Dev. Ay, marry: how then?

Miles. Faith, 'tis a place I have desired long to see have you not good tippling-houses there? may not a man have a lusty fire there, a pot of good ale, a pair of cards, a swinging piece of chalk, and a brown toast that will clap a white waistcoat on a cup of good drink?

Dev. All this you may have there.

Miles. You are for me, friend, and I am for you. But I pray you, may I not have an office there?

Dev. Yes, a thousand: what wouldst thou be? Miles. By my troth, sir, in a place where I may profit myself. I know hell is a hot place, and men are marvellous dry, and much drink is spent there; I would be a tapster.

Miles. Marry, friend, I put on my spurs; for if I find your pace either a trot or else uneasy, I'll put you to a false gallop; I'll make you feel the benefit of my spurs.

Dev. Get up upon my back.

[MILES mounts on the Devil's back. Miles. O Lord, here's even a goodly marvel, when a man rides to hell on the devil's back! [Exeunt, the Devil roaring. Enter the EMPEROR with a pointless sword; next the KING OF CASTILE carrying a sword with a point; LACY carrying the globe; PRINCE EDWARD; WARREN carrying a rod of gold with a dove on it; ERMSBY with a crown and sceptre; PRINCESS ELINOR with MARGARET Countess of Lincoln on her left hand; KING HENRY; BACON; and Lords attending.

P. Edw. Great potentates, earth's miracles for state,

Think that Prince Edward humbles at your feet,

*pair] i.e. pack: "out commeth an old paire of cardes, whereat the Barnard teacheth the Verser a new game,' &c.

A 4.

Greene's Notable Discovery of Coosnage, 1591, Sig.

And, for these favours, on his martial sword
He vows perpetual homage to yourselves,
Yielding these honours unto Elinor.

K. Hen. Gramercies, lordings; old Plantagenet,
That rules and sways the Albion diadem,
With tears discovers these conceived joys,
And vows requital, if his men-at-arms,

The wealth of England, or due honours done
To Elinor, may quite his favourites.*
But all this while what say you to the dames
That shine like to the crystal lamps of heaven?
Emp. If but a third were added to these two,
They did surpass those gorgeous images
That gloried Ida with rich beauty's wealth.
Mar. 'Tis I, my lords, who humbly on my knee
Must yield her orisons to mighty Jove
For lifting up his handmaid to this state;
Brought from her homely cottage to the court,
And grac'd with kings, princes, and emperors,
To whom (next to the noble Lincoln Earl)
I vow obedience, and such humble love
As may a handmaid to such mighty men.
P. Elin. Thou martial man that wears the
Almain crown,

And you the western potentates of might,
The Albion princess, English Edward's wife,
Proud that the lovely star of Fressingfield,
Fair Margaret, Countess to the Lincoln Earl,
Attends on Elinor,-gramercies, lord, for her,-
'Tis I give thanks for Margaret to you all,
And rest for her due bounden to yourselves.

K. Hen. Seeing the marriage is solemnized,
Let's march in triumph to the royal feast.-
But why stands Friar Bacon here so mute?

Bacon. Repentant for the follies of my youth,
That magic's secret mysteries misled,
And joyful that this royal marriage
Portends such bliss unto this matchless realm.
K. Hen. Why, Bacon,

What strange event shall happen to this land?
Or what shall grow from Edward and his queen?
Bacon. I find + by deep prescience of mine art,
Which once I temper'd in my secret cell,
That here where Brute did build his Troynovant,
From forth the royal garden of a king
Shall flourish out so rich and fair a bud,
Whose brightness shall deface proud Phoebus'
And over-shadow Albion with her leaves. [flower,
Till then Mars shall be master of the field,
But then the stormy threats of wars shall cease:

*favourites] Qy. "favourers"?

I find, &c.] One of those compliments to Queen Elizabeth which frequently occur at the conclusion of dramas acted during her lifetime.

The horse shall stamp as careless of the pike,
Drums shall be turn'd to timbrels of delight;
With wealthy favours plenty shall enrich

The strand that gladded wandering Brute to see, And peace from heaven shall harbour in these * leaves

That gorgeous beautify this matchless flower:
Apollo's heliotropion then shall stoop,
And Venus' hyacinth shall vail † her top;
Juno shall shut her gilliflowers up,

And Pallas' bay shall 'bash her brightest green;
Ceres' carnation, in consórt with those,
Shall stoop and wonder at Diana's rose.
K. Hen. This prophecy is mystical.-
But, glorious commanders of Europa's love,
That make fair England like that wealthy isle
Circled with Gihon and swift Euphrates,§
In royalizing Henry's Albion
With presence of your princely mightiness,-
Let's march: the tables all are spread,
And viands, such as England's wealth affords,
Are ready set to furnish out the boards.
You shall have welcome, mighty potentates:
It rests to furnish up this royal feast,
Only your hearts be frolic; for the time
Craves that we taste of naught but jouissance.
Thus glories England over all the west.

