Clam. O lady, as your pleasure is, I shall at all assays Endeavour my good-will to win, if Mars do send me might, Such honour as your grace with joy shall welcome home your knight. Juli. Then farewell, my dear Clamydes: the gods direct thy way, And grant that with the serpent's head behold thy face I may ! Clam. You shall not need to doubt thereof, O faithful dame so true! And, humbly kissing here thy hand, I bid thy grace adieu. [Exit JULIANA. Ah happy time and blissful day, wherein by fate I find Such friendly favours as are food to feed both heart and mind! To Suavia soil I swiftly will prepare my footsteps right, There of my father to receive the order of a knight, And afterwards address myself, in hope of honour's crown, Both tiger fell and monster fierce by dint for to drive down. The flying serpent soon shall feel how boldly I dare vaunt me, An if that Hydra's head she had, yet dread should never daunt me; If murdering Minotaur a man might count this ugly beast, Yet for to win a lady such I do account it least Of travails toil to take in hand; and therefore, farewell care, For hope of honour sends me forth 'mongst warlike wights to share. [E.cit. Enter SIR CLYOMON.† Clyo. [To SUBTLE SHIFT within.] Come on, good fellow, follow me, that I may understand Of whence thou art, thus travelling here in a foreign land; Come, why dost thou not leave loitering there and follow after me? S. Shift. [within.] Ah, I am in, an 't shall please you! Endeavour] i. e. Exert. Enter Sir Clyomon] The 4to. has "Enter Sir Clyomon Knight of the Golden Sheeld, sonne to the King of Denmarke, with subtill Shift the Vice, booted."-"The Vice" -equivalent in this stage-direction to "the buffoon"was a prominent character in the early Moral Plays: see Collier's Hist. of Engl. Dram. Poetry, vol. ii. p. 264. Clyo. In! why, where art thou in? S. Shift. Faith, in a dirty ditch with a wanion,* so beray'd † as it's pity to see. Clyo. Well, I see thou art a merry companion, I shall like better of thy company: But, I pray thee, come away. S. Shift. [within.] If I get out one of my legs, as fast as I may. Ha lo ah my buttock! the very foundation thereof doth break; Ha lo! once again I am as fast as though I had frozen here a week. Here let him slip unto the stage backwards, as though he had pulled his leg out of the mire, one boot off, and then rive up to run in again. Clyo. Why, how now! whither runn'st thou ? art thou foolish in thy mind? S. Shift. But to fetch one of my legs, an't shall please, that I have left in the mire behind. Clyo. One of thy legs! why, look, man, both thy legs thou hast; It is but one of thy boots thou hast lost, thy labour thou dost wast.+ S. Shift. But one of my boots! Jesu, I had such a wrench with the fall, That, I assure, I did think one of my legs had gone withal. Clyo. Well, let that pass, and tell me what thou art, and what is thy name, And from whence thou cam'st, and whither thy journey thou dost frame, That I have met thee by the way, thus travelling in this sort. S Shift. What you have requested, an't shall please, I am able to report. What I am by my nature each wight shall perceive That frequenteth my company by the learning Clyo. And art thou Knowledge of troth, I Can food unto the am glad that I have met with thee. S. Shift. I am Knowledge, and have as good skill in a woman as any man whatsoever he be, For this I am certain of, let me but lie with her all night, And I'll tell you in the morning whether she is maid, wife, or sprite; And as for other matters, speaking of languishes or any other thing, I am able to serve, an't shall please, an't were great Alexander the King. Clyo. Of troth, then, for thy excellency I will thee gladly entertain, If in case that with me thou wilt promise to remain. S. Shift. Nay, an't shall please ye, I am like to a woman, say nay, and take it; t When a gentleman proffers entertainment, I were a fool to forsake it. Clyo. Well, Knowledge, then sith thou art content my servant to be, And endu'd with noble qualities thy personage I sec, Thou having perfect knowledge how thyself to behave, I will send thee of mine errand; but haste thither, I crave, For here I will stay thy coming again. S. Shift. Declare your pleasure, sir, and whither And near unto the court, I would have thee