Againe if any Siracusian borne Come to the Bay of Ephesus he dies His goods confiscate to the Dukes dispose Vnlesse a thousand markes be leuied To quit the penalty and to ransome him Thy substance valued at the highest rate Cannot amount vnto a hundred Markes Therefore by Law thou art condemn'd to die Mer. Yet this my comfort when your words are done My woes end likewise with the euening Sonne Duk. Well Siracusian say in briefe the cause Why thou departedst from thy natiue home And for what cause thou cam'st to Ephesus Mer. A heauier taske could not haue beene impos'd Then I to speake my griefes vnspeakeable Yet that the world may witnesse that my end Was wrought by nature not by vile offence I le vtter what my sorrow giues me leaue In Syracusa was I borne and wedde Vnto a woman happy but for me And by me had not our hap beene bad With her I liu'd in ioy our wealth increast By prosperous voyages I often made To Epidamium till my factors death And he great care of goods at randone left Drew me from kinde embracements of my spouse From whom my absence was not sixe moneths olde Before her selfe almost at fainting vnder The pleasing punishment that women beare Had made prouision for her following me And soone and safe arriued where I was There had she not beene long but she became A ioyfull mother of two goodly sonnes And which was strange the one so like the other As could not be distinguish'd but by names That very howre and in the selfe-same Inne A meane woman was deliuered Of such a burthen Male twins both alike Those for their parents were exceeding poore I bought and brought vp to attend my sonnes My wife not meanely prowd of two such boyes Made daily motions for our home returne Vnwilling I agreed alas too soone wee came aboord A league from Epidamium had we saild Before the alwaies winde-obeying deepe Gaue any Tragicke Instance of our harme But longer did we not retaine much hope For what obscured light the heauens did grant Did but conuay vnto our fearefull mindes A doubtfull warrant of immediate death Which though my selfe would gladly haue imbrac'd Yet the incessant weepings of my wife Weeping before for what she saw must come And pitteous playnings of the prettie babes That mourn'd for fashion ignorant what to feare Forst me to seeke delayes for them and me And this it was for other meanes was none The Sailors sought for safety by our boate And left the ship then sinking ripe to vs. My wife more carefull for the latter borne Had fastned him vnto a small spare Mast Such as sea-faring men prouide for stormes To him one of the other twins was bound Whil'st I had beene like heedfull of the other The children thus dispos'd my wife and I Fixing our eyes on whom our care was fixt Fastned our selues at eyther end the mast And floating straight obedient to the streame Was carried towards Corinth as we thought At length the sonne gazing vpon the earth Disperst those vapours that offended vs And by the benefit of his wished light The seas waxt calme and we discouered Two shippes from farre making amaine to vs Of Corinth that of Epidarus this But ere they came oh let me say no more Gather the sequell by that went before Duk. Nay forward old man doe not breake off so For we may pitty though not pardon thee Merch. Oh had the gods done so I had not now Worthily tearm'd them mercilesse to vs For ere the ships could meet by twice fiue leagues We were encountred by a mighty rocke Which being violently borne vp Our helpefull ship was splitted in the midst So that in this vniust diuorce of vs Fortune had left to both of vs alike What to delight in what to sorrow for Her part poore soule seeming as burdened With lesser waight but not with lesser woe Was carried with more speed before the winde And in our sight they three were taken vp By Fishermen of Corinth as we thought At length another ship had seiz'd on vs And knowing whom it was their hap to saue Gaue healthfull welcome to their ship-wrackt guests And would haue reft the Fishers of their prey Had not their backe beene very slow of saile And therefore homeward did they bend their course Thus haue you heard me seuer'd from my blisse That by misfortunes was my life prolong'd To tell sad stories of my owne mishaps Duke And for the sake of them thou sorrowest for Doe me the fauour to dilate at full What haue befalne of them and they till now Merch. My yongest boy and yet my eldest care At eighteene yeeres became inquisitiue After his brother and importun'd me That his attendant so his case was like Reft of his brother but retain'd his name Might beare him company in the quest of him Whom whil'st I laboured of a loue to see I hazarded the losse of whom I lou'd Fiue Sommers haue I spent in farthest Greece Roming cleane through the bounds of Asia And coasting homeward came to Ephesus Hopelesse to finde yet loth to leaue vnsought Or that or any place that harbours men But heere must end the story of my life And happy were I in my timelie death Could all my trauells warrant me they liue Duke Haplesse Egeon whom the fates haue markt To beare the extremitie of dire mishap Now trust me were it not against our Lawes Against my Crowne my oath my dignity Which Princes would they may not disanull My soule should sue as aduocate for thee But though thou art adiudged to the death And passed sentence may not be recal'd But to our honours great disparagement Yet will I fauour thee in what I can Therefore Marchant I le limit thee this day To seeke thy helpe by beneficiall helpe Try all the friends thou hast in Ephesus Beg thou or borrow to make vp the summe And liue if no then thou art doom'd to die Iaylor take him to thy custodie Iaylor I will my Lord. Merch. Hopelesse and helpelesse doth Egean wend But to procrastinate his liuelesse end Exeunt Enter Antipholis Erotes a Marchant and Dromio Mer. Therefore giue out you are of Epidamium Lest that your goods too soone be confiscate This very day a Syracusian Marchant Is apprehended for a riuall here And not being able to buy out his life According to the statute of the towne Dies ere the wearie sunne set in the West There is your monie that I had to keepe Ant. Goe beare it to the Centaure where we host And stay there Dromio till I come to thee Within this houre it will be dinner time Till that I le view the manners of the towne Peruse the traders gaze vpon the buildings And then returne and sleepe within mine Inne For with long trauaile I am stiffe and wearie Get thee away Dro. Many a man would take you at your word And goe indeede hauing so good a meane Exit Dromio Ant. A trustie villaine sir
drowne my booke Solemne musicke Heere enters Ariel before Then Alonso with a franticke gesture attended by Gonzalo Sebastian and Anthonio in like manner attended by Adrian and Francisco They all enter the circle which Prospero had made and there stand charm'd which Prospero obseruing speakes A solemne Ayre and the best comforter To an vnsetled fancie Cure thy braines Now vselesse boile within thy skull there stand For you are Spell-stopt Holy Gonzallo Honourable man Mine eyes ev'n sociable to the shew of thine Fall fellowly drops The charme dissolues apace And as the morning steales vpon the night Melting the darkenesse so their rising sences Begin to chace the ignorant fumes that mantle Their cleerer reason O good Gonzallo My true preseruer and a loyall Sir To him thou follow'st I will pay thy graces Home both in word and deede Most cruelly Did thou Alonso vse me and my daughter Thy brother was a furtherer in the Act Thou art pinch'd for 't now Sebastian Flesh and bloud You brother mine that entertaine ambition Expelld remorse and nature whom with Sebastian Whose inward pinches therefore are most strong Would heere haue kill'd your King I do forgiue thee Vnnaturall though thou art Their vnderstanding Begins to swell and the approching tide Will shortly fill the reasonable shore That now ly foule and muddy not one of them That yet lookes on me or would know me Ariell Fetch me the Hat and Rapier in my Cell I will discase me and my selfe present As I was sometime Millaine quickly Spirit Thou shalt ere long be free Ariell sings and helps to attire him Where the Bee sucks there suck I In a Cowslips bell I lie There I cowch when Owles doe crie On the Batts backe I doe flie after Sommer merrily Merrily merrily shall I liue now Vnder the blossom that hangs on the Bow Pro. Why that 's my dainty Ariell I shall misse Thee but yet thou shalt haue freedome so so so To the Kings ship inuisible as thou art There shalt thou finde the Marriners asleepe Vnder the Hatches the Master and the Boat-swaine Being awake enforce them to this place And presently I pre'thee Ar. I drinke the aire before me and returne Or ere your pulse twice beate Exit Gon. All torment trouble wonder and amazement Inhabits heere some heauenly power guide vs Out of this fearefull Country Pro. Behold Sir King The wronged Duke of Millaine Prospero For more assurance that a liuing Prince Do's now speake to thee I embrace thy body And to thee and thy Company I bid A hearty welcome Alo. Where thou bee'st he or no Or some inchanted triflle to abuse me As late I haue beene I not know thy Pulse Beats as of flesh and blood and since I saw thee Th' affliction of my minde amends with which I feare a madnesse held me this must craue And if this be at all a most strange story Thy Dukedome I resigne and doe entreat Thou pardon me my wrongs But how shold Prospero Be liuing and be heere Pro. First noble Frend Let me embrace thine age whose honor cannot Be measur'd or confin'd Gonz. Whether this be Or be not I 'le not sweare Pro. You doe yet taste Some subtleties o' th' Isle that will not let you Beleeue things certaine Wellcome my friends all But you my brace of Lords were I so minded I heere could plucke his Highnesse frowne vpon you And iustifie you Traitors at this time I will tell no tales Seb. The Diuell speakes in him Pro. No For you most wicked Sir whom to call brother Would euen infect my mouth I do forgiue Thy rankest fault all of them and require My Dukedome of thee which perforce I know Thou must restore Alo. If thou beest Prospero Giue vs particulars of thy preferuation How thou hast met vs heere whom three howres since Were wrackt vpon this shore where I haue lost How sharp the point of this remembrance is My deere sonne Ferdinand Pro. I am woe for 't Sir Alo. Irreparable is the losse and patience Saies it is past her cure Pro. I rather thinke You haue not sought her helpe of whose soft grace For the like losse I haue her soueraigne aid And rest my selfe content Alo. You the like losse Pro. As great to me as late and supportable To make the deere losse haue I meanes much weaker Then you may call to comfort you for I Haue lost my daughter Alo. A daughter Oh heauens that they were liuing both in Nalpes The King and Queene there that they were I wish My selfe were mudded in that oo-zie bed Where my sonne lies when did you lose your daughter Pro. In this last Tempest I perceiue these Lords At this encounter doe so much admire That they deuoure their reason and scarce thinke Their eies doe offices of Truth Their words Are naturall breath but howsoeu'r you haue Beene iustled from your sences know for certain That I am Prospero and that very Duke Which was thrust forth of Millaine who most strangely Vpon this shore where you were wrackt was landed To be the Lord on 't No more yet of this For 't is a Chronicle of day by day Not a relation for a break-fast nor Befitting this first meeting Welcome Sir This Cell's my Court heere haue I few attendants And Subiects none abroad pray you looke in My Dukedome since you haue giuen me againe I will requite you with as good a thing At least bring forth a wonder to content ye As much as me my Dukedome Here Prospero discouers Ferdinand and Miranda playing at Chessei Mir. Sweet Lord you play me false Fer. No my dearest loue I would not for the world Mir. Yes for a score of Kingdomes you should wrangle And I would call it faire play Alo. If this proue A vision of the Island one deere Sonne Shall I twice loose Seb. A most high miracle Fer. Though the Seas threaten they are mercifull I haue curs'd them without cause Alo. Now all the blessings Of a glad father compasse thee about Arise and say how thou cam'st heere Mir. O wonder How many goodly creatures are there heere How beauteous mankinde is O braue new world That has such people in 't Pro. 'T is new to thee Alo. What is this Maid with whom thou was 't at play Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three houres Is she the goddesse that hath seuer'd vs And brought vs thus together Fer. Sir she is mortall But by immortall prouidence she 's mine I chose her when I could not aske my Father For his aduise nor thought I had one She Is daughter to this famous Duke of Millaine Of whom so often I haue heard renowne But neuer saw before of whom I haue Receiu'd a second life and second Father This Lady makes him to me Alo. I am hers But O how odly will it sound that I Must aske my childe forgiuenesse Pro. There Sir stop Let vs not burthen our remembrances with A heauinesse that 's gon Gon. I haue inly wept Or should haue
