A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Vol. VIII (4th edition) - Various
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MOW. We will before your grace, I warrant you.
KING. How think'st of it, Mowbray?
MOW. As on a masque: but for our torch-bearers,
Hell cannot make so mad a crew as I.
KING. Faith, who is chief?
MOW. Will Brand, my lord;
But then your grace must curb his cruelty:
The rein once got, he's apt for villainy.
KING. I know the villain is both rough and grim;
But as a tie-dog I will muzzle him.
I'll bring him up to fawn upon my friends.
And worry dead my foes. But to our masque.
I mean this night to revel at the feast,
Where fair Matilda graceth every guest;
And if my hidden courtesy she grace,
Old Baynard's Castle, good Fitzwater's place,
John will make rich with royal England's wealth:
But if she do not, not those scatter'd bands,
Dropping from Austria and the Holy Land,
That boast so much of glorious victories,
Shall stop the inundations of those woes,
That like a deluge I will bring on them.
I know the crew is there; banish all fears:
If wrong'd, they shall be ours: if welcome, theirs.
[_Exeunt_.
SCENE II.
_Enter_ FITZWATER _and his son_: OLD BRUCE _and_
YOUNG BRUCE, _and call forth_ MATILDA[307].
FITZ. Why, how now, votary! still at your book?
Ever in mourning weeds? For shame, for shame!
With better entertainment cheer our friends.
Now, by the bless'd cross, you are much to blame
To cross our mirth thus: you are much to blame,
I say. Good lord! hath never woe enough
Of welladay? Indeed, indeed,
Some sorrow fits, but this is more than need.
MAT. Good father, pardon me:
You saw I sat the supper and the banquet;
You know I cannot dance; discourse I shun,
By reason that my wit, but small before,
Comes far behind the ripe wits of our age.
YOUNG B. You'll be too ripe for marriage,
If you delay by day and day thus long.
There is the noble Wigmore, Lord of the March
That lies on Wye, Lug[308], and the Severn streams:
His son is like the sun's sire's Ganymede,
And for your love hath sent a lord to plead.
His absence I did purpose to excuse,
_Enter_ LEICESTER.
But Leicester is the man for him that sues.
FITZ. My cousin Bruce hath been your broker, Leicester;
At least hath broke the matter to my girl.
LEI. O, for a barber at the time of need,
Or one of these that dresses periwigs,
To deck my grey head with a youthful hair!
But I must to't. Matilda, thus it is!
Say, can you love me? I am Wigmore's son.
MAT. My cousin said he look'd like Ganymede;
But you, but you--
LEI. But I, but I, you say,
Am rather like old Chremes in a play[309];
But that's a nice objection: I am he,
But by attorneyship made deputy.
MAT. He's never like to speed well all his life,
That by attorney sues to win a wife:
But grant you are, whom you seem nothing like,
Young Wigmore, the heir to this noble lord--
He for his son hath sent us ne'er a word.
OLD B. If you grant love, when [that] his son doth woo,
Then in your jointure he'll send, say, and do.
YOUNG B. And for a doer, cousin, take my word:
Look for a good egg, he was a good bird;
Cock o' the game, i' faith, [O,] never fear.
MAT. Ay, but I fear the match will fall out ill,
Because he says his son is named Will.
FITZ. And why, good daughter? hath some palmister,
Some augur, or some dreaming calculator
(For such, I know, you often hearken to),
Been prating 'gainst the name? go to, go to;
Do not believe them. Leicester, fall to woo.
MAT. I must believe my father; and 'tis you
That, if I ought misdid, reprov'd me still,
And chiding said, "You're wedded to your will."
FITZ. God, for thy mercy! have ye catch'd me there?
Wigmore is William, woman. Leicester, speak:
Thou art the simplest wooer in the world.
LEI. You have put me out, and she hath took me down;
You with your talk, she with her ready tongue.
You told me I should find her mild and still,
And scarce a word came from her in an hour:
Then did I think I should have all the talk,
Unhinder'd by your willingness to help,
Unanswer'd, till I had no more to say;
And then--
YOUNG B. What, then?
She with a courtly court'sy saying Nay!