to take thy way Thither with all speed, because I would hear greater joy Than for the haught itself employ Through martial bruit of fam Where mates do n fancies seem Can music more th mind delight, Can comfort more palled sprite Rejoice, than sound wight allure, And drum and fife u procure, To see in sunder shif way, And worthy knights the fray? To hear the rattlin helmets ring, To see the soldie valiant heart The cowardly cre captives' ban Where ancients + br force of hand What wight would hear and sec Betake himself in li With Clyomon, to and heir, Who of the Golden name doth b In every land, sin knight of fa If any shows or triumphs be towards,‡ else would Sir Samuel, before t I not come there; game, Alexander call'd the behold, For only upon feats of arms is all my delight. S. Shift. [aside.] If I had known so much before, serve that serve will, I would have He gave to me i serv'd no martial knight. glittering go Well, sir, to accomplish your will, to the court Requesting for to I will hie, shall not be And what news is there stirring bring word by To any knight unl And so I have myself behav'd in city, town, and field, That never yet did fall reproach to the Knight of the Golden Shield. Re-enter SUBTLE SHIFT running. S. Shift. God's ames, where are you, where are you? an you be a man, come away. Clyo. Why, what is the matter, Knowledge? to tell thy errand stay. And dost of us the order ask of knighthood for to have, We know thy deeds deserve the same, and that which thou dost crave Thou shalt possess: but first, my son, know thou thy father's charge, And what to knighthood doth belong, thine honour to enlarge; Unto what end a knight is made that likewise thou mayst know, S. Shift. Stay! what talk you of staying? why, And bear the same in mind also, that honour then, all the sight will be past: thine may flow Clamydes the king's son shall be dubb'd knight | Amongst the worthies of the world to thy in all hast.t Clyo. Ah Knowledge, then come indeed, and good pastime thou shalt see! I will take the honour from him that dubbed I may be: Upon a courageous stomach, come, let us haste thither. S. Shift. Lead you the way and I'll follow; Ah sirral, is my master so lusty or dares he be so bold? It is no marvel, then, if he bear a shield of gold: But, by your patience, if he continue in this business, farewell master than,§ For, I promise you, I intend not very long to be his man. Although under the title of Knowledge my name I do feign, Subtle Shift I am called, that is most plain; master chance to be lost, And any man examine me, in telling his name I am as wise as a post: What a villain was I that, ere he went, could not ask it! Well, it's no great matter, I am but half bound, I may serve whom I will yet. [Exit. Enter the KING OF SUAVIA with the Herald before him, CLAMYDES, and three Lords. King of S. Come, Clamydes, thou our son, thy father's talk attend. Since thou art prest thy youthful days in prowess for to spend, *God's ames] Does it mean God's soul (Fr. ame)? thast] i. e. haste,-for the rhyme. togither] So spelt for the rhyme. than] i. e. then: see note *, p. 206, sec. col. presti. e. ready, prompt,-here, perhaps, eager. immortal fame. Know thou, therefore, Clamydes dear, to have a knightly name Is, first, above all other things, his God for to adore, In truth, according to the laws prescrib'd to him before; Secondly, that he be true unto his lord and king; Thirdly, that he keep his faith and troth in every thing; And then before all other things that else we can commend, That he be always ready prest his country to defend; The widow poor, and fatherless, or innocent bearing blame, To see their cause redressèd right a faithful knight must frame; In truth he always must be tried: this is the total charge, That will receive a knightly name his honour to enlarge. Clam. O father, this your gracious counsel given to me your only son, Shall not be in oblivion cast till vital race be run! What way doth win Dame Honour's crown, those paths my steps shall trace, And those that to Reproach do lead, which seeketh to deface True Honour in her regal seat, I shall detest for aye, And be as utter enemy to them both night and day. By flying force of flickering fame your grace shall understand Of my behaviour, noble