ballads,[231] of which Hazlitt gives the full titles, and perhaps
other things lost or unrecovered. The best parts of “Cambyses” are
the comic scenes, or those portions of the dialogue which are spoken
by Ambidexter; these seem to indicate that Preston would have been
more successful if he had avoided the tragic vein altogether; but his
language is harsh and unpolished even for the time, as if the play had
been written some years before it appeared in type. Yet this is
scarcely probable, from the allusion to Bishop Bonner towards the
conclusion.
With the admirable comedy of “Ralph Roister Doister” before their
eyes, it might seem strange that later writers should have relapsed
into comparative barbarism, if we had not abundant evidence of such
degeneracy in every period of the history of our dramatic literature,
including that which followed the publication of the unrivalled works
of Shakespeare himself.]
_The_ PROLOGUE _entereth_.
Agathon, he whose counsel wise
To princes weal extended,
By good advice unto a prince
Three things he hath commended
First is, that he hath government,
And ruleth over men;
Secondly, to rule with laws,
Eke justice (saith he) then;
Thirdly, that he must well conceive,
He may not always reign:
Lo, thus the rule unto a prince
Agathon squared plain.
Tully the wise, whose sapience
In volumes great doth tell,
Who in wisdom in that time
Did many men excel,
A prince (saith he) is of himself
A plain and speaking law,
The law, a schoolmaster divine,
This by his rule I draw.
The sage and witty Seneca
His words thereto did frame;
The honest exercise of kings,
Men will ensue the same.
But contrary-wise, if that a king
Abuse his kingly seat,
His ignomy and bitter shame
In fine shall be more great.
In Persia there reign’d a king,
Who Cyrus hight by name,
Who did deserve, as I do read,
The lasting blast of fame:
But he, when sisters three had wrought
To shear his vital thread,
As heir due to take the crown,
Cambyses did proceed;
He in his youth was trained up
By trace of virtue’s lore,
Yet (being king) did clean forget
His perfect race before.
Then cleaving more unto his will,
Such vice did imitate,
As one of Icarus his kind,
Forewarning then did hate;
Thinking that none could him dismay
Ne none his facts could see;
Yet at the last a fall he took,
Like Icarus to be.
Else as the fish, which oft had take
The pleasant bait from hook,
In safe did spring, and pierce the streams,
When fisher fast did look,
To hoist up from the wat’ry waves
Unto the dried land,
Then scap’d, at last by subtle bait
Come to the fisher’s hand:
Even so this king Cambyses here,
When he had wrought his will,
Taking delight the innocent
His guiltless blood to spill;
Then mighty Jove would not permit
To prosecute offence,
But what measure the king did meet,
The same did Jove commence.
To bring to end with shame his race,
Two years he did not reign:
His cruelty we will dilate,
And make the matter plain;
Craving that this may suffice now,
Your patience to win:
I take my way; behold, I see
The players coming in.
FINIS.
A COMEDY OF KING CAMBYSES.
_First enter_ CAMBYSES _the king_, KNIGHT, _and_ COUNCILLOR.
CAMBYSES.
My Council grave and sapient,
With lords of legal train,
Attentive ears towards bend,
And mark what shall be sain.
So you likewise, my valiant knight,
Whose manly acts doth fly,
By brute of fame the sounding trump
Doth pierce the azure sky:
My sapient words, I say, perpend,
And so your skill dilate.
You know that Mors vanquished hath
Cyrus that king of state;
And I, by due inheritance,
Possess that princely crown,
Ruling by sword of mighty force
In place of great renown.
You know, and often have heard tell,
My father’s worthy facts;
A manly Mars’ heart he bare,
Appearing by his acts.
And what, shall I to ground let fall
My father’s golden praise?
No, no; I mean for to attempt
This fame more large to raise,
In that that I, his son, succeed
His kingly seat as due:
Extend your counsel unto me
In that I ask of you.
I am the King of Persia,
A large and fertile soil:
The Egyptians against us repugn,
As varlets slave and vile;
Therefore I mean with Mars’ heart,
With wars them to frequent,
Them to subdue as captives mine,
This is my heart’s intent:
So shall I win honour’s delight,
And praise of me shall go.
