Enter
King Leir and Nobles.
Thus to our griefe the obsequies performd
Of our (too late) deceast and dearest Queen,
Whose soule I hope, possest of heauely ioyes,
Doth ride in triumph 'mogst the Cherubins;
Let vs request your graue aduice, my Lords,
For the disposing of our princely daughters,
For whom our care is specially imployd,
As nature bindeth to aduaunce their states,
In royall marriage with some princely mates:
For wanting now their mothers good aduice,
Vnder whose gouernment they haue receyued
A perfit patterne of a vertuous life:
Left as it were a ship without a sterne,
Or silly sheepe without a Pastors care;
Although our selues doe dearely tender them,
Yet are we ignorant of their affayres:
For fathers best do know to gouerne sonnes;
But daughters steps the mothers counsell turnes.
A sonne we want for to succeed our Crowne,
And course of time hath cancelled the date
Of further issue from our withered loynes:
One foote already hangeth in the graue,
And age hath made deepe furrowes in my face:
The world of me, I of the world am weary,
[25] And I would fayne resigne these earthly
cares,
And thinke vpon the welfare of my soule:
Which by no better meanes may be effected,
Then by resigning vp the Crowne from me,
In equall dowry to my daughters three.
Skalliger.
A worthy care, my Liege, which well declares,
The zeale you bare vnto our quondam Queene:
And since your Grace hath licens'd me to speake,
[Page]
I censure thus; Your Maiesty knowing well,
What seuerall Suters your princely daughters haue,
To make them eche a Ioynter more or lesse,
As is their worth, to them that loue professe.
Leir.
No more, nor lesse, but euen all alike,
My zeale is fixt, all fashiond in one mould:
Wherefore vnpartiall shall my censure be,
Both old and young shall haue alike for me.
Nobl.
My gracious Lord, I hartily do wish,
That God had lent you an heyre indubitate,
Which might haue set vpon your royall throne,
When fates should loose the prison of your life,
By whose succession all this doubt might cease;
And as by you, by him we might haue peace.
But after-wishes euer come too late,
And nothing can reuoke the course of fate:
Wherefore, my Liege, my censure deemes it best,
[50] To match them with some of your neighbour
Kings,
Bordring within the bounds of Albion,
By whose vnited friendship, this our state
May be protected 'gainst all forrayne hate.
Leir.
Herein, my Lords, your wishes sort with mine,
And mine (I hope) do sort with heauenly powers:
For at this instant two neere neyghbouring Kings
Of Cornwall and of Cambria, motion loue
To my two daughters, Gonorill and Ragan.
My youngest daughter, fayre Cordella, vowes
No liking to a Monarch, vnlesse loue allowes.
She is sollicited by diuers Peeres;
But none of them her partiall fancy heares.
Yet, if my policy may her beguyle,
Ile match her to some King within this Ile,
And so establish such a perfit peace,
As fortunes force shall ne're preuayle to cease.
Perillus.
Of vs & ours, your gracious care, my Lord,
Deserues an euerlasting memory,
To be inrol'd in Chronicles of fame,
By neuer-dying perpetuity:
[Page]
Yet to become so prouident a Prince,
Lose not the title of a louing father:
Do not force loue, where fancy cannot dwell,
Lest streames being stopt, aboue the banks do swell.
Leir.
[75] I am resolu'd, and euen now my mind
Doth meditate a sudden stratagem,
To try which of my daughters loues me best:
Which till I know, I cannot be in rest.
This graunted, when they ioyntly shall contend,
Eche to exceed the other in their loue:
Then at the vantage will I take Cordella,
Euen as she doth protest she loues me best,
Ile say, Then, daughter, graunt me one request,
To shew thou louest me as thy sisters doe,
Accept a husband, whom my selfe will woo.
This sayd, she cannot well deny my sute,
Although (poore soule) her sences will be mute:
Then will I tryumph in my policy,
And match her with a King of Brittany.
Skal.
Ile to them before, and bewray your secrecy.
Per.
Thus fathers think their children to beguile,
And oftentimes themselues do first repent,
When heauenly powers do frustrate their intent.
Exeunt.
Enter
Gonorill and Ragan.
Gon.
I maruell, Ragan, how you can indure
To see that proud pert Peat, our youngest sister,
So slightly to account of vs, her elders,
As if we were no better then her selfe!
We cannot haue a quaynt deuice so soone,
Or new made fashion, of our choyce inuention;
[100] But if she like it, she will haue the same,
Or study newer to exceed vs both.
Besides, she is so nice and so demure;
So sober, courteous, modest, and precise,
That all the Court hath worke ynough to do,
To talke how she exceedeth me and you.
Ra.
What should I do? would it were in my power,
To find a cure for this contagious ill:
[Page]
Some desperate medicine must be soone applyed,
To dimme the glory of her mounting fame;
Els ere't be long, sheele haue both prick and praise,
And we must be set by for working dayes.
Doe you not see what seuerall choyce of Suters
She daily hath, and of the best degree?
Say, amongst all, she hap to fancy one,
And haue a husband when as we haue none:
Why then, by right, to her we must giue place,
Though it be ne're so much to our disgrace.
Gon.
By my virginity, rather then she shall haue
A husband before me,
Ile marry one or other in his shirt:
And yet I haue made halfe a graunt already
Of my good will vnto the King of Cornwall.
Ra.
Sweare not so deeply (sister) here cometh my L. Skalliger:
Something his hasty comming doth import.
Enter
Skal.
Skal.
[125] Sweet Princesses, I am glad I met you heere
so luckily,
Hauing good newes which doth concerne you both,
And craueth speedy expedition.
Ra.
For Gods sake tell vs what it is, my Lord,
I am with child vntill you vtter it.
Skal.
Madam, to saue your longing, this it is:
Your father in great secrecy to day,
Told me, he meanes to marry you out of hand,
Vnto the noble Prince of Cambria;
You, Madam, to the King of Cornwalls Grace:
Your yonger sister, he would fayne bestow
Vpon the rich King of Hibernia:
But that he doubts, she hardly will consent;
For hitherto she ne're could fancy him.
If she do yeeld, why then, betweene you three,
He will deuide his kingdome for your dowries.
But yet there is a further mystery,
Which, so you will conceale, I will disclose.
Gon.
What e're thou speakst to vs, kind Skalliger,
Thinke that thou speakst it only to thy selfe.
Skal.
He earnestly desireth for to know,
[Page]
Which of you three do beare most loue to him,
And on your loues he so extremely dotes,
As neuer any did, I thinke, before.
He presently doth meane to send for you,
[150] To be resolu'd of this tormenting doubt:
And looke, whose answere pleaseth him the best,
They shall haue most vnto their marriages.
Ra.
O that I had some pleasing Mermayds voyce,
For to inchaunt his sencelesse sences with!
Skal.
For he supposeth that Cordella will
(Striuing to go beyond you in her loue)
Promise to do what euer he desires:
Then will he straight enioyne her for his sake,
The Hibernian King in marriage for to take.
This is the summe of all I haue to say;
Which being done, I humbly take my leaue,
Not doubting but your wisdomes will foresee,
What course will best vnto your good agree.
Gon.
Thanks, gentle Skalliger, thy kindnes vndeserued,
Shall not be vnrequited, if we liue.
Exit
Skalliger.
Ra.
Now haue we fit occasion offred vs,
To be reueng'd vpon her vnperceyu'd.
Gon.
Nay, our reuenge we will inflict on her,
Shall be accounted piety in vs:
I will so flatter with my doting father,
As he was ne're so flattred in his life.
Nay, I will say, that if it be his pleasure,
To match me to a begger, I will yeeld:
For why, I know what euer I do say,
[175] He meanes to match me with the Cornwall
King.
Ra.
Ile say the like: for I am well assured,
What e're I say to please the old mans mind.
Who dotes, as if he were a child agayne;
I shall inioy the noble Cambrian Prince:
Only, to feed his humour, will suffice,
To say, I am content with any one
Whom heele appoynt me; this will please him more.
Then e're Apolloes musike pleased Ioue.
[Page]
Gon.
I smile to think, in what a wofull plight
Cordella will be, when we answere thus:
For she will rather dye, then giue consent
To ioyne in marriage with the Irish King:
So will our father think, she loueth him not,
Because she will not graunt to his desire,
Which we will aggrauate in such bitter termes,
That he will soone conuert his loue to hate:
For he, you know, is alwayes in extremes.
Rag.
Not all the world could lay a better plot,
I long till it be put in practice.
Exeunt.
Enter
Leir and Perillus.
Leir.
Perillus, go seeke my daughters,
Will them immediately come and speak with me.
Per.
I will, my gracious Lord.
Exit.
Leir.
Oh, what a combat feeles my panting heart,
'Twixt childrens loue, and care of Common weale!
[200] How deare my daughters are vnto my soule,
None knowes, but he, that knowes my thoghts & secret deeds.
Ah, little do they know the deare regard,
Wherein I hold their future state to come:
When they securely sleepe on beds of downe,
These aged eyes do watch for their behalfe:
While they like wantons sport in youthfull toyes,
This throbbing heart is pearst with dire annoyes.
