LADY F. Nay, keep my habit yet a little while,

Old Fauconbridge is almost at the gate,

I met him at Blackheath just at the hermit's,

And, taking me to be a merchant's wife,

Fell mightily in love, gave me his ring,

Made me protest that I would meet him here.

I told him of his lady--O, tut, quoth he,

I'll shake her up, I'll pack her out of sight.

He comes; kind Robin Hood, hold up the jest.

_Enter_ SIR RICHARD FAUCONBRIDGE _and_ BLOCK, _talking together_.

FAU. God's marry, knave, how long hath she been here?

BLO. Sir, she came but even in afore you.

FAU. A cunning quean, a very cunning quean,

Go to your business, Block; I'll meet with her.

BLO. Ah, old muttonmonger, I believe here's work towards.

[_Exit_.

FAU. [_seeing the merchant's wife_].

Do not believe her. Moll, do not believe her,

I only spake a word or two in jest,

But would not for the world have been so mad;

Do not believe her, Moll, do not believe her.

ROB. What should I not believe? what do you mean?

LADY F. Why, good Sir Richard, let me speak with you.

Alas, will you undo me? will you shame me?

Is this your promise? came I here for this?

To be a laughing-stock unto your lady?

ROB. How now, Sir Richard, what's the matter there?

FAU. I'll talk with you anon; come hither, woman.

Did'st [thou] not tell my wife what match we made?

LADY F. I tell your wife? think ye I am such a beast?

Now God forgive ye; I am quite undone.

FAU. Peace, duck; peace, duck; I warrant all is well. [_Aside_.

Rob. What's the matter? I pray ye, Sir Richard, tell me!

FAU. Marry, Moll, thus--about some twelve month since,

Your brother Gloster, that mad prodigal,

Caus'd me to pass my word unto her husband

For some two thousand pounds, or more perchance--

No matter what it is, you shall not know,

Nay, ye shall never ask to know.

ROB. And what of this?

FAU. Many, the man's decayed,

And I believe a little thing would please her;

A very little thing, a thing of nothing.

Go in, good Moll, and leave us two alone,

I'll deal with ye as simply as I can.

LADY F. Fox, look about ye, ye are caught, i'faith.

ROB. Deal with her simply! O, O, what kind of dealing?

Can ye not deal with her, and I be by?

FAU. Marry a God, what, are ye jealous?

Ye teach me what to do? in, get you in.

O, I have heard Prince Richard was your guest,

How dwelt you then? In, get you in, I say.

Must I take care about your brother's debts,

And you stand crossing me? In, or I'll send you in. [_Exit_ ROBIN.

Ha, sirrah; you'll be master, you'll wear the yellow,[524]

You'll be an over-seer? marry, shall ye!

LADY F. Ye are too curst (methinks, sir) to your lady.

FAU. Ah, wench, content thee, I must bear her hard,

Else she'll be prying[525] into my dalliance.

I am an old man, sweet girl; I must be merry:

All steel, all spright: keep in health by change;

Men may be wanton, women must not range.

LADY F. You have given good counsel, sir; I'll repent me.

Here is your ring; I'll only love my husband.

FAU. I mean not so, I think to-day thou told'st me

Thy husband was an unthrift and a bankrupt.

And he be so, tut, thou hast favour store;

Let the knave beg, beauty cannot be poor.

LADY F. Indeed my husband is a bankrupt--

Of faith, of love, of shame, of chastity,

Dotes upon other women more than me.

FAU. Ha! do he so? then give him tit for tat,

Have one so young and fair, and loves another?

He's worthy to be cuckolded, by the mass!

What is he, old or young?

LADY F. About your age.

FAU. An old knave,

And cannot be content with such a peat!

Come to my closet, girl, make much of me;

We'll appoint a meeting-place some twice a week,

And I'll maintain thee like a lady, ha!

LADY F. O, but you will forget me presently,

When you look well upon your lady's beauty.

FAU. Who? upon her? why, she is a very dowdy,

A dishclout, a foul gipsy unto thee.

Come to my closet, lass, there take thy earnest

Of love, of pleasure, and good maintenance.

LADY F. I am very fearful.

FAU. Come, fool, never fear.

I am lord here, who shall disturb us then?

Nay, come, or, by the rood, I'll make you come.

LADY F. Help, Madam Fauconbridge, for God's sake.

_Enter_ ROBIN HOOD _as_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE, _and_ BLOCK.

FAU. How now, what mean'st?

LADY F. Help, gentle madam, help!

ROB. How now, what ail'st thou?

BLOCK. Nay, and't be a woman: ne'er fear my master, madam.

ROB[526]. Why speak'st thou not, what ail'st thou?

FAU. Why, nothing, by the rood, nothing she ails.

LADY F. O madam, this vile man would have abused me,

And forc'd me to his closet.

ROB. Ah, old Cole,[527] now look about: you are catcht!

LADY F. Call in your fellows, Block.

FAU. Do not, thou knave.

LADY F. Do, or I'll crack your crown.

BLO. Nay, I'll do't: I know she means to shame you.

[_Exit_.

FAU. Why, Moll, wilt thou believe this paltry woman?

Huswife, I'll have you whipp'd for sland'ring me.

ROB. What, lecher? no, she is an honest woman:

Her husband's well known; all the household knows.

BLO. Here's some now to tell all the town your mind.

LADY F. Before ye all I must [now] sure complain.

You see this wicked man, and ye all know

How oft he hath been jealous of my life:

Suspecting falsehood, being false himself.

BLO. O master, O master.

FAU. She slanders me; she is a cozening quean.

Fetch me the constable: I'll have her punish'd.

LADY F. The constable for me? fie, fie upon ye.

Madam, do you know this ring?

ROB. It is Sir Richard's.

BLO. O, aye, that's my master's, too [--too] sure.

FAU. Ay, marry, I did lend it to the false drab

To fetch some money for that bankrupt knave,

Her husband, that lies prisoner in the Fleet.

LADY F. My husband bankrupt? my husband in the Fleet prisoner?

No, no, he is as good a man as you.

ROB. Ay, that he is, and can spend pound for pound

With thee, i'faith, wert richer than thou art.

I know the gentleman.

LADY F. Nay, madam, he is

Hard by: there must be revels at the Hind tonight;

Your copesmate's there--Prince John.

ROB. There's a hot youth!

BLO. O, a fierce gentleman!

LADY F. He was fierce as you; but I have match'd him:

The princess shall be there in my attire.

FAU. A plaguy, crafty quean, marry a God,

I see Prince John courted as well as I;

And since he shall be mock'd as well as I,

It's some contentment.

BLO. Mass, he droops.

Fellow Humphrey, he is almost taken,

Look about ye, old Richard. [_Aside_.

FAU. Hence, knaves; get in a little. Prythee, Moll,

Let thou and I, and she, shut up this matter.

ROB. Away, sirs; get in.

BLO. Come, come,

Let's go; he will be baited now. Farewell.