My Council, speak; and lordings eke,
Is it not best do so?
COUNCIL.
O puissant king, your blissful words
Deserves abundant praise,
That you in this do go about
Your father’s fame to raise.
O blissful day, that king so young
Such profit should conceive;
His father’s praise and his to win,
From those that would deceive.
Sure, my true and sovereign king,
I fall before you prest,
Answer to give as duty mine,
In that your grace request.
If that your heart addicted be,
The Egyptians to convince,
Through Mars’ aid the conquest won,
Then deed of happy prince
Shall pierce the skies unto the throne
Of the supernal seat,
And merit there a just reward
Of Jupiter the great.
But then your grace must not turn back
From this pretenced will,
For to proceed in virtuous life,
Employ endeavour still;
Extinguish vice, and in that cup
To drink have no delight:
To martial feats and kingly sports
Fix all your whole delight,
KING.
My Council grave, a thousand thanks
With heart I do you render.
That you my case so prosperous
Entirely do tender:
I will not swerve from those your steps,
Whereto you would me train.
But now, my lord and valiant knight,
With words give answer plain:
Are you content with me to go
The Mars’ games to try?
LORD.
Yea, peerless prince, to aid your grace,
Myself will live and die.
KNIGHT.
And I, for my hability,
For fear will not turn back;
But, as the ship against the rocks,
Sustain and bide the wrack.
KING.
O willing hearts, a thousand thanks
I render unto you:
Strike up your drums with courage great;
We will march forth even now.
COUNCIL.
Permit (O King) few words to hear,
My duty serves no less;
Therefore give leave to Council thine,
His mind for to express.
KING.
Speak on, my Council, what it be;
You shall have favour mine.
COUNCIL.
Then will I speak unto your grace,
As duty doth me bind:
Your grace doth mean for to attempt
Of war the manly art;
Your grace therein may hap receive,
With others, for your part
The dent of death: in those affairs
All persons are alike:
The heart courageous oftentimes
His detriment doth seek;
It’s best therefore for to permit
A ruler of your land
To sit and judge with equity,
When things of right are scann’d.
KING.
My grace doth yield to this your talk,
To be thus now it shall:
My Knight, therefore prepare yourself
Sisamnes for to call:
A judge he is of prudent skill,
Even he shall bear the sway,
In absence mine, when from the land
I do depart my way.
KNIGHT.
Your Knight before your grace even here
Himself hath ready prest,
With willing heart for to fulfil,
As your grace made request. [_Exit._
COUNCIL.
Pleaseth your grace, I judge of him
To be a man right fit;
For he is learned in the law,
Having the gift of wit:
In your grace’s precinct I do not view
For it a meeter man:
His learning is of good effect,
Bring proof thereof I can.
I do not know what is his life,
His conscience hid from me,
I doubt not but the fear of God
Before his eyes to be.
LORD.
Report declares, he is a man
That to himself is nigh;
One that favoureth much the world,
And too much sets thereby:
But this I say of certainty,
If he your grace succeed,
In your absence but for a while,
He will be warn’d indeed
No injustice for to frequent,
No partial judge to prove,
But rule all things with equity,
To win your grace’s love.
KING.
Of that he shall a warning have
My hests for to obey;
Great punishment for his offence
Against him will I lay.
COUNCIL.
Behold, I see him now aggress,
And enter into place.
SISAMNES.
O puissant prince and mighty king,
The gods preserve your grace!
Your grace’s message came to me,
Your will purporting forth:
With grateful mind I it received,
According to mine oath,
Erecting then myself with speed,
Before your grace’s eyes,
The tenor of your princely will
From you for to agnise.
KING.
Sisamnes, this the whole effect,
The which for you I sent:
Our mind it is to elevate,
You to great preferment.
My grace, and gracious Council eke,
Hath chose you for this cause:
In judgment you do office bear,
Which have the skill in laws;
We think that you accordingly
By justice rule will deal,
That for offence none shall have cause
Of wrong you to appeal.
SISAMNES.
Abundant thanks unto your grace
For this benignity:
To you his Council in like case,
With lords of clemency.
What so your grace to me permits,
If I therein offend,
Such execution then commence,
And use it to this end.