Where thou shalt finde me sad and solitarie Iul. How many women would doe such a message Alas poore Protheus thou hast entertain'd A Foxe to be the Shepheard of thy Lambs Alas poore foole why doe I pitty him That with his very heart despiseth me Because he loues her he despiseth me Because I loue him I must pitty him This Ring I gaue him when he parted from me To binde him to remember my good will And now am I vnhappy Messenger To plead for that which I would not obtaine To carry that which I would haue refus'd To praise his faith which I would haue disprais'd I am my Masters true confirmed Loue But cannot be true seruant to my Master Vnlesse I proue false traitor to my selfe Yet will I woe for him but yet so coldly As heauen it knowes I would not haue him speed Gentlewoman good day I pray you be my meane To bring me where to speake with Madam Siluia Sil. What would you with her if that I be she Iul. If you be she I doe intreat your patience To heare me speake the message I am sent on Sil. From whom Iul. From my Master Sir Protheus Madam Sil. Oh he sends you for a Picture Iul. I Madam Sil. Vrsula bring my Picture there Goe giue your Master this tell him from me One Iulia that his changing thoughts forget Would better fit his Chamber then this Shadow Iul. Madam please you peruse this Letter Pardon me Madam I haue vnaduis'd Deliuer'd you a paper that I should not This is the Letter to your Ladiship Sil. I pray thee let me looke on that againe Iul. It may not be good Madam pardon me Sil. There hold I will not looke vpon your Masters lines I know they are stuft with protestations And full of new-found oathes which he will breake As easily as I doe teare his paper Iul. Madam he sends your Ladiship this Ring Sil. The more shame for him that he sends it me For I haue heard him say a thousand times His Iulia gaue it him at his departure Though his false finger haue prophan'd the Ring Mine shall not doe his Iulia so much wrong Iul. She thankes you Sil. What sai'st thou Iul. I thanke you Madam that you tender her Poore Gentlewoman my Master wrongs her much Sil. Do'st thou know her Iul. Almost as well as I doe know my selfe To thinke vpon her woes I doe protest That I haue wept a hundred seuerall times Sil. Belike she thinks that Protheus hath forsook her Iul. I thinke she doth and that 's her cause of sorrow Sil. Is she not passing faire Iul. She hath bin fairer Madam then she is When she did thinke my Master lou'd her well She in my iudgement was as faire as you But since she did neglect her looking-glasse And threw her Sun-expelling Masque away The ayre hath staru'd the roses in her cheekes And pinch'd the lilly-tincture of her face That now she is become as blacke as I. Sil. How tall was she Iul. About my stature for at Pentecost When all our Pageants of delight were plaid Our youth got me to play the womans part And I was trim'd in Madam Iulius gowne Which serued me as fit by all mens iudgements As if the garment had bin made for me Therefore I know she is about my height And at that time I made her weepe a good For I did play a lamentable part Madam 't was Ariadne passioning For Thesus periury and vniust flight Which I so liuely acted with my teares That my poore Mistris moued therewithall Wept bitterly and would I might be dead If I in thought felt not her very sorrow Sil. She is beholding to thee gentle youth Alas poore Lady desolate and left I weepe my selfe to thinke vpon thy words Here youth there is my purse I giue thee this For thy sweet Mistris sake because thou lou'st her Farewell Iul. And she shall thanke you for 't if ere you know her A vertuous gentlewoman milde and beautifull I hope my Masters suit will be but cold Since she respects my Mistris loue so much Alas how loue can trisle with it selfe Here is her Picture let me see I thinke If I had such a Tyre this face of mine Were full as louely as is this of hers And yet the Painter flatter'd her a little Vnlesse I flatter with my selfe too much Her haire is Aburne mine is perfect Yellow If that be all the difference in his loue I le get me such a coulour'd Perrywig Her eyes are grey as glasse and so are mine I but her fore-head's low and mine 's as high What should it be that he respects in her But I can make respectiue in my selfe If this fond Loue were not a blinded god Come shadow come and take this shadow vp For 't is thy riuall O thou sencelesse forme Thou shalt be worship'd kiss'd lou'd and ador'd And were there sence in his Idolatry My substance should be statue in thy stead I le vse thee kindly for thy Mistris sake That vs'd me so or else by Ioue I vow I should haue scratch'd out your vnseeing eyes To make my Master out of loue with thee Exeunt Actus Quintus Scoena Prima Enter Eglamoure Siluia Egl. The Sun begins to guild the westerne skie And now it is about the very houre That Siluia at Fryer Patricks Cell should meet me She will not faile for Louers breake not houres Vnlesse it be to come before their time So much they spur their expedition See where she comes Lady a happy euening Sil. Amen Amen goe on good Eglamoure Out at the Posterne by the Abbey wall I feare I am attended by some Spies Egl. Feare not the Forrest is not three leagues off If we recouer that we are sure enough Exeunt Scoena Secunda Enter Thurio Protheus Iulia Duke Th. Sir Protheus what saies Siluia to my suit Pro. Oh Sir I finde her milder then she was And yet she takes exceptions at your person Thu. What that my leg is too long Pro. No that it is too little Thu. I le weare a Boote to make it somewhat rounder Pro. But loue will not be spurd to what it loathâ— Thu. What saies she to my face Pro. She saies it is a faire one Thu. Nay then the wanton lyes my face is blacke Pro. But Pearles are faire and the old saying is Blacke men are Pearles in beauteous Ladies eyes Thu. 'T is true such Pearles as put out Ladies eyes For I had rather winke then looke on them Thu. How likes she my discourse Pro. Ill when you talke of war Thu. But well when I discourse of loue and peace Iul. But better indeede when you hold you peace Thu. What sayes she to my valour Pro. Oh Sir she makes no doubt of that Iul. She needes not when she knowes it cowardize Thu. What saies she to my birth Pro. That you are well deriu'd Iul. True from a Gentleman to a foole Thu. Considers she my Possessions Pro. Oh I and pitties them
Iade The valiant heart 's not whipt out of his trade Exit Esc Come hether to me Master Elbow come hither Master Constable how long haue you bin in this place of Constable Elb. Seuen yeere and a halfe sir Esc I thought by the readinesse in the office you had continued in it some time you say seauen yeares together Elb. And a halfe sir Esc Alas it hath beene great paines to you they do you wrong to put you so oft vpon 't Are there not men in your Ward sufficient to serue it Elb. 'Faith sir few of any wit in such matters as they are chosen they are glad to choose me for them I do it for some peece of money and goe through with all Esc Looke you bring mee in the names of some sixe or seuen the most sufficient of your parish Elb. To your Worships house sir Esc To my house fare you well what 's a clocke thinke you Iust. Eleuen Sir Esc I pray you home to dinner with me Iust I humbly thanke you Esc It grieues me for the death of Claudio But there 's no remedie Iust Lord Angelo is seuere Esc It is but needfull Mercy is not it selfe that oft lookes so Pardon is still the nurse of second woe But yet poore Claudio there is no remedie Come Sir Exeunt Scena Secunda Enter Prouost Seruant Ser. Hee 's hearing of a Cause he will come straight I 'le tell him of you Pro. 'Pray you doe I le know His pleasure may be he will relent alas He hath but as offended in a dreame All Sects all Ages smack of this vice and he To die for 't Enter Angelo Ang. Now what 's the matter Prouost Pro. Is it your will Claudio shall die to morrow Ang. Did not I tell thee yea hadst thou not order Why do'st thou aske againe Pro. Lest I might be too rash Vnder your good correction I haue seene When after execution Iudgement hath Repented ore his doome Ang. Goe to let that be mine Doe you your office or giue vp your Place And you shall well be spar'd Pro. I craue your Honours pardon What shall be done Sir with the groaning Iuliet Shee 's very neere her howre Ang. Dispose of her To some more fitter place and that with speed Ser. Here is the sister of the man condemn'd Desires accesse to you Ang. Hath he a Sister Pro. I my good Lord a very vertuous maid And to be shortlie of a Sister-hood If not alreadie Ang. Well let her be admitted See you the Fornicatresse be remou'd Let her haue needfull but not lauish meanes There shall be order for 't Enter Lucio and Isabella Pro. ' Saue your Honour Ang. Stay a little while y' are welcome what 's your will Isab I am a wofull Sutor to your Honour ' Please but your Honor heare me Ang. Well what 's your suite Isab There is a vice that most I doe abhorre And most desire should meet the blow of Iustice For which I would not plead but that I must For which I must not plead but that I am At warre twixt will and will not Ang. Well the matter Isab I haue a brother is condemn'd to die I doe beseech you let it be his fault And not my brother Pro. Heauen giue thee mouing graces Ang. Condemne the fault and not the actor of it Why euery fault 's condemnd ere it be done Mine were the verie Cipher of a Function To fine the faults whose fine stands in record And let goe by the Actor Isab Oh iust but seuere Law I had a brother then heauen keepe your honour Luc. Giue 't not ore so to him againe entreat him Kneele downe before him hang vpon his gowne You are too cold if you should need a pin You could not with more tâ—me tongue desire it To him I say Isab Must he needs die Ang. Maiden no remedie Isab Yes I doe thinke that you might pardon him And neither heauen nor man grieue at the mercy Ang. I will not doe 't Isab But can you if you would Ang. Looke what I will not that I cannot doe Isab But might you doe 't do the world no wrong If so your heart were touch'd with that remorse As mine is to him Ang. Hee 's sentenc'd t is too late Luc. You are too cold Isab Too late why no I that doe speak a word May call it againe well beleeue this No ceremony that to great ones longs Not the Kings Crowne nor the deputed sword The Marshalls Truncheon nor the Iudges Robe Become them with one halfe so good a grace As mercie does If he had bin as you and you as he You would haue slipt like him but he like you Would not haue beene so sterne Ang. Pray you be gone Isab I would to heauen I had your potencie And you were Isabell should it then be thus No I would tell what 't were to be a Iudge And what a prisoner Luc. I touch him there 's the vaine Ang. Your Brother is a forfeit of the Law And you but waste your words Isab Alas alas Why all the soules that were were forfeit once And he that might the vantage best haue tooke Found out the remedie how would you be If he which is the top of Iudgement should But iudge you as you are Oh thinke on that And mercie then will breathe within your lips Like man new made Ang. Be you content faire Maid It is the Law not I condemne your brother Were he my kinsman brother or my sonne It should be thus with him he must die to morrow Isab To morrow oh that 's sodaine Spare him spare him Hee 's not prepar'd for death euen for our kitchins We kill the fowle of season shall we serue heauen With lesse respect then we doe minister To our grosse-selues good good my Lord bethink you Who is it that hath di'd for this offence There 's many haue committed it Luc. I well said Ang. The Law hath not bin dead thogh it hath slept Those many had not dar'd to doe that euill If the first that did th' Edict infringe Had answer'd for his deed Now 't is awake Takes note of what is done and like a Prophet Lookes in a glasse that shewes what future euils Either now or by remissenesse new conceiu'd And so in progresse to be hatc'hd and borne Are now to haue no successiue degrees But here they liue to end Isab Yet shew some pittie Ang. I shew it most of all when I show Iustice For then I pittie those I doe not know Which a dismis'd offence would after gaule And doe him right that answering one foule wrong Liues not to act another Be satisfied Your Brother dies to morrow be content Isab So you must be y e first that giues this sentence And hee that suffers Oh it is excellent To haue a Giants strength but it is tyrannous To vse it like a Giant Luc. That 's well said Isab Could great men thunder As Ioue himselfe do's Ioue would neuer
