As water is into a broken ship. Well, after him Ile fend fuch thunderclaps And make the world judge, that I vfde him well. Enter the mesenger that should go to Cambria, with a letter in his hand. Gon. My honeft friend, whither away so fast? Mef. To Cambria, madam, with letters frō the king. Gon. To whom? Me. Vnto your father, if he be there. Gon. Let me see them. She opens them. Me. Madam, I hope your grace will stand A hansome man, be quickly trust vp, And when a man's hang'd, all the world cannot faue him. I tell thee, we make great account of thee. Mef. I am o're-ioy'd, I furfet of sweet words: Kind queene, had I a hundred liues, I would Spend ninety nyne of them for you, for that word. Gon. I, but thou wouldst keepe one life ftill, And that's as many as thou art like to haue. Mef. That one life is not too deare for my good queene; this fword, this buckler, this head, this heart, these hands, armes, legs, tripes, bowels, and all the members else what. foeuer, are at your difpofe; vfe me, truft me, commaund me, if I fayle in any thing, tye me to a dung cart, and make a fcauengers horfe of me, and whip me, fo long as I haue any fkin on my back. Gon. In token of further imployment, take that. Flings him a purfe. Mef. A strong bond, a firme obligation, good in law, good in law: if I keepe not the condition, let my necke be the forfeyture of my negligence. Gon. I like thee well, thou haft a good toung. Mef. And as bad a toung if it be fet on it, as any oyfterwife at Billinfgate hath: why, I haue made many of my neighbours forfake their houfes with rayling vpon them, and go dwell elfe where; and fo by my meanes houfes haue bin good cheape in our parish: my toung being well whetted with choller, is more sharpe then a razer of Palerno. Gon. O thou art a fit man for my purpose. Mef. Commend me not, fweet queene, before you try me.As my deferts are, fo do think of me." Gon. Well fayd, then this is thy tryall : inftead of carrying the kings letters to my father, carry thou thefe letters to my fifter, which contayne matter quite contrary to the other: there fhal fhe be giuen to vnderstand, that my father hath detracted her, giuen out slaundrous fpeaches against her; and that hee hath most, intollerably abufed me, fet my lord and me at variance, and made mutinyes amongst the commons. These things (although it be not fo) Yet thou must affirme them to be true, Meff. Me. It fufficeth, conceyt it is already done : I will fo toung-whip him, that I will Leaue him as bare of credit, as a poulter Leaues a cony, when she pulls off his skin. Gon. Yet there is a further matter. Mef. I thirst to heare it. Gon. If my fifter thinketh conuenient, as my letters import eth, to make him away, haft thou the heart to effect it? Meff. Few words are best in so small a matter : These are but trifles. By this booke I will. Kiffe the paper. Exeunt. Gon. About it prefently, I long till it be done. Enter Cordella folus. I haue bin ouer-negligent to day, Which he miraculously hath bestowed on me, Bare Bare foote I would on pilgrimage set forth I will to church, and pray vnto my Sauiour, Enter Leir and Perillus fayntly. Per. Reft on me, my lord, and stay your felfe, The way feemes tedious to your aged lymmes. Exit. Leir. Nay, reft on me, kind friend, and stay thy felfe, Thou art as old as I, but more kind. Per. Ah, good my lord, it ill befits, that I Should leane vpon the person of a king. Leir. But it fits worse, that I fhould bring thee forth, Per. Ceafe, good my lord, to aggrauate my woes, Leir. Ceafe, good Perillus, for to call me lord, And think me but the fhaddow of my felfe. Per. Per. That honourable title will I giue, Enter the prince of Cambria, Ragan, and nobles: looke vpon them, and whisper together. Leir. Were I beft fpeak, or fit me downe and dye ? I am afham'd to tell this heauy tale. Per. Then let me tell it, if you pleafe, my lord: Cam. What two old men are those that seeme fo fad? She runneth to him, and kneeles downe, saying : Father, I bid you welcome, full of griefe, To make your cheeks fo hollow, fpare and leane? Whence fprings the ground of this vnlookt for wo. You fhall refresh you after this weary walk. Exeunt, manet Ragan. Rag. |