That all other (by that my deed)
Example so may take;
To admonish them to flee the same,
By fear it may them make.
KING.
Then according to your word,
If you therein offend,
I assure you even from my breast
Correction shall extend.
I mean to go[232]
Into the Egypt land,
Them to convince by force of arms,
And win the upper hand.
While I therefore absent shall be,
I do you full permit,
As governor in this my right,
In that estate to sit,
For to detect, and eke correct,
Those that abuse my grace:
This is the total of my will;
Give answer in this case.
SISAMNES.
Unworthy much (O prince) am I,
And for this gift unfit;
But sith that it hath pleased your grace,
That I in it must sit,
I do avouch unto my death,
According to my skill,
With equity for to observe
Your grace’s mind and will;
And nought from it to swerve indeed,
But sincerely to stay:
Else let me taste the penalty,
As I before did say.
KING.
Well then of this authority
I give you full possession.
SISAMNES.
And I will it fulfil also,
As I have made profession.
KING.
My Council, then, let us depart,
A small stay to make:
To Egypt land now forth with speed
My voyage I will take.
Strike up your drums us to rejoice,
To hear the warlike sound:
Stay you here, Sisamnes, judge,
And look well to your bound.
[_Exeunt_ KING, LORD, _and_ COUNCIL.
SISAMNES.
Even now the king hath me extoll’d,
And set me up aloft;
Now may I wear the brodered guard,
And lay in down-bed soft;
Now may I purchase house and land,
And have all at my will;
Now may I build a princely place,
My mind for to fulfil;
Now may I abrogate the law,
As I shall think it good;
If any one me now offend,
I may demand his blood.
According to the proverb old,
My mouth I will up make;
Now it doth lie all in my hand,
To leave or else to take;
To deal with justice to my bound,
And so to live in hope:
But oftentimes the birds be gone,
While one for nest doth grope.
Do well or ill I dare avouch,
Some evil on me will speak:
No, truly yet I do not mean
The king’s precepts to break;
To place I mean for to return
My duty to fulfil.
[_Exit._
_Enter the_ VICE _with an old capcase on his head, an
old pail about his hips for harness, a scummer and a
potlid by his side, and a rake on his shoulder_.
AMBIDEXTER.
Stand away, stand away, for the passion of God;
Harnessed I am, prepared to the field:
I would have been content at home to have bod,
But I am sent forth with my spear and shield.
I am appointed to fight against a snail,[233]
And Wilkin Wren the ancient shall bear;
I doubt not but against him to prevail,
To be a man my deeds shall declare.
If I overcome him, then a butterfly takes his part,
His weapon must be a blue speckled hen:
But you shall see me overthrow him with a fart,
So without conquest he shall go home again.
If I overcome him, I must fight with a fly,
And a black pudding the fly’s weapon must be:
At the first blow on the ground he shall lie,
I will be sure to thrust him through the mouth to the knee.
To conquest these fellows the man I will play,[234]
Ha, ha, ha, now ye will make me to smile,
To see, if I can all men beguile.
Ha, my name? my name would you so fain know?
Yea, i-wis, shall ye, and that with all speed:
I have forgot it, therefore I cannot show;
Ha, ha, now I have it, I have it indeed.
My name is Ambidexter: I signify one
That with both hands finely can play;
Now with king Cambyses, and by and by gone:
Thus do I run this and that way.
For while I mean with a soldier to be,
Then give I a leap to Sisamnes the judge;
I dare avouch, ye shall his destruction see:
To all kind of estates I mean for to trudge.
Ambidexter, nay, he is a fellow if ye knew all:
Cease for awhile; hereafter hear more ye shall.
_Enter three Ruffians_, HUFF, RUFF, _and_ SNUFF, _singing_.
HUFF.
Gog’s flesh and his wounds, these wars rejoice my heart;
By his wounds, I hope to do well, for my part:
By Gog’s heart, the world shall go evil, if I do not shift;
At some old carl’s bouget I mean for to lift.
RUFF.
By his flesh, nose, eyes, and ears,
I will venter void of all cares:
He is not a soldier that doth fear any doubt;
If that he would bring his purpose about.
SNUFF.
Fear that fear list, it shall not be I:
By Gog’s wounds, I will make some neck stand awry;
If I lose my share, I swear by Gog’s heart,
Then let another take up my part.
