Shallow Luce Fran. Nay fret not now you haue beene worse abusd If you had married her she neuer lou'd you Luce. I euer scorn'd thy folly and hated thee though Sometimes afore my father I would make an Asse Of thee Shal. Oh women monstrous women Little does her father know who has married her Luce. Yes he knowes the Parson married me And you can witnesse that Fran. And he shall know the Parson will lye with her Shal. Well Parson I will be reuenged on all thy coate I will not plough an Acre of ground for you to Tyth I le rather pasture my neighbours cattle For nothing Par. Oh be more charitable Sir bid God giue vm ioy Shal. I care not greatly if I do he is not the first Parson that has taken a gentlemans leauings Fran. How meane you Sir Shal. You guesse my meaning I hope to haue good luck To horse-flesh now she is a Parsons wife Fran. You haue laine with her then Sir Shal. I cannot tell you that but if you saw a woman with child without lying with a man then perhaps I haue not Luce. Impudent Coxcombe darest thou say that euer thou layst with mee didst thou euer so much as kisse my hand in priuate Shal. These things must not be spoken of in company Luce. Thou know'st I euer hated thee Shal. But when you were i' th good humour you would tell me another tale Luce. The foole is mad by heauen my Francisco I am wrong'd He discouers himselfe Fran. Then I must change my note sirrah vnsay What you haue spoken sweare here before The Parson and my selfe you neuer toucht her or I le cut thy throat it is Francisco threatens thee Shal. I am in a sweete case what should I doe now her Father thinkes I haue laine with her if I deny it Hee le haue about with me if I say I haue this Young rogue will cut my throat Fran. Come will you sweare Shal. I would I were fairely off I would lose my wench with all my heart I sweare Fran. So now thou art free from any imputation that his tongue can stick vpon thee Enter Franklin Frank. Well now I see t is done Shal. Her 's one Shall 〈◊〉 with you Frank. God giue you ioy sonne Fran. I thanke you father Frank. How 's this Francisco in the Parsons habite Fran I haue married her as you bad me Sir but this Was the truer Parson of the two he tyed the Knot and this Gentleman is our witnesse 〈◊〉 〈…〉 vndone Strumpet thou hast betraied thy 〈…〉 beggery to shame besides and that in open Court 〈…〉 what thou hast sought hang beg and starue I le 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Good Sir Sâ—â—l.. I told you what would come on 't 〈◊〉 How did your wisedome lose her 〈◊〉 〈…〉 you see I was beguild and so were you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 take her thou seest the portion thou art like to haue Fran. T is such a portion as will euer please 〈…〉 for her sake be not vnnaturall 〈◊〉 Do not reiect me father Fran. But for the fault 〈…〉 were for or shame shee should endure in 〈◊〉 behold her yet an vntoucht Virgin Cushion come 〈…〉 Shallow take your child vnto you make 〈…〉 proue as wise as the father He the Cushion at him Frank This is more strange then tother ah Luce weâ—◠〈◊〉 so subtill to deceiue thy selfe and me well 〈…〉 t is thine owne choise 〈◊〉 Sir we can force no bounty from you and thereâ—â—â—â— must rest content with what your pleasure is Enter Euphues Alphonso 〈◊〉 〈…〉 he is my Lord that 's he in the Parsons 〈…〉 thus disguisd about the businesse I told you of Lysandro see your noble father Eu. Welcome my long lost sonne from all the stormes Of frowning fortune that thou hast endur'd Into thy fathers armes Luce. Iâ— my Francisco noble Frank. Lord Euphues sonne I am amaz'd Eup. I heare Lysandro that you are married Francisco Yes my Lord this is my Bride the Daughter and Heyre of this rich Gentleman t was onely she that when my state was nothing my poore selfe and Parentage vnknowne vouchsaf't to know nay grace mee with her loue her constant loue Euph. Such merit must not be forgot my sonne Daughter much ioy attend vpon your choise Fran. Now wants but your consent Frank. Which with a willing heart I do bestow Pardon me worthy sonne I haue so long Beene hard to you t was ignorance Of what you were and care I tooke for her Fran. Your care needes no Apology Euph. But now Lysandro I must make thee sad Vpon thy wedding day and let thee know There is no pure and vncompounded ioy Lent to 〈◊〉 in depth of woe Thou 〈◊〉 the knowledge of thy parentage Thy elder 〈…〉 Philocles must dye And 〈…〉 our name and house Had 〈…〉 euer had not gracious heauen Sent as a courtier to my childlesse age Thy long lost selfe supporter of the name Franc. But can there be no meanes to saue his life Euph. 〈…〉 none the King has tane an oath Neuer to 〈◊〉 him but since they say His Majestie repents and faine would saue him Franc, Then up I wretched like a man long blind That comes at last to see the wisht for sonne But finde it in ecclipse such is my case To meete in this darke woe my dearest friends Eu. Had you not heard this newes before Lysandro Fran. Yes Sir and did lament As for a worthy stranger but nere knew My sorrow stood engag'd by such a tye As brotherhood where may we see him Sir Eu. This morning hee 's arraign'd put of that habite You are in and goe along with me leaue your Friends heare awhile Fran. Farewell father Deare Luce till soone farewell nought but so sad A chaunce could make mee cloudy now Exeunt Frank Well Luce thy choice has proued better then we Expected but this cloud of griefe has dimde Our mirth but will I hope blow ouer Heauen graunt it may And signior Shallow though you haue mist what My loue meant you once pray be my guest Shal. I thanke you Sir I le not be strange Exeunt Enter King Nicanor King Nicanor I would find some priuy place Where I might stand vnseene vnknowne of any To heare the arraignment of yong Philocles Ni. The Iudges are now entring please you Sir Heere to ascend you may both heare and see King Well I le goe vp And like a iealous husband heere and see That that will strike me dead am I a King And cannot pardon such a small offence I cannot doo 't nor am I Caesar now Lust has vncrown'd me and my rash tane oath Hâ—s 〈◊〉 of a Kings prerogatiue Come come Nicanor helpe me to ascend And â—ee that fault that I want power to mend Ascendant Enter Iudges Virro Polimetes Euphues Francisco Leucothoe Clerimont Roscio 1. Iu. Bring forth the prisoner where are the witnesses Pol. Here my Lords I am the wrong'd party And the fact my man here besides the Officers That tooke them can iustifie
THE HEIRE AN EXCELLENT COMEDIE As it was lately Acted by the Company of the Reuels Written by T. M. Gent. LONDON Printed by B. A. for Thomas Iones and are to bee sold at his shop in Chancery-lane ouer-against the Roles and in Westminster Hall TO MY HONOVRED friend master Thomas May vpon his Comedy The Heire THe Heire being borne was in his tender age Rockt in the Cradle of a priuate Stage Where lifted vp by many a willing hand The child doth from the first day fairely stand Since hauing gathered strength he dares preferre His steps into the publicke Theater The World where he dispaires not but to find A doome from men more able but lesse kind I but his Vsher am yet if my word May passe I dare be bound he will afford Things must deserue a welcome it well knowne Such as best writers would haue wisht their owne You shall obserue his words in order meete And often stealing on with equall feete Slide into equall numbers with such grace As each word had beene moulded for that place You shall perceiue an amorous passion spun Into so smooth a web as had the sunne When he pursu'd the swiftly flying Maid Courted her in such language she had staid A loue so well exprest must be the same The Author felt himselfe from his faire flame The whole plot doth like it selfe disclose Through the fiue Acts as doth a Looke that goes With letters for till euery one be knowne The Lock 's as fast as if you had found none And where his sportiue Muse doth draw a thred Of mirth chast Matrons may not blush to reade 〈◊〉 haue I thought it fitter to reueale 〈◊〉 want of art deare friend then to conceale 〈…〉 It did appeare I did not meane 〈…〉 thy well-wrought Comicke-Sceane 〈…〉 might iudge my 〈◊〉 rather to be 〈…〉 my selfe thâ—â— giue it thee 〈…〉 thee none but what thou hast 〈…〉 and what must my faint breath outlast 〈…〉 this garment though 〈…〉 be 〈…〉 measure onely made for thee 〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 't is cause the stuffe 〈…〉 allow'd me was not large enough Thomas Caron AN EXCELLENT COMEDY CALLED the Heire Enter Polimetes Roscio Pol. ROscio Ro. My Lord Pol. Hast thou divulg'd the newes That my sonne dy'd at Athens Ros. Yes my Lord With euery circumstance the time the place And manner of his death that it is beleeu'd And told for newes with as much confidence As if t were writ in Gallobelgicus Pol. That 's well that 's very well now Roscio Followes my part I must expresse a griefe Not vsuall not like a well left heire For his dead father or a lusty Widdow For her old husband must I counterfeit