of her Ros Well in her person I say I will not haue you Orl. Then in mine owne person I die Ros No faith die by Attorney the poore world is almost six thousand yeeres old and in all this time there was not anie man died in his owne person videlicet in a loue cause Trotlous had his braines dash'd out with a Grecian club yet he did what hee could to die before and he is one of the patternes of loue Leander he would haue liu'd manie a faire yeere though Hero had turn'd Nun if it had not bin for a hot Midsomer-night for good youth he went but forth to wash him in the Hellespont and being taken with the crampe was droun'd and the foolish Chronoclers of that age found it was Hero of Cestos But these are all lies men haue died from time to time and wormes haue eaten them but not for loue Orl. I would not haue my right Rosalind of this mind for I protest her frowne might kill me Ros By this hand it will not kill a flie but come now I will be your Rosalind in a more comming-on disposition and aske me what you will I will grant it Orl. Then loue me Rosalind Ros Yes faith will I fridaies and saterdaies and all Orl. And wilt thou haue me Ros I and twentie such Orl. What saiest thou Ros Are you not good Orl. I hope so Rosalind Why then can one desire too much of a good thing Come sister you shall be the Priest and marrie vs giue me your hand Orlando What doe you say sister Orl. Pray thee marrie vs. Cel. I cannot say the words Ros You must begin will you Orlando Cel. Goe too wil you Orlando haue to wife this Rosalind Orl. I will Ros I but when Orl. Why now as fast as she can marrie vs. Ros Then you must say I take thee Rosalind for wife Orl. I take thee Rosalind for wife Ros I might aske you for your Commission But I doe take thee Orlando for my husband there 's a girle goes before the Priest and certainely a Womans thought runs before her actions Orl. So do all thoughts they are wing'd Ros Now tell me how long you would haue her after you haue possest her Orl. For euer and a day Ros Say a day without the euer no no Orlando men are Aprill when they woe December when they wed Maides are May when they are maides but the sky changes when they are wiues I will bee more iealous of thee then a Barbary cocke-pidgeon ouer his hen more clamorous then a Parrat against raine more new-fangled then an ape more giddy in my desires then a monkey I will weepe for nothing like Diana in the Fountaine I wil do that when you are dispos'd to be merry I will laugh like a Hyen and that when thou art inclin'd to sleepe Orl. But will my Rosalind doe so Ros By my life she will doe as I doe Orl. O but she is wise Ros. Or else shee could not haue the wit to doe this the wiser the waywarder make the doores vpon a womans wit and it will out at the casement shut that and 't will out at the key-hole stop that 't will flie with the smoake out at the chimney Orl. A man that had a wife with such a wit he might say wit whether wil't Ros Nay you might keepe that checke for it till you met your wiues wit going to your neighbours bed Orl. And what wit could wit haue to excuse that Rosa Marry to say she came to seeke you there you shall neuer take her without her answer vnlesse you take her without her tongue ô that woman that cannot make her fault her husbands occasion let her neuer nurse her childe her selfe for she will breed it like a foole Orl. For these two houres Rosalinde I wil leaue thee Ros Alas deere loue I cannot lacke thee two houres Orl. I must attend the Duke at dinner by two a clock I will be with thee againe Ros I goe your waies goe your waies I knew what you would proue my friends told mee as much and I thought no lesse that flattering tongue of yours wonne me 't is but one cast away and so come death two o'clocke is your howre Orl. I sweet Rosalind Ros By my troth and in good earnest and so God mend mee and by all pretty oathes that are not dangerous if you breake one iot of your promise or come one minute behinde your houre I will thinke you the most patheticall breake-promise and the most hollow louer and the most vnworthy of her you call Rosalinde that may bee chosen out of the grosse band of the vnfaithfull therefore beware my censure and keep your promise Orl. With no lesse religion then if thou wert indeed my Rosalind so adieu Ros Well Time is the olde Iustice that examines all such offenders and let time try adieu Exit Cel. You haue simply misus'd our sexe in your loue-prate we must haue your doublet and hose pluckt ouer your head and shew the world what the bird hath done to her owne neast Ros O coz coz coz my pretty little coz that thou didst know how many fathome deepe I am in loue but it cannot bee sounded my affection hath an vnknowne bottome like the Bay of Portugall Cel. Or rather bottomlesse that as fast as you poure affection in in runs out Ros No that same wicked Bastard of Venus that was begot of thought conceiu'd of spleene and borne of madnesse that blinde rascally boy that abuses euery ones eyes because his owne are out let him bee iudge how deepe I am in loue I le tell thee Aliena I cannot be out of the sight of Orlando I le goe finde a shadow and sigh till he come Cel. And I le sleepe Exeunt Scena Secunda Enter Iaques and Lords Forresters Iaq. Which is he that killed the Deare Lord. Sir it was I. Iaq. Let 's present him to the Duke like a Romane Conquerour and it would doe well to set the Deares horns vpon his head for a branch of victory haue you no song Forrester for this purpose Lord. Yes Sir Iaq. Sing it 't is no matter how it bee in tune so it make noyse enough Musicke Song What shall he haue that kild the Deare His Leather skin and bornes to weare Then sing him home the rest shall beare this burthen Take thou no scorne to weare the horne It was a crest ere thou wast borne Thy fathers father wore it And thy father bore it The horne the horne the lusty horne Is not a thing to laugh to scorne Exeunt Scoena Tertia Enter Rosalind and Celia Ros How say you now is it not past two a clock And heere much Orlando Cel. I warrant you with pure loue troubled brain Enter Siluius He hath t'ane his bow and arrowes and is gone forth To sleepe looke who comes heere Sil. My errand is to you faire youth My gentle Phebe did
who Iago Marry to Come Captaine will you go Othel. Haue with you Cassio Here comes another Troope to seeke for you Enter Brabantio Rodorigo with Officers and Torches Iago It is Brabantio Generall be aduis'd He comes to bad intent Othello Holla stand there Rodo Signior it is the Moore Bra. Downe with him Theefe Iago You Rodorigoc Cme Sir I am for you Othe Keepe vp your bright Swords for the dew will rust them Good Signior you shall more command with yeares then with your Weapons Bra. Oh thou foule Theefe Where hast thou stow'd my Daughter Damn'd as thou art thou hast enchaunted her For I le referre me to all things of sense If she in Chaines of Magick were not bound Whether a Maid so tender Faire and Happie So opposite to Marriage that she shun'd The wealthy curled Deareling of our Nation Would euer haue t'encurre a generall mocke Run from her Guard age to the sootie bosome Of such a thing as thou to feare not to delight Iudge me the world if 't is not grosse in sense That thou hast practis'd on her with foule Charmes Abus'd her delicate Youth with Drugs or Minerals That weakens Motion I le haue 't disputed on 'T is probable and palpable to thinking I therefore apprehend and do attach thee For an abuser of the World a practiser Of Arts inhibited and out of warrant Lay hold vpon him if he do resist Subdue him at his perill Othe Hold your hands Both you of my inclining and the rest Were it my Cue to fight I should haue knowne it Without a Prompter Whether will you that I goe To answere this your charge Bra. To Prison till fit time Of Law and course of direct Session Call thee to answer Othe What if do obey How may the Duke be therewith satisfi'd Whose Messengers are heere about my side Vpon some present businesse of the State To bring me to him Officer 'T is true most worthy Signior The Dukes in Counsell and your Noble selfe I am sure is sent for Bra. How The Duke in Counsell In this time of the night Bring him away Mine's not an idle Cause The Duke himselfe Or any of my Brothers of the State Cannot but feele this wrong as 't were their owne For if such Actions may haue passage free Bond-slaues and Pagans shall our Statesmen be Exeunt Scaena Tertia Enter Duke Senators and Officers Duke There 's no composition in this Newes That giues them Credite 1. Sen. Indeed they are disproportioned My Letters say a Hundred and seuen Gallies Duke And mine a Hundred fortie 2. Sena And mine two Hundred But though they iumpe not on a iust accompt As in these Cases where the ayme reports 'T is oft with difference yet do they all confirme A Turkish Fleete and bearing vp to Cyprus Duke Nay it is possible enough to iudgement I do not so secure me in the Error But the maine Article I do approue In fearefull sense Saylor within What hoa what hoa what hoa Enter Saylor Officer A Messenger from the Gallies Duke Now What 's the businesse Sailor The Turkish Preparation makes for Rhodes So was I bid report here to the State By Signior Angelo Duke How say you by this change 1. Sen. This cannot be By no assay of reason 'T is a Pageant To keepe vs in false gaze when we consider Th' importancie of Cyprus to the Turke And let our selues againe but vnderstand That as it more concernes the Turke then Rhodes So may he with more facile question beare it For that it stands not in such Warrelike brace But altogether lackes th' abilities The Rhodes is dress'd in If we make thought of this We must not thinke the Turke is so vnskillfull To leaue that latest which