Lord your Grace is periur'd much Full of deare guiltinesse and therefore this If for my Loue as there is no such cause You will do ought this shall you do for me Your oth I will not trust but go with speed To some forlorne and naked Hermitage Remote from all the pleasures of the world There stay vntill the twelue Celestiall Signes Haue brought about their annuall reckoning If this austere insociable life Change not your offer made in heate of blood If frosts and fasts hard lodging and thin weeds Nip not the gaudie blossomes of your Loue But that it beare this triall and last loue Then at the expiration of the yeare Come challenge me challenge me by these deserts And by this Virgin palme now kissing thine I will be thine and till that instant shut My wofull selfe vp in a mourning house Raining the teares of lamentation For the remembrance of my Fathers death If this thou do denie let our hands part Neither intitled in the others hart Kin. If this or more then this I would denie To flatter vp these powers of mine with rest The sodaine hand of death close vp mine eie Hence euer then my heart is in thy brest Ber. And what to me my Loue and what to me Ros You must be purged too your sins are rack'd You are attaint with faults and periurie Therefore if you my fauor meane to get A tweluemonth shall you spend and neuer rest But seeke the wearie beds of people sicke Du. But what to me my loue but what to me Kat. A wife a beard faire health and honestie With three-fold loue I wish you all these three Du. O shall I say I thanke you gentle wife Kat. Not so my Lord a tweluemonth and a day I le marke no words that smoothfac'd wooers say Come when the King doth to my Ladie come Then if I haue much loue I le giue you some Dum. I le serue thee true and faithfully till then Kath. Yet sweare not least ye be forsworne agen Lon. What saies Maria Mari. At the tweluemonths end I le change my blacke Gowne for a faithfull friend Lon. I le stay with patience but the time is long Mari. The liker you few taller are so yong Ber. Studies my Ladie Mistresse looke on me Behold the window of my heart mine eie What humble suite attends thy answer there Impose some seruice on me for my loue Ros Oft haue I heard of you my Lord Berowne Before I saw you and the worlds large tongue Proclaimes you for a man repleate with mockes Full of comparisons and wounding floutes Which you on all estates will execute That lie within the mercie of your wit To weed this Wormewood from your fruitfull braine And therewithall to win me if you please Without the which I am not to be won You shall this tweluemonth terme from day to day Visite the speechlesse sicke and still conuerse With groaning wretches and your taske shall be With all the fierce endeuour of your wit To enforce the pained impotent to smile Ber. To moue wilde laughter in the throate of death It cannot be it is impossible Mirth cannot moue a soule in agonie Ros Why that 's the way to choke a gibing spirit Whose influence is begot of that loose grace Which shallow laughing hearers giue to fooles A iests prosperitie lies in the eare Of him that heares it neuer in the tongue Of him that makes it then if sickly eares Deaft with the clamors of their owne deare grones Will heare your idle scornes continue then And I will haue you and that fault withall But if they will not throw away that spirit And I shal finde you emptie of that fault Right ioyfull of your reformation Ber. A tweluemonth Well befall what will befall I le iest a tweluemonth in an Hospitall Qu. I sweet my Lord and so I take my leaue King No Madam we will bring you on your way Ber. Our woing doth not end like an old Play Iacke hath not Gill these Ladies courtesie Might wel haue made our sport a Comedie Kin. Come sir it wants a tweluemonth and a day And then 't wil end Ber. That 's too long for a play Enter Braggart Brag. Sweet Maiesty vouchsafe me Qu. Was not that Hector Dum. The worthie Knight of Troy Brag. I wil kisse thy royal finger and take leaue I am a Votarie I haue vow'd to Iaquenetta to holde the Plough for her sweet loue three yeares But most esteemed greatnesse wil you heare the Dialogue that the two Learned men haue compiled in praise of the Owle and the Cuckow It should haue followed in the end of our shew Kin. Call them forth quickely we will do so Brag. Holla Approach Enter all This side is Hiems Winter This Ver the Spring the one maintained by the Owle Th' other by the Cuckow Ver begin The Song When Dasies pied and Violets blew And Cuckow-buds of yellow hew And Ladie-smockes all siluer white Do paint the Medowes with delight The Cuckow then on euerie tree Mockes married men for thus sings he Cuckow Cuckow Cuckow O word of feare Vnpleasing to a married eare When Shepheards pipe on Oaten strawes And merrie Larkes are Ploughmens clockes When Turtles tread and Rookes and Dawes And Maidens bleach their summer smockes The Cuckow then on euerie tree Mockes married men for thus sings he Cuckow Cuckow Cuckow O word of feare Vnpleasing to a married eare Winter When Isicles hang by the wall And Dicke the Sphepheard blowes his naile And Tom beares Logges into the hall And Milke comes frozen home in paile When blood is nipt and waies be fowle Then nightly sings the staring Owle Tu-whit to-who A merrie note While greasie Ione doth keele the pot When all aloud the winde doth blow And cossing drownes the Parsons saw And birds sit brooding in the snow And Marrians nose lookes red and raw When roasted Crabs hisse in the bowle Then nightly sings the staring Owle Tu-whit to who A merrie note While greasie Ione doth keele the pot Brag. The Words of Mercurie Are harsh after the songs of Apollo You that way we this way Exeunt omnes FINIS A MIDSOMMER Nights Dreame Actus primus Enter Theseus Hippolita with others Theseus NOw faire Hippolita our nuptiall houre Drawes on apace foure happy daies bring in Another Moon but oh me thinkes how slow This old Moon wanes She lingers my desires Like to a Step-dame or a Dowager Long withering out a yong mans reuennew Hip. Foure daies wil quickly steep thēselues in nights Foure nights wil quickly dreame away the time And then the Moone like to a siluer bow Now bent in heauen shal behold the night Of our solemnities The. Go Philostrate Stirre vp the Athenian youth to merriments Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth Turne melancholy forth to Funerals The pale companion is not for our pompe Hippolita I woo'd thee with my sword And wonne thy loue doing thee iniuries But I will wed thee in another
I will whisper to the Businesse And will by twoes and threes at seuerall Posternes Cleare them o' th' Citie For my selfe I le put My fortunes to your seruice which are here By this discouerie lost Be not vncertaine For by the honor of my Parents I Haue vttred Truth which if you seeke to proue I dare not stand by nor shall you be safer Then one condemnd by the Kings owne mouth Thereon his Execution sworne Pol. I doe beleeue thee I saw his heart in 's face Giue me thy hand Be Pilot to me and thy places shall Still neighbour mine My Ships are ready and My people did expect my hence departure Two dayes agoe This Iealousie Is for a precious Creature as shee 's rare Must it be great and as his Person 's mightie Must it be violent and as he do's conceiue He is dishonor'd by a man which euer Profess'd to him why his Reuenges must In that be made more bitter Feare ore-shades me Good Expedition be my friend and comfort The gracious Queene part of his Theame but nothing Of his ill-ta'ne suspition Come Camillo I will respect thee as a Father if Thou bear'st my life off hence Let vs auoid Cam. It is in mine authoritie to command The Keyes of all the Posternes Please your Highnesse To take the vrgent houre Come Sir away Exeunt Actus Secundus Scena Prima Enter Hermione Mamillius Ladies Leontes Antigonus Lords Her Take the Boy to you he so troubles me 'T is past enduring Lady Come my gracious Lord Shall I be your play-fellow Mam. No I le none of you Lady Why my sweet Lord Mam. You 'le kisse me hard and speake to me as if I were a Baby still I loue you better 2. Lady And why so my Lord Mam. Not for because Your Browes are blacker yet black-browes they say Become some Women best so that there be not Too much haire there but in a Cemicircle Or a halfe-Moone made with a Pen. 2. Lady Who taught ' this Mam. I learn'd it out of Womens faces pray now What colour are your eye-browes Lady Blew my Lord. Mam. Nay that 's a mock I haue seene a Ladies Nose That ha's beene blew but not her eye-browes Lady Harke ye The Queene your Mother rounds apace we shall Present our seruices to a fine new Prince One of these dayes and then youl 'd wanton with vs If we would haue you 2. Lady She is spread of late Into a goodly Bulke good time encounter her Her What wisdome stirs amongst you Come Sir now I am for you againe 'Pray you sit by vs And tell 's a Tale. Mam. Merry or sad shal't be Her As merry as you will Mam. A sad Tale's best for Winter I haue one of Sprights and Goblins Her Let 's haue that good Sir Come-on sit downe come-on and doe your best To fright me with your Sprights you 're powrefull at it Mam. There was a man Her Nay come sit downe then on Mam. Dwelt by a Church-yard I will tell it softly Yond Crickets shall not heare it Her Come on then and giu 't me in mine care Leon. Was hee met there his Traine Camillo with him Lord. Behind the tuft of Pines I met them neuer Saw I men scowre so on their way I eyed them Euen to their Ships Leo. How blest am I In my iust Censure in my true Opinion Alack for lesser knowledge how accurs'd In being so blest There may be in the Cup A Spider steep'd and one may drinke depart And yet partake no venome for his knowledge Is not infected but if one present Th' abhor'd Ingredient to his eye make knowne How he hath drunke he cracks his gorge his sides With violent Hefts I haue drunke and seene the Spider Camillo was his helpe in this his Pandar There is a Plot against my Life my Crowne All 's true that is mistrusted that false Villaine Whom I employ'd was pre-employ'd by him He ha's discouer'd my Designe and I Remaine a pinch'd Thing yea a very Trick For them to play at will how came the Posternes So easily open Lord. By his great authority Which often hath no lesse preuail'd then so On your command Leo. I know 't too well Giue me the Boy I am glad you did not nurse him Though he do's beare some signes of me yet you Haue too much blood in him Her What is this Sport Leo. Beare the Boy hence he shall not come about her Away with him and let her sport her selfe With that shee 's big-with for 't is Polixenes Ha's made thee swell thus Her But I l'd say he had not And I le be sworne you would beleeue my saying How e're you leaue to th' Nay-ward Leo. You my Lords Looke on her marke her well be but about To say she is a goodly Lady and The iustice of your hearts will thereto adde 'T is pitty shee 's not honest Honorable Prayse her but for this her without-dore-Forme Which on my faith deserues high speech and straight The Shrug the Hum or Ha these Petty-brands That Calumnie doth vse Oh I am out That Mercy do's for Calumnie will feare Vertue it selfe these Shrugs these Hum's and Ha's When you haue said shee 's goodly come betweene Ere you can say shee 's honest But be 't knowne From him that ha's most cause to grieue it should be Shee 's an Adultresse Her Should a Villaine say so The most replenish'd Villaine in the World He were as much more Villaine you my Lord Doe but mistake Leo. You haue mistooke my Lady Polixenes for Leontes O thou Thing Which I le not call a Creature of thy place Least Barbarisme making me the precedent Should a like Language vse to all degrees And mannerly distinguishment leaue out Betwixt the Prince and Begger I haue said Shee 's an Adultresse I haue said with whom More shee 's a Traytor and Camillo is A Federarie with her and one that knowes What she should shame to know her selfe But with her most vild Principall that shee 's A Bed-swaruer euen as bad as those That Vulgars giue bold'st Titles I and priuy To this their late escape Her No by my life Priuy to none of this how will this grieue you When you shall come to clearer knowledge that You thus haue publish'd me Gentle my Lord. You scarce can right me throughly then to say You did mistake Leo. No if I mistake In those Foundations which I build vpon The Centre is not bigge enough to beare A Schoole-Boyes Top. Away with her to Prison He who shall speake for her is a farre-off guiltie But that he speakes Her There 's some ill Planet raignes I must be patient till the Heauens looke With an aspect more fauorable Good my Lords I am not prone to weeping as our Sex Commonly are the want of which vaine dew Perchance shall dry your pitties but I haue That honorable Griefe lodg'd here which burnes Worse then Teares drowne beseech you all my Lords With thoughts so qualified as