As doth the Sun excceed the smallest Starre,
So much the fathers loue exceeds the childs.
Yet my complaynts are causlesse: for the world
Affords not children more conformable:
And yet, me thinks, my mind presageth still
I know not what; and yet I feare some ill.
Enter
Perillus, with the three daughters.
Well, here my daughters come: I haue found out
A present meanes to rid me of this doubt.
Gon.
Our royall Lord and father, in all duty,
We come to know the tenour of your will,
Why you so hastily haue sent for vs?
Leir.
Deare Gongrill, kind Ragan, sweet Cordella,
[Page]
Ye florishing branches of a Kingly stocke,
Sprung from a tree that once did flourish greene,
Whose blossomes now are nipt with Winters frost,
And pale grym death doth wayt vpon my steps,
And summons me vnto his next Assizes.
[225] Therefore, deare daughters, as ye tender the
safety
Of him that was the cause of your first being,
Resolue a doubt which much molests my mind,
Which of you three to me would proue most kind;
Which loues me most, and which at my request
Will soonest yeeld vnto their fathers hest.
Gon.
I hope, my gracious father makes no doubt
Of any of his daughters loue to him:
Yet for my part, to shew my zeale to you,
Which cannot be in windy words rehearst,
I prize my loue to you at such a rate,
I thinke my life inferiour to my loue.
Should you inioyne me for to tye a milstone
About my neck, and leape into the Sea,
At your commaund I willingly would doe it:
Yea, for to doe you good, I would ascend
The highest Turret in all Brittany,
And from the top leape headlong to the ground:
Nay, more, should you appoynt me for to marry
The meanest vassayle in the spacious world,
Without reply I would accomplish it:
In briefe, commaund what euer you desire,
And if I fayle, no fauour I require.
Leir.
O, how thy words reuiue my dying soule!
Cor.
O, how I doe abhorre this flattery!
Leir.
[250] But what sayth Ragan to her fathers
will?
Rag.
O, that my simple vtterance could suffice,
To tell the true intention of my heart,
Which burnes in zeale of duty to your grace,
And neuer can be quench'd, but by desire
To shew the same in outward forwardnesse.
Oh, that there were some other mayd that durst
But make a challenge of her loue with me;
[Page]
Ide make her soone confesse she neuer loued
Her father halfe so well as I doe you.
I then, my deeds should proue in playner case,
How much my zeale aboundeth to your grace:
But for them all, let this one meane suffice,
To ratify my loue before your eyes:
I haue right noble Suters to my loue,
No worse then Kings, and happely I loue one:
Yet, would you haue me make my choyce anew,
Ide bridle fancy, and be rulde by you.
Leir.
Did neuer Philomel sing so sweet a note.
Cord.
Did neuer flatterer tell so false a tale.
Leir.
Speak now, Cordolla, make my ioyes at full,
And drop downe Nectar from thy hony lips.
Cor.
I cannot paynt my duty forth in words,
I hope my deeds shall make report for me:
But looke what loue the child doth owe the father,
[275] The same to you I beare, my gracious Lord.
Gon.
Here is an answere answerlesse indeed:
Were you my daughter, I should scarcely brooke it.
Rag.
Dost thou not blush, proud Peacock as thou art,
To make our father such a slight reply?
Leir.
Why how now, Minion, are you growne so proud?
Doth our deare loue make you thus peremptory?
What, is your loue become so small to vs,
As that you scorne to tell vs what it is?
Do you loue vs, as euery child doth loue
Their father? True indeed, as some,
Who by disobedience short their fathers dayes,
And so would you; some are so father-sick,
That they make meanes to rid them from the world;
And so would you: some are indifferent,
Whether their aged parents liue or dye;
And so are you. But, didst thou know, proud gyrle,
What care I had to foster thee to this,
Ah, then thou wouldst say as thy sisters do:
Our life is lesse, then loue we owe to you.
Cord.
Deare father, do not so mistake my words,
[Page]
Nor my playne meaning be misconstrued;
My toung was neuer vsde to flattery.
Gon.
You were not best say I flatter: if you do,
My deeds shall shew, I flatter not with you.
[300] I loue my father better then thou canst.
Cor.
The prayse were great, spoke from anothers mouth:
But it should seeme your neighbours dwell far off.
Rag.
Nay, here is one, that will confirme as much
As she hath sayd, both for my selfe and her.
I say, thou dost not wish my fathers good.
Cord.
Deare father.---
Leir.
Peace, bastard Impe, no issue of King Leir,
I will not heare thee speake one tittle more.
Call not me father, if thou loue thy life,
Nor these thy sisters once presume to name:
Looke for no helpe henceforth from me nor mine;
Shift as thou wilt, and trust vnto thy selfe:
My Kingdome will I equally deuide
'Twixt thy two sisters to their royall dowre,
And will bestow them worthy their deserts:
This done, because thou shalt not haue the hope,
To haue a childs part in the time to come,
I presently will dispossesse my selfe,
And set vp these vpon my princely throne.
Gon.
I euer thought that pride would haue a fall.
Ra.
Plaine dealing, sister: your beauty is so sheene,
You need no dowry, to make you be a Queene.
Exeunt
Leir, Gonorill, Ragan.
Cord.
Now whither, poore forsaken, shall I goe,
When mine owne sisters tryumph in my woe?
[325] But vnto him which doth protect the iust,
In him will poore Cordella put her trust.
These hands shall labour, for to get my spending;
And so ile liue vntill my dayes haue ending.
Per.
Oh, how I grieue, to see my Lord thus fond,
To dote so much vpon vayne flattering words.
Ah, if he but with good aduice had weyghed,
The hidden tenure of her humble speech,
[Page]
Reason to rage should not haue giuen place,
Nor poore Cordella suffer such disgrace.
Exit.
Enter
the Gallian King with Mumford, and three Nobles more.
King.
Disswade me not, my Lords, I am resolu'd,
This next fayre wynd to sayle for Brittany,
In some disguise, to see if flying fame
Be not too prodigall in the wondrous prayse
Of these three Nymphes, the daughters of King Leir.
If present view do answere absent prayse,
And eyes allow of what our eares haue heard,
And Venus stand auspicious to my vowes,
And Fortune fauour what I take in hand;
I will returne seyz'd of as rich a prize
As Iason, when he wanne the golden fleece.
Mum.
Heauens graut you may; the match were ful of honor,
And well beseeming the young Gallian King.
I would your Grace would fauour me so much,
As make me partner of your Pilgrimage.
[350] I long to see the gallant Brittish Dames,
And feed mine eyes vpon their rare perfections:
For till I know the contrary, Ile say,
Our Dames in Fraunce are far more fayre then they.
Kin.
Lord Mumford, you haue saued me a labour,
In offring that which I did meane to aske:
And I most willingly accept your company.
Yet first I will inioyne you to obserue
Some few conditions which I shall propose.
Mum.
So that you do not tye mine eyes for looking
After the amorous glaunces of fayre Dames:
So that you do not tye my toung from speaking,
My lips from kissing when occasion serues,
My hands from congees, and my knees to bow
To gallant Gyrles; which were a taske more hard,
Then flesh and bloud is able to indure:
Commaund what else you please, I rest content.
Kin.
To bind thee from a thing thou canst not leaue,
Were but a meane to make thee seeke it more:
[Page]
And therefore speake, looke, kisse, salute for me;
In these my selfe am like to second thee.
Now heare thy taske. I charge thee from the time
That first we set sayle for the Brittish shore,
To vse no words of dignity to me,
But in the friendliest maner that thou canst,
[375] Make vse of me as thy companion:
For we will go disguisde in Palmers weeds,
That no man shall mistrust vs what we are.
Mum.
If that be all, ile fit your turne,
I warrant you. I am / some kin to the Blunts, and I think, the bluntest of all
my kindred; / therfore if I bee too blunt with you, thank your selfe for /
praying me to be so. /
King.
Thy pleasant company will make the way seeme short.
It resteth now, that in my absence hence,
I do commit the gouernment to you
My trusty Lords and faythfull Counsellers.
Time cutteth off the rest I haue to say:
The wynd blowes fayre, and I must needs away.
Nobles.
Heauens send your voyage to as good effect,
As we your land do purpose to protect.
Exeunt.
Enter
the King of Cornwall and his man booted and spurd a riding wand, and a letter
in his hand.
Corn.
But how far distant are we from the Court?
Ser.
Some twenty miles, my Lord, or thereabouts.
Corn.
It seemeth to me twenty thousand myles:
Yet hope I to be there within this houre.
Ser.
Then are you like to ride alone for me.
I thinke, my Lord is weary of his life.
to
himselfe.
Corn.
Sweet Gonorill, I long to see thy face,
Which hast so kindly gratified my loue.
Enter
the King of Cambria booted and spurd, and his man with a wand and a letter.
Cam.
Get a fresh horse: for by my soule I sweare,
He
lookes on the letter.
I am past patience, longer to forbeare
[400] The wished sight of my beloued mistris,
Deare Ragan, stay and comfort of my life.
Ser.
Now what in Gods name doth my Lord intend?
to
himselfe.