[_Exit_ BLOCK.

FAU. Marry, sweet Moll, I say, I met this woman;

Lik'd her, lov'd her;

For she is worthy love, I promise thee.

I say, I courted her: tut, make no brawl,

'Twixt thou and I we'll have amends for all.

ROB. Had I done such a trick, what then? what then?

FAU. Ah prythee, Moll, tut, bear with men.

ROB. Aye, we must bear with you; you'll be excus'd,

When women undeserved are abus'd.

FAU. Nay, do not weep: pardon me, gentle lady;

I know thee virtuous, and I do protest

Never to have an evil thought of thee.

ROB. Aye, aye, ye swear; who's that that will believe ye?

FAU. Now, by my halidom and honest faith,

This gentlewoman shall witness what I swear.

Sweet duck, a little help me.

LADY F. Trust him, madam.

FAU. I will be kind, credulous, constant ever,

Do what thou wilt, I'll be suspicious never.

ROB. For which I thank [the] noble Fauconbridge.

[_Discovers himself_.

FAU. Body of me, who's this? young Huntington?

LADY F. And I your lady, whom you courted last,

[_Discovers herself_.

Ye looked about you ill, fox; we have caught ye;

I met ye at Blackheath, and ye were hot.

FAU. I knew thee, Moll; now, by my sword, I knew thee.

I wink'd at all; I laughed at every jest.

ROB. Aye, he did wink; the blind man had an eye.[528]

FAU. Peace, Robin, thou't once be a man as I.

LADY F. Well, I must bear it all.

FAU. Come, and ye bear,

It's but your office; come, forget, sweet Moll.

LADY. F. I do forgive it, and forget it, sir.

FAU. Why, that's well said; that's done like a good girl.

Ha, sirrah, ha, you match'd me, pretty earl.

ROB. I have, ye see, sir; I must unto Blackheath

In quest of Richard, whom I sent to seek

Earl Gloster out. I know he's at the hermit's.

Lend me your coach; I'll shift me, as I ride;

Farewell, Sir Richard.

[_Exit_.

FAU. Farewell, England's pride.

By the matins, Moll, it is a pretty child;

Shall we go meet John? shall we go mock the prince?

LADY F. We will.

FAU. O, then we shall have sport anon.

Never wear yellow, Moll; 'twas but a trick;

Old Fauconbridge will still be a mad Dick.

[_Exeunt_.

SCENE THE TWENTY-NINTH.

_Enter_ REDCAP _and_ GLOSTER.

RED. Do ye s-s-say, fa-fa-father hermit, th-that Gl-Gloster is about

this heath?

GLO. He is upon this heath, son; look about it.

Run but the compass, thou shalt find him out.

RED. R-r-run? I'll r-run the co-compass of all K-Kent but I'll f-find

him out; my f-f-father (where'er he lays his head) dare ne-never come

home, I know, t-t-till he be fo-fo-found.

GLO. Well, thou shalt find him. Know'st thou who's a-hunting?

RED. M-m-marry, 'tis the Earls of La-La-Lancaster and Le-Leicester,

Fa-fa-farewell, f-father; and I find Skink or Glo-Gloster, I'll

g-g-give thee the pr-price of a penny p-p-pudding for thy p-pains.

[_Exit_.

GLO. Adieu, good friend: this is sure the fellow

I sent on message from the Parl'ament--

The porter's son--he's still in quest of me,

And Skink, that cosen'd him of his red cap!

_Enter_ RICHARD, _like a Serving-man_.

But look about thee, Gloster; who comes yonder?

O, a plain serving-man, and yet perhaps

His bags are lin'd,

And my purse now grows thin:

If he have any, I must share with him.

_Enter_ SKINK, _like a Hermit_.

And who's on yond side? O, it is my hermit;

Hath got his other suit, since I went forth.

SKINK. Sblood, yonder's company; I'll back again,

Else I would be with you counterfeit;

I'll leave the rogue till opportunity,

But never eat, till I have quit my wrong. [_Exit_.

RICH. I saw two men attend like holy hermits;

One's slipp'd away, the other's at his beads.

Now, Richard, for the love of Marian,

Make thy inquire, where mad Gloster lives.

If England or the verge of Scotland hold him,

I'll seek him thus disguis'd. If he be pass'd

To any foreign part, I'll follow him.

Love, thou art Lord of hearts; thy laws are sweet;

In every troubled way thou guid'st our feet.

Lovers, enjoin'd to pass the dangerous sea

Of big-swoll'n sorrow in the bark Affection,

The winds and waves of woe need never fear,

While Love the helm doth, like a pilot, steer.

GLO. Here's some lover come, a mischief on him!

I know not how to answer these mad fools;

But I'll be brief; I'll mar the hermit's tale.

Off, gown; hold, buckler; slice it, Bilbo' blade.

RICH. What's this? what should this mean? old man, good friend.

GLO. Young fool, deliver; else see your end.

RICH. I thought thou hadst been holy and a hermit.

GLO. Whate'er you thought, your purse! come, quickly, sir;

Cast that upon the ground, and then confer.

RICH. There it is.

GLO. Falls it so heavy? then my heart is light.

RICH. Thou'lt have a heavy heart before thou touch it.

Theft shrin'd in holy weeds, stand to't, y'are best.

GLO. And if I do not, seeing such a prey,

Let this be to me a disaster day.

RICH. Art thou content to breathe?

[_Fight and part once or twice_.

GLO. With all my heart.

Take half thy money, and we'll friendly part.

RICH. I will not cherish theft.

GLO. Then I defy thee.

[_Fight again and breathe_.

RICH. Alas for pity, that so stout a man,

So reverend in aspect, should take this course.

GLO. This is no common man with whom I fight,

And if he be, he is of wond'rous spright. [_Aside_.

Shall we part stakes?

RICH. Fellow, take

The purse upon condition thou wilt follow me.

GLO. What, wait on you? wear a turn'd livery,

Whose man's your master? If I be your man,

My man's man's office will be excellent!

There lies your purse again; win it and wear it.

[_Fight_.

_Enter_ ROBIN HOOD. _They breathe, offer again_.

ROB. Clashing of weapons at my welcome hither?

Bick'ring upon Blackheath. Well-said, old man;

I'll take thy side, the younger hath the odds.

Stay, end your quarrel, or I promise ye

I'll take the old man's part.

RICH. You were not wont.

Young Huntington; [be] still on Richard's side.

ROB. Pardon, gracious prince; I knew ye not.

GLO. Prince Richard? then lie, envy, at his foot.

Pardon thy cousin Gloster, valiant lord.

I knew no common force confronted mine.

RICH[529]. O heaven, I had the like conceit of thine,

I tell thee, Robin, Gloster, thou art met,

Bringing such comfort unto Richard's heart:

As in the foil of war, when dust and sweat,

The thirst of wreak[530], and the sun's fiery heat,

Have seized upon the soul of valiance,

And he must faint, except he be refresh'd.

