ACT THE THIRD

Second Ruf.Then take that, villain, and learn how thou use me another time. [StabsFirst Ruf.

First Ruf.O, I am slain! [Dies.

Second Ruf.That's all one to me, I care not. Now will I in to my wench, and call for a fresh pot. [Exit: followed by all exceptAdam.

Adam.Nay, but hear ye, take me with ye, for the ale is ale.—Cut a fresh toast, tapster, fill me a pot; here is money, I am no beggar, I'll follow thee as long as the ale lasts.—A pestilence on the blocks for me, for I mighthave had a fall: well, if we shall have no ale, I'll sit me down: and so farewell, gentle tapster. [Here he falls over the dead man.

EnterRasni, Alvida,theKing of Cilicia, Lords,andAttendants.

Rasni.What slaughter'd wretch lies bleeding here his last,So near the royal palace of the king?Search out if any one be biding nigh,That can discourse the manner of his death.—Seat thee, fair Alvida, the fair of fairs;Let not the object once offend thine eyes.

First Lord.Here's one sits here asleep, my lord.

Rasni.Wake him, and make inquiry of this thing.

First Lord.Sirrah, you! hearest thou, fellow?

Adam.If you will fill a fresh pot, here's a penny, or else farewell, gentle tapster.

First Lord.He is drunk, my lord.

Rasni.We'll sport with him, that Alvida may laugh.

First Lord.Sirrah, thou fellow, thou must come to the king.

Adam.I will not do a stroke of work to-day, for the ale is good ale, and you can ask but a penny for a pot, no more by the statute.

First Lord.Villain, here's the king; thou must come to him.

Adam.The king come to an ale-house!—Tapster, fill me three pots.—Where's the king? is this he?—Give me your hand, sir: as good ale as ever was tapt; you shall drink while your skin crack.

Rasni.But hearest thou, fellow, who killed this man?

Adam.I'll tell you, sir,—if you did taste of the ale,—all Nineveh hath not such a cup of ale, it flowers in thecup, sir; by my troth, I spent eleven pence, beside three races of ginger—

Rasni.Answer me, knave, to my question, how came this man slain?

Adam.Slain! why [the] ale is strong ale, 'tis huffcap;[85]I warrant you, 'twill make a man well.—Tapster, ho! for the king a cup of ale and a fresh toast; here's two races more.

Alvi.Why, good fellow, the king talks not of drink; he would have thee tell him how this man came dead.

Adam.Dead! nay, I think I am alive yet, and will drink a full pot ere night: but hear ye, if ye be the wench that filled us drink, why, so, do your office, and give us a fresh pot; or if you be the tapster's wife, why, so, wash the glass clean.

Alvi.He is so drunk, my lord, there is no talking with him.

Adam.Drunk! nay, then, wench, I am not drunk: th'art shitten quean to call me drunk; I tell thee I am not drunk, I am a smith, I.

Enter theSmith.

First Lord.Sir, here comes one perhaps that can tell.

Smith.God save you, master.

Rasni.Smith, canst thou tell me how this man came dead?

Smith.May it please your highness, my man here and a crew of them went to the ale-house, and came out so drunk that one of them killed another; and now, sir, I am fain to leave my shop, and come to fetch him home.

Rasni.Some of you carry away the dead body: drunken men must have their fits; and, sirrah smith, hence with thy man.

Smith.Sirrah, you, rise, come go with me.

Adam.If we shall have a pot of ale, let's have it; here's money; hold, tapster, take my purse.

Smith.Come, then, with me, the pot stands full in the house.

Adam.I am for you, let's go, th'art an honest tapster: we'll drink six pots ere we part. [ExeuntSmith,Adam;andAttendantswith the dead body.]

Rasni.Beauteous, more bright than beauty in mine eyes,Tell me, fair sweeting, want'st thou anythingContain'd within the threefold circle of the world,That may make Alvida live full content?Alvi.Nothing, my lord; for all my thoughts are pleas'd,Whenas mine eye surfeits with Rasni's sight.

Enter theKing of Paphlagoniamalcontent.

Rasni.Look how thy husband haunts our royal court,How still his sight breeds melancholy storms.O, Alvida, I am passing passionate,And vex'd with wrath and anger to the death!Mars, when he held fair Venus on his knee,And saw the limping smith come from his forge,Had not more deeper furrows in his browThan Rasni hath to see this Paphlagon.Alvi.Content thee, sweet, I'll salve thy sorrow straight;Rest but the ease of all thy thoughts on me,And if I make not Rasni blithe again,Then say that women's fancies have no shifts.K. of Paph.Sham'st thou not, Rasni, though thou be'st a king,To shroud adultery in thy royal seat?Art thou arch-ruler of great Nineveh,Who shouldst excel in virtue as in state,And wrong'st thy friend by keeping back his wife?Have I not battled in thy troops full oft,'Gainst Ægypt, Jewry, and proud Babylon,Spending my blood to purchase thy renown,And is the guerdon of my chivalryEnded in this abusing of my wife?Restore her me, or I will from thy court,And make discourse of thy adulterous deeds.Rasni.Why, take her, Paphlagon, exclaim not, man;For I do prize mine honour more than love.—Fair Alvida, go with thy husband home.Alvi.How dare I go, sham'd with so deep misdeed?Revenge will broil within my husband's breast,And when he hath me in the court at home,Then Alvida shall feel revenge for all.Rasni.What say'st thou, King of Paphlagon, to this?Thou hear'st the doubt thy wife doth stand upon.If she hath done amiss, it is my fault;I prithee, pardon and forget [it] all.K. of Paph.If that I meant not, Rasni, to forgive,And quite forget the follies that are past,I would not vouch her presence in my court;But she shall be my queen, my love, my life,And Alvida unto her Paphlagon,And lov'd, and more belovèd than before.Rasni.What say'st thou, Alvida, to this?Alvi.That, will he swear it to my lord the king,And in a full carouse of Greekish wineDrink down the malice of his deep revenge,I will go home and love him new again.Rasni.What answers Paphlagon?K. of Paph.That what she hath requested I will do.Alvi.Go, damosel, fetch me that sweet wineThat stands within my closet on the shelf;Pour it into a standing-bowl of gold,But, on thy life, taste not before the king:Make haste.[ExitFemale Attendant.Why is great Rasni melancholy thus?If promise be not kept, hate all for me.[Wine brought in byFemale Attendant.Here is the wine, my lord: first make him swear.K. of Paph.By Nineveh's great gods, and Nineveh's great king,My thoughts shall never be to wrong my wife!And thereon here's a full carouse to her. [Drinks.Alvi.And thereon, Rasni, here's a kiss for thee;Now may'st thou freely fold thine Alvida.K. of Paph.O, I am dead! obstruction's of my breath!The poison is of wondrous sharp effect.Cursèd be all adulterous queans, say I!And cursing so, poor Paphlagon doth die. [Dies.Alvi.Now, have I not salv'd the sorrows of my lord?Have I not rid a rival of thy loves?What say'st thou, Rasni, to thy paramour?Rasni.That for this deed I'll deck my AlvidaIn sendal and in costly sussapine,[86]Border'd with pearl and India diamond.I'll cause great Æol perfume all his windsWith richest myrrh and curious ambergris.Come, lovely minion, paragon for fair,Come, follow me, sweet goddess of mine eye,And taste the pleasures Rasni will provide.[Exeunt.Oseas.Where whoredom reigns, there murder follows fast,As falling leaves before the winter blast.A wicked life, train'd up in endless crime,Hath no regard unto the latter time,When lechers shall be punish'd for their lust,When princes plagu'd because they are unjust.Foresee in time, the warning bell doth toll;Subdue the flesh, by prayer to save the soul:London, behold the cause of others' wrack,And see the sword of justice at thy back:Defer not off, to-morrow is too late;By night he comes perhaps to judge thy state.

