ACT THE SECOND

Slip. Nano.We do.

And.But what can you do worthy preferment?

Nano.Marry, I can smell a knave from a rat.

Slip.And I can lick a dish before a cat.

And.And I can find two fools unsought,—how like you that?

But, in earnest now, tell me: of what trades are you two?

Slip.How mean you that, sir, of what trade? Marry, I'll tell you, I have many trades: the honest trade when I needs must; the filching trade when time serves; the cozening trade as I find occasion. And I have more qualities: I cannot abide a full cup unkissed, a fat capon uncarved, a full purse unpicked, nor a fool to prove a justice as you do.

And.Why, sot, why callest thou me fool?

Nano.For examining wiser than thyself.

And.So doth many more than I in Scotland.

Nano.Yea, those are such as have more authority than wit, and more wealth than honesty.

Slip.This is my little brother with the great wit; 'ware him!—But what canst thou do, tell me, that art so inquisitive of us?

And.Anything that concerns a gentleman to do, that can I do.

Slip.So you are of the gentle trade?

And.True.

Slip.Then, gentle sir, leave us to ourselves, for here comes one as if he would lack a servant ere he went. [Andrewstands aside.

EnterAteukin.

Ateu.Why, so, Ateukin, this becomes thee best:Wealth, honour, ease, and angels in thy chest.Now may I say, as many often sing,"No fishing to[252]the sea, nor service to a king."Unto this high promotion doth belongMeans to be talk'd of in the thickest throng.And first, to fit the humours of my lord,Sweet lays and lines of love I must record;And such sweet lines and love-lays I'll indite,As men may wish for, and my liege delight:And next, a train of gallants at my heels,That men may say, the world doth run on wheels;For men of art, that rise by indirectionTo honour and the favour of their king,Must use all means to save what they have got,And win their favours whom they never knew.If any frown to see my fortunes such,A man must bear a little,—not too much!But, in good time!—these bills portend, I think,That some good fellows do for service seek. [Reads.If any gentleman, spiritual or temporal, will entertain out of his service, a young stripling of the age of thirty years, that can sleep with the soundest, eat with the hungriest, work with the sickest, lie with the loudest, face with the proudest, etc., that can wait in a gentleman's chamber when his master is a mile off, keep his stable when 'tis empty, and his purse when 'tis full, and hath many qualities worse than all these, let him write his name and go his way, and attendance shall be given.By my faith, a good servant: which is he?

Slip.Truly, sir, that am I.

Ateu.And why dost thou write such a bill? Are all these qualities in thee?

Slip.O Lord, ay, sir, and a great many more, some better, some worse, some richer, some poorer. Why, sir, do you look so? do they not please you?

Ateu.Truly, no, for they are naught, and so art thou: if thou hast no better qualities, stand by.

Slip.O, sir, I tell the worst first; but, an you lack a man, I am for you: I'll tell you the best qualities I have.

Ateu.Be brief, then.

Slip.If you need me in your chamber, I can keep the door at a whistle; in your kitchen, turn the spit, and lick the pan, and make the fire burn; but if in the stable,—

Ateu.Yea, there would I use thee.

Slip.Why, there you kill me, there am I! and turn me to a horse and a wench, and I have no peer.

Ateu.Art thou so good in keeping a horse? I pray thee, tell me how many good qualities hath a horse.

Slip.Why, so, sir: a horse hath two properties of a man, that is, a proud heart, and a hardy stomach; four properties of a lion, a broad breast, a stiff docket,—hold your nose, master,—a wild countenance, and four good legs; nine properties of a fox, nine of a hare, nine of an ass, and ten of a woman.

Ateu.A woman! why, what properties of a woman hath a horse?

Slip.O, master, know you not that? Draw your tables,[253]and write what wise I speak. First, a merry countenance; second, a soft pace; third, a broad forehead; fourth, broad buttocks; fifth, hard of ward; sixth, easy to leap upon; seventh, good at long journey; eighth, moving under a man; ninth, always busy with the mouth; tenth, ever chewing on the bridle.

Ateu.Thou art a man for me: what's thy name?

Slip.An ancient name, sir, belonging to the chamber and the night-gown: guess you that.

Ateu.What's that? Slipper?

Slip.By my faith, well guessed; and so 'tis indeed. You'll be my master?

Ateu.I mean so.

Slip.Read this first.

Ateu.[reads].Pleaseth it any gentleman to entertain a servant of more wit than stature, let them subscribe, and attendance shall be given.What of this?

Slip.He is my brother, sir; and we two were born together, must serve together, and will die together, though we be both hanged.

Ateu.What's thy name?

Nano.Nano.

Ateu.The etymology of which word is "a dwarf." Are not thou the old stoic's son that dwells in his tomb?

Slip. Nano.We are.

Ateu.Thou art welcome to me. Wilt thou give thyself wholly to be at my disposition?

Nano.In all humility I submit myself.

Ateu.Then will I deck thee princely, instruct thee courtly, and present thee to the queen as my gift. Art thou content?

Nano.Yes, and thank your honour too.

Slip.Then welcome, brother, and follow now.

And.[coming forward]. May it please your honour to abase your eye so low as to look either on my bill or myself?

Ateu.What are you?

And.By birth a gentleman; in profession a scholar; and one that knew your honour in Edinburgh, before your worthiness called you to this reputation: by me, Andrew Snoord.

Ateu.Andrew, I remember thee; follow me, and wewill confer further; for my weighty affairs for the king command me to be brief at this time.—Come on, Nano.—Slipper, follow. [Exeunt.

EnterSir Bartram,withEustace,and others, booted.

Sir Bar.But tell me, lovely Eustace, as thou lov'st me,Among the many pleasures we have pass'd,Which is the rifest in thy memory,To draw thee over to thine ancient friend?Eust.What makes Sir Bartram thus inquisitive?Tell me, good knight, am I welcome or no?Sir Bar.By sweet Saint Andrew and may sale[254]I swear,As welcome is my honest Dick to meAs morning's sun, or as the watery moonIn merkest night, when we the borders track.I tell thee, Dick, thy sight hath clear'd my thoughtsOf many baneful troubles that there woon'd:[255]Welcome to Sir Bartram as his life!Tell me, bonny Dick: hast got a wife?Eust.A wife! God shield, Sir Bartram, that were ill,To leave my wife and wander thus astray:But time and good advice, ere many years,May chance to make my fancy bend that way.What news in Scotland? therefore came I hither,To see your country and to chat together.Sir Bar.Why, man, our country's blithe, our king is well,Our queen so-so, the nobles well and worse,And weel are they that are about the king,But better are the country gentlemen:And I may tell thee, Eustace, in our livesWe old men never saw so wondrous change.But leave this trattle, and tell me what newsIn lovely England with our honest friends.Eust.The king, the court, and all our noble friendsAre well; and God in mercy keep them so!The northern lords and ladies hereabouts,That know I came to see your queen and court,Commend them to my honest friend Sir Bartram,—And many others that I have not seen.Among the rest, the Countess Elinor,From Carlisle, where we merry oft have been,Greets well my lord, and hath directed me,By message, this fair lady's face to see.[Shows a portrait.Sir Bar.I tell thee, Eustace, 'less mine old eyes daze,This is our Scottish moon and evening's pride;This is the blemish of your English bride.Who sail by her, are sure of wind at will;Her face is dangerous, her sight is ill:And yet, in sooth, sweet Dick, it may be said,The king hath folly, there's virtue in the maid.Eust.But knows my friend this portrait? be advis'd.Sir Bar.Is it not Ida, the Countess of Arran's daughter's?Eust.So was I told by Elinor of Carlisle:But tell me, lovely Bartram: is the maidEvil-inclin'd, misled, or concubineUnto the king or any other lord?Sir Bar.Should I be brief and true, than thus, my Dick:All England's grounds yield not a blither lass,Nor Europe can surpass her for her giftsOf virtue, honour, beauty, and the rest:But our fond king, not knowing sin in lust,Makes love by endless means and precious gifts;And men that see it dare not say't, my friend,But we may wish that it were otherwise.But I rid thee to view the picture still,For by the person's sight there hangs some ill.Eust.O, good Sir Bartram, you suspect I love(Then were I mad) her whom I never saw.But, howsoe'er, I fear not enticings:Desire will give no place unto a king:I'll see her whom the world admires so much,That I may say with them, "There lives none such."Sir Bar.Be Gad, and sall both see and talk with her;And, when thou'st done, whate'er her beauty be,I'll warrant thee her virtues may compareWith the proudest she that waits upon your queen.

EnterServant.

Serv.My lady entreats your worship in to supper.

Sir Bar.Guid, bonny Dick, my wife will tell thee more:Was never no man in her book before;Be Gad, she's blithe, fair, lewely,[256]bonny, etc.[257][Exeunt.

EnterBohanandOberon;to them a round ofFairies,or some pretty dance.

Boh.Be Gad, gramercies, little king, for this;This sport is better in my exile lifeThan ever the deceitful werld could yield.Ober.I tell thee, Bohan, Oberon is kingOf quiet, pleasure, profit, and content,Of wealth, of honour, and of all the world;Tied to no place,—yet all are tied to one.Live thou this life, exil'd from world and men,And I will show thee wonders ere we part.Boh.Then mark my story, and the strange doubtsThat follow flatterers, lust, and lawless will,And then say I have reason to forsakeThe world and all that are within the same.Go shroud us in our harbour, where we'll seeThe pride of folly, as it ought to be. [Exeunt.

After the first Act.

Ober.Here see I good fond actions in thy jigAnd means to paint the world's inconstant ways:But turn thine ene, see what I can command.

Enter two battles, strongly fighting, the one led bySemiramis,the other byStabrobates:she flies, and her crown is taken, and she hurt.

Boh.What gars this din of mirk and baleful harm,Where every wean is all betaint with blood?Ober.This shows thee, Bohan, what is worldly pomp:Semiramis, the proud Assyrian queen,When Ninus died, did levy in her warsThree millions of footmen to the fight,Five hundred thousand horse, of armèd carsA hundred thousand more; yet in her prideWas hurt and conquered by Stabrobates.Then what is pomp?Boh.I see thou art thine ene,Thou bonny king, if princes fall from high:My fall is past, until I fall to die.Now mark my talk, and prosecute my jig.

Ober.How should these crafts withdraw thee from the world?But look, my Bohan, pomp allureth.

EnterCyrus,Kings humbling themselves; himself crowned by Olive Pat[259]:at last dying, laid in a marble tomb with this inscription:

"Whoso thou be that passest [by],—For I know one shall pass,—know IAm Cyrus of Persia, and I prayLeave me not thus like a clod of clayWherewith my body is coverèd." [All exeunt.

Enter theKingin great pomp, who reads it, and issueth, crying,"Ver meum."

Boh.What meaneth this?Ober.Cyrus of Persia,Mighty in life, within a marble graveWas laid to rot; whom Alexander onceBeheld entomb'd, and weeping did confess,Nothing in life could 'scape from wretchedness:Why, then, boast men?Boh.What reck I, then, of life,Who make the grave my home, the earth my wife?But mark me more.

Boh.I can no more; my patience will not warpTo see these flatterers how they scorn and carp.Ober.Turn but thy head.

Enter fourKingscarrying crowns, Ladiespresenting odours toPotentateenthroned, who suddenly is slain by hisServantsand thrust out; and so they eat.[Exeunt.

Boh.Sike is the werld; but whilk is he I saw?Ober.Sesostris, who was conqueror of the world,Slain at the last and stamp'd on by his slaves.Boh.How blest are peur men, then, that know their graves!Now mark the sequel of my jig.

Boh.An he weel meet ends. The mirk and sable nightDoth leave the peering morn to pry abroad;Thou nill me stay: hail, then, thou pride of kings!I ken the world, and wot well worldly things.Mark thou my jig, in mirkest terms that tellsThe loath of sins and where corruption dwells.Hail me ne mere with shows of guidly sights;My grave is mine,—that rids me from despites.

Boh.Accept my jig, guid king, and let me rest;The grave with guid men is a gay-built nest.Ober.The rising sun doth call me hence away;Thanks for thy jig, I may no longer stay:But if my train did wake thee from thy restSo shall they sing thy lullaby to nest. [Exeunt.

TheCountess of ArranandIdadiscovered sitting at work.A Song.[261]

TheCountess of ArranandIdadiscovered sitting at work.

A Song.[261]

Count. of A.Fair Ida, might you choose the greatest good,'Midst all the world in blessings that abound,Wherein, my daughter, should your liking be?Ida.Not in delights, or pomp, or majesty.Count. of A.And why?Ida.Since these are means to draw the mindFrom perfect good, and make true judgment blind.Count. of A.Might you have wealth and fortune's richest store?Ida.Yet would I, might I choose, be honest-poor;For she that sits at fortune's feet a-lowIs sure she shall not taste a further woe;But those that prank on top of fortune's ballStill fear a change, and, fearing, catch a fall.Count. of A.Tut, foolish maid, each one contemneth need.Ida.Good reason why, they know not good indeed.Count. of A.Many, marry, then, on whom distress doth lour.Ida.Yes, they that virtue deem an honest dower.Madam, by right this world I may compareUnto my work, wherein with heedful careThe heavenly workman plants with curious hand—As I with needle draw—each thing on landEven as he list: some men like to the roseAre fashion'd fresh; some in their stalks do close,And, born, do sudden die; some are but weeds,And yet from them a secret good proceeds:I with my needle, if I please, may blotThe fairest rose within my cambric plot;God with a beck can change each worldly thing,The poor to earth, the beggar to the king.What, then, hath man wherein he well may boast,Since by a beck he lives, a lour[262]is lost?Count. of A.Peace, Ida, here are strangers near at hand.

EnterEustacewith letters.

Eust.Madam, God speed!Count. of A.I thank you, gentle squire.Eust.The country Countess of NorthumberlandDoth greet you well; and hath requested meTo bring these letters to your ladyship.[Delivers the letters.Count. of A.I thank her honour, and yourself, my friend.[Peruses them.I see she means you good, brave gentleman.—Daughter, the Lady Elinor salutesYourself as well as me: then for her sake'Twere good you entertain'd that courtier well.Ida.As much salute as may become my sex,And he in virtue can vouchsafe to think,I yield him for the courteous countess' sake.—Good sir, sit down: my mother here and ICount time misspent an endless vanity.Eust.[aside]. Beyond report, the wit, the fair, the shape!—What work you here, fair mistress? may I see it?Ida.Good sir, look on: how like you this compáct?Eust.Methinks in this I see true love in act:The woodbines with their leaves do sweetly spread,The roses blushing prank them in their red;No flower but boasts the beauties of the spring;This bird hath life indeed, if it could sing.What means, fair mistress, had you in this work?Ida.My needle, sir.Eust.In needles, then, there lurkSome hidden grace, I deem, beyond my reach.Ida.Not grace in them, good sir, but those that teach.Eust.Say that your needle now were Cupid's sting,—[Aside]. But, ah, her eye must be no less,In which is heaven and heavenliness,In which the food of God is shut,Whose powers the purest minds do glut!Ida.What if it were?Eust.Then see a wondrous thing;I fear me you would paint in Tereus' heartAffection in his power and chiefest part.Ida.Good Lord, sir, no! for hearts but prickèd softAre wounded sore, for so I hear it oft.Eust.What recks the wound, where but your happy eyeMay make him live whom Jove hath judg'd to die?Ida.Should life and death within this needle lurk,I'll prick no hearts, I'll prick upon my work.

EnterAteukinandSlipper.

Count. of A.Peace, Ida, I perceive the fox at hand.Eust.The fox! why, fetch your hounds, and chase him hence.Count. of A.O, sir, these great men bark at small offence.Come, will it please you enter, gentle sir?[They offer to go out.Ateu.Stay, courteous ladies; favour me so muchAs to discourse a word or two apart.Count. of A.Good sir, my daughter learns this rule of me,To shun resort and strangers' company;For some are shifting mates that carry letters;Some, such as you, too good because our betters.

Slip.Now, I pray you, sir, what akin are you to a pickerel?

Ateu.Why, knave?

Slip.By my troth, sir, because I never knew a proper situation fellow of your pitch fitter to swallow a gudgeon.

Ateu.What meanest thou by this?

Slip."Shifting fellow," sir,—these be thy words;[263]"shifting fellow": this gentlewoman, I fear me, knew your bringing up.

Ateu.How so?

Slip.Why, sir, your father was a miller, that could shift for a peck of grist in a bushel, and you a fair-spoken gentleman, that can get more land by a lie than an honest man by his ready money.

Ateu.Caitiff, what sayest thou?

Slip.I say, sir, that if she call you shifting knave, you shall not put her to the proof.

Ateu.And why?

Slip.Because, sir, living by your wit as you do, shifting is your letters-patents: it were a hard matter for me to get my dinner that day wherein my master had not sold a dozen of devices, a case of cogs, and a suit of shifts,[264]in the morning. I speak this in your commendation, sir, and, I pray you, so take it.

Ateu.If I live, knave, I will be revenged. What gentleman would entertain a rascal thus to derogate from his honour? [Beats him.

Ida.My lord, why are you thus impatient?

Ateu.Not angry, Ida; but I teach this knaveHow to behave himself among his betters.—Behold, fair countess, to assure your stay,I here present the signet of the king,Who now by me, fair Ida, doth salute you:And since in secret I have certain thingsIn his behalf, good madam, to impart,I crave your daughter to discourse apart.Count. of A.She shall in humble duty be addrest[265]To do his highness' will in what she may.Ida.Now, gentle sir, what would his grace with me?Ateu.Fair, comely nymph, the beauty of your face,Sufficient to bewitch the heavenly powers,Hath wrought so much in him, that now of lateHe finds himself made captive unto love;And though his power and majesty requireA straight command before an humble suit,Yet he his mightiness doth so abaseAs to entreat your favour, honest maid.Ida.Is he not married, sir, unto our queen?Ateu.He is.Ida.And are not they by God accurs'd,That sever them whom he hath knit in one?Ateu.They be: what then? we seek not to displaceThe princess from her seat; but, since by loveThe king is made your own, he is resolv'dIn private to accept your dalliance,In spite of war, watch, or worldly eye.Ida.O, how he talks, as if he should not die!As if that God in justice once could winkUpon that fault I am asham'd to think!Ateu.Tut, mistress, man at first was born to err;Women are all not formèd to be saints:'Tis impious for to kill our native king,Whom by a little favour we may save.Ida.Better, than live unchaste, to lie in grave.Ateu.He shall erect your state, and wed you well.Ida.But can his warrant keep my soul from hell?Ateu.He will enforce, if you resist his suit.Ida.What tho?[266]The world may shame to him account,To be a king of men and worldly pelf,Yet hath no power to rule and guide himself.Ateu.I know you, gentle lady, and the careBoth of your honour and his grace's healthMakes me confusèd in this dangerous state.Ida.So counsel him, but soothe thou not his sin:'Tis vain allurement that doth make him love:I shame to hear, be you asham'd to move.Count. of A.[aside]. I see my daughter grows impatient:I fear me, he pretends some bad intent.Ateu.Will you despise the king and scorn him so?Ida.In all allegiance I will serve his grace,But not in lust: O, how I blush to name it!Ateu.[aside]. An endless work is this: how should I frame it?[They discourse privately.

Slip.O, mistress, may I turn a word upon you?

Count. of A.Friend, what wilt thou?

Slip.O, what a happy gentlewoman be you truly! the world reports this of you, mistress, that a man can no sooner come to your house but the butler comes with a black-jack and says, "Welcome, friend, here's a cup of the best for you": verily, mistress, you are said to have the best ale in all Scotland.

Count. of A.Sirrah, go fetch him drink. [Servantbrings drink]. How likest thou this?

Slip.Like it, mistress! why, this is quincy quarie, pepper de watchet, single goby, of all that ever I tasted! I'll prove in this ale and toast the compass of the whole world. First, this is the earth,—it lies in the middle, a fair brown toast, a goodly country for hungry teeth to dwell upon; next, this is the sea, a fair pool for a dry tongue to fish in: now come I, and, seeing the world is naught, I divide it thus; and, because the sea cannot stand without the earth, as Aristotle saith, I put them both into their first chaos, which is my belly: and so, mistress, you may see your ale is become a miracle.

Eust.A merry mate, madam, I promise you.

Count. of A.Why sigh you, sirrah?

Slip.Truly, madam, to think upon the world, which, since I denounced it, keeps such a rumbling in my stomach, that, unless your cook give it a counterbuff with some of your roasted capons or beef, I fear me Ishall become a loose body, so dainty, I think, I shall neither hold fast before nor behind.

Count. of A.Go take him in, and feast this merry swain.—Sirrah, my cook is your physician;He hath a purge for to digest the world.[ExeuntSlipperandServant.Ateu.Will you not, Ida, grant his highness this?Ida.As I have said, in duty I am his:For other lawless lusts that ill beseem him,I cannot like, and good I will not deem him.Count. of A.Ida, come in:—and, sir, if so you please,Come, take a homely widow's entertain.Ida.If he have no great haste, he may come nigh;If haste, though he be gone, I will not cry.[ExeuntCountess of Arran, Ida,andEustace.Ateu.I see this labour lost, my hope in vain;Yet will I try another drift again. [Exit.

Enter, one by one, theBishop of St Andrews, Douglas, Morton,and others, one way;Queen DorotheawithNano,another way.

Bp. of St And.[aside]. O wrack of commonweal! O wretched state!Doug.[aside]. O hapless flock, whereas the guide is blind!Mort.[aside]. O heedless youth, where counsel is despis'd![They are all in a muse.Q. Dor.Come, pretty knave, and prank it by my side;Let's see your best attendance out of hand.Nano.Madam, although my limbs are very small,My heart is good; I'll serve you therewithal.Q. Dor.How, if I were assail'd, what couldst thou do?Nano.Madam, call help, and boldly fight it too:Although a bee be but a little thing,You know, fair queen, it hath a bitter sting.Q. Dor.How couldst thou do me good, were I in grief?Nano.Counsel, dear princess, is a choice relief:Though Nestor wanted force, great was his wit;And though I am but weak, my words are fit.Bp. of St And.[aside]. Like to a ship upon the ocean-seas,Tost in the doubtful stream, without a helm,Such is a monarch without good advice.I am o'erheard: cast rein upon thy tongue;Andrews, beware; reproof will breed a scar.Mort.Good-day, my lord.Bp. of St And.Lord Morton, well y-met.—Whereon deems Lord Douglas all this while?Doug.Of that which yours and my poor heart doth break,Although fear shuts our mouths, we dare not speak.Q. Dor.[aside]. What mean these princes sadly to consult?Somewhat, I fear, betideth them amiss,They are so pale in looks, so vex'd in mind.—In happy hour, the noble Scottish peers,Have I encounter'd you: what makes you mourn?Bp. of St And.If we with patience may attention gain,Your grace shall know the cause of all our grief.Q. Dor.Speak on, good father: come and sit by me:I know thy care is for the common good.Bp. of St And.As fortune, mighty princess, reareth someTo high estate and place in commonweal,So by divine bequest to them is lentA riper judgment and more searching eye,Whereby they may discern the common harm;For where our fortunes in the world are most,Where all our profits rise and still increase,There is our mind, thereon we meditate,—And what we do partake of good advice,That we employ for to concern the same.To this intent, these nobles and myself,That are, or should be, eyes of commonweal,Seeing his highness' reckless course of youth,His lawless and unbridled vein in love,His too intentive trust to flatterers,His abject care of counsel and his friends,Cannot but grieve; and, since we cannot drawHis eye or judgment to discern his faults,Since we have spoke and counsel is not heard,I, for my part,—let others as they list,—Will leave the court, and leave him to his will,Lest with a ruthful eye I should beholdHis overthrow, which, sore I fear, is nigh.Q. Dor.Ah, father, are you so estrang'd from love,From due allegiance to your prince and land,To leave your king when most he needs your help?The thrifty husbandmen are never wont,That see their lands unfruitful, to forsake them;But, when the mould is barren and unapt,They toil, they plow, and make the fallow fat:The pilot in the dangerous seas is known;In calmer waves the silly sailor strives.Are you not members, lords, of commonweal,And can your head, your dear anointed king,Default, ye lords, except yourselves do fail?O, stay your steps, return and counsel him!Doug.Men seek not moss upon a rolling stone,Or water from the sieve, or fire from ice,Or comfort from a reckless monarch's hands.Madam, he sets us light, that serv'd in court,In place of credit, in his father's days:If we but enter presence of his grace,Our payment is a frown, a scoff, a frump;Whilst flattering Gnatho[267]pranks it by his side,Soothing the careless king in his misdeeds:And, if your grace consider your estate,His life should urge you too, if all be true.Q. Dor.Why, Douglas, why?Doug.As if you have not heardHis lawless love to Ida grown of late,His careless estimate of your estate.Q. Dor.Ah, Douglas, thou misconster'st his intent!He doth but tempt his wife, he tries my love;This injury pertains to me, not to you.The king is young; and, if he step awry,He may amend, and I will love him still.Should we disdain our vines because they sproutBefore their time? or young men, if they strainBeyond their reach? No; vines that bloom and spreadDo promise fruits, and young men that are wildIn age grow wise. My friends and Scottish peers,If that an English princess may prevail,Stay, stay with him: lo, how my zealous prayerIs plead with tears! fie, peers, will you hence?Bp. of St And.Madam, 'tis virtue in your grace to plead;But we, that see his vain untoward course,Cannot but fly the fire before it burn,And shun the court before we see his fall.Q. Dor.Will you not stay? then, lordings, fare you well.Though you forsake your king, the heavens, I hope,Will favour him through mine incessant prayer.Nano.Content you, madam; thus old Ovid sings,'Tis foolish to bewail recureless things.Q. Dor.Peace, dwarf; these words my patience move.Nano.Although you charm my speech, charm not my love.[ExeuntQueen DorotheaandNano.

Enter theKing of Scots;theNobles,spying him as they are about to go off, return.

K. of Scots.Douglas, how now! why changest thou thy cheer?Doug.My private troubles are so great, my liege,As I must crave your license for awhile,For to intend mine own affairs at home.K. of Scots.You may depart. [ExitDouglas.] But why is Morton sad?Mort.The like occasion doth import me too:So I desire your grace to give me leave.K. of Scots.Well, sir, you may betake you to your ease.[ExitMorton.[Aside]. When such grim sirs are gone, I see no letTo work my will.Bp. of St And.What, like the eagle, then,With often flight wilt thou thy feathers lose?O king, canst thou endure to see thy courtOf finest wits and judgments dispossess'd,Whilst cloaking craft with soothing climbs so highAs each bewails ambition is so bad?Thy father left thee with estate and crown,A learnèd council to direct thy course:These carelessly, O king, thou castest off,To entertain a train of sycophants.Thou well may'st see, although thou wilt not see,That every eye and ear both sees and hearsThe certain signs of thine incontinence.Thou art allied unto the English kingBy marriage;—a happy friend indeed,If usèd well; if not, a mighty foe.Thinketh your grace, he can endure and brookTo have a partner in his daughter's love?Thinketh your grace, the grudge of privy wrongsWill not procure him change his smiles to threats?O, be not blind to good! call home your lords,Displace these flattering Gnathoes, drive them hence!Love and with kindness take your wedlock wife;Or else, which God forbid, I fear a change:Sin cannot thrive in courts without a plague.K. of Scots.Go pack thou too, unless thou mend thy talk!On pain of death, proud bishop, get you gone,Unless you headless mean to hop away!Bp. of St And.Thou God of heaven, prevent my country's fall![Exit with otherNobles.K. of Scots.These stays and lets to pleasure plague my thoughts,Forcing my grievous wounds anew to bleed;But care that hath transported me so far,Fair Ida, is dispers'd in thought of thee,Whose answer yields me life or breeds my death.Yond comes the messenger of weal or woe.

EnterAteukin.[268]

Ateukin, what news?Ateu.The adamant, O king, will not be fil'dBut by itself, and beauty that exceedsBy some exceeding favour must be wrought:Ida is coy as yet, and doth repine,Objecting marriage, honour, fear and death:She's holy-wise, and too precise for me.K. of Scots.Are these thy fruits of wit, thy sight in art,Thine eloquence, thy policy, thy drift,—To mock thy prince? Then, caitiff, pack thee hence,And let me die devourèd in my love!Ateu.Good lord, how rage gainsayeth reason's power!My dear, my gracious, and belovèd prince,The essence of my soul, my god on earth,Sit down and rest yourself: appease your wrath,Lest with a frown ye wound me to the death.O, that I were included in my grave,That either now, to save my prince's life,Must counsel cruelty, or lose my king!K. of Scots.Why, sirrah, is there means to move her mind?Ateu.O, should I not offend my royal liege,—K. of Scots.Tell all, spare naught, so I may gain my love.Ateu.Alas, my soul, why art thou torn in twain,For fear thou talk a thing that should displease?K. of Scots.Tut, speak whatso thou wilt, I pardon thee.Ateu.How kind a word, how courteous is his grace!Who would not die to succour such a king?My liege, this lovely maid of modest mindCould well incline to love, but that she fearsFair Dorothea's power: your grace doth know,Your wedlock is a mighty let to love.Were Ida sure to be your wedded wife,That then the twig would bow you might command:Ladies love presents, pomp, and high estate.K. of Scots.Ah, Ateukin, how should we displace this let?Ateu.Tut, mighty prince,—O, that I might be whist![269]K. of Scots.Why dalliest thou?Ateu.I will not move my prince!I will prefer his safety 'fore my life.Hear me, O king! 'tis Dorothea's deathMust do you good.K. of Scots.What, murder of my queen!Yet, to enjoy my love, what is my queen?O, but my vow and promise to my queen!Ay, but my hope to gain a fairer queen:With how contrarious thoughts am I withdrawn!Why linger I 'twixt hope and doubtful fear?If Dorothea die, will Ida love?Ateu.She will, my lord.K. of Scots.Then let her die: devise, advise the means;All likes me well that lends me hope in love.Ateu.What, will your grace consent? Then let me work.There's here in court a Frenchman, Jaques call'dA fit performer of our enterprise,Whom I by gifts and promise will corruptTo slay the queen, so that your grace will sealA warrant for the man, to save his life.K. of Scots.Naught shall he want; write thou, and I will sign:And, gentle Gnatho, if my Ida yield,Thou shalt have what thou wilt; I'll give thee straightA barony, an earldom, for reward.Ateu.Frolic, young king, the lass shall be your own:I'll make her blithe and wanton by my wit.[Exeunt.

EnterBohanandOberon.

Boh.So, Oberon, now it begins to work in kind.The ancient lords by leaving him alone,Disliking of his humours and despite,Let him run headlong, till his flatterers,Soliciting his thoughts of lawless lustWith vile persuasions and alluring words,Make him make way by murder to his will.Judge, fairy king, hast heard a greater ill?Ober.Nor seen more virtue in a country maid.I tell thee, Bohan, it doth make me sorry,To think the deeds the king means to perform.Boh.To change that humour, stand and see the rest:I trow my son Slipper will show's a jest.

EnterSlipperwith a companion, boyorwench,dancing a hornpipe, and dance out again.

Now after this beguiling of our thoughts,And changing them from sad to better glee,Let's to our cell, and sit and see the rest,For, I believe, this jig will prove no jest. [Exeunt.

EnterSlipperone way, andSir Bartramanother way.

Sir Bar.Ho, fellow! stay, and let me speak with thee.

Slip.Fellow! friend, thou dost disbuse me; I am a gentleman.

Sir Bar.A gentleman! how so?

Slip.Why, I rub horses, sir.

Sir Bar.And what of that?

Slip.O simple-witted! mark my reason. They that do good service in the commonweal are gentlemen; but such as rub horses do good service in the commonweal; ergo, tarbox, master courtier, a horse-keeper is a gentleman.

Sir Bar.Here is overmuch wit, in good earnest. But, sirrah, where is thy master?

Slip.Neither above ground nor under ground, drawing out red into white, swallowing that down without chawing that was never made without treading.

Sir Bar.Why, where is he, then?

Slip.Why, in his cellar, drinking a cup of neat and brisk claret, in a bowl of silver. O, sir, the wine runstrillill down his throat, which cost the poor vintner many a stamp before it was made. But I must hence, sir, I have haste.

Sir Bar.Why, whither now, I prithee?

Slip.Faith, sir, to Sir Silvester, a knight, hard by, upon my master's errand, whom I must certify this, that the lease of East Spring shall be confirmed; and therefore must I bid him provide trash, for my master is no friend without money.

Sir Bar.[aside]. This is the thing for which I su'd so long,This is the lease which I, by Gnatho's means,Sought to possess by patent from the king;But he, injurious man, who lives by crafts,And sells king's favours for who will give most,Hath taken bribes of me, yet covertlyWill sell away the thing pertains to me:But I have found a present help, I hope,For to prevent his purpose and deceit.—Stay, gentle friend.

Slip.A good word; thou hast won me: this word is like a warm caudle to a cold stomach.

Sir Bar.Sirrah, wilt thou, for money and reward,Convey me certain letters, out of hand,From out thy master's pocket?

Slip.Will I, sir? why, were it to rob my father, hang my mother, or any such like trifles, I am at your commandment, sir. What will you give me, sir?

Sir Bar.A hundred pounds.

Slip.I am your man: give me earnest. I am dead at a pocket, sir; why, I am a lifter, master, by my occupation.

Sir Bar.A lifter! what is that?

Slip.Why, sir, I can lift a pot as well as any man, and pick a purse as soon as any thief in my country.

Sir Bar.Why, fellow, hold; here is earnest, ten pound to assure thee. [Gives money]. Go, despatch, and bring it me to yonder tavern thou seest; and assure thyself, thou shalt both have thy skin full of wine and the rest of thy money.

Slip.I will, sir.—Now room for a gentleman, my masters! who gives me money for a fair new angel,[271]a trim new angel? [Exeunt.

EnterAndrewandPurveyor.

Pur.Sirrah, I must needs have your master's horses: the king cannot be unserved.

And.Sirrah, you must needs go without them, because my master must be served.

Pur.Why, I am the king's purveyor, and I tell thee I will have them.

And.I am Ateukin's servant, Signior Andrew, and I say, thou shalt not have them.

Pur.Here's my ticket; deny it if thou darest.

And.There is the stable; fetch them out if thou darest.

Pur.Sirrah, sirrah, tame your tongue, lest I make you.

And.Sirrah, sirrah, hold your hand, lest I bum[272]you.

Pur.I tell thee, thy master's geldings are good, and therefore fit for the king.

And.I tell thee, my master's horses have galled backs, and therefore cannot fit the king. Purveyor, purveyor,purvey thee of more wit: darest thou presume to wrong my Lord Ateukin, being the chiefest man in court?

Pur.The more unhappy commonweal where flatterers are chief in court.

And.What sayest thou?

Pur.I say thou art too presumptuous, and the officers shall school thee.

And.A fig for them and thee, purveyor! They seek a knot in a ring that would wrong my master or his servants in this court.

EnterJaques.

Pur.The world is at a wise pass when nobility is afraid of a flatterer.

Jaq.Sirrah, what be you thatparley contre Monsieurmy Lord Ateukin?en bonne foi, prate you against SirAltesse, me maka yourtêteto leap from your shoulders,per ma foi c'y ferai-je?

And.O, signior captain, you show yourself a forward and friendly gentleman in my master's behalf: I will cause him to thank you.

Jaq. Poltron, speak me oneparolaagainst mybon gentilhomme, I shallestampyour guts, and thump your backa, that youno pointmanage this ten hours.

Pur.Sirrah, come open me the stable, and let me have the horses;—and, fellow, for all your French brags, I will do my duty.

And.I'll make garters of thy guts, thou villain, if thou enter this office.

Jaq. Mort Dieu, take me that cappapour votre labeur: be gone, villain, in themort. [Exit.

Pur.What, will you resist me, then? Well, the council, fellow, shall know of your insolency.

And.Tell them what thou wilt, and eat that I can best spare from my back-parts, and get you gone with a vengeance. [ExitPurveyor.

EnterAteukin.

Ateu.Andrew.

And.Sir?

Ateu.Where be my writings I put in my pocket last night?

And.Which, sir? your annotations upon Machiavel?

Ateu.No, sir; the letters-patents for East Spring.

And.Why, sir, you talk wonders to me, if you ask that question.

Ateu.Yea, sir, and will work wonders too with you, unless you find them out: villain, search me them out, and bring them me, or thou art but dead.

And.A terrible word in the latter end of a sessions. Master, were you in your right wits yesternight?

Ateu.Dost thou doubt it?

And.Ay, and why not, sir? for the greatest clerks are not the wisest, and a fool may dance in a hood, as well as a wise man in a bare frock: besides, such as give themselves to philautia,[273]as you do, master, are so choleric of complexion that that which they burn in fire over night they seek for with fury the next morning. Ah, I take care of your worship! this commonweal should have a great loss of so good a member as you are.

Ateu.Thou flatterest me.

And.Is it flattery in me, sir, to speak you fair? what is it, then, in you to dally with the king?

Ateu.Are you prating, knave? I will teach you better nurture! Is this the care you have of my wardrobe, of my accounts, and matters of trust?

And.Why, alas, sir, in times past your garments have been so well inhabited as your tenants would give no place to a moth to mangle them; but since you are grown greater, and your garments more fine and gay, if your garments are not fit for hospitality, blame your pride and commend my cleanliness: as for your writings, I am not for them, nor they for me.

Ateu.Villain, go, fly, find them out: if thou losest them, thou losest my credit.

And.Alas, sir, can I lose that you never had?

Ateu.Say you so? then hold, feel you that you never felt. [Beats him.

Re-enterJaques.

Jaq.O monsieur,ayez patience: pardon yourpauvre valet: me be at your commandment.

Ateu.Signior Jaques, well met; you shall command me.—Sirrah, go cause my writings be proclaimed in the market-place; promise a great reward to them that find them; look where I supped and everywhere.

And.I will, sir—[aside]. Now are two knaves well met, and three well parted: if thou conceive mine enigma, gentlemen,[274]what shall I be, then? faith, a plain harp-shilling.[275][Exit.

Ateu.Sieur Jaques, this our happy meeting ridsYour friends and me of care and grievous toil;For I, that look into deserts of men,And see among the soldiers in this courtA noble forward mind, and judge thereof,Cannot but seek the means to raise them upWho merit credit in the commonweal.To this intent, friend Jaques, I have foundA means to make you great, and well-esteem'dBoth with the king and with the best in court:For I espy in you a valiant mind,Which makes me love, admire, and honour you.To this intent, if so your trust, and faith,Your secrecy be equal with your force,I will impart a service to thyself,Which if thou dost effect, the king, myself,And what or he, or I with him, can work,Shall be employ'd in what thou wilt desire.

Jaq.Me sweara by my ten bones, my signior, to be loyal to your lordship's intents, affairs: yea, mymonseigneur, que non ferai-je pouryour pleasure? By my sworda, me be nobabillard.[276]

Ateu.Then hoping on thy truth, I prithee seeHow kind Ateukin is to forward thee.Hold [giving money], take this earnest-penny of my love,And mark my words: the king, by me, requiresNo slender service, Jaques, at thy hands.—Thou must by privy practice make awayThe queen, fair Dorothea, as she sleeps,Or how thou wilt, so she be done to death:Thou shalt not want promotion here in court.

Jaq.Stabba the woman!par ma foi, monseigneur, me thrusta my weapon into her belly, so me may be guardpar le roi. Me do your service: but me no be hangedpourmy labour?

Ateu.Thou shalt have warrant, Jaques, from the king:None shall outface, gainsay, and wrong my friend.Do not I love thee, Jaques? fear not, then:I tell thee, whoso toucheth thee in aughtShall injure me: I love, I tender thee:Thou art a subject fit to serve his grace.Jaques, I had a written warrant once,But that, by great misfortune, late is lost.Come, wend we to Saint Andrews, where his graceIs now in progress, where he shall assureThy safety, and confirm thee to the act.

Jaq.We will attend your nobleness. [Exeunt.

EnterQueen Dorothea, Sir Bartram, Nano, Ross, Ladies,andAttendants.

Q. Dor.Thy credit, Bartram, in the Scottish court,Thy reverend years, the strictness of thy vows,All these are means sufficient to persuade;But love, the faithful link of loyal hearts,That hath possession of my constant mind,Exiles all dread, subdueth vain suspect.Methinks no craft should harbour in that breastWhere majesty and virtue are install'd:Methinks my beauty should not cause my death.Sir Bar.How gladly, sovereign princess, would I err,And bide my shame to save your royal life!'Tis princely in yourself to think the best,To hope his grace is guiltless of this crime:But if in due prevention you default,How blind are you that were forewarn'd before!Q. Dor.Suspicion without cause deserveth blame.Sir Bar.Who see, and shun not, harms, deserve the same.Behold the tenor of this traitorous plot.[Gives warrant.Q. Dor.What should I read? Perhaps he wrote it not.Sir Bar.Here is his warrant, under seal and sign,To Jaques, born in France, to murder you.Q. Dor.Ah, careless king, would God this were not thine!What though I read? ah, should I think it true?Ross.The hand and seal confirm the deed is his.Q. Dor.What know I though if now he thinketh this?Nano.Madam, Lucretius saith that to repentIs childish, wisdom to prevent.Q. Dor.What tho?Nano.Then cease your tears, that have dismay'd you,And cross the foe before he have betray'd you.Sir Bar.What need these long suggestions in this cause,When every circumstance confirmeth truth?First, let the hidden mercy from aboveConfirm your grace, since by a wondrous meansThe practice of your dangers came to light:Next, let the tokens of approvèd truthGovern and stay your thoughts, too much seduc'd,And mark the sooth, and listen the intent.Your highness knows, and these my noble lordsCan witness this, that whilst your husband's sireIn happy peace possess'd the Scottish crown,I was his sworn attendant here in court;In dangerous fight I never fail'd my lord;And since his death, and this your husband's reign,No labour, duty, have I left undone,To testify my zeal unto the crown.But now my limbs are weak, mine eyes are dim,Mine age unwieldly and unmeet for toil,I came to court, in hope, for service past,To gain some lease to keep me, being old.There found I all was upsy-turvy turn'd,My friends displac'd, the nobles loth to crave:Then sought I to the minion of the king,Ateukin, who, allurèd by a bribe,Assur'd me of the lease for which I sought.But see the craft! when he had got the grant,He wrought to sell it to Sir Silvester,In hope of greater earnings from his hands.In brief, I learn'd his craft, and wrought the means,By one his needy servants for reward,To steal from out his pocket all the briefs;Which he perform'd, and with reward resign'd.Them when I read,—now mark the power of God,—I found this warrant seal'd among the rest,To kill your grace, whom God long keep alive!Thus, in effect, by wonder are you sav'd:Trifle not, then, but seek a speedy flight;God will conduct your steps, and shield the right.Q. Dor.What should I do? ah, poor unhappy queen,Born to endure what fortune can contain!Alas, the deed is too apparent now!But, O mine eyes, were you as bent to hideAs my poor heart is forward to forgive,Ah cruel king, my love would thee acquit!O, what avails to be allied and match'dWith high estates, that marry but in show?Were I baser born, my mean estateCould warrant me from this impendent harm:But to be great and happy, these are twain.Ah, Ross, what shall I do? how shall I work?Ross.With speedy letters to your father send,Who will revenge you and defend your right.Q. Dor.As if they kill not me, who with him fight!As if his breast be touch'd, I am not wounded!As if he wail'd, my joys were not confounded!We are one heart, though rent by hate in twain;One soul, one essence doth our weal contain:What, then, can conquer him, that kills not me?Ross.If this advice displease, then, madam, flee.Q. Dor.Where may I wend or travel without fear?Ross.Where not, in changing this attire you wear?Q. Dor.What, shall I clad me like a country maid?Nano.The policy is base, I am afraid.Q. Dor.Why, Nano?Nano.Ask you why? What, may a queenMarch forth in homely weed, and be not seen?The rose, although in thorny shrubs she spread,Is still the rose, her beauties wax not dead;And noble minds, although the coat be bare,Are by their semblance known, how great they are.Sir Bar.The dwarf saith true.Q. Dor.What garments lik'st thou, than?Nano.Such as may make you seem a proper man.Q. Dor.He makes me blush and smile, though I am sad.Nano.The meanest coat for safety is not bad.Q. Dor.What, shall I jet[277]in breeches, like a squire?Alas, poor dwarf, thy mistress is unmeet.Nano.Tut, go me thus, your cloak before your face,Your sword uprear'd with quaint and comely grace:If any come and question what you be,Say you "A man," and call for witness me.Q. Dor.What, should I wear a sword? to what intent?Nano.Madam, for show; it is an ornament:If any wrong you, draw: a shining bladeWithdraws a coward thief that would invade.Q. Dor.But, if I strike, and he should strike again,What should I do? I fear I should be slain.Nano.No, take it single on your dagger so:I'll teach you, madam, how to ward a blow.Q. Dor.How little shapes much substance may include!—Sir Bartram, Ross, ye ladies, and my friends,Since presence yields me death, and absence life,Hence will I fly, disguisèd like a squire,As one that seeks to live in Irish wars:You, gentle Ross, shall furnish my depart.Ross.Yea, prince, and die with you with all my heart!Vouchsafe me, then, in all extremest statesTo wait on you and serve you with my best.Q. Dor.To me pertains the woe: live then in rest.Friends, fare you well: keep secret my depart:Nano alone shall my attendant be.Nano.Then, madam, are you mann'd, I warrant ye!Give me a sword, and, if there grow debate,I'll come behind, and break your enemy's pate.Ross.How sore we grieve to part so soon away!Q. Dor.Grieve not for those that perish if they stay.Nano.The time in words misspent is little worth;Madam, walk on, and let them bring us forth.[Exeunt.

EnterBohan.

Boh.So, these sad motions make the fairy sleep;And sleep he shall in quiet and content:For it would make a marble melt and weep,To see these treasons 'gainst the innocent.But, since she 'scapes by flight to save her life,The king may chance repent she was his wife.The rest is ruthful; yet, to beguile the time,'Tis interlac'd with merriment and rhyme.[Exit.

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