HUFF.
Yet I hope to come the richest soldier away.
RUFF.
If a man ask ye, ye may hap to say nay.
SNUFF.
Let all men get what they can, not to lese I hope:
Wheresoever I go in, each corner I will grope.
AMBIDEXTER.
What, and ye run into the corner of some pretty maid?
SNUFF.
To grope there, good fellow, I will not be afraid.
HUFF.
Gog’s wounds, what art thou that with us dost mell?
Thou seemest to be a soldier, the truth to tell;
Thou seemest to be harnessed, I cannot tell how:
I think he came lately from riding some cow;
Such a deformed slave did I never see:
Ruff, dost thou know him? I pray thee, tell me,
RUFF.
No, by my troth, fellow Huff, I never see him before.
SNUFF.
As for me I care not, if I never see him more.
Come, let us run his arse against the post.
AMBIDEXTER.
Ah, ye slaves, I will be with you at the host:
Ah, ye knaves, I will teach ye how ye shall me deride.
[_Here let him swinge them about._
Out of my sight; I can ye not abide.
Now, goodman pouchmouth, I am a slave with you!
Now have at ye afresh again even now:
Mine arse against the post you will run?
But I will make ye from that saying to turn.
HUFF.
I beseech ye heartily to be content.
RUFF.
I insure you, by mine honesty, no hurt we meant:
Beside that, again, we do not know what ye are;
Ye know, that soldiers their stoutness will declare.
Therefore, if we have anything offended,
Pardon our rudeness, and it shall be amended.
AMBIDEXTER.
Yea, God’s pity, begin ye to entreat me?
Have at ye once again! by the mass, I will beat ye.
[_Fight again._
HUFF.
Gog’s heart, let us kill him; suffer no longer.
[_Draw their swords._
SNUFF.
Thou slave, we will see, if thou be the stronger.
RUFF.
Strike off his head at one blow:
That we be soldiers, Gog’s heart, let him know.
AMBIDEXTER.
O’ the passion of God, I have done, by mine honesty:
I will take your part hereafter verily.
ALL.
Then, content; let us agree.
AMBIDEXTER.
Shake hands with me, I shake hands with thee:
Ye are full of courtesy, that is the best;
And you take great pain, ye are a mannerly guest.
Why, masters, do you not know me? the truth to me tell--
ALL.
No, trust us, not very well.
AMBIDEXTER.
Why, I am Ambidexter, whom many soldiers do love.
HUFF.
Gog’s heart, to have thy company needs we must prove.
We must play with both hands with our hostess and host,
Play with both hands, and score on the post,
Now and then with our captain for many a delay,
We will not stick with both hands to play.
AMBIDEXTER.
The honester man ye, ye may me trust.
_Enter_ MERETRIX, _with a staff on her shoulder_.
MERETRIX.
What, is there no lads here that hath a lust
To have a passing trull to help at their need?
HUFF.
Gog’s heart, she is come indeed.
What, Mistress Meretrix? by his wounds, welcome to me.
MERETRIX.
What will you give me? I pray you, let me see.
RUFF.
By his heart, she looks for gifts by and by.
MERETRIX.
What, Master Ruff, I cry you mercy;
The last time I was with you, I got a broken head,
And lay in the street all night for want of a bed.
SNUFF.
Gog’s wounds, kiss me, my trull so white.
In thee I swear is all my delight;
If thou shouldest have had a broken head for my sake,
I would have made his head to ache.
MERETRIX.
What, Master Ambidexter? who looked for you?
AMBIDEXTER.
Mistress Meretrix, I thought not to see you here now.
There is no remedy; at meeting I must have a kiss.
MERETRIX.
What, man? I will not stick for that, by Giss.
[_Kiss._
AMBIDEXTER.
So now, gramercy, I pray thee be gone.
MERETRIX.
Nay, soft, my friend; I mean to have one:
Nay, soft; I swear, and if ye were my brother,
Before I let go, I will have another.
[_Kiss, kiss, kiss._
RUFF.
Gog’s heart, the whore would not kiss me yet.
MERETRIX.
If I be a whore, thou art a knave, then it is quit.