MAT. Your friend's attorney might have gone his way
With as great credit as did that orator
Which, handling an oration some three hours,
Ill for the matter, worse than bad for phrase,
Having said _dixi_, look'd, and found not one
To praise or dispraise his oration;
For, wearied with his talk, they all were gone.
FITZ. Now, by my troth, if any troth I have,
I am as merry at Matilda's mirth,
As I was glad to see her first day's birth.
For till this hour, so help me halidom,[310]
Since the too timely death of Huntington,
Not a blithe word had passage through her lips.
LEI. See, what a pleasing humour wooers bring.
YOUNG B. O, but ye leave too soon.
LEI. Yet she avers
I stand too long: shall I choose yours or hers?
MAT. Either forbear, I pray ye, for a while.
_Enter_ RICHMOND.[311]
Welcome, Lord Richmond.
RICH. What, doth Matilda smile,
That still like silence solitary sat?
Then off with widow's weeds, and teach your feet
(That have forgot for want of exercise,
And by the means your sorrow had no mean)
To tread a measure for a gallant crew
Of courtly masquers landed at the stairs;
Before whom, unentreated, I am come,
And have prevented, I believe, their page,
Who with his torch is enter'd.
FITZ. Richmond, thanks,
If you have aught to say about the masquers.
Beseech the gentlemen to enter in,
For they are welcome guests to old Fitzwater.
[_Exit Messenger_.
Son, son, I pray you fetch the ladies in:
We have been talking here about a match,
And left our noble friends in discontent.
RICH. Nay, by my faith we had much merriment,
Yet thought it long you neither came nor sent.
[MATILDA _faints, and sits down_.
FITZ. How now, Matilda? pray thee, cheer thee, girl.
MAT. I thought it was a lightening before death,[312]
Too sudden to be certain. Good pleasure, stay.
_Enter Ladies_.
Wilt thou not, wanton? churl, then go thy way.
RICH. What, chang'd so soon? so soon fallen to your dumps?
Cheerly! the masque comes in.
[_Enter the Masque_.]
MAT. O[313] God, this veil
And look fit not this sport. I'll leave it.
LEI. Nay,
For your love William's sake, fair maiden, stay!
[_Dance: Masquers take each a lady_, JOHN
MATILDA, _but [she] refusing, father.[314]
They sit down apart_.
FITZ. This is no courtship, daughter, be not nice,
You both abuse him and disparage us.
His fellows had the ladies they did choose,
And, well, you know here's no more maids than Maud:[315]
Yourself are all our store. I pray you, rise,
Or, by my faith, I say you do us wrong.
MAT. I will do what you will. Lead, lead your dance.
KING. You know me by my speech.
MAT. Ay, my liege, ay. O, that temptation's tongue
Hath[316] nowhere to be plac'd but in your head!
KING. Well, say I have her tongue, had I not need,
When you have both her eyes, nay, all her shape,
Able to tempt even Job himself to rape?
MAT. Good my lord, leave, or I will leave the place.
[_Dance again; and in the first course_ MATILDA
_flings from him_: JOHN _follows_.
FITZ. Dance out your galliard: God's dear holy-bread!
Y'are too forgetful. Dance, or, by my troth,
You'll move my patience more than I will speak.
[_She unwilling_, JOHN _roughly pulls her_.
Nay, soft, unmanner'd sir: you are too rough:
Her joints are weak, your arms are strong and tough.
If ye come here for sport, you welcome be;
If not, better your room than such bad company.
[JOHN _threatens him by signs_.
Dost threaten me? then will I see thy face.
KING. And so thou shalt. Look on me, rebel lord!
Thou that wert late a factious ringleader,
And in the open field gav'st me fierce fight:
Art thou again gathering another head,
That with such rudeness thou dost entertain
The gentle coming of thy sovereign?
FITZ. My dread lord, hear me, and forgive this fault,
What I have erst done, long since you forgave:
If I did lead the barons in the field,
The barons chose me, when they could not choose
But make some leader, you were so misled.
When better thoughts enter'd your royal breast,
We then obey'd you as our sovereign head.
KING. You did even what you list, and so do still:
I am the king, but you must have your will.
The plain truth is, we are not come in sport,
Though for our coming this was our best cloak;
For if we never come, till you do send,
We must not be your guest, while banquets last.
