[Scene 2]
Enter Lemot and Colinet.
LEMOT
2How like thou this morning, Colinet? What, shall we have a fair day?
COLINET
3The sky hangs full of humour, and I think we shall have rain.
LEMOT
4Why, rain is fair weather when the ground is dry and barren, especially when it rains
humour, for then do men like hot sparrows and pigeons open all their wings ready to
receive them.
COLINET
5Why, then, we may chance to have a fair day, for we shall spend it with so humorous
acquaintance as rains nothing but humour all their lifetime.
LEMOT
6True, Colinet, over which will I sit like an old king in an old-fashion play, having
his wife, his council, his children, and his fool about him, to whom he will sit and
point very learnedly as followeth:
My council grave, and you my noble peers,
My tender wife, and you my children dear,
And thou my fool —
COLINET
7Not meaning me, sir, I hope.
LEMOT
8No, sir, but thus will I sit, as it were, and point out all my humorous companions.
COLINET
9You shall do marvellous well, sir.
LEMOT
10I thank you for your good encouragement. But, Colinet, thou shalt see Catalian bring
me hither an odd gentleman presently to be acquainted withal, who in his manner of
taking acquaintance will make us excellent sport.
COLINET
11Why, Lemot, I think thou sendest about of purpose for young gallants to be acquainted
withal, to make thyself merry in the manner of taking acquaintance.
LEMOT
12By heaven I do, Colinet, for there is no better sport than to observe the complement,
for that’s their word, complement, do you mark, sir?
COLINET
13Yea, sir, but what humour hath this gallant in his manner of taking acquaintance?
LEMOT
14Marry thus, sir: he will speak the very selfsame word to a syllable after him of whom
he takes acquaintance, as if I should say, ‘I am marvellous glad of your acquaintance’,
he will reply, ‘I am marvellous glad of your acquaintance’. ‘I have heard much good
of your rare parts and fine carriage’; ‘I have heard much good of your rare parts
and fine carriage’. So long as the complements of a gentleman last, he is your complete
ape.
COLINET
15Why, this is excellent.
LEMOT
16Nay, sirrah, here’s the jest of it: when he is past this gratulation, he will retire
himself to a chimney or a wall standing folding his arms thus; and go you and speak
to him so far as the room you are in will afford you, you shall never get him from
that most gentlemanlike set or behaviour.
COLINET
17This makes his humour perfect. I would he would come once.
Enter Catalian and Blanvel.
LEMOT
18[Aside to Colinet] See where he comes. Now must I say, Lupus est in fabula, for these Latin ends are part of a gentleman and a good scholar.
CATALIAN
19Oh, good morrow Monsieur Lemot. Here is the gentleman you desired so much to be acquainted
withal.
LEMOT
20He is marvellous welcome.
[To Blanvel] I shall be exceeding proud of your acquaintance.
BLANVEL
21I shall be exceeding proud of your acquaintance.
LEMOT
22I have heard much good of your rare parts and fine carriages.
BLANVEL
23I have heard much good of your rare parts and fine carriages.
LEMOT
24I shall be glad to be commanded by you.
BLANVEL
25I shall be glad to be commanded by you.
LEMOT
26I pray do not you say so.
BLANVEL
27I pray do not you say so.
LEMOT
28Well, gentlemen, this day let’s consecrate to mirth. And Colinet, you know, no man
better, that you are mightily in love with lovely Martia, daughter to old Foyes.
COLINET
29I confess it. Here are none but friends.
LEMOT
30Well then, go to her this morning in Countess Moren’s name, and so perhaps you may
get her company, though the old churl be so jealous that he will suffer no man to
come at her but the vain gull Labesha for his living sake, and he, as yet, she will
not be acquainted withal.
COLINET
31Well, this I’ll do, whatsoever come on it.
LEMOT
32Why nothing but good will come of it, ne’er doubt it man.
CATALIAN
33[Aside to Lemot] He hath taken up his stand. Talk a little further and see an you can remove him.
LEMOT
34[Aside] I will, Catalian.
[Aloud] Now, Monsieur Blanvel, mark, I pray.
BLANVEL
35I do, sir, very well, I warrant you.
LEMOT
36You know the old Count Labervele hath a passing fair young lady, that is a passing
foul Puritan?
BLANVEL
37I know her very well, sir. She goes more like a milkmaid than a countess, for all
her youth and beauty.
LEMOT
38True, sir. Yet of her is the old Count so jealous that he will suffer no man to come
at her. Yet I will find a means that two of us will have access to her, though before
his face, which shall so heat his jealous humour till he be stark mad. But, Colinet,
go you first to lovely Martia, for ’tis too soon for the old lord and his fair young
lady to rise.
COLINET
39Adieu, Monsieur Blanvel.
BLANVEL
40Adieu, good Monsieur Colinet.
Exit Colinet.
LEMOT
41Monsieur Blanvel, your kindness in this will bind me much to you.
BLANVEL
42Monsieur Lemot, your kindness in this will bind me much to you.
LEMOT
43I pray you do not say so, sir.
BLANVEL
44I pray you do not say so sir.
LEMOT
45Will’t please you to go in?
BLANVEL
46Will’t please you to go in?
LEMOT
47I will follow you.
BLANVEL
48I will follow you.
LEMOT
49It shall be yours.
BLANVEL
50It shall be yours.
LEMOT
51Kind Monsieur Blanvel.
BLANVEL
52Kind Monsieur Lemot.
Exeunt.
[Scene 4]
Enter [Florila] the Puritan.
FLORILA
85
What have I done? Put on too many clothes.
The day is hot, and I am hotter clad
Than might suffice health.
My conscience tells me that I have offended,
And I’ll put them off.
That will ask time that might be better spent.
One sin will draw another quickly so.
See how the Devil tempts. But what’s here?
[Picks up jewels]
Jewels?
How should these come here?
Enter Labervele.
LABERVELE
86
Good morrow, lovely wife. What hast thou there?
FLORILA
87
Jewels, my lord, which here I strangely found.
LABERVELE
88
That’s strange indeed. What, where none comes
But when yourself is here? Surely the heavens
Have rained thee jewels for thy holy life,
And using thy old husband lovingly,
Or else do fairies haunt this holy green,
As evermore mine ancestors have thought.
FLORILA
89
Fairies were but in times of ignorance,
Not since the true pure light hath been revealed.
And that they come from heaven I scarce believe.
For jewels are vain things. Much gold is given
For such fantastical and fruitless jewels,
And therefore heaven, I know, will not maintain
The use of vanity. Surely I fear
I have much sinned to stoop and take them up,
Bowing my body to an idle work.
The strength that I have had to this very deed
Might have been used to take a poor soul up
In the highway.
LABERVELE
90
You are too curious, wife. Behold your jewels.
What, methinks there’s posies written on them.
(Then he reads.)
Despair not of children,
Love with the longest;
When man is at the weakest,
God is at the strongest.
Wonderful rare and witty, nay, divine.
Why, this is heavenly comfort for thee, wife.
What is this other?
God will reward her a thousandfold
That takes what age can, and not what age would.
The best that ever I heard. No mortal brain,
I think, did ever utter such conceit
For good plain matter and for honest rhyme.
FLORILA
91
Vain poetry. I pray you burn them, sir.
LABERVELE
92
You are to blame, wife. Heaven hath sent you them
To deck yourself withal, like to yourself,
Not to go thus like a milkmaid.
Why there is difference in all estates
By all religion.
FLORILA
93
There is no difference.
LABERVELE
94
I prithee, wife, be of another mind
And wear these jewels and a velvet hood.
FLORILA
95
A velvet hood! O vain devilish device!
A toy made with a superfluous flap,
Which being cut off, my head were still as warm.
Diogenes did cast away his dish
Because his hand would serve to help him drink.
Surely these heathens shall rise up against us.
LABERVELE
96
Sure, wife, I think thy keeping always close,
Making thee melancholy, is the cause
We have no children, and therefore, if thou wilt,
Be merry and keep company i’ God’s name.
FLORILA
97
Sure, my lord, if I thought I should be rid
Of this same banishment of barrenness,
And use our marriage to the end it was made,
Which was for procreation, I should sin,
If by my keeping house I should neglect
The lawful means to be a fruitful mother;
And therefore if it please you I’ll use resort.
LABERVELE
98[Aside] God’s my passion, what have I done? Who would have thought her pureness would yield
so soon to courses of temptations?
[Aloud] Nay, hark you, wife, I am not sure that going abroad will cause fruitfulness in you.
That, you know, none knows but God himself.
FLORILA
99I know, my lord, ’tis true, but the lawful means must still be used.
LABERVELE
100Yea, the lawful means indeed must still, but now I remember that lawful means is not
abroad.
FLORILA
101Well, well, I’ll keep the house still.
LABERVELE
102Nay, hark you, lady, I would not have you think — marry, I must tell you this, if
you should change the manner of your life, the world would think you changed religion
too.
FLORILA
103’Tis true, I will not go.
LABERVELE
104Nay, if you have a fancy.
FLORILA
105Yea, a fancy, but that’s no matter.
LABERVELE
106Indeed, fancies are not for judicial and religious women.
Enter Catalian like a scholar.
CATALIAN
107God save your lordship, and you, most religious lady.
LABERVELE
108Sir, you may say God save us well indeed That thus are thrust upon in private walks.
CATALIAN
109A slender thrust, sir, where I touched you not.
LABERVELE
110Well, sir, what is your business?
CATALIAN
111Why, sir, I have a message to my lady from Monsieur du Barte.