To me thou com'st, as if to him should come

A perry[531] from the north, whose frosty breath

Might fan him coolness in that doubt[532] of death.

With me then meet'st, as he a spring might meet,

Cooling the earth under his toil-parch'd feet,

Whose crystal moisture, in his helmet ta'en,

Comforts his spirits, makes him strong again.

GLO. Prince, in short terms, if you have brought me comfort,

Know, if I had my pardon in this hand,

That smit base Skink in open Parl'ament,

I would not come to Court, till the high feast

Of your proud brother's birthday be expired,

For as the old king--as he made a vow

At his unlucky coronation, [that I]

Must wait upon the boy and fill his cup,

And all the peers must kneel, while Henry kneels,

Unto his cradle--he shall hang me up,

Ere I commit that vile idolatry.

But when the feast is pass'd, if you'll befriend me,

I'll come and brave my proud foes to their teeth.

RICH. Come, Robin; and if my brother's grace deny,

I'll take thy part, them and their threats defy.

GLO. Gramercy, princely Dick.

ROB. I have some pow'r:

I can raise two thousand soldiers in an hour.

GLO. Gramercy, Robin; gramercy, little wag,

Prince Richard, pray let Huntington

Carry my sister Fauconbridge this ring.

RICH. I'll carry it myself; but I had rather

Had thy kind company; thou might'st have mov'd

Thy sister, whom I long have vainly lov'd.

GLO. I like her that she shuns temptation,

Prince Richard; but I bear with doting lovers.

I should not take it well, that you urge me

To such an office: but I bear with you.

Love's blind and mad. Hie to her boldly: try her;

But if I know she yield, faith, I'll defy her.

RICH. I like thy honourable resolution;

Gloster, I pray thee pardon my intreat.

GLO. It is men's custom: part, part, gentle prince,

Farewell, good Robin, this gold I will borrow;

Meet you at Stepney, pay you all to-morrow.

ROB. Adieu, Gloster.

[_Exit_ ROBIN.

GLO. Farewell, be short.

You gone, I hope to have a little sport.

RICH. Take heed, mad coz.

GLO. Tut, tell not me of heed: [_Exit_ RICHARD.

He that's too wary[533] never hath good speed.

SCENE THE THIRTIETH.

_Hollooing within; enter_ LANCASTER _with a broken

staff in his hand_.

[GLO.] Who's this? old Lancaster, my honour'd friend?

LAN. These knaves have serv'd me well, left me alone,

I have hunted fairly, lost my purse, my chain,

My jewels, and been bang'd by a bold knave,

Clad in a hermit's gown, like an old man--

O what a world is this?

GLO. It's ill, my lord.

LAN. He's come again! O knave, 'tis the worse for thee:

[_Mistakes_ GLOSTER _for the_ HERMIT.

Keep from me: be content with that thou hast,

And see thou fly this heath, for, if I take thee,

I'll make thee to all thieves a spectacle.

Had my staff held, thou hadst not 'scap'd me so.

But come not near me, fellow, thou art not[534] best,

Holla, Earl Leicester! holla, huntsmen, ho!

GLO. Upon my life, old Lancaster, a-hunting,

Hath met my fellow-hermit. Could I meet him,

I'd play [at] rob-thief, at least part stakes with him.

_Enter_ SKINK _as a hermit_.

SKINK. Zounds, he is yonder alone.

_Enter_ REDCAP _with a cudgel_.

SKINK. Now revenge thyself on yonder slave[535],

'Snails, still prevented? this same Redcap rogue

Runs like hob goblin up and down the heath.

RED. Wh-wh-wh-whoop, he-hermit, ye ha-ha-ma-ma-made Re-Redcap run a

fine co-co-compass, ha-have you not?

SKINK. I made thee run?

GLO. Yonder's my evil angel.

Were Redcap gone, Gloster would conjure him.

RED. Je-Je-Jesus bl-bless me, whoop! t-t-two hermits? I'll

ca-ca-caperclaw t-t-t'one of ye, for mo-mo-mocking me, and I d-d-do

not ha-ha-hang me. Wh-wh-which is the fa-fa-false k-k-k-knave? for I

am s-s-sure the old he-he-hermit wo-would never mo-mock an honest man.

GLO. He is the counterfeit; he mock'd thee, fellow.

I did not see thee in my life before,

He wears my garments, and has cosened me.

RED. Have you co-co-cosened the he-he-hermit and m-made Redcap run to

no pu-pu-purpose?

SKINK. No, he's [a] counterfeit; I will tell no lies,

As sure as Skink deceiv'd thee of thy clothes,

Sent thee to Kent, gave thee thy fare by water,

So sure, he's false, and I the perfect hermit.

GLO. This villain is a conjuror, I doubt,

Were he the devil, yet I would not budge.

RED. Si-si-sirrah, you are the co-counterfeit. O, this is the tr-tr-true

he-hermit. Sta-sta-stand still, g-good man, at that, I'll bu-bumbast you

i'faith, I'll make you g-give the old m-m-man his gown.

[_Offers to strike_; GLOSTER _trips up his heels;

shifts_ SKINK _into his place_.

G-G-God's lid, are ye go-good at that? I'll cu-cudgel ye f-f-for the

tr-tr-trick.

SKINK. It was not I; 'twas he, that cast thee down.

RED. You li-li-li-lie, you ra-ra-rascal, you; I le-left ye st-standing

he-here.

SKINK. Zounds, hold, you stammerer, or I'll cut your stumps.

GLO. He is for me; he's weapon'd--I like that!

RED. O, here's a ro-ro-rogue in-ca-ca-carnate, help, mu-murder, murder.

_Enter_ LANCASTER _and_ HUNTSMEN _at one door_,

LEICESTER _and_ HUNTSMEN _at another_.

LAN. Lay hold upon that thievish counterfeit.

LEI. Why, here's another hermit, Lancaster:

GLO. I am the hermit, sir; that wretched man

Doth many a robbery in my disguise:

SKINK. It's he that robs; he slanders me; he lies.

LAN. Which set on thee?

RED. Th-this f-f-fellow has a s-s-sword and a buckler.

LAN. Search him; this is the thief; O, here's my purse,

My chain, my jewels! O thou wicked wretch,

How dar'st thou, under show of holiness,

Commit such actions of impiety?

Bind him, I'll have him made a public scorn.

SKINK. Lay hold upon that other hermit;

He is a counterfeit as well as I.

He stole those clothes from me; for I am Skink.

Search him, I know him not, he is some slave.

GLO. Thou liest, base varlet.

RED. O G-God, he has a sword too. Skink, are you ca-catcht?

LAN. Villain, thou shalt with me unto the Court.

LEI. And this with me; this is the traitor Gloster.

GLO. Thou liest, proud Leicester; I am no traitor,

RED. G-Gloster? O b-brave, now m-my father sh-shall be f-free.

LAN. Earl Gloster, I am sorry thou art taken.

