 |
Ferd. And she is welcome unto Ferdinand.
Pem. Ile play the dark for both and say Amen. Nay, muse not, madam: tis no sencelesse Image, But the true essence of your wished Love.
Kath. I am asham'd to looke him in the face.
Ferd. Hide not those splendant lights: hereafter be A constant wife; it shall suffice for me.
Kath. Heaven cast her off if Katharine prove not so.
Pem. Of that no more: now let us haste from hence To quiet the dissension lately sprung Betweene your parents. Philip, likewise gone To be reveng'd on Burbons trechery, Perhaps may stand in need of friendly ayd. To him and them our vowes must next be payd.
Ferd. What Pembrook counsels we consent unto.
[Exeunt.
Actus Quintus.
[SCENE 1.]
Enter Rodoricke and Philip.
Rod. Now whilest our Armies wearied with the heat That the bright sunne casts from his midday throne, Abstayne from bloudy intercourse of war, He lead thee, Philip, unto Burbons Tent.
Phil. Rodoricke, thou highly favourest me in this And doubt not, if my complot take effect, Ile make thee Duke of Burbon.
Enter Lewes, Flaunders, and Burbon.
Rod. Stay your speach; Heere comes King Lewis.
Phil. They can not know me, I am so disguisde.
Bur. Follow my counsayle and immediately Begin the Battayle.
Lew. Why, the heat's [so] great It burnes [us] in our Armour as we march.
Flaun. It burnes the enemy as well as wee.
Bur. It warmes our Souldiers spirits and makes them fire, I had rather dye then, when my bloud is hot, Be awde by counsell till it freeze like Ice: He is no Souldier that for feare of heat Will suffer victory to fly the field.
Rod. My Lord of Burbon, ye are more hot then wise.
Bur. Rodorick, me thinkes you are very peremptory.
Rod. It is in zeale of the generall good. Go to your Tent, refresh your unscorcht[144] lymmes; There draw your battels modell, and as soone As the coole winds have fand the burning Sunne And made it tractable for travaylers, Arme you and mount upon your barbed Steed, Lead foorth your Souldiers and in good array Charge bravely on the Army of our foe.
Lew. The Duke of Orleance hath counseld well. Ile in and recreate me in my tent. Farewell, my Lord: when you resolve to fight, Proclayme your meaning by a Canons mouth And with a volley I will answere you.
[Exeunt Lewes and Flauuders.
Bur. If you will needs retyre, farewell, my Lord. Ha, Rodoricke, are not we fine Polyticians That have so quaintly wrought the king of Fraunce Unto our faction that he threatens warre Against the almost reconcilde Navar?
Rod. But this is nothing to the actes weele do. Come, come, my Lord, you trifle time with words: Sit downe, sit downe, and make your warlike plot.— But wherefore stand these murderous Glaves so nye?
Phil.—Touch them not, Roderick; prythee let them stand.
Bur. Some paper, pen, and incke.
Enter Peter.
Pet. My Lord.
Bur. Post to the Master Gunner And bid him plant his demy culverings Against the kings pavilion.
Peter. Presently.
Bur. But first bring pen and incke and paper straight.
[Peter sets pen, ink, &c., before Burbon, and exit[145]
Rodoricke, thou shalt assist mee in this plot.
Rod. Do it your selfe, my Lord; I have a charge Of souldiers that are very mutinous, And long I dare not stay for feare my absence Be cause of their revolt unto Navar.
Bur. Then to your Souldiers: I will to my plot.
Phil.—Away, my Lord, leave me unto the Duke.
Rod.—Kill you the Duke (and after Ile kill thee). [Exit Rod.
Bur. This pen is stabbed and it will not write: The incke that's in the standage[146] doth looke blacke, This in my pen is turnd as red as bloud.
Phil. The reason that the platforme[147] you would make Must by this hand be written with thy bloud.
Bur. Zounds, what art thou that threatens Burbon so?
Phil. One that's as desperat-carelesse of his life As thou art timorous and fearst to dye.
Bur. Comest thou to kill me?
Phil. If I should say no, This weapon would condemne me, which I seyz'd Of purpose, Burbon, to bereave thy life.
Bur. Why, fond man, mad man, know'st thou what thou doest?
Phil. I know it, Burbon, and I know besides What thou wouldst say to daunt my resolution.
Bur. What would I say?
Phil. Why, that this place is death, As being thy Tent, environ'd with thy slaves, Where if I kill thee tis impossible To scape with life: this, Burbon, thou wouldst say. But Philip is not be mov'd with words.
Bur. Philip!
Phil. I, Philip, Bellamiraes Love, Whose beauty, villayne, thou hast poysoned; For which I have vow'd thy death, and thou shall dye. Therefore betake you to what fence you will; Amongst this bundle chuse one weapon forth And like a worthy Duke prepare thy selfe In knightly manner to defend thy life; For I will fight with thee and kill thee, too, Or thou shalt give an end unto my life. But if thou call unto thy slaves for helpe, Burbon, my sword shall nayle thee to the wall. And thinke Prince Philip is a Prince indeed To give thee this advantage for thy life.
Bur. Boy, I will scourge your insolence with death.
Phil. Come on. Fight, and kill Burbon.
Bur. Oh, I am slayne.
[Enter Rodorick.]
Rod. Murder! murder! Burbon the Duke is slayne!
