Page images
PDF
EPUB

Stew. "I am St. Jaques' pilgrim, hither gone; "Ambitious love hath so in me offended, That bare-foot plod I the cold ground upon, "With sainted vow my faults to have amended. "Write, write, that, from the bloody course of war, "My dearest master, your dear son may hye; "Bless him at home in peace, whilst I from far, "His name with zealous fervour sanctify: "His taken labours bid him me forgive; "I, his despightful Jano, sent him forth From courtly friends, with camping foes to live, "Where death and danger dog the heels ofworth: "He is too good and fair for death and me; "Whom I myself embrace, to set him free." Ah, what sharp stings are in her mildest words!-15 Rinaldo, you did never lack advice' so much, As letting her pass so; had I spoke with her, I could have well diverted her intents, Which thus she hath prevented.

Stew. Pardon me, madanı;

If I had given you this at over-night,

She might have beeno'er-ta'en; and yet she writes,
Pursuit would be but vain.

Count. What angel shall

Bless this unworthy husband? he cannot thrive,
Unless her prayers, whom heaven delights to hear,
And loves to grant, reprieve him from the wrath
Of greatest justice.-Write, write, Rinaldo,
To this unworthy husband of his wife;
Let every word weigh heavy of her worth,
That he does weigh too light: my greatest grief,
Though little he do feel it, set down sharply.
Dispatch the most convenient messenger :-
When, haply, he shall hear that she is gone,
He will return; and hope I may, that she,
Hearing so much, will speed her foot again,
Led hither by pure love: which of them both
Is dearest to me, I have no skill in sense
To make distinction:-Provide this messenger:-
My heart is heavy, and mine age is weak;
Grief would have tears, and sorrow bids me speak.]

[blocks in formation]

her name; and no legacy is so rich as honesty. Wid. I have told my neighbour, how you have been solicited by a gentleman his companion.

Mar. I know the knave; hang him! one Pa5 rolles: a filthy officer he is in those suggestions for the young earl.-Beware of them, Diana; their promises, enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of lust, are not the things they go under 2: many a maid hath been seduced by them; and the 10misery is, example, that so terrible shews in the wreck of maidenhood, cannot for all that dissuade succession, but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten them. I hope, I need not to advise you further; but, I hope, your own grace will keep you where you are, though there were no further danger known, but the modesty which is so lost.

20

25

Dia. You shall not need to fear me.

Enter Helena, disguis'd like a Pilgrim.
Wid. I hope so.-Look, here comes a pilgrim:
I know she will lye at my house: thither they send
one another; I'll question her.

God save you, pilgrim ! Whither are you bound?
Hel. To St, Jaques le grand.

Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you?
Wid. Atthe St. Francis here, beside the port.
HIIs this the way? [A march afar off.
Wid. Ay, marry, is it. Hark you! [pilgrim,
301 hey come this way:-If you will tarry, holy
But till the troops come by,

35

40

I will conduct you where you shall be lodg'd;
The rather, for I think I know your hostess
As ample as myself.

Hel. Is it yourself?

Wid. If you shall please so, pilgrim.

[sure.

Heb. I thank you, and will stay upon your lei-
Wid. You came, I think, from France?
Hel. I did so.

Hid. Here you may see a countryman of yours, That has done worthy service.

Hel. His name, I pray you?

[one!

Dia. The count Rousillon: Know you such a Hel. But by the ear, that hears most nobly of 45 His face I know not.

[him;

Dia. Whatsoe'er he is,
He's bravely taken here. He stole from France,
As 'tis reported, for the king had married him
Against his liking: Think you it is so [lady.
50. Hel. Ay, surely, meer the truth; I know his
Dia. There is a gentleman that serves the count,
Reports but coarsely of her.
Hel. What's his name?

Wid. It is reported that he has ta'en their greatest commander; and that with his own hand he slew the duke's brother. We have lost our labour;55 they are gone a contrary way: hark! you may know their trumpets.

Mar. Come, let's return again, and suffice ourselves with the report of it. Well, Diana, take

Dia. Monsieur Parolles.