EnterJonas.

Jonas.From forth the depth of my imprison'd soulSteal you, my sighs, [to] testify my pain;Convey on wings of mine immortal tone,My zealous prayers unto the starry throne.Ah, merciful and just, thou dreadful God!Where is thine arm to lay revengeful strokesUpon the heads of our rebellious race?Lo, Israel, once that flourish'd like the vine,Is barren laid; the beautiful increaseIs wholly blent, and irreligious zealEncampeth there where virtue was enthron'd:Alas, the while the widow wants relief,The fatherless is wrong'd by naked need,Devotion sleeps in cinders of contempt,Hypocrisy infects the holy priest!Ah me, for this! woe me, for these misdeeds!Alone I walk to think upon the world,And sigh to see thy prophets so contemn'd,Alas, contemn'd by cursèd Israel!Yet, Jonas, rest content, 'tis Israel's sinThat causeth this; then muse no more thereon,But pray amends, and mend thy own amiss.

AnAngelappears toJonas.

Angel.Amittai's son, I charge thee muse no more:I AM hath power to pardon and correct;To thee pertains to do the Lord's command.Go girt thy loins, and haste thee quickly hence;To Nineveh, that mighty city, wend,And say this message from the Lord of hosts,Preach unto them these tidings from thy God;—"Behold, thy wickedness hath tempted me,And piercèd through the nine-fold orbs of heaven:Repent, or else thy judgment is at hand."[This said, theAngelvanishes.Jonas.Prostrate I lie before the Lord of hosts,With humble ears intending[87]his behest:Ah, honour'd be Jehovah's great command!Then Jonas must to Nineveh repair,Commanded as the prophet of the Lord.Great dangers on this journey do await,But dangers none where heavens direct the course.What should I deem? I see, yea, sighing see,How Israel sins, yet knows the way of truth,And thereby grows the bye-word of the world.How, then, should God in judgment be so strict'Gainst those who never heard or knew his power.To threaten utter ruin of them all?Should I report this judgment of my God,I should incite them more to follow sin,And publish to the world my country's blame.It may not be, my conscience tells me—no.Ah, Jonas, wilt thou prove rebellious then?Consider, ere thou fall, what error is.My mind misgives: to Joppa will I fly,And for a while to Tharsus shape my course,Until the Lord unfret his angry brows.

Enter certainMerchantsofTharsus,aMaster,and someSailors.

Master.Come on, brave merchants; now the wind doth serve,And sweetly blows a gale at west-south-west,Our yards across; our anchor's on the pike;What, shall we hence, and take this merry gale?First Mer.Sailors, convey our budgets straight aboard,And we will recompense your pains at last:If once in safety we may Tharsus see,Master, we'll feast these merry mates and thee.Master.Meanwhile content yourselves with silly cates;Our beds are boards, our feasts are full of mirth:We use no pomp, we are the lords of sea;When princes sweat in care, we swink[88]of glee.Orion's shoulders and the Pointers serveTo be our loadstars in the lingering night;The beauties of Arcturus we behold;And though the sailor is no bookman held,He knows more art than ever bookmen read.First Sai.By heavens, well said in honour of our trade!Let's see the proudest scholar steer his course,Or shift his tides, as silly sailors do;Then will we yield them praise, else never none.First Mer.Well spoken, fellow, in thine own behalf.But let us hence: wind tarries none, you wot,And tide and time let slip is hardly got.Master.March to the haven, merchants; I follow you.[ExeuntMerchants.Jonas[aside]. Now doth occasion further my desires;I find companions fit to aid my flight.—Stay, sir, I pray, and hear a word or two.Master.Say on, good friend, but briefly, if you please;My passengers by this time are aboard.Jonas.Whither pretend[89]you to embark yourselves?Master.To Tharsus, sir, and here in Joppa-havenOur ship is prest[90]and ready to depart.Jonas.May I have passage for my money, then?Master.What not for money? pay ten silverlings,[91]You are a welcome guest, if so you please.Jonas[giving money]. Hold, take thine hire; I follow thee, my friend.Master.Where is your budget? let me bear it, sir.Jonas.Go on in peace; who sail as I do now[92]Put trust in him who succoureth every want.[Exeunt.Oseas.When prophets, new-inspir'd, presume to forceAnd tie the power of heaven to their conceits;When fear, promotion, pride, or simony,Ambition, subtle craft, their thoughts disguise,Woe to the flock whereas the shepherd's foul!For, lo, the Lord at unawares shall plagueThe careless guide, because his flocks do stray.The axe already to the tree is set:Beware to tempt the Lord, ye men of art.

EnterAlcon, Thrasybulus, Samia,andClesiphon.