[Page]
He thinks he ne're shall come at's iourneyes end.
I would he had old Dedalus waxen wings,
That he might flye, so I might stay behind:
For e're we get to Troynouant, I see,
He quite will tyre himselfe, his horse and me.
Cornwall
& Cambria looke one vpon another, and start to see eche other there.
Corn.
Brother of Cambria, we greet you well,
As one whom here we little did expect.
Cam.
Brother of Cornwall, met in happy time:
I thought as much to haue met with the Souldan of Persia,
As to haue met you in this place, my Lord.
No doubt, it is about some great affayres,
That makes you here so slenderly accompanied.
Corn.
To say the truth, my Lord, it is no lesse,
And for your part some hasty wind of chance
Hath blowne you hither thus vpon the sudden.
Cam.
My Lord, to break off further circumstances,
For at this time I cannot brooke delayes:
Tell you your reason, I will tell you mine.
Corn.
In fayth content, and therefore to be briefe;
For I am sure my haste's as great as yours:
I am sent for, to come vnto King Leir,
Who by these present letters promiseth
[425] His eldest daughter, louely Gonorill,
To me in mariage, and for present dowry,
The moity of halfe his Regiment.
The Ladies loue I long ago possest:
But vntill now I neuer had the fathers.
Cam.
You tell me wonders, yet I will relate
Strange newes, and henceforth we must brothers call;
Witnesse these lynes: his honourable age,
Being weary of the troubles of his Crowne,
His princely daughter Ragan will bestow
On me in mariage, with halfe his Seigniories,
Whom I would gladly haue accepted of,
With the third part, her complements are such.
Corn.
If I haue one halfe, and you haue the other,
[Page]
Then betweene vs we must needs haue the whole.
Cam.
The hole! how meane you that? Zlood, I hope,
We shall haue two holes betweene vs.
Corn.
Why, the whole Kingdome.
Cam.
I, that's very true.
Cor.
What then is left for his third daughters dowry,
Louely Cordella, whom the world admires?
Cam.
Tis very strange, I know not what to thinke,
Vnlesse they meane to make a Nunne of her.
Corn.
'Twere pity such rare beauty should be hid
Within the compasse of a Cloysters wall:
[450] But howsoe're, if Leirs words proue
true,
It will be good, my Lord, for me and you.
Cam.
Then let vs haste, all danger to preuent,
For feare delayes doe alter his intent.
Exeunt.
Enter
Gonorill and Ragan.
Gon.
Sister, when did you see Cordella last,
That prety piece, that thinks none good ynough
To speake to her, because (sir-reuerence)
She hath a little beauty extraordinary?
Ra.
Since time my father warnd her from his presence,
I neuer saw her, that I can remember.
God giue her ioy of her surpassing beauty;
I thinke, her dowry will be small ynough.
Gon.
I haue incenst my father so against her,
As he will neuer be reclaymd agayne.
Rag.
I was not much behind to do the like.
Gon.
Faith, sister, what moues you to beare her such goodwill?
Rag.
Intruth, I thinke, the same that moueth you;
Because she doth surpasse vs both in beauty.
Gon.
Beshrew your fingers, how right you can gesse:
I tell you true, it cuts me to the heart.
Rag.
But we will keepe her low enough, I warrant,
And clip her wings for mounting vp too hye.
Gon.
Who euer hath her, shall haue a rich mariage of her.
Rag.
She were right fit to make a Parsons wife:
For they, men say, do loue faire women well,
[Page]
[475] And many times doe marry them with nothing.
Gon.
With nothing! marry God forbid: why, are there any suche
Rag.
I meane, no money.
Gon.
I cry you mercy, I mistooke you much:
And she is far too stately for the Church;
Sheele lay her husbands Benefice on her back,
Euen in one gowne, if she may haue her will.
Ra.
In faith, poore soule, I pitty her a little.
Would she were lesse fayre, or more fortunate.
Well, I thinke long vntill I see my Morgan,
The gallant Prince of Cambria, here arriue.
Gon.
And so do I, vntill the Cornwall King
Present himselfe, to consummate my ioyes.
Peace, here commeth my father.
Enter
Leir, Perillus and others.
Leir.
Cease, good my Lords, and sue not to reuerse
Our censure, which is now irreuocable.
We haue dispatched letters of contract
Vnto the Kings of Cambria and of Cornwall;
Our hand and seale will iustify no lesse:
Then do not so dishonour me, my Lords,
As to make shipwrack of our kingly word.
I am as kind as is the Pellican,
That kils itselfe, to saue her young ones liues:
And yet as ielous as the princely Eagle,
That kils her young ones, if they do but dazell
[500] Vpon the radiant splendor of the Sunne.
Within this two dayes I expect their comming.
Enter
Kings of Cornwall and Cambria.
But in good time, they are arriu'd already.
This haste of yours, my Lords, doth testify
The feruent loue you beare vnto my daughters:
And think your selues as welcome to King Leir,
As euer Pryams children were to him.
Corn.
My gracious Lord, and father too, I hope,
Pardon, for that I made no greater haste:
But were my horse as swift as was my will,
I long ere this had seene your Maiesty.
Cam,
No other scuse of absence can I frame,
[Page]
Then what my brother hath inform'd your Grace:
For our vndeserued welcome, we do vowe,
Perpetually to rest at your commaund.
Corn.
But you, sweet Loue, illustrious Gonorill,
The Regent, and the Soueraigne of my soule,
Is Cornwall welcome to your Excellency?
Gon.
As welcome, as Leander was to Hero,
Or braue Aeneas to the Carthage Queene:
So and more welcome is you. Grace to me.
Cam.
O, may my fortune proue no worse then his,
Since heauens do know, my fancy is as much,
Deare Ragan, say, if welcome vnto thee,
All welcomes else will little comfort me.
Rag.
[525] As gold is welcome to the couetous eye,
As sleepe is welcome to the Traueller,
As is fresh water to sea-beaten men,
Or moystned showres vnto the parched ground,
Or any thing more welcomer then this,
So and more welcome louely Morgan is.
Leir.
What resteth then, but that we consummate,
The celebration of these nuptiall Rites?
My Kingdome I do equally deuide.
Princes, draw lots, and take your chaunce as falles.
Then
they draw lots.
These I resigne as freely vnto you,
As earst by true succession they were mine.
And here I do freely dispossesse my selfe,
And make you two my true adopted heyres:
My selfe will soiorne with my sonne of Cornwall,
And take me to my prayers and my beades.
I know, my daughter Ragan will be sorry,
Because I do not spend my dayes with her:
Would I were able to be with both at once;
They are the kindest Gyrles in Christendome.
Per.
I haue bin silent all this while, my Lord,
To see if any worthyer then my selfe,
Would once haue spoke in poore Cordellaes cause:
But loue or feare tyes silence to their toungs.
[Page]
Oh, heare me speake for her, my gracious Lord,
[550] Whose deeds haue not deseru'd this ruthlesse
doome,
As thus to disinherit her of all.
Leir.
Vrge this no more, and if thou loue thy life:
I say, she is no daughter, that doth scorne
To tell her father how she loueth him.
Who euer speaketh hereof to mee agayne,
I will esteeme him for my mortall foe.
Come, let vs in, to celebrate with ioy,
The happy Nuptialls of these louely payres.
Exeunt
omnes, manes Perillus.
Per.
Ah, who so blind, as they that will not see
The neere approch of their owne misery?
Poore Lady, I extremely pitty her:
And whilest I liue, eche drop of my heart blood,
Will I strayne forth, to do her any good.
Exit.
Enter
the Gallian King, and Mumford, disguised like Pilgrims.
Mum.
My Lord, how do you brook this Brittish ayre?
King.
My Lord? I told you of this foolish humour,
And bound you to the contrary, you know.
Mum.
Pardon me for once, my Lord; I did forget.
King.
My Lord agayne? then let's haue nothing else,
And so be tane for spyes, and then tis well.
Mum.
Swounds, I could bite my toung in two for anger:
For Gods sake name your selfe some proper name.
King.
Call me Tresillus: Ile call thee Denapoll.
Mum.
Might I be made the Monarch of the world,
I could not hit vpon these names, I sweare.
King.
[575] Then call me Will, ile call thee Iacke.
Mum.
Well, be it so, for I haue wel deseru'd to be cal'd Iack.
King.
Stand close; for here a Brittish Lady cometh:
Enter
Cordella.
A fayrer creature ne're mine eyes beheld.
Cord.
This is a day of ioy vnto my sisters,
Wherein they both are maried vnto Kings;
And I, by byrth, as worthy as themselues,
Am turnd into the world, to seeke my fortune.
How may I blame the fickle Queene of Chaunce,
[Page]
That maketh me a patterne of her power?
Ah, poore weake mayd, whose imbecility
Is far vnable to indure these brunts.
Oh, father Leir, how dost thou wrong thy child,
Who alwayes was obedient to thy will!
But why accuse I fortune and my father?
No, no, it is the pleasure of my God:
And I do willingly imbrace the rod.
King.
It is no Goddesse; for she doth complayne
On fortune, and th'vnkindnesse of her father.
Cord.
These costly robes ill fitting my estate,
I will exchange for other meaner habit.
