Don. No matter for properties-24 We'll imagine, madam, you have a beard. Fid. What shall I play? Don. You must be ladies, whom the king leaves to keep her company; entertain what humour you please. Cas. and Kath. This is our own parts indeed. Don. You will play it the more natural, and let me alone to play the Thunderer, I'll wanton Jove it -now whet your inventions and about it, immagine our scene expressed, and the New-prison, the title advanced in form. Eug. The New-prison! why? Don. O'tis an excellent name, where spectators throng together, as ours do methinks in the arras already; the music have their part. Dispose yourselves for your entrances, while I speak the prologue to our mixed audience of silk and crewel gentlemen 25 in the hangings.-Hem. Kath. Let it be a confident prologue howso[Music. Don. Ye are welcome to New-prison; we have ever. still Our ancient keeper, and we fear he will are Judicious hangings, and well seen; nor dare Eug. Was ever father to his child I see every other creature, Don. This is excellent; she has played the part before. Cas. Waste not yourself in woeful plaint, That we are in-Now I am out-beam, cream; to't. Don. Cream is as good a rhyme as your mouth can wish; ha, ha, ha'! Cas. Does not the arras laugh at me? it shakes, methinks. Kath. It cannot chuse, there's one behind does tickle it. Eug. A dream! alas, 'tis no relief Kath. The sun with glittering golden rays, Mar. Winter and summer! by my faith that's well, there's but half a year between; there be some call themselves pocts, make their rhymes straddle so wide, a twelvemonth will hardly reconcile them, and I hope, a lady may straddle a little by poetical licence. Cas. Madam, your father, king Acrisius. Don. The king speaks through a trunk. Mar. How is't, heroic birth? what dulness, cold As Saturn's, dwells on thy forehead? be bold' To give thy grief a tongue; instruct, child, My paternal nature, lest I grow wild As the rude north-thought of thee makes my hairs Silver, my blood is curdied with my cares. Don. Most high and mighty nonsense! sure the king has swallowed pills, and his stomach, not able to digest them, does vomit them up again. Mar. Is thy organ dumb, Or am I grown cheap in majesty? trivial fool, Shall I reap crabbed thistles in neglect for rich love? Cas. Crabbed language, I am sure. Don. Sure my lady does not understand him? Eug. If my brow so sad appear, My fortune's livery I wear. Mur. Weep no more, thy eyes pave the ground with pearl. My power is raised, my crown thy tribute, girl, Here is nothing to want. Eug. Nothing to want, indeed? to be A prisoner speaks all misery. Mar. Curse not thy soft stars, but take thy fair bliss With comfort: free from loud noise and fear is 24 Properties, in the language of the playhouse, are every implement necessary to the exhibition. See notes by Dr Johnson and Mr Stevens to The taming of the Shrew, Induction. 25 Silk and crewel gentlemen.—Crewel is worsted. See note on King Lear, A. ?. §. 4. vol. 9, p. 428. edit. 1778. S. 12 Thy gaudy station. When I have unscrewed If aught else do clog thy thoughts with unkind Cas. Let him chuse his rhyme, I beseech you, madam. Mar. Uh, uh-cold phlegm obstructs my language-barling, carling. Don. Ha, ha, 'tis time to make an end, He was almost choked with his own phrase. Mar. And you get me to play an old man again Don. We'll have a young one for thee; twentyone and a coat, is a double game--my turn comes next. Eug. He's gone, and leaveth us behind, What dark and heavy cloud doth sit, Enter JUPITER. Cas. This was well passionated: now comes Jupiter, to take my lady napping; we'll sleep too: let the wanton have her swing, would she were a man for her sake. Jup. Let the music of the spheres When Elysium is within. Leave off then these flattering kisses, [Bell within. To rifle other greater blisses. Eug. The bell--news from my father. - Cas. Then your play is interrupted JoveMadam, I'll see. Don. Beshrew the bell-man; and you had not waked as you did, madam, I should ha' forgot myself, and played Jupiter indeed with you; my imaginations were strong upon me, and you lay Sweetly---how