sire, in every foreign land; * ready prest] A sort of pleonasm. See the preceding note. And if you hear by true report I venture in the Clam. Ah father, barge revenged be Of Wilfulness, contráry this your grace's noble Upon the wretch whi charge, thus from me Let Ignomy to my reproach, instead of Lady Was ever any one Faine, Sound through the earth and azure skies the strained blast of shame, Whereby within Oblivion's tomb my deeds shall be detain'd, Where otherwise of Memory the mind I might have gain'd, So that the den of Darksomeness shall ever be my chest,+ Where worthy deeds prefer each wight with honour to be blest. Enter, behind, CLYOMON and SUBTLE SHIFT. King of S. Well, Clamydes, then kneel down, according as is right, That here thou mayst receive of me the order [CLAMYDES kneels; CLYOMON with SUBTLE SHIFT S. Shift. Now prepare yourself, or I'll be Clyo. Content thyself, Knowledge, for I'll quickly him deceive. King of S. The noble order of a knight, before? King of S. Well, stay till we d Re-enter the two Lor First Lord. O ki gone, pursuit But here his slave this he wrou King of S. Ah c ghost! shall Shall he with hon disturbance, Ah caitiff thou, de ventur'd here Or death shall be gods I swear S. Shift. Ah, an neither him, Sec. Lord. What, servant? wil King of S. Nay, knave, I kno S. Shift. An't sha very troth I I should have bee togither,+ Which was not full country, dec S. Shift. That ca you: you n To know his maste field, And what he was Knight of t King of S. Well what I to th Prepare thyself fo way, Which hath thine either by fo Or love, his name understand, prevaileth] ↑ togither] So That I may know for what intent he bare this grudge to thee, Else see thou never do* return again to visit me; For this imports him for to be of valiant heart and mind, And therefore do pursue thy foe until thou dost him find, To know his name and what he is, or, as I said before, Do never view thy father I in presence any more. Clam. Well, father, sith it is your charge and precept given to me, And more for mine own honour's sake, I frankly do agree To undertake the enterprise, his name to understand, Or never else to show my face again in Suavia land. Wherefore I humbly do desire the order to receive Of knighthood, which my sole desire hath ever been to have : Clam. Well, then, father, I beseech your grace grant that I may have him. King of S. Well, Clamydes, I am content, sith thou, my son, dost crave him : Receive him therefore at my hands.-My lords, come, let's depart. All the Lords. We ready are to wait on you, O king, with willing heart. [Exeunt all except CLAMYDES and SUBTLE SHIFT. Clam. Well, Knowledge, do prepare thyself, for here I do protest, My father's precepts to fulfill, no day nor night to rest From toilsome travel till I have reveng'd my cause aright On him who of the Golden Shield now beareth name of Knight; Who of mine honour hath me robb'd in such a cowardly sort As for to be of noble heart it doth him not import. It is the name and mean whereby true honour is But, Knowledge, to me thy service still thou achiv'd; + Let me not, then, O father dear, thereof be now depriv'd, Sith that mine honour cowardly was stoln by caitiff he, And not by dinted dastard's deed, O father, lost by me! King of S. Well, Clamydes, then kneel down: here in our nobles' sight, We give to thee that art our son the order of a knight; must with loyal heart profess. S. Shift. Use me that all other villains may take ensample by me, if I digress. Clam. Well, then, come follow speedily, that him pursue we may. S. Shift. Keep you before, an't shall please you, for I mind not to stay. [Exit CLAMYDES. Ah sirrah Shift, thou wast driven to thy shifts now indeed! I dream'd before that untowardly I should speed; And yet it is better luck than I looked to have; But, as thou wilt our favour win, accomplish my But, as the proverb saith, good fortune ever desire. happeneth to the veriest knave: Clam. Else never to your royal court, O father, And yet I could not escape with my master, do what I can : I'll retire. King of S. Well, then, adieu, Clamydes dear: Well, by this bargain he hath lost his new serving-man. the gods thine aider[s] be ! But come, my lords, to have his hire, that caitiff But if Clamydes overtake him now, what buffets |