LABERVELE
112To ‘your lady’? Well, sir, speak your mind to ‘your lady’.
FLORILA
113You are very welcome, sir, and I pray how doth he?
CATALIAN
114In health, madam, thanks be to God, commending his duty to your ladyship, and hath
sent you a message which I would desire your honour to hear in private.
FLORILA
115‘My ladyship’, and ‘my honor’! They be words which I must have you leave. They be
idle words, and you shall answer for them truly. ‘My duty to you’, or ‘I desire you’,
were a great deal better than ‘my ladyship’, or ‘my honour’.
CATALIAN
116I thank you for your Christian admonition.
FLORILA
117Nay, thank God for me. Come, I will hear your message with all my heart, and you are
very welcome, sir.
LABERVELE
118[Aside] ‘With all my heart, and you are very welcome, sir’, and go and talk with a young lusty
fellow able to make a man’s hair stand upright on his head! What purity is there in
this, trow you? Ha, what wench of the faculty could have been more forward? Well,
sir, I will know your message.
[Aloud] You, sir, you, sir, what says the holy man, sir? Come, tell true, for by heaven or
hell I will have it out.
CATALIAN
119Why you shall, sir, if you be so desirous.
LABERVELE
120Nay, sir, I am more than so desirous. Come, sir, study not for a new device now.
CATALIAN
121Not I, my lord, this is both new and old. I am a scholar, and being spiritually inclined
by your lady’s most godly life, I am to profess the ministry and to become her chaplain,
to which end Monsieur du Barte hath commended me.
LABERVELE
122Her chaplain, in the Devil’s name, fit to be vicar of hell!
FLORILA
123My good head, what are you afraid of? He comes with a godly and neighbourly suit.
What, think you his words or his looks can tempt me? Have you so little faith? If
every word he spake were a serpent as subtle as that which tempted Eve, he cannot
tempt me, I warrant you.
LABERVELE
124Well answered for him, lady, by my faith. Well, hark you, I’ll keep your chaplain’s
place yonder for a while, and at length put in one myself.
(Enter Lemot. )
What, more yet? God’s my passion, whom do I see? The very imp of desolation, the minion
of our King, whom no man sees to enter his house but he locks up his wife, his children,
and his maids, for where he goes he carries his house upon his head like a snail.
Now, sir, I hope your business is to me.
LEMOT
125No, sir, I must crave a word with my lady.
LABERVELE
126These words are intolerable, and she shall hear no more.
LEMOT
127She must hear me speak.
LABERVELE
128Must she, sir? Have you brought the King’s warrant for it?
LEMOT
129I have brought that which is above kings.
LABERVELE
130Why, every man for her sake is a Puritan. The Devil I think will shortly turn Puritan,
or the Puritan will turn devil.
FLORILA
131What have you brought, sir?
LEMOT
132Marry this, madam. You know we ought to prove one another’s constancy, and I am come
in all chaste and honourable sort to prove your constancy.
FLORILA
133You are very welcome, sir, and I will abide your proof. It is my duty to abide your
proof.
LABERVELE
134You’ll bide his proof? It is your duty to bide his proof! How the devil will you bide
his proof?
FLORILA
135My good head, no otherwise than before your face in all honourable and religious sort.
I tell you I am constant to you, and he comes to try whether I be so or no, which
I must endure. Begin your proof, sir.
LEMOT
136Nay, madam, not in your husband’s hearing, though in his sight, for there is no woman
will show she is tempted from her constancy, though she be a little. Withdraw yourself,
sweet lady.
[They withdraw.]
LABERVELE
137[Aside] Well, I will see though I do not hear. Women may be courted without offence, so they
resist the courtier.
LEMOT
138Dear and most beautiful lady, of all the sweet honest and honourable means to prove
the purity of a lady’s constancy, kisses are the strongest. I will therefore be bold
to begin my proof with a kiss.
FLORILA
139No, sir, no kissing.
LEMOT
140No kissing, madam? How shall I prove you then sufficiently not using the most sufficient
proof? To flatter yourself by affection of spirit, when it is not perfectly tried,
is sin.
FLORILA
141You say well, sir. That which is truth is truth.
LEMOT
142Then do you well, lady, and yield to the truth.
FLORILA
143By your leave, sir, my husband sees. Peradventure it may breed an offence to him.
LEMOT
144How can it breed an offence to your husband to see your constancy perfectly tried?
FLORILA
145You are an odd man, I see. But first, I pray, tell me how kissing is the best proof
of chaste ladies.
LEMOT
146To give you a reason for that, you must give me leave to be obscure and philosophical.
FLORILA
147I pray you be. I love philosophy well.
LEMOT
148Then thus, madam: every kiss is made, as the voice is, by imagination and appetite,
and as both those are presented to the ear in the voice, so are they to the silent
spirits in our kisses.
FLORILA
149To what spirit mean you?
LEMOT
150To the spirits of our blood.
FLORILA
151What if it do?
LEMOT
152Why then, my imagination and mine appetite working upon your ears in my voice, and
upon your spirits in my kisses, piercing therein the more deeply, they give the stronger
assault against your constancy.
FLORILA
153Why then, to say, ‘prove my constancy’, is as much as to say, ‘kiss me’.
LEMOT
154Most true, rare lady.
FLORILA
155Then prove my constancy.
LEMOT
156Believe me, madam, you gather exceeding wittily upon it.
[Kisses her]
LABERVELE
157Oh my forehead, my very heart aches at a blow!
[Aloud] What dost thou mean, wife? Thou wilt lose thy fame, discredit thy religion, and dishonour
me forever.
FLORILA
158Away, sir, I will abide no more of your proof, nor endure any more of your trial.
LEMOT
159Oh, she dares not, she dares not. I am as glad I have tried your purity as may be.
You, the most constant lady in France? I know an hundred ladies in this town that
will dance, revel all night amongst gallants, and in the morning go to bed to her
husband as clear a woman as if she were new christened, kiss him, embrace him, and
say, ‘no, no, husband, thou art the man’, and he takes her for the woman.
FLORILA
160And all this can I do.
LABERVELE
161Take heed of it, wife.
FLORILA
162Fear not, my good head, I warrant you, for him.
LEMOT
163Nay, madam, triumph not before the victory. How can you conquer that against which
you never strive, or strive against that which never encounters you? To live idle
in this walk, to enjoy this company, to wear this habit, and have no more delights
than those will afford you, is to make Virtue an idle housewife, and to hide herself
in slothful cobwebs that still should be adorned with actions of victory. No, madam,
if you will unworthily prove your constancy to your husband, you must put on rich
apparel, fare daintily, hear music, read sonnets, be continually courted, kiss, dance,
feast, revel all night amongst gallants. Then if you come to bed to your husband with
a clear mind and a clear body, then are your virtues ipsissima , then have you passed the full test of experiment, and you shall have an hundred
gallants fight thus far in blood for the defence of your reputation.
LABERVELE
164O vanity of vanities!
FLORILA
165Oh husband, this is perfect trial indeed.
LABERVELE
166And you will try all this now, will you not?
FLORILA
167Yea, my good head, for it is written, we must pass to perfection through all temptation,
Habbakuk the fourth.
LABERVELE
168Habbakuk? Cuck me no cucks! In a’ doors, I say. Thieves, Puritans, murderers! In a’
doors, I say.
Exit [with Florila].
LEMOT
169So now is he stark mad, i’faith. But, sirrah, as this is an old lord jealous of his
young wife, so is ancient Countess Moren jealous of her young husband. We’ll thither
to have some sport, i’faith.
Exeunt.
[Scene 5]
Enter Labesha hanging upon Martia’s sleeve, and the Lord Moren comes to them.
MOREN
170
I prithee, Besha, keep a little off.
Hang not upon her shoulders thus for shame.
LABESHA
171My Lord, pardonnez-moi, I must not let her talk alone with anyone, for her father gave me charge.
MOREN
172Oh, you are a goodly charger for a goose.
LABESHA
173A goose! You are a gander to call me goose. I am a Christian gentleman as well as
you.
MOREN
174Well, sirrah, get you hence, or by my troth I’ll have thee taken out in a blanket,
tossed from forth our hearing.
LABESHA
175In a blanket? What, do you make a puppy of me? By skies and stones, I will go and
tell your lady.
Exit.
MOREN
176Nay, but Besha —
MARTIA
177Nay, he will tell, my lord.
Enter the Countess Moren and Labesha.
COUNTESS
178Why, how now, my lord. What, thought you I was dead, that you are wooing of another
thus, or are you laying plots to work my death?
MOREN
179Why neither, sweet bird. What need you move these questions unto me, whom you know
loves you above all the women in the world?
COUNTESS
180How he can flatter now he hath made a fault.
LABESHA
181He can do little, an he cannot cog.
COUNTESS
183Well, come tell me what you did entreat.
MOREN
184Nothing, by heaven, sweet bird, I swear, but to entreat her love —
COUNTESS
185But to entreat her love!
MOREN
186Nay, hear me out.
COUNTESS
187Nay here you are out. You are out too much, methinks, and put me in —
COUNTESS
189In a fair taking, sir, I mean.
MOREN
190Oh, you may see what hasty taking is. You women evermore scramble for our words, and
never take them mannerly from our mouths.
COUNTESS
191Come, tell me what you did entreat.
MOREN
192I did entreat her love to Colinet.
COUNTESS
193To Colinet? Oh, he is your dear cousin, and your kind heart, i’faith, is never well
but when you are doing good for every man. Speak, do you love me?
MOREN
194I’faith, sweet bird.