Hel. Oh, I believe with him,
In argument of praise, or to the worth

Of the great count himself, she is too mean
To have her name repeated; all her deserving
Is a reserved honesty, and that

heed of this French earl: the honour of a maid is 60[[ have not heard examined ‘.

That is, discretion or thought.

pearance they seem to be."

palm that they were wont to carry.

Meaning," they are not really so true and sincere as in ap Pilgrims that visited holy places; so called from a staff or bough of

i, e. doubted.

Dia. Alas, poor lady!

SCENE

'Tis a hard bondage, to become the wife

Of a detesting lord.

Wid. Aright good creature: wheresoe'er she is, Her heart weighs sadly: this young maid might 5 A shrewd turn, if she pleas'd.

Hel. How do you mean?

May be, the amorous count solicits her

In the unlawful purpose.

Wid. He does, indeed;

[do her

And brokes with all that can in such a suit
Corupt the tender honour of a maid :

But she is arin'd for him, and keeps her guard
In honestest defence.

Enter with Drum and Colours, Bertram, Parolles, Officers and Soldiers attending.

Mar. The gols forbid else!

Wid. So, now they come:

That is Antonio, the duke's eldest son;

That, Escalus.

Het. Which is the Frenchman?

Dia. He;

That with the plume; 'tis a most gallant fellow;
I would, he lov'd his wife; if he were hone-ter,
He were much goodlier:-Is't not a handsome
Hel. I like him well.
[gentleman?

Dia. 'Tis pity, he's not honest: Yond's that
same knave,

That leads him to these places; were I his lady,
I'd poison that vile rascal.

Hel. Which is he?

Dia. That jack-an-apes with scarfs: Why is he

melancholy?

Hel. Perchance he's hurt i' the battle.
Par. Lose our drum! well.

Mar. He's shrewdly vex'd at something: Look,
he has spied us.

Wid. Marry, hang you!

[Exeunt Bertram, Parolles, &c. Mar. And your courtesy, for a ring-carrier! Wid. The troop is past: Come, pilgrim, I will bring you

Where you shall host; of enjoin'd penitents
There's four or five, to great Saint Jaques bound,
Already at my house.

Hel. I humbly thank you :

Please it this matron, and this gentle maid,

10

VI.

Enter Bertram, and the two French Lords.

1 Lord. Nay, good my lord; put him to't ; let him have his way.

2 Lord. If your lordship find him not a hilding, hold me no more in your respect.

1 Lord. On my life, my lord, a bubble. Ber. Do you think I am so far deceiv'd iu him? 1 Lord. Believe it, my lord, in mine own direct knowledge, without any malice, but to speak of him as my kinsman, he's a most notable coward, an infinite and endless liar, an hourly promise15 breaker, the owner of no one good quality worthy your lordship's entertainment.

2 Lord. It were fit you knew him; lest, reposing too far in his virtue, which he hath not, he might, at some great and trusty business, in a 20 main danger fail you.

Ber. I would, I knew in what particular action to try him.

2 Lord. None better than to let him fetch off his drum, which you hear him so confidently un25 dertake to do.

30

1 Lord. I, with a troop of Florentines, will suddenly surprise him; such I will have, whom, I am sure, he knows not from the enemy: we will bind and hood-wink him so, that he shall suppose no other but that he is carried into the leaguer of the adversaries, when we bring him to our own 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 fear, offer to 35 betray you, and deliver all the intelligence in his power against you, and that with the divine forfeit of his soul upon oath, never trust my judgment in jany thing.

2 Lord. O, for the love of laughter, let him 40 fetch his drum; he says, he has a stratagem for't: when your lordship sees the bottom of his suc cess in't, and to what metal this counterfeit lump of ore will be melted, if you give him not John Drum's entertainment, your inclining cannot be 45 removed. Here he comes.

Enter Parolles.

1 Lord. O, for the love of laughter, hinder not the humour of his design; let him fetch off his

To eat with us to-night, the charge, and thanking, 50 drum in any hand.
Shall be for me; and, to requite you further,
I will bestow some precepts on this virgin,
Worthy the note.

Both. We'll take your offer kindly.