GLO. I am not taken yet, nor will I yield

To any here but noble Lancaster.

Let Skink be Leicester's prisoner; I'll be thine.

LEI. Thou shalt be mine.

GLO. First, through a crimson sluice,

I'll send thy hated soul to those black fiends,

That long have hovered gaping for their part,

When tyrant life should leave thy traitor heart!

Come, Lancaster, keep Skink; I'll go with thee.

Let loose the mad knave, for I praise his shifts.

He shall not start away; I'll be his guide,

And with proud looks outface young Henry's pride.

LEI. Look to them, Lancaster, upon thy life.

RED. Well, I'll r-run and get a p-pardon of the k-k-k-king, Gl-Gloster

and Skink ta-ta-taken! O b-b-brave, r-r-r-run, Re-Re-Redca-cap, a-and

ca-ca-carry the first n-n-news to Co-Co-Court.

LEI. Lancaster, I'll help to guard them to the Court.

LAN. Do as you please.

GLO. Leicester, do not come near me;

For, if thou do, thou shalt buy it dearly.

LEI. I'll have thy hand for this.

GLO. Not for thy heart.

SKINK. Brave Earl, had Skink known thou hadst been the noble Gloster

(whose mad tricks have made me love thee), I would have dyed Blackheath

red with the blood of millions, ere we would have been taken; but what

remedy? we are fast, and must answer it like gentlemen, like soldiers,

like resolutes.

GLO. Aye, ye are a gallant. Come, old Lancaster.

For thy sake will I go, or else, by heaven,

I'd send some dozen of these slaves to hell.

SCENE THE THIRTY-FIRST.

_Enter_ PRINCE RICHARD, ROBIN HOOD, _and_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE.

LADY F. Your travail and your comfortable news:

This ring, the certain sign you met with him:

Binds me in duteous love unto your grace;

But on my knees I fall, and humbly crave

Importune that no more you ne'er can have.

RICH. Nay, then, ye wrong me, Lady Fauconbridge,

Did you not join your fair white hands,

Swore that ye would forswear your husband's bed,

[And] if I could but find out Gloster?

LADY F. I swear so!

RICH. [Yes,] by heaven.

ROB. Take heed; it's an high oath, my lord.

RICH. What meanest thou, Huntington?

ROB. To save your soul;

I do not love to have my friends forsworn,

She never promis'd, that you urge her with.

RICH. Go to; provoke me not.

ROB. I tell you true;

'Twas I in her attire that promis'd you.

She was gone unto the wizard at Blackheath,

And there had suitors more than a good many.

RICH. Was I deluded then?

LADY F. No, not deluded;

But hind'red from desire unchaste and rude.

O, let me woo ye with the tongue of ruth,

Dewing your princely hand with pity's tears,

That you would leave this most unlawful suit,

If e'er we live, till Fauconbridge be dead,

(As God defend his death I should desire).

Then, if your highness deign so base a match,

And holy laws admit a marriage,

Considering our affinity in blood,

I will become your handmaid, not your harlot--

That shame shall never dwell upon my brow.

ROB. I'faith, my lord, she's honourably resolv'd,

For shame, no more; importune her no more.

RICH. Marian, I see thy virtue, and commend it;

I know my error, seeking thy dishonour,

But the respectless, reasonless command

Of my inflamed love, bids me still try,

And trample under foot all piety;

Yet, for I will not seem too impious,

Too inconsiderate of thy seeming grief,

Vouchsafe to be my mistress: use me kindly.

And I protest I'll strive with all my power,

That lust himself may in his heat devour.

LADY F. You are my servant, then.

RICH. Thanks, sacred mistress.

ROB. What am I?

LADY F. You are my fellow Robert.

_Enter_ FAUCONBRIDGE _in his hose and doublet_.

FAU. What, Prince Richard? noble Huntington?

Welcome, i'faith, welcome! by the morrow mass!

You are come as fitly as my heart can wish.

Prince John this night will be a reveller,

He hath invited me and Marian,

God's marry mother, go along with us,

It's but hard by, close by--at our town-tavern.

RICH. Your tavern?

FAU. O, aye, aye, aye; 'tis his own made match,

I'll make you laugh, I'll make you laugh, i'faith;

Come, come; he's ready. O, come, come away.

LADY F. But where's the princess?

FAU. She is[536] ready too;

Block, Block, my man, must be her waiting-man.

Nay, will ye go? for God's sake, let us go.

RICH. Is the jest so? nay, then, let us away.

ROB. O, 'twill allay his heat, make dead his fire.

FAU. Ye bobb'd me first; ye first gave me my hire,

But come, a God's name, Prince John stays for us.

[_Exeunt_.

ROB. This is the word ever at spendthrifts' feasts,

They are gull'd themselves, and scoff'd at by their guests.

[_Exit_.

SCENE THE THIRTY-SECOND.

_A tavern. Enter_ JOHN, FAUCONBRIDGE, ROBIN

HOOD, RICHARD, _and the others_[537].

JOHN. Baffled and scoff'd! Skink, Gloster, women,

Fools and boys abuse me. I'll be reveng'd.

RICH. Reveng'd? and why, good child?

Old Fauconbridge hath had a worser basting.

FAU. Aye, they have banded [me] from chase to chase;

I have been their tennis-ball, since I did court.

RICH. Come, John, take hand with virtuous Isabel,

And let's unto the court, like loving friends.

Our kingly brother's birth-day's festival

Is forthwith to be kept; thither we'll hie,

And grace with pomp that great solemnity.

JOHN. Whither ye will; I care not, where I go.

If grief will grace it, I'll adorn the show.

FAU. Come, madam; we must thither; we are bound.

LADY.[538] I'm loth to see the court, Gloster being from thence,

Or kneel to him that gave us this offence.

FAU. Body of me, peace, woman, I prythee, peace.

_Enter_ REDCAP.

RED. Go-Go-God [speed] ye, Go-God s-speed ye!

JOHN. Whither run you, sir knave?

RED. R-r-run ye, sir knave? why, I r-run to my La-Lady Fa-Fauconbridge,

to te-te-tell her Sk-Skink and Gl-Gloster is taken, and are g-g-gone to

the c-c-court with L-Lord Leicester and L-Lord La-La-Lancaster.

JOHN. Is Gloster taken? thither will I fly

Upon wrath's wings; not quiet till he die.

[_Exit with_ PRINCESS.

RICH. Is Gloster taken?

RED. Aye, he is ta-taken, I wa-warrant ye, with a wi-witness.

RICH. Then will I to court,

And either set him free, or die the death.

Follow me, Fauconbridge; fear not, fair madam:

You said you had the porter in your house?

Some of your servants bring him; on my life,

One hair shall not be taken from his head,

Nor he, nor you, nor Gloster, injured.

FAU. Come, Moll, and Richard say the word, ne'er fear.

ROB. Madam, we have twenty thousand at our call,

The most young Henry dares is but to brawl.