HUFF.
But hear’st thou, Meretrix? with who this night wilt thou lie?
MERETRIX.
With him that giveth the most money.
HUFF.
Gog’s heart, I have no money in purse, ne yet in clout.
MERETRIX.
Then get thee hence, and pack like a lout.
HUFF.
Adieu, like a whore.
[_Exit_ HUFF.
MERETRIX.
Farewell, like a knave.
RUFF.
Gog’s nails, Mistress Meretrix, now he is gone,
A match ye shall make straight with me;
I will give thee sixpence to lie one night with thee.
MERETRIX.
Gog’s heart, slave, dost thou think I am a six-penny jug?
No, wis ye, Jack, I look a little more smug.
SNUFF.
I will give her eighteenpence to serve me first.
MERETRIX.
Gramercy, Snuff, thou art not the worst.
RUFF.
By Gog’s heart, she were better be hanged, to forsake me, and take
thee.
SNUFF.
Were she so? that shall we see.
RUFF.
By Gog’s heart, my dagger into her I will thrust.
SNUFF.
Ah, ye boy, ye would do it, and ye durst!
AMBIDEXTER.
Peace, my masters; ye shall not fight:
He that draws first, I will him smite.
RUFF.
Gog’s wounds, Master Snuff, are ye so lusty?
SNUFF.
Gog’s sides, Master Ruff, are ye so crusty?
RUFF.
You may happen to see.
SNUFF.
Do what thou darest to me.
[_Here draw and fight. Here she must lay on and coil
them both, the_ VICE _must run his way for fear_,
SNUFF _fling down his sword and buckler, and run
his way_.
MERETRIX.
Gog’s sides, knaves, seeing to fight ye be so rough,
Defend yourselves, for I will give ye both enough:
I will teach you how ye shall fall out for me;
Yea, thou slave Snuff, no more blows wilt thou bide?
To take thy heels a time hast thou spied?
Thou villain, seeing Snuff has gone away,
A little better I mean thee to pay.
[_He falleth down, she falleth upon him, and
beats him, and taketh away his weapon._]
RUFF.
Alas, good Mistress Meretrix, no more;
My legs, sides, and arms with beating be sore.
MERETRIX.
Thou a soldier, and loose thy weapon!
Go hence, sir boy; say, a woman hath thee beaten.
RUFF.
Good Mistress Meretrix, my weapon let me have;
Take pity on me, mine honesty to save!
If it be known this repulse I sustain,
It will redound to my ignomy and shame.
MERETRIX.
If thou wilt be my man, and wait upon me,
This sword and buckler I will give thee.
RUFF.
I will do all at your commandment;
As servant to you I will be obedient.
MERETRIX.
Then let me see how before me ye can go.
When I speak to you, ye shall do so:
Off with your cap at place and at board:
_Forsooth, Mistress Meretrix_, at every word,
Tut, tut, in the camp such soldiers there be;
One good woman would beat away two or three.
Well, I am sure, customers tarry at home:
Mannerly, before: and let us begone.
[_Exeunt._
_Enter_ AMBIDEXTER.
AMBIDEXTER.
O’ the passion of God, be they here still or no?
I durst not abide to see her beat them so.
I may say to you I was in such a fright:
Body of me, I see the hair of my head stand upright.
When I saw her so hard upon them lay,
O’ the passion of God, thought I, she will be with me anon.
I made no more ado, but avoided the thrust,
And to my legs began for to trust;
And fell a laughing to myself, when I was once gone:
It is wisdom (quoth I), by the mass, to save one.
Then into this place I intended to trudge,
Thinking to meet Sisamnes the judge.
Behold, where he cometh, I will him meet;
And like a gentleman I mean him to greet.
_Enter_ SISAMNES.
SISAMNES.
Since that the king’s grace’s majesty in office did me set,
What abundance of wealth to me might I get?
Now and then some vantage I achieve,
Much more yet may I take;
But that I fear unto the king
That some complaint will make.
AMBIDEXTER.
Jesu, Master Sisamnes, you are unwise.
SISAMNES.
Why so? I pray ye, let me agnise,
What, Master Ambidexter, is it you?
Now welcome to me, I make God a vow.
AMBIDEXTER.
