Bgm. There hath beene in Rome ftraunge Infurredli- 
 ons : The people, againft the Senatours, Patricians, and 
 Nobles. 
 
 Vol. Hath bin; is it ended then? Our State thinks not 
 fo, they are in a moft warlike preparation, & hope to com 
 vpon them, in the heate of their diuifion 
 
 Rum, The maine blaze of it is paft, but a fmall thing 
 would make it flame againe. For the Nobles receyue fo 
 to heart, the Banishment of that worthy Coriolanut, that 
 they are in a ripe aptnefTe , to take al power from the peo- 
 ple, and to plucke from them their Tribunes for euer . 
 This lyes glowing I can tell you, and is almoft mature for 
 the violent breaking out. 
 
 Vol. Coriolanw Banifht ? 
 
 'Rim. Banifh'd fir. 
 
 Vol. You will be welcome with this intelligence Ni- 
 canor. 
 
 Rom. The day ferues well for them now. I haue heard 
 it faide, the fitteft time to corrupt a mans Wife, is when 
 fhee's falne out with her Husband. Your Noble Tull-ut 
 Auffidtus well appeare well in thefe Warres, his great 
 Oppofer Coriolanut being now in no requeft of his coun- 
 trey. 
 
 Voice. He cannot choofe : I am moft fortunate, thus 
 accidentally to encounter you. You haue ended my Bu- 
 fineffe,and I will merrily accompany you home. 
 
 Rom. I {hall betweene this and Supper, tell you moft 
 ftrange things from Rome : all tending to the good of 
 their Aduerfaries. Haue you an Army ready fay you ? 
 
 Vol. A moft Royall one : The Centurions, and their 
 charges diftindlly billetted already in th'entertainment, 
 and to be on foot at an houres warning. 
 
 Rom. I am ioyfull to heare of their readinefle , and am 
 the man I thinke, that /hall fet them in prefent Action. So 
 fir, heartily well met, and moft glad of your Company. 
 
 Voice. You take my part from me fir, I haue the moft 
 
 619 
 
 caufe to be glad ofyours. 
 
 Rom. Well, let vs go together. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Coriolanui in meane Apfarrel', Dif- 
 guifd,and muffled. 
 
 Carlo. A goodly City is this Annum. Citty, 
 'Tis I that made thy Widdowes : Many an heyre 
 Of thefe faire Edifices fore my Warres 
 Haue I heard groane,and drop : Then know me not, 
 Leaft that thy Wiues with Spits, and Boyes with ftones 
 In puny Battell flay me. Saue you fir. 
 Enter a Citizen. 
 
 Cit. And you. 
 
 Carlo. Direft me, if it be your will, where great tAuf- 
 Jidltu lies : Is he in Antium ? 
 
 Cit. He is, and Feafts the Nobles of the State, at his 
 houfe this night. 
 
 Carlo. Which is his houfe ,befeech you ? 
 
 Cit. This heere before you. 
 
 Carlo. Thanke you fir, farewell. Exit Citizen 
 
 Oh World, thy flippery turnes ! Friends now faft fworn, 
 Whofe double bofomes feemes to weare one heart, 
 Whofe Houres, whofe Bed,whofe Meale and Exercife 
 Are ftill together : who Twin (as 'twere)in Loue, 
 Vnfeparable, fhall within this houre, 
 On a diffention of a Doit, breake out 
 To bittereft Enmity : So felleft Foes, 
 
 Whofe Paflions, and whofe Plots haue broke their fleep 
 To take the one the other, by fome chance, 
 Some tricke not worth an Egge, fhall grow deere friends 
 And inter-ioyne their yffues. So with me, 
 My Birth-place haue I, and my loues vpon 
 This Enemie Towne : lie enter, ifhe flay me 
 He does faire luftice : ifhe giue me way, 
 lie do his Country Seruice. Exit. 
 
 MuJicJ^e playes. Safer a Seruingman. 
 
 1 Ser. Wine, Wine, Wine : What feruice is heere ? I 
 thinke our Fellowes are afleepe. 
 
 Snter another Seruingman. 
 
 2 Ser. Where's Qotus:my M.cals for him: Cotiu. Exit 
 
 Enter Coriolamu. 
 Cor lo. A goodly Houfe : 
 The Feaft fmels well : but I appeare not like a Gueft. 
 
 Enter the firft Seruingman. 
 
 I Ser. What would you haue Friend? whence are you? 
 Here's no place for you : Pray go to the doore ? Exit 
 Carlo. I haue deferu'd no better entertainment, in be- 
 ing CoriolanM. Enter fecond Seruar.t. 
 
 2 Ser. Whence are you fir ? Ha's the Porter his eyes in 
 his head, that he giues entrance to fuch Companions ? 
 Pray get you out. 
 Carlo. Away. 
 
 2 Ser. Away ? Get you away. 
 Carlo. Now th'art troublefome. 
 
 2 Ser. Are you fo braue : He haue you talkt with anon 
 
 Enter 3 Seruingman, the I meets him. 
 
 3 What Fellowes this? 
 
 I A ftrange one as euer I look'd on I: I cannot get him 
 out o'th'houfe : PrytKee call my Mafter to him. 
 
 3 What haue you to do here fellow? Pray you auoid 
 the houfe. 
 
 Carlo. Let me but ftand,! will not hurt yourHarth. 
 
 3 What are you ? 
 
 Carlo. A Gentleman. 
 
 3 A maru'llous poore one. 
 
 Carlo. True, fo I am. 
 
 3 Pray you poore Gentleman, take vp fome other fta- 
 
 ition,
 
 22 
 
 The Tragedle of Coriolanus. 
 
 tion : Heere's no place for you, pray you auoid Come. 
 
 Cork. Follow your Function , go, and batten on colde 
 bits. Pujbts him array from him. 
 
 3 What you will not? Prythee tell my Maifter what 
 a ftrange Gueft he ha's heere. 
 
 2 And I {hall. Exit fecond Serulngman. 
 
 3 Where dwel'ft thou ? 
 Cork. Vnder the Canopy. 
 3 Vnder the Canopy ? 
 Carlo. I. 
 
 3 Where's that ? 
 
 Carlo. 1'th City of Kites and Crowes. 
 
 3 I'th City of Kites and Crowes ? What an AfTe it is, 
 then thou dwel'ft with Dawes too ? 
 
 Cork. No, I ferue not thy Mafter. 
 3 How fir? Do you meddle with my Mafter ? 
 Cork. I, tis an honefter feruice, then to meddle with 
 thy Miftris : Thou prat'ft,and prat' ft, ferue with thy tren- 
 cher : Hence. 'Beats him away 
 Enter AuffldilU ivltb the Seruingman. 
 
 Auf. Where is this Fellow ? 
 
 a Here fir, I'de haue beaten him like a dogge, but for 
 difturbing the Lords within. 
 
 .^//.Whence com'ft thou? What woldft y?Thy name? 
 Why fpeak'ft noti 7 Speake man : What's thy name ? 
 
 Cork. If Tullui not yet thou know'ft me, and feeing 
 me, doft not thinke me for the man I am, neceffitie com- 
 mands me name my felfe. 
 
 Auf. What is thy name ? 
 
 Cork. A name vnmuficall to the Volcians eares,| 
 And harfli in found to thine. 
 
 Auf. Say, what's thy name ? 
 Thou haft a Grim apparance, and thy Face 
 Beares a Command in't : Though thy Tackles torne, 
 Thou ftiew'ft a Noble Vefiell : What's thy name ? 
 
 Cork. Prepare thy brow to frowne-.knowft y me yet? 
 
 Auf. I know thee not ? Thy Name 3 
 
 Cork. My name is Calm <&fartiut, who hath done 
 To thee particularly, and to all the Voices 
 Great hurt and Mifchiefe : thereto witnefle may 
 My Surname Coric/anui. The painfull Seruice, 
 The extreme Dangers,and the droppes of Blood 
 Shed for my thanklefie Country, are requitted : 
 But with that Surname, a good memorie 
 And witnefle of the Malice and Difpleafure 
 Which thou fhould'ft beare me, only that name remains. 
 The Cruelty and Enuy of the people, 
 Permitted by our daftard Nobles, who 
 Haue all forfooke me, hath deuour'd the reft : 
 And fuffer'd me by th'voyce of Slaues to be 
 Hoop'd out of Rome. Now this extremity, 
 Hath brought me to thy Harth, not out of Hope 
 (Miftake me not) to faue my life : for if 
 I had fear'd death, of all the Men i'th' World 
 I would haue voided thee. But in meere fpight 
 To be full quit of thofe my Banifliers, 
 Stand 1 before thee heere : Then if thou haft 
 A heart of wreake in thee, that wilt reuenge 
 Thine owne particular wrongs, and ftop thofe maimes 
 Of mame feene through thy Country, fpeed thee ftraight 
 And make my mifery (erue thy turne : So vfe it, 
 That my reuengefull Seruices may proue 
 As Benefits to thee. For I will fight 
 Againft my Cankred Countrey, with the Spleene 
 Of all the vnder Fiends. But if fo be, 
 Thou dar'ft not this, and that to proue more Fortunes 
 
 Th'art tyr'd, then in a word, I alfo am 
 Longer to liue moft wearie : and prefent 
 My throat to thee, and to thy Ancient Malice : 
 Which not to cut, would fliew thee but a Foole, 
 Since I haue euer followed thee with hate, 
 Drawne Tunnes of Blood out of thy Countries breft, 
 And cannot liue but to thy mame, vnlefle 
 It be to do thee feruice. 
 
 Auf. Oh Maniui, Martius; 
 
 Each word thou haft fpoke, hath weeded from my heart 
 A roote of Ancient Enuy. If Jupiter 
 Should from yond clowd fpeake diuine things, 
 And fay 'tis true; I'de not beleeue them more 
 Then thee all-Noble Marttus. Let me twine 
 Mine armes about that body, where againft 
 My grained A(h an hundred times hath broke, 
 And fcarr'd the Moone with fplinters : heere I deep 
 The Anuile of my Sword, and do conteft 
 As hotly,and as Nobly with thy Loue, 
 As euer in Ambitious ftrength, I did 
 Contend againft thy Valour. Know thou firft, 
 I lou'd the Maid I married : neuer man 
 Sigh'd truer breath. But that I fee thee heere 
 Thou Noble thing, more dances my rapt heart, 
 Then when 1 firft my wedded Miftris faw 
 Beftride my Threfliuld. Why, thou Mars I tell thee, 
 We haue a Power on foote : and I had purpofe 
 Once more to hew thy Target from thy Brawne, 
 Or loofe mine Arme for't : Thou haft beate mee out 
 Twelue feuerall times, and I haue nightly fince 
 Dreamt of encounters 'twixt thy felfe and me: 
 We haue beene downe together in my fleepe^ 
 Vnbuckling Helmes, filling each others Throat, 
 And wak'd halfe dead with nothing. Worthy Afartius, 
 Had we no other quarrell elfe to Rome, but that 
 Thou art thence Banim'd, we would mufterall 
 From twelue,to feuentie : and powring Warre 
 Into the bowels of vngratefull Rome, 
 Like a bold Flood o're-beate. Oh come, go in, 
 And take our Friendly Senators by'th'hands 
 Who now are heere, taking their leauesofmee, 
 Who am prepar'd againft your Territories, 
 Though not for Rome it ielfe. 
 
 Cork. You blefle me Gods. 
 
 Auf. Therefore moft abfolute Sir, if thou wilt haue 
 The leading of thine owne Reuenges, take 
 Th'one halr'e of my Commiffion,and fet downe 
 As beft thou art experienc'd, fince thou know'ft 
 Thy Countries ftrength and weaknefie, thine own waies 
 Whether to knocke againft the Gates of Rome, 
 Or rudely vifit them in parts remote,! 
 To fright them, ere deftroy. But come in, 
 Let me commend thee firft, to thofe that fhall 
 Say yea to thy de.fires. A thoufand welcomes, 
 And more a Friend, then ere an Enemie, 
 Yet Martlm that was much. Your hand: moft welcome. 
 
 Exeunt 
 Enter two of the Serulngmen. 
 
 1 Heere's a ftrange alteration ? 
 
 2 By my hand, I had thoght to haue ftroken him with 
 a Cudgell,and yet my minde gaue me, his cloathes made 
 a falfe report of him. 
 
 1 What an Arme he has, he turn'd me about with his 
 finger and his thumbe,as one would fet vp a Top. 
 
 2 Nay, I knew by his face that there was fome-thing 
 in him. He had fir,akinde of face me thought, I cannot 
 
 tell 
 
 620
 
 'The TragedieofCoriolanus. 
 
 tell how to tearme it. 
 
 1 He had fo, looking as it were, would I were hang'd 
 but I thought there was more in him, then I could think. 
 
 2 So did I, He be fworne: He, is limply the rareft man 
 i'th'world. 
 
 1 I thinke he is : but a greater foldier then he, 
 You wot one. 
 
 2 Who my Mafter ? 
 
 1 Nay, it's no matter for that. 
 
 2 Worth fix on him. 
 
 1 Nay not fo neither: but I take him to be the greater 
 Souldiour. 
 
 2 Faith looke you, one cannot tell how to fay that: for 
 the Defence of a Towne,our Generall is excellent. 
 
 I I, and for an aflault too. 
 
 Enter the third Seruingman. 
 
 3 Oh Slaues, I can tell you Newes,News you Rafcals 
 'Both. What, what, what? Let's partake. 
 
 3 I would not be a Roman of all Nations ; I had as 
 Hue be a condemn'd man. 
 
 'Both. Wherefore? Wherefore? 
 
 3 Why here's he that was wont to thwacke our Ge- 
 nerull, Caius t^Mart'nu, 
 
 i Why do you fay, thwacke our Generall ? 
 
 3 I do not fay thwacke our Generall, but he was al- 
 wayes good enough for him 
 
 2 Come we are fellowes and friends : he was euer too 
 hard for him, I haue heard him fay fo himfelfe. 
 
 1 He was too hard for him direftly, to fay the Troth 
 on't before Corhles, he fcotcht him, and notcht him like a 
 Carbinado. 
 
 2 And hee had bin Cannibally giuen, hee might haue 
 boyld and eaten him too. 
 
 1 But more of thy Newes. 
 
 3 Why he is fo made on heere within, as if hee were 
 Son and Heire to Mars, fet at vpper end o'th'Table : No 
 queftion askt him by any of the Senators, but they ftand 
 bald before him. Our Generall himfelfe makes a Miftris 
 of him,San6r.ifies himfelfe with's hand, and turnes vp the 
 white o'th'eye to his Difcourfe. But the bottome of the 
 Newes is, our Generall is cut i'th'middle,& but one halfe 
 of what he was yefterdav. For the other ha's halfe, by 
 the intreaty and graunt of the whole Table. Hee'l go he 
 fayes, and fole the Porter of Rome Gates by th'eares. He 
 will mowe all downe before him, and leaue his paflage 
 poul'd. 
 
 2 And he's as like to do't,as any man I can imagine. 
 
 3 Doo't? he will doo't : for look you fir, he has as ma- 
 ny Friends as Enemies : which Friends fir as it were,durft 
 not ( looke you fir) Ihew themfelues (as we terme it) his 
 Friends, whileft he's in DirecYitude. 
 
 i Direftitude? What's that f 
 
 3 But when they mall fee fir, his Creft vp againe,and 
 the man in blood, they will out of their Burroughes (like 
 Conies after Raine) and reuell all with him. 
 
 1 But when goes this forward : 
 
 3 To morrow, to day, prefently, you mall haue the 
 Drum ftrooke vp this afternoone : 'Tis as it were a parcel 
 of their Feaft,and to be executed ere they wipe their lips. 
 
 2 Why then wee mall haue a ftirring World againe : 
 This peace is nothing, but to ruft Iron/encreafe Taylors, 
 and breed Ballad-makers. 
 
 I Let me haue Warre fay I, it exceeds peace as farre 
 as day do's night : It's fprightly walking, audible, and full 
 of Vent. Peace, is a very Apoplexy, Lethargic, mull'd, 
 deafe, fleepe, infenfible, a getter of more bartard Chil- 
 
 621 
 
 dren, then warres a deftroyer of men, 
 
 2 'Tis fo, and as warres in fome fort may be faide to 
 be a Rauifher, fo it cannot be denied, but peace is a great 
 maker of Cuckolds. 
 
 I I, and it makes men hate one another. 
 
 3 Reafon, becaufe they then lefle neede one another : 
 The Warres for my money. I hope to fee Romanes as 
 cheape as Volcians. They are riling, they are rifing. 
 
 'Both. In, in, in, in. Exeunt 
 
 Snter the tn>o Tribunes, Sicinitu, and "Brutus. 
 
 Sicin. We heare not of him, neither need we fear him, 
 His remedies are tame, the prefent peace, 
 And quietnefTe of the people, which before 
 Were in wilde hurry. Heere do we make his Friends 
 Blum, that the world goes well : who rather had, 
 Though they themfelues did fuffer by't, behold 
 DifTentious numbers peftring ftreets, then fee 
 Our Tradefmen finging in their mops, and going 
 About their Functions friendly. 
 
 Enter <^Menemu&. 
 
 Bru. We flood too't in good time. Is this Menenitutf 
 
 Sicin. 'Tis he, 'tis he : O he is grown moft kind of late: 
 Haile Sir. Mene. Haile to you both. 
 
 Sicin. Your Coriolanut is not much mift, but with his 
 Friends : the Commonwealth doth ftand, and fo would 
 do, were he more angry at it. 
 
 Mene. All's well, and might haue bene much better, 
 if he could haue temporiz'd. 
 
 Sicin. Where is he, heare you ? 
 
 Mene. Nay I heare nothing : 
 
 His Mother and his wife, heare nothing from him. 
 Enter three or foure Cit'iKsns. 
 
 AIL The Gods preferue you both. 
 
 Sicin. Gooden our Neighbours. 
 
 'Bru. Gooden to you all,gooden to you all. 
 
 I Our felues,our wiues, and children, on our knees, 
 Are bound to pray for you both. 
 
 Sicin. Liue,and thriue. 
 
 Bru. Farewell kinde Neighbours*,: 
 We wilht Corlolanui had lou'd you as we did. 
 
 All. Now the Gods keepe you. 
 
 Both Tri. Farewell, farewell. Exeunt Citizens 
 
 Sicin. This is a happier and more comely time, 
 Then when thefe Fellowes ran about the ftreets, 
 Crying Confufion. 
 
 'Bru. Caiu6 Martiiu was 
 A worthy Officer i'th'Warre, but Infolent, 
 O'recome with Pride, Ambitious, paft all thinking 
 Selfe-louing.| 
 
 Sicin. And affecting one fole Throne, without afliftace 
 
 cflfene. 1 thinke not fo. 
 
 Sicin. We mould by this, to all our Lamention, 
 If he had gone forth Confull, found it fo. 
 
 'Bru. The Gods haue well preuented it,and Rome 
 Sits fafe and ftill, without him. 
 
 Enter an <^dile, 
 
 n&dile. Worthy Tribunes, 
 There is a Slaue whorri we haue put in prifon, 
 Reports the Voices with two leuerall Powers 
 Are entred in the Roman Territories, 
 And with the deepeft malice of the Warre, 
 Deftroy, what lies before 'em. 
 
 Mene. 'Tis Auffidiui, 
 Who hearing of our Martius Banilhment, 
 Thrufts forth his homes againe into the world 
 Which were In-mell'd, when Martiw flood for Rome, 
 
 And
 
 'The Tragedie of Coriolanus. 
 
 And durft not once peepe out. 
 
 Sicin. Come, what talke you of <^Mart\iu . 
 
 'Bru. Go fee this Rumorer whipt, it cannot be, 
 The Voices dare breake with vs. 
 
 Mene. Cannot be ? 
 
 We haue Record, that very well it can, 
 And three examples of the like, hath beene 
 Within my Age. But reafon with the fellow 
 Before you punifh him, where he heard this, 
 Leaft you fliall chance to whip your Information, 
 And beate the MefTenger, who bids beware 
 Of what is to be dreaded. 
 
 Sicin. Tell not me : I know this cannot be. 
 
 Bru. Not poflible. 
 
 Enter a MeJJenger. 
 
 Mef. The Nobles in great earneftnefTe are going 
 All to the Senate-houfe : fome newes is comming 
 That turnes their Countenances. 
 
 Sicin. 'Tis this Slaue : 
 
 Go whip him fore the peoples eyes : His railing, 
 Nothing but his report. 
 
 Mef. Yes worthy Sir, 
 The Slaues report is feconded,and more 
 More fearfull is deliuer'd. 
 
 Sicin. What more fearefull ? 
 
 Mef. It is fpoke freely out of many mouths, 
 How probable I do not know, that Marritu 
 loyn'd with Auffiditu^ leads a power 'gainft Rome, 
 And vowes Reuenge as fpacious, as betweene 
 The yong'ft and oldeft thing. 
 
 Skin. This is moft likely. 1 
 
 'Bru. Rais'd onely,that the weaker fort may wifh 
 Good Martini home againe. 
 
 Sicin. The very tricke on't. 
 
 Mene. This is vnlikely, 
 He, and Auffiditu can no more attone 
 Then violent'ft Contrariety. 
 
 Enter MeJJenger. 
 
 Mef. You are fent for to the Senate : 
 A fearefull Army, led by Ca'nu Martiut, 
 AfTociated with Auffiditu, Rages 
 Vpon our Territories, and haue already 
 O're-borne their way, confum'd with fire, and tooke 
 What lay before them. 
 
 Enter Cominlut. 
 
 Com. Oh you haue made good worke. 
 
 Mene. What newes ? What newes/ 
 
 Com. You haue holp to rauifh your owne daughters, & 
 To melt the Citty Leades vpon your pates, 
 To fee your Wiues difhonour'd to your Nofes. 
 
 Mene. What's the newes? What's the newes ? 
 
 Com. Your Temples burned in their Ciment, and 
 Your Franchifes, whereon you flood, confin'd 
 Into an Augors boare. 
 
 Mene. Pray now, your Newes : 
 
 You haue made faire worke I feare me : pray your newes, 
 If Martitu fhould be ioyn'd with Volceans. 
 
 Com. If? He is their God, he leads them like a thing 
 Made by fome other Deity then Nature, 
 That fhapes man Better : and they follow him 
 Againft vs Brats, with no lefle Confidence, 
 Then Boyes purfuing Summer Butter-flies, 
 Or Butchers killing Flyes. 
 
 Mene. You haue made good worke, 
 You and your Apron men : you, that ftood-4i much 
 Vpon the voyce of occupation, and 
 
 The breath of Garlicke-eaters. 
 
 Com. Hee'l fhake your Rome about your eares. 
 
 Mene. As Hercules did fhake downe Mellow Fruite : 
 You haue made faire worke. 
 
 Brut. But is this true fir ? 
 
 COOT, I, and you'l looke pale 
 Before you finde it other. All the Regions 
 Do fmiiingly Reuolt, and who refifts 
 Are mock'd for valiant Ignorance, 
 And perifh conftant Fooles: who is't can blame him ? 
 Your Enemies and his, finde fomething in him. 
 
 Mene. We are all vndone, vnleffe 
 The Noble man haue mercy. 
 
 COOT. Who fliall aske it? 
 
 The Tribunes cannot doo't for fhame ; the people 
 Deferue fuch pitty of him, as the Wolfe 
 Doe's of the Shepheards : For his bed Friends, if they 
 Should fay be good to Rome, they charg'd him,euen 
 As thofe fhould do that had deferu'd his hate, 
 And therein fhew'd like Enemies. 
 
 eflfif.'Tis true, if he were putting to my houfe, the brand 
 That fhould confume it, I haue not the face 
 To fay, befeech you ceafe. You haue made faire hands, 
 You and your Crafts, you haue crafted faire. 
 
 COOT. You haue brought 
 A Trembling vpon Rome, fuch as was neuer 
 S'incapeable of helpe. 
 
 Tri. Say not, we brought it. 
 
 Mene. How? Was't we ? We lou'd him, 
 But like Beafts, and Cowardly Nobles, 
 Gaue way vnto your Clufters, who did hoote 
 Him out o'th'Citty. 
 
 Com. But I feare 
 
 They'l roare him in againe. Tullut Auffid'nu t 
 The fecond name of men, obeyes his points 
 As if he were his Officer : Defperation, 
 Is all the Policy, Strength, and Defence 
 That Rome can make againft them. 
 
 Enter a Troope of Citizens. 
 
 Mene. Heere come the Clufters. 
 And is Auffidiw with him ? You are they 
 That made the Ayre vnwholfome, when you caft 
 Your ftinking, greafie Caps, in hooting 
 At Coriolantu Exile. Now he's comming,} 
 And not a haire vpon a Souldiers head 
 Which will not proue a whip : As many Coxcombes 
 As you threw Caps vp,will he tumble downe, 
 And pay you for your voyces. 'Tis no matter, 
 If he could burne vs all into oue coale, 
 We haue deferu'd it. 
 
 Omnes. Faith, we heare fearfull Newes. 
 
 1 Cit, For mine owne part, 
 
 When I faid banifh him, I faid 'twas pitty. 
 
 2 And fo did I. 
 
 3 And fo did I : and to fay the truth, fo did very ma- 
 ny of vs, that we did we did for the beft,and though wee 
 willingly confented to his Banifhment,yet it was againft 
 our will. 
 
 Com. Y'are goodly things, you Voyces. 
 
 Mene. You haue made good worke 
 You and your cry. Shal's to the Capitoll? 
 
 COOT. Oh I, what elfe i Exeunt both. 
 
 Sicin. Go Mafters get you home, be not difmaid, 
 Thefe are a Side, that would be glad to haue 
 This true, which they fo feeme to feare. Go home, 
 And fhew no figne of Feare. 
 
 i. Cit.
 
 The Tragedie of fyriolanus. 
 
 2 5 
 
 1 ;>. The Gods bee good to vs : Come Mafters let's 
 home, I euer faid we were i'th wrong, when we banifh'd 
 him. 
 
 2 C't- So did we all. But come, let's home. Exit Cit. 
 Bra. I do not like this Newes. 
 
 Sicia. Nor I. 
 
 *Bru, Let's to the Capitoll: would halfe my wealth 
 Would buy this for a lye. 
 
 Sicia. Pray let's go. Exeunt Tribunes, 
 
 Enter A'jffidlui with bis Lieutenant. 
 
 Auf. Do they ftiil flye to'th'Roman ? 
 
 Lieu. I do not know what Witchcraft's in him : but 
 Your Soldiers vfe him as the Grace 'fore meate, 
 Their talke at Table, and their Thankes at end, 
 And you are darkned in this adlion Sir, 
 Euen by your owne. 
 
 Auf. I cannot helpe it now, 
 Vnlefle by vfing meanes I lame the foote 
 Of our defigne. He beares himfelfe more proudlier, 
 Euen to my perfon, then I thought he would 
 When firft I did embrace him. Yet his Nature 
 In that's no Changeling, and I muft excufe 
 What cannot be amended. 
 
 Lieu. Yet I wifli Sir, 
 (\ meane for your particular) you had not 
 loyn'd in Commifiion with him : but either haue borne 
 The action of your felfe, or elfe to him, had left it foly. 
 
 tAuf. I vnderftand thee well, and be thou fure 
 When he ihall come to his account, he knowes not 
 What I can vrge againft him, although it feemes 
 And fo he thinkes, and is no lefle apparant 
 To th'vulgar eye, that he beares all things fairely : 
 And fhewes good Husbandry for the Volcian State, 
 Fights Dragon-like, and does atcheeue as foone 
 As draw his Sword : yet he hath left vndone 
 That which (hall breake his necke, or hazard mine, 
 When ere we come to our account. 
 
 Lieu. Sir, I befeech you, think you he'l carry Rome ? 
 
 Auf. All places yeelds to him ere he fits downe, 
 And theiNobility of Rome are his : 
 The Senators and Patricians loue him too : 
 The Tribunes are no Soldiers : and their people 
 Will be as rafh in the repeale, as hafty 
 To expell him thence. 1 thinke hee'l be to Rome 
 As is the Afpray to the Fifh, who takes it 
 By Soueraignty of Nature. Firft, he was 
 A Noble feruant to them, but he could not 
 Carry his Honors eeuen : whether 'was Pride 
 Which out of dayly Fortune euer taints 
 The happy man ; whether detect of iudgement, 
 To faile in the difpofing of thofe chances 
 Which he was Lord of: or whether Nature, 
 Not to be other then one thing, not moouing 
 From th'Caske to th'Cufliion : but commanding peace 
 Euen with the fame aufterity and garbe, 
 As he controll'd the warre. But one of thefe 
 (As he hath fpices of them all) not all, 
 For I dare fo farre free him, made him fear'd, 
 So hated, and fo banifh'd: but he ha's a Merit 
 To choake it in the vtt'rance : So our Vertue, 
 Lie in th'interpretation of the time, 
 And power vnto it felfe moft commendable, 
 Hath not a Tombe fo euident as a Chaire 
 T'extoll what it hath done. 
 
 One fire driues out one fire ; one Naile,one Naile ; 
 Rights by rights fouler, flrengths by ftrengths do faile. 
 
 613 
 
 Come let's away : when Caiut Rome is thine, 
 
 Thou art poor'ft of all; then fhortly art thou mine.exeunt 
 
 A5lus Quintus. 
 
 Enter Menenius, Cominiui, Scintui f Brutus t 
 
 the treo Tribunes, with others. 
 
 Mtnen. No, He not go: you heare what he hath faid 
 Which was fometime his Generall : who loued him 
 In a moft deere particular. He call'd me Father : 
 But what o'that ? Go you that banifh'd him 
 A Mile before his Tent, fall downe, and knee 
 The way into his mercy : Nay, if he coy'd 
 To heare Cominius fpeake, He keepe at home. 
 
 Com. He would not feeme to know me. 
 
 Menen. Do you heare ? 
 
 Com. Yet one time he did call me by my name : 
 I vrg'd our old acquaintance, and the drops 
 That we haue bled together. CorioIanM 
 He would not anfwer too : Forbad all Names, 
 He was a kinde of Nothing, Titlelefle, 
 Till he had forg'd himfelfe a name a'th'fire 
 Of burning Rome. 
 
 Menen. Why fo : you haue made good worke : 
 A paire of Tribunes, that haue wrack'd for Rome, 
 To make Coales cheape : A Noble memory. 
 
 Com. 1 minded him, how Royall 'twas to patdon 
 When it was lefle expected. He replyed 
 It was a bare petition of a State 
 To one whom they had punifh'd. 
 
 Menen. Very well, could he fay leffe. 
 
 Com. I offered to awaken his regard 
 For's priuate Friends. His anfwer to me was 
 He could not ftay to picke them, in a pile 
 Of noyfome mufty Chaffe. He faid, 'twas folly 
 For one poore graine or two, to leaue vnburnt 
 And ftill to nofe th'offence. 
 
 Menen. For one poore graine or two ? 
 I am one of thofe : hi* Mother, Wife, his Childe, 
 And this braue Fellow too : we are the Graines, 
 You are the mufty Chaffe, and you are fmelt 
 Aboue the Moone. We muft be burnt for you. 
 
 Sicin. Nay, pray be patient: If you refuie your ayde 
 In this fo neuer-needed helpe, yet do not 
 Vpbraid's with our diftrefle. But fure if you 
 Would be your Countries Pleader, your good tongue 
 More then the inftant Armie we can make 
 Might ftop our Countryman. 
 
 <&fene. No : He not meddle. 
 
 Scin. Pray you go to him. 
 
 Mene. What ftiould I do f 
 
 Bru. Onely make triall what your Loue can do, 
 For Rome, to wards Martitu. 
 
 cflfene. Well, and fay that Martini returne mee, 
 As ominius is return'd, vnheard: what then ? 
 But as a difcontented friend, greefe-fhot 
 With his vnkindnefle. Say't be fo f 
 
 Sicin. Yet your good will 
 
 Muft haue that thankes from Rome, after the meafure 
 As you intended well. 
 
 Mene. He vndertak't : 
 
 I thinke hee'l heare me. Yet to bite his lip, 
 And humme at good Cominitu, much vnhearts mee. 
 
 c c Hee
 
 26 
 
 'The Tragedie of Qoriolanus . 
 
 He was not taken well, be had not din'd, 
 The Veines vnfill'd, our blood is cold, and then 
 We powt vpon the Morning, are vnapt 
 To giue or to forgiue; but when we haue ftufft 
 Thefe Pipes, and thefe Conueyances of our blood 
 With Wine and Feeding, we haue fuppler Scules 
 Then in our Prieft-like Fafts: therefore He watch him 
 Till he be dieted to my requeft, 
 And then He fet vpon him. 
 
 'Bru. You know the very rode into his kindnefle, 
 And cannot lofe your way. 
 
 Mene. Good faith He proue him, 
 Speed how it will. I fhall ere long, haue knowledge 
 Of my fuccefTe. Exit. 
 
 Com. Hee'l neuer heare him. 
 
 Sicin. Not. ' 
 
 Com. 1 tell you, he doe's fit in Gold, his eye 
 Red as 'twould burne Rome : and his Iniury 
 The Gaoler to his pitty. I kneel'd before him, 
 Twas very faintly he faid Rife: difmift me 
 Thus with his fpeechleffe hand. What he would do 
 He fent in writing after me t what he would not, 
 Bound with an Oath to yeeld to his conditions: 
 So that all hope is vaine, vnlefle his Noble Mother, 
 And his Wife, who (as I heare) meane to fohcite him 
 For mercy to his Countrey : therefore let's hence, 
 And with our faire intreaties haft them on. Exeunt 
 
 Enter Menemui to the Watcb or Guard. 
 
 I.Wat. Stay: whence are you. 
 
 2. Wat. Stand, and go backe. 
 
 Me. You guard like men, 'tis well. But by your leaue, 
 I am an Officer of State, & come to fpeak with Coriolantu 
 i From whence ? Mere. From Rome. 
 
 1 You may not pafTe, you muft returne : our Generall 
 will no more heare from thence. 
 
 2 You'l fee your Rome embrac'd with fire, before 
 You'l fpeake with Coriolantu. 
 
 Mene. Good my Friends, 
 
 If you haue heard your Generall talke of Rome, 
 And of his Friends there, it is Lots to Blankes, 
 My name hath touch't your eares : it is Menenitu. 
 
 i Be it fo, go back: the vertue of your name, 
 Is not heere partible. 
 
 vMent. 1 tell thee Fellow, 
 Thy Generall is my Louer : I haue beene 
 The booke of his good Ab, whence men haue read 
 His Fame vnparalell'd, happely amplified : 
 For I haue euer verified my Friends, 
 (Of whom hee's cheefe) with all the fize that verity 
 Would without lapfing fufter : Nay, fometimes, 
 Like to a Bowie vpon a fubtle ground 
 I haue tumbled part the throw : and in his praife 
 Haue (almoft) ftampt the Leafing. Therefore Fellow, 
 I muft haue leaue to pafle. 
 
 1 Faith Sir, if you had told as many lies in his behalfe, 
 as you haue vttered words in your owne, you fhould not 
 pafle heere : no, though it were as vertuous to lye, as to 
 Hue chaftly. Therefore go backe. 
 
 Men. Pry thee fellow, remember my name is Menenitu, 
 alwayes faftionary on the party of your General]. 
 
 2 Howfoeuer you haue bin his Lier, as you fay you 
 haue, I am one that telling true vnder him, muft fay you 
 cannot pafle. Therefore go backe. 
 
 Mene. Ha's he din'd can'ft thou tell? For I would not 
 fpeake with him, till after dinner. 
 I You are a Roman, are you ? 
 
 Mene. I am as thy Generall is. 
 
 I Then you fhould hate Rome, as he do's. Can you, 
 when you haue pufht out your gates, the very Defender 
 of them, and in a violent popular ignorance, giuen your 
 enemy your fhield, thinke to front his reuenges with the 
 eafie groanes of old women, the Virginall Palms of your 
 daughters, tor with the palfied interceffion of fuch a de- 
 cay'd Dotant as you feeme to be? Can you think to blow 
 out the intended fire, your City is ready to flame in, with 
 fuch weake breath as this? No, you are deceiu'd, therfore 
 backe to Rome, and prepare for your execution : you are 
 condemn'd, our Generall has fworne you out of repreeue 
 and pardon. 
 
 Mene. Sirra, if thy Captaine knew I were heere, 
 He would vie me with eftimation. 
 
 I Come, my Captaine knowes you not. 
 
 Mene. I meane thy Generall. 
 
 I My Generall cares not for you. Back I fay, go : leaft 
 I let forth your halfe pinte of blood. Backe, that's the vt- 
 moft of your hauing, backe. 
 
 Mene. Nay but Fellow, Fellow. 
 
 Enter Corlolanus tritb lAuffidiui. 
 
 Carlo. What's the matter ? 
 
 Mene.Now you Companion: lie fay an arrant for you : 
 you fhall know now that I am in eftimation : you fhall 
 perceiue, that a lacke gardant cannot office me from my 
 Son Coriolanitf, guefle but my entertainment with him: if 
 thou ftand'ft not i'th ftate of hanging, or of fome death 
 more long in Sped~tatorfhip,and crueller in fuffering, be- 
 hold now prefently, and fwoond for what's to come vpon 
 thee. The glorious Gods fit in hourely Synod about thy 
 particular, profperity, and loue thee no worfe then thy old 
 Father Mertenitu do's. O my Son, my Son ' thou arc pre- 
 paring fire for vs : looke thee, heere's water to quench it. 
 I was hardly moued to come to thee : but beeing aflured 
 none but my felfe could moue thee, I haue bene blowne 
 out of your Gates with fighes : and coniure thee to par- 
 don Rome, and thy petitionary Countrirr.en. The good 
 Gods aflwage thy wrath, and turne the dregs of it, vpon 
 this Varlet heere : This, who like a blocke hath denyed 
 my accefle to thee. 
 
 Corio, Away. 
 
 Mene. How? Away ? 
 
 Corio. Wife, Mother, Child, I know not. My affaires 
 Are Seruanted to others : Though I owe 
 My Reuenge properly, my remiflion lies 
 In Volcean brefts. That we haue beene familiar, 
 Ingrate forgetfulnefle fliall poifon rather 
 Then pitty : Note how much, (therefore be gone. 
 Mine eares againft your fuites, are ftronger then 
 Your gates againft my force. Yet for I loued thee, 
 Take this along, I writ it for thy fake, 
 And would haue fent it. Another word Menemus t 
 I will not heare thee fpeake. This man Auffidlia 
 Was my belou'd in Rome : yet thou behold'ft. 
 
 Auffid. You keepe a conftant temper. Exeunt 
 
 Manet the Guard and Meneniui . 
 
 1 Now fir, is your name Meneniia ? 
 
 2 'Tis a fpell you fee of much power : 
 You know the way home againe. 
 
 1 Do you heare how wee are fhent for keeping your 
 greatnefTe backe ? 
 
 2 What caufe do you thinke I haue to fwoond? 
 Menen. I neither care for th' world, nor your General : 
 
 for fuch things as you, I can fcarfe thinke ther's any,y'are 
 fo flight. He that hath a will to die by himfelfe, feares it 
 
 not 
 
 624
 
 The Tragedie of Qorwlanus. 
 
 27 
 
 not from another : Let your Generall do his worft. For 
 you, bee that you are, i long ; and your mifery encreafe 
 with your age. I fay to you, as I was faid to, Away. Exit 
 
 1 A Noble Fellow I warrant him. 
 
 2 The worthy Fellow is our General. He's the Rock, 
 The Oake not to be winde-fhaken. Exit Watch. 
 
 Enter Corklanut and Auffldiui. 
 
 Cork. We will before the walls of Rome to morrow 
 Set downe our Hoaft. My partner in this Action, 
 You muft report to th'Volcian Lords, how plainly 
 I haue borne this Bufinefie. 
 
 Auf.. Onely their ends you haue refpected, 
 Stopt your eares againft the generall fuite of Rome : 
 Neuer admitted a priuat whifper, no not with fuch frends 
 That thought them fure of you. 
 
 Carlo. This laft old man, 
 
 Whom with a crack'd heart I haue fent to Rome, 
 Lou'd me, aboue the meafure of a Father, 
 Nay godded me indeed. Their lateft refuge 
 Was to fend him : for whofe old Loue I haue 
 (Though I ftiew'd fowrely to him} once more offer'd 
 The firft Conditions which they did refufe, 
 And cannot now accept, to grace him onely, 
 That thought he could do more : A very little 
 I haue yeelded too. Frefh .Embafies, and Suites, 
 Nor from the State, nor priuate friends heereafter 
 Will I lend eare to. Ha?what ihout is this ? Shout within 
 Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow 
 In the fame time 'tis made? I will not. 
 
 Enter Virgilla , Volumnia flJaleria, yong Martitu , 
 
 with Attendants. 
 
 My wife comes formoft, then the honour'd mould 
 Wherein this Trunke was fram'd, and in her hand 
 The Grandchilde to her blood. But out affection^ 
 All bond and priuiledge of Nature breake ; 
 Let it be Vertuous to be Obftinate. 
 What is that Curt'fie worth? Or thofe Doues eyes, 
 Which can make Gods forfworne ? I melt, and am not 
 Of ftronger earth then others: my Mother bowes, 
 As if Olympus to a Mole-hill fhould 
 In fupplication Nod : and my yong Boy- 
 Hath an Afpedt of intercefsion, which 
 Great Nature cries, Deny not. Let the Voices 
 Plough Rome, and harrow Italy, He neuer 
 Be fuch a Gofling to obey inftinct; but ftand 
 As if a man were Author of himfelf,& knew no other kin 
 
 Virgil. My Lord and Husband. 
 
 Cork, Thefe eyes are not the fame I wore in Rome.'- 
 
 Virg. The forrow that deliuers vs thus chang'd, 
 Makes you thinke fo. 
 
 Corio. Like a dull Actor now, I haue forgot my part, 
 And I am out, euen to a full Difgrace. Beft of my Flefh, 
 Forgiue my Tyranny : but do not fay, 
 For thatforgiue our Romanes. O a kifle 
 Long as my Exile, fweet as my Reuenge [ 
 Now by the iealous Queene of Heauen, that kifie- 
 I carried from thee deare ; and my true Lippe 
 Hath Virgin'd it ere fmce. You Gods, I pray, 
 And the moft noble Mother of the world 
 Leaue vnfaluted : Sinke my knee i'th 'earth, Kneetes 
 
 Of thy deepe duty, more imprefsion fhew 
 Then that of common Sonnes. 
 
 Volum. Oh ftand vp bleft I 
 Whil'ft with nofofter Cufhion then the Flint 
 I kneele before thee, and vnproperly 
 Shew duty as miftaken, all this while, 
 
 6z 5 
 
 Betweene the Childe,and Parent. 
 
 Carlo. What's this? your knees to me ? 
 To your Corrected Sonne ? 
 Then let the Pibbles on the hungry beach 
 Fillop the Starres : Then, let the mutinous windes 
 Strike the proud Cedars 'gainft the fiery Sun : 
 Murd'ring Impoffibility, to make 
 What cannot be, flight worke. 
 
 Volum. Thou art my Warriour, I hope to frame thee 
 Do you know this Lady ? 
 
 Corio. The Noble Sifter of Publicola ; 
 The Moone of Rome : Chafte as the Ificle 
 That's curdied by the Froft, from pureft Snow, 
 And hangs on Dlant Temple: Deere "Valeria. 
 
 Volum. This is a poore Epitome of yours, 
 Which by th'interpretation of full time, 
 May fhew like all your felfe. 
 
 Cork. The God of Souldiers : 
 With the confent of fupreame loue, informe 
 Thy thoughts with NoblenefTe, that thou mayft proue 
 To fhame vnvulnerable, and fticke i'th Warres 
 Like a great Sea-marke ftanding euery flaw, 
 And fauing thofe that eye thee. 
 
 Volum. Your knee, Sirrah. 
 
 Cork, That's my braue Boy. 
 
 Volum. Euen he, your wife, this Ladie,and my felfe, 
 Are Sutors to you. 
 
 Cork. I befeech you peace: 
 Or if you'ld aske, remember this before ; 
 The thing I haue forfworne to graunt, may neuer 
 Be held by you denials. Do not bid me 
 DifmifTe my Soldiers, or capitulate 
 Againe, with Romes Mechanickes . Tell me not 
 Wherein I feeme vnnaturall : Defire not t'allay 
 My Rages and Reuenges, with your colder reafons. 
 
 Volum. Oh no more, no more : 
 You haue faid you will not grant vs any thing : 
 For we haue nothing elfe to aske, but that 
 Which you deny already : yet we will aske, 
 That if you faile in our requeft, the blame 
 May hang vpon your hardnefTe, therefore heare vs. 
 
 Cork. Auffidius,zn& you Voices marke, for wee'l 
 Heare nought from Rome in priuate. Your requeft? 
 
 Volum. Should we be filent & not fpeak,our Raiment 
 And ftate of Bodies would bewray what life 
 We haue led fince thy Exile. Thinke with thy felfe, 
 How more vnfortunate then all liuing women 
 Are we come hither ; fince that thy fight, which fhould 
 Make our eies flow with ioy, harts dance with comforts, 
 Conftraines them weepe, and fhake with- feare & forow, 
 Making the Mother, wife, and Childe to fee, 
 The Sonne, the Husband, and the Father tearing 
 His Countries Bowels out; and to poore we 
 Thine enmities moft capitall : Thou barr'ft vs 
 Our prayers to the Gods, which is a comfort 
 That all but we enioy. For how can we ? 
 Alas! how cah we, for our Country pray? 
 Whereto we are bound, together with thy victory : 
 Whereto we are bound : Alacke,or we muft loofe 
 The Countrie our deere Nurfe, or elfe thy perfon 
 Our comfort in the Country. We muft finde 
 An euident Calamity, though we had 
 Our wifh, which fide moul^-Win.- For either thou 
 Muft as a Forraine Recreant be led 
 With Manacles through our ftreets, or elfe 
 Triumphantly treade on thy Countries ruine, 
 
 cc 2 And
 
 28 
 
 The T rage die of fyriolanus. 
 
 And beare the Palme, for hauing brauely flied 
 Thy Wife and Childrens blood : For my felfe, Sonne, 
 I purpofe not to waite on Fortune, till 
 Thefe warres determine : If I cannot perfwade thee, 
 Rather to fhew a Noble grace to both parts, 
 Then feeke the end of one 5 thou flialt no fooner 
 March to aflault thy Country, then to treade 
 (Truft too't, thou flialt not) on thy Mothers wombe 
 That brought thee to this world. 
 
 Virg. I, and mine, that brought you forth this boy, 
 To keepe your name liuing to time. 
 
 "Bey. A fliall not tread on me : He run away 
 Till I am bigger, but then He fight. 
 
 Cbr/'o. Not of a womans tendernefle to be, 
 Requires nor Childe, nor womans face to fee : 
 I haue fate too long. 
 
 Volum. Nay , go not from vs thus : 
 If it were Co, that our requeft did tend 
 To faue the Romanes, thereby to deftroy 
 The Voices whom you ferue, you might condemne vs 
 As poyfonous of your Honour. No, our fuite 
 Is that you reconcile them : While the Voices 
 May fay, this mercy we haue fhew'd : the Romanes, 
 This we receiu'd,and each in either fide 
 Giue the All-haile to thee, and cry be Bleft 
 For making vp this peace. Thou know'ft (great Sonne) 
 The end of Warres vncertaine : but this certaine, 
 That if thou conquer Rome, the benefit 
 Which thou /halt thereby reape, is fuch a name 
 Whofe repetition will be dogg'd with Curfes : 
 Whofe Chronicle thus writ, The man was Noble, 
 But with his laft Attempt, he wip'd it out: 
 Deftroy'd his Country, and his name remaines 
 To th'infuing Age,abhorr'd. Speake to me Son : 
 Thou haft affedled the fiue ftraines of Honor, 
 To imitate the graces of the Gods. 
 To teare with Thunder the wide Cheekes a'th'Ayre, 
 And yet to change thy Sulphure with a Boult 
 That (hould but riue an Oake. Why do'ft not fpeake ? 
 Think'ft thou it Honourable for a Nobleman 
 Still to remember wrongs / Daughter, fpeake you : 
 He cares not for your weeping. Speake thou Boy, 
 Perhaps thy childiflinefTe will rooue him more 
 Then can our Reafons. There's no man in the world 
 More bound to's Mother, yet heere he let's me prate 
 Like one i'th'Stockes. Thou haft neuer in thy life, 
 Shew'd thy deere Mother any curtefie, 
 When fhe(poore Hen^ fond of no fecond brood, 
 Ha's clock'd thee to the Warres : and fafelie home 
 Loden with Honor. Say my Requeft's vniuft, 
 And fpurne me backe : But, if it be not fo 
 Thou art not honeft, and the Gods will plague thee 
 That thou reftrain'ft from me the Duty, which 
 To a Mothers part belongs. He turnes away : 
 Down Ladies: let vs fliame him with him withlour knees 
 To his fur-name C^ridantu longs more pride 
 Then pitty to our Prayers. Downe : an end, 
 This is the laft. So, we will home to Rome, 
 And dye among our Neighbours : Nay, behold's, 
 This Boy that cannot tell what he would haue, 
 But kneeles, and holds vp hands for fellowship, 
 Doe's reafon our Petition with more ftrength 
 Then thou hafttodeny't. Come, let vs go : 
 This Fellow had a Volcean to his Mother: 
 His Wife is in Corioles, and his Childe 
 Like him by chance : yet giue vsour difpatch : 
 
 I am huflit vntill our City be afire, & then He fpeak a Title 
 Holds her by the bandjiltnt. 
 
 Corio. O Mother, Mother 1 
 
 What haue you done ? Behold, the Heauens do ope, 
 The Gods looke downe, and this vnnaturall Scene 
 They laugh at. Oh my Mother, Mother : Oh I 
 You haue wonne a happy Victory to Rome. 
 But for your Sonne, beleeue it :Oh beleeue it, 
 Moft dangeroufly you haue with him preuail'd, 
 If not moft morrall to him. Butlet it come : 
 AuffidiuJ) though I cannot make true Warres, 
 He frame conuenient peace. Now good 
 Were you in my fteed, would you haue heard 
 A Mother lefle? or granted leffe AuffidiuA ? 
 
 Auf. I was mou'd withall. 
 
 Corio. I dare be fworne you were : 
 And fir, it is no little thing to make 
 Mine eyes to fweat compafiion. But (good fir) 
 What peace you'l make,aduife me :For my part, 
 He not to Rome, He backe with you, and pray you 
 Stand to me in this caufe. Oh Mother! Wife ! 
 
 Auf. I am glad thou haft fet thy mercy, & thy Honor 
 At difference in thee : Out of that He worke 
 My felfe a former Fortune. 
 
 Cork. I by and by ; But we will drinke together : 
 And you fliall beare 
 
 A better witnefle backe then words, which we 
 On like conditions, will haue Counter-feal'd. 
 Come enter with vs : Ladies you deferue 
 To haue a Temple built you : All the Swords 
 In Italy, and her Confederate Armes 
 Could not haue made this peace. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Mencniui and Sciniiu. (ftone ? 
 
 Mene. See you yon'd Coin a'th Capitol, yon'd corner 
 
 Sicin. Why what of that ? 
 
 Mene. If it be poflible for you to difplace it with your 
 little finger, there is fome hope the Ladies of Rome,efpe- 
 cially his Mother, may preuaile with him. But 1 fay, there 
 is no hope in't, our throats are fentenc'd, and ftay vppon 
 extcution. 
 
 Sicin. Is't pofsible, that fo fliort a time can alter the 
 condition of a man. 
 
 Mene. There is differency between a Grub & a But- 
 terfly, yet your Butterfly wa? a Grub : this cflfartius, is 
 growne from Man to Dragon : He has wings, hee's more 
 then a creeping thing. 
 
 Sicin. He lou'd his Mother deerely. 
 
 Mene. So did he mee : and he no more remembers his 
 Mother now, then an eight yeare old horfe. The tartnefle 
 of his face,fowres ripe Grapes. When he walks, he moues 
 like an Engine, and the ground flirinkes before his Trea- 
 ding. He is able to pierce a Corilet with his eye : Talkes 
 like a knell, and his hum is a Battery. He fits in his State, 
 as a thing made for Alexander. What he bids bee done, is 
 finiflit with his bidding. He wants nothing of a God but 
 Eternity, and a Heauen to Throne in. 
 
 Sicin. Yes,mercy,if you report him truly. 
 
 Mene. I paint him in the Character. Mark what mer- 
 cy his Mother fliall bring from him : There is no more 
 mercy in him, then there is milke in a male-Tyger, that 
 fliall our poore City finde : and all this is long of you. 
 
 Scin. The Gods be good vnto vs. 
 
 Mene. No, in fuch a cafe the Gods will not bee good 
 vnto vs. When we banifli'd him, we refpedled not them : 
 and he returning to breake our necks, they refpedl not vs. 
 Enter a MeJJ'enger. 
 
 Me/.
 
 The Tragedie of fyriolanus. 
 
 29 
 
 Mef. Sir, if you'ld faue your life, flye to your Hcufe, 
 The Plebeians haue got your Fellow Tribune, 
 And hale him vp and downe ; all fwearing, if 
 The Romane Ladies bring not comfort home, 
 They'l giue him death by Inches. 
 
 Enter another Meffenger. 
 
 Skin. What's the Newes ? (preuayl'd, 
 
 Meff. Good Newes, good newes, the Ladies haue 
 The Volcians are difiodg'd, and Martius gone : 
 A merrier day did neuer yet greet Rome, 
 No,not th'expulfion of the Tar quint. 
 
 Sicin. Friend, art thou certaine this is true ? 
 Is't moft certaine. 
 
 Mef. As certaine as I know the Sun is fire : 
 Where haue you lurk'd that you make doubt of it : 
 Ne're through an Arch fo hurried the blowne Tide, 
 As the recomforted through th'gates. Why harke you : 
 Trumpets, Hoboyes, 'Drums beate, altogether. 
 The Trumpets, Sack-buts, Pfalteries,and Fifes, 
 Tabors, and Symboles,and the fliowting Romans; 
 Make the Sunne dance. Hearke you. Ajhout within 
 
 Mene. This is good Newes : 
 I will go meete the Ladies. This Volumnia, 
 Is worth of Confuls, Senators, Patricians, 
 A City full :Of Tribunes fuch as you, 
 A Sea and Land full : you haue pray'd well to day : 
 This Morning, for ten thoufand of your throates, 
 I'de not haue giuen a doit. Harke, how they ioy. 
 
 Sound flill nitb the Shouts. 
 
 Skin. Firft, the Gods blefle you for your tydings : 
 Next,acceptmy thankefulneffe. 
 
 Mejf. Sir, we haue all great caufe to giue great thanks. 
 
 Sicin. They are neere the City. 
 
 Mef. Almoft at point to enter. 
 
 Sicin. Wee'l meet them, and helpe the ioy. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter two Senators, with Ladies, pofsing ouer 
 the Stage, toitb other Lordi. 
 
 Sena. Behold our Patronnefie, the life of Rome : 
 Call all your Tribes together, praife the Gods, 
 And make triumphant fires, ftrew Flowers before them : 
 Vnftioot the noife that Banifli'd Martius; 
 Repeale him, with the welcome of his Mother : 
 Cry welcome Ladies, welcome. 
 
 All. Welcome Ladies, welcome. 
 
 A Flourish with Drummes & Trumpets. 
 
 Enter Tullus tAuff'idmsfvitb Attendants. 
 Auf. Go tell the Lords a'th'City, I am heere : 
 Deliuer them this Paper : hauing read it, 
 Bid them repayre to th'Market place, where I 
 Euen in theirs, and in the Commons eares 
 Will vouch the truth of it. Him I accufe : 
 The City Ports by this hath enter'd, and 
 Intends t'appeare before the People, hoping 
 To purge himfelfe with words. Diipatch. 
 
 Enter 3 or 4 Qonjpirators of Auffidius FacJion. 
 Moft Welcome. 
 
 i. Con. How is it with our Generall ? 
 
 Auf. Euen fo,as with a man by his owne Almes im- 
 poyfon'd, and with his Charity flaine. 
 
 z.Con.Mofi Noble Sir, If you do hold the fame intent 
 Wherein you wifht vs parties : Wee'l deliuer you 
 Of your great danger. 
 
 Auf. Sir, I cannot tell, 
 
 6a 7 
 
 We muft proceed as we do finde the People. 
 
 3. Con. The People will remaine vncertaine, whil'ft 
 'Twixt you there's difference : but the fall of either 
 Makes the Suruiuor heyre of all. 
 
 Auf. I know it : 
 
 And my pretext to ftrike at him, admits 
 A good conftrudlion. I rais'd him, and I pawn'd 
 Mine Honor for his truth : who being fo heighten'd, 
 He watered his new Plants with dewes of Flattery, 
 Seducing fo my Friends : and to this end, 
 He bow'd his Nature, neuer knowne before, 
 But to be rough, vnfwayable,and free. 
 
 ^.Conjp. Sir, his ftoutnefle 
 When he did ftand for Confull, which he loft 
 By lacke of ftooping. 
 
 Auf. That I would haue fpoke'of : 
 Being banifli'd for't, he came vnto my Harth, 
 Preiented to my knife his Throat : I tooke him, 
 Made him ioynt-feruant with me : Gaue him way 
 In all his owne defires : Nay, let him choofe 
 Out of my Files, his proie6b,to accomplifh 
 My beft and frefheft men, feru'd his defignements 
 In mine owne perfon : holpe to reape the Fame 
 Which he did end all his; and tooke fome pride 
 To do my felfe this wrong : Till at the laft 
 I feem'd his Follower, not Partner; and 
 He wadg'd me with his Countenance, as if 
 I had bin Mercenary. 
 
 i. Con. So he did my Lord : 
 The Army marueyl'd at it, and in the laft, 
 When he had carried Rome, and that we look'd 
 For no lefle Spoile, then Glory. 
 
 Auf. There was it : 
 
 For which my finewes fhall be ftretcht vpon him, 
 At a few drops of Womens rhewme, which are 
 Ascheape as Lies; he fold the Blood and Labour 
 Of our great Adlion; therefore lhall he dye, 
 And lie renew me in his fall. But hearke. 
 
 Drummes and Trumpets founds, mitb great 
 Jbotfts of the people. 
 
 1. Con. Your Natiue Towne you enter'd like a Pofte, 
 And had no welcomes home, but he returnes 
 Splitting the Ayre with noyfe. 
 
 2. Con. And patient Fooles, 
 
 Whofe children he hath flaine, their bafe throats teare 
 With giuing him glory. 
 
 3. C>jn. Therefore at your vantage, 
 
 Ere he exprefie himfelfe, or moue the people 
 With what he would fay, let him feele your Sword: 
 Which we will fecond, when he lies along 
 After your way. His Tale pronounc'd, fhall bury 
 His Reafons, with his Body. 
 
 Auf, Say no more. Heere come the Lords, 
 Enter the Lords of the City. 
 
 All Lords. You are moft welcome home. 
 
 Auff, I haue not deferu'd it. 
 But worthy Lords, haue you with heede perufed 
 What I haue written to you ? 
 
 All. We haue. 
 
 i. Lord. And greeue to heare't: 
 What faults he made before the laft, I thinke 
 Might haue found eafie Fines : But there to end 
 Where he was to begin, and giue away 
 .The benefit of our Leuies, anfwering vs 
 With our owne charge : making a Treatie, where 
 There was a yeelding; this admits no excufe. 
 
 c c 3 Auf.
 
 3 
 
 The Tragedie of Qoriolanus. 
 
 Auf. He approaches, you /hall heare him. 
 Enter Corlolantu marching with Drumme , and Colours. Toe 
 Commoners being with him. 
 
 Carlo. Haile Lords, I am return'd your Souldier : 
 No more infected with my Countries loue 
 Then when I parted hence : but ftill fubfifting 
 Vnder your great Command. You are to know, 
 That profperoufly I haue attempted, and 
 With bloody paflage led your Warres, euen to 
 The gates of Rome : Our fpoiles we haue brought home 
 Doth more then counterpoize a full third part 
 The charges of the Action. We haue made peace 
 With no lefle Honor to the Antiates 
 Then fhame to th'Romaines. And we heere deliuer 
 Subfcrib'd by'th'Confuls, and Patricians, 
 Together with the Scale a'th Senat,what 
 We haue compounded on. 
 
 Auf. Read it not Noble Lords, 
 But tell the Traitor in the higheft degree 
 He hath abus'd your Powers. 
 
 Cor/0. Traitor? How now? 
 Auf. I Traitor, Martiuf. 
 
 Carlo. Martini ? 
 
 Auf. I Martiut) Caius Martiut : Do'ft thou thinke 
 He grace thee with that Robbery, thy ftolne name 
 Corlolanui in Coriofes ? 
 
 You Lords and Heads a'th'State,perfidioufly 
 He ha's betray'd your bufinefie ,and giuen vp 
 For certaine drops of Salt, your City Rome : 
 I fay your City to his Wife and Mother, 
 Breaking his Oath and Refolution, like 
 A twift of rotten Silke, neuer admitting 
 Counfaile a'th'warre : But at his Nurfes teares 
 He whin'd and roar'd away your Victory, 
 That Pages blufh'd at him, and men of heart 
 Look'd wond'ring each at others. 
 
 Cork. Hear'ft thou Mars ? 
 
 tAuf. Name not the God, thou boy of Teares. 
 
 Corio. Ha ? 
 
 Aufid. No more. 
 
 Corio. Meafurelefle Lyar, thou haft made my heart 
 Too great for what containes it. Boy? Oh Slaue, 
 Pardon me Lords, 'tis the firft time that euer 
 I was forc'd to fcoul'd.Your iudgments my graue Lords 
 Muft giue this Curre the Lye : and his owne Notion, 
 Who weares my ftripes impreft vpon him, that 
 Muft beare my beating to his Graue, (hall ioyne 
 To thruft the Lye vnto him. 
 
 I Lord. Peace both, and heare me fpeake. 
 
 Carlo. Cut me to peeces Voices men and Lads, 
 Staine all your edges on me. Boy, falfe Hound : 
 If you haue writ your Annales true, 'tis there, 
 That like an Eagle in a Doue-coat, I 
 
 Flatter'd your Volcians in Corioles. 
 Alone I did it, Boy. 
 
 tAuf. Why Noble Lords, 
 Will you be put in minde of his blinde Fortune, 
 Which was your lhame, by this vnholy Braggart? 
 'Fore your owne eyes, and eares ? 
 
 cAll Conjp . Let him dye for't. 
 
 All People. Teare him to peeces, do it prefently : 
 He kilFd mySonne, my daughter, he kill'd my Cofine 
 Marcus, he kill'd my Father. 
 
 2 Lord. Peace hoe : no outrage, peace : 
 The man is Noble, and his Fame folds in 
 This Orbe o'th'earth : His laft offences to vs 
 Shall haue Judicious hearing. Stand Auffldltu, 
 And trouble not the peace. 
 
 Corio. O that I had him, with fix Auff"idiuJJes,or more : 
 His Tribe, to vfe my lawfull Sword, 
 
 Auf. Infolent Villaine. 
 
 AllConft. Kill,kill,kill,kill,kill him. 
 
 Draif both the Conjj>lrators, and l^ils cflfartiut , who 
 falles, A'jffldiM ftands on him. 
 
 Lords. Hold, hold, hold, hold. 
 
 Auf. My Noble Mafters, heare me fpeake. 
 i. Lord. O Tullut. 
 
 z. Lord. Thou haft done a deed, whereat 
 Valour will weepe. 
 
 ^.Lord. Tread not vpon him Mafters,all be quiet 
 Put vp your Swords. 
 
 Auf. My Lords, 
 
 When you ftiall know (as in this Rage 
 Prouok'd by him, you cannot^ the great danger 
 Which this mans life did owe you, you'l reioyce 
 That he is thus cut off. Pleafe it your Honours 
 To call me toyour Senate, lie deliuer . 
 My felfe your loyall Seruant, or endure 
 Your heauieft Cenfure. 
 
 i.Lord. Beare from hence his body, 
 And mourne you for him. Let him be regarded 
 As the moft Noble Coarfe, that euer Herald 
 Did follow to his Vrne. 
 
 2. Lord. His owne impatience, 
 Takes from Auffldlui a great part of blame : 
 Let's make the Beftofit. 
 
 Auf. My Rage is gone, 
 
 And I am ftrucke with forrow. Take him vp : 
 Helpe three a'th'cheefeft Souldiers,Ile be one. 
 Beate thou the Drumme that it fpeake mournfully : 
 Traile your fteele Pikes. Though in this City hee 
 Hath widdowed and vnchilded many a one, 
 Which to this houre bewaile the Iniury, 
 Yet he fliall haue a Noble Memory. Aflift. 
 
 Exeunt tearing the 'Body of Martiut. A dead March 
 Sounded. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 3 1 
 
 The Lamentable Tragedy of 
 
 Titus Andronicus. 
 
 <iA5ius Primus. Scana ^Prima. 
 
 Flourijh. Enter the Tribunes and Senators aloft And then 
 
 enter Saturninus and kis Followers at one doore, 
 
 and 'Safsianus and his Followers at the 
 
 other, fcitb "Drum & Colours. 
 
 Saturninus. 
 
 Oble Patricians, Patrons of my right, 
 Defend the iuftice of my Caufe with Armes. 
 And Countrey-men, my louing Followers, 
 Pleade my Succeffiue Title with your Swords. 
 
 I was the firft borne Sonne, that was the laft 
 
 That wore the Imperiall Diadem of Rome : 
 
 Then let my Fathers Honours liue in me, 
 
 Nor wrong mine Age with this indignitie. 
 'Bajsianus. Romaines, Friends, Followers, 
 
 Fauourers of my Right : 
 
 If euer 'Bajsianus, Ciffars Sonne, 
 
 Were gracious in the eyes of Royall Rome, 
 
 Keepe then this paflage to the Capitoll : 
 
 And fuffer not Dishonour to approach 
 
 Th'Imperiall Seate to Vertue : confecrate 
 
 To Iuftice, Continence, and Nobility : 
 
 But Jet Defert in pure Election fhine ; 
 
 And Romanes, fight for Freedome in your Choice. 
 
 Enter Marcus Andronicus aloft -Kith the Crtmne. 
 
 Princes, that ftriue by Factions, and by Friends, 
 
 Ambitioufly for Rule and Empery : 
 
 Know, that the people of Rome for whom we ftand 
 
 A fpeciall Party, haue by Common voyce 
 
 In Election for the Romane Emperie, 
 
 Chofen Andronicus, Sur-named "Pious, 
 
 For many good and great deferts to Rome. 
 
 A Nobler man, a brauer Warriour, 
 
 Liues not this day within the City Walles. 
 
 He by the Senate is accited home^ 
 
 From weary Warres againft the barbarous Gothes, 
 
 That with his Sonnes (a terror to our Foes) 
 
 Hath yoak'd a Nation ftrong, train'd vp in Armes. 
 
 Ten yeares are fpent, fince firft he vndertooke 
 
 This Caufe of Rome, and chafticed with Armes 
 
 Our Enemies pride. Fiue times he hath return'd 
 
 Bleeding to Rome, bearing his Valiant Sonnes 
 
 In Coffins from the Field. 
 
 And now at laft, laden with Honours Spoyles, 
 
 Returnes the good Andronicus to Rome, 
 
 Renowned Titus, flourishing in Armes. 
 
 Let vs intreat, by Honour of his Name, 
 Whom (worthily) you would haue now fucceede, 
 And in the Capitoll and Senates right, 
 Whom you pretend to Honour and Adore, 
 That you withdraw you, and abate your Strength, 
 Difmifle your Followers, and as Suters fhould, 
 Pleade your Deferts in Peace and Humblenefle. 
 
 Saturnine. How fayre the Tribune fpeakes, 
 To calme my thoughts. 
 
 Bafsia. fftfarcus Andronicus, fo I do affie 
 In thy vprightnefle and Integrity : 
 And fb I Loue and Honor thee, and thine, 
 Thy Noble Brother Titus, and his Sonnes, 
 And Her (to whom my thoughts are humbled all) 
 Gracious Lautnia, Romes rich Ornament, 
 That I will heere difmifle my louing Friends : 
 And to my Fortunes, and the Peoples Fauour, 
 Commit my Caufe in ballance to be weigh'd. 
 
 Exit Souldiours. 
 
 Saturnine. Friends, that haue beene 
 Thus forward in my Right, 
 I thanke you all, and heere Difmifle you all, 
 And to the Loue and Fauour of my Countrey, 
 Commit my Selfe, my Perfon, and the Caufe : 
 Rome, be as iuft and gracious vnto me, 
 As I am confident and kinde to thee. 
 Open the Gates, and let me in. 
 
 'Bafsia. Tribunes, and me, a poore Competitor. 
 
 Flourijh. They go -vp into the Senat boi/fe. 
 
 Enter a Captaine. 
 
 Cap. Romanes make way : the good Andronicus, 
 Patron of Vertue, Romes beft Champion, 
 Succeflefull in the Battailes that he fights, 
 With Honour and with Fortune is return'd, 
 From whence he circumfcribed with his Sword, 
 And brought to yoke the Enemies of Rome. 
 
 Sound Drummes and Trumpets, And then enter two of Titus 
 Sonnes ; After them., , tno men bearing a Gjjfin couered 
 with blac^e, then two other Sonnes. After them, Titus 
 Andronicus, and then Tamora the Queene of Gothes, & 
 her two Sonnes Chiron and Demetrius, with tAaron the 
 Moore, and others, as many as can bee: They fet dc.wne the 
 C<>ffin,and Titus Jfea^es . 
 
 Andronicus. Haile Rome : 
 Victorious in thy Mourning Weedes : 
 
 Loe,
 
 3 2 
 
 The Tragedie of Titus ^ndronicus. 
 
 oe as the Barke that hath difcharg'd his fraught, 
 Returnes with precious lading to the Bay, 
 From whence at firft flie wegih'd her Anchorage : 
 Commeth Andronicu bound with Lawrell bowes, 
 To refalute his Country with his teares, 
 Teares of true ioy for his returne to Rome, 
 Thou great defender of this Capitoll, . 
 Stand gracious to the Rites that we intend. 
 Romaines, of fiue and twenty Valiant Sonnes, 
 Halfe of the number that King Priam had, 
 Behold the poore remaines aliue and dead ! 
 Thefe that Suruine,let Rome reward with Loue : 
 Thefe that I bring vnto their lateft home, 
 With buriall amongft their Aunceftors. 
 Heere Gothes haue giuen me leaue to fheath my Sword: 
 Titus vnkinde, and carelefle of thine owne, 
 Why fuffer'ft thou thy Sonnes vn buried yet, 
 To houer on the dreadfull fliore of Stix ? 
 Make way to lay them by their Bretheren. 
 
 They open the Tombe. 
 
 There greete in filence as the dead are wont, 
 And fleepe in peace, flaine in your Countries warres : 
 O facred receptacle of my ioyes, 
 Sweet Cell of vertue and Noblitie, 
 How many Sonnes of mine haft thou in (tore, 
 That thou wilt neuer render to me more ? 
 
 Luc. Giue vs the proudeft prifoner of the Gothes, 
 That we may hew his limbes, and on a pile 
 Ad manui fratrum, facrifice his fleth : 
 Before this earthly prifon of their bones, 
 That fo the fhadowes be not vnappeas'd, 
 Nor we difturb'd with prodigies on earth. 
 
 Tit . I giue him you, the Nobleft that Suruiues, 
 The eldeft Son of this diftrefled Queene. 
 
 Bm. Stay Romaine Bretheren. gracious Conqueror, 
 Victorious T/rttf,rue the teares I fhed, 
 A Mothers teares in paffion for her fonne : 
 And if thy Sonnes were euer deere to thee, 
 Oh thinke my fonnes to be as deere to mee. 
 Sufficeth not, that we are brought to Rome 
 To beautifie thy Triumphs,and returne 
 Captiue to thee, and to thy Romaine yoake, 
 But muft my Sonnes be flaughtred in the ftreetes, 
 For Valiant doings in their Countries caufe ? 
 O ! If to fight for King and Common-weale, 
 Were piety in thine, it is in thefe : 
 j4ndronicus,fa\ne not thy Tombe with blood. 
 Wilt thou draw neere the nature of the Gods? 
 Draw neere them then in being merCifull. 
 Sweet mercy is Nobilities true badge, 
 Thrice Noble T//w,fpare my firft borne fonne. 
 
 Tit. Patient your lelfe Madam, and pardon me. 
 Thefe are the Brethren, whom you Gothes beheld 
 Aliue and dead, and for their Bretheren flaine, 
 Religioufly they aske a facrifice : 
 To this your fonne is markt, and die he muft, 
 T'appeafe their groaning fhadowes that are gone. 
 Luc. Away with him, and majce a fire ftraight, 
 And with our Swords vpon a pile of wood, 
 Let's hew his limbes till they be cleane confum'd. 
 
 Exit Scnnes tritb Alarbui. 
 Tamo. O cruell irreligious piety. 
 Cbi. Was euer Scythia halfe fo barbarous 
 Dem. Oppofe me Scythia to ambitious Rome, 
 
 Alarbui goes to reft, and we furuiue, 
 
 To tremble vnder Titus threatning lookes, 
 
 Then Madam ftand refolu'd,but hope viithall, 
 
 The felfe fame Gods that arm'd the Queene of Troy 
 
 With opportunitie of fliarpe reuenge 
 
 Vpon the Thracian Tyrant in his Tent, 
 
 May tauour Tamora the Queene of Gothes, 
 
 ( When Gothes were Gothes, and Tamora was Queene ) 
 
 To quit the bloody wrongs vpon her foes. 
 
 Enter the Sonnes of A ndror.icut agalne. 
 
 Luci. See Lord and Father, how we haue perform 'd 
 Our Romaine rightes, Alarbiu limbs are lopt, 
 And intrals feede the facrififing fire, 
 Whofe fmoke like incenfe doth perfume the skie. 
 Remaineth nought but to interre our Brethren, 
 And with low'd Larums welcome them to Rome. 
 
 Tit. Let it be fo,and let Androniciu 
 Make this his lateft farewell to their foules. 
 
 Fhurijb. 
 
 Then Sound Trumpets , and lay the Coffins in the Tombe. 
 In peace and Honour reft you heere my Sonnes, 
 Romes readieft Champions, repofe you heere in reft, 
 Secure from worldly chaunces and mifliaps : 
 Heere lurks no Treafon, heere no enuie fwels, 
 Heere grow no damned grudges, heere are no ftormes, 
 No noyfe, but filence and Eternall fleepe, 
 In peace and Honour reft you heere my Sonnes. 
 
 Enter Lauinia. 
 
 Laui. In peace and Honour, liue Lord Titus long, 
 My Noble Lord and Father, liue in Fame : 
 Loe at this Tombe my tributarie teares, 
 I render for my Bretherens Obfequies: 
 And at thy feete I kneele, with teares of ioy 
 Shed on the earth for thy returne to Rome. 
 O bleflTe me heere with thy victorious hand, 
 Whofe Fortune Romes beft Citizens applau'd. 
 
 TV. Kind Rome, 
 That haft thus louingly referu'd 
 The Cordiall of mine age to glad my hart, 
 Lauinia liue, out-liue thy Fathers dayes : 
 And Fames eternall date for vertues praife. 
 
 Marc. Long liue Lord Titus, my beloued brother, 
 Gracious Triumpher in the eyes of Rome. 
 
 Tit. Thankes'Gentle Tribune, 
 Noble brother Marcus. 
 
 Mar. And welcome! Nephews from fucceffull wars, 
 You that furuiue and you that fleepe in Fame : 
 Faire Lords your Fortunes are all alike in all, 
 That in your Countries feruice drew your Swords. 
 But fafer Triumph is this Funerall Pompe, 
 That hath afpir'd to Solans Happines, 
 And Triumphs ouer chaunce in honours bed. 
 Titus s4ndronicus.,thepeop\eof Rome, 
 Whofe friend in iuftice thou haft euer bene, 
 Send thee by me their Tribune and their truft, 
 This Palliament of white and fpotleffe Hue, 
 And name thee in Election for the Empire, 
 With thefe our late deceafed Emperours Sonnes ! 
 Be Candidate then, and put it on, 
 And helpe to fet a head on headlefle Rome. 
 
 Tit. A better head her Glorious body fits, 
 Then his that fhakes for age and feeblenefle: 
 
 What 
 
 630
 
 The rage die of Titus tAndronicus. 
 
 33 
 
 What fliould I d'on this Robe and trouble you, 
 Be chofen with proclamations to day, 
 To morrow yeeld vp rule, refigne my life, 
 And fet abroad new bufinefie for you all. 
 Rome I haue bene thy Souldier forty yeares, 
 And led my Countries ftrength fucceffefully, 
 And buried one and twenty Valiant Sonnes, 
 Knighted in Field, flaine manfully in Armes, 
 In right and Seruice of their Noble Countrie : 
 Giue me a ftafre of Honour for mine age, 
 But not a Scepter to controule the world, 
 Vpright he held it Lords, that held it laft. 
 
 Mar. Tltui, thou {halt obtaine and aske the Emperie. 
 
 Sat. Proud and ambitious Tribune can'ft thou tell? 
 
 TitiM. Patience Prince Saturninus. 
 
 Sat. Romaines do me right. 
 
 Patricians draw your Swords , and/heath them not 
 Till Saturnlnui be Romes Emperour: 
 Andronicus would thou wert fliipt to hell, 
 Rather then rob me of the peoples harts. 
 
 Luc. Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good 
 That Noble minded Titus meanes to thee. 
 
 Tit . Content thee Prince,! will reftore to thee 
 The peoples harts, and weane them from themfelues. 
 
 'Bafs . Andronicui, I do not flatter thee 
 But Honour thee, and will doe till I die: 
 My Faftion if thou ftrengthen with thy Friend? 
 I will moft thankefull be, and thankes to men 
 Of Noble mindes, is Honourable Meede. 
 
 Tit, People of Rome, and Noble Tribunes heere, 
 I aske your voyces and your Suffrages, 
 Will you beftow them friendly on Andronicus ? 
 
 Tribunes. To gratifie the good Andronicus, 
 And Gratulate his fafe returne to Rome, 
 The people will accept whom he admits. 
 
 Tit. Tribunes I thanke you, and this fure I make, 
 That you Create your Emperours eldeft fonne, 
 Lord Saturnine, whofe Vertues will I hope, 
 Reflect on Rome as Tytans Rayes on earth, 
 And ripen luftice in this Common-weale : 
 Then if you will eledr. by my aduife, 
 Crowne him, and fay : Long liue our Emperour. 
 
 Mar. An. With Voyces and applaufe of euery fort, 
 Patricians and Plebeans we Create 
 Lord Saturniniu Romes Great Emperour.- 
 And fay , Long Hue our Emperour Saturnine. 
 
 A long Flourijh till they come dotvne. 
 
 Satu. Titus Andronicus , for thy Fauours done, 
 To vs in our Eleftion this day, 
 I giue thee thankes in part of thy Deferts, 
 And will with Deeds requite thy gentleneffe : 
 And for an Onfet Titus to aduance 
 Thy Name, and Honorable Familie, 
 Lauinia will I make my Emprefle, 
 Rome sRoyall Miftris,Miftris of my hart 
 And in the Sacred Patban her efpoufe : 
 Tell me Andronicus doth this motion pleafe thee c" 
 
 Tit. It doth my worthy Lord, and in this match, 
 I hold me Highly Honoured of your Grace, 
 And heere in fight of Rome, to Saturnine, 
 King and Commander of our Common-weale, 
 The Wide- worlds Emperour, do I Confecrate, 
 My Sword, my Chariot,and my Prifonerss, 
 Prefents well Worthy Romes Imperiall Lord : 
 Receiue them then, the Tribute that I owe, 
 Mine Honours Enfignes humbled at my feete. 
 
 631 
 
 Satu. Thankes Noble Titus, Father of my life, 
 How proud I am of thee,and of thy gifts 
 Rome (hall record, and when I do forget 
 The leaft of thefe vnfpeakable Deferts, 
 Romans forget your Fealtie to me. 
 
 Tit. Now Madam are your prifoner to an Emperour, 
 To him that for you Honour and your State, 
 Will vfe you Nobly and your followers. 
 
 Satu. A goodly Lady, truft me of the Hue 
 That I would choofe, were I to choofe a new : 
 Cleere vp Faire Queene that cloudy countenance, 
 Though chance of warre 
 Hath wrought this change of cheere, 
 Thou com'ft not to be made a fcorne in Rome : 
 Princely ihall be thy vfage euery way. 
 Reft on my word, and let not difcontent 
 Daunt all your hopes : Madam he comforts you, 
 Can make your Greater then the Queene of Gothes ? 
 Lauinia you are not difpleaf 'd with this ? 
 
 Lau. Not I my Lord, fith true Nobilitie, 
 Warrants thefe words in Princely curtefie. 
 
 Sat. Thankes fweete Lauinia. Romans let vs goe: 
 Ranfomleffe heere we fet our Prifoners free, 
 Proclaime our Honors Lords with Trumpe and Drum. 
 
 Bafs. Lord Titut by your leaue, this Maid is mine. 
 
 Tit. How fir Are you in earneft then my Lord ? 
 
 Bajs. I Noble T/Vz,and refolu'd withal], 
 To doe my felfe this reafon, and this right. 
 
 Marc. Suumcuiquam, is our Romane luftice, 
 This Prince in luftice ceazeth but his o^vne. 
 
 Luc. And that he will and ihall, if Lucius liue. 
 
 Tit. Traytors auant, where is the Emperours Guarde ? 
 Treafon my Lord, Lauinia is furpril'd. 
 
 Sat. Surprif 'd, by whom ? 
 
 Bafs. By him that iuftly may 
 Beare his Betroth'd,from all the world away. 
 
 Muti. Brothers helpe to conuey her hence away, 
 And with my Sword He keepe this doore fafe. 
 
 Tit. Follow my Lord, and He foone bring her backe. 
 
 Mut. My Lord you pafle not heere. 
 
 Tit. What villaine Boy, bar'ft me my way in Rome ? 
 
 Mut. Helpe Luciui helpe. He l^ils him. 
 
 Luc, My Lord you are vniuft,and more then fo, 
 In wrongfull quarrell, you haue flaine your fon. 
 
 Tit. Nor thou, nor he are any fonnes of mine, 
 My fonnes would neuer fo dishonour me. 
 Traytor reftore Lauinia to the Emperour. 
 
 Luc. Dead if you will, but not to be his wife, 
 That is anothers lawfull promift Loue. 
 
 Enter aloft the Emperour with Tamora and her trro 
 fonnes, and Aaron the Moore. 
 
 Empe. No T;Varf,no,the Emperour needs her not, 
 Nor her, nor thee, nor any of thy ftocke : 
 lie truft by Leifure him that mocks me once. 
 Thee neuer : nor thy Trayterous haughty fonnes, 
 Confederates all, thus to dilhonour me. 
 Was none in Rome to make a ftale 
 But Saturnine ? Full well Andronkui 
 Agree thefe Deeds, with that proud bragge of thine, 
 That faid'ft,! beg'd the Empire at thy handsj 
 
 Tit. O monftrous,what reproachfull words are thefe ? 
 
 Sat. But goe thy waves, goe giue that changing peece, 
 To him that flourimt for her with his Sword : 
 A Valliant fonne in-law thou /halt enioy : 
 One, fit to bandy with thy lawlefle Sonnes, 
 
 To
 
 34 
 
 'The Tragedie ofTitus ^Andronicus. 
 
 To ruffle in the Common-wealth of Rome. 
 
 Tit. Thefe words are Razors to my wounded hart. 
 
 Sat. And therefore louely Tamora Queene of Gothes, 
 That like the ftately Tbtbe mong'ft her Nimphs 
 Doft ouer-fliine the Gallant'ft Dames of R ome, 
 If thou be pleaf 'd with this my fodaine choyfe, 
 Behold I choofe thee Tamora for my Bride, 
 And will Create thee Emprefle of Rome. 
 Speake Queene of Goths doft thou applau'd my choyfe ? 
 And heere I fweare by all the Romaine Gods, 
 Sith Prieft and Holy-water are fo neere, 
 And Tapers burne fo bright, and euery thing 
 In readines for Hymenew (land, 
 I will not refalute the ftreets of Rome, 
 Or clime my Pallace,till from forth this place, 
 I leade efpoufd my Bride along with me, 
 
 Tamo. And heere in fight of heauen to Rome I fweare, 
 If Saturnine aduance the Qi^een of Gothes, 
 Shee will a Hand-maid be to his defires, 
 A louing Nurfe, a Mother to his youth. 
 
 Satur. Afcend Faire Qeene, 
 Panthean Lords, accompany 
 Your Noble Emperour and his louely Bride, 
 Sent by the heauens for Prince Saturnine, 
 Whofe wifedome hath her Fortune Conquered, 
 There fliall we Confummate our Spoufall rites. 
 
 Exeunt omnes* 
 
 Tit. I am not bid to wake vpon this Bride: 
 Titus when wer't thou wont to walke alone, 
 Dishonoured thus Ind Challenged of wrongs? 
 
 Enter <&farctu and Tittu Sonnei. 
 
 Mar O Titiu fee ! O fee what thou haft done ! 
 In a bad quarrell,flaine a Vertuous fonne. 
 
 Tit. No foolifli Tribune, no : No fonne of mine, 
 Nor thou, nor thefe Confedrates in the deed, 
 That hath di/honoured all our Family, 
 Vn worthy brother, and vnworthy Sonnes. 
 
 Luci. But let vs giue him buriall as becomes : 
 Giue cftfutius buriall with our Bretheren. 
 
 Tit. Traytors away, he reft's not in this Tombe t 
 This Monument fiue hundreth yeares hath ftood, 
 Which I haue Sumptuoufly re-edified : 
 Heere none but Soulciiers, and Romes Seruitors, 
 Repofe in Fame : None bafely flaine in braules, 
 Bury him where you can, he comes not heere. 
 
 Mar. My Lord this is impiety in you, 
 My Nephew zWutius deeds do plead for him, 
 He muft be buried with his bretheren. 
 Titus ttto Sonnes Jpea^ei. 
 And fliall, or him we will accompany. 
 
 77. And fliall I What villaine was it fpake that word ? 
 
 Titus Jo fine f peaces. 
 He that would vouch'd it in any place but heere. 
 
 Tit. What would you bury him in my defpight? 
 Mar. No Noble Titus,\>ut intreat of thee, 
 To pardon Mutius, and to bury him. 
 
 Tit. Marcus, Euen thou haft ftroke vpon my Creft, 
 And with thefe Boyes mine Honour thou haft wounded, 
 My foes I doe repute you euery one. 
 So trouble me no more, but get you gone. 
 
 l.Sonne. He is not himfelfe.let vs withdraw. 
 
 z.Sonne. Not I tell Mutius bones be buried. 
 The 'Brother and the fonnts tyteele. 
 
 Mar. Brother, for in that name doth nature plea'd. 
 
 z.Sonne. Father, and in that name doth nature fpeake. 
 
 Tit. Speake thou no more if all the reft will fpeede. 
 
 cflfar. Renowned Titus more then halfe my foule. 
 
 Luc. Deare Father, foule and ftfbftance of vs all. 
 
 <&far. Suffer thy brother Marcus to interre 
 His Noble Nephew heere in vertues neft, 
 That died in Honour and Lauinias caufe. 
 Thou art a Romaine, be not barbarous : 
 The Greekes vpon aduife did bury Aiax 
 That flew himfelfe : And Laertes fonne, 
 Did gracioufly plead for his Funerals : 
 Let not young Mutius then that was thy ioy r 
 Be bar'd his entrance heere. 
 
 Tit. Rife Marcus, rife, 
 The difmaH'ft day is this that ere I faw, 
 To be di flionored by my Sonnes in Rome: 
 Well, bury him, and bury me the next. 
 They put him in the Tombs. 
 
 Luc. There lie thy bones fweet Mutius with thy 
 Till we with Trophees do adorne thy Tombe. (friends 
 
 They all tyieele and fay. 
 No man flied teares for Noble Mutius, 
 He lines in Fame, that di" d in vertues caufe. Exit, 
 
 Mar. My Lord to ftep out of thefe fudden dumps, 
 How comes it that the fubtile Queene of Gothes, 
 Is of a fodaine thus aduanc'd in Rome ? 
 
 Ti. I know not Marcus : but I know it is, 
 (Whether by deuife or no) the heauens can tell, 
 Is fhe not then beholding to the man, 
 That brought her for this high good turne fo farre ? 
 Yes, and will Nobly him remunerate. 
 
 Flourijh. 
 
 Enter the Emperor, Tamora, and her two fens, rvitb the Moore 
 at one doore. Enter at the other doore 'BafsianM and 
 Lauinia rvitb others. 
 
 Sat. So Bafsianus,you haue plaid your prize, 
 God giue you ioy fir of your Gallant Bride. 
 
 Bafs. And you. of yours my Lord : I fay no more, 
 Nor wifh no leffe,and fo I take my leaue. 
 
 Sat. Tray tor, if Rome haue law, or we haue power, 
 Thou and thy Faction fliall repent this Rape. 
 
 'Bafs. Rape call you it my Lord, to ceafe my owne, 
 My true betrothed Loue, and now my wife ? 
 But let the lavves of Rome determine all, 
 Meane while I am poffeft of that is mine. 
 
 Sat. 'Tis good fir : you are very fhort with vs, 
 But if we liue, weele be as fliarpe with you. 
 
 Bafs. My Lord, what I haue done as beft I may r 
 Anfwere I muft, and fliall do with my life, 
 Onely thus much I giue your Grace to know, 
 By all the duties that I owe to Rome, 
 This Noble Gentleman Lord Titui heere, 
 Is in opinion and in honour wrong'd, 
 That in the refcue of Lauinia, 
 With his owne hand did flay his youngeft Son, 
 In zeale to you, and highly mou'd to wrath. 
 To be controul'd in that he frankly gaue : 
 Receiue him then to fauour Saturnine, 
 That hath expre'ft himfelfe in all his deeds, 
 A Father and a friend to thee,and Rome. 
 
 Tit. Prince Bafeianuslenue to plead my Deeds, 
 'Tis thou, and thofe, that haue di (honoured me, 
 Rome and the righteous heauens be my iudge, 
 How I haue lou'd and Honour'd Saturnine. 
 
 Tarn. My worthy Lord if euer Tamora, 
 
 Were 
 
 63*
 
 The Tragedie of Titus <iAndronicus. 
 
 35 
 
 Were gracious in thofe Princely eyes of thine, 
 Then heare me fpeake indifferently for all : 
 And at my fute ( fweet ) pardon what is paft. 
 
 Satu. What Madam, be dishonoured openly, 
 And bafely put it vp without reuenge ? 
 
 Tarn. Not fo my Lord, 
 The Gods of Rome for-rend, 
 I fhould be Authour to dimonouryou. 
 But on mine honour dare, 1 vndertake 
 For good Lord Titiu innocence in all : 
 Whofe fury not diffembled fpeakes his griefes : 
 Then at my fute looke gracioufly on him, 
 Loofe not fo noble a friend on vaine fuppofe, 
 Nor with fowre lookes afflict his gentle heart. 
 My Lord, be rul'd by me, be wonne at laft, 
 Diflemble all your griefes and difcontents, 
 You are but newly planted in your Throne, 
 Leaft then the people, and Patricians too, 
 Vpon a iuft furuey take Titus part, 
 And fo fupplant vs for ingratitude, 
 Which Rome reputes to be a hainous finne. 
 Yeeld at intreats, and then let me alone : 
 lie finde a day to maffacre them all, 
 And race their faction, and their familie, 
 The cruell Father, and his trayt'rous fonnes, 
 To whom I fued for my deare fonnes life. 
 And make them know what 'tis to let a Queene. 
 Kneele in the ftreetes,and beg for grace in vaine. 
 Come, come, fweet Emperour, (come Andronicui) 
 Take vp this good old man, and cheere the heart, 
 That dies in tempeft of thy angry frowne. 
 
 King. Rife T/ft#,rife, 
 My Empreffe hath preuail'd. 
 
 Titus. \ thanke your Maieftie, 
 And her my Lord. 
 Thefe words, thefe lookes, 
 Infufe new life in me. 
 
 Tamo. Titiu, I am incorparate in Rome, 
 A Roman now adopted happily. 
 And muft aduife the Emperour for his good, 
 This day all quarrels die Andronicus. 
 And let it be mine honour good my Lord, 
 That I haue reconcil'd your friends and you. 
 For you Prince ajsianus,l haue paft 
 My word and promife to the Emperour, 
 That you will be more milde and tractable. 
 And feare not Lords : 
 And you Lauinia, 
 
 By my aduife all humbled on your knees, 
 You mall aske pardon of his Maieftie. 
 
 Son. We doe, 
 
 And vow to heauen, and to his Highnes, 
 That what we did, was mildly, as we might, 
 Tendring our fitters honour and our owne. 
 
 Mar. That on mine honour heere I do proteft. 
 
 King. Away and talke not, trouble vs no more. 
 
 Tamora. Nay, nay, 
 
 Sweet Emperour, we muft all be friends, 
 The Tribune and his Nephews kneele for grace, 
 I will not be denied, fweet hart looke back. 
 
 King. Marcus, 
 
 For thy fake and thy brothers heere, 
 And at my louely Tamora'i intreats, 
 I doe remit thefe young mens haynous faults. 
 Stand vp : Lauinia, though you left me like a churle, 
 1 found a friend, and fure as death I fware, 
 
 63? 
 
 I would not part a Batchellour from the Prieft. 
 Come, if the Emperours Court can feaft two Brides, 
 You are my gueil Lauinia, and your friends : 
 This day/hall be a Loue-day Tamora. 
 
 Tit. To morrow and it pleafe your Maieftie, 
 To hunt the Panther and the Hart with me, 
 With home and Hound, 
 Weele giue your Grace Bon lour, 
 
 Satur. Be it fo Titui, and Gramercy to. Exeunt. 
 
 Affius Secunda. 
 
 Flour i/Jy. 
 
 Enter Aaron alone. 
 
 Aron. Now climbeth Tamora Olympus toppe, 
 Safe out of Fortunes mot, and fits aloft, 
 Secure of Thunders cracke or lightning flam, 
 Aduanc'd about pale enuies threatning reach : 
 As when the goldenSunne falutes the morne, 
 And hauing gilt the Ocean with his beames, 
 Gallops the Zodiacke in his glittering Coach, 
 And ouer-lookes thehigheft piering hills : 
 So] Tamora i 
 
 Vpon her wit doth earthly honour waite, 
 And vertue ftoopesand trembles at her frowne. 
 Then Aaron arme thy hart,and fit thy thoughts, 
 To mount aloft with thy Emperiall Miftris, 
 And mount her pitch, whom thou in triumph long 
 Haft prifoner held, fettred in amorous chaines, 
 And fafter bound to Aarons charming eyes, 
 Then is Promttbeut ti'de to Caucajus. 
 Away with flauim wee-ieSjand idle thoughts, 
 I will be bright and mine in Pearleand Gold, 
 To waite vpon this new made EmprefTe. 
 To waite faid 1 ^ To wanton with this Queene, 
 This GoddefTe, this Semerimis, this Queene, 
 This Syren, that will charme Romes Saturnine, 
 And fee his mipwracke, and his Common weales. 
 Hollo, what ftorme is this? 
 
 Enter Chiron and Demetrius brauing. 
 
 Dem. Chiron thy yeres wants wit, thy wit wants edge 
 And manners to intru'd where I am grac'd, 
 And may for ought thou know'ft affected be. 
 
 Cbi. Demetrius, thou doo'ft ouer-weene in all, 
 And fo in this, to beare me downe with braues, 
 'Tis not the difference ofayeere or two 
 Makes me lefle gracious,or thee more fortunate : 
 I am as able, and as fie, as thou, 
 To feme, and to deferue my Miftris grace, 
 And that my iword vpon thee mall approue, 
 And plead my paffions for Lauinia ^ loue. 
 
 yfro/i.Clubs, clubs, thefe louers will not keep the peace. 
 
 Dem. Why Boy,although our mother ( vnaduifed) 
 Gaue you a daunfing Rapier by your fide, 
 Are you fo defperate growne to threat your friends? 
 Goe too : haue your Lath glued within your meath, 
 Till you know better how to handle it. 
 
 Cbi. Meane while fir, with the little skill I haue, 
 Full well malt thou perceiue how much I dare. 
 
 Deme. I Boy, grow ye fo braue ? They dravce. 
 
 Aron. Why how now Lords? 
 So nere the Emperours Pallace dare you draw, 
 
 And
 
 The Tragedie of Titus zAndronicus. 
 
 And maintaine fuch a quarrel! openly? 
 
 Full well I wote, the ground of all this grudge. 
 
 I would not for a million of Gold, 
 
 The caufe were knowne to them it moft concernes. 
 
 Nor would your noble mother for much more 
 
 Be fo d iflionored in the Court of Rome : 
 
 For flume put vp. 
 
 Deme. Not I, till I haue fheath'd 
 My rapier in his bofome,and withall 
 Thruft thefe reprochfull fpeeches downe his throat, 
 That he hath breath'd in my dishonour heere. 
 
 Chi. For that 1 am prepar'd, and full refolu'd, 
 Foule fpoken Coward, 
 That thundreft with thy tongue, 
 And with thy weapon nothing dar'ft performe^ 
 
 Aron. A way I fay. 
 
 Now by the Gods that warlike Gothes adore, 
 This pretty brabble will vndoo vs all : 
 Why Lords, and thinke you not how dangerous 
 It is to fet vpon a Princes right ? 
 What is Laulnia then become fo loofe, 
 Or Bafsianuf fo degenerate, 
 That tor her loue fuch quarrels may be broacht, 
 Without controulement, luftice, or reuenge ? 
 Young Lords beware, and flumld the Empreflfe know, 
 This difcord ground, the muficke would not pleafe. 
 
 Chi. I care not I, knew flie and all the world, 
 I loue Laulnia more then all the world. 
 
 Demet. Youngling, 
 
 Learne thou to make fome meaner choife, 
 Lau'mia is thine elder brothers hope. 
 
 Aron. Why are ye mad ? Or know ye not in Rome, 
 How furious and impatient they be, 
 And cannot brooke Competitors in loue ? 
 I tell you Lords, you doe but plot your deaths, 
 By this deuife. 
 
 Cbi. Aaron, a thoufand deaths would I propofe, 
 To atchieue her whom I do loue. 
 
 Aron. To atcheiue her, how ? 
 
 Deme. Why,mak'ft thou it fo ftrange? 
 Shee is a woman, therefore may be woo'd, 
 Shee is a woman, therfore may be wonne, 
 Shee is Laulnia therefore muft be lou'd. 
 What man, more water glideth by the Mill 
 Then wots the Miller of, and eafie it is 
 Of a cut loafe to fteale a fhiue we know : 
 Though 'BafsianM be the Emperours brother, 
 Better then he haue worne Vulcans badge. 
 
 At on, I, and as good as Saturniiu may. 
 
 Deme. Then why fliould he difpaire that knowes to 
 With words, faire lookes, and liberality : (court it 
 
 What halt not thou full often ftrucke a Doe, 
 And borne her cleanly by the Keepers nofe f 
 
 Aron. Why then it feemes fome -certaine fnatcfa or fo 
 Would ferue your turnes. 
 
 Chi. I fo the turne were ferued. 
 
 Deme. Aaron thou haft hit it. 
 
 Aron. Would you had hit it too, 
 Then fliould not we be tir'd with this adoo : 
 Why harke yee, harke yee, aud are you fuch fooles, 
 To fquare for this ? Would it offend you then ? 
 
 Cbi. Faith not me. 
 
 Deme. Nor me, fo I were one. 
 
 Aron. For fhame be friends, & ioyne for that you iar : 
 'Tis pollicie, and ftratageme muft doe 
 That you affect, and fo muft you refolue, 
 
 That what you cannot as you would atcheiue, 
 
 You muft perforce accomplish as you may : 
 
 Take this of me,Lucrece was not more chaft 
 
 Then this Laulnia, Bajsianitfluu?, 
 
 A fpeedier courfe this lingring languifliment 
 
 Muft we purfue, and I haue found the path : 
 
 My Lords, a folemne hunting is in hand. 
 
 There will the louely Roman Ladies troope : 
 
 The Forreft walkes are wide and fpacious, 
 
 And many vnfrequented plots there are, 
 
 Fitted by kinde for rape and villanie : 
 
 Single you thither then this dainty Doe, 
 
 And ftrike her home by force, if not by words: 
 
 This way or not. at all, ftand you- in hope. 
 
 Come, come, our mprefTe with her facred wit 
 
 To villainie an d vengance confecrate, 
 
 Will we acquaint with all that we intend, 
 
 And flie (hall file our engines with aduife, 
 
 That will not fuffer you to fquare your felues, 
 
 But to your wiflies height aduance you both. 
 
 The Emperours Court is like the houfe of Fame, 
 
 The pallace full of tongues, of eyes, ofeares: 
 
 The Woods are ruthlefle, dreadful!, deafe, and dull : 
 
 There fpeake,and ftrike braue Boyes,& take your turnes. 
 
 There ferue your lufts, fliadow'd from heauens eye, 
 
 And reuell in Lauinia s Treafurie. 
 
 Cbi. Thy counfell Lad fmells of no cowardife. 
 
 'Deme. Syfasaut nefM, till I finde the ftreames, 
 To coole this heat, a Charme to calme their fits, 
 Per Stigla per manes Vebor, Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Titus Andronkiu and bit three fonnes , making a noyfe 
 tfitb bounds and homes , and cMarcus. 
 
 Tit. The hunt is vp, the morne is bright and gray, 
 The fields are fragranr, and the Woods are greene, 
 Vncouple heere, and let vs make a bay, 
 And wake the Emperour, and his louely Bride, 
 And rouze the Prince, and ring a hunters peale, 
 That all the Court may eccho with the noyfe. 
 Sonnes let it be your charge, as it is ours, 
 To attend the Emperours perfon carefully : 
 I haue bene troubled in my fleepe this night, 
 But dawning day new comfort hath infpir'd. 
 
 Wmde Homes. 
 
 Heere a cry of houndes, and ivinde homes in a peale,tben 
 Enter Saturninus , T amor a , 'Baffianus , Laulnia , Chiron, De- 
 metrius, and their Attendants. 
 
 2V. Many good morrowes to your Maieftie, ] 
 Madam to you as many and as good. 
 I promifed your Grace, a Hunters peale. 
 
 Satur. And you haue rung it luftily my Lords, 
 Somewhat to earely for new married Ladies. 
 
 e Bafs. Laulnia, how fay you ? 
 Laui. I fay no : 
 I haue bene awake two houres and more. 
 
 Satur. Come on then, horfe and Chariots letvs haue, 
 And to our fport : Madam, now fliall ye fee, 
 Our Romaine hunting. 
 
 Mar. I haue dogges my Lord, 
 Will rouze the proudeft Panther in the Chafe, 
 And clime the higheft Pomontary top. 
 
 Tit. And I haue horfe will follow where the game 
 Makes way, and runnes likes Swallowes ore . the plaine 
 
 'Deme. Chiron 
 
 " ' ~~~ 634
 
 The Tragedie of Titus <^4ndronicus. 
 
 37 
 
 Dime. Chiron we hunt not we, with Horfe nor Hound 
 But hope to plucke a dainty Doe to ground. Exeunt 
 
 Enter Aaron alone. 
 
 Aron. He that had wit, would thinke that I had none, 
 To bury fo much Gold vnder a Tree, 
 And neuer after to inherit it. 
 Let him that thinks of me fo abjectly, 
 Know that this Gold muft coine a ftratageme, 
 Which cunningly effected, will beget 
 A very excellent peece of villany : 
 And fo repofe fweet Gold for their vnreft, 
 That haue their Almes out of the Emprefle Cheft. 
 Enter Tamora to the Moore. 
 
 Tamo. My louely Aaron, 
 Wherefore look'ft thou fad, 
 When euery thing doth make a Gleefull boaft ? 
 The Birds chaunt melody on euery bufh, 
 The Snake lies rolled in the chearefull Sunne, 
 The greene leaues quiuer.with the cooling winde, 
 And make a cheker'd fliadow on the ground : 
 Vnder their fweete fi\ade,iAaron let vs fit, 
 And whil'ft the babling Eccho mock's the Hounds, 
 Replying fhrilly to the well tun'd-Hornes, 
 As if a double hunt were heard at once, 
 Let vs fit downe, and marke their yelping noyfe: 
 And after conflict, fuch as was fuppos'd. 
 The wandring Prince and Dido once enioy'd, 
 When with a happy ftorme they were furpris'd, 
 And Curtain'd with a Counfaile-keeping Caue, 
 We may each wreathed in the others armes, 
 (Our paftimes done) poflefle a Golden (lumber, 
 Whiles Hounds and Homes, and fweet Melodious Birds 
 Be vnto vs, as is a Nurfes Song 
 Of Lullabie,to bring her Babe afleepe. 
 
 Aron. Madame, 
 
 Though Venut gouerne your defires, 
 Saturne i s Dominator ouer mine : 
 What fignifies my deadly {landing eye, 
 My filence, and my Cloudy Melancholic, 
 My fleece of Woolly haire, that now vncurles, 
 Euen as an Adder when flie doth vnrowle 
 To do fome fatall execution ? 
 No Madam, thefe are no Veneriall fignes, 
 Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand, 
 Blood, and reuenge, are Hammering in my head. 
 Harke Tamora, the Emprefle of my Soule, 
 Which neuer hopes more heauen ,then relts in thee, 
 This is the day of Doome for Bafuanw; 
 His Tbilomel muft loofe her tongue to day, 
 Thy Sonnes make Pillage of her Chaftity, 
 And wafli their hands in Baffianw blood. 
 Seeft thou this Letter, take it vp I pray thee, 
 And giue the King this fatall plotted Scrowle, 
 Now queftion me no more, we are efpied, 
 Heere comes a parcell of our hopefull Booty, 
 Which dreads not yet their liues deftruction. 
 
 Enter f BaJJlaniu and Lauinia. 
 
 Tamo. Ah my fweet y^foore : 
 Sweeter to me then life. 
 
 Aron. No more great Empreffe, EaJ/ianuj comes, 
 Be crolTewith him, and lie goe fetch thy Sonnes 
 To backe thy quarrell what fo ere they be. 
 
 BaJJi. Whom haue we heere? 
 Romes Royall Empreffe, 
 
 63S 
 
 Vnfurniiht of our well befeeming troope ? 
 Or is it Dian habited like her, 
 Who hath abandoned her holy Groues, 
 To fee the generall Hunting in thisForreft? 
 
 Tamo. Sawcie controuler of our priuate fteps: 
 Had I the power, that fome fay Dian had, 
 Thy Temples fliould be planted prefently. 
 With Homes, as was Afieons, and the Hounds 
 Should driue vpon his new transformed limbes, 
 Vnmannerly Intruder as thou art. 
 
 Laui. Vnder your patience gentle Emprefle, 
 'Tis thought you haue a goodly gift in Horning, 
 And to be doubted ,that your Moore and you 
 Are fingled forth to try experiments : 
 loue fheild your husband from his Hounds to day, 
 'Tis pitty they fliould take him for a Stag. 
 
 Bajfi. Beleeue me Queene,your fwarth Cymerion, 
 Doth make your Honour of his bodies Hue, 
 Spotted, detefted. and abhominable. 
 Why are you fequeftred from all your traine ? 
 Difmounted from your Snow-white goodly Steed, 
 And wandred hither to an obfcure plot, 
 Accompanied with a barbarous Moore, 
 If foule defire had not conducted you? 
 
 Laui. And being intercepted in your fport, 
 Great reafon that my Noble Lord, be rated 
 For Saucinefle, I pray you let vs hence, 
 And let her ioy her Rauen coloured loue, 
 This valley fits the purpofe pafling well. 
 
 BaJJi. The King my Brother fhall haue notice of this. 
 
 Laui. I, for thefe flips haue made him noted long, 
 Good King, to be fo mightily abufed. 
 
 Tamora. Why I haue patience to endure all this? 
 
 Enter Chiron and Demetriiu. 
 'Dem. How now deere Soueraigne 
 And our gracious Mother, 
 Why doth your Highnes looke fo pale and wan ? 
 
 Tamo. Haue I not reafon thinke you to looke pale. 
 Thefe two haue tic'd me hither to this place, 
 A barren, detefted vale you fee it is. 
 The Trees though Sommer,yet forlorne and leane, 
 Ore-come with Mofie,and balefull Miflelto. 
 Heere neuer fliines the Sunne,heere nothing breeds, 
 Vnlefle the nightly Owle,or fatall Rauen : 
 And when they fliew'd me this abhorred pit, 
 They told me heere at dead time of the night, 
 A thoufand Fiends, a thoufand hifling Shakes, 
 Ten thoufand fwelling Toades,as many Vrchins, 
 Would make fuch fearefull and confufed cries, 
 As any mortall body hearing it, 
 Should ftraite fall mad,x>r elfe die fuddenly. 
 No fooner had they told this hellifh tale, 
 But ftrait they told me they would binde me heere, 
 Vnto the body ofa difmall yew, 
 And leaue me to this miferable death. 
 And then they call'd me foule Adulterefle, 
 Lafciuious Goth, and all the bittereft tearmes 
 That euer eare did heare to fuch effect. 
 And had you not by wondrous fortune come, 
 This vengeance on me had they executed : 
 Reuenge it, as you loue your Mothers life, 
 Or be ye not henceforth cal'd my Children. 
 
 'Dem. This is a witnefle that I am thy Sonne.Jlab him. 
 
 Chi. And this for me, 
 Strook home to fhew my ftrength. 
 
 Laui. I come Semeramis , nay Barbarous Tamora. 
 
 d d For
 
 'The Tragedieof Titus <^ndronicus. 
 
 For no game fits thy nature but thy owne. 
 
 Tarn. Giue me thy poyniard, you mal know my boyes 
 Your Mothers hand /hall right your Mothers wrong. 
 
 Dtme. Stay Madam heere is more belongs to her, 
 Firft thrafh the Corne, then after burne the ftraw : 
 This Minion ftood vpon her chaftity, 
 Vpon her Nuptial) vow, her loyaltie. 
 And with that painted hope, braues your Mightineire, 
 And fhall ftie carry this vnto her graue ? 
 
 Chi. And ifflie doe, 
 I would I were an Eunuch, 
 Drag hence her husband to fome fecret hole, 
 And make his dead Trunke-Pillow to our luft. 
 
 Tamo. But when ye haue the hony we defire, 
 Let not this Wafpe out-Hue vs both to fting. 
 
 Cbir. 1 warrant you Madam we will make that fure: 
 Come Miftris, now perforce we will enioy, 
 That nice-preferued honefty ofyours. 
 
 Laui. Oh Tamora, thou bear'ft a woman face. 
 
 Tamo. I will not heare her fpeake,away with her. 
 
 Laui. Sweet Lords intreat her heare me but a word . 
 
 Demet. Liften faire Madam, let it be your glory 
 To fee her teares, but be your hart to them, 
 As vnrelenting flint to drops of raine. 
 
 Laui. When did the Tigers young-ones teach the dam? 
 O doe not learne her wrath, fhe taught it thee, 
 The milke thou fuck'ft from her did turne to Marble, 
 Zuen at thy Teat thou had'ft thy Tyranny, 
 Yet euery Mother breeds not Sonnes alike, 
 Do thou intreat her fliew a woman pitty. 
 
 Cbiro. What, 
 Would'ft thou haue me proue my felfe a baftard ? 
 
 Laui. 'Tis true, 
 
 The Rauen doth not hatch a Larke, 
 Yet haue I heard, Oh could I finde it now, 
 The Lion mou'd with pitty, did indure 
 To haue his Princely pawes par'd all away. 
 Some fay, that Rauens fofter forlorne children, 
 The whil'ft their owne birds familh in their nefts : 
 Oh be to me though thy hard hart fay no, 
 Nothing fo kind but fomething pittifull. 
 
 Tamo. I know not what it meanes,away with her. 
 
 Lauin. Oh let me teach thee for my Fathers fake, 
 That gaue thee life when well he might haue flaine thee: 
 Be not obdurate, open thy deafe eares. 
 
 Tamo. Had'ft thou in perfon nere offended me. 
 Euen for his fake am I pittilefie: 
 Remember Boyes I powr'd forth teares in vaine, 
 To faue your brother from the facrifice, 
 But fierce Andronictu would not relent, 
 Therefore away with her, and vfe her as you will, 
 The worfe to her, the better lou'd of me. 
 
 Laui. Oh Tamora, 
 Be call'd a gentle Queene, 
 
 And with thine owne hands kill me in this place, 
 For 'tis not life that I haue beg'd fo long, 
 Poore I was flaine, when Bajfiamu dy'd. 
 Tarn. What beg'ft thou then ? fond woman let me go ? 
 
 Laui. 'Tis prefent death 1 beg, and one thing more, 
 That womanhood denies my tongue to tell : 
 Oh keepe me from their worfe then killing luft, 
 And tumble me into fome loathfome pit, 
 Where neuer mans eye may behold my body, 
 Doe this, and be a charitable murderer. 
 
 Tarn. So fhould I rob my fweet Sonnes of their fee, 
 No let them fatiffie their luft on thee. 
 
 Deme . A way, 
 For thou haft ftaid vs heere too long. 
 
 Lauinla. No Garace, 
 No womanhood ? Ah beaftly creature, 
 The blot and enemy to our general! name, 
 Confufion fall 
 
 Chi. Nay then He flop your mouth 
 Bring thou her husband, 1 
 This is the Hole where Aaron bid vs hide him. 
 
 Tarn. Farewell my Sonnes, fee that you make her fure, 
 Nere let my heart know merry cheere indeed, 
 Till all the Ar.dron'tci be made away : 
 Now will I hence to feeke my louely Moore, 
 And let my fpleenefull Sonnes this Trull defloure. Exit. 
 
 Enter Aaron tv'itb tiro ofTituf Sonnes. 
 
 Arcn. Come on my Lords, the better foote before, 
 Straight will I bring you to the lothfome pit. 
 Where I efpied the Panther faft afleepe. 
 
 Quin. My fight is very dull what ere it bodes. 
 Marti. And mine I promife you, were it not for rtiame, 
 Well could I leaue our fport to fleepe a while. 
 
 Quiii. What art thou fallen ? 
 What fubtile Hole is this, 
 
 Whofe mouth is couered with Rude growing Briers, 
 Vpon whofe leaues are drops of new-fhed-blood, 
 As fre/h as mornings dew diftil'd on flowers, 
 A very fatall place it feemes to me: 
 Speake Brother haft thou hurt thee with the fall? 
 
 Martiiu. Oh Brother, 
 With the difmaPft obied 
 That euer eye with fight made heart lament. 
 
 Aron. Now will 1 fetch the King to finde them heere, 
 That he thereby may haue a likely gefle, 
 How thefe were they that made away his Brother. 
 
 Exit Aaron. 
 
 Marti. Why doft not comfort me and helpe me out, 
 From this vnhallow'd and blood-flamed Hole? 
 
 Quintus. I am furprifed with an vncouth feare, 
 A chilling fweat ore-runs my trembling ioynts, 
 My heart fufpe&s more then mine eie can fee. 
 
 Marti. To proue thou haft a true diuining heart, 
 Aaron and thou looke downe into this den, 
 And fee a fearefull fight of blood and death. 
 
 Quinttu. Aaron is gone, 
 And my compafiionate heart 
 Will not permit mine eyes once to behold 
 The thing whereat it trembles by furmife : 
 Oh tell me how it is, for nere till now 
 Was I a child, to feare I know not what. 
 
 Marti. Lord 'BaJJlaniu lies em brewed heere, 
 All on a heape like to the flaughtred Lambe, 
 In this detefted, darke, blood-drinking pit. 
 
 Quin, If it be darke, how dooft thou know 'tis he ? 
 
 Mart. Vpon his bloody finger he doth weare 
 A precious Ring,that lightens all the Hole : 
 Which like a Taper in fome Monument, 
 Doth fhine vpon the dead mans earthly cheekes, 
 And ftiewes the ragged intrailes of the pit: 
 So pale did fhine the Moone on Piramtu, 
 When he by night lay bath'd in Maiden b lood: 
 O Brother helpe me with thy fainting hand. 
 If feare hath made thee faint, as mee it hath, 
 Out of this fell deuouring receptacle, 
 As hatefull as Ocitta miftie mouth. 
 
 Quint. Reach me thy hand, that I may helpe thee our, 
 
 Or 
 
 6}6
 
 The Tr age die of 'Titus tAndronicus. 
 
 39 
 
 Or wanting ftrength to doe thee fo much good, 
 I may be pluckt into the fwallowing wombe, 
 Of this deepe pit,poore 'Bafsianus graue : 
 1 haue no ftrength to plucke thee to the brinke. 
 
 Martiut.Nor I no ftrength to clime without thy help. 
 
 S^uin. Thy hand once more, I will not loofe againe, 
 Till thou art heere aloft, or I below, 
 Thou can'ft not come to me, I come to thee. 'Bothi fall In. 
 
 Enter the Emperour , Aaron 
 
 Satur. Along with me, He fee what hole is heere, 
 And what he is that now is leapt into it. 
 Say, who art thou that lately did'ft defcend, 
 Into this gaping hollow of the earth ? 
 
 Marti. The vnhappie fonne of old Andromciu, 
 Brought hither in a moft vnluckie houre, 
 To finde thy brother Bajsianus dead. 
 
 Satur. My brother dead ? I know thou doft but left, 
 He and his Lady both are at the Lodge, 
 Vpon the North-fide of this pleafant Chafe, 
 'Tis not an houre fince I left him there. 
 
 cytfarti. We know not where you left him all aliue, 
 But out alas,heere haue we found him dead. 
 
 Enter Tamora , Andronicus , and Lucius . 
 
 Tamo. Where is my Lord the King ? 
 
 AT/g;.Heere Tamora, though grieu'd with killing griefe. 
 
 Tarn. Where is thy brother Bajsianuif 
 
 King.Now to the bottome doft thou fearch my wound, 
 Poore 'Bafsiantu heere lies murthered. 
 
 Tarn. Then all too late I bring this fatall writ, 
 The complot of this timelefre Tragedie, 
 And wonder greatly that mans face can fold, 
 In pleafing fmiles fuch murderous Tyrannic. 
 
 She giuetb Saturnine a Letter. 
 
 Saturninus reads the Letter. 
 And if toe mijje to nteete him hanjomely , 
 Sweet huntjman ,BaJJianus'tis we meane, 
 Doe tbou Jo much at dig the graue for him, 
 Thou tyotv'Jl cur meaning, loo^e for thy reward 
 Among the Nettles at the Slder tree: 
 
 "Which ouer-Jbades the mouth of that fame pit : 
 
 Where we decreed to bury Bajjianuss 
 
 Doe this and purchafe vs thy lofting friends. 
 
 King. Oh Tamora, was euer heard the like ? 
 This is the pit, and this the Elder tree, 
 Looke firs, if you can finde the huntfman out, 
 That fhould haue murthered 'Bajsiantu heere. 
 
 Aron. My gracious Lord heere is the bag of Gold. 
 
 King. Two of thy whelpes, fell Curs of bloody kind 
 Haue heere bereft my brother of his life . 
 Sirs drag them from the pit vnto the prifon, 
 There let them bide vntill we haue deuis'd 
 Some neuer heard-of tortering paine for them. 
 
 Tamo. What are they in this pit, 
 Oh wondrous thing ! 
 How eafily murder is difcouered ? 
 
 Tit. High Emperour, vpon my feeble knee, 
 Ibeg this boone, with teares, not lightly fhed, 
 That this fell fault of my accurfed Sonnes, 
 Accurfed,if the faults be prou'd in them. 
 
 King. If it be prou'd ? you fee it is apparant, 
 
 637 
 
 Who found this Letter , Tamora was it you ? 
 Tamora. AndronictU himfelfe did take it vp. 
 
 Tit. I did my Lord, 
 Yet let me be their baile. 
 For by my Fathers reuerent Tombe I vow 
 They fhall be ready at yout Highnes will , 
 To anfwere their fufpition with their liues. 
 
 King. Thou fhalt not baile them, fee thou follow me: 
 Some bring the murthered body,fome the murtherers, 
 Let them not fpeake a word, the guilt is plaine, 
 For by my foule , were there worfe end then death, 
 That end vpon them fhould be executed. 
 
 Tamo. Andronicui I will entreat the King, 
 Feare not thy Sonnes, they fhall do well enough. 
 
 Tit. Come Lucius come, 
 Stay not to talke with them. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter the EmpreJJe Sonnes, with Lauinia,her hands cut off and 
 her tongue cut out, and rauijht. 
 
 Deme. So now goe tell and if thy tongue can fpeake, 
 Who t'was that cut thy tongue and rauifht thee. 
 
 Chi. Write downe thy mind, bewray thy meaning fo, 
 And if thy ftumpes will let thee play the Scribe. 
 
 Dem. See how with fignes and tokens fhe can fcovvle. 
 
 Chi. Goe home, 
 Call for fweet water, wafh thy hands. 
 
 Dem. She hath no tongue to call, nor hands to wafh. 
 And fo let's leaue her to her filent walkes. 
 
 Chi. And t'were my caufe, I fhould goe hang my felfe. 
 
 T>em. If thou had'ft hands to helpe thee knit the cord. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 Winde Homes. 
 
 Enter Marcus from hunting, to Lauinia. 
 Who is this, my Neece that flies away fo faft? 
 Cofen a word, where is your husband ? 
 If I do dreame , would all my wealth would wake me ; 
 If I doe wake,fome Planet ftrike me downe, 
 That I may flumber in eternall fleepe. 
 Speake gentle Neece, what fterne vngentle hands 
 Hath lopt, and hew'd,anJ made thy body bare 
 Of her two branches, thofe fweet Ornaments 
 Whofe circkling fhadowes, Kings haue fought to fleep in 
 And might not gaine fo great a happines 
 As halfe thy Loue : Why dooft not fpeake to me ? 
 Alas,a Crimfon riuer of warme blood, 
 Like to a bubling fountaine ftir'd with winde, 
 Doth rife and fall betweene thy Rofed lips, 
 Comming and going with thy hony breath. 
 But fure fome Tereut hath defloured thee, 
 And leaft thou fhould'ft deteft them, cut thy tongue. 
 Ah, now thou turn'ft away thy face for fhime : 
 And notwithftanding all this lofle of blood, 
 As from a Conduit with their ifliiing Spouts, 
 Yet doe thy cheekes looke red as Titans face, 
 Blufhing to be encountred with a Cloud, 
 Shall I fpeake for thee ? fhall I fay 'tis fo { 
 Oh that 1 knew thy hart, and knew the beaft 
 That I might raile at him to eafe my mind. 
 Sorrow concealed, like an Ouen ftopt, 
 Doth burne the hart to Cinders where it is. 
 Faire "Philomela fhe but loft her tongue, 
 And in a tedious Sampler fowed her minde. 
 Butlouely Neece, that meane is cut from thee, 
 A craftier Tereus haft thou met withall, 
 And he hath cut thofe pretty fi ngers off, 
 
 dd 2 That
 
 'The T rage die ofTitus ^Andronicus. 
 
 That could haue better fowed then Philomel. 
 
 Oh had the monfter feene thofe Lilly hands, 
 
 Tremble like Afpen leaues vpon a Lute, 
 
 And make the filken firings delight to kifle them, 
 
 He would not then haue toucht them for his lite. 
 
 Or had he heard the heauenly Harmony, 
 
 Whic h that fweet tongue hath made : 
 
 He would haue dropt his knife and fell afleepe, 
 
 As Qerbertu at the Thracian Poets feete. 
 
 Come, let vs goe, and make thy father blinde, 
 
 For fuch a fight will blinde a fathers eje. 
 
 One houres ftorme will drowne the fragrant meades, 
 
 What, will whole months of teares thy Fathers eyes? 
 
 Doe not draw backe, for we will mourne with thee: 
 
 Oh could our mourning eafe thy milery. Exeunt 
 
 Attus Tertius. 
 
 Enter the lodges and Senatoun with Titus tvo fonnes bound, 
 pajfing on the Stage to the place of execution, and Titui going 
 before pleading. 
 
 77. Heare me graue fathers, noble Tribunes ftay, 
 For pitty of mine age, whofe youth was fpent 
 In dangerous warres, whilft you fecurely flcpt: 
 For all my blood in Romes great quarrell fhed, 
 For all the frofty nights that I haue watcht, 
 And for thefe bitter teares, which now you fee, 
 Filling the aged wrinkles in my cheekes, 
 Be pittifull to my condemned Sonnes, 
 Whofe foules is not corrupted as 'tis thought : 
 For two and twenty fonnes I neuer wept, 
 Becaufe they died in honours lofty bed. 
 
 jfndronictu lyeth dvxne^and the Judges pajfe by him. 
 For thefe, Tribunes, in the duft I write 
 My harts deepe languor, and my foules fad teares : 
 Let my teares ftjnch the earths drie appetite. 
 My fonnes fweet blood, will make it /name and blufh: 
 O earth ! I will be friend thee more with raine Exeunt 
 That fhall diftill from thefe two ancient ruines, 
 Then youthfull Aprill fhall with all his fliowres 
 In fummers drought: lie drop vpon thee flill, 
 In Winter with warme teares lie melt the fnow, 
 And keepe erernall fpring ,time on thy face, 
 So thou refufe to diinke my deare fonnes blood. 
 
 Enter Lucltu ,ivitb bis weapon dratone. 
 
 Oh reuerent Tribunes, oh gentle aged men, 
 Vnbinde my fonnes, reuerfe the doome or death, 
 And let me fay(that neuer wept before) 
 My teares are now preualing Oratours. 
 
 Lu. Oh noble father,you lament in vaine, 
 The Tribunes heare not, no man is by, 
 And you recount your forrowes to a (tone. 
 
 TV. Ah Lucius for thy brothers let me plead, 
 Graue Tribunes, once more I intreat of you. 
 Lu. My gracious Lord, no Tribune heares you fpeake. 
 
 77. Why 'tis no matter man, if they did heare 
 They would not marke me: oh if they did heare 
 They would not pitty me. 
 Therefore I tell my forrowes booties to the flones. 
 
 Who though they cannot anfwere my diftrefle, 
 
 Yet in fome fort they are better then the Tribunes, 
 
 For that they will not intercept my tale j 
 
 When I doe weepe, they humbly at my feete 
 
 Receiue my teares, and iee.me to weepe with me, 
 
 And were they but attired in graue weedes, 
 
 Rome could afford no Tribune like to thefe. 
 
 A ftone is as foft waxe, 
 
 Tribunes more hard then ftones: 
 
 Aftone is filent,and offendeth not, 
 
 And Tribunes with their tongues doome men to death. 
 
 But wherefore ftand'ft thou with thy weapon drawne ? 
 
 Lu. To refcue my two brothers from their death, 
 For which attempt the Judges haue pronounc'ft 
 My euerlafting doome of banifhment. 
 
 77. O happy man, they haue befriended thee : 
 Why foolifh Luciui, doft thou not perceiue 
 That Rome is but a wildernes of Tigers ? 
 Tigers muft pray, and Rome affords no prey 
 But me and and mine : how happy art thou then, 
 From thefe deuourers to be banifhed ? 
 But who comes with our brother Marcui heere f 
 
 Enter Marcus and Laulnia. 
 
 Mar. Titus, prepare thy noble eyes to weepe, 
 Or if not fo, thy noble heart to breake : 
 I bring confuming forrow to thine age. 
 
 77. Will it confume me ? Let me lee it then. 
 
 <^Mar. This was thy daughter. 
 
 77. Why Marcui fo fhe is. 
 
 Luc. Aye me this obiedt kils me. 
 
 77. Faint-harted boy, arife and looke vpon her, 
 Speake Lauinia, what accurfed hand 
 Hath made thee handlefie in thy Fathers fight? 
 What foole hath added water to the Sea? 
 Or brought a faggot to bright burning Troy ? 
 My griefe was at the height before thou cam'ft, 
 And now like Nylui it difdaineth bounds: 
 Giue me a fword,lle chop off my hands too, 
 For they haue fought for Rome, and all in vaine : 
 And they haue nur'it this woe, 
 In feeding life : 
 
 In bootelefTe prayer haue they bene held vp, 
 And they haue feru'd me to effectlefie vfe. 
 Now all the feruice I require of them, 
 Is that the one will helpe to cut the other : 
 'Tis well Lauinia, that thou haft no hands, 
 For hands to do Rome feruice, is but vaine. 
 
 Luci. Speake gentle fifter, who hath martyr'd thee? 
 
 Mar. O that delightfull engine of her thoughts, 
 That blab'd them with fuch pleafing eloquence, 
 Is torne from forth that pretty hollow cage, 
 Where like a fweet mellodius bird it fung, 
 Sweet varied notes inch.mting euery eare. 
 
 Luci. Oh fay thou for her, 
 Who hath done this deed t 
 
 Marc. Oh thus I found her ftraying in the Parke, 
 Seeking to hide herfelfe as doth the Deare 
 That hath receiude fome vnrecuring wound. 
 
 Tit. It was my Deare, 
 And he that wounded her, 
 
 Hath hurt me more, then had he kild me dead : 
 For now I ftand as one vpon a Rocke, 
 Inuiron'd with a wilderneffe of Sea. 
 Who markes the waxing tide, 
 Grow waue by waue, 
 
 Expecting 
 
 638
 
 'The Tragedie of Titus adndromcus. 
 
 Expelling euer when feme enuious furge, 
 
 Will in his brinifli bowels fwallow him. 
 
 This way to death my wretched fonnes are gone : 
 
 Heere ftands my other forme, a baniflit man, 
 
 And heere my brother weeping at my woes. 
 
 But that which giues my foule the greateft fpurne, 
 
 Is deere Lauinia, deerer then my foule. 
 
 Had I but feene thy picture in this plight, 
 
 It would haue madded me. What fliall I doe? 
 
 Now I behold thy liuely body fo ? 
 
 Thou haft no hands to wipe away thy teares, 
 
 Nor tongue to tell me who hath martyr'd thee : 
 
 Thy husband he is dead, and for his death 
 
 Thy brothers are condemn'd,and dead by this. 
 
 Looke Marcus, ah fonne Lucius looke on her : 
 
 When I did name her brothers, then frefh teares 
 
 Stood on her cheekes,as doth the hony dew, 
 
 Vpon a gathred Lillie almoft withered., 
 
 Mar. Perchance flie weepes becaufe they kil'd her 
 husband, 
 Perchance becaufe /he knowes him innocent. 
 
 77. If they did kill thy husband then be ioyfull, 
 Becaufe the law hath tane reuenge on them. 
 No, no, they would not doe fb foule a deede, 
 Witnes the forrow that their filter makes. 
 Gentle Lauinia let me kifle thy lips, 
 Or make fome fignes how I may do thee eafe : 
 Shall thy good Vncle, and thy brother Lucius, 
 And thou and I fit round about fome Fountaine, 
 Looking all downewards to behold our cheekes 
 How they are ftain'd in meadowes, yet not dry 
 With miery (lime left on them by a flood : 
 And in the Fountaine fliall we gaze fo long, 
 Till the frefli tafte be taken from that cleerenes, 
 And made a brine pit with our bitter teares ? 
 Or fliall we cut away our hands like thine ? 
 Or fliall we bite our tongues, and in dumbe fliewes 
 Pafle the remainder of our hatefull dayes? 
 What fliall we doe t Let vs that haue our tongues 
 Plot fome dcuife of further miferies 
 To make vs wondred at in time to come. 
 
 Lu. Sweet Father ceafe your teares, for at your griefe 
 See how my wretched fifter fobs and weeps. 
 
 Mar, Patience deere Neece,good Titus drie thine 
 eyes. 
 
 Ti. Ah Marcus, Marcus, Brother well I wot, 
 Thy napkin cannot drinke a teare of mine, 
 For thou poore man haft drown'd it with thine owne. 
 
 Lu. Ah my Lauinia 1 will wipe thy cheekes. 
 
 Ti Marke Marcus marke, I vnderftand her fignes, 
 Had flie a tongue to fpeake, now would flie fay 
 That to her brother which I faid to thee. 
 His Napkin with hertrue teares all bewet, 
 Can do no feruice on her forrowfull cheekes. 
 Oh what a fimpathy of woe is this! 
 As farre from helpe as Limbo is from blifle, 
 
 Bnter Aron the Moore alone. 
 
 Moore. Titus Andronicus,my Lord the Emperour, 
 Sends thee this word, that if thou loue thy fonnes, 
 Let Marcus, Lucius, or thy felfe old Titus, 
 Or any one of you, chop off your hand, 
 And fend it to the King: he for the fame, 
 Will fend thee hither both thy fonnes aliue, 
 And that fliall be the ranfome for their fault. 
 
 639 
 
 77. Oh gracious Emperour, oh gentle Aaron. 
 Did euer Rauen fing fo like a Larke, 
 That giues fweet tydings of the Sunnes vprife ? 
 With all my heart, He fend the Emperour my hand, 
 Good Aron wilt thou help to chop it off 1 ? 
 
 Lu. Stay Father, for that noble hand of thine, 
 That hath throwne downe fo many enemies, 
 Shall not be lent : my hand will ferue the turne, 
 My youth can better fpare my blood then you, 
 And therfore mine fliall faue my brothers liues. 
 
 Mar. Which of your hands hath not defended Rome, 
 And rear'd aloft the bloody Battleaxe, 
 Writing deftrudlion on the enemies Caftle 
 Oh none of both but are of high defert : 
 My hand hath bin but idle, let it ferue 
 To ranfome my two nephewes from their death, 
 Then haue I kept it to a worthy end. 
 
 Moore. Nay come agree, whofe hand fliallgoe along 
 For feare they die before their pardon come. 
 
 <&far. My hand fliall goe. 
 
 Lu. By heauen it fliall not goe. 
 
 77. Sirs ftriue no more, fuch withered hearbs as thefe 
 Are meete for plucking vp, and therefore mine. 
 
 Lu. Sweet Father, if I fliall be thought thy fonne, 
 Let me redeeme my brothers both from death. 
 
 Mar, And for our fathers fake, and mothers care, 
 Now let me fliew a brothers loue to thee. 
 
 77. Agree betweene you, I will fpare my hand. 
 
 Lu, Then He goe fetch an Axe. 
 
 Mar. But I will vfe the Axe. Exeunt 
 
 77. Come hither Aaron, He deceiue them both, 
 Lend me thy hand, and I will giue thee mine, 
 
 cWoore. If that be cal'd deceit, I will be honeft, 
 And neuer whil'ft I liue deceiue men fo : 
 But lie deceiue you in another fort, 
 And that you'l fay ere halfe an houre paffe. 
 
 He cuts off Titus band. 
 Enter Lucius and Marcu i againe. 
 
 77. Now ftay you ftrife, what fliall be, is difpatchtr. 
 Good Aron giue his Maieftie me hand, 
 Tell him, it was a hand that warded him 
 From thoufand dangers : bid him bury it : 
 More hath it merited : That let it haue. 
 As for for my fonnes, fay I account of them, 
 As Jewels purchaft at an eafie price, 
 And yet deere too, becaufe I bought mine owne. 
 
 Aron. I goe AnJronicus,nnd for thy hand, 
 Looke by and by to haue thy fonnes with thee : 
 Their heads I meane : Oh how this villany 
 Doth fat me with the very thoughts of it. 
 Let fooles doe good, and faire men call for grace, 
 Aron will haue his foule blacke like his face. Exit. 
 
 77. O heere I lift this one hand vp to heauen, 
 And bow this feeble ruine to the earth, 
 If any power pitties wretched teares, 
 To that I call : what wilt thou kneele with me f . 
 Doe then deare heart, for heauen fliall heare our prayers, 
 Or with our fighs weele breath the welkin dimme, 
 And ftaine the Sun with fogge as fomtime cloudes, 
 When they do hug him in their melting bofomes. 
 
 Mar. Oh brother fpeake with poflibilities, 
 And do not breake into thefe deepe extreames. 
 
 Ti. Is not my forrow deepe, hauing no bottome ? 
 
 d d 3 Then
 
 The Tr age die of Titus exf ndronicus . 
 
 Then be my paflions bottomlefTe with them. 
 
 Mar. But yet let reafon gouerne thy lament. 
 
 Ttttu. If there were reafon for thefe miferies, 
 Then into limits could I binde my woes : 
 When heauen doth weepe, doth not the earth oreflow 
 If the windes rage, doth not the Sea wax mad, 
 Threatning the welkin with his big-fwolne face ? 
 And wilt thou haue a reafon for this coile ? 
 I am the Sea. Harke how her fighes doe flow : 
 Shee is the weeping welkin, I the earth : 
 Then muft my Sea be moued with her fighes, 
 Then muft my earth with her continuall teares, 
 Become a deluge : oucrflow'd and drown'd : 
 For why, my bowels cannot hide her woes, 
 But like a drunkard muft I vomit them: 
 Then giue me leaue, for loofers will haue leaue, 
 To eafe their ftomackes with their bitter tongues, 
 
 Enter a mejjeng er with tvo bead* and a band. 
 
 Mejf. Worthy Andronicus, ill art thou repaid, 
 For that good hand thou fentft the Emperour : 
 Heere are the heads of thy two noble fonnes. 
 And heeres thy hand in fcorne to thee fent backe : 
 Thy griefes, their fports : Thy refolution mockt , 
 That woe is me to thinke vpon thy woes, 
 More then remembrance of my fathers death. Exit. 
 
 Marc. Now let hot JEtnz coole in Cicilie, 
 And be my heart an euer-burning hell : 
 Thefe miferies are more then may be borne. 
 To weepe with them that weepe, doth eafe fome deale, 
 But forrow flouted at, is double death. 
 
 Luci. Ah that this fight fhould make fo deep a wound, 
 And yet detefted life not fhrinke thereat : 
 That euer death fhould let life beare his name, 
 Where life hath no more intereft but to breath. 
 
 Mar. Alas poore hart that kifle is comfortlefie, 
 As frozen water to a ftarued fnake. 
 
 Tittu. When will this fearefull flumber haue an end ? 
 
 Mar. Now farwell flatterie, die Andronicw, 
 Thou doft not flumber, fee thy twofons heads, 
 Thy warlike hands, thy mangled daughter here : 
 Thy other baniiht fonnes w^th this deere fight 
 Strucke pale and blood lefle, and thy brother I, 
 Euen like a ftony Image, cold and numme. 
 Ah now no more will 1 controule my griefes, 
 Rent off thy filuer haire, thy. other hand 
 Gnawing with thy teeth, and be this difmall fight 
 The clofing vp of our moft wretched eyes : 
 Now is a time to ftorme, why art thou ftill f 
 
 Tutu. Ha, ha, ha, 
 Mar. Why doft thou laugh ? it fits not with this houre. 
 
 77. Why I haue not another teare to flied : 
 Befides, this forrow is an enemy, 
 And would vfurpe vpon my watry eyes, 
 And make them blinde with tributarie teares. 
 Then which way fliall I finde Reuenges Caue ? 
 For thefe two heads doe feeme to fpeake to me, 
 And threat me, I fhall neuer come to bliiFe, 
 Till all thefe mifchiefes be returned againe, 
 Euen in their throats that haue committed them. 
 Come let me fee what taske I haue to doe, 
 You heauie people, circle me about, 
 That I may turne me to each one of you, 
 And fweare vnto my foule to right your wrongs. 
 The vow is made, come Brother take a head, 
 
 And in this hand the other will I beare. 
 
 And Lauinia thou /halt be employd in thefe things : 
 
 Beare thou my hand fweet wench betweene thy teeth : 
 
 As for thee boy, goe get thee from my light, 
 
 Thou art an Exile, and thou muft not ftay, 
 
 Hie to the Cubes, and raife an army there, 
 
 And if you loue me, as 1 thinke you due, 
 
 Let's kifle and part, for we haue much to doe. &xeur.t. 
 
 Manet Lucius. 
 
 Luci. Farewell Andronictu my noble Father : 
 The woful'ft man that euer liu'd in Rome : 
 Farewell proud Rome, til Lucius come againe, 
 Heloues his pledges dearer then his life : 
 Farewell Lauinia my noble fifter, 
 O would thou wert as thou to fore haft beene, 
 But now, nor Luciiu nor Lauinia liues 
 
 i But in obliuion and hateful griefes : 
 
 ; If Luclui hue, he will requit your wrongs, 
 And make proud Saturnine and his Emprefle 
 Beg at the gates likes Tarquin and his Queene. 
 Now will I to the Gothes and raife a power, 
 To be reueng'd on Rome and Saturnine. Exit Luciui 
 
 A Bnatyt. 
 Enter Andronicus, Marcus, Lauinia, and the Boy. 
 
 tAn. So,fo, now fit, and looke you eate no more 
 Then will preferue iuft fo much ftrength in vs 
 As will reuenge thefe bitter woes of ours. 
 Marcut vnknit that forrow-wreathen knot : 
 Thy Neece and I ( poore Creatures ) want our hands 
 And cannot paflionate our tenfold griefe, 
 With foulded Armes. This poore right hand of mine, 
 Is left to tirranize vppon my breaft. 
 Who when my hart all mad with mifery, 
 Beats in this hollow prifon of my flefh, 
 Then thus I thumpe it downe. 
 Thou Map of woe, that thus doft talk in fignes, 
 When thy poore hart beates without ragious beating, 
 Thou canft not ftrike it thus to make it ftill ? 
 Wound it with fighing girle, kil it with grones : 
 Or get fome little knife betweene thy teeth, 
 And iuft againft thy hart make thou a hole, 
 That all the teares that thy poore eyes let fall 
 May run into that finke, and (baking in, 
 Drowne the lamenting foole, in Sea fait teares. 
 
 Mar. Fy brother fy, teach her not thus to lay 
 Such violent hands vppon her tender life. 
 
 An How now J Has lorrow made thee doate already? 
 Why Marcus, no man fhould be mad but I : 
 What violent hands can fhe lay on her life : 
 Ah, wherefore doft thou vrge the name of hands, 
 To bid e^Eneaf tell the tale twice ore 
 How Troy was burnt, and he made miferable* 
 
 handle not the theame, to talke of hands, 
 Leaft we remember ftill that we haue none, 
 Fie, fie, how Frantiquely I fquare my talke 
 As if we mould forget we had no hands : 
 
 If Marcus did not njme the word of hands. 
 Come, lets fall too, and gentle girle eate this, 
 Heere is no drinke ? Harke Marcus what flie faies, 
 
 1 can interpret all her martir'd fignes, 
 
 She faies, fhe drinkes no other drinke but teares 
 Breu'd with her forrow : mefh'd vppon her cheekes, 
 
 Speech- 
 
 640
 
 The Tragedie of Titus ^fndronicus. 
 
 43 
 
 Speechlefie complaynet, I will learne thy thought: 
 
 In thy dumb adtion, will I be as perfect 
 
 As begging Hermits in their holy prayers. 
 
 Thou fhalt not fighe nor hold thy flumps to heauen, 
 
 Nor winke, nor nod, nor kneele,nor make a figne, 
 
 But I(of thefe) will wreft an Alphabet, 
 
 And by ftill practice, learne to know thy meaning. 
 
 Boy. Good grandfire leaue thefe bitter deepe laments, 
 Make my Aunt merry, with fome pleafmg tale. 
 
 cftfar. Alas, the tender boy in paffion mou'd, 
 Doth weepe to fee his grandfires heauinefTe. 
 
 An. Peace tender Sapling, thou art made of teares, 
 And teares will quickly melt thy life away. 
 
 Marcus ftr't^es the dijh with a fytife. 
 What doeft thou ftrike at Marcus with knife. 
 
 Mar. At that that I hauekil'd my Lord, a Flys 
 
 An. Out on the murderour : thou kil'ft my hart, 
 Mine eyes cloi'd with view of Tirranie; 
 A deed of death done on the Innocent 
 Becoms not Titiu broher : get thee gone, 
 I fee thou art not for my company. 
 
 Mar. Alas(my Lord) I haue but kild a flie. 
 
 An. But? How : if that Flie had a father and mother? 
 How would he hang his {lender gilded wings 
 And buz lamenting doings in the ayer, 
 Poore harmelefle Fly, 
 That with his pretty buzing melody, 
 Came heere to make vs merry, 
 And thou haft kil'd him. 
 
 tZMar. Pardon me fir, 
 It was a blacke illfauour'd Fly, 
 Like to the Emprefle Moore, therefore I kild him. 
 
 An. O,o,o, 
 
 Then pardon me for reprehending thee, 
 For thou haft done a Charitable deed : 
 Giue me thy knife, I will infult on him, 
 Flattering my felfes, as if it were the Moore, 
 Come hither purpofely to poyfon me. 
 There's for thy felfe,and thatsfor Tamira : Ah firra, 
 Yet I thinke we are not brought fo low, 
 But that betweene vs, we can kill a Fly, 
 That comes in likenefTe of a Cole-blacke Moore. 
 
 Mar. Alas poore man, griefe ha's fo wrought on him, 
 He takes falfe fhadowes, for true fubftances. 
 
 An. Come, take away: Lauinia,goe with me, 
 He to thy clofiet,and goe read with thee 
 Sad ftories, chanced in the times of old. 
 Come boy, and goe with me, thy fight is young, 
 And thou fhalt read, when mine begin to dazell. Exeunt 
 
 A5tus Quartus. 
 
 Enter young Lucius and Lauinia running after him, and 
 the 'Boy jiies from her with bis booths -under bis arme. 
 
 Enter Titus and Marcus. 
 
 f Boy. Helpe Grandfier helpe,my Aunt Lauinia, 
 Followes me euery where I know not why. 
 Good Vncle Marcus fee how fwift fhe comes, 
 Alas fweet Aunt, I know not what you meane. 
 
 Mar. Stand by me Lucius, doe not feare thy Aunt. 
 Titus. She loues thee boy too well to doe thee harme 
 f Boy. I when my father was in Rome fhe did. 
 
 641 
 
 Mar.What meanes my Neece Lauinia by thefe fignes? 
 
 77. Feare not Lucius, fome what doth fhe meane: 
 See Lucius fee, how much fhe makes of thee : 
 Some whether would fhe haue thee goe with her. 
 Ah boy, Cornelia neuer with more care 
 Read to her fonnes, then fhe hath read to thee, 
 Sweet Poetry, and Tullies Oratour: 
 Canft thou not gefle wherefore fhe plies thee thus? 
 
 Boy. My Lord I know not I, nor can I gefle, 
 Vnlefle fome fit or frenzie do poflefie her : 
 For I haue heard my Grandfier fay full oft, 
 Extremitie of griefes would make men mad. 
 And I haue read that Hecubee of Troy, 
 Ran mad through forrow, that made me to feare, 
 Although my Lord, I know my noble Aunt, 
 Loues me as deare as ere my mother did, 
 Arid would not but in fury fright my youth 1 , 
 Which made me downe to throw my bookes, and flie 
 Caufles perhaps, but pardon me fweet Aunt, 
 And Madam, if my Vncle Marcus goe, 
 I will moft willingly attend your Ladyfhip. 
 
 Mar. Lucius I will. 
 
 Ti. How now Lauinia, Marcus what meanes this? 
 Some booke there is that fhe defires to fee , 
 Which is it girle of thefe ? Open them boy, 
 But thou art deeper read and better skild, 
 Come and take choyfe of all my Library, 
 And fo beguile thy forrow, till the heauens 
 Reueale the damn'd contriuer of this deed. 
 What booke ? 
 Why lifts fhe vp her armes in fequence thus? 
 
 Mar. I thinke fhe meanes thatther was more then one 
 Confederate in the fact, I more there was: 
 Or elfe to heauen fhe heaues them to reuenge. 
 
 Ti. Lucius what booke is that fhe tofieth fo? 
 
 Boy. Grandfier 'tis Quids Metamorphofis, 
 My mother gaue it me. 
 
 c/War. For loue of her that's gone, 
 Perhahs fhe culd it from among the reft. 
 
 Ti. Soft, fo bufily fhe turnes the leaues, 
 Helpe her, what would fhe finde ? Lauinia fhall I read ? 
 This is the tragicke tale of Philomel ? 
 And treates of Tereus treafon and his rape, 
 And rape I feare was roote of thine annoy. 
 
 Mar, See brother fee, note how fhe quotes the leaues 
 
 Ti. Lauinia, wert thou thus furpriz'd fweet girle, 
 Rauifht and wrong'd as Philomela was ? 
 Forc'd in the ruthlefTe,vaft,and gloomy woods ? 
 See, fee, I fuch a place there is where we did hunt, 
 (O had we neuer, neuer hunted there,) 
 PaternM by that the Poet heere defcribes, 
 By nature made for murthers and for rapes. 
 
 <^Mar. O why fhould nature build fo foule a den, 
 VnlefTe the Gods delight in tragedies 9 
 
 Ti'.Giue fignes fweet girle, for heere are none but friends 
 What Romaine Lord it was durft do the deed f 
 Or flunke not Saturnine,as Taryuin erfts, 
 That left the Campe to finne in Lucrece bed. 
 
 Mar. Sit downe fweet Neece, brother fit downe by me, 
 Appollo, Pallas, loue, or <tMercury, 
 Infpire me that I may this treaibn finde. 
 My Lord looke heere, look e heere Lauinia. 
 
 He writes bis Name tvitb hit ttaffe,and guides it 
 
 svitbfeete and mouth. 
 This fandie plot is plaine,guide if thou canft 
 
 This 
 
 4*
 
 44 
 
 The Tragedie of Titus ^ndronicus. 
 
 This after me, I haue writ my name, 
 
 Without the helpe of any hand at all. 
 
 Curft be that hart that forc'ft vs to that fhift : 
 
 Write thou good Neece,and heere difplay at laft, 
 
 What God will haue difcouered for reuenge, 
 
 Heauen guide thy pen to print thy forrowes plaine, 
 
 That we may know the Tray tors and the truth. 
 
 She ta^es the Jlaffe in her mouth, ad guides it with her 
 
 Jlumps and writes. 
 
 Ti. Oh doe ye read my Lord what fhe hath writs ? 
 Stuprum, Chiron, Demetrius. 
 
 cMar. What, what, the luftfull fonnes of Tamora, 
 Performers of this hainous bloody deed? 
 
 Ti. Magni Dominator poli, 
 Tarn lent us audit fee/era ,t am lentus -vides ? 
 
 Alar. Oh calme thee, gentle Lord : Although 1 know 
 There is enough written vpon this earth, 
 To ftirre a mutinie in the mildeft thoughts, 
 And arme the mindes of infants to exclaimes. 
 My Lord kneele downe with me: Lauinia kneele, 
 And kneele fweet boy, the Romaine Hectors hope, 
 And fweare with me, as with the wofull Feere 
 And father of that chaft difhonoured Dame, 
 Lord lunius Brutus fweare for Lucrece rape, 
 That we will profecute(by good aduife) 
 Mortall reuenge vpon thefe traytorous Gothes, 
 And fee their blood, or die with this reproach. 
 
 Ti. Tis fure enough, and you knew how. 
 But if you hunt thefe Beare-whelpes, then beware 
 The Dam will wake, and if fhe winde you once, 
 Shee's with the Lyon deepely ftill in league. 
 And lulls him whilft fhe palyeth on her backe, 
 And when he fleepes will flie do what fhe lift. 
 You are a young huntfman cWarcus,ltt it alone : 
 And come, I will goe get a leafe of brafTe, 
 And with a Gad of fteele will write thefe words, 
 And lay it by : the angry Northerne winde 
 Will blow thefe fands like Sibels leaues abroad, 
 And wheres your lefTon then . Boy what fay you f 
 
 'Boy. I fay my Lord, that if I were a man, 
 Their mothers bed-chamber fhould not be fafe, 
 For thefe bad bond-men to the yoake of Rome. 
 
 Mar. I that's my boy,thy father hath full oft, 
 For his vngratefull country done the like. 
 
 Boy. And Vncle fo will I, and if I Hue. 
 
 Ti. Come goe with me into mine Armorie, 
 Lucius He fit thee, and withall,my boy 
 Shall carry from me to the EmprefTe fonnes, 
 Prefents that I intend to fend them both, 
 Come, come, thou'lt do thy meffage, wilt thou not? 
 
 Boy. I with my dagger in their bofomes Grandfire : 
 
 Ti. No boy not fo, He teach thee another courfe, 
 Lauinia come,<&farcus looke to my houfe, 
 Lucius and He goe braue it at the Court, 
 I marry will we fir, and weele be waited on. Exeunt. 
 
 Mar. O heauens ! Can you heare a good man grone 
 And not relent, or not compaflion him ? 
 Marcus attend him in his extafie, 
 That hath more fears of forrow in his heart, 
 Then foe-mens markes vpon his batter'd fhleld, 
 But yet fo iuft, that he will not reuenge, 
 Reuenge the heauens for old Andronicut. Exit 
 
 Enter Aron, Chiron and Demetrius at one dore:and at another 
 
 dore young Lucius and another. -ait b a bundle of 
 j / * 
 
 weapons, and -verjes ttrit -upon them. 
 
 Chi. Demetrius heeres the fonne of Lucius, 
 He hath fome meflage to deliuer vs. 
 
 Art>n.\ fome mad mefTage from his mad Grandfather. 
 
 'Boy. My Lords, with all the humblenefTe I may, 
 I greete your honours from Andronicus, 
 And pray the Romane Gods confound you both. 
 
 Deme. Gramercie louely Lucius, what's the newes? 
 For villanie's markt with rape. May it pleafe you, 
 My Grandfire well aduifd hath fent by me, 
 The goodlieft weapons of his Armorie, 
 To gratifie your honourable youth, 
 The hope of Rome, for fo he bad me fay : 
 And fo I do and with his gifts prefent 
 Your Lordfhips, when euer you haue need, 
 You may be armed and appointed well, 
 And fo I leaue you both : like bloody villaines. Exit 
 
 Deme. What's heere? a fcrole,& written round about ^ 
 Let's fee. 
 
 Integer -uitte fcelerifque purui, non egit maury iaculii nee ar- 
 ctu. 
 
 Chi. O 'tis a verfe in Horace, I know it well. 
 I read it in the Grammer long agoe. 
 
 zftfoore, I iuft, a verfe in Horace : right, you haue it, 
 Now what a thing it is to be an AfTe ? 
 Heer's no found left, the old man hath found their guilt, 
 And fends the weapons wrapt about with lines, 
 Thatwound( beyond their feeling)to the quick: 
 But were our witty EmprefTe well a foot, 
 She would applaud Andronictu conceit: 
 But let her reft, in her vnreft a while. 
 And now young Lords, wa'stnot a happy ftarre 
 Led vs to Rome ftrangers, and more then fo j 
 Captiues, to be aduanced to this height? 
 It did me good before the Pallace gate, 
 To braue the Tribune in his brothers hearing. 
 
 Deme. But me more good, to fee fo great a Lord 
 Bafely infinuate,and fend vs gifts. 
 
 Moore. Had he not reafon Lord Demetrius? 
 Did you not vfe his daughter very friendly ? 
 
 Deme. I would we had a thoufand Romane Dames 
 At fuch a bay, by turne to feme our Iuft. 
 
 Chi. A charitable wifh, and full of loue. 
 
 Moore. Heere lack's but you mother for to fay, Amen. 
 
 Cbi. And that would fhe for twenty thoufand more. 
 
 Deme. Come, let vs go, and pray to all the Gods 
 For our beloued mother in her paines. 
 
 Moore.Przy to the deuils,the gods haue giuen vs ouer. 
 Flounjh. 
 
 Dem. Why do the Emperors trumpets flourifli thus ? 
 
 Cbi. Belike for ioy the Emperour hath a fonne. 
 
 Deme. Soft, who comes heere f 
 
 Enter Nurfe rvitb a blacke a Moore cbilde. 
 
 Nur. Good morrow Lords: 
 O tell me, did you fee Aaron the Moore ? 
 
 Aron. Well, more or lefTe, or nere a whit at all, 
 Heere *Aaron is, and what with <Aaron now ? 
 
 Nurfe. Oh gentle Aaron,vtt are all vndone, 
 Now helpe, or woe betide thee euermore. 
 
 Aron. Why, what a catterwalling doft thou keepe ? 
 What doft thou wrap and fumble in thine armes? 
 
 Nurfe. O that which I would hide from heauens eye, 
 Our EmprefTe fhame,and (lately Romes difgrace, 
 She is deliuered Lords, fhe is deliuered. 
 
 Aron To whom ? 
 
 Nurfe. I meane fhe is brought a bed ? 
 
 Aron. Wei God giue her good reft, 
 
 What 
 
 64Z
 
 The T rage die of Titus ^Andronicus. 
 
 -45 
 
 What hath he fent her ? 
 
 Nurfe. A deuill. 
 Aron. Why then flie is'the Dcuils Dam : a ioyfull ifiue. 
 
 Nurfe. A ioylefie, difmall, blacke &,forrowfull iffue, 
 Heere is the babe as loathfome as a toad, 
 Among'ft the faireft breeders of our clime, 
 The Emprefle fends it thee,thy ftampe, thyfeale, 
 And bids thee chriften it with thy daggers point. 
 
 Aron. Out you whore, is black fo bafe a hue ? 
 Sweet blowfe,you are a beautious blofibme fure; 
 
 Deme. Villaine what haft thou done? 
 
 Aron. That which thou canft not vndoe. 
 
 Chi. Thou haft vndone our mother. 
 
 Deme. And therein hellifh dog, thou haft vndone, 
 Woe to her chance, and damn'd her loathed choyce, 
 Accur'ft the off-fpring of fo foule a fiend. 
 
 Cbi. It fliall not Hue. 
 
 Aron. It fliall not die. 
 
 Nurfe. Aaron it muft, the mother wils it fo. 
 
 Aron. What, muft it Nurfe ? Then let no man but I 
 Doe execution on my flefli and blood. 
 
 Deme. lie broach the Tadpole on my Rapiers point: 
 Nurfe giue it me, my fword fhall foone difpatch it. 
 
 Aron. Sooner this fword fliall plough thy bowels vp. 
 Stay murtherous villaines, will you kill your brother i 
 Now by the burning Tapers of the skie, 
 That fli'one fo brightly when this Boy was got, 
 He dies vpon my Semitars fliarpe point, 
 That touches this my firft borne fonne and heire. 
 I tell you young-lings, not Enceladiu 
 With all his threatning band of Typhonsbroode, 
 Nor great Alcides, nor the God of warre, 
 Shall ceare this prey out of his fathers hands : 
 What, what, ye fanguine fliallow harted Boyes, 
 Ye white-limb'd walls, ye Ale-houfe painted fignes, 
 Cole-blacke is better then another hue, 
 In that it fcornes to beare another hue : 
 For all the water in the Ocean, 
 Can neuer turne the Swans blacke legs to white, 
 Although flie laue them hourelyin the flood : 
 Tell the Emprefle from me, I am of age 
 To keepemine owne,excufe it how flie can. 
 
 Deme. Wilt thou betray thy noble miftris thus ? 
 
 Aron. My miftris is my miftris: this my felfe, 
 The vigour,and the picture of my youth : 
 This, before all the world do I preferre, 
 This mauger all the world will I keepe fafe, 
 Or fome of you fliall fmoake for it in Rome. 
 
 Deme. By this our mother is for euer fliam'd. 
 
 Cbi. Rome will defpife her for this foule efcape. 
 Nur. The Emperour in his rage will doome her death. 
 
 Cbi. I blufli to thinke vpon this ignominie. 
 
 Aron. Why ther's the priuiledge your beauty beares: 
 Fie trecherous hue, that will betray with blufliing 
 The clofe enacls and counfels of the hart : 
 Heer's a young Lad fram'd of another leere, 
 Looke how the blacke flaue fmiles vpon the father; 
 As who fliould fay, old Lad I am thine owne. 
 He is your brother Lords, fenfibly fed 
 Of that felfe blood that firft gaue life to you, 
 And from that wombe where you imprifoned were 
 He is infranchifed and come to light: 
 Nay he is your brother by the furer fide, 
 Although my feale be ftamped in his face. 
 
 Nurfe. cAaron what fliall I fay vnto the Emprefle? 
 
 Dem. Aduife thee CAaron, what is to be done, 
 
 645 
 
 And we will all fubfcribe to thy aduife : 
 Saue thou the child, fo we may all be fafe. 
 
 Aron. Then fit we downe and let vs all confult. 
 My fonne and I will haue the winde of you : 
 Keepe there, now talke at pleafure of your fafety. 
 
 Deme. How many women fa w this childe of his? 
 
 Aron.Why fo braue Lords, when we ioyne in league 
 I am a Lambe: but if you braue the Moore y 
 The chafed Bore, the mountaine Lyonefle, 
 The Ocean fwells not fo at Aaron ftormes : 
 But fay againe, how many faw the childe ? 
 
 Nurfe. Qornelia, the midwife, and my felfe, 
 And none elfe but the deliuered Emprefle. 
 
 Aron. The Emprefle, the Midwife,and your felfe, 
 Two may keepe counfell, when the the third's away : 
 Goe to the Emprefl~e,tell her this I faid, He lyls her 
 
 Weeke,weeke,fo cries a Pigge prepared to th'fpit. 
 
 Deme. What mean'ft thou Aaron ? 
 Wherefore did'ft thou this? 
 
 tAron. O Lord fir, 'tis a deed of pollicie ? 
 Shall flie liue to betray this guilt of our's : 
 A long tongu'd babling Goflip ? No Lords no : 
 And now be it knowne to you my full intent. 
 Not farre, one Muliteui my Country-man 
 His wife but yefternight was brought to bed, 
 His childe is like to her, faire as you are: 
 Goe packe with him, and giue the mother gold, 
 And tell them both the circumftance of all, 
 And how by this their Childe fliall be aduaunc'd, 
 And be receiued for the Emperours heyre, 
 And fubftituted in the place of mine, 
 To calme this tempeft whirling in the Court, 
 And let the Emperour dandle him for his owne. 
 Harke ye Lords, ye fee I haue giuen her phyficke, 
 And you muft needs beftow her funerall, 
 The fields are neere,and you are gallant Groomes : 
 This done, fee that you take no longer dales 
 But fend the Midwife prefently to me. 
 The Midwife and the Nurfe well made away, 
 Then let the Ladies tattle what they pleafe. 
 
 Cbi. Aaron I fee thou wilt not ttuft the ayre with fe 
 
 Deme. For this care of Tamora, (crets. 
 
 Her felfe, and hers are highly bound to thee. Exeunt. 
 
 Aron. Now to the Gothes, as fwift as Swallow flies, 
 There to difpofe this treafure in mine armes, 
 And fecretly t;o greete the EmprefTe friends : 
 Come on you thick-lipt-flaue, lie beare you hence, 
 For it is you that puts vs to our fliifts : 
 He make you feed on berries, and on rootes, 
 And feed on curds and whay ,and fucke the Goate, 
 And cabbin in a Caue, and bring you vp 
 To be a warriour, and command a Campe. Exit 
 
 Enter Titus, old Marcus, young Lucius, andotber gentlemen 
 fnitb bov>es,and Titui beares the arrowes with 
 Letters on the end of them. 
 
 Tit. Come Marcus, come, kinfmen this is the way. 
 Sir Boy let me fee your Archerie, 
 Looke yee draw home enough, and 'tis there flraight : 
 Terras Aftreareliquit ,beyo\i remembred Marcus. 
 She's gone,fhe's fled, firs take you to your tooles, 
 You Cofens fliall goe found the Ocean: 
 And caft your nets,haply you may find her in the Sea, 
 Yet ther's as little iuftice as at Land : 
 No Publiui and Sempronius,yo\i muft doe it, 
 
 'Tis
 
 46 
 
 The Tragedle of Titus zAndronicus. 
 
 'Tis you muft dig with Mattocke,and with Spade, 
 
 And pierce the inmoft Center of the earth : 
 
 Then when you come to P/utoes Region, 
 
 I pray you deliuer him this petition, 
 
 Tell him it is for iuftice,and for aide, 
 
 And that it comes from old AndronictU, 
 
 Shaken with forrowes in vngratefull Rome. 
 
 Ah Rome ! Well,wcll,I made thee miferable, 
 
 What time I threw the peoples fuffrages 
 
 On him that thus doth tyrannize ore me. 
 
 Goe get you gone, and pray be carefull all, 
 
 And leaue you not a man of warre vnfearcht, 
 
 This wicked Emperour may haue fhipt her hence, 
 
 And kinfmen then we may goe pipe for iuftice. 
 Marc. O Publitu is not this a heauie cafe 
 
 To fee thy Noble Vnckle thus diftracl^ 
 
 Publ. Therefore my Lords it highly vs concernes, 
 
 By day and night t'attend him carefully : 
 
 And feede his humour kindely as we may, 
 
 Till time beget fome carefull remedie. 
 
 Marc. Kinfmen, his forrowes are paft remedie. 
 
 loyne with the Gothes,and with reuengefull warre, 
 Take wreake on Rome for this ingratitude, 
 
 And vengeance on the Traytor Saturnine. 
 
 Tit. Publiut how now ? how now my Maifters? 
 What haue you met with her ? 
 
 fubl. No my good Lord, but Pluto fends you word, 
 If you will haue reuenge from hell you fhall, 
 Marrie for iuftice fhe is fo imploy'd, 
 He thinkes with louein heauen,or fome where elfe : 
 So that perforce you muft needs ftay a time. 
 
 Tit. He doth me wrong to feed me with delayes, 
 He diue into the burning Lake below, 
 And pull her out of tAcaron by the heeles. 
 Marctu we are but fhrubs, no Cedars we, 
 No big-bon'd-men,fram'd of the Cyclops fize, 
 But mettall <&farcus,ftet\e to the very backe, 
 Yet wrung with wrongs more then our backe can beare: 
 And fith there's no iuftice in earth nor hell, 
 We will follicite heauen,and moue the Gods 
 To fend downe Iuftice for to wreake 'our wongs : 
 Come to this geare,you are a good Archer Marcus, 
 
 He glues them the Arrmves. 
 Ad louem, that's for you: here ad tAppolloncm, 
 Ad Mortem, that's for my felfe, 
 Heere Boy to Pallas, heere to cMercury, 
 To Saturnine, to Caiut,not to Saturnine, 
 You were as good to fhoote againft the winde. 
 Too it Boy, Marctu loofe when I bid: 
 Of my word, I haue written to effect, 
 Ther's not a God left vnfollicited. 
 
 Marc. Kinfmen, fhoot all your fliafrs into the Court, 
 We will afflift the Emperour in his pride. 
 
 Tit, Now Maifters draw, Oh well faid Lucius: 
 Good Boy in firgoes lap,giue it Pallas. 
 
 Marc. My Lord, I aime a Mile beyond the Moone, 
 Your letter is with Jupiter by this. 
 
 Tit. Ha, ha, Publiui^uMiuSjWhat haft thou done? 
 See.fee,thou haft fhot off one of Taurus homes. 
 
 Mar. This was the fport my Lord, when Publius fhot, 
 The Bull being gal'd,gaue Aries fuch a knocke, 
 That downe fell both the Rams homes in the Court, 
 And who fhould finde them but the EmprefTe villaine : 
 She laught,and told the Moore he fhould not choofe 
 But giue them to his Maifter for a prefent. 
 
 Tit. Why there it goes, God giue your Lordfliip ioy. 
 
 Enter the Clowneifitb a basket and ra>o Pigeons in It. 
 
 Titus. Newes,newes,from heauen, 
 Marcus the poaft is come. 
 Sirrah, what tydings ? haue you any letters ? 
 Shall I haue Iuftice, what fayes lupiter ? 
 
 Clofene. Ho the Iibbetmaker,he fayes that he hath ta- 
 ken them downe againe, for the man muft not be hang'd 
 till the next weeke. 
 
 Tit. But what fayes lupiter I aske thee? 
 C/ce. Alas fir I know not lupiter : 
 I neuer dranke with him in all my life. 
 
 Tit. Why villaine art not thou the Carrier ? 
 
 Clovfne. I of my Pigions fir, nothing elfe. 
 
 Tit. Why, did'ft thou not come from heauen ? 
 
 Clowne. From heauen ? Alas fir, I neuer came there, 
 God forbid I fhould be fo bold, to prefTe to heauen in my 
 young dayes. Why I am going with my pigeons to the 
 Tribunall Plebs, to take vp a matter ofbrawle, betwixt 
 my Vncle, and one of the Emperialls men. 
 
 Mar. Why fir, that is as fit as can be to ferue for your 
 Oration, and let him deliuer the Pigions to the Emperour 
 from you. 
 
 Tit. Tell mee,can you deliuer an Oration to the Em- 
 perour with a Grace f 
 
 Clorene. Nay truely fir, I could neuer fay grace in all 
 my life. 
 
 Tit. Sirrah come hither, make no more Hoe, 
 But giue your Pigeons to the Emperour, 
 By me thou fhalt haue Iuftice at his hands. 
 Hold, hold, meane while her's money for thy charges. 
 Giue me pen and inke. 
 Sirrah, can you with a Grace deliuer a Supplication ? 
 
 Clovpne. I fir 
 
 Tittu. Then here is a Supplication for you, and when 
 you come to him, at the firft approach you muft kneele, 
 then kifie his foote, then deliuer vp your Pigeons , and 
 then looke for your reward. He be at hand fir, fee you do 
 it brauely. 
 
 Clcfttine. I warrant you fir, let me alone. 
 
 Tit. Sirrha haft thou a knife? Come let me fee it. 
 Heere Marcus t fo\d it in the Oration, 
 For thou haft made it like an humble Suppliant: 
 And when thou haft giuen it the Emperour, 
 Knocke at my dore,and tell me what he fayes. 
 
 Cloivnc. God be with you fir, I will. Exit. 
 
 Tit. Come Marctu let vs goe, Publius follow me. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Emperour and SmpreJJe , and her two fonnes , the 
 Emperour brings the Arroves in bit band 
 that Tittu pot at him. 
 
 Satur. Why Lords, 
 What wrongs are thefe ? was euer feene 
 An Emperour in Rome thus ouerborne, 
 Troubled, Confronted thus, and for the extent 
 Of egall iuftice, vfd in fuch contempt? 
 My Lords, you know the mightfull Gods, 
 (How euer thefe difturbers of our peace 
 Buz in the peoples eares)there nought hath paft, 
 But euen with law againft the willfull Sonnes 
 Of old Andronictu. And what and if 
 His forrowes haue fo ouerwhelm'd his wits, 
 Shall we be thus afflicted in his wreakes, 
 His fits,his frenzie,and his bitternefTe ? 
 And now he writes to heauen for his redrefTe. 
 See, heeres to Ioue,and this to Mercury, 
 
 This
 
 TheTragedie of Titus lAndronicus. 
 
 47 
 
 This to ./^>c//<3, this to the God of warre : 
 
 Sweet fcrowles to flie about the ftreets of Rome : 
 
 What's this but Libelling againft the Senate, 
 
 And blazoning our Iniuftice euery where? 
 
 A goodly humour, is it not my Lords ? 
 
 As who would fay, in Rome no luftice were. 
 
 But if I Hue, his fained extafies 
 
 Shall be no flicker to thefe outrages : 
 
 But he and his fhall know, that luftice Hues 
 
 In Saturninui health jwhom if he fleepe, 
 
 Hee'l fo a wake, as he in fury fhall 
 
 Cut ofFthe proud'ft Confpirator that Hues. 
 
 Tamo. My gracious Lord, my louely Saturnine, 
 Lord of my life, Commander of my thoughts , 
 Calme thee,and beare the faults of Titus age, 
 Th'effedts of forrow for his valiant Sonnes, 
 Whofe lofle hath pier'ft him deepe,and fcar'd his heart; 
 And rather comfort his diftrefTed plight, 
 Then profecute the meaneft or the bed 
 For thefe contempts. Why thus it fhall become 
 High witted Tamora to glofe with all : AJide. 
 
 But Titus, I haue touch'd thee to the quicke, 
 Thy life blood out : If Aaron now be wife, 
 Then is all fafe,the Anchor's in the Port. 
 
 Enter Clovane. 
 How now good fellow, would'ft thou fpeake with vs ? 
 
 Clow. Yea forfooth,and your Mifterfhip be Emperiall. 
 
 Tarn. EmprefTe I am, but yonder fits the Emperour. 
 Clo. 'Tis he ; God & Saint Stephen giue you good den; 
 I haue brought you a Letter, & a couple of Pigions heere. 
 
 He reads the Letter. 
 
 Satu. Goe take him away, and hang him prefently. 
 
 Cloivne. How much money muft I haue ? 
 
 Tarn. Come firrah you muft be hang'd. 
 
 C/OTV. Hang'd ? ber Lady, then I haue brought vp a neck 
 to a faire end. Exit. 
 
 Satu, Defpightfull and intolerable wrongs, 
 Shall I endure this monftrous villany? 
 I know from whence this fame deuife proceedes : 
 May this be borne? As if his traytrous Sonnes, 
 That dy'd by law for murther of our Brother, 
 Haue by my meanes beene butcher'd wrongfully ? 
 Goe dragge the villaine hither by thehaire, 
 Nor Age, nor Honour, fhall fhape priuiledge : 
 For this proud mocke, lie be thy flaughter man : 
 Sly franticke wretch, that holp'ft to make me great, 
 In hope thy felfe fhould gouerne Rome and me. 
 Enter Nuntius Emillius. 
 
 Satur. What newes with thee EmiUiiu ? 
 
 Emil. Arme my Lords, Rome neuer had more caufe, 
 The Gothes haue gather' d head, and with a power 
 Of high refolued men, bent to the fpoyle 
 They hither march amaine, vnder conduct 
 Of Lucius, Sonne to old Andronlciu : 
 Who threats in courfe of this reuenge to do 
 As much as euer Coriolanus did. 
 
 King. Is warlike Lucius Generall of the Gothes ? 
 Thefe tydings nip me,and I hang the head 
 As flowers with froft, or grafTe beat downe with ftormes : 
 I, now begins our forrowes to approach, 
 'Tis he the common people loue fo much, 
 My felfe hath often heard them fay, 
 (When I haue walked like a priuate man) 
 That Lucius banifhment was wrongfully, 
 And they haue wifht that Lucius were their Emperour. 
 
 Tarn. Why fhould you feare ? Is not our City ftrong 5 
 
 645 
 
 King. I, but the Cittizens fauour Lucitu, 
 And will reuolt from me, to fuccour him. 
 
 Tarn. King,be thy thoughts Imperious like thy name. 
 Is the Sunne dim'd, that Gnats do flie in it? 
 The Eagle fuffers little Birds to fing, 
 And is not carefull what they meane thereby, 
 Knowing that with the fhadow of his wings, 
 He can at pleafure ftint their melodic. 
 Euen fo mayeft thou, the giddy men of Rome, 
 Then cheare thy fpirit, for know thflu Emperour, 
 I will enchaunt the old Andronlciu y 
 With words more fweet, and yet more dangerous 
 Then baites to fifh, or hony ftalkes to fheepe, 
 When as the one is wounded with the baite, 
 The other rotted with delicious foode. 
 
 King. But he will not entreat his Sonne for vs. 
 
 Tarn. If Tamora entreat him, then he will, 
 For I can fmooth and fill his aged eare, 
 With golden promifes, that were his heart 
 Almoft Impregnable, his old eares deafe, 
 Yet fhould both eare and heart obey my tongue. 
 Goe thou before to our EmbafTadour, 
 Say, that the Emperour requefts a parly 
 Of warlike Lucius, and appoint the meeting. 
 
 Kiug. Emil/ius do this mefTage Honourably, 
 And if he ftand in Hoftage for his fafety , 
 Bid him demaund what pledge will pleafe him beft. 
 
 Emill. Your bidding fhall I do effectually. Exit. 
 
 Tarn. Now will I to that old Andronlciu, 
 And temper him with all the Art I haue, 
 To plucke proud Lucius from the warlike Gothes. 
 And now fweet Emperour be blithe againe, 
 And bury all thy feare in my deuifes. 
 
 Satu. Then goe fucceflantly and plead for him. Exit. 
 
 Attus Quintus. 
 
 Flourijh. Enter Luciui with an Army of Gothes , 
 with Drum and Souldiers. 
 
 Lucl. Approued warriours,and my faithfull Friends, 
 I haue receiued Letters from great Rome, 
 Which fignifies what hate they beare their Emperour, 
 And how defirous of our fight they are. 
 Therefore great Lords, be as your Titles witnefle, 
 Imperious and impatient of your wrongs, 
 And wherein Rome hath done you any fcathe, 
 Let him make treble fatiffaction. 
 
 Goth. Braue flip, fprung from the Great Androniciu, 
 Whofe name was once our terrour,now our comfort, 
 Whofe high exploits, and honourable Deeds, 
 Ingratefull Rome requites with foule contempt : 
 Behold in vs, weele follow where thou lead'ft, 
 Like flinging Bees in hotteft Sommers day, 
 Led by their Maifter to the flowred fields, 
 And be aueng'd on curfed Tamora : 
 And as he faith, fo fay we all with him. 
 
 Lucl. I humbly thanke him, and I thanke you all. 
 But who comeS'heere, led by a lufty Goth ? 
 
 Enter a Goth leading of Aaron -with bif child 
 In bis armes. 
 
 Goth. Renowned Lucius, from our troups I ftraid, 
 To gaze vpon a ruinous Monafterie, 
 
 And
 
 'The T rage die of Titus ^Andronicus. 
 
 And as I earneftly did fixe mine eye 
 Vpon the wafted building, fuddainely 
 I heard a childe cry vnderneath a wall: 
 I made vnto the noyfe, when foone I heard, 
 The crying babe control'd with this difcourfe : 
 Peace Tawny flaue, halfe me, and halfe thy Dam, 
 Did not thy Hue bewray whofe brat thou art ? 
 Had nature lent thee, but thy Mothers looke, 
 Villaine thou might'ft haue bene an Emperour. 
 But where the Bull and Cow are both milk-white, 
 They neuer do beget a cole-blacke-Calfe : 
 Peace, villaine peace, euen thus he rates the babe, 
 For I muft beare thee to a trufty Goth, 
 Who when he knowes thou art the Emprefle babe, 
 Will hold thee dearely for thy Mothers fake. 
 With this, my weapon drawne I rufht vpon him, 
 Surpriz'd him fuddainely, and brought him hither 
 To vfe,as you thinke neeedefull of the man. 
 
 Luci. Oh worthy Goth, this is the incarnate deuill, 
 That rob'd Andronictu of his good hand : 
 This is the Pearle that pleafd your Emprefle eye, 
 And heere's the Bafe Fruit of his burning luft. 
 Say wall-ey'd flaue, whether would'ft thou conuay 
 This growing Image of thy fiend-like face ? 
 Why doft not fpeake t what deafe ? Not a word ? 
 A halter Souldiers, hang him on this Tree, 
 And by his fide his Fruite of Baftardie. 
 
 Aron. Touch not the Boy, he is of Royall blood. 
 
 Luci. Too like the Syre for euer being good. 
 Firft hang the Child that he may fee it fprall, 
 A fight to vexe the Fathers foule withall. 
 
 Aron. Get me a Ladder Lucius, hue the Childe, 
 And beare it from me to the Emprefle : 
 If thou do this, He fliew thee wondrous things, 
 That highly may aduantage thee to heare j 
 If thou wilt not, befall what may befall, 
 He fpeake no more : but vengeance rot you all. 
 
 Luci. Say on, and if it pleafe me which thou fpeak'ft, 
 Thy child fhall Hue, and I will fee it Nourifht. 
 
 Aron. And if it pleafe thee ? why allure thee Lucius, 
 'Twill vexe thy foule to heare what I /hall fpeake : 
 For I muft talke of Murthers, Rapes, and Maflacres, 
 Acts of Blacke-night, abhominable Deeds, 
 Complots of Mifchiefe,Treafon, Villanies 
 Ruthfull to heare, yet pittiourty preform'd, 
 And this fliall all be buried by my death, 
 Vnlefle thou fweare to me my Childe fhall liue. 
 
 Luci. Tell on thy minde, 
 I fay thy Childe fhall liue. 
 
 Aron. Sweare that he fhall, and then I will begin. 
 
 Luci. Who fhould I fweare by, 
 Thou beleeueft no God, 
 That graunted, how can'ft thou beleeue an oath ? 
 
 Aron. What if I do not, as indeed I do not, 
 Yet for I know thou art Religious, 
 And haft a thing within thee, called Confcience, 
 With twenty Popifh trickes and Ceremonies, 
 Which I haue feene thee carefull to obferue : 
 Therefore 1 vrge thy oath, for that I know 
 An Ideot holds his Bauble for a God, 
 And keepes the oath which by that God he fweares, 
 To that lie vrge him : therefore thou fhalt vow 
 By that fame God, what God fo ere it be 
 That thou adoreft,and haft in reuerence, 
 To faue my Boy, to nourifh and bring him vp, 
 Ore elfe I will difcouer nought to thee. 
 
 Luci. Euen by my God I fweare to to thee I will. 
 
 Aron. Firft know thou, 
 I begot him on the Emprefle. 
 
 Luci. Oh moft Infatiate luxurious woman I 
 
 Aron. Tut Lucius, this was but a deed of Charitie, 
 Toithat which thou fhalt heare of me anon, 
 'Twas her two Sonnes that murdered 'BaJ/ianus, 
 They cut thy Sifters tongue, and rauifht her, 
 And cut her hands off, and trim'd her as thou faw'ft. 
 
 Lucius. Oh deteftable villaine ! 
 Call'ft thou that Trimming ? 
 
 Aron. Why fhe was wafht,and cut, and trim'd, 
 And 'twas trim fport for them that had the doing of it. 
 
 Luci. Oh barbarous beaftly villaines like thy felfe ! 
 
 tAron. Indeede, I was their Tutor to inftrucl them, 
 That Codding fpirit had they from their Mother, 
 As fure a Card as euer wonne the Set: 
 That bloody minde I thinke they learn'd of me, 
 As true a Dog as euer fought at head. 
 Well, let my Deeds be witnefle of my worth : 
 I trayn'd thy Bretheren to that guilefull Hole, 
 Where the dead Corps of 'Bajfianui lay : 
 I wrote the Letter, that thy Father found, 
 And hid the Gold within the Letter mention'd. 
 Confederate with the Queene, and her two Sonnes, 
 And what not done, that thou haft caufe to rue, 
 Wherein I had no ftroke of Mifcheife in it. 
 I play'd the Cheater for thy Fathers hand, 
 And when I had it, drew my felfe apart, 
 Andalmoft broke my heart with extreame laughter. 
 I pried me through the Creuice of a Wall, 
 When for his hand, he had his two Sonnes heads, 
 Beheld his teares, and laught fo hartily, 
 That both mine eyes were rainie like to his : 
 And when I told the Emprefle of this fport, 
 She founded almoft at my pleafing tale, 
 And for my tydings, gaue me twenty kifles. 
 
 Gotb. What canft thou fay all this, and neuer blufh ? 
 
 Aron. I, like a blacke Dogge,as the faying is. 
 
 Luci. Art thou not forry for thefe hainous deedes? 
 
 Aron. I, that I had not done a thoufand more : 
 Euen now I curfe the day,and yet I thinke 
 Few come within few compafle of my curfe, 
 Wherein I did not fome Notorious ill, 
 As kill a man, or elfe deuife his death, 
 Rauifli a Maid, or plot the way to do it, 
 Accufe fome Innocent,and forfwearemy felfe, 
 Set deadly Enmity betweene two Friends, 
 Make poore mens Cattell breake their neckes, 
 Set fire on Barnes and Hayftackes in the night, 
 And bid the Owners quench them with the teares: 
 Oft haue I dig'd vp dead men from their graues, 
 And fet them vpright at their deere Friends doore, 
 Euen when their forrowes almoft was forgot, 
 And on their skinnes, as on the Barke of Trees, 
 Haue with my knife carued in Romaine Letters, 
 Let not your forrow die, though I am dead. 
 Tut, I haue done a thoufand dreadfull things 
 As willingly,as one would kill a Fly, 
 And nothing greeues me hartily indeede, 
 But that I cannot doe ten thoufand more. 
 
 Luci. Bring downe the diuell,for he muft not die 
 So fweet a death as hanging prefently. 
 
 Aron. If there be diuels, would I were a deuill, 
 To liue and burne in euerlafting fire, 
 So I might haue your company in hell, 
 
 But 
 
 646
 
 The Tr age die of Titus zAndronicus. 
 
 49 
 
 But to torment you with my bitter tongue. 
 
 Luci. Sirs ftop his mouth, & let him fpeake no more. 
 Enter Emilliiu. 
 
 Gotb. My Lord, there is a Meflenger from Rome 
 Defires to be admitted to your prefence. 
 
 Luc . Let him come neere. 
 Welcome Smilliuj, what the newes from Rome ? 
 
 Emi. Lord Luciu4,znd you Princes of the Gothes, 
 The Romaine Emperour greetes you all by me, 
 And for he vnderftands you are in Armes, 
 He craues a parly at your Fathers houfe 
 Willing you to demand your Hoftages, 
 And they fhall be immediately deliuered. 
 
 Gotb. What faies our Generall ? 
 
 Luc. Smilliui, let the Emperour giue his pledges 
 Vnto my Father, and my Vncle Marcus, Fiourijb. 
 
 And we will come : march away. Exeunt , 
 
 Enter Tamora, and ker two Sonnet difguifed. 
 
 Tarn. Thus in this ftrange and fad Habilliament, 
 I will encounter with Andronicui, 
 And fay, I am Reuenge fent from below, 
 To ioyne with him and right his hainous wrongs: 
 Knocke at his ftudy where they fay he keepes, 
 To ruminate ftrange plots of dire Reuenge, 
 Tell him Reuenge is come to ioyne with him, 
 And worke confufion on his Enemies. 
 
 They ^noc^e and Titus of ens bit ftudy dare. 
 
 Tit. Who doth molleft my Contemplation ? 
 Is it your tricke to make me ope the dore, 
 That fo my fad decrees may flie away, 
 And all my ftudie be to no effect f 
 You are deceiu'd,for what I meane to do, 
 Seeheere in bloody lines I haue fetdowne : 
 And what is written fhall be executed. 
 
 Tarn. Titus t l am come to talke with thee, 
 
 Tit. No not a word : how can I grace my talke, 
 Wanting a hand to giue it action, 
 Thou haft the ods of me, therefore no more. 
 
 Tarn. If thou did'ft know me, 
 Thou would'ft talke with me. 
 
 Tit. I am not mad, I know thee well enough, 
 WitnefTe this wretched ftump, 
 Witnefle thefe crimfon lines, 
 WitnefTe thefe Trenches made by griefe and care, 
 Witnefle the tyring day, andheauie night, 
 Witnefle all forrow, that I know thee well 
 For our proud Emprefle, Mighty Tamora : 
 Is not thy comming for my other hand ? 
 
 Tamo. Know thou fad man, I am not Tamora, 
 She is thy Enemie,and I thy Friend, 
 I am Reuenge fent from th'infernall Kingdome, 
 To eafe the gnawing Vulture of the mind, 
 By working wreakefull vengeance on my Foes : 
 Come downe and welcome me to this worlds light, 
 Conferre with me of Murder and of Death, 
 Ther's not a hollow Caue or lurking place, 
 No Vaft obfcurity,or Mifty vale, 
 Where bloody Murther or detefted Rape, 
 Can couch for feare,but I will finde them out, 
 And in their eares tell them my dreadfull name, 
 Reuenge, which makes the foule offenders quake. 
 
 Tit. Art thou Reuenge?and art thou fent to me, 
 To be a torment to mine Enemies? 
 
 Tarn. I am, therefore come downe and welcome me. 
 
 647 
 
 Tit. Doe me fome feruice ere I come to thee : 
 Loe bythy fide where Rape and Murder ftands, 
 Now giue fome furance that thou art Reuenge, 
 Stab them ,or teare them on thy Chariot wheeles, 
 And then He come and be thy Waggoner, 
 And whirle along with thee about the Globes. 
 Prouide thee two proper Palfries,as blacke as let, 
 To hale thy vengefull Waggon fwift away, 
 And finde out Murder in their guilty cares. 
 And when thy Car is loaden with their heads, 
 I will difmount, and by the Waggon wheele, 
 Trot like a Seruile footeman all day long, 
 Euen from Eftons rifing in the Eaft, 
 Vntill his very downefall in the Sea. 
 And day by day He do this heauy taske, 
 So thou deftroy Rapine and Murder there. 
 
 Tarn. Thefe are my Mjnifters,and come with me. 
 
 Tit. Are them thy Mi/) ifters,what are they call'd ? 
 
 Tarn. Rape and Murder, therefore called fo, 
 Caufe they take vengeance of fuch kind of men. 
 
 Tit. Good Lord how like the Emprefle Sons they are, 
 And you the Emprefle : But we worldly men, 
 Haue miferable mad miftaking eyes : 
 Oh fweet Reuenge,now do I come to thee, 
 And if one armes imbracement will content thee, 
 I will im brace thee in it by and by. 
 
 Tarn. This clofing with him,fits his Lunacie, 
 What ere I forge to feede his braine-ficke fits, 
 Do you vphold,and maintaine in your fpeeches, 
 For now he firmely takes me for Reuenge, 
 And being Credulous in this mad thought, 
 He make him fend for Luciiu his Sonne, 
 And whil'ft I at a Banquet hold him fure, 
 He find fome cunning pradtife out of hand 
 To fcatter and difperfe the giddie Gothes, 
 Or at the leaft make them his Enemies : 
 See heere he comes, and I muft play my theame. 
 
 Tit. Long haue I bene forlorne,and all for thee, 
 Welcome dread Fury to my woefull houfe, 
 Rapine and Murther, you are welcome too, 
 How like the Emprefle and her Sonnes you are. 
 Well are you fitted, had you but a Moore, 
 Could not all hell afford you fuch a deuill ? 
 For well I wote the Emprefle neuer wags; 
 But in her company there is a Moore, 
 And would you reprefent our Queene aright 
 It were conuenient you had fuch a deuill : 
 But welcome as you are, what fhall we doe ? 
 
 Tarn. What would'ft thou haue vs doe Andronlctu? 
 
 Dem. Shew me a Murtherer, He deale with him. 
 
 Chi. Shew me a Villaine that hath done a Rape, 
 And I am fent to be reueng'd on him. 
 
 Tarn. Shew me a thoufand that haue done thee wrong, 
 And He be reuenged on them all. 
 
 Tit. Looke round about the wicked ftreets of Rome, 
 And when thou find'ft a man that's like thy felfe, 
 Good Murder ftab him,hee*s a Murtherer. 
 Goe thou with him, and when it is thy hap 
 To finde another that is like to thee, 
 Good Rapine ftab him, he is a Rauifher. 
 Go thou with them, and in the Emperours Court, 
 There is a Queene attended by a Moore, 
 Well maift thou know her by thy owne proportion, 
 For vp and downe fhe doth refemble thee. 
 I pray thee doe on them fome violent death, 
 They haue bene violent to me and mine. 
 
 e e Tomora.
 
 5 
 
 The Tragedie of Titus <Jfndronicus. 
 
 Tarn. Well haft thou leflbn'd vs,this fliall we do. 
 But would it pleafe thee good Andronicus, 
 To fend for Lucius thy thrice Valiant Sonne, 
 Who leades towards Rome a Band of Warlike Gothes, 
 And bid him come and Banquet at thy houfe. 
 When he is heere,euen at thySolemne Feaft, 
 1 will bring in the Emprefle and her Sonnes, 
 The Emperour himfelfe,and all thy Foes, 
 And at thy mercy fliall they ftoop,and kneele, 
 And on them flialt thou eafe,thy angry heart : 
 What faies Andronicus to this deuife ? 
 
 Enter Marciu. 
 
 Tit. Marciu my Brother, 'tis fad Titus calls, 
 Go gentle Marcus to thy Nephew Lucius, 
 Thou flialt enquire him out among the Gothes, 
 Bid him repaire to me, and bring with him 
 Some of the chiefeft Princes of the Gothes, 
 Bid him encampe his Souldiers where they are, 
 Tell him the Emperour, and the Emprefle too, 
 Feafts at my houfe, and he fliall Feaft with them, 
 This do thou for my loue, and fo let him, 
 As he regards his aged Fathers life. 
 
 cflfar. This will I do, and foone returne againe. 
 
 Tarn. Now will I hence about thy bufineffe, 
 And take my Minifters along with me. 
 
 Tit. Nay, nay, let Rape and Murder ftay with me, 
 Or els He call my Brother backe againe, 
 And cleaue to no reuenge but Luciui. 
 
 Tarn. What fay you Boyes, will you bide with him, 
 Whiles I goe tell my Lord the Emperour, 
 How I haue gouern'd our determined ieft? 
 Yeeld to his Humour, fmooth and fpeake him faire, 
 And tarry with him till I turne againe. 
 
 Tit. I know them all , though they fuppofe me mad, 
 And will ore-reach them in their owne deuifes, 
 A payre of curfed hell-hounds and their Dam. 
 
 'Dem. Madam depart at pleafure, leaue vs heere. 
 
 Tarn. Farewell Andronicus, reuenge now goes 
 To lay a complot to betray thy Foes. 
 
 Tit. I know thou doo*ft,and fweet reuenge farewell. 
 
 Cbi. Tell vs old man, how fliall we be imploy'd ? 
 
 Tit. Tut, I haue worke enough for you to doe, 
 Publius come hither, Caius, and Valentine, 
 
 Pub. What is your will? 
 
 Tit. Know you thefe two ? 
 
 Pub. The Emprefle Sonnes 
 I take them, Chiron, Demetrius. 
 
 Titus. Fie Publius, fie, thou art too much deceau'd, 
 The one is Murder, Rape is the others name, 
 And therefore bind them gentle Tublius, 
 Caius ,and Valentine, lay hands on them, 
 Oft haue you heard me wifli for fuch an houre, 
 And now I find it, therefore binde them fure, 
 
 Cbi. Villaines forbeare,we are the Emprefle Sonnes. 
 
 Tub. And therefore do we, what we are commanded. 
 Stop clofe their mouthes,let them not fpeake a word, 
 Is he fure bound, looke that you binde them faft. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Titus Andronicus "ultb a fyiife,and Lauinia 
 with a 'Bafon. 
 
 Tit. Come, come Lauinia, looke, thy Foes are bound, 
 Sirs flop their mouthes, let them not fpeake to me, 
 But let them heare what fearefull words I vtter. 
 
 Oh Villaines, Chiron, and Demetrius, 
 
 Here ftands the fpring whom you haue ftain'd with mud, 
 
 This goodly Sommer with your Winter mixt, 
 
 You kil'd her husband, and for that vil'd fault, 
 
 Two of her Brothers were condemn'd to death, 
 
 My hand cut ofF,and made a merry ieft, 
 
 Both her fweet Hands, her Tongue. and that more deere 
 
 Then Hands or tongue, her fpotlefle Chaftity, 
 
 luhumaine Traytors, you conftrain'd and for'ft. 
 
 What would you fay, if I fhould let you fpeake f 
 
 Villaines for fliame you could not beg for grace. 
 
 Harke Wretches, how I meane to martyr you, 
 
 This one Hand yet is left, to cut your throats, 
 
 Whil'ft that Lauinia tweene her flumps doth hold : 
 
 The Bafon that receiues your guilty blood. 
 
 You know your Mother meanes to feaft with me, 
 
 And calls herfelfe Reuenge, and thinkes me mad. 
 
 Harke Villaines, I will grin'd your bones to duft, 
 
 And with your blood and it, He make a Pafte, 
 
 And of the Pafle a Coffen I will reare, 
 
 And make two Pafties of your fliamefull Heads, 
 
 And bid that ftrumpet your vnhallowed Dam, 
 
 Like to the earth fwallow her increafe. 
 
 This is the Feaft, that I haue bid her to, 
 
 And this the Banquet fhe fliall furfet on, 
 
 For-worfe then Philomel you vfd my Daughter, 
 
 And worfe then Progne,! will be reueng'd, 
 
 And now prepare your throats : Lauinia come. 
 
 Receiue the blood, and when that they are dead, 
 
 Let me goe grin'd their Bones to powder fmall, 
 
 And with this hatefull Liquor temper it, 
 
 And in that Pafte let their vil'd Heads be bakte, 
 
 Come, come, be euery one officious, 
 
 To make this Banket, which I wifli might proue, 
 
 More fterne and bloody then the Centaures Feaft. 
 
 He cuts their throats. 
 
 So now bring rhem in, for He play the Cooke, 
 And fee them ready, gainft their Mother comes. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Luciui, Marcus , and the Gothes. 
 
 Luc. Vnckle Marcus, fince 'tis my Fathers minde 
 That I repair to Rome, I am content. 
 
 Goth. And ours with thine befall, what Fortune will. 
 Luc. Good Vnckle take you in this barbarous Moore, 
 This Rauenous Tiger, this accurfed deuill, 
 Let him receiue no fuftenance, fetter him, 
 Till he be brought vnto the Emperous face, 
 For teftimony of her foule proceedings. 
 And fee the Ambufli of our Friends be ftrong, 
 If ere the Emperour meanes no good to vs. 
 
 Aron. Some deuill whifper curfes in my eare, 
 And prompt me that my tongue may vtter forth, 
 The Venemous Mallice ofmy fwelling heart. 
 
 Luc. Away Inhumaine Dogge, Vnhallowed Slaue, 
 Sirs,helpe our Vnckle, to conuey him in, Flourijb. 
 
 The Trumpets fhew the Emperour is at hand. 
 
 Sound Trumpets . Enter Emperour and Empreffe , with 
 Tribunes and others. 
 
 Sat. What, hath the Firemamentmore Suns then one? 
 Luc. What bootes it thee to call thy felfe a Sunne Z 
 Mar. Romes Emperour & Nephewe breake the parle 
 
 Thefe quarrels muft be quietly debated, 
 
 The Feaft is ready which thecarefull Titus, 
 
 Hath 
 
 648
 
 'The Tragedie of Titus zAndronicus . 
 
 5 1 
 
 Hath ordained to an Honourable end, 
 
 For Peace, for Loue,for League, and good to Rome: 
 
 Pleafe you therfore draw nie and take your places. 
 
 Satur. Marcui we will. Huboyet. 
 
 A Table brought in. 
 
 Enter Titui life a Coolie , placing the meat on 
 the Table, and Lauinia with a vale ouer her face. 
 
 Tittu. Welcome my gracious Lord, 
 Welcome Dread Queene, 
 Welcome ye Warlike Gothes, welcome Lucius, 
 And welcome all -.although thecheere be poore, 
 'Twill fill your ftomacks. pleafe you eat of it. 
 
 Sat. Why art thou thus attir'd Androniciu ? 
 
 Tit. Becaufe I would be fure to haue all well, 
 To entertaine your Highnefle, and your Empreffe. 
 
 Tarn. We are beholding to you good Andromcut f 
 
 Tit. And if your Highnefle knew my heart, you were: 
 My Lord the Emperour refolue me this, 
 Was it well done of rafti firginius, 
 To flay his daughter with his owne right hand, 
 Becaufe flie was enfor'ft, ftain'd, and deflowr'd ? 
 
 Satur. It was Androaicus. 
 
 Tit. Your reafon, Mighty Lord ? 
 
 Sat. Becaufe the Girle,fliould not furuine her fhame, 
 And by her prefence ftill renew his forrowes. 
 
 Tit. A reafon mighty, ftrong, and efte&uall, 
 A patterne, prefident, and liuely warrant, 
 For me(moft wretched) to performe the like: 
 Die, die, Lauinia, and thy fhame with thee, 
 And with thy fliame,thy Fathers forrow die. 
 
 He fyts her. 
 
 Sat. What haft done, vnnaturall and vnkinde ? 
 Tit. Kil'd her for whom my teares haue made me blind. 
 I am as wofull as Vlrginiui was, 
 And haue a thoufand times more caufe then he. 
 
 Sat. What was flie rauifht ?tell who did the deed, 
 
 Tit. Wilt pleafe you eat, 
 Wilt pleafe yourHignefle feed ? 
 
 Tarn. Why haft thou flaine thine onely Daughter? 
 
 Titus. Not I, 'twas Chiron and Demetrius, 
 They rauiflit her, and cutaway her tongue, 
 And they, 'twas they, that did her all this wrong. 
 
 Satu. Go fetch them hither to vs prefently. 
 
 Tit. Why there they are both, baked in that Pie, 
 Whereof their Mother dantily hath fed, 
 Eating the flefli that flie herfelfe hath bred. 
 'Tis true, 'tis true,witnefle my kniues fharpe point. 
 
 He Jtabs the Empreffc. 
 Satu. Die franticke wretch, for this accurfed deed. 
 
 Luc. Can the Sonnes eye, behold his Father bleed ? 
 There's meede for meede, death for a deadly deed. 
 
 Mar. You fad fac'd men, people and Sonnes of Rome, 
 By vprores feuer'd like a flight of Fowle, 
 Scattred by windes and high tempeftuous gufts ; 
 Oh let me teach you how, to knit againe 
 This fcattred Corne,into one mutuall fheafe, 
 Thefe broken limbs againe into one body. 
 
 Goth. Let Rome herfelfe be bane vnto herfelfe, 
 And fliee whom mightie kingdomes curfie too, 
 Like a forlorne and defperate caftaway, 
 Doe ihamefull execution on her felfe. 
 But if my froftie fignes and chaps of age, 
 Graue witnefles of true experience, 
 Cannot induce you to attend my words, 
 Speake Romes deere friend, as'erft our Aunceftor, 
 
 When with his folemne tongue he did difcourfe 
 
 To loue-ficke Didoes fad attending eare, 
 
 The ftory of that balefull burning night, 
 
 When fubtilGreekes furpriz'd King Priams Troy: 
 
 Tell vs what Sinon hath bewicht our eares, 
 
 Or who hath brought the fatall engine,in, 
 
 That giues our Troy, our Rome the ciuill wound. 
 
 My heart is not compact of flint nor fteele, 
 
 Nor can I vtter all our bitter griefe, 
 
 But floods of teares will drowne my Oratorie, 
 
 And breake my very vttrance,euen in the time 
 
 When it fliould moue you to attend me moft, 
 
 Lending your kind hand Commiferation. 
 
 Heere is a Captaine,let him tell the tale, 
 
 Your hearts will throb and weepe to heare him fpeake. 
 
 Luc , This Noble Auditory, be it knowne to you, 
 That curfed Qbiron and Demetriiu 
 Were they that murdred our Emperours Brother, 
 And they it were that rauiflied our Sifter, 
 For their fell faults our Brothers were beheaded, 
 Our Fathers teares defpif'd, and bafely coufen'd, 
 Of that true hand that fought Romes quarrell out, 
 And lent her enemies vnto the graue. 
 Laftly, my felfe unkindly baniflied, 
 The gates fliut on me,and turn'd weeping out, 
 To beg reliefe among Romes Enemies, 
 Who drown'd their enmity in my true teares, 
 And op'd their armes to imbrace me as a Friend : 
 And I am turned forth, be it knowne to you, 
 That haue preferu'd her welfare in my blood, 
 And from her bofome tooke the Enemies point, 
 Sheathing the fteele in my aduentrous body. 
 Alas you know, I am no Vaunter I, 
 My fears can witnefle,dumbe although they are, 
 That my report is iuft and full of truth: 
 But foft,me thinkes I do digrefle too much, 
 Cyting my worth lefle praife:Oh pardon me, 
 For when no Friends are by, men praife themfelues, 
 
 Marc. Now is my tur.ne to fpeake: Behold this Child, 
 Of this was Tamora deliuered, 
 The iflue of an Irreligious Moore, 
 Chiefe Architect and plotter of thefe woes, 
 The Villaine is aliue in Titus houfe, 
 And as he is, to witnefie this is true. 
 Now iudge what courfe had Titui to reuenge 
 Thefe wrongs, vnfpeakeable paft patience, 
 Or more then any liuing man could beare. 
 Now you haue heard the truth, what fay you Romaines ? 
 Haue we done ought amifle? fhew vs wherein, 
 And from the place where you behold vs now, 
 The poore remainder of Andronici, 
 Will hand in hand all headlong caft vs downe, 
 And on the ragged ftones beat forth our braines, 
 And make a mutuall clofure of our houfe : 
 Speake Romaines fpeake, and if you fay we fliall, 
 Loe hand in hand, Lucius and I will fall. 
 
 SmiUi. Come come, thou reuerent man of Rome, 
 And bring our Emperour gently in thy hand, 
 Lucius our Emperour :for well I know, 
 The common voyce do cry it fliall be fb. 
 
 Mar. Lucius,M haile Romes Royall Emperour, 
 Goe, goe into old Titus forrowfull houfe, 
 And hither hale that misbelieuing Moore, 
 To be adiudg'd fome direfull flaughtering death, 
 As punifliment for his moft wicked life. 
 Lucius all haile to Romes gracious Gouernour. 
 
 e e a Luciui
 
 5 2 
 
 The Tragedie of ? ><.us <^j.ndronicus. 
 
 Luc. Thankes gentle Romanes, may I gouerne fo, 
 To heale Romes harmes, and wipe away her woe. 
 But gentle people, giue me ayme a-while, 
 For Nature puts me to a heauy taske : 
 Stand all aloofe, but Vnckle draw you neere, 
 To flied obfequious teares vpon this Trunke : 
 Oh take this warme kifleon thy pale cold lips, 
 Thefe forrowfull drops vpon thy bloud-flaine face, 
 The lad true Duties of thy Noble Sonne. 
 
 Mar. Teare for teare,and louing kiffe for kifie, 
 Thy Brother Marcui tenders on thy Lips : 
 O were the fummeof thefe that I fhouldpay 
 CountlefTe, and infinit, yet would I pay them. 
 
 Luc. Come hither Boy, come, come, and learne of vs 
 To melt in fhowres : thy Grandfire lou'd thee well : 
 Many a time he danc'd thee on his knee : 
 Sung thee afleepe, his Louing Breft, thy Pillow : 
 Many a matter hath he told to thee, 
 jMeete, and agreeing with thine Infancie : 
 n that refpedV. then, like a louing Childe, 
 -*hed yet fome fmall drops from thy tender Spring, 
 Becaufe kinde Nature doth require it fo: 
 Friends, fhou Id aflbciate Friends, in Greefe and Wo. 
 Bid him farwell, commit him to the Graue, 
 Do him that kindnefle,and take leaue of him. 
 
 'Boy. O Grandfire, Grandfire : euen with all my heart 
 Would I were Dead,fo you did Liue againe. 
 O Lord, I cannot fpeake to him for weeping, 
 My teares will choake me, if I ope my mouth. 
 
 Romans. You fad Andranici, haue done with woes, 
 Giue fentence on this execrable Wretch, 
 That hath beene breeder of thefe dire euents. 
 
 Luc. Set him breft deepe in earth, and famifh him: 
 There let him (land, and raue,and cry for foode : 
 If any one releeues, or pitties him, 
 For the offence, he dyes. This is our doome: 
 Some ftay, to fee him faft'ned in the earth. 
 
 Aron. O why fhould wrath be mute,& Fury 
 I am no Baby I, that with bafe Prayers 
 I fhould repent the Euils 1 haue done. 
 Ten thoufand worfe, then euer yet I did, 
 Would I performe if I might haue my will : 
 If one good Deed in all my life I did, 
 I do repent it from my very Soule. 
 
 Luciiu. Some louing Friends conuey the Emp. hence, 
 And giue him buriall in his Fathers graue. 
 My Father, and Lauinia, fliall forthwith 
 Be clofed in our Houfholds Monument: 
 As for that heynous Tyger Tamora, 
 No Funerall Rite, nor man in mournfull Weeds:] 
 No mournfull Bell Hull ring her Buriall : 
 But throw her foorth to Beafts and Birds of prey : 
 Her life was Beaft-like, and deuoid of pitty, 
 And being fo, fliall haue like want of pitty. 
 See luftice done on eAaron that damn'd Moore, 
 From whom, our heauy happes had their beginning : 
 Then afterwards, to Order well the State, 
 That like Euents, may ne're it Ruinate. Exeunt omnes. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 650
 
 53 
 
 THE TRAGEDIE OF 
 
 ROMEO and IVLIET. 
 
 '-Primus. Sccena 
 
 Enter Sampfon and Gregory, -with Swords and Bucklers, 
 of the Houfe of Capulet. 
 
 Sampfon. 
 
 Regory : A my word wee'l not carry coales. 
 Greg. No, for then we fhould be Colliars. 
 Samp. I mean, if we be in choller, wee'l draw. 
 Greg. I, While you liue, draw your necke out 
 o'th Collar. 
 
 Samp. I ftrike quickly, being mou'd. 
 Greg, But thou art not quickly mou'd to ftrike. 
 Samp. A dog of the houfe of Mountague, moves me. 
 Greg. To moue,is to ftir: and to be valiant, is to ftand: 
 Therefore, if thou art mou'd, thou runft away. 
 
 Samp. A dogge of that houfe fhall moue me to ftand. 
 I will take the wall of any Man or Maid of Mountagues. 
 
 Greg. That Ihewes thee a weake flaue, for the wea- 
 keft goes to the wall. 
 
 Samp. True, and therefore women being the weaker 
 Vefiels, are euer thruft to the wall : therefore I will pufh 
 Mountagues men from the wall, and thruft his Maides to 
 the wall. (their men. 
 
 Greg. The Quarrell is betweene our Mafters, and vs 
 Samp. 'Tis all one, I will fhew my felfe a tyrant:when 
 I haue fought with the men, I will bee ciuill with the 
 Maids,and cut off their heads. 
 Greg. The heads of the Maids/ 
 
 Sam.l,the heads of the Maids, or their Maiden-heads, 
 Take it in what fence thou wilt. 
 
 Greg. They muft take it fence, that feele it. 
 Samp. Me they flull feele while I am able to ftand : 
 And 'tis knowne I am a pretty peece of flefh. 
 
 Greg. 'Tis well thou art not Fifli : If thou had'ft, thou 
 had'ft beene poore John. Draw thy Toole, here comes of 
 the Houfe of the <^Mountagun. 
 
 Enter two other Seruingmen. 
 
 Sam. My naked weapon is out: quarrel, I wil back thee 
 Gre. How? Turne thy backe,and run. 
 Sam. Feare me not. 
 Gre. No marry : I feare thee. 
 
 Sam. Let vs take the Law of our fides: let them begin. 
 Gr. I wil frown as I pafTe by, & let the take it as they lift 
 Sam. Nay, as they dare. I wil bite my Thumb at them, 
 which is a difgrace to them, if they beare it. 
 Abra. Do you bite your Thumbe at vs fir ? 
 Samp. I do bite my Thumbe, fir. 
 Abra. Do you bite your Thumb at vs, fir? 
 Sam. Is the Law of our fide,if I fay I? Gre. No. 
 
 651 
 
 Sam, No fir, I do not bite my Thumbe at you fir : but 
 I bite my Thumbe fir. 
 
 Greg. Do you quarrell fir ? 
 
 Abra. Quarrell fir? no fir. (as you 
 
 Sam. If you do fir, I am for you, I feme as good a man 
 
 Abra. No better ? Samp. Well fir. 
 
 Enter 'Betiuolio. 
 
 {^r.Say better: here comes one of my mafters kinfmen. 
 
 Samp. Yes, better. 
 
 Abra. You Lye. 
 
 Samp. Draw if you be men. Gregory, remember thy 
 wafhing blow. They Fight. 
 
 Ben. Part Fooles,put vp your Swords, you know not 
 what you do. 
 
 Enter Tibalt. 
 
 Tyb. What art thou drawne, among thefe heartlefie 
 Hindes? Turne thee 'Benuolio^look.e vpon thy death. 
 
 Ben. I do but keepe the peace, put vp thy Sword, 
 Or manage it to part thefe men with me. 
 
 Tyb. What draw, and talke of peace ? I hate the word 
 As I hate hell, all Mountagues, and thee : 
 Haue at thee Coward. Fight. 
 
 Enter three or four e Citizens with Clubs. 
 
 Oft. Clubs, Bils, and Partifons, ftrike, beat them down 
 Downe with the Cepulett, downs with the Mountagues. 
 Enter old Capulet in his Gotvne,and bis wife. 
 
 Cap. What noife is this?Giue me my long Sword ho. 
 
 Wife. A crutch, a crutch : why call you for a Sword ? 
 
 Cap. My Sword I fay : Old Mountague is come, 
 And flourishes his Blade in fpight of me. 
 
 Enter old Mountague , & bis wife. 
 
 Moun.Thou villaine Capulet. Hold me not, let me go 
 
 i.Wife. Thou (halt not ftir a foote to feeke a Foe. 
 Bnter Prince Ss^ales, with bis Traine. 
 
 Prince. Rebellious Subiedts, Enemies to peace, 
 Prophaners of this Neighbor-ftained Steele, 
 Will they not heare? What hoe, you Men, you Beafts, 
 That quench the fire of your pernitious Rage, 
 With purple Fountaines ifiuing from your Veines : 
 On paine of Torture, from thofe bloody hands 
 Throw your miftemper'd Weapons to the ground, 
 And heare the Sentence of your mooued Prince. 
 Three ciuill Broyles, bred of an Ayery word, 
 By thee old Capulet and Mountague, 
 Haue thrice difturb'd the quiet of our ftreets, 
 And made Verona's ancient Citizens 
 Caft by their Graue befeeming Ornaments, 
 To wield old Partizans, in hands as old, 
 
 ee 3 
 
 Cankred
 
 
 54 
 
 The Tragedie o 
 
 and Juliet. 
 
 Cankred with peace, to part your Cankred hate, 
 
 If euer you difturbe our ftrcets againe, 
 
 Your Hues fliall pay the forfeit of the peace. 
 
 For this time all the reft depart away : 
 
 You Capulet fliall goe along with me, 
 
 And Mountaguc come you this afternoone, 
 
 To know our Fathers pleafure in this cafe : 
 
 To old Free-tovvne, our common iudgement place: 
 
 Once more on paine of death, all men depart. Exeunt. 
 
 Miun. Who fet this auncient quarrell new abroach ? 
 Speake Nephew, were you by, when it began: 
 
 Ben. Heere were the feruants of your aduerfarie, 
 And yours clofe fighting ere I did approach, 
 I drew to part them, in the inftant came 
 The fiery Ttbalt, with his fword prepar'd, 
 Which as he breath'd defiance to my eares, 
 He fwong about his head, and cut the windes, 
 Who nothing hurt withall,hift him in fcorne. 
 While We were enterchanging thrufts and blowes, 
 Came more and more, and fought on part and part, 
 Till the Prince came, who parted either part. 
 