But in a deeper a farre deeper straine Weepe like a Father for his onely sonne Is not that hard to doe ha Roscio Ro. Oh no my Lord Not for your skill has not your Lordship seene A player personate Ieronimo Pol. By th' masse t is true I haue seen the knaue paint griefe In such a liuely colour that for false And acted passion he has drawne true teares From the spectators eyes Ladyes in the boxes Kept time with sighes and teares to his sad accents As had he truely bin the new man he seemd Well then I le neere dispaire but tell me thou Thou that hast still beene priuy to my bosome How will this proiect take Rosc. Rarely my Lord when now my thinkes I see your Lordships house Is with suitors of the noblest ranke And my yong Lady your supposed Heire Tir'd more with woing then the Grecian Queene In the long absence of her wandring Lord There 's not a ruinous nobility In all this kingdome but conceiues a hope Now to rebuild his fortunes on this match Pol. Those are not they I looke for no my neâ—â— Are spread for other game the rich and greedy Those that haue wealth enough yet gape for more They are for me Ros Others will come my Lord All sorts of fish will presse vpon your nets Then in your Lordships wisedome it must lie To cull the great ones and reiect the frie Pol. Nay feare not that there 's none shall haue accesse To see my daughter or to speake to her But such as I approue and ayme to catch Ro. The iest will be my Lord when you shall see How your aspiring suitors will put on The face of greatnesse and bely their fortunes Consume themselues in shew wasting like Merchants Their present wealth in rigging a fayre ship For some ill venture de voyage that vndoes vm Here comes a youth with letters from the Court Bought of some fauourite at such a price As will for euer sinke him yet alas All 's to no purpose he must loose the prize Pol. This was a iest well thought of the conceit Will feed me fat with sport that it shall make Besides the large aduentures it brings home Vnto my daughter How now enter seruant Sâ—r. My Lord Count Virro is come to see you Pol. Conduct him in So so it takes already See Roscio see this is the very man My proiect aymd at the rich Count that knowes No end of his large wealth yet gapes for more There was no other loadstone could attract His Iron heart for could beauty haue mou'd him Nature has beene no niggard to my girle But I must to my griefe here comes the Count Enter Count Virro Vir. Is your Lord a sleepe Ro. No Sir I thinke not my Lord Count Virro Vir. How doe you Sir Pol. I do intreat your Lordship pardon my griefe and some want of sleepe haue made mee at this time vnmannerly not fit to entertaine guests of your worth Vir Alas Sir I know your griefe Ro. T was that that fetcht you hither aside Vir. Y'haue lost a worthy and a hopefull sonne But heauen that alwayes giues will sometimes take And that the best there is no balsome left vs To cure such wounds as these but patience There 's no disputing with the acts of heauen But if there were in what could you accuse Those powers that else haue beene so liberall to you And left you yet one comfort in your age A faire and vertuous daughter Ros. Now it beginnes Vir. Your blood is not extinct nor your age childlesse from that fayre branch that 's left may come much fruite to glad posteritie thinke on that my Lord Pol. Nay heauen forbid I should repine at what the Iustice of those powers ordaine it has pleasd Them to confine my care onely to one and to See her well bestowd is all the comfort I now Must looke for but if it had pleasd heauen that My sonne ah my Eugenio he weepes Vir. Alas good Gentleman Ros. Fore heauen he does it rarely Vir, But Sir remember your selfe remember your Daughter let not your griefe for the dead make You forget the liuing whose hopes and fortunes Depend vpon your safety Pol. Oh my good Lord you neuer had a soone Ros. Vnlesse they were bastards and for them no Doubt but
you are to marry old Polimetes Daughter Vir. And Heire Eu. No Heire My Lord her Brother is aliue Vir. How Thou art mad Eu. My Lord What I speake is true and to my knowledge His father giues it out in pollicy to marry his Daughter the better to hooke in sutors and Specially aym'd at you thinking you rich And couetous and now he has caught you Vir. But dost thou mock me Eu. Let me be euer miserable if I speake Not truth as sure as I am here Eugenio liues I know it and know him where he is Vir. Where prithee Eu. Not a daies iourney hence Where his father enioyn'd him to stay till your Match and sends word to him of this plot Besides I ouer-hard the old Lord and his man Roscio laughing at you for being caught thus Vir. Why wert thou at the house then Eu. Yes But had scuruy entertainment Which I haue thus reueng'd Vir. Beshrew my heart I know not what To thinke on 't til like enough this Lord was Alwayes cunning beyond measure and it Amaz'd me that he should grow so extreme Kind to me on the suddaine to offer me all this Besides this fellow is so confident and on No ends of couznage that I can see well I would faine enioy her the Wench is Delicate but I would haue the estate too and not be guld what shall I doe now braines If euer you will helpe your Master Eu. It stings him Vir. Well so Sir What may I call your name Eu. Irus my Lord Vir. Your name as well as your attire Speakers you poore Eu. I am so Vir. And very poore Eu. Very poore Vir. Would you not gladly take a course To get money and a great some of mony Eu. Is gladly if your Lordship would but Shew me the way Vir. Harke ye Eu. Oh my Lord Conscience Vir. Fye neuer Talke of the Conscience and for Law thou art Free for all men thinke him dead and His father will be ashamed to follow it Hauing already giuen him for dead And then who can know it come be wise Fiue hundreth crownes I le giue Eu. Well t is pouerty that does it and not I When shall I be paid Vir. When thou hast done it Eu. Well giue me your Hand for it my Lord Vir. Thou shalt Eu. In writing to be paid when I haue Poysoned him and thinke it done Vir. Now thou But loue has made me bold the time has beene In such a place as this I should haue fear'd Each rowling leafe and trembled at a reed Stird in the Mooneshine my fearefull fancy Would frame a thousand apparisions And worke some feare out of my very shadow I wonder Philocles is tardy thus When last wee parted euery houre he said Would seeme a yeere till we were met againe It should not seeme so by the hast he makes I le sit and rest me come I know he will Enter Philocles and Clerimont Phi. This Clerimont this is the happy place Where I shall meet the summe of all my ioyes And be possest of such a treasury As would inrich a Monarch Leu. This is his voyce My Philocles Phi. My life my soule what here before me Oh thou dost still out goe me and dost make All my endeauours poore in the requitall Of thy large fauours but I forget my selfe Sweete bid my friend here welcome this is he That I dare trust next mine owne hearth with secrets But why art thou disguised thus Leu. I durst not venture else to make escape Phi. Euen now me thinkes I stand as I would wish With all my wealth about me such a loue And such a friend what can be added more To make a man liue happy thou darke groue That hast beene cald the seat of Melancholy And shelter for the discontented spirits Sure thou art wrong thou seemst to me a place Of solace and content a Paradise That giuest me more then euer Court could doe Or richest Palace blest be thy faire shades Let birds of musicke euer chant it heere No croking Rauen or ill booding Owle Make heere their balefull habitation Frighting thy walkes but mayst thou be a groue Where loues faire Queene may take delight to sport For vnder thee two faithfull Louers meet Why is my faire Leucothoe so sad Leu. I know no cause but I would faine be gone Phi. Whether sweete Leu. Any whether from hence My thoughts diuine of treason whence I know not There is no creature knowes our meeting heere But one and that 's my maid she has beene trusty And will be still I hope but yet I would She did not know it prithee le ts away Any where else we are secure from danger Phi. Then le ts remoue but prithee be not sad noise within What noise is that Leu. Ay me Phi. Oh feare not Loue draw Eer Polimedes Roscio Eugenio and Officers Pol. Vpon vm Officers yonder they are Phi. Theeues Villaines Pol. Thou art the Thiefe and the Villaine too Giue me my Daughter thou rauisher Phi. First take my life Pol. Vpon vm I say fight Knocke vm downe Officers if they resist they are taken Leu. Oh they are lost ah wicked wicked Psecas Pol. So keepe vm fast wee le haue vm faster shortly and for you Minion I le tye a clog about your neck for running away any more Leu. Yet do but heare me father Pol. Call me not father thou disobedient wretch Thou Run-away thou art no child of mine My Daughter nere wore Breeches Leu. Oh Sir my Mother would haue done as much For loue of you if need had so required Thinke not my mind transformed as my habite Pol. Officers away with vm peace Stumpet You may discharge him he 's but an assistant Leu. Oh stay and heare me yet heare but a word And that my last it may be doe not spill The life of him in whom my life subsists Kill not two liues in one remember Sir I was your Daughter once once you did loue me And tell me then what fault can be so great To make a father murtherer of his child For so you are in taking of his life Oh thinke not Sir that I will stay behinde him Whilst there be Aspes and Kniues and burning Coles No Roman dame shall in her great example Outgoe my loue Phi. Oh where will sorrow stay Is there no end in griefe or in my death Not punishment enough for my offence But must her griefe be added to afflict me Dry vp those Pearles dearest Leucothoe Or thou wilt make me doubly miserable Preserue that life that I may after death Liue in my better part take comfort deare People would curse me if such beauty should For me miscarry no liue happy thou And let me suffer what the law inflicts Leu. My offence was as great as thine And why should not my punishment Pol. Come haue you done Officers away with him Exit Philocles I le be your keeper but I le looke better to you But Rosie you and I must about the businesse