[Exeunt omnes. Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci.

The Famous Historie of Fryer Bacon, on which Greene founded his drama, has been already noticed in the Prefatory Essay to this volume, and a specimen of it is now subjoined: "How Fryer Bacon made a Brasen Head to

speake, by the which hee would have walled England about with brasse. FRYER BACON, reading one day of the many conquests of England, bethought himselfe how he might keepe it hereafter from the like con

these] Qy. "those"? but our early writers did not always make the distinction between "these" and "those" which is made at the present day. trail] i. e. lower.

But, glorious, &c.] Some corruption here. Qy. "But,

glorious comrades of," &c. ?

§ swift Euphrates] The 4tos. "first Euphrates".-That I have rightly corrected the text is proved by the following line of our author's Orlando Furioso,

"From whence floweth Gihon and swift Euphrates." p. 89, sec. col., where see note.

Let's march] Qy. "Let us march hence "? Omno tulit, &c.] Greene's favourite motto: see the titles of his prose-works in the List appended to the Account of his life.

quests, and so make himselfe famous hereafter to all posterities. This, after great study, hee found could be no way so well done as one; which was to make a head of brasse, and if he could make this head to speake, and heare it when it speakes, then might hee be able to wall all England about with brasse. To this purpose hee got one Fryer Bungey to assist him, who was a great scholler and a magician, but not to bee compared to Fryer Bacon: these two with great study and paines so framed a head of brasse, that in the inward parts thereof there was all things like as in a naturall mans head. This being done, they were as farre from perfection of the worke as they were before, for they knew not how to give those parts that they had made motion, without which it was impossible that it should speake: many bookes they read, but yet could not finde out any hope of what they sought, that at the last they concluded to raise a spirit, and to know of him that which they could not attaine to by their owne studies. To do this they prepared all things ready, and went one evening to a wood thereby, and after many ceremonies used, they spake the words of coniuration; which the Devill straight obeyed, and appeared unto them, asking what they would? 'Know,' said Fryer Bacon, 'that wee have made an artificiall head of brasse, which we would have to speake, to the furtherance of which wee have raised thee; and being raised, wee will here keepe thee, unlesse thou tell to us the way and manner how to make this head to speake.' The Devill told him that he had not that power of himselfe. Beginner of lyes,' said Fryer Bacon, I know that thou dost dissemble, and therefore tell it us quickly, or else wee will here bind thee to remaine during our pleasures.' At these threatnings the Devil consented to doe it, and told them, that with a continuel fume of the six hotest simples it should have motion, and in one month space speak; the time of the moneth or day hee knew not: also hee told them, that if they heard it not before it had done speaking, all their labour should be lost. They being satisfied, licensed the spirit for to depart.

Then went these two learned fryers home againe, and prepared the simples ready, and made the fume, and with continuall watching attended when this brasen head would speake. Thus watched they for three weekes without any rest, so that they were so weary and sleepy that they could not any longer refraine from rest: then called Fryer Bacon his man Miles, and told him,

that it was not unknown to him what paines Fryer Bungey and himselfe had taken for three weekes space, onely to make, and to heare the Brazen-head speake, which if they did not, then had they lost all their labour, and all England had a great losse thereby; therefore hee intreated Miles that he would watch whilst that they slept, and call them if the head speake. 'Feare not, good master,' said Miles, 'I will not sleepe, but harken and attend upon the head, and if it doe chance to speake, I will call you; therefore I pray take you both your rests and let mee alone for watching this head.' After Fryer Bacon had given him a great charge the second time, Fryer Bungy and he went to sleepe, and Miles, alone to watch the brasen head. Miles, to keepe him from sleeping, got a tabor and pipe, and being merry disposed, sung this song to a northren tune of

'CAM'ST THOU NOT FROM NEWCASTLE?'

To couple is a custome,

all things thereto agree: Why should not I, then, love? since love to all is free.

But Ile have one that's pretty, her cheekes of scarlet die, For to breed my delight, When that I ligge her by.