LADY F. Pray God, it prove so.

RICH. Follow, Huntington:

Sir Richard, do not fail to send the porter.

FAU. Block, bring the porter of the Fleet to court.

BLO. I will, sir.

RED. The p-p-porter of the Fl-Fl-Fleet to court?

What p-p-porter of the Fl-Fl-Fleet?

BLO. What, Redcap? Run, Redcap, wilt thou see thy father?

RED. My fa-father? Aye, that I w-would s-see my f-father, and there be

A p-porter in your ho-house, it is my fa-father.

BLO. Follow me, Redcap, then.

[_Exit_.

RED. And you were tw-tw-twenty B-Blocks, I'd f-f-follow ye, s-so I would,

and r-run to the co-co-court too, and k-kneel before the k-k-king f-f-for

his pa-pardon.

BLO. [Within.] Come away, Redcap; run, Redcap.

RED. I-I-I r-r-run as f-f-fast as I-I ca-ca-can run, I wa-warrant ye.

SCENE THE THIRTY-THIRD.

_Enter a Signet,[539] first two Heralds, after them_

LEICESTER, _with a sceptre,_ LANCASTER, _with a

crown imperial on a cushion: after them_ HENRY THE ELDER,

_bare-headed, bearing a sword and a globe: after him_

YOUNG HENRY, _crowned_: ELINOR, _the Mother-Queen,

crowned_: YOUNG QUEEN _crowned_: HENRY THE ELDER

_places his son, the two Queens on either hand, himself

at his feet_, LEICESTER _and_ LANCASTER _below him_.

HEN. Herald, fetch Lancaster and Leicester coronets,

Suffer no marquis, earl, nor countess enter,

Except their temples circled are in gold.

[_He delivers coronets to_ LEICESTER _and_ LANCASTER.

Shew them our viceroys: by our will controll'd,

As at a coronation, every peer

Appears in all his pomp; so at this feast,

Held for our birthright, let them be adorn'd,

Let Gloster be brought in, crowned like an earl. [_Exit_ HERALD.

This day we'll have no parley of his death,

But talk of jouissance and gleeful mirth.

Let Skink come in; give him a baron's seat.

High is his spirit, his deserts are great.

KING. You wrong the honour of nobility

To place a robber in a baron's stead.

QUEEN. It's well ye term him not a murderer.

KING. Had I misterm'd him?

QUEEN. Ay, that had you, Henry.

He did a piece of justice at my bidding.

KING. Who made you a justice?

HEN. I, that had the power.

KING. You had none then.

_Enter_ GLOSTER _and_ SKINK.

LEI. Yes, he was crown'd before.

HEN. Why does not Gloster wear a coronet?

GLO. Because his sovereign doth not wear a crown.

HEN. By heaven, put on thy coronet, or that heaven,

Which now with a clear [arch] lends us this light,

Shall not be curtain'd with the veil of night,

Ere on thy head I clap a burning crown

Of red-hot iron, that shall sear thy brains.

RICH. Good Gloster, crown thee with thy coronet.

LAN. Do, gentle earl.

SKINK. Swounds, do; would I had one. [_Aside_.

QUEEN. Do not, I prythee, keep thy proud heart still.

GLO. I'll wear it but to cross thy froward will.

HEN. Sit down, and take thy place.

GLO. It's the low earth;

To her I must, from her I had my birth.[540]

HEN. We are pleas'd thou shalt sit there.

Skink, take thy place among my nobles.

_Enter_ JOHN _and_ ISABEL, _with coronets_.

SKINK. Thanks to King Henry's grace.

JOHN. John, Earl of Morton and of Nottingham,

With Isabel his countess, bow themselves

Before their brother Henry's royal throne!

HEN. Ascend your seats; live in our daily love.

_Enter_ RICHARD _and_ ROBERT, _with coronets_.

RICH. Richard, the Prince of England, with his ward,

The noble Robert Hood, Earl Huntington,

Present their service to your majesty.

HEN. Y'are welcome, too, though little be your love. [_Aside_.]

_Enter_ FAUCONBRIDGE _with his_ LADY, _she a coronet_.

FAU. Old Richard Fauconbridge, Knight of the Cross,

Lord of the Cinque Ports, with his noble wife,

Dame Marian, Countess of West-Hereford,[541]

Offer their duties at this royal meeting.

HEN. Sit down, thou art a neuter, she a foe.

Thy love we doubt; her heart too well we know. [_Aside_.

What suitors are without? let them come in.

GLO. And have no justice, where contempt is king.

HEN. Madman, I give no ear to thy loose words.

JOHN. O sir, y'are welcome; you have your old seat.

GLO. Though thou sit higher, yet my heart's as great.

QUEEN. Great heart, we'll make you lesser by the head.

GLO. Ill comes not ever to the threatened[542].

_Enter_ BLOCK _and_ REDCAP.

HEN. What are you two?

RED. M-ma-marry, and't please you, I am Re-Re-Redcap.

HEN. And what's your mate?

BLO. A poor porter, sir.

JOHN. The porter of the Fleet, that was condemned?

BLO. No, truly, sir; I was porter last, when I left the door open

at the tavern.

JOHN. O, is't you, sir?

LEI. And what would you two have?

RED. I co-co-come to re-re-re-qui-quire the young k-k-king of his

go-goo-goodness, since Glo-Gloster is t-taken, that he wo-wo-would

let my fa-fa-father have his pa-pa-pardon.

HEN. Sirrah, your father has his pardon sign'd.

Go to the office, it shall be delivered.

RED. And shall he be p-p-porter a-ga-gain?

HEN. Aye, that he shall; but let him be advis'd,

Hereafter how [he] lets out prisoners.

RED. I wa-warrant ye, my lord.

HEN. What hast thou more to say?

RED. Marry, I wo-would have Skink pu-punish'd

For co-co-coney-catching me.

LEI. Is that your business?

RED, Aye, by my t-t-troth is it.

HEN. Then get away.

GLO. Against Skink (poor knave) thou gett'st no right this day.

BLO. O, but run back, Redcap, for the pursuivant!

O L-Lord, s-sir, I have another s-suit for the p-p-pursuivant,

That has l-l-lost his b-b-box and his wa-wa-warrant.

HEN. What means the fellow?

RED. Why, the pu-pu-pursuivant, sir, and the po-po-porter.

GLO. The box, that I had from him--there it is.

FAU. Marry a me, and I was charg'd with it.

Had you it, brother Gloster? God's good mercy!

HEN. And what have you to say?

BLO. Nothing, sir,

But God bless you! you are a goodly company!

Except Sir Richard[543] or my lady will command me

Any more service.

FAU. Away, you prating knave! hence, varlet, hence.

[_Exit_ BLOCK.

LEI. Put forth them fellows there.

RED. Af-fo-fore I g-go,

I b-b-be-s-s-seech you, let Sk-Skink and Gl-Gloster be lo-lo-looked to;

For they have p-p-play'd the k-k-knaves too-too-too b-b-bad.