Contentious brawls you hourly send to us;
But we may send and send, and you return--
This lord is sick, that pained with the gout,
He rid from home. You think I find not out
Your close confederacies: yes, I do, no doubt.
LEI. If there be here a close confederate,
God's vengeance light upon him with my hate!
KING. No, you are open, Leicester; that I know.
CHES. I, by the Lord, my lord, your open foe.
LEI. By thy lord's Lord and mine, proud Ralph of Chester,
Thou durst not say so, wert thou from the king.
MOW. Yes, but he dares and shall.
RICH. Mowbray, if you stand by,
He dares perchance; else will the dastard fly.
CHES. My own sword shall maintain my tongue's true speech;
For it is not frequented to such lies,
As wrangling Leicester and proud Richmond use:
It cannot set out, like a thundering drum
Or roaring cannon, stuff'd with nought but brags,
The multitudes of seas dyed red with blood,[317]
And famous cities into cinders turn'd
By their two armed arms.
KING. Ay, Chester;
And then they show us rags, torn off belike
From poor decayed ladies' petticoats;
For neither bill, nor feather'd shot, nor pike
Make half nor any of those rents they have.
These, patch'd together, fasten'd unto staves,
They will not stick to swear have been advanc'd
Against the Sophy, Soldan, and the Turk.
LEI. Do not maintain proud Chester, my life's liege:
Your words I must put up; his if I bear--
KING.[318] Yes, you shall bear them, bear, and yet not bite:
We have you muzzled now. Remember once
You brav'd us with your bombard boasting words.
Come (briefly), Leicester, Richmond, both Fitzwaters, Bruce,
Deliver up your swords immediately;
And either yield your bodies to our hands,
Or give such pledges as we shall accept
Unto our steward Winchester with speed.
LEI. I will not leave my arms, nor break my word,
Except I be provok'd: your liege-man I am sworn;
That oath is pledge enough. If you mislike--
KING. Thou hear'st me say I do.
LEI. And I reply:
That pledge refus'd, I have no more for you.
RICH. And Richmond says as noble Leicester saith.
Already have we plighted fame and faith
Which, being scorn'd, returns to us again,
And by the king's own mouth we are discharged.
KING. Fitzwater, what say you?
FITZ. What pledge desires my liege?
KING. I ask your stubborn daughter.
YOUNG B. That were a gage
To be engaged.
FITZ. Peace, thou headstrong boy!
Pardon me, sovereign; all my power is yours;
My goods you may command, my life you may:
My children too, I know, with both their lives
Will readily adventure death's worst wrongs,
To do such service as true subjects should;
But honourable fame; true chastity--
KING. Make no exceptions: yield her up to me,
Or look for ever for my enmity.
FITZ. Nay, then, Fitzwater tells your majesty,
You do him wrong; and well will let you wit,
He will defend his honour to the death.
KING. And, Bruce, you are no otherwise disposed:
You will not give your sons to me for pledge.
BRUCE. I have but one, being my lesser boy,
Who is at Guildford: for my other son--
KING. He braves me with the rest.
Well, it is night, and there's no sun to swear by,
But God's[319] son, and by him I here protest
A miserable storm this night to raise
That shall not cease, while England giveth rest
To such vile traitors. Bruce, I'll begin with you;
I will, i' faith, as true as God is true.
[_Exit_ KING, _cum suis_.
LEI. Then shall a storm be rais'd against a storm,
And tempest be with tempest beaten back.
FITZ. But this firm island, like the sea, will toss.
And many goodly buildings go to wrack;
Many a widow weep her dying son,
And many a mother to her weeping babes
Cry out uncomfortably, "Children, peace,
Your crying unto me is all in vain,
Dead is my husband, your poor father slain!"
YOUNG B. We cannot help it, uncle.
RICH. No, you see
Entreats and humble suits have now no power,
But lust and wrath the kingdom do devour.
BRUCE. Me he did menace first, and much I fear
He will to Guildford, and besiege my wife.
FITZ. O, hie to save her! Richmond, ride with him.
RICH. Let us away, Bruce, lest we come too late,
And with us take some score of men well-arm'd.
[_Exeunt_ RICHMOND _and_ BRUCE.
FITZ. Do: Leicester and myself will keep the city,
Till we are furnish'd with an able army.