Phil. Peace, Roderick, I am Philip thy deare friend.
Rod. Thou art a counterfet, I know thee not.
Phil. Didst not thou guide me unto Burbons Tent?
Rod. I guide thee to the Tent? I know thee not. What! murder! ho! will no man heare my voyce?
Enter Peter and 2 or 3 souldiers.
Pet. Yes, here are those [that] can heare well ynough. Where is the murdered and the murderer?
Rod. Peter, behold thy masters breathlesse truncke, And there's Prince Philip that hath murdered him.
Pet. To avoyd prolixity Ile kill him; yet first give me leave to weepe for my master.
Rod. First seyze the murderer and after weepe.
Phil. He that first ventures to attach my life Let him be sure he hath a life to spare, For I will send one breathlesse to the grave.
Pet. You that have nyne lives assault the gentleman.
Rod. What, peasants! dare you not attach the slave? Ile rayse the whole Campe but Ile apprehend him. Alarum, drummes! Souldiers, incircle him, And eyther apprehend or slay the wretch.
Enter Pembrooke and Ferdinand.
Pem. Tis princely Philip. Helpe to rescue him.
Rod. What slaves are these that dare oppose themselves In rescue of a murderer 'gainst an Host?
Ferd. Such as will make thee, Roderick, fly for life.
Pet. Zounds, men are mortall; to avoyd prolixity, My lord of Orleance, your best course is flying, And therein I will be your follower.
Rod. Fly before three, and be thus strong? 'Twere madnesse.
Pem. We trifle time; let's drive them from the Tent.
Alarum and drive away Peter and Rodoricke.
Pem. Live, worthy Philip; Pembrooke bids thee live, That did suspect this complot at the tombe When in the honour of Prince Ferdinand You did resigne your shield.
Phil. Th[e] Earle of Pembrooke!
Ferd. And Ferdinand that loves thee as his soule.
Phil. Two lives I owe my starres beside mine owne In sending me two friends of such import. Durst you adventure thorow the enemies Campe And put your lives in danger to save mine?
Pem. The rumour of the Duke of Burbons death Hath so possest the Campe with admiration That they regardlesse suffer all to passe. Only this Roderick wakens them a little, But cannot weane them from their wondring minds.
Phil. That Roderick is a perfect villayne turn'd; For though he guided me unto his Tent And gave his liking that the Duke should dye, Yet how the villayne cryed to murder me! But come: in this confusion let's be gone, Tis dangerous to abide in Burbons Tent. Rodoricke, thou art the next must taste of death; That taske once done, we shall with little payne Our angry fathers reconcile agayne.
[Exeunt.
[SCENE 2.]
Alarum. Enter Navar, Bowyer, Nod, Core, Souldiers, [with] drum and colours.
Nav. The Alarum sounded in the enemies Campe; Now for Navar and Fame stand to it, sirs.
Bow. Hart, stand to it? heere's some of us knowes how to runne away and they be put to it. Though wee have left our brave Generall, the Earle of Pembrooke, yet here's Cavaliero Bowyer, Core and Nod, by Jesu, sound cards: and Mahound and Termagant[148] come against us, weele fight with them. Couragio, my hearts! S. George for the honour of England!
Nav. The adverse part comes on; fight gallantly.
Enter Fraunce, Flaunders and Souldiers, with Drum and Colours.
Lew. Is false Navar so thirsty to drinke bloud That he must joyne the Squadron of his troops Before the signall of the battel's given? Belike you thought to take us unpreparde. No, king: our wrong hangs like a watch before us, And makes us nomber every short-lyvd minute Till your lives answere for our Daughters death. Charge, brave spirits! Saint Denis now for Fraunce!
Nav. Saint Denis for Navar! Alarum, Drums!
Alarum: they fight, Fraunce put to the worst; enter Rodorike and Peter; the fight continued, and Navar driven in.
Lew. Navar and his weake forces make retire; Pursue them, Sirs, the victorie is ours.
Rod. Be like starv'd Lions 'mongst a heard of Beasts, Ruthelesse and bloudy; slaughter[149] all you meete Till proud Navar be slayn or kisse your feet. Saint Denis! and cry murder through the host!
Alarum. Enter Pembrooke, Ferdinand and Philip.
Pem. He that steps forward with a murdring thought, Marries him selfe to death. Fraunce, cease the fight: They are Frenchmen you pursue, Frenchmen you should save: Dig not for Traytors love your subjects graves.
Lew. What franticke knights are those that dare oppose Their single force against our multitudes?
Phil. Those that wish you and Fraunce bright fames encrease, So you would chase hence war and welcome peace.
Rod. That was the Traytor that slew royall Burbon.
Pet. Downe with the villaynes.
Rod. Souldiers, seyze on him And then pursue Navar with sudden death.
Ferd. Ere the least hayre fall from his kingly head, Rodorick, thy base trunck shall be butchered.
Pem. Will you accept of peace?
Lew. Follow Navar!
Pet. Downe with that murderer!
Fer. Zounds, then, in spight Weele save Navar and chase you hence in fight.
All. Ha, ha!
Pem. Nay, smile not; though our number's few Our great hearts tell us we shall conquere you. Alarum and S. George!
Alarum: they fight. Enter Navar and his forces, Fraunce chaste away.