concernes him first Neglecting an attempt of ease and gaine To wake and wage a danger profitlesse Duke Nay in all confidence he 's not for Rhodes Officer Here is more Newes Enter a Messenger Messen The Ottamites Reueren'd and Gracious Steering with due course toward the I le of Rhodes Haue there inioynted them with an after Fleete 1. Sen. I so I thought how many as you guesse Mess Of thirtie Saile and now they do re-stem Their backward course bearing with frank appearance Their purposes toward Cyprus Signior Montano Your trustie and most Valiant Seruitour With his free dutie recommends you thus And prayes you to beleeue him Duke 'T is certaine then for Cyprus Marcus Luccicos is not he in Towne 1. Sen. He 's now in Florence Duke Write from vs To him Post Post-haste dispatch 1. Sen. Here comes Brabantio and the Valiant Moore Enter Brabantio Othello Cassio Iago Rodorigo and Officers Duke Valiant Othello we must straight employ you Against the generall Enemy Ottoman I did not see you welcome gentle Signior We lack't your Counsaile and your helpe to night Bra. So did I yours Good your Grace pardon me Neither my place hor ought I heard of businesse Hath rais'd me from my bed nor doth the generall care Take hold on me For my perticular griefe Is of so flood-gate and ore-bearing Nature That it engluts and swallowes other sorrowes And it is still it selfe Duke Why What 's the matter Bra. My Daughter oh my Daughter Sen. Dead Bra. I to me She is abus'd stolne from me and corrupted By Spels and Medicines bought of Mountebanks For Nature so prepostrously to erre Being not deficient blind or lame of sense Sans witch-craft could not Duke Who ere he be that in this foule proceeding Hath thus beguil'd your Daughter of her selfe And you of her the bloodie Booke of Law You shall your selfe read in the bitter letter After your owne sense yea though our proper Son Stood in your Action Bra. Humbly I thanke your Grace Here is the man this Moore whom now it seemes Your speciall Mandate for the State affaires Hath hither brought All. We are verie sorry for 't Duke What in your owne part can you say to this Bra. Nothing but this is so Othe Most Potent Graue and Reueren'd Signiors My very Noble and approu'd good Masters That I haue tane away this old mans Daughter It is most true true I haue married her The verie head and front of my offending Hath this extent no more Rude am I in my speech And little bless'd with the soft phrase of Peace For since these Armes of mine had seuen yeares pith Till now some nine Moones wasted they haue vs'd Their deerest action in the Tented Field And little of this great world can I speake More then pertaines to Feats of Broiles and Battaile And therefore little shall I grace my cause In speaking for my selfe Yet by your gratious patience I will a round vn-varnish'd â— Tale deliuer Of my whole course of Loue. What Drugges what Charmes What Coniuration and what mighty Magicke For such proceeding I am charg'd withall I won his Daughter Bra. A Maiden neuer bold Of Spirit so still and quiet that her Motion Blush'd at her selfe and she in
if you haue anie thing to say to me come to my Ward for thence will not I to day Exit Enter Prouost Duke Vnfit to liue or die oh grauell heart After him Fellowes bring him to the blocke Pro. Now Sir how do you finde the prisoner Duke A creature vnpre-par'd vnmeet for death And to transport him in the minde he is Were damnable Pro. Heere in the prison Father There died this morning of a cruell Feauor One Ragozine a most notorious Pirate A man of Claudio's yeares his beard and head Iust of his colour What if we do omit This Reprobate til he were wel enclin'd And satisfie the Deputie with the visage Of Ragozine more like to Claudio Duke Oh 't is an accident that heauen prouides Dispatch it presently the houre drawes on Prefixt by Angelo See this be done And sent according to command whiles I Perswade this rude wretch willingly to die Pro. This shall be done good Father presently But Barnardine must die this afternoone And how shall we continue Claudio To saue me from the danger that might come If he were knowne aliue Duke Let this be done Put them in secret holds both Barnardine and Claudio Ere twice the Sun hath made his iournall greeting To yond generation you shal finde Your safetie manifested Pro. I am your free dependant Exit Duke Quicke dispatch and send the head to Angelo Now wil I write Letters to Angelo The Prouost he shal beare them whose contents Shal witnesse to him I am neere at home And that by great Iniunctions I am bound To enter publikely him I le desire To meet me at the consecrated Fount A League below the Citie and from thence By cold gradation and weale-ballanc'd forme We shal proceed with Angelo Enter Prouost Pro. Heere is the head I le carrie it my selfe Duke Conuenient is it Make a swift returne For I would commune with you of such things That want no eare but yours Pro. I le make all speede Exit Isabell within Isa Peace hoa be heere Duke The tongue of Isabell She 's come to know If yet her brothers pardon be come hither But I will keepe her ignorant of her good To make her heauenly comforts of dispaire When it is least expected Enter Isabella Isa Hoa by your leaue Duke Good morning to you faire and gracious daughter Isa The better giuen me by so holy a man Hath yet the Deputie sent my brothers pardon Duke He hath releasd him Isabell from the world His head is off and sent to Angelo Isa Nay but it is not so Duke It is no other Shew your wisedome daughter in your close patience Isa Oh I wil to him and plucke out his eies Duk. You shal not be admitted to his sight Isa Vnhappie Claudio wretched Isabell Iniurious world most damned Angelo Duke This nor hurts him nor profits you a lot Forbeare it therefore giue your cause to heauen Marke what I say which you shal finde By euery sillable a faithful veritie The Duke comes home to morrow nay drie your eyes One of our Couent and his Confessor Giues me this instance Already he hath carried Notice to Escalus and Angelo Who do prepare to meete him at the gates There to giue vp their powre If you can pace your wisdome In that good path that I would wish it go And you shal haue your bosome on this wretch Grace of the Duke reuenges to your heart And general Honor. Isa I am directed by you Duk. This Letter then to Friar Peter giue 'T is that he sent me of the Dukes returne Say by this token I desire his companie At Mariana's house to night Her cause and yours I le perfect him withall and he shal bring you Before the Duke and to the head of Angelo Accuse him home and home For my poore selfe I am combined by a sacred Vow And shall be absent Wend you with this Letter Command these fretting waters from your eies With a light heart trust not my holie Order If I peruert your course whose heere Enter Lucio Luc. Good ' euen Frier where 's the Prouost Duke Not within Sir Luc. Oh prettie Isabella I am pale at mine heart to see thine eyes so red thou must be patient I am faine to dine and sup with water and bran I dare not for my head fill my belly One fruitful Meale would set mee too 't but they say the Duke will be heere to Morrow By my troth Isabell I lou'd thy brother if the olde fantastical Duke of darke corners had bene at home he had liued Duke Sir the Duke is marueilous little beholding to your reports but the best is he liues not in them Luc. Friar thou knowest not the Duke so wel as I do he 's a better woodman then thou tak'st him for Duke Well you 'l answer this one day Fare ye well Luc. Nay tarrie I le go along with thee I can tel thee pretty tales of the Duke Duke You haue told me too many of him already sir if they be true if not true none were enough Lucio I was once before him for getting a Wench with childe Duke Did you such a thing Luc. Yes marrie did I but I was faine to forswear it They would else haue married me to the rotten Medler Duke Sir your company is fairer then honest rest you well Lucio By my troth I le go with thee to the lanes end if baudy talke offend you we'el haue very litle of it nay Friar I am a kind of Burre I shal sticke Exeunt Scena Quarta Enter Angelo Escalâ— Esc Euery Letter he hath writ hath disuouch'd other An. In most vneuen and distracted manner his actions show much like to madnesse pray heauen his wisedome bee not tainted and why meet him at the gates and reliuer our authorities there Esc I ghesse not Ang. And why should wee proclaime it in an howre before his entring that if any craue redresse of iniustice they should exhibit their petitions in the street Esc He showes his reason for that to haue a dispatch of Complaints and to deliuer vs from deuices heereafter which shall then haue no power to stand against vs. Ang. Well I beseech you let it bee proclaim'd betimes i' th' morne I le call you at your house giue notice to such men of sort and suite as are to meete him Esc I shall sir fare you well Exit Ang. Good night This deede vnshapes me quite makes me vnpregnant And dull to all proceedings A deflowred maid And by an eminent body that enforc'd The Law against it But that her tender shame Will not proclaime against her maiden losse How might she tongue me yet reason dares her no For my Authority beares of a credent bulke That no particular scandall once can touch But it confounds the breather He should haue liu'd Saue that his riotous youth with dangerous sense Might in the times to come haue ta'ne reuenge By so receiuing a dishonor'd life With ransome of such shame