Your nephew Bruce shall take an hundred men,[320]
And post to Hertford Castle with your sister.
Sith wrong doth[321] wake us, we will keep such watch,
As for his life he shall not hurt us bring.
[_Exeunt omnes_.
ACT III., SCENE I.
_Enter_ QUEEN, BRUCE'S LADY, HUBERT, SALISBURY.
QUEEN. Be comforted, good madam, do not fear,
But give your son as pledge unto the king:
Yourself at court may keep him company.
LADY B. I am betray'd! alas, I am betray'd!
And little thought your highness had been bent
So much against me for my many loves,
As to prepare an entrance for my foe.
QUEEN. As I shall live in heaven, I did not know
Of Hubert's coming. But lament not this:
Your son, you say, is gone; what fear you then?
LADY B. O madam, murder, mischief, wrongs of men
I fear, I fear--what is't I do not fear,
Sith hope is so far off, despair so near?
SAL. Answer me, good Hubert, I pray thee, Hubert, do:
What think you of this matter? may I on your word
Persuade the woman that all things are well?
HUB. You may persuade her if you can, my lord;
For I protest I know no other thing,
But that the king would have him for a pledge
Of the Lord Bruce's faith.
SAL. And reason, too.
Now, by my honour, Hubert, I protest
It is good reason: Bruce, I tell you plain,
Is no sound cloak to keep John from the rain.[322]
I will go to her.
HUB. Do, good simple earl.
If not by threats nor my entreats she yield,
Thy brain is barren of invention,
Dried up with care; and never will she yield
Her son to thee, that having power want'st wit.
LADY B. I overhear thee, Hubert.
SAL. So do I, Dame Bruce;
But stir no coals: the man is well belov'd,
And merits more than so.
LADY B. But I will answer.
Hubert, thou fatal keeper of poor babes,
That are appointed hostages for John,[323]
Had I a son here, as I have not one,
(For yesterday I sent him into Wales),
Think'st thou I would be so degenerate,
So far from kind, to give him unto thee?
I would not, I protest: thou know'st my mind.
SAL. Lady, you fear more than you need to do;
Indeed you do--in very deed you do.
Hubert is wrong'd about the thing you mean--
About young Arthur: O, I thought 'twas so:
Indeed the honest, good, kind gentleman
Did all he might for safeguard of the child.
QUEEN. Believe me, Madam Bruce, the man is wrong'd.
LADY B. But he wrongs me to keep my castle thus,
Disarming my true servants, arming his.
Now more of outrage comes! what shall I do?
_Enter the_ KING, MOWBRAY, WINCHESTER, CHESTER.
KING. O, this is well! Hubert, where's Bruce's son?
LADY B. Where thou shalt never see him, John.
KING. Lady, we will have talk with you anon.
Where is he, Hubert?
HUB. Hid or fled, my lord:
We can by no means get her to confess.
SAL. Welcome to Guildford, Salisbury's liefest lord.[324]
KING. You scarce give welcome, ere I bid you go;
For you, my lord, the queen and Winchester
Shall march to Hertford. Sweet Isabel,
And if thou love me, play the amazon.
Matilda, that hath long bewitch'd mine eye,
Is, as I hear by spials, now in Hertford Castle:
Besiege her there; for now her haughty father
Ruffians it up and down, and all the brood
Of viperous traitors whet their poison'd teeth,
That they may feed on us that foster them.
Go forward, and go with you victory!
Which to assure my powers shall follow you.
SAL. Did I not tell you this? then trust me next.
Nay, he is chang'd, and cares no more for her
Than I do, madam.
KING. Begone, I say, begone!
Your speed rich victory attendeth on:
But your delay
May give your foes the happy glorious day.
QUEEN. One boon, my liege, and part.
KING. Be brief.
QUEEN. Show that poor lady pity, I beseech.
[_Exeunt_.
KING. I will indeed. Come, lady, let us in.
You have a son; go in and bring him me,
And for the queen's sake I will favour ye.
LADY B. I have no son. Come, come; come in and search,
And if you find him, wretched may I be.
[_Exit_.
KING. Chester and Hubert, see you keep good watch.
Not far off do I hear a warlike sound:
Bruce, on my life! look to't, while I go in
To seek this boy, for needs we must have him.