Mum.
Now if I had a Kingdome in my hands,
I would exchange it for a milkmaids smock and petycoate,
That she and I might shift our clothes together.
Cord.
I will betake me to my threed and Needle,
[600] And earne my liuing with my fingers ends.
Mum.
O braue! God willing, thou shalt haue my custome,
By sweet S. Denis, here I sadly sweare,
For all the shirts and night-geare that I weare.
Cord.
I will professe and vow a maydens life.
Mum.
The I protest thou shalt not haue my custom.
King.
I can forbeare no longer for to speak:
For if I do, I think my heart will breake.
Mum.
Sblood, Wil, I hope you are not in loue with my Sepster.
King.
I am in such a laborinth of loue,
As that I know not which way to get out.
Mum.
You'l ne're get out, vnlesse you first get in.
King.
I prithy Iacke, crosse not my passions.
Mum.
Prithy Wil, to her, and try her patience.
King.
Thou fairest creature, whatsoere thou art,
That euer any mortall eyes beheld,
Vouchsafe to me, who haue o'reheard thy woes,
To shew the cause of these thy sad laments.
Cor.
Ah Pilgrims, what auailes to shew the cause,
When there's no meanes to find a remedy?
King.
To vtter griefe, doth ease a heart o'recharg'd.
Cor.
To touch a sore, doth aggrauate the payne.
[Page]
King.
The silly mouse, by vertue of her teeth,
Releas'd the princely Lyon from the net.
Cor.
Kind Palmer, which so much defir'st to heare
[625] The tragick tale of my vnhappy youth:
Know this in briefe, I am the haplesse daughter
Of Leir, sometimes King of Brittany.
King.
Why, who debarres his honourable age,
From being still the King of Brittany?
Cor.
None, but himselfe hath dispossest himselfe,
And giuen all his Kingdome to the Kings
Of Cornwall and of Cambria, with my sisters.
King.
Hath he giuen nothing to your louely selfe?
Cor.
He lou'd me not, & therfore gaue me nothing,
Only because I could not flatter him:
And in this day of tryumph to my sisters,
Doth Fortune tryumph in my ouerthrow.
King.
Sweet Lady, say there should come a King,
As good as eyther of your sisters husbands,
To craue your loue, would you accept of him?
Cor.
Oh, doe not mocke with those in misery,
Nor do not think, though fortune haue the power,
To spoyle mine honour, and debase my state,
That she hath any interest in my mind:
For if the greatest Monarch on the earth,
Should sue to me in this extremity,
Except my heart could loue, and heart could like,
Better then any that I euer saw,
His great estate no more should moue my mind,
[650] Then mountaynes moue by blast of euery wind.
King.
Think not, sweet Nymph, tis holy Palmers guise,
To grieued soules fresh torments to deuise:
Therefore in witnesse of my true intent,
Let heauen and earth beare record of my words:
There is a young and lusty Gallian King,
So like to me, as I am to my selfe,
That earnestly doth craue to haue thy loue,
And ioyne with thee in Hymens sacred bonds.
Cor.
The like to thee did ne're these eyes behold;
[Page]
Oh liue to adde new torments to my griefe:
Why didst thou thus intrap me vnawares?
Ah Palmer, my estate doth not befit
A kingly mariage, as the case now stands.
Whilome when as I liu'd in honours height,
A Prince perhaps might postulate my loue:
Now misery, dishonour and disgrace,
Hath light on me, and quite reuerst the case.
Thy King will hold thee wise, if thou surcease
The sute, whereas no dowry will insue.
Then be aduised, Palmer, what to do:
Cease for thy King, seeke for thy selfe to woo.
King.
Your birth's too high for any, but a King.
Cor.
My mind is low ynough to loue a Palmer,
Rather then any King vpon the earth.
King.
[675] O, but you neuer can indure their life,
Which is so straight and full of penury.
Cor.
O yes, I can, and happy if I might:
Ile hold thy Palmers staffe within my hand,
And thinke it is the Scepter of a Queene.
Sometime ile set thy Bonnet on my head,
And thinke I weare a rich imperiall Crowne.
Sometime ile helpe thee in thy holy prayers,
And thinke I am with thee in Paradise.
Thus ile mock fortune, as she mocketh me,
And neuer will my louely choyce repent:
For hauing thee, I shall haue all content.
King.
'Twere sin to hold her longer in suspence,
Since that my soule hath vow'd she shall be mine.
Ah, deare Cordella, cordiall to my heart,
I am no Palmer, as I seeme to be,
But hither come in this vnknowne disguise,
To view th'admired beauty of those eyes.
I am the King of Gallia, gentle mayd,
(Although thus slenderly accompanied)
And yet thy vassayle by imperious Loue,
And sworne to serue thee euerlastingly.
Cor.
What e're you be, of high or low discent,
[Page]
All's one to me, I do request but this:
That as I am, you will accept of me,
[700] And I will haue you whatsoe're you be:
Yet well I know, you come of royall race,
I see such sparks of honour in your face:
Mum.
Haue Palmers weeds such power to win fayre Ladies?
Fayth, then I hope the next that falles is myne:
Vpon condition I no worse might speed,
I would for euer weare a Palmers weed.
I like an honest and playne dealing wench,
That sweares (without exceptions) I will haue you.
These foppets, that know not whether
to loue a man or no, except / they first go aske their mothers leaue, by this
hand, I hate / them ten tymes worse then poyson. /
King.
What resteth then our happinesse to procure?
Mum.
Fayth, go to Church, to make the matter sure.
King.
It shall be so, because the world shall say,
King Leirs three daughters were wedded in one day:
The celebration of this happy chaunce,
We will deferre, vntill we come to Fraunce.
Mum.
I like the wooing, that's not long a doing.
Well, for her sake, I know what I know:
Ile neuer marry whilest I liue,
Except I haue one of these Brittish Ladyes,
My humour is alienated from the mayds of Fraunce.
Exeunt.
Enter
Perillus solus.
Per.
The King hath dispossest himselfe of all,
Those to aduaunce, which scarce will giue him thanks:
[725] His youngest daughter he hath turnd away,
And no man knowes what is become of her.
He soiournes now in Cornwall with the eldest,
Who flattred him, vntill she did obtayne
That at his hands, which now she doth possesses
And now she sees hee hath no more to giue,
It grieues her heart to see her father liue.
Oh, whom should man trust in this wicked age,
When children thus against their parents rage?
But he, the myrrour of mild patience,
[Page]
Puts vp all wrongs, and neuer giues reply:
Yet shames she not in most opprobrious sort,
To call him foole and doterd to his face,
And sets her Parasites of purpose oft,
In scoffing wise to offer him disgrace.
Oh yron age! O times! O monstrous, vilde,
When parents are contemned of the child!
His pension she hath halfe restrain'd from him,
And will, e're long, the other halfe, I feare:
For she thinks nothing is bestowde in vayne,
But that which doth her fathers life maintayne.
Trust not alliance; but trust strangers rather,
Since daughters proue disloyall to the father.
Well, I will counsell him the best I can:
Would I were able to redresse his wrong.
[750] Yet what I can, vnto my vtmost power,
He shall be sure of to the latest houre.
Exit.
Enter
Gonorill, and Skalliger.
Gon.
I prithy, Skalliger, tell me what thou thinkst:
Could any woman of our dignity
Endure such quips and peremptory taunts,
As I do daily from my doting father?
Doth't not suffice that I him keepe of almes,
Who is not able for to keepe himselfe?
But as if he were our better, he should thinke
To check and snap me vp at euery word.
I cannot make me a new fashioned gowne,
And set it forth with more then common cost;
But his old doting doltish withered wit,
Is sure to giue a sencelesse check for it.
I cannot make a banquet extraordinary,
To grace my selfe, and spread my name abroad,
But he, old foole, is captious by and by,
And sayth, the cost would well suffice for twice.
Iudge then, I pray, what reason ist, that I
Should stand alone charg'd with his vaine expence,
And that my sister Ragan should go free,
To whom he gaue as much, as vnto me?
[Page]
I prithy, Skalliger, tell me, if thou know,
By any meanes to rid me of this woe.
Skal.
Your many fauours still bestowde on me,
[775] Binde me in duty to aduise your Grace,
How you may soonest remedy this ill.
The large allowance which he hath from you,
Is that which makes him so forget himselfe:
Therefore abbridge it halfe, and you shall see,
That hauing lesse, he will more thankfull be:
For why, abundance maketh vs forget
The fountaynes whence the benefits do spring.
Gon.
Well, Skalliger, for thy kynd aduice herein,
I will not be vngratefull, if I liue:
I haue restrayned halfe his portion already,
And I will presently restrayne the other,
That hauing no meanes to releeue himselfe,
He may go seeke elsewhere for better helpe.
Exit.
Skal.
Go, viperous woman, shame to all thy sexe:
The heauens, no doubt, will punish thee for this:
And me a villayne, that to curry fauour,
Haue giuen the daughter counsell 'gainst the father.
But vs the world doth this experience giue,
That he that cannot flatter, cannot liue.
Exit.