sir let it be your charge to watch my Daughter And see she send no message any whither Nor receiue any Eu. It shall my Lord exeunt manet Eu. and Leu. I le be an Argus none shall come heere I warrant you My very heart bleedes to see two such louers so Faithfully parted so I must condemne my father Hee s too cruell in this hard action and did not Nature forbid it I could raile at him to reake His long fostred malice against Lord Euphues thus Vpon his sonne the faithfull louer of his owne Daughter and vpon her for should it come to passe As he expects it shall I thinke t' would kill her Too she takes it See in what strange amazement Now she stands her griefe has spent it selfe so Farre that it has left her sencelesse it greeues Me thus to see her I can scarce forbeare reuealing Of my selfe to her but that I keepe it for a Better occasion when things shall better answere to My purpose Lady Leu. What are you Eu. In that my Lord your father has appointed To giue attendance on you Leu. On me alas I neede no attendance He might bestow his care better for me Eu. I came but lately to him nor doe I meane Long to stay with him in the meane time Lady Might I but doe you any seruice Leu. All seruice is too late my hopes are deseperate Eu. Madame I haue a feeling of your woe A greater your owne brother could not haue And thinke not that I come suborn'd by any To vndermine your secrets I am true By all the gods I am for further tryall Command me any thing send me on any message I le doe it faithfully or any thing else That my poore power can compasse Leu. Oh strange fate Haue I lost pitty in a fathers heart And shall I find it in a stranger Sir I shall not liue to thanke you but my prayers Shall goe with you Eu. T is not for thankes or neede But for the seruice that I owe to vertue I would doe this Leu. Surely this man Is nobly bred how ere his habite giue him But Sir all physicke comes to me too late There is no hope my Philocles should liue Eu. Vnlesse the King were pleasd to grant his pardon T we're good that he were mou'd Leu. Ah who should doe it I feare me t is in vaine Count Virro And my father both will crosse it but I would venture If I could get but thither Eu. That 's in my power To giue you liberty your father left me To be your keeper but in an act So meritorious as this I will not hinder you Nay I will waite vpon you to the Court Leu. A thousand thankes to you well I le goe Grant oh you powers aboue if Virgins teares If a true loues prayers had euer power To moue compassion grant it now to me Arm'd with so strong a vigor my weake words They may pierce deepe into his kingly brest And force out mercy in spite of all opposers Eu. Come le ts away exeunt Actus quartus Enter Francisco reading a letter Fran. MY dearest Luce were thy old Sire as iust As thou art truely constant our firme loue Had neuer met these oppositions All my designes as yet all practises That I haue vs'd I see are frustrated For as my faire intelligencer writes He will before the next court day prouide Some carelesse person that in spite of lawes Shall marry her to Shallow this being done He meanes to hold the Courts seuerity To by a golden bit and so he may Alas it is too true I must preuent it And that in time before it grow too farre But how there lies the point of difficulty But what strange sight is this that greetes mine eyes Alphonso my old Captaine sure t is he Enter Allphonso Al. Thus once againe from twenty yeares exile Tost by the stormes of fortune too and fro Has gratious heauen giuen me leaue to tread My natiue earth of Sicily and draw That aire that fed me in my infancy Fr. T is he most noble Captaine oh what power Has bene so gratious as to blesse mine eyes Once more with sight of my most honored master Al. Kind youth the teares of ioy that I haue spent To greet my natiue country haue quite robd Mine eyes of moysture and haue left me none To answer thy affection but tell me Tell me how thou hast liu'd in Syracuse These fiue yeeres here since that vnluckly storme Diuided vs at Sea Fr. Faith poorely Sir As one that knows no kindred nor alliance Vnknowne of any haue I shifted out But I haue heard you say that I was borne In Syracuse tell me what stocke I come of What parentage how meane so ere they be They cannot well be poorer then my selfe Speake do you know them Sir Al. Yes very well And I am glad the fates haue brought me home For thy deare sake that I may now disclose Thy honorable birth Fr. Honorable Al. Yes noble youth thou art the second sonne To old Lord Euphues a man more worthy And truly noble neuer drew this ayre Thy name 's Lysandro this discouery Will be as welcome to your friends as you Fr. You do amaze me Sir Al. I le tell you all It was my fortune twenty a yeare ago Vpon the Tyrrhene shore whose sea diuides This I le from Italy to keepe a fort Vnder your noble father where your selfe Then but a child was left to my tuition When sodainly the rude assailing force Of strong Italian Pirats so preuaild As to surprisall of the fort and vs Your name and noble birth I then conceald Fearing some outrage from the enmity Of those fell Pyrates and since from your selfe I purposely haue kept the knowledge of it As loath to grieue your present misery With knowledge of what fortunes you had lost That this is true you straight shall see th' effect I le goe acquaint your father with the tokens And make his oreioyde heart leape to embrace Thee his new found and long forgotten sonne Fr. Worthy Captaine your presence was alwayes Welcome to me but this vnlookt for newes I Cannot suddenly disgest Al. Well I le go to him presently exit Alphonso Fr. Now my deare Luce I shall finde meanes to quite Thy loue that couldst descend so low as I When I was nothing and with such affection This was my suit still to the powers aboue To make me worthy of thy constant loue Exit Francisco But I le about the proiect I intended Enter Virro and Polimetes Pol. Why now my Lord you are neerer to her loue then euer you were yet your riuall by this accident shall be remoued out of the way for before the scorneful girle would neuer fancy any man else Vir. I conceiue you Sir Pol. I labourd it for your sake as much as for my Owne to remoue your riuall and my enemy you Haue your loue and I haue my reuenge Vir. I shall liue my Lord to giue you
thankes but aside T' will be after a strange manner if Irus has Dispatched what he was hired too then my kind Lord I shall be a little too cunning for you Pol. My Lord you are gracious with the King Vir. I thanke his Maiesty I haue his care before another man Pol. Then see no pardon be granted you may stop any thing I knew Euphues will be soliciting for his sonne Vir. I warrant you my Lord no pardon passes whilst I am there I le bee a barre betwixt him and the King but hearke the King approaches Enter the King with attendants Ambo Health to your Maiesty King Count Virro and Lord Polimetes welcome You haue beene strangers at the Court of late But I can well excuse you Count you are about a wife A yong one and a faire one too they say Get me yong souldiers Count but speake When is the day I meane to be your guest You shall not steale a marriage Vir. I thanke your Maiesty but the marriage that I intended is stolen to my hand and by another King Stolne how man Vir. My promised wife Is lately stolne away by Philocles Lord Euphues sonne against her fathers will Who followed vm and apprehended them The Law may right vs Sir if it may haue course King No reason but the law should haue his course Enter Euphues Euph. Pardon dread Soueraigne pardon for my sonne King Your sonne Lord Euphues what is his offence Euph. No hainous one my Leige no plot of treason Against your royall person or your state These aged