the tongue A cased Lion by the mortall paw A fasting Tyger safer by the tooth Then keepe in peace that hand which thou dost hold Fra. I may dis-ioyne my hand but not my faith Pand. So mak'st thou faith an enemy to faith And like a ciuill warre setst oath to oath Thy tongue against thy tongue O let thy vow First made to heauen first be to heauen perform'd That is to be the Champion of our Church What since thou sworst is sworne against thy selfe And may not be performed by thy selfe For that which thou hast sworne to doe amisse Is not amisse when it is truely done And being not done where doing tends to ill The truth is then most done not doing it The better Act of purposes mistooke Is to mistake again though indirect Yet indirection thereby growes direct And falshood falshood cures as fire cooles fire Within the scorched veines of one new burn'd It is religion that doth make vowes kept But thou hast sworne against religion By what thou swear'st against the thing thou swear'st And mak'st an oath the suretie for thy truth Against an oath the truth thou art vnsure To sweare sweares onely not to be forsworne Else what a mockerie should it be to sweare But thou dost sweare onely to be forsworne And most forsworne to keepe what thou dost sweare Therefore thy later vowes against thy first Is in thy selfe rebellion to thy selfe And better conquest neuer canst thou make Then arme thy constant and thy nobler parts Against these giddy loose suggestions Vpon which better part our prayrs come in If thou vouchsafe them But if not then know The perill of our curses light on thee So heauy as thou shalt not shake them off But in despaire dye vnder their blacke weight Aust Rebellion flat rebellion Bast Wil 't not be Will not a Calues-skin stop that mouth of thine Daul Father to Armes Blanch. Vpon thy wedding day Against the blood that thou hast married What shall our feast be kept with slaughtered men Shall braying trumpets and loud churlish drums Clamors of hell be measures to our pomp O 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 Against mine Vncle. Const O vpon my knee made hard with kneeling I doe pray to thee thou vertuous Daulphin Alter not the doome fore-thought by heauen Blan. Now shall I see thy loue what motiue may Be stronger with thee then the name of wife Con. That which vpholdeth him that thee vpholds His Honor Oh thine Honor Lewis thine Honor. Dolph I muse your Maiesty doth seeme so cold When such profound respects doe pull you on Pand. I will denounce a curse vpon his head Fra. Thou shalt not need England I will fall froÌ„ thee Const O faire returne of banish'd Maiestie Elea. O foule reuolt of French inconstancy Eng. France y u shalt rue this houre within this houre Bast Old Time the clocke setter y t bald sexton Time Is it as he will well then France shall rue Bla. The Sun 's orecast with bloud faire day adieu Which is the side that I must goe withall I am with both each Army hâ— a hand And in their rage I hauing hold of both They whurle aâ—under and dismember mee Husband I cannot pray that thou maist winne Vncle I needs must pray that thou maist lose Father I may not wish the fortune thine Grandam I will not wish thy wishes thriue Who-euer wins on that side shall I lose Assured losse before the match be plaid Dolph Lady with me with me thy fortune lies Bla. There where my fortune liues there my life dies Iohn Cosen goe draw our puisance together France I am burn'd vp with inflaming wrath A rage whose heat hath this condition That nothing can allay nothing but blood The blood and deerest valued bloud of France Fra. Thy rage shall burne thee vp thou shalt turne To ashes ere our blood shall quench that fire Looke to thy selfe thou art in ieopardie Iohn No more then he that threats To Arms le' ts hie Exeunt Scoena Secunda Allarums Excursions Enter Bastard with Austria's head Bast Now by my life this day grows wondrous hot Some ayery Deuill houers in the skie And pour's downe mischiefe Austrias head lye there Enter Iohn Arthur Hubert While Philip breathes Iohn Hubert keepe this boy Philip make vp My Mother is assayled in our Tent And tane I feare Bast My Lord I rescued her Her Highnesse is in safety feare you not But on my Liege for very little paines Will bring this labor to an happy end Exit Alarums excursions Retreat Enter Iohn Eleanor Arthur Bastard Hubert Lords Iohn So shall it be your Grace shall stay behinde So strongly guarded Cosen looke not sad Thy Grandame loues thee and thy Vnkle will As deere be to thee as thy father was Arth. O this will make my mother die with griefe Iohn Cosen away for England haste before And ere our comming see thou shake the bags Of hoording Abbots imprisoned angells Set at libertie the fat ribs of peace Must by the hungry now be fed vpon Vse our Commission in his vtmost force Bast Bell Booke Candle shall not driue me back When gold and siluer becks me to come on I leaue your highnesse Grandame I will pray If euer I remember to be holy For your faire safety so I kisse your hand Ele. Farewell gentle Cosen Iohn Coz farewell Ele. Come hether little kinsman harke a worde Iohn Come hether Hubert O my gentle Hubert We owe thee much within this wall of flesh There is a soule counts thee her Creditor And with aduantage meanes to pay thy loue And my good friend thy voluntary oath Liues in this bosome deerely cherished Giue me thy hand I had a thing to say But I will fit it with some better tune By heauen Hubert I am almost asham'd To say what good respect I haue of thee Hub. I am much bounden to your Maiesty Iohn Good friend thou hast no cause to say so yet But thou shalt haue and creepe time nere so slow Yet it shall come for me to doe thee good I had a thing to say but let it goe The Sunne is in the heauen and the proud day Attended with the pleasures 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 same were a Church-yard where we stand And thou possessed with a thousand wrongs Or if that surly spirit melancholy Had bak'd thy bloud and made it heauy thicke Which else runnes tickling vp and downe the veines Making that idiot laughter keepe mens eyes And straine their cheekes to idle merriment A passion hatefull to my purposes Or if that thou couldst see me without eyes Heare me without thine eares and make reply
As that vngentle gull the Cuckowes Bird Vseth the Sparrow did oppresse our Nest Grew by our Feeding to so great a bulke That euen our Loue durst not come neere your sight For feare of swallowing But with nimble wing We were inforc'd for safety sake to flye Out of your sight and raise this present Head Whereby we stand opposed by such meanes As you your selfe haue forg'd against your selfe By vnkinde vsage dangerous countenance And violation of all faith and troth Sworne to vs in yonger enterprize Kin. These things indeede you haue articulated Proclaim'd at Market Crosses read in Churches To face the Garment of Rebellion With some fine colour that may please the eye Of fickle Changelings and poore Discontents Which gape and rub the Elbow at the newes Of hurly burly Innouation And neuer yet did Insurrection want Such water-colours to impaint his cause Nor moody Beggars staruing for a time Of pell-mell hauocke and confusion Prin. In both our Armies there is many a soule 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 praise of Henry Percie By my Hopes This present enterprize set off his head I do not thinke a brauer Gentleman More actiue 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 speake it to my shame I haue a Truant beene to Chiualry And so I heare he doth account me too Yet this before my Fathers Maiesty I am content that he shall take the oddes Of his great name and estimation And will to saue the blood on either side Try fortune with him in a Single Fight King And Prince of Wales so dare we venter thee Albeit considerations infinite Do make against it No good Worster no We loue our people well euen those we loue That are â—sled vpon your Cousins 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 I le be his So tell your Cousin and bring me word What he will do But if he will not yeeld Rebuke and dread correction waite on vs And they shall do their Office So bee gone We will not now be troubled with reply We offer faire take it aduisedly Exit Worcester Prin. It will not be accepted on my life The Dowglas and the Hotspurre both together Are confident against the world in Armes King Hence therefore euery Leader to his charge For on their answer will we set on them And God befriend vs as our cause is iust Exeunt Manet Prince and Falstaffe Fal. Hal if thou see me downe in the battell And bestride me so 't is a point of friendship Prin. Nothing but a Colossus can do thee that frendship Say thy prayers and farewell Fal. I would it were bed time Hal and all well Prin. Why thou ow'st heauen a death Falst 'T is not due yet I would bee loath to pay him before his day What neede I bee so forward with him that call's not on me Well 't is no matter Honor prickes me on But how if Honour pricke me off when I come on How then Can Honour set 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 Honour A word What is that word Honour Ayre A trim reckoning Who hath it He that dy'de a Wednesday Doth he feele it No. Doth hee heare it No. Is it insensible then yea to the dead But wil it not liue with the liuing No. Why Detraction wil not suffer it therfore I le none of it Honour is a meere Scutcheon and so ends my Catechisme Exit Scena Secunda Enter Worcester and Sir Richard Vernon Wor. O no my Nephew must not know Sir Richard The liberall kinde offer of the King Ver. 'T were best he did Wor. Then we are all vndone It is not possible it cannot be The King would keepe his word in louing vs He will suspect vs still and finde a time To punish this offence in others faults Supposition all our liues shall be stucke full of eyes For Treason is but trusted like the Foxe Who ne're so tame so cherisht and lock'd vp Will haue a wilde tricke of his Ancestors Looke how he can or sad or merrily Interpretation will misquote our lookes And we shall feede like Oxen at a stall The better cherisht still the nearer death My Nephewes trespasse may be well forgot It hath the excuse of youth and heate of blood And an adopted name of Priuiledge A haire-brain'd Hotspurre 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 shall pay for all Therefore good Cousin let not Harry know In any case the offer of the King Ver. Deliuer what you will I le say 't is so Heere comes your Cosin Enter Hotspurre Hot. My Vnkle is return'd Deliuer vp my Lord of Westmerland Vnkle what newe Wor. The King will bid you battell presently Dow. Defie him by the Lord of Westmerland Hot. Lord Dowglas Go you and tell him so Dow. Marry and shall and verie willingly Exit Dowglas Wor. There is no seeming 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 forswearing that he is forsworne He cals vs Rebels Traitors and will scourge With haughty armes this hatefull name in vs. Enter Dowglas Dow. Arme Gentlemen to Armes for I haue thrown A braue defiance in King Henries teeth And Westmerland that was ingag'd did beare it Which cannot choose but bring him quickly on Wor. The Prince of Wales stept forth before the king And Nephew challeng'd you to single fight Hot. O would the quarrell lay vpon our heads And that no man might draw short breath to day But I and Harry Monmouth Tell me tell mee How shew'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 modestly Vnlesse a Brother should a Brother dare To gentle exercise and proofe of Armes He gaue you all the Duties of a Man Trimm'd vp your praises with a Princely tongue Spoke your deseruings like a Chronicle Making you euer better then his praise By still dispraising praise valew'd with you And which became him like a Prince indeed He made a blushing citall of himselfe And chid his Trewant youth with such a Grace As if he mastred there a double spirit Of teaching and of learning instantly There did he pause But let me tell the World If he out-liue the enuie of this day England did neuer owe so sweet a hope So much misconstrued in his Wantonnesse Hot. Cousin I thinke thou art enamored On his Follies neuer did I