HEN. Take hence that stuttering fellow; shut him[544] forth.

RED. Nay, I'll ru-ru-run; faith, you shall not n-n-need to b-b-b-bid

him ta-t-take m-me away; for Re-Re-Redcap will r-ru-run rarely.

[_Exit_ REDCAP.

HEN. The sundry misdemeanors late committed,

As thefts and shifts in other men's disguise,

We now must (knave Skink) freely tell thy faults.

SKINK. Sweet king, by these two terrors[545] to mine enemies, that lend

light to my body's darkness: Cavilero Skink being beleaguer'd with an

host of leaden heels, arm'd in ring Irish[546]: cheated my hammerer of

his _red cap_ and coat; was surpris'd, brought to the Fleet as a person

suspected, pass'd current, till Gloster stripped me from my counterfeit,

clad my back in silk and my heart in sorrow, and so left me to the mercy

of my mother-wit. How Prince John released me, he knows; how I got

Fauconbridge's chain, I know. But how he will get it again, I know not.

FAU. Where is it, sirrah? tell me where it is?

GLO. I got it from him, and I got John's sword.

JOHN. I would 'twere to the hilt up in thy heart.

RICH. O, be more charitable, brother John.

LEI. My liege, you need not by particulars

Examine, what the world knows too plain;

If you will pardon Skink, his life is sav'd;

If not, he is convicted by the law.

For Gloster, as you worthily resolv'd,

First take his hand, and afterward his head.

HEN. Skink, thou hast life, our pardon and our love.

SKINK [_to_ JOHN.] And your forgiveness for my robbery?

JOHN. Tut, never trouble me with such a toy;

Thou hind'rest me from hearing of my joy.

HEN. Bring forth a block, wine, water, and towel;

Knives, and a surgeon to bind up the veins

Of Gloster's arm, when his right hand is off--

His hand that struck Skink at the Parl'ament.

SKINK. I shall bear his blows to my grave, my lord.

KING. Son Henry, see thy father's palsy hands,

Join'd like two suppliants, pressing to thy throne.

Look, how the furrows of his aged cheek,

Fill'd with the rivulets of wet-ey'd moan,

Begs mercy for Earl Gloster? weigh his guilt.

Why for a slave should royal blood be spilt?

SKINK. You wrong mine honour: Skink must[547] be reveng'd.

HEN. Father, I do commend your humble course;

But quite dislike the project of your suit.

Good words in an ill cause makes the fact worse:

Of blood or baseness justice will dispute.

The greater man, the greater his transgression:

Where strength wrongs weakness, it is mere oppression.

LADY F. O, but, King Henry, hear a sister speak.

Gloster was wrong'd, his lands were given away,

They are not justly said just laws to break,

That keep their own right with what power they may.

Think, then, thy royal self began the wrong,

In giving Skink what did to him[548] belong.

QUEEN. Hear me, son Henry, while thou art a king,

Give, take, prison: thy subjects are thy slaves.

Life, need, thrones[549], proud hearts in dungeons fling,

Grace men to day, to-morrow give them graves.

A king must be, like Fortune, ever turning,

The world his football, all her glory spurning.

GLO. Still your own counsel, beldam policy!

You're a fit tutress in a monarchy.

RICH. Mother, you are unjust, savage, too cruel,

Unlike a woman. Gentleness guides their sex;

But you to fury's fire add more fuel.

The vexed spirit will you delight to vex?

O God, when I conceit what you have done,

I am asham'd to be esteem'd your son.

JOHN. Base Richard, I disdain to call thee brother,

Tak'st thou a traitor's part in our disgrace?

For Gloster wilt thou wrong our sacred mother?

I scorn thee, and defy thee to thy face.

O, that we were in field! then should'st thou try.

ROB. How fast Earl John would from Prince Richard fly!

Thou meet a lion in field? poor mouse,

All thy careers are in a brothel house.

JOHN. 'Zounds, boy!

RICH. Now, man!

LEI. Richard, you wrong Prince John.

RICH. Leicester, 'twere good you prov'd his champion.

JOHN. Hasten the execution, royal lord[s],

Let deeds make answer for their worthless words.

GLO. I know, if I respected hand or head,

I am encompassed with a world of friends,

And could from fury be delivered.

But then my freedom hazards many lives.

Henry, perform the utmost of thy hate,

Let my[550] hard-hearted mother have her will.

Give frantic John no longer cause to prate:

I am prepared for the worst of ill.

You see my knees kiss the cold pavement's face,

They are not bent to Henry nor his friends,

But to all you whose blood, fled to your hearts,

Shows your true sorrow in your ashy cheeks:

To you I bend my knees: you I entreat

To smile on Gloster's resolution.

Whoever loves me, will not shed a tear,

Nor breathe a sigh, nor show a cloudy frown.

Look, Henry, here's my hand; I lay it down,

And swear, as I have knighthood, here't shall lie

Till thou have used all thy tyranny.

LADY F. Has no man heart to speak?

GLO. Let all that love me keep silence, or, by heaven,

I'll hate them dying.

QUEEN. Harry, off with his hand, then with his head.

FAU. By the red rood, I cannot choose but weep,

Come love or hate, my tears I cannot keep.

QUEEN. When comes this ling'ring executioner?

JOHN. An executioner, an executioner!

HEN. Call none, till we have drunk: father, fill wine;

To-day your office is to bear our cup.

RICH. I'll fill it, Henry. [RICH. _kneels down_.

HEN. Dick, you are too mean

To bow unto your sovereign.

GLO. Kneel to his child?

O hell! O torture! Gloster, learn:

Who would love life to see this huge dishonour?

HEN. Saturn kneeled to his son; the god was fain

To call young Jove his age's sovereign.

Take now your seat again, and wear your crown;

Now shineth Henry like the mid-day's sun,

Through his horizon darting all his beams,

Blinding with his bright splendour every eye,

That stares against his face of majesty.

The comets, whose malicious gleams

Threatened the ruin of our royalty,

Stand at our mercy, yet our wrath denies

All favour, but extreme extremities:

Gloster, have to thy sorrow, chafe thy arm,

That I may see thy blood (I long'd for oft)

Gush from thy veins, and stain this palace-roof.

JOHN. 'Twould exceed gilding.

QUEEN. Aye, as gold doth ochre.

GLO. It's well ye count my blood so precious.

HEN. Leicester, reach Gloster wine.

LEI. I reach it him?

HEN. Proud earl, I'll spurn thee; quickly go and bear it.

GLO. I'll count it poison, if his hand come near it.

HEN. Give it him, Leicester, upon our displeasure.

GLO. Thus Gloster takes it: thus again he flings it,

In scorn of him that sent it, and of him that brought it.

SKINK. O brave spirit!

LADY F. Bravely resolv'd, brother; I honour thee.

QUEEN. Hark, how his sister joys in his abuse.

Wilt thou endure it, Hal?

FAU. Peace, good Marian.