cheekes would blush to beg a pardon For such a foule offence no crying murder Hath steyned his innocent hands his fault was loue Loue my deare Leige vnfortunately he tooke The Daughter and Heire of Lord Polimetes Who followes him and seekes exstremity Pol. I seeke but Law I am abus'd my Leige Iustice is all I beg my Daughters stolne Staffe of my age let the law doe me right Vir. To his iust prayers doe I bend my knee My promised wife is stolne and by the sonne Of that iniurious Lord iustice I craue Euph. Be like those powers aboue whose place on earth You represent shew mercy gracious King For they are mercifull Pol. Mercy is but the Kings prerogatiue T is Iustice is his office doing that He can wrong no man no man can complaine But mercy shewed oft takes way reliefe From the wronged partie that the Law would giue him Eup. The Law is blind and speakes in generall termes She cannot pitty where occasion serues The liuing law can moderate her rigour And that 's the King Pol. The King I hope in this will not do so Eup. T is malice makes thee speake Hard hearted Lord hadst thou no other way To wreake thy cankred and long fostred hate Vpon my head but thus thus bloudily By my sonnes suffering and for such a fault As thou shouldst loue him rather is thy daughter Disparaged by his loue is his blood base Or are his fortunes sunke this law was made For such like cautions to restraine the base From wronging noble persons by attempts Of such a kind but where equality Meetes in the match the fault is pardonable Leu. Mercy my Soueraigne mercy gratious King Pol. Minion who sent for you t were more modesty For you to be at home King Let her alone speake Lady I charge you no man interupt her Enter Leucothoe Leu. If euer pitty toucht that princely brest If euer Virgins teares had power to moue Or if you euer lou'd and felt the pangs That other louers doe pitty great King Pitty and pardon two vnhappy Louers King Your life is not in question Leu. Yes royall Sir If Law condemne my Philocles he and I Haue but one heart and can haue but one fate Eu. Excellent vertue thou hadst not this from thy father King Ther 's Musicke in her voice and in her face More then a mortall beauty Oh my heart I shall be lost in passion if I heare her I le heere no more conuey her from my presence Quickly I say Eu. This is strange Vir. I told you what he would doe I knew He would not here of a pardon and I against it He respects me Pol. No doubt he does my Lord I like this passage well King But stay Stay Lady let me heare you beshrew my heart My minde was running of another matter Vir. Where the diuell hath his minde bin all this while Perhaps he heard none of vs neither We may eene tell our tales againe Pol. No sure he heard vs but t is very strange King T is such a tempting poison I draw in I cannot stay my draught rise vp Lady Leu. Neuer vntill your graces pardon raise me Ther 's pitty in your eye oh shew it Sir Say Pardon gracious King t is but a word And short but welcome as the breath of life King I le further here the manner of this fact Auoid the presence all all but the Lady And come not till I send Pol. I like not this Vir. Nor I here is mad dancing Eu. Heauen blesse thy sute thou mirror of thy sex And best example of true constant loue That in the Sea of thy transcendent vertues Drown'st all thy fathers malice and redeem'st More in my thoughts then all thy kin can lose exeunt King Now Lady what would you doe to saue the life Of him you loue so deerely Leu. I cannot thinke that thought I would not doe Lay it in my power and beyond my power I would attempt King You would be thankefull then To me if I should grant his pardon Leu. If euer I were thankefull to the gods For all that I call mine my health and being Could I to you be vnthankefull for a gift I value more then those without which These blessings were but wearisome King Those that are thankefull study to requite A courtesie would you doe so would you requite This fauour Leu. I cannot Sir For all the seruice I can doe your Grace Is but my duty you are my Soueraigne And all my deedes to you are debts not merits But to those powers aboue that can requite That from their vastlesse treasures hope rewards More out of grace then merrit on vs mortals To those I le euer pray that they would giue you More blessings then I haue skill to aske King Nay but Leucothoe this lies in thy power to requite thy loue will make requitall wilt thou loue me Leu. I euer did my Lord I was instructed from my infancy To loue and honour you my Soueraigne King But in a neerer bond of loue Leu. There is no neerer nor no truer loue Then that a loyall subiect beares a Prince King Still thou wilt not conceiue me I must deale plain With you wilt thou lye with me and I will seale his Pardon presently nay more I le heape vpon you Both all fauours all honours that a Prince can giue Leu. Oh me vnhappy in what a sad dilemma stands my choise Either to
2. Iu. That 's enough Enter Philocles with a guard 1. Iu. Philocles stand to the Barre and answere to such Crimes as shall be here obiected against thy life Reade the enditement Phi. Spare that labour I do confesse the fact that I am charg'd with And speake as much as my accusers can As much as all the witnesses can proue T was I that stole away the Daughter and Heire Of the Lord Polimetes which wert to doe againe Rather then lose her I againe would venture This was the fact your sentence honour'd fathers Cler. T is braue and resolute 1. Iu. A heauy sentence noble Philocles And such a one as I could wish my selfe Off from this place some other might deliuer You must dye for it death is your sentence Phi. Which I embrace with willingnesse now my Lord to Pol. Is your hate glutted yet or is my life Too poore a sacrifice to appease the rancor Of your inueterate malice if it be to Inuent some scandall that may after blot My reputation father dry your teares Weepe not for me my death shall leaue no staine Vpon your bloud nor blot on your faire name The honour'd ashes of my ancestors May still rest quiet in their teare wet Vrnes For any fact of mine I might haue liu'd If heauen had not preuented it and found Death for some foule dishonourable act Brother farewell no sooner haue I found to Francisco But I must leaue thy wisht for company Farewell my dearest loue liue thou still happy And may some one of more desert then I Be blest in the enioying what I loose I neede not wish him happinesse that has thee For 〈…〉 bring it may hee proue as good 〈…〉 worthy 〈◊〉 dearest Philocles 〈…〉 for any man but thee 〈…〉 good my Lords 〈…〉 both together 〈…〉 alike why should the law 〈…〉 and lay it all on him 〈…〉 would we could as lawfully 〈…〉 hee should not dye for this 〈…〉 Constable leading Eugenio 〈…〉 whos 's that you haue brought there 〈…〉 A benefactor if it please your Lordships 〈…〉 him in my watch last night 〈◊〉 What 's his offence Con, murder 〈◊〉 No master Constable t was but poisoning of a man 〈◊〉 〈…〉 a foole 〈◊〉 〈…〉 for euer all will out 〈◊〉 What proofes haue you against him 〈◊〉 His owne profession if it please your honor 〈◊〉 And 〈…〉 ill profession to be a murderer thou 〈…〉 has confest the fact 〈◊〉. Yes my Lord hee cannot deny it 〈◊〉 Did he not name the party who it was that he had 〈…〉 Con. marry with reuerance be it spoken 〈…〉 my Lord Polimetes his sonne 〈◊〉 How 's this 1. Iu He di'd long sence at Athens 〈◊〉 I cannot tell what I should thinke of it 〈…〉 the man that lately brought me newes 〈◊〉 〈…〉 to the barre thou herest thy accusation 〈…〉 say Eug. Ah my good Lord 〈…〉 deny what I haue saide 〈…〉 as my bleeding heart Was making confession of my crime Câ—n. I told him anâ— shall please your Lordships 〈…〉 Kings officers had eies to heare such rascalls 1. Iu. You haue bin carefull in your office Constable You may now leaue your Prisoner Con. I le leaue the fell on with your Lordship 1. Iu. Farewel good Con. Murder I see will out exit Con. Why didst thou poison him Eug. I was poore And want made me be hir'd 2. Iu. Hir'd by whom Eu. By Count Virro There he stands Vir. I do beseech your Lordships not to credit What this base fellow speakes I am innocent 1. Iu. I doe beleeue you are sirrah speake truth You haue not long to liue Eu. Please it your Lordship I may relate the manner 3. Iu. doe Eug. Eugenio was aliue when first the newes Was spred in Syracuse he was dead Which false report Count Virro crediting Became an earnest suitor to his Sister Thinking her Heyre but finding afterwards Her brother liu'd and comming home Not a dayes iourney hence he sent me to him And with a promise of fiue hundred crownes Hir'd me to poyson him that this is true Heer 's his owne hand to witnesse it against him Please it your Lordships to peruse the writing 1. Iu. This is his hand 2. Iu. Sure as I liue I haue seene Warrants from him with iust these Carracters 3. Iu. Besides me thinkes this fellowes Tale is likely Pol. T is too true This fellowes suddaine going from my house Put me into a feare 1. Iu. Count Virro stand