Nav. Fraunce and his daunted forces gives us ground. Charge, charge agayne, and we are Conquerours.
Phil. Stand or ne're stirre agayne.
Nav. What meane these knights?
Pem. To stop your passage this way, great Navar. I charge thee by the duty of a king, Thy love to Justice and thy subjects lives, You sound retreat and make a peace with Fraunce.
Nav. A peace! and have the vantage of the day!
Bow. That's a tricke by Jesu to mocke an Ape: wee'le none of that.
Nav. Wee'le have no peace but what our swords can make. Follow the chase.
Phil. Are you growne insolent? For one light puffe of fortune proves it so? Nay, then our swords turn to your overthrow.
Alarum: they fight and drive in Navar.
Fer. That was my father that you fought against.
Phil. You did as much to mine.
Pem. Princes, agree: Force cannot end this war, but policy. Therefore disperse your selves, and let our Squires With Trumpets in their mouthes sound lowd retreat Where you perceive the fight most violent. The strangenesse of which act will straight amaze; When they shall heare both peace and war denounc'd, And one selfe instant, they will soone retire To know the issue. Princes, fall to worke, Tis worke of charity; 'twould doe me good If we could end this battell without bloud.
Fer. I hope we shall: farewell, Ile to my charge.
Pem. The like will Pembrooke.
Phil. Philip is not last: Yet, though I seeke the safety of my friends, Rodorick shall lose his bloud e're this fight ends.
Alarum; excursions. Enter Peter leading Thomasin.
Pet. Struggle not, strive not; your sweete heart Bowyer cannot save you. Without prolixity you must goe with mee.
Tho. Helpe, helpe.
Pet. And the God of warre come in thy defence my humour is to kill him. Come away.
Enter Bowyer.
Bow. By Jesu, and you go this way you must pay custom. Zounds, you pick-hatch[150] Cavaliero petticote-monger, can you find time to be catching Thomasin? come, deliver, or by Zenacrib & the life of king Charlimayne, Ile thrash your coxcombe as they doe hennes at Shrovetyde[151]. No, will you not doe, you Tan-fat? Zounds, then have at you.
They fight, Bowyer hath the wench, rescued by Fraunce, recovered by Navar. Philip meetes Rodorick, rescued by Peter. Retreat is sounded, the enemies begin to retire, Rodorick chased by Philip. Enter at severall doores, after retreate sounded, Pembrooke and Ferdinand.
Ferd. Are the Kings severd? will they bow to peace?
Pemb. Peace is a welcome ghest unto their hearts, But Rodoricke (like a greedy envious churle Fearing to spend his wealth) still keeps them backe. Tis he exasperates the Princes hate, And when our Trumpets call them to retyre He with warres clangor sets them on agayne. Unless he be remoov'd our labour's lost.
Ferd. It shall not, for Ile seek him through the Host And with this sword pare off the Traytors head.
Pem. Doe, and Ile scoure these ranks: if Pembroks eye Encounters his, he meets his Tragedy.
Alarum. Enter Philip pursuing Rodoricke.
Phil. Stay, warlike friends, and ayd me in revenge.
Ferd. That is Rodoricke.
Pem. Heere's the Traytor, strike him downe.
Phil. Who lifts his arme at him strikes at my brest.
Rod. Why have you thus ring'd me about with swords?
Phil. To shew thee thou must dye.
Rod. What have I done That thus you labour my destruction?
Pem. Thou wer't a party in all Burbons wrongs.
Ferd. Falsely term'd Ferdinand a Ravisher.
Pem. Set discord 'twixt these kings.
Phil. Practised my death.
Pem. Villayne for this our swords shall stop thy breath.
Ferd. Stand not to argue, let's all runne at him.
Phil. Now as you love my love or prize mine honour, Touch not the Traytor; he is Philips foe, And none but I must work his overthrow. Thrice in the battell he was rescued from me, But now hee's fallen into the Lyons paw From whence the whole world cannot ransome him. Preservers of my life, heroick friends, Be you my safety; keepe the souldyers off, Whilst in the midst by fayre and equall fight I send this Traytor to eternal night.
Ferd. By heaven agreed.
Pem. Heere Pembrooke takes his stand: Come Fraunce and all the world, I will not start Till Philips knightly sword pierce Rodoricks hart.
Rod. Accurst, I am betrayd, incompast round; Now lyfe and hope and state must kisse the ground.
Phil. Rodorick, thou seest, all wayes are stopt to flie; Be desperat then, fight bravely, and so die.
Alarum: they fight. Enter to Pembrooke Navar, Bowyer, and Souldiers: to Ferdinand Fraunce, Flaunders, and Souldiers: they fight and keepe them backe. Rodoricke would scape; still kept in the midst, and kild by Philip.
Phil. Now are his trecheries repaid with death. Philip and Pembrooke, sound your retreats With better hope; in him all hatred ends: The kings will now love peace and soone be friends.
Exeunt. Enter Peter wounded, Bowyer following.
Bow. Zounds, never runne for the matter; a scratcht face can not serve your turne, we must have bloudy noses. Stand on your gard; and I do not make haggasse puddings of your guttes, Ile never dominier in the long Alleyes agayne.
Pet. Cymnel, Ile crack you for this. Ile teach you to deale with Peter de Lions, and that without prolixitie.