Enter
King of Cornwall, Leir, Perillus & Nobles.
Corn.
Father, what ayleth you to be so sad?
Me thinks, you frollike not as you were wont.
Leir.
The neerer we do grow vnto our graues,
The lesse we do delight in worldly ioyes.
Corn.
But if a man can frame himselfe to myrth,
[800] It is a meane for to prolong his life.
Leir.
Then welcome sorrow, Leirs only friend,
Who doth desire his troubled dayes had end.
Corn.
Comfort your selfe, father, here comes your daughter,
Who much will grieue, I know, to see you sad.
Leir.
But more doth grieue, I feare, to see me liue.
Enter
Gonerill.
Corn.
My Gonorill, you come in wished time,
To put your father from these pensiue dumps.
In fayth, I feare that all things go not well.
[Page]
Gon.
What, do you feare, that I haue angred him?
Hath he complaynd of me vnto my Lord?
Ile prouide him a piece of bread and cheese;
For in a time heele practise nothing else,
Then carry tales from one vnto another,
Tis all his practise for to kindle strife,
'Twixt you, my Lord, and me your louing wife:
But I will take an order, if I can,
To cease th'effect, where first the cause began.
Corn.
Sweet, be not angry in a partiall cause,
He ne're complaynd of thee in all his life.
Father, you must not weygh a womans words.
Leir.
Alas, not I: poore soule, she breeds yong bones,
And that is it makes her so tuteliy sure.
Gon.
What, breeds young bones already! you will make
An honest woman of me then, belike.
[825] O vild olde wretch! who euer heard the like,
That seeketh thus his owne child to defame?
Corn.
I cannot stay to heare this discord sound.
Exit.
Gon.
For any one that loues your company,
You may go pack, and seeke some other place,
To sowe the seed of discord and disgrace.
Exit.
Leir.
Thus, say or do the best that e're I can,
Tis wrested straight into another sence.
This punishment my heauy sinnes deserue,
And more then this ten thousand thousand times:
Else aged Leir them could neuer find
Cruell to him, to whom he hath bin kind.
Why do I ouer-liue my selfe, to see
The course of nature quite reuerst in me?
Ah, gentle Death, if euer any wight
Did wish thy presence with a perfit zeale:
Then come, I pray thee, euen with all my heart,
And end my sorrowes with thy fatall dart.
He
weepes.
Per.
Ah, do not so disconsolate your selfe,
Nor dew your aged cheeks with wasting teares.
Leir.
What man art thou that takest any pity
Vpon the worthlesse state of old Leir?
[Page]
Per.
One, who doth beare as great a share of griefe,
As if it were my dearest fathers case.
Leir.
Ah, good my friend, how ill art thou aduisde,
[850] For to consort with miserable men:
Go learne to flatter, where thou mayst in time
Get fauour 'mongst the mighty, and so clyme:
For now I am so poore and full of want,
As that I ne're can recompence thy loue.
Per.
What's got by flattery, doth not long indure;
And men in fauour liue not most secure.
My conscience tels me, if I should forsake you,
I were the hatefulst excrement on the earth:
Which well do know, in course of former time,
How good my Lord hath bin to me and mine.
Leir.
Did I ere rayse thee higher then the rest
Of all thy ancestors which were before?
Per.
I ne're did seeke it; but by your good Grace,
I still inioyed my owne with quietnesse.
Leir.
Did I ere giue thee liuing, to increase
The due reuennues which thy father left?
Per.
I had ynough, my Lord, and hauing that,
What should you need to giue me any more?
Leir.
Oh, did I euer dispossesse my selfe,
And giue thee halfe my Kingdome in good will?
Per.
Alas, my Lord, there were no reason, why
You should haue such a thought, to giue it me.
Leir.
Nay, if thou talke of reason, then be mute;
For with good reason I can thee confute,
[875] If they, which first by natures sacred law,
Do owe to me the tribute of their liues;
If they to whom I alwayes haue bin kinde,
And bountifull beyond comparison;
If they, for whom I haue vndone my selfe,
And brought my age vnto this extreme want,
Do now reiect, contemne, despise, abhor me,
What reason moueth thee to sorrow for me?
Per.
Where reason fayles, let teares confirme my loue,
And speake how much your passions do me moue.
[Page]
Ah, good my Lord, condemne not all for one:
You haue two daughters left, to whom I know
You shall be welcome, if you please to go.
Leir.
Oh, how thy words adde sorrow to my soule,
To thinke of my vnkindnesse to Cordella!
Whom causelesse I did dispossesse of all,
Vpon th'vnkind suggestions of her sisters:
And for her sake, I thinke this heauy doome
Is falne on me, and not without desert:
Yet vnto Ragan was I alwayes kinde,
And gaue to her the halfe of all I had:
It may be, if I should to her repayre,
She would be kinder, and intreat me fayre.
Per.
No doubt she would, & practise ere't be long,
By force of Armes for to redresse your wrong.
Leir.
[900] Well, since thou doest aduise me for to go,
I am resolu'd to try the worst of wo.
Exeunt.
Enter
Ragan solus.
Rag.
How may I blesse the howre of my natiuity,
Which bodeth vnto me such happy Starres!
How may I thank kind fortune, that vouchsafes
To all my actions, such desir'd euent!
I rule the King of Cambria as I please:
The States are all obedient to my will;
And looke what ere I say, it shall be so;
Not anyone, that dareth answere no.
My eldest sister liues in royall state,
And wanteth nothing fitting her degreet
Yet hath she such a cooling card withall,
As that her hony sauoureth much of gall.
My father with her is quarter-master still,
And many times restraynes her of her will:
But if he were with me, and seru'd me so,
Ide send him packing some where else to go.
Ide entertayne him with such slender cost,
That he should quickly wish to change his host.
Exit.
Enter
Cornwall, Gonorill, and attendants.
Corn.
Ah, Gonorill, what dire vnhappy chaunce
[Page]
Hath sequestred thy father from our presence,
That no report can yet be heard of him?
Some great vnkindnesse hath bin offred him,
Exceeding far the bounds of patience:
[925] Else all the world shall neuer me perswade,
He would forsake vs without notice made.
Gon.
Alas, my Lord, whom doth it touch so neere,
Or who hath interest in this griefe, but I,
Whom sorrow had brought to her longest home,
But that I know his qualities so well?
I know, he is but stolne vpon my sister
At vnawares, to see her how she fares,
And spend a little time with her, to note
How all things goe, and how she likes her choyce:
And when occasion serues, heele steale from her,
And vnawares returne to vs agayne.
Therefore, my Lord, be frolick, and resolue
To see my father here agayne e're long.
Corn.
I hope so too; but yet to be more sure,
Ile send a Poste immediately to know
Whether he be arriued there or no.
Exit.
Gon.
But I will intercept the Messenger,
And temper him before he doth depart,
With sweet perswasions, and with sound rewards,
That his report shall ratify my speech,
And make my Lord ceale further to inquire.
If he be not gone to my sisters Court,
As sure my mind presageth that he is,
He happely may, by trauelling vnknowne wayes,
[950] Fall sicke, and as a common passenger,
Be dead and buried: would God it were so well;
For then there were no more to do, but this,
He went away, and none knowes where he is.
But say he be in Cambria with the King,
And there exclayme against me, as he will:
I know he is as welcome to my sister,
As water is into a broken ship.
Well, after him Ile send such thunderclaps
[Page]
Of slaunder, scandall, and inuented tales,
That all the blame shall be remou'd from me,
And vnperceiu'd rebound vpon himselfe,
Thus with one nayle another Ile expell,
And make the world iudge, that I vsde him well.
Enter
the Messenger that should go to Cambria, with a letter in his hand.
Gon.
My honest friend, whither away so fast?
Mes.
To Cambria, Madam, with letters fro the king.
Gon.
To whom?
Mess.
Vnto your father, if he be there.
Gon.
Let me see them.
She
opens them.
Mess.
Madam, I hope your Grace will stand
Betweene me and my neck-verse, if I be
Calld in question, for opening the Kings letters.
Gon.
'Twas I that opened them, it was not thou.
Mes.
I, but you need not care: and so must I,
A hansome man, be quickly trust vp,
[975] And when a man's hang'd, all the world
cannot saue him.
Gon.
He that hangs thee, were better hang his father,
Or that but hurts thee in the least degree.
I tell thee, we make great account of thee.
Mes.
I am o're-ioy'd, I surfet of sweet words:
Kind Queene, had I a hundred liues, I would
Spend ninety nyne of them for you, for that word.
Gon.
I, but thou wouldst keepe one life still,
And that's as many as thou art like to haue.
Mes.
That one life is not too deare for
my good Queene; this / sword, this buckler, this head, this heart, these hands,
armes, / legs, tripes, bowels, and all the members else whatsoeuer, are at /
your dispose; vse me, trust me, commaund me: if I fayle in any / thing, tye me
to a dung cart, and make a Scauengers horse of / me, and whip me, so long as I haue
any skin on my back. /
Gon.
In token of further imployment, take
that. /
Flings
him a purse.
Mes.
A strong Bond, a firme Obligation,
good in law, good / in law: if I keepe not the condition, let my necke be the
forfeyture / of my negligence. /
[Page]
Gon.