COUNTESS
195Best of all others?
MOREN
196Best of all others.
COUNTESS
197That’s my good bird, i’faith.
LABESHA
198Oh, mistress, will you love me so?
MARTIA
199No, by my troth, will I not.
LABESHA
200‘No, by my troth, will I not’? Why, that’s well said. I could never get her to flatter
me yet.
Enter Lemot, Blanvel, and Catalian, and Colinet.
LEMOT
201Good morrow, my good lord, and these passing lovely ladies.
COUNTESS
202So now we shall have all manner of flattering with Monsieur Lemot.
LEMOT
203You are all manner of ways deceived, madam, for I am so far from flattering you, that
I do not a whit praise you.
COUNTESS
204Why do you call us passing lovely then?
LEMOT
205Because you are passing from your loveliness.
MARTIA
206Madam, we shall not have one mot of Monsieur Lemot, but it shall be as it were a moat to drown all our conceit in
admiration.
LEMOT
207See what a mote her quick eye can spy in mine, before she looks in it.
MARTIA
208So mote I thee, thine answer is as good as mought be.
LEMOT
209Here’s a poor name run out of breath quickly.
COUNTESS
210Why, Monsieur Lemot, your name is run out of breath at every word you speak.
LEMOT
211That’s because my name signifies ‘word’.
MARTIA
212Well hit, Monsieur Verbum.
LEMOT
213What, are you good at Latin, lady?
MARTIA
214No, sir, but I know what verbum is.
LEMOT
215Why, ’tis green bum: vert is green, and you know what bum is, I am sure of that.
MARTIA
216No, sir, ’tis a verb, and I can decline you.
LEMOT
217That you can, I’ll be sworn.
LEMOT
219Decline me, or take me a hole lower, as the proverb is.
MARTIA
220Nay, sir, I mean plain grammatical declination.
LEMOT
221Well, let’s hear your scholarship, and decline me.
MARTIA
222I will, sir, moto, motas.
LABESHA
223Oh excellent! She hath called him ass in Latin.
LEMOT
224Well, sir, forward.
MARTIA
225Nay, there’s enough to try both our scholarships
LEMOT
226Moto, motas. Nay, faith, forward to motavi, or motandi.
MARTIA
227Nay, sir, I’ll leave when I am well.
COUNTESS
228Why, Monsieur Lemot, your name being in word general, is in ninny, or in hammer, or
in cock, or in buzzard.
LEMOT
229Or in wagtail, or in woodcock, or in dotterel, or in dizzard.
MARTIA
230Or in clot, or in head, or in cow, or in baby.
LEMOT
231Or in malkin, or in trash, or in pap, or in lady.
COUNTESS
232Or, indeed, in everything.
LEMOT
233Why, then ’tis in thing.
MARTIA
234Then, good Monsieur Thing, there let it rest.
LEMOT
235Then, above all things, I must have a word with you.
LABESHA
236Hands off, sir, she is not for your mowing.
LEMOT
237She is for your mocking.
LABESHA
238An she mock me, I’ll tell her father.
LEMOT
239That’s a good child, thou smellest of the mother, and she was a fool, I warrant you.
LABESHA
240Meddle with me, but do not meddle with my mother.
LEMOT
241That’s a good child.
[To Martia] Come, I must needs have a word with you.
[They withdraw.]
LABESHA
242You shall do none of your needs with her, sir.
CATALIAN
243Why, what will you do?
LABESHA
244What will I do? You shall see what I’ll do.
Then he offereth to draw [his sword].
BLANVEL
245Go to, you ass! Offer to draw here, and we’ll draw thee out of the house by the heels.
LABESHA
246What, three against one? Now was ever proper hard-favoured gentleman so abused?
Go to, Mistress Martia, I see you well enough. Are you not ashamed to stand talking
alone with such a one as he?
LEMOT
247How, sir? With such a one as I, sir?
LABESHA
248Yea, sir, with such a one as you, sir.
LABESHA
250What are you, sir? Why, I know you well enough.
LEMOT
251Sirrah, tell me what you know me for, or else by heaven I’ll make thee better thou
hadst never known how to speak.
LABESHA
252Why, sir, if you will needs know, I know you for an honourable gentleman and the King’s
minion, and were it not to you, there’s ne’er a gentleman in Paris should have had
her out of my hands.
MARTIA
253Nay, he’s as tall a gentleman of his hands as any is in Paris.
COLINET
254There’s a favour for you, sir.
LEMOT
255But I can get no favour for you, sir.
BLANVEL
256I pray, my lord, entreat for your cousin Colinet.
MOREN
257Alas, man, I dare not for my wife.
CATALIAN
258Why, my lord, she thinks it is for nothing, but to speak for your cousin.
MOREN
259I pray you, bird, give me leave to speak for my cousin.
COUNTESS
260I am content for him.
MOREN
261Then one word with you more, courteous Lady Martia.
LABESHA
262Not an you were my father!
MOREN
263Gentlemen, for God’s sake thrust this ass out of the doors.
[Moren moves to Martia.]
LEMOT
264Nay, by’rlady, he’ll run home and tell her father.
CATALIAN
265Well, go to her. I warrant he shall not trouble you.
[To Labesha] Kind gentleman, how we dote on thee. Embrace him, gentlemen.
BLANVEL
266Oh, sweet Besha, how we honour thee.
COLINET
267Nay gentlemen, look what a piercing eye he hath.
LABESHA
268An eye? I have an eye an it were a pole-cat.
CATALIAN
269Nay, look what a nose he hath.
LABESHA
270My nose is neat crimson.
BLANVEL
271Nay, look what a handsome man he is. O Nature, Nature,
Thou never madest man of so pure a feature.
LABESHA
272Truly, truly, gentlemen, I do not deserve this kindness.
CATALIAN
273Oh lord, sir, you are too modest. Come shall we walk?
LABESHA
274Whither? To the alehouse?
LEMOT
275Hark you, madam, have you no more care of the right of your husband, than to let him
talk thus affectionately with another?
COUNTESS
276Why, he speaks not for himself, but for his cousin Colinet.
LEMOT
277God’s my life! He tells you so. Nay, an these excuses may serve I have done.
COUNTESS
278By the mass, now I observe him, he looks very suspiciously indeed. Ne’er trust me
if his lookes and his gesture do not plainly show himself to swear, ‘By this light,
I do love thee’.
LEMOT
279By’rlady, madam, you guess shrewdly indeed. But hark you, madam, I pray let not me
be the author of discord between my good lord and you.
COUNTESS
280No, no, Monsieur Lemot, I were blind if I could not see this. I’ll slit her nose,
by Jesus.
[Starting for Martia.]
MOREN
281How now, what’s the matter?
COUNTESS
282What’s the matter? If I could come at your mistress, she should know what’s the matter.
COUNTESS
284Yea, your mistress. Oh, here’s fair dissimulation!
[To Martia] Oh, ye impudent gossip, do I send for you to my house to make you my companion, and
do you use me thus? Little dost thou know what ’tis to love a man truly, for if thou
didst, thou wouldst be ashamed to wrong me so.
MARTIA
285You wrong me, madam, to say I wrong you.
COUNTESS
286Go to, get you out of my house.
MARTIA
287I am gone, madam.
[Makes as if to leave.]
MOREN
288Well, come in, sweet bird and I’ll persuade thee there’s no harm done.
COUNTESS
289Well, we shall hear your persuasions.
[Exeunt Countess and Moren.]
LEMOT
290Well, God knows and I can partly guess what he must do to persuade her. Well, take
your fair charge, fair and manly Lord Monsieur Labesha.
COLINET
291One word with you more, fair lady.
LEMOT
292Not a word. No man on pain of death, not a word. He comes upon my rapier’s point,
that comes within forty foot on her.
LABESHA
293Thanks, good Lemot, and thanks gentlemen all, and her father shall thank you.
[Exeunt Labesha and Martia.]
COLINET
294Much good do it you, sir. Come, gentlemen, let’s go wait upon the King, and see the
humour of the young Lord Dowsecer.
LEMOT
295Excuse me to the King, and tell him I will meet him there.
[Exeunt Colinet, Catalian and Blanvel.]
So, this is but the beginning of sport between this fine lord and his old lady. But
this wench Martia hath happy stars reigned at the disposition of her beauty, for the
King himself doth mightily dote on her. Now to my Puritan, and see if I can make up
my full proof of her.
[Exit.]
[Scene 7]
Enter the King and all the lords [Lemot and Catalian], with the trumpets.
KING
345
Why sound these trumpets, in the Devil’s name?
CATALIAN
346
To show the King comes.
KING
347
To show the King comes?
Go hang the trumpeters. They mock me boldly,
And every other thing that makes me known,
Not telling what I am, but what I seem:
A king of clouts, a scarecrow, full of cobwebs,
Spiders and earwigs, that sets jackdaw’s long tongue
In my bosom and upon my head.
And such are all the affections of love
Swarming in me, without command or reason.
LEMOT
348
How now, my liege! What, quagmired in philosophy,
Bound with love’s whipcord, and quite robbed of reason?
And I’ll give you a receipt for this presently.
KING
349
Peace, Lemot. They say the young Lord Dowsecer
Is rarely learned, and nothing lunatic
As men suppose,
But hateth company and worldly trash.
The judgement and the just contempt of them
Have in reason arguments that break affection,
As the most sacred poets write, and still the roughest wind.
And his rare humour come we now to hear.
LEMOT
350Yea, but hark you, my liege, I’ll tell you a better humour than that. Here presently
will be your fair love, Martia, to see his humour, and from thence, fair countess
Florila and she will go unto Verone's ordinary, where none but you and I and Count
Moren will be most merry.