Bow. Do; have at you in earnest. S. George, you rogue!
Alarum; fight. Bowyer kills him.
Bow. So, there's for your prolixities, there's for Thomasin. The Thornbackly slave! and he were made of anything but gristles, I am a pumpian. 'Shart he had no mettle in him; yet how the villayne crak't[152] and dominierd when he was living: ah, sirra, never gryn for the matter, tis Captayne Bowyer that speaks it. When thou meetst the great Devill, commend me to him and say I sent him thee for a new years gift. And there's one Sarlaboys to, as arrant a blood-sucker and as notable a coward as ever drew weapon in a bawdy house, he carryes my marke about him. If Dicke Bowyer be not writ a bountifull benefactor in hell for my good deeds in sending thither such Cannibals, I am a rabbit sucker[153]: yet I scorne to vaunt of my deeds, too. They sound a retreat. Farewell, Peter, and learne hereafter what it is to be rivall to an English gentleman, Cavaliero Bowyer, one of the nine worthyes.
A retreyt. Enter at one dore Fraunce, Flaunders, and Souldiers: at the other dore Navar, Bowyer and Souldiers.
Lew. Navar, why have you sounded a retreyt? Will your proud heart decline and call us lord?
Nav. We thought by the faynt language of your drums Fraunce would have knowne his errour and beg'd peace.
Lew. Fraunce beg a peace!
Nav. Navar call you his Lord!
Flan. Why did you cease the fight and sound retreat.
Bow. Not we by this beard, not we by the life of Pharo[154].
Nav. Your Trumpets, guided by your faynting breath, Dehorted us from war and sounded peace.
Lew. Navar derides us.
Nav. Fraunce, tis you that doo't.
Lew. Sound war and bravely let us once more too't.
Enter in the Middest Pembrooke, Ferdinand and Philip.
Pem. Kings of Navar and Fraunce, why doe you thus With civill butchery wound this blessed land, Which like a mother from her melting eyes Sheds crimson teares to see you enemyes? Lewes of Fraunce, wherein hath great Navar Dangerd your state that you should prosecute War with her largest ruine? how hath Fraunce Sowed such inveterate hate within your brest That to confound him you will undergoe The orphans curse, the widdowes teares and cries Whose husbands in these warres have lost their lives? Ere you contend discourse your grievances.
Lew. False Ferdinand, his sonne, ravisht our child.
Ferd. Now by my knighthood, honor, and this gage, Fraunce, Ile approve you wrong that Ferdinand.
Phil. Who can accuse him?
Lew. That did Rodorick.
Pem. That Traytor for a deed so false, so foule, Hath answerd it by this even with his soule.
Nav. Our sonne and valours bloome, th[e] English Pembrooke, By Lewes treachery were butchered.
Phil. Were the whole world joynd in so false a thing, Alone Ide combat all and cleere the King.
Pem. Fraunce never had designe in their two deaths.
Nav. He leagu'd with Burbon that destroyd my child.
Lew. He poysoned her deservedly.
Phil. That deed of shame Cut off his life and raced out Burbons name.
Lew. His death shalbe thy death, for thy hand slue him.
Nav. This other in the battell twice to day Made us retire. Fraunce, shall we joyne in league Till we have veng'd our malice on these knights?
Lew. Navar, agreed. Souldiers, this kyld your Lords.
Nav. And this our fame. Let's mangle them with swords.
Pem. Take truce a while with rage: heare what we'le urge. This knight slew Burbon, this inforst you fly; Therefore you hate them and for hate they die. Since then true vertue is disfigured, Desert trod downe, and their heroick worth In justice doomd on Traytors merits Death, Behold these two, which thousands could not daunt, But your ingratitude, on bended knee Yeeld up their swoords to bide your tyranny. 'Twas he kild Burbon; if you love him dead, Shew it by paring off this valiant head: Do you the like. To this revenge apace: They feare not threats, and scorne to beg for grace.
Lew. And they shall find none.
Nav. Knights, tryumph in death: We are your headesmen, kings shall stop your breath.
They take off their helmets.
Lew. Philip, my sonne!
Nav. Young Ferdinand my joy!
Pem. Call them not sonnes, whom you would fayne destroy.
Nav. Hold not our age too long in deepe suspect. Art thou [my] Ferdinand?
Lew. And thou [my] Philip?
Ferd. We are the friendly sonnes of adverse parents, Your long lost children: though supposed slayne, We live and come to joy your age agayne.
Nav. Welcome all earthly blisse.
Lew. Welcome, deare child; Thy presence halfe our sorrow hath exil'd.
Pem. How soon this Scene is changd! those that even now Were sworne warres servants now to peace do bow: Then, Pembrooke, strive to make their joys more full. See, kingly father to that princely sonne, Pembrooke, the hated murderer of his friend, Pembrooke, that did devide thee from his sight And cut so many passages of death In his indeared bosome, humbly thus Forgets his honour and from your hye hand Invokes revenge for wounding Ferdinand.
Ferd. Still he surmounts me in an honour'd love. Rise, friend, or if thou striv'st to have the world, In me as in a glasse see a false friend. Behold, I kneele and here proclayme to all My friendship's broke but thine substantiall.
Nav. Model of vertue, honord Pembroks Earle, Rise in as deare regard as Ferdinand. Oh had I Bellamira once in hold, Age would turne youth & I should ne're be old.