I like thee well, thou hast a good toung. /
Mes.
And as bad a toung if it be set on
it, as any Oysterwife / at Ballinsgate hath: why, I haue made many of my
neighbours / forsake their houses with rayling vpon them, and go dwell else /
where; and so by my meanes houses haue bin good cheape in / our parish: My
toung being well whetted with choller, is more / [1000]
sharpe then a Razer of Palerno. /
Gon.
O, thou art a fit man for my
purpose. /
Mes.
Commend me not, sweet Queene, before
you try me, / As my deserts are, so do think of me. /
Gon.
Well sayd, then this is thy tryall:
Instead of carrying / the Kings letters to my father, carry thou these letters
to my / sister, which contayne matter quite contrary to the other: there / shal
she be giuen to vnderstand, that my father hath detracted / her, giuen out
slaundrous speaches against her; and that hee / hath most intollerably abused
me, set my Lord and me at variance, / and made mutinyes amongst the commons. /
These things (although it be not so)
Yet thou must affirme them to be true,
With othes and protestations as will serue,
To driue my sister out of loue with him,
And cause my will accomplished to be.
This do, thou winst my fauour for euer,
And makest a hye way of preferment to thee
And all thy friends.
Mess.
It sufficeth, conceyt it is already done:
I will so toung-whip him, that I will
Leaue him as bare of credit, as a Poulter
Leaues a Cony, when she pulls off his skin.
Gon.
Yet there is a further matter.
Mes.
I thirst to heare it.
Gon.
[1025] If my sister thinketh conuenient, as my
letters / importeth, to make him away, hast thou the heart to / effect it? /
Mess.
Few words are best in so small a matter:
These are but trifles. By this booke I will.
kisse
the paper.
[Page]
Gon.
About it presently, I long till it be done.
Mes.
I fly, I fly.
Exeunt.
Enter Cordelia solus.
I haue bin ouer-negligent to day,
In going to the Temple of my God,
To render thanks for all his benefits,
Which he miraculously hath bestowed on me,
In raysing me out of my meane estate,
When as I was deuoyd of worldly friends,
And placing me in such a sweet content,
As far exceeds the reach of my deserts.
My kingly husband, myrrour of his time,
For zeale, for iustice, kindnesse, and for care
To God, his subiects, me, and Common weale,
By his appoyntment was ordaynd for me.
I cannot with the thing that I do want;
I cannot want the thing but I may haue,
Saue only this which I shall ne're obtayne,
My fathers loue, oh this I ne're shall gayne.
I would abstayne from any nutryment,
And pyne my body to the very bones:
[1050] Bare foote I would on pilgrimage
set forth
Vnto the furthest quarters of the earth,
And all my life time would I sackcloth weare,
And mourning-wise powre dust vpon my head:
So he but to forgiue me once would please,
That his gray haires might go to heauen in peace.
And yet I know not how I him offended,
Or wherein iustly I haue deserued blame.
Oh sisters! you are much to blame in this,
It was not he, but you that did me wrong.
Yet God forgiue both him, and you and me,
Euen as I doe in perfit charity.
I will to Church, and pray vnto my Sauiour,
That ere I dye, I may obtayne his fauour.
Exit.
Enter
Leir and Perillus fayntly.
Per.
Rest on me, my Lord, and stay your selfe,
The way seemes tedious to your aged lymmes.
[Page]
Leir.
Nay, rest on me, kind friend, and stay thy selfe,
Thou art as old as I, but more kind.
Per.
Ah, good my Lord, it ill befits, that I
Should leane vpon the person of a King.
Leir.
But it fits worse, that I should bring thee forth,
That had no cause to come along with me,
Through these vncouth paths, and tirefull wayes,
And neuer ease thy faynting limmes a whit.
Thou hast left all, I, all to come with me,
[1075] And I, for all, haue nought to guerdon thee.
Per.
Cease, good my Lord, to aggrauate my woes,
With these kind words, which cuts my heart in two,
To think your will should want the power to do.
Leir.
Cease, good Perillus, for to call me Lord,
And think me but the shaddow of my selfe.
Per.
That honourable title will I giue,
Vnto my Lord, so long as I do liue.
Oh, be of comfort; for I see the place
Whereas your daughter keeps her residence.
And loe, in happy time the Cambrian Prince
Is here arriu'd, to gratify our comming.
Enter
the Prince of Cambria, Ragan and Nobles: looke vpon them, and whisper together.
Leir.
Were I best speak, or sit me downe and dye?
I am asham'd to tell this heauy tale.
Per.
Then let me tell it, if you please, my Lord:
Tis shame for them that were the cause thereof.
Cam.
What two old men are those that seeme so sad?
Me thinks, I should remember well their lookes.
Rag.
No, I mistake not, sure it is my father:
I must dissemble kindnesse now of force.
She
runneth to him, and kneeles downe, saying:
Father, I bid you welcome, full of griefe,
To see your Grace vsde thus vnworthily,
And ill befitting for your reuerend age,
To come on foot a iourney so indurable.
Oh, what disaster chaunce hath bin the cause,
[1100] To make your cheeks so hollow, spare and
leane?
[Page]
He cannot speake for weeping: for Gods loue, come,
Let vs refresh him with some needfull things,
And at more leysure we may better know,
Whence springs the ground of this vnlookt for wo.
Cam.
Come, father, e're we any further talke,
You shall refresh you after this weary walk.
Exeunt,
manet Ragan.
Rag.
Comes he to me with finger in the eye,
To tell a tale against my sister here?
Whom I do know, he greatly hath abusde:
And now like a contentious crafty wretch,
He first begins for to complayne himselfe,
When as himselfe is in the greatest fault.
Ile not be partiall in my sisters cause,
Nor yet beleeue his doting vayne reports:
Who for a trifle (safely) I dare say,
Vpon a spleene is stolen thence away:
And here (forsooth) he hopeth to haue harbour,
And to be moan'd and made on like a child:
But ere't be long, his comming he shall curse,
And truely say, he came from bad to worse:
Yet will I make fayre weather, to procure
Conuenient meanes, and then ile strike it sure.
Exit.
Enter
Messenger solus.
Mes.
Now happily I am arriued here,
Before the stately Palace of the Cambrian King:
[1125] If Leir be here safe-seated, and in
rest,
To rowse him from it I will do my best.
Enter
Ragan.
Now bags of gold, your vertue is (no doubt)
To make me in my message bold and stout.
The King of heauen preserue your Maiesty.
And send your Highnesse euerlasting raigne.
Ra.
Thanks, good my friend; but what imports thy message?
Mes.
Kind greetings from the Cornwall Queene:
The residue these letters will declare.
She
opens the letters.
Rag.
How fares our royall sister?
Mes.
I did leaue her at my parting, in good health.
She
reads the letter, frownes and stamps.
[Page]
See how her colour comes and goes agayne,
Now red as scarlet, now as pale as ash:
She how she knits her brow, and bytes her lips,
And stamps, and makes a dumbe shew of disdayne,
Mixt with reuenge, and violent extreames.
Here will be more worke and more crownes for me.
Rag.
Alas, poore soule, and hath he vsde her thus?
And is he now come hither, with intent
To set diuorce betwixt my Lord and me?
Doth he giue out, that he doth heare report,
That I do rule my husband as I list,
And therefore meanes to alter so the case,
That I shall know my Lord to be my head?
Well, it were best for him to take good heed,
[1150] Or I will make him hop without a head,
For his presumption, dottard that he is.
In Cornwall he hath made such mutinies,
First, setting of the King against the Queene;
Then stirring vp the Commons 'gainst the King;
That had he there continued any longer,
He had bin call'd in question for his fact.
So vpon that occasion thence he fled,
And comes thus slily stealing vnto vs:
And now already since his comming hither,
My Lord and he are growne in such a league,
That I can haue no conference with his Grace:
I feare, he doth already intimate
Some forged cauillations 'gainst my state:
Tis therefore best to cut him off in time,
Lest slaunderous rumours once abroad disperst,
It is too late for them to be reuerst.
Friend, as the tennour of these letters shewes,
My sister puts great confidence in thee.
Mes.
She neuer yet committed trust to me,
But that (I hope) she found me alwayes faythfull:
So will I be to any friend of hers,
That hath occasion to employ my helpe.
Rag.
Hast thou the heart to act a stratagem,
[Page]
And giue a stabbe or two, if need require?
Mes.
[1175] I haue a heart compact of Adamant,
Which neuer knew what melting pitty meant.
I weigh no more the murdring of a man,
Then I respect the cracking of a Flea,
When I doe catch her byting on my skin.
If you will haue your husband or your father,
Or both of them sent to another world,
Do but commaund me doo't, it shall be done.
Rag.
It is ynough, we make no doubt of thee:
Meet vs to morrow here, at nyne a clock:
Meane while, farewell, and drink that for my sake.
Exit.
Mes.
I, this is it will make me do the deed:
Oh, had I euery day such customers,
This were the gainefulst trade in Christendome!
A purse of gold giu'n for a paltry stabbe!
Why, heres a wench that longs to haue a stabbe.