Cles.Mother, some meat, or else I die for want.

Samia.Ah little boy, how glad thy mother wouldSupply thy wants, but naked need denies!Thy father's slender portion in this worldBy usury and false deceit is lost:No charity within this city bides;All for themselves, and none to help the poor.

Cles.Father, shall Clesiphon have no relief?

Alc.Faith, my boy, I must be flat with thee, we must feed upon proverbs now; as "Necessity hath no law," "A churl's feast is better than none at all;" for other remedies have we none, except thy brother Radagon help us.

Samia.Is this thy slender care to help our child?Hath nature arm'd thee to no more remorse?[93]Ah, cruel man, unkind and pitiless!—Come, Clesiphon, my boy, I'll beg for thee.

Cles.O, how my mother's mourning moveth me!

Alc.Nay, you shall pay me interest for getting the boy, wife, before you carry him hence: alas, woman, what can Alcon do more? I'll pluck the belly out of my heart for thee, sweet Samia; be not so waspish.

Samia.Ah silly man, I know thy want is great,And foolish I to crave where nothing is.Haste, Alcon, haste, make haste unto our son;Who, since he is in favour of the king,May help this hapless gentleman and usFor to regain our goods from tyrant's hands.Thras.Have patience, Samia, wait your weal from heaven:The gods have rais'd your son, I hope, for this,To succour innocents in their distress.Lo, where he comes from the imperial court;Go, let us prostrate us before his feet.

Alc.Nay, by my troth, I'll never ask my son's blessing; che trow, cha[94]taught him his lesson to know his father.

EnterRadagonattended.[95]

What, son Radagon! i'faith, boy, how dost thee?

Radag.Villain, disturb me not; I cannot stay.

Alc.Tut, son, I'll help you of that disease quickly, for I can hold thee: ask thy mother, knave, what cunning I have to ease a woman when a qualm of kindness comes too near her stomach; let me but clasp mine arms about her body, and say my prayers in her bosom, and she shall be healed presently.

Radag.Traitor unto my princely majesty,How dar'st thou lay thy hands upon a king?Samia.No traitor, Radagon, but true is he:What, hath promotion blearèd thus thine eye,To scorn thy father when he visits thee?Alas, my son, behold with ruthful eyesThy parents robb'd of all their worldly wealBy subtle means of usury and guile:The judge's ears are deaf and shut up close;All mercy sleeps: then be thou in these plunges[96]A patron to thy mother in her pains:Behold thy brother almost dead for food:O, succour us, that first did succour thee!Radag.What, succour me! false callet,[97]hence, avaunt!Old dotard, pack! move not my patience:I know you not; kings never look so low.Samia.You know us not! O Radagon, you knowThat, knowing us, you know your parents then;Thou know'st this womb first brought thee forth to light:I know these paps did foster thee, my son.

Alc.And I know he hath had many a piece of bread and cheese at my hands, as proud as he is; that know I.

Thras.I wait no hope of succour in this place,Where children hold their fathers in disgrace.Radag.Dare you enforce the furrows of revengeWithin the brows of royal Radagon?Villain, avaunt! hence, beggars, with your brats!—Marshal, why whip you not these rogues away,That thus disturb our royal majesty?Cles.Mother, I see it is a wondrous thing,From base estate for to become a king;For why, methink, my brother in these fitsHath got a kingdom, and hath lost his wits.Radag.Yet more contempt before my royalty?Slaves, fetch out tortures worse than Tityus' plagues,And tear their tongues from their blasphémous heads.Thras.I'll get me gone, though wo-begone with grief:No hope remains:—come, Alcon, let us wend.Radag.'Twere best you did, for fear you catch your bane.[ExitThrasybulus.Samia.Nay, traitor, I will haunt thee to the death:Ungracious son, untoward, and perverse,I'll fill the heavens with echoes of thy pride,And ring in every ear thy small regard,That dost despise thy parents in their wants;And breathing forth my soul before thy feet,My curses still shall haunt thy hateful head,And being dead, my ghost shall thee pursue.

EnterRasni,attended on by hisMagiandKings.

Rasni.How now! what mean these outcries in our court,Where naught should sound but harmonies of heaven?What maketh Radagon so passionate?Samia.Justice, O king, justice against my son!Rasni.Thy son! what son?Samia.This cursèd Radagon.Radag.Dread monarch, this is but a lunacy,Which grief and want hath brought the woman to.—What, doth this passion hold you every moon?Samia.O, politic in sin and wickedness,Too impudent for to delude thy prince!—O Rasni, this same womb first brought him forth:This is his father, worn with care and age,This is his brother, poor unhappy lad,And I his mother, though contemn'd by him.With tedious toil we got our little good,And brought him up to school with mickle charge:Lord, how we joy'd to see his towardness!And to ourselves we oft in silence said,This youth when we are old may succour us.But now preferr'd, and lifted up by thee,We quite destroy'd by cursèd usury,He scorneth me, his father, and this child.Cles.He plays the serpent right, describ'd in Æsop's tale,That sought the foster's death, that lately gave him life.

Alc.Nay, an please your majesty-ship, for proof he was my child, search the parish-book: the clerk will swear it, his godfathers and godmothers can witness it: it cost me forty pence in ale and cakes on the wives at his christening.—Hence, proud king! thou shalt never more have my blessing!

Rasni[takingRadagonapart].Say sooth in secret, Radagon,Is this thy father?Radag.Mighty king, he is;I blushing tell it to your majesty.Rasni.Why dost thou, then, contemn him and his friends?Radag.Because he is a base and abject swain,My mother and her brat both beggarly,Unmeet to be allied unto a king.Should I, that look on Rasni's countenance,And march amidst his royal equipage,Embase myself to speak to such as they?'Twere impious so to impair the loveThat mighty Rasni bears to Radagon.I would your grace would quit them from your sight,That dare presume to look on Jove's compare.Rasni.I like thy pride, I praise thy policy;Such should they be that wait upon my court:Let me alone to answer, Radagon.—Villains, seditious traitors, as you be,That scandalise the honour of a king,Depart my court, you stales of impudence,Unless you would be parted from your limbs!Too base for to entitle fatherhoodTo Rasni's friend, to Rasni's favourite.Radag.Hence, begging scold! hence, caitiff clogg'd with years!On pain of death, revisit not the court.Was I conceiv'd by such a scurvy trull,Or brought to light by such a lump of dirt?Go, losel, trot it to the cart and spade!Thou art unmeet to look upon a king.Much less to be the father of a king.