 Wife. O where is Romeo, law you him to day? 
 Right glad am I, he was not at this fray. 
 
 Ben. Madam, an houre before the worfliipt Sun 
 Peer'd forth the golden window of the Eaft, 
 A troubled mind draue me to walke abroad, 
 Where vnderneath the groue of Sycamour, 
 That Weft-ward rooteth from this City fide : 
 So earely walking did I fee your Sonne: 
 Towards him I made, but he was ware of me, 
 And ftole into the couert of the wood, 
 I meafuring his affections by my owne, 
 Which then moft fought, wher moft might not be found: 
 Being one too many by my weary felfe, 
 Purfued my Honour, not purfuing his 
 And gladly flmnn'd, who gladly fled from me. 
 
 Mount. Many a morning hath he there beene feene, 
 With teares augmenting the frefli mornings deaw, 
 Adding to cloudes, more cloudes with his deepe fighes, 
 But all fo foone as the all-cheering Sunne, 
 Should in the fartheft Eaft begin to draw 
 The fliadie Curtaines from Aurora* bed, 
 Away from light fteales home my heauy Sonne, 
 And priuate in his Chamber pennes himfelfe, 
 Shuts vp his windowes,lockes fairc day-light out, 
 And makes himfelfe an artificiall night: 
 Blacke and portendous muft this humour proue, 
 Vnlefle good counfell may the caufe remoue. 
 
 Ben. My Noble Vncle doe you know the caufe ? 
 
 Moun. I neither know it, nor can learne of him. 
 
 'Ben. Haue you importun'd him by any meanes ? 
 
 Moun. Both by my felfe and many others Friends, 
 But he his owne affections counfeller, 
 Is to himfelfe( I will not fay how true) 
 But to himfelfe fo fecret and fo clofe, 
 So farre from founding and difcouery, 
 As is the bud bit with an enuious worme, 
 Ere he can fpread his fweete leaues to the ayre, 
 Or dedicate his beauty to the fame. 
 Could we but learne from whence his forrowes grow, 
 We would as willingly giue cure, as know. 
 Enter Romeo. 
 
 Be .n See where he comes, fo pleafe you ftep afide, 
 lie know his greeuance,or be much denide. 
 
 Maun. I would thou wert fo happy by thy ftay, 
 To heare true fhrift. Come Madam let's away. Exeunt. 
 
 'Ben. Good morrow Coufin. 
 
 Rom. Is the day fo young ? 
 
 Ben. But new ftrooke nine. 
 
 Rom. Aye me, fad houres feeme long: 
 Was that my Father that went henec fo ftft ? 
 
 'Ben. It was : what fadnes lengthen* Romeo's houres? 
 
 Ro. Not hauing that, which hauing, makes them fliort 
 
 Ben. In loue. 
 
 Romeo. Out. 
 
 Ben. Of loue. 
 
 Rom. Out of her fauour where I am in loue. 
 
 'Ben. Alas that loue fo gentle in his view, 
 Should be fo tyrannous and rough in proofe. 
 
 Rom. Alas that loue, whofe view is muffled ftill, 
 Should without eyes, fee path-wayes to his will: 
 Where fliall we dine? O me : what fray was heere? 
 Yet tell me not, for I haue heard it all: 
 Heere's much to do with hate, but more with loue: 
 Why then,O brawling loue,O louing hate, 
 O any thing,of nothing firft created : 
 O heauie lightnefle,ferious vanity, 
 Miftiapen Chaos of welfeeing formes, 
 Feather of lead, bright fmoake, cold fire, ficke health, 
 Still waking fleepe, that is not what it is : 
 This loue feele I, that feele no loue in this. 
 Doeft thou not laugh ? 
 
 'Ben. No Coze, I rather weepe. 
 
 Rom. Good heart, at what ? 
 
 'Ben. At thy good hearts opprefsion. 
 
 Rom. Why fuch is loues tranfg refsion. 
 Griefes of mine owne lie heauie in my bread, 
 Which thou wilt propagate to haue it preaft 
 With more of thine, this loue that thou haft fhowne, 
 Doth adde more griefe,to too much of mine owne. 
 Loue, is a fmoake made with the fume of fighes, 
 Being purg'd, a fire fparkling in Louers eyes, 
 Being vext,a Sea nouriflit with louing teares, 
 What is it elfe ? a madnefie,moft difcreet, 
 A choking gall, and a preferuing fweet : 
 Farewell my Coze. 
 
 Ben. Soft I will goe along. 
 And if you leaue me fo,you do me wrong. 
 
 Rom. Tut I haue loft my felfe,! am not here, 
 This is not Romeo, hee's fome other where. 
 
 Ben. Tell me in fadne(Te,who is that you loue ? 
 
 Rom. What fliall I grone and tell thee ? 
 
 Ben. Grone, why no : but fadly tell me who. 
 
 ^om. A ficke man in fadnefle makes his will : 
 A word ill vrg'd to one that is fo ill: 
 Jn fadnefle Cozin,! do loue a woman. 
 
 < Ben. I aym'd fo neare, when I fuppof'd you lou'd. 
 
 Rom. A right good marke man, and ftiee's faire I loue 
 
 Ben. A right faire marke, faire Coze, is fooneft hit. 
 
 Rom. Well in that hit you mifle,flieel not be hit 
 With Cupids arrow, flie hath Dians wit : 
 And in ftrong proofe of chaftity well arm'd: 
 From loues weake childifli Bow, flie liues vnchann'd. 
 Shee will not ftay the fiege of louing tearmes, 
 Nor bid th'incounter of aflailing eyes. 
 Nor open her lap to Sain<Sl-feducing Gold : 
 O flie is rich in beautie.onely poore, 
 That when flie dies, with beautie dies her ftore. 
 
 Ben. Then flie hath fworne, that flie will ftill liue chart ? 
 
 Rom. She hath, and in that fparing make huge waft? 
 For beauty fteru'd with her feuerity, 
 Cuts beauty off from all pofteritie. 
 
 Sh
 
 The Tr age die of 'Borneo and luliet. 
 
 55 
 
 She is too faire, too wifewi : fely too faire, 
 To merit blifTe by making me difpuire : 
 She hath forfworne to loue, and in that vow 
 Do I liue dead, that liue to tell it now. 
 
 'Ben. Be rul'd by me, forget to thinke of her. 
 
 Rom. O teach me how I fhould forget to thinke. 
 
 Ben. By gluing liberty vnto thine eyes, 
 Examine other beauties, 
 
 .Ro.'Tis the way to cal hers(exquifit)in queftion more, 
 Thefe happy maskes that kifTe faire Ladies browes, 
 Being blacke,puts vs in mind they hide the faire : 
 He that is ftrooken blind, cannot forget 
 The precious treafure of his eye-fight loft : 
 Shew me a Miftreffe that is paffing faire, 
 What doth her beauty ferue but as a note, 
 Where I may read who paft that pafling faire. 
 Farewell thou can'ft not teach me to forget, 
 
 'Ben. He pay that doftrine,orelfe die in debt. Exeunt 
 Enter Capulet ,Countie Paris, and the Cltmne. 
 
 Capu. <&fountague is bound as well as I, 
 In penalty alike, and 'tis not hard I thinke, 
 For men fo old as wee, to keepe the peace. 
 
 Tar. Of Honourable reckoning are you both, 
 And pittie 'tis you liu'd at ods fo long: 
 But now my Lord, what fay you to my fute ? 
 
 Capu. But faying ore what I haue faid before, 
 My Child is yet a ftranger in the world, 
 Shee hath not feene the change of fourteene yeares, 
 Let two more Summers wither in their pride, 
 Ere we may thinke her ripe to be a Bride. 
 
 Pari. Younger then fhe,are happy mothers made. 
 
 Capu. And too foone mar'd are thofe fo earlj made : 
 Earth hath fwallowed all my hopes but fhe, 
 Shee's the hopefull Lady of my earth: 
 But wooe her gentle Tarts, get her heart, 
 My will to her confent, is but a part, 
 And fliee agree, within her fcope of choife, 
 Lyes my confent, and faire according voice : 
 This night I hold an old accuftom'd Feaft, 
 Whereto I haue inuited many a Gueft, 
 Such as I loue, and you among the ftore, 
 One more, mod welcome makes my number more : 
 At my poore houfe,looke to behold this night, 
 Earth-treading ftarres,that make darke heauen light, 
 Such comfort as do lufty young men feele, 
 When well apparrel'd Aprill on the heele 
 Of limping Winter treads, euen fuch delight 
 Among frefh Fennell buds fhall you this night 
 Inherit at my houfe: heare all, all fee : 
 And like her moft, whofe merit moft fhall be : 
 Which one more vei w, of many , mine being one, 
 May ftand in number, though in reckning none. 
 Come,goe with me: goe firrah trudge about, 
 Through faire Verona, find thofe perfons out, 
 Whofe names are written there, and to them fay, 
 My houfe and welcome,on their pleafure ftay. Exit. 
 
 Ser. Find them out whofe names are written. Heere it 
 is written, that the Shoo-maker fhould meddle with his 
 Yard, and the Tayler with his Laft, the Fifher with his 
 Penfill, and the Painter with his Nets. But I am fent to 
 find thofe perfons whofe names are writ,& can neuer find 
 what names the writing perfon hath here writl( I muft to 
 the learned) in good time. 
 
 Enter <r Benuolio,and 'fymeo. 
 
 Ben. Tut man, one fire burnes out anothers burning, 
 One paine is lefned by anothers anguifh : 
 
 6SJ 
 
 Turne giddie,and be holpe by backward turning : 
 One defparate greefe, cures with anothers lauguifh : 
 Take thou fome newinfedlion to the eye, 
 And the rank poyfon of the old wil die. 
 
 'Rom. Your Plantan leafe is excellent for that. 
 
 "Ben. For what I pray thee ? 
 
 Rom. For your broken (bin. 
 
 'Ben. Why Romeo art thou mad ? 
 
 Rom. Not mad, but bound more then a mad man is: 
 Shut vp in prifon,kept without my foode, 
 Whipt and tormented : and Godden good fellow, 
 
 Ser. Godgigoden, I pray fir can you read ? 
 
 Rom. I mine owne fortune in my miferie. 
 
 Ser. Perhaps you haue learn'd it without booke : 
 But I pray can you read any thingyou fee? 
 
 Rom. I,ifl know the Letters and the Language. 
 
 Ser. Ye fay honeftly,reft you merry. 
 
 Rom. Stay fellow,! can read. 
 
 He reades the Letter. 
 
 SEigneur Martina ^ind his reife and daughter : County An- 
 felme and bis beautious Jifters : the Lady teiddotv ofTJtru- 
 uio t Seigneur Placentio ,and bii louely Neeces : Mercutio and 
 bis brother Valentir.e : mine -uncle Capulet bu wife and daugh- 
 ters : my faire Neece RoJaline,Liuia, Seigneur Valentio,& bis 
 Cofen Tybalt : Lucia and the liuely Helena. 
 A faire aflembly, whither fhould they come? 
 
 Ser. Vp. 
 
 Rom. Whither? tofupper? 
 
 Ser. To our houfe. 
 
 Rom. Whofe houfe ? 
 
 Ser. My Maifters. 
 
 Rom. Indeed I fhould haue askt you that before. 
 
 Ser. Now He tell you without asking. My maifter is 
 the great rich Capulet, and if you be not of the houfe of 
 Mountagues I pray come and crufh a cup ; of wine. Reft 
 you merry. Exit. 
 
 Ben. At this fame auncient Feaft of Capuleti 
 Sups the faire c R i ofa/ine, whom thou fo loues : 
 With all the admired Beauties of Verona, 
 Go thither and with vnattainted eye, 
 Compare her face with fome that I {hall fhow, 
 And I will make thee thinke thy Swan a Crow. 
 
 Rom. When the deuout religion of mine eye 
 Maintaines fuch falfhood, then turne teares to fire : 
 And thefe who often drown'd could neuer die, 
 Tranfparent Heretiques be burnt for liers. 
 One fairer then my loue : the all-feeing Sun 
 Nere faw her match, (ince firft the world begun. 
 
 Ben. Tut, you faw her faire, none elfe being by, 
 Herfelfe poyf'd with herfelfe in either eye : 
 But in that Chriftall fcales let there be waid, 
 Your Ladies loue againft fome other Maid 
 That I will fhow y'ou,fhining at this Feaft, 
 And fhe fhew fcant fheil, well, that now (hewes beft. 
 
 Rom. He goe along,no fuch fight to be fhowne, 
 But to reioyce in fplendor of mine owne. 
 
 Enter Capulet s Wife and Nurfe. 
 
 Wife Nurfe wher's my daughter? call her forth to me. 
 
 Nurfe. Now by my Maidenhead, at twelue yeare old 
 I bad her come, what Lamb: what Ladi-bird, God forbid, 
 Where's this Girle?what Juliet? 
 Enter luliet. 
 
 Juliet. How now, who calls ? 
 
 Nur. Your Mother. 
 
 Juliet. Madam I am heere, what is your will ? 
 
 Wife. This is the matter : Nurfe giue leaue awhile, w e 
 
 muft
 
 'The Tr age die oftymeo and Juliet. 
 
 muft talke in fecret. Nurfe come backe againe,! haue re- 
 membred me,thou'fe heare our counfell. Thou knoweft 
 my daughter's of a prety age. 
 
 Nurfe. Faith I can tell her age vnto an houre. 
 
 Wife. Shee's not fourteene. 
 
 Nurfe. He lay fourteene of my teeth, 
 And yet to my teene be it fpoken, 
 I haue but foure, fiiee's not fourteene. 
 How long is it now to Lammas tide ? 
 
 Wife. A fortnight and odde dayes. 
 
 Nurfe. Euen or odde, of all dales in the yeare come 
 Lammas Eue at night /hall /he be fourteene. Sufan & flie, 
 God reft all Chriftian foules, were of an age. Well Sufan 
 is with God, (he was too good for me. But as I faid, on La- 
 mas Eue at night /hall /he be fourteene, that /hall /he ma- 
 rie,! remember it well. 'Tis fince the Earth-quake now 
 eleuen yeare s, and /he was wean'd 1 neuer /hall forget it, 
 of all the daies of the yeare, vpon that day : for I had then 
 hid Worme-wood to my Dug fitting in the Sunne vnder 
 the Douehoufe wall, my Lord and you were then at 
 Mantua, nay I doe beare a braine. But as I faid, when it 
 did taft the Worme-wood on the nipple of my Dugge, 
 and felt it bitter,pretty foole,to fee it teachie, and fall out 
 with the Dugge, Shake quoth the Doue-houfe, 'twas no 
 neede I trow to bid mee trudge : and fince that time it is 
 a eleuen yeares, for then /he could ftand alone, nay bi'th' 
 roode /he could haue runne,& wadled all about : for euen 
 the day before /lie broke her brow, & then my Husband 
 God be with his foule, a was a merrie man, tooke vp the 
 Child, yea quoth hee,doeft thou fall vpon thy face ? thou 
 wilt fall backeward when thou haft more wit, wilt thou 
 not lule ? And by my holy-dam, rhe pretty wretch lefte 
 crying,& faid 1 : to fee now how a left /hall come about. 
 I warrant,& I /hall Hue a thoufand yeares, I neuer /hould 
 forget it : wilt thou not lulet quoth he? and pretty foole it 
 ftinted,and faid I. 
 
 Old La. Inough of this, I pray thee hold thy peace. 
 Nurfe. Yes Madam,yet I cannot chufe but laugh, to 
 thinke it /hould leaue crying, & fay I : and yet I warrant 
 it had vpon "it brow, a bumpe as big as a young Cockrels 
 ftone? A perilous knock, and it cryed bitterly. Yea quoth 
 my husband, fall'ft vpon thy face, thou wilt fall back- 
 ward when thou commeft to age : wilt thou not lule? It 
 ftinted:and faid I. 
 
 lule. And ftint thou too, I pray thee Nurfe, fay I. 
 Nur. Peace I haue done:God marke thee too his grace 
 thou waft the prettieft Babe that ere 1 nurft, and I might 
 Hue to fee thee married once, I haue my wifh. 
 
 Old La. Marry that marry is the very theame 
 I came to talke of, tell me daughter luliet, 
 How ftands your difpofition to be Married? 
 
 luli. It is an hcure that I dreame not of. 
 
 Nur. An houre, were not I thine on'ely Nurfe, I would 
 fay thou had'ft fuckt wifedome from thy teat. 
 
 Old La. Well thinke of marriage now,yonger then you 
 Heere in Verona. Ladies of efteeme, 
 Are made already Mothers. By my count 
 ! was your Mother, much vpon thefe yeares 
 That you are now a Maide,thus then in briefe : 
 The valiant "Paris feekes you for his loue. 
 
 Nurfe. A man young Lady, Lady, fuch a man as all 
 the world. Why hee'sa man of waxe. 
 
 Old La. Veronat Summer hath not fuch a flower. 
 
 Nurfe. Nay hee's a flower,infaith a very flower. 
 
 Old La: What fay you, can you loue the Gentleman? 
 This night you /hall behold him at our Feaft, 
 
 Read ore the volume of young Paris face, 
 
 And find delight, writ there with Beauties pen: 
 
 Examine euery feuerall liniament, 
 
 And fee how one another lends content: 
 
 And what obfcur'd in this faire volume lies, 
 
 Find written in the Margentof hk eyes. 
 
 This precious Booke of Loue, this vnbound Louer, 
 
 To Beautifiehim,onely lacks a Couer. 
 
 The fifh Hues in the Sea, and 'tis much pride 
 
 For faire without, the faire within to hide: 
 
 That Booke in manies eyes doth /hare the glorie, 
 
 That in Gold clafpes, Lockes in the Golden ftorie : 
 
 So fliall you /hare all that he doth pofiefle, 
 
 By hauing him, making your felfe no le/Te. 
 
 Nurfe. No le/Te,nay bigger: women grow by men. 
 
 Old La. Speake briefly, can you like of farts loue 
 
 luli. lie looke to like,if looking liking moue. 
 But no more deepe will I endart mine eye, 
 Then your confent giues ftrength to make flye. 
 
 Enter a Seruir.g man. 
 
 Ser. Madam, the guefts are come, fupper feru'd vp,you 
 cal'd,my young Lady askt for, the Nurfe cur'ft in the Pan- 
 tery,and euery thing in extremitie : 1 muft hence to wait, I 
 befeech you follow ftraight. Sxit. 
 
 cftfo. We follow thee, luliet , the Countie ftaies. 
 
 Nurfe. Goe Gyrle, leeke happie nights to happy daies. 
 
 Exeunt . 
 Enter Romeo,cflfercutio,BenuoIio,'rritbJiue or fixe 
 
 other Masters, Torch-bearers. 
 
 Rom. What /hall this fpeeh be fpoke for our excufe t 
 Or /hall we on without Apologie? 
 
 'Ben. The date is out of fuch prolixitie, 
 Weele haue no Ca/>;W,hood winkt with a skarfe, 
 Bearing a Tartars painted Bow of lath, 
 Skaring the Ladies like a Crow-keeper. 
 But let them meafure vs by what they will. 
 Weele meafure them a Meafure, and be gone. 
 
 Rom. Giue me a Torch,! am not for this ambling. 
 Being but heauy I will beare the light. 
 
 Mer. Nay gentle Romeo, we muft haue you dance. 
 
 Rom. Not 1 beleeue me,you haue dancing fhooes 
 With nimble foles,! haue a foale of Lead 
 So flakes me to the ground, I cannot moue. 
 
 c/WVr. You are a Louer, borrow Cufidi wings, 
 And foare with them aboue a common bound. 
 
 Rom. I am too fore enpearced with his /haft, 
 To foare with his light feathers,and to bound: 
 I cannot bound a pitch aboue dull woe, 
 Vnder loues heauy burthen doe! finke. 
 
 Hora. And to finke in it /hould you burthen loue, 
 Too great oppreffion for a tender thing. 
 
 Rom. Is loue a tender thing? it is too rough, 
 Too rude, too boyfterous, and it pricks like thorne. 
 
 <^Mer. If loue be rough with you, be rough with loue, 
 Pricke loue for pricking,and you beat loue downe, 
 Giue me a Cafe to put my vifage in, 
 A Vifor for a Vifor, what care I 
 What curious eye doth quote deformities: 
 Here are the Beetle-browes /hall blu/h for me. 
 
 Ben. Come knocke and enter, and no fooner in, 
 But euery man betake him to his legs. 
 
 Rom. A Torch for me, let wantons light of heart 
 Tickle the fencelefie ru/hes with their heeles : 
 For I am prouerb'd with a Grandfier Phrafe, 
 lie be a Candle-holder and looke on, 
 The game was nere fo faire, and 1 am done. 
 
 Mer. Tut 
 
 "654
 
 Tr age die of 'T^omeo and Juliet. 
 
 57 
 
 Mer. Tut, duns the Moufe, the Conftables owne word, 
 " thou art dun,weele draw thee from the mire. 
 Or faue your reuerence loue, wherein thou ftickeft 
 Vp to the eares, come we burne day -light ho 
 
 Rom. Nay that's not fo. 
 
 Mer. I meane fir I delay, 
 
 We waft our lights in vaine, lights, lights, by day; 
 Take our good meaning, for our Judgement fits 
 Fiue times in that, ere once in our fine wits. 
 
 Rom. And we meane well in going to this Maske, 
 But 'tis no wit to go. 
 
 vMer. Why may one aske ? 
 
 Rom. I dreampt a dreame to night. 
 
 <.Mer, And fo did I. 
 
 Rom. Well what was yours ? 
 
 <&fer. That dreamers often lye. 
 
 j>. In bed a fteepe while they do dreame things true. 
 
 Mer. O then I fee Queene Mab hath beene with you : 
 She is the Fairies Midwife, & fhe comes in fhape no big- 
 ger then Agat-ftone, on the fore-finger of an Alderman, 
 drawne with a teeme of little Atomies, ouer mensnofes as 
 they lie afleepe : her Waggon Spokes made of long Spin- 
 ners legs : the Couer of the wings of Grafhoppers, her 
 Traces of, the fmalleft Spiders web, her coullers of the 
 Moonshines watry Beames, her Whip of Crickets bone, 
 the Lafh of Philome, her Waggoner, afmall gray-coated 
 Gnat, not halfe fo bigge as a round little Worme, prickt 
 from the Lazie-finger of a man. Her Chariot is an emptie 
 Hafelnut, made by the loyner Squirrel or old Grub, time 
 out a mind, the Paries Coach-makers : Sc in this ftate (he 
 gallops night by night, through Louers braines : and then 
 they dreame of Loue. On Courtiers knees, that dreame on 
 Curfies (Irait : ore Lawyers fingers, who ftraiti dreamt on 
 Fees, ore Ladies lips, who ftrait on kifies dreame, which 
 oft the angry Mab with blifters plagues, becaufe their 
 breath with Sweet meats tainted are. Sometime fhe gal- 
 lops ore a Courtier's nofe, & then dreames he of fmelling 
 out afute: & fomtime comes Ihe with Tith pigs tale, tick- 
 ling a Parfons nofe as a lies afleepe, then he dreames o f 
 another Benefice. Sometime fhe driueth ore a Souldiers 
 necke, & then dreames he of cutting Forraine throats, of 
 Breaches, Ambufcados, Spanifh Blades : Of Healths fiue 
 Fadome deepe,and then anon drums in his eares,at which 
 he ftartes and wakes; and being thus frighted, fweares a 
 prayer or two & fleepes againerthis is that very Mab that 
 plats the manes of Horfes in the night : & bakes the Elk- 
 locks in foule fluttifh haires, which once vntangled, much 
 misfortune bodes, 
 
 This is the hag, when Maides lie on their backs, 
 That prefles them, and learnes them firft to beare, 
 Making them women of good carnage .: 
 This is fhe. 
 
 Rom. Peace, peace, <&fercutio peace, 
 Thou talk'ft of nothing. 
 
 <&er. True,! talke of dreames: 
 Which are the children of an idle braine, 
 Begot of nothing, but vaine phantafie, 
 Which is as thin of fubftance as the ayre, 
 And more inconftant then the wind, who wooes 
 Euen now the frozen bofome of the North : 
 And being anger'd, puffes away from thence, 
 Turning his fide to the dew dropping South. 
 
 'Ben. This wind you talke of blowes vs from our felues, 
 Supper is done, and we fhall come too late. 
 
 Rom. I feare too early, for my mind mifgiues, 
 Some confequence yet hanging in the ftarres, 
 
 6JJ 
 
 Shall bitterly begin his fearefull date 
 With this nights reuels,and expire the tearme 
 Of a defpifed life clof'd in my breft: 
 By fome vile forfeit of vntimely death. 
 But he that hath the ftirrage of mycourfe, 
 Diredt my fute : on luftie Gentlemen. 
 
 Ben. Strike Drum. 
 
 They March about the Stage, and Seruingmen come forth 
 with their napfyns. 
 
 Enter Seruant. 
 
 Ser. Where's Totpan, that he helpes not to take away? 
 He fhift a Trencher ? he fcrape a Trencher ? 
 
 1. When good manners,fhall lie in one or two mens 
 hands, and they vnwafht too, 'tis a foule thing. 
 
 Ser. Away with the loynftooles, remoue the Court- 
 cubbord, looke to the Plate: good thou, faue mee a piece 
 of Marchpane, and as thou loueft me, let the Porter let in 
 Sujan Grindjlone, and Nell, Anthonle and Pot fan. 
 
 2. I Boy readie. 
 
 Ser. You are lookt for,and cal'd for, askt for,& fought 
 for, in the great Chamber. 
 
 I We cannot be here and there too, chearly Boyes, 
 Be brisk awhile, and the longer liuer take all. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Enter all the Guefts and Gentlewomen to the 
 Masters. 
 
 I. Capu. Welcome Gentlemen, 
 Ladies that haue their toes 
 
 Vnplagu'd with Comes, will walke about with you : 
 Ah my Miftrefles, which of you all 
 Will now deny to dance / She that makes dainty, 
 She He fweare hath Comes : am I come neare ye now ? 
 Welcome Gentlemen, 1 haue feene the day 
 That I haue worne a Vifor, and could tell 
 A whifpering tale in a faire Ladies eare : 
 Such as would pleafe : 'tis gone, 'tis gone, 'tis gone, 
 You are welcome Gentlemen, come Mufitians play: 
 
 Muficke plaies : and the dance. 
 A Hall, Hall, giue roome, and foote it Girles, 
 More light you knaues,and turne the Tables vp.- 
 And quench the fire, the Roome is growne too hot. 
 Ah firrah,this vnlookt for fport comes well : 
 Nay fit, nay fit, good Cozin Cafulet, 
 For you and I are paft ourdauncing dales : 
 How long 'ift now fince laft your felfe and I 
 Were in a Maske ? 
 
 a. Capu. Berlady thirty yeares. 
 
 I. Capu. What man : 'tis not fo much, 'tis not fo much, 
 'Tis fince the Nuptiall of Lucentio^ 
 Come Pentycoft as quickely as it will, 
 Some fiue and twenty yeares, and then we Maskt. 
 
 2 . Cap. 'Tis more, 'tis more, his Sonne is elder fir : 
 His Sonne is thirty. 
 
 3. Cap. Will you tell me that ? 
 
 His Sonne was but a Ward two yeares agoe. 
 
 Rom. What Ladie is that which doth inrich the hand 
 Of yonder Knight? 
 
 Ser. I know not fir . 
 
 Rom. O fhe doth teach the Torches to burne bright : 
 It feemes fhe hangs vpon the cheeke of night, 
 As a rich lewel in an /Ethiops eare: 
 Beauty too rich for vfe,for earth too deare : 
 So fhewes a Snowy Doue trooping with Crowes, 
 As yonder Lady ore her fellowes fhowes ; 
 The meafure done, He watch her place of ftand, 
 And touching hers, make blefled my rude hand. 
 
 Did
 
 The Tr age die of ^meo and luliet. 
 
 Did my heart loue till now, forfweare it fight, 
 For I neuer faw true Beauty till this night. 
 
 Tib. This by his voice, fliould be a Mt-untague. 
 Fetch me my Rapier Boy, what dares the flaue 
 Come hither couer'd with an antique face, 
 To fleere and fcorne at our Solemnitie ? 
 Now by the ftocke and Honour of" my kin, 
 To ftrike him dead I hold it not a fin. 
 
 Cap. Why how now kinfman, 
 Wherefore ftorme you fo ? 
 
 Tib. Vncle this is a Mountague, our foe : 
 A Villaine that is hither come in fpight, 
 To fcorne at our Solemnitie this night. 
 Cap. Young Romeo is it ? 
 Tib. 'Tis he, that Villaine Romeo. 
 Cap. Content thee gentle Coz,let him alone, 
 A beares him like a portly Gentleman : 
 And to fay truth, Verona brags of him, 
 To be a vertuous and well gouern'd youth : 
 I would not for the wealth of all the towne, 
 Here in my houfe do him difparagement : 
 Therfore be patient, take no note of him, 
 It is my will, the which if thou refpect, 
 Shew a faire prefence,and put off thefe frownes, 
 An ill befeeming femblance for a Feaft. 
 
 Tib. It fits when fuch a Villaine is a gueft, 
 lie not endure him. 
 
 Cap. He fliall be endu'rd. 
 What goodman boy, I fay he fliall, go too, 
 Am I the Maifter here or you ? go too , 
 Youle not endure him, God fhall mend my foule, 
 Youle make a Mutinie among the Guefts : 
 You will fet cocke a hoope, youle be the man. 
 Tib. Why Vncle, 'tis a fliame. 
 Cap. Go too, go too, , 
 
 You are a fawcy Boy, 'ift fo indeed ? 
 This tricke may chance to fcath you, I know what, 
 You muft contrary me, marry 'tis time. 
 Well faid my hearts, you are a Princox, goe, 
 Be quiet, or more light, more light for fliame, 
 He make you quiet. What, chearely my hearts. 
 
 Tib. Patience perforce, with wilfull choler meeting, 
 Makes my flefli tremble in their different greeting: 
 I will withdraw, but this intrufion fliall 
 Now feeming fweet, conuert to bitter gall. Exit. 
 
 Rom. If I prophane wirh my vnworthieft hand, 
 This holy flirine, the gentle fin is this, 
 My lips to blufhing Pilgrims did ready ftand, 
 To fmooth that rough touch, with a tender kiffe. 
 
 lul. Good Pilgrime, 
 You do wrong your hand too much. 
 Which mannerly deuotion fliewes in this, 
 For Saints haue hands, that Pilgrims hands do tuch, 
 And palme topalme,is holy Palmers kifle. 
 
 Rom. Haue not Saints lips, and holy Palmers too? 
 
 lul. I Pilgrim, lips that they muft vfe in prayer. 
 
 Rom. O then deare Saint, let lips do what hands do, 
 They pray (grant thou)leaft faith turne to difpaire. 
 
 lul. Sa nts do not moue, 
 Though grant for prayers fake. 
 
 Rom. Then moue not while my prayers effect I take: 
 Thus from my lips, by thine my fin is purg'd. 
 
 lul. Then haue my lips the fin that they haue tooke. 
 
 Rom. Sin from my lips.'O trefpafle fweetly vrg'd : 
 Giue me my fin againe. 
 
 lul. You kifle by'th'booke. 
 
 Nur. Madam your Mother craues a word with you. 
 
 Rom. What is her Mother ? 
 
 Nurf. Marrie Batcheler, 
 Her Mother is the Lady of the houfe, 
 And a good Lady, and a wife, and Vertuous, 
 I Nur'ft her Daughter that you talkt withall : 
 I tell you, he that can lay hold of her, 
 Shall haue thechincks. 
 
 Rom. Is flie a Cafulet t 
 
 deare account 'My life is my foes debt. 
 Ben. Away, be gone, the fport is at the beft. 
 Rom. I fo I feare, the more is my vnreft. 
 Cap. Nay Gentlemen prepare not to be gone, 
 
 We haue a trifling foolifli Banquet towards : 
 Is it e'ne fo ? why then I thanke you all. 
 
 1 thanke you honeft Gentlemen, good night: 
 More Torches here:come on, then let's to bed. 
 Ah firrah,by my faie it waxes late, 
 
 He to my reft. 
 
 lull. Come hither Nurfe, 
 What is yond Gentleman : 
 
 Nur. The Sonne and Heire of old Tyberio. 
 
 lu/i. What's he that now is going out of doore ? 
 
 Nur. Marrie that I thinke be young fetrucbio. 
 
 lul. What's he that follows here that would not dance ? 
 
 Nur. I know not. 
 
 lul. Go aske his name: if he be married, 
 My graue is like to be my wedded bed. 
 
 Nur. His name is Pjmeo,znd a Mountague, 
 The onely Sonne of your great Enemie. 
 
 lul. My onely Loue fprung from my onely hate, 
 Too early feene, rnknowne,and knowne too late, 
 Prodigious birth of Loue it is to me, 
 That I muft loue a loathed Enemie. 
 
 Nur. What's this ? whats this? 
 
 lul. A rime, I learne euen now 
 Of one I dan'ft withall. 
 
 One calt within, Juliet. 
 
 Nur. Anon, anon: 
 Come let's away, the ftrangers all are gone. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 Cboriu. 
 
 Now old defire doth in his death bed lie, 
 And yong afFecTion gapes to be his Heire, 
 That faire, for which Loue gron'd for and would die, 
 With tender luliet matcht, is now not faire. 
 Now Romeo is beloued,and Loues againe, 
 A like bewitched by the charme of lookes : 
 But to his foe fuppos'd he muft complaine, 
 And fliefteale Loues fweet bait from fearefull hookes : 
 Being held a foe, he may not haue accefle 
 To breath fuch vowes as Louers vfe to fweare, 
 And flie as much in Loue, her meanesmuch lefle, 
 To meete her new Beloued any where: 
 But pa (lion lends them Power, time, mranes to meete, 
 Temp'ring extremities with extreame fweete. 
 Enter Romeo alone. 
 
 Rom. Can I goe forward when my heart is here? 
 Turne backe dull earth, and find thy Center out. 
 Enter 'Benuolio,tfitb Mercutio. 
 
 f Ben. Romeo ,my Cozen Pjme o , Romeo. 
 sMerc. He is wife, 
 And on my life hath ftolne him home to bed. 
 
 Ben. He ran this way and leapt this Orchard wall. 
 Call good Mercutio : 
 Nay, He coniure too. 
 
 656
 
 ragedie offymeo and luliet. 
 
 59 
 
 dtfer. Romeo, Humours,Madman, Paffion, Louer, 
 Appeare thou in the likenefle of a figh, 
 Speake but one rime, and I am fatisfied : 
 Cry me bat ay me, Prouant, but Loue and day, 
 Speake to my gofhip fentu one faire word, 
 One Nickname for her purblind Sonne and her, 
 Young Abraham Cupid he that fhot fo true, 
 When King Copbctua lou'd the begger Maid, 
 He heareth not, he ftirreth not, he mouethn ot, 
 The Ape is dead, I muft coniure him, 
 I coniure thee by 'Rjfalines bright eyes, 
 By her High forehead, and her Scarlet lip, 
 By her Fine foote, Straight leg, and Quiuering thigh, 
 And the Demeanes,that there Adiacent lie, 
 That in thy likenefle thou appeare to vs. 
 
 'Ben. And if he heare thee thou wilt anger him. 
 
 Mer. This cannot anger him, t' would anger him 
 To raife a fpirit in his Miftrefle circle, 
 Of fome ftrange nature, letting it Hand 
 Till {he had laid it,and coniured it downe, 
 That were fome fpight. 
 
 My inuocation is faire and honeft, & in his Miftris name, 
 I coniure onely but to raife vp him. 
 
 'Ben. Come, he hath hid himfelfe among thefe Trees 
 To be conforced with the Humerous night : 
 Blind is his Loue, and beft befits the darke. 
 
 Mer. If Loue be blind, Loue cannot hit the marke, 
 Now will he fit vnder a Medler tree, 
 And wifh his Miftrefle were that kind of Fruite, 
 As Maides call Medlers when they laugh alone, 
 
 Romeo that fhe were, O that fhe were 
 An open, or thou a Poprin Peare, 
 Romeo goodnight, He to my Truckle bed, 
 This Field-bed is to cold for me to fleepe, 
 Come mall we go ? 
 
 Ben. Go then, for 'tis in vaine to feeke him here 
 That meanes not to be found. Exeunt* 
 
 Rom. He ieafts at Scarres that neuer felt a wound, 
 But foft,what light through yonder window breaks/ 
 It is the Eaft,and luliet is the Sunne, 
 Arife faire Sun and kill the enuious Moone, 
 Who is already fickeand pale with griefe, 
 That thou her Maid art far more faire then me : 
 Be not her Maid (ince fhe is enuious, 
 Her Veftal liuery is but ficke and greene, 
 And none butfooles do weare it, caft it off: 
 It is my Lady,O it is my Loue,O that fhe knew fhe were, 
 She fpeakes, yet fhe fayes nothing, what of that? 
 Her eye difcourfes, I will anfwere it : 
 
 1 am too bold 'tis not to me fhe fpeakes : 
 Two of the faireft ftarres in all the Heauen, 
 Hauing fome bufinefle do entreat her eyes, 
 To twinckle in their Spheres till they returne. 
 What if her eyes were there, they in her head, 
 
 The brightnefle of her cheeke would fhame thofe ftarres, 
 As day-light doth a Lampe,her eye in heauen, 
 Would through the ayrie Region ftreame fo bright, 
 That Birds would fmg.and thinke it were not night: 
 See how fhe leanes her cheeke vpon her hand.. 
 O that I were a Gloue vpon that hand, 
 That I might touch that cheeke. 
 
 lul. Ay me. 
 
 Rom. She fpeakes. 
 
 Oh fpeake againe bright Angell,for thou art 
 As glorious to this night being ore my head, 
 As is a winged meflenger of heaueni 
 
 657 
 
 Vnto the white vpturned wondring eyes 
 Of mortalls that fall backe to gaze on him, 
 When he beftrides the lazie puffing Cloudes, 
 And failes vpon the bofome of the ayre. 
 
 lul. O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo 
 Denie thy Father and refufe thy name : 
 Or if thou wilt not, be but fworne my Loue, 
 And He no longer be a Capulet. 
 
 Rom. Shall I heare more, or fhall I fpeake at this ? 
 
 Ju. 'Tis but thy name that is my Enemy : 
 Thou art thy felfe, though not a Mountague, 
 What's Mountague ? it is nor hand nor foote, 
 Nor arme,nor face,O be fome other name 
 Belonging to a man. 
 
 What ? in a names that which we call a Rofe, 
 By any other word would fmell as fweete, 
 So Romeo would, were he not Romeo cal'd, 
 Retaine that deare perfection which he owes, 
 Without that title "Borneo, doffe thy name, 
 And for thy name which is no part of thee, 
 Take all my felfe. 
 
 Rom. I take thee at thy word : 
 Call me but Loue, and He be new baptiz'd, 
 Hence foorth I neuer will be Romeo. 
 
 luli. What man art thou, that thus befcreen'd in night 
 So ftumbleft on my counfell ? 
 
 Rom. By a name, 
 
 I know not how to tell thee who I am : 
 My name deare Saint, is hatefull to my felfe, 
 Becaufe it is an Enemy to thee, 
 Had I it written,! would teare the word. 
 
 luli. My eares haue yet not drunke a hundred words 
 Of thy tongues vttering,yet I know the found. 
 Art thou not Romeo,and a Montague? 
 
 Ifym. Neither faire Maid, if either thee diflikc. 
 
 lul. How cam'ft thou hither. 
 Tell me, and wherefore? 
 
 The Orchard walls are high, and hard to climbe, 
 And the place death, confidering who thou art, 
 If any of my kinfmen find thee here, 
 
 Rom. With Loues light wings 
 Did I ore-perch thefe Walls, 
 For ftony limits cannot hold Loue out, 
 And what Loue can do, that dares Loue attempt : 
 Therefore thy kinfmen are no flop to me. 
 
 lul. If they do fee thee, they will murther thee. 
 
 Rom. Alacke there lies more perill in thine eye, 
 Then twenty of their S words, looke thou but fweete, 
 And I am proofe againft their enmity. 
 
 lul. I would not for the world they faw thee here. 
 
 Rom. I haue nights cloake to hide me from their eyes 
 And but thou loue me, let them finde me here, 
 My life were better ended by their hate, 
 Then death proroged wanting of thy Loue. 
 
 lul. By whofe direction found'ft thou out this place ? 
 
 Rom. By Loue that firft did promp me to enquire, 
 He lent me counfell, and I lent him eyes, 
 I am no Pylot,yet wert thou as far 
 As that vaft-fhore-wafhet with the fartheft Sea, 
 I fhould aduenture for fuch Marchandife. 
 
 lul. Thou knoweft the maske of night is on my face, 
 Elfe would a Maiden blufh bepaint my cheeke, 
 For that which thou haft heard me fpeake to night, 
 Faine would I dwell on forme, faine, faine,denie 
 What I haue fpoke, but farewell Complement, 
 Doeft thou Loue ? I know thou wilt fay I , 
 
 And
 
 6o 
 
 The Tragedie ofT^omeoand Juliet' 
 
 And I will take thy word, yet if thou fwear'ft, 
 
 Thou maieft proue falfe: at Louers periuries 
 
 They fay lout laught,oh gentle Romeo, 
 
 If thou doft Loue, pronounce it faithfully : 
 
 Or if thou thinkeft-I am too quickly wonne, 
 
 He frowne and be peruerfe, and fay thee nay, 
 
 So thou wilt wooe : But elfe not for the world. 
 
 In truth faire Mountague I am too fond : 
 
 And therefore thou maieft thinke my behauiour light, 
 
 But truft me Gentleman, lie proue more true, 
 
 Then thofe that haue coying to be ftrange, 
 
 I fliould haue beene more ftrange, I muft confcfle, 
 
 But that thou ouer heard'ft ere I was ware 
 
 My true Loues paflion, therefore pardon me, 
 
 And not impute this yeelding to light Loue, 
 
 Which the darke night hath fo difcouered. 
 
 Rom. Lady, by yonder Moone I vow, 
 That tips with filuer all thefe Fruite tree tops. 
 
 Jul. O fweare not by the Moone, th'inconftant Moone, 
 That monethly changes in her circled Orbe, 
 Leaft that thy Loue proue likewife variable. 
 
 Rom. What fliall I fweare by ? 
 
 lul. Do not fweare at all : 
 Orif thou wilt fweare by thy gratious felfe, 
 Which is the God of my Idolatry, 
 And He beleeue thee. 
 
 Rom. If my hearts deare loue. 
 
 luli. Well do not fweare, although I ioy in thee: 
 I haue no ioy of this contract to night, 
 It is too rafli, too vnaduifd,too fudden, 
 Too like the lightning which doth ceafe to be 
 Ere, one can fay,it lightens,Sweete good night: 
 This bud of Loue by Summers ripening breath, 
 May proue a beautious Flower when next we meete: 
 Goodnight, goodnight, as fweete repofe and reft, 
 Come to thy heart, as that within my breft. 
 
 Rom. O wilt thou leaue me fo vnfatisfied ? 
 
 luli. What fatisfadYion can'ft thou haue to night? 
 
 Ro. Th 'exchange of thy Loues faithfull vow for mine. 
 
 lul. I gaue thee mine before thou did'ft requeftit: 
 And yet I would it were to giue againe. 
 
 Rom. Would'ft thou withdrairit, 
 For what purpofe Loue ? 
 
 lul. But to be franke and giue it thee againe, 
 And yet I wifli but for the thing 1 haue, 
 My bounty is as boundlefle as the Sea, 
 My Loue as deepe,the more I giue to thee 
 The more I haue, for both are Infinite: 
 I heare fome noyfe within deare Loue adue : 
 
 Calf Tvbbin. 
 
 Anon good Nurfe, fweet Mountague be true : 
 Stay but alittle, I will come againe. 
 
 Rom. O blefled blefled night, I am afear'd 
 Being in night, all this is but a dreame, 
 Too flattering fweet to be fubftantiall. 
 
 lul. Three words deare Romeo, 
 And goodnight indeed, 
 If that thy bent of Loue be Honourable, 
 Thy purpofe marriage, fend me word to morrow, 
 By one that He procure to come to thee, 
 Where and what time thou wilt performe the right, 
 And all my Fortunes at thy foote He lay, 
 And follow thee my Lord throughout the world. 
 
 W~itb\n : Madam. 
 
 I come, anon : but if thou meaneft not well, 
 I do befeech theee Within: Madam. 
 
 (By and by I come) 
 
 To ceafe thy ftrife,and leaue me to my griefe, 
 
 To morrow will I fend. 
 
 Rom. So thriue my foule. 
 
 lu. A thoufand times goodnight. Exit. 
 
 f(ome. A thoufand times the worfe to want thy light, 
 Loue goes toward Loue as fchool-boyes fro thier books 
 But Loue fro Loue, towards fchoole with heauie lookes. 
 
 Enter luliet agaaine. 
 
 lul. Hift Romeo hift:O for a Falkners voice, 
 To lure this Taflell gentle backe againe, 
 Bondage is hoarte,and may not fpeake aloud, 
 Elfe would I teare the Caue where Eccho lies, 
 And make her ayrie tongue more hoarfe,then 
 With repetition of my Romeo. 
 
 Rom. It is my fcule that calls vpon my name. 
 How filuer fweet, found Louers tongues by night, 
 Like fofteft Muficke to attending eares. 
 
 lul. ^meo. 
 
 ^om. My Neece. 
 
 lul. What a clock to morrow 
 Shall I fend to thee? 
 
 Rom. By the houre of nine. 
 
 lul. I will not faile, 'tis twenty yeares till then, 
 I haue forgot why I did call thee backe. 
 
 Rom. Let me ftand here till thou remember it. 
 
 lul. I fliall forget, to haue thee ftill ftand there, 
 Remembring how I Loue thy company. 
 
 Rom. And lie ftill ftay, to haue thee ftill forget, 
 Forgetting any other home but this. 
 
 lul. 'Tis almoft morning, I would haue thee gone, 
 And yet no further then a wantons Bird, 
 That let's it hop a little from his hand, 
 Like a poore prifoner in his twifted Gyues, 
 And with a filken thred plucks it backe againe, 
 So louing lealous of his liberty. 
 
 Rom. I would I were thy Bird. 
 
 lul. Sweet fo would I, 
 
 Yet I fliould kill thee with much cherifliing : 
 Good night, good night. 
 
 Rom. Parting is fuch fweete forrow, 
 That I fliall fay goodnight, till it be morrow. 
 
 lul. Sleepe dwell vpon thine eyes, peace in thy breft. 
 
 Ifom. Would I were fleepe and peace fo fweet to reft, 
 The gray ey'd morne fmilcs on the frowning night, 
 Checkring the Eafterne Clouds with ftreakes of light, 
 And darknefle fleckel'd like a drunkard reeles, 
 From forth dayes pathway, made by Titans wheeles. 
 Hence will I to my ghoftly Fries clofe Cell, 
 Hishelpe to craue, and my deare hap to tell. Exit. 
 
 Enter Frier alone with a basket. 
 
 Fr/.The gray ey'd morne fmiles on the frowning night, 
 Checkring the Eafterne Cloudes with ftreaks of light : 
 And fleckled darknefle like a drunkard reeles, 
 From forth daics path, and Titans burning wheeles : 
 Now ere the Sun aduance his burning eye, 
 The day to cheere,and nights danke dew to dry, 
 I muft vpfill this Ofier Cage of ours, 
 With balefull weedes,and precious Juiced flowers, 
 The earth that's Natures mother, is her Tombe, 
 What is her burying graue that is her wombe : 
 And from her wombe children of diuers kind 
 
 We 
 
 658
 
 The Tragedie of 'Borneo and ^Juliet. 
 
 61 
 
 We lucking on her natural! bofome find : 
 Many for many vertues excellent : 
 None but for fome, and yet all different. 
 Omickle is the powerful! grace that lies 
 In Plants,Hearbs, ftones,and their true qualities: 
 For nought fo vile, that on the earth doth Hue, 
 But to the earth fome fpeciall good doth giue : 
 Nor ought fo good, but ftrain'd from that faire vfe, 
 Reuolts from true birth, {tumbling on abufe. 
 Vertue it felfe turnes vice being mifapplied, 
 And vice fometime by adtion dignified. 
 
 Enter Romeo. 
 
 Within the infant rin'd of this weake flower, 
 Poyfon hath refidence,and medicine power: 
 For this being fmelt, with that part cheares each part, 
 Being tafted flayes all fences with the heart. 
 Two fuch oppofed Kings encampe them flill, 
 In man as well as Hearbes, grace and rude will : 
 And where the worfer is predominant, 
 Full foone the Canker death eates vp that Plant. 
 
 Rom. Good morrow Father. 
 
 Fri. Benedecite. 
 
 What early tongue fo fweet faluteth me ? 
 Young Sonne,it argues a diftempered head, 
 So foone to bid goodmorrow to thy bed ; 
 Care keepes his watch in euery old mans eye, 
 And where Care lodges,fleepe will neuer lye : 
 But where vnbrufed youth with vnftuft braine 
 Doth couch his lims, there, golden fleepe doth raigne; 
 Therefore thy earlinefie doth me afluie, 
 Thou art vprous'd with fome diftemprature; 
 Or if not fo, then here I hit it right. 
 Our Romeo hath not beene in bed to night. 
 
 Rom. That laft is true, the fweeter reft was mine. 
 
 Fri. God pardon fin: waft thou with Rojaline ? 
 
 Rom. With Rojaline, my ghoftly Father ? No, 
 I haue forgot that name, and that names woe. 
 
 Fri. That's my good Son, but wher haft thou bin then ? 
 
 Rom. He tell thee ere thou aske it me agen : 
 I haue beene feafting with mine enemie, 
 Where on a fudden one hath wounded me, 
 That's by me wounded:both our remedies 
 Within thy helpe and holy phificke lies : 
 I beare no hatred, blefTed man:for loe 
 My interceflion likewife fteads my foe. 
 
 Fri. Be plaine good Son, reft homely in thy drift, 
 Ridling confeffion,findes but ridling fhrift. 
 
 Rom. Then plainly know my hearts deare Loue is fet, 
 On the faire daughter of rich Cafulet : 
 As mine on hers,fo hers is fet on mine; 
 And all combin'd,faue what thou muft combine 
 By holy marriage: when and where, and how, 
 We met, we wooed, and made exchange of vow : 
 He tell thee as we paffe,but this I pray, 
 That thou confent to marrie vs to day- 
 
 Fri. Holy S. Franca, what a change is heere ? 
 Is Rojaline that thou didft Loue fo deare 
 So foone forfaken ? young mens Loue then lies 
 Not truely in their hearts, but in their eyes, 
 lefu Afar/c,what a deale of brine 
 Hath wafht thy fallow cheekes for Rojalinel 
 How much fait water throwne away in waft, 
 To feafon Loue that of it doth not taft. 
 The Sun not yet thy fighes,from heauen cleares, 
 Thy old grones yet ringing in my auncient eares : 
 Lo here vpon thy cheeke the ftaine doth fit, 
 
 659 
 
 Of an old teare that is not wafht off" yet. 
 
 If ere thou waft thy felfe, and thefe woes thine, 
 
 Thou and thefe woes, were all for Rofa/ine. 
 
 And art thou chang'd?pronounce this fentence then, 
 
 Women may fall, when there's no ftrength in men. 
 
 Rom. Thou chid'ft me oft for louing Rojaline. 
 
 Fri. For doting, not for louing pupill mine. 
 
 Tfym. And bad'ft me bury Loue. 
 
 Fri. Not in a graue, 
 To lay one in, another out to haue. 
 
 Rom. I pray thee chide me not,her I Loue now 
 Doth grace for grace, and Loue for Loue allow : 
 The other did not fo. 
 
 Fri. O fhe knew well, 
 
 Thy Loue did read by rote, that could not fpell : 
 But come young wauerer, come goe with me, 
 In one refpect, lie thy afMant be : 
 For this alliance may fo happy proue, 
 To turne your houfhould rancor to pure Loue. 
 
 Rom. O let vs hence,! ftand on fudden haft. 
 
 Fri. Wifely and flow, they ftumble that run faft. 
 
 Exeunt 
 Enter 'Benuolio and Mercutio. 
 
 Mer. Where the deu le fhould this Romeo be ? came he 
 not home to night 
 
 'Ben. Not to his Fathers,! fpoke with his man. 
 
 Mer. Why that fame pale hard-harted wench, that Ro. 
 Jaline torments him fo, that he will fure run mad. 
 
 Ben. Tiba/t,the kinfman to old Cafulet,hzth fent a Let- 
 ter to his Fathers houfe. 
 
 c/WVr. A challenge on my life. 
 
 'Ben. Romeo will anfwere it. 
 
 Mer. Any man that can write, may anfwere a Letter. 
 
 'Ben. Nay, he will anfwere the Letters Maifter how he 
 dares, being dared. 
 
 Mer. Alas poore Romeo, he is already dead ftab'd with 
 a white wenches blacke eye, runne through the eare with 
 a Loue fong, the very pinne of his heart, cleft with the 
 blind Bowe-boyes but-fhaft, and is he a man to encounter 
 Tybalt ? 
 
 'Ben. Why what is Tib alt ? 
 
 Mer. More then Prince of Cats. Oh hee's the Coura:;i- 
 ous Captaine of Complements : he fights as you fing 
 prickfong, keeps time, diftance,and proportion, he refts 
 his minum, one, two, and the third in your bofom.-the ve- 
 ry butcher of a filk burton, a Dualift,a Dualift:a Gentleman 
 of the very firft houfe of the firft and fecond caufe: ah the 
 immortall PafTado,the Punto reuerfo,the Hay. 
 
 Ben. The what? 
 
 Mer. The Pox of fuch antique lifping affecting phan- 
 tacies, thefe new tuners of accent : lefu a very good blade, 
 a very tall man, a very good whore. Why is not this a la- 
 mentable thing Grandfire,that we fhould be thus afflicted 
 with thefe ftrange flies : thefe fafhion Mongers, thefe par- 
 don-mee's, who ftand fo much on the new form, that they 
 cannot fit at eafe on the old bench, O their bones,their 
 bones. 
 
 Enter Romeo. 
 
 'Ben. Here comes Romeo t here comes Romeo. 
 
 Mer. Without his Roe, like a dryed Hering. O flefh, 
 flefh,how art thou fifhified ? Now is he fur the numbers 
 that Petrarch flowed in : Laura to his Lady, was a kitchen 
 wench,marrie fhe had a better Loue to berime her: Dido 
 a dowdie, Cleopatra a Gipfie, Hellen and Hero, hildinfgs 
 and HarlotsiTte^/e a gray eie or fo,but not to the purpofe. 
 Signior Romeo <fBcn four, there's a French falutation to your 
 ff French
 
 62 
 
 The Tragedie of 'Borneo and'JuUet. 
 
 French flop : you gaue vs the the counterfait fairely laft 
 night. 
 
 Borneo. Good morrow to you both, what counterfeit 
 did 1 glue you ? 
 
 Mer. The flip fir, the flip, can you not conceiue ? 
 
 Rom. Pardon Mercutio,my bufmefle was great, and in 
 fuch a cafe as mine, a man may ftraine curtefie. 
 
 Mer. That's as much as to fay, fuch a cafe as yours con r 
 ftrains a man to bow in the hams. 
 
 e R < om. Meaning to curfie. 
 
 Mer, Thou haft moft kindly hit it. 
 
 Rom. A moft curteous expedition. 
 
 Mer. Nay, I am the very pinck of curtefie. 
 
 Rom. Pinke for flower. 
 
 Mer. Right. 
 
 Rom. Why then is my Pump well flowr'd. 
 
 Mer. Sure wit, follow me this ieaft, now till thou haft 
 worne out thy Pump, that when the fingle fole of it is 
 worne, the ieaft may remaine after the wearing, fole- 
 fingular. 
 
 Ifym. O fingle fol'd ieaft, 
 Soly fingular for the finglenefTe. 
 
 Mer. Come betweene vs good Benuolio,my wits faints. 
 Rom. Swits and fpurs, 
 Swits and fpurs, or He crie a match. 
 
 Mer. Nay, if our wits run the Wild-Goofe chafe, I am 
 done : For thou haft more of the Wild-Goofe in one of 
 thy wits, then I am fure I haue in my whole flue. Was I 
 with you there for the Goofe? 
 
 Rom. Thou waft neuer with mee for any thing, when 
 thou waft not there for the Goofe. 
 
 Mer. I will bite thee by the eare for that ieft. 
 
 Rom. Nay .good Goofe bite not. 
 
 e/WVr. Thy wit is a very Bitter-fweeting, 
 It is a moft fliarpe fawce. 
 
 Rom. And is it not well fern'd into a Sweet-Goofe ? 
 
 Mer. Oh here's a wit of Cheuerell, that ftretches from 
 an ynch narrow, to an ell broad. 
 
 Rom. 1 ftretch it out for that word, broad, which added 
 to the Goofe,proues thee farre and wide,abroad Goofe. 
 
 Mer. Why is not this better now, then groning for 
 Loue,now art thou fociable,now art thou Romeo: now art 
 thou what thou art. by Art as well as by Nature, for this 
 driueling Loue is like a great Naturall, that runs lolling 
 vp and downe to hid his bable in a hole. 
 
 Ben. Stop there, ftop there. 
 
 Mer. Thou defir'ft me to ftop in my tale againft the 
 
 Ben.Thou would'ft elfe haue made thy tale large. (haire. 
 
 Mer. O thou art deceiu'd, I would haue made it fhort, 
 or I was come to the whole depth of my tale, and meant 
 indeed to occupie the argument no longer. 
 
 Enter Nurfe and her man. 
 
 Rom. Here's goodly geare. 
 A fayle,a fayle. 
 
 eMer. Two, two: a Shirt and a Smocke. 
 
 Nur. Peter* 
 
 Peter. Anon. 
 
 Nur. My Fan Peter ? 
 
 Mer. Good Peter to hide her face ? 
 For her Fans the fairer face ? 
 
 Nur. God ye good morrow Gentlemen. 
 
 Mer. God ye gooden faire Gentlewoman. 
 
 Nur. Is it gooden 
 
 Mer. "Pis no lefle I tell you : for the bawdy hand of the 
 Dyall is now vpon the pricke of Noone. 
 
 Nur. Out vpon you:what a man are you ? 
 
 Rom. One Gentlewoman, 
 That God hath made,himfelfe to mar. 
 
 Nur. By my troth it is faid, for himfelfe to, mar qua- 
 t ha:Gentlemen, can any of you tel me where I may find 
 the young T(omeot 
 
 Borneo. I can tell you: but young Romeo will be older 
 when you haue found him, then he was when you fought 
 him: I am the youngeft of that Dame, for fault or a worfe. 
 
 Nur. You fay well. 
 
 Mer. Yea is the worft well, 
 ' Very well tooke : I faith, wifely, wifely. 
 
 Nur. If you be he fir, 
 I defire fome confidence with you? 
 
 Ben. She will endite him to fome Supper. 
 
 Mer. A baud, a baud, a baud. So ho. 
 
 Ram. What haft thou found ? 
 
 ^Mer. No Hare fir, vnlefle a Hare fir in a Lenten pie, 
 that is fomething ftale and hoare ere it be fpent. 
 An old Hare hoare, and an old Hare hoare is very good 
 
 meat in Lent. 
 But a Hare that is hoare is too much for a fcore, when it 
 
 ho ares ere it be fpent, 
 
 Romeo will you come to your Fathers? Weele to dinner 
 thither. 
 
 "Rom. I will follow you. 
 
 Mer. Farewell auncient Lady : 
 Farewell Lady, Lady, Lady. 
 
 Exit. Mercutio, Benuolio. 
 
 Nur. I pray you fir, what fawcie Merchant was this 
 that was fo full of his roperie f 
 
 Rom. A Gentleman Nurfe, that loues to heare himfelfe 
 talke.and will fpeake more in a minute, then he will ftand 
 to in a Moneth. 
 
 Nur. And a fpeake any thing againft me, lie take him 
 downe,& a were luftier then he is, and tvventie fuch lacks: 
 and if I cannot, lie finde thofe that fhall : fcuruie knaue, I 
 am none of his flurt-gils, I am none of his skaines mates, 
 and thou muft ftand by too and fuffer euery knaue to vfe 
 me at his pleafure. 
 
 Pet. I faw no man vfe you at his pleafure : if I had, my 
 weapon fhould quickly haue beene out, I warrant you, I 
 dare draw aflbone as another man, if I fee occafion in a 
 good quarrcll,and the law on my fide. 
 
 JVtt/-.Now afore God, I am fo vext,that euery part about 
 me quiuers, skuruy knaue : pray you fir a word : and as I 
 told you, my young Lady bid me enquire you out, what 
 flie bid me fay, I will keepe to my felfe : but firft let me 
 tell ye, if ye fhould leade her in a fooles paradife, as they 
 fay,it were a very grofle kind of behauiour, as they fay : 
 for the Gentlewoman is yong : & therefore, if you fhould 
 deale double with her, truely it were an ill thing to be of- 
 fered to any Gentlewoman, and very weake dealing. 
 
 Nur. Nurfe commend me to thy Lady and MiftrefTe,! 
 proteft vnto thee. 
 
 Nur. Good heart, and yfaith I will tell her as much : 
 Lord, Lord fhe will be a ioyfull woman. 
 
 Rom. What wilt thou tell her Nurfe ? thou doeft not 
 marke me ? 
 
 Nur. I will tell her fir, that you do proteft, which as I 
 take it,is a Gentleman-like offer. (afternoone, 
 
 Rom. Bid her deuife fome meanes to come to fhriit this 
 And there fhe fhall at Frier Lawrence Cell 
 Befhriu'd and married : here is for thy paines. 
 Nur. No truly fir not a penny. 
 Rcm. Go too, I fay you fhall. 
 
 Nurfe
 
 The Tr age die of 'Borneo and Juliet. 
 
 Nur. This afternoone fir? well /he /hall be there. 
 
 ^o. And ftay thou good Nurfe behind the Abbey wall, 
 Within this houre my man /hall be with thee, 
 And bring thee Cords made like a tackled ftaire, 
 Which to the high top gallant of my ioy, 
 Muft be my conuoy in the fecret night. 
 Farewell, be truftie and He quite thy paines: 
 Farewell, commend me to thy Miftrefle. 
 
 Nur. Now God in heauen ble/Te thee:harke you fir, 
 
 Rom. What faift thou my deare Nurfe ? 
 
 Nurfe. Is your man fecret, did you nere heare fay two 
 may keepe counfell putting one away. 
 
 Ro. Warrant thee my man as true as fteel*. 
 
 Nur. Well fir,my Miftrefle is thefweeteft Lady,Lord, 
 Lord, when 'twas a little prating thing. O there is a No- 
 ble man in Towne one Paris, that would faine lay knife a- 
 board : but /he good foule had as leeue a fee Toade,a very 
 Toade as fee him : I anger her fometimes, and tell her that 
 Paris is the properer man, but lie warrant you, when I fay 
 fo, /hee lookes as pale as any clout in the verfall world. 
 Doth not Rofemarie and Romeo begin both with a letter ? 
 
 Rom. I Nurfe, what of that? Both with an R 
 
 Nur. A mocker that's the dogsname. R. is for the no, 
 I know it begins with fome other letter, and /he hath the 
 prettieft fententious of it, of you and Rofemary, that it 
 would do you good to heare it. 
 
 Rom. Commend me to thy Lady. 
 
 Nur. I a them/and times. Peter ? 
 
 Pet. Anon. 
 
 Nur. Before and apace. Exit Nurfe and Peter. 
 
 Enter luliet. 
 
 lul. The clocke ftrook nine, when I did fend the Nurfe, 
 In halfe an houre /he promifed to returne, 
 Perchance /he cannot meete him:that's not fo : 
 Oh /he is lame, Loues Herauld /hould be thoughts, 
 Which ten times fafter glides then the Sunnes beames, 
 Driuing backe /hadowes ouer lowring hils. 
 Therefore do nimble Pinion'd Doues draw Loue,. 
 And therefore hath the wind-fwift Cupid wings: 
 Now is the Sun vpon the highmort hill 
 Of this daies iourney, and from nine till twelue, 
 I three long houres,yet /he is not come. 
 Had /he affe&ions and warme youthfull blood, 
 She would be as fwift in motion as a ball, 
 My words would bandy her to my fweete Loue, 
 And his to me, but old folkes, 
 Many fame as they were dead, 
 Vn wieldie, flow, heauy, and pale as lead. 
 
 Enter Nurfe. 
 
 O God /he comes, O hony Nurfe what newes ? 
 Haft thou met with him?fend thy man away. 
 
 Nur. Peter ftay at the gate. 
 
 lul. Now good fweet Nurfe : 
 O Lord, why lookeft thou fad ? 
 Though newes, be fad, yet tell them merrily.' 
 If good thou /ham'ft the muficke of fweet newes, 
 By playing it to me, with fo fower a face. 
 
 Nur. I am a weary, giue me leaue awhile, 
 Fie how my bones ake,what a iaunt haue I had 9 
 
 lul. I would thou had'ft my bones, and I thy newes : 
 Nay come I pray thee fpeake,good good Nurfe fpeake. 
 
 Nur. lefu what haft? can you not ftay a while ? 
 Do you not fee that I am out of breath ? 
 
 lul. How art thou out of breath, when thou haft breth 
 To fay to me, that thou art out of breath ? 
 The excufe that thou doft make in this delay, 
 
 661 
 
 Is longer then the tale thou doft excufe. 
 Is thy newes good or bad?anfwere to that, 
 Say either, and lie ftay the circuftance : 
 Let me be fatisfied,ift good or bad ? 
 
 Nur. Well, you haue made a fimple choice, you know 
 not how to chufe a man : Romeo,no not he though his face 
 be better then any mans, yet his legs excels all mens, and 
 for a hand, and a foote,and a body, though they be not to 
 be talkt on, yet they are paft compare: he is not the flower 
 of curtefie, but He warrant him as gentle a Lambe : go thy 
 waies wench, ferue God, What haue you din'd at home ? 
 
 lul. No no:but all this this did I know before 
 What faies he of our marriage? what of that? 
 
 Nur. Lcrd how my head akes, what a head haue I 
 It beates as it would fall in twenty peeces. 
 My backe a tother fide :o my backe, my backe : 
 Be/hrew your heart for fending me about 
 To catch my death with iaunting vp and downe. 
 
 lul. Ifaith: I am forrie that that thou art fo well. 
 Sweet fweet, fweet Nurfe, tell me what faies my Loue ? 
 
 Nur. Your Loue faies like an honeft Gentleman, 
 And a courteous, and a kind, and a handfome, 
 And I warrant a vertuous: where is your Mother ? 
 
 lul. Where is my Mother? 
 Why /he is within, where /hould /he be? 
 How odly thou repli'ft : 
 Your Loue faies like an honeft Gentleman : 
 Where is your Mother ? 
 
 Nur. O Gods Lady deare, 
 Are you fo hot?marrie come vp I trow, 
 Is this the Poultis for my aking bones ? 
 Henceforward do your me/Tages your felfe. 
 
 lul. Heere's fuch a coile,come what faies Romeo"? 
 
 Nur. Haue you got leaue to go to /hrift to day ? 
 
 lul. I haue. 
 
 Nur< Then high you hence to Frier Lawrence Cell, 
 There ftaies a Husband to make you a wife : 
 Now comes the wanton bloud vp in your cheekes, 
 Thei'le be in Scarlet ftraight at any newes : 
 Hie you to Church, I muftan other way, 
 To fetch a Ladder by the which your Loue 
 Muft climde a birds neft Soone when it is darke : 
 I am the drudge, and toile in your delight : 
 But you /hall beare the burthen foone at night. 
 Go lie to dinner, hie you to the Cell. 
 Jui.H ie to high Fortune, honeft Nurfe, farewell. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Frier and Romeo. 
 
 Fri. So fmile the heauens vpon this holy adr, 
 That after houres,with forrow chide vs not. 
 
 Rom. Amen,amen, but come what forrow can, 
 It cannot counteruaile the exchange of ioy 
 That one fliort minute giues me in her fight : 
 Do thou but clofe our hands with holy wofds, 
 Then Loue-deuouring death do what he dare, 
 Itisinough.I may but call her mine. 
 
 Fri. Thefe violent delights haue violent endes, 
 And in their triumph :die like fire and powder} 
 Which as they kifle confume. The fweeteft honey 
 Is loathfome in his owne delicioufnefle, 
 And in the tafte confoundes the appetite. 
 Therefore Loue moderately,long Loue doth fo, 
 Too fwift arriues as tardie as too flow. 
 Enter luliet. 
 
 Here comes the Lady. Oh fo light a foot 
 Will nere weare out the euerlafting flint, 
 
 ff a A
 
 The Tragedie of 'Borneo and Juliet. 
 
 A Louer may beftride the Goflamours, 
 Thatydles in the wanton Summer ayre, 
 And yet not fall,fo light is vanitie. 
 
 lul. Good euen to my ghoftly ConfefTor. 
 
 Fri. Romeo fliall thanke thee Daughter for vs both. 
 
 lul. As much to him,elfe in his thanks too much. 
 
 Fri. Ah //r,if the meafure of thy ioy 
 Be heapt like mine, and that thy skill be more 
 To blafon it, then fweeten with thy breath 
 This neighbour ayre, and let rich mufickes tongue, 
 Vnfold the imagin'd happinefle that both 
 Receiue in either, by this deere encounter. 
 
 lul. Conceit more rich in matter then in words, 
 Brags of his fubftance,not of Ornament : 
 They are but beggers that can count their worth, 
 But my true Loue is growne to foch fuch excefie, 
 I cannot fum vp fome of halfe my wealth. 
 
 Fr/.Come, come with me,& we will make fliort worke, 
 For by your leaues, you fliall not ftay alone, 
 Till holy Church incorporate two in one. 
 
 Enter Mercutio, Benuolio, and men. 
 
 'Ben. I pray thee good Mercutio lets retire, 
 The day is hot, the Cafuleti abroad : 
 
 And if we meet, we flial not fcape a brawle,for now thefe 
 hot dayes, is the mad blood ftirring. 
 
 Mer . Thou art like one of thefe fellowes,that when he 
 enters the confines of a Tauerne, claps me his Sword vpon 
 the Table, and fayes,God fend me no need of thee: and by 
 the operation of the fecond cup, drawes him on the Draw- 
 er, when indeed there is no need. 
 
 Ben. Am I like fuch a Fellow ? 
 
 Mer. Come, come, thou art as hot a lacke in thy mood, 
 as any in Italie: and aflbone moued to be moodie, and af- 
 foone moodie to be mou'd. 
 
 Ben. And what too ? 
 
 Mer. Nay, and there were two fuch, we fliould haue 
 none fliortly,for one would kill the other: thou, why thou 
 wilt quarrell with a man that hath a haire more, or a haire 
 lefie in his beard, then thou haft: thou wilt quarrell with a 
 man for cracking Nuts, hauing no other reafon, but be- 
 caufe thou haft hafell eyes : what eye, but fuch an eye, 
 would fpie outfuch a quarrell? thy head is as full of quar- 
 rels, as an egge is full of meat, and yet thy head hath bin 
 beaten as addle as an egge for quarreling: thou haft quar- 
 rel'd with a man for coffing in the ftreet, becaufe he hath 
 wakened thy Dog that hath laine afleepe in the Sun.Did'ft 
 thou not fall out with a Tailor for wearing his new Doub- 
 let before Eafter ? with another,for tying his new fliooes 
 with old Riband, and yet thou wilt Tutor me fromiquar- 
 relling ? 
 
 'Ben. And I were fo apt to quarell as thou art, any man 
 fliould buy the Fee-fimple of my life, for an houre and a 
 quarter. 
 
 sMcr. The Fee-fimple ? O fimple. 
 
 Enter Tybalt ,Petrucbto ^and others. 
 
 'Ben. By my head here comes the Cafulett. 
 
 cWer. By my heele I care not. 
 
 Tyb. Follow me clofe,for I will fpeake to them. 
 Gentlemen, Good den, a word with one of you. 
 
 Mer. And but one word with one of vs?couple it with 
 fomething,make it a word and a blow. 
 
 Tib. You fliall find me apt inough to that fir, and you 
 will giue me occafion. 
 
 cflfercu. Could you not take fome occafion without 
 giuing ? 
 
 Tib. Mercutio thou confort'ft with 'Romeo. 
 
 Mer. ConfortFwhat doft thou make vs Minftrels ? & 
 thou make Minftrels of vs,looke to heare nothing but dif- 
 cords sheere's my fiddlefticke,heere's that fliall make you 
 daunce. Come confort. 
 
 'Ben, We talke here in the publike haunt of men : 
 Either withdraw vnto fome priuate place, 
 Or reafon coldly of your greeuances : 
 Or elfe depart, here all eies gaze on vs. 
 
 Mer. Mens eyes were made to looke,and let them gaze. 
 I will not budge for no mans pleafure I. 
 
 Enter Romeo. 
 
 Tib. Well peace be with you fir, here comes my man. 
 
 Mer. But He be hang'd fir if he weare your Liuery .- 
 Marry go before to field, heele be your follower, 
 Your worfliip in that fenfe,may call him man. 
 
 Tib. Romeo, the loue I beare thee, can affbord 
 No better terme then this: Thou art a Villaine. 
 
 Rom. Tibalt ,the reafon that I haue to loue thee, 
 Doth much excufe the appertaining rage 
 To fuch a greeting: Villaine am I none ; 
 Therefore farewell,! fee thou know'ft me not. 
 Tib. Boy,this fliall not excufe the iniuries 
 That thou haft done me, therefore turne and draw. 
 
 Rom. I do proteft I neuer iniur'd thee, 
 But lou'd thee better then thou can'ft deuife : 
 Till thou flialt know the reafon of my loue, 
 And fo good Cafulet, which name I tender 
 As dearely as my owne,be fatisfied. 
 
 Mer. O calme,di /honourable, vile fubmifiion: 
 Alia fiucatbo carries it away. 
 Tybalt, you Rat-catcher, will you walke ? 
 
 Tib. What woulds thou haue with me ? 
 
 Mer. Good King of Cats,nothing but one of your nine 
 liues,that I meane to make bold withall, and as you fliall 
 vfe me hereafter dry beate the reft of the eight. Will you 
 pluck your Sword out of his Pilcher by the eares ? Make 
 haft,leaft mine be about your eares ere it be out. 
 
 Tib. I am for you. 
 
 Rom. Gentle Mercutio, put thy Rapier vp. 
 
 Mer. Come fir,your PaflTado. 
 
 Rom. Draw 2tanw/f0,beat downe their weapons: 
 Gentlemen, for fliame forbeare this outrage, 
 Tibalt , Merc utio,the Prince exprefly hath 
 Forbidden bandying in Verona ftreetes. 
 Hold Tybalt ,good Mercutio. 
 
 Exit Tybalt. 
 
 Mer. I am hurt. 
 
 A plague a both the Houfes,! am fped: 
 Is he gone and hath nothing ? 
 
 Ben. What art thou hurt ? 
 
 Mer. I,I,a fcratch,afcratch,marry 'tis inough, 
 Where is my Pager go Villaine fetch a Surgeon. 
 
 Rom. Courage man, the hurt cannot be much. 
 
 Mer. No :'tis not fo deepe as a well, nor fo wide as a 
 Church doore,but'tis inough, 'twill ferue : aske for me to 
 morrow,and you fliall find me a graue man. I am pepper'd 
 I warrant, for this world : a plague a both your houfes. 
 What, a Dog, a Rat, a Moufe,a Cat to fcratch a man to 
 death : a Braggart,a Rogue, a Villaine, that fights by the 
 booke of Arithmeticke, why the deu'le came you be- 
 tweene vs.? I was hurt vnder your arme. 
 
 Rom. I thought all for the beft. 
 
 Mer. Helpe me into fome houfe 'Benuolio, 
 Or I fliall faint:a plague a both your houfes. 
 They haue made wormesmeatofme, 
 
 I
 
 The T rage die of 'Borneo and luliet 
 
 I haue it, and foundly to your Houfes. Sxit. 
 
 Rom. This Gentleman the Princes neere Alie, 
 My very Friend hath got his mortall hurt 
 In my behalfe, my reputation ftain'd 
 With Tibalts (launder, Tybalt that an houre 
 Hath beene my Cozin:6 Sweet Juliet, 
 Thy Beauty hath made me Effeminate, 
 And in my temper foftned Valours fteele. 
 
 Enter 'Benuolio. 
 
 "Ben. O Romeo, Romeo, braue Mercutio's is dead, 
 That Gallantifpirit hath afpir'd the Cloudes, 
 Which too vntimely here did fcorne the earth. 
 
 Rom. This daies blacke Fate, on mo daies doth depend, 
 This but begins, the wo others muft end. 
 Enter Tybalt. 
 
 Ben, Here comes the Furious Tybalt backe againe. 
 
 (: R^om. He gon in triumph, and Mercutio flaine ? 
 Away to heauen refpecliue Lenitie, 
 And fire and Fury, be my conduct now. 
 Now Tybalt take the Villaine backe againe 
 That late thou gau'ft me, for Mercutios fouls 
 Is but a little way aboue our heads, 
 Staying for thine to keepe him companie: 
 Either thou or I, or both, muft goe withlhim. 
 
 Tit. Thou wretched Boy that didft confort him here, 
 Shalt with him hence. 
 
 Rjm. This fhall determine that. 
 
 They fight. Tybalt folks. 
 
 Ben. Romeo,away be gone : 
 The Citizens are vp, and Tybalt flaine, 
 Stand not amaz'd, the Prince will Doome thee death 
 If thou art taken:hence, be gone, away. 
 
 Rom. O! lam Fortunes foole. 
 
 Ben. Why doft thou ftay ? 
 
 Exit Romeo. 
 Enter Citizens. 
 
 Citi. Which way ran he that kild <iMercutio ? 
 Tibalt that Murtherer, which way ran he ? 
 
 Ben. There lies that Tybalt. 
 
 Citi. Vp fir go with me : 
 I charge thee in the Princes names obey. 
 
 Enter Prince , old Montague, Capulet , their 
 Wiues and all. 
 
 Prln. Where are the vile beginners of this Fray f 
 
 Ben. O Noble Prince, I can difcouer all 
 The vnluckie Mannage of this fatall brail: 
 There lies the man flaine by young Romeo, 
 That flew thy kinfman braue Mercutio. 
 
 Cap. Wi. Tybalt,my Cozin ?O my Brothers Child, 
 O Prince, O Cozin, Husband, O the blood is fpild 
 Of my deare kinfman. Prince as thou art true, 
 For bloud of ours, (hed bloud of Mountague, 
 O Cozin, Cozin. 
 
 Prln. 'Benuolio, who began this Fray ? 
 "Ben. Tybalt here flaine, whom Romeo's hand did flay, 
 Romeo that fpoke him faire, bid him bethinke 
 How nice the Quarrell was, and vrg'd withall 
 Your high difpleafure:all this vttered, 
 With gentle breath, calme looke, knees humbly bow'd 
 Could not take truce with the vnruly fpleene 
 Of Tybalts deafe to peace, but that he Tilts 
 With Peircing fteele at bold Mercutio's breaft, 
 Who all as hot, turnes deadly point to point, 
 And with a Martiall fcorne, with one hand beates 
 Cold death afide,and with the other fends 
 It back to Tybalt, whofe dexterity 
 
 663 
 
 Retorts it: Romeo he cries aloud, 
 
 Hold Friends, Friends part,and fwifter then his tongue, 
 
 His aged arme^beats downe their fatall points, 
 
 And twixt them rushes, vnderneath whofe arme, 
 
 An enuious thruft from Tybalt, hit the life 
 
 Of ftout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled. 
 
 But by and by comes backe to Romeo, 
 
 Who had but newly entertained Reuenge, 
 
 And too't they goe like lightning, for ere I 
 
 Could draw to part them, was ftout Tybalt flaine : 
 
 And as he fell, did Romeo turne and flie: 
 
 This is the truth, or let Benuolio die. 
 
 Cap. Wi. He is a kinfman to the Mountague, 
 Affection makes him falfe, he fpeakes not true: 
 Some twenty of them fought in this blacke ftrife, 
 And all thofe twenty could but kill one life. 
 I beg for luftice, which thou Prince niuft giuet 
 Borneo flew Tybalt , Romeo muft not liue. 
 
 Prln. Romeo flew him, he flew Mercutio, 
 Who now the price of his deare blood doth owe. 
 
 Cap. Not Romeo Prince, he was Mercuiios Friend, 
 His fault concludes, but what the law ihould end, 
 The life of Tybalt. 
 
 Trin. And for that offence, 
 Immediately we doe exile him hence : 
 I haue an intereft iniyour hearts proceeding: 
 My bloud for your rude brawles doth lie a bleeding. 
 But He Amerce you with fo ftrong a fine, 
 That you fhall all repent the lofle of mine. 
 It will be deafe to pleading and excufes, 
 Nor teares, nor prayers fhall purchafe our abufes. 
 Therefore vfe none, let Romeo hence in haft, 
 Elfe when he is found, that houre is his laft. 
 Be are hence this body,and attend our will: 
 Mercy not Murders, pardoning thofe that kill. 
 
 Exeunt- 
 Enter lullet alone. 
 
 luL Gallop apace, you fiery footed fteedes, 
 Towards Pheebui lodging, fuch a Wagoner 
 As Phaeton would whip you to the weft, 
 And bring in Cloudie night immediately. 
 Spred thy clofe Curtaine Loue-performing night, 
 That run-awayes eyes may wincke, and Romeo 
 Leape to thefe armes, vntalkt of and vnfeerve, 
 Louers can fee to doe their Amorous rights, 
 And by their owne Beauties: or if Loue be blind, 
 It beft agrees with night: come ciuill night, 
 Thou fober futed Matron all in blacke, 
 And learne me how to loofe a winning match, 
 Plaid for a paire of ftainleffe Maidenhoods, 
 Hood my vnman'd blood bayting in my Cheekes, 
 With thy Blacke mantle, till ftrange Loue grow bold, 
 Thinke true Loue a<led fimple modeftie : 
 Come night,come Romeo, come thou day in night, 
 For thou wilt lie vpon the wings of night 
 Whiter then new Snow vpon a Rauens backe : 
 Come gentle night, come louing blackebrow'd night. 
 Giue me my Romeo, and when I fhall die, 
 Take him and cut him out in- little ftarres, 
 And he will make the Face of heauen fo fine, 
 That all the world will be in Loue with night, 
 And pay no worfhip to the Garifh Sun. 
 O I haue bought the Manfion of a Loue, 
 Butnot pofTeft it, and though I am fold, 
 Not yet enioy'd, fo tedious is this day, 
 As is the night before fomeFeftiuall,
 
 66 
 
 The Tragedie o 
 
 and Juliet. 
 
 *O an impatient child that hath new robes 
 
 And may not weare them,O here comes my Nurfe : 
 
 Enter Nurje with cords. 
 
 And fhe brings ne\ves and euery tongue that fpeaks 
 But Romeos, name, fpeakes heauenly eloquence;: 
 Now Nurfe, what newes?what haft thou there ? 
 The Cords that Romeo bid thee fetch ? 
 
 Nur. 1, 1, the Cords. 
 
 lull. Ay me, what newes ? 
 Why doft thou wring thy hands. 
 
 Nur. A welady, hee's dead, hee's dead, 
 We are vndone Lady, we are vndone. 
 Alacke the day,hee's gone,hee's kil'd, he's dead. 
 
 lul. Can heauen be fo enuious? 
 
 Nur. Romeo can, 
 
 Though heauen cannot. O Romeo, Romeo, 
 Who euer would haue thought it Romeo. 
 
 luli. What diuell art thou, 
 That doft torment me thus ? 
 This torture fhould be roar'd in difmall hell, 
 Hath Romeo flaine himfelfe ? fay thou but I, 
 And that bare vowell 1 fhall poyfon more 
 Then the death-darting eye of Cockatrice, 
 I am not I, if there be fuch an I. 
 Or thofe eyes fhot,that makes thee anfwere I : 
 If he be flaine fay I, or if not, no. 
 Briefe, founds, determine of my weale or wo. 
 
 Nur. I faw the wound, I faw it with mine eyes, 
 God faue the marke,here on his manly breft, 
 A pitteous Coarfe,a bloody piteous Coarfe : 
 Pale, pale as afhes,all bedawb'd in blood, 
 All in gore blood, I founded at the fight- 
 
 lul. O breake my heart, 
 Poore Banckrout breake at once, 
 To prifon eyes, nere looke on libertie. 
 Vile earth to earth refigne,end motion here, 
 And thou and Romeo preffe on heauie beere. 
 
 Nur. O Tjbalt,Tybalt,the beft Friend J had: 
 O curteous Tybalt honeft Gentleman, 
 That euer I fhould liue to fee thee dead. 
 
 lul. What ftorme is this that blowes fo contrarie ? 
 Is Borneo flaughtred ? and is Tybalt dead ? 
 My deareft Cozen, and my dearer Lord: 
 Then dreadfull Trumpet found the general! doome, 
 For who is liuing,if thofe two are gone } 
 
 Nur. Tybalt is gone, and Romeo banifhed, 
 Romeo that kil'd him, he is banifhed. 
 
 lul. O God ! 
 
 Did tym'os hand flied Tybalts blood 
 It did, it did, alas the day, it did. 
 
 Nur. O Serpent heart,hid with a flowring face. 
 lul. Did euer Dragon keepe fo faire a Caue ? 
 Beautifull Tyrant, fiend Angeiicall : 
 Rauenous Doue-feather'd Rauen, 
 Woluifh-rauening Lambe, 
 Difpifed fubftance of Diuineft fhow : 
 luft oppofite to what thou iuftly feem'ft, 
 A dimne Saint,an Honourable Villaine : 
 O Nature ! what had'ft thou to doe in hell, 
 When thou did'ft bower the fpirit of a fiend 
 In mortall paradife of fuch fweet flefh ? 
 Was euer booke containing fuch vile matter 
 So fairely bound ? O that deceit fhould dwell 
 In fuch a gorgeous Pallace. 
 
 Nur. There's no truft, no faith, no honeftie in men, 
 All periur'd, all forfworne,all naught,all diffemblers, 
 
 Ah where's my man ? giue me fome Aqua-vitas ? 
 Thefe griefes, thefe woes, thefe forrowes make me old : 
 Shame come to Romeo. 
 
 lul. Blifter'd be thy tongue 
 For fuch a wifh, he was not borne to fhame : 
 Vpon his brow fhame is afham'd to fit ; 
 For 'tis a throane where Honour may be Crown'd 
 Sole Monarch of the vniuerfall earth: 
 O what a beaft was I to chide him f 
 
 Nur. Will you fpeake well of him, 
 That kil'd your Cozen ? 
 
 lul. Shall I fpeake ill of him that is my husband ? 
 Ah poore my Lord, what tongue mail fmooth thy name, 
 When I thy three houres wife haue mangled it. 
 But wherefore Villaine did'ft thou kill my Cozin ? 
 That Villaine Cozin would haue kil'd my husband : 
 Backe foolifh teares, backe to your natiue fpring, 
 Your tributarie drops belong to woe, 
 Which you miftaking offer vp to ioy : 
 My husband Hues that Tibalt would haue flaine, 
 And Tibalt dead that would haue flaine my husband : 
 All this is comfort, wherefore weepe 1 then ? 
 Some words there was worfer then Tybalts death 
 That murdered me, I would forget it feine, 
 But oh, it prefles to my memory, 
 Like damned guilty deedes to finners minds, 
 Tybalt is dead and Romeo banifhed : 
 That banifhed, that one word banifhed, 
 Hath flaine ten thoufand Tibalts : Tibalts death 
 Was woe inough if it had ended there: 
 Or if fower woe delights in fellowfhip, 
 And needly will be rankt with other griefes, 
 Why followed not when fhe faid Tibalts dead, 
 Thy Father or thy Mother, nay or both, 
 Which moderne lamentation might haue mou'd. 
 But which a rere-ward following Tybalts death 
 Romeo is banifhed to fpeake that word, 
 Is Father, Mother, Tybalt, Romeo, luliet, 
 All flaine, all dead: Romeo is banifhed, 
 There is no end, no limit, meafure, bound, 
 In that words death, no words can that woe found. 
 Where is my Father and my Mother Nurfe t 
 
 Nur. Weeping and wailing ouer Tybalts Coarfe, 
 Will you go to them ? I will bring you thither. 
 
 lu. Wafh they his wounds with tears:mine flial be fpent 
 When theirs are drie for Romeo" s banifhment. 
 Take vp thofe Cordes, poore ropes you are beguil'd, 
 Both you and I for Romeo is exild: 
 He made you for ai high-way to my bed, 
 But I a Maid, die Maiden widowed. 
 Come Cord, come Nurfe, He to my wedding bed, 
 And death not Romeo, take my Maiden head. 
 Nur. Hie to your Chamber, He find 'fymeo 
 To comfort you, I wot well where he is : 
 Harke ye your Romeo will be heere at night, 
 He to him, he is hid at Lawrence Cell. 
 
 lul. O find him, giue this Ring to my true Knight, 
 And bid him come, to take his Lift farewell. 
 
 Exit. 
 Enter Frier and Romeo. 
 
 Fri. Romeo come forth, 
 Come forth thou fearfull man, 
 Affliction is enamor'd of thy parts : 
 And thou art wedded to calamitie. 
 
 Rom. Father what newes? 
 
 What
 
 'The Tr age die of Borneo and luliet. 
 
 What is the Princes Doome ? 
 
 What forrow craues acquaintance at my hand, 
 
 That I yet know not? 
 
 Fri. Too familiar 
 
 Is my deare Sonne with fuch fowre Company : 
 I bring thee tydings of the Princes Doome. 
 
 Rom. What lefle then Doomefday, 
 Is the Princes Doome ? 
 
 Fri. A gentler iudgementvaniflit from his lips, 
 Not bodies death, but bodies banifliment. 
 
 Rom. Ha, banifliment?be mercifull,fay death : 
 For exile hath more terror in his looke, 
 Much more then death: do not fay banifhment. 
 
 Fri. Here from Verona art thou bani/hed : 
 Be patient,for the world is broad and wide. 
 
 Rom. There is no world without "LWwwwalles, 
 But Purgatorie,Torture , hell it felfe : 
 Hence banifhed,is baniflit from the world, 
 And worlds exile is death. Then baniflied, 
 Is death, miftearm'd, calling death baniftied, 
 Thou cut'ft my head off with a golden Axe, 
 And fmileft vpon the ftroke that murders me. 
 
 Fri. O deadly fin,O rude vnthankefulnefle ! 
 Thy fait our Law calles death, but the kind Prince 
 Taking thy part,hath ruflit afide the Law, 
 And turn'd that, blackeword death, to banifliment. 
 This is deare mercy,and thcu feeft it not. 
 
 Rom. *Tis Torture and not mercy, heauen is here 
 Where Juliet liues,and euery Cat and Dog, 
 And little Moufe, euery vnworthy thing 
 Liue here in Heauen and may looke on her, 
 But Romeo may not.More Validitie, 
 More Honourable ftate, more Courtftiip Hues 
 In carrion Flies, then I(pmeo:they may feaze 
 On the white wonder of deare Juliets hand, 
 And fteale immortall blefiing from her lips, 
 Who euen in pure and veftall modeftie 
 Still blufh,as thinking their owne kifies fin. 
 This may Flies doe,when I from this muft flic, 
 And faift thou yet,that exile is not death ? 
 But "Borneo may not,hee is baniflied. 
 Had'ft thou no poyfon mixt,no fliarpe ground knife, 
 No fudden meane of death, though nere fo meane, 
 But baniflied to kill me? Baniflied? 
 O Frier,the damned vfe that word in hell : 
 Howlings attends it,how haft thou the hart 
 Being a Diuine, a Ghoftly Confeflbr, 
 A Sin-Abfoluer,and my Friend profeft : 
 To mangle me with that word, baniflied ? 
 
 Fri. Then fond Mad man,heare mefpeake. 
 
 cRom. O thou wilt fpeake againe of banifliment. 
 
 Fri. He giue thee Armour to keepe off that word, 
 Aduerfities fweete milke,Philofophie, 
 To comfort thee, though thou art baniflied. 
 
 Rom. Yet baniflied?hang vp Philofophie: 
 Vnlefle Philofohpie can make a luliet, 
 Difplanta Towne,reuerfe a Princes Doome, 
 It helpes not,it preuailes not,talke no more. 
 
 Fri. O then I fee, that Mad men haue no eares. 
 
 Rom. How fliould they, 
 When wifemen haue no eyes ? 
 
 Fri. Let me difpaire with thee of thy eftate, 
 
 Rom. Thou can'fl* not fpeake of that y doft not feele, 
 Wert thou as young as luliet my Loue: 
 An houre but married, Tybalt murdered, 
 Doting like me, and like me baniflied, 
 
 665 
 
 Then mighteft thou fpeake, 
 Then mighteft thou teare thy hayre, 
 And fall vpon the ground as I doe now, 
 Taking the meafure of an vnmade graue. 
 Enter Nurfe^and ty;ocl$es. 
 
 Frier. Arife one knockes, 
 Good Romeo hide thy felfe. 
 
 Rom. Not I, 
 
 Vnlefle the breath of Hartficke groanes 
 Mift-like infold me from the fearch of eyes. 
 
 Knocke 
 
 Fri. Harke how they knocke : 
 (Who's there ) Romeo arife, 
 Thou wilt be taken, ftay a while, ftand vp : 
 
 Knocke. 
 
 Run to my ftudy:by and by .Gods will 
 What fimplenefle is this: I come, I come. 
 
 Knockf. 
 
 Who knocks fo hard ? 
 Whence come you ? what's your will ? 
 Enter Nurfe. 
 
 Nur. Let me come in, 
 And you fliall know my errand : 
 I come from Lady luliet. 
 
 Fri. Welcome then. 
 
 Nur. O holy Frier, O tell me holy Frier, 
 Where's my Ladies LordPwhere's Romeo t 
 
 Fri. There on the ground, 
 With his owne teares made drunke. 
 
 Nur. O he is euen in my MiftrefTe cafe, 
 luft in her cafe.O wofull fimpathy : 
 Pittious predicament, euen fo lies flie, 
 Blubbring and weeping, weeping and blubbring, 
 Stand vp, ftand vp,ftand and you be a man, 
 For Juliets fake,for her fake rife and ftand : 
 Why fliould you fall into fo deepe an O. 
 
 Rom. Nurfe. 
 
 Nur. Ah fir,ah fir,deaths the end of all. 
 
 Rom. Speak'ft thou of 7w//?how is it with her? 
 Doth not fhe thinke me an old Murtherer, 
 Now I haue ftain'd the Childhood of our ioy, 
 With blood remoued,but little from her owne ? 
 Where is flie ? and how doth flie ? and whar f.iyes 
 My conceal'd Lady to our conceal'd Loue ? 
 
 Nur. Oh flie fayes nothing fir, but weeps and weeps, 
 And now fals on her bed,and then ftarts vp, 
 And Tybalt calls,and then on Romeo cries, 
 And then downe falls againe. 
 
 Ro.As if that name fliot from the dead leuell of a Gun, 
 Did murder her, as that names curfed hand 
 Murdred her kinfman.Oh tell me Frier,tell me, 
 In what vile part of this Anatomic 
 Doth my name lodge/ Tell me,that I mayfacke 
 The hatefull Manfion. 
 
 Fri. Hold thy defperate hand : 
 Art thou a man ? thy forme cries out thou art : 
 Thy teares are womanifli,thy wild ails denote 
 The vnreafonable Furie of a beaft. 
 Vnfeemely woman ,in a feeming man, 
 And ill befeeming beaft in feeming both, 
 Thou haft amaz'd me. By my holy order, 
 I thought thy difpofition better temper'd. 
 Haft thou flaine Tybalt ? wilt thou flay thy felfe ? 
 And flay thy Lady , that in thy life lies, 
 By doing damned hate vpon thy felfe? 
 Why rayl'ft thou on thy birth ? the heauen and earth ? 
 
 Si nee
 
 68 
 
 The Tragedie of 'Borneo and Juliet. 
 
 Since birth,and heauen and earth, all three do meete 
 
 In thee at once, which thou at once*would'ft loofe. 
 
 Fie,fie,thou fham'ft thy fhape,thy loue,thy wit, 
 
 Which like a Vfurer abound'ft in all : 
 
 And vfeft none in that true vfe indeed, 
 
 Which mould bedecke thy fliape,thy loue,thy wit: 
 
 Thy Noble ihape,is but a forme of waxe, 
 
 Digrefiing from the Valour of a man, 
 
 Thy deare Loue fworne but hollow periurie, 
 
 Killing that Loue which thou haft vow'd to cherifli. 
 
 Thy wit , that Ornament , to fhape and Loue, 
 
 Mifhapen in the conduct of them both : 
 
 Like powder in a skilleiTe Souldiers flaske, 
 
 Is fet a fire by thine owne ignorance, 
 
 And thou difmembred with thine owne defence. 
 
 What,rowfe thee man, thy Juliet is aliue, 
 
 For whofe deare fake thou waft but lately dead. 
 
 There art thou happy. Tybalt would kill thee, 
 
 But thou flew' ft Tybalt, there art thou happie. 
 
 The law that threatned death became thy Friend, 
 
 And turn'ditto exile, there art thou happy. 
 
 A packe or blefiing light vpon thy backe, 
 
 Happinefle Courts thee in her beft array, 
 
 But like a mifhaped and fallen wench, 
 
 Thou putteft vp thy Fortune and thy Loue : 
 
 Take heed , take heed , for fuch die miferable. 
 
 Goe get thee to thy Loue as was decreed, 
 
 Afcend her Chamber, hence and comfort her : 
 
 But looke thou ftay not till the watch be fet, 
 
 For then thou canft not pafTe to Mantua, 
 
 Where thou flialt Hue till we can finde a time 
 
 To blaze your marriage, reconcile your Friends, 
 
 Beg pardon of thy Prince, and call thee backe, 
 
 With twenty hundred thoufand times more ioy 
 
 Then thou went'ft forth in lamentation. 
 
 Goe before Nurfe, commend me to thy Lady, 
 
 And bid her haften all the houfe to bed, 
 
 Which heauy forrow makes them apt vnto. 
 
 Romeo is comming. 
 
 Nur. O Lord, I could haue ftaid here all night, 
 To heare good counfelhoh what learning is ! 
 My Lord He tell my Lady you will come. 
 
 Rom. Do fo, and bid my Sweete prepare to chide. 
 
 Nur. Heere fir, a Ring fhe bid me giue you fir : 
 Hie you, make haft, for it growes very late. 
 
 Rom. How well my comfort is reuiu'd by this. 
 
 Fri. Go hence, 
 
 Goodnight, and here ftands all your ftate : 
 Either be gone before the watch be fet, 
 Or by the breakeof day difguis'd from hence, 
 Soiourne in Mantua, lie find out your man, 
 And he ihall fignifie from time to time, 
 Euery good hap to you, that chaunces heere : 
 Giue me thy hand, 'tis late, farewell, goodnight. 
 
 Rom. But that a ioy pad ioy,calls out on me, 
 It were a griefe,fo briefe to part with thee : 
 Farewell. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter old Capulet ,bu Wife and Paris. 
 
 Cap. Things haue falne out fir fo vnluckily ;> 
 That we haue had no time to moue our Daughter : 
 Looke you, me Lou'd her kinfman Tybalt dearely, 
 And fo did I. Well, we were borne to die. 
 'Tis very late, flie'l not come downe to night : 
 I promife you, but for your company, 
 
 I would haue bin a bed an houre ago. 
 
 Par. Thefe times of wo, affbord no times to wooe: 
 Madam goodnight, commend me to your Daughter. 
 
 Lady. I will, and know her mind early to morrow, 
 To night, ihe is mewed vp to her heauinefle. 
 
 Cap. Sir Paris, I will make a defperate tender 
 Of my Childes loue : I thinke me will be rul'd 
 In all refpecls by me : nay more, I doubt it not. 
 Wife, go you to her ere you go to bed, 
 Acquaint her here,of my Sonne Tarts Loue, 
 And bid her,marke you me,on Wendfday next, 
 But foft, what day is this ? 
 
 Par. Monday my Lord. 
 
 Cap. Monday, ha ha: well Wendfday is too foone, 
 A Thurfday let it bera Thurfday tell her, 
 She mall be married to this Noble Earle : 
 Will you be ready ? do you like this haft / 
 Weele keepe no great adoe,a Friend or two, 
 For harke you,Tybalt being flaine fo late, 
 It may be thought we held him carelefly, 
 Being our kinfman,if we reuell much : 
 Therefore weele haue fome halfe a dozen Friends, 
 And there an end. But what fay you to Thurfday / 
 
 Para. My Lord, 
 I would that Thurfday were to morrow. 
 
 Cap. Well, get you gone, a Thurfday, be it then : 
 Go you to luliet ere you go to bed, 
 Prepare her wife, againft this wedding day. 
 Farewell my Lord, light to my Chamber hoa, 
 Afore me, it is fo late, that we may call ir early by and by, 
 Goodnight. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Romeo and luliet aloft. 
 
 lul. Wilt thou be gone ? It is not yet neere day J 
 It was the Nightingale, and not the Larke, 
 Thatpier'ft the fearefull hollow of thine eare, 
 Nightly fhe fings on yond Pomgranet tree, 
 Beleeue me Loue,it was the Nightingale. 
 
 Rom. It was the Larke the Herauld of the Morne: 
 No Nightingale-.looke Loue what enuious ftreakes 
 Do lace the feuering Cloudes in yonder Eaft : 
 Nights Candles are burnt out, and locond day 
 Stands tipto on the miftie Mountaines tops, 
 I muft be gone and liue, or ftay and die. 
 
 lul. Yond light is not daylight,! know it I : 
 It is fome Meteor that the Sun exhales, 
 To be to thee this night a Torch-bearer, 
 And light thee on thy way to Mantua. 
 Therefore ftay yet, thou need'ft not to be gone, 
 
 Rom. Let me be tane, let me be put to death, 
 I am content,fo thou wilt haue it fo. 
 lie fay yon gray is not the mornings eye,! 
 'Tis but the pale reflexe of Cintbias brow. 
 Nor that is not Larke whofe noates do beate 
 The vaulty heauen fo high aboue our heads, 
 I haue more care to ftay,then will to go : 
 Come death and welcome, luliet wills it fo. 
 How ift my foule,lets talke,it is not day. 
 
 lull. It is.it is, hie hence be gone away : 
 It is the Larke that fings fo out of tune, 
 Straining harfh Difcords,and vnpleafing Sharpes. 
 Some fay the Larke makes fweete Difcifion; 
 This doth not fo:for /he diuideth vs. 
 Some fay, the Larke and loathed Toad change eyes, 
 O now I would they had chang'd voyces too : 
 
 Since 
 
 666~
 
 The Tr age die of c ^omeo and Juliet. 
 
 69 
 
 Since arme from arme that voyce doth vs affray, 
 Hunting thee hence, with Hunt f-vpto the day, 
 
 now be gone, more light and itli ght growes. 
 
 Rom. More light & light, more darke & darke our woes. 
 
 Enter Madam and Nurfe. 
 Nur. Madam. 
 lul. Nurfe. 
 
 JW.Your Lady Mother is comming to your chamber, 
 The day is broke, be wary,looke about. 
 
 lul. Then window let day in, and let life out. 
 Rom. Farewell, farewell, one kifle and He defcend. 
 lul. Art thou gone fof Loue,Lord,ay Husband, Friend, 
 
 1 muft heare from thee euery day in the houre, 
 For in a minute there are many dayes, 
 
 by this count I /hall be much in yeares, 
 Ere I againe behold my Romeo. 
 
 Rom. Farewell : 
 
 1 will omit no oportunitie, 
 
 That may conuey my greetings Loue, to thee. 
 
 lul. O thinkeft thou we fliall euer meet againe? 
 
 Rom. I doubt it not, and all thefe woes fliall ferue 
 For fweet difcourfes in our time to come. 
 
 lullet. O God ! I haue an ill Diuining foule, 
 Me thinkes I fee thee now, thou art fo lowe, 
 As one dead in the bottome of a Tombe, 
 Either my eye-fight failes, or thou look'ft pale. 
 
 Rom. And truft me Loue, in my eye fo do you : 
 Drie forrow drinkes our blood. Adue, adue. Exit. 
 
 lul. O Fortune, Fortune, all men call thee fickle, 
 If thou art fickle, what doit thou with him 
 That is renown'd for faith? be fickle Fortune: 
 For then I hope thou wilt not keepe him long, 
 But fend him backe. 
 
 Enter Mother. 
 
 Lad. Ho Daughter, are you vp ? 
 
 lul: Who ift that calls ? Is it my Lady Mother. 
 Is flie not downe fo late, or vp fo early ? 
 What vnaccuftom'd caufe procures her hither ? 
 
 Lad. Why how now luliet? 
 
 lul. Madam I am not well. 
 
 Lad. Euermore weeping for your Cozins death ? 
 What wilt thou warn him from his graue with teares ? 
 And if thou could'ft, thou could'ft not make him Hue : 
 Therefore haue done,fome griefe fliewes much of Loue, 
 But much of griefe, /he wes ftill fome want of wit. 
 
 lul. Yet let me weepe,for fuch a feeling lofle. 
 
 Lad. So fliall you feele the lofle, but not the Friend 
 Which you weepe for. 
 
 lul. Feeling fo the lofle, 
 I cannot chufe but euer weepe the Friend. 
 
 La. Well Girle, thou weep'ft not fo much for his death, 
 As that the Villaine liues which flaughter'd him. 
 
 lul. What Villaine, Madam? 
 
 Lad. That fame Villaine Romeo. 
 
 lul. Villaine and he, be many Miles aflunder : 
 God pardon, I doe with all my heart: 
 And yet no man like he, doth grieue my heart. 
 
 Lad. That is becaufe the Traitor liues. 
 
 lul. I Madam from the reach of thefe my hands : 
 Would none but I might venge my Cozins death. 
 
 Lad. We will haue vengeance for it, feare thou not. 
 Then weepe no more, lie fend to one in Mantua, 
 Where that fame baniflit Run-agate doth liue, 
 Shall giue him fuch an vnaccuftom'd dram, 
 That he fliall foone keepe Tybalt company : 
 And then I hope thou wilt be fatisfied. 
 
 667 
 
 lul. Indeed I neuer fliall be fatisfied 
 With "Borneo, till I behold him. Dead 
 Is my poore heart fo for a kinfman vext : 
 Madam if you could find out but a man 
 To beare a poyfon, I would temper it ; 
 That Romeo fliould vpon receit thereof, 
 Soone fleepe in quiet. O how my heart abhors 
 To heare him nam'd,and cannot come to him, 
 To wreake the Loue I bore my Cozin, 
 Vpon his body that hath flaughter'd him. 
 
 Mo. Find thou the meanes, and He find fuch a man. 
 But now He tell thee ioyfull tidings Gyrle. 
 
 lul. And ioy comes well, in fuch a needy time, 
 What are they, befeech your Ladyfliip ? 
 
 <Jtfo. Well, well, thou haft a carefull Father Child? 
 One who to put thee from thy heauinefle, 
 Hath forted out a fudden day of ioy, 
 That thou expects not, nor I lookt not for. 
 
 lul. Madam in happy time, what day is this? 
 
 Mo. Marry my Child, early next Thurfday morne, 
 The gallant, young, and Noble Gentleman, 
 The Countie Paris tt. Saint Peters Church, 
 Shall happily make thee a ioyfull Bride. 
 
 lul. Now by Saint Peters Church, and Peter too, 
 He fliall not make me there a ioyfull Bride. 
 I wonder at this haft, that I muft wed 
 Ere he that fliould be Husband comes to woe: 
 I pray you tell my Lord and Father Madam, 
 I will not marrie yet, and when I doe, I fweare 
 It lhallbe Romeo, whom you know I hate 
 Rather then Paris. Thefe are newes indeed. 
 
 Mo. Here comes your Father, tell him fo your felfe, 
 And fee how he will take it at your hands. 
 
 Enter Capulet and Nurfe. 
 
 Cap. When the Sun fets,the earth doth drizzle daew 
 But for the Sunfet of my Brothers Sonne, 
 It raines downright. 
 
 How now/ A Conduit Gyrle, what ftill in teares? 
 Euermore fliowring in one little body ? 
 Thou counterfaits a Barke,a Sea, a Wind : 
 For ftill thy eyes, which I may call the Sea, 
 Do ebbe and flow with teares, the Barke thy body is 
 Say ling in this fait floud, the windes thy fighes, 
 Who raging with the teares and they with them, 
 Without a fudden calme will ouer fet 
 Thy temp eft tofled body.How now wife? 
 Haue you deliuered to her our decree ? 
 
 Lady. I fir ; 
 
 But flie will none, (he giues you thankes, 
 I would the foole were married to her graue. 
 
 Cap. Soft, take me with you, take me with you wife, 
 How, will flie none? doth flie not giue vs thanks? 
 Is flie not proud? doth flie not count her bleft, 
 Vnworthy as flie is, that we haue wrought 
 So worthy a Gentleman, to be her Bridegroom e 
 
 lul. Not proud you haue, 
 But thankfull that you haue : 
 Proud can I neuer be of what I haue, 
 But thankfull euen for hate, that is meant Loue. 
 
 Cap. How now ? 
 
 How now Chopt Logicke ? what is this ? 
 Proud, and I thanke you: and I thanke you not. 
 Thanke me no thankings, nor proud me no prouds, 
 But fettle your fine ioints'gainft Thurfday next, 
 
 To
 
 The Tragedie of 'Borneo and 'Juliet. 
 
 To go with Paris to Saint Peters Church : 
 
 Or I will drag thee, on a Hurdle thither. 
 
 Out you greene ficknefle carrion, out you baggage, 
 
 You tallow face. 
 
 Lady. Fie, fie, what are you mad ? 
 
 lul. Good Father, I befeech you on my knees 
 Heare me with patience, but to fpeake a word. 
 
 Fa. Hang thee young baggage, difobedient wretch, 
 I tell thee what, get thee to Church a Thurfday, 
 Or neuer after looke me in the face. 
 Speakeinot, reply not, do not anfwere me. 
 My fingers itch, wife : we fcarce thought vs bleft, 
 That God had lent vs but this onely Child, 
 But now I fee this one is one too much, 
 And that we haue a curfe in hauing her : 
 Out on her Hilding. 
 
 Nur. God in heauen blefle her, 
 You are too blame my Lord to rate her fo. 
 
 Fa. And why my Lady wifedome?hold your tongue, 
 Good Prudence, (matter with your gofilp,go. 
 
 Nur. I fpeake no treafon, 
 Father, O Godigoden, 
 May not one fpeake ? 
 
 Fa. Peace you mumbling foole, 
 Vtter your grauitie ore a Goflips bowles 
 For here we need it not. 
 
 La. You are too hot. 
 
 Fa. Gods bread, it makes me mad: 
 Day, night, houre, ride, time, worke, play, 
 Alone in companie, ftill my care hath bin 
 To haue her matcht,and hauing now prouided 
 A Gentleman of Noble Parentage, 
 Of faire Demeanes, Youthfull, and Nobly Allied, 
 Stuft as they fay with Honourable parts, 
 Proportion'd as ones thought would wi/h a man, 
 And then to haue a wretched puling foole, 
 A whining mammet,in her Fortunes tender, 
 To anfwer,Ile not wed, I cannot Loue : 
 I am too young, I pray you pardon me. 
 But, and you will not wed, He pardon you. 
 Graze where you will, you fliall not houfe with me : 
 Looke too't, thinke on't, I do not vfe to ieft. 
 Thurfday is neere, lay hand on heart,aduife, 
 And you be mine, He giue you to my Friend : 
 And you be not,hang, beg,ftraue,die in the ftreets, 
 For by my foule, He nere acknowledge thee, 
 Nor what is mine lhall neuer do thee good : 
 Truft too't, bethinke you, He not be forfworne Exit. 
 
 lull. Is there no pittie fitting in the Cloudes, 
 That fees into the bottome of my griefe ? 
 O fweet my Mother caft me not away, 
 Delay this marriage, for a month, a weeke, 
 Or if you do not, make the Bridal) bed 
 In that dim Monument where Tybalt lies. 
 
 Mo. Talke not to me, for He not fpeake a word, 
 Do as thou wilt, for I haue done with thee. Exit. 
 
 lul. O God ! 
 
 O Nurfe,how fhall this be preuented ? 
 My Husband is on earth, my faith in heauen, 
 How fliall that faith returne againe to earth, 
 Vnlefle that Husband fend it me from heaue.i, 
 By leauing earth PComfortme, counfaile me : 
 Hlacke,alacke, that heauen fliould pradYife ftratagems 
 Vpon fo foft a fubiedl as my felfe. 
 What faift thou?haft thou not a word of ioy ? 
 Some comfort Nurfe. 
 
 Nur. Faith here it is, 
 
 Romeo is baniflied,and all the world to nothing, 
 That he dares nere come backe to challenge you : 
 Or if he do,it needs muft be by ftealth. 
 Then fince the cafe fo ftands as now it doth, 
 I thinke it beft you married with the Countie, 
 
 hee's a Louely Gentleman : 
 
 Romeos a difli-clout to him : an Eagle Madam 
 Hath not fo|greene,fo quicke, fo faire an eye 
 As Paris hath, beflirow my very heart, 
 
 1 thinke you are happy in this fecond match, 
 For it excels your firft:or if it did not, 
 Your firft is dead, or 'twere as good he were, 
 As liuing here and you no vfe of him. 
 
 lul. Speakeft thou from thy heart ? 
 
 Nur. And from my foule too, 
 Or elfe beflirew them both. 
 
 lul. Amen. 
 
 Nur. What? 
 
 lul. Well, thou haft comforted me marue'lous much, 
 Go|in,and tell my Lady I am gone, 
 Hauing difpleaf'd my Father, to Lawrence Cell, 
 To make confeflion,and to be abfolu'd. 
 
 Nur. Marrie I will,and this is wifely done. 
 
 lul. Auncient damnation, O moft wicked fiend ' 
 It is more fin to wifli me thus forfworne, 
 Or to difpraife my Lord with that fame tongue 
 Which flie hath praif'd him with aboue compare, 
 So many thoufand times? Go Counfellor, 
 Thou and my bofome henchforth fhall be twaine : 
 He to the Frier to know his remedie, 
 If all elfe faile, my felfe haue power to die. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Frier and Countie Paris. 
 
 Fri. On Thurfday fir?the time is very fliort. 
 
 Par. My Father Capulet will haue it fo, 
 And I am nothing flow to flack his haft. 
 
 Fri. You fay you do not know the Ladies mind ? 
 Vneuen is the courfe, I like it not. 
 
 Pa. Immoderately flie weepes for Tybalts death, 
 And therfore haue I little talke of Loue, 
 For Veniu fmiles not in a houfe of teares. 
 Now fir, her Father counts it dangerous 
 That flie doth giue her forrow fo much fway : 
 And in his wifedome, hafts our marriage, 
 To ftop the inundation of her teares, 
 Which too much minded by her felfe alone, 
 May be put from her by focietie. 
 Now doe you know the reafon of this haft ? 
 
 Fri. I would I knew not why it fhould be flow'd. 
 Looke fir, here comes the Lady towards my Cell. 
 Enter luliet. 
 
 Par. Happily met, my Lady and my wife. 
 
 lul. That may be fir, when I may be a wife. 
 
 Par. That may be, muft be Loue, on Thurfday next. 
 
 lul. What muft be fliall be. 
 
 Fri. That's a certaine text. 
 
 far. Come you to make confeflion to this Father? 
 
 lul. To anfwere that, I fliould confefle to you. 
 
 Par. Do not denie to him, that you Loue me. 
 
 lul. I will confefle to you that I Loue him. 
 
 Par. So will ye, I am fure that you Loue me. 
 
 lul. If I do fo, it will be of more price, 
 Benig fpoke behind your backe, then to your race. 
 
 Par. Poore foule, thy face is much abuf'd with teares. 
 
 luli. The 
 
 668
 
 "The 'Tragedie of 'Borneo and Juliet. 
 
 7 1 
 
 lul. The teares haue got fmall vi&orie by that : 
 For it was bad inough before their fpight. 
 
 Pa. Thou wrong'ft it more then teares with that report. 
 
 lul. That is no flaunder fir, which is a truth, 
 And what I fpake, I fpake it to thy face. 
 
 Par. Thyface is mine, and thou haft /hundred it. 
 
 lul. It may be fo, for it is not mine owne. 
 Are you at leifure,Holy Father now, 
 Or fhall I come to you at euening Mafic ? 
 
 Fri. My leifure ferues me penfiue daughter now. 
 My Lord you muft intreat the time alone. 
 
 Par. Godfheild : I fhould difturbe Deuotion, 
 luliet, on Thursday early will I rowfe yee, 
 Till then adue,and keepethis holy kifTe. Exit Paris. 
 
 lul. O fhut the doore, and when thou haft done fo, 
 Come weepe with me, paft hope, paft care, paft helpe. 
 
 Fri. O luliet, I alreadie know thy griefe, 
 It ftreames me paft the compafle of my wits : 
 I heare thou muft and nothing may prorogue it, 
 On Thurfday next be married to this Countie. 
 
 lul. Tell me not Frier that thou heareft of this, 
 VnlefTe thou tell meihow I may preuent it : 
 If in thy wifedome, thou canft glue no helpe, 
 Do thou but call my refolution wife, 
 And with' his knife. He helpe it prefently. 
 God ioyn'd my heart, and .R&wj,thou our hands, 
 And ere this hand by thee to Romeo feal'd : 
 Shall be the Labell to another Deede, 
 Or my true heart with trecherous reuolt, 
 Turne to another, this fhall flay them both : 
 Therefore out of thy long expetien'ft time, 
 Giue me fome prefent counfell, or behold. 
 Twixt'my extreames and me, this bloody knife 
 Shall play the vmpeere, arbitrating that, 
 Which the commiffi on of thy yeares and art, 
 Could to no iflue of true honour bring : 
 Be not fo long to fpeak, I long to die, 
 If what thou fpeak'ft, fpeake not of remedy. 
 
 Fri. Hold Daughter, I doe fpie a kind of hope, 
 Which craues as defperate an execution, 
 As that is defperate which we would preuent. 
 If,rather then to marrie Countie Parts 
 Thou haft the ftrength of will to ftay thy felfe, 
 Then is it likely thou wilt vndertake 
 A thinglike death to chide away this fliame, 
 That coap'ft with death himfelfe,to fcape fro it : 
 And if thou dar'ft, He giue thee remedie. 
 
 lul. Oh bid meileape, rather then marrie Paris , 
 From of the Battlements of any Tower, 
 Or walke in theeuifh waies,or bid me lurke 
 Where Serpents are : chaine me with roaring Beares 
 Or hide me nightly in a Charnell houfe, 
 Orecouered quite with dead mens ratling bones, 
 With reckie fhankesand yellow chappels fculls : 
 Or bid me go into a new made graue, 
 And hide me with a dead man in his graue , 
 Things that to heare them told, haue made me tremble, 
 And I will doe it without feare or doubt, 
 To liue an vnftained wife to my fweet Loue. 
 
 Fri. Hold then: goe home, be merrie,,giue confent, 
 To marrie P aru : wenfday is to morrow, 
 To morrow night looke that thou lie alone, 
 Let not thy Nurfe lie with thee in thy Chamber: 
 Take thou this Violl being then in bed, 
 And this diftilling liquor drinke thou off, 
 When prefently through all thy veines fliall run, 
 
 669 
 
 A cold and drowfie humour : for no pulfe 
 
 Shall keepe his natiue progrefTe, but furceafe: 
 
 No warmth, no breath ftiall teftifie thou liueft, 
 
 The Rofes in thy lips and cheekes fhall fade 
 
 To many aflies, the eyes windowes fall 
 
 Like death when he fhut vp the day of life : 
 
 Each part depriu'd of fupple gouernment, 
 
 Shall ftiffe and ftarke,and cold appeare like death, 
 
 And in this borrowed likenefle of fhrunke death 
 
 Thou fhalt continue two and forty houres, 
 
 And then awake,as from a pleafant fleepe. 
 
 Now when the Bridegroome in the morning comes, 
 
 To rowfe thee from thy bed, there art thou dead : 
 
 Then as the manner of our country is, 
 
 In thy beft Robes vncouer'd on the Beere, 
 
 Be borne to buriall in thy kindreds graue : 
 
 Thou fhalt be borne to that fame ancient vault, 
 
 Where all the kindred of the Capulets lie, 
 
 In the meane time againft thou fhilt awake, 
 
 Shall Romeo by my Letters know our drift, 
 
 And hither fhall he come,and that very night 
 
 Shall Romeo beare thee hence to Mantua. 
 
 And this fhall free thee from this prefent fhame, 
 
 If no inconftant toy nor womanifh feare, 
 
 Abate thy valour in the acting it. 
 
 lul. Giue me, giue me,O tell not me of care. 
 
 Fri. Hold get you gone, be ftrong and profperous : 
 In this refolue, He fend a Frier with fpeed 
 To Mantua with my Letters to thy Lord. 
 
 lu. Loue giue me ftrength, 
 And ftrength fhall helpe afford : 
 Farewell deare father. Exit 
 
 Enter Father Capulet, Mother, Nurfe, and 
 Seruing men, two or three. 
 
 Cap. So many guefts inuite as here are writ, 
 Sirrah,go hire me twenty cunning Cookes. 
 
 Ser. You fhall haue none ill fir, for He trie if they can 
 licke their fingers. 
 
 Cap. How canft thou trie them fo ? 
 Ser. Marrie fir, 'tis an illCooke that cannot licke his 
 owne fingers : therefore he that cannot licke his fingers 
 goes not with me. 
 
 Cap. Go be gone, we fhall be much vnfurnifht for this 
 time : what is my Daughter gone to Frier Lawrence ? 
 Nur. I forfooth. 
 
 Cap. Well he may chance to do fome good on her, 
 A peeuifh felfe'wild harlotry it is. 
 
 Enter luliet. 
 
 Nur. See where fhe comes from fhrift 
 With merrie looke. 
 
 Cap. How now my headftrong, 
 Where haue you bin gadding ? 
 
 lul. Where I haue learnt me to repent the fin 
 Of difobedient oppofition : 
 To you and your behefts, and am enioyn'd 
 By holy Lawrence, to fall proftrate here, 
 To beg your pardon.-pardon I befeech you, 
 Henceforward I am euer rul'd by you. 
 
 Cap. Send for the Countie,goe tell him of this, 
 He haue this knot knit vp to morrow morning. 
 
 lul. I met the youthfull Lord at Lawrence Cell, 
 And gaue him what becomed Loue I might, 
 Not ftepping ore the bounds of modeftie. 
 
 Cap. Why I am glad on't,this is well, ftand vp, 
 
 This
 
 The Tragedie of 'fymeo and Juliet. 
 
 This is as't fhould be, let me fee the County: 
 I marrie go I fay, and fetch him hither. 
 Now afore God, this reueren'd holy Frier, 
 All our whole Cittie is much bound to him. 
 
 //. Nurfe will you goe with me into my Clofet, 
 To helpe me fort fuch needfull ornaments, 
 As you thinke fit to furnifh me to morrow ? 
 
 Mo. No not till Thurfday, there's time inough. 
 
 Fa, Go Nurfe, go with her, 
 Weele to Church to morrow. 
 
 Exeunt Juliet and Nurfe. 
 
 Mo. We fhall be fhort in our prouifion, 
 Tis now neere night. 
 
 Fa. Tufli, I will ftirre about, 
 And all things fhall be well, I warrant thee wife : 
 Go thou to Juliet, helpe to deckevp her, 
 He not to bed to night,let me alone : 
 He play the hufwife for this once. What ho ? 
 They are all forth, well I will walke my felfe 
 To Countie Paris, to prepare him vp 
 Againft to morrow,my heart is wondrous light, 
 Since this fame way-ward Gyrle is fo reclaim'd. 
 
 Exeunt Father and Mother' 
 
 Enter lulitt and Nurfe. 
 
 lul. I thofe attires are beft, but gentle Nurfe 
 I pray thee leaue me to my felfe to night : 
 For I haue need of many Oryfons, 
 To moue the heauens to fmile vpon my ftate, 
 Which well thou know'ft, is crofle and full of fin. 
 Enter c/W other, 
 
 Mo. What are you bufie hoPneed you my help ? 
 
 lul. No Madam, we haue cul'd fuch neceflaries 
 As are behoouefull for our ftate to morrow: 
 So pleafe you, let me now be left alone; I 
 And let the Nurfe this night fit vp with you, 
 For I am fure, you haue your hands full all, 
 In this fo fudden bufinefTe. 
 
 Mo. Goodnight. 
 Get thee to bed and reft,for thou haft need. Exeunt. 
 
 lul. Farewell : 
 
 God knowes when we fliall meete againe. 
 I haue a faint cold feare thrills through my veines, 
 That almoft freezes vp the heate of fire : 
 He call them backe againe to comfort me. 
 Nurfe, what fhould fhe do here 
 My difmill Sceane, I needs muft aft alone : 
 Come Viall,what if this mixture do not worke at all ? 
 Shall I be married then to morrow morning ? 
 No, no, this fliall forbid it. Lie thou there, 
 What if it be a poyfon which the Frier 
 Subtilly hath miniftred to haue me dead, 
 Leaft in this marriage he fhould be dirhonour'd, 
 Becaufe he married me before to Romeo ? 
 I feare it is, and yet methinkesit fhould not, 
 For he hath ftill beene tried a holy man. 
 How, if when I am laid into the Tombe, 
 I wake before the time that Romeo 
 Come to redeeme me? There's a fearefull point : 
 Shall I not then be ftifled in the Vault ? 
 To whofe foule mouth no healthfome ayre breaths in, 
 And there die ftrangled ere my Romeo comes. 
 Or if I Hue, is it not very like, 
 The horrible conceit of death and night, 
 Together with the terror of the place, 
 As in a Vaulte,an ancient receptacle, 
 
 Where for thefe many hundred yeeres the bones 
 
 Of all my buried Aunceftors are packt, 
 
 Where bloody Tybalt ,yet but greene in earth, 
 
 Lies feftring in his fhrow'd, where as they fay, 
 
 At fome houres in the night, Spirits refort : 
 
 Alacke, alacke, is it not like that 1 
 
 So early waking, what with loathfome fmels, 
 
 And flirikes like Mandrakes torne out of the earth, 
 
 That liuing mortalls hearing them, run mad. 
 
 O if I walke, fhall I not be diftraught, 
 
 Inuironed with all thefe hidious feares, 
 
 And madly play with my forefathers ioynts ? 
 
 And plucke the mangled Tybalt from his fhrow'd ? 
 
 And in this rage, with fome great kinfmans bone, 
 
 As (with a club)dafh out my defperate braines. 
 
 O looke, me thinks I fee my Cozins Ghoft, 
 
 Seeking out Romeo that did fpit his body 
 
 Vpon my Rapiers point : ftay Tybalt, fay; 
 
 Romeo, Romeo, ^meo, here's drinke : I drinke to thee. 
 
 Enter Lady of the boufe t and Nurfe. 
 
 Lady. Hold, 
 Take thefe keies.and fetch more fpices Nurfe. 
 
 Nur. They call for Dates and Quinces in the Paftrie. 
 Enter old Cafrulet. 
 
 Cap. Come,ftir,ftir,ftir, 
 The lecond Cocke hath Crow'd, 
 The Curphew Bell hath rung, 'tis three a clocke : 
 Looke to the bakte meates, good (Angelica, 
 Spare not for coft. 
 
 Nur. Go you Cot-queane,go, 
 Get you to bed, faith youle be ficke to morrow 
 For this nights watching. 
 
 Cap. No not a whit:what ? I haue watcht ere now 
 All night forlefTe caufe, and nere beene ficke. 
 
 La. I you haue bin a Moufe-hunt in your time, 
 But I will watch you from fuch watching now. 
 
 Exit Lady and Nurfe. 
 
 Cap. A iealous hood, a iealous hood, 
 Now fellow, what there? 
 
 Enter three or four e with Jfiits, and logs, and ba fleets. 
 
 Fel. Things for the Cooke fir, but I know not what. 
 
 Cap. Make haft, make haft, firrah, fetch drier Logs. 
 Call Peter, he will {hew thee where they are. 
 
 Fel. I haue a head fir, that will find out logs, 
 And neuer trouble Ptter for the matter. 
 
 Cap. MafTe and well faid,a merrie horfon,ha, 
 Thou fhalt be loggerhead; good Father, 'tis day. 
 
 Play vMujicltf 
 
 The Countie will be here with Muficke ftraight, 
 For fo he faid he would,! heare him neere, 
 Nurfe, wife, what ho?what Nurfe I fay? 
 Enter Nurfe. 
 
 Go waken Iuliet,go and trim her vp, 
 He go and chat with Parti: hie, make haft, 
 Make haft, the Bridegroome,he is come already : 
 Make haft I fay. 
 
 Nur. Miftris, what Miftris? /u&r?Faft I warrant her fhe. 
 Why Lambe,why Lady^fie you fluggabed, 
 Why Loue I fay/' Madam, fweet heart: why Bride ? 
 What not a word ? You take your peniworths now. 
 Sleepe for a weeke.for the next night I warrant 
 TheCountie Parti hath fet vp his reft, 
 That you fhall reft but little, God forgiue me : 
 Marrie and Amen : how found is fhe a fleepe ? 
 
 I 
 
 670
 
 'The Tragedie of 'Borneo and Juliet. 
 
 73 
 
 I muft needs wake her : Madam, Madam, Madam, 
 I, let the Countie take you in your bed, 
 Heele fright you vp yfaith. Will it not be ? 
 What dreft,and in your clothes,and downe againe f 
 I muft needs wake you : Lady, Lady, Lady 
 Alas, alas, helpe, helpe,tny Ladyes dead, 
 Oh weladay,that euer I was borne, 
 Some Aqua-vitae ho, my Lord, my Lady 
 
 Mo. What noife is heere ? Enter Mother. 
 
 Nur. O lamentable day. 
 
 <&fo. What is the matter ? 
 
 Nur. Looke, looke,oh heauie day. 
 
 Mo. O me, O me, my Child, my onely life: 
 Reuiue,looke vp,or I will die with thee: 
 Helpe, helpe, call helpe. 
 
 Enter Father. 
 
 Fa. For fhame bring Juliet forth, her Lord is come. 
 
 Nur. Shee's dead:deceaft,fhee's dead:alacke the day. 
 
 Af.Alacke the day,fhee's dead,fhee's dead,fhee's dead. 
 
 Fa. Ha? Let me fee hersout alas fhee's cold, 
 Her blood is fetled and her ioynts are ftiffe : 
 Life and thefe lips haue long bene fep crated : 
 Death lies on her like an vntimely froft 
 Vpon the fweteft flower of all the field. 
 
 Nur. O Lamentable day ! 
 
 Mo. O wofull time. 
 
 Fa. Death that hath tane her hence to make me waile, 
 Ties vp my tongue, and will not let me fpeake. 
 Enter Frier and the Countie. 
 
 Fri. Come, is the Bride ready to go to Church? 
 
 Fa. Ready to go, but neuer to returne. 
 O Sonne, the night before thy wedding day, 
 Hath death laine with thy wife : there fhe lies, 
 Flower as /he was, deflowred by him. 
 Death is my Sonne in law, death is my Keire, 
 My Daughter he hath wedded. I will die, 
 And leaue him all life l!uing,all is deaths. 
 
 Pa. Haue I thought long to fee this mornings face, 
 And doth it giue me fuch a fight as this? 
 
 Mo. Accur'ft.vnhappie, wretched hatefull day, 
 Moft miferable houre, that ere time faw 
 In lafting labour of his Pilgrimage. 
 But one,poore one, one poore and louing Child, 
 But one thing to reioyce and folace in, 
 And cruell death hath catcht it from my fight. 
 
 Nur. O wo,O wofull, wofull, wofull day, 
 Moft lamentable day,moft wofull day, 
 That euer, euer,I did yet behold. 
 O day,O day.O day,O hatefull day, 
 Neuer was feene fo blacke a day as this : 
 O wofull day, O wofull day. 
 
 Pa. Beguild, diuorced, wronged, fpighted, flaine, 
 Moft deteftable death, by thee beguil'd, 
 By cruell, cruell thee, quite ouerthrowne: 
 O loue, O lifejnot life, but loue in death. 
 
 Fat. Defpis'd,diftrefled, hated, martir'd, kil'd, 
 Vncomfortable time, why cam'ft thou now 
 To murther, murther our folemnitie? 
 O Child, O Child;my foule,and not my Child, 
 Dead art thou,alacke my Child is dead, 
 And with my Child, my ioyes are buried. 
 
 Fri. Peace ho for fhame,confufions : Carejiues not 
 In thefe confufions, heauen and your felfe 
 Had part in this faire Maid, now heauen hath all, 
 And all the better is it for the Maid : 
 Your part in her,you could not keepe from death, 
 
 "671 
 
 But heauen keepes his part in eternall life : 
 The moft you fought was her promotion, 
 For 'twas your heauen, fhe fhouldft be aduan'ft, 
 And weepe ye now, feeing (he is aduan'ft 
 Aboue the Cloudes,as high as Heauen it felfe* 
 
 in this loue, you loue your Child fo ill, 
 That you run mad, feeing that fhe is well : 
 Shee's not well married, that liues married long, 
 But fhee's beft married, that dies married yong. 
 Drie vp your teares, and fticke your Rofemarie 
 On this faire Coarfe,and as the cuftome is, 
 And in her beft array beare her to Church : 
 For though fome Nature bids all vs lament, 
 Yet Natures teares are Reafons merriment. 
 
 Fa. All things that we ordained Feftiuall, 
 Turne from their office to blacke Funerall : 
 Our inftruments to melancholy Bells, 
 Our wedding cheare, to a fad buriall Feaft : 
 Our folemne Hymnes,to fullen Dyrges change : 
 Our Bri dall flowers ferue for a buried Coarfe : 
 And all things change them to the contrane. 
 
 Fri. Sir go you in ; and Madam, go with him, 
 And go fir Parif,euery one prepare 
 To follow this faire Coarfe vnto her graue : 
 The heauens do lowre vpon you, for fome ill : 
 Moue them no more, by croffing their high will. Exeunt 
 
 Mu. Faith we may put vp our Pipes and be gone. 
 
 Nur. Honeft goodfellowes :|Ah put vp,put vp, 
 For well you know, this is a pitifull cafe. 
 
 Mu. I by my troth, the cafe may be amended. 
 Enter Peter. 
 
 Pet. Mufitions, oh Mufitions, 
 Hearts eafe, hearts eafe, 
 O,and you will haue me Hue, play hearts eafe. 
 
 Mu. Why hearts eafe ; 
 
 Pet. O Mufitions, 
 Becaufe my heart it felfe plaies, my heart is full. 
 
 Mu. Not a dump we, 'tis no time to play now. 
 
 Pet. You will not then ? 
 
 Mu. No. 
 
 Pet. I will then giue it you foundly. 
 
 Mu. What will you giue vs ? 
 
 Pet. No money on my faith, but the gleeke. 
 
 1 will giue you the Minftrell. 
 
 Mu. Then'will I giue you the Seruing creature. 
 
 Peter. Then will I lay the feruing Creatures Dagger 
 on your pate. I will carie no Crochets, He Re you, lie Fa 
 you, do you note mef 
 
 Mu. And you Re vs,and Fa vs,you Note vs. 
 2.M. Pray you put vp your Dagger, 
 And put out your wit. 
 Then haue at you with my wit. 
 
 Peter. I will drie-beate you with an yron wit, 
 And put vp my yron Dagger. 
 Anfwere me like men : 
 
 When griping griefes the heart doth wound, then Mu- 
 fickewith her filuer found. 
 
 Why filuer found ? why Muficke with her filuer foundf 
 what fay you Simon Catling? 
 
 Mu. Mary fir, becaufe filuer hath a fweet found. 
 
 Pet. Prateft, what fay you Hugh Reticle ? 
 
 Z.M.I fay filuer found, becaufe Mufitions found for fil- 
 
 Pet. Prateft to, what fay you lanes Sound-Po/l? (uer 
 
 3.cxW. Faith 1 know not what to fay. 
 
 Pet.O I cry you mercy, you are the Singer. 
 I will fay for you ; it is Muficke with her filuer found, 
 
 g g Be-
 
 74 
 
 The Tragedie of 'Borneo and luliet. 
 
 Becaufe Mufitions haue no gold for founding: 
 
 Then Muficke with her filuer found with fpeedy helpe 
 
 doth lend redrefle. Exit. 
 
 Mu. What a peftilent knaue is this fame 
 
 M.-i. Hang him lacke, come weelein here, tarrie for 
 the Mourners, and ftay dinner. Exit. 
 
 Enter Romeo. 
 
 Rom. If I may truft the flattering truth of fleepe, 
 My drcames prefage fome ioyfull newes at hand : 
 My bofomes L.fits lightly in his throne : 
 And all thisan day an vccuftom'd fpirit, 
 Lifts me aboue the ground with cheerefull thoughts. 
 I dreamt my Lady came and found me dead, 
 (Strange dreame that giues a dead man leaue to thinke,) 
 And breath'd fuch life with kifTes in my lips, 
 That I reuiu'd and was an Emperour. 
 Ah me, how fweet is loue it felfe pofleft, 
 When but loues madowes are fo rich in ioy. 
 
 Enter Romeo's man. 
 
 Newes from Verona, how now f Baltbaaser ? 
 Doft thou not bring me Letters from the Frier 
 How doth my Lady? Is my Father well? 
 How doth my Lady Juliet ? that I aske againe, 
 For nothing can be ill, if flie be well. 
 
 Man. Then flie is well, and nothing can be ill. 
 Her body fleepes in Capels Monument, 
 And her immortall part with Angels liue, 
 I faw her laid low in her kindreds Vault, 
 And prefently tooke Pofte to tell it you : 
 
 pardon me for bringing thefe ill newes, 
 Since you did leaue it for my office Sir. 
 
 Ram. Is it euen fo ? 
 Then I denie you Starres. 
 
 Thou knoweft my lodging,get me inke and paper, 
 And hire Poft-Horfes, I will hence to night. 
 
 Man. I do befeech you fir, haue patience : 
 Your lookes are pale and wild, and do import 
 Some mifaduenture. 
 
 Rom. Tufli, thou art deceiu'd, 
 Leaue me,and do the thing 1 bid thee do. 
 Haft thou no Letters to me from the Frier ? 
 
 Man. No my good Lord. 
 
 Exit Man. 
 
 Rom. Mo matter : Get thee gone. 
 And hyre thofe Horfes, He be with thee ftraight. 
 Well Juliet 1 1 will lie with thee to night : 
 Lets fee for meanes : O mifchiefe thou art fwift, 
 To enter in the thoughts of defperate men : 
 
 1 do remember an Appothecarie, 
 
 And here abouts dwells, which late I noted 
 
 In tattred weeds, with ouerwhelming browes, 
 
 Culling of Simples, meager were his lookes, 
 
 Sharpe miferie had worne him to thebones : 
 
 And in his needie (hop a Tortoyrs hung, 
 
 An Allegater ftuft,and other skins 
 
 Of ill fliap'd fifties, and about his flielues, 
 
 A beggerly account of emptie boxes, 
 
 Greene earthen pots, Bladders, and muftie feedes," 
 
 Remnants of packthred,and old cakes of Rofes 
 
 Were thinly fcattered,to make vp a fliew. 
 
 Noting this penury, to my felfe I laid, 
 
 An if a man did need a poyfon now, 
 
 Whofe fale is perfent death in Mantua, 
 
 Here liues a Caitiffe wretch would fell it him. 
 
 O this fame thought did but fore-run my need, 
 
 And this fame needie man muftfell it me. 
 
 As I remember, this fliould be the houfe, 
 Being holy day, the beggers fliop is fliut. 
 What ho? Appothecarie ? 
 
 Enter Appotbecarie . 
 
 App. Who call's fo low'd ? 
 
 Rom. Come hither man, I fee that thou art poore, 
 Hold, there is fortie Duckets,let me haue 
 A dram of poyfon, fuch foone fpeeding geare, 
 As will difperfe it felfe through all the veines, 
 That the life-wearie-taker may fall dead, 
 And that the Trunke may be difcharg'd of breath, 
 As violently, as haftie powder fier'd 
 Doth hurry from the fatall Canons wombe. 
 
 App. Such mortall drugs I haue, but Mantuai law 
 Is death to any he, that vtters them. 
 
 Rom. Art thou fo bare and full of wretchednefle, 
 And fear'ft to die? Famine is in thy cheekes, 
 Need and opreffion ftarueth in thy eyes, 
 Contempt and beggery hangs vpon thy backe i 
 The world is not thy friend, nor the worlds law: 
 The world affords no law to make thee rich. 
 Then be not poore, but breake it,and take this. 
 
 App. My pouerty, but not my will confents. 
 
 Rom. I pray thy pouerty, and not thy will. 
 
 App. Put this in any liquid thing you will 
 And drinke it off, and if you had the ftrength 
 Of twenty men, it would difparch you ftraight. 
 
 Rom. There's thy Gold, 
 Worfe poyfon to mens foules, 
 Doing more murther in this loathfome world, 
 Then thefe poore compounds that thou maieft not fell. 
 I fell thee poyfon, thou haft fold me none, 
 Farewell, buy food, and get thy felfe in flefli. 
 Come Cordiall, and not poyfon, go with me 
 To Juliets graue, for there muft I vfe thee. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 Enter Frier lobn to Frier Lawrence. 
 
 John. Holy Franciscan Frier, Brother, ho ? 
 
 Enter Frier Lawrence. 
 
 Law. This fame fhould be the voice of Frier Lhn. 
 Welcome from cflfantua, what fayes Romeo ? 
 Or if his mind be writ.giue me his Letter. 
 
 lobn. Going to find a bare-foote Brother out, 
 One of our order to aflbciate me, 
 Here in this Citie vifiting the fick, 
 And finding him, the Searchers of the Towne 
 Sufpedling that we both were in a houfe 
 Where the infectious peftilence did raigne, 
 Seal'd vp the doores,and would not let vs forth, 
 So that my fpeed to Mantua there was ftaid. 
 
 Lav. Who bare my Letter then to Romeo ? 
 
 John. I could not fend it, here it is againe, 
 Nor get a meflenger to bring it thee, 
 So fearefull were they of infection. 
 
 Lav. Vnhappie Fortune: by my Brotherhood 
 The Letter was not nice, but full of charge, 
 Of deare import,and the neglecting it 
 May do much danger : Frier lobn go hence, 
 Get me an Iron Crow,and bring it ftraight 
 Vnto my Cell. 
 
 lobn. Brother He go and bring it thee. Exit. 
 
 Lav. Now muft I to the Monument alone, 
 Within this three houres will faire luliet wake, 
 Shee will befhrew me much that Romeo 
 Hath had no notice of thefe accidents : 
 But I will write againe to Mantua, 
 
 And
 
 The Tragedie of 'Borneo and Juliet. 
 
 75 
 
 Exit. 
 
 And keepe her at my Cell till Jfymeo come, 
 Poore liuing Coarfe,clos'd in a dead mans Tombe, 
 
 Enter Paris and bis P&ge. 
 
 Par. Giue me thy Torch Boy, hence and ftand aloft, 
 Yet put it out, for I would not be feene : 
 Vnder yond young Trees lay thee all along, 
 Holding thy eare clofe to the hollow ground, 
 So fliall no foot vpon the Churchyard tread, 
 Being loofe, vnfirme with digging vp of Graues, 
 But thou flialt heare it: whiftle then to me, 
 As fignall that thou heareft fome thing approach, 
 Giue me thofe flowers. Do as I bid thee, go. 
 
 Page. I am almoft afraid to ftand alone 
 Here in the Churchyard, yet I will aduenture. 
 
 Pa. Sweet Flower with flowers thy Bridall bed I ftrew: 
 O woe, thy Canopie is duft and ftones, 
 Which with fweet water nightly I will dewe. 
 Or wanting that, with teares deftil'd by mones; 
 The obfequies that I for thee will keepe, 
 Nightly fhall be, to ftrew thy graue, and weepe. 
 
 Wbiftlc Boy. 
 
 The Boy giues warning, fomething doth approach, 
 What curfed foot wanders this wayes to night, 
 To croffe my obfequies, and true loues right ? 
 What with a Torch ? Muffle me night a while. 
 
 Enter Romeo , and Peter. 
 
 Rom. Giue me that Mattocke, & the wrenching Iron, 
 Hold take this Letter, early in the morning 
 See thou deliuer it to my Lord and Father, 
 Giue me the light ; vpon thy life I charge thee, 
 What ere thou hear 1 ft or feeft, ftand all aloofe, 
 And do not interrupt me in my courfe. 
 Why I defcend into this bed of death, 
 Is partly to behold my Ladies face : 
 But chiefly to take thence from her dead finger, 
 A precious Ring : a Ring that I muft vfe, 
 In deare employment, therefore hence be gone: 
 But if thou iealous doft returne to prie 
 In what I further fliall intend to do, 
 By heauen I will teare thee ioynt by ioynt, 
 And ftrew this hungry Churchyard with thy limbs : 
 The time, and my intents are fauage wilde: 
 More fierce and more inexorable farre, 
 Then emptie Tygers,or the roaring Sea. 
 
 Pet. I will be gone fir, and not troubl e you 
 
 Ro. So (halt thou /hew me friendship: take thou that, 
 Liue and be profperous,and farewell good fellow. 
 
 Pet. For all this fame, He hide me here about, 
 His lookes I feare, and his intents 1 doubt. . 
 
 Rom. Thou deteftable mawe, thou wombe of death, 
 Gorg'd with the deareft morfell of the earth : 
 Thus I enforce thy rotten lawes to open, 
 And in defpight, lie cram thee with more food. 
 
 Par. This is that baniflit haughtie Mountague, 
 That murdred my Loues Cozin ; with which griefe, 
 It is fuppofed the faire Creature died, 
 And here is come to do fome villanous fhame 
 To the dead bodies : I will apprehend him. 
 Stop thy vnhallowed toyle,vile Mountague: 
 Can vengeance be purfued further then death ? 
 Condemned vallaine, I do apprehend thee. 
 Obey and go with me, for thou muft die, 
 
 675 
 
 Rom. I muft indeed, and therfore came I hither: 
 Good gentle youth, tempt not a defperate man, 
 File hence and leaue me. thinke vpon thofe gone, 
 Let them affright thee. I befeech thee Youth, 
 Put not an other fin vpon my head, 
 By vrging me to rurie. O be gone, 
 By heauen I loue thee better then my felfe, 
 For I come hither arm'd againft my felfe : 
 Stay not, be gone, Hue, and hereafter fay, 
 A mad mans mercy bid thee run away. 
 
 Par. I do defie thy commifleration, 
 And apprehend thee for a Fellon here. 
 
 Ro. Wilt thou prouoke me ? Then haue at thee Boy. 
 
 Pet. O Lord they fight, I will go call the Watch. 
 
 Pa. O I am flaine,if thon be mercifull, 
 Open the Tombe, lay me with Juliet. 
 
 Rom. In faith I will, let me perufe this face: 
 Mercutius kinfman, Noble Countie Paris, 
 What faid my man, when my betofied foule 
 Did not attend him as we rode ? I thinke 
 He told me Paris fhould haue married lulitt. 
 Said he not fo ? Or did I dreame it fo ? 
 Or am I mad, hearing him talke of luliet, 
 To thinke it was fo ? O giue me thy hand, 
 One, writ with me in fowre misfortunes booke. 
 He burie thee in a triumphant graue. 
 A Graue ; O no, a Lanthorne ; flaughtred Youth : 
 For here lies Iuliet,a.nd her beautie rmkes 
 This Vault a feafting prefence full of light. 
 Death lie thou there, by a dead man inter'd. 
 How oft when men are at the point of death, 
 Haue they beene merrie? Which their Keepers call 
 A lightning before death ? Oh how may 1 
 Call this a lightning? O my Loue, my Wife, 
 Death that hath fuckt the honey of thy breath, 
 Hath had no power yet vpon thy Beautie : 
 Thou are not conquer'd : Beauties enfigne yet 
 Is Crymfon in thy lips,and in thy cheekes, 
 And Deaths pale flagis not aduanced there. 
 Tybalt ,ly'ft thou there in thy bloudy fheet ? 
 O what more fauour can 1 do to thee, 
 Then with that hand that cut thy youth in twaine, 
 To funder his that was thy enemie ? 
 Forgiue me Cozen. Ah deare Juliet : 
 Why art thou yet fo faire ? I will beleeue, 
 Shall I beleeue,that vnfubftantiall death is amorous ? 
 And that the leane abhorred Monfter keepes 
 Thee here in darke to be his Paramour ? 
 For feare of that, I ftill will ftay with thee, 
 And neuer from this Pallace of dym night 
 Depart againe:come lie thou in my armes, 
 Heere's to thy health, whereere thou tumbleftin. 
 O true Appothecarie ! 
 
 Thy drugs are quicke. Thus with a kifTe I die. 
 Depart againe; here, here will I remaine, 
 With Wormes that are thy Chambermaides : O here 
 Will I fet vp my euerlafting reft : 
 And ihake the yoke of inaufpicious ftarres 
 From this world-wearie.l fle(h : Eyes looke your laft ' 
 Armes take your laft embrace : And lips,O you 
 The doores of breath, feale with a righteous kifle 
 A datelefife bargaine to ingrofling death : 
 Come bitter conduct, come vnfauoury guide, 
 Thou defperate Pilot, now at once run on 
 Thedafliing Rocks, thy Sea-ficke wearie Barke : 
 Heere's to my Loue. O true Appothecary : 
 
 g g 2 Thy 
 
 4Q
 
 76 
 
 The Tragedie of 'Borneo and luliet. 
 
 Thy drugs are quicke. Thus with a kifTe I die. 
 
 Enter Frier with Lanthorne , Crotr ,and Spade. 
 
 Fri. St. Francis be my fpeed,how oft to night 
 Haue my old feet {tumbled at graues? Who's there? 
 Man. Here's one, a Friend, & one that knowes you well. 
 
 Fri. Biifle be vpon you. Tell me good my Friend 
 What Torch is yond that vainely lends his light 
 To grubs, and eyelefle Sculles ? As I difcerne, 
 It burneth in the Capels Monument. 
 
 Man. It doth fo holy fir, 
 And there's my Mafter,one that you loue. 
 
 Fri. Who is it? 
 
 Man. Borneo. 
 
 Fri. How long hath he bin there ? 
 
 vfflan. Full halfe an houre. 
 
 Fri. Go with me to the Vault. 
 
 Man. I dare not Sir. 
 
 My Mafter knowes not but I am gone hence, 
 And fearefully did menace me with death, 
 If I did ftay to looke on his entents. 
 
 Fri. Stay, then He go alone, feares comes vpon me. 
 
 much I feare fome ill vnluckie thing. 
 
 Man. As I did fleepe vnder this young tree here, 
 
 1 dreamt my maifter and another fought, 
 And that my Maifter flew him. 
 
 Fri. Romeo. 
 
 Alacke,alacke, what blood is this which ftaines 
 The ftony entrance of this Sepulcher? 
 What meane thefe Mafterlefle, and goarie Swords 
 To lie difcolour'd by this place of peace? 
 Romeo, oh pale : who elfe?what Paris too? 
 And fteept in blood Ah what an vnknd houre 
 Is guiltie of this lamentable chance ? 
 The Lady ftirs. 
 
 lul. O comfortable Frier, where's my Lord? 
 I do remember well where I fliould be : 
 And there I am, where is my Romeo ? 
 
 Fri. I heare fome noyfe Lady, come from that neft 
 Of death, contagion, and vnnaturall fleepe, 
 A greater power then we can contradidl 
 Hath thwarted our entents, come,come away, 
 Thy husband in thy bofome there lies dead: 
 And Paris too: come He difpofe of thee, 
 Among a Sifterhood of holy Nunnes : 
 Stay not to queftion,for the watch is comming. 
 Come, go good luliet,] dare no longer ftay. Exit. 
 
 lul. Go get thee hence, for I will notuaway, 
 What's here? A cup clos'd in my true lo : es hand? 
 Poyfon I fee hath bin his timelefle end 
 O churle,drinke all?and left no friendly drop, 
 To helpe me after, I will kifle thy lips, 
 Happliefome poyfon yet doth hang on them, 
 To make me die wth a reftoratiue. 
 Thy lips are warme. 
 
 Enter Boy and Watch . 
 
 Jh atch. Lead Boy, which way t 
 
 lul. Yea noife? 
 
 Then ile be briefe. O happy Dagger. 
 "Tis in thy fheath, there ruft and let me die AT/A berjelfe. 
 
 'Boy. This is the place, 
 There where the Torch doth burne 
 
 Watch. The ground is bloody, 
 Search about the Churchyard. 
 Go fome of you, who ere you find attach. 
 Pittifull fight, here lies the Countie flaine, 
 And lu/iett bleeding, warme and newly dead 
 
 Who here hath laine thefe two dayes buried. 
 Go tell the Prince, runne to the Capulets, 
 Raife vp the Montagues, fome others fearch, 
 We fee the ground whereon thefe woes do lye, 
 But the true ground of all thefe piteous woes, 
 We cannot without circumftance defcry. 
 Enter Romeo* smart. 
 
 Watch. Here's Rtmeo'r man, 
 We found him in the Churchyard. 
 
 Con. Hold him in fafety, till the Prince come hither. 
 
 Enter Frier, and another Watchman. 
 
 3. Wat. Here is a Frier that trembles, fighes,and weepes 
 We tooke this Mattocke and this Spade from him, 
 As he was comming from this Church-yard fide. 
 
 Con. A great fuTpition,ftay the Frier too. 
 Enter the Prince. 
 
 Pnn. What mifaduenture is fo earely vp, 
 That calls our perfon from our mornings reft? 
 
 Snter Capulet and his Wife. 
 
 Cap. What ftiould it be that they fo fhrike abroad ? 
 
 Wife. O the people in the ftreete crie Rumeo. 
 Some /a/r,and fome Para, and all runne 
 With open outcry toward out Monument. 
 
 Pri. What feare is this which ftartles in your eares ? 
 
 Wat. Soueraigne,here lies the Countie Paris flaine, 
 And Romeo dead, and luliet dead before, 
 Warme and new kil'd. 
 
 frin. Search, 
 Seeke,and know how, this foule murder comes. 
 
 Wat. Here is a Frier, and Slaughter'd Romeos man, 
 With Inftruments vpon them fit to open 
 Thefe dead mensTombes. 
 
 Cap. O heauen ! 
 
 O wife looke how our Daughter bleedes ! 
 This Dagger hath miftaine, for loe his houfe 
 Is empty on the backe of Mountague, 
 And is mifheathed in my Daughters bofome. 
 
 Wife. O me, this fight of death, is as a Bell 
 That warnes my old age to a Sepulcher. 
 Enter Mountague. 
 
 Pri. Come M^untague t for thou art early vp 
 To fee thy Sonne and Heire, now early downe. 
 
 Moun. Alas my liege, my wife is dead to night, 
 Griefe of my Sonnes exile hath ftopt her breath: 
 What further woe confpires againft my age? 
 
 Prin. Looke: and thou flialt fee. 
 
 Moun. O thou vntaught, what manners in is this, 
 To prefle before thy Father to a graue ? 
 
 Prin. Scale vp the mouth of outra ge for a while, 
 Till we can cleare thefe ambiguities, 
 And know their fpring, their head, their truedefcent, 
 And then will I be general! of your woes, 
 And lead you euen to death?meane time forbeare, 
 And let mifchance be flaue to patience, 
 Bring forth the parties of fufpition. 
 
 Fri. I am the greateft,able to doe leaft, 
 Yet moft fufpe&ed as the time and place 
 Doth make againft me of this direfull murther : 
 And heere I ftand both to impeach and purge 
 My felfe condemned, and my felfe excus'd. 
 
 Prin. Then fay at once, what ,thou doft know in this? 
 
 Fri. I will be briefe, for my fhort date of breath 
 Is not fo long as is a tedious tale. 
 Romeo there dead, was husband to that luliet t 
 And fhe there dead, that's Romeos faithfull wife: 
 
 674
 
 'The Tragedie of 'Borneo and luliet. 
 
 79 
 
 I married them; and their ftolne marriage day 
 
 Was Tybalt s Doomefday : whofe vntimely death 
 
 Banifli'd the new-made Bridegroome from this Citie: 
 
 For whom (and not for Tybalt) luliet pinde. 
 
 You, to remoue that fiege of Greefe from her, 
 
 Betroth'd,and would haue married her perforce 
 
 To Countie Paris. Then comes flie to me, 
 
 And (with wilde lookes) bid me deuife fome meanes 
 
 To rid her from this fecond Marriage, 
 
 Or in my Cell there would fhe kill her felfe. 
 
 Then gaue I her (fo Tutor'd by my Art) 
 
 A fleeping Potion, which fo tooke effedt 
 
 As I intended, for it wrought on her 
 
 The forme of death. Meane time, I writ to 'Rgmeo, 
 
 That he fhould hither come, as this dyre night, 
 
 To helpe to take her from her borrowed graue, 
 
 Being the time the Potions force fhould ceafe. 
 
 But he which bore my Letter, Frier John, 
 
 Was ftay'd by accident ; and yefternight 
 
 Return'd my Letter backe. Then all alone, 
 
 At the prefixed houre of her waking, 
 
 Came I to take her from her Kindreds vault, 
 
 Meaning to keepe her clofely at my Cell, 
 
 Till I conueniently could fend to Romeo. 
 
 But when I came (fome Minute ere the time 
 
 Of her awaking) heere vntimely lay 
 
 The Noble Paris, and true Romeo dead. 
 
 Shee wakes, and I intreated her come foorth, 
 
 And beare this worke of Heauen, with patience : 
 
 But then, a noyfe did fcarre me from the Tombe, 
 
 And flie (too defperate) would not go with me, 
 
 But (as it feemes) did violence on her felfe. 
 
 All this I know,and to the Marriage her Nurfe is priuy : 
 
 And if ought in this mifcarried by my fault, 
 
 Let my old life be facrific'd,fome houre before the time, 
 
 Vnto the rigour of feuereft Law. 
 
 Prin. We ftill haue knowne thee for a Holy man. 
 Where's 'Romeo's man ? What can he fay to this ? 
 
 'Boy. I brought my Matter newes of Juliets death, 
 
 And then in pofte he came from Mantua 
 To this fame place, to this fame Monument. 
 This Letter he early bid me giue his Father, 
 And threatned me with death, going in the Vault, 
 If I departed not, and left him there. 
 
 Prin. Giue me the Letter, I will look on it. 
 Where is the Counties Page that rais'd the Watch ? 
 Sirra, what made your Mafter in this place ? 
 
 Prfgv.He came with flowres to ftrew his Ladies graue, 
 And bid me ftand aloofe, and fo I did : 
 Anon comes one with light to ope the Tombe, 
 And by and by my Maifter drew on him, 
 And then I ran away to call the Watch. 
 
 Prin. This Letter doth make good the Friers words, 
 Their courfe of Loue, the tydings of her death : 
 And heere he writes, that he did buy a poylbn 
 Of a poore Pothecarie, and therewithall 
 Came to this Vault to dye, and lye with luliet. 
 Where be thefe Enemies ? Capu/et, Mountague, 
 See what a fcourge is laide vpon your hate, 
 That Heauen finds meanes to kill your ioyes with Loue ; 
 And I, for winking at your difcords too, 
 Haue loft a brace of Kinfmen : All are punifli'd. 
 
 Cap. O Brother Mountague, giue me thy hand, 
 This is my Daughters ioynture, for no more 
 Can I demand. 
 
 Moun. But I can giue thee more : 
 For I will raife her Statue in pure Gold, 
 That whiles Verona by that name is knowne , 
 There fliall no figure at that Rate be fet, 
 As that of True and Faithfull luliet. 
 
 Cap. As rich ftiall Romeo by his Lady ly, 
 Poore facrifices of our enmity. 
 
 Prin. A glooming peace this morning with it brings, 
 The Sunne for forrow will not fliew his head ; 
 Go hence, to haue more talke of thefe fad things, 
 Some fliall be pardon'd, and fome punilhed. 
 For neuer was a Storie of more Wo, 
 
 Then this of luliet, and her Romeo. Exeunt omnes 
 
 Gg 
 
 FINIS.
 
 8o 
 
 THE LIFE OF TYMON 
 
 OF ATHENS. 
 
 ^Primus. Sc&na 
 
 Enter Poet, Painter, leveller, Merchant, and Mercer, 
 at feuerall doorei. 
 
 Poet. 
 day Sir. 
 
 Pain. I am glad y'are well. 
 Poet. 1 haue not feene you long, how goes 
 the World? 
 
 Pain. It weares fir, as it growes. 
 
 Toet. I that's well knowne : 
 But what particular Rarity ? What ftrange, 
 Which manifold record not matches : fee 
 Magicke of Bounty, all thefe fpirits thy power 
 Hath coniur'd to attend. 
 I know the Merchant. 
 
 Tain. I know them both : th 'others a leweller. 
 
 eMer. O 'tis a worthy Lord. 
 
 lew. Nay that's moft fixt. 
 
 Mer. A moft incomparable man, breath'd as it were, 
 To an vntyreable and continuate goodneffe : 
 He pafles. 
 
 Jew. I haue a Icwell heere. 
 
 Mer. O pray let's fee't. For the Lord Timon,fir ? 
 
 Ltoel. If he will touch the eftimate. But for that 
 
 Poet. When we for recompence haue prais'd the vild, 
 It ftaines the glory in that happy Verfe, 
 Which aptly fings the good. 
 
 <J\fer. "Pis a good forme. 
 
 level. And rich : heere is a Water lookeye. 
 
 Pain. You are rapt fir, in fome worke, fbme Dedica- 
 tion to the great Lord. 
 
 Poet. A thing flipt idlely from me. 
 Our Poefie is as a Gowne, which vfes 
 From whence 'tis nourifht : the fire i'th'Flint 
 Shewes not, till it be ftrooke : our gentle flame 
 Prouokes it felfe, and like the currant flyes 
 Each bound it chafes. What haue you there? 
 
 Pain. A Pifture fir : when comes your Booke forth ? 
 
 Poet. Vpon the heeles of my prefentment fir. 
 Let's fee your peece. 
 
 Pain. 'Tis a good Peece. 
 
 Toet. So 'tis, this comes off well, and excellent. 
 
 Pain. Indifferent. 
 
 Poet. Admirable : How this grace 
 Speakes his owne ftanding : what a mental! power 
 This eye fliootes forth? How bigge imagination 
 Moues in this Lip, to th'dumbneffe of the gefture, 
 
 One might interpret. 
 
 Pain. It is a pretty mocking of the life : 
 Heere is a touch : Is't good? 
 
 Poet. I will fay of it, 
 It Tutors Nature, Artificiall ftrife 
 Liues in thefe toutches, liuelier then life. 
 
 Enter certaine Senators. 
 
 Pain. How this Lord is followed. 
 
 Poet. The Senators of Athens, happy men. 
 
 Pain. Looke moe. 
 
 Po. You fee this confluence, this great flood of vifitors, 
 I haue in this rough worke, fhap'd out a man 
 Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hugge 
 With ampleft entertainment : My free drift 
 Halts not particularly, but moues it felfe 
 In a wide Sea of wax, no leuell'd malice 
 Infedts one comma in the courfe I hold, 
 But flies an Eagle flight, bold, and forth on, 
 Leauing no Trad: behinde. 
 
 Pain. How fliall I vnderftand you ? 
 
 Poet. I will vnboult to you. 
 You fee how all Conditions, how all Mindes, 
 As well of glib and flipp'ry Creatures, as 
 Of Graue and auftere qualitie, tender downe 
 Their feruices to Lord Timon : his large Fortune, 
 Vpon his good and gracious Nature hanging, 
 Subdues and properties to his loue and tendance 
 All forts of hearts; yea, from the glaffe-fac'd Flatterer 
 To slpemantus, that few things loues better 
 Then to abhorre himfelfe ; euen hee drops downe 
 The knee before him, and returnes in peace 
 Moft rich in Timons nod. 
 
 Pain. I faw them fpeake together. 
 
 Poet. Sir, I haue vpon a high and pleafant hill 
 Feign'd Fortune to be thron'd. 
 TheBafeo'th'Mount 
 
 Is rank'd with all deferts, all kinde of Natures 
 That labour on the bofome of this Sphere, 
 To propagate their ftates ; among'ft them all, 
 Whofe eyes are on this Soueraigne Lady fixt, 
 One do I perfonate of Lord Timons frame, 
 Whom Fortune with her luory hand wafts to her, 
 Whofe prefent grace, to prefent flaues and feruants 
 Tranflates his Riuals. 
 
 Pain. 'Tis conceyu'd, to fcope 
 This Throne, this Fortune,and this Hill me thinkes 
 
 With 
 
 676 "
 
 T'imon of ^Athens. 
 
 81 
 
 With one man becken'd from the reft below, 
 Bowing his head againft the fteepy Mount 
 Toclimbe his happinelle, would be well expreft 
 In our Condition. 
 
 Poet. Nay Sir, but heare me on : 
 All thofe which were his Fellowes but of late, 
 Some better then his valew ; on the moment 
 Follow his ftrides, his Lobbies fill with tendance, 
 Raine Sacrificiall whifperings in his eare, 
 Make Sacred euen his ftyrrop, and through him 
 Drinke the free Ayre. 
 
 Pain. I marry, what of thefe ? 
 
 Poet. When Fortune in her fhift and change of mood 
 Spumes downe her late beloued ; all his Dependants 
 Which labour'd after him to the Mountaines top, 
 Euen on their knees and hand, let him fit downe, 
 Not one accompanying his declining foot. 
 
 Pain. Tis common : 
 
 A thoufand morall Paintings I can fhew, 
 That fhall demonftrate thefe quicke blowes of Fortunes, 
 More pregnantly then words. Yet you do well, 
 To fhew Lord Timon, that meane eyes haue feene 
 The foot aboue the head. 
 
 Trumpets found. 
 
 Enter Lord Timon, addrejfing bimfelfe curteoujly 
 toeuery Sutor. 
 
 Tim. Imprifbn'd is he, fay you ? 
 
 <&>fef. I my good Lord, fiue Talents is his debt, 
 His meanes moft fhort, his Creditors moft ftraite: 
 Your Honourable Letter he defires 
 To thofe haue fhut him vp, which failing, 
 Periods his comfort. 
 
 Tim. Noble Ventidim well: 
 I am not of that Feather, to fhake off 
 My Friend when he muft neede me. I do know him 
 A Gentleman, that well deferues a helpe, 
 Which he fhall haue. He pay the debt, and free him. 
 
 Mef. Your Lordfhip euer bindes him. 
 
 Tim. Commend me to him, I will fend his ranfome, 
 And being enfranchized bid him come to me ; 
 'Tis not enough to helpe the Feeble vp, 
 But to fupport him after. Fare you well. 
 
 Mef. All happineffe to your Honor. Exit. 
 
 Enter an old Athenian. 
 
 Oldm. Lord Timon, heare me fpeake. 
 
 Tim. Freely good Father. 
 
 Oldm. Thou haft a Seruant nam'd Luc'dlui. 
 
 Tim. I haue fo : What of him ? 
 
 Oldm. Moft Noble Timon, call the man before thee. 
 
 Tim. Attends he heere, or no? Lucilliui. 
 
 Luc. Heere at your Lordfhips feruice. 
 
 Oldm. This Fellow heere, L.Timon, this thy Creature, 
 By night frequents my houfe. I am a man 
 That from my firft haue beene inclin'd to thrift, 
 And my eftate deferues an Heyre more rais'd, 
 Then one which holds a Trencher. 
 
 Tim. Well : what further ? 
 
 Old. One onely Daughter haue I, no Kin elfe, 
 On whom I may conferre what I haue got : 
 The Maid is faire, a'th'youngeft for a Bride, 
 And I haue bred her at my deereft coft 
 In Qualifies of the beft. This man of thine 
 Attempts her loue : I prythee (Noble Lord) 
 
 677 
 
 loyne with me to forbid him her refort, 
 My felfe haue fpoke in vaine. 
 
 Tim. The man is honeft. 
 
 Oldm. Therefore he will be Timon, 
 His honefty rewards him in it felfe, 
 It muft not beare my Daughter. 
 
 Tim. Does fhe loue him ? 
 
 Oldm. She is yong and apt : 
 Our owne precedent pafiions do inftrudt vs 
 What leuities in youth. 
 
 Tim. Loue you the Maid ? 
 
 Luc. I my good Lord, and fhe accepts of it. 
 
 Oldm. If in her Marriage my confent be miffing, 
 1 call the Gods to witneffe, I will choofe 
 Mine heyre from forth the Beggers of the world, 
 And difpoffeffe her all. 
 
 Tim. How fhall fhe be endowed, 
 If fhe be mated with an equall Husband? 
 
 Oldm. Three Talents on the prefent ; in future, all. 
 
 Tim. This Gentleman of mine 
 Hath feru'd me long : 
 To build his Fortune, I will ftraine a little, 
 For 'tis a Bond in men. Giue him thy Daughter, 
 What you beftow, in him He counterpoize, 
 And make him weigh with her. 
 
 Oldm. Moft Noble Lord, 
 Pawne me to this your Honour, fhe is his. 
 
 Tim. My hand to thee, 
 Mine Honour on my promife. 
 
 Luc. Humbly I thanke your Lordfhip, neuer may 
 That ftate or Fortune fall into my keeping, 
 Which is not owed to you. Exit 
 
 Poet. Vouchfafe my Labour, 
 And long Hue your Lord/hip. 
 
 Tim. I thanke you, you fhall heare from me anon : 
 Go not away. What haue you there, my Friend ? 
 
 Pain. A peece of Painting, which I dobefeech 
 Your Lordfhip to accept. 
 
 Tim. Painting is welcome. 
 The Painting is almoft the Naturall man : 
 For fince Difhonor Traffickes with mans Nature, 
 He is but out-fide : Thefe Penfil'd Figures are 
 Euen fuch as they giue out. I like your worke, 
 And you fhall finde I like it ; Waite attendance 
 Till you heare further from me. 
 
 Pain. The Gods preferue ye. 
 
 Tim. Well fare you Gentleman : giue me your hand. 
 We muft needs dine together : fir your lewell 
 Hath fuffered vnder praife. 
 
 level. What my Lord, difpraife ? 
 
 Tim. A meere faciety of Commendations, 
 If I fhould pay you for't as 'tis extold, 
 It would vnclew me quite. 
 
 level. My Lord, 'tis rated 
 
 As thofe which fell would giue : but you well know, 
 Things of like valew differing in the Owners, 
 Are prized by their Mafters. Beleeu't deere Lord, 
 You mend the lewell by the wearing it. 
 
 Tim. Well mock'd. Enttr Apermantui. 
 
 Mer. No my good Lord, he fpeakes y common toong 
 Which all men fpeake with him. 
 
 Tim. Looke who comes heere, will you be chid? 
 
 level. Wee'l beare with your Lordfhip. 
 
 Mer. Hee'l fpare none. 
 
 Tim. Good morrow to thee, 
 Gentle Apermantus. 
 
 g g z Aper
 
 82 
 
 Timon of Athens. 
 
 Ape. Till I be gentle, ftay them for thy good morrow. 
 When thou art Timont dogge, and thefe Knaues honeft. 
 
 Tim. Why doft thou call them Knaues, thou know'ft 
 them not ? 
 
 Aft. Are they not Athenians ? 
 
 Tim. Yes. 
 
 Ape. Then I repent not. 
 
 Jew. You know me, Apemantui ? 
 
 Ape. Thou know'ft I do, 1 call'd thee by thy name. 
 
 Tim. Thou art proud Af.emantui? 
 
 Ape. Of nothing fo much, as that I am not like Timon 
 
 Tim. Whether art going ? 
 
 Ape. To knocke out an honeft Athenians braines. 
 
 Tim. That's a deed thou't dye for. 
 
 Ape. Right, if doing nothing be death by th'Law. 
 
 Tim. How lik'ft thou this picture Apemanttu ? 
 
 Ape. The beft, for the innocence. 
 
 Tim. Wrought he not well that painted it. 
 
 Ape. He wrought better that made the Painter, and 
 yet he's but a filthy peece of worke. 
 
 Pain. Y'are a Dogge. 
 
 Ape. Thy Mothers of my generation : what's ihe,if I 
 be a Dogge ? 
 
 Tim. Wilt dine with me Apemantui ? 
 
 Ape. No : I eate not Lords. 
 
 Tim. And thou /hould'ft,thoud'ft anger Ladies. 
 
 Ape. O they eate Lords ; 
 So they come by great bellies. 
 
 Tim. That's a lafciuious apprehenfion. 
 
 Ape. So, thou apprehend'ft it, 
 Take it for thy labour. 
 
 Tim. How doft thou like this Jewell, Apemanttu ? 
 
 Ape. Not fo well as plain-dealing, which wil not caft 
 a man a Doit. 
 
 Tim. What doft thou thinke 'tis worth? 
 
 Ape. Not worth my thinking. 
 How now Poet? 
 
 Poet. How now Philofopher ? 
 
 Ape. Thou lyeft. 
 
 Poet. Art not one ? 
 
 Ape. Yes. 
 
 Poet. Then I lye not. 
 
 Ape. Art not a Poet ? 
 
 Poet. Yes. 
 
 Ape. Then thou lyeft : 
 
 Looke in thy laft worke, where thou haft fegin'd him a 
 worthy Fellow. 
 
 foet. That's not feign'd, he is fo. 
 
 Ape. Yes he is worthy of thee,and to pay thee for thy 
 labour. He that loues to be flattered, is worthy o'th flat- 
 terer. Heauens,that I were a Lord. 
 
 Tim. What wouldft do then Apemanttu? 
 
 Ape. E'ne as Apemantui does now,jhate a Lord with 
 my heart. 
 
 Tim. What thy felfe 
 
 Ape. I. 
 
 Tim. Wherefore? 
 
 Ape. That I had no angry wit to be a Lord. 1 
 Art not thou a Merchant ? 
 
 Mer. I Apemantui. 
 
 Ape. Traffick confound thee, if the Gods willnot. 
 
 Mer. If Trafficke do it, the Gods do it. 
 
 Ape. Traffickes thy God,& thy God confound thee. 
 Trumpet founds. Enter a MeJJenger. 
 
 Tim. What Trumpets that ? 
 
 Mef. 'Tis Alcibiades ,z.ndi fome twenty Horfe 
 
 All of Companion/hip. 
 
 Tim. Pray entertaine them, giue them guide to vs. 
 You muft needs dine with me : go not you hence 
 Till I haue thankt you : when dinners done 
 Shew me this peece, I am ioyfull of your fights. 
 
 Enter Alcibiades with the reft. 
 Moft welcome Sir. 
 
 tApe. So,fo; their Aches contract, and fterue your 
 fupple ioynts : that there mould bee fmall loue amongeft 
 thefe fweet Knaues, and all this Curtefie. The ftraine of 
 mans bred out into Baboon and Monkey. 
 
 Ale. Sir, you haue fau'd my longing, and I feed 
 Moft hungerly on your fight. 
 
 Tim. Right welcome Sir : 
 Ere we depatt, wee'l fliare a bounteous time 
 In different pleafures. 
 
 Pray you let vs in. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter fa>o Lords. 
 
 I. Lord What time a day is't Apemantuil 
 
 Ape. Time to be honeft. 
 
 1 That time ferues ftill. 
 
 Ape. The moft accurfed thou that ftill omitft it. 
 
 2 Thou art going to Lord Timont Feaft. 
 
 Ape. I, to fee meate fill Knaues, and Wine heat fooles. 
 2 Farthee well, farthee well. 
 Ape. Thou art a Foole to bid me farewell twice. 
 2 Why Apemantui ? 
 
 Ape. Should'ft haue kept one to thy felfe, for I meane 
 to giue thee none. 
 
 1 Hang thy felfe. 
 
 Ape. No I will do nothing at thy bidding : 
 Make thy requefts to thy Friend. 
 
 2 Away vnpeaceable Dogge, 
 Or He fpurne thee hence. 
 
 tApe. I will flye like a dogge, the heeles a'th'Afle. 
 
 1 Hee's oppofite to humanity. 
 Comes mall we in, 
 
 And tafte Lord Timons bountie : he out-goes 
 The verie heart of kindnefle. 
 
 2 He powres it out : flutiu the God of Gold 
 Is but his Steward : no meede but he repayes 
 Seuen-fold aboue it felfe : No guift to him, 
 But breeds the giuer a returne : exceeding 
 
 All vfe of quittance. 
 
 1 The Nobleft minde he carries, 
 That euer gouern'd man. 
 
 2 Long may he liue in Fortunes. Shall we in ? 
 
 lie keepe you Company. Exeunt. 
 
 Hoboyes Playing lovd Mufic^e. 
 
 A great Banquet fcrud in : and then. Enter Lord Timon, the 
 States, the Athenian Lords, Ventigius which Timon re- 
 deem 'd from prifon. Then comes dropping after all Ape- 
 mantus discontentedly life bimfelfe. 
 
 Ventig. Moft honoured Timon, 
 
 It hath pleas'd the Gods to remember my Fathers age, 
 And call him to long peace : 
 He is gone happy, and has left me rich : 
 Then, as in gratefull Vertue I am bound 
 To your free heart, I do returne thofe Talents 
 Doubled with thankes and feruice, from whofe helpe 
 I deriu'd libertie. 
 
 Tim. O by no meanes, 
 Honeft Vcntigiui : You miftake my loue, 
 
 I gaue 
 
 678
 
 'Timon of Athens. 
 
 81 
 
 I gaue it freely euer, and ther's none 
 
 Can truely fay he giues, if he receiues : 
 
 If our betters play at that game, we muft not dare 
 
 To imitate them : faults that are rich arefaire. 
 
 Vint. A Noble fpirit. 
 
 Tim.Nay my Lords, Ceremony was but deuis'd at firft 
 To fet a glofle on faint deeds, hollow welcomes, 
 Recanting goodnefi~e,forry ere 'tis fliowne : 
 But where there is true friendship, there needs none. 
 Pray fit,more welcome are ye to my Fortunes, 
 Then my Fortunes to me. 
 
 I. Lord. My Lord, we alwaies haue confeft it. 
 
 Aper. Ho ho, confeft it? Handg'd it? Haue you not/ 
 
 Timo. O Apermantui, you are welcome . 
 
 Aper. No : You fliall not make me welcome : 
 I come to haue thee thruft me out of doores. 
 
 Tim. Fie, th'art a churle, ye'haue got a humour there 
 Does not become a man, 'tis much too blame : 
 They fay my Lords,Irafiiror breuis eft, 
 But yond man is verie angrie. 
 Go, let him haue a Table by himfelfe : 
 For he does neither affedt companie, 
 Nor is he fit for't indeed. 
 
 Aper. Let me ftay at thine apperill Timon, 
 I come to obferue, I giue thee warning on't. 
 
 Tim. I take no heede of thee : Th'art an Athenian, 
 therefore welcome : I my felfe would haue no power, 
 prythee let my meate make thee filent. 
 
 Aper. I fcorne thy meate, 'twould choake me: for I 
 fliould nere flatter thee. Oh you Gods ! What a number 
 of men eats Timon, and he fees 'em not ? It greeues me 
 to fee fo many dip there meate in one mans blood, and 
 all the madnefle is, he cheeres them vp too. 
 I wonder men dare truft themfelues with men. 
 Me thinks they fliould enuite them without kniues, 
 Good for there meate, and fafer for their Hues. 
 There's much example for't, the fellow that fits next him, 
 now parts bread with him, pledges the breath of him in 
 a diuided draught : is the readieft man to kill him. 'Tas 
 beene proued, if I were ai huge man I fliould feare to 
 drinke at meales, leaft they fliould fpie my wind-pipes 
 dangerous noates-, great men fliould drinke with harnefle 
 on their throates. 
 
 Tim. My Lord in heart : and let the health go round. 
 
 1. Lord. Let it flow this way my good Lord. 
 
 Aper . Flow this way? A braue fellow. He keepes his 
 tides well, thofe healths will make thee and thy ftate 
 looke ill ,Ttmon. 
 
 Heere's that which is too weake to be a (inner, 
 Hor.eft water, which nere left man i'th'mire : 
 This and my food are equals, there's no ods, 
 Feafts are to proud to giue thanks to the Gods. 
 
 Apermanttu Qrace. 
 Immortal/ Qods, I craue no pelfe, 
 I pray for no man but my Jelfe, 
 Graunt I may neuer proue Jo fond, 
 To truft man on bis Oath or 'Bond. 
 Or a Harlot for her weeping, 
 Or a Dc/gge that feemes ajleeping, 
 Or a Reefer with my freedome , 
 Or my friends if IJhould need 'em . 
 Amen. So fall too't : 
 Richmen Jin, and I eat root. 
 Much good dich thy good heart, Afermantut 
 Tim. Captaine, 
 
 679 
 
 Alcibiades, your hearts in the field now. 
 
 Aid. My heart is euer at your feruice, my Lord. 
 
 Tim. You had rather be at a breakefaft of Enemies, 
 then a dinner of Friends. 
 
 Ale. So they were bleeding new my Lord, there's no 
 meat like 'em, I could wifli my beft friend at fuch a Feaft. 
 
 Aper. Would all thofe Flatterers were thine Enemies 
 then, that then thou might'ftkill 'em : & bid me to 'em. 
 
 1. Lord. Might we but haue that happineffe my Lord, 
 that you would once vfe our hearts, whereby we might 
 exprefle fome part of our zeales, we fliould thinke our 
 felues for euer perfect. 
 
 Timon. Oh no doubt my good Friends, but the Gods 
 themfelues haue prouided that I fliall haue much helpe 
 from you: how had you beene my Friends elfe. Why 
 haue you that charitable title from thoufands ? Did not 
 you chiefely belong to my heart?! haue told more of 
 you to my felfe, then you can with modeftie fpeake in 
 your owne behalfe. And thus farre I confirme you. Oh 
 you Gods (thinke I,) what need we haue any Friends; if 
 we fliould nere haue need of 'em ? They were the moft 
 needlefle Creatures liuing; fliould we nere haue vfe for j 
 'em ? And would moft refemble fweete Inftruments 
 hung vp in Cafes, that keepes there founds to them- 
 felues. Why I haue often wiflit my felfe poorer, that 
 I might come neerer to you : we are borne to do bene- 
 fits. And what better or properer can we call our owne, 
 then the riches of our Friends ? Oh what a pretious com- 
 fort 'tis, to haue fo many like Brothers commanding 
 one anothers Fortunes. Oh ioyes, e'ne made away er't 
 can be borne .-mine eies cannot hold out waterme thinks, 
 to forget their Faults. I drinke to you. 
 
 eAper. Thou weep'ft to make them drinke, Timon. 
 
 1 .Lord. loy had the like conception in our eies, 
 And at that inftant, like a babe fprung vp. 
 
 Aper. Ho, ho; I laugh to thinke that babe a baftard. 
 
 3. Lord. I promife you my Lord you mou'd me much. 
 
 Aper. Much. 
 
 Sound Tucket. Enter the Masters of Ama%ons , nlth 
 Lutes in their bands, dauncing an 
 
 Tim. What meanes that Trumpe? How now f 
 
 Enter Seruant . 
 
 Ser. Pleafe you my Lord, there are certaine Ladies 
 Moft defirous of admittance. 
 
 Tim. Ladies? what are their wils ? 
 
 Ser. There comes with them a fore-runner my Lord, 
 which beares that office, to fignifie their pleafures. 
 Tim. I pray let them be admitted. 
 
 Enter Cupid with the 
 
 of Ladies. 
 
 Cup. Haile to thee worthy Timon and to all that of 
 his Bounties tafte:the flue beft Sencesa cknowledge thee 
 their Patron, and come freely to gratulate thy plentious 
 bofome. 
 
 There taft, touch all,pleas'd from thy Table rife: 
 They onely now come but to Feaft thine eies. 
 
 Timo. They'r wecome all, let 'em haue kind admit, 
 tance.Muficke make their welcome. 
 
 Luc. You fee my Lord, how ample y'are belou'd. 
 
 Aper, Hoyday , 
 
 What a fweepe of vanitie comes this way. 
 Theydaunce? They are madwomen, 
 
 BS3 
 
 Like
 
 82 
 
 'Timon of ^Athens. 
 
 Like Madneffe is the glory of this life, 
 
 As this pompe fhewes to a little oyle and roore. 
 
 We make our felues Fooles, to difport our felues, 
 
 And fpend our Flatteries, to drinke thofe men, 
 
 Vpon whofe Age we voyde it vp agen 
 
 With poyfonous Spight and Enuy. 
 
 Who liues, that's not depraued, or depraues ; 
 
 Who dyes, that beares not one fpurne to their graues 
 
 Of" their Friends guift : 
 
 I fliould feare, thofe that dance before me now, 
 
 Would one day ftampe vpon me : 'Tas bene done, 
 
 Men fliut their doores againft a fetting Sunne. 
 
 The Lords rife from Table, with much adoring of Timon, and 
 to Jketv their louts, each Jingle out an Amazon, and all 
 Dance , men with women , a loftie Jiraine or two to the 
 Hoboyes, and ceaje. 
 
 Tim. You haue done our pleafures 
 Much grace (faire Ladies) 
 Set a faire fafliion on our entertainment, 
 Which was not halfe fo beautifull, and kinde : 
 You haue added worth vntoo't, and lufter, 
 And entertain'd me with mine owne deuice. 
 I am to thanke you for't. 
 
 I Lord. My Lord you take vs euen at the beft. 
 
 Afer.Fahh for the worft is filthy, and would not hold 
 taking, I doubt me. 
 
 Tim. Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends you, 
 Pleafe you to difpofe your felues. 
 
 All La. Mod thankfully,my Lord. Exeunt. 
 
 Tim. Flauiiu. 
 
 F!a. My Lord. 
 
 Tim. The little Casket bring me hither. 
 
 Fla. Yes, my Lord. Mbre Jewels yet / 
 There is no eroding him in's humor, 
 Elfe I fliould tell him well, yfaith I fliould ; 
 When all's fpent,hee'ld be croft then, and he could : 
 'Tis pitty Bounty had not eyes behinde, 
 That man might ne're be wretched for his minde. Sxit . 
 
 1 Lord. Where be our men ? 
 
 Ser. Heere my Lord, in readinefle. 
 
 2 Lord. Our Horfes. 
 Tim. O my Friends : 
 
 I haue one word to fay to you : Looke you, my good L. 
 I muft intreat you honour me fo much, 
 As to aduance this Iewell,accept it,and weare it, 
 Kinde my Lord. 
 
 I Lord. I am fo farre already in your guifts. 
 
 All. So are we all. 
 
 Enter a Seruant . 
 
 Ser. My Lord, there are certiine Nobles of the Senate 
 newly alighted, and come to vifit you. 
 
 Tim. They are fairely welcome. 
 Enter Flauitu. 
 
 Fla. I befeech your Honor, vouchfafe me a word, it 
 does concerne you neere. 
 
 Tim. Neere ? why then another time He heare thee. 
 I prythee let's be prouided to fliew them entertainment. 
 
 Fla. I fcarfe know how. 
 
 Enter another Seruant. 
 
 Ser. May it pleafe your Honor, Lord Lucius] 
 (Out of his free loue) hath prefented to you 
 Foure Milke-white Horfes, trapt in Siluer. 
 
 Tim. I fliall accept them fairely : let the Prefents 
 Be worthily entertain'd. 
 
 Enter a third Seruant. 
 How now ? What newes ? 
 
 3. Ser. Pleafe you my Lord, that honourable Gentle- 
 man Lord Luculliu, entreats your comprinie to morrow, 
 to hunt with him, and ha's fent your Honour two brace 
 of Grey-hounds. 
 
 Tim. He hunt with him, 
 And let them be receiu'd, not without faire Reward. 
 
 Fla. What will this come to ? 
 He commands vs to prouide, and giue great guifts, and 
 
 all out of an empty Coffer : 
 Nor will he know his Purfe,or yeeld me this, 
 To fhew him what a Begger his heart is, 
 Being of no power to make his wifhes good. 
 His promifes flye fo beyond his ftate, 
 
 That what he fpeaks is all in debt, he ows for eu'ry word: 
 He is fo kinde, that he now payes intereft for't; 
 His Land's put to their Bookes. Well, would I were 
 Gently put out of Office, before I were forc'd out: 
 Happier is he that has no friend to feede, 
 Then fuch that do e'ne Enemies exceede. 
 I bleed inwardly for my Lord. Exit 
 
 Tim. You do your felues much wrong, 
 You bate too much of your owne merits. 
 Heere my Lord,a trifle of our Loue. 
 
 z. Lord. With more then common thankes 
 I will receyue it- 
 
 *$.Lord. O he's the very foule of Bounty. 
 
 Tim. And now 1 remember my Lord, you gaue good 
 words the other day of a Bay Courfer I rod on. Tis yours 
 becaufeyou lik'd it. 
 
 i.L.Oh, I befeech you pardon mee, my Lord, in that. 
 
 Tim. You may take my word my Lord : I know no 
 man can iuftly praife, but what he does affecl. I weighe 
 my Friends affection with mine owne : lie tell you true, 
 He call to you. 
 
 All Lor. O none fo welcome. 
 
 Tim. I take all, and your feuerall vifitations 
 So kinde to heart, 'tis not enough to giue : 
 Me thinkes, I could deale Kingdomes to my Friends, 
 And nere be wearie. Alcibiades, 
 Thou art a Soldiour, therefore fildome rich, 
 It comes in Charitie to thee : for all thy liuing 
 Is mong'ft the dead : and all the Lands thou haft 
 Lye in a pitcht field. 
 
 Ale. I, defil'd Land, my Lord. 
 
 i.Lord. We are fo vertuoufly bound. 
 
 Tim. And fo am I to you. 
 
 2. Lord. So infinitely endeer'd. 
 
 Tim. All to you. Lights, more Lights. 
 
 l. Lord. The beft of Happines, Honor, and Fortunes 
 Keepe with you Lord Timon. 
 
 Tim. Ready for his Friends. Exeunt Lords 
 
 Aper. What a coiles heere, feruing of beckes,and iut- 
 ting out of bummes. I doubt whether their Legges be 
 worth the fummes that are giuen for 'em. 
 Friendships full of dregges, 
 
 Me thinkes falfe hearts, fliould neuer haue found legges. 
 Thus honeft Fooles lay out their wealth on Curtfies. 
 
 Tim. Now Apermantus(\f thou wert not fullen) 
 I would be good to thee. 
 
 Aper. No, He nothing; for if I fliould be brib'd too, 
 there would be none left to raile vponthee,and then thou 
 wouldft finne the fafter. Thou giu'ft fo long Timon (I 
 feare me) thou wilt giue away thy felfe in paper fhortly. 
 What needs thefe Feafts,pompes, and Vaine-glories ? 
 
 Tim. 
 
 680""
 
 Ttmon of Athens. 
 
 Tim. Nay, and you begin to raile on Societie once, I 
 am fworne not to giue regard to you. Farewell, & come 
 with better Muficke. Bxit 
 
 Aper. So : Thou wilt not heare mee now, thou fhalt 
 not then. lie locke thy heauen from thee :i 
 Oh that mens eares fliould be 
 To Counfell deafe, but not to Flatterie. Bxit 
 
 Enter a Senator. 
 
 Sen, And late fiue thoufand : to Varro and to IJidore 
 He owes nine thoufand, befides my former fumme, 
 Which makes it fiue and twenty. Still in motion 
 Of raging wafte? It cannot hold, it will not. 
 If I want Gold, fteale but a beggers Hogge, 
 And giue it Timon, why the Dogge coines Gold. 
 If I would fell my Horfe,and buy twenty moe 
 Better then he; why giue my Horfe to Timon. 
 Aske nothing, giue it him, it Poles me ftraight 
 And able Horfes : No Porter at his gate, 
 But rather one that fmiles, and ftill inuites 
 All that pafTe by. It cannot hold, no reafon 
 Can found his ftate in fafety. Capbu hoa, 
 Capbii'l fay. 
 
 Enter Capbit. 
 
 Ca. Heere fir, what is your pleafure. 
 
 Sen. Get on your cloake,& haft you to Lord Timon, 
 Importune him for my Moneyes, be not ceaft 
 With flight deniall ; nor then filenc'd, when 
 Commend me to your Mafter, and the Cap 
 Playes in the right hand, thus : but tell him, 
 My Vfes cry to me ; I muft ferue my turne 
 Out of mine owne, his dayes and times are paft, 
 And my reliances on his framed dates 
 Haue fmit my credit. I loue, and honour him, 
 But muft not breake my backe, to heale his finger. 
 Immediate are my needs, and my releefe 
 Muft not be toft and turn'd to me in words, 
 But finde fupply immediate. Get you gone, 
 Put on a moft importunate afpeft, 
 A vifage of demand : for I do feare 
 When euery Feather ftickes in his owne wing, 
 Lord Timon will be left a naked gull,i 
 Which flatties now a Phcenix, get you gone. 
 
 Ca. I go fir. 
 
 Sen. I go fir ? 
 
 Take the Bonds along with you, 
 And haue the dates in. Come. 
 
 Ca. I will Sir. 
 
 Sen. Go. Exeunt 
 
 Enter Steward, with many billes in bit band. 
 Stevp. No care, no ftop, fo fenfelefle of expence, 
 That he will neither know how to maintaine it, 
 Nor ceafe his flow of Riot. Takes no accompt 
 How things go from him, nor refume no care 
 Of what is to continue: neuer minde, 
 Was to be fo vnwife, to be fo kinde. 
 What mall be done, he will not heare, till feele : 
 I muft be round with him, now he comes from hunting. 
 Fye, fie, fie, fie. 
 
 Enter Capbu, IJidore, and1)arro. 
 
 Cap. Good euen Varro ; what, you come for money? 
 Var. Is't not your bufinefle too ? 
 Cap. It is, and yours too, Ifidore? 
 Jfid. It is fo. 
 
 681 
 
 Cap. Would we were all difcharg'd. 
 
 Var. I feare it, 
 
 Cap. Heere comes the Lord. 
 
 Enter Timon , and bii Traine, 
 
 Tim. So foone as dinners done, wee'l forth againe 
 My Alcibiades. With me, what is your will? 
 
 Cap. My Lord,heere is a note of certaine dues. 
 
 Tim. Dues? whence are you? 
 
 Cap. Of Athens heere.my Lord. 
 
 Tim. Go to my Steward. 
 
 Cap. Pleafe it your Lordfhip, he hath put me off 
 To the fucceflion of new dayes this moneth : 
 My Mafter is awak'd by great Occafion, 
 To call vpon his owne, and humbly prayes you, 
 That with your other Noble parts, you'l fuite, 
 In giuing him his right. 
 
 Tim. Mine honeft Friend, 
 I prythee but repaire to me next morning. 
 
 Cap. Nay, good my Lord. 
 
 Tim. Containe thy felfe,good Friend. 
 
 Var, One Varroes feruant, my good Lord. 
 
 IJid. From IJidore, he humbly prayes your fpeedy pay- 
 ment. 
 
 Cap. If you did know my Lord, my Mafters wants. 
 
 Var. 'Twas due on fort'eyture my Lord, fixe weekes, 
 and paft. 
 
 IJi. Your Steward puts me oft' my Lord, and I 
 Am fent exprefiely to your Lord/hip. 
 
 Tim. Giue me breath : 
 I do befeech you good my Lords keepe on, 
 lie waite vpon you inftantly. Come hither : pray you 
 How goes the world, that 1 am thus encountred 
 With clamorous demands of debt, broken Bonds, 
 And the detention of long fince due debts 
 Againft my Honor ? 
 
 Stew. Pleafe you Gentlemen, 
 The time is vnagreeable to this bufinefle : 
 Your importunacie ceafe, till after dinner, 
 That I may make his Lord/hip vnderftand] 
 Wherefore you are not paid. 
 
 Tim. Do fo my Friends,fee them well entertain'd. 
 
 Stew. Pray draw neere. Exit. 
 
 Enter Afemantui and Foole. 
 
 Capb. Stay, ftay, here comes the Foole with Ajcman- 
 tuf, let's ha fome fport with 'em. 
 
 Var. Hang him,hee'l abufe vs. 
 
 IJid. A plague vpon him dogge. 
 
 Var. How doft Foole ? 
 
 Ape. Doft Dialogue with thy fliadow ? 
 
 Var. I fpeake not to thee. 
 
 Ape. No 'tis to thy felfe. Come away. 
 
 IJi. There's the Foole hangs on your backe already. 
 
 Ape. No thou ftand'ft fingle, th'art not on him yet. 
 
 Qap. Where's the Foole now ? 
 
 Ape. He laft ask'd the queftion. Poore Rogues, and 
 Vfurers men, Bauds betweene Gold and want. 
 
 Al. What are we Apemanttu ? 
 
 Ape. Afles. 
 
 All. Why? 
 
 tApe, That you ask me what you are, & do not know 
 your felues. Speake to 'em Foole. 
 
 Foole. How do you Gentlemen? 
 
 All. Gramercies good Foole : 
 How does your Miftris? 
 
 Fcole.
 
 84 
 
 Timon of ^Athens. 
 
 Foole. She's e'ne fetting on water to fcal'd fuch Chic- 
 kens as you are. Would we could fee you at Corinth. 
 Ape. Good, Gramercy. 
 
 Enter Page. 
 
 Foole. Looke you, heere comes my Mafters Page. 
 
 Page. Why how now Captaine? what do you in this 
 wife Company. 
 How doft thou Apermannu* 
 
 Aft. Would I had a Rod in my mouth, that I might 
 anfwer thee profitably. 
 
 'Boy. Prythee Apemantut reade me the fuperfcripti- 
 on of thefe Letters, I know not which is which. 
 
 Ape. Canft not read ? 
 
 Page. No. 
 
 Ape. There will Title Learning dye then that day thou 
 art hang'd. This is to Lord Timon, this to Alcibiades. Go 
 thou was't borne a Baftard, and thou't dye a Bawd. 
 
 Page. Thou was't whelpt a Dogge, and thou /halt 
 famifli a Dogges death. 
 Anfwer not, I am gone. Exit 
 
 Ape. E'ne fo thou out-runfl Grace, 
 Foole I will go with you to Lord Timcns. 
 
 Foole. Will you leaue me there ? 
 
 Ape. If Timon flay at home. 
 
 You three ferue three Vfurers ? 
 
 All. I would they feru'd vs. 
 
 Ape. So would I : 
 As good a tricke as euer Hangman feru'd Theefe. 
 
 Foole. Are you three Vfurers men ? 
 All. I Foole. 
 
 Focle. I thinke no Vfurer, but ha's a Foole to his Ser- 
 uant. My Miftris is one, and I am her Foole : when men 
 come to borrow of your Mafters, they approach fadly, 
 and go away merry : but they enter my Mafters houfe 
 merrily, and go away fadly. The reafon of this? 
 
 far. I could render one. 
 
 Ap. Do it then, that we may account thee a Whore- 
 mafter, and a Knaue, which notwithftanding thou flialt 
 be no lefle efteemed. 
 
 Varro. What is a Whoremafter Foole? 
 
 Foole. A Foole in good cloathes, and fomething like 
 thee. 'Tis a fpirit, fometime t'appeares like a Lord,fom- 
 time like a Lawyer, fometime like a Philofopher, with 
 two ftones moe then's artificiall one. Hee is verie often 
 like a Knight ; and generally, in all ihapes that man goes 
 vp and downe in, from fourefcore to thirteen, this fpirit 
 wjlkes in. 
 
 Var. Thou art not altogether a Foole. 
 
 Foole. Nor thou altogether a Wife man, 
 As much foolerie as I haue,fo much wit thou lack'ft.^ 
 
 Af.e. That anfwer might haue become Apsmanttu. 
 
 Ail. Afide, afide, heere comes Lord Timon. 
 
 Enter Timon and Steward. 
 
 Ape. Come with me(Foole)come. 
 
 Took. I do not alwayes follow Louer, lelder Brother, 
 aad Woman, fometime the Philofopher. 
 
 Stev. Pray you walkeneere, 
 He fpeake with you anon. Exeunt. 
 
 Tim. You make me meruell wherefore ere this time 
 Had you not fully hide my ftate before me, 
 That I might fo haue rated my expence 
 As I had leaue of meanes. 
 
 Stev. You would not heare me : 
 
 At many leyfures I propofe. 
 
 Tim. Go too : 
 
 Perchance feme fingle vantages you tooke, 
 When my indifpofition put you backe, 
 And that vnaptnefle made your minifter 
 Thus to excufe your felfe. 
 
 SreTv. O my good Lord, 
 At many times I brought in my accompts, 
 Laid them before you, you would throw them off, 
 And fay you found them in mine honeftie, 
 When for fome trifling prefent you haue bid me 
 Returne fo much, I haue fliooke my head, and wept : 
 Yea "gainft th'Authoritie of manners, pray 'd you 
 To hold your hand more clofe : I did indure 
 Not fildome, nor no flight checkes, when I haue 
 Prompted you in the ebbe of your eftate, 
 And your great flow of debts ; my lou'd Lord, 
 Though you heare now (too late) yet nowes a time, 
 The greateft of your hauing, hckes a halfe, 
 To pay your prefent debts. 
 
 Tim. Let all my Land be fold. 
 
 Stew. 'Tis all engag'd, fome forfeyted and gone, 
 And what remaines will hardly flop the mouth 
 Of prefent dues ; the future comes apace : 
 What fliall defend the interim, and at length 
 How goes our reck'ning? 
 
 Tim. To Lacedemon did my Land extend. 
 
 Stew. O my good Lord, the world is but a word, 
 Were it all yours, to giue it in a breath, 
 How quickely were it gone. 
 
 Tim. You tell me true. 
 
 Stew. If you fufpedt my Husbandry or Falfliood, 
 Call me before th'exadteft Auditors, 
 And fet me on the proofe. So the Gods blefie me, 
 When all our Offices haue beene oppreft 
 With riotous Feeders, when our Vaults haue wept 
 With drunken fpilth of Wine ; when euery roome 
 Hath blaz'd with Lights, and braid with Minftrelfie, 
 I haue retyr'd me to a waftefull cocke, 
 And fet mine eyes at flow. 
 
 Tim. Prythee no more. 
 
 Sten. Heauens, haue I faid, the bounty of this Lord : 
 How many prodigall bits haue Slaues and Pezants 
 This night englutted : who is not Timons, 
 What heart,head,fword,force,meanes,but is L. Timons: 
 Great Timon, Noble, Worthy, Royall Timon : 
 Ah, when the meanes are gone, that buy this praife, 
 The breath is gone, whereof this praife is made : 
 Feaft won, faft loft ; one cloud of Winter fliowres, 
 Thefe flyes are coucht. 
 
 Tim. Come fermon me no further. 
 No villanous bounty yet hath paft my heart ; 
 Vnwifely, not ignobly haue I giueri. 
 
 Why doft thou weepe, canft thou the confcience lacke, 
 To thinke I fliall lacke friends : fecure thy heart, 
 If I would broach the vefTels of my loue, 
 And try the argument of hearts, by borrowing, 
 Men, and mens fortunes could I frankely vfe 
 As I can bid thee fpeake. 
 
 Ste. Aflurance blelFe your thoughts. 
 Tim. And in fome fort thefe wants of mine are crown'd, 
 That I account them bleflings. For by thefe 
 Shall I trie Friends. You flull perceiue 
 How you miftake my Fortunes : 
 I am wealthie in my Friends. 
 Within there, FlauiiM,Seruilituf 
 
 Enter 
 
 681
 
 Timon of Athens. 
 
 Enter three Seruants. 
 
 Ser. My Lord, my Lord. 
 Tim. I will difpatch you feuerally. 
 
 You to Lord Luciui , to Lord Lucullui you, I hunted 
 with his Honor to day; you to Semfroniui; commend me 
 to their loues ; and I am proud fay, that my occafions 
 haue found time to vfe 'em toward a fupply of mony : let 
 the requeft be fifty Talents. 
 
 Flam. As you haue faid, my Lord. 
 
 Stra. Lord Luciiu and Lucullui ? Humh. 
 Tim. Go you fir to the Senators ; 
 Of whom, euen to the States beft health ; I haue 
 Deferu'd this Hearing : bid 'em fend o'th'inftant 
 A thoufand Talents to me. 
 
 Ste, I haue beene bold 
 (For that I knew it the moft generall way) 
 To them, to vfe your Signet,and your Name, 
 But they do {hake their heads, and I am heere 
 No richer in returne. 
 
 Tim. Is't true? Can't be ? 
 
 Stew. They anfwer in a ioynt and corporate voice, 
 That now they are at fall, want Treature cannot 
 Do what they would, are forrie : you are Honourable, 
 But yet they could haue wifht, they know not, 
 Something hath beene amifle ; a Noble Nature 
 May catch a wrench ; would all were well ; tis pitty, 
 And fo intending other ferious matters, 
 After diftaftefull lookes; and thefe hard Fractions 
 With certaine halfe-caps,and cold mouing nods, 
 They froze me into Silence. 
 
 Tim. You Gods reward them : 
 Prythee man looke cheerely. Thefe old Fellowes 
 Haue their ingratitude in them Hereditary : 
 Their blood is cak'd, 'tis cold, it fildome flowes, 
 'Tis lacke of kindely warmth, they are notkinde ; 
 And Nature, as it growes againe toward earth, 
 Is fafhion'd for the iourney,dull and heauy. 
 Go to fJentiddiu* (prythee be not fad, 
 Thou art true,and honeft ; Ingenioufly I fpeake, 
 No blame belongs to thee :) ^entjdaitu lately 
 Buried his Father, by whofe death hee's ftepp'd 
 Into a great eftate : When he was poore, 
 Imprifon'd, and in fcarfitie of Friends, 
 I cleer'd him with fiue Talents : Greet him from me, 
 Bid him fuppofe, fome good neceflity 
 Touches his Friend, which craues to be remembred 
 With thofe fiue Talents ; that had, giue't thefe Fellowes 
 To whom 'tis inftant due. Neu'r fpeake, or thinke, 
 That Timons fortunes 'mong his Friends can finke. 
 
 Stew. I would I could not thinke it : 
 That thought is Bounties Foe ; 
 Being free it felfe, it thinkes all others fo. Exeunt 
 
 Flaminitu waiting to Jpeakf with a Lord from bis 
 enters ajeruant to him. 
 
 Ser.l haue told my Lord of you, he is comming down 
 to you. 
 
 Flam. I thanke you Sir. 
 
 Enter Lucullus . 
 
 Ser. Heere's my Lord. 
 
 Luc. One of Lord Timons men ? A Guift I warrant. 
 Why this hits right : I dreampt of a Siluer Bafon & Ewre 
 to night. Flaminiut, honeft Flaminius, you are verie re- 
 fpectiuely welcome fir. Fill me fome Wine. And how 
 does that Honourable, Compleate, Free-hearted Gentle- 
 
 68j 
 
 man of Athens, thy very bouutifull good Lord and May- 
 fter? 
 
 Flam. His health is well fir. 
 
 Luc. I am right glad that his health is well fir : and 
 what haft thou there vnder thy Cloake, pretty Ylaminitu? 
 
 Flam. Faith, nothing but an empty box Sir, which in 
 my Lords behalfe, I come to intreat your Honor to fup- 
 ply ; who hauing great and inftant occafion to vfe fiftie 
 Talents, hath lent to your Lordlhip to furnifli him : no- 
 thing doubting your prefent afiiftance therein. 
 
 Luc. La, la, la, la : Nothing doubting fayes hee? Alas 
 good Lord , a Noble Gentleman 'tis, if he would not keep 
 fo good a houfe. Many a time and often I ha din'd with 
 him, and told him on't, and come againe to fupper to him 
 of purpofe, to haue him fpend lefTe, and yet he wold em- 
 brace no counfell,take no warning by my comming,eue- 
 ry man has his fault, and honefty is his. I ha told him on't, 
 but I could nere get him from't. 
 
 Enter Seruant with Wine. 
 
 Ser. Pleafe your Lordfhip, heere is the Wine. 
 
 Luc. Flaminius, I haue noted thee alwayes wife. 
 Heere's to thee. 
 
 Flam. Your Lordfhip fpeakes your pleafure. 
 Luc. I haue obferued thee alwayes for a towardlie 
 prompt fpirit, giue thee thy due, and one that knowes 
 what belongs to reafon; and canft vfe the time wel, if the 
 time vfe thee well. Good parts in thee ; get you gone fir- 
 rah. Draw neerer honeft Flaminius . Thy Lords a boun- 
 tifull Gentleman, but thou art wife, and thou know'ft 
 well enough (although thou com'ft to me) that this is no 
 time to lend money, efpecially vpon bare friendfhippe 
 without fecuritie. Here's three Solidares for thee, good 
 Boy winke at me, and fay thou faw'ft mee not. Fare thee 
 well. 
 
 Flam. Is't poflible the world fhould fo much differ, 
 And we aliue that liued ? Fly damned bafenefle 
 To him that worships thee. 
 
 Luc. Ha ? Now I fee thou art a Foole, and fit for thy 
 Mafter. Sxit L. 
 
 Flam May thefe adde to the number y may fcald thee: 
 Let moulten Coine be thy damnation, 
 Thou difeafe of a friend, and not himfelfe : 
 Has friend/hip fuch a faint and milkie heart, 
 It turnes in lefie then two nights/ O you Gods ! 
 I feele my Mafters paflion. This Slaue vnto his Honor, 
 Has my Lords meate in him : 
 Why fhould it thriue, and turne to Nutriment, 
 When he is turn'd to poyfon ? 
 O may Difeafes onely worke vpon't : 
 
 And when he's ficke to death, let not that part of Nature 
 Which my Lord payd for, be of any power 
 To expell ficknefle, but prolong his hower. Sxit. 
 
 Enter Luciui , with three ft rangers. 
 
 Luc.Who the Lord Timon? He is my very good friend 
 and an Honourable Gentleman. 
 
 1 We know him for no lefle, thogh we are but ftran- 
 gers to him. But I can tell you one thing my Lord, and 
 which I heare from common rumours ,now Lord Timons 
 happie howres are done and paft, and his eftate flirinkes 
 from him. 
 
 Lucius. Fye no, doe not beleeue it : hee cannot want 
 for money. 
 
 2 But beleeue you this my Lord, that not long agoe, 
 one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus, to borrow fo 
 many Talents, nay vrg'd extreamly for't, and fliewed 
 
 what
 
 86 
 
 Timon of Athens. 
 
 what neceflity belong'd too't, and yet was deny'de. 
 
 Luci. How ? 
 
 2 I tell you, deny'de my Lord. 
 
 Luci. What a flrange cafe was that ? Now before the 
 Gods I am afliam'd on'r. Denied that honourable man ? 
 There was verie little Honour fliew'd in't. For my ovvne 
 part, I muft needes confefle, I haue receyued forr.e frr.all 
 kindnefles from him, as Money, PUte, lewels, and fuch 
 like Trifles ; nothing comparing to his : yet had hee mi- 
 ftooke him, and fent to me,I fliould ne're haue denied his 
 Occafion fo many Talents. 
 
 Enter Scruiliut. 
 
 Seruil. See, by good hap yonders my Lord, I haue 
 fwet to fee his Honor. My Honor'd Lord. 
 
 Lucil. Seruiliiu} You are kindely met fir. Farthewell, 
 commend me to thy Honourable vertuous Lord, my ve- 
 ry exquifite Friend. 
 
 Seruil. May it pleafe your Honour, my Lord hath 
 fent 
 
 Luci. Ha? what ha's he fent? I am fo much endeered 
 to that Lord ; hee's euer fending : how fliall I thank him 
 think'ft thou f And what has he fent now ? 
 
 Seruil. Has onely fent his prefent Occafion now my 
 Lord : requeuing your Lordihip to fupply his inftant vfe 
 with fo many Talents. 
 
 Lucil. I know his Lordfhip is but merry with me, 
 He cannot want fifty fiue hundred Talents. 
 
 Seruil. But in the mean time he wants lefle my Lord. 
 If his occafion were not vertuous, 
 I fliould not vrge it halfe fo faithfully. 
 
 Luc. Doft thou fpeake ferioufly Seruiliiu? 
 
 Seruil. Vpon my foule 'tis true Sir. 
 
 Luci. What a wicked Beaft was I to disfurnifh my 
 felf a gain ft fuch a good time, when I might ha fliewn my 
 felfe Honourable? How vnluckily it hapned,that I /hold 
 Purchafe the day before for a little part, and vndo a great 
 deale of Honour ? Seruilita. now before the Gods I am 
 not able to do ('the more beaft I fay) I was fending to vfe 
 Lord Timon my felfe, thefe Gentlemen can witnefie ; but 
 I would not for the wealth of Athens I had done't now. 
 Commend me bountifully to his good Lordfllip, and I 
 hope his Honor will conceiue the faireft of mee, becaufe 
 I haue no power to be kinde. And tell him this from me, 
 I count it one of my greateft afflictions fay, that I cannot 
 pleafure fuch an Honourable Gentleman. Good Seruili- 
 uf, will you befriend mee fo farre, as to vfe mine owne 
 words to him ? 
 
 Ser. Yes fir, I (hall. Exit Seruil. 
 
 Lucil. He looke you out a good turne Seruilius. 
 True as you faid, Timcn is flirunke indeede, 
 And he that's once deny'de , will hardly fpeede. Exit . 
 
 1 Do you obferue this Hoflilius ? 
 
 2 I, to well. 
 
 I Why this is the worlds foule, 
 And iuft of the fame peece 
 
 Is euery Flatterers fport : who can call him his Friend 
 That dips in the fame difli ? For in my knowing 
 Timon has bin this Lords Father, 
 And kept his credit with his purfe : 
 Supported his eftate, nay Timons money 
 Has paid his men their wages. He ne're drinkes, 
 But Timons Siluer treads vpon his Lip, 
 And yet, oh fee the monftroufnefle of man, 
 When he lookesout in an vngratefull fljape ; 
 He does deny him (in refpeft of his) 
 
 What charitable men afrbord to Eeggers. 
 