Forme Monsieur the nice That when he plaies at Tables chides the Dice In honorable tearmes Nay he can sing A meane most meanly and in Vshering Mend him who can the Ladies call him sweete The staires as he treads on them kisse his feete This is the flower that smiles on euerie one To shew his teeth as white as Whales bone And consciences that wil not die in debt Pay him the dutie of honie-tongued Boyet King A blister on his sweet tongue with my hart That put Armathoes Page out of his part Enter the Ladies Ber. See where it comes Behauiour what wer 't thou Till this madman shew'd thee And what art thou now King All haile sweet Madame and faire time of day Qu. Faire in all Haile is foule as I conceiue King Construe my speeches better if you may Qu. Then wish me better I wil giue you leaue King We came to visit you and purpose now To leade you to our Court vouchsafe it then Qu. This field shal hold me and so hold your vow Nor God nor I delights in periur'd men King Rebuke me not for that which you prouoke The vertue of your eie must breake my oth Q. You nickname vertue vice you should haue spoke For vertues office neuer breakes men troth Now by my maiden honor yet as pure As the vnsallied Lilly I protest A world of torments though I should endure I would not yeeld to be your houses guest So much I hate a breaking cause to be Of heauenly oaths vow'd with integritie Kin. O you haue liu'd in desolation heere Vnseene vnuisited much to our shame Qu. Not so my Lord it is not so I sweare We haue had pastimes heere and pleasant game A messe of Russians left vs but of late Kin. How Madam Russians Qu. I in truth my Lord. Trim gallants full of Courtship and of state Rosa Madam speake true It is not so my Lord My Ladie to the manner of the daies In curtesie giues vndeseruing praise We foure indeed confronted were with foure In Russia habit Heere they stayed an houre And talk'd apace and in that houre my Lord They did not blesse vs with one happy word I dare not call them fooles but this I thinke When they are thirstie fooles would faine haue drinke Ber. This iest is drie to me Gentle sweete Your wits makes wise things foolish when we greete With eies best seeing heauens fierie eie By light we loose light your capacitie Is of that nature that to your huge stoore Wise things seeme foolish and rich things but poore Ros This proues you wise and rich for in my eie Ber. I am a foole and full of pouertie Ros But that you take what doth to you belong It were a fault to snatch words from my tongue Ber. O I am yours and all that I possesse Ros All the foole mine Ber. I cannot giue you lesse Ros Which of the Vizards what it that you wore Ber. Where when What Vizard Why demand you this Ros There then that vizard that superfluous case That hid the worse and shew'd the better face Kin. We are discried They 'l mocke vs now downeright Du. Let vs confesse and turne it to a iest Que. Amaz'd my Lord Why lookes your Highnes sadde Rosa Helpe hold his browes hee 'l sound why looke you pale Sea-sicke I thinke comming from Muscouie Ber. Thus poure the stars down plagues for periury Can any face of brasse hold longer out Heere stand I Ladie dart thy skill at me Bruise me with scorne confound me with a flout Thrust thy sharpe wit quite through my ignorance Cut me to peeces with thy keene conceit And I will wish thee neuer more to dance Nor neuer more in Russian habit waite O! neuer will I trust to speeches pen'd Nor to the motion of a Schoole-boies tongue Nor neuer come in vizard to my friend Nor woo in rime like a blind-harpers songue Taffata phrases silken tearmes precise Three-pil'd Hyperboles spruce affection Figures pedanticall these summer flies Haue blowne me full of maggot ostentation I do forsweare them and I heere protest By this white Gloue how white the hand God knows Henceforth my woing minde shall be exprest In russet yeas and honest kersie noes And to begin Wench so God helpe me law My loue to thee is sound sans cracke or flaw Rosa Sans sans I pray you Ber. Yet I haue a tricke Of the old rage beare with me I am sicke I le leaue it by degrees soft let vs see Write Lord haue mercie on vs on those three They are infected in their hearts it lies They haue the plague and caught it of your eyes These Lords are visited you are not free For the Lords tokens on you do I see Qu. No they are free that gaue these tokens to vs. Ber. Our states are forfeit seeke not to vndo vs. Ros It is not so for how can this be true That you stand forfeit being those that sue Ber. Peace for I will not haue to do with you Ros Nor shall not if I do as I intend Ber. Speake for your selues my wit is at an end King Teach vs sweete Madame for our rude transgression some faire excuse Qu. The fairest is confession Were you not heere but euen now disguis'd Kin. Madam I was Qu. And were you well aduis'd Kin. I was faire Madam Qu. When you then were heere What did you whisper in your Ladies eare King That more then all the world I did respect her Qu. When shee shall challenge this you will reiect her King Vpon mine Honor no. Qu. Peace peace forbeare your oath once broke you force not to forsweare King Despise me when I breake this oath of mine Qu. I will and therefore keepe it Rosaline What did the Russian whisper in your eare Ros Madam he swore that he did hold me deare As precious eye-sight and did value me Aboue this World adding thereto moreouer That he vvould Wed me or else die my Louer Qu. God giue thee ioy of him the Noble Lord Most honorably doth vphold his word King What meane you Madame By my life my troth I neuer swore this Ladie such an oth Ros By heauen you did and to confirme it plaine you gaue me this But take it sir againe King My faith and this the Princesse I did giue I knew her by this Iewell on her sleeue Qu. Pardon me sir this Iewell did she weare And Lord Berowne I thanke him is my deare What Will you haue me or your Pearle againe Ber. Neither of either I remit both twaine I see the tricke on 't Heere was a consent Knowing aforehand of our merriment To dash it like a Christmas Comedie Some carry-tale some please-man some slight Zanie Some mumble-newes some trencher-knight som Dick That smiles his cheeke in yeares and knowes the trick To make my Lady laugh when she 's dispos'd Told our intents before which once disclos'd The Ladies did change Fauours and then we Following the signes woo'd but the
your vehement oaths You should haue beene respectiue and haue kept it Gaue it a Iudges Clearke but wel I know The Clearke wil nere weare haire on 's face that had it Gra. He wil and if he liue to be a man Nerrissa I if a Woman liue to be a man Gra. Now by this hand I gaue it to a youth A kinde of boy a little scrubbed boy No higher then thy selfe the Iudges Clearke A prating boy that begg'd it as a Fee I could not for my heart deny it him Por. You were too blame I must be plaine with you To part so slightly with your wiues first gift A thing stucke on with oathes vpon your finger And so riueted with faith vnto your flesh I gaue my Loue a Ring and made him sweare Neuer to part with it and heere he stands I dare be sworne for him he would not leaue it Nor plucke it from his finger for the wealth That the world masters Now in faith Gratiano You giue your wife too vnkinde a cause of greefe And 't were to me I should be mad at it Bass Why I were best to cut my left hand off And sweare I lost the Ring defending it Gre. My Lord Bassanio gaue his Ring away Vnto the Iudge that beg'd it and indeede Deseru'd it too and then the Boy his Clearke That tooke some paines in writing he begg'd mine And neyther man nor master would take ought But the two Rings Por. What Ring gaue you my Lord Not that I hope which you receiu'd of me Bass If I could adde a lie vnto a fault I would deny it but you see my finger Hath not the Ring vpon it it is gone Por. Euen so voide is your false heart of truth By heauen I wil nere come in your bed Vntil I see the Ring Ner. Nor I in yours til I againe see mine Bass Sweet Portia If you did know to whom I gaue the Ring If you did know for whom I gaue the Ring And would conceiue for what I gaue the Ring And how vnwillingly I left the Ring When nought would be accepted but the Ring You would abate the strength of your displeasure Por. If you had knowne the vertue of the Ring Or halfe her worthinesse that gaue the Ring Or your owne honour to containe the Ring You would not then haue parted with the Ring What man is there so much vnreasonable If you had pleas'd to haue defended it With any termes of Zeale wanted the modestie To vrge the thing held as a ceremonie Nerrissa teaches me what to beleeue I le die for 't but some Woman had the Ring Bass No by mine honor Madam by my soule No Woman had it but a ciuill Doctor Which did refuse three thousand Ducates of me And beg'd the Ring the which I did denie him And suffer'd him to go displeas'd away Euen he that had held vp the verie life Of my deere friend What should I say sweete Lady I was inforc'd to send it after him I was beset with shame and curtesie My honor would not let ingratitude So much besmeare it Pardon me good Lady And by these blessed Candles of the night Had you bene there I thinke you would haue beg'd The Ring of me to giue the worthie Doctor Por. Let not that Doctor ere come neere my house Since he hath got the iewell that I loued And that which you did sweare to keepe for me I will become as liberall as you I le not deny him any thing I haue No not my body nor my husbands bed Know him I shall I am well sure of it Lie not a night from home Watch me like Argos If you doe not if I be left alone Now by mine honour which is yet mine owne I le haue the Doctor for my bedfellow Nerrissa And I his Clarke therefore be well aduis'd How you doe leaue me to mine owne protection Gra. Well doe you so let not me take him then For if I doe I le mar the yong Clarks pen. Ant. I am th' vnhappy subject of these quarrels Por. Sir grieue not you You are welcome notwithstanding Bas Portia forgiue me this enforced wrong And in the hearing of these manie friends I sweare to thee euen by thine owne faire eyes Wherein I see my selfe Por. Marke you but that In both my eyes he doubly sees himselfe In each eye one sweare by your double selfe And there 's an oath of credit Bas Nay but heare me Pardon this fault and by my soule I sweare I neuer more will breake an oath with thee Anth. I once did lend my bodie for thy wealth Which but for him that had your husbands ring Had quite miscarried I dare be bound againe My soule vpon the forfeit that your Lord Will neuer more breake faith aduisedlie Por. Then you shall be his suretie giue him this And bid him keepe it better then the other Ant. Heere Lord Bassanio swear to keep this ring Bass By heauen it is the same I gaue the Doctor Por. I had it of him pardon Bassanio For by this ring the Doctor lay with me Ner. And pardon me my gentle Gratiano For that same scrubbed boy the Doctors Clarke In liew of this last night did lye with me Gra. Why this is like the mending of high waies In Sommer where the waies are faire enough What are we Cuckolds ere we haue deseru'd it Por. Speake not so grossely you are all amaz'd Heere is a letter reade it at your leysure It comes from Padua from Bellario There you shall finde that Portia was the Doctor Nerrissa there her Clarke Lorenzo heere Shall witnesse I set forth as soone as you And but eu'n now return'd I haue not yet Entred my house Anthonio you are welcome And I haue better newes in store for you Then you expect vnseale this letter soone There you shall finde three of your Argosies Are richly come to harbour so dainlie You shall not know by what strange accident I chanced on this letter Antho. I am dumbe Bass Were you the Doctor and I knew you not Gra. Were you the Clark that is to make me cuckold Ner. I but the Clark that neuer meanes to doe it Vnlesse he liue vntill he be a man Bass Sweet Doctor you shall be my bedfellow When I am absent then he with my wife An. Sweet Ladie you haue giuen me life liuing For heere I reade for certaine that my ships Are safelie come to Rode Por. How now Lorenzo My Clarke hath some good comforts to for you Ner. I and I le giue them him without a fee. There doe I giue to you and Iessica From the rich Iewe a speciall deed of gift After his death of all he dies possess'd of Loren. Faire Ladies you drop Manna in the way Of starued people Por. It is almost morning And yet I am sure you are not satisfied Of these euents at full Let vs goe in And charge vs there vpon intergatories And we will answer all things faithfully Gra. Let
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
Noble I le doth want his proper Limmes His Face defac'd with skarres of Infamie His Royall Stock grafft with ignoble Plants And almost shouldred in the swallowing Gulfe Of darke Forgetfulnesse and deepe Obliuion Which to recure we heartily solicite Your gracious selfe to take on you the charge And Kingly Gouernment of this your Land Not as Protector Steward Substitute Or lowly Factor for anothers gaine But as successiuely from Blood to Blood Your Right of Birth your Empyrie your owne For this consorted with the Citizens Your very Worshipfull and louing friends And by their vehement instigation In this iust Cause come I to moue your Grace Rich. I cannot tell if to depart in silence Or bitterly to speake in your reproofe Best fitteth my Degree or your Condition If not to answer you might haply thinke Tongue-ty'd Ambition not replying yeelded To beare the Golden Yoake of Soueraigntie Which fondly you would here impose on me If to reproue you for this suit of yours So season'd with your faithfull loue to me Then on the other side I check'd my friends Therefore to speake and to auoid the first And then in speaking not to incurre the last Definitiuely thus I answer you Your loue deserues my thankes but my desert Vnmeritable shunnes your high request First if all Obstacles were cut away And that my Path were euen to the Crowne As the ripe Reuenue and due of Birth Yet so much is my pouertie of spirit So mightie and so manie my defects That I would rather hide me from my Greatnesse Being a Barke to brooke no mightie Sea Then in my Greatnesse couet to be hid And in the vapour of my Glory smother'd But God be thank'd there is no need of me And much I need to helpe you were there need The Royall Tree hath left vs Royall Fruit Which mellow'd by the stealing howres of time Will well become the Seat of Maiestie And make no doubt vs happy by his Reigne On him I lay that you would lay on me The Right and Fortune of his happie Starres Which God defend that I should wring from him Buck. My Lord this argues Conscience in your Grace But the respects thereof are nice and triuiall All circumstances well considered You say that Edward is your Brothers Sonne So say we too but not by Edwards Wife For first was be contract to Lady Lucie Your Mother liues a Witnesse to his Vow And afterward by substitute betroth'd To Bona Sister to the King of France These both put off a poore Petitioner A Care-cras'd Mother to a many Sonnes A Beautie-waining and distressed Widow Euen in the after-noone of her best dayes Made prize and purchase of his wanton Eye Seduc'd the pitch and height of his degree To base declension and loath'd Bigamie By her in his vnlawfull Bed he got This Edward whom our Manners call the Prince More bitterly could I expostulate Saue that for reuerence to some aliue I giue a sparing limit to my Tongue Then good my Lord take to your Royall selfe This proffer'd benefit of Dignitie If not to blesse vs and the Land withall Yet to draw forth your Noble Ancestrie From the corruption of abusing times Vnto a Lineall true deriued course Maior Do good my Lord your Citizens entreat you Buck. Refuse not mightie Lord this proffer'd loue Catesb O make them ioyfull grant their lawfull suit Rich. Alas why would you heape this Care on me I am vnfit for State and Maiestie I doe beseech you take it not amisse I cannot nor I will not yeeld to you Buck If you refuse it as in loue and zeale Loth to depose the Child your Brothers Sonne As well we know your tendernesse of heart And gentle kinde effeminate remorse Which we haue noted in you to your Kindred And egally indeede to all Estates Yet know where you accept our suit or no Your Brothers Sonne shall neuer reigne our King But we will plant some other in the Throne To the disgrace and downe-fall of your House And in this resolution here we leaue you Come Citizens we will entreat no more Exeunt Catesb Call him againe sweet Prince accept their suit If you denie them all the Land will rue it Rich. Will you enforce me to a world of Cares Call them againe I am not made of Stones But penetrable to your kinde entreaties Albeit against my Conscience and my Soule Enter Buckingham and the rest Cousin of Buckingham and sage graue men Since you will buckle fortune on my back To beare her burthen where I will or no. I must haue patience to endure the Load But if black Scandall or foule-fac'd Reproach Attend the sequell of your Imposition Your meere enforcement shall acquittance me From all the impure blots and staynes thereof For God doth know and you may partly see How farre I am from the desire of this Maior God blesse your Grace wee see it and will say it Rich. In saying so you shall but say the truth Buck. Then I salute you with this Royall Title Long liue King Richard Englands worthie King All. Amen Buck. To morrow may it please you to be Crown'd Rich. Euen when you please for you will haue it so Buck. To morrow then we will attend your Grace And so most ioyfully we take our leaue Rich. Come let vs to our holy Worke againe Farewell my Cousins farewell gentle friends Exeunt Actus Quartus Scena Prima Enter the Queene Anne Duchesse of Gloucester the Duchesse of Yorke and Marquesse Dorset Duch. Yorke Who meetes vs heere My Neece Plantagenet Led in the hand of her kind Aunt of Gloster Now for my Life shee 's wandring to the Tower On pure hearts loue to greet the tender Prince Daughter well met Anne God giue your Graces both a happie And a ioyfull time of day Qu. As much to you good Sister whither away Anne No farther then the Tower and as I guesse Vpon the like deuotion as your selues To gratulate the gentle Princes there Qu. Kind Sister thankes wee 'le enter all together Enter the Lieutenant And in good time here the Lieutenant comes Master Lieutenant pray you by your leaue How doth the Prince and my young Sonne of Yorke Lieu. Right well deare Madame by your patience I may not suffer you to visit them The King hath strictly charg'd the contrary Qu. The King who 's that Lieu. I meane the Lord Protector Qu. The Lord protect him from that Kingly Title Hath he set bounds betweene their loue and me I am their Mother who shall barre me from them Duch. Yorke I am their Fathers Mother I will see them Anne Their Aunt I am in law in loue their Mother Then bring me to their sights I le beare thy blame And take thy Office from thee on my perill Lieu. No Madame no I may not leaue it so I am bound by Oath and therefore pardon me Exit Lieutenant Enter Stanley Stanley Let me but meet you Ladies one howre hence And I le salute your Grace of
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
my dying voyce So tell him with the occurrents more and lesse Which haue solicited The rest is silence O o o o Dyes Hora. Now cracke a Noble heart Goodnight sweet Prince And flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest Why do's the Drumme come hither Enter Fortinbras and English Ambassador with Drumme Colours and Attendants Fortin Where is this sight Hor. What is it ye would see If ought of woe or wonder cease your search For. His quarry cries on hauocke Oh proud death What feast is toward in thine eternall Cell That thou so many Princes at a shoote So bloodily hast strooke Amb. The sight is dismall And our affaires from England come too late The eares are senselesse that should giue vs hearing To tell him his command'ment is fulfill'd That Rosincrance and Guildensterne are dead Where should we haue our thankes Hor. Not from his mouth Had it th' abilitie of life to thanke you He neuer gaue command'ment for their death But since so iumpe vpon this bloodie question You from the Polake warres and you from England Are heere arriued Giue order that these bodies High on a stage be placed to the view And let me speake to th' yet vnknowing world How these things came about So shall you heare Of carnall bloudie and vnnaturall acts Of accidentall iudgements casuall slaughters Of death's put on by cunning and forc'd cause And in this vpshot purposes mistooke Falne on the Inuentors heads All this can I Truly deliuer For. Let vs hast to heare it And call the Noblest to the Audience For me with sorrow I embrace my Fortune I haue some Rites of memory in this Kingdome Which are ro claime my vantage doth Inuite me Hor. Of that I shall haue alwayes cause to speake And from his mouth Whose voyce will draw on more But let this same be presently perform'd Euen whiles mens mindes are wilde Lest more mischance On plots and errors happen For. Let foure Captaines Beare Hamlet like a Soldier to the Stage For he was likely had he beene put on To haue prou'd most royally And for his passage The Souldiours Musicke and the rites of Warre Speake lowdly for him Take vp the body Such a sight as this Becomes the Field but heere shewes much amis Go bid the Souldiers shoote Exeunt Marching after the which a Peale of Ordenance are shot off FINIS THE TRAGEDIE OF KING LEAR Actus Primus Scoena Prima Enter Kent Gloucester and Edmond Kent I Thought the King had more affected the Duke of Albany then Cornwall Glou. It did alwayes seeme so to vs But now in the diuision of the Kingdome it appeares not which of the Dukes hee valewes most for qualities are so weigh'd that curiosity in neither can make choise of eithers moity Kent Is not this your Son my Lord Glou. His breeding Sir hath bin at my charge I haue so often blush'd to acknowledge him that now I am braz'd too 't Kent I cannot conceiue you Glou. Sir this yong Fellowes mother could wherevpon she grew round womb'd and had indeede Sir a Sonne for her Cradle ere she had a husband for her bed Do you smell a fault Kent I cannot wish the fault vndone the issue of it being so proper Glou. But I haue a Sonne Sir by order of Law some yeere elder then this who yet is no deerer in my account though this Knaue came somthing sawcily to the world before he was sent for yet was his Mother fayre there was good sport at his making and the horson must be acknowledged Doe you know this Noble Gentleman Edmond Edm. No my Lord. Glou. My Lord of Kent Remember him heereafter as my Honourable Friend Edm. My seruices to your Lordship Kent I must loue you and sue to know you better Edm. Sir I shall study deseruing Glou. He hath bin out nine yeares and away he shall againe The King is comming Sennet Enter King Lear Cornwall Albany Gonerill Regan Cordelia and attendants Lear. Attend the Lords of France Burgundy Gloster Glou. I shall my Lord. Exit Lear. Meane time we shal expresse our darker purpose Giue me the Map there Know that we haue diuided In three our Kingdome and 't is our fast intent To shake all Cares and Businesse from our Age Conferring them on yonger strengths while we Vnburthen'd crawle toward death Our son of Cornwal And you our no lesse louing Sonne of Albany We haue this houre a constant will to publish Our daughters seuerall Dowers that future strife May be preuented now The Princes France Burgundy Great Riuals in our yongest daughters loue Long in our Court haue made their amorous soiourne And heere are to be answer'd Tell me my daughters Since now we will diuest vs both of Rule Interest of Territory Cares of State Which of you shall we say doth loue vs most That we our largest bountie may extend Where Nature doth with merit challenge Gonerill Our eldest borne speake first Gon. Sir I loue you more then word can weild y e matter Deerer then eye-sight space and libertie Beyond what can be valewed rich or rare No lesse then life with grace health beauty honor As much as Childe ere lou'd or Father found A loue that makes breath poore and speech vnable Beyond all manner of so much I loue you Cor. What shall Cordelia speake Loue and be silent Lear. Of all these bounds euen from this Line to this With shadowie Forrests and with Champains rich'd With plenteous Riuers and wide-skirted Meades We make thee Lady To thine and Albanies issues Be this perpetuall What sayes our second Daughter Our deerest Regan wife of Cornwall Reg. I am made of that selfe-mettle as my Sister And prize me at her worth In my true heart I finde she names my very deede of loue Onely she comes too short that I professe My selfe an enemy to all other ioyes Which the most precious square of sense professes And finde I am alone felicitate In your deere Highnesse loue Cor. Then poore Cordelia And yet not so since I am sure my loue 's More ponderous then my tongue Lear. To thee and thine hereditarie euer Remaine this ample third of our faire Kingdome No lesse in space validitie and pleasure Then that confeir'd on Gonerill Now our Ioy Although our last and least to whose yong loue The Vines of France and Milke of Burgundie Striue to be interest What can you say to draw A third more opilent then your Sisters speake Cor. Nothing my Lord. Lear. Nothing Cor. Nothing Lear. Nothing will come of nothing speake againe Cor. Vnhappie that I am I cannot heaue My heart into my mouth I loue your Maiesty According to my bond no more nor lesse Lear. How how Cordelia Mend your speech a little Least you may marre your Fortunes Cor. Good my Lord You haue begot me bred me lou'd me I returne those duties backe as are right fit Obey you Loue you and most Honour you Why haue my Sisters Husbands if they say They loue you
heere you Gods a poore old man As full of griefe as age wretched in both If it be you that stirres these Daughters hearts Against their Father foole me not so much To beare it tamely touch me with Noble anger And let not womens weapons water drops Staine my mans cheekes No you vnnaturall Hags I will haue such reuenges on you both That all the world shall I will do such things What they are yet I know not but they shal be The terrors of the earth you thinke I le weepe No I le not weepe I haue full cause of weeping Storme and Tempest But this heart shal break into a hundred thousand flawes Or ere I le weepe O Foole I shall go mad Exeunt Corn. Let vs withdraw 't will be a Storme Reg. This house is little the old man an'ds people Cannot be well bestow'd Gon. 'T is his owne blame hath put himselfe from rest And must needs taste his folly Reg. For his particular I le receiue him gladly But not one follower Gon. So am I purpos'd Where is my Lord of Gloster Enter Gloster Corn. Followed the old man forth he is return'd Glo. The King is in high rage Corn. Whether is he going Glo. He cals to Horse but will I know not whether Corn. 'T is best to giue him way he leads himselfe Gon. My Lord entreate him by no meanes to stay Glo. Alacke the night comes on and the high windes Do sorely ruffle for many Miles about There 's scarce a Bush Reg. O Sir to wilfull men The iniuries that they themselues procure Must be their Schoole-Masters shut vp your doores He is attended with a desperate traine And what they may incense him too being apt To haue his eare abus'd wisedome bids feare Cor. Shut vp your â—ores my Lord 't is a wil'd night My Regan counsels wellâ— come out o th' storme Exeunt Actus Tertius Scena Prima Storme still Enter Kent and a Gentleman seuerally Kent Who 's there besides foule weather Gen. One minded like the weather most vnquietly Kent I know you Where 's the King Gent. Contending with the fretfull Elements Bids the winde blow the Earth into the Sea Or swell the curled Waters ' boue the Maine That things might change or cease Kent But who is with him Gent. None but the Foole who labours to out-iest His heart-strooke iniuries Kent Sir I do know you And dare vpon the warrant of my note Commend a deere thing to you There is diuision Although as yet the face of it is couer'd With mutuall cunning 'twixt Albany and Cornwall Who haue as who haue not that their great Starres Thron'd and set high Seruants who seeme no lesse Which are to France the Spies and Speculations Intelligent of our State What hath bin seene Either in snuffes and packings of the Dukes Or the hard Reine which both of them hath borne Against the old kinde King or something deeper Whereof perchance these are but furnishings Gent. I will talke further with you Kent No do not For confirmation that I am much more Then my out-wall open this Purse and take What it containes If you shall see Cordelâ—a As feare not but you shall shew her this Ring And she will tell you who that Fellow is That yet you do not know Fye on this Storme I will go seeke the King Gent. Giue me your hand Haue you no more to say Kent Few words but to effect more then all yet That when we haue found the King in which your pain That way I le this He that first lights on him Holla the other Exeunt Scena Secunda Storme still Enter Lear and Foole. Lear. Blow windes crack your cheeks Rage blow You Cataracts and Hyrricano's spout Till you haue drench'd our Steeples drown the Cockes You Sulph'rous and Thought-executing Fires Vaunt-curriors of Oake-cleauing Thunder-bolts Sindge my white head And thou all-shaking Thunder Strike flat the thicke Rotundity o' th' world Cracke Natures moulds all germaines spill at once That makes ingratefull Man Foole. O Nunkle Court holy-water in a dry house is better then this Rain-water out o' doore Good Nunkle in aske thy Daughters blessing heere 's a night pitties neither Wisemen nor Fooles Lear. Rumble thy belly full spit Fire spowt Raine Nor Raine Winde Thunder Fire are my Daughters I taxe not you you Elements with vnkindnesse I neuer gaue you Kingdome call'd you Children You owe me no subscription Then let fall Your horrible pleasure Heere I stand your Slaue A poore infirme weake and dispis'd old man But yet I call you Seruile Ministers That will with two pernicious Daughters ioyne Your high-engender'd Battailes ' gainst a head So old and white as this O ho 't is foule Foole. He that has a house to put 's head in has a good Head-peece The Codpiece that will house before the head has any The Head and he shall Lowse so Beggers marry many The man y t makes his Toe what he his Hart shold make Shall of a Corne cry woe and turne his sleepe to wake For there was neuer yet faire woman but shee made mouthes in a glasse Enter Kent Lear. No I will be the patterne of all patience I will say nothing Kent Who 's there Foole. Marry here 's Grace and a Codpiece that 's a Wiseman and a Foole. Kent Alas Sir are you here Things that loue night Loue not such nights as these The wrathfull Skies Gallow the very wanderers of the darke And make them keepe their Caues Since I was man Such sheets of Fire such bursts of horrid Thunder Such groanes of roaring Winde and Raine I neuer Remember to haue heard Mans Nature cannot carry Th' affliction nor the feare Lear. Let the great Goddes That keepe this dreadfull pudder o're our heads Finde out their enemies now Tremble thou Wretch That hast within thee vndivulged Crimes Vnwhipt of Iustice Hide thee thou Bloudy hand Thou Periur'd and thou Simular of Vertue That art Incestuous Caytiffe to peeces shake That vnder couert and conuenient seeming Ha's practis'd on mans life Close pent-vp guilts Riue your concealing Continents and cry These dreadfull Summoners grace I am a man More sinn'd against then sinning Kent Alacke bare-headed Gracious my Lord hard by heere is a Houell Some friendship will it lend you ' gainst the Tempest Repose you there while I to this hard house More harder then the stones whereof 't is rais'd Which euen but now demanding after you Deny'd me to come in returne and force Their scanted curtesie Lear. My wits begin to turne Come on my boy How dost my boy Art cold I am cold my selfe Where is this straw my Fellow The Art of our Necessities is strange And can make vilde things precious Come your Houel Poore Foole and Knaue I haue one part in my heart That 's sorry yet for thee Foole. He that has and a little-tyne wit With heigh-ho the Winde and the Raine Must make content with his Fort â—es fit Though the Raine it raineth
Marcheth with his Land Army one way ouer the stage and Towrus the Lieutenant of Caesar the other way After their going in is heard the noise of a Sea fight Alarum Enter Enobarbus and Scarus Eno. Naught naught al naught I can behold no longer Thantoniad the Egyptian Admirall With all their sixty flye and turne the Rudder To see 't mine eyes are blasted Enter Scarrus Scar. Gods Goddesses all the whol synod of them Eno. What 's thy passion Scar. The greater Cantle of the world is lost With very ignorance we haue kist away Kingdomes and Prouinces Eno. How appeares the Fight Scar. On our side like the Token'd Pestilence Where death is sure Yon ribaudred Nagge of Egypt Whom Leprosie o're-take i' th' midst o' th' fight When vantage like a payre of Twinnes appear'd Both as the same or rather outs the elder The Breeze vpon her like a Cow in Inne Hoists Sailes and flyes Eno. That I beheld Mine eyes did sicken at the sight and could not Indure a further view Scar. She once being looft The Noble ruine of her Magicke Anthony Claps on his Sea-wing and like a doting Mallard Leauing the Fight in heighth flyes after her I neuer saw an Action of sâ—ch shame Experience Man-hood Honor ne're before Did violate so it selfe Enob. Alacke alacke Enter Camidius Cam. Our Fortune on the Sea is out of breath And sinkes most lamentably Had our Generall Bin what he knew himselfe it had gone well Oh his ha's giuen example for our flight Most grossely by his owne Enob. I are you thereabouts Why then goodnight indeede Cam. Toward Peloponnesus are they fled Scar. 'T is easie toot And there I will attend what further comes Camid To Caesar will I render My Legions and my Horse sixe Kings alreadie Shew me the way of yeelding Eno. I le yet follow The wounded chance of Anthony though my reason Sits in the winde against me Enter Anthony with Attendants Ant. Hearke the Land bids me tread no more vpon 't It is asham'd to beare me Friends come hither I am so lated in the world that I Haue lost my way for euer I haue a shippe Laden with Gold take that diuide it flye And make your peace with Caesar Omnes Fly Not wee Ant. I haue fled my selfe and haue instructed cowards To runne and shew their shoulders Friends be gone I haue my selfe resolu'd vpon a course Which has no neede of you Be gone My Treasure 's in the Harbour Take it Oh I follow'd that I blush to looke vpon My very haites do mutiny for the white Reproue the browne for rashnesse and they them For feare and doting Friends be gone you shall Haue Letters from me to some Friends that will Sweepe your way for you Pray you looke not sad Nor make replyes of loathnesse take the hint Which my dispaire proclaimes Let them be left Which leaues it selfe to the Sea-side straight way I will possesse you of that ship and Treasure Leaue me I pray a little pray you now Nay do so for indeede I haue lost command Therefore I pray you I le see you by and by Sits downe Enter Cleopatra led by Charmian and Eros Eros Nay gentle Madam to him comfort him Iras. Do most deere Queene Char. Do why what else Cleo. Let me sit downe Oh Iuno Ant. No no no no no. Eros See you heere Sir Ant. Oh fie fie fie Char. Madam Iras. Madam oh good Empresse Eros Sir sir Ant. Yes my Lord yes he at Philippi kept His sword e'ne like a dancer while I strooke The leane and wrinkled Cassius and 't was I That the mad Brutus ended he alone Dealt on Lieutenantry and no practise had In the braue squares of Warre yet now no matter Cleo. Ah stand by Eros The Queene my Lord the Queene Iras. Go to him Madam speake to him Hee 's vnqualited with very shame Cleo. Well then sustaine me Oh. Eros Most Noble Sir arise the Queene approaches Her head 's declin'd and death will cease her but Your comfort makes the rescue Ant. I haue offended Reputation A most vnnoble sweruing Eros Sir the Queene Ant. Oh whether hast thou lead me Egypt see How I conuey my shame out of thine eyes By looking backe what I haue left behinde Stroy'd in dishonor Cleo. Oh my Lord my Lord. Forgiue my fearfull sayles I little thought You would haue followed Ant. Egypt thou knew'st too well My heart was to thy Rudder tyed by ' th' strings And thou should'st stowe me after O're my spirit The full supremacie thou knew'st and that Thy becke might from the bidding of the Gods Command mee Cleo. Oh my pardon Ant. Now I must To the young man send humble Treaties dodge And palter in the shifts of lownes who With halfe the bulke o' th' world plaid as I pleas'd Making and marring Fortunes You did know How much you were my Conqueror and that My Sword made weake by my affection would Obey it on all cause Cleo. Pardon pardon Ant Fall not a teare I say one of them rates All that is wonne and lost Giue me a kisse Euen this repayes me We sent our Schoolemaster is a come backe Loue I am full of Lead some Wine Within there and our Viands Fortune knowes We scorne her most when most she offers blowes Exeunt Enter Caesar Agrippa and Dollabello with others Caes Let him appeare that 's come from Anthony Know you him Dolla Caesar 't is his Schoolemaster An argument that he is pluckt when hither He sends so poore a Pinnion of his Wing Which had superfluous Kings for Messengers Not many Moones gone by Enter Ambassador from Anthony Caesar Approach and speake Amb. Such as I am I come from Anthony I was of late as petty to his ends As is the Mornâ—-dew on the Mertle leafe To his grand Sea Caes Bee 't so declare thine office Amb. Lord of his Fortunes he salutes thee and Requires to liue in Egypt which not granted He Lessons his Requests and to thee sues To let him breath betweene the Heauens and Earth A priuate man in Athens this for him Next Cleopatra does confesse thy Greatnesse Submits her to thy might and of thee craues The Circle of the Ptolomies for her heyres Now hazarded to thy Grace Caes For Anthony I haue no eares to his request The Queene Of Audience nor Desire shall faile so shee From Egypt driue her all-disgraced Friend Or take his life there This if shee performe She shall not sue vnheard So to them both Amb. Fortune pursue thee Caes Bring him through the Bands To try thy Eloquence now 't is time dispatch From Anthony winne Cleopatra promise And in our Name what she requires adde more From thine inuention offers Women are not In their best Fortunes strong but want will periure The ne're touch'd Vestall Try thy cunning Thidias Make thine owne Edict for thy paines which we Will answer as a Law Thid. Caesar I go Caesar Obserue how Anthony becomes his flaw And what thou think'st his
me to my Tent where you shall see How hardly I was drawne into this Warre How calme and gentle I proceeded still In all my Writings Go with me and see What I can shew in this Exeunt Enter Cleopatra Charmian Iras and Mardian Cleo. My desolation does begin to make A better life T is paltry to be Caesar Not being Fortune hee 's but Fortunes knaue A minister of her will and it is great To do that thing that ends all other deeds Which shackles accedents and bolts vp change Which sleepes and neuer pallates more the dung The beggers Nurse and Caesars Enter Proculeius Pro. Caesar sends greeting to the Queene of Egypt And bids thee study on what faire demands Thou mean'st to haue him grant thee Cleo. What 's thy name Pro. My name is Proculeius Cleo. Anthony Did â—ell me of you bad me trust you but I do not greatly care to be deceiu'd That haue no vse for trusting If your Master Would haue a Queece his begger you must tell him That Maiesty to keepe decorum must No lesse begge then a Kingdome If he please To giue me conquer'd Egypt for my Sonne He giues me so much of mine owne as I Will kneele to him with thankes Pro. Be of good cheere Y' are falne into a Princely hand feare nothing Make your full reference freely to my Lord Who is so full of Grace that it flowes ouer On all that neede Let me report to him Your sweet dependacie and you shall finde A Conqueror that will pray in ayde for kindnesse Where he for grace is kneel'd too Cleo. Pray you tell him I am his Fortunes Vassall and I send him The Greatnesse he has got I hourely learne A Doctrine of Obedience and would gladly Looke him i' th' Face Pro. This I le report deere Lady Haue comfort for I know your plight is pittied Of him that caus'd it Pro. You see how easily she may be surpriz'd Guard her till Caesar come Iras. Royall Queene Char. Oh Cleopatra thou art taken Queene Cleo. Quicke quicke good hands Pro. Hold worthy Lady hold Doe not your selfe such wrong who are in this Releeu'd but not betraid Cleo. What of death too that rids our dogs of languish Pro. Cleopatra do not abuse my Masters bounty by Th' vndoing of your selfe Let the World see His Noblenesse well acted which your death Will neuer let come forth Cleo. Where art thou Death Come hither come Come come and take a Queene Worth many Babes and Beggers Pro. Oh temperance Lady Cleo. Sir I will eate no meate I le not drinke sir If idle talke will once be necessary I le not sleepe neither This mortall house I le ruine Do Caesar what he can Know sir that I Will not waite pinnion'd at your Masters Court Nor once be chastic'd with the sober eye Of dull Octauia Shall they hoyst me vp And shew me to the showting Varlotarie Of censuring Rome Rather a ditch in Egypt Be gentle graue vnto me rather on Nylus mudde Lay me starke-nak'd and let the water-Flies Blow me into abhorting rather make My Countries high pyramides my Gibbet And hang me vp in Chaines Pro. You do extend These thoughts of horror further then you shall Finde cause in Caesar Enter Dolabella Dol. Proculeius What thou hast done thy Master Caesar knowes And he hath sent for thee for the Queene I le take her to my Guard Pro. So Dolabella It shall content me best Be gentle to her To Caesar I will speake what you shall please If you 'l imploy me to him Exit Proculeius Cleo. Say I would dye Dol. Most Noble Empresse you haue heard of me Cleo. I cannot tell Dol. Assuredly you know me Cleo. No matter sir what I haue heard or knowne You laugh when Boyes or Women tell their Dreames Is' t not your tricke Dol. I vnderstand not Madam Cleo. I dreampt there was an Emperor Anthony Oh such another sleepe that I might see But such another man Dol. If it might please ye Cleo. His face was as the Heau'ns and therein stucke A Sunne and Moone which kept their course lighted The little o' th' earth Dol. Most Soueraigne Creature Cleo. His legges bestrid the Ocean his rear'd arme Crested the world His voyce was propertied As all the tuned Spheres and that to Friends But when he meant to quaile and shake the Orbe He was as ratling Thunder For his Bounty There was no winter in 't An Anthony it was That grew the more by reaping His delights Were Dolphin-like they shew'd his backe aboue The Element they liu'd in In his Liuery Walk'd Crownes and Crownets Realms Islands were As plates dropt from his pocket Dol. Cleopatra Cleo. Thinke you there was or might be such a man As this I dreampt of Dol. Gentle Madam no. Cleo. You Lye vp to the hearing of the Gods But if there be nor euer were one such It 's past the size of dreaming Nature wants stuffe To vie strange formes with fancie yet t' imagine An Anthony were Natures peece ' gainst Fancie Condemning shadowes quite Dol. Heare me good Madam Your losse is as your selfe great and you beare it As answering to the waight would I might neuer Ore-take pursu'de successe But I do feele By the rebound of yours a greefe that suites My very heart at roote Cleo. I thanke you sir Know you what Caesar meanes to do with me Dol. I am loath to tell you what I would you knew Cleo. Nay pray you sir Dol. Though he be Honourable Cleo. Hee 'l leade me then in Triumph Dol. Madam he will I know 't Flourish Enter Proculeius Caesar Gallus Mecenas and others of his Traine All. Make way there Caesar Câ—es Which is the Queene of Egypt Dol. It is the Emperor Madam Cleo. kneeles Caesar Arise you shall not kneele I pray you rise rise Egypt Cleo. Sir the Gods will haue it thus My Master and my Lord I must obey Caesar Take to you no hard thoughts The Record of what iniuries you did vs Though written in our flesh we shall remember As things but done by chance Cleo. Sole Sir o' th' World I cannot proiect mine owne cause so well To make it cleare but do confesse I haue Bene laden with like frailties which before Haue often sham'd our Sex Caesar Cleopatra know We will extenuate rather then inforce If you apply your selfe to our intents Which towards you are most gentle you shall finde A benefit in this change but if you seeke To lay on me a Cruelty by taking Anthonies course you shall bereaue your selfe Of my good purposes and put your children To that destruction which I le guard them from If thereon you relye I le take my leaue Cleo. And may through all the world t is yours we your Scutcheons and your signes of Conquest shall Hang in what place you please Here my good Lord. Caesar You shall aduise me in all for Cleopatra Cleo. This is the breefe of Money Plate Iewels I am possest of 't is
slackely guarded and the search so slow That could not trace them 1 Howsoere 't is strange Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at Yet is it true Sir 2 I do well beleeue you 1 We must forbeare Heere comes the Gentleman The Queene and Princesse Exeunt Scena Secunda Enter the Queene Posthumus and Imogen Qu. No be assur'd you shall not finde me Daughter After the slander of most Step-Mothers Euill-ey'd vnto you You 're my Prisoner but Your Gaoler shall deliuer you the keyes That locke vp your restraint For you Posthumus So soone as I can win th' offended King I will be knowne your Aduocate marry yet The fire of Rage is in him and 't were good You lean'd vnto his Sentence with what patience Your wisedome may informe you Post ' Please your Highnesse I will from hence to day Qu. You know the perill I le fetch a turne about the Garden pittying The pangs of barr'd Affections though the King Hath charg'd you should not speake together Exit Imo. O dissembling Curtesie How fine this Tyrant Can tickle where she wounds My deerest Husband I something feare my Fathers wrath but nothing Alwayes reseru'd my holy duty what His rage can do on me You must be gone And I shall heere abide the hourely shot Of angry eyes not comforted to liue But that there is this Iewell in the world That I may see againe Post My Queene my Mistris O Lady weepe no more least I giue cause To be suspected of more tendernesse Then doth become a man I will remaine The loyall'st husband that did ere plight troth My residence in Rome at one Filorio's Who to my Father was a Friend to me Knowne but by Letter thither write my Queene And with mine eyes I le drinke the words you send Though Inke be made of Gall. Enter Queene Qu. Be briefe I pray you If the King come I shall incurre I know not How much of his displeasure yet I le moue him To walke this way I neuer do him wrong But he do's buy my Iniuries to be Friends Payes deere for my offences Post Should we be taking leaue As long a terme as yet we haue to liue The loathnesse to depart would grow Adieu Imo. Nay stay a little Were you but riding forth to ayre your selfe Such parting were too petty Looke heere Loue This Diamond was my Mothers take it Heart But keepe it till you woo another Wife When Imogen is dead Post How how Another You gentle Gods giue me but this I haue And seare vp my embracements from a next With bonds of death Remaine remaine thou heere While sense can keepe it on And sweetest fairest As I my poore selfe did exchange for you To your so infinite losse so in our trifles I still winne of you For my sake weare this It is a Manacle of Loue I le place it Vpon this fayrest Prisoner Imo. O the Gods When shall we see againe Enter Cymbeline and Lords Post Alacke the King Cym. Thou basest thing auoyd hence from my sight If after this command thou fraught the Court With thy vnworthinesse thou dyest Away Thou' rt poyson to my blood Post The Gods protect you And blesse the good Remainders of the Court I am gone Exit Imo. There cannot be a pinch in death More sharpe then this is Cym. O disloyall thing That should'st repayre my youth thou heap'st A yeares age on meâ— Imo. I beseech you Sir Harme not your selfe with your vexation I am senselesse of your Wrath a Touch more rare Subdues all pangs all feares Cym. Past Grace Obedience Imo. Past hope and in dispaire that way past Grace Cym. That might'st haue had The sole Sonne of my Queene Imo. O blessed that I might not I chose an Eagle And did auoyd a Puttocke Cym. Thou took'st a Begger would'st haue made my Throne a Seate for basenesse Imo. No I rather added a lustre to it Cym. O thou vilde one Imo. Sir It is your fault that I haue lou'd Posthumus You bred him as my Play-fellow and he is A man worth any woman Ouer-buyes mee Almost the summe he payes Cym. What art thou mad Imo. Almost Sir Heauen restore me would I were A Neat-heards Daughter and my Leonatus Our Neighbour-Shepheards Sonne Enter Queene Cym. Thou foolish thing They were againe together you haue done Not after our command Away with her And pen her vp Qu. Beseech your patience Peace Deere Lady daughter peace Sweet Soueraigne Leaue vs to our selues and make your self some comfort Out of your best aduice Cym. Nay let her languish A drop of blood a day and being aged Dye of this Folly Exit Enter Pisanio Qu. Fye you must giue way Heere is your Seruant How now Sir What newes Pisa My Lord your Sonne drew on my Master Qu. Hah No harme I trust is done Pisa There might haue beene But that my Master rather plaid then fought And had no helpe of Anger they were parted By Gentlemen at hand Qu. I am very glad on 't Imo. Your Son 's my Fathers friend he takes his part To draw vpon an Exile O braue Sir I would they were in Affricke both together My selfe by with a Needle that I might pricke The goer backe Why came you from your Master Pisa On his command he would not suffer mee To bring him to the Hauen left these Notes Of what commands I should be subiect too When 't pleas'd you to employ me Qu. This hath beene Your faithfull Seruant I dare lay mine Honour He will remaine so Pisa I humbly thanke your Highnesse Qu. Pray walke a-while Imo. About some halfe houre hence Pray you speake with me You shall at least go see my Lord aboord For this time leaue me Exeunt Scena Tertia Enter Clotten and two Lords 1. Sir I would aduise you to shift a Shirt the Violence of Action hath made you reek as a Sacrifice where ayre comes out ayre comes in There 's none abroad so wholesome as that you vent Clot. If my Shirt were bloody then to shift it Haue I hurt him 2 No faith not so much as his patience 1 Hurt him His bodie 's a passable Carkasse if he bee not hurt It is a through-fare for Steele if it be not hurt 2 His Steele was in debt it went o' th' Backe-side the Towne Clot. The Villaine would not stand me 2 No but he fled forward still toward your face 1 Stand you you haue Land enough of your owne But he added to your hauing gaue you some ground 2 As many Inches as you haue Oceans Puppies Clot. I would they had not come betweene vs. 2 So would I till you had measur'd how long a Foole you were vpon the ground Clot. And that shee should loue this Fellow and refuse mee 2 If it be a sin to make a true election she is damn'd 1 Sir as I told you alwayes her Beauty her Braine go not together Shee 's a good signe but I haue seene small reflection of her wit 2
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
my tongue while heart is drown'd in cares Lewis What ere it be be thou still like thy selfe And sit thee by our side Seats her by him Yeeld not thy necke to Fortunes yoake But let thy dauntlesse minde still ride in triumph Ouer all mischance Be plaine Queene Margaret and tell thy griefe It shall be eas'd if France can yeeld reliefe Marg. Those gracious words Reuiue my drooping thoughts And giue my tongue-ty'd sorrowes leaue to speake Now therefore be it knowne to Noble Lewis That Henry sole possessor of my Loue Is of a King become a banisht man And forc'd to liue in Scotland a Forlorne While prowd ambitious Edward Duke of Yorke Vsurpes the Regall Title and the Seat Of Englands true anoynted lawfull King This is the cause that I poore Margaret With this my Sonne Prince Edward Henries Heire Am come to craue thy iust and lawfull ayde And if thou faile vs all our hope is done Scotland hath will to helpe but cannot helpe Our People and our Peeres are both mis-led Our Treasure seiz'd our Souldiors put to flight And as thou seest our selues in heauie plight Lewis Renowned Queene With patience calme the Storme While we bethinke a meanes to breake it off Marg. The more wee stay the stronger growes our Foe Lewis The more I stay the more I le succour thee Marg. O but impatience waiteth on true sorrow And see where comes the breeder of my sorrow Enter Warwicke Lewis What 's hee approacheth boldly to our presence Marg. Our Earle of Warwicke Edwards greatest Friend Lewis Welcome braue Warwicke what brings thee to France Hee descends Shee ariseth Marg. I now begins a second Storme to rise For this is hee that moues both Winde and Tyde Warw. From worthy Edward King of Albion My Lord and Soueraigne and thy vowed Friend I come in Kindnesse and vnfayned Loue First to doe greetings to thy Royall Person And then to craue a League of Amitie And lastly to confirme that Amitie With Nuptiall Knot if thou vouchsafe to graunt That vertuous Lady Bona thy faire Sister To Englands King in lawfull Marriage Marg. If that goe forward Henries hope is done Warw. And gracious Madame Speaking to Bona. In our Kings behalfe I am commanded with your leaue and fauor Humbly to kisse your Hand and with my Tongue To tell the passion of my Soueraignes Heart Where Fame late entring at his heedfull Eares Hath plac'd thy Beauties Image and thy Vertue Marg. King Lewis and Lady Bona heare me speake Before you answer Warwicke His demand Springs not from Edwards well-meant honest Loue But from Deceit bred by Necessitie For how can Tyrants safely gouerne home Vnlesse abroad they purchase great allyance To proue him Tyrant this reason may suffice That Henry liueth still but were hee dead Yet here Prince Edward stands King Henries Sonne Looke therefore Lewis that by this League and Mariage Thou draw not on thy Danger and Dis-honor For though Vsurpers sway the rule a while Yet Heau'ns are iust and Time suppresseth Wrongs Warw. Iniurious Margaret Edw. And why not Queene Warw. Because thy Father Henry did vsurpe And thou no more art Prince then shee is Queene Oxf. Then Warwicke disanulls great Iohn of Gaunt Which did subdue the greatest part of Spaine And after Iohn of Gaunt Henry the Fourth Whose Wisdome was a Mirror to the wisest And after that wise Prince Henry the Fift Who by his Prowesse conquered all France From thâ—se our Henry lineally descends Warw. Oxford how haps it in this smooth discourse You told not how Henry the Sixt hath lost All that which Henry the Fift had gotten Me thinkes these Peeres of France should smile at that But for the rest you tell a Pedigree Of threescore and two yeeres a silly time To make prescription for a Kingdomes worth Oxf. Why Warwicke canst thou speak against thy Liege Whom thou obeyd'st thirtie and six yeeres And not bewray thy Treason with a Blush Warw. Can Oxford that did euer fence the right Now buckler Falsehood with a Pedigree For shame leaue Henry and call Edward King Oxf. Call him my King by whose iniurious doome My elder Brother the Lord Aubrey Vere Was done to death and more then so my Father Euen in the downe-fall of his mellow'd yeeres When Nature brought him to the doore of Death No Warwicke no while Life vpholds this Arme This Arme vpholds the House of Lancaster Warw. And I the House of Yorke Lewis Queene Margaret Prince Edward and Oxford Vouchsafe at our request to stand aside While I vse further conference with Warwicke They stand aloofe Marg. Heauens graunt that Warwickes wordes bewitch him not Lew. Now Warwicke tell me euen vpon thy conscience Is Edward your true King for I were loth To linke with him that were not lawfull chosen Warw. Thereon I pawne my Credit and mine Honor Lewis But is hee gracious in the Peoples eye Warw. The more that Henry was vnfortunate Lewis Then further all dissembling set aside Tell me for truth the measure of his Loue Vnto our Sister Bona. War Such it seemes As may beseeme a Monarch like himselfe My selfe haue often heard him say and sweare That this his Loue was an externall Plant Whereof the Root was fixt in Vertues ground The Leaues and Fruit maintain'd with Beauties Sunne Exempt from Enuy but not from Disdaine Vnlesse the Lady Bona quit his paine Lewis Now Sister let vs heare your firme resolue Bona. Your graunt or your denyall shall be mine Yet I confesse that often ere this day Speaks to War When I haue heard your Kings desert recounted Mine eare hath tempted iudgement to desire Lewis Then Warwicke thus Our Sister shall be Edwards And now forthwith shall Articles be drawne Touching the Ioynture that your King must make Which with her Dowrie shall be counter-poys'd Draw neere Queene Margaret and be a witnesse That Bona shall be Wife to the English King Pr. Edw. To Edward but not to the English King Marg. Deceitfull Warwicke it was thy deuice By this alliance to make void my suit Before thy comming Lewis was Henries friend Lewis And still is friend to him and Margaret But if your Title to the Crowne be weake As may appeare by Edwards good successe Then 't is but reason that I be releas'd From giuing ayde which late I promised Yet shall you haue all kindnesse at my hand That your Estate requires and mine can yeeld Warw. Henry now liues in Scotland at his ease Where hauing nothing nothing can he lose And as for you your selfe our quondam Queene You haue a Father able to maintaine you And better 't were you troubled him then France Mar. Peace impudent and shamelesse Warwicke Proud setter vp and puller downe of Kings I will not hence till with my Talke and Teares Both full of Truth I make King Lewis behold Thy slye conueyance and thy Lords false loue Post blowing a horne Within For both of you are Birds of selfe-same Feather Lewes Warwicke this is some poste to