Alc.You may see, wife, what a goodly piece of workyou have made: have I taught you arsmetry, asadditiori multiplicarum, the rule of three, and all for the begetting of a boy, and to be banished for my labour? O pitiful hearing!—Come, Clesiphon, follow me.

Cles.Brother, beware: I oft have heard it told,That sons who do their fathers scorn, shall beg when they be old.Radag.Hence, bastard boy, for fear you taste the whip![ExeuntAlconandClesiphon.Samia.O all you heavens, and you eternal powers,That sway the sword of justice in your hands(If mother's curses for her son's contemptMay fill the balance of your fury full),Pour down the tempest of your direful plaguesUpon the head of cursèd Radagon![A flame of fire appears from beneath; andRadagonis swallowed.So you are just: now triumph, Samia! [Exit.Rasni.What exorcising charm, or hateful hag,Hath ravishèd the pride of my delight?What tortuous planets, or malevolentConspiring power, repining destiny,Hath made the concave of the earth unclose,And shut in ruptures lovely Radagon?If I be lord commander of the clouds,King of the earth, and sovereign of the seas,What daring Saturn, from his fiery den,Doth dart these furious flames amidst my court?I am not chief, there is more great then I:What, greater than th' Assyrian Satrapes?[98]It may not be, and yet I fear there is,That hath bereft me of my Radagon.First Magus.Monarch, and potentate of all our provinces.Muse not so much upon this accident,Which is indeed nothing miraculous.The hill of Sicily, dread sovereign,Sometime on sudden doth evacuateWhole flakes of fire, and spews out from belowThe smoky brands that Vulcan's bellows drive:Whether by winds enclosèd in the earth,Or fracture of the earth by river's force,Such chances as was this are often seen;Whole cities sunk, whole countries drownèd quite.Then muse not at the loss of Radagon,But frolic with the dalliance of your love.Let cloths of purple, set with studs of gold,Embellishèd with all the pride of earth,Be spread for Alvida to sit upon:Then thou, like Mars courting the queen of love,Mayst drive away this melancholy fit.Rasni.The proof is good and philosophical;And more, thy counsel plausible and sweet.—Come, lords, though Rasni wants his Radagon,Earth will repay him many Radagons,And Alvida with pleasant looks reviveThe heart that droops for want of Radagon. [Exeunt.Oseas.When disobedience reigneth in the child,And princes' ears by flattery be beguil'd;When laws do pass by favour, not by truth;When falsehood swarmeth both in old and youth;When gold is made a god to wrong the poor,And charity exil'd from rich men's door;When men by wit do labour to disproveThe plagues for sin sent down by God above;When great men's ears are stopt to good advice,And apt to hear those tales that feed their vice;Woe to the land! for from the East shall riseA Lamb of peace, the scourge of vanities,The judge of truth, the patron of the just,Who soon will lay presumption in the dust,And give the humble poor their hearts' desire,And doom the worldlings to eternal fire:Repent, all you that hear, for fear of plagues.O London, this and more doth swarm in thee!Repent, repent, for why the Lord doth see:With trembling pray, and mend what is amiss;The sword of justice drawn already is.

EnterAdamand theSmith's Wife.

Adam.Why, but hear you, mistress: you know a woman's eyes are like a pair of pattens, fit to save shoe-leather in summer, and to keep away the cold in winter; so you may like your husband with the one eye, because you are married, and me with the other, because I am your man. Alas, alas! think, mistress, what a thing love is: why, it is like to an ostry-faggot,[99]that, once set on fire, is as hardly quenched as the bird[100]crocodile driven out of her nest.

S. Wife.Why, Adam, cannot a woman wink but she must sleep? and can she not love but she must cry it out at the cross? Know, Adam, I love thee as myself, now that we are together in secret.

Adam.Mistress, these words of yours are like to a fox-tail placed in a gentlewoman's fan, which, as it is light, so it giveth life: O, these words are as sweet as a lily! whereupon, offering a borachio[101]of kisses to yourunseemly personage, I entertain you upon further acquaintance.

S. Wife.Alas, my husband comes!

Adam.Strike up the drumAnd say no words but mum.

Enter theSmith.

Smith.Sirrah you, and you, huswife, well taken together! I have long suspected you, and now I am glad I have found you together.

Adam.Truly, sir, and I am glad that I may do you any way pleasure, either in helping you or my mistress.

Smith.Boy here, and knave, you shall know it straight; I will have you both before the magistrate, and there have you surely punished.

Adam.Why, then, master, you are jealous?

Smith.Jealous, knave! how can I be but jealous, to see you ever so familiar together? Thou art not only content to drink away my goods, but to abuse my wife.

Adam.Two good qualities, drunkenness and lechery: but, master, are you jealous?

Smith.Ay, knave, and thou shalt know it ere I pass, for I will beswinge thee while this rope will hold.

S. Wife.My good husband, abuse him not, for he never proffered you any wrong.

Smith.Nay, whore, thy part shall not be behind.

Adam.Why, suppose, master, I have offended you, is it lawful for the master to beat the servant for all offences?

Smith.Ay, marry, is it, knave.

Adam.Then, master, will I prove by logic, that seeing all sins are to receive correction, the master is to be corrected of the man. And, sir, I pray you, what greater sin is than jealousy? 'tis like a mad dog that for anger bites himself: therefore that I may do my duty to you,good master, and to make a white[102]son of you, I will so beswinge jealousy out of you, as you shall love me the better while you live.

Smith.What, beat thy master, knave?

Adam.What, beat thy man, knave? and, ay, master, and double beat you, because you are a man of credit; and therefore have at you the fairest for forty pence. [Beats theSmith.

Smith.Alas, wife, help, help! my man kills me.

S. Wife.Nay, even as you have baked, so brew: jealousy must be driven out by extremities.

Adam.And that will I do, mistress.

Smith.Hold thy hand, Adam; and not only I forgive and forget all, but I will give thee a good farm to live on.

Adam.Begone, peasant, out of the compass of my further wrath, for I am a corrector of vice; and at night I will bring home my mistress.