KING
351Why, Count Moren, I hope, dares not adventure into any woman’s company but his wife’s.
LEMOT
352Yes, as I will work, my liege, and then let me alone to keep him there till his wife
comes.
KING
353That will be royal sport.
(Enter Labervele, Labesha, and all the rest [the Countess, Moren, Foyes, Martia and
Florila].)
See where all comes. Welcome, fair lords and ladies.
LABERVELE
354My liege, you are welcome to my poor house.
LEMOT
355
[Presenting Labesha] I pray, my liege, know this gentleman especially. He is a gentleman born, I can tell
you.
KING
356With all my heart. What might I call your name?
LABESHA
357Monsieur Labesha, Seigneur de Foulasa.
KING
358De Foulasa? An ill-sounding baronry, of my word. But to the purpose. Lord Labervele,
we are come to see the humour of your rare son, which by some means I pray let us
partake.
LABERVELE
359Your highness shall too unworthily partake the sight which I with grief and tears
daily behold, seeing in him the end of my poor house.
KING
360You know not that, my lord. Your wife is young, and he perhaps hereafter may be moved
to more society.
LABERVELE
361Would to God he would, that we might do to your crown of France more worthy and more
acceptable service.
KING
362Thanks, good my lord. See where he appears.
(Enter Lavel with a picture, and a pair of large hose, and a codpiece, and a sword.)
Say, Lavel, where is your friend, the young Lord Dowsecer?
LAVEL
363I look, my liege, he will be here anon, but then I must entreat your majesty and all
the rest to stand unseen, for he as yet will brook no company.
KING
364We will stand close, Lavel, but wherefore bring you this apparel, that picture, and
that sword?
LAVEL
365To put him, by the sight of them, in mind of their brave states that use them, or
that at the least of the true use they should be put unto.
KING
366Indeed, the sense doth still stir up the soul, and though these objects do not work,
yet it is very probable in time she may. At least, we shall discern his humour of
them.
Enter Dowsecer.
LEMOT
367See where he comes contemplating. Stand close.
DOWSECER
368Quid ei potest videri magnum in rebus humanis cui aeternitas omnis totiusque nota
sit mundi magnitudo.
‘What can seem strange to him on earthly things
To whom the whole course of eternity,
And the round compass of the world is known?’
A speech divine, but yet I marvel much
How it should spring from thee, Mark Cicero,
That sold for glory the sweet peace of life,
And made a torment of rich nature’s work,
Wearing thyself by watchful candle-light,
When all the smiths and weavers were at rest,
And yet was gallant, ere the day bird sung,
To have a troop of clients at thy gates,
Armed with religious supplications,
Such as would make stern Minos laugh to read.
Look on our lawyers’ bills: not one contains
Virtue or honest drifts, but snares, snares, snares.
For acorns now no more are in request;
But when the oak’s poor fruit did nourish men,
Men were like oaks of body, tough, and strong.
Men were like giants then, but pygmies now,
Yet full of villainies as their skin can hold.
LEMOT
369
How like you this humour, my liege?
KING
370
This is no humour; this is but perfect judgement.
MARTIA
372
Oh were all men such,
Men were no men but gods, this earth a heaven.
DOWSECER
373
[Noticing the sword]
See, see, the shameless world,
That dares present her mortal enemy
With these gross ensigns of her lenity,
Iron and steel, uncharitable stuff,
Good spital-founders, enemies to whole skins,
As if there were not ways enough to die
By natural and casual accidents,
Diseases, surfeits, brave carouses,
Old aqua-vitae, and too base wines,
And thousands more. Hence with this art of murder!
[Noticing the hose and codpiece]
But here is goodly gear, the soul of man,
For ’tis his better part. Take away this,
And take away their merits and their spirits.
Scarce dare they come in any public view
Without this countenance-giver,
And some dares not come, because they have it, too,
For they may sing, in written books they find it.
What is it then, the fashion or the cost?
The cost doth match, but yet the fashion more,
For let it be but mean, so in the fashion,
And ’tis most gentleman-like. Is it so?
Make a hand in the margin, and burn the book,
A large hose and a codpiece makes a man.
A codpiece, nay indeed, but hose must down.
Well for your gentle forgers of men,
And for you come to wrest me into fashion,
I’ll wear you thus, and sit upon the matter.
LABERVELE
374
And so he doth despise our purposes.
CATALIAN
375
Bear with him yet, my lord, he is not resolved.
LAVEL
376
I would not have my friend mock worthy men,
For the vain pride of some that are not so.
DOWSECER
377
I do not here deride difference of states,
No, not in show, but wish that such as want show
Might not be scorned with ignorant Turkish pride,
Being pompous in apparel and in mind
Nor would I have with imitated shapes
Men make their native land the land of apes,
Living like strangers when they be at home,
And so perhaps bear strange hearts to their home;
Nor look a-snuff like a piannet’s tail,
For nothing but their curls and formal locks,
When, like to cream bowls, all their virtues swim
In their set faces, all their in-parts then
Fit to serve peasants or make curds for daws.
[Noticing the picture]
But what a stock am I thus to neglect
This figure of man’s comfort, this rare piece?
LABERVELE
378
Heavens grant that make him more humane, and sociable.
KING
379
Nay, he’s more humane than all we are.
LABERVELE
380
I fear he will be too sharp to that sweet sex.
DOWSECER
381
She is very fair. I think that she be painted.
An if she be, sir, she might ask of me,
‘How many is there of our sex that are not?’
’Tis a sharp question. Marry and I think
They have small skill. If they were all of painting,
’Twere safer dealing with them. And indeed.
Were their minds strong enough to guide their bodies,
Their beauteous deeds should match with their heavenly looks,
’Twere necessary they should wear them.
An would they vouchsafe it, even I
Would joy in their society.
MARTIA
382
And who would not die with such a man?
DOWSECER
383
But to admire them as our gallants do,
‘Oh, what an eye she hath! Oh, dainty hand!
Rare foot and leg!’ and leave the mind respectless.
This is a plague that, in both men and women,
Make such pollution of our earthly being.
Well, I will practise yet to court this piece.
LABERVELE
384
Oh, happy man, now have I hope in her.
KING
385
Methinks I could endure him days and nights.
DOWSECER
386Well, sir, now thus must I do, sir, ere it come to women. ‘Now, sir’ — a plague upon
it, ’tis so ridiculous I can no further. What poor ass was it that set this in my
way? Now if my father should be the man —
[Sees Labervele] God’s precious coals, ’tis he!
LABERVELE
387
Good son, go forward in this gentle humour.
Observe this picture. It presents a maid
Of noble birth and excellent of parts,
Whom for our house and honour sake, I wish
Thou wouldst confess to marry.
DOWSECER
388
To marry father? Why, we shall have children.
LABERVELE
389
Why, that’s the end of marriage, and the joy of men.
DOWSECER
390
Oh, how you are deceived. You have but me,
And what a trouble am I to your joy!
But, father, if you long to have some fruit of me,
See, father, I will creep into this stubborn earth
And mix my flesh with it, and they shall breed grass
To fat oxen, asses and such-like,
And when they in the grass the spring converts
Into beasts’ nourishment,
Then comes the fruit of this my body forth.
Then may you well say,
Seeing my race is so profitably increased,
That good fat ox and that same large-eared ass
Are my son’s sons, that calf with a white face
Is his fair daughter, with which, when your fields
Are richly filled, then will my race content you.
But for the joys of children, tush, ’tis gone.
Children will not deserve, nor parents take it.
Wealth is the only father and the child,
And but in wealth no man hath any joy.
LABERVELE
391
Some course, dear son, take for thy honour sake.
DOWSECER
392
Then, father, here’s a most excellent corse.
LABERVELE
393
This is some comfort yet.
DOWSECER
394
If you will straight be gone and leave me here,
I’ll stand as quietly as any lamb,
And trouble none of you.
[Sees Martia]
LEMOT
396
How like you this humour yet, my liege?
KING
397
As of a holy fury, not a frenzy.
MOREN
398
See, see, my liege, he hath seen us sure.
KING
399
Nay, look how he views Martia and makes him fine.
LEMOT
400Yea, my liege, and she, as I hope well observed, hath uttered many kind conceits of
hers.
KING
401Well, I’ll be gone, and when she comes to Verone’s ordinary, I’ll have her taken to
my custody.
LEMOT
402I’ll stay, my liege, and see the event of this.
Exit the King.
DOWSECER
404
What have I seen? How am I burnt to dust
With a new sun, and made a novel phoenix!
Is she a woman that objects this sight,
Able to work the chaos of the world
Into gestion? O divine aspect,
The excellent disposer of the mind
Shines in thy beauty, and thou hast not changed
My soul to sense, but sense unto my soul,
And I desire thy pure society,
But even as angels do to angels fly.
Exit.
MARTIA
405
Fly soul and follow him.
LABERVELE
406I marvel much at my son’s sudden strange behaviour.
LEMOT
407Bear with him yet, my lord, ’tis but his humour. Come. What, shall we go to Verone’s
ordinary?
LABESHA
408Yea, for God’s sake, for I am passing hungry.
MOREN
409Yea, come, Monsieur Lemot, will you walk?
COUNTESS
410What, will you go?
MOREN
411Yea, sweet bird, I have promised so.
COUNTESS
412Go to, you shall not go and leave me alone.