Wel, I could giue it her, and ne're hurt her neither.
Enter
the Gallian King, and Cordella.
King.
When will these clouds of sorrow once disperse,
And smiling ioy tryumph vpon thy brow?
When will this Scene of sadnesse haue an end,
And pleasant acts insue, to moue delight?
When will my louely Queene cease to lament,
And take some comfort to her grieued thoughts?
If of thy selfe thou daignst to haue no care,
Yet pitty me, whom thy griefe makes despayre.
Cor.
[1200] O, grieue not you, my Lord, you haue no
cause,
Let not my passions moue your mind a whit:
For I am bound by nature, to lament
For his ill will, that life to me first lent.
If so the stocke be dryed with disdayne,
Withered and sere the branch must needes remaine.
King.
But thou art now graft in another stock;
I am the stock, and thou the louely branch:
And from my root continuall sap shall flow,
To make thee flourish with perpetuall spring.
Forget thy father and thy kindred now,
[Page]
Since they forsake thee like inhumane beastes,
Thinke they are dead, since al their kindness[illeg.]
And bury them, where black obliuion lyes.
Think not thou art the daughter of old Leir,
Who did vnkindly disinherit thee:
But think thou art the noble Gallian Queene,
And wife to him that dearely loueth thee:
Embrace the ioyes that present with thee dwell,
Let sorrow packe and hide her selfe in hell.
Cord.
Not that I misse my country or my kinne,
My old acquaintance or my ancient friends,
Doth any whit distemperate my mynd,
Knowing you, which are more deare to me,
Then Country, kin, and all things els can be.
[1225] Yet pardon me, my gracious Lord, in this:
For what can stop the course of natures power?
As easy is it for foure-footed beasts,
To stay themselues vpon the liquid ayre,
And mount aloft into the element,
And ouerstrip the feathered Fowles in flight:
As easy is it for the slimy Fish,
To liue and thriue without the helpe of water:
As easy is it for the Blackamoore,
To wash the tawny colour from his skin,
Which all oppose against the course of nature,
As I am able to forget my father.
King.
Myrrour of vertue, Phoenix of our age!
Too kind a daughter for an vnkind father,
Be of good comfort; for I will dispatch
Ambassadors immediately for Brittayne,
Vnto the King of Cornwalls Court, whereas
Your father keepeth now his residence,
And in the kindest maner him increas,
That setting former grieuances apart,
He will be pleasde to come and visit vs.
If no intreaty will suffice the turne,
Ile offer him the halfe or all my Crowne:
If that moues not, weele furnish out a Fleet,
[Page]
And sayle to Cornwall for to visit him;
[1250] And there you shall be firmely reconcilde
In perfit loue, as carst you w[illeg.]fore.
Cor.
Where toung cannot [illeg.] thanks afford,
The King of heauen remunerate my Lord.
King.
Only be blithe, and frolick (sweet) with me:
This and much more ile do to comfort thee.
Enter
Messenger solus.
Mes.
It is a world to see now I am flush,
How many friends I purchase euery where!
How many seekes to creepe into my fauour,
And kisse their hands, and bend their knees to me!
No more, here comes the Queene, now shall I know her mind,
And hope for to deriue more crownes from her.
Enter
Raga
Rag.
My friend, I see thou mind'st thy promise well,
And art before me here, me thinks, to day.
Mes.
I am a poore man, and it like your Grace;
But yet I alwayes loue to keepe my word.
Ra.
Wel, keepe thy word with me, & thou shalt see,
That of a poore man I will make thee rich.
Mes.
I long to heare it, it might haue bin dispatcht,
If you had told me of it yesternight.
Ra.
It is a thing of right strange consequence,
And well I cannot vtter it in words.
Mes.
It is more strange, that I am not by this
Beside my selfe, with longing for to heare it.
Were it to meet the Deuill in his denne,
[1275] And try about with him for a scratcht face,
Ide vndertake it, if you would but bid me.
Ra.
Ah, good my friend, that I should haue thee do,
Is such a thing, as I do shame to speake;
Yet it must needs be done.
Mes.
Ile speak it for thee, Queene: shall I kill thy father?
I know tis that, and if it be so, say.
Rag.
I.
Mes.
Why, thats ynough.
Rag.
And yet that is not all.
Mes.
What else?
Rag.
Thou must kill that old man that came with him.
[Page]
Mes.
Here are two hands, for eche of them is one.
Rag.
And for eche hand here is recompense.
Giue
him two purses.
Mes.
Oh, that I had ten hands by myracle,
I could teare ten in pieces with my teeth,
So in my mouth yould put a purse of gold.
But in what maner must it be effected?
Rag.
To morrow morning ere the breake of day,
I by a wyle will send them to the thicket,
That is about some two myles from the Court,
And promise them to meet them there my selfe,
Because I must haue priuate conference,
About some newes I haue receyu'd from Cornwall.
This is ynough, I know, they will not fayle,
[1300] And then be ready for to play thy part:
Which done, thou mayst right easily escape,
And no man once mistrust thee for the fact:
But yet, before thou prosecute the act,
Shew him the letter, which my sister sent,
There let him read his owne inditement first,
And then proceed to execution:
But see thou faynt not; for they will speake fayre.
Mes.
Could he speak words as pleasing as the pipe
Of Mercury, which charm'd the hundred eyes
Of watchfull Argos, and inforc'd him sleepe:
Yet here are words so pleasing to my thoughts,
To
the purse.
As quite shall take away the sound of his.
Exit.
Rag.
About it then, and when thou hast dispatcht,
Ile find a meanes to send thee after him.
Exit.
Enter
Cornwall and Gonorill.
Corn.
I wonder that the Messenger doth stay,
Whom we dispatcht for Cambria so long since:
If that his answere do not please vs well,
And he do shew good reason for delay,
Ile teach him how to dally with his King,
And to detayne vs in such long suspence.
Gon.
My Lord, I thinke the reason may be this:
My father meanes to come along with him,
[Page]
And therefore tis his pleasure he shall stay,
For to attend vpon him on the way.
Corn.
[1325] It may be so, and therfore till I know
The truth thereof, I will suspend my iudgement.
Enter
Seruant.
Ser.
And't like your Grace, there is an Ambassador
Arriued from Gallia, and craues admittance to your Maiesty.
Corn.
From Gallia? what should his message
Hither import? is not your father happely
Gone thither? well, whatsoere it be,
Bid him come in, he shall haue audience.
Enter
Ambassador.
What newes from Gallia? speake Ambassador.
Am.
The noble King and Queene of Gallia first salutes,
By me, their honourable father, my Lord Leir:
Next, they commend them kindly to your Graces,
As those whose wellfare they intirely wish,
Letters I haue to deliuer to my Lord Leir,
And presents too, if I might speake with him.
Gon.
If you might speak with him? why, do you thinke,
We are afrayd that you should speake with him?
Am.
Pardon me, Madam; for I thinke not so,
But say so only, 'cause he is not here.
Corn.
Indeed, my friend, vpon some vrgent cause,
He is at this time absent from the Court:
But if a day or two you here repose,
Tis very likely you shall haue him here,
Or else haue certayne notice where he is.
Gon.
Are not we worthy to receiue your message?
Am.
[1350] I had in charge to do it to himselfe.
Gon.
It may be then 'twill not be done in haste.
to
herselfe.
How doth my sister brooke the ayre of Fraunce?
Am.
Exceeding well, and neuer sicke one houre,
Since first she set her foot vpon the shore.
Gon.
I am the more sorry.
Am.
I hope, not so, Madam.
Gon.
Didst thou not say, that she was euer sicke,
Since the first houre that she arriued there?
[Page]
Amb.
No, Madam, I sayd quite contrary.
Gon.
Then I mistooke thee.
Corn.
Then she is merry, if she haue her health.
Am.
Oh no, her griefe exceeds, vntill the time,
That she be reconcil'd vnto her father.
Gon.
Good continue it.
Am.
What, Madam?
Gon.
Why, her health.
Am.
Amen to that: but God release her griefe,
And send her father in a better mind,
Then to continue alwayes so vnkind.
Corn.
Ile be a mediator in her cause,
And seeke all meanes to expiat his wrath.
Am.
Madam, I hope your Grace will do the like.
Gon.
Should I be a meane to exasperate his wrath
Against my sister, whom I loue so deare? no, no.
Am.
[1375] To expiate or mittigate his wrath:
For he hath misconceyued without a cause.
Gon.
O, I, what else?
Am.
Tis pity it should be so, would it were otherwise.
Gon.
It were great pity it should be otherwise.
Am.
Then how, Madam?
Gon.
Then that they should be reconcilde againe.
Am.
It shewes you beare an honourable mind.
Gon.
It shewes thy vnderstanding to be blind,
Speakes
to her selfe.
And that thou hadst need of an Interpreter:
Well, I will know thy message ere't be long,
And find a meane to crosse it, if I can.
Corn.
Come in, my friend, and frolick in our Court,
Till certayne notice of my father come.
Exeunt.
Enter
Leir and Perillus.
Per.
My Lord, you are vp to day before your houre,
Tis newes to you to be abroad so rathe.
