O noble Justice, duty done, behold I come again,To show you that Appius he himself hath lewdly slain.As soon as he in prison was enclosed out of sight,He desperate for bloody deed did sle himself outright;And Claudius doth mercy crave, who did the deed for fear.Vouchsafe, O judge, to save his life, though country he forbear.Justice.We grant him grace at thy request, but banish him the land.And see that death be done outright on him that here doth stand.Haphazard.Nay, Master Virginius, [Take him by the hand.[225]] I crave not for service the thing worth ought:Hanging, quoth you? it is the last end of my thought.Fie for shame, fie—stay, by my father’s soul,Why, this is like to Tom Turner’s dole:Hang one man and save all the rest!Take part one with another: plain dealing is best.Reward.This is our dealing; thus deal we with thee.Take him hence, Virginius; go, truss him to a tree.Haphazard.Shall ye,[226]in a rope’s name? whither away with me?Virginius.Come, wend thou in haste thy death for to take,To the hangman I will lead thee, a quick despatch to make.Haphazard.Must I needs hang? by the gods, it doth spite meTo think how crabbedly this silk lace will bite me.Then come, cousin Cutpurse, come, run, haste and follow me:Haphazard must hang; come, follow the livery.[Exit.Justice.. Well, wend we now: the final end of fleshly lust we see.Reward.Content: Reward is ready bent with Justice to agree.
O noble Justice, duty done, behold I come again,To show you that Appius he himself hath lewdly slain.As soon as he in prison was enclosed out of sight,He desperate for bloody deed did sle himself outright;And Claudius doth mercy crave, who did the deed for fear.Vouchsafe, O judge, to save his life, though country he forbear.
O noble Justice, duty done, behold I come again,
To show you that Appius he himself hath lewdly slain.
As soon as he in prison was enclosed out of sight,
He desperate for bloody deed did sle himself outright;
And Claudius doth mercy crave, who did the deed for fear.
Vouchsafe, O judge, to save his life, though country he forbear.
Justice.We grant him grace at thy request, but banish him the land.And see that death be done outright on him that here doth stand.
Justice.We grant him grace at thy request, but banish him the land.
And see that death be done outright on him that here doth stand.
Haphazard.Nay, Master Virginius, [Take him by the hand.[225]] I crave not for service the thing worth ought:Hanging, quoth you? it is the last end of my thought.Fie for shame, fie—stay, by my father’s soul,Why, this is like to Tom Turner’s dole:Hang one man and save all the rest!Take part one with another: plain dealing is best.
Haphazard.Nay, Master Virginius, [Take him by the hand.[225]] I crave not for service the thing worth ought:
Hanging, quoth you? it is the last end of my thought.
Fie for shame, fie—stay, by my father’s soul,
Why, this is like to Tom Turner’s dole:
Hang one man and save all the rest!
Take part one with another: plain dealing is best.
Reward.This is our dealing; thus deal we with thee.Take him hence, Virginius; go, truss him to a tree.
Reward.This is our dealing; thus deal we with thee.
Take him hence, Virginius; go, truss him to a tree.
Haphazard.Shall ye,[226]in a rope’s name? whither away with me?
Haphazard.Shall ye,[226]in a rope’s name? whither away with me?
Virginius.Come, wend thou in haste thy death for to take,To the hangman I will lead thee, a quick despatch to make.
Virginius.Come, wend thou in haste thy death for to take,
To the hangman I will lead thee, a quick despatch to make.
Haphazard.Must I needs hang? by the gods, it doth spite meTo think how crabbedly this silk lace will bite me.Then come, cousin Cutpurse, come, run, haste and follow me:Haphazard must hang; come, follow the livery.[Exit.
Haphazard.Must I needs hang? by the gods, it doth spite me
To think how crabbedly this silk lace will bite me.
Then come, cousin Cutpurse, come, run, haste and follow me:
Haphazard must hang; come, follow the livery.
[Exit.
Justice.. Well, wend we now: the final end of fleshly lust we see.
Justice.. Well, wend we now: the final end of fleshly lust we see.
Reward.Content: Reward is ready bent with Justice to agree.
Reward.Content: Reward is ready bent with Justice to agree.