Story That I may prompt them and of such as haue I humbly pray them to admit th' excuse Of time of numbers and due course of things Which cannot in their huge and proper life Be here presented Now we beare the King Toward Callice Graunt him there there seene Heaue him away vpon your winged thoughts Athwart the Sea Behold the English beach Pales in the flood with Men Wiues and Boyes Whose shouts 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 solemnly see him set on to London So swift a pace hath Thought that euen now You may imagine him vpon Black-Heath Where that his Lords desire him to haue borne His bruised Helmet and his bended Sword Before him through the Citie he forbids it Being free from vain-nesse and selfe-glorious pride Giuing full Trophee Signall and Ostent Quite from himselfe to God But now behold In the quick Forge and working-house of Thought How London doth powre out her Citizens The Maior and all his Brethren in best sort Like to the Senatours of th' antique Rome With the Plebeians swarming at their heeles Goe forth and fetch their Conqu'ring Caesar in As by a lower but by louing likelyhood Were now the Generall of our gracious Empresse 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 cause Did they this Harry Now in London place him As yet the lamentation of the French Inuites the King of Englands stay 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 must we bring him and my selfe haue play'd The interim by remembring you 't is past Then brooke abridgement and your eyes aduance After your thoughts straight backe againe to France Exit Enter Fluellen and Gower Gower Nay that 's right but why weare you your Leeke to day S. Dauies day is past Flu. There is occasions and causes why and wherefore in all things I will tell you asse my friend Captaine Gower the rascally scauld beggerly lowsie pragging Knaue Pistoll which you and your selfe 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 sault yesterday 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 so bold as to weare it in my Cap till I see him once againe and then I will tell him a little piece of my desires Enter Pistoll Gower Why heere hee comes swelling like a Turky-cock Flu. 'T is no matter for his swellings nor his Turky-cocks God plesse you aunchient Pistoll you scuruie lowsie Knaue God plesse you Pist Ha art thou bedlam doest thou thirst base Troian to haue me fold vp Parcas fatall Web Hence I am qualmish at the smell of Leeke Flu. I peseech you heartily scuruie lowsie Knaue at my desires and my requests and my petitions to eate looke you this Leeke because looke you you doe not loue it nor your affections and your appetites and your disgestions doo's not agree with it I would desire you to eate it Pist Not for Cadwallader and all his Goats Flu. There is one Goat for you Strikes him Will you be so good scauld Knaue as eate it Pist Base Troian thou shalt dye Flu. You say very true scauld Knaue when Gods will is I will desire you to liue in the meane time and eate your Victuals come there is sawce for it You call'd me yesterday Mountaine-Squier but I will make you to day a squire of low degree I pray you fall too if you can mocke a Leeke you can eate a Leeke Gour. Enough Captaine you haue astonisht him Flu. I say I will make him eate some 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 Coxecombe Pist Must I bite Flu. Yes certainly and out of doubt and out of question too and ambiguities Pist By this Leeke I will most horribly reuenge I eate and eate I sweare Flu. Eate I pray you will you haue some more sauce to your Leeke there is not enough Leeke to sweare by Pist Quâ—et thy Cudgell thou dost see I eate Flu. Much good do you scald knaue heartily Nay pray you throw none away the skinne is good for your broken Coxcombe when you take occasions to see Leekes heereafter I pray you mocke at 'em that is all Pist Good Flu. I Leekes is good hold you there is a groat to heale your pate Pist Me a groat Flu Yes verily and in truth you shall take it or I haue another Leeke in my pocket which you shall eate Pist I take thy groat in earnest of reuenge Flu. If I owe you any thing I will pay you in Cudgels you shall be a Woodmonger and buy nothing of me but cudgels God bu'y you and keepe you heale your pate Exit Pist All hell shall stirre for this Gow Go go you are a counterfeit cowardly Knaue will you mocke at an ancient Tradition began vppon an honourable respect and worne as a memorable Trophee of predeceased valor and dare not auouch in your deeds any of your words I haue seene you gleeking galling at this Gentleman twice or thrice You thought because he could not speake English in the natiue garb he could not therefore handle an English Cudgell you finde it otherwise and henceforth let a Welsh correction teach you a good English condition fare ye well Exit Pist Doeth fortune play the huswife with me now Newes haue I that my Doll is dead i' th Spittle of a malady of France and there my rendeuous is quite cut off Old I do waxe and from my wearie limbes honour is Cudgeld Well Baud I le turne and something leane to Cut-purse of quicke hand To England will I steale and there I le steale And patches will I get vnto these cudgeld scarres And swore I got them in the Gallia warres Exit Enter at one doore King Henry Exeter Bedford Warwicke and other Lords At another Queene Isabel the King the Duke of Bourgougne and other French King Peace to this meeting wherefore we are met Vnto our brother France and to our Sister Health and faire time of day Ioy and good wishes To our most faire and Princely Cosine Katherine And as a branch and member of this Royalty By whom this great assembly is contriu'd We do salute you Duke oâ— Burgogne And Princes French and Peeres health to you all 〈◊〉 Right ioyous are we to behold your face Most worthy brother England fairely met So are you Princes English euery one Quee. So happy be the Issue brother Ireland Of this good day and of this gracious meeting
perceiue my minde Wid. My minde will neuer graunt what I perceiue Your Highnesse aymes at if I ayme aright King To tell thee plaine I ayme to lye with thee Wid. To tell you plaine I had rather lye in Prison King Why then thou shalt not haue thy Husbands Lands Wid. Why then mine Honestie shall be my Dower For by that losse I will not purchase them King Therein thou wrong'st thy Children mightily Wid. Herein your Highnesse wrongs both them me But mightie Lord this merry inclination Accords not with the sadnesse of my suit Please you dismisse me eyther with I or no. King I if thou wilt say I to my request No if thou do'st say No to my demand Wid. Then No my Lord my suit is at an end Rich. The Widow likes him not shee knits her Browes Clarence Hee is the bluntest Wooer in Christendome King Her Looks doth argue her replete with Modesty Her Words doth shew her Wit incomparable All her perfections challenge Soueraigntie One way or other shee is for a King And shee shall be my Loue or else my Queene Say that King Edward take thee for his Queene Wid. 'T is better said then done my gracious Lord I am a subiect fit to ieast withall But farre vnfit to be a Soueraigne King Sweet Widow by my State I sweare to thee I speake 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. 'T will grieue your Grace my Sonnes should call you Father King No more then when my Daughters Call thee Mother Thou art a Widow and thou hast some Children And by Gods Mother I being but a Batchelor Haue other-some Why 't is a happy thing To be the Father vnto many Sonnes Answer no more for thou shalt be my Queene Rich. The Ghostly Father now hath done his Shrift Clarence When hee was made a Shriuer 't was for shift King Brothers you muse what Chat wee two haue had Rich. The Widow likes it not for shee lookes very sad King You 'ld thinke it strange if I should marrie her Clarence To who my Lord King Why Clarence to my selfe Rich. That would be tenne dayes wonder at the least Clarence That 's a day longer then a Wonder lasts Rich. By so much is the Wonder in extremes King Well ieast on Brothers I can tell you both Her suit is graunted for her Husbands Lands Enter a Noble man Nob. My gracious Lord Henry your Foe is taken And brought your Prisoner 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 question of his apprehension Widow goe you along Lords vse her honourable Exeunt Manet Richard Rich. I Edward will vse Women honourably Would he were wasted Marrow Bones and all That from his Loynes no hopefull Branch may spring To crosse me from the Golden time I looke for And yet betweene my Soules desire and me The lustfull Edwards Title buryed Is Clarence Henry and his Sonne young Edward And all the vnlook'd-for Issue of their Bodies To take their Roomes ere I can place my selfe A cold premeditation for my purpose Why then I doe but dreame on Soueraigntie Like one that stands vpon a Promontorie And spyes a farre-off shore where hee would tread Wishing his foot were equall with his eye And chides the Sea that sunders him from thence Saying hee 'le lade it dry to haue his way So doe I wish the Crowne being so farre off And so I chide the meanes that keepes me from it And so I say I le cut the Causes off Flattering me with impossibilities My Eyes too quicke my Heart o're-weenes too much Vnlesse my Hand and Strength could equall them Well say there is no Kingdome then for Richard What other Pleasure can the World affoord I le make my Heauen in a Ladies Lappe And decke my Body in gay Ornaments And ' witch sweet Ladies with my Words and Lookes Oh miserable Thought and more vnlikely Then to accomplish twentie Golden Crownes Why Loue forswore me in my Mothers Wombe And for I should not deale in her soft Lawes Shee did corrupt frayle Nature with some Bribe To shrinke mine Arme vp like a wither'd Shrub To make an enuious Mountaine on my Back Where sits Deformitie to mocke my Body To shape my Legges of an vnequall size To dis-proportion me in euery part Like to a Chaos or an vn-lick'd Beare-whelpe That carryes no impression like the Damme And am I then a man to be belou'd Oh monstrous fault to harbour such a thought Then since this Earth affoords no Ioy to me But to command to check to o're-beare such As are of better Person then my selfe I le make my Heauen to dreame vpon the Crowne And whiles I liue t' account this World but Hell Vntill my mis-shap'd Trunke that beares this Head Be round impaled with a glorious Crowne And yet I know not how to get the Crowne For many Liues stand betweene me and home And I like one lost in a Thornie Wood That rents the Thornes and is rent with the Thornes Seeking a way and straying from the way Not knowing how to finde the open Ayre But toyling desperately to finde it out Torment my selfe to catch the English Crowne And from that torment I will free my selfe Or hew my way out with a bloody Axe Why I can smile and murther whiles I smile And cry Content to that which grieues my Heart And wet my Cheekes with artificiall Teares And frame my Face to all occasions I le drowne more Saylers then the Mermaid shall I le slay more gazers then the Basiliske I le play the Orator as well as Nestor Deceiue more slyly then Vlisses could And like a Synon take another Troy I can adde Colours to the Camelion Change shapes with Proteus for aduantages And set the murtherous Macheuill to Schoole Can I doe this and cannot get a Crowne Tut were it farther off I le plucke it downe Exit Flourish Enter Lewis the French King his Sister Bona his Admirall call'd Bourbon Prince Edward Queene Margaret and the Earle of Oxford Lewis sits and riseth vp againe Lewis Faire Queene of England worthy Margaret Sit downe with vs it ill befits thy State And Birth that thou should'st stand while Lewis doth sit Marg. No mightie King of France now Margaret Must strike her sayle and learne a while to serue Where Kings command I was I must confesse Great Albions Queene in former Golden dayes But now mischance hath trod my Title downe And with dis-honor layd me on the ground Where I must take like Seat vnto my fortune And to my humble Seat conforme my selfe Lewis Why say faire Queene whence springs this deepe despaire Marg. From such a cause as fills mine eyes with teares And stops