Leir.
Tis newes indeed, I am so extreme heauy,
That I can scarcely keepe my eye-lids open.
Per.
And so am I, but I impute the cause
To rising sooner then we vse to do.
Leir.
Hither my daughter meanes to come disguis'd:
[Page]
Ile sit me downe, and read vntill she come.
Pull
out a booke and sit downe.
Per.
Sheele not belong, I warrant you, my Lord:
But say, a couple of these they call good fellowes,
Should step out of a hedge, and set vpon vs,
[1400] We were in good case for to answere them.
Leir.
'Twere not for vs to stand vpon our hands.
Per.
I feare, we scant should stand vpon our legs.
But how should we do to defend our selues?
Leir.
Euen pray to God, to bless us fro their hands,
For feruent prayer much ill hap withstands.
Per.
Ile sit and pray with you for company;
Yet was I ne're so heauy in my life.
They
fall both asleepe.
Enter
the Messenger or murtherer with two daggers in his hands.
Mess.
Were it not an ad lest, if two or
three of my professio / should meet me, and lay me downe in a ditch, and play
robbe / thiere with me, & perforce take my gold away from me, whilest / I
act this stratagem, and by this meanes the gray beards should / escape? Fayth,
when I were at liberty againe, I would make no / more to do, but go to
the next tree, and there hang my selfe. /
See
them and start.
But stay, me thinks, my youthes are here already,
And with pure zeale haue prayed themselues asleepe.
I thinke, they know to what intent they came,
And are prouided for another world.
He
takes their bookes away.
Now could I stab them brauely, while they sleepe,
And in a maner put them to no payne;
And doing so, I shewed them mighty friendship:
For feare of death is worse then death it selfe.
But that my sweet Queene will'd me for to shew
This letter to them, ere I did the deed.
Masse, they begin to stirre: ile stand aside;
[1425] So shall I come vpon them vnawares.
They
wake and rise.
Leir.
I maruell, that my daughter stayes so long.
[Page]
Per.
I feare, we did mistake the place, my Lord.
Leir.
God graunt we do not miscarry in the place:
I had a short nap, but so full of dread,
As much amazeth me to think thereof.
Per.
Feare not, my Lord, dreames are but fantasies,
And slight imaginations of the brayne.
Mes.
Perswade him so; but ile make him and you
Confesse, that dreames do often proue too true.
Per.
I pray, my Lord, what was the effect of it?
I may go neere to gesse what it pretends.
Mes.
Leaue that to me, I will expound the dreame.
Leir.
Me thought, my daughters, Gonorill & Ragan,
Stood both before me with such grim aspects,
Eche brandishing a Faulchion in their hand,
Ready to lop a lymme off where it fell,
And in their other hands a naked poynyard,
Wher with they stabd me in a hundred places,
And to their thinking left me there for dead:
But then my youngest daughter, fayre Cordella,
Came with a boxe of Balsome in her hand,
And powred it into my bleeding wounds,
By whose good meanes I was recouered well,
In perfit health, as earst I was before:
[1450] And with the feare of this I did awake,
And yet for feare my feeble ioynes do quake.
Mes.
Ile make you quake for something presently.
Stand, Stand.
They
reele.
Leir.
We do, my friend, although with much adoe.
Mes.
Deliuer, deliuer.
Per.
Deliuer vs, good Lord, from such as he.
Mes.
You should haue prayed before, while it was time,
And then perhaps, you might haue scapt my hands:
But you, like faithful watch-men, fell asleepe,
The whilst I came and tooke your Halberds from you.
Shew
their Bookes.
And now you want your weapons of defence,
How haue you any hope to be deliuered?
This comes, because you haue no better stay,
[Page]
But fall asleepe, when you should watch and prays.
Leir.
My friend, thou seemst to be a proper man.
Mes.
Sblood, how the old slaue clawes me by the elbow?
He thinks, belike, to scape by scraping thus.
Per.
And it may be, are in some need of money.
Mes.
That to be false, behold my euidence.
Shewes
his purses.
Leir.
If that I haue will do thee any good,
I giue it thee, euen with a right goodwill.
Take
it.
Per.
Here, take mine too, & wish with all my heart,
To do thee pleasure, it were twice as much.
Take
his, and weygh them both in his hands.
Mes.
Ile none of them, they are too light for me.
Puts
them in his pocket.
Leir.
[1475] Why then farewell: and if thou have occasion
In any thing, to vse me to the Queene,
'Tis like ynough that I can pleasure thee.
They
proffer to goe.
Mes.
Do you heare, do you heare, sir?
If I had occasion to vse you to the Queene,
Would you do one thing for me I should aske?
Leir.
I, any thing that lyes withing my power.
Here is my hand vpon it, so farewell.
Proffer
to goe.
Mes.
Heare you sir, heare you! pray, a word with you.
Me thinks, a comely honest ancient man
Should not dissemble with one for a vantage.
I know, when I shall come to try this geare,
You will recant from all that you have sayd.
Per.
Mistrust not him, but try him when thou wilt:
He is her father, therefore may do much.
Mes.
I know he is, and therefore meane to try him:
You are his friend too, I must try you both.
Ambo.
Prithy do, prithy do.
Proffer
to go out.
Mes.
Stay gray-beards then, and proue men of your words:
The Queene hath tyed me by a solemne othe,
Here in this place to see you both dispatcht:
Now for the safegard of my conscience,
Do me the pleasure for to kill your selues:
[Page]
So shall you save me labour for to do it,
And proue your selues true old men of your words.
[1500] And here I vow in sight of all the world,
I ne're will trouble you whilst I liue agayne.
Leir.
Affright vs not with terrour, good my friend,
Nor strike such feare into our aged hearts.
Play not the Cat, which dallieth with the mouse;
And on a sudden maketh her a pray:
But if thou art markt for the man of death
To me and to my Damion, tell me playne,
That we may be prepared for the stroke,
And make our selues fit for the world to come.
Mes.
I am the last of any mortall race,
That ere your eyes are likely to behold,
And hither sent of purpose to this place,
To giue a finall period to your dayes,
Which are so wicked, and haue liued so long,
That your owne children seeke to short your life.
Leir.
Camst thou from France, of purpose to do this?
Mes.
From France? zoones, do I looke like
a Frenchman? / Sure I haue not mine owne face on; some body hath chang'd /
faces with me, and I know not of it: But I am sure, my apparell / is all
English. Sirra, what meanest thou to aske that question? / I could spoyle the
fashion of this face for anger. A French face! /
Leir.
Because my daughter, whom I haue offended,
And at whose hands I haue deseru'd as ill,
As euer any father did of child,
[1525] Is Queene of Fraunce, not thanks at all to
me,
But vnto God, who my iniustice see.
If it be so, that shee doth seeke reuenge,
As with good reason she may iustly do,
I will most willingly resigne my life,
A sacrifice to mittigate her ire:
I neuer will intreat thee to forgiue,
Because I am vnworthy for to liue.
Therefore speake soone, & I will soone make speed:
Whether Cordella will'd thee do this deed?
Mes.
As I am a perfit gentleman, thou speakst French to me:
[Page]
I neuer heard Cordellaes name before,
Nor neuer was in Fraunce in all my life:
I neuer knew thou hadst a daughter there,
To whom thou didst proue so vnkind a churle:
But thy owne toung declares that thou hast bin
A vyle old wretch, and full of heynous sin.
Leir.
Ah no, my friend, thou art deceyued much:
For her except, whom I confesse I wrongd,
Through doting frenzy, and o're-ielous loue.
There liues not any vnder heauens bright eye,
That can conuict me of impiety.
And therfore sure thou dost mistake the marke:
For I am in true peace with all the world.
Mes.
You are the fitter for the King of heauen:
[1550] And therefore, for to rid thee of suspence,
Know thou, the Queenes of Cambria and Cornwall,
Thy owne two daughters, Gonorill and Ragan,
Appoynted me to massacre thee here.
Why wouldst thou then perswade me, that thou art
In charity with all the world? but now
When thy owne issue hold thee in such hate,
That they haue hyred me t'abbridge thy fate,
Oh, fy vpon such vyle dissembling breath,
That would deceyue, euen at the poynt of death.
Per.
Am I awake, or is it but a dreame?
Mes.
Feare nothing, man, thou art but in a dreame,
And thou shalt neuer wake vntill doomes day,
By then, I hope, thou wilt haue slept ynough.
Leir.
Yet, gentle friend, graunt one thing ere I die.
Mes.
Ile graunt you any thing, except your liues.
Leir.
Oh, but assure me by some certayne token,
That my two daughters hyred thee to this deed:
If I were once resolu'd of that, then I
Would wish no longer life, but craue to dye.
Mes.
That to be true, in sight of heauen I sweare.
Leir.
Sweare not by heauen, for feare of punishmet:
The heauens are guiltlesse of such haynous acts.
Mes.
I sweare by earth, the mother of vs all.
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Leir.
Sweare not by earth; for she abhors to beare
[1575] Such bastards, as are murtherers of her
sonnes.
Mes.
Why then, by hell, and all the deuils I sweare.
Leir.
Sweare not by hell; for that