Ber. How now, monsieur? this drum sticks sorely in your disposition.

2 Lord. A pox on't, let it go; 'tis but a drum. Par. But a drum! Is't but a drum? A drum so [Exeunt.5lost! There was an excellent command! to charge

'Deals as a broker. Theobald explains this passage thus: "My lord, as you have taken this fellow (Parolles) into so near a confidence, if, upon his being found a counterfeit, you don't cashier him from your favour, then your attachment is not to be remov'd;" and then adds the following history of John Drum's Entertainment, from Hollingshed's Chronicle: "This chronologer, in his description of Ireland, speaking of Patrick Scarsefield, (mayor of Dublin in the year 1551) and of his extravagant hospitality, subjoins, that no guest had ever a cold or forbidding look from any part of his family: so that his porter or any other officer durst not, for both his ears, give the simplest man, that resorted to his house, Tom Drum's entertainment, which is, to hale a man in by the head, and thrust him out by both the shoulders."

in

[blocks in formation]

1 Lord. But, you say, she's honest. [once, Ber. That's all the fault: I spoke with her but And found her wondrous cold; but I sent to her, By this same coxcomb that we have i' the wind, 15 Tokens and letters, which she did re-send ; And this is all I have done: She's a fair creature; Will you go see her?

Ber. Why, if you have a stomach to`t, monsieur, if you tank your mystery in stratagem can bring this instrument of honour again in.o its native quar-} ter, be magnanimous in the enterprise, and go on ; I will grace the attempt for a worthy exploit: if 20 you speed well in it, the duke shall both speak of it, and extend to you what further becomes his greatness, even to the utmost syllable of your worthiness.

Par. by the hand of a soldier, I will undertake it. 25 Ber. But you must not now slumber in it. Par. I'll about it this evening: and I will presently pen down my dilemmas', encourage myself in my certainty, put myself into my mortal preparation, and, by imidnight, look to hear fur-30

ther from me.

Ber. May I be bold to acquaint his grace, you are gone about it?

Par. I know not what the success will be, 'my lord; but the attempt I vow.

Ber. I know, thou art valiant; and, to the possibility of thy soldiership, will subscribe for thee. Farewel.

Par. I love not many words

[Exit.

I

1 Lord. With all my heart, my lord. [Exeunt.
SCENE VII.

Florence. The Widow's House.
Enter Helena and Widow.

Hel. If you misdoubt me that I am not she,
know not how I shall assure you further,
But I shall lose the grounds I work upon1. [born.
Wid. Though my estate be fallen, I was well
Nothing acquainted with these businesses;
And would not put my reputation now
In any staining act.

Hel. Nor would I wish you.

First, give me trust, the count he is my husband;
And, what to your sworn counsel I have spoken,
Is so, from word to word; and then you cannot,
By the good aid that I of you shall borrow,
35 Err in bestowing it.

1 Lord. No more than a fish loves water.--Is 40 not this a strange fellow, my lord? that so confidently seems to undertake this business, which he knows is not to be done; damns himself to do, and dares better be damn'd than do't?

2 Lord. You do not know him, my lord, as we 45 do: certain it is, that he will steal himself into a man's favour, and, for a week, escape a great deal of discoveries; but when you find him out, you have him ever after.

Br. Why, do you think, he will make no deed 50, at all of this, that so seriously he does address himself unto?

2 Lord. None in the world: but return with an invention, and clap upon you two or three probable lies: but we have almost imboss'd him, you 55 shall see his fall to-night; for, indeed, he is not for your lordship's respect.

1 Lord. We'll make you some sport with the fox, ee we case' him. He was first smok'd by the old lord Lateu; when his disguise and he is 60

Wid. I should believe you;

For
you have shew'd me that, which well approves
You are great in fortune.

Hel. Take this purse of gold,

And let me buy your friendly help thus far,
Which I wil over-pay, and pay again, [daughter,
When I have found it. The count he wooes your
Lays down his wanton siege before her beauty,
Resolves to carry her; let her, in fine, consent,
As we'll direct her how 'tis best to bear it,
Now his important blood will nought deny
That she'll demand: A ring the county wears,
That downward hath succeeded in his house,
From son to son, some four or five descents
Since the first father wore it: this ring he holds
In most rich choice; yet, in his idle fire,
Fo buy his will, it would not seem too dear,
Howe'er repented after.