Lew. Had I my Katharina once agayne Our joy were then stretcht to the highest strayne: But she was ravisht and then murthered.
Phil. Beare not that hard opinion: Rodoricks toung Slaundred that Prince and did his vertue wrong.
Pem. Lewis of Fraunce, heare what an English Earle Speaks in the front and view of all thy Host. If ever Ferdinand staynd Katharines honour I was a party: yet in all your Campe Who dares step forth and call me ravisher? No, Fraunce: know Pembroke is an Englishman Highly deriv'd, yet higher in my thoughts; And for to register mine acts in brasse, Which all-devouring time shall ne're race out, Have I through all the Courts of Christendome In knightly tryall prov'd my vertue sound, Raisd England's fame aloft; and shall I now In her next continent, her neighbour Realme, Fraunce, on whose bosome I may stand and see That blessed soyle that bred and fostred me, Soyle all my late got honour to consent Unto a royall Princes ravishment? Ide sooner from a mountayne cast my selfe, Or from a hungry Lyon teare his prey, Then dare to act a deed so infamous.
Enter Katharina.
But words are ayre. Lewis, behold this face: This prooves our honour cleere from all disgrace.
Lew. My Katharine!
Phil. My deare Sister!
Fer. My fayre Love!
Pem. See, Princes, loves effect: she flies your hand To live imbrac't with her deare Ferdinand.
Lew. And heaven forbid that we should sunder them. Navar, reach me thy hand: grym war is fled And peace shall end the same in a nuptiall bed. Sonne Philip, ratify your sisters choyce.
Phil. Even with my soule; for ever live you blest. Oh, Bellamira, had not cursed Burbon For beauty robd thy cheeks with leprosie, Hadst then but stayd with me, as is their state, So had bin mine, happy and fortunate.
Enter Clowne attyred like a Gentleman, Bellamira following with a Scarfe on her face.
Clow. By your leave, sweet blouds: may a Gentleman or so deceyve two or three ounces of words in this assembly?
Lew. You may.
Clow. Is there not a young Kings sonne amongst you, who treading the steps of his father is called Philip.
Phil. I am the man thou seekst.
Clow. Then the old saying is verified, He that seeks shall find. Heere is a poore kinswoman of mine would desire some private conference with you, or so.
Phil. With me?—whom see I? Bellamira!
Nav. Daughter!
Phil. Do not deride my woes; speake, speake, I pray.
Pem. Looke not so strange; it is thy lovely Love Thus manag'd to approve thy constancy. Embrace her then: and now Navar and Fraunce, Here end our strife and let all hatred fall And turne this warre to Hymens festivall.
Nav. This Pembrooks counsell we subscribe unto.
Lew. The like doth Fraunce. Lovers, imbrace your loves And, Captaines, joyne your bands; mix power with power And let those swords, which late were drawne for death, Sleepe in their sheaths. You, worthy Pembrooke[155], And all your followers, shall receyve our favours In plenteous largesse. So, set on to Court; Sound Drums and Trumpets, deafe the ayre with cryes, And fill eche subjects heart with joyes increase T'applaud our childrens love and this dayes peace.
[Exeunt.
FINIS.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] 4tos. Will.
[2] References to the lapwing's subtlety are very common. Cf. Shakesp., Measure for Measure, i. 4, 32, &c.
[3] An old game at cards; it is supposed to have resembled cribbage.
[4] "To make ready," meaning "to dress," is a very common expression in old authors.
[5] An obvious reference to Queen Elizabeth.
[6] So Elbow:—"My wife, Sir, whom I detest before heaven and your honour," &c. (M. for M., II. 1).
[7] Ovid, Metamorph. I. 1.
[8] People who walk with mincing steps. I have not met the word elsewhere. (Cf. dancitive, p. 31.)
[9] A beggar (Ital. besogno) Vid. Dyce's Glossary under "Besonian".
[10] "Knight of the post" was the name given to those who gained their living by giving false evidence at law-courts. Nares quotes from Nash's "Pierce Pennilesse":—"A knight of the post, quoth he, for so I am tearmed: a fellow that will swear any thing for twelve pence."
[11] Cf. Lear, iii. 2. Vaunt-curriors to oak-cleaving thunder-bolts. (First folio.)
[12] "Division" was a technical term in music for "the running a simple strain into a great variety of shorter notes to the same modulation" (Nares). The "plain song" was the simple air without variations.
[13] Sir Thomas Overbury says, in his character of 'A very woman,' that 'her lightnesse gets her to swim at top of the table, where her wee little finger bewraies carving'.
[14] 4tos. Ladies.
[15] 4tos. Eternesses.
[16] To do anything with 'a wet finger' is to do it easily. 'It seems not very improbable that it alluded to the vulgar and very inelegant custom of wetting the finger to turn over a book with more ease.'—Nares.
[17] Ov. Metam. I., ll. 322-23.
[18] Ed. 1606, one; ed. 1636, on.
[19] The 1606 ed. marks "Exit" Penelope.
[20] Here Momford retires to the back of the stage, where Clarence is waiting. The 4tos. mark "Exit." I thought the lines "Mens est," etc., were Horace's, but cannot find them. "Menternque" destroys sense and metre. An obvious correction would be "et nomen."