by thy bloody minde That neuer dream'st on ought but Butcheries Did'st thou not kill this King Rich. I graunt ye An. Do'st grant me Hedge-hogge Then God graunt me too Thou may'st 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 shalt neuer come Rich. Let him thanke me that holpe to send him thither For he was fitter for that place then earth An. And thou vnfit for any place but hell Rich. Yes one place else if you will heare me name it An. Some dungeon Rich. Your Bed-chamber An. Ill rest betide the chamber where thou lyest Rich. So will it Madam till I lye with you An. I hope so Rich. I know so But gentle Lady Anne To leaue this keene encounter of our wittes And fall something into a slower method Is not the causer of the timelesse deaths Of these Plantagenets Henrie and Edward As blamefull as the Executioner An. Thou was 't the cause and most accurst effect Rich. Your beauty was the cause of that effect Your beauty that did haunt me in my sleepe To vndertake the death of all the world So I might liue one houre in your sweet bosome An. If I thought that I tell thee Homicide These Nailes should rent that beauty from my Cheekes Rich. These eyes could not endure y t beauties wrack You should not blemish it if I stood by As all the world is cheared by the Sunne So I by that It is my day my life An. Blacke night ore-shade thy day death thy life Rich. Curse not thy selfe faire Creature Thou art both An. I would I were to be reueng'd on thee Rich. It is a quarrell most vnnaturall To be reueng'd on him that loueth thee An. It is a quarrell iust and reasonable 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 selfesame name but one of better Nature An. Where is he Rich. Heere Spits at him Why dost thou spit at me An. Would it were mortall poyson for thy sake Rich. Neuer came poyson from so sweet a place An. Neuer hung poyson on a fowler Toade Out of my sight thou dost infect mine eyes Rich. Thine eyes sweet Lady haue infected mine An. Would they were Basiliskes to strike thee dead Rich. I would they were that I might dye at once For now they kill me with a liuing death Those eyes of thine from mine haue drawne salt Teares Sham'd their Aspects with store of childish drops These eyes which neuer shed remorsefull teare No when my Father Yorke and Edward wept To heare the pittious moane that Rutland made When black-fac'd Clifford shooke his sword at him Nor when thy warlike Father like a Childe Told the sad storie of my Fathers death And twenty times made pause to sob and weepe That all the standers by had wet their cheekes Like Trees bedash'd with raine In that sad time My manly eyes did scorne an humble teare And what these sorrowes could not thence exhale Thy Beauty hath and made them blinde with weeping I neuer sued to Friend nor Enemy My Tongue could neuer learne sweet smoothing word But now thy Beauty is propos'd my Fee My proud heart sues and prompts my tongue to speake She lookes scornfully at him Teach not thy lip such Scorne for it was made For kissing Lady not for such contempt If thy reuengefull heart cannot forgiue Loe heere I lend thee this sharpe-pointed Sword Which if thou please to hide in this true brest And let the Soule forth that adoreth thee I lay it naked to the deadly stroke And humbly begge the death vpon my knee He layes his brest open she offers at with his sword Nay do not pause For I did kill King Henrie But 't was thy Beauty that prouoked me Nay now dispatch 'T was I that stabb'd yong Edward But 't was thy Heauenly face that set me on She fals the Sword Take vp the Sword againe or take vp me An. Arise Dissembler though I wish thy death I will not be thy Executioner Rich. Then bid me kill my selfe 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 shalt thou be accessary An. I would I knew thy heart Rich. 'T is figur'd in my tongue An. I feare me both are false Rich. Then neuer Man was true An. Well well put vp your Sword Rich. Say then my Peace is made An. That shalt thou know heereafter Rich. But shall I liue in hope An. All men I hope liue so Vouchsafe to weare this Ring Rich. Looke how my Ring incompasseth thy Finger Euen so thy Brest incloseth 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 dost confirme his happinesse for euer An. What is it Rich. That it may please you leaue these sad designes To him that hath most cause to be a Mourner And presently repayre to Crosbie House Where after I haue solemnly interr'd At Chertsey Monast'ry this Noble King And wet his Graue with my Repentant Teares I will with all expedient duty see you For diuers vnknowne Reasons I beseech you Grant me this Boon An. With all my heart and much it ioyes me too To see you are become so penitent Tressel and Barkley go along with me Rich. Bid me farwell An. 'T is more then you deserue But since you teach me how to flatter you Imagine I haue saide farewell already Exit two with Anne Gent. Towards Chertsey Noble Lord Rich. No to White Friars there attend my comming Exit Coarse Was euer woman in this humour woo'd Was euer woman in this humour wonne I le 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 extreamest hate With curses in her mouth Teares in her eyes The bleeding witnesse of my hatred by Hauing God her Conscience and these bars against me And I no Friends to backe my suite withall But the plaine Diuell and dissembling lookes And yet to winne her All the world to nothing Hah Hath she forgot alreadie that braue Prince Edward her Lord whom I some three monthes since Stab'd in my angry mood at Tewkesbury A sweeter and a louelier Gentleman Fram'd in the prodigallity of Nature Yong Valiant Wise and no doubt right Royal The spacious World cannot againe affoord And will she yet abase her eyes on me That cropt the Golden prime of this sweet Prince And made her Widdow
needfull fitnesse That we adiourne this Court till further day Meane while must be an earnest motion Made to the Queene to call backe her Appeale She intends vnto his Holinesse Kin. I may perceiue These Cardinals trifle with me I abhorre This dilatory sloth 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 say set on Exeunt in manner as they enter'd Actus Tertius Scena Prima Enter Queene and her Women as at worke Queen Take thy Lute wench My Soule growes sad with troubles Sing and disperse 'em if thou canst leaue working SONG ORpheus with his Lute made Trees And the Mountaine tops that freeze Bow themselues when he did sing To his Musicke Plants and Flowers Euer sprung as Sunne and Showers There had made a lasting Spring Euery thing that heard him play Euen the Billowes of the Sea Hung their heads then lay by In sweet Musicke is such Art Killing care griefe of heart Fall asleepe or hearing dye Enter a Gentleman Queen How now Gent. And 't please your Grace the two great Cardinals Wait in the presence Queen Would they speake with me Gent. They wil'd me say so Madam Queen Pray their Graces To come neere what can be their busines With me a poore weake woman falne from fauour I doe not like their comming now I thinke on 't They should bee good men their affaires as righteous But all Hoods make not Monkes Enter the two Cardinalls Wolsey Campian Wols Peace to your Highnesse Queen Your Graces find me heere part of a Houswife I would be all against the worst may happen What are your pleasures with me reuerent Lords Wol. May it please you Noble Madam to withdraw Into your priuate Chamber we shall giue you The full cause of our comming Queen Speake it heere There 's nothing I haue done yet o' my Conscience Deserues a Corner would all other Women Could speake this with as free a Soule as I doe My Lords I care not so much I am happy Aboue a number if my actions Were tri'de by eu'ry tongue eu'ry eye saw 'em Enuy and base opinion set against 'em I know my life so euen If your busines Seeke me out and that way I am Wife in Out with it boldly Truth loues open dealing Card. Tanta est erga te mentis integritas Regina serenissima Queen O good my Lord no Latin I am not such a Truant since my comming As not to know the Language I haue liu'd in A strange Tongue makes my cause more strange suspitious Pray speake in English heere are some will thanke you If you speake truth for their poore Mistris sake Beleeue me she ha's had much wrong Lord Cardinall The willing'st sinne I euer yet committed May be absolu'd in English Card. Noble Lady I am sorry my integrity shoul breed And seruice to his Maiesty and you So deepe suspition where all faith was meant We come not by the way of Accusation To taint that honour euery good Tongue blesses Nor to betray you any way to sorrow You haue too much good Lady But to know How you stand minded in the waighty difference Betweene the King and you and to deliuer Like free and honest men our iust opinions And comforts to our cause Camp Most honour'd Madam My Lord of Yorke out of his Noble nature Zeale and obedience he still bore your Grace Forgetting like a good man your late Censure Both of his truth and him which was too farre Offers as I doe in a signe of peace His Seruice and his Counsell Queen To betray me My Lords I thanke you both for your good wills Ye speake like honest men pray God ye proue so But how to make ye sodainly an Answere In such a poynt of weight so neere mine Honour More neere my Life I feare with my weake wit And to such men of grauity and learning In truth I know not I was set at worke Among my Maids full little God knowes looking Either for such men or such businesse For her sake that I haue beene for I feele The last fit of my Greatnesse good your Graces Let me haue time and Councell for my Cause Alas I am a Woman frendlesse hopelesse Wol. Madam You wrong the Kings loue with these feares Your hopes and friends are infinite Queen In England But little for my profit can you thinke Lords That any English man dare giue me Councell Or be a knowne friend ' gainst his Highnes pleasure Though he be growne so desperate to be honest And liue a Subiect Nay forsooth my Friends They that must weigh out my affllictions They that my trust must 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 Counsell Queen How Sir Camp Put your maine cause into the Kings protection Hee 's louing and most gracious 'T will be much Both for your Honour better and your Cause For if the tryall of the Law o're take ye You 'l part away disgrac'd Wol. He tels you rightly Queen Ye tell me what ye wish for both my ruine Is this your Christian Councell Out vpon ye Heauen is aboue all yet there sits a Iudge That no King can corrupt Camp Your rage mistakes vs. Queen The more shame 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 shame my Lords Is this your comfort The Cordiall that ye bring a wretched Lady A woman lost among ye laugh't at scornd I will not wish ye halfe my miseries I haue more Charity But say I warn'd ye Take heed for heauens sake take heed least at once The burthen of my sorrowes fall vpon ye Car. Madam this is a meere distraction You turne the good we offer into enuy Quee. Ye turne me into nothing Woe vpon ye And all such false Professors Would you haue me If you haue any Iustice any Pitty If ye be any thing but Churchmens habits Put my sicke cause into his hands that hates me Alas ha's banish'd me his Bed already His Loue too long ago I am old my Lords And all the Fellowship I hold now with him Is onely my Obedience What can happen To me aboue this wretchednesse All your Studies Make me a Curse like this Camp Your feares are worse Qu. Haue I liu'd thus long let me speake my selfe Since Vertue findes no friends a Wife a true one A Woman I dare say without Vainglory Neuer yet branded with Suspition Haue I with all my full Affections Still met the King Lou'd him next Heau'n Obey'd him Bin out of fondnesse superstitious to him Almost forgot my Prayres to content him And am I thus rewarded 'T is not well Lords Bring me a constant woman to her Husband One that ne're dream'd a Ioy beyond his pleasure And to