MOREN
413For one meal, gentle bird. Verone invites us to buy some jewels he hath brought of
late from Italy. I’ll buy the best and bring it thee, so thou wilt let me go.
COUNTESS
414Well said, flattering Fabian. But tell me, then, what ladies will be there?
MOREN
415Ladies? Why, none.
LEMOT
416No ladies use to come to ordinaries, madam.
COUNTESS
417Go to, bird, tell me now the very truth.
MOREN
418None of mine honour, bird. You never heard that ladies came to ordinaries.
COUNTESS
419Oh, that’s because I should not go with you.
MOREN
420Why, ’tis not fit you should.
COUNTESS
421Well, hark you, bird, of my word you shall not go, unless you will swear to me, you
will neither court nor kiss a dame in any sort, till you come home again.
MOREN
422Why, I swear I will not.
COUNTESS
423Go to, by this kiss.
MOREN
424Yea, by this kiss.
FOYES
425Martia, learn by this when you are a wife.
LABESHA
426I like the kissing well.
FLORILA
427My lord, I’ll leave you. Your son Dowsecer hath made me melancholy with his humour,
and I’ll go lock myself in my close walk till supper-time.
LABERVELE
428What, and not dine today?
FLORILA
429No, my good head. Come, Martia, you and I will fast together.
MARTIA
430With all my heart, madam.
Exit [with Florila].
LABERVELE
431Well, gentlemen, I’ll go see my son.
Exit.
FOYES
432By’rlady, gentlemen, I’ll go home to dinner.
LABESHA
433Home to dinner? By’rlord, but you shall not. You shall go with us to the ordinary,
where you shall meet gentlemen of so good carriage and passing complements it will
do your heart good to see them. Why, you never saw the best sort of gentlemen if not
at ordinaries.
FOYES
434I promise you that’s rare, my lord. And, Monsieur Lemot, I’ll meet you there presently.
LEMOT
435We’ll expect your coming.
Exeunt all.
[Scene 8]
Enter Verone with his napkin upon his shoulder, and his man Jaques with another, and
his son [Boy] bringing in cloth and napkins.
VERONE
436Come on, my masters, shadow these tables with their white veils, accomplish the court-cupboard,
wait diligently today for my credit and your own, that if the meat should chance to
be raw, yet your behaviours being neither rude nor raw, may excuse it. Or if the meat
should chance to be tough, be you tender over them in your attendance, that the one
may bear with the other.
JAQUES
437Faith, some of them be so hard to please, finding fault with your cheer and discommending
your wine, saying they fare better at Valere’s for half the money.
BOY
438Besides, if there be any chibols in your napkins, they say your nose or ours have
dropped on them, and then they throw them about the house.
VERONE
439But these be small faults. You may bear with them. Young gentlemen and wild heads
will be doing.
Enter [Jaquena] the Maid.
JAQUENA
440Come, whose wit was it to cover in this room, in the name of God, I trow?
BOY
441Why, I hope this room is as fair as the other.
JAQUENA
442In your foolish opinion. You might have told a wise body so and kept yourself a fool
still.
BOY
443I cry you mercy. How bitter you are in your proverbs.
JAQUENA
444So bitter I am, sir.
[Jaquena removes the cloth from the table nearest her]
VERONE
445[Aside] Oh, sweet Jaquena, I dare not say I love thee.
JAQUES
446Must you control us, you proud baggage, you?
JAQUENA
447Baggage? You are a knave to call me baggage.
JAQUES
448A knave? My master shall know that.
VERONE
449[Aside] I will not see them.
JAQUES
450Master, here is your maid uses herself so saucily that one house shall not hold us
two long, God willing.
VERONE
451Come hither, hussy. [Aside to Jaquena] Pardon me, sweet Jaquena. I must make an angry face outwardly, though I smile inwardly.
JAQUENA
452Say what you will to me, sir.
VERONE
453
[Aloud] Oh, you are a fine gossip. Can I not keep honest servants in my house, but you must
control them, you must be their mistress?
JAQUENA
454Why, I did but take up the cloth, because my mistress would have the dinner in another
room, and he called me baggage.
JAQUES
455You called me knave and fool, I thank you, small bones.
JAQUENA
456Go to, go to, she were wise enough would talk with you.
BOY
457Go thy ways for the proudest harlotry that ever came in our house.
[Exit Jaquena.]
VERONE
458Let her alone, boy. I have schooled her, I warrant thee. She shall not be my maid
long, if I can help it.
BOY
459No, I think so, sir. But what, shall I take up the cloth?
VERONE
460No, let the cloth lie. Hither they’ll come first, I am sure of it. Then if they will
dine in the other room, they shall.
Enter Rowley.
ROWLEY
461Good morrow, my host. Is nobody come yet?
VERONE
462Your worship is the first, sir.
ROWLEY
463I was invited by my cousin, Colinet to see your jewels.
VERONE
464I thank his worship and yours.
ROWLEY
465Here’s a pretty place for an ordinary. I am very sorry I have not used to come to
ordinaries.
VERONE
466I hope we shall have your company hereafter.
ROWLEY
467You are very like to.
Enter Berger.
BERGER
468Good morrow, my host, good morrow, good Monsieur Rowley.
ROWLEY
469Good morrow to you, sir.
BERGER
470What, are we two the first? Give’s the cards, here. Come, this gentleman and I will
go to cards while dinner be ready.
ROWLEY
471No, truly, I cannot play at cards.
BERGER
472How! Not play? Oh, for shame, say not so. How can a young gentleman spend his time
but in play and in courting his mistress? Come, use this, lest youth take too much
of the other.
ROWLEY
473Faith, I cannot play, and yet I care not so much to venture two or three crowns with
you.
BERGER
474Oh, I thought what I should find of you. I pray God I have not met with my match.
ROWLEY
475No, trust me, sir, I cannot play.
BERGER
476Hark you, my host, have you a pipe of good tobacco?
VERONE
477The best in the town. Boy, dry a leaf.
BOY
478[Aside] There’s none in the house, sir.
VERONE
479[Aside] Dry a dock leaf.
[Boy exits and returns with a pipe.]
BERGER
480My host, do you know Monsieur Blanvel?
VERONE
481Yea, passing well, sir.
BERGER
482Why, he was taken learning tricks at old Lucilla’s house, the muster-mistress of all
the smock-tearers in Paris, and both the bawd and the pander were carried to the dungeon.
VERONE
483There was dungeon upon dungeon. But call you her the muster-mistress of all the smock-tearers
in Paris?
BERGER
484Yea, for she hath them all trained up afore her.
Enter Blanvel.
BLANVEL
485Good morrow, my host; good morrow, gentlemen all.
VERONE
486Good morrow, Monsieur Blanvel. I am glad of your quick delivery.
BLANVEL
487Delivery? What, didst thou think I was with child?
VERONE
488Yea, of a dungeon.
BLANVEL
489Why, how knew you that?
ROWLEY
490Why, Berger told us.
BLANVEL
491Berger, who told you of it?
BERGER
492One that I heard, by the Lord.
BLANVEL
493Oh, excellent. You are still playing the wag.
Enter Lemot and Moren.
LEMOT
494Good morrow, gentlemen all; good morrow, good Monsieur Rowley.
ROWLEY
495At your service.
LEMOT
496I pray, my lord, look what a pretty falling-band he hath. ’Tis pretty fantastical,
as I have seen, made with good judgement, great show, and but little cost.
MOREN
497And so it is, I promise you. Who made it, I pray?
ROWLEY
498I know not, i’faith. I bought it by chance.
LEMOT
499It is a very pretty one; make much of it.
Enter Catalian sweating.
CATALIAN
500Boy, I prithee call for a coarse napkin.
[Exit Boy.]
Good morrow, gentlemen. I would you had been at the tennis-court: you should have
seen me abeat Monsieur Besan, and I gave him fifteen and all his faults.
LEMOT
501Thou didst more for him than ever God will do for thee.
CATALIAN
502Jaques, I prithee fill me a cup of canary, three parts water.
[Exit Jaques.]
LEMOT
503You shall have all water, an if it please you.
[Enter [Jaquena the] Maid. ]
JAQUENA
504Who called for a coarse napkin?
CATALIAN
505Marry I, sweetheart. Do you take the pains to bring it yourself? Have at you, by my
host’s leave.
[He kisses her.]
JAQUENA
506Away, sir, fie, for shame.
CATALIAN
507Hark you, my host, you must marry this young wench. You do her mighty wrong else.
VERONE
508Oh, sir, you are a merry man.
[Exit Verone and Jaquena.]
Enter Foyes and Labesha
FOYES
509Good morrow, gentlemen. You see I am as good as my word.
MOREN
510You are, sir, and I am very glad of it.
LEMOT
511You are welcome, Monsieur Foyes.
[To Labesha] But you are not, no, not you.
LABESHA
512No? Welcome that gentleman, ’tis no matter for me.
LEMOT
513How, sir? No matter for you. By this rush, I am angry with you, as if all our loves
protested unto you were dissembled. No matter for you?
LABESHA
514Nay, sweet Lemot, be not angry. I did but jest, as I am a gentleman.
LEMOT
515Yea, but there’s a difference of jesting. You wrong all our affections in so doing.
LABESHA
516Faith and troth, I did not, and I hope sirs you take it not so.
ALL
517‘No matter for me’, ’twas very unkindly said, I must needs say so.
LABESHA
518You see how they love me.
FOYES
519I do, sir, and I am very glad of it.
LABESHA
520And I hope, Lemot, you are not angry with me still.
LEMOT
521No, faith, I am not so very a fool to be angry with one that cares not for me.