 3 Religion grones at it. 
 
 I For mine owne part, I neuer tafted Timon in my life 
 Nor came any of his bounties ouerme, 
 To marke me for his Friend. Yet I proteft, 
 For his right Noble minde, illuftrious Vertue, 
 And Honourable Carriage, 
 Had his neceflity made vfe of me, 
 I would haue put my wealth into Donation, 
 And the beft halfe fliould haue return'd to him, 
 So much I loue his heart : Butl perceiue, 
 Men muftlearne now with pitty to difpence, 
 For Policy fits aboue Confidence. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter a third Jeruant with Sempronius ,anotber 
 of Timons Friends. 
 
 Semf>. Muft he needs trouble me in't ? Hum. 
 'Boue all others ? 
 
 He might haue tried Lord Lucius, or LucuUus, 
 And now Ventidgius, is wealthy too, 
 Whom he redeem'd from prifon. All thefe 
 Owes their eftates vnto him. 
 
 Ser.. My Lord, 
 
 They hiue all bin touch'd, and found Bafe-Mettlc, 
 For they haue all denied him. 
 
 Semp. How ? Haue they deny'de him ? 
 Has Ventidgmt and Lucullus deny'de him, 
 And does he fend to me ? Three ? Humh? 
 It fliewes but little loue, or Judgement in him. 
 Muft I be his laft Refuge ? His Friends (like Phyfitians) 
 Thriue, giue him ouer : Muft I take th'Cure vpon me ? 
 Has much difgrac'd me in't, I'me angry at him, 
 That might haue knowne my place. I fee no fenfe for't, 
 But his Occafions might haue wooed me firft : 
 For in my confcience, I was the firft man 
 That ere receiued guift from him. 
 And does he thinke fo backwardly of me now, 
 That He requite it laft? No : 
 So it may proue an Argument of Laughter 
 To th'reft,and 'mong'ft Lords be thought a Foole : 
 I'de rather then the worth of thrice the fumme, 
 Had fent to me firft, but for my mindes fake : 
 I'de fuch a courage to do him good. But now returne, 
 And with their faint reply, this anfwer ioyne ; 
 Who bates mine Honor, (hall not know my Coyne. Exit 
 
 Ser. Excellent : Your Lordfliips a goodly Villain: the 
 diuell knew not what he did, when hee made man Poli- 
 ticke ; he crofTed himfelfe by't : and I cannot thinke, but 
 in the end, the Villanies of man will fet him cleere. How 
 fairely this Lord ftriues to appeare foule ? Takes Vertu- 
 ous Copies to be wicked : like thofe, that vnder hotte ar- 
 dent zeale, would fet whole Realmes on fire, of fuch a na- 
 ture is his politike loue. 
 
 This was my Lords beft hope, now all are fled 
 Saue onely the Gods. Now his Friends are dead, 
 Doores that were ne're acquainted with their Wards 
 Many a bounteous yeere, muft be imploy'd 
 Now to guard fure their Mafter : 
 And this is all a liberal! courfe allowes, 
 Who cannot keepe his wealth, muft keep his houfe. */'/. 
 
 Enter Varroi man, meeting others. All Timons Creditors to 
 wait Jar bis camming cut. Then enter Lucius 
 
 and Hortenjius. 
 
 1?ar. man.WeN met, goodmorrow Titus & Hortenjius 
 
 Titus
 
 Timon of Athens. 
 
 Tit. The like to you kinde Varro. 
 
 Hort. Lucius, what do we meet together? 
 
 Luci. I, and I think one bufmefTe do's command vs all. 
 For mine is money. 
 
 Tit. So is theirs, and ours. 
 
 Enter Thi/otuf. 
 
 Luci. And fir Pbilotiu too. 
 
 Phil. Good day at once. 
 
 Luci. Welcome good Brother. 
 What do you thinke the houre ? 
 
 Phil. Labouring for Nine. 
 
 Luci. So much ? 
 
 Tbil. Is not my Lord feene yet ? 
 
 Luci. Not yet. 
 
 Phil. I wonder on't,he was wont to fhine at feauen. 
 
 Luci. I, but the dayes are waxt fhorter with him : 
 You muft confider, that a Prodigall courfe 
 Is like the Sunnes, but not like his recouerable, I feare : 
 'Tis deepeft Winter in Lord Timons purfe, that is : One 
 may reach deepe enough, and yet finde little. 
 
 Phil. I am of your feare, for that. 
 
 Tit. lie fhew you how t'obferue a ftrange euent : 
 Your Lord fends now for Money ? 
 
 Hort. Moft true, he doe's. 
 
 Tit. And he weares Jewels now of Timons guift, 
 For which I waite for money. 
 
 Hort. It is againft my heart. 
 
 Luci. Marke how ftrange it fhowes, 
 Timon in this, fhould pay more then he owes: 
 And e'ne as if your Lord fhould weare rich Jewels, 
 And fend for money for 'em. 
 
 Hort . I'me weary of this Charge, 
 The Gods can witnefTe : 
 
 I know my Lord hath fpent of Timons wealth, 
 And now Ingratitude, makes it worfe then ftealth. 
 
 Varro. Yes, mine's three thoufand Crownes: 
 What's yours ? 
 
 Luci. Fiue thoufand mine. 
 
 Varro. 'Tis much deepe, and it fhould |feem by th'fum 
 Your Mafters confidence was aboue mine, 
 Elfe furely his had equall'd. 
 
 Enter Flaminius. 
 
 Tit. One of Lord Timons men. 
 
 Luc. FIaminiuj?S\r, a word : Pray is my Lord readie 
 to come forth ^ 
 
 Flam. No, indeed he is not. 
 
 Tit. We attend his Lordfhip : pray fignifie fo much. 
 
 Flam. I need not tell him that, he knowes you are too 
 Enter Steward in a Cloafy, muffled, (diligent. 
 
 Luci. Ha : is not that his Steward muffled fo? 
 He goes away in a Clowd : Call him, call him. 
 
 Tit. Do you heare,fir ? 
 
 I.Varro. By your leaue, fir. 
 
 Stew. What do ye aske of me, my Friend. 
 
 Tit. We waite for certaine Money heere, fir. 
 
 Stem. I, if Money were as certaine as your waiting, 
 'Twere fure enough. 
 
 Why then preferr'd you not your fummes and Billes 
 When your falfe Mafters eate of my Lords meat? 
 Then they could fmile, and fawne vpon his debts, 
 And take downe th'Intreft into their glutt'nous Mawes. 
 You do your felues but wrong, to ftirre me vp, 
 Let me pafle quietly : 
 
 Beleeue't, my Lord and I haue made an end, 
 I haue no more to reckon, he to fpend. 
 
 Luci. I, but this anfwer will not ferue. 
 
 685 
 
 Stew. If 't 'twill not ferue, 'tis not fo bafe as you, 
 For you ferue Knaues. 
 
 i.Parro. How? What does his cafheer'd Worfhip 
 mutter? 
 
 z.Varro. No matter what, |hee's poore, and that's re- 
 uenge enough. Who can fpeake broader, then hee that 
 has no houle to put his head in ? Such may rayle againft 
 great buildings. 
 
 Enter Struilitu . 
 
 Tit. Oh heere's Seruilius : now wee fhall know fome 
 anfwere. 
 
 Seru. If I might befeech you Gentlemen, to repayre 
 fome other houre, I fhould deriue much from't. For tak't 
 of my foule, my Lord Idanes wondroufly to difcontent : 
 His comfortable temper has forfooke him, he's much out 
 of health, and keepes his Chamber. 
 
 Luci. Many do keepe their Chambers,are not ficke : 
 And if it be fo farre beyond his health, 
 Me thinkes he fhould the fooner pay his debts, 
 And make a cleere way to the Gods. 
 
 Seruil, Good Gods. 
 
 Titus. We cannot take this for anfwer, fir. 
 
 Flaminius within. Seruiliiu helpe, my Lord, my Lord. 
 
 Enter Timcn in a rage. 
 
 Tim.What, are my dores oppos'd againft my paflage ? 
 Haue I bin euer free, and muft my houfe 
 Be my retentiue Enemy ? My Gaole ? 
 The place which I haue Feafted, does it now 
 (Like all Mankinde) fhew me an Iron heart? 
 
 Luci. Put in now Titus, 
 
 Tit. My Lord, heere is my Bill. 
 
 Luci. Here's mine. 
 
 i.Var. And mine, my Lord. 
 
 i.Var, And ours, my Lord. 
 
 Pbila. All our Billes. 
 
 Tim. Knocke me downe with 'em, cleaue mee to the 
 Girdle. 
 
 Luc. Alas, my Lord. 
 
 Tim. Cut my heart in fummes. 
 
 77V. Mine, fifty Talents. 
 
 Tim. Tell out my blood. 
 
 Luc. Fiue thoufand Crownes, my Lord. 
 
 Tim. Fiue thoufand drops payes that. 
 What yours? and yours? 
 
 i.Var. My Lord. 
 
 i.Var, My Lord. 
 
 Tim. Teare rne, take me,and the Gods fall vpon you. 
 
 Exit Timon. 
 
 Hort. Faith I perceiue our Mafters may throwe their 
 caps at their money, thefe debts may well be call'd delpe- 
 rate ones, for a madman owes 'em. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Timon. 
 
 Timon. They haue e'ene put my breath from mee the 
 flaues. Creditors? Diuels. 
 
 Stew. My deere Lord. 
 
 Tim. What if it fhould be fo? 
 
 Stew, My Lord. 
 
 Tim. He haue it fo. My Steward ? 
 
 Stew. Heere my Lord. 
 
 Tim. So fitly ? Go, bid all my Friends againe, 
 Lticitu, Luculltu, and Semproniui Vllcrxa : All, 
 lie once more feaft the Rafcals. 
 
 Stew. O my Lord, you onely fpeake from your diftra- 
 Sed foule ; there's not fo much left tO| furnifh out a mo- 
 derate Table. 
 
 Timon
 
 88 
 
 Timon of Athens. 
 
 Tim. Be it not in thy care : 
 Go I charge thee, inuite them all, let in the tide 
 Of Knaues once more: my Cooke and He prouide. Exeunt 
 
 Enter three Senators at one doore, Aldbiades meeting them, 
 
 with Attendants . 
 
 i.&ff. My Lord, you haue my voyce, too't, 
 The faults Bloody : 
 ' Fis neceffary he fhould dye : 
 Nothing imboldens finne fo much, as Mercy. 
 
 2 Moft true j the Law fhall bruife'em. 
 
 Ale. Honor, health, and compaflion to the Senate. 
 
 I Now Captaine. 
 
 Ale. I am an humble Sutor to your Vertues ; 
 For pitty is the vertue of the Law, 
 And none but Tyrants vfe it cruelly. 
 It pleafes time and Fortune to lye heauie 
 Vpon a Friend of mine, who in hot blood 
 Hath ftept into the Law : which is part depth 
 To thofe that (without heedej do plundge intoo't. 
 He is a Man (fettirig his Fate afide) of comely Vertues, 
 Nor did he foyle the fact with Cowardice, 
 (And Honour in him, which buyes out his fault) 
 But with a Noble Fury, and faire fpirit, 
 Seeing his Reputation touch'd to death, 
 He did oppofe his Foe : 
 And with fuch fober and vnnoted paffion 
 He did behooue his anger ere 'twas fpent, 
 As if he had but prou'd an Argument. 
 
 I Sen. You vndergo too fi.nO. a Paradox, 
 Striuing to make an vgly deed looke faire: 
 Your words haue tooke fuch paines, as if they labour'd 
 To bring Man-flaughter into forme, and fet Quarrelling 
 Vpon the head of Valour} which indeede 
 Is Valour mif-begot, and came into the world, 
 When Seels, and Factions were newly borne. 
 Hee's truly Valiant, that can wifely fuffer 
 The worft that man can breath, 
 And make his Wrongs, his Out-fides, 
 To wearethem like hisRayment, careleffely, 
 And ne're preferre his iniuries to his heart, 
 To bring it into danger. 
 If Wrongs be euilles, and inforce vs kill, 
 What Folly 'tis, to hazard life for 111. 
 
 tAlti. My Lord. 
 
 i.Sen. You cannot make groffe fmnes looke cleare, 
 To reuenge is no Valour, but to beare. 
 
 Aid. My Lords, then vnder fauour, pardon me, 
 If I fpeake like a Captaine. 
 Why do fond men expofe themfelues to Battell, 
 And not endure all threats? Sleepe vpon't, 
 And let the Foes quietly cut their Throats 
 Without repugnancy? If there be 
 Such Valour in the bearing, what make wee 
 Abroad ? Why then, Women are more valiant 
 Thatftayat home, if Bearing carry it: 
 And the Affe. more Captaine then the Lyon? 
 The fellow loaden with Irons, wifer then the ludge? 
 If Wifedome be in fuffering. Oh my Lords, 
 As you are great, be pittifully Good, 
 Who cannot condemne raflinefle in cold blood? 
 To kill, I grant, is fmnes extreameft Guft, 
 But in defence, by Mercy, 'tis moft iuft. 
 To be in Anger, is impietie : 
 But who is Man, that is not Angrie. 
 Weigh but the Crime with this. 
 
 2. Sen. You breath in vaine. 
 
 Aid. In vaine ? 
 
 His feruice done at Lacedemon,and Bizantium, 
 Were a fufficient briber for his life. 
 
 i What's that? 
 
 Ale. Why fay my Lords ha's done faire feruice, 
 And flaine in fight many of your enemies : 
 How full of valour did he beare himfelfe 
 In the laft Conflict, and made plenteous wounds? 
 
 2 He has made too much plenty with him : 
 He's a fworne Riotor, he has a finne 
 That often drownes him, and takes his valour prifoner. 
 If there were no Foes, that were enough 
 To ouercome him. In that Beaftly furie, 
 He has bin knowne to commit outrages, 
 And cherrifh Factions. 'Tis inferr'd to vs, 
 His dayes are foule, and his drinke dangerous. 
 
 I He dyes. 
 
 Aid, Hard fate : he might haue dyed in warre. 
 My Lords, if not for any parts in him, 
 Though his right arme might purchafe his owne time, 
 And be in debt to none : yet more to moue you, 
 Take my deferts to his, and ioyne'em both. 
 And for I know, your reuerend Ages loue Security, 
 He pawne my Victories, all my Honour to you 
 Vpon his good returnes. 
 If by this Crime, he owes the Law his life, 
 Why let the Warre receiue't in valiant gore, 
 For Law is ftri&, and Warre is nothing more. 
 
 1 We are for Law, he dyes, vrge it no more 
 On height of our difpleafure : Friend, or Brother,^ 
 He forfeits his owne blood, that fpilles another. 
 
 Ale . Muft it be fo ? It muft not bee : 
 My Lords, I do befeech you know mee. 
 
 2 How? 
 
 Ale. Call me to your remembrances. 
 
 3 What. 
 
 Ale. I cannot thinke but your Age has forgot me, 
 It could not elfe be, I ihould proue fo bace, 
 To fue and be deny'de fuch common Grace. 
 My wounds ake at you. 
 
 I Do you dare our anger ? 
 'Tis in few words, but fpacious in effect : 
 We banifh thee for euer. 
 
 Ale. Banifh me ? 
 Banifh your dotage, banifh vfurie, 
 That makes the Senate vgly. 
 
 i If after two dayes fhine, Athens containe thee, 
 Attend our waightier ludgement. 
 And not to fwell our Spirit, 
 He fhall be executed prefently. Exeunt. 
 
 Ale, Now the Gods keepe you old enough, 
 That you may liue 
 
 Onely in bone, that none may looke on you. 
 I'm worfe then mad : I haue kept backe their Foes 
 While they haue told their Money, and let out 
 Their Coine vpon large intereft. I my felfe, 
 Rich onely in large hurts. All thofe, for this? 
 Is this the Balfome, that the vfuring Senat 
 Powres into Captaines wounds? Banifhment. 
 It comes not ill : I hate not to be banifht, 
 It is a caufe worthy my Spleene and Furie, 
 That I may ftrike at Athens. He cheere vp 
 My difcontented Troopes, and lay for hearts; 
 ,Tis Honour with moft Lands to be at ods, 
 Souldiers fhould brooke as little wrongs as Gods. Exit. 
 
 Enter 
 
 " ~ 686 ~"
 
 Timon of Athens. 
 
 Enter diuers Friends at Jeuerall doores. 
 
 1 The good time of day to you, fir. 
 
 2 I alfo wifh it to you : I thinke this Honorable Lord 
 did but try va this other day. 
 
 I Vpon that were my thoughts tyring when wee en- 
 countred. I hope it is not fb low with him as he made it 
 feeme in the triall of his feuerall Friends. 
 
 2 It fhould not be, by the perfwafion of his new Fea- 
 fting. 
 
 1 I fhould thinke fo. He hath fent meean earneft in- 
 uiting, which many my neere occafions did vrge mee to 
 put oft : but he hath coniur'd mee beyond them, and I 
 muft needs appeare. 
 
 2 In like manner was I in debt to my importunat bu- 
 finefle, but he would not heare my excufe. 1 am forrie, 
 when he fent to borrow of mee, that my Prouifion was 
 out. 
 
 1 I am ficke of that greefe too, as I vnderftand how all 
 things go. 
 
 2 Euery man heares fo : what would hee haue borro- 
 wed of you ? 
 
 1 A thoufand Peeces. 
 
 2 A thoufand Peeces ? 
 
 1 What of you ? 
 
 2 He fent to me fir Heere he comes. 
 
 Enter Timon and ^Attendants. 
 
 Tim. With all my heart Gentlemen both ; and how 
 fare you ? 
 
 1 Euer at the beft,hearing well of your Lord/hip. 
 
 2 The Swallow followes not Summer more willing, 
 then we your Lordfhip. 
 
 Tim. Nor more willingly leaues Winter, fuch Sum- 
 mer Birds are men. Gentlemen, our dinner will not re- 
 compence this long ftay : Feaft your eares with the Mu- 
 ficke awhile : If they will fare fo harfhly o'th'Trumpets 
 found : we fhall too't prefently. 
 
 1 I hope it remaines not vnkindely with your Lord- 
 fliip, that I return'd you an empty MefTenger. 
 
 Tim. O fir, let it not trouble you. 
 
 2 My Noble Lord. 
 
 Tim. Ah my good Friend, what cheere ? 
 
 The Banket brought in. 
 
 2 My moft Honorable Lord, I am e'ne fick of fhame, 
 that when your Lordfhip this other day fent to me, 1 was 
 fo vnfortunate a Beggar. 
 
 Tim. Thinke not on't, fir. 
 
 2 If you had fent but two houres before. 
 
 Tim. Let it not cumber your better remembrance. 
 Come bring in all together. 
 
 2 All couer'd Difhes. 
 
 I Royall Cheare, I warrant you. 
 
 3 Doubt not that, if money and the feafon can yeild it 
 i How do you? What's the newes ? 
 
 3 Aldbiades is banifh'd : heare you of it? 
 'Both. Alciblades banifh'd? 
 3 Tisfo, be fure of it. 
 
 1 How / How? 
 
 2 I pray you vpon what ? 
 
 Tim. My worthy Friends, will you draw neere ? 
 
 3 He tell you more anon. Here's a Noble feaft toward 
 
 2 This is the old man ftill. 
 
 3 Wilt hold? Wilt hold ? 
 
 2 It do's : but time will, and fo. 
 
 687 
 
 3 I do conceyue. 
 
 Tim. Each man to his ftoole, with that fpurre as hee 
 would to the lip of his Miftris : your dyet fhall bee in all 
 places alike. Make not a Citie Feaft of it, to let the meat 
 coole, ere we can agree vpon the firft place. Sit,fit. 
 The Gods require our Thankes. 
 
 You great f Benefaf}ors, Jfirinl^le our Society with Tban^e- 
 fulnejje. For your owneguifts, make your felues fraifd: But 
 refer ue Jlill to giue, haft four Ddties be dejfiifed. Lend to each 
 man enough , that one neede not lend to another . For were your 
 Cfodheads to borrow of men , men would forjake the Gods. Malfe 
 the Meate be beloued, more then the Man that giues it . Let 
 no Affembly of Twenty, be without afcore ofVillaines. If there 
 jit twelue Women at the Table, let a dozen of them bee O6 they 
 are. The reft of your Fees, Gods, the Senators of Athens, 
 together with the common legge of People, what it amijje in 
 them, you Gods, mai(e futeable for deftruclion. For tbefe my 
 prejent Friends , at they are to mee nothing , fo in nothing blejje 
 them, and to nothing are they welcome. 
 Vncouer Dogges, and lap. 
 Some Jpea^e. What do's his Lordfhip meane ? 
 
 Some other. I know not. 
 
 Timon. .May you a better Feaft neuer behold 
 You knot of Mouth-Friends: Smoke, & lukewarm water 
 Is your perfection. This is Timons laft, 
 Who ftucke and fpangled you with Flatteries, 
 Wafhes it oft", and fprinkles in your faces 
 Your reeking villany. Liue loath'd, and long 
 Moft fmiling, fmooth, detefted Parafites, 
 Curteous Deftroyers, affable Wolues, meeke Beares : 
 You Fooles of Fortune, Trencher-friends, Times Flyes, 
 Cap and knee-Slaues, vapours, and Minute lackes. 
 Of Man and Beaft, the infinite Maladie 
 Cruft you quite o're. What do'ft thou go ? 
 Soft, take thy Phy ficke firft ; thou too, and thou : 
 Stay I will lend thee money, borrow none. 
 What? All in Motion ? Henceforth be no Feaft, 
 Whereat a Villaine's not a welcome Gueft. 
 Burne houfe, finke Athens, henceforth hated be 
 Of Timon Man, and all Humanity. Exit 
 
 Enter the Senators, with other Lords. 
 
 1 How now, my Lords ? 
 
 2 Know you rhe quality of Lord Timons fury ? 
 
 3 Pufh, did you fee my Cap ? 
 
 4 I haue loft my Gowne. 
 
 1 He's but a mad Lord , & nought but humors fwaies 
 him. Hegaue me a lewell th'other day, and now hee has 
 beate it out of my hat. 
 
 Did you fee my lewell ? 
 
 2 Did you fee my Cap. 
 
 3 Heere 'tis. 
 
 4 Heere lyes my Gowne. 
 
 1 Let's make no ftay. 
 
 2 Lord Timons mad. 
 
 3 I feel't vpon my bones. 
 
 4 One day he giues vs Diamonds, next day ftones. 
 
 Exeunt the Senators. 
 
 Snter Timon. 
 
 Tim. Let me looke backevpon thee. O thou Wall 
 That girdles in thofe Wolues, diue in the earth, 
 And fence not Athens. Matrons, turne incontinent, 
 Obedience fayle in Children : Slaues and Fooles 
 
 h h Plucke
 
 9 
 
 Timon of Athens. 
 
 Plucke the graue wrinkled Senate from the Bench, 
 
 And minifter in their fteeds, to generall Filches. 
 
 Conuert o'th'Inftant greene Virginity, 
 
 Doo't in your Parents eyes. Bankrupts, hold faft 
 
 Rather then render backe ; out with your Kniues, 
 
 And cut your Trufters throates. Bound Seruants, fteale, 
 
 Large-handed Robbers your graue Matters are, 
 
 And pill by Law. Maide, to thy Matters bed, 
 
 Thy Miftris is o'th'Brothell. Some of fixteen, 
 
 Plucke the lyn'd Crutch from thy old limping Sire, 
 
 With it, beate out his Braines. Piety, and Feare, 
 
 Religion to the Gods, Peace, luftice, Truth, 
 
 Domefticke awe, Night-reft, and Neighbour-hood, 
 
 , Inftrudtion, Manners, Myfteries,and Trades, 
 Degrees, Obferuances, Cuftomes, and Lawes, 
 Decline to your confounding contraries. 
 And yet Confufion liue : Plagues incident to men, 
 Your potent and infectious Feauors, heape 
 On Athens ripe for ftroke. Thou cold Sciatica, 
 Cripple our Senators, that their limbes may halt 
 
 ; As lamely as their Manners. Luft,and Libertie 
 Creepe in the Mindes and Marrowes of our youth, 
 That 'gain/I the ftreame of Vertue they may ftriue, 
 And drowne themfelues in Riot. Itches, Blaines, 
 Sowe all th 'Athenian bofomes, and their crop 
 Be generall Leprofie : Breath, infect breath, 
 That their Society (as their Friendfhip) may 
 Be meerely poy/bn. Nothing He beare from thee 
 But naked neffe, thou deteftable Towne, 
 Take thou that too, with multiplying Bannes : 
 Timon will to the Woods, where he /hall finde 
 Th'vnkindeft Beaft, more kinder then Mankinde. 
 The Gods confound (heare me you good Gods all) 
 Th'Athenians both within and out that Wall : 
 And graunt as Timon growes,his hate may grow 
 To the whole race of Mankinde, high and low. 
 Amen. Exit. 
 
 Enter Steward with two or three Seruants. 
 
 I Heare you M.Steward,where's our Mafter? 
 Are we vndone, caft off, nothing remaining? 
 
 Stew. Alack my Fellowes, what ftiould I fay to you? 
 Let me be recorded by the righteous Gods, 
 I am as poore as you. 
 
 I Such a Houfe broke? 
 So Noble a Mafter falne, all gone, and not 
 One Friend to take his Fortune by the arme, 
 And go along with him. 
 
 a As we do turne our backes 
 From our Companion, throwne into his graue, 
 So his Familiars to his buried Fortunes 
 Slinke all away, leaue their falfe vowes with him 
 Like empty purfes pickt ; and his poore felfe 
 A dedicated Beggar to the Ayre, 
 With hisdifeafe,of all munn'd pouerty, 
 Walkes like contempt alone. More of our Fellowes. 
 Enter other Seruants . 
 
 Stew. All broken Implements of a ruin'd houfe. 
 
 3 Yet do our hearts weare Timor.s Liuery, 
 That fee I by our Faces . we are Fellowes ftill, 
 Seruing alike in forrow : Leak'd is ourBarke, 
 And we poore Mates, ftand on the dying Decke, 
 Hearing the Surges threat : we muft all part 
 Into this Sea of Ayre. 
 
 Stew. Good Fellowes all, 
 
 The lateft of my wealth He /hare among'ft you. 
 
 VVhere euer we /hall meete, for Timons la.'ce, 
 
 Let's yet be Fellowes. Let's (hake our heads, and fay 
 
 As 'twere a Knell vnto our Mafters Fortunes, 
 
 We haue feene better dayes. Let each take lome : 
 
 Nay put out all your hands : Not one word more, 
 
 Thus part we rich in forrow, parting poore. 
 
 Embrace and part Jeuerallwayes. 
 Oh the fierce wretchedneffe that Glory brings vs! 
 Who would not wi/h to be from wealth exempt,i 
 Since Riches point to Mifeiy and Contempt? 
 Who would be fo mock'd with Glory, or to liue 
 But in a Dreame of Friend/hip, 
 To haue his pompe, and all what ftate compounds, 
 But onely painted like his varni/ht Friends : 
 Poore honeft Lord, brought lowe by his owne heart, 
 Vndone by Goodneffe : Strange vnvfuall blood, 
 When mans worft finne is, He do's too much Good. 
 Who then dares to be halfe fo kinde agen? 
 For Bounty that makes Gods, do ftill marre Men. 
 My deereft Lord, bleft to be moft accurft, 
 Rich onely to be wretched ; thy great Fortunes 
 Are made thy cheefe Afflictions. Alas (kinde Lord) 
 Hee's flung in Rage from this ingratefull Seate 
 Of monftrcus Friends : 
 Nor ha's he with him to fupply his life, 
 Or that which can command it : 
 lie follow and enquire him out. 
 lie euer ferue his minde, with my beft will, 
 Whilft I haue Gold, He be his Steward ftill. Exit. 
 
 Enter Timon in the woods. 
 
 Tim. O bleffed breeding Sun, draw from the earth 
 Rotten humidity : below thy Sifters Orbe 
 Infect the ayre. Twin'd Brothers of one wombe, 
 Whofe procreation, refidence, and biith, 
 Scarfe is diuidant ; touch them with feuerall fortunes, 
 The greater fcornes theleffer. Not Nature 
 (To whom all fores lay fiege) can beare great Fortune 
 But by contempt of Nature. 
 Raife me this Begger, and deny't that Lord, 
 The Senators /hall beare contempt Hereditary, 
 The Begger Natiue Honor. 
 It is the Paftour Lards, the Brothers fides, 
 The want that makes him leaue: who dares? who dares 
 In puritie of Manhood ftand vpright 
 And fay, this mans a Flatterer. If one be, 
 So are they all : for euerie grize of Fortune 
 Is fmooth'd by that below. The Learned pate 
 Duckes to the Golden Foole. All's obliquie : 
 There 'snothing leuell in our curfed Natures 
 But direct villanie. Therefore be abhorr'd, 
 All Feafts, Societies, and Throngs of men. 
 His femblable, yea himfelfe Timon difJaines, 
 Deftruction phang mankinde j Earth yeeld me Rootes, 
 Who feekes for better of thee, favvce his pallate 
 With thy moft operant Poyfon. What is heere ? 
 Gold? Yellow, glittering, precious Gold ? 
 No Gods, I am no idle Votarift, 
 
 Roots you cleere Heauens. Thus much of this will make 
 Blacke, white ; fowle, faire ; wrong, right ; 
 Bafe, Noble ; Old, young ; Coward, valiant. 
 Ha you Gods ! why this? what this, you Gods ? why this 
 Will lugge your Priefts and Seruants from your fides: 
 Plucke flout mens pillowes from below their heads. 
 
 This 
 
 "688
 
 Timon of Athens. 
 
 This yellow Slaue, 
 
 Will knit and breake Religions, blefle th'accurft, 
 
 Make the hoare Leprofie ador'd, place Theeues, 
 
 And giue them Title, knee, and approbation 
 
 With Senators on the Bench : This is it 
 
 That makes the wappen'd Widdow wed againe ; 
 
 Shee, whom the Spitde-houfe, and vlcerous fores, 
 
 Would caft the gorge at. This Embalmes and Spices 
 
 To'th'Aprill day againe. Come damn'd Earth, 
 
 Thou common whore of Mankinde, that puttes oddes 
 
 Among the rout ofNations, I will make thee 
 
 Do thy right Nature. March afarre off. 
 
 Ha? A Drumme? Th'art quicke, 
 
 But yet He bury thee : Thou't go (ftrong Theefe) 
 
 When Gowty keepers of thee cannot ftand : 
 
 Nay ftay thou out for earneft. 
 
 Enter Alcibiades with Drumme and Fife in warlike manner , 
 and Phrynia andTimandra. 
 
 Ale. What art thou there? fpeake. 
 Tim. A Bead as thou art. The Canker gnaw thy hart 
 For fliewing me againe the eyes of Man. 
 
 Ale. What is thy name? Is man fo hatefull to thee, 
 That art thy felfe a Man ? 
 
 Tim. I am ctyfijantrof>os,and hate Mankinde. 
 For thy part, I do wifli thou wert a dogge, 
 That I might loue thee fomething. 
 
 Ale. I know thee well : 
 But in thy Fortunes am vnlearn'd, and ftrange. 
 
 Tim. I know thee too, and more then that I know thee 
 I not defire to know. Follow thy Drumme, 
 With mans blood paint the ground Gules, Gules: 
 Religious Cannons, ciuill Lawes are cruell, 
 Then what fhould warre be? This fell whore of thine, 
 Hath in her more deftruftion then thy Sword, 
 For all her Cherubin looke. 
 
 Pbrin. Thy lips rot off. 
 
 Tim. I will not kifTe thee, then the rot returnes 
 To thine owne lippes againe. 
 
 Ale. How came the Noble Timon to this change ? 
 
 Tim. As the Moone do's, by wanting light to giue : 
 But then renew I could not like the Moone, 
 There were no Sunnes to borrow of. 
 
 Ale. Noble Timon, what friendftiip may I do thee? 
 
 Tim. None, but to inaintaine my opinion. 
 
 Ale. What is it Timon/ 
 
 Tim. Promife me Friendship, but performe none. 
 If thou wilt not promife,the Gods plague thee, for thou 
 art a man : if thou do'ft performe, confound thee, for 
 thou art a man. 
 
 Ale. I haue heard in fome fort of thy Miferies. 
 
 Tim. Thou faw'ft them when I had profperitie. 
 
 Ale. I fee them now, then was a blefled time. 
 
 Tim. As thine is now, held with a brace of Harlots. 
 
 Timan. Is this th'Athenian Minion, whom the world 
 Voic'd fo regardfully? 
 
 Tim. Art thou Timandra ? Timan. Yes. 
 
 T/w.Be a whore ftill, they loue thee not that vfe thee, 
 giue them difeafes, leauing with thee their Luft. Make 
 vfe of thy fait houres, feafon the flaues for Tubbes and 
 Bathes, bring downe Rofe-cheekt youth to the Fubfaft, 
 and the Diet. 
 
 Timan. Hang thee Monfter. 
 
 Ale. Pardon him fweet Timandrajfor his wits 
 Are drown'd and loft in his Calamities. 
 
 I haue but little Gold of late, braue Timon, 
 The want whereof, doth dayly make reuolt 
 In my penurious Band. I haue heard and greeu'd 
 How curfed Athens, mindelefle of thy worth, 
 Forgetting thy great deeds, when Neighbour ftates 
 But for thy Sword and Fortune trod vpon them. 
 
 Tim. I prythee beate thy Drum, and get thee gone. 
 
 Ale. I am thy Friend, and pitty thee deere Timon. 
 
 Tim. How doeft thou pitty him whom y doft treble, 
 I had rather be alone. 
 
 *Alc. Why fare thee well: 
 Heere is fome Gold for thee. 
 
 Tim. Keepe it, I cannot eate it. 
 
 Ale. When I haue laid proud Athens on a heape. 
 
 Tim. Warr'ft thou 'gainft Athens. 
 
 Ale. I Timon, and haue caufe. 
 
 Tim. The Gods confound them all in thy Conqueft, 
 And thee after, when thou haft Conquered. 
 
 Ale. Why me, Timon'? 
 
 Tim. That by killing of Villaines 
 Thou was't borne to conquer my Country. 
 Put vp thy Gold. Go on,heeres Gold, go on; 
 Be as a Plannetary plague, when loue 
 Will o're fome high-Vic'd City, hang his poyfon 
 In the ficke ayre : let not thy fword skip one: 
 Pitty not honour'd Age for his white Beard, 
 He is an Vfurer. Strike me the counterfet Matron, 
 It is her habite onely, that is honeft, 
 Her felfe's a Bawd. Let not the Virgins cheeke 
 Make fofc thy trenchant Sword : for thofe Milke pnppes 
 That through the window Barne bore at mens eyes, 
 Are not within the Leafe of pitty writ, 
 But fet them down horrible Traitors. Spare not the Babe 
 Whofe dimpled fmiles from Fooles exhauft their mercy; 
 Thinke it a Baftard, whom the Oracle 
 Hath doubtfully pronounced, the throat fliall cut, 
 And mince it fans remorfe. Sweare againft Obiedts, 
 Put Armour on thine eares,and on thine eyes, 
 Whofe proofe, nor yels of Mothers, Maijes, nor Babes, 
 Nor fight of Priefts in holy Veftments bleeding, 
 Shall pierce a iot. There's Gold to pay thy Souldiers, 
 Make large confufion : and thy fury Ipent, 
 Confounded be thy felfe. Speake not, be gone. 
 
 Ale. Haft thou Gold yet, He take the Gold thou gi- 
 ueft me, not all thy Counfell. 
 
 Tim. Doft thou or doft thou not, Heauens curfe vpon 
 thee. 
 
 Both. Giue vs fome Gold good Timon, haft y more? 
 
 Tim. Enough to make a Whore forfweare her Trade, 
 And to make Whores, a Bawd. Hold vp you Sluts 
 Your Aprons mountant; you are not Othable, 
 Although I know you'l fweare, terribly fweare 
 Into ftrong fhudders, and to heauenly Agues 
 Th'immortall Gods that heare you.Spare your Oathes : 
 He truft to your Conditions, be whores ftill. 
 And he whofe pious breath feekes to conuert you , 
 Be ftrong in Whore, allure him, burne him vp, 
 Let your clofe fire predominate his fmoke, 
 And be no turne'coats : yet may your paines fix months 
 Be quite contrary, And Thatch 
 Your poore thin Roofes with burthens of the dead, 
 (Some that were hang'd) no matter : 
 Weare them, betray with them ; Whore ftill, 
 Paint till a horfe may myre vpon your face : 
 A pox of wrinkles. 
 
 'Both. Well, more Gold, what then ? 
 
 h h 2 Beleeue't
 
 9 2 
 
 'Timon of ^Athens. 
 
 Beleeue't that wee'ldo any thing for Gold. 
 
 Tim. Confumptions fowe 
 
 In hollow bones of man, ftrike their fharpe fliinnes, 
 And marre mens fpurring. Cracke the Lawyers voyce, 
 That he may neuer more falfe Title pleade, 
 Nor found his Qujllets (hrilly : Hoare the Flamen, 
 That Icold'ft againft the quality of flefli, 
 And not beleeues himfelfe. Downe with the Nofe, 
 Downe with it flat, take the Bridge quite away 
 Of him, that his particular to fore fee (bald 
 
 Smels from the generall weale. Make curld'pate Ruffians 
 And let the vnfcarr'd Braggerts of the Wane 
 Deriue fome paine from you. Plague all, 
 That your Acliuity may defeate and quell 
 The fourfe of all Erection. There's more Gold. 
 Do you damne others, and let this damne you, 
 And ditches graue you all. 
 
 'Both. More counfell with more Money, bounteous 
 Timon. 
 
 Tim. More whore, more. Mifcheefe firft, I haue gi- 
 uen you earneft. 
 
 Ale. Strike, vp the Drum towardjss Athens, farewell 
 Timon : if I thriue well, He vifit thee againe. 
 
 Tim. If -I hope .well, He neuer fee thee more. 
 
 A'.c. I neuer did thee harme. 
 
 Tim. Yes, thou fpok'ft well of me. 
 
 Ale. Call'ft thou that harme ? 
 
 Tim. Men dayly finde it. Get thee away, 
 And take thy Beagles with thee. 
 
 Ale. We but offend him, ftrike. Exeunt. 
 
 Tim. That Nature .being ficke of mans vnkindneffe 
 Should yet be hungry : Common Mother, thou 
 Whofe wombe ynmeafureable, and infinite breft 
 Teemes and fee,ds all : whofe lelfefame Mettle 
 Whereof thy proud Childe ('arrogant man) is puft, 
 Engenders the blacke Toad, and Adder blew, 
 The gilded Newt, and eyelefle venom'd Worme, 
 With all th'abhQrred.ISrirth.S below Crifpe Heauen, 
 Whereon Hyperions quickning fire doth fhine : 
 Yeeld him, who all the humane Sonnes do hate, 
 From foorth thy plenteous bo/ome, one poore roote; 
 Enfeare thy Fertile and Conceptious wombe, 
 Let it no more bring out ingratefull man. 
 Goe great with Tygers, Dragons, Wolues, and Beares, 
 Teeme with new Monfters, whom thy vpward face 
 Hath to the Marbled Manfion all aboue 
 Neuer prefented. O, a Root, deare thankes : 
 Dry vp thy Marrowes, Vines, and Plough-torne Leas, 
 Whereof ingratefull man with Licourifh draughts 
 And Morfels Vn&ious,greafes his pure minde, 
 
 That from it all Confideration flippes 
 
 Enter Aptmanttu. 
 More man ? Plague, plague. 
 
 *Ape. I was directed hither. Men report, 
 Thou doft affect my Manners, and doft vie them. 
 
 Tim. 'Tis then, becaufe thou doft not keepe a dogge 
 Whom I would imitate. Confumption -catch thee. 
 
 Ape. This is in thee a Nature but infected, 
 A poore vnman-ly Melancholly fprung 
 From change of future. Why this Spade? this place? 
 This Slaue-like Habit, and thefe lookes of Care ? 
 Thy Flatterers yet weare Silke, drinke Wine, lye foft, 
 Hugge their difeas'd Perfumes, and haue forgot 
 That euer Timon was. Shame not thefe Woods, 
 By putting on the cunning of a Carper. 
 Be thou a Flatterer now, and feeke to thriue 
 
 By that which ha's vndone thee j hindge thy knee, 
 And let his very breath whom thou'lt obferue 
 Blow off thy Cap : praife his moft vicious ftraine, 
 And call it excellent : thou waft told thus : 
 Thou gau'ft thine eares (like Tapfters, that bad welcom) 
 To Knaues,and all approachers : 'Tis moft iuft 
 That thou turne Rafcall, had'ft thou wealth againe, 
 Rafcals mould haue't. Do not aflume my likenefle. 
 
 Tim. Were I like thee, I'de throw away my felfe. 
 
 lApe. Thou haft caft away thy felfe, being like thy felf 
 A Madman fo long, now a Foole : what think'ft 
 That the bleake ayre, thy boyfterous Chamberlaine 
 Will put thy fliirt on warme ? Will thefe moyft Trees, 
 That haue out-liu'd the Eagle, page thy heelcs 
 And skip when thou point'ft out ? Will the cold brooke 
 Candied with Ice, Cawdle thy Morning tarte 
 To cure thy o're-nights furfet ? Call the Creatures, 
 Whofe naked Natures Hue in all the fpi^ht 
 Of wrekefull Heauen, whofe bare vnhoufed Trunkesj 
 To the conflicting Elements expos'd 
 Anfwer meere Nature : bid them flatter thee. 
 O thou lhalt finde. 
 
 Tim. A Foole of thee : depart. 
 
 Ape. I loue thee better now, then ere I did. 
 
 Tim. I hate thee worfe. 
 
 Ape. Why? 
 
 Tim. Thou flatter'ft mifery. 
 
 Ape. I flatter not, but fay thou art a Caytiffe. 
 
 Tim. Why do'ft thou feeke me out ? 
 
 Ape. To vex thee. 
 
 Tim. Alwayes a Villaines Office, or a Fooles. 
 Doft pleafe thy felfe in't ? 
 
 Ape. I. 
 
 Tim. What, a Knaue too ? 
 
 Ape. If thou did'ft put this fowre cold habit on 
 To caftigate thy pride, 'twere well : but thou 
 Doft it enforcedly : Thou'dft Courtier be againe 
 Wert thou not Beggar : willing mifery 
 Out-liues:incertaine pompe, is crown'd before : 
 The one is filling ftill, neuer compleat : 
 The other, at high wifli : beft ftate Contentlefle, 
 Hath a diftracled and moft wretched being, 
 Worfe then the worft, Content. 
 Thou fhould'ft defire to dye, being miferable. 
 
 Tim. Not by his breath, that is more miferable. 
 Thou art a Slaue,vvhom Fortunes tender arme 
 With fauour neuer clafpt : but bred a Dogge. 
 Had'ft thpu like vs from our firft fwath proceeded, 
 The fweet degrees that this breefe world affords, 
 To fuch as may the pafliue drugges of it 
 Freely command'ft : thou would'ft haue plung'd thy felf 
 In generall Riot, melted downe thy youth 
 In different beds of Luft, and neuer learn'd 
 The 1 cie precepts of refpecl, but followed 
 The Sugred game before thee. But. my felfe, 
 Who had the world as my Confeftionarie, 
 The mouthes, the tongues, the eyes,and hearts of men, 
 At duty more then I could frame employment ; 
 That numberleffe vpon me ftucke, as leaues 
 Do on the Oake, haue with one Winters brufli 
 Fell from their boughes, and left me open, bare, 
 For euery ftorme that blowes. I to beare this, 
 That neuer knew but better, is fome burthen : 
 Thy Nature, did commence in fufferance, Time 
 Hath made thee hard in't. Why fhould'ft y hate Men ? 
 They neuer flatter'd thee. What haft thou giuen ? 
 
 If 
 690
 
 Timon of Athens. 
 
 93 
 
 If thou wilt curfe ; thy Father (that poore ragge) 
 Muft be thy fubieft ; who in fpight put ftuffe 
 To fome fliee-Begger, and compounded thee 
 Poore Rogue, hereditary. Hence, be gone, 
 If thou hadft not bene borne the worft of men,- 
 Thou hadft bene a Knaue and Flatterer. 
 
 Ape. Art thou proud yet/ 
 
 Tim. I, that I am not thee. 
 
 Aft. I, that I was no Prodigall. 
 
 Tim. I, that I am one now. 
 Were all the wealth I haue fliut vp in thee, 
 I'ld giue thee leaue to hang it. Get thee gone : 
 That the whole life of Athens were in this, 
 Thus would I eate it. 
 
 Ape. Heere, I will mend thy Feaft. 
 
 Tim. Firft mend thy company, take away thy felfe. 
 
 Ape. So I fhall mend mine owne, by'th'lacke of thine 
 
 Tim. 'Tis not well mended fo, it is but botchtj 
 If not, I would it were. 
 
 Ape. What would'ft thou haue to Athens? 
 
 Tim. Thee thither in a whirlewind : if thou wilt, 
 Tell them there I haue Gold ,looke,fo I haue. 
 
 Ape. Heere is no vfe for Gold. 
 
 Tim. The beft, and trueft : 
 For heere it fleepes, and do's no hyred harme. 
 
 Ape. Where lyeft a nights Timon ? 
 
 Tim. Vnder that's aboue me. 
 Where feed'ft thou a-dayes <Apemantiu? 
 
 Ape. Where my ftomacke lindes meate, or rather 
 where I eate it. 
 
 Tim. Would poyfon were obedient, & knew my mind 
 
 Ape. Where would'ft thou fend it? 
 
 Tim. To fawce thy diflies. 
 
 Ape. The middle of Humanity thou neuer kneweft, 
 but the extremitie of both ends. When thou waft in thy 
 Gilt, and thy Perfume, they mockt thee for too much 
 Curiofitie : in thy Ragges thou know'ft none, but art de- 
 fpis'd for the contrary. There's a medler for thee, eate it. 
 
 Tim. On what I hate, I feed not. 
 
 Ape. Do'ft hate a Medler? 
 
 Tim. I, though it looke like thee. 
 
 Ape. And th'hadft hated Medlers fooner, y fliould'ft 
 haue loued thy felfe better now. What man didd'ft thou 
 euer know vnthrift, that was beloued after his meanest 
 
 Tim. Who without thofe meanes thou talk'ft of,didft 
 thou euer know belou'd ? 
 
 Ape. My felfe. 
 
 Tim. I vnderftand thee : thou had'ft fome meanes to 
 keepe a Dogge. 
 
 Apem. What things in the world' canft thou neereft 
 compare to thy Flatterers? 
 
 Tim. Women neereft, but men : men are the things 
 themfelues. What would'ft thou do with the world A- 
 pemantui, if it lay in thy power ? 
 
 Ape. Giue it the Beafts, to be rid of the- men. 
 
 Tim. Would'ft thou haue thy felfe fall in the confu- 
 fion of men, and remaine a Beaft with the Beafts. 
 
 Ape. I Timon. 
 
 Tim. A beaftly Ambition, which the Goddes graunt 
 thee t'attaine to. If thou wert the Lyon, the Fox would 
 beguile thee : if thou wert the Lambe, the Foxe would 
 eate thee: if thou wert the Fox, the Lion would fufped 
 thee, when peraduenture thou wert accus'd by the AfTe : 
 If thou wert the Afle, thy dulnefle would torment thee ; 
 and ftill thou liu'dft but as a Breakefaft to the Wolfe. If 
 thou wert the Wolfe, thy greedinefTe would afflidr, thee, 
 
 691 
 
 & oft thou fhould'ft hazard thy life for thy dinner. Wert 
 thou the Vnicorne, pride and wrath would confound 
 thee, and make thine owne felfe the conqueft of thy fury. 
 Wert thou a Beare, thou would'ft be kill'd by the Horfe: 
 wert thou a Horfe, thou would'ft be feaz'd by the Leo- 
 pard : wert thou a Leopard, thou wert Germane to the 
 Lion, and the fpottes of thy Kindred, were lurors on thy 
 life. All thy fafety were remotion, and thy defence ab- 
 fence. What Beaft could'ft thou bee, that were not fub- 
 iedt to a Beaft : and what a Beaft art thou already, that 
 feeft not thy lofle in transformation. 
 
 Ape. If thou could'ft pleafe me 
 With fpeaking to me, thou might'ft 
 Haue hit vpon it heere. 
 The Commonwealth of Athens,is become 
 AForreftofBeafts. 
 
 Tim. How ha's the Afle broke the wall, that thou art 
 out of the Citie. 
 
 Ape. Yonder comes a Poet and a Painter : 
 The plague of Company light vpon thee : 
 I will feare to catch it, and giue way. 
 When I know not what elfe to do, 
 He fee thee againe. 
 
 Tim. When there is nothing liuing but thee, 
 Thou (halt be welcome. 
 I had rather be a Beggers Dogge, 
 Then Apemanttu. 
 
 Ape. Thou art the Cap 
 Of all the Fooles aliue. 
 
 Tim. Would thou wert cleane enough 
 To fpit vpon. 
 
 Ape. A plague on thee, 
 Thou art too bad to curfe. 
 
 Tim. All Villaines 
 That do ftand by thee, are pure. 
 
 Ape. There is no Leprofie, 
 But what thou fpeak'ft. 
 
 Tim. If I name thee, He beate theej 
 But I fhould infe<fl my hands. 
 
 Ape. I would my tongue 
 Could rot them off. 
 
 Tim. Away thou iflne of a mangie dog^e, 
 Choller does kill me, 
 That thou art aliue, I fwoond to fee thee. 
 
 Ape. Would thou would'ft burft. 
 
 Tim. Away thou tedious Rogue, I am forry I lhall 
 lofe a ftone by thee, 
 
 Ape. Beaft. 
 
 Tim. Slaue. 
 
 Ape. Toad. 
 
 Tim. Rogue, Rogue, Rogue. 
 
 I am licke ofth ! sfalfe world, and will loue nought 
 But euen the meere neceflities vpon't : 
 Then Timon prefently prepare thy graue : 
 Lye where the light Fome of the Sea may beate 
 Thy graue ftone dayly,make thine Epitaph, 
 That death in me, at others Hues may laugh. 
 O thou fweete King-killer, and deare diuorce 
 Twixt natural! Sunne and fire : thou bright defiler 
 of Himens pureft bed, thou valiant Mars, 
 Thou euer, yong,frefh, loued, and delicate wooer, 
 Whofe blufli doth thawe the confecrated Snow 
 That lyes on Dians lap, 
 Thou vifible God, 
 That fouldreft clofe Impoflibilities, 
 
 And mak'ft them kifle; that fpeak'ft with euerie Tongue 
 hh 3 To
 
 94 
 
 Timon of ^Athens. 
 
 o euerie purpofe : O thou touch of hearts, 
 Thinke thy flaue-man rebels, and by thy vertue 
 Set them into confounding oddes, that Bea'ts 
 May haue the world in Empire. 
 
 Ape. Would 'twere fo, 
 But not till I am dead. He f ly th'haft Gold : 
 Thou wilt be throng'd too ftiortly. 
 
 Tim. Throng'd too ? 
 
 Aft. \. 
 
 Tim. Thy backe I prythee. 
 
 Ape. Liue, and loue thy mifery. 
 
 Tim. Long liue fo,and fo dye. I am quit. 
 
 Ape. Mo things like men, 
 Bate Timon, and abhorre then. Exit Apcnian. 
 
 Enter the 'Bandetti. 
 
 1 Where ftiould he haue this Gold ? It is fome poore 
 Fragment, fome flender Ort of his remainder : the meere 
 want of Gold, and the falling from of his Friendes, droue 
 him into this Melancholly. 
 
 2 It is nois'd 
 
 He hath a mafle of Treafure. 
 
 3 Let vs make the aflay vpon him, if he care not for't, 
 he will fupply vs eafily : if he couetoufly relerue it, how 
 /hall's get it ? 
 
 a True : for he beares it not about him: 
 Tis hid. 
 
 1 Is not this hee ? 
 All. Where? 
 
 2 *Tis his defcription. 
 
 3 He? I know him. 
 All, Saue thee Titnon. 
 Tim. Now Theeues. 
 
 All. Soldiers, not Theeues. 
 
 Tim. Both too , and womens Sonnes. 
 
 tAll. We are not Theeues, but men 
 That much do want. 
 
 Tim. Your greateft want is, you want much of meat : 
 Why fliould you want ? Behold, the Earth hath Rootes: 
 Within this Mile breake forth a hundred Springs: 
 The Oakes beare Maft, the Briars Scarlet Heps, 
 The bounteous Hufwife Nature, on each bufti, 
 Layes her full Mcfle before you. Want? why Want? 
 
 i We cannot liue on Grafl~e,on Berries, Water, 
 As Beads, and Birds, and Fifties. 
 
 Ti. Nor on the Beafts themfelues, the Birds & Fifties, 
 You muft eate men. Yet thankes I muft you con, 
 That you are Theeues profeft : that you worke not 
 In holier ftiapes : For there is boundlefle Theft 
 In limited Profefiions. Rafcall Theeues 
 Heere's Gold. Go, fucke the fubtle blood o'th'Grape, 
 Till the high Feauor feeth your blood to froth, 
 And fo fcape hanging. Truft not the Phyfitian," 
 His Antidotes are poyfon, and he flayes 
 Moe then you Rob : Take wealth, and liues together, 
 Do Villaine do, fince you proteft to doo't. 
 Like Workemen, He example you with Theeuery : 
 The Sunnes a Theefe, and with his great attraction 
 Robbes the vafte Sea. The Moones an arrant Theefe, 
 And her pale fire, (he fnatches from the Sunne. 
 The Seas a Theefe, whofe liquid Surge, refolues 
 The Moone into Salt teares. The Earth's a Theefe, 
 That feeds and breeds by a compofture ftolne 
 From gen'rall excrement : each thing's a Theefe. 
 The Lawes, your curbe and whip , in their rough power 
 
 Ha 'svncheck'd Theft. Loue not your felues, away, 
 
 Rob one another, there's more Gold, cut throates, 
 
 All that you meete are Theeues : to Athens go, 
 
 Breake open fhoppes, nothing can you fteale 
 
 But Theeues do looli it : fte.ile leffe, for this I giue you, 
 
 And Gold confound you howfoere : Amen. 
 
 3 Has almoft charm'd me from my Profelfion,by per- 
 fwading me to it. 
 
 1 'Tis in trie malice of mankinde, that he thus aduifes 
 vs not to haue vs thriue in our myftery. 
 
 2 lie beleeue him as an Enemy, 
 And giue ouef my Trade. 
 
 i Let vs firft lee peace in Athens, there is no time fo 
 miferable, but a man may be true. Exit Tbeeues. 
 
 Enter the Steward to Timon. 
 
 Stew. Oh you Gods ! 
 
 Isyon'd defpis'd and ruinous man my Lord ? 
 Full of decay and fayling ? Oh Monument 
 And wonder of good deeds, euilly beftow'd ! 
 What an alteration of Honor has defp'rate want made ? 
 What vilder thing vpon the earth, then Friends, 
 Who can bring Nobleft mindes, to baled ends. 
 How rarely does it meete with this times guife, 
 When man was wiflu to loue his Enemies : 
 Grant I may euer loue, and rather woo 
 Thofe that would mifcheefe me, then thofe that doo. 
 Has caught me in his eye, I will prefent my honeft griefe 
 vnto him ; and as my Lord, ftill feme him with my life. 
 My deereft Mafter. 
 
 Tim. Away : what art thou ? 
 
 Stew. Haue you forgot me, Sir ? 
 
 Tim. Why doft aske that ? I haue forgot all men. 
 Then, if thou grunt'ft, th'arta man. 
 I haue forgot thee. 
 
 Stew. An honeft poore feruant of yours. 
 
 Tim. Then I know thee not : 
 I neuer had honeft man about me, I all 
 I kept were Knaues, to feme in meate to Villaine s. 
 
 Stew. The Gods are witnefTe, 
 Neu'r did poore Steward weare a truer greefe 
 For his vndone Lord, then mine eyes for you. 
 
 Tim. What, doft thou weepe ? 
 Come neerer, then I loue thee 
 Becaufe thou art a woman, and difdaim ft 
 Flinty mankinde : whofe eyes do neuer giue, 
 But thorow Luft and Laughter : pittie's fleeping : 
 Strange times y weepe with laughing, not with weeping. 
 
 Stew. I begge of you to know me, good my Lord, 
 T'accept my greefe, and whil'ft this poore wealth lafts, 
 To entertaine me as your Steward ftill. 
 
 Tim. Had I a Steward 
 So true, fo iuft, and now fo comfortable? 
 It almoft turnes my dangerous Nature wilde. 
 Let me behold thy face : Surely, this man 
 Was borne of woman. 
 
 Forgiue my generall, and exceptlefle raftinefle 
 You perpetual! fober Gods. I do proclaime 
 One honeft man : Miftake me not, butone : 
 No more I pray, and hee's a Steward. 
 How fiine would I haue hated all mankinde, 
 And thou redeem'ft thy felfe. But all faue thee, 
 I fell with Curfes. 
 
 Me thinkes thou art more honeft now, then wife : 
 For, by opprefling and betraying mee, 
 
 Thou
 
 Timon of Athens. 
 
 95 
 
 Thou might'ft haue fooner got another Seiuice : 
 
 For many fo arriue at fecond Mafters, 
 
 Vpon their firft Lords necke. But tell me true, 
 
 (For I muft euer doubt, though ne're fo fure) 
 
 Is not thy kindnefTe fubtle, couetous, 
 
 If not a Vfuring kindneffe,and as rich men deale Guifts, 
 
 Expecting in returne twenty for one? 
 
 Stop. No my moft worthy Mafter, in whofe breft 
 Doubt, and fufpeft (alas) are plac'd too late: 
 You fhould haue fear'd falfe times, when you did Feaft. 
 Sufpeft ftill comes, where an eftate is leaft. 
 That which I /hew, Heauen knowes, is meerely Loue, 
 Dutie, and Zeale, to your vnmatched minde 5 
 Care of your Food and Liuing, and beleeue it, 
 My moft Honour'd Lord, 
 For any benefit that poin:s to mee, 
 Either in hope, or prefent, I'de exchange 
 For this one wilh, that you had power and wealth 
 To requite me, by making rich your felfe. 
 
 Tim. Looke thee, 'tis io : thou fingly honeft man, 
 Heere take : the Gods out of my miferie 
 Ha's fent thee Treafure. Go, Hue rich and happy, 
 But thus condition'd :Thou fhak build from men: 
 Hate all, curfe all, fliew Chanty to none, 
 But let the famiflit flefli Hide from the Bone, 
 Ere thou releeue the Begger. Giue to dogges 
 What thou denyeft to men. Let Prifons fwallow 'em, 
 Debts wither 'em to nothing, be men like blafted woods 
 And may Difeafes licke vp their falfe bloods, 
 And fo farewell, and thriue. 
 
 Stew. O let me ftay,and comfort you, my Mafter. 
 
 Tim. If thou hat'ft Curfes 
 Stay not : flye, whil'ft thou art bleft and free : 
 Ne're fee thou man, and let me ne're fee thee. Exit 
 
 Snter Poet, and Painter. 
 
 Pain. As I tooke note of the place, it cannot be farre 
 where he abides. 
 
 Poet. What's to be thought of him ?> 
 Does the Rumor hold for true, 
 That hee's fo full of Gold ? 
 
 Painter. Certaine. 
 
 Alcibiades reports it : Pbrinka and Timandylo 
 Had Gold of him. He likewife enrich'd 
 Poore ftragling Souldiers, with great quantity. 
 'Tis faide, he gaue vnto his Steward 
 A mighty fumme. 
 
 Poet. Then this breaking of his, 
 Ha's beene but a Try for his Friends ? 
 
 Painter. Nothing elfe : 
 
 You (hall fee him a Palme in Athens againe, 
 And flourifh with the higheft : 
 Therefore, 'tis not amiflV, we tender our loues 
 To him, in this fuppos'd diftrefle of his: 
 It will fliew honeftly in vs, 
 And is very likely, to loade our purpofes 
 With what they trauaile for, 
 If it be a iuft and true report, that goes 
 Of his hauing. 
 
 Poet. What haue you now 
 To prefent vnto him ? 
 
 Painter. Nothing at this time 
 But my Vifitation :onely I will promife him 
 An excellent Peece. 
 
 Poet. I muft ferue him fo tooj 
 Tell him of an intent that's comming toward him. 
 
 695 
 
 Painter. Good as the beft. 
 Promifing, is the verie Ayre o'th'Time; 
 It opens the eyes of Expectation. 
 Performance, is euer the duller for his acle, 
 And but in the plainer and fimpler kinde of people, 
 The deede of Saying is quite out of vfe. 
 To Promife, is moft Courtly and fashionable ; 
 Performance, is a kinde of Will or Teftament 
 Which argues a great ficknefle in his Judgement 
 That makes it. 
 
 Enter Timon from bii Caue. 
 
 Timw. Excellent Workeman, 
 Thou canft not paint a man fo badde 
 As is thy felfe. 
 
 Pott. I am thinking 
 
 What I fliall fay I haue prouided for him : 
 It muft be a perfonating of himfelfe : 
 I A Satyre againft the foftnefle of Profperity, 
 i With a Difcouerie of the infinite Flatteries 
 That follow youth and opulencie. 
 
 Timon. Muft thou needes 
 Stand for a Villaine in thine owne Worke ? 
 Wilt thou whip thine owne faults in other men? 
 Do fo, I haue Gold for thee. 
 
 Poet. Nay let's feeke him. 
 Then do we finne againft our owne eftate, 
 When we may profit meete, and come too late. 
 
 Painter, True : 
 
 When the day ferues before blacke-corner'd night 5 
 Finde what thou want'ft, by free and offer' d light. 
 Come. 
 
 Tim. He meete you at the turne : 
 What a Gods Gold, that he is wor/hipt 
 In a bafer Temple, then where Swine feede ? 
 'Tis thou that rigg'ft the Barke, and plow'ft the Fome, 
 Setleft admired reuerence in a Slaue, 
 To thee be worfliipt, and thy Saints for aye : 
 Be crown'd with Plagues, that thee alone obay. 
 Fit I meet them. 
 
 Poet. Haile worthy Timon. 
 
 Pain. Our late Noble Mafter. 
 
 Timon. Haue I once liu'd 
 To fee two honeft men ? 
 
 foet. Sir: 
 
 Hauing often of your open Bounty tafted, 
 Hearing you were retyr'd, your Friends falne off, 
 Whofe thankelefle Natures (O abhorred Spirits) 
 Not all the Whippes of Heauen, are large enough^ 
 What, to you, 
 
 Whofe Starre-like Noblenefie gaue life and influence 
 To their whole being? I am rapt, and cannot couer 
 Theimonftrous bulke of this Ingratitude 
 With any fize of words. 
 
 Timon. Let it go, 
 Naked men may fee't the better : 
 You that are honeft, by being what you are, 
 Make them beft feene,and knowne. 
 
 Pain. He, and my felfe 
 
 Haue trauail'd in the great fliowre of your guifts, 
 And fweetly felt it. 
 
 Timon. I, you are honeft man. 
 
 Painter. We are hither come 
 To offer you our feruice. 
 
 Timon. Moft honeft men : 
 
 Why
 
 96 
 
 Timon of ^Athens. 
 
 Why how fhall I requite you? 
 
 Can you eate Roots, and drinke cold water, no? 
 
 Both. What we can do, 
 Wee'l do to do you feruice. 
 
 Tim. Y'are honeft men, 
 Y'haue heard that I haue Gold, , 
 I am Aire you haue, fpeake truth, y'are honeft men, 
 
 Pain. So it is faid my Noble Lord, but therefore 
 Came not my Friend, nor I. 
 
 Timon. Good honeft men : Thou draw'ft a counterfet 
 Beft in all Athens, th'art indeed the beft, 
 Thou counterfet'ft moft liuely. 
 
 Pain. So,fo, my Lord. 
 
 Tim. E'ne fo fir as I fay. And for thy fidion, 
 Why thy Verfe fwels with ftuffe fo fine and fmooth, 
 That thou art euen Naturall in thine Art. 
 But for all this (my honeft Natur'd friends) 
 I muft needs fay you haue a little fault, 
 Marry 'tis not monftrous in you, neither wifli I 
 You take much paines to mend. 
 
 'Both. Befeech your Honour 
 To make it knowne to vs. 
 
 Tim. You'l take it ill. 
 
 'Both. Moft thankefully,my Lord. 
 
 Timon. Will you indeed ? 
 
 Both. Doubt it not worthy Lord. 
 
 Tim. There's neuer a one of you but trufts a Knaue, 
 That mightily deceiues you. 
 
 'Both. Do we, my Lord ? 
 
 Tim. I, and you heare him cogge, 
 See him diflemble, 
 
 Know his grofle patchery, loue him, feede him, 
 Keepe in your bofome, yet remaine aflur'd 
 That he's a made-vp-Villaine. 
 
 Pain. I know none fuch,my Lord. 
 
 Poet. Nor I. 
 
 Timon. Looke you, 
 I loue you well, He giue you Gold 
 Rid me thefe Villaines from your companies ; 
 Hang them, or ftab them, drowne them in a draught, 
 Confound them by fome courfe,and come to me, 
 He giue you Gold enough. 
 ^'B&tb. Name them my Lord, let's know them. 
 
 Tim. You that way, and you this : 
 But two in Company : 
 Each man a part, all fingle,and alone, 
 Yet an arch Villaine keepes him company : 
 If where thou art, two Villaines fliall not be, 
 Come not neere him. if thou would'ft not recide 
 But where one Villaine is, then him abandon. 
 Hence, packe, there's Gold, you came for Gold ye flaues: 
 You haue worke for me ; there's payment,-hence, 
 You are an Alcumift, make Gold of that : 
 Out Rafcall dogges. Exeunt 
 
 Enter Steward, and two Senators. 
 
 Stew. It is vaine that you would fpeake with Timon : 
 For he is fet fo onely to himfelfe, 
 That nothing but himfelfe, which lookes like man, 
 Is friendly with him. 
 
 !.&. Bring vs to his Caue. 
 It is our part and promife to th'Athenians 
 To fpeake with Timon. 
 
 i.&n. At all times alike 
 Men are not ftill the fame : 'twas "Time and Greefes 
 
 That fram'd him thus. Time with his fairer hand, 
 Offering the Fortunes of his former dayes, 
 The former man may make him: bring vs to him 
 And chanc'd it as it may. 
 
 Stem. Heere is his Caue : 
 
 Peace and content be heere. Lord Timon, Timon t 
 Looke out, and fpeake to Friends : Th'Athenians 
 By two of their moft reuerend Senate greet thee : 
 Speake to them Noble Timon. 
 
 Enter Timnn out of hit Caue. 
 
 Tim. Thou Sunne that comforts burne,! 
 Speake and be hang'd : 
 For each true word, a blifter, and each falfe 
 Be as a Cantherizing to the root o'th'Tongue, 
 Confuming it with fpeaking. 
 
 I Worthy Timon. 
 
 Tim. Of none but fuch as you, 
 And you of Timon. 
 
 I The Senators of Athens, greet thee Timon. 
 
 Tim. I thanke them, 
 And would fend them backe the plague, 
 Could I but catch it for them. 
 
 1 O forget 
 
 What we are forry for our felues in thee : 
 The Senators, with one confent of loue, 
 Intreate thee backe to Athens, who haue thought 
 On fpeciall Dignities, which vacant lye 
 For thy beft vfe and wearing. 
 
 2 They confefle 
 
 Toward thee, forgetfulneiTe too general! grofle ; 
 
 Which now the publike Body, which doth fildome 
 
 Play the re-canter, feeling in it felfe 
 
 A lacke of Timont ayde, hath fince withall 
 
 Of it owne fall, restraining ayde to Timon, 
 
 And fend forth vs, to make their forrowed render, 
 
 Together, with a recompence more fruitfull 
 
 Then their offence can weigh downe by the Dramme, 
 
 I euen fuch heapes and fummesof Loue and Wealth, 
 
 As /hall to thee blot out, what wrongs were theirs, 
 
 And write in thee the figures of their loue, 
 
 Euer to read them thine. 
 
 Tim. You witch me in it ; 
 Surprize me to the very brinke of teares ; 
 Lend me a Fooles heart, and a womans eyes, 
 And lie beweepe thefe comforts, worthy Senators. 
 
 1 Therefore fo pleafe thee to returne with vs, 
 And of our Athens, thine and ours to take 
 
 The Captainfhip, thou {halt be met with thankes, 
 
 Allowed with abfolute power, and thy good name 
 
 Liue with Authentic : io foone we flull driue backe 
 
 Of Alcib'iadei th 'approaches wild, 
 
 Who like a Bore too fauage, doth root vp 
 
 His Countries peace. 
 
 2 And fhakea his threatning Sword 
 Againft the walles of Athens. 
 
 I Therefore Timon. 
 
 Tim. Well fir, I will : therefore I will fir thus : 
 If Alcibiades kill my Countrymen, 
 Let Alcib'iadei know this of Timon, 
 That Timon cares not. But if he facke faire Athens, 
 And take our goodly aged men by'th'Beards, 
 Giuingour holy Virgins to the ftaine 
 Of contumelious, beaftly, mad^brain'd warre : 
 Then let him know, and tell him Timon fpeakes it, 
 
 In 
 
 694
 
 'Timon of Athens. 
 
 97 
 
 In pitty of our aged, and our youth, 
 
 I cannot choofe but tell him that 1 care not, 
 
 And let him tak't at worft : For their Kniues care not, 
 
 While you haue throats to anfwer. For my felfe, 
 
 There's not a whittle, in th'vnruly Campe, 
 
 But I do prize it at my loue, before 
 
 The reuerends Throat in Athens. So I leaue you 
 
 To the protection of the profperous Gods, 
 
 As Theeues to Keepers. 
 
 Stew. Stay not, all's in vaine. 
 
 Tim. Why I was writing of my Epitaph, 
 It will be feene to morrow. My long ficknefie 
 Of Health,and Liuing, now begins to mend, 
 And nothing brings me all things. Go, Hue ftill, 
 Be A/cibiades your plague ; you his, 
 And laft fo long enough. 
 
 i We fpeake in vaine. 
 
 Tim. But yet I loue my Country , and am not 
 One that reioyces in the common wracke, 
 As common bruite doth put it. 
 
 I That's well fpoke. 
 
 Tim. Commend me to my louing Countreym-en. 
 
 1 Thefe words become your lippes as they pafle tho- 
 row them. 
 
 2 And enter in our eares, like great Triumphers 
 In their applauding gates. 
 
 Tim. Commend me to them, 
 And tell them, that to eafe them of their greefes, 
 Their feares of Hoftile ftrokes, their Aches lofTes, 
 Their pangs of Loue, with other incident throwes 
 That Natures fragile VefTell doth fuftaine 
 In lifes vncertaine voyage, I will fome kindnes do them, 
 He teach them to preuent wilde Alcibiades wrath. 
 
 J I like this well, he will returne againe. 
 
 Tim. I haue a Tree which growes heere in my Clofe, 
 That mine owne vfe inuites me to cut downe, 
 And fhortly muft I fell it. Tell my Friends, 
 Tell Athens, in the fequence of degree, 
 From high to low throughout, that who fo pleafe 
 To flop Affliction, let him take his hafte ; 
 Come hither ere my Tree hath felt the Axe, 
 And hang himfelfe. I pray you do my greeting. 
 
 Stew. Trouble him no further, thus you ftill fhall 
 Finde him. 
 
 Tim. Come not to me againe, but fay to Athens, 
 Timon hath made his euerlafting Manfion 
 Vpon the Beached Verge of the fait Flood, 
 Who once a day with his embofled Froth 1 
 The turbulent Surge fhall couer ; thither come, 
 And let my graue-ftone be your Oracle : 
 Lippes, let foure words go by, and Language end: 
 What is amifle, Plague and Infection mend. 
 Graues onely be mens workes, and Death their gaine ; 
 Sunne, hide thy Beames, Timon hath done his Raigne. 
 
 Exit Timon. 
 
 1 His difcontents are vnremoueably coupled to Na- 
 ture. 
 
 2 Our hope in him is dead : let vs returne, 
 And ftraine what other meanes is left vnto vs 
 In our deere perill. 
 
 I It requires fwift foot. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter two other Senators ,tfith a MeJJenger. 
 
 I Thou haft painfully difcouer'd : are his Files 
 As full as thy report ? 
 
 695 
 
 . I haue fpoke the leaft. 
 Befides his expedition promifes prefent approach. 
 
 2 We ftand much hazard,if they bring not Timon, 
 Mef. I met a Currier, one mine ancient Friend, 
 
 Whom though in generall part we were oppos'd, 
 
 Yet our old loue made a particular force, 
 
 And made vs fpeake like Friends. This man was riding 
 
 From Alcibiades to Timons Caue, 
 
 With Letters of intreaty, which imported 
 
 His Fellowmip i'th'caufe againft your City, 
 
 In part for his fake mou'd. 
 
 Snter the other Senators. 
 
 1 Heere come our Brothers. 
 
 3 No talke of Timon, nothing ofhim expedl, 
 
 The Enemies Drumme is heard,and fearefull fcouring 
 
 Doth choake the ayre with duft : In, and prepare, 
 
 Ours is the fall I feare, our Foes the Snare. Exeunt 
 
 Enter a Souldier in the Woods ,feetyng Timon. 
 So!. By all defcription this fhould be the place. 
 Whofe heere ? Speake hoa. No anfwer ? What is this ? 
 Tymon is dead, who hath out-ftretcht his fpan, 
 Some Beaft reade this ; There do's not Hue a Man. 
 Dead fure, and this his Graue, what's on this Tomb, 
 I cannot read : the Charracter He take with wax, 
 Our Captaine hath in euery Figure skill ; 
 An ag'd Interpreter, though yong in dayes : 
 Before proud Athens hee's fet downe by this, 
 Whofe fall the marke of his Ambition is. Exit. 
 
 Trumpets Jound. Er.ter Alcibiades with his Powers 
 before Athens. 
 
 Ale. Sound to this Coward, and lafciuious Towne, 
 Our terrible approach. 
 
 Sounds a Parly. 
 
 The Senators appeare -upon the wah. 
 Till now you haue gone on, and fill'd the time 
 With all Licentious meafure, making your willes 
 The fcope of luftice. Till now, my felfe and fuch 
 As flept within the fhadow of your power 
 Haue wander'd with our trauerft Armes,and breath'di 
 Our fufferance vainly : Now the time is flufh, 
 When crouching Marrow in the bearer ftrong 
 Cries (of it felfe)no more : Now breathlefTe wrong, 
 Shall (it and pant in your great Chaires of eafe, 
 And purfie Infolence fhall breake his winde 
 With feare and horrid flight. 
 
 i. &. Noble, and young; 
 
 When thy firft greefes were but a meere conceit, 
 Ere thou had'ft power, or we had caufe of feare, 
 We fent to thee, to giue thy rages Balme, 
 To wipe out our Ingratitude, with Loues 
 Aboue their quantitie. 
 
 2 So did we wooe 
 Transformed Timon, to our Citties loue 
 
 By humble MefTage, and by promift meanes : 
 We were not all vnkinde, nor all deferue 
 The common ftroke of warre. 
 
 I Thefe walles of ours, 
 
 Were not creeled by rheir hands, from whom 
 You haue receyu'd your greefe : Nor are they fuch, 
 That thefe great Towres, Trophees, & Schools fhold fall 
 For priuate faults in them. 
 
 2 Nor are they liuing 
 
 Who
 
 Timon of ^Athens. 
 
 Who were the motiues that you firft went out, 
 
 (Shame that they wanted, cunning in excefTe) 
 
 Hath broke their hearts. March, Noble Lord, 
 
 Into our City with thy Banners fpred, 
 
 By decimation and a tythed death ; 
 
 If thy Reuenges hunger for that Food 
 
 Which Nature loathes, take thou thedeftin'd tenth, 
 
 And by the hazard of the fpotted dye, 
 
 Let dye the fpotted. 
 
 I All haue not offended : 
 For thofe that were, it is not fquare to take 
 On thofe that are, Reuenge : Crimes, like Lands 
 Are not inherited, then deere Countryman, 
 Bring in thy rankes, but leaue without thy rage, 
 Spare thy Athenian Cradle, and thofe Kin 
 Which in the blufter of thy wrath muft fall 
 With thofe that haue offended, like a Shepheard, 
 Approach the Fold, and cull th'infected forth, 
 But kill not altogether. 
 
 Z What thou wilt, 
 
 Thou rather /halt inforce it with thy fmile, 
 Then hew too't, with thy Sword. 
 
 1 Set but thy foot 
 
 Againft our rampyr'd gates, and they fhall ope : 
 So thou wilt fend thy gentle heart before, 
 To fay thou't enter Friendly. 
 
 2 Throw thy Gloue, 
 
 Or any Token of thine Honour elfe, 
 That thou wilt vfe the warres as thy redrefle, 
 And notasourConfufion: All thy Powers 
 Shall maketheirharbourin ourTowne, till wee 
 Haue feal'd thy full defire. 
 
 Ale. Then there's my Gloue, 
 Defend and open your vncharged Ports, 
 
 Thofe Enemies of Timons, and mine owne 
 Whom you your felues ftull fet out for reproofe, 
 Fall and no more; and to attoneyour feares 
 With my more Noble meaning, not a man 
 Shall pafle his quarter, or offend the ftreame 
 Of Regular luftice in your Citties bounds, 
 But fhall be remedied to your publique Lawes 
 At heauieft anfwer. 
 
 'Both. 'Tis molt Nobly fpoken. 
 
 Ale. Defcend, and keepe your words. 
 Enter a Meffenger. 
 
 Mef. My Noble Generall, Timon is dead, 
 Entomb'd vpon the very hemme o'th'Sea, 
 And on his Graueftoni-, this Infculpture which 
 With wax I brought away : whofe loft Impreflion 
 Interprets for my poore ignorance. 
 
 Alcibiades reades the Epitaph. 
 
 Heere lies a wretched C oar f e > of wretched Soule bereft, 
 Sfe^ not my name: A Plague consume you , wielded Caitifs left: 
 Heere lye I Timon ,w ho aliue,all liuing men did hate, 
 Paffe by, and c urfe thy fill, but paffe and ft ay not here thy gate. 
 Thefe well exprefle in thee thy latter fpirits: 
 Though thou abhorrd'ft in vs our humane griefes, 
 Scornd'ft our Braines flow, and thofe our droplets, which 
 From niggard Nature fall ; yet Rich Conceit 
 Taught thee to make vaft Neptune weepe for aye 
 On thy low Graue, on faults forgiuen. Dead 
 Is Noble Timon, of whofe Memorie 
 Heereafter more. Bring me into your Citie, 
 And I will vfe the Oliue, with my Sword : 
 Make war breed peace ; make peace ftint war,make each 
 Prefcribe to other, as each others Leach. 
 Let our Drummes ftrike. Exeunt. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 696
 
 THE 
 
 ACT ORS 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 TMOK of Athens. 
 
 Lucius, And 
 
 Lucullus , typo Flatter ingLords. 
 AppemantuSy a Qhurlijh ^hilofopher. 
 Sempronius another flattering Lord. 
 AlcibiadeSy an Athenian Qaptaine. 
 Toet. 
 fainter. 
 "Jeweller. 
 Merchant. 
 Qertaine Senatours. 
 Qertaine Masters. 
 Certaine Theeues. 
 
 Flaminius, one ofTymons Seruants. 
 
 Serm/ius, another. 
 
 Caphis. 
 
 Varro. 
 
 Titus ' Several! Seruants to Vfurers. 
 
 Lucius. 
 
 Hor ten/is 
 
 Ventigius. one ofTymonsfalfe Friends. 
 
 Cupid. 
 
 Sempronius. 
 
 With diuers other Seruants, 
 
 And Attendants. 
 
 697

 
 109 
 
 THE TRAGEDIE OF 
 
 IVLIVS CAESAR. 
 
 <iA5tus Primus. Sccena ^Prima. 
 
 Enter Flauiui , Murelltu , andcertaine Commoner s 
 ouer the Stage. 
 
 Flauiiu. 
 
 HEnce : home you idle -Creatures, get you home: 
 Is this a Holiday ? What, know you not 
 (Being Mechanicall) you ought not walke 
 Vpon a labouring day, without the figne 
 Of your Profeffion ? Speake, what Trade art thou ? 
 
 Car. Why Sir, a Carpenter. 
 
 Mur. Where is thy Leather Apron,and thy Rule? 
 What doft thou with thy beft Apparrell on? 
 You fir, what Trade are you ? 
 
 Cobl. Truely Sir, in refpecl: of a fine Workman, I am 
 but as you would fay, a Cobler. 
 
 Mur. But what Trade art thou ? Anfwer me dire&ly. 
 
 Cob. A Trade Sir, that I hope I may vfe, with a fafe 
 Confcience, which is indeed Sir,a Mender of bad foules. 
 
 Fla. What Trade thou knaue ? Thou naughty knaue, 
 what Trade ? 
 
 Cobl. Nay I befeech you Sir, be not out with me: yet 
 if you be out Sir, I can mend you, 
 
 Mur. What mean ft thou by that ? Mend mee, thou 
 fawcy Fellow ? 
 
 Cob. Why fir, Cobble you. 
 
 Fla. Thou art a Cobler,art thou ? 
 
 Cob. Truly fir, all that I Hue by, is with the Aule : I 
 meddle with no Tradefmans matters, nor womens mat- 
 ters; but withal I am indeed Sir, a Surgeon to old fliooes: 
 when they are in great danger, I recouer them. As pro- 
 per men as euer trod vpon Neats Leather, haue gone vp- 
 on my handy-worke. 
 
 Fla. But wherefore art not in thy Shop to day? 
 Why do'ft thou leade thefe men about the ftreets? 
 
 Cob. Truly fir, to weare out their fliooes, to get my 
 felfe into more worke. But indeede fir, we make Holy- 
 day to fee Ceefar, and to reioyce in his Triumph. 
 
 Mur. Wherefore reioyce ? 
 What Conqueft brings he home? 
 What Tributaries follow him to Rome, 
 To grace in Captiue bonds his Chariot Wheeles ? 
 You Blockes,you ftones,you worfe then fenflefle things: 
 O you hard hearts, you cruell men of Rome, 
 Knew you not Pcmpey many a time and oft? , 
 Haue you climb'd vp to Walles and Battlements, 
 To Towres and Windowes? Yea, to Chimney tops, 
 Your Infants in your Armes, and there haue fate 
 The Hue-long day, with patient expectation, 
 
 699 
 
 To fee great Pompey pafle the ftreets of Rome : 
 And when you faw his Chariot but appeare, 
 Haue you not made an Vniuerfall fhouf, 
 That Tyber trembled vnderneath her bankes 
 To heare the replication of your founds, 
 Made in her Concaue Shores ? 
 And do you now put on your beft attyre ? 
 And do you now cull out a Holyday ? 
 And do you now ftrew Flowers in his way, 
 That comes in Triumph ouer Pompeyes blood ? 
 Be gone, 
 
 Runne to your houfes, fall vpon your knees, 
 Pray to the Gods to intermit the plague 
 That needs muft light on this Ingratitude. 
 
 Fla. Go, go, good Countrymen, and for this fault 
 Afiemble all the poore men of your fort ; 
 Draw them to Tyber bankes, and weepe your teares 
 Into the Channel!, till the loweft ftreame 
 Do kiffe the moft exalted Shores of all. 
 
 Exeunt all the Commoners. 
 See where their bafeft mettle be not mou'd, i 
 They vanifh tongue-tyed in their guiltinefle : 
 Go you downe that way towards the Capitoll, 
 This way will I : Difrobe the Images, 
 If you do finde them deckt with Ceremonies. 
 
 cMur. May we do fo ? 
 You know it is the Feaft of Lupercall. 
 
 Fla. It is no matter, let no Images 
 Be hung with Ctffars Trophees : He about, 
 And driue away the Vulgar from the ftreets ; 
 So do you too, where you perceiue them thicke. 
 Thefe growing Feathers, pluckt from Ctefars wing, 
 Will make him flye an ordinary pitch, 
 Who elfe would foare aboue the view of men, 
 And keepe vs all in feruile fearefulnefle. Exeunt 
 
 Enter Ceefar, Antony for the Courfe ,Qalpburnia , Portia, De- 
 ciui , Cicero , 'Brutus , CaJJiui, Casfo, a Soothsayer -.af- 
 ter them Murellui and Flauiui. 
 Ceff. Calpburnia. 
 Cat{. Peace ho, Cafar fpeakes. 
 Ctff. Calpburnia. 
 Calf. Heere my Lord. 
 Ceff. Stand you dire&ly in Antonio's way, 
 When he doth run his courfe. Antonio. 
 Ant. Cajar,my Lord. 
 Ctef. Forget not in your fpeed Antonio, 
 To touch Calpburnia : for our Elders fay, 
 
 k k The
 
 The Tragedie of 'Julius 
 
 The Barren touched in this holy chace, 
 Shake off their fterrile curfe. 
 
 Ant. I /hall remember, 
 When Ctffar fayes, Do this ; it is perform'd. 
 
 Caj". Set on, and leaue no Ceremony out. 
 
 Sooth. Ctffar. 
 
 Ctef. Ha? Who calks? 
 
 Cail(. Bid euery noyfe be ftill : peace yet againe. 
 
 Ctff. Who is it in the prefle r that calles on me? 
 1 heare a Tongue fhriller then all the Muficke 
 Cry, Ctffar : Speake, C< e f ar ' s turn'd to heare. 
 
 Sooth. Beware the Ides of March. 
 
 Caf. What man is that ? 
 
 Br.A Sooth-fayer bids you beware the Ides of March 
 
 Ctff. Set him before me, let me fee his face. 
 
 Cj^F.Fellow, come from the throng, look vpon Cafar. 
 
 Ctff. What fayft thou to me now? Speak once againe. 
 
 Sooth. Beware the Ides of March. 
 
 Ctef. He is a Dreamer, let vs leaue him : Pafle. 
 
 Sennit. Exeunt. Manet 'Brut. & Caff'. 
 
 CaJJl. Will you go fee the order of the courfe ? 
 
 'Brut. Not I. 
 
 CaJJl. I pray you do. 
 
 Brut. I am not Gamefom: I do lacke fome part 
 Of that quicke Spirit that is in Antony : 
 Let me not hinder CaJJlui your defires ; 
 lie leaue you. 
 
 C a jfi- 'Brutus, I do obferue you now of late : 
 I haue not from your eyes, that gentleneffe 
 And /hew ofLoue, as I was wont to haue :| 
 You beare too ftubborne,and too ftrange a hand 
 Ouer your Friend, that loues you. 
 
 Bru. CaJJlus, 
 
 Be not deceiu'd : If I haue veyl'd my looke, 
 I turne the trouble of my Countenance 
 Meerely vpon my felfe. Vexed I am 
 Of late, with paflions of fome difference, 
 Conceptions onely proper to my felfe, 
 Which glue fome foyle (perhaps) to my Behauiours : 
 But let not therefore my good Friends be greeu'd 
 (Among which number CaJJlus be you one) 
 Nor conftrue any further my neglect, 
 Then that poore Brutui with himfelfe at warre, 
 Forgets the fhewes of Loue to other men. 
 
 CaJJi. Then "Zfra/ztf, I haue much miftook your pa/lion, 
 By meanes whereof, this Breft of mine hath buried 
 Thoughts of great value, worthy Cogitations. 
 Tell me good 'Brutui, Can you fee your face ? 
 
 Brutu6. No CaJJlus : 
 
 For the eye fees not it felfe but by reflection, 
 By fome other things. 
 
 Cajfiui. 'Tis iuft, 
 
 And it is very much lamented Brutus, 
 That you. haue no fuch Mirrors, as will turne 
 Your hidden worthinefle into your eye, 
 That you might fee your fhadow : 
 I haue heard, 
 
 Where many of the beft refpecl in Rome, 
 (Except immortall Ctffar} fpeaking of Brutus,' 
 And groaning vnderneath this Ages yoake, 
 Haue wi/h'd, that Noble Brutui had his eyes. 
 
 Bru. Into what dangers, would you 
 Leade me Cajflus ? 
 
 That you would haue me feeke into my felfe, 
 For that which is not in me? 
 
 Caf. Therefore good Brutui, be prepar'd to heare : 
 
 And fince you know, you cannot fee your felfe 
 
 So well as by Reflection; I your Glafle, 
 
 Will modeftly difcouer to your felfe 
 
 That of your felfe, which you yet know not of. 
 
 And be not iealous on me, gentle Brutui : 
 
 Were I a common Laughter, or did vfe 
 
 To ftale with ordinary Oathes my loue 
 
 To euery new Protefter : if you know, 
 
 That I do fawne on men, and hugge them hard, 
 
 And after fcandall them : Or if you know, 
 
 That I profeffe my felfe in Banquetting 
 
 To all the Rout, then hold me dangerous. 
 
 Fhurijh, and Shout. 
 
 Bru. What meanes this Showting? 
 I do feare, the People choofe Ceefar 
 For their King. 
 
 CaJJl. I, do you feare it? 
 Then muft I thinke you would not haue it fo. 
 
 Bru. I would not CaJJlus, yet I loue him well: 
 But wherefore do you hold me heere fo long ? 
 What is it, that you would impart to me ? 
 If it be ought toward the generall good, 
 Set Honor in one eye, and Death i'th other, 
 And I will looke on both indifferently : 
 For let the Gods fo fpeed mee, as I loue 
 The name of Honor, more then I feare death. 
 
 CaJJl. I know that vertue to be in you Brutui, 
 As well as I do know your outward fauour. 
 Well, Honor is the fubiecl of my Story : 
 I cannot tell, what you and other men 
 Thinke of this life : But for my fingle felfe, 
 I had as liefe not be, as liue to be| 
 In awe of fuch a Thing, as I my felfe. 
 I was borne free as Ctffar, fo were you, 
 We both haue fed as well, and we can both 
 Endure the Winters cold, as well as hee. 
 For once, vpon a Rawe and Guftie day, 
 The troubled Tyber, chafing with her Shores, 
 Ctefar faide to me, Dar'ft thou C a JJ~ lM now 
 Leape in with me into this angry Flood, 
 And fwim to yonder Point / Vpon the word, 
 Accoutred as I was, I plunged in, 
 And bad him follow : fo indeed he did. 
 The Torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it 
 With lufty Sinewes, throwing it afide, 
 And ftemming it with hearts of Controuerfie. 
 But ere we could arriue the Point propos'd, 
 Ctffar cride, Helpe me CaJJlus, or I fmke. 
 I ( as t;neas, our great Anceftor, 
 Did from the Flames of Troy, vpon his flioulder 
 The o\A*AncbyJes beare) fo, from the waues of Tyber 
 Did I the tyred C< f f ar ' An ^ tn ' s Man, 
 Is now become a God, and Cajflus is 
 A wretched Creature, and muft bend his body, 
 If Ctefar carelefly but nod on him. 
 He had a Feauer when he was in Spaine, 
 And when the Fit was on him, I'did marke 
 How he did {hake :Tis true, this God did /hake, 
 His Coward lippes did from their colour flye, 
 And that fame Eye, whofe bend doth awe the World, 
 Did loofe his Luftre : I did heare him grone : 
 I, and that Tongue of his, that bad the Romans 
 Marke him, and write his Speeches in their Bookes, 
 Alas, it cried, Giue me fome drinke Titinius t \ 
 
 As 
 
 700
 
 'The 'Tragedie of "Julius Qafar. 
 
 in 
 
 As a ficke Girle : Ye Gods, it doth amaze me, 
 A man of fuch a feeble temper fhould 
 So get the ftart of the Maiefticke world, 
 And beare the Palme alone. 
 
 Shout. Flourijb. 
 
 Bru. Another generall fliout ? 
 I do beleeue, that thefe applaufes are 
 For fome new Honors, that are heap'd on C<ejar. 
 
 CaJJi. Why man, he doth beftride the narrow world 
 Like a Coloflus,and we petty men 
 Walke vnder his huge legges,and peepe about 
 To finde our felues difhonourable Graues. 
 Men atfometime, are Matters of their Fates. 
 The fault (deere'Bra/ztfJis not in ourStarres, 
 But in our Selues, that we are vnderlings. 
 Brutus and Cafar : What fliould be in that Ctffar ? 
 Why fhould that name be founded more then yours ? 
 Write them together: Yours, is as faire a Name; 
 Sound them, it doth become the mouth afwell : 
 Weigh them, it is as heauy : Coniure with 'em, 
 Brutus will ftart a Spirit as foone as C<ejar, 
 Now in the names of all the Gods at once, 
 Vpon what meate doth this our Ctffar feede, 
 That he is growne fo great? Age,thou art fliam'd. 
 Rome, thou haft loft the breed cf Noble Bloods. 
 When went there by an Age, fmce the great Flood, 
 But it was fam'd with more then with one man ? 
 When could they fay (till now)that talk'd of Rome, 
 That her wide Walkes incompaft but one man ? 
 Now is'it Rome indeed, and Roome enough 
 When there is in it but one onely man. 
 O' you and I, haue heard our Fathers fay, 
 There was a 'Brutus once, that would haue brook'd 
 Th'eternall Diuell to keepe his State in Rome, 
 As eafily as a King. 
 
 Bru. That you do loue me, I am nothing iealous : 
 What you would worke me too, I haue fome ayme : 
 How I haue thought of this, and of thefe times 
 I fliall recount heereafter. Forthisprefent, 
 I would not fo (with loue I might intreatyou) 
 Be any further moou'd : What you haue faid, 
 I will confider: what you haue to fay 
 I will with patience heare, and finde a time 
 Both meete to heare, and anfwerfuch high things. 
 Till then, my Noble Friend, chew vpon this : 
 Brutus had rather be a Villager, 
 Then to repute himfelfe a Sonne of Rome 
 Vnder thefe hard Conditions, as this time 
 Is like to lay vpon vs. 
 
 CaJJl. I am glad that my weake words 
 Haue ftrucke but thus much fliew of fire from Brutus. 
 
 Enter Cafar and bis Traine. 
 
 *Brn. The Games are done, 
 And Ctfjar is returning. 
 
 Caffi. As they pafle by, 
 Plucke Caskp by the Sleeue, 
 And he will (after his fowre faftiion) tell you 
 What hath proceeded worthy note to day. 
 
 Bru. 1 will do fo : but looke you Cajjtus, 
 The angry fpot doth glow on Ceefars brow, 
 And all the reft, looke like a chidden Traine ; 
 Calpburnia's Cheeke is pale, and Cicero 
 Lookes with fuch Ferret,and fuch fiery eyes ] 
 As we haue feene him in the Capitoll 
 
 701 
 
 Being croft in Conference, by fome Senators. 
 
 CaJJl. Cas\a will tell vs what the matter is. 
 
 Ctff. Antonio. 
 
 Ant. Ctfjar. 
 
 Ctff. Let me haue men about me, that are fat, 
 Sleeke-headed men, and fuch as fleepe a-nights : 
 Yond Cajfius has a leane and hungry looke, 
 He thinkestoo much : fuch men are dangerous. 
 
 Ant. Feare him not Ctffar, he's not dangerous, 
 He is a Noble Roman, and well giuen. 
 
 Ctef. Would he were fatter ; But I feare him not : 
 Yet if my name were lyable to feare, 
 I do not know the man I fliould auoyd 
 So foone as that fpare CaJJius. He reades much, 
 He is a great Obferuer, and he lookes 
 Qujte through the Deeds of men. He loues no Playes, 
 As thou doft Antony : he heares no Muficke ; 
 Seldome he fmiles, and fmiles in fuch a fort 
 As if he mock'd himfelfe, and fcorn'd his fpirit 
 That could be mou'd to fmile at any thing. 
 Such men as he, be neuer at hearts eafe, 
 Whiles they behold a greater then themfelues, 
 And therefore are they very dangerous. 
 I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd, 
 Then what I feare : for alwayes I am Ctefar. 
 Come on my right hand, for this eare is deafe, 
 And tell me truely, what thou think'ft of him. Sennit. 
 Exeunt Ctefar and bis Traine. 
 
 Cas\. You pul'd me by the cloake, would you fpeake 
 with me ? 
 
 Bru. I Cast^a, tell vs what hath chanc'd to day 
 That Cafar lookes fo fad. 
 
 C<uJ(.- Why you were with him. were you not ? 
 
 'Bru. I fliould not then aske Q,as^a what had chanc'd. 
 
 Cas\. Why there was a Crowne offer'd him; & being 
 offer'd him, he put it by with the backe of his hand thus, 
 and then the people fell a fliouting. 
 
 Bru. What was the fecond noyfe for ? 
 
 CM\. Why for that too. 
 
 CaJJl. They fliouted thrice: what was the laft cry for? 
 
 Casl(. Why for that too. 
 
 Bru. Was the Crowne offer'd him thrice ? 
 
 Casl(. I marry was't, and hee put it by thrice, euerie 
 time gentler then other; and at euery putting by, mine 
 honeft Neighbors fliowted. 
 
 Caffi. Who offer'd him the Crowne ? 
 
 CM/(. Why Antony. 
 
 'Bru. Tell vs the manner of it,gentle Cas^a. 
 
 Cas^a. I can as well bee hang'd as tell the manner of 
 it : It was meere Foolerie, I did not marke it. I fawe 
 cMarly Antony offer him a Crowne, yet 'twas not a 
 Crowne neyther, 'twas one of thefe Coronets : and as I 
 told you, hee put it by once : but for all that, to my thin- 
 king, he would faine haue had it. Then hee offered it to 
 him againe : then hee put it by againe : but to my think- 
 ing, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then 
 he offered it the third time ; hee put it the third time by, 
 and ftill as hee refus'd it, the rabblement howted, and 
 clapp'd their chopt hands, and threw vppe their fweatie 
 Night-cappes, and vttered fuch a deale of ftinking 
 breath, becaufe Cafar refus'd the Crowne, that it had 
 falmoft) choaked Cafar : for hee fwoonded, and fell 
 downe at it : And for mine owne part, I durft not laugh, 
 for feare of opening my Lippes, and receyuing the bad 
 Ayre. 
 
 kk 2 Caffi.
 
 112 
 
 The Tragedie of "Julius fafar. 
 
 Caffi. But foft I pray you : what, did Cttjar fwound ? 
 
 Cask. He fell downe in the Market-p!ace,and foam'd 
 at mouth, and was fpeechlefTe. 
 
 Brut. 'Tis very like he hath the Falling ficknefle. 
 
 Caffi. Ho,Ctrjar hath it not: but you, and I, 
 And honeft Caska, we haue the Falling ficknefle. 
 
 Cask,. I know not what you meane by that, but I am 
 i fure Cfffar fell downe. If the tag-ragge people did not 
 clap him, and hifle him, according as he pleas'd, and dif- 
 pleas'd them, as they vfe to doe the Players in the Thea- 
 tre, I am no true man. 
 
 'Brut. What faid he, when he came vnto himfelfe? 
 
 Cask, Marry, before he fell downe, when he perceiu'd 
 the common Heard was glad he refus'd the Crowne, he 
 pluckt me ope his Doublet, and offer'd them his Throat 
 to cut : and I had beene a man of any Occupation, if I 
 would not haue taken him at a word , I would I might 
 goe to Hell among the Rogues, and fo hee fell. When 
 he came to himfelfe againe, hee faid, If hee had done, or 
 faid any thing amifle,he defir'd their Worfhips to thinke I 
 it was his infirmitie. Three or foure Wenches where I 
 flood, cryed, AlafTe good Soule, and forgaue him with j 
 all their hearts: But there's no heed to be taken of them; 
 if Cafar had ftab'd their Mothers, they would haue done 
 no lefle. 
 
 "Brut. And after that, he came thus fad away. 
 
 Cask,. I. 
 
 Caffi. Did Cicero fay any thing ? 
 
 Cask,. I , he fpoke Greeke. 
 
 Caffi. To what effect? 
 
 Cask,. Nay, and I tell you that, He ne're looke you 
 i'th' face againe. But thofe that vnderftood him, fmil'd 
 at one another, and fhooke their heads: but for mine 
 owne part, it was Greeke to me. I could tell you more 
 newes too : Murrellus and Flauius, for pulling Scarffes 
 off Ceefars Images, are put to filence. Fare you well. 
 There was more Foolerie yet , if I could remem- 
 ber it. 
 
 Caffi. Will you fuppe with me to Night, Caska? 
 
 Cask.. No, I am promis'd forth. 
 
 Caffi. Will you Dine with me to morrow ? 
 
 Cask,. I, if I be aliue, and your minde hold, and your 
 Dinner worth the eating. 
 
 Caffi. Good, I will expect you. 
 
 Cask,. Doe fo : farewell both. Exit. 
 
 'Brut. What a blunt fellow is this growne to be? 
 He was quick Mettle, when he went to Schoole. 
 
 Caffi. So is he now, in execution 
 Of any bold, or Noble Enterprize, 
 How-euer he puts on this tardie forme : 
 This Rudenefle is a Sawce to his good Wit, 
 Which giues men ftomacke to difgeft his words 
 With better Appetite. 
 
 Brut. And fo it is : 
 For this time I will leaue you : 
 To morrow,if you pleafe to fpeake with me, 
 I will come home to you : or if you will, 
 Come home to me, and I will wait for you. 
 
 Caffi. I will doe fo: till then, thinke of the World. 
 
 Exit ^Brutus. 
 
 Well Brutus , thou art Noble : yet I fee, 
 Thy Honorable Mettle may be wrought 
 From that it is difpos'd : therefore it is meet, 
 That Noble mindes keepe euer with their likes : 
 For who fo firme, that cannot be feduc'd ? 
 Cafar doth beare me hard, but he loues Brutus. 
 
 If I were 'Brutus now, and he were Cajfiut, 
 
 He fhould not humor me. I will this Night, 
 
 In feuerall Hands, in at his Windowes throw, 
 
 As if they came from feuerall Citizens, 
 
 Writings, all tending to the great opinion 
 
 That Rome holds of his Name : wherein obfcurely 
 
 Cafars Ambition fhall be glanced at. 
 
 And after this,let Ctefar feat him fure, 
 
 For wee will fhake him, or worfe dayes endure. 
 
 Exit. 
 
 Thunder, and Lightning, Enter Casfe, 
 and Cicero. 
 
 Cic, Good euen, Caska : brought you Ctefar home? 
 Why are you breathleiTe, and why ftare you fo ? 
 
 Casi^. Are not you mou'd.when all the fway of Earth 
 Shakes, like a thing vnfirme ? O Cicero, 
 I haue feene Tempefts,when the fcolding Winds 
 Haue riu'd the knottie Oakes,and I haue feene 
 Th'ambitious Ocean fwell,and rage, and foame, 
 To be exalted with the threatning Clouds: 
 But neuer till to Night, neuer till now, 
 Did I goe through a Tempeft-dropping-fire. 
 Eyther there is a Ciuill ftrife in Heauen, 
 Or elfe the World, too fawcie with the Gods, 
 Incenfes them to fend deftruclion. 
 
 Cic. Why, faw you any thing more wonderfull ? 
 
 Cask,. A common flaue, you know him well by fight, 
 Held vp his left Hand, which did flame and burne 
 Like twentie Torches ioyn'dj and yet his Hand, 
 Not fenfible of fire,remain'd vnfcorch'd. 
 Befides, I ha'not fince put vp my Sword, 
 Againft the Capholl I met a Lyon, 
 Who glaz'd vpon me, and went furly by, 
 Without annoying me. And there were drawne 
 Vpon a heape.a hundred gaftly Women, 
 Transformed with their feare, who fwore, they faw 
 Men, all in fire,walke vp and downe the ftreetes. 
 And yefterday,the Bird of Night did fit, 
 Euen at Noone-day,vpon the Market place, 
 Howting,and fhreeking. When thefe Prodigies 
 Doe fo conioyntly meet, let not men fay, 
 Thefe are their Reafons,they are Natural! : 
 For I beleeue,they are portentous things 
 Vnto the Clymate,that they point vpon. 
 
 Cic. Indeed, it is a ftrange-difpofed time : 
 But men may conftrue things after their fafhion, 
 Cleane from the purpofe of the things themfelues. 
 Comes Ctffar to the Capitoll to morrow ? 
 
 Cask, He doth : for he did bid Antonio 
 Send word to you. he would be there to morrow. 
 
 Cic. Good-night then, Caska : 
 This difturbed Skie is not to walke in. 
 
 Cask,. Farewell Cicero. Exit Cicero. 
 
 Enter CaJJlus. 
 
 Caffi. Who's there ? 
 
 Cask,. A Romane. 
 
 Caffi. Caska, by your Voyce. 
 
 Cask,. Your Eare is good. 
 CaJ/ius,\vhzt Night is this? 
 
 Caffi. A very pleafing Night to honeft men. 
 
 Cask,- Who euer knew the Heauens menace fo ? 
 
 Caffi. Thofe that haue knowne the Earth fo full of 
 faults. 
 
 For
 
 The Tragedie of 'Julius 
 
 For my part, I haue walk'd about the ftreets, 
 
 Submitting me vnto the perillous Night; 
 
 And thus vnbraced,Cait^,as you fee, 
 
 Haue bar'd my Bofome to the Thunder-ftone : 
 
 And when the crofle blew Lightning feem'd to open 
 
 The Breft of Heauen, I did prefent my felfe 
 
 Euen in the ayme,and very flafli of it. (uens ? 
 
 CM^. But wherefore did you fo much tempt the Hea- 
 It is the part of men, to feare and tremble, 
 When the moft mightie Gods, by tokens fend 
 Such dreadfull Heraulds,to aftonifh vs. 
 
 Cajji. You are dull, Catty : 
 
 And thofe fparkes of Life, that fliould be in a Roman, 
 You doe want, or elfe you vfe not. 
 You looke pale, and gaze, and put on feare, 
 And caft your felfe in wonder, 
 To fee the ftrange impatience of the Heauens : 
 But if you would confider the true caufe, 
 Why all thefe Fires, why all thefe gliding Ghofts, 
 Why Birds and Beafts, from qu-alitie and kinde, 
 Why Old men,Fooles,and Children calculate, 
 Why all thefe things change from their Ordinance, 
 Their Natures, and pre-formed Faculties, 
 To monftrous qualitie ; why you fliall finde, 
 That Heauen hathinfus'd them with thefe Spirits, 
 To make them Inftruments of feare, and warning, 
 Vnto fome monftrous State. 
 Now could I (Cas^a) name to thee a man, 
 Moft like this dreadfull Night, 
 That Thunders, Lightens, opens Graues,and roares, 
 As doth the Lyon in the Capitoll : 
 A man no mightier then thy felfe, or me, 
 In perfonall adlion ; yet prodigious growne, 
 And fearefull,as thefe ftrange eruptions are. 
 
 Ca6\. 'Tis Cecfar that you meane : 
 Is it not, Caffiiu ? 
 
 Caffi. Let it be who it is : for Romans now 
 Haue Thewes,and Limbes,like to their Anceftors; 
 But woe the while, our Fathers mindes are dead, 
 And we are gouern'd with our Mothers fpirits, 
 Our yoake, and fufferance, (hew vs Womanifh. 
 
 CM%. Indeed, they fay, the Senators to morrow 
 Meane to eftablifh C<ffar as a King : 
 And he fhall weare his Crowne by Sea, and Land, 
 In euery place, faue here in Italy. 
 
 Caffi. I know where I will weare this Dagger then ; 
 Cajfiiu from Bondage will deliuer CaJfiuA : 
 Therein, yee Gods, you make the weake moft ftrong; 
 Therein, yee Gods, you Tyrants doe defeat. 
 Nor Stonie Tower, nor Walls of beaten Brafie, 
 Nor ayre-lefle Dungeon, nor ftrong Linkes of Iron, 
 Can be retentiue to the ftrength of fpirit: 
 But Life being wearie of thefe worldly Barres, 
 Neuer lacks power to difmifle it felfe. 
 If I know this, know all the World befides, 
 That part of Tyrannic that I doe beare, 
 I can fliake off at pleafure. Thunder Jlill. 
 
 Casl(. So can I : 
 
 So euery Bond-man in his owne hand beares 
 The power to cancell his Captiuitie. 
 
 Caffi. And why fhould Ctefar be a Tyrant then ? 
 Poore man, I know he would not be a Wolfe, 
 But that he fees the Romans are but Sheepe : 
 He were no Lyon, were not Romans Hindes. 
 Thofe that with hafte will make a mightie fire, 
 Begin it with weake Strawes. What trafli is Rome ? 
 
 703 
 
 What Rubbifh,and what Offall? when it ferues 
 
 For the bafe matter, to illuminate 
 
 So vile a thing as Cafar. But oh Griefe, 
 
 Where haft thou led me ? I (perhaps^ fpeake this 
 
 Before a willing Bond-man : then I know 
 
 My anfwere muft be made. But I am arm'd, 
 
 And dangers are to me indifferent. 
 
 CM\. You fpeake to G&^z,and to fuch a man, 
 That is no flearing Tell-tale. Hold, my Hand : 
 Be factious for redrefTe of all thefe Griefes, 
 And I will fet this foot of mine as farre, 
 As who goes fartheft. 
 
 Caffi. There's a Bargaine made. 
 Now know you, Caska, I haue mou'd already 
 Some certaine of the Nobleft minded Romans 
 To vnder-goe, with me, an Enterprize, 
 Of Honorable dangerous confequence ; 
 And I doe know by this, they ftay for me 
 In Pompeyes Porch : for now this fearefull Night, 
 There is no ftirre,or walking in the ftreetes ; 
 And the Complexion of the Element 
 Is Fauors, like the Worke we haue in hand, 
 Moft bloodie, fierie, and moft terrible. 
 
 Snfer Cinna, 
 
 Caftyi. Stand clofe a while, for heere comes one in 
 hafte. 
 
 Caffi. 'Tis Cinna, I doe know him by his Gate, 
 He is a friend. Cinna, where hafte you fo ? 
 
 Cinna. To finde out you : Who's that, Metelliu 
 Cymber ? 
 
 Caffi. No, it is Ca*ka, one incorporate 
 To our Attempts. Am I not ftay'd for, Cinna ? 
 
 Cinna. I am glad on't. 
 What a fearefull Night is this ? 
 There's two or three of vs haue feene ftrange fights. 
 
 Caffi. Am I not ftay'd for ? tell me. 
 
 Cinna. Yes, you are. O CaJJlus, 
 If you could but winne the Noble Brutu6 
 To our party 
 
 Caffi. Be you content. Good Cinna, take this Paper, 
 And looke you lay it in the Pretors Chayre, 
 Where 'Brutus may but finde it : and throw this 
 In at his Window ; fet this vp with Waxe 
 Vpon old Bruttu Statue : all this done,' 
 Repaire to Pompeyes Porch, where you fhall finde vs. 
 Is "Deciiu Bruttu and Trebonlui there ? 
 
 Cinna. All, but Metelliu Cymber, and hee's gone 
 To feeke you at your houfe. Well, I will hie, 
 And fo beftow thefe Papers as you bad me. 
 
 Caffi. That done, repayre to Pompeyes Theater. 
 
 Exit Cinna. 
 
 Come Cof^a, you and I will yet,ere day, 
 See Bruttu at his houfe : three parts of him 
 Is ours alreadie, and the man entire 
 Vpon the next encounter, yeelds him ours. 
 
 Cas%. O,he fits high in all the Peoples hearts : 
 And that which would appeare Offence in vs, 
 His Countenance, like richeft Alchymie, 
 Will change to Vertue, and to Worthinefle. 
 
 Caffi. Him, and his worth, and our great need of him, 
 You haue right well conceited : let vs goe, 
 For it is after Mid-night, and ere day, 
 We will awake him, and be fure of him. 
 
 Exeunt, 
 kk 3
 
 The Tragedie of ^Julius <zfar. 
 
 Affius Secundus. 
 
 Enter 'Brutus in bii Orchard. 
 
 Brut. What Luciui, hoe ? 
 I cannot, by the progreiTe of the Starres, 
 Giue guefle how neere to day Lucius, I fay ? 
 I would it were my fault to fleepe fo foundly. 
 When Lucius, when ? awake, I fay: what Luciui ? 
 Enter Luciui. 
 
 Luc. Call'd you, my Lord ? 
 
 'Brut. Get me a Tapor in my Study, Lucius : 
 When it is lighted, come and call me here. 
 
 Luc. I will, my Lord. Exit. 
 
 Brut. It muft be by his death : and for my part, 
 I know no perfonall caufe, to fpurne at him, 
 But for the general]. He would be crown'd : 
 How that might change his nature, there's the queftion? 
 It is the bright day, that brings forth the Adder, 
 And that craues warie walking : Crowne him that, 
 And then I graunt we put a Sting in him, 
 That at his will he may doe danger with. 
 Th'abufe of GreatnefTe, is, when it dis-ioynes 
 Remorfe from Power : And to fpeake truth of Ctffar, 
 I haue not knowne,when his Affections fway'd 
 More then his Reafon. But 'tis a common proofe, 
 That Lowlynefle is young Ambitions Ladder, 
 Whereto the Climber vpward turnes his Face : 
 But when he once attaines the vpmoft Round, 
 He then vnto the Ladder turnes his Backe, 
 Lookes in the Clouds, fcorning the bafe degrees 
 By which he did afcend : fo Ctfjar may ; 
 Then lead he may,preuent. And fince the Quarrell 
 Will beare no colour,for the thing he is, 
 Fafhion it thus; that what he is, augmented, 
 Would runne to thefe,and thefe extremities: 
 And therefore thinke him as a Serpents egge, 
 Which hatch'd, would as his kinde growmifchieuous; 
 And kill him in the fhell. 
 
 Enter Lucius. 
 
 Luc. The Taper burneth in your Clofet, Sir : 
 Searching the Window for a Flint, I found 
 This Paper, thus feal'd vp,and I am fure 
 It did not lye there when I went to Bed. 
 
 Giues him the Letter. 
 
 Brut. Get you to Bed againe,it is not day : 
 Is not to morrow ( Boy) the firft of March ? 
 
 "Luc. I know not, Sir. 
 
 Brut. Looke in the Calender,and bring me word. 
 
 Luc. I will, Sir. Exit. 
 
 Brut. The exhalations, whizzing in the ayre, 
 Giue fo much light, that I may reade by them. 
 
 Opens the Letter, and reader. 
 'Brutus tbou Jleep'Jl ; atfa^e, and fee tbyjelfe : 
 Shall Rome, &c. $cal(e ,J}ri^e , redre/e. 
 "Brutus, tbou Jleepji : ava^e. 
 Such instigations haue beene often dropt, 
 Where I haue tooke them vp : 
 Shall Romc,&c. Thus muft I piece it out : 
 Shall Rome ftand vnder one mans awe? What Rome? 
 My Anceftors did from the ftreetes of Rome 
 The Tartfuin driue, when he was call'd a King. 
 Spea^e^Jiri^e, redreffe. Am I entreated 
 
 To fpeake, and ftrike ? O Rome, I make thee promise, 
 If the redrefie will follow, thou receiueft 
 Thy full Petition at the hand of Brutus. 
 Enter Luciui. 
 
 Luc. Sir, March is wafted fifteene dayes. 
 
 Knoc\e within. 
 
 Brut. "Tis good. Go to the Gate,fome body knocks : 
 Since Cajfjut firft did whet me againft Ceefar, 
 I haue not flept. 
 
 Betweene the acting of a dreadfull thing, 
 And the firft motion, all the Interim is 
 Like a Pbantafma,or a hideous Dreame : 
 The Genius,and the mortal! Instruments 
 Are then in councell ; and the ftate of a man, 
 Like to a little Kingdome,fuffers then 
 The nature of an Infurredlion. 
 
 Enter Lucius. 
 
 Luc. Sir,'tis your Brother CaJJlus at the Doore, 
 Who doth defire to fee you. 
 
 "Brut. Is he alone ? 
 
 Luc. No, Sir, there are moe with him. 
 
 Brut. Doe you know them f 
 
 Luc. No, Sir, their Hats are pluckt about their Eares, 
 And halfe their Faces buried in their Cloakes, 
 That by no meanes I may difcouer them, 
 By any marke of fauour. 
 
 'Brut. Let 'em enter : 
 They are the Faction. O Confpiracie, 
 Sham'ft thou to (hew thy dang'rous Brow by Night, 
 When euills are moft free ? O then, by day 
 Where wilt thou finde a Cauerne darke enough, 
 To maske thy monftrous Vifage?Seek none Confpiracie, 
 Hide it in Smiles, and Affabilitie : 
 For if thou path thy natiue femblance on, 
 Not Erebus it felfe were dimme enough, 
 To hide thee from preuention. 
 
 Enter the Conjpirators, CaJJius, Cas^a, Decius, 
 Cinna,Metellus,and Trebonius. 
 
 Caff". I thinke we are too bold vpon your Reft : 
 Good morrow "Brutus, doe we trouble you? 
 
 Brut. I haue beene vp this howre, awake all Night : 
 Know I thefe men, that come along with you ? 
 
 Caff. Yes,euery man of them ; and no man here 
 But honors you : and euery one doth wifli, 
 You had but that opinion of your felfe, 
 Which euery Noble Roman beares of you. 
 This is Trebonius. 
 
 'Brut. He is welcome hither. 
 
 Caff. This. Decius "Brutus. 
 
 Brut. He is welcome too. 
 
 Caff. This, Casty ; this, $tma ; and this, zMetelltu 
 Cymber. 
 
 Brut. They are all welcome. 
 What watchfull Cares doe interpofe themfelues 
 Betwixt your Eyes, and Night ? 
 
 Caff. Shall I entreat a word ? They tfbijper. 
 
 Decius. Here lyes the Eaft : doth not the Day breake 
 heerc ? 
 
 CM{. No. 
 
 Cin. O pardon, Sir, it doth ; and yon grey Lines, 
 That fret the Clouds, are MelTengers of Day. 
 
 Caji^. You fhall confeffe.that you are both deceiu'd : 
 Heere.as I point my Sword, the Sunnearifes, 
 Which is a great way growing on the South, 
 
 Weigh- 
 
 704
 
 Tragedie of Julius fa far. 
 
 Weighing the youthfull Seafon of the yeare. 
 
 Some two moneths hence, vp higher toward the North 
 
 He firft prefents his fire, and the high Eaft 
 
 Stands as the Capitoll, directly heere. 
 
 'Bru. Giue me your hands all ouer,one by one. 
 
 Caf. And let vs fweare our Refolution. 
 
 'Brut. No, not an Oath : if not the Face of men, 
 The iufferance of our Soules, the timss Abufe j 
 If thefe be Motiues weake, breake off betimes, 
 And euery man hence, to his idle bed : 
 So let high-fighted-Tyranny range on, 
 Till each man drop by Lottery. Hut if thefe 
 j (As I am fure they do) beare fire enough 
 j To kindle Cowards, and to fteele with valour 
 The melting Spirits of women. Then Countrymen, 
 What neede we any fpurre, but our owne caufe, 
 To pricke vs to redrefle ? What other Bond, 
 Then fecret Romans, that haue fpoke the word, 
 And will not palter ? And what other Oath, 
 Then Honefty to Honefty ingag'd, 
 That this /hall be, or we will fall for it. 
 Sweare Priefts and Cowards, and men Cautelous 
 Old feeble Carrions, and fuch fuffering Soules 
 That welcome wrongs : Vnto bad caufes, fweare 
 Such Creatures as men doubt; but do not ftaine 
 The euen vertue of our Enterprize, 
 Nor th'infuppreffiue Mettle of our Spirits, 
 To thinke, that or our Caufe,or our Performance 
 Did neede an Oath. When euery drop of blood 
 That euery Roman beares, and Nobly beares 
 Is guilty of a feuerall Baftardie, 
 If he do breake the fmalleft Particle 
 Of any promife that hath paft from him. 
 
 Qaj. But what of Cicero ? Shall we found him ? 
 I thinke he will ftand very ftrong with vs. 
 
 Cas%_. Let vs not leaue him out. 
 
 Cyn. No, by no meanes. 
 
 Metel. O let vs haue him, for his Siluer haires 
 Will purchafe vs a good opinion : 
 And buy mens voyces, to commend our deeds : 
 It fliail be fayd, his iudgement rul'd our hands, 
 Our youths,and wildenefie, fliall no whit appeare, 
 But all be buried in his Grauity. 
 
 'Bru. O name him not ; let vs not breake with him, 
 For he will neuer follow any thing 
 That other men begin. 
 
 Caf. Then leaue him out. 
 
 Casl^. Indeed, he is not fit. 
 
 Deciu<s, Shall no man elfe be roucht,but onely Ctefar ? 
 
 Caf. Deciui well vrg'd : I thinke it is not meet, 
 Marine j4ntony,fo well belou'd of C<ffar } t 
 Should out-liue Calar t we fliall finde of him 
 A flirew'd Contriuer. And you know, his meanes 
 If he improue them, may well ftretch fo farre 
 As to annoy vs all : which to preuent, 
 Let Antony and Cafar fall together. 
 
 Bru. Our courie will feeme too bloody, Catui Cafsiw, 
 To cut the Head oft", and then hacke the Limbes: 
 Like Wrath in death, and Enuy afterwards: 
 For Antony, is but a Limbe of Ccefar. 
 Let's be Sacrificers, but not Butchers Caitu : 
 We all ftand vp againft the fpirit of Cefjar, 
 And in the Spirit of men, there is no blood : 
 O that we then could come by C^fars Spirit, 
 And not difmember dejar \ But (alas) 
 dejar muft bleed for it. And gentle Friends, 
 
 705 
 
 Let's kill him Boldly, but not Wrathfully : 
 Let's carue him, as a Difh fit for the Gods, 
 Not hew him as a Carkafle fit for Hounds: 
 And let our Hearts, as fubtle Mafters do, 
 Stirre vp their Seruants to an afte of Rage, 
 And after feeme to chide 'em. This fliall make 
 Our purpofe Neceflary, and not Enuious. 
 Which fo appearing to the common eyes, 
 We fliall be call'd Purgers, not Murderers. 
 And for Mark? Antony, thinke not of him : 
 For he can do no more then Cajars Arme, 
 When Ctffars head is oft". 
 
 Caf. Yet I feare him,' 
 For in the ingrafted loue he beares to Ctefar. 
 
 'Bru. Alas,good Cajsiui, do not thinke of him : 
 If he loue Ctejar, all that he can do 
 Is to himfelfe; take thought,and dye for Ceejar, 
 And that were much he fliould : for he is giuen 
 To fports, to wildenefie, and much company. 
 
 Tret. There is no feare in him; let him not dye, 
 For he will liue, and laugh at this heereafter. 
 
 Cloche Jlrlt(ei. 
 
 'Bru. Peace, count the Clocke. 
 
 Caf. The Clocke hath ftricken three. 
 
 Treb. 'Tis time to part. 
 
 Caff But it is doubtfull yet, 
 Whether Cuefar will come forth to day, or no : 
 For he is Superfluous growne of late, 
 Quite from the maine Opinion he held once, 
 Of Fantafie, ofDreames, and Ceremonies: 
 It may be, thefe apparant Prodigies, 
 The vnaccuftom'd Terror of this night, 
 And the perfwafion of his Augurers, 
 May hold him from theCapitoll to day. 
 
 *Dectui. Neuer feare that : If he be fo refolu'd, 
 I can ore-fway him : For he loues to heare, 
 That Vnicornes may be betray'd with Trees, 
 And Beares with Glafles, Elephants with Holes, 
 Lyons with Toyles, and men with Flatterers. 
 But, when I tell him, he hates Flatterers, 
 He fayes,he does; being then moft flattered. 
 Let me worke : 
 
 For I can giue his humour the true bent ; 
 And I will bring him to the Capitoll. 
 
 Caf. Nay, we will all of vs, be there to fetch him. 
 
 Bru. By the eight houre,is that the vttermoft? 
 
 Citi. Be that the vttermoft, and faile not then. 
 
 Met. Qaius Ligaritu doth beare Ceejar hard, 
 Who rated him for fpeaking well of Pompey ; 
 I wonder none of you haue thought of him. 
 
 'Bru. Now good c^fetel/iu go along by him : 
 He loues me well, and I haue giuen him Reafons, 
 Send him but hither, and He fafliion him. 
 
 Caf. The morning comes vpon's: 
 Wee'l leaue you 'Brutui, 
 And Friends difperfe your felues; but all remember 
 What you haue faid, and fliew your felues true Romans. : 
 
 Bru. Good Gentlemen, looke frefh and merrily, 
 Let not our lookes put on our purpofes, 
 But beare it as our Roman A&ors do, 
 With vntyr'd Spirits, and formall Conftancie, 
 And fo good morrow to you euery one. Exeunt. 
 
 Manet Brutus, 
 
 Boy : Lucius : Faft afleepe ? It is no matter, 
 Enioy the hony-heauy-Dew of Slumber : 
 Thou haft no Figures, nor no Fantafies, 
 
 Which
 
 n6 
 
 The Tragedie of Julius Qafar. 
 
 "nich bufie care drawes, in the braines of men 5 
 Therefore thou fleep'ft fo found. 
 
 Enter Portia. 
 
 Tor. Brutus, my Lord. 
 
 Bru.Portia: What meane you?wherfore rife you now? 
 It is not for your health, thus to commit 
 Your wealce condition, to the raw cold morning. 
 
 For. Nor for yours neither. Y'haue vngently Brutus 
 Stole from my bed : and yefternight at Supper 
 You fodainly arofe,and wallc'd about, 
 Mufing, and fighing, with your armes a-crofie : 
 And when I ask'd you what the matter was, 
 You ftar'd vpon me, with vngentle lookes. 
 I vrg'd you further, then you fcratch'd your head, 
 And too impatiently ftampt with your foote : 
 Yet I infifted, yet you anfwer'd not, 
 But with an angry wafter of your hand 
 Gaue figne for me to leaue you : So I did, 
 Fearing to ftrengthen that impatience 
 Which feem'd too much inkindled ; and withall, 
 Hoping it was but an effect of Humor, 
 Which fometime hath his houre with euery man. 
 It will not let you eate, nor talke, nor fleepe ; 
 And could it worke fo much vpon your fliape, 
 As it hath much preuayl'd on your Condition, 
 I fliould not know you Brntus. Deare my Lord, 
 Make me acquainted with your caufe of greefe. 
 
 'Bru. I am not well in health, and that is all. 
 
 For. 'Brutus is wife, and were he not in health, 
 He would embrace the meanes to come by it. 
 
 Bru. Why fo I do : good Portia go to bed. 
 
 Par. h'Brutus ficke? And is it Phyficall 
 To walke vnbraced, and fucke vp the humours 
 Of the danke Morning ? What, is ^Brutus ficke? 
 And will he fteale out of his wholfome bed 
 To dare the vile contagion of the Night? 
 And tempt the Rhewmy,and vnpurged Ayre, 
 To adde vnto hit fickneiTe ? No my Brutiu, 
 You haue fome ficke Offence within your minde, 
 Which by the Right and Vertue of my place 
 I ought to know of: And vpon my knees, 
 I charme you, by my once commended Beauty, 
 By all your vowcs of Loue, and that great Vow 
 Which did incorporate and make vs one, 
 That you vnfold to me, your felfe; your halfe 
 Why you are heauy : and what men to night 
 Haue had refort to you : for heere haue beene 
 Some fixe or feuen, who did hide their faces 
 Euen from darknerfe. 
 
 'Bru. Kneele not gentle Portia. 
 
 Par. I fliould not neede, if you were gentle Brutus. 
 Within tho Bond of Marriage, tell me Brutiu, 
 Is it excepted, I fliould know no Secrets 
 That appertaine to you ? Am I your Selfe, 
 But as it were in fort, or limitation ? 
 To keepe with you at Meales, comfort your Bed, 
 And talke to you fometimes? Dwell I but in the Suburbs 
 Of your good pleafure ? If it be no more, 
 Portia is Brutiu Harlot, not his Wife. 
 
 'Bru. You are my true and honourable Wife, 
 As deere to me, as are the ruddy droppes 
 That vifit my fad heart. 
 
 Par. If this were true, then fljould I know thisifecret. 
 I graunt 1 am a Woman; but withall, 
 A Woman that Lord 'Brutus tooke to Wife : 
 I graunt I am a Woman; but withall, 
 
 A Woman well reputed : Wc's Daughter. 
 
 Thinke you, I am no ftronger then my Sex 
 
 Being fo Father'd, and fo Husbanded ? 
 
 Tell me your Counfels, I will not difcloie 'em : 
 
 I haue made ftrong proofe of my Conftancie, 
 
 Giuing my felfe a voluntary wound 
 
 Heere, in the Thigh : Can I beare that with patience, 
 
 And not my Husbands Secrets ? 
 Bru. O ye Gods I 
 
 Render me worthy of this Noble Wife. Knocke. 
 
 Harke,harke,one knockes : Portia go in a while, 
 
 And by and by thy bofome fliall partake 
 j The fecrets of my Heart. 
 | All my engagements, I will conftrue to thee, 
 i All the Charraclery of my fad browes : 
 
 Leaue me with haft. Exit Portia. 
 
 Enter Lucius and Ligarius. 
 Luciiu, who's that knockes. 
 
 Luc. Heere is a ficke man that would fpeak with you. 
 
 Bru. Caius Ligarius, that Metelliu fpake of. 
 Boy,ftand afide. Caius Ligarius, how? 
 
 Cat. Vouchfafe good morrow from a feeble tongue. 
 
 Bru. O what a time haue you chofe out braue Caius 
 To weare a Kerchiefe ? Would you were not ficke. 
 
 Cat. I am not ficke, if Brutus haue in hand 
 Any exploit worthy the name of Honor. 
 
 Bru. Such an exploit haue I in hand Ligarius, 
 Had you a healthful! eare to heare of it. 
 
 Cat. By all the Gods that Romans bow before, 
 I heere difcard my ficknefle. Soule of Rome, 
 Braue Sonne, deriu'd from Honourable Loines, 
 Thou like an Exorcift, haft coniur'd vp 
 My mortified Spirit. Now bid me runne, 
 And I will ftriue with things impofiible,i 
 Yea get the better of them. What's to do? 
 
 'Bru. A peece of worke, 
 That will make ficke men whole. 
 
 Cai. But are not fome whole, that we muft make ficke? 
 Bru. That muft we allb. What it is my Caius, 
 I fliall vnfold to thee,as we are going, 
 To whom it muft be done. 
 
 Cai. Set on your foote, 
 And with a heart new-fir'd, I follow you, 
 To do I know not what : but it fufficeth 
 That 'Brutus leads me on. Thunder. 
 
 Bru. Follow me then. Exeunt 
 
 Thunder <O Lightning. 
 Enter lulius Ctffar in bis Nigbt-goTfne. 
 
 Cafar. Nor Heauen, nor Earth, 
 Haue beene at peace to night: 
 Thrice hath Calpburnia, in her fleepe cryed out, 
 Helpe, ho : They murther Ctefar. Who's within ? 
 Enter a Seruant. 
 
 Ser. My Lord. 
 
 Caf. Go bid the Priefts do prefent Sacrifice, 
 And bring me their opinions of Succefle. 
 
 Ser. I will my Lord. Exit 
 
 Enter Calpburnia. 
 
 Ca/.What mean you Ctejar? Think you to walk forth ? 
 You fliall not ftirre out of your houfe to day. 
 
 Cttf Cajiir fliall forth; the things that threaten'd me, 
 Ne're look'd but on my backe : When they fliall fee 
 The face oftffar, they are vaniihed. 
 
 Calf.
 
 The Tragedie of Julius fafar. 
 
 117 
 
 Calf. Ctffar, I neuer flood on Ceremonies, 
 Yet now they fright me : There is one within, 
 Befides the things that we haue heard and feene, 
 Recounts moft horrid fights feene by the Watch. 
 A Lionnefle hath whelped in the ftreets, 
 And Graues haue yawn'd, and yeelded vp their dead ; 
 Fierce fiery Warriours fight vpon the Clouds 
 In Rankes and Squadrons, and right forme of Warre 
 Which drizel'd blood vpon the Capitoll : 
 The noife of Battell hurtled in the Ayre : 
 HorfTes do neigh, and dying men did grone, 
 And Ghofts did flirieke and fqueale about the ftreets. 
 
 Ctffar, thefe things are beyond all vfe, 
 And I do feare them. 
 
 Ctff. What can be auoyded 
 Whofe end is purpos'd by the mighty Gods ? 
 Yet Co-far fliall go forth : for thefe Predictions 
 Are to the world in generall, as to Ciffar. 
 
 Calp. When Beggers dye, there are no Comets feen, 
 The Heauens themfelues blaze forth the death of Princes 
 
 Ciff. Cowards dye many times before their deaths, 
 The valiant neuer tafte of death but once : 
 Of all the Wonders that I yet haue heard, 
 It feemes to me moft ftrange that men fliould feare, 
 Seeing that death, a neceflary end 
 Will come, when it will come. 
 
 Enter a Seruant. 
 What fay the Augurers ? 
 
 Ser. They would not haue you to ftirre forth to day. 
 Plucking the intrailes of an Offering forth, 
 They could not finde a heart within the beaft. 
 
 Ctff. The Gods do this in fhame of Cowardice: 
 Ciffar fliould be a Beaft without a heart 
 If he fliould ftay at home to day for feare : 
 No Co-far fhall not; Danger knowes full well 
 That Ctffar is more dangerous then he. 
 We heare two Lyons litter'd in one day, 
 And I the elder and more terrible, 
 And Ctffar fhall go foorth. 
 
 Calf. Alas my Lord, 
 
 Your wifedome is confum'd in confidence : 
 Do not go forth to day : Call it my feare, 
 That keepes you in the houfe, and not your owne. 
 Wee'l fend e/J/ar/^ Antony to the Senate houfe, 
 And he flail fay, you are not well to day : 
 Let me vpon my knee,preuaile in this. 
 
 Ctff. Marl^ Antony fliall fay I am not well, 
 And for thy humor, I will ftay at home. 
 
 Enter Deciui. 
 Heere's Deciui 'Bruttu, he fhall tell them fo. 
 
 Deci. Co-far, all haile : Good morrow worthy C< f f ar > 
 
 1 come to fetch you to the Senate houfe. 
 
 Ctfj. And you are come in very happy time, 
 To beare my greeting to the Senators, 
 And tell them that I will not come to day : 
 Cannot, is falfe : and that I dare not,falfer : 
 I will not come to day, tell them fo Deciui. 
 
 Calp. Say he is ficke. 
 
 Ctff. Shall Ctffar fend a Lye ? 
 Haue I in Conqueft ftretcht mine Arme fo farre, 
 To be afear'd to tell Gray-beards the truth : 
 Deciui, go tell them, C< e f ar will not come. 
 
 'Deci. Moft mighty Cafar,let me know fome caufe, 
 Left I be laught at when 1 tell them fo. 
 
 Ctff. The caufe is in my Will, I will not come, 
 That is enough to fatisfie the Senate. 
 
 707 
 
 But for your priuate fatisfaclion, 
 Becaufe I loue you, I will let you know. 
 Calpburnia heere my wife, ftayes me at home : 
 She dreampt to night, fliefaw my Statue, 
 Which like a fountaine, with an hundred fpouts 
 Did run pure blood : and many lufty Romans 
 Came fmiling, & did bathe their hands in it: 
 And thefe does flie apply, for warnings and portents, 
 And euils imminent ; and on her knee 
 Hath begg'd, that I will ftay at home to day. 
 
 Deci. This Dreame is all amiffe interpreted, 
 It was a vifion, faire and fortunate: 
 Your Statue fpouting blood in many pipes, 
 In which fb many fmiling Romans bath'd, 
 Signifies, that from you great Rome fliall fucke 
 Reuiuing blood, and that great men fliall preffe 
 For Tinctures, Staines,Reliques, and Cognifance. 
 This by Ca/fburnia's Dreame is fignified. 
 
 Caff. And this way haue you well expounded it. 
 
 'Deci. I haue, when you haue heard what I can fay : 
 And know it now, the Senate haue concluded 
 To giue this day, a Crowne to mighty Ctejar. 
 If you fliall fend them word you will not come, 
 Their mindes may change. Befides, it were a mocke 
 Apt to be render'd, for fome one to^ay, 
 Breake vp the Senate, till another time : 
 When Ctffars wife fhall meete with better Dreames. 
 If Ciffar hide himfelre, fhall they not whifper 
 Loe Ctffar is affraid ? 
 
 Pardon me Ctfjar, for my deere deere loue 
 To your proceeding, bids me tell you this: 
 And reafon to my loue is liable. , 
 
 Ciff.How foolifh do your fears feeme now Calphurnia* 
 I am afhamed I did yeeld to them. 
 Giue me my Robe, for I will go. 
 
 Enter 'Bruttu, Ligariui, Meteliui , Cafka, Trebo- 
 
 niui, Cynna,andPubiiui. 
 And looke where Publiiu is come to fetch me. 
 
 Pub. Good morrow Ctefar. 
 
 C<ff. Welcome Publiut. 
 What "Brutui^ie you ftirr'd fo earely too? 
 Good morrow C M { a ' Calus Ligariui, 
 Ctefar was ne're fo much your enemy, 
 As that fame Ague which hath made you leane. 
 What is't a Clocke ? 
 
 *Bru. Ciffar, 'tis ftrucken eight. 
 
 CaJ. I thanke you for your paines and curtefie. 
 
 Enter Antony. 
 
 See, Antony that Reuels long a-nights 
 Is notwithftanding vp. Good morrow Antony. 
 
 Ant. So to moll Noble Ctffar 
 
 Ctff. Bid them prepare within : 
 I am too blame to be thus waited for. 
 Now Cynna, now Mtteliui : what Trebonitu, 
 I haueanhoures talke in ftore for you: 
 Remember that you call on me to day : 
 Be neere me, that I may remember you. 
 
 Treb. Ciffar I will : and fo neere will I be, 
 That your beft Friends fliall wifh I had beene further. 
 
 Ctff.Good Friends go in, and tafte fome wine with me 
 And we (like Friends) will ftraight way go together. 
 
 Bru. That euery like is not the fame, O Ctffar, 
 The heart of Brutus earnes to thinke vpon. Sxcunt 
 
 Enter Artemidorui. 
 
 Ctffar, beware of Brutus , ta^e beede of Cafs ius ; come not 
 
 nee r .
 
 'The Tragedie of 'Julius Qtefar. 
 
 neere Casl(a , baue an eye to Cynna, truft not Treboniiu , marly 
 veil e^fete/lus Cymber, 'Decius Brutus loues tbee not : Thou 
 baft wrong d Caius Ligarius . There tut one minde in all 
 tbefe men , and it is bent agairft Ciffar : If tbou beeft not Im- 
 mortall ,loo%e about you : Security giues nay to Conjpiracie . 
 The mighty Gods defend tbee. 
 
 Thy Louer, Artemidorus. 
 Hecrc will I ftand, till Ciffar pafTe along, 
 And as a Sutor will 1 giue him this: 
 My heart laments, that Vertue cannot liue 
 Out of the teeth of Emulation. 
 If thou reade this, O Ciffar, thou mayeft liue; 
 If not, the Fates with Traitors do contriue. Exit. 
 
 Enter Portia and Lucius. 
 
 Por. I prythee Boy,run to the Senate-houfe, 
 Stay not to anfwer me, but get thee gone. 
 Why doeft thou ftay ? 
 
 Luc. To know my errand Madam. 
 
 Por. I would haue had thee there and heere agen 
 Ere I can tell thee what thou fliould'ft do there : 
 
 Conftancie, be ftrong vpon my fide, 
 
 Set a huge Mountaine 'tweene my Heart and Tongue : 
 
 1 haue a mans minde, but a womans might : 
 How hard it is for women to keepe counfell. 
 Art thou heere yet ? 
 
 Luc. Madam, what fhould I do? 
 Run to the Capitoll,and nothing elfe ? 
 And fo re'urne to you, and nothing elfe ? 
 
 Por. Yes, bring me word Boy, if thy Lord look well, 
 For he went fickly forth : and take good note 
 What Ciffar doth, what Sutors prefle to him. 
 Hearke Boy, what noyfe is that? 
 
 Luc. I heare none Madam. 
 
 Por. Prythee liften well : 
 I heard a bufsling Rumor like a Fray, 
 And the winde brings it from the Capitoll. 
 
 Luc. Sooth Madam, I heare nothing. 
 Snter the Sootbfayer, 
 
 Por. Come hither Fellow, which way haft thou bin ? 
 
 Sooth. At mine owne houfe,good Lady. 
 
 Por. What is't a clocke ? 
 
 Sooth. About the ninth houre Lady. 
 
 Por. Is Ciffar yet gone to the Capitoll? 
 
 Sooth. Madam not yet, I go to take my ftand, 
 To fee him pafle on to the Capitoll. 
 
 Por. Thou haft fome fuite to Ciffar, haft thou not? 
 
 Sooth. That I haue Lady,if it will pleafe Ciffar 
 To be fb good to Ctefar,as to heare me : 
 I fliall befeech him to befriend himfelfe. 
 
 Por. Why know'ft thou any harme's intended to- 
 wards him ? 
 
 Sooth. None that I know will be, 
 Much that I feare may chance : 
 Good morrow to you : heere the ftreet is narrow : 
 The throng that followes Crf/arat the heeles, 
 Of Senators, of Praetors, common Sutors, 
 Will crowd a feeble man (almoft) to death : 
 He get me to a place more voyd, and there 
 Speake tc great Ciffar as he comes along. Exit 
 
 Tor. I muft go in : 
 Aye me / How weake a thing 
 The heart of woman is? O Brutus, 
 The Heauens fpeede thee in thine enterprize. 
 Sure the Boy heard me : Brutus hath a fuite 
 That Ciffar will not grant. O, I grow faint : 
 Run Lucius, and commend me to my Lord, 
 
 Say I am merry ; Come to me againe, 
 
 And bring me word what he doth fay to thee. 
 
 Exeunt 
 
 Affius Tertius. 
 
 Fhurijb. 
 
 Snter Cttfar, 'Brutus, CaJJius, Cas^a, Decius, Metellus , Tre- 
 bonius, Cynna, Antony, Lepidus , Artimedorus , Pub- 
 lius,and tbe Sootbfayer. 
 
 Ciff. The Ides of March are come. 
 
 Sooth. I C" e f ar '> but not g on e. 
 
 Art. Haile Ceffar : Read this Scedule. 
 
 Deci. Trebonitu doth defire you to ore-read 
 (At your heft leyfure) this his humble fuite. 
 
 Art. O Cifjar, reade mine firft : for mine's a fuite 
 Thai-touches Cttfar neerer. Read it great Ciffar. 
 
 Ceef. What touches vs our felfe, fliall be laft feru'd. 
 
 Art. Delay not Cifjar, read it inftantly. 
 
 Ciff. What,is the fellow mad? 
 
 Pub. Sirra,giue place. 
 
 CaJJi. What, vrge you your Petitions in the ftreet? 
 Come to the Capitoll. 
 
 Popil. I wifh your enterprize to day may thriue. 
 
 CaJJi. What enterprize Pofilliui ? 
 
 Popil. Fare you well. 
 
 'Bru. What faid PopiUau Lena? 
 
 CaJJi. He wifht to day our enterprize might thriue : 
 I feare our purpofe is dilcouered. 
 
 'Bru. Looke how he makes to Ciffar: marke him. 
 
 Caff.. Catty be fodaine,for we feare preuention. 
 Brutus what flull be done? If this be knowne, 
 CaJJius or C tf j ar neuer fliall turne backe, 
 For I will flay my felfe. 
 
 Bru. CaJJius be conftant : 
 Popil/ius Lena fpeakes not of our purpofes, 
 For looke he fmiles, and Cifjar doth not change. 
 
 CaJJi. Trebcniui knowes his time : for look you Brutui 
 He drawes Mar.l^ Antony out of the way. 
 
 Deci. Where is Metellus Cimber, let him go, 
 And prefently preferre his fuite to Ciffar. 
 
 Bru. He is addreft : prefle neere,and fecond him. 
 
 Cin. Casino, you are the firft that reares your hand. 
 
 Ciff. Are we all ready? What is now amifle, 
 That Ciffar and his Senate muft redrefle ? 
 
 Mete/. Moft high,moft mighty, and moft puifant Ciffar 
 Metellus Cymber throwes before thy Seate 
 An humble heart. 
 
 Ciff. I muft preuent thee Cymber : 
 Thefe couchings,and thefe lowly courtefies 
 Might fire the blood of ordinary men, 
 And turne pre-Ordinance,and firft Decreei 
 Into the lane of Children. Be not fond, 
 To thinke that Ciffar beares fuch Rebell blood 
 That will be thaw'd from the true quality 
 With that which melteth Fooles, I meane fweet words, 
 Low-crooked-curtfies. and bafe Spaniell fawning: 
 Thy Brother by decree is baniflied : 
 If thou doeft bend, and pray, and fawne for him, 
 I fpurne thee like a Curre out of my way : 
 Know, Ciffar doth not wrong, nor without caufe 
 Will he be fatisfied. 
 
 Afete/.ls there no voyce more worthy then my owne, 
 
 To
 
 The Tragedie of 'Julius Qtefar. 
 
 119 
 
 To found more fweetly in great Cafars eare, 
 For the repealing of my banifli'd Brother ? 
 
 Bru. I kiffe thy hand, but not in flattery Ctejar : 
 Defiring thee, that Publiu6 Cymber may 
 Haue an immediate freedome of repeale. 
 
 Cxf. What Brutuf, ? 
 
 CaJJl. Pardon Ctffar : C<efar pardon : 
 As lowe as to thy foote doth ^affiiu fall, 
 To begge infranchifement for Tubliui Cymber. 
 
 CteJ. I could be well mou'd, if I were as you, 
 If I could pray to mooue, Prayers would mooue me : 
 But I am conftant as the Northerne Starre, 
 Of whofe true fixt, and refting quality, 
 There is no fellow in the Firmament. 
 The Skies are painted with vnnumbred fparkes, 
 They are all Fire, and euery one doth fliine : ' 
 But, there's but one in all doth hold his place. 
 So, in the World; 'Tis furnifli'd well with Men, 
 And Men are Flefti and Blood, and apprehenfiuej 
 Yet in the number, 1 do know but One 
 That vnaflayleable holds on hisRanke, 
 Vnftuk'd of Motion : and that I am he, 
 Let me a little fliew it, euen in this : 
 That I was conftant Cymber fliould be banifli'd, 
 And conftant do remaine to keepe him fo. 
 
 Cinna. O Qtejar. 
 
 C<ef. Hence : Wilt thou lift vp Olympus? 
 
 Deciui. Great Ctejar. 
 
 Ctef. Doth not 'Brutw bootleffe kneele ? 
 
 Caft(. Speake hands for me. 
 
 Tbeyftab Ctejar. 
 
 C<tf. St Tu 'Brute ? Then fall Cafar. Dyes 
 
 Cin. Liberty, Freedome ; Tyranny is dead, 
 Run hence, proclaime, cry it about the Streets. 
 
 CaJJl. Some to the common Pulpits,and cry out 
 Liberty, Freedome, and Enfranchisement. 
 
 Bru. People and Senators, be not affrighted : 
 Fly not, ftand ftill : Ambitions debt is paid. 
 
 CM^. Go to the Pulpit Brutus. 
 
 Dec. And CaJJiui too. 
 
 'Bru. Where's Publiust 
 
 Cin. Heere, quite confounded with this mutiny. 
 
 Met. Stand faft together, leaft fome Friend of Caejars. 
 Should chance 
 
 Bru. Taike not of ftanding. Publius good cheere, 
 There is no harme intended to your perfon, 
 Nor to no Roman elfe: fo tell them Publitu. 
 
 CaJJi. And leaue vs Publius, leaft that the people 
 Rufliing on vs, fhould do your Age fome mifchiefe. 
 
 'Bru. Do fo, and let no man abide this deede, 
 But we the Doers. 
 
 Bnter 'Treboniw, 
 
 CaJJl. Where is Antony ? 
 
 Treb* Fled to his Houfe amaz'd: 
 Men, Wiues,and Children, ftare, cry out,and run, 
 As it were Doomefday. 
 
 Bru. Fates,we will know your pleafures : 
 That we fliall dye we know, 'tis but the time 
 And drawing dayes out, that men ftand vpon. 
 
 Cas\. Why he that cuts off twenty yeares of life, 
 Cuts off fo many yeares of fearing death. 
 
 'Bru. Grant that, and then is Death a Benefit : 
 So are we C<efars Friends, that haue abridg'd 
 His time of fearing death. Stoope Romans, ftoope, 
 And let vs bathe our hands in Ctffars blood 
 Vp to the Elbowes, and befmeare our Swords: 
 
 709 
 
 Then walke we forth, euen to the Market place, 
 And wauing our red Weapons o're our heads, 
 Let's all cry Peace, Freedome, and Liberty. 
 
 CaJJl. Stoop then, and wafti. How many Ages hence 
 Shall this our lofty Scene be ated ouer, 
 In State vnborne, and Accents yet vnknowne? 
 
 "Bru. How many times fliall Ctffar bleed in fport, 
 That now on Pompeyes Bafis lye along, 
 No worthier then the duft? 
 
 CaJJl. So oft as that fliall be, 
 So often fliall the knot of vs be call'd, 
 The Men that gaue their Country liberty. 
 
 <Dec. What, fliall we forth? 
 
 CaJJl. I, euery man away. 
 
 Brutuf fliall leade, and we will grace his heeles 
 With the moft boldeft,and beft hearts of Rome. 
 Enter a Seruant. 
 
 Bru. Soft,who comes heere? A friend of Antonies. 
 
 Ser. Thus 'Brutui did my Mafter bid me kneele ; 
 Thus did Marl^ Antony bid me fall downe, 
 And being proftrate, thus he bad me fay : 
 Bru'tu is Noble, Wife, Valiant, and Honeft ; 
 Caejar was Mighty, Bold, Royall, and Louing : 
 Say, I loue Brutus, and I honour him ; 
 Say, I fear'd Ctefar, honour'd him, and lou'd him. 
 If Brutui will vouchfate, that Antony 
 May fafely come to him, and be relblu'd 
 How Ctejar hath deferu'd to lye in death, 
 Marl^ Antony, fliall not loue Ctejar dead 
 So well as 'Brutui liuing ; but will follow 
 The Fortunes and Affayres of Noble Brutui, i 
 Thorough the hazards of this vntrod State, 
 With all true Faith. So fayes my Mafter .Antony. 
 
 Bru. Thy Mafter is a Wife and Valiant Romane, 
 I neuer thought him worfe : 
 Tell him, fo pleafe him come vnto this place 
 He fliall be fatisfied : and by my Honor 
 Depart vntouch'd. 
 
 Ser. He fetch him prefently. Exit Seruant. 
 
 'Bru. 1 know that we (hall haue him well to Friend. 
 
 C"JJl- I wifli we may : But yet haue I a minde 
 That feares him much sand my mifgiuing ftill 
 Falles flirewdly to the purpofe. 
 
 Bnter Antony. 
 
 Bru. But heere comes Antony : 
 Welcome Ma>\ Antony. 
 
 Ant. O mighty Ctejar I Doft thou lye fo lowe ? 
 Are all thy Conquefts, Glories,Triumphes,Spoiles, 
 Shrunke to this little Meafure ? Fare thee well. 
 I know not Gentlemen what you intend, 
 Who elfe muft be let blood, who elfe is ranke : 
 If I my felfe, there is no houre fo fit 
 As Ctffars deaths houre ; nor no Inftrument 
 Of halfe that worth, as thofe your Swords; made rich 
 With the moft Noble blood of all this World. 
 I do befeech yee, if you beare me hard, 
 Now, whil'ft your purpled hands do reeke and fmoake, 
 Fulfill your pleafure. Liue a thoufand yeeres, 
 I fliall not finde my felfe fo apt to dye. 
 No place will pleafe me fo, no meane of death, 
 As heere by Ctefar, and by you cut off, 
 The Choice and Mafter Spirits of this Age. 
 
 'Bru. O Antony \ Begge not your death of vs : 
 Though now we muft appeare bloody and cruell, 
 As by our hands, and this our prefent Ac~te 
 You fee we do : Yet fee you but our hands, 
 
 * And
 
 120 
 
 The T*ragedie of 'Julius fafar. 
 
 And this, the bleeding bufinefie they haue dore: 
 Our hearts you fee not, they are pittitull : 
 And pitty to the general] wrong of Rome, 
 As fire driues out fire, fo pitty, pitty 
 Hath done this deed on Cajar. For your part, 
 To you, our Swords haue leaden points Marine Antony. 
 Our Armes in ftrength of malice, and our Hearts 
 Of Brothers temper, do receiue you in, 
 With all kinde loue, good thoughts, and reuerence. 
 
 CaJJl Your voyce {hall be as ftrong as any mans, 
 In the difpofing of new Dignities. 
 
 Bru. Onely be patient, till we haue appeas'd 
 The Multitude, befide themfelues with feare, 
 And then, we will deliuer you the caufe, 
 Why I, that did loue Ceefar when I ftrooke him, 
 Haue thus proceeded. 
 
 Ant. I doubt not of your Wifedome : 
 Let each man render me his bloody hand. 
 Flrft cWarcut Brutut will I {hake with you; 
 Next Caw CaJJtui do I take your hand ; 
 Now Deciui Brutus yours; now yours MetelltUy 
 Yours Cinna; and my valiant Catty, yours; 
 Though laft, not leaft in loue, yours good Trebonitu , 
 Gentlemen all : Alas, what fhall I fay, 
 My credit now {lands on fuch flippery ground, 
 That one of two bad wayes you muft conceit me, 
 Either a Coward, or a Flatterer. 
 That I did loue thee Ctefar, O 'tis true : 
 If then thy Spirit looke vpon vs now, 
 Shall it not greeue thee deerer then thy death, 
 To fee thy Antony making his peace, 
 Shaking the bloody fingers of thy Foes ? 
 Moft Noble, in the prefence of thy Coarfe, 
 Had I as many eyes, as thou haft wounds, 
 Weeping as fad as they ftreame forth thy blood, 
 It would become me better, then to clofe 
 In tearmes of Friendship with thine enemies. 
 Pardon me luliui, heere was't thou bay'd braue Hart, 
 Heere did'ft thou fall, and heere thy Hunters ftand 
 Sign'd in thy Spoyle,and Crimfon'd in thy Lethee. 
 O World Jthou waft the Forreft to this Hart, 
 And this indeed,O World, the Hart of thee. 
 How like a Deere, ftroken by many Princes, 
 Doft thou heere lye ? , 
 
 CaJJi. Mar/^ Antony. 
 
 Ant. Pardon me Caiui Cajflltu : 
 The Enemies of Ceejar, {hall fay this: 
 -Then, in a Friend, it is cold Modeftie. 
 
 Caff!. I blame you not for praifing Qefar fo, 
 But what compact meane you to haue with vs ? 
 Will you be prick'd in number of our Friends, 
 Or {hall we on. and not depend on you? 
 
 Ant. Therefore I tooke your hands, but was indeed 
 Sway'd from the point, by looking downe on Ctefar. 
 Friends am I with you all, and loue you all, 
 Vpon this hope, that you {hall giue me Reafons, 
 Why,and wherein, Ceefar was dangerous. 
 
 Bru. Or elfe were this a fauage Spe&acle : 
 Our Reafons are fo full of good regard, 
 That were you Antony, the Sonne of Ctefar, 
 You {hould be fatisfied. 
 
 Ant. That's all I feeke, 
 And am moreouer futor, that I may 
 Produce his body to the Market-place, 
 And in the Pulpit as becomes a Friend, 
 Speake in the Order of his Funerall. 
 
 Bru. You {hall Marly Antony. 
 
 CaJJl. e Brutui,a. word with you : 
 You know not what you do; Do not confent 
 That Antony fpeake in his Funerall: 
 Know you how much the people may be mou'd 
 By that which he will vtter. 
 
 Bru. By your pardon : 
 I will my felfe into the Pulpit firft, 
 And {hew the reafon of our Ctefart death. 
 What Antony {hall fpeake, I will proteft 
 He fpeakes by leaue,and by permifsion: 
 And that we are contented Ccefar {hall 
 Haue all true Rites,and lawfull Ceremonies, 
 It fliall aduantage more, then do vs wrong. 
 
 Caffi. I know not what may fall, I like it not. 
 
 Bru. tWarlf_ ^Antony, heere take you Cafars body : 
 You {hall not in your Funerall {"peech blame vs, 
 But fpeake all good you can deuife of Ctejar, 
 And Jay you doo't by our permifsion : 
 Elfe {hall you not haue any hand at all 
 About his Funerall. And you {hall fpeake 
 In the fame Pulpit whereto I am going, 
 After my fpeech is ended. 
 
 Ant. Be it fo : 
 I do defire no more. 
 
 Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow vs. Exeunt. 
 
 Manet Antony. 
 
 O pardon me, thou bleeding peece of Earth : 
 That I am meeke and gentle with thefe Butchers. 
 Thou art the Ruines of the Nobleft man 
 That euer liued in the Tide of Times. 
 Woe to the hand that flied this coftly Blood. 
 Ouer thy wounds, now do I Prophefie, 
 (Which like dumbe mouthes do ope their Ruby lips, 
 To begge the voyce and vtterance of my Tongue) 
 A Curfe {hall light vpon the limbes of men ; 
 Domefticke Fury, and fierce Ciuill|ftrife, 
 Shall cumber all the parts of Italy : 
 Blood and deftru&ion {hall be fo in vfe, 
 And dreadfull Obiedh fo familiar, 
 That Mothers {hall but fmile,when they behold 
 Their Infants quartered with the hands of Warre: 
 All pitty choak'd with cuftome of fell deeds, 
 And Ceffars Spirit ranging for Reuenge, 
 With Ate by his fide, come hot from Hell, 
 Shall in thefe Confines, with a Monarkes voyce, 
 Cry hauocke, and let flip the Dogges of Warre, 
 That this foule deede, {hall fmell aboue the earth 
 With Carrion men, groaning for Buriall. 
 Enter Oflauio'i Seruant. 
 You ferue Oftauius Ctefar, do you not? 
 
 Ser. I do Marine Antony. 
 
 Ant. C tf f ar did write for him to come to Rome. 
 
 Sir. He did receiue his Letters, and is comming, 
 
 And bid me fay to you by word of mouth 
 
 O C*far ! 
 
 Ant. Thy heart is bigge : get thee a-part and weepe : 
 Pafsion I fee is catching from mine eyes, 
 Seeing thofe Beads of forrow ftand in thine, 
 Began to water. Is thy Mafter comming ? 
 
 Ser. He lies to night within feuen Leagues of Rome. 
 
 Ant. Port backe with fpeede, 
 And tell him what hath chanc'd : 
 Heere is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, 
 No Rome of fafety for Oflauius yet, 
 Hie hence, and tell him fo. Yet ftay a-while, 
 
 Thou 
 
 710
 
 'T he T rage die of "Julius Cafar. 
 
 121 
 
 Thou (halt not backe, till I haue borne this courfe 
 
 Into the Market place : There fliall I try 
 
 In my Oration, how the People take 
 
 The cruell iflue of thefe bloody men, 
 
 According to the which, thou flialt difcourfe 
 
 To yong Oftauius, of the ftate of things. 
 
 Lend me your hand. Exeunt 
 
 Enter Brutui and goes into the Pulpit jand CaJJi- 
 us t with the Plebeian*. 
 
 Pie. We will be fatisfied : let vs be fatisfied. 
 
 'Bru. Then follow me, and giue me Audience friends. 
 CaJJiui go you into the other ftreete, 
 And part the Numbers : 
 
 Thofe that will heare me fpeake, let 'em ftay heere; 
 Thofe that will follow Cajjiui,%o with him, 
 And publike Reafons fliall be rendred 
 Of Ctffars death. 
 
 i.Ple. I will heare Brutus fpeake. 
 
 2. I will heare CaJJitu, and compare their Reafons, 
 When feuerally we heare them rendred. 
 
 3. The Noble Brutui is afcended: Silence. 
 'Bru. Be patient till the laft. 
 
 Romans, Countrey-men, and Louers, heare mee for my 
 caufe, and be filent, that you may heare. Beleeue me for 
 mine Honor, and haue refpect to mine Honor, that you 
 may beleeue. Cenfure me in your Wifedom, and awake 
 your Senfes, that you may the better ludge. If there bee 
 any in this Affembly, any deere Friend of Ctffars, to him 
 I fay, that Brutui loue to Ctefar,vtas no lefle then his. If 
 then, that Friend demand, why 'Brutus rofe againft Ctf- 
 far, this is my anfwer : Not that I lou'd Ctffar lefle, but 
 | that I lou'd Rome more. Had you rather Ctffar were li- 
 i uing, and dye all Slaues ; then that Ceffar were dead, to 
 liue all Free-men ? As tizfar lou'd mee, I weepe for him ; 
 as he was Fortunate, I reioyce at it ; as he was Valiant, I 
 honour him : But, as he was Ambitious, I flew him. There 
 is Teares, for his Loue : loy, for his Fortune : Honor, for 
 his Valour : and Death, for his Ambition. Who is heere 
 fo bafe, that would be a Bondman? If any,fpeak, for him 
 haue I offended. Who is heere fo rude, that would not 
 be a Roman? If any,fpeak, for him haue I offended. Who 
 is heere fo vile, that will not loue his Countrey? If any, 
 fpeake, for him haue I offended. I paufe for a Reply. 
 iMl. None Btuttu, none. 
 
 Brutui. Then none haue I offended. I haue done no 
 more to Ctefar,then you fliall do to 'Bruttu. The Quefti- 
 on of his death, is inroll'd in the Capitoll : his Glory not 
 extenuated, wherein he was worthy; nor his offences en- 
 forc'd, for which he fuffered death. 
 
 En 
 
 r^ Antony, with Ctffars body. 
 
 Heere comes his Body, mourn'd by Marine Antony, who 
 though he had no hand in his death, fhall receiue the be- 
 nefit of his dying, a place in the Comonwealth, as which 
 of you fliall not. With this I depart, that as I flewe my 
 beft Louer for the good of Rome, I haue the fame Dag- 
 ger for my felfe.when it fliall pleafe my Country to need 
 my death. 
 
 All. Liue 'Brutui, liue, liue. 
 
 1. Bring him with Triumph home vnto his houfe. 
 
 2. Giue him a Statue with his Anceftors. 
 
 3. Let him be Ctffar. 
 
 4. Ctffars better parts, 
 
 711 
 
 Shall be Crown'd in Brutui. 
 
 1. Wee'l bring him to his Houfe, 
 With Showts and Clamors. 
 
 Brtt. My Country-men. 
 
 2, Peace, filence, Brutui fpeakes. 
 I. Peace ho. 
 
 'Bru. Good Countrymen, let me depart alone, 
 And (for my fake)ftay heere with Antony: 
 Do grace to Ceffars Corpes,and grace his Speech 
 Tending to Ctffars Glories, which Marine Antony 
 (By our permiflion) is allow'd to make. 
 I do intreat you, not a man depart, 
 Saue I alone, till Antony haue fpoke. Exit 
 
 I Stay ho, and let vs heare Mar^Antor.y. 
 
 3 Let him go vp into the publike Chaire, 
 Wee'l heare him ; Noble Antony go vp. 
 
 Ant. For 'Bruttu fake, I am beholding to you. 
 
 4 What does he fay of Brutui ? 
 
 3 He fayes. for Brutui fake 
 
 He findes himfelfe beholding to vs all. 
 
 4 Twere beft he fpeake no harme of Bruttu heere ? 
 
 1 This Ctefar was a Tyrant. 
 3 Nay that's certaine : 
 
 We are bleft that Rome is rid of him. 
 
 2 Peace, let vs heare what Antony can fay. 
 Ant, You gentle Romans. 
 
 All. Peace hoe, let vs heare him. 
 
 An. Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears: 
 I come to bury <efar,not to praife him : 
 The euill that men do, liues after them, 
 The good is oft enterred with their bones, 
 So let it be with Ctffar. The Noble 'Brutui, 
 Hath told you Ctffar was Ambitious : 
 If it were fo, it was a greeuous Fault, 
 And greeuoufly hath Ctffar anfwer'd it. 
 Heere, vnder leaue of Brutus . and the reft 
 (For Brutus is an Honourable man, 
 So are they all; all Honourable menj 
 Come I to fpeake in Ctffars Funerall. 
 He was my Friend, faithful!, and iuft to me ; 
 But Brutus fayes, he was Ambitious, 
 And 'Brutus is an Honourable man. 
 He hath brought many Captiues home to Rome, 
 Whofe Ranfomes, did the generall Coffers fill : 
 Did this in Ctffar feeme Ambitious ? 
 When that the poore haue cry'de, Ctffar hath wept: 
 Ambition fhould be made of fterner ftuffe, 
 Yet 'Brutus fayes, he was Ambitious : 
 And 'Brutus is an Honourable man. 
 You all did fee, that on the Lupercall, 
 I thrice prefented him a Kingly Crowne, 
 Which he did thrice refufe. Was this Ambition ? 
 Yet 'Brutus fayes, he was Ambitious : 
 And fure he is an Honourable man. 
 I fpeake not to difprooue what 'Brutus fpoke, 
 But heere I am, to fpeake what 1 do know ; 
 You all did loue him once, not without caufe, 
 What caufe with-holds you then, to mourne for him ? 
 O ludgement ! thou are fled to brutifli Beafts, 
 And Men haue loft their Reafon. Beare with me, 
 My heart is in the Coffin there with C<ffar, 
 And I muft pawfe, till it come backe to me. 
 
 1 Me thinkes there is much reafon in hisfayings. 
 
 2 If thou confider rightly of the matter, 
 
 Ctffar ha's had great wrong. (his place. 
 
 3 Ha's hee.Mafters ? I feare there will a worfe come in 
 
 1 1 4 Marke
 
 122 
 
 The Tragedie of 'Julius fafar. 
 
 4. Mark'd ye his words? he would not take y Crown, 
 Therefore 'tis certaine,he was not Ambitious. i 
 
 1. If it be found fo, fome will deere abide it. 
 
 2. Foore foule, his eyes are red as fire with weeping. 
 
 3. There's not a Nobler man in Rome then Antony. 
 
 4. Now marke him, he begins againe to fpeake. 
 Ant. But yefterday, the word of C<ffar might i 
 
 Haue flood againft the World . Now lies he there, 
 And none fo poore to do him reuerence. 
 
 Maifters ! If 1 were difpos'd to ftirre 
 Your hearts and mindes to Mutiny and Rage, 
 
 1 fhould do f Brutu6 wrong, and Cajjitu wrong : 
 Who (you all know) are Honourable men. 
 
 I will not do them wrong : 1 rather choofe 
 
 To wrong the dead, to wrong my felfe and you, 
 
 Then I will wrong fuch Honourable men. 
 
 But heere's a Parchment, with the Scale ofCcefar y 
 
 I found it in his Cloflet, 'tis his Will : 
 
 Let but the Commons heare this Teftament : 
 
 ("Which pardon me) I do not meane to reade, 
 
 And they would go and kifle dead Ctejars wounds, 
 
 And dip their Napkins in his Sacred Blood 5 
 
 Yea, begge a haire of him for Memory, 
 
 And dying, mention it within their Willes, 
 
 Bequeathing it as a rich Legacie 
 
 Vnto their iflue. 
 
 4 Wee'l heare the Will, reade it Marly Antony. 
 AIL The Will, the Will; we will heare Cxjart Will. 
 Ant. Haue patience gentle Friends,! muft not read it. 
 It is not meete you know how Ctffar lou'd you : 
 You are not Wood, you are not Stones, but men : 
 And being men, hearing the Will of Ctfjar t 
 It will inflame you, it will make you mad ; 
 "Tis good you know not that you are his Heires, 
 For if you fhould, O what would come of it ? 
 
 4 Read the Will,wee'l heare it Antony : 
 You fliall reade vs the Will, Co-fan Will. 
 
 Ant. Will you be Patient? Will you flay a-while? 
 I haue o're-fliot my felfe to tell you of it, 
 I feare I wrong the Honourable men, 
 Whofe Daggers haue flabb'd Ctffar : I do feare it. 
 
 4 They were Traitors : Honourable men ? 
 
 All. The Will,the Teftament. 
 
 2 They were Villaines,Murderers:the Will, read the 
 Will. 
 
 Ant. You will compel! me then to read the Will : 
 Then make a Ring about the Corpes of Ciffar, 
 And let me fliew you him that made the Will : 
 Shall I defcend? And will you giue me leaue/ 
 
 All. Come downe. 
 
 2 Defcend. 
 
 3 You fliall haue leaue. 
 
 4 A Ring, fland round. 
 
 1 Stand from the Hearfe, ftand from the Body. 
 
 2 Roome for Antony, moft Noble Antony. 
 Ant. Nay prefle not fo vpon me, fland farre off. 
 All. Stand backe: roome,beare backe. 
 
 Ant. If you haue teares,prepare to flied them now. 
 You all do know this Mantle, I remember 
 The firft time euer C<f[ar put it on, 
 'Twas on a Summers Euening in his Tent, 
 That day he ouercame the Neruy. 
 Looke,in this place ran Caffiiu Dagger through : 
 See what a rent the enuious Catlyi made : 
 Through this, the wel-beloued lirutiu ftabb'd, 
 And as he pluck'd his curfed Steele away : 
 
 Marke how the blood of Ctefar followed it, 
 
 As rufliing out of doores, to be refolu'd 
 
 If Brutuifo vnkindely knock'd,orno : 
 
 For f Bruttu ,as you know, was Ctejars Angel. 
 
 Iudge,O you Gods,how deerely Ctfjar lou'd him; 
 
 This was the moft vnkindeft cut of all. 
 
 For when the Noble Ceejar faw him ftab, 
 
 Ingratitude, more ftrong then Traitors armes, 
 
 Quite vanquifh'd him -.then burft his Mighty heart, 
 
 And in his Mantle, muffling vp his face, 
 
 Euen at the Bafe of Pompeyes Statue 
 
 (Which all the while ran blood)great Ctefar fell. 
 
 O what a fall was there,my Countrymen? 
 
 Then I, and you,and all of vs fell downe, 
 
 Whil'ft bloody Treafon flouriflTd ouer vs. 
 
 now you weepe, and I perceiue you feele 
 The dint of pitty : Thefe are gracious droppes. 
 KJnde Soules,what weepe you,when you but behold 
 Our Ctejars Vefture wounded ? Looke you heere, 
 Heere is Himfelre,marr'd as you fee with Traitors. 
 
 1. O pitteous fpectacle ! 
 
 2. O Noble C<ejar\ 
 
 3. O wofull day ! 
 
 4. O Traitors, Villaines ! 
 
 1. O moft bljody fight! 
 
 2. We will be reueng'd : Reuenge 
 About, feeke, burne, fire, kill, flay, 
 Let not a Traitor Hue. 
 
 Ant. Stay Country-men. 
 
 j. Peace there, heare the Noble Antony, 
 
 2. Wee'l heare him,wee'l follow him, wee'l dy with 
 him. (you vp 
 
 Ant. Good Friends, fweet Friends, let me not ftirre 
 To fuch a fodaine Flood of Mutiny : 
 They that haue done this Deede,are honourable. 
 What priuate greefes they haue, alas I know not, 
 That made them do it : They are Wife, and Honourable, 
 And will no doubt with Reafons anfwer you. 
 
 1 come not (Friends^ to fteale away your hearts, 
 I am no Orator, as 'Brutui is ; 
 
 But (as you know me all) a plaine blunt man 
 
 That loue my Friend, and that they know full well, 
 
 That gaue me publike leaue to fpeake of him: 
 
 For I haue neyther writ nor words, nor worth, 
 
 Adtion, nor Vtterance, nor the power of Speech, 
 
 To ftirre mens Blood. I onely fpeake right on : 
 
 I tell you that, which you your felues do know, 
 
 Shew you fweet Ctrjars wounds, poor poor dum mouths 
 
 And bid them fpeake for me : But were I "Brutus, 
 
 And f Bruttu Antony, there were an Antony 
 
 Would ruffle vp your Spirits,and put a Tongue 
 
 In euery Wound of Ctfjar, that fhould moue 
 
 The ftones of Rome, to rile and Mutiny. 
 
 iAll. Wee'l Mutiny. 
 
 I Wee'l burne the houfe of Eruttu. 
 
 3 Away then, come,feeke the Confpirators. 
 
 Ant. Yet heare me Countrymen , yet heare me fpeake 
 
 All. Peace hoe, heare Antony, moft Noble Antony. 
 
 Anr.'Why Friends, you go to do you know not what: 
 Wherein hath Cafor thus deferu'd your loues? 
 Alas you know not, I muft tell you then : 
 You haue forgot the Will I told you of. 
 
 All. Moft true, the Will, let's ftay and heare the Wil. 
 
 Ant. Heere is the Will, and vnder Ctefars Seale: 
 To euery Roman Citizen he giues, 
 To euery feuerall man,feuenty fiue Drachmaes. 
 
 2. Pie. 
 
 711
 
 The Tragedie of Julius 
 
 123 
 
 2 Pie. Moft Noble C^f/<zr , wee'l reuenge his death. 
 
 3 Pie. O Royall C<efar. 
 
 Ant. Heare me with patience. 
 
 All. Peace hoe 
 
 Ant. Moreouer, he hath left you all his Walkes, 
 His priuate Arbors, and new-planted Orchards, 
 On this fide Tyber, he hath left them .you, 
 And to your heyres for euer : common pleafures 
 To walke abroad, and recreate your felues. 
 Hecre was a Ctefar: when comes fuch another? 
 
 i. Pie. Neuer, neuer : come, a way, away : 
 Wee'l burne his body in the holy place, 
 And with the Brands fire the Traitors houfes. 
 Take vp the body. 
 
 i.Ple. Go fetch fire. 
 
 3-F/?. Plucke downe Benches. 
 
 ^..Ple, Plucke downe Formes, Windowes,any thing. 
 
 Exit Plebeian i. 
 
 Ant. Now let it worke : Mifcheefe thou art a-foot, 
 Take thou what courfe thou wilt. 
 How now Fellow? 
 
 Enter Seruant. 
 
 &r. Sir, Ofiauitu is already come to Rome. 
 
 Ant. Where is hee ? 
 
 Ser. He and Lepidtu are at Ciejars houfe. 
 
 Ant. And thither will I ftraight, to vifit him : 
 He comes vpon a wifh. Fortune is merry, 
 And in this mood will giue vs any thing. 
 
 Ser. I heard him fay, Brutui and Caffitu 
 Are rid like Madmen through the Gates of Rome. 
 
 Ant. Belike they had fome notice of the people 
 How I had moued them. Bring me to Ofiauitu. Exeunt 
 
 Enter Qinna the Poet, and after him the Plebeians. 
 
 Cinna. I dreamt to night, that I did feaft with Cafar , 
 And things vnluckily charge my Fantafie : 
 I haue no will to wander foorth of doore.s, 
 Yet fomething leads me foorth. 
 
 1. What is your name ? 
 
 2. Whether are you going ? 
 
 3. Where do you dwell ? 
 
 4. Are you a married man, or a Batchellor? 
 
 2. Anfwer euery. man diredtiy. 
 I. I,and breefely. 
 
 4. I, and wifely. 
 
 3. I, and truly, you were beft. 
 
 Cin. What is my name? Whether am I going? Where 
 do I dwell? Am I a married man, or a Batchellour ? Then 
 to anfwer euery man, directly and breefely, wifely and 
 truly : wifely I fay, I am a Batchellor. 
 
 2 That's as much as to fay, they are fooles that mar- 
 rie : you'l beare me a bang for that I feare : proceede di- 
 rectly. 
 
 Cinna. Directly I am going to Ctffars Funerall. 
 
 1. As a Friend, or an Enemy? 
 Cinna. As a friend. 
 
 2. That matter is anfwered direcUy. 
 
 4. For your dwelling : breefely. 
 Cinna. Breefely,! dwell by the Capitoll. 
 
 3. Your name fir,truly. 
 Cinna. Truly, my name is Cinna. 
 
 I. Teare him to peeces, hee's a Confpirator. 
 Cinna. I am Cinna the Poet, I am Cinna the Poet. 
 
 4. Teare him for his bad verfes, teare him for his bad 
 Verfes. 
 
 Cin. I am not Cinna the Confpirator. 
 
 4. It is no matter, his name's Cinna, plucke but his 
 name out of his heart, and turne him going. 
 
 3. Teare him, tear him; Come Brands hoe, Firebrands : 
 to 'BrutM, to CaJJitu, burne all. Some to 'Decius Houfe, 
 and fbme to Caj^a'sj fome to Ligantu : Away, go. 
 
 Exeunt all the Plebeians. 
 
 Aft us Quartus. 
 
 Snter Antony ,OfiauiuJ, and Lepidtu. 
 
 Ant.Thefe many then fhall die, their names are prickt 
 
 0<5<z.Your Brother too muft dyexonfent you Lepidtu ? 
 
 Lep. I do confent. 
 
 Ofia. Pricke him downe Antony. 
 
 Lep. Vpon condition Publiiu fhall not Hue, 
 Who is your Sifters fonne, Marine Antony. 
 
 Ant. He fhall not Hue; looke, with a fpo^ I dam him. 
 But Lepidtu, go you to Ctffars houfe : 
 Fetch the Will hither, and we fhall determine 
 How to cut off fome charge in Legacies. 
 
 Lep. What? fhall I finde you heere ? 
 
 Ofia. Or heere, or at the Capitoll. Exit Lepidtu 
 
 Ant. This is a flight vnmeritable man, 
 Meet to be fent on Errands : is it fit 
 The three-fold World diuided, he fhould ftand, 
 One of the three to fhare it ? 
 
 Ofia. So you thought him, 
 
 And tooke his voyce who fhould be prickt to dye 
 In ourblacke Sentence and Profcription. 
 
 Ant. Ofiauitu, I haue feene more dayes then you, 
 And though we lay thefe Honours on this man, 
 To eafe our felues of diuers fland'rous loads, 
 He fhall but beare them, as the Afie beares Gold, 
 To groane and fwet vnder the Bufinefle, 
 Either led or driuen,as we point the way : 
 And hauing brought our Treafure, where we will, 
 Then take we downe his Load, and turne him off 
 (Like to the empty AfTe)to fhake his eares, 
 And graze in Commons. 
 
 Ofia. You may do your will : 
 But hee's a tried, and valiant Souldier. 
 
 Ant. So is my Horfe Ofiauiiu, and for that 
 I do appoint him ftore of Prouender. 
 It is a Creature that I teach to fight, 
 To winde, to flop, to run dire&ly on : 
 His corporall Motion, gouern'd by my Spirit, 
 And in fome tafte, is Lepidtu but fo : 
 He muft be taught, and train'd,and bid go forth : 
 A barren fpirited Fellow; one that feeds 
 On Obiefts, Arts, and Imitations. 
 Which out of vfe, and ftal'de by other men 
 Begin his fafhion. Do not talke of him, 
 But as a property : and now Ofiauitu, 
 Liften great things. Brntiu and Caffiiu 
 Are leuying Powers; We muft ftraight make head : 
 Therefore let our Alliance be combin'd, 
 Our beft Friends made, our meanes ftretcht, 
 And let vs prefently go fit in Councell, 
 How couert matters may be beft difclos'd, 
 And open Perils fureft anfwered. 
 
 Ofia. Let vs do fo : for we are at the ftake, 
 
 11 2 And 
 
 7'3
 
 124 
 
 The Tragedie of Julius Q 
 
 And bayed about with many Enemies, 
 
 And fome that fmile haue in their hearts I feare 
 
 Millions of Mifcheefes. Exeunt 
 
 'Drum. Enter "Brutus, Lucillius , and the Army. Titiniiu 
 and Pindarui meete them. 
 
 'Bru. Stand ho. 
 
 Luc'il. Giue the word ho, and Stand. 
 
 Bru. What now Lucillius, is CaJJiui neere ? 
 
 Lucil. He is at hand, and Pindarui is come 
 To do you falutation from his Mafter. 
 
 'Bru. He greets me well. Your Mafter Pindariu 
 In his owne change, or by ill Officers, 
 Hath giuen me fome worthy caufe to wifli 
 Things done, vndone : But if he be at hand 
 I fliall be fatisfied. 
 
 Pin. I do not doubt 
 But that my Noble Mafter will appeare 
 Such as he is, full of regard, and Honour. 
 
 Bru. He is not doubted. A word Lucillius 
 How he receiu'd you : let me be refolu'd. 
 
 Lucil. With courtefie,and with refpedl enough, 
 But not with fuch familiar inftances, 
 Nor with fuch free and friendly Conference 
 As he hath vs'd of old. 
 
 Bru. Thou haft defcrib'd 
 A hot Friend, cooling : Euer note Lucillius, 
 When Loue begins to ficken and decay 
 It vfeth an enforced Ceremony. 
 There are no trickes, in plaine and fimple Faith : 
 But hollow men, like Horfes hot at hand, 
 Make gallant fliew,and promife of their Mettle : 
 
 Low March within. 
 
 But when they fliould endure the bloody Spurre, 
 They fall their Crefts.and like deceitfull lades 
 Sinke in the Trial!. Comes his Army on ? 
 
 Z/HfY.They meane this night in Sardis to be quarter'd: 
 The greater part, the Horfe in generall 
 Are come with CaJJitu. 
 
 Enter CaJJiui and his Powers. 
 
 'Bru. Hearke, he is arriu'd : 
 March gently on to meete him. 
 
 CaJJi. Stand ho. 
 
 Bru. Stand ho, fpeake the word along. 
 Stand. 
 Stand. 
 Stand. 
 
 CaJJi. Moft Noble Brother,you haue done me wrong. 
 
 Bru. ludge me you Gods; wrong I mine Enemies? 
 And if not fo, how fliould I wrong a Brother. 
 
 CaJJi.'Bruttu, this fober forme of yours, hides wrongs, 
 And when you do them 
 
 'Brut. CaJJiui, be content, 
 
 Speake your greefes foftly, I do know you well. 
 Before the eyes of both our Armies heere 
 (Which fliould perceiue nothing but Loue from vs) 
 Let vs not wrangle. Bid them moue away : 
 Then in my Tent CaJJiui enlarge your Greefes, 
 And I will giue you Audience. 
 
 CaJJi. Pindarui, 
 
 Bid our Commanders leade their Charges off 
 A little from this ground. 
 
 'Bru. Lucillius, do you the like, and let no man 
 Come to our Tent, till we haue done our Conference. 
 Let Lucius and Titinius guard our doore. Exeunt 
 
 Manet Brutus and CaJJiui. 
 
 CaJJi. That you haue wrong'd me, doth appear in this: 
 You haue condemn'd, and noted Lucius Pel/a 
 For taking Bribes heere of the Sardians ; 
 Wherein my Letters, praying on his fide, 
 Becaufe I knew the man was flighted off. 
 
 'Brn. You wrong'd your felfe to write in fuch a cafe. 
 
 CaJJi. In fuch a time as this, it is not meet . 
 That euery nice offence fliould beare his Comment. 
 
 Bru. Let me tell you CaJJiui, you your felfe 
 Are much condemn'd to haue an itching Palme, 
 To fell, and Mart your Offices for Gold 
 To Vndeferuers. 
 
 CaJJi. I, an itching Palme ? 
 You know that you are "Brutus that fpeakes this, 
 Or by the Gods, this fpeech were elfe your laft. 
 
 'Bru. The name of CaJJiui Honors this corruption, 
 And Chafticement doth therefore hide his head. 
 
 CaJJi. Chafticement? 
 
 'Bru. Remember March, the Ides of March remeber : 
 Did not great Julius bleede for luftice fake ? 
 What Villaine touch'd his body, that did ftab, 
 And not for luftice? What? Shall one of Vs, 
 That ftrucke the Formoft man of all this World, 
 But for fupporting Robbers : fliall we now, 
 Contaminate our fingers, with bafe Bribes ? 
 And fell the mighty fpace of our large Honors 
 For fo much tra(h,as may be grafped thus? 
 I had rather be a Dogge,and bay the Moone, 
 Then fuch a Roman. 
 
 CaJJi. Brutus, baite not me, 
 He not indure it : you forget your felfe 
 To hedge me in. I am a Souldier, I, 
 Older in practice, Abler then your felfe 
 To make Conditions. 
 
 'Bru. Go too : you are not CaJJiui. 
 
 Caffi. I am. 
 
 'Bru. I fay, you are not. 
 
 CaJJi. Vrge me no more, I fliall forget my felfe : 
 Haue minde vpon your health : Tempt me no farther. 
 
 Bru. Away flight man. 
 
 Caffi. Is't poffible? 
 
 'Bru. Heare me, for I will fpeake. 
 Muft I giue way, and roome to your rafli Choller? 
 Shall I be frighted, when a Madman ftares / 
 
 Caffi. O ye Gods, ye Gods, Muft I endure all this? 
 
 Bru. All this? I more : Fret till your proud hart break. 
 Go fliew your Slaues how Chollericke you are, 
 And make your Bondmen tremble. Muft I bouge ? 
 Muft I obferue you ? Muft I ftand and crouch 
 Vnder your Teftie Humour ? By the Gods, 
 You fliall digeft the Venom of your Spleene 
 Though it do Split you. For, from this day forth, 
 lie vfe you for my Mirth, yea for my Laughter 
 When you are Wafpifli. 
 
 Caffi. Is it come to this ? 
 
 'Bru. You fay, you are a better Souldier : 
 Let it appeare fo; make your vaunting true, 
 And it fliall pleafe me well. For mine owne part, 
 I fliall be glad to learne of Noble men. 
 
 Caff. You wrong me euery way : 
 You wrong me Brutus : 
 I faide, an Elder Souldier, not a Better. 
 Did I fay Better ? 
 
 Bru. If you did, I care not. (me. 
 
 Caff. When Ctffar liu'd,he durft not thus haue mou'd 
 
 'Brut. Peace, peace, you durft not fo haue tempted him. 
 
 Caff. 
 
 7M
 
 "The Tragedie of Julius Qcefar. 
 
 125 
 
 Caffi. I durft not. 
 Bru. No. 
 
 Caffi. What? durft not tempt him ? 
 Bru. For your Kfe you durft not. 
 Caffi. Do not prefume too much vpon my Loue, 
 I may do that I /hall be forry for. 
 
 'Bru. You haue done that you fliould be forry foiv 
 There is no terror Caffius in your threats ; 
 For I am Arm'd fo ftrong in Honefty, 
 That they pafle by me, as the idle winde, 
 Which I refpect not. I did fend to you 
 For certaine fummes of Gold, which you deny'd me, 
 For I can raife no money by vile meanes : 
 By Heauen, I had rather Coine my Heart, 
 And drop my blood for Drachmaes, then to wring 
 From the hard hands of Peazants, their vile trafli 
 By any indirection. I did fend 
 To you for Gold to pay my Legions, 
 Which you deny'd me : was that done like Cajjius ? 
 Should I haue anfwer'd Caius Cajjius fb ? 
 When Marcus Brutus growes fo Couetous, 
 To iocke fuch Rafcall Counters from his Friends, 
 Be ready Gods with all your Thunder-bolts, 
 Dafli him to peeces. 
 
 Caffi. I deny'd you not. 
 
 Bru. You did. 
 
 Caffi. I did not. He was but a Foole 
 
 That brought my anfwer back.^Brztfuj hath riu'd my hart: 
 A Friend fliould beare his Friends infirmitiesj 
 But Brutus makes mine greater then they are. 
 
 'Bru. I do not, till you pradtice them on me. 
 
 Caffi. You loue me not. 
 
 'Bru. I do not like your faults. 
 
 QaJJi. A friendly eye could neuer fee fuch faults. 
 
 Bru. A Flatterers would not, though they do appeare 
 As huge as high Olympus. 
 
 Caffi. Come Antony, and yon g Ofiauius come,! 
 Reuenge your felues alone on Cajjius, 
 For Cajjius is a- weary of the World : 
 Hated by one he loues, brau'd by his Brother, 
 Check'd like a bondman, all his faults obferu'd, 
 Set in. a Note-booke, learn'd,and con'd by roate 
 To caft into my Teeth. O I could weepe 
 My Spirit from mine eyes. There is my Dagger, 
 And heere my naked Breaft: Within, a Heart 
 Deerer then Pluto\ Mine, Richer then Gold: 
 If that chou bee'ft a Roman, take it foorth. 
 I that deny'd thee Gold, will giue my Heart : 
 Strike as thqu did'ft at Ctffar : For 1 know, 
 When thou did'ft hate him worft, y loued'ft him better 
 Then euer thou loued'ft Cajjius. 
 
 'Bru. Sheath your Dagger : 
 Be angry when you will, it /hall haue fcope : 
 Do what you will, Dishonor, fhall be Humour. 
 O Cajjius, you are yoaked with a Lambe 
 That carries Anger, as the Flint beares fire, 
 Who much inforced, fliewes a haftie Sparke, 
 And ftraite is cold agen. 
 
 Caffi. HathC^ttsliu'd 
 
 To be but Mirth and Laughter to his 'Brutus, 
 When greefe and blood ill temper'd, vexeth him ? 
 
 'Bru. When I fpoke that, I was ill remper'd too.s 
 
 Caffi. Do you confefle fo much? Giue me your hand. 
 
 'Bru. And my heart too. 
 
 Caffi. O Brutus ! 
 
 Bru. What's the matter ? 
 
 75 
 
 Caffi. Haue not you loue enough to beare with me, 
 When that rafti humour which my Mother gaue me 
 Makes me forgetfull. 
 
 Bru, Yes Cafsius,and from henceforth 
 When you are ouer-earneft with your Brutus, 
 Hee'l thinke your Mother chides, and leaue you fo. 
 
 Enter a Poet. 
 
 Poet. Let me go in to fee the Generals, 
 There is fome grudge betweene 'em, 'tis not meete 
 They be alone. 
 
 Lucil. You fliall not come to them. 
 
 Poet. Nothing but death fhall ftay me. 
 
 Caf. How now? What's the matter? 
 
 Poet. For lhame you Generalsj what do you meane ? 
 Loue, and be Friends, as two fuch men fliould bee, 
 For I haue feene more yeeres I'me fure then yee. 
 Caf. Ha, ha, how vildely doth this Cynicke rime? 
 
 'Bru. Get you hence firra : Sawcy Fellow,hence. 
 
 Caf. Beare with him Brutus, 'tis his fafliion. 
 
 Brut. lie know his humor, when he knowes his time : 
 What fliould the Warres do with thefe Jigging Fooles ? 
 Companion , hence. 
 
 Caf. A way, a way be gone. Exit Poet 
 
 Bru. Lucilliui and Titinius bid the Commanders 
 Prepare to lodge their Companies to night. 
 
 Caf. And come your felues, & bring Meffala with you 
 Immediately to vs. 
 
 'Bru. Lucius, a bowle of Wine. 
 
 Caf. I did not thinke you could haue bin fo angry. 
 
 'Bru. O Cajjius, I am (icke of many greefes. 
 
 Caf. Of your Philofophy you make no vfe, 
 If you giue place toaccidentall euils. 
 
 Bru. No man beares forrow better. Portia is dead. 
 
 Caf. Ha?Por//a? 
 
 'Bru. She is dead. 
 
 Caf. How fcap'd I killing, when I croft you fo ? 
 
 infupportable, and touching lofle ! 
 Vpon what ficknefle ? 
 
 *Bru. Impatient of my abfence, 
 And greefe, that yong Ofiauius with MarJ^ Antony 
 Haue made themfelues fo ftrong : For with her death 
 That tydings came. With this flie fell diftradl, 
 And (her Attendants abfent) fwallow'd fire. 
 
 Caf, And dy'd fo? 
 
 'Bru. Euen fo. 
 
 Caf. O ye immortall Gods ! 
 
 Enter 'Boy with Wine , and Taper s. 
 
 Bru. Speak no more of her:Giue me a bowl of wine, 
 In this I bury all vnkindnefle Cafsius. Drinks 
 
 Caf. My heart is thirfty for that Noble pledge. 
 Fill Lucius, till the Wine ore-fwell the Cup : 
 
 1 cannot drinke too much of 'Brutus loue. 
 
 Enter Tititiiut and MeJJala. 
 
 "Brutus. Come in Tit initu : 
 Welcome good <&fejjala: 
 Now fit we clofe about this Taper heere, 
 And call in queftion our neceffities. 
 
 Caff. Tortia, art thou gone ? 
 
 Bru. No more I pray you. 
 MeJJala, I haue heere receiued Letters, 
 That yong Oflauiw, and Marine Antony 
 Come downe vpon vs with a mighty power, 
 Bending their Expedition toward Pbiliffi. 
 
 11 3 Meff.
 
 126 
 
 The T rage die of Julius 
 
 Mejf. My felfe haue Letters of the felfe-fame Tenure. 
 
 Bru. With what Addition. 
 
 Mejf. That by profcription,and billes of Outlarie, 
 OfiauiuSj Antony, and Lepidus, 
 Haue put to death, an hundred Senators. 
 
 Bru. Therein our Letters do not well agree : 
 Mine fpeake of feuenty Senators, that dy'de 
 By their profcriptions, Cicero being one. 
 
 CaJJi. Cicero one ? 
 
 MeJJa.Cicero is dead,and by that order of profcription 
 Had you your Letters from your wife, my Lord? 
 
 Bru. No Me/ala. 
 
 MeJJa. Nor nothing in your Letters writ of her ? 
 
 Bru, Nothing MeJJala. 
 
 MeJJa. That me thinkes is ftrange. 
 
 Bru. Why aske you ? 
 Heare you ought of her, in yours? 
 
 MeJJa. No my Lord. 
 
 'Bru. Now as you are a Roman tell me true. 
 
 nMeJfa. Then like a Roman, beare the truth I tell, 
 For certaine /he is dead,and by ftrange manner. 
 
 'Bru. Why farewell Portia: We muft die Mejfala : 
 With meditating that /he muft dye once, 
 I haue the patience to endure it now. 
 
 cWefla. Euen fo great men, great lo/Tes /hold indure. 
 
 Cajfi. I haue as much of this in Art as you, 
 But yet my Nature could not beare it fo. 
 
 Bru. Well, to our worke aliue. What do you thinke 
 Of marching to Pbilippi prefently. 
 
 CaJJi. I do not thinke it good. 
 
 Bru. Your reafon ? 
 
 CaJJi. This it is: 
 
 'Tis better that the Enemie feeke vs, 
 So /hall he wafte his meanes, weary his Souldiers, 
 Doing himfelfe offence, whil'ft we lying ftill, 
 Are full of reft, defence,and nimblenefle. 
 
 'Bru. Good reafons muft of force giue place to better : 
 The people 'twixt Pbilifpi, and this ground 
 Do ftand but in a forc'd affection : 
 For they haue grug'd vs Contribution. 
 The Enemy, marching along by them, 
 By them /hall make a fuller number vp, 
 Come on refrefht, new added, and encourag'd : 
 From which aduantage /hall we cut him off. 
 If at Pbilippi we do face him there, 
 Thefe people at our backe. 
 
 Cafli. Heare me good Brother. 
 
 'Bru. Vnder your pardon. You muft note befide, 
 That we haue tride the vtmoft of our Friends : 
 Our Legions are brim full, our caufe is ripe, 
 The Enemy encreafeth euery day, 
 We at the height, are readie to decline. 
 There is a Tide in the affayres of men, 
 Which taken at the Flood, leades on to Fortune : 
 Omitted, all the voyage of their life, 
 Is bound in Shallowes,and in Miferies. 
 On fuch a full Sea are we now a-float, 
 And we muft take the current when it femes, 
 Or loofe our Ventures. 
 
 CaJJi. Then with your will go on : wee'l along 
 Our felues, and meet them at Pbilippi. 
 
 'Bru. The deepe of night is crept vpon our talke, 
 And Nature muft obey Nece/fitie, 
 Which we will niggard with a little reft : 
 There is no more to fay. 
 
 CaJJi. No more, good night, 
 
 Early to morrow will we rife, and hence. 
 Enter Lucius. 
 
 Bru. Luciui my Gowne: farewell good MeJJala, 
 Good night Titinius : Noble, Noble CaJJius, 
 Good night, and good repofe. 
 
 CaJJi. O my deere Brother : 
 This was an ill beginning of the night : 
 Neuer come fuch diuifion 'tweene our foules : 
 Let it not Brutus. 
 
 Enter Lucius with the Gowne. 
 
 'Brn. Euery thing is well. 
 
 CaJJi. Good night my Lord. 
 
 'Bru. Good night good Brother. 
 
 Tit. MeJJa. Good night Lord Brutus. 
 
 'Bru. Farwell euery one. Exeunt. 
 
 Giue me the Gowne. Where is thy Inftrument ? 
 
 Luc. Heere in the Tent. 
 
 'Bru. What, thou fpeak'ft drowfily? 
 Poore knaue I blame thee not, thou art ore-watch'd. 
 Call Claudia, and fome other of my men, 
 He haue them fleepe on Cu/hions in my Tent. 
 
 Luc. FarruSfUnd Claudia. 
 
 Enter Varrm and Claudia. 
 
 Var. Cals my Lord ? 
 
 'Bru. I pray you firs, lye in my Tent and fleepe, 
 It may be I /hall raife you by and by 
 On bufinefle to my Brother Cajjlus. 
 
 Var. So pleafe you, we will ftand, 
 And watch your pleafure. 
 
 Bru. I will it not haue it fo : Lye downe good firs, 
 It may be I /hall other wife bethinke me. 
 Looke Lucius, heere's the booke I fought for fo : 
 I put it in the pocket of my Gowne. 
 
 Luc. I was fure your Lord/hip didmot giue it me. 
 
 Bru. Beare with me good Boy, I am much forgetfull. 
 Canft thou hold vp thy heauie eyes a-while, 
 And touch thy Inftrument a ftraine or two. 
 
 Luc. I my Lord, an't pleafe you. 
 
 'Bru. It does my Boy : 
 I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing. 
 
 Luc. It is my duty Sir. 
 
 'Brut. I fhould not vrge thy duty paft thy might, 
 I know yong bloods looke for a time of reft. 
 
 Luc. I haue flept my Lord already. 
 
 'Bru. It was well done, and thou /halt fleepe againe: 
 I will not hold thee long. If 1 do liue, 
 I will be good to thee. 
 
 Mujicl^e, and a Song. 
 
 This is a fleepy Tune : O Murd'rous fiumbler J 
 Layeft thou thy Leaden Mace vpon my Boy, 
 That playes thee Muficke? Gentle knaue good night: 
 I will not do thee fo much wrong to wake thee : 
 If thou do'ft nod, thou break'ft thy Inftrument, 
 He take it from thee, and (good Boy ) good night. 
 Let me fee, let me fee; is not the Leafe turn'd downe 
 Where I left reading ? Heere it is I thinke. 
 
 Enter the Gboft of Ctffar. 
 
 How ill this Taper burnes. Ha ! Who comes heere ? 
 I thinke it is the weakenefle of mine eyes 
 That fliapes this monftrous Apparition. 
 It comes vpon me : Art thou any thing ? 
 Art thou fome God, fome Angell, or fomeDiuell, 
 That mak'ft my blood cold, and my haire to ftare ? 
 Speake to me, what thou art. 
 
 Gboft. Thy euill Spirit Brutus ? 
 
 Bru. Why com'ft thou ? 
 
 Gboft.
 
 'The Tragedie of Julius Qtefar. 
 
 127 
 
 Gboft. To tell thee thou fhalt fee me at Pbilippi. 
 
 Brut, Well : then I fhall fee thee againe ? 
 
 Gboft. I, at Phi/iff i. 
 
 Brut. Why I will fee thee at Pbilippi then: 
 Now I haue taken heart, thou vaniflieft. 
 Ill Spirit, I would hold more talke with thee. 
 Boy, Lucius , Varrut , Claudia , Sirs : Awake : 
 Claudia . 
 
 Luc. The firings my Lord, are falfe. 
 
 Bru. He thinkes he ftillis at his Inftrument. 
 Lucius, awake. 
 
 Luc. My Lord. 
 
 'Bru. Did'ft thou dreame Lucus, that thou fo cryedft 
 out? 
 
 Luc. My Lord, I do not know that I did cry. 
 
 'Bru . Yes that thou did'ft : Did'ft thou fee any thing ? 
 
 Luc. Nothing my Lord. 
 
 Bru. Sleepe againe Lucitu: Sirra C/audio, Fellow, 
 Thou : Awake. 
 
 Var. My Lord. 
 
 Clesu. My Lord. 
 
 'Bru. Why did you fo cry out firs, in your fleepe ? 
 
 Both. Did we my Lord ? 
 
 Bru. I : faw you any thing? 
 
 Var. No my Lord, 1 faw nothing. 
 
 Qlau. Nor I my Lord. 
 
 'Bru. Go, and commend me to my Brother Cajfiut : 
 Bid him fet on his Powres betimes before, 
 And we will follow. 
 
 Both. It fliall be done my Lord. Exeunt 
 
 Adtus Quintus. 
 
 Enter Offauius , Antony ,and their Army. 
 
 Ofla. Now Antony, our hopes are anfwered , 
 You faid the Enemy would not come downe, 
 But keepe the Hillesand vpper Regions: 
 It proues not fo : their battailes are at hand, 
 They meane to warne vs at Pbilippi heere : 
 Anfwering before we do demand of them. 
 
 Ant. Tut I am in their bofbmes,and I know 
 Wherefore they do it : They could be content 
 To vifit other places, and come downe 
 With fearefull brauery: thinking by this face 
 To faften in our thoughts that they haue Courage j 
 But 'tis not fo. 
 
 Snter a MeJJenger. 
 
 Mef. Prepare you Generals, 
 The Enemy comes on in gallant mew : 
 Their bloody figne of Battell is hung out, 
 And fomething to be done immediately. 
 
 tAnt. Oflauius, leade your Battaile foftly on 
 Vpon the left hand of the euen Field. 
 
 Ofla. Vpon the right hand I, keepe thou the left. 
 
 Ant. Why do you crofle me in this exigent. 
 
 Ofia. I do not crofie you : but 1 will do fo. March. 
 
 "Drum. Snter Bruttu , Cajfius , & their Army. 
 Bru. They ftand.and would haue parley. 
 CaJ/i. Stand faft Titinius, we muft out and talke. 
 Ofla. Marl^ Antony, fliall we giue figne of Battaile ? 
 Ant. No Cafar, we will anfwer on their Charge. 
 
 717 
 
 Make forth, the Generals would haue fome words. 
 
 Off. Stirre not vntill the Signall. 
 
 Bru. Words before blowes : is it fo Countrymen? 
 
 Ofia. Not that we loue words better, as you do. 
 
 .Bra.Good words are better then bad ftrokes Oflauius. 
 
 An.ln your bad ftrokes 'Brutus, you giue good words 
 Witnefle the hole you made in Cafars heart, 
 Crying long Hue, Haile Cajar. 
 
 CaJJl. Antony, 
 
 The pofture of your blowes are yet vnknowne ; 
 But for your words, they rob the Hibla Bees, 
 And leaue them Hony-lefle. 
 
 Ant. Not ftingleffe too. 
 
 'Bru. O yes, and foundlefie too : 
 For you haue ftolne their buzzing Antony, 
 And very wifely threat before you fting. 
 
 Ant. Villains : you did not fo, when your vile daggers 
 Hackt one another in the fides of Cafar : 
 You fliew'd your teethes like Apes, 
 And fawn'd like Hounds, 
 
 And bow'd like Bondmen, kiffing Ctefars feete ; 
 Whil'ft damned C M { a > ''^ e a Curre, behinde 
 Strooke Cajar on the necke. O you Flatterers. 
 
 CaJJl. Flatterers? Now 'Brutus thanke your felfe, 
 This tongue had not offended fo to day, 
 If CaJJlus might haue rul'd. 
 
 Ofla. Come, come, the caufe. If arguing make vs fwet, 
 The proofe of it will turne to redder drops: 
 Looke, I draw a Sword againft Confpirators, 
 When thinke you that the Sword goes vp againe ? 
 Neuer till Ctefars three and thirtie wounds 
 Be well aueng'd; or till another Ctefar 
 Haue added flaughter to the Sword of Traitors. 
 
 'Brut. Cafar, thou canft not dye by Traitors hands, 
 Vnlefle thou bring'ft them with thee. 
 
 Ofla. So I hope: 
 I was not borne to dye on 'Bruttu Sword. 
 
 Bru. O if thou wer't the Nobleft of thy Straine, 
 Yong-man, thou could'ft not dye more honourable. 
 
 CaJJl. A peeuifli School-boy, worthies of fuch Honor 
 loyn'd with a Masker, and a Reueller. 
 
 Ant. Old Caffiui ftill. 
 
 Ofla. Come tAntony : away : 
 Defiance Traitors, hurle we in your teeth. 
 If you dare fight to day, come to the Field ; 
 If not, when you haue ftomackes. 
 
 Exit Ofiauius , Antony , and Army 
 
 CaJJl. Why now blow winde, fwell Billow, 
 And fwimme Barke : 
 The Storme is vp, and all is on the hazard. 
 
 'Bru. Ho Lucillius,hezrke, a word with you. 
 
 Lucillius and MeJ/ala Jland forth. 
 
 Luc. My Lord. 
 
 Ca/i MeJ/ala. 
 
 MeJ/a. What fayes my Generall ? 
 
 CaJJl. cMeJ/ala,th\s is my Birth-day : as this very day 
 Was Cajjiut borne. Giue me thy hand MeJ/ala : 
 Be thou my witnefle, that againft my will 
 (As Pompey was) am I compell'd to fet 
 Vpon one Battell all our Liberties. 
 You know, that I held Sficurus ftrong, 
 And his Opinion : Now 1 change my minde, 
 And partly credit things that do prefage. 
 Comming from Sardu, on our former Enfigne 
 Two mighty Eaglesfell, and there they pearch'd, 
 Gorging and feeding from our Soldiers hands, 
 
 Who
 
 128 
 
 The Tragedie of Julius 
 
 Who to Pbilippi heere conforted vs : 
 
 This Morning are they fled away, and gone, 
 
 And in their fteeds, do Rauens, Crowes, and Kites 
 
 Fly ore our heads, and downward looke on vs 
 
 As we were fickely prey ; their fliadowes feeme 
 
 A Canopy moft fatall, vnder which 
 
 Our Army lies, ready to giue vp the Ghoft. 
 
 eMeffa. Beleeue not fo. 
 
 Cajji. I but beleeue it partly, 
 For I am frefli of fpirir,and refolu'd 
 To meete all perils, very conftantly. 
 
 Bru. Euen fo Lucillius. 
 
 Qaffl. Now moft Noble Brutus, 
 The Gods to day ftand friendly, that we may 
 Louers in peace, leade on our dayes to age. 
 But fince the affayresof men reftsftillincertaine, 
 Let's reafon with the worft that may befall. 
 If we do lofe this Battalia, then is this 
 The very laft time we fliall fpeake together : 
 What are you then determined to do ? 
 
 Bru. Euen by the rule of that Philofophy, 
 By which I did blame C ato t f r tne death 
 Which he did giue himfelfe, I know not how : 
 But I do finde it Cowardly, and vile, 
 For feare of what might fall, fo to preuent 
 The time of life, arming my felfc with patience, 
 To ftay the prouidence of fome high Powers, 
 That gouerne vs below. 
 
 Caff!. Then, if we loofe this Battaile, 
 You are contented to be led in Triumph 
 Thorow the ftreets of Rome. 
 
 Bru. No CaJJiut, no : 
 Thinke not thou Noble Romane, 
 That euer Brutus will go bound to Rome, 
 He beares too great a minde. But this fame day 
 Muft end that worke, the Ides of March begun. 
 And whether we fhall meete againe, I know not : 
 Therefore our euerlafting farewell take : 
 For euer, and for euer, farewell CaJJius, 
 If we do meete againe, why we fhall fmile ; 
 If not, why then this parting was well made. 
 
 CaJJi. For euer, and for euer, farewell Bruttu : 
 If we do meete againe, wee'l fmile indeede; 
 If not, 'tis true, this parting was well made. 
 
 Bru. Why then leade on. O that a man might know 
 The end of this dayes bufmefie, ere it come : 
 But it fufficeth, that the day will end, 
 And then the end is knowne. Come ho, away. Exeunt. 
 
 Alarum. Enter Brutus and Meffala. 
 
 'Bru. Ride, ride Meffala, ride and giue thefe Billes 
 Vnto the Legions, on the other fide. 
 
 Lcrrd Alarum. 
 
 Let them fet on at once : for I perceiue 
 But cold demeanor in Oftauio's wing : 
 And fodaine pufli giues them the ouerthrow : 
 Ride, ride Meffala, let them all come downe. Exeunt 
 
 Alarums. 
 
 Enter Caffius and Titinius. 
 
 CaJJi. O looke Titinius, looke, the Villaines flye : 
 My felfe haue to mine owne turn'd Enemy: 
 This Enfigne heere of mine was turning backe, 
 I flew the Coward, and did take i: from him. 
 
 Titin. O CaJJius, Brutui gaue the word too early, 
 
 Who hauing fome aduantage on Offauius, 
 Tooke it too eagerly : his Soldiers fell to fpoyle, 
 Whil'ft we by Antony are all inclos'd. 
 
 Enter Pindartu. 
 
 Find. Fly further off my Lord : flye further off, 
 Marl^ Antony is in your Tents my Lord : 
 Flye therefore Noble CaJJius, flye farre off. 
 
 CaJJi, This Hill is farre enough. Looke, look Titinius 
 Are thofe my Tents where 1 perceiue the fire ? 
 
 Tit. They are, my Lord. 
 
 CaJJi. Titinius, if thou loueft me, 
 Mount thou my horfe, and hide thy fpurres in him, 
 Till he haue brought thee vp to yonder Troopes 
 And heere againe, that I may reft afTur'd 
 Whether yond Troopes, are Friend or Enemy. 
 
 Tit. I will be heere againe, euen with a thought. Exit. 
 
 CaJJi. Go Pindarus, get higher on that hill, 
 My fight was euer thicke : regard Titinlui, 
 And tell me what thou not'ft about the Field. 
 This day I breathed firft, Time is come round, 
 And where I did begin, there fliall I end, 
 My life is run his compafle. Sirra, what newes ? 
 
 Pind. tAboue. O my Lord. 
 
 CaJJi. What newes ? 
 
 Pind. Titinius is enclofed round about 
 With Horfemen, that make to him on the Spurre, 
 Yet he fpurres on. Now they are almoft on him : 
 Now Titinius. Now fome light : O he lights too. 
 Hee's tane. Sbotvt. 
 
 And hearke, they fliout for ioy. 
 
 CaJJi. Come downe, behold no more : 
 O Coward that I am, to liue fo long, 
 To fee my beft Friend tane before my face. 
 
 Enter Pindarui. 
 
 Come hither firrah : In Parthia did I take thee Prifoner, 
 And then I fwore thee, fauing of thy life, 
 That whatfoeuer I did bid thee do, 
 
 Thou fhould'ft attempt it. Come now, keepe thine oath, 
 Now be a Free-man, and with this good Sword 
 That ran through Caejars bowels, fearch this bofome. 
 Stand not to anfwer: Heere, take thou the Hilts, 
 And when my face is couer'd,as 'tis now, 
 
 Guide thou the Sword Ctejar, thou art reueng'd, 
 
 Euen with the Sword that kill'd thee. 
 
 Pin. So, I am free, 
 Yet would not fo haue beene 
 Durft I haue done my will.O CaJJius, 
 Farre from this Country Pindarus fliall run, 
 Where neuer Roman fliall take note of him. 
 
 Enter Titinius and Meffala. 
 
 MeJJa. It is but change, Titinius : for Ofiauius 
 Is ouerthrowne by Noble Brutus power, 
 As CaJJius Legions are by Antony. 
 
 Titin. Thefe tydings will well comfort CaJJius. 
 
 Meffa. Where did you leaue him. 
 
 Titin. All difconfolate, 
 With Pindarushh Bondman, on this Hill. 
 
 Meffa. Is not that he that lyes vpon the ground ? 
 
 Titin. He lies not like the Liuing. O my heart ! 
 
 Meffa. Is not that hee ? 
 
 Titin. No, this was he MeJJala, 
 But Cajfius is no more. O fetting Sunne : 
 As in thy red Raves thou doeft finke to night ; 
 
 So
 
 The Tragedie ofjulius Qafar. 
 
 129 
 
 So in his red blood Cafsiut day is fet. 
 The Sunne of Rome is fet. Our day is gone, 
 Clowds,Dewes,and Dangers come; our deeds ate done: 
 Miftruft of my fuccefie hath done this deed. 
 
 MeJJa. Miftruft of good fuccefle hath done this deed. 
 
 hatefull Error, Melancholies Childe : 
 
 Why do'ft thou fhew to the apt thoughts of men 
 The things that are not ? O Error foone conceyu'd, 
 Thou neuer com'ft vnto a happy byrrh, 
 But kil'ft the Mother that engendred thee. 
 
 Tit. What PinJariu? Where art thou Ptndarui* 
 Mfffa. Seeke him Titinius, whilft I go to meet 
 The Noble Brutus, thrufting this report 
 Into his eares ; I may fay thrufting it : 
 For piercing Steele, and Darts inuenomed, 
 Shall be as welcome to the eares of 'Brutus, 
 As tydings of this fight. 
 
 Tit. Hye you Meffala, 
 And I will feeke for Pindarus the while : 
 Why did'ft thou fend me forth braue Cafsius ? 
 Did I not meet thy Friends, and did not they 
 Put on my Browes this wreath of Viclorie, 
 And bid me giue it thee? Did'ft thou not heare their 
 Alas, thou haft mifconftrued euery thing. (fliowts? 
 
 But hold thee, take this Garland on thy Brow, 
 Thy Brutus bid me giue it thee, and I 
 Will do his bidding. 'Brutus, come apace, 
 And fee how I regarded Caiut Cafsius : 
 By your leaue Gods: This is a Romans part, 
 Come Cafsius Sword, and finde Titinius hart. Dies 
 
 Alarum. Bnter 'Brutus, Meffala, yong Cato, 
 Strata , Volumnius , and Lucillius. 
 
 Bru. Where, where Meffala, doth his body lye ? 
 
 Meffa. Loe yonder, and Titinius mourning it. 
 
 'Bru. Titinius face is vpward. 
 
 Cato. He is flaine. 
 
 Bru. O lulius Ccefar, thou art mighty yet, 
 Thy Spirit walkes abroad, and turnes our Swords 
 In our owne proper Entrailes. Low Alarums. 
 
 Cato. Braue Titinius, 
 Looke where he haue not crown'd dead Cafsius. 
 