[21] "Falsus honos juvat, et mendax infamia terret Quem, nisi mendosum et medicandum." Hor. Ep. l. 16, ll. 39, 40.
[22] A card that cools a player's courage (I. Hy. VI., v. 3, 1. 83, &c.).
[23] The "Family of Love" was the name given to a fanatical sect; David George, of Delph (obiit 1556), was the founder.
[24] The reference is to the visit of the Marechal de Biron and his suite in the autumn of 1601.
[25] 4tos. Foul.
[26] Pick-thatcht, ed. 1606.
[27] A term in card-playing; to "vie" was to cover a stake.
[28] The name of a famous bear. Cf. Epigrams by J. D.—
"Leaving old Plowden, Dyer and Brooke alone, To see old Harry Hankes and Sacarson."
Master Slender ("Merry Wives," I. 1) told Anne Page: "I have seen Sackarson loose twenty times and have taken him by the chain."
[29] 4tos. King.
[30] The reference is, I suppose, to Roger Bacon's "Libellus de retardandis Senectutis accidentibus et de sensibus conservandis. Oxoniae, 1590."
[31] Quy. inframed (F.G. Fleay).
[32] Ed. 1636, "state."
[33] Ed. 1636 makes sad work of the text here:—
"Merry clad in inke, Is but a manner" &c.
[34] Quy. thridlesse (sc. that cannot be pierced). Mr. Fleay suggests "rimelesse."
[35] Ed. 1636 reads "antheame."
[36] "White-boy" was a common term of endearment for a favourite son.
[37] Quy., hot.
[38] i.e., companions.
[39] Doubtless the writer was thinking of Dogberry's "Comparisons are odorous."
[40] A pun is intended. "Cast of merlins" = a flight of merlins (small hawks); and "cast-of" = cast-off.
[41] "Foisting-hound." A small lap-dog with an evil smell, "Catellus graveolens."
[42] The 'clap-dish' which beggars used to beat in order to attract the attention of the charitable.
[43] Both quartos give "all."
[44] Ovid, Metam., I., 523.
[45] Ed. 1606: Antevenit sortem moribus.
[46] 4tos. weend.
[47] "That most lovely and fervid of all imaginative panegyrics."—Swinburne's "Study of Shakespeare," p. 141.
[48] "Dr. Dodypoll" is a very rare play, to be found only in the libraries of wealthy collectors. The copy in the library of the British Museum is catalogued as "imperfect; wanting Sig. A 2"; but it corresponds in all respects with Mr. Huth's. Perhaps an "Address to the Reader," or a "Dedication" was cancelled.
[49] Before the reader goes further, let him turn to Sonnet xvii. in Mr. Swinburne's series of "Sonnets on English Dramatic Poets."
[50] The author was doubtless thinking of Romeo and Juliet, iii. 2:—
"And when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, And he will make the face of heaven so fine, That all the world will be in love with night, And pay no worship to the garish sun."
[51] 4to. Form.
[52] 4to. adorning. Possibly there is the same confusion in Antony and Cleopatra, ii. 2:—"And made their bends adornings."
[53] See notes of the commentators on Hamlet, i. 1, 165, "Then no planets strike."
[54] See the commentators on As You Like It, iii. 2. "I was never so be-rhymed since Pythagoras's time that I was an Irish rat." A short time ago the subject of "rhyming rats to death" was discussed anew in "Notes and Queries."
[55] Qto. cockfromb in cony. The word "incony" (meaning sweet, delicate) occurs twice in Love's Labour Lost. Its derivation is uncertain.
[56] 4to. With.
[57] This word is found in Holland's "Ammianus" and Harrington's "Epigrams" (see Nares' "Glossary," ed. Halliwell). A similar compound (of more common occurrence) is "smell-smock."
[58] The reader will remember the punning lines in 3 Henry VI., v. 1:—
"Why, what a peevish fool was that of Crete, That taught his son the office of a fowl! And yet, for all his wings, the fool was drown'd."
[59] 4to. Wilt it.
[60] 4to. Flor.
[61] A perfume-ball worn round the neck or carried in the pocket.
[62] The trials of the Scotch witches in 1590 (for practising to shipwreck James VI. on his return with his bride from Denmark) were too horrible to be soon forgotten.
[63] 4to Ape.
[64] Quy. cliffe.
[65] I suspect that we should read—
"What rock hath bred this savage-minded man That such true love in such rare beautie shuns?"
[66] 4to. clime.
[67] Quy. lead.
[68] 4to. Alp.
[69] Vide note on vol. I, p. 117.
[70] The direction in the 4to is "Enter Flores and Homer!"
[71] Vide note [16].
[72] 4to. craines.
[73] Compare Midsummer Nights Dream, ii. 1, 15: "And hang a pearl on every cowslip's ear."
[74] 4to. where.
[75] Not marked in the 4to.
[76] 4to. rake.
[77] 4to. Sorrowed tired.
[78] The 4to prints the lines thus:—
"Where since he found you not, He asked of me the place of your abode,— And heere I have brought him?"
In other passages I have restored the metre silently.
[79] Qto. visition.
[80] I regret to say that Mr. Fleay was misled by a mistake of mine. In my first hasty reading of the play I took the long double "s" to be a double "f": the character is "La Busse."