Jesu, Master Sisamnes, with me you are well acquainted:
By me rulers may be trimly painted.
Ye are unwise, if ye take not time while ye may:
If ye will not now, when ye would, ye shall have nay.
What is he, that of you dare make exclamation,
Of your wrong-dealings to make explication?
Can you not play with both hands, and turn with the wind?
SISAMNES.
Believe me, your words draw deep in my mind,
In colour wise unto this day
To bribes I have inclined:
More the same for to frequent
Of truth I am now minded.
Behold, even now unto me suitors do proceed.
SMALL HABILITY.
I beseech you here, good master judge,
A poor man’s cause to tender;
Condemn me not in wrongful wise,
That never was offender.
You know right well, my right it is,
I have not for to give!
You take away from me my due,
That should my corpse relieve.
The Commons of you do complain,
From them you devocate;
With anguish great and grievous words
Their hearts do penetrate.
From[235] right you fell unto the wrong,
Your private gain to win;
You violate the simple man,
And count it for no sin.
SISAMNES.
Hold thy tongue, thou prattling knave,
And give to me reward;
Else in this wise, I tell thee truth,
Thy tale will not be heard.
Ambidexter, let us go hence, and let the knave alone.
AMBIDEXTER.
Farewell, Small Hability, for help now get ye none.
Bribes hath corrupt him, good laws to pollute.
[_Exeunt._
SMALL HABILITY.
A naughty man that will not obey the king’s constitute.
With heavy heart I will return,
Till God redress my pain.
[_Exit._
_Enter_ SHAME, _with a trump black_.
SHAME.
From among the grisly ghosts I come,
From tyrant’s testy train;
Unseemly Shame of sooth I am,
Procured to make plain
The odious facts and shameless deeds
That Cambyses king doth use;
All piety and virtuous life
He doth it clean refuse.
Lechery and drunkenness
He doth it much frequent;
The tiger’s kind to imitate
He hath given full consent.
He nought esteems his Council grave,
Ne virtuous bringing up;
But daily still receives the drink
Of damned vice’s cup:
He can bide no instruction,
He takes so great delight
In working of iniquity,
For to frequent his spite:
As fame doth sound the royal trump
Of worthy men and trim,
So shame doth blow with strained blast
The trump of shame on him.
[_Exit_.
_Enter the_ KING, LORD, PRAXASPES, _and_ SISAMNES.
KING.
My judge, since my departure hence,
Have you used judgment right?
If faithful steward I ye find
The same I will requite.
SISAMNES.
No doubt, your grace shall not once hear
That I have done amiss.
PRAXASPES.
I much rejoice to hear so good news as this.
_Enter_ COMMONS’ CRY _running in, speak this verse,
go out again hastily._
COMMONS’ CRY.
Alas, alas, how are the Commons oppressed
By that vile judge, Sisamnes by name?
I do not know, how it should be redressed;
To amend his life no whit he doth frame.
We are undone, and thrown out of door,
His damnable dealing doth us so torment:
At his hand we can find no relief nor succour.
God grant him grace for to repent.
[_Run away crying._
KING.
What doleful cries be these, my lord,
That sound do in my ear?
Intelligence if you can give,
Unto your king declare.
To me it seemeth my Commons all
They do lament and cry
Out at[236] Sisamnes judge most chief,
Even now standing us by.
PRAXASPES.
Even so (O king) it seem’d to me,
As you rehearsal made;
I doubt the judge culpable be
In some respect or trade.
SISAMNES.
Redoubted king, have no mistrust,
No whit your mind dismay;
There is not one that can me charge,
Or ought against me lay.
_Enter_ COMMONS’ COMPLAINT, _with_ PROOF _and_ TRIAL.
COMMONS’ COMPLAINT.
Commons’ Complaint I represent,
With thrall of doleful state,
By urgent cause erected forth
My grief for to dilate.
Unto the king I will prepare
My misery to tell,
To have relief of this my grief,
And fettered feet so fell.
Redoubted prince and mighty king,
Myself I prostrate here;
Vouchsafe (O king) with me to bear
For this that I appear.
With humble suit I pardon crave
Of your most royal grace,
To give me leave my mind to break,
Before you in this place.
KING.