your eyes with teares Troy must not be nor goodly Illion stand Our fire-brand Brother Paris burnes vs all Cry Troyans cry a Helen and a woe Cry cry Troy burnes or else let Helen goe Exit Hect. Now youthfull Troylus do not these hie strains Of diuination in our Sister worke Some touches of remorse Or is your bloud So madly hot that no discourse of reason Nor feare of bad successe in a bad cause Can qualifie the same Troy Why Brother Hector We may not thinke the iustnesse of each acte Such and no other then euent doth forme it Not once deiect the courage of our mindes Because Cassandra's mad her brainsicke raptures Cannot distaste the goodnesse of a quarrell Which hath our seuerall Honours all engag'd To make it gracious For my priuate part I am no more touch'd then all Priams sonnes And loue forbid there should be done among'st vs Such things as might offend the weakest spleene To fight for and maintaine Par. Else might the world conuince of leuitie As well my vnder-takings as your counsels But I attest the gods your full consent Gaue wings to my propension and cut off All feares attending on so dire a proiect For what alas can these my single armes What propugnation is in one mans valour To stand the push and enmity of those This quarrell would excite Yet I protest Were I alone to passe the difficulties And had as ample power as I haue will Paris should ne're retract what he hath done Nor faint in the pursuite Pri. Paris you speake Like one be-sotted on your sweet delights You haue the Hony still but these the Gall So to be valiant is no praise at all Par. Sir I propose not meerely to my selfe The pleasures such a beauty brings with it But I would haue the soyle of her faire Rape Wip'd off in honourable keeping her What Treason were it to the ransack'd Queene Disgrace to your great worths and shame to me Now to deliuer her possession vp On termes of base compulsion Can it be That so degenerate a straine as this Should once set footing in your generous bosomes There 's not the meanest spirit on our partie Without a heart to dare or sword to draw When Helen is defended nor none so Noble Whose life were ill bestow'd or death vnfam'd Where Helen is the subiect Then I say Well may we fight for her whom we know well The worlds large spaces cannot paralell Hect. Paris and Troylus you haue both said well And on the cause and question now in hand Haue gloz'd but superficially not much Vnlike young men whom Aristotle thought Vnfit to heare Morall Philosophie The Reasons you alledge do more conduce To the hot passion of distemp'red blood Then to make vp a free determination 'Twixt right and wrong For pleasure and reuenge Haue eares more deafe then Adders to the voyce Of any true decision 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 affection And that great mindes of partiall indulgence To their benummed wills resist the same There is a Law in each well-ordred Nation To curbe those raging appetites that are Most disobedient and refracturie If Helen then be wife to Sparta's King As it is knowne she is these Morall Lawes Of Nature and of Nation speake alowd To haue her backe return'd Thus to persist In doing wrong extenuates not wrong But makes it much more heauie Hectors opinion Is this in way of truth yet nere the lesse My spritely brethren I propend to you In resolution to keepe Helen still For 't is a cause that hath no meane dependance Vpon our ioynt and seuerall dignities Tro. Why there you toucht the life of our designe Were it not glory that we more affected Then the performance of our heauing spleenes I would not wish a drop of Troian blood Spent more in her defence But worthy Hector She is a theame of honour and renowne A spurre to valiant and magnanimous deeds Whose present courage may beate downe our foes And fame in time to come canonize vs. For I presume braue Hector would not loose So rich aduantage of a promis'd glory As smiles vpon the fore-head of this action For the wide worlds reuenew Hect. I am yours You valiant off-spring of great Priamus I haue a roisting challenge sent among'st The dull and factious nobles of the Greekes Will strike amazement to their drowsie spirits I was aduertiz'd their Great generall slept Whil'st emulation in the armie crept This I presume will wake him Exeunt Enter Thersites solus How now Thersites what lost in the Labyrinth of thy furie shall the Elephant Aiax carry it thus he beates me and I raile at him O worthy satisfaction would it were otherwise that I could beate him whil'st he rail'd at me Sfoote I le learne to coniure and raise Diuels but I le see some issue of my spitefull execrations Then ther 's Achilles a rare Enginer If Troy be not taken till these two vndermine it the wals will stand till they fall of themselues O thou great thunder-darter of Olympus forget that thou art Ioue the King of gods and Mercury loose all the Serpentine craft of thy Caduceus if thou take not that little little lesse then little wit from them that they haue which short-arm'd ignorance it selfe knowes is so abundant scarse it will not in circumuention deliuer a Flye from a Spider without drawing the massie Irons and cutting the web after this the vengeance on the whole Camp or rather the bone-ach for that me thinkes is the curse dependant on those that warre for a placket I haue said my prayers and diuell enuie say Amen What ho my Lord Achilles Enter Patroclus Patr. Who 's there Thersites Good Thersites come in and raile Ther. If I could haue remembred a guilt counterfeit thou would'st not haue slipt out of my contemplation but it is no matter thy selfe vpon thy selfe The common curse of mankinde follie and ignorance be thine in great reuenew heauen blesse thee from a Tutor and Discipline come not neere thee Let thy bloud be thy direction till thy death then if she that laies thee out sayes thou art a faire coarse I le be sworne and sworne vpon 't she neuer shrowded any but Lazars Amen Wher 's Achilles Patr. What art thou deuout wa st thou in a prayer Ther. I the heauens heare me Enter Achilles Achil. Who 's there Patr. Thersites my Lord. Achil. Where where art thou come why my cheese my digestion why hast thou not seru'd thy selfe into my Table so many meales Come what 's Agamemnon Ther. Thy Commander Achilles then tell me Patroclus what 's Achilles Patr. Thy Lord Thersites then tell me I pray thee what 's thy selfe Ther. Thy knower Patroclus then tell me Patroclus what art thou Patr. Thou maist tell that know'st Achil. O tell tell Ther. I le declin the whole question Agamemnon commands
To say Extreamities was the trier of spirits That common chances Common men could beare That when the Sea was calme all Boats alike Shew'd Mastership in floating Fortunes blowes When most strooke 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 Vol. Now the Red Pestilence strike al Trades in Rome And Occupations perish Corio What what what I shall be lou'd when I am lack'd Nay Mother Resume that Spirit when you were wont to say If you had beene the Wife of Hercules Six of his Labours youl 'd haue done and sau'd Your Husband so much swet Cominius Droope not Adieu Farewell my Wife my Mother I le do well yet Thou old and true Menenius Thy teares are salter then a yonger man 's And venomous to thine eyes My sometime Generall I haue seene the Sterne and thou hast oft beheld Heart-hardning spectacles Tell these sad women 'T is fond to waile ineuitable strokes As 't is to laugh at 'em My Mother you wot well My hazards still haue beene your solace 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 seene your Sonne Will or exceed the Common or be caught With cautelous baits and practice Volum My first sonne Whether will thou go Take good Cominius With thee a while Determine on some course More then a wilde exposture to each chance That start's i' th' way before thee Corio O the Gods Com. I le follow thee a Moneth deuise with thee Where thou shalt rest that thou may'st heare of vs And we of thee So if the time thrust forth A cause for thy Repeale we shall not send O're the vast world to seeke a single man And loose aduantage which doth euer coole I th' absence of the needer Corio Fare ye well Thou hast yeares vpon thee and thou art too full Of the warres surfets to go roue with one That 's yet vnbruis'd bring me but out at gate Come my sweet wife my deerest Mother and My Friends of Noble touch when I am forth Bid me farewell and smile I pray you come While I remaine aboue the ground you shall Heare from me still and neuer of me ought But what is like me formerly Menen That 's worthily As any eare can heare Come let 's not weepe If I could shake off but one seuen yeeres From these 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 Sicinius and Brutus with the Edile Sicin Bid them all home he 's gone wee 'l no further The Nobility are vexed whom we see haue sided In his behalfe Brut. Now we haue shewne our power Let vs seeme humbler after it is done Then when it was a dooing Sicin Bid them home say their great enemy is gone And they stand in their ancient strength Brut. Dismisse them home Here comes his Mother Enter Volumnia Virgilia and Menenius Sicin Let 's not meet her Brut Why Sicin They say she '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 so loud Volum If that I could for weeping you should heare Nay and you shall heare some Will you be gone Virg. You shall stay too I would I had the power To say so to my Husband Sicin Are you mankinde Volum I foole is that a shame Note but this Foole Was not a man my Father Had'st thou Foxship To banish him that strooke more blowes for Rome Then thou hast spoken words Sicin Oh blessed Heauens Volum Moe Noble blowes then euer y u wise words And for Romes good I le tell thee what yet goe Nay but thou shalt stay 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 posterity Volum Bastards 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 himselfe The Noble knot he made Bru. I would he had Volum I would he had 'T was you incenst the rable Cats that can iudge as fitly of his worth As I can of those Mysteries which heauen Will not haue earth to know Brut. Pray let 's go Volum Now pray sir get you gone You haue done a braue deede Ere you go heare this As farre as doth the Capitoll exceede The meanest house in Rome so farre my Sonne This Ladies Husband heere this do you see Whom you haue banish'd does exceed you all Bru. Well well wee 'l leaue you Sicin Why stay we to be baited With one that wants her Wits Exit Tribunes Volum. Take my Prayers with you I would the Gods had nothing else to do But to confirme my Cursses Could I meete 'em But once a day it would vnclogge my heart Of what lyes heauy too 't Mene. You haue told them home And by my troth you haue cause you 'l Sup with me Volum Anger 's my Meate I suppe vpon my selfe And so shall sterue with Feeding Come let 's go Leaue this faint-puling and lament as I do In Anger Iuno-like Come come come Exeunt Mene. Fie fie fie Exit Enter a Roman and a Volce Rom. I know you well sir and you know mee your name I thinke is Adrian Volce It is so sir truly I haue forgot you Rom. I am a Roman and my Seruices are as you are against ' em Know you me yet Volce Nicanor no. Rom. The same sir Volce You had more Beard when I last saw you but your Fauour is well appear'd by your Tongue What 's the Newes in Rome I haue a Note from the Volcean state to finde you out there You haue well saued mee a dayes iourney Rom. There hath beene in Rome straunge Insurrections The people against the Senatours Patricians and Nobles Vol. Hath bin is it ended then Our State thinks not so they are in a most warlike preparation hope to com vpon them in the heate of their diuision Rom. The maine blaze of it is past but a small thing would make it flame againe For the Nobles receyue so to heart the Banishment of that worthy Coriolanus that they are in a ripe aptnesse to take al power from the people and to plucke from them their Tribunes for euer This lyes glowing I can tell you and is almost mature for the violent breaking out Vol. Coriolanus Banisht Rom. Banish'd sir Vol. You will be welcome with this intelligence Nicanor Rom. The day serues well for them now I haue heard it saide the fittest time to corrupt a mans Wife is when shee 's falne out with her Husband Your Noble