Here enterethFame[withDoctrinaandMemorybearing a tomb, alsoVirginius].[227]
O stay, you noble Justice, stay! Reward, do make no haste.We ladies three have brought the corse, in earth that must be placed.We have brought back Virginius the funeral to see.I grant him that the learned pen shall have the aid of me,To write in learned verse the honour of her name.Fame.And eke it shall resound by trump of me Dame Fame.[Here letMemorywrite on the tomb.I Memory will mind her life: her death shall ever reignWithin the mouth and mind of man, from age to age again.Justice.And Justice, sure, will aid all those that imitate her life.Reward.And I Reward will punish those that move such dames to strife.Fame.Then sing we round about the tomb, in honour of her name.Reward.Content we are with willing mind to sing with sound of Fame.
O stay, you noble Justice, stay! Reward, do make no haste.We ladies three have brought the corse, in earth that must be placed.We have brought back Virginius the funeral to see.I grant him that the learned pen shall have the aid of me,To write in learned verse the honour of her name.
O stay, you noble Justice, stay! Reward, do make no haste.
We ladies three have brought the corse, in earth that must be placed.
We have brought back Virginius the funeral to see.
I grant him that the learned pen shall have the aid of me,
To write in learned verse the honour of her name.
Fame.And eke it shall resound by trump of me Dame Fame.[Here letMemorywrite on the tomb.I Memory will mind her life: her death shall ever reignWithin the mouth and mind of man, from age to age again.
Fame.And eke it shall resound by trump of me Dame Fame.
[Here letMemorywrite on the tomb.
I Memory will mind her life: her death shall ever reign
Within the mouth and mind of man, from age to age again.
Justice.And Justice, sure, will aid all those that imitate her life.
Justice.And Justice, sure, will aid all those that imitate her life.
Reward.And I Reward will punish those that move such dames to strife.
Reward.And I Reward will punish those that move such dames to strife.
Fame.Then sing we round about the tomb, in honour of her name.
Fame.Then sing we round about the tomb, in honour of her name.
Reward.Content we are with willing mind to sing with sound of Fame.
Reward.Content we are with willing mind to sing with sound of Fame.
THE EPILOGUE.
As earthly life is granted none for evermore to reign,But denting death will cause them all to grant this world as vain;Right worshipful, sith sure it is that mortal life must vade,Do practise then to win his love, that all in all hath made.And by this poet’s feigning here example do you takeOf Virginia’s life of chastity, of duty to thy make;Of love to wife, of love to spouse, of love to husband dear,Of bringing up of tender youth: all these are noted here.I doubt it not, right worshipful, but well you do conceiveThe matter that is ended now, and thus I take my leave:Beseeching God, as duty is, our gracious Queen to saveThe nobles and the commons eke, with prosperous life, I crave!
As earthly life is granted none for evermore to reign,
But denting death will cause them all to grant this world as vain;
Right worshipful, sith sure it is that mortal life must vade,
Do practise then to win his love, that all in all hath made.
And by this poet’s feigning here example do you take
Of Virginia’s life of chastity, of duty to thy make;
Of love to wife, of love to spouse, of love to husband dear,
Of bringing up of tender youth: all these are noted here.
I doubt it not, right worshipful, but well you do conceive
The matter that is ended now, and thus I take my leave:
Beseeching God, as duty is, our gracious Queen to save
The nobles and the commons eke, with prosperous life, I crave!
FINIS.