Come with us, Mowbray.
[_Exeunt_.
SCENE II.
_Enter_ BRUCE, RICHMOND, _Soldiers_.
RICH. The castle-gates are shut. What ho! what ho!
You that are servants to the Lady Bruce,
Arise, make entrance for your lord and friends.
_Enter, or above_, HUBERT, CHESTER.[325]
HUB. We will make issue, ere ye enter here.
Who have we there? Richmond and Bruce, is't you?
What, up so soon? are ye so early here?
In you, i' faith, the proverb's verified,
Y'are early up, and yet are ne'er the near.
RICH. The worse, our fortune. Bruce, let us go hence;
We have no power to fight, nor make defence.
CHES. What, Richmond, will you prove a runaway?
RICH. From thee, good Chester I now the Lord defend!
Bruce, we will stay and fight.
BRUCE. 'Tis to no end:
We have but twenty men, and they be tired.
But ere we do retire, tell me, Lord Hubert,
Where are my wife and son?
HUB. Your wife is here; your son we cannot find.
BRUCE. Let son and wife, high heavens, your comfort find!
[_Exeunt_.
SCENE III.[326]
_Enter_ KING, MOWBRAY, LADY BRUCE.
CHES. Bruce hath been here, my lord.
KING. Ay, let him go.
We have good pledges: though we see but one,
The other we are sure will come anon.
MOW. I do advise you, for your own discharge,
Deliver up your son unto the king.
KING. Nay, let her choose. Come hither, Mowbray.
[_The_ KING _and_ MOWBRAY _whisper_.
HUB. The king is angry: Lady Bruce, advise you.
LADY B. What! be advis'd by thee
To have my loving, kind, and pretty boy
Given to an unkind killer of sweet boys?
CHES. Madam, go to; take counsel of your friends.
I warrant you the king will use him well.
LADY B. Ay, as he us'd his nephew Arthur, Chester.
God bless my child from being used so!
MOW. Sir Hubert, what, are all the people voided,
The horses and the cattle turned forth?
HUB. Mowbray, they be.
MOW. Then will I do the king's commandment.
LADY B. What will he do? good Lord! what will he do?
Mowbray, I pray you, what is't you will do?
MOW. Why, fire the castle.
LADY B. The castle, Mowbray? tarry, tarry, man!
Hold me not, Chester! gentle Mowbray, stay!
Good Hubert, let me go!
MOW. You must not go:
The king is mov'd, and will not hear you speak.
LADY B. But he shall hear me! pity me, King John!
Call Mowbray back: hear me, for pity's sake!
Regard the Lady Bruce's woful cry!
KING. What dost thou ask?
LADY B. First call back Mowbray.
KING. Stay, Mowbray. Now, be brief.
LADY B. I have some linen garments, jewels, 'tires,
Pack'd in a hamper here within the lodge:
O, let me save it from consuming fire!
KING. And is this all?
LADY B. It's all the little all I here have left.
KING. Away! set fire! linen and trash!
LADY B. Once more hear me! there's a precious gem,
You have not any richer in all the realm:
If fire do blemish it, art never more
To his true colour can the same restore.
KING. Fetch it.
Two of ye help her with her hamper hither.
LADY B. Nay, nay, one will suffice: the jewel if I save,
Is all I ask.
[_Exit with_ CHESTER.
KING. We shall her jewel have.
HUB. She is very fearful I should keep her son.
LADY B. [_Within_.] Ye do, ye do!
KING. Alas! good Lady, hark: Chester and she are chiding.
_Enter_ CHESTER _and she, leading the boy_.
LADY B. Let go his hand! Is this a paw, think you,
To hold a tender hand in? fie, for shame!
A nobleman so churlish! Look, I pray,
His arms are gristless.[327]
KING. How now, Lady Bruce!
Doth Chester hurt the jewel of your joy?
Now, by my troth, it is a pretty boy!
LADY B. Ay, knew your majesty as much as I,
You would say more.
KING. Well, he and you of us no wrong shall have,
But stay in Windsor Castle with Sir Walter Blunt,
And honourably be us'd; provided still
Your husband and your son obey our will.
LADY B. For this great mercy, if they disobey,
Myself will chide them. Fortune follow John,
And on his foes fall swift destruction!
