Enter Ragă. Rag. My friend, I fee thou mind'ft thy promife well, And art before me here, me thinks, to day, Mef. I am a poore man, and it like your grace; But yet I alwayes loue to keepe my word. Ra. Wel, keepe thy word with me, and thou fhalt fee, That of a poore man I will make thee rich. Mef. I long to heare it, it might haue bin dispatcht, If you had told me of it yefternight. Ra. It is a thing of right ftrange confequence, And well I cannot vtter it in words. Mef. It is more strange, that I am not by this Ra. Ah, good my friend, that I fhould haue thee do, Yet it must needs be done. Mef. Ile fpeake it for thee, queene: fhall I kill thy father? I know tis that, and if it be fo, fay, Rag. I. Mef. Why, thats ynough. Rag. And yet that is not all. Mef. What else? Rag. Thou must kill that old man that came with him. Mif. Here are two hands, for eche of them is one. Rag. And for eche hand here is a recompence. Giue him two purfes Mef. Oh, that I had ten hands by myracle, I could teare ten in pieces with my teeth, So So in my mouth yould put a purse of gold. But in what manner must it be effected? Rag. To morrow morning ere the breake of day, I by a wyle will fend them to the thicket, That is about fome two myles from the court, And promise them to meet them there my felfe, About fome newes I haue receyu'd from Cornwall. But fee thou faynt not; for they will speake fayre. Mef. Could he fpeak words as pleasing as the pipe To the purse. As quite shall take away the found of his. Enter Cornwall and Gonorill, Corn. I wonder that the messenger doth stay, And to detayne vs in fuch long fufpence. Exit. Exit. Gen. Gon. My lord, I thinke the reafon may be this: Corn. It may be fo, and therfore till I know Enter Seruant. Ser. And't like your grace, there is an ambassador Enter ambajador. What newes from Gallia? fpeake ambassador. Am. The noble king and queene of Gallia first falutes, By me, their honourable father, my lord Leir : Next, they commend them kindly to your graces, And prefents too, if I might fpeake with him. Gon. If you might speak with him? why, do you thinke, We are afrayd that you should fpeake with him? Am. Pardon me, madam; for I thinke not fo, But fay fo only, 'cause he is not here. Corn. Indeed, my friend, vpon fome vrgent cause, Gon. E Gon. Are not we worthy to receiue your message ? Gon. It may be then 'twill not be done in haste. To herfelfe. How doth my fifter brooke the ayre of Fraunce? Gon. I am the more forry. Am. I hope, not fo, madam. Gon. Didft thou not fay, that she was euer ficke, Corn. Then she is merry, if the haue her health. Gon. God continue it. Am. What, madam? Gon. Why, her health. Am. Amen to that: but God release her griefe, Then to continue alwayes fo vnkind. Corn. Ile be a mediator in her caufe, And feeke all meanes to expiat his wrath. Am. Madam, I hope your grace will do the like., For he hath misconceyued without a caufe. Am. Tis pity it should be fo, would it were otherwife. Am. Then how, madam ? Gon. Then that they fhould be reconcilde againe. No 4 Am. Am. It fhewes you beare an honourable mind. Gon. It fhewes thy vnderstanding to be blind, And that thou hadst need of, an interpreter : Speakes to her felfe. Well, I will know thy meffage ere't be long, Corn. Come in, my friend, and frolick in our court, Enter Leir and Perillus. Exeunt. Per. My lord, you are vp to day before your houre, Tis newes to you to be abroad fo rathe. Leir. Tis newes indeed, I am so extreme heauy, That I can fcarcely keepe my eye-lids open. Per. And fo am I, but I impute the caufe To rifing fooner then we vfe to do, Leir. Hither my daughter meanes to come difguis'd; Ile fit me downe, and read vntill fhe come. Pull out a booke and fit downe, Per. Sheele not be long, I warrant you, my lord: But fay, a couple of these they call good fellowes, Should step out of a hedge, and fet vpon vs, We were in good cafe for to answere them. Leir. "Twere not for vs to stand vpon our hands. Per. I feare, we fcant fhould stand vpon our legs. But how should we do to defend our felues? Leir. Euen pray to God, to bleffe vs fro their hands: For feruent prayer much ill hap withstands. Per. Ile fit and pray with you for Yet was I ne're fo heauy in my life. company; They fall both aЛleepe. Enter the messenger or murtherer with two daggers in his hands. Aleff. Were it not a mad ieft, if two or three of my profeffio fhould meet me, and lay me downe in a ditch, and play robbe |