Though vertue be a dowry, yet Ile chuse money store: If my love prove untrue,

with that I can get more.

The faire is oft unconstant, the blacke is often proud: Ile chuse a lovely browne;come, fidler, scrape thy crowd, t

Come, fidler, scrape thy crowd,

for Peggie the browne is sho Must be my bride: God guide that Peggy and I agree!

With his owne musicke and such songs as these spent he his time, and kept from sleeping at last. After some noyse the head spake these two words, TIME IS. Miles, hearing it to speake no more, thought his master would be angry if hee waked him for that, and therefore he let them both sleepe, and began to mocke the head in this manner; Thou brazen-faced head, hath my master tooke all this paines about thee, and now dost thou requite him with two words, TIME IS? Had hee watched with a lawyer so long as he hath watched with thee, he would have

* ligge] i. e. lie.

t crowd] i. c. fiddle.

given him more and better words then thou hast yet. If thou canst speake no wiser, they shal sleepe till doomes day for me: TIME IS! I know Time is, and that you shall heare, Goodman Brazen-face :

TO THE TUNE OF 'DAINTIE, COME THOU TO ME.'
Time is for some to plant,
Time is for some to sowe,
Time is for some to graft

The horne, as some doe knowe.

Time is for some to eate, Time is for some to sleepe, Time is for some to laugh, Time is for some to weepe.

Time is for some to sing,
Time is for some to pray,
Time is for some to creepe,
That have drunke all the day.

Time is to cart a bawd,
Time is to whip a whore,
Time is to hang a theefe,

And time is for much more.

'Do you tell us, copper-nose, when TIME IS? I hope we schollers know our times, when to drinke drunke, when to kisse our hostes, when to goe on her score, and when to pay it,-that time comes seldome.' After halfe an houre had passed, the head did speake againe, two words, which were these, TIME WAS. Miles respected these words as little as he did the former, and would not wake them, but still scoffed at the brazen head, that it had learned no better words, and have such a tutor as his master: and in scorne of it sung this song;

TO THE TUNE OF A RICH MERCHANT-MAN.' Time was when thou, a kettle, wert fill'd with better matter; But Fryer Bacon did thee spoyle when he thy sides did batter.

Time was when conscience dwelled with men of occupation; Time was when lawyers did not thrive so well by mens vexation.

Time was when kings and beggers

of one poore stuffe had being; Time was when office kept no knaves,that time it was worth seeing.

Time was a bowle of water

did give the face reflection; Time was when women knew no paint, Which now they call complexion.

'TIME WAS! I know that, brazen-face, without your telling, I know Time was, and I know what

things there was when Time was; and if you speake no wiser, no master shall be waked for mee.' Thus Miles talked and sung till another halfe-houre was gone: then the brazen head spake again these words, TIME IS PAST; and therewith fell downe, and presently followed a terrible noyse, with strange flashes of fire, so that Miles was halfe dead with feare.

came.

At this noyse

the two Fryers awaked, and wondred to see the whole roome so full of smoake; but that being vanished, they might perceive the brazen head broken and lying on the ground. At this sight they grieved, and called Miles to know how this Miles, halfe dead with feare, said that it fell downe of itselfe, and that with the noyse and fire that followed he was almost frighted out of his wits. Fryer Bacon asked him if hee did not speake? 'Yes,' quoth Miles, 'it spake, but to no purpose: Ile have a parret speake better in that time that you have been teaching this brazen head.' 'Out on thee, villaine!' said Fryer Bacon; thou hast undone us both: hadst thou

but called us when it did speake, all England had been walled round about with brasse, to its glory and our eternal fames. What were the wordes it spake?' 'Very few,' said Miles, and those were none of the wisest that I have heard neither: first he said, TIME IS.' 'Hadst thou call'd us then,' said Fryer Bacon, 'we had been made for ever.' Then,' said Miles, 'half-an-hour after it spake againe and said, TIME WAS.' 'And wouldst thou not call us then?' said Bungey. Alas,' said Miles, I thought he would have told me some long tale, and then I purposed to have called you then half-an-houre after he cried, TIME IS PAST, and made such a noyse that hee hath waked you himselfe, mee thinkes.' At this Fryer Bacon was in such a rage that hee would have beaten his man, but he was restrained by Bungey: but neverthelesse, for his punishment, he with his art struck him dumbe for one whole months space. Thus the greate worke of these learned fryers was overthrown, to their great griefes, by this simple fellow."