men haue read His Fame vnparolell'd happely amplified For I haue euer verified my Friends Of whom hee 's cheefe with all the size that verity Would without lapsing suffer Nay sometimes Like to a Bowle vpon a subtle ground I haue tumbled past the throw and in his praise Haue almost stampt the Leasing Therefore Fellow I must haue leaue to passe 1 Faith Sir if you had told as many lies in his behalfe as you haue vttered words in your owne you should not passe heere no though it were as vertuous to lye as to liue chastly Therefore go backe Men. Prythee fellow remember my name is Menenius alwayes factionary on the party of your Generall 2 Howsoeuer you haue bin his Lier as you say you haue I am one that telling true vnder him must say you cannot passe Therefore go backe Mene. Ha's he din'd can'st thou tell For I would not speake with him till after dinner 1 You are a Roman are you Mene. I am as thy Generall is 1 Then you should hate Rome as he do's Can you when you haue pusht out your gates the very Defender of them and in a violent popular ignorance giuen your enemy your shield thinke to front his reuenges with the easie groanes of old women the Virginall Palms of your daughters or with the palsied intercession of such a decay'd Dotant as you seeme to be Can you think to blow out the intended fire your City is ready to flame in with such 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 sworne you out of repreeue and pardon Mene. Sirra if thy Captaine knew I were heere He would vse me with estimation 1 Come my Captaine knowes you not Mene. I meane thy Generall 1 My Generall cares not for you Back I say go least I let forth your halfe pinte of blood Backe that 's the vtmost of your hauing backe Mene. Nay but Fellow Fellow Enter Coriolanus with Auffidius Corio What 's the matter Mene. Now you Companion I le say an arrant for you you shall know now that I am in estimation you shall perceiue that a Iacke gardant cannot office me from my Son Coriolanus guesse but my entertainment with him if thou stand'st not i' th state of hanging or of some death more long in Spectatorship and crueller in suffering behold now presently and swoond for what 's to come vpon thee The glorious Gods sit in hourely Synod about thy particular prosperity and loue thee no worse then thy old Father Menenius do's O my Son my Soul thou art preparing fire for vs looke thee heere 's water to quench it I was hardly moued to come to thee but beeing assured none but my selfe could moue thee I haue bene blowne out of your Gates with sighes and coniure thee to pardon Rome and thy petitionary Countrimen The good Gods asswage thy wrath and turne the dregs of it vpon this Varlet heere This who like a blocke hath denyed my accesse 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 remission lies In Volcean brests That we haue beene familiar Ingrate forgetfulnesse shall poison rather Then pitty Note how much therefore be gone Mine eares against your suites are stronger then Your gates against my force Yet for I loued thee Take this along I writ it for thy sake And would haue sent it Another word Menenius I will not heare thee speake This man Auffidius Was my belou'd in Rome yet thou behold'st Auffid You keepe a constant temper Exeunt Manet the Guard and Menenius 1 Now sir is your name Menenius 2 'T is a spell you see of much power You know the way home againe 1 Do you heare how wee are shent for keeping your greatnesse backe 2 What cause do you thinke I haue to swoond Menen I neither care for th' world nor your General for such things as you I can scarse thinke ther 's any y' are so slight He that hath a will to die by himselfe feares it not from another Let your Generall do his worst For you bee that you are long and your misery encrease with your age I say to you as I was said 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-shaken Exit Watch. Enter Coriolanus and Auffidius Corio We will before the walls of Rome to morrow Set downe our Hoast My partner in this Action You must report to th' Volcian Lords how plainly I haue borne this Businesse Auf. Onely their ends you haue respected Stopt your eares against the generall suite of Rome Neuer admitted a priuat whisper no not with such frends That thought them sure of you Corio This last old man Whom with a crack'd heart I haue sent to Rome Lou'd me aboue the measure of a Father Nay godded me indeed Their latest refuge Was to send him for whose old Loue I haue Though I shew'd sowrely to him once more offer'd The first Conditions which they did refuse And cannot now accept to grace him onely That thought he could do more A very little I haue yeelded too Fresh Embasses and Suites Nor from the State nor priuate friends heereafter Will I lend eare to Ha what shout is this Shout within Shall I be tempted to infringe my vow In the same time 't is made I will not Enter Virgilia Volumnia Valeria yong Martius with Attendants My wife comes formost 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 Obstinate What is that Curt'sie worth Or those Doues eyes Which can make Gods forsworne I melt and am not Of stronger earth then others my Mother bowes As if Olympus to a Mole-hill should In supplication Nod and my yong Boy Hath an Aspect of intercession which Great Nature cries Deny not Let the Volces Plough Rome and harrow Italy I le neuer Be such a Gosling to obey instinct but stand As if a man were Author of himself knew no other kin Virgil. My Lord and Husband Corio These eyes are not the same I wore in Rome Virg. The sorrow that deliuers vs thus chang'd Makes you thinke so Corio Like a dull Actor now I haue forgot my part And I am out euen to a full Disgrace Best of my Flesh Forgiue my Tyranny but do not say For that forgiue our Romanes O a kisse Long as my Exile sweet as my Reuenge Now by the iealous Queene of Heauen that kisse I carried from thee deare and my true Lippe Hath Virgin'd it ere since You Gods I pray And the most noble Mother of the world Leaue vnsaluted Sinke my knee i' th' earth Kneeles Of thy deepe duty more impression shew Then that of common Sonnes Volum
so thicke Cleo. Who 's borne that day when I forget to send to Anthonie shall dye a Begger Inke and paper Charmian Welcome my good Alexas Did I Charmian euer loue Caesar so Char. Oh that braue Caesar Cleo. Be choak'd with such another Emphasis Say the braue Anthony Char. The valiant Caesar Cleo. By Isis I will giue thee bloody teeth If thou with Caesar Parago nagaine My man of men Char. By your most gracious pardon I sing but after you Cleo. My Sallad dayes When I was greene in iudgement cold in blood To say as I saide then But come away Get me Inke and Paper he shall haue euery day a seuerall greeting or I le vnpeople Egypt Exeunt Enter Pompey Menecrates and Menas in warlike manner Pom. If the great Gods be iust they shall assist The deeds of iustest men Mene. Know worthy Pompey that what they do delay they not deny Pom. Whiles we are sutors to their Throne decayes the thing we sue for Mene. We ignorant of our selues Begge often our owne harmes which the wise Powres Deny vs for our good so finde we profit By loosing of our Prayers Pom. I shall do well The people loue me and the Sea is mine My powers are Cressent and my Auguring hope Sayes it will come to ' th' full Marke Anthony In Egypt sits at dinner and will make No warres without doores Caesar gets money where He looses hearts Lepidus flatters both Of both is flatter'd but he neither loues Nor either cares for him Mene. Caesar and Lepidus are in the field A mighty strength they carry Pom. Where haue you this 'T is false Mene. From Siluius Sir Pom. He dreames I know they are in Rome together Looking for Anthony but all the charmes of Loue Salt Cleopatra soften thy wand lip Let Witchcraft ioyne with Beauty Lust with both Tye vp the Libertine in a field of Feasts Keepe his Braine fuming Epicurean Cookes Sharpen with cloylesse sawce his Appetite That sleepe and feeding may prorogue his Honour Euen till a Lethied dulnesse Enter Varrius How now Varrius Var. This is most certaine that I shall deliuer Marke Anthony is euery houre in Rome Expected Since he went from Egypt 't is A space for farther Trauaile Pom. I could haue giuen lesse matter A better eare Menas I did not thinke This amorous Surfetter would haue donn'd his Helme For such a petty Warre His Souldiership Is twice the other twaine But let vs reare The higher our Opinion that our stirring Can from the lap of Egypts Widdow plucke The neere Lust-wearied Anthony Mene. I cannot hope Caesar and Anthony shall well greet together His Wife that 's dead did trespasses to Caesar His Brother wan'd vpon him although I thinke Not mou'd by Anthony Pom. I know not Menas How lesser Enmities may giue way to greater Were 't not that we stand vp against them all 'T wer pregnant they should square between themselues For they haue entertained cause enough To draw their swords but how the feare of vs May Ciment their diuisions and binde vp The petty difference we yet not know Bee 't as our Gods will haue 't it onely stands Our liues vpon to vse our strongest hands Come Menas Exeunt Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus Lep. Good Enobarbus 't is a worthy deed And shall become you well to intreat your Captaine To soft and gentle speech Enob. I shall intreat him To answer like himselfe if Caesar moue him Let Anthony looke ouer Caesars head And speake as lowd as Mars By Iupiter Were I the wearer of Anthonio's Beard I would not shaue't to day Lep. 'T is not a time for priuate stomacking Eno. Euery time serues for the matter that is then borne in 't Lep. But small to greater matters must giue way Eno. Not if the small come first Lep. Your speech is passion but pray you stirre No Embers vp Heere comes the Noble Anthony Enter Anthony and Ventidius Eno. And yonder Caesar Enter Caesar Mecenas and Agrippa Ant. If we compose well heere to Parthia Hearke Ventidius Caesar I do not know Mecenas aske Agrippa Lep. Noble Friends That which combin'd vs was most great and let not A leaner action rend vs. What 's amisse 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 earnestly beseech Touch you the sowrest points with sweetest tearmes Nor curstneâ—e grow to ' th' matter Ant. 'T is spoken well Were we before our Armies and to fight I should do thus Flourish Caes Welcome to Rome Ant. Thanke you Caes Sit. Ant Sit sir Caes Nay then Ant. I learne you take things ill which are not so Or being concerne you not Caes I must be laught at if or for nothing or a little I Should say my selfe offended and with you Chiefely i' th' world More laught at that I should Once name you derogately when to sound your name It not concern'd me Ant. My being in Egypt Caesar what was 't to you Caes No more then my reciding heere at Rome Might be to you in Egypt yet if you there Did practise on my State your being in Egypt Might be my question Ant. How intend you practis'd Caes 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 contestation Was Theame for you you were the word of warre Ant. You do mistake your busines my Brother neuer Did vrge me in his Act I did inquire it And haue my Learning from some true reports That drew their swords with you did he not rather Discredit my authority with yours And make the warres alike against my stomacke Hauing alike your cause Of this my Letters Before did satisfie you If you 'l patch a quarrell As matter whole you haue to make it with It must not be with this Caes You praise your selfe by laying defects of iudgement to me but you patcht vp your excuses Anth. Not so not so I know you could not lacke I am certaine on 't Very necessity of this thought that I Your Partner in the cause ' gainst which he fought Could not with gracefull eyes attend those Warres Which fronted mine owne peace As for my wife I would you had her spirit in such another The third o th' world is yours which with a Snaffle You may pace easie but not such a wife Enobar Would we had all such wiues that the men might go to Warres with the women Anth. So much vncurbable her Garboiles Caesar Made out of her impatience which not wanted Shrodenesse of policie to I greeuing grant Did you too much disquiet for that you must But say I could not helpe it Caesar I wrote to you when rioting in Alexandria you Did pocket vp my Letters and with taunts Did gibe my Misiâ—e out of audience Ant. Sir he fell vpon me ere admitted then Three Kings I had newly feasted and did want Of what I was i' th' morning