[150]This list is inserted in the centre of the title page of the old copy. [The title runs as follows: “A new Tragicall Comedie of Apius and Virginia. Wherein is liuely expressed a rare example of the vertue of Chastitie by Virginias Constancy in wishing rather to be slaine at her owne Fathers handes, then to be dishonored of the wicked Iudge Apius. By R. B. The players’ names (as above). Imprinted at London by William How for Richard Ihones. 1575.”][151]It was well to reprint this singular production, if only to rescue it from the ravages of time. The old copy has received damage, and is fast decaying: the beginnings of the nine following lines have crumbled away, but it has not been difficult to restore the words, or parts of words lost.[152][These Latin lines are full of false grammar, sense, and quantities, of which some are beyond conjecture.][153][Old copy haslike.][154][Old copy,infected.][155][Old copy,detected.][156][Old copy,Thy sufferent.][157][Old copy,feare.][158]The old copy gives this line to Virginius.[159][[i.e., The earth. Old copy,Glope.][160][Old copy gives this line to Virginia.][161][Old copy haskeyser to, ber.][162][In the old copy this line runs thus—“I babe, and I blisse, your health am againe.”][163]In the old copy the wordearthis repeated.[164][Old copy,When.][165]The old copy reads “tonurtueto be brought,” but it is probably a misprint.[166][Old copy,Exit, but all three leave the stage.][167][The ordinary proverb runs, “Whosups,” &c.][168][A sleepy-head or a stupid.][169][For the future.][170]This allusion to thesweat, a word anciently used as synonymous with theplague, seems to fix the date, when “Appius and Virginia” was written, in 1563: according to Camden’s Annals, there was then “a raging plague in London.”[171][Old copy,Bayberry.][172][Strown.][173][Knowledge, perception.][174][If the case be that.][175][Old copy,coy strange.][176][Old copy,he.][177][Old copy,wages.][178][[i.e., Commune.][179]No matter.[180][Old copy,of.][181][Old copy,gwerdon.][182][It at first appeared as ifgransier, the reading of the old copy, was an error or corruption forgain, sir, but possibly the word is used in the sense ofgreat.][183][The nearer.][184][Old copy,as if to her it were to me.][185][To be pronounced as a trisyllable here.][186][Old copy,Graunted ... With dewes and bewteous. It is conceivable thatbeauteousmay be misprinted forbeauty’s use, and the meaning of the passage may then be, that Virginia had forgotten him (Appius), or, in the words of the writer, “That drowsy Morpheus has granted his slumb’ry kingdomto beauty’s use?”][187][Old copy,imbace.][188]Mansipulus, Mansipula, and Subservus enter, but their names are omitted.[189][Old copy,venterous.][190][Old copy,maude.][191][Serious.][192][Stutterer.][193][Query,guide,carter.][194][Scarce.][195][Old copy,things.][196][Old copy,wights.][197][See Halliwell inv. Hale.][198][The dangers of Charybdis.][199][Old copy,was.][200][Old copy,Adrice.][201][Old copy,Laceface.][202][Old copy,that.][203][Old copy,leach.][204][Thus.][205][Old copy,faul ... rate.][206][Old copy,did.][207][Old copy,lay.][208][Intriguing, insinuating.][209][Vexed or troubled hairs. Old copy,the graued yeares.][210][Boon.][211]Opposing, preventing.[212][Old copy,giltes.][213][Old copy,thou joy, My meanes.][214][Old copy,or.][215][Old copy,end.][216][Old copy,consent.Concenthere must be understood to signifyfollowingoradherents.][217][Old copy,In end.][218][Old copy,lym.][219][Old copy,flasky. Perhaps evenflashymay not be the true word. See Nares, 1859, inv.Could the author have writtendusky?][220][Old copy,shal slaughter.][221][Seville. So for the sake of thejeu de mot.][222][Old copy,happely][223][Old copy,naught ... for letting—the meaning being apparently “It is too bad of you to stop my drink in this dry weather by hanging me.”][224][Old copy,Prece to go foorth.][225]The words “take him by the hand” [in the old copy form part of the text].[226][Old copy,ye shall.][227][This stage direction, in the old copy, is divided into two portions, but all appear to enter together. The old copy reads also, as if it was Virginius who brought in the tomb; but surely it is Doctrina and Memory who do so.]
[150]This list is inserted in the centre of the title page of the old copy. [The title runs as follows: “A new Tragicall Comedie of Apius and Virginia. Wherein is liuely expressed a rare example of the vertue of Chastitie by Virginias Constancy in wishing rather to be slaine at her owne Fathers handes, then to be dishonored of the wicked Iudge Apius. By R. B. The players’ names (as above). Imprinted at London by William How for Richard Ihones. 1575.”]
[151]It was well to reprint this singular production, if only to rescue it from the ravages of time. The old copy has received damage, and is fast decaying: the beginnings of the nine following lines have crumbled away, but it has not been difficult to restore the words, or parts of words lost.