HEN. Avoid there every under-officer:

Leave but [with] us our peers and ladies here.

Richard, you love Earl Gloster: look about,

If you can spy one in this company

That hath but[551] done as great a sin as Gloster;

Choose him, let him be the executioner.

RICH. Thou hast done worse then, like, rebellious head,

Hast arm'd ten thousand arms against his life,

That lov'd thee so, as thou wert made a king,

Being his child; now he's thy underling!

I have done worse: thrice I drew my sword,

In three set battles for thy false defence!

John hath done worse; he still hath took thy part.

All of us three have smit our father's heart,

Which made proud Leicester bold to strike his face,

To his eternal shame and our disgrace!

HEN. Silence, I see thou mean'st to find none fit.

I am sure, nor Lancaster, nor Huntington,

Nor Fauconbridge, will lay a hand on him.

Mother, wife, brother, let's descend the throne,

Where Henry, as[552] the monarch of the west.

Hath sat[553] amongst his princes dignified.

Father, take you the place: see justice [done].

KING. It's unjust justice, I must tell thee, son.

HEN. Mother, hold you the basin, you the towel:

I know your French hearts thirst for English blood;

John, take the mallet; I will hold the knife,

And when I bid thee smite, strike for thy life:

Make a mark, surgeon. Gloster, now prepare thee.

GLO. Tut. I am ready; to thy worst I dare thee.

HEN. Then have I done my worst, thrice-honour'd earl,

I do embrace thee in affection's arms.

QUEEN. What mean'st thou, Henry? O, what means my son?

HEN. I mean no longer to be lullabi'd

In your seditious arms.

HEN. WIFE. _Mordieu_[554] Henry.

HEN. _Mordieu_ nor devil, little tit of France,

I know your heart leaps at our heart's mischance.

JOHN. 'Swounds, Henry, thou art mad!

HEN. I have been mad:

What, stamp'st thou, John? know'st thou not who I am?

Come, stamp the devil out, suck'd from thy dam?

QUEEN. I'll curse thee, Henry.

HEN. You're best be quiet;

Lest, where we find you, to the Tower we bear you;

For, being abroad, England hath cause to fear you.[555]

KING. I am struck dumb with wonder.

GLO. I amaz'd, imagine that I see a vision.

HEN. Gloster, I gave thee first this Skink, this slave;

It's in thy power his life to spill or save.

SKINK. He's a noble gentleman, I do not doubt his usage.

HEN. Stand not thus wond'ring; princes, kneel all down,

And cast your coronets before his crown.

Down, stubborn Queen, kneel to your wronged king,

Down, mammet! Leicester, I'll cut off thy legs,

If thou delay thy duty! when, proud John?

JOHN. Nay, if all kneel of force, I must be one.

FAU. Now, by my halidom, a virtuous deed!

HEN. Father, you see your most rebellious son,

Stricken with horror of his horrid guilt,

Requesting sentence fitting his desert:

O, tread upon his head, that trod [upon]

Your heart: I do deliver up all dignity,

Crown, sceptre, sword, unto your majesty.

KING. My heart surfeits with joy in hearing this,

And, dear[est] son, I'll bless thee with a kiss.

HEN. I will not rise; I will not leave this ground

Till all these voices, joined in one sound,

Cry: God save Henry, second of that name,

Let his friends live, his foes see death with shame!

ALL. God save Henry, second of that name,

Let his friends live, his foes see death with shame!

HEN. Amen, amen, amen!

JOHN. Hark! mother, hark!

My brother is already turned clerk.

QUEEN. He is a recreant; I am mad with rage.

HEN. Be angry at your envy, gracious mother,

Learn patience and true humility

Of your worst-tutor'd son; for I am he.

Hence, hence that Frenchwoman; give her her dowry,

Let her not speak, to trouble my mild soul,

Which of this world hath taken her last leave:

And by her power will my proud flesh control.

Off with these silks; my garments shall be grey,

My shirt hard hair; my bed the ashy dust;

My pillow but a lump of hard'ned clay:

For clay I am, and with clay I must.

O, I beseech ye, let me go alone,

To live, where my loose life I may bemoan.

KING. Son!

QUEEN. Son!

RICH. Brother!

JOHN. Brother!

HEN. Let none call me their son; I'm no man's brother,

My kindred is in heav'n, I know no other.

Farewell, farewell; the world is your's; pray take it,

I'll leave vexation, and with joy forsake it.

[_Exit_.

LADY F. Wondrous conversion!

FAU. Admirable good:

Now, by my halidom, Moll, passing good.

RICH. H'hath fir'd my soul; I will to Palestine.

And pay my vows before the Sepulchre.

Among the multitude of misbelief,

I'll show myself the soldier of Christ:

Spend blood, sweat tears, for satisfaction

Of many--many sins, which I lament;

And never think to have them pardoned,

Till I have part of Syria conquered.

GLO. He makes me wonder, and inflames my spirits,

With an exceeding zeal to Portingale,

Which kingdom the unchris'ned Saracens[556],

The black-fac'd Africans, and tawny Moors,

Have got unjustly in possession:

Whence I will fire them with the help of heaven.

SKINK. Skink will scorch them, brave Gloster;

Make carbonadoes of their bacon-flitches;

Deserve to be counted valiant by his valour,

And Rivo[557] will he cry, and Castile too,

And wonders in the land of Seville do.

ROB. O, that I were a man to see these fights:

To spend my blood amongst these worthy knights.

FAU. Marry, aye me, were I a boy again,

I'd either to Jerusalem or Spain.

JOHN. Faith, I'll keep England; mother, you and I

Will live from[558] all this fight and foolery.

KING. Peace to us all, let's all for peace give praise,

Unlook'd-for peace, unlook'd-for happy days!

Love Henry's birth-day; he hath been new-born;

I am new-crowned, new-settled in my seat.

Let's all to th'chapel, there give thanks and praise,

Beseeching grace from Heaven's eternal throne,

That England never know more prince than one.

[_Exeunt_.

FINIS.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] He is mentioned by Webbe, in his "Discourse of English Poetrie,"

1586, Sign. C 4, with other poets of that time, as Whetstone, Munday,

Grange, Knight, _Wilmot_, Darrell, F.C. F.K., G.B., and others, whose

names he could not remember.

[2] Robert Wilmot, A.M., was presented to the rectory of North Okenham,

in Essex, the 28th of November 1582, by Gabriel Poyntz: and to the

vicarage of Horndon on the Hill, in the same county, the 2d December

1585, by the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's.--Newcourt's "Repertorium."

--_Steevens_.

[3] The same person, who was the author of "A Discourse of English

Poetrie: together with the Authors judgment, touching the reformation of

our English Verse." B.L. 4to, 1586. [This "Discourse" is reprinted in

Haslewood'a "Ancient Critical Essays," 1811-15.]

[4] [An English translation was published in 1577.]