to the barre What can you say to cleere you of this murder Vir. Nothing my Lords I must confesse the fact 2. Iu. Why then against you both doe I pronounce Sentence of death Amb. The Law is iust Pol. Wretch that I am is my dissembled griefe Turn'd to true sorrow were my acted teares But Prophesies of my ensuing woe And is he truely dead oh pardon me Deâ—ie Ghost of my Eugenio t was my fault That cal'd this hasty vengeance from the Gods And shortened thus thy life for whilst with tricks Brought to fasten wealth vpon our house Thought a Canniball to be the graue Of me and mine base bloudy murderous Count Vâ—r.. Vile Cousner cheating Lord dissembler â—. Iu. Peace stop the mouth of malediction there This is no place to raile in 〈◊〉 Ye iust powers That to the quality of mans offence â—â—â—pe your correcting rods and punish there Where he has sinn'd did not my bleeding heart 〈◊〉 such a heauy share in this dayes woe woes could with a free soule applaud your iustice Pol. Lord Euphues and Philocles forgiue me To make amends I know's impossible For what my malice wrought but I would faine 〈…〉 that might testifie my griefe 〈…〉 repentance Eu. This is that I look't for 〈◊〉 You re kind too late my Lord had you bin thus 〈…〉 required y 'had sau'd your selfe and me 〈…〉 sonnes but if your griefe be true 〈…〉 you heartily Phi. And I 〈◊〉 Now comes my que my Lord Polimetes 〈…〉 correction let me aske one question 〈◊〉 What question speake Eu. if this young Lord 〈…〉 would you bestow your Daughter 〈…〉 vpon him would you Lord 〈◊〉 As willingly as I would breath my selfe 〈◊〉 Then dry all your eyes 〈…〉 heare shall haue a cause to weeke to Phil. 〈…〉 Leucothoe is no Heire 〈…〉 liues and that cleares you Count Virro 〈…〉 murder All How liues Eu. Yes liues to call thee brother Philocles He discouers himselfe Leu. Oh my deare Brother Pol. My sonne Welcome from death Eu. Pardon me good my Lord that I thus long Haue from your knowledge kept my selfe conceal'd My end was honest Pol. I see t was And now sonne Philocles giue mee thy hand Heere take thy wife she loues thee I dare sweare And for the wrong that I intended thee Her portion shall be double what I meant it Phi. I thanke your Lordship Pol. Brother Euphues I hope all enmity is now forgot Betwixt our houses Eu. Let it be euer so I do embrace your loue Vir. Well my life is sau'd yet though my wench be lost God giue you ioy Phi. Thankes good my Lord 1. Iu. How suddenly this tragicke sceane is charg'd And turn'd to Comedy 2. Iu. T is very strange The King speakes from 〈◊〉 Pol. Let vs conclude within King Stay And take my ioy with you Eup. His Maiesty Is comming downe let vs attend Enter King King These iarres are well clos'd vp now Philocles What my rash oath deni'de me this blest howâ—e And happy accident has brought to passe The sauing of thy life Phi. A life my Leige That shall be euer ready to be spent Vpon your seruice King Thankes good Philocles But wher 's the man whose happy presence brought All this vnlook't for sport where is Eugenio Eu. Heere my dread Leige King Welcome to 〈…〉 Welcome Eugenio prithee aske some boone That may requite the good that thou hast done Eu. I thanke your Maiesty what I haue done Needes no requitall but I haue a suite Vnto Lord Euphues please it your Maiesty To be to him an intercessor for me I make no question but I shall obtaine King What is it speake it shall be granted thee Eu. That it would please him to bestow on me His Neece the faire and vertuous Lady Laeda Euph. With all my heart I know 't will please her well I haue often heard her praise Eugenio It shall be done within King Then here all strife ends I le be your guest my selfe to day and helpe To solemnize this double marriage Pol. Your royall presence shall much honour vs King Then leade away the happy knot you tye Concludes in loue two houses enmity FINIS EPILOGVS OVr Authors heire if it be legitimate T is his if not he dares the worst of fate For if a Bastard charity is such That what you giue it cannot be too much And he and we vow if it may be showne To doe as much for yours as for our owne FINIS
he has done as other Lords do Pol. And therefore cannot tell what t is to loose A sonne a good sonne and an onely sonne Vir. I would my Lord I could as well redresse As I can take compassion of your griefe You should soone finde an ease Pol. Pray Pardon me my Lord if I forget my selfe toward you at this time if it please you visite my house ofter you shall be welcome Vir. You would faine sleepe my Lord I le take my leaue Heauen send you comfort I shall make bold shortly to visite you Pol. You shall be wondrous welcome Wait on my Lord out there exit Virro So now he 's gone how thinkst thou Roscio Will not this Gudgeon bite Ro. No doubt my Lord So faire a bayte would catch a cunning fish Poâ—.. And such a one is he he euer lou'd The beauty of my girle but that 's not it Can draw the earth bred thoughts of his grosse soule Gold is the God of his idolatry With hope of which I le feed him till at length I make him fasten and Ixion like For his lou'd Iuno graspe an empty clowd Ros. How stands my yong Lady affected to him Pol. There 's all the difficulty we must win her to loue 〈◊〉 I doubt the peeuish Gyrle will thinke him too 〈◊〉 he 's well neere threescore in this businesse I must leaue somewhat to thy wit and care prayse him beyond all measure Ros. Your Lordship euer found me trusty Pol. If thou effect it I will make thee happy exeunt Enter Philocles Clerimont Phi. Eugenios sister then is the rich heire By his decease Cler. Yes and the faire one too She needs no glosse that fortune can set on her Her beauty of it selfe were prize enough To make a king turne begger for Phil. Hoy day What in loue Clerimont I lay my life t is so Thou couldst not praise her with such passion else Cler. I know not but I slept well enough last night But if thou sawst her once I would not giue A farthing for thy life I tell thee Philocles One fight of her would make thee cry ay me Sigh and looke pale me thinkes I do imagine How like an Idolatrous louer thou wouldst looke Through the eye-lids know no body Phi. T is very well but how did your worship scape Youe haue seene her Cler. True but I haue an Antidote and I can teach it thee Phi. When I haue need on 't I le desire it Cler. And t will Be worth thy learning when thou shalt see the Tyranny of that same scuruy boy and what fooles He makes of vs shall I describe the beast Phi. What beast Cler. A louer Phi. Doe Cler. Then to be briefe I will passe ouer the opinion of your ancient fathers as likewise those strange Loues spoken of in the Authenticke histories of chiualrie Amadis du Gaule Parismus the Knight of the Sunne or the witty Knight Don Quixot de la Manca where those braue men neither Enchantments Gyants Wind-mils nor flockes of sheepe could vanquish are made the trophyes of tryumphing loue Phi. Prithee come to the matter Cler. Neither will I mention the complaints of Sir Guy for the faire Phelis nor the trauels of Parismus for the loue of the beautious Laurana nor lastly the most sad pennance of the ingenious knight Don Quixot vpon the mountains of Scienna Morenna moou'd by the vniust disdaine of the Lady Dulcinea del Toboso 〈◊〉 or our moderne Authors I will not so much as name them no not that excellent treatise of Tullies Loue written by the Master of Art Phi. I would thou wouldest passe ouer this passing ouer of Authors and speake thine owne iudgement Cler. Why then to be briefe I thinke a Louer lookes like an Asse Phi. I can describe him better then so my selfe he lookes like a man that had sitten vp at Cards all night or a stale Drunkard wakened in the middest of his sleepe Cler. But Philocles I would not haue thee see this Lady she has a bewitching looke Phi. How darest thou venture man what strange medicine hast thou found Ouid neere taught it thee I doubt I guesse thy remedy for loue goe to a bawdy house or so i st not Cler. Faith and that 's a good way I can tell you we yonger brothers are beholding to it alas wee must not fall in loue and choose whom wee like best wee haue no Ioyntures for vm as you blest heires can haue Phi. Well I haue found you Sir and prithee tell me how got'st thou Wenches Cler. Why I can want no Panders I lye in the Constables house Phi. And there you may whoore by authority But Clerimont I doubt this Parragon That thou so praisest is some il fauoured Wench Whom thou wouldst haue me laugh at for commending Cler. By heauen I spoke in earnest trust your eyes I le shew you her Phi. How canst thou doe it Thou know'st this Ladies father is to mine A deadly enemy nor is his house Open to any of our kindred Cler. That 's no matter My lodging 's the next doore to this Lords house And my backe Window lookes into his Garden There euery morning faire Leucothoe For so I heare her nam'd walking alone To please her senses makes Aurora blush To see on brighter then her softe appeare Phi. Well I will see her there Exeunt Enter Franklin Fancisco Luce