KING. Come! let us now after the queen and Salisbury.
[_Exeunt omnes_.
SCENE IV.
_Enter the_ QUEEN, SALISBURY, _Soldiers_.
QUEEN. Now are ye, worthy and resolved men,
Come to the cage where the unclean birds bide,
That tire[328] on all the fair flight in the realm.
Summon this castle, or (to keep my words)
This cage of night-hid owls, light-flying birds.
[_Offer to summon_.
_Enter_ YOUNG BRUCE, MATILDA, _Soldiers_.
SAL. Stay, drum! thou need'st not summon willing men,
Or rather wilful, for such methinks they be.
QUEEN. See ye yon baggage, muffled in black weeds:
Those clouds fold in the comet that portends
Sad desolation to this royal realm.
For ever seek to mask her light, good friends:
Let us disrobe her of each little beam,
And then your Phoebus will one Phoebe have,
That while they live shall lend your land true light,
Give joy unto your day, rest to your night.
Assail them, stay not.
SAL. Stay, and assay them first!
I say to you, fair queen, this fact is foul.
Let not provoking words whet dull-edg'd swords,
But try if we can blunt sharp blades with words.
Fitzwater's nephew, Bruce, I see thee there,
And tell thee it is shame for such a boy
To lead a many able men to fight.
And, modest-looking maid, I see you too:
An unfit sight to view virginity
Guarded with other soldiers than good prayers.
But you will say the king occasions it:
Say what you will, no king but would take cause
Of just offence.
Yield you, young Bruce, your mother is in hold.
Yield you, young maid, your father is in hold.
MAT. Will the queen keep me from the lustful king,
Then will I yield.
QUEEN. A plague upon this counterfeiting quean.
MAT. God's blessed mercy! will you still be mad,
And wrong a noble virgin with vile speech?
SAL. Let me alone. Matilda, maiden fair,
Thou virgin spouse, true Huntington's just heir,
Wilt thou come hither? and I do protest,
The queen and I, to mitigate this war,
Will do what thou wouldst have.
MAT. I come.
BRUCE. You shall not go. Sound, drums, to war!
Alack, alack, for woe!
Well, God for us! sith it will needs be so.
[_Alarum, fight, stay_.
SAL. What stay you for?
BRUCE. Matilda's cries do stay us.
MAT. Salisbury, I come in hope of thy defence.
BRUCE. First will I die, ere you shall yield yourself
To any coward lord that serves the king.
SAL. Coward, proud boy! Thou find'st me no such beast,
And thou shalt rue in earnest this rude jest.
[_Fight again_. MATILDA _taken, led by the hair
by two Soldiers_.
SAL. Rude hands! how hale you virtuous honour forth!
You do not well: away!
Now, by my faith, ye do not well, I say.
Take her, fair queen, use her as she deserves:
She's fair, she's noble, chaste, and debonair.
I must, according to due course of war,
See that our soldiers scatter not too far,
Lest, what care won, our negligence may lose.
[_Exit_.
QUEEN. Is this the Helen, this the paragon,
That makes the English Ilion[329] flame so fast?
MAT. I am not she; you see I am not she:
I am not ravish'd yet, as Helen was.
I know not what will come of John's desire,
That rages like the sea, that burns like fire.
QUEEN. Plain John, proud Joan! I'll tear your painted face.
Thus, thus I'll use you. [_Scratches her_.
_Enter_ SALISBURY.
MAT. Do, do what you will.
SAL. How goes this gear? ha! foul fall so foul deed![330]
Poor chaste child of Fitzwater, dost thou bleed?
By God's bless'd mother! this is more than need;
And more, I tell you true, than I would bear,
Were not the danger of the camp so near.
_Enter a_ MESSENGER.
MES. My lord, the foes have gathered head:
Lord Bruce, the father, joineth with the son.
SAL. Why, here's the matter: we must spend our time
To keep your nails from scratching innocence,
Which should have been bestow'd for our defence.
What shall we now do? Help me, holy God!
The foe is come, and we are out of rank.
[_Skirmish_: QUEEN _taken_, MATILDA _rescued_.
_Enter_ OLD BRUCE _wounded, led by his Son, and_ LEICESTER.