now? Cas. A present, madam, from the duke: one of the finest pieces of pageantry that e'er you saw : 'tis a cage with variety of birds in it: it moves on wheels. Your assistance, ladies, to bring it in. Eug. A cage--if from Florence, it shall to the fire, Or whence soe'er: it cannot be intended Don. Twere pity, madam, to destroy so much art. Eug. Yet spare the workmanship, in the perusal There's something pleads for mercy :--I feel within Some alteration, I know not what; Let me intreat your absence for some minutes; I am in earnest, pray do, without reply. Your eyes shall feed with plenteous satisfaction On this gay object, when I call you. So Ladies. We obey you. [Exeunt. Eug. Yet can't I say I am alone, that have I know yon nightingale is not long lived. Rol. I take you at your word, fair princess, I am the truest prisoner: tremble not, Fear 'flies the noble mind, for injury dares not And none shall perish: you shall save him too That would for your sake lose himself for ever. Eug. For my sake? what relation has my birth, Or any passion I call mine, to you? Rol. Nor doom me unto scorn; I am a gentle man; And when my inimitable resolution In those attempts whose very sound breeds earthquakes In other hearers, shall your knowledge fill Than death, dear princess, to adventure hither? Rol You're deceived, lady. Eug. How I am perplexed! Rol. It had been death; Your sight gives me a lease of longer life, My head stands fast. Fair opportunity waits upon your pleasure; My safest way is yours now to conceal me, Eug. Bold villain, For these uncivil, most unhallowed words, Rol. Stay, and let me circle in mine arms Eug. He speaks all mystery; I sha'not get him I am the prince of Florence, that owe heaven off, More for thy virtues, than his own creation. Eug. Ha, the prince of Florence? Rol. I ha' made no travail for so rich a blessing; Turn me to pilgrimage, divinest beauty, Eug. Purchase!---I am not bought and sold, [ hope? Rol. Give it what name you will, you're mine, Eugenia. Eug. Your's, prince? I do not know by what title you pretend this claim; I never yet remem ber that I saw you; And, if I had any interest in myself, Rol. 'Tis firm between our fathers. -Good Eug. Shall not, prince: 'tis not your travail and your trouble, With this conceit to boot, were it your own Rol. Is it my person, madam, 26 And when I ha' put a girdle 'bout the world.-This expression seems to have been proverbial. See Mr Steevens's note on Midsummer Night's Dream, A. 2. S. 2. You hold unworthy? For my birth and fortune Cannot deserve your scorn. Το Eug. It takes not from The greatness of your state, or blood, my lord, I have but one faith, one love, and though my father Lock up my person, 'tis beyond his will For when I give my heart to any other Rol. If you'll not pardon, I'll deliver up Philenzo to be punished for this trial.---See, lady. Eug. My dear banished Philenzo! Rol. O let not such a glorious building stoop; It is my duty. Eug. I will make it mine. Rol. I have a double duty, for I owe Your constancy as much respect and reverence, As your most princely person. Eug. What, for our safety? Rol. Oh with what willingness could I be lost In this distracted wilderness of joy! To-morrow, madam, I go to my arraignment. Eug. How? Rol. Spend no fear upon't, Your story shall be pleasing :---I ha' much Eug. They are mine, what should our innocence Rol. It attends. The story past, we must some counsel find; [He discovers himself. The puzzle of our fate is still behind. SCENE I. ACT V. Enter DONDOLO, MORELLO, and GRUTTI. Dond. We are sorry we gave thee distaste; come, let's be friends; you did apprehend too nicely. Morel. Nicely? it might ha' been your own case. Grut. Come, you were unkind to rub us before the Duke so. Morel. Be wise hereafter, and make the fool your friend; 'tis many an honest man's case at court. It is safer to displease the Duke than his jester every sentence the one speaks, flatterers make an oracle; but let the impudent fool bark never so absurdly, other men ha' the wit to make a jest on't; 'tis policy in state to maintain a fool at court, to teach great men discretion. Dond. and