 Bru. Are yet two Romans liuing fuch as thefe ? 
 The laft of all the Romans, far thee well : 
 It is impofiible, that euer Rome 
 Should breed thy fellow. Friends I owe mo teares 
 To this dead man, then you fhall fee me pay. 
 
 1 fliall finde time, Cafsius : I fliall finde time. 
 Come therefore, and to Tharfus fend his body, 
 His Funerals fhall not be in our Campe, 
 Leaft it difcomfort vs. Lucillius come, 
 
 And come yong Cato, let vs to the Field, 
 
 Labio and Flauio fet our Battailes on : 
 
 'Tis three a clocke, and Romans yet ere night, 
 
 We fliall try Fortune in a fecond fight. Exeunt. 
 
 Alarum. Snter Brutus, Meffala, Cato, Lucillius, 
 
 and Flauius. 
 
 'Bru. Yet Country-men : O yet, hold vp your heads. 
 Cato. What Baftard doth not? Who will go with me? 
 I will proclaime my name about the Field. 
 I am the Sonne of Marcus Cato, hoe. 
 A Foe to Tyrants,and my Countries Friend. 
 I am the Sonne of Marcus Cato,hoe. 
 
 Enter Souldiers, and fight. 
 And I am 'Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I, 
 
 719 
 
 Brutus my Countries Friend : Know me for Brutus. 
 
 Luc. O yong and Noble Cato, art thou downe ? 
 Why now thou dyeft, as brauely as Titinius, 
 And may'ft be honoured, being Cato's Sonne. 
 
 Sold. Yeeld, or thou dyeft. 
 
 Luc. Onely I yeeld to dye : 
 
 There is fo much, that thou wilt kill me ftraight : 
 Kill 'Brutus, and be honour'd in his death. 
 
 Sold. We muft not : a Noble Prifoner. 
 
 Enter tAntony. 
 
 2. Sold. Roome hoe : tell Antony, Brutus is tane. 
 
 i .Sold. He tell thee newes.Heere comes the Generall, 
 Brutus is tane, Brurus is tane my Lord. 
 
 Ant. Where is hee ? 
 
 Luc. Safe Antony, Brutus is fafe enough : 
 I dare afTure thee, that no Enemy 
 Shall euer take aliue the Noble Brutus : 
 The Gods defend him from fo great a fliame, 
 When you do finde him, or aliue, or dead, 
 He will be found like Brutus, like himfelfe. 
 
 Ant. This is not 'Brutus friend, but I aflure you, 
 A prize no lefTe in worth ; keepe this man fafe, 
 Giue him all kindnefie. I had rather haue 
 Such men my Friends, then Enemies. Go on, 
 And fee where Brutus be aliue or dead. 
 And bring vs word, vnto OcJauius Tent : 
 How euery thing is chanc'd. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter 'Brutus, Dardaniui, C tit us, Strata, 
 and "Uolumniuf. 
 
 'Brut. Come poore remaines of friends, reft on this 
 Rocke. 
 
 Git. Statillius fliew'd the Torch-light, but my Lord 
 He came not backe: he is or tane, or flaine. 
 
 'Brut. Sit thee downe, Clitut : flaying is the word, 
 It is a deed in faftiion. Hearke thee, Clitus. 
 
 Clit. What I, my Lord ? No, not for all the World. 
 
 Brut. Peace then, no words. 
 
 Clit. He rather kill my felfe. 
 
 Brut. Hearke thee, Dardaniiu . 
 
 Dard. Shall I doe fuch a deed? 
 
 Clit. O Dardanius. 
 
 Dard. O Clitui. 
 
 Clit. What ill requeft did 'Brutus make to thee ? 
 
 Dard. To kill him, /;>*: looke he meditates. 
 
 Clit. Now is that Noble Veflell full of griefe, 
 That it runnes ouer euen at his eyes. 
 
 Brut. Come hither, good 1)olumn'nu,\\& a word. 
 
 1)olum. What fayes my Lord ? 
 
 'Brut. Why this, Volumniiu : 
 The Ghoft of Ciffar hath appear'd to me 
 Two feuerall times by Night : at Sardis,once ; 
 And this laft Night, here in Philippi fields : 
 I know my houre is come. 
 
 Volum. Not fo, my Lord. 
 
 Brut. Nay, I am fure it K t Volumnitu. 
 Thou feeft the World, Volumniiu, how it goes, 
 Our Enemies haue beat vs to the Pit : Low Alarums. 
 
 It is more worthy, to leape in our felues, 
 Then tarry till they pufh vs. Good Volumnitu, 
 Thou know'ft,that we two went to Schoole together : 
 Euen for that our loue of old, I prethee 
 Hold thou my Sword Hilts, whileft I runne on it. 
 
 Vol. That's not an Office for a friend, my Lord. 
 Alarum itill. 
 
 Clit. Fly,
 
 130 
 
 The Tragedie of Julius Qcefar. 
 
 Cly. Fly, flye my Lord, there is no tarrying heere. 
 
 'Bru. Farewell to you, and you, and you Vdumnitu. 
 Strata, thou haft bin all this while afleepe : 
 Farewell to thee, to Strata, Countrymen : 
 My heart doth ioy, that yet in all my life, 
 I found no man, but he was true to me. 
 I iriall haue glory by this looting day 
 More then Ociauiui, and Marly tAntcny, 
 By this vile Conqueft (hall attaine vnto. 
 So fare you well at once, for Bruttu tongue 
 Hath almoft ended his Hues Hiftory : 
 Night hangs vpon mine eyes, my Bones would reft, 
 That haue but labour'd, to attaine this houre. 
 
 Alarum. Cry wit bin, Flye, flye t flye. 
 
 Cly. Fly my Lord, flye. 
 
 Bru. Hence : I will follow : 
 I prythee Strata, ftay thou by thy Lord, 
 Thou art a Fellow of a good refpect : 
 Thy life hath had fome fmatch of Honor in it, 
 Hold then my Sword, and turne away thy face, ] 
 While I do run vpon it. Wilt thou Strata ? 
 
 Stra, Giue me your hand firft. Fare you wel my Lord. 
 
 Bru. Farewell good Strata. Cafar t now be ftill, 
 
 I kill'd not thee with halfe fo good a will. Dyes. 
 
 Alarum. Retreat. Snter Antony, Of?auiu t MeJ/ala, 
 
 Lucilliui , and the Army. 
 Offa. Whatman is that? 
 
 My Matters man. Strata, where is thy Mafte* ? 
 
 Stra. Free from the Bondage you are in Meffala, 
 The Conquerors can but make a fire of him : 
 For Brutui onely ouercame himfelfe, 
 And no man elie hath Honor by his death. 
 
 Lucil. So Brutui fljould be found. I thank thee Bruttu 
 That thou haft prou'd Lucilliui laying true, 
 
 Of}a. All that feru'd <r Brutiu,\ will entertaine them. 
 Fellow, wilt thou beftow thy time with me? 
 
 Stra. I, if MeJJala will preferre me to you. 
 
 Ofla. Do fo , good Meffala. 
 
 cMeffa. How dyed my Mafter Strata ? 
 
 Stra. I held the Sword, and he did run on it. 
 
 Meffa. Ofiauitu, then take him to follow thee, 
 That did the lateft feruice to my Mafter. 
 
 Ant. This was the Nobleft Roman of them all : 
 AH the Confpirators faue onely hee, 
 Did that they did, in enuy of great Ctefar : 
 He, onely in a generall honeft thought, 
 And common good to all, made one of them. 
 His life was gentle, and the Elements 
 So mixtin him, that Nature might ftand vp, 
 And fay to all the world; This was a man. 
 
 Ofla. According to his Vertue, let vs vfe him 
 Withall Refpeft.and Rites of Buriall. 
 Within my Tent his bones to night Ihall ly, 
 Moft like a Souldier ordered Honourably : 
 So call the Field to reft, and let's away, 
 To part the glories of this happy day. Exeunt omnes. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 THE TRAGEDIE OF 
 
 MACBETH. 
 
 ^A5tus ^Primus. Sccena 
 
 Thunder and Lightning. Enter three Witches. 
 
 Henfliallwe three meet againe? 
 In Thunder, Lightning, or in Raine ? 
 
 2. When the Hurley-hurley's done, 
 When the Battaile's loft, and Wonne. 
 
 3. That will be ere the fet of Sunne. 
 i. Where the place ? 
 
 2. Vpon the Heath. 
 
 3. There to meet with Macbeth. 
 I. I come, Gray-Malign. 
 
 All. Padocl^ calls anon : faire is foule, and foule is faire, 
 Houer through the fogge and filthie ayre. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Alarum within. Enter King <^[alcome, Donal- 
 
 baine, Lenox, with attendants, meeting 
 
 a bleeding Captains. 
 
 King. What bloody man is that ? he can report, 
 As feemeth by his plight, of the Reuolt 
 The neweft ftate. 
 
 Mai. This is the Serieant, 
 Who like a good and hardie Souldier fought 
 'Gainft my Captiuitie : Haile braue friend ; 
 Say to the King, the knowledge of the'Broyle, 
 As thou didft leaue it. 
 
 Cap. Doubtfull it flood, 
 
 As two fpent Swimmers, that doe cling together, 
 And choake their Art : The mercilefle Macdomvald 
 (Worthie to be a Rebell, for to that 
 The multiplying Villanies of Nature 
 Doe fwarme vpon him) from the Wefterne Hies 
 Of Kernes and Gallowgrofles is fupply'd, 
 And Fortune on his damned Quarry fmiling, 
 Shew'd like a Rebells Whore : but all's too weake r 
 For braue Macbeth (well hee deferues that Name) 
 Difdayning Fortune, with his brandiflit Steele, 
 Which fmoak'd with bloody execution 
 (Like Valours Minion) caru'd out his paflage, 
 Till hee fac'd the Slaue : 
 
 Which neu'r Ihooke hands, nor bad farwell to him, 
 Till he vnfeam'd him from the Naue toth' Chops, 
 And fix'd his Head vpon our Battlements. 
 
 711 
 
 King. O valiant Coufin, worthy Gentleman. 
 
 Cap. As whence the Sunne 'gins his reflection, 
 Shipwracking Stormes, and direfull Thunders : 
 So from that Spring, whence comfort feem'd to come, 
 Difcomfort fwells: Marke King of Scotland, marke, 
 No fooner luftice had, with Valour arm'd, 
 Compell'd thefe skipping Kernes to truft their heeles, 
 But the Norweyan Lord, furueying vantage, 
 With furbuflit Armes, and new fupplyes of men, 
 Began a frefli aflault. 
 
 King. Difmay'd not this our Captaines, Macbeth and 
 'Banquoh ? 
 
 Cap. Yes, as Sparrowes, Eagles; 
 Or the Hare, the Lyon : 
 If I fay footh, I muft report they were 
 As Cannons ouer-charg'd with double Cracks, 
 So they doubly redoubled ftroakes vpon the Foe : 
 Except they meant to bathe in reeking Wounds, 
 Or memorize another Golgotha, 
 I cannot tell : but I am faint, 
 My Gaflies cry for helpe. 
 
 King. So well thy words become thee, as thy wounds, 
 They fmack of Honor both : Goe get him Surgeons. 
 
 Enter RoJJe and Angus. 
 Who comes here ? 
 
 Mai. The worthy Thane of Rofle. 
 
 Lenox. What a hafte lookes through his eyes ? 
 So fliould he looke, that feemes to fpeake things ftrange. 
 
 RoJJe. God faue the King. 
 
 King. Whence cam'ft thou, worthy Thane? 
 
 Rofle. From Fift'e, great King, 
 Where the Norweyan Banners flowt the Skie, 
 And fanne our people cold. 
 Norway himfelfe, with terrible numbers, 
 Aflifted by that moft difloyall Traytor, 
 The Thane of Cawdor, began a difmall Conflict, 
 Till that f Belknas Bridegroome, lapt in proofe, 
 Confronted him with felfe-comparifons, 
 Point againft Point, rebellious Arme 'gainft Arme, 
 Curbing his lauifli fpirit: and to conclude, 
 The Viftorie fell on vs. 
 
 King. Great happinefle. 
 
 RoJJe. That now, Smeno, the Norwayes King, 
 Craues compofition : 
 
 Nor would we deigne him buriall of his men, 
 Till he disburfed, at Saint fylmes ynch, 
 Ten thouland Dollars, to our generall vfe. 
 
 King. No 
 
 4*
 
 132 
 
 The Tragedie of ^Macbeth. 
 
 King. No more that Thane of Cawdor fhall deceiue 
 Our Bofome intereft : Goe pronounce his prefent death, 
 And with his former Title greet Macbeth. 
 
 Roffe. He fee it done. 
 
 King. What he hath loft, Noble Macbeth hath wonne. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Tertia. 
 
 Thunder. Enter the three Witches. 
 
 1. Where haft thou beene,Sifter? 
 
 2. Killing Swine. 
 
 3. Sifter, where thou ? 
 
 1. A Saylors Wife had Cheftnuts in her Lappe, 
 And mouncht,& mouncht,and mouncht: 
 
 Giue me, quoth I. 
 
 Aroynt thee, Witch, the rumpe-fed Ronyon cryes. * 
 
 Her Husband's to Aleppo gone, Mafter o'th' Tiger : 
 
 But in a Syue He thither fayle, 
 
 And like a Rat without a tayle, 
 
 He doe, lie doe, and lie doe. 
 
 2. lie giue thee a Winde. 
 I. Th'art kinde. 
 
 3. And I another. 
 
 1. I my felfe haue all the other, 
 And the very Ports they blow, 
 All the Quarters that they know, 
 I'th" Ship-mans Card. 
 
 He dreyne him drie as Hay : 
 Sleepe fhall neyther Night nor Day 
 Hang vpon his Pent-houfe Lid : 
 He fhall Hue a man forbid : 
 Wearie Seu'nights, nine times nine, 
 Shall he dwindle, peake, and pine : 
 Though his Barke cannot be loft, 
 Yet it fhall be Tempeft-toft. 
 Looke what I haue. 
 
 2. Shew me, fhew me. 
 
 i. Here I haue a Pilots Thumbe, 
 Wrackt,as homeward he did come. Drum within. 
 
 3. A Drumme, a Drumme : 
 Macbeth doth come. 
 
 All. The weyward Sifters, hand in hand, 
 Pofters of the Sea and Land, 
 Thus doe goe, about, about, 
 Thrice to thine,and thrice to mine, 
 And thrice againe,to make vp nine. 
 Peace, the Charme's wound vp. 
 
 Enter Macbeth and Banquo. 
 
 Macb. So foule and faire a day I haue not feene. 
 
 Banquo. How farre is't call'd to Soris? What are thefe, 
 So withered, and fo wilde in their attyre, 
 That looke not like th'Inhabitants o'th'Earth, 
 And yet are on't? Liue you, or are you aught 
 That man may queftion ? you feeme to vnderftand me, 
 By each at once her choppie ringer laying 
 Vpon her skinnie Lips: you fhould be Women, 
 And yet your Beards forbid me to interprete 
 That you are fo. 
 
 Mac. Speake if you can : what are you ? 
 
 1. All haile Macbetb,hz\le to thee Thane of Glamis. 
 
 2. All haile Macbeth, haile to thee Thane of Cawdor. 
 
 3. All haile Macbeth,thzt fhalt be King hereafter. 
 'Banq. Good Sir, why doe you ftart,and feeme to feare 
 
 Things that doe found fo faire? i'th'name of truth 
 
 Are ye fantafticall,or that indeed 
 
 Which outwardly ye fhew ? My Noble Partner 
 
 You greet with prefent Grace, and great prediction 
 
 Of Noble hauing,and of Royall hope, 
 
 That he feemes wrapt withall : to me you fpeake not. 
 
 If you can looke into the Seedes of Time, 
 
 And fay, which Graine will grow, and which will not, 
 
 Speake then to me, who neyther begge,nor feare 
 
 Your fauors,nor your hate. 
 
 1. Hayle. 
 
 2. Hayle. 
 
 3. Hayle. 
 
 1. Lefler then Macbetb,and greater. 
 
 2. Not fo happy, yet much happyer. 
 
 3. Thou fhalt get Kings, though thou be none : 
 So all haile Macbetb,nnd Banquo. 
 
 I. "Banquet, and Macbeth, all haile. 
 
 Macb. Stay you imperfedr. Speakers,tell me more: 
 By Sine/Is death,! know I am Thane of Glamis, 
 But how, of Cawdor? the Thane of Cawdor Hues 
 A profperous Gentleman : And to be King, 
 Stands not within the profpedt of beleefe, 
 No more then to be Cawdor. Say from whence 
 You owe this ftrange Intelligence, or why 
 Vpon this blafted Heath you flop our way 
 With fuch Prophetique greeting? 
 Speake,! charge you. Witches vanijb. 
 
 Banq. The Earth hath bubbles, as the Water ha's, 
 And thefe are of them : whither are they vanifh'd ? 
 
 Macb. Into the Ayre : and what feem'd corporall, 
 Melted, as breath into the Winde. 
 Would they had ftay'd. 
 
 'Banq. Were fuch things here,as we doe fpeake about? 
 Or haue we eaten on the infane Root, 
 That takes the Reafon Prifoner ? 
 
 Macb. Your Children fhall be Kings. 
 
 Banq. You fhall be King. 
 
 Macb. And Thane of Cawdor too : went it not fo ? 
 
 Banq. Toth'felfe-fame tune, and words: who's here? 
 
 Enter '^offe and Angus. 
 
 Roffe. The King hath happily receiu'd, Macbeth, 
 The newes of thy fuccefle : and when he reades 
 Thy perfonall Venture in the Rebels fight, 
 His Wonders and his Prayfes doe contend, 
 Which fhould be thine, or his: filenc'd with that, 
 In viewing o're the reft o'th'felfe-fame day, 
 He findes thee in the ftout Norweyan Rankes, 
 Nothing afeard of what thy felfe didft make 
 Strange Images of death, as thick as Tale 
 Can poft with poft, and euery one did beare 
 Thy prayfes in his Kingdomes great defence, 
 And powr'd them downe before him. 
 
 Ang. Wee are fent, 
 
 To giue thee from our Royall Mafter thanks, 
 Onely to harrold thee into his fight, 
 Not pay thee. 
 
 Roffe. And for an earneft of a greater Honor, 
 He bad me, from him, call thee Thane of Cawdor: 
 
 In
 
 The Tragedie of ^Macbeth. 
 
 J 33 
 
 In which addition, haile moft worthy Thane, 
 For it is thine. 
 
 Banq. What, can the Deuill fpeake true? 
 
 Macb, The Thane of Cawdor Hues : 
 Why doe you drefle me in borrowed Robes ? 
 
 Ang. Who was the Tbanc,l\ues yet, 
 But vnder heauie Judgement beares that Life, 
 Which he deferues to loofe. 
 
 Whether he was combin'd with thofe of Norway, 
 Or did lyne the Rebell with hidden helpe, 
 And vantage ; or that with both he labour'd 
 In his Countreyes wracke, I know not : 
 But Treafons Capital!, confefs'd,and prou'd, 
 Haue ouerthrowne him. 
 
 Macb. Glamys, and Thane of Cawdor : 
 The greateft is behinde. Thankes for your paines. 
 Doe you not hope your Children mall be Kings, 
 When thofe that gaue the Thane of Cawdor to me, 
 Promis'd no lefle to them. 
 
 'Banq. That trufted home, 
 Might yet enkindle you vnto the Crowne, 
 Befides the Thane of Cawdor. But 'tis ftrange : 
 And oftentimes, to winne vs to our harme, 
 The Inftruments of Darknefle tell vs Truths, 
 Winne vs with honeft Trifles, to betray's 
 In deepeft confequence. 
 Coufins, a word, I pray you. 
 
 Macb. Two Truths are told, 
 As happy Prologues to the fwelling Aft 
 Of the Imperiall Theame. I thanke you Gentlemen : 
 This fupernaturall folliciting 
 Cannot be ill ; cannot be good. 
 If ill? why hath it giuen me earneft of fuccefle, 
 Commencing in a Truth ? I am Thane of Cawdor. 
 If good ? why doe I yeeld to that fuggeftion, 
 Whofe horrid Image doth vnfixe my Heire, 
 And make my feated Heart knock at my Ribbes, 
 Againft the vie of Nature? Prefent Feares 
 Are lefle then horrible Imaginings : 
 My Thought, whofe Murther yet is but fantafticall, 
 Shakes fo my fingle ftate of Man, 
 That Function is fmother'd in furmife, 
 And nothing is, but what is not. 
 
 Banq. Looke how our Partner's rapt. 
 
 Macb. If Chance will haue me King, 
 Why Chance may Crowne me, 
 Without my ftirre. 
 
 Banq. New Honors come vpon him 
 Like our ftrange Garments, cleaue not to their mould, 
 But with the aid of vfe. 
 
 Macb. Come what come may, 
 Time, and the Houre,runs through the rougheft Day. 
 
 Banq. Worthy <&facbeth , wee ftay vpon your ley- 
 fure. 
 
 Macb. Giue me your fauour : 
 
 My dull Braine was wrought with things forgotten. 
 Kinde Gentlemen, your paines are regiftred, 
 Where euery day I turne the Leafe, 
 To reade them. 
 
 Let vs toward the King : thinke vpon 
 What hath chanc'd : and at more time, 
 The Interim hauing weigh'd it, let vs fpeake 
 Our free Hearts each to other. 
 
 Banq. Very gladly. 
 
 Macb. Till then enough : 
 Come friends. Exeunt. 
 
 7*3 
 
 Scena Quarfa. 
 
 Flourish. Enter King , Lenox , Malcolme , 
 Donalbaine, and Attendants. 
 
 King. Is execution done on Cawdor ? 
 Or not thofe in Commiflion yet return'd ? 
 
 Mai. My Liege, they are not yet come back. 
 But I haue fpoke with one that faw him die : 
 Who did report, that very frankly hee 
 Confefs'd his Treafons, implor'd your Highnefle Pardon, 
 And fet forth a deepe Repentance : 
 Nothing in his Life became him, 
 Like the leauing it. Hee dy'de, 
 As one that had beene ftudied in his death, 
 To throw awav the deareft thing he ow'd, 
 As 'twere a carelefle Trifle. 
 
 King. There's no Art, 
 
 To finde the Mindes conftrudrion in the Face : 
 He was a Gentleman, on whom I built 
 An abfolute Truft. 
 
 Enter Macbeth, Banquo, Roffe, and Angtu. 
 
 worthyeft Coufin, 
 
 The finne of my Ingratitude euen now 
 
 Was heauie on me. Thou art fo farre before, 
 
 That fwifteft Wing of Recompence is flow, 
 
 To ouertake thee. Would thou hadft lefle dcferu'd, 
 
 That the proportion both of thanks, and payment, 
 
 Might haue beene mine : onely I haue left to fay, 
 
 More is thy due, then more then all can pay. 
 
 Macb. The feruice, and the loyaltie I owe, 
 In doing it, payes it felfe. 
 Your Highnefie part,is to receiue our Duties: 
 And our Duties are to your Throne, and State, 
 Children, and Seruants; which doe but what they fhould, 
 By doing euery thing fafe toward your Loue 
 And Honor. 
 
 King. Welcome hither : 
 
 1 haue begun to plant thee, and will labour 
 To make thee full of growing. Noble Banquo, 
 That haft no lefle deferu'd,nor muft be knowne 
 No lefle to haue done fo : Let me enfold thee, 
 And hold thee to my Heart* 
 
 *Banq. There if I grow, 
 The Harueft is your owne. 
 
 King. My plenteous loyes, 
 'Wanton in fulnefle,feeke to hide themfelues 
 In drops of forrow. Sonnes, Kinfmen, Thanes, 
 And you whofe places are the neareft, know, 
 We will eftablifli our Eftate vpon 
 Oureldeft, Malcolme, whom we name hereafter, 
 The Prince of Cumberland : which Honor muft 
 Not vnaccompaniedjinueft him onely, 
 But fignes of Noblenefle,like Starres,fhall fliine 
 On all deferuers. From hence to Envernes, 
 And binde vs further to you. 
 
 Macb. The Reft is Labor, which is not vs'd for you : 
 lie be my felfe the Herbenger,and make ioyfull 
 The hearing of my Wife, with your approach : 
 So humbly take my leaue. 
 
 King. My worthy Candor. 
 
 Macb.The Prince of Cumberland: that is a ftep, 
 On which I muft fall downe,or elfe o're-leape, 
 
 m m For
 
 '34 
 
 The Tragedie of ^Macbeth. 
 
 'or in my way it lyes. Starres hide your fires, 
 Let not Light fee my black and deepe defires : 
 The Eye winke at the Hand; yet let that bee, 
 Which the Eye feares, when it is done to fee. Exit. 
 
 King. True, worthy Banquo : he is full fo valiant, 
 And in his commendations, I am fed : 
 It is a Banquet to me. Let's after him, 
 Whofe care is gone before, to bid vs welcome : 
 It is a peerelefle Kinfman. Flourijb. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Quinta. 
 
 Enter cflfacietbs Wife alone with a Letter, 
 
 Lady. They met me In the day of fuccejje : and I baue 
 learn 'd by the perfetTft report, they baue more in them, then 
 mortall tywledge. W'hen I burnt In dejlre to queftion them 
 further, they made themfelues Ayre, Into which they -vanijb'd. 
 Whiles I flood rapt in the wonder of it, came MiJJiues from 
 the King, mho all-hair d me Thane of Cawdor, by which Tnlc 
 before, theft Keyword Sifters faluted me, and referred me to 
 the camming on of time, with haile King that Jhalt be. Tbit 
 baue I thought good to deliuer thee ( my deareji Partner of 
 GreatneJJe ) that tbou might" ft not loofe the dues of rekycing 
 by being ignorant of what GreatneJJe a promised thee. Lay 
 it to thy heart, and farewell. 
 Glamys thou art, and Cawdor, and (halt be 
 What thou art promis'd: yet doe I feare thy Nature, 
 It is too full o'th' Milke of humane kindnefTe, 
 To catch the neereft way. Thou would'ft be great, 
 Art not without Ambition, but without 
 The illnefle fliould attend it. What thou would'ft highly, 
 That would'ft thou holily: would'ft not play falfe, 
 And yet would'ft wrongly winne. 
 Thould'ft haue, great Glamys, that which cryes, 
 Thus thou muft doe, if thou haue it ; 
 And that which rather thou do'ft feare to doe, 
 Then wifheft fhould be vndone. High thee hither, 
 That I may powre my Spirits in thine Bare, 
 And chaftife with the valour of my Tongue 
 All that impeides thee from the Golden Round, 
 Which Fate and Metaphyficall ayde doth feeme 
 To haue thee crown'd withall. Enter Meffenger. 
 
 What is your tidings? 
 
 MeJJ~. The King comes here to Night. , 
 
 Lady. Thou'rt mad to fay it. 
 Is not thy Mafter with him ? who, wer't fo, 
 Would haue inform'd for preparation. 
 
 MeJf.So pleafe you, it is true : our Thane is comming : 
 One of my fellowes had the fpeed of him ; 
 Who almoft dead for breath, had fcarcely more 
 Then would make vp his MefTage. 
 
 Lady. Giue him tending, 
 
 He brings great newes. Exit Meffenger. 
 
 The Rauen himfelfe is hoarfe, 
 That croakes the fatall entrance of Duncan 
 Vnder my Battlements. Come you Spirits, 
 That tend on mortall thoughts, vnfex me here, 
 And fill me from the Crowne to the Toe, top-full 
 Of direft Crueltie : make thick my blood, 
 Stop vp th'accefTe,and pafDge to Remorfe, 
 That no compun&ious vifitings of Nature 
 
 Shake my fell purpofe, nor kecpe peace betweene 
 
 Th'effecl,and hit. Come to my Womans Brefts, 
 
 And take my Milke for Gall, you murth'ring Minifters, 
 
 Where-euer,in your fightlefle fubftances, 
 
 You wait on Natures Mifchiefe. Come thick Night, 
 
 And pall thee in the dunneft fmoake of Hell, 
 
 That my keene Knife fee not the Wound it makes, 
 
 Nor Heauen peepe through the Blanket of the darke, 
 
 To cry, hold, hold. Enter Macbeth. 
 
 Great Glamys, worthy Cawdor, 
 
 Greater then both, by the all-haile hereafter, 
 
 Thy Letters haue tranfported me beyond 
 
 This ignorant prefent,and I feele now 
 
 The future in the inftant. 
 
 Macb. My deareft Loue, 
 Duncan comes here to Night. 
 
 Lady. And when goes hence? 
 
 Macb. To morrow, as he purpofes. 
 
 Lady. O neuer, 
 Shall Sunne that Morrow fee. 
 Your Face, my Thane, is as a Booke, where men 
 May reade ftrange matters, to beguile the time. 
 Looke like the time, beare welcome in your Eye, 
 Your Hand, your Tongue: looke like th'innocent flower, 
 But be the Serpent vnder't. He that's comming, 
 Muft be prouided for : and you fhall put 
 This Nights great BufinefTe into my difpatch, 
 Which fhall to all our Nights, and Dayes to come, 
 Giue folely foueraigne fway,and Mafterdome. 
 
 Macb. We will fpeake further. 
 
 Lady. Onely looke vp cleare : 
 To alter fauor, euer is to feare : 
 Leaue all the reft to me. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Sexta. 
 
 Hoboyes, and Torches. Enter King,Malcolme y 
 
 Donalbaine, i Banquo, Lenox, Macduff, 
 
 RoJ/e, Aigus,and Attendants. 
 
 King. This Caftle hath a pleafant feat, 
 The ayre nimbly and fweetly recommends it felfe 
 Vnto our gentle fences. 
 
 e Banq. This Gueft of Summer, 
 The Temple-haunting Barlet does approue, 
 By his loued Manfonry,that the Heauens breath 
 Smells wooingly here : no lutty frieze, 
 Buttrice, nor Coigne of Vantage, but this Bird 
 Hath made his pendant Bed, and procreant Cradle, 
 Where they muft breed, and haunt: I haue obferu'd 
 The ayre is delicate. Enter Lady. 
 
 King. See, fee, our honor'd HoftefTe : 
 The Loue that followes vs, fometime is our trouble, 
 Which ftill we thanke as Loue. Herein I teach you, 
 How you fhall bid God-eyld vs for your paines, 
 And thanke vs for your trouble. 
 
 Lady. All our feruice, 
 
 In euery point twice done, and then done double, 
 Were poore,and fingle Bufineffe, to contend 
 Againft thofe Honors deepe, and broad, 
 Wherewith your Maieftie loades our Houfe : 
 For thofe of old, and the late Dignities, 
 Heap'd vp to them, we reft your Ermites. 
 
 King. Where's
 
 T^he Tragedie of ^Macbeth. 
 
 King . Where's the Thane of Cawdor ? 
 We courft him at the heeles, and had a purpofe 
 To be his Purueyor : But he rides well, 
 And his great Loue (fharpe as his Spurre^hath holp him 
 To his home before vs : Faire and Noble Hoftefle 
 We are your gueft to night. 
 
 La. Your Seruants euer, 
 
 Haue theirs, themfelues, and what is theirs in compt, 
 To make their Audit at your Highnefle pleafure, 
 Still to returne your owne. 
 
 King. Giue me your hand : 
 Conduct me to mine Hoft we loue him highly, 
 And fhall continue, our Graces towards him. 
 By your leaue Hoftefle. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Septima. 
 
 Ho-boyes. Torches. 
 Enter a Sewer, and diuers Seruants with "Dijbcs and Seruice 
 
 ouer the Stage. Then enter Macbeth. 
 Macb. I fit were done, when 'tis done, then 'twer well, 
 It were done quickly : If th' AffafTmation 
 Could trammell vp the Confequence, and catch 
 With his furceafe, Succefle : that but this blow 
 Might be the be all, and the end all. Heere, 
 But heere, vpon this Banke and Schoole of time, 
 \Vee'ld iumpe the life to come. But in thefe Cafes, 
 We ftill haue iudgement heere, that we but teach 
 Bloody Inftruclions, which being taught, returne 
 To plague th'Jnuenter, This euen-handed luftice 
 Commends th'Ingredience of our poyfon'd Challice 
 To our owne lips. Hee's heere in double truft; 
 Firft,as I am his Kinfman, and his Subiec~r, 
 Strong both againft the Deed : Then, as his Hoft, 
 Who fhould againft his Murtherer fhut the doore, 
 Not beare the knife my felfe. Befides, this T>uncane 
 Hath borne his Faculties fo meeke ; hath bin 
 So cleere in his great Office, that his Vertues 
 Will pleade like Angels, Trumpet-tongu'd againft 
 The deepe damnation of his taking off: 
 And Pitty, like a naked New-borne-Babe, 
 Striding the blaft, or Heauens Cherubin, hors'd 
 Vpon the fightlefle Curriors of the Ayre, 
 Shall blow the horrid deed in euery eye, 
 That teares fhall drowne the winde. I haue no Spurre 
 To pricke the fides of my intent, but onely 
 Vaulting Ambition, which ore-leapes it felfe, 
 And falles on th'other. Enter Lady. 
 
 How now ? What Newes ? 
 
 Z-a.He has almoft fupt: why haue you left the chamber ? 
 
 Mac. Hath he ask'd for me ? 
 
 La. Know you not, he ha's ? 
 
 Mac* We will proceed no further in this Bufinefle : 
 He hath Honour'd me of late, and 1 haue bought 
 Golden Opinions from all forts of people, 
 Which would be worne now in their neweft gloffe, 
 Not caft afide fo foone. 
 
 La. Was the hope drunke, 
 
 Wherein you dreft your felfe ? Hath it flept fince ? 
 And wakes it now to looke fo greene, and pale, 
 At what it did fo freely ? From this time, 
 Such I account thy loue. Art thou affear'd 
 To be the fame in thine owne Aft, and Valour, 
 As thou art in defire ? Would'ft thou haue that 
 
 715 
 
 Which thou efteem'ft the Ornament of Life, 
 And Hue a Coward in thine owne Efteeme? 
 Letting I dare not, wait vpon I would, 
 Like the poore Cat i'th'Addage. 
 
 Macb. Prythee peace : 
 I dare do all that may become a man, 
 Who dares no more, is none. 
 
 La. What Beaft was't then 
 That made you breake this enterprize to me ? 
 When you durft do it, then you were a man : 
 And to be more then what you were, you would 
 Be fo much more the man. Nor time, nor place 
 Did then adhere, and yet you would make both : 
 They haue made themielues, and that their fitneffe now 
 Do's vnmake you. I haue giuen Sucke, and know 
 How tender 'tis to loue the Babe that milkes me, 
 I would, while it was fmyling in my Face, 
 Haue pluckt my Nipple from his Bonelefle Gummes, 
 And dafht the Braines out, had I fo fworne 
 As you haue done to this. 
 
 Macb. If we fhould faile ? 
 
 Lady. We faile ? 
 
 But fcrew your courage to the flicking place, 
 And wee'le not fayle : when Duncan is afleepe, 
 (Whereto the rather fhall his dayes hard lourney 
 Soundly inuite him) his two Chamberlaines 
 Will I with Wine, and Waflell,fo conuince, 
 That Memorie,the Warder of the Braine, 
 Shall be a Fume, and the Receit of Reafon 
 A Lymbeck onely : when in Swinifh fleepe, 
 Their drenched Natures lyes as in a Death, 
 What cannot you and I performe vpon 
 Th'vnguarded Duncan? What not put vpon 
 His fpungie Officers? who fhall beare the guilt 
 Of our great quell. 
 
 Macb. Bring forth Men-Children onely: 
 For thy vndaunted Mettle fhould compofe 
 Nothing but Males. Will it not be receiu'd, 
 When we haue mark'd with blood thofe fleepie two 
 Of his owne Chamber, and vs'd their very Daggers, 
 That they haue don't ? 
 
 Lady. Who dares receiue it other, 
 As we fhall make our Griefes and Clamor rore, 
 Vpon his Death ? 
 
 Macb. I am fettled, and bend vp 
 Each corporall Agent to this terrible Feat. 
 Away, and mock the time with faireft fhow, 
 Falfe Face muft hide what the falfe Heart doth know. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 A5lus Secundus. Scena^Prima. 
 
 Enter 'Banquc , and Fleance i witb a Torch 
 
 before him . 
 
 'Batty. How goes the Night, Boy? 
 Fleance. The Moone is downe : I haue not heard the 
 Clock. 
 
 Banq . And fhe goes downe at Twelue. 
 Fleance. I take't,'tis later, Sir. 
 Banq. Hold, take my Sword : 
 There's Husbandry in Heauen, 
 Their Candles are all out: take thee that too. 
 
 m m 2 A
 
 136 
 
 The Tragedle of ^Macbeth. 
 
 A heauie Summons lyes like Lead vpon me, 
 
 And yet I would not fleepe : 
 
 Mercifull Powers, reftraine in me the curfed thoughts 
 
 That Nature giues way to in repofe. 
 
 Enter Macbeth, and a Seruant vltb a Torch. 
 
 Giue me my Sword : who's there ? 
 
 Mach. A Friend. 
 
 'Banf.Whzt Sir, not yet at reft? the King's a bed. 
 He hath beene in vnufuall Pleafure, 
 And fent forth great Largefle to your Offices. 
 This Diamond he greetes your Wife withall, 
 By the name of moft kind Hofteflfe, 
 And fliut vp in meafurelefle content. 
 
 Mac. Being vnprepar'd, 
 Our will became the feruant to defect, 
 Which elfe fliould free haue wrought. 
 
 'Banq. All's well. 
 
 I dreamt laft Night of the three weyward Sifters : 
 To you they haue fliew'd fome truth. 
 
 Macb . I thinke not of them : 
 Yet when we can entreat an houre to feme, 
 We would fpend it in fome words vpon that Bufinefle, 
 If you would graunt the time. 
 
 Banq. At your kind'ft leyfure. 
 
 Macb. If you fliall cleaue to my confent, 
 When 'tis, it fliall make Honor for you. 
 
 Banq. So I lofe none, 
 In feeking to augment it, but ftill keepe 
 My Bofome franchis'd,and Allegeance cleare, 
 I fliall be counfail'd. 
 
 Macb. Good repofe the while. 
 
 Banq. Thankes Sir: the like to you. Exit Banquo. 
 
 Macb.Goc bid thy Miftrefle,when my drinke is ready, 
 She ftrike vpon the Bell. Get thee to bed. 8xit. 
 
 Is this a Uagger,which I fee before me, 
 The Handle toward my Hand?Come,let me clutch thee: 
 I haue thee not,and yet I fee thee ftill. 
 Art thou not fatall Vifion, fenfible 
 To feeling,as to fight? or art thou but 
 A Dagger of the Minde,a falfe Creation, 
 Proceeding from the heat-opprefied Braine ? 
 I fee thee yet, in forme as palpable, 
 As this which now I draw. 
 Thou marfliaU'ft me the way that I was going, 
 And fuch an Inftrument I was to vfe. 
 Mine Eyes are made the fooles o'th'other Sences, 
 Or elfe worth all the reft : I fee thee ftill ; 
 And on thy Blade, and Dudgeon, Gouts of Blood, 
 Which was not fo before. There's no fuch thing: 
 It is the bloody Bufinefle, which informes 
 Thus to mine Eyes. Now o're the one halfe World 
 Nature feemes dead, and wicked Dreames abufe 
 The Curtain'd fleepe : Witchcraft celebrates 
 Pale Heccats Offrings: and wither'd Murther, 
 Alarum'd by his Centinell,the Wolfe, 
 Whofe howle's his Watch, thus with his ftealthy pace, 
 With Tarqulm rauifliing fides, towards his defigne 
 Moues like a Ghoft. Thou fowre and firme-fet Earth 
 Heare not my fteps, which they may walke, for feare 
 Thy very ftones prate of my where-about, 
 And take the prefent horror from the time, 
 Which now futes with it. Whiles I threat, he Hues: 
 Words to the heat of deedes too cold breath giues. 
 tA Bell rings. 
 
 I goe,and it is done: the Bell inuites me. 
 Heare it not,Duncan, for it is a Knell, 
 That fummons thee to Heauen, or to Hell. 
 
 exit. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Lady. 
 
 La.Thzt which hath made the drunk,hath made me bold: 
 What hath quench'd them, hath giuen me fire. 
 Hearke, peace : it was the Owle that fliriek'd, 
 The fatall Bell-man, which giues rhe ftern'ft good-night. 
 He is about it, the Doores are open : 
 And the furfeted Groomes doe mock their charge 
 With Snores. I haue drugg'd their Poflets, 
 That Death and Nature doe contend about them, 
 Whether they Hue, or dye. 
 
 Enter Macbeth. 
 
 Macb. Who's there? what hoa? 
 Lady. Alack, I am afraid they haue awak'd, 
 And 'tis not done: th'attempt,and not the deed, 
 Confounds vs: hearke: 1 lay'd their Daggers ready, 
 He could not mifle 'em. Had he not reiembled 
 My Father as he flept, I had don't. 
 My Husband ? 
 
 Macb. I haue done the deed : 
 Didft thou not heare a noyfe ? 
 
 Lady.\ heard the Owle fchreame,and the Crickets cry. 
 Did not you fpeake ? 
 Macb. When? 
 Lady. Now. 
 Macb. As I defcended ? 
 Lady. I. 
 
 Macb. Hearke, who lyes i'th'fecond Chamber/ 
 Lady . "Donalbaine. 
 Mac. This is a forry fight. 
 Lady. A foolifh thought, to fay a forry fight. 
 Macb. There's one did laugh in's fleepe, 
 And one cry'd Murther, that they did wake each other: 
 I flood, and heard them : But they did fay their Prayers, 
 And addreft them againe to fleepe. 
 Lady. There are two lodg'd together. 
 Macb. One cry'd God blefle vs,and Amen the other, 
 As they had feene me with thefe Hangmans hands: 
 Liftning their feare, I could not fay Amen, 
 When they did fay God blefle vs. 
 Lady. Confider it not fo deepely. 
 Mac. But wherefore could not I pronounce Amen ? 
 I had moft need of Blefling,and Amen ftuck in my throat. 
 
 Lady. Thefe deeds muft not be thought 
 After thefe wayes : fo,it will make vs mad. 
 
 Macb. Me thought I heard a voyce cry, Sleep no more: 
 cWacbetb does murther Sleepe, the innocent Sleepe, 
 Sleepe that knits vp the rauel'd Sleeue of Care, 
 The death of each dayes Life, fore Labors Bath, 
 Balme of hurt Mindes,great Natures fecond Courfe, 
 Chiefe nouriflier in Life's Feaft. 
 Lady. What doe you meane ? 
 
 Macb. Still it cry'd, Sleepe no more to all the Houfe: 
 Glanrif hath murther'd Sleepe,and therefore Cawdor 
 Shall fleepe no more: Macbeth fliall fleepe no more. 
 
 Lady. Who was it, that thus cry'd? why worthy Thane, 
 You doe vnbend your Noble ftrength,to thinke 
 So braine-fickly of things: Goe get fome Water, 
 
 And 
 
 716
 
 The ragedie of ^Macbeth. 
 
 *37 
 
 And walh this filthie Witnefle from your Hand. 
 Why did you bring thefe Daggers from the place ? 
 They muft lye there : goe carry them, and fmeare 
 The fleepie Groomes with blood. 
 
 Macb. He goe no more : 
 I am afraid, to thinke what I haue done : 
 Looke on't againe, I dare not. 
 
 Lady. Infirme of purpofe : 
 Giue me the Daggers : the fleeping,and the dead, 
 Are but as Piftures : 'tis the Eye of Child-hood, 
 That feares a painted Deuill. If he doe bleed, 
 He guild the Faces of the Groomes withal], 
 For it muft feeme their Guilt. Exit. 
 
 Knocfy within. 
 
 Macb. Whence is that knocking ? 
 How is't with me, when euery noyfe appalls me ? 
 What Hands are here ? hah : they pluck out mine Eyes. 
 Will all great Neptunes Ocean wafli this blood 
 Cleane from my Hand? no: this my Hand will rather 
 The multitudinous Seas incarnardine, 
 Making the Greene one, Red. 
 
 Enter Lady. 
 
 Lady. My Hands are of your colour : but I mame 
 To weare a Heart fo white. Knocly. 
 
 I heare a knocking at the South entry : 
 Retyre we to our Chamber: 
 A little Water cleares vs of this deed. 
 How eafie is it then ? your Conftancie 
 Hath left you vnattended. Knocfy. 
 
 Hearke, more knocking. 
 
 Get on your Night-Gowne,leaft occafion call vs, 
 And Ihew vs to be Watchers : be not loft 
 So poorely in your thoughts. 
 
 Macb. To know my deed, Knoc^e. 
 
 'Twere beft not know my felfe. 
 Wake Duncan with thy knocking : 
 I would thou could'ft. Sxeunt. 
 
 Scena Terfia. 
 
 Enter a Porter. 
 
 Knocking within. 
 
 Porter. Here's a knocking indeede : if a man were 
 Porter of Hell Gate, hee Ihould haue old turning the 
 Key. Knoc\. Knock, Knock, Knock. Who's there 
 i'th'name of Bebebub? Here's a Farmer, that hang'd 
 himfelfe on th'expectation of Plentie: Come in time, haue 
 Napkins enow about you, here you'le fweat for't. Knoc^. 
 Knock, knock. Who's there in th'other Deuils Name ? 
 Faith here's an Equiuocator, that could fweare in both 
 the Scales againft eyther Scale, who committed Treafon 
 enough for Gods fake, yet could not equiuocate to Hea- 
 uen : oh come in, Equiuocator. Knoc^. Knock, 
 Knock, Knock. Who's there? 'Faith here's an Englifli 
 Taylor come hither, for ftealing out of a French Hofe : 
 Come in Taylor, here you may roft your Goofe. Knoct(. 
 Knock, Knock. Neuer at quiet : What are you ? but this 
 place is too cold for Hell. He Deuill-Porter it no further: 
 I had thought to haue let in fome of all Profeflions, that 
 goe the Primrofe way to th'euerlafting Bonfire. Knoc\. 
 Anon,arion,I pray you remember the Porter. 
 
 7Z7 
 
 Enter Mac duff, and Lenox. 
 
 Macd. Was it fo late, friend, ere you went to Bed, 
 That you doe lye fo late ? 
 
 Port. Faith Sir, we were carowfing till the fecond Cock: 
 And Drinke,Sir, is a great prouoker of three things. 
 
 Macd. What three things does Drinke efpecially 
 prouoke ? 
 
 Port. Marry, Sir, Nofe-painting, Sleepe, and Vrine. 
 Lecherie, Sir, it prouokes, and vnprouokes : it prouokes 
 the defire,but it takes away the performance. Therefore 
 much Drinke may be faid to be an Equiuocator with Le- 
 cherie : it makes him, and it marres him ; it fets him on, 
 and it takes him off; it perfwades him, and dif-heartens 
 him ; makes him ftand too, and not ftand too : in conclu- 
 fion,equiuocates him in a fleepe,and giuing him the Lye, 
 leaues him. 
 
 Macd. I beleeue, Drinke gaue thee the Lye laft Night. 
 
 Port. That it did, Sir, i'the very Throat on me : but I 
 requited him for his Lye, and (I thinke )being too ftrong 
 for him, though he tooke vp my Legges fometime, yet I 
 made a Shift to caft him. 
 
 Enter Macbeth. 
 
 Macd. Is thy Matter ftirring ? 
 Our knocking ha's awak'd him: here he comes. 
 
 Lenox. Good morrow, Noble Sir. 
 
 Macb. Good morrow both. 
 
 Macd. Is the King ftirring, worthy 'Thane ? 
 
 Macb. Not yet. 
 
 Macd. He did command me to call timely on him, 
 I haue almoft flipt the houre. 
 
 Ma b. lie bring you to him. 
 
 Macd. I know this is a ioyfull trouble to you : 
 But yet 'tis one. 
 
 Macb. The labour we delight in,Phyficks paine: 
 This is the Doore. 
 
 Macd. He make fo bold to call, for 'tis my limitted 
 feruice. Exit Macduffe. 
 
 Lenox. Goes the King hence to day ? 
 
 Macb. He does : he did appoint fo. 
 
 Lenox. The Night ha's been vnruly : 
 Where we lay, our Chimneys were blowne downe, 
 And (as they fay) lamentings heard i'th'Ayre 
 Strange Schreemes of Death, 
 And Prophecying, with Accents terrible, 
 Of dyre Combuftion, and confus'd Euents, 
 New hatch'd toth' wofull time. 
 The obfcure Bird clamor'd the liue-long Night. 
 Some fay, the Earth was feuorous, 
 And did fhake. 
 
 Macb. "Twas a rough Night. 
 
 Lenox. My young remembrance cannot paralell 
 A fellow to it. 
 
 Enter <&facduff. 
 
 Macd. O horror, horror, horror, 
 Tongue nor Heart cannot conceiue,nor name thee. 
 
 Macb. and Lenox. What's the matter ? 
 
 Macd. Confufion now hath made his Mafter-peece: 
 Moft facrilegious Murther hath broke ope 
 The Lords anoynted Temple, and ftole thence 
 The Life o'th' Building. 
 
 Macb. What is't you fay, the Life ? 
 
 Lenox. Meane you his Maieftie ? 
 
 Macd. Approch the Chamber, and deftroy your fight 
 With a new Gorgon. Doe not bid me fpeake : 
 
 m m 3 See,
 
 38 
 
 The Tragedie of ^Macbeth. 
 
 See, and then fpeake your felues : awake, awake, 
 
 Exeunt Macbeth and Lenox, 
 Ring the Alarum Bell : Murther,and Treafon, 
 "BanquOfZnd Donalbaine : Malcolme awake, 
 Shake off this Downey fleepe, Deaths counterfeit, 
 And looke on Death it felfe : vp, vp,and fee 
 The great Doomes Image: Malcolme, Banquo, 
 As from your Graues rife vp,and walke like Sprights, 
 To countenance this horror. Ring the Bell. 
 Bell rings. Enter Lady. 
 
 Lady. What's the Bufmefie ? 
 That fuch a hideous Trumpet calls to parley 
 The fleepers of the Houfe? fpeake, fpeake. 
 
 Macd. O gentle Lady, 
 
 'Tis not for you to heare what I can fpeake : 
 The repetition in a Womans eare, 
 Would murther as it fell. 
 
 Enter 'Banquo. 
 
 e Banquo, f Banquo, Our Royall Matter's murther'd. 
 Lady. Woe, alas : 
 
 What, in our Houfe ? 
 
 Ban. Too cruell,any where. 
 Deare Duff,\ prythee contradict thy felfe, 
 And fay, it is not fo. 
 
 Enter Macbeth , Lenox, and RoJJe. 
 
 Macb. Had I but dy'd an houre before this chance, 
 
 1 had liu'd a blefled time : for from this inftant, 
 There's nothing ferious in Mortalitie : 
 
 All is but Toyes : Renowne and Grace is dead, 
 The Wine of Life is drawne,and the meere Lees 
 Is left this Vault, to brag of. 
 
 Enter Malcolme and Donalbalne. 
 
 Dotial. What is amifle * 
 Macb. You are, and doe not know't : 
 The Spring, the Head, the Fountaine of your Blood 
 Is ftopt, the very Source of it is ftopt. 
 
 Macd. Your Royall Father's murther'd. 
 
 Mai. Oh, by whom? 
 
 Lenox. Thofe of his Chamber, as it feem'd,had don't : 
 Their Hands and Faces were all badg'd with blood, 
 So were their Daggers, which vnwip'd,we found 
 Vpon their Pillowes: they ftar'd,and were diftra&ed, 
 No mans Life was to be trufted with them. 
 
 Macb. O,yet I doe repent me of my furie, 
 That I did kill them. 
 
 Macd. Wherefore did you fo ? 
 
 MacJ>.Who can be wife,amaz'd,temp'rate,& furious, 
 Loyall,and Neutrall,in a moment ? No man : 
 Th'expedition of my violent Loue 
 Out-run the pawfer, Reafon. Here lay Duncan, 
 His Siluer skinne, lac'd with his Golden Blood, 
 And his gafh'd Stabs,look'd like a Breach in Nature, 
 For Ruines waftfull entrance : there the Murtherers, 
 Steep'd in the Colours of their Trade ; their Daggers 
 Vnmannerly breech'd with gore : who could refraine, 
 That had a heart to loue ; and in that heart, 
 Courage, to make's loue knowne ? 
 
 Lady. Helpe me hence, hoa. 
 
 Macd. Looke to the Lady. 
 
 Mai. Why doe we hold our tongues, 
 That moft may clayme this argument for ours ? 
 
 'Donal. What mould be fpoken here, 
 
 Where our Fate hid in an augure hole, 
 May rufh, and feize vs ? Let's away, 
 Our Teares are not yet brew'd. 
 
 Mai. Nor our ftrong Sorrow 
 Vpon the foot of Motion. 
 
 Banq. Looke to the Lady : 
 And when we haue our naked Frailties hid, 
 That fuffer in expofure ; let vs meet, 
 And queftion this moft bloody piece of worke, 
 To know it further. Feares and fcruples make vs : 
 In the great Hand of God I ftand,and thence, 
 Againft the vndivulg'd pretence, I fight 
 Of Treafonous Mallice. 
 
 Macd. And fo doe I. 
 
 All. So all. 
 
 Macb. Let's briefely put on manly readinefle, 
 And meet i'th'Hall together. 
 
 All. Well contented. Exeunt. 
 
 Male. What will you doe ? 
 Let's not confort with them : 
 To mew an vnfelt Sorrow, is an Office 
 Which the falfe man do's eafie . 
 lie to England. 
 
 D(/n. To Ireland, I : 
 
 Our feperated fortune fhall keepe vs both the fafer : 
 Where we are, there's Daggers in mens Smiles; 
 The neere in blood, the neerer bloody. 
 
 Male. This murtherous Shaft that's fhot, 
 Hath not yet lighted: and our fafeft way, 
 Is to auoid the ayme. Therefore to Horfe, 
 And let vs not be daintie of leaue-taking, 
 But fhift away : there's warrant in that Theft, 
 Which fteales it felfe, when there's no mercie left. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Quarta. 
 
 Enter RoJJe, with an Old man. 
 
 Old man. Threefcore and ten I can remember well, 
 Within the Volume of which Time, 1 haue feene 
 Houres dreadfull,and things ftrange: but this fore Night 
 Hath trifled former knowings, 
 
 RoJJe. Ha, good Father, 
 
 Thou feeft the Heauens, as troubled with mans Aft, 
 Threatens his bloody Stage : byth' Clock 'tis Day, 
 And yet darke Night ftrangles the trauailing Lampe : 
 Is't Nights predominance, or the Djyes fhame, 
 That Darknefle does the face of Earth intombe, 
 When liuing Light fhould kifle it ? 
 
 Old man. 'Tis vnnaturall, 
 
 Euen like the deed that's done : On Tuefday laft, 
 A Faulcon towring in her pride of place, 
 Was by a Mowfing Owle hawkt at, and kill'd. 
 
 Rcijfe. And Duncans Horfes, 
 (A thing moft ftrange, and certaine) 
 Beauteous, and fwift, the Minions of their Race, 
 Turn'd wilde in nature, broke their ftalls, flung out, 
 Contending 'gainft Obedience, as they would 
 Make Warre with Mankinde. 
 
 Old man. 'Tis faid.they eate each other. 
 
 RoJJe. They did fo : 
 
 To
 
 The Tragedie of ^Macbeth. 
 
 '39 
 
 To th'amazement of mine eyes that look'd vpon't. 
 
 Enter Macduffe. 
 
 Heere comes the good Macduffe- 
 How goes the world Sir, now ? 
 
 Macd. Why fee you not ? 
 
 RoJ)~.ls\ known who did this more then bloody deed? 
 
 Macd. Thofe that Macbeth hath flaine. 
 
 Rojf. Alas the day, 
 What good could they pretend ? 
 
 Macd. They were fubborned, 
 Malcolme, and Donalbaine the Kings two Sonnes 
 Are ftolne away and fled, which puts vpon them 
 Sufpition of the deed. 
 
 Roffe. 'Gainft Nature ftill, 
 Thrirtlefle Ambition, that will rauen vp 
 Thine owne Hues meanes : Then 'tis moft like, 
 The Soueraignty will fall vpon Macbeth. 
 
 cflfacd. He is already nam'd, and gone to Scone 
 To be inuefted. 
 
 Roffe. Where is Duncans body ? 
 
 Macd. Carried to Colmekill, 
 The Sacred Store-houfe of his PredecefTors, 
 And Guardian of their Bones. 
 
 Roffe. Will you to Scone ? 
 
 cMacd. No Cofin, He to Fife. 
 
 < 3(c/e- Well, I will thither. 
 
 Macd.We\\ may you fee things wel done there: Adieu 
 Leaft our old Robes fit eafier then our new. 
 
 'Roffe. Farewell, Father. 
 
 Old M. Gods benyfon go with you, and with thofe 
 That would make good of bad, and Friends of Foes. 
 
 Exeunt omnes 
 
 Aftus'Tertius. ScenaTrima. 
 
 Enter 'Barquo. 
 
 'Banq. Thou haft it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, 
 As the weyard Women promis'd, and I feare 
 Thou playd'ft moft fowly for't : yet it was faide 
 It fhould not ftand in thy Pofterity, 
 But that my felfe /hould be the Roote,and Father 
 Of many Kings. If there come truth from them, 
 As vpon thee <&facbeth, their Speeches fliine, 
 Why by the verities on thee made good, 
 May they not be my Oracles as well, 
 And fet me vp in hope* But hufh,no more. 
 
 Senit founded. Enter Macbeth M King, Lady Lenox, 
 Roffe, Lords, and Attendants. 
 
 Mad. Heere's our chiefe Gueft. 
 
 La. If he had beene forgotten, 
 It had bene as a gap in our great Feaft, 
 And all-thing vnbecomming. 
 
 Macb. To night we hold a folemne Supper fir, 
 And lie requeft your prefence. 
 
 Banq. Let your Highnefle 
 Command vpon me, to the which my duties 
 Are with a moft indiflbluble tye 
 For euer knit. 
 
 Macb. Ride you this afternoone ? 
 
 Ban. I, my good Lord. 
 
 Macb. We fhould haue elfe defir'd your good aduice 
 
 719 
 
 (Which ftill hath been both graue,and profperous) 
 In this dayes Councell : but wee'le take to morrow. 
 Is't farre you ride ? 
 
 'Ban. As farre, my Lord, as will fill vp the time 
 'Twixt this, and Supper. Goe not my Horfe the better, 
 I muft become a borrower of the Night, 
 For a darke houre,or twaine. 
 
 Macb. Faile not our Feaft. 
 
 'Ban. My Lord, I will not. 
 
 Macb. We heare our bloody Cozens are beftow'd 
 In England, and in Ireland, not confefsing 
 Their cruell Parricide, filling their hearers 
 With ftrange inuention. But of that to morrow, 
 When therewithal!, we /hall haue caufe of State, 
 Crauing vs ioyntly. Hye you to Horfe : 
 Adieu, till you returne at Night. 
 Goes Fleance with you ? 
 
 'Ban. I, my good Lord : our time does call vpon's. 
 
 Macb. I wifh your Horfes fwift, and fure of foot : 
 And fo I doe commend you to their backs. 
 Farwell. Exit Bar.quo. 
 
 Let euery man be mafter of his time, 
 Till feuen at Night, to make focietie 
 The fweeter welcome : 
 
 We will keepe our felfe till Supper time alone : 
 While then, God be with you. Exeunt Lords. 
 
 Sirrha, a word with you : Attend thofe men 
 Our pleafure ? 
 
 Seruant. They are, my Lord, without the Pallace 
 Gate. 
 
 Macb. Bring them before vs. Exit Seruant. 
 
 To be thus, is nothing, but to be fafely thus : 
 Our feares in 'Banquo fticke deepe, 
 And in his Royaltie of Nature reignes that 
 Which would be fear'd. 'Tis much he dares, 
 And to that dauntlefle temper of his Minde, 
 He hath a Wifdome, that doth guide his Valour, 
 To at in fafetie. There is none but he, 
 Whofe being I doe feare : and vnder him, 
 My Genitu is rebuk'd,as it is faid 
 Mart^Antbonies was by Ctffar. He chid the Sifters, 
 When firft they put the Name of King vpon me, 
 And bad them fpeake to him. Then Prophet-like, 
 They hayl'd him Father to a Line of Kings. 
 Vpon my Head they plac'd a fruitlefle Crovvne, 
 And put a barren Scepter in my Gripe, 
 Thence to be wrencht with an vnlineall Hand, 
 No Sonne of mine fucceeding : if't be fo, 
 For Banquo"; Iflue haue I fil'd my Minde, 
 For them, the gracious Duncan haue I murther'd, 
 Put Rancours in the Veflell of my Peace 
 Onely for them, and mine eternall lewell 
 Giuen to the common Enemie of Man, 
 To make them Kings, the Seedes of 'Banquo Kings. 
 Rather then fo,come Fate into the Lyft, 
 And champion me to th'vtterance. 
 Who's there ? 
 
 Enter Seruant, and two Murtberers. 
 
 Now goe to the Doore, and ftay there till we call. 
 
 Exit Seruant. 
 
 Was it not yefterday we fpoke together ? 
 Murth. It was, fo pleafe your Highnefle. 
 Macb. Well then, 
 Now haue you confider'd of my fpeeches : 
 
 Know,
 
 140 
 
 The Tragedie of ^Macbeth. 
 
 Know, that it was he, in the times paft, 
 
 Which held you fo vnder fortune, 
 
 Which you thought had been our innocent felfe. 
 
 This I made good to you, in our laft conference, 
 
 Paft in probation with you : 
 
 How you were borne in hand, how croft : 
 
 The Inftruments ; who wrought with them: 
 
 And all things elfe,that might 
 
 To halfe a Soule,and to a Notion craz'd, 
 
 Say, Thus did 'Banquo. 
 
 i . Murtb. You made it knowne to vs. 
 
 Macb. I did fo: 
 
 And went further, which is now 
 Our point of fecond meeting. 
 Doe you finde your patience fo predominant, 
 In your nature, that you can let this goe ? 
 Are you fo Gofpell'd,to pray for this good man, 
 And for his IlTue, whofe heauie hand 
 Hath bow'd you to the Graue, and begger'd 
 Yours for euer ? 
 
 i . Murtb. We are men, my Liege. 
 
 Macb. I, in the Catalogue ye goe for men, 
 As Hounds,and Greyhounds, Mungrels, Spaniels, Curres, 
 Showghes, Water-Rugs, and Demy-Wolues are clipt 
 All by the Name of Dogges : the valued file 
 Diftinguifhes the fwift, the flow, the fubtle, 
 The Houfe-keeper, the Hunter, euery one 
 According to the gift, which bounteous Nature 
 Hath in him cloa'd: whereby he does receiue 
 Particular addition, from the Bill, 
 That writes them all alike : and fo of men. 
 Now,if you haue a ftation in the file, 
 Not i'th' worft ranke of Manhood, fay't, 
 And I will put that Bufineffe in your Bofomes, 
 Whofe execution takes your Enemie off, 
 Grapples you to the heartjand loue of vs, 
 Who weare our Health but fickly in his Life, 
 Which in his Death were perfect. 
 
 a. Murtb. I am one, my Liege, 
 Whom the vile Blowes and Buffets of the World 
 Hath fo incens'd,that I am reckleffe what 1 doe, 
 To fpight the World. 
 
 i. Murtb. And I another, 
 So wearie with Difafters, tugg'd with Fortune, 
 That I would fet my Life on any Chance, 
 To mend it. or be rid on't. 
 
 Macb. Both of you know "Banquet was your Enemie. 
 
 Murtb. True, my Lord. 
 
 Macb. So is he mine: and in fuch bloody diftance, 
 That euery minute of his being, thrufts 
 Againft my neer'ft of Life: and though I could 
 With bare-fac'd power fweepe him from my fight, 
 And bid my will auouch it j yet I muft not, 
 For cirtaine friends that are both his, and mine, 
 Whole loues I may not drop, but wayle his fall, 
 Who I my felfe ftruck downe : and thence it is, 
 That I to your affiftance doe make loue, 
 Masking the Bufineffe from the common Eye, 
 For fundry weightie Reafons. 
 
 i. Murtb. We /hall,my Lord, 
 Peribrme what you command vs. 
 
 i. Murtb. Though our Liues 
 
 Macb. Your Spirits fliine through you. 
 Within this houre, at moft, 
 I will aduife you where to plant your felues, 
 Acquaint you with the perfect Spy o'th'time, 
 
 The moment on't,for't muft be done to Night, 
 And fomething from the Pallace : alwayes thought, 
 That I require a cleareneffe j and with him, 
 To leaue no Rubs nor Botches in the Worke : 
 FleanSfhh Sonne,that kecpes him companie, 
 Whole abfence is no lelTe materiall to me, 
 Then is his Fathers, muft embrace the fate 
 Of that darke houre : refolue your felues apart, 
 lie come to you anon. 
 
 Murtb. We are refolu'd.my Lord. 
 
 Macb. He call vpon you ftraight : abide within, 
 It is concluded : 'Banquo, thy Soules flight, 
 If it finde Heauen,muft finde it out to Night. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Eater cflfacbetbs Lady, and a Scruant. 
 
 Lady. Is Banquo gone from Court ? 
 
 Servant. I, Madame, but returnes againe to Night. 
 
 Lady. Say to the King, I would attend his leyfure, 
 For a few words. 
 
 Seruant. Madame, I will. Exit. 
 
 Lady. Nought's had, all's fpent, 
 Where our defire is got without content : 
 'Tis fifer,to be that which we deftroy, 
 Then by deftruttion dwell in doubtfull ioy. 
 
 Enter i^Macbetb. 
 
 How now,my Lord, why doe you keepe alone ? 
 Of forryeft Fancies your Companions making, 
 Vfmg thofe Thoughts, which fhould indeed haue dy'd 
 With them they thinke on: things without all remedie 
 Should be without regard: what'sidone, is done. 
 
 Macb. We haue fcorch'd the Snake, not kill'd it: 
 Shee'le clofe,and be her felfe, whi left our poore Mailice 
 Retnaines in danger of her former Tooth. 
 But let the frame of things dif-ioynt, 
 Both the Worlds fuffer, 
 
 Ere we will eate our Meale in feare, and fleepe 
 In the affliction of thefe terrible Dreames, 
 That fliake vs Nightly: Better be with the dead, 
 Whom we, to gayne our peace, haue fent to peace, 
 Then on the torture of the Minde to lye 
 In reftlelfe extafie. 
 ^Duncane is in his Graue : 
 After Lifes fitfull Feuer, he fleepes well, 
 Treafon ha's done his worft: nor Steele, nor Poyfon, 
 Mailice domeftique, forraine Leuie, nothing, 
 Can touch him further. 
 
 Lady. Come on : 
 
 Gentle my Lord,fleeke o're your rugged Lookes, 
 Be bright and louiall among your Guefts to Night. 
 
 Macb. So fhall I Loue, and fo I pray be you : 
 Let your remembrance apply to Bar.quo, 
 Prefent him Eminence, both with Eye and Tongue : 
 Vnfafe the while, that wee murt laue 
 Our Honors in thefe flattering ftreames, 
 And make our Faces Vizards to our Hearts, 
 Difguifing what they are. 
 
 Lady. You muft leaue this. 
 
 Macb. O,full of Scorpions is my Minde, deare Wife : 
 Thou know'ft, that Banquo and his Fleans Hues. 
 
 Lady. But 
 
 75
 
 The Tragedie of ^Macbeth. 
 
 141 
 
 Lady. But in them, Natures Coppie's not eterne. 
 
 Macb. There's comfort yet,they are afl'aileable, 
 Then be thou iocund : ere the Bat hath flowne 
 His Cloyfter'd flight, ere to black Heccats fummons 
 The fhard-borne Beetle, with his drowfie hums, 
 Hath rung Nights yawning Peale, 
 There fiiall be done a deed of dreadfull note. 
 
 Lady. What's to be done ? 
 
 Macb. Be innocent of the knowledge, deareft Chuck, 
 Till thou applaud the deed : Come,feeling Night, 
 Skarfe vp the tender Eye of pittifiill Day, 
 And with thy bloodie and inuifible Hand 
 Cancell and teare to pieces that great Bond, 
 Which keepes me pale. Light thickens, 
 And the Crow makes Wing toth'Rookie Wood : 
 Good things of Day begin to droope,and drowfe, 
 Whiles Nights black Agents to their Prey's doe rowfe. 
 Thou marueiTft at my words : but hold thee ftill, 
 Things bad begun, make ftrong themfelues by ill : 
 So prythee goe with me. Exeunt . 
 
 Scena Tertla. 
 
 Enter three Murtbererr. 
 
 1. But who did bid thee ioyne with vs ? 
 3. Macbeth. 
 
 2. He needes not our miftruft,fince he deliuers 
 Our Offices, and what we haue to doe, 
 
 To the direction iuft. 
 
 1. Then ftand with vs : 
 
 The Weft yet glimmers with fome ftreakes of Day. 
 Now fpurres the lated Traueller apace, 
 To gayne the timely Inne, end neereapprbches 
 The fubieft of our Watch. 
 
 3. Hearke,! heare Horfes. 
 
 'Bar.quo nit bin. Giue vs a Light there, hoa. 
 
 2. Then 'tis hee : 
 
 The reft, that are within the note of expectation, 
 Alreadie are i'th'Court. 
 
 1 . His Horfes goe about. 
 
 3. Almoft a mile : but he does vfually, 
 
 So all men doe, from hence toth'Pallace Gate 
 Make it their Walke. 
 
 Enter Banquo and Fleam, with a Torch. 
 
 2. A Light, a Light. 
 
 3. 'Tis hee. 
 
 i. Stand too't. 
 
 Ban. It will be Rayne to Night. 
 
 I. Let it come downe. 
 
 'Ban. O, Trecherie! 
 Flye good F/eans, flye, flye, flye, 
 Thou may'ft reuenge. O Slaue ! 
 
 3. Who did ftrike out the Light ? 
 
 1. Was't not the way / 
 
 3. There's but one downe: the Sonne is fled. 
 
 2. We haue loft 
 Beft halfe of our Affaire. 
 
 I. Well, let's away, and fay how much is done. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 731 
 
 Sctena Quarta. 
 
 Banquet prepared. Enter <^Macbeth, Lady, RoJJ'e, Lenox, 
 Lords, and lAttendants. 
 
 Macb. You know your owne degrees, fit downe: 
 At firft and laft, the hearty welcome. 
 
 Lords. Thankes to your Maiefty. 
 
 Macb. Our i'elfe will mingle with Society, 
 And play the humble Hoft : 
 Our HoftefTe keepes her State, but in beft time 
 We will require her welcome. 
 
 La. Pronounce it for me Sir, to all our Friends, 
 For my heart fpeakes,they are welcome. 
 SnterJIrj} <^Murtberer. 
 
 Maci.See they encounter thee with their harts thanks 
 Both fides are euen : heere He fit i'th'mid'ft, 
 Be large in mirth, anon wee'l drinke a Meafure 
 The Table round. There's blood vpon thy face. 
 
 Mur. 'Tis 'Banqud's then. 
 
 Macb. 'Tis better thee without, then he within. 
 Is he difpatch'd ? 
 
 Mur. My Lord his throat is cut, that I did for him. 
 
 Mac. Thou art the beft o'th'Cut-throats, 
 Yet hee'sgood that did the like for Fleam: 
 If thou did'ftit, thou art the Non-pareill. 
 
 Mur. Moft Royall Sir 
 Fleam is fcap'd. 
 
 tMacb. Then comes my Fit againe : 
 I had elfe beene perfect ; 
 Whole as the Marble, founded as the Rocke, 
 As broad, and general!, as the cafing Ayre: 
 But now I am cabin'd, crib'd. confin'd, bound in" 
 To fawcy doubts, and feares. But Barques fafe ? 
 
 Mur. I, my good Lord : fafe in a ditch he bides, 
 With twenty trenched gaflies on his head ; 
 The leaft a Death to Nature. 
 
 Macb. Thankes for that: 
 
 There the growne Serpent lyes, the worme that's fled 
 Hath Nature that in time will Venom breed, 
 No teeth for th'prefent. Get thee gone, to morrow 
 Wee'l heare our felues againe. Exit Murderer. 
 
 Lady. My Royall Lord, 
 You do not giue the Cheere, the Feaft is fold 
 That is not often vouch'd, while 'tis a making : 
 'Tis giuen, with welcome : to feede were beft at home : 
 From thence, the fawce to meate is Ceremony, 
 Meeting were bare without it. 
 
 Enter the Gbofl of Banjul t and Jits in Macbetbs place. 
 
 Sweet Remembrancer : 
 Now good digeftion waite on Appetite, 
 And health on both. 
 
 Lenox. May't pleafe your Highnefle fit. 
 
 Macb. Here had we now our Countries Honor,rooPd, 
 Were the grac'd perfon of our f Banquo present : 
 Who, may I rather challenge for vnkindnerTe, 
 Then pitty for Mifchance. 
 
 Rojfe. Hisabfence(Sir) 
 
 Layes blame vpon his promife. Pleas't your HighnefTe 
 To grace vs with your Royall Company ? 
 
 Mcab.
 
 I 4 2 
 
 The Tragedie of ^Macbeth. 
 
 Macb. The Table's full. 
 
 Lenox, Heere is a place referu'd Sir. 
 
 Macb. Where? 
 
 Lenox. Heere my good Lord. 
 What is't that moues your Highnefle ? 
 
 <iMacb. Which of you haue done this? 
 
 Lords. What, my good Lord ? 
 
 Macb. Thou canft not fay I did it: neuer fhake 
 Thy goary lockes at me. 
 
 Roffe. Gentlemen rife, his Highnefle is not well. 
 
 Lady. Sit worthy Friends : my Lord is often thus, 
 And hath beene from his youth. Pray you keepe Seat, 
 The fit is momentary, vpon a thought 
 He will againe be well. If much you note him 
 You fhall offend him, and extend his Paflion, 
 Feed, and regard him not. Are you a man? 
 
 Macb. I, and a bold one, that dare looke on that 
 Which might appall the Diuell. 
 
 La. O proper ftuffe : 
 This is the very painting of your feare : 
 This is the Ayre-drawne-Dagger which you faid 
 Led you to 'Duncan. O, thefe flawes and ftarts 
 (Impoftors to true feare) would well become 
 A womans ftory, at a Winters fire 
 Authoriz'd by her Grandam : fhame it felfe, 
 Why do you make fuch faces? When all's done 
 You looke but on a ftoole. 
 
 Macb. Prythee fee there : 
 Behold, looke, loe, how fay you : 
 Why what care I, if thou canft nod, fpeake too. 
 If Charnell houfes, and our Graues muft fend 
 Thofe that we bury, backe; our Monuments 
 Shall be the Mawes of Kytes. 
 
 La. What? quite vnmann'd in folly. 
 
 Macb. If I ftand heere, I faw him. 
 
 La. Fie for fhame. 
 
 Macb. Blood hath bene fhed ere now, i'th'olden time 
 Ere humane Statute purg'd the gentle Weale : 
 I, and fince too, Murthers haue bene perform'd 
 Too terrible for the eare. The times has .bene, 
 That when the Braines were out, the man would dye, 
 And there an end : But now they rife againe 
 With twenty mortall murthers on their crownes, 
 And pufli vs from our ftooles. This is more ftrange 
 Then fuch a murther is. 
 
 La. My worthy Lord 
 Your Noble Friends do lacke you. 
 
 Macb. I do forget: 
 
 Do not mufe at me my moft worthy Friends, 
 I haue a ftrange infirmity, which is nothing 
 To thofe that know me. Come, loue and health to all, 
 Then lie fit downe : Giue me fome Wine, fill full : 
 
 Enter Gboft. 
 
 I drinke to th'generall ioy o'th'whole Table, 
 And to our deere Friend 'Banquo, whom we mifle : 
 Would he were heere : to all, and him we thirft, 
 And all to all. 
 
 Lords. Our duties, and the pledge. 
 
 cJWar.Auant, & quit my fight, let the earth hide thee: 
 Thy bones are marrowlefle, thy blood is cold : 
 Thou haft no fpeculation in thofe eyes 
 Which thou doft glare with. 
 
 La. Thinke of this good Peeres 
 But as a thing of Cuftome : 'Tis no other, 
 Onely it fpoyles the pleafure of the time. 
 
 Macb. What man dare, I dare : 
 
 Approach thou like the rugged Ruffian Beare, 
 The arm'd Rhinoceros, or th'Hircan Tiger, 
 Take any fhape but that, and my firme Nerues 
 Shall neuer tremble. Or be aliue againe, 
 And dare me to the Defart with thy Sword : 
 If trembling I inhabit then, proteft mee 
 The Baby of a Girle. Hence horrible fhadow, 
 Vnreall mock'ry hence. Why fo, being gone 
 I am a man againe : pray you fit ftill. 
 
 La. You haue difplac'd the mirth, 
 Broke the good meeting, with moft admir'd diforder. 
 
 Macb. Can fuch things be, 
 And ouercome vs like a Summers Clovvd, 
 Without our fpeciall wonder? You make me ftrange 
 Euen to the di'fpofition that I owe, 
 ; When now 1 thinke you can behold fuch fights, 
 And keepe the naturall Rubie of your Cheekes, 
 When mine is blanch'd with feare. 
 
 Roffe. What fights, my Lord ? 
 
 La, I pray you fpeake not : he growes worle & worfe 
 Queftion enrages him : at once, goodnight. 
 Stand not vpon the order of your going, 
 But go at once. 
 
 Len. Good night, and better health 
 Attend his Maiefty. 
 
 La. A kinde goodnight to all. Exit Lords. 
 
 Macb. It will haue blood they fay : 
 Blood will haue Blood : 
 
 Stones haue beene knowne to moue,& Trees to fpeake : 
 Augures, and vnderftood Relations, haue 
 By Maggot Pyes,& Choughes, & Rookes brought forth 
 The fecret'ft man of Blood. What is the night? 
 
 La. Almoft at oddes with morning, which is which. 
 
 Macb.How fay'ft thou that Macduff denies his perfon 
 At our great bidding. 
 
 La: Did you fend to him Sir? 
 
 Macb. I heare it by the way : But I will fend : 
 There's not a one of them but in his houfe 
 I keepe a Seruant Feed. I will to morrow 
 (And betimes I will) to the weyard Sifters. 
 More fhall they fpeake : for now I am bent to know 
 By the worft meanes, the worft, for mine owne good, 
 All caufes fhall giue way. I am in blood 
 Stept in fo farre, that fhould I wade no more, 
 Returning were as tedious as go ore : 
 Strange things I haue in head, that will to hand, 
 Which muft be acled, ere they may be fcand. 
 
 La. You lacke the feafon of all Natures, fleepe. 
 
 Macb.Come., wee'l to fleepe : My ftrange & felf-abufe 
 Is the initiate feare, that wants hard vfe : 
 We are yet but yong indeed. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Quinta. 
 
 Thunder. Enter the three Witches, meeting 
 Hecat. 
 
 1 . Why how now Hecat, you looke angerly ? 
 
 Hec. Haue I not reafon (Beldams) as you are f 
 Sawcy, and ouer-bold, how did you dare 
 To Trade, and Traflicke with Macbeth, 
 In Riddles,and Affaires of death ; 
 
 And 
 
 732
 
 The Tragedie of ^Macbeth, 
 
 And I the Miftris of your Charmes, 
 
 The clofe contriuer of all harrr.es, 
 
 Was neuer call'd to beare my part, 
 
 Or fliew the glory of our Art ? 
 
 And which is worfe, all you haue done 
 
 Hath bene but for a wayward Sonne, 
 
 Spightfull,and wrathfull, who (as others do) 
 
 Loues tor his owne ends, not for you. 
 
 But make amends now : Get you gon, 
 
 And at the pit of Acheron 
 
 Meete me i'th'Morning : thither he 
 
 Will come, to know his Deftinie. 
 
 Your Vefiels, and your Spels prouide, 
 
 Your Charmes, and euery thing befide ; 
 
 I am for th'Ayre : This night He fpend 
 
 Vnto a difmall, and a Fatall end. 
 
 Great bufinefle muft be wrought ere Noone. 
 
 Vpon the Corner of the Moone 
 
 There hangs a vap'rous drop, profound, 
 
 He catch it ere it come to ground ; 
 
 And that diftill'd by Magicke flights, 
 
 Shall raife fuch Artificiall Sprights, 
 
 As by the ftrength of their illufjon, 
 
 Shall draw him on to his Confufion. 
 
 He /hall fpurne Fate, fcorne Death, and beare 
 
 His hopes 'boue Wifedome, Grace, and Feare: 
 
 And you all know, Security 
 
 Is Mortals cheefeft Enemie. 
 
 Mujickf,and a Song. 
 
 Hearke, I am call'd : my little Spirit fee 
 Sits in a Foggy cloud, and ftayes for me. 
 
 Sing "within. Come away, come aviay t &c. 
 I Come, let's make haft, fliee'l foone be 
 Backe againe. Exeunt. 
 
 Sccena Sexta. 
 
 Enter Lenox t and another Lord. 
 
 Lenox. My former Speeches, 
 Haue but hit your Thoughts 
 Which can interpret farther : Onely I fay 
 Things haue bin ftrangely borne. The gracious Duncan 
 Was pittied of Macbeth : marry he was dead : 
 And the right valiant Banquo walk'd too late, 
 Whom you may fay (if t pleafe you,) Fleam kill'd, 
 For Fleam fled : Men muft not walke too late. 
 Who cannot want the thought,how monftrous 
 It was for Malcolme, and for Donalbane 
 To kill their gracious Father ? Damned Fa&, 
 How it did greeue Macbeth ? Did he not ftraight 
 In pious rage, the two delinquents teare, 
 That were the Slaues or" drinke, and thralles of fleepe ? 
 Was not that Nobly done? I, and wifely too : 
 For 'twould haue anger'd any heart aliue 
 To heare the men deny't. So that I fay, 
 He ha's borne all things well, and I do thinke, 
 That had he Duncans Sonnes vnder his Key, 
 (As,and't pleafe Heauen he fhall not) they fliould finde 
 What 'twere to kill a Father : So fliould Fleam. 
 But peace ; for from broad words.and caufe he fayl'd 
 His prefence at the Tyrants Feaft, I heare 
 tMacdujfe Hues in difgrace. Sir, can you tell 
 
 735 
 
 Where he beftowes himfelfe? 
 
 Lard. The Sonnes of Duncans 
 (From whom this Tyrant holds the due of Birth) 
 Liues in the Engliih Court,and is receyu'd 
 Of the moft Pious Edward, with fuch grace, 
 That the maleuolence of Fortune, nothing 
 Takes from his high refpedt. Thither Macduffe 
 Is gone, to pray the Holy King, vpon his ayd 
 To wake Northumberland, and warlike Seyward, 
 That by the helpe of thefe (with him aboue^ 
 To ratifie the Worke) we may againe 
 Giue to our Tables meate, fleepe to our Nights: 
 Free from our Feafts,and Banquets bloody kniues j 
 Do faithfull Homage,and receiue free Honors, 
 All which we pine for now. And this report 
 Hath fo exafperate their King, that hee 
 Prepares for fome attempt of Warre. 
 
 Leu. Sent he to Macduffe ? 
 
 Lord. He did : and with an abfolute Sir, not I 
 The clowdy Meffenger turnes me his backe, 
 And hums; as who fliould fay, you'l rue the lime 
 That clogges me with this Anfwer. 
 
 Lenox. And that well might 
 Aduife him to a Caution, t'hold what diftance 
 His wifedome can prouide. Some holy Angell 
 Flye to the Court of England, and vnfold 
 His Meflage ere he come, that a fwift blefling 
 May foone returne to this our fuffering Country, 
 Vnder a hand accurs'd. 
 
 Lord. He fend my Prayers with him. 
 
 Aft us Quart us. Scena^Pn'ma. 
 
 Thunder. Enter the three Witches . 
 
 1 Thrice the brinded Cat hath mew'd. 
 
 a Thrice, and once the Hedge-Pigge whin'd. 
 
 3 Harpier cries, 'tis time, 'tis time. 
 
 1 Round about the Caldron go : 
 In the poyfond Entrailes throw 
 Toad, that vnder cold ftone, 
 Dayes and Nights, ha's thirty one : 
 Sweltred Venom fleeping got, 
 Boyle thou firft i'th'charmed pot. 
 
 All. Double, double, toile and trouble ; 
 Fire burne, and Cauldron bubble. 
 
 2 Fillet of a Fenny Snake, 
 
 In the Cauldron boyle and bake : 
 Eye of Newt, and Toe of Frogge, 
 Wooll of Bat, and Tongue of Dogge : 
 Adders Forke, and Blinde-wormes Sting, 
 Lizards legge, and Howlets wing : 
 For a Charme of powrefull trouble, 
 Like a Hell-broth, boyle and bubble. 
 
 tAll. Double, double, toyle and trouble, 
 Fire burne, and Cauldron bubble. 
 
 3 Scale of Dragon, Tooth of Wolfe, 
 Witches Mummey, Maw, and Gulfe 
 Of the rauin'd fait Sea fliarke : 
 Roote of Hemlocke, digg'd i'th'darke : 
 Liuer of Blafpheming lew, 
 
 Gall of Goate, and Slippes of Yew, 
 Sliuer'd in the Moones Ecclipfe : 
 
 NoC
 
 The Tragedie of <Macbeth. 
 
 Nofe of Turke,and Tartars lips : 
 Finger of Birth-ftrangled Babe, 
 Ditch-deliuer'd by a Drab, 
 Make the Grewell thicke, and flab. 
 Adde thereto a Tigers Chawdron, 
 For th'Ingredience of our Cawdron. 
 
 All. Double, double, toyle and trouble, 
 Fire burne,and Cauldron bubble. 
 
 z Coole it with a Baboones blood, 
 Then the Charme is firme and good. 
 
 Enter Hecat,and the other three W'ircbes, 
 
 Hcc. O well done : I commend your paines, 
 And euery one fhall fliare i'th'gaines: 
 And now about the Cauldron fing 
 Like Elues and Fairies in a Ring, 
 Inchanting all that you put in. 
 
 Mufic^e and a Song. 'Blac^e Spirits, dV. 
 2 By the pricking of my Thumbes, 
 Something wicked this way comes: 
 Open Lockes,who euer knockes. 
 Eater Macbeth. 
 
 Macb. How now you fecret, black, & midnight Hags? 
 What is't you do? 
 
 All. A deed without a name. 
 
 Mad. I coniure you, by that which you Profefle, 
 (How ere you come to know it) anfwer me : 
 Though you vntye the Windes, and let them fight 
 Againft the Churches: Though the yefty Waues 
 Confound and fwallow Nauigation vp : 
 Though bladed Corne be lodg'd,& Trees blown downe, 
 Though Caftles topple on their Warders heads : 
 Though Pallaces, and Pyramids do flope 
 Their heads to their Foundations: Though the treafure 
 Of Natures Germaine, tumble altogether, 
 Euen till deftru&ion ficken : Anfwer me 
 To what I aske you- 
 
 1 Speake. 
 
 2 Demand. 
 
 3 Wee'l anfwer. 
 
 I Say, if th'hadft rather heare it from our mouthes, 
 Or from our Mafters. 
 
 Macb. Call'em : let me fee 'em. 
 
 I Powre in Sowes blood, that hath eaten 
 Her nine Farrow: Greaze that's fweaten 
 From the Murderers Gibbet, throw 
 Into the Flame. 
 
 All. Come high or low : 
 
 Thy Selfe and Office deaftly fliow. Thunder. 
 
 I . Apparatior.,an Armed Head. 
 
 Macb. Tell me, thou vnknowne power. 
 
 I He knowes thy thought : 
 Heare his fpeech, but fay thou nought. 
 
 I Appar. Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth : 
 Beware Macduffe, 
 Beware the Thane of Fife : difmifle me. Enough. 
 
 He TJefcends. 
 
 Maci.What ere thou art, for thy good caution, thanks 
 Thou haft harp'd my feare aright. But one word more. 
 
 1 He will not be commanded : heere's another 
 
 More potent then the firft. Thunder. 
 
 i Apparition, a Blxdy Childe. 
 
 2 Appar. i^Maibeth, Macbeth, Macbelk. 
 Macb. Had I three eares, Il'd heare thee. 
 ^ Appar. Be bloody, bold,& refolute : 
 
 Laugh to fcorne 
 
 The powre of man : For none of woman borne 
 
 Shall harme Macbeth. TJefcends. 
 
 Mac. Then Hue Macduffe-.whzt need I feare of thee ? 
 But yet He make affurance : double fure, 
 And take a Bond of Fate : thou (halt not Hue, 
 That I may tell pale-hearted Feare, it liesj 
 And fleepe in fpight of Thunder. Thunder 
 
 3 Apparatlon,a Cbddt Qrcnned, vith a Tree In bii hand. 
 What is this, that rifes like the ifTue of a King, 
 And weares vpon his Baby-brow, the round 
 And top of Soueraignty ? 
 
 All. Liften, but fpeake not too't. 
 
 3 Appar. Be Lyon metled, proud, and take no care: 
 Who chafes, who frets, or where Conlpirers are : 
 Macbeth fhall neuer vanquifh'd be, vntill 
 Great Byrnam Wood, to high Dunfmane Hill 
 Shall come againft him. Dcfcend. 
 
 Macb. That will neuer bee : 
 Who can imprefle the Forreft, bid the Tree 
 Vnfixe his earth-bound Root ? Sweet boadments,good : 
 Rebellious dead, rife neuer till the Wood 
 Of Byrnan rife, and our high plac'd Macbeth 
 Shall Hue the Leafe of Nature, pay his breath 
 To time, and mortall Cuftome. Yet my Hart 
 Throbs to know one thing: Tell me, if yoar Art 
 Can tell fo much : Shall Banquo's ifl'ue euer 
 Reigne in this Kingdome ? 
 
 All. Seeke to know no more. 
 
 Macb. I will be fatisfied. Deny me this, 
 And an eternall Curfe fall on you : Let me know.) 
 Why fmkes that Caldron / & what noile is this? Hoboyes 
 
 1 Shew. 
 
 2 Shew. 
 
 3 Shew. 
 
 All. Shew his Eyes, and greeue his Hart, 
 Come like fliadowes, fo depart. 
 
 AJhew of eight Kings, and'Banquo laft ,irltb a glajje 
 in bis band. 
 
 Macb. Thou art too like the Spirit of Bartyuo: Down: 
 Thy Crowne do's feare mine Eye-bals. And thy haire 
 Thou other Gold-bound-brow, is like the firft : 
 A third, is like the former. Filthy Hagges, 
 
 Why do you fliew me this? A fourth ? Start eyes ! 
 
 What will the Line ftretch out to'th'cracke of Doome ? 
 
 Another yet ? A feauenth? lie fee no more : 
 
 And yet the eight appeares, who beares a glafle, 
 
 Which fliewes me many more: and fome 1 fee, 
 
 That two-fold Balles, and trebble Scepters carry. 
 
 Horrible fight: Now I fee 'tis true, 
 
 For the Blood-bolter'd Banquo Imiles vpon me, 
 
 And points at them for his. What? is this fo ? 
 
 I I Sir, all this is fo. But why 
 Stands t&faibetb thus amazedly? 
 Come Sifters, cheere we vp his fprights, 
 And fhew the beft of our delights. 
 lie Charme the Ayre to giue a found, 
 While you performe your Antique round : 
 That this great King may kindly fay, 
 Our duties, did his welcome pay. Mufickf. 
 
 The Witches Dance, and -vantjh. 
 
 dttacb. Where are they ? Gone ! 
 Let this pernitious houre, 
 Stand aye accurfed in the Kalender. 
 Come in, without there. Enter Lenox. 
 
 Lenox. What's your Graces will. 
 
 Macb. 
 
 7J4
 
 The Tragedie of ^Macbeth. 
 
 Macb. Saw you the Weyard Sifters ? 
 
 Lenox. No my Lord. 
 
 Macb. Came they not by you r 
 
 Lenox. No indeed my Lord. 
 
 Macb. Infefted be the Ayre whereon they ride, 
 And damn'd all thofe that truft them. I did heare 
 The gallopping of Horfe. Who was't came by ? 
 
 Len. 'Tis two or three my Lord, that bring you word : 
 Mac duff \s fled to England. 
 
 Macb. Fled to England ? 
 
 Len. I , my good Lord . 
 
 Macb. Time, thou anticipat'ft my dread exploits: 
 The flighty purpole neuer is o're-tooke 
 Vnlefie the deed go with it. From this moment, 
 The very firftlings of my heart fliall be 
 The firftlings of my hand. And euen now 
 To Crown my thoughts with Ats:be it thoght & done: 
 The Caftle Q{ Mac duff, I will furprize. 
 Seize vpon Fife; giue to th'edge o'th'Sword 
 His Wife, his Babes, and all vnfortunate Soules 
 That trace him in his Line. No boafling like a Foole, 
 This deed lie do, before this purpofe coole, 
 But no more fights. Where are thefe Gentlemen ? 
 Come bring me where they are. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Macduffes Wife, her Son, and R'.JJe. 
 
 Wife. What had he done, to make him fly the Land ? 
 
 ^B^ffe. You mull haue patience Madam. 
 
 Wife. He had none : 
 
 His flight was madnefTe : when our Actions do not, 
 Our feares do make vs Traitors. 
 
 Rc-Jfe. You know not 
 Whether it was his wifedome,or his feare. 
 
 Wife. Wifedom? to leaue his wife, to leaue his Babes, 
 His Man(ion,and his Titles, in a place 
 From whence himfelfe do's flye? He loues vs not, 
 He wants the naturall touch. For the poore Wren 
 (The moft diminitiue of Birds) will fight, 
 Her yong ones in her Neft. againft the Owle : 
 All is the Feare, and nothing is the Loue ; 
 As little is the Wifedome, where the flight 
 So runnes againft all reafon. 
 
 e B(offe . My deereft Cooz, 
 
 I pray you fchoole your felfe. But for your Husband, 
 He is Noble, Wile, Iudicious,and beft knowes 
 The fits o'th'Seafon. I dare not fpeake much further, 
 But cruell are the times, when we are Traitors 
 And do not know our felues : when we hold Rumor 
 From what we feare, yet know not what we feare, 
 But floate vpon a wilde and violent Sea 
 Each way, and moue. I take my leaue of you : 
 Shall not be long but lie be heere againe : 
 Things at the word will ceafe,or elfe climbe vpward, 
 To what they were before. My pretty Cofine, 
 Blefling vpon you. 
 
 Wife. Father'd he is, 
 And yet hee's Father-lefie. 
 
 Ityje. I am fo much a Foole, fliould I ftay longer 
 It would be my difgrace, and your difcomfort. 
 I take my leaue at once. Exit Roffe. 
 
 755 
 
 Wife. Sirra, your Fathers dead, 
 And what will you do now? How will you liue ? 
 
 Son. As Birds do Mother. 
 
 Wife. What with Wormes,and Flyes? 
 
 Son. With what I get I meane,and fo do they. 
 
 Wife. Poore Bird, 
 
 Thou'dft neuer Feare the Net, nor Lime, 
 The Pitfall, nor the Gin. 
 
 Son. Why fhould I Mother ? 
 Poore Birds they are not fet for : 
 My Father is not dead for all your faying. 
 
 Wife. Yes, he is dead : 
 How wilt thou do for a Father ? 
 
 Son. Nay how will you do for a Husband ? 
 
 Wife. Why I can buy me twenty at any Market. 
 
 Son. Then you'l by 'em to fell againe. 
 
 Wife. Thou fpeak'ft withall thy wit, 
 And yet 1'faith with wit enough for thee. 
 
 Son. Was,my Father a Traitor, Mother ?. 
 
 Wife. I , that he was. 
 
 Son. What is a Traitor ? 
 
 Wife. Why one that fweares,and lyes. 
 
 Son. And be all Traitors, that do fo. 
 
 Wife. Euery one that do's fo, is a Traitor, 
 And muft be hang'd. 
 
 Son. And mult they all be hang'd, that fwear and lye ? 
 
 Wife Euery one. 
 
 Son. Who muft hang them ? 
 
 Wife. Why, the honeft men. 
 
 Son. Then the Liars and Swearers are Fools: for there 
 are Lyars and Swearers enow, to beate the honeft men, 
 and hang vp them. 
 
 Wife. Now God helpe thee, poore Monkie : 
 But how wilt thou do for a Father ? 
 
 Son. If he were dead, youl'd weepe for him : if you 
 would not, it were a good figne, that 1 fliould quickeiy 
 haue a new Father. 
 
 Wife. Poore pratler, how thou talk'ft ? 
 Enter a Meffenger. 
 
 -My-BlefTe you faire Dame : I am not to you known, 
 Though in your ftate of Honor I am perfect ; 
 I doubt fome danger do's approach you neerely. 
 If you will take a homely mans aduice, 
 Be not found heere : Hence with your little ones 
 To fright you thus. Me thinkes I am too fauage: 
 To do worfe to you, were fell Cruelty, 
 Which is too nie your peribn. Heauen preferue you, 
 I dare abide no longer. Exit Meffinger 
 
 Wife. Whether fliould I flye ? 
 I haue done no harme. But I remember now 
 I am in this earthly world : where to do harme 
 Is often laudable, to do good fometime 
 Accounted dangerous folly. Why then (alas) 
 Do I put vp that womanly defence, 
 To fay I haue done no harme? 
 What are thefe faces ? 
 
 Enter Murtherers. 
 
 Mur. Where is your Husband ? 
 
 Wife. I hope in no place fo vnfan<Hfied, 
 Where fuch as thou may'ft finde him. 
 
 Mur. He's a Traitor. 
 
 Son. Thou ly'ft thou fliagge-ear'd Villaine. 
 
 Mur. What you Egge ? 
 Yong fry of Treachery? 
 
 Son. He ha's kill'd me Mother, 
 
 Run away I pray you. Exit crying Murtber. 
 
 N n Sc'",i
 
 146 
 
 The Tragedie of ^Macbeth. 
 
 Sctena Tertia. 
 
 Enter Malcdme and Macduffe. 
 
 Mai. Let vs feeke out feme defolate fliade, & there 
 Weepe our fad bofomes empty. 
 
 cftfacd. Let vs rather 
 
 Hold faft the mortal! Sword : and like good men, 
 Beftride our downfall Birthdome : each new JMorne, 
 New Widdowes howle, new Orphans cry, new forowes 
 Strike heauen on the face, that it refounds 
 As if it felt with Scotland, and yell'd out 
 Like Syllable of Dolour. 
 
 Mai. What I beleeue, He waile ; 
 What know, beleeue; and what I can redreffe, 
 As I fliall finde the time to friend : I wil. 
 What you haue fpoke, it may be fo perchance. 
 This Tyrant, whofe fole name blifters our tongues, 
 Was once thought honeft : you haue lou'd him well, 
 He hath not touch'd you yet. I am yong, but fomething 
 You may difcerne of him through me, and wifedome 
 To offer vp a weake, poore innocent Lambe 
 T'appeafe an angry God. 
 
 Macd. I am not treacherous. 
 
 Male. But Macbeth is. 
 A good and vertuous Nature may recoy le 
 In an Imperiall charge. But 1 fliall craue your pardon : 
 That which you are, my thoughts cannot tranfpofe ; 
 Angels are bright ftill, though the brighteft fell. 
 Though all things foule, would wear the brows of grace 
 Yet Grace muft ftill looke fo. 
 
 Macd. I haue loft my Hopes. 
 
 Male. Perchance euen there 
 Where I did finde my doubts. 
 Why in that rawnefle left you Wife,and Childe? 
 Thofe precious Motiues, thofe ftrong knots of Loue, 
 Without leaue-taking. I prav you, 
 Let not my lealoufies, be your Dishonors, 
 But mine owne Safeties : you may be rightly iuft, 
 What euer I fliall thinke. 
 
 Macd. Bleed, bleed poore Country, 
 Great Tyrrany, lay thou thy bafis fure, 
 For goodneffe dare not check thee : wear y thy wrongs, 
 The Title, is affear'd. Far thee well Lord, 
 I would not be the Villaine that thou think'ft, 
 For the whole Space that's in the Tyrants Grafpe, 
 And the rich Eaft to boot. 
 
 Mai. Be not offended : 
 I fpeake not as in abfolute feare of you : 
 I thinke our Country finkes beneath the yoake, 
 It weepes, it bleeds, and each new day a gafli 
 Is added to her wounds. I thinke withall, 
 There would be hands vplifted in my right: 
 And heere from gracious England haue I offer 
 Of goodly thoufands. But for all this, 
 When I (hall treade vpon the Tyrants head, 
 Or weare it on my Sword ; yet my poore Country ^ 
 Shall haue more vices then it had before, 
 More fuffer, and more fundry wayes then euer,| 
 By him that fliall fucceede. 
 
 Macd. What fliould he be ? 
 
 Mai. It is my felfe I meane : in whom I know 
 All the particulars of Vice fo grafted, 
 
 That when they fliall be open'd, blacke Macbeth 
 Will feeme as pure as Snow, and the poore State 
 Efteeme him as a Lambe, being compar'd 
 With my confinelelle harmes. 
 
 Macd. Not in the Legions 
 
 Of horrid Hell, can come a Diuell more damn'd 
 In euils, to top Macbeth. 
 
 Mal t 1 grant him Bloody, 
 Luxurious, Auaricious, Falle, Deceitfull, 
 I Sodaine, Malicious, fmacking of euery finne 
 ! That ha's a name. But there's no bottome, none 
 | In my Voluptuoufnefie : Your Wiues, your Daughters, 
 i Your Matrons, and your Maides, could not fill vp 
 ! The Cefterne of my Luft,and my Defire 
 All continent Impediments would ore-beare 
 That did oppofe my will. Better Macbeth, 
 Then fuch an one to reigne. 
 
 Macd. Boundleffe intemperance 
 In Nature is a Tyranny : It hath beene 
 Th'vntimely emptying of the happy Throne, 
 And fall of many Kings. But feare not yet 
 To take vpon you what is yours : you may 
 Conuey your pleafures in a fpscious plenty, 
 And yet feeme cold. The time you may fo hoodwinke : 
 We haue willing Dames enough: there cannot be 
 That Vuhure in you, to deuoure fo many 
 As will to Greatnefle dedicate themfeK.ei, 
 Finding it fo inclinde. 
 
 Mai With this, there growes 
 In my moft ill-compos d Affection, fuch 
 A ftanchleffe Auarice, that were 1 King, 
 I fliould cut off the Nobles for their Lands, 
 Defire his lewels, and this others Houfe, 
 And my more-hauing, would be as a Sawce 
 To make me hunger more, that I fliould forge 
 Quarrels vniuft againft the Good and Loyall, 
 Deftroying them for wealth. 
 
 Macd. This Auarice 
 
 ftickes deeper : growes with more pernicious roote 
 Then Summer-feeming Luft : and it hath bin 
 The Sword of our flaine Kings: yet do not feare, 
 Scotland hath Foyfons, to fill vp your will 
 Of your meere Owne. All thefe are portable, 
 With other Graces weigh'd. 
 
 Mai. But I haue none. The King-becoming Graces, 
 As luftice, Verity, Temp'rance, Stableneffcr, 
 Bounty, Perfeuerance, Mercy, Lowlinefie, 
 Deuotion, Patience, Courage, Fortitude, 
 I haue no rellifli of them, but abound 
 In the diuifion of each feuerall Crime, 
 Acting it many wayes. Nay, had I powre, I fliould 
 Poure the fweet Milke of Concord, into Hell, 
 Vprore the vniuerfall peace, confound 
 All vnity on earth. 
 
 Macd. O Scotland, Scotland. 
 
 Mai. If fuch a one be fit to gouerne, fpeake : 
 I am as I haue fpoken. 
 
 Mac. fit to gouern?No not to Hue. O Natio miferable! 
 With an vntitled Tyrant, bloody Sceptred, 
 When fliilt thou fee thy wholfome daycs againe? 
 Since that the trueft IfTue of thy Throne 
 By his owne Interdiction ftands accuft, 
 And do's blafpheme his breed ? Thy Royall Father 
 Was a moft Sainted-King : the Queene that bore thee, 
 Oftner vpon her knees, then on her feet, 
 Dy'de euerv day fl>e liu'd. Fare thee well, 
 
 Thefe 
 
 736
 
 'The Tragedie of ^Macbeth. 
 
 Thefe Euils thou repeat'ft vpon thy felfe, 
 Hath banifh'd me from Scotland. O my Breft, 
 Thy hope ends heere. 
 
 <^Mal. Macdujf, this Noble paflion 
 Childe of integrity, hath from my foule 
 Wip'd the blacke Scruples, reconcil'd my thoughts 
 To thy good Truth, and Honor. Diuelliih cftfacbetb, 
 By many of thefe traines, hath fought to win me 
 Into his power : and modeft Wifedome pluckes me 
 From ouer-credulous haft : but God aboue 
 Deale betweene thee and me; For euen now 
 I put my felfe to thy Direction, and 
 Vnfpeake mine owne detraction. Heere abiure 
 The taints, and blames I laide vpon my felfe, 
 For ftrangers to my Nature. I am yet 
 Vnknowne to Woman, neuer was forfworne, 
 Scarfely haue coueted what was mine owne . 
 At no time broke my Faith, would not betray 
 The Deuill to his Fellow, and delight 
 No lefle in truth then life. My firft falfe fpeaking 
 Was this vpon my felfe. What I am truly 
 Is thine, and my poore Countries to command : 
 Whither indeed, before they heere approach 
 Old Seyveard with ten thoufand warlike men 
 Already at a point, was fetting foorth : 
 Now wee'l together, and the chance of goodneffe 
 Be like our warranted Quarrell. Why are you filent? 
 
 Macd. Such welcome, and vnwelcom things at once 
 'Tis hard to reconcile. 
 
 Enter a Doffor. 
 
 Mai. Well, more anon. Comes the King forth 
 I pray you ? 
 
 Doff. I Sir : there are a crew of wretched Soules 
 That ftay his Cure : their malady conuinces 
 The great aflay of Art. But at his touch, 
 Such fandity hath Heauen giuen his hand, 
 They prefently amend. Exit. 
 
 Mai. I thanke you Doctor. 
 
 Macd. What's the Difeafe he meanes ? 
 
 Mai. Tis call'd the Euill. 
 A moft myraculous worke in this good King, 
 Which often fmce my heere remaine in England, 
 I haue feene him do : How he folicites heauen 
 Himfelfe beft knowes: but ftrangely vifited people 
 All fwolne and Vlcerous, pittifull to the eye, 
 The meere difpaire of Surgery, he cures, 
 Hanging a golden ftampe about their neckes, 
 Put on with holy Prayers, and 'tis fpoken 
 To the fucceeding Royalty he leaues 
 The healing Benediction. With this ftrange vertue, 
 He hath a heauenly guift of Prophefie, 
 And fundry Bleflings hang about his Throne, 
 That fpeake him full of Grace. 
 
 Enter Ro/e. 
 
 Macd. See who comes heere. 
 
 Male. My Countryman : but yet I know him nor. 
 
 Macd. My euer gentle Cozen, welcome hither. 
 
 Male, I know him now. Good God betimes remoue 
 The meanes that makes vs Strangers. 
 
 Ro/e. Sir, Amen. 
 
 Macd. Stands Scotland where it did f 
 
 Ro/e. Alas poore Countrey, 
 Almoft affraid to know it felfe. It cannot 
 Be call'd our Mother, butourGraue; where nothing 
 But who knowes nothing, is once feene to fmile: 
 Where fighes,and groanes, and fhrieks that rent the ayre 
 
 737 
 
 Are made, not mark'd : Where violent forrow feemes 
 
 A Moderne extafie : The Deadmans knell, 
 
 Is there fcarfe ask'd for who, and good mens liues 
 
 Expire before the Flowers in their Caps, 
 
 Dying, or ere they ficken. 
 
 Macd. Oh Relation; too nice, and yet too true. 
 
 Male. What's the neweft griefe ? 
 
 ~f(offe. That of an houres age, doth hifle the fpeaker, 
 Each minute teemes a new one. 
 
 Macd. How do's my Wife/ 
 
 Ro/e. Why well. 
 
 zTtfacd. And all my Children ? 
 
 Ro/e. Well too. 
 
 Macd. The Tyrant ha's not batter'd at their peace ? 
 
 /?o^.No,they were wel at peace, when I did leaue 'em 
 
 Macd, Be not a niggard of your fpeech : How gos't ? 
 
 RcJ/e. When I came hither to tranfport the Tydings 
 Which I haue heauily borne, there ran a Rumour 
 Of many worthy Fellowes, that were out, 
 Which was to my beleefe witneft the rather. 
 For that I faw the Tyrants Power a-foot. 
 Now is the time of helpe : your eye in Scotland 
 Would create Soldiours, make our women fight, 
 To doffe their dire diftrefles. 
 
 Male. Bee't their comfort 
 
 We are comming thither : Gracious England hath 
 Lent vs good Seyward, and ten thoufand men, 
 An older, and a better Souldier, none 
 That Chriftendome glues out. 
 
 RoJJe. Would I could anfwer 
 This comfort with the like. But I haue words 
 That would be howl'd out in the defert ayre, 
 Where hearing mould not latch them. 
 
 <J\facd. What concerne they, 
 The generall caufe, or is it a Fee-griefe 
 Due to fome fingle breft? 
 
 Ro/e. No minde that's honeft 
 But in it fiiares fome woe, though the maine part 
 Pertaines to you alone. 
 
 Macd. If it be mine 
 Keepe it not from me, quickly let me haue it. 
 
 Ro/e. Let not your eares difpife my tongue for euer, 
 Which mall poflefle them with the heauieft found 
 That euer yet they heard. 
 
 Macd. Humh : I guefie at it. 
 
 Rr/e, Your Caftle is furpriz'd : your Wife,and Babes 
 Sauagely flaughter'd : To relate the manner 
 Were on the Quarry of thefe murther'd Deere 
 To adde the death of you. 
 
 Male. Mercifull Heauen : 
 
 What man, ne're pull your hat vpon your browes : 
 Giue forrow words ; the griefe that do's not fpeake, 
 Whifpers the o're-fraught heart, and bids it breake. 
 
 Macd. My Children too ? 
 
 Ro. Wife, Children, Seruants, all that could be found. 
 
 Macd. And I muft be from thence?My wife kil'd too? 
 
 Ro/e. I haue faid. 
 
 Male. Be comforted. 
 
 Let's make vs Med'cines of our great Reuenge, 
 To cure this deadly greefe. 
 
 vMacd. He ha's no Children. All rny pretty ones? 
 Did you fay All ? Oh Hell-Kite ! All ? 
 What, All my pretty Chickens, and their Damme 
 At one fell fwoope ? 
 
 Male. Difpute it like a man. 
 
 Macd. Ifhalldofo: 
 
 Nn i But
 
 148 
 
 The Tragedie of ^Macbeth. 
 
 But I muft alfo feele it as a man ; 
 
 I cannot but remember fuch things were 
 
 That were moft precious to me : Did heauen looke on, 
 
 And would not take their part ? Sinfull Macduff, 
 
 They were all ftrooke for thee : Naught that I am, 
 
 Not for their owne demerits, but for mine 
 
 Fell (laughter on their foules : Heauen reft them now. 
 
 Mai. Be this the Whetftone of your fword, let griefe 
 Conuert to anger : blunt not the heart, enrage it. 
 
 Macd. O I could play the woman with mine eyes, 
 And Braggart with my tongue. But gentle Heauens, 
 Cut fliort all intermifiion : Front to Front, 
 Bring thou this Fiend of Scotland, and my felfe 
 Within my Swords length fet him, if he fcape 
 Heauen forgiue him too. 
 
 Mai. This time goes manly : 
 Come go we to the King, our Power is ready, 
 Our lacke is nothing but our leaue. cftfacbetb 
 Is ripe for fliaking, and the Powres aboue 
 Put on their Inftruments : Receiue what cheere you may, 
 The Night is long, that neuer findes the Day. Exeunt 
 
 Attus Quintus. Scena^Prima. 
 
 Enter a Doflor of Pbyjicfy, and a Wayting 
 Gentlewoman. 
 
 Dofi. I haue too Nights watch'd with you, but can 
 perceiue no truth in your report. When was it fliee laft 
 walk'd ? 
 
 Gent. Since his Maiefty went into the Field, I haue 
 feene her rife from her bed, throw her Night-Gown vp- 
 pon her, vnlocke her Clofiet, take foorth paper, folde it, 
 write vpon't, read it, afterwards Scale it, and againe re- 
 turne to bed ; yet all this while in a moft faft fleepe. 
 
 T>ofl. A great perturbation in Nature, to receyue at 
 once the benefit of fleep, and do the effects of watching. 
 In this flumbry agitation, befides her walking, and other 
 a&uall performances, what (at any time) haue you heard 
 her fay ? 
 
 Gent. That Sir, which I will not report after her. 
 
 Doff. You may to me, and 'tis moft meet you fliould. 
 
 Gent. Neither to you, nor any one,hauing no witnefle 
 to confirme my fpeech. Enter Lady, with a Taper. 
 
 Lo you, heere flie comes : This is her very guife,and vp- 
 on my life faft afleepe : obferue her, ftand clofe. 
 
 DoEt. How came flie by that light? 
 
 Gent. Why it flood by her : flie ha's light by her con- 
 tinually, 'tis her command. 
 
 DoEt. You fee her eyes are open. 
 
 Gent. I but their fenfe are fliut. 
 
 Dofi. What is it flie do's now? 
 Looke how flie rubbes her hands. 
 
 Gent. It is an accuftom'd adYion with her, to feeme 
 thus wafliing her hands : I haue knowne her continue in 
 this a quarter of an houre. 
 
 Lad. Yet heere 's a fpot. 
 
 Dofi. Heark, flie fpeaks, I will fet downe what comes 
 from her, to fatisfie my remembrance the more ftrongly. 
 
 La. Out damned fpot : out I fay. One : Two : Why 
 then 'tis time to doo't : Hell is murky. Fye,my Lord, fie, 
 a Souldier,and affear'd? what need we feare'who knowes 
 it, when none can call our powre to accompt : yet who 
 
 would haue thought the olde man to haue had fo much 
 blood in him. 
 
 Dofi. Do you marke that ? 
 
 ZW.The Thane of Fife, had a wife : where is flie now? 
 What will thefe hands ne're be cleane f No more o'that 
 my Lord, no more o'that : you marre all with this ftar- 
 ting. 
 
 Dofi. Go too, go too : 
 You haue knowne what you fliould not. 
 
 Gent. She ha's fpoke what fliee fliould not, I am fure 
 of that : Heauen knowes what flie ha's knowne. 
 
 La. Heere's the fmell of the blood ftill : all the per- 
 fumes of Arabia will not fweeten this little hand. 
 Oh, oh, oh. 
 
 Dofi. What a figh is there? The hart is forely charg'd. 
 
 Gent. I would not haue fuch a heart in my bofome, 
 for the dignity of the whole body. 
 
 Dofi. Well, well, well. 
 
 Gent. Pray God it be fir. 
 
 Dofi. This difeafe is beyond my pradtife : yet I haue 
 knowne thofe which haue walkt in their fleep, who haue 
 dyed holily in their beds. 
 
 Lad. Wafli your hands, put on your Night-Gowne, 
 looke not fo pale : I tell you yet againe Banyuo's buried ; 
 he cannot come out on's graue. 
 
 Doa. Euen fo ? 
 
 Lady. To bed, to bed : there's knocking at the gate : 
 Come, come, come, come, giue me your hand : What's 
 done, cannot be vndone. To bed, to bed, to bed. 
 
 Exit Lady. 
 
 Dofi. Will flie go now to bed ? 
 
 Gent. Diredly. 
 
 Dcfl. Foule whifp'rings are abroad : vnnaturall deeds 
 Do breed vnnaturall troubles : infected mindes 
 To their deafe pillowes will difcharge their Secrets : 
 More needs flie the Diuine, then the Phyfitian : 
 God, God forgiue vs all. Looke after her, 
 Remoue from her the meanes of all annoyance, 
 And ftill keepe eyes vpon her : So goodnight, 
 My minde flie ha's mated, and amaz'd my fight. 
 I thinke, but dare not fpeake. 
 
 Gent. Good night good Doctor. Sxeunt. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Drum and Colours. Enter Mentetb, Catbnef, 
 Angus, Lenox, Soldiers. 
 
 Englifli powre is neere, led on by Malcolm, 
 His Vnkle Seyward, and the good Macduff. 
 Reuenges burne in them : for their deere caufes 
 Would to the bleeding, and the grim Alarme 
 Excite the mortified man. 
 
 Ang. Neere Byrnan wood 
 Shall we well meet them, that way are they comming. 
 
 Catb. Who knowes if Donalbane be with his brother? 
 
 Len. For certaine Sir, he is not : 1 haue a File 
 Of all the Gentry ; there is Seywards Sonne, 
 And many vnruffe youths, that euen now 
 Proteft their firft of Manhood. 
 
 Ment. What do's the Tyrant. 
 
 Catb. Great Dunfinane he ftrongly Fortifies : 
 Some fay hee'smad : Others, thatleffer hate him, 
 Do call it valiant Fury, but for certaine 
 
 He
 
 The Tr age die of ^Macbeth. 
 
 149 
 
 He cannot buckle his diftemper'd caufe 
 Within the belt of Rule. 
 
 Ang. Now do's he teele 
 His fecret Murthers fticking on his hands, 
 Now minutely Reuolts vpbraid his Faith-breach : 
 Thofe he commands, moue onely in command, 
 Nothing in loue : Now do's he feele his Title 
 Hang loofe about him, like a Giants Robe 
 Vpon a dwarti/h Theefe. 
 
 Ment. Who then fliall blame 
 His pefter'd Senfes to recoyle,and ftart, 
 When all that is within him, do's condemne 
 It felfe, for being there. 
 
 Cath. Well, march we on, 
 To giue Obedience, where 'tis truly ow'd : 
 Meet we the Med'cine of the fickly Weale, 
 And with him poure we in our Countries purge, 
 Each drop of vs. 
 
 Lenox. Or fo much as it needes, 
 
 To dew the Soueraigne Flower, and drowne the Weeds: 
 Make we our March towards Birnan. Fxeunt marching. 
 
 Sctena Tertia. 
 
 Enter Macbeth, e Dofior,and Attendants. 
 
 Macb. Bring me no more Reports, let them flye all: 
 Till Byrnane wood remoue to Dunfinane, 
 I cannot taint with Feare. What's the Boy cftfalcolme? 
 Was he not borne of woman ?The Spirits that know 
 All mortall Confequences, haue pronounc'd me thus: 
 Feare not Macbeth, no man that's borne of woman 
 Shall ere haue power vpon thee. Then fly falfe Thanes, 
 And mingle with the Englifh Epicures, 
 The minde I fway by, and the heart I beare, 
 Shall neuer fagge with doubt, nor {hake with feare. 
 
 Enter Seruant. 
 
 The diuell damne thee blacke, thou cream-fac'd Loone ; 
 Where got'ft thou that Goofe-looke. 
 
 Ser. There is ten thoufand. 
 
 Macb. Geefe Villaine/ 
 
 Ser. Souldiers Sir. 
 
 Macb. Go pricke thy face, and ouer-red thy feare 
 Thou Lilly-liuer'd Boy. What Soldiers, Patch ? 
 Death of thy Soule, thofe Linnen cheekes of thine 
 Are Counfailers to feare. What Soldiers Whay-face? 
 
 &r. The Englifli Force, fo pleafe you. 
 
 Macb. Take thy face hence. Seyton, I am fick at hart, 
 When I behold : Seyton, I fay, this pufh 
 Will cheere me euer, or dif-eate me now. 
 I haue liu'd long enough : my way of life 
 Is falne into the Scare, the yellow Leafe, 
 And that which fhould accompany Old- Age, 
 As Honor, Loue, Obedience, Troopes of Friends, 
 I muft not looke to haue : but in their fteed, 
 Curfes, not lowd but deepe, Mouth-honor, breath 
 Which the poore heart would faine deny, and dare not. 
 Seyton ? 
 
 Enter Seyton. 
 
 &y. What's your gracious pleafure ? 
 
 <&facb. What Newes mere ? 
 
 Sey. All is confirm'd my Lord, which was reported. 
 
 Macb. lit fight, till from my bones, my flefh be hackt. 
 
 739 
 
 Giue me my Armor. 
 
 Seyt. 'Tis not needed yet. 
 
 Macb. He put it on : 
 
 Send out moe Horfes, skirre the Country round, 
 Hang thofe that talke of Feare. Giue me mine Armor : 
 How do's your Patient, Dodlor? 
 
 "Doff. Not fo ficke my Lord, 
 As flie is troubled with thicke-comming Fancies 
 That keepe her from her reft. 
 
 Macb. Cure of that : 
 
 Can'ft thou not Minifter to a minde difeas'd, 
 Plucke from the Memory a rooted Sorrow, 
 Raze out the written troubles of the Braine, 
 And with fome fweet Obliuious Antidote 
 Cleanfe the fturFt bofome, of that perillous ftuffe 
 Which weighes vpon the heart? 
 
 DoEi. Therein the Patient 
 Muft minifter to himfelfe. 
 
 Macb. Throw Phyficke to the Dogs, lie none of it. 
 Come, put mine Armour on : giue me my Staffe : 
 Seyton, fend out : Doctor, the Thanes flyefrom me: 
 Come fir, difpatch. If thou could'ft Doftor, caft 
 The Water of my Land, finde her Difeafe, 
 And purge it to a found and priftiue Health, 
 I would applaud thee to the very Eccho, 
 That fliould applaud againe. Pull't oft" I fay, 
 What Rubarb, Cyme, or what Purgatiue drugge 
 Would fcowre thefe Englifli hence : hear'ft y of them ? 
 
 Doff. I my good Lord : your Royall Preparation 
 Makes vs heare fomething. 
 
 Macb. Bring it after me : 
 I will not be affraid of Death and Bane, 
 Till Birnane Forreft come to Dunfinane. 
 
 'DocJ. Were I from Dunfinane away, and cleere, 
 Profit againe fhould hardly draw me heere. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Quarta. 
 
 Drum and (Colours. Enter <&alcolme,Seyward, Macduffe, 
 
 Seyvards Sonne, Menteth, Catbnes, Angus, 
 
 and Soldiers Marching. 
 
 Male. Cofins, I hope the dayes are neere at hand 
 That Chambers will be fafe. 
 
 Ment. We doubt it nothing. 
 
 Syew. What wood is this before vs ? 
 
 Ment. The wood of Birnane. 
 
 Male, Let euery Souldier hew him downe a Bough, 
 And bear't before him, thereby fliall we fliadow 
 The numbers of our Hoaft, and make difcouery 
 Erre in report of vs. 
 
 Sold. It fliall be done. 
 
 Syn>. We learne no other, but the confident Tyrant 
 Keepes ftill in Dunfinane, and will indure 
 Our fetting downe befor't. 
 
 Male. 'Tis his maine hope : 
 For where there is aduantage to be giuen, 
 Both more and lefle haue giuen him the Reuolt, 
 And none ferue with him, but conftrained things, 
 Whofe hearts are abfent too. 
 
 cflfacd. Let our iuft Cenfures 
 Attend the true euent, and put we on 
 
 n n 3 Induftrious
 
 150 
 
 'The T rage die of ^Macbeth. 
 
 Induftrious Souldierftiip. 
 
 Sey. The time approaches, 
 That will with due decilion make vs know 
 What we lhall fay we haue,and what we owe: 
 Thoughts fpeculatiue, their vnfure hopes relate, 
 But certaine ifTue, flroakes muft arbitrate, 
 Towards which, aduance the warre. Exeunt marching 
 
 Scena Quinta. 
 
 Enter Macbeth, Seyton, & Souldiers, with 
 Drum and Colours. 
 
 <&facb. Hang out our Banners on the outward walls, 
 The Cry is ftill, they come : our Caftles ftrength 
 Will laugh a Siedge to fcorne : Heere let them lye, 
 Till Famine and the Ague eate them vp : 
 Were they not forc'd with thofe that Should be ours, 
 We might haue met them darefull, beard to beard, 
 And beate them backward home. What is that noyfe? 
 A Cry nit bin of Women. 
 
 Sey. It is the cry of women, my good Lord. 
 
 Macb. I haue almoft forgot the tafte of Feares : 
 The time ha's beene, my fences would haue cool'd 
 To heare a Night-fhrieke, and my Fell of haire 
 Would at a difmall Treatife rowze, and ftirre 
 As life were in't. I haue fupt full with horrors, 
 Direnefle familiar to my ilaughterous thoughts 
 Cannot once'ftart me. Wherefore was that cry? 
 
 Sey. The Queene ('my Lord) is dead. 
 
 Macb. She fliould haue dy'de heereafter ; 
 There would haue beene a time for fuch a word : 
 To morrow, and to morrow, and to morrow, 
 Creepes in this petty pace from day to day, 
 To the laft Syllable of Recorded time : 
 And all our yefterdayes, haue lighted Fooles 
 The way to dufty death. Out, out, breefe Candle, 
 Life's but a walking Shadow, a poore Player, 
 That ftruts and frets his houre vpon the Stage, 
 And then is heard no more. It is a Tale 
 Told by an Ideot, full of found and fury 
 Signifying nothing. Enter a <&fejjenger ; 
 
 Thou com'ft to vfe thy Tongue : thy Story quickly. 
 
 Mef. Gracious my Lord, 
 I (hould report that which I fay I faw, 
 But know not how to doo't. 
 
 Macb. Well, fay fir. 
 
 Mef. As I did ftand my watch rpon the Hill 
 I look'd toward Byrnane, and anon me thought 
 The Wood began to moue. 
 
 Mad. Lyar,and Slaue. 
 
 Mef. Let me endure your wrath, iff be not fo : 
 Within this three Mile may you fee it comming. 
 I fay, a mouing Groue. 
 
 Macb. If thou fpeak'ft fhlfe, 
 Vpon the next Tree fliall thou hang aliue 
 Till Famine cling thee : If thy fpeech be footh, 
 I care not if thou doft for me as much. 
 I pull in Refolution, and begin 
 To doubt th'Equiuocation of the Fiend, 
 That lies like truth. Feare not, till Byrnane Wood 
 Do come to Dunfinane,and now a Wood 
 
 Comes toward Dunfinane. Arme, Arme,and out, 
 
 If this which he auouches, do's appeare, 
 
 There is nor flying hence, nor tarrying here . 
 
 I 'ginne to be a-weary of the Sun, 
 
 And wifh th'eftate o'th'world were now vndon. 
 
 Ring the Alarum Bell, blow Winde, come wracke, 
 
 At lead wee'l dye with Harnefie on our backe. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Sexta. 
 
 Drumme and Colours. 
 
 Enter Malcolme, Seyctard, Macduffe,and their tArmy, 
 with 'Bougbes . 
 
 Mai. Now neere enough : 
 Your leauy Skreenes throw downe, 
 And fliew like thofe you are : You (worthy Vnkle) 
 Shall with my Cofin your right Noble Sonne 
 Leade our firft Battell. Worthy Macduffe, and wee 
 Shall take vpon's what elfe remaines to do, 
 According to our order. 
 
 Sey. Fare you well : 
 
 Do we but finde the Tyrants power to night, 
 Let vs be beaten, if we cannot fight. 
 
 Macd. Make all our Trumpets fpeak,giue the all breath 
 Thofe clamorous Harbingers of Blood, & Death. Exeunt 
 
 Alarums continued. 
 
 Scena Septima. 
 
 Enter Macbeth. 
 
 Macb. They haue tied me to a flake, I cannot flye, 
 But Beare-like I muft fight the courfe. What's he 
 That was not borne of Woman? Such a one 
 Am I to feare, or none. 
 
 Enter young Seytfard. 
 
 T. Sey. What is thy name ? 
 
 Macb. Thou'lt be affraid to heare it. 
 
 T. Sey. No : though thou call'ft thy felfe a hoter name 
 Then any is in hell. 
 
 Macb. My name's cfifacbetb. 
 
 T. Sey. The diuell himfelfe could not pronounce a Title 
 More hatefull to mine eare. 
 
 Macb. No : nor more fearefull. 
 
 T.Sey. Thou lyeft abhorred Tyrant, with my Sword 
 He proue the lye thou fpeak ft. 
 
 Fight, and young Seynard jlaine. 
 
 Macb. Thou was't borne of woman ; 
 But Swords I fmile at, Weapons laugh to fcorne, 
 Brandiih'd by man that's of a Woman borne. Exit. 
 
 Alarums. Enter Macduffe. 
 
 Macd. That way the noife is : Tyrant (hew thy face, 
 If thou beeft flaine, and with no ftroake of mine, 
 My Wife and Childrens Ghofts will haunt me ftill : 
 I cannot ftrike at wretched Kernes, whofe armes 
 Are hyr'd to beare their Staues ; either thou Macbeth, 
 Or elfe my Sword with an vnbittered edge 
 I flieath againe vndeeded. There thou (hould'ft be, 
 By this great clatter, one of greateft note 
 
 Seemes 
 
 740
 
 The Tragedie of ^Macbeth . 151 
 
 Seemes bruited. Let me finde him Fortune, 
 
 
 And more I begge not. Exit . Alarums. 
 
 Enter Fighting, and Macbeth jlainc. 
 
 Enter zflfalcolme and Seyward. 
 
 Retreat, and Flour ijb. Enter ivith Drummc and Colours, 
 
 
 Malcolm, Seycvard, Rofle , Thanes , & Soldiers. 
 
 Sey. This way my Lord, the Caftles gently rendred : 
 
 Mai. I would the Friends we mifle, were fafe arriu'd' 
 
 The Tyrants people, on both fides do right, 
 
 Sey. Some muft go off: and yet by thefe I fee, 
 
 The Noble Thanes do brauely in the Warre, 
 
 So great a day as this is cheapely bought. 
 
 The day almoft it felfe profefles yours, 
 
 Mai. Macduffe is miffing, and your Noble Sonne. 
 
 And little is to do. 
 
 RoJ/e.Your fon my Lord, ha's paid a fouldiers debt, 
 
 Male. We haue met with Foes 
 
 He onely liu'd but till he was a man, 
 
 That ftrike befide vs. 
 
 The which no fooner had his Proweffe confirm'd 
 
 Sey. Enter Sir, the Caftle. Exeunt. Alarum 
 
 In the vnfhrinking ftation where he fought, 
 
 Enter Macbeth. 
 
 But like a man he dy'de. 
 
 Macb. Why fhould I play the Roman Foole,and dye 
 
 Sey. Then he is dead ? 
 
 On mine owne fword? whiles I fee liues,the gaihes 
 
 RoJ/e.l, and brought off the field : your caufe of forrow 
 
 Do better vpon them. 
 
 Muft not be meafur'd by his worth, for then 
 
 Enter Macduffe. 
 
 It hath no end. 
 
 Macd. Turne Hell-hound, turne. 
 
 Sey. Had he his hurts before > 
 
 Macb. Of all men elfe I haue auoyded thee : 
 
 IfyJ/e. I, on the Front. 
 
 But get thee backe, my foule is too much charg'd 
 
 Sey. Why then, Gods Soldier be he : 
 
 With blood of thine already. 
 
 Had I as many Sonnes, as I haue haires, 
 
 <iMacd. I haue no words, 
 
 I would not wifli them to a fairer death: 
 
 My voice is in my Sword, thou bloodier Villaine 
 
 And fo his Knell is knoll'd. 
 
 Then tearmes can giue thee out. Fight : Alarum 
 
 Mai. Hee's worth more forrow, 
 
 Macb. Thou loofeft labour, 
 
 And that He fpend for him. 
 
 As eafie may'ft thou the intrenchant Ayre 
 
 Sey. He's worth no more , 
 
 With thy keene Sword imprefle, as make me bleed : 
 
 They fay he parted well, and paid his fcore, 
 
 Let fall thy blade on vulnerable Crefts, 
 
 And fo God be with him. Here comes newer comfort. 
 
 I beare a charmed Life, which muft not yeeld 
 
 Enter Macduffe; with Macbeth* bead. 
 
 To one of woman borne. 
 
 Macd. Haile King, for fo thou art. 
 
 Macd. Difpaire thy Charme, 
 
 Behold where ftands 
 
 And let the Angell whom thou ftill haft feru'd 
 
 Th'Vfurpers curfed head : the time is free : 
 
 Tell thee, Macduffe was from his Mothers womb 
 
 1 fee thee compaft with thy Kingdomes Pearle, 
 
 Vntimely ript. 
 
 That fpeake my falutation in their minds : 
 
 Macb. Accurfed be that tongue that tels mee fb ; 
 
 Whofe voyces I defire alowd with mine. 
 
 For it hath Cow'd my better part of man : 
 
 Haile King of Scotland. 
 
 And be thefe lugling Fiends no more beleeu'd, 
 
 All. Haile King of Scotland. Flourijh. 
 
 That palter with vs in a double fence, 
 
 Mai. We fliall not fpend a large expence of time, 
 
 That keepe the word of promife to our eare, 
 
 Before we reckon with your feuerall loues, 
 
 And breake it to our hope. He not fight with thee. 
 
 And make vs euen with you. My Thanes and Kinfmen 
 
 Macd. Then yeeld thee Coward, 
 
 Henceforth be Earles, the firft that euer Scotland 
 
 And liue to be the fhew, and gaze o'th'time. 
 
 In fuch an Honor nam'd : What's more to do, 
 
 Wee'l haue thee, as our rarer Monfters are 
 
 Which would be planted newly with the time, 
 
 Painted vpon a pole, and vnder-writ, 
 
 As calling home our exil'd Friends abroad, 
 
 Heere may you fee the Tyrant. 
 
 That fled the Snares of watchfull Tyranny, 
 
 Macb. I will not yeeld 
 
 Producing forth the cruell Minifters 
 
 To kiffe the ground before young Malcolmes feet, 
 
 Of this dead Butcher, and his Fiend-like Queene ; 
 
 And to be baited with the Rabbles curfe. 
 
 Who(as'tis thought) by felfe and violent hands, 
 
 Though Byrnane wood be come to Dunfmane, . 
 
 Tooke off her life. This,and what needfull elfe 
 
 And thou oppos'd, being of no woman borne, 
 
 That call's vpon vs, by the Grace of Grace, 
 
 Yet I will try the laft. Before my body, 
 
 We will performe in meafure, time, and place ; 
 
 I throw my warlike Shield : Lay on Macduffi, 
 
 So thankes to all at once, and to each one, 
 
 And damn'd be him, that nrft cries hold, enough. 
 
 Whom we inuite, to fee vs Crown'd at Scone. 
 
 Sxeunt fighting. Alarums. 
 
 Flourijh. Exeunt Omms. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 
 74
 
 152 
 
 THE TRAGEDIE OF 
 
 HAMLET, Prince of Denmarke. 
 
 zAffus Primus. Scaena 
 
 Enter 'Barnardo and Francifco tvo Centincls . 
 
 'Barnardo. 
 Ho's there ? 
 
 "Fran. Nay anfwer me : Stand & vnfold 
 your felfe. 
 
 Bar. Long liue the King. 
 
 Fran. Barnardo ? 
 
 Bar. He." 
 
 Fran. You come moft carefully vpon your houre. 
 
 Bar. 'Tis now ftrook twelue, get thee to bed Francifco. 
 
 Fran. For this releefe much thankes : 'Tis bitter cold, 
 And I am ficke at heart. 
 
 'Barn. Haue you had quiet Guard ? 
 
 Fran. Not a Moufe ftirring. 
 
 'Barn. Well, goodnight. If you do meet Horatio and 
 Marcellui, the Riuals of my Watch, bid them make haft. 
 Enter Horatio and Marcellui . 
 
 Fran. I thinke I heare them. Stand : who's there ? 
 
 Hor. Friends to this ground. 
 
 Mar. And Leige-men to the Dane. 
 
 Fran. Giue you good night. 
 
 Mar. O farwel honeft Soldier, who hath relieu'd you? 
 
 Fra. 'Barnardo ha's my place: giue you goodnight. 
 
 Exit Fran. 
 
 Mar. Holla 'Barnardo. 
 
 'Bar. Say, what is Horatio there ? 
 
 Hor. A peece of him. 
 
 'Bar. Welcome Horatio, welcome good Marcellui. 
 
 Mar. What, ha's this thing appear'd againe to night. 
 
 Bar. I haue feene nothing. 
 
 Mar. Horatio faies, 'tis but our Fantafie, 
 And will not let beleefetake hold of him 
 Touching this dreaded fight, twice feene of vs, 
 Therefore I haue intreated him along 
 With vs, to watch the minutes of this Night, 
 That if againe this Apparition come, 
 He may approue our eyes, and fpeake to it. 
 
 Hor. Tufli, tufh, 'twill not appeare. 
 
 Bar. Sit downe a-while, 
 And let vs once againe afTaile your eares, 
 That are fo fortified againft our Story, 
 What we two Nights haue feene. 
 
 Hor. Well, fit we downe, 
 And let vs heare 'Barnardo fpeake of this. 
 
 'Barn. Laft night of all, 
 
 When yond fame Starre that's Weftward from the Pole 
 Had made his courfe t'illume that part o/ Heauen 
 
 Where now it burnes, Marcellui and my felfe, 
 The Bell then beating one. 
 
 cftfar. Peace, breake thee off: Enter the Qbojl. 
 
 Looke where it comes againe. 
 
 Barn. In the fame figure, like the King that's dead. 
 
 Mar. Thou art a Scholler; fpeake to it Horatio. 
 
 Barn. Lookes it not like the King?Marke it Horatio. 
 
 Hora. Moft like: It harrowes me with fear & wonder 
 
 'Barn. It would be fpoke too. 
 
 Mar. Queftion it Horatio. 
 
 Hor. What art thou that vfurp'ft this time of night, 
 Together with that Faire and Warlike forme 
 In which the Maiefty of buried Denmarke 
 Did fometimes march : By Heauen I charge thee fpeake. 
 
 Mar. It is offended. 
 
 Barn. See, it ftalkes away. 
 
 Hor. Stay: fpeake j fpeake : I Charge thee, fpeake. 
 
 Exit the Gboft. 
 
 Mar. 'Tis gone, and will not anfwer. 
 
 Barn. How now Horatio? You tremble & look pale: 
 Is not this fomething more then Fantafie ? 
 What thinke you on't 
 
 Hor. Before my God, I might not this beleeue 
 Without the fenfible and true auouch 
 Of mine owne eyes. 
 
 Mar. Is it not like the King ? 
 
 Hor. As thou art to thy felfe, 
 Such was the very Armour he had on, 
 When th'Ambitious Norwey combatted : 
 So frown'd he once, when in an angry parle 
 He fmot the fledded Pollax on the Ice. 
 'Tis ftrange. 
 
 Mar. Thus twice before,and iuft at this dead houre, 
 With Martiall ftalke, hath he gone by our Watch. 
 
 Hor.ln what particular thought to work, I know not : 
 But in the grofle and fcope of my Opinion, 
 This boades fome ftrange erruption to our State. 
 
 Mar. Good now fit downe, & tell me he that knowes 
 Why this fame ftridt and moft obferuant Watch, 
 So nightly toyles the fubiedl of the Land, 
 And why fuch dayly Caft of Brazon Cannon 
 And Forraigne Mart for Implements of warre : 
 Why fuch imprefie of Ship-wrights, whofe fore Taske 
 Do's not diuide the Sunday from the weeke, 
 What might be toward, that this fweaty haft 
 Doth make the Night ioynt-Labourer with the day : 
 Who is't that can informe me? 
 
 Hor. That can I, 
 
 At 
 
 74*
 
 The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 '53 
 
 At leaft the whifper goes fo : Our laft King, 
 
 Whofe Image euen but now appear'd to vs, 
 
 Was (as you know) by FortinbrM of Norway, 
 
 (Thereto prick'd on by a moft emulate Pride) 
 
 Dar'd to the Combate. In which, our Valiant Hamlet, 
 
 (For fo this fide of our knowne world efteem'd him) 
 
 Did flay this Fortinbrat : who by a Seal'd Compact, 
 
 Well ratified by Law, and Heraldrie, 
 
 Did forfeite (with his life) all thofe his Lands 
 
 Which he flood feiz'd on, to the Conqueror : 
 
 Againft the which, a Moity competent 
 
 Was gaged by our King : which had return'd 
 
 To the Inheritance of Fortinbrai, 
 
 Had he bin Vanquisher, as by the fame Cou'nant 
 
 And carriage of the Article defigne, 
 
 His fell to Hamlet. Now fir, young FortinbrM, 
 
 Of vnimproued Mettle, hot and full, 
 
 Hath in the skirts of Norway, heere and there, 
 
 Shark'd vp a Lift of Landleffe Refolutes, 
 
 For Foode and Diet, to fome Enterprize 
 
 That hath a ftomacke in't : which is no other 
 
 (And it doth well appeare vnto our State,) 
 
 But to recouer of vs by ftrong hand 
 
 And termes Compulfatiue, thofe forefaid Lands 
 
 So by his Father loft : and this (I take it) 
 
 Is the maine Motiue of our Preparations, 
 
 The Sourfe of this our Watch, and the cheefe head 
 
 Of this poft-haft, and Romage in the Land. 
 
 Enter Gboft againe. 
 
 But foft, behold: Loe, where it comes againe :l 
 He crofTe it, though it blaft me. Stay Illufion : 
 If thou haft any found, or vfe of Voyce, 
 Speake to me. If there be any good thing to be done, 
 That may to thee do eafe, and grace to me ; fpeak to me. 
 If thou art priuy to thy Countries Fate 
 (Which happily foreknowing may auoyd) Oh fpeake. 
 Or, if thou haft vp-hoorded in thy life 
 Extorted Treafure in the wombe of Earth, 
 (For which, they fay, you Spirits oft walke in death,) 
 Speake of it. Stay, and fpeake. Stop it Marcellui. 
 
 Mar. Shall I ftrike at ir with my Partizan ? 
 
 Hor. Do, if it will not ftand. 
 
 'Barn. 'Tis heere. 
 
 Hor. 'Tis heere. 
 
 Mar. 'Tis gone. Sxit Gboft. 
 
 We do it wrong, being fo Maiefticall 
 To offer it the fhew of Violence, 
 For it is as the Ayre, invulnerable, 
 And our vaine blowes, malicious Mockery. 
 
 'Barn, It was about to fpeake, when the Cocke crew. 
 
 Hor. And then it flatted, like a guilty thing 
 Vpon a fearfull Summons. I haue heard, 
 The Cocke that is the Trumpet to the day, 
 Doth with his lofty and fhrill-founding Throate 
 Awake the God of Day : and at his warning, 
 Whether in Sea, or Fire, in Earth, or Ayre, 
 Th'extrauagant, and erring Spirit, hyes 
 To his Confine. And of the truth heerein, 
 This prefent Obied made probation. 
 
 Mar. It faded on the crowing of the Cocke. 
 Some fayes, that euer 'gainft that Seafon comes 
 Wherein our Sauiours Birth is celebrated, 
 The Bird of Dawning fingeth all night long : 
 And then ('they fay) no Spirit can walke abroad, 
 The nights are wholfome, then no Planets ftrike, 
 No Faiery talkes, nor Witch hath power to Charme : 
 
 74? 
 
 So hallow'd, and fo gracious is the time. 
 
 Hor. So haue I heard, and do in part beleeue it. 
 But looke, the Morne in RufTet mantle clad, 
 Walkes o're the dew of yon high Eafterne Hill, 
 Breake we our Watch vp, and by my aduice 
 Let vs impart what we haue feene to night 
 Vnto yong Hamlet. For vpon my life, 
 This Spirit dumbe to vs, will fpeake to him : 
 Do you confent we fhall acquaint him with it, 
 As needfull in our Loues, fitting our Duty ? 
 
 Mar. Let do't 1 pray, and I this morning know 
 Where we fhall finde him moft conueniently. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Claudiw King of Denmarfe, Qertrude the Queene, 
 Hamlet, Poloniuf, Laertes, and bu Sifter 0- 
 pbelia, Lords ^Attendant .1 
 
 King. Though yet of Hamlet our deere Brothers death 
 The memory be greene : and that it vs befitted 
 To beare our hearts in greefe, and our whole Kingdome 
 To be contracted in one brow of woe : 
 Yet fo farre hath Difcretion fought with Nature, 
 That we with wifeft forrow thinke on him, 
 Together with remembrance of our felues. 
 Therefore our fometimes Sifter, now our Queen, 
 Th'Imperiall loyntrefTe of this warlike State, 
 Haue we, as 'twere, with a defeated ioy, 
 With one Aufpicious, and one Dropping eye, 
 With mirth in Funerall, and with Dirge in Marriage, 
 In equall Scale weighing Delight and Dole 
 Taken to Wife 5 nor haue we heerein barr'd 
 Your better Wifedomes, which haue freely gone 
 With this affaire along, for all our Thankes. 
 Now followes, that you know young Fortinbras, 
 Holding a weake luppofall of our worth ; 
 Or thinking by our late deere Brothers death, 
 Our State to be difioynt, and out of Frame, 
 Colleagued with the dreame of his Aduantage ; 
 He hath not fayl'd to pefter vs with MefTage, 
 Importing the Surrender of thofe Lands 
 Loft by his Father : with all Bonds of Law 
 To our moft valiant Brother. So much for him. 
 
 Enter Voltemand and Cornelius. 
 Now for our felfe, and for this time of meeting 
 Thus much the bufinefie is. We haue heere writ 
 To Norway, Vncle of young Fortinbras , 
 Who Impotent and Bedrid, fcarfely heares 
 Of this his Nephewes purpofe, to fupprefle 
 His further gate heerein. In that the Leuies, 
 The Lifts, and full proportions are all made 
 Out of his fubie<Sl : and we heere difpatch 
 You good Cornelius, and you Voltemand, 
 For bearing of this greeting to old Norway, 
 Giuing to you no further perfonall power 
 To bufinefle with the King, more then the fcope 
 Of thefe dilated Articles allow : 
 Farewell and let your haft commend your duty. 
 
 Volt. In that,and all things, will we fhew our duty. 
 
 King. We doubt it nothing. heartily farewell. 
 
 Exit Voltemand and Cornelius. 
 And now Laertes, what's the newes with you ? 
 
 You
 
 '54 
 
 'The Tr age die of Hamlet. 
 
 You told vs of fome fuitc. What is't Laertes ? 
 
 You cannot fpeake of Reafon to the Dane, 
 
 And loofe your voyce. What would'ft thou beg Laertes, 
 
 That fliall not be my Offer, not thy Asking ? 
 
 The Head is not more Natiue to the Heart, 
 
 The Hand more Inftrumentall to the Mouth, 
 
 Then is the Throne of Denmarke to thy Father. 
 
 What would'ft thou haue Laertes f 
 
 Laer. Dread my Lord, 
 
 Your leaue and fauour to returne to France, 
 From whence, though willingly I came to Denmarke 
 To fliew my duty in your Coronation, 
 Yet now I muft confeffe, that duty done, 
 My thoughts and wilhes bend againe towards France, 
 And bow them to your gracious leaue and pardon. 
 
 King. Haue you your Fathers leaue ? 
 What fayes Pollonitu ? 
 
 Pol. He hath my Lord[: 
 I do befeech you giue him leaue to go. 
 
 King. Take thy faire houre Laertes, time be thine, 
 And thy beft graces fpend it at thy will : 
 But now my Cofin Hamlet,nnd my Sonne ? 
 
 Ham. A little more then kin, and lefie then kind*. 
 
 King. How is it that the Clouds ftill hang on you ? 
 
 Ham. Not fo my Lord, I am too much i'th'Sun. 
 
 Queen, Good Hamlet caft thy nightly colour off, 
 And let thine eye looke like a Friend on Denmarke. 
 Do not for euer with thy veyled lids 
 Seeke for thy Noble Father in the duft ; 
 Thou know'ft 'tis common, all that liues muft dye, 
 Faffing through Nature, to Eternity. 
 
 Ham. I Madam, it is common. 
 
 Queen. If it be ; 
 Why feemes it fo particular with thee. 
 
 Ham.Seemes Madam? Nay, it is : I know not Seemes: 
 Tis not alone my Inky Cloake (good Mother^ 
 Nor Cuftomary fuites of folemne Blacke, 
 Nor windy fufpiration of forc'd breath, 
 No, nor the fruitfull Riuer in the Eye, 
 Nor the delected hauiour of the Vifage, 
 Together with all Formes, Moods, fliewes of Griefe, 
 That can denote me truly. Thefe indeed Seeme, 
 For they are actions that a man might play : 
 But I haue that Within, which paffeth fliow ; 
 Thefe, but the Trappings, and the Suites of woe. 
 
 King. 'Tis fweet and commendable 
 In your Nature Hamlet, 
 
 To giue thefe mourning duties to your Father: 
 But you muft know, your Father loft a Father, 
 That Father loft, loft his , and the Suruiuer bound 
 In filiall Obligation, for ibme terme 
 To do obfequious Sorrow. But to perfeuer 
 In obftinate Condolement, is a courfe 
 Of impious ftubbornnefle. 'Tis vnmanly greefe, 
 It fliewes a will moft incorrect to Heauen, 
 A Heart vnfortified, a Minde impatient, 
 An Vnderftanding Ample, and vnfchool'd : 
 For, what we know muft be, and is as common 
 As any the moft vulgar thing to fence, 
 Why fliould we in our peeuifli Oppofition 
 Take it to heart ? Fye, 'tis a fault to Heauen, 
 A fault againft the Dead, a fault to Nature, 
 To Reafon moft abfurd, whofe common Theamc 
 Is death of Fathers, and who ftill hath cried, 
 From the firft Coarfe } till he that dyed to day, 
 This muft be fo. We pray you throw to earth 
 
 This vnpreuayling woe, and thinke of vs 
 
 As of a Father ; For let the world take note, 
 
 You are the moft immediate to our Throne, 
 
 And with no leflfe Nobility of Loue, 
 
 Then that which deereft Father beares his Sonne, 
 
 Do I impart towards you. For your intent 
 
 In going backe to Schoole in Wittenberg, 
 
 It is moft retrograde to our defire : 
 
 And we befeech you, bend you to remaine 
 
 Heere in the cheere and comfort of our eye, 
 
 Our cheefeft Courtier Cofin, and our Sonne. 
 
 Qu. Let not thy Mother lofe her Prayers Hamlet : 
 I prythee ftay with vs, go not to Wittenberg. 
 
 Ham. I fliall in all my beft 
 Obey you Madam. 
 
 King. Why 'tis a louing, and a faire Reply, 
 Be as our felfe in Denmarke. Madam come, 
 This gentle and vnforc'd accord of Hamlet 
 Sits fmiling to my heart ; in grace whereof, 
 No iocond health that Denmarke drinkes to day, 
 But the great Cannon to the Clowds fliall tell, 
 And the Kings Rouce, the Heauens fliall bruite againe, 
 Refpeaking earthly Thunder. Come away. Exeunt 
 
 cXfanet Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. Oh that this too too folid Flefli, would melt, 
 Thaw, and refolue it felfe into a Dew : 
 Or that the Euerlafting had not fixt 
 His Cannon 'gainft Selfe-flaughter. O God, O God ! 
 How weary, ftale, flat, and vnprofitable 
 Seemes to me all the vfes of this world ? 
 Fie on't ? Oh fie, fie, 'tis an vnweeded Garden 
 That growes to Seed : Things rank, and grofle in Nature 
 PofTefle it meerely. That it fliould come to this : 
 But two months dead : Nay, not fo much j not two, 
 So excellent a King, that was to this 
 Hiferion to a Satyre : fo louing to my Mother, 
 That he might not beteene the windes of heauen 
 Vifit her face too roughly. Heauen and Earth 
 Muft I remember : why flie would hang on him, 
 As if encteafe of Appetite had growne 
 By what it fed on ; and yet within a month ? 
 Let me not thinke on't : Frailty, thy name is woman. 
 A little Month, or ere thofe fliooes were old, 
 With which flie followed my poore Fathers body 
 Like Niobe, all teares. Why flie, euen flie. 
 (O Heauen ! A beaft that wants difcourfe of Reafon 
 Would haue mourn'd longer) married with mine Vnkle, 
 My Fathers Brother : but no more like my Father, 
 Then I to Hercules. Within a Moneth ? 
 Ere yet the fait of moft vnrighteous Teares 
 Had left the rlufliing of her gauled eyes, 
 She married. O moft wicked fpeed, to poft 
 With fuch dexterity to Inceftuous flieets : 
 It is not, nor it cannot come to good. 
 But breake my heart, for I muft hold my tongue. 
 
 Enter Horatio, 'Barnard, and Marcelliu. 
 
 Hor. Haile to your Lordfliip. 
 
 Ham. I am glad to fee you well : 
 Horatio, or I do forget my felfe. 
 
 Hor. The fame my Lord, 
 And your poore Seruant euer. 
 
 Ham. Sir my good friend, 
 He change that name with you : 
 And what make you from Wittenberg Horatio ? 
 
 Mar- 
 
 744
 
 The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 '55 
 
 Marcellui. 
 
 Mar. My good Lord. 
 
 Ham. I am very glad to fee you : good euen Sir. 
 But what in faith make you from Wittemberge* 
 
 Hor. A truant difpofition, good my Lord. 
 
 Ham. I would not haue your Enemy fay fb; 
 Nor fhall you doe mine eare that violence, 
 To make it trufter of your owne report 
 Againft your felfe. I know you are no Truant: 
 But what is your affaire in E/fenour ? 
 Wee'l teach you to drinke deepe, ere you depart. 
 
 Hor. My Lord, I came to fee your Fathers Funerall. 
 
 Ham. I pray thee doe not mock me (fellow Student) 
 I thinke it was to fee my Mothers Wedding. 
 
 Hor. Indeed my Lord, it followed hard vpon. 
 
 Ham. Thrift, thrift Horatio: the Funerall Bakt-meats 
 Did coldly furniih forth the Marriage Tables;. 
 Would I had met my deareft foe in heauen, 
 Ere I had euer feene that day Horatio. 
 My father, me thinkes I fee my father. 
 
 Hor. Oh where my Lord? 
 
 Ham. In my minds eye (Horatio) 
 
 Hor. I faw him once; he was a goodly King. 
 
 Ham. He was a man, take him for all in all : 
 I fhall not look vpon his like againe. 
 
 Hor. My Lord, I thinke I faw him yefternight. 
 
 Ham. Saw? Who > 
 
 Hor. My Lord, the King your Father. 
 
 Ham. The King my Father? 
 
 Hor. Seafon your admiration for a while 
 With an attent eare; till I may deliuer 
 Vpon the witnefle of thefe Gentlemen, 
 This maruell to you. 
 
 Ham. For Heauens loue let me heare. 
 
 Hor. Two nights together, had thefe Gentlemen 
 (Marcel/us and Barnardo) on their Watch 
 In the dead waft and middle of the night 
 Beene thus encountred. A figure like your Father, 
 Arm'd at all points exactly, Cap a Pe, 
 Appeares before them, and with follemne march 
 Goes flow and (lately : By them thrice he walkt, 
 By their oppreft and feare-furprized eyes, 
 Within his Truncheons length; whilft they beftil'd 
 Almoft to lelly with the Act of feare, 
 Stand dumbe and fpeake not to him. This to me 
 In dreadfull fecrecie impart they did, 
 Arid I with them the third Night kept the Watch, 
 Whereas they had deliuer'd both in time, 
 Forme of the thing; each word made- true and good, 
 The Apparition comes. I knew your Father : 
 Thefe hands are not more like. 
 
 Ham. But where was this? 
 
 Mar. My Lord, vpon the platforme where we watcht. 
 
 Ham. Did you not fpeake to it? 
 
 Hor. My Lord, I did; 
 
 But anfwere made it none : yet once me thought 
 It lifted vp it head, and did addrefle 
 It felfe to motion, like as it would fpeake : 
 But euen then, the Morning Cocke crew lowd ; 
 And at the found itfhrunke in haft away, 
 And vanifht from our fight. 
 
 Ham. Tis very ftrange. 
 
 Hor. As I doe liue my honourd Lord 'tis true ; 
 And we did thinke it writ downe in our duty 
 To let you know of it. 
 
 Ham. Indeed, indeed Sirs; but this troubles me. 
 
 745 
 
 Hold you the watch to Nightf 
 
 'Both. We doe my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Arm'd, fay you? 
 
 Both. Arm'd, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. From top to toe/ 
 
 "Both. My Lord, from head to foote. 
 
 Ham. Then faw you not his face/ 
 
 Hor. O yes, my Lord, he wore his Beauer vp. 
 
 Ham. What, lookt he frowningly? 
 
 Hor. A countenance more in forrow then in anger. 
 
 Ham. Pale, or red? 
 
 Hor. Nay very pale. 
 
 Ham. And fixt his eyes vpon you? 
 
 Hor. Moft conftantly. 
 
 Ham. I would I had beene there. 
 
 Hor. It would haue much amaz'd you. 
 
 Ham. Very like, very like : ftaid it long? (dred. 
 
 Hor. While one with moderate haft might tell a hun- 
 t/4//. Longer, longer. 
 
 Hor. Not when I faw't. 
 
 Ham. His Beard was grifly/ no. 
 
 Hor. It was, as I haue feene it in his life, 
 A Sable Siluer'd. (gaine. 
 
 Ham. He watch to Night ; perchance 'twill wake a- 
 
 Hor. I warrant you it will. 
 
 Ham. If it aflume my noble Fathers perfon, 
 He fpeake to it, though Hell it felfe mould gape 
 And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all, 
 If you haue hitherto conceald this fight; 
 Let it bee treble in your filence (till: 
 And whatfoeuer els fhall hap to night, 
 Giue it an vnderftanding but no tongue; 
 I will requite your loues ; fo, fare ye well : 
 Vpon the Platforme twixt eleuen and twelue, 
 lie vifit you. 
 
 All. Our duty to your Honour. Exeunt. 
 
 Ham. Your loue, as mine to you: farewell. 
 My Fathers Spirit in Armes ? All is not well: 
 I doubt fome foule play : would the Night were come ; 
 Till then fit ftill my foule; foule deeds will rife, 
 Though all the earth orewhelm them to mens eies. Exit. 
 
 Scena Tertia. 
 
 Enter Laertes and Ophelia. 
 
 Laer. My neceflaries are imbark't; Farewell : 
 And Sifter, as the Winds giue Benefit, 
 And Conuoy is afliftant; doe not fleepe, 
 But let me heare from you. 
 
 Opbel. Doe you doubt that? 
 
 Laer. For Hamlet,and the trifling of his fauours, 
 Hold it a fafhion and a toy in Bloud; 
 A Violet in the youth of Primy Nature; 
 Froward,not permanent; fweet not lading 
 The fuppliance of a minute? No more. 
 
 Ofbel. No more but fo. 
 
 Laer, Thinke it no more : 
 For nature creflant does not grow alone, 
 In thewes and Bulke : but as his Temple waxes, 
 The inward feruice of the Minde and Soule 
 Growes wide withall. Perhaps he loues you now, 
 And now no fbyle nor cautell doth befmerch 
 The vertue of his feare : but you muft feare 
 
 His
 
 156 
 
 The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 His greatnefle weigh'd, his will is not his owne ; 
 
 For hee himfelfe is fubiedt to his Birth : 
 
 Hee may not, as vnuallued perfons doe, 
 
 Carue for himfelfe ; for, on his choyce depends 
 
 The fandtity and health of the weole State. 
 
 And therefore muft his choyce be circumfcrib'd 
 
 Vnto the voyce and yeelding of that Body, 
 
 Whereof he is the Head. Then if he fayes he loues you, 
 
 It fits your wifedome fo farre to beleeue it ; 
 
 As he in his peculiar Sect and force 
 
 May giue his faying deed: which is no further, 
 
 Then the maine voyce of Denmar^e goes withall. 
 
 Then weigh what lofle your Honour may fuftaine, 
 
 If with too credent eare you lift his Songs ; 
 
 Or lofe your Heart; or your chaft Treafure open 
 
 To his vnmaftred importunity. 
 
 Feare it Ofbelia,fe3re it my deare Sifter, 
 
 And keepe within the reare of your Affection; 
 
 Out of the fhot and danger of Defire. 
 
 The charieft Maid is Prodigall enough, 
 
 If fhe vnmaske her beauty to the Moone : 
 
 Vertue it felfe fcapes not calumnious ftroakes, 
 
 The Canker Galls, the Infants of the Spring 
 
 Too oft before the buttons be difclos'd, 
 
 And in the Morne and liquid dew of Youth, 
 
 Contagious blaftments are moft imminent. 
 
 Be wary then, beft fafety lies in feare; 
 
 Youth to it felfe rebels, though none elfe neere. 
 
 Of be. I fhall th'effedt of this good Leflbn keepe, 
 As watchmen to my heart : but good my Brother 
 Doe not as fome vngracious Paftors doe, 
 Shew me the fteepe and thorny way to Heauen; 
 Whilft like a puft and recklefle Libertine 
 Himfelfe, the Primrofe path of dalliance treads, 
 And reaks not his owne reade. 
 
 Laer. Oh, feare me not. 
 
 Enter Polonitu. 
 
 I ftay too long; but here my Father comes : 
 A double bleflTing is a double grace; 
 Occafion fmiles vpon a fecond leaue. 
 
 Polon. Yet heere Laertes? Aboord, aboord for fhame, 
 The winde fits in the fhoulder of your faile, 
 And you are ftaid for there : my blefling with you; 
 And thefe few Precepts in thy memory, 
 See thou Character. Giue thy thoughts no tongue, 
 Nor any vnproportion'd thought his Act : 
 Be thou familiar; but by no meanes vulgar: 
 The friends thou haft, and their adoption tride, 
 Grapple them to thy Soule, with hoopes of Steele : 
 But doe not dull thy palme, with entertainment 
 Of each vnhatch't, vnfledg'd Comrade. Beware 
 Of entrance to a quarrell : but being in 
 Bear't that th'oppofed may beware of thee. 
 Giue euery man thine eare;but few thy voyce : 
 Take each mans cenfurejbut referue thy iudgement : 
 Coftly thy habit as thy purfe can buy ; 
 But not expreft in fancie; rich, not gawdie: 
 For the Apparell oft proclaimes the man. 
 And they in France of the beft ranck and ftation, 
 Are of a moft felect and generous cheff in that. 
 Neither a borrower, nor a lender be; 
 For lone oft lofes both it felfe and friend: 
 And borrowing duls the edge of Husbandry. 
 This aboue all; to thine owne felfe be true: 
 And it muft follow, as the Night the Day, 
 Thou canft not then be falfe to any man. 
 
 Farewell: my BleiTing feafon this in thee. 
 
 Laer. Moft humbly doe I take my leaue, my Lord. 
 
 Polon. The time inuites you, goe, your feruants tend. 
 
 Laer. Farewell Ophelia, and remember well 
 What I haue faid to you. 
 
 Ofbe. Tis in my memory lockt, 
 And you your felfe fhall keepe the key of it. 
 
 Laer. Farewell. Exit Laer. 
 
 Polon. What ift Ophelia he hath faid to you f 
 
 Of be. So pleafe you,fomthing touching the L. Hamlet. 
 
 Polon. Marry, well bethought: 
 Tis told me he hath very oft of late 
 Giuen priuate time to you; and you your felfe 
 Haue of your audience beene moft free and bounteous. 
 If it be fo, as fo tis put on me; 
 And that in way of caution : I muft tell you, 
 You doe not vnderftand your felfe fo cleerely, 
 As it behoues my Daughter, and your Honour. 
 What is betweene you, giue me vp the truth? 
 
 Ofbe. He hath my Lord of late, made many tenders 
 Of his affection to me. 
 
 fokn. Affection, puh. You fpeake like a greene Girle, 
 Vnfifted in fuch perillous Circumftance. 
 Doe you beleeue his tenders, as you call them? 
 
 Ofbe. I do not know, my Lord, what I fhould thinke. 
 
 Polon. Marry He teach you; thinke your felfe a Baby, 
 That you haue tane his tenders for true pay, 
 Which are not ftarling. Tender your felfe more dearly; 
 Or not to crack the winde of the poore Phrafe, 
 Roaming it thus, you'l tender me a foole. 
 
 Ofbe. My Lord, he hath importun'd me with loue, 
 In honourable falTiion. 
 
 Polon. I, fafhion you may call it, go too, go too. 
 
 Ofbe. And hath giuen countenance to his fpeech, 
 My Lord, with all the vowes of Heauen. 
 
 Polon. I, Springes to catch Woodcocks. I doe know 
 When the Bloud burnes, how Prodigall the Soule 
 Giues the tongue vowes: thefe blazes,Daughter, 
 Giuing more light then heate; extinct in both, 
 Euen in their promife, as it is a making; 
 You muft not take for fire. For this time Daughter, 
 Be fomewhat fcanter of your Maiden prefence; 
 Set your entreatments at a higher rate, 
 Then a command to parley. For Lord Ham/et t 
 Beleeue fo much in him, that he is young, 
 And with a larger tether may he walke, 
 Then may be giuen you. In few, Ofbelia, 
 Doe not beleeue his vowes; for they are Breakers, 
 Not of the eye, which their Inueftments fhow : 
 But meere implorators of vnholy Sutes, 
 Breathing like fandtified and pious bonds, 
 The better to beguile. This is for all : 
 I would not, in plaine tearmes, from this time forth, 
 Haue you fo flander any moment leifure, 
 As to giue words or talke with the Lord Hamlet : 
 Looke too't, I charge you; come your wayes. 
 
 Ofbe. I fhall obey my Lord. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Hamlet, Horatio, Marcelltu. 
 Ham. The Ayre bites fhrewdly : is it very cold? 
 ILr. It is a nipping and an eager ayre. 
 Ham. What hower now? 
 Hor. I thinke it lacks of twelue. 
 
 Mar. No, it is ftrooke. (feafon, 
 
 Hor. Indeed I heard it not : then it drawes neere the 
 Wherein the Spirit held his wont to walke. 
 
 What 
 
 746
 
 'The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 257 
 
 this meane my Lord / (roufe, 
 
 Ham. The King doth wake to night, and takes his 
 Keepes wafTels and the fwaggering vpfpring reeles, 
 And as he dreines his draughts of Renifh downe, 
 The kettle Drum and Trumpet thus bray out 
 The triumph of his Pledge. 
 
 Herat . Is it a cuftome ? 
 
 Ham. I marry ift; 
 
 And to my mind, though I am natiue heere, 
 And to the manner borne: It is a Cuftome 
 More honour'd in the breach, then the obferuance. 
 Enter Gboft. 
 
 Hor. Looke my Lord, it comes. 
 
 Ham. Angels and Minifters ofGrace defend vs: 
 Be thou a Spirit of health, or Goblin damn'd, 
 Bring with thee ay res from Heauen,or blafts from Hell, 
 Be thy euents wicked or charitable, 
 Thou com'ft in fuch a questionable fhape 
 That I will fpeake to thee. He call thee Hamlet, 
 King, Father, Royall Dane : Oh,oh,anfwer me, 
 Let me not burft in Ignorance ; but tell 
 Why thy Canoniz'd bones Hearfed in death, 
 Haue burft their cerments, why the Sepulcher 
 Wherein we faw thee quietly enurn'd, 
 Hath op'd his ponderous and Marble iawes, 
 To caft thee vp againe ? What may this meane ? 
 That thou dead Coarfe againe in compleat fteele, 
 Reuifits thus the glimpfes of the Moone, 
 Making Night hidious? And we fooles of Nature, 
 So horridly to /hake our difpofition, 
 With thoughts beyond thee; reaches of our Soules, 
 Say, why is this ? wherefore? what fhould we doe ? 
 Gboft kec%ens Hamlet. 
 
 Hor. It beckons you to goe away with it, 
 As if it fome impartment did defire 
 To you alone. 
 
 Mar. Looke with what courteous adlion 
 It wafts you to a more remoued ground : 
 But doe not goe with it. 
 
 Hor. No, by no meanes. 
 
 Ham. It will not fpeake: then will I follow it. 
 
 Hor. Doe not my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Why, what fhould be the feare > 
 I doe not fet my life at a pins fee; 
 And for my Soule,whatcanit doe to that? 
 Being a thing immortallas it felfe : 
 It waues me forth againe; lie follow it. 
 
 Hor. What if it tempt you toward the Floud my Lord? 
 Or to the dreadfull Sonnet of the Cliffe, 
 That beetles o're his bafe into the Sea, 
 And there aflumes fome other horrible forme, 
 Which might depriue your Soueraignty of Reafon, 
 And draw you into madnefle thinke of it ? 
 
 Ham. It wafts me ftill : goe on, He follow thee. 
 
 Mar. You fhall not goe my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Hold off your hand. 
 
 Hor. Be rul'd,you fhall not goe. 
 
 Ham. My fate cries out, 
 And makes each petty Artire in this body, 
 As hardy as the Nemian Lions nerue : 
 Still am I cal'd ? Vnhand me Gentlemen : 
 By Heau'n,Ile make a Ghoftof him that lets me : 
 I fay away, goe on, lie follow thee. 
 
 Exeunt Qbofl & Hamlet. 
 
 Hor. He waxes defperate with imagination. 
 
 Mar. Let's followj'tis not fit thus to obey him. 
 
 747 
 
 Hor. Haue after, to what ifTue will this come? 
 
 Mar. Something is rotten in the State of Denmarke. 
 
 Hor. Heauen will diredl: it. 
 
 Mar. Nay, let's follow him. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Ghoft and Hamlet. ( ther. 
 
 Ham: Where wilt thou lead me/ fpeak ; He go no fur- 
 
 Gbo. Marke me. 
 
 Ham. I will. 
 
 Gbo. My hower is almoft come, 
 When I to fulphurous and tormenting Flames 
 Muft render vp my felfe. 
 
 Ham. Alas poore Ghoft. 
 
 Gbo. Pitty me not, but lend thy ferious hearing 
 To what I fhall vnfold. 
 
 Ham. Speake, I am bound to heare. 
 
 Gbo. So art thou to reuenge, when thou fhalt heare. 
 
 Ham. What? 
 
 Gbo. I am thy Fathers Spirit, 
 Doom'd for a certaine terme to walke the night; 
 And for the day confin'd to faft in Fiers, 
 Till the foule crimes done in my dayes of Nature 
 Are burnt and purg'd away ? But that I am forbid 
 To tell the fecrets of my Prifon-Houfe; 
 I could a Tale vnfold, whofe lighted word 
 Would harrow vp thy foule, freeze thy young blood, 
 Make thy two eyes like Starres, ftart from their Spheres, j 
 Thy knotty and combined locks to part, 
 And each particular haire to ftand an end, 
 Like Quilles vpon the fretfull Porpentine : 
 But this eternall blafon muft not be 
 To eares of flefh and bloud; lift Hamlet, oh lift, 
 If thou didft euer thy deare Father loue. 
 
 Ham. Oh Heauen ! 
 
 Gbo. Reuenge his foule and moft vnnaturall Murther. 
 
 Ham. Murther ? 
 
 Gboft. Murther moft foule, as in the beft it is; 
 But this moft foule, ftrange, and vnnaturall. 
 
 Ham. Haft, haft me to know it, 
 That with wings as fwift 
 As meditation, or the thoughts of Loue, 
 May fweepe to my Reuenge. 
 
 Gboft. I finde thee apt, 
 
 And duller fhould'ft thou be then the fat weede 
 That rots it felfe in eafe,on Lethe Wharfe, 
 Would'ft thou not ftirre in this. Now Hamlet heare : 
 It's giuen out, that fleepingin mine Orchard, 
 A Serpent ftung me : fo the whole eare of Denmarke, 
 Is by a forged procefTe of my death 
 Rankly abus'd : But know thou Noble youth, 
 The Serpent that did fting thy Fathers life, 
 Now weares his Crowne. 
 
 Ham. O my Propheticke foule : mine Vncle ? 
 
 Gboft. I that inceftuous, that adulterate Beaft 
 With witchcraft of his wits, hath Traitorous guifts. 
 Oh wicked Wit,and Gifts, that haue the power 
 So to feduce ? Won to to this fhamefull Luft 
 The will of my moft feeming vertuous Queen e: 
 Oh Hamlet, -what a falling off was there, 
 From me, whofe loue was of that dignity, 
 That it went hand in hand, euen with the Vow 
 I made to her in Marriage; and to decline 
 Vpon a wretch, whofe Naturall gifts were poore 
 To thofe of mine. But Vertue,as it neuer wil be moued, ' 
 Though Lewdneffe court it in a fhape of Heauen : 
 So Luft, though to a radiant Angell link'd, 
 Will fate it felfe in a Celeftiallbed,& prey on Garbage. 
 
 Oo But '
 
 258 
 
 The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 But foft,me thinkes I fent the Mornings Ayre; 
 
 Briefe let me be : Sleeping within mine Orchard, 
 
 My cuftome alwayes in the afternoone; 
 
 Vpon my fecure hower thy Vncle ftole 
 
 With iuyce of curfed Hebenon in a Violl, 
 
 And in the Porches of mine eares did poure 
 
 The leaperous Diftilment; whofe effedl 
 
 Holds fuch an enmity with bloud of Man, 
 
 That fwift as Quick-filuer, it courfes through 
 
 The naturall Gates and Allies of the Body ; 
 
 And with a fodaine vigour it doth poflet 
 
 And curd, like Aygre droppings into Milke, 
 
 The thin and wholfome blood : fo did it mine ; 
 
 And a moft inftant Tetter bak'd about, 
 
 Moft Lazar-like, with vile and loathfome cruft, 
 
 All my fmooth Body. 
 
 Thus was I, fleeping, by a Brothers hand, 
 
 Of Life, of Crowne, and Queene at once difpatcht; 
 
 Cut ofFeuen in the Bloflbmes of my Sinne, 
 
 Vnhouzzled, difappointed, vnnaneld, 
 
 No reckoning made, but fent to my account 
 
 With all my imperfections on my head; 
 
 Oh horrible, Oh horrible, moft horrible: 
 
 If thou haft nature in thee beare it not; 
 
 Let not the Royall Bed of Denmarke be 
 
 A Couch for Luxury and damned Inceft. 
 
 But howfoeuer thou purfueft this Aft, 
 
 Taint not thy mind ; nor let thy Soule contriue 
 
 Againft thy Mother ought; leaue her to heauen , 
 
 And to thofe Thornes that in herbofome lodge, 
 
 To pricke and fting her. Fare thee well at once; 
 
 The Glow-worme fliowes the Marine to be neere, 
 
 And gins to pale his vneffedluall Fire: 
 
 Adue,adue, Hamlet : remember me. Exit. 
 
 Ham. Oh all you hoft of Heauen ! Oh Earth; what els? 
 And fhall I couple Hell ? Oh fie : hold my heart; 
 And you my finnewes,grow not inftant Old; 
 But beare me ftiffely vp: Remember thee? 
 I, thou poore Ghoft, while memory holds a feate 
 In this diftradted Globe : Remember thee ? 
 Yea, from the Table of my Memory, 
 He wipe away all triuiall fond Records, 
 All fawes of Bookes,all formes, all prefures paft, 
 That youth and obferuation coppied there; 
 And thy Commandment all alone fhall Hue 
 Within the Booke and Volume of my Braine, 
 Vnmixt with bafer matter; yes, yes, by Heauen : 
 Oh moft pernicious woman I 
 Oh Villaine, Villaine, fmiling damned Villaine I 
 My Tables, my Tables; meet it is I fet it downej 
 That one may fmile,and fmileand be a Villaine; 
 At leaft I'm fure it may be fo in Denmarke ; 
 So Vnckle there you are : now to my word; 
 It is; Adue, Adue, Remember me : I haue fworn't. 
 
 Hor. & Mar.ivitbin. My Lord, my Lord. 
 Enter Horatio and Marcelltu. 
 
 Mar. Lord Hamlet. 
 
 Hor. Heauen fecure him. 
 
 Mar. So be it. 
 
 Hor. Illo, ho, ho, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Hillo, ho, ho, boy; come bird, come. 
 
 Mar. How ift't my Noble Lord ? 
 
 Hor. What newes, my Lord? 
 
 Ham. Oh wonderful! ! 
 
 Hor. Good my Lord tell it. 
 
 Ham. No you'l reuealeit. 
 
 Hor. Not I, my Lord, by Heauen. 
 
 Mar. Nor I, my Lord. (think it? 
 
 Ham. How fay you then, would heart of man once 
 But you'l be fecret? 
 
 'Both. I, by Heau'n, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. There's nere a villaine dwelling in all Denmarke 
 But hee's an arrant knaue. 
 
 Hor. There needs no Ghoft my Lord, come from the 
 Graue,to tell vs this. 
 
 Ham. Why right, you are i'th' right; 
 And fo, without more circumftance at all, 
 I hold it fit that we fhake hands,and part: 
 You, as your bufines and defires fhall point you : 
 For euery man ha's bufmefle and defire, 
 Such as it is : and for mine owne poore part, 
 Looke you, He goe pray. 
 
 Hor. Thefe are but wild and hurling words, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. I'm forry they offend you heartily : 
 Yes faith, heartily. 
 
 Hor. There's no offence my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Yes, by Saint Patricide, but there is my Lord, 
 And much offence too, touching this Vifion heere : 
 It is an honeft Ghoft, that let me tell you : 
 For your delire to know what is betweene vs, 
 O'remafter't as you may. And now good friends, 
 As you are Friends, Schollers and Soldiers, 
 Giue me one poore requeft. 
 
 Hor. What is't my Lord? we will. 
 
 Ham. Neuer make known what you haue feen to night. 
 
 f Botb. My Lord, we will not. 
 
 Ham. Nay, but fwear't. 
 
 Hor. Infaith my Lord, not I. 
 
 Mar. Nor I my Lord : in faith. 
 
 Ham. Vpon my fword. 
 
 Marcel/. We haue fworne my Lord already. 
 
 Ham. Indeed, vpon my fword, Indeed. 
 
 Gho. Sweare. Gbojt cries -under the Stage. 
 
 Ham. Ah ha boy,fayeft thou fo. Art thou there true- 
 penny ? Come one you here this fellow in the felleredge 
 Confent to fweare. 
 
 Hor. Propofc the Oath my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Neuer to fpeake of this that you haue feene. 
 Sweare by my fword. 
 
 Gbo. Sweare. 
 
 Ham. Hie & -vbique? Then wee'l fhift for grownd, 
 Come hither Gentlemen, 
 And lay your hands againe vpon my fword, 
 Neuer to fpeake of this that you haue heard : 
 Sweare by my Sword. 
 
 Gbo. Sweare. (faft? 
 
 Ham. Well faid old Mole,can'ft worke i'th' ground fo 
 A worthy Pioner, once more remoue good friends. 
 
 Hor. Oh day and nightsbut this is wondrous ftrange. 
 
 Ham. And therefore as a ftranger giue it welcome. 
 There are more things in Heauen and Earth, Horatio, 
 Then are dream't of in our Philofophy But come, 
 Here as before, neuer fo helpe you mercy, 
 How ftrange or odde fo ere I beare my felfe; 
 (As I perchance heereafter fhall thinke meet 
 To put an Anticke difpofition on :) 
 That you at fuch time feeing me, neuer fhall 
 With Armes encombred thus, or thus, head fhake; 
 Or by pronouncing of fome doubtfull Phrafe; 
 As well, we know,or we could and if we would, 
 Or if we lift to fpeake ; or there be and if there might, 
 Or fuch ambiguous giuing out to note, 
 
 That 
 74-3
 
 'The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 259 
 
 That you know ought of m e j thia n o t t o d oe : 
 
 So grace and mercy at yo ur mo ft neede helpe you 
 
 Sweare. 
 
 Ghoji. Sweare. 
 
 Ham. Kelt, reft perturbed Spirit : fo Gentlemen, 
 With all my loue I doe commend me to you ; 
 And what fo poore a man as Hamlet is, 
 May doe t'exprefTe his loue and friending to you, 
 God willing fhall not lacke : let vs goe in together, 
 And ftill your fingers on your lippes I pray, 
 The time is out of ioynt: Oh curfed fpight, 
 That euer I was borne to fet it right. 
 Nay, come let's goe together. Sxeutit, 
 
 Affius Secundus. 
 
 Enter foloniia ,and Reynoldo. 
 
 Talon. Giue him his money, and thefe notes Reynoldo. 
 
 Reynol, I will my Lord. 
 
 Polon. You fhall doe maruels wifely: good Reynoldo, 
 Before you vifite him you make inquiry 
 Of his behauiour. 
 
 Reynol. My Lord, I did intend it. 
 
 Polon, Marry, well faid ; 
 Very well faid. Looke you Sir, 
 Enquire me firft what Danskers are in Paris; 
 And how,and who; what meanes;and where they keepe: 
 What company, at what expence : and finding 
 By this encompafTement and drift of queftion, 
 That they doe know my fonne : Come you more neerer 
 Then your particular demands will touch it, 
 Take you as 'twere fome diftant knowledge of him, 
 And thus I know his father and his friends, 
 And in part him. Doe you marke this Reynoldo ? 
 
 Reynol. I, very well my Lord. 
 
 Polon. And in part him, but you may fay not well; 
 But if't be hee I meane, hees very wilde; 
 Addidled fo and fo; and there put on him 
 What forgeries you pleafe : marry, none fo ranke, 
 As may difhonour him ; take heed of that : 
 But Sir, fuch wanton, wild, and vfuall flips, 
 As are Companions noted and moft knowne 
 To youth and liberty. 
 
 ^(eynd. As gaming my Lord. 
 
 To/on. I, or drinking, fencing, fwearing, 
 Quarelling, drabbiug. You may goe fo farre. 
 
 Reynol. My Lord that would diflionour him. 
 
 To/on. Faith no, as you may feafon it in the charge; 
 You muft not put another fcandall on him, 
 That hee is open to Incontinencie; 
 
 That's not my meaning: but breath his faults fo quaintly, 
 That they may feeme the taints of liberty; 
 The flafh and out-breake of a fiery minde, 
 A fauagenes in vnreclaim'd bloud of generall aflault. 
 
 Reynol. But my good Lord. 
 
 Polon. Wherefore fliould you doe this ? 
 
 Reynol. I my Lord, I would know that. 
 
 Polon. Marry Sir, heere's my drift, 
 And I belieue it is a fetch of warrant: 
 You laying thefe flight fulleyes on my Sonne, 
 As 'twere a thing a little foil'd i'th' working : (found, 
 Marke you your party in conuerfe ; him you would 
 Hauing euer feene. In the prenominate crimes, 
 
 The youth you breath of guilty, be aiTur'd 
 He clofes with you in this confequence: 
 Good fir, or fo,or friend, or Gentleman. 
 According to the Phrafe and the Addition, 
 Of man and Country. 
 
 Reynol. Very good my Lord. 
 
 Polon. And then Sir does he this ? 
 He does : what was I about to fay? 
 I was about to fay fomthing : where did I leaue ? 
 
 Reynol. At clofes in the confequence : 
 At friend, or fo, and Gentleman. 
 
 Polon. At clofes in the confequence, I marry, 
 He clofes with you thus. I know the Gentleman, 
 I faw him yefterday,or tother day; 
 Or then or then, with fuch and fuchjand as you fay, 
 There was he gaming, there o'retooke in's Roufe, 
 There falling out at Tennis ; or perchance, 
 I faw him enter fuch a houfe of faile; 
 Videlicet,* Brothell, or fo forth. See you now; 
 Your bait of falfhood, takes this Cape of truth ; 
 And thus doe we of wifedome and of reach 
 With windlefles,and with aflaies of Bias, 
 By indirections finde directions out : 
 So by my former Lefture and aduice 
 Shall you my Sonne; you haue me,haue you not ? 
 
 'Reynol. My Lord I haue. 
 
 Polon. God buy you; fare you well. 
 
 Reynol. Good my Lord. 
 
 Tolon. Obferue his inclination in yourfelfe. 
 
 Reynol. I fhall my Lord. 
 
 Polon. And let him plye his Muficke. 
 
 Reynol. Well, my Lord. Exit. 
 
 Enter Ophelia. 
 
 Polon. Farewell : 
 How now Ophelia, what's the matter ? 
 
 Ophe. Alas my Lord, I haue beene fo affrighted. 
 
 Polon. With what, in the name of Heauen ? 
 
 Ophe. My Lord, as I was fowing in my Chamber, 
 Lord Hamlet with his doublet all vnbrac'd, 
 No hat vpon his head, his ftockings foul'd, 
 Vngartred, and downe giued to his Anckle, 
 Pale as his fhirt,his knees knocking each other, 
 And with a looke fo pitious in purport, 
 As if he had been looted out of hell, 
 To fpeake of horrors : he comes before me. 
 
 Tolon. Mad for thy Loue / 
 
 Of be. My Lord, I doe not know: but truly I do fea 
 
 Polon. What faid he? 
 
 Of be. He tooke me by the wrift,and held me har 
 Then goes he to the length of all his arme; 
 And with his other hand thus o're his brow, 
 He fals to fuch perufall of my face, 
 As he would draw it. Long ftaid he fo, 
 At laft,a little fhaking of mine Arme : 
 And thrice his head thus wauing vp and downe; 
 He rais'd a figh,fo pittious and profound, 
 That it did feeme to matter all his bulke, 
 And end his being. That done, he lets me goe, 
 And with his head ouer his fhoulders turn'd, 
 He feem'd to finde his way without his eyes, 
 For out adores he went without their helpe; 
 And to the laft, bended their light on me. 
 
 Polon. Goe with me, I will goe feeke the King, 
 This is the very extafie of Loue, 
 Whofe violent property foredoes it felfe, 
 
 And
 
 260 
 
 The rage die of Hamlet. 
 
 And leads the will to defperate Vndertakings, 
 As oft as any pafiion vnder Heauen, 
 That does afflidl our Natures. I am forrie, 
 What haue you giuen him any hard words of late? 
 
 Ophc. No my good Lord : but as you did command, 
 I did repell his Letters, and deny'de 
 His accefle to me. 
 
 Pol. That hath made him mad. 
 I am forrie that with better fpeed and iudgement 
 I had not quoted him. I feare he did but trifle, 
 And meant to wracke thee : but befhrew my iealoufie : 
 It feemes it is as proper to our Age, 
 To caft beyond our felues in our Opinions, 
 As it is common for the yonger fort 
 To lacke difcretion. Come, go we to the King, 
 This muft be knowne, w being kept clofe might moue 
 More greefe to hide, then hate to vtter loue. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter King,Queene, Rojincrane , and Gullden- 
 fterne Cumalys. 
 
 King, Welcome deere Rojincrance and Guildenfterne. 
 Moreouer, that we much did long to fee you, 
 The neede we haue to vfe you, did prouoke 
 Our haftie fending. Something haue you heard 
 Of Hamlets transformation : fo I call it, 
 Since not th'exterior, nor the inward man 
 Refembles that it was. What it ihould bee 
 More then his Fathers death, that thus hath put him 
 So much from th'vnderftanding of himfelfe, 
 I cannot deeme of. I intreat you both, 
 That being of fo young dayes brought vp with him : 
 And fince fo Neighbour'd to his youth, and humour, 
 That you vouchfafe your reft heere in our Court 
 Some little time : fo by your Companies 
 To draw him on to pleafures,and to gather 
 So much as from Occafions you may gleane, 
 That open'd lies within our remedie. 
 
 Qu. Good Gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you, 
 And fure I am, two men there are not liuing, 
 To whom he more adheres. If it will pleafe you 
 To fliew vs fo much Gentrie, and good will, 
 As to expend your time with vs a-while, 
 For the fupply and profit of our Hope, 
 Your Vifitation fliall receiue fuch thankes 
 As fits a Kings remembrance. 
 
 Rojln. Both your Maiefties 
 Might by the Soueraigne power you haue of vs, 
 Put your dread pleafures, more into Command 
 Then to Entreatie. 
 
 Gull. We both obey, 
 
 And here giue vp our felues, in the full bent, 
 To lay our Seruices freely at your feete, 
 To be commanded. 
 
 King. Thankes Rojincrance, and gentle Guildenfterne. 
 
 S^u. Thankes Guildenfterne and gentle Rojincrance. 
 And I befeech you inftantly to vifit 
 My too much changed Sonne. 
 Go fome of ye, 
 And bring the Gentlemen where Hamlet is. 
 
 Guil. Heauens make our prefence and our pradtifes 
 Pleafant and helpfull to him. Exit. 
 
 Queene. Amen. 
 
 Enter Polonius. 
 
 Pol. Th'AmbafTadors from Norwey, my good Lord, 
 Are ioyfully return'd. 
 
 King. Thou ftill haft bin the Father of good Newes. 
 
 Pol. Haue I, my Lord ? Affure you, my good Liege, 
 I hold my dutie, as I hold my Soule, 
 Both to my God, one to my gracious King : 
 And I do thinke, or elfe this braine of mine 
 Hunts not the traile of Policie,fo fure 
 As I haue vs'd to do : that I haue found 
 The very caufe of Hamlets Lunacie. 
 
 King. Oh fpeake of that, that I do long to heare. 
 
 Tol. Giue firft admittance to th'Ambafiadors, 
 My Newes fhall be the Newes to that great Feaft. 
 
 King. Thy felfe do grace to them, and bring them in. 
 He tels me my fweet Q^eene, that he hath found 
 The head and fourfe of all your Sonnes diftemper. 
 
 Qu. I doubt it is no other, but the maine, 
 His Fathers death, and our o're-hafty Marriage. 
 Enter folonim , IJoltumand, and Cornelius. 
 
 King. Well, we (hall fift him. Welcome good Frends: 
 Say Voltumand, what from our Brother Norwey / 
 
 Volt. Mod faire returne of Greetings, and Defires. 
 Vpon our firft, he fent out to fupprefle 
 His Nephewes Leuies, which to him appear'd 
 To be a preparation 'gainft the Poleak : 
 But better look'd into, he truly found 
 It was againft your Highnefle, whereat greeued,] 
 That fo his SicknefTe, Age, and Impotence 
 Was falfely borne in hand, fends out Arrefts 
 On Fortinbras, which he (in breefe) obeyes, 
 Receiues rebuke from Norwey: and in fine, 
 Makes V^ow before his Vnkle, neuer more 
 To giue th'afiay of Armes againft your Maieftie. 
 Whereon old Norwey, ouercome with ioy, 
 Giues him three thouiand Crownes in Annuall Fee, 
 And his Commifiion to imploy thofe Soldiers 
 So leuied as before, againft the Poleak : 
 With an intreaty heerein further fliewne, 
 That it might pleafe you to giue quiet pafle 
 Through your Dominions, for his Enterprize, 
 On fuch regards of fafety and allowance, 
 As therein are fet downe. 
 
 King. It likes vs well : 
 
 And at our more confider'd time wee'l read, 
 Anfwer,and thinke vpon this Bufmefle. 
 Meane time we thanke you, for your well-tooke Labour. 
 Go to your reft, at night wee'l Feaft together. 
 Moft welcome home. 8xit AmbaJJ". 
 
 Pol. This bufinefle is very well ended. 
 My Liege, and Madam, to expoftulate 
 What Maieftie fhould be, what Dutie is, 
 Why day is day ; night, night; and time is time. 
 Were nothing but to wafte Night,Day,and Time. 
 Therefore, fince Breuitie is the Soule of Wit, 
 And tedioufnefie, the limbes and outward flourifhes, 
 I will be breefe. Your Noble Sonne is mad : 
 Mad call I it j for to define true Madnefie, 
 What is't, but to be nothing elfe but mad. 
 But let that go. 
 
 Qu. More matter, with lefle Art. 
 
 Pol. Madam, I fvveare I vfe no Art at all : 
 That he is mad, 'tis true : 'Tis true 'tis pittie, 
 And pittie it is true : A foolifh figure, 
 But farewell it : for I will vfe no Art. 
 
 Mad 
 
 750'
 
 The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 261 
 
 Mad let vs grant him then : and now remaines 
 
 That we finde out the caufe of this effedt, 
 
 Or rather fay, the caufe of this defect; 
 
 For this effedl defedtiue, comes by caufe, 
 
 Thus it remaines, and the remainder thus. Perpend, 
 
 I haue a daughter : haue, whil'ft <he is mine, 
 
 Who in her Dutie and Obedience, marke, 
 
 Hath giuen me this : now gather, and furmife. 
 
 The Letter. 
 To the Celeftiall,and my Souies Idoll, the mo/} beautified 0- 
 
 pbelia . 
 
 That's an ill Phrafe, a vilde Phrafe, beautified is a vilde 
 Phrafe : but you fliall heare thefe in her excellent white 
 bofome, thefe. 
 
 Qu. Came this from Hamlet to her. 
 
 Pol. Good Madam ftav awhile, I will be faithfull. 
 Doubt tbou, the Starres are fire, 
 Doubt, that the Sunne doth moue : 
 Doubt Truth to be a Liter, 
 
 But neuir Doubt , / hue. 
 
 deere Ophelia, I am ill at tbefe Humbert: 1 haue not Art to 
 reckon my grones ; but that I loue tbee beft, ob moji 'Bejl be- 
 leeue it. tAdieu. 
 
 Thine euermore moft deere Lady, tfbilft this 
 
 cftfacbine u to him, Hamlet. 
 This in Obedience hath my daughter fhew'd me : 
 And more aboue hath his foliciting, 
 As they fell out by Time, by Meanes,and Place, 
 All giuen to mine eare. 
 
 King. But how hath me receiu'd his Loue? 
 
 Pol. What do you thinke of me ? 
 
 King. As of a man, faithfull and Honourable. 
 
 Po/.I wold faine proue fo.But what might you think ? 
 When I had feene this hot loue on the wing, 
 As I perceiued it, I muft tell you that 
 Before my Daughter told me, what might you 
 Or my deere Maieftie your Queene heere, think, 
 If I had playd the Deske or Table-booke, 
 Or giuen my heart a winking, mute and dumbe, 
 Or look'd vpon this Loue, with idle fight, 
 What might you thinke ? No, I went round to worke, 
 And (my yong Miftris)thus I did befpeake 
 Lord Hamlet is a Prince out of thy Starre, 
 This muft not be : and then, I Precepts gaue her, 
 That flie mould locke her felfe from his Refort, 
 Admit no Meflengers, receiue no Tokens : 
 Which done, fhe tooke the Fruites of my Aduice, 
 And he repulfed. A fliort Tale to make, 
 Fell into a Sadnefle, then into a Faft, 
 Thence to a Watch, thence into a Weaknefle, 
 Thence to a Lightnefle,and by this declenfion 
 Inw the Madnefle whereon now he raues, 
 And all we waile for. 
 
 King. Do you thinke 'tis this? 
 
 Qu. It may be very likely. 
 
 Po/.Hath there bene fuch a time, I'de fain know that, 
 That I haue poflitiuely faid, 'tis fo, 
 When it prou'd otherwife ? 
 
 King. Not that I know. 
 
 Pol. Take this from this; if this be otherwife, 
 If Circumftances leade me, I will finde 
 Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeede 
 Within the Center. 
 
 King. How may we try it further ? 
 
 Pol. You know fometimes 
 He walkes foure houres together, heere 
 
 75' 
 
 In the Lobby. 
 
 Qu. So he ha's indeed. 
 
 Pol. At fuch a time He loofe my Daughter to him, 
 Be you and I behinde an Arras then, 
 Marke the encounter : If he loue her not, 
 And be not from his reafon falne thereon ; 
 Let me be no Affiftant for a State, 
 And keepe a Farme and Carters. 
 
 King. We will try it. 
 
 Enter Hamlet reading on a Bocly. 
 
 Qu. But looke where fadly the poore wretch 
 Comes reading. 
 
 fol. Away I do befeech you, both away, 
 lie boord him prefently. Exit King & Queen. 
 
 Oh giue me leaue. How does my good Lord Hamlet ? 
 
 Ham. Well, God-a-mercy. 
 
 Pol. Do you know me, my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. Excellent, excellent well : y'are a Fiflimonger. 
 
 Pol. Not I my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Then I would you were fo honeft a man. 
 
 fol. Honeft, my Lord? 
 
 Ham. I fir, to be honeft as this world goes, is to bee 
 one man pick'd out of two thoufand. 
 
 fol. That's very true. my Lord. 
 
 Ham. For if the Sun breed Magots in a dead dogge, 
 
 being a good kifling Carrion 
 
 Haue you a daughter ? 
 
 Pol. I haue my Lord. 
 
 Ham, Let her not walke i'th'Sunne : Conception is a 
 blefsing, but not as your daughter may conceiue. Friend 
 looke too't. 
 
 Po/.How fay you by that?Still harping on my daugh- 
 ter: yet he knew me not at firft; he faid I was a Fifhmon- 
 ger : he is farre gone, farre gone : and truly in my youth, 
 I fu fired much extreamity for loue : very neere this. He 
 fpeake to him againe. What do you read my Lord? 
 
 Ham. Words, words, words. 
 
 Pol. What is the matter, my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. Betweene who ? 
 
 Pol. I meane the matter you meane,my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Slanders Sir : for the Satyricall flaue faies here, 
 that old men haue gray Beards; that their faces are wrin- 
 kled : their eyes purging thicke Amber, or Plum-Tree 
 Gumme : and that they haue a plentifull locke of Wit, 
 together with weake Hammes. All which Sir, though I 
 moft powerfully, and potently beleeue ; yet I holde it 
 not Honeftie to haue it thus fet downe : For you your 
 felfe Sir, mould be old as I am, if like a Crab you could 
 go backward. 
 
 Pol, Though this be madnefle, 
 Yet there is Method in't : will you walke 
 Out of the ayre my Lord? 
 
 Ham. Into my Graue? 
 
 Pol. Indeed that is out o'th'Ayre : 
 How pregnant (fometimes) his Replies are? 
 A happinefle, 
 
 That often Madnefie hits on, 
 Which Reafon and Sanitie could not 
 So profperoufly be deliuer'd of. 
 I will leaue him, 
 
 And fodainely contriue the meanes of meeting 
 Betweene him, and my daughter. 
 My Honourable Lord, I will moft humbly 
 Take my leaue of you. 
 
 003 Ham
 
 262 
 
 The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. You cannot Sir take from me any thing, that I 
 will more willingly part withall, except my life, my 
 life. 
 
 folon. Fare you well my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Thefe tedious old tboles. 
 
 folon. You goe to feeke my Lord Hamlet ; there 
 hee is. 
 
 Enter Rojincran and Guildenfterne. 
 
 Rojin. God faue you Sir. 
 
 Guild. Mine honour'd Lord ? 
 
 Rofin. My moft deare Lord? 
 
 Ham. My excellent good friends ? How do'ft thou 
 Guildenjierne* Oh,RoJincrane ; good Lads: How doe ye 
 both ? 
 
 Rojin. As the indifferent Children of the earth. 
 
 Guild. Happy, in that we are not ouer-happy : on For' 
 tunes Cap, we are not the very Button. 
 
 Ham. Nor the Soales of her Shoo ? 
 
 Rofin. Neither my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Then you liue about her wafte, or in the mid- 
 dle of her fauour? 
 
 Quil. Faith, her priuates, -we. 
 
 Ham. In the fecret parts of Fortune ? Oh, moft true : 
 flie is a Strumpet. What's the newes? 
 
 j^e/Jn. None my Lord ; but that the World's growne 
 honeft. 
 
 Ham. Then is Doomefday neere : But your newes is 
 not true. Let me queftion more in particular : what haue 
 you my good friends, deferued at the hands of Fortune, 
 that flie fends you to Prifon hither ? 
 
 Guil. Prifon, my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. Denmark's a Prifon. 
 
 Rofin. Then is the World one. 
 
 Ham. A goodly one, in which there are many Con- 
 fines, Wards, and Dungeons; Denmarfy being one o'th* 
 worft. 
 
 Rofin. We thinke not fo my Lord, 
 
 Ham. Why then 'tis none to youjfor there is nothing 
 either good or bad, but thinking makes it fo : to me it is 
 a prifon. 
 
 Rofin. Why then your Ambition makes it one : 'tis 
 too narrow for your rninde. 
 
 Ham. O God, I could be bounded in a nut/hell, and 
 count my felfe a King of infinite fpace ; were it not that 
 I haue bad dreames. 
 
 Guil. Which dreames indeed are Ambition : for the 
 very fubftance of the Ambitious, is meerely the fhadow 
 of a Dreame. 
 
 Ham. A dreame it felfe is but a fhadow. 
 
 Rofin. Truely , and I hold Ambition of fo ayry and 
 light a quality, that it is but a fhadowes fhadow. 
 
 Ham. Then are our Beggers bodies ; and our Mo- 
 narchs and out-ftretcht Heroes the Beggers Shadowes: 
 fhall wee to th' Court : for, by my fey I cannot rea- 
 fon? 
 
 'Both. Wee'l wait vpon you. 
 
 Ham. No fuch matter. I will not fort you with the 
 reft of my feruants : for to fpeake to you like an honeft 
 man : I am moft dreadfully attended; but in the beaten 
 way of friendship. What make you at Elfonower? 
 
 !(p(in. To vifit you my Lord, no other occafion. 
 
 Ham. Begger that I am, I am euen poore in thankes; 
 but I thanke you : and fure deare friends my thanks 
 are too deare a halfepeny ; were you not fent for ? Is it 
 your owne inclining ? Is it a free vifitation ? Come, 
 
 deale iuftly with me : come, come; nay fpeake. 
 
 Guil. What fhould we fay my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. Why any thing. But to the purpofe; you were 
 fent for; and there is a kinde confeffion in your lookes; 
 which your modefties haue not craft enough to co- 
 lor, I know the good King & Queene haue lent for you. 
 
 Rojin. To what end my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. That you muft teach me : but let mee coniure 
 you by the rights of our fellowfhip, by the confonancy of 
 our youth, by the Obligation of our euer-preferued loue, 
 and by what more deare, a better propofer could charge 
 you withall ; be euen and direcT: with me, whether you 
 were fent for or no. 
 
 Rofm. What fay you ? 
 
 Ham. Nay then I haue an eye of you: if you loue me 
 hold not off. 
 
 Quil. My Lord, we were fent for. 
 
 Ham. I will tell you why ; fo fhall my anticipation 
 preuent your difcouery of your fecricie to the King and 
 Quea^ermoult no feather, I haue of late, but wherefore 
 1 know not, loft all my mirth, forgone all cuftome of ex- 
 ercife; and indeed, it goes fo heauenly with my difpofiti- 
 on;that this goodly frame the Earth, feemes to me a fter- 
 rill Promontory ; this moft excellent Canopy the Ayre, 
 look you, this braue ore-hanging, this Maiefticall Roofe, 
 fretted with golden fire : why, it appeares no other thing 
 to mee, then a foule and peftilent congregation of va- 
 pours. What a piece of worke is a man ! how Noble in 
 Reafon ? how infinite in faculty? in forme and mouing 
 how expreffe and admirable ? in Adtion, how like an An- 
 gel? in apprehenfion, how like a God? the beauty of the 
 world, the Parragon of Animals; and yet to me, what is 
 this QuintefTence of Duft ? Man delights not me ; no, 
 nor Woman neither; though by your fmiling you feeme 
 to fay fo. 
 
 Rofin. My Lord , there was no fuch ftuffe in my 
 thoughts. 
 
 Ham. Why did you laugh, when I faid, Man delights 
 not me ? 
 
 Rofin. To thinke, my Lord, if you delight not in Man, 
 what Lenton entertainment the Players fhall receiue 
 from you : wee coated them on the way, and hither are 
 they comming to offer you Seruice. 
 
 Ham. He that playes the King fhall be welcome; his 
 Maiefty fhall haue Tribute of mee : the aduenturous 
 Knight flial vfe his Foyle and Target : the Louer fhall 
 not figh gratis, the humorous man fhall end his part in 
 peace : the Clowne fhall make thofe laugh whole lungs 
 are tickled a'th' fere : and the Lady fh-dl fay her minde 
 freely; or the blanke Verfe lhall halt for't : what Players 
 are they? 
 
 Rojin. Euen thofe you were wont to take delight in 
 the Tragedians of the City. 
 
 Ham. How chances it they trauaile ? their refi- 
 dence both in reputation and profit was better both 
 wayes. 
 
 Rojin. I thinke their Inhibition comes by the meanes 
 of the late Innouation f 
 
 Ham. Doe they hold the fame eftimation they did 
 when I was in the City ? Are they fo follow'd ? 
 
 Rojin. No indeed, they are not. 
 
 Ham. How comes it ? doe they grow rufty ? 
 
 Rojin. Nay, their indcauour keepes in the wonted 
 pace ; But there is Sir an ayrie of Children, little 
 Yafes, that crye out on the top of queftion ; and 
 are moft tyrannically clap't for't : thefe are now the 
 
 fafhi- 
 
 75*
 
 The Tragedie ofHamlet. 
 
 263 
 
 fa/hion, and fo be-rat!ed the common Stages (fo they 
 call them) that many wearing Rapiers, are affraide of 
 Goofe-quils,and dare fcarfe come thither. 
 
 Ham. What are they Children? Who maintains 'em? 
 How are they efcoted ? Will they purfue the Quality no 
 longer then they can fing? Will they not fay afterwards 
 if they fliould grow themfelues to common Players (as 
 it is like moft if their meanes are no) better) their Wri- 
 ters do them wrong, to make them exclaim againft their 
 owne Succeflion. 
 
 .Ro^n.Faith there ha's bene much to do on both fides: 
 and the Nation holds it no finne, to tarre them to Con- 
 trouerfie. There was for a while, no mony bid for argu- 
 ment, vnlefle the Poet and the Player went to Curies in 
 the Queftion. 
 
 Ham. Is't pofllble ? 
 
 Guild. Oh there ha's beene much throwing about of 
 Braines. 
 
 Ham, Do the Boyes carry it away ? 
 
 Rojln.l that they (To my Lord, Hercules & his load too. 
 
 Ham. It is not ftrange : for mine Vnckle is King of 
 Denmarke, and thofe that would make mowes at him 
 while my Father liued ; giue twenty, forty, an hundred 
 Ducates a peece, for his picture in Little. There is fome- 
 thing in this more then Naturall, if Philofophie could 
 finde it out. 
 
 Flourifhfor the Players. 
 
 Guil. There are the Players. 
 
 Ham. Gentlemen, you are welcom to Blfonover: your 
 hands, come : The appurtenance of Welcome, is Fafhion 
 and Ceremony. Let me comply with you in the Garbe, 
 left my extent to the Players( which I tell you muft fhew 
 fairely outward)fliould more appeare like entertainment 
 then yours. You are welcome : but my Vnckle Father, 
 and Aunt Mother are deceiu'd. 
 
 Guil. In what my deere Lord ? 
 
 Ham. I am but mad North, North-Weft : when the 
 Winde is Southerly, I know a Hawke from a Handfaw. 
 Enter Poloniui. 
 
 Pol. Well be with you Gentlemen. 
 
 Ham. Hearke you Guildtnfterne, and you too : at each 
 eare a hearer : that great Baby you fee there, is not yet 
 out of his fwathing clouts. 
 
 RoJtn.Happ\\y he's the fecond time come to them: for 
 they fay, an old man is twice a childe. 
 
 Ham. I will Prophefie. Hee comes to tell me of the 
 Players. Mark it, you fay right Sir : for a Monday mor- 
 ning 'twas fo indeed. 
 
 3V. My Lord, I haue Newes to tell you. 
 
 Ham. My Lord, I haue Newes to tell you. 
 When RofJiM an Aftor in Rome 
 
 Pol. The Aclors are come hither my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Buzze, buzze. 
 
 Pol. Vpon mine Honor. 
 
 Ham. Then can each Aclor on his Afle 
 
 Polon. The beft Actors in the world, either for Trage- 
 die, Comedie, Hiftorie, Paftorall : Paftoricall-Comicall- 
 Hiftoricall-Paftorall : Tragicall-Hiftoricall : Tragicall- 
 Comicall-Hiftoricall-Paftorall : Scene indiuible, or Po- 
 em vnlimited. Seneca cannot be too heauy, nor Plautui 
 too light, for the law of Writ,and the Liberty. Thefe are 
 the onely men. 
 
 Ham. O Itpbta ludge of Ifrael, what a Treafure had'ft 
 thou? 
 
 Pol. What a Treafure had he, my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. Why one faire Daughter,and no more, 
 
 75J 
 
 The which he loued pafiing well. 
 
 Pel. Still on my Daughter. 
 
 Ham. Am I not i'th'right old lepbta? 
 
 Polon. If you call me lephta my Lord, I haue a daugh- 
 ter that I loue pafling well. 
 
 Ham. Nay that followes not. 
 
 Polon. What followes then. my Lord? 
 
 Ha.Why, As by lot, God wot : and then you know, It 
 came to pafle, as moft like it was : The firft rowe of the 
 Pans Chanjon will fhew you more. For looke where my 
 Abridgements come. 
 
 Enter foure or fiue Players. 
 
 Y'are welcome Matters, welcome all. I am glad to fee 
 thee well : Welcome good Friends. O my olde Friend ? 
 Thy face is valiant fince I faw thee laft : Com'ft thou to 
 beard me in Denmarke ? What, my yong Lady and Mi- 
 ftris?Byrlady your Ladifhip is neerer Heauen then when 
 I faw you laft, by the altitude of a Choppine. Pray God 
 your voice like a peece of vncurrant Gold be not crack'd 
 within the ring. Mafters, you are all welcome:wee'l e'ne 
 to't like French Faulconers, flic at any thing we fee: wee'l 
 haue a Speech ftraight. Come giue vs a taft of your qua- 
 lity : come, a paflionate fpeech. 
 
 l.Play. What fpeech, my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. I heard thee fpeak me a fpeech once, but it was 
 r.euer Acted : or if it was, not aboue once, for the Play I 
 remember pleas'd not the Million, 'twas Cauiarie to the 
 Generall : but it was (as I receiu'd it, and others, whofe 
 iudgement in fuch matters, cried in the top of mine) an 
 excellent Play ; well digefted in the Sccenes, fet downe 
 with as much modeftie, as cunning. I remember one faid, 
 there was no Sallets in the lines, to make the matter fa- 
 uoury; nor no matter in the phrafe, that might indite the 
 Author of affectation, but cal'd it an honeft method. One 
 cheefe Speech in it, I cheefely lou'd, 'twas <^neas Tale 
 to Dido, and thereabout of it efpecially, where he fpeaks 
 of Priams (laughter. If it liue in your memory, begin at 
 this Line, let me fee, let me fee : The rugged Pyrrhm like 
 \\\ Hyrcanian Beaft. It is not fo : it begins with Pyrrkut 
 The rugged Tyrrbut, he whofe Sable Armes 
 Blacke as his purpofe, did the night refemble 
 When he lay couched in the Ominous Horfe, 
 Hath now this dread and blacke Complexion fmear'd 
 With Heraldry more difmall: Head to foote 
 Now is he to take Geulles, horridly Trick'd 
 With blood of Fathers, Mothers, Daughters, Sonnes, 
 Bak'd and imparted with the parching ftreets, 
 That lend a tyrannous, and damned light 
 To their vilde Murthers, roafted in wrath and fire, 
 And thus o're-fized with coagulate gore, 
 With eyes like Carbuncles, the heliifli Pyrrbiti 
 Old Grandfire Priam feekes. 
 
 Pol. Fore God, my Lord, well fpoken, with good ac- 
 cent,and good difcretion. 
 
 i. Player. Anon he findes him, 
 Striking too mort at Greekes. His anticke Sword, 
 Rebellious to his Arme, lyes where it falles 
 Repugnant to command : vnequall match, 
 Pyrrbui at Priam driues, in Rage ftrikes wide : 
 But with the whiffe and winde of his fell Sword, 
 Th'vnnerued Father fals. Then fenfelefle Illium, 
 Seeming to feele his blow, with flaming top 
 Stoopes to his Bace, and with a hideous crafh 
 Takes prifoner fyrrbtu eare. For loe, his Sword 
 Which was declining on the Milkie head 
 Of Reuerend Trww,feem'd i'th'Ayre to ftieke : 
 
 So 
 
 5 c
 
 264 
 
 The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 So as a painted Tyrant Pyrrbtu ftood, 
 
 And like a Newtrall to his will and matter, did nothing. 
 
 But as we often fee againft fome ftorme, 
 
 A filence in the Heauens, the Racke ftand ftill, 
 
 The bold windes fpeechlefTe, and the Orbe below 
 
 As hufh as death : Anon the dreadfull Thunder 
 
 Doth rend the Region. So after Tyrrbut paufe, 
 
 A rowfed Vengeance fets him new a-worke,i 
 
 And neuer did the Cyclops hammers fall 
 
 On Man his Armours, forg'd for proofe Eterne, 
 
 With leflfe remorfethen Pyrrbut bleeding fword 
 
 Now falles on Priam. 
 
 Out, out, thou Strumpet-Fortune, all you Gods, 
 
 In generall Synod take away her power : 
 
 Breake all the Spokes and Failles from her wheele, 
 
 And boule the round Naue downe the hill of Heauen, 
 
 As low as to the Fiends. 
 
 Pol. This is too long. 
 
 Ham. It fliall to'th Barbars, with your beard. Pry- 4 
 thee fay on : He's for a ligge, or a tale of Baudry , or hee 
 fleepes. Say on ; come to Hecuba. 
 
 \.Play. But who, O who, had feen the inobled Queen. 
 
 Ham. The inobled Queene ? 
 
 Pol. That's good : Inobled Queene is good. 
 
 i. flay. Run bare-foot vp and downe, 
 Threatning the flame 
 
 With Biflbn Rheume : A clout about that head, 
 Where late the Diadem ftood, and for a Robe 
 About her lanke and all ore-teamed Loines, 
 A blanket in th'Alarum of feare caught vp. 
 Who this had feene, with tongue in Venome fteep'd, 
 'Gainft Fortunes State, would Treafon haue pronounc'd? 
 But if the Gods themfelues did fee her then, 
 When fhe faw Pyrrbiu make malicious fport 
 In mincing with his Sword her Husbands limbes, 
 The inftant Burft of Clamour that flie made 
 (Vnlefle things mortall moue them not at all) 
 Would haue made milche the Burning eyes of Heauen, 
 And paffion in the Gods. 
 
 Pol. Looke where he ha's not turn'd his colour , and 
 ha's teares in's eyes. Pray you no more. 
 
 Ham. 'Tis well, He haue thee fpeake out the reft, 
 foone. Good my Lord, will you fee the Players wel be- 
 ftow'd. Do ye heare, let them be well vs'd : for they are 
 the Abftradts and breefe Chronicles of the time. After 
 your death, you were better haue a bad Epitaph, then 
 their ill report while you liued. 
 