[5] These three sonnets following occur both in Lansdowne MS. (786) and

Hargrave MS. (205), but the first was not included in the printed copy

of 1591.

[6] _Pheer_ signifies a husband, a friend, or a companion, and in

all these senses it is used in our ancient writers. It here means

_a husband_. So in Lyly's "Euphues," 1581, p. 29: "If he be young, he

is the more fitter to be thy _pheere_. If he bee olde, the lyker to

thine aged father." It occurs again in act ii. sc. 3, and act iv. sc. 3.

[7] _Prevent_, or _forbid_. So in "Euphues and his England," 1582,

p. 40: "For never shall it be said that Iffida was false to Thirsus,

though Thirsus be faithlesse (which the gods _forefend_) unto Iffida."

[8] _Command_. So in Lyly's "Euphues and his England," p. 78: "For this

I sweare by her whose lightes canne never die, Vesta, and by her _whose

heasts_ are not to be broken, Diana," &c.

Again, in Shakespeare's "Tempest," act iii. sc. 1--

"O my father,

I have broke _your hest_ to say so!"

And in the prologue to [Peele's] "Araygnement of Paris," 1584--

"Done by the pleasure of the powers above,

Whose _hestes_ men must obey."

The word occurs again in act iv. sc. 2, act iv. sc. 4, and act v. sc. 1.

[9] The second and third sonnets are now given (_verbatim et literatim_)

in a note, as they stand in Lansdowne MS. 786. They will serve to show

how slight were Wilmot's improvements, and will leave it perhaps open to

doubt whether the changes made in 1591 were always changes for the

better.

_An other to the same_.

Flowers of prime, pearles couched in gold,

sonne of our day that gladdeneth the hart

of them that shall yo'r shining beames behold,

salue of eche sore, recure of euery smart,

in whome vertue and beautie striueth soe

that neither yeldes: loe here for you againe

Gismondes vnlucky loue, her fault, her woe,

and death at last, here fére and father slayen

through her missehap. And though ye could not see,

yet rede and rue their woefull destinie.

So Joue, as your hye vertues doen deserue,

geue you such féres as may yo'r vertues serue

w'th like vertues: and blissfull Venus send

Vnto your happy loue an happy end.

_An other to the same_.

Gismond, that whilom liued her fathers ioy,

and dyed his death, now dead doeth (as she may)

by vs pray you to pitie her anoye;

and, to reacquite the same, doeth humbly pray

Joue shield yo'r vertuous loues from like decay.

The faithfull earle, byside the like request,

doeth wish those wealfull wightes, whom ye embrace.

the constant truthe that liued within his brest;

his hearty loue, not his unhappy case

to fall to such as standen in your grace.

The king, prayes pardon of his cruel hest:

and for amendes desireth it may suffise,

that w'th his blood he teacheth now the rest

of fond fathers, that they in kinder wise

entreat the iewelles where their comfort lyes.

And we their messagers beseche ye all

on their behalfes, to pitie all their smartes:

and on our own, although the worth be small,

we pray ye to accept our simple hartes

auowed to serue, w'th prayer and w'th praise

your honors, as vnable otherwayes.

[10] The play, as written in 1568, and as altered by Wilmot in 1591,

differs so much throughout, that it has been found impracticable,

without giving the earlier production entire, to notice all the changes.

Certain of the variations, however, and specialities in the Lansdowne

MS., as far as the first and second scenes of the first act, will be

printed (as a specimen) in the notes.

[11] In the Lansdowne MS. another person of the drama is mentioned:

"Claudia, a woman of Gismunda's privie chamber;" and for _Choruses_ we

have: "Chorus, four gentlewomen of Salerne."

[12] Not in the MSS.

[13] The County Palurin, a few lines lower, is called Earl. Mr Tyrwhitt

says that _County_ signified _noblemen_ in general; and the examples

which might be quoted from this play would sufficiently prove the truth

of the observation. See "Shakespeare," vol. x., p. 39. [_County_ for

_Count_ is not very unusual; but it may be doubted if, as Tyrwhitt

thought, _County_ signified _noblemen in general_.]

[14] This is in the two MSS., but varies in many verbal particulars.

[15] Not in the copy of 1591.

[16] Presented to Gismond. She filled up the cup wherein the heart was

brought with her tears and with certain poisonous water, by her

distilled for that purpose, and drank out this deadly drink.

--Copy of 1568.

[17] The story of this tragedy is taken from Boccaccio's "Decameron,"

day 4th, novel first. [It was turned into verse] by William Walter, a

retainer to Sir Henry Marney, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, [and

printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1532. A different version appeared in]

1597, under the title of "The Statly Tragedy of Guistard and Sismond, in

two Bookes," in a volume entitled, "Certaine Worthye Manuscript Poems of

great Antiquitie, reserved long in the Studie of a Northfolke Gent., and

now first published by J.S." Mr Dryden also versified it a second time.

See his works, vol. iii., 8vo edition, p. 245. Oldys, in his MSS. Notes

on Langbaine, says the same story is in Painter's Palace of Pleasure,

vol. i., and a French novel called "Guiscard et Sigismonde fille de

Tancredus Prince de Salerne mis en Latin. Par Leon Arretin, et traduit

in vers François, par Jean Fleury." [See Brunet, dern. edit. v.

_Aretinus_, Hazlitt's edit. of Warton, 1871, and "Popular Poetry,"

ii. 66.]

[18] [This line is not in the MSS.]

[19] [Lo I in shape that seem unto your sight.--_Lansdowme MS_.]

[20] [Do rule the world, and every living thing.--Ibid.]

[21] This word seems anciently to have been pronounced as two syllables.

See "Cornelia," act iv., Chorus.

[22] [And eat the living heart.--_Lansdowne MS_.]

[23] An epithet adopted from Virgil's "Aeneid," lib. vi, line 729--

"Et quae _marmoreo_ fert monstra sub aequore pontus."

Ibid. lib. vii. v. 28--

"Lento luctantur _marmore_ tonsae."

Again, "Georg. I.," v. 254--

"Infidum remis impellere _marmor_."

--_Steevens_.

[24] [What secret hollow doth the huge seas hide,

When blasting fame mine acts hath not forth blown.]

--_Lansdowne MS_.

[25] Io.

[26] [Grazing in.--_Lansdowne MS_.]

[27] Like to Amphitrio [when he presented himself] to Alcmena.

[28] [Me.--_Lansdowne MS_.]

[29] [The bloody Mars hath felt my.--_Do_.]

[30] [Evened.--_Do_.]

[31] Hercules.

[32] Alexander.

[33] [Won the famous golden fleece.--_M.S_.]

[34] [What nature's bond or law's restraint avails,

To conquer and deface me every hour.--MS.]

[35] Myrrha.

[36] i.e., For pity. So, act ii. sc. 2--

"As easily befalls that age which asketh _ruth_."

Act v. sc. 1--

"That hath the tyrant king

Withouten _ruth_ commanded us to do."

Again, in Milton's "Lycