Consenting to the safe-guard of your honor I thought your marriage fit else Imputation For that he knew you might reproach your life And choake your good to come For his Possessions Although by confutation they are ours We doe en-state and widow you with all To buy you a better husband Mar. Oh my deere Lord I craue no other nor no better man Duke Neuer craue him we are definitiue Mar. Gentle my Liege Duke You doe but loose your labour Away with him to death Now Sir to you Mar. Oh my good Lord sweet Isabell take my part Lend me your knees and all my life to come I 'll lend you all my life to doe you seruice Duke Against all sence you doe importune her Should she kneele downe in mercie of this fact Her Brothers ghost his paued bed would breake And take her hence in horror Mar. Isabell Sweet Isabel doe yet but kneele by me Hold vp your hands say nothing I 'll speake all They say best men are moulded out of faults And for the most become much more the better For being a little bad So may my husband Oh Isabel will you not lend a knee Duke He dies for Claudio's death Isab Most bounteous Sir Looke if it please you on this man condemn'd As if my Brother liu'd I partly thinke A due sinceritie gouerned his deedes Till he did looke on me Since it is so Let him not die my Brother had but Iustice In that he did the thing for which he dide For Angelo his Act did not ore-take his bad intent And must be buried but as an intent That perish'd by the way thoughts are no subiects Intents but meerely thoughts Mar. Meerely my Lord. Duk. Your suite's vnprofitable stand vp I say I haue bethought me of another fault Prouost how came it Claudio was beheaded At an vnusuall howre Pro. It was commanded so Duke Had you a speciall warrant for the deed Pro. No my good Lord it was by priuate message Duk. For which I doe discharge you of your office Giue vp your keyes Pro. Pardon me noble Lord I thought it was a fault but knew it not Yet did repent me after more aduice For testimony whereof one in the prison That should by priuate order else haue dide I haue reseru'd aliue Duk. What 's he Pro. His name is Barnardine Duke I would thou hadst done so by Claudio Goe fetch him hither let me looke vpon him Esc I am sorry one so learned and so wise As you Lord Angelo haue stil appear'd Should slip so grosselie both in the heat of bloud And lacke of temper'd iudgement afterward Ang. I am sorrie that such sorrow I procure And so deepe sticks it in my penitent heart That I craue death more willingly then mercy 'T is my deseruing and I doe entreat it Enter Barnardine and Prouost Claudio Iulietta Duke Which is that Barnardine Pro. This my Lord. Duke There was a Friar told me of this man Sirha thou art said to haue a stubborne soule That apprehends no further then this world And squar'st thy life according Thou' rt condemn'd But for those earthly faults I quit them all And pray thee take this mercie to prouide For better times to come Frier aduise him I leaue him to your hand What muffeld fellow 's that Pro. This is another prisoner that I sau'd Who should haue di'd when Claudio lost his head As like almost to Claudio as himselfe Duke If he be like your brother for his sake Is he pardon'd and for your louelie sake Giue me your hand and say you will be mine He is my brother too But fitter time for that By this Lord Angelo perceiues he 's safe Methinkes I see a quickning in his eye Well Angelo your euill quits you well Looke that you loue your wife her worth worth yours I finde an apt remission in my selfe And yet heere 's one in place I cannot pardon You sirha that knew me for a foole a Coward One all of Luxurie an asse a mad man Wherein haue I so deseru'd of you That you extoll me thus Luc. Faith my Lord I spoke it but according to the trick if you will hang me for it you may but I had rather it would please you I might be whipt Duke Whipt first sir and hang'd after Proclaime it Prouost round about the Citie If any woman wrong'd by this lewd fellow As I haue heard him sweare himselfe there 's one whom he begot with childe let her appeare And he shall marry her the nuptiall finish'd Let him be whipt and hang'd Luc. I beseech your Highnesse doe not marry me to a Whore your Highnesse said euen now I made you a Duke good my Lord do not recompence me in making me a Cuckold Duke Vpon mine honor thou shalt marrie her Thy slanders I forgiue and therewithall Remit thy other forfeits take him to prison And see our pleasure herein executed Luc. Marrying a punke my Lord is pressing to death Whipping and hanging Duke Slandering a Prince deserues it She Claudio that you wrong'd looke you restore Ioy to you Mariana loue her Angelo I haue confes'd her and I know her vertue Thanks good friend Escalus for thy much goodnesse There 's more behinde that is more gratulate Thanks Prouost for thy care and secrecie We shall imploy thee in a worthier place Forgiue him Angelo that brought you home The head of Ragozine for Claudio's Th' offence pardons it selfe Deere Isabell I haue a motion much imports your good Whereto if you 'll a willing eare incline What 's mine is yours and what is yours is mine So bring vs to our Pallace where wee 'll show What 's yet behinde that meete you all should know The Scene Vienna The names of all the Actors Vincentio the Duke Angelo the Deputie Escalus an ancient Lord. Claudio a yong Gentleman Lucio a fantastique 2. Other like Gentlemen Prouost Thomas 2. Friers Peter 2. Friers Elbow a simple Constable Froth a foolish Gentleman Clowne Abhorson an Executioner Barnardine a dissolute prisoner Isabella sister to Claudio Mariana betrothed to Angelo Iuliet beloued of Claudio Francisca a Nun. Mistris Ouer-don a Bawd FINIS The Comedie of Errors Actus primus Scena prima Enter the Duke of Ephesus with the Merchant of Siracusa Iaylor and other attendants Marchant PRoceed Solinus to procure my fall And by the doome of death end woes and all Duke Merchant of Siracusa plead no more I am not partiall to infringe our Lawes The enmity and discord which of late Sprung from the rancorous outrage of your Duke To Merchants our well-dealing Countrimen Who wanting gilders to redeeme their liues Haue seal'd his rigorous statutes with their blouds Excludes all pitty from our threatning lookes For since the mortall and intestine iarres Twixt thy seditious Countrimen and vs It hath in solemne Synodes beene decreed Both by the Siracusians and our selues To admit no trafficke to our aduerse townes Nay more if any borne at Ephesus Be seene at any Siracusian Marts and Fayres
Care my coosin tells him in his eare that he is in my heart Clau. And so she doth coosin Beat. Good Lord for alliance thus goes euery one to the world but I and I am sun-burn'd I may sit in a corner and cry heigh ho for a husband Pedro. Lady Beatrice I will get you one Beat. I would rather haue one of your fathers getting hath your Grace ne're a brother like you your father got excellent husbands if a maid could come by them Prince Will you haue me Lady Beat. No my Lord vnlesse I might haue another for working-daies your Grace is too costly to weare euerie day but I beseech your Grace pardon mee I was borne to speake all mirth and no matter Prince Your silence most offends me and to be merry best becomes you for out of question you were born in a merry howre Beatr. No sure my Lord my Mother cried but then there was a starre daunst and vnder that was I borne cosins God giue you ioy Leonato Neece will you looke to those rhings I told you of Beat. I cry you mercy Vncle by your Graces pardon Exit Beatrice Prince By my troth a pleasant spirited Lady Leon. There 's little of the melancholy element in her my Lord she is neuer sad but when she sleepes and not euer sad then for I haue heard my daughter say she hath often dreamt of vnhappinesse and wakt her selfe with laughing Pedro. Shee cannot indure to heare tell of a husband Leonato O by no meanes she mocks all her wooers out of suite Prince She were an excellent wife for Benedick Leonato O Lord my Lord if they were but a weeke married they would talke themselues madde Prince Counte Claudio when meane you to goe to Church Clau. To morrow my Lord Time goes on crutches till Loue haue all his rites Leonata Not till monday my deare sonne which is hence a iust seuen night and a time too briefe too to haue all things answer minde Prince Come you shake the head at so long a breathing but I warrant thee Claudio the time shall not goe dully by vs I will in the interim vndertake one of Hercules labors which is to bring Signior Benedicke and the Lady Beatrice into a mountaine of affection th' one with th' other I would faine haue it a match and I doubt not but to fashion it if you three will but minister such assistance as I shall giue you direction Leonata My Lord I am for you though it cost mee ten nights watchings Claud. And I my Lord. Prin. And you to gentle Hero Hero I will doe any modest office my Lord to helpe my cosin to a good husband Prin. And Benedick is not the vnhopefullest husband that I know thus farre can I praise him hee is of a noble straine of approued valour and confirm'd honesty I will teach you how to humour your cosin that shee shall fall in loue with Benedicke and I with your two helpes will so practise on Benedicke that in despight of his quicke wit and his queasie stomacke hee shall fall in loue with Beatrice if wee can doe this Cupid is no longer an Archer his glory shall be ours for wee are the onely loue-gods goe in with me and I will tell you my drift Exit Enter Iohn and Borachio Ioh. It is so the Count Claudio shal marry the daughter of Leonato Bora. Yea my Lord but I can crosse it Iohn Any barre any crosse any impediment will be medicinable to me I am sicke in displeasure to him and whatsoeuer comes athwart his affection ranges euenly with mine how canst thou crosse this marriage Bor. Not honestly my Lord but so couertly that no dishonesty shall appeare in me Iohn Shew me breefely how Bor. I thinke I told your Lordship a yeere since how much I am in the fauour of Margaret the waiting gentlewoman to Hero Iohn I remember Bor. I can at any vnseasonable instant of the night appoint her to look out at her Ladies chamber window Iohn What life is in that to be the death of this marriage Bor. The poyson of that lies in you to temper goe you to the Prince your brother spare not to tell him that hee hath wronged his Honor in marrying the renowned Claudio whose estimation do you mightily hold vp to a contaminated stale such a one as Hero Iohn What proofe shall I make of that Bor. Proofe enough to misuse the Prince to vexe Claudio to vndoe Hero and kill Leonato looke you for any other issue Iohn Onely to despight them I will endeauour any thing Bor. Goe then finde me a meete howre to draw on Pedro and the Count Claudio alone tell them that you know that Hero loues me intend a kinde of zeale both to the Prince and Claudio as in a loue of your brothers honor who hath made this match and his friends reputation who is thus like to be cosen'd with the semblance of a maid that you haue discouer'd thus they will scarcely beleeue this without triall offer them instances which shall beare no lesse likelihood than to see mee at her chamber window heare me call Margaret Hero heare Margaret terme me Claudio and bring them to see this the very night before the intended wedding for in the meane time I will so fashion the matter that Hero shall be absent and there shall appeare such seeming truths of Heroes disloyaltie that iealousie shall be cal'd assurance and all the preparation ouerthrowne Iohn Grow this to what aduerse issue it can I will put it in practise be cunning in the working this and thy fee is a thousand ducates Bor. Be thou constant in the accusation and my cunning shall not shame me Iohn I will presentlie goe learne their day of marriage Exit Enter Benedicke alone Bene. Boy Boy Signior Bene. In my chamber window lies a booke bring it hither to me in the orchard Boy I am heere already sir Exit Bene. I know that but I would haue thee hence and heere againe I doe much wonder that one man seeing how much another man is a foole when he dedicates his behauiours to loue will after hee hath laught at such shallow follies in others become the argument of his owne scorne by falling in loue such a man is Claudio I haue known when there was no musicke with him but the drum and the fife and now had hee rather heare the taber and the pipe I haue knowne when he would haue walkt ten mile afoot to see a good armor and now will he lie ten nights awake caruing the fashion of a new dublet he was wont to speake plaine to the purpose like an honest man a souldier and now is he turn'd orthography his words are a very fantasticall banquet iust so many strange dishes may I be so conuerted see with these eyes I cannot tell I thinke not I will not bee sworne but loue may transforme me to an oyster but I le take my oath on it till he haue made
Me thinkes it should haue power to steale both his And leaue it selfe vnfurnisht Yet looke how farre The substance of my praise doth wrong this shadow In vnderprising it so farre this shadow Doth limpe behinde the substance Here 's the scroule The continent and summarie of my fortune You that choose not by the view Chance as faire and choose as true Since this fortune fals to you Be content and seeke no new If you be well pleasd with this And hold your fortune for your blisse Turne you where your Lady is And claime her with a louing kisse Bass A gentle scroule Faire Lady by your leaue I come by note to giue and to receiue Like one of two contending in a prize That thinks he hath done well in peoples eies Hearing applause and vniuersall shout Giddie in spirit still gazing in a doubt Whether those peales of praise be his or no. So thrice faire Lady stand I euen so As doubtfull whether what I see be true Vntill confirm'd sign'd ratified by you Por. You see my Lord Bassiano where I stand Such as I am though for my selfe alone I would not be ambitious in my wish To wish my selfe much better yet for you I would be trebled twenty times my selfe A thousand times more faire ten thousand times More rich that onely to stand high in your account I might in vertues beauties liuings friends Exceed account but the full summe of me Is sum of nothing which to terme in grosse Is an vnlessoned girle vnschool'd vnpractiz'd Happy in this she is not yet so old But she may learne happier then this Shee is not bred so dull but she can learne Happiest of all is that her gentle spirit Commits it selfe to yours to be directed As from her Lord her Gouernour her King My selfe and what is mine to you and yours Is now conuerted But now I was the Lord Of this faire mansion master of my seruants Queene ore my selfe and euen now but now This house these seruants and this same my selfe Are yours my Lord I giue them with this ring Which when you part from loose or giue away Let it presage the ruine of your loue And be my vantage to exclaime on you Bass Maddam you haue bereft me of all words Onely my bloud speakes to you in my vaines And there is such confusion in my powers As after some oration fairely spoke By a beloued Prince there doth appeare Among the buzzing pleased multitude Where euery something being blent together Turnes to a wilde of nothing saue of ioy Exprest and not exprest but when this ring Parts from this finger then parts life from hence O then be bold to say Bassanio's dead Ner. My Lord and Lady it is now our time That haue stood by and seene our wishes prosper To cry good ioy good ioy my Lord and Lady Gra. My Lord Bassanio and my gentle Lady I wish you all the ioy that you can wish For I am sure you can wish none from me And when your Honours meane to solemnize The bargaine of your faith I doe beseech you Euen at that time I may be married too Bass With all my heart so thou canst get a wife Gra. I thanke your Lordship you gaue got me one My eyes my Lord can looke as swift as yours You saw the mistres I beheld the maid You lou'd I lou'd for intermission No more pertaines to me my Lord then you Your fortune stood vpon the caskets there And so did mine too as the matter falls For wooing heere vntill I fwet againe And swearing till my very rough was dry With oathes of loue at last if promise last I got a promise of this faire one heere To haue her loue prouided that your fortune Atchieu'd her mistresse Por. Is this true Nerrissa Ner. Madam it is so so you stand pleas'd withall Bass And doe you Gratiano meane good faith Gra. Yes faith my Lord. Bass Our feast shall be much honored in your marriage Gra. Wee le play with them the first boy for a thousand ducats Ner. What and stake downe Gra. No we shal nere win at that sport and stake downe But who comes heere Lorenzo and his Infidell What and my old Venetian friend Salerio Enter Lorenzo Iessica and Salerio Bas Lorenzo and Salerio welcome hether If that the youth of my new interest heere Haue power to bid you welcome by your leaue I bid my verie friends and Countrimen Sweet Portia welcome Por. So do I my Lord they are intirely welcome Lor. I thanke your honor for my part my Lord My purpose was not to haue seene you heere But meeting with Salerio by the way He did intreate mee past all saying nay To come with him along Sal. I did my Lord And I haue reason for it Signior Anthonio Commends him to you Bass Ere I ope his Letter I pray you tell me how my good friend doth Sal. Not sicke my Lord vnlesse it be in minde Nor wel vnlesse in minde his Letter there Wil shew you his estate Opens the Letter Gra. Nerrissa cheere yond stranger bid her welcom Your hand Salerio what 's the newes from Venice How doth that royal Merchant good Anthonio I know he vvil be glad of our successe We are the Iasons we haue won the fleece Sal. I would you had vvon the fleece that hee hath lost Por. There are some shrewd contents in yond same Paper That steales the colour from Bassianos cheeke Some deere friend dead else nothing in the world Could turne so much the constitution Of any constant man What worse and worse With leaue Bassanio I am halfe your selfe And I must freely haue the halfe of any thing That this same paper brings you Bass O sweet Portia Heere are a few of the vnpleasant'st words That euer blotted paper Gentle Ladie When I did first impart my loue to you I freely told you all the wealth I had Ran in my vaines I was a Gentleman And then I told you true and yet deere Ladie Rating my selfe at nothing you shall see How much I was a Braggart when I told you My state was nothing I should then haue told you That I vvas worse then nothing for indeede I haue ingag'd my selfe to a deere friend Ingag'd my friend to his meere enemie To feede my meanes Heere is a Letter Ladie The paper as the bodie of my friend And euerie word in it a gaping wound Issuing life blood But is it true Salerio Hath all his ventures faild what not one hit From Tripolis from Mexico and England From Lisbon Barbary and India And not one vessell scape the dreadfull touch Of Merchant-marring rocks Sal. Not one my Lord. Besides it should appeare that if he had The present money to discharge the Iew He would not take it neuer did I know A creature that did beare the shape of man So keene and greedy to confound a man He plyes the Duke at morning and at night And doth impeach the freedome of the state If they deny
as we are by this peeuish Towne Turne thou the mouth of thy Artillerie As we will ours against these sawcie walles And when that we haue dash'd them to the ground Why then defie each other and pell-mell Make worke vpon our selues for heauen or hell Fra. Let it be so say where will you assault Iohn We from the West will send destruction Into this Cities bosome Aust I from the North. Fran. Our Thunder from the South Shall raine their drift of bullets on this Towne Bast O prudent discipline From North to South Austria and France shoot in each others mouth I le stirre them to it Come away away Hub. Heare vs great kings vouchsafe awhile to stay And I shall shew you peace and faire-fac'd league Win you this Citie without stroke or wound Rescue those breathing liues to dye in beds That heere come sacrifices for the field Perseuer not but heare me mighty kings Iohn Speake on with favour we are bent to heare Hub. That daughter there of Spaine the Lady Blanch Is neere to England looke vpon the yeeres Of Lewes the Dolphin and that louely maid If lustie loue should go in quest of beautie Where should he finde it fairer theâ— in Blanch If zealous loue should go in search of vertue Where should he finde iâ— purer then in Blanch If loue ambitious sought a match of birth Whose veines bound richer blood then Lady Blanch Such as she is in beautie vertue birth Is the yong Dolphin euery way compleat If not compleat of say he is not shee And she againe wants nothing to name want If want it be not that she is not hee He is the halfe-part oâ— a blessed man Left to be finished by such as shee And she a faire diuided excellence Whose fulnesse of perfection lyes in him O two such siluer currents when they ioyne Do glorifie the bankes that bound them in And two such shores to two such streames made one Two such controlling bounds shall you be kings To these two Princes if you marrie them This Vnion shall do more then batterie can To our fast closed gates for at this match With swifter spleene then powder can enforce The mouth of passage shall we sling wide ope And giue you entrance but without this match The sea enraged is not halfe so deafe Lyons more confident Mountaines and rockes More free from motion no not death himselfe In mortall furie halfe so peremptorie As we to keepe this Citie Bast Heere 's a stay That shakes the rotten carkasse of old death Out of his ragges Here 's a large mouth indeede That spits forth death and mountaines rockes and seas Talkes as familiarly of roaring Lyons As maids of thirteene do of puppi-dogges What Cannoneere begot this Iustie blood He speakes plaine Cannon fire and smoake and bounce He giues the bastinado with his tongue Our eares are cudgel'd not a word of his But buffets better then a fist of France Zounds I was neuer so bethumpt with words Since I first cal'd my brothers father Dad. Old Qu. Son list to this coniunction make this match Giue with our Neece a dowrie large enough For by this knot thou shalt so surely tye Thy now vnsur'd assurance to the Crowne That you greene boy shall haue no Sunne to ripe The bloome that promiseth a mightie fruite I see a yeelding in the lookes of France Marke how they whisper vrge them while their soules Are capeable of this ambition Least zeale now melted by the windie breath Of soft petitions pittie and remorse Coole and congeale againe to what it was Hub. Why answer not the double Maiesties This friendly treatie of our threatned Towne Fra. Speake England first that hath bin forward first To speake vnto this Cittie what say you Iohn If that the Dolphin there thy Princely sonne Can in this booke of beautie râ—ad I loue Her Dowrie shall weigh equall with a Queene For Angiers and faire Toraine Maine Poyctiers And all that we vpon this side the Sea Except this Cittie now by vs besiedg'd Finde liable to our Crowne and Dignitie Shall gild her bridall bed and make her rich In titles honors and promotions As she in beautie education blood Holdes hand with any Princesse of the world Fra. What sai'st thou boy looke in the Ladies face Dol. I do my Lord and in her eie I find A wonder or a wondrous miracle The shadow of my selfe form'd in her eye Which being but the shadow of your sonne Becomes a sonne and makes your sonne a shadow I do protest I neuer lou'd my selfe Till now infixed I beheld my selfe Drawne in the flattering table of her eie Whispers with Blanch. Bast Drawne in the flattering table of her eie Hang'd in the frowning wrinkle of her brow And quarter'd in her heart hee doth espie Himselfe loues traytor this is pittie now That hang'd and drawne and quarter'd there should be In such a loue so vile a Lout as he Blan. My vnckles will in this respect is mine If he see ought in you that makes him like That any thing he see 's which moues his liking I can with ease translate it to my will Or if you will to speake more properly I will enforce it easlie to my loue Further I will not flatter you my Lord That all I see in you is worthie loue Then this that nothing do I see in you Though churlish thoughts themselues should bee your Iudge That I can finde should merit any hate Iohn What saie these yong-ones What say you my Neece Blan. That she is bound in honor still to do What you in wisedome still vouchsafe to say Iohn Speake then Prince Dolphin can you loue this Ladie Dol. Nay aske me if I can refraine from loue For I doe loue her most vnfainedly Iohn Then do I giue Volquessen Toraine Maine Poyctiers and Aniow these fiue Prouinces With her to thee and this addition more Full thirty thousand Markes of English coyne Phillip of France if thou be pleas'd withall Command thy sonne and daughtet to ioyne hands Fra. It likes vs well young Princes close your hands Aust And your lippes too for I am well assur'd That I did so when I was first assur'd Fra. Now Cittizens of Angires ope your gates Let in that amitie which you haue made For at Saint Maries Chappell presently The rights of marriage shall be solemniz'd Is not the Ladie Constance in this troope I know she is not for this match made vp Her presence would haue interrupted much Where is she and her sonne tell me who knowes Dol. She is sad and passionate at your highnes Tent. Fra. And by my faith this league that we haue made Will giue her sadnesse very little cure Brother of England how may we content This widdow Lady In her right we came Which we God knowes haue turnâ—d another way To our owne vantage Iohn We will heale vp all For wee 'l create yong Arthur Duke of Britaine And Earle of Richmond and this rich faire Towne We make him
vse many wordes with you fare you well Gentlemen both I thanke you I must a dozen mile to night Bardolph giue the Souldiers Coates Shal. Sir Iohn Heauen blesse you and prosper your Affaires and send vs Peace As you returne visit my house Let our old acquaintance be renewed peraduenture I will with you to the Court. Falst I would you would Master Shallow Shal. Go-too I haue spoke at a word Fare you well Exit Falst Fare you well gentle Gentlemen On Bardolph leade the men away As I returne I will fetch off these Iustices I doe see the bottome of Iustice Shallow How subiect wee old men are to this vice of Lying This same staru'd Iustice hath done nothing but prate to me of the wildenesse of his Youth and the Feates hee hath done about Turnball-street and euery third word a Lye duer pay'd to the hearer then the Turkes Tribute I doe remember him at Clements Inne like a man made after Supper of a Cheese-paring When hee was naked hee was for all the world like a forked Radish with a Head fantastically caru'd vpon it with a Knife Hee was so forlorne that his Dimensions to any thicke sight were inuincible Hee was the very Genius of Famine hee came euer in the rere-ward of the Fashion And now is this Vices Dagger become a Squire and talkes as familiarly of Iohn of Gaunt as if hee had beene sworne Brother to him and I le be sworne hee neuer saw him but once in the Tilt-yard and then he burst his Head for crowding among the Marshals men I saw it and told Iohn of Gaunt hee beat his owne Name for you might haue truss'd him and all his Apparrell into an Eele-skinne the Case of a Treble Hoe-boy was a Mansion for him a Court and now hath hee Land and Beeues Well I will be acquainted with him if I returne and it shall goe hard but I will make him a Philosophers two Stones to me If the young Dace be a Bayt for the old Pike I see no reason in the Law of Nature but I may snap at him Let time shape and there an end Exeunt Actus Quartus Scena Prima Enter the Arch-bishop Mowbray Hastings Westmerland Coleuile Bish What is this Forrest call'd Hast 'T is Gualtree Forrest and 't shall please your Grace Bish Here stand my Lords and send discouerers forth To know the numbers of our Enemies Hast. Wee haue sent forth alreadie Bish 'T is well done My Friends and Brethren in these great Affaires I must acquaint you that I haue receiu'd New-dated Letters from Northumberland Their cold intent tenure and substance thus Here doth hee wish his Person with such Powers As might hold sortance with his Qualitie The which hee could not leuie whereupon Hee is retyr'd to ripe his growing Fortunes To Scotland and concludes in heartie prayers That your Attempts may ouer-liue the hazard And fearefull meeting of their Opposite Mow. Thus do the hopes we haue in him touch ground And dash themselues to pieces Enter a Messenger Hast Now what newes Mess West of this Forrest scarcely off a mile In goodly forme comes on the Enemie And by the ground they hide I iudge their number Vpon or neere the rate of thirtie thousand Mow. The iust proportion that we gaue them out Let vs sway-on and face them in the field Enter Westmerland Bish What well-appointed Leader fronts vs here Mow. I thinke it is my Lord of Westmerland West Health and faire greeting from our Generall The Prince Lord Iohn and Duke of Lancaster Bish Say on my Lord of Westmerland in peace What doth concerne your comming West Then my Lord Vnto your Grace doe I in chiefe addresse The substance of my Speech If that Rebellion Came like it selfe in base and abiect Routs Led on by bloodie Youth guarded with Rage And countenanc'd by Boyes and Beggerie I say if damn'd Commotion so appeare In his true natiue and most proper shape You Reuerend Father and these Noble Lords Had not beene here to dresse the ougly forme Of base and bloodie Insurrection With your faire Honors You Lord Arch-bishop Whose Sea is by a Ciuill Peace maintain'd Whose Beard the Siluer Hand of Peace hath touch'd Whose Learning and good Letters Peace hath tutor'd Whose white Inuestments figure Innocence The Doue and very blessed Spirit of Peace Wherefore doe you so ill translate your selfe Out of the Speech of Peace that beares such grace Into the harsh and boystrous Tongue of Warre Turning your Bookes to Graues your Inke to Blood Your Pennes to Launces and your Tongue diuine To a lowd Trumpet and a Point of Warre Bish Wherefore doe I this so the Question stands Briefely to this end Wee are all diseas'd And with our surfetting and wanton howres Haue brought our selues into a burning Feuer And wee must bleede for it of which Disease Our late King Richard being infected dy'd But my most Noble Lord of Westmerland I take not on me here as a Physician Nor doe I as an Enemie to Peace Troope in the Throngs of Militarie men But rather shew a while like fearefull Warre To dyet ranke Mindes sicke of happinesse And purge th' obstructions which begin to stop Our very Veines of Life heare me more plainely I haue in equall ballance iustly weigh'd What wrongs our Arms may do what wrongs we suffer And finde our Griefes heauier then our Offences Wee see which way the streame of Time doth runne And are enforc'd from our most quiet there By the rough Torrent of Occasion And haue the summarie of all our Griefes When time shall serue to shew in Articles Which long ere this wee offer'd to the King And might by no Suit gayne our Audience When wee are wrong'd and would vnfold our Griefes Wee are deny'd accesse vnto his Person Euen by those men that most haue done vs wrong The dangers of the dayes but newly gone Whose memorie is written on the Earth With yet appearing blood and the examples Of euery Minutes instance present now Hath put vs in these ill-beseeming Armes Not to breake Peace or any Branch of it But to establish here a Peace indeede Concurring both in Name and Qualitie West When euer yet was your Appeale deny'd Wherein haue you beene galled by the King What Peere hath beene suborn'd to grate on you That you should seale this lawlesse bloody Booke Of forg'd Rebellion with a Seale diuine Bish My Brother generall the Common-wealth I make my Quarrell in particular West There is no neede of any such redresse Or if there were it not belongs to you Mow. Why not to him in part and to vs all That feele the bruizes of the dayes before And suffer the Condition of these Times To lay a heauie and vnequall Hand vpon our Honors West O my good Lord Mowbray Construe the Times to their Necessities And you shall say indeede it is the Time And not the King that doth you iniuries Yet for your part it not appeares to me Either from the King
Crowd vs and crush vs to this monstrous Forme To hold our safetie vp I sent your Grace The parcels and particulars of our Griefe The which hath been with scorne shou'd from the Court Whereon this Hydra-Sonne of Warre is borne Whose dangerous eyes may well be charm'd asleepe With graunt of our most iust and right desires And true Obedience of this Madnesse cur'd Stoope tamely to the foot of Maiestie Mow. If not wee readie are to trye our fortunes To the last man Hast And though wee here fall downe Wee haue Supplyes to second our Attempt If they mis-carry theirs shall second them And so successe of Mischiefe shall be borne And Heire from Heire shall hold this Quarrell vp Whiles England shall haue generation Iohn You are too shallow Hastings Much too shallow To sound the bottome of the after-Times West Pleaseth your Grace to answere them directly How farre-forth you doe like their Articles Iohn I like them all and doe allow them well And sweare here by the honor of my blood My Fathers purposes haue beene mistooke And some about him haue too lauishly Wrested his meaning and Authoritie My Lord these Griefes shall be with speed redrest Vpon my Life they shall If this may please you Discharge your Powers vnto their seuerall Counties As wee will ours and here betweene the Armies Let 's drinke together friendly and embrace That all their eyes may beare those Tokens home Of our restored Loue and Amitie Bish I take your Princely word for these redresses Iohn I giue it you and will maintaine my word And thereupon I drinke vnto your Grace Hast Goe Captaine and deliuer to the Armie This newes of Peace let them haue pay and part I know it will well please them High thee Captaine Exit Bish To you my Noble Lord of Westmerland West I pledge your Grace And if you knew what paines I haue bestow'd To breede this present Peace You would drinke freely but my loue to ye Shall shew it selfe more openly hereafter Bish I doe not doubt you West I am glad of it Health to my Lord and gentle Cousin Mowbray Mow. You wish me health in very happy season For I am on the sodaine something ill Bish Against ill Chances men are euer merry But heauinesse fore-runnes the good euent West Therefore be merry Cooze since sodaine sorrow Serues to say thus some good thing comes to morrow Bish Beleeue me I am passing light in spirit Mow. So much the worse if your owne Rule be true Iohn The word of Peace is render'd hearke how they showt Mow. This had been chearefull after Victorie Bish A Peace is of the nature of a Conquest For then both parties nobly are subdu'd And neither partie looser Iohn Goe my Lord And let our Army be discharged too And good my Lord so please you let our Traines March by vs that wee may peruse the men Exit Wee should haue coap'd withall Bish Goe good Lord Hastings And ere they be dismiss'd let them march by Exit Iohn I trust Lords wee shall lye to night together Enter Westmerland Now Cousin wherefore stands our Army still West The Leaders hauing charge from you to stand Will not goe off vntill they heare you speake Iohn They know their duties Enter Hastings Hast Our Army is dispers'd Like youthfull Steeres vnyoak'd they tooke their course East West North South or like a Schoole broke vp Each hurryes towards his home and sporting place West Good tidings my Lord Hastings for the which I doe arrest thee Traytor of high Treason And you Lord Arch-bishop and you Lord Mowbray Of Capitall Treason I attach you both Mow. Is this proceeding iust and honorable West Is your Assembly so Bish Will you thus breake your faith Iohn I pawn'd thee none I promis'd you redresse of these same Grieuances Whereof you did complaine which by mine Honor I will performe with a most Christian care But for you Rebels looke to taste the due Meet for Rebellion and such Acts as yours Most shallowly did you these Armes commence Fondly brought here and foolishly sent hence Strike vp our Drummes pursue the scatter'd stray Heauen and not wee haue safely fought to day Some guard these Traitors to the Block of Death Treasons true Bed and yeelder vp of breath Exeunt Enter Falstaffe and Colleuile Falst What 's your Name Sir of what Condition are you and of what place I pray Col. I am a Knight Sir And my Name is Colleuile of the Dale Falst. Well then Colleuile is your Name a Knight is your Degree and your Place the Dale Colleuile shall still be your Name a Traytor your Degree and the Dungeon your Place a place deepe enough so shall you be still Colleuile of the Dale Col. Are not you Sir Iohn Falstaffe Falst As good a man as he sir who ere I am doe yee yeelde sir or shall I sweate for you if I doe sweate they are the drops of thy Louers and they weep for thy death therefore rowze vp Feare and Trembling and do obseruance to my mercy Col. I thinke you are Sir Iohn Falstaffe in that thought yeeld me Fal. I haue a whole Schoole of tongues in this belly of mine and not a Tongue of them all speakes anie other word but my name and I had but a belly of any indifferencie I were simply the most actiue fellow in Europe my wombe my wombe my wombe vndoes mee Heere comes our Generall Enter Prince Iohn and Westmerland Iohn The heaâ— is past follow no farther now Call in the Powers good Cousin Westmerland Now Falâ—taffe where haue you beene all this while When euery thing is ended then you come These tardie Tricks of yours will on my life One time or other breake some Gallowes back Falst I would bee sorry my Lord but it should bee thus I neuer knew yet but rebuke and checke was the reward of Valour Doe you thinke me a Swallow an Arrow or a Bullet Haue I in my poore and olde Motion the expedition of Thought I haue speeded hither with the very extremest ynch of possibilitie I haue fowndred nine score and odde Postes and heere trauell-tainted as I am haue in my pure and immaculate Valour taken Sir Iohn Colleuile of the Dale a most furious Knight and valorous Enemie But what of that hee saw mee and yeelded that I may iustly say with the hooke-nos'd fellow of Rome I came saw and ouer-came Iohn It was more of his Courtesie then your deseruing Falst I know not heere hee is and heere I yeeld him and I beseech your Grace let it be book'd with the rest of this dayes deedes or I sweare I will haue it in a particular Ballad with mine owne Picture on the top of it Colleuile kissing my foot To the which course if I be enforc'd if you do not all shew like gilt two-pences to me and I in the cleare Skie of Fame o're-shine you as much as the Full Moone doth the Cynders of the Element which shew like Pinnes-heads
to a wofull Bed On me whose All not equals Edwards Moytie On me that halts and am mishapen thus My Dukedome to a Beggerly denier I do mistake my person all this while Vpon my life she findes although I cannot My selfe to be a maru'llous proper man I le be at Charges for a Looking-glasse And entertaine a score or two of Taylors To study fashions to adorne my body Since I am crept in fauour with my selfe I will maintaine it with some little cost But first I le turne you Fellow in his Graue And then returne lamenting to my Loue. Shine out faire Sunne till I haue bought a glasse That I may see my Shadow as I passe exit Scena Tertia Enter the Queene Mother Lord Riuers and Lord Gray Riu. Haue patience Madam ther 's no doubt his Maiesty Will soone recouer his accustom'd health Gray In that you brooke it ill it makes him worse Therefore for Gods sake entertaine good comfort And cheere his Grace with quicke and merry eyes Qu. If he were dead what would betide on me Gray No other harme but losse of such a Lord. Qu. The losse of such a Lord includes all harmes Gray The Heauens haue blest you with a goodly Son To be your Comforter when he is gone Qu. Ah! he is yong and his minority Is put vnto the trust of Richard Glouster A man that loues not me nor none of you Riu. Is it concluded he shall be Protector Qu. It is determin'd not concluded yet But so it must be if the King miscarry Enter Buckingham and Derby Gray Here comes the Lord of Buckingham Derby Buc. Good time of day vnto your Royall Grace Der. God make your Maiesty ioyful as you haue bin Qu. The Countesse Richmond good my L. of Derby To your good prayer will scarsely say Amen Yet Derby notwithstanding shee 's your wife And loues not me be you good Lord assur'd I hate not you for her proud arrogance Der. I do beseech you either not beleeue The enuious slanders of her false Accusers Or if she be accus'd on true report Beare with her weaknesse which I thinke proceeds From wayward sicknesse and no grounded malice Qu. Saw you the King to day my Lord of Derby Der. But now the Duke of Buckingham and I Are come from visiting his Maiesty Que. What likelyhood of his amendment Lords Buc. Madam good hope his Grace speaks chearfully Qu. God grant him health did you confer with him Buc. I Madam he desires to make attonement Betweene the Duke of Glouster and your Brothers And betweene them and my Lord Chamberlaine And sent to warne them to his Royall presence Qu. Would all were well but that will neuer be I feare our happinesse is at the height Enter Richard Rich. They do me wrong and I will not indure it Who is it that complaines vnto the King Thar I forsooth am sterne and loue them not By holy Paul they loue his Grace but lightly That fill his eares with such dissentious Rumors Because I cannot flatter and looke faire Smile in mens faces smooth deceiue and cogge Ducke with French nods and Apish curtesie I must be held a rancorous Enemy Cannot a plaine man liue and thinke no harme But thus his simple truth must be abus'd With silken slye insinuating Iackes Grey To who in all this presence speaks your Grace Rich. To thee that hast nor Honesty nor Grace When haue I iniur'd thee When done thee wrong Or thee or thee or any of your Faction A plague vpon you all His Royall Grace Whom God preserue better then you would wish Cannot be quiet scarse a breathing while But you must trouble him with lewd complaints Qu. Brother of Glouster you mistake the matter The King on his owne Royall disposition And not prouok'd by any Sutor else Ayming belike at your interiour hatred That in your outward action shewes it selfe Against my Children Brothers and my Selfe Makes him to send that he may learne the ground Rich. I cannot tell the world is growne so bad That Wrens make prey where Eagles dare not pearch Since euerie Iacke became a Gentleman There 's many a gentle person made a Iacke Qu. Come come we know your meaning Brother Gloster You enuy my aduancement and my friends God grant we neuer may haue neede of you Rich. Meane time God grants that I haue need of you Our Brother is imprison'd by your meanes My selfe disgrac'd and the Nobilitie Held in contempt while great Promotions Are daily giuen to ennoble those That scarse some two dayes since were worth a Noble Qu. By him that rais'd me to this carefull height From that contented hap which I inioy'd I neuer did incense his Maiestie Against the Duke of Clarence but haue bin An earnest aduocate to plead for him My Lord you do me shamefull iniurie Falsely to draw me in these vile suspects Rich You may deny that you were not the meane Of my Lord Hastings late imprisonment Riu. She may my Lord for Rich. She may Lord Riuers why who knowes not so She may do more sir then denying that She may helpe you to many faire preferments And then deny her ayding hand therein And lay those Honors on your high desert What may she not she may I marry may she Riu. What marry may she Ric. What marrie may she Marrie with a King A Batcheller and a handsome stripling too I wis your Grandam had a worser match Qu. My Lord of Glouster I haue too long borne Your blunt vpbraidings and your bitter scoffes By heauen I will acquaint his Maiestie Of those grosse taunts that oft I haue endur'd I had rather be a Countrie seruant maide Then a great Queene with this condition To be so baited scorn'd and stormed at Small ioy haue I in being Englands Queene Enter old Queene Margaret Mar. And lesned be that small God I beseech him Thy honor state and seate is due to me Rich. What threat you me with telling of the King I will auouch't in presence of the King I dare aduenture to be sent to th' Towre 'T is time to speake My paines are quite forgot Margaret Out Diuell I do remember them too well Thou killd'st my Husband Henrie in the Tower And Edward my poore Son at Tewkesburie Rich. Ere you were Queene I or your Husband King I was a packe-horse in his great affaires A weeder out of his proud Aduersaries A liberall rewarder of his Friends To royalize his blood I spent mine owne Margaret I and much better blood Then his or thine Rich. In all which time you and your Husband Grey Were factious for the House of Lancaster And Riuers so were you Was not your Husband In Margarets Battaile at Saint Albons slaine Let me put in your mindes if you forget What you haue beene ere this and what you are Withall what I haue beene and what I am Q.M. A murth'rous Villaine and so still thou art Rich. Poore Clarence did forsake his Father Warwicke I and forswore himselfe
it out With Riuers Vaughan Grey and so 't will doe With some men else that thinke themselues as safe As thou and I who as thou know'st are deare To Princely Richard and to Buckingham Cates. The Princes both make high account of you For they account his Head vpon the Bridge Hast I know they doe and I haue well deseru'd it Enter Lord Stanley Come on come on where is your Bore-speare man Feare you the Bore and goe so vnprouided Stan. My Lord good morrow good morrow Catesby You may ieast on but by the holy Rood I doe not like these seuerall Councels I. Hast My Lord I hold my Life as deare as yours And neuer in my dayes I doe protest Was it so precious to me as 't is now Thinke you but that I know our state secure I would be so triumphant as I am Sta. The Lords at Pomfret whē they rode from London Were iocund and suppos'd their states were sure And they indeed had no cause to mistrust But yet you see how soone the Day o're-cast This sudden stab of Rancour I misdoubt Pray God I say I proue a needlesse Coward What shall we toward the Tower the day is spent Hast Come come haue with you Wot you what my Lord To day the Lords you talke of are beheaded Sta. They for their truth might better wear their Heads Then some that haue accus'd them weare their Hats But come my Lord let 's away Enter a Pursuiuant Hast Goe on before I le talke with this good fellow Exit Lord Stanley and Catesby How now Sirrha how goes the World with thee Purs The better that your Lordship please to aske Hast I tell thee man 't is better with me now Then when thou met'st me last where now we meet Then was I going Prisoner to the Tower By the suggestion of the Queenes Allyes But now I tell thee keepe it to thy selfe This day those Enemies are put to death And I in better state then ere I was Purs God hold it to your Honors good content Hast Gramercie fellow there drinke that for me Throwes him his Purse Purs I thanke your Honor. Exit Pursuiuant Enter a Priest Priest Well met my Lord I am glad to see your Honor Hast. I thanke thee good Sir Iohn with all my heart I am in your debt for your last Exercise Come the next Sabboth and I will content you Priest I le wait vpon your Lordship Enter Buckingham Buc. What talking with a Priest Lord Chamberlaine Your friends at Pomfret they doe need the Priest Your Honor hath no shriuing worke in hand Hast Good faith and when I met this holy man The men you talke of came into my minde What goe you toward the Tower Buc. I doe my Lord but long I cannot stay there I shall returne before your Lordship thence Hast Nay like enough for I stay Dinner there Buc. And Supper too although thou know'st it not Come will you goe Hast I le wait vpon your Lordship Exeunt Scena Tertia Enter Sir Richard Ratcliffe with Halberds carrying the Nobles to death at Pomfret Riuers Sir Richard Ratcliffe let me tell thee this To day shalt thou behold a Subiect die For Truth for Dutie and for Loyaltie Grey God blesse the Prince from all the Pack of you A Knot you are of damned Blood-suckers Vaugh You liue that shall cry woe for this heereafter Rat. Dispatch the limit of your Liues is out Riuers O Pomfret Pomfret O thou bloody Prison Fatall and ominous to Noble Peeres Within the guiltie Closure of thy Walls Richard the Second here was hackt to death And for more slander to thy dismall Seat Wee giue to thee our guiltlesse blood to drinke Grey Now Margarets Curse is falne vpon our Heads When shee exclaim'd on Hastings you and I For standing by when Richard stab'd her Sonne Riuers Then curs'd shee Richard Then curs'd shee Buckingham Then curs'd shee Hastings Oh remember God To heare her prayer for them as now for vs And for my Sister and her Princely Sonnes Be satisfy'd deare God with our true blood Which as thou know'st vniustly must be spilt Rat. Make haste the houre of death is expiate Riuers Come Grey come Vaughan let vs here embrace Farewell vntill we meet againe in Heauen Exeunt Scaena Quarta Enter Buckingham Darby Hastings Bishop of Ely Norfolke Ratcliffe Louell with others at a Table Hast Now Noble Peeres the cause why we are met Is to determine of the Coronation In Gods Name speake when is the Royall day Buck. Is all things ready for the Royall time Darb. It is and wants but nomination Ely To morrow then I iudge a happie day Buck. Who knowes the Lord Protectors mind herein Who is most inward with the Noble Duke Ely Your Grace we thinke should soonest know his minde Buck. We know each others Faces for our Hearts He knowes no more of mine then I of yours Or I of his my Lord then you of mine Lord Hastings you and he are neere in loue Hast I thanke his Grace I know he loues me well But for his purpose in the Coronation I haue not sounded him nor he deliuer'd His gracious pleasure any way therein But you my Honorable Lords may name the time And in the Dukes behalfe I le giue my Voice Which I presume hee 'le take in gentle part Enter Gloucester Ely In happie time here comes the Duke himselfe Rich. My Noble Lords and Cousins all good morrow I haue beene long a sleeper but I trust My absence doth neglect no great designe Which by my presence might haue beene concluded Buck. Had you not come vpon your O my Lord William Lord Hastings had pronounc'd your part I meane your Voice for Crowning of the King Rich. Then my Lord Hastings no man might be bolder His Lordship knowes me well and loues me well My Lord of Ely when I was last in Holborne I saw good Strawberries in your Garden there I doe beseech you send for some of them Ely Mary and will my Lord with all my heart Exit Bishop Rich. Cousin of Buckingham a word with you Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our businesse And findes the testie Gentleman so hot That he will lose his Head ere giue consent His Masters Child as worshipfully he tearmes it Shall lose the Royaltie of Englands Throne Buck. Withdraw your selfe a while I le goe with you Exeunt Darb. We haue not yet set downe this day of Triumph To morrow in my iudgement is too sudden For I my selfe am not so well prouided As else I would be were the day prolong'd Enter the Bishop of Ely Ely Where is my Lord the Duke of Gloster I haue sent for these Strawberries Ha. His Grace looks chearfully smooth this morning There 's some conceit or other likes him well When that he bids good morrow with such spirit I thinke there 's neuer a man in Christendome Can lesser hide his loue or hate then hee For by his Face straight shall
vp Bene. How doth the Lady Beat. Dead I thinke helpe vncle Hero why Hero Vncle Signor Benedicke Frier Leonato O Fate take not away thy heauy hand Death is the fairest couer for her shame That may be wisht for Beatr. How now cosin Hero Fri. Haue comfort Ladie Leon. Dost thou looke vp Frier Yea wherefore should she not Leon. Wherfore Why doth not euery earthly thing Cry shame vpon her Could she heere denie The storie that is printed in her blood Do not liue Hero do not ope thine eyes For did I thinke thou wouldst not quickly die Thought I thy spirits were stronger then thy shames My selfe would on the reward of reproaches Strike at thy life Grieu'd I I had but one Chid I for that at frugal Natures frame O one too much by thee why had I one Why euer was 't thou louelie in my eies Why had I not with charitable hand Tooke vp a beggars issue at my gates Who smeered thus and mir'd with infamie I might haue said no part of it is mine This shame deriues it selfe from vnknowne loines But mine and mine I lou'd and mine I prais'd And mine that I was proud on mine so much That I my selfe was to my selfe not mine Valewing of her why she O she is falne Into a pit of Inke that the wide sea Hath drops too few to wash her cleane againe And salt too little which may season giue To her foule tainted flesh Ben. Sir sir be patient for my part I am so attired in wonder I know not what to say Bea. O on my soule my cosin is belied Ben. Ladie were you her bedfellow last night Bea. No truly not although vntill last night I haue this tweluemonth bin her bedfellow Leon. Confirm'd confirm'd O that is stronger made Which was before barr'd vp with ribs of iron Would the Princes lie and Claudio lie Who lou'd her so that speaking of her foulnesse Wash'd it with teares Hence from her let her die Fri. Heare me a little for I haue onely bene silent so long and giuen way vnto this course of fortune by noting of the Ladie I haue markt A thousand blushing apparitions To start into her face a thousand innocent shames In Angel whitenesse beare away those blushes And in her eie there hath appear'd a fire To burne the errors that these Princes hold Against her maiden truth Call me a foole Trust not my reading nor my obseruations Which with experimental seale doth warrant The tenure of my booke trust not my age My reuerence calling nor diuinitie If this sweet Ladie lye not guiltlesse heere Vnder some biting error Leo. Friar it cannot be Thou seest that all the Grace that she hath left Is that she wil not adde to her damnation A sinne of periury she not denies it Why seek'st thou then to couer with excuse That which appeares in proper nakednesse Fri. Ladie what man is he you are accus'd of Hero They know that do accuse me I know none If I know more of any man aliue Then that which maiden modestie doth warrant Let all my sinnes lacke mercy O my Father Proue you that any man with me conuerst At houres vnmeete or that I yesternight Maintain'd the change of words with any creature Refuse me hate me torture me to death Fri. There is some strange misprision in the Princes Ben. Two of them haue the verie bent of honor And if their wisedomes be misled in this The practise of it liues in Iohn the bastard Whose spirits toile in frame of villanies Leo. I know not if they speake but truth of her These hands shall teare her If they wrong her honour The proudest of them shall wel heare of it Time hath not yet so dried this bloud of mine Nor age so eate vp my inuention Nor Fortune made such hauocke of my meanes Nor my bad life rest me so much of friends But they shall finde awak'd in such a kinde Both strength of limbe and policie of minde Ability in meanes and choise of friends To quit me of them throughly Fri. Pause awhile And let my counsell sway you in this case Your daughter heere the Princesse left for dead Let her awhile be secretly kept in And publish it that she is dead indeed Maintaine a mourning ostentation And on your Families old monument Hang mournfull Epitaphes and do all rites That appertaine vnto a buriall Leon. What shall become of this What wil this do Fri. Marry this wel carried shall on her behalfe Change slander to remorse that is some good But not for that dreame I on this strange course But on this trauaile looke for greater birth She dying as it must be so maintain'd Vpon the instant that she was accus'd Shal be lamented pittied and excus'd Of euery hearer for it so fals out That what we haue we prize not to the worth Whiles we enioy it but being lack'd and lost Why then we racke the value then we finde The vertue that possession would not shew vs Whiles it was ours so will it fare with Claudio When he shal heare she dyed vpon his words Th' Idea of her life shal sweetly creepe Into his study of imagination And euery louely Organ of her life Shall come apparel'd in more precious habite More mouing delicate and ful of life Into the eye and prospect of his soule Then when she liu'd indeed then shal he mourne If euer Loue had interest in his Liuer And wish he had not so accused her No though he thought his accusation true Let this be so and doubt not but successe Wil fashion the euent in better shape Then I can lay it downe in likelihood But if all ayme but this be leuelld false The supposition of the Ladies death Will quench the wonder of her infamie And if it sort not well you may conceale her As best befits her wounded reputation In some reclusiue and religious life Out of all eyes tongues mindes and iniuries Bene. Signior Leonato let the Frier aduise you And though you know my inwardnesse and loue Is very much vnto the Prince and Claudio Yet by mine honor I will deale in this As secretly and iustlie as your soule Should with your bodie Leon. Being that I flow in greefe The smallest twine may lead me Frier 'T is well consented presently away For to strange sores strangely they straine the cure Come Lady die to liue this wedding day Perhaps is but prolong'd haue patience endure Exit Bene. Lady Beatrice haue you wept all this while Beat. Yea and I will weepe a while longer Bene. I will not desire that Beat. You haue no reason I doe it freely Bene. Surelie I do beleeue your fair cosin is wrong'd Beat. Ah how much might the man deserue of mee that would right her Bene. Is there any way to shew such friendship Beat. A verie euen way but no such friend Bene. May a man doe it Beat. It is a mans office but not yours Bene. I doe loue nothing in the world so well
by vnder-hand meanes laboured to disswade him from it but he is resolute I le tell thee Charles it is the stubbornest yong fellow of France full of ambition an enuious emulator of euery mans good parts a secret villanous contriuer against mee his naturall brother therefore vse thy discretion I had as liese thou didst breake his necke as his finger And thou wert best looke to 't for if thou dost him any slight disgrace or if hee doe not mightilie grace himselfe on thee hee will practise against thee by poyson entrap thee by some treacherous deuise and neuer leaue thee till he hath tane thy life by some indirect meanes or other for I assure thee and almost with teares I speake it there is not one so young and so villanous this day liuing I speake but brotherly of him but should I anathomize him to thee as hee is I must blush and weepe and thou must looke pale and wonder Cha. I am heartily glad I came hither to you if hee come to morrow I le giue him his payment if euer hee goe alone againe I le neuer wrastle for prize more and so God keepe your worship Exit Farewell good Charles Now will I stirre this Gamester I hope I shall see an end of him for my soule yet I know not why hates nothing more then he yet hee 's gentle neuer school'd and yet learned full of noble deuise of all sorts enchantingly beloued and indeed so much in the heart of the world and especially of my owne people who best know him that I am altogether misprised but it shall not be so long this wrastler shall cleare all nothing remaines but that I kindle the boy thither which now I le goe about Exit Scoena Secunda Enter Rosalind and Cellia Cel. I pray thee Rosalind sweet my Coz be merry Ros Deere Cellia I show more mirth then I am mistresse of and would you yet were merrier vnlesse you could teach me to forget a banished father you must not learne mee how to remember any extraordinary pleasure Cel. Heerein I see thou lou'st mee not with the full waight that I loue thee if my Vncle thy banished father had banished thy Vncle the Duke my Father so thou hadst beene still with mee I could haue taught my loue to take thy father for mine so wouldst thou if the truth of thy loue to me were so righteously temper'd as mine is to thee Ros Well I will forget the condition of my estate to reioyce in yours Cel. You know my Father hath no childe but I nor none is like to haue and truely when he dies thou shalt be his heire for what hee hath taken away from thy father perforce I will render thee againe in affection by mine honor I will and when I breake that oath let mee turne monster therefore my sweet Rose my deare Rose be merry Ros From henceforth I will Coz and deuise sports let me see what thinke you of falling in Loue Cel. Marry I prethee doe to make sport withall but loue no man in good earnest nor no further in sport neyther then with safety of a pure blush thou maist in honor come off againe Ros What shall be our sport then Cel. Let vs sit and mocke the good houswife Fortune from her wheele that her gifts may henceforth bee bestowed equally Ros I would wee could doe so for her benefits are mightily misplaced and the bountifull blinde woman doth most mistake in her gifts to women Cel. 'T is true for those that she makes faire she scarce makes honest those that she makes honest she makes very ill fauouredly Ros Nay now thou goest from Fortunes office to Natures Fortune reignes in gifts of the world not in the lineaments of Nature Enter Clowne Cel. No when Nature hath made a faire creature may she not by Fortune fall into the fire though nature hath giuen vs wit to flout at Fortune hath not Fortune sent in this foole to cut off the argument Ros Indeed there is fortune too hard for nature when fortune makes natures naturall the cutter off of natures witte Cel. Peraduenture this is not Fortunes work neither but Natures who perceiueth our naturall wits too dull to reason of such goddesses hath sent this Naturall for our whetstone for alwaies the dulnesse of the foole is the whetstone of the wits How now Witte whether wander you Clow. Mistresse you must come away to your father Cel. Were you made the messenger Clo. No by mine honor but I was bid to come for you Ros Where learned you that oath foole Clo. Of a certaine Knight that swore by his Honour they were good Pan-cakes and swore by his Honor the Mustard was naught Now I le stand to it the Pancakes were naught and the Mustard was good and yet was not the Knight forsworne Cel. How proue you that in the great heape of your knowledge Ros I marry now vnmuzzle your wisedome Clo. Stand you both forth now stroke your chinnes and sweare by your beards that I am a knaue Cel. By our beards if we had them thou art Clo. By my knauerie if I had it then I were but if you sweare by that that is not you are not forsworn no more was this knight swearing by his Honor for he neuer had anie or if he had he had sworne it away before euer he saw those Pancakes or that Mustard Cel. Prethee who is' t that thou means't Clo. One that old Fredericke your Father loues Ros My Fathers loue is enough to honor him enough speake no more of him you 'l be whipt for taxation one of these daies Clo. The more pittie that fooles may not speak wisely what Wisemen do foolishly Cel. By my troth thou saiest true For since the little wit that fooles haue was silenced the little foolerie that wise men haue makes a great shew Heere comes Monsieur the Beu Enter le Beau. Ros With his mouth full of newes Cel. Which he vvill put on vs as Pigeons feed their young Ros Then shal we be newes-cram'd Cel. All the better we shal be the more Marketable Boon-iour Monsieur le Beu what 's the newes Le Beu Faire Princesse you haue lost much good sport Cel. Sport of what colour Le Beu What colour Madame How shall I aunswer you Ros As wit and fortune will Clo. Or as the destinies decrees Cel. Well said that was laid on with a trowell Clo. Nay if I keepe not my ranke Ros Thou loosest thy old smell Le Beu You amaze me Ladies I would haue told you of good wrastling which you haue lost the sight of Ros Yet tell vs the manner of the Wrastling Le Beu I wil tell you the beginning and if it please your Ladiships you may see the end for the best is yet to doe and heere where you are they are comming to performe it Cel. Well the beginning that is dead and buried Le Beu There comes an old man and his three
house thither they send one another I le question her God saue you pilgrim whether are bound Hel. To S. Iaques la grand Where do the Palmers lodge I do beseech you Wid. At the S. Francis heere beside the Port. Hel. Is this the way A march afarre Wid. I marrie i st Harke you they come this way If you will tarrie holy Pilgrime But till the troopes come by I will conduct you where you shall be lodg'd The rather for I thinke I know your hostesse As ample as my selfe Hel. Is it your selfe Wid. If you shall please so Pilgrime Hel. I thanke you and will stay vpon your leisure Wid. you came I thinke from France Hel. I did so Wid. Heere you shall see a Countriman of yours That has done worthy seruice Hel. His name I pray you Dia. The Count Rossillion know you such a one Hel. But by the eare that heares most nobly of him His face I know not Dia. What somere he is He 's brauely taken heere He stole from France As 't is reported for the King had married him Against his liking Thinke you it is so Hel. I surely meere the truth I know his Lady Dia. There is a Gentleman that serues the Count Reports but coursely of her Hel. What 's his name Dia. Monsieur Parrolles Hel. Oh I beleeue with him In argument of praise or to the worth Of the great Count himselfe she is too meane To haue her name repeated all her deseruing Is a reserued honestie and that I haue not heard examin'd Dian. Alas poore Ladie 'T is a hard bondage to become the wife Of a detesting Lord. Wid. I write good creature wheresoere she is Her hart waighes sadly this yong maid might do her A shrewd turne if she pleas'd Hel. How do you meane May be the amorous Count solicites her In the vnlawfull purpose Wid. He does indeede And brokes with all that can in such a suite Corrupt the tender honour of a Maide But she is arm'd for him and keepes her guard In honestest defence Drumme and Colours Enter Count Rossillion Parrolles and the whole Armie Mar. The goddes forbid else Wid. So now they come That is Anthonio the Dukes eldest sonne That Escalus Hel. Which is the Frenchman Dia. Hee That with the plume 't is a most gallant fellow I would he lou'd his wife if he were honester He were much goodlier Is' t not a handsom Gentleman Hel. I like him well Di. 'T is pitty he is not honest yond 's that same knaue That leades him to these places were I his Ladie I would poison that vile Rascall Hel. Which is he Dia. That Iacke an-apes with scarfes Why is hee melancholly Hel. Perchance heâ—s hurt i' th battaile Par. Loose our drum Well Mar. He 's shrewdly vext at something Looke he has spyed vs. Wid. Marrie hang you Mar. And your curtesie for a ring-carrier Exit Wid. The troope is past Come pilgrim I wil bring you Where you shall host Of inioyn'd penitents There 's foure or fiue to great S. Iaques bound Alreadie at my house Hel. I humbly thanke you Please it this Matron and this gentle Maide To eate with vs to night the charge and thanking Shall be for me and to requite you further I will bestow some precepts of this Virgin Worthy the note Both. Wee 'l take your offer kindly Exeunt Enter Count Rossillion and the Frenchmen as at first Cap. E. Nay good my Lord put him too 't let him haue his way Cap. G. If your Lordshippe finde him not a Hilding hold me no more in your respect Cap. E. On my life my Lord a bubble Ber. Do you thinke I am so farre Deceiued in him Cap. E. Beleeue it my Lord in mine owne direct knowledge without any malice but to speake of him as my kinsman hee 's a most notable Coward an infinite and endlesse Lyar an hourely promise-breaker the owner of no one good qualitie worthy your Lordships entertainment Cap. G. It were fit you knew him least reposing too farre in his vertue which he hath not he might at some great and trustie businesse in a maine daunger fayle you Ber. I would I knew in what particular action to try him Cap. G. None better then to let him fetch off his drumme which you heare him so confidently vndertake to do C.E. I with a troop of Florentines wil sodainly surprize him such I will haue whom I am sure he knowes not from the enemie wee will binde and hoodwinke him so that he shall suppose no other but that he is carried into the Leager of the aduersaries when we bring him to our owne tents be but your Lordship present at his examination if he do not for the promise of his life and in the highest compulsion of base feare offer to betray you and deliuer all the intelligence in his power against you and that with the diuine forfeite of his soule vpon oath neuer trust my iudgement in anie thing Cap. G. O for the loue of laughter let him fetch his drumme he sayes he has a stratagem for 't when your Lordship sees the bottome of this successe in 't and to what mettle this counterfeyt lump of ours will be melted if you giue him not Iohn drummes entertainement your inclining cannot be remoued Heere he comes Enter Parrolles Cap. E. O for the loue of laughter hinder not the honor of his designe let him fetch off his drumme in any hand Ber. How now Monsieur This drumme sticks sorely in your disposition Cap. G. A pox on 't let it go 't is but a drumme Par. But a drumme Ist but a drumme A drum so lost There was excellent command to charge in with our horse vpon our owne wings and to rend our owne souldiers Cap. G. That was not to be blam'd in the command of the seruice it was a disaster of warre that Caesar him selfe could not haue preuented if he had beene there to command Ber. Well wee cannot greatly condemne our successe some dishonor wee had in the losse of that drum but it is not to be recouered Par. It might haue beene recouered Ber. It might but it is not now Par. It is to be recouered but that the merit of seruice is sildome attributed to the true and exact performer I would haue that drumme or another or hic iacet Ber. Why if you haue a stomacke too 't Monsieur if you thinke your mysterie in stratagem can bring this instrument of honour againe into his natiue quarter be magnanimious in the enterprize and go on I wil grace the attempt for a worthy exploit if you speede well in it the Duke shall both speake of it and extend to you what further becomes his greatnesse euen to the vtmost syllable of your worthinesse Par. By the hand of a souldier I will vndertake it Ber. But you must not now slumber in it Par. I le about it this euening and I will presently pen downe my dilemma's encourage my selfe in my certaintie put my selfe
did beget vs both And were our father and this sonne like him O old sir Robert Father on my knee I giue heauen thankes I was not like to thee K. Iohn Why what a mad-cap hath heauen lent vs here Elen. He hath a tricke of Cordelions face The accent of his tongue affecteth him Doe you not read some tokens of my sonne In the large composition of this man K. Iohn Mine eye hath well examined his parts And findes them perfect Richard sirra speake What doth moue you to claime your brotherâ— lâ—d Philip. Because he hath a half 〈◊〉 like my 〈◊〉 With halfe that face would he haue all my â—and A halfe-fac'd groaâ— fiue hundred pound a yeere Rob. My gracious Liege when that my father liu'd Your brother did imploy my father much Phil. Well sir by this you cannot get my land Your tale must be how he employ'd my mother Rob. And once dispatch'd him in an Embassie To Germany there with the Emperor To treat of high affaires touching that time Th' aduantage of his absence tooke the King And in the meane time soiourn'd at my fathers Where how he did preuaile I shame to speake But truth is truth large lengths of seas and shores Betweene my father and my mother lay As I haue heard my father speake himselfe When this same lusty gentleman was got Vpon his death-bed he by will bequeath'd His lands to me and tooke it on his death That this my mothers sonne was none of his And if he were he came into the world Full fourteene weekes before the course of time Then good my Liedge let me haue what is mine My fathers land as was my fathers will K. Iohn Sirra your brother is Legittimate Your fathers wife did after wedlocke beare him And if she did play false the fault was hers Which fault lyes on the hazards of all husbands That marry wiues tell me how if my brother Who as you say tooke paines to get this sonne Had of your father claim'd this sonne for his Insooth good friend your father might haue kept This Calfe bred from his Cow from all the world Insooth he might then if he were my brothers My brother might not claime him nor your father Being none of his refuse him this concludes My mothers sonne did get your fathers heyre Your fathers heyre must haue your fathers land Rob. Shal then my fathers Will be of no force To dispossesse that childe which is not his Phil. Of no more force to dispossesse me sir Then was his will to get me as I think Eli. Whether hadst thou rather be a Faulconbridge And like thy brother to enioy thy land Or the reputed sonne of Cordelion Lord of thy presence and no land beside Bast Madam and if my brother had my shape And I had his sir Roberts his like him And if my legs were two such riding rods My armes such eele skins stuft my face so thin That in mine eare I duâ—st not sticke a rose Lest men should say looke where three farthings goes And to his shape were heyre to all this land Would I might neuer stirre from off this place I would giue it euery foot to haue this face It would not be sir nobbe in any case Elinor I like thee well wilt thou forsake thy fortune Bequeath thy land to him and follow me I am a Souldier and now bound to France Bast Brother take you my land I le take my chance Your face hath got fiue hundred pound a yâ—ere Yet sell your face for fiue pence and 't is deere Madam I le follow you vnto the death Elinor Nay I would haue you go before me thither Bast Our Country manners giue our betters way K. Iohn What iâ— thy name Bast Philip â—y Liege so is my name begun Philip good old Sir Roberts wiues eldest sonne K. Iohn From henceforth beare his name Whose for me thou bearest Kneele thou downe Philip but rise more great Arise Sir Richard and Plantagenet Bast Brother by th' mothers side giue me your hand My father gaue me honor yours gaue land Now blessed be the houre by night or day When I was got Sir Robert was away Ele. The very spirit of Plantaginet I am thy grandame Richard call me so Bast Madam by chance but not by truth what tho Something about a little from the right In at the window or else ore the hatch Who dares not stirre by day must walke by night And haue is haue how euer men doe catch Neere or farre off well wonne is still well shot And I am I how ere I was begot K. Iohn Goe Faulconbridge now hast thou thy desire A landlesse Knight makes thee a landed Squire Come Madam and come Richard we must speed For France for France for it is more then need Bast Brother adieu good fortune come to thee For thou wast got i' th way of honesty Exeunt all but bastard Bast A foot of Honor better then I was But many a many foot of Land the worse Well now can I make any Ioane a Lady Good den Sir Richard God a mercy fellow And if his name be George I le call him Peter For new made honor doth forget mens names 'T is two respectiue and too sociable For your conuersion now your traueller Hee and his tooth-picke at my worships messe And when my knightly stomacke is suffis'd Why then I sucke my teeth and catechize My picked man of Countries my deare sir Thus leaning on mine elbow I begin I shall beseech you that is question now And then comes answer like an Absey booke O sir sayes answer at your best command At your employment at your seruice sir No sir saies question I sweet sir at yours And so ere answer knowes what question would Sauing in Dialogue of Complement And talking of the Alpes and Appenines The Perennean and the riuer Poe It drawes toward fupper in conclusion so But this is worshipfull society And fits the mounting spirit like my selfe For he is but a bastard to the time That doth not smoake of obseruation And so am I whether I smacke or no And not alone in habit and deuice Exterior forme outward accoutrement But from the inward motion to deliuer Sweet sweet sweet poyson for the ages tooth Which though I will not practice to deceiue Yet to auoid deceit I meane to learne For it shall strew the footsteps of my rising But who comes in such haste in riding robes What woman post is this hath she no husband That will take paines to blow a horne before her O me 't is my mother how now good Lady What brings you heere to Court so hastily Enter Lady Faulconbridge and Iames Gurney Lady Where is that slaue thy brother where is he That holds in chase mine honour vp and downe Bast My brother Robert old Sir Roberts sonne Colbrand the Gyant that same mighty man Is it Sir Roberts sonne that you seeke so Lady Sir Roberts sonne I thou vnreuerend boy Sir Roberts sonne why scorn'st
honourable dewe That siluerly doth progresse on thy cheekes My heart hath melted at a Ladies teares Being an ordinary Inundation But this effusion of such manly drops This showre blowne vp by tempest of the soule Startles mine eyes and makes me more amaz'd Then had I seene the vaultie top of heauen Figur'd quite ore wirh burning Meteors Lift vp thy brow renowned Salisburie And with a great heart heaue away this storme Commend these waters to those baby-eyes That neuer saw the giant-world enrag'd Nor met with Fortune other then at feasts Full warm of blood of mirth of gossipping Come come for thou shalt thrust thy hand as deepe Into the purse of rich prosperity As Lewis himselfe so Nobles shall you all That knit your sinewes to the strength of mine Enter Pandulpho And euen there methinkes an Angell spake Looke where the holy Legate comes apace To giue vs warrant from the hand of heauen And on our actions set the name of right With holy breath Pand. Haile noble Prince of France The next is this King Iohn hath reconcil'd Himselfe to Rome his spirit is come in That so stood out against the holy Church The great Metropolis and Sea of Rome Therefore thy threatning Colours now winde vp And tame the sauage spirit of wilde warre That like a Lion fostered vp at hand It may lie gently at the foot of peace And be no further harmefull then in shewe Dol. Your Grace shall pardon me I will not backe I am too high-borne to be proportied To be a secondary at controll Or vsefull seruing-man and Instrument To any Soueraigne State throughout the world Your breath first kindled the dead coale of warres Betweene this chastiz'd kingdome and my selfe And brought in matter that should feed this fire And now 't is farre too huge to be blowne out With that same weake winde which enkindled it You taught me how to know the face of right Acquainted me with interest to this Land Yea thrust this enterprize into my heart And come ye now to tell me Iohn hath made His peace with Rome what is that peace to me I by the honour of my marriage bed After yong Arthur claime this Land for mine And now it is halfe conquer'd must I backe Because that Iohn hath made his peace with Rome Am I Romes slaue What penny hath Rome borne What men prouided What munition sent To vnder-prop this Action Is' t not I That vnder-goe this charge Who else but I And such as to my claime are liable Sweat in this businesse and maintaine this warre Haue I not heard these Islanders shout out Viue le Roy as I haue bank'd their Townes Haue I not heere the best Cards for the game To winne this easie match plaid for a Crowne And shall I now giue ore the yeelded Set No no on my soule it neuer shall be said Pand. You looke but on the out-side of this worke Dol. Out-side or in-side I will not returne Till my attempt so much be glorified As to my ample hope was promised Before I drew this gallant head of warre And cull'd these fiery spirits from the world To out-looke Conquest and to winne renowne Euen in the iawes of danger and of death What lusty Trumpet thus doth summon vs Enter Bastard Bast According to the faire-play of the world Let me haue audience I am sent to speake My holy Lord of Millane from the King I come to learne how you haue dealt for him And as you answer I doe know the scope And warrant limited vnto my tongue Pand. The Dolphin is too wilfull opposite And will not temporize with my intreaties He flatly saies heeâ—ll not lay downe his Armes Bast By all the bloud that euer fury breath'd The youth saies well Now heare our English King For thus his Royaltie doth speake in me He is prepar'd and reason to he should This apish and vnmannerly approach This harness'd Maske and vnaduised Reuell This vn-heard sawcinesse and boyish Troopes The King doth smile at and is well prepar'd To whip this dwarfish warre this Pigmy Armes From out the circle of his Territories That hand which had the strength euen at your dore To cudgell you and make you take the hatch To diue like Buckets in concealed Welles To crowch in litter of your stable plankes To lye like pawnes lock'd vp in chests and truncks To hug with swine to seeke sweet safety out In vaults and prisons and to thrill and shake Euen at the crying of your Nations crow Thinking this voyce an armed Englishman Shall that victorious hand be feebled heere That in your Chambers gaue you chasticement No know the gallant Monarch is in Armes And like an Eagle o're his ayerie towres To sowsse annoyance that comes neere his Nest And you degenerate you ingrate Reuolts you bloudy Nero's ripping vp the wombe Of your deere Mother-England blush for shame For your owne Ladies and pale-visag'd Maides Like Amazons come tripping after drummes Their thimbles into armed Gantlets change Their Needl's to Lances and their gentle hearts To fierce and bloody inclination Dol. There end thy braue and turn thy face in peace We grant thou canst out-scold vs Far thee well We hold our time too precious to be spent With such a brabler Pan. Giue me leaue to speake Bast No I will speake Dol. We will attend to neyther Strike vp the drummes and let the tongue of warre Pleade for our interest and our being heere Bast Indeede your drums being beaten wil cry out And so shall you being beaten Do but start An eccho with the clamor of thy drumme And euen at hand a drumme is readie brac'd That shall reuerberate all as lowd as thine Sound but a 〈◊〉 and another shall As lowd as thine rattle the Welkins eare And mocke the deepe mouth'd Thunder for at hand Not trusting to this halting Legate heere Whom he hath vs'd rather for sport then neede Is warlike Iohn and in his fore-head sits A bare-rib'd death whose office is this day To feast vpon whole thousands of the French Dol. Strike vp our drummes to finde this danger out Bast And thou shalt finde it Dolphin do not doubt Exeunt Scaena Tertia Alarums Enter Iohn and Hubert Iohn How goes the day with vs oh tell me Hubert Hub. Badly I feare how fares your Maiesty Iohn This Feauer that hath troubled me so long Lyes heauie on me oh my heart is sicke Enter a Messenger Mes My Lord your valiant kinsman Falconbridge Desires your Maiestie to leaue the field And send him word by me which way you go Iohn Tell him toward Swinsted to the Abbey there Mes Be of good comfort for the great supply That was expected by the Dolphin heere Are wrack'd three nights ago on Goodwin sands This newes was brought to Richard but euen now The French fight coldly and retyre themselues Iohn Aye me this tyrant Feauer burnes mee vp And will not let me welcome this good newes Set on toward Swinsted to my Litter
me many yeares I should not dye but in Ierusalem Which vainly I suppos'd the Holy-Land But beare me to that Chamber there I le lye In that Ierusalem shall Harry dye Exeunt Actus Quintus Scoena Prima Enter Shallow Silence Falstaffe Bardolfe Page and Dauie Shal. By Cocke and Pye you shall not away to night What Dauy I say Fal. You must excuse me M. Robert Shallow Shal. I will not excuse you you shall not be excused Excuses shall not be admitted there is no excuse shall serue you shall not be excus'd Why Dauie Dauie Heere sir Shal. Dauy Dauy Dauy let me see Dauy let me see William Cooke bid him come hither Sir Iohn you shal not be excus'd Dauy. Marry sir thus those Precepts cannot bee seru'd and againe sir shall we sowe the head-land with Wheate Shal. With red Wheate Dauy. But for William Cook are there no yong Pigeons Dauy. Yes Sir Heere is now the Smithes note for Shooing And Plough-Irons Shal. Let it be cast and payde Sir Iohn you shall not be excus'd Dauy. Sir a new linke to the Bucket must needes bee had And Sir doe you meane to stoppe any of Williams Wages about the Sacke he lost the other day at Hinckley Fayre Shal. He shall answer it Some Pigeons Dauy a couple of short-legg'd Hennes a ioynt of Mutton and any pretty little tine Kickshawes tell William Cooke Dauy. Doth the man of Warre stay all night sir Shal. Yes Dauy I will vse him well A Friend i' th Court is better then a penny in purse Vse his men well Dauy for they are arrant Knaues and will backe-bite Dauy. No worse then they are bitten sir For they haue maruellous fowle linnen Shallow Well conceited Dauy about thy Businesse Dauy. Dauy. I beseech you sir To countenance William Visor of Woncot against Clement Perkes of the hill Shal. There are many Complaints Dauy against that Visor that Visor is an arrant Knaue on my knowledge Dauy. I graunt your Worship that he is a knaue Sir But yet heauen forbid Sir but a Knaue should haue some Countenance at his Friends request An honest man sir is able to speake for himselfe when a Knaue is not I haue seru'd your Worshippe truely sir these eight yeares and if I cannot once or twice in a Quarter beare out a knaue against an honest man I haue but a very litle credite with your Worshippe The Knaue is mine honest Friend Sir therefore I beseech your Worship let him bee Countenanc'd Shal. Go too I say he shall haue no wrong Looke about Dauy. Where are you Sir Iohn Come off with your Boots Giue me your hand M. Bardolfe Bard. I am glad to see your Worship Shal. I thanke thee with all my heart kinde Master Bardolfe and welcome my tall Fellow Come Sir Iohn Falstaffe I le follow you good Master Robert Shallow Bardolfe looke to our Horsses If I were saw'de into Quantities I should make foure dozen of such bearded Hermites staues as Master Shallow It is a wonderfull thing to see the semblable Cohetence of his mens spirits and his They by obseruing of him do beare themselues like foolish Iustices Hee by conuersing with them is turn'd into a Iustice-like Seruingman Their spirits are so married in Coniunction with the participation of Society that they flocke together in consent like so many Wilde-Geese If I had a suite to Mayster Shallow I would humour his men with the imputation of beeing neere their Mayster If to his Men I would currie with Maister Shallow that no man could better command his Seruants It is certaine that either wise bearing or ignorant Carriage is caught as men take diseases one of another therefore let men take heede of their Companie I will deuise matter enough out of this Shallow to keepe Prince Harry in continuall Laughter the wearing out of sixe Fashions which is foure Tearmes or two Actions and he shall laugh with Interuallums O it is much that a Lye with a flight Oath and a iest with â— sadde brow will doe with a Fellow that neuer had the Ache in his shoulders O you shall see him laugh till his Face be like a wet Cloake ill laid vp Shal. Sir Iohn Falst I come Master Shallow I come Master Shallow Exeunt Scena Secunda Enter the Earle of Warwicke and the Lord Chiefe Iustice Warwicke How now my Lord Chiefe Iustice whether away Ch. Iust How doth the King Warw. Exceeding well his Cares Are now all ended Ch. Iust I hope not dead Warw. Hee 's walk'd the way of Nature And to our purposes he liues no more Ch. Iust I would his Maiesty had call'd me with him The seruice that I truly did his life Hath left me open to all iniuries War Indeed I thinke the yong King loues you not Ch. Iust I know he doth not and do arme my selfe To welcome the condition of the Time Which cannot looke more hideously vpon me Then I haue drawne it in my fantasie Enter Iohn of Lancaster Gloucester and Clarence War Heere come the heauy Issue of dead Harrie O that the liuing Harrie had the temper Of him the worst of these three Gentlemen How many Nobles then should hold their places That must strike saile to Spirits of vilde sort Ch. Iust Alas I feare all will be ouer-turn'd Iohn Good morrow Cosin Warwick good morrow Glou. Cla. Good morrow Cosin Iohn We meet like men that had forgot to speake War We do remember but our Argument Is all too heauy to admit much talke Ioh. Well Peace be with him that hath made vs heauy Ch. Iust Peace be with vs least we be heauier Glou. O good my Lord you haue lost a friend indeed And I dare sweare you borrow not that face Of seeming sorrow it is sure your owne Iohn Though no man be assur'd what grace to finde You stand in coldest expectation I am the sorrier would 't were otherwise Cla. Wel you must now speake Sir Iohn Falstaffe faire Which swimmes against your streame of Quality Ch. Iust Sweet Princes what I did I did in Honor Led by th' Imperiall Conduct of my Soule And neuer shall you see that I will begge A ragged and fore-stall'd Remission If Troth and vpright Innocency fayle me I le to the King my Master that is dead And tell him who hath sent me after him War Heere comes the Prince Enter Prince Henrie Ch. Iust Good morrow and heauen saue your Maiesty Prince This new and gorgeous Garment Maiesty Sits not so easie on me as you thinke Brothers you mixe your Sadnesse with some Feare This is the English not the Turkish Court Not Amurah an Amurah succeeds But Harry Harry Yet be sad good Brothers For to speake truth it very well becomes you Sorrow so Royally in you appeares That I will deeply put the Fashion on And weare it in my heart Why then be sad But entertaine no more of it good Brothers Then a ioynt burthen laid vpon vs all For me by Heauen I bid you be
return'd againe That dog'd the mighty Army of the Dolphin Mess They are return'd my Lord and giue it out That he is march'd to Burdeaux with his power To fight with Talbot as he march'd along By your espyals were discouered Two mightier Troopes then that the Dolphin led Which ioyn'd with him and made their march for Burdeaux Yorke A plague vpon that Villaine Somerset That thus delayes my promised supply Of horsemen that were leuied for this siege Renowned Talbot doth expect my ayde And I am lowted by a Traitor Villaine And cannot helpe the noble Cheualier God comfort him in this necessity If he miscarry farewell Warres in France Enter another Messenger 2. Mes Thou Princely Leader of our English strength Neuer so needfull on the earth of France Spurre to the rescue of the Noble Talbot Who now is girdled with a waste of Iron And hem'd about with grim destruction To Burdeaux warlike Duke to Burdeaux Yorke Else farwell Talbot France and Englands honor Yorke O God that Somerset who in proud heart Doth stop my Cornets were in Talbots place So should wee saue a valiant Gentleman By forteyting a Traitor and a Coward Mad ire and wrathfull fury makes me weepe That thus we dye while remisse Traitors sleepe Mes O send some succour to the distrest Lord. Yorke He dies we loose I breake my warlike word We mourne France smiles We loose they dayly get All long of this vile Traitor Somerset Mes Then God take mercy on braue Talbots soule And on his Sonne yong Iohn who two houres since I met in trauaile toward his warlike Father This seuen yeeres did not Talbot see his sonne And now they meete where both their liues are done Yorke Alas what ioy shall noble Talbot haue To bid his yong sonne welcome to his Graue Away vexation almost stoppes my breath That sundred friends greete in the houre of death Lucie farewell no more my fortune can But curse the cause I cannot ayde the man Maine Bloys Poytiers and Toures are wonne away Long all of Somerset and his delay Exit Mes Thus while the Vulture of sedition Feedes in the bosome of such great Commanders Sleeping neglection doth betray to losse The Conquest of our scarse-cold Conqueror That euer-liuing man of Memorie Henrie the fift Whiles they each other crosse Liues Honours Lands and all hurrie to losse Enter Somerset with his Armie Som. It is too late I cannot send them now This expedition was by Yorke and Talbot Too rashly plotted All our generall force Might with a sally of the very Towne Be buckled with the ouer-daring Talbot Hath sullied all his glosse of former Honor By this vnheedfull desperate wilde aduenture Yorke set him on to fight and dye in shame That Talbot dead great Yorke might beare the name Cap. Heere is Sir William Lucie who with me Set from our ore-matcht forces forth for ayde Som. How now Sir William whether were you sent Lu. Whether my Lord from bought sold L. Talbot Who ring'd about with bold aduersitie Cries out for noble Yorke and Somerset To beate assayling death from his weake Regions And whiles the honourable Captaine there Drops bloody swet from his warre-wearied limbes And in aduantage lingring lookes for rescue You his false hopes the trust of Englands honor Keepe off aloofe with worthlesse emulation Let not your priuate discord keepe away The leuied succours that should lend him ayde While he renowned Noble Gentleman Yeeld vp his life vnto a world of oddes Orleance the Bastard Charles Burgundie Alanson Reignard compasse him about And Talbot perisheth by your default Som. Yorke set him on Yorke should haue sent him ayde Luc. And Yorke as fast vpon your Grace exclaimes Swearing that you with-hold his leuied hoast Collected for this expidition Som. York lyes He might haue sent had the Horse I owe him little Dutie and lesse Loue And take foule scorne to fawne on him by sending Lu. The fraud of England not the force of France Hath now intrapt the Noble-minded Talbot Neuer to England shall he beare his life But dies betraid to fortune by your strife Som. Come go I will dispatch the Horsemen strait Within sixe houres they will be at his ayde Lu. Too late comes rescue he is tane or slaine For flye he could not if he would haue fled And flye would Talbot neuer though he might Som. If he be dead braue Talbot then adieu Lu. His Fame liues in the world His Shame in you Exeunt Enter Talbot and his Sonne Tal. O yong Iohn Talbot I did send for thee To tutor thee in stratagems of Warre That Talbots name might be in thee reuiu'd When saplesse Age and weake vnable limbes Should bring thy Father to his drooping Chaire But O malignant and ill-boading Starres Now thou art come vnto a Feast of death A terrible and vnauoyded danger Therefore deere Boy mount on my swiftest horse And I le direct thee how thou shalt escape By sodaine flight Come dally not be gone Iohn Is my name Talbot and am I your Sonne And shall I flye O if you loue my Mother Dishonor not her Honorable Name To make a Bastard and a Slaue of me The World will say he is not Talbots blood That basely fled when Noble Talbot stood Talb. Flye to reuenge my death if I be slaine Iohn He that flyes so will ne're returne againe Talb. If we both stay we both are sure to dye Iohn Then let me stay and Father doe you flye Your losse is great so your regard should be My worth vnknowne no losse is knowne in me Vpon my death the French can little boast In yours they will in you all hopes are lost Flight cannot stayne the Honor you haue wonne But mine it will that no Exploit haue done You fled for Vantage euery one will sweare But if I bow they 'le say it was for feare There is no hope that euer I will stay If the first howre I shrinke and run away Here on my knee I begge Mortalitie Rather then Life preseru'd with Infamie Talb. Shall all thy Mothers hopes lye in one Tombe Iohn I rather then I le shame my Mothers Wombe Talb. Vpon my Blessing I command thee goe Iohn To fight I will but not to flye the Foe Talb. Part of thy Father may be sau'd in thee Iohn No part of him but will be shame in mee Talb. Thou neuer hadst Renowne nor canst not lose it Iohn Yes your renowned Name shall flight abuse it Talb. Thy Fathers charge shal cleare thee from y t staine Iohn You cannot witnesse for me being slaine If Death be so apparant then both flye Talb. And leaue my followers here to fight and dye My Age was neuer tainted with such shame Iohn And shall my Youth be guiltie of such blame No more can I be seuered from your side Then can your selfe your selfe in twaine diuide Stay goe doe what you will the like doe I For liue I will not if my Father dye Talb. Then here I take
which Iesu pardon Q.M. Which God reuenge Rich. To fight on Edwards partie for the Crowne And for his meede poore Lord he is mewed vp I would to God my heart were Flint like Edwards Or Edwards soft and pittifull like mine I am too childish foolish for this World Q.M. High thee to Hell for shame leaue this World Thou Cacodemon there thy Kingdome is Riu. My Lord of Gloster in those busie dayes Which here you vrge to proue vs Enemies We follow'd then our Lord our Soueraigne King So should we you if you should be our King Rich. If I should be I had rather be a Pedler Farre be it from my heart the thought thereof Qu. As little ioy my Lord as you suppose You should enioy were you this Countries King As little ioy you may suppose in me That I enioy being the Queene thereof Q.M. A little ioy enioyes the Queene thereof For I am shee and altogether ioylesse I can no longer hold me patient Heare me you wrangling Pyrates that fall out In sharing that which you haue pill'd from me Which off you trembles not that lookes on me If not that I am Queene you bow like Subiects Yet that by you depos'd you quake like Rebells Ah gentle Villaine doe not turne away Rich. Foule wrinckled Witch what mak'st thou in my sight Q.M. But repetition of what thou hast marr'd That will I make before I let thee goe Rich. Wert thou not banished on paine of death Q.M. I was but I doe find more paine in banishment Then death can yeeld me here by my abode A Husband and a Sonne thou ow'st to me And thou a Kingdome all of you allegeance This Sorrow that I haue by right is yours And all the Pleasures you vsurpe are mine Rich. The Curse my Noble Father layd on thee When thou didst Crown his Warlike Brows with Paper And with thy scornes drew'st Riuers from his eyes And then to dry them gan'st the Duke a Clowt Steep'd in the faultlesse blood of prettie Rutland His Curses then from bitternesse of Soule Denounc'd against thee are all falne vpon thee And God not we hath plagu'd thy bloody deed Qu. So iust is God to right the innocent Hast O 't was the foulest deed to slay that Babe And the most mercilesse that ere was heard of Riu. Tyrants themselues wept when it was reported Dors No man but prophecied reuenge for it Buck. Northumberland then present wept to see it Q.M. What were you snarling all before I came Ready to catch each other by the throat And turne you all your hatred now on me Did Yorkes dread Curse preuaile so much with Heauen That Henries death my louely Edwards death Their Kingdomes losse my wofull Banishment Should all but answer for that peeuish Brat Can Curses pierce the Clouds and enter Heauen Why then giue way dull Clouds to my quick Curses Though not by Warre by Surfet dye your King As ours by Murther to make him a King Edward thy Sonne that now is Prince of Wales For Edward our Sonne that was Prince of Wales Dye in his youth by like vntimely violence Thy selfe a Queene for me that was a Queene Out-liue thy glory like my wretched selfe Long may'st thou liue to wayle thy Childrens death And see another as I see thee now Deck'd in thy Rights as thou art stall'd in mine Long dye thy happie dayes before thy death And after many length'ned howres of griefe Dye neyther Mother Wife nor Englands Queene Riuers and Dorset you were standers by And so wast thou Lord Hastings when my Sonne Was stab'd with bloody Daggers God I pray him That none of you may liue his naturall age But by some vnlook'd accident cut off Rich. Haue done thy Charme y u hateful wither'd Hagge Q.M. And leaue out thee stay Dog for y u shalt heare me If Heauen haue any grieuous plague in store Exceeding those that I can wish vpon thee O let them keepe it till thy sinnes be ripe And then hurle downe their indignation On thee the troubler of the poore Worlds peace The Worme of Conscience still begnaw thy Soule Thy Friends suspect for Traytors while thou liu'st And take deepe Traytors for thy dearest Friends No sleepe close vp that deadly Eye of thine Vnlesse it be while some tormenting Dreame Affrights thee with a Hell of ougly Deuills Thou eluish mark'd abortiue rooting Hogge Thou that wast seal'd in thy Natiuitie The slaue of Nature and the Sonne of Hell Thou slander of thy heauie Mothers Wombe Thou loathed Issue of thy Fathers Loynes Thou Ragge of Honor thou detested Rich. Margaret Q.M. Richard Rich. Ha. Q.M. I call thee not Rich. I cry thee mercie then for I did thinke That thou hadst call'd me all these bitter names Q.M. Why so I did but look'd for no reply Oh let me make the Period to my Curse Rich. 'T is done by me and ends in Margaret Qu. Thus haue you breath'd your Curse against your self Q.M. Poore painted Queen vain flourish of my fortune Why strew'st thou Sugar on that Bottel'd Spider Whose deadly Web ensnareth thee about Foole foole thou whet'st a Knife to kill thy selfe The day will come that thou shalt wish for me To helpe thee curse this poysonous Bunch-backt Toade Hast False boding Woman end thy frantick Curse Least to thy harme thou moue our patience Q.M. Foule shame vpon you you haue all mou'd mine Ri. Were you wel seru'd you would be taught your duty Q. M To serue me well you all should do me duty Teach me to be your Queene and you my Subiects O serue me well and teach your selues that duty Dors Dispute not with her shee is lunaticke Q.M. Peace Master Marquesse you are malapert Your fire-new stampe of Honor is scarce currant O that your yong Nobility could iudge What 't were to lose it and be miserable They that stand high haue many blasts to shake them And if they fall they dash themselues to peeces Rich. Good counsaile marry learne it learne it Marquesse Dor. It touches you my Lord as much as me Rich. I and much more but I was borne so high Our ayerie buildeth in the Cedars top And dallies with the winde and scornes the Sunne Mar. And turnes the Sun to shade alas alas Witnesse my Sonne now in the shade of death Whose bright out-shining beames thy cloudy wrath Hath in eternall darknesse folded vp Your ayery buildeth in our ayeries Nest O God that seest it do not suffer it As it is wonne with blood lost be it so Buc. Peace peace for shame If not for Charity Mar. Vrge neither charity nor shame to me Vncharitably with me haue you dealt And shamefully my hopes by you are butcher'd My Charity is outrage Life my shame And in that shame still liue my sorrowes rage Buc. Haue done haue done Mar. O Princely Buckingham I le kisse thy hand In signe of League and amity with thee Now faire befall thee and thy Noble house Thy Garments are not spotted with our
you will not wed I le pardon you Graze where you will you shall not house with me Looke too 't thinke on 't I do not vse to iest Thursday is neere lay hand on heart aduise And you be mine I le giue you to my Friend And you be not hang beg straue die in the streets For by my soule I le nere acknowledge thee Nor what is mine shall neuer do thee good Trust too 't bethinke you I le not be forsworne Exit Iuli. Is there no pittie sitting in the Cloudes That sees into the bottome of my griefe O sweet my Mother cast me not away Delay this marriage for a month a weeke Or if you do not make the Bridall bed In that dimâ— Monument where Tybalt lies Mo. Talke not to me for I le not speake a word Do as thou wilt for I haue done with thee Exit Iul. O God! O Nurse how shall this be preuented My Husband is on earth my faith in heauen How shall that faith returne againe to earth Vnlesse that Husband send it me from heauen By leauing earth Comfort me counsaile me Hlacke alacke that heauen should practise stratagems Vpon so soft a subiect as my selfe What saist thou hast thou not a word of ioy Some comfort Nurse Nur. Faith here it is Romeo is banished and all the world to nothing That he dares nere come backe to challenge you Or if he do it needs must be by stealth Then since the case so stands as now it doth I thinke it best you married with the Countie O hee 's a Louely Gentleman Romeos a dish-clout to him an Eagle Madam Hath not so greene so quicke so faire an eye As Paris hath beshrow my very heart I thinke you are happy in this second match For it excels your first or if it did not Your first is dead or 't were as good he were As liuing here and you no vse of him Iul. Speakest thou from thy heart Nur. And from my soule too Or else beshrew them both Iul. Amen Nur. What Iul. Well thou hast comforted me marue'lous much Go in and tell my Lady I am gone Hauing displeas'd my Father to Lawrence Cell To make confession and to be absolu'd Nur. Marrie I will and this is wisely done Iul. Auncient damnation O most wicked fiend It is more sin to wish me thus forsworne Or to dispraise my Lord with that same tongue Which she hath prais'd him with aboue compare So many thousand times Go Counsellor Thou and my bosome henchforth shall be twaine I le to the Frier to know his remedie If all else faile my selfe haue power to die Exeunt Enter Frier and Countie Paris Fri. On Thursday sir the time is very short Par. My Father Capulet will haue it so And I am nothing slow to slack his hast Fri. You say you do not know the Ladies mind Vneuen is the course I like it not Pa. Immoderately she weepes for Tybalis death And therfore haue I little talke of Loue For Venus smiles not in a house of teares Now sir her Father counts it dangerous That she doth giue her sorrow so much sway And in his wisedome hasts our marriage To stop the inundation of her teares Which too much minded by her selfe alone May be put from her by societie Now doe you know the reason of this hast Fri. I would I knew not why it should be slow'd Looke sir here comes the Lady towards my Cell Enter Iuliet Par. Happily met my Lady and my wife Iul. That may be sir when I may be a wife Par. That may be must be Loue on Thursday next Iul. What must be shall be Fri. That 's a certaine text Par. Come you to make confession to this Father Iul. To answere that I should confesse to you Par. Do not denie to him that you Loue me Iul. I will confesse to you that I Loue him Par. So will ye I am sure that you Loue me Iul. If I do so it will be of more price Benig spoke behind your backe then to your face Par. Poore soule thy face is much abus'd with teares Iul. The teares haue got small victorie by that For it was bad inough before their spight Pa. Thou wrong'st it more then teares with that report Iul. That is no slaunder sir which is a truth And what I spake I spake it to thy