[81] Mr. C.H. Herford, to whom I showed the MS., writes as follows:— "The first two words make it highly probable that the whole inscription is, like them, in Italian. In that case the first two Greek letters give very easily the word 'fidelta' (=phi, delta), which combines naturally with the nella. The second part is more difficult, but perhaps not hopeless. [Greek: fnr] may, perhaps be read phi ny (as Latinised spelling of [Greek: nu]), ro, or finiro. Then, for the 'La B.,' suppose that the words form, as emblems often do, a rhymed couplet; then 'B.' would stand for Belta, and naturally fall in with 'la.' The whole would then read—
'Nella fidelta, Finiro la Belta.
This does not seem to me very excellent Italian, but we need not suppose the author was necessarily a good scholar; and in that case we might extract from it the fairly good sense: 'I will make fidelity the end (the accomplishment) of beauty.'" This explanation seems to me very satisfactory.
["'La Bussa' suits my explanation as well as, if not better than 'La Buffa.' The meaning now is, 'I will end my task faithfully, with an equivoque on 'I will end La Busse, or the play containing him as a character, faithfully.' There is no shadow of reason for supposing a rhyme, or for Field's thinking that any reader would interpret La B. by la belta. Moreover no other name but Field's out of the 200 known names of dramatic writers anterior to 1640, can be found in the letters. There are other works of Field than those commonly attributed to him still extant, as will be seen in a forthcoming paper of mine." —F.G. FLEAY.]
[82] So the MS., but I suspect that we should read "ruyne," which gives better sense and better metre.
[83] The next line, as in many instances, has been cut away at the foot of the page.
[84] "The close contriver of all harms."—Macbeth, iii. 5.
[85] "The glow-worm shows the matin to be near, And 'gins to pale his uneffectual fire."—Hamlet, i. 5.
[86] "Blacke and blewe," i.e., first as a kitchen-drudge and afterwards as a personal attendant. Blue was the livery of serving-men.
[87] It is not always easy to distinguish between final "s" and "e" in the MS. I printed "blesseinge" in the Appendix to vol. II.
[88] Devices on shields.
[89] A baser sort of hawk (kestrel).
[90] A word before or after "thys" seems wanted to complete the line: "yet, Richard, thys;" or, "yet thys disgrace."
[91] Gervase Markham in the Second Part (cap. vi.) of the "English Husbandman" gives the following explanation of the term plashing.—"This plashing is a halfe cutting or deviding of the quicke growth, almost to the outward barke, and then laying it orderly in a sloape manner, as you see a cunning hedger lay a dead hedge, and then with the smaller and more plyant branches to wreathe and binde in the tops, making a fence as strong as a wall, for the root which is more then halfe cut in sunder, putting forth new branches which runne and entangle themselves amongst the old stockes, doe so thicken and fortifie the Hedge that it is against the force of beasts impregnable" (ed. 1635, pp. 68-9).
[92] The first five lines of this speech are crossed through in the MS.
[93] In the MS. "reverend prelats" is crossed out and "preists" written above. To make sure that the correction was understood, the author or reviser has written in the left-hand margin, "read preists."
[94] i.e., star.
[95] "Brawl" was the name of a dance.
[96] Old terms in the art of fencing.
[97] In Halliwell's "Nares" two instances of the transitive use of stoop ("to lower, humiliate") are given, and both are from Chapman.
[98] On the upper stage, a balcony raised a few feet from the ground. Cf. stage-direction in Day's Humour out of Breath, iv. 3. "Enter Aspero, like Hortensio, Florimell, and Assistance on the upper stage." Later in the same scene: "They renew Blind mans Buff on the Lower stage." See also Dyce's note on Middleton's Family of Love, i. 3.
[99] A correction in the MS. for Musquett.
[100] In the Appendix to Vol. II. I printed "misse"; and so one would naturally read the word before becoming thoroughly acquainted with the handwriting.
[101] The words "so begett" are repeated in the MS.
[102] i.e. prisons.
[103] MS. good.
[104] The expression "Fool's paradise" was common long before Milton used it. A writer in Notes and Queries (Jan. 7, 1882) gives instances of its occurrence in Udall's "Apophthegmes of Erasmus," 1542. I have met it in Bullein's "Dialogue against the Fever Pestilence," 1564.
[105] For the spelling cf., Vol. ii. pp. 139 (l. 14), 179 (l. 12). "Diety" for "deity" is not uncommon in print as well as MS.; cf., Saltonstall's translation of Ovid's "Ars Amoris," 1639, p. 14:—
"Oft pray'd she to the gods, but all in vaine, To appease their Dieties with blood of beasts thus slaine."
[106] In the MS. these lines are scored through.
[107] The juxtaposition of this anagram with the preceding motto (which did not appear in the Appendix to Vol. ii.) strongly confirms my interpretation of La B. as la bussa; for the anagram is a kind of paraphrase on the motto, and should be read doubly in this way: Nataniele Field, il fabro, Nella fidelta finiro la Bussa. I, Nathaniel Field, the author will finish the work (terminat auctor opus) faithfully (i.e., at the time appointed, terminat hora diem). —F.G. Fleay.
["Terminat hora" &c. or some similar tag, is frequently found at the end of old plays. I cannot see that Mr. Fleay's interpretation is strongly confirmed,—or affected at all,—by the presence of the motto.]