Wid. Now I see
The bottom of your purpose.

HA. You see it lawful then: It is no more,
But that your daughter, ere she seems as won,
Desires this ring; appoints him an encounter;
In fine, delivers me to fill the time,
Herself most chastely absent; after this,

1 A dilemma is an argument that concludes both ways. 2 To imboss a deer is to inclose him in a wood. The word, applied in this sense, being derived from emboscare, Ital. ought properly to be spelled mbos!'d. Meaning, before we strip him naked. 1. e. by discovering herself to the count. Paportant here means importunate.

3

Το

To marry her, I'll add three thousand crowns To what is past already.

Wid. I have yielded:

Instruct my daughter how she shall persever, That time, and place,, with this deceit so lawful, May prove coherent. Every night he comes With musicks of all sorts, and songs compos'd To her unworthiness; it nothing steads us,

To chide him from our eaves; for he persists,
As if his life lay on't.

Hel. Why then, to-night

Let us assay our plot; which, if it speed,
5ls wicked meaning in a lawful deed,
And lawful meaning in a lawful act1:
Where both not sin, and yet a sinful fact:
But let's about it.

[Exeunt.

SCENE I.

ACT

Part of the French Camp in Florence. Enter one of the French Lords, with five or six 20 Soldiers in ambush.

Lord.

H E can come no other way but by this hedge' corner: When you sally upon him, speak what terrible language you will; though you understand it not yourselves, no mat- 25 ter: for we must not seem to understand him; unless some one amongst us, whom we must produce for an interpreter.

Sol. Good captain, let me be the interpreter. Lord. Art not acquainted with him? knows 30 he not thy voice?

Sol.. No, sir, I warrant you.

Lord. But what linsy-woolsy hast thou to speak to us again?

Sol. Even such as you speak to me.

35

Lord. He must think us some band of strangers i'the adversaries' entertainment. Now he hath a smack of all neighbouring languages; therefore we must every one be a man of his own fancy, not to know what we speak one to another; so we seem 40 to know, is to know straight our purpose: chough's language, gabble enough, and good enough. As for you, interpreter, you must seem very politick. But couch, ho! here he comes; to beguile two hours in sleep, and then to return and swear the 45 lies he forges.

Enter Parolles.

Par. Ten o'clock: within these three hours 'twill be time enough to go home. What shall I say I have done? It must be a very plausive invention 50 that carries it: They begin to smoke me: and disgraces have of late knock'd too often at my door. I find my tongue is too fool-hardy; but my heart hath the fear of Mars before it, and of his creatures, not daring the reports of my tongue.

Lord. This is the first truth that e'er thine own tongue was guilty of. [Aside.

55

Par. What the devil should move me to undertake the recovery of this drum; being not ignorant of the impossibility, and knowing I had no such 60 purpose? I must give myself some hurts, and

IV.

say, I got them in exploit: Yet slight ones will not carry it. They will say, Came you off with so little? and great ones I dare not give; Wherefore? what's the instance? Tongue, I must put you intoa butter-woman's mouth,and buy another' of Bajazet's mule, if you prattle me into these perils.

Lord. Is it possible, he should know what he is, and be that he is?

[Aside, Par. I would, the cutting of my garments would serve the turn; or the breaking of my Spanish sword.

Lord. We cannot afford you so. [Aside. Par. Or the baring of my beard; and to say, it was in stratagem.

Lord. 'Twould not do.

[Aside.

[blocks in formation]

I

[Aside.

Par. I would, I had any drum of the enemies'; would swear I recover'd it.

Lord. You shall hear one anon.
Par. A drum now of the enemies!