[152][These Latin lines are full of false grammar, sense, and quantities, of which some are beyond conjecture.]
[153][Old copy haslike.]
[154][Old copy,infected.]
[155][Old copy,detected.]
[156][Old copy,Thy sufferent.]
[157][Old copy,feare.]
[158]The old copy gives this line to Virginius.
[159][[i.e., The earth. Old copy,Glope.]
[160][Old copy gives this line to Virginia.]
[161][Old copy haskeyser to, ber.]
[162][In the old copy this line runs thus—
“I babe, and I blisse, your health am againe.”]
“I babe, and I blisse, your health am againe.”]
[163]In the old copy the wordearthis repeated.
[164][Old copy,When.]
[165]The old copy reads “tonurtueto be brought,” but it is probably a misprint.
[166][Old copy,Exit, but all three leave the stage.]
[167][The ordinary proverb runs, “Whosups,” &c.]
[168][A sleepy-head or a stupid.]
[169][For the future.]
[170]This allusion to thesweat, a word anciently used as synonymous with theplague, seems to fix the date, when “Appius and Virginia” was written, in 1563: according to Camden’s Annals, there was then “a raging plague in London.”
[171][Old copy,Bayberry.]
[172][Strown.]
[173][Knowledge, perception.]
[174][If the case be that.]
[175][Old copy,coy strange.]
[176][Old copy,he.]
[177][Old copy,wages.]
[178][[i.e., Commune.]
[179]No matter.
[180][Old copy,of.]
[181][Old copy,gwerdon.]
[182][It at first appeared as ifgransier, the reading of the old copy, was an error or corruption forgain, sir, but possibly the word is used in the sense ofgreat.]
[183][The nearer.]
[184][Old copy,as if to her it were to me.]
[185][To be pronounced as a trisyllable here.]
[186][Old copy,Graunted ... With dewes and bewteous. It is conceivable thatbeauteousmay be misprinted forbeauty’s use, and the meaning of the passage may then be, that Virginia had forgotten him (Appius), or, in the words of the writer, “That drowsy Morpheus has granted his slumb’ry kingdomto beauty’s use?”]
[187][Old copy,imbace.]
[188]Mansipulus, Mansipula, and Subservus enter, but their names are omitted.
[189][Old copy,venterous.]
[190][Old copy,maude.]
[191][Serious.]
[192][Stutterer.]
[193][Query,guide,carter.]
[194][Scarce.]
[195][Old copy,things.]
[196][Old copy,wights.]
[197][See Halliwell inv. Hale.]
[198][The dangers of Charybdis.]
[199][Old copy,was.]
[200][Old copy,Adrice.]
[201][Old copy,Laceface.]
[202][Old copy,that.]
[203][Old copy,leach.]
[204][Thus.]
[205][Old copy,faul ... rate.]
[206][Old copy,did.]
[207][Old copy,lay.]
[208][Intriguing, insinuating.]
[209][Vexed or troubled hairs. Old copy,the graued yeares.]
[210][Boon.]
[211]Opposing, preventing.
[212][Old copy,giltes.]
[213][Old copy,thou joy, My meanes.]
[214][Old copy,or.]
[215][Old copy,end.]
[216][Old copy,consent.Concenthere must be understood to signifyfollowingoradherents.]
[217][Old copy,In end.]
[218][Old copy,lym.]
[219][Old copy,flasky. Perhaps evenflashymay not be the true word. See Nares, 1859, inv.Could the author have writtendusky?]
[220][Old copy,shal slaughter.]
[221][Seville. So for the sake of thejeu de mot.]
[222][Old copy,happely]
[223][Old copy,naught ... for letting—the meaning being apparently “It is too bad of you to stop my drink in this dry weather by hanging me.”]
[224][Old copy,Prece to go foorth.]
[225]The words “take him by the hand” [in the old copy form part of the text].
[226][Old copy,ye shall.]
[227][This stage direction, in the old copy, is divided into two portions, but all appear to enter together. The old copy reads also, as if it was Virginius who brought in the tomb; but surely it is Doctrina and Memory who do so.]
EDITIONS.