face Par. Thy face is mine and thou hast slaundred it Iul. It may be so for it is not mine owne Are you at leisure Holy Father now Or shall I come to you at euening Masse Fri. My leisure serues me pensiue daughter now My Lord you must intreat the time alone Par. Godsheild I should disturbe Deuotion Iuliet on Thursday early will I rowse yee Till then adue and keepe this holy kisse Exit Paris Iul. O shut the doore and when thou hast done so Come weepe with me past hope past care past helpe Fri. O Iuliet I alreadie know thy griefe It streames me past the compasse of my wits I heare thou must and nothing may prorogue it On Thursday next be married to this Countie Iul. Tell me not Frier that thou hearest of this Vnlesse thou tell me how I may preuent it If in thy wisedome thou canst giue no helpe Do thou but call my resolution wise And with ' his knife I le helpe it presently God ioyn'd my heart and Romeos thou our hands And ere this hand by thee to Romeo seal'd Shall be the Labell to another Deede Or my true heart with trecherous reuolt Turne to another this shall slay them both Therefore out of thy long expetien'st time Giue me some present counsell or behold Twixt my extreames and me this bloody knife Shall play the vmpeere arbitrating that Which the commission of thy yeares and art Could to no issue of true honour bring Be not so long to speak I long to die If what thou speak'st speake not of remedy Fri. Hold Daughter I doe spie a kind of hope Which craues as desperate an execution As that is desperate which we would preuent If rather then to marrie Countie Paris Thou hast the strength of will to stay thy selfe Then is it likely thou wilt vndertake A thinglike death to chide away this shame That coap'st with death himselfe to scape fro it And if thou dar'st I le giue thee remedie Iul. Oh bid me leape rather then marrie Paris From of the Battlements of any Tower Or walke in theeuish waies or bid me lurke Where Serpents are chaine me with roaring Beares Or hide me nightly in a Charnell house Orecouered quite with dead mens ratling bones With reckie shankes and yellow chappels sculls Or bid me go into a new made graue And hide me with a dead man in his graue Things that to heare them told haue made me tremble And I will doe it without feare or doubt To liue an vnstained wife to my sweet Loue. Fri. Hold then goe home be merrie giue consent To marrie Paris wensday is to morrow To morrow
all Happily when I shall wed That Lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry Halfe my loue with him halfe my Care and Dutie Sure I shall neuer marry like my Sisters Lear. But goes thy heart with this Cor. I my good Lord. Lear. So young and so vntender Cor. So young my Lord and true Lear. Let it be so thy truth then be thy dowre For by the sacred radience of the Sunne The miseries of Heccat and the night By all the operation of the Orbes From whom we do exist and cease to be Heere I disclaime all my Paternall care Propinquity and property of blood And as a stranger to my heart and me Hold thee from this for euer The barbarous Scythian Or he that makes his generation messes To gorge his appetite shall to my bosome Be as well neighbour'd pittied and releeu'd As thou my sometime Daughter Kent Good my Liege Lear. Peace Kent Come not betweene the Dragon and his wrath I lou'd her most and thought to set my rest On her kind nursery Hence and avoid my sight So be my graue my peace as here I giue Her Fathers heart from her call France who stirres Call Burgundy Cornwall and Albanie With my two Daughters Dowres digest the third Let pride which she cals plainnesse marry her I doe inuest you ioyntly with my power Preheminence and all the large effects That troope with Maiesty Our selfe by Monthly course With reseruation of an hundred Knights By you to be sustain'd shall our abode Make with you by due turne onely we shall retaine The name and all th' addition to a King the Sway Reuennew Execution of the rest Beloued Sonnes be yours which to confirme This Coronet part betweene you Kent Royall Lear Whom I haue euer honor'd as my King Lou'd as my Father as my Master follow'd As my great Patron thought on in my praiers Le. The bow is bent drawne make from the shaft Kent Let it fall rather though the forke inuade The region of my heart be Kent vnmannerly When Lear is mad what wouldest thou do old man Think'st thou that dutie shall haue dread to speake When power to flattery bowes To plainnesse honour 's bound When Maiesty falls to folly reserue thy state And in thy best consideration checke This hideous rashnesse answere my life my iudgement Thy yongest Daughter do's not loue thee least Nor are those empty hearted whose low founds Reuerbe no hollownesse Lear. Kent on thy life no more Kent My life I neuer held but as pawne To wage against thine enemies nere feare to loose it Thy safety being motiue Lear. Out of my sight Kent See better Lear and let me still remaine The true blanke of thine eie Kear Now by Apollo Lent Now by Apollo King Thou swear st thy Gods in vaine Lear. O Vassall Miscreant Alb. Cor. Deare Sir forbeare Kent Kill thy Physition and thy see bestow Vpon the foule disease reuoke thy guift Or whil'st I can vent clamour from my throate I le tell thee thou dost euill Lea. Heare me recreant on thine allegeance heare me That thou hast sought to make vs breake our vowes Which we durst neuer yet and with strain'd pride To come betwixt our sentences and our power Which nor our nature nor our place can beare Our potencie made good take thy reward Fiue dayes we do allot thee for prouision To shield thee from disasters of the world And on the sixt to turne thy hated backe Vpon our kingdome if on the tenth day following Thy banisht trunke be found in our Dominions The moment is thy death away By Iupiter This shall not be reuok'd Kent Fare thee well King sith thus thou wilt appeare Freedome liues hence and banishment is here The Gods to their deere shelter take thee Maid That iustly think'st and hast most rightly said And your large speeches may your deeds approue That good effects may spring from words of loue Thus Kent O Princes bids you all adew Hee 'l shape his old course in a Country new Exit Flourish Enter Gloster with France and Burgundy Attendants Cor. Heere 's France and Burgundy my Noble Lord. Lear. My Lord of Bugundie We first addresse toward you who with this King Hath riuald for our Daughter what in the least Will you require in present Dower with her Or cease your quest of Loue Bur. Most Royall Maiesty I craue no more then hath your Highnesse offer'd Nor will you tender lesse Lear. Right Noble Burgundy When she was deare to vs we did hold her so But now her price is fallen Sir there she stands If ought within that little seeming substance Or all of it with our displeasure piec'd And nothing more may fitly like your Grace Shee 's there and she is yours Bur. I know no answer Lear. Will you with those infirmities she owes Vnfriended new adopted to our hate Dow'rd with our curse and stranger'd with our oath Take her or leaue her Bur. Pardon me Royall Sir Election makes not vp in such conditions Le. Then leaue her sir for by the powre that made me I tell you all her wealth For you great King I would not from your loue make such a stray To match you where I hate therefore beseech you T' auert your liking a more worthier way Then on a wretch whom Nature is asham'd Almost t' acknowledge hers Fra. This is most strange That she whom euen but now was your obiect The argument of your praise balme of your age The best the deerest should in this trice of time Commit a thing so monstrous to dismantle So many folds of fauour sure her offence Must be of such vnnaturall degree That monsters it Or your fore-voucht affection Fall into taint which to beleeue of her Must be a faith that reason without miracle Should neuer plant in me Cor. I yet beseech your Maiesty If for I want that glib and oylie Art To speake and purpose not since what I will intend I le do 't before I speake that you make knowne It is no vicious blot murther or foulenesse No vnchaste action or dishonoured step That hath depriu'd me of your Grace and fauour But euen for want of that for which I am richer A still soliciting eye and such a tongue That I am glad I haue not though not to haue it Hath loft me in your liking Lear. Better thou had'st Not beene borne then not t haue pleas'd me better Fra. Is it but this A tardinesse in nature Which often leaues the history vnspoke That it intends to do my Lord of Burgundy What say you to the Lady Loue 's not loue When it is mingled with regards that stands Aloofe from th' intire point will you haue her She is herselfe a Dowrie Bur. Royall King Giue but that portion which your selfe propos'd And here I take Cordelia by the hand Dutchesse of Burgundie Lear. Nothing I haue sworne I am firme Bur. I am sorry then you haue so lost a Father That you must loose a husband Cor.
Rod. My name is Rodorigo Bra. The worsser welcome I haue charg'd thee not to haunt about my doores In honest plainenesse thou hast heard me say My Daughter is not for thee And now in madnesse Being full of Supper and distempring draughtes Vpon malitious knauerie dost thou come To start my quiet Rod. Sir Sir Sir Bra. But thou must needs be sure My spirits and my place haue in their power To make this bitter to thee Rodo. Patience good Sir Bra. What tell'st thou me of Robbing This is Venice my house is not a Grange Rodo. Most graue Brabantio In simple and pure soule I come to you Ia. Sir you are one of those that will not serue God if the deuill bid you Because we come to do you seruice and you thinke we are Russians you 'le haue your Daughter couer'd with a Barbary horse you 'le haue your Nephewes neigh to you you 'le haue Coursers for Cozens and Gennets for Germaines Bra. What prophane wretch art thou Ia. I am one Sir that comes to tell you your Daughter and the Moore are making the Beast with two backs Bra. Thou art a Villaine Iago You are a Senator Bra. This thou shalt answere I know thee Rodorigo Rod. Sir I will answere any thing But I beseech you If 't be your pleasure and most wise consent As partly I find it is that your faire Daughter At this odde Euen and dull watch o' th' night Transported with no worse nor better guard But with a knaue of common hire a Gundelier To the grosse claspes of a Lasciuious Moore If this be knowne to you and your Allowance We then haue done you bold and saucie wrongs But if you know not this my Manners tell me We haue your wrong rebuke Do not beleeue That from the sence of all Ciuilitie I thus would play and trifle with your Reuerence Your Daughter if you haue not giuen her leaue I say againe hath made a grosse reuolt Tying her Dutie Beautie Wit and Fortunes In an extrauagant and wheeling Stranger Of here and euery where straight satisfie your selfe If she be in her Chamber or your house Let loose on me the Iustice of the State For thus deluding you Bra. Strike on the Tinder hoa Giue me a Taper call vp all my people This Accident is not vnlike my dreame Beleefe of it oppresses me alreadie Light I say light Exit Iag. Farewell for I must leaue you It seemes not meete nor wholesome to my place To be producted as if I stay I shall Against the Moore For I do know the State How euer this may gall him with some checke Cannot with safetie cast-him For he 's embark'd With such loud reason to the Cyprus Warres Which euen now stands in Act that for their soules Another of his Fadome they haue none To lead their Businesse In which regard Though I do hate him as I do hell apines Yet for necessitie of present life I must show out a Flag and signe of Loue Which is indeed but signe that you shal surely find him Lead to the Sagitary the raised Search And there will I be with him So farewell Exit Enter Brabantio with Seruants and Torches Bra. It is too true an euill Gone she is And what 's to come of my despised time Is naught but bitternesse Now Rodorigo Where didst thou see her Oh vnhappie Girle With the Moore saist thou Who would be a Father How didst thou know 't was she Oh she deceaues me Past thought what said she to you Get moe Tapers Raise all my Kindred Are they married thinke you Rodo. Truely I thinkâ— they are Bra. Oh Heaâ—n how got she out Oh treason of the blood Fathers from hence trust not your Daughters minds By what you see them act Is there not Charmes By which the propertie of Youth and Maidhood May be abus'd Haue you not read Rodorigo Of some such thing Rod. Yes Sir I haue indeed Bra. Call vp my Brother oh would you had had her Some one way some another Doe you know Where we may apprehend her and the Moore Rod. I thinke I can discouer him if you please To get good Guard and go along with me Bra. Pray you lead on At euery house I le call I may command at most get Weapons hoa And raise some speciall Officers of might On good Rodorigo I will deserue your paines Exeunt Scena Secunda Enter Othello Iago Attendants with Torches Ia. Though in the trade of Warre I haue slaine men Yet do I hold it very stuffe o' th' conscience To do no contriu'd Murder I lacke Iniquitie Sometime to do me seruice Nine or ten times I had thought t' haue yerk'd him here vnder the Ribbes Othello 'T is better as it is Iago Nay but he prated And spoke such scuruy and prouoking termes Against your Honor that with the little godlinesse I haue I did full hard forbeare him But I pray you Sir Are you fast married Be assur'd of this That the Magnifico is much belou'd And hath in his effect a voice potentiall As double as the Dukes He will diuorce you Or put vpon you what restraint or greeuance The Law with all his might to enforce it on Will giue him Cable Othel. Let him do his spight My Seruices which I haue done the Signorie Shall out-tongue his Complaints 'T is yet to know Which when I know that boasting is an Honour I shall promulgate I fetch my life and being From Men of Royall Seige And my demerites May speake vnbonnetted to as proud a Fortune As this that I haue reach'd For know Iago But that I loue the gentle Desdemona I would not my vnhoused free condition Put into Circumscription and Confine For the Seas worth But looke what Lights come yond Enter Cassio with Torches Iago Those are the raised Father and his Friends You were best go in Othel. Not I I must be found My Parts my Title and my perfect Soule Shall manifest me rightly Is it they Iago By Ianus I thinke no. Othel. The Seruants of the Dukes And my Lieutenant The goodnesse of the Night vpon you Friends What is the Newes Cassio The Duke do's greet you Generall And he requires your haste Post-haste appearance Enen on the instant Othello What is the matter thinke you Cassio Something from Cyprus as I may diuine It is a businesse of some heate The Gallies Haue sent a dozen sequent Messengers This very night at one anothers heeles And many of the Consuls rais'd and met Are at the Dukes already You haue bin hotly call'd for When being not at your Lodging to be found The Senate hath sent about three seuerall Quests To search you out Othel. 'T is well I am found by you I will but spend a word here in the house And goe with you Cassio Aunciant what makes he heere Iago Faith he to night hath boarded a Land Carract If it proue lawfull prize he ' made for euer Cassio I do not vnderstand Iago He 's married Cassio To
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