Smith.Even when you please, good Adam.

Adam.When I please,—mark the words—'tis a lease-parol,[103]to have and to hold. Thou shalt be mine for ever: and so let's go to the ale-house. [Exeunt.

Oseas.Where servants against masters do rebel,The commonweal may be accounted hell;For if the feet the head shall hold in scorn,The city's state will fall and be forlorn.This error, London, waiteth on thy state:Servants, amend, and, masters, leave to hate;Let love abound, and virtue reign in all;So God will hold his hand, that threateneth thrall.

Enter theMerchantsof Tharsus, theMasterof the Ship and someSailors,wet from the sea; with them theGovernorof Joppa.

Gov.What strange encounters met you on the sea,That thus your bark is batter'd by the floods,And you return thus sea-wreck'd as I see?First Mer.Most mighty Governor, the chance is strange,The tidings full of wonder and amaze,Which, better than we, our Master can report.Gov.Master, discourse us all the accident.Master.The fair Triones with their glimmering lightSmil'd at the foot of clear Bootes' wain,And in the north, distinguishing the hours,The loadstar of our course dispers'd his clear;When to the seas with blitheful western blastsWe sail'd amain, and let the bowling fly.Scarce had we gone ten leagues from sight of land,But, lo, an host of black and sable clouds'Gan to eclipse Lucina's silver face;And, with a hurling noise from forth the south,A gust of wind did rear the billows up.Then scantled we our sails with speedy hands,And took our drablers[104]from our bonnets straight,And severèd our bonnets from the courses:Our topsails up, we truss our spritsails in;But vainly strive they that resist the heavens.For, lo, the waves incense them more and more,Mounting with hideous roarings from the depth;Our bark is batter'd by encountering storms,And well-nigh stemm'd by breaking of the floods.The steersman, pale and careful, holds his helm,Wherein the trust of life and safety lay:Till all at once (a mortal tale to tell)Our sails were split by Bisa's[105]bitter blast.Our rudder broke, and we bereft of hope.There might you see, with pale and ghastly looks,The dead in thought, and doleful merchants liftTheir eyes and hands unto their country's gods.The goods we cast in bowels of the sea,A sacrifice to 'suage proud Neptune's ire.Only alone a man of Israel,A passenger, did under hatches lie,And slept secure, when we for succour pray'd:Him I awoke, and said, "Why slumberest thou?Arise, and pray, and call upon thy god;He will perhaps in pity look on us."Then cast we lots to know by whose amissOur mischief came, according to the guise;And, lo, the lot did unto Jonas fall,The Israelite of whom I told you last.Then question we his country and his name;Who answer'd us, "I am an Hebrew born,Who fear the Lord of heaven who made the sea,And fled from him, for which we all are plagu'd:So, to assuage the fury of my God,Take me and cast my carcass in the sea;Then shall this stormy wind and billow cease."The heavens they know, the Hebrew's God can tell,How loath we were to execute his will:But when no oars nor labour might suffice,We heav'd the hapless Jonas overboard.So ceas'd the storm, and calmèd all the sea,And we by strength of oars recover'd shore.Gov.A wondrous chance of mighty consequence!First Mer.Ah, honour'd be the god that wrought the same!For we have vow'd, that saw his wondrous works,To cast away profanèd paganism,And count the Hebrew's god the only god:To him this offering of the purest gold,This myrrh and cassia, freely I do yield.Master.And on his altar's fume these Turkey cloths,This gossampine[106]and gold, I'll sacrifice.First Sai.To him my heart and thoughts I will addict.Then suffer us, most mighty Governor,Within your temples to do sacrifice.Gov.You men of Tharsus, follow me.Who sacrifice unto the God of heavenAre welcome friends to Joppa's Governor.[Exeunt. A sacrifice.Oseas.If warnèd once, the ethnics thus repent,And at the first their error do lament,What senseless beasts, devourèd in their sin,Are they whom long persuasions cannot win!Beware, ye western cities,—where the wordIs daily preachèd, both at church and board,Where majesty the gospel doth maintain,Where preachers, for your good, themselves do pain,—To dally long and still protract the time;The Lord is just, and you but dust and slime:Presume not far, delay not to amend;Who suffereth long, will punish in the end.Cast thy account, O London, in this case,Then judge what cause thou hast to call for grace!

Jonasis cast out of the Whale's belly upon the Stage.

Jonas.Lord of the light, thou maker of the world,Behold, thy hands of mercy rear me up!Lo, from the hideous bowels of this fishThou hast return'd me to the wishèd air!Lo, here, apparent witness of thy power,The proud leviathan that scours the seas,And from his nostrils showers out stormy floods,Whose back resists the tempest of the wind,Whose presence makes the scaly troops to shake,With humble stress of his broad-open'd chaps,Hath lent me harbour in the raging floods!Thus, though my sin hath drawn me down to death,Thy mercy hath restorèd me to life.Bow ye, my knees; and you, my bashful eyes,Weep so for grief as you to water would.In trouble, Lord, I callèd unto thee;Out of the belly of the deepest hellI cried, and thou didst hear my voice, O God!'Tis thou hadst cast me down into the deep:The seas and floods did compass me about;I thought I had been cast from out thy sight;The weeds were wrapt about my wretched head;I went unto the bottom of the hills:But thou, O Lord my God, hast brought me up!On thee I thought whenas my soul did faintMy prayers did prease[107]before thy mercy-seat.Then will I pay my vows unto the Lord,For why salvation cometh from his throne.

TheAngelappears.

Angel.Jonas, arise, get thee to Nineveh,And preach to them the preachings that I bade;Haste thee to see the will of heaven perform'd.[TheAngeldeparts.Jonas.Jehovah, I am prest[108]to do thy will.—What coast is this, and where am I arriv'd?Behold sweet Lycus streaming in his bounds,Bearing the walls of haughty Nineveh,Whereas three hundred towers do tempt the heaven.Fair are thy walls, pride of Assyria;But, lo, thy sins have piercèd through the clouds!Here will I enter boldly, since I knowMy God commands, whose power no power resists.[Exit.Oseas.You prophets, learn by Jonas how to live;Repent your sins, whilst he doth warning give.Who knows his master's will, and doth it not,Shall suffer many stripes, full well I wot.