LABESHA
522Do not I care for you? Nay, then.
[He weeps.]
CATALIAN
523What, dost thou cry?
LABESHA
524Nay, I do not cry, but my stomach waters to think that you should take it so heavily.
If I do not wish that I were cut into three pieces, and that these pieces were turned
into three black puddings, and that these three black puddings were turned into three
of the fairest ladies in the land for your sake, I would I were hanged. What a devil
can you have more than my poor heart?
CATALIAN
525Well, hark you, Lemot, in good faith you are to blame to put him to this unkindness.
I prithee, be friends with him.
LEMOT
526Well, I am content to put up this unkindness for this once. But while you live take
heed of ‘no matter for me’.
LABESHA
527Why, is it such a heinous word?
LEMOT
528Oh, the heinousest word in the world.
LABESHA
529Well, I’ll never speak it more, as I am a gentleman.
LEMOT
530No, I pray do not.
FOYES
531My lord, will your lordship go to cards?
MOREN
532Yea, with you, Monsieur Foyes.
ROWLEY
533Lemot, will you play?
LEMOT
534Pardon, good Monsieur Rowley. If I had any disposition to gaming your company should
draw me beforeany man’s here.
FOYES
535Labesha, what, will you play?
LABESHA
536Play, yea, with all my heart. I pray lend me threepence.
ROWLEY
537I’ll play no more.
CATALIAN
538Why, have you won or lost?
ROWLEY
539Faith, I have lost two or three crowns.
CATALIAN
540Well, to him again, I’ll be your half.
LEMOT
541Sirrah Catalian, while they are playing at cards, thou and I will have some excellent
sport. [Aside to Catalian] Sirrah, dost thou know that same gentleman there?
[Indicating Rowley]
CATALIAN
542[Aside to Lemot] No, i’faith, what is he?
LEMOT
543[Aside to Catalian] A very fine gull and a neat reveller, one that’s heir to a great living, yet his father
keeps him so short, that his shirts will scant cover the bottom of his belly, for
all his gay outside; but the linings be very foul and sweaty, yea, and perhaps lousy,
with despising the vain shifts of the world.
CATALIAN
544[Aside to Lemot] But he hath gotten good store of money now, methinks.
LEMOT
545[Aside to Catalian] Yea, and I wonder of it. Some ancient serving-man of his father’s that hath gotten
forty shillings in fifty years upon his great good husbandry, he swearing monstrous
oaths to pay him again, and besides to do him a good turn (when God shall hear his
prayer for his father) hath lent it him, I warrant you. But, howsoever, we must speak
him fair.
CATALIAN
546[Aside to Lemot] Oh, what else!
LEMOT
547
[Aloud] God save sweet Monsieur Rowley. What, lose or win, lose or win?
ROWLEY
548Faith, sir, save myself and lose my money.
LEMOT
549There’s a proverb hit dead in the neck like a cony. [Aside to Catalian] Why, hark thee, Catalian; I could have told thee before what he would have said.
CATALIAN
550[Aside to Lemot] I do not think so.
LEMOT
551[Aside to Catalian] No? Thou seest here’s a fine plump of gallants, such as think their wits singular,
and their selves rarely accomplished. Yet to show thee how brittle their wits be,
I will speak to them severally, and I will tell thee before what they shall answer
me.
CATALIAN
552[Aside to Lemot] That’s excellent, let’s see that, i’faith.
LEMOT
553[Aside to Catalian] Whatsoever I say to Monsieur Rowley, he shall say, ‘Oh, sir, you may see an ill weed
grows apace’.
CATALIAN
554[Aside to Lemot] Come, let’s see.
LEMOT
555
[Aloud] Now, Monsieur Rowley, methinks you are exceedingly grown since your to Paris.
ROWLEY
556Oh, sir, you may see an ill weed grows apace.
CATALIAN
557[Aside to Lemot] This is excellent, forward, sir, I pray.
LEMOT
558[Aside to Catalian] Whatsoe’er I say to Labesha, he shall answer me, ‘Black will bear no other hue’, and
that same old Justice, as greedy of a stale proverb, he shall come in the neck of
that and say, ‘Black is a pearl in a woman’s eye’.
CATALIAN
559[Aside to Lemot] Yea, much, i’faith.
LEMOT
560[Aside to Catalian] Look thee, here comes hither Labesha.
[Aloud] Catalian and I have been talking of thy complexion, and I say that all the fair ladies
in France would have been in love with thee, but that thou art so black.
LABESHA
561Oh, sir, black will bear no other hue.
FOYES
562Oh, sir, black is a pearl in a woman’s eye.
LEMOT
563You say true, sir, you say true, sir. [Aside to Catalian] Sirrah Catalian, whatsoe’er I say to Berger that is so busy at cards, he shall answer
me, ‘’Sblood, I do not mean to die as long as I can see one alive’.
CATALIAN
564[Aside to Lemot] Come, let us see you.
LEMOT
565
[Aloud] Why, Berger, I thought thou hadst been dead. I have not heard thee chide all this
while.
BERGER
566’Sblood, I do not mean to die as long as I can see one alive.
CATALIAN
567[Aside to Lemot] Why, but hark you, Lemot, I hope you cannot make this lord answer so roundly.
LEMOT
568[Aside to Catalian] Oh, as right as any of them all, and he shall answer me with an old Latin proverb,
that is, usus promptos facit .
CATALIAN
569[Aside to Lemot] Once more, let’s see.
LEMOT
570
[Aloud] My lord, your lordship could not play at this game very lately, and now methinks you
are grown exceeding perfect.
MOREN
571Oh, sir, you may see, usus promptos facit.
Enter Jaques.
JAQUES
572Monsieur Lemot, here is a gentleman and two gentlewomen do desire to speak with you.
LEMOT
573What, are they come? Jaques, convey them into the inward parlour by the inwarde room,
and there is a brace of crowns for thy labour, but let nobody know of their being
here.
JAQUES
574I warrant you, sir.
[Exit Jaques.]
LEMOT
575See where they come. Welcome, my good lord and ladies, I’ll come to you presently.
[Aside] So, now the sport begins, I shall start the disguised King plaguily. Nay, I shall
put the lady that loves me in a monstrous fright when her husband comes and finds
her here.
[Enter Boy.]
BOY
576
[To Lemot] The gentleman and the two gentlewomen desires your company.
LEMOT
577I’ll come to them presently.
The Boy speaks in Foyes’s ear.
FOYES
578Gentlemen, I’ll go speak with one, and come to you presently.
[Exit Foyes.]
LEMOT
579My lord, I would speak a word with your lordship, if it were not for interrupting
your game.
MOREN
580No, I have done, Lemot.
LEMOT
581My lord, there must a couple of ladies dine with us today.
MOREN
582Ladies? God’s my life, I must be gone.
LEMOT
583Why, hark you, my lord, I knew not of their coming, I protest to your lordship, and
would you have me turn such fair ladies as these are away?
MOREN
584Yea, but hark you, Lemot, did not you hear me swear to my wife that I would not tarry
if there were any women? I wonder you would suffer any to come there.
LEMOT
585Why, you swore but by a kiss, and kisses are no holy things, you know that.
MOREN
586Why, but hark you, Lemot, indeed I would be very loath to do anything, that, if my
wife should know it, should displease her.
LEMOT
587Nay, then you are to obsequious. Hark you, let me entreat you, and I’ll tell you in
secret, you shall have no worse company than the King’s.
MOREN
588Why, will the King be there?
LEMOT
589Yea, though disguised.
MOREN
590Who are the ladies?
LEMOT
591The flowers of Paris, I can tell you: fair countess Florila and the lady Martia.
Enter Jaques.
JAQUES
592Monsieur Lemot, the gentleman and the two gentlewomen desire your company.
LEMOT
593I’ll come to them straight. But, Jaques, come hither, I prithee. Go to Labesha and
tell him that the Countess Florila and the lady Martia be here at thy master’s house,
and if it come in question hereafter, deny that thou told him any such thing.
JAQUES
594What, is this all? ’Sblood, I’ll deny it and forswear it too.
LEMOT
595My lord, I’ll go and see the room be neat and fine, and come to you presently.
MOREN
596Yea, but, hark you, Lemot, I prithee take such order that they be not known of any
women in the house.
LEMOT
597Oh, how should they? [Aside] Now to his wife go, i’faith!
Exit.
JAQUES
598Hark you, Monsieur Labesha, I pray let me speak a word with you.
LABESHA
599With all my heart. I pray look to my stake, there’s threepence under the candlestick.
JAQUES
600I pray, sir, do you know the Countess Florila and the Lady Martia?
LABESHA
601Do I know the Lady Martia? I knew her before she was borne. Why do you ask me?
JAQUES
602Why, they are both here at my master’s house.
LABESHA
603What, is Mistress Martia at an ordinary?
JAQUES
604Yea, that she is.
LABESHA
605By skies and stones, I’ll go and tell her father.
Exit.
[Scene 10]
Enter Labervele, Foyes, Labesha, and the Countess.
LABERVELE
615
[Knocking at door] Where be these puritans, these murderers? Let me come in here.
FOYES
616Where is the strumpet?
COUNTESS
617
Where is this harlot? Let us come in here.
LABERVELE
618
What shall we do? The streets do wonder at us,
And we do make our shame known to the world.
Let us go and complain us to the King.
FOYES
619
Come, Labesha, will you go?
LABESHA
620
No, no, I scorn to go. No king shall hear my plaint.
I will in silence live a man forlorn,
Mad, and melancholy as a cat
And never more wear hat-band on my hat.