 Pol. My Lord, I will vfe them according to their de- 
 fart. 
 
 Ham. Gods bodykins man, better. Vfe euerie man 
 after his defart, and who fhould fcape whipping : vfe 
 them after your own Honor and Dignity. The lefle they 
 deferue, the more merit is in your bountie. Take them 
 in. 
 
 Pol. Come firs. Exit Talon. 
 
 Ham. Follow him Friendstwee'l heare a play to mor- 
 row. Doft thou heare me old Friend, can you play the 
 murther of Qomtago ? 
 
 Play. I my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Wee'l ha't to morrow night. You could for a 
 need ftudy a fpeech of fome dofen or fixteene lines, which 
 I would fet downe, and infert in't? Could ye not? 
 
 Play. I my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Very well. Follow that Lord, and looke you 
 mock him not. My good Friends, He leaue you til night 
 you are welcome to E/jbnyn>er? 
 
 Rojin. Good my Lord. Exeunt, 
 
 t&tanet Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. I fo, God buy 'ye : Now I am alone. 
 Oh what a Rogue and Pefint flaue am I ? 
 Is it not monftrous that this Player heere, 
 But in a Fixion,in a dreame of Paffion, 
 Could force his foule fo to his whole conceit, 
 That from her working, all his vifage warm'd ; 
 Teares in his eyes, diftradtion in's Afpedr, 
 A broken voyce, and his whole Fundlion fuiting 
 With Formes, to his Conceit ? And all for nothing? 
 For Hecuba f 
 
 What's Hecuba to him. or he to Hecuba t 
 That he fliould weepe for her? What would he doe, 
 Had he the Motiue and the Cue for paffion 
 That I haue ? He would drowne the Stage with teares, 
 And cleaue the generall eare with horrid fpeech : 
 Make mad the guilty, and apale the free, 
 Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed, 
 The very faculty of Eyes and Eares. Vet I, 
 A dull and muddy-metled Rafcall,peake 
 Like lohn a-dreames, vnpregnant of my caufe, 
 And can fay nothing: No,not for a King, 
 Vpon whofe property, and moft deere life, 
 A damn'd defeate was made. Am I a Coward? 
 Who calles me Vilhine ? breakes my pate a-croiTe ? 
 Pluckes off my Beard, and blowes it in my face? 
 Tweakes me by'th'Nofe/' giues me the Lye i'th'Throate, 
 As deepe as to the Lungs? Who does me this? 
 Ha? Why I fhould take it : for it cannot be, 
 But I am Pigeon-Liuer'd,and lacke Gall 
 To make Oppreffion bitter, or ere this, 
 I mould haue fatted all the Region Kites 
 With this Slaues Offall, bloudy : a Bawdy villaine, 
 Remorfelefle, Treacherous, Letcherous, kindles villaine ' 
 Oh Vengeance ! 
 
 Who? What an AfTe am I ? I fure, this is moft braue, 
 That I, the Sonne of the Deere murthered, 
 Prompted to my Reuenge by Heauen, and Hell, 
 Muft (like a Whore) vnpacke my heart with words, 
 And fall a Curfing like a very Drab, 
 A Scullion? Fye vpon't : Foh. About my Braine. 
 I haue heard, that guilty Creatures fitting at a Play, 
 Haue by the very cunning of the Scoene, 
 Bene ftrooke fo to the foule, that prefently 
 They haue proclaim'd their MalefacYions. 
 For Murther, though it haue no tongue, will fpeake 
 With moft myraculous Organ. He haue thefe Players, 
 Play fomething like the murder of my Father, 
 Before mine Vnkle. He obferue his lookes, 
 He tent him to the quicke : If he but blench 
 I know my courfe. The Spirit that I haue feene 
 May be the Diuell, and the Diuel hath power 
 T'aflume a pleafing fhape, yea and perhaps 
 Out of my Weaknefle, and my Melancholly, 
 As he is very potent with fuch Spirits, 
 Abufes me to damne me. lie haue grounds 
 More Relatiue then this : The Play's the thing, 
 Wherein lie catch the Confcience of the King. Exit 
 
 Enter King, Queene, Poloniui, Ophelia, c fy- 
 Jincrance, Gmldenflern , and Lords. 
 
 King. And can you by no drift of circumftance 
 Get from him why he puts on this Confufion : 
 Grating fo harfhly all his dayes of quiet 
 
 With 
 
 754
 
 The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 265 
 
 With turbulent and dangerous Lunacy. 
 
 Rc/in. He does confefle he feeles himfelfe diffracted, 
 But from what caufe he will by no meanes fpeake. 
 
 Gull. Nor do we ftnde him forward to be founded, 
 But with a crafty Madnefie keepes aloofe : 
 When we would bring him on to fome Confeffion 
 Of his true ftate. 
 
 Q. Did he receiue you well? 
 
 Rcijin. Moft like a Gentleman. 
 
 Guild. But with much forcing of his difpofition. 
 
 Rojin. Niggard of queftion, but of our demands 
 Moft free in his reply. 
 
 Qu. Did you aflay him to any paftime ? 
 
 Rojin. Madam, it fo fell out, that certaine Players 
 We ore-wrought on the way : of thefe we told him, 
 And there did feerne in him a kindeof ioy 
 To heare of it : They are about the Court, 
 And (as I thinke) they haue already order 
 This night to play before him. 
 
 Pol. 'Tis moft true : 
 
 And he befeech'd me to intreate your Maiefties 
 To heare, and fee the matter. 
 
 fCmg.W'ith all my heart, and it doth much content me 
 To heare him fo inclin'd. Good Gentlemen, 
 Giue him a further edge, and driue his purpofe on 
 To thefe delights. 
 
 Rojin. We fhall my Lord. Sxeunt. 
 
 King. Sweet Qertrude leaue vs too, 
 For we haue clofely fent for Hamlet hither, 
 That he, as 'twere by accident, may there 
 Affront Ophelia. Her Father.and my felfe(lawful efpials) 
 Will fo beftow our felues, that feeing vnfeene 
 We may of their encounter frankely iudge, 
 And gather by him, as he is behaued, 
 Iff be th'at'fli&ion of his l'oue,or no. 
 That thus he fuffers for. 1 , 
 
 Qu. I fhall obey you, 
 And for your part Ofbelia, I do wifh 
 That your good Beauties be the happy caufe 
 Of Hamlets wildeneflTe : fo fhall I hope your Vertues 
 Will bring him to his wonted way againe, 
 To both your Honors. 
 
 Ophe. Madam, I wifh it may. 
 
 Pol. Ophelia, walke you heere. Gracious fo pleafe ye 
 We will beftow our felues : Reade on this booke. 
 That fhew of fuch an exercife may colour 
 Your lonelineffe. We are oft too blame in this, 
 'Tis too much prou'd, that with Deuotions vifage, 
 And pious AdYion, we do furge o're 
 The diuell himfelfe. 
 
 King. Oh 'tis true : 
 
 How fmart a lafh that fpeech doth giue my Confcience ? 
 The Harlots Cheeke beautied with plaift'ring Art 
 Is not more vgly to the thing that helpes it, 
 Then rs my dieede, to my moft painted word. 
 Oh heauie burthen ! 
 
 Pol. I heare him comming, let's withdraw my Lord. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 Enter Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. To be, or not to be, that is the Queftion: 
 Whether 'tis Nobler in the minde to fuffer 
 The Slings and Arrowes of outragious Fortune, 
 Or to take Armes againft a Sea of troubles, 
 And by oppofing end them : to dye, to fleepe 
 No more ; and by a fleepe, to fay we end 
 The Heart-ake, and the thoufand Naturall fhockes 
 
 755 
 
 That Flefh is heyre too? 'Tis a confummation 
 
 Deuoutly to be wifh'd. To dye to fleepe, 
 
 To fleepe, perchance to Dreame ; I, there's the rub, 
 
 For in that fleepe of death, what dreames may come, 
 
 When we haue fhufflel'd off this mortall coile, 
 
 Muft giue vs pawfe. There's the refpeft 
 
 That makes Calamity of fo long life : 
 
 For who would beare the Whips and Scornes of time, 
 
 The Oppreffors wrong, the poore mans Contumely, 
 
 The pangs of difpriz'd Loue, the Lawes delay, 
 
 The infolence of Office, and the Spumes 
 
 That patient merit of the vnworthy takes, 
 
 When he himfelfe might his Quietus make 
 
 With a bare Bodkin ? Who would thefe Fardles beare 
 
 To grunt and fweat vnder a weary life, 
 
 But that the dread of fomething after death, 
 
 The vndifcouered Countrey, from whofe Borne 
 
 No Traueller returnes, Puzels the will, 
 
 And makes vs rather beare thofe illes we haue, 
 
 Then flye to others that we know not of. 
 
 Thus Confcience does make Cowards of vs all, 
 
 And thus the Natiue hew of Refolution 
 
 Is fkklied o're, with the pale caft of Thought, 
 
 And enterprizes of great pith and moment, 
 
 With this regard their Currants turne away, 
 
 And loofe the name of Action. Soft you now, 
 
 The faire Ophelia? Nimph, in thy Orizons 
 
 Be all my finnes remembred. 
 
 Ophe. Good my Lord, 
 How does your Honor for this many a day? 
 
 Ham. I humbly thanke you : well, well, well. 
 
 Ophe. My Lord, I haue Remembrances of yours, 
 That I haue longed long to re-deliuer. 
 I pray you now, receiue them. 
 
 Ham. No, no, I neuer gaue you ought. 
 
 Ofhe. My honor'd Lord, I know right well you did, 
 And with them words of fo fweet breath compos'd, 
 As made the things more rich, then perfume left: 
 Take thefe againe, for to the Noble minde 
 Rich gifts wax poore, when giuers proue vnkinde. 
 There my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Ha, ha : Are you honeftj? 
 
 Ophe. My Lord. 
 
 Ham. Are you faire ? 
 
 Opbe. What meanes your Lordfhip ? 
 
 Ham. That if you be honeft and faire, your Honefty 
 fhould admit no difcourfe to your Beautie. 
 
 Ophe. Could Beautie my Lord, haue better Comerce 
 then your Honeftie ? 
 
 Ham. I trulie : for the power of Beautie, will fooner 
 transforme Honeftie from what it is, to a Bawd, then the 
 force of Honeftie can tranflate Beautie into his likened!-. 
 This was fometime a Paradox, but now the time giues it 
 proofe. I did loue you once. 
 
 Ophe. Indeed my Lord, you made me beleeue fo. 
 
 Ham. You fhould not haue beleeued me. For vertue 
 cannot fo innocculate our old ftocke, but we fhall rellifh 
 of it. I loued you not. 
 
 Ophe. I was the more deceiued. 
 
 Ham. Get thee to a Nunnerie. Why would'ft thou 
 be a breeder of Sinners? I am my felfe indifferent honeft, 
 but yet I could accufe me of fuch things, that it were bet- 
 ter my Mother had not borne me. I am very prowd, re- 
 uengefull, Ambitious, with more offences at my becke, 
 then I haue thoughts to put them in imagination, to giue 
 them fhape, or time to adle them in. What fhould fuch 
 
 Fel-
 
 266 
 
 'The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 Fellowes as I do, crawling betweene Heauen and Earth. 
 We are arrant Kr.aues all, beleeue none of vs. Goe thy 
 wayes to a Nunnery. Where's your Father ? 
 
 Ofbe. At home, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Let the doores be fhut vpon him, that he may 
 play the Foole no way, but in's owne houfe. Farewell. 
 
 Ofbe. O helpe him, you fweet Heauens. 
 
 Ham. If thou doeft Marry, He giue thee this Plague 
 for thy Dowrie.Be thou as chad as Ice, as pure as Snow, 
 thou flialt not efcape Calumny. Get thee to a Nunnery. 
 Go, Farewell. Or if thou wilt needs Marry, marry a fool : 
 for Wife men know well enough, what monfters you 
 make of them. To a Nunnery go, and quickly too. Far- 
 well. 
 
 Ofbe. O heauenly Powers, reftore him. 
 
 Ham. I haue heard of your pratlings too wel enough. 
 God has giuen you one pace, and you make your felfe an- 
 Other:you gidge,you amble, and you lifpe, and nickname 
 Gods creatures, and make your WantonnefTe, your Ig- 
 norance. Go too, He no more on't, it hath made me mad. 
 I fay, we will haue no more Marriages. Thofe that are 
 married already, all but one fhall Hue, the reft fhall keep 
 as they are. To a Nunnery. go. Exit Hamlet . 
 
 Ofbe. O what a Noble minde is heere o're-throwne ? 
 The Courtiers, Soldiers, Schollers : Eye, tongue, fword, 
 Th'expectanfie and Rofe of the faire State, 
 The glafle of Fafliion, and the mould of Forme, 
 Th'obferu'd of all Obferuers, quite, quite downe. 
 Haue I of Ladies moft deleft and wretched, 
 That fuck'd the Honie of his Muficke Vowes : 
 Now fee that Noble,and moft Soueraigne Reafon, 
 Like fweet Bels iangled out of tune, and harfh, 
 That vnmatch'd Forme and Feature of blowne youth, 
 Blafted with extafie. Oh woe is me, 
 T'haue feene what I haue feene : fee what I fee. 
 
 Enter King, and Polonius. 
 
 King. Loue ? His affections do not that way tend, 
 Nor what he fpake, though it lack'd Forme a little, 
 Was not like Madnefle. There's fomething in his foule ? 
 O're which his Melancholly fits on brood, 
 And I do doubt the hatch, and the difclofe 
 Will be fome danger, which to preuent 
 I haue in quicke determination 
 Thus fet it downe. He fliall with fpeed to England 
 For the demand of our neglected Tribute : 
 Haply the Seas and Countries different 
 With variable Obiecls, fhall expell 
 This fomething felled matter in his heart : 
 Whereon his Braines ftill beating, puts him thus 
 From fafhion of himfelfe. What thinke you on't? 
 
 Vol. It fhall do well. But yet do I beleeue 
 The Origin and Commencement of this greefe 
 Sprung from neglected loue. How now Ofbelia? 
 You neede not tell vs, what Lord Hamlet faide, 
 We heard it all. My Lord, do as you pleafe, 
 But if you hold it fit after the Play, 
 Let his Queene Mother all alone intreat him 
 To fhew his Greefes : let her be round with him, 
 And lie be plac'd fb, pleafe you in the care 
 Of all their Conference. If fhe finde him not, 
 To England fend him : Or confine him where 
 Your wifedome beft /hall thinke. 
 
 King . It /hall be fo : 
 
 Madnefle in great Ones, muft not vnwatch'd go. 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Hamlet , and two or three of the Players. 
 
 Ham. Speake the Speech I pray you, as I pronounc'd 
 it to you trippingly on the Tongue : But if you mouth it, 
 as many of your Players do, I had as Hue the Town-Cryer 
 had fpoke my Lines : Nor do not faw the Ayre too much 
 your hand thus, but vfe all gently ; for in the verie Tor- 
 rent, Tempeft, and (as I may fay) the Whirle-winde of 
 Paffion, you muft acquire and beget a Temperance that 
 may giue it Smoothneffe. O it offends mee to the Soule, 
 to fee a robuftious Pery-wig-pated Fellow, teare a Paffi- 
 on to tatters, to verie ragges, to fplit the eares of the 
 Groundlings : who (for the moft part) are capeable of 
 nothing. but inexplicable dumbe fhewes,& noife:! could 
 haue fuch a Fellow whipt for o're-doing Termagant : it 
 out-Herod's Herod. Pray you auoid it. 
 
 Player. I warrant your Honor. 
 
 Ham. Be not too tame neyther : but let your owne 
 Difcretion be your Tutor. Sute the Action to the Word, 
 the Word to the Action, with this fpeciall obferuance : 
 That you ore-ftop not the modeftie of Nature ; for any 
 thing fo ouer-done, is frS the purpofe of Playing, whofe 
 end both at the firft and now, was and is, to hold as 'twer 
 the Mirrour vp to Nature ; to fhew Vertue her owne 
 Feature, Scorne her owne Image, and the verie Age and 
 Bodie of the Time, his forme and prefTure. Now, this 
 ouer-done, or come tardie off, though it make the vnskil- 
 full laugh, cannot but make the Judicious greeue ; The 
 cenfure of the which One, muft in your allowance o're- 
 way a whole Theater of Others. Oh, there bee Players 
 that I haue feene Play, and beard others praife, and that 
 highly (not to fpeake it prophanely) that neyther hauing 
 the accent of Chriftians, nor the gate of Chriftian, Pagan, 
 or Norman, haue fo ftrutted and bellowed, that I haue 
 thought fome of Natures louerney-men had made men, 
 and not made them well, they imitated Humanity fo ab- 
 hominably. 
 
 Tlay. I hope we haue reform'd that indifferently with 
 vs, Sir. 
 
 Ham. O reforme it altogether. And let thofe that 
 play your Clownes, fpeake no more then is fet downe for 
 them. For there be of them, that will themfelues laugh, 
 to fet on fome quantitie of barren Spectators to laugh 
 too, though in the meane time, fome neceffary Queftion 
 of the Play be then to be confidered : that's Villanous, & 
 fhewes a moil pittifull Ambition in the Foole that vfes 
 it. Go make you readie. Exit Players. 
 
 Enter Pohniui , 'Rj.Jlncrance , and Guildenflerne. 
 
 How now my Lord, 
 
 Will the King heare this peece of Worke? 
 
 Pol. And the Queene too, and that prefently. 
 
 Ham. Bid the Players make haft. Exit Pohniui. 
 
 Will you two helpe to haften them ? 
 
 'Both. We will my Lord. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Horatio. 
 
 Ham. What hoa, Horatio ? 
 
 Hora. Heere fweet Lord, at your Seruice. 
 
 Ham. Horatio, thou art eene as iuft a man 
 As ere my Conuerfation coap'd withall. 
 
 Hora. O my deere Lord. 
 
 Ham. Nay, do not thinke I flatter : 
 For what aduancement may I hope from thee, 
 That no Reuennew haft, but thy good fpirits 
 
 To
 
 'The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 267 
 
 To feed & cloath thee. Why fhold the poor be flatter'd ? 
 
 No, let the Candied tongue, like abfurd pompe, 
 
 And crooke the pregnant Hindges of the knee, 
 
 Where thrift may follow faining? Doft thou heare, 
 
 Since my deere Soule was Miftris of my choyfe, 
 
 And could of men diftinguifli, her election 
 
 Hath feal'd thee fjr her felfe. For thou haft bene 
 
 As one in fuffering all, that fuffers nothing. 
 
 A man that Fortunes buffets, and Rewards 
 
 Hath 'tane with equall Thankes. And bleft are thofe, 
 
 Whofe Blood and ludgement are fo well co-mingled, 
 
 That they are not a Pipe for Fortunes ringer, 
 
 To found what ftop flie pleafe. Giue me that man, 
 
 That is not Paffions Slaue, and I will weare him 
 
 In my hearts Core: I, in my Heart of heart, 
 
 As I do thee. Something too much of this. 
 
 There is a Play to night before the King, 
 
 One Scoene of it comes neere the Circumftance 
 
 Which 1 haue told thee, of my Fathers death. 
 
 I prythee, when thou fee'ft that A die a-foot, 
 
 Euen with the verie Comment of my Soule 
 
 Obferue mine Vnkle : If his occulted guilt, 
 
 Do not it felfe vnkennell in one fpeech, 
 
 It is a damned Ghoft that we haue feene : 
 
 And my Imaginations are as foule 
 
 As Vulcans Stythe. Giue him needfull note, 
 
 For I mine eyes will riuet to his Face : 
 
 And after we will both our iudgements ioyne, 
 
 To cenfure of his feeming. 
 
 Hora. Well my Lord. 
 
 If he fteale ought the whil'ft this Play is Playing, 
 And fcape detecting, I will pay the Theft. 
 
 Enter King, Queene, Polonius, Ophelia, Rojincrance, 
 
 Cfuildenfterne, and other Lords attendant , with 
 
 his Guard carrying Torches. Danijh 
 
 March. Sound a Flouri/h. 
 
 Ham- They are comming to the Play : I muft be idle. 
 Get you a place. 
 
 King. How fares our Colin Hamlet ? 
 
 Ham. Excellent Ifaith, of the Camelions di/h : I eate 
 the Ayre promife-cramm'd, you cannot feed Capons fb. 
 
 King. I haue nothing with this anfwer Hamlet , theie 
 words are not mine. 
 
 Ham. No, nor mine. Now my Lord, you plaid once 
 i'th'Vniuerfity, you fay? 
 
 Polon. That I did my Lord, and was accounted a good 
 After. 
 
 Ham. And what did you enadt ? 
 
 Pol. I did enaft lulitu C<?f ar i I was kilFd i'th'Capitol : 
 Brutuf kill'd me. 
 
 Ham. It was a bruite part of him, to kill fo Capitall a 
 Calfe there. Be the Players ready? 
 
 Rujin. I my Lord, they ftay vpon your patience. 
 
 Qu. Come hither my good Hamlet, fit by me. 
 
 Ha. No good Mother, here's Mettle more attradYiue. 
 
 Pol. Oh ho, do you marke that ? 
 
 Ham. Ladie, fliall I lye in your Lap ? 
 
 Opbe. No my Lord. 
 
 Ham. I meane,my Head vpon your Lap? 
 
 Of be. I my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Do you thinke I meant Country matters ? 
 
 Ophe. I thinke nothing, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. That's a faire thought to ly between Maids legs 
 
 Of be. What is my Lord ? 
 
 757 
 
 Ham. Nothing. 
 
 Of be. You are metric, my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. Who I ? 
 
 Of he. I my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Oh God, your onely ligge-maker: what fhould 
 a man do, but be merrie. For looice you how cheereful- 
 ly my Mother lookes, and my Father dyed within's two 
 Houres. 
 
 Ophe. Nay, 'tis twice two moneths,my Lord. 
 
 Ham. So long? Nay then let the Diuel weare blacke, 
 for He haue a fuite of Sables. Oh Heauens! dye two mo- 
 neths ago, and not forgotten yet ? Then there's hope, a 
 great mans Memorie, may out-liue his life halfe a yeare : 
 But byrlady he muft builde Churches then : or elfe flial! 
 he fuffer not thinking on, with the Hoby-horfle, whofe 
 Epitaph is, For o, For o, the Hoby-horfe is forgot. 
 
 Hoboyes play. The dumbe Jhew enters . 
 
 Enter a King and Queene, -very louingly^ the Queene embra- 
 cing him. She \neeles ,and makes Jhew of Protejlat ion -vrtto 
 him. He tal^es her -up , and declines his head -vpon her necl(. 
 Layes him downe -upon a Banke of Flowers. She feeing him 
 a-Jleepe, leaues him. Anon comes in a Fellow, takes off bis 
 Crowne, l(ijjes it ,andpowres poyfon in the Kings eares, and 
 Sxits. The Queene returnes, JtnJes the King dead, and 
 makes pajjionate Acllon. The Poyfoner, with fame two or 
 three zMutes comes in againe, feeming to lament tvith her. 
 The dead body is carried away : The Poyfoner Wooes the 
 S^ueene with Gifts, Jhe feemes loath and unwilling awhile, 
 but in the end, accepts his loue. Exeunt 
 
 Ofhe. What meanes this, my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. Marry this is Miching <^Malicbo, that meanes 
 Mifcheefe. 
 
 Of be. Belike this fliew imports the Argument of the 
 Play ? 
 
 Ham. We fliall know by thefe Fellowes : the Players 
 cannot keepe counfell, they'l tell all. 
 
 Ofhe. Will they tell vs what this fliew meant? 
 
 Ham. I, or any fhew that you'l {hew him. Bee not 
 you afliam'd to fhew, hee'l not fhame to tell you what it 
 meanes. 
 
 Ofhe. You are naught, you are naught, He marke the 
 Play. 
 
 Snter Prologue. 
 For -vs, and for our Tragedie, 
 Heere Jiooping to your Ciemencie : 
 We begge your hearing Patient lie. 
 
 Ham. Is this a Prologue, or the Poefie of a Ring? 
 
 Ofhe. 'Tis briefe my Lord. 
 
 Ham. As Womans loue. 
 
 Enter King and his Queene. 
 
 King.Yutt thirtie times hath Phoebus Cart gon round, 
 Neptunes fait Wafh, and Tellui Orbed ground . 
 And thirtie dozen Moones with borrowed flieene, 
 About the World haue times twelue thirties bcene, 
 Since loue our hearts, and Hymen did our hands 
 Vnite comutuall,in moft facred Bands. 
 
 'Bap. So many iournies may the Sunne and Moone 
 Make vs againe count o're, ere loue be done. 
 But woe is me, you are fo ficke of late, 
 So farre from cheere,and from your forme ftate, 
 That I diftruft you : yet though I diftruft, 
 Difcomfort you (my Lord) it nothing muft : 
 For womens Feare and Loue, holds tjuantitie, 
 
 In
 
 268 
 
 The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 In neither ought, or in extremity : 
 
 Now what my loue is, proofe hath made you know, 
 
 And as my Loue is fiz'd, my Feare is fo. 
 
 King. Faith I muft leaue thee Loue, and fliortly too : 
 My operant Powers my Functions leaue to do : 
 And thou ftialt Hue in this faire world behinde, 
 Honour'd, belou'd, and haply, one as kinde. 
 For Husband {halt thou 
 
 Bap. Oh confound the reft : 
 Such Loue, muft needs be Tresfon in my breft : 
 In fecond Husband, let me be accurft, 
 None wed the fecond, but who kill'd the firft.' 
 
 Ham. Wormwood, Wormwood. 
 "Baft. The inftances that fecond Marriage moue, 
 Are bafe refpefts of Thrift, but none of Loue. 
 A fecond time, I kill my Husband dead, 
 When fecond Husband kifles me in Bed. 
 
 King. I do beleeue you. Think what now you fpeak : 
 But what we do determine, oft we breake : 
 Purpofe is but the flaue to Memorie, 
 Of violent Birth, but poore validitie: 
 Which now like Fruite vnripe ftickes on the Tree, 
 But fall vnfliaken, when they mellow bee. 
 Moft neceffary 'tis, that we forget 
 To pay our felues, what to our felues is debt : 
 What to our felues in paflion we propofe, 
 The paflion ending, doth the purpofe lofe. 
 The violence of other Greefe or loy, 
 Their owne ennadlors with themfelues deftroy : 
 Where loy moft Reuels, Greefe doth moft lament ; 
 Greefe ioyes, loy greeues on flender accident. 
 This world is not for aye, nor 'tis not ftrange 
 That euen our Loues fliould with our Fortunes change. 
 For 'tis a queftion left vs yet to proue, 
 Whether Loue lead Fortune, or elfe Fortune Loue. 
 The great man downe, you marke his fauourites flies, 
 The poore aduanc'd, makes Friends of Enemies : 
 And hitherto doth Loue on Fortune tend, 
 For who not needs, fliall neuer lacke a Frend : 
 And who in want a hollow Friend doth try, 
 Direftly feafons him his Enemie. 
 But orderly to end, where I begun, 
 Our Willes and Fates do fo contrary run, 
 That our Deuices ftill are ouerthrowne, 
 Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our owne. 
 So thinke thou wilt no fecond Husband wed . 
 But die thy thoughts, when thy firft Lord is dead. 
 
 'Bap. Nor Earth to giue me food, nor Heauen light, 
 Sport and repofe locke from me day and night : 
 Each oppofite that blankes the face of ioy, 
 Meet what I would haue well, and it deftroy 
 Both heere, and hence, purfue me lafting ftrife, 
 If once a Widdow, euer I be Wi/e. 
 
 Ham. If flie fhould breake it now. 
 
 King. 'Tis deepely fworne : 
 Sweet, leaue me heere a while, 
 My fpirits grow dull, and faine I would beguile 
 The tedious day with fkepe. 
 
 Qu. Sleepe rocke thy Braine, Sleefes 
 
 And neuer come mifchance betweene vs twaine. Exit 
 
 Ham. Madam, how like you this Play? 
 
 Qti, The Lady protefts to much me thinkes, 
 
 Ham. Oh but fliee'l keepe her word. 
 
 King. Haue you heard the Argument, is there no Of- 
 fence in't ? 
 
 Ham. No, no, they do but left, poyfon in ieft, no Of- 
 
 fence i'th'world. 
 
 King. What do you call the Play ? 
 
 Ham. The Moufe-trap : Marry how? Tropically : 
 This Phy is the Image of a murder done in Vienna: Qon- 
 xago is the Dukes name, his wife ^Baptifta : you fliall fee 
 anon : 'tis a knauifli peece of worke : But what o'that ? 
 Your Maieftie, and wee that haue free foules, it touches 
 vs not : let the gall d iade winch: our withers are vnrung. 
 
 Enter Luciamu . 
 This is one Luciantu nephew to the King. 
 
 Ophe. You are a good Chorus, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. I could interpret betweene you and your loue : 
 if I could fee the Puppets dallying. 
 
 Ophe. You are keene my Lord, you are keene. 
 
 Ham. It would coft you a groaning, to take off my 
 edge. 
 
 Ophe. Still better and worfe. 
 
 Ham. So you miftake Husbands. 
 
 Begin Murderer. Pox, leaue thy damnable Faces, and 
 begin. Come, the croaking Rauen doth bellow for Re- 
 uenge. 
 
 Lucian. Thoughts blacke, hands apt, 
 Drugges fit, and Time agreeing : 
 Confederate feafon, elfe, no Creature feeing : 
 Thou mixture ranke, of Midnight Weeds collected, 
 With Hecats Ban, thrice blafted, thrice infedled, 
 Thy naturall Magicke,and dire propertie, 
 On wholfome life, vfurpe immediately. 
 
 Poirres the poyfon in bit eares . 
 
 Ham. He poyfons him i'th'Garden for's eftate : His 
 name's Gonzago : the Story is extant and writ in choyce 
 Italian. You fliall fee anon how the Murtherer gets the 
 loue of GonKago's wife. 
 
 Ophe. The King rifes. 
 
 Ham. What, frighted with falfe fire. 
 
 Qu. How fares my Lord ? 
 
 Pol. Giue o're the Play. 
 
 King. Giue me fome Light. Away. 
 
 All. Lights, Lights, Lights . Exeunt 
 
 Manet Hamlet & Horatio. 
 
 Ham. Why let the ftrucken Deere go weepe, 
 The Hart vngalled play : 
 
 For fome muft watch, while fome muft fleepe ; 
 So runnes the world away. 
 
 Would not this Sir, and a Forreft of Feathers, if the reft of 
 my Fortunes turne Turke with me; with two Prouinciall 
 Rofes on my rac'd Shooes, get me a Fellowfliip in a crie 
 of Players fir. 
 
 Hor. Halfe a fliare. 
 
 Ham. A whole one I, 
 For thou doft know : Oh Damon deere, 
 This Realme difmantled was of loue himfelfe, 
 And now reignes heere. 
 A verie verie Paiocke. 
 
 Hora. You might haue Rim'd. 
 
 Ham. Oh good Horatio, He take the Ghofts word for 
 a thoufand pound. Did'ft perceiue ? 
 
 Hora. Verie well my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Vpon the talke of the poyfoning? 
 
 Hora. I did verie well note him. 
 
 Enter Rofincrance and Guildenfterne. 
 
 Ham.Oh t hn? Come fome Mufick.Come y Recorders: 
 For if the King like not the Comedie, 
 Why then belike he likes it not perdie. 
 Come fome Muficke. 
 
 Guild. Good my Lord, vouchsafe me a word with you. 
 
 Ham. 
 
 758
 
 The Tr age die of Hamlet. 
 
 269 
 
 Ham. Sir, a whole Hiftory. 
 
 Quild. The King, fir. 
 
 Ham. I fir, what of him ? 
 
 Guild. Is in his retirement, maruellous diftemper'd. 
 
 Ham. With drinkeSir/ 
 
 Quild. No my Lord, rather with choller. 
 
 Ham. Your wifedome fliould fliew it felfe more ri- 
 cher, to fignifie this to his Dodtor: for for me to put him 
 to his Purgation, would perhaps plundge him into farre 
 more Choller. 
 
 Guild. Good my Lord put your difcourfe into fome 
 frame, and ftart not fo wildely from my affayre. 
 
 Ham. I am tame Sir, pronounce. 
 
 Guild. The Queene your Mother, in moft great affli- 
 ction of fpirit, hath fent me to you. 
 
 Ham. You are welcome. 
 
 Guild. Nay, good my Lord, this courtefie is not of 
 the right breed. If it fliall pleafe you to make me a whol- 
 fome anfwer, I will doe your Mothers command'ment : 
 if not, your pardon, and my returne fliall bee the end of 
 my Bufinefie. 
 
 Ham. Sir, I cannot. 
 
 Guild. What, my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. Make you a wholfome anfwere : my wits dif- 
 eas'd. But fir, fuch anfwers as I can make, you flial com- 
 mand : or rather you fay, my Mother : therfore no more 
 but to the matter. My Mother you {ay. 
 
 Rcjin. Then thus flie fayes : your behauior hath ftroke 
 her into amazement, and admiration. 
 
 Ham. Oh wonderfull Sonne, that can fo aftonifh a 
 Mother. But is there no fequell at the heeles of this Mo- 
 thers admiration ? 
 
 Rojin. She defires to fpeake with you in her Cloflet, 
 ere you go to bed. 
 
 Ham. We fliall obey, were flie ten times our Mother. 
 Haue you any further Trade with vs ? 
 
 Rojin. My Lord, you once did loue me. 
 
 Ham. So I do ftill, by thefe pickers and flealers. 
 
 Rojin. Good my Lord, what is your caufe of diftem- 
 per? You do freely barre the doore of your owne Liber- 
 tie, if you deny your greefes to your Friend. 
 
 Ham. Sir I lacke Aduancement. 
 
 Rojin. How can that be, when you haue the voyce of 
 the King himfelfe, for your Succeffion in Denmarke ? 
 
 Ham. I, but while the grafie growes, the Prouerbe is 
 fomething mufty. 
 
 Enter one initb a Recorder. * 
 
 O the Recorder. Let me fee, to withdraw with you,why 
 do you go about to recouer the winde of mee, as if you 
 would driue me into a toyle ? 
 
 Guild, O my Lord, if my Dutie be too bold, my loue 
 is too vnmannerly. 
 
 Ham. I do not well vnderftand that. Will you play 
 vpon this Pipe ? 
 
 Guild. My Lord, I cannot. 
 
 Ham. I pray you. 
 
 Guild. Beleeue me, I cannot. 
 
 Ham. I do befeech you. 
 
 Cfuild. I know no touch of it,my Lord. 
 
 Ham. 'Tis as eafie as lying : gouerne thefe Ventiges 
 with your finger and thumbe, giue it breath with your 
 mouth, and it will difcourfe moft excellent Muficke. 
 Looke you, thefe are the ftoppes. 
 
 Guild. But thefe cannot I command to any vtterance 
 of hermony, I haue not the skill. 
 
 Ham. Why looke you now, how vnworthy a thing 
 
 759 
 
 you make of me : you would play vpon mee ; you would 
 feeme to know my flops : you would pluck out the heart 
 of my Myfterie ; you would found mee from my loweft 
 Note, to the top of my Compafle: and there is much Mu- 
 ficke, excellent Voice, in this little Organe, yet cannot 
 you make it. Why do you thinke, that I am eafier to bee 
 plaid on, then a Pipe? Call me what Inftrument you will, 
 though you can fret me, you cannot play vpon me. God 
 blefle you Sir. 
 
 Enter Polonita. 
 
 Polon. My Lordjthe Queene would fpeak with you, 
 and prefently. 
 
 Ham. Do you fee that Clowd? that's almoft in fliape 
 like a Camell. 
 
 Polon, By'th'MifTe, and it's like a Camell indeed. 
 
 Ham. Me thinkes it is like a Weazell. 
 
 Polon. It is back'd like a Weazell. 
 
 Ham. Or like a Whale ? 
 
 Polon. Verie like a Whale. 
 
 Ham. Then will I come to my Mother, by and by : 
 They foole me to the top of my bent. 
 I will come by and by. 
 
 Polon. I will fay fo. Exit. 
 
 Ham. By and by, is eafily faid. Leaue me Friends: 
 'Tis now the verie witching time of night, 
 When Churchyards yawne,and Hell it felfe breaths out 
 Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood, 
 And do fuch bitter bufinefle as the day 
 Would quake to looke on. Soft now, to my Mother : 
 Oh Heart, loofe not thy Nature ; let not euer 
 The Soule of Nero, enter this firme bofome : 
 Let me be cruel!, not vnnaturall, 
 I will fpeake Daggers to her, but vfe none : 
 My Tongue and Soule in this be Hypocrites. 
 How in my words fomeuer flie be flient, 
 To giue them Scales, neuer my Soule confent. 
 
 Enter King, Rojincrance, and Guildenfterne. 
 
 King. I like him not, nor ftands it fafe with vs, 
 To let his madnefle range. Therefore prepare you, 
 I your Commiffion will forthwith difpar.cn, 
 And he to England fliall along with you : 
 The termes of our eftate, may not endure 
 Hazard fo dangerous as doth hourely grow 
 Out of his Lunacies. 
 
 Guild. We will our felues prouide : 
 Moll holie and Religious feare it is 
 To keepe thofe many many bodies fafe 
 That Hue and feede vpon your Maieftie. 
 
 Rojin. Thefingle 
 And peculiar life is bound 
 
 With all the ftrength and Armour of the minde, 
 To keepe it felfe from noyance : but much more, 
 That Spirit, vpon whofe fpirit depends and refts 
 The liues of many, the ceafe of Maieftie 
 Dies not alone; but like a Gulfe doth draw 
 What's neere it, with it. It is a maffie wheele 
 Fixt on the Somnet of the higheft Mount, 
 To whofe huge Spoakes, ten thoufand lefler things 
 Are mortiz'd and adioyn'd : which when it falles, 
 Each fmall annexment, pettie confequence 
 Attends the boyftrous Ruine. Neuer alone 
 Did the King fighe, but with a generall grone. 
 
 King. Arme you, I pray you to this fpeedie Voyage ; 
 For we will Fetters put vpon this feare, 
 
 p p Which
 
 270 
 
 The T rage die of Hamlet. 
 
 Which now goes too free-footed. 
 
 Both. We will hafte vs. Exeunt Gent. 
 
 Enter Pcloniut . 
 
 Pol. My Lord, he's going to his Mothers ClofTet : 
 Behinde the Arras He conuey my felfe 
 To heare the Procefie. He warrant fliee'l tax him home, 
 And as you faid, and wifely was it faid, 
 'Tis mee:e that fome more audience then a Mother^ 
 Since Nature makes them partial!, mould o're-heare 
 The fpeech of vantage. Fare you well my Liege, 
 lie c.ill vpon you ere you go to bed, 
 And tell you what I know. 
 
 King. Thankes deere my Lord. 
 Oh my offence is ranke, it frnels to heauen, 
 It hath the primall eldeft curie vpon't, 
 A Brothers murther. Pray can I not, 
 Though inclination be as Iharpe as will: 
 My ftronger guilt, defeats my ftrong intent, 
 And like a man to double bufinefie bound, 
 I ftand in paufe where I fliall firft begin, 
 And both neglecl ; what if this curfed hand 
 Were thicker then it felfe with Brothers blood, 
 Is there not Raine enough in the fweet Heauens 
 To wa/h it white as Snow? Whereto ferues mercy, 
 But to confront the vifage of Offence ? 
 And what's in Prayer, but this two-fold force, 
 To be fore-ftalled ere we come to fail, 
 Or pardon'd being downe? Then lie looke vp, 
 My fault is paft. But oh, what forme of Prayer 
 Can ferue my turne ? Forgiue me my foule Murther : 
 That cannot be, fmce I am ftill pofleft 
 Of thofe effedb for which I did the Murther. 
 My Crowne, mine owne Ambition, and my Queene : 
 May one be pardon'd, and retaine th'offence ? 
 In the corrupted currants of this world, 
 Offences gilded hand may flioue by luftice, 
 And oft 'tis feene, the wicked prize it felfe 
 Buyes out the Law; but 'tis not fo aboue, 
 There is no fliuffling, there the Adtion lyes 
 In his true Nature, and we our felues compell'd 
 Euen to the teeth and forehead of our faults, 
 To giue in euidence. What then ? What refts? 
 Try what Repentance can. What can itnot? 
 Yet what can it, when one cannot repent ? 
 Oh wretched ftate ! Oh bofome, blacke as death ! 
 Oh limed foule, that ftrugling to be free, 
 Art more ingag'd : Helpe Angels, make aflay : 
 Bowftubborne knees,and heart with firings of Steele, 
 Be foft as finewesof the new-borne Babe, 
 All may be well. 
 
 Enter Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. Now might I do it pat, now he is praying, 
 And now He doo't, and fo he goes to Heauen, 
 And fo am I reueng'd : that would be fcann'd, 
 A Villaine killes my Father, and for that 
 I his foule Sonne, do this fame Villaine fend 
 To heauen.Oh this is hyre and Sallery, not Reuenge. 
 He tooke my Father groflely, full of bread, 
 With all his Crimes broad blowne,as frefli as May, 
 And how his Audit ftands,who knowes.faue Heauen : 
 But in our circumftance and courfe of thought 
 'Tis heauie with him : and am I then reueng'd, 
 To take him in the purging of his Soule, 
 When he is fit and feafon'd for his paflage ? No. 
 Vp Sword, and know thou a more horrid hent 
 
 When he is drunke afleepe : or in his Rage, 
 Or in th'inceftuous pleafure of his bed, 
 At gaming, fwearing, or about fome afte 
 That ha's no rellifh of Saluation in't, 
 Then trip him, that his heeles may kicke at Heauen, 
 And that his Soule may be as damn'd aud blacke 
 As Hell, whereto it goes. My Mother ftayes, 
 This Phyficke but prolongs thy fickly dayes. Exit. 
 
 King. My words flye vp, my thoughts remain below, 
 Words without thoughts, neuer to Heauen go. Exit. 
 
 Enter Queene and Po/onius. 
 
 Pol. He will come Itraight : 
 Looke you lay home to him, 
 
 Tell him his prankes haue been too broad to beare with, 
 And that your Grace hath fcree'nd,and ftoode betweene 
 Much heate,and him. He filence me e'ene heere : y 
 Pray you be round with him. 
 
 Ham.iflibin. Mother, mother, mother. 
 
 Qu. He warrant you, feare me not. 
 Withdraw, I heare him comming. 
 Enter Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. Now Mother, what's the matter? 
 
 Qu. Hamlet, thou haft thy Father much offended. 
 
 Ham. Mother, you haue my Father much offended. 
 
 !%u. Come,come, you anfwer with an idle tongue. 
 
 Ham. Go, go, you queftion with an idle tongue. 
 
 %u. Why how now Hamlet ? 
 
 Ham. Whats the matter now? 
 
 %u. Haue you forgot me ? 
 
 Ham. No by the Rood, not fo : 
 You are the Queene, your Husbands Brothers wife, 
 But would you were not fo. You are my Mother. 
 
 Qu. Nay, then He fet thofe to you that can fpeake. 
 
 Ham. Come, come, and fit you downe, you fhall not 
 boudge : 
 
 You go not till I fet you vp a glafie, 
 Where you may fee the inmoft part of you ? 
 
 Qu. What wilt thou do? thou wilt not murther me ? 
 Helpe,helpe, hoa. 
 
 Pol. What hoa, helpe, helpe, helpe. 
 
 Ham. How now, a Rat? dead for a Ducate,dead. 
 
 Pol. Oh I am (laine. Killes Polon itu. 
 
 Qu. Oh me, what haft thou done ? 
 
 Ham. Nay I know not, is it the King ? 
 
 Qu. Oh what a ra(h,and bloody deed is this ? 
 
 Ham. A Moody deed,almoft as bad good Mother, 
 As kill a King, and marrie with his Brother. 
 
 Qtt. As kill a King? 
 
 Ham. I Lady, 'twas my word. 
 Thou wretched, rafh, intruding foole farewell, 
 I tooke thee for thy Betters, ta!ce thy Fortune, 
 Thou find'ft to be too bufie, is fome danger. 
 Leaue wringing of your hands, peace, lit you downe, 
 And let me wring your heart, for io I lhall 
 If it be made of penetrable ftuffe; 
 If damned Cuftome haue not braz'd it fo, 
 That it is proofe and bulwarke againft Senfe. 
 
 .Qu.What haue I done, that thou dar'ft wag thy tong, 
 In noife fo rude againft me? 
 
 Ham. Such an A.&. 
 
 That blurres the grace and blufli of Modeftie, 
 Cals Vertue Hypocrite, takes ofFthe Rofe 
 From the faire forehead of an innocent loue, 
 And makes a blifter there. Makes marriage vowes 
 As falfe as Dicers Oathes. Oh fuch a deed, 
 
 As 
 
 760
 
 The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 271 
 
 As from the body of Contraction pluckes 
 The very foule, and fweete Religion makes 
 A rapfidie of words. Heauens face doth glow, 
 Yea this folidity and compound mafle, 
 With triftfull vifage as againft the doome, 
 Is thought-ficke at the aft. 
 
 Qu. Aye me ; what aft, that roares fo lowd, & thun- 
 ders in the Index. 
 
 Ham. Looke heere vpon this Pifture, and on this, 
 The counterfet prefentment of two Brothers : 
 See what a grace was feated on his Brow, 
 Hyperions curies, the front of loue himfelfe, 
 An eye like Mars, to threaten or command 
 A Station, like the Herald Mercurie 
 New lighted on a heauen-kifling hill : 
 A Combination, and a forme indeed, 
 Where euery God did feeme to fet his Seale, 
 To giue the world affurance of a man. 
 This was your Husband. Looke you now what followes. 
 Heere is your Husband, like a Mildew'd eare 
 Blafting his wholfom breath. Haue you eyes ? 
 Could you on this faire Mountaine leaue to feed, 
 And batten on this Moore ? Ha ? Haue you eyes ? 
 You cannot call it Loue : For at your age, 
 The hey-day in the blood is tame, it's humble, 
 And waites vpon the ludgement : and what ludgement 
 Would ftep from this, to this ? What diuell was't, 
 That thus hath coufend you at hoodman-blinde ? 
 O Shame J where is thy Blum ? Rebellious Hell, 
 If thou canft mutine in a Matrons bones, 
 To flaming youth, let Vertue be as waxe, 
 And melt in her owne fire. Proclaime no fliame, 
 When the compulfiue Ardure giues the charge, 
 Since Froft it felfe, as aftiuely doth burne, 
 As Reafon panders Will. 
 
 Qu. O Hamlet, fpeake no more. 
 Thou turn'ft mine eyes into my very foule, 
 And there I fee fuch blacke and grained {pots, 
 As will not leaue their Tinft. 
 
 Ham. Nay, but to liue 
 In the ranke fweat of an enfeamed bed, 
 Stew'd in Corruption ; honying and making loue 
 Ouer the nafty Stye. 
 
 Qu. Oh fpeake to me, no more, 
 hefe words li 
 
 Thefe words like Daggers enter in mine eares. 
 No more fweet Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. A Murderer, and a Villaine : 
 A Slaue, that is not twentieth patt the tythe 
 Of your precedent Lord. A vice of Kings, 
 A Cutpurfe of the Empire and the Rule. 
 That from a flielfe,the precious Diadem ftole, 
 And put it in his Pocket. 
 
 Qu. No more. 
 
 Enter Gboft. 
 
 Ham. A King of ihreds and patches. 
 Saue me ; and houer o're me with your wings 
 You heauenly Guards. What would you gracious figure? 
 
 Qu. Alas he's mad. 
 
 Ham. Do you not come your tardy Sonne to chide, 
 That laps't in Time and Paffion, lets go by 
 Th'important afting of your dread command ? Oh fay. 
 
 Qboft. Do not forget : this Vifitation 
 Is but to whet thy almoft blunted purpofe. 
 But looke, Amazement on thy Mother fits ; 
 O ftep betweene her, and her fighting Soule, 
 Conceit in weakeft bodies, ftrongeft workes. 
 
 761 
 
 Speake to her Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. How is it with you Lady ? 
 
 Qu. Alas, how is't with you ? 
 That you bend your eye on vacancie, 
 And with their corporall ayre do hold difcourfe. 
 Forth at your eyes, your fpirits wildely peepe, 
 And as the fleeping Soldiours in th'Alarme, 
 Your bedded haire, like life in excrements, 
 Start vp, and ftand an end. Oh gentle Sonne, 
 Vpon the heate and flame of thy diftemper 
 Sprinkle coole patience. Whereon do you looke ? 
 
 Ham. On him, on him : look you how pale he glares, 
 His forme and caufe conioyn'd, preaching to ftones, 
 Would make them capeable. Do not looke vpon me, 
 Leaft with this pitteous aftion you conuertj 
 My fterne effefts : then what I haue to do, 
 Will want true colour ; teares perchance for blood. 
 
 Qu. To who do you fpeake this? 
 
 Ham. Do you fee nothing there? 
 
 Qu. Nothing at all, yet all that is I fee. 
 
 Ham. Nor did you nothing heare ? 
 
 Qu. No, nothing but our felues. 
 
 Ham. Why look you there: looke how it fteals away: 
 My Father in his habite, as he liued, 
 Looke where he goes euen now out at the Portall. Exit. 
 
 Qu. This is the very coynage of your Braine, 
 This bodilefie Creation extafie is very cunning in. 
 
 Ham. Extafie? 
 
 My Pulfe as yours doth temperately keepe time, 
 And makes as healthfull Muficke. It is not madnefle 
 That 1 haue vttered ; bring me to the Teft 
 And I the matter will re-word : which madnefle 
 Would gamboll from. Mother, for loue of Grace, 
 Lay not a flattering Vnftion to your foule, 
 That not your trefpafle, but my madnefle fpeakes: 
 It will but skin and filme the Vlcerous place, 
 Whil'ft ranke Corruption mining all within, 
 Infefts vnfeene. Confefle your felfe to Heauen, 
 Repent what's part, auoyd what is to come, 
 And do not fpred the Compoft or the Weedes, 
 To make them ranke. Forgiue me this my Vertue, 
 For in the fatnefle of this purfie times, 
 Vertue it felfe, of Vice muft pardon begge, 
 Yea courb, and woe, for leaue to do him good. 
 
 Qu. Oh Hamlet, 
 Thou haft cleft my heart in twaine. 
 
 Ham. O throw away the worfer part of it, 
 And liue the purer with the other halfe. 
 Good night, but go not to mine Vnkles bed, 
 Aflume a Vertue, if you haue it not, refraine to night, 
 And that mall lend a kinde of eafinefle 
 To the next abftinence. Once more goodnight, 
 And when you are defirous to be bleft,i 
 lie bleffing begge of you. For this fame Lord, 
 I do repent : but heauen hath pleas'd it fo, 
 To punifli me with this, and this with me, 
 That I muft be their Scourge and Minifter. 
 I will beftow him, and will anfwer well 
 The death I gaue him : fo againe, good night. 
 I muft be cruell, onely to be kinde ; 
 Thus bad begins, and worfe remaines behinde. 
 
 Qu. What lhall I do ? 
 
 Ham. Not this by no meanes that I bid you do : 
 Let the blunt King tempt you againe to bed, 
 Pinch Wanton on your cheeke, call you his Moufe, 
 And let him for a paire of reechie kifies, 
 
 p p 2 Or
 
 272 
 
 The T rage die of Hamlet. 
 
 Or padling in your necke with his damn'd Fingers, 
 
 Make you to rauell all this matter out, 
 
 That I efientially am not in madnefle, 
 
 But made in craft. 'Twere good you let him know, 
 
 For who that's but a Queene, faire, fober, wife, 
 
 Would from a Paddocke, from a Bat, a Gibbe, 
 
 Such deere concernings hide, Who would do fo, 
 
 No in defpight of Senfe and Secrecie, 
 
 Vnpegge the Basket on the houfes top : 
 
 Let the Birds flye, and like the famous Ape 
 
 To try Conclufions in the Basket, creepe 
 
 And breake your owne necke downe. 
 
 Qu. Be thou aflur'd, if words be made of breath, 
 And breath of life : I haue no life to breath 
 What thou haft faide to me. 
 
 Ham. I muft to England, you know that ? 
 
 Qu. Alacke I had forgot : 'Tis fo concluded on. 
 
 Ham. This man /hall fet me packing : 
 He lugge the Guts into the Neighbor roome, 
 Mother goodnight. Indeede this Counfellor 
 Is now moft ftill, moft fecret, and moft graue, 
 Who was in life, a foolifli prating Knaue. 
 Come fir, to draw toward an end with you. 
 Good night Mother. 
 
 Exit Hamlet tupping in Polonitu. 
 _ ,.,. *> 
 iLnter King. 
 
 King. There's matters in thefe fighes. 
 Thefe profound heaues 
 
 You muft tranflate ; Tis fit we vnderftand them. 
 Where is your Sonne ? 
 
 Qu. Ah my good Lord, what haue I feene to night ? 
 
 King. What Gertrude? How do's Hamlet? 
 
 ju. Mad as the Seas, and winde, when both contend 
 Which is the Mightier, in his lawlefle fit 
 Behinde the Arras, hearing fomething ftirre, 
 He whips his Rapier out, and cries a Rat, a Rat, 
 And in his brainifh apprehenfion killes 
 The vnfeene good old man. 
 
 King. Oh heauy deed : 
 It had bin fo with vs had we beene there : 
 His Liberty is full of threats to all, 
 To you your felfe, to vs, to euery one. 
 Alas, how /hall this bloody deede be anfwered ? 
 It will be laide to vs, whofe prouidence 
 Should haue kept fliort, reftrain'd, and out of haunt, 
 This mad yong man. But fo much was our loue, 
 We would not vnderftand what was moft fit, 
 But like the Owner of a foule difeafe, 
 To keepe it from divulging, let's it feede 
 Euen on the pith of life. Where is he gone ? 
 
 Qu. To draw apart the body he hath kild, 
 O're whom his very madnefle like fome Oare 
 Among a Minerall of Mettels bafe 
 Shewes it felfe pure. He weepes for what is done. 
 
 King. Oh Gertrude, come away : 
 The Sun no fooner fhall the Mountaines touch, 
 But we will fliip him hence, and this vilde deed, 
 We muft with all our Maiefty and Skill 
 Both countenance, and excufe. Enter Rof.& Guild. 
 
 Ho Gu'ddenftern : 
 
 Friends both go ioyne you with fome further ayde : 
 Hamlet in madnefTe hath Pohnius flaine, 
 And from his Mother Cloflets hath he drag'd him. 
 Go feeke him out, fpeake faire, and bring the body 
 Into the Chappell. I pray you haft in this. Exit Qent. 
 
 Come Gertrude^ wee'l call vp our wifeft friends, 
 
 To let them know both what we meane to do, 
 And what's vntimely done. Oh come away, 
 My foule is full of difcord and difmay. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. Safely ftowed. 
 
 Gentlemen within. Hamlet, Lord Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. What noife? Who cals on Hamlet ? 
 Oh heere they come. Enter RoJ.and Guildenfterne. 
 
 Ro. What haue you done my Lord with the dead body? 
 
 Ham. Compounded it with duft, whereto 'tis Kinne. 
 
 Rofin. Tell vs where 'tis, that we may take it thence, 
 And beare it to the Chappell. 
 
 Ham. Do not beleeue it. 
 
 Rofin. Beleeue what ? 
 
 Ham. That I can keepe your counfell, and not mine 
 owne. Befides, to be demanded of a Spundge, what re- 
 plication fliould be made by the Sonne of a King. 
 
 Ro/in. Take you me for a Spundge, my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. I fir, that fokes vp the Kings Countenance, his 
 Rewards, his Authorities (but fuch Officers do the King 
 beft feruice in the end. He keepes them like an Ape in 
 the corner of his iaw, firft mouth'd to be laft fwallowed, 
 when he needes what you haue glean'dl, it is but fquee- 
 zing you, and Spundge you fliall be dry againe. 
 
 Ro/in. I vnderftand you not my Lord. 
 
 Ham. I am glad of it : a knauifh fpeech fleepes in a 
 foolifh eare. 
 
 Ro/in. My Lord, you muft tell vs where the body is, 
 and go with vs to the King. 
 
 Ham. The body is with the King, but the King is not 
 with the body. The King, is a thing . 
 
 Qmld. A thing my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. Of nothing: bring me to him, hide Fox, and all 
 after. Exeunt 
 
 Enter King. 
 
 King. I haue fent to feeke him, and to find the bodie : 
 How dangerous is it that this man goes loofe : 
 Yet muft not we put the ftrong Law on him : 
 Hee's loued of the diftracled multitude, 
 Who like not in their iudgement, but their eyes : 
 And where 'tis fo, th'Offenders fcourge is weigh'd 
 But neerer the offence : to beare all fmooth,and euen, 
 This fodaine fending him away, muft feeme 
 Deliberate paufe, difeafes defperate growne, 
 By defperate appliance are releeued, 
 Or not at all. Enter Rofincrane. 
 
 How now? What hath befalne ? 
 
 Rofin. Where the dead body is beftow'd my Lord, 
 We cannot get from him. 
 
 King. But where is he ? 
 
 Rofin. Without my Lord, guarded to know your 
 pleafure. 
 
 King. Bring him before vs. 
 
 Rofin. Hoa, Guildenfterne? Bring in my Lord. 
 
 Enter Hamlet and Guildenfterne. 
 
 King, Now Hamlet, where's Poloniuii 
 
 Ham. At Supper. 
 
 King. At Supper? Where ? 
 
 //aw.Not where he eats, but where he is eaten, a cer- 
 taine conuocation of wormes are e'ne at him. Your worm 
 is your onely Emperor for diet. We fat all creatures elfe 
 to fat vs,and we fat our felfe for Magots. Your fat King, 
 and your leane Begger is but variable feruice to difhes, 
 but to one Table that's the end. 
 
 King. What doft thou meane by this ? 
 
 Ham.
 
 The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 273 
 
 Ham. Nothing but to fliew you how a King may go 
 a Progrefle through the guts of a Begger. 
 
 King. Where is Polonitu. 
 
 Ham. In heauen, fend thither to fee. If your Mefien- 
 ger finde him not there, feeke him i'th other place your 
 felfe : but indeed, if you finde him not this moneth, you 
 fliall nofe him as you go vp the ftaires into the Lobby. 
 
 King. Go feeke him there. 
 
 Ham. He will flay till ye come. 
 
 K. Hamlet, this deed of thine, for thine efpecial fafety 
 Which we do tender, as we deerely greeue 
 For that which thou haft done, muft fend thee hence 
 With fierie Quicknefle. Therefore prepare thy felfe, 
 The Barke is readie, and the winde at helpe, 
 Th'Aflbciates tend, and euery thing at bent 
 For England. 
 
 Ham. For England ? 
 
 King. I Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. Good. 
 
 King. So is it, if thou knew'ft our purpofes. 
 
 Ham. I fee a Cherube that fee's him : but come, for 
 England. Farewell deere Mother. 
 
 King. Thy louing Father Hamlet. 
 
 Hamlet. My Mother : Father and Mother is man and 
 wife : man & wife is one flefli, and fo my mother.Come, 
 for England. Exit 
 
 King. Follow him at foote, 
 Tempt him with fpeed aboord : 
 Delay it not, He haue him hence to night. 
 Away, for euery thing is Seal'd and done 
 That elfe leanes on th'Affaire,pray you make haft. 
 And England, if my loue thou holdft at ought, 
 As my great power thereof may giue thee fenfe, 
 Since yet thy Cicatrice lookes raw and red 
 After the Danifli Sword, and thy free awe 
 Payes homage to vs ; thou maift not coldly fet 
 Our Soueraigne Procefle, which imports at full 
 By Letters coniuring to that effect 
 The prefent death of Hamlet. Do it England, 
 For like the Hedticke in my blood he rages, 
 And thou muft cure me : Till I know 'tis done, 
 How ere my happes, my ioyes were ne're begun. Sxit 
 
 Enter Fortinbrat ivitb an Armie. 
 
 For. Go Captaine, from me greet the Danifli King, 
 Tell him that by his licenfe, Fortinbras 
 Claimes the conueyance of a promis'd March 
 Ouer his Kingdome. You know the Rendeuous : 
 If that his Maiefty would ought with vs, 
 We fhall exprefie our dutie in his eye, 
 And let him know fo. 
 
 Cap. I will doo't, my Lord. 
 
 For. Go fafely on. Exit. 
 
 Enter Queene and Horatio. 
 
 Qu. I will not fpeake with her. 
 
 Hor. She is importunate, indeed diftraft, her moode 
 will needs be pittied. 
 
 Qu. What would flie haue ? 
 
 Hor. She fpeakes much of her Father; faies flie heares 
 There's trickes i'lh'world, and hems, and beats her heart, 
 Spumes enuioufly at Strawes, fpeakes things in doubt, 
 That carry but halfe fenfe : Her fpeech is nothing, 
 Yet the vnfliaped vfe of it doth moue 
 The hearers to Collection ; they ayme at it, 
 And botch the words vp fit to their owne thoughts,! 
 Which as her winkes,and nods, and geftures yeeld them, 
 
 763 
 
 Indeed would make one thinke there would be thought, 
 Though nothing fure, yet much vnhappily. 
 
 Qu. 'Twere good flie were fpoken with, 
 For me may ftrew dangerous coniecTures 
 In ill breeding minds. Let her come in. 
 To my ficke foule(as finnes true Nature is) 
 Each toy feemes Prologue, to fome great amifle, 
 So full of Artlefle iealoufie is guilt, 
 It fpill's it felfe, in fearing to be fpilt. 
 
 Enter Ophelia diftraEled. 
 
 Opbe, Where is the beauteous Maiefty of Denmark. 
 Qu. How now Ophelia? 
 
 Of be. Horn jhonld I your true loue tyiove from another one? 
 By bis Cockle bat and jlajje , and bit Sandal Jhoone, 
 Qu. Alas fweet Lady: what imports this Song ? 
 Ophe. Say you? Nay pray you marke. 
 He is dead and gone Lady, ke dead and gone, 
 At bis bead a graffe-greene Turfe, at his beeles a ftone. 
 
 Enter King. 
 Qu Nay but Ophelia. 
 Opbe. Pray you marke. 
 
 White bis Sbrotid as the (^fountains Snow. 
 Qu. AIas,looke heere my Lord. 
 Opbe. Larded with fweet flowers : 
 
 Which bewept to the graue did not go , 
 With true-louejhowres. 
 King. How do ye, pretty Lady ? 
 
 Ophe. Well, God dil'd you. They fay the Owle was 
 a Bakers daughter. Lord, wee know what we are, but 
 know not what we may be. God be at your Table. 
 King. Conceit vpon her Father. 
 
 Opbe. Pray you let's haue no words of this: but when 
 they aske you what it meanes, fay you this : 
 To morrow is S. Valentines day, all in the morning betime, 
 And I a tMaid at your Window , to be your Valentine. 
 Then -vp be rofe, & don"d his clothes, & dupt the chamber dare, 
 Let in the Maid, that out a cflfaid, neuer departed more. 
 King. Pretty Ophelia. 
 
 Opbe.Indeed la? without an oath He make an end ont. 
 *By gis ,and by 5. (Charity, 
 Alackg,andjie for Jhame : 
 Tfong men wil doo"t ,if they come too't , 
 By Coc^e they are too blame. 
 Quoth Jbe before you tumbled me, 
 You promis'd me to Wed : 
 So would I ha done by yonder Sunne , 
 And thou badfl not come to my bed. 
 King. How long hath flie bin this? 
 Opbe. I hope all will be well. We muft bee patient, 
 but I cannot choofe but weepe, to thinke they fliould 
 lay him i'th'cold ground : My brother fliall knowe of it, 
 and fo I thanke you for your good counfell. Come, my 
 Coach : Goodnight Ladies : Goodnight fweet Ladies : 
 Goodnight, goodnight. Sxit, 
 
 King. Follow her clofe, 
 Giue her good watch I pray you : 
 Oh this is the poyfon of deepe greefe, it fprings 
 All from her Fathers death. Oh Qertrude, Gertrude, 
 When forrowes comes, they come not fingle fpies, 
 But in Battaliaes. Firft, her Father flaine, 
 Next your Sonne gone, and he moft violent Author 
 Of his owne iuft remoue : the people muddied, 
 Thicke and vnwholfome in their thoughts,and whifpers 
 For good Polonius death ; and we haue done but greenly 
 In hugger mugger to interre him. Poore Ophelia 
 Diuided from her felfe, and her faire ludgement, 
 
 p p 3 Without
 
 274 
 
 The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 Without the which we are Pictures, or meere Beads. 
 
 Laft, and as much containing as all thefe, 
 
 Her Brother is in fecret come from France, 
 
 Keepes on his wonder, keepes himfelfe in clouds, 
 
 And wants not Buzzers to infect his eare 
 
 With peftilent Speeches of his Fathers death, 
 
 Where in neceffitie of matter Beggard, 
 
 Will nothing fticke our perfons to Arraigne 
 
 In eare and eare. O mydeere Gertrude, this, 
 
 Like to a murdering Peece in many places, 
 
 Giues me fuperfluous death. A Noife within. 
 
 Enter a Mfffenger. 
 
 QU. Alacke, what noyfe is this ? 
 
 King. Where are my Switxers? 
 Let them guard the doore. What is the matter ? 
 
 Mef. Saue your felfe, my Lord. 
 The Ocean (ouer-peering of his Lift) 
 Bates not the Flats with more impittious hafte 
 Then young Laertes, in a Riotous head, 
 Ore-beares your Officers, the rabble call him Lord, 
 And as the world were now but to begin, 
 Antiquity forgot, Cuftome not knowne, 
 The Ratifiers and props //f euery word, 
 They cry choofe we ? Laertes fhall be King, 
 Caps, hands, and tongues, applaud it to the clouds, 
 Laertes fhall be King, Laertes King. 
 
 Qu. How cheerefully on the falfe Traile they cry, 
 Oh this is Counter you falfe Danifh Dogges. 
 Noife within . Enter Laertes . 
 
 King. The doores are broke. 
 
 Laer. Where is the King, firs ? Stand you all without. 
 
 All. No, let's come in. 
 
 Laer. I pray you giue me leaue. 
 
 Al. We will, we will. 
 
 Laer. I thanke you : Keepe the doore. 
 Oh thou vilde King, giue me my Father. 
 
 Qu. Calmely good Laertes. 
 
 Laer. That drop of blood, that calmes 
 Prochimes me Baftard : 
 
 Cries Cuckold to my Father, brands the Harlot 
 Euen heere betweene the chafte vnfmirched brow 
 Of my true Mother. 
 
 King. What is the caufe Laertes, 
 That thy Rebellion lookes fo Gyant-like? 
 Let him go Gertrude : Do not feare our perfon : 
 There's fuch Diuinity doth hedge a King, 
 That Treafbn can but peepe to what it would, 
 Acts little of his will. Tell me Laertes, 
 Why thou art thus Incenft ? Let him go Gertrude. 
 Speake man. 
 
 Laer. Where's my Father f 
 
 King. Dead. 
 
 %u. But not by him. 
 
 King. Let him demand his fill. 
 
 Laer. How came he dead ? He not be luggel'd with. 
 To hell Allegeance : Vowes, to the blackeft diuell. 
 Confcience and Grace, to the profoundeft Pit. 
 I dare Damnation : to this point I ftand, 
 That both the worlds I giue to negligence, 
 Let come what comes : onely He be reueng'd 
 Moft throughly for my Father. 
 
 King. Who fhall ftay you ? 
 Laer. My Will, not all the world, 
 And for mymeanes, lie husband them fo well, 
 They fliall go farre with little. 
 
 King. Good Laertes : 
 If you defire to know the certaintie 
 Of your deere Fathers death, if writ in your reuenge, 
 That Soop-ftake you will draw both Friend and Foe, 
 Winner and Loofer. 
 
 Laer. None but his Enemies. 
 King. Will you know them then. 
 
 La. To his good Friends, thus wide He ope my Armes : 
 And like the kinde Life-rend'ring Politician, 
 Repaft them with my blood. 
 
 King. Why now you fpeake 
 Like a good Childe, and a true Gentleman. 
 That I am guiltlefTeof your Fathers death,'. 
 And am moft fenfible in greefe for it, 
 It fhall as leuell to your Judgement pierce 
 As day do's to your eye. 
 
 A noife within. Let her come in. 
 Enter Ophelia. 
 
 Laer. How now? what .noife is that ? 
 Oh heate drie vp my Braines, teares feuen times fait, 
 Burne out the Sence and Vertue of mine eye. 
 By Heauen,thy madnefle fhall be payed by waight, 
 Till our Scale turnes the beame. Oh Rofe of May, 
 Deere Maid, kinde Sifter, fweet Ophelia : 
 Oh Heauens, is't pofiible, a yong Maids wits, 
 Should be as mortall as an old mans life? 
 Nature is fine in Loue,and where 'tis fine, 
 It fends fome precious inflance of it felfe 
 After the thing it loues. 
 
 Of he. They bore him bare fafd on the Beer } 
 Hey non nony , nony , bey nony : 
 And on bu graue raines many a teare, 
 Fare you well my Doue. 
 
 Laer. Had'ft thou thy wits, and did'ft perfwade Re- 
 uenge, it could not moue thus. 
 
 Ophe. You muft fing downe a-downe, and you call 
 him a-downe-a. Oh, how the wheele becomes it ? It is 
 the falfe Steward that ftole his mafters daughter. 
 Laer. This nothings more then matter. 
 Ophe. There's Rofemary, that's for Remembraunce. 
 Pray loue remember : and there is Paconcies , that's for 
 Thoughts. 
 
 Laer. A document in madnefle, thoughts & remem- 
 brance fitted. 
 
 Ophe. There's Fennell for you, and Columbines: ther'a 
 Rew for you, and heere's fome for me. Wee may call it 
 Herbe-Grace a Sundaies : Oh you muft weare your Rew 
 with a difference. There's a Dayfie, I would giue you 
 fome Violets, but they wither'd all when myi Father dy- 
 ed : They fay, he made a good end ; 
 
 For bonny fweet Robin is all my toy. 
 
 Laer. Thought, and Afflliclion, Paffion, Hell it felfe : 
 She turnes to Fauour, and to prettinefle. 
 
 Of be. And will be not come agalne, 
 iAnd Trill he not come agalne : 
 No,no,be is dead,go to thy Death-bed, 
 He neuer wll come agalne. 
 His 'Beard at white at Snow, 
 All Flaxen wcu bis Pole : 
 He u gone , be is gone , and we caji away mone, 
 Gramercy on bu Soule. 
 And of all Chriftian Soules, I pray God. 
 God buy ye. Exeunt Ophelia 
 
 Laer. Do you fee this, you Gods ? 
 King. Laertes,! muft common with your greefe, 
 Or you deny me right: go but apart, 
 
 [Make 
 
 764
 
 'The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 Make choice of whom your wifeft Friends you will, 
 
 And they fhall heare and iudge'twixt you and me ; 
 
 It by direct or by Colaterall hand 
 
 They finde vs touch'd, we will our Kingdome giue, 
 
 Our Crowne, our Life, and all that we call Ours 
 
 To you in fatisfaction. But if not, 
 
 Be you content to lend your patience to vs, 
 
 And we fhall ioyntly labour with your fbule 
 
 To giue it due content. 
 
 Laer. Let this be fo : 
 His meanes of death, his obfcure buriall ; 
 No Trophee, Sword, nor Hatchment o're his bones, 
 No Noble rite, nor formall oftentation, 
 Cry to be heard, as 'twere from Heauen to Earth, 
 That I muft call in queftion. 
 
 King. So you fhall : 
 
 And where th 'offence is, let the great Axe fall. 
 I pray you go with me. Exeunt 
 
 Enter Horatio , with an Attendant. 
 
 Hora. What are they that would fpeake with me ? 
 
 Ser. Saylors fir, they fay they haue Letters for you. 
 
 Hor. Let them come in, 
 I do not know from what part of the world 
 I fhould be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet. 
 Snter Saylor. 
 
 Say. God blefle you Sir. 
 
 Hor. Let him blefle thee too. 
 
 Say. Hee fhall Sir, and't pleafe him. There's a Letter 
 for you Sir : It comes from th'Ambafladours that was 
 bound for England, if your name be Horatio, as I am let 
 to know it is. 
 
 Reads the Letter. 
 
 HOratio, When thou Jbalt haue ouerlooT^d this, giue tbeje 
 Fe Howes fame meanes to the King : They haue Letters 
 for him. Sre me were two dayes old at Sea, a Pyrate of -very 
 Warlk^e off ointment gaue -us Chace. Finding our Jelues too 
 Jlow of Saile, we put on a compelled Valour. In the (jr 'apple , I 
 boarded them : On the inftant they got clear e of our Shippe,fo 
 I alone became their Prifoner. They haue dealt with mee, li^e 
 Tbeeues of cflfercy , but they tyiew what they did. I am to doe 
 a good turnefor them_,. Let the King haue the Letters I baue 
 Jent t and repaire thou to me with M much haji 06 thou wouldeji 
 Jlye death. I haue words to Jfieafy in your tare, will maT^e tbee 
 dnmbe, yet are they much too light for the bore of the Matter. 
 Tbeje good Fellowes will bring tbee where I am. Rofincrance 
 and Guildenfterne, hold their courje for Bngland. Of them 
 I haue much to tell thee , Farewell. 
 
 He that thou knoweji thine, 
 
 Hamlet. 
 
 Come, I will giue you way for thefe your Letters, 
 And do't the fpeedier, that you may direct me 
 To him from whom you brought them. Exit. 
 
 Snter King and Laertes. 
 
 AT/.Now muft your confcience my acquittance feal, 
 And you muft put me in your heart for Friend, 
 Sith you haue heard, and with a knowing eare, 
 That he which hath your Noble Father flaine, 
 Purfued my life. 
 
 Eaer. It well appeares. But tell me, 
 Why you proceeded not againft thefe feates, 
 So crimefull, and fo Capitall in Nature, 
 As by your Safety, Wifedome,all things elfe, 
 
 7 6j 
 
 You mainly were ftirr'd vp? 
 
 King. O for two fpeciall Reafons, 
 
 Which may to you (perhaps) feeme much vnfinnowed, 
 And yet to me they are ftrong. The Queen his Mother, 
 Liues almoft by his lookes : and for my felfe, 
 My Vertue or my Plague, be it either which, 
 She's fo coniunctiue to my life and foule ; 
 That as the Starre moues not but in his Sphere, 
 I could not but by her. The other Motiue, 
 Why to a publike count I might not go,| 
 Is the great loue the generall gender beare him, 
 Who dipping all his Faults in their affection, 
 Would like the Spring that tUrneth Wood to Stone, 
 Conuert his Gyues to Graces. So that my Arrowes 
 Too flightly timbred for fo loud a Winde, 
 Would haue reuerted to my Bow againe, 
 And not where I had arm'd them. 
 
 Laer. And fo haue I a Noble Father loft, 
 A Sifter driuen into defperate tearmes, 
 Who was( if praifes may go backe againe) 
 Stood Challenger on mount of all the Age 
 For her perfections. But my reuenge will come. 
 
 King. Breake not your fleepes for that, 
 You muft not thinke 
 
 That we are made of ftuffe, fo flat, and dull, 
 That we can let our Beard be fhooke with danger, 
 And thinke it paftime. You fhortly fhall heare more, 
 I lou'd your Father, and we loue our Selfe, 
 And that I hope will teach you to imagine 
 
 Enter a tjlfej/enger. 
 How now? What Newes? 
 
 Mef. Letters my Lord from Hamlet. This to your 
 Maiefty : this to the Queene. 
 
 King. From Hamlet ? Who brought them ? 
 
 <&fy[ef. Saylors my Lord they fay, I faw them not : 
 They were giuen me by Claudia, he receiu'd them. 
 
 King. Laertes you fhall heare them : 
 Leaue vs. Exit MeJJenger 
 
 High and Mighty, you jkall fyow I am fet na^ed on your 
 Kingdome. To morrow Jhall I begge leaue to fee your Kingly 
 Eyes. When IJhall (firsJ M^ing your Pardon thereunto } re- 
 count th'Occa/ions of my Jodaine,and more Jtrange returne. 
 
 Hamlet. 
 
 What fhould this meane? Are all the reft come backe ? 
 Or is it fome abufe? Or no fuch thing ? 
 
 Laer. Know you the hand ? 
 
 Kin. 'Tis\HamIets Character, naked and in a Poft- 
 fcript here he fayes alone : Can you aduife me ? 
 
 Laer. I'm loft in it my Lord; but let him come, 
 It warmes the very fickneffe in my heart, 
 That I fhall Hue and tell him to his teeth; 
 Thus diddeft thou. 
 
 Kin. If it be fo Laertes,** how fhould it be fo : 
 How otherwife will you be rul'd by me ? 
 
 Laer. If fo you'l not o'rerule me to a peace. 
 
 Kin. To thine owne peace : if he be now return'd, 
 As checking at his Voyage, and that he meanes 
 No more to vndertake it; I will worke him 
 To an exployt now > ripe in my Deuice, 
 Vnder the which he fhall not choofe but fall; 
 And for his death no winde of blame fhall breath, 
 But euen his Mother fhall vncharge the practice, 
 And call it accident: Some two Monthes hence 
 Here was a Gentleman of Normandy, 
 I'ue feene my felfe, and feru'd againft theiFrench, 
 And they ran well on Horfebacke; but this Gallant 
 
 Had
 
 2/6 
 
 'The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 Had witchcraft in't; he grew into his Seat, 
 And to fuch wondrous doing brought his Horfe, 
 As had he beene encorps't and demy-Natur'd 
 With the braue Beaft,fo farre he paft my thought, 
 That I in forgery of fhapes and trickes, 
 Come fhort of what he did. 
 
 Lacr. A Norman was't? 
 
 Kin. A Norman. 
 
 Lacr. Vpon my life Lamound. 
 
 Kin, The very fame. 
 
 Laer. I know him well, he is the Brooch indeed, 
 And lemme of all our Nation. 
 
 Kin. Hee mad confefTion of you, 
 And gaue you fuch a Mafterly report, 
 For Art and exercife in your defence ; 
 And for your Rapier moft efpecially, 
 That he cryed out, t'would be a fight indeed, 
 If one could match you Sir. This report of his 
 Did Hamlet fo envenom with his Enuy, 
 That he could nothing doe but wifh and begge, 
 Your fodaine commingore to play with him} 
 Now out of this. 
 
 Laer. Why out of this, my Lord ? 
 
 Kin. Laertes was your Father deare to you? 
 Or are you like the painting of a forrow, 
 A face without a heart? 
 
 Laer, Why aske you this ? 
 
 Kin. Not that I thinke you did not loue your Father, 
 But that I know Loue is begun by Time : 
 And that I fee in paflages of proofe, 
 Time qualifies the fparke and fire of it : 
 Hamlet comes backe : what would you vndertake, 
 To fhow your felfe your Fathers fonne indeed, 
 More then in words ? 
 
 Laer. To cut his throat i'th' Church. 
 
 Kin. No place indeed fhould murder Sancturize; 
 Reuenge fhould haue no bounds : but good Laertes 
 Will you doe this, keepe clofe within your Chamber, 
 Hamlet return'd, fhall know you are come home : 
 Wee'l put on thofe fhall praife your excellence, 
 And fet a double varnifh on the fame 
 The Frenchman gaue you, bring you in fine together, 
 And wager on your heads,he being remifTe, 
 Moft generous, and free from all contriuing, 
 Will not perufe the Foiles ? So that with eafe, 
 Or with a little fhuffling, you may choofe 
 A Sword vnbaited, and in a pafle of practice, 
 Requit him for your Father. 
 
 Laer. I will doo't, 
 
 And for that purpofe lie annoint my Sword : 
 I bought an Vnction of a Mountebanke 
 So mortall, I but dipt a knife in it, 
 Where it drawes blood, no Cataplafme fo rare, 
 Collected from all Simples that haue Vertue 
 Vnder the Moone, can faue the thing from death, 
 That is but fcratcht withall : lie touch my point, 
 With this contagion, that if I gall him flightly, 
 I t may be death. 
 
 Kin Let's further thinke of this, 
 Weigh what conuenience both of time and meanes 
 May fit vs to our fhape, if this fhould faile; 
 And that our drift looke through our bad performance, 
 'Twere better not afTaid; therefore this Proiedt 
 Should haue a backe or fecond,that might hold, 
 If this fhould blaft in proofe : Soft, let me fee 
 Wee'l make a folemne wager on your commings, 
 
 I ha't : when in your motion you are hot and dry, 
 As make your bowts more violent to the end , 
 And that he cals for drinke; He haue prepar'd him 
 A Challice for the nonce; whereon but lipping, 
 If he by chance efcape your venom'd ftuck, 
 Our purpofe may hold there ; how fweet Qu_eene. 
 
 Enter {Queene. 
 
 Queen. One woe doth tread vpon anothers heele, 
 So faft they'l follow: your Sifter's drown'd Laertes. 
 
 Laer. Drown'd ! O where ? 
 
 Queen. There is a Willow growes adant a Brooke, 
 That fhewes his hore leaues in the glaflie ftreame : 
 There with fantafticke Garlands did fhe come, 
 Of Crow-flowers, Nettles, Dayfies, and long Purples, 
 That liberall Shepheards giue a grofler name; 
 But our cold Maids doe Dead Mens Fingers call them : 
 There on the pendant boughes, her Coronet weeds 
 Clambring to hang; an enuious fliuer broke, 
 When downe the weedy Trophies, and her felfe, 
 Fell in the weeping Brooke, her cloathes fpred wide, 
 And Mermaid-like, a while they bore her vp, 
 Which time (he chaunted fnatches of old tunes, 
 As one incapable of her owne diitrefle, 
 Or like a creature Natiue, and indued 
 Vnto that Element : but long it could not be, 
 Till that her garments, heauy with her drinke, 
 Pul'd the poore wretch from her melodious buy, 
 To muddy death. 
 
 Laer. Alas then, is fhe drown'd? 
 
 Queen. Drown'd, drown'd. 
 
 Laer. Too much of water haft thou poore Ophelia, 
 And therefore I forbid my teares : but yet 
 It is our tricke, Nature her cuftome holds, 
 Let fhame fay what it will; when thefe are gone 
 The woman will be out: Adue my Lord, 
 I haue a fpeech of fire, that faine would blaze, 
 But that this folly doubts it. Exit . 
 
 Kin. Let's follow, Gertrude: 
 How much I had to doe to calme his rage ? 
 Now feare I this will giue it ftart againe ; 
 Therefore let's follow. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter two Clorvnes. 
 
 Clffvn. Is fhe to bee buried in Chriftian buriall, that 
 wilfully feekes her owne faluation ? 
 
 Other. I tell thee fhe is, and therefore make her Graue 
 ftraight, the Crowner hath fate on her, and finds it Chri- 
 ftian buriall. 
 
 Clo. How can that be, vnlefle fhe drowned her felfe in 
 her owne defence? 
 
 Other. Why 'tis found fo. 
 
 Clo. It muft 6e & ojfendendo, it cannot bee elfe : for 
 heere lies the point; If I drowne my felfe wittingly, it ar- 
 gues an Act: and an Act hath three branches. It is an 
 Act to doe and to performe; argall fhe drown'd her felfe 
 wittingly. 
 
 Other. Nay but heare you Goodman Deluer. 
 
 Clown. Giue me leaue ; heere lies the water; good : 
 heere ftands the man; good : If the man goe to this wa- 
 ter and drowne himfele ; it is will he nil! he, he goes; 
 marke you that? But if the water come to him & drowne 
 him; hee drownes not himfelfe. Argall, hee that is not 
 guilty of his owne death, fhortens not his owne life. 
 
 Other. But is this law ? 
 
 Clo. I marry is't, Crowners Queft Law. 
 
 Other. 
 
 7-66
 
 'The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 277 
 
 Other. Will you ha the truth on't : if this had not 
 beene a Gentlewoman, fliee fhould haue beene buried 
 out of Chriftian Buriall. 
 
 Clo. Why there thou fay'ft. And the more pitty that 
 great folke fhould haue countenance in this world to 
 drowne or hang themfelues, more then their euen Chrifti- 
 an. Come, my Spade; there is no ancient Gentlemen, 
 but Gardiners, Ditchers and Graue-makersj they hold vp 
 Adams Profefiion. 
 Other. Was he a Gentleman ? 
 
 Clo. He was the firft that euer bore Armes. 
 
 Other. Why he had none. 
 
 Clo. What, ar't a Heathen ? how doft thou vnder- 
 ftand the Scripture ? the Scripture fayes Adam dig'd ; 
 could hee digge without Armes ? He put another que- 
 ftion to thee; if thou anfwereft me not to the purpofe, con- 
 feffe thy felfe 
 
 Other. Go too. 
 
 Clo. What is he that builds ftronger then either the 
 Mafon, the Shipwright, or the Carpenter ? 
 
 Other. The Gallowes maker; for that Frame outliues a 
 thoufand Tenants. 
 
 Clo. I like thy wit well in good faith, the Gallowes 
 does well; but how does it well? it does well to thofe 
 that doe ill : now, thou doft ill to fay the Gallowes is 
 built ftronger then the Church : Argall, the Gallowes 
 may doe well to thee. Too't againe, Come. 
 
 Other. Who builds ftronger then a Mafon, a Ship- 
 wright, or a Carpenter ? 
 
 Clo. I, tell me that, and vnyoake. 
 
 Other. Marry, now I can tell. 
 
 Clo. Too't. 
 
 Other. Mafic, I cannot tell. 
 
 Enter Hamlet and Horatio a far re off. 
 Clo. Cudgel 1 thy braines no more about it ; for your 
 dull Afle will not mend his pace with beating ; and when 
 you are ask't this queftion next, fay a Graue-maker: the 
 Houfes that he makes, lafts till Doomefday : go, get thee 
 to Taugban, fetch me a ftoupe of Liquor. 
 
 Sings. 
 
 In youth when I did loue , did loue , 
 me thought It not -very faeete : 
 To contrail the time for a my beboue, 
 
 me thought there -mas nothing meete. 
 Ham. Ha's this fellow no feeling of his bufineffe, that 
 he fings at Graue-making ? 
 
 Hor. Cuftome hath made it in him a property of ea- 
 finefle. 
 
 Ham. 'Tis ee'n fo; the hand of little Imployment hath 
 the daintier fenfe. 
 
 Clovne Jtngs. 
 
 'But Age with his ftealing ftepi 
 bath caught me in bit clutch : 
 tAnd batbjhipped me infill the Land, 
 
 at if I bad neuer beene fucb. 
 
 Ham. That Scull had a tongue in it, and could fing 
 once : how the knaue iowles it to th' grownd, as if it 
 were Caines law-bone, that did the firft murther : It 
 might be the Pate of a Polititian which this Afle o're Of- 
 fices: one that could circumuent God, might it not? 
 Hor. It might, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Or of a Courtier, which could fay, Good Mor- 
 row fweet Lord : how doft thou, good Lord ? this 
 might be my Lord fuch a one, that prais'd my Lord fuch 
 a ones Horfe, when he meant to begge it; might it not? 
 
 767 
 
 Hor. I, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Why ee'n fo : and now my Lady Wormes, 
 ChaplefTe, and knockt about the Mazard with a Sextons 
 Spade; heere's fine Reuolution, if wee had the tricke to 
 fec't. Did thefe bones coft no more the breeding, but 
 to play at Loggets with 'em ? mine ake to thinke 
 on't. 
 
 Clorvne Jtngs. 
 A Pic^haxe and a Spade , a Spade. 
 
 for and a Jhrcvding-Sbeete : 
 a Pit of Clay for to be made, 
 for fucb a Guejl meete. 
 
 Ham. There's another : why might not that bee the 
 Scull of of a Lawyer ? where be his Quiddits now ? his 
 Quillets? his Cafes ? his Tenures, and his Tricks ? why 
 doe's he fuffer this rude knaue now to knocke him about 
 the Sconce with a dirty Shouell, and will not tell him of 
 his Action of Battery? hum. This fellow might be in's 
 time a great buyer of Land, with his Statutes, his Recog- 
 nizances, his Fines, his double Vouchers, his Recoueries: 
 Is this the fine of his Fines, and the recouery of his Reco- 
 ueries, to haue his fine Pate full of fine Dirt? will his 
 Vouchers vouch him no more of his Purchafes, and dou- 
 ble ones too , then the length and breadth of a paire of 
 Indentures ? the very Conueyances of his Lands will 
 hardly lye in this Boxe ; and muft the Inheritor himfelfe 
 haue no more ? ha ? 
 
 Hor. Not a iot more, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. Is not Parchment made of Sheep-skinnes? 
 
 Hor. I my Lord, and of Calue-skinnes too. 
 
 Ham. They are Sheepe and Calues that feek out aflu- 
 rance in that. I will fpeake to this fellow: whofe Graue's 
 this Sir ? 
 
 Clo. Mine Sir : 
 a Tit of Clay for to be made, 
 for fucb a Gueft u meete. 
 
 Ham. I thinke it be thine indeed:for thou lieft in't. 
 
 Clo. You lye out on't Sir, and therefore it is not yours: 
 for my part, I doe not lye in't ; and yet it is mine. 
 
 Ham. Thou doft lye in't, to be in't and fay 'tis thine : 
 'tis for the dead, not for the quicke, therefore thou 
 lyeft. 
 
 Clo. 'Tis a quicke lye Sir, 'twill away againe from me 
 to you. 
 
 Ham. What man doft thou digge it for? 
 
 Clo. For no man Sir. 
 
 Ham. What woman then ? 
 
 Clo. For none neither. 
 
 Ham. Who is to be buried in't? 
 
 Clo. One that was a woman Sir; but reft her Soule, 
 fliee's dead. 
 
 Ham. How abfolute the knaue is ? wee muft fpeake 
 by the Carde, or equiuocation will vndoe vs : by the 
 Lord Horatio, thefe three yeares I haue taken note of it, 
 the Age is growne fo picked, that the toe of the Pefant 
 comes fo neere the heeles of our Courtier, hee galls his 
 Kibe. How long haft thou been a Graue-maker ? 
 
 Clo. Of all the dayes i'th' yeare, I came too't that day 
 that our laft King Hamlet o'recame Fortinbras. 
 
 Ham. How long is that fince ? 
 
 Clo. Cannot you tell that ? euery foole can tell that : 
 It was the very day, that young Hamlet was borne, hee 
 that was mad, and fent into England. 
 
 Ham. I marry, why was he fent into England ? 
 
 Clo. Why, becaufe he was mad; hee fhall recouer his 
 wits there; or if he do not, it's no great matter there. 
 
 Ham.
 
 278 
 
 The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. Why? 
 
 C/o. Twill not be feenc in him, there the men are as 
 mad as he. 
 
 Ham. How came he mad ? 
 
 Clo. Very ftrangely they fay. 
 
 Ham. How ftrangely ? 
 
 Clo. Faith e'ene with loofing his wits. ' 
 
 Ham. Vpon what ground ? 
 
 Clo. Why heere in Denmarke : I haue bin fixeteene 
 heere, man and Boy thirty yeares. 
 
 Ham. How long will a man lie 'ith' earth ere he rot? 
 
 Clo. Ifaith, if he be not rotten before he die(as we haue 
 many pocky Coarfes now adaies, that will fcarce hold 
 the laying in) he will laft you fome eight yeare, or nine 
 yeare. A Tanner will laft you nine year e. 
 
 Ham. Why he, more then another ?' 
 
 Clo. Why fir, his hide is fo tan'd with his Trade, that 
 he will keepe out water a great while. And your water, 
 is a fore Decayer of your horfon dead body.Heres a Scull 
 now: this Scul, has laine in the earth three & twenty years. 
 
 Ham. Whofe was it 7 
 
 Clo. A whorefon mad Fellowes it was; 
 Whofe doe you thinke it was? 
 
 Ham. Nay, I know not. 
 
 Clo. A peftlence on him for a mad Rogue, a pou'rd a 
 Flaggon of Renifh on my head once. This fame Scull 
 Sir, this fame Scull fir, was Toricfy Scull, the Kings lefter. 
 
 Ham. This ? 
 
 Clo: E'ene that. 
 
 Ham. Let me fee. Alas poore Toric^I knew him Ho- 
 ratio y a fellow of infinite left; of moft excellent fancy, he 
 hath borne me on his backe a thoufand times : And how 
 abhorred my Imagination is, my gorge rifes at it. Heere 
 hung thofe lipps, that I haue kift I know not how oft. 
 Where be your libes now ? Your Gambals ? Your 
 Songs i Your flafhes of Merriment that were wont to 
 fet the Table on a Rore? No one now to mock your own 
 leering ? Quite chopfalne ? Now get you to my Ladies 
 Chamber, and tell her, let her paint an inch thicke, to this 
 fauour Ac muft come. Make her laugh at that : pry- 
 thee Horatio te\l me one thing. 
 
 Hor. What's that my Lord ? 
 
 Ham. Doft thou thinke Alexander lookt o'this fa- 
 fhion i'th' earth 
 
 Hor. E'ene fo. 
 
 Ham. And fmelt fo ? Puh. 
 
 Hor. E'ene fo,my Lord. 
 
 Ham. To what bafe vfes we may returne Horatio. 
 Why may not Imagination trace the Noble duft of A- 
 lexander, till he find it flopping a bunghole. 
 
 Hor. 'Twere to confider : to curioufly to confider fo. 
 
 Ham. No faith, not a iot. But to follow him thether 
 with modeftie enough, & likeliehood to lead it; as thus. 
 Alexander died : Alexander was buried : Alexander re- 
 turneth into duft; the duft is earth; of earth we make 
 Lome, and why of that Lome (whereto he was conuer- 
 ted ) might they not ftopp a Beere-barrell ? 
 Imperiall C*^jr,dead and turn'd to clay, 
 Might ftop a hole to keepe the winde away. 
 Oh, that that earth, which kept the world in awe, 
 Should patch a Wall,t'expell the winters flaw. 
 But foft, but foft, afide; heere comes the King. 
 
 Enter King, Queene, Laertes, and a Coffin, 
 
 ccitb Lords attendant . 
 The Queene, the Courtiers. Who is that they follow, 
 
 And with fuch maimed rites ? This doth betoken 
 The Coarfe they follow, did with difperate hand , 
 Fore do it owne life; 'twas fome Eftate. 
 Couch we a while, and mark. 
 
 Laer. What Cerimony elfe ? 
 
 Ham. That is Laertes, a very Noble youth : Marke. 
 
 Laer. What Cerimony elfe ? 
 
 Prieft. Her Obfequies haue bin as farre inlarg'd. 
 As we haue warrantis, her death was doubtfull, 
 And but that great Command, o're-fwaies the order, 
 She fhould in ground vnfan&ified haue lodg'd, 
 Till the laft Trumpet. For charitable praier, 
 Shardes, Flints, and Peebles, fliould be thro wne on her: 
 Yet heere fhe is allowed her Virgin Rites, 
 Her Maiden ftrewments, and the bringing home 
 Of Bell and Buriall. 
 
 Laer. Muft there no more be done ? 
 
 Priejl . No more be done : 
 We fhould prophane the feruice of the dead, 
 To ling fage ^Requiem, and fuch reft to her 
 As to peace-parted Soules. 
 
 Laer. Lay her i'th' earth, 
 And from her faire and vnpolluted flefh, 
 May Violets fpring. I tell thee(churlifh Prieft) 
 A Miniftring Angell /hall my Sifter be, 
 When thou lieft howling ? 
 
 Ham. What, the faire Ophelia ? 
 
 Queene. Sweets, to the fweet farewell. 
 I hop'd thou fhould'ft haue bin my Hamlets wife : 
 I thought thy Bride-bed to haue deckt(fweet Maid) 
 And not t'haue ftrew'd thy Graue. 
 
 Laer. Oh terrible woer, 
 Fall ten times trebble, on thatcurfed head 
 Whofe wicked deed, thy moft Ingenious fence 
 Depriu'd thee of. Hold off the earth a while,. 
 Till I haue caught her once more in mine armes : 
 
 Leaps in the graue . 
 
 Now pile your duft, vpon the quicke,and dead, 
 Till of this flat a Mountaine you haue made, 
 To o're top old Pelion, or the skyifh head 
 Of blew Olympus. 
 
 Ham. What is he, whofe griefes 
 Beares fuch an Emphafis ? whofe phrafe of Sorrow 
 Coniure the wandring Starres, and makes them ftand 
 Like wonder-wounded hearers f This is I, 
 Hamlet the Dane. 
 
 Laer. The deuill take thy foule. 
 
 Ham. Thou prai'ft not well) 
 I prythee take thy fingers from my throat; 
 Sir though I am not Spleenatiue,and ra/h, 
 Yet haue I fomething in me dangerous, 
 Which let thy wifenefle feare. Away thy hand. 
 
 King. Pluck them afunder. 
 
 Qtt. Hamlet , Hamlet. 
 
 Gen. Good my Lord be quiet. 
 
 Ham. Why I will fight with him vppon this Theme, 
 Vntill my eielids will no longer wag. 
 
 Qu. Oh my Sonne, what Theame 
 
 Ham. I lou'd Ophelia; fortie thoufand Brothers 
 Could not f with all there quantitie of Loue) 
 Make vp my fumme. What wilt thou do for her 
 
 King. Oh he is mad Laertes, 
 
 Qu. For loue of God forbeare him. 
 
 Ham. Come fhow me what thou'lt doe. 
 Woo't weepe t Woo't fight ? Woo't teare thy felfe ? 
 Woo't drinke vp /lle,tate a Crocodile? 
 
 He
 
 The Tr age die of Hamlet. 
 
 259 
 
 lie doo't, Doft thou come heere to whine ; 
 To outface me with leaping in her Graue ? 
 Be buried quicke with her, and fo will I. 
 And if thou prate of Mountaines; let them throw 
 Millions of Akers on vs ; till our ground 
 Sindging his pate againft the burning Zone, 
 Make OJJa like a wart. Nay, and thoul't mouth, 
 He rant as well as thou. 
 
 Kin. This is meere MadnefTe : 
 And thus awhile the fit will worke on him : 
 Anon as patient as the female Doue, 
 When that her golden Cuplet are difclos'd ; 
 His filence will fit drooping. 
 
 Ham. Heare you Sir : 
 What is the reafon that you vfe me thus? 
 I loud' you euerjbut it is no matter : 
 Let Hercules himfelfe doe what he may, 
 The Cat will Mew, and Dogge will haue his day. Exit. 
 
 Kin. I pray you good Horatio wait vpon him, 
 Strengthen you patience in our laft nights fpeech, 
 Wee'l put the matter to the prefent pufh : 
 Good Gertrude fet fome watch ouer your Sonne, 
 This Graue fhall haue a liuing Monument : 
 An houre of quiet fhortly fhall we fee; 
 Till then, in patience our proceeding be. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Hamlet and Horatio. 
 
 Ham. So much for this Sir; now let me fee the other, 
 You doe remember all the Circumftance. 
 
 Hor. Remember it my Lord? 
 
 Ham. Sir,in my heart there was a kinde of fighting, 
 That would not let me fleepe; me thought I lay 
 Worfe then the mutines in the Bilboes, rafhly, 
 (And praife be raflinefle for it) let vs know, 
 Our indifcretion fometimes ferues vs well, 
 When our deare plots do paule,and that fhould teach vs, 
 There's a Diuinity that fhapes our ends, 
 Rough-hew them how we will. 
 
 Hor. That is moft certaine. 
 
 Ham. Vp from my Cabin 
 My fea-gowne fcarft about me in the darke, 
 Grop'd I to finde out them ; had my defire, 
 Finger'd their Packet,and in fine, withdrew 
 To mine owne roome againe, making fo bold, 
 (My feares forgetting manners) to vnfeale 
 Their grand Commiffion, where I found Horatio, 
 Oh royall knauery : An exact command, 
 Larded with many feuerall forts of reafon; 
 Importing Denmarks health, and Englands too, 
 With hoo, fuch Bugges and Goblins in my life; 
 That on the fuperuize no leafure bated, 
 No not to ftay the grinding of the Axe, 
 My head fhoud be ftruck off. 
 
 Hor. Ift pofllble? 
 
 Ham. Here's the Commiflion, read it at more leyfure : 
 But wilt thou heare me how I did proceed ? 
 
 Hor. 1 befeech you. 
 
 Ham. Being thus benetted round with Villaines, 
 Ere 1 could make a Prologue to my braines, 
 They had begun the Play. I fate me downe, 
 Deuis'd a new Commiflion, wrote it faire, 
 I once did hold it as our Statifts doe, 
 A bafenefie to write faire; and laboured much 
 How to forget that learning : but Sir now, 
 It did me Yeomans feruice : wilt thou know 
 The effects of what I wrote? 
 
 769 
 
 Hor. I, good my Lord. 
 
 Ham. An earneft Coniuration from the King, 
 As England was his faithfull Tributary, 
 As loue betweenethem,as the Palme fhould flourifh, 
 As Peace fhould ftill her wheaten Garland weare, 
 And ftand a Comma 'tweene their amities, 
 And many fuch like Afiis of great charge, 
 That on the view and know of thefe Contents, 
 Without debatement furthermore or leffe, 
 He fhould the bearers put to fodaine death, 
 Not fhriuing time allowed. 
 
 Hor. How was this feal'd ? 
 
 Ham. Why,euen in that was Heauen ordinate; 
 I had my fathers Signet in my Purfe, 
 Which was the Modell of that Danifh Scale : 
 Folded the Writ vp in forme of the other, 
 Subfcrib'd it, gau't th' imprefiion, plac't it fafely, 
 The changeling neuer knowne : Now, the next day 
 Was our Sea Fight,and what to this was fement, 
 Thou know'ft already. 
 
 Hor. So Guildenfterne and Rojincrance, go too't. 
 Ham.Why man, they did make loue to this imployment 
 They are not neere my Confcience; their debate 
 Doth by their owne infinuation grow : 
 'Tis dangerous, when the bafer nature comes 
 Betweene the pafle,and fell incenfed points 
 Of mighty oppofites. 
 
 Hor. Why, what a King is this ? 
 
 Ham. Does it not, thinkft thee, ftand me now vpon 
 He that hath kil'd my King, and whor'd my Mother, 
 Popt in betweene th'elecYion and my hopes, 
 Throwne out his Angle for my proper life, 
 And with fuch coozenage; is't not perfect confcience, 
 To quit him with this arme ? And is't not to be damn'd 
 To let this Canker of our nature come 
 In further euill. 
 
 Hor. It muft be fhortly knowne to him from England 
 What is the ifTue of the bufmeffe there. 
 
 Ham. It will be fhort, 
 
 The interim's mine,and a mans life's no more 
 Then to fay one : but I am very forry good Horatio, 
 That to Laertes I forgot my felfe ; 
 For by the image of my Caufe, I fee 
 The Portraiture of his ; He count his fauours : 
 But fure the brauery of his griefe did put me 
 Into a Towring pafiion. 
 
 Hor. Peace, who comes heere ? 
 
 Enter young OJric^e. (marke. 
 
 Ofr. Your Lordfhip is right welcome back to Den- 
 Ham. I humbly thank you Sir,doft know this waterflie? 
 Hor. No my good Lord. 
 
 Ham. Thy ftate is the more gracious; for 'tis a vice to 
 know him : he hath much Land, and fertile ; let a Beaft 
 be Lord of Beafts, and his Crib fhall ftand at the Kings 
 MefTe; 'tis a Chowgh; but as I faw fpacious in the pof- 
 fefiion of dirt. 
 
 Ofr. Sweet Lord, if your friend/hip were at leyfure, 
 I fhould impart a thing to you from his Maiefty. 
 
 Ham. I will receiue it with all diligence of fpirit;put 
 your Bonet to his right vfe, 'tis for the head. 
 
 Ofr. I thanke your Lordfhip, 'tis very hot. 
 
 Ham. No, beleeue mee 'tis very cold, the winde is 
 Northerly. 
 
 Ofr. It is indifferent cold my Lord indeed". 
 
 Ham. Mee thinkes it is very foultry, and hot for my 
 Complexion. 
 
 Ofricfa
 
 280 
 
 The T rage die of Hamlet. 
 
 j Ofr. Exceedingly, my Lord, it is very foultry, as 'twere 
 cannot tell how : but my Lord, his Maiefty bad me fig- 
 n ifie to you, that he ha's laid a great wager on your head: 
 Sir, this is the matter. 
 
 Ham. I befeech you remember. 
 
 Ofr. Nay, in good faith, for mine eafe in good faith : 
 Sir, you are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is at 
 his weapon. 
 
 Ham. What's his weapon ? 
 
 Ofr. Rapier and dagger. 
 
 Ham. That's two of his weapons; but well. 
 Ofr. The fir King ha's wag'd with him fix Barbary Hor- 
 fes, againft the which heimpon'd as I take it, fixe French 
 Rapiers and Poniards, with their afiignes, as Girdle, 
 Hangers or fo : three of the Carriages infaith are very 
 deare to fancy, very refponfiue to the hilts, moft delicate 
 carriages, and of very liberall conceit. 
 
 Ham. What call you the Carriages ? 
 
 Ofr. The Carriages Sir, are the hangers. 
 
 Ham. The phrafe would bee more Germaine to the 
 matter : If we could carry Cannon by our fides; I would 
 it might be Hangers till then; but on fixe Barbary Hor- 
 fes againft fixe French Swords : their Afiignes,and three 
 liberall conceited Carriages , that's the French but a- 
 gainft the Danifh ; why is this impon'd as you call it ? 
 
 Ofr. The King Sir, hath laid that in a dozen pafles be- 
 tweene you and him, hee fhall not exceed you three hits ; 
 He hath one twelue for mine, and that would come to 
 imediate tryall, if your Lordmip would vouchfafe the 
 Anfwere. 
 
 Ham. How if I anfwere no ? 
 
 Ofr. I meane my Lord, the oppofition of your perfon 
 in tryall. 
 
 Ham. Sir, I will walke heere in the Hall; if it pleafe 
 his Maieftie, 'tis the breathing time of day with me; let 
 the Foyles bee brought, the Gentleman willing, and the 
 King hold his purpofe ; I will win for him if I can : if 
 not, He gaine nothing but my fliame, and the odde hits. 
 
 Ofr. Shall I redeliuer you ee'n fo? 
 
 Ham. To this effect Sir, after what flourifh your na- 
 ture will. 
 
 Ofr. I commend my duty to your Lordmip. 
 
 Ham. Yours, yours; hee does well to commend it 
 himfelfe, there are no tongues elfe for's tongue. 
 
 Hor. This Lapwing runs away with the fliell on his 
 head. 
 
 Ham. He did Compile with his Dugge before hee 
 fuck't it : thus had he and mine more of the fame Beauy 
 that I know the droflie age dotes on; only got the tune of 
 the time , and outward habite of encounter, a kinde of 
 yefty collection, which carries them through & through 
 the moft fond and winnowed opinions; and doe but blow 
 them to their tryalls : the Bubbles are out. 
 
 Hor. You will lofe this wager, my Lord. 
 
 Ham. I doe not thinke fo, fince he went into France, 
 I haue beene in continuall practice ; I {hall winne at the 
 oddes : but thou wouldeft not thinke how all heere a- 
 bout my heart : but it is no matter. 
 
 Hor. Nay, good my Lord. 
 
 Ham. It is but foolery ; but it is luch a kinde of 
 gain-giiiing as would perhaps trouble a woman. 
 
 Hor. If your minde diflike any thing,obey.I will fore- 
 ftall their repaire hither, and fay you are not fit. 
 
 Ham. Not a whit, we defie Augury; there's a fpeciall 
 Prouidence in the fall of a fparrow. If it be now, 'tis not 
 to come: if it bee not to come, it will bee now : if it 
 
 be not now; yet it will come; the readineffe is all, fince no 
 man ha's ought of what he leaues. What is't to leaue be- 
 times ? 
 
 Enter King, Sjueene, Laertes and Lords, nitb other Atten- 
 dants tfitb Foyles, and Gauntlets, a Table and 
 Flagons of Wine on it. 
 
 Kin. Come Hamlet,come,and take this hand from me. 
 
 Ham.G'me me your pardon Sir, I'ue done you wrong, 
 But pardon't as you are a Gentleman. 
 This prefence knowes, 
 
 And you muft needs haue heard how I am puniflit 
 With fore diftracYion ? What I haue done 
 That might your nature honour, and exception 
 Roughly awake, I heere proclaime was madnefle : 
 Was't Hamlet wrong'd Laertes ? Neuer Hamlet. 
 If Hamlet from himfelfe be tane away : 
 And when he's not himfelfe, do's wrong Laertes, 
 Then Hamlet does it not, Hamlet denies it : 
 Who does it then? His Madnefle ? If't be fo, 
 Hamlet is of the Faction that is wrong'd, 
 His madnefle is poore Hamlets Enemy. 
 Sir, in this Audience, 
 Let my difclaiming from a purpos'd euill, 
 Free me fo farre in your moft generous thoughts, 
 That I haue mot mine Arrow o're the houfe, 
 And hurt my Mother. 
 
 Laer. I am fatisfied in Nature, 
 Whofe motiue in this cafe mould ftirre me moft 
 To my Reuenge. But in my termes of Honor 
 I ftand aloofe, and will no reconcilement, 
 Till by fome elder Mafters of knowne Honor, 
 I haue a voyce, and prefident of peace 
 To keepe my name vngorg'd. But till that time, 
 I do receiue your offer' d loue like loue, 
 And wil not wrong it. 
 
 Ham. I do embrace it freely, 
 And will this Brothers wager frankely play. 
 Giue vs the Foyles: Come on. 
 
 Laer. Come one for me. 
 
 Ham. He be your foile Laertes,\n mine ignorance, 
 Your Skill mail like a Starre i'th'darkeft night, 
 Sticke fiery ofFindeede. 
 
 Laer. You mocke me Sir. 
 
 Ham. No by this hand. 
 
 King. Giue them the Foyles yong Ofricfy, 
 Coufen Hamlet, you know the wager. 
 
 Ham. Verie well my Lord, 
 Your Grace hath laide the oddes a'th' weaker fide. 
 
 King. 1 do not feare it, 
 I haue feene you both : 
 But fince he is better'd,we haue therefore oddes. 
 
 Laer. This is too heauy, 
 Let me fee another. 
 
 Ham. This likes me well, 
 Thefe Foyles haue all a length. Prepare to flay. 
 
 Ofricl^e. I my good Lord. 
 
 King. Set me the Stopes of wine vpon that Table : 
 If Hamlet giue the firft, or fecond hit, 
 Or quit in anfwer of the third exchange, 
 Let all the Battlements their Ordinance fire, 
 The King fhal drinke to Hamlets better breath, 
 And in the Cup an vnion fhal he throw 
 Richer then that, which foure fuccefliue Kings 
 In Denmarkes Crowne haue worne. 
 
 Giue 
 
 77
 
 The T rage die of Hamlet. 
 
 281 
 
 Giue me the Cups, 
 
 And let the Kettle to the Trumpets fpeake, 
 
 The Trumpet to the Cannoneer without, 
 
 The Cannons to the Heauens, the Heauen to Earth, 
 
 Now the King drinkes to Hamlet. Come, begin, 
 
 And you the fudges beare a wary eye. 
 
 Ham. Come on fir. 
 
 Laer. Come on fir. They flay. 
 
 Ham. One. 
 
 Laer. No. 
 
 Ham. Judgement. 
 
 Ofr. A hit, a very palpable hit. 
 
 Laer. Well : againe. 
 
 King. Stay, giue me drinke. 
 Hamlet, this Pearle is thine, 
 Here's to thy health. Giue him the cup, 
 
 Trumpets found, and Jbot goes off. 
 
 Ham. He play this bout firft, let by a-while. 
 Come: Another hit ; what fay you ? 
 
 Laer. A touch, a touch, I do confefle. 
 
 King. Our Sonne fhall win. 
 
 Qu. He's fat, and fcant of breath. 
 Heere's a Napkin, rub thy browes, 
 The Queene Carowfes to thy fortune, Hamlet. 
 
 Ham. Good Madam. 
 
 King. Gertrude, do not drinke. 
 
 Qu. I will my Lord j 
 I pray you pardon me. 
 
 King. It is the poyfon'd Cup, it is too late. 
 
 Ham. 1 dare not drinke yet Madam, 
 By and by. 
 
 Qu. Come, let me wipe thy face. 
 
 Laer. My Lord, He hit him now. 
 
 King. I do not thinke't. 
 
 Laer. And yet 'tis almoft 'gainft my confcience. 
 
 Ham. Come for the third. 
 Laertes, you but dally, 
 I pray you paflfe with your bed violence, 
 I am affear'd you make a wanton of me. 
 
 Laer. Say you fo ? Come on. Play, 
 
 Ofr. Nothing neither way. 
 
 Laer. Haue at you 'now. 
 
 In f cuff ling they change Rafters. 
 
 King. Part them, they are incens'd. 
 
 Ham. Nay come, againe. 
 
 Ofr. Looke to the Queene there hoa. 
 
 Hor. They bleed on both fides. How is't my Lord ? 
 
 Ofr. How is't Laertes ? 
 
 Laer. Why as a Woodcocke 
 To mine Sprindge, Ofricfe, 
 I am iuftly kill'd with mine owne Treacherie. 
 
 Ham, How does the Queene? 
 
 King. She founds to fee them bleede. 
 
 t$u. No, no, the drinke, the drinke. 
 Oh my deere Hamlet, the drinke, the drinke, 
 I am poyfon'd. 
 
 Ham. Oh Villany I How ? Let the doore be lock'd. 
 Treacherie, feeke it out. 
 
 Laer. It is heere Hamlet. 
 Hamlet, thou art flaine, 
 
 No Medicine in the world can do thee good. 
 In thee, there is not halfe an houre of life ; 
 The Treacherous Inftrument is in thy hand, 
 Vnbated and envenom'd : the foule pradtifei 
 Hath turn'd it felfe on me. Loe, heere I lye, 
 Neuer to rife againe : Thy Mothers poyfon'd : 
 
 77 
 
 I can no mere, the King, the King's too blame. 
 
 Ham. The point envenom'd too, 
 Then venome to thy worke. 
 
 Hurts the King. 
 
 All. Treafon, Treafon. 
 
 King. O yet defend me Friends, I am but hurt. 
 
 Ham. Heere thou inceftuous, murdrous, 
 Damned Dane, 
 
 Drinke off this Potion : Is thy Vnion heere ? 
 Follow my Mother. King Dyes . 
 
 Laer. He is iuftly feru'd. 
 It is a poyfon temp'red by himfelfe : 
 Exchange forgiuenefie with me, Noble Hamlet ; 
 Mine and my Fathers death come not vpon thee, 
 Nor thine on me. Dyes. 
 
 Ham. Heauen make thee free of it, I follow thee. 
 I am dead Horatio, wretched Queene adiew, 
 You that looke pale, and tremble at this chance, 
 That are but Mutes or audience to this acle : 
 Had I but time (as this fell Sergeant death 
 Is ftrick'd in his Arreft) oh I could tell you. 
 But let it be : Horatio, I am dead, 
 Thou liu'ft, report me and my caufes right 
 To the vnfatisfied. 
 
 Hor. Neuer beleeue it. 
 I am more an Antike Roman then a Dane: 
 Heere's yet fome Liquor left. 
 
 Ham. As th'art a man, giue me the Cup . 
 Let go, by Heauen lie haue't. 
 Oh good Horatio, what a wounded name, 
 (Things (landing thus vnknowne) fliall Hue behind me. 
 If thou did'ft euer hold me in thy heart, 
 Abfent thee from felicitie awhile, 
 And in this harfti world draw thy breath in paine, 
 To tell my Storie. 
 
 March afarre off, and jhout within. 
 What warlike noyfe is this ? 
 
 Snter Ofricfy. 
 
 Ofr. Yong Fortinbrat, with conqueft come fro Poland 
 To th'Ambafladors of England giues rhis w.irlike volly. 
 
 Ham. O I dye Horatio : 
 
 The potent poyfon quite ore-crowes my fpirit, 
 I cannot liue to heare the Newes from England, i 
 Bur I do prophefie th'ele&ion lights 
 On Fortinbras, he ha's my dying voyce, 
 So tell him with the occurrents more and lefie, 
 Which haue folicited. The reft is filence. 0, 0,0,0. Dyes 
 
 Hora. Now cracke a Noble heart : 
 Goodnight fweet Prince, 
 And flights of Angels fing thee to thy reft, 
 Why do's the Drumme come hither? 
 
 Enter Fortinbrat and Englijh AmbaJJador , rvitb Ttrummc, 
 
 Colours , and Attendants . 
 Fortin. Where is this fight ? 
 Hor. What is it ye would fee ; 
 If ought of woe, or wonder, ceafe your fearch. 
 
 For. His quarry cries on hauocke. Oh proud death, 
 What feaft is toward in thine eternall Cell. 
 That thou fo many Princes, at a fhoote, 
 So bloodily haft ftrooke. 
 
 Amb . The fight is difmall, 
 And our affaires from England come too late, 
 The eares are fenfelefle that fhould giue vs hearing, 
 To tell him his comma nd'ment is fulfill'd, 
 
 q q That
 
 280 
 
 'The Tragedie of Hamlet. 
 
 That fyjincrance and Gulldenfternt are dead : 
 Where ihould we haue our thankes ? 
 
 Hor. Not from his mouth, 
 Had it th'abilitie of life to thanke you : 
 He neuer gaue command'ment for their death. 
 But fmce fo iumpe vpon this bloodie queftion, 
 You from the Polake warres, and you from England 
 Are heere arriued. Giue order that thefe bodies 
 High on a ftage be placed to the view, 
 And let me fpeake to th'yet vnknowing world, 
 How thefe things came about. So fliall you heare 
 Of carnal], bloudie, and vnnaturall a&s, 
 Of accidental! Judgements, cafuall (laughters 
 Of death's put on by cunning, and forc'd caufe, 
 And in this vpfliot, purpofes miftooke, 
 Falne on the Inuentors heads. All this can I 
 Truly deliuer. 
 
 For. Let vs haft to heare it, 
 And call the Nobleft to the Audience. 
 For me, with forrow, I embrace my Fortune, 
 I haue fome Rites of memory in this Kingdome, 
 
 Which are ro claime, my vantage doth 
 Inuite me, 
 
 Hor, Of that I fhall haue alwayes caufe to fpeake, 
 And from his mouth 
 Whofe voyce will draw on more : 
 But let this fame be prefently perform'd, 
 Euen whiles mens mindes are wilde, 
 Left more mifchance 
 On plots, and errors happen. 
 
 For. Let foure Captaines 
 Beare Hamlet like a Soldier to the Stage, 
 For he was likely, had he beene put on 
 To haue prou'd mod royally : 
 And for his paflage, 
 
 The Souldiours Muficke, and the rites of Warre 
 Speake lowdly for him. 
 Take vp the body ; Such a fight as this 
 Becomes the Field, but heere fliewes much amis. 
 Go, bid the Souldiers /hoote. 
 
 Exeunt c^f arching : after the which, a Peale of 
 Ordenance arejhot of. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 77*
 
 2 8 3 
 
 THE TRAGEDIE OF 
 
 KING LEAR. 
 
 <iA5lus Primus. Sccena 
 
 Enter Kent, Gloucester, and Sdmond. 
 
 Kent. 
 
 Thought the King [had more affedled the 
 Duke of Albany, then Cornwall, 
 
 Glou. It did alwayes feeme fo to vs : But 
 now in the diuifion of the Kingdome, it ap- 
 _ _ peares not which of the Dukes hee valewes 
 moft, for qualities are fo weigh'd, that curiofity in nei- 
 ther, can make choife of cithers moity. 
 
 Kent. Is not this your Son, my Lord ? 
 
 Qku. His breeding Sir, hath bin at my charge. I haue 
 fo often blufh'd to acknowledge him, that now I am 
 braz'd too't. 
 
 Kent. I cannot conceiue you. 
 
 Glou. Sir, this yong Fellowes mother could ; where- 
 vpon fhe grew round womb'd, and had indeede (Sir) a 
 Sonne for her Cradle, ere /he had ia| husband for her bed. 
 Do you fmell a fault ? 
 
 Kent. I cannot wifli the fault vndone, the iflue of it, 
 being fo proper. 
 
 Glou. But I haue a Sonne, Sir, by order of Law, fome 
 yeere elder then this ; who, yet is no deerer in my ac- 
 count, though this Knaue came fomthing fawcily to the 
 world before he was fent for : yet was his Mother fayre, 
 there was good fport at his making, and the horfon muft 
 be acknowledged. Doe you know this Noble Gentle- 
 man, Edmond^ 
 
 Edm. No, my Lord. 
 
 Glou. My Lord of Kent : 
 Remember him heereafter, as my Honourable Friend. 
 
 Edm. My feruices to your Lordfliip. 
 
 Kent. I muft loue you, and fue to know you better. 
 
 Bdm. Sir, I fliall ftudy deferuing. 
 
 Glou. He hath bin out nine yeares, and away he fliall 
 againe. The King is comming. 
 
 Sennet. Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Gonerill, Re- 
 gan, Cordelia ,' and attendants . 
 
 Lear. Attend the Lords of France & Burgundy, Glofter. 
 
 Glou. I fliall, my Lord. Exit. 
 
 Lear. Meane time we fhal exprefle our darker purpofe. 
 Giue me the Map there. Know, that we haue diuided 
 In three our Kingdome : and 'tis our faft intent, 
 To {hake all Cares and Bufinefle from our Age, 
 Conferring them on yonger ftrengths, while we 
 Vnburthen'd crawle toward death. Our fon of Carnival, 
 And you our no lefle louing Sonne of Albany, 
 
 773 
 
 We haue this houre a conftant will to publifh 
 Our daughters feuerall Dowers, that future ftrife 
 May be preuented now. The Princes, France & Burgundy, 
 Great Riuals in our yongeft daughters loue, 
 Long in our Court, haue made their amorous foiourne, 
 And heere are to be anfwer'd. Tell me my daughters 
 (Since now we will diueft vs both of Rule, 
 Intereft of Territory, Cares of State) 
 Which of you fliall we fay doth loue vs moft, 
 That we, our largeft bountie may extend 
 Where Nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill, 
 Our eldeft borne, fpeake firft. 
 
 Con. Sir, I loue you more then word can weild y matter, 
 Deerer then eye-fight, fpace, and libertie, 
 Beyond what can be valewed, rich or rare, 
 No lefle then life, with grace, health, beauty, honor : 
 As much as Childe ere lou'd, or Father found . 
 A loue that makes breath poore, and fpeech vnable, 
 Beyond all manner of fo much I loue you. 
 
 Cor. What fliall Cordelia fpeake ? Loue, and be filent. 
 
 Lear. Of all thefe bounds euen from this Line, to this, 
 With fliadowie Forrefts, and with Champains rich'd 
 With plenteous Riuers, and wide-skirted Meades 
 We make thee Lady. To thine and Albania iffues 
 Be this perpetuall. What fayes our fecond Daughter ? 
 Our deereft Regan, wife of Cornwall ? 
 
 IZeg. I am made of that felfe-mettle as my Sifter, 
 And prize me at her worth. In my true hear^, 
 I finde flie names my very deede of loue : 
 Onely flie comes too fliort, that I profeffe 
 My felfe an enemy to all other ioyes, 
 Which the moft precious fquare of fenfe profefles, 
 And finde I am alone felicitate 
 In your deere Highneffe loue. 
 
 Qor. Then poore Cordelia, 
 And yet not fo, fince I am fure my loue's 
 More ponderous then my tongue. 
 
 Lear. To thee, and thine hereditarie euer, 
 Remaine this ample third of our faire Kingdome, 
 No lefle in fpace, validitie, and pleafure 
 Then that conferr'd on Gonerill. Now our loy, 
 Although our laft and leaft ; to whofe yong loue, 
 The Vines of France, and Milke of Burgundie, 
 Striue to be intereft. What can you fay, to draw 
 A third, more opilent then your Sifters? fpeake. 
 
 Cor. Nothing my Lord. 
 
 Lear. Nothing ? 
 
 q q 2 Cir .
 
 284 
 
 The Tragedie of filing Lear. 
 
 Cor. Nothing. 
 
 Lear. Nothing will come of nothing, fpeake againe. 
 
 Cor. Vnhappie that I am, I cannot heaue 
 My heart into my mouth : I loue your Maiefty 
 According to my bond, no more nor lefle. 
 
 Lear. How, how Cordelia? Mend your fpeech a little, 
 Leaft you may marre your Fortunes. 
 
 Cor. Good my Lord, 
 You haue begot me, bred me, lou'd me. 
 I returne thofe duties backe as are right fit, 
 Obey you, Loue you, and moft Honour you. 
 Why haue my Sifters Husbands, if they fay 
 They loue you all ? Happily when I fliall wed, 
 That Lord, whofe hand muft take my plight, ihall carry 
 Halfe my loue with him, halfe my Care, and Dutie, 
 Sure I fliall neuer marry like my Sifters. 
 
 Lear. But goes thy heart with this ? 
 
 Cor. I my good Lord. 
 
 Lear. So young, and fo vntender ? 
 
 Cor. So young my Lord, and true. 
 
 Lear. Let it be fo,thy truth then be thy dowre : 
 For by the facred radience of the Sunne, 
 The miferies of Heccat and the night: 
 By all the operation of the Orbes, 
 From whom we do exift, and ceafe to be, 
 Heere I difclaime all my Paternall care, 
 Propinquity and property of blood, 
 And as a ftranger to my heart and me, 
 Hold thee from this for euer. The barbarous Scythian, 
 Or he that makes his generation mefles 
 To gorge his appetite, fliall to my bofome 
 Be as well neighbour'd, pittied, and releeu'd, 
 As thou my fometime Daughter. 
 
 Kent. Good my Liege. 
 
 Lear. Peace Kent, 
 
 Come not betweene the Dragon and his wrath, 
 I lou'd her moft, and thought to fet my reft 
 On her kind nurfery. Hence and avoid my fight : 
 So be my graue my peace, as here I giue 
 Her Fathers heart from her ; call France, who ftirres ? 
 Call 'Burgundy , Cornwall, and Albanie, 
 With my two Daughters Dowres, digeft the third, 
 Let pride, which flie cals plainnefle, marry her : 
 I doe inueft you ioyntly with my power, 
 Preheminence, and all the large effects 
 That troope with Maiefty. Our felfe by Monthly courfe, 
 With referuation of an hundred Knights, 
 By you to be luftain'd, fliall our abode 
 Make with you by due turne, onely we fliall retaine 
 The name, and all th 'addition to a King : the Sway, 
 Reuennew, Execution of the reft, 
 Beloued Sonnes be yours, which to confirme, 
 This Coronet part betweene you. 
 
 Kent. Royal 1 Lear, 
 
 Whom I haue euer honor'd as my King, 
 Lou'd as my Father, as my Mafter follow'd, 
 As my great Patron thought on in my praiers. 
 
 Le. The bow is bent & drawne, make from the fliaft. 
 Kent. Let it fall rather, though the forke inuade 
 The region of my heart, be Kent vnmannerly, 
 When Lear is mad, what wouldeft thou do old man ? 
 Think'ft thou that dutie fliall haue dread to fpeake, 
 When power to flattery bowes ? 
 To plainnefle honour's bound, 
 When Maiefty falls to folly ,referue thy ftate, 
 And in thy beft confideration checke 
 
 This hideous raflmefle, anfwere my life, my Judgement : 
 Thy yongeft Daughter do's not loue thee leaft, 
 Nor are thofe empty hearted, whofe low founds % 
 Reuerbe no hollownefTe. 
 
 Lear. Kent, on thy life no more. 
 
 Kent. My life I neuer held but as pawne 
 To wage againft thine enemies, nere feare to loofe it, 
 Thy fafety being motiue. 
 
 Lear. Out of my fight. 
 
 Kent. See better Lear, and let me ftill remaine 
 The true blanke of thine eie. 
 
 Kear. Now by Apollo, 
 
 Lent. Now by Apollo, King 
 Thou fwear.ft thy Gods in vaine. 
 
 Lear. O Vaffall ! Mifcreant. 
 
 Alb. Cor. Deare Sir forbeare. 
 
 Kent. Kill thy Phyfition, and thy fee beftow 
 Vpon the foule difeafe,reuoke thy guift, 
 Or whil'ft I can vent clamour from my throate, 
 He tell thee thou doft euill. 
 
 Lea. Heare me recreant, on thine allegeance heare me; 
 That thou haft fought to make vs breake our vowes, 
 Which we durft neuer yet; and with ftrain'd pride, 
 To come betwixt our fentences, and our power, 
 Which, nor our nature, nor our place can beare; 
 Our potencie made good, take thy reward. 
 Fiue dayes we do allot thee for prouifion, 
 To fliield thee from difafters of the world, 
 And on the fixt to turne thy hated backe 
 Vpon our kingdome; if on the tenth day following, 
 Thy baniflit trunke be found in our Dominions, 
 The moment is thy death, away. By luflter, 
 This fliall not be reuok'd, 
 
 Kent. Fare thee well King, fith thus thou wilt appeare, 
 Freedome Hues hence, and banifliment is here; 
 The Gods to their deere flicker take thee Maid, 
 That iuftly think'ft, and haft moft rightly faid : 
 And your large fpeeches, may your deeds approue, 
 That good effects may fpring from words of loue : 
 Thus Kent, O Princes, bids you all adew, 
 Hee'l fliape his old courfe, in a Country new. Exit. 
 
 Flour ijh. Safer G/Iofter with France, and Bur- 
 gundy , Attendants. 
 
 Cor. Heere's France and Burgundy , my Noble Lord. 
 
 Lear. My Lord of Bugundie, 
 
 We firft addrefle toward you, who with this King 
 Hath riuald for our Daughter; what in the leaft 
 Will you require in prefent Dower with her, 
 Or ceafe your queft of Loue ? 
 
 'Bur. Moft Royall Maiefty, 
 
 I craue no more then hath your Highnefle ofter'd, 
 Nor will you tender lefle ? 
 
 Lear. Right Noble 'Burgundy, 
 When flie was deare to vs, we did hold her fo, 
 But now her price is fallen : Sir, there flie ftands, 
 If ought within that little feeming fubftance, 
 Or all of it with our difpleafure piec'd, 
 And nothing more may fitly like your Grace, 
 Shee's there, and flie is yours. 
 
 f Bur. I know no anfwer. 
 
 Lear. Will you with thofe infirmities flie owes, 
 Vnfriended,new adopted to our hate, 
 Dow'rd with our curfe,and ftranger'd with our oath, 
 Take her or,leaue her. 
 
 'Bur. Par- 
 
 774
 
 The Tragedie of JQng Lear. 
 
 285 
 
 Bur. Pardon me Royall Sir, 
 Election makes not vp in fuch conditions. 
 
 Le. Then leaue her fir, for by the powre that made me, 
 I tell you all her wealth. For you great King, 
 I would not from your loue make fuch a ftray, 
 To match you where I hate, therefore befeech you 
 T'auert your liking a more worthier way, 
 Then on a wretch whom Nature is afham'd 
 Almoft t'acknowledge hers. 
 
 Fra. This is moft ftrange, 
 That ftie whom euen but now, was your obiect, 
 The argument of your praife, balme of your age, 
 The beft,the deereft, fliould in this trice of time 
 Commit a thing fo monftrous,to difmantle 
 So many folds of fauounfure her offence 
 Muft be of fuch vnnaturall degree, 
 That monfters it : Or your fore-voucht affection 
 Fall into taint, which to beleeueofher 
 Muft be a faith that reafon without miracle 
 Should neuer plant in me. 
 
 Cor. I yet befeech your Maiefty. 
 If for I want that glib and oylie Art, 
 To fpeake and purpofe not, fince what I will intend, 
 He do't before I fpeake, that you make knowne 
 It is no vicious blot, murther,or foulenefle, 
 No vnchafte action or diflionoured ftep 
 That hath depriu'd me of your Grace and fauour, 
 But euen for want of that, for which I am richer, 
 A ftill foliciting eye, and fuch a tongue, 
 That I am glad I haue not, though not to haue it, 
 Hath loft me in your liking. 
 
 Lear. Better thou had'ft ' 
 Not beene borne, then not t haue pleas'd me better. 
 
 Fra. Is it but this f A tardinefie in nature, 
 Which often leaues the hiftory vnfpoke 
 That it intends to do : my Lord of Burgundy, 
 What fay you to the Lady ? Loue's not loue 
 When it is mingled with regards, that ftands 
 Aloofe from th'intire point, will you haue her? 
 She is herfelfe a Dowrie. 
 
 'Bur. RoyallK'mg, 
 
 Giue but that portion which your felfe propos'd, 
 And here I take Qordelia by the hand, 
 Dutchefle of ""Burgundie. 
 
 Lear. Nothing, I hauefworne,! am firme. 
 
 'Bur. I am forry then you haue fo loft a Father, 
 That you muft loofe a husband. 
 
 Cor. Peace be with f Burgundie ) 
 Since that refpect and Fortunes are his loue, 
 I ftiall not be his wife. 
 
 Fra. Faireft Cordelia, that art moft rich being poore, 
 Moft choife forfaken,and moft lou'd defpis'd, 
 Thee and thy vertues here I feize vpon, 
 Be it lawfull I take vp what's caft away. 
 Gods, Gods! 'Tis ftrange, that from their cold'ft neglect 
 My Loue fliould kindle to enflam'd refpcdt. 
 Thy dowrelefie Daughter King, throwne to my chance, 
 Is Queene of vs, of ours, and our faire France: 
 Not all the Dukes of watrifli Burgundy, 
 Can buy this vnpriz'd precious Maid of me. 
 Bid them farewell Cordelia, though vnkinde, 
 Thou loofeft here a better where to finde. 
 
 Lear. Thou haft her France, let her be thine, for we 
 Haue no fuch Daughter, nor (hall euer fee 
 That face of hers againe,therfore be gone, 
 Without our Grace,our Loue, our Benizon : 
 
 775 
 
 Come Noble 'Burgundie. Flourijh. Exeunt. 
 
 ^Fra. Bid farwell to your Sifters. 
 
 Cor. The lewels of our Father, with wafli'd eie s 
 Cordelia leaues you, I know you what you are, 
 And like a Sifter am moft loth to call 
 Your faults as they are named. Loue well our Father: 
 To your profeffed bofomes I commit him, 
 But yet alas,ftood I within his Grace, 
 I would prefer him to a better place, 
 So farewell to you both. 
 
 Regn. Prefcribe not vs our dutie. 
 
 Gon. Let your ftudy 
 
 Be to content your Lord, who hath receiu'd you 
 At Fortunes almes.you haue obedience fcanted, 
 And well are worth the want that you haue wanted. 
 
 Cor. Time fliall vnfold what plighted cunning hides, 
 Who couers faults, at laft with flume derides: 
 Well may you profper. 
 
 Fra. Come my faire Cordelia. Exit France and Cor. 
 
 Gon. Sifter, it is not little I haue to fay, 
 Of what moft neerely appertaines to vs both, 
 I thinke our Father will hence to night. (with vs. 
 
 Reg. That's moft certaine,and with you: next moneth 
 
 Gon. You fee how full of changes his age is, the ob- 
 feruation we haue made of it hath beene littlejhe alwaies 
 lou'd our Sifter moft, and with what poore Judgement he 
 hath now caft her off,appeares too groflely. 
 
 Reg. 'Tis the infirmity of his age, yet he hath euer but 
 flenderly knowne himfelfe. 
 
 Gon. The beft and founded of his time hath bin but 
 rafh, then muft we looke from his age, to receiue not a- 
 lone the imperfections of long ingraffed condition, but 
 therewithall the vnruly way-wardneffe, that infirme and 
 cholericke yeares bring with them. 
 
 Reg. Such vnconftant ftarts are we like to haue from 
 him, as this of Kents banifliment. 
 
 Qon. There is further complement of leaue-taking be- 
 tweene France and him, pray you let vs fit together, if our 
 Father carry authority with fuch difpofition as he beares> 
 this iaft furrender of his will but offend vs. 
 
 Reg.We fliall further thinke of it. 
 
 Gon. We muft do fomething,and i'th'heate. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Baftard. 
 
 ^Baft . Thou Nature art my Goddefle,to thy Law 
 My feruices are bound, wherefore fliould I 
 Stand in the plague of cuftome, and permit 
 The curiofity of Nations, to depriue me ? 
 For that I am fome twelue, or fourteene Moonfliines 
 Lag of a Brother ? Why Baftard ? Wherefore bafe ? 
 When my Dimenfions are as well compact, 
 My minde as generous, and my fliape as true 
 As honeft Madams iflue ? Why brand they vs 
 With Bafe ? With bafenes Barftadie ? Bafe, Bafe ? 
 Who in the luftie ftealth of Nature, take 
 More compofition, and fierce qualitie, 
 Then doth within a dull ftale tyred bed 
 Goe to th'creating a whole tribe of Fops 
 Got'tweene a fleepe,and wake? Well then, 
 Legitimate Sdgar, I muft haue your land, 
 Our Fathers loue,is to the Baftard Sdmond, 
 As to th'legitimate : fine word : Legitimate. 
 
 q q 3 Wel1
 
 286 
 
 The Tragedie offing Lear. 
 
 Well, my Legitimate, if this Letter fpeed, 
 And my inuention thriue, Edmond the bafe 
 Shall to'th' Legitimate : I grow, I profper : 
 Now Gods,ftand vp for Baftards. 
 
 Enter Ghucefter. 
 
 G/o.Kent baniflTd thus? and France in choller parted ? 
 And the King gone to night ? Prelcrib'd his powre, 
 Confin'd to exhibition ? All this done 
 Vpon the gad ? Edmond, how now? What newes ? 
 Baft, So pleafe your Lortifliip, none. 
 
 Glou. Why fo earneftly feeke you to put vp y Letter ? 
 
 'Baft. I know no newes, my Lord. 
 
 Qlou. What Paper were you reading? 
 
 'Baft. Nothing my Lord. 
 
 Glou. No? what needed then that terrible difpatch of 
 it into your Pocket ? The quality of nothing, hath not 
 fiich neede to hide it felfe. Let's fee : come, if it bee no- 
 thing, I fliall not neede Spectacles. 
 
 Baft. I befeech you Sir, pardon mee ; it is a Letter 
 from my Brother, that I haue not all ore-read ; and for fo 
 much as I haue perus'd, I finde it not fit for your ore-loo- 
 king. 
 
 Glou. Giue me the Letter, Sir. 
 
 'Baft. I fliall offend, either to detaine, or giue it : 
 The Contents, as in part I vnderftand them, 
 Are too blame. 
 
 Glou. Let's fee, let's fee. 
 
 Baft. I hope for my Brothers iuftification, hee wrote 
 this but as an eflay, or tafte of my Vertue. 
 
 Qlou.readt. This folicie, and reuerence of Age, maizes the 
 world bitter to the beft of our times : l^eepes our Fortunes from 
 vs, till our oldnejjie cannot rellijh them. I begin tofnde an idle 
 and fond bondage , in the opprejfion of aged tyranny, who fwayes 
 not as it bath potver, but as it ii juffer'd. Come to me, that of 
 this I may Jpeafy more. If our Father would fteepe till I iva^d 
 him) youjhould enioy balfe bis ^euenneto for euer, and Hue the 
 beloued of your Brother. Edgar. 
 
 Hum ? Confpiracy ? Sleepe till I wake him, you fliould 
 enioy halfe his Reuennew : my Sonne Edgar , had hee a 
 hand to write this ? A heart and braine to breede it in? 
 When came you to this? Who brought it? 
 
 Baft. It was not brought mee, my Lord ; there's the 
 cunning of it. I found it throwne iniat the Cafement of 
 my Clofiet. 
 
 Glou. You know the character to be your Brothers ? 
 
 'Baft. If the matter were good my Lord, I durft fwear 
 it were his : but in refpeft of that, I would faine thinke it 
 were not. 
 
 GLu. It is his. 
 
 'Baft. It is his hand, my Lord : but I hope his heart is 
 not in the Contents. 
 
 Qlo. Has he neuer before founded you in this bufines? 
 
 'Baft. Neuer my Lord. But I haue heard him oft main- 
 taine it to be fit, that Sonnes at perfect age, and Fathers 
 declin'd, the Father fliould bee as Ward to the Son, and 
 the Sonne manage his Reuennew. 
 
 Glou. O Villain, villain : his very opinion in the Let- 
 ter. Abhorred Villaine, vnnaturall, detefted, brutifli 
 Villaine; worfe then brutifli : Go firrah, feeke him : He 
 apprehend him. Abhominable Villaine, where is he? 
 
 Baft. I do not well know my L. If it fliall pleafe you to 
 fufpend your indignation againft my Brother, til you can 
 deriue from him better teftimony of his intent, you /hold 
 run a certaine courfe : where, if you violently proceed a- 
 gainft him, miftaking his purpofe, it would make a great 
 gap in your owne Honor, and fliake in peeces,the heart of 
 
 his obedience. I dare pawne downe my life for him, that 
 he hath writ this to feele my afteQion to your Honor, & 
 to no other pretence of danger. 
 Glou. Thinke you fo ? 
 
 Baft. If your Honor iudge it meete, I will place you 
 where you fliall heare vs conferre of this, and by an Auri- 
 cular aflurance haue your fatisfa&ion, and that without 
 any further delay, then this very Euening. 
 
 Glou. He cannot bee fuch a Monfter. Edmond feeke 
 him out : winde me into him, 1 pray you : frame the Bu- 
 fmefle after your owne wifedome. I would vnftate my 
 felfe, to be in a due refolution. 
 
 Baft. I will feeke him Sir, prefently : conuey the bu- 
 finefTe as 1 fliall find meanes,and acquaint you withall. 
 
 Glou. Thefe late Eclipfes in the Sun and Moone por- 
 tend no good to vs : though the wifedome of Nature can 
 reafon it thus, and thus, yet Nature finds it felfe fcourg'd 
 by the fequent effecls. Loue cooles, friendfliip falls off, 
 Brothers diuide. In Cities, mutinies ; in Countries, dif- 
 cord ; in Pallaces, Treafon ; and the Bond crack'd, 'twixt 
 Sonne and Father. This villaine of mine comes vnder the 
 prediction; there's Son againft Father, the King fals from 
 by as of Nature, there's Father againft Childe. We haue 
 feene the beft of our time. Machinations, hollownefle, 
 treacherie, and all ruinous diforders follow vs difquietly 
 to our Graues. Find out this Villain Edmond,\t fliall lofe 
 thee nothing, do it carefully : and the Noble & true-har- 
 ted Kent banifli'd ; his offence, honefty. 'Tis ftrange.-Ex7V 
 'Baft. This is the excellent foppery of the world, that 
 when we are ficke in fortune, often the furfets of our own 
 behauiour, we make guilty of our difafters, the Sun, the 
 Moone, and Starres ; as if we were villaines on neceflitie, 
 Fooles by .heauenly compulsion, Knaues, Theeues, and 
 Treachers by Sphericall predominance. Drunkards, Ly- 
 ars,and Adulterers by an inforc'd obedience of Planatary 
 influence; and all that we are euill in, by a diuine thru- 
 fting on. An admirable euafion of Whore-mafter-man, 
 to lay his Goatifli difpofition on the charge of a Starre, 
 My father compounded with my mother vnder the Dra- 
 gons taile, and my Natiuity was vnder Vrja Maior, fo 
 that it followes, I am rough and Leacherous. I fliould 
 haue bin that I am, had the maidenleft Starre in the Fir- 
 mament twinkled on my baftardizing. 
 
 Enter Edgar. 
 
 Pat : he comes like the Cataftrophe of the old Comedie : 
 my Cue is villanous Melanchoily, with a fighe like Tom 
 
 o'Bedlam. O thefe Eclipfes do portend thefe diui- 
 
 fions. Fa, Sol, La, Me. 
 
 Edg. How now Brother Edmond, what ferious con- 
 templation are you in? 
 
 Bail. I am thinking Brother of a prediction I read this 
 other day, what fliould follow thefe Eclipfes. 
 Edg. Do you bufie your felfe with that? 
 Baft. I promife you, the effe&s he writes of, fucceede 
 vnhappily. 
 
 When faw you my Father laft ? 
 dg. The night gone by. 
 Baft. Spake you with him 
 Sdg. I, two houres together. 
 
 'Baft. Parted you in good termes ? Found you no dif- 
 pleafure in him, by word, nor countenance ? 
 Edg. None at all, 
 
 Baft. Bethink your felfe wherein you may haue offen- 
 ded him : and at my entreaty forbeare his prefence, vntill 
 fome little time hath qualified the heat of his difpleafure, 
 which at this inftant fo rageth in him, that with the mif- 
 
 chiefe 
 
 776
 
 The Tragedie of 
 
 ar. 
 
 287 
 
 chiefe of your perfon, it would fcarfely alay. 
 
 Edg. Some Villain e hath done me wrong. 
 
 Edm. That's my feare, I pray you haue a continent 
 forbearance till the fpeed of his rage goes flower : and as 
 I (ay, retire with me to my lodging, from whence 1 will 
 fitly bring you to heare my Lord fpeake : pray ye goe, 
 there's my key : if you do ftirre abroad, goe arm'd. 
 
 Edg. Arm'd, Brother ? 
 
 Edm. Brother, I aduife you to the beft, I am no honeft 
 man, if ther be any good meaning toward you:I haue told 
 you what I haue feene.and heard : But faintly. Nothing 
 like the image, and horror of it, pray you away. 
 
 Edg. Shall I heare from you anon ? Exit. 
 
 Edm. I do ferue you in this bufinefle: 
 A Credulous Father, and a Brother Noble, 
 Whofe nature is fo farre from doing harmes, 
 That he fufpe&s none : on whofe foolifli honeftie 
 My praftifes ride eafie :I fee the bufinefie. 
 Let me, if not by birth, haue lands by wit, 
 All with me's meete, that I can fafliion fit. Exit. 
 
 Scena Tertia. 
 
 Enter Gonerill, and Steward. 
 
 Gon. Did my Father ftrike my Gentleman for chi- 
 ding of his Foole ? 
 
 Ste. 1 Madam. 
 
 Gon. By day and night, he wrongs me, euery howre 
 He flaflies into one groffe crime, or other, 
 That fets vs all at ods : lie not endure it ; 
 His Knights grow riotous,and himfelfe vpbraides vs 
 On euery trifle. When he returnes fromhunting, 
 I will not fpeake with him, fay I am ficke, 
 If you come flacke of former feruices, 
 You fliall do well , the fault of it He anfwer. 
 
 Ste. He's comming Madam , I heare him. 
 
 Qon. Put on what weary negligence you pleafe, 
 You and your Fellowes: 1'de haue it come to queftion; 
 If he diftafte it, let him to my Sifter, 
 Whofe mind and mine I know in that are one, 
 Remember what I haue faid. 
 
 Ste. Well Madam. 
 
 Cfon. And let his Knights haue colder lookes among 
 you : what growes of it no matter, aduife your fellowes 
 fo, He write ftraight to my Sifter to hold my courfe;pre- 
 pare for dinner. Sxeunt. 
 
 Scena Quarta. 
 
 Enter Kent. 
 
 Kent. If but as will I other accents borrow, 
 That can my fpeech defufe,my good intent 
 May carry through it felfe to that full iffue 
 For which I raiz'd my likenefie. Now baniiht Kent, 
 If thou canft lerue where thou doft ftand condemn'd, 
 So may it come, thy Mafter whom thou lou'ft, 
 Shall find thee full of labours. 
 
 777 
 
 Hornet within. Enter Lear and Attendants . 
 
 Lear. Let me not ftay a iot for dinner, go get it rea- 
 dy :hownow, what art thou ? 
 
 Kent. A man Sir. 
 
 Lear. What doft thou profefle ? What would'ft thou 
 with vs ? 
 
 Kent . I do profeffe to be no lefle then I feemejfo ferue 
 him truely that will put me in truft, to loue him that is 
 honeft, to conuerfe with him that is wife and faies little, to 
 feare Judgement, to fight when I cannot choofe, and to 
 eate no fiih. 
 
 Lear. What art thou ? 
 
 Kent. A very honeft hearted Fellow, and as poore as 
 the King. 
 
 Lear. If thou be'ft as poore for a'fubieft, as hee's for a 
 King, thou art poore enough. What wouldft thou ? 
 
 Kent. Seruice. 
 
 Lear. Who wouldft thou ferue? 
 
 Kent. You. 
 
 Lear. Do'ft thou know me fellow ? 
 
 Kent. No Sir,but you haue that in your countenance, 
 which I would faine call Mafter. 
 
 Lear. What's that ? 
 
 Kent. Authority. 
 
 Lear, What feruices canft thou do ? 
 
 Kent. I can keepe honeft counfaile, ride, run, marre a 
 curious tale in telling it, and deliuer a plaine meffage 
 bluntly : that which ordinary men are fit for, I am qual- 
 lified in, and the beft of me, is Dilligence. 
 
 Lear. How old art thou ? 
 
 Kent. Not fo young Sir to loue a woman for finging, 
 nor fo old to dote on her for any thing. I haue yeares on 
 my backe forty eight. 
 
 Lear. Follow me, thou fhalt ferue me, if I like thee no 
 worfe after dinner, I will not part from thee yet. Dinner 
 ho, dinner, where's my knaue.?my Foole ?|Go you and call 
 my Foole hither. You you Sirrah, where's my Daughter? 
 
 Enter Steward. 
 Ste. So pleafe you Exit. 
 
 Lear. What faies the Fellow there ? Call the Clot- 
 pole backe : wher's my Foole? Ho, I thinke the world's 
 afleepe, how now ? Where's that Mungrell ? 
 
 Knigb. He faies my Lord, your Daughters is not well. 
 
 Lear. Why came not the flaue backe to me when I 
 call'd him ? 
 
 Knigb. Sir, he anfwered me in the roundeft manner, he 
 would not. 
 
 Lear. He would not ? 
 
 Knight. My Lord, I know not what the matter is, 
 but to my iudgement your HighnefTe is not entertained 
 with that Ceremonious affeftion as you were wont, 
 theres a great abatement of kindneffe appeares as well in 
 the generall dependants, as in the Duke himfelfe alfo, and 
 your Daughter. 
 
 Lear. Ha ? Saift thou fo ? 
 
 Knigb. I befeech you pardon me my Lord, if I bee 
 miftaken, for my duty cannot be filent, when I thinke 
 your Highnefle wrong'd. 
 
 Lear. Thou but remembreft me of mine owne Con- 
 ception, I haue perceiued a moft faint neglecl: of late, 
 which I haue rather blamed as mine owne iealous curio- 
 fitie, then as a very pretence and purpofe of vnkindnefle; 
 I will looke further intoo'ti : but where's my Foole ? I 
 haue not feene him this two daies. 
 
 Knight. Since my young Ladies going into France 
 
 Sir,
 
 288 
 
 The Tragedie of I\ing Lear. 
 
 S' 
 'r, the Foole hath much pined away. 
 
 Lear. No more of that, I haue noted it well, goe you 
 and tell my Daughter, I would fpeake with her. Goe you 
 call hither my Foole; Oh you Sir, you, comt you hither 
 Sir, who am I Sir ? 
 
 Enter Steward. 
 
 Ste. My Ladies Father. 
 
 Lear. My Ladies Father ? my Lords knaue, you whor- 
 fbn dog, you flaue, you curre. 
 
 Ste. I am none of thefe my Lord, 
 I tefeech your pardon. 
 
 Lear. Do you bandy lookes with me, you Rafcall ? 
 
 Ste. lie not be ftrucken my Lord. 
 
 Kent. Nor tript neither, you bafe Foot-ball plaier. 
 
 Lear. I thanke thee fellow. 
 Thou feru'ft me, and He loue thee. 
 
 Kent. Come fir,arife,away,Ile teach you differences: 
 away, away, if you will meafure your lubbers length a- 
 gaine, tarry, but away, goe too, haue you wifedome,fo. 
 
 Lear. Now my friendly knaue I thanke thee, there's 
 earneft of thy feruice. 
 
 Enter Foole. 
 
 Foole. Let me hire him too, here's my Coxcombe. 
 
 Lear. How now my pretty knaue, how doft thou ? 
 
 Foole. Sirrah, you were beft take my Coxcombe. 
 
 Lear. Why my Boy ? 
 
 Focle. Why? for taking ones part that's out of fauour, 
 nay, & thou canft not fmile as the wind fits,thou'lt catch 
 colde fhortly, there take my Coxcombe; why this fellow 
 ha's banifh'd two on's Daughters, and did the third a 
 blefiing againft his will, if thou follow him, thou muft 
 needs weare my Coxcombe. How now Nunckle? would 
 I had two Coxcombes and two Daughters. 
 
 Lear. Why my Boy ? 
 
 Fool. If I gaue them all my liuing, I'ld keepe my Cox- 
 combes my felfe, there's mine, beg another of thy 
 Daughters. 
 
 Lear. Take heed Sirrah, the whip. 
 
 Foole. Truth's a dog muft to kennell, hee muft bee 
 whipt out, when the Lady Brach may ftand by'th'fire 
 and ftinke. 
 
 Lear. A peftilent gall to me. 
 
 Foole. Sirha, lie teach thee a fpeech. 
 
 Lear. Do. 
 
 Foole. Marke it Nuncle ; 
 Haue more then thou fhoweft, 
 Speake Icfle then thou knoweft, 
 Lend lefie then thou oweft, 
 Ride more then thou goeft, 
 Learne more then thou troweft, 
 Set leffe then thou throweft ; 
 Leaue thy drinke and thy whore, 
 And keepe in a dore, 
 And thou flialt haue more, 
 Then two tens to a fcore. 
 
 Ker.t. This is nothing Foole. 
 
 Focle. Then 'tis like the breath of an vnfeed Lawyer, 
 you gaue me nothing for't, can you make no vfe of no- 
 thing Nuncle ? 
 
 Lear. Why no Boy, 
 Nothing can be made out of nothing. 
 
 Foole. Prythee tell him, fo much the rent of his land 
 comes to, he will not beleeue a Foole. 
 
 Lear. A bitter Foole. 
 
 Foole. Do'ft thou know the difference my Boy, be- 
 tweene a bitter Foole,and a fweet one. 
 
 Lear. No Lad, teach me. 
 
 Foole. Nunckle, giue me an egge, and He giue thee 
 two Crownes. 
 
 Lear. What two Crownes mall they be ? 
 
 Foole. Why after I haue cut the egge i'th'middle and 
 eate vp the meate,the two Crownes of the egge : when 
 thou cloueft thy Crownes i'th'middle, and gau'ft away 
 both parts, thou boar'ft thine Afle on thy backe o're the 
 durt, thou had'ft little wit in thy bald crowne, when thou 
 gau'ft thy golden one away ; if I fpeake like my felfe in 
 this, let him be whipt that firft findes it fo. 
 Fooles had nere leffe grace in a yeere, 
 For wifemen are growne foppim, 
 And know not how their wits to weare, 
 Their manners are fo apim. 
 
 Le. When were you wont to be fo full of Songs firrah ? 
 
 Foole. I haue vfed it Nunckle, ere fince thou mad'ft 
 thy Daughters thy Mothers, for when thou gau'ft them 
 the rod, and put'ft downe thine owne breeches, then they 
 For fodaine ioy did weepe, 
 And I for forrow fung, 
 That fuch a King mould playbo-peepe, 
 And goe the Foole among. 
 
 Pry'thy Nunckle keepe a Schoolemafter that can teach 
 thy Foole to lie, I would faine learne to lie. 
 
 Lear. And you lie firrah, wee'l haue you whipt. 
 
 Foole. I maruell what kin thou and thy daughters are, 
 they'l haue me whipt for fpeaking true : thou'lt haue me 
 whipt for lying, and fometimes 1 am whipt for holding 
 my peace. I had rather be any kind o'thing then a foole, 
 and yet I would not be thee Nunckle, thou haft pared thy 
 wit o'both fides, and left nothing i'th'middle; heere 
 comes one o'the parings. 
 
 Enter Gonerill. 
 
 Lear. How now Daughter? what makes that Frontlet 
 on ? You are too much of late i'th'frowne. 
 
 Foole. Thou waft a pretty fellow when thou hadft no 
 need to care for her frowning, now thou art an O with- 
 out a figure, I am better then thou art now, I am a Foole, 
 thou art nothing. Yes forlooth I will hold my tongue, fo 
 your face bids me, though you fay nothing. 
 Mum, mum, he that keepes nor cruft, not crum, 
 Weary of all, mall want fome. That's a ftieal'd Pefcod. 
 
 Gon. Not only Sir this, your all-lycenc'd Foole, 
 But other of your infolent retinue 
 Do hourely Carpe and Quarrell, breaking forth 
 In ranke,and(not tobeendur'd) riots Sir. 
 I had thought by making this well knowne vnto you, 
 To haue found a fafe redreffe, but now grow fearefull 
 By what your felfe too late haue fpoke and done, 
 That you protect this courfe, and put it on 
 By your allowance, which if you mould, the fault 
 Would not fcape cenfure,nor the redreffes fleepe, 
 Which in the tender of a wholefome weale, 
 Might in their working do you that offence, 
 Which elfe were marne, that then neceflitie 
 Will call discreet proceeding. 
 
 Foole. For you know Nunckle, the Hedge-Sparrow 
 fed the Cuckoo fo long, that it's had it head bit off by it 
 young, fo out went the Candle, and we were left dark- 
 ling. 
 
 Lear. Are you our Daughter ? (dome 
 
 Gon. I would you would make vfe of your good wife- 
 ( Whereof I know you are fraught), and put away 
 Thefe difpolitions, which of late tranfport you 
 From-what you rightly are. 
 
 Foole. May 
 
 77*
 
 The Tragedie of^jng Lear. 
 
 289 
 
 Foole. May not an Affe know, when the Cart drawes 
 the Horfe ? 
 Whoop lugge I loue thee. 
 
 Lear. Do's any heere know me ? 
 This is not Lear : 
 
 Do's Lear walke thus ? Speake thus ? Where are his eies? 
 Either his Notion weakens, his Difcernings 
 Are Lethargied. Ha ! Waking ? 'Tis not fo ? 
 Who is it that can tell me who I am ? 
 
 Foole. Lears fhadow. 
 
 Lear. Your name, faire Gentlewoman ? 
 
 Gon. This admiration Sir, is much o'th'fauour 
 Of other your new prankes. I do befeech you 
 To vnderftand my purpofes aright : 
 As you are Old, and Reuerend, fhould be Wife. 
 Heere do you keepe a hundred Knights and Squires, 
 Men fo diforder'd, fo debofh'd, and bold, 
 That this our Court infected with their manners, 
 Shewes like a riotous Jnne ; Epicurifme and Luft 
 Makes it more like a Tauerne, or a Brothell, 
 Then a grac'd Pallace. The fhame it felfe doth fpeake 
 For inftant remedy. Be then defir'd 
 By her, that elfe will take the thing me begges, 
 A little to difquantity your Traine, 
 And the remainders that mall ftill depend, 
 To be fuch men as may befort your Age, 
 Which know themfelues, and you. 
 
 Lear. Darknefle, and Diuels. 
 Saddle my horfes : call my Traine together. 
 Degenerate Baftard, He not trouble thee ; 
 Yet haue I left a daughter. 
 
 Gon. You ftrike my people, and your diforder'd rable, 
 make Seruants of their Betters. 
 
 Enter Albany. 
 
 Lear. Woe, that too late repents : 
 Is it your will, fpeake Sir ? Prepare my Horfes. 
 Ingratitude ! thou Marble-hearted Fiend, 
 More hideous when thou fhew'ft thee in a Child, 
 Then the Sea-monfter. 
 
 Alb. Pray Sir be patient. 
 
 Lear. Detefted Kite, thou lyeft. 
 My Traine are men of choice, and rareft parts, 
 That all particulars of dutie know, 
 And in the moil exact regard, fupport 
 The worfhips of their name. O moft fmall fault, 
 How vgly did'ft thou in Cordelia fhew ? 
 Which like an Engine, wrencht my frame of Nature 
 From the fixt place : drew from my heart all loue, 
 And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear I 
 Beate at this gate that let thy Folly in, 
 And thy Acre Judgement out. Go, go, my people. 
 
 Alb. My Lord, I am guiltlefTe, as I am ignorant 
 Of what hath moued you. 
 
 Lear. It may be fo, my Lord. 
 Heare Nature, heare deere Goddefle, heare : 
 Sufpend thy purpofe, if thou did'ft intend 
 To make this Creature fruitfull : 
 Into her Wombe conuey ftirrility, 
 Drie vp in her the Organs of increafe, 
 And from her derogate body, neuer fpring 
 A Babe to honor her. If fhe muft teeme, 
 Create her childe of Spleene, that it may liue 
 And be a thwart difnatur'd torment to her. 
 Let it ftampe wrinkles in her brow of youth, 
 With cadent Teares fret Channels in her cheekes, 
 
 779 
 
 Turne all her Mothers paines, and benefits 
 
 To laughter, and contempt : That fhe may feele, 
 
 How fharper then a Serpents tooth it is, 
 
 To haue a thankleffe Childe. Away, away. Exit. 
 
 Alb. Now Gods that we adore, 
 Whereof comes this ? 
 
 Gon. Neuer afflict your felfe to know more of it : 
 But let his difpofition haue that fcope 
 As dotage giues it. 
 
 Enter Lear. 
 
 Lear. What fiftie of my Followers at a clap ? 
 Within a fortnight ? 
 
 Alb. What's the matter, Sir ? 
 
 Lear. He tell thee : 
 Life and death, 1 am afham'd 
 That thou haft power to fhake my manhood thus, 
 That thefe hot teares, which breake from me perforce 
 Should make thee worth them. 
 Blaftes and Fogges vpon thee : 
 Th'vntented woundings of a Fathers curfe 
 Pierce euerie fenfe about thee. Old fond eyes, 
 Beweepe this caufe againe, He plucke ye out, 
 And caft you with the waters that you loofe 
 To temper Clay. Ha? Let it be fo. 
 I haue another daughter, 
 Who I am fure is kinde and comfortable : 
 When fhe fhall heare this of thee, with her nailes 
 Shee'l flea thy Woluifh vifage. Thou fhalt finde, 
 That He refume the fhape which thou doft thinke 
 I haue caft off for euer. Exit 
 
 Gon. Do you marke that ? 
 
 Alb. I cannot be fo partiall Gonerill, 
 To the great loue I beare you. 
 
 Gon. Pray you content. What Ofvald, hoa ? 
 You Sir, more Knaue then Foole, after your Mafter. 
 
 Foole. Nunkle Lear, Nunkle Lear, 
 Tarry, take the Foole with thee : 
 A Fox, when one has caught her, 
 And fuch a Daughter, 
 Should fure to the Slaughter, 
 If my Cap would buy a Halter, 
 So the Foole followes after. Exit 
 
 Gon. This man hath had good Counfell, 
 A hundred Knights ? 
 'Tis politike, and fafe to let him keepe 
 At point a hundred Knights : yes, that on euerie dreame, 
 Each buz, each fancie, each complaint, diflike, 
 He may enguard his dotage with their powres, 
 And hold our liues in mercy. Oftvald, I fay. 
 
 Alb. Well, you may feare too farre. 
 
 Gon. Safer then truft too farre ; 
 Let me ftill take away the harmes I feare, 
 Not feare ftill to be taken. I know his heart, 
 What he hath vtter'd I haue writ my Sifter : 
 If fhe fuftaine him, and his hundred Knights 
 When I haue fhew'd th'vnfitnefle. 
 
 Snter Steward. 
 How now Ofvald? 
 
 What haue you writ that Letter to my Sifter / 
 Stew. I Madam. 
 
 Gon. Take you fome company, and away to horfe, 
 Informe her full of my particular feare, 
 And thereto adde fuch reafons of your owne, 
 As may compact it more. Get you gone, 
 
 And
 
 290 
 
 The Tragedie of J^jng Lear. 
 
 And haften your returne; no, no, my Lord, 
 This milky gentlenefle, and courfe of yours 
 Though I condemne not, yet vnder pardon 
 Your are much more at task for want of wifedome, 
 Then prai'sd for harmefull mildnerTe. 
 
 Alb. How farre your eies may pierce I cannot tellj 
 Striuing to better, oft we marre what's well. 
 
 Gon. Nay then 
 
 Alb. Well, well, the'uent. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Quinta. 
 
 Enter Lear, Kent, <jentleman,ar.d Foole. 
 
 Lear. Go you before to Glofter with thefe Letters; 
 acquaint my Daughter no further with any thing you 
 know, then comes from her demand out of the Letter, 
 if your Dilligence be not fpeedy, 1 fliall be there afore 
 you. 
 
 Kent. I will not fleepe my Lord, till I haue deliuered 
 your Letter. Bxit. 
 
 Foole. If a mans braines were in's heeles, wert not in 
 danger of kybes? 
 
 Lear. I Boy. 
 
 Foole. Then I prythee be merry, thy wit mall not go 
 flip-fliod. 
 
 Lear. Ha, ha, ha. 
 
 Fool. Shalt fee thy other Daughter will vfe thee kind- 
 ly, for though /he's as like this, as a Crabbe's like an 
 Apple, yet I can tell what I can tell. 
 
 Lear. What can'ft tell Boy ? 
 
 Foole. She will tafte as like this as, a Crabbe do's to a 
 Crab : thou canft tell why ones nofe ftands i'th'middle 
 on's face ? 
 
 Lear. No. 
 
 Foole. Why to keepe ones eyes of either fide's nofe, 
 that what a man cannot fmell out, he may fpy into. 
 
 Lear, 1 did her wrong. 
 
 Foole. Can'ft tell how an Oyfter makes his fhell ? 
 
 Lear. No. 
 
 Foole. Nor I neither; but I can tell why a Snaile ha's 
 a houfe. 
 
 Lear. Why? 
 
 Foole. Why to put's head in, not to giue it away to his 
 daughters, and leaue his homes without a cafe. 
 
 Lear. I will forget my Nature, fo kind a Father? Be 
 my Horfles ready ? 
 
 Foole. Thy Affes are gone about 'em; the reafon why 
 the feuen Starres are no mo then feuen, is a pretty reafon. 
 
 Lear. Becaufe they are not eight. 
 
 Foole. Yes indeed, thou would'ft make a good Foole. 
 
 Lear. To tak't againe perforce; Monfter Ingratitude ! 
 
 Foole. If thou wert my Foole Nunckle, Il'd haue thee 
 beaten for being old before thy time. 
 
 Lear. How's that ? 
 
 Foole. Thou fhouldft not haue bin old, till thou hadft 
 bin wife. 
 
 Lear. O let me not be mad, not mad fweet Heauen : 
 keepe me in temper, I would not be mad. How now are 
 the Horfes ready 
 
 Cjent. Ready my Lord. 
 
 Lear. Come Boy. 
 
 Fool. She that's a Maid now, & laughs at my departur e > 
 Shall not be a Maid long, vnlefTe things be cut fhorter. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Aftus Secundus . Scenafrima. 
 
 Enter Baftard^and Curan,Jeueral!y. 
 
 'Baft. Saue thee Cur an. 
 
 Cur. And your Sir, I haue bin 
 With your Father, and giuen him notice 
 That the Duke of Cornwall, and ^gan his Ducheffe 
 Will be here with him this night. 
 
 Baft. How comes that ? 
 
 Cur. Nay I know not, you haue heard of the newes a- 
 broad, I meane the whifper'd ones, for they are yet- but 
 eare-kifling arguments. 
 
 Baft. Not I : pray you what are they ? 
 Qur. Haue you heard of no likely Warres toward, 
 'Twixt the Dukes of Corn-wall, and Albany f 
 
 "Baft. Not a word. 
 
 Cur. You may do then in time, 
 Fare you well Sir. Exit. 
 
 'Baft. The Duke be here to night * The better beft, 
 This weaues it ielfe perforce into my bufinelFe, 
 My Father hath fet guard to take my Brother, 
 And I haue one thing of a queazie queftion 
 Which I muft adt, Briefenefle, and Fortune worke. 
 
 Enter Edgar. 
 
 Brother, a word, difcend; Brother I fay, 
 My Father watches: O Sir, fly this place, 
 Intelligence is giuen where you are hid; 
 You haue now the good aduantage of the night, 
 Haue you not fpoken 'gainft the Duke of Cornewall? 
 Hee's comming hither, now i'th' night, i'th' hafte, 
 And Regan with him, haue you nothing faid 
 Vpon his partie 'gainft the Duke of Albany ? 
 Aduife your felfe. 
 
 Edg. I am fure on't, not a word. 
 
 Baft. I heare my Father comming, pardon me: 
 In cunning, I muft draw my Sword vpon you ; 
 Draw, feeme to defend your felfe, 
 Now quit you well. 
 
 Yeeld, come before my Father, light hoa, here, 
 Fly Brother, Torches, Torches, fo farewell. 
 
 Exit Edgar. 
 
 Some blood drawne on me, would beget opinion 
 Of my more fierce endeauour. I haue feene drunkards 
 Do more then this in fportj Father, Father, 
 Stop, Hop, no helpe? 
 
 Enter G!ofter,and Servants iritb Torches. 
 
 Cflo. Now Edmund, where 's the villaine ? 
 
 'Baft. Here flood he in the dark, his fharpe Sword out, 
 Mumbling of wicked charmes, coniuring the Moone 
 To ftand aufpicious Miftris. 
 
 Cflo. But where is he? 
 
 Baft. Looke Sir, I bleed. 
 
 Glo. Where is the villaine, Edmund* 
 
 Baft. Fled this way Sir, when by no meanes he could. 
 
 Glo. Purfue him, ho: go after. By no meanes, what? 
 
 Baft. Perfwade me to the murther of your Lordfhip, 
 
 But
 
 The Tragedie of f\jng Lear. 
 
 291 
 
 But that I told him the reuenging Gods, 
 'Gainft Paricides did all the thunder bend, 
 Spoke with how manifold, and ftrong aBond 
 The Child was bound to'th' Father; Sir in fine, 
 Seeing how lothly oppofite I flood 
 To his vnnaturall purpofe,in fell motion 
 With his prepared Sword, he charges home 
 My vnprouided body,latcb'd mine arme; 
 And when he faw my beft alarum'd fpirits 
 Bold, in the quarrels right, rouz'd to th'encounter, 
 Or whether gafted by the noyfe I made, 
 Full fodainely he fled. 
 
 Gloft. Let him fly farre : 
 Not in this Land fliall he remaine vncaught 
 And found; difpatch,the Noble Duke my Mafter, 
 My worthy Arch and Patron comes to night, 
 By his authoritie I will proclaime it, 
 That he which finds him fliall deferue our thankes, 
 Bringing the murderous Coward to the flake : 
 He that conceales him death. 
 
 'Baft. When I difTwaded him from his intent, 
 And found him pight to doe it, with curft fpeech 
 I threaten'd to difcouer him; he replied, 
 Thou vnpofiefling Baftard,doft thou thinke, 
 If I would ftand againft thee, would the repofall 
 Of any truft,vertue, or worth in thee 
 Make thy words faith'd ? No, what fliould I denie, 
 (As this 1 would, though thou didft produce 
 My very Character) 1'ld turne it all 
 To thy fuggeftion,plot,and damned pra&ife : 
 And thou muft make a dullard of the world, 
 If they not thought the profits of my death 
 Were very pregnant and potentiall fpirits 
 To make thee feeke it. Tucket within. 
 
 Glo. O ftrange and faftned Villaine, 
 Would he deny his Letter,faid he? 
 
 Harke, the Dukes Trumpets, I know not wher he comes; 
 All Ports lie barre, the villaine mail not fcape, 
 The Duke muft grant me that : befides, his pidture 
 I will fend farre and neere,that all the kingdome 
 May haue due note of him, and of my land, 
 (Loyall and naturall Boy) He worke the meanes 
 To make thee capable. 
 
 Enter Cornewall, Regan , and Attendants. 
 
 Corn. How now my Noble friend, fince I came hither 
 (Which I can call but now,) I haue heard ftrangenefle. 
 
 Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too fliort 
 Which can purfue th 'offender; how doft my Lord ? 
 
 Glo. O Madam, my old heart is crack'd,it's crack'd. 
 
 Rjg. What, did my Fathers Godfonne feeke your life? 
 He whom my Father nam'd,your Edgar* 
 
 Glo. O Lady, Lady, fliame would haue it hid. 
 
 .Reg-. Was he not companion with the riotous Knights 
 That tended vpon my Father ? 
 
 Glo. I know not Madam, 'tis too bad, too bad. 
 
 'Baft. Yes Madam, he was of that confort. 
 
 Reg. No maruaile then, though he were ill affefted, 
 'Tis they haue put him on the old mans death, , 
 To haue th'expence and waft of his Reuenues : 
 I haue this prefent euening from my Sifter 
 Beene well inform'd of them, and with fuch cautions, 
 That if they come to foiourne at my houfe, 
 He not be there. 
 
 Cor. Nor I,afl~ure thee Regan; 
 
 781 
 
 Edmund,l heare that you haue fliewne yout Father 
 A Child-like Office. 
 
 'Bali. It was my duty Sir. 
 
 Glo. He did bewray his pradYife, and receiu'd 
 This hurt you fee,ftriuing to apprehend him. 
 
 Cor. Is he purfued ? 
 
 Glo. I my good Lord. 
 
 Cor. If he be taken, he fliall neuer more 
 Be fear'd of doing harme,make your owne purpofe, 
 How in my ftrength you pleafe: for you Edmund, 
 Whofe vertue and obedience doth this inftant 
 So much commend it felfe,you mall be ours, 
 Nature's of fuch deepe trult, we mall much need . 
 You we firft feize on. 
 
 'Baft. I fliall feme you Sir truely,how euer elfe. 
 
 Glo. For him I thanke your Grace. 
 
 Cor. You know not why we came to vifit you ? 
 
 Reg. Thus out of feafon, thredding darke ey'd night, 
 Occafions Noble Gloft er of fome prize, 
 Wherein we muft haue vfe of your aduife. 
 Our Father he hath writ, fo hath our Sifter, 
 Of differences, which I beft though it fit 
 To anfwere from our home : the feuerall Meffengers 
 From hence attend difpatch,our good old Friend, 
 Lay comforts to your bofome, and beftow 
 Your needfull counfaile to our bufineffes, 
 Which craues the inftant vfe. 
 
 Glo. I ferue you Madam, 
 Your Graces are right welcome. Exeunt. Flcurlftj. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Kent ,aad Steward feuer ally. 
 
 Stew. Good dawning to thee Friend, art of this houfe? 
 
 Kent. T. 
 
 Stem. Where may we fet our horfes ? 
 
 Kent. I'th'myre. 
 
 Stew. Pry thee, if thou lou'ft me, tell me. 
 
 Kent. I loue thee not. 
 
 Ste. Why then I care not for thee. 
 
 Kent. If I had thee in Lifsbury Pinfold,! would make 
 thee care for me. 
 
 Ste. Why do'ft thou vfe me thus ? I know thee not. 
 
 Kent. Fellow I know thee. 
 
 Ste. What do'ft thou know me for ? 
 
 Kent. AKnaue, a Rafcall, an eater of broken meates, a 
 bafe, proud, fliallow, beggerly, three-fuited-hundred 
 pound, filthy woofted-ftocking knaue, a Lilly-liuered, 
 aftion-taking, whorefon glafle-gazing fuper-feruiceable 
 finical! Rogue, one Trunke-inheriting flaue, one that 
 would'ft be a Baud in way of good feruice, and art no- 
 thing but the compofition of a Knaue, Begger, Coward, 
 Pandar, and the Sonne and Heire of a Mungrill Bitch, 
 one whom I will beate into clamours whining, if thou 
 deny'ft the leaft fillable of thy addition. 
 
 Stew. Why, what a monftrous Fellow art thou, thus 
 to raile on one, that is neither knowne of thee, nor 
 knowes thee ? 
 
 Kent. What a brazen-fac'd Varlet art thou, to deny 
 thou knoweft me ? Is it two dayes fince I tript vp thy 
 heeles,and beate thee before the King? Draw you rogue, 
 
 for
 
 292 
 
 'The T rage die of J^ing Lear. 
 
 for though it be night, yet the Moone mines, He make a 
 fop oth' Moonfliine of you, you whorefon Cullyenly 
 Barber-monger, draw. 
 
 Stew. A way, I haue nothing to do with thee. 
 
 Kent. Draw you Rafcall, you come with Letters a- 
 gainft the King, and take Vanitie the puppets part, a- 
 gainft the Royaltie of her Father : draw you Rogue, or 
 lie fo carbonado your flunks, draw you Rafcall, come 
 your waies. 
 
 Ste. Helpe, ho,murther,helpe. 
 
 Kent. Strike you flaue : ftand rogue, ftand you neat 
 flaue,ftrike. 
 
 Stew. Helpe hoa,murther,murther. 
 
 Enter Baftardy Ctrneifal/, Regan, Glojler, Seruants. 
 
 'Baft. How now, what's the matter ? Part. 
 
 Kent. With you goodman Boy, if you pleafe, come, 
 lie fleih ye, come on yong Mafter. 
 
 Glo, Weapons? Armes? what's the matter here ? 
 
 Cor. Keepe peace vpon your liues, he dies that ftrikes 
 againe, what is the matter ? 
 
 Reg. The MeflTengers from our Sifter, and the King ? 
 
 Cor. What is your difference, fpeake ? 
 
 Stem. 1 am fcarce in breath my Lord. 
 
 Kent. No Maruell, you haue fo beftir'd your valour, 
 you cowardly Rafcall, nature difclaimes in thee:a Taylor 
 made thee. 
 
 Cor. Thou art a ftrange fellow,a Taylor make a man? 
 
 Kent. A Taylor Sir, a Stone-cutter, or a Painter, could 
 not haue made him fo ill, though they had bin but two 
 yeares oth'trade. 
 
 Cor. Speake yet, how grew your quarrell ? 
 
 Ste. This ancient Ruffian Sir, whofe life I haue fpar'd 
 at fute of his gray-beard. 
 
 Kent. Thou whorefon Zed, thou vnneceflary letter: 
 my Lord, if you will giue me leaue, I will tread this vn- 
 boulted villaine into morter, and daube the wall ofa 
 lakes with him. Spare my gray-beard, you wagtaile ? 
 
 Cor. Peace (irrah, 
 You beaftly knaue,know you no reuerence ? 
 
 Kent. Yes Sir, but anger hath a priuiledge. 
 
 Cor. Why art thou angrie ? 
 
 Kent, That fuch a flaue as this mould weare a Sword, 
 Who weares no honefty : fuch fmiling rogues as thefe, 
 Like Rats oft bite the holy cordsia twaine, 
 Which are t'intrince, t'vnloofe : fmooth euery paffion 
 That in the natures of their Lords rebel], 
 Being oile to fire,fnow to the colder moodes, 
 Reuenge,affirme,and turne their Halcion beakes 
 With euery gall, and varry of their Matters, 
 Knowing naught (like dogges) but following : 
 A plague vpon your Epilepticke vifage, 
 Smoile you my fpeeches, as I were a Foole ? 
 Goofe,if I had you vpon Sarum Plaine, 
 I*ld driue ye cackling home to Camelot. 
 
 Corn. What art thou mad old Fellow ? 
 
 Glajl. How fell you out, fay that? 
 
 Kent. No contraries hold more antipathy, 
 Then I, and fuch a knaue. 
 
 Crn. Why do'ft thou call him Knaue ? 
 What is his fault ? 
 
 Kent. His countenance likes me not. 
 
 Cor. No more perchance do's mine, nor his, nor hers. 
 
 Kent. Sir, 'tis my occupation to be pUine, 
 I haue feene better faces in my time, 
 
 Then ftands on any moulder that I fee 
 Before me, at this inftant. 
 
 Corn. This is fome Fellow, 
 
 Who hauing beene prais'd for bluntnefle,doth affedt 
 A faucy roughnes,and conftraines the garb 
 Quite from his Nature. He cannot flatter he, 
 An honeft mind and plaine, he rnuft fpeake truth, 
 And they will take it fo,if not, hee's plaine. 
 Thefe kind of Knaues I know, which in this plainnefTe 
 Harbour more crafc,and more corrupter ends, 
 Then twenty filly-ducking obferuants, 
 That ftretch their duties nicely. 
 
 Kent. Sir, in good faith, in fincere verity, 
 Vnder th'allowance of your great afpedl, 
 Whofe influence like the wreath of radient fire 
 On flicking Pbcebus front. 
 
 Corn. What mean'ft by this ? 
 
 Kent. To go out of my dialed}, which you difcom- 
 mend fo much; I know Sir, I am no flatterer, he that be- 
 guild you in a plaine accent, was a plaine Knaue, which 
 for my part I will not be, though I mould win your 
 difpleafure to entreat me too't. 
 
 Corn. What was th'offence you gaue him ? 
 
 Ste. I neuer gaue him any : 
 It pleas'd the King his Mafter very late 
 To ftrike at me vpon his mifconftrudtion, 
 When he comparand flattering his difpleafure 
 Tript me behind:being downe,infulted, rail'd, 
 And put vpon him fuch a deale of Man, 
 That worthied him, got praifes of the King, 
 For him attempting, who was felfe-fubdued, 
 And in the flefliment of this dead exploit, 
 Drew on me here againe. 
 
 Kent. None of thefe Rogues, and Cowards 
 But Aiax is there Foole. 
 
 Corn. Fetch forth the Stocks ? 
 
 You ftubborne ancient Knaue, you reuerent Bragart, 
 Wee'l teach you. 
 
 Kent. Sir, I am too old to learne : 
 Call not your Stocks for me, I ferue the King. 
 On whofe imployment I was fent to you, 
 You (hall doe fmall refpedls, mow too bold malice 
 Againft the Grace, and Perfon of my Mafter, 
 Stocking his Meflenger. 
 
 Corn. Fetch forth the Stocks; 
 As I haue life and Honour, there mall he fit till Noone. 
 
 Reg. Till noone? till night my Lord, and all night too. 
 
 Kent. Why Madam, if I were your Fathers dog, 
 You mould not vfe me fo. 
 
 ^g. Sir, being his Knaue,! will. Stocks brought out. 
 
 Cor. This is a Fellow of the felfe fame colour, 
 Our Sifter fpeakes of. Come, bring away the Stocks. 
 
 Qk. Let me befeech your Grace, not to do fo, 
 The King his Mafter, needs muft take it ill 
 That he fo flightly valued in his Meflenger, 
 Should haue him thus reftrained. 
 
 Cor. He anfwere that. 
 
 Reg. My Sifter may recieue it much more worfle, 
 To haue her Gentleman abus'd,afiaulted. 
 
 Corn. Come my Lord, away. Exit. 
 
 Glo. I am forry for thee friend, 'tis the Duke pleafure, 
 Whofe difpofition all the world well knowes 
 Will not be rub'd nor ftopt, He entreat for thee. 
 
 Kent.Pray do not Sir, I haue watch'd and trauail'd hard, 
 Some time I mall fleepe out, the reft He whittle : 
 A good mans fortune may grow out at heeles: 
 
 Giu e
 
 The Tragedie of l^jng Lear. 
 
 2 93 
 
 Giue you good morrow. 
 
 (jio. The Duke's too blamein this, 
 'Twill be ill taken. Exit. 
 
 Kent.Good King, that muft approue the common faw, 
 Thou out of Heauens benediction com'ft 
 To the warme Sun. 
 
 Approach thou Beacon to this vnder Globe, 
 That by thy comfortable Beames I may 
 Perufe this Letter. Nothing almoft fees miracles 
 But miferie. I know 'tis from Cordelia, 
 Who hath moft fortunately beene inform'd 
 Of my obfcured courfe. And /hall finde time 
 From this enormous State, feeking to giue 
 Loffes their remedies .All weary and o're-watch'd, 
 Take vantage heauie eyes, not to behold 
 This /hamefnll lodging. Fortune goodnight, 
 Smile once more, turne thy wheele. 
 
 Enter Edgar. 
 
 Edg. I heard my felfe proclaim'd, 
 And by the kappy hollow of a Tree, 
 Efcap'd the hunt. No Port is free, no place 
 That guard, and moftvnufall vigilance 
 Do's not attend my taking. Whiles I may fcape 
 I will preferue myfelfe : and am bethought 
 To take the bafeft, and moft pooreft /hape 
 That euer penury in contempt of man, 
 Brought neere to beaft; my face He grime with filth, 
 Blanket my loines, elfe all my haires in knots, 
 And with prefented nakednefie out-face 
 The Windes, and perfecutions of the skie; 
 The Country giues me proofe, and prefident 
 Of Bedlam beggers, who with roaring voices, 
 Strike in their num'd and mortified Armes, 
 Pins, Wodden-prickes, Nayles, Sprigs of Rofemarie : 
 And with this horrible obiect, from low Farmes, 
 Poore pelting Villages, Sheeps-Coates, and Milles, 
 Sometimes with Lunaticke bans, fometime with Praiers 
 Inforce their charitie : poore Tw/yjW, poore Tom, 
 That's fomething yet : Sdgar I nothing am. Exit. 
 
 Enter Lear, Fook, and Gentleman. 
 
 LeaST'is ftrange that they fliould fo depart from home, 
 And not fend backe my Meffengers. 
 
 Gent. As I learn'd, 
 
 The night before, there was no purpofe in them 
 Of this remoue. 
 
 Kent. Haile to thee Noble Mafter. 
 
 Lear. Ha ? Mak'ft thou this fliame ahy paftime ? 
 
 Kent. No my Lord. 
 
 Foole. Hah, ha, he weares Cruell Garters Horfes are 
 tide by the heads, Dogges and Beares by'th'necke, 
 Monkies by'th'loynes, and Men by'th' legs : when a man 
 ouerluftie at legs, then he weares wodden nether-flocks. 
 
 Lear. What's he, 
 
 That hath fo much thy place miftooke 
 To fet thee heere? 
 
 Kent. It is both he and /he, 
 Your Son, and Daughter. 
 
 Lear. No. 
 
 Kent. Yes. 
 
 Lear. No I fay. 
 
 Kent. I fay yea. 
 
 Lear. By lupiter I fweare no. 
 
 783 
 
 Kent. By luuo, I fweare I. 
 
 Lear. They durft not do' t: 
 
 They could not, would not do't : 'tis worfe then murther, 
 To do vpon refpedt fuch violent outrage: 
 Refolue me with all modeft hafte, which way 
 Thou might'ft deferue, or they impofe this vfage, 
 Comming from vs. 
 
 Kent. My Lord, when at their home 
 I did commend your Highne/Te Letters to them, 
 Ere I was rifen from the place, that /hewed 
 My dutie kneeling, came there a reeking Polle, 
 Stew'd in his hafte, halfe breathlefle, painting forth 
 From Gonerill his Miftris, falutations; 
 Deliuer'd Letters fpight of intermiffion, 
 Which prefently they read; on thofe contents 
 They fummon'd vp their meiney, ftraight tooke Horfe, 
 Commanded me to follow, and attend 
 The leifure of their anfwer, gaue me cold lookes, 
 And meeting heere the other Meflenger, 
 Whofe welcome I perceiu'd had poilon'd mine, 
 Being the very fellow which of late 
 Difplaid fo fawcily againft your Highnefle, 
 Hauing more man then wit about me, drew; 
 He rais'd the houfe, with loud and coward cries, 
 Your Sonne and Daughter found this trefpafle worth 
 The fliame which heere it fuffers. ( wa y> 
 
 Foole. Winters not gon yet, if the wil'd Geefe fly that 
 Fathers that weare rags, do make their Children blind, 
 But Fathers that beare bags, fhall fee their children kind. 
 Fortune that arrant whore, nere turns the key toth' poore. 
 But for all this thou /halt haue as many Dolors for thy 
 Daughters, as thou canft tell in a yeare. 
 
 Lear. Oh how this Mother fwels vp toward my heart! 
 Hijiorica pajfio, downe thou climing forrow, 
 Thy Elements below where is this Daughter? 
 
 Kent. Wirh the Earle Sir, here within. 
 
 Lear. Follow me not, ftay here. Exit. 
 
 Gen. Made you no more offence, 
 But what you fpeake of? 
 
 Kent. None : 
 How chance the the King comes with fo fmall a number? 
 
 Foole. And thou hadft beene fet i'th'Stockes for that 
 queftion,thoud'ft well deferu'd it. 
 
 Kent. Why Foole ? 
 
 Foole. Wee'l fet thee to fchoole to an Ant, to teach 
 thee ther's no labouring i'th' winter. All that follow thc-ir 
 nofes, are led by their eyes, but blinde men, and there's 
 not a nofe among twenty, but can fmell him that's ftink- 
 ing; let go thy hold, when a great wheele runs downe a 
 hill, leaft it breake thy necke with following. But the 
 great one that goes vpward, let him drawthee after : 
 when a wifeman giues thee better counfell giue me mine 
 againe, I would hause none but knaues follow it, fince a 
 Foole giues it. 
 
 That Sir, which ferues and feekes for gaine, 
 And folio wes but for forme; 
 Will packe, when it begins to raine, 
 And leaue thee in the ftorme, 
 But I will tarry, the Foole will ftay, 
 And let the wifeman flie : 
 The knaue turnes Foole that runnes away, 
 The Foole noiknaue perdie. 
 
 Enter Lear, and (jlofler: 
 Kent. Where learn'd you this Foole ? 
 Fade. Not i'th' Stocks Foole. 
 
 r r Lear.
 
 294 
 
 The Tragedie of f\jng Lear. 
 
 Lear. Deny to fpeake with me ? 
 They are ficke, they are weary, 
 They haue trauail'd all the night ? meere fetches, 
 The images of reuolt and flying off. 
 Fetch me a better anfwer. 
 
 Glo. My deere Lord, 
 You know the fiery quality of the Duke, 
 How vnremoueable and fixt he is 
 In his owne courie. 
 
 Lear. Vengeance, Plague, Death, Confufion : 
 Fiery ? What quality ? Why G/ofter, Qlofler, 
 I'ld Ipeake v r jth the Duke of Cornevpall, and his wife. 
 
 Glo. Well my good Lord, I haue inform'd them fo. 
 
 Lear, Inform'd them ? Do'ft thou vnderftand me man. 
 
 Glo. I my good Lord. 
 
 Lear. The King would fpeake with (^orntval!, 
 The deere Father 
 
 Would with his Daughter fpeake, commands, tends, fer- 
 Are they inform'd of this ? My breath and blood: (uice, 
 
 Fiery? The fiery Duke, tell the hot Duke that 
 
 No, but not yet, may be he is not well, 
 
 Infirmity doth ftill neglect all office, 
 
 Whereto our health is bound, we are not our felues, 
 
 When Nature being oppreft, commands the mind 
 
 To fuffer with the body ; lie forbeare, 
 
 And am fallen out with my more headier will, 
 
 To take the indifpos'd and fickly fit, 
 
 For the found man. Death on my ftate : wherefore 
 
 Should he fit heere 9 This act perfwades me, 
 
 That this remotion of the Duke and her 
 
 Is practife only. Giue me my Seruant forth; 
 
 Goe tell the Duke, and's wife, IFd fpeake with them : 
 
 Now,prefently : bid them come forth and heare me, 
 
 Or at their Chamber doore He beate the Drum, 
 
 Till it crie fleepe to death. 
 
 Glo. I would haue all well betwixt you. Exit. 
 
 Lear. Oh me my heart ! My rifmg heart ! But downe. 
 
 Foole. Cry to it Nunckle, as the Cockney did to the 
 Eeles, when flie put 'em i'th' Pafte aliue, flie knapt 'em 
 o'th' coxcombs with a fticke, and cryed downe wantons, 
 downe; 'twas her Brother, that in pure kindneffe to his 
 Horfe buttered his Hay. 
 
 Snte r Cornewall, Regan , Ghfler^ Seruants. 
 
 Lear. Good morrow to you both. 
 
 Corn. Haile to your Grace. Kent here Jet at liberty. 
 
 Reg. I am glad to fee your Highnefle. 
 
 Lear. Regan, I .thinke your are . I know what reafon 
 Ithaue to thinke fo, if thou fliould'ft not be glad, 
 I would diuorce me from thy Mother Tombe, 
 Sepulchring an Adulm fie. O are you free ? 
 Some other time for that. Beloued Regan, 
 Thy Sifters naught : oh Regan, flie hath tied 
 Sharpe-tooth'd vnkindneffe, like a vulture heere, 
 1 can fcarce fpeake to thee , thou'lt not beleeue 
 With how deprau'd a quality. Oh Regan. 
 
 Reg. I pray you Sir, take patience, I haue hope 
 You lefle know how to value her defert, 
 Then flie to fcant her dutie. 
 
 Lear. Say ? How is that ? 
 
 Reg. I cannot thinke my Sifter in the leaft 
 Would faile her Obligation. If Sir perchance 
 She haue reftrained the Riots of your Followres, 
 'Tis on fuch ground, and to fuch wholefome end, 
 As cleeres her from all blame. 
 
 Lear, My curfes on her. 
 
 Reg. O Sir, you are old, 
 Nature in you ftands on the very" Verge 
 Of his confine : you fliould be rul'd, and led 
 By fome difcredon, that difcernes your ftate 
 Better then you your felfe : therefore I pray you, 
 That to our Sifter, you do make returne, 
 Saj you haue wrong'd her. 
 
 Lear. Aske her forgiuenefle ? 
 Do you but marke how this becomes the houfe ? 
 Deere daughter, I confeffe that I am old ; 
 Age is vnneceffary : on my knees I begge, 
 That you'l vouchfafe me Rayment, Bed, and Food. 
 
 Reg. Good Sir, no more : thefe are vnfightly trickes : 
 Returne you to my Sifter. 
 
 Lear. Neuer Regan : 
 She hath abated me of halfe my Traine; 
 Look'd blacke vpon me, ftrooke me with her Tongue 
 Moft Serpent-like, vpon the very Heart. 
 All the ftor'd Vengeances of Heauen, fall 
 On her ingratefull top : ftrike her yong bones 
 You taking Ayres, with Lameneffe. 
 
 Corn. Fye fir, fie. 
 
 Le. You nimble Lightnings, dart your blinding flames 
 Into her fcornfull eyes : Infedt her Beauty, 
 You Fen-fuck'd Fogges, drawne by the powrfull Sunne, 
 To fall, and blifter. 
 
 Reg, O the bleft Gods ! 
 So will you wifh on me, when the ra/h moode is on. 
 
 Lear. No Regan, thou flialt neuer haue my curfe : 
 Thy tender-hefted Nature fhall not giue 
 Thee o're to harftineffe : Her eyes are fierce, but thine 
 Do comfort, and not burne. 'Tis not in thee 
 To grudge my pleafures, to cut off my Traine, 
 To bandy hafty words, to fcant my fizes, 
 And in conclufion, to oppofe the bolt 
 Againft my comming in. Thou better know'ft 
 The Offices of Nature, bond of Childhood, 
 Effects of Curtefie, dues of Gratitude : 
 Thy halfe o'th'Kingdome haft thou net forgot, 
 Wherein I thee endow'd. 
 
 Reg. Good Sir, to'th'purpofe. Tucket within. 
 
 Lear. Who put my man i'th'Stockes ? 
 Enter Steward. ; 
 
 Corn. What Trumpet's that ?. 
 
 Reg. I know't, my Sifters : this approues her Letter, 
 That fhe would foone be heere. Is your Lady come ? 
 
 Lear. This is a Slaue, whofe eafie borrowed pride 
 Dwels in the fickly grace of her he followes. 
 Out Varlet, frormmy fight. 
 
 Corn. What meanes your Grace ? 
 
 Snter Gcnerill. 
 
 Lear. Who ftockt my Seruant? Regan, I haue good hope 
 Thou did'ft not know on't. 
 Who comes here ? O Heauens ! 
 If you do loue old men ; if your fweet fway 
 Allow Obedience ; if you your felues are old, 
 Make it your caufe : Send downe, and take my part. 
 Art not aiham'd to looke vpon this Beard ? 
 O Regan, will you take her by the hand ? 
 
 Gon. Why not by'th'hand Sir? How haue I offended ? 
 All's not offence that indifcretion findes, 
 And dotage termes fo. 
 
 Lear. O fides, you are too tough ! 
 Will you yet hold ? 
 How came my man i'th'Stockes? 
 
 Corn. I fet him there, Sir : but his owne Diforders 
 
 Deferu'd
 
 The 'Tragedie of Rjng Lear. 
 
 295 
 
 Deferu'd much lefle aduancement. 
 
 Lear. You ? Did you ? 
 
 Reg. I pray you Father being weake, feeme fo. 
 If till the expiration of your Moneth 
 You will returne and foiourne with my Sifter, 
 Difmiffing halfe your traine,come then to me, 
 I am now from home, and out of that prouifion 
 Which fhall be needfull for your entertainement. 
 Lear. Returne to her? and fifty men difmifs'd ? 
 No, rather I abiure all roofes,and chuie 
 To wage againft the enmity oth'ayre, 
 To be a Comrade with the Wolfe, and Owle, 
 Necefllties fharpe pinch. Returne with her? 
 Why the hot-bloodied F/vw,that dowerlefie tooke 
 Our yongeft borne, I could as well be brought 
 To knee his Throne, and Squire-like penfion beg, 
 To keepe bafe life a foote; returne with her ? 
 Perfwade me rather to be flaue and fumpter 
 To this detefted groome. 
 
 Gun. At your choice Sir. 
 
 Lear. I prythee Daughter do not make me mad, 
 I will not trouble thee my Child;farewell: 
 Wee'l no more meete, no more fee one another. 
 But yet thou art my flefh, my blood, my Daughter, 
 Or rather a difeafe that's in my flefh, 
 Which I muft needs call mine. Thou art a Byle, 
 A plague fore, or imbofied Carbuncle 
 In my corrupted blood. But He not chide thee, 
 Let fhame come when it will, I do not call it, 
 I do not bid the Thunder-bearer fhoote, 
 Nor tell tales of thee to high-iudging loue, 
 Mend when thou can'ft,be better at thy leifure, 
 I can be patient, I can ftay with Regan, 
 I and my hundred Knights. 
 
 Reg. Not altogether fo, 
 I look'd not for you yet, nor am prouided 
 For your fit welcome, giue eare Sir to my Sifter, 
 For thofe that mingle reafon with your paflion, 
 Muft be content to thinke you old, and fo, 
 But fhe knowes what fhe doe's. 
 
 Lear. Is this well fpoken ? 
 
 Reg. I dare auouch it Sir, what fifty Followers ? 
 Is it not well ? What fhould you need of more? 
 Yea, or fo many ? Sith that both charge and danger, 
 Speake 'gainft fo great a number ? How in one houfe 
 Should many people, vnder two commands 
 Hold amity ? 'Tis hard,almoft impoflible. 
 
 Gon. Why might not you my Lord, receiue attendance 
 From thofe that fhe cals Seruants,or from mine ? 
 
 Reg. Why not my Lord ? 
 If then they chanc'd to flacke ye, 
 We could comptroll them; if you will come to me, 
 (For now I fpie a danger)! entreate you 
 To bring but flue and twentie,to no more 
 Will I giue place or notice. 
 
 Lear. I gaue you all. 
 
 Reg. And in good time you gaue it. 
 
 Lear. Made you my Guardians,my Depositaries, 
 But kept a referuation to be followed 
 With fuch a number? What, muft I come to you 
 With flue and twenty? I(egan,{aid you fb ? 
 
 Reg. And fpeak't againe my Lord, no more with me. 
 
 Lea. Thofe wicked Creatures yet do look wel fauor'd 
 When others are more wicked, not being the worft 
 Stands in fome ranke of praife, lie go with thee, 
 Thy fifty yet doth double fiue and twenty, 
 
 785 
 
 And thou art twice her Loue. 
 
 Gon. Heare me my Lord; 
 
 What need you fiue and twenty ? Ten ? Or fiue ? 
 To follow in a houfe, where twice fo many 
 Haue a command to tend you ? 
 
 Reg. What need one ? 
 
 Lear. O reafon not the need ; our bafeft Beggers 
 Are in the pooreft thing fuperfluous, 
 Allow not Nature, more then Nature needs : 
 Mans life is cheape as Beaftes. Thou art a Lady; 
 If onely to go warme were gorgeous, 
 Why Nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear'ft, 
 Which fcarcely keepes thee warme, but for true'need: " 
 You Heauens,giue me that patience, patience i need, 
 You fee me heere (you Gods)a poore old man, 
 As full of griefe as age, wretched in both, 
 If it be you that ftirres thefe Daughters hearts 
 Againft their Father, foole me not fo much, 
 To beare it tamely. -touch me with Noble anger, 
 And let not womens weapons, water drops, 
 Staine my mans cheekes.No you vnnaturall Hags, 
 I will haue fuch reuenges on you both, 
 
 That all the world Hull 1 will do fuch things, 
 
 What they are yet, I know not, but they fhalbe 
 The terrors of the earth? you thinke He weepe, 
 No,Ile not weepe, I haue full caufe of weeping, 
 
 Star me and Tempejt. 
 
 But this heart fhal break into a hundred thoufand flawes 
 Or ere He weepe; O Foole, I fhal] go mad. I Exeunt. 
 
 Corn. Let vs withdraw, 'twill be a Storme. 
 
 Reg. This houfe is little, the old man an'ds people, 
 Cannot be well beftow'd. 
 
 Gon. 'Tis his owne blame hath put himfelfe from reft, 
 And muft needs tafte his folly. 
 
 Reg. For his particular He receiue him gladly, 
 But not one follower. 
 
 Gon. So am I purpos'd. 
 Where is my Lord of Glofter ? 
 
 Enter giofter. 
 
 Corn. Followed the old man forth, he is return'd. 
 
 Qlo. The King is in high rage. 
 
 Corn. Whether is he going ? 
 
 Glo. He cals to Horfe,but will T know not whether. 
 
 Corn. 'Tis beft to giue him way, he leads himfelfe. 
 
 Gon. My Lord, entreate him by no meanes to ftay. 
 
 Glo. Alacke the night comes on, and the high windes 
 Do forely ruffle, for many Miles about 
 There's fcarce a Bufh. 
 
 Reg. O Sir, to wilfull men, 
 The iniuries that they themfelues procure, 
 Muft be their Schoole-Mafters : fhut vp your doores, 
 He is attended with a defperate traine, 
 And what they may incenfe him too, being apt, 
 To haue his eare abus'd, wifedome bids feare. 
 
 Cor. Shut vp your doores my Lord, 'tis a wil'd night, 
 My Regan counfels well[: come out oth'ftorme. Exeunt. 
 
 ASlus Tertius. Scena *Prima. 
 
 Storme Rill. Enter Kent , and a Gentleman ,feuera//y. 
 
 Kent. Who's there befides foule weather ? 
 
 Gen. One minded like the weather, moft vnquietly. 
 
 r r 2 Kent. 
 
 jo
 
 296 
 
 'The 'Tr age die of ^ing Lear. 
 
 Kent. I know you : Where's the King ? 
 
 Cjent. Contending with the fretfull Elements ; 
 Bids the winde blow the Earth into the Sea, 
 Or fwell the curled Waters 'boue the Maine, 
 That things might change, or ceafe. 
 
 Kent, But who is with him ? 
 
 Gent. None but the Foole,Jwho labours to out-ieft 
 His heart-ftrooke iniuries. 
 
 Kent. Sir, I do know you, 
 And dare vpon the warrant of my note 
 Commend a deere thing to you. There is diuifion 
 (Although as yet the face of it is couer'd 
 With mutual! cunning,) 'twixt Albany, and Cornwall : 
 Who haue, as who haue not, that their great Starres 
 Thron'd and fet high ; Seruants, who feeme nolefie, 
 Which are to France the Spies and Speculations 
 Intelligent of our State. What hath bin feene, 
 Either in fnuffes, and packings of the Dukes, 
 Or the hard Reine which both of them hath borne 
 Againft the old kinde King ; or fomething deeper, 
 Whereof (perchance) thefe are but furnifliings. 
 
 Gent. I will talke further with you. 
 
 Kent. No, do not: 
 
 For confirmation that I am much more 
 Then my out-wall ; open this Purfe,and take 
 What it containes. If you fliall fee ordelia t 
 (As feare not but you fliall) fliew her this Ring, 
 And flie will tell you who that Fellow is 
 That yet you do not know. Fye on this Storme, 
 I will go feeke the King. 
 
 Gent. Giue me your hand, 
 Haue you no more to fay ? 
 
 Kent. Few words, but to effeft more then all yet ; 
 That when we haue found the King, in which your pain 
 That way, lie this : He that firft lights on him, 
 Holla the other. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Storme Jt ill. Enter Lear .and Foole. 
 
 Lear. Blow windes,& crack your cheeks; Rage, blow 
 You Cataracts, and Hyrricano's fpout, 
 Till you haue drench'd our Steeples, drown the Cockes. 
 You Sulph'rous and Thought-executing Fires, 
 Vaunt-curriors of Oake-cleauing Thunder-bolts, 
 Sindge my white head. And thou all-fliaking Thunder, 
 Strike flat the thicke Rotundity o'th'world, 
 Cracke Natures moulds, all germaines fpill at once 
 That makes ingratefull Man. 
 
 Foole. O Nunkle, Court holy-water in a dry houfe, is 
 better then this Rain-water out o'doore. Good Nunkle, 
 in, aske thy Daughters blefiing, heere's a night pitties 
 neither Wifemen, nor Fooles. 
 
 Lear. Rumble thy belly full : fpit Fire, fpowt Raine : 
 NorRaine, Winde, Thunder, Fire are my Daughters; 
 1 taxe not you, you Elements with vnkindnefle. 
 I neuer gaue you Kingdome, call'd you Children; 
 You owe me no fubfcription. Then let fall 
 Your horrible pleafure. Heere I ftand your Slaue, 
 A poore, infirme, weake, and difpis'd old man : 
 But yet I call you Seruile Miniflers, 
 That will with two pernicious Daughters ioyne 
 Your high-engender'd Battailes, 'gainft a head 
 
 So old, and white as this. O,ho J 'tis foule. 
 
 Foole. He that has a houfe to put's head in, has a good 
 Head-peece : 
 
 The Codpiece that will houfe, before the head has any ; 
 The Head, and he fliall Lowfe : fo Beggers marry many. 
 The man j makes his Toe, what he his Hart/hold make, 
 Shall of a Corne cry woe, and turne his fleepe to wake. 
 
 For there was neuer yet faire woman, but fliee made 
 mouthes in a glaiTe. 
 
 Enter Kent. 
 
 Lear. No, I will be the patterne of all patience, 
 I will fay nothing. 
 
 Kent. Who's there ? 
 
 Foole. Marry here's Grace, and a Codpiece, that's a 
 Wifeman, and a Foole. 
 
 Kent. Alas Sir are you here? Things that loue night, 
 Loue not fuch nights as thefe : The wrathfull Skies 
 Callow the very wanderers of the darke 
 And make them keepe their Caues : Since I was man, 
 Such flieets of Fire, fuch burfts of horrid Thunder, 
 Such groanes of roaring Winde, and Raine, I neuer 
 Remember to haue heard. Mans Nature cannot carry 
 Th 'affliction, nor the feare. 
 
 Lear. Let the great Goddes 
 That keepe this dreadfull pudder o're our heads, 
 Finde out their enemies now. Tremble thou Wretch, 
 That haft within thee vndivulged Crimes 
 Vnwhipt of luftice. Hide thee, thou Bloudy hand; 
 Thou Periur'd, and thou Simular of Vertue 
 That art Inceftuous. CaytifFe, to peeces fliake 
 That vnder couert, and conuenient feeming 
 Ha's pradlis'd on mans life. Clofe pent-vp guilts, 
 Riue your concealing Continents, and cry 
 Thefe dreadfull Summoners grace. I am a man, 
 More finn'd againft, then finning. 
 
 Kent. Alacke, bare-headed ? 
 Gracious my Lord, hard by heere is a Houell, 
 Some friendfliip will it lend you 'gainft the Tempeft : 
 Repofe you there, while I to this hard houfe, 
 ( More harder then the ftones whereof 'tis rais'd, 
 Which euen but now, demanding after you, 
 Deny'd me to come in) returne, and force 
 Their fcanted curtefie. 
 
 Lear. My wits begin to turne. 
 Come on my boy. How doft my boy ? Art cold ? 
 I am cold my felfe. Where is this ftraw, my Fellow ? 
 The Art of our Neceflities is ftrange, 
 
 And can make vilde things precious.Come,your Houel ; 
 Poore Foole, and Knaue, I haue one part in my heart 
 That's forry yet for thee. 
 
 Foole. He that has and a little-tyne wit, 
 
 With heigh-ho, the Winde and the Raine, 
 Muft make content with his Fortunes fit, 
 Though the Raine it raineth euery day. 
 Le. True Boy : Come bring vs to this Houell. Exit. 
 Foole. This is a braue night to coole a Curtizan : 
 lie fpeake a Prophefie ere I go : 
 When Priefts are more in word, then matter ; 
 When Brewers marre their Malt with water; 
 When Nobles are their Taylors Tutors, 
 No Heretiques burn'd, but wenches Sutors ; 
 When euery Cafe in Law, is right ; 
 No Squire in debt, nor no poore Knight ; 
 When Slanders do not liue in Tongues ; 
 Nor Cut-purfes come not to throngs ; 
 When Vfurers tell their Gold i'th'Field, 
 
 And 
 
 786
 
 'The Tragedie of I\jng Lear. 
 
 297 
 
 And,Baudes, and whores, do Churches build, 
 Then fhal the Realme of Albion, come to great confufion : 
 Then comes the time, who Hues to fee't, 
 That going fhalbe vs'd with feet. (time. 
 
 This prophecie Merlin fhall make, for I Hue before his 
 
 Exit. 
 
 Sccena Tertia. 
 
 Enter (jlofter , and Edmund. 
 
 Glo. Alacke, alacke Edmund, I like not this vnnaturall 
 dealing; when I defired their leaue that I might pity him, 
 they tooke from me the vfe of mine owne houfe, charg'd 
 me on paine of perpetuall difpleafure, neither to fpeake 
 of him, entreat for him, or any way fuftaine him, 
 
 'Baft. Moft fauage and vnnaturall. 
 
 Glo. Go too; fay you nothing. There is diuifion be- 
 tweene the Dukes, and a worfle matter then that: I haue 
 receiued a Letter this night, 'tis dangerous to be fpoken, 
 I haue lock'd the Letter in my Cloflet, thefe injuries the 
 King now beares, will be reuenged home; ther is part of 
 a Power already footed, we muft incline to the King, I 
 will looke him, and priuily relieue him ; goe you and 
 maintaine talke with the Duke, that my charity be not of 
 him perceiued; If he aske for me, I am ill, and gone to 
 bed, if I die for it, (as no leffe is threatned me) the King 
 my old Mafter muft be relieued. There is ftrange things 
 toward Edmund,pray you be carefull. Exit. 
 
 'Baft. This Curtefie forbid thee, fhall the Duke 
 Inftantly know, and of that Letter too; 
 This feemes a faire deferuing, and muft draw me 
 That which my Father loofes:no lefle then all, 
 The yonger rifes, when the old doth fall. Exit. 
 
 Scena Quarta. 
 
 Bnter Lear, Kent, and Foole. 
 
 Kent.\ Here is the place my Lord, good my Lord enter, 
 The tirrany of the open night's too rough 
 For Nature to endure. Storme ftlll 
 
 Lear. Let me alone. 
 
 Kent. Good my Lord enter heere. 
 
 Lear. Wilt breake my heart t 
 
 Kent. I had rather breake mine owne, 
 Good my Lord enter. 
 
 Lear. Thou think'ft 'tis much that this contentious 
 Inuades vs to the skinfo :'tis to thee, (ftorme 
 
 But where the greater malady is fixt, 
 The leffer is fcarce felt. Thou'dft fhun a Beare, 
 But if they flight lay toward the roaring Sea, 
 Thou'dft meete the Beare i'th' mouth, when the mind's 
 The bodies delicate : the tempeft in my mind, free, 
 
 Doth from my fences take all feeling elfe, 
 Saue what beates there, Filliall ingratitude, 
 Is it not as this mouth fhould teare this hand 
 For lifting food too't ? But I will punifh home; 
 No, 1 will weepe no more; in fuch a night, 
 
 787 
 
 To fhut me out? Poure on, I will endure: 
 
 In fuch a night as this ? O Regan, Qonerill, 
 
 Your old kind Father, whofe franke heart gaue all, 
 
 O that way madnefie lies, let me fhun that : 
 
 No more of that. 
 
 Kent. Good my Lord enter here. 
 
 Lear. Prythee go in thy felfe,feeke thine owne eafe, 
 This tempeft will not giue me leaue to ponder 
 On things would hurt me more, but He goe in, 
 In Boy, go firft. You houfelefle pouertie, Exit. 
 
 Nay get thee in; lie pray, and then He fleepe. 
 Poore naked wretches, where fo ere you are 
 That bide the pelting of this pittilefle ftorme, 
 How fhall your Houfe-lefle heads, and vnfed fides, 
 Your lop'd,and window'd raggednefle defend you 
 From feafons fuch as thefe ? O 1 haue tane 
 Too little care of this : Take Phyficke, Pompe, 
 Expofe thy felfe to feele what wretches feele, 
 That thou maift fhake the fuperflux to them, 
 And fhew the Heauens more iuft. 
 
 Enter Bdgar ,and Foole. 
 
 Edg. Fathom, and halfe, Fa thorn and halfe;poore Tom. 
 
 Foole. Come not in heere Nuncle, here's a fpirit, helpe 
 me, helpe me. 
 
 Kent. Giue me thy hand, who's there f 
 
 Foole. A fpirite, a fpirite, he fayes his name's poore 
 Tom. 
 
 Kent. What art thou that doft grumble there i'th' 
 ftraw ? Come forth. 
 
 Edg. Away, the foule Fiend followes me, through the 
 fharpe Hauthorne blow the windes. Humh, goe to thy 
 bed and warme thee. 
 
 Lear. Did'ft thou giue all to thy Daughters ? And art 
 thou come to this/ 
 
 Edgar. Who giues any thing to poore Tom ? Whom 
 the foule fiend hath led though Fire, and through Flame, 
 through Sword, and Whirle-Poole, o're Bog, and Quag- 
 mire, that hath laid Kniues vnder his Pillow, and Halters 
 in his Pue, fet Rats-bane by his Porredge, made him 
 Proud of heart, to ride on a Bay trotting Horfe, ouer foure 
 incht Bridges, to courfe his owne fhadow for a Traitor. 
 BlifTe thy fiue Wits, Towwacold. O do, de, do, de, do de, 
 blifTe thee from Whirle-Windes, Starre-blafting, and ta- 
 king, do poore Tom fome charitie, whom the foule Fiend 
 vexes. There could I haue him now, and there, and there 
 ag ai ne,and there. Storme ft ill. 
 