[108] See Henslowe's Diary, ed. Collier, p. 220:—"Lent unto Thomas Downton the 4 of maye 1602 to bye a boocke of harye Cheattell and Mr. Smyth called the Love partes frenship the some of" ... ...
[109] King John, i. 2.—"And now instead of bullets wrapt in fire."
[110] Another form of the apologetical expression "save-reverence."
[111] i.e. cheated, cozened.
[112] An echo from "King John," I. 2:—
"And now instead of bullets wrapt in fire To make a shaking fever of your walls," &c.
[113] A common proverbial expression. The dish is the wooden "clap-dish" on which beggars clattered to attract attention.
[114] I should prefer "true heart his loyalty"—for the metre's sake.
[115] 4to. staffe.
[116] 4to. strayne.
[117] 4to. his passions.
[118] "A corrupt oath, the origin of which is obscure and not worth inquiring."—Nares.
[119] The author certainly had in his mind Falstaff's puns on the names of the recruits, Mouldy, Shadow, &c. (ii. Henry IV. iii. 2).
[120] An extemporal play by the famous Richard Tarleton. The "plat" is preserved at Dulwich College. See Collier's "Hist. of Dramatic Poetry," iii. 394 (first edition).
[121] So the 4to, but I should prefer "So I have discharg'd myselfe of these hot-shots." The term "hot-shot" seems to have been originally applied to sharp-shooters.
[122] i.e., maid: an East-Anglian usage of the word "mother." See Forby's "Vocabulary of East Anglia." "Mauther" is the commoner form (found in Ben Jonson and others), but "mother" occurs in Chettle and Day's Blind Beggar and elsewhere.
[123] I find this expression of feminine impatience in Dekker's Honest Whore (Dramatic Works, ii. 26):—"Marry muffe, sir, are you growne so dainty!"
[124] Let me understand you. The expression is of constant occurrence.
[125] A term of contempt like "pilchard" and "poor John." "Haberdine" was the name for an inferior kind of cod used for salting.
[126] So Pistol, "A foutre for the world, and worldlings base!" "A foutre for thine office!" ii. Henry IV. v. 3.
[127] Verjuice was made by pounding crab-apples.
[128] Kite.
[129] Dingy. "Russet" or "russeting" was the name of the coarse brown dress worn by shepherds.
[130] In Henry V., iv. 1, Pistol accosts the king with "Che vous la?" according to the first folio. Modern editors correct the intentional blunder.
[131] To "outface with a card of ten" was just what we mean by "browbeat." The expression (which is very common) was no doubt drawn from the game of primero.
[132] Old spelling of "pumpkin."
[133] The officer of lowest rank (now called "lance corporal").
[134] Quart d'ecu.
[135] Cf. Day's Ile of Guls, ii. 2:—
"But forresters, like images, set forth The tyrannie of greatness without pittie."
Everybody remembers Jaques' moralising in As You Like It, ii. 1.
[136] Cf. Day's Humour out of Breath, I. 2:—"Deceive the watry subjects."
[137] To "kill with kindness" was a proverbial saying.
[138] A falconer's term: to flap the wings when preparing for flight.
[139] A giant who was conquered by Sir Bevis of Southampton. See notes of the commentators on 2 Henry VI., ii. 3: "Therefore, Peter, have at thee with a downright blow, as Bevis of Southampton fell upon Ascapart."
[140] i.e., a vain boaster. "Puckfist" is the fungus commonly known as "puff-ball."
[141] "Carbonade. A carbonado, a rasher on the coals."—COTGRAVE.
[142] Cf. Antony and Cleopatra, i. 3:—
"Upon your sword sit laurel victory."
The form of expression is common. Cf. Knight of Malta, iv. 2 (Fletcher's portion):—
"Art thou a knight? did ever on that sword The Christian cause sit nobly?"
I make this note because I find Mr. G.C. Macaulay, in his interesting "Study of Francis Beaumont," choosing the words, "Victory sits on his sword" (Maid's Tragedy, i. 1), as one of the "special passages which suggest imitation, conscious or unconscious," of Shakespeare.
[143] 4to. honord. The correction (which would occur to most readers) is made by Dyce on the fly-leaf of his copy in the Dyce and Forster Library.
[144] If we retain "unscorcht" we must suppose the construction to be proleptic. But quy. "sun-scorcht."
[145] The stage-direction is my own.
[146] Ink-stand (more commonly "standish").
[147] Plan, design. Cf. Arden of Feversham, ii. 1. "And I will lay the platform of his death."
[148] "Termagant" or "Trivigant" is often coupled with "Mahound." Cf. "Faery Queene," vi. 7. (47):—
"And oftentimes by Termagant and Mahound swore."
Our ancestors were not accustomed to draw fine distinctions. They regarded Mohammedans as heathens, and Termagant and Mahound as false gods.
[149] 4to. Ruthelesse and bloudy slaughters.
[150] "Pickt-hatch" was a notorious brothel in or near Turnbull Street.
[151] See Strutt's "Sports and Pastimes," p. 212 (ed. 1801).
[152] Swaggered, crowed.
[153] i.e. sucking rabbit. So Falstaff,—"Hang me up by the heels for a rabbit sucker" (I Henry IV., ii. 4).
[154] A variation of Bobadil's oath "By the foot of Pharaoh."
[155] For the sake of the metre I should like to read "You, Pembrooke, worthy knight."
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