[Aside.
[Alarum within.
Lord. Throca mocousus, cargo, cargo, cargo.
All. Cargo, cargo, villianda par corbo,cargo.
Pur. Oh! ransom, ransom:- -Do not hide mine
eyes. [They seize him and blindfold him.
Inter. Boskos thromuldo boskos.
Par. I know you are the Muskos' regiment,
And I shall lose my life for want of language:
If there be here German, or Dane, low Dutch,
Italian, or French, let him speak to me, I'll
Discover that which shall undo the Florentine.
Inter. Boskos vauvado:-

I understand thee, and can speak thy tongue:-
Kerelybonto:- -Sir,

Betake thee to thy faith, for seventeen poniards
Are at thy bosom.

' Bertram's meaning is wicked in a lawful deed, and Helen's meaning is lawful in a lawful act; and neither of them sin: yet on his part it was a sinful act, for his meaning was to commit adultery, of which he was innocent, as the lady was his wife. i. e. proof. i. e. a silent one.

Par.

[blocks in formation]

But take the highest to witness': Then, pray
you, tell me,

If I should swear by Jove's great attributes,
I lov'd you dearly, would you believe my oaths,
When I did love you ill? this has no holding,
To swear by him whom I protest to love, [waths
That I will work against him: Therefore, your
Are words, and poor conditions; but unseal'd;
At least, in my opinion.

Ber. Change it, change it;

[off,

Be not so holy-cruel: love is holy;
And my integrity ne'er knew the crafts,
That you do charge men with: Stand no more
But give thyself unto my sick desire,
Who then recovers: say, thou art mine, and ever
My love, as it begins, shall so persever.

Dia. I see, that men make hopes in such affairs,
That we'll forsake ourselves. Give me that ring.
Ber. I'll lend it thee, my dear, but have no
To give it from me.
[power

Dia. Will you not, my lord?
Ber. It is an honour 'longing to our house,
Bequeathed down from many ancestors;
Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world

Lord. Till then I'll keep him dark, and safely 25 In me to lose.

lock'd.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

[Exeunt.

Ber. They told me, that your name was Fonti-
Dia. No, my good lord, Diana.

Ber. Titled goddess;

And worth it, with addition! But, fair soul,
In

your fine frame hath love no quality?

[bell.

If the quick fire of youth light not your mind,
You are no maiden, but a monument:
When you are dead, you should be such a one
As you are now, for you are cold and stern;
And now you should be as your mother was,
When your sweet self was got.

Dia. She then was honest.

Ber. So should you be.
Dia. No;

My mother did but duty; such, my lord,
As you owe to your wife.

Br. No more of that!

I pr'ythee, do not strive against my vows;
I was compell'd to her; but I love thee

By love's own sweet constraint, and will for ever
Do thee all rights of service.

[blocks in formation]

Dia. Mine honour's such a ring:
My chastity's the jewel of our house,
Bequeathed down from many ancestors;
Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world
30 In me to lose: Thus your own proper wisdom
Brings in the champion honour on my part,
Against your vain assault.

Ber. Here, take my ring:

My house, mine honour, yea, my life be thine, 35 And Pil be bid by thee.

Dia. When midnight comes, knock at my chamber window;

I'll order take, my mother shall not hear. Now will I charge you in the band of truth, 40 When you have conquer'd my yet maiden bed, Remain there but an hour, nor speak to me: My reasons are most strong; and you shall know them,

When back again this ring shall be deliver❜d: 45 And on your finger, in the night, I'll put Another ring; that, what in time proceeds, May token to the future our past deeds. Adieu, 'till then; then, fail not; You have won A wife of me, though there my hope be done. Ber. A heaven on earth I have won, by wooing thee. [Exit Dia. For which live long to thank both heaven You may so in the end.-

150

53

[and me!

My mother told me just how he would woo,
As if she sat in his heart; she says all men
Have the like oaths: he had sworn to marry me,
When his wife's dead; therefore I'll lie with him,
When I am bury'd. Since Frenchmen are so braid',
Marry that will, I live and die a maid:

60 Only, in this disguise, I think't no sin

To cozen him, that would unjustly win. [Exit.

1 The sense is, we never swear by what is not holy, but swear by, or take to witness, the Highest, the Divinity. i. e. crafty or deceitful.

SCENE

« PreviousContinue »