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In fome difguife, to fee if flying fame

Be not too prodigall in the wondrous prayse

Of these three nymphes, the daughters of king Leir.
If present view do answere abfent prayse,

And
eyes allow of what our eares haue heard,
And Venus ftand aufpicious to my vowes,
And fortune fauour what I take in hand;
I will returne feyz'd of as rich a prize

As lafon, when he wanne the golden fleece.

Mum. Heauens graut you may; the match were ful of honor,

And well befeeming the young Gallian king.

I would your grace would fauour me fo much,
As make me partner of your pilgrimage.

I long to fee the gallant Brittish dames,
And fked mine eyes vpon their rare perfections:
For till I know the contrary, Ile say,

Our dames in Fraunce are far more fayre then they.
Kin. Lord Mumford, you haue faued me a labour,
In offring that which I did meane to aske :
And I moft willingly accept your oompany.
Yet first I will inioyne you to obferue
Some few conditions which I fhall propose.

Mum. So that you do not tye mine eyes for looking
After the amorous glaunces of fayre dames:
So that you do not tye my toung from speaking,
My lips from kiffing when occafion ferues,
My hands from congees, and my knees to bow
To gallant gyrles; which were a tafke more hard,
Then flesh and bloud is able to indure:
Commaund what elfe you please, I reft content.

Kin. To bind thee from a thing thou canst not leaue,
Were but a meane to make thee feeke it more:
And therefore fpeake, looke, kiffe, falute for me;

In these my felfe am like to fecond thee.

Now heare thy tafke. I charge thee from the time
That first we fet fayle for the Brittish shore,
To víe no words of dignity to me,

But in the friendlieft manner that thou canft,
Make vse of me as thy companion:

For we will go difguifde in palmers weeds,

That no man shall mistrust vs what we are.

Mum. If that be all, Ile fit your turne I waurant you. I am fome kin to the Blunts, and I think, the blunteft of all my kindred; therefore if I bee too blunt with you, thanke your felfe for praying me to be fo.

King. Thy pleasant company will make the way feeme fhort. It refteth now, that in my absence hence,

I do commit the gouernment to you
My trufty lords and faythfull counsellers.
Time cutteth off the reft I haue to say:

The wynd blowes fayre, and I muft needs away.

Nobles. Heauens fend your voyage to as good effect,

As we your land do purpose to protect.

Exeunt.

Enter the king of Cornwall and his man booted and spurd, a riding wand, and a letter in his hand.

Corn. But how far diftant are we from the court? Ser. Some twenty miles, my lord, or thereabouts. Corn, It feemeth to me twenty thousand myles: Yet hope I to be there within this houre.

Ser. Then are you like to ride alone for me. I thinke my lord is weary of his life.

Corn. Sweet Gonorill, I long to fee thy face, Which hast so kindly gratified my loue.

LI 4

To himfelfe.

Enter

Enter the king of Cambria booted and fpurd, and his man with a wand and a letter.

Cam. Get a fresh horfe: for by my foule I sweare,

He lookes on the letter,

I am past patience, longer to forbeare
The wifhed fight of my beloued miftris,
Deare Ragan, ftay and comfort of my life.
Ser. Now what in Gods name doth my

lord intend?

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He thinks he ne're shall come at's iourneyes end.
I would he had old Dedalus waxen wings,
That he might flye, fo I might stay behind:
For e're we get to Troynouant, I fee,

He quite will tyre himselfe, his horfe and me.

To himfelfe.

Cornwall and Cambria locke one vpon another, and start to Jee eche other there..

Corn. Brother of Cambria, we greet you well,

As one whom here we little did expect.

Cam. Brother of Cornwall, met in happy time:

I thought as much to haue met with the fouldan of Perfia,
As to haue met you in this place, my lord.

No doubt, it is about fome great affayres,
That makes you here fo flenderly accompanied.
Corn. To fay the truth, my lord, it is no leffe,

And for your part fome hafty wind of chance
Hath blowne you hither thus vpon the fudden.
Cam. My lord, to break off further circumftances,
For at this time I cannot brooke delayes:
Tell you your reafon, I will tell you mine.

Carn.

Corn. In fayth content, and therefore to be briefe;
For I am fure my hafte's as great as yours:

I am fent for, to come vnto king Leir,
Who by these present letters promiseth
His eldest daughter, louely Gonorill,
To me in mariage, and for prefent dowry,
The moity of halfe his regiment.

The ladies loue I long ago poffeft:

But vntill now I neuer had the fathers.

Cam. You tell me wonders, yet I will relate

Strange newes, and henceforth we must brothers call;
Witneffe thefe lynes: his honourable age,
Being weary of the troubles of his crowne,
His princely daughter Ragan will bestow
On me in mariage, with halfe his feigniories,
Whom I would gladly haue accepted of,
With the third part, her complements are fuch.

Corn. If I haue one halfe, and you haue the other,

Then betweene vs we must needs haue the whole.

!

Cam. The hole! how meane you that? zlood, I hope, We fhall haue two holes betweene vs.

Corn. Why, the whole kingdome.

Cam. I, that's very true,

Cor. What then is left for his third daughters dowry, Louely Cordella, whom the world admires ?

Cam. Tis very strange, I know not what to thinke,

Vnleffe they meane to make a nunne of her.

Corn. 'Twere pity fuch rare beauty should be hid
Within the compasse of a cloysters wall:
But howfoe're, if Leirs words proue true,
It will be good, my lord, for me and you.

Cam. Then let vs hafte, all danger to preuent,
For feare delayes doe alter his intent.

Exeunt.

Enter

Enter Gonorill and Ragan.

Gon. Sifter, when did you fee Cordella laft, That pretty piece, that thinks none good ynough To speake to her, because (fir-reuerence)

She hath a little beauty extraordinary?

Ra. Since time my father warnd her from his presence,

I neuer faw her, that I can remember.

God giue her ioy of her furpaffing beauty;

I thinke, her dowry will be fmall ynough.
Gon. I haue incenft my father fo against her,

As he will neuer be reclaymd agayne.

Rag. I was not much behind to do the like.

Gon. Faith, fifter, what moues you to beare her fuch good will?

Rag. In truth, I thinke, the fame that moueth you ; Because she doth furpaffe vs both in beauty.

Gon. Behrew your fingers, how right you can geffe: I tell you true, it cuts me to the heart.

Rag. But we will keepe her low enough, I warrant, And clip her wings for mounting vp too hye.

Gon. Who euer hath her, fhall haue a rich mariage of her. Rag. She were right fit to make a parfons wife :

For they, men fay, do loue faire women well,

And many times doe marry them with nothing.

Gon. With nothing! marry God forbid: why, are there any fuch.

Rag. I meane, no money.

Gon. I cry you mercy, I miftooke you much :

And she is far too stately for the church;
Sheele lay her husbands benefice on her back,
Euen in one gowne, if she may haue her will.

Ra. In faith, poore foule, I pitty her a little.
Would the were leffe fayre, or more fortunate.

Well

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