Grut. Great men! we are none. Morel. No, but you may be, by the length of your wit, and shortness of your memory; for if you have but wit enough to do mischief, and oblivion enough to forget good turns, you may come to great places in time; keep a fool o' your own, and then you are made Dond. Made! what? Morel. Cuckolds, if my lady take a liking to the innocent, 27 O your fool is an excellent fellow upon all occasions, SONG. Among all sorts of people, The matter if we look well to, [Exeunt. The fool is the best; he from the rest All places he is free of, And fools it without blushing. At masks and plays, is not the bays Thrust out, to let the plush in? Your fool is fine, he's merry, And of all men doth fear least; At every word he jests with my lord, And tickles my lady in earnest : The fool doth pass the guard now, He'll kiss his hand and leg it; When wise men prate, and forfeit their state, Who but the fine fool will beg it? He without fear can walk in The streets that are so stony; Your gallant sneaks, your merchant breaks, He's a fool that does owe no money. Enter ROLLIARDO. Rol. The Duke, where is the Duke? Morel. He's forthcoming; there's no more money i'the exchequer. Rol. I come to give up my accounts, and reckon with him; somebody tell him so. Morel. And you do not reckon well with him, he'll be even with you; I'll do your message. Rol. Do, and say I sent a fool o' my errand, pr'ythee. Cry mercy, such an office would ha become either of you, gentlemen. Dond. His tongue moves circular in abuses. 27 Innocent-a Fool. Enter DUKE, FULVIO, PERENOTTO, &c. Duke. How now, what day is't? Rol. 'Tis holiday. Duke. How? 28 Rol. Therefore we are preparing a morris to make your grace merry: they have chosen me for the hobby-horse, 23 and, if I do not deceive their expectation, they will laugh at me extremely before I die. Duke. Do you come like one prepared for death? Rol. Not so well, I hope, as I may be hereafter, unless you will be unjust, and have a desire to be clapt into the chronicles, with some of your predecessors, for cutting off heads, when you do not like their complexion; 'tis but laying one block upon another, and I am quickly sent of a headless errand. Duke. Unjust! do you remember what sums you owe for? do not jest away your life. Rol. I crave no longer day for't, and I prove not myself free from my engagements. Duke. How? Rol. For although I had not the art to go invisible, as these wise courtiers, nor could counterfeit another sex so becomingly as t'other gaudy signior, to introduce me to the ladies; yet, with your princely licence, I may say, 'tis done. Duke. Done! what is done? Peren. He's mad, sir. Rol. I come not to petition for a mercy, Forgetting all their legends, and love-tales Duke. What means this boasting? Rol. You think I am a lost man; and your gay That echo to your passions, and see through Duke. Thou hast profaned a name will strike thee dead. Rol. It cannot be; for if you mean your 'Tis that is my preserver: blest Eugenia, Duke. Thou hast undone Rol. I am still the same, and let me be so bold [Presents a Paper. Duke. Ha, 'tis not sc; I'll not believe my eyes. Come hither, Fulvio; Perenotto, read, But not too loud; does she not write to me- ? Peren. 'Tis counterfeit, my lord; cut off my head If this be not a jig of his invention. Duke. My soul is in a sweat. I feel my blood Heave in my veins-he looks as he had seen her. More my prophetic thoughts do whisper to me— Fulv. Believe it not, sir. Duke. I wo'not---P'erenotto [Whispers. PER. goes out. Dond. I know not what to think. Grut. The Duke's perplext; observe. Rol. Will either of you speak for me, gentlemen, if the justice of my cause should fail me? I'll pay you for't. I know courtiers, that live upon countenance, must sell their tongues; what is the price of yours, pray? Grut. Humble yourself, you coxcomb. Duke. Away, and let not him stir, I charge you. This does intrench too much upon her person. Have my endeavours to preserve Eugenia, Of whom I thought so many men unworthy, 28 Hobby-horse-See Mr Tollet's Dissertation on the Morris-Dancers, First Part of Henry IV. p. 425. |