grauida Franc. Yet for her sake be aduised better Sir Frank Impudent Rascall canst looke me i' th face And know how thou hast wrong'd me thou hast Dishonoured my Daughter made a whoore on her Franc. Gentle Sir The wrong my loue has made to your faire Daughter T is now too late to wish vndone againe But if you please it may be yet clos'd vp Without dishonour I will marry her Frank. Marry her she has a hot catch of that marry a Begger what Iointure canst thou make her Franc. Sir I am poore I must confesse Fortune has blest you better but I sweare By all things that can bind t was not your wealth Was the foundation of my true built loue It was her single vncompounded selfe Her selfe without addition that I lou'd Which shall for euer in my sight outweigh All other womens fortunes and themselues And were I great as great as I could wish My selfe for her aduancement no such barre As Fortunes inequality should stand Betwixt our loues Luce. Good Father heare me Frank. Dost thou not blush to call me father Strumpet I le make thee an example Luce. But heare me Sir my shame will be your owne Frank. No more I say Francisco leaue my house I charge You come not heere Franc. I must obey and will Deare Luce be constant Luce. Till death Exit Francisco Frank. Here 's a fine wedding towards the Bridegroome when he comes for his bride Shall find her great with child by another man Passion a me minion how haue you hid it so long Luc. Fearing your anger Sit I striu'd to hide it Frank. Hide it
another takes Cler. I would we were a little neerer vm We might but heare what talke these wenches haue When they are alone I warrant some good stuffe Phi. T is happinesse enough for me to see The motion of her lips Cler. I faith i st there abouts Why Philocles what lost already man Strooke dead with one poore glance looke vp for shame And tell me how thou likest my iudgement now Now thou doest see Phi. Ah Cleremont too well Too well I see what I shall neuer taste You Ladies beautie she must needs be cruell Though her faire shape deny it to the sonne Of him that is her fathers enemy That Cleremont that fatall difference Checkes my desire and sinkes my rising hopes But loue 's a torrent violent if stopt And I am desperately mad I must I must be hers or else I must not be Cler. Containe that passion that will else ouerwhelme All vertue in you all that is called man And should be yours take my aduice my heart My life to second you let vs consult You may find time to speake to her and woe her Phi. May nay I will in spite of destinie Let women and faint hearted fooles complaine In languishing dispayre a manly loue Dares shew it selfe and presse to his desires Through thickest troopes of horid opposites Were there a thousand waking Dragons set To keepe that golden fruit I would attempt To plucke and taste it t is the danger crownes A braue atchieuement what if I should goe And boldly wooe her in her fathers house In spite enmity what could they say Cle. T were madnesse that not wisedome rash attempts Betray the meanes but neuer worke the end Phi. She would not hate a man for louing her Or if she did better be once deemed Then liue for euer haplesse Cle. But take time The second thoughts our wise men say are best Pli. Delaye 's a double death no I haue thought A meanes that straight I le put in execution I le write a Letter to her presently Take how it will Cle. A Letter who shall carry it Pli. I le tell thee when I haue done hast thou Pen and Inke in thy Chamber Cle. Yes there is one vpon the Table I le stay here at the window and watch whether she stay or not what a sudden change is this Leu. Did not count Virro promise to be heare To day at dinner Pse. Yes Madame that he did and I dare sweare He will not breake Leu. He needes not he is rich enough vnlesse Hee should breake in knauery as some of our Merchants doe now adayes Pse. Breake promise Madame I meane that he will not For your sake you know his businesse Leu. I would I did not he might spare his paines And that vnusuall cost that he bestowes In pranking vp himselfe and please me better He would not please his Taylor and his Barbar For they got more for your sake by their Lord Then they got this twenty yeeres before Leu. Ah Psecas Psecas can my father thinke That I can loue Count Virro one so old That were enough to make a match vnfit But one so base a man that neuer loued For any thing called good but drosse and pelfe One that would neuer had my brother liued Haue mooued this sute no I can neuer loue him But canst thou keepe a secret firmely Psecas Pse. Doubt me not Madame Leu. Well I le tell thee then I loue alas I dare not say I loue him But there 's a yong and noble Gentleman Lord Euphues sonne my fathers enemy A man whom natures prodigality Stretcht euen to enuy in the making vp Once from a Window my pleased eye beheld This youthfull Gallant as he rode the streete On a coruetting Courser who it seemed Knew his faire loade and with a proud disdaine Checkt the base earth my father being by I ask't his name he told me Philocles The sonne and Heyre of his great enemy Iudge Psecas then how my deuided brest Suffered betweene two meeting contraries Hatred and Loue but Loues a deity And must preuaile against mortals whose command Not Ioue himselfe could euer yet withstand Cle. What is the letter done already I see these Louers haue nimble inuentions but how will you send it Phi. What a question 's that seest thou this stone Cle. Ah then I see your drift this stone must guide your Fleeting Letter in the Ayre and carry it to that Faire Marke you ayme at Phi. Hard by her Cle. I think you would not hit her with such stones as this Lady looke to your selfe he that now throwes one Stone at you hopes to hit you with two Phi. But prethee tell mee what doest thinke this Letter may doe Cle. Well I hope T is ten to one this Lady oft hath seene you You neuer liued obscure in Syracuse Nor walk'd the streetes vnknowne and who can tell What place you beare in her affections Lou'd or mislik'd if bad this letter sent Will make her shew her scorne if otherwise Feare not a womans wit shee le find a time To answere your kind Letter and expresse What you desire she should then send it boldly You haue a fairer make there Phi. Cupid guide my arme Oh be as iust blind God as thou art great And with that powerfull hand that golden shaft That I was wounded wound you tender brest There is no saluē but that no cure for me Cle. See what a wonder it strikes vm in how it should come Phi. Shee le wonder more to see what man it comes from Cle. I like her well yet she is not afraid to open it She starts stay marke her action when shee has read the Letter She reades LEt it wrong this Letter that it came From one that trembled to subscribe his name Fearing your hate O let not hate descend Nor make you cruell to so vow'd a friend If you le not promise loue grant but accesse And let me know my woes are past redresse Be iust then beautious Iudge and like the lawes Condemne me not till you haue heard my cause Which when you haue from those faire lips returne Either my life in loue or death in scorne Yours or not Philocles Am I awake or dreame I is it true Or does my flattering fancy but suggest What I most couet Pse. Madame the words are there I le sweare it canna be nor be illusion Leu. It is too good for truth Phi. Mocke me not fortune She kist it sawest thou her by heauen she kist it Cle. And with a looke that relisht loue not scorne Leu. This Letter may be forged I much desire to know the certainty Psecas thy helpe must further me Pse. I le not be wanting Leu. Here comes my father he must not see this Pse. No nor your tother sweet heart hee is with him yonder Enter Polimetes Virro Roscio Pol. Nay noble Count you are too old a Souldier To take a maides first no for a deniall They will be nice at first men must pursue