EnterAlvidain rich attire, with theKing of Cilicia,and herLadies.

Alvi.Ladies, go sit you down amidst this bower,And let the eunuchs play you all asleep:Put garlands made of roses on your heads,And play the wantons whilst I talk a while.First Lady.Thou beautiful of all the world, we will.[Ladiesenter the bower.Alvi.King of Cilicia, kind and courteous,Like to thyself, because a lovely king,Come, lay thee down upon thy mistress' knee,And I will sing and talk of love to thee.K. of Cil.Most gracious paragon of excellence,It fits not such an abject prince as I,To talk with Rasni's paramour and love.Alvi.To talk, sweet friend! Who would not talk with thee?O, be not coy! art thou not only fair?Come, twine thine arms about this snow-white neck,A love-nest for the great Assyrian king:Blushing I tell thee, fair Cilician prince,None but thyself can merit such a grace.K. of Cil.Madam, I hope you mean not for to mock me.Alvi.No, king, fair king, my meaning is to yoke thee.Hear me but sing of love, then by my sighs,My tears, my glancing looks, my changèd cheer,Thou shalt perceive how I do hold thee dear.K. of Cil.Sing, madam, if you please, but love in jest.Alvi.Nay, I will love, and sigh at every rest.[Sings.Beauty, alas, where wast thou born,Thus to hold thyself in scorn?Whenas Beauty kiss'd to woo thee,Thou by Beauty dost undo me:Heigh-ho, despise me not!I and thou, in sooth, are one,Fairer thou, I fairer none:Wanton thou, and wilt thou, wanton,Yield a cruel heart to plant on?Do me right, and do me reason;Cruelty is cursèd treason:Heigh-ho, I love! heigh-ho, I love!Heigh-ho, and yet he eyes me not!K. of Cil.Madam, your song is passing passionate.Alvi.And wilt thou not, then, pity my estate?K. of Cil.Ask love of them who pity may impart.Alvi.I ask of thee, sweet; thou hast stole my heart.K. of Cil.Your love is fixèd on a greater king.Alvi.Tut, women's love it is a fickle thing.I love my Rasni for his dignity,I love Cilician king for his sweet eye;I love my Rasni since he rules the world,But more I love this kingly little world.[Embraces him.How sweet he looks! O, were I Cynthia's fere,[109]And thou Endymion, I should hold thee dear:Thus should mine arms be spread about thy neck,[Embraces his neck.Thus would I kiss my love at every beck;[Kisses him.Thus would I sigh to see thee sweetly sleep,And if thou wak'dst not soon, thus would I weep;And thus, and thus, and thus: thus much I love thee.[Kisses him.K. of Cil.For all these vows, beshrew me if I prove ye:My faith unto my king shall not be fals'd.Alvi.Good Lord, how men are coy when they are crav'd!K. of Cil.Madam, behold our king approacheth nigh.Alvi.Thou art Endymion, then, no more: heigh-ho, for him I die![Faints, pointing at theKing of Cilicia.

EnterRasni,with hisKings, Lords,andMagi.

Rasni.What ails the centre of my happiness,Whereon depends the heaven of my delight?Thine eyes the motors to command my world,Thy hands the axier[110]to maintain my world,Thy smiles the prime and spring-tide of my world,Thy frowns the winter to afflict the world,Thou queen of me, I king of all the world![She rises as out of a trance.Alvi.Ah feeble eyes, lift up and look on him!Is Rasni here? then droop no more, poor heart.—O, how I fainted when I wanted thee![Embraces him.How fain am I, now I may look on thee!How glorious is my Rasni, how divine!—Eunuchs, play hymns to praise his deity:He is my Jove, and I his Juno am.Rasni.Sun-bright as is the eye of summer's day,Whenas he suits his pennons all in goldTo woo his Leda in a swan-like shape;Seemly as Galatea for thy white;Rose-colour'd, lily, lovely, wanton, kind,Be thou the labyrinth to tangle love,Whilst I command the crown from Venus' crest,And pull Orion's girdle from his loins,Enchas'd with carbuncles and diamonds,To beautify fair Alvida, my love.—Play, eunuchs, sing in honour of her name;Yet look not, slaves, upon her wooing eyne.For she is fair Lucina to your king,But fierce Medusa to your baser eye.Alvi.What if I slept, where should my pillow be?Rasni.Within my bosom, nymph, not on my knee:Sleep, like the smiling purity of heaven,When mildest wind is loath to blend[111]the peace;Meanwhile my balm shall from thy breath arise;And while these closures of thy lamps be shut,My soul may have his peace from fancy's war.—This is my Morn, and I her Cephalus:—Wake not too soon, sweet nymph, my love is won.—Caitiffs, why stay your strains? why tempt you me?

Enter thePriests of the Sun,with mitres on their heads, carrying fire in their hands.

First Priest.All hail unto th' Assyrian deity!Rasni.Priests, why presume you to disturb my peace?First Priest.Rasni, the Destinies disturb thy peace.Behold, amidst the adyts[112]of our gods,Our mighty gods, the patrons of our war,The ghosts of dead men howling walk about,Crying "Væ, Væ,woe to this city, woe!"The statues of our gods are thrown down,And streams of blood our altars do distain.Alvi.[starting up]. Alas, my lord, what tidings do I hear?Shall I be slain?Rasni.Who tempteth Alvida?Go, break me up the brazen doors of dreams,And bind me cursèd Morpheus in a chain,And fetter all the fancies of the night,Because they do disturb my Alvida.[A hand from out a cloud threatens with a burning sword.K. of Cil.Behold, dread prince, a burning sword from heaven,Which by a threatening arm is brandishèd!Rasni.What, am I threaten'd, then, amidst my throne?Sages, you Magi, speak; what meaneth this?First Magus.These are but clammy exhalations,Or retrograde conjunctions of the stars,Or oppositions of the greater lights,Or radiations finding matter fit,That in the starry sphere kindled be;Matters betokening dangers to thy foes,But peace and honour to my lord the king.Rasni.Then frolic, viceroys, kings and potentates;Drive all vain fancies from your feeble minds.Priests, go and pray, whilst I prepare my feast,Where Alvida and I, in pearl and gold,Will quaff unto our nobles richest wine,In spite of fortune, fate, or destiny. [Exeunt.Oseas.Woe to the trains of women's foolish lust,In wedlock-rites that yield but little trust,That vow to one, yet common be to all!Take warning, wantons; pride will have a fall.Woe to the land where warnings profit naught!Who say that nature God's decrees hath wrought;Who build on fate, and leave the corner-stone,The God of gods, sweet Christ, the only one.If such escapes, O London, reign in thee,Repent, for why each sin shall punish'd be!Repent, amend, repent, the hour is nigh!Defer not time! who knows when he shall die?