A lamentable tragedy mixed ful of pleasant mirth, conteyning the life of Cambises King of Percia, from the beginning of his kingdom vnto his death, his one good deed of execution, after that many wicked deeds and tirannous murders, committed by and through him, and last of all his odious death by Gods Iustice appointed, in such order as followeth. By Thomas Preston.
THE DIVISION OF THE PARTS.
For one man.
For one man.
For one man.
For one man.
For one man.
For one man.
For one man.
For one man.
[Col.] Imprinted at London by John Allde. 4o. Black letter.
A Lamentable Tragedie, &c. [Col.] Imprinted at London by Edward Allde. 4o. Black letter.
HAWKINS’S PREFACE.
This is the play that Shakespeare is supposed to allude to, when he introduces Falstaff speaking in King Cambyses’ vein, in the “FirstPart of King Henry the Fourth.”[228]It was written early in the reign of Elizabeth (according to some in 1561), by Thomas Preston, M.A., Fellow of King’s College, and afterwards L.D. and Master of Trinity Hall, in Cambridge. He performed so admirably well in the tragedy of Dido, before Queen Elizabeth, when she was entertained in that university in 1564; and did so genteelly and gracefully dispute before her, that she gave him £20 per annum for so doing. See Thomas Hatcher, or his continuator, in the catalogue of provosts, fellows, and scholars of King’s College—MS. under the year 1560 (Oldys’ MSS. Notes on Langbaine).
The play is here given from a black-letter copy in Mr Garrick’s collection, printed by John Allde. [Thereis a second edition from the press of his son and successor Edward Allde; both are undated.[229]] The prologue and great part of “Cambyses” was written by the author in long Alexandrines, which the narrowness of the page rendered it necessary here to subdivide.
The prevailing turn for drollery and comic humour was at first so strong, that in order to gratify it even in more serious and solemn scenes, it was necessary still to retain the Vice or artful Buffoon, who (like his contemporary the privileged Fool in the courts of princes and castles of great men) was wont to enter into the most stately assemblies and vent his humour without restraint. We have a specimen of this character in the play of “Cambyses,” where Ambidexter, who is expressly called the Vice, enters “with an old capcase for a helmet and a skimmer for his sword,” in order, as the author expresses it, “to make pastime.”[230]
[Besides his play of “Cambyses,” Preston wrote and published two ballads,[231]of which Hazlitt gives the full titles, and perhaps other things lost or unrecovered.The best parts of “Cambyses” are the comic scenes, or those portions of the dialogue which are spoken by Ambidexter; these seem to indicate that Preston would have been more successful if he had avoided the tragic vein altogether; but his language is harsh and unpolished even for the time, as if the play had been written some years before it appeared in type. Yet this is scarcely probable, from the allusion to Bishop Bonner towards the conclusion.
With the admirable comedy of “Ralph Roister Doister” before their eyes, it might seem strange that later writers should have relapsed into comparative barbarism, if we had not abundant evidence of such degeneracy in every period of the history of our dramatic literature, including that which followed the publication of the unrivalled works of Shakespeare himself.]
ThePrologueentereth.
Agathon, he whose counsel wiseTo princes weal extended,By good advice unto a princeThree things he hath commendedFirst is, that he hath government,And ruleth over men;Secondly, to rule with laws,Eke justice (saith he) then;Thirdly, that he must well conceive,He may not always reign:Lo, thus the rule unto a princeAgathon squared plain.Tully the wise, whose sapienceIn volumes great doth tell,Who in wisdom in that timeDid many men excel,A prince (saith he) is of himselfA plain and speaking law,The law, a schoolmaster divine,This by his rule I draw.The sage and witty SenecaHis words thereto did frame;The honest exercise of kings,Men will ensue the same.But contrary-wise, if that a kingAbuse his kingly seat,His ignomy and bitter shameIn fine shall be more great.In Persia there reign’d a king,Who Cyrus hight by name,Who did deserve, as I do read,The lasting blast of fame:But he, when sisters three had wroughtTo shear his vital thread,As heir due to take the crown,Cambyses did proceed;He in his youth was trained upBy trace of virtue’s lore,Yet (being king) did clean forgetHis perfect race before.Then cleaving more unto his will,Such vice did imitate,As one of Icarus his kind,Forewarning then did hate;Thinking that none could him dismayNe none his facts could see;Yet at the last a fall he took,Like Icarus to be.Else as the fish, which oft had takeThe pleasant bait from hook,In safe did spring, and pierce the streams,When fisher fast did look,To hoist up from the wat’ry wavesUnto the dried land,Then scap’d, at last by subtle baitCome to the fisher’s hand:Even so this king Cambyses here,When he had wrought his will,Taking delight the innocentHis guiltless blood to spill;Then mighty Jove would not permitTo prosecute offence,But what measure the king did meet,The same did Jove commence.To bring to end with shame his race,Two years he did not reign:His cruelty we will dilate,And make the matter plain;Craving that this may suffice now,Your patience to win:I take my way; behold, I seeThe players coming in.
Agathon, he whose counsel wise
To princes weal extended,
By good advice unto a prince
Three things he hath commended
First is, that he hath government,
And ruleth over men;
Secondly, to rule with laws,
Eke justice (saith he) then;
Thirdly, that he must well conceive,
He may not always reign:
Lo, thus the rule unto a prince
Agathon squared plain.
Tully the wise, whose sapience
In volumes great doth tell,
Who in wisdom in that time
Did many men excel,
A prince (saith he) is of himself
A plain and speaking law,
The law, a schoolmaster divine,
This by his rule I draw.
The sage and witty Seneca
His words thereto did frame;
The honest exercise of kings,
Men will ensue the same.
But contrary-wise, if that a king
Abuse his kingly seat,
His ignomy and bitter shame
In fine shall be more great.
In Persia there reign’d a king,
Who Cyrus hight by name,
Who did deserve, as I do read,
The lasting blast of fame:
But he, when sisters three had wrought
To shear his vital thread,
As heir due to take the crown,
Cambyses did proceed;
He in his youth was trained up
By trace of virtue’s lore,
Yet (being king) did clean forget
His perfect race before.
Then cleaving more unto his will,
Such vice did imitate,
As one of Icarus his kind,
Forewarning then did hate;
Thinking that none could him dismay
Ne none his facts could see;
Yet at the last a fall he took,
Like Icarus to be.
Else as the fish, which oft had take
The pleasant bait from hook,
In safe did spring, and pierce the streams,
When fisher fast did look,
To hoist up from the wat’ry waves
Unto the dried land,
Then scap’d, at last by subtle bait
Come to the fisher’s hand:
Even so this king Cambyses here,
When he had wrought his will,
Taking delight the innocent
His guiltless blood to spill;
Then mighty Jove would not permit
To prosecute offence,
But what measure the king did meet,
The same did Jove commence.
To bring to end with shame his race,
Two years he did not reign:
His cruelty we will dilate,
And make the matter plain;
Craving that this may suffice now,
Your patience to win:
I take my way; behold, I see
The players coming in.
FINIS.
A COMEDY OF KING CAMBYSES.
First enterCambysesthe king,Knight,andCouncillor.
Cambyses.
My Council grave and sapient,With lords of legal train,Attentive ears towards bend,And mark what shall be sain.So you likewise, my valiant knight,Whose manly acts doth fly,By brute of fame the sounding trumpDoth pierce the azure sky:My sapient words, I say, perpend,And so your skill dilate.You know that Mors vanquished hathCyrus that king of state;And I, by due inheritance,Possess that princely crown,Ruling by sword of mighty forceIn place of great renown.You know, and often have heard tell,My father’s worthy facts;A manly Mars’ heart he bare,Appearing by his acts.And what, shall I to ground let fallMy father’s golden praise?No, no; I mean for to attemptThis fame more large to raise,In that that I, his son, succeedHis kingly seat as due:Extend your counsel unto meIn that I ask of you.I am the King of Persia,A large and fertile soil:The Egyptians against us repugn,As varlets slave and vile;Therefore I mean with Mars’ heart,With wars them to frequent,Them to subdue as captives mine,This is my heart’s intent:So shall I win honour’s delight,And praise of me shall go.My Council, speak; and lordings eke,Is it not best do so?
My Council grave and sapient,
With lords of legal train,
Attentive ears towards bend,
And mark what shall be sain.
So you likewise, my valiant knight,
Whose manly acts doth fly,
By brute of fame the sounding trump
Doth pierce the azure sky:
My sapient words, I say, perpend,
And so your skill dilate.
You know that Mors vanquished hath
Cyrus that king of state;
And I, by due inheritance,
Possess that princely crown,
Ruling by sword of mighty force
In place of great renown.
You know, and often have heard tell,
My father’s worthy facts;
A manly Mars’ heart he bare,
Appearing by his acts.
And what, shall I to ground let fall
My father’s golden praise?
No, no; I mean for to attempt
This fame more large to raise,
In that that I, his son, succeed
His kingly seat as due:
Extend your counsel unto me
In that I ask of you.
I am the King of Persia,
A large and fertile soil:
The Egyptians against us repugn,
As varlets slave and vile;
Therefore I mean with Mars’ heart,
With wars them to frequent,
Them to subdue as captives mine,
This is my heart’s intent:
So shall I win honour’s delight,
And praise of me shall go.
My Council, speak; and lordings eke,
Is it not best do so?
Council.
O puissant king, your blissful wordsDeserves abundant praise,That you in this do go aboutYour father’s fame to raise.O blissful day, that king so youngSuch profit should conceive;His father’s praise and his to win,From those that would deceive.Sure, my true and sovereign king,I fall before you prest,Answer to give as duty mine,In that your grace request.If that your heart addicted be,The Egyptians to convince,Through Mars’ aid the conquest won,Then deed of happy princeShall pierce the skies unto the throneOf the supernal seat,And merit there a just rewardOf Jupiter the great.But then your grace must not turn backFrom this pretenced will,For to proceed in virtuous life,Employ endeavour still;Extinguish vice, and in that cupTo drink have no delight:To martial feats and kingly sportsFix all your whole delight,
O puissant king, your blissful words
Deserves abundant praise,
That you in this do go about
Your father’s fame to raise.
O blissful day, that king so young
Such profit should conceive;
His father’s praise and his to win,
From those that would deceive.
Sure, my true and sovereign king,
I fall before you prest,
Answer to give as duty mine,
In that your grace request.
If that your heart addicted be,
The Egyptians to convince,
Through Mars’ aid the conquest won,
Then deed of happy prince
Shall pierce the skies unto the throne
Of the supernal seat,
And merit there a just reward
Of Jupiter the great.
But then your grace must not turn back
From this pretenced will,
For to proceed in virtuous life,
Employ endeavour still;
Extinguish vice, and in that cup
To drink have no delight:
To martial feats and kingly sports
Fix all your whole delight,
King.
My Council grave, a thousand thanksWith heart I do you render.That you my case so prosperousEntirely do tender:I will not swerve from those your steps,Whereto you would me train.But now, my lord and valiant knight,With words give answer plain:Are you content with me to goThe Mars’ games to try?
My Council grave, a thousand thanks
With heart I do you render.
That you my case so prosperous
Entirely do tender:
I will not swerve from those your steps,
Whereto you would me train.
But now, my lord and valiant knight,
With words give answer plain:
Are you content with me to go
The Mars’ games to try?
Lord.
Yea, peerless prince, to aid your grace,Myself will live and die.
Yea, peerless prince, to aid your grace,
Myself will live and die.
Knight.
And I, for my hability,For fear will not turn back;But, as the ship against the rocks,Sustain and bide the wrack.
And I, for my hability,
For fear will not turn back;
But, as the ship against the rocks,
Sustain and bide the wrack.
King.
O willing hearts, a thousand thanksI render unto you:Strike up your drums with courage great;We will march forth even now.
O willing hearts, a thousand thanks
I render unto you:
Strike up your drums with courage great;
We will march forth even now.
Council.
Permit (O King) few words to hear,My duty serves no less;Therefore give leave to Council thine,His mind for to express.
Permit (O King) few words to hear,
My duty serves no less;
Therefore give leave to Council thine,
His mind for to express.
King.
Speak on, my Council, what it be;You shall have favour mine.
Speak on, my Council, what it be;
You shall have favour mine.
Council.
Then will I speak unto your grace,As duty doth me bind:Your grace doth mean for to attemptOf war the manly art;Your grace therein may hap receive,With others, for your partThe dent of death: in those affairsAll persons are alike:The heart courageous oftentimesHis detriment doth seek;It’s best therefore for to permitA ruler of your landTo sit and judge with equity,When things of right are scann’d.
Then will I speak unto your grace,
As duty doth me bind:
Your grace doth mean for to attempt
Of war the manly art;
Your grace therein may hap receive,
With others, for your part
The dent of death: in those affairs
All persons are alike:
The heart courageous oftentimes
His detriment doth seek;
It’s best therefore for to permit
A ruler of your land
To sit and judge with equity,
When things of right are scann’d.
King.
My grace doth yield to this your talk,To be thus now it shall:My Knight, therefore prepare yourselfSisamnes for to call:A judge he is of prudent skill,Even he shall bear the sway,In absence mine, when from the landI do depart my way.
My grace doth yield to this your talk,
To be thus now it shall:
My Knight, therefore prepare yourself
Sisamnes for to call:
A judge he is of prudent skill,
Even he shall bear the sway,
In absence mine, when from the land
I do depart my way.
Knight.
Your Knight before your grace even hereHimself hath ready prest,With willing heart for to fulfil,As your grace made request.[Exit.
Your Knight before your grace even here
Himself hath ready prest,
With willing heart for to fulfil,
As your grace made request.
[Exit.
Council.
Pleaseth your grace, I judge of himTo be a man right fit;For he is learned in the law,Having the gift of wit:In your grace’s precinct I do not viewFor it a meeter man:His learning is of good effect,Bring proof thereof I can.I do not know what is his life,His conscience hid from me,I doubt not but the fear of GodBefore his eyes to be.
Pleaseth your grace, I judge of him
To be a man right fit;
For he is learned in the law,
Having the gift of wit:
In your grace’s precinct I do not view
For it a meeter man:
His learning is of good effect,
Bring proof thereof I can.
I do not know what is his life,
His conscience hid from me,
I doubt not but the fear of God
Before his eyes to be.
Lord.
Report declares, he is a manThat to himself is nigh;One that favoureth much the world,And too much sets thereby:But this I say of certainty,If he your grace succeed,In your absence but for a while,He will be warn’d indeedNo injustice for to frequent,No partial judge to prove,But rule all things with equity,To win your grace’s love.
Report declares, he is a man
That to himself is nigh;
One that favoureth much the world,
And too much sets thereby:
But this I say of certainty,
If he your grace succeed,
In your absence but for a while,
He will be warn’d indeed
No injustice for to frequent,
No partial judge to prove,
But rule all things with equity,
To win your grace’s love.
King.
Of that he shall a warning haveMy hests for to obey;Great punishment for his offenceAgainst him will I lay.
Of that he shall a warning have
My hests for to obey;
Great punishment for his offence
Against him will I lay.
Council.
Behold, I see him now aggress,And enter into place.
Behold, I see him now aggress,
And enter into place.
Sisamnes.
O puissant prince and mighty king,The gods preserve your grace!Your grace’s message came to me,Your will purporting forth:With grateful mind I it received,According to mine oath,Erecting then myself with speed,Before your grace’s eyes,The tenor of your princely willFrom you for to agnise.
O puissant prince and mighty king,
The gods preserve your grace!
Your grace’s message came to me,
Your will purporting forth:
With grateful mind I it received,
According to mine oath,
Erecting then myself with speed,
Before your grace’s eyes,
The tenor of your princely will
From you for to agnise.
King.
Sisamnes, this the whole effect,The which for you I sent:Our mind it is to elevate,You to great preferment.My grace, and gracious Council eke,Hath chose you for this cause:In judgment you do office bear,Which have the skill in laws;We think that you accordinglyBy justice rule will deal,That for offence none shall have causeOf wrong you to appeal.
Sisamnes, this the whole effect,
The which for you I sent:
Our mind it is to elevate,
You to great preferment.
My grace, and gracious Council eke,
Hath chose you for this cause:
In judgment you do office bear,
Which have the skill in laws;
We think that you accordingly
By justice rule will deal,
That for offence none shall have cause
Of wrong you to appeal.
Sisamnes.