 Lear. Ha's his Daughters brought him to this paffe ? 
 Could'ft thou faue nothing? Would'ft thou giue 'em all? 
 
 Foole. Nay, he referu'd a Blanket, elfe we had bin all 
 fham'd. 
 
 Lea. Now all the plagues that in the pendulous ayre 
 Hang fated o're mens faults, light on thy Daughters. 
 
 Kent. He hath no Daughters Sir. 
 
 Lear. Death Traitor, nothing could haue fubdu'd 
 To fuch a lowneffe, but his vnkind Daughters. (Nature 
 Is it the fafhion, that difcarded Fathers, 
 Should haue thus little mercy on their flefh: 
 Judicious punifhment, 'twas this flefh begot 
 Thofe Pelicane Daughters. 
 
 Edg. Pillicock fat on Pillicock hill, alow:alow, loo, loo. 
 
 Foole. This cold night will turne vs all to Fooles, and 
 Madmen. 
 
 Edgar. Take heed o'th'foule Fiend, obey thy Pa- 
 rents, keepe thy words luftice, fweare not, commit not, 
 r r 3 with
 
 'The Tragedie ofl^jngLear. 
 
 with mans fworne Spoufe ; fee not thy Sweet-heart on 
 proud array. Tonit a cold. 
 
 Lear. What haft thou bin ? 
 
 Sdg. A Seruingman ? Proud in heart, and minde; that 
 curl'd my haire, wore Gloues in my cap ; feru'd the Luft 
 of my Miftns heart, and did the afte of darkeneffe with 
 her. Swore as many Oathes, as J fpake words, & broke 
 them in the fweet face of Heauen. One, that flept in the 
 contriuing of Luft, and wak'd to doe it. Wine lou'd I 
 deerely, Dice deerely ; and in Woman, out-Paramour'd 
 the Turke. Falfe of heart, light of eare, bloody of hand ; 
 Hog in floth, Foxe in ftealth, Wolfe in greedineffe, Dog 
 in madnes, Lyon in prey. Let not the creaking of fliooes, 
 Nor the ruftling of Silkes, betray thy poore heart to wo- 
 man. Keepe thy foote out of Brothels, thy hand out of 
 Plackets, thy pen from Lenders Bookes, and defye the 
 foule Fiend. Still through the Hauthorne blowes the 
 cold winde : Sayes fuum, mun, nonny, Dolphin my Boy, 
 Boy Sefey : let him trot by. Sterme ftill. 
 
 Lear. Thou wert better in a Graue, then to anfwere 
 with thy vncouer'd body, this extremitie of the Skies. Is 
 man no more then this ? Confider him well. Thou ow'ft 
 the Worme no Silke ; the Beaft, no Hide ; the Sheepe, no 
 Wooll ; the Cat, no perfume. Ha r Here's three on's are 
 fophifticated. Thou art the thing it felfe ; vnaccommo- 
 dated man, is no more but fuch a poore, bare, forked A- 
 nimall as thou art. Off, off you Lendings : Come, vn- 
 button heere. 
 
 Enter Gloucefter, tvitb a Torch. 
 
 Foole. Prythee Nunckle be contented, 'tis a naughtie 
 night to fwimme in. Now a little fire in a wilde Field, 
 were like an old Letchers heart, a fmall fpark, all the reft 
 on's body, cold : Looke, heere comes a walking fire. 
 
 Edg. This is the foule Flibbertigibbet ; hee begins at 
 Curfew, and walkes at firft Cocke : Hee giues the Web 
 and the Pin, fquints the eye, and makes the Hare-lippe ; 
 Mildewes the white Wheate, and hurts the poore Crea- 
 ture of earth. 
 
 Switbold footed thrice the old, 
 He met the Night-Mare, and her nine-fold j 
 Bid her a-light, and her troth-plight, 
 And aroynt thee Witch, aroynt thee. 
 Kent. How fares your Grace ? 
 Lear. What's he ? 
 
 Kent. Who's there ? What is't you feeke? 
 Glou. What are you there ? Your Names ? 
 Sdg. Poore Tom, that eates the fwimming Frog, the 
 Toad, the Tod-pole, the wall-Neut, and the water : that 
 in the furie of his heart, when the foule Fiend rages, eats 
 Cow-dung for Sallets ; fwallowes the old Rat, and the 
 ditch-Dogge ; drinkes the green Mantle of the (landing 
 Poole : who is whipt from Tything to Tything , and 
 ftockt, punifh'd, and imprifon'd : who hath three Suites 
 to his backe, fixe fhirts to his body : 
 
 Horfe to ride, and weapon to weare : 
 But Mice, and Rats, and fuch fmall Deare, 
 Haue bin Toms food, for feuen long yeare : 
 Beware my Follower. Peace Smulkin, peace thou Fiend. 
 Glou. What, hath your Grace no better company ? 
 Edg. The Prince of Darkeneffe is a Gentleman. Modo 
 he's call'd, and cftfabu. 
 
 Cjlou. Our flefli and blood, my Lord, is growne fo 
 vilde, that it doth hate what gets it. 
 Edg. Poore Tom's a cold. 
 Glou. Go in with me ; my duty cannot fuffer 
 
 T'obey in all your daughters hard commands : 
 Though their Iniundtion be to barre my doores, 
 And let this Tyrannous night take hold vpon you, 
 Yet haue I ventured to come feeke you out, 
 And bring you where both fire, and food is ready. 
 Lear. Firft let me talke with this Philofopher, 
 What is the caufe of Thunder ? 
 
 Kent. Good my Lord take his offer, 
 Go into th'houfe. 
 
 Lear. lie talke a word with this fame lerned Theban: 
 What is your ftudy ? 
 
 Edg. How to preuent the Fiend, and to kill Vermine. 
 Lear. Let me aske you one word in priuate. 
 
 Kent. Importune him once more to go my Lord, 
 His wits begin t'vnfettle. 
 
 Qlou. Canft thou blame him ? Storm ftill 
 
 His Daughters feeke his death: Ah, that good Kent, 
 He faid it would be thus : poore banifli'd man : 
 Thou fayeft the King growes mad, He tell thee Friend 
 I am almoft mad my felfe. I had a Sonne, 
 Now out-law'd from my blood : he fought my life 
 But lately : very late : I lou'd him (Friend) 
 No Father his Sonne deerer : true to tell thee, 
 The greefe hath craz'd my wits. What a night's this ? 
 I do befeech your grace. 
 
 Lear. O cry you mercy, Sir : 
 Noble Philofopher, your company. 
 
 Edg. Tom's a cold. 
 
 Glou. In fellow there, into th'Houeljkeep thee warm. 
 
 Lear. Come, let's in all. 
 
 Kent. This way, my Lord. 
 
 Lear. With him ; 
 I will keepe ftill with my Philofopher. 
 
 Kent. Good my Lord, footh him : 
 Let him take the Fellow. 
 
 Glou. Take him you on. 
 
 Kent. Sirra, come on : go along with vs. 
 
 Lear. Come, good Athenian. 
 
 (flou. No words, no words, hufli. 
 
 Sdg. Childe Rowland to the darke Tower came, 
 His word was ftill, fie, foh, and fumme, 
 I fmell the blood of a Brittifli man. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Quinta. 
 
 Enter Cornrvall^and Edmund. 
 
 Corn. I will haue my reuenge, ere I depart his houfe. 
 
 'Baft. How my Lord, I may be cenfured, that Nature 
 thus giues way to Loyaltie, fomething feares mee to 
 thinke of. 
 
 Cormv. I now perceiue, it was not altogether your 
 Brothers euill difpofition made him feeke his death : but 
 a prouoking merit fet a-worke by a reprouable badneffe 
 in himfelfe. 
 
 "Baft. How malicious is my fortune, that I muft re- 
 pent to be iuft ? This is the Letter which hee fpoake of; 
 which approues him an intelligent partie to the aduanta- 
 ges of France. O Heauens ! that this Treafon were not ; 
 or not I the detector. 
 
 Qorn. Go with me to the Dutcheffe. 
 
 Baft. If the matter of this Paper be certain, you haue 
 mighty bufineffe in hand. 
 
 Corn.
 
 The 'Tragedie of %jng Lear. 
 
 299 
 
 Corn. True or falfe, it hath made thee Earle of Glou- 
 cefter : feeke out where thy Father is, that hee may bee 
 ready for our apprehenfion. 
 
 Baft. If I finde him comforting the King, it will ftuffe 
 his fufpition more fully. I will perfeuer in my courfe of 
 Loyalty, though the conflict be fore betweene that, and 
 my blood. 
 
 Qorn. I will lay truft vpon thee : and thou malt finde 
 a deere Father in my loue. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Sexta. 
 
 Enter Kent, and Gloucefter. 
 
 Glou. Heere is better then the open ayre,take it thank- 
 fully :I will peece out the comfort with what addition I 
 can : I will not be long from you. Exit 
 
 Kent. All the powre of his wits, haue giuen way to his 
 impatience : the Gods reward your kindnefle. 
 
 Enter Lear, Sdgar , and Foole. 
 
 Edg. Fraterretto cals me, and tells me Nero is an Ang- 
 ler in the Lake of Darknefle : pray Innocent, and beware 
 the foule Fiend. 
 
 Foole. Prythee Nunkle tell me, whether a madman be 
 a Gentleman, or a Yeoman. 
 
 Lear. A King, a King. 
 
 Foole. No, he's a Yeoman, that ha's a Gentleman to 
 his Sonne : for hee's a mad Yeoman that fees his Sonne a 
 Gentleman before him. 
 
 Lear. To haue a thoufand with red burning fpits 
 Come hizzing in vpon "em. 
 8dg. Blefle thy fiue wits. 
 Kent. O pitty : Sir, where is the patience now 
 That you fo oft haue boafted to retaine ? 
 
 Sdg. My teares begin to take his part fo much, 
 They marre my counterfetting. 
 
 Lear. The little dogges, and all; 
 Trey, Blanch, and Sweet-heart : fee, they barke at me. 
 
 Sdg. Tom, will throw his head at them : Auaunt you 
 Curres, be thy mouth or blacke or white : 
 Tooth that poyfons if it bite : 
 MaftifFe, Grey-hound, Mongrill, Grim, 
 Hound or Spaniell, Brache,orHym : 
 Or Bobtaile tight, or Troudle taile, 
 Tom will make him weepe and waile, 
 For with throwing thus my head ; 
 Dogs leapt the hatch, and all are fled. 
 Do,de, de,de : fefe : Come, march to Wakes and Fayres, 
 And Market Townes : poore Tom thy home is dry, 
 
 Lear. Then let them Anatomize *Regan : See what 
 breeds about her heart. Is there any caule in Nature that 
 make thefe hard-hearts. You fir, I entertaine for one of 
 my hundred ; only, I do not like the fafhion of your gar- 
 ments. You will fay they are Perfian ; but let them bee 
 chang'd. 
 
 Enter Glojler. 
 
 Kent. Now good my Lord, lye heere,and reft awhile. 
 
 Lear. Make no noife, make no noife, draw the Cur- 
 taines : fo,fo,wee'l go to Supper i'th'morning. 
 
 Foole. And He go to bed at noone. 
 
 Glou. Come hither Friend : 
 Where is the King my Matter ? 
 
 Kent. Here Sir, but trouble him not, his wits are gon. 
 
 Glou. Good friend, I prythee take him in thy armes ; 
 T haue ore-heard a plot of death vpon him : 
 There is a Litter ready, lay him in't, 
 
 And driue toward Douer friend, where thou flialt meete 
 Both welcome, and protection. Take vp thy Mafter, 
 If thou fhould'ft dally halfe an houre, his life 
 With thine, and all that offer to defend him, 
 Stand in afiured loffe. Take vp, take vp, 
 And follow me, that will to fome prouifion 
 Giue thee quicke conduct. Come, come, away. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Septima. 
 
 Enter Cornwall, Regan, Gonerill, Bajlard, 
 and Seruants. 
 
 Corn. Pofte fpeedily to my Lord your husband, ftiew 
 hin this Letter, the Army of France is landed : feeke out 
 the Traitor Gloufter. 
 
 Reg. Hang him inftantly. 
 
 Gon. Plucke out his eyes. 
 
 Corn, Leaue him to my difpleafure. Edmond, keepe 
 you our Sifter company : the reuenges wee are bound to 
 take vppon your Traitorous Father, are not fit for your 
 beholding. Aduice the Duke where you are going, to a 
 moft feftiuate preparation : we are bound to the like. Our 
 Poftes fliall be fwift, and intelligent betwixt vs. Fare- 
 well deere Sifter, farewell my Lord of Gloufter, 
 
 Snter Steward. 
 How now ? Where's the King ? 
 
 Stew. My Lord of Gloufter hath conuey'd him hence 
 Some fiue or fix and thirty of his Knights 
 Hot Queftrifts after him, met him at gate, 
 Who, with fome other of the Lords, dependants, 
 Are gone with him toward Douer; where they boaft 
 To haue well armed Friends. 
 
 Corn. Get horfes for your Miftris. 
 
 Gon. Farewell fweet Lord, and Sifter. Exit 
 
 Corn. Edmund farewell : go feek the Traitor Glofter, 
 Pinnion him like a Theefe, bring him before vs : 
 Though well we may not paffe vpon his life 
 Without the forme of luftice : yet our power 
 Shall do a curt'fie to our wrath, which men 
 May blame, but not comptroll. 
 
 Enter Gloucefter, and Seruants. 
 Who's there? the Traitor? 
 
 Reg. Ingratefull Fox, 'tis he. 
 
 Corn, Binde faft his corky armes. 
 
 Glou. What meanes your Graces ? 
 Good my Friends confider you are my Ghefts : 
 Do me no foule play, Friends. 
 
 Corn. Binde him I fay. 
 
 Reg. Hard, hard : O filthy Traitor. 
 
 Glou. Vnmercifull Lady,as you are, I'me none. 
 
 Corn. To this Chaire binde him, 
 Villaine, thou malt finde. 
 
 Glou. By the kinde Gods, 'tis moft ignobly done 
 To plucke me by the Beard. 
 
 J^eg. So white, and fuch a Traitor ? 
 
 Qlou, Naughty Ladle, 
 
 Thefe haires which thou doft rauifh from my chin 
 Will quicken and accufe thee. I am your Hoft, 
 With Robbers hands, my hofpitable fauours 
 
 You j
 
 300 
 
 The 'Tragedie offing Lear. 
 
 You fhould not ruffle thus. What will you do ? 
 
 Corn. Come Sir. 
 What Letters had you late from France ? 
 
 Reg. Be fimple anfwer'd, for we know the truth. 
 
 Corn. And what confederacie haue you with the Trai- 
 tors, late footed in the Kingdome? 
 
 Reg. To whofe hands 
 You haue fent the Lunaticke King : Speake. 
 
 Glou. I haue a Letter gueffingly fet downe 
 Which came from one that's of a newtrall heart, 
 And not from one oppos'd. 
 
 Corn. Cunning. 
 
 Reg. And falfe. 
 
 Cora. Where haft thou fent the King ? 
 
 Glou. To Douer. 
 
 Reg. Wherefore to Douer ? 
 Was't thou not charg'd at perill. 
 
 Corn. Wherefore to Douer ? Let him anfwer that. 
 
 Glou. I am tyed to'th'Stake, 
 And I muft ftand the Courfe. 
 
 Reg. Wherefore to Douer ? 
 
 Qlou. Becaufe I would not fee thy cruell Nailes 
 Plucke out his poore old eyes : nor thy fierce Sifter, 
 In his Annointed flefli, fticke boarifh phangs. 
 The Sea, with fuch a ftorme as his bare head, 
 In Hell-blacke-night indur'd, would haue buoy'd vp 
 And quench'd the Stelled fires : 
 Yet poore old heart, he holpe the Heauens to raine. 
 If" Wolues had at thy Gate howl'd that fterne time, 
 Thou fhould'ft haue faid, good Porter turne the Key : 
 All Cruels elfe fubfcribe : but I fhall fee 
 The winged Vengeance ouertake fuch Children. 
 
 Corn. See't fhalt thou neuer.Fellowes hold y Chaire, 
 Vpon thefe eyes of thine, He fet my foote. 
 
 Qlou. He that will thinke to Hue, till he be old, 
 Giue me fome helpe. O cruell! O you Gods. 
 
 Reg. One fide will mocke another : Th'other too. 
 
 Corn. If you fee vengeance. 
 
 Seru. Hold your hand, my Lord : 
 I haue feru'd you euer fince I was a Childe : 
 But better feruice haue I neuer done you, 
 Then now to bid you hold. 
 
 Reg. How now, you dogge ? 
 
 Ser. If you did weare a beard vpon your chin, 
 I'ld /hake it on this quarrell. What do you meane ' 
 
 Corn. My Villaine? 
 
 &r.Nay then come on, and take the chance of anger. 
 
 Reg. Giue me thy Sword. A pezant ftand vp thus ? 
 
 Kjllet him. 
 
 Ser. Oh I am flaine : my Lord, you haue one eye left 
 To fee fome mifchefe on him. Oh. 
 
 Corn. Left it fee more, preuent it ; Out vilde gelly : 
 Where is thy lufter now ? 
 
 Glou. All darke and comfortlefle ? 
 Where's my Sonne Edmund? 
 Edmund, enkindle all the fparkesof Nature 
 To quit this horrid acle. 
 
 Reg. Out treacherous Villaine, 
 Thou call'ft on him, that hates thee. It was he 
 That made the ouerture of thy Treafons to vs : 
 Who is too good to pitty thee. 
 
 Qlou. O my Follies I then Edgar was abus'd, 
 Kinde Gods, forgiue me that, and profper him. 
 
 Reg. Go thruft him out at gates, and let him fmell 
 His way to Douer. Sxit with Gloufter. 
 
 How is't my Lord? How looke you ? 
 
 Corn. I haue receiu'd a hurt : Follow me Lady ; 
 Turne out that eyelefle Villaine : throw this Slaue 
 Vpon the Dunghill : 1(egan, I bleed apace, 
 Vntimely comes this hurt. Giue me your arme. Exeunt, 
 
 Aftus Quartus. Scena ^Prima. 
 
 Enter Edgar. 
 
 Sdg. Yet better thus,and knowne to be contemn'd, 
 Then ftill contemn'd and flatter'd, to be worft : 
 The loweft, and moft deiedled thing of Fortune, 
 Stands ftill in efperance, liues not in feare : 
 The lamentable change is from the beft, 
 The worft returnes to laughter. Welcome then, 
 Thou vnfubftantiall ayre that I embrace : 
 The Wretch that thou haft blowne vnto the worft, 
 Owes nothing to thy blafts. 
 
 Enter Gloufter , and an Oldman. 
 But who comes heere ? My Father poorely led ? 
 World, World, O world ! 
 
 But that thy ftrange mutations make vs hate thee, 
 Life would not yeelde to age. 
 
 Oldm. O my good Lord, I haue bene your Tenant, 
 And your Fathers Tenant, thefe fourefcore yeares. 
 
 Glou. Away, get thee away : good Friend be gone, 
 Thy comforts can do me no good at all, 
 Thee, they may hurt. 
 
 Oldm. You cannot fee your way. 
 
 Glou. I haue no way, and therefore want no eyes : 
 I ftumbled when I faw. Full oft 'tis feene, 
 Our meanes fecure vs, and our meere defe&s 
 Proue our Commodities. Oh deere Sonne Sdgar, 
 The food of thy abufed Fathers wrath : 
 Might I but liue to fee thee in my touch, 
 I'ld fay I had eyes againe. 
 
 Oldm. How now ? who's there ? 
 
 Edg. O Gods ! Who is't can fay I am at the worft ? 
 I am worfe then ere I was. 
 
 Old. 'Tis poore mad Tom. 
 
 Edg. And worfe I may be yet : the worft is not, 
 So long as we can fay this is the worft. 
 
 Oldm. Fellow, where goeft f 
 
 Glou. Is it a Beggar-man ? 
 
 Oldm. Madman, and beggar too. 
 
 Glou. He has fome reafon, elfe he could not beg. 
 I'th'laft nights ftorme, I fuch a fellow faw; 
 Which made me thinke a Man, a Worme. My Sonne 
 Came then into my minde, and yet my minde 
 Was then fcarfe Friends with him. 
 I haue heard more fince : 
 As Flies to wanton Boyes, are we to th'Gods, 
 They kill vs for their fport. 
 
 Edg. How fhould this be? 
 Bad is the Trade that muft play Foole to forrow, 
 Ang'ring it felfe, and others. BlefTe thee Mafter. 
 
 Ghu. Is that the naked Fellow ? 
 
 Oldm. I, my Lord. 
 
 Glou. Get thee away : If for my fake 
 Thou wilt ore-take vs hence a mile or twaine 
 I'th'way toward Douer, do it for ancient loue, 
 And bring fome couering for this naked Souk, 
 Which He intreate to leade me. 
 
 d. Alacke fir, he is mad. 
 
 (jhu.
 
 'The Tragedie of Rjng Lear. 
 
 301 
 
 GIou. *Tis the times plague, 
 When Madmen leade the blinde : 
 Do as 1 bid thee, or rather do thy pleafure : 
 Aboue the reft, be gone. 
 
 Oldm. He bring him the beft Parrell that I haue 
 Come on't, what will. Exit 
 
 Glou. Sirrah, naked fellow. 
 
 Edg. Poore Tom's a cold. I cannot daub it further. 
 
 Glou. Come hither fellow. 
 
 Sdg. And yet I muft : 
 Blefle thy fweete eyes, they bleede. 
 
 Glou. Know'ft thou the way to Douer ? 
 
 Edg. Both ftyle, and gate ; Horfeway, and foot-path : 
 poore Tom hath bin fcarr'd out of his good wits. Blefle 
 thee good mans fonne, from the foule Fiend. 
 
 Glou. Here take this purfe, y whom the heau'ns plagues 
 Haue humbled to all ftrokes : that I am wretched 
 Makes thee the happier : Heauens deale fo ftill : 
 Let the fuperfluous, and Luft-dieted man, 
 That flaues your ordinance, that will not fee 
 Becaufe he do's not feele, feele your powre quickly : 
 So diftribution fhould vndoo excefle, 
 And each man haue enough. Doft thou know Douer? 
 
 Edg. I Mafter. 
 
 Glou. There is a Cliffe, whofe high and bending head 
 Lookes fearfully in the confined Deepe : 
 Bring me but to the very brimme of it, 
 And He repayre the mifery thou do'ft beare 
 With fomething rich about me : from that place, 
 I /hall no leading neede. 
 
 Edg. Giue me thy arme ; 
 Poore Tom fliall leade thee. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Qonerill, 'Bajlard, and Steward. 
 
 Gon. Welcome my Lord. I meruell our mild husband 
 Not met vs on the way. Now, where's your Mafter ? 
 
 Stew. Madam within, but neuer man fo chang'd : 
 I told him of the Army that was Landed : 
 He fmil'd at it. I told him you were comming, 
 His anfwer was, the worfe. Of Glofters Treachery, 
 And of the loyall Seruice of his Sonne 
 When I inform 'd him, then he call'd me Sot, 
 And told me I had turn'd the wrong fide out : 
 What moft he fliould diflike, feemes pleafant to him ; 
 What like, offenfiue. 
 
 Gon. Then fliall you go no further. 
 It is the Cowifli terror of his fpirit 
 That dares not vndertake : Hee'l not feele wrongs 
 Which tye him to an anfwer : our wifhes on the way 
 May proue effects. Eacke Edmond to my Brother, 
 Haften his Mufters, and conduct his powres. 
 I muft change names at home, and giue the Diftaffe 
 Into my Husbands hands. This truftie Seruant 
 Shall paffe betweene vs : ere long you are like to heare 
 (If you dare venture in your owne behalfe) 
 A Miftrefies command. Weare this j fpare fpeech, 
 Decline your head. This kifle, if it durft fpeake 
 Would ftretch thy Spirits vp into the ayre : 
 Conceiue, and fare thee well. 
 
 Baft. Yours, in the rankes of death. Exit. 
 
 Gon. My moft deere Glofter. 
 
 791 
 
 Oh, the difference of man, and man, 
 To thee a Womans feruices are due, 
 My Foole vfurpes my body. 
 
 Stero. Madam, here come's my Lord. 
 Enter Albany. 
 
 Gon. I haue beene worth the whiftle. 
 
 Alb. Oh Gonerill, 
 
 You are not worth the duft which the rude winde 
 Blowes in your face. 
 
 Gon. Milke-Liuer'd man, 
 
 That bear'ft a cheeke for blowes, a head for wrongs, 
 Who haft not in thy browes an eye-difcerning 
 Thine Honor, from thy fuffering. 
 
 Alb. See thy felfe diuell : 
 Proper deformhie feemes not in the Fiend 
 So horrid as in woman. 
 
 Gon. Oh vaine Foole. 
 
 Enter a cWeJ/enger. 
 
 Mef. Oh my good Lord, the Duke of Carnivals dead, 
 Slaine by his Seruant, going to put out 
 The other eye of Gloufter. 
 
 Alb. Gloufters eyes. 
 
 Mef. A Seruant that he bred, thrill'd with remorfe, 
 Oppos'd againft the act : bending his Sword 
 To his great Mafter, who, threat-enrag'd 
 Flew on him, and among'ft them fell'd him dead, 
 But not without that harmefull ftroke, which fince 
 Hath pluckt him after. 
 
 Alb. This ftiewes you are aboue 
 You luftices, that thefe our neather crimes 
 So fpeedily can venge. But (O poore Gloufter) 
 Loft he his other eye ? 
 
 Mef. Both, both, my Lord. 
 This Leter Madam, craues a fpeedy anfwer : 
 'Tis from your Sifter. 
 
 Gon. One way 1 like this well, 
 But being widdow, and my Gloufter with her,J 
 May all the building in my fancie plucke 
 Vpon my hatefull life. Another way 
 The Newes is not fo tart. He read, and anfwer. 
 
 Alb. Where was his Sonne, 
 When they did take his eyes? 
 
 Mef. Come with my Lady hither. 
 
 Alb. He is not heere. 
 
 Mef. No my good Lord, I met him backe againe. 
 
 Alb. Knowes he the wickednefle ? 
 
 Mef. I my good Lord : 'twas he inform'd againft him 
 And quit the houfe on purpofe, that their punifliment 
 Might haue the freer courfe. 
 
 Alb. Gloufter, I Hue 
 
 To thanke thee for the loue thou fhew'dft the King, 
 And to reuenge thine eyes. Come hither Friend, 
 Tell me what more thou know'ft. Bxeunt. 
 
 Scena Tertia. 
 
 Enter ffitb Drum and Colours, Cordelia, Qentlemen, 
 
 and Souldiours. 
 
 Cor. Alacke, 'tis he : why he was met euen now 
 As mad as the vext Sea, finging alowd, 
 Crown'd with ranke Fenitar, and furrow weeds, 
 With Hardokes, Hemlocke, Nettles, Cuckoo flowres, 
 
 Darnell
 
 302 
 
 The Tragedie ofJ^Jng Lear. 
 
 Darnell, and all the idle weedes that grow 
 In our fuftaining Corne. A Centery lend forth ; 
 Search euery Acre in the high-growne field, 
 And bring him to our eye. What can mans wifedome 
 In the reftoring his bereaued Senfe j he that helpes him, 
 Take all my outward worth. 
 
 Gent. There is meanes Madam : 
 Our fofter Nurfe of Nature, is repofe, 
 The which he lackes : that to prouoke in him 
 Are many Simples operatiue, whofe power 
 Will clofe the eye of Anguifh. 
 
 Cord. All bleft Secrets, 
 All you vnpublifh'd Vertues of the earth 
 Spring withjny teares ; be aydant, and remediate 
 In the Goodmans defires : feeke, feeke for him, 
 Leaft his vngouern'd rage, difiblue the life 
 That wants the meanes to leade it. 
 
 Enter eMeJJenger. 
 
 Mef. Newes Madam, 
 The Brittifli Powres are marching hitherward. 
 
 Cor. 'Tis knowne before. Our preparation Itands 
 In expectation of them. O deere Father, 
 It is thy bufinefle that I go about: Therfore great France 
 My mourning, and importun'd teares hath pittied : 
 No blowne Ambition doth our Armes incite, 
 But loue, deere loue, and our ag'd Fathers Rite : 
 Soone may I heare, and fee him. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Quarta. 
 
 Enter Regan, and Steward. 
 
 Reg. But are my Brothers Powres fet forth ? 
 
 Stew. I Madam. 
 
 I\fg- Himfelfe in perfon there? 
 
 Stetv. Madam with much ado : 
 Your Sifter is the better Souldier. 
 
 Reg. Lord Edmund fpake not with your Lord at home? 
 
 Stew. No Madam. 
 
 Reg. What might import my Sifters Letter to him ? 
 
 Stew. I know not, Lady. 
 
 Reg. Faith he is poafted hence on ferious matter : 
 It was great ignorance, Gloufters eyes being out 
 To let him liue. Where he arriues, he moues 
 All hearts againft vs : Edmund, I thinke is gone 
 In pitty of his mifery, to difpatch 
 His nighted life : Moreouer to defcry 
 The ftrength o'th'Enemy. 
 
 Stew. I muft needs after him, Madam, with my Letter. 
 
 I 3(eg. Our troopes fet forth to morrow, ttay with vs : 
 The wayes are dangerous. 
 
 Sterv. I may not Madam : 
 My Lady charg'd my dutie in this bufines. 
 
 Reg. Why fhould fhe write to Sdmund ? 
 Might not you tranfport her purpofes by word ? Belike, 
 Some things, I know not what. He loue thee much 
 Let me vnfeale the Letter. 
 
 Stea>. Madam, I had rather 
 
 Reg. I know your Lady do's not loue her Husband, 
 I am fure of that : and at her late being heere, 
 She gaue ftrange Eliads, and moft fpeaking lookes 
 To Noble Edmund. I know you are of her bofome. 
 
 Stem. I, Madam ? 
 
 Reg. I fpeake in vnderftanding : Y'are I I know't, 
 Therefore I do aduife you take this note : 
 My Lord is dead : Edmond, and I haue talk'd, 
 And more conuenient is he for my hand 
 Then for your Ladies : You may gather more : 
 If you do finde him, pray you giue him this; 
 And when your Miftris heares thus much from you, 
 I pray defire her call her wifedome to her. 
 So fare you well : 
 
 If you do chance to heare of that blinde Traitor, 
 Preferment fals on him, that cuts him off. 
 
 Stere. Would I could meet Madam, I fliould fhew 
 What party I do follow. 
 
 Reg. Fare thee well. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Quint a. 
 
 Enter Glcucefler, and Edgar. 
 
 Clou. When fhall I come to th'top of that fame hill ? 
 
 dg. You do climbe vp it now. Look how we labor. 
 
 Glou. Me thinkes the ground is eeuen. 
 
 Edg. Horrible fteepe. 
 Hearke, do you heare the Sea f 
 
 Cflou. No truly. 
 
 Edg. Why then your other Senfes grow imperfedt 
 By your eyes anguilh. 
 
 Glou. So may it be indeed. 
 
 Me thinkes thy voyce is alter'd, and thou fpeak'ft 
 In better phrafe, and matter then thou did'ft. 
 
 Edg. Y'are much deceiu'd : In nothing am I chang'd 
 But in my Garments. 
 
 Glou. Me thinkes y'are better fpoken. 
 
 Bdg. Come on Sir, 
 
 Heere 's the place : ftand ftill : how fearefull 
 And dizie 'tis, to caft ones eyes fo low, 
 The Crowes and Choughes, that wing the midway ayre 
 Shew fcarfe fo grofTe as Beetles. Halfe way downe 
 Hangs one that gathers Sampire : dreadfull Trade : 
 Me thinkes he feemes no bigger then his head. 
 The Fifhermen, that walk'd vpon the beach 
 Appeare like Mice : and yond tall Anchoring Barke, 
 Diminifli'd to her Cocke : her Cocke, a Buoy 
 Almoft too fmall for fight. The murmuring Surge, 
 That on th'vnnumbred idle Pebble chafes 
 Cannot be heard fo high. lie looke no more, 
 Leaft my braine turne, and the deficient fight 
 Topple downe headlong. 
 
 Glou Set me where you ftand. 
 
 Edg. Giue me your hand . 
 
 You are now within a foote of th'extreme Verge : 
 For all beneath the Moone would I not leape vpright. 
 
 Glou. Let go my hand : 
 Heere Friend's another purfe : in it, a lewell 
 Well worth a poore mans taking. Fayries, and Gods 
 Profper it with thee. Go thou further off, 
 Bid me farewell, and let me heare thee going. 
 
 Bdg. Now fare ye well, good Sir. 
 
 Glou. With all my heart. 
 
 Edg. Why I do trifle thus with his difpaire, 
 Is done to cure it. 
 
 Glou. O you mighty Gods ! 
 This world I do renounce,and in your fights 
 
 Shake
 
 The 'Tragedie o 
 
 ear. 
 
 33 
 
 Shake patiently my great affliction off: 
 If I could beareit longer, and not fall 
 To quarrell with your great oppofelefie willes, 
 My fnuffe, and loathed part of Nature fhould 
 Burne it felfe out . If Bdgar liue, O blefle him : 
 Now Fellow, fare thee well. 
 Edg. Gone Sir, farewell : 
 And yet I know not how conceit may rob 
 The Treafury of life, when life it felfe 
 Yeelds to the Theft. Had he bin where he thought, 
 By this had thought bin paft. Aliue, or dead? 
 Hoa, you Sir : Friend, heare you Sir, fpeake : 
 Thus might he pafle indeed : yet he reuiues. 
 What are you Sir ? 
 
 Glou. A way, and let me dye. 
 
 Edg. Had'ft thou beene ought 
 But Gozemore, Feathers, Ayre, 
 (So many fathome downe precipitating) 
 Thou'dft fhiuer'd like an Egge : but thou do'ft breath : 
 Haft heauy fubftance, bleed'ft not, fpeak'ft, art found, 
 Ten Marts at each, make not the altitude 
 Which thou haft perpendicularly fell, 
 Thy life's a Myracle. Speake yet againe. 
 Cjlou. But haue I falne, or no f 
 
 Sdg. From the dread Somnet of this Chalkie Bourne 
 Looke vp a height, the fhrill-gorg'd Larke fo farre 
 Cannot be feene, or heard : Do but looke vp. 
 
 Glou. Alacke, I haue no eyes : 
 Is wretchednefle depriu'd that benefit 
 To end it felfe by death? "Twas yet fome comfort,| 
 When mifery could beguile the Tyranrs rage, 
 And fruftrate his proud will. 
 
 Sdg. Giue me your arme. 
 Vp, fo : How is't? Feele you your Legges? You ftand. 
 
 Glou. Too well, too well. 
 
 Gdg. This is aboue all ftrangenefle, 
 Vpon the crowne o'th'ClifFe. What thing was that 
 Which parted from you ? 
 
 Qlou. A poore vnfortunate Beggar. 
 
 Edg. As I flood heere below, me thought his eyes 
 Were two full Moones : he had a thoufand Nofes, 
 Homes wealk'd, and waued like the enraged Sea: 
 It was fome Fiend: Therefore thou happy Father, 
 Thinke that the cleereft Gods, who make them Honors 
 Of mens Impofiibilities, haue preferued thee. 
 
 Glou. I do remember now : henceforth He beare 
 Affliction, till it do cry out it felfe 
 Enough, enough, and dye. That thing you fpeake of, 
 I tooke it for a man : often 'twould fay 
 The Fiend, the Fiend, he led me to that place. 
 
 Edgar. Beare free and patient thoughts. 
 
 Enter Lear. 
 
 But who comes heere ? 
 The fafer fenfe will ne're accommodate 
 His Matter thus. 
 
 Lear. No, they cannot touch me for crying. I am the 
 King himfelfe. 
 
 Sdg. O thou fide-piercing fight ! 
 
 Lear. Nature's aboue Art, in that refpe&.Ther's your 
 Prefle-money.That fellow handles his bow, like a Crow- 
 keeper : draw mee a ( Cloathiers yard. Looke, looke, a 
 Moufe : peace, peace, this peece of toafted Cheefe will 
 doo't. There's my Gauntlet, He proue it on a Gyant. 
 Bring vp the browne Billes. O well flowne Bird : i'th' 
 clout, i'th'clout : Hewgh. Giue the word. 
 
 Edg. Sweet Mariorum. 
 
 793 
 
 Lear. Pafle. 
 
 Glou. I know that voice. 
 
 Lear. Ha ! Gonerill with a white beard ? They flatter'd 
 me like a Dogge, and told mee I had the white hayres in 
 my Beard, ere the blacke ones were there. To fay I, and 
 no, to euery thing that I faid : I, and no too, was no good 
 Diuinity. When the raine came to wet me once, and the 
 winde to make me chatter: when the Thunder would not 
 peace at my bidding, there I found 'em, there I fmelt 'em 
 out. Go too, they are not men o'their words ; they told 
 me, I was euery thing : 'Tis a Lye, I am not Agu-proofe. 
 
 Glou. The tricke of that voyce, I do well remember : 
 Is't not the King ? 
 
 Lear. I, euery inch a King. 
 When I do flare, fee how the Subject quakes. 
 I pardon that mans life. What was thy caufe ? 
 Adultery ? thou /halt not dye : dye for Adultery? 
 No, the Wren goes too't, and the fmall gilded Fly 
 Do's letcher in my fight. Let Copulation thriue : 
 For Gloufters baftard Son was kinder to his Father, 
 Then my Daughters got 'tweene the lawfull flieets. 
 Too't Luxury pell-mell, for I lacke Souldiers. 
 Behold yond fimpring Dame, whofe face betweene her 
 Forkes prefages Snow; that minces Vertue,& do's fliake 
 the head to heare of pleafures name. The Fitchew, nor 
 the foyled Horfe goes too't with a more riotous appe- 
 tite s Downe from the wafte they are Centaures, though 
 Women all aboue : but to the Girdle do the Gods inhe- 
 rit, beneath is all the Fiends. There's hell, there's darke- 
 nes, there is the fulphurous pit; burning, fcalding, ftench, 
 confumption : Fye,fie, fie ; pah, pah : Giue me an Ounce 
 of Ciuet ; good Apothecary fweeten my immagination : 
 There's money for thee. 
 
 Glou. O let me kifle that hand. 
 
 Lear. Let me wipe it firft, 
 It fmelles of Mortality. 
 
 Glou. O ruin'd peece of Nature, this great world) 
 Shall fo weare out to naught. 
 Do'ft thou know me 
 
 Lear. I remember thine eyes well enough : doft thou 
 fquiny at me? No, doe thy worft blinde Cupid, He not 
 loue. Reade thou this challenge, marke but the penning 
 of it. 
 
 Glou. Were all thy Letters Sunnes, I could not fee. 
 
 Edg. I would not take this from report, 
 It is, and my heart breakes at it. 
 
 Lear. Read. 
 
 Glou. What with the Cafe of eyes? 
 
 Lear. Oh ho, are you there with me ? No eies in your 
 head, nor no mony in your purfe ? Your eyes are in a hea- 
 uy cafe, your purfe in a light, yet you fee how this world 
 goes. 
 
 Glou. I fee it feelingly. 
 
 Z^ar.What, art mad ? A man may fee how this world 
 goes, with no eyes. Looke with thine eares : See how 
 yond luftice railes vpon yond fimple theefe. Hearke in 
 thine eare : Change places, and handy-dandy, which is 
 the luftice, which is the theefe : Thou haft feene a Far- 
 mers dogge barke at a Beggar ? 
 
 Qlou. I Sir. 
 
 Lear. And the Creature run from the Cur : there thou 
 might'ft behold the great image of Authoritie, a Dogg's 
 obey'd in Office. Thou, Rafcall Beadle, hold thy bloody 
 hand : why doft thou lafli that Whore ? Strip thy owne 
 backe, thou hotly lufts to vfe her in that kind, for which 
 thou whip'ft her. The Vfarer hangs the Cozener. Tho- 
 rough 
 
 5 a
 
 34 
 
 'The Tr age die of JQng Lear. 
 
 rough tatter' d cloathes great Vices do appeare : Robes, 
 and Furr'd gownes hide all. Place finnes with Gold, and 
 the ftrong Lance of luftice, hurtlefle breakes : Arme it in 
 ragges, a Pigmies ftraw do's pierce it. None do's offend, 
 none, I fay none, He able 'em; take that of me my Friend, 
 who haue the power to feale th'accufers lips. Get thee 
 glafie-eyes, and like a fcuruy Politician, feeme to fee the 
 things thou doft not. Now, now, now, now. Pull off my 
 Bootes : harder, harder, fo. 
 
 Edg. O matter, and impertinency mixt, 
 Reafon in Madnefle. 
 
 Lear. If thou wilt weepe my Fortunes, take my eyes. 
 I know thee well enough, thy name is Gloufter: 
 Thou muft be patient ; we came crying h ther : 
 Thou know'ft, the firft time that we fmell the Ayre 
 We wawle,and cry. I will preach to thee : Marke. 
 
 Ghu. Alacke,alacke the day. 
 
 Lear. When we are borne, we cry that we are come 
 To this great ftage of Fooles. This a good blocke: 
 It were a delicate ftratagem to flioo 
 A Troope of Horfe with Felt : He put't in proofe, 
 And when I haue ftolne vpon thefe Son in Lawes, 
 Then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill. 
 
 Enter a Gentleman. 
 
 Gent. Oh heere he is : lay hand vpon him, Sir. 
 Your moft deere Daughter 
 
 Lear. No refcuer What, a Prifoner? I am euen 
 The Naturall Foole of Fortune. Vfe me well, 
 You /hall haue ranfome. Let me haue Surgeons, 
 I am cut to'th'Braines. 
 
 Gent. You fliall haue any thing. 
 
 Lear. No Seconds ? All my felfe? 
 Why, this would make a man, a man of Salt 
 To vfe his eyes for Garden water-pots. I wil die brauely, 
 Like a fmugge Bridegroome. What? I will be louiall : 
 Come, come, I am a King, Matters, know you that? 
 
 (jent. You are a Royall one, and we obey you. 
 
 Lear. Then there's life in't. Come, and you get it, 
 You fliall get it by running : Sa, fa, fa, fa. Exit. 
 
 Gent. A fight moft pittifull in the meaneft wretch, 
 Paft fpeaking of in a King. Thou haft a Daughter 
 Who redeemes Nature from the generall curfe 
 Which twaine haue brought her to. 
 
 Edg. Haile gentle Sir. 
 
 Gent. Sir, fpeed you : what's your will ? 
 
 Edg. Do you heare ought (Sir) of a Battell toward. 
 
 Gent. Moft fure, and vulgar : 
 Euery one heares that, which can diftinguifti found. 
 
 Edg. But by your fauour : 
 How neere's the other Army ? 
 
 Gent. Neere,and on fpeedy foot : the maine defcry 
 Stands on the hourely thought. 
 
 Edg. I thanke you Sir, that's all. 
 
 Gent. Though that the Queen on fpecial caufe is here 
 Her Army is mou'd on. Exit. 
 
 dg. I thanke you Sir. 
 
 G/oa.You euer gentle Gods, take my breath from me, 
 Let not my worfer Spirit tempt me againe 
 To dye before you pleafe. 
 
 Edg. Well pray you Father. 
 
 Glou. Now good fir, what are you ? 
 
 Bdg.A moft poore man, made tame to Fortunes blows 
 Who, by the Art of knowne,and feeling forrowes, 
 Am pregnant to good pitty. Giue me your hand, 
 He leade you to fome biding. 
 
 Glou. Heartie thankes : 
 
 The bountie, and the benizon of Heauen 
 To boot, and boot. 
 
 Enter Steward. 
 
 Stew. A proclaim'd prize : moft happie 
 That eyelefle head of thine, was firft fram'd flefh 
 To raife my fortunes. Thou old, vnhappy Traitor, 
 Breefely thy felfe remember : the Sword is out 
 That muft deftroy thee. 
 
 Glou. Now let thy friendly hand 
 Put ftrength enough too't. 
 
 Stew. Wherefore, bold Pezant, 
 Dar'ft thou fupport a publifli'd Traitor? Hence, 
 Leaft that th'infeftion of his fortune take 
 Like hold on thee. Let go his arme. 
 
 Edg. Chill not let go Zir, 
 Without vurther 'cafion. 
 
 Stew. Let go Slaue, or thou dy'ft. 
 
 Edg. Good Gentleman goe your gate, and let poore 
 volke paffe : and 'chud ha' bin zwaggerd out of my life, 
 'twould not ha'bin zo long as 'tis, by a vortnight. Nay, 
 come not neere th'old man : keepe out che vor'ye, or ice 
 try whither your Coftard, or my Ballow be the harder; 
 chill be plaine with you. 
 
 Stew. Out Dunghill. 
 
 Edg. Chill picke your teeth Zir : come, no matter vor 
 your foynes. 
 
 Stew. Slaue thou haft flaine me -.Villain, take my purfe ; 
 If euer thou wilt thriue, bury my bodie, 
 And giue the Letters which thou find'ft about me, 
 To EdmundEzrle of Gloufter : feekehim out 
 Vpon the Englifti party. Oh vntimely death, death. 
 
 Edg. I know thee well. A feruiceable Villaine, 
 As duteous to the vices of thy Miftris, 
 As badnefle would defire. 
 
 g/ou. What, is he dead ? 
 
 Edg. Sit you downe Father : reft you. 
 Let's fee thefe Pockets ; the Letters that he fpeakes of 
 May be my Friends : hee's dead ; I am onely forry 
 He had no other Deathfman. Let vs fee : 
 Leaue gentle waxe, and manners : blame vs not 
 To know our enemies mindes, we rip their hearts, 
 Their Papers is more lawfull. 
 
 y^eads the Letter. 
 
 LEt our reciprocal! vowes be remembred. You baue manie 
 opportunities to cut him off: if your will want not, time and 
 place will be fruitfully offered. There u nothing done. If bee 
 returne the Conqueror, then am I the Prisoner, and bis bed, my 
 Gaole,from the loathed warmth whereof, deliuer me, and fup- 
 ply the place fur your Labour. 
 
 Your ( Wlfejo I would Jay) aftftio- 
 nate Seruant . Gonerill. 
 Oh indinguifli'd fpace of Womans will, 
 A plot vpon her vertuous Husbands life, 
 And the exchange my Brother : heere, in rhe fands 
 Thee He rake vp, the pofte vnfandlified 
 Of murtherous Letchers^; and in the mature time, 
 With this vngracious paper ftrike the fight 
 Of the death-pra&is'd Duke : for him 'tis well, 
 That of thy death, and bufinefle, I can tell. 
 
 Glou. The King is mad : 
 How ftiffe is my vilde fenfe 
 That I ftand vp, and haue ingenious feeling 
 Of my huge Sorrowes ? Better I were diftradl, 
 So fliould my thoughts be feuer'd from my greefes, 
 
 Drum afarre off. 
 And woes, by wrong imaginations loofe 
 
 The 
 
 794
 
 'The Tragedie of I\jng Lear. 
 
 35 
 
 The knowledge of themfelues. 
 Edg. Giue me your hand : 
 
 Farre ofFmethinkes I heare the beaten Drumme. 
 Come Father, He beftow you with a Friend. Exeunt. 
 
 Sctena Septima. 
 
 Enter Cordelia, Kent,and\Gentleman. 
 
 Cor. O thou good Kent, 
 How /hall I liue and worke 
 To match thy goodneffe ? 
 My life will be too fhort, 
 And euery meafure faile me. 
 
 Kent. To be acknowledg'd Madam is ore-pai'd, 
 All my reports go with the modeft truth, 
 Nor more, nor dipt, but fo. 
 
 Cor. Be better fuited, 
 
 Thefe weedes are memories of thofe worfer houres : 
 I prythee put them off. 
 
 Kent. Pardon deere Madam, 
 Yet to be knowne fhortens my made intent, 
 My boone I make it, that you know me not, 
 Till time, and I,thinke meet. 
 
 Cor. Then be't fo my good Lord : 
 How do's the King f 
 
 Gent. Madam fleepes ftill. 
 
 Cor. O you kind Gods I 
 Cure this great breach in his abufed Nature, 
 Th'vntun'd and iarring fenfes, O winde vp, 
 Of this childe-changed Father. 
 
 Gent. So pleafe your Maiefty, 
 That we may wake the King, he hath flept long ? 
 
 Cor. Be gouern'd by your knowledge, and proceede 
 I'th'fway of your owne will : is he array'd ? 
 
 Enter Lear in a cbaire carried by Seruants 
 
 Gent. I Madam : in the heauinefle of fleepe, 
 We put frefh garments on him. 
 Be by good Madam when we do awake him, 
 I doubt of his Temperance. 
 
 Cor. O my deere Father, reftauratian hang 
 Thy medicine on my lippes,and let this kifle 
 Repaire thofe violent harmes, that my two Sifters 
 Haue in thy Reuerence made. 
 
 Kent. Kind and deere Princeffe. 
 
 Cor. Had you not bin their Father, thefe white flakes 
 Did challenge pitty of them. Was this a face 
 To be oppos'd againft the iarring windes? 
 Mine Enemies dogge, though he had bit me, 
 Should haue ftood that night againft my fire, 
 Andwas't thou faine ( poore Father) 
 To houell thee with Swineand Rogues forlorne, 
 In ftjort,and mufty ftraw? Alacke, alacke, 
 'Tis wonder that thy life and wits, at once 
 Had not concluded all. He wakes,fpeake to him. 
 
 Gen. Madam do you, 'tis fitteft. 
 
 Cor. How does my Royall Lord ? 
 How fares your Maiefty ? 
 
 Lear. You do me wrong to take me out o'th'graue, 
 Thou art a Soule in blifle,but I am bound 
 
 795 
 
 Vpon a wheele of fire, that mine owne teares 
 Do fcal'd,like molten Lead. 
 
 Cor. Sir,do you know me? 
 
 Lear. You are a fpirit I know, where did you dye? 
 
 Cor. Still, ftill, rarre wide. 
 
 Gen. He's fcarfe awake, 
 Let him alone a while. 
 
 Lear.. Where haue I binf 
 Where am I ? Faire day light ? 
 I am mightily abus'd; I fliould eu'n dye with pitty 
 To fee another thus. I know not what to fay : 
 I will not fweare thefe are my hands: let's fee, 
 I feele this pin pricke, would I were affur'd 
 Of my condition. 
 
 Cor. O looke vpon me Sir, 
 And hold your hand in benediction o're me, 
 You muft not kneele. 
 
 Lear. Pray do not mocke me: 
 I am a very foolifh fond old man, 
 Fourefcore and vpward, 
 Not an houre more, nor leffe : 
 And to deale plainely, 
 I feare I am not in my perfect mind. 
 Me thinkes I fhould know you, and know this man, 
 Yet I am doubtfull : For I am mainely ignorant 
 What place this is:and all the skill I haue 
 Remembers not thefe garments : nor I know not 
 Where I did lodge laft night. Do not laugh at me, 
 For (as I am a man) I thinke this Lady 
 To be my childe Qordelia. 
 
 Cor. And fo 1 am : I am. 
 
 Lear. Be your teares wet ? 
 Yes faith : I pray weepe not, 
 If you haue poyfon for me, I will drinke it : 
 I know you do not loue me, for your Sifters 
 Haue (as I do remember) done me wrong. 
 You haue fome caufe, they haue not. 
 
 Cor, No caufe, no caufe. 
 
 Lear. Am I in France ? 
 
 Kent. In your owne kingdome Sir. 
 
 Lear. Do not abufe me. 
 
 Gent. Be comforted good Madam, the great rage 
 You fee is kill'd in him:defire him to go in, 
 Trouble him no more till further felling. 
 
 Cor. Wilt pleafe your Highneffe walke ? 
 
 Lear. You muft beare with me : 
 Pray you now forget, and forgiue, 
 I am old and foolifli. Exeunt 
 
 Affius Quintus. Scena ^Prima. 
 
 Enter with Drumme and Colours, Edmund, Regan. 
 Gentlemen, and Souldiers. 
 
 'Baft. Know of the Duke if his laft purpofe hold, 
 Or whether fince he is aduis'd by ought 
 To change the courfe, he's full of alteration, 
 And felfereprouing, bring his conftant pleafure. 
 
 Reg. Our Sifters man is certainely mifcarried. 
 
 Baft. 'Tis to be doubted Madam. 
 
 Rep. Now fweet Lord, 
 
 f f You
 
 306 
 
 The Tragedie of I\jng Lear. 
 
 You know the goodnefle I intend vpon you : 
 Tell me but truly, but then fpeake the truth, 
 Do you not loue my Sifter ? 
 
 ^Baft. In honour'd Loue. 
 
 R.eg. But haue you neuer found my Brothers way, 
 To the fore- fended place? 
 
 Baft. No by mine honour, Madam. 
 
 f(eg. I neuer fliall endure her, deere my Lord 
 Be not familiar with her. 
 
 'Baft. Feare not,flie and the Duke her husband. 
 
 Enter with Drum and (Colours, Albany, Gonerill, Soldiers. 
 
 Alb. Our very louing Sifter, well be-met : 
 Sir, this I heard, the King is come to his Daughter 
 With others, whom the rigour of our State 
 Forc'd to cry out. 
 
 Regan. Why is this reafond ? 
 
 Gone. Combine together 'gainft the Enemie : 
 For thefe domefticke and particurlar broiles, 
 Are not the queftion heere. 
 
 Alb. Let's then determine with th'ancient of warre 
 On our proceeding. 
 
 f Reg. Sifter you'le go with vs ? 
 
 Gon. No. 
 
 e Reg. 'Tis moft conuenient,pray go with vs. 
 
 Gon. Oh ho, I know the Riddle, 1 will goe. 
 
 Exeunt both the Armies. 
 
 Enter Edgar. 
 
 Edg. If ere your Grace had f peech with man fo poore, 
 Heare me one word. 
 
 Alb. He ouertake you, fpeake. 
 
 Edg. Before you fight the Battaile, ope this Letter: 
 If you haue victory, let the Trumpet found 
 For him that brought it:wretched though Ifeeme, 
 I can produce a Champion, that will proue 
 What is auouched there. If you mifcarry, 
 Your bufinefle of the world hath fo an end, 
 And machination ceafes. Fortune loues you. 
 
 tAlb. Stay till I haue read the Letter. 
 
 Edg . I wa forbid it : 
 
 When time fliall ferue, let but jhe Herald cry, 
 And He appeare againe. Exit. 
 
 Alb. Why farethee well, I will o're-looke thy paper. 
 
 Enter Edmund. 
 
 Baft. The Enemy's in view, draw vp your powers, 
 Heere is the guefie of their true ftrength and Forces, 
 By dillipent difcouerie, but your haft 
 Is now vrg'd on you. 
 
 Alb. We will greet the time. Exit. 
 
 'Baft. To both thefe Sifters haue I fworne my loue: 
 Each ieilous of the other, as the ftung 
 Are of the Adder. Which of them fliall I take ? 
 Both ? One? Or neither ? Neither can be enioy'd 
 If both remaine aliue : To take the Widdow, 
 Exafperates, makes mad her Sifter Gonerill, 
 And hardly fhall I carry out my fide, 
 Her husband being aliue. Now then, wee'l vfe 
 His countenance for the Battaile, which being done, 
 Let her who would be rid of him,deuife 
 His fpeedy taking off. As for the mercie 
 Which he intends to Lear and to Cordelia, 
 The Battaile done, and they within our power, 
 
 Shall neuer fee his pardon : for my ftate, 
 Stands on me to defend, not to debate. 
 
 Exit. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Alarum wit bin. Enter vpitb Drumme and Colours , Lear , 
 Cordelia, and Souldiers,ouer the Stage, and Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Edgar , and Glofter . 
 
 Edg. Heere Father, take the fhadow of this Tree 
 For your good hoaft : pray that the right may thriue : 
 If euer I returne to you againe, 
 lie bring you comfort. 
 
 Glo. Grace go with you Sir. Sxit. 
 
 Alarum and Retreat witbin. 
 Enter Edgar. 
 
 Egdar. Away old man,giue me thy hand, away : 
 King Lear hath loft, he and his Daughter tane, 
 Giue me thy hand : Come on. 
 
 Glo. No further Sir, a man may rot euen heere. 
 
 Edg. What in ill thoughts againe f 
 Men muft endure 
 
 Their going hence, euen as their comming hither, 
 Ripenefie is all come on. 
 
 Glo. And that's true too. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Tertia. 
 
 Enter in conqueft tfitb Drum and Colours , Edmund, Lear, 
 and Cordelia, as prisoners , Souldiers, Captains. 
 
 Baft. Some Officers take them away: good guard, 
 Vntill their greater pleafures firft be knowne 
 That are to cenfure them. 
 
 Cor. We are not the firft, 
 
 Who with beft meaning haue incurr'd the worft : 
 For thee opprefled King I am caft downe, 
 My felfe could elfe out-frowne falfe Fortunes frowne. 
 Shall we not fee thefe Daughters,and thefe Sifters? 
 Lear. No,no,no,no: come let's away to prifon, 
 We two alone will fing like Birds i'th'Cage : 
 When thou doft aske me blefiing, He kneele downe 
 And aske of thee forgiuenefle : So wee'l Hue, 
 And pray, and fing, and tell old tales, and laugh 
 At gilded Butterflies : and heere (poore Rogues) 
 Talke of Court newes,and wee'l talke with them too, 
 Who loofes,and who wins; who's in, who's out; 
 And take vpon's the myftery of things, 
 As if we were Gods fpies : And wee'l weare out 
 In a wall'd prifon, packs and ledls of great ones, 
 That ebbe and flow by th'Moone. 
 
 Baft. Take them away. 
 
 Lear. Vpon fuch facrifices my Cordelia, 
 The Gods themfelues throw Incenfe. 
 Haue I caught thee? 
 
 He that parts vs, fliall bring a Brand from Heauen, 
 And fire vs hence, like Foxes:wipe thine eyes, 
 The good yeares fliall deuoure them,flefli and fell, 
 
 Ere 
 
 796
 
 The 'Tragedie ofRjng Lear. 
 
 37 
 
 Ere they fhall make vs weepe ? 
 
 Week fee e'm ftaru'd firft : come. Exit. 
 
 'Baft. Come hither Captaine,hearke. 
 Take thou this note, go follow them to prifon, 
 One ftep I haue aduanc'd thee, if thou do'ft 
 As this inftrufts thee, thou doft make thy way 
 To Noble Fortunes : know thou this, that men 
 Are as the time is; to be tender minded 
 Do's not become a Sword, thy great imployment 
 Will not beare queftionseither fay thou'lt do't, 
 Or thriue by other meanes. 
 
 Capt. He do't my Lord. 
 
 Baft. About it,and write happy, when th'haft done, 
 Marke I fay inftantly, and carry it fo 
 As I haue fet it downe. Exit Caftaine. 
 
 Floarijh. Enter Albany , Gonerill, Regan, Soldiers. 
 
 j 
 
 Alb. Sir, you haue fliew'd to day your valiant ftraine 
 And Fortune led you well : you haue the Captiues 
 Who were the oppofites of this dayes ftrife: 
 1 do require them of you fo to vfe them, 
 As we fliall find their merites, and our fafety 
 May equally determine. 
 
 Baft. Sir, I thought it fit, 
 
 To fend the old and miferable King to fome retention, 
 Whofe age had Charmes in it, whofe Title more, 
 To plucke the common bofome on his fide, 
 And turne our impreft Launces in our eies 
 Which do command them. With him I fent the Queen: 
 My reafon all the fame, and they are ready 
 To morrow, or at further fpace.t'appeare 
 Where you fhall hold your Seffion. 
 
 Alb. Sir, by your patience, 
 I hold you but a iubiedl of this Warre, 
 Not as a Brother. 
 
 Reg. That's as we lift to grace him. 
 Methinkes our pleafure might haue bin demanded 
 Ere you had fpoke fo farre. He led our Powers, 
 Bore the Commiflion of my place and perfon, 
 The which immediacie may well ftand vp, 
 And call it felfe your Brother. 
 
 Qon. Not fo hot : 
 
 In his owne grace he doth exalt himfelfe, 
 More then in your addition. 
 
 Reg. In my rights, 
 By me inuefted, he compeeres the beft. 
 
 Alb. That were the moft, if he fhould husband you. 
 
 Reg. lefters do oft proue Prophets. 
 
 Gon. Hola,hola, 
 That eye that told you fo,look'd but a fquint. 
 
 Rega. Lady I am not well, elfe I fhould anfwere 
 From a full flowing ftomack. General!, 
 Take thou my Souldiers,prifoners,patrimony, 
 Difpofe of them, of me, the walls is thine: 
 Witnefle the world, that I create thee heere 
 My Lord, and Matter. 
 
 Gon. Meane you to enioy him ? 
 
 Alb. The let alone lies not in your good will. 
 
 Baft. Nor in thine Lord. 
 
 Alb. Halfe-blooded fellow,yes. 
 
 Reg. Let the Drum ftrike,and proue my title thine. 
 
 Alb. Stay yet,heare reafon : Edmund, I arreft thee 
 On capitall Treafon ; and in thy arreft, 
 This guilded Serpent : for your claime faire Sifters, 
 I bare it in the intereft of my wife, 
 
 797 
 
 'Tis fhe is fab-contracted to this Lord, 
 And I her husband contradict your Banes. 
 If you will marry, make yourloues to me, 
 My Lady is befpoke. 
 
 Gon. An enterlude. 
 Alb. Thou art armed Glofter, 
 Let the Trmpet found : 
 If none appeare to proue vpon thy perfon, 
 Thy heynous,manifeft, and many Treafons, 
 There is my pledge : He make it on thy heart 
 Ere I tafte bread, thou art in nothing lefle 
 Then I haue heere proclaim'd thee. 
 
 Rgg. Sicke,O ficke. 
 
 Gon. If not, He nere truft medicine. 
 
 'Baft. There's my exchange, what in the world hes 
 That names me Traitor, villain-like he lies, 
 Call by the Trumpet: he that dares approach; 
 On him, on you, who not, I will maintaine 
 My truth and honor firmely. 
 
 Enter a Herald. 
 
 Alb. A Herald, ho. 
 
 Truft to thy fingle vertue, for thy Souldiers 
 All leuied in my name, haue in my name 
 Tooke their difcharge. 
 
 Regan. My ficknefTe growes vpon me. 
 
 Alb. She is not well, conuey her to my Tent. 
 Come hither Herald, let the Trumper found, 
 And read out this. A Tumpet founds. 
 
 Herald reads. 
 
 IF any man of qualitie or degree,veitbin the lifts of the Ar- 
 my, will maintaine i>fon Edmund, fufpofed Earle of Glofter, 
 that be is a manifold Traitor, let him appeare by the third 
 found of the Trumpet : be bold in bis defence. I Trumpet' 
 Her. Againe. 2 Trumpet. 
 
 Her. Againe. 3 Trumpet. 
 
 Trumpet anftvers within, 
 
 Enter Edgar armed. 
 
 Alb. Aske him his purpofes, why he appeares 
 Vpon this Call o'th'Trumpet. 
 
 Her. What are you ? 
 
 Your name,your quality,and why you anfwer 
 This prefent Summons/ 
 
 Sdg. Know my name is loft 
 
 By Treafons tooth : bare-gnawne,and Canker-bit, 
 Yet am I Noble as the Aduerfary 
 I come to cope. 
 
 tAlb. Which is that Aduerfary ? 
 
 Edg. What's he that fpeakes for Edmund Earle of Glo- 
 
 'Baft. Himfelfe, what faift thou to him ? (fter ? 
 
 Edg. Draw thy Sword, 
 That if my fpeech offend a Noble heart, 
 Thy arme may do thee luftice, heere is mine : 
 Behold it is my priuiledge, 
 The priuiledge of mine Honours, 
 My oath, and my profefiion. I proteft, 
 Maugre thy ftrength, place, youth, and eminence, 
 Defpife thy victor-Sword, and fire new Fortune, 
 Thy valor, and thy heart, thou art a Traitor : 
 Falfe to thy Gods, thy Brother, and thy Father, 
 Confpirant 'gainft this high illuftirous Prince, 
 And from th'extremeft vpward of thy head, 
 To the difcent and duft below thy foote, 
 
 ffz A
 
 'The Tragedie of J^jng Lear. 
 
 A moft Toad-fpotted Traitor. Say thou no, 
 This Sword, this arme,and my belt fpirits are bent 
 To proue vpon thy heart, whereto I fpeake, 
 Thou lyeft. 
 
 'Baft. In wifedome I fhould aske thy name, 
 But fince thy out-fide lookes fo faire and Warlike, 
 And that thy tongue(fome fay) of breeding breathes, 
 What fafe,and nicely I might well delay, 
 By rule of Knight-hood, I difdaine and fpurne: 
 Backe do I tofle thefe Treafons to thy head, 
 With the hell-hated Lye,ore-whelme thy heart, 
 Which for they yet glance by, and fcarely bruife, 
 This Sword of mine fhall giue them inftant way, 
 Where they fhall reft for euer. Trumpets fpeake. 
 
 Alb. Saue him,faue him. Alarums. Fights. 
 
 Gon. This is pra&ife G/ofter, 
 
 By th'law of Warre,thou waft not bound to anfwer 
 An vnknowne oppofite;thou art not vanquifli'd, 
 But cozen J, and be guild. 
 
 Alb. Shut your mouth Dame, 
 Or with this paper fhall I flop it : hold Sir, 
 Thou worfe then any name, reade thine owne euill : 
 No tearing Lady, I perceiue you know it. 
 
 Gon. Say if I do, the I awes are mine not thine, 
 Who can araigne me for't? Exit. 
 
 Alb. Moft monftrous I O, know'ft thou this paper? 
 
 'Baft. Aske me not what I know. 
 
 Alb. Go after her, flie's defperate,gouerne her. 
 
 'Baft. What you haue charg'd me with, 
 That haue I done, 
 
 And more, much more, the time will bring it out. 
 'Tis paft, and fo am I : But what art thou 
 That haft this Fortune on me ? If thou'rt Noble, 
 I do forgiue thee. 
 
 Edg. Let's exchange charity: 
 I am no lefle in blood then thou art Edmond, 
 If more, the more th'haft wrong'd me. 
 My name is Sdgar and thy Fathers Sonne, 
 The Gods are iu(t,and of our pleafant vices 
 Make inftruments to plague vs : 
 The darke and vitious place where thee he got, 
 Coft him his eyes. 
 
 e Baft. Th'haft fpoken right, 'tis true, 
 The Wheele is come full circle, I am heere. 
 
 Alb. Me thought thy very gate did prophefie 
 A Royall Noblenefle : I muft embrace thee, 
 Let forrow fplit my heart, if euer I 
 Did hate thee, or thy Father. 
 
 Edg. Worthy Prince I know't. 
 
 All. Where haue you hid your felfe ? 
 How haue you knowne the miferies of your Father? 
 
 Sdg. By nurfing them my Lord. Lift a breefe tale, 
 And when 'tis told, O that my heart would burft. 
 The bloody proclamation to efcape 
 That follow'd me fo neere,(O our liues fweetnefle, 
 That we the paine of death would hourely dye, 
 Rather then die at once)taught me to fhift 
 Into a mad-mans rags, t'affume a femblance 
 That very Dogges difdain'd : and in this habit 
 Met I my Father with his bleeding Rings , 
 Their precious Stones new loft /became his guide, 
 Led him,begg'd for him,fau'd him from difpaire. 
 Neuer(O fault )reueal'd my felfe vnto him, 
 Vntill fome halfe houre paft when I was arm'd, 
 Not fure, though hoping of this good fuccefle, 
 I ask'd his blefling,and from firft to laft 
 
 Told him our pilgrimage. But his flaw'd heart 
 (Alacke too weake the conflict to fupport) 
 Twixt two extremes of paflion, ioy and greefe, 
 Burft fmilingly. 
 
 'Batt. This fpeech of yours hath mou'd me, 
 And lhall perchance do good, but fpeake you on, 
 You looke as you had fomething more to fay. 
 
 Alb. If there be more,more wofull,hold it in, 
 For I am almoft ready to diffolue, 
 Hearing of this. 
 
 Enter a Gentleman. 
 
 Gen. Helpe,helpe : O helpe. 
 
 Edg. What kinde of helpe ? 
 
 Alb. Speake man. 
 
 Edg. What meanes this bloody Knife ? 
 
 Gen. 'Tis hot, it fmoakes, it came euen from the heart 
 of O fhe's dead. 
 
 *Alb. Who dead ? Speake man. 
 
 (fen. Your Lady Sir,your Lady; and her Sifter 
 By her is poyfon'd : fhe confefles it. 
 
 Baft. I was contracted to them both, all three 
 Now marry in an inftant. 
 
 Edg. Here comes Kent. 
 
 Enter Kent. 
 
 Alb. Produce the bodies, be they aliue or dead ; 
 
 Gonerill and Regans bodiesbrongbt out. 
 This Judgement of the Heauens that makes vs tremble. 
 Touches vs not with pitty: O,is this he ? 
 The time will not allow the complement 
 Which very manners vrges. 
 
 Kent. I am come 
 
 To bid my King and Mafter aye good night. 
 Is he not here ? 
 
 Alb. Great thing of vs forgot, 
 
 Speake Edmund,where's the King /and where's, Cordelia? 
 Seeft thou this obiedl Kent ? 
 
 Kent. Alacke, why thus f 
 
 Baft. Yet Edmund was belou'd : 
 The one the other poifon'd for my fake, 
 And after flew herfelfe.f 
 
 Alb. Euen fo.-couer their faces. 
 
 Baft. Ipant for life : fome good I meane to do 
 Defpight of mine owne Nature. Quickly fend, 
 (Be briefe in it) to'th'Caftle,for my Writ 
 Is on the life of Lear, and on Cordelia : 
 Nay, fend in time. 
 
 Alb. Run, run, O run. 
 
 Edg. To who my Lord ? Who ha's the Office ? 
 Send thy token of repreeue. 
 
 'Baii. Well thought on, take my Sword, 
 Giue it the Captaine. 
 
 Edg. Haft thee for thy life. 
 
 Baft. He hath Commiffion from thy Wife and me, 
 To hang Cordelia in the prifon,and 
 To lay the blame vpon her owne difpaire, 
 That fhe for- did her felfe. 
 
 Alb. The Gods defend her,beare him hence awhile. 
 
 Enter Lear with Cordelia in bu armes. 
 Lear.Hovtle, howle, howle: O your are men of ftones, 
 Had I your tongues and eyes, Il'd vfe them fo, 
 That Heauens vault fhould crack : fhe's gone for euer. 
 I know when one is dead, and when one liues, 
 She's dead as earth : Lend me a Looking-glafle, 
 
 If 
 
 798
 
 'The Tragedte of %Jng Lear. 
 
 39 
 
 If that her breath will mift or ftaine the ftone, 
 Why then fhe Hues. 
 
 Kent, Is this the promis'd end / 
 
 Edg. Or image of that horror. 
 
 Alb. Fall and ceafe. 
 
 Lear. This feather ftirs, fhe liues : if it be fo, 
 It is a chance which do's redeeme all forrowes 
 That euer I haue felt. 
 
 Kent. O my good Mafter. 
 
 Lear. Prythee away. 
 
 Edg. 'Tis Noble Kent your Friend. 
 
 Lear. A plague vpon you Murderors, Traitors all, 
 I might haue fau'd her, now flic's gone for euer : 
 Cordelia, Cordelia, ftay a little. Ha : 
 What is't thou faift ? Her voice was euer foft, 
 Gentle, and low, an excellent thing in womah. 
 I kill'd the Slaue that was a hanging thee. 
 
 Gent. 'Tis true (my Lords )he did. 
 
 Lear. Did I not fellow ? 
 
 I haue feene the day, with my good biting Faulchion 
 I would haue made him skip : 1 am old now, 
 And thefe fame crofles fpoile me. Who are you ? 
 Mine eyes are not o'th'beft, He tell you ftraight. 
 
 Kent. If Fortune brag of two,flie lou'd and hated, 
 One of them we behold. 
 
 Lear. This is a dull fight, are you not Kent? 
 
 Kent. The fame : your Seruant Kent t 
 Where is your Seruant Canu t 
 
 Lear. He's a good fellow, I can tell you that, 
 He'le ftrike and quickly too, he's dead and rotten. 
 
 Kent. No my good Lord, I am the very man. 
 
 Lear. He fee that ftraight. 
 
 Kent. That from your firft of difference and decay, 
 Haue follow'd your fad fteps. 
 
 Ltar. Your are welcome hither. 
 
 Kent. Nor no man elfe : 
 All's cheerlefie, darke, and deadly, 
 Your eldeft Daughters haue fore-done themfelues, 
 And defperately are dead 
 
 Lear, I fo I thinke. 
 
 Alb. He knowes not what he faies,and vaine is it 
 
 That we prefent vs to him. 
 
 Enter a MeJJenger, 
 
 Edg. Very bootlefle. 
 
 <&feJJ~. Edmund is dead my Lord. 
 
 Alb. That's but a trifle heere : 
 You Lords and Noble Friends, know our intent, 
 What comfort to this great decay may come, 
 Shall be appli'd. For vs we will refigne, 
 During the life of this old Maiefty 
 To him our abfolute power, you to your rights, 
 With boote,and fuch addition as your Honours 
 Haue more then merited. All Friends fhall 
 Tafte the wages of their vertue, and all Foes 
 The cup of their deferuings : O fee, fee. 
 
 Lear. And my poore Foole is hang'd: no, no, no life? 
 Why fhould a Dog, a Horfe, a R.at haue life, 
 And thou no breath at all ? Thou'lt come no more, 
 Neuer, neuer, neuer, neuer, neuer. 
 Pray you vndo this Button. Thanke you Sir, 
 Do you fee this/ Looke on her? Looke her lips, 
 Looke there, looke there. He dies. 
 
 Bdg. He faints, my Lord, my Lord. 
 
 Kent. Breake heart, I prythee breake. 
 
 dg. Looke vp my Lord. 
 
 Kent. Vex not his ghoft, O let him pafTe, he hates him, 
 That would vpon the wracke of this tough world 
 Stretch him out longer. 
 
 Edg. He is gon indeed. 
 
 Kent. The wonder is, he hath endur'd fo long, 
 He but vfurpt his life. 
 
 Alb. Beare them from hence, our prefent bufinefle 
 Is generall woe : Friends of my foule, you twaine, 
 Rule in this Realme,and the gor'd ftate fuftaine. 
 
 Kent . I haue a iourney Sir, fhortly to go, 
 My Mafter calls me, I muft not fay no. 
 
 Edg. The waight of this fad time we muft obey, 
 Speake what we feele, not what we ought to fay : 
 The oldeft hath borne moft, we that are yong, 
 Shall neuer fee fo much, nor liue fo long. 
 
 Exeunt frith a dead March . 
 ff 3 
 
 FIN IS. 
 
 799
 
 310 
 
 The T rage die of Othello 
 
 THETRAGEDIEOF 
 
 Othello, the Moore of Venice. 
 
 'Primus. Sccena *Prima. 
 
 Enter Rodorigo,aad lago. 
 
 Rodorigo. 
 
 Euer tell me, I take it much vnkindly 
 That them (lago) who haft had my purfe, 
 As if y firings were thine, fhould'ft know of this. 
 la. But you'l not heare me. If euer I did dream 
 Of fuch a matter, abhorre me. 
 
 Rodo. Thou told'ft me, 
 Thou did'ft hold him in thy hate. 
 
 logo. Defpife me 
 
 If I do not. Three Great-ones of the Cittie, 
 (In perfonall fuite to make me his Lieutenant) 
 OfF-capt to him : and by the faith of man 
 I know my price, I am worth no worfTe a place. 
 But he (as louing his owne pride, and purpofes) 
 Euades them, with a bumbaft Circumftance, 
 Horribly ftufft with Epithites of warre, 
 Non-fuites my Mediators. For certes, faies he, 
 I haue already chofe my Officer. And what was he ? 
 For-footh, a great Arithmatician, 
 One Rficbaell CaJJio, a Florentine, 
 (A Fellow almoft damn'd in a faire Wife) 
 That neuer fet a Squadron in the Field, 
 Nor the deuifion of a Battaile knowes 
 More then a Spinfter. Vnlefle the Bookifh Theoricke : 
 Wherein the Tongued Confuls can propofe 
 As Mafterly as he. Meere pratle (without pradlife) 
 Is all his Souldierfhip. But he (Sir) had th'ele&ion; 
 And I ( of whom his eies had feene the proofe 
 At Rhodes, at Ciprus,and on others grounds 
 Chriften'd,and Heathen)muft be be-leed, and calm'd 
 By Debitor, and Creditor. This Counter-carter, 
 He (in good time) muft his Lieutenant be, 
 And I (blefle the marke) his Moorefhips Auntient. 
 
 I{od. By heauen,! rather would haue bin his hangman. 
 
 lago. Why, there's no remedie. 
 'Tis the curfle of Seruice; 
 Preferment goes by Letter, and affe&ion, 
 And not by old gradation, where each fecond 
 Stood Heire to'th'firft. Now Sir, be iudge your felfe, 
 Whether I in dny iuft terme am Affin'd 
 To loue the Moore ? 
 
 Rod. I would not follow him then. 
 
 lago. O Sir content you. 
 I follow him, to ferue my turne vpon him. 
 We cannot all be Mailers, nor all Mafters 
 
 Cannot be truely folio w'd. You /hall marke 
 
 Many a dutious and knee-crooking knaue; 
 
 That (doting on his owne obfequious bondage) 
 
 Weares out his time, much like his Mafters Afie, 
 
 For naught but Prouender, & when he's old Cafheer'd. 
 
 Whip me fuch honeft knaues. Others there are 
 
 Who trym'd in Formes, and vifages of Dutie, 
 
 Keepe yet their hearts attending on themfelues, 
 
 And throwing but fhowes of Seruice on their Lords 
 
 Doe well thriue by them. 
 
 And when they haue lin'd their Coates 
 
 Doe themfelues Homage. 
 
 Thefe Fellowes haue fome foule, 
 
 And fuch a one do I profefTe my felfe. For (Sir) 
 
 It is as fure as you are Rodorigo, 
 
 Were I the Moore, I would not be lago : 
 
 In following him, I follow but my felfe. 
 
 Heauen is my Iudge, not I for loue and dutie, 
 
 But feeming fo, for my peculiar end : 
 
 For when my outward Adlion doth demonftrate 
 
 The natiue aft, and figure of my heart 
 
 In Complement externe, 'tis not long after 
 
 But I will weare my heart vpon my fleeue 
 
 For Dawes to pecke at ; I am not what I am. 
 
 Rod. What a fall Fortune do's the Thicks-lips owe 
 If he can carry't thus ? 
 
 lago. Call vp her Father : 
 Rowfe him, make after him, poyfon his delight, 
 Proclaime him in the Streets. Incenfe her kinfmen, 
 And though he in a fertile Clymate dwell, 
 Plague him with Flies: though that his loy be loy, 
 Yet throw fuch chances of vexation on't, 
 As it may loofe fome colour. 
 
 Rodo. Heere is her Fathers houfe, He call aloud. 
 
 lago. Doe, with like timerous accent, and dire yell, 
 As when (by Night and Negligence ) the Fire 
 Is fpied in populus Citties. 
 
 Rodo. What hoa : 'Brabantio, Siginor Brabantio, hoa. 
 lago. Awake: what hoz,'Bral>antio : Theeues, Theeues. 
 Looke to your houfe, your daughter, and your Bags, 
 Theeues, Theeues. 
 
 Bra. Aboue. What is the reafon of this terrible 
 Summons ? What is the matter there ? 
 
 Rodo. Signior is all your Familie within ? 
 
 lago. Are your Doores lock'd ? 
 
 Bra. Why ? Wherefore ask you this ? 
 
 lago. Sir, y'are rob'd, for fhame put on your Gowne, 
 
 Your 
 ___
 
 the Moore of Venice. 
 
 3 11 
 
 Your heart is burft, you haue loft halfe your foule 
 Euen now, now, very now, an old blacke Ram 
 Is tupping your white Ewe. Arife, arife, 
 Awake the fnorting Cittizens with the Bell, 
 Or elfe the deuill will make a Grand-fire of you. 
 Arife I fay. 
 
 'Bra. What, haue you loft your wits? 
 
 Rod. Moft reuerend Signior, do you know my voice? 
 
 Bra. Not I : what are you ? 
 
 Rod, My name is Rodorigo. 
 
 'Bra. The worffer welcome : 
 
 I haue charg'd thee not to haunt about my doores: 
 In honeft plainenefie thou haft heard me fay, 
 My Daughter is not for thee. And now in madnefle 
 (Being full of Supper,and diftempring draughtes) 
 Vpon malitious knauerie, doft thou come 
 To ftart my quiet. 
 
 Rod. Sir,Sir, Sir. 
 
 'Bra. But thou muft needs be fure, 
 My fpirits and my place haue in their power 
 To make this bitter to thee. 
 
 f(odo. Patience good Sir. 
 
 'Bra. What telFft thou me of Robbing ? 
 This is Venice : my houfe is not a Grange. 
 
 Rodo. Moft graue 'Brabantio, 
 In fimple and pure foule, I come to you. 
 
 la. Sir :you are one of thofe that will not ferue God, 
 if the deuill bid you. Becaufe we come to do you feruice, 
 and you thinke we are Ruffians, you'le haue your Daugh- 
 ter couer'd with a Barbary horfe, you'le haue your Ne- 
 phewes neigh to you, you'le haue Courfers for Cozens : 
 and Gennets for Germaines. 
 
 'Bra. What prophane wretch art thou ? 
 
 la. I am one Sir, that comes to tell you, your Daugh- 
 ter and the Moore, are making the Beaft with two backs. 
 
 Bra. Thou art a Villaine. 
 
 lago. You are a Senator. 
 
 Bra. This thou fhalt anfwere. I know thee Rodorigo. 
 
 l(od. Sir, I will anfwere any thing. But I befeech you 
 IPt be your pleafure, and moft wife confent, 
 (As partly I find it is ) that your faire Daughter, 
 At this odde Euen and dull watch o'th'night 
 Tranfported with no worfe nor better guard, 
 But with a knaue of common hire, a Gundelier, 
 To the groffe clafpes of a Lafciuious Moore : 
 If this be knowne to you, and your Allowance, 
 We then haue done you bold, and faucie wrongs. 
 But if you know not this, my Manners tell me, 
 We haue your wrong rebuke. Do not beleeue 
 That from the fence of all Ciuilitie, 
 I thus would play and trifle with your Reuerence. 
 Your Daughter (if you haue not giuen her leaue) 
 I fay againe,hath made a grofle reuolt, 
 Tying her Dutie,Beautie, Wit,and Fortunes 
 In an extrauagant,and wheeling Stranger, 
 Of here, and euery where : ftraight fatisfie your felfe. 
 If fhe be in her Chamber,or your houfe, 
 Let loofe on me the luftice of the State 
 For thus deluding you. 
 
 Bra. Strike on the Tinder, hoa : 
 Giue me a Taper : call vp all my people, 
 This Accident is not vnlike my dreame, 
 Beleefe of itopprefles me alreadie. 
 Light, I fay, light. Exit. 
 
 lag. Farewell: for I muft leaue you. 
 It feemes not meete, nor wholefome to my place 
 
 To be produfted, (as if I ftay, I fhall,) 
 
 Againft the Moore. For I do know the State, 
 
 ('How euer this may gall him with fome checke) 
 
 Cannot with fafetie caft-him. For he's embark'd 
 
 With fuch loud reafon to the Cyprus Warres, 
 
 (Which euen now ftands in Act)that for their foules 
 
 Another of his Fadome,they haue none, 
 
 To lead their BufinefTe. In which regard, 
 
 Though I do hate him as I do hell apines, 
 
 Yet, for neceflitie of prefent life, 
 
 I muft fhow out a Flag,and figne of Loue, 
 
 (Which is indeed but figne )that you fhal furely find him 
 
 Lead to the Sagitary the raifed Search: 
 
 And there will I be with him. So farewell. Exit. 
 
 Enter 'Brabantio, with Seruants and Torches. 
 
 'Bra. It is too true an euill. Gone flie is, 
 And what's to come of my defpifed time, 
 Is naught but bitternefTe. Now Rodorigo, 
 Where didft thou fee her ? (Oh vnhappie Girle ) 
 With the Moore faift thou? (Who would be a Father ? ) 
 How didft thou know 'twas fhe? (Oh fhe deceaues me 
 Paft thought:) what faid Ihe to you ? Get moe Tapers : 
 Raife all my Kindred. Are they married thinke you ? 
 
 Rodo. Truely I thinke they are. 
 
 'Bra. Oh Heauen : how got fhe out ? 
 Oh treafon of the blood. 
 
 Fathers,from hence truft not your Daughters minds 
 By what you fee them aft. Is there not Charmes, 
 By which the propertie of Youth, and Maidhood 
 May be abus'd ? Haue you not read Rodorigo, 
 Of fome fuch thing? 
 
 Rod. Yes Sir : I haue indeed. 
 
 'Bra. Call vp my Brother : oh would you had had her. 
 Some one way,fome another. Doe you know 
 Where we may apprehend her, and the Moore ? 
 
 Rod. I thinke I can difcouer him, if you pleafe 
 To get good Guard, and go along with me. 
 
 Bra. Pray you lead on. At euery houfe He call, 
 (I may command at moft)get Weapons (hoa ) 
 And raife fome fpeciall Officers of might : 
 On good Rodorigo, I will deferue your paines. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Othello, logo, -Attendants, with Torches. 
 
 la. Though in the trade of Warre I haue flaine men, 
 Yet do I hold it very ftuffe o'th'confcience 
 To do no contriu'd Murder : I lacke Iniquitie 
 Sometime to do me feruice. Nine, or ten times 
 I had thought t'haue yerk'd him here vnder the Ribbes. 
 
 Othello. 'Tis better as it is. 
 
 lago. Nay but he prated, 
 And fpoke fuch fcuruy, and prouoking termes 
 Againft your Honor, that with the little godlinefTe I haue 
 I did full hard forbeare him. But I pray you Sir, 
 Are you faft married ? Be aflur'd of this, 
 That the Magnifico is much belou'd, 
 And hath in his effeft a voice potentiall 
 As double as the Dukes : He willdiuorce you. 
 Or put vpon you, what reftraint or greeuance, 
 
 The
 
 312 
 
 The Tragedie of Othello 
 
 The Law (with all his might, to enforce it on) 
 Will giue him Cable. 
 
 Otbel. Let him do his fpight; 
 My Seruices, which I haue done the Signorie 
 Shall out-tongue his Complaints. 'Tis yet to know, 
 Which when I know, that boafting is an Honour, 
 I fhall promulgate. I fetch my life and being, 
 From Men of Royall Seige. And my dementes 
 May fpeake (vnbonnetted)to as proud a Fortune 
 As this that 1 haue reach'd. For know lago, 
 But that I loue the gentle Dejdemona, 
 I would not my vnhoufed free condition 
 Put into Circumfcription,and Confine, 
 For the Seas worth . But looke, what Lights come yond? 
 
 Enter CaJJlo, feitb Torches. 
 
 lago. Thofe are the raifed Father, and his Friends : 
 You were beft go in. 
 
 Otbel. Not I : I muft be found. 
 My Parts, my Title, and my perfect Soule 
 Shall manifeft me rightly. Is it they ? 
 
 lago. By Janui,l thinke no. 
 
 Otbel. The Seruants of the Dukes? 
 And my Lieutenant ? 
 
 The goodnefle of-the Night vpon you (Friends) 
 What is the Newes ? 
 
 Caffio. The Duke do's greet you (Generall) 
 And he requires your hafte,Poft-hafte appearance, 
 Enen on the inftant. 
 
 Othello. What is the matter, thinke you ? 
 
 Caffio. Something from Cyprus, as I may diuine : 
 It is a bufmefle of fome heate. The Gallies 
 Haue fent a dozen fequent Meflengers 
 This very night, at one anothers heeles : 
 And many of the Confuls,rais'd and met, 
 Are at the Dukes already. You haue bin hotly call'd for, 
 When being not at your Lodging to be found^ 
 The Senate hath fent about three feuerall Ouefts, 
 To fearch you out. 
 
 Otbel. 'Tis well I am found by you : 
 I will but fpend a word here in the houfe, 
 And goe with you. 
 
 Caffio. Aunciant, what makes he heere? 
 
 lago. Faith, he to night hath boarded a Land Carraft, 
 If it proue lawfull prize, he's made for euer. 
 
 Caffio. I do not vnderftand. 
 
 lago. He's married. 
 
 Caffio. To who ? 
 
 lago. Marry to Come Captaine, will you go ? 
 
 Otbel. Haue with you. 
 
 Caffio. Here come sanother Troope to feeke for you. 
 
 Enter 'Brabant to, Rodorigo, with Officers, and Torches. 
 
 lago. It is Brabantio:Genera.ll be aduis'd, 
 He comes to bad intent. 
 
 Othello. Holla, ftand there. 
 
 Rodo. Signior, it is the Moore. 
 
 'Bra. Downe with him, Theefe. 
 
 lago. You, Rodorigo, come Sir, I am for you. 
 
 Otbe. Keepe vp your bright Swords, for thejdew will 
 ruft them. Good Signior, you fhallimore command with 
 yeares, then with your Weapons. 
 
 'Bra. Oh thou foule Theefe, 
 Where haft thou ftow'd my Daughter? 
 Damn'd as thou art, thou haft enchaunted her 
 
 For He referre me to all things of fenfe, 
 (If fhe in Chaines of Magick we re not bound ) 
 Whether a Maid,fo tender, Faire, and Happie, 
 So oppofite to Marriage, that flie fhun'd 
 The wealthy curled Deareling of our Nation, 
 Would euer haue (t'encurre a generall mocke) 
 Run from her Guardageto the footie bofome, 
 Of fuch a thing as thou: to feare,not to delight? 
 ludge me the world, if'tis not groffe in fenfe, 
 That thou haft practis'd on her with foule Charmes, 
 Abus'd her delicate Youth, with Drugs or Minerals, 
 That weakens Motion. He haue't difputed on, 
 'Tis probable, and palpable to thinking; 
 I therefore apprehend and do attach thee, 
 For an abufer of the World, a practifer 
 Of Arts inhibited, and out of warrant; 
 Lay hold vpon him, if he do refift 
 Subdue him, at his perill. 
 
 Otbe. Hold your hands 
 Both you of my inclining,and the reft. 
 Were it my Cue to fight, I fhould haue knowne it 
 Without a Prompter. Whether will you that I goe 
 To anfwere this your charge ? 
 
 'Bra. To Prifon,till fit time 
 Of La w,and courfe of direct Seflion 
 Call thee to anfwer. 
 
 Otbe. What if do obey ? 
 How may the Duke be therewith fatisfi'd, 
 Whole Meflengers are heere about my fide, 
 Vpon fome prefent bufinefle of the State, 
 To bring me to him. 
 
 Officer. 'Tis true moft worthy Signior, 
 The Dukes in Counfell,and your Noble felfe, 
 I am fure is fent for. 
 
 Bra. How ? The Duke in Counfell ? 
 In this time of the night? Bring him away; 
 Mine's not an idle Caufe. The Duke himfelfe, 
 Or any of my Brothers of the State, 
 Cannot but feele this wrong, as 'twere their owne : 
 For if fuch Actions may hauepaflage free, 
 Bond-flaues,and Pagans fliall our Statefmen be. Exeunt 
 
 Sctena Tertia. 
 
 Snter Dul^e, Senators, and Officers. 
 
 e Dul$e. There's no compofition in this Newes, 
 That giues them Credi.te. 
 
 1. Sen. Indeed, they are difproportioned; 
 My Letters fay, a Hundred and feuen Gallies. 
 
 Du^e. And mine a Hundred fortie. 
 
 2. Sena. And mine two Hundred : 
 
 But though they iumpe not on a iuft accompt, 
 (As in thefe Cafes where the ayme reports, 
 'Tis oft with difference)yet do they all confirme 
 A Turkifh Fleete,and bearing vp to Cyprus. 
 
 Du^e. Nay,it is pofllble enough to Judgement . 
 I do not fo fecure me in the Error, 
 But the maine Article I do approue 
 In fearefull fenfe. 
 
 Saylor within. What hoa, what hoa, what hoa. 
 Enter Saylor. 
 
 Officer. A 
 
 8o
 
 the ^Moore of Venice. 
 
 3*3 
 
 Officer. A Meflen g er from the Gallies. 
 Duly. Now ? What's the bufinefle ? 
 Sailor. The Turkifli Preparation makes for Rhodes, 
 So was I bid report here to the State, 
 By Signior Angela. 
 
 Duly. How fay you by this change ? 
 
 I. Sen. This cannot be 
 By no aflfay of reafon. 'Tis a Pageant 
 To keepe vs in falfe gaze, when we confider 
 Th'importancie of Cyprus to the Turke ; 
 And let our felues againe but vnderftand, 
 That as it more concernes the Turke then Rhodes, 
 So may he with more facile queftion beare it, 
 For that it ftands not in fuch Warrelike brace, 
 But altogether lackes th 'abilities 
 
 That Rhodes is drefs'd in. If we make thought of this, 
 We muft not thinke the Turke is fo vnskillfull, 
 To leaue that lateft, which concernes him firft, 
 Neglecting an attempt of eafe, and gaine 
 To wake, and wage a danger profitlefle. 
 
 Duke. Nay, in all confidence he's not for Rhodes. 
 
 Officer. Here is more Newes. 
 
 Enter a MeJJenger. 
 
 MeJJitn. The Ottaz;V,Reueren'd, and Gracious, 
 Steering with due courfe toward the lie of Rhodes, 
 Haue there inioynted them with an after Fleete. 
 
 i. Sen. I,fo I thought : how many, as you guefie? 
 
 Mejf. Of thirtie Saile : and now they do re-ftem 
 Their backward courfe. bearing with frank appearance 
 Their purpofes toward Cyprus. Signior Montana, 
 Your truftie and moft Valiant Seruitour, 
 With his free dutie, recommends you thus, 
 And prayes you to beleeue him. 
 
 Duly. 'Tis certaine then for Cyprus : 
 Marcui Luccicos,\s not he in Towne ? 
 
 I. Sen. He's now in Florence. 
 
 Duly. Write from vs, 
 To him,Poft,Poft-hafte,difpatch. 
 
 I. Sen. Here comes 'Bralantio,and the Valiant Moore. 
 
 Enter Brabantio, Othello , Caffio , lago , Rodorlgo , 
 and Officers. 
 
 Duly. Valiant Othello, vie muft ftraight employ you, 
 Againft the generall Enemy Ottoman. 
 I did not fee you : welcome gentle Signior, 
 We lack't your Counfaile, and your helpe to night. 
 
 Bra. So did I yours : Good your Grace pardon me. 
 Neither my place, hor ought I heard of bufinefle 
 Hath rais'd me from my bed ; nor doth the generall care 
 Take hold on me. For my perticular griefe 
 Is of fo flood-gate, and ore-bearing Nature, 
 That it engluts,snd fwallowes other forrowes, 
 And it is ftill it felfe. 
 
 Duly. Why ? What's the matter ? 
 
 Bra. My Daughter : oh my Daughter I 
 
 Sen. Dead ? 
 
 Bra. I, to me. 
 
 She is abus'd,ftolne from me,and corrupted 
 By Spels, and Medicines, bought of Mountebanks; 
 For Nature, fo prepoftroufly to erre, 
 (Being not deficient, blind, or lame of fenfe,) 
 Sans witch-craft could not. 
 
 Duly. Who ere he be, that in this foule proceeding 
 Hath thus beguil'd your Daughter of her felfe, 
 
 803 
 
 And you of her; the bloodie Booke of Law, 
 You fliall your felfe read, in the bitter letter, 
 After your owne fenfe : yea, though our proper Son 
 Stood in your Action. 
 
 Bra. Humbly I thanke your Grace, 
 Here is the man; this Moore, whom now it feemes 
 Your fpeciall Mandate, for the State affaires 
 Hath hither brought. 
 
 tAll. We are verieforry for't. 
 
 Duly. What in yonr owne part, can you fay to this ? 
 
 'Bra. Nothing, but this is fo. 
 
 Otbe. Moft Potent, Graue, and Reueren'd Signiors, 
 My very Noble, and approu'd good Matters; 
 That I haue tane away this old mans Daughter, 
 It is moft true : true I haue married her; 
 The verie head, and front of my offending, 
 Hath this extent; no more. Rude am I, in my fpeech, 
 And little blefs'd with the foft phrafe of Peace; 
 For fince thefe Armes of mine, had feuen yearespith, 
 Till now, fome nine Moones wafted, they haue vs'd 
 Their deereft action, in the Tented Field : 
 And little of this great world can I fpeake, 
 More then pertaines to Feats of Broiles, and Battaile, 
 And therefore little fliall I grace my caufe, 
 In fpeaking for my felfe. Yet, (by your gratious patience) 
 I will a round vn-varnifh'd u Tale deliuer, 
 Of my whole courfe of Loue.) 
 What Drugges,what Charmes, 
 What Coniuration, and what mighty Magicke, 
 (For fuch proceeding I am charg'd withall) 
 I won his Daughter. 
 
 Bra. A Maiden, neuer bold : 
 Of Spirit fo ftill,and quiet, that her Motion 
 Blufli'd at her felfe, and flie,in fpight of Nature, 
 Of Yeares, of Country, Credite,euery thing 
 To fall in Loue, with what fhe fear'd to looke on; 
 It is a iudgement main'd,and moft imperfect. 
 That will confefle Perfection fo could erre 
 Againft all rules of Nature,and muft be driuen 
 To find out pradtifes of cunning hell 
 Why this fhould be. I therefore vouch againe, 
 That with fome Mixtures, powrefull o're the blood, 
 Or with fome Dram,(coniur'd to this effect) 
 He wtought vp on her. 
 To vouch this, is no proofe, 
 Without more wider, and more ouer Teft 
 Then thefe thin habits, and poore likely-hoods 
 Of moderne feeming, do prefer againft him. 
 
 Sen. But Othello, fpeake, 
 Did you, by indirect, and forced courfes 
 Subdue, and poyfon this yong Maides affections? 
 Or came it by requeft, and fuch faire queftion 
 As foule, to foule affbrdeth ? 
 
 Otbel. I do befeech you, 
 Send for the Lady to the Sagitary. 
 And let her fpeake of me before her Father; 
 If you do finde me foule,in herreport, 
 The Truft,the Office, I do hold of you, 
 Not onely take away, but let your Sentence 
 Euen fall vpon my life. 
 
 Duly. Fetch DefJemona hither. 
 
 Otbe. Aunciant, conduct them : 
 You beft know the place. 
 And tell flie come, as truely as to heauen, 
 I do confefle the vices of my blood, 
 So iuftly to your Graue eares, He prefent 
 
 How
 
 3M- 
 
 'The Tragedie of Othello 
 
 How I did thriue in this faire Ladies loue, 
 And fhe in mine. 
 
 Dul^e. Say it Othello. 
 
 Otbe. Her Father lou'd me, oft inuited me : 
 Still queftion'd me the Storie of my life, 
 From yeare to yeare : the Battaile, Sieges, Fortune, 
 That I haue paft. 
 
 I ran it through, euen from my boyifli daies, 
 Toth'very moment that he bad me tell it. 
 Wherein I fpoke of moft difaftrous chances : 
 Of mouing Accidents by Flood and Field, 
 Of haire-breadth fcapes i'th "imminent deadly breach; 
 Of being taken by the Infolent Foe, 
 And fold to flauery. Of my redemption thence, 
 And portance in my Trauellours hiftorie. 
 Wherein of Antars vaft,and Defarts idle, 
 Rough Quarries, Rocks, Hills, whofe head touch heauen, 
 It was my hint to fpeake. Such was my Proceffe, 
 And of the Canibals that each others eate, 
 The sintropopbague,znd men whofe heads 
 Grew beneath their flioulders. Thefe things to heare. 
 Would 'Defdemona ferioufly incline : 
 But ftill the houfe Affaires would draw her hence : 
 Which euer as flie could with hafte difpatch, 
 She'l'd come againe, and with a greedie eare 
 Deuoure vp my difcourfe. Which I obferuing, 
 Tooke once a pliant houre,and found good meanes 
 To draw from her a prayer ofearneft heart, 
 That I would all my Pilgrimage dilate,i 
 Whereof by parcels flie had fomething heard, 
 But not inftincHuely : I did confent, 
 And often did beguile her of her teares, 
 When I did fpeake of Ibme diftreffefull ftroke 
 That my youth fuffer'd : My Storie being done, 
 She gaue me for my paines a world of kifles: 
 She fwore in faith 'twas ftrange : 'twas parting ftrange, 
 'Twas pittifull : 'twas wondrous pittifull. 
 She wifli'd flie had not heard it, yet flie wifli'd 
 That Heauen had made her fuch a man. She thank'd me, 
 And bad me, if I had a Friend that lou'd her, 
 I fliould but teach him how to tell my Story, 
 And that would wooe her. Vpon this hint I fpake, 
 She lou'd me for the dangers 1 had paft, 
 And I lou'd her, that flie did pitty them. 
 This onely is the witch'Craft I haue vs'd. 
 Here comes the Ladie : Let her witnefle it. 
 
 Enter Defdemona, lago, Attendants, 
 
 Duly. I thinke this tale would win my Daughter too, 
 Good ^Brdbantio,tak.e vp this mangled matter at the belt: 
 Men do their broken Weapons rather vfe, 
 Then their bare hands. 
 
 'Bra. I pray you heare her fpeake ? 
 If /he confefle that flie .was halfe the wooer, 
 Deftrudion on my head, if my bad blame 
 Light on the man. Come hither gentle Miftris, 
 Do you perceiue in all this Noble Companie, 
 Where moft you owe obedience? 
 
 Def. My Noble Father, 
 I do perceiue heere a diuided dutie. 
 To you I am bound for life,and education : 
 My life and education both do learne me, 
 How to refpeft you. You are the Lord of duty, 
 I am hitherto your Daughter. But heere's my Husband; 
 And fo much dutie, as my Mother fliew'd 
 
 To you, preferring you before her Father: 
 So much I challenge, that Imay profefle 
 Due to the Moore my Lord. 
 
 Bra. God be with you : I haue done . 
 Pleafe it your Grace, on to the State Affaires; 
 I had rather to adopt a Child, then get it. 
 Come hither Moore; 
 
 I here do giue thee that with all my heart, 
 Which but thou haft already, with all my heart 
 I would keepe from thee. For your fake (lewell) 
 I am glad at foule,! haue no other Child, 
 For thy efcape would teach me Tirranie 
 To hang clogges on them. I haue done my Lord. 
 
 Duke. Let me fpeake like your felfe : 
 And lay a Sentence, 
 
 Which as a grife,or ftep may helpe thefe Louers. 
 When remedies are paft, the griefes are ended 
 By feeing the worft, which late on hopes depended. 
 To mourne a Mifcheefe that is paft and gon, 
 Is the next way to draw new mifchiefe on. 
 What cannot be prefern'd, when Fortune takes : 
 Patience , her Iniury a mock'ry makes. 
 The rob'd that fmiles, fteales fomething from the Thiefe, 
 He robs h'imfelfe,that fpends a booteleffe griefe. 
 
 Bra. So let the Turke of Cyprus vs beguile, 
 We loofe it not fo long as we can fmile : 
 He beares the Sentence well, that nothing beares, 
 But the free comfort which from thence he heares. 
 But he beares both the Sentence, and the forrow, 
 That to pay griefe, muft of poore Patience borrow. 
 Thefe Sentences, to Sugar, or to Gal), 
 Being ftrong on both fides, are Equiuocall. 
 But words are words, I neuer yet did heare :| 
 That the bruized heart was pierc'd through the eares. 
 I humbly befeech you proceed to th'Aftaires of State. 
 
 Dufy. The Turke with a moft mighty Preparation 
 makes for Cyprus: Othello, the Fortitude of the place is 
 beft knowne to you. And though we haue there a Subfti- 
 tute of moft allowed fufHciencie; yet opinion, a more 
 foueraigne Miftris of Effects, throwes a more fafer 
 voice on you : you muft therefore be content to (lubber 
 the glofie of your new Fortunes, with this more ilub- 
 borne, and boyftrous expedition. 
 
 Otbe. The Tirant Cuftome,moft Graue Senators, 
 Hath made the flinty and Steele Coach of Warre 
 My thrice-driuen bed of Downe. I do agnize 
 A Naturall and prompt Alacartie, 
 I finde in hardnefle : and do vndertake 
 This prefent Warres againft the Ottamltes. 
 Moft humbly therefore bending to your State, 
 I craue fit difpofition for my Wife, 
 Due reference of Place, and Exhibition, 
 With fuch Accomodation and befort 
 As leuels with her breeding. 
 
 Du\e. Why at her Fathers ? 
 
 Bra, I will not haue it fb. 
 
 Otbe. Nor I. 
 
 Def. Nor would I there recide, 
 To put my Father in impatient thoughts 
 By being in his eye. Moft Grcaious Duke, 
 To my vnfolding, lend your profperous eare, 
 And let me finde a Charter in your voice 
 T'aflift my fimplenefle. 
 
 e Du%e. What would you Defdemona ? 
 
 Def. That I loue the Moore, to liue with him, 
 My downe-right violence, and ftorme of Fortunes, 
 
 May
 
 tbe^Moore of Venice. 
 
 3'5 
 
 May trumpet to the world. My heart's fubdu'd 
 
 Euen to the very quality of my Lord; 
 
 I faw Othello's vifage in his mind, 
 
 And to his Honours and his valiant parts, 
 
 Did I my foule and Fortunes confecrate. 
 
 So that (deere Lords )if I be left behind 
 
 A Moth of Peace, and he go to the Warre, 
 
 The Rites for why I loue him, are bereft me : 
 
 And I a heauie interim fhall fupport 
 
 By his deere abfence. Let me go with him. 
 
 Otbe. Let her haue your voice. 
 Vouch with me Heauen, I therefore beg it not 
 To pleafe the pallate of my Appetite : 
 Nor to comply with heat the yong affedts 
 In my defundt, and proper fatisfaction. 
 But to be free, and bounteous to her minde : 
 And Heauen defend your good foules, that you thinke 
 I will your ferious and great bufinefle fcant 
 When me is with me. No, when light wing'd Toyes 
 Of feather'd Cu/>;'J,feele with wanton dulnefie 
 My fpeculatiue,and offic'd Inftrument : 
 That my Difports corrupt, and taint my bufinefle : 
 Let Houfe-wiues make a Skillet of my Helme, 
 And all indigne, and bafe aduerfities, 
 Make head againft my Eftimation. 
 
 Du\e. Be it as you fliall priuately determine , 
 Either for her ftay, or going : th'Affaire cries haft: 
 And fpeed muft anfwer it. 
 
 &. You muft away to night. 
 
 Otbe. With all my heart. 
 
 Du^e. At nine i'th'morning, here wee'l meete againe. 
 Otbe/Io,\eaue fome Officer behind 
 And he mall our Commiflion bring to you : 
 And fuch things elfe of qualitie and refpect 
 As doth import you. 
 
 Otbe. So pleafe your Grace, my Ancient, 
 A man he is of honefty and truft : 
 To his conueyance I afligne my wife, 
 With what elfe needfull,your good Grace mail think 
 To be fent after me. 
 
 Duly. Let it be fo : 
 
 Good night to euery one. And Noble Signior, 
 If Vertue no delighted Beautie lacke, 
 Your Son-in-law is farre more Faire then Blacke. 
 
 &. Adieu braue Moore, vfe Defdemona well. 
 
 Bra. Looke to her (Moore) if thou haft eies to fee: 
 She ha's deceiu'd her Father, and may thee. Exit. 
 
 Otbe. My life vpon her faith. Honeft lago, 
 My Defdemona muft I leaue to thee : 
 I prythee let thy wife attend on her, 
 And bring them after in the beft aduantage. 
 Come Defdemona,\ haue but an houre 
 Of Loue, of wordly matter, and direction 
 To fpend with thee. We muft obey the the time. Exit. 
 
 Rod. lago. 
 
 logo. What faift thou Noble heart? 
 
 Rod. What will I do, think'ft thou ? 
 
 lago. Why go to bed and fleepe. 
 
 ~Rfd. I will incontinently drowne my felfe. 
 
 lago. If thou do'ft,! mall neuer loue thee after. Why 
 thou filly Gentleman ? 
 
 Rod. It is fillynefle to Hue, when to liue is torment : 
 and then haue we a prefcription to dye, when death is 
 our Phyfition. 
 
 lago. Oh villanous : I haue look'd vpon the world 
 for foure times feuen yeares,and fince I could diftinguim 
 
 8oj 
 
 betwixt a Benefit, and an Iniurie : I neuer found man that 
 knew how to loue himfelfe. Ere I would fay, I would 
 drowne my felfe for the loue of a Gynney Hen, I would 
 change my Humanity with a Baboone. 
 
 Rod. What mould I do ? I confefTe it is my fhame 
 to be fo fond, but it is not in my vertue to amend it. 
 
 lago. Vertue ? A figge, 'tis in our felues that we are 
 thus, or thus. Our Bodies are our Gardens, to the which, 
 our Wills are Gardiners. So that if we will plant Net- 
 tels, or fowe Lettice : Set Hifope, and weede vp Time: 
 Supplie it with one gender of Hearbes,or diftradl it with 
 many : either to haue it fterrill with idlenefle, or manu- 
 red with Induftry, why the power, and Corrigeable au- 
 thoritie of this lies in our Wills. If the braine of our liues 
 had not one Scale of Reafon, to poize another of Senfu- 
 alitie, the blood, and bafenefie of our Natures would 
 condudt vs to moft prepoftrous Conclusions. But we 
 haue Reafon to coole our raging Motions, our carnall 
 Stings, or vnbitted Lufts : whereof I take this, that you 
 call Loue, to be a Se<5t, or Seyen. 
 
 Rod. It cannot be, 
 
 lago. It is meerly a Luft of the blood, and a permiflion 
 of the will. Come, be a man : drowne thy felfe ? Drown 
 Cats, and blind Puppies. I haue profeft me thy Friend, 
 and I confefle me knit to thy deferuing, with Cables of 
 perdurable toughnefle. I could neuer better fteed thee 
 then now. Put Money in thy purfe : follow thou the 
 Warres, defeate thy fauour, with an vfurp'd Beard. I fay 
 put Money in thy purfe.lt cannot be long that Defdemona 
 mould continue her loue to the Moore. Put Money in 
 thy purfe: nor he his to her. It was a violent Commence- 
 ment in her, and thou malt fee an anfwerable Seque 
 ftration, put but Money in thy purfe. Thefe Moores 
 are changeable in their wils : fill thy purfe with Money. 
 The Food that to him now is as lumious as Locufts, 
 fhalbe to him fliortly, as bitter as Coloquintida. She 
 muft change for youth : when me is fated with his body 
 me will find the errors of her choice. Therefore, put Mo- 
 ney in thy purfe. If thou wilt needs damne thy felfe, do 
 it a more delicate way then drowning. Make all the Mo- 
 ney thou canft : If SandYimonie, and a fraile vow, be- 
 twixt an erring Barbarian, and fuper-fubtle Venetian be 
 not too hard for my wits, and all the Tribe of hell, thou 
 fhalt enioy her : therefore make Money : a pox of drow- 
 ning thy felfe, it is cleane out of the way. Seeke thou ra- 
 ther to be hang'd in Compafling thy ioy, then to be 
 drown'd,and go without her. 
 
 fydo. Wilt thou be faft to my hopes, if I depend on 
 the iflue ? 
 
 lago. Thou art fure of me: Go make Money : I haue 
 told thee often, and I re-tell thee againe, and againe, I 
 hate the Moore. My caufe is hearted; thine hath no lefie 
 reafon. Let vs be coniun&iue in our reuenge, againft 
 him. If thou canft Cuckold him, thou doft thy felfe a 
 pleafure, me a fport. There are many Euents in the 
 Wombe of Time, which wilbe deliuered. Trauerfe, go, 
 prouide thy Money. We will haue more of this to mor- 
 row. Adieu. 
 
 <! R^d. Where mall we meete i'th'morning ? 
 
 lago. At my Lodging. 
 
 I(od. lie be with thee betimes. 
 
 lago. Go too, fare well. Do you heare Rodorigo? 
 
 Rod. He fell all my Land. Exit. 
 
 lago. Thus do I euer make my Foole,my purfe : 
 For 1 mine owne gain'd knowledge mould prophane 
 I fl would time expend with fuch Snpe, 
 
 But
 
 316 
 
 The Tragedie of Othello 
 
 T> 
 
 ut for my Sport, and Profit : I hate the Moore, 
 And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my fheets 
 She ha's done my Office. I know not if t be true, 
 But I, for meere fufpition in that kinde, 
 Will do, as if for Surety. He holds me well, 
 The better fhall my purpofe worke on him : 
 Caffio s a proper man : Let me fee now, 
 To get his Place, and to plume vp my will 
 In double Knauery. How? How? Let's fee. 
 After fome time, to abufe Othello's eares, 
 That he is too familiar with his wife : 
 He hath a perfon, and a fmooth difpofe 
 To be fufpedted : fram'd to make women falfe. 
 The Moore is of a free, and open Nature, 
 That thinkes men honeft, that but feeme to be fo, 
 And will as tenderly be lead by'th'Nofc 
 As Afles are : 
 
 I haue't : it is engendred : Hell, and Night, 
 Muft bring this monftrous Birth, to the worlds light. 
 
 Aftus Secundus. Scena 'Prima. 
 
 Enter Montana , and (too (gentlemen. 
 
 Man. What from the Cape, can you difcerne at Sea? 
 
 i.Gent. Nothing at all, it is a high wrought Flood : 
 I cannot 'twixt the Heauen, and the Maine, 
 Defcry a Saile. 
 
 Man. Me thinks, the wind hath fpoke aloud at Land, 
 A fuller blaft ne're fhooke our Battlements: 
 If it hath ruffiand fo vpon the Sea, 
 What ribbes of Oake, when Mountaines melt on them, 
 Can hold the Morties. What /hall we heare of this? 
 
 2 A Segregation of the Turkifh Fleet : 
 For do but ftand vpon the Foaming Shore, 
 The chidden Billow feemes to pelt the Clowds, 
 
 The winde-fhak'd-Surge, with high & monftrous Maine 
 Seemes to caft water on the burning Beare, 
 And quench the Guards of th'euer-fixed Pole: 
 I neuer did like molleftation view 
 On the enchafed Flood. 
 
 Men. If that the Turkifh Fleete 
 Be not enfhelter'd, and embay'd, they are drown'd, 
 It is impoflible to beare it out. 
 
 Enter a Gentleman. 
 
 3 Newes Laddes : our warres are done : 
 
 The defperate Tempeft hath fo bang'd the Turkes, 
 That their defignement halts. A Noble fhip of Venice, 
 Hath feene a greeuous wracke and fufferance 
 On moft part of their Fleet. 
 
 Man. How? Is this true f 
 
 3 The Ship is heere put in: A ferennej/a, Michael Caffio 
 Lieutenant to the warlike Moore, Othello, 
 Is come on Shore : the Moore himfelfe at Sea, 
 And is in full Commiflion heere for Cyprus. 
 
 Man. I am glad on't : 
 Tis a worthy Gouernour. 
 
 3 But this fame Caffio, though he fpeake of comfort, 
 Touching the Turkifh lofle, yet he lookes fadly, 
 And praye the Moore be fafe ; for they were parted 
 With fowle and violent Tempeft. 
 
 Mon. Pray Heauens he be : 
 
 For I haue leru'd him, and the man commands 
 Like a full Soldier. Let's to the Sea-fide (hoa) 
 As well to fee the VefTell that's come in, 
 As to throw-out our eyes for braue Othello, 
 Euen till we make the Maine, and th'Eriall blew, 
 An indiftindt regard. 
 
 Gent. Come, let's do fo ; 
 For euery Minute is expeclancie 
 Of more Arriuancie. 
 
 Enter Caffio. 
 
 CaJJl. Thankes you, the valiant of the warlike Ifle, 
 That fo approoue the Moore: Oh let the Heauens 
 Giue him defence againft the Elements, 
 For I haue loft him on a dangerous Sea. 
 
 Mon. Is he well fhip'd ? 
 
 Caffio. His Barke is ftoutly Timber'd,and his Pylot 
 Of verie expert, and approu'd Allowance; 
 Therefore my hope's (not furfetted to death) 
 Stand in bold Cure. 
 
 Within. A Saile, a Saile, a Saile. 
 
 Caffio. What noife ? 
 
 Gent. The Towne is empty ; on the brow o'th'Sea 
 Stand rankes of People, and they cry,a Saile. 
 
 Caffio. My hopes do fhape him for the Gouernor. 
 
 Gent. They do difcharge their Shot of Courtefie, 
 Our Friends, at leaft. 
 
 Caffio. I pray you Sir, go forth, 
 And giue vs truth who 'tis that is arriu'd. 
 
 gent. I fhall. Exit. 
 
 Mon. But good Lieutenant, is your Generall wiu'd? 
 
 Caffio. Moft fortunately : he hath atchieu'd a Maid 
 That paragons defcription, and wilde Fame : 
 One that excels the quirkes of Blazoning pens, 
 And in th'efTentiall Vefture of Creation, 
 Do's tyre the Ingeniuer. 
 
 Enter Gentleman. 
 How now? Who ha's put in? 
 
 Qent. 'Tis one lago, Auncient to the Generall. 
 
 Caffio. Ha's had moft fauourable, and happie fpeed : 
 Tempefts themfelues, high Seas, and howling windes, 
 The gutter'd-Rockes,and Congregated Sands, 
 Traitors enfteep'd, to enclogge the guiltlefie Keele, 
 As hauing fence of Beautie, do omit 
 Their mortall Natures, letting go fafely by 
 The Diuine Defdemona. 
 
 Mon. Whatisflie? 
 
 Caffio. She that I fpake of: 
 Our great Captains Captaine, 
 Left in the condudl of the bold lago, 
 Whofe footing heere anticipates our thoughts, 
 A Senights fpeed. Great loue, Othello guard, 
 And fwell his Saile with thine owne powrefull breath, 
 That he may blefle this Bay with his tall Ship, 
 Make loues quicke pants in DefJtmonaes Armes, 
 Giue renew'd fire to our extindled Spirits. 
 
 Enter Defdemona, lago, Rodorigo,and<&milia. 
 Oh behold, 
 
 The Riches of the Ship is come on fhore : 
 You men of Cyprus, let her haue your knees. 
 Haile to thee Ladie : and the grace of Heauen, 
 Before, behinde thee, and on euery hand 
 Enwheele thee round. 
 
 DeJ. I thanke you, Valiant Caffio, 
 What tydings can you tell of my Lord ? 
 
 Caffio. 
 
 806
 
 the ^Moore of Venice. 
 
 3 1 ? 
 
 Caf. He is not yet arriu'd, nor know I ought 
 But that he's well, and will be fhortly heere. 
 
 Def. Oh, but I feare : 
 How loft you company ? 
 
 Caffio. The great Contention of Sea, and Skies 
 Parted our fellowship. But hearke, a Saile. 
 
 Within. A Saile, a Saile. 
 
 Qent. They giue this greeting to the Cittadell ; 
 This likewife is a Friend. 
 
 Caffio. See for the Newes : 
 
 Good Ancient, you are welcome. Welcome Miftris : 
 Let it not gaule your patience (good lago) 
 That I extend my Manners. 'Tis my breeding, 
 That giues me this bold fhew of Curtefie. 
 
 lago. Sir, would fhe giue you fomuch of her lippes, 
 As of her tongue fhe oft beftowes on me, 
 You would haue enough. 
 
 Def. Alas : fhe ha's no fpeech. 
 
 lago. Infaith too much : 
 I finde it ftill, when I haue leaue to fleepe. 
 Marry before your Ladyfhip, I grant, 
 She puts het tongue a little in her heart, 
 And chides with thinking. 
 
 e/z//. You haue little caufe to fay fo. 
 
 lago. Come on, come on : you are Pictures out of 
 doore : Bells in your Parlours : Wilde-Cats in your Kit- 
 chens : Saints in your Injuries : Diuels being offended : 
 Players in your Hufwiferie, and Hufwiues in your 
 Beds. 
 
 Def. Oh, fie vpon thee, Slanderer. 
 
 lago. Nay, it is true : or elfe I am a Turke, 
 You rife to play, and go to bed to worke. 
 
 v4Lmil. You fhall not write my praife. 
 
 lago. No,let me not. 
 
 'Dejde. What would'ft write of me, if thou fhould'ft 
 praife me ? 
 
 lago. Oh, gentle Lady, do not put me too,t, 
 For I am nothing, if not Criticall. 
 
 Def. Come on, aflay. 
 There's one gone to the Harbour? 
 lago. I Madam. 
 
 Def. I am not merry : but I do beguile 
 The thing I am, by feeming otherwife. 
 Come,how would'ft thou praife me ? 
 
 lago. I am about it, but indeed my inuention comes 
 from my pate, as Birdlyme do's from Freeze, it pluckes 
 out Braines and all. But my Mufe labours, and thus fhe 
 is deliuer'd. 
 
 Ifjhe be fat re, and wife: fairenejfe, and wit. 
 The ones for -vfe, the other -vfetb it. 
 
 Def. Well prais'd : 
 How if fhe be Blacke and Witty ? 
 
 lago. Ifjhe be blacks , and thereto haue a if it, 
 Shi le find a white, that Jhall her blackjiejfi fit. 
 
 Def. Worfe, and worfe. 
 
 <!;mil. How if Faire, and Foolifh ? 
 
 lago. She neuer yet wai foolijh that wot fair e, 
 For euen her folly belpt her to an heire. 
 
 Defde. Thefe are old fond Paradoxes, to make Fooles 
 laugh i'th'Alehoufe. What miferable praife haft thou 
 for her that's Foule, and Foolifh. 
 
 lago. There's nonefofoule andfoolijh thereunto, 
 But do'sfoule pranks, which fair e, and wife-ones do. 
 
 Defde. Oh heauy ignorance : thou praifeft the worft 
 beft. But what praife could'ft thou beftow on a defer- 
 uing woman indeed ? One, that in the authorithy of her 
 
 807 
 
 merit, did iuftly put on the vouch of very malice lt: 
 felfe. 
 
 lago. She that was euer fair -e, and neuer proud, 
 Had Tongue at will, and yet wot neuer loud : 
 Neuer lac^t Gold, and yet went neuer gay , 
 Fled from her wijb , and yet faid now I may. 
 She that being angred, her reuenge being me, 
 'Bad her wrong ft ay, and her dijj>leafure flie : 
 She that in wifedome neuer was fo fraile, 
 To change the Cods-head for the Salmons taile : 
 She that could thinfy , and neu'r dtfclofe her mind, 
 See Suitors following, and not loo^e behind: 
 She was a wight, (if euer fuch wight es were) 
 
 Def. To do what ? 
 
 lago. To fuc^le Fooles, and chronicle fmall Beere. 
 
 Defde. Oh moft lame and impotent conclusion. Do 
 not learne of him &millia, though he be thy husband. 
 How fay you (CaJ/io) is he not a moft prophane, and li- 
 berall Counfailor ? 
 
 Caffio. He fpeakes home ( Madam ) you may rellifh 
 him more in the Souldier, then in the Scholler. 
 
 lago. He takes her by the palme : I, well faid, whif- 
 per. With as little a web as this, will I enfnare as great 
 a Fly as CaJJio. I fmile vpon her, do : I will giue thee 
 in thine owne Courtship. You fay true, 'tis fo indeed. 
 If fuch tricks as thefe ftrip you out of your Lieutenan- 
 trie, it had beene better you had not kifs'd your three fin- 
 gers fo oft, which now againe you are moft apt to play 
 the Sir, in. Very good : well kifs'd, and excellent Curt- 
 fie : 'tis fo indeed. Yet againe, your fingers to your 
 lippes ? Would they were Clufter-pipes for your 
 fake. 
 The Moore I know his Trumpet. 
 
 Caffio, 'Tis truely fo. 
 
 Def. Let's meete him, and recieue him. 
 
 Caffio. Loe, where he comes. 
 
 Enter Othello, and Attendants. 
 
 Oth. O,my faire Warriour. 
 
 "Def. My deere Othello. 
 
 Othe. It giues me wonder great, as my content 
 To fee you heere before me. 
 Oh my Soules loy : 
 
 If after euery Tempeft, come fuch Calmes, 
 May the windes blow, till they haue waken'd death : 
 And let the labouring Barke climbe hills of Seas 
 Olymptu high : and duck againe as low, 
 As hell's from Heauen. If it were now to dye, 
 'Twere now to be moft happy. For I feare, 
 My Soule hath her content fo abfolute, 
 That not another comfort like to this, 
 Succeedes in vnknowne Fate. 
 
 Def. The Heauens forbid 
 But that our Loues 
 And Comforts fhould encreafe 
 Euen as our dayes do grow. 
 
 Othe. Amen to rhat ( fweet Powers) 
 I cannot fpeake enough of this content, 
 It ftoppes me heere : it is too much of ioy. 
 And this, and this the greateft difcords be 
 That ere our hearts fhall make. 
 
 lago. Oh you are well tun'd now : But He fet downe 
 the peggs that make this Muficke, as honeft as I am. 
 
 t t Othe.
 
 The Tr age die of Othello 
 
 Otbe. Come : let vs to the Caftle. 
 Newes (Friends) our Warres are done : 
 The Turkes are drown'd. 
 How do's my old Acquaintance of this Ifle ? 
 (Hony)you fhall be well defir'd in Cyprus, 
 I haue found great loue among'ft them. Oh my Sweet, 
 I prattle out of fafhion,and I doate 
 In mine owne comforts. I prythee, good lago, 
 Go to the Bay, and difimbarke m y Coffers: 
 Bring thou the Matter to the Cittadell , 
 He is a good one, and his worthynefTe 
 Do's challenge much refpecl:. Come Dejdemona, 
 Once more well met at Cyprus. 
 
 Exit Othello and Defdemona. 
 
 logo. Do thou meet me prefently at the Harbour. 
 Come thither, if thou be'ft Valiant, (as they fay bafe men 
 being in Loue, haue then a Nobilitie in their Natures, 
 more then is natiue to them) lift-me; the Lieutenant to 
 night watches on the Court of Guard. Firft, I muft tell 
 thee this : Defdemona, is directly in loue with him. 
 Rod. With him ? Why, 'tis not pofiible. 
 logo. Lay thy finger thus : and let thy foule be in- 
 ftrudled. Marke me with what violence /he firft lou'd 
 the Moore, but for bragging, and telling her fantafticall 
 lies. To loue him ftill for prating, let not thy difcreet 
 heart thinke it. Her eye muft be fed. And what delight 
 fhall flie haue to looke on the diuell ? When the Blood 
 is made dull with the Act of Sport, there fhould be a 
 game to enflame it, and to giue Satiety a frefh appetite. 
 Louelinefie in fauour, fimpathy in yeares, Manners, 
 and Beauties : all which the Moore is defedtiue in. Now 
 for want of thefe requir'd Conueniences, her delicate 
 tendernefle wil finde it felfe abus'd, begin to heaue the, 
 gorge, difrellifh and abhorre the Moore, very Nature wil 
 inftrudt her in it, and compell her to fome fecond choice. 
 Now Sir, this granted (as it is a moft pregnant and vn- 
 forc'd pofition) who ftands fo eminent in the degree of 
 this Forune, as Cajjio do's : a knaue very voluble : no 
 further confcionable, then in putting on the meere forme 
 of Ciuill, and Humaine feeming, for the better compafie 
 of his fait, and moft hidden loofe Affection ? Why none, 
 why none : A flipper, and fubtle knaue, a finder of occa- 
 fion : that he's an eye can ftampe, and counterfeit Ad- 
 uantages, though true Aduantage neuer prefent it felfe. 
 A diueii/h knaue : befides, the knaue is handfome, young : 
 and hath all thofe requifites in him, that folly and greene 
 mindes looke after. A peftilent compleat knaue, and the 
 woman hath found him already. 
 
 Rodo. I cannot beleeue that in her, {he's full of moft 
 blefs'd condition. 
 
 logo. Blefs'd figges-end . The Wine fhe drinkes is 
 made of grapes. If ifhee had beene blefs'd, fhee would 
 neuer haue lou'd the Moore : Blefs'd pudding. Didft thou 
 not fee her paddle with the palme of his hand ? Didft not 
 marke that ? 
 
 Rod. Yes, that I did : but that was but curtefie. 
 lago. Leacherie by this hand : an Index, and obfcure 
 prologue to the Hiftory of Luft and foule Thoughts. 
 They met fo neere with their lippes, that their breathes 
 embrac'd together. Villanous thoughts Rodorigo, when 
 thefe mutabilities fo marfhall the way, hard at hand 
 comes the Mafter, and maine exercife, th'incorporate 
 conclufion : Pifli. But Sir, be you rul'd by me. I haue 
 brought you from Venice. Watch you to night : for 
 the Command, He lay't vpon you. CaJJlo knowes you 
 not : He not be farre from you. Do you finde fome oc- 
 
 cafion to anger CaJJlo, either by fpeaking too loud, or 
 tainting his difcipline, or from what other courfe 
 you pleafe, which the time fhall more fauorably mi- 
 nifter. 
 
 Rod. Well. 
 
 lago. Sir, he's rafh, and very fodaine in Choller : and 
 happely may ftrike at you, prouoke him that he may : for 
 euen out of that will I caufe thefe of Cyprus to Mutiny. 
 Whofe qualification fhall come into no true tafte a- 
 gaine, but by the difplanting of CaJJlo. So fhall you 
 haue a fhorter Journey to your defires, by the meanes I 
 fhall then haue to preferre them. And the impediment 
 moft profitably remoued, without the which there were 
 no expectation of our profperitie. 
 
 Rjdo. I will do this, if you can bring it to any oppor- 
 tunity. 
 
 lago . I warrant thee. Meete me by and by at the 
 Cittadell. I muft fetch his Necefiaries a Shore. Fare- 
 well. 
 
 Rodo. Adieu. Exit. 
 
 lago. That CaJJlo loues her, I do well beleeu't : 
 That fhe loues him, 'tis apt, and of great Credite. 
 The Moore (howbeit that I endure him not) 
 Is of a conftant, louing, Noble Nature, 
 And I dare thinke, he'le proue to Defdemona 
 A moft deere husband. Now I do loue her too, 
 Not out of abfolute Luft, (though peraduenture 
 I ftand accomptant for as great a fin) 
 But partely led to dyet my Reuenge, 
 For that I do fufpedt the luftie Moore 
 Hath leap'd into my Seate. The thought whereof, 
 Doth (like a poyfonous Minerall) gnaw my Inwardes : 
 And nothing can, or fhall content my Soule 
 Till I am eeuen'd with him, wife, for wift. 
 Or fayling fo,yet that I put the Moore, 
 At leaft into a lelouzie fo ftrong 
 That iudgement cannot cure. Which thing to do, 
 If this poore Trafli of Venice, whom I trace 
 For his quicke hunting, ftand the putting on, 
 He haue our Michael C^ffio on the hip, 
 Abufe him to the Moore, in the right garbe 
 (For I feare CaJJlo with my Night-Cape too) 
 Make the Moore thanke me, loue me, and reward me, 
 For making him egregioufly an AfTe, 
 And pradtifing vpon his peace, and quiet, 
 Euen to madneffe. 'Tis neere : but yet confus'd, 
 Knaueries plaine face, is neuer feene, till vs'd. Exit. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Othello's, Herald with a Proclamation. 
 
 Herald. It is Othello's pleafure, our Noble and Vali- 
 ant General!. That vpon certaine tydings now arriu'd, 
 importing the meere perdition of the Turkifh Fleete : 
 euery man put himfelfe into Triumph. Some to daunce, 
 fome to make Bonfires, each man, to what Sport and 
 Reuels his addition leads him. For befides thele bene- 
 ficiall Newes, it is the Celebration of his Nuptiall. So 
 much was his pleafure fhould be proclaimed. All offi- 
 ces are open, & there is full libertie of Feafting from this 
 
 pre-
 
 the <Moore of Venice. 
 
 3*9 
 
 prefenr houre of flue, till the Bell haue told eleuen. 
 Blefie the Ifle of Cyprus, and our Noble Generall Otbel- 
 lo. Exit. 
 
 Enter Othello , Defdemona , CaJJio , and Attendants. 
 
 Othe. Good Michae/,looke you to the guard to night. 
 Let's teach our felues that Honourable ftop, 
 Not to out-fport difcretion. 
 
 Caf. lago, hath direction what to do. 
 But notwithftanding with my perfonall eye 
 Will 1 looke to't. 
 
 Othe. Iago,\s moft honeft : 
 
 cflficbael, good night. To morrow with your earlieft, 
 Let me haue fpeech with you. Come my deere Loue, 
 The purchafe made, the fruites are to enfue, 
 That profit's yet to come 'tweene me, and you. 
 Goodnight. Exit. 
 
 Enter lago. 
 
 Caf. Welcome lago : we muft to the Watch. 
 
 lago. Not this houre Lieutenant : 'tis not yet ten 
 o'th'clocke. Our Generall caft vs thus earely for the 
 loue of his Defdemona : Who, let vs not therefore blame; 
 he hath not yet made wanton the night with her : and 
 flie is fport for loue. 
 
 Caf. She's a moft exquifite Lady. 
 
 lago. And He warrant her, full of Game. 
 
 Caf. Indeed flies a moft frefh and delicate creature. 
 
 lago. What an eye flie ha's ? 
 Methinkes it founds a parley to prouocation. 
 
 Caf. An inuiting eye : 
 And yet me thinkes right modeft, 
 
 lago. And when flie fpeakes, 
 Is it not an Alarum to Loue ? 
 
 Caf. She is indeed perfection. 
 
 lago. Well : happinefie to their Sheetes. Come Lieu- 
 tenant, I haue a ftope of Wine, and heere without are a 
 brace of Cyprus Gallants, that would faine haue a mea- 
 fure to the health of blacke Othello. 
 
 Caf. Not to night, good lago, I haue very poore, 
 and vnhappie Braines for drinking. I could well wifh. 
 Curtefie would inuent fome other Cuftome of enter- 
 tainment. 
 
 lago. Oh, they are our Friends : but one Cup , He 
 drinke for you. 
 
 CaJJio. I haue drunke but one Cup to night, and that 
 was craftily qualified too : and behold what inouation 
 it makes heere. I am infortunate in the infirmity, and 
 dare not taske my weakenefle with any more. 
 
 lago. What man ? 'Tis a night of Reuels, the Gal- 
 lants defire it. 
 
 Qaf. Where are they ? 
 
 lago. Heere, at the doore : I pray you call them in. 
 
 Caf. He do't, but it diflikes me. Exit. 
 
 lago. If I can faften but one Cup vpon him 
 With that which he hath drunke to night alreadie, 
 He'l be as full of Quarrell,and offence 
 As my yong Miftris dogge. 
 Now my ficke Foole Redorigo, 
 
 Whom Loue hath turn'd almoft the wrong fide out, 
 To Defdemona hath to night Carrows'd. 
 Potations, pottle-deepe; and he's to watch. 
 Three elfe of Cyprus, Noble fwelling Spirites, 
 (That hold their Honours in a wary diftance, 
 The very Elements of this Warrelike Ifle) i 
 Haue I to night flutter' d with flowing Cups, 
 And they Watch too. 
 
 809 
 
 Now 'mongft this Flocke of drunkards 
 
 Am I put to our CaJJio in fome Adlion 
 
 That may offend the Ifle. But here they come. 
 
 Bnter CaJJio , Montana , and Gentlemen. 
 If Confequence do but approue my dreame, 
 My Boate failes freely, both with winde and Streame. 
 
 Caf. 'Fore heauen,they haue giuen me a rowfe already. 
 
 Mon. Good-faith a litle one : not pad a pint, as I am a 
 Souldier. 
 
 lago. Some Wine hoa. 
 
 And let me the Cannatyn clin%e,clin%e : 
 
 And let me the Cannakjn cliltty, 
 
 A Souldiers a man : Oh, mans life's but a ff>an y 
 
 Jfby then let a Souldier drinke. 
 Some Wine Boyes. 
 
 Caf. 'Fore Heauen : an excellent Song. 
 
 lago. I learn'd it in England : where indeedthey are 
 moft potent in Potting. Your Dane, your Germaine, 
 and your fwag-belly'd Hollander, ( drinke hoa ) are 
 nothing to your Englifli. 
 
 CaJJio. Is your Engliflimen fo exquifite in his drin- 
 king ? 
 
 lago. Why, he drinkes you with facillitie, your Dane 
 dead drunke. He fweates not to ouerthrow your Al- 
 maine. He giues your Hollander a vomit, ere the next 
 Pottle can be fill'd. 
 
 Caf. To the health of our Generall. 
 
 Man. I am for it Lieutenant : and He do you luftice. 
 
 lago. Oh fweet England. 
 
 King Stephen tvai and- a worthy Peere, 
 
 His Breeches coji him but a Crorvne, 
 
 He held them Six pence all to deere, 
 
 With that he cal'd the Tailor Lotone : 
 
 He VPM a might of high Renotvne, 
 
 tAnd thou art hut of IOTV degree : 
 
 ' Tis Pride that fulls the Country dwne, 
 
 And take thy a-tnTd Cloa\e about tbee. 
 Some Wine hoa. 
 
 CaJJio. Why this is a more exquifite Song then the o- 
 ther. 
 
 lago. Will you heare't againe ? 
 
 Caf. No : for I hold him to be vn worthy of his Place, 
 that do's thofe things. Well : heau'ns aboue all : and 
 there be foules muft be faued, and there be foules muft 
 not be faued. 
 
 lago. It's true, good Lieutenant. 
 
 Caf. For mine owne part, no offence to the Generall, 
 nor any man of qualitie : I hope to be faued. 
 
 lago. And fo do I too Lieutenant. 
 
 CaJJio. I : (but by your leaue ) not before me. The 
 Lieutenant is to be faued before the Ancient. L^t's haue 
 no more of this: let's to our Affaires. Forgiue vs our 
 finnes : Gentlemen let's looke to our bufinefle. Do not 
 thinke Gentlemen,! am drunke : this is my Ancient, this 
 is my right hand, and this is my left. I am not drunke 
 now : I can ftand well enough, and I fpeake well enough. 
 
 Gent. Excellent well. 
 
 Caf. Why very well then : you muft not thinke then, 
 that I am drunke. Gxit. 
 
 Monta. To th'Platforme ( Matters) come, let's fet the 
 Watch. 
 
 lago. You fee this Fellow, that is gone before, 
 He 's a Souldier, fit to ftand by Ca-far, 
 And giue direction. And do but fee his vice, 
 'Tis to his vertue,a iuft Equinox, 
 
 t t 3 
 
 The
 
 320 
 
 'The Tragedie of Othello 
 
 The one as long as th'other. 'Tis pittie of him : 
 I feare the truft Othello puts him in, 
 On fome odde time of his infirmitie 
 Will fhake this Ifland. 
 
 Mont. But is he often thus? 
 
 lago. 'Tis euermore his prologue to his fleepe, 
 He'le watch the Horologe a double Set, 
 If Drinke rocke not his Cradle. 
 
 Mont. It were well 
 The General! were put in mind of it : 
 Perhaps he fees it not, or his good nature 
 Prizes the vertue that appeares in CaJJio, 
 And lookes not on his euills : is not this true 9 
 Enter Rodorigo. 
 
 lago. How now Rodorigo ? 
 I pray you after the Lieutenant, go. 
 
 Mon. And 'tis great pitty,that the Noble Moore 
 Should hazard fuch a Place, as his owne Second 
 With one of an ingraft Infirmitie, 
 It were an honeft Aclion,to fay fo 
 To the Moore. 
 
 lago. Not I, for this faire Ifland, 
 I do loue CaJJio well : and would do much 
 To cure him of this euill, But hearke, what noife ? 
 Snter CaJJio purfutng Rodorigo . 
 
 Caf. You Rogue : you Rafcall. 
 
 Mon. What's the matter Lieutenant ? 
 
 Caf. A Knaue teach me my dutie ? He beate the 
 Knaue into a Twiggen-Bottle. 
 
 Rod. Beate me ? 
 
 Caf. Doft thou prate, Rogue ? 
 
 Mon. Nay, good Lieutenant : 
 I pray you Sir, hold your hand. 
 
 CaJJlo .Let me go(Sir) 
 Or He knocke you o're the Mazard. 
 
 cWon. Come,come : you're drunke. 
 
 CaJJio. Drunke? 
 
 lago. Away I fay : go out and cry a Mutinie. 
 Nay good Lieutenant. Alas Gentlemen : 
 Helpe hoa. Lieutenant. Sir Montana : 
 Helpe Mafters. Heere's a goodly Watch indeed. 
 Who's that which rings the Bell: Diablo, hoa : 
 The Towne will rife. Fie, fie Lieutenant, 
 You'le be afliam'd for euer. 
 
 Enter Othello, and Attendants. 
 
 Otbe. What is the matter heere? 
 
 Mon. I bleed ftill, I am hurt to th 'death. He dies. 
 
 Otbe. Hold for your liues. 
 
 /<zg-.Hold hoa : Lieutenant, Sir Montana, Gentlemen: 
 Haue you forgot all place of fenfe and dutie? 
 Hold. The Generall fpeaks to you : hold for fhame. 
 
 Otb. Why how now hoa ? From whence arifeth this? 
 Are we turn'd Turkes ? and to our felues do that 
 Which Heauen hath forbid the Ottamittes. 
 For Chriftian ihame,put by this barbarous Brawle: 
 He that ftirs next, tocarue for his owne rage, 
 Holds his foule light: He dies vpon his Motion. 
 Silence that dreadfull Bell, it frights the Ifle, 
 From her propriety. What is the matter, Mafters ? 
 Honeft /ago, that lookes dead with greeuing, 
 Speake : who began this? On thy loue I charge thee? 
 
 lago. I do not know: Friends all, but|now,euen now. 
 In Quarter,and in termes like Bride, and Groome 
 Deuefting them for Bed : and then, but now : 
 (As if fome Planet had vnwitted men) 
 
 Swords out, and tilting one at others breaftes, 
 In oppofition bloody. I cannot fpeake 
 Any begining to this peeuifti oddes. 
 And would, in Adlion glorious,! had loft 
 Thofe legges, that brought me to a part of it. 
 
 Otbe. How comes it( Micbaell)yo\i are thus forgot? 
 
 Caf. I pray you pardon me, I cannot fpeake. 
 
 Otbe. Worthy Montana, you were wont to be ciuill : 
 The grauitie, and ftillnefle of your youth 
 The world hath noted. And your name is great 
 In mouthes of wifeft Cenfure. What's the matter 
 That you vnlace your reputation thus, 
 And fpend your rich opinion, for the name 
 Of a night-brawler ? Giue me anfwer to it. 
 
 Mon. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger, 
 Your Officer lago, can informe you, 
 While I fpare fpeech which fomething now offends me. 
 Of all that I do know,nor know I ought 
 By me, that's faid,ordone amiffe this night, 
 Vnlefle felfe-charitie be fometimes a vice, 
 And to defend our felues, it be a finne 
 When violence aflailes vs. 
 
 Otbe. Now by Heauen, 
 My blood begins my fafer Guides to rule, 
 And paflion(hauing my beft iudgement collied) 
 Affaies to leade the way. If I once ftir, 
 Or do but lift this Arme, the beft of you 
 Shall finke in my rebuke. Giue me to know 
 How this foule Rout began : Who fet it on, 
 And he that is approu'd in this offence, 
 Though he had twinn'd with me, both at a birth, 
 Shall loofe me. What in a Towne of warre, 
 Yet wilde,the peoples hearts brim-full of feare, 
 To Manage priuate, and domefticke Quarrel 1 ? 
 In night, and on theCourt and Guard offafetie? 
 'Tis monftrous : lago, who began't? 
 
 Mon. If partially Affin'd, or league in office, 
 Thou doft deliuer more, or lefle then Truth, 
 Thou art no Souldier. 
 
 lago. Touch me not fo neere, 
 I had rather haue this tongue cut from my mouth, 
 Then it fliould do offence to Micbaell CaJJio. 
 Yet I perfwade my felfe,to fpeake the truth 
 Shall nothing wrong him. This it is Generall: 
 Montana and my felfe being in fpeech, 
 There comes a Fellow, crying out for helpe, 
 And CaJJio following him with determin'd Sword 
 To execute vpon him. Sir, this Gentleman, 
 Steppes in to CaJJio, and entreats his paufe: 
 My felfe, the crying Fellow did purfue, 
 Leaft by hisc lamour (as it fo fell out) 
 The Towne might fall in fright. He,(fwift of foote) 
 Out-ran my purpofe : and I return'd then rather 
 For that I heard the clinke.and fall of Swords, 
 And CaJJio high in oath : Which till to night 
 I nere might fay before. When I came backe 
 (For this was briefe ) I found them clofe together 
 At blow, and thruft,euen as againe they were 
 When you your felfe did part them. 
 More of this matter cannot I report, 
 But Men are Men : The beft fometimes forget, 
 Though CaJJio did fome little wrong to him, 
 As men in rage ftrike thofe that wifli them beft, 
 Yet furely CaJJio, I beleeue receiu'd 
 From him that fled.fomt ftrange Indignitie, 
 Which patience could not paffe. 
 
 Otbe.
 
 the Moore of Venice. 
 
 321 
 
 Otbe. I know logo 
 
 Thy honeftie,and loue doth mince this matter, 
 Making it light to CaJJio : Cajpo,l loue thee, 
 But neuermore be Officer of mine. 
 
 Enter Dejdemona attended. 
 
 Looke if my gentle Loue be not rais'd vp : 
 He make thee an example. 
 
 Def. What is the matter (Deere ?) 
 
 Otbe. All's well, Sweeting : 
 Come away to bed. Sir for your hurts, 
 My felfe will be your Surgeon. Lead him off: 
 lago, looke with care about the Towne, 
 And filence thofe whom this vil'd brawle diftracted. 
 Co me Defdemona, 'tis the Soldiers life, 
 To.haue their Balmy /lumbers wak'd] with ftrife. Exit. 
 
 logo. What are you hurt Lieutenant? 
 
 Caf. I,paft all Surgery. 
 
 lago. Marry Heauen forbid. 
 
 Caf. Reputation, Reputation, Reputation: Oh I haue 
 loft my Reputation. I haue loft the immortall part of 
 myfelfe, and what remaines is beftiall. My Reputation, 
 lago, my Reputation. 
 
 lago. As I am an honeft man 1 had thought you had 
 receiued fome bodily wound; there is more fence in that 
 then in Reputation. Reputation is an idle, and moft falfe 
 impofitionj oft got without merit, aud loft without de- 
 feruing. You haue loft no Reputation at all, vnle/Te you 
 repute your felfe fuch a loofer. What man, there are 
 more wayes to recouer the Generall againe. You are 
 but now caft in his moode,(a puni/hment more in poli- 
 cie, then in malice ) euen fo as one would beate his of- 
 fencelefle dogge,ro affright an Imperious Lyon. Sue to 
 him againe, and he's yours. 
 
 Caf. I will rather fue to be defpis'd, then to deceiue 
 fo good a Commander, with fo flight,fo drunken, and fo 
 indifcreet an Officer. Drunke ? And fpeake Parrat ? And 
 fquabble ? Swagger ? Sweare ? And difcourfe Fuftian 
 with |ones owne fliadow / Oh thou invifible fpirit of 
 Wine, if thou haft no name to be knowne by, let vs call 
 thee Diuell. 
 
 lago. What was he that you follow'd with your 
 Sword ? What had he done to you ? 
 
 Caf. I know not. 
 
 lago. Is't poflible ? 
 
 Caf. I remember a mafle of things, but nothing di- 
 ftinclly : a Quarrell, but nothing wherefore. Oh, that 
 men fliould put an Enemie in their mouthes, to fteale a- 
 way their Braines ? that we fhould with ioy, pleafance, 
 reuell and applaufe, transforme our felues into Beafts. 
 
 lago. Why ? But you are now well enough : how 
 came you thus recouered ? 
 
 Caf. It hath pleas'd the diuell drunkenne/Te, to giue 
 place to the diuell wrath, one vnperfeclnefle, fhewes me 
 another to make me frankly defpife my felfe. 
 
 lago. Come, you are too feuere a Moraller. As the 
 Time,the Place,& the Condition of this Country Hands 
 I could hartily wifh this had not befalne :but fince it is, as 
 it is, mend it for your owne good. 
 
 Caf. I will aske him for my Place againe, he /hall tell 
 me, I am a drunkard : had I as many mouthes as Hydra, 
 fuch an anfwer would flop them all. To be now a fen- 
 fible man, by and by a Foole,and prefently a Beaft. Oh 
 ftrangeJEuery inordinate cup is vnblefs'd,and the Ingre- 
 dient is a diuell. 
 
 8u 
 
 lago. Come, come : good wine, is a good famill ar 
 Creature, if it be well vs'd : exclaime no more againft i*- 
 And good Lieutenant, I thinke, you thinke I lou e 
 you. 
 
 CaJJio. I haue well approued it, Sir. I drunke? 
 
 lago. You, or any man liuing, may be drunke at a 
 time man. 1 tell you what you /hall do : Our General's 
 Wife, is now the Generall. I may fay fo, in this re/peel, 
 for that he hath deuoted, and giuen vp himfelfe to the 
 Contemplation, marke : and deuotement of her parts 
 and Graces. Confefle your felfe freely to her : Impor- 
 tune her helpe to put you in your place againe. She is 
 of fo free, fo kinde, fo apt, fo ble/Ted a difpofition, 
 /he holds it a vice in her goodne/Te, not to do more 
 then /he is requefted. This broken ioynt betweene 
 you, and her husband, entreat her to fplinter. And my 
 Fortunes againft any lay worth naming, this cracke of 
 your Loue, /hall grow ftonger, then it was before. 
 
 CaJJio. You aduife me well. 
 
 lago. I proteft in the finceritie of Loue, and honeft 
 kindnefle. 
 
 CaJJio. I thinke it freely : and betimes in the mor- 
 ning,! will befeech the vertuous Dejdemona to vndertake 
 for me : I am defperate of my Fortunes if they check me. 
 
 lago. You are in the right : good night Lieutenant, I 
 muft to the Watch. 
 
 CaJJio. Good night, honeft lago. 
 
 Exit Cajfio. 
 
 lago. And what's he then, 
 That faies I play the Villaine? 
 When this aduife is free I giue, and honeft, 
 Proball to thinking, and indeed the courfe 
 To win the Moore againe. 
 For 'tis moft eafie 
 Th'inclyning Defdemona to fubdue 
 In any honeft Suite. She's fram'd as fruitefull 
 As the free Elements. And then for her 
 To win the Moore, were to renownce his Baptifme, 
 All Seales,and Simbols of redeemed fin : 
 His Soule is fo enfetter'd to her Loue, 
 That /he may make,vnmake,do what /he lift, 
 Euen as her Appetite /hall play the God, 
 With his weake Function. How am I then a Villaine, 
 To Counfell CaJJio to this paralell courfe, 
 Directly to his good ? Diuinitie of hell, 
 When diuels will the blackeft finnes put on, 
 They do fuggeft at firft with heauenly /hewes, 
 As I do now. For whiles this honeft Foole 
 Plies Defdemona, to repaire his Fortune, 
 And /he for him,pleades ftrongly to the Moore, 
 He powre this peftilence into his eare : 
 That /he repeales him, for her bodies Luft' 
 And by how much /he ftriues to do him good, 
 She /hall vndo her Credite with the Moore. 
 So will I turne her vertue into pitch, 
 And out of her owne goodne/Te make the Net, 
 That /hall en-ma/h them all. 
 How now Rodorigo ? 
 
 Enter 'Rodorigo. 
 
 Rodorigo. I do follow heere in the Chace, not 
 
 like, a Hound that hunts, but one that filles vp the 
 
 Crie. My Money is almoft fpent; I haue bin to night 
 
 exceedingly well Cudgell'd : And I thinke the i/Tue 
 
 t t 3 will
 
 322 
 
 The Tragedie of Othello 
 
 will bee, I fliall haue fo much experience for my paines; 
 And fo, with no money at all, and a little more Wit, re' 
 turne againe to Venice. 
 
 logo. How poore are they that haue not Patience ? 
 What wound did euer heale but by degrees? 
 Thou know'ft we worke by Wit, and not by Witchcraft 
 And Wit depends on dilatory time : 
 Dos't not go well ? Coffin hath beaten thee, 
 And thou by that fmall hurt hath caflieer'd Caffio: 
 Though other things grow faire againft the Sun, 
 Yet Fruites that bloffome firft, will firft be ripe : 
 Content thy felre, a- while. Introth 'tis Morning ; 
 Pleafure, and Action, make the houres feeme fhort. 
 Retire thee, go where thou art Billited : 
 Away, I fay, thou flialt know more heereafter : 
 Nay get thee gone. 6xi: Rodorigo. 
 
 Two things are to be done 
 My Wife muft moue for CaJJio to her Miftris : 
 He fet her on my felfe, a while, to draw the Moor apart, 
 And bring him iumpe, when hejmay Caffio finde 
 Soliciting his wife : I, that's the way : 
 Dull not Deuice, by coldnefle, and delay. Exit. 
 
 <iActus Tertius. Scena 'Prima. 
 
 Enter CaJJio, Mujitians, and downe. 
 
 Caffio. Mafters,play heere, I wil content your paines, 
 Something that's briefe: and bid,goodmorrow General. 
 
 do. Why Mafters, haue your Inftruments bin in Na- 
 ples, that they fpeake i'th'Nofe thus ? 
 
 Muf. How Sir ? how ? 
 
 do. Are thefe I pray you, winde Inftruments? 
 
 Muf. I marry are they fir. 
 
 do. Oh, thereby hangs a tale. 
 
 Muf. Whereby hangs a tale, fir ? 
 
 Clov. Marry fir, by many a winde Inftrument that I 
 know. But Mafters, heere's money for you :and the Ge- 
 nerall fo likes your Mufick, that he defires you for loues 
 fake to make no more noife with it. 
 
 Muf. Well Sir, we will not. 
 
 do. If you haue any Muficke that may not be heard, 
 too't againe. But (as they fay) to heare Muficke, the Ge- 
 nerall do's not greatly care. 
 
 Muf. We haue none fuch, fir. 
 
 Cktv. Then put vp your Pipes in your bagge, for He 
 away. Go,vani(h into ayre,away. Bxit Mu. 
 
 Cajflo Doft thou heare me, mine honeft. Friend ? 
 'do. No, I heare not your honeft Friend : 
 I heare you. 
 
 Caffio. Prythee keepe vp thy Qujllets, ther's a poore 
 peece of Gold for thee : if the Gentlewoman that attends 
 the Generall be ftirring, tell her, there's one Caffio en- 
 treats her a little fauour of Speech. Wilt thou do this? 
 
 do. She is ftirring fir : if fhe will ftirre hither, I fliall 
 feeme to notifie vnto her. Exit do. 
 
 Enter lago. 
 In happy time, logo. 
 
 lago. You haue not bin a-bed then ? 
 
 CaJpo.'Why no : the day had broke before we parted. 
 I haue made bold ( lago) to fend in to your wife : 
 My fuite to her is, that flic will to vertuous Dejdemona 
 
 Procure me fome acceffe. 
 
 'lago. He fend her to you prefently : 
 And He deuife a meane to draw the Moore 
 Out of the way, that your conuerfe and bufineffe 
 May be more free. Exit 
 
 Caffio. I humbly thanke you for't. I neuer knew 
 A Florentine more kinde,and honeft.j 
 Enter ^Emilia. 
 
 <^mil. Goodmorrow(good Lieutenant) I am forrie 
 For your difpleafure : but all will fure be well. 
 The Generall and his wife are talking of it, 
 And flie fpeakes for you ftoutly. The Moore replies, 
 That he you hurt is of great Fame in Cyprus, 
 And great Affinitie : and that in wholfome Wifedome 
 He might not but refufe you. But he protefts he loues ycu 
 And needs no other Suitor, but his likings 
 To bring you in againe. 
 
 Caffio. Yet I befeech you, 
 If you thinke fit, or that it may be done, 
 Giue me aduantage of fome breefe Difcourfe 
 With 'Defdemon alone. 
 
 c&mil. Pray you come in : 
 I will beftow you where you fhall haue time 
 To fpeake your bofome freely. 
 
 Cajfio. I am much bound to you. 
 
 Sccena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Othello, lago, and Gentlemen. 
 
 Otbe. Thefe Letters giue (lago) to the Pylot, 
 A^id by him do my duties to the Senate : 
 That done, I will be walking on the Workes, 
 Repaire there to mee. 
 
 lago. Well, my good Lord, He doo't. 
 
 Otb. This Fortification (Gentlemen)fliall we fee't ? 
 
 Gent. Well waite vpon your Lordfhip. Exeunt 
 
 Sc&na Tertia. 
 
 Snter Defdemona, Caffio, an 
 
 T)ef. Be thou affur'd (good Caffio) I will do 
 All my abilities in thy behalfe. 
 
 <^mil. Good Madam do : 
 I warrant it greeues my Husband, 
 As if the caufe were his. 
 
 *Def. Oh that's an honeft Fellow, Do not doubt Caffio 
 But I will haue my Lord, and you againe 
 As friendly as you were. 
 
 CaJJio. Bounteous Madam, 
 What euer lhall become of ^Michael CaJJio, 
 He's neuer any thing but your true Seruant. 
 
 Def. I know't : I thanke you: you do loue my Lord: 
 You haue knowne him long, and be you well affur'd 
 He fliall in ftrangeneffe ftand no farther off, 
 Then in a politique diftance. 
 
 CaJJio. I, but Lady, 
 That policie may either Lift fo long, 
 Or feede vpon fuch nice and waterifh diet, 
 Or breede it felfe fo out of Circumftances, 
 That I being abfent, and my place fupply'd, 
 My Generall will forget my Loue, and Seruice. 
 
 Def. Do not doubt that : before zJEmilia here, 
 
 I
 
 the Moore of Venice- 
 
 3 2 3 
 
 I giue thee warrant of thy place. Allure thee, 
 
 If J do vow a friend/hip, lie performe it 
 
 To the laft Article . My Lord fliall neuer reft, 
 
 He watch him tame, and talke him out of patience ; 
 
 'His Bed fliall feeme a Schoole, his Boord a Shrift, 
 
 He intermingle euery thing he do's 
 
 With CaJ/io's fuite : Therefore be merry CaJJio, 
 
 For thy Solicitor fliall rather dye, 
 
 Then giue thy caufe away . 
 
 Enter Othello, and lago. 
 
 e/w/. Madam, heere comes my Lord. 
 
 Caffio. Madam, He take my leaue. 
 
 Def. Why ftay,and heare me fpeake. 
 
 CaJJio. Madam, not now : I am very ill at eafe, 
 Vnfit for mine owne purpofes. 
 
 *Def. Well, do your difcretion. Exit Caffio. 
 
 lago. Hah? I like not that. 
 
 Otbel. What doft thou fay ? 
 
 lago. Nothing my Lord j or if 1 know not what. 
 
 Otbel. Was not that CaJJio parted from my wife ? 
 
 lago. CaJJio my Lord ? No fure, I cannot thinke it 
 | That he would fteale away fo guilty-like, 
 Seeing your comming. 
 
 Otb. I do beleeue 'twas he. 
 
 Def. How now my Lord ? 
 I haue bin talking with a Suitor heere, 
 A man that languishes in your difpleafure. 
 
 Otb. Who is't you meane ? 
 
 Def. Why your Lieutenant C a jfi ' Good my Lord, 
 If I haue any grace, or power to moue you, 
 His prefent reconciliation take. 
 For if he be not one, that truly louesyou, 
 That erres in Ignorance, and not in Cunning, 
 I haue no iudgement in an honeft face. 
 I prythee call him backe. 
 
 Otb. Went he hence now? 
 
 Def. I footh ; fo humbled, 
 That he hath left part of his greefe with mee 
 To fuffer with him. Good Loue, call him backe. 
 
 Otbel. Not now (fweet Dejdemon) fome other time. 
 
 Def. But mall't be ftiortly ? 
 
 Otb. The fooner (Sweet) for you. 
 
 Def. Shall't be to night, at Supper ? 
 
 Otb. No, not to night. 
 
 Def. To morrow Dinner then ? 
 
 Otb. I fliall not dine at home : 
 I meete the Captaines at the Cittadell. 
 
 Def. Why then to morrow night, on Tuefday morne, 
 On Tuefday noone, or night ; on Wenfday Morne. 
 I prythee name the time, but let it not 
 Exceed three dayes. Infaith hee's penitent : 
 And yet his Trefpafle, in our common reafon 
 (Saue that they fay the warres muft make example) 
 Out of her beft, is not almoft a fault 
 T'encurre a priuate checke. When fliall he come ? 
 Tell me Othello. I wonder in my Soule 
 What you would aske me, that I fliould deny, 
 Or ftand fo mam'ring on ? What ? Michael CaJJio, 
 That came a woing wirh you ? and fo many a time 
 (When I haue fpoke of you difpraifingly) 
 Hath tane your part, to haue fo much to do 
 To bring him in ? Truft me, I could do much. 
 
 Otb. Prythee no more : Let him come when he will : 
 I will deny thee nothing. 
 
 Def. Why, this is not a Boone : 
 
 El] 
 
 'Tis as I fliould entreate you weare your Gloues, 
 Or feede on nourifliing difnes, or keepe you warme, 
 Or fue to you, to do a peculiar profit 
 To your owne perfon. Nay, when 1 haue a fuite 
 Wherein I meane to touch your Loue indeed, 
 It fliall be full of poize, and difficult waight, 
 And fearefull to be granted. 
 
 Otb. I will deny thee nothing. 
 Whereon, I do befeech thee, grant me this, 
 To leaue me but a little to my felfe. 
 
 Def. Shall I deny you ? No : farewell my Lord. 
 
 Oth. Farewell my 'Dejdemona, He come to thee ftrait. 
 
 "Def. eJEmilia come ; be as your Fancies teach you : 
 What ere you be, I am obedient. Exit. 
 
 Otb. Excellent wretch : Perdition catch my Soule 
 But I do loue thee : and when I loue thee not, 
 Chaos is come againe. 
 
 lago. My Noble Lord. 
 
 Otb. What doft thou fay, lago ? 
 
 lago. Did Michael CaJJio 
 When he woo'd my Lady, know of your loue? 
 
 Otb. He did, from firft to laft : 
 Why doft thou aske ? 
 
 lago. But for a fatisfadtion of my Thought, 
 No further harme. 
 
 Otb. Why of thy thought, lago ? 
 
 lago. I did not thinke he had bin acquainted with hir. 
 
 Otb. O yes, and went betweene vs very oft. 
 
 lago. Indeed ? 
 
 Otb. Indeed? I indeed. Difcern'ft thou ought in that? 
 Is he not honeft ? 
 
 lago. Honeft, my Lord ? 
 
 Oth. Honeft? I, Honeft. 
 
 lago. My Lord, for ought I know. 
 
 Otb. What do'ft thou thinke f 
 
 lago. Thinke, my Lord ? 
 
 Otb. Thinke, my Lord ? Alas, thou ecchos't me ; 
 As if there were fome Monfter in thy thought 
 Too hideous to be fliewne. Thou doft mean fomthing : 
 I heard thee fay euen now, thou lik'ft not that, 
 When Cafsio left my wife. What didd'ft not like ? 
 And when I told thee, he was of my Counfaile, 
 Of my whole courfe of wooing ; thou cried'ft, Indeede ? 
 And didd'ft contract, and purfe thy brow together, 
 As if thou then hadd'ft fliut vp in thy Braine 
 Some horrible Conceite. If thou do'ft loue me, 
 Shew me thy thought. 
 
 lago. My Lord, you know I loue you. 
 
 Otb. I thinke thou do'ft : 
 
 And for I know thou'rt full of Loue, and Honeftie, 
 And weigh'ft thy words before thou giu'ft them breath, 
 Therefore thefe flops of thine, fright me the more : 
 For fuch things in a falfe difloyall Knaue 
 Are trickes of Cuftome : but in a man that's iuft, 
 They're clofe dilations, working from the heart, 
 That Paflion cannot rule. 
 
 lago. For Michael Cafsio, 
 I dare be fworne, I thinke that he is honeft. 
 
 Otb. I thinke fo too. 
 
 lago. Men fliould be what they feeme, 
 Or thofe that be not, would they might feeme none. 
 
 Otb. Certaine, men fliould be what they feeme. 
 
 lago. Why then I thinke Cafsio's an honeft man. 
 
 Oth. Nay, yet there's more in this ? 
 I prythee fpeake to me, as to thy thinkings, 
 As thou doft ruminate, and giue thy worft of thoughts 
 
 The
 
 3 2 4 
 
 The Tragedie of Othello 
 
 The worft of words. 
 
 logo. Good my Lord pardon me, 
 Though I am bound to euery Adle of dutie, 
 I am not bound to that : All Siaues are free : 
 Vtter my Thoughts? Why fay, they are vild,and fake? 
 As where's that Palace, whereinto foule things 
 Sometimes intrude not ? Who ha's that bread fo pure, 
 Wherein vncleanly Apprehenfions 
 Keepe Leetes, and Law-dayes, and in Seffions fit 
 With meditations lawfull ? 
 
 Otb. Thou do'ft confpire againft thy Friend (lago} 
 If thou but think'ft him wrong'd, and mak'ft his eare 
 A ftranger to thy Thoughts. 
 
 lago. I do befeech you, 
 Though I perchance am vicious in my guefle 
 (As I confeffe it is my Natures plague 
 To fpy into Abufes, and of my iealoufie 
 Shapes faults that are not) that your wifedome 
 From one, that fo imperfectly conceits, 
 Would take no notice, nor build your felfe a trouble 
 Out of his fcattering, and vnfure obferuance : 
 It were not for your quiet, nor your good, 
 Nor for my Manhood, Honefty, and Wifedome, 
 To let you know my thoughts. 
 
 Otb. What doft thou meane ? 
 
 lago. Good name in Man, & woman(deere my Lord) 
 Is the immediate lewell of their Soules j 
 Who fteales my purfe, fteales trafh : 
 'Tis fomething, nothing ; 
 
 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has bin flaue to thousands : 
 But he that filches from me my good Name, 
 Robs me of that, which not enriches him, 
 And makes me poore indeed. 
 
 Otb. He know thy Thoughts. 
 
 lago. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand, 
 Nor fliall not, whil'ft 'tis in my cuftodie. 
 
 Otb. Ha/ 
 
 lago. Oh, beware my Lord, of iealoufie, 
 It is the greene-ey'd Monfter, which doth mocke 
 The meate it feeds on. That Cuckold Hues in blifle, 
 Who certaine of his Fate, loues not his wronger : 
 But oh, what damned minutes tels he ore, 
 Who dotes, yet doubts : Sufpedts, yet foundly loues ? 
 
 Otb. O miferie. 
 
 lago. Poore, and Content, is rich, and rich enough, 
 But Riches finelefie, is as poore as Winter, 
 To him that euer feares he fliall be poore : 
 Good Heauen, the Soules of all my Tribe defend 
 From Iealoufie. 
 
 Otb. Why? why is this? 
 Think'ft thou, I'ld make a Life of Iealoufie ; 
 To follow ftill the changes of the Moone 
 With frefli fufpitions ? No : to be once in doubt, 
 Is to be refolu'd : Exchange me for a Goat, 
 When I fliall turne the bufinefTe of my Soule 
 To fuch exufflicate, and blow'd Surmifes, 
 Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me lealious, 
 To fay my wife is faire, feeds well, loues company, 
 Is free of Speech, Sings, Playes,and Dances : 
 Where Yertue is, thefe are more vertuous. 
 Nor from mine owne weake merites, will I draw 
 The fmalleft feare, or doubt of her reuolt, 
 For flie had eyes, and chofe me. No lago, 
 He fee before I doubt ; when I doubt, proue j 
 And on the proofe, there is no more but this, 
 Away at once with Loue,or Iealoufie. 
 
 la. I am glad of this : For now I fliall haue reafon 
 To fliew the Loue and Duty that I beare you 
 With franker fpirit. Therefore (as I am bound) 
 Receiue it from me. I fpeake not yet of proofe : 
 Looke to your wife, obferue her well with Cafsio, 
 Weare your eyes, thus : not lealious, nor Secure : 
 I would not haue your free, and Noble Nature, 
 Out of felfe-Bounty, be abus'd : Looke too't : 
 I know our Country difpofition well : 
 In Venice, they do let Heauen fee the prankes 
 They dare not fliew their Husbands. 
 Their beft Confcience, 
 Is not to leaue't vndone, but kept vnknowne. 
 
 Otb. Doft thou fay fo ? 
 
 lago. She did deceiue her Father, marrying you, 
 And when /he feem'd to fliake, and feare your lookes, 
 She lou'd them moft. 
 
 Otb. And fo flie did. 
 
 lago. Why go too then: 
 
 Shee that fo young could giue out fuch a Seeming 
 To feele her Fathers eyes vp, clofe as Oake, 
 He thought 'twas Witchcraft. 
 But I am much too blame : 
 I humbly do befeech you of your pardon 
 For too much louing you. 
 
 Otb. I am bound to thee for euer. 
 
 lago. 1 fee this hath a little dafli'd your Spirits : 
 
 Otb. Not a iot, not a iot. 
 
 lago. Truft me, I feare it has : 
 I hope you will confider what is fpoke 
 Comes from your Loue. 
 But I do fee y'are moou'd : 
 I am to pray you, not to ftraine my fpeech 
 To groffer ifTues , nor to larger reach, 
 Then to Sufpition. 
 
 Otb. I will not. 
 
 lago. Should you do fo(my Lord) 
 My fpeech fliould fall into fuch vildefuccefle, 
 Which my Thoughts aym'd not. 
 CaJ/io's my worthy Friend : 
 My Lord, I fee y'are mou'd. 
 
 Otb. No, not much mou'd : 
 I do not thinke but DefJemona's honeft. 
 
 lago. Long liue flie fo ; 
 And long liue you to thinke fo. 
 
 Otb. And yet how Nature erring from it lelfe. 
 
 lago. I, there's the point : 
 As (to be bold with you) 
 Not to affedl many propofed Matches 
 Of her owne Clime, Complexion, and Degree, 
 Whereto we fee in all things, Nature tends : 
 Foh, one may fmel in fuch, a will moft ranke, 
 Foule difproportions, Thoughts vnnaturall. 
 But (pardon me) I do not in pofition 
 Diftindlly fpeake of her, though I may feare 
 Her will, recoyling to her better Judgement, 
 May fal to match you with her Country formes, 
 And happily repent. 
 
 Otb. Farewell, farewell : 
 
 If more thou doft perceiue, let me know more: 
 Set on thy wife to obferue. 
 Leaue me lago. 
 
 lago. My Lord, I take my leaue. 
 
 Othel. Why did I marry? 
 This honeft Creature (doubtleffe) 
 Sees, and knowes more, much more then he vnfolds. 
 
 lago 
 814
 
 the ^Moore of Venice. 
 
 3 2 5 
 
 lago. My Lord, I would I might intreat your Honor 
 To fcan this thing no farther : Leaue it to time, 
 Although 'tis fit that Caffii haue his Place ; 
 For fure he filles it vp with great Ability ; 
 Yet if you pleafe, to him offa-while : 
 You fhall by thatperceiue him, and his meanes : 
 Note if your Lady ftraine his Entertainment 
 With any ftrong, or vehement importunitie, 
 Much will be feene in that: In the meane time, 
 Let me be thought too bulie in my feares, 
 ( As worthy caufe I haue to feare I am) 
 And hold her free, I do befeech your Honor. 
 
 Otb. Feare not my gouernment. 
 
 lago. I once more take my leaue. Exit. 
 
 Otb. This Fellow's of exceeding honefty, 
 And knowes all Quantities with a learn'd Spirit 
 Of humane dealings. If I do proue her Haggard, 
 Though that her leffes were my deere heart-ftrings, 
 I'ld whittle her off, and let herdowne the winde 
 To prey at Fortune. Haply, for I am blacke, 
 And haue not thofe foft parts of Conuerfation 
 That Chamberers haue : Or for I am declin'd 
 Into the vale of yeares(yet that's not much) 
 Shee'sgone. I am abus'd, and my releefe 
 Muft be to loath her. Oh Curfe of Marriage! 
 That we can call thefe delicate Creatures ours, 
 And not their Appetites ? I had rather be a Toad, 
 And liue vpon the vapour of a Dungeon, 
 Then keepe a corner in the thing I loue 
 For others vfes. Yet 'tis the plague to Great-ones, 
 Prerogatiu'd are they lefle then the Bafe, 
 'Tis deftiny vnfhunnable, like death : 
 Euen then, this forked plague is Fated to vs, 
 When we do quicken. Looke where flie comes : 
 
 Enter Defdemona an 
 
 If flie be falfe, Heauen mock'd it felfe : 
 He not beleeue't. 
 
 Def. How now, my deere Othello ? 
 Your dinner, and the generous Iflanders 
 By you inuited, do attend your prefence. 
 
 Otb. 1 am too blame. 
 
 'Def. Why do you fpeake fo faintly ? 
 Are you not well? 
 
 Otb. I haue a paine vpon my Forehead, heere. 
 
 Def. Why that's with watching, 'twill away againe. 
 Let me but binde it hard, within this houre 
 It will be well. 
 
 Otb. Your Napkin is too little : 
 Let it alone : Come, He go in with you. Exit. 
 
 'Def. I am very forry that you are not well. 
 
 e/ra;7. I am glad I haue found this Napkin : 
 This was her firft remembrance from the Moore, 
 My wayward Husband hath a hundred times 
 Woo'd me to fteale it. But flie fo loues the Token, 
 (For he coniur'd her, flie fliould euer keepe it) 
 That flie referues it euermore about her, 
 To kiffe,and talke too. He haue the worke tane out, 
 And giu't lago : what he will do with it 
 Heauen knowes, not I : 
 I nothing, but to pleafe his Fantafie. 
 
 Enter lago. 
 
 lago. How now ? What do you heere alone ? 
 edZmil. Do not you chide : I haue a thing for you. 
 
 8r S 
 
 lago. You haue a thing for me ? 
 It is a common thing 
 
 <^mll. Hah ? 
 
 lago. To haue a foolifli wife. 
 
 CstEmil. Oh, is that all? What will you giue me now 
 For that fame Handkerchiefe. 
 
 lago. What Handkerchiefe ? 
 
 cjmil. What Handkerchiefe ? 
 Why that the Moore firft gaue to Defdemona, 
 That which fo often you did bid me fteale. 
 
 lago. Haft ftolne it from her ? 
 
 c/im7. No : but flie let it drop by negligence, 
 And to th'aduantage, I being heere, took't vp : 
 Looke, heere 'tis. 
 
 lago. A good wench, giue it me. 
 
 <^mil. What will you do with't, that you haue bene 
 fo earneft to haue me filch it ? 
 
 lago. Wh y, what is that to you ? 
 
 sJEmil. If it be not for fome purpofe of import, 
 Giu't me againe. Poore Lady, fliee'l run mad 
 When flie fliall lacke it. 
 
 lago. Be not acknowne on't : 
 
 I haue vfe for it. Go, leaue me. Exit e/m;7. 
 
 I will in CaJ/io's Lodging loofe this Napkin, 
 And let him finde it. Trifles light as ayre, 
 Are to the iealious, confirmations ftrong, 
 As proofes of holy Writ. This may do fomething. 
 The Moore already changes with my poyfon : 
 Dangerous conceites, are in their Natures poyfons, 
 Which at the firft are fcarfe found to diftafte : 
 But with a little acte vpon the blood, 
 Burne like the Mines of Sulphure. I did fay fo. 
 
 Enter Othello. 
 
 Looke where he comes : Not Poppy, nor Mandragora, 
 Nor all the drowfie Syrrups of the world 
 Shall euer medicine thee to that fweete fleepe 
 Which thou owd'ft yefterday. 
 
 Otb. Ha, ha, falfe to mee ? 
 
 lago. Why how now Generall ? No more of that. 
 
 Otb. Auant, be gone : Thou haft fet me on the Racke: 
 I fweare 'tis better to be much abus'd, 
 Then but to know't a little. 
 
 lago. How now, my Lord ? 
 
 Otb. What fenfe had I, in her ftolne houres of Luft ? 
 I faw't not, thought it not : it harm'd not me : 
 I flept the next night well, fed well, was free, and merrie. 
 I found not CaJ/io'i kifles on her Lippes : 
 He that is robb'd,not wanting what is ftolne, 
 Let him not know't,and he's not robb'd at all. 
 
 lago. I am forry to heare this ? 
 
 Otb. I had beene happy, if the generall Campe,^ 
 Pyoners and all, had tafted her fweet Body, 
 So I had nothing knowne. Oh now, for euer 
 Farewell the Tranquill minde ; farewell Content ; 
 Farewell the plumed Troopes, and the bigge Warres, 
 That' makes Ambition, Vertue ! Oh farewell; 
 Farewell the neighing Steed, and theflirill Trumpe, 
 The Spirit-ftirring Drum, th'Eare-piercing Fife, 
 The Royall Banner, and all Qualitie, 
 Pride, Pompe,and Circumftance of glorious Warre : 
 And O you mortall Engines, whofe rude throates 
 Th'immortall loues dread Clamours, counterfet, 
 Farewell : Othello's Occupation's gone. 
 
 lago. Is't poffible,my Lord ? 
 
 Otb. Villaine, be fure thou proue my Loue a Whore; 
 Be fure of it: Giue me the Occular proofe, 
 
 Or
 
 326 
 
 'The Tragedie of Othello 
 
 Or by the worth of mine eternall Soule, 
 Thou had'ft bin bejter haue bin borne a Dog 
 Then anfwer my wak'd wrath. 
 
 lago. Is't come to this? 
 
 Otb. Make me to fee't: or (at the leaft) fo proue it, 
 That the probation beare no Hindge, nor Loope, 
 To hang a doubt on : Or woe vpon thy lite. 
 
 lago. My Noble Lord. 
 
 Otb. If thou doft flander her, and torture me, 
 Neuer pray more : Abandon all remorfe 
 On Horrors head, Horrors accumulate : 
 Do deeds to make Heauen weepe, all Earth arr.az'd; 
 For nothing canft thou to damnation adde, 
 Greater then that. 
 
 logo. O Grace ! O Heauen forgiue me ! 
 Are you a Man? Haue you a Soule? or Senfe ? 
 God buy you : take mine Office. Oh wretched Foole, 
 That lou'ft to make thine Honefty ,a Vice ! 
 Oh monftrous world! Take note, take note (O World) 
 To be diredl and honeft, is not fafe. 
 I thanke you for this profit, and from hence 
 He loue no Friend, fith Lome breeds fuch oftence. 
 
 Otb. Nay ftay : thou fhould'ft be honeft. 
 
 lago. I fhould be wife ; for Honeftie's a Foole, 
 And loofes that it workes for. 
 
 Otb. By the World, 
 
 I think* my Wife be honeft, and thinke flie is not : 
 I thinke that thou art iuft, and thinke thou art not : 
 He haue fome proofe. My name that was as frefh 
 As Ttians Vifage, is now begrim'd and blacke 
 As mine owne face. If there be Cords, or Kniues, 
 Poyfon,or Fire, or fuffbcating ftreames, 
 He not indure it. Would I were fatisfied. 
 
 lago. I fee you are eaten vp with Pafiion : 
 I do repent me, that I put it to you. 
 You would be fatisfied ? 
 
 Otb. Would? Nay, and I will. 
 
 lago. And may : but how? How fatisfied, my Lord? 
 Would you the fuper-vifion groflely gape on ? 
 Behold her top'd ? 
 
 Otb. Death, and damnation. Oh ! 
 
 lago. It were a tedious difficulty, I thinke, 
 To bring them to that Profpeft : Damne them then, 
 If euer mortall eyes do fee them boulfter 
 More then their owne. What then? How then ? 
 What fhall I fay? Where's Satisfatfion ? 
 It is impofiible you fhould fee this, 
 Were they as prime as Goates, as hot as Monkeyes, 
 As fait as Wolues in pride, and Fooles as grofle 
 As Ignorance, made drunke. But yet , I fay, 
 If imputation, and ftrong circumftances, 
 Which leade diredtly to the doore of Truth, 
 Will giue you fatisfaftion, you might haue't. 
 
 Otb. Giue me a liuing reafon fhe's difloyall. 
 
 lago. I do not like the Office. 
 But fith I am entred in this caufe fo farre 
 (Prick'd too't by foolifh Honefty, and Loue) 
 I will go on. I lay with Caffio lately, 
 And being troubled with a raging tooth, 
 I could not fleepe. There are a kinde of men, 
 So loofe of Soule, that in their fleepes will mutter 
 Their Affayres : one of this kinde is Caffio : 
 In fleepe I heard him fay, fweet Defdemona, 
 Let vs be wary, let vs hide our Loues, 
 And then (Sir) would he gripe, and wring my hand : 
 Cry, oh fweet Creature : then kifle me hard, 
 
 As if he pluckt vp kifles by the rootes, 
 
 That grew vpon my lippes, laid his Leg ore my Thigh, 
 
 And figh,and kifTe, and then cry curfed Fate, 
 
 That gaue thee to the Moore. 
 
 Otb. O monftrous ! monftrous I 
 
 lago. Nay, this was but his Dreame. 
 
 Otb. But this denoted a fore-gone conclufion, 
 'Tis a fhrew'd doubt, though it be but a Dreame. 
 
 lago. And this may helpe to thicken other proofes, 
 That do demonftrate thinly. 
 
 Otb. He teare her all to peeces. 
 
 lago. Nay yet be wife j yet we fee nothing done, 
 She may be honeft yet : Tell me but this, 
 Haue you not fometimes feene a Handkerchiefe 
 Spotted with Strawberries, in your wiues hand? 
 
 Otb. I gaue her fuch a one : 'twas my firft gift. 
 
 lago. 1 know not that : but fuch a Handkerchiefe 
 (I am fure it was your wiues) did I to day 
 See Caffio wipe his Beard with. 
 
 Otb. If it be that. 
 
 lago. If it be that, or any, it was hers. 
 It fpeakes againft her with the other proofes. 
 
 Otbel. O that the Slaue had forty thoufand liues : 
 One is too poore, too weake for my reuenge. 
 Now do I fee 'tis true. Looke heere lago, 
 All my fond loue thus do I blow to Heauen. 'Tis gone. 
 Arife blacke vengeance, from the hollow hell, 
 Yeeld vp (O Loue) thy Crowne, and hearted Throne 
 To tyrannous Hate. Swell bofome with thy fraught, 
 For 'tis of Afpickes tongues. 
 
 lago. Yet be content. 
 
 Otb. Oh blood, blood, blood. 
 
 lago. Patience I fay : your minde may change. 
 
 Oth, Neuer lago. Like to the Ponticke Sea, 
 Whofe Icie Current, and compulfiue courfe, 
 Neu'r keepes retyring ebbe, but keepes due on 
 To the Proponticke, and the Hellelpont : 
 Euen fo my bloody thoughts, with violent pace 
 Shall neu'r looke backe, neu'r ebbe to humble Loue, 
 Till that a capeable, and wide Reuenge 
 Swallow them vp. Now by yond Marble Heauen, 
 In the due reuerence of a Sacred vow, 
 I heere engage my words. 
 
 lago. Do not rife yet : 
 Witnefle you euer-burning Lights aboue, 
 You Elements, that clip vs round about, 
 Witnefle that heere Jago doth giue vp 
 The execution of his wit, hands, heart, 
 To wrong'd Othello's Seruice. Let him command,' 
 And to obey fhall be in me nemorfe, 
 What bloody bufinefle euer. 
 
 Otb. I greet thy loue, 
 
 Not with vaine thanks, but with acceptance bounteous, 
 And will vpon the inftant put thee too't. 
 Within thefe three dayes let me heare thee fay, 
 That Caffio's not aliue. 
 
 lago. My Friend is dead : 
 'Tis done at your Requeft. 
 But let her liue. 
 
 Otb. Damne herlewde Minx : 
 O damne her, damne her. 
 Come go with me a-part, I will withdraw 
 To furnifh me with fome fwift meanes of death 
 For the faire Diuell. 
 Now art thou my Lieutenant. 
 
 lago. I am your owne for euer. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena 
 
 816
 
 the <Moore of Venice. 
 
 3 2 7 
 
 Sctena Quarta. 
 
 Enter Def demon a, <^milia , and Clown. 
 
 Def. Do you know Sirrah, where Lieutenant Caffio 
 lyes ? 
 
 Clorv. I dare not fay he lies any where. 
 
 Def. Why man? 
 
 Clo. He's a Soldier, and for me to fay a Souldier lyes, 
 'tis ftabbing. 
 
 Def. Go too : where lodges he? 
 
 Clo. To tell you where he lodges, is to tel you where 
 I lye. 
 
 "Def. Can any thing be made of this 
 
 Clo. I know not where he lodges, and for mee to de- 
 uife a lodging, and fay he lies heere, or he lies there, were 
 to lye in mine owne throat. 
 
 Def. Can you enquire him out ? and be edified by re- 
 port ? 
 
 Clo. I will Catechize the world for him, that is, make 
 Queftions, and by them anfwer. 
 
 Def. Seeke him, bidde him come hither : tell him, I 
 haue moou'd my Lord on his behalfe, and hope all will 
 be well. 
 
 Clo. To do this, is within the compaffe of mans Wit, 
 and therefore I will attempt the doing it. Exit Qlo. 
 
 Def. Where fhould I loofe the Handkerchiefe, c/- 
 milia ? 
 
 <^Emil. I know not Madam. 
 
 Def. Beleeue me, I had rather haue loft my purfe 
 Full of Cruzadoes. And but my Noble Moore 
 Is true of minde, and made of no fuch bafenefTe, 
 As iealious Creatures are, it were enough 
 To put him to ill-thinking. 
 
 cJEmil. Is he not iealious? 
 
 'Def. Who, he? I thinke the Sun where he was borne, 
 Drew all fuch humors from him. 
 
 e/z/7. Looke where he comes. 
 Enter Othello. 
 
 Def. I will not leaue him now, till Caffio be 
 Call'd to him. How is't with you, my Lord ? 
 
 Otb. Well my good Lady. Oh hardnes to diffemble ! 
 How do you, Defdemona ? 
 
 'Def. Well, my good Lord. 
 
 Oth. Giue me your hand. 
 This hand is moift,my Lady. 
 
 Def. It hath felt no age, nor knowne no forrow. 
 
 Otb. This argues fruitfulneffe, and liberall heart : 
 Hot, hot, and moyft This hand of yours requires 
 A fequefter from Liberty : Fafting, and Prayer, 
 Much Caftigation, Exercife deuout, 
 For heere's a yong, and fweating Diuell heere 
 That commonly rebels : 'Tis a good hand, 
 A franke one. 
 
 Def. You may (indeed) fay fo : 
 For 'twas that hand that gaue away my heart. 
 
 Otb. A liberall hand . The hearts of old, gaue hands : 
 But our new Heraldry is hands, not hearts. 
 
 'Def. I cannot fpeake of this : 
 Come, now your promife. 
 
 Oth. What promife, Chucke ? 
 
 Def. I haue fent to bid Caffio come fpeake with you. 
 
 Otb. I haue a fait and forry Rhewme offends me : 
 Lend me thy Handkerchiefe. 
 
 817 
 
 Def. Heere my Lord. 
 
 Otb. That which I gaue you. 
 
 Def. I haue it not about me. 
 
 Otb. Not? 
 
 'Def. No indeed, my Lord. 
 
 Otb. That's a fault : That Handkerchiefe 
 Did an .^Egyptian to my Mother giue : 
 She was a Charmer, and could almoft read 
 The thoughts of people. She told her, while flie kept it, 
 T would make her Amiable, and fubdue my Father 
 Intirely to her loue : But if fhe loft it, 
 Or made a Guift of it, my Fathers eye 
 Should hold her loathed, and his Spirits fhould hunt 
 After new Fancies. She dying, gaue it me, 
 And bid me (when my Fate would haue me Wiu'd) 
 To giue it her. I did lo ; and take heede on't, 
 Make it a Darling, like your precious eye : 
 To loofe't, or giue't away, were fuch perdition, 
 As nothing elfe could match. 
 
 Def, Is't poffible ? 
 
 Otb. 'Tis true : There's Magicke in the web of it : 
 A Sybill that had numbred in the world 
 The Sun to courfe, two hundred compafles, 
 In her Prophetticke furie fow'd the Worke : 
 The Wormes were hallowed, that did breede the Silke, 
 And it was dyde in Mummey, which the Skilfull 
 Conferu'd of Maidens hearts. 
 
 Def. Indeed ? Is't true ? 
 
 Oth. Moft veritable, therefore looke too't well. 
 
 'Def. Then would to Heauen, that I had neuer feene't? 
 
 Otb. Ha? wherefore ? 
 
 Def. Why do you fpeake fo ftartingly ,and rafh ? 
 
 Oth. Is't loft? Is't gon? Speak, is't out o'th'way ? 
 
 Def. Blefle vs. 
 
 Otb. Say you ? 
 
 Def. It is not loft : but what and if it were ? 
 
 Otb. How? 
 
 Def. I fay it is not loft. 
 
 Otb. Fetcht, let me fee't. 
 
 Def. Why fo I can : but I will not now : 
 This is a tricke to put me from my fuite, 
 Pray you let Caffio be receiu'd againe. 
 
 Oth. Fetch me the Handkerchiefe, 
 My minde mif-giues. 
 
 Def. Come, come : you'l neuer meete a more fuffici- 
 ent man. 
 
 Otb. The Handkerchiefe. 
 
 Def. A man that all his time 
 Hath founded his good Fortunes on your loue ; 
 Shar'd dangers with you. 
 Otb. The Handkerchiefe. 
 
 'Def. Infooth, you are too blame. 
 
 Oth. Away. ' Exit Othello. 
 
 &mil. Is not this man iealious ? 
 
 'Def. I neu'r faw this before. 
 Sure, there's fome wonder in this Handkerchikfe, 
 I am moft vnhappy in the lofle of it. 
 
 c/!m//. 'Tis not a yeare or two fhewes vs a man : 
 They are all but Stomackes, and we all but Food, 
 They eate vs hungerly, and when they are full 
 They belch vs. 
 
 Enter I ago, and CaJJio. 
 
 Looke you, Caffio and my Husband. 
 
 lago. There is no other way : 'tis fhe muft doo't : 
 And loe the happinefTe : go, and importune her. 
 
 De f-
 
 328 
 
 The Tr age die of Othello 
 
 Def. How now (good CaJJio) what's the nevves with 
 you ? 
 
 CaJJlo. Madam, my former fuite. I do befeech you, 
 That by your vertuous meanes, I may againe 
 Exift, and be a member of his loue, 
 Whom I, with all the Office of my heart 
 Intirely honour, I would not be delayd. 
 If my offence, be of fuch mortall kinde, 
 That nor my Seruice part, nor prefent Sorrowes, 
 Nor purpos'd merit in futurity, 
 Can ranfome me into his loue againe, 
 But to know fo, muft be my benefit : 
 So {hall I cluath me in a forc'd content, 
 And fliut my felfe vp in fome other courfe 
 To Fortunes Almes. 
 
 <Def. Alas ( thrice-gentle CaJJio) 
 My Aduocation is not now in Tune ; 
 My Lord, is not my Lord ; nor fliould I know him, 
 Were he in Fauour, as in Humour alter'd. 
 So helpe me euery fpirit fanftified, 
 As I haue fpoken for you all my beft, 
 And flood within the blanke of his difpleafure 
 For my free fpeech. You muft awhile be patient : 
 What I can do, I will : and more I will 
 Then for my felfe, I dare. Let that fuffice you. 
 
 lago. Is my Lord angry ? 
 
 n&mil. He went hence but now : 
 And certainly in ftrange vnquietneffe. 
 
 lago. Can he be angry ? I haue feene the Cannon 
 When it hath blowne his Rankes into the Ayre, 
 And like the Diuell from his very Arme 
 Puff't his owne Brother : And is he angry ? 
 Something of moment then : I will go meet him, 
 There's matter in't indeed, if he be angry. Exit 
 
 Def. I prythee do fo. Something fure of State, 
 Either from Venice, or fome vnhatch'd pradlife 
 Made demonftrable heere in Cyprus, to him, 
 Hath pudled his cleare Spirit : and in fuch cafes, 
 Mens Natures wrangle with inferiour things, 
 Though great ones are their obiedl. 'Tis euen fo. 
 For let our finger ake, and it endues 
 Our other healthfull members, euen to a fenfe 
 Of paine. Nay, we muft thinke men are not Gods, 
 Nor of them looke for fuch obferuancie 
 As fits the Bridall. Befhrew me much, Emilia, 
 I was (vnhandfome Warrior, as I am) 
 Arraigning his vnkindnefle with my foule : 
 But now I finde, I had fuborn'd the Witneffe, 
 And he's Indited falfely. 
 
 <^mil. Pray heauen it bee 
 
 State matters, as you thinke, and no Conception, 
 Nor no lealious Toy, concerning you. 
 
 'Def. Alas the day, I neuer gaue him caufe. 
 
 e/fiw/7. But lealious foules will not be anfwer'd fo ; 
 They are not euer iealious for the caufe, 
 But iealious, for they're iealious. It is a Monfter 
 Begot vpon it felfe, borne on it felfe. 
 
 Def. Heauen keepe the Monfter from Othello's mind. 
 
 csmil. Lady, Amen. 
 
 Def. I will go feeke him. CaJJio, walke heere about : 
 If I doe finde him fit, He moue your fuite, 
 And feeke to effedr. it to my vttermoft. Exit 
 
 Caf. I humbly thanke your Ladyfliip. 
 
 Enter Bianca. 
 Bian. 'Saue you (Friend C a jfi- ) 
 
 CaJJio. What make you from home ? 
 How is't with you, my moft faire 'Bianca ? 
 Indeed (fweet Loue) I was comming to your houfe. 
 
 Bian. And 1 was going to your Lodging, CaJJio. 
 What? keepe a weeke away ? Seuen dayes, and Nights ? 
 Eight fcore eight houres ? And Louers abfent howres 
 More tedious then the Diall, eight fcore times ? 
 Oh weary reck'ning. 
 
 CaJJio. Pardon me, 'Bianca : 
 
 I haue this while with leaden thoughts beene preft, 
 But I fhall in a more continuate time 
 Strike oft" this fcore of abfence. Sweet 'Bianca 
 Take me this worke out. 
 
 Bianca. Oh CaJJio, whence came this ? 
 This is fome Token from a newer Friend, 
 To the felt-Abfence : now I feele a Caufe i 
 Is't come to this ? Well, well. 
 
 CaJJio. Go too, woman : 
 Throw your vilde gefies in the Diuels teeth, 
 From whence you haue them. You are iealious now, 
 That this is from fome Miftris, fome remembrance ; 
 No, in good troth 'Bianco. 
 'Bian. Why, who's is it ? 
 CaJJio. I know not neither : 
 I found it in my Chamber, 
 I like the worke well; Ere it be demanded 
 (As like enough it will) I would haue it coppied : 
 Take it, and doo't,and leaue me for this time. 
 
 Bian. Leaue you ? Wherefore ? 
 
 CaJJio. I do attend heere on the Generall, 
 And thinke it no addition nor my wifh 
 To haue him fee me woman'd. 
 'Bian. Why, I ptay you ? 
 
 CaJJio. Not that I loue you not. 
 
 Bian. But that you do not loue me. 
 I pray you bring me on the way a little, 
 And fay, if I fhall fee you foone at night ? 
 
 CaJJio. 'Tis but a little way that 1 can bring you, 
 For I attend heere : But lie fee you foone. 
 
 'Bian. 'Tis very good : I muft be circumftanc'd. 
 Exeunt omnes. 
 
 Aftus Quartus. Scena'Pnma. 
 
 Enter Othello, and lago. 
 
 lago. Will you thinke fo? 
 
 Otb. Thinke fo, lago} 
 
 lago. What, to kifle in priuate ? 
 
 Otb. An vnauthoriz'd kifle ? 
 
 lago. Or to be naked with her Friend in bed, 
 An houre, or more, not meaning any harme t 
 
 Otb. Naked in bed (lago} and not meane harme ? 
 It is hypocrifie againft the Diuell : 
 They that meane vertuoufly,and yet do fo, 
 The Diuell their vertue tempts, and they tempt Heauen. 
 
 lago. If they do nothing, 'tis a Veniall flip : 
 But if I giue my wife a Handkerchiefe. 
 
 Otb. What then ? 
 
 lago. Why then 'tis hers (nay Lord) and being hers, 
 She may (I thinke) beftow't on any man. 
 
 Otb. She is Protedtrefle of her honor too : 
 May flie giue that ? 
 
 lago. 
 __ g,g
 
 the ^Moore of Venice. 
 
 3 2 9 
 
 lago. Her honor is an Eflence that's notfeene, 
 They haue it very oft, that haue it not. 
 But for the Handlcerchiefe. 
 
 Otbe. By heauen, I would moft gladly haue forgot it: 
 Thou faidft (oh, it comes ore my memorie, 
 As doth the Rauen o're the infectious houfe : 
 Boading to all) he had my Handkerchiefe. 
 
 lago. I : what of that ? 
 
 Otbe. That's not fo good now. 
 
 lag. What if I had faid, I had feene him do you wrong? 
 Or heard him fay ('as Knaues be fuch abroad, 
 Who hauing by their owne importunate fuit, 
 Or voluntary dotage of fome Miftris, 
 Conuinced or fupply'd them, cannot chufe 
 But they muft blab.) 
 
 Otb. Hath he faid any thing ? 
 
 lago. He hath (my Lord)but be you well afiur'd, 
 No more then he'le vn-fweare. 
 
 Otb. What hath he faid ? 
 
 lago. Why, that he did : I know not what he did. 
 
 Otbe. What? What? 
 
 lago. Lye. 
 
 Otb. With her ? 
 
 lago. With herPOn her : what you will. 
 
 Otbe. Lye with her ? lye on her ? We fay lye on her, 
 when they be-lye-her. Lye with her : that's fullfome : 
 Handkerchiefe : Confeflions : Handkerchiefe. To con- 
 fefle, and be hang'd for his labour. Firft, to be hang'd, 
 and then to confeflTe : I tremble at it. Nature would not 
 inueft her felfe in fuch fhadowing pafiion, without fomc 
 luftrucYion. It is not words thaf fliakes me thus, (pi A) 
 Nofes, Eares, and Lippes : is't poffible. Confeffe ? Hand- 
 kerchiefe ? O diuell. Falls in a Traunce. 
 
 lago. Worke on, 
 
 My Medicine wt>rkes. Thus credulous Fooles are caught, 
 And many worthy, and chaft Dames euen thus, 
 (All guiltlefle )meete reproach : what hoa ? My Lord ? 
 My Lord, I fay : Othello. 
 
 Enter CaJJio. 
 
 How now CvJJlo ? 
 
 Caf. What's the matter ? 
 
 lago. My Lord is falne into an Epilepfie, 
 This is his fecond Fit : he had one yefterday. 
 
 Caf. Rub him about the Temples. 
 
 lago. The Lethargic muft haue his quyet courfe: 
 If not, he foames at mouth : and by and by 
 Breakes out to fauage madneffe. Looke, he ftirres: 
 Do you withdraw your felfe a little while, 
 He will recouer ftraight : when he is gone, 
 I would on great occafion, fpeake with you. 
 How is it Generall? Haue you not hurt your head? 
 
 Otbe. Doft thou mocke me ? 
 
 lago. I mocke you not, by Heauen: 
 Would you would beare your Fortune like a Man. 
 
 Otbe. A Horned man's a Monfter, and a Beaft. 
 
 lago. Ther's many a Beaft then in a populous Citty, 
 And many a ciuill Monfter. 
 
 Otbe. Did he confeffe it? 
 
 lago. Good Sir, be a man : 
 Thinke euery bearded fellow that's but yoak'd 
 May draw with you. There's Millions now aliue, 
 That nightly lye in thofe vnproper beds, 
 Which they dare fweare peculiar. Your cafe is better. 
 Oh, 'tis the fpight of hell, the Fiends Arch-mock, 
 To lip a wanton in a fecure Cowchj 
 
 819 
 
 And to fuppofe her chaft. No, let me know, 
 
 And knowing what I am, I know what fhe fhallbe. 
 
 Otb. Oh, thou art wife : 'tis certaine. 
 
 lago. Stand you a while apart, 
 Confine your felfe but in a patient Lift, 
 Whil'ft you were heere, o're-whelmed with your griefe 
 (A paflion moft refulting fuch a man) 
 CaJJio came hither. I fhifted him away, 
 And layd good fcufes vpon your Extafie, 
 Bad him anon returne : and heere fpeake with me, 
 The which he promis'd. Do but encaue your felfe, 
 And marke the Fleeres, the Gybes, and notable Scornes 
 That dwell in euery Region of his face. 
 For I will make him tell the Tale anew; 
 Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when 
 He hath, and is againe to cope your wife. 
 I fay, but marke his gefture : marry Patience, 
 Or I lhall fay y'are all in all in Spleene, 
 And nothing of a man. 
 
 Otbe. Do'ft thou heare./<z0, 
 I will be found moft cunning in my Patience : 
 But(do'ft thou heare)moft bloody. 
 
 lago. That's not amifTe, 
 
 But yet keepe time in all : will you withdraw ? 
 Now will I queftion Caffio ofBianca, 
 A Hufwife, that by felling her defires 
 Buyes her felfe Bread, and Cloath. It is a Creature 
 That dotes on CaJJio, (as 'tis the Strumpets plague 
 To be-guile many, and be be-guil'd by one) 
 He, when he heares of her, cannot reftraine 
 From the excefle of Laughter. Heere he comes. 
 
 Enter CaJJio. 
 
 As he fliall fmile, Othello fhall go mad : 
 And his vnbookifh leloufie muft conferue 
 Poore Cajfio'f fmiles , geftures, and light behauiours 
 Quite in the wrong. How do you Lieutenant? 
 
 Caf. The worfer, that you giue me the addition, 
 Whofe want euen killes me. 
 
 lago. Ply Defdemona well, and you are fure on't : 
 Now, if this Suit lay in 'Bianco' s dowre, 
 How quickely fhould you fpeed ? 
 
 Caf. Alas poore Caitiffe. 
 
 Otb. Looke how he laughes already. 
 
 lago. I neuer knew woman loue man fo. 
 
 Qaf. Alas poore Rogue, 1 thinke indeed ftie loues me. 
 
 Otb. Now he denies it faintly: and laughes it out. 
 
 lago. Do you heare CaJJio ? 
 
 Otb. Now he importunes him 
 To teH it o're : go too, well faid, well faid. 
 
 lago. She giues it out, that you lhall marry her. 
 Do you intend it ? 
 
 Caf. Ha, ha, ha. 
 
 Otb. Do ye triumph, Romaine ? do you triumph ? 
 
 Caf. I marry. What ? A cuftomer ;prythee beare 
 Some Charitie to my wit, do not thinke it 
 So vnwholefome. Ha, ha, ha. 
 
 Otb. So,fo,fo,fo: they laugh, that winnes. 
 
 lago. Why the cry goes, that you marry her. 
 
 Caf. Prythee fay true. 
 
 lago. I am a very Villaine elfe. 
 
 Otb. Haue you fcoar'd me ? Well. 
 
 Caf. This is the Monkeys owne giuing out : 
 She is perfwaded I will marry her 
 
 Out of her owne loue & flattery, not out of my promife. 
 v v Otbe.
 
 33 
 
 The Tragedie of Othello 
 
 Otb. lago becomes me : now he begins the ftory. 
 
 Cajfio. She was heere euen now : fhe haunts me in e- 
 uery place. I was the other day talking on the Sea- 
 banke with certaine Venetians, and thither comes the 
 Bauble, and falls me thus about my neck. 
 
 Otb. Crying oh deere Cajfio,as it were: his iefture im- 
 ports it. 
 
 CaJJio. So hangs, and lolls, and weepes vpon me: 
 So fhakes, and pulls me. Ha, ha, ha. 
 
 Otb. Now he tells how /he pluckt him to my Cham- 
 ber : oh, I fee that nofe of yours, but not that dogge, I 
 /hall throw it to. 
 
 CaJJio. Well, I muft leaue her companie. 
 
 lago. Before me : looke where flie comes. 
 
 Enter 'Bianca. 
 
 Caf. 'Tis fuch another Fitchewrmarry a perfum'd one? 
 What do you meane by this haunting of me ? 
 
 Elan. Let the diuell, and his dam haunt you : what 
 did you meane by that fame Handkerchiefe, you gaue 
 me euen now / I was a fine Foole to take it : I muft take 
 out the worke? A likely piece of worke, that you (hould 
 finde it in your Chamber, and know not who left it there. 
 This is fome Minxes token, & I muft take out the worke? 
 There, giue it your Hobbey-horfe, wherefoeuer you had 
 it, He take out no worke on't. 
 
 CaJJio. How now, my fweete 'Bianca ? 
 How now ? How now ? 
 
 Otbe. By Heauen, that fhould be my Handkerchiefe. 
 
 Elan. If you'le come to fupper to night you may, if 
 you will not, come when you are next prepar'd for. Exit 
 
 lago. After her : after her. 
 
 Caf. I muft, fhee'l rayle in the ftreets elfe. 
 
 lago. Will you fup there ? 
 
 Cajfio. Yes, I intend fo. 
 
 lago. Well, I may chance to fee you : for I would ve- 
 ry faine fpeake with you. 
 
 Caf Prythee come : will you ? 
 
 lago. Go too : fay no more. 
 
 Otb. How fhall I murther him, lago. 
 
 lago. Did you perceiue how he laugh'd at his vice? 
 
 Otb. Oh, lago. 
 
 lago. And did you fee the Handkerchiefe ? 
 
 Otb. Was that mine? 
 
 lago. Yours by this hand : and to fee how he prizes 
 the foolifh woman your wife : fhe gaue it him, (and he 
 hath giu'n it his whore. 
 
 Otb. I would haue him nine yeeres a killing : 
 A fine woman, a faire woman, a fweete woman? 
 
 lago. Nay, you muft forget that. 
 
 Othello. I, let her rot and perifh, and be damn'd to 
 night, for fhe fhall not 1iue. No, my heart is turn'd to 
 ftone : I ftrike it, and it hurts my hand. Oh, the world 
 hath not a fweeter Creature : fhe might lye by an Em- 
 perours fide, and command him Taskes. 
 
 lago. Nay, that's not your way. 
 
 Otbe. Hang her, I do but fay what fhe is : fo delicate 
 with her Needle : an admirable Mufitian. Oh fhe will 
 fing the SauagenefTe out of a Beare : of fo high and plen- 
 teous wit, and inuention f 
 
 lago. She's the worfe for all this. 
 
 Otbe. Oh, a thoufand, a thoufand times : 
 And then of fo gentle a condition ? 
 
 lago, I too gentle. 
 
 Ot be. Nay that's certaine : 
 But yet the pitty of it, lago : oh lago, the pitty of it 
 
 lago. 
 
 lago. If you are fo fond ouer her iniquitie : giue her 
 pattent to offend, for if it touch not you, it comes neere 
 no body. 
 
 Otb. I will chop her into Mefles : Cuckold me? 
 
 lago. Oh, 'tis foule in her. 
 
 Otb. With mine Officer ? 
 
 lago. That's fouler. 
 
 Otbe. Get me fome poyfon,/dr^o, this night. He not 
 expoftulate with her: leaft her body and beautie vnpro- 
 uide my mind againe : this night lago. 
 
 lago. Do it not with poyfon, ftrangle her in her bed, 
 Euen the bed fhe hath contaminated. 
 
 Ot b. Good, good : 
 The luftice of it pleafes : very good. 
 
 lago. And for CaJJio,\et me be his vndertaker : 
 You fhall heare more by midnight. 
 
 Enter Lodouico,Defdemcna,and Attendants. 
 
 Otbe. Excellent good : What Trumpet is that fame ? 
 
 lago. I warrant fomething from Venice, 
 'Tis Lodouico, this, comes from the Duke. 
 See, your wife's with him. 
 
 Lodo t Saue you worthy Generall. 
 
 Otbe. With all my heart Sir. 
 
 JW.The Duke, and the Senators of Venice greet you. 
 
 Otbe. I kifle the Inftrument of their pleafures. 
 
 'Def. And what's the newes, good cozen Lodouico? 
 
 lago. I am very glad to fee you Signior: 
 Welcome to Cyprus. 
 
 Lod. I thanke you : how do's Lieutenant Cajfio ? 
 
 lago. Liues Sir, 
 
 Def. Cozen, there's falne betweene him,& my Lord, 
 An vnkind breach : but you fhall make all well. 
 
 Othe. Are you fure of that ? 
 
 "Def. My Lord ? 
 
 Otbe. This faile you not to do, as you will 
 
 Lod. He did not call : he's bufie in the paper, 
 Is there deuifion 'twixt my Lord, and CaJ/io ? 
 
 Def. A moft vnhappy one : I would do much 
 T'attonejthem, for the loue I beare to CaJJio. 
 
 Oth. Fire, and brimeftone. 
 
 Def. My Lord. 
 
 Otb. Are you wife ? 
 
 Def. What is he angrie ? 
 
 Lod. May be thLetter mou'd him. 
 For as I thinke, they do command him home, 
 Deputing Cafsio in his Gouernment. 
 
 Def. Truft me, I am glad on't. 
 
 Otbe. Indeed? 
 
 'Def. My Lord ? 
 
 Otbe. I am glad to fee you mad. 
 
 Def. Why, fweete Othello* 
 
 Otbe. Diuell. 
 
 'Def. I haue not deferu'd this. 
 
 Lod. My Lord, this would not be beleeu'd in Venice, 
 Though I fhould fweare I faw't. 'Tis very much, 
 Make her amends : fhe weepes. 
 
 Otbe. Oh diuell, diuell: 
 
 If that the Earth could teeme with womans teares, 
 Each drop fhe falls, would, proue a Crocodile : 
 Out of my fight. 
 
 'Def. 1 willi not ftay to offend you. 
 
 Lod. Truely obedient Lady : 
 I do befeech your Lordfhip call her backe. 
 
 * Otb- 
 ___
 
 the <Moore of Venice. 
 
 331 
 
 Otbe. Miftris. 
 
 'Def. My Lord. 
 
 Otbe. What would you with her, Sir? 
 
 Lod. Who I, my Lord/ 1 
 
 Otbe. I, you did wifh,that I would make her turne: 
 Sir, fhe can turne, and turne : and yet go on 
 And turne againe. And fhe can weepe,Sir,weepe. 
 And flic's obedient : as you fay obedient. 
 Very obedient : proceed you in your teares. 
 Concerning this Sir, (oh well-painted paflion) 
 I am commanded home : get you away : 
 He fend for you anon. Sir I obey the Mandate, 
 And will returne to Venice. Hence, auaunt : 
 CaJJio fhall haue my Place. And Sir, to night 
 I do entreat, that we may fup together. 
 You are welcome Sir to Cyprus. 
 Goates,and Monkeys. Exit. 
 
 Lod. Is this the Noble Moore, whom our full Senate 
 Call all in al] fufficient? Is this the Nature 
 Whom Paflion could not fhake ? Whofe folid vertue 
 The fhot of Accident, nor dart of Chance 
 Could neither graze, nor pierce? 
 
 lago. He is much chang'd. 
 
 Lod. Are his wits fafe ? Is he not light of Braine ? 
 
 lago. He's that he is : I may not breath my cenfure. 
 What he might be: if what he might, he is not, 
 I would to heauen he were. 
 
 Lod. What? Strike his wife? 
 
 lago. 'Faith that was not fo well : yet would I knew 
 That ftroke would proue the worft. 
 
 Lod. Is it his vfe ? 
 
 Or did the Letters, worke vpon his blood, 
 And new create his fault? 
 
 lago. Alas, alas: 
 
 It is not honeftie in me to fpeake 
 
 What I haue feene,and knowne. You fhall obferue him, 
 And his owne courfes will deonte him fo, 
 That I may faue my fpeech : do but go after 
 And marke how he continues. 
 
 Lod. I am forry that I am deceiu'd in him. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Othello, an 
 
 Otbe. You haue feene nothing then ? 
 
 <^mil. Nor euer heard : nor euer did fufpe6r.. 
 
 Otbe. Yes, you haue feene CaJ/io,and /he together. 
 
 cSEmi. But then I faw no harme : and then I heard, 
 Each fyllable that breath made vp betweene them. 
 
 Otbe. What ? Did they neuer whifper ? 
 
 e/;w7. Neuer my Lord. 
 
 Otbe. Nor fend you out o'th'way ? 
 
 <^mil. Neuer. 
 
 Otbe. To fetch her Fan, her Gloues, her Mask, nor no- 
 
 c^mil. Neuer my Lord. (thing ? 
 
 Otbe. That's ftrange. 
 
 a//7. I durft(my Lord)to wager, fhe is honeft: 
 Lay downe my Soule at ftake : If you thinke other, 
 Remoue your thought. It doth abufe your bofome: 
 If any wretch haue put this in your head , 
 Let Heauen requit it with the Serpents curfe, 
 
 821 
 
 For if /he be not honeft, chafte, and true, 
 
 There's no. man happy. The pur eft of their Wiues 
 
 Is foule as Slander. 
 
 Othe. Bid her come hither : go. Exit &milla. 
 
 She faies enough : yet fhe's a fimple Baud 
 That cannot fay as much. This is a fubtile Whore : 
 A Cloffet Lockeand Key of Villanous Secrets, 
 And yet fhe'le kneele,and pray : I haue feene her do't. 
 
 Enter Defdemona, and t/Emilia. 
 
 Def. My Lord, what is your will ? 
 
 Otbe. Pray you Chucke come hither. 
 
 Def. What is your pleafure ? 
 
 Otb. Let me fee your eyes : looke in my face. 
 
 Def. What horrible Fancie's this ? 
 
 Otbe. Some of your Function Miftris : 
 Leaue Procreants alone,and fhut the doore: 
 Cough,or cry hem; if any bod ycome : 
 Your Myftery,your Myftery : May difpatch.r/V umi. 
 