That will obtaine woe her my Lord and take her You haue my free consent if you can get hers Yonder she walkes alone goe comfort her Virro I le doe the best I may but we old men Are but cold comfort I thanke your Lordships loue Pol. I wonder Roscio that the peeuish Girle Comes on so slowly on perswasions That I can vse do mooue the setting forth Count Virroes greatnesse wealth and dignity Seemes not to affect her Roscio Roscio I doubt the cause my Lord For were not that I dare ingage my life She would be wonne to loue him she has plac'd Already her affections on some other Poli. How should I find it out Ros. Why thus my Lord There 's neuer man nor woman that ere loued But chose some bosome friend whose close conuerse Sweeten their ioyes and ease their burdened minds Of such a working secret thus no doubt Has my yong Lady done and but her woman Who should it be t is she must out with it Her secrecy if wit cannot orereach Gold shall corrupt leaue that to me my Lord But if her Ladies heart doe yet stand free And vnbequeath'd to any your command And fathers iurisdiction enterpos'd Will make her loue the Count no kind of meanes must want to draw her Pol. Thou art my Oracle My Braine my Soule my very being Roscio Walke on and speede whilst I but second thee Cle. It is euen so Count Virro is your riuall See how the old Ape smugs vp his mouldy chaps To seize the bit Phi. He must not if I liue But yet her father brings him that has the meanes That I should euer want Cle. If he do marry her Reuenge it nobly make him a Cuckold boy Phi. Thou iests that feeles it not prithee le ts goe Cle. Stay I le not curse him briefely for thy sake If thou doest marry her mayest thou be made A Cuckold without profit and nere get An Office by it nor fauour at the Court But may thy large ill gotten treasury Be spent in her bought lust and thine owne gold Bring thee adulterers so farewell good Count Exeunt Phiocles Enter Seruant Ser. My Lord ther 's a Messenger within Desires accesse has businesse of import Which to no eare but yours he must impart Enter Eugenio disguised Pol. Admit him now friend your businesse with me Ser. If you be the Lord Polimetes Pol. The same Euge. My Lord I come from Athens with such newes As I dare say is welcome though vnlooked for Your sonne Eugenio liues whom you so long Thought dead and mourn'd for Pol. How liues Euge. Vpon my life my Lord I saw him well Within these few dayes Pol. Thankes for thy good newes Towards him Roscio but now tell me frend Hast thou reueal'd this newes to any man In Syracuse but me Eu. To none my Lord At euery place where I haue staid in towne Enquiring for your Lordships house I heard These tragicke but false newes the contrary I still conceald though knew intending first Your Lordships eare should drinke it Pol. Worthy friend I now must thanke your wisedome as your loue In this well carried action I le requite it Meane time pray vse my house and still continue your Silence in this businesse Roscio make him welcome and Part as little from him as you can for feare Ro. Thinke it done my Lord Pol. Psecas come hither Viâ— Be like your selfe let not a cruell doome Passe those faire lips that neuer were ordain'd To kill but to reuiue Leu. Neither my Lord Lyes in the power to doe Vir. Yes sweete to me Whom your scorne kils and pitty will reuiue Leu. Pitty is shew'd to men in misery Vir. And so am I if not relieu'd by you Leu. T were pride in me my Lord to thinke it so Vir. I am your beauties captiue Leu. Then my Lord What greater gift then freedome can I giue T is that that Captiues most desires and that You shall command y' are free from me my Lord Vir. Your beauty contradicts that freedome Lady Pol. come noble Count I must for this time interrupt you You 'le finde time enough within to talke Vir. I le wait vpon your Lordship exeunt manet Euge. solus Euge. Thus in disguise I haue discouer'd all And found the cause of my reported death Which did at first amaze me but t is well T is to draw on the match betweene my sister And this rich Count heauen grant it be content As well as fortune to her but I feare She cannot loue his age how it succeedes I shall perceiue and whilst vnknowne I stay I cannot hurt the proiect helpe I may Exit Enter Francisco Sumner Fran. This will make good worke for you in the spirituall Court Shallow is a rich man Sum. I marry Sir Those are the men we looke for ther 's somewhat To be got the Court has many businesses at this Time but they are little worth a few waiting Women got with child by Seruingmen or so scarce Worth the citing Fran. Do not their Masters get Vm with child sometimes Sum. Yes no doubt but They haue got a trick to put vm off vpon their Men and for a little portion saue their Owne credits besides these priuate marriages Are much out of our way we cannot know when There is a fault Fran. Well these are no Starters I warrant you Shallow shall not deny it And for the Wench she neede not confesse it she has A marke that will betray her Sum. I thanke you Sir for your good intelligence I hope t is certaine Franc. Feare not that is your citation ready Sum. I haue it heere Franc. Well step aside and come when I call I heare vm comming Exit Sumner Enter Franklin Shallow Luce Parson Frank. Set forward there Francisco what make you here Franc. I come to claime my right Parson take heede Thou art the Author of adultery If thou conioyne this couple shee 's my wife Frank. you saucebox Shal. Father I thought she had beene mine I hope I shall not loose her thus Frank. Francisco dare not to interrupt vs for I sweare thou shalt endure the lawes extremity For thy presumption Franc. doe your worst I feare not I was contracted to her Frank. What witnesse haue you Franc. Heauen is my witnesse whose imperiall eye saw our contract Shal. What an Asse is this to talke of contracting hee that will get a wench must make her bigger as I haue done and not contract Franc. Sir you are abus'd Shal. Why so Franc. The wife you goe to marry is with child and by another Shal. A good iest yfaith make me beleeue that Franc. How comes this foole possest he neuer toucht her I dare sweare Frank. No more Francisco as you will answere it Parson set forward there Franc. stay If this will not suffice Sumner come forth Frank. A Sumner we are all betraid Enter Sumner Sum. God saue you all I think you guesse my businesse These are to cite to the spirituall
lose the man my soule most loues Or saue him by a deed of such dishonour As he will euer loath me for and hate To draw that breath that was so basely kept Name any thing but that to saue his life I know you doe but tempt my frailty Sir I know your royall thoughts could neuer stoope To such a foul dishonourable act King Bethinke your selfe there is no way but that I sweare by Heauen neuer to pardon him But vpon those conditions Leu. Oh I am miserable King Thou art not if not wilfull yeeld Leucothoe It shall be secret Philocles for his life Shall thanke thy loue but neuer know the price Thou paidst for it be wise thou heardst me sweare I cannot now shew mercy thou maist saue him And if he dye t is thou that art the Tyrant Leu. I should be so if I should saue him thus Nay I should be a Traytor to your grace Betray your soule to such a foe as lust But since your oath is past deare Philocles I le shew to thee an honest cruelty And rather follow thee in spotlesse death Then buy with sinning a dishonoured life King Yet pitty me Leucothoe cure the wound Thine eyes hath made pitty a begging King Vncharme the charmes of thy bewitching face Or thou wilt leaue me dead will nothing moue thee Thou art a Witch a Traytor thou hast sought By vnresisted spels thy soueraignes life Who are about vs there call in the Lords againe Lord Polemetes take your daughter to you Keepe her at home Pol. I will my Leige Rosio see her there I wonder what is done King Euphues I haue tane a solemne oath Neuer to grant a pardon to thy sonne Euph. O say not so my Leige your grace I know Has mercy for a greater fault then this King My oath is past and cannot be recalled Pol. This is beyond our wishes Vir. What made him sweare this I wonder Euph. A heauy oath to me and most vnlooked for Your iustice Sir has set the period Vnto a loyall house a Family That haue bin props of the Sicylian crowne That with their blouds in many an honourd field Gainst the hot French and Neopolitan Haue seru'd for you and your great Ancestors Their children now can neuer more doe so Farewell my Soueraigne whilest I in teares Spend the sad remnant of my childlesse age I le pray for your long life and happy raigne And may your Grace and your Posterity At neede finde hands as good and hearts as true As ours haue euer beene King Farewell good old man Eup. For you my Lord your cruelty has deseru'd A curse from me but I can vtter none Your Daughters goodnesse has weigh'd down your malice Heauen prosper her Poly. Amen King He is an honest man and truely noble Oh my rash oath my lust that was the cause Would any price would buy it in againe Vi. Your Maiesty is iust Pol. T is a happy Land Where the King squares his actions by the law King Away you are base and bloudy That feedes your malice with pretence of iustice T is such as you make Princes tirranous And hated of their subiects but looke too 't Looke your owne heads stands fast for if the law Doe finde a hole in your coates beg no mercy Vir. Pardon vs my Lord we were wrong'd Pol. And sought redresse but by a lawfull course King Well leaue me alone Vir. Fare well my Leige now let him chafe alone Pol. Now we haue our ends exeunt King Is there no meanes to saue him no way To get a dispensation for an oath None that I know except the Court of Rome Will grant one that 's well thought on I will not spare for gold and that will doe it Nicanor Nica. Sir King What booke is that Thou hadst from Paris about the price of sinnes Nic. T is cald the Texes of the Apostolicall Chancery Kin. Is there a price for any sinne set downe Nic. A my Sir how heinous ere it be Or of what nature for such a summe of money As is set downe there it shall be remitted Kin. That 's well go fetch the