Enter one clad inDevil'sattire.

Devil.Longer lives a merry man than a sad; and because I mean to make myself pleasant this night, I have put myself into this attire, to make a clown afraid that passeth this way: for of late there have appeared many strange apparitions, to the great fear and terror of the citizens.—O, here my young master comes.

EnterAdamand theSmith's Wife.

Adam.Fear not, mistress, I'll bring you safe home: if my master frown, then will I stamp and stare; and if all be not well then, why then to-morrow morn put out mine eyes clean with forty pound.

S. Wife.O, but, Adam, I am afraid to walk so late, because of the spirits that appear in the city.

Adam.What, are you afraid of spirits? Armed as I am, with ale and nutmegs, turn me loose to all the devils in hell.

S. Wife.Alas, Adam, Adam! the devil, the devil!

Adam.The devil, mistress! fly you for your safeguard;[ExitS. Wife.] let me alone; the devil and I will deal well enough, if he have any honesty at all in him: I'll either win him with a smooth tale, or else with a toast and a cup of ale.

Devil[singing].O, O, O, O, fain would I be,If that my kingdom fulfill'd I might see!O, O, O, O!

Adam.Surely this is a merry devil, and I believe he is one of Lucifer's minstrels; hath a sweet voice; now surely, surely, he may sing to a pair of tongs and a bagpipe.

Devil.O, thou art he that I seek for.

Adam. Spritus santus!—Away from me, Satan! I have nothing to do with thee.

Devil.O villain, thou art mine!

Adam. Nominus patrus!—I bless me from thee, and I conjure thee to tell me who thou art!

Devil.I am the spirit of the dead man that was slain in thy company when we were drunk together at the ale.[113]

Adam.By my troth, sir, I cry you mercy; your face is so changed that I had quite forgotten you: well, master devil, we have tossed over many a pot of ale together.

Devil.And therefore must thou go with me to hell.

Adam[aside]. I have a policy to shift him, for I know he comes out of a hot place, and I know myself, the smith and the devil hath a dry tooth in his head: therefore will I leave him asleep and run my way.

Devil.Come, art thou ready?

Adam.Faith, sir, my old friend, and now goodmandevil, you know you and I have been tossing many a good cup of ale: your nose is grown very rich: what say you, will you take a pot of ale now at my hands? Hell is like a smith's forge, full of water, and yet ever athirst.

Devil.No ale, villain; spirits cannot drink; come, get upon my back, that I may carry thee.[114]

Adam.You know I am a smith, sir: let me look whether you be well shod or no; for if you want a shoe, a remove, or the clinching of a nail, I am at your command.

Devil.Thou hast never a shoe fit for me.

Adam,Why, sir, we shoe horned beasts, as well as you,—[Aside.] O good Lord! let me sit down and laugh; hath never a cloven foot; a devil, quoth he! I'll useSpritus santusnorNominus patrusno more to him, I warrant you; I'll do more good upon him with my cudgel: now will I sit me down, and become justice of peace to the devil.

Devil.Come, art thou ready?

Adam.I am ready, and with this cudgel I will conjure thee. [Beats him.

Devil.O, hold thy hand! thou killest me, thou killest me! [Exit.

Adam.Then may I count myself, I think, a tall[115]man, that am able to kill a devil. Now who dare deal with me in the parish? or what wench in Nineveh will not love me, when they say, "There goes he that beat the devil?" [Exit.

EnterThrasybulus.

Thras.Loath'd is the life that now enforc'd I lead;But since necessity will have it so,(Necessity that doth command the gods),Through every coast and corner now I pry,To pilfer what I can to buy me meat.Here have I got a cloak, not over old,Which will afford some little sustenance:Now will I to the broking Usurer,To make exchange of ware for ready coin.

EnterAlcon, Samia,andClesiphon.

Alc.Wife, bid the trumpets sound, a prize, a prize! mark the posy: I cut this from a new-married wife, by the help of a horn-thumb[116]and a knife,—six shillings, four pence.

Samia.The better luck ours: but what have we here, cast apparel? Come away, man, the Usurer is near: this is dead ware, let it not bide on our hands.

Thras.[aside]. Here are my partners in my poverty,Enforc'd to seek their fortunes as I do:Alas, that few men should possess the wealth,And many souls be forc'd to beg or steal!—Alcon, well met.

Alc.Fellow beggar, whither now?

Thras.To the Usurer, to get gold on commodity.

Alc.And I to the same place, to get a vent for my villainy. See where the old crust comes: let us salute him.

EnterUsurer.

God-speed, sir: may a man abuse your patience upon a pawn?

Usurer.Friend, let me see it.

Alc. Ecce signum!a fair doublet and hose, new-bought out of the pilferer's shop,—a handsome cloak.

Usurer.How were they gotten?

Thras.How catch the fishermen fish? Master, take them as you think them worth: we leave all to your conscience.

Usurer.Honest men, toward men, good men, my friends, like to prove good members, use me, command me; I will maintain your credits. There's money: now spend not your time in idleness; bring me commodity; I have crowns for you: there is two shillings for thee, and six shillings for thee. [Gives money.

Alc.A bargain.—Now, Samia, have at it for a new smock!—Come, let us to the spring of the best liquor: whilst this lasts, tril-lill!

Usurer.Good fellows, proper fellows, my companions, farewell: I have a pot for you.

Samia[aside]. If he could spare it.

EnterJonas.