 T>ef. Vpon my knee, what doth your fpeech import? 
 I vnderftand a Fury in your words. 
 
 Otbe. Why ? What art thou ? 
 
 Def. Your wife my Lord : your true and loyall wife. 
 
 Othello. Come fweare it : damne thy felfe, leaft 
 being like one of Heauen, the diuells themfelues fhould 
 feare to ceaze thee. Therefore be double damn'd: fweare 
 thou art honeft. 
 
 Def. Heauen doth truely know it. 
 
 CWtf.Heauen truely knowes,that thou art falfe as hell. 
 
 "DeJ. To whom my Lord ? 
 With whom ? How am I falfe ? 
 
 Otbe. Ah Def demon, a way, away, away . 
 
 Def. Alas the heauy day : why do you weepe ? 
 Am I the motiue of thefe teares my Lord ? 
 If happely you my Father do fufpedt, 
 An Inftrument of this your calling backe, 
 Lay not your blame on me : if you haue loft him, 
 I haue loft him too. 
 
 Othe. Had it pleas'd Heauen, 
 To try me with Affliction, had they rain'd 
 All kind of Sores,and Shames on my bare-head: 
 Steep'd me in pouertie to the very lippes, 
 Giuen to Captiuitie, me, and my vtmoft hopes, 
 I fhould haue found in fome place of my Soule 
 A drop of patience. But alas,to make me 
 The fixed Figure for the time of Scorne, 
 To point his flow, and mouing finger at. 
 Yet could I beare that too, well, very well : 
 But there where I haue garnerd vp my heart, 
 Where either I muft liue,or beare no life, 
 The Fountaine from the which my currant runnes, 
 Or elfe dries vp : to be difcarded thence, 
 Or keepe it as a Cefterne,for foule Toades 
 To knot and gender in. Turne thy complexion there : 
 Patience, thou young and Rofe-lip'd Cherubin, 
 I heere looke grim as hell. 
 
 Def. I hope my Noble Lord efteemes me honeft. 
 Othe. Oh I,as Sommer Flyes are in the Shambles, 
 That quicken euen with blowing. Oh thou weed : 
 Who art fo louely faire, and fmell'ft fo fweete, 
 That the Senfe akes at thee, 
 Would thou had'ft neuer bin borne. 
 
 Def. Alas, what ignorant fin haue I committed ? 
 
 Otbe. Was this faire Paper? This moft goodly Booke 
 Made to write Whore vpon ? What commited, 
 
 , v v a Com-
 
 33 2 
 
 The Tragedie of Othello 
 
 Committed? Oh, them publicke Commoner, 
 I fhould make very Forges of my cheekes, 
 That would to Cynders burne vp Modeftie, 
 Did I but fpeake thy deedes. What commited ? 
 Heauen ftoppes the Nofe at it, and the Moone winks : 
 The baudy winde that kifles all it meetes, 
 Is hufli'd within the hollow Myne of Earth 
 And will not hear't. What commited 
 
 Def. By Heauen you do me wrong. 
 
 Otbe. Are not you a Strumpet ? 
 
 'Def. No, as I am a Chriftian. 
 If to preferue this veflell for my Lord, 
 From any other foule vnlawfull touch 
 Be not to be a Strumpet, I am none. 
 
 Otbe. What, not a Whore ? 
 
 Def. No, as I fhall be fau'd. 
 
 Otbe. Is't poflible ? 
 
 Def. Oh Heauen forgiue vs. 
 
 Otbe. I cry you mercy then . 
 I tooke you for that cunning Whore of Venice, 
 That married with Othello. You Miftris, 
 
 Enter c&milia. 
 
 That haue the office oppofite to Saint Peter, 
 And keepes the gate of hell. You, you : I you. 
 We haue done our courfe: there's money for your paines: 
 I pray you turne the key, and keepe our counfaile. Exit. 
 
 <^mil. Alas, what do's this Gentleman conceiue ? 
 How do you Madam ? how do you my good Lady ? 
 
 Def. Faith, halfe a fleepe. 
 
 &mi. Good Madam, 
 What's the matter with my Lord ? 
 
 Def. With who ? 
 
 exfiw//. Why, with my Lord, Madam? 
 
 Def. Who is thy Lord ? 
 
 c/j/7. He that is yours, fweet Lady. 
 
 Def. I haue none : do not talke to tn 
 I cannot weepe : nor anfweres haue I none, 
 Bnt what fhould go by water. Prythee to night, 
 Lay on my bed, my wedding fheetes, remember, 
 And call thy husband hither. 
 
 c/ii7. Heere's a change indeed. Exit. 
 
 Def. 'Tis meete I mould be vs'd fo : very meete. 
 How haue I bin behau'd,that he might fticke 
 The fmall'ft opinion on my leaft mifvfe ? 
 
 Enter lags, an 
 lago. What is your pleasure Madam ? 
 How is't with you ? 
 
 Def. I cannot tell : thofe that do teach yong Babes 
 Do it with gentle meanes, and eafie taskes. 
 He might haue chid me fo : for in good faith 
 I am a Child to chiding. 
 
 lago. What is the matter Lady ? 
 
 &mil. Alas(/tfo)my Lord hath fo bewhor'd her, 
 Throwne fuch diipight,and heauy termes vpon her 
 That true hearts cannot beare it. 
 
 Def. Am I that name, lago? 
 
 lago. What name, (faire Lady ?) 
 
 Def. Such as (he faid my Lord did fay I w a s. 
 
 &mil. He call'd her whore :a Begger in his drinke : 
 Could not haue laid fuch termes vpon his CaJlet 
 
 lago. Why did he fo ? 
 
 Def. I do not know : I am fure I am none fuch. 
 
 lago. Do not weepe, do not weepe : alas the day. 
 
 c/m/7. Hath flie forfooke fo many Noble Matches ? 
 Her Father? And her Country ? And her Friends ? 
 
 To be call'd Whore ? Would it not make one weepe ? 
 
 Def. It is my wretched Fortune. 
 
 lago. Befhrew him for't : 
 How comes this Tricke vpon him ? 
 
 Def. Nay, Heauen doth know. 
 
 c/im/. I will be hang'd,if fome eternall Villaine, 
 Some bufie and infinuating Rogue, 
 Some cogging, cozening Slaue, to get fome Office, 
 Haue not deuis'd this Slander : I will be hang'd elfe. 
 
 lago. Fie, there is no fuch man : it is impoffible. 
 
 Def. If any fuch there be, Heauen pardon him. 
 
 c/f;7. A halter pardon him : 
 And hell gnaw his bones. 
 Why fliould he call her Whore ? 
 Who keepes her companie ? 
 What Place ? What Time ? 
 What Forme ? What liklyhood ? 
 The Moore's abus'd by fome moft villanous Knaue, 
 Some bafe notorious Knaue, fome fcuruy Fellow. 
 Oh Heauens, that fuch companions thou'd'ft vnfold, 
 And put in euery honeft hand a whip 
 To lam the Rafcalls naked through the world, 
 Euen from the Eaft to th'Weft. 
 
 lago. Speake within doore. 
 
 e/mil. Oh fie vpon them: fome fuch Squire he was 
 That turn'd your wit, the feamy-fide without, 
 And made you to fufpect me with the Moore. 
 
 lago. You are a Foole : go too. 
 
 ?>ef. Alas lago, 
 
 What mail I do to win my Lord againe ? 
 Good Friend, go to him : for by this light of Heauen, 
 I know not how I loft him. Heere I kneele : 
 If ere my will did trefpaffe 'gainft his Loue, 
 Either in difcourfe of thought, or adtuall deed, 
 Or that mine Eyes, mine Eares,or any Sence 
 Delighted them : or any other Forme. 
 Or that I do not yet, and euer did, 
 And euer will,( though he do fhake me off 
 To beggerly diuorcement) Loue him deerely, 
 Comfort forfweare me. Vnkindnefle may do much, 
 And his vnkindnefTe may defeat my life, 
 But neuer taynt my Loue. I cannot fay Whore, 
 It do's abhorre me now I fpeake the word, 
 To do the Adi, that might the addition earne, 
 Not the worlds Mafle of vanitie could make me. 
 
 lago. I pray you be content : 'tis but his humour: 
 The bufinefle of the State do's him offence. 
 
 Def. If 'twere no other. 
 
 lago. It is but fo, I warrant, 
 
 Hearke how thefe Inftruments fummon to fupper : 
 The Meffengers of Venice ftaies the meate, 
 Go in, and weepe not :all things fhall be well. 
 
 Exeunt Defdemona and eJEmilia. 
 
 Enter Rodorigo. 
 How now 'tydorigo? 
 
 Rod. I do not finde 
 That thou deal'ft iuftly with me. 
 
 lago. What in the contrarie ? 
 
 Rodori. Euery day thou dafts me with fome deuife 
 lago, and rather, as it feemes to me now, keep'ft from 
 me all conueniencie, then fupplieft me with the leaft ad- 
 uantage of hope : I will indeed no longer endure it. Nor 
 am I yet perfwaded to put vp in peace, what already I 
 haue foolifhly fuffred. 
 
 lago. Will you heare me Rodorigo ? 
 
 I(odori. I
 
 the Moore of Venice. 
 
 333 
 
 Rodori. I haue heard too much : and your words and 
 Performances are no kin together. 
 
 lags. You charge me moft vniuftly. 
 
 cRodo. With naught but truth : I haue wafted my 
 felfe out of my meanes. The Jewels you haue had from 
 me to deliuer Defdemona, would halfe haue corrupted a 
 Votarift. You haue told me fhe hath receiu'd them, 
 and return'd me expectations and comforts of fodaine 
 refpet,and acquaintance, but I finde none. 
 
 logo. Well, go too : very well. 
 
 ' Rod. Very well, go too: I cannot go too, (man) nor 
 tis not very well. Nay I think it is fcuruy : and begin to 
 finde my felfe fopt in it. 
 
 lago. Very well. 
 
 Rodor. I tell you, 'tis not very well : I will make my 
 felfe knowne to Defdemona. If ihe will retiirne me my 
 Jewels, I will giue ouer my Suit, and repent my vnlaw- 
 full felicitation. If not, aflure your felfe, I will feeke 
 fatisfadlion of you. 
 
 lago. You haue faid now. 
 
 Rodo. I : and faid nothing but what I proteft intend- 
 ment of doing. 
 
 lago. Why, now I fee there's mettle in thee : and 
 euen from this inftant do build on thee a better o- 
 pinion then euer before : giue me thy hand Rodorigo. 
 Thou haft taken againft me a moft iuft excepti- 
 on : but yet I proteft I haue dealt moft directly in thy 
 Affaire. 
 
 fyd. It hath not appeer'd. 
 
 lago. I grant indeed it hath not appeer'd : and 
 your fufpition is not without wit and Judgement. 
 But Rodorigo, if thou haft that in thee indeed, which 
 I haue greater reafon to beleeue now then euer ( I 
 meane purpofe, Courage, and Valour ) this night 
 fhew it. If thou rhe next night following enioy not 
 Defdemona, take me from this world with Treache- 
 rie, and deuife Engines for my life. 
 
 TZod. Well: what is it ? Is it within, reafon and com- 
 pafle? 
 
 lago. Sir, there is efpeciall Commiffion come from 
 Venice to depute Caffio in Othello's place. 
 
 Rod. Is that true / Why then Othello and Defdemona 
 returne againe to Venice. 
 
 lago. Oh no : he goes into Mauritania and taketh 
 away with him the faire 'Defdemona, vnlefle his a- 
 bode be lingred heere by fome accident. Where- 
 in none can be fo determinate, as the remouing of 
 Caffio. 
 
 Rod. How do you meane remouing him ? 
 
 lago. Why, by making him vncapable of Othello's 
 place : knocking out his braines. 
 
 Rod. And that you would haue me to do. 
 
 lago. I : if you dare do your felfe a profit, and a 
 right. He fups to night with a Harlotry : and thither 
 will I go to him. He knowes not yet of his Honourable 
 Fortune, if you will watch his going thence ( which 
 I will fafhion to fall out betweene twelue and one) 
 you may take him at your pleafure. I will be neere 
 to fecond your Attempt, and he fhall fall betweene 
 vs. Come, ftand not amaz'd at it, but go along with 
 me : I will fhew you fuch a neceflitie in his death, that 
 you fhall thinke your felfe bound to put it on him. It 
 is now high fupper time : and the night growes to waft. 
 About it. 
 
 1(od. I will heare further reafon for this. 
 
 lago. And you fhalbe fatisfi'd. Exeunt. 
 
 813 
 
 Scena Tertia. 
 
 Enter Othello, Lodouico, Defdemona, exz///<z, 
 
 and lAtendants. 
 
 Lod. I do befeech you Sir, trouble your felfe no further. 
 Oth. Oh pardon me : 'twill do me good to walke. 
 Lodoui. Madam, good night : I humbly thanke your 
 Ladyfliip. 
 
 Def. Your Honour is moft welcome. 
 
 Otb. Will you walke Sir ? Oh Defdemona. 
 'Def. My Lord. 
 
 Othello. Get you to bed on th'inftant, I will be re- 
 turn'd forthwith : difmifle your Attendant there : look't 
 be done. Exit . 
 
 Def. I will my Lord. 
 <^m. How goes it now? He lookes gentler then he did. 
 
 Def. He faies he will returne incontinent, 
 And hath commanded me to go to bed, 
 And bid me to difmifle you. 
 
 exw;. Difmifle me ? 
 
 Def. It was his bidding : therefore good <^milia, 
 Giue me my nightly wearing, and adieu. 
 We muft not now difpleafe him. 
 
 c&mtl. I, would you had neuer feene him. 
 
 Def. So would not I : my loue doth fo approue him, 
 That euen his ftubborneffe, his checks, his frownes, 
 (Prythee vn-pin me) haue grace and fauour. 
 <^mi. I haue.laid thofe Sheetes you bad me on the bed. 
 "Def. All's one: good Father, how foolifh are our minds? 
 If I do die before, prythee fhrow'd me 
 In one of thefe fame Sheetes. 
 
 <^mil. Come, come : you talke. 
 
 Def. My Mother had a Maid call'd 'Bariarie, 
 She was in loue : and he Ihe lou'd prou'd mad, 
 And did forfake her. She had a Song of Willough, 
 An old thing 'twas : but it exprefs'd her Fortune, 
 And fhe dy'd finging it. That Song to night, 
 Will not go from my mind : I haue much to do, 
 But to go hang my head all at one fide 
 And fing it like poore f Brabarle: prythee difpatch. 
 
 csmi. Shall I go fetch your Night-gowne ? 
 
 Def. No, vn-pin me here, 
 This Lodouico is a proper man. 
 
 c/i//. A very handfome man. 
 
 Def. He fpeakes well. 
 
 e///7. I know a Lady in Venice would haue walk'd 
 barefoot to Paleftine for a touch of his nether lip. 
 
 Def. TT>e poore Soule fat Jinging , by a Skamour tree. 
 Sing all a green e Willough : 
 Her band on her bofome her head on her l(nee , 
 Sing Willough, Willough, Wtllougb. 
 The frejh Streames ran by her, and murmur 1 d her moanes 
 Sing Willough, &c. 
 
 Her fait teares fell from ber^andfoftned the ftones, 
 Sing Willough, &c. ( Lay by thefe; 
 
 Willough, Willougb. (Prythee high thee : he'le come anon) 
 Sing all a greene Wtllougb muft be my Garland. 
 Let no body blame him,bisfcorne I approue. 
 (Nay that's not next. Harke, who is't that knocks ? 
 
 <^mil. It's the wind. 
 
 T>ef. I calld my Loue faJfe Liue : but what faid be then ? 
 Sing Wdlougb&c. 
 If I court mo women, youle couch -aitb mo men. 
 
 v v 3 So
 
 334 
 
 The Tragedie of Othello 
 
 *>o get thee gone, good night : mine eyes do itch : 
 Doth that boade weeping? 
 
 t&mil, 'Tis neyther heere, nor there* 
 
 Def. I haue heard it faid fo. O thefe Men, thefe men ! 
 Do'ft thou in confcience thinke(tell me zJEmilia) 
 That there be women do abufe their husbands 
 In fuch grofle kinde ? 
 
 C/H/. There be fome fuch, no queftion. 
 
 Def. Would'ft thou do fuch a deed for all the world ? 
 
 <^mil. Why, would not you ? 
 
 T>ef. No, by this Heauenly light. 
 
 <vw/7. Nor I neither, by this Heauenly light: 
 I might doo't as well i'th'darke. 
 
 "Def. Would'ft thou do fuch a deed for al the world ? 
 
 cJEmil. The world's a huge thing : 
 It is a great price, for a fmall vice. 
 
 Def. Introth, I thinke thou would'ft not. 
 
 vmil. Introth I thinke I fhould, and vndoo't when 
 I had done. Marry, I would not doe fuch a thing for a 
 ioynt Ring, nor for meafures of Lawne, nor for Gownes, 
 Petticoats, nor Caps, nor any petty exhibition. But for 
 all the whole world : why, who would not make her hus- 
 banda Cuckold, to make him a Monarch? 1 fliould ven- 
 ture Purgatory for't. 
 
 T>ef. Beflirew me, if I would do fuch a wrong 
 For the whole world. 
 
 nmil. Why, the wrong is but a wrong i'th'world ; 
 and hauing the world for your labour, 'tis a wrong in 
 your owne world, and you might quickly make it right. 
 
 Def. I do not thinke there is any fuch woman. 
 
 e^Emil. Yes, a dozen : and as many to'th'vantage, as 
 would ftore the world they plaid for. 
 But I do thinke it is their Husbands faults 
 If Wiues do fall : (Say, that they flacke their duties, 
 And powre our Treafures into forraigne lapsj 
 Or elfe breake out in peeuifli lealoufies, 
 Throwing reftraint vpon vs : Or fay they ftrike vs, 
 Or fcant our former hauing in defpight) 
 Why we haue galles : and though we haue fome Grace, 
 Yet haue we fome Reuenge. Let Husbands know, 
 Their wiues haue fenfe like them : They fee, and fmell, 
 And haue their Palats both for fweet.and fowre, 
 As Husbands haue. What is it that they do, 
 When they change vs for others ? Is it Sport? 
 I thinke it is : and doth AffecYion breed it ? 
 I thinke it doth. Is't Frailty that thuserres? 
 It is fo too. And haue not we Affections? 
 Defires for Sport? and Frailty, as men haue? 
 Then let them vfe vs well : elfe let them know, 
 The illes we do, their illes inftrudt vs fo. 
 
 ^Def. Good night, good night : 
 Heauen me fuch vfes fend, 
 Not to picke bad, from bad ; but by bad, mend. Exeunt 
 
 ASlus Quintus. Scena frima. 
 
 Enter lago, and Rodorigo. 
 lago. Heere, ftand behinde this Barke, 
 Straight will he come : 
 
 Weare thy good Rapier bare, and put it home : 
 Quicke,quicke, feare nothing; He be at thy Elbow, 
 It makes vs, or it marres vs, thinke on that, 
 And fixe moft firme thy Refolution. 
 
 Rod. Be neere at hand, I may mifcarry in't.s 
 
 lago. Heere, at thy hand: Be bold, & take thy ftand. 
 
 Rod. I haue no great deuotion to the deed, 
 And yet he hath giuen me fatisfying Reafons : 
 'Tis but a man gone. Forth my Sword : he dies. 
 
 lago. I haue rub'd this yong Quat almoft to the fenfe, 
 And he growes angry. Now, whether he kill Cafflo, 
 Or Cajfio him, or each do kill the other, 
 Euery way makes my gaine. Liue Rodorigo, 
 He calles me to a restitution large 
 Of Gold, and lewels, that I bob'd from him, 
 As Guifts to Defdemona. 
 It muft not be : If CaJJlo do remaine, 
 He hath a dayly beauty in his life, 
 That makes me vgly : and betides, the Moore 
 May vnfold me to him : there ftand I in much perill : 
 No, he muft dye. But fo, I heard him comming. 
 Enter Caflio. 
 
 "^oJ. I know his gate, 'tis he : Villaine thou dyeft. 
 
 Caf. That thruft had beene mine enemy indeed, 
 But that my Coate is better then thou know'ft : 
 I will make proofe of thine. 
 
 Rod. Oh, I am flaine. 
 
 Caffio. I am maym'd for euer : 
 Helpe hoa : Murther, murther. 
 Enter Othello. 
 
 Otb. The voyce of CaJJlo, lago keepes his word. 
 
 Rod. O Villaine that I am. 
 
 Otb. It is euen fo. 
 
 Caf. Oh helpe hoa : Light, a Surgeon. 
 
 Otb. 'Tis he : O braue lago, honeft,and iuft, 
 That haft fuch Noble fenfe of thy Friends wrong, 
 Thou teacheft me. Minion, your deere lyes dead, 
 And your vnbleft Fate highes : Strumpet I come : 
 For of my heart, thofe Charmes thine Eyes, are blotted . 
 Thy Bed luft-ftain'd, fliall with Lufts blood bee fpotted. 
 
 Sxit Othello. 
 Enter Lodouico and Gratiatio. 
 
 Caf. What hoa? no Watch? No paffage ? 
 Murther, Murther. 
 
 Gra. 'Tis fome mifchance,the voyce is very direfull. 
 
 Caf. Oh helpe. 
 
 Lodo. Hearke. 
 
 Rod. Oh wretched Villaine. 
 
 Lod. Two or three groane. 'Tis heauy night ; 
 Thefe may be counterfeits : Let's think't vnfafe 
 To come into the cry, without more helpe. 
 
 Rod. Nobody come : then fliall 1 bleed to death. 
 Enter lago. 
 
 Lod. Hearke. 
 
 Qra. Here's one comes in his fliirt, with Light, and 
 Weapons. 
 
 lago. Who's there f 
 Who's noyfe is this that cries on murther ? 
 
 Lodo. We do not know. 
 
 lagOi Do not you heare a cry ? 
 
 Caf. Heere, heere : for heauen fake helpe me. 
 
 lago. What's the matter ? 
 
 Gra. This is Othello's Ancient, as I take it. 
 
 Lodo . The fame indeede, a very valiant Fellow. 
 
 lago. What are you heere, that cry fo greeuoufly? 
 
 Caf. lago'? Oh I am fpoyl'd, vndone by Villaines: 
 Giue me fome helpe. 
 
 lago. O mee, Lieutenant ! 
 What Villaines haue done this? 
 
 Caf. I thinke that one of them is heereabout, 
 
 And 
 
 814
 
 the Moore of Venice. 
 
 335 
 
 And cannot make away. 
 
 lago. Oh treacherous Villaines : 
 What are you there ? Come in, and giue fome helpe. 
 Rod. O helpe me there. 
 CaJJto. That's one of them. 
 logo. Oh murd'rous Slaue I O Villaine J 
 Rod, O damn'd lago \ O inhumane Dogge ! 
 lago. Kill men i'th'darke ? 
 Where be thefe bloody Theeues? 
 How filent is thisTowne ? Hoa,murther,murther. 
 What may you be? Are you of good, or euill ? 
 Lod. As you mall proue vs,praife vs. 
 lago. Signior Lodoulco ? 
 Lod. He Sir. 
 
 lago. I cry you mercy : here's Caffio hurt by Villaines. 
 Gra . Caffio ? 
 lago. How is't Brother ? 
 CaJ. My Legge is cut in two. 
 lago. Marry heauen forbid : 
 Light Gentlemen, lie binde it with my fhirt. 
 
 Enter f Bianca. 
 
 'Blan. What is the matter hoa? Who is't that cry'd ? 
 lago. Who is't that cry'd? 
 Blan. Oh my deere Caffio^ 
 My fweet Caffio : Oh CaJ/io, Caffio, Caffio. 
 
 lago. O notable Strumpet. Caffio^ may you fufpeft 
 Who they mould be, that haue thus mangled you ? 
 CaJ. No. 
 
 Gra. I am forry to finde you thus ; 
 I haue beene to feeke you. 
 
 lago. Lend me a Garter. So : Oh for a Chaire 
 
 To beare him eafily hence. 
 
 e Bian. Alas he faints. Oh Caffio, Cajjio, Caffio. 
 lago. Gentlemen all, I do fufpeft this Trafli 
 To be a party in this Iniurie. 
 Patience awhile, good Caffio. Come, come ; 
 Lend me a Light : know we this face, or no ? 
 Alas my Friend, and my deere Countryman 
 Rodorigo? No : Yes fure : Yes, 'tis Rodongo. 
 Gra. What, of Venice? 
 lago. Euen he Sir : Did you know him ? 
 (jra. Know him? I. 
 
 lago. Signior Gratiano ? I cry your gentle pardon : 
 Thefe bloody accidents muft excufe my Manners, 
 That fo negledled you. 
 
 Gra. I am glad to fee you. 
 
 lago. How do you Caffio ? Oh, a Chaire, a Chaire. 
 Gra. Rodorigo ? 
 lago. He, he, 'tis he : 
 Oh that's well faid, the Chaire. 
 Some good man beare him carefully from hence, 
 lie fetch the Generall's Surgeon. For you Miftris, 
 Saue you your labour. He that lies flaine heere (Caffio) 
 Was my deere friend. What malice was between you 
 CaJ. None in the world : nor do I know the man ? 
 lago. What? looke you pale? Oh beare him o'th'Ayre. 
 Stay you good Gentlemen. Looke you pale, Miftris ? 
 Do you perceiue the gaftneffe of her eye / 
 Nay, if you ftare, we fhall heare more anon. 
 Behold her well : I pray you looke vpon her : 
 Do you fee Gentlemen ? Nay, guiltinefTe will fpeake 
 Though tongues were out of vfe. 
 
 c/fiw/7. Alas, what is the matter ? 
 What is the matter, Husband ? 
 
 lago. Caffio hath heere bin fet on in the darke 
 By Rodorigo, and Fellowes that are fcap'd : 
 
 815 
 
 He's almoft flaine, and fydorigo quite dead. 
 
 e/w;7. Alas good Gentleman : alas good Qafsio. 
 
 lago. This is the fruits of whoring. Prythe 
 Go know of Caffio where he fupt to night. 
 What, do you make at that? 
 
 Blan. He fupt at my houfe,but I therefore {hake not. 
 
 lago. O did he fo ? I charge you go with me. 
 
 c/.;7. Oh fie vpon thee Strumpet. 
 
 e Blan. I am no Strumpet, but of life as honeft, 
 As you that thus abufe me. 
 
 e^mil. As 1? Fie vpon thee. 
 
 lago. Kinde Gentlemen : 
 Let's go fee poore Cajfio dreft. 
 Come Miftris, you muft tel's another Tale. 
 c&milia, run you to the Cittadell, 
 And tell my Lord and Lady, what hath happ'd : 
 Will you go on afore } This is the night 
 That either makes me, or foredoes me quight. Exeunt 
 
 Sccena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Othello, and Defdemona In her bed. 
 
 Otb. It is the Caufe, it is the Caufe (my Soule) 
 Let me not name it to you, you chafte Starres, 
 It is the Caufe. Yet He not fhed her blood, 
 Nor fcarre that whiter skin of hers, then Snow, 
 And fmooth as Monumentall Alablafter: 
 Yet fhe muft dye, elfe fhee'l betray more men : 
 Put out the Light, and then put out the Light : 
 If I quench thee, thou flaming Minifter, 
 I can againe thy former light reftore, 
 Should I repent me. But once put out thy Light, 
 Thou cunning'ft Patterne of excelling Nature, 
 I know not where is that Promethean heate 
 That can thy Light re-Lume. 
 When I haue pluck'd thy Rofe, 
 I cannot giue it vitall growth againe, 
 It needs muft wither. He fmell thee on the Tree. 
 Oh Balmy breath, that doft almoft perfwade 
 luftice to breake her Sword. One more, one more : 
 Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee, 
 And loue thee after. One more, and that's the laft. 
 So fweet, was ne're fo fatall. I muft weepe, 
 But they are cruell Teares : This forrow's heauenly, 
 It ftrikes, where it doth loue. She wakes. 
 
 DeJ. Who's there / Othello ? 
 
 Othel. I Defdemona. 
 
 1)ef. Will you come to bed, my Lord? 
 
 Otb. Haue you pray'd to night, T>efdemon ? 
 
 DeJ. I my Lord. 
 
 Otb. If you bethinke your felfe of any Crime 
 Vnreconcil'd as yet to Heauen, and Grace, 
 Solicite for it ftraight. 
 
 DeJ. Alacke, my Lord, 
 What may you meane by that ? 
 
 Otb. Well, do it, and be breefe, I will walke by : 
 I would not kill thy vnprepared Spirit, 
 No, Heauens fore-fend) I would not kill thy Soule. 
 
 DeJ. Talke you of killing ? 
 
 Otb. I, I do. 
 
 DeJ. Then Heauen haue mercy on mee. 
 
 Otb.
 
 33 6 
 
 'The Tragedie of Othello 
 
 Otb. Amen, with all my heart. 
 
 Def. If you fay, I hope you will not kill me. 
 
 Otb. Humh. 
 
 'Def. And yet I feare you : for you're fatall then 
 When your eyes rowle fo. 
 Why I fhould feare, I know not, 
 Since guiltinefle I know not : But yet I feele I feare. 
 
 Otb. Thinke on thy finnes. 
 
 Def. They are Loues I beare to you. 
 
 Otb. I, and for that thou dy'ft. 
 
 Def. That death's vnnaturall, that kils for louing. 
 Alas, why gnaw you fo your nether-lip ? 
 Some bloody pafiion /hakes your very Frame : 
 Thefe are portents: but yet I hope, I hope, 
 They do not point on me. 
 
 Otb. Peace,and be ftill. 
 
 Def. I will fo : What's the matter? 
 
 Otb. That Handkerchiefe 
 Which I fo lou'd,and gaue thee, thou gau'ft to Cajfiy. 
 
 'Def. No by my Life, and Soule : fend for the man, 
 And aske him. 
 
 Otb. Sweet Soule, take heed, take heed of Periury, 
 Thou art on thy death-bed. 
 
 Def. I, but not yet to dye. 
 
 Orb. Prefently. 
 
 Therefore confefle thee freely of thy finne: 
 For to deny each Article with Oath, 
 Cannot remoue,nor choake the ftrong Conception 
 That I do grone withall. Thou art to dye. 
 
 Def. O Heauen haue mercy on me. 
 
 Oib. I fay, Amen. 
 
 Def. And haue you mercy too. I neuer did 
 Offend you in my life : neuer lou'd CaJJto, 
 But with fuch generall warrantie of Heauen, 
 As I might loue. I neuer gaue him Token. 
 
 Otb. By Heauen 1 faw my Handkerchiefe in's hand. 
 
 periur'd woman, thou do'ft ftone my heart, 
 And makes me call, what I intend to do, 
 
 A Murther, which I thought a Sacrifice. 
 
 1 faw the Handkerchiefe. 
 
 Def. He found it then : 
 I neuer gaue it him : Send, for him hither : 
 Let him confefle a truth. 
 
 Otb. He hath confeft. 
 
 Def. What, my Lord ? 
 
 Otb. That he hath vs'd thee. 
 
 Def. How? vnlawfully? 
 
 Otb. I. 
 
 Def. He will not fay fo. 
 
 Otb. No : his mouth is ftopp'd : 
 Honeft logo hath 'tane order for't. 
 
 ^Def. Oh, my feare interprets. What is he dead ? 
 
 Otb. Had all his haires bin Hues, my great Reuenge 
 Had ftomacke for them all. 
 
 Def. Alas, he is betray'd, and I vndone. 
 
 Otb.Out Strumpet : weep'ft thou for him to my face? 
 
 Def. O banifli me, my Lord, but kill me not. 
 
 Otb. Downe Strumpet. 
 
 Def. Kill me to morrow, let me Hue to night. 
 
 Otb. Nay, if you ftriue. 
 
 Def. But halfe an houre. 
 
 Otb. Being done, there is no pawfe. 
 
 T>tf. But while I fay one prayer. 
 
 Otb. It is too late. Smothers her, 
 
 t&milia at the doore. 
 
 c/07. My Lord, my Lord ? What hoa ?i 
 
 My Cord, my Lord. 
 
 Ofi.What noife is this ? Not dead? not yet quite dead? 
 I that am cruell, am yet mercifull, 
 I would not haue thee linger in thy paine ? 
 So, fo. 
 
 csmil. within. What hoa? my Lord, my Lord ? 
 
 Otb. Who's there ? 
 
 ///. Oh good my Lord, I would fpeake la word 
 with you. 
 
 Otb. Yes : 'Tis <^milia : by and by. Shee's dead. 
 'Tis like /he comes to fpeake of C a ffi" 5 death : 
 The noife was high. Hah, no more moouing ? 
 Still as the Graue. Shall /he come in? Wer't good ? 
 I thinke fhe ftirres againe No, what's beft to do? 
 If flie come in, fliee'l fure fpeake to my wife : 
 My wife, my wife : what wife ? I haue no wife. 
 Oh infupportable ! Oh heauy houre ! 
 Me thinkes, it fhould be now a huge Eclipfel 
 Of Sunne, and Moone 5 and that th'affrighted Globe 
 Did yawne at Alteration. 
 
 ex&B/V. I do befeech you 
 That I may fpeake with you. Oh good my Lord. 
 
 Otb. I had forgot thee : oh come in CVOT///<Z. 
 Soft, by and by,- let me the Curtaines draw. 
 Where art thou? What's the matter with thee now ? 
 Enter c^Emilia. 
 
 csEmil. Oh my good Lord, yonders foule Murthers 
 done. 
 
 Otb. What? now? 
 
 t&mil. But now, my Lord. 
 
 Otb. It is the very error of the Moone, 
 She comes more neerer Earth then /he was wont, 
 And makes men mad. 
 
 vEmil. CaffiOt my Lord, hath kill'd 
 A young Venetian, call'd Rodorigo. 
 
 Otb. fydorigo kill'd ? and Ca/io kill'd? 
 
 ex/;7. No, CaJ/lo is not kill'd. 
 
 Otb. Not CaJJii kill'd? Then Murther's out of tune, 
 And fweet Reuenge growes har/h. 
 
 Def. O falfely, falfely murder'd. 
 
 vmil. Alas ! what cry is that f 
 
 Otb. That? What ? 
 
 vmil. Out, and alas, that was my Ladies voice. 
 Helpe,helpe hoa, helpe. Oh Ladie fpeake againe, 
 Sweet Defdemona, oh fweet Miftris, fpeake. 
 
 Def. A guiltle/Te death, I dye. 
 
 c/iff/7. Oh who hath done this deed ? 
 
 Def. No body : I my felfe, farewell : 
 Commend me to my kinde Lord : oh farewell. 
 
 Otb. Why, how /hould /he be murdred ? 
 
 <^m\l. Alas : who knowes ? 
 
 Otb. You heare her fay her felfe, it was not I. 
 
 vmil. She faid fo : I muft needs report the truth. 
 
 Otb. She's like a Liar gone to burning hell, 
 'Twas I that kill'd her. 
 
 vmil. Oh the more Angell /he, and you the black- 
 er Diuell.i 
 
 Otb. She turn'd to folly : and /he was a whore. 
 
 eX&B/Y. Thou do'ft bely her,and thou art a diuell. 
 
 Otb. She was falfe as water. 
 
 zJEmil. Thou art ra/h as fire, to fay 
 That /he was falfe. Oh /he was heauenly true. 
 
 Otb. Caffio did top her : Ask thy husband elfe. 
 O, I were damn'd beneath all depth in hell: 
 But that I did proceed vpon iuft grounds 
 To this extremity. Thy Husband knew it all. 
 
 8*6
 
 the ^Moore of Venice. 
 
 337 
 
 il. My Husband ? 
 
 Otb. Thy Husband. 
 
 vEmil. That fhe was falfe to Wedlocke ? 
 
 Otb. I, with CaJ/io : had ihe bin true, 
 If Heauen would make me fuch another world, 
 Of one entyre and perfect Chryfolite, 
 I'ld not haue fold her for it. 
 
 exz;Y. My Husband? 
 
 Otb. I, 'twas he that told me on her firft, 
 An honeft man he is, and hates the flime 
 That ftickes on filthy deeds. 
 
 <^mil. My Husband ? 
 
 Otb. What needs this itterance, Woman ? 
 I fay, thy Husband. 
 
 e/fiw/Y. Oh Miftris, 
 Villany hath made mockes with loue : 
 My Husband fay flie was falfe ? 
 
 Otb. He, Woman ; 
 
 I fay thy Husband : Do'ft vnderftand the word ? 
 My Friend, thy Husband ; honeft, honeft lago. 
 
 <^mil. If he fay fo, may his pernicious Soule 
 Rot halfe a graine a day : he lyes to'th'heart, 
 She was too fond of her moft filthy Bargaine. 
 
 Otb. Hah? 
 
 <^mil. Do thy wotft : 
 
 This deede of thine is no more worthy Heauen, 
 Then thou was't worthy her. 
 
 Otb. Peace, you were beft. 
 
 <^mll. Thou haft not halfe that powre to do me harm, 
 As I haue to be hurt. Oh Gull, oh dolt, 
 As ignorant as durt : thou haft done a deed 
 (I care not for thy Sword) He make thee known, 
 Though I loft twenty liues. Helpe, helpe, hoa, helpe : 
 The Moore hath kill'd my Miftris. Murther, murther. 
 
 Enter Montana, Gratlano , and lago. 
 
 Man. What is the matter ? How now Generall ? 
 vEmll. Oh, are you come, lago : you haue done well, 
 That men muft lay their Murthers on your necke. 
 
 Gra. What is the matter ? 
 
 i^Emil. Difproue this Villaine, if thou bee'ft a man : 
 He fayes, thou told'ft him that his wife was falfe : 
 I know thou did'ft not : thou'rt not fuch a Villain. 
 Speake, for my heart is full. 
 
 lago. I told him what I thought, 
 And told no more 
 Then what he found himfelfe was apt, and true. 
 
 zsEmil. But did you euer tell him, 
 She was falfe ? 
 
 lago. I did. 
 
 exEroY. You told a Lye an odious damned Lye : 
 Vpon my Soule, a Lye ; a wicked Lye. 
 Shee falfe with Ca/io ? 
 Did you fay with CaJ/io ? 
 
 lago. With CaJJlo, Miftris? 
 Go too, charme your tongue. 
 
 Emll. I will not charme my Tongue ; 
 1 am bound to fpeake, 
 My Miftris heere lyes murthered in her bed. 
 
 All. Oh Heauens, forefend. 
 
 Emll. And your reports haue fet the Murder on. 
 
 Othello. Nay ftare not Mafters, 
 It is true indeede. 
 
 Gra. 'Tis a ftrange Truth. 
 
 cJfcfowf. O monftrous Acle. 
 
 8*7 
 
 Emll. Villany, villany, villany : 
 I thinke vpon't, I thinke : I fmel't : O Villany : 
 I thought fo then : He kill my felfe for greefe. 
 
 villany ! villany ! 
 
 lago. What, are you mad ? 
 
 1 charge you get you home. 
 
 Emil. Good Gentlemen, let me haue leaue to fpeake : 
 'Tis proper I obey him ; but not now : 
 Perchance lago, I will ne're go home. 
 
 Otb. Oh, oh, oh. 
 
 Bmil. Nay, lay thee downe,and roare : 
 For thou haft kill'd the fweeteft innocent, 
 That ere did lift vp eye. 
 
 Otb. Oh ihe was fowle .' 
 
 I fcarfe did know you Vnkle, there lies your Neece, 
 Whofe breath (indeed) thefe Iiands haue newly ftopp'd : 
 I know this adle ihewes horrible and grim. 
 
 Gra. Poore "DefJemon : 
 I am glad thy Father's dead, 
 Thy Match was mortall to him : and pure greefe 
 Shore his old thred in twaine. Did he liue now, 
 This fight would make him do a defperate turne : 
 Yea, curfe his better Angell from his fide, 
 And fall to Reprobance. 
 
 Otb. 'Tis pittifull : but yet lago knowes 
 That ihe with CaJ/io, hath the Acl of ihame, 
 A thoufand times committed. Caffto confeft it, 
 And ihe did gratifie his amorous workes 
 With that Recognizance and pledge of Loue 
 Which I firft gaue her : I faw it in his hand : 
 It was a Handkerchiefe, an Antique Token 
 My Father gaue my Mother. 
 
 Emil. Oh Heauen ! oh heauenly Powres ! 
 
 lago. Come, hold your peace. 
 
 ;/. 'Twill out, 'twill out. I peace ? 
 No, I will fpeake as liberall as the North ; 
 Let Heauen, and Men, and Diuels, let them all, 
 All, all, crie ihame againft me, yet He fpeake. 
 
 lago. Be wife, and get you home. 
 
 Emil. I will not. 
 
 Gra. Fye, your Sword vpon a Woman. 
 
 Emll. Oh thou dull Moore, 
 That Handkerchiefe thou fpeak'ft of 
 I found by Fortune, and did giue my Husband : 
 For often, with a folemne earneftneffe, 
 (More then indeed belong'd to fuch a Trifle) 
 He begg'd of me, to fteale't. 
 
 lago. Villanous Whore. 
 
 Emll. She giue it Caj/io? No, alas I found it, 
 And I did giu't my Husband. 
 
 lago. Filth, thou lyeft. 
 
 Bmil. By Heauen I do not, I do not Gentlemen : 
 Oh murd'rous Coxcombe, what ihould fuch a Foole 
 Do with fo good a wife ? 
 
 Otb. Are there no ftones in Heauen, 
 But what ferues for the Thunder ? 
 Precious Villaine. 
 
 Gra. The woman falles: 
 Sure he hath kill'd his Wife. 
 
 Emll. I, I : oh lay me by my Miftris fide. 
 
 Gra. Hee's gone, but his wife's kill'd. 
 
 Man. 'Tis a notorious Villain: take you this weapon 
 Which I haue recouer'd from the Moore : 
 Come guard the doore without, let him not pafle, 
 But kill him rather. He after that fame vilhine, 
 For 'tis a damned Slaue. Exit . 
 
 Otb.
 
 338 
 
 The Tragedie of Othello 
 
 Otb. I am not valiant neither : 
 But euery Punie whipfter gets my Sword. 
 But why fhould Honor out-liue Honefty ? 
 Let it go all. 
 
 <^mil. What did thy Song boad Lady ? 
 Hearke, canft thou heare me f I will play the Swan, 
 And dye in Muficke : Willougb, Willougb, Willougb. 
 Moore, flie was chafte : She lou'd thee, cruell Moore, 
 So come my Soule to blifle, as I fpeake true : 
 So fpeaking as I thinke, alas, I dye. 
 
 Otb. I haue another weapon in this Chamber, 
 It was a Sword of Spaine, the Ice brookes temper : 
 Oh heere it is : Vnkle I muft come forth. 
 
 Gra. If thou attempt it, it will coft thee deere ; 
 Thou haft no weapon, and perforce muft fuffer. 
 
 Otb. Looke in vpon me then, and fpeake with me, 
 Or naked as I am I will aflault thee. 
 
 Qra. What is the matter? 
 
 Otbel. Behold, I haue a weapon : 
 A better neuer did it felfe fuftaine 
 Vpon a Soldiers Thigh. I haue feene the day, 
 That with this little Arme, and this good Sword, 
 I haue made my way through more impediments 
 Then twenty times your ftop. But (oh vaine boaft) 
 Who can controll his Fate ? *Tis not fo now. 
 Be not affraid, though you do fee me weapon'd : 
 Heere is my iournies end, heere is my butt 
 And verie Sea-marke of my vtmoft Saile. 
 Do you go backe difmaid? 'Tis a loft feare: 
 Man but a Rufh againft Othello's breft, 
 And he retires. Where fhould Othello go ? 
 Now : how doft thou looke now? Oh ill-Starr'd wench, 
 Pale as thy Smocke : when we fliall meete at compt, 
 This looke of thine will hurle my Soule from Heauen, 
 And Fiends will fnatch at it. Cold, cold, my Girle ? 
 Euen like thy Chaftity. O curfed, curfed Slaue J 
 Whip me ye Diuels, 
 
 From the poffeflion of this Heauenly fight : 
 Blow me about in windes, roaft me in Sulphure, 
 Wafh me in fteepe-downe gulfes of Liquid fire. 
 Oh Dejdemon ! dead Dejdemon : dead. Oh, oh I 
 
 Enter Lodouico, CaJJio, Montana, and lago, 
 ffitb Officers. 
 
 Lod. Where is this rafli, and moft vnfortunate man ? 
 
 Otb. That's he that was Othello : heere I am. 
 
 Lod. Where is that Viper ? 
 Bring the Villaine forth. 
 
 Otb. I look down towards his feet ; but that's a Fable, 
 If that thou bee'ft a Diuell, I cannot kill thee. 
 
 Lod. Wrench his Sword from him. 
 
 lago. I bleed Sir, but not kill'd. 
 
 Otbel. I am not forry neither, Il'd haue thee Hue : 
 For in my fenfe, 'tis happinefle to die. 
 
 Lod. Oh thou Otbello, that was once fo good, 
 Falne in the praclife of a curfed Slaue, 
 What fliall be faide to thee. 
 
 O.b. Why any thing : 
 An honourable Murderer, if you will : 
 For nought I did in hate, but all in Honour. 
 
 Lod. This wretch hath part confeft his Villany : 
 Did you and he confent in CaJJlo\ death. 
 
 Otb. I. 
 
 Caf. Deere General!, I neuer gaue you caufe. 
 
 Otb. I do beleeue it, and I aske your pardon : 
 Will you, I pray, demand that demy-Diuell, 
 
 Why he hath thus enfnar'd my Soule and Body . 
 
 lag. Demand me nothing: what you know, you know: 
 From this time forth, I neuer will fpeake word. 
 
 Led. What? not to pray ? 
 
 Qra. Torments will ope your lips, 
 
 Oib. Well, thou doft beft. 
 
 Lod. Sir, 
 
 You fliall vnderftand what hath befalne, 
 (Which, as I thinke, you know not) heere is a Letter 
 Found in the pocket of the flaine Rodorigo, 
 And heere another, the one of them imports 
 The death of CaJJto, to be vndertooke 
 By Rodorigo. 
 
 Otb. O Villaine ! 
 
 CaJJto. Moft Heathenifh, and moft grofie. 
 
 Lod. Now, heere's another difcontented piper 
 Found in his pocket too : and this it feemes 
 tydorigo meant t'haue fent this damned villaine : 
 But that (belike) lago in the interim 
 Came in, and fatisfi'd him. 
 
 Otb. Oh thou pernitious Caitiffe ; 
 How came you (Cajfio} by that Handkerchiefe 
 That was my wiues ? 
 
 Cajfio. I found it in my Chamber : 
 And he himfelfe confeft it but euen now, 
 That there he dropt it for a fpeciall purpofe, 
 Which wrought to his defire. 
 
 Otbel. O Foole, foole, foole ! 
 
 Cafflo. There is befides, in Rodorigo's Letter, 
 How he vpbraides lago, that he made him 
 Braue me vpon the Watch : whereon it came 
 That I was caft : and euen but now he fpake 
 (After long feeming dead) lago hurt him, 
 lago fet him on. 
 
 Lod. You muft forfake this roome, and go with vs : 
 Your Power, and your Command is taken off, 
 And Cajfio rules in Cyprus. For this Slaue, 
 If there be any cunning Crueltie, 
 That can torment him much, and hold him long, 
 It fhall be his. You fhall clofe Prifoner reft, 
 Till that the Nature of your fault be knowne 
 To the Venetian State. Come, bring away. 
 
 Otb, Soft you ; a word or two before you goe : 
 I haue done the State fome feruice, and they know't: 
 No more of that. I pray you in your Letters, 
 When you fhall thefe vnluckie deeds relate, 
 Speake of me, as I am. Nothing extenuate, 
 Nor fet downe ought in malice. 
 Then muft you fpeake, 
 Of one that lou'd not wifely, but too well : 
 Of one, not eafily lealious, but being wrought, 
 Perplexed in the extreame : Of one, whofe hand 
 (Like the bafe ludean) threw a Pearle away 
 Richer then all his Tribe : Of one, whofe fubdu'd Eyes, 
 Albeit vn-vfed to the melting moode, 
 Drops teares as faft as the Arabian Trees 
 Their Medicinable gumme. Set you downe this : 
 And fay befides, that in Aleppo once, 
 Where a malignant, and a Turbond-Turke 
 Beate a Venetian, and traduc'd the State, 
 I tooke by th'throat the circumcifed Dogge, 
 And fmoate him, thus. 
 
 Lod. Oh bloody period. 
 
 Gra. All that is fpoke, is marr'd. 
 
 Oth. I kift thee, ere I kill'd thee : No way but this, 
 Killing my felfe, to dye vpon a kifTe. 'Dyes 
 
 Caffio.
 
 the Moore of Venice. 
 
 339 
 
 Caf. This did I feare, but thought he had no weapon : 
 For he was great of heart. 
 
 Lod. Oh Sparton Dogge : 
 More fell then Anguifli, Hunger, or the Sea : 
 Looke on the Tragicke Loading <of this bed : 
 This is thy worke : 
 The Obiedt poyfons Sight, 
 
 Let it be hid. Gratiano,k.eept the houfe, 
 
 And feize vpon the Fortunes of the Moore, 
 
 For they fucceede on you. To you, Lord Gouernor, 
 
 Remaines th eCenfure of this hellifh villaine : 
 
 The Time, the Place, the Torture, oh inforce it : 
 
 My felfe will ftraight aboord,and to the State, 
 
 This heauie A&, with heauie heart relate. Exeunt. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 The Names of the A&ors. 
 OVO 
 
 Thdlo, the Moore. 
 
 Brabantio, Father to Defdemona. 
 
 Caffio, an Honourable Lieutenant. 
 lago, a Villaine. 
 Rodorigo, a guild Gentleman. 
 Duke of Venice. 
 
 Senators. 
 
 Montano, Gouernour of Cyprus. 
 
 Gentlemen of Cyprus. 
 
 Lodouico,rfWGratiano, two Noble Venetians. 
 
 Saylors. 
 
 Clocvne. 
 
 Defdemona, Wife to Othello. 
 ^Emilia, Wife to lago. 
 Bianca, a Curtezan. 
 
 8*9
 
 340 
 
 THE TRAGEDIEOF 
 
 Anthonie, and Cleopatra. 
 
 <iAftus 'Primus. Scoena ^Prima. 
 
 Enter 'Demetriiu and Philo. 
 
 Pbllo. 
 
 Ay, but this dotage of our Generals 
 Ore-flowes the meafure : thofe his goodly eyes 
 That.o're the Files and Mufters of the Warre, 
 Haue glow'd like plated Mars: 
 Now bend, now turne 
 The Office and Deuotion of their view 
 Vpon a Tawny Front. His Captaines heart, 
 Which in the fcuffles of great Fights hath burft 
 The Buckles on his breft, reneages all temper, 
 And is become the Bellowes and the Fan 
 To coole a Gypfies Luft. 
 
 Flourijb. Enter Anthony, Cleopatra her Ladies, the 
 
 Traine,ifitb Bunucbt fanning her. 
 Looke where they come : 
 Take but good note, and you fhall fee in him 
 (The triple Pillar of the world) transform'd 
 Into a Strumpets Foole. Behold and fee. 
 
 Cleo. If it be Loue indeed, tell me how much. 
 
 Ant.Thert's beggery in the loue that can be reckon'd 
 
 Cleo. He fet a bourne how farre to be belou'd. 
 
 Ant. Then muft thou needes finde out new Heauen, 
 new Earth. 
 
 Enter a MeJJenger. 
 
 Mef. Newes(my good Lord)from Rome. 
 
 Ant. Grates me, the fumme. 
 
 Clet. Nay heare them Anthony. 
 Fuluia perchance is angry : Or who knowes, 
 If the fcarfe-bearded Ctefar haue not fent 
 His powrefull Mandate to you. Do this, or this; 
 Take in that Kingdome, and Infranchife that : 
 Perform't, or elfe we damne thee. 
 
 Ant . How, my Loue ? 
 
 Cleo. Perchance? Nay, and moft like : 
 You muft not flay heere longer, your difmiffion 
 Is come from Ctffar, therefore heare it Anthony. 
 Where's Fuluiat Procefle? (Catjart I would fay) both? 
 Call in the MefTengers : As I am Egypts Queene, 
 Thou blufheft Anthony, and that blood of thine 
 Is C a f art homager : elfe fo thy cheeke payes fliame, 
 When flirill-tongu'd Fuluia fcolds. The Meflengers. 
 
 Ant. Let Rome in Tyber melt, and the wide Arch 
 Of the raing'd Empire fall : Heere is my fpace, 
 Kjngdomes are clay : Our dungie earth alike 
 
 Feeds Beaft as Man ; the Noblenefle of life 
 Is to do thus : when fuch a mutuall paire, 
 And fuch a twaine can doo't, in which I binde 
 One paine of punifliment, the world to weete 
 We ftand vp Peerelefle. 
 
 Cleo. Excellent fal/hood : 
 Why did he marry Fuluia, and not loue her? 
 lie feeme the Foole I am not. Anthony will be himfelfe. 
 
 Ant. But ftirr'd by Cleopatra. 
 Now for the loue of Loue, and her fofc houres, 
 Let's not confound the time with Conference harfh; 
 There's not a minute of our liues fhould ftretch 
 Without fome pleafure now. What fport to night? 
 
 Cleo. Heare the Ambafladors. 
 
 Ant. Fye wrangling Queene : 
 Whom euery thing becomes, to chide, to laugh, 
 To weepe : who euery paflion fully ftriues 
 To make itfelfe (in Thee) faire, and admir'd. 
 No Meflenger but thine, and all alone, to night 
 Wee'l wander through the ftreets,and note 
 The qualities of people. Come my Queene, 
 Lair, night you did defire it. Speake not to vs. 
 
 Exeunt frith the Traine. 
 
 Dem. Is Citfar with Antbonius priz'd fo flight ? 
 
 Philo. Sir ibmetimes when he is not Anthony, 
 He comes too fliort of that great Property 
 Which ftill fhould go with tAntbony. 
 
 Dem. I am full forry, that hee approues the common 
 Lyar, who thus fpeakes of him at Rome ; but I will hope 
 of better deeds to morrow. Reft you happy. Sxeunt 
 
 Enter Enobarbuf, Lampriui,a Soutbfayer, Rannius, Lucilli- 
 ui, Cbarmian, Iras , Mardian the Eur.ucb, 
 and Alex at. 
 
 Char. L. Alexai, fweet Alexas,mo& any thing Alexat, 
 almoft moft abfolute Alexas, where's the Soothfayer 
 that you prais'd fo to'th'Queene ? Oh that I knewe this 
 Husband, which you fay, muft change his Homes with 
 Garlands. 
 
 Alex. Soothfayer. 
 
 Sooth. Your will ? 
 
 Char. Is this the Man ? Is't you fir that know things ? 
 
 Sooth. In Natures infinite booke of Secrecie, a little I 
 can read. 
 
 Alex. Shew him your,hand. 
 
 Enob. Bring in the Banket quickly : Wine enough, 
 
 Cleofa 
 
 830
 
 <iAnthony and (Cleopatra. 
 
 341 
 
 Cleopatra's health to drinke. 
 
 Char. Good fir, giue me good Fortune. 
 
 Sootb. I make not, but forefee. 
 
 Char. Pray then, forefee me one. j 
 
 Sootb. You fhall be yet farre fairer then you are. 
 
 Char. He meanes in flefh. 
 
 Iras. No, you fhall paint when you are old. 
 
 Char. Wrinkles forbid. 
 
 tAlex. Vex not his prefcience, be attentiue. 
 
 Char. Hufh. 
 
 Sootk. You fhall be more belouing, then beloued. 
 
 Char. I had rather heate my Liuer with drinking. 
 
 Alex. Nay, heare him. 
 
 Char. Good now fome excellent Fortune : Let mee 
 be married to three Kings in a forenoone, and Widdow 
 them all : Let me haue a Childe at fifty, to whom Herode 
 of lewry may do Homage. Finde me to marrie me with 
 Oflaului Qtefar, and companion me with my Miftris. 
 
 Sootb. You fhall out-liue the Lady whom you ferue. 
 
 Char. Oh excellent, I loue long life better then Figs. 
 
 Sootb. You haue feene and proued a fairer former for- 
 tune, then that which is to approach. 
 
 Char. Then belike my Children fhall haue no names: 
 Prythee how many Boyes and Wenches muft I haue. 
 
 Sootb. If euery of your wifhes had a wombe, & fore- 
 tell euery wifh, a Million. 
 
 Char. Out Foole, I forgiue thee for a Witch. 
 
 Alex. You thinke none but your fheets are priuie to 
 your wifhes. 
 
 Char. Nay come, tell IraA hers. 
 
 Alex. Wee'l know all our Fortunes. 
 
 Enob. Mine, and moft of our Fortunes to night, fhall 
 be drunke to bed. 
 
 Iras. There's a Palme prefages Chaftity, if nothing els. 
 
 Char. E'ne as the o're-flowing Nylus prefageth Fa- 
 mine. 
 
 Iras. Go you wilde Bedfellow, you cannot Soothfay. 
 
 Char. Nay, if an oyly Palme bee not a fruitfull Prog- 
 noftication, I cannot fcratch mine eare. Prythee tel her 
 but a worky day Fortune. 
 
 Sootb. Your Fortunes are alike. 
 
 Iras. But how, but how, giue me particulars. 
 
 Sootb. I haue faid. 
 
 Iras. Am I not an inch of Fortune better then fhe? 
 
 Char. Well, if you were but an inch of fortune better 
 then I : where would you choofe it. 
 
 Iras. Not in my Husbands nofe. 
 
 Char. Our worfer thoughts Heauens mend. 
 
 Alexas. Come, his Fortune, his Fortune. Oh let him 
 mary a woman that cannot go, fweet I/is, I befeech thee, 
 and let her dye too, 'and giue him a worfe, and let worfe 
 follow worfe, till the worft of all follow him laughing to 
 his graue, fifty-fold a Cuckold. Good I/is heare me this 
 Prayer, though thou denie me a matter of more waight : 
 good I/is I be/eech thee. 
 
 Iras. Amen,deere GoddefTe, heare that prayer of the 
 people. For, as it is a heart-breaking to fee a handfome 
 man loofe-Wiu'd, fo it is a deadly forrow, to beholde a 
 foule Knaue vncuckolded : Therefore deere Ifis keep de- 
 corum, and Fortune him accordingly. 
 
 Char. Amen. 
 
 Alex. Lo now, if it lay in their hands to make mee a 
 Cuckold, they would make themfelues Whores, but 
 they'ld doo't. 
 
 Enter Cleopatra. 
 
 Enob. Hufh, heere comes Anthony. 
 
 Char. Not he, the Queene. 
 
 Cleo. Saue you, my Lord. 
 
 Enob. No Lady. 
 
 Cleo. Was he not heere ? 
 
 Char. No Madam. 
 
 Cleo, He was difpos'd to mirth, but on the fodaine 
 A Romane thought hath ftrooke him. 
 Enobarbus ? 
 
 Snob. Madam. 
 
 C/<ro.Seeke him, and bring him hither: wher's Alexiai ? 
 
 Alex. Heere at your feruice. 
 My Lord approaches. 
 
 Enter Anthony, -with a <&HeJJer,ger. 
 
 Cleo. We will not looke vpon him : 
 Go with vs. Exeunt. 
 
 Me/fin. Fuluia thy Wife, 
 Firft came into the Field. 
 
 Ant. Againft my Brother Lucius ? 
 
 Me/Jen. I : but foone that Warre had end, 
 And the times ftate 
 
 Made friends of them, ioynting their force 'gainft Cafar, 
 Whofe better iflue in the warre from Italy, 
 Vpon the firft encounter draue them. 
 
 Ant. Well, what worft. 
 
 Mejf. The Nature of bad newes infects the Teller. 
 
 Ant. When it concernes the Foole or Coward : On. 
 Things that are paft, are done, with me. 'Tis thus, 
 Who tels me true, though in his Tale lye death, 
 I heare him as he flatter'd. 
 
 Mef. Labienus (this is ftiffe-newes) 
 Hath with his Parthian Force 
 Extended Afia : from Euphrates his conquering 
 Banner Jhooke, from Syria to Lydia, 
 And to Ionia, whil'ft 
 
 Ant. Anthony thou would'ft fay. 
 
 Mef. Oh my Lord. 
 
 Ant. Speake to me home, 
 Mince not the generall tongue, name 
 Cleopatra as fhe is call'd in Rome : 
 Raile thou in Yuluias phrafe, and taunt my faults 
 With fuch full Licenfe, as both Truth and Malice 
 Haue power to vtter. Oh then we bring forth weeds, 
 When our quicke windes lye ftill, and our illes told vs 
 Is as our earing : fare thee well awhile. 
 
 Mef. At your Noble pleafure. Exit Mejfenger. 
 
 Enter another MeJJenger. 
 
 Ant. From Scicion how the newes ? Speake there. 
 
 I . Mef. The man from Scicion, 
 Is there fuch an one ? 
 
 z.Mef. He ftayes vpon your will. 
 
 cAnt. Let him appeare : 
 
 Thefe ftrong Egyptian Fetters I muft breake, 
 Or loofe my felfe in dotage. 
 
 Enter another cMeJJenger with a Letter. 
 
 What are you ? 
 
 -$.<&fef. Fuluia thy wife is ded. 
 
 Ant. Where dyed fhe. 
 
 Mef. In Scicion, her length of ficknefle, 
 With what elfe more ferious, 
 Importeth thee to know, this beares. 
 
 Antbo. Forbeare me 
 
 There's a great Spirit gone, thus did I defire it : 
 What our contempts doth often hurle from vs,
 
 342 
 
 The Tragedie of 
 
 We wifh it ours againe. The prefent pleafure, 
 
 By reuolution lowring, does become 
 
 The oppofite of it felfe : flic's good being gon, 
 
 The hand could plucke her backe, that fliou'd her on. 
 
 I muft from this enchanting Queene breake off, 
 
 Ten thoufand harmes, more then the illes I know 
 
 My idlenefTe doth hatch. 
 
 Enter Enobarbta. 
 How rfow Enobarbiu. 
 
 Eno. What's your pleafure, Sir ? 
 
 Antb. I muft with hafte from hence. 
 
 Eno. Why then we kill all our Women. We fee how 
 mortall an vnkindnefle is to them, if they fuffer our de- 
 parture death's the word. 
 
 Ant. I muft be gone. 
 
 Eno. Vnder a compelling an occafion, let women die. 
 It were pitty to caft them away for nothing, though be- 
 tweene them and a great caufe, they Ihould be efteemed 
 nothing. Cleopatra catching but the leaft noyfe of this, 
 dies inftantly : I haue feene her dye twenty times vppon 
 farre poorer moment : I do think there is mettle in death, 
 which commits fome louing a&e vpon her, flie hath fuch 
 a celerity in dying. 
 
 Ant. She is cunning paft mans thought. 
 
 Eno. Alacke Sir no, her paffions are made of nothing 
 but the fineft part of pure Loue. We cannot cal her winds 
 and waters, fighes and teares : They are greater ftormes 
 and Tempefts then Almanackes can report. This cannot 
 be cunning in her; if it be, fhe makes a fhowre of Raine 
 as well as loue. 
 
 Ant. Would I had neuer feene her. 
 
 Eno. Oh fir, you had then left vnfeene a wonderfull 
 peece of worke, which not to haue beene bleft withall, 
 would haue difcredited your Trauaile. 
 
 Ant, Fuluia is dead. 
 
 Eno. Sir. 
 
 Ant. Fuluia is dead. 
 
 Eno. Fuluia ? 
 
 Ant. Dead. * 
 
 Eno. Why fir, giue the Gods a thankefull Sacrifice : 
 when it pleafeth their Deities to take the wife of a man 
 from him, it fliewes to man the Tailors of the earth: com- 
 forting therein, that when olde Robes areiworne out, 
 there are members to make new. If there were no more 
 Women but Fuluia, then had you indeede a cut, and the 
 cafe to be lamented: This greefe is crown'd with Confo- 
 lation, your old Smocke brings foorth a new Petticoate, 
 and indeed the teares liue in an Onion, that fhould water 
 this forrow. 
 
 Ant. The bufinefTe fhe hath broached in the State, 
 Cannot endure my abfence. 
 
 Eno. And the bufinefle you haue broach'd heere can- 
 not be without you, efpecially that of Cleopatra's, which 
 wholly depends on your abode. 
 
 Ant. No more light Anfweres : 
 Let our Officers 
 
 Haue notice what we purpofe. I fhall breake 
 The caufe of our Expedience to the Queene, 
 And get her loue to part. For not alone 
 The death of Fuluia^ with more vrgent touches 
 Do ftrongly fpeake to vs : but the Letters too 
 Of many our contriuing Friends in Rome, 
 Petition vs at home. Sextiu Pomfeius 
 Haue giuen the dare to Ceefar, and commands 
 The Empire of the Sea. Our flippery people, 
 Whofe Loue is neuer link'd to the deferuer, 
 
 Till his deferts are paft, begin to throw 
 Pompey the great, and all his Dignities 
 Vpon his Sonne, who high in Name and Power, 
 Higher then both in Blood and Life, ftands vp 
 For the maine Souldier. Whofe quality going on, 
 The fides o'th'world may danger. Much is breeding, 
 Which like the Courfers heire, hath yet but life, 
 And not a Serpents poyfon. Say our pleafure, 
 To fuch whofe places vnder vs, require 
 Our quicke remoue from hence. 
 Enob. I fhall doo't. 
 
 Enter Cleopatra, Cbarmian ) Alexas t and Iras. 
 
 Cleo. Where is he? 
 
 Char. I did not fee him fince. 
 
 Cleo. See where he is, 
 Whofe with him, what he does : 
 I did not fend you. If you finde him fad, 
 Say I am dauncing : if in Myrth, report 
 That I am fodaine ficke. Quicke, and returne. 
 
 Char. Madam, me thinkes if you did loue him deerly, 
 You do not hold the method, to enforce 
 The like from him. 
 
 Cleo. What fhould I do, I do not ? 
 
 C&.In each thing giue him way,crofle him in nothing. 
 
 Cleo. Thou teacheft like a foole:the way to lofe him. 
 
 Char. Tempt him not fo too farre. I wifh forbeare, 
 In time we hate that which we often feare. 
 
 Enter Anthony. 
 But heere comes Anthony. 
 
 Cleo. I am ficke, and fullen. 
 
 An. I am forry to giue breathing to my purpofe. 
 
 Cleo. Helpe me away deere Cbarmian t l fhall fall, 
 It cannot be thus long, the fides of Nature 
 Will not fuftaine it. 
 
 Ant. Now my deereft Queene. 
 
 Cleo. Pray you ftand farther from mee. 
 
 Ant. What's the matter? 
 
 C/fo.I know by that fame eye ther's fome good news. 
 What fayes the married woman you may goe ? 
 Would fhe had neuer giuen you leaue to come. 
 Let her not fay 'tis I that keepe you heere, 
 I haue no power vpon you : Hers you are. 
 
 Ant. The Gods beft know. 
 
 Cleo. Oh neuer was there Queene 
 So mightily betrayed : yet at the fitft 
 I faw the Treafons planted. 
 
 Ant. Cleopatra. 
 
 Cleo. Why fhould I thinke you can be mine, & true, 
 (Though you in fwearing fhake the Throaned Gods) 
 Who haue beene falfe to Fuluia ? 
 Riotous madnefTe, 
 
 To be entangled with thofe mouth-made vowes, 
 Which breake themfeluesin fwearing. 
 
 Ant. Moft fweet Queene. 
 
 Cleo. Nay pray you Teeke no colour for your going, 
 But bid farewell, and goe : 
 When you fued flaying, 
 
 Then was the time for words : No going then, 
 Eternity was in our Lippes, and Eyes, 
 Blifle in our browes bent : none our parts fo poore, 
 But was a race of Heauen. They are fo ftill, 
 Or thou the greateft Souldier of the world, 
 Art turn'd the greateft Lyar. 
 
 Ant. How now Lady ? 
 
 Cleo.
 
 ^Anthony and (Cleopatra. 
 
 343 
 
 Cleo. I would I had thy inches, thou fliould'ft know 
 There were a heart in Egypt. 
 
 Ant. Heare me Queene : 
 The ftrong neceffity of" Time, commands 
 Our Seruicles a-while : but my full heart 
 Remaines in vfe with you. Our Italy, 
 Shines o're with ciuill Swords; Sextui Pompeim 
 Makes his approaches to the Port of Rome, 
 Equality of two Domefticke powers, 
 
 Breed fcrupulous faction : The hated growne to ftrength 
 Are newly growne to Loue : The condemned Pomfey, 
 Rich in his Fathers Honor, creepes apace 
 Into the hearts of fuch,as haue not thriued 
 Vpon the prefent ftate,whofe Numbers threaten, 
 And quietnefle growne ficke of reft, would purge 
 By any defperate change : My more particular, 
 And that which moft with you fhould fafe my going, 
 Is Fuluias death. 
 
 Cleo. Though age from folly could not giue me freedom 
 It does from childiflineffe. Can Fuluia dye? 
 
 Ant. She's dead my Queene. 
 Looke heere, and at thy Soueraigne leyfure read 
 The Garboyles flie awak'd : at the laft,beft, 
 See when, and where fliee died. 
 
 Cleo. O moft falfe Loue j 
 
 Where be the Sacred Violles thou fliould'ft fill 
 With forrowfull water ? Now I fee, I fee, 
 In Fuluiad death, how mine receiu'd fliall be. 
 
 tAnt. Quarrell no more, but bee prepar'd to know 
 The purpofes I beare : which are, or ceafe, 
 As you fliall giue th'aduice. By the fire 
 That quickens Nylus flime, I go from hence 
 Thy Souldier, Seruant, making Peace or Warre, 
 As thou affects. 
 
 Cleo. Cut my Lace, Cbarmlan come, 
 But let it be, lam quickly ill, and well, 
 So Anthony loues. 
 
 Ant. My precious Queene forbeare, 
 And giue true euidence to his Loue, which ftands 
 An honourable Triall. 
 
 Qleo. So Fuluia told me. 
 I prythee turne afide,and weepe for her, 
 Then bid adiew to me, and fay the teares 
 Belong to Egypt. Good now, play one Scene 
 Of excellent diflembling,and let it looke 
 Like perfedl Honor. 
 
 Ant. You'l heat my blood no more? 
 
 Cleo. You can do better yet : but this is meetly. 
 
 Ant. Now by Sword. 
 
 Cleo. And Target. Still he mends. 
 But this is not the beft. Looke prythee Charmiarf^ 
 How this Herculean Roman do's become 
 The carriage of his chafe. 
 
 Ant, lie leaue you Lady. 
 
 Cleo. Courteous Lord, one word : 
 Sir, you and I muft part, but that's not it : 
 Sir, you and I haue lou'd, but there's not it : 
 That you know well, fomething it is I would : 
 Oh, my Obliuion is a very Anthony, 
 And I am all forgotten. 
 
 Ant. But that your Royalty 
 Holds Idlenefle your fubieft, I fliould take you 
 For Idleneffe it felfe. 
 
 Cleo. 'Tis fweating Labour, 
 To beare fuch Idlenefle fo neere the heart 
 As Cleopatra this. But Sir, forgiue me, 
 
 Since my becommings kill me, when they do not 
 
 Eye well to you. Your Honor calles you hence, 
 
 Therefore be deafe to my vnpittied Folly, 
 
 And all the Gods go with you. Vpon your Sword 
 
 Sit Lawrell victory, and fmooth fuccefle 
 
 Be ftrew'd before your feete.i 
 
 Ant. Let vs go. 
 
 Come : Our feparation fo abides and flies, 
 That thou reciding heere, goes yet with mee ; 
 And I hence fleeting, heere remaine with thee. 
 Away. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Ottauitu reading a Letter, Lepidui, 
 and their Traine. 
 
 C<?f. You may fee Lepidus,and henceforth know, 
 It i s not Caefars Naturall vice, to hate 
 One great Competitor. From Alexandria 
 This is the newes : He fifties, drinkes, and waftes 
 The Lampes of night in reuell : Is not more manlike 
 Then Cleopatra : nor the Queene of Ptolomy 
 More Womanly then he. Hardly gaue audience 
 Or vouchfafe to thinke he had Partners. You 
 Shall finde there a man, who is th'abftra&s of all faults, 
 That all men follow. 
 
 Lfp. I muft not thinke 
 
 There are, euils enow to darken all his goodnefle: 
 His faults in him, feeme as the Spots of Heauen, 
 More fierie by nights Blacknefle ; Hereditarie, 
 Rather then purchafte : what he cannot change, 
 Then what he choofes. 
 
 Ctef. You are too indulgent. Let's graunt it is not 
 Amifle to tumble on the bed of Ptolomy, 
 To giue a Kingdome for a Mirth, to fit 
 And keepe the turne of Tipling with a Slaue, 
 To reele the ftreets at noone, and ftand the Buffet 
 With knaues that fmels of fweate : Say this becoms him 
 (As his compofure muft be rare indeed, 
 Whom thefe things cannot blemifli) yet muft Anthony 
 No way excufe his foyles, when we do beare 
 So great waight in his lightnefle. If he fill'd 
 His vacancie with his Voluptuoufnefle, 
 Full furfets, and the drinefle of his bones, 
 Call on him for't. But to confound fuch time, 
 That drummes him from his fport, and fpeakes as lowd 
 As his owne State, and ours, 'tis to be chid : 
 As we rate Boyes, who being mature in knowledge, 
 Pawne their experience to their prefent pleafure, 
 And fb rebell to iudgement. 
 
 Enter a MeJJenger. 
 
 Lep. Heere's more newes. 
 
 Mef. Thy biddings haue beene done, & euerie houre 
 Moft Noble Ctefar, {halt thou haue report 
 How 'tis abroad. Tompey is ftrong at Sea, 
 And it appeares,he is belou'd of thofe 
 That only haue feard Ctefar : to the Ports 
 The difcontents repaire, and mens reports 
 Giue him much wrong'd. 
 
 CeeJ. I fhould haue knowne no lefle, 
 It hath bin taught vs from the primall ftate 
 That he which is was wifht, vntill he were: 
 And the ebb'd man, 
 Ne're lou'd, till ne're worth loue, 
 Comes fear'd, by being lack'd. This common bodie, 
 Like to a Vagabond Flagge vpon the Streame, 
 Goes too, and backe, lacking the varrying tyde 
 
 x * To
 
 344 
 
 The Tragedie of 
 
 To rot it felfe with motion. 
 
 MeJ. Ceefar I bring thee word, 
 Menacrates and Menat famous Pyrates 
 Makes the Sea feme them, which they eare and wound 
 With keeles of euery kinde. Many hot inrodes 
 They make in Italy, the Borders Maritime 
 Lacke blood to thinke on't, and flufli youth reuolt, 
 No Veflell can peepe forth : but 'tis as foone 
 Taken as feene : for Pomfeyes name ftrikes more 
 Then could his Warre refifted. 
 
 Ctffar. Anthony, 
 
 Leaue thy lafciuious Vaflailes. When thou once 
 Was beaten from eftfedena, where thou flew'ft 
 Hirfitu, and Paufa Confuls, at thy heele 
 Did Famine follow, whom thou fought'ft againft, 
 (Though daintily brought vp) with patience more 
 Then Sauages could fuffer. Thou did'ft drinke 
 The ftale of Horfes, and the gilded Puddle 
 Which Beafts would cough at. Thy pallat the did daine 
 The roughed Berry, on the rudeft Hedge. 
 Yea, like the Stagge,when Snow the Pafture flieets, 
 The barkes of Trees thou brows'd. On the Alpes, 
 It is reported thou did'ft eate ftrange flefh, 
 Which fome did dye to looke on : And all this 
 ( It wounds thine Honor that I fpe^ke it now) 
 Was borne fo like a Soldiour, that thy cheeke 
 So much as lank'd not. 
 
 Lep. 'Tis pitty of him. 
 
 C<?f. Let his fhames quickely 
 Driue him to Rome, 'tis time we twaine 
 Did fliew our felues i'th'Field, and to that end 
 Aflemble me immediate counfell, fomfey 
 Thriues in our Idlenefle. 
 
 Lep. To morrow Ctefar, 
 I fhall be furni/ht to informe you rightly 
 Both what by Sea and Land I can be able 
 To front this prefent time. 
 
 Ctff.T'il which encounter, it is my bufines too.Farwell. 
 
 L^.Farwell my Lord, what you flial know mean time 
 Of ftirres abroad, I ihall befeech you Sir 
 To let me be partaker. 
 
 Ctffar. Doubt not fir, I knew it for my Bond. Exeunt 
 Snter (Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras,& Mardian. 
 
 Cleo. Charmian. 
 . Char. Madam. 
 
 Cleo. Ha, ha, giue me to drinke Mandragoru. 
 
 Char. Why Madam? 
 
 Cleo. That I might fleepe out this great gap of time : 
 My Anthony is away. 
 
 Char. You thinke of him too much. 
 
 Qleo. O 'tis Treafon. 
 
 Char. Madam, I truft not fo. 
 
 Clco. Thou, Eunuch cftfardian? 
 
 Mar. What's your Highnefle pleafure ? 
 
 Cleo. Not now to heare thee fing. I take no pleafure 
 In ought an Eunuch ha's : Tis well for thee, 
 That being vnfeminar'd, thy freer thoughts 
 May not flye forth of Egypt. Haft thou Affections ? 
 
 Mar. Yes gracious Madam. 
 
 Cleo. Indeed ? 
 
 Mar. Not in deed Madam, for I can do nothing 
 But what in deede is honeft to be done : 
 Yet haue I fierce Affections, and thinke 
 What Venus did with Mars. 
 
 Cleo. Oh Charmion : 
 Where think'ft thou he is now? Stands he, or fits he? 
 
 Or does he walke? Or is he on his Horfe ? 
 
 Oh happy horfe to beare the weight of Anthony ! 
 
 Do brauely Horfe, for wot'ft thou whom thou moou'ft, 
 
 The demy Atlas of this Earth, the Arme 
 
 And Burganet of men. Hee's fpeaking now, 
 
 Or murmuring, where's my Serpent of old Nyle, 
 
 (For fo he cals me: ) Now I feede my felfe 
 
 With moft delicious poyfon. Thinke on me 
 
 That am with Phoebus amorous pinches blacke, 
 
 And wrinkled deepe in time. Broad-fronted Ciefar, 
 
 When thou was't heere aboue the ground, I was 
 
 A morfell for a Monarke : and great Pompey 
 
 Would ftand and make his eyes grow in my brow, 
 
 There would he anchor his Afpedt, and dye 
 
 With looking on his life. 
 
 Enter Alex as from Ctefar. 
 
 Alex. Soueraigne of Egypt, haile. 
 
 Cleo. How much vnlike art thou Marine Anthony? 
 Yet comming from him, that great Med'cine hath 
 With his Tinct gilded thee. 
 How goes it with my braue Marine Anthonie ? 
 
 Alex. Laft thing he did (deere Qii ene) 
 He kift the laft of many doubled kiffes 
 This Orient Pearle. His fpeech ftickes in my heart. 
 
 Qleo. Mine eare muft plucke it thence. 
 
 Alex. Good Friend, quoth he : 
 Say the firme Roman to great Egypt fends 
 This treafure of an Oyfter ' at whole foote 
 To mend the petty prefent, I will peece 
 Her opulent Throne, with Kingdomes. All the Eaft, 
 (Say thou) fliall call her Miftris. So he nodded, 
 And foberly did mount an Arme-gaunt Steede, 
 Who neigh'd fo hye, that what I would haue (poke, 
 Was beaftly dumbe by him. 
 
 Cleo. What was he fad, or merry ? 
 
 Alex. Like to the time o'th'yeare, between y extremes 
 Of hot and cold, he was nor fad nor merrie. 
 
 Cleo. Oh well diuided difpofition: Note him, 
 Note him good Cbarmian ,'t'is the man ; but note him. 
 He was not fad, for he would fliine on thofe 
 That make their lookes by his. He was not merrie, 
 Which feem'd to tell them, his remembrance lay 
 In Egypt with his ioy, but betweene both. 
 Oh heauenly mingle ! Bee'ft thou fad, or merrie, 
 The violence of either thee becomes, 
 So do's it no mans elfe. Met'ft thou my Ports? 
 
 Alex. I Madam, twenty feuerall Mefiengers. 
 Why do you fend fo thicke? 
 
 Cleo. Who's borne that day, when I forget to fend 
 to Anthonie, fliall dye a Begger. Inke and paper Cbar- 
 mian. Welcome my good Alexat. Did I Cbarmian, e- 
 uer loue C tf f ar f ' 
 
 Char. Oh that braue Cttjar\ 
 
 Cleo. Be choak'd with fuch another Emphafis, 
 Say the braue Anthony. 
 
 Char. The valiant Ctffar. 
 
 Cleo. By IJis, I will giue thee bloody teeth, 
 If thou with Ctefar Parago nagaine : 
 My man of men. 
 
 Char. By your moft gracious pardon, 
 I fing but after you. 
 
 Cleo. My Sallad dayes, 
 
 When I was greene in iudgement, cold in blood, 
 To fay, as I faide then. But come, away, 
 Get me Inke and Paper, 
 
 Hee
 
 Anthony and Qleopatra. 
 
 345 
 
 he /hall haue euery day a feuerall greeting, or He vnpeo- 
 ple Egypt. -Exeunt 
 
 Snter Pom fey, Menecrates, and Menas,in 
 var/ily manner. 
 
 Pom. If the great Gods be iuft,they fliall affift 
 The deeds of iufteft men. 
 
 Mene. Know worthy Pomfey, that what they do de- 
 lay, they not deny. 
 
 Pom. Whiles we are Tutors to their Throne, decayes 
 the thing we fue for. 
 
 <&fene. We ignorant of our felues, 
 Begge often our owne harmes,which the wife Powres 
 Deny vs for our good : fo finde we profit 
 By loofing of our Prayers. 
 
 Tom. I fliall do well : 
 The people loue me, and the Sea is mine ; 
 My powers are Creffent, and my Auguring hope 
 Sayes it will come to'th'full. Marine Anthony 
 In Egypt fits at dinner, and will make 
 No warres without doores. Ctejar gets money where 
 He loofes hearts : Lefidui flatters both, 
 Of both is flatter'd : but he neither loues, 
 Nor either cares for him. 
 
 Mene. C<e$ar and Lepiduf are in the field, 
 A mighty ftrength they carry. 
 
 Pom. Where haue you this? 'Tis falfe. 
 
 Mene. From Silultti, Sir. 
 
 Pom.He dreames : I know they are in Rome together 
 Looking for Anthony : but all the charmes of Loue, 
 Salt Cleopatra (often thy wand lip, 
 Let Witchcraft ioyne with Beauty, Luft with both, 
 Tye vp the Libertine in a field of Feafts, 
 Keepe his Braine fuming. Epicurean Cookes, 
 Sharpen with cloylefle fawce his Appetite, 
 That fleepe and feeding may prorogue his Honour, 
 
 Euen till a Lethied dulnefie 
 
 Enter VarriM. 
 How now Varriiu*. 
 
 Var. This is moft certaine, that I fliall deliuer : 
 cWarfy Anthony is euery hour* in Rome 
 Expected. Since he went from Egypt, 'tis 
 A fpace for farther Trauaile. 
 
 Pom. I could haue giuen lefle matter 
 A better eare. Menas, I did not thinke 
 This amorous Surfetter would haue donn'd his Helme 
 For fuch a petty Warre : His Souldierfhip 
 Is twice the other twaine : But let vs reare 
 The higher our Opinion, that our ftirring 
 Can from the lap of Egypts Widdow, plucke 
 The neere Luft- wearied Anthony. 
 
 Mene. I cannot hope, 
 
 Ctffar and Anthony fliall well greet together ; 
 His Wife that's dead , did trefpafles to C*far, 
 His Brother wan'd vpon him, although I thinke 
 Not mou'd by Anthony. 
 
 Pom. 1 know not Menai, 
 How lefler Enmities may giue way to greater, 
 Were't not that we ftand vp againft them all : 
 'Twer pregnant they fliould fquare between themfelues, 
 For they haue entertained caufe enough 
 To draw their fwords : but how trie feare of vs 
 May Ciment their diuifions, and binde vp 
 The petty difference, we yet not know : 
 Bee't as our Gods will haue't ; it onely (lands 
 Our Hues vpon, to vfe our ftrongeft hands 
 Come Menas . Exeunt. 
 
 83* 
 
 Enter Enobarbus and Lepidtu. 
 Lef>. Good Enbbarbtu, 'tis a worthy deed, 
 And fliall become you well, to intreat your Captaine 
 To fort and' gentle fpeech. 
 
 Enob. I fliall intreat him 
 To anfwer like himfelfe : if C<ffar moue him, 
 Let Anthony looke ouer Ctzjars head, 
 And fpeake as lowd as Mars. By lupiter, 
 Were I the wearer of Antbonio'i Beard, 
 I would not fliaue't to day. 
 
 Lep. 'Tis not a time for priuate ftomacking. 
 Eno. Euery time ferues for the matter that is then 
 borne in't. 
 
 Lep. But fmall to greater matters muft giue way. 
 Eno. Not if the fmall come firft. 
 Lep. Your fpeech is pafiion : but pray you ftirre 
 No Embers vp. Heere comes the Noble Anthony. 
 
 Enter Anthony and Ventidiiu. 
 Bno. And yonder Cttjar. 
 
 Enter Ctefar, Mecenas , and Agrippa. 
 Ant. If we compofe well heere, to Parthia : 
 Hearke Ventidiui. 
 
 Ctefar. I do not know Mecenai, aske Agrippa. 
 Lep. Noble Friends : 
 
 That which combin'd vs was moft great, and let not 
 A leaner action rend vs. What's amifle, 
 May it be gently heard. When we debate 
 Our triuiall difference loud, we do commit 
 Murther in healing wounds. Then Noble Partners, 
 The rather for I earneftly befeech, 
 Touch you the fowreft points with fweeteft tearmes, 
 Nor curftnefie grow to'th'matter. 
 
 cAnt. 'Tis fpoken well : 
 Were we before our Armies, and to fight, 
 I fliould do thus . FIcuriJb. 
 
 Ctff. Welcome to Rome. 
 Ant . Thanke you. 
 C*f. Sit. 
 Ant, Sit fir. 
 C<ef. Nay then. 
 
 Ant. I learne, you take things ill, which are not fo: 
 Or being, concerne you not. 
 
 Caf. I muft be laught at, if or for nothing, or a little, I 
 Should fay my felfe offended, and with you 
 Chiefely i'th'world. More laught at, that I fliould 
 Once name you derogately : wlien to lound your name 
 It not concern'd me. 
 
 Ant. My being in Egypt C^_/izr,what was't to you? 
 Caf. No more then my reciding heere at Rome 
 Might be to you in Egypt : yet if you there 
 Did practife on my State,your being in Egypt 
 Might be my queftion. 
 
 tAnt. How intend you, pradtis'd ? 
 Ctff. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent, 
 By what did heere befall me. Your Wife and Brother 
 Made warres vpon me, and their conteftation 
 Was Theame for you, you were the word of warre. 
 
 ^nt.You do miftake your bufines, my Brother neuer 
 Did vrge me in his Act : I did inquire it, 
 And haue my Learning from fome true reports 
 That drew their fwords with you, aid he not rather 
 Difcredit my authority with yours, 
 And make the warres alike againft my ftomacke, 
 Hauing alike your caufe. Of this, my Letters 
 Before did fatisfie you. If you'l patch a quarrell, 
 As matter whole you haue to make it with, 
 
 x 3 It
 
 346 
 
 The Tragedie of 
 
 It muft not be with this. 
 
 Ctff. You praife your felfe, by laying defers of Judge- 
 ment to me : but you patcht'vp your excufes. 
 
 Antb, Not fo,not fo : 
 
 I know you could not lacke, I am certaine on't, 
 Very necefiity of this thought, that I 
 Your Partner in the caufe 'gainft which he fought, 
 Could not with gracefull eyes attend thofe Warres 
 Which fronted mine owne peace. As for my wife, 
 I would you had her fpirit,in fuch another, 
 The third oth'world is yours .which with a Snaffle, 
 You may pace eafie,but not fuch a wife. 
 
 Enobar. Would we had all fuch wiues, that the men 
 might go to Warres with the women. 
 
 Antb. So much vncurbable,her Garboiles (Ctejar) 
 Made out of her impatience : which not wanted 
 Shrodeneffe of policie to : I greeuing grant, 
 Did you too much difquiet,for that youjmuft, 
 But fay I could not helpe it. 
 
 Ctefar. I wrote to you, when rioting in Alexandria you 
 Did pocket vp my Letters : and with taunts 
 Did gibe my Mifiue out of audience. 
 
 Ant. Sir, he fell vpon me, ere admitted, then : 
 Three Kings I had newly feafted,and did want 
 Of what I was i'th'morning:but next day 
 I told him of my felfe, which was as much 
 As to haue askt him pardon. Let this Fellow 
 Be nothing of our ftrife : if we contend 
 Out of our queftion wipe him. 
 
 C<?far. You haue broken the Article of your oath, 
 which you lhall neuer haue tongue to charge me with. 
 
 Lep. Soft Ctffar. 
 
 Ant. No Lepidtu , let him fpeake, 
 The Honour is Sacred which he talks on now, 
 Suppofing that I lackt it : but on Qefar, 
 The Article of my oath. 
 
 Ctffar. To lend me Armes, and aide when I requir'd 
 them, the which you both denied. 
 
 Antb. Negle&ed rather: 
 
 And then when poyfoned houres had bound me vp 
 From mine owne knowledge, as neerely as I may, 
 He play the penitent to you. But mine honefty, 
 Shall not make poore my greatnefle.nor my power 
 Worke without it. Truth is, that Fu/uia, 
 To haue me out of Egypt, made Warres heere, 
 For which my felfe, the ignorant motiue,do 
 So farre aske pardon, as befits mine Honour 
 To ftoope in fuch a cafe. 
 
 Lep. 'Tis Noble fpoken. 
 
 Meet. If it might pleafe you, to enforce no further 
 The griefes betweene ye: to forget them quite, 
 Were to remember : that the prefent neede, 
 Speakes to attone you. 
 
 Lep. Worthily fpoken Mecenat. 
 
 Enobar. Or if you borrow one anothers Loue for the 
 inftant , you may when you heare no more words of 
 Pompey returne it againe : you fhall haue time to wrangle 
 in, when you haue nothing elfe to do. 
 
 Antb. Thou art a Souldier,onely fpeake no more. 
 
 Enob. That trueth fliould be filent, I had almoft for- 
 got. 
 
 Antb. You wrong this prefence, therefore fpeake no 
 more. 
 
 Enob. Go too then : your Confiderate ftone. 
 
 Ctffar. I do not much diflike the matter, but 
 The manner of his fpeech : for't cannot be, 
 
 We /hall remaine in friend/hip, our conditions 
 
 So diffring in their ab. Yet if I knew, 
 
 What Hoope fhould hold vs (launch from edge to edge 
 
 Ath'world : I would perfue it. 
 
 Agri. Giue me leaue Ctffar. 
 
 C^ffar. Speake Agrippa. 
 
 Agri. Thou haft a Sifter by the Mothers fide,admir'd 
 Offauia r Great <&farl^ Anthony is now a widdower. 
 
 Ctefar.Szy not, fay Agrippa; if Cleopater heard you, your 
 proofe were well deferued of raftinefle. 
 
 Antb. I am not marryed Ctffar : let me heere Agrippa 
 further fpeake. 
 
 Agri. To hold you in perpetuall ami tie, 
 To make you Brothers, and to knit your hearts 
 With an vn-flipping knot, take Anthony, 
 Oflauia to his wife : whofe beauty claimes 
 No worfe a husband then the beft of men : whofe 
 Vertue,and whofe generall graces, fpeake 
 That which none elfe can vtter. By this marriage, 
 All little leloufies which now feeme great, 
 And all great feares, which now import their dangers, 
 Would then be nothing. Truth's would be tales, 
 Where now halfe tales be truth's : her loue to both, 
 Would each to other, and all loues to both 
 Draw after her. Pardon what I haue fpoke, 
 For 'tis a ftudied not a prefent thought, 
 By duty ruminated. 
 
 Antb. Will Co-Jar fpeake ? 
 
 Ctffar. Not till he heares how Anthony is toucht, 
 With what is fpoke already. 
 
 Antb. What power is in Agrippa t 
 If I would fay Agrippa, be it fo, 
 To make this good ? 
 
 C<ffar. The power of Ctffar t 
 And his power, vnto Oflauia. 
 
 Antb. May I neuer 
 
 (To this good purpofe,that fo fairely ftiewes) 
 Dreame of impediment : let me haue thy hand 
 Further this aft of Grace : and from this houre, 
 The heart of Brothers gouerne in our Loues, 
 And fway our great Defignes. 
 
 Ctffar. There's my hand: 
 A Sifter I bequeath you, whom no Brother 
 Did euer loue fo deerely. Let her liue 
 To ioyne our kingdomes,and our hearts, and neuer 
 Flie off our Loues againe. 
 
 Lepi. Happily , Amen . 
 
 Ant. I did not think to draw my Sword 'gainft Pompey, 
 For he hath laid ftrange courtefies, and great 
 Of late vpon me. I muft thanke him onely, 
 Leaft my remembrance, fuffer ill report : 
 At heele of that,defie him. 
 
 Lepi. Time cals vpon's, 
 Of vs muft Pompey prefently be fought, 
 Or elfe he feekes out vs. 
 
 Antb. Where lies he ? 
 
 Ctffar. About the Mount-Mefena. 
 
 Antb. What is his ftrength by land ? 
 
 Ctffar. Great,and encreafing : 
 But by Sea he is an abfolute Mafter. 
 
 Antb. So is the Fame, 
 
 Would we had fpoke together. Haft we for it, 
 Yet ere we put our felues in Armes, difpatch we 
 The bufinefle we haue talkt of. 
 
 Ctffar. With moft gladnefle, 
 And do inuite you to my Sifters view, 
 
 Whe- 
 
 8}6
 
 Anthony and Cleopatra. 
 
 347 
 
 Whether ftraight He lead you. 
 
 Antb. Let vs Lfpidui not lacke your companie. 
 
 Lep. Noble Anthony, not fickeneffe fhould detaine 
 me. 
 
 Flourijb. Exit omnes. 
 Manet Encbarbui , Agrippa, Mecencu. 
 
 Mec. Welcome from /Egypt Sir. 
 
 no. Halfe the heart of Ceefar, worthy Mecencu. My 
 honourable Friend Agrippa. 
 
 lAgri. Good Snobarbus. 
 
 Mece. We haue caufe to be glad, that matters are fo 
 well difgefted : you ftaid well by't in Egypt. 
 
 Encb. I Sir, we did fleepe day out of countenaunce : 
 and made the night light with drinking. 
 
 Mece. Eight Wilde- Boares rofted whole at a break- 
 faft : and but twelue perfons there. Is this true ? 
 
 -Ewo.This was but as a Flye by an Eagle.-we- had much 
 more monftrous matter of Feaft, which worthily defer- 
 ued noting. 
 
 Mean as. She's a moft triumphant Lady, ifjeport be 
 fquare to her. 
 
 Enob. When fhe firft met Marine Anthony, fhe purft 
 vp his heart vpon the Riuer of Sidnis. 
 
 Agri. There fhe appear'd indeed : or my reporter de- 
 uis'd well for her. 
 
 Eno. I will tell you, 
 
 The Barge fhe fat in, like a burnifht Throne 
 Burnt on the water : the Poope was beaten Gold, 
 Purple the Sailes :and fo perrumed that 
 The Windes were Loue-ficke. 
 With them the Owers were Siluer, 
 Which to the tune of Flutes kept ftroke,and made 
 The water which they beate, to follow fafter; 
 As amorous of their ftrokes. For her owne perfon, 
 It beggerd all difcription,fhe did lye 
 In her Pauillion, cloth of Gold, of Tiflue, 
 O're-piluring that Venns, where we fee 
 The fancie out-worke Nature. On each fide her, 
 Stood pretty Dimpled Boyes,like fmiling Cupids, 
 With diuers coulour'd Fannes whofe winde did feeme, 
 To gloue the delicate cheekes which they did coole, 
 And what they vndid did. 
 
 Agrip- Oh rare for Anthony. 
 
 Eno. Her Gentlewoman, like the Nereides, 
 So many Mer-maides tended her i'th'eyes, 
 And made their bends adornings. At the Helme. 
 A feeming Mer-maide fteeres : The Silken Tackle, 
 Swell with the touches of thofe Flower-foft hands, 
 That yarely frame the office. From the Barge 
 A ftrange inuifible perfume hits the fenfe 
 Of the adiacent Wharfes. The Citty caft 
 Her people out vpon her : and Anthony 
 Enthron'd i'th'Market-place,did fit alone, 
 Whifling to'th'ayre : which but for vacancie, 
 Had gone to gaze on Cleopater too, 
 And made a gap in Nature. 
 
 tAgri. Rare Egiptian. 
 
 Bno. Vpon her landing, Anthony fent to her, 
 Inuited her to Supper : fhe replyed, 
 It mould be better, he became her gueft: 
 Which fhe entreated, our Courteous Anthony, 
 Whom nere the word of no woman hard fpeake, 
 Being barber'd ten times o're, goes to the Feaft j 
 And for his ordinary, paies his heart, 
 For what his eyes eate onely. 
 
 Agri. Royall Wench ; 
 
 She made great Cafar lay his Sword to bed, 
 He ploughed her, and fhe cropt. 
 
 Eno. I faw her once 
 
 Hop forty Paces through the publicke ftreete, 
 And hauing loft her breath, fhe fpoke,and panted, 
 That fhe did make defect, perfection, 
 And breathlefTe powre breath forth. 
 
 Mece. Now Anthony, mutt, leaue her vtterly. 
 
 Eno, Neuer he will not . 
 Age cannot wither her, nor cuftome ftale 
 Her infinite variety : other women cloy 
 The appetites they feede, but fhe makes hungry, 
 Where moft fhe fatisfies. For vildeft things 
 Become themfelues in her, that the holy Priefts 
 BlefTe her, when fhe is Riggifh. 
 
 Mece If Beauty, Wifedome, Modefty,can fett le 
 The heart of Anthony -.Oflauia is 
 A blefled Lottery to him. 
 
 Agrip. Let vs go. Good Enobarbut, make your felfe 
 my gueft, whilft you abide heere. 
 ' Eno. Humbly Sir I thanke you. Exeunt 
 
 Enter Anthony, Ciefar, OcJauia betweene them. 
 
 Antb. The world, and my great office, will 
 Sometimes deuide me from your bofome. 
 
 Ofta. All which time, before the Gods my knee fhall 
 bowe my ptayers to them for you. 
 
 Antb. Goodnight Sir. My Oclauia 
 Read not my blemifhes in the worlds report : 
 I haue not kept my fquare, but that to come 
 Shall all be done byth'Rule : good night deere Lady : 
 Good night Sir. 
 
 Ctefar. Goodnight. Exit. 
 
 Enter Soothfaier. 
 
 Antb. Now firrah : you do wifh your felfe in Egypt ? 
 
 Sooth. Would I had neuer come from thence, nor you 
 thither. 
 
 Ant. If you can, your reafon ? 
 
 Sootb.l fee it in my motion :haue it not in my ton gue, 
 But yet hie you to Egypt againe. 
 
 Antbo. Say to me, whofe Fortunes fhall rife higher 
 Ctefars or mine ? 
 
 Soot. Cafars.'Therefore(oh Antbony^Ray not by his fide 
 Thy Daemon that thy fpirit which keepes thee, is 
 Noble, Couragious, high vnmatchable, 
 Where Ctefars is not. But neere him, thy Angell 
 Becomes a feare : as being o're-powr'd, therefore 
 Make fpace enough betweene you. 
 
 Antb. Speake this no more. 
 
 Sooth. To none but thee no more but : when to thee, 
 If thou doft play with him at any game, 
 Thou art fure to loofe : And of that Naturall lucke, 
 He beats thee 'gainft the oddes. Thy Lufter thickens, 
 When he fhines by : I fay againe, thy fpirit 
 Is all affraid to gouerne thee neere him : 
 But he alway 'tis Noble. 
 Antb. Get thee gone : 
 
 Say to Ventigiiu I would fpeake with him. Exit, 
 
 He fhall to Parthia, be it Art or hap, 
 He hath fpoken true. The very Dice obey him, 
 And in our fports my better cunning faints, 
 Vnder his chance, if we draw lots he fpeeds, 
 His Cocks do winne the Battaile, ftill of mine, 
 When it is all to naught : and his Quailes euer 
 Beate mine(in hoopt) at odd's. I will to Egypte: 
 
 And
 
 34-8 
 
 'The Tr age die of 
 
 And though I make this marriage for my peace, 
 I'th'Eaft my pleafure lies. Oh come Ventigiiu. 
 
 Enter Vent'igiut. 
 
 You muft to Parthia, your Commiffions ready : 
 Follow me, and reciue't. Exeunt 
 
 Enter Lefidtts, Mecenas and Agrifpa. 
 
 Lefidus. Trouble your felues no further : pray you 
 haften your Generals after. 
 
 Agr. Sir, Afar ^ Anthony > will e'ne but kifle Oflauia, 
 and weele follow. 
 
 Lefi. Till I fhall fee you in your Souldiers drefle, 
 Which will become you both : Farewell. 
 
 c/Wece. We fliall : as I conceiue the iourney, be at 
 Mount before you Lefidus. 
 
 Lefi. Your way is fhorter, my purpofes do draw me' 
 much about, you'le win two dayes vpon me. 
 
 'Bab. Sir good fuccefle. 
 
 Left. Farewell. Exeunt . 
 
 Enter Cleopater, Cbarmian, Iras, and Alex at. 
 
 Cleo. Giue me fome Muficke:Muficke, moody foode 
 of vs that trade in Loue. 
 
 Omnes, The Muficke, hoa. 
 
 Enter Mardian the Bunucb. 
 
 Cleo. Let it alone, let's to Bi Hards : come Cbarmian. 
 
 Char. My arme is fore,beft play with Mardian. 
 
 Cleofa. As well a woman with an Eunuch plaide, as 
 with a woman. Come you'le play with me Sir? 
 
 Mardi. As well as I can Madam . 
 
 Cleo. And when good will is ihewed, 
 Though't come to fliort 
 
 The Actor may pleade pardon. lie none now, 
 Giue me mine Angle, weele to'th'Riuer there 
 My Muficke playing farre off. 1 will betray 
 Tawny fine fifhes,my bended hooke fliall pierce 
 Their (limy iawes : and as I draw them vp, 
 He think e them euery one an Anthony^ 
 And fay, ah hajy'are caught. 
 
 Char. 'Twas merry when you wager'd on your Ang- 
 ling, when your diuer did hang a fait fifli on his hooke 
 which he with feruencie drew vp. 
 
 Cleo. That time? Oh times : 
 I laught him out of patience : and that night 
 I laught him into patience, and nextmorne, 
 Ere the ninth houre,! drunke him to his bed : 
 Then put my Tires and Mantles on him,whilft 
 I wore his Sword Phillippan. Oh from Italie, 
 
 Enter a MeJJenger. 
 
 Ramme thou thy fruitefull tidings in mine eares, 
 That long time haue bin barren. 
 
 cWef. Madam, Madam. 
 
 Cleo. Antbonyo's dead, 
 
 If thou fay fo Villaine, thou kil'ft thy Miftrit : 
 But well and free, if thou fo yeild him. 
 There is Gold, and heere 
 My bleweft vaines to kifle : a hand that Kings 
 Haue lipt,and trembled kifling. 
 
 Mef. Firft Madam, he is well. 
 
 Cleo. Why there's moreGold. 
 But firrah marke,we vfe 
 To fay, the dead are well : bring it to that, 
 The Gold I giue (hee, will I melt and powr 
 Downe thy ill vttering throate. 
 
 Mef. Good Madam heare me. 
 
 Cleo. Well, go too I will : 
 
 But there's no goodnefle in thy face if Anthony 
 Be free and healthfulljfo tart a fauour 
 To trumpet fuch good tidings. I f not well, 
 Thou fliouldft come like a Furie crown'd with Snakes, 
 Not like a formall man. 
 
 Mef. Wilt pleafe you heare me? 
 
 Cleo. I haue a mind to ftrike thee ere thou fpeak'ft: 
 Yet if thou fay Anthony Hues, 'tis well, 
 Or friends with Ctsfar,or not Captiue to him, 
 lie fet thee in a mower of Gold, and haile 
 Rich Pearles vpon thee. 
 
 cWef, Madam, he's well. 
 
 Cleo. Well faid. 
 
 Mef. And Friends with C<?far. 
 
 Cleo. Th'art an honeft man. 
 
 Mef. Ctffar,and he, are greater Friends then euer. 
 
 Cleo. Make thee a Fortune from me. 
 
 Mef. But yet Madam. 
 
 Cleo. I do not like but yet, it does alay 
 The good precedence, fie vpon but yet, 
 Bur yet is as a laylor to bring foorth 
 Some monftrous Malefactor. Prythee Friend, 
 Powre out the packe of matter to mine eare , 
 The good and bad together : he's friends with Ctefar, 
 In ftate of heal th thou faift, and thou faift, free. 
 
 Mef. Free Madam, no : I made no fuch report, 
 He's bound vnto Ofiauia. 
 
 Cleo. For what good turne ? 
 
 Mtf. For the beft turne i'th'bed. 
 
 Cleo. I am pale Cbarmian. 
 
 Mef. Madam, he's married to Ottawa. 
 
 Cleo. The moft infectious Peftilence vpon thee. 
 Strides him dotvne. 
 
 cftfef. Good Madam patience. 
 
 Cleo. What fay you ? Strifes him. 
 
 Hence horrible Villaine, or He fpurne thine eyes 
 Like balls before me : He vnhaire thy head, 
 
 She bales him iff and detune. 
 
 Thou fhalt be whipt with Wyer, and ftew'd in brine, 
 Smarting in lingring pickle. 
 
 Mef. Gratious Madam, 
 I that do bring the newes, made not the match. 
 
 Cleo. Say 'tis not fo, a Prouince I will giue thee, 
 And make thy Fortunes proud : the blow thou had'ft 
 Shall make thy peace, for mouing me to. rage, 
 And I will boot thee with what guift betide 
 Thy modeftie can begge. 
 
 cflfef. He's married Madam. 
 
 Cleo. Rogue, thou haft liu'd too long. Draw a tyife. 
 
 Mef. Nay then He runne: 
 
 What meane you Madam,! haue made no fault. Exit, 
 Char.Good Madam keepe your felfe within your felfe, 
 The man is innocent, 
 
 Cleo. Some Innocents fcape not the thunderbolt : 
 Melt Egypt into Nyle : and kindly creatures 
 Turne all to Serpents. Call the flaue againe, 
 Though I am mad, I will not byte him :Call? 
 
 Qbar. He is afeard to come. 
 
 Cleo. I will not hurt him, 
 
 Thefe hands do lacke Nobility, that they ftrike 
 A meaner then my felfe : fince I my felfe 
 Haue giuen my felfe the caufe. Come hither Sir. 
 
 Enter the MeJJenger againe. 
 Though it be honeft, it is neuer good 
 To bring bad newes : giue to a gratious Meflage 
 
 A n 
 
 838
 
 nthony and (Cleopatra. 
 
 349 
 
 An hoft of tongues, but let ill tydings tell 
 Themfelues, when they be felt. 
 
 Mef. I haue done my duty. 
 
 Cleo. Is he married ? 
 I cannot hate thee worfer then I do, 
 If thou againe fay yes. 
 
 iWef. He's married Madam. 
 
 Cleo. The Gods confound thee, 
 Doft thou hold there ftill? 
 
 Mef. Should I lye Madame ? 
 
 Cleo. Oh, I would thou didft: 
 So halfe my Egypt were fubmerg'd and made 
 A Cefterne for fcal'd Snakes. Go get thee hence, 
 Had'ft thou NarciJJw in thy face to me, 
 Thou would'ft appeere moft vgly:He is married ? 
 
 Mef. I craue your Highneffe pardon. 
 
 Cleo. He is married ? 
 
 Mef. Take no offence, that I would not offend you, 
 To punnifli me for what you make me do 
 Seemes much vnequall,he's married to Oflaula. 
 
 Cleo. Oh that his fault fliould make a knaue of thee, 
 That art not what th'art fure of. Get thee hence, 
 The Marchandize which thou haft brought from Rome 
 Are all too deere for me: 
 
 Lye they vpon thy hand, and be vndone by em. 
 Char. Good your Highnefle patience. 
 
 Qleo. In prayfing Anthony,! haue difprais'd Ctefar. 
 Char. Many times Madam. 
 Cleo. I am paid for't now : lead me from hence, 
 I faint, oh Iras,Charmian : 'tis no matter. 
 Go to the Fellow, good Alexas bid him 
 Report the feature of Oflauia : her yeares, 
 Her inclination, let him not leaue out 
 The colour of her haire. Bring me word quickly, 
 Let him for euer go, let him not Qbarmian, 
 Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon, 
 The other wayes a Mars. Bid you Alexas 
 Bring me word, how tall flie is : pitty me Charmian, 
 But do not fpeake to me. Lead me to my Chamber. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Flourlfh. Enter Pompey , at one doore with Drum and Trum- 
 pet : at another Ctefar , Lepidui , Anthony , Snobarbui , Me 
 
 cenM,Agrippa,Menas with Souldiers Marching. 
 
 Pom. Your Hoftages I haue, fo haue you mine : 
 And we mall talke before we fight. 
 
 Ctefar. Moft meete that firft we come to words, 
 And therefore haue we 
 Our written purpofes before vs fent, 
 Which if thou haft confidered,let vs know, 
 If'twill tye vp thy difcontented Sword, 
 And carry backe to Cicelie much tall youth, 
 That elfe muft peri/h heere. 
 
 Pom. To you all three, 
 The Senators alone of this great world, 
 Chiefe Factors for the Gods. I do not know, 
 Wherefore my Father fhould reuengers want, 
 Hauing a Sonne and Friends, fince luliw Ctefar, 
 Who at Phillippi the good <Bruttu ghofted, 
 There faw you labouring for him. What was't 
 That mou'd pale Caffw to confpire ? And what 
 Made all-honor'd, honeft, Romaine 'Brutut, 
 With the anrTd reft, Courtiers of beautious freedome, 
 To drench the Capitoll.but that they would 
 Haue one man but a man, and that his it 
 Hath made me rigge my Nauie. At whofe burthen, 
 The anger'd Ocean fomes,with which I meant 
 
 839 
 
 To fcourge th' ingratitude , that defpightfull Rome 
 Caft on my Noble Father. 
 
 Cuefar. Take your time. 
 
 Ant. Thou can'ft not feare vs Pompey with thy failes. 
 Weele fpeake with thee at Sea. At land thou know'ft 
 How much we do o're-count thee. 
 
 Pom. At Land indeed 
 
 Thou doft orecount me of my Fatherrs houfe : 
 But fince the Cuckoo buildes not for himfelfe, 
 Remaine in't as thou maift. 
 
 Lepi. Be pleas'd to tell vs, 
 (For this is from the prefent how you take) 
 The offers we haue fent you. 
 
 Cizfar. There's the point. 
 
 Ant. Which do not be entreated too, 
 But waigh what it is worth imbrac'd 
 
 Ctffar. And what may follow to try a larger Fortune. 
 
 Pom. You haue made me offer 
 Of Cicelie, Sardinia : and I muft 
 Rid all the Sea of Pirats. Then, to fend 
 Meafures of Wheate to Rome : this greed vpon, 
 To part with vnhackt edges, and beare backe 
 Our Targes vndinted. 
 
 Omnes. That's our offer. 
 
 Pom. Know then I came before you heere, 
 A man prepar'd 
 
 To take this offer. But Marine Anthony, 
 Put me to fome impatience : though I loofe 
 The praife of it by telling. You muft know 
 When Ctefar and your Brother were at blowes, 
 Your Mother came to Cicelie, and did finde 
 Her welcome Friendly. 
 
 Ant. I haue heard it Pompey, 
 And am well ftudied for a liberall thanks, 
 Which I do owe you. 
 
 Pom. Let me haue your hand : 
 I did not thinke Sir, to haue met you heere, 
 
 Ant, The beds i'th'Eaft are foft,and thanks to you, 
 That cal'd me timelier then my purpofe hither : 
 For I haue gained by't. 
 
 Ctefar. Since I law you laft, ther's a change vpon you. 
 
 Pom. Well, I know not, 
 
 What counts harfh Fotune caft's vpon my face, 
 But in my bofome fhall me neuer come, 
 To make my heart her vaffaile. 
 
 Lep. Well met heere. 
 
 Pom. I hope fo Lepidu4,thus we are agreed : 
 I craue our compofion may be written 
 And feal'd betweene vs, 
 
 Ctefar. That's the next to do. 
 
 Pom. Weele feaft each other, ere we part, and lett's 
 Draw lots who fhall begin. 
 
 Ant. That will I Pompey. 
 
 Pompey. No Anthony take the Jot : but firft or laft, 
 your fine Egyptian cookerie mall haue the fame, I haue 
 heard that lulliu C<?far,grew fat with feafting there. 
 Anth. You haue heard much. 
 Pom. I haue faire meaning Sir. 
 Ant. And faire words to them. 
 Pom. Then fo much haue I heard, 
 And I haue heard Appohdorui carried 
 
 Eno. No more that : he did fo. 
 
 Pom. What I pray you/ 
 
 Eno. A certaine Qiieene to Ceefar in a Matris. 
 Pom. I know thee now, how far'ft thou Souldier? 
 Eno. Well, and well am like to do, for I perceiue 
 
 Four,,
 
 35 
 
 'The Tragedie of 
 
 Foure Feafts are toward. 
 
 Tom. Let me make thy hand, 
 I neuer hated thee : I haue feene thee fight, 
 When I haue enuied thy behauiour. 
 
 Enob. Sir, I neuer lou'd you much, but I ha'prais'd ye, 
 When you haue well deferu'd ten times as much, 
 As I haue faid you did. 
 
 Pom. Inioy thy plainneffe, 
 It nothing ill becomes thee : 
 Aboord my Gaily, I inuite you all. 
 Will you leade Lords ? 
 
 All. Shew's the way, fir. 
 
 Pom. Come. Exeunt. Manet Gnob .& Menai 
 
 Men. Thy Father Pompey would ne're haue made this 
 Treaty. You, and I haue knowne fir. 
 
 Enob. At Sea, I thinke. 
 
 cftfen. We haue Sir. 
 
 Bnob. You haue done well by water. 
 
 Men. And you by Land. 
 
 Enob. I will praife any man that will praife me, thogh 
 it cannot be denied what I haue done by Land. 
 
 cflfen. Nor what I haue done by water. 
 
 Enob. Yes fome-thing you can deny for your owne 
 fafety : you haue bin a great Theefe by Sea. 
 
 Men. And you by Land. 
 
 Enob. There I deny my Land feruice : but giue mee 
 your hand Menas, if our eyes had authority, heere they 
 might take two Theeues kifling. 
 
 Men. All mens faces are true, whatfomere their hands 
 are. 
 
 Enob. But there is neuer a fayre Woman, ha's a true 
 Face. 
 
 Men. No (lander, they fteale hearts. 
 
 Enob. We came hither to fight with you. 
 
 Men. For my part, I am forry it is turn'd to a Drink- 
 ing. Pompey doth this day laugh away his Fortune. 
 
 Enob. If he do, fure he cannot weep't backe againe. 
 
 cWen. Y'haue faid Sir, we look'd not for Marine An- 
 thony heere, pray you, is he married to Cleopatra ? 
 
 Enob. Cifjars Sifter is call'd Oflauia. 
 
 Men. True Sir, flie was the wife of Caiut Marcellui. 
 
 Enob. But fhe is now the wife of Marctu Antbonitu. 
 
 Men. Pray'ye fir. 
 
 Gnob. 'Tis true. 
 
 Men. Then is Ceffar and he, for euer knit together. 
 
 Enob. If I were bound to Diuine of this vnity, I wold 
 not Prophefie fo. 
 
 Men. I thinke the policy of that purpofe, made more 
 in the Marriage, then the loue of the parties. 
 
 Enob. I thinke fo too. But you mail finde the band 
 that feemes to tye their friend/hip together, will bee the 
 very ftrangler of their Amity : Oclauia is of a holy, cold, 
 and ftill conuerfation. 
 
 Men. Who would not haue his wife fo ? 
 
 Eno. Not he that himfelfe is not fo : which is Marly 
 Anthony : he will to his Egyptian difh againe : then /hall 
 the fighes of Oclauia blow the fire vp in C<efar, and (as I 
 faid before) that which is the ftrength of their Amity, 
 /hall proue the immediate Author of their variance. An- 
 thony will vfe his affection where it is. Hee married but 
 his occafion heere. 
 
 Men. And thus it may be. Come Sir, will you aboord? 
 I haue a health for you. 
 
 Gnob. I fhall take it fir : we haue vs'd our Throats In 
 Egypt. 
 
 Men. Come, let's away. Exeunt. 
 
 Mujlc\e playes. 
 Enter two or three Seruants with a Banket. 
 
 1 Heere they'l be man : fome o'th'their Plants are ill 
 rooted already, the leaft winde i'th'world wil blow them 
 downe. 
 
 2 Lepidui is high Conlord. 
 
 I They haue made him drinke Almes drinke. 
 
 2. As they pinch one another by the difpofition, hee 
 cries out, no more; reconciles them to his entreatie, and 
 himfelfe to'th'drinke. 
 
 1 But it raifes the greatet warre betweene him & his 
 difcretion. 
 
 2 Why this it is to haue a name in great mens Fel- 
 lowfhip : I had as liue haue a Reede that will doe me no 
 feruice, as a Partizan I could not heaue. 
 
 I To be call'd into a huge Sphere, and not to be feene 
 to moue in't, are the holes where eyes fliould bee, which 
 pittifully difafter the cheekes. 
 
 A Sennet founded. 
 
 Enter Ctffar , Anthony, Pompey, Lepidui , Agrippa , Mecenas , 
 Er.obarbui, Menes,witb other Captaines. 
 
 Ant. Thus do they Sir : they take the flow o'th'Nyle 
 By certaine fcales i'th'Pyramid : they know 
 By'th'height, the lownefTe, or the meane : If dearth 
 Or Foizon follow. The higher Nilus fwels, 
 The more it promifes : as it ebbes, the Seedfman 
 Vpon the flime and Ooze fcatters his graine, 
 And fliortly comes to Harueft. 
 
 Lep. Y'haue ftrange Serpents there ? 
 
 Anth. I Lepidui. 
 
 Lep.Your Serpent of Egypt, is bred now of your mud 
 by the operation of your Sun : fo is your Crocodile. 
 
 Ant. They are fo. 
 
 Pom. Sit, and fome Wine : A health to Lepidui. 
 
 Lep. I am not fo well as I fhould be : 
 But lie ne're out. 
 
 Enob. Not till you haue flept : I feare me you'l bee in 
 till then. 
 
 Lep. Nay certainly, I haue heard the Ptolemies Pyra- 
 mifis are very goodly things : without contradiction I 
 haue heard that. 
 
 Menas. Pompey,^ word. 
 
 Pomp. Say in mine eare,what is't. 
 
 Men. Forfake thy feate I do befeech thee Captaine, 
 And heare me fpeake a word. 
 
 Pom. Forbeare me till anon. Wbijpert in's Gare. 
 
 This Wine for Lepidui. 
 
 Lep. What manner o'thing is your Crocodile ? 
 
 Ant . It is fhap'd fir like it felfe, and it is as broad as it 
 hath bredth ; It is iuft fo high as it is, and mooues with it 
 owne organs. It Hues by that which nourimeth it, and 
 the Elements once out of it, it Tranfmigrates. 
 
 Lep.' What colour is it of? 
 
 Ant. Of it owne colour too. 
 
 Lep' 'Tis a ftrange Serpent. 
 
 Ant. 'Tis fo, and the teares of it are wet. 
 Caf. Will this defcription fatisfie him ? 
 Ant, With the Health that Pompey giues him, elfe he 
 is a very Epicure. 
 
 Pomp. Go hang fir, hang : tell me of that ? Away : 
 Do as 1 bid you. Where's this Cup I call'd for? 
 
 Men. If for the fake of Merit thou wilt heare mee, 
 
 Rif e 
 
 840
 
 Anthony and (Cleopatra. 
 
 35 
 
 Rife from thy ftoole. 
 
 Pom. I thinke th'art mad : the matter ? 
 
 <iMen. I haue euer held my cap off to thy Fortunes. 
 
 Tom. Thou haft feru'd me with much faith : what's 
 elfe to fay ? Be iolly Lords. 
 
 Antb. Thefe Quicke-fands LepidM, 
 Keepe off, them for you finke. 
 
 Men. Wilt thou be Lord of all the world ? 
 
 "Pom. What faift thou ? 
 
 Men. Wilt thou be Lord of the whole world ? 
 That's twice. 
 
 Pom. How fhould that be * 
 
 cflfen. But entertaine it, and though thou thinke me 
 poore, I am the man will giue thee all the world. 
 
 Pom. Haft thou drunke well. 
 
 cflfen. No Pompey, 1 haue kept me from the cup, 
 Thou art if thou dar'ft be, the earthly loue : 
 What ere the Ocean pales, or skie inclippes, 
 Is thine, if thou wilt ha't. 
 
 Pom. Shew me which way? 
 
 Men. Thefe three World-fliarers, thefe Competitors 
 Are in thy veffell. Let me cut the Cable, 
 And when we are put off, fall to their throates : 
 All there is thine. 
 
 Pom. Ah, this thou fhouldft haue done, 
 And not haue fpoke on't. In me 'tis villanie, 
 In thee,'t had bin good feruice : thou muft know, 
 'Tis not my profit that does lead mine Honour: 
 Mine Honour it, Repent that ere thy tongue, 
 Hath fo betraide thine a<fte. Being done vnknowne, 
 1 fhould haue found it afterwards well done, 
 But muft condemne it now : defift,and drinke. 
 
 Men. For this, He neuer follow 
 Thy paul'd Fortunes more, 
 
 Who feekes and will not take, when once 'tis offer'd, 
 Shall neuer finde it more. 
 
 Pom. This health to Lepidui. 
 
 Ant. Beare him afhore, 
 He pledge it for him Tompey. 
 
 Eno. Heere's to thee Mer.at. 
 
 Men. Enobarbu4,vie\come. 
 
 Pom. Fill till the cup be hid. 
 
 Eno. There's a ftrong Fellow Menas. 
 
 Men. Why? 
 
 Eno. A beares the third part of the world man : feeft 
 not ? 
 
 Men. The third part, then he is drunk : would it were 
 all, that it might go on wheeles. 
 
 Eno. Drinke thou : encreafe the Reeles. 
 
 Men Come. 
 
 Tom. This is not yet an Alexandrian Feaft. 
 
 Ant. It ripen's towards it : ftrike the Veffells hoa. 
 Heere's to Cuefar. 
 
 Ciffar. I could well forbear't, it's monftrous labour 
 when I wafh my braine,and it grow fouler. 
 
 Ant. Be a Child o'th'time. 
 
 Ctefar. Poflefle it, He make anfwer ; but I had rather 
 faft from all,fbure dayes, then drinke fo much in one. 
 
 Encb. Ha my braue Emperour, mall we daunce now 
 the Egyptian Backenals,and celebrate our drinke? 
 
 Pom. Let's ha't good Souldier. 
 
 Ant. Come, let's all take hands, 
 Till that the conquering Wine hath fteep't our fenfe, 
 In foft and delicate Lethe. 
 
 Eno. All take ha nds : 
 Make battery to our eares with the loud Muficke, 
 
 841 
 
 The while, lie place you, then the Boy fliall fing. 
 The holding euery man mall beate as loud, 
 As his ftrong fides can volly. 
 
 Muflc^e Playes. Sntbarbiu places them band in hand. 
 
 The Song. 
 
 Ccme thou Monarch of the fine, 
 Plurr.pie 'Baccbui , with pinfy eyne : 
 In thy Fattes our Cares be drown'd, 
 Witb thy Q rapes our haires be Cromi'd. 
 Cup -vs till the world go round, 
 Cup -us till the world go round. 
 
 Ceefar. What would you more? 
 Tompey goodnight. Good Brother 
 Let me requeft you of our grauer bufinefle 
 Frownes at this leuitie. Gentle Lords let's part, 
 You fee we haue burnt our cheekes. Strong Bnobarbe 
 Is weaker then the Wine, and mine owne tongue 
 Spleet's what it fpeakes: the wilde difguife hath almoft 
 Antickt vs all. What needs more words ? goodnight. 
 Good Anthony your hand. 
 
 Pom, He try you on the fhore. 
 
 Antb. And mall Sir, giues your hand. 
 
 Pom. Oh Anthony,you haue my Father houfe. 
 But what, we are Friends? 
 Come downe into the Boate. 
 
 Eno. Take heed you fall not Mena6 : lie not on fliore, 
 No to my Cabin : thefe Drummes, 
 Thefe Trumpets, Flutes : what 
 Let Neptune heare, we bid aloud farewell 
 To thefe great Fellowes.Sound and be hang'd, found out. 
 Sound a Flourijh with Drummes. 
 
 Er.or. Hoo faies a there's my Cap. 
 
 Men. Hoa, Noble Captaine,come. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter TJentiditti O6 it were in trinmpb, the dead body of Paco- 
 rui borne before him. 
 
 fen. Now darting Parthya art thou ftroke,and now 
 Pleas'd Fortune does of Marcus Craffiu death 
 Make me reuenger. Beare the Kings Sonnes body, 
 Before our Army thy Pacortu Grades, 
 Paies this for Marcui CraJJui. 
 
 Romaine. Noble IJentidiiu, 
 
 Whil'ft yet with Parthian blood thy Sword is warme, 
 The Fugitiue Parthians follow. Spurre through Media, 
 Mefapotamia,and the flickers, whether 
 The routed flic. So thy grand Captaine Anthony 
 Shall fet thee on triumphant Chariots, and 
 Put Garlands on thy head. 
 
 fen. Oh SilliM,Silliiu, 
 
 I haue done enough. Alower place note well 
 May make too great an act. For learne this Silliiu, 
 Better to leaue vndone, then by our deed 
 Acquire too high a Fame, when him we ferues away. 
 Ctejar and eAntbony,baue euer wonne 
 More in their officer, then perfon. Scffius 
 \ One of my place in Syria, his Lieutenant, 
 I For quicke accumulation of renowne, 
 
 Which heatchiu'd by'th'minute,loft his fauour. 
 
 Who does i'th'Warres more then his Captaine can, 
 
 Becomes his Captaines Captaine : andA mbition 
 
 (The Souldiers vertue )rather makes choife of lofie 
 
 Then gaine, which darkens him. 
 
 I could do more to do Anthonitu good, 
 
 But 'twould offend him. And in his offence, 
 
 Shoul<j |
 
 35 2 
 
 The Tragedie of 
 
 Should my performance perifh. 
 
 Rom. Thou haft Pentiditu that, without the which a 
 Souldier and his Sword graunts fcarce diftindion : thou 
 wilt write to Anthony. 
 
 Ven. Jle humbly fignifie what in his name, 
 That magicall word of Warre we haue effected, 
 How with his Banners,and his well paid ranks, 
 The nere-yet beaten Horfe of Parthia, 
 We haue iaded out o'th'Field. 
 
 Rom. Where is he now ? 
 
 Pen.Ht purpofeth to Athens, whither with what haft 
 The waight we muft conuay with's, will permit : 
 We fhall appeare before him. On there, pafle along. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Safer Agrippa at one doore, Enobarbui at another. 
 
 Agri. What are the Brothers parted ? 
 
 Eno. They haue difpatcht with Pompey,he is gone, 
 The other three are Sealing. Oflauia weepes 
 To part from Rome : Ceefar is fad, and Lepidtu 
 Since Pompeys feaft, as Menat faies, is troubled 
 With the Greene-Sicknefle. 
 
 Agri. 'Tis a Noble Lepidtu. 
 
 Eno. A very fine one : oh, how he loues Ctefar. 
 
 Agri. Nay but how deerely he adores Marl^ Anthony. 
 
 Eno. Ctefar? why he's the lupiter of men. 
 
 Ant. What's Anthony, the God of lupiter ? 
 
 Eno. Spake you of Cafar ? How, the non-pareill ? 
 
 Agri. Oh Anthony, oh thou Arabian Bird ! 
 
 Eno. Would you praife C<ffar, fay Ctffango no further. 
 
 Agr.lndeed he plied them both with excellent praifes. 
 
 Eno. But he loues Cefjar beft,yet he loues Anthony: 
 Hoo, Hearts, Tongues, Figure, 
 Scribes, Bards, Poets, cannot 
 Thinke fpeake, caft, write, (ing, number : hoo, 
 His loue to Anthony. But as for Cafar, 
 Kneele downe, kneele downe,and wonder. 
 
 Agri. Both he loues. 
 
 Eno. They are his Shards, and he their Beetle, fo: 
 This is to horfe : Adieu, Noble Agrippa. 
 
 Agri. Good Fortune worthy Souldier,and farewell. 
 
 Enter Ceefar , Anthony, Lepidtu , and Oflauia. 
 
 Antbo. No further Sir. 
 
 Ceefar. You take from me a great part of my felfe: 
 Vfe me well in't. Sifter, proue fuch a wife 
 As my thoughts make thee,and as my fartheft Band 
 Shall pafle on thy approofe : moft Noble Anthony, 
 Let not the peece of Vertue which is fet 
 Betwixt vs,as the Cyment of our loue 
 To keepe it builded, be the Ramme to batter 
 The Fortrefle of it:for better might we 
 Haue lou'd without this meane,if onboth parts 
 This be not cherifht. 
 
 Ant. Make me not offended, in your diftruft. 
 
 C<ffar, I haue faid. 
 
 Ant. You fhall not finde, 
 Though you be therein curious, the left caufe 
 For what you feeme to feare,fo the Gods keepe you, 
 And make the hearts of Romaines ferue your ends: 
 We will heere part. 
 
 Ctffar. Farewell my deereft Sifter, fare thee well, 
 The Elements be kind to thee, and make 
 Thy fpirits all of comfort : fare thee well. 
 
 Ofia. My Noble Brother. 
 
 Antb. The Aprill's in her eyes, it is Loues fpring, 
 And thefe the fhowers to bring it on : be cheerfull. 
 
 Off a. Sir,looke well to my Husbands houfe : and 
 
 Ceefar. What Oflauia ? 
 
 Ofia. He tell you in your eare. 
 
 Ant. Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can 
 Her heart informe her tougue. 
 The Swannes downe feather 
 That ftands vpon the Swell at the full of Tide : 
 And neither way inclines. 
 
 Sno. Will CaJ'ar weepe ? 
 
 Agr. He ha's a cloud in's face. 
 
 Eno. He were the worfe for that were he a Horfe, fo is 
 he being a[man. 
 
 Agri. Why Enobarbui \ 
 When Anthony found lulitu Cafar dead, 
 He cried almoft to roa ring : And he wept, 
 When at Phillippi he found 'Brutiu flaine. 
 
 Eno. That yearindeed,he was trobled with a rheume, 
 What willingly he did confound, he wail'd, 
 Beleeu't till I weepe too. 
 
 Ctffar. No fweet Oflauia, 
 
 You fhall heare from me ftill : the time fhall not 
 Out-go my thinking on you. 
 
 tAnt. Come Sir, come, 
 lie wraftle with you in my ftrength of loue, 
 Looke heere I haue you, thus I let you go, 
 And giue you to the Gods. 
 
 Cafar. Adieu, be happy. 
 
 Lep. Let all the number of the Starresgiue light 
 To thy faire way. 
 
 Ctfjar. Farewell, farewell. KiJ/es Oflauia. 
 
 Ant. Farewell. Trumpets found. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Cleopatra, Cbarmian, Iras, and Alexas. 
 
 Cleo. Where is the Fellow ? 
 
 Alex. Halfe afeard to come. 
 
 Cleo. Go too, go too : Come hither Sir. 
 Snter the MeJJenger ai before. 
 
 Alex. Good Maieftie : Herod of Jury dare not looke 
 vpon you, but when you are well pleas'd. 
 
 Cleo. That Herods head, He haue : but how? When 
 eAnthony is gone, through whom I might commaund it: 
 Come thou neere. 
 
 Mef. Moft gratious Maieftie. 
 
 Qleo. Did'ft thou behold Offauia ? 
 
 Mef. I dread Qu_eene. 
 
 Cleo. Where? 
 
 Mef. Madam in Rome, I lookt her in the face : and 
 faw her led betweene her Brother, and <^\far^e tAnthony. 
 
 Cleo. Is fhe as tall as me ? 
 
 Mef. She is not Madam. 
 
 Cleo. Didft heare her fpeake ? 
 Is fhe fhrill tongu'd or low f 
 
 Mef. Madam,! heard her fpeake, fhe is low voic'd. 
 
 Cleo. That's not fo good : he cannot like her long. 
 
 Char. Like her ? Oh I/is : 'tis impofiible. 
 
 Cleo. I thinke fo Cbarmian: dull of tongue, & dwarfifh 
 What Maieftie is in her gate, remember 
 If ere thou look'ft on Maieftie. , 
 
 Mef. She creepes:her motion, & her ftation are as one: 
 She fnewes a body, rather then a life, 
 A Statue, then a Breather. 
 
 Cleo. Js this certaine ? 
 
 Mef. Or I haue no obferuance. 
 
 Cha. Three in Egypt cannot make better note. 
 
 Cleo. He's very knowing, I do perceiu't, 
 There's nothing in her yet. 
 
 The
 
 ^Anthony a nd (Cleopatra. 
 
 353 
 
 The Fellow ha's good Judgement. 
 
 Char. Excellent. 
 
 Cleo. Guefle at her yeares, I prythee. 
 
 Meff". Madam, flie was a widdow. 
 
 Cleo, Widdow ? Cbarmian,hear]c.e. 
 
 Mef. And I do thinke /he's thirtie. 
 
 Cle. Bear'ft thou her face in mind? is't long or round? 
 
 MeJJ". Round, euen to faultinefle. 
 
 Cleo. For the moft part too, they are foolifli that are 
 fo. Her haire what colour ? 
 
 MeJJ". Browne Madam: and her forehead 
 As low as flie would wifli it. 
 
 Cleo. There's Gold for thee, 
 Thou muft not take my former fliarpenefle ill, 
 I will employ thee backe againe : I finde thee 
 Moft fit for bufinefle. Go ; make thee ready, 
 Our Letters are prepar'd. 
 
 Char. A proper man. 
 
 Cleo. Indeed he is fo : I repent me much 
 That fo I harried him. Why me think's by him, 
 This Creature's no fuch thing. 
 
 Char. Nothing Madam. 
 
 Cleo. The man hath feene fome Maiefty, and fliould 
 know. 
 
 Char. Hath he feene Maieftie ? I/is elfe defend : and 
 feruing you fo long. 
 
 leopa. I haue one thing more to aske him yet good 
 Cbarmian '. but 'tis no matter, thou /halt bring him to me 
 where I will write; all may be well enough. 
 
 Qbar. I warrant you Madam. Sxeunt. 
 
 Enter Anthony and Offauta. 
 
 Ant . Nay, nay Oftaula, not onely that, 
 That were excufable,that and thoufands more 
 Of femblable import, but he hath wag'd 
 New Warres 'gainft Pompey. Made his will, and read it, 
 To publicke eare, fpoke fcantly of me, 
 When perforce he could not 
 But pay me tearmes of Honour : cold and fickly 
 He vented then moft narrow meafurejlent me, 
 When the beft hint was giuen him : he not look't, 
 Or did it from his teeth. 
 
 Offaui. Oh my good Lord, 
 Beleeue not all, or if you muft beleeue, 
 Stomacke not all. A more vnhappie Lady, 
 If this deuifion chance, ne're flood betweene 
 Praying for both parts : 
 The good Gods wil mocke me prefently, 
 When I ftiall prayrOh blefle my Lord, and Husband, 
 Vndo that prayer, by crying out as loud, 
 Oh blefle my Brother. Husband winne, winne Brother, 
 Prayes, and diftroyes the prayer, no midway 
 'Twixt thefe extreames at all. 
 
 tAnt. Gentle Oftauia, 
 
 Let your beft loue draw to that point which feeks 
 Beft to preferue it : if I loofe mine Honour, 
 I loofe my felfe: better I were not yours 
 Then your fo branchlefle. But as you requefted, 
 Your felfe fliall go between's.the meane time Lady, 
 He raife the preparation of a Warre 
 Shall ftaine your Brother, make your fooneft haft, 
 So your defires are yours. 
 
 Ofl. Thanks to my Lord, 
 
 The loue of power make me moft weake,moft weake, 
 You reconciler : Warres 'twixt you twaine would be, 
 As if the world fliould cleaue,and that flaine men 
 Should foader vp the Rift. 
 
 843 
 
 Antb. When it appeeres to you where this begins, 
 Turne your difpleafure that way, for our faults 
 Can neuer be fo equall,that your loue 
 Can equally moue with them. Prouide your going, 
 Choofe your owne company,and command what coft 
 Your heart he's mind too. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Enobarbui,and Eros. 
 
 Eno. How now Friend Eros ? 
 
 Eros. Ther's ftrange Newes come Sir. 
 
 Eno. What man / 
 
 Era. C<ffar & Lepidui haue made warres vpon fompey. 
 
 Eno. This is old, what is the fuccefle ? 
 
 Eros. Ctefar hauing made vfe of him in the warres 
 'gainft Pompey. prefcntly denied him riuality, would not 
 let him partake in the glory of the action, and not refting 
 here, accufes him of Letters he had formerly wrote to 
 Pompey. Vpon his owne appeale feizes him,fo the poore 
 third is vp, till death enlarge his Confine. 
 
 Sno. Then would thou hadft a paire of chapsnomore, 
 and throw betweene them all the food thou haft, they'le 
 grinde the other. Where's Anthony! 
 
 Eros. He's walking in the garden thus, and fpurnes 
 The rufli that lies before him. Cries Foole Lepidui , 
 And threats the throate of that his Officer, 
 That murdred Pompey. 
 
 Eno. Our great Nauies rig'd. 
 
 Eros. For Italy and Ctefar, more Domitius, 
 My Lord defires you prefently : my Newes 
 I might haue told heareafter. 
 
 Sno. 'Twillbe naught, but let it be : bring me to Anthony. 
 
 Eros. Come Sir, Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Agrippa t Mec e not , and Cafar. 
 
 def. Contemning Rome he ha's done all this, & more 
 In Alexandria : heere's the manner oft : 
 I'th'Market-place on a Ttibunall filuer'd, 
 Cleopatra and himfelfe in Chaires of Gold 
 Were publikely enthron'd : at the feet, fat 
 Ciffarion whom they call my Fathers Sonr.e, 
 And all the vnlawfull i flue, that their Luft 
 Since then hath made betweene them. Vnto her, 
 He gaue the ftablifliment of Egypt, made her 
 Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia, abfolute Queene. 
 
 Mece. This in the publike eye? 
 
 Ccefar. I'th' common fliew place, where they exercife, 
 HisSonnes hither proclaimed the King of Kings, 
 Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia 
 He gaue to Alexander. To Ptolomy he aflign'd, 
 Syria, Silicia, and Phoenetia : flie 
 In th'abiliments of the Goddefle I/is 
 That day appeer'd,and oft before gaue audience, 
 As 'tis reported fo. 
 
 Mece, Let Rome be thus inform'd. 
 
 Agrl. Who queazie with his infolence already, 
 Will their good thoughts call from him. 
 
 C<efar. The people knowes it, 
 And haue now receiu'd his accufations. 
 
 Agri. Who does he accufe ? 
 
 Ciefar. C*efar,and that hauing in Cicilie 
 Sextui Pompeiui fpoil'd, we had not rated him 
 His part o'th'Ifle. Then does he fay, he lent me 
 Some fliipping vnreftor'd. Laftly, he frets 
 That Lepidus of the Triumpherate, fliould be depos'd, 
 And being that, we detaine all hisReuenue. 
 
 Agri. Sir,this ftiould be anfwer'd. 
 
 C^far. 'Tis done already, and the Meflenger gone : 
 I haue told him Lepidui was growne too cruell, 
 
 y y That
 
 354 
 
 The Tragedie of 
 
 That he his high Authority abus'd, 
 
 And did deferue his change : for what I haue conquer'd, 
 
 I grant him part : but then in his Armenia, 
 
 And other of his conquer'd Kingdoms, I demand the like 
 
 t/WVc. Hee'l neuer yeeld to that. 
 
 C<ef. Nor muft not then be yeelded to in this. 
 Enter Offauia with her Traine. 
 
 Ofia. Haile Ctffar, and my L. haile moft deere C" e f ar - 
 
 Ctefar. That euer I mould call thee Caft-away. 
 
 Ofia. You haue not call'd me fo,nor haue you caufe. 
 
 Ceef. Why haue you ftoln vpon vs thusf you come not 
 Like Ctffan Sifter, The wife of Anthony 
 Should haue an Army for an Vmer, and 
 The neighes of Horfe to tell of her approach, 
 Long ere flie did appeare. The trees by'th'way 
 Should haue borne men, and expectation fainted, 
 Longing for what it had not. Nay, the duft 
 Should haue afcended to the Roofe of Heauen, 
 Rais'd by your populous Troopes : But you are come 
 A Market-maid to Rome, and haue preuented 
 The oftentation of our loue ; which left vnfliewne, 
 Is often left vnlou'd : we mould haue met you 
 By Sea, and Land, fupplying euery Stage 
 With an augmented greeting. 
 
 Ofia. Good my Lord, 
 
 To come thus was I not conftrain'd,but did it 
 On my free-will. My Lord eflfarfy Anthony , 
 Hearing that you prepar'd for Warre, acquainted 
 My greeued eare withall ; whereon I begg'd 
 His pardon for returne. 
 
 Ctff. Which foone he granted, 
 Being an abftradr, 'tweene his Luft,and him. 
 
 OEia. Do not fay fo, my Lord. 
 
 Cesf. I haue eyes vpon him, 
 And his affaires come to me on the wind:wher is he now? 
 
 Offa. My Lord, in Athens. 
 
 Caj'ar. No my moft wronged Sifter, Cleopatra 
 Hath nodded him to her. He hath giuen his Empire 
 Vp to a Whore, who now are leuying 
 The Kings o'th'earth for Warre. He hath affembled, 
 Bocbtu the King of Lybia, Arcbilatu 
 Of Cappadocia, Pbiladelpbos King 
 Of Paphlagonia : the Thracian King Adullai, 
 King Maucbtu of Arabia, King of Pont, 
 Herod of lewry, Mitbridates King 
 Of Comageat, Polemen and Amintat, 
 The Kings of Mede,and Licoania, 
 With a more larger Lift of Scepters. 
 
 Offa. Aye me moft wretched, 
 That haue my heart parted betwixt two Friends, 
 That does afflict each other. (breaking forth 
 
 Cf/.Welcom hither : your Letters did with-holde our 
 Till we perceiu'd both how you were wrong led, 
 And we in negligent danger : cheere your heart, 
 Be you not troubled with the time, which driues 
 O're your content, thefe ftrong necefiities, 
 But let determin'd things to deftinie 
 Hold vnbewayl'd their way. Welcome to Rome, 
 Nothing more deere to me : You are abus'd 
 Beyond the marke of thought : and the high Gods 
 To do you luftice, makes his Minifters 
 Of vs, and thofe that loue you. Beft of comfort, 
 And euer welcom to vs. Agrip. Welcome Lady. 
 
 e/WVc. Welcome deere Madam, 
 Each heart in Rome does loue and pitty you, 
 Onely th'adulterous Anthony, moft large 
 
 In his abhominations, turnes you off, 
 And giues his potent Regiment to a Trull 
 That noyfes it againft vs. 
 
 Ofia. Is it fo fir f 
 
 Ceef. Moft certaine : Sifter welcome : pray you 
 Be euer knowne to patience. My deer'ft Sifter. Exeunt 
 Enter Cleopatra t and Enobarbtu. 
 
 Cleo. I will be euen with thee, doubt it not. 
 
 Eno. But why, why, why ? 
 
 Cleo. Thou haft forefpoke my being in thefe warres, 
 And fay'ft it it not fit. 
 
 Eno. Well : is it, is it. 
 
 Cleo. If not, denounc'd againft vs, why mould not 
 we be there in perfon. 
 
 Enob. Well, I could reply : if wee mould ferue with 
 Horfe and Mares together, the Horfe were meerly loft : 
 the Mares would beare a Soldiour and his Horfe. 
 
 Cleo. What is't you fay ? 
 
 Erich. Your prefence needs muft puzle Anthony, 
 Take from his heart, take from his Braine, from's time, 
 What mould not then be fpar'd. He is already 
 Traduc'd for Leuity, and 'tis faid in Rome, 
 That Pbotintu an Eunuch, and your Maides 
 Mannage this warre. 
 
 Cleo. Sinke Rome, and their tongues rot 
 That fpeake againft vs. A Charge we beare i'th'Warre, 
 And as the prefident of my Kingdome will 
 Appeare there for a man. Speake not againft it, 
 I will not ftay behinde. 
 
 Enter Anthony and Camidlat. 
 
 Eno. Nay I haue done, here comes the Emperor. 
 
 Ant. Is it not ftrange Camidliu, 
 That from Tarrentum, and Branduiium, 
 He could fo quickly cut the Ionian Sea, 
 And take in Troine. You haue heard on't (Sweet?) 
 
 Cleo. Celerity is neuer more admir'd, 
 Then by the negligent. 
 
 Ant. A good rebuke, 
 
 Which might haue well becom'd the beft of men 
 To taunt at flacknefle. Camidita, wee 
 Will fight with him by Sea. 
 
 Cleo. By Sea, what elfe ? 
 
 Cam. Why will my Lord, do fo ? 
 
 Ant. For that he dares vs too't. 
 
 Enob. So hath my Lord, dar'd him to fingle fight. 
 
 Cam. I, and to wage this Battell at Pharfalia, 
 Where C<?far fought with Pompey. But thefe offers 
 Which ferue not for his vantage, he makes off, 
 And fo mould you. 
 
 Enob. Your Shippes are not well mann'd, 
 Your Marriners are Militers, Reapers, people 
 Ingroft by fwift Impreffe. In Ctffars Fleete, 
 Are thofe, that often haue 'gainft fompey fought, 
 Their fhippes are yare, yours heauy : no difgrace 
 Shall fall you for refufing him at Sea, 
 Being prepar'd for Land. 
 
 Ant. By Sea, by Sea. 
 
 Eno. Moft worthy Sir, you therein throw away 
 The abfolute Soldierfhip you haue by Land, 
 DiftracT: your Armie, which doth moft confift 
 Of Warre-markt-footmen, leaue vnexecuted 
 Your owne renowned knowledge, quite forgoe 
 The way which promifes affurance, and 
 Giue vp your felfe meerly to chance and hazard, 
 From firme Securitie. 
 
 Ant. He fight at Sea. 
 
 Cleo
 
 ^Anthony and Cleopatra. 
 
 355 
 
 Cleo. I haue fixty Sailes, Cafar none better. 
 Ant. Our ouer-plus of {hipping will we burne, 
 And with the reft full mann'd, from th'head of A&ion 
 Beate th 'approaching C&far. But if we faile, 
 We then can doo't at Land. Snter a MeJJenger. 
 
 Thy Bufinefle ? 
 
 Mef. The Newes is true, my Lord, he is defcried, 
 Citfar ha's taken Toryne. 
 
 Ant) Can he be there in perfon? 'Tis impoffible 
 Strange, that his power fliould be. Camidiui, 
 Our nineteene Legions thou fhalt hold by Land, 
 And our twelue thoufand Horfe. Wee'l to our Ship, 
 Away my Thetis. 
 
 Enter a Soldiour. 
 How now worthy Souldier? 
 
 Soul. Oh Noble Emperor, do not fight by Sea, 
 Truft not to rotten plankes : Do you mifdoubt 
 This Sword, and thefe my Wounds ; let th'Egyptians 
 And the Phoenicians go a ducking : wee 
 Haue vs'd to conquer ftanding on the earth, 
 And fighting foot to foot. 
 
 Ant. Well, well, away. exit Ant. Cleo.& Enob. 
 
 Soul. By Hercules I thinke I am i'th'right. 
 
 Cam. Souldier thou art: but his whole adtion growes 
 Not in the power on't : fo our Leaders leade, 
 And we are Womens men. 
 
 Soul. You keepe by Land the Legions and the Horfe 
 whole, do you not ? 
 
 Ven. Marcus Ofiauiiu, Marcus Iufteiu t 
 Publicola, and Celius, are for Sea : 
 But we keepe whole by Land. This fpeede of Qtefars 
 Carries beyond beleefe. 
 
 Soul. While he was yet in Rome. 
 His power went out in fuch diftraftions, 
 As beguilde all Spies. 
 
 Cam. Who's his Lieutenant, heare you ? 
 
 Soul. They fay, one Tcmrui. 
 
 Cam. Well, I know the man. 
 
 Enter a Meffenger. 
 
 <&fef. The Emperor cals Camidius. 
 
 Cam. With Newes the times witi Labour, 
 And throwes forth each minute, fome. exeunt 
 
 Enter Ctffar tvhb bis Army, marching. 
 
 Ctff. Towrtu f 
 
 Toiv. My Lord. 
 
 Ctff. Strike not by Land, 
 Keepe whole, prouoke not Battaile 
 Till we haue done at Sea. Do not exceede 
 The Prefcript of this Scroule : Our fortune lyes 
 Vpon this iumpe. exit. 
 
 Snter Anthony, and Enobarbus. 
 
 Ant. Set we our Squadrons on yond fide o'th'Hill, 
 In eye of C<efars battaile, from which place 
 We may the number of the Ships behold, 
 And fo proceed accordingly. exit. 
 
 Camidius <^Marcbetb tvitb his Land Army one fcay ouer the 
 Jtage , and Totvrus the Lieutenant of Ceffar the other nay : 
 After their going in, is beard the noife of a Sea fight. 
 Alarum. Enter Enobarbus and Scariu . 
 
 Eno. Naught, naught, al naught, I can behold no longer: 
 Thantoniad, the Egyptian Admirall, 
 With all their fixty flye, and turne the Rudder : 
 
 845 
 
 To fee't, mine eyes are blafted. 
 
 Enter ScarriU. 
 
 Scar. Gods,i& Goddefles, all the whol fynod of them ! 
 
 Eno. What's thy pafiion. 
 
 Scar. The greater Cantle of the world, is loft 
 With very ignorance, we haue kift away 
 Kingdomes,and Prouinces. 
 
 Eno. How appeares the Fight ? 
 
 Scar. On our fide, like the Token'd Peftilence, 
 Where death is fure. Yon ribaudred Nagge of Egypt, 
 (Whom Leprofie o're-take) i'th'midft o'th'fight, 
 When vantage like a payre of Twinnes appear'd 
 Both as the fame, or rather outs the elder ; 
 (The Breeze vpon her) like a Cow in Inne, 
 Hoifts Sailes, and flyes. 
 
 Eno. That I beheld : 
 
 Mine eyes did ficken at the fight, and could not 
 Indure a further view. 
 
 Scar. She once being looft, 
 The Noble ruine of her Magicke, Anthony, 
 Claps on his Sea-wing, and (like a doting Mallard) 
 Leauing the Fight in heighth, flyes after her : 
 I neuer faw an Aftion of fuch fhame ; 
 Experience, Man-hood, Honor, ne're before, 1 
 Did violate fo it felfe. 
 
 Enob. Alacke, alacke. 
 
 Enter Camidius. 
 
 Cam. Our Fortune on the Sea is out of breath, 
 And finkes moft lamentably. Had our Generall 
 Bin what he knew himfelfe, it had gone well : 
 Oh his ha's giuen example for our flight, 
 Moft grofiely by his owne. 
 
 "Enob. I, are you thereabouts ? Why then goodnight 
 indeede. 
 
 Cam. Toward Peloponnefus are they fled. 
 
 Scar. 'Tis eafie toot, 
 And there I will attend what further comes. 
 
 Camid. To Ctejar will I render 
 My Legions and my Horfe, fixe Kings alreadie 
 Shew me the way of yeelding. 
 
 Eno. He yet follow 
 
 The wounded chance of Anthony, though my reafon 
 Sits in the winde againft me. 
 
 Enter Anthony ffitb Attendants. 
 
 Ant. Hearke, the Land bids me tread no more vpon't, 
 It is afliam'd to beare me. Friends, come hither, 
 I am fo lated in the world, that I 
 Haue loft my way for euer. I haue a fhippe, 
 Laden with Gold, take that, diuide it : flye, 
 And make your peace with Cafar. 
 
 Omnes. Fly ? Not wee. 
 
 Ant. I haue fled my felfe, and haue inftrufted cowards 
 To runne, and fliew their flioulders. Friends be gone, 
 I haue my felfe refolu'd vpon a courfe, 
 Which has no neede of you. Be gone, 
 My Treafure's in the Harbour. Take it : Oh, 
 I follow'd that I blufh to looke vpon, 
 My very haires do mutiny : for the white 
 Reproue the browne for rafhnefle, and they them 
 For feare, and doting. Friends be gone, you fliall 
 Haue Letters from me to fome Friends, that will 
 Sweepe your way for you. Pray you looke not fad, 
 Nor make replyes of loathnefle, take the hint 
 Which my difpaire proclaimes. Let them be left 
 Which leaues it felfe, to the Sea-fide ftraight way; 
 I will pofiefle you of that fhip and Treafure. 
 
 y 2 Leaue
 
 35 6 
 
 The Tragedie of 
 
 Leaue me, I pray a little : pray you now, 
 Nay do fo : for indeede I haue loft command, 
 Therefore I pray you, He fee you by and by. Sits dovne 
 Enter Cleopatra led by Cbarmian and Eros. 
 
 Eros. Nay gentle Madam, to him, comfort him. 
 
 Iras. Do moft deere Queene. 
 
 Char. Do, why, what elfe ? 
 
 Cleo. Let me fit downe : Oh luno. 
 
 Ant. No, no, no, no, no. 
 
 Eros. See you heere, Sir ? 
 
 Ant. Oh fie, fie, fie. 
 
 Char. Madam. 
 
 Iras. Madam, oh good Emprefle. 
 
 Eros. Sir, fir. 
 
 Ant. Yes my Lord, yes; he at Philippi kept 
 His fword e'ne like a dancer, while I ftrooke 
 The leane and wrinkled Coffins, and 'twas I 
 That the mad Brutus ended : he alone 
 Dealt on Lieutenantry, and no pradlife had 
 In the braue fquares of Warre : yet now : no matter. 
 
 Cleo. Ah ftand by. 
 
 Eros. The Queene my Lord, the Queene. 
 
 Iras. Go to him, Madam, fpeake to him, 
 Hee's vnqualited with very {name. 
 
 Cleo. Well then, fuftaine me : Oh. 
 
 Eros. Moft Noble Sir arife, the Queene approaches, 
 Her head's declin'd, and death will ceafe her, but 
 Your comfort makes the refcue. 
 
 Ant. I haue offended Reputation, 
 A moft vnnoble fweruing. 
 
 Bros. Sir, the Queene. 
 
 tAnt. Oh whether haft thou lead me Egypt, fee 
 How I conuey my fhame, out of thine eyes, 
 By looking backe what 1 haue left behinde 
 Stroy'd in dishonor. 
 
 Cleo. Oh my Lord, my Lord , 
 Forgiue my fearfull fayles, I little thought 
 You would haue followed. 
 
 Ant. Egypt, thou knew'ft too well, 
 My heart was to thy Rudder tyed by'th'ftrings, 
 And thou fhould'ft ftowe me after. O're my fpirit 
 The full fupremacie thou knew'ft, and that 
 Thy becke, might from the bidding of the Gods 
 Command mee. 
 
 Cleo. Oh my pardon. 
 
 tAnt. Now I muft 
 
 To the young man fend humble Treaties, dodge 
 And palter in the fhifts of lownes, who 
 With halfe the bulke o'th'world plaid as I pleas'd, 
 Making, and marring Fortunes. You did know 
 How much you were my Conqueror, and that 
 My Sword, made weake by my affection, would 
 Obey it on all caufe. 
 
 Cleo. Pardon, pardon. 
 
 Ant. Fall not a teare I fay, one of them rates 
 All that is wonne and loft : Giue me a kifTe, 
 Euen this repayes me. 
 
 We fent our Schoolemafter, is a come backe ? 
 Loue I am full of Lead : fome Wine 
 Within there, and our Viands : Fortune knowes, 
 We fcorne her moft, when moft fhe offers blowes. Exeunt 
 
 Enter Ctefar, Agrippa,and Dollabello,wtb others. 
 
 Ceff. Let him appeare that's come from Anthony. 
 Know you him. 
 
 Dolla. Ctefar, 'tis his Schoolemafter, 
 An argument that he is pluckt, when hither 
 He fends fo poore a Pinnion of his Wing, 
 Which had fuperfluous Kings for MefTengers, 
 Not many Moones gone by. 
 
 Enter AmbaJJador from Anthony. 
 
 Ctefar. Approach, and fpeake. 
 
 Amb. Such as I am, I come from Anthony : 
 I was of late as petty to his ends, 
 As is the Morne-dew on the Mertle leafe 
 To his grand Sea. 
 
 Ceff. Bee't fo, declare thine office. 
 
 Amb. Lord of his Fortunes he falutes thee, and 
 Requires to liue in Egypt, which not granted 
 He Leflbns his Requelh, and to thee fues 
 To let him breath betweene the Heauens and Earth 
 A priuate man in Athens : this for him. 
 Next, Cleopatra does confefle thy Greatnefle, 
 Submits her to thy might, and of thee craues 
 The Circle of the Ptolomies for her heyres, 
 Now hazarded to thy Grace. 
 
 C<?f. For Anthony, 
 
 I haue no eares to his requeft. The Queene, 
 Of Audience, nor Defire fhall faile, fo fhee 
 From Egypt driue her all-difgraced Friend, 
 Or take his life there. This if fhee performe, 
 She fhall not fue vnheard. So to them both. 
 
 Amb. Fortune purfue thee. 
 
 C<*f. Bring him through the Bands : 
 To try thy Eloquence, now 'lis time, difpatch, 
 From Anthony winne Cleopatra, promife 
 And in our Name, what fhe requires, adde more 
 From thine inuention, offers. Women are not 
 In their beft Fortunes ftrong ; but want will periure 
 The ne're touch'd Veftall. Try thy cunning Thidias,* 
 Make thine owne Edift for thy paines, which we 
 Will anfwer as a Law. 
 
 Thld. Ctffar, I go. 
 
 Ctffar. Obferue how tAnthony becomes his flaw, 
 And what thou think'ft his very action fpeakes 
 In euery power that mooues. 
 
 Thid. Ctffar, I fhall. exeunt . 
 
 Enter Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Cbarmian ,& Iras. 
 
 Cleo. What fhall we do, Enobarbus ? 
 
 Eno. Thinke, and dye. 
 
 Cleo, Is Anthony, or we in fault for this? 
 
 Eno. Anthony onely, that would make his will 
 Lord of his Reafon. What though you fled, 
 From that great face of Warre, whofe feuerall ranges 
 Frighted each other? Why fhould he follow? 
 The itch of his Affeclion fhould not then 
 Haue nickt his Captain-fhip, at fuch a point, 
 When halfe to halfe the world oppos'd, he being 
 The meered queftion ? 'Twas a fhame no lefle 
 Then was his loffe, to courfe your flying Flagges, 
 And leaue his Nauy gazing. 
 
 Cleo. Prythee peace. 
 
 Enter the AmbaJJador, with Anthony . 
 
 Ant. Is that his anfwer? Amb. I my Lord. 
 
 Ant. The Queene fhall then haue courtefie, 
 So fhe will yeeld vs vp. 
 
 Am. He fayes fo. 
 
 Antho. Let her know't. To the Boy Cafar fend this 
 grizled head, and he will fill thy wifhes to the brimme, 
 With Principalities. 
 
 Cleo. That head my Lord ? 
 
 Ant. 
 
 846
 
 <tAnthony and (Cleopatra. 
 
 357 
 
 Ant. To him againe, tell him he weares the Rofe 
 Of youth vpon him : from which, the world fhould note 
 Something particular : His Coine, Ships, Legions, 
 May be a Cowards, whofe Minifters would preuaile 
 Vnder the feruice of a Childe,as foone 
 As i'th'Command of Cafar. I dare him therefore 
 To lay his gay Companions a-part, 
 And anfwer me declin'd, Sword againft Sword, 
 Our felues alone : lie write it : Follow me. 
 
 Sao. Yes like enough : hye battel'd Ctefar will 
 Vnftate his happinefle, and be Stag'd to'th'fhew 
 Againft a Sworder. I fee mens Judgements are 
 A parcell of their Fortunes, and things outward 
 Do draw the inward quality after them 
 To fuffer all alike, that he fhould dreame, 
 Knowing all meafures, the full Ctefar will 
 Anfwer his emptinefle ; Ctejar thou haft fubdu'de 
 His iudgement too. 
 
 Enter a Seruant. 
 
 Ser. A Meflenger from Cajar. 
 
 C/eo. What no more Ceremony ?See my Women, 
 Againft the blowne Rofe may they ftop their nofe, 
 That kneel'd vnto the Buds. Admit him fir. 
 
 Eno. Mine honefty,and I, beginne to fquare, 
 The Loyalty well held to Fooles, does make 
 Our Faith meere folly : yet he that can endure 
 To follow with Allegeance a falne Lord, 
 Does conquer him that did his Mafter conquer, 
 And earnes a place i'th'Story. 
 
 Enter Tbidlat. 
 
 Cleo. Cttfars will. 
 
 Tbid. Heare it apart. 
 
 Cleo. None but Friends : lay boldly. 
 
 Tbid. So haply are they Friends to Anthony. 
 
 Snob. He needs as many (Sir) as Ctefar ha's, 
 Or needs not vs. If Ctefar pleafe,our Mafter 
 Will leape to be his Friend : For vs you know, 
 Whofe he is, we are, and that is Ctejars. 
 
 Tbid. So. Thus then thou moft renown'd, Ctefar intreats, 
 Not to confider in what cafe thou ftand'ft 
 Further then he is Cesfars. 
 
 Cleo. Go on, right Royall. 
 
 Tbid. He knowes that you embrace not Anthony 
 As you did loue, but as you feared him. 
 
 Cleo. Oh. 
 
 Tbid. The fcarre's vpon your Honor, therefore he 
 Does pitty, as conftrained blemifhes, 
 Not as deferued. 
 
 Cleo. He is a God, 
 
 And knowes what is moft right. Mine Honour 
 Was not yeelded, but conquer'd meerely. 
 
 Eno. To be fure of that, I will aske Antb&ny. J 
 Sir,fir, thou art fo leakie 
 That we muft leaue thee to thy finking, for 
 Thy deereft quit thee. Exit Snob. 
 
 Tbid. Shall I fay to Ctffar, 
 What you require of him : for he partly begges 
 To be defir'd to giue. It much would pleafe him, 
 That of his Fortunes you fhould make a ftaffe 
 To leane vpon. But it would warme his fpirits 
 To heare from me you had left Anthony, 
 And put your felfe vnder his fhrowd,the vniuerfal Land- 
 
 Cleo. What's your name ? (lord. 
 
 Tbid. My name is Thidias. 
 
 Cleo. Moft kinde MefTenger, 
 Say to great Ctefar this in difputation, 
 
 847 
 
 I kifTe his conqu'ring hand : Tell him, I am prompt 
 To lay my Crowne at's feete, and there to kneele. 
 Tell him, from his all-obeying breath, I heare 
 The doome of Egypt. 
 
 Tbid. *Tis your Nobleft courfe : 
 Wifedome and Fortune combatting together, 
 If that the former dare but what it can, 
 No chance may fhake it. Giue me grace to lay 
 My dutie on your hand. 
 
 Cleo. Your Ctefars Father oft, 
 (When he hath mus'd of taking kingdomes in) 
 Beftow'd his lips on that vnworthy place,. 
 As it rain'd kifles. 
 
 Enter Anthony and Enobarbta. 
 
 Ant. Fauours? By loue that thunders. What art thou 
 
 Tbid. One that but performes (Fellow? 
 
 The bidding of the fulleft man, and worthieft 
 To haue command obey'd. 
 
 Eno. You will be whipt. 
 
 ^r.Approch there : ah you Kite. Now Gods & diuels 
 Authority melts from me of late. When I cried hoa, 
 Like Boyes vnto a mufTe, Kings would ftart forth, 
 And cry, your will. Haue you no eares ? 
 I am Anthony yet. Take hence this lack, and whip him. 
 Enter a. Seruant. 
 
 Eno. 'Tis better playing with a Lions whelpe, 
 Then with an old one dying. 
 
 Ant. Moone and Starres, 
 
 Whip him : wer't twenty of the greateft Tributaries 
 That do acknowledge Ctefar, fhould I finde them 
 So fawcy with the hand of fhe heere, what's her name 
 Since fhe was Cleopatra* Whip him Fellowes, 
 Till like a Boy you fee him crindge his face, 
 And whine aloud for mercy. Take him hence. 
 
 Tbid. <&farl(e Anthony. 
 
 tAnt. Tugge him away : being whipt 
 Bring him againe, the lacke of Ccffars fhall 
 Beare vs an arrant to him. Exeunt with Tbidim. 
 
 You were halfe blafted ere I knew you : Ha ? 
 Haue I my pillow left vnpreft in Rome, 
 Forborne the getting of a lawfull Race, 
 And by a lem of women, to be abus'd 
 By one that lookes on Feeders/ 
 
 Cleo. Good my Lord. 
 
 Ant. You haue beene a boggeler euer, 
 But when we in our vicioufnefTe grow hard 
 (Oh mifery on't) die wife Gods feele our eyes 
 Inourowne filth, drop our cleare iudgements, make vs 
 Adore our errors, laugh at's while we ftrut 
 To our confufion. 
 
 Cleo. Oh,is't come to this ? 
 
 Ant. I found you as a Morfell, cold vpon 
 Dead Cafars Trencher : Nay, you were a Fragment 
 Of Gneitti Pomfeyes, befides what hotter houres 
 Vnregiftred in vulgar Fame, you haue 
 Luxuriously pickt out. For I am fure, 
 Though you can guefle what Temperance fhould be, 
 You know not what it is. 
 
 Cleo. Wherefore is this ? 
 
 Ant. To let a Fellow that will take rewards, 
 And fay, God quit you, be familiar with 
 My play-fellow, your hand ; this Kingly Scale, 
 And plighter of high hearts. O that I were 
 Vpon the hill of Bafan, to out-roare 
 The horned Heard, for I haue fauage caufe, 
 And to proclaime it ciuilly, were like 
 
 y 3 A
 
 358 
 
 The T rage die of 
 
 A halter'd necke, which do's the Hangman chanke, 
 For being yare about him. Is he whipt ? 
 Enter a Seruant tfitb Tbidlai. 
 
 Ser. Soundly,my Lord. 
 
 Ant. Cried he? and begg'd a Pardon ? 
 
 Ser. He did aske fauour. 
 
 Ant. If that thy Father Hue, let him repent 
 Thou was't not made his daughter, and be thou forrie 
 To follow Cafar in his Triumph , fince 
 Thou haft bin whipt. For following him, henceforth 
 The white hand of a Lady Feauer thee, 
 Shake thou to looke on't. Get thee backe to Ctejar, 
 Tell him thy entertainment : looke thou fay 
 He makes me angry with him. For he feemes 
 Proud and difdainfull, harping on what I am, 
 Not what he knew I was. He makes me angry, 
 And at this time moft eafie 'tis to doo't : 
 When my good Starres, that were my former guides 
 Haue empty left their Orbes, and /hot their Fires 
 Into th'Abifme of hell. If he miflike, 
 My fpeech, and what is done, tell him he has 
 Hiparcbtu, my enfranched Bondman, whom 
 He may at pleafure whip, or hang, or torture, 
 As he fliall like to quit me. Vrge it thou : 
 Hence with thy ftripes, be gone. Exit Tbid. 
 
 Cleo. Haue you done yet ? 
 
 Ant. Alacke our Terrene Moone is now Eclipft, 
 And it portends alone the fall of Anthony. 
 
 Cleo. I muft ftay his time? 
 
 Ant. To flatter C^/izr, would you mingle eyes 
 With one that tyes his points.) 
 
 Cleo. Not know me yet ? 
 
 Ant. Cold-hearted toward me? 
 
 Cleo. Ah (Deere) if I be fo, 
 From my cold heart let Heauen ingender haile, 
 And poyfon it in the fourfe, and the firft (lone 
 Drop in my necke : as it determines fo 
 Diffolue my life, the next Caefarian fmile, 
 Till by degrees the memory of my wombe, 
 Together with my braue Egyptians all, 
 By the difcandering of this pelleted ftorme, 
 Lye grauelefle, till the Flies and Gnats ofNyle 
 Haue buried them for prey. 
 
 Ant. I am fatisfied : 
 Ctffar fets downe in Alexandria, where 
 I will oppofe his Fate. Our force by Land, 
 Hath Nobly held, our feuer'd Nauie too 
 Haue knit againe, and Fleete, threatning moft Sea-like. 
 Where haft thou bin my heart ? Doft thou heare Lady ? 
 If from the Field I fliall returne once more 
 To kifle thefe Lips, I will appeare in Blood, 
 I, and my Sword, will earne our Chronicle, 
 There's hope in't yet. 
 
 Cleo. That's my braue Lord. 
 
 Ant. I will be trebble-finewed, hearted, breath 'd, 
 And fight malicioufly : for when mine houres 
 Were nice and lucky, men did ranfome Hues 
 Of me for lefts : But now, He fet my teeth, 
 And fend to darkenefle all that ftop me. Come, 
 Let's haue one other gawdy night : Call to me 
 All my fad Captaines, fill our Bowles once more : 
 Let's mocke the midnight Bell. 
 
 Cleo. It is my Birth-day, 
 
 I had thought t'haue held it poore. Eut fince my Lord 
 Is Anthony againe,! will be Cleopatra. 
 
 'Ant. We will yet do well. 
 
 Cleo. Call all his Noble Captaines to my Lord. 
 
 Ant. Do fo, wee'l fpeake to them, 
 And to night He force 
 The Wine peepe through their fcarres. 
 Come on (my Queene) 
 
 There's fap in't yet. The next time I do fight 
 lie make death loue me : for I will contend 
 Euen with his peftilent Sytbe. Exeunt. 
 
 Eno. Now hee'l out-ftare the Lightning, to be furious 
 Is to be frighted out of feare, and in that moode 
 The Doue will pecke the Eftridge ; and I fee ftill 
 A diminution in our Captaines braine, 
 Reftores his heart ; when valour prayes in reafon, 
 It eates the Sword it fights with : I will feeke 
 Some way to leaue him. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Ctefar, Agrifpa, & Mecencu tvith bis Army, 
 Ctfjar reading a Letter. 
 
 Ceff. He calles me Boy, and chides as he had power 
 To beate me out of Egypt. My Mefienger 
 He hath whipt with Rods, dares me to perfonal Combat. 
 Ctffar to Anthony : let the old Ruffian know, 
 I haue many other wayes to dye : meane time J 
 Laugh at his Challenge. 
 
 Meet. Cfffar muft thinke, 
 When one fo great begins to rage, hee's hunted 
 Euen to falling. Giue him no breath, but now 
 Make boote of his diftraftion : Neuer anger 
 Made good guard for it felfe. 
 
 C<?f- Let our beft heads know, 
 That to morrow, the laft of many Battailes 
 We meane to fight. Within our Files there are, 
 Of thofe that feru'd Marly Anthony but late, 
 Enough to fetch him in. See it done, 
 And Feaft the Army, we haue ftore to doo't, 
 And they haue earn'd the wafte.Poore Anthony. Exeunt 
 
 Enter Anthony, Cleopatra, Enobarbiu, Charmlan, 
 Irat, AlexM,tvith others. 
 
 Ant. He will not fight with me, 'Domltian ? 
 
 Eno. No ? 
 
 Ant. Why fliould Tie not ? 
 
 Eno .He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune, 
 He is twenty men to one. 
 
 Ant. To morrow Soldier, 
 By Sea and Land He fight : or I will liue, 
 Or bathe my dying Honor in the blood 
 Shall make it liue againe. Woo't thou fight well. 
 
 Eno. He ftrike, and cry, Take all. 
 Ant. Well faid, come on : 
 Call forth my Houfliold Seruants,lets to night 
 
 Enter 3 or 4. Seruitors. 
 
 Be bounteous at our Meale. Giue me thy hand, 
 Thou haft bin rightly honeft, fo haft thou, 
 Thou, and thou, and thou : you haue feru'd me well, 
 And Kings haue beene your fellowes. 
 
 Cleo. What meanes this ? 
 
 jEo.'Tis one of thofe odde tricks which forow flioots 
 Out of the minde. 
 
 Ant. And thou art honeft too : 
 I wifli I could be made fo many men, 
 And all of you clapt vp together, in 
 An Anthony : that I might do you feruice, 
 So good as you haue done. 
 
 Omnes.
 
 Anthony and (Cleopatra. 
 
 359 
 
 Omnes. The Gods forbid. 
 
 Ant. Well, my good Fellowes, wait on me to night : 
 Scant not my Cups, and make as much of mei 
 As when mine Empire was your Fellow too, 
 And fuffer'd my command. 
 
 Cleo. What does he meane? 
 
 Eno, To make his Followers weepe. 
 
 Ant. Tend me to night ; 
 May be, it is the period of your duty, 
 Haply you fhall not fee me more, or if, 
 A mangled fhadow. Perchance to morrow, 
 You'l ferue another Mafter. I looke on you, 
 As one that takes his leaue. Mine honeft Friends, 
 I turne you not away, but like a Mafter 
 Married to your good feruice, ftay till death : 
 Tend me to night two houres, I aske no more, 
 And the Gods yeeld you for't. 
 
 Eno. What meane you (Sir) 
 
 To giue them this difcomfort ? Looke they weepe, 
 And I an AfTe, am Onyon-ey'dj for fhame, 
 Transforme vs not to women. 
 
 Ant. Ho, ho, ho : 
 
 Now the Witch take me, if I meant it thus. 
 Grace grow where thofe drops fall( my hearty Friends) 
 You take me in too dolorous a fenfe, 
 For I fpake to you for your comfort, did defire you 
 To burne this night with Torches : Know (my hearts) 
 I hope well of to morrow, and will leade you, 
 Where rather He expedl victorious life, 
 Then death, and Honor. Let's to Supper, come, 
 And drowne confederation. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter a Company of Soldiours. 
 
 J.Sol. Brother, goodnight : to morrow is the day. 
 Z.Sol. It will determine one way : Fare you well. 
 Heard you of nothing ftrange about the ftreets. 
 
 1 Nothing : what newes ? 
 
 2 Belike 'tis but a Rumour, good night to you. 
 i Well fir, good night. 
 
 They meete other Soldiers. 
 1 Souldiers.haue carefull Watch. 
 
 1 And you : Goodnight,goodnight. 
 
 They place themjelues in euery corner of the Stage. 
 
 2 Heere we : and if to morrow 
 
 Our Nauie thriue, I haue an abfolute hope 
 Our Landmen will ftand vp. 
 
 1 'Tis a braue Army, and full of purpofe. 
 
 Mujictg of the Hoboyes it -under the Stage. 
 
 2 Peace, what noife ? 
 
 1 Lift lift. 
 
 2 Hearke. 
 
 i Muficke i'th'Ayre. 
 
 3 Vnder the earth. 
 
 4 It fignes well, do's it not? 
 3 No. 
 
 1 Peace I fay : What mould this meane ? 
 
 2 'Tis the God Hercules, whom Anthony loued, 
 Now leaues him. 
 
 j Walke, let's fee if other Watchmen 
 Do heare what we do ? 
 
 2 How now Maifters ? SpeaJ^ together. 
 Omnes. How now? how now? do you heare this? 
 
 i I, is't not ftrange ? 
 
 3 Do you heare Mafters ? Do you heare ? 
 
 i Follow the noyfe fo farre as we haue quarter. 
 
 849 
 
 Let's fee how it will giue off. 
 Omnes. Content : 'Tis ftrange. 
 
 Enter Anthony and Cleopatra, tvitb others. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Ant, Eros, mine Armour Eros. 
 
 Cleo. Sleepe a little. 
 
 Ant. No my Chucke. Eros, come, mine Armor Eros. 
 
 Snter Eros. 
 
 Come good Fellow, put thine Iron on, 
 If Fortune be not ours to day, it is 
 Becaufe we braue her. Come. 
 
 Cleo. Nay, He helpe loo, Anthony. 
 What's this for ? Ah let be, let be, thou art 
 The Armourer of my heart : Falfe,falfe : This, this, 
 Sooth-law He helpe : Thus it muft bee. 
 
 Ant. Well, well, we fhall thriue now. 
 Seeft thou my good Fellow. Go, put on thy defences. 
 
 Eros. Briefely Sir. 
 
 Cleo. Is not this buckled well ? 
 
 Ant. Rarely, rarely : 
 
 He that vnbuckles this, till we do pleafe 
 To daft for our Repofe, fhall heare a ftorme. 
 Thou fumbleft Sros, and my Queenes a Squire 
 More tight at this, then thou : Uifpatch. O Loue, 
 That thpu couldft fee my Warres to day, and knew'ft 
 The Royall Occupation, thou fhould'ft fee 
 A Workeman in't. 
 
 Enter an Armed Soldier. 
 Good morrow to thee, welcome, 
 
 Thou look'ft like him that knowes a warlike Charge : 
 To bufinefie that we loue, we rife betime, 
 And go too't with delight. 
 
 Soul. A thoufand Sir, early though't be, haue on their 
 Riueted trim, and at the Port expect you. Sbcn>t . 
 
 Trumpets Fluurijh. 
 Enter Captaines , and Souldlers. 
 
 Alex. The Morne is faire : Good morrow Generall. 
 
 All. Good morrow Generall. 
 
 Ant. 'Tis well blowne Lads. 
 This Morning, like the fpirit of a youth 
 That meanes to be of note, begins betimes. 
 So, fo : Come giue me that, this way, well-fed. 
 Fare thee well Dame, what ere becomes of me, 
 This is a Soldiers kiffe : rebukeable, 
 And worthy fhamefull checke it were, to ftand 
 On more Mechanicke Complement, He leaue thee. 
 Now like a man of Steele, you that will fight, 
 Follow me clofe, He bring you too't : Adieu. Exeunt. 
 
 Char. Pleafe you retyre to your Chamber? 
 
 Cleo. Lead me : 
 
 He goes forth gallantly : That he and Cafar might 
 Determine this great Warre in fingle fight ; 
 Then Anthony j but now. Well on. Exeunt 
 
 Trumpets found. Snter Anthony ^and Eros . 
 
 Eros. The Gods make this a happy day to Anthony. 
 
 Ant. Would thou,& thofe thy fears had once preuaild 
 To make me fight at Land. 
 
 Eros. Had"ft thou done fo, 
 The Kings that haue reuolted, and the Soldier 
 That has this morning left thee, would haue ftill 
 Followed thy heeles. 
 
 Ant. Whofe gone this morning ? 
 
 Eros. Who? one euer neere thee, call for Sncbarbui, 
 
 Hee
 
 3 6 
 
 'The Tr age die of 
 
 He fhall not heare thee, or from Ceffars Campe, 
 Say I am none of thine. 
 
 Ant. What fayeft thou ? 
 
 Sold. Sir he is with C<efar. 
 
 Eros. Sir, his Chefts and Treafure he has not with him. 
 
 Ant. Is he gone ? 
 
 Sol. Moft certaine. 
 
 Ant. Go Bros, fend his Treafure after, do it, 
 Detaine no iot I charge thee : write to him, 
 (I will fubfciibe) gentle adieu's,and greetings; 
 Say, that I wifh he neuer finde more caufe 
 To change a Mafter. Oh my Fortunes haue 
 Corrupted honeft men. Difpatch Enobarbiu. Exit 
 
 Flourljh. 
 
 Enter Agrippa, Qtefar, with Encbarbtu, 
 and Dollabella. 
 
 Caf. Go forth Agrlppa, and begin the fight: 
 Our will is Anthony be tooke aliue : 
 Make it fo knowne. 
 
 Agrip. Ca>far,I fhall. 
 
 Ctefar. The time of vniuerfall peace is neere : 
 Proue this a profp'rous day, the three nook'd world 
 Shall beare the Oliue freely. 
 
 Enter a MeJJenger, 
 
 Mef. cAnthony is come into the Field. 
 
 C<ef. Go charge Agrlppa, 
 Plant thofe that haue reuolted in the Vant, 
 That Anthony may feeme to fpend his Fury 
 Vpon himfelfe. Exeunt. 
 
 Enob. Ahxai did reuolt,and went to Jewry on 
 Affaires of Anthony, there did difTwade 
 Great Herod to incline himfelfe to Ctffar, 
 And leaue his Mafter Anthony. For this paines, 
 Ciffar hath hang'd him : Camindiiu and the reft 
 That fell away, haue entertainment, but 
 No honourable truft : I haue done ill, 
 Of which I do accufe my felfe fo forely, 
 That I will ioy no mote. 
 
 Enter a Soldier of Ctffars. 
 So/. Enobarbtu, Anthony 
 Hath after thee fent all thy Treafure, with 
 His Bounty ouer-plus. The Meflenger 
 Came on my guard, and at thy Tent is now 
 Vnloading of his Mules, 
 
 Eno. I giue it you. 
 
 Sol. Mocke not Enobarbm, 
 I tell you true : Bed you {aft the bringer 
 Out of the hoaft, I muft attend mine Office, 
 Or would haue done't my felfe. Your Emperor 
 Continues ftill a loue. Exit 
 
 Enob. I am alone the Villaine of the earth, 
 And fcele I am fo moft. Oh Anthony, 
 Thou Mine of Bounty, how would'ft thou haue payed 
 My better feruice, when my turpitude 
 Thou doft fo Crowne with Gold. This blowes my hart, 
 If fviift thought breake it not: a fwifter meane 
 Shall out,ftrike thought, but thought will doo't. I feele 
 I fight againft thee : No I will go feeke 
 Some Ditch, wherein to dye : the foul'ft beft fits 
 My latter part of life. Exit. 
 
 tAiarum,Drummes and Trumpets. 
 Enter Agrlppa. 
 
 Agrip Retire, we haue engag'd our felues too farre : 
 Ctffar himfelfe ha's worke, and our oppreflion 
 Exceeds what we expected. Exit. 
 
 Alarums. 
 Enter Anthony, and Scarrtu wounded. 
 
 Scar. O my braue Emperor, this is fought indeed, 
 Had we done fo at firft, we had drouen them home 
 With clow tsabout their heads. Far off. 
 
 Ant. Thou bleed'ft apace. 
 
 Scar. I had a wound heere that was like a T, 
 But now 'tis made an H. 
 
 tAnt. They do retyre. 
 
 Scar. Wee'l beat 'em into Bench-holes, I haue yet 
 Roome for fix fcotches more. 
 
 Enter Bros. 
 
 Eros. They are beaten Sir, and our aduantage ferues 
 For a faire vidtory. 
 
 Scar. Let vs fcore their backes, 
 And fnatch 'em vp, as we take Hares behinde, 
 'Tis fport to maul a Runner. 
 
 Ant. I will reward thee 
 Once for thy fprightly comfort, and ten-fold 
 For thy good valour. Come thee on. 
 
 Scar. He halt after. Bxeunt 
 
 Alarum. Enter Anthony againe in a cflfarcb. 
 Scarrus, with others. 
 
 Ant. We haue beate him to his Campe : Runne one 
 Before, & let the Queen know of our guefts: to morrow 
 Before the Sun fliall fee's, wee'l fpill the blood 
 That ha's to day efcap'd. I thanke you all, 
 For doughty handed are you, and haue fought 
 Not as you feru'd the Caufe, but as't had beene 
 Each mans like mine : you haue fhewne all HecJors, 
 Enter the Citty, clip your Wiues, your Friends, 
 Tell them your feats, whil'ft they with ioyfull teares 
 Wafli the congealement from your wounds, and kifTe 
 The Honour'd-gafhes whole. 
 
 Enter Cleopatra. 
 Giue me thy hand, 
 
 To this great Faiery, He commend thy a<Sts, 
 Make her thankes blefle thee. Oh thou day o'th'world, 
 Chaine mine arm'd necke, leape thou. Attyre and all 
 Through proofe of Harneffe to my heart, and there 
 Ride on the pants triumphing. 
 
 Cleo. Lord of Lords, 
 
 Oh infinite Vertue, comm'ft thou fmiling from^ 
 The worlds great fnare vncaught. 
 
 Ant. Mine Nightingale, 
 We haue beate them to their Beds. 
 What Gyrle, though gray 
 
 Do fomthing mingle with our yonger brown, yet ha we 
 A Braine that nourishes our Nerues,and can 
 Get gole for gole of youth. Behold this man, 
 Commend vnto his Lippes thy fauouring hand, 
 Kifle it my Warriour : He hath fought to day, 
 As if a God in hate of Mankinde, had 
 Deftroyed in fuch a fhape. 
 
 Cleo. He giue thee Friend 
 An Armour all of Gold : it was a Kings. 
 
 Ant. He has deferu'd it, were it Carbunkled 
 Like holy Phoebus Carre. Giue me thy hand, 
 Through Alexandria make a iolly March, 
 Beare our hackt Targets, like the men that owe them. 
 Had our great Pallace the capacity 
 To Campe this hoaft, we all would fup together, 
 And drinke Carowfes to the next dayes Fate 
 
 Which 
 
 850
 
 ^Anthony and Qleopatra. 
 
 361 
 
 Which promifes Royall perill, Trumpetters 
 
 With brazen dinne blaft you the Citties eare, 
 
 Make mingle with our ratling Tabourines, 
 
 That heauen and earth may ftrike their founds together, 
 
 Applauding our approach. Exeunt. 
 
 Euter a Centerie,and bis Company , Enobarbui follcntes . 
 
 Cent. Jf we be not releeu'd within this houre, 
 We muft returne to'th 'Court of Guard : the night 
 Is fhiny, and they fay, we /hall embattaile 
 By'th'fecond houre i'th'Morne. 
 
 I. Watch. This laft day was a fhrew'd one too's. 
 
 Enob. Oh beare me witneffe night. 
 
 2 What man is this ? 
 
 1 Stand clofe,and lift him. 
 
 Enob. Be witnefle to me (O thou blefiTed Moone ) 
 When men reuolted fhall vpon Record 
 Beare hatefull memory : poore Enobarbw did 
 Before thy face repent. 
 
 Cent. Enobarbui ? 
 
 2 Peace : Hearke further. 
 
 Enob. Oh Soueraigne Miftris of true Melancholly, 
 The poyfonous dampe of night difpunge vpon me, 
 That Life, a very Rebell to my will, 
 May hang no longer on me. Throw my heart 
 Againft the flint and hardnefie of my fault, 
 Which being dried with greefe, will breake to powder, 
 And finifh all foule thoughts. Oh Anthony, 
 Nobler then my reuolt is Infamous, 
 Forgiue me in thine owne particular, 
 But let the world ranke me in Regifter 
 A Mafter leauer, and a fugitiue: 
 Oh Anthony \ Oh Anthony j 
 
 1 Let's fpeake to him. 
 
 Cent. Let's heare him, for the things he fpeakes 
 May concerne C<efar. 
 
 2 Let's do fo, but he fleepes. 
 
 Cent. Swoonds rather, for fo -bad a Prayer as his 
 Was neuer yet for fleepe. 
 
 1 Go we to him. 
 
 2 Awake fir, awake, fpeake to vs. 
 
 1 Heare you fir? 
 
 Qent. The hand of death hath raught him. 
 
 Drummes afarre off. 
 
 Hearke the Drummes demurely wake the fleepers : 
 Let vs beare him to'th'Court of Guard : he is of note : 
 Our houre is fully out. 
 
 2 Come on then, he may recouer yet. exeunt 
 
 Enter Anthony and Scarrut , with their Army. 
 
 Ant. Their preparation is to day by Sea, 
 We pleafe them not by Land. 
 
 Scar. For both, my Lord. 
 
 Ant. I would they 'Id fight i'th'Fire, or i'th'Ayre, 
 Wee'ld fight there too. But this it is, our Foote 
 Vpon the hilles adioyning to the Citty 
 Shall ftay with vs. Order for Sea isgiuen, 
 They haue put forth the Hauen : 
 Where their appointment we may beft difcouer, 
 And looke on their endeuour. exeunt 
 
 Enter Ctejvr ,and his Army. 
 
 Cfff. But being charg'd, we -will be ftill by Land, 
 Which as I tak't we fhall, for his beft force 
 Is forth to Man his Gallies. To the Vales, 
 
 851 
 
 And hold our beft aduantage. exeunt. 
 
 Alarum afarre off, ai at a Sea-fgbt. 
 Enter Anthony, and Scarrut. 
 
 Ant. Yet they are not ioyn'd : 
 Where yon'd Pine does ftand, I fhall difcouer all. 
 lie bring thee word ftraight, how'ris like to go. exit. 
 
 Scar. Swallowes haue built 
 In Cleopatra's Sailes their nefts. The Auguries 
 Say, they know not, they cannot tell, looke grimly, 
 And dare not fpeake their knowledge. Anthony, 
 Is valiant, and deiedted, and by ftarts 
 His fretted Fortunes giue him hope and feare 
 Of what he has, and has not. 
 
 Enter tAntbony. 
 
 tAnt. All is loft : 
 
 This fowle Egyptian hath betrayed me : 
 My Fleete hath yeelded to the Foe, and yonder 
 They caft their Caps vp, and Carowfe together 
 Like Friends long loft. Triple-turn'd Whore, 'tis thou 
 Haft fold me to this Nouice, and my heart 
 Makes onely Warres on thee. Bid them all flye : 
 For when I am reueng'd vpon my Charme, 
 Iihaue done all. Bid them all flye, begone. 
 Oh Sunne, thy vprife fhall I fee no more, 
 Fortune, and Anthony part heere, euen heere "" 
 Do we fhake hands? All come to this ? The hearts 
 That pannelled me at heeles, to whom I gaue 
 Their wifhes, do dif-Candie, melt their fweets 
 On bloflbming Cafar : And this Pine is barkt, 
 That ouer-top'd them all. Betray'd I am. 
 Oh this falfe Soule of Egypt ! this graue Charme, 
 Whofe eye beck'd forth my Wars, & cal'd them home : 
 Whofe Bofbme was my Crownet, my chiefe end, 
 Like a right Gypfie, hath at faft and loofe 
 Beguil'd me, to the very heart of lofle. 
 What Eros,6ros? 
 
 Enter Cleopatra. 
 Ah, thou Spell ! Auaunt. 
 
 Cleo. Why is my Lord enrag'd againft his Loue ? 
 
 Ant. Vanifh, or I fhall giue thee thy deferuing, 
 And blemifh dej'ars Triumph. Let him take thee, 
 i And hoift thee vp to the fhouting Plebeians, 
 Follow his Chariot, like the greateft fpot 
 Of all thy Sex. Moft Monfter-like be fhewne 
 For poor'ft Diminitiues, for Dolts, and let 
 Patient OcJauia, plough thy vifage vp 
 With her prepared nailes. exit Cleopatra. 
 
 'Tis well th'art gone, 
 If it be well to liue. But better 'twere - 
 Thou fell'ft into my furie, for one death 
 Might haue preuented many. Eros, hoa / 
 The fhirt of Nejfut is vpon me, teach me 
 Alcides, thou mine Anceftor,thy rage. 
 Let me lodge Licai on the homes o'th'Moone, 
 And with thofe hands that grafpt the heauieft Club, 
 Subdue my worthieft felfe : The Witch fhall die, 
 To the young Roman Boy fhe hath fold me, and I fall 
 Vnder this plot : She dyes for't. Eros hoa ? exit. 
 
 Enter Cleopatra, Charmian,Irat,Mardian. 
 
 Cleo. Helpe me my women : Oh hee's more mad 
 Then Telamon for his Shield, the Boare of ThefTaly 
 Was neuer fo imboft. 
 
 Char. To'th'Monument, there locke your felfe, 
 And fend him word you are dead : 
 
 The
 
 3 62 
 
 The Tragedie of 
 
 The Soule and Body riue not more in parting, 
 Then greatnefle going off. 
 
 Clco. To'th'Monument : 
 Mardian, go tell him I haue flaine my felfe : 
 Say, that the laft I fpoke was Antbsny, 
 And word it(prythee)pitteoufly. Hence Mardian, 
 And bring me how he takes my death to'th'Monument. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 Enter Anthony, and Bros, 
 
 Ant. Eros, thou yet behold'ft me ? 
 
 Eros. I Noble Lord. 
 
 tAnt. Sometime we fee a clowd that's Dragonifli, 
 A vapour fometime, like a Beare, or Lyon, 
 A toward Cittadell, a pendant Rocke, 
 A forked Mountaine, or blew Promontorie 
 With Trees vpon't, that nodde vnto the world, 
 And mocke our eyes with Ayre. 
 Thou haft feene thefe Signes, 
 They are bhcke Vefpers Pageants. 
 
 Eros. I my Lord. 
 
 Ant. That which is now a Horfe, euen with a thoght 
 the Racke diflimes, and makes it indiftinft 
 As water is in water. 
 
 Eros. It does my Lord. 
 
 Ant. My good Knaue Eros, now thy Captaine is 
 Euen fuch a body : Heere I am Anthony, 
 Yet cannot hold this vifible (hape (my Knaue) 
 I made thefe warres for Egypt, and the Queene, 
 Whofe heart I thought I had, for /he had mine : 
 Which whil'ft it was mine, had annext vntoo't 
 A Million moe, (now loft:) fliee Eros has 
 Packt Cards with Ctefars, and falfe plaid my Glory 
 Vnto an Enemies triumph. 
 Nay, weepe not gentle Eros, there is left vs 
 Our felues to end our felues. 
 
 Enter Mardian. 
 Oh thy vilde Lady,flie has rob'd me of my Sword. 
 
 Mar. No Anthony, 
 
 My Miftris lou'd thee, and her Fortunes mingled 
 With thine intirely. 
 
 Ant.Hence fawcy Eunuch peace, flie hath betraid me, 
 And mall dye the death. 
 
 Mar. Death of one perfon, can be paide but once, 
 And that me ha's difcharg'd. What thou would'ft do 
 Is done vnto thy hand : the laft Ihe fpake 
 Was Anthony, moft Noble Anthony : 
 Then in the midd'ft a tearing grone did breake 
 The name of Anthony : it was diuided 
 Betweene her heart, and lips: fhe rendred life 
 Thy name fo buried in her. 
 
 Ant. Dead then ? 
 
 Mar. Dead. 
 
 Ant. Vnarme Bros, the long dayes taske is done, 
 And we muft fleepe : That thou depart'ft hence fafe 
 Does pay thy labour richly: Go. exit Mardian. 
 
 Off, plucke off, 
 
 The ieuen-fold fliield of Aiax cannot keepe 
 The battery from my heart. Oh cleaue my fides. 
 Heart, once be ftronger then thy Continent, 
 Cracke thy fraile Cafe. Apace Bros, apacej 
 No more a Soldier : bruifed peeces go, 
 You haue bin Nobly borne. From me awhile, exit Sros 
 I will o're-take-thee Cleopatra, and 
 Weepe for my pardon. So it muft be, for now 
 All length is Torture : fince the Torch is out, 
 Lye downe and ftray no farther. Now all labour 
 
 Marres what it does : yea, very force entangles 
 It felfe with ftrength : Seale then, and all is done. 
 Eros? I come my Queene. Eros? Stay for me, 
 Where Soules do couch on Flowers, wee'l hand in hand, 
 And with our fprightly Port make the Ghoftes gaze : 
 'Dido, and her c^neai fliall want Troopes, 
 And all the haunt be ours. Come Eros, Eros. 
 Enter Eros. 
 
 Sros. What would my Lord ? 
 
 Ant. Since Cleopatra dyed, 
 I haue liu'd in fuch dishonour, that the Gods 
 Deteft my bafenefle. I, that with my Sword, 
 Quarter'd the World, and o're greene Neptunesibacke 
 With Ships, made Cities; condemne my felfe, to lacke 
 The Courage of a Woman, leffe Noble minde 
 Then me which by her death, our Ctefar telles 
 I am Conqueror of my felfe. Thou art fworne Bros, 
 That when the exigent mould come, which now 
 Is come indeed : When I fhould fee behinde me 
 Th'ineuitable profecution of difgrace and horror, 
 That on my command, thou then would'ft kill me. 
 Doo't, the time is come : Thou ftrik'ft not me, 
 'Tis Ctffar thou defeat'ft. Put colour in thy Cheeke. 
 
 Eros . The Gods with-hold me, 
 Shall I do that which all the Parthian Darts, 
 (Though Enemy) loft ayme, and could not. 
 
 Ant. Eros, 
 
 Would'ft thou be window'd in great Rome, and fee 
 Thy Mafter thus with pleacht Armes, bending downe 
 His corrigible necke, his face fubdu'de 
 To penetratiue fliame ; whil'ft the wheeFd feate 
 Of Fortunate C<ffar drawne before him, branded 
 His Bafenefle that enfued. 
 
 Eros. I would not fee't. 
 
 Ant. Come then : for with a wound I muft be cur'd. 
 Draw that thy honeft Sword, which thou haft worne 
 Moft vfefull for thy Country. 
 
 Eros. Oh fir, pardon me. 
 
 Ant. When I did make thee free, fwor'ft y not then 
 To do this when I bad thee ? Do it at once, 
 Or thy precedent Seruices are all 
 But accidents vnpurpos'd. Draw, and come. 
 
 Eros. Turne from me then that Noble countenance, 
 Wherein the wormip of the whole world lyes. 
 
 Ant. Loe thee. 
 
 Eros. My fword is drawne. 
 
 Ant. Then let it do at once 
 The thing why thou haft drawne it. 
 
 Eros. My deere Mafter, 
 My Captaine, and my Emperor. Let me fay 
 Before I ftrike this bloody ftroke, Farwell. 
 
 tAnt. 'Tis faid man, and farewell. 
 
 Bros. Farewell great Chiefe. Shall I ftrike now? 
 
 Ant. Now Eros. Killes himfelfe. 
 
 Eros. Why there then : 
 Thus I do efcape the forrow of Anthonies death. 
 
 tAnt. Thrice-Nobler then my felfe, 
 Thou teacheft me : Oh valiant Eros, what 
 I mould, and thou could'ft not, my Queene and Eros 
 Haue by their "braue inftrudion got vpon me 
 A Noblenefle in Record. But 1 will bee 
 A Bride-groome in my death, and run intoo't 
 As to a Louers bed. Come then, and Eros, 
 Thy Mafter dies thy Scholler ; to do thus 
 I learnt of thee. How, not dead? Not dead ? 
 The Guard, how? Oh difpatch me. 
 
 Enter
 
 ^Anthony and (Cleopatra. 
 
 3 6 3 
 
 Enter a Guard, 
 l.Guard. What's the noife ? 
 Ant. I haue done my worke ill Friends : 
 Oh make an end of what I haue begun. 
 
 2 The Starre is falne. 
 
 I And time is at his Period. 
 All. Alas, and woe. 
 
 Ant. Let him that loues me, ftrike me dead, 
 i Not I. 
 a Nor I. 
 
 3 Nor any one. exeunt 
 DercetM.'Thy death and fortunes bid thy folowers fly 
 
 This fword but fhewne to Ctejar with this tydings, 
 Shall enter me with him. 
 
 Enter Diomedes, 
 
 Dio. Where's Anthony ? 
 
 Deere. There Diomed there. 
 
 "Diem. Liues he : wilt thou not anfwer man ? 
 
 Ant. Art thou there Diomed? 
 Draw thy fword, and giue mee, 
 Suffifing ftrokes for death. 
 
 Diom. Moft abfblute Lord : 
 My Miftri? Cleopatra fent me to thee. 
 
 Ant. When did fhee fend thee ? 
 
 'Diom. Now my Lord. 
 
 Antb- Where is fhe ? (feare 
 
 Diom. Lockt in her Monument: fhe had a Prophefying 
 Of what hath come to pafTe : for when fhe faw 
 (Which neuer fhall be found) you did fufpedt 
 She had difpos'd with Cajar, and that your rage 
 Would not be purg'd, fhe fent you word fhe was dead : 
 But fearing fince how it might worke, hath fent 
 Me to proclaime the truth, and I am come 
 I dread, too late. 
 
 Ant. Too late good Diomed: call my Guard I prythee. 
 Dio. What hoa : the Emperors Guard, 
 The Guard, what hoa ? Come, your Lord calles. 
 Enter 4. or 5. of the Guard of ^Anthony. 
 
 Ant. Beare me good Friends where Cleopatra bides, 
 'Tis the laft feruice that I fhall command you. 
 
 I Woe, woe are we fir, you may not liue to weare 
 All your true Followers out. 
 
 All. Moft heauy day. 
 
 Ant. Nay good my Fellowes, do not pleafe fharp fate 
 To grace it with your forrowes. Bid that welcome 
 Which comes to punifh vs,and we punifh it 
 Seeming to beare it lightly. Take me vp, 
 I haue led you oft, carry me now good Friends, 
 And haue my thankes for all. Exit bearing Anthony 
 
 Enter Cleopatra, and her Maides aloft, with 
 Charmian & Iras. 
 
 Cleo. Oh Charmian, I will neuer go from hence. 
 
 Char. Be comforted deere Madam. 
 
 Cleo. No, I will not : 
 
 All ftrange and terrible euents are welcome, 
 But comforts we difpife ; our fize of forrow 
 Proportion'd to our caufe, muft be as great 
 As that which makes it. 
 
 Enter Diomed. 
 How now? is he dead ? 
 
 "Diom. His death's vpon him, but not dead. 
 Looke out o'th other fide your Monument, 
 His Guard haue brought him thither. 
 
 Enter Anthony, and the Guard. * 
 
 Cleo, Oh Sunne, 
 
 Burne the great Sphere them mou'ft in, darkling ftand 
 The varrying fhore o'th'world.O Antony, Antony, Antony 
 Helpe Cbarmian, helpe Irat helpe : helpe Friends 
 Below, let's draw him hither. 
 
 Ant. Peace, 
 
 Not C <f f ars Valour hath o'rethrowne Anthony, 
 But Anthoniis hath Triumpht on it felfe. 
 
 Cleo. So it fhould be, 
 
 That none but Anthony fhould conquer Anthony, 
 But woe 'tis fo. 
 
 Ant, I am dying Egypt, dying; onelyi 
 I heere importune death a-while, vntill 
 Of many thoufand kifles, the poore laft 
 I lay vpon thy lippes. 
 
 Cleo. I dare not Deere, 
 Deere my Lord pardon : I dare not, 
 Leaft I be taken : not th'Imperious fhew 
 Of the full-Fortun'd Ctefar, euer fhall 
 Be brooch'd with me, if Knife, Drugges, Serpents haue 
 Edge, fling, or operation. I am fafe : 
 Your Wife Oflauia, with her modeft eyes, 
 And ftill Conclufion, fhall acquire no Honour 
 Demuring vpon me : but come, come Anthony', 
 Helpe me my women, we muft draw thee vp : 
 Affift good Friends. 
 
 Ant. Oh quicke, or I am gone. 
 
 Cleo. Heere's fport indeede : 
 How heauy weighes my Lord ? 
 Our ftrength is all gone into heauinefTe, 
 That makes the waight. Had I great luno^s power, 
 The ftrong wing'd Mercury fhould fetch thee vp, 
 And fet thee by loues fide. Yet come a little, 
 Wifhers were euer Fooles- Oh come, come, come, 
 
 They beaue Anthony aloft to Cleopatra. 
 And welcome, welcome. Dye when thou haft liu'd, 
 Qukken with kiffing : had my lippes that power, 
 Thus would I weare them out. 
 
 AIL A heauy fight. 
 
 Ant. I am dying Egypt, dying. 
 Giue me fome Wine, and let me fpeake a little. 
 
 Cleo. No, let me fpeake, and let me rayle fo hye, 
 That the falfe Hufwife Fortune, breake her Wheele, 
 Prouok'd by my offence. 
 
 Ant. One word (Tweet Queene) 
 Of C<efar feeke your Honour, with your fafety. Oh. 
 
 Cleo. They do not go together. 
 
 Ant. Gentle heare me, 
 None about Ctffar truft, but Proculeius. 
 
 Cleo. My Refolution, and my hands, He truft, 
 None about Ctefar. 
 
 Ant. The miferable change now at my end,1 
 Lament nor forrow at : but pleafe your thoughts 
 In feeding them with thofe my former Fortunes 
 Wherein I liued. The greateft Prince o'th'world, 
 The Nobleft : and do now not bafely dye, 
 Not Cowardly put off my Helmet to 
 My Countreyman. A Roman, by a Roman 
 Valiantly vanquifh'd. Now my Spirit is going, 
 I can no more. 
 
 Cleo. Nobleft of men, woo't dye ? 
 Haft thou no care of me, fhall I abide 
 In this dull world, which in thy abfence is 
 No better then a Stye ? Oh fee my women : 
 The Crowne o'th'earth doth melt. My Lord ? 
 Oh wither'd is the Garland of the Warre, 
 
 The
 
 3 6 4 
 
 The T rage die of 
 
 The Souldiers pole is falne : young Boyes and Gyrles 
 Are leuell now with men : The oddes is gone, 
 And there is nothing left remarkeable 
 Beneath the viliting Moone. 
 
 Char. Oh quietnefTe, Lady. 
 
 Iras, She's dead too, our Soueraigne. 
 
 Char. Lady. 
 
 Iras. Madam. 
 
 Char. Oh Madam, Madam, Madam. 
 
 Iras. Royall Egypt : Emprefie. 
 
 Qbar. Peace, peace, Iras. 
 
 Cleo. No more but in a Woman, and commanded 
 By fuch poore paffion, as the Maid that Milkes, 
 And doe's the meaneft chares. It were for me, 
 To throw my Scepter at the iniurious Gods, 
 To tell them that this World did equall theyrs, 
 Till they had ftolne our Jewell. All's but naught : 
 Patience is fottiih, and impatience does 
 Become a Dogge that's mad : Then is it finne, 
 To rufh into the fecret houfe of death, 
 Ere death dare come to vs. How do you Women ? 
 What, what good cheere ? Why how now Cbarmlan ? 
 My Noble Gyrles ? Ah Women, women ! Looke 
 Our Lampe is fpent, it's out. Good firs, take heart, 
 Wee'l bury him : And then, what's braue, what's Noble, 
 Let's doo't after the high Roman fafhion, 
 And make death proud to take vs. Come,away, 
 This cafe of that huge Spirit now is cold. 
 Ah Women, Women ! Come, we haue no Friend 
 But Refolution,and the breefeft end. 
 
 Bxeunt , bearing of Antbonies body. 
 
 Enter Cafar,Agrippa,Dollabella, Menas ,ivitb 
 bis C'junjell of Warre. 
 
 C<ejar . Go to him Dollabella, bid him yeeld, 
 Being fo fruftrate, tell him, 
 He mockes the pawfes that he makes. 
 
 Dot. Cxfar, I fhall. 
 
 Enter 'Decretas veitb the ftvord of Anthony. 
 
 C<tf. Wherefore is that? And what art thou that dar'ft 
 Appeare thus to vs? 
 
 'Dec. I am call'd Decretas, 
 Marine Anthony I feru'd, who beft was worthie 
 Beft to be feru'd : whil'ft he flood vp.and fpoke 
 He was my Mafter, and I wore my life 
 To fpend vpon his haters. If thou pleafe 
 To take me to thee, as I was to him, 
 He be to Ctfjar : if y pleafeft not, I yeild thee vp my life. 
 
 Cffar. What is't thou fay 'ft ? 
 
 'Dec. I fay (Oh C<efar) Anthony is dead. 
 
 C<ffar. The breaking of fo great a thing, fhould make 
 A greater cracke. The round World 
 Should haue fhooke Lyons into ciuill ftreets, 
 And Cittizens to their dennes. The death of (Anthony 
 Is not a fingle doome, in the name lay 
 A moity of the world. 
 
 Dec. He is dead Cafar, 
 Not by a publike minifter of luftice, 
 Nor by a hyred Knife, but that felfe-hand 
 Which writ his Honor in the Ads it did, 
 Hath with the Courage which the heart did lend it, 
 Splitted the heart. This is his Sword, 
 I robb'd his wound of it : behold it ftain'd 
 With his moft Noble blood. 
 
 Caf. Looke you fad Friends, 
 
 The Gods rebuke me, but it is Tydings 
 To wafli the eyes of Kings. 
 
 Dol. And ftrange it is, 
 That Nature muft compel! vs to lament 
 Our moft perfifted deeds. 
 
 Mec. His taints and Honours, wag'd equal with him. 
 
 Do/a. A Rarer fpirit neuer 
 
 Did fteere humanity : but you Gods will giue vs 
 Some faults to make vsmen. Cafaris touch'd. 
 
 Mec. When fuch a fpacious Mirror's fet before him, 
 He needes muft fee him felfe. 
 
 Ciffar. Oh tAntbony, 
 
 I haue followed thee to this, but we do launch 
 Difeafes in our Bodies. I muft perforce 
 Haue fhewne to thee fuch a declining day, 
 Or looke on thine : we could not ftall together, 
 In the whole world. But yet let me lament 
 With teares as Soueraigne as the blood of hearts, 
 That thou my Brother, my Competitor, 
 In top of all defigne ; my Mate in Empire, 
 Friend and Companion in the front of Warre, 
 The Arme of mine owne Body, and the Heart 
 Where mine his thoughts did kindle; that our Starres 
 Vnreconciliable, fhould diuide our equalnefTe to this. 
 Heare me good Friends, 
 But I will tell you at fome meeter Seafon, 
 The bufinefle of this man lookes out of him, 
 Wee'l heare him what he fayes. 
 
 Enter an 
 Whence are you ? 
 
 <^gyp. A poore Egyptian yet, the Queen my miftris 
 Confin'd in all, flie has her Monument 
 Of thy intents, defires, inftruction, 
 That fhe preparedly may frame her felfe 
 To'th'way fhee's forc'd too. 
 
 Ceffar. Bid her haue good heart, 
 She fbone fhall know of vs, by fome of ours, 
 How honourable, and how kindely Wee 
 Determine for her. For C<ejar cannot leaue to be vngentle 
 
 eygypt. So the Gods preferue thee. Exit. 
 
 CefJ. Come hither Proculeiiu. Go and fay 
 We purpofe her no frame : giue her what comforts 
 The quality of her paffion fhall require ; 
 Leaft in her greatnefle, by fome mortall ftroke 
 She do defeate vs. For her life in Rome, 
 Would be eternall in our Triumph : Go, 
 And with your fpeedieft bring vs what fhe fayes, 
 And how you finde of her. 
 
 Pro. Ctejar I fhall. Exit Proculeiiu. 
 
 Ctff. Gallui,%o you along : where's Dolabella, to fe- 
 cond Proculeiiu ? 
 
 All. Dolabella. 
 
 Ca]~. Let him alone : for I remember now 
 How hee's imployd : he fhall in time be ready. 
 Go with me to my Tent, where you fhall fee 
 How hardly I was drawne into this Warre, 
 How calme and gentle I proceeded ftill 
 In all my Writings. Go with me, and fee 
 What I can fhew in this. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Cleopatra, Cbarmian, Irai, and Mardian. * 
 
 Cleo. My defolation does begin to make 
 A better life : Tis paltry to be Ctejar : 
 Not being Fortune, hee's but Fortunes knaue, 
 JV minifter of her will : and it is great 
 
 To
 
 Anthony and Qleopatra. 
 
 3 6 5 
 
 To do that thing that ends all other deeds, 
 Which /hackles accedents, and bolts vp change; 
 Which fleepes, and neuer pallates more the dung, 
 The beggers Nurfe, and Cafars. 
 
 Enter frocule'tiu . 
 
 Pro. Ctefar fends greeting to the Queene of Egypt, 
 And bids thee ftudy on what faire demands 
 Thou mean'ft to haue him grant thee. 
 
 Cleo. What's thy name ? 
 
 fro. My name is Proculeius. 
 
 Cleo. Anthony 
 
 Did tell me of you, bad me truft you, but 
 J do not greatly care to be deceiu'd 
 That haue no vfe for trufting. If yourlMafter 
 Would haue a Queece his begger, you muft tell him, 
 That Maiefty to keepe decorum, mufti 
 No lefle begge then a Kingdome : If he pleafe 
 To giue me conquer'd Egypt for my Sonne, 
 He giues me fo much of mine owne, as I 
 Will kneele to him with thankes. 
 
 fro. Be of good cheere : 
 
 Y'are falne into a Princely hand, feare nothing, 
 Make your full reference freely to my Lord, 
 Who is fo full of Grace, that it flowes ouer 
 On all that neede. Let me report to him 
 Your fweet dependacie, and you lhall finde 
 A Conqueror that will pray in ayde for kindnefle, 
 Where he for grace is kneel'd too. 
 
 Cleo. Pray you tell him, 
 I am his Fortunes Vafiall, and I fend him 
 The Greatnefle he has got. I hourely learne 
 A Dodrine of Obedience, and would gladly 
 Looke him i'th'Face. 
 
 Pro. This He report (deere Lady) 
 Haue comfort, for I know your plight is pittied 
 Of him that caus'd it. 
 
 Pro. You fee how eafily fhe may be furpriz'd : 
 Guard her till Ctejar come. 
 
 Irat. Royall Queene. 
 
 Char. Oh Cleopatra, thou art taken Queene, 
 
 Cleo. Qujcke, quicke, good hands. 
 
 Tro. Hold worthy^,ady, hold : 
 Doe not your felfe fuch wrong, who are in this 
 Releeu'd, but not betraid. . 
 
 Cleo. What of death too that rids our dogs of langui fli 
 
 Pro. Cleopatra, do not abufe my Mafters bounty, by 
 Th'vndoing of your felfe : Let the World fee 
 His NoblenefTe well afted, which your death 
 Will neuer let come forth. 
 
 Cleo. Where art thou Death ? 
 
 Come hither come ; Come, come, and take a Queene 
 Worth many Babes and Beggers. 
 
 Pro. Oh temperance Lady. 
 