book presently exit Nic. Nic. I will my Lord Kin. Sure there is periury Among the rest and I shall know what rate It beares before I haue committed it How now hast brought it Nic. Yes Sir Kin. Reade I would know the price of periury Nic I shall find it quickly here 's an Index he reads Imp For murder of all kinds of a Clergy man of a lay man of father mother Sonne brother sister wife Kin. Reade till you come at periury Nic. Item for impoysoning enchantments witchcraft Sacriledge simony and their kind and Branches Item pro lapsu carnis fornication Adultery incest without any exception or Distinction for sodomy Brutality or any of That kind Kin. My heart shakes with horror To heare the names of such detested sinnes Can these be bought for any price of money Or do these merchants but deceiue the world With their false Wares no more of that foule booke I will know what I came to know I would not for the world redeeme my oath By such a course as this no more Nicanor Vnlesse thou finde a price for Atheisme Nic. Here 's none for that my Lord his Holinesse Can pardon that in no man but himselfe Kin. Well this is not the way I haue thought of another that may proue And both discharge my oath and saue his life Nicanor run presently call Matho hither Matho the Lawyer command him to make hast I long to be resolued Nic. I runne Sir King He is a subtill Lawyer and may find Some point that in the Lawes obscurity Hes hid from vs some point may doe vs good I haue seene some of his profession Out of case as plaine as cleere as day To our weake iudgements and no doubt at first Meant like our thoughts by those that made the Law Picke out such hard inextricable doubts That they haue spun a suit of seuen yeere long And leade their hood winke Clients in a wood A most irremoueable Labyrinth Till they haue quite consum'd vm this they can doe In other cases why not as well in this I haue seene others could extend the Law Vpon the wrack or cut it short againe To their owne priuate profits as that thiefe Cruell Procrustes seru'd his haplesse guests To fit them to his bed Well I shall see I would Nicanor were returned againe I would faine ease my conscience of that oath That rash and inconsiderate oath I tooke But see heere they are comming Enter Matho Ma. Health to my Soueraigne King Matho welcome I sent for thee about a businesse I would intreate thy helpe in Ma. Your Highnesse may command my seruice In that or any thing lies in my power King T is to decide a case that troubles me Ma. If it lye within the compasse of my knowledge I will resolue your Highnesse presently King Then thus it is Lord Euphues sonne Yong
Philocles has lately stolne away The Daughter and Heire of Lord Polimetes Who is his enemy he following him hard Has apprehended him and brings him to his tryall To morrow morning thou hast heard this newes Ma. I haue my Liege and euery circumstance That can be thought on in the businesse King And what will be the issue by the Law Ma. He must dye for it the case is plaine Vnlesse your grace will grant his pardon King But can there be no meanes thought vpon To saue him by the Law Matho None my Lord King Surely there may speake man I le giue thee Double Fees Ma. It cannot be my Leige the Statutes is plaine King Nay now thou art too honest thou shouldst do As other Lawyers doe first take my mony And then tell me thou canst doe me good Ma. I dare not vndertake it could it be done I de goe as farre as any man would doe King Yes if t were to cut a poore mans throat you could For some rich griping Land-lord you could grin'd The face of his poore Tenant stretch the Law To serue his turne and guided by his Angels Speake Oracles more then the tongues of men Then you could find exceptions reseruations Stand at a word a silible a letter Or coine some scruples out of your owne braines But in a cause so full of equity So charitable as this you can find nothing I shall for euer hate all your profession Ma. I do beseech your Highnesse to excuse me I cannot doe more then your lawes will let me Nor falsifie my knowledge nor my conscience King Then I am miserable rise Matho rise I do not discommend thy honesty But blame my owne hard fate ay Philocles I would redeeme thy life at any price But the Starres crosse it cruell fate condemnes thee Exeunt Enter Constable and Watch Con. Come fellow watchmen for now you are my fellowes Watch. It pleases you to call vs so master Constable Con. I do it to encourage you in your office it is a tricke that we commanders haue your great Captains call your souldiers fellow souldiers to encourage them 2. Watch. Indeed and so they do I heard master Curate trading a story booke tother day to that purpose Con. Well I must shew now what you haue to do for I my selfe before I came to this prefermity was as simple as one of you and for your better destruction I will deride my speech into two parts First what is a watchman Secondly what is the office of a watchman For the first if any man aske me what is a watchman I may answer him he is a man as others are nay a tradesman as a Vintner a Tayler or the like for they haue long bils â—.. Wat. He tels vs true neighbour we haue bils indeed Con. For the second what is his office I answer he may by vertue of his office reprehend any person or persons that walke the streets too late at a seasonable houre 4. Wat may we indeed master Constable Con. Nay if you meet any of those rogues at seasonable houres you may by vertue of your office commit him to prison and then aske him whither he was going â—. Watch. Why that 's as much as my Lord Maior does Con. True my Lord Maior can doe no more then you in that point 2. Wat. But master constable what if hee should resist vs Con. Why if he do resist you may knocke him downe and then bid him stand and come afore the Constable So 〈…〉 you are sufficiently cunstructed concerning you office take your stands you shall heare rogues walking at these seasonable houres I warrant you stand close Enter Eugenio Purpose now doe I take as much care to be apprehended As others doe to scape the watch I must speake To be ouerheard and plainly too or els these dolts Will neuer conceiue mee Con. Harke who goes by Eu. Oh my conscience my conscience the teror of a Guilty conscience Con. How conscience talkes hee of He 's an honest man I warant him let him passe 2. Wa. I I let him passe good night honest gentleman Eu. These are wise officers I must bee plainer yet That gold that cursed gold that made me poison him Made me poison Eugenio Con. How made me poison him he 's a knaue I warrant him 3. Wa. M. Constable has found him already Con. I warant you a knaue cannot passe me go reprehend him I le take his excommunication my selfe 1. Wa. Come afore the constable 2. Wa. Come afore the Constable Con. Sirrah sirrah you would haue scap'd Would you no sirrah you shall know the Kings Officers haue eyes to heare such roagues as you Come sirrah confesse who it was you poison'd he Lookes like a notable roague 1. Wa. I dooe not like His lookes 2. Wa. nor I Con. You would deny it Would you sirra we shall sift you Eu. Alas master Con. I cannot now deny what I have said You ouer heard me I poisoned Eugenio sonne to Lord Polimetes 1. Wa. Oh rascall 2. Wa. my Young Landlord Con. Let him alone the law Shall punish him but sirra where did you poison Him Eu. About a dayes iourney hence as he was Comming hom from Athens I met him and Poisoned him Con. But sirrah who set you a worke Confesse I shall finde out the whole nest of there Rogues speake Eu. Count Virro hired me to do it Con. Oh lying Rascall 1. Wat. Nay he that will steale will lye 2. Wat. I le beleeue nothing he sayes 3. Wat. Be lye a man of worship 4. Wat. A noble man Con. Away with him I le heare no more remit him to Prison Sirrah you shall heare of these things To morrow where you would be loath to heare vm Come le ts goe exeunt Actus quintus Enter Franklin Shallow Luce Francisco in a Parsons habit and a true Parson otherwise attyred Frank. I Le take your counsell Sir I le not be seene in 't but meete you when t is done you le marry them Fran. Feare not that Sir I le doe the deede Frank. I shall rest thankfull to you till then I le leaue you Sha. I pray father leaue vs wee know how to behaue our selues alone mee thinkes Luce wee are too many by two yet Luce. You are merry Sir exeunt manet Franklin Frank. Now they are sure or neuer poore Francisco Thou metst thy match when thou durst vndertake To ouerreach me with tricks wher 's now your Sumner Fore heauen I cannot but applaud my braine To take my daughter euen against her will And great with child by another her shame publisht She cited to the Court and yet bestow her On such a fortune as rich Shallow is Nay that which is the Master-peece of all Make him beleeue 't is his though he nere toucht her If men nere met with crosses in the world There were no difference twixt the wise and fooles but I le goe meete vm when t is done I feare not exit Enter Francisco Parson