Jonas.Repent, ye men of Nineveh, repent!The day of horror and of torment comes;When greedy hearts shall glutted be with fire,Whenas corruptions veil'd shall be unmask'd,When briberies shall be repaid with bane,When whoredoms shall be recompens'd in hell,When riot shall with vigour be rewarded,Whenas neglect of truth, contempt of God,Disdain of poor men, fatherless and sick,Shall be rewarded with a bitter plague.Repent, ye men of Nineveh, repent!The Lord hath spoke, and I do cry it out;There are as yet but forty days remaining,And then shall Nineveh be overthrown:Repent, ye men of Nineveh, repent!There are as yet but forty days remaining,And then shall Nineveh be overthrown. [Exit.Usurer.Confus'd in thought, O, whither shall I wend?[Exit.Thras.My conscience cries that I have done amiss.[Exit.Alc.O God of heaven, gainst thee have I offended!Samia.Asham'd of my misdeeds, where shall I hide me?Cles.Father, methinks this word "repent" is good:He that punisheth disobedienceDoth hold a scourge for every privy fault.[Exit withAlconandSamia.Oseas.Look, London, look; with inward eyes beholdWhat lessons the events do here unfold.Sin grown to pride, to misery is thrall:The warning-bell is rung, beware to fall.Ye worldly men, whom wealth doth lift on high,Beware and fear, for worldly men must die.The time shall come, where least suspect remains,The sword shall light upon the wisest brains;The head that deems to overtop the sky,Shall perish in his human policy.Lo, I have said, when I have said the truth,When will is law, when folly guideth youth,When show of zeal is prank'd in robes of zeal,When ministers powl[117]the pride of commonweal,When law is made a labyrinth of strife,When honour yields him friend to wicked life,When princes hear by others' ears their folly,When usury is most accounted holy,If these shall hap, as would to God they might not,The plague is near: I speak, although I write not.

Enter theAngel.

Angel.Oseas.Oseas.Lord?Angel.Now hath thine eyes perus'd these heinous sins,Hateful unto the mighty Lord of hosts.The time is come, their sins are waxen ripe,And though the Lord forewarns, yet they repent not;Custom of sin hath harden'd all their hearts.Now comes revenge, armèd with mighty plagues,To punish all that live in Nineveh;For God is just, as he is merciful,And doubtless plagues all such as scorn repent.Thou shalt not see the desolationThat falls unto these cursèd Ninevites,But shalt return to great Jerusalem,And preach unto the people of thy GodWhat mighty plagues are incident to sin,Unless repentance mitigate His ire:Rapt in the spirit, as thou wert hither brought,I'll seat thee in Judaea's provinces.Fear not, Oseas, then to preach the word.Oseas.The will of the Lord be done![Oseasis taken away by theAngel.

EnterRasniwith hisKings, Magi, Lords,andAttendants;Alvidaand herLadies;to a banquet.

Rasni.So, viceroys, you have pleas'd me passing well;These curious cates are gracious in mine eye,But these borachios of the richest wineMake me to think how blithesome we will be.—Seat thee, fair Juno, in the royal throne,And I will serve thee to see thy face,That, feeding on the beauty of thy looks,My stomach and mine eyes may both be fill'd.—Come, lordings, seat you, fellow-mates at feast,And frolic, wags; this is a day of glee:This banquet is for brightsome Alvida.I'll have them skink[118]my standing bowls with wine,And no man drink but quaff a whole carouseUnto the health of beauteous Alvida:For whoso riseth from this feast not drunk,As I am Rasni, Nineveh's great king,Shall die the death as traitor to myself,For that he scorns the health of Alvida.K. of Cil.That will I never do, my lord;Therefore with favour, fortune to your grace,Carouse unto the health of Alvida.Rasni.Gramercy, lording, here I take thy pledge:—And, Crete, to thee a bowl of Greekish wine,Here to the health of Alvida.K. of Crete.Let come, my lord. Jack skinker, fill it full,A pledge unto the health of heavenly Alvida.Rasni.Vassals, attendant on our royal feasts,Drink you, I say, unto my lover's health:Let none that is in Rasni's royal courtGo this night safe and sober to his bed.

EnterAdam.

Adam.This way he is, and here will I speak with him.

First Lord.Fellow, whither pressest thou?

Adam.I press nobody, sir; I am going to speak with a friend of mine.

First Lord.Why, slave, here is none but the king, and his viceroys.

Adam.The king! marry, sir, he is the man I would speak withal.

First Lord.Why, callest him a friend of thine?

Adam.Ay, marry, do I, sir; for if he be not my friend, I'll make him my friend, ere he and I pass.

First Lord.Away, vassal, begone! thou speak unto the king!

Adam.Ay, marry, will I, sir; an if he were a king of velvet, I will talk to him.

Rasni.What's the matter there? what noise is that?

Adam.A boon, my liege, a boon, my liege!

Rasni.What is it that great Rasni will not grant,This day, unto the meanest of his land,In honour of his beauteous Alvida?Come hither, swain; what is it that thou cravest?

Adam.Faith, sir, nothing, but to speak a few sentences to your worship.

Rasni.Say, what is it?

Adam.I am sure, sir, you have heard of the spirits that walk in the city here.

Rasni.Ay, what of that?

Adam.Truly, sir, I have an oration to tell you of one of them; and this it is.

Alvi.Why goest not forward with thy tale?

Adam.Faith, mistress, I feel an imperfection in my voice, a disease that often troubles me; but, alas, easily mended; a cup of ale or a cup of wine will serve the turn.

Alvi.Fill him a bowl, and let him want no drink.

Adam.O, what a precious word was that, "And let him want no drink!" [Drink given toAdam.] Well, sir, now I'll tell you forth my tale. Sir, as I was coming alongst the port-royal of Nineveh, there appeared to me a great devil, and as hard-favoured a devil as ever I saw; nay, sir, he was a cuckoldly devil, for he had horns on his head. This devil, mark you now, presseth upon me, and, sir, indeed, I charged him with my pike-staff; but when that would not serve, I came upon him withSpritus santus,—why, it had been able to have put Lucifer out of his wits: when I saw my charm would not serve, I was in such a perplexity, that sixpenny-worth of juniper would not have made the place sweet again.

Alvi.Why, fellow, wert thou so afraid?

Adam.O, mistress, had you been there and seen, his very sight had made you shift a clean smock! I promise you, though I were a man, and counted a tall fellow, yet my laundress called me slovenly knave the next day.

Rasni.A pleasant slave.—Forward, sirrah, on with thy tale.

Back to Index Next