 Cleo. Sir, I will eate no meate, He not drinke fir, 
 If idle talke will once be neceflary 
 lie not fleepe neither. This mortall houfe He ruine, 
 Do Cafar what he can. Know fir, that I 
 Will not waite pinnion'd at your Mafters Court, 
 Nor once be chaftic'd with the fober eye 
 Of dull Offauia. Shall they hoyft me vp, 
 And fhew me to the fhowting Varlotarie 
 Of cenfuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt. 
 Be gentle graue vnto me, rather on Nylus mudde 
 Lay me ftarke-nak'd, and let the water-Flies 
 Blow me into abhorring ; rather make 
 My Countries high pyramides my Gibbet, 
 
 855 
 
 And hang me vp in Chaines. 
 
 Pro. You do extend 
 
 Thefe thoughts of horror further then you fliall 
 Finde caufe in Ctejar. 
 
 Enter Dolabella. 
 
 Dol. Proculeiui, 
 
 What thou haft done, thy Mafter Ctefar knowes, 
 And he hath fent for thee : for the Queene, 
 He take her to my Guard. 
 
 Pro. So <Dolabella, 
 
 It mall content me beft : Be gentle to her, 
 To Ctefar I will fpeake, what you fhall pleafe, 
 If you'l imploy me to him. Sxit Proculeiw 
 
 Cleo. Say, I would dye. 
 
 Dol. Moft Noble EmprefTe, you haue heard of me. 
 
 Cleo. I cannot tell. 
 
 Dol. AfTuredly you know me. 
 
 Cleo. No matter fir, what I haue heard or knowne : 
 You laugh when Boyes or Women tell their Dreames, 
 Is't not your tricke ? 
 
 Dol. I vnderftand not, Madam. 
 
 Cleo. I dreampt there was an Emperor tAnthony, 
 Oh fuch another fleepe, that I might fee 
 But fuch another man. 
 
 Dol. If it might pleafe ye. 
 
 Cleo. His face was as the Heau'ns, and therein ftucke 
 A Sunne and Moone, which kept their courfe, & lighted 
 The little o'th'earth. 
 
 'Dol. Moft Soueraigne Creature. 
 
 Cleo. His legges beftrid the Ocean, his rear'd arme 
 Crefted the world : His voyce was propertied 
 As all the tuned Spheres, and that to Friends : 
 But when he meant to quaile, and fhake the Orbe, 
 He was as ratling Thunder. For his Bounty, 
 There was no winter in't. An Anthony it was, 
 That grew the more by reaping : His delights 
 Were Dolphin-like, they fhew'd his backe aboue 
 The Element they liu'd in : In his Liuery 
 Walk'd Crownes and Crownets: Realms & Iflands were 
 As plates dropt from his pocket. 
 
 Dol. Cleopatra. 
 
 Qleo. Thinke you there was, or might be fuch a man 
 As this I dreampt of? 
 
 Dol. Gentle Madam, no. 
 
 Cleo. You Lye vp to the hearing of the Gods : 
 But if there be, nor euer were one fuch 
 It's paft the fize of dreaming: Nature wants ftuffe 
 To vie ftrange formes with fancie, yet t'imagine 
 An ^Anthony were Natures peece, 'gainft Fancie, 
 Condemning fliadowes quite. 
 
 Dol. Heare me, good Madam : 
 Your lofle is as your felfe, great ; and you beare it 
 As anfwering to the waight, would I might neuer 
 Ore-take purfu'de fucceffe : But I do feele 
 By the rebound of yours, a greefe that fuites 
 My very heart at roote. 
 
 Cleo. I thanke you fir : 
 Know you what Ctejar meanes to do with me ? 
 
 Dol. I am loath to tell you what, I; would you knew. 
 
 Cleo. Nay pray you fir. 
 
 'Dol. Though he be Honourable. 
 
 Cleo. Hee'l leade me then in Triumph. 
 
 Dol. Madam he will, I know't. Flourijb. 
 
 Enter Procu/eiui, Ctefar, Gallut, Mecenas, 
 and others of his Train f. 
 
 All. Make way there Caejar. 
 
 z z C<ffa r
 
 366 
 
 The Tr age die of 
 
 Ctff. Which is the Queene of Egypt. 
 
 Do/. It is the Emperor Madam. C/eo. tyieeles. 
 
 Ctffar. Arife,you fhall not kneele : 
 I pray you rife, rife Egypt. 
 
 C/eo. Sir, the Gods will haue it thus, 
 My Mafter and my Lord I muft obey, 
 
 Ctffar. Take to you no hard thoughts, 
 The Record of what iniuries you did vs, 
 Though written in our flefh, we fhall remember 
 As things but done by chance. 
 
 C/eo. Sole Sir o'th'World, 
 I cannot proieft mine owne caufe fo well 
 To make it cleare, but do confefle I haue 
 Bene laden with like frailties, which before 
 Haue often iham'd our Sex. 
 
 Ctffar. Cleopatra know, 
 We will extenuate rather then inforce : 
 If you apply your felfe to our intents, 
 Which towards you are moft gentle, you fhall finde 
 A benefit in this change : but if you feeke 
 To lay on me a Cruelty, by taking 
 dntboniei courfe, you fhall bereaue your felfe 
 Of my good purpofes, and put your children 
 To that deftruclion which He guard them from, 
 If thereon you relye. He take my leaue. 
 
 C/eo.And may through all the world : tis yours, & we 
 your Scutcheons, and your fignes of Conqueft fhall 
 Hang in what place you pleafe. Here my good Lord. 
 
 Ctffar. You fhall aduife me in all for Cleopatra. 
 
 Cleo. This is the breefe : of Money, Plate, & Jewels 
 I am pofleft of, 'tis exactly vale wed, 
 Not petty things admitted. Where's Seleuctu ? 
 
 Se/eu. Heere Madam. 
 
 Cleo. This is my Treafurer, let him fpeake ( my Lord ) 
 Vpon his perill, that I haue referu'd 
 To my felfe nothing. Speake the truth Seleucut. 
 
 Seleu. Madam,! had rather feele my lippes, 
 Then to my perill fpeake that which is not. 
 
 Cleo. What haue I kept backe. 
 
 &/. Enough to purchafe what you haue made known 
 
 Cfffar. Nay blufh not Cleopatra, I approue 
 Your Wifedome in the deede. 
 
 Cleo. See Ctffar : Oh behold, 
 How pompe is followed : Mine will now be yours, 
 And fhould we fhift eftates, yours would be mine. 
 The ingratitude of this Se/eucus, does 
 Euen make me wilde. Oh Slaue, of no more truft 
 Then loue that's hyr'd ? What goeft thou backe, y fhalt 
 Go backe I warrant thee : but He catch thine eyes 
 Though they had wings. Slaue, Soule-lefTe, Villain, Dog. 
 O rarely bafe I 
 
 Ctffar. Good Queene, let vs intreat you. 
 
 Cleo. O Cafar , what a wounding fhame is this, 
 That thou vouchsafing hee're to vifitme, 
 Doing the Honour of thy Lordlinefle 
 To one fo meeke, that mine owne Seruant fhould 
 Parcell the fummeof my difgraces, by 
 Addition of hisEnuy. Say (good Ctefar) 
 That I fome Lady trifles haue referu'd, 
 Immoment toyes, things of fuch Dignitie 
 As we greet moderne Friends withall, and fay 
 Some Nobler token I haue kept apart 
 For Ltuia and Oflauia, to induce 
 Their mediation, muft I be vnfolded 
 With one that I haue bred : The Gods! it fmites me 
 Beneath the fall I haue. Prythee go hence, 
 
 Or I fhall fhew the Cynders of my fpirits 
 
 Through th'Afhes of my chance : Wer't thou a man, 
 
 Thou would'ft haue mercy on me. 
 
 Ctejar. Forbeare Seleucus. 
 
 Cleo. Be it known, that we the greateft are mif-thoght 
 For things that others do : and when we fall, 
 We anfwer others merits, in our name 
 Are therefore to be pittied. 
 
 Ctffar. Cleopatra, 
 
 Not what you haue referu'd, nor what acknowledg'd 
 Put we i'th Roll of Conqueft : ftill bee't yours, 
 Beftow it at your pleafure, and beleeue 
 Ctffars no Merchant, to make prize with you 
 Or" things that Merchants fold. Therefore be cheer'd, 
 Make not your thoughts your prifons : No deere Queen, 
 For we intend fo to difpofe you, as 
 Your felfe fhall giue vs counlell : Feede,and fleepe : 
 Our care and pitty is fo much vpon you, 
 That we remaine your Friend, and fo adieu. 
 
 Cleo. My Mafter, and my Lord. 
 
 Ctffar. Not fo : Adieu. Flourijh. 
 
 Exeunt Cafar , and kit Traine. 
 
 Cleo. He words me Gyrles, he words me, 
 That I fhould not be Noble to my felfe. 
 But hearke thee Charmian. 
 
 Iras. Finifli good Lady, the bright day is done, 
 And we are for the darke. 
 
 Cleo. Hye thee againe, 
 I haue fpoke already, and it is prouided, 
 Go put it to the hafte. 
 
 Char. Madam, I will. 
 
 Enter 'Dolabella. 
 
 Dol. Where's the Queene? 
 
 Char. Behold fir. 
 
 Cleo. Dolabella. 
 
 'Del. Madam, as thereto fworne, by your command 
 (Which my loue makes Religion to obey) 
 I tell you this : Ceffar through Syria 
 Intends his iourney, and within three dayes, 
 You with your Children will he fend before, 
 Make your beft vfe of this. I haue perform'd 
 Your pleafure, and my promife. 
 
 Cleo. Dolabella, I fhall remaine your debter. 
 
 'Do/. I your Seruant : 
 Adieu good Queene, I muft attend on Ctefar. Exit 
 
 Cleo. Farewell, and thankes. 
 Now Iras, what think'ft thou ? 
 Thou, an Egyptian Puppet fhall be fhewne 
 In Rome afwell as I : Mechanicke Slaues 
 With greazie Aprons, Rules, and Hammers fhall 
 Vplift vs to the view. In their thicke breathes, 
 Ranke of grofle dyet, fhall we be enclowded, 
 And forc'd to drinke their vapour. 
 
 Iras. The Gods forbid. 
 
 Cleo. Nay, 'tis moft certaine Ira6 : fawcie Liclors 
 Will catch at vs like Strumpets, and fcald Rimers 
 Ballads vs out a Tune. The quicke Comedians 
 Extemporally will flage vs, and prefent 
 Our Alexandrian Reuels : Anthony 
 Shall be brought drunken forth, and I fhall fee 
 Some fqueaking Cleopatra Boy my greatnefle 
 I'th'pofture of a Whore. 
 
 Iras. O the good Gods ! 
 
 Cleo. Nay that's certaine. 
 
 Iras. He neuer fee't ? for I am fure mine Nailes 
 Are ftronger then mine eyes. 
 
 Cleo- 
 
 856
 
 ^Anthony and (Cleopatra. 
 
 3 6 7 
 
 Cleo. Why that's the way to foole their preparation, 
 And to conquer their moft abfurd intents. 
 
 Enter Cbarmian. 
 NowCharmian. 
 
 Shew me my Women like a Queene : Go fetch 
 My beft Attyres. I am againe for Cidrtu, 
 To meete Marly Anthony. Sirra Irai, go 
 ( Now Noble Cbarmian, wee'l difpatch indeede,) 
 And when thou haft done this chare, He giue thee leaue 
 To play till Doomefday : bring our Crowne, and all. 
 
 A noife within. 
 Wherefore's this noife ? 
 
 Enter a Guardfman. 
 
 Gardf. Heere is a rurall Fellow, 
 That will not be deny'de your Highnefle prefence, 
 He brings you Figges. 
 
 Cleo. Let him come in. Exit Guardjman. 
 
 What poore an Inftrument 
 May do a Noble deede : he brings me liberty : 
 My Refolution's plac'd, and 1 haue nothing 
 Of woman in me : Now from head to foote 
 I am Marble conftant : now the fleeting Moone 
 No Planet is of mine. 
 
 Enter Guardjman , and Clowne. 
 
 GuardJ. This is the man. 
 
 Cleo. Auoid , and leaue him. Sxit Guardfman. 
 
 Haft thou the pretty worme of Nylus there, 
 That killes and paines not? 
 
 Clow. Truly 1 haue him : but I would not be the par- 
 tie that fhould defire you to touch him, for his byting is 
 immortall : thofe that doe dye of it, doe feldome or ne 
 uer recouer. 
 
 Cleo. Remember'ft thou any that haue dyed on't ? 
 
 Clow. Very many, men and women too. I heard of 
 one of them no longer then yefterday, a very honeft wo- 
 man, but fomething giuen to lye, as a woman fliould not 
 do, but in the way of honefty, how flie dyed of the by- 
 ting of it, what paine fhe felt : Truely, flie makes a vene 
 good report o'th'worme : but he that wil beleeue all that 
 they fay, fliall neuer be faued by halfe that they do : but 
 this is moft falliable, the Worme's an odde Worme. 
 
 Cleo. Get thee hence, farewell. 
 
 Clow. I wifli you all ioy of the Worme. 
 
 Cleo. Farewell. 
 
 Clare. You muft thinke this (looke you,) that the 
 Worme will do his kincle. 
 
 Cleo. I, I, farewell. 
 
 Clow. Looke you, the Worme is not to bee trufted, 
 but in the keeping of wife people : for indeede, there is 
 no goodnefle in the Worme. 
 
 Cleo. Take thou no care, it fliall be heeded. 
 
 Clow. Very good : giue it nothing I pray you, for it 
 is not worth the feeding. 
 
 Cleo. Will it eate me ? 
 
 Ckw. You muft not think I am fo fimple, but I know 
 the diuell himfelfe will not eate a woman : I know, that 
 a woman is a difli for the Gods, if the diuell drefle her 
 not. But truly, thefe fame whorfon diuels doe the Gods 
 great harme in their women : for in euery tenne that they 
 make, the diuels marre flue. 
 
 Cleo. Well, get thee gone, farewell. 
 
 Clow. Yes forfooth : I wifli you ioy o'th'worm. Exit 
 
 Cleo. Giue me my Robe, put on my Crowne, I haue 
 Immortall longings in me. Now no more 
 The iuyce of Egypts Grape fliall moyft this lip. 
 Yare, yare, good Iras ; quicke : Me thinkes I heare 
 
 857 
 
 Anthony call : I fee him rowfe himfelfe 
 
 To praife my Noble Act. I heare him mock 
 
 The lucke of Cifjar, which the Gods giue men 
 
 To excufe their after wrath. Husband, I come : 
 
 Now to that name, my Courage proue my Title. 
 
 I am Fire, and Ayre ; my other Elements 
 
 I giue to bafer life. So,haue you done? 
 
 Come then, and take the laft warmth of my Lippes. 
 
 Farewell kinde Charmian, Iras, long farewell. 
 
 Haue I the Afpicke in my lippes ? Doft fall ? 
 
 If thou, and Nature can fo gently part, 
 
 The ftroke of death is as a Louers pinch, 
 
 Which hurts, and is defir'd. Doft thou lye ftill ? 
 
 If thus thou vaniflieft, thou tell'ft the world, 
 
 It is not worth leaue-taking. 
 
 Char. Diffblue thicke clowd,& Raine, that I may fay 
 The Gods themfelues do weepe. 
 
 Cleo. This proues me bafe : 
 If flie firft meete the Curled Anthony, 
 Hee'l make demand of her, and fpend that kiffe 
 Which is my heauen to haue. Come thou mortal wretch, 
 With thy fharpe teeth this knot intrinficate, 
 Of life at once vntye : Poore venomous Foole, 
 Be angry, and difpatch. Oh could'ft thou fpeake, 
 That I might heare thee call great Cafar Affe, vnpolicied. 
 
 Char. Oh Eafterne Starre. 
 
 Cleo. Peace, peace : 
 
 Doft thou not fee my Baby at my breaft, 
 That fuckes the Nurfe afleepe. 
 
 Char. O breake ! O breake J 
 
 Cleo. As fweet as Balme, as foft as Ayre, as gentle. 
 O Anthony I Nay I will take thee too. 
 What fhould I ftay Dyes. 
 
 Char. In this wilde World ? So fare thee well : 
 Now boaft thee Death, in thy poffeffion lyes 
 A Laffe vnparalell'd. Downie Windowes cloze, 
 And golden Phoebus, neuer be beheld 
 Of eyes againe fo Royall : your Crownes away, 
 
 He mend it, and then play 
 
 Enter the Guard ruftling in, and 'Dolebella. 
 
 I Guard. Where's the Queene? 
 
 Char. Speake foftly, wake her not. - 
 
 I Ctejar hath fent 
 
 Char. Too flow a Mefienger. 
 Oh come apace, difpatch, I partly feele thee. 
 
 1 Approach hoa, 
 
 All's not well : Ctfjar"s beguild. 
 
 2 There's Dolabella fent from Cafar : call him. 
 I What worke is heere Charmian ? 
 
 Is this well done ? 
 
 Char. It is well done,and fitting for a PrincefTe 
 Defcended of fo many Royall Kings. 
 Ah Souldier. Cbarmian dyes. 
 
 Enter 'Dolabella. 
 
 Dol. How goes it heere ? 
 
 i.Guard. All dead. 
 
 Dol. Cafar, thy thoughts 
 
 Touch their effefts in this : Thy felfe art comming 
 To fee perform'd the dreaded Aft which thou 
 So fought'ft to hinder. 
 
 Enter C<ffar and all bis Traine, marching. 
 
 All. A way there, a way for Ctefar. 
 
 z z z Ttol^ 
 
 5.
 
 368 
 
 The Tragedie of Anthony and Cleopatra. 
 
 Dol. Oh fir, you are too fure an Augurer: 
 That you did feare, is done. 
 
 Catfar. Braueft at the laft, 
 She leuell'd at our purpofes, and being Royall 
 Tooke her owne way : the manner of their deaths, 
 I do not fee them bleede. 
 
 Dol. Who was laft with them ? 
 
 I .Guard. A fimple Countryman, that broght hir Figs: 
 This was his Basket. 
 
 Cafar. Poyfon'd then. 
 
 I .Guard. Oh Cafar : 
 
 This Cbarmian liu'd but now, fhe flood and fpake : 
 I found her trimming vp the Diadem ; 
 On her dead Miftris tremblingly fhe flood, 
 And on the fodaine dropt. 
 
 Ctefar. Oh Noble weakenefle : 
 If they had fwallow'd poyfon, 'twould appeare 
 By externall fwelling : but fhe lookes like fleepe, 
 As fhe would catch another Anthony 
 In her ftrong toyle of Grace. 
 
 'Dol. Heere on her breft, 
 
 There is a vent of Bloud, and fomething blowne, 
 The like is on her Arme. 
 
 1 .Guard. This is an Afpickes traile, 
 And thefe Figge-leaues haue flime vpon them, fuch 
 As th'Afpicke leaues vpon the Caues of Nyle. 
 
 Ctffar. Moft probable 
 
 That fo fhe dyed : for her Phyfitian tels mee 
 She hath purfu'de Conclufions infinite 
 Of eafie wayes to dye. Take vp her bed, 
 And beare her Women from the Monument, 
 She fhall be buried by her ^Anthony. 
 No Graue vpon the earth fhall clip in it 
 A payre fo famous : high euents as thefe 
 Strike thofe that make them : and their Story is 
 No lefTe in pitty, then his Glory which 
 Brought them to be lamented. Our Army fhall 
 In folemne fhew, attend this Funerall, 
 And then to Rome. Come Dolabella, fee 
 High Order, in this great Solmemnity. Exeunt omnes 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 8j8
 
 3 6 9 
 
 THE TRACED IE OF 
 
 CYMBELINE. 
 
 tAttus Primus. Sccena Trima. 
 
 Enter two Gentlemen. 
 
 I. Gent. 
 
 Ou do not meet a man but Frownes. 
 Our bloods no more obey the Heauens 
 Then our Courtiers : 
 
 Still feeme, as do's the Kings. 
 
 z. Gent. But what's the matter? 
 i. His daughter, and the heire ofs kingdome (whom 
 He purpos'd to his wiues fole Sonne, a Widdow 
 That late he married ) hath referr'd her felfe 
 Vnto a poore, but worthy Gentleman. She's wedded, 
 Her Husband banifh'd ; fhe imprifon'd, all 
 Is outward forrow, though I thinke the King 
 Be touch'd at very heart. 
 2 None but the King ? 
 
 1 He that hath loft her too : fb is the Queene, 
 That moft defir'd the Match. But not a Courtier, 
 Although they weare their faces to the bent 
 
 Of the Kings lookes, hath a heart that is not 
 Glad at the thing they fcowle at. 
 
 2 And why fo? 
 
 I He that hath mifs'd the Princefle, is a thing 
 Too bad, for bad report : and he that hath her, 
 (I meane, that married her, alacke good man, 
 And therefore banifh'd) is a Creature, fuch, 
 As to feeke through the Regions of the Earth 
 For one, his like j there would be fomething failing 
 In him, that fhould compare. I do not thinke, 
 So faire an Outward, and fuch ftuffe Within 
 Endowes a man, but hee. 
 
 z You fpeake him farre. 
 
 1 I do extend him (Sir) within himfelfe, 
 Crufh him together, rather then vnfold 
 
 His meafure duly. 
 
 2 What's his name, and Birth ? 
 
 I I cannot delue him to the roote : His Father 
 Was call'd Sicillius, who did ioyne his Honor 
 Againft the Romanes, with CaJJtbulan, 
 But had his Titles by Tenantitu, whom 
 He feru'd with Glory, and admir'd Succefle : 
 So gain'd the Sur-addition, Leonatta. 
 And had (befides this Gentleman in queftion) 
 Two other Sonnes, who in the Warres o'th'time 
 Dy'de with their Swords in hand. For which, their Father 
 Then old, and fond of yflue, tooke fuch forrow 
 That he quit Being ; and his gentle Lady 
 
 859 
 
 Bigge of this Gentleman (our Theame^ deceaft 
 
 As he was "borne. The King he takes the Babe 
 
 To his protection, cals him Poftbumut Leonattu, 
 
 Breedes him, and makes him of his Bed-chamber, 
 
 Puts to him all the Learnings that his time 
 
 Could make him the receiuer of, which he tooke 
 
 As we do ayre, faft as 'twas miniftred, 
 
 And in's Spring, became a Harueft : Liu'd in Court 
 
 (Which rare it is to do) moft prais'd, moft lou'd, 
 
 A fample to the yongeft: to th'more Mature, 
 
 A glafle- that feated them : and to the grauer, 
 
 A Childe that guided Dotards. To his Miftris, 
 
 (For whom he now is banifh'd) her owne price 
 
 Proclaimes how fhe efteem'd him; and his Vertue 
 
 By her eleftio may be truly read, what kind of man he is. 
 
 2 I honor him, euen out of your report. 
 But pray you tell me, is fhe fole childe to'th'King ? 
 
 I His onely childe : 
 
 He had two Sonnes (if this be worth your hearing, 
 Marke it) the eldeft of them, at three yeares old 
 I'th'fwathing cloathes, the other from their Nurfery 
 Were ftolne, and to this houre, no ghefle in knowledge 
 Which way they went. 
 
 2 How long is this ago? 
 
 1 Some twenty yeares. 
 
 2 That a Kings Children fhould be fo conuey'd, 
 So flackely guarded, and the fearch fo flow 
 
 That could not trace them. 
 
 1 Howfoere, 'tis ftrange, 
 
 Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at : 
 Yet is it true Sir. 
 
 2 I do well beleeue you. 
 
 I We muft forbeare. Heere comes the Gentleman, 
 The Queene, and Princefle. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter the Queene, Poftbumui, and Imogen. 
 
 Qn. No, be aflur'd you fhall not finde me(Daughter) 
 After the flander of moft Step-Mothers, 
 Euill-ey'd vnto you. You're my Prifoner, but 
 Your Gaoler fliall deliuer you the keyes 
 
 z z 3 That
 
 37 
 
 The Tragedie ofCymbelme. 
 
 That locke vp your reftraint. For you Pojtbumtu y 
 
 So foone as J can win th'offended King, 
 
 I will be knowne your Aduocate : marry yet 
 
 The fire of Rage is in him, and 'twere good 
 
 You lean'd vnto his Sentence, with what patience 
 
 Your wifedome may inform e you. 
 
 Poft. 'Pleafe your Highnefle,, 
 I will from hence to day. 
 
 %u. You know the peril 1 : 
 He fetch a turne about the Garden, pittying 
 The pangs of barr'd Affections, though the King 
 Hath charg'd you Ihould not fpeake together. Exit 
 
 Itno. O diflembling Curtefiel How fine this Tyrant 
 Can tickle where flie wounds ? My deereft Husband, 
 I fomething feare my Fathers wrath, but nothing 
 (Alwayes referu'd my holy duty) what 
 His rage can do on me. You muft be gone, 
 And I fliall heere abide the hourely fhot 
 Of angry eyes : not comforted to liue, 
 But that there is this lewell in the world, 
 That I may fee againe. 
 
 Poft. My Queene, my Miftris : 
 
 Lady, weepe no more, leaft I giue caufe 
 To be fufpected of more tenderneffe 
 Then doth become a man. I will remaine 
 The loyall'ft husband, that did ere plight troth. 
 My relidence in Rome, at one Filorio's, 
 Who, to my Father was a Friend, to me 
 Knowne but by Letter ; thither write (my Queene) 
 And with^mine eyes, lie drinke the words you fend, 
 Though Inke be made of Gall. 
 
 Enter Queene. 
 
 ,>. Be briefe, I pray you : 
 If the King come, I (hall incurre, I know not 
 How much of his difpleafure : yet He moue him 
 To walke this way : I neuer do him wrong, 
 But he do's buy my Iniuries, to be Friends : 
 Payes deere for my offences. 
 
 Poft, Should we be taking leaue 
 As long a terme as yet we haue to liue, 
 The loathneffe to depart, would grow : Adieu. 
 
 Into. Nay, ftay a little : 
 
 Were you but riding forth to ayre your felfe, 
 Such parting were too petty. Looke heere (Loue) 
 This Diamond was my Mothers; take it (Heart) 
 But keepe it till you woo another Wife, 
 When Imogen is dead. 
 
 Poft. How, how? Another? 
 You gentle Gods, giue me but this I haue, 
 And feare vp my embracements from a next, 
 With bonds of death. Remaine, remaine thou heere, 
 While fenfe can keepe it on : And fweeteft, faireft, 
 As I (my poore felfe) did exchange for you 
 To your fo infinite loffe ; fo in our trifles 
 
 1 ftill winne of you. For my fake weare this, 
 It is a Manacle of Loue, He place it 
 
 Vpon this fayreft Prifoner. 
 
 Imo. O the Gods J 
 When fhall we fee againe ? 
 
 Eater Cymieline, and Lordi. 
 
 Poft. Alacke, the King. 
 
 Cym. Thou bafeft thing, auoyd hence, from my fight: 
 If afrer this command thou fraught the Court 
 With thy vnworthineffe, thou dyeft. Away, 
 Thou'rt poyfon to my blood. 
 
 Poft. The Gods protect you, 
 
 And blefle the good Remainders of the Court : 
 
 I am gone. Exit. 
 
 Imo. There cannot be a pinch in death 
 More fharpe then this is. 
 
 Cym. O difloyall thing, 
 
 That mould'ft repayre my youth, thou heap'ft 
 A yeares age on mee. 
 
 Imo. I befeech you Sir, 
 Harme not your felfe with your vexation, 
 I am fenfeleffe of your Wrath ; a Touch more rare 
 Subdues all pangs, all feares. 
 
 Cym. Part Grace ? Obedience? 
 
 Imo. Paft hope, and in difpaire, that way pad Grace. 
 
 Cym. That might'ft haue had 
 The fole Sonne of my Queene. 
 
 Imo. O blefTed, that i might not : I chofe an Eagle, 
 And did auoyd a Puttocire. 
 
 Cym. Thou took'ft a Begger, would'ft haue made my 
 Throne, a Seate for bafeneffe. 
 
 Imo. No, I rather added a luftre to it. 
 
 Cym. O thou vilde one ! 
 
 Imo. Sir, 
 
 It is your fault that I haue lou'd Pofthumui : 
 You bred him as my Play-fellow, and he is 
 A man, worth any woman : Ouer-buyes mee 
 Almoft the fumme he payes. 
 
 Cym. What? art thou mad ? 
 
 Imo. Almoft Sir : Heauen reftore m? : would I were 
 A Neat-heards Daughter, and my Leonatui 
 Our Neighbour-Shepheards Sonne. 
 Enter Queene. 
 
 Cym. Thou foolifh thing; 
 They were againe together : you haue done 
 Not after our command. Away with her, 
 And pen her vp. 
 
 <5>a. Befeech your patience : Peace 
 Deere Lady daughter, peace. Sweet Soueraigne, 
 Leaue vs to our felues, and make your felt" fome comfort 
 Out of your beft aduice. 
 
 Cym. Nay, let her languish 
 A drop of blood a day, and being aged 
 Dye of this Folly. Exit. 
 
 Enter Pifanio. 
 
 Qtt. Fye, you muft giue way : 
 Heere is your Seruant. How now Sir? What newes ? 
 
 TiJ'a. My Lord your Sonne, drew on my Mafter. 
 
 Qu. Hah? 
 No harme I truft is done? 
 
 Tija. There might haue beene, 
 But that my Mafter rather plaid, then fought, 
 And had no helpe of Anger : they were parted 
 By Gentlemen, at hand. 
 
 S^u. I am very glad on't. 
 
 Imo. Your Son's my Fathers friend, he takes his part 
 To draw vpon an Exile. O braue Sir, 
 I would they were in Affricke both together, 
 My felfe by with a Needle, that I might pricke 
 The goer backe. Why came you from your Mafter ? 
 
 Plfa. On his command : he would not fuffer mee 
 To bring him to the Hauen : left thefe Notes 
 Of what commands I fliould be fubiedr. too, 
 When't pleas'd you to employ me. 
 
 <%u. This hath beene 
 
 Your raithfull Seruant : I dare lay mine Honour 
 He will remaine fo. 
 
 Pifa. I humbly thanke your Highnefle. 
 
 860
 
 'The Tragedy of Cymbellne. 
 
 37 1 
 
 Qu. Pray walke a-while. 
 
 Into. About fome halfe houre hence, 
 Pray you fpeake with me ; 
 You fhall (at leaft)go fee my Lord aboord. 
 For this time leaue me. 
 
 Sxeunt. 
 
 Seen a Tertia. 
 
 Enter Clotten , and frvo Lords. 
 
 I. Sir, I would aduife you to fhift a Shirt ; the Vio- 
 lence of AdYion hath made you reek as a Sacrifice: where 
 ayre comes out, ayre comes in : There's none abroad fo 
 wholefome as that you vent. 
 
 lot. If my Shirt were bloody, then to fhift it. 
 Haue I hurt him ? 
 
 i No faith : not fo much as his patience. 
 
 1 Hurt him ? His bodie's a pafiable CarkafTe if he bee 
 not hurt. It is a through-fare for Steele if it be not hurt. 
 
 2 His Steele was in debt, it went o'th'Backe-fide the 
 ; Towne. 
 
 Clot. The Villaine would not ftand me. 
 
 2 No, but he fled forward ftill, toward your face. 
 
 1 Stand you ? you haue Land enough of your owne : 
 But he added to your hauing, gaue you fome ground. 
 
 2 As many Inches, as you haue Oceans( Puppies.) 
 Clot. I would they had not come betweene vs. 
 
 2 So would I, till you had meafur'd how long a Foole 
 you were vpon the ground. 
 
 Clot. And that fhee fhould loue this Fellow, and re- 
 fufe mee. 
 
 2 If it be a fin to make a true election, ifhe is damn'd. 
 
 1 Sir,as I told you alwayes : her Beauty & her Braine 
 go not together. Shee's a good figne, but I haue feene 
 fmall reflection of her wit. 
 
 2 She fhines not vpon Fooles, leaft the reflection 
 Should hurt her. 
 
 Clot. Come, He to my Chamber : would there had 
 beene fome hurt done. 
 
 2 I wifh not fo, vnlefle it had bin thei fall of an AfTe, 
 which is no great hurt. 
 
 Clot. You'l go with vs ? 
 
 1 He attend your Lordfhip. 
 
 Clot. Nay come, let's go together. 
 
 2 Well my Lord. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Quarta. 
 
 Enter Imogen, and Pifanio. 
 
 Imo.l would thou grew'ft vnto the fhores o'th'Hauen, 
 And queftioned'ft euery Saile : if he fhould write, 
 And I not haue it, 'twere a Paper loft 
 As offer' d mercy is : What was the laft 
 That he fpake to thee? 
 
 Pifa. It was his Qiieene, his Queene. 
 
 Imo. Then wau'd his Handkerchiefe ? 
 
 Pifa. And kift it. Madam. 
 
 Into. Senfelefle Linnen, happier therein then I: 
 And that was all / 
 
 Pifa. No Madam : for fo long 
 
 86 1 
 
 As he could make me with his eye, or eare, 
 Diftinguifh him from others, he did keepe 
 The Decke, with Gloue, or Hat, or Handkerchife, 
 Still wauing, as the fits and ftirres of s mind 
 Could beft exprefie how flow his Soule fayl'd on, 
 How fwift his Ship. 
 
 Into. Thou fhould'ft haue made him. 
 As little as a Crow, or lefie, ere left 
 To after-eye him. 
 
 Tifa. Madam, fo I did. 
 
 Into. I would haue broke mine eye-ftrings ; 
 Crack'd them, but to looke vpon him, till the diminution 
 Of fpace, had pointed him fharpe as my Needle : 
 Nay, followed him, till he had melted from 
 The fmalneffe of a Gnat, to ayre : and then 
 Haue turn'd mine eye, and wept. But good Pifanio, 
 When fliall we heare from him. 
 
 Pifa. Be afTur'd Madam, 
 With his next vantage. 
 
 Into. I did not take my leaue of him, but had 
 Moft pretty things to fay : Ere I could tell him 
 How I would thinke on him at certaine houres, 
 Such thoughts, and fuch : Or I could make him fweare, 
 The Shees of Italy fliould not betray 
 Mine Intereft, and his Honour : or haue charg'd him 
 At the fixt houre of Morne, at Noone, at Midnight, 
 T'encounter me with Orifons, for then 
 I am in Heauen for him : Or ere I could, 
 Giue him that parting kifle, which I had fet 
 Betwixt two charming words, comes in my Father, 
 And like the Tyrannous breathing of the North, 
 Shakes all our buddes from growing. 
 Enter a Lady. 
 
 La. The Queene (Madam) 
 Defires your Highnefle Company. 
 
 Into. Thofe things I bid you do,'get them difpatch'd, 
 I will attend the Queene. 
 
 Tifa. Madam, I fhall. Sxeunt. 
 
 Scena Quinta. 
 
 Enter Pbilario, lachimo : a Frenchman, a Dutch- 
 man, and a Spaniard. 
 
 lacb. Beleeue it Sir, I haue feene him in Britaine; hee 
 was then of a Creflent note, expected to proue fo woor- 
 thy, as fince he hath beene allowed the name of. But I 
 could then haue look'd on him, without the help of Ad- 
 miration, though the Catalogue of his endowments had 
 bin tabled by his fide, and I to perufe him by Items. 
 
 Phil. You fpeake of him when he was lefle furnifh'd, 
 then now hee is, with that which makes him both with- 
 out, and within. 
 
 French. I haue feene him in France : wee had very ma- 
 ny there, could behold the Sunne, with as firme eyes as 
 hee. 
 
 lacb. This matter of marrying his Kings Daughter, 
 wherein he muft be weighed rather by her valew, then 
 his owne, words him (I doubt not) a great deale from the 
 matter. 
 
 French. And then his banifhment. 
 
 lacb. I, and the approbation of thofe that weepe this 
 lamentable diuorce vnder her colours, are wonderfully 
 
 to
 
 37 2 
 
 The 'Tragedy of Cymbeline. 
 
 to extend him, be it but to fortifie her Judgement, which 
 elfe an eafie battery might lay flat, for taking a Begger 
 without lefle quality.But how comes it, he is to foiourne 
 with you ? How creepes acquaintance ? 
 
 Phil. His Father and I were Souldiers together, to 
 whom I haue bin often bound for no lefle then my life. 
 
 Enter foftbumw. 
 
 Heere comes the Britaine. Let him be fo entertained a- 
 mong'ft you, as fuites with Gentlemen of your knowing, 
 to a Stranger of his quality. I befeech you all be better 
 knowne to this Gentleman, whom I commend to you, 
 as a Noble Friend of mine. How Worthy he is, I will 
 leaue to appeare hereafter, rather then ftory him in his 
 owne hearing. 
 
 French. Sir, we haue knowne togither in Orleance. 
 
 Po^.Since when, I haue bin debtor to you for courte- 
 fies, which I will be euer to pay, and yet pay ftill. 
 
 French. Sir, you o're-rate my poore kindnefie, I was 
 glad I did attone my Countryman and you: it had beene 
 pitty you fhould haue beene put together, with fo mor- 
 tall a purpofe, as then each bore, vpon importance of fo 
 flight and triuiall a nature. 
 
 ToSt. By your pardon Sir, I was then a young Trauel- 
 ler, rather fhun'd to go euen with what I heard, then in 
 my euery aclion to be guided by others experiences: but 
 vpon my mended Judgement (if I offend to fay it is men- 
 ded) my Quarrell was not altogether flight. 
 
 French. Faith yes, to be put to the arbitermcnt of 
 Swords, and by fuch two, that would by all likelyhood 
 haue confounded one the other, or haue falne both. 
 
 lacb. Can we with manners, aske what was the dif- 
 ference ? 
 
 French. Safely, I thinke, 'twas a contention in pub- 
 licke, which may (without contradiction ) fuffer the re- 
 port. It was much like an argument that fell out laft 
 night, where each of vs fell in praife of our Country- 
 Miftrefles. This Gentleman, at that time vouching fand 
 vpon warrant of bloody affirmation ) his to be more 
 Faire, Vertuous, Wife, Chafte, Conftant, Qualified, and 
 lefle attemptible then any, the rareft of our Ladies in 
 Fraunce. 
 
 lacb. That Lady is not now liuing; or this Gentle- 
 mans opinion by this,worne out. 
 
 Poft. She holds her Vertue ftill, and I my mind. 
 
 lacb. You muft not fo farre preferre her, 'fore ours of 
 Italy. 
 
 Pofth. Being fo farre prouok'd as I was in France:! 
 would abate her nothing, though I profefle my felfe her 
 Adorer, not her Friend. 
 
 lacb. As faire, and as good : a kind of hand in hand 
 comparifon, had beene fomething too faire, and too 
 good for any Lady in Britanie; if flic went before others. 
 I haue feene as that Diamond of yours out-lufters many 
 I haue beheld, I could not beleeue me excelled many : 
 but I haue not feene the moft ptetious Diamond that is, 
 nor you the Lady. 
 
 Poft. I prais'd her, as I rated her : fo do I my Stone. 
 
 lacb. What do you efteeme it at? 
 
 Poft. More then the world enioyes. 
 
 lacb. Either your vnparagon'd Miftirs is dead, or 
 flic's out-priz'd by a trifle. 
 
 Poft. You are miftaken : the one may be folde or gi> 
 uen, or if there were wealth enough for the purchafes,or 
 merite for the guift. The other is not a thing for fale, 
 and onely the guift of the Gods. 
 
 lacb. Which the Gods haue giuen you ? 
 
 Poft. Which by their Graces I will keepe. 
 
 lacb. You may weare her in title yours : but you 
 know ftrange Fowle light vpon neighbouring Ponds. 
 Your Ring may be ftolne too,fo your brace of vnprizea- 
 ble Eftimations, the one is but frailc, and the other Cafu- 
 all;. A cunning Thiefe, or a (that way) accomplifh'd 
 Courtier, would hazzard the winning both of firft and 
 laft. 
 
 Poft. Your Italy , containes none fo accomplifli'd a 
 Courtier to conuince the Honour of my Miftris : if in the 
 holding or lofle of that, you terme her fraile, I do no- 
 thing doubt you haue ftore of Theeues, notwithftanding 
 I feare not my Ring. 
 
 Phil. Let vs leaue heere, Gentlemen ? 
 
 Poft. Sir, with all my heart. This worthy Signior I 
 thanke him, makes no ftranger of me, we are familiar at 
 firft. 
 
 lacb. With fiue times fo much conuerfation,! fliould 
 get ground of your faire Miftris; make her go backe,e- 
 uen to the yeilding, had I admittance, and opportunitie 
 to friend. 
 
 Poft. No, no. 
 
 lacb. I dare thereupon pawne the moytie of my E- 
 ftate, to your Ring, which in my opinion o're-values it 
 fomething : but I make my wager rather againft your 
 Confidence, then her Reputation. And to barre your of- 
 fence heerein to, I durft attempt it againft any Lady in 
 the world. 
 
 Poft. You are a great deale abus'd in too bold a per- 
 fwafion,and I doubt not you fuftaine what y'are worthy 
 of, by your Attempt. 
 
 lach. What's rhat ? 
 
 Pijftb. A Repulfe though your Attempt ( as you call 
 it) delerue more;a punifhment too. 
 
 Phi. Gentlemen enough of this, it came in too fo- 
 dainely,let it dye as it was borne, and I pray you be bet- 
 ter acquainted. 
 
 lacb. Would I had put my Eftate,and my Neighbors 
 on th'approbation of what I haue fpoke, 
 
 Poft. What Lady would you chufe to aflaile ? 
 
 lacb. Yours, whom in conftancie you thinke ftands 
 fo fafe. I will lay you ten thoulands Duckets to your 
 Ring, that commend me to the Court where your La- 
 dy is, with no more aduantage then the opportunitie of a 
 fecond conference, and I will bring from thence, that 
 Honor of hers, which you imagine fo referu'd. 
 
 Pcflbmiu. I will wage againft your Gold, Gold to 
 it: My Ring I holde deere as my finger, 'tis part of 
 it. 
 
 lacb. You are a Friend, and there in the wifer : if you 
 buy Ladies flefh at a Million a Dram, you cannot pre- 
 feure it from tainting; but I fee you haue feme Religion 
 in you, that you feare. 
 
 Pofthu. This is but a cuftome in your tongue : you 
 beare a grauer purpofe I hope. 
 
 lacb. I am the Mafter of my fpeeches,and would vn- 
 der-go what's fpoken,! fweare. 
 
 Pofthu. Will you ? I ihall but lend my Diamond till 
 your returne : let there be Couenants drawne between's. 
 My Miftris exceedes in goodneffe,the hugenefle of your 
 vnworthy thinking. I dare you to this match : heere's my 
 Ring. 
 
 Phil. I will haue it no lay. 
 
 lacb. By the Gods it is one : if I bring you no fuffi- 
 cient teftimony that I haue enioy'd the deereft bodily 
 part of your Miftrisimy ten thoufand Duckets are yours, 
 
 fo 
 
 86z
 
 The Tragedy of Cymbeline. 
 
 373 
 
 fo is your Diamond too : if I come off, and leaue her in 
 fuch honour as you haue truft in ; Shee your Jewell, this 
 your lewell, and my Gold are .yours : prouided, I haue 
 your commendation, for my more free entertainment. 
 
 Poft. I embrace thefe Conditions, let vs haue Articles 
 betwixt vs : onely thus farre you fliall anfwere, if you 
 make your voyage vpon her, and giue me directly to vn- 
 derftand, you haue preuayl'd, I am no further your Ene- 
 my, fhee is not worth our debate. If fhee remaine vnfe- 
 duc'd, you not making it appeare otherwife : for your ill 
 opinion, and th'aflault you haue made to her chaftity,you 
 fliall anfwer me with your Sword. 
 
 lack. Your hand, a Couenant : wee will haue thefe 
 things fet downe by lawfull Counfell, and ftraight away 
 for Britaine, Jeaft the Bargaine fhould catch colde, and 
 fterue : I will fetch my Gold, and haue our two Wagers 
 recorded. 
 
 Poft. Agreed. 
 
 French. Will this hold, thinke you. 
 
 Phil. Signior lacbimo will not from it. 
 Pray let vs follow 'em. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Sexfa. 
 
 Enter Queene, Ladies, and Cornelius. 
 
 Qu. Whiles yet the dewe's on ground, 
 Gather thofe Flowers, 
 Make hafte. Who ha's the note of them ? 
 
 Lady. I Madam. 
 
 S^ueen. Difpatch. Exit Ladies. 
 
 Now Mafter Doctor, haue you brought thofe drugges ? 
 
 Cor. Pleafeth your Highnes, I : here they are, Madam: 
 But I befeech your Grace, without offence 
 (My Confcience bids me aske) wherefore you haue 
 Commanded of me thefe moft poyfonous Compounds, 
 Which are the moouers of a languifhing death : 
 But though flow, deadly. 
 
 Qu^. I wonder, Doctor, 
 
 Thou ask'ft me fuch a Queftion : Haue I not bene 
 Thy Pupill long ? Haft thou not learn'd me how 
 To make Perfumes? Diftill ? Preferue ? Yea fo, 
 That our great King himfelfe doth woo me oft 
 For my Confections ? Hauing thus farre proceeded, 
 (VnlefTe thou think'ft me diuellifh) is't not meete 
 That I did amplifie my iudgement in 
 Other Conclufions ? I will try the forces 
 Of thefe thy Compounds, on fuch Creatures as 
 We count not worth the hanging (but none humane) 
 To try the vigour of them, and apply 
 Allayments to their Act, and by them gather 
 Their feuerall vertues, and effects. 
 
 Cor. Your Highneffe 
 
 Shall from this practife, but make hard your heart: 
 Befides, the feeing thefe effects will be 
 Both noyfome, and infectious. 
 
 Q. O content thee. 
 
 Enter Pifanio. 
 
 Heere comes a flattering Rafcall, vpon him 
 Will I firft worke : Hee's for his Mdfter, 
 And enemy to my Sonne. How now Pifanio? 
 Doctor, your feruice for this time is ended, 
 Take your owne way. 
 
 863 
 
 Cor. I do fufpect you, Madam, 
 But you fliall do no harme. 
 
 Qu. Hearke thee,a word. 
 
 Cor. I do not like her. She doth thinke fhe ha's 
 Strange ling'ring poyfons : I do know her fpirit, 
 And will not truft one of her malice, with 
 A drugge of fuch damn'd Nature. Thofe fhe ha's, 
 Will ftupifie and dull the Senfe a-while, 
 Which firft (perchance) fhee'l proue on Cats and Dogs, 
 Then afterward vp higher : but there is 
 No danger in what fhew of death it makes, 
 More then the locking vp the Spirits a time, 
 To be more frefli, reuiuing. She is fool'd 
 With a moftfalfe effect : and I, the truer, 
 So to be falfe with her. 
 
 Qu. No further feruice, Doctor, 
 Vntill I fend for thee. 
 
 Cor. I humbly take my leaue. Exit. 
 
 Qu. Weepes fhe ftill(faift thou?) 
 Doft thou thinke in time 
 
 She will not quench, and let inftructions enter 
 Where Folly now poffeffes? Do thou worke : 
 When thou fhalt bring me word /he loues my Sonne, 
 He tell thee on the inftant, thou art then 
 As great as is thy Mafter : Greater, for 
 His Fortunes all lye fpeechleffe, and his name 
 Is at laft gaspe. Returne he cannot, nor 
 Continue where he is : To fhift his being, 
 Is to exchange one mifery with another, 
 And euery day that comes, comes to decay 
 A dayes worke in him. What fhalt thou expect 
 To be depender on a thing that leanes? 
 Who cannot be new built, nor ha's no Friends 
 So much, as but to prop him ? Thou tak'ft vp 
 Thou know'ft not what : But take it for thy labour, 
 It is a thing I made, which hath the King 
 Fiue times redeem'd from death. I do not know 
 What is more Cordiall. Nay, I prythee take it, 
 It is an earneft of a farther good 
 That I meane to thee. Tell thy Miftris how 
 The cafe Hands with her : doo't, as from thy felfe; 
 Thinke what a chance thou changed on, but thinke 
 Thou haft thy Miftris ftill, to boote.my Sonne, 
 Who fhall take notice of thee. He moue the King 
 To any fhape of thy Preferment, fuch 
 As thou'lt defire : and then my felfe, I cheefely, 
 That fet thee on to this defert, am bound 
 To loade thy merit richly. Call my women. Exit Pifa. 
 Thinke on my words. A flye, and conftant knaue, 
 Not to be fhak'd : the Agent for his Mafter, 
 And the Remembrancer of her, to hold 
 The hand-faft to her Lord. I haue giuen him that, 
 Which if he take, fliall quite vnpeople her 
 Of Leidgers for her Sweete : and which, fhe after 
 Except fhe bend her humor, fliall be affur'd 
 To tafteoftoo. 
 
 Enter Pifanio,and Ladies. 
 
 So , fo : Well done, well done : 
 
 The Violets, Cowflippes, and the Prime-Rofes 
 
 Beare to my ClofTet : Fare thee well, Pifanio. 
 
 Thinke on my words. Exit }u. and Ladles. 
 
 Pifa. And fhall do : 
 
 But when to my good Lord, I proue vntrue, 
 He choake my felfe : there's all He do for you. Exit. 
 
 Scena
 
 374 
 
 The 'Tragedy of Cymbeline. 
 
 Scena Septima. 
 
 Enter Imogen alone. 
 
 Imo. A Father cruell, and a Stepdame falfe, 
 A Fooli/h Suitor to a Wedded-Lady, 
 That hath her Husband banifli'd : O, that Husband, 
 My fupreame Crowne of griefe, and thofe repeated 
 Vexations of it. Had I bin Theefe-ftolne, 
 As my two Brothers, happy : but moft miferable 
 Is the defires that's glorious. Blefled be thofe 
 How meane fo ere, that haue their honeft wills, 
 Which feafons comfort. Who may this be ? Fye. 
 
 Enter Pifanio, and lacbimo. 
 
 Pifa. Madam, a Noble Gentleman of Rome 
 Comes from my Lord with Letters. 
 
 lack. Change you, Madam : 
 The Worthy Leonatiu is in fafety, 
 And greetes your HighnefTe deerely. 
 
 Imo. Thanks good Sir, 
 You're kindly welcome. 
 
 lacb. All of her, that is out of doore, moft rich : 
 If flie be furnifiYd with a mind fo rare 
 She is alone th'Arabian-Bird; and I 
 Haue loft the wager. Boldnefle be my Friend : 
 Arme me Audacitie from head to foote, 
 Orlike the Parthian I ihall flying fight, 
 Rather diredtly fly. 
 
 Imogen reads. 
 
 He it one of the Ncbleji note, to wboj'e lyndnej/es I am moft in- 
 finitely tied. Rejlefi -vpon him accordingly, ai you -value your 
 truft. Leonatus. 
 
 So farre I reade aloud . 
 But euen the very middle of my heart 
 Is warm'd by'th'reft,and take it thankefully. 
 You are as welcome( worthy Sir) as I 
 Haue words to bid you, and fhall finde it fo 
 In all that I can do. 
 
 lacb. Thankes faireft Lady: 
 
 What are men mad? Hath Nature giuen them eyes 
 To fee this vaulted Arch, and the rich Crop 
 Of Sea and Land, which can diftinguifh 'twixt 
 The fine Orbes aboue, and the twinn'd Stones 
 Vpon the numbered Beach, and can we not 
 Partition make with Speclales-fo pretious 
 Twixt faire, and foule ? 
 
 Imo. What makes your admiration ? 
 
 lacb. It cannot be i'th'eye : for Apes, and Monkeys 
 'Twixt two fuch She's, would chatter this way, and 
 Contemne with mowes the other. Nor i'th'iudgment : 
 For Idiots in this cafe of fauour, would 
 Be wifely definit : Nor i'th' Appetite. 
 Sluttery to fuch neate Excellence, oppos'd 
 Should make defire vomit emptineiTe, 
 Not fo allur.d to feed. 
 
 Imo. What is the matter trow ? 
 
 lacb. The Cloyed will : 
 That fatiate yet vnfatisfi'd defire, that Tub 
 Both fill'd and running : Rauening firft the Lambf, 
 Longs after for the Garbage. 
 
 Imo. What, deere Sir, 
 Thus rap's you ? Are you well ? 
 
 lacb. Thanks Madam, well : Befeech you Sir, 
 Defire my Man's abode, where I did leaue him: 
 He's ftrange and peeuifh. 
 
 Pifa. I was going Sir, 
 To giue him welcome. Exit. 
 
 Imo. Continues well my Lord ? 
 His health befeech you ? 
 
 lacb. Well, Madam. 
 
 Imo. Is he difpos'd to mirth ? I hope he is. 
 
 lacb. Exceeding pleafant : none a ftranger there, 
 So merry, and fo gamefome : he is call'd 
 The Britaine Reueller. 
 
 Imo. When he was heere 
 He did incline to fadnefle, and oft times 
 Not knowiug why. 
 
 lacb. I neuer faw him (ad. 
 There is a Frenchman his Companion, one 
 An eminent Monfieur, that it feemes much loues 
 A Gallian-Girle at home. He furnaces 
 The thicke fighes from him; whiles the iolly Britaine, 
 (Your Lord I meane) laughes from's free lungs :cries oh, 
 Can my fides hold, to think that man who knowes 
 By Hiftory, Report, or his owne proofe 
 What woman is, yea what flie cannot choofe 
 But muft be .'will's free houres languifli : 
 For allured bondage ? 
 
 Imo. Will my Lord fay fo ? 
 
 lacb. I Madam, with his eyes in floodi with laughter, 
 It is a Recreation to be by 
 And heare him mocke the Frenchman : 
 But Heauen's know fome men are much too blame. 
 
 Imo. Not he I hope. 
 
 lacb. Not he : 
 
 But yet Heauen's bounty towards him, might 
 Be Va'd more thankfully. In himfelfe 'tis much; 
 In you, which I account his beyond all Talents. 
 Whil'ft I am bound to wonder, I am bound 
 To pitty too. 
 
 Into. What do you pitty Sir ? 
 
 lacb. Two Creatures heartyiy. 
 
 Imo. Am I one Sir ? 
 
 You looke on me : what wrack difcerne you in me 
 Deferues your pitty ? 
 
 lacb. Lamentable : what 
 To hide me from the radiant Sun, and folace 
 I'th'Dungeon by a Snuffe. 
 
 Imo. 1 pray you Sir, 
 
 Deliuer with more opennefle your anfweres 
 To my demands. Why do you pitty me ? 
 
 lacb. That others do, 
 
 (T was about to fay)enioy your but 
 
 It is an office of the Gods to venge it, 
 Not mine to fpeake on't. 
 
 Imo. You do feeme to know 
 
 Something of me, or what concernes me; pray you 
 Since doubting things go ill, often hurts more 
 Then to be fure they do. For Certainties 
 Either are paft remedies; or timely knowing, 
 The remedy then borne. Difcouer to me 
 What both you fpur and ftop. 
 
 lacb' Had I this cheeke 
 
 To bathe my lips vpon : this hand, whofe touch, 
 (Whofe euery touch) would force the Feelers foule 
 To'th'oath of loyalty. This obiedt, which 
 Takes prifoner the wild motion of mine eye, 
 Fiering it onely heere, ihould I (damn'd then) 
 
 Slauer 
 
 864
 
 The Tragedy of Cymbeline. 
 
 375 
 
 S lauuer with lippes as common as the ftayres 
 That mount the Capitoll : loyne gripes, with hands 
 Made hard with hourely falfhood (falfhood as 
 With labour:) then by peeping in an eye 
 Bafe and illuftrious as the fmoakie light 
 That's fed with (linking Tallow : it were fit 
 That all the plagues of Hell fhould at one time 
 Encounter fuch reuolt. 
 
 Imo. My Lord, I feare 
 Has forgot Brittaine. 
 
 lack. And himfelfe, not I 
 Inclin'd to this intelligence, pronounce 
 The Beggery of his change : but 'tis your Graces 
 That from my muteft Confcience, to my tongue, 
 Charmes this report out. 
 
 Imo. Let me heare no more. 
 
 lacb. O deereft Soule : your Caufe doth ftrilce my hart 
 With pitty, that doth make me ficke. A Lady 
 So faire, and faften'd to an Emperie 
 Would make the great'ft King double, to be partner'd 
 With Tomboyes hyr'd, with that felfe exhibition 
 Which your owne Coffers yeeld : with difeas'd ventures 
 That play with all Infirmities for Gold, 
 Which rottennefle can lend Nature. Such boyl'd ftuffe 
 As well might poyfon Poyfon. Be reueng'd, 
 Or {he that bore you, was no Queene,and you 
 Recoyle from your great Stocke. 
 
 Into. Reueng'd : 
 
 How fhould I be reueng'd ? If this be true, 
 (As I haue fuch a Heart, that both mine eares 
 Muft not in hafte abufe) if it be true, 
 How fhould I be reueng'd ? 
 
 lacb. Should he make me 
 Liue like "Diana's Prieft, betwixt cold flieets, 
 Whiles he is vaulting variable Rampes 
 In your defpight, vpon your purfe : reuenge it. 
 I dedicate my felfe to your fweet pleafure, 
 More Noble then that runnagate to your bed, 
 And will continue faft to your Affection, 
 Still clofe, as fure. 
 
 Imo. What hoa, Pifanio ? 
 
 lacb. Let me my feruice tender on your lippes. 
 
 Imo. Away, I do condemne mine earcs,that haue 
 So long attended thee. If thou wert Honourable 
 Thou would'ft haue told this tale for Vertue, not 
 For fuch an end thou feek'ft, as bafe,as ftrange : 
 Thou wrong'fl a Gentleman, who is as farre 
 From thy report, as thou from Honor: and 
 Solicites heere a Lady, that difdaines 
 Thee,and the Diuell alike. What hoa, Pifanio ? 
 The King my Father fhall be made acquainted 
 Of thy Aflault : if he fhall thinke it fit, 
 A fawcy Stranger in his Court, to Mart 
 As in a Romifh Stew, and to expound 
 His beaftly minde to vs ; he hath a Court 
 He little cares for, and a Daughter, who 
 He not refpedts at all. What hoa, Pifanio ? 
 
 lacb. O happy Leonattu I may fay, 
 The credit that thy Lady hath of thee 
 Deferues thy truft, and thy moft perfect goodnefle 
 Her aflur'd credit. Blefied liue you long, 
 A Lady to the worthieft Sir, that euer 
 Country call'd his; and you his Miftris, onely 
 For the moft worthieft fit. Giue me your pardon, 
 I haue fpoke this to know if your Affiance 
 Were deeply rooted, and fhall make your Lord, 
 
 865 
 
 That which he is, new o'ret And he is one 
 The trueft manner'd : fuch a holy Witch, 
 That he enchants Societies into him : 
 Halfe all men hearts are his. 
 
 Imo. You make amends. 
 
 lacb. He fits 'mongft men, like a defended God; 
 He hath a kinde of Honor fets him off, 
 More then a mortall feeming. Be not angrie 
 (Moft mighty Princefie) that I haue aduentur'd 
 To try your taking of a falfe report, which hath 
 Honour'd with confirmation your great ludgement, 
 In the election of a Sir, fo rare, 
 
 Which you know, cannot erre. The loue I beare him, 
 Made me to fan you thus, but the Gods made you 
 (Vnlike all others) chaftelefle. Pray your pardon. 
 
 Imo. All's well Sir : 
 Take my powre i'th'Court for yours. 
 
 lacb. My humble thankes : I had almoft forgot 
 T'intreat your Grace, but in a fmall requeft, 
 And yet of moment too, for it concernes : 
 Your Lord, my felfe, and other Noble Friends 
 Are partners in the bufinefle. 
 
 Imo. Pray whatis't ? 
 
 lacb. Some dozen Romanes of vs, and your Lord 
 (The beft Feather of our wing) haue mingled fummes 
 To buy a Prefent for the Emperor : 
 Which I (the Factor for the reft) haue done 
 In France : 'tis Plate of rare deuice, and lewels 
 Of rich, and exquifite forme, their valewes great, 
 And 1 am fomething curious, being ftrange 
 To haue them in fafe ftowage : May it pleafe you 
 To take them in protection. 
 
 Imo. Willingly : 
 
 And pawne mine Honor for their fafety, fince 
 My Lord hath intereft in them, I will keepe them 
 In my Bed-chamber. 
 
 lacb. They are in a Trunke 
 Attended by my men : I will make bold 
 To fend them to you, onely for this night : 
 I muft aboord to morrow, 
 
 Imo. O no, no. 
 
 lach. Yes I befeech : or I fhall fhort my word 
 By length'ning my returne. From Gallia, 
 I croft the Seas on purpofe,and on promife 
 To fee your Grace. 
 
 Imo. I thanke you for your paines : 
 But not away to morrow. 
 
 lacb. O I muft Madam. 
 Therefore I fhall befeech you, if you pleafe 
 To greet your Lord with writing, doo't to night, 
 I haue out-ftood my time, which is materiall 
 To'th'tender of our Prefent. 
 
 Imo. I will write : 
 
 Send your Trunke to me, it fhall fafe be kept, 
 And truely yeelded you : you're very welcome. Exeunt. 
 
 Actus Secundus. Scena ^Prima. 
 
 Enter Clctten y ard the two Lords. 
 
 Clot, Was there euer man had fuch lucke ? when I kift 
 the lacke vpon an vp-caft, to be hit away ? I had a hun- 
 dred pound on't : and then a whorfon lacke-an-Apes, 
 
 muft
 
 37 6 
 
 The Tragedy of Cymbeline. 
 
 muft take me vp for fwearing, as if I borrowed mine 
 oathes of him, and might not Ipend them at my pleafure. 
 
 1. What got he by that ? you haue broke his pate 
 with .your Bowie. 
 
 2. If his wit had bin like him that broke it : it would 
 haue run all out. 
 
 Ckt. When a Gentleman is difpos'd to fweare: it is 
 not for any {landers by to curtail his oathes. Ha ? 
 
 2. No my Lord; nor crop the eares of them. 
 
 Clot. Whorfon dog : I gaue him fatisfaction ? would 
 he had bin one of my Ranke. 
 
 2. To haue fmell'd like a Foole. 
 
 Clot. I am not vext more at any thing in th' earth : a 
 pox on't. I had rather not be fo Noble as I am : they dare 
 not fight with me, becaufe of the Queene my Mo- 
 ther : euery lacke-Slaue hath his belly full of Fighting, 
 and I muft go vp and downe like a Cock, that no body 
 can match. 
 
 2. You are Cocke and Capon too, and you crow 
 Cock, with your combe on. 
 
 Clot. Sayeft thou f 
 
 2. It is not fit you Lordfhip fhould vndertake euery 
 Companion, that you giue offence too. 
 
 Clot. No, I know that : but it is [fit I ihould commit 
 offence to my inferiors. 
 
 2 I, it is fit for your Lordfhip onely. 
 
 Cot. Why fo I fay. 
 
 1. Did you heere of a Stranger that's come to Court 
 night ? 
 
 Clot. A Stranger, and I not know on't ? 
 
 2. He's a ftrange Fellow himfelfe, and knowes it not. 
 I. There's an Italian come, and 'tis thought one of 
 
 Leonatiu Friends. 
 
 Clot. Leonatiu ? A banifht Rafcall; and he's another, 
 whatfoeuer he be. Who told you of this Stranger ? 
 
 1. One of your Lordfhips Pages. 
 
 Clot. Is it fit I went to looke vpon him ? Is there no 
 de ogation in't? 
 
 2. You cannot derogate my Lord. 
 Clot. Not eafily I thinke. 
 
 2. You are a Foole graunted, therefore your IfTues 
 being foolifh do not derogate. 
 
 Clot. Come, He go fee this Italian : what I haue loft 
 to day at Bowles, He winne to night of him. Come :go. 
 
 2. He attend your Lordfhip. Exit. 
 
 That fuch a craftie Diuell as is his Mother 
 Should yeild the world this Afle : A woman, that 
 Beares all downe with her Braine, and this her Sonne, 
 Cannot take two from twenty for his heart, 
 Aud leaue eighteene. Alas poore PrincefTe, 
 Thou diuine Imogen, what thou endur'ft, 
 Betwixt a Father by thy Step-dame gouern'd, 
 A Mother hourely coyning plots : A Wooer, 
 More hatefull then the foule expulfion is 
 Of thy deere Husband. Then that horrid Aft 
 Of the diuorce, heel'd make the Heauens hold firme 
 The walls of thy deere Honour. Keepe vnfhak'd 
 That Temple thy faire mind, that thou maift ftand 
 T'enioy thy banifh'd Lord : and this great Land. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Imogen , in her 'Bed, and a Lady. 
 Into. Who's there ? My woman : Helene? 
 La. Pleafe you Madam. 
 Into. What houre is it ? 
 
 Lady. Almoft midnight, Madam. 
 
 Into. I haue read three houres then : 
 Mine eyes are weake, 
 
 Fold downe the leafe 1 where I haue left : to bed. 
 Take not away the Taper, leaue it burning : 
 And if thou canft a wake by foure o'th'clock, 
 I prythee call me : Sleepe hath ceiz'd me wholly. 
 To your protection I commend me, Gods, 
 From Fayries,and the Tempters of the night, 
 Guard me befeech yee. SIcffes. 
 
 lacbimofrom the Trun^c. 
 
 lacb. The Crickets fing,and mans ore-labor'd fenle 
 Repaires it felfe by reft : Our Tarquine thus 
 Did foftly prefle the Rufhes,ere he waken'd 
 The Chaftitie he wounded . Cytberea, 
 How brauely thou becom'ft thy Bed;r~refh Lilly, 
 And whiter then the Sheetes : that I might touch, 
 But kifTe, one kifTe. Rubies vnpnragon'd, 
 How deerely they doo't : 'Tis her breathing that 
 Perfumes the Chamber thus : the Flame o'th'Taper 
 Bowes toward her, and would vnder-peepe her lids. 
 To fee th'inclofed Lights, now Canopied 
 Vnder thefe windowes, White and Azure lac'd 
 With Blew of Heauens owne tindt. But my defigne. 
 To note the Chamber, I will write all downe, 
 Such, and fuch pictures : There the window, fuch 
 Th'adornement of her Bed; the Arras, Figures, 
 Why fuch, and fuch : and the Contents o'th'Story. 
 Ah, but fome naturall notes about her Body, 
 Aboue ten thoufand meaner Moueables 
 Would teftifie, t'enrich mine Inuentorie. 
 O fleepe, thou Ape of death, lye dull vpon her, 
 And be her Senfe but as a Monument, 
 Thus in a Chappell lying. Come off,come off; 
 As flippery as the Gordian-knot was hard. 
 'Tis mine, and this will witneffe outwardly, 
 As ftrongly as the Confcience do's within : 
 To'th'madding of her Lord. On her left breft 
 A mole Cinque-fpotted : Like the Crimfon drops 
 I' th'bottome of a Cowflippe. Heere's a Voucher, 
 Stronger then euer Law could make; this Secret 
 Will force him thinke I haue pick'd the lock, and t'ane 
 The treafure of her Honour. No more : to what end ? 
 Why fhould I write this downe, that's riueted, 
 Screw'd to my memorie. She hath bin reading late, 
 The Tale of Tcreui, heere the leaffe's turn'd downe 
 Where Pbilomele gaue vp. I haue enough, 
 To'thTruncke againe,and fhut the fpring of it. 
 Swift,fwift, you Dragons of the night, that dawning 
 May beare the Rauens eye : I lodge in feare, 
 Though this a heauenly Angell : hell is heere. 
 
 Cloche Jlri^es 
 One,two,three : time, time. Exit. 
 
 Scena Tertia. 
 
 Enter Clot ten , and Lords . 
 
 i. Your Lordfhip is the moft patient man in lofTe, the 
 moft coldeft that euer turn'd vp Ace. 
 
 Clot. It would make any man cold to loofe. 
 I. But not euery man patient after the noble temper 
 of your Lordfhip ; You are moft hot, and furious when 
 you winne. 
 
 C/cf.
 
 'The 'Tr age die of Cymbeline. 
 
 377 
 
 Winning will put any man into courage: if I could get 
 this foolifli Imogen, I fhould haue Gold enough : it's al- 
 moft morning, is't not ? 
 
 1 Day, my Lord. 
 
 Clot. I would this Muficke would come : I am adui- 
 fed to giue her Muficke a mornings, they fay it will pene- 
 trate. Enter Mufitians . 
 Come on, tune : If you can penetrate her with your fin- 
 gering, fo : wee'l try with tongue too : if none will do, let 
 her remaine : but He neuer giue o're. Firft, a very excel- 
 lent good conceyted thing; after a wonderful fweet aire, 
 with admirable rich words to it, and then let her confi- 
 der. 
 
 SONG. 
 Hearse, hearty, the Larlte at Heauens gate Jing j, 
 
 and Phoebus gins arife , 
 Hit Steeds to water at tboje Springs 
 
 on chalked Flovres that lyes: 
 
 And Tt>inl(ing <Mary-buds begin to ope their Golden eyes 
 With euery thing that pretty a, my Lady fweet arife : 
 j4rife , arife. 
 
 So, get you gone: if this pen trate, I will confider your 
 Muficke the better : if it do not, it is a voyce in her eares 
 which Horfe-haires, and Calues-guts, nor the voyce of 
 vnpaued Eunuch to boot, can neuer amed. 
 Enter Cymballne t and Queene . 
 
 2 Heere comes the King. 
 
 Clot. I am glad I was vp fo late, for that's the reafon 
 I was vp fo earely : he cannot choofe but take this Ser- 
 uice I haue done, fatherly. Good morrow to your Ma- 
 iefty, and to my gracious Mother. 
 
 Cym. Attend you here the doore of our ftern daughter 
 Will fhe not forth ? 
 
 Clot. I haue aflayl'd her with Mufickes, but fhe vouch- 
 fafes no notice. 
 
 Cym. The Exile of her Minion is too new, 
 She hath not yet forgot him, fome more time 
 Muft weare the print of his remembrance on't, 
 And then flic's yours. 
 
 S^u. You are moft bound to'th'King, 
 Who let's go by no vantages, that may 
 Preferre you to his daughter : Frame your felfe 
 To orderly felicity, and be friended 
 With aptnefle of the feafon : make denials 
 Encreafe your Seruices : fo feeme, as if 
 You were infpir'd to do thofe duties which 
 You tender to her : that you in all obey her, 
 Saue when command to your difmiflion tends, 
 And therein you are fenfelefTe. 
 
 Clot. Senfelefle ? Not fo. 
 
 Mef. So like you (Sir) Ambafladors from Rome; 
 The one is Qaita Lucius. 
 
 Cym. A worthy Fellow, 
 Albeit he comes on angry purpofe now ; 
 But that's no fault of his : we muft receyue him 
 According to the Honor of his Sender, 
 And towards himfelfe, his goodnefle fore-fpent on vs 
 We muft extend our notice : Our deere Sonne, 
 When you haue giuen good morning to your Miftris, 
 Attend the Queene, and vs, we fhall haue neede 
 T'employ you towards) this Romane. 
 Come our Queene. "Exeunt . 
 
 Clot. If fhe be vp, He fpeake with her : if not 
 Let her lye ftill, and dreame : by your leaue hoa, 
 I know her women are about her : what 
 
 867 
 
 If I do line one of their hands, 'tis Gold 
 Which buyes admittance (oft it doth) yea, and makes 
 Diana's Rangers fall'e themfelues, yeeld vp 
 Their Deere to'th'ftand o'th'Stealer : and 'tis Gold 
 Which makes the True-man kill'd,and faues the Theefe: 
 Nay,fometime hangs both Theefe, and True-man : what 
 Can it not do, and vndoo? I will make 
 One of her women Lawyer to me, for 
 I yet not vnderftand the cafe my felfe. 
 By your leaue. Knocks. 
 
 Enter a Lady. 
 
 La. Who's there that knockes ? 
 
 Clot. A Gentleman. 
 
 La. No more. 
 
 Clot, Yes, and a Gentlewomans Sonne. 
 
 La. That's more 
 
 Then fome whofe Taylors are as deere as yours, 
 Can iuftly boaft of: what's your Lordfliips pleafure ? 
 
 Clot. Your Ladies perfon, is fhe ready? 
 
 La. I, to v keepe her Chamber. 
 
 Clot. There is Gold for you, 
 Sell me your good report. 
 
 La. How, my good name ? or to report of you 
 What I fhall thinke is good. The Princefle. 
 
 Enter Imogen. 
 
 Clot. Good morrow faireft, Sifter your fweet hand. 
 
 Imo. Good morrow Sir, you lay out too much paines 
 For purchafing but trouble : the thankes I giue, 
 Is tellirrg you that I am poore of thankes, 
 And fcarfe can fpare them. 
 
 Clot. Still I fweare I loue you. 
 
 Imo. If you but laid fo, 'twere as deepe with me : 
 If you fweare ftill, your recompence is ftill 
 That I regard it not. 
 
 Clot. This is no anfwer. 
 
 Imo, But that you fhall not fay, I yeeld being filent, 
 I would not fpeake. I pray you fpare me, 'faith 
 I fhall vnfold equall difcourtefie 
 To your beft kinduefie : one of your great knowing 
 Should learne (being taught) forbearance. 
 
 Clot. To leaue you in your madneffe, 'twere my fin, 
 I will not. 
 
 Imo. Fooies are not mad Folkes. 
 
 Clot. Do you call me Foole ? 
 
 Imo. As I am mad I do : 
 If you'l be patient, lie no more be mad, 
 That cures vs both. I am much forry (Sir) I 
 You put me to forget a Ladies manners 
 By being fo verball : and learne now, for all, 
 That I which know my heart, do heere pronounce 
 By th'very truth of it, I care not for you, 
 And am fb neere the lacke of Charitie 
 To accufe my felfe, I hate you : which I had rather 
 You felt, then make't my boaft. 
 
 Clot. You finne againft 
 Obedience, which you owe your Father, for 
 The Contract you pretend with that baie Wretch, 
 One, bred of Almes, and fofter'd with cold difhes, 
 With fcraps o'th'Court : It is no Contract, none j 
 And though it be allowed in meaner parties 
 ('Yet who then he more meane) to knit their foules 
 (On whom there is no more dependancie 
 But Brats and Beggery) in felfe-figur'd knot, 
 Yet you are curb'd from that enlargement, by 
 
 a a a The
 
 378 
 
 The Tragedy of Cymbellne. 
 
 The confequence o'th'Crowne, and muft not/oyle 
 The precious note of it; with a bafe Slaue, 
 AHilding for a Liuorie, a Squires Cloth, 
 A. Pander; not fo eminent. 
 
 Into. Prophane Fellow : 
 Wert thou the Sonne of Iuj>iter,and no more, 
 But what thou art betides : thou wer't too bafe, 
 To be his Groome : thou wer't dignified enough 
 Euen to the point of Enuie. If 'twere made 
 Comparatiue for your Vertues, to be ftil'd 
 The vnder Hangman of his Kingdome; and hated 
 For being prefer'd fo well. 
 
 Clot. The South-Fog rot him. 
 
 Imo. He neuer can meete more mifchance, then come 
 To be but nam'd of thee. His mean'ft Garment 
 That euer hath but dipt his body; is dearer 
 In my refpecl, then all the Heires aboue thee, 
 Were they all made fuch men : How now Pifanio ? 
 Enter Pijanio, 
 
 dot. His Garments? Now the diuell. 
 
 Imo. To Dorothy my woman hie thee prefently. 
 
 Clot. His Garment ? 
 
 Imo. I am fprighted with a Foole, 
 Frighted, and angred worfe : Go bid my woman 
 Search for a lewell, that too cafually 
 Hath left mine Arme : it was thy Mafters. Shrew me. 
 If I would loofe it for a Reuenew, 
 Of any Kings in Europe. I do think, 
 I faw't this morning : Confident I am. 
 Laft night 'twas on mine Arme; I kifs'd it, 
 I hope it be not gone, to tell my Lord 
 That I kifle aught but he. 
 
 Pif. 'Twill not be loft. 
 
 Imo. I hope fo : go and fearch. 
 
 Got. You haue abus'd me : 
 His meaneft Garment ? 
 
 Imo. 1,1 faid fo Sir, 
 If you will make't an Action, call witnefle to't. 
 
 Clot. I will enforme your Father. 
 
 Imo. Your Mother too : 
 
 She's my good Lady; and will concieue,! hope 
 But the worft of me. So I leaue your Sir, 
 To'th'worft of difcontent. Exit, 
 
 Clot. lie Jbereueng'd : < 
 His mean'ft Garment ? Well. Exit. 
 
 Scena Quarta. 
 
 Enter Poftbumta,and Pbilario. 
 
 Poft. Feare it not Sir : I would I were fo fure 
 To winne the King, as I am bold, her Honour 
 Will remaine her's. 
 
 Phil. What meanes do you make to him ? 
 
 Poft. Not any : but abide the change of Time, 
 Quake in the prefent winters ftate, and wifli 
 That warmer dayes would come : In thefe fear'd hope 
 I barely gratifie your loue; they faylingi 
 I muft die much your debtor. 
 
 Phil. Your very goodnefle, and your company, 
 Ore-payes all I can do. By this your King, 
 Hath heard of Great Auguftu : Calus Lucitu, 
 Will Jo's Commiflion throughly. And I think 
 
 Hee'le grant the Tribute : fend th'Arrerages, 
 
 Or looke vpon our Romaines, whofe remembrance 
 
 Is yet frefli in their griefe. 
 
 Poft. I do beleeue 
 
 (Statift though I am none, nor like to be) 
 That this will proue a Warre; and you fliall heare 
 The Legion now in Gallia, fooner landed 
 In our not-fearing-Britaine, then haue tydings 
 Of any penny Tribute paid. Our Countrymen 
 Are men more order'd, then when lulitu Co-far 
 Smil'd at their lacke of skill, but found their courage 
 Worthy his frowning at. Their difcipline, 
 (Now wing-led with their courages) will make knowne 
 To their Approuers, they are People, fuch 
 That'mend vpon the world. Enter lacbimo. 
 
 Phi. See lacbimo. 
 
 Poft. The fwifteft Harts, haue ported you by land; 
 And Windes of all the Corners kiis'd your Sailes, 
 To make your veflell nimble. 
 
 Phil. Welcome Sir. 
 
 Poft. I hope the briefenefle of your anfwere, made 
 The ipeedinefle of your returne. 
 
 lacbl. Your Lady, 
 Is one of the fayreft that I haue look'd vpon 
 
 Poft. And therewithall the beft, or let her beauty 
 Looke thorough a Cafement to allure falfe hearts, 
 And be falfe with them. 
 
 lacbi. Heere are Letters for you. 
 
 Poft. Their tenure good I truft. 
 
 lacb, 'Tis very like. 
 
 Poft. Was Cam Lucitu in the Britaine Court, 
 When you were there ? 
 
 lack. He was expected then, 
 But not approach'd. 
 
 Toft. All is well yet, 
 
 Sparkles this Stone as it was wont, or is't not 
 Too dull for your good wearing ? 
 
 lacb. If I haue loft it, 
 I fliould haue loft the worth of it in Gold, 
 lie make a iourney twice as farre, t'enioy 
 A fecond night of fuch fweet fhortneffe, which 
 Was mine in Britaine, for the Ring is wonne. 
 
 Poft. The Stones too hard to come by. 
 
 lacb. Not a whit, 
 Your Lady being fo eafy. 
 
 Toft. Make note Sir 
 
 Your loffe, your Sport : I hope you know that we 
 Muft not continue Friends. 
 
 lacb. Good Sir, we muft 
 If you keepe Couenant : had I not brought 
 The knowledge of your Miftris home, I grant 
 We were to queftion farther; but I now 
 Profeflemy felfe the winner of her Honor, 
 Together with your Ring ; and not the wronger 
 Of her, or you hauing proceeded but 
 By both your willes. 
 
 Poft. If you can mak't apparant 
 That yon haue tafted her in Bed; my hand, 
 And Ring is yours. If not, the foule opinion 
 You had ofher pure Honour; gaines,or loofes, 
 Your Sword, or mine, or Mafterleffe leaue both 
 To who fliall finde them. 
 
 lacbf Sir, my Circumftances 
 Being fo nere the Truth, as I will make them, 
 Muft firft induce you to beleeue; whofe ftrength 
 I will confirme wit h oath, which I doubt not 
 
 You'l 
 
 868
 
 'The Tr age die of Cymbel'me . 
 
 389 
 
 * u'J gi ue me leaue to fpare, when you fhall finde 
 Yo u neede it not. 
 
 Poft. Proceed. 
 
 lack. Firft, her Bed-chamber 
 (Where I confefle I flept not, but profefle 
 Had that was well worth watching) it was hang'd 
 With Tapiftry of Silke.and Siluer, the Story 
 Proud Cleopatra, when (he met her Roman, 
 And Sidnui fwell'd aboue the Bankes, or for 
 The preffe of Boates, or Pride. A peece of Worke 
 So brauely done, fo rich, that it did ftriue 
 In Workemanfliip, and Value, which I wonder'd 
 Could be fo rarely, and exactly wrought 
 Since the true life on't was 
 
 Poji. This is true : 
 
 And this you might haue heard of heere, by me, 
 Or by fome other. 
 
 lack. More particulars 
 Muft iuftifie my knowledge. 
 
 PC/}. So they muft, 
 Or doe your Honour iniury. 
 
 lack. The Chimney 
 
 Is South the Chamber, and the Chimney-peece 
 Chafte Dian, bathing : neuer faw I figures 
 So likely to report themfelues 5 the Cutter 
 Was as another Nature dumbe, out-went her, 
 Motion, and Breath left out. 
 
 Poft. This is a thing 
 
 Which you might from Relation likewife reape, 
 Being, as it is, much fpoke of. 
 
 lack. The Roofe o'th'Chamber, 
 With golden Cherubins is fretted. Her Andirons 
 (I had forgot them) were two winking Cupids 
 Of Siluer, each on one foote (landing, nicely 
 Depending on their Brands. 
 Poft. This is her Honor : 
 
 Let it be granted you haue feene all this (and praife 
 Be giuen to your remembrance) the defcription 
 Of what is in her Chamber, nothing faues 
 The wager you haue laid. 
 lack. Then if you can 
 
 Be pale, I begge but leaue to ayre this lewell : See, 
 And now 'tis vp againe : it muft be married 
 To that your Diamond, lie keepe them. 
 
 Poft. loue 
 
 Once more let me behold it : Is it that 
 Which I left with her ? 
 
 lack. Sir(I thanke her) that 
 She ftript it from her Arme : I fee her yet : 
 Her pretty Action, did out-fell her guift, 
 And yet enrich'd it too : (he gaue it me, 
 And faid, (he priz'd it once. 
 
 Poft. May be, (he pluck'd it off 
 To fend it me. 
 
 lack. She writes fo to you ? doth fhee ? 
 
 Poft. O no, no, no, 'tis true. Heere, take this too, 
 It is a Bafiliske vnto mine eye, 
 Killes me to looke on't : Let there be no Honor, 
 Where there is Beauty : Truth, where femblance : Lode, 
 Where there's another man. The Vowes of Women, 
 Of no more bondage be, to where they are made, 
 Then they are to their Vertues, which is nothing : 
 O, aboue meafure fal(e. 
 
 Phi/. Haue patience Sir, 
 
 And take your Ring againe, 'tis not yet wonne : 
 It may be probable (he loft it : or 
 
 Who knowes if one her women, being corrupted 
 Hath ftolne it from her. 
 
 Poft. Very true, 
 
 And fo I hope he came by't : backe my Ring, 
 Render to me fome corporall figne about her 
 More euident then this : for this was ftolne. 
 
 lack. By lupiter, I had it from her Arme. 
 
 Poft. Hearke you, he fweares : by lupiter he fweares. 
 'Tis true, nay keepe the Ring ; 'tis true : I am fure 
 She would not loofe it : her Attendants are 
 All fworne, and honourable : they induc'd to fteale it? 
 And by a Stranger ? No, he hath enioy'd her, 
 The Cognifance of her incontinencie 
 Is this : Ihe hath bought the name of Whore, thus deerly 
 There, take thy hyre, and all the Fiends of Hell 
 Diuide themfelues betweene you. 
 
 Phil. Sir, be patient: 
 This is not ftrong enough to be beleeu'd 
 Of one perfwaded well of. 
 
 Poft. Neuer talke on't : 
 She hath bin colted by him. 
 
 lack. If you feeke 
 
 For further fatisfying, vnder her Bread 
 (Worthy her prefling) lyes a Mole, right proud 
 Of that moft delicate Lodging. By my life 
 I kift it, and it gaue me prefent hunger 
 To feede againe, though full. You do remember 
 This ftaine vpon her ? 
 
 Pojt. I, and it doth confirme 
 Another ftaine, as bigge as Hell can hold, 
 Were there no more but it. 
 
 lack. Will you heare more ? 
 
 Poft. Spare your Arethmaticke, 
 Neuer count the Turnes : Once, and a Million. 
 
 lacb. He be fworne. 
 
 Poft. No fwearing : 
 
 If you will fweare you haue not done't, you lye, 
 And I will kill thee, if thou do'ft deny 
 Thou'ft made me Cuckold. 
 
 lacb. lie deny nothing. 
 
 Poft. O that I had her heere^ to teare her Limb-meale: 
 I will go there and doo't, i'th'Court, before 
 Her Father. He do fomething. Exit. 
 
 Phil. Qujte befides 
 
 The gouernment of Patience. You haue wonne : 
 Let's follow him, and peruert the prefent wrath 
 He hath againft himfelfe. 
 
 lacb. With all my heart. Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Poftbumtu. 
 
 Poft. Is there no way for Men to be, but Women 
 Muft be halfe-workers ? We are all Baftards, 
 And that moft venerable man, which I 
 Did call my Father, was, I know not where 
 When I was ftampt. Some Coyner with his Tooles 
 Made me a counterfeit : yet my Mother feem'd 
 The Dian of that time : fo doth my Wife 
 The Non-pareill of this. Oh Vengeance, Vengeance ! 
 Me of my lawfull pleafure (he reftrain'd, 
 And pray'd me oft forbearance : did it with 
 A pudencie fo Rofie, the fweet view on't . 
 Might well haue warm'd olde Saturne ; 
 That I thought her 
 
 As Chafte, as vn-Sunn'd Snow. Oh, all the Diuels ! 
 This yellow lacbimo in an houre, was't not ? 
 
 a a a 2 Or
 
 380 
 
 The Tragedy of Cymbeline. 
 
 Or leffe; at firft ? Perchance he fpoke not, but 
 
 Like a full Acorn'd Boare,a larmen on, 
 
 Cry'de oh, and mounted ; found no oppofition 
 
 But what he look'd for, fhould oppofe, and /he 
 
 Should from encounter guard. Could 1 finde out 
 
 The Womans part in me, for there's no motion 
 
 That tends to vice in man , but I affirme 
 
 It is the Womans part : be it Lying, note it, 
 
 The womans : Flattering, hers ; Deceiuing, hers : 
 
 Luft, and ranke thoughts, hers, hers : Reuenges hers : 
 
 Ambitions, Couetings, change of Prides, Difdaine, 
 
 Nice-longing, Slanders, Mutability ; 
 
 All Faults that name, nay, that Hell knowes, 
 
 Why hers, in part, or all : but rather all For euen to Vice 
 
 They are not conftant, but are changing ftill j 
 
 One Vice, but of a minute old, for one 
 
 Not halfe fo old as that. He write againft them, 
 
 Deteft them, curfe them : yet 'tis greater Skill 
 
 In a true Hate, to pray they haue their will : 
 
 The very Diuels cannot plague them better. Exit. 
 
 Actus Tertius. Scena ^Prima. 
 
 Enter In Sta t e , Cymbeline , Queene, Clotten, and Lords at 
 one doorc, and at another , Caiiu, LuciM , 
 and Attendants, 
 
 Cym. Now fay, what would Augufliu Ctefar with vs? 
 
 Luc. When lulnu Ceffar (whofe remembrance yet 
 Liues in mens eyes, and will to Eares and Tongues 
 Be Theame, and hearing euer) was in this Britain, 
 And Conquer'd it, Caffibulan thine Vnkle 
 (Famous in Ctffars prayfes, no whit lefle 
 Then in his Feats deferuinglt) for him, 
 And his Succeflion, granted Rome a Tribute, 
 Yeerely three thoufand pounds 5 which (by thee) lately 
 Is left vntender'd. 
 
 l%u. And to kill the meruaile, 
 Shall be fo euer. 
 
 Clot. There be many Ctffars, 
 Ere fuch another lu/iut : Britaine's a world 
 By it felfe, and we will nothing pay 
 For wearing our owne Nofes. 
 
 ^u. That opportunity 
 
 Which then they had to take from's, to refume 
 We haue againe. Remember Sir, my Liege, 
 The Kings your Anceftors, together with 
 The natural! brauery of your Ifle, which ftands 
 As Neptunes Parke, ribb'd, and pal'd in 
 With Oakes vnskaleable, and roaring Waters, 
 With Sands that will notbeare your Enemies Boates, 
 But fucke them vp to'th'Top-maft. A kinde of Conqueft 
 Ctffar made heere, but made not heere his bragge 
 Of Came, and Saw, and Ouer-came : with fhame 
 (The firft that euer touch'd him) he was carried 
 From off our Coaft, twice beaten : and his Shipping 
 (Poore ignorant Baubles) on our terrible Seas 
 Like Egge-fhels mpu'd vpon their Surges, crack'd 
 As eafily 'gainft our Rockes. For ioy whereof, 
 The fam'd CaJJibulan, who was once at point 
 (Oh giglet Fortune) to mafter Ctffars Sword, 
 Made Luds-Tovne with reioycing-Fires bright, 
 
 And Britaines ftrut with Courage. 
 
 Clot. Come, there's no more Tribute to be paid : our 
 Kingdome is ftronger then it was at that time : and (as I 
 faid) there is no mo fuch Ctffars, other of them may haue 
 crook'd Nofes, but to owe fuch ftraite Armes, none. 
 
 Cym. Son, let your Mother end. 
 
 Clot. We haue yet many among vs, can gripe as hard 
 as Caffibulan, I doe not fay I am one : but I haue a hand. 
 Why Tribute? Why fliould we pay Tribute ? If Ceefar 
 can hide the Sun from vs with a Blanket,or put the Moon 
 in his pocket, we will pay him Tribute for light: elfe Sir, 
 no more Tribute. pray you now. 
 
 Cym. You muft know, 
 Till the iniurious Romans, did extort 
 This Tribute from vs, we were free. Ctffars Ambition, 
 Which fwell'd fo much, that it did almoft ftretch 
 The fides o'th' World, againft all colour heere, 
 Did put the yoake vpon'sj which to /hake off 
 Becomes a warlike people, whom we reckon 
 Our felues to be, we do. Say then to Ctffar, 
 Our Anceftor was that Mulmutttu, which 
 Ordain'd our Lawes, whofe vfe the Sword of Ctffar 
 Hath too much mangled ; whofe repayre, and franchife, 
 Shall (by the power we hold) be our good deed, 
 Tho Rome be therfore angry . Mulmutiui made our lawes 
 Who was the firft of Britaine, which did put 
 His browes within a golden Crowne,and call'd 
 Himfelfe a King. 
 
 Luc . I am forry Cymbeline, 
 That I am to pronounce Auguftuf Qtffar 
 (Ctefar, that hath moe Kings his Seruants, then 
 Thy felfe Domefticke Officers) thine Enemy : 
 Receyue it from me then. Warre, and Confufion 
 In Ctffars name pronounce I 'gainft thee : Looke 
 For fury, not to be refifted. Thus defide, 
 I thanke thee for my felfe. 
 
 Cym. Thou art welcome di:ui, 
 Thy Ctffar Knighted me ; my youth I fpent 
 Much vnder him ; of him, I gather'd Honour, 
 Which he, to feeke of me againe, perforce, 
 Behooues me keepe at vtterance. I am perfedl, 
 That the Pannonians and Dalmatians, for 
 Their Liberties are now in Armes : a Prefident 
 Which not to reade, would /hew the Britaines cold : 
 So Ctefar fliall not finde them. 
 
 Luc. Let proofe fpeake. 
 
 Clot. His Maiefty biddes you welcome. Make pa- 
 ftime with vs, a day, or two, or longer : if you feek vs af- 
 terwards in other tearmes, you /hall finde vs in our Salt- 
 water-Girdle : if you beate vs out of it, it is yours : if you 
 fall in the aduenture, our Crowes /hall fare the better for 
 you : and there's an end. 
 
 Luc. So fir. 
 
 Cym. I know your Mafters pleafure, and he mine: 
 All the Remaine, is welcome. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Pifanio reading of a Letter. 
 Pif. How? of Adultery ? Wherefore write 
 What Monfters her accufe ? Leonatiu : 
 Oh Mafter, what a ftrange infeclion 
 
 you not 
 
 Is 
 
 870
 
 The T rage die of Cymbel'me. 
 
 Is falne into thy eare? What falfe Italian, 
 
 (As poyfonous tongu'd,as handed )hath preuail'd 
 
 On thy too ready hearing ? Difloyall ? No. 
 
 She's punifh'd for her Truth; and vndergoes 
 
 More Goddefle-like.then Wife-like; fuch Aflaults 
 
 As would take in fome Vertue. Oh my Mafter, 
 
 Thy mind to her, is now as lowe, as were 
 
 Thy Fortunes. How ? That I fhould murther her, 
 
 Vpon the Loue,and Truth, and Vowesjwhich I 
 
 Haue made to thy command ? I her ? Her blood ? 
 
 If it be fo,to do good feruice, neuer 
 
 Let me be counted feruiceable. How looke I, 
 
 That I fhould feeme to lacke humanity, 
 
 So much as this Fac~l comes to f Doo't:'The Letter. 
 
 That I baue fent her, by her otvne command, 
 
 Shall give tbee opportunitie. Oh damn'd paper, 
 
 Blacke as the Inke that's on thee : fenfelefle bauble, 
 
 Art thou a Foedarie for this Act; and look'ft 
 
 So Virgin-like without ? Loe here fhe comes. 
 
 Enter Imogen. 
 I am ignorant in what I am commanded. 
 
 Imo, How now Pifanio ? 
 
 Pif. Madam,heere is a Letter from my Lord. 
 
 Imo. Who, thy Lord ? That is my Lord Leonatui ? 
 Oh,learn'd indeed were that Aftronomer 
 That knew the Starres, as I his Characters, 
 Heel'd lay the Future open. You good Gods, 
 Let what is heere contain'd, rellifh of Loue, 
 Of my Lords health, of his content : yet not 
 That we two are afunder, let that grieue him; 
 Some griefes are medcinable,that is one of them, 
 For it doth phyficke Loue, of his content, 
 All but in that. Good Wax, thy leaue : bleft be 
 You Bees that make thefe Lockes of counfaile. Louers, 
 And men in dangerous Bondes pray not alike, 
 Though Forfey tours you caft in prifon,yet 
 You clafpe young Cupids Tables : good Newes Gods. 
 
 Ivftice, and your Fathers -wrath (Jhould be tafy me in bis 
 Domini on} could not be fo cruell to me, as you : (oh the dee- 
 reft of Creatures}rrould euen renew me with your eyes. Tafy 
 notice that I am in Cambria at Milford-Hauen : -what your 
 owne Loue,Ttill out of tbii aduife you, follow. So be tvijbes you 
 all bappineffe,tbat remaines lay all to bis Vow, and your encrea- 
 Jing in Loue. Leonatus Fofthumus . 
 
 Oh for a Horfe with wings : Hear'ft thou Pifanio ? 
 
 He is at Milford-Hauen : Read, and tell me 
 
 How farre 'tis thither. If one of meane affaires 
 
 May plod it in a weeke,why may not I 
 
 Glide thither in a day ? Then true Pifanio, 
 
 Who long'ft like me, to fee thy Lord; who long'ft 
 
 ( Oh let me bate)but not like me : yet long'ft 
 
 But in a fainter kinde. Oh not like me : 
 
 For mine's beyond, beyond : fay, and fpeake thicke 
 
 (Loues Counfailor fhould fill the bores of hearing, 
 
 To'th'fmothering of the Senfe)how farre it is 
 
 To this fame blefTed Milford. And by'th'way 
 
 Tell me how Wales was made fo happy, as [ 
 
 T'inherite fuch a Hauen. But firft of all, 
 
 How weimay fteale from hence: and for the gap 
 
 That we fhall make in Time, from our hence-going, 
 
 And our returne, to excufe : but firft, how ger hence. 
 
 Why fhould excufe be borne or ere begot ? 
 
 Weele talke of thatheereafter. Prythee fpeake, 
 
 How many ftore of Miles may we well rid 
 
 871 
 
 Twixt houre, and houre ? 
 
 Pif. One fcore'twixt Sun, and Sun, 
 Madam's enough for you : and too much too. 
 
 Imo. Why, one that rode to's Excution Man, 
 Could neuer go fo flow . I haue heard of Riding wagers, 
 Where Horfes haue bin nimbler then the Sands 
 That run i'th'Clocks behalfe. But this is Foolrie, 
 Go, bid my Woman faigne a Sickne(Te,fay 
 She'le home to her Father ; and prouide me prefently 
 A Riding Suit : No coftlier then would fit 
 A Franklins Hufwife. 
 
 fifa. Madam, you're beft confider. 
 
 Imo. I fee before me( Man) nor heere, not heere; 
 Nor what enfues but haue a Fog in them 
 That I cannot looke through. Away, I prythee, 
 Do as I bid thee : There's no more to fay: 
 Acceflible is none but Milford way. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Tertia. 
 
 Enter f Belar ius , Guideriui , and Aruirag us. 
 
 Bel. A goodly day, not to keepe houfe with fuch, 
 Whofe Roofe's as lowe as ours : Sleepe Boyes,this gate 
 Inftrufts you how t'adore the Heauens; and bowes you 
 To a mornings holy office. The Gates of Monarches 
 Are Arch'd fo high, that Giants may iet through 
 And keepe their impious Turbonds on, without 
 Good morrow to the Sun. Haile thou faire Heauen, 
 We houfe i'th'Rocke,yet vfe thee not fo hardly 
 As prouder liuers do. 
 
 Guid. Haile Heauen. 
 
 Aruir. Haile Heauen. 
 
 Bela. Now for our Mountaine fport, vp to yond hill 
 Your legges are yong : He tread thefe Flats. Confider, 
 When you aboue perceiue me like a Crow, 
 That it is Place, which lefTen's,and fets oft, 
 And you may then reuolue what Tales, I haue told you, 
 Of Courts, of Princes; of the Tricks in Warre. 
 This Seruice,is notSeruice; fo being done, 
 But being fo allowed. To apprehend thus, 
 Drawes vs a profit from all things we fee : 
 And often to our comfort, fhall we finde 
 The fharded-Beetle,in a fafer hold 
 Then is the full-wing'd Eagle. Oh this life, 
 Is Nobler, then attending fora checke : 
 Richer, then doing nothing for a Babe: 
 Prouder, then ruftling in vnpayd-for Silke : 
 Such gaine the Cap of him, that makes him fine, 
 Yet keepes his Booke vncros'd : no life to ours. 
 
 Gw'.Out of your proofe you fpeak:we poore vnfledg'd 
 Haue neuer wing'd from view o'th'neft; nor knowes not 
 What Ayre's from home. Hap'ly this life is beft, 
 (If quiet life be beft)fweeter to you 
 That haue a /harper knowne. Well correfponding 
 With your ftiffe Age; but vnto vs,it is 
 A Cell of Ignorance : trauailing a bed, 
 A Prifon,or a Uebtor,that not dares 
 To ftride a limit. 
 
 Arui. What fhould we fpeake of 
 When we are old as you ? When we fhall heare 
 The Raine and winde beate darke December? How 
 In this our pinching Caue, fhall we difcourfe 
 
 a a a 3 The
 
 382 
 
 The Tragedy of Cymbeline. 
 
 *he freezing houres away ? We haue feene nothing : 
 We are beaftly; fubtle as the Fox for prey, 
 Like warlike as the Wolfe, for what we eate : 
 Our Valour is to chace what flyes : Our Cage 
 We make a Quire, as doth the prifon'd Bird, 
 And fing our Bondage freely . 
 
 Bel. How you fpeake. 
 Did you but know the Citties Vfuries, 
 And felt them knowingly : the Art o'th'Court, 
 As hard to leaue, as keepe : whofe top to climbe 
 Is certaine falling : or fo flipp'ry, that 
 The feare's as bad as falling. The toyle o'th'Warre, 
 A paine that onely feemes to feeke out danger 
 I'th'name of Fame, and Honor, which dyes i'th'fearch, 
 And hath as oft a fland'rous Epitaph, 
 As Record of faire Adi. Nay, many times 1 
 Doth ill deferue, by doing well : what's worfe 
 Mnft curt'fie at the Cenfure. Oh Boyes, this Stone 
 The World may reade in me : My bodie's mark'd 
 With Roman Swords ; and my report, was once 
 Firft, with the beft of Note. Qymbeline lou'd me, 
 And when a Souldier was the Theame, my name 
 Was not farre off: then was I as a Tree 
 Whofe boughes did bend with fruit. -But in one night, 
 A Storme, or Robbery (call it what you will) 
 Shooke downe my mellow hangings : nay my Leaues, 
 And left me bare to weather. 
 
 Gut. Vncertaine fauour. 
 
 'Bel. My fault being nothing (as I haue told you oft) 
 But that two Villaines, whofe falfe Oathes preuayl'd 
 Before my perfect Honor, fwore to Cymbeline, 
 I was Confederate with the Romanes : fo 
 Followed my Banifhment, and this twenty yeeres, 
 This Rocke, and thefe Demefnes, haue bene my World, 
 Where I haue liu'd at honeft freedome, payed 
 More pious debts to Heauen, then in all 
 The fore-end of my time. But, vp to'th'Mountaines, 
 This is not Hunters Language ; he that ftrikes 
 The Venifon firft, fhall be the Lord o'th'Feaft, 
 To him the other two fliall minitter, 
 And we will feare no poyfon, which attends 
 In place of greater State : 
 
 He meete you in the Valleyes. Sxeunt. 
 
 How hard it is to hide the fparkes of Nature ? 
 Thefe Boyes know little they are Sonnes to'th'King, 
 Nor Cymbeline dreames that they are aliue. 
 They thinke they are mine, 
 And though train'd vp thus meanely 
 I'th'Caue, whereon the Bowe their thoughts do hit, 
 The Roofes of Palaces, and Nature prompts them 
 In fimple and lowe things, to Prince it, much 
 Beyond the tricke of others. This Paladour, 
 The heyre of Cymbeline and Britaine, who 
 The King his Father call'd Guideritu . loue, 
 When on my three-foot ftoole I fit, and tell 
 The warlike feats I haue done, his fpirits flye out 
 Into my Story : fay thus mine Enemy fell, 
 And thus I fet my foote on's necke, euen then 
 The Princely blood flowes in his Cheeke, he fweats, 
 Straines his yong Nerues, and puts himfelfe in pofture 
 That acts my words. The yonger Brother Cadvall, 
 Once AruiragM, in as like a figure 
 Strikes life into my fpeech, and fhewes much more 
 His owne conceyuing. Hearke, the Game is rows'd, 
 Oh Cymbeline, Heauen and my Confcience knowes 
 Thou didd'ft vniuftly banifh me : whereon 
 
 At three, and two yeeres old, I ftole thefe Babes, 
 
 Thinking to barre thee of Succefiion, as 
 
 Thou refts me of my Lands. Euripbile, 
 
 Thou was't their Nurfe, they took thee for their mother, 
 
 And euery day do honor to her graue : 
 
 My felfe Be/arius, that am Mergan call'd 
 
 They take for Naturall Father. The Game is vp. Exit. 
 
 Seen a Quart a. 
 
 Enter Pijanio and Imogen. 
 
 Imo. Thou told'ft me when we came fro horfe, y place 
 Was neere at hand : Ne're long'd my Mother fo 
 To fee me firft, as I haue now . Pifanio, Man : 
 Where is Poftbumui ? What is in thy mind 
 That makes thee ftare thus ? Wherefore breaks that figh 
 From th'inward of thee? One, but painted thus 
 Would be interpreted a thing perplex'd 
 Beyond felfe-explication. Put thy felfe 
 Into a hauiour of lefle feare, ere wildnefle 
 Vanquish my ftayder Senfes. What's the matter? 
 Why tender'ft thou that Paper to me, with 
 A looke vntender? Ift be Summer Newes 
 Smile too't before : if Winterly, thou need'ft 
 But keepe that count'nance ftil. My Husbands hand ? 
 That Drug-damn'd Italy, hath out-craftied him, 
 And hee's at fome hard point. Speake man, thy Tongue 
 May take off fome extreamitie, which to reade 
 Would be euen mortall to me. 
 
 Pif. Pleafe you reade, 
 
 And you fhall finde me (wretched man) a thing 
 The moft difdain'd of Fortune. 
 
 Imogen r cades. 
 
 THy <^Miftrii ( Pifanio) bath plaide the Strumpet in my 
 'Bed : the Tejlimonies whereof, lyes bleeding in me . I Jpeai(_ 
 notoutoftfeal^eSurmifes, but from proof e O6 ftrong as my 
 greefe, and 06 certaine 06 I expefi my Reuenge. That part, thou 
 ( Pijanio ) muft affefor me, if thy Faith be not tainted tvitb the 
 breach of hers ; let thine mvne bands takeaway her life : I jhall 
 giue thee opportunity at Milford Hauen. She hath my Letter 
 for the purpofe ; where, if thou feare toftri^e, and to mal^e met 
 certaine it is done, thou art the Pander to her dijijonour, and 
 equally to me diJloyalL 
 
 Pif. What /hall I need to draw my Sword, the Paper 
 Hath cut her throat alreadie? No, 'tis Slander, 
 Whofe edge is fharper then the Sword, whofe tongue 
 Out-venomes all the Wormes of Nyle, whofe breath 
 Rides on the pofting windes, and doth belye 
 All corners of the World. Kings, Qjjeenes, and States, 
 Maides, Matrons, nay the Secrets of the Graue 
 This viperous flander enters. What cheere, Madam ? 
 
 Imo. Falfe to his Bed ? What is it to be falfe V 
 To lye in watch there, and to thinke on him? 
 To weepe 'twixt clock and clock?If fleep charge Nature, 
 To breake it with a fearfull dreame of him, 
 And cry my felfe awake ? That's falfe to's bed ? Is it ? 
 
 Pifa. Alas good Lady. 
 
 Imo. I falfe ? Thy Confcience witnefle :Iacbimo, 
 Thou didd'ft accufe him of Incontinencie, 
 Thou then look'dft like a Villaine : now, me thinkes 
 
 Thy 
 __
 
 'T/je Tragedie of Cymbehne. 
 
 383 
 
 Thy fauours good enough. Some lay of Italy 
 
 ( Whofe mother was her painting) hath betraid him : 
 
 Poore I am ftale, a Garment out of fafhion, 
 
 And for I am richer then to hang by th'walles, 
 
 I muft be ript : To peeces with me : Oh ! 
 
 Mens Vowes are womens Traitors. All good feeming 
 
 By thy reuolt(oh Husband) fhall be thought 
 
 Put on for Villainy ; not borne where't growes, 
 
 But worne a Baite for Ladies. 
 
 Pifa. Good Madam, heare me. 
 
 Into. True honeft men being heard, like falfe csfZneat, 
 Were in his time thought falfe : and Synons weeping 
 Did fcandall many a holy teare : tooke pitty 
 From mod true wretched nefle. So thou, Poftbumiu 
 Wilt lay the Leauen on all proper men ; 
 Goodly, and gallant, fhall be falfe and periur'd 
 From thy great faile : Come Fellow, be thou honeft, 
 Do thou thy Mafters bidding. When thou feeft him, 
 A little witnefie my obedience. Looke 
 I draw the Sword my felfe, take it, and hit 
 The innocent Manfion of my Loue (my Heart:) 
 Feare not, 'tis empty of all things, but Greefe : 
 Thy Matter is not there, who was indeede 
 The riches of it. Do his bidding, ftrike, 
 Thou mayft be valiant in a better caufe j 
 But now thou feem'ft a Coward. 
 
 Pif. Hence vile Inftrument, 
 Thou fhalt not damne my hand. 
 
 Imo. Why, I muft dye : 
 And if I do not by thy hand, thou art 
 No Seruant of thy Mafters. Againft Selfe-flaughter, 
 There is a prohibition fo Diuine, 
 
 That crauens my weake hand : Come, heere's my heart : 
 Something's a-foot : Soft, foft, wee'l no defence, 
 Obedient as the Scabbard. What is heere, 
 The Scriptures of the Loyall Leenatuf, 
 All turn'd to Herefie ? Away, away 
 Corrupters of my Faith, you fhall no more 
 Be Stomachers to my heart : thus may poore Fooles 
 Beleeue falfe Teachers : Though thofe that are betraid 
 Do feele the Treafon fharpely, yet the Traitor 
 Stands in worfe cafe of woe. And thou Poftbumw, 
 That didd'ft fet vp my difobedience 'gainft the King 
 My Father, and makes me put into contempt the fuites 
 Of Princely Fellowes, fhalt heereafter finde 
 It is no adte of common paflage, but 
 A ftraine of Rareneffe: and I greeue my felfe, 
 To thinke, when thou /halt be difedg'd by her, 
 That now thou tyreft on, how thy memory 
 Will then be pang'd by me. Prythee difpatch, 
 The Lambe entreats the Butcher. Wher's thy knife? 
 Thou art too flow to do thy Mafters bidding 
 When I defire it too. 
 
 Pif. Oh gracious Lady : 
 
 Since I receiu'd command to do this bufinefTe, 
 I haue not flept one winke. 
 
 Into. Doo't, and to bed then. 
 
 Pif. He wake mine eye-balles firft. 
 
 Imo. Wherefore then 
 
 Didd'ft vndertake it? Why haft thou abus'd 
 So many Miles, with a pretence ? This place ? 
 Mine Action ? and thine owne^Our Horfes labour? 
 The Time inuiting thee? The perturb'd Court 
 For my being abfent ? whereunto I neuer 
 Purpofe returne. Why haft thou gone fo farre 
 To be vn-bent ? when thou haft'tane thy ftand, 
 
 Th'eleded Deere before thee ? 
 
 Pif. But to win time 
 
 To loofe fo bad employment, in the which 
 I haue confider'd of a courfe: good Ladie 
 Heare me with patience. 
 
 Imo. Talke thy tongue weary, fpeake : . 
 
 I haue heard I am a Strumpet, and mine eare 
 Therein falfe ftrooke, can take no greater wound, 
 Nor tent, to bottome that. But fpeake. 
 
 Pif. Then Madam, 
 I thought you would not backe againe. 
 
 Imo. Moft like, 
 Bringing me heere to kill me. 
 
 Pif. Not fo neither : 
 But if I were as wife, as honeft, then 
 My purpofe would proue well : it cannot be, 
 But that my Mafter is abus'd. Some Villaine, 
 I, and fingular in his Art, hath done you both 
 This curfed iniurie. 
 
 Imo. Some Roman Curtezan ? 
 
 Pifa. No, on my life : 
 
 He giue but notice you are dead, and fend him 
 Some bloody figne of it. For 'tis commanded 
 I fhould do fo : you /hall be mift at Court, 
 And that will well confirme it. 
 
 Imo. Why good Fellow, 
 
 What fhall I do the while ? Where bide ? How Hue ? 
 Or in my life, what comfort, when I am 
 Dead to my Husband ? 
 
 Pif. If you'l backe to'th'Court. 
 
 Imo. No Court, no Father, nor no more adoe 
 With that harfh, noble, fimple nothing: 
 That Clotten, whofe Loue-fuite hath bene to me 
 As fearefull as a Siege. 
 
 Pif. If not at Court, 
 Then not in Britaine muft you bide. 
 
 Imo. Where then? 
 
 Hath Britaine all the Sunne that fhines?Day? Night? 
 Are they not but in Britaine ? I'th'worlds Volume 
 Our Britaine feemes as of it, but not in't : 
 In a great Poole, a Swannes-neft, prythee thinke 
 There's liuers out of Britaine. 
 
 Pif. I am moft glad 
 
 You thinke of other place : Th'AmbafTador, 
 Luc'iM the Romane comes to Milford-Hauen 
 Tomorrow, Now, if you could weare a minde 
 Darke, as your Fortune is, and but difguife 
 That which t'appeareit felfe, muft not yet be, 
 But by felfe-danger, you fhould tread a courfe 
 Pretty, and full of view: yea, happily, neere 
 The refidence of Poftbumus 5 fo nie ( at leaft) 
 That though his Actions were not vifibie, yet 
 Report fhould render him hourely to your eare, 
 As truely as he mooues. 
 
 Imo. Oh for fuch meanes, 
 Though perill to my modeftie, not death on't 
 I would aduenture. 
 
 Pif. Well then, heere's the point : 
 You muft forget to be a Woman : change 
 Command, into obedience. Feare, and NicenefTe 
 (The Handmaides of all Women, or more truely 
 Woman it pretty felfe) into a waggifh courage, 
 Ready in gybes, quicke-anfwer'd, fawcie,and 
 As quarrellous as the Weazell : Nay, you muft 
 Forget that rareft Treafure of your Cheeke, 
 Expofing it (but oh the harder heart, 
 
 Alacke
 
 384 
 
 'The Tragedy of Cymbeline. 
 
 Alacke no remedy ) to the greedy touch 
 Of common-kifiing Titan: and forget 
 Your labourfome and dainty Trimmcs, wherein 
 You made great Juno angry. 
 
 Into. Nay be breefe ? 
 I fee into thy end, and am almoft 
 A man already. 
 
 Pif. Firft, make your felfe but like one, 
 Fore-thinking this. I haue already fit 
 ("Tis in my Cloake-bagge) Doublet,Hat,Hofe,all 
 That anfwer to them : Would you in their fcruing, 
 (And with what imitation you can borrow 
 From youth of fuch a feafon) 'fore Noble Lucius 
 Prefent your felfe, defire his feruice : tell him 
 Wherein you're happy ; which will make him know, 
 If that his head haue eare in Muficke, doubtlefle 
 With ioy he will imbrace you : for hee's Honourable, 
 And doubling that, moft holy. Your meanes abroad : 
 You haue me rich, and I will neuer faile 
 Beginning, nor fupplyment. 
 
 Into. Thou art all the comfort 
 The Gods will diet me with. Prythee away, 
 There's more to be confider'd : but wee'l euen 
 All tlm good time will giue vs. This attempt, 
 I am Souldier too, and will abide it with 
 A Princes Courage. Away, I prythee. 
 
 Pif. Well Madam, we muft take a fliort farewell, 
 Lead being mift, I be fufpefted of 
 Your carriage from the Court. My Noble Miftris, 
 Heere is a boxe, I had it from the Queene, 
 What's in't is precious : If you are ficke at Sea, 
 Or Stomacke-qualm'd at Land, a Dramme of this 
 Will driue away diftemper. To fome /hade, 
 And fit you to your Manhood : may the Gods 
 Direft you to the beft. 
 
 Into. Amen : I thanke thee. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Quinta. 
 
 Enter Cymbeline, Queene, do ten, Luciut, 
 and Lords. 
 
 Cym. Thus farre.and fo farewell. 
 
 Luc. Thankes, Royall Sir : 
 My Emperor hath wrote, I muft from hence, 
 And am right forry, that I muft report ye 
 My Mafters Enemy. 
 
 Cym. Our Subiedts (Sir) 
 Will not endure his yoake ; and for our felfe 
 To fliew leffe Soueraignty then they, muft needs 
 Appeare vn-Kinglike. 
 
 Luc. So Sir : I defire of you 
 A Conduct ouer Land, to Milford-Hauen. 
 Madam, all ioy befall your Grace, and you. 
 
 Cym. My Lords, you are appointed for that Office : 
 The due of Honor, in no point omit : 
 So farewell Noble Lucitu. 
 
 Luc. Your hand, my Lord. 
 
 Clot. Receiue it friendly : but from this time forth 
 I weare it as your Enemy. 
 
 Luc. Sir, the Euent 
 Is yet to name the winner. Fare you well. 
 
 Cym. Leaue not the worthy Lucitu, good my Lords 
 Till he haue croft the Seuern. Happines. Exit Luclw,&c 
 
 Q. He goes hence frowning : but it honours vs 
 That we haue giuen him caufe. 
 
 Clot. 'Tis all the better, 
 Your valiant Britaines haue their wi flies in it. 
 
 Cym. Lucius hath wrote already to the Emperor 
 How it goes heere. It fits vs therefore ripely 
 Our Chariots, and our Horfemen be in readinefle : 
 The Powres that he already hath in Gallia 
 Will foone be drawne to head, from whence he moues 
 His warre for Britaine. 
 
 Qu. 'Tis not fleepy bufir.efie, 
 But muft be look'd too fpeedily,and ftrongly. 
 
 Cym. Our expectation that it would be thus 
 Hath made vs forward. But my gentle Queene, 
 Where is our Daughter ? She hath not appear'd 
 Before the Roman, nor to vs hath tender'd 
 The duty of the day. She looke vs like 
 A thing more made of malice, then of duty, 
 We haue noted it. Call her before vs, for 
 We haue beene too flight in fufferance. 
 
 Qu. Royall Sir, 
 
 Since the exile of Pojlbumiu,mo&. retyr'd 
 Hath her life bin : the Cure whereof, my Lord, 
 'Tis time muft do. Befeech your Maiefty, 
 Forbeare fharpe fpeeches to her. Shee's a Lady 
 So tender of rebukes, that words are ftrokej, 
 And ftrokes death to her. 
 
 Enter a MeJ/enger. 
 
 Cym. Where is flie Sir ? How 
 Can her contempt be anfwer'd ? 
 
 Mef. Pleafe you Sir, 
 
 Her Chambers are all lock'd, and there's no anfwer 
 That will be giuen to'th'lowd of noife, we make. 
 
 Qu. My Lord, when laft I went to vifit her, 
 She pray'd me to excufe her keeping clofe, 
 Whereto conftrain'd by her infirmitie, 
 She (hould that dutie leaue vnpaide to you 
 Which dayly {he was bound to proffer : this 
 She wifli'd me to make knowne : but our great Court 
 Made me too blame in memory. 
 
 Cym. Her doores lock'd ? 
 
 Not feene of late? Grant Heauens, that which I 
 Feare , proue falfe. Exit. 
 
 Qu. Sonne, I fay, follow the King. 
 
 Clot. That man of hers, Tifanio, her old Seruant 
 I haue not feene thefe two dayes. Exit. 
 
 Qu. Go, looke after : 
 
 Pijanio, thou that ftand'ft fo for fijlbumtu, 
 He hath a Drugge of mine : I pray, his abfence 
 Proceed by fwallowing that. For he beleeues 
 It is a thing moft precious. But for her, 
 Where is flie gone ? Haply difpaire hath feiz'd her : 
 Or wing'd with feruourof her loue, flic's flowne 
 To her defir'd Pcjlbumui : gone flie is, 
 To death, or to diflionor, and my end 
 Can make good vfe of either. Shee being downe, 
 I haue the placing of the Brittifli Crowne. 
 
 Enter Cloten. 
 How now, my Sonne ? 
 
 Clot. "Tis certaine flie is fled : 
 Go in and cheere the King, he rages, none 
 Dare come about him. 
 
 Qu. All the better : may 
 This night fore-ftall him of the comming day. Exit Qu. 
 
 Clo. I loue, and hate her : for (he's Faire and Royall, 
 And that flie hath all courtly parts more exquifite 
 
 Then 
 
 " 874"
 
 The 'Tragedie of Cymbehne. 
 
 385 
 
 Then Lady, Ladies, Woman, from euery one 
 The beft fhe hath, and fhe of all compounded 
 Out-felles them all. I loue her therefore, but 
 Difdaining me, and throwing Fauours on 
 The low Poftbumtu, flanders fo her iudgement, 
 That what's elfe rare, is choak'd : and in that point 
 I will conclude to hate her, nay indeede, 
 
 To be reueng'd vpon her. For, when Fooles fhall 
 
 Enter Tifanio. 
 
 Who is heere? What, are you packing firrah ? 
 Come hither : Ah you precious Pandar, Villaine, 
 Where is thy Lady ? In a word, or elfe 
 Thou art ftraightway with the Fiends. 
 
 Pif. Oh, good my Lord. 
 
 Clo. Where is thy Lady ? Or, by Jupiter, 
 I will not aske againe. Clofe Villaine, 
 He haue this Secret from thy heart, or rip 
 Thy heart to finde it. Is fhe with Pofthumw ? 
 From whofe fo many waights of bafenefle, cannot 
 A dram of worth be drawne. 
 
 Pif. Alas, my Lord, 
 
 How can fhe be with him / When was fhe mifs'd ? 
 He is in Rome. 
 
 Clot . Where is fhe Sir ? Come neerer : 
 No farther halting : fatisfie me home, 
 What is become of her ? 
 
 Pif. Oh, my all-worthy Lord. 
 
 Clo. All-worthy Villaine, 
 Difcouer where thy Miftris is, at once, 
 At the next word : no more of worthy Lord : 
 Speake, or thy filence on the inftant, is 
 Thy condemnation, and thy death. 
 
 Pif. Then Sir : 
 
 This Paper is the hiftorie of my knowledge 
 Touching her flight. 
 
 Clo. Let's fee't : I will purfue her 
 Euen to Auguftiu Throne. 
 
 Pif. Or this, or perifh. 
 
 She's farre enough, and what he learnes by this, 
 May proue his trauell, not her danger. 
 
 Clo. Humh. 
 
 Tif. He write to my Lord fhe's dead : Oh Imogen, 
 Safe mayft thou wander, fafe returne agen. 
 
 Clot. Sirra, is this Letter true ? 
 
 fij. Sir, as I thinke. 
 
 Clot. It is Poftbumiu hand, I know't. Sirrah, if thou 
 would'ft not be a Villain, but do me true feruice: vnder- 
 go thofe Imployments wherin I mould haue caufe to vfe 
 thee with a ferious induftry, that is, what villainy foere I 
 bid thee do to performe it, directly and truely, I would 
 thinke thee an honeft man : thou fhould'ft neither want 
 my meanes for thy releefe, nor my voyce for thy prefer- 
 ment. 
 
 Pif. Well, my good Lord. 
 
 Clot. Wilt thou ferue mee ? For fince patiently and 
 conftantly thou haft ftucke to the bare Fortune of that 
 Begger Pojibumus, thou canft not in the courfe of grati- 
 tude, but be a diligent follower of mine. Wilt thou ferue 
 mee ? 
 
 Pif. Sir, I will. 
 
 Clo. Giue mee thy hand, heere's my purfe. Haft any 
 of thy late Matters Garments in thy pofiefiion ? 
 
 Pifan. I haue (my Lord) at my Lodging, the fame 
 Suite he wore, when he tooke leaue of my Ladie & Mi- 
 ftrefie. 
 
 Clo. The firft feruice thou doft mee, fetch that Suite 
 
 875 
 
 hither, let it be thy firft feruice, go. 
 
 Pif. I fhall my Lord. Exit. 
 
 Clo. Meet thee at Milford-Hauen : ( I forgot to aske 
 him one thing, He remember't anon: ) euen there, thou 
 villaine PoJIhumus will I kill thee. I would thefe Gar- 
 ments were come. She faide vpon a time ( the bitternefie 
 of it, I now belch from my heart) that fhee held the very 
 Garment of Poftkumut, in more refpedt, then my Noble 
 and naturall perfon ; together with the adornement of 
 my Qualities. With that Suite vpon my backe wil I ra- 
 uifh her : firft kill him, and in her eyes; there fhall fhe fee 
 my valour, which wil then be a torment to hir contempt. 
 He on the ground, my fpeech of infulment ended on his 
 dead bodie, and when my Luft hath dined (which, as I 
 fay, to vex her, I will execute in the Cloathes that fhe fo 
 prais'd :)to the Court He knock her backe, foot her home 
 againe. She hath defpis'd mee reioycingly, and He bee 
 merry in my Reuenge. 
 
 Enter Pifanio. 
 Be thofe the Garments? 
 
 Pif. I, my Noble Lord. 
 
 (flo. How long is't fince fhe went to Milford-Hauen ? 
 
 Pif. She can fcarfe be there yet. 
 
 Clo. Bring this Apparrell to my Chamber, that is 
 the fecond thing that I haue commanded thee. The third 
 is, that thou wilt be a voluntarie Mute to my defigne. Be 
 but dutious, and true preferment mail tender it felfe to 
 thee. My Reuenge is now at Milford, would I had wings 
 to follow it. Come, and be true. Sxit 
 
 Pif. Thou bid'ft me to my lofTe : for true to thee, 
 Were to proue falfe, which I will neuer bee 
 To him that is moft true. To Milford go, 
 And finde not her, whom thou purfueft. Flow, flow 
 You Heauenly bleflings on her : This Fooles fpeede 
 Be croft with flownefle ; Labour be his meede. Exit 
 
 Scena Sexta. 
 
 Enter Imogen alone. 
 
 Imo. I fee a mans life is a tedious one, 
 I haue tyr'd my felfe : and for two nights together 
 Haue made the ground my bed. I fhould be ficke, 
 But that my refolution helpes me : Milford, 
 When from the Mountaine top, Pifanio fhew'd thee, 
 Thou was't within a kenne. Oh loue, I thinke 
 Foundations flye the wretched : fuch I meane, 
 Where they fhould be releeu'd. Two Beggers told me, 
 I could not miffe my way. Will poore Folkes lye 
 That haue Afflictions on them, knowing 'tis 
 A punifhment, or Triall/ Yes; no wonder, 
 When Rich-ones fcarfe tell true. To lapfe in Fulneffe 
 Is forer, then to lye for Neede : and Falfhood 
 Is worfe in Kings, then Beggers. My deere Lord, 
 Thou art one o'th'falfe Ones : Now I thinke on thee, 
 My hunger's gone ; but euen before, I was 
 At point to finke, for Food. But what is this? 
 Heere is a path too't : 'tis fome fauage hold : 
 I were beft not call ; I dare not call : yet Famine 
 Ere cleane it o're-throw Nature, makes it valiant. 
 Plentie, and Peace breeds Cowards : Hardnefle euer 
 Of HardinefTe is Mother. Hoa? who's heere ? 
 If any thing that's ciuill, fpeake : if fauage, 
 
 Take,
 
 The Tragedy ofCymbeline. 
 
 Take, or lend. Hoa ? No anfwer? Then He enter. 
 Beft draw my Sword ; and it mine Enemy 
 But feare the Sword like me, hee'l fcarfely looke on't. 
 Such a Foe, good Heauens. Exit. 
 
 Scena Septima. 
 
 Enter 'Belariui, Guideriuf, and Aruiragus. 
 
 'Bel. You Tolidore haue prou'd beft Woodman, and 
 Are Mafter of the Feaft : Cadwall, and I 
 Will play the Cooke, and Seruant, 'tis our match : 
 The fweat of induftry would dry, and dye 
 But for the end it workes too. Come, our ftomackes 
 Will make what's homely, fauoury : Wearinefle 
 Can fnore vpon the Flint, when reftie Sloth 
 Findes the Downe-pillow hard. Now peace be heere, 
 Poore houfe, that keep'ft thy felfe. 
 
 Gut. I am throughly weary. 
 
 Arui. I am weake with toyle, yet ftrong in appetite. 
 GUI. There is cold meat i'th'Caue, we'l brouz on that 
 Whil'ft what we haue kill'd, be Cook'd. 
 
 Bel. Stay, come not in : 
 
 But that it eates our viclualles, I fliould thinke 
 Heere were a Faiery. 
 
 GUI. What's the matter, Sir ? 
 
 'Bel. By lupiter an Angell : or if not 
 An earthly Paragon. Behold Diuinenefle 
 No elder then a Boy. 
 
 Enter Imogen. 
 
 Into. Good mafters harme me not : 
 Before I enter'd heere, I call'd, and thought 
 To haue begg'd, or bought, what I haue took: good troth 
 I haue ftolne nought, nor would not, though I had found 
 Gold fttew'd i'th'Floore. Heere's mo.ney for my Meate, 
 I would haue left it on the Boord, fo foone 
 As I had made my Meale ; and parted 
 With Pray'rs for the Prouider. 
 
 GUI. Money ? Youth. 
 
 *Aru. All Gold and Siluer rather turne to durt, 
 As 'tis no better reckon'd, but of thofe 
 Who worfhip durty Gods. 
 
 Imo. I fee you're angry : 
 Know, if you kill me for my fault, I fhould 
 Haue dyed, had I not made it. 
 
 Bel. Whether bound ? 
 
 Imo. To Milford-Hauen. 
 
 'Bel. What's your name ? 
 
 Imo. Fidele Sir : I haue a Kinfman, who 
 Is bound for Italy ; he embark'd at Milford, 
 To whom being going, almoft fpent with hunger, 
 I am falne in this offence. 
 
 'Bel. Prythee (faire youth) 
 
 Thinke vs no Churles : nor meafure our good mindes 
 By this rude place we liue in. Well encounter'd, 
 'Tis almoft night, you mall haue better cheere 
 Ere you depart; and thankes to ftay, and eate it : 
 Boyes, bid him welcome. 
 
 Gut. Were you a woman, youth, 
 I mould woo hard, but be your Groome in honefty : 
 I bid for you, as I do buy. 
 
 Arui. He make't my Comfort 
 He is a man, He loue him as my Brother : 
 And fuch a welcome as I'ld giue to him 
 
 (After long abfence) fuch is yours. Moft welcome : 
 Be fprightly, for you fall 'mongft Friends. 
 
 Imo. 'Mongft Friends ? 
 If Brothers : would it had bin fo, that they 
 Had bin my Fathers Sonnes, then had my prize 
 Bin lefle, and fo more equall ballafting 
 To thee Pofthuiniu. 
 
 'Bel. He wrings at fome diftreffe. 
 
 GUI. Would I could tree't. 
 
 Arui. Or I, what ere it be, 
 What paine it coft, what danger : Gods ! 
 
 'Bel. Hearke Boyes. 
 
 Imo. Great men 
 
 That had a Court no bigger then this Caue, 
 That did attend themfelues, and had the vertue 
 Which their owne Confcience feal'd them : laying by 
 That nothing-guift of differing Multitudes 
 Could not out-peere thefe twaine. Pardon me Gods, 
 I'ld change my fexe to be Companion with them, 
 Since Leonatus falfe. 
 
 'Bel. It fliall be fo : 
 
 Boyes wee'l go drefle our Hunt. Faire youth come in ; 
 Difcourfe is heauy, fading : when we haue fupp'd 
 Wee'l mannerly demand thee of thy Story, 
 So farre as thou wilt fpeake it. 
 
 Gui. Pray draw neere. 
 
 Arui. The Night to'th'Owle, 
 And Morne to th'Larke lefle welcome. 
 
 Imo. Thankes Sir. 
 
 Arui. I pray draw neere. Exeunt, 
 
 Scena Otfaua. 
 
 Enter ttvo Roman Senators, and Tribunes. 
 
 !.&. This is the tenor of the Emperors Writ ; 
 That fince the common men are now in Aclion 
 'Gainft the Pannonians, and Dalmatians, 
 And that the Legions now in Gallia, are 
 Full weake to vndertake our Warres againft 
 The falne-ofFBritaines, that we do incite 
 The Gentry to this bulinefle. He creates 
 Luciui Pro-Confull : and to you the Tribunes 
 For this immediate Leuy, he commands 
 His ablblute CommhTion. Long liue Ctefar. 
 
 Tri. Is Luciui Generall of the Forces ? 
 
 z. Sen. I. 
 
 Tri. Remaining now in Gallia ? 
 
 I. Sen. With thofe Legions 
 Which I haue fpoke of, whereunto your leuie 
 Muft be fuppliant : the words of your Commiffion 
 Will tye you to the numbers, and the time 
 Of their difpatch. 
 
 Tri. We will difcharge our duty. Exeunt. 
 
 Quartus. Scena < -Prima. 
 
 Enter Clotten alone. 
 
 Clot I am neere to'th'place where they fliould meet, 
 if Pijanio haue mapp'd it truely. How fit his Garments 
 ferue me? Why fhould his Miftris who was made by him 
 
 that 
 
 876
 
 'The Tragedie of Cymbelme. 
 
 387 
 
 that made the Taylor, not be fit too? The rather (failing 
 reuerence of the Word ) for 'tis faide a Womans fitnefie 
 comes by fits : therein I muft play the Workman, I dare 
 fpeake it to my felfe, for it is not Vainglorie for a man, 
 and his Glafie, to confer in his owne Chamber; I meane, 
 the Lines of my body are as well drawne as his; no lefle 
 young, more ftrong, not beneath him in Fortunes, be- 
 yond him in the aduantage of the time, aboue him in 
 Birth, alike conuerfant in generall feruices, and more re- 
 markeable in fingle oppofitions ; yet this imperfeuerant 
 Thing loues him in my defpight. What Mortalitie is ? 
 PoftbumM, thy head (which now is growing vppon thy 
 fhoulders) fhall within this houre be off, thy Miftris in- 
 forced, thy Garments cut to peeces before thy face : and 
 all this done, fpurne her home to her Father, who may 
 (happily) be a little angry for my fo rough vfage: but my 
 Mother hauing power of his teftinefle, fhall turne all in- 
 to my commendations. My Horfe is tyed vp fate , out 
 Sword, and to a fore purpofe : Fortune put them into my 
 hand : This is the very defcription of their meeting place 
 and the Fellow dares not deceiue me. Sxit. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter 'Belaritu , Guideriui , Aruiragtu , and 
 Imogen from the Caue. 
 
 Bel. You are not well : Remaine heere in the Caue, 
 Wee'l come to you after Huntingw 
 
 Arui. Brother, ftay heere : 
 Are we not Brothers ? 
 
 Into. So man and man fhould be, 
 But Clay and Clay, differs in dignitie, 
 Whofe duft is both alike. I am very ficke, 
 
 Gul. Go you to Hunting, He abide with him. 
 
 Imo. So ficke I am not, yet I am not well : 
 But not fo Citizen a wanton, as 
 To feeme to dye, ere ficke : So pleafe you, leaue me, 
 Sticke to your lournall courfe : the breach of Cuftome, 
 Is breach of all. I am ill, but your being by me 
 Cannot amend me. Society, is no comfort 
 To one not fociable : I am not very ficke, 
 Since I can reafon of it : pray you truft me heere, 
 He rob none but my felfe, and let me dye 
 Stealing fo poorely. 
 
 Gul. I loue thee : I haue fpoke it, 
 How much the quantity, the waight as much, 
 As I do loue my Father. 
 
 'Bel. What? How? how ? 
 
 Arui. If it be finne to fay fo (Sir) I yoake mee 
 In my good Brothers fault : I know not why 
 I loue this youth, and I haue heard you fay, 
 Loue's reafon's, without reafon. The Beere at doore, 
 And a demand who is't fhall dye, Fid fay" 
 My Father, not this youth. 
 
 'Bel. Oh noble ftraine I 
 
 O worthinefle of Nature, breed of Greatnefle I 
 "Cowards father Cowards ,& Bafe things Syre Bace ; 
 "Nature hath Meale, and Bran ; Contempt, and Grace. 
 I'me not their Father, yet who this fhould bee, 
 Doth myracle it felfe, lou'd before mee. 
 'Tis the ninth houre o'th'Morne. 
 
 Arm. Brother, farewell. 
 
 77 
 
 Imo. I wifli ye fport. 
 tArui. You health. 
 
 -So pleafe you Sir. 
 
 Imo. Thefe are kinde Creatures. 
 Gods, what lyes I haue heard : 
 Our Courtiers fay, all's fauage, but at Court ; 
 Experience, oh thou difproou'ft Report. 
 Th'emperious Seas breeds Monfters ; for the Difh, 
 Poore Tributary Riuers, as fweet Fifh : 
 I am ficke ftill, heart-ficke; Pifanio, 
 He now tafte of thy Drugge. 
 
 Gui. I could not ftirre him : 
 He faid he was gentle, but vnfortunate; 
 Diflioneftly afflicted, but yet honeft. 
 
 Arui. Thus did he aufwer me : yet faid heereafter, 
 I might know more. 
 
 Bel. To'th'Field, to'th'Field : 
 Wee'l leaue you for this time, go in, and reft. 
 
 Arui. Wee'l not be long away. 
 
 Bel. Pray be not ficke, 
 For you muft be our Hufwife. 
 
 Imo. Well, or ill, 
 I am bound to you. Exit. 
 
 'Bel. And fhal't be euer. 
 
 This youth, how ere diftreft,appeares he hath had 
 Good Anceftors. 
 
 Arui. How Angell-like he fings ? 
 
 Gui. But his neate Cookerie ? 
 
 Arui. He cut our Rootes in Charradlers, 
 And fawc'ft our Brothes, as luno had bin ficke, 
 And he her Dieter. 
 
 Arui* Nobly he yoakes 
 A fmiling, with a figh ; as if the fighe 
 Was that it was, for not being fuch a Smile : 
 The Smile, mocking the Sigh, that it would flye 
 From fo diuine a Temple, to commix 
 With windes, that Saylors raile at, 
 
 GUI. I do note, 
 
 That greefe and patience rooted in them both, 
 Mingle their fpurres together. 
 
 Arui. Grow patient, 
 
 And let the ftinking-Elder (Greefe) vntwine 
 His perifliing roote, with the encreafing Vine. 
 
 Bel. It is great morning. Come away : Who's there? 
 Enter Cloten. 
 
 do. I cannot finde thofe Runnagates, that Villaine 
 Hath mock'd me. I am faint. 
 
 Bel. Thofe Runnagates ? 
 Meanes he not vs? I partly know him, 'tis" 
 Cloten, the Sonne o'th'Qu_eene. I feare fome Ambufh : 
 I faw him not thefe many yeares, and yet 
 I know 'tis he : We are held as Out-Lawes : Hence. 
 
 Gui. He is but one : you, and my Brother fearch 
 What Companies are neere : pray you away, 
 Let me alone with him. 
 
 Clot. Soft, what are you 
 
 That flye me thus? Some villaine-Mountainers? 
 I haue heard of fuch. What Slaue art thou.* 1 
 
 Gui. A thing! 
 
 More flauifh did I ne're, then anfwering 
 A Slaue without a knocke. 
 
 Clot. Thou art a Robber, 
 A Law-breaker, a Villaine : yeeld thee Theefe. 
 
 Gui. To who? to thee ? What art thou ? Haue not I 
 An arme as bigge as thine ? A heart, as bigge : 
 Thy words I grant are bigger : for I weare not 
 My Dagger in my mouth. Say what thou art : 
 
 Why
 
 388 
 
 'The Tragedy of Cymbeline. 
 
 Why I ftiould yeeld to thee? 
 
 Clot. Thou Villaine bafe, 
 Know'ft me not by my Cloathes? 
 
 Gut. No, nor thy Taylor, Rafcall : 
 Who is thy Grandfather ? He made thofe cloathes, 
 Which (as it feemes) make thee. 
 
 Cto. Thou precious Varlet, 
 My Taylor made them not. 
 
 GUI. Hence then, and thanke 
 
 The man that gaue them thee. Thou art fome Foole, 
 I am loath to beate thee. 
 
 Clot. Thou injurious Theefe, 
 Heare but my name, and tremble. 
 
 Gut. What's thy name .' 
 
 Clo. Cloten, thou Villaine. 
 
 Cjui. Cl ten t tnou double Villaine be thy name, 
 I cannot tremble at it, were it Toad, or Adder, Spider, 
 Twould moue me fooner. 
 
 Clot. To thy further feare, 
 Nay, to thy meere Confufion, thou flialt know 
 I am Sonne to'th'Queene. 
 
 Gui. I am forry for't : not feeming 
 So worthy as thy Birth. 
 
 Qlot. Art not afeard ? 
 
 Qui. Thofe that I reuerence, thofe I feare : the Wife: 
 At Fooles I laugh : not feare them. 
 
 Clot. Dye the death : 
 
 When I haue flaine thee with my proper hand, 
 lie follow thofe that euen now fled hence : 
 And on the Gates of Luds-Towne fet your heads : 
 Yeeld Rufticke Mountaineer. Fight and Exeunt. 
 
 Enter Belaritu and Aruiragui. 
 
 Bel. No Companie's abroad ? 
 
 Arm. None in the world : you did miftake him fure. 
 
 Bel. I cannot tell : Long is it fince I faw him, 
 But Time hath nothing blurr'd thofe lines of Fauour 
 Which then he wore : the fnatches in his voice, 
 And burft of fpeaking were as his : I am abfolute 
 'Twas very Clot en. 
 
 Arui. In this place we left them ; 
 I wifh my Brother make good time with him, 
 You fay he is fo fell. 
 
 Bel. Being fcarfe made vp, 
 I meane to man ; he had not apprehenfion 
 Of roaring terrors : For defect of iudgement 
 Is oft the caufe of Feare. 
 
 Enter Guiderius. 
 But fee thy Brother. 
 
 Gui. This Cloten was a Foole, an empty purfe, 
 There was no money in't : Not Hercules 
 Could haue knock'd out his Braines, for he had none : 
 Yet I not doing this, the Foole had borne 
 My head, as I do his. 
 
 ''Bel. What haft thou done ? 
 
 Gui. I am perfect what : cut off one Cloteni head, 
 Sonne to the Queene (after his owne report) 
 Who call'd me Traitor, Mountaineer, and fwore 
 With his owne fingle hand heel'd take vs in, 
 Difplace our heads, where (thanks the Gods) they grow 
 And fet them on Luds-Totvne. 
 
 'Bel. We are all vndone. 
 
 Gui. Why, worthy Father, what haue we to loofe, 
 But that he fwore to take, our Liues ? the Law 
 Protects not vs, then why fliould we be tender, 
 To let an arrogant peece of flefh threat vs? 
 Play ludge, and Executioner, all himfelfe ? 
 
 For we do feare the Law. What company 
 Difcouer you abroad ? 
 
 'Bel. No fingle foule 
 Can we fet eye on : but in all fafe reafon 
 He muft haue fome Attendants. Though his Honor 
 Was nothing but mutation, I, and that 
 From one bad thing to worfe : Not Frenzie, 
 Not abfolute madnefle could fo farre haue rau'd 
 To bring him heere alone : although perhaps 
 It may be heard at Court, that fuch as wee 
 Caue heere, hunt heere, are Out-lawes, and in time 
 May make fome ftronger head, the which he hearing, 
 (As it is like him) might breake out, and fweare 
 Heel'd fetch vs in, yet is't not probable 
 To come alone, either he fo vndertaking, 
 Or they fo fuffering : then on good ground we feare, 
 If we do feare this Body hath a taile 
 More perillous then the head. 
 
 Arui. Let Ord'nance 
 Come as the Gods fore-fay it : howfoere, 
 My Brother hath done well. 
 
 'Bel. 1 had no minde 
 
 To hunt this day : The Boy Fideles fickenefle 
 Did make my way long forth. 
 
 Gui. With his owne Sword, 
 
 Which he did waue againft my throat, I haue tane 
 His head from him : He throw't into the Creeke 
 Behinde our Rocke, and let it to the Sea, 
 And tell the Fillies, hee's the Queenes Sonne, Cloten, 
 That's all I reake. Sxit. 
 
 'Bel. I feare 'twill be reueng'd : 
 
 Would (Polidore') thou had'ft not done't : though valour 
 Becomes thee well enough. 
 
 Arui. Would I had done't : 
 So the Reuenge alone purfu'de me : Polidere 
 I loue thee brotherly, but enuy much 
 Thou haft robb'd me of this deed : I would Reuenges 
 That poflible ftrength might meet, wold feek vs through 
 And put vs to our anfwer. 
 
 Bel. Well, 'tis done : 
 
 Wee'l hunt no more to day, nor feeke for danger [ 
 Where there's no profit. I prythee to our Rocke, 
 You and Fidele play the Cookes : He ftay 
 Till hafty Polidore returne, and bring him 
 To dinner prefently. 
 
 Arui. Poore ficke Fidele. 
 He willingly to him, to gaine his colour, 
 Il'd let a parifli of fuch Clotens blood, 
 And praife my felfe for charity. Exit. 
 
 Bel. Oh thou Goddefle, 
 
 Thou diuine Nature 5 thou thy felfe thou blazon'ft 
 In thefe two Princely Boyes : they are as gentle 
 As Zephires blowing below the Violet, 
 Not wagging his fweet head ; and yet, as rough 
 (Their Royall blood enchaf'd) as the rud'ft winde, 
 That by the top doth take the Mountaine Pine, 
 And make him ftoope to th'Vale. 'Tis wonder 
 That an inuifible inftinct fliould frame them 
 To Royalty vnlearn'd, Honor vntaught, 
 Ciuility not feene from other : valour 
 That wildely growes in them, but yeelds a crop 
 As if it had beene fow'd : yet ftill it's ftrange 
 What Clotens being heere to vs portends, 
 Or what his death will bring vs. 
 Enter Guidereui. 
 
 Gui. Where's my Brother ? 
 
 I 
 
 878
 
 The 'Tr age die of Cymbeline. 
 
 389 
 
 I ha ue fent Clotens Clot-pole downe the ftreame, 
 In Embaflie to his Mother; his Bodie's hoftage 
 For his returne. Solemn 
 
 'Bel. My ingenuous Inftrument, 
 (Hearke Polidore)\t founds: but what occafion 
 Hath Cadwal now to giue it motion ? Hearke. 
 
 Gut. Is he at home ? 
 
 'Bel, He went hence euen now. 
 
 Gul. What does he meane ? 
 Since death of my deer'ft Mother 
 It did not fpeake before. All folemne things 
 Should anfwer folemne Accidents. The matter ? 
 Triumphes for nothing, and lamenting Toyes, 
 Is lollity for Apes, and greefe for Boyes. 
 Is Cadwall mad ? 
 
 Enter Aruiragui, with Imogen dead, bearing 
 her in his Armes. 
 
 'Bel. Looke, heere he comes, 
 And brings the dire occafion in his Armes, 
 Of what we blame him for. 
 
 Arm. The Bird is dead 
 
 That we haue made fo much on. I had rather 
 Haue skipt from fixteene yeares of Ag~, to fixty : 
 To haue turn'd my leaping time into a Crutch, 
 Then haue feene this. 
 
 GUI. Oh fweeteft, fayreft Lilly : 
 My Brother weares thee not the one halfe fo well, 
 As when thou grew'ft thy felfe. 
 
 Bel. Oh Melancholly, 
 
 Who euer yet could found thy bottome? Finde 
 The Ooze, to fliew what Coaft thy fluggifti care 
 Might'ft eafileft harbour in. Thou bleffed thing, 
 loue knowes what man thou might'ft haue made : but I, 
 Thou dyed'ft a moft rare Boy, of Melancholly. 
 How found you him ? 
 
 Arui. Starke, as you fee : 
 
 Thus fmiling, as fome Fly had tickled flumber, 
 Not as deaths dart being laugh'd at : his right Cheeke 
 Repofing on a Cufhion. 
 
 GUI. Where? 
 
 Arui. O'th'floore : 
 
 His armes thus leagu'd, I thought he flept, and put 
 My clowted Brogues from off my feete, whofe rudenefle 
 Anfwer'd my fteps too lowd. 
 
 GUI. Why, he but fleepes : 
 If he be gone, hee'l make his Graue, a Bed : 
 With female Fayries will his Tombe be haunted, 
 And Wormes will not come to thee. 
 
 Arui. With fayreft Flowers 
 Whil'ft Sommer lafts, and I Hue heere, Fidele, 
 He fweeten thy fad graue : thou fhalt not lacke 
 The Flower that's like thy face. Pale-Primrofe, nor 
 The azur'd Hare-bell, like thy Veines: no, nor 
 The leafe of Eglantine, whom not to flander, 
 Out-fweetned not thy breath : the Raddocke would 
 With Charitable bill (Oh bill fore fliaming 
 Thofe rich-left-heyres, that let their Fathers lye 
 Without a Monument) bring thee all this, 
 Yea, and furr'd Mofle befides. When Flowres are none 
 To winter-ground thy Coarfe 
 
 GUI. Prythee haue done, 
 
 And do not play in Wench-like words with that 
 Which is fo ferious. Let vs bury him, 
 And not protract with admiration, what 
 ]s now due debt. To'th'graue. 
 
 Arui. Say, where /hall's lay him ? 
 
 879 
 
 Gui. By good Buriphile, our Mother. 
 Arui. Bee't fo : 
 
 And let vs ( Pclidcre) though now our voyces 
 Haue got the mannifh cracke, fing him to'th'ground 
 As once to our Mother : vfe like note, and words, 
 Saue that Eurifhi/e, muft be Fidele. 
 
 (jui. Cadwall, 
 
 I cannot fing : He weepe, and word it with thee; 
 For Notes of forrow, out of tune, are worfe 
 Then Priefts, and Phanes that lye. 
 Arui. Wee'l fpeake it then. 
 
 Bel. Great greefes I fee med'cine the lefle : For Clotcn 
 Is quite forgot. He was a Qu^eenes Sonne, Boyes, 
 And though he came our Enemy, remember 
 He was paid for that: though meane, and mighty rotting 
 Together haue one duft, yet Reuerence 
 (That Angell of the world) doth make diftinclion 
 Of place 'tweene high, and low. Our Foe was Princely, 
 And though you tooke his life, as being our Foe, 
 Yet bury him, as a Prince. 
 
 Gut. Pray you fetch him hither, 
 Tberjites body is as good as Aiax, 
 When neyther are aliue. 
 
 Arui. If you'l go fetch him, 
 Wee'l fay our Song the whil'ft : Brother begin. 
 
 Gui. Nay Cad-nail, we muft lay his head to th'Eaft, 
 My Father hath a reafon for't. 
 Arui. 'Tis true. 
 
 Gui. Come on then, and remoue him. 
 Arui. So, begin. 
 
 SONG. 
 
 Guid. Feare no mere the heate o'th'Sun, 
 Nor tbefurioul Winters rages, 
 Thou thy if or Idly tas^baft don, 
 Home art gon ,and tone thy wages. 
 Gdden Lads, and Girles all muft, 
 As Chimney-Sweepers come to duft . 
 
 Arui. Feare no more the frowne fib 1 Great, 
 Thou art faft the Tirants ftroake, 
 Care no more to cloatb and eate, 
 To thee the Reede is as the Oa^e : 
 
 The Scepter, Learning, Pbyjickf muft, 
 All follow this and come to duft . 
 Guid. Feare no more the Lightning flajh. 
 Arui. Nor tb" all-dreaded Thunderftone. 
 Gui. Feare not Slander , Censure rajb. 
 Arui. Thou baft finijh d Joy and mone. 
 Both. tAll Louers young. all Louers muft , 
 
 Qonjigne to thee and come to duft, 
 Guid. No Exorcij'or barme thee, 
 Arui. Nor no witch-craft charme tbee. 
 Guid. (jboft vnlaid forbear e tbee. 
 Arui. Nothing ill come neere tbee. 
 Both. Ofyiet confumation baue, 
 
 And renowned be thy graue. 
 
 Enter Belarius with the body of do ten. 
 Gui. We haue done our obfequies : 
 Come lay him downe. 
 
 'Bel. Heere's a few Flowres, but 'bout midnight more : 
 The hearbes that haue on them cold dew o'th'night 
 Are ftrewings fit'ft for Graues : vpon their Faces. 
 You were as Flowres, now wither'd : euen fo 
 Thefe Herbelets fhall, which we vpon you ftrew. 
 Come on, away, apart vpon our knees : 
 The ground that gaue them firft, ha's them againe : 
 Their pleafures here are paft,fo are their paine. Exeunt. 
 b b b Imogen
 
 39 
 
 'The Tragedie of Cymbeline. 
 
 Imogen awakes. 
 
 Yes Sir, to Milford-Hauen, which is the way ? 
 I thanke you : by yond bufli? pray how farre thether f 
 'Ods pittikins : can it be fixe mile yet ? 
 I haue gone all night: 'Faith, He lye downe, and fleepe. 
 But foft ; no Bedfellow f Oh Gods, and Goddefles .' 
 Thefe Flowres are like the pleafures of the World ; 
 This bloody man the care on't. I hope I dreame : 
 For fo I thought I was a Caue-keeper, 
 And Cooke to honeft Creatures. But 'tis not fo: 
 'Twas but a bolt of nothing, fliot at nothing, 
 Which the Braine makes of Fumes. Our very eyes, 
 Are fometimes like our Judgements, blinde. Good faith 
 I tremble ftill with feare : but if there be 
 Yet left in Heauen, as fmall a drop of pittie 
 As a Wrens eye ; rear'd Gods, a part of it. 
 The Dreame's heere ftill : euen when I wake it is 
 Without me, as within me : not imagin'd, felt. 
 A headlefTe man ? The Garments of Pofthumut ? 
 I know the fliape of's Legge : this is his Hand : 
 His Foote Mercuriall : his martiall Thigh 
 
 The brawnes of Hercules : but his louiall face 
 
 Murther in heauen / How ? 'tis gone. Pijanio, 
 All Curfes madded Hecuba gaue the Greekes, 
 And mine to boot, be darted on thee : thou 
 Confpir'd with that Irregulous diuell Cloten, 
 Hath heere cut off my Lord. To write, and read, 
 Be henceforth treacherous. Damn'd fifanio, 
 Hath with his forged Letters (damn'd Pif<inio) 
 From this moft braueft veflell of the world 
 Strooke the maine top ! Oh Poftbumtu, alas, 
 Where is thy head? where's that? Aye me ! where's that ? 
 Pijanio might haue kill'd thee at the heart, 
 And left this head on. How fliould this be, Pifanio? 
 'Tis he, and Cloten : Malice, and Lucre in them 
 Haue laid this Woe heere. Oh 'tis pregnant, pregnant ! 
 The Drugge he gaue me, which hee faid was precious 
 And Cordiall to me, haue I not found it 
 Murd'rous to'th'Senfes f That confirmes it home : 
 This is Pifanio's deede, and Cloten : Oh ! 
 Giue colour to my pale cheeke with thy blood, 
 That we the horrider may feeme to thofe 
 Which chance to finde vs. Oh, my Lord ! my Lord ! 
 Enter Lucltu, Captaines ,and a Soothsayer. 
 
 Cap. To them, the Legions garrifon'd in Gallia 
 After your will, haue croft the Sea, attending 
 You heere at Milford-Hauen, with your Shippes: 
 They are heere in readinefle. 
 
 Luc. But what from Rome ? 
 
 Cap, The Senate hath ftirr'd vp the Confiners, 
 And Gentlemen of Italy, moft willing Spirits, 
 That promife Noble Seruice : and they come 
 Vnder the Conduct of bold lacbimo, 
 Syenna's Brother. 
 
 Luc. When expect you them ? 
 
 Cap. With the next benefit o'th'winde. 
 
 Luc. This forwardnefle 
 
 Makes our hopes faire. Command our prefent numbers 
 Be mufter'd : bid the Captaines looke too't. Now Sir, 
 What haue you dream'd of late of this warres purpofe. 
 
 South. Laft night, the very Gods fliew'd me a vifion 
 (I faft,and pray'd for their Intelligence) thus: 
 1 {aw loues Bird, the Roman Eagle wing'd 
 From the fpungy South, to this part of the Weft, 
 There vanifli'd in the Sun-beames, which portends 
 ( Vnlefle my finnes abufe my Diuination) 
 
 Succefle to th'Roman hoaft. 
 
 Luc. Dreame often fo, 
 
 And neuer falfe. Soft hoa, what truncke is heere? 
 Without his top ? The ruine fpeakes, that fometime 
 It was a worthy building. How? a Page ? 
 Or dead, or fleeping on him ? But dead rather : 
 For Nature doth abhorre to make his bed 
 With the defunct, or fleepe vpon the dead. 
 Let's fee the Boyes face. 
 
 Cap. Hee's aliue my Lord. 
 
 Luc. Hee'l then inftrudt vs of this body : Young one, 
 Informe vs of thy Fortunes, for it feemes 
 They craue to be demanded : who is this 
 Thou mak'ft thy bloody Pillow? Or who was he 
 That (otherwife then noble Nature did) 
 Hath alter'd that good Picture? What's thy intereft 
 In this fad wracke? How came't ? Who is't ? 
 What art thou? 
 
 Imo. I am nothing ; or if not, 
 Nothing to be were better : This was my Mafter, 
 A very valiant Britaine, and a good, 
 That heere by Mountaineers lyes flaine : Alas, 
 There is no more fuch Mafters : I may wander 
 From Eaft to Occident, cry out for Seruice, 
 Try many, all good : ferue truly : neuer 
 Finde fuch another Mafter. 
 
 Luc. ' Lacke, good youth : 
 
 Thou mou'ft no lefTe with thy complaining, then 
 Thy Maifter in bleeding : fay his name, good Friend, 
 
 Imo. Richard du Champ : If I do lye, and do 
 No harme by it, though the Gods heare, I hope 
 They'l pardon it. Say you Sir? 
 
 Luc. Thy name ? 
 
 Imo. FideleS'ir. 
 
 Luc. Thou doo'ft approue thy felfe the very fame : 
 Thy Name well fits thy Faith ; thy Faith, thy Name : 
 Wilt take thy chance with me ? I will not fay 
 Thou flialt be fo well mafter'd, but be fure 
 No lefle belou'd. The Romane Emperors Letters 
 Sent by a Confull to me, fliould not fooner 
 Then thine owne worth preferre thee : Go with me. 
 
 Imo. He follow Sir. But firft.and't pleafe the Gods, 
 He hide my Mafter from the Flies, as deepe 
 As thefe poore Pickaxes can digge : and when 
 With wild wood-leaues & weeds, I ha' ftrew'd his graue 
 And on it faid a Century of prayers 
 (Such as I can)twice o're, He weepe,and fighe, 
 And leauing fo his feruice, follow you, 
 So pleafe you entertaine mee. 
 
 Luc. I good youth, 
 
 And rather Father thee, then Mafter thee : My Friends, 
 The Boy hath taught vs manly duties : Let vs 
 Finde out the prettieft Dazied-Plot we can, 
 And make him with our Pikes and Partisans 
 A Graue : Come, Arme him : Boy hee's preferr'd 
 By thee, to vs, and he fliall be interr'd 
 As Souldiers can. Be cheerefull ; wipe thine eyes, 
 Some Falles are meanes the happier to arife. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Tertia. 
 
 Enter Cymbeline ,LorJs,and Pijanio. 
 Cym. Againe : and hring me word hew 'tis with her, 
 A Feauour with the abfence of her Sonne 5 
 
 880
 
 The T rage die of Cymbeline. 
 
 39 1 
 
 A madnefie, of which her life's in danger : Heauens, 
 How deeply you at once do touch me. Imogen^ 
 The great part of my comfort, gone : My Queene 
 Vpon a defperate bed, and in a time 
 When fearefull Warres point at me : Her Sonne gone, 
 So needful! for this prefent ? It ftrikes me, paft 
 The hope of comfort. But for thee, Fellow, 
 Who needs muft know of her departure, and 
 Doft feeme fo ignorant, wee'l enforce it from thee 
 By a fharpe Torture. 
 
 fif. Sir, my life is yours, 
 
 I humbly fet it at your will : But for my Miftris, 
 I nothing know where flie remaines : why gone, 
 Nor when flie purpofes returne. Befeech your Highnes, 
 Hold me your loyal] Seruant. 
 
 Lord. Good my Liege, 
 
 The day that fhe was miffing, he was heere; 
 I dare be bound hee's true, and fhall performe 
 All parts of his fubieftion loyally. For C/oten, 
 There wants no diligence in feeking him, 
 And will no doubt be found. 
 
 Cym. The time is troublefome : 
 Wee'l flip you for a feafon, but our iealoufie 
 Do's yet depend. 
 
 Lord. So pleafe your Maiefty, 
 The Romaine Legions,all from Gallia drawne, 
 Are landed on your Coaft, with a fupply 
 Of Romaine Gentlemen, by the Senate fent. 
 
 Cym. Now for the Counfaile of my Son and Queen, 
 I am amaz'd with matter. 
 
 Lord. Good my Liege, 
 
 Your preparation can affront no lefle (ready : 
 
 Then what you heare of. Come more, for more you're 
 The want is, but to put thofe Powres in motion, 
 That long to moue. 
 
 Cym. I thanke you : let's withdraw 
 And meete the Time, as it feekes vs. We feare not 
 What can from Italy annoy vs, but 
 We greeue at chances heere. Away. Exeunt 
 
 Pifa. I heard no Letter from my Mafter,fince 
 I wrote him Imogen was flaine. 'Tis ftrange : 
 Nor heare I from my Miftris, who did promife 
 To yeeld me often tydings. Neither know I 
 What is betide to Cloten, but remaine 
 Perplext in all. The Heauens ftill muft worke : 
 Wherein I am falfe, I am honeft : not true, to be true. 
 Thefe prefent warres fliall finde I loue my Country, 
 Euen to the note o'th'King, or He fall in them : 
 All other doubts, by time let them be cleer'd, 
 Fortune brings in fome Boats, that are not fteer'd. Exit. 
 
 Scena Quarta. 
 
 Enter 'Bclariiu ,Guideriui $" Aruiragiu. 
 
 Gui. The noyfe is round about vs. 
 
 'Bel. Let vs from it. 
 
 tArui. What pleafure Sir, we finde in life, to locke it 
 From AcYion, and Aduenture. 
 
 Gui. Nay, what hope 
 
 Haue we in hiding vs? This way the Romaines 
 Muft, or for Britaines flay vs or receiue vs 
 For barbarous and vnnaturall Reuolts 
 During their vfe,and flay vs after. 
 
 'Bel. Sonnes, 
 
 Wee'l higher to the Mountaines, there fecure v.. 
 To the Kings party there's no going : newnefle 
 Of Clotens death (we being not knowne, not mufter'd 
 Among the Bands) may driue vs to a render 
 Where we haue liu'd; and fo extort from's that 
 Which we haue done, whofe anfwer would be death 
 Drawne on with Torture. 
 
 Gui. This is (Sir)a doubt 
 In fuch a time, nothing becomming you, . 
 Nor fatisfying vs. 
 
 Arul. It is not likely, 
 
 That when they heare their Roman horfes neigh, 
 Behold their quarter'd Fires ; haue both their eyes 
 Aud eares fo cloyd importantly as now, 
 That they will wafte their time vpon our note, 
 To know from whence we are. 
 
 'Bel. Oh, I am knowne 
 Of many in the Army : Many yeeres 
 
 (Though Cloten then but young) you fee, not wore him 
 From my remembrance. And befides, the King 
 Hath not deferu'd my Seruice, nor your Loues, 
 Who finde in my Exile, the want of Breeding; 
 The certainty of this heard life, aye hopeleffe 
 To haue the courtefie your Cradle promis'd, 
 But to be ftill hot Summers Tanlings,and 
 The flirinking Slaues of Winter. 
 
 Gui. Then be fo, 
 
 Better to ceafe to be. Pray Sir, to'th'Army : 
 I, and my Brother are not knowne ; your felfe 
 So out of thought, and thereto fo ore-growne, 
 Cannot be queftion'd. 
 
 Arm. By this Sunne that fliines 
 He thither : What thing is't, that I neuer 
 Did fee man dye, fcarfe euer look'd on blood, 
 But that of Coward Hares, hot Goats, and Venifon ? 
 Neuer beftrid a Horfe faue one, that had 
 A Rider like my felfe, who ne're wore Rowell, 
 Nor Iron on his heele? I am afham'd 
 To looke vpon the holy Sunne, to haue 
 The benefit of his bleft Beames, remaining 
 So long a poore vnknowne. 
 
 GUI. By heauens He go, 
 If you will blefle me Sir, and giue me leaue, 
 lie take the better care : but if you will not, 
 The hazard therefore due fall on me, by 
 The hands of Romaines. 
 
 Arui. So fay I, Amen. 
 
 'Bel. No reafon I ( fince of your Hues you fet] 
 So flight a valewation) fliould referue 
 My crack'd one to more care. Haue with you Boyes: 
 If in your Country warres you chance to dye, 
 That is my Bed too (Lads)and there He lye. 
 Lead,lead; the time feems long, their blood thinks fcorn 
 Till it flye out,and fliew them Princes borne. Exeunt. 
 
 Actus Quintus. Scena^rima. 
 
 Sntcr Poftbumui alone. 
 
 Pofl. Yea bloody cloth, He keep thee : for I am wiflit 
 Thou fhould'ft be colour'd thus. You married ones, 
 If each of you fliould take this courfe, how many 
 Muft murther Wiues much better then themfelues 
 
 b b b 2 For
 
 392 
 
 The 'Tragedy of Cymbeline. 
 
 For wrying but a little ? Oh Pifanio, 
 
 Euery good Seruant do's not all Commands: 
 
 No Bond, but to do iuft ones. Gods, if you 
 
 Should haue 'tane vengeance on my faults, I neuer 
 
 Had liu'd to put on this : fo had you faued 
 
 The noble Imogen, to repent, and ftrooke 
 
 Me (wretch) more worth your Vengeance. But alacke, 
 
 You (hatch fome hence for little faults ; that's loue 
 
 To haue them fall no more : you fome permit 
 
 To fecond illes with illes, each elder worfe, 
 
 And make them dread it, to the dooers thrift. 
 
 But Imogen is your owne, do your beft willes, 
 
 And make me bleft to obey. I am brought hither 
 
 Among th'ltalian Gentry, and to fight 
 
 Againft my Ladies Kingdome : 'Tis enough 
 
 That (Britaine) I haue kill'd thy Miftris : Peace, 
 
 lie giue no wound to thee : therefore good Heauens, 
 
 Heare patiently my purpofe. He difrobe me 
 
 Of thefe Italian weedes, and fuite my felfe 
 
 As do's a Britaine Fez ant : fo He fight 
 
 Againft the part I come with : fo He dye 
 
 For thee (O Imogen) euen for whom my life 
 
 Is euery breath, a death : and thus, vnknowne, 
 
 Pittied, nor hated, to the face of perill - 
 
 My felfe lie dedicate. Let me make men know 
 
 More valour in me, then my habits {how. 
 
 Gods, put the ftrength o'th'Leonati in me : 
 
 To mame the guize o'th'world, I will begin, 
 
 The fafhion leffe without, and more within. Exit. 
 
 Scena Secunda. 
 
 Enter Luciui, Iacbimo,and the Romane Army at cue doore: 
 and the ''Britaine Army at another : Leonatw Pofthumiu 
 following li^e a foore Souldier. They march oner , and goe 
 out. Then enter againe in Sltirmijh lachimo and Po&bu- 
 miu : be 'vanquijbetb and difartnetb lachimo, aud then 
 leauet him. 
 
 lac. The heauinefle and guilt within my bcfome, 
 Takes off my manhood : I haue belyed a Lady, 
 The Princefle of this Country ; and the ayre on't 
 Reuengingly enfeebles me, or could this Carle, 
 A very drudge of Natures, haue fubdu'de me 
 In my profeffion .'Knighthoods^nd Honors borne 
 As I weare minejare titles but of fcorne. 
 If that thy Gentry (Britaine,) go before 
 This Lowt, as he exceeds our Lords, the oddes 
 Is, that we fcarfe are men, and you are Goddes. Exit. 
 
 The Battaile continues , t be Britaines fly , Cymbeline u 
 fallen : Then enter to bu refcue, Bdlarim , Guiderivt , 
 and Aruiragut. 
 
 2?e/.Stand, ftand, we haue th'aduantage of the ground, 
 The Lane is guarded : Nothing rowts vs, but 
 The villany of our feares. 
 
 GUI. Arui. Stand, ftand,iand fight. 
 
 Enter Pcftbumut, and feconds the Britaines. They Rej "cue 
 
 Cymbeline , and Exeunt. 
 Then enter Luciui, lachimo, and Imogen. 
 Luc. Away boy from the Troopes,and laue thy felfe: 
 For friends kil friends, and the diforder's fuch 
 
 As warre were hood-wink'd. 
 
 lac. 'Tis their frefh fupplies. 
 
 Luc. It is a day turn'd ftrangely : or betimes 
 Let's re-inforce, or fly. Exeunt 
 
 Scena Tertia. 
 
 Enter Pofthumw, and a Britaine Lord. 
 
 Lor. Cam'ft thou from where they made the ftand ? 
 
 Poft. I did, 
 Though you it feemes come from the Fliers? 
 
 Lo, I did. 
 
 PC/?. No blame be to you Sir, for all was loft, 
 But that the Heauens fought : the King himfelfe 
 Of his wings deftitute, the Army broken, 
 And but the backes of Britaines feene ; all flying 
 Through a ftraitLane, the Enemy full-hearted, 
 Lolling the Tongue with flaught'ring : hauing worke 
 More plentiful!, then Tooles to doo't : ftrooke downe 
 Some mortally, fome flightly touch'd, fome falling 
 Meerely through feare,that the ftrait pafle was damm'd 
 With deadmen,hurt behinde,and Cowards liuing 
 To dye with length'ned fhame. 
 
 Lo. Where was this Lane ? 
 
 Po/?.Clofe by the battell,ditch'd, & wall'd with turph, 
 Which gaue aduantage to an ancient Soldiour 
 (An honeft one I warrant) who deferu'd 
 So long a breeding, as his white beard came to, 
 In doing this for's Country. Athwart the Lane, 
 He, with two ftriplings(Lads more like to run 
 The Country bafe, then to commit fuch flaughter, 
 With faces fit for Maskes, or rather fayrer 
 Then thofe for preferuation cas'd, or fhame) 
 Made good the pafTage, cryed to thofe that fled. 
 Our 'Britaines hearts dye flying, not our men, 
 To darknefie fleete foules that flye backwards ; ftand, 
 Or we are Romanes, and will giue you that 
 Like beafts, which you fhun beaftly, and may faue 
 But to looke backe in frowne : Stand, ftand. Thefe three, 
 Three thoufand confident, in a<te as many : 
 For three performers are the File, when all 
 The reft do nothing. With this word ftand, ftand, 
 Accomodated by the Place ; more Charming 
 With their owne Nobleneffe, which could haue turn'd 
 A Diftaffe, to a Lance, guilded pale lookes j 
 Part fhame, part fpirit renew'd, that fome turn'd coward 
 But by example (Oh a finne in Warre, 
 Damn'd in the firft beginners , gan to looke 
 The way that they did, and to grin like Lyons 
 Vpon the Pikes o'th'Hunters. Then beganne 
 A ftop i'th'Chafer ; a Retyre : Anon 
 A Rowt, confufion thicke: forthwith they flye 
 Chickens, the way which they ftopt Eagles : Slaues 
 The ftrides the Victors made : and now our Cowards 
 Like Fragments in hard Voyages became 
 The life o'th'need : hauing found the backe doore open] 
 Of the vnguarded hearts : heauens,hcw they wound, 
 Some flaine before fome dying ; fome their Friends 
 Ore-borne i'th'former waue, ten chac'd by one, 
 Are now each one the flaughter-man of twenty: 
 Thofe that would dye, or ere refift, are growne 
 The mortal! bugs o'th 'Field. 
 
 Lor-
 
 The Tr age die of Cymbellne. 
 
 393 
 
 Lord. This was ftrange chance : 
 A narrow Lane, an old man, and two Boyes. 
 
 Pofl. Nay, do not wonder at it you are made 
 Rather to wonder at the things you heare, 
 Then to worke any. Will you Rime vpon't, 
 And vent it for a Mock'rie ? Heere is one : 
 "Two f Boyes,an Oldman (twice a Boy)a Lane, 
 " Prefer if d the 'Britaines, was the Romanes bane. 
 
 Lord. Nay, be not angry Sir. 
 
 Pofl. Lacke, to what end? 
 
 Who dares not ftand his Foe, He be his Friend : 
 For if hee'l do, as he is made to doo, 
 I knowhee'l quickly flye my friendship too. 
 You haue put me into Rime. 
 
 Lord. Farewell, you're angry. Exit. 
 
 Pofl. Still going ? This is a Lord : Oh Noble mifery 
 To be i'th'Field,and aske whatnewes of me : 
 To day, how many would haue giuen their Honours 
 To haue fau'd their Carkafies? Tooke heele to doo't, 
 And yet dyed too. I, in mine owne woe charm'd 
 Could not finde death, where I did heare him groane, 
 Nor feele him where he ftrooke. Being an vgly Monfter, 
 'Tis ftrange he hides him in frelh Cups, foft Beds, 
 Sweet words; or hath moe minifters then we 
 That draw his kniues 1'th'War. Well I will finde him : 
 For being now a Fauourer to the Britaine, 
 No more a Britaine, I haue refum'd againe 
 The part I came in. Fight I will no more, 
 But yeeld me to the verieft Hinde, that ftiall 
 Once touch my fhoulder. Great the flaughter is 
 Heere made by'th'Romane ; great the Anfwer be 
 Britaines muft take. Forme, my Ranfome's death, 
 On eyther fide I come to fpend my breath ; 
 Which neyther heere lie keepe, nor beare agen, 
 But end it by fome meanes for Imogen. 
 
 Snter two Captaines, and Soldiers. 
 
 1 Great lupiter be prais'd, Luciut is taken, 
 
 'Tis thought the old man, and his fonnes, were Angels. 
 
 2 There was a fourth man, in a filly habit, 
 That gaue th'AfFront with them. 
 
 1 So 'tis reported : 
 
 But none of *em can be found. Stand, who's there ? 
 
 Pofl. A Roman, 
 
 Who had not now beene drooping heere, if Seconds 
 Had anfwer'd him. 
 
 2 Lay hands on him : a Dogge, 
 
 A legge of Rome fhall not returne to tell 
 
 What Crows haue peckt them here : he brags his feruice 
 
 As if he were of note : bring him to'th'King. 
 
 Enter Cymbeline, Belariut ,Guiderlu6 , Aruiraguf, Pifanlo ,and 
 Romarte Captiues. The Captaines prefent Poftbumui to 
 Cymbeline, who deliuers him ouer So a Gaoler. 
 
 Scena Quarta. 
 
 Enter Poftbumu6,and Gaoler. 
 
 Gao. You {hall not now be ftolne, 
 You haue lockes vpon you : 
 So graze, as you finde Pafture. 
 
 2. Gao. I, or. a ftomacke. 
 
 Pofl. Moft welcome bondage ; for thou art a way 
 (I thinke) to liberty: yet am I better 
 Then one that's ficke o'th'Gowt, fince he had rather 
 
 Groane fo in perpetuity, then be cur'd 
 
 By'th'fure Phyfitian, Death ; who is the key 
 
 T'vnbarre thefe Lockes. My Confcience,thou art fetter'd 
 
 More then my flianks,& wrifts:you good Gods giue me 
 
 The penitent Inftrument to picke that Bolt, 
 
 Then free for euer. Is't enough I am forry ? 
 
 So Children temporall Fathers do appeafe ; 
 
 Gods are more full of mercy. Muft I repent, 
 
 I cannot do it better then in Gyues, 
 
 Defir'd, more then conftrain'd, to fatisfie 
 
 If of my Freedome 'tis the maine part, take 
 
 No ftridler render of me, then my All. 
 
 I know you are more clement then vilde men, 
 
 Who of their broken Debtors take a third, 
 
 A fixt, a tenth, letting them thriue againe 
 
 On their abatement ; that's not my defire. 
 
 For Imogens deere life, take mine, and though 
 
 'Tis not fo deere, yet 'tis a life ; you coyn'd it, 
 
 'Tweene man, and man, they waigh not euery ftampe : 
 
 Though light, take Peeces for the figures fake, 
 
 (You rather ) mine being yours : and fo great Powres, 
 
 If you will take this Audit, take this life, 
 
 And cancell thefe cold Bonds. Oh Imogen, 
 
 He fpeake to thee in filence. 
 
 Solemne Mujicl^e. Snter ( as in an Apparatlon ) Slclllitu Leo- 
 natui, Father to Pofthumiu,an old man,attyred life a war. 
 riour, leading in his hand an ancient Matron ( his wife, C7" 
 Mother to Poflhumut ) with Mufic^e before them. Then, 
 after other Mujlckf ^followes the two young Leonati ( Bro- 
 thers to PoBhumtu) with wounds at they died in the warn. 
 They circle Tojihumta round as he lies fleeping, 
 
 Sicil. No more thou Thunder-Mafter 
 ftiew thy fpight, on Mortall Flies : 
 With Mars fall out with luno chide, that thy Adulteries 
 
 Rates, and Reuenges. 
 Hath my poore Boy done ought but well,i 
 
 whofe face I neuer faw : 
 I dy'de whil'ft in the Wombe he ftaide, 
 
 attending Natures Law. 
 Whofe Father then ( as men report, 
 
 thou Orphanes Father art) 
 Thou fliould'ft haue bin, and fheelded him, 
 
 from this earth-vexing fmart. 
 eflfoth. Lucina lent not me her ayde, 
 
 but tooke me in my Throwes, 
 That from me was Poflhumtu ript, 
 
 came crying 'mong'ft his Foes. 
 A thing of pitty. 
 
 SicH. Great Nature like his Anceftrie, 
 
 moulded the ftuffe fo faire : 
 That hed feru'd the praife o'th' World, 
 
 as great Sicilim heyre. 
 I .Bro. When once he was mature for man, 
 
 in Britaine where was hee 
 That could ftand vp his paralell ? 
 
 Or fruitfull obiecl: bee ? 
 In eye of Imogen, that belt could deeme 
 
 his dignitie. 
 Mo. With Marriage wherefore was he mockt 
 
 to be exil'd,and throwne 
 From Leonati Seate, and caft from her, 
 
 his deereft one : 
 Sweete Imogen ? 
 
 Sic. Why did you fuffer lachimo, flight thing of Italy, 
 b b b 3 To
 
 394 
 
 The Tragedy ofCymbeline. 
 
 To taint his Nobler hart & braine,with needlefieieloufy, 
 And to become the geeke and fcorne o'th'others vilany? 
 2 'Era. For this, from ftiller Seats we came, 
 
 our Parents, and vs twaine, 
 That ftriking in our Countries caufe, 
 
 fell brauely, and were flaine, 
 
 Our Fealty, & Tenantiui right, with Honor to maintaine. 
 I Bra. Like hardiment Po/ibumus hath 
 
 to Cymbeline perform'd : 
 
 Then lupiter. y King of Gods, why haft y thus adiourn'd 
 The Graces for his Merits due, being all to dolors turn'd? 
 Sicil. Thy Chriftall window ope ; looke, 
 
 looke out, no longer exercife 
 
 Vpon a valiant Race, thy harfh,and potent iniuries: 
 Moth. Since( lupiter) our Son is good, 
 
 take off his miferies. 
 Sell. Peepe through thy Marble Manfion, helpe, 
 
 or we poore Ghofts will cry 
 
 To'th'fhining Synod of the reft,againft thy Deity. 
 'Brothers. Helpe (lupiter) or we appeale, 
 
 and from thy iuftice flye. 
 
 lupiter defcends in Thunder and Lightning, Jilting vffon an 
 Eagle : bee thrones a Thunder-bolt. The Gbojles fall on 
 their tyiees. 
 
 lupiter. No more you petty Spirits of Region low 
 Offend our hearing : hufh. How dare you Ghoftes 
 Accufe the Thunderer, whole Bolt (you know) 
 Sky-planted, batters all rebelling Coafts. 
 Poore fhadowes of Elizium, hence, and reft 
 Vpon your neuer-withering bankes of Flowres. 
 Be not with mortall accidents oppreft, 
 No care of yours it is, you know 'tis ours. 
 Whom beft I loue, 1 croffe ; to make my guift 
 The more delay'd, delighted. Be content, 
 Your low-laide Sonne, our Godhead will vplift : 
 His Comforts thriue, his Trials well are fpent : 
 Our louiall Starre reign'd at his Birth, and in 
 Our Temple was he married : Rife, and fade, 
 He fhall be Lord of Lady Imogen, 
 And happier much by his Affliction made. 
 This Tablet lay vpon his Breft, wherein 
 Our pleafure, his full Fortune, doth confine, 
 And fo away: no farther with your dinne 
 Expreffe Impatience, leaft you ftirre vp mine : 
 Mount Eagle, to my Palace Chriftalline. Afcends 
 
 Sicil. He came in Thunder, his Celeftiall breath 
 Was fulphurous to fmell : the holy Eagle 
 Stoop'd, as to foote vs : his Afcenfion is 
 More fweet then our bleft Fields : his Royall Bird 
 Prunes the immortall wing, and cloyes his Beake, 
 As when his God is pleas'd. 
 All. Thankes lupiter. 
 
 Sic. The Marble Pauement clozes, he is enter'd 
 His radiant Roofe : Away, and to be bleft 
 Let vs with care performe his great beheft. Vamjh 
 
 PoJ}. Sleepe, thou haft bin a Grandfire, and begot 
 A Father to me : and thou heft created 
 A Mother, and two Brothers. But (oh fcorne) 
 Gone, they went hence fo foone as they were borne: 
 And fo I am awake. Poore Wretches, that depend 
 On Greatnefle, Fauour ; Dreame as I haue done, 
 Wake, and finde nothing. But (alas) I fwerue : 
 Many Dreame not to finde, neither deferue, 
 And yet are fteep'd in Fauours j fo am I 
 That haue this Golden chance, and know not why : 
 What Fayeries haunt this ground ? A Book?Oh rare one, 
 
 Be not, as is our fangled world, a Garment 
 Nobler then that it couers. Let thy effects 
 So follow, to be moft vnlike our Courtiers, 
 As good, as promife. 
 
 Reades . 
 
 WHen M a Lyons tfbelpe, Jball to himfelfe vntyioivn, tvith- 
 out Jeering fnde , and bee embraced by a peece of tender 
 Ayre: And when from a ftately Cedar jhall be loft branches* 
 which being dead many yeares, Jhall after reuiue, bee ioynted to 
 the old Stoc^e , and frejhly grow, then Jhall Pojlhumui end hu 
 miferies, Britaine be fortunate, and Jlourijh in Peace and Plen- 
 tie. 
 
 'Tis ftill a Dreame : or elfe fuch ftuffe as Madmen 
 Tongue, and braine not : either both, or nothing, 
 Orfenfeleffe fpeaking, or a fpeaking fuch 
 As fenfe cannot vntye. Be what it is, 
 The Action of my life is like it, which He keepe 
 If but for fimpathy. 
 
 Snter Cjraoler. 
 
 Gao. Come Sir, are you ready for death ? 
 
 Pojl. Ouer-roafted rather : ready long ago. 
 
 Gao. Hanging is the word, Sir, if you bee readie for 
 that, you are well Cook'd. 
 
 Pojl. So if I proue a good repaft to the Spectators, the 
 difh payes the fhot. 
 
 Gao. A heauy reckoning for you Sir: But the comfort 
 is you fhall be called to no more payments, fear no more 
 Tauerne Bils, which are often the fadneffe of parting, as 
 the procuring of mirth : you come in faint for want of 
 meate, depart reeling with too much drinke : lorrie that 
 you haue payed too much, and forry that you are payed 
 too much : Purfe and Braine, both empty : the Brain the 
 heauier, for being too light; die Purfe too light, being 
 drawne of heauineiTe. Oh, of this contradiction you fhall 
 now be quit : Oh the charity of a penny Cord, it fummes 
 vp thoufands in a trice : you haue no true Debitor, and 
 Creditor but it : of what's paft, is, and to come, the dif- 
 charge : your necke(Sis)is Pen,Booite,and Counters} fo 
 the Acquittance followes. 
 
 Pojl. I am merrier to dye, then thou art to Hue. 
 
 Gao. Indeed Sir, he that fleepes,feeles not the Tooth- 
 Ache : but a man that were to fleepe your fleepe, and a 
 Hangman to helpe him to bed, I think he would change 
 places with his Officer : for, look you Sir, you know not 
 which way you fhall go. 
 
 Pojl. Yes indeed do I, fellow. 
 
 Gao. Your death has eyes in's head then : I haue not 
 feene him fo pictur'd : you muft either bee directed by 
 fome that take vpon them to know, or to take vpon your 
 felfe that which I am fure you do not know : lor iump the 
 after-enquiry on your owne perill : and how you fhall 
 fpeed in your iournies end, I thinke you'l neuer returne 
 to tell one. 
 
 Pojl. I tell thee, Fellow, there are none want eyes, to 
 direct them the way I am going, but fuch as winke, and 
 will not vfe them. 
 
 Gao. What an infinite mocke is this, that a man fhold 
 haue the beft vfe of eyes, to fee the way of blindntffe : I 
 am fure hanging's the way of winking. 
 Enter a Mejfenger. 
 
 Mef. Knocke off his Manacles, bring your Prifoner to 
 the King. 
 
 Pojl. Thou bring'ft good newes, I am call'd to bee 
 made free. 
 
 (jao. He be hang'd then. 
 
 Pojl. Thou fhalt be then freer then a Gaolerjno bolts 
 
 884
 
 'The Tragedle of Cymbeline. 
 
 395 
 
 for the dead. 
 
 Gao. Vnlefle a man would marry a Gallowes, & be- 
 get yong Gibbets, I neuer faw one fo prone : yet on my 
 Confcience, there are verier Knaues defire to Hue, for all 
 he be a Roman ; and there be fome of them too that dye 
 againft their willes; fo fhould I, if I were one. I would 
 we were all of one minde,and one minde good : O there 
 were defolation of Gaolers and Galowfes : I fpeake a- 
 gainft my prefent profit, but my wifh hath a preferment 
 in't. Exeunt. 
 
 Scena Quinta. 
 
 Enter Cymbeline fBellaritu , Gwderitu , Arui- 
 
 ragtu, Pifanio, and Lords . 
 
 Cym. Stand by my fide you, whom the Gods haue made 
 Preferuers of my Throne: woe is my heart, 
 That the poore Souldier that fo richly fought, 
 Whofe ragges, fham'd gilded Armes, whofe naked breft 
 Stepf before Targes of proofe, cannot be found : 
 He fhall be happy that can finde him, if 
 Onr Grace can make him fo. 
 
 "Bel. I neuer faw 
 
 Such Noble fury in fo poore a Thing ; 
 Such precious deeds, in one that promift nought 
 But beggery, and poore lookes. 
 
 Cym. No tydings of him ? 
 
 fifa. He hath bin fearch'd among the dead, & liuing ; 
 But no trace of him. 
 
 Cym. To my greefe, I am 
 The heyre of his Reward, which I will adde 
 To you (the Liuer, Heart, and Braine of Britaine) 
 By whom ( I grant) fhe liues. 'Tis now the time 
 To aske of whence you are. Report it. 
 
 'Bel. Sir, 
 
 In Cambria are we borne, and Gentlemen : 
 Further to boaft, were neyther true, nor modeft, 
 Vnlefle I adde, we are honeft. 
 
 Cym. Bow your knees : 
 Arife my Knights o'th'Battell, I create you 
 Companions to our perfon, and will fit you 
 With Dignities becomming your eftates. 
 
 Enter Cornelius and Ladies. 
 There's bufinefle in thefe faces : why fo fadly 
 Greet you our Victory ? you looke like Romaines, 
 And not o'th'Court of Britaine. 
 
 Corn. Hayle great King, 
 To fowre your happinefle, I muft report 
 The Queene is dead. 
 
 Cym. Who worfe then a Phyfitian 
 Would this report become ? But I confider, 
 By Med'cine life may be prolong'd, yet death 
 Will feize the Doctor too. How ended fhe ? 
 
 Cor. With horror, madly dying, like her life, 
 Which (being cruell to the world) concluded 
 Moft cruell to her felfe. What fhe confeft, 
 I will report, fo pleafe you. Thefe her Women 
 Can trip me, if I erre, who with wet cheekes 
 Were prefent when fhe finifh'd. 
 
 Cym. Prythee fay. 
 
 Cor. Firft, fhe confeft fhe neuer lou'd you : onely 
 Affected Greatnefle got by you : not you : 
 Married your Royalty, was wife to your place : 
 
 Abhorr'd your perfon. 
 
 Cym. She alone knew this : 
 And but flie fpoke it dying, I would not 
 Beleeue her lips in opening it. Proceed. 
 
 Corn. Your daughter, whom fhe bore in hand to loue 
 With fuch integrity, fhe did confefle 
 Was as a Scorpion to her fight, whofe life 
 (But that her flight preuented it) fhe had 
 Tane off by poyfon. 
 
 Cym. O moft delicate Fiend ! 
 Who is't can reade a Woman ? Is there more ? 
 
 Corn. More Sir, and worfe. She did confefle fhe had 
 For you a mortall Minerall, which being tooke, 
 Should by the minute feede on life, and ling'ring, 
 By inches wafte you. In which time, fhe purpos'd 
 By watching, weeping, tendance, kiffing, to 
 Orecome you with her fhew; and in time 
 (When fhe had fitted you with her craft, to worke 
 Her Sonne into th'adoption of the Crowne : 
 But fayling of her end by his ftrange abfence, 
 Grew fhameleffe defperate, open'd (in defpight 
 Of Heauen,and Men) her purpofes : repented 
 The euils fhe hatch'd, were not effected : fo 
 Difpayring, dyed. 
 
 Cym. Heard you all this, her Women ? 
 
 La. We did, fo pleafe your HighnefTe. 
 
 Cym. Mine eyes 
 
 Were not in fault, for fhe was beautiful! : 
 Mine eares that heare her flattery, nor my heart, < 
 
 That thought her like her feeming. It had beene vicious 
 To haue miflrufted her : yet ( Oh my Daughter) 
 That it was folly in me, thou mayft fay, 
 And proue it in thy feeling. Heauen men'd all. 
 
 Enter Luciuj t lachimo,and other Roman prifoners, 
 
 Lematu6 behind, and Imogen. 
 Thou comm'ft not Caiut now for Tribute, that 
 The Britaines haue rac'd out, though with the lofTe 
 Of many a bold one : whofe Kinfmen haue made fuite 
 That their good foules may be appeas'd, with Daughter 
 Of you their Captiues, which our felfe haue granted, 
 So thinke of your eftate. 
 
 Luc. Conlider Sir, the chance of Warre, the day 
 Was yours by accident : had it gone with vs, 
 We fhould not when the blood was cool, haue threatend 
 Our Prifoners with the Sword. But fince the Gods 
 Will haue it thus, that nothing but our liues 
 May be call'd ranfome, let it come : Sufliceth, 
 A Roman, with a Romans heart can fuffer : 
 lAuguftm liues to thinke on't : and fo much 
 For my peculiar care. This one thing onely 
 I will entreate, my Boy (a Britaine borne) 
 Let him be ranfom'd : Neuer Mafter had 
 A Page fo kinde, fo duteous, diligent, 
 So tender ouer his occafions, true, 
 So feate, fo Nurfe-like : lethisvertue ioyne 
 With my requeft, which lie make bold , your Highnefle 
 Cannot deny : he hath done no Britaine harme, 
 Though he haue feru'd a Roman. Saue him (Sir) 
 And ipare no blood befide. 
 
 Cym. I haue furely feene him : 
 His fauour is familiar to me : Boy, 
 Thou haft look'd thy felfe into my grace, 
 And art mine owne. I know not why, wherefore, 
 To fay, Hue boy : ne're thanke thy Mafter, Hue ; 
 And aske of Cymbeline what Boone thou wilt, 
 Fitting my bounty, and thy ftate, He giue it : 
 
 Yea,
 
 39 6 
 
 The Tragedy of Cymbeline. 
 
 Yea, though thou do demand a Prifoner 
 The Nobleft tane. 
 
 Jmo. I humbly thanke your HighnefTe.i 
 
 Luc. I do not bid thee begge my life, good Lad, 
 And yet I know thou wilt. 
 
 Imo. No, no, alacke, 
 
 There's other worke in hand : I fee a thing 
 Bitter to me, as death : your life, good Mafter, 
 Muft fliuffle for it felfe. 
 
 Luc. The Boy difdaines me, 
 
 He leaues me,fcornes me : briefely dye their ioyes, 
 That place them on the truth of Gyrles,and Boyes.j 
 Why Hands he fo perplext ? 
 
 Cym. What would'ft thou Boy? 
 I loue thee more, and more : thinke more and more 
 What's beft to aske. Know'ft him thou look'ft on?fpeak 
 Wilt haue him liue? Is he thy Kin? thy Friend ? 
 
 Imo. He is a Romane, no more kin to me, 
 Then I to your Highneffe, who being born your vaffaile 
 Am fomething neerer. 
 
 Cym. Wherefore ey'ft him fo ? 
 
 Imo. lie tell you(Sir)in priuate,if you pleafe 
 To giue me hearing. 
 
 Cym. I, with all my heart, 
 And lend my beft attention. What's thy name ? 
 
 Imo. Fldele Sir. 
 
 Cym. Thou'rt my good youth : my Page 
 He be thy Mafter . walke with me : fpeake freely. 
 
 Bel. Is not this Boy reuiu'd from death ? 
 
 Arui. One Sand another 
 Not more refembles that fweet Rofie Lad : 
 Who dyed, and was Fidele : what thinke you ? 
 
 GUI. The fame dead thing aliue. 
 
 Bel. Peace, peace, fee further : he eyes vs not, forbeare 
 Creatures may be alike : were't he, I am fure 
 He would haue fpoke to vs. 
 
 GUI. But we fee him dead. 
 
 'Bel. Be filent : let's fee further. 
 
 Pifa. It is my Miftris : 
 Since fhe is liuing, let the time run on, 
 To good, or bad. 
 
 Cym. Come, ftand thou by our fide, 
 Make thy demand alowd. Sir, ftep you forth, 
 Giue anfwer to this Boy, and do it freely, 
 Or by our GreatnelFe, and the grace of it 
 (Which is our Honor) bitter torture fhall 
 Winnow the truth from falfhood. One fpeake to him. 
 
 Imo. My boone is, that this Gentleman may render 
 Of whom he had this Ring. 
 
 PcJ}. What's that to him ? 
 
 Cym. That Diamond vpon your Finger, fay 
 How came it yours / 
 
 lack. Thou'lt torture me to leaue vnfpoken, that 
 Which to be fpoke, wou'd torture thee. 
 
 y. How? me ? 
 
 lacb. I am glad to be conftrain'd to vtter that 
 Which torments me to conceale. By Villany 
 I got this Ring : 'twas Leonaitu lewell, 
 Whom thou did'ft banifh : and which more may greeue 
 As it doth me : a Nobler Sir, ne're liu'd ( thee, 
 
 'Twixt sky and ground. Wilt thou heare more my Lord? 
 
 Cym. All that belongs to this. 
 
 lacb. That Paragon, thy daughter, 
 For whom my heart drops blood, and my falfe fpirits 
 Quaile to remember. Giue me leaue, I faint. 
 
 Cym. My Daughter? what of hir?Renew thy ftrength 
 
 I had rather thou fliould'ft liue, while Nature will, 
 Then dye ere I heare more : ftriue man, and fpeake. 
 
 lacb. Vpon a time, vnhappy was the clocke 
 That ftrooke the houre : it was in Rome, accurft 
 The Manfion where : 'twas at a Feaft, oh would 
 Our Viands had biti poyfon'd(or at leaft 
 Thoie which I heau'd to head:) the good Pojlbumui, 
 (What fhould I fayr he was too good to be 
 Where ill men were, and was the beft of all 
 Among'ft the rar'ft of good ones) fitting fadly, 
 Hearing vs praife our Loues of Italy 
 For Beauty, that made barren the fwell'd boaft 
 Of him that beft could fpeake : for Feature, laming 
 The Shrine ofUenut,or ftraight-pight Minerua, 
 Poftures, beyond breefe Nature. For Condition, 
 A fhop of all the qualities, that man 
 Loues woman for, betides that hooke of Wiuing, 
 Fairenefle, which ftrikes the eye. 
 
 Cym. I ftand on fire. Come to the matter. 
 
 lacb. All too foone I fhall, 
 
 Vnlefle thou would'ft greeue quickly. This Poftbuimu, 
 Moft like a Noble Lord, in loue, and one 
 That had a Royall Louer, tooke his hint, 
 And ( not difpraifing whom we prais'd, therein 
 He was as calme as vertue) he began 
 His Miftris picture, which, by his tongue, being made, 
 And then a minde put in't, either our bragges 
 Were crak'd of K.itchen-Trulles,or his description 
 Prou'd vs vnfpeaking fottes, 
 
 Cym. Nay, nay, to'th'purpofe, 
 
 lacb. Your daughters Chaftity, (there it beginnes) 
 He fpake of her, as ''Dian had hot dreames, 
 And flie alone, were cold : Whereat, I wretch 
 Made fcruple of his praife, and wager'd with him 
 Peeces of Gold, 'gainft this, which then he wore 
 Vpon his honour'd finger) to attaine 
 In fuite the place of's bed, and winne this Ring 
 By hers, and mine Adultery : he (trueKnight) 
 No lefTer of her Honour confident 
 Then I did truly finde her, flakes this Ring, 
 And would fo, had it beene a Carbuncle 
 Of Phoebus Wheele ; and might fo fafely, had it 
 Bin all the worth of's Carre. Away to Britaine 
 Pofte I in this defigne : Well may you (Sir) 
 Remember me at Court, where I was taught 
 Of your chafte Daughter, the wide difference 
 'Twixt Amorous,and Villanous. Being thus qucnch'd 
 Of hope, not longing; mine Italian braine, 
 Gan in your duller Britaine operare 
 Moft vildely : for my vantage excellent. 
 And to be breefe, my pradtife fo preuayFd 
 That I return'd with fimular proofe enough, 
 To make the Noble Lsonattu mad, 
 By wounding his beleefe in her Renowne, 
 With Tokens thus, and thus : auerring notes 
 Of Chamber-hanging, Pictures, this her Bracelet 
 (Oh cunning how I got) nay fome markes 
 Of fecret on her perfon.that he could not 
 But thinke her bond of Chaftity quite crack'd, 
 I hauing 'tane the forfeyt. Whereupon, 
 Me thinkes I fee him now. 
 
 Poft. I fo thou do'ft, 
 
 Italian Fiend. Aye me, moft credulous Foole, 
 Egregious murtherer, Theefe,any thing 
 That's due to all the Villaines paft,in being 
 To come. Oh giue me Cord, or knife,or poyfon, 
 
 Some 
 
 886
 
 The 'TragedieofCymbeline. 
 
 397 
 
 Sme vpright lufticer. Thou King, fend out 
 For Torturors ingenious : it is I 
 That all th'abhorred things o'th'earth amend 
 By being worfe then they. I am Pofthumui, 
 That kill'd thy Daughter : Villain-like, I lye, 
 That caus'd a lefler villa! ne then my felfe, 
 A facrilegious Theefe to doo't. The Temple 
 Of Vertue was fhe ; yea, and /he her felfe. 
 Spit, and throw ftones, caft myre vpon me, fet 
 The dogges o'th'ftreet to bay me : euery villaine 
 Be call'd Pofthumui Leonatvi, and 
 Be villany lefTe then 'twas. Oh Imogen j 
 My Queene, my life, my wife : oh Imogen, 
 Imogen, Imogen. 
 
 Imo. Peace my Lord, heare, heare. 
 
 Poft. Shall's haue a play of this? 
 Thou fcornfull Page, there lye thy part. 
 
 Pif. Oh Gentlemen, helpe, 
 Mine and your Miftris : Oh my Lord Pojibumut, 
 You ne're kill'd Imogen till now : helpe, helpe, 
 Mine honour'd Lady. 
 
 Cym. Does the world go round ? 
 
 fnftb. How comes thefe ftaggers on mee ? 
 
 Pifa. Wake my Miftris. 
 
 Cym. If this be fo, the Gods do meane to ftrike me 
 To death, with mortall ioy. 
 
 Pifa. How fares my Miftris? 
 
 Imo. Oh get thee from my fight, 
 Thou gau'ft me poyfon : dangerous Fellow hence, 
 Breath not where Princes are. 
 
 Cym. The tune of Imogen. 
 
 P//*e.Lady,the Gods throw ftones of fulpher on me, if 
 That box I gaue you, was not thought by mee 
 A precious thing, I had it from the Queene. 
 
 Cym. New matter ftill. 
 
 Imo. It poyfon'd me. 
 
 Corn. Oh Gods! 
 
 I left out one thing which the Queene confeft, 
 Which muft approue thee honeft. If Pafanio 
 Haue (faid fhe) giuen his Miftris that Confection 
 Which I gaue him for Cordiall, fhe is feru'd, 
 As I would ferue a Rat. 
 
 Cym. What's this, Corneliiu* 
 
 Corn. The Queene (Sir)very oft importun'd me 
 To temper poyfons for her, ftill pretending 
 The fatisfaclion of her knowledge, onely 
 In killing Creatures vilde,asCats and Dogges 
 Of no efteeme. I dreading, that her purpofe 
 Was of more danger, did compound for her 
 A certaine ftuffe, which being tane, would ceafe 
 The prefent powre of life, but in fhort time, 
 All Offices ot" Nature, mould againe 
 Do their due Functions. Haue you tane of it? 
 
 Imo. Moft like I did, for I was dead. 
 
 'Bel. My Boyes, there was our error. 
 
 Gm. This is fure Fidele . 
 
 Imo.Why did you throw your wedded Lady fro you? 
 Thinke that you are vpon a Rocke, and now 
 Throw me againe. 
 
 Poft. Hang there like fruite, my foule, 
 Till the Tree dye. 
 
 Cym. How now, my Flefli? my Childe? 
 What, mak'ft thou me a dullard in this Act? 
 Wilt thou not fpeake to me ? 
 
 Imo. Your bleffing. Sir. 
 
 "Bel. Though you did loue this youth, I b'ame ye not, 
 
 887 
 
 You had a motiue for't. 
 
 Cym. My teares that fall 
 Proue holy-water on thee ; Imogen, 
 Thy Mothers dead. 
 
 Imo. I am forry for't, my Lord. 
 
 Cym. Oh, fhe was naught ; and long of her it was 
 That we meet heere fo ftrangely : but her Sonne 
 Is gone, we know not how, nor where. 
 
 Pifa. My Lord, 
 
 Now feare is from me, He fpeake troth. Lord Chttn 
 Vpon my Ladies miffing, came to me 
 With his Sword drawne,foam'd at the mouth, and fwore 
 If I difcouer'd not which way fhe was gone, 
 It was my inftant death. By accident, 
 I had a feigned Letter of my Matters 
 Then in my pocket, which directed him 
 To feeke her on the Mountaines neere to Milford, 
 Where in a frenzie, in my Mafters Garments 
 ( Which he inforc'd from me) away he poftes 
 With vnchafte purpofe, and with oath to violate 
 My Ladies honor, what became of him, 
 I further know not. 
 
 GUI'. Let me end the Story : I flew him there. 
 
 Cym. Marry, the Gods foretend. 
 I would not thy good deeds, mould from my lips 
 Plucke a hard fentence : Prythee valiant youth 
 Deny't againe. 
 
 Gut. I haue fpoke it, and I did it. 
 
 Cym. He was a Prince. 
 
 GUI. A moft inciuill one. The wrongs he did mee 
 Were nothing Prince-like ; for he did prouoke me 
 With Language that would make me fpurne the Sej, 
 If it could fo roare to me. I cut off's head, 
 And am right glad he is not (landing heere 
 To tell this tale of mine. 
 
 Cym. I am forrow for thee : 
 
 By thine owne tongue thou art condemn'd, and muft 
 Endure our Law : Thou'rt dead. 
 
 Imo. That headleffe man I thought had bin my Lord 
 
 Cym. Binde the Offender, 
 And take him from our prefence. 
 
 'Bel. Stay, Sir King. 
 
 This man is better then the man he flew, 
 As well defcended as thy felfe, and hath 
 More of thee merited, then a Band of Clotens 
 Had euer fcarre for. Let his Armes alone, 
 They were not borne for bondage. 
 
 Cym. Why old Soldier : 
 
 Wilt thou vndoo the worth thou art vnpayd for 
 By tafting of our wrath ? How of defcent 
 As good as we ? 
 
 Ami. In that he fpake too farre. 
 
 Cym. And thou malt dye for't. 
 
 <Bel. We will dye all three, 
 But I will proue that two one's are as good 
 As I haue giuen out him. MySonnes, I muft 
 For mine owne part, vnfold a dangerous fpeeth, 
 Though haply well for you. 
 
 Arut, Your danger's ours. 
 
 Guid. And our good his. 
 
 Bel. Haue at it then, by leaue 
 Thou hadd'ft (great King)a Subie<t,who 
 Was call'd Belarlvs. 
 
 Cym. What of him? He is a banifh'd Traitor. 
 
 'Bel. He it is, that hath 
 AfTum'd this age : indeed a banifh'd man,
 
 398 
 
 The Tragedy of Cymbeline. 
 
 I know not how, a Traitor. 
 
 Cym. Take him hence, 
 The whole world (hall not faue him. 
 
 Bel. Not too hot ; 
 
 Firft pay me for the Nurfing of thy Sonnes, 
 And let it be confifcate all, fo foone 
 As I haue receyu'd it. 
 
 Cym. Nurfing of my Sonnes ? 
 
 Bel. I am too blunt, and fawcy : heere's my knee : 
 Ere I arife, I will preferre my Sonnes, 
 Then fpare not the old Father. Mighty Sir, 
 Thefe two young Gentlemen that call me Father, 
 And thinke they are my Sonnes, are none of mine, 
 They are the yfl"ue of your Loynes, my Liege, 
 And blood of your begetting. 
 
 Cym. How? my IfTue. 
 
 'Bel. So fure as you, your Fathers : I (old Morgan] 
 Am that 'Belariui. whom you fometime baniih'd : 
 Your pleafure was my neere offence, my punifhment 
 It felfe, and all my Treafon that I fuffer'd, 
 Was all the harme I did. Thefe gentle Princes 
 (For fuch,and fo they are) thefe twenty yeares 
 Haue I train'd vp ; thofe Arts they haue, as I 
 Could put into them. My breeding was (Sir) 
 As your Highneffe knowes : Their Nurfe Eurlpbile 
 (Whom for the Theft I wedded) ftole thefe Children 
 Vpon my Banifhment : I moou'd her too't, 
 Hauing receyu'd the punifhment before 
 For that which I did then. Beaten for Loyaltie, 
 Excited me to Treafon. Their deere lofie, 
 The more of you 'twas felt, the more it fhap'd 
 Vnto my end of ftealing them. But gracious Sir, 
 Heere are your Sonnes againe, and I muft loofe 
 Two of the fweet'ft Companions in the World. 
 The benediction of thefe couering Heauens 
 Fall on their heads liks dew, for they are worthie 
 To in-lay Heauen with Starres. 
 
 Cym. Thou weep'ft,and fpeak'ft : 
 The Seruice that you three haue done, is more 
 Vnlike, then this thou teirft. I loft my Children, 
 If thefe be they, I know not how to wifh 
 A payre of worthier Sonnes. 
 
 Bel. Be pleas'd awhile ; 
 This Gentleman, whom I call Po/idore, 
 Moft worthy Prince, as yours, is true Guiderius : 
 This Gentleman, my Cadrvall, Arwragiu. 
 Your yonger Princely Son, he Sir, was lapt 
 In a moft curious Mantle, wrought by th'hand 
 Of his Queene Mother, which for more probation 
 I can with eafe produce. 
 
 Cym. Guideritu had 
 
 Vpon his necke a Mole, a fanguine Starre, 
 It was a marke of wonder. 
 
 'Bel. This is he, 
 
 Who hath vpon him ftill that naturall ftampe : 
 It was wife Natures end, in the donation 
 To be his euidence now. 
 
 Cym. Oh, what am I 
 
 A Mother to the byrth of three ? Nere Mother 
 Reioyc'd deliuerance more : BIeft,pray you be, 
 That after this ftrange ftarting from your Orbes, 
 You may reigne in them now : Oh Imogen, 
 Thou haft loft by this a Kingdome. 
 
 Imo. No, my Lord : 
 
 I haue got two Worlds by't. Oh my gentle Brothers, 
 Haue we thus met? Oh neuer fay heereafter 
 
 But I am trueft fpeaker. You call'd me Brother 
 When I was but your Sifter : I you Brothers, 
 When we were fo indeed. 
 
 Cym. Did you ere meete? 
 
 Arul. I my good Lord. 
 
 GUI. And at firft meeting lou'd, 
 Continew'd fo, vntill we thought he dyed. 
 
 Corn. By the Queenes Dramme fhe fwallow'd. 
 
 Cym. O rare inftinct ! 
 
 When fhall I heare all through? This fierce abridgment, 
 Hath to it Circumftantiall branches, which 
 Diftinction fhould be rich in. Where? how liu'd you? 
 And when came you to ferue our Romane Captiue ? 
 How parted with your Brother ? How firft met them ? 
 Why fled you from the Court? And whether thefe? 
 And your three motiues to the Battaile ? with 
 I know not how much more fhould be demanded, 
 And all the other by-dependances 
 From chance to chance ? But nor the Time, nor Place 
 Will ferue our long Interrogatories. See, 
 Poftbumuf Anchors vpon Imogen ; 
 And fhe (like harmlefle Lightning) throwes her eye 
 On him : her Brothers, Me : her Mafter hitting 
 Each obiec"l with a loy : the Counter-change 
 Is feuerally in all. Let's quit this ground, 
 And fmoake the Temple with our Sacrifices. 
 Thou art my Brother, fo wee'l hold thee euer. 
 
 Imo. You are my Father too, and did releeue me : 
 To fee this gracious feafon. 
 
 Cym. All ore-ioy'd 
 
 Saue thefe in bonds, let them be ioyfull too, 
 For they fhall tafte our Comfort. 
 
 Imo. My good Mafter, I will yet do you feruice. 
 
 Luc. Happy be you. 
 
 Cym. The forlorne Souldier, that no Nobly fought 
 He would haue well becom'd this place, and grac'd 
 The thankings of a King. 
 
 Poft. I am Sir 
 
 The Souldier that did company thefe three 
 In poore befeeming : 'twas a fitment for 
 The purpofe I then follow'd. That I was he, 
 Speake lacbimo, I had you downe , and might 
 Haue made you finifh. 
 
 lack, \ am downe againe : 
 
 But now my heauie Confcience finkes my knee, 
 As then your force did. Take that life, befeech you 
 Which 1 fo often owe : but your Ring firft, 
 And heere the Bracelet of the trueft Princeffe 
 That euer fwore her Faith. 
 
 Poft. Kneele not to me : 
 
 The powre that I haue on you, is to fpare you : 
 The malice towards you, to forgiue you. Liue 
 And deale with others better. 
 
 Cym. Nobly doom'd : 
 
 Wee'l learne our Freenefie of a Sonne-in-Law : 
 Pardon's the word to all. 
 
 Arm. You holpe vs Sir, 
 As you did meane indeed to be our Brother, 
 loy'd are we, that you are. 
 
 Pcft. Your Seruant Princes.Good my Lord of Rome 
 Call forth your Sooth-fayer : As I flept, me thought 
 Great lupiter vpon his Eagle back'd 
 Appear'd to me, with other fprightly fhewes 
 Of mine owne Kindred. When I wak'd, 1 found 
 This Labell on my bofome ; whofe containing 
 Is fo from fenfe in hardneffe, that I can 
 
 Mak e 
 
 ~ 888
 
 The Tragedy of Cymbeline. 
 
 993 
 
 Make no Collection of it. Let him {hew 
 His skill in the conftrudlion. 
 
 Luc. Pbilarmontu. 
 
 Sootb. Heere,my good Lord. 
 
 Luc. Read, and declare the meaning. 
 
 Reades. 
 
 WHen at a Lyons ivbelpe,Jball to bimfelfe i>ntyiown,-n>itb- 
 out feeding finde, and bee embraced by a peece of tender 
 Ayre: And when from a ftately Cedar Jball be loft branches, 
 which being dead many yeares, /hall after reuiue, bee ioynted to 
 the old Stoc^e, and frejbly grow, then Jball Pojlbumia end bis 
 miferies, Britaine be fortunate, andjlourijh in Peace and Plen- 
 tie. 
 
 Thou Leonattu art the Lyons Whelpe, 
 The fit and apt Confirmation of thy name 
 Being Leonatus, doth import fo much: 
 The peece of tender Ayre, thy vertuous Daughter, 
 Which we call Mollu Aer, and eMo/lis Aer 
 We terme it Mulier ; which Mulier I diuine 
 Is this moft conftant Wife, who euen now 
 Anfwering the Letter of the Oracle, 
 Vnknowne to you vnfought, were dipt about 
 With this moft tender Aire. 
 
 Cym. This hath feme feeming. 
 
 Sootb. The lofty Cedar, Royall Cymbeline 
 Perfonates thee : And thy lopt Branches, point 
 Thy two Sonnes forth : who by *Belaritu ftolne 
 For many yeares thought dead, are nowreuiu'd 
 To the Maiefticke Cedar ioyn'dj whofe Iffue 
 
 Promifes Britaine, Peace and Plenty. 
 
 Cym. Well, 
 
 My Peace we will begin : And Caitu Luciiu, 
 Although the Victor, we fubmit to Ctffar, 
 And to the Romane Empire ; promifing 
 To pay our wonted Tribute, from the which 
 We were diflwaded by our wicked Queene, 
 Whom heauens in luftice both on her, and hers, 
 Haue laid moft heauy hand. 
 
 Sootb. The fingers of the Powres aboue, do tune 
 The harmony of this Peace : the Vifion 
 Which I made knowne to Luciiu ere the ftroke 
 Of yet this fcarfe-cold-Battaile, at this inftant 
 Is full accomplifh'd. For the Romaine Eagle 
 From South to Weft, on wing foaring aloft 
 Leflen'd her felfe, and in the Beames o'th'Sun 
 So vanifh'd ; which fore-fhew'd our Princely Eagle 
 Th'Imperiall Ctefar, Ihould againe vnite 
 His Fauour, with the Radiant Cymbeline, 
 Which fhines heere in the Weft. 
 
 Cym. Laud we the Gods, 
 
 And let our crooked Smoakes climbe to their Noftrils 
 From our bleft Altars. Publifh we this Peace 
 To all our Subiec~h. Set we forward : Let 
 .A Roman, and a Brittifli Enfigne waue 
 Friendly together : fo through Ludi-Towne march, 
 And in the Temple of great lupiter 
 Our Peace wee'l ratifie : Scale it with Feafts. 
 Set on there : Neuer was a Warre did ceafe 
 (Ere bloodie hands were wafh'd) i with fuch a Peace. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 Printed at the Charges ofW. Jaggard y Ed. Blount, I. Smithweefy, 
 
 and W. aAfpley, 1623. 
 
 889
 
 
 A