[Exeunt.]
Enter Moren and Martia.
MOREN
621
What dost thou mean? Thou must not hang on me.
MARTIA
622
Oh, good Lord Moren, have me home with you.
You may excuse all to my father for me.
Enter Lemot.
LEMOT
623Oh, my lord, be not so rude to leave her now.
MOREN
624Alas, man, an if my wife should see it, I were undone.
[Exeunt Moren and Martia.]
Enter the King and another.
KING
625
Pursue them, sirs, and taking Martia from him,
Convey her presently to Valere’s house.
[Exeunt the King and another.]
Enter [Florila] the Puritan to Lemot.
FLORILA
626What villain was it that hath uttered this?
LEMOT
627Why, ’twas even I. I thank you for your gentle terms. You give me villain at the first.
I wonder where’s this old doter? What, doth he think we fear him?
FLORILA
628Oh, monstrous man. What, wouldst thou have him take us?
LEMOT
629Would I, quoth you? Yea, by my troth would I. I know he is but gone to call the constable
or to raise the streets.
FLORILA
630What means the man, trow? Is he mad?
LEMOT
631No, no, I know what I do, I do it of purpose. I long to see him come and rail at you,
to call you harlot, and to spurn you too. Oh, you’ll love me a great deal the better.
And yet, let him come, and if he touch but one thread of you, I’ll make that thread
his poison.
FLORILA
632I know not what to say.
LEMOT
633Speak, do you love me?
FLORILA
634Yea, surely do I.
LEMOT
635Why, then have not I reason that love you so dearly as I do, to make you hateful in
his sight that I might more freely enjoy you.
FLORILA
636Why, let us be gone, my kind Lemot, and not be wondered at in the open streets.
LEMOT
637
I’ll go with you through fire, through death, through hell.
Come, give me your own hand, my own dear heart,
This hand that I adore and reverence,
And loath to have it touch an old man’s bosom.
Oh, let me sweetly kiss it.
He bites.
FLORILA
638
Out on thee, wretch. He hath bit me to the bone.
Oh, barbarous cannibal. Now I perceive
Thou wilt make me a mocking-stock to all the world.
LEMOT
639Come, come, leave your passions, they cannot move me. My father and my mother died
both in a day, and I rung me a peal for them, and they were no sooner brought to the
church and laid in their graves, but I fetched me two or three fine capers aloft and
took my leave of them, as men do of their mistresses at the ending of a galliard.
Beso las manos.
FLORILA
640Oh, brutish nature, how accurst was I ever to endure the sound of this damned voice.
LEMOT
641Well, an you do not like my humour, I can be but sorry for it. I bit you for good
will, an if you accept it, so; if no, go.
FLORILA
642Villain, thou didst it in contempt of me.
LEMOT
643Well, an you take it so, so be it. Hark you, madam, your wisest course is even to
become Puritan again. Put off this vain attire, and say, ‘I have despised all, thanks
my God. Good husband, I do love thee in the Lord’, and he (good man) will think all
this you have done was but to show thou couldst govern the world, and hide thee as
a rainbow doth a storm. My dainty wench, go go. What, shall the flattering words of
a vain man make you forget your duty to your husband? Away, repent, amend your life.
You have discredited your religion forever.
FLORILA
644Well, wretch, for this foul shame thou puttest on me, the curse of all affection light
on thee.
Exit.
LEMOT
645Go, Habbakuk, go. Why, this is excellent. I shall shortly become a schoolmaster, to
whom men will put their wives to practise. Well, now will I go set the Queen upon
the King, and tell her where he is close with his wench. And he that mends my humour,
take the spurs. Sit fast, for by heaven, I’ll jerk the horse you ride on.
[Exit.]
[Scene 14]
Enter the Queen, and all that were in before [Lemot, with arm in sling, Foyes, Labervele
and the Countess].
LEMOT
737
This is the house
Where the mad lord did vow to do the deed.
Draw all your swords, courageous gentlemen.
I’ll bring you there where you shall honour win.
But I can tell you, you must break your shin.
COUNTESS
738
Who will not break his neck to save his king?
Set forward, Lemot.
LEMOT
739
Yea, much good can I do with a wounded arm.
I’ll go and call more help.
QUEEN
740
Others shall go, nay, we will raise the streets.
Better dishonour than destroy the King.
LEMOT
741[Aside] ’Sblood, I know not how to excuse my villainy. I would fain be gone.
Enter Dowsecer and his friend [Lavel].
DOWSECER
742
I’ll geld the adulterous goat, and take from him
The instrument that plays him such sweet music.
LEMOT
743
[Aside]
Oh, rare! This makes my fiction true. Now I’ll stay.
QUEEN
744
Arrest these faithless traitorous gentlemen.
DOWSECER
745
What is the reason that you call us traitors?
LABERVELE
746Nay, why do you attempt such violence against the person of the King?
DOWSECER
747
Against the King? Why this is strange to me.
Enter the King and Martia.
KING
748
How now, my masters? What? Weapons drawn!
Come you to murder me?
KING
750How fare I? Well.
[To Lemot] But you, i’faith, shall get me speak for you another time.
[To company] He got me here to woo a curious lady, and she tempts him. Say what I can, offer what
state I will in your behalf, Lemot, she will not yield.
LEMOT
751[Aside to the King] I’faith, my liege, what a hard heart hath she. Well, hark you, I am content your wit
shall save your honesty for this once.
KING
752[Aside] Peace, a plague on you, peace.
[To the Queen] But wherefore asked you how I did?
QUEEN
753Because I feared that you were hurt, my lord.
KING
754Hurt, how, I pray?
LEMOT
755Why, hurt, madam? I am well again.
QUEEN
756Do you ask? Why, he told me Dowsecer and this his friend, threatened to take away
—
KING
757To take away? What should they take away?
QUEEN
759Nay, I pray, name it you.
LEMOT
760Why then, thus it was, my liege. I told her Dowsecer, and this his friend, threatened
to take away, an if they could, the instrument of procreation. And what was that now
but Martia? Being a fair woman, is not she the instrument of procreation, as all women
are?
LEMOT
762Go to, go to, you are one of those fiddles too, i’faith.
KING
763
Well, pardon my minion that hath frayed you thus.
’Twas but to make you merry in the end.
QUEEN
764
I joy it ends so well, my gracious lord.
FOYES
765
But say, my gracious lord, is no harm done
Between my loving daughter and your grace?
KING
766
No, of my honour and my soul, Foyes.
DOWSECER
767
The fire of love which she hath kindled in me
Being greater than my heat of vanity,
Hath quite expelled —
KING
768Come, Dowsecer, receive with your lost wits your love, thought lost. I know you’ll
yield, my lord, and you, her father.
BOTH [DOWSECER AND FOYES]
769Most joyfully, my lord.
KING
770And for her part I know her disposition well enough.
LEMOT
771What, will you have her?
DOWSECER
772Yea, marry will I.
LEMOT
773I’ll go and tell Labesha presently.
Enter Jaques and [Verone] my Host.
JAQUES
774[Aside to Lemot] Monsieur Lemot, I pray let me speak with you. I come to you from the Lord Moren, who
would desire you to speak to the King for my master’s lottery, and he hath my place
to bear a torch, for bare-faced he dares not look upon his wife, for his life.
LEMOT
775[Aside to Jaques] Oh, excellent. I’ll further thy master’s lottery an it be but for this jest only.
[Aloud to King] Hark you, my liege, here’s the poor man hath been at great charges for the preparation
of a lottery, and he hath made the rarest device that I know you will take great pleasure
in it. I pray let him present it before you at Verone’s house.
KING
776With all my heart. Can you be ready so soon?
VERONE
777Presently, an if it like your grace.
[Exit with Jaques.]
KING
778But hark you, Lemot, how shall we do for every man’s posy?
LEMOT
779Will you all trust me with the making of them?
ALL
780With all our hearts.
LEMOT
781Why, then, I’ll go to make the posies and bring Labesha to the lottery presently.
[Exit.]
Enter Florila like a Puritan.
FLORILA
782
Surely the world is full of vanity.
A woman must take heed she do not hear
A lewd man speak, for every woman cannot
When she is tempted, when the wicked fiend
Gets her into his snares, escape like me.
For grace’s measure is not so filled up,
Nor so pressed down in everyone as me.
But yet I promise you a little more.
Well, I’ll go seek my head, who shall take me in
The gates of his kind arms, untouched of any.
KING
783
What, madam, are you so pure now?
FLORILA
784
Yea, would not you be pure?
FLORILA
786
You must be then a devil, I can tell you.
LABERVELE
787
Oh, wife, where hast thou been?
FLORILA
788
Where did I tell you I would be, I pray.
LABERVELE
789
In thy close walk, thou saidst.
LABERVELE
791Truly, I know not. I neither looked nor knocked, for Labesha told me that you and
fair Martia were at Verone’s ordinary.
KING
792Labesha? My lord, you are a wise man to believe a fool.
FLORILA
793
Well, my good head, for my part I forgive you.
But surely you do much offend to be
Suspicious: where there is no trust, there is no love,
And where there is no love ’twixt man and wife,
There’s no good dealing surely. For as men
Should ever love their wives, so should they ever trust them.
For what love is there where there is no trust?
KING
794
She tells you true, my lord.
LABERVELE
795
She doth, my liege. And, dear wife, pardon this,
And I will never be suspicious more.
Enter [Catalian and] Lemot leading Labesha in a halter.
LEMOT
797Look you, my liege, I have done simple service amongst you. Here is one had hanged
himself for love, thinking his mistress had done so for him. Well, see, your mistress
lives.
LABESHA
798And doth my mistress live?
KING
799She doth, O noble knight, but not your mistress now.
LABESHA
800’Sblood, but she shall for me, or for nobody else.
[Drawing his sword]
LEMOT
801How now. What, a traitor! Draw upon the King!
LABESHA
802Yea, or upon any woman here in a good cause.
KING
803Well, sweet Besha, let her marry Dowsecer. I’ll get thee a wife worth fifteen of her.
Wilt thou have one that cares not for thee?
LABESHA
804Not I, by the Lord, I scorn her. I’ll have her better if I can get her.
KING
805Why, that’s well said.
LEMOT
806[Aside to Florila] What, madam, are you turned Puritan again?
FLORILA
807[Aside to Lemot] When was I other, pray?
LEMOT
808[Aside to Florila] Marry, I’ll tell you when: when you went to the ordinary, and when you made false
signs to your husband, which I could tell him all.
FLORILA
809[Aside to Lemot] Cursed be he that maketh debate ’twixt man and wife.
LEMOT
810[Aside to Florila] O rare scripturian! You have sealed up my lips.
[Aloud] A hall, a hall! The pageant of the buttery.
Enter two with torches, the one of them Moren, then [Verone] my host and his son [Boy],
then his Maid [Jaquena] dressed like Queen Fortune, with two pots in her hands.
LEMOT
812This is Verone’s son, my liege.
KING
813What shall he do?
CATALIAN
814Speak some speech that his father hath made for him.
QUEEN
815Why, is he good at speeches?
CATALIAN
816Oh, he is rare at speeches.
BOY
817
Fair ladies most tender,
And nobles most slender,
And gentles whose wits be scarce —
KING
818My host, why do you call us ‘nobles most slender’?
VERONE
819An it shall please your Grace, to be slender is to be proper, and therefore where
my boy says ‘nobles most slender’, it is as much to say, fine and proper nobles.
LEMOT
820Yea, but why do you call us ‘gentles whose wits are scarce’?
VERONE
821To be scarce is to be rare, and therefore, whereas he says ‘gentles whose wits be
scarce’, is as much as to say, gentles whose wits be rare.
LEMOT
822Well, forwards, truchman.
BOY
823
Fair ladies most tender,
And nobles most slender,
And gentles whose wits be scarce;
Queen Fortune doth come
With her trump and her drum,
As it may appear by my verse.
LABESHA
824
[To Verone] Come hither. Are you a schoolmaster? Where was Fortune queen, of what country or kingdom?
VERONE
825Why, sir, Fortune was Queen over all the world.
LABESHA
826That’s a lie: there’s none that ever conquered all the world, but master Alexander.
I am sure of that.
LEMOT
827O rare Monsieur Labesha! Who would have thought he could have found so rare a fault
in the speech.
VERONE
828I’ll alter it, if it please your grace.
KING
829No, ’tis very well.
BOY
830Father, I must begin again. They interrupt me so.
VERONE
831I beseech your grace, give the boy leave to begin again.
KING
832With all my heart. ’Tis so good we cannot hear it too oft.
BOY
833
Fair ladies most tender,
And nobles most slender,
And gentles whose wits are scarce;
Queen Fortune doth come
With her fife and her drum,
As it doth appear by my voice.
Here is Fortune good,
But ill by the rood,
And this naught but good shall do you, sir;
Dealing the lots
Out of our pots,
And so good Fortune to you, sir.
LEMOT
834Look you, my liege, how he that carries the torch trembles extremely.
KING
835I warrant ’tis with care to carry his torch well.
LEMOT
836Nay, there is something else in the wind. Why, my host, what means thy man Jaques
to tremble so?
VERONE
837Hold still, thou knave. What, art thou afraid to look upon the goodly presence of
a king? Hold up, for shame.
LEMOT
838[Aside] Alas, poor man, he thinks ’tis Jaques his man. Poor lord, how much is he bound to
suffer for his wife?
KING
839Hark you, mine host, what goodly person is that? Is it Fortune herself?
VERONE
840I’ll tell your majesty in secret who it is: it is my maid, Jaquena.
KING
841I promise you she becomes her state rarely.
LEMOT
842Well, my liege, you were all content that I should make your posies. Well, here they
be, every one. Give Master Verone his five crowns.
KING
843There’s mine and the Queen’s.
LABERVELE
844There’s ours.
DOWSECER
845And there is mine and Martia’s.
LEMOT
846Come, Labesha, thy money.
LABESHA
847You must lend me some, for my boy is run away with my purse.
LEMOT
848Thy boy? I never knew any that thou hadst.
LABESHA
849Had not I a boy three or four years ago, and he ran away?
LEMOT
850And never since he went thou hadst not a penny? But stand by, I’ll excuse you. But,
sirrah Catalian, thou shalt stand on one side and read the prizes, and I will stand
on the other and read the posies.
CATALIAN
851Content, Lemot.
LEMOT
852Come on, Queen Fortune, tell every man his posy. This is orderly, the King and Queen
are first.
KING
853Come, let us see what goodly posies you have given us.
LEMOT
854This is your majesty’s: ‘At the fairest, so it be not Martia’.
KING
855A plague upon you, you are still playing the villain’s with me.
LEMOT
856This is the Queen’s: ‘Obey the Queen’, an she speaks it to her husband, or to Fortune,
which she will.
CATALIAN
857A prize. Your majesty’s is the sum of four shillings in gold.
KING
858Why, how can that be? There is no such coin.
VERONE
859
[Offering gold] Here is the worth of it, if it please your Grace.
LEMOT
863
Count Labervele and Florila.
LABERVELE
864
What’s my posy, sir, I pray?
LEMOT
865
Marry, this, my Lord:
Of all Fortune’s friends that hath joy in this life,
He is most happy that puts a sure trust in his wife.
LABERVELE
866
A very good one, sir. I thank you for it.
LEMOT
868
Marry this, madam:
Good Fortune, be thou my good fortune-bringer,
And make me amends for my poor bitten finger.
LABERVELE
869
Who bit your finger, wife?
FLORILA
870
Nobody, ’tis vain posy.
CATALIAN
871Blank for my Lord Labervele; for his wife a posy, a pair of holy beads with a crucifix.
FLORILA
872O bomination idol! I’ll none of them.
KING
873Keep them thyself, Verone, she will not have them.
LEMOT
874Dowsecer and Martia. I have fitted your lordship for a posy.
DOWSECER
875Why, what is it?
MARTIA
877And what is mine, sir?
LEMOT
878A serious one, I warrant you: ‘Change for the better’.
MARTIA
879That’s not amiss.
CATALIAN
880A prize! Dowsecer hath a caduceus, or Mercury’s rod of gold, set with jacinths and
emeralds.
DOWSECER
881What is for Martia?
CATALIAN
882Martia hath the two serpents’ heads set with diamonds.
KING
884
What, is he in for his own jewels?
LEMOT
885
Oh, what else, my liege. ’Tis our bounty, and his posy is:
To tell you the truth in words plain and mild,
Verone loves his maid, and she is great with child.
KING
886What, Queen Fortune with child! Shall we have young fortunes, my host?
VERONE
887I am abused, an if it please your majesty.
JAQUENA
888I’ll play no more.
LEMOT
889No, faith, you need not now, you have played your bellyful already.
VERONE
890Stand still, good Jaquena, they do but jest.
JAQUENA
891Yea, but I like no such jesting.
[Enter Jaques.]
LEMOT
892Come, great Queen Fortune, let see your posies.
[To the Countess] What, madam, alas, your ladyship is one of the last.
COUNTESS
893What is my posy, sir, I pray?
LEMOT
894Marry, madam, your posy is made in manner and form of an echo, as if you were seeking
your husband, and Fortune should be the echo, and this you say: ‘Where is my husband
hid so long unmasked?’ ‘Masked’, says the echo. ‘But in what place, sweet Fortune?
Let me hear’. ‘Here’, says the echo.
KING
895There you lie, echo, for if he were here we must needs see him.
LEMOT
896Indeed, sweet King, there methinks the echo must needs lie. If he were here, we must
needs see him. ’Tis one of them that carries the torches. No, that cannot be neither,
and yet, by the mass, here’s Jaques. Why, my host, did not you tell me that Jaques
should be a torchbearer? Who is this?
[Revealing Moren] God’s my life, my lord!
MOREN
897
[Trying to leave] An you be gentlemen, let me go.
COUNTESS
898Nay, come your way, you may be well enough ashamed to show your face that is a perjured
wretch. Did not you swear, if there were any wenches at the ordinary, you would straight
come home?
KING
899Why, who told you, madam, there were any there?
COUNTESS
900He that will stand to it: Lemot, my liege.
LEMOT
901Who? I stand to it? Alas, I told you in kindness and good will, because I would not
have you company long from your husband.
MOREN
902Why, lo you, bird, how much you are deceived.
COUNTESS
903Why, wherefore were you afraid to be seen?
MOREN
904Who? I afraid? Alas, I bore a torch to grace this honourable presence. For nothing
else, sweet bird.
KING
905
Thanks, good Moren. See, lady, with what wrong
You have pursued your most enamoured lord.
But come, now all are friends, now is this day
Spent with unhurtful motives of delight,
And overjoys more my senses at the night.
And now for Dowsecer: if all will follow my device,
His beauteous love and he shall married be,
And here I solemnly invite you all
Home to my court, where with feasts we will crown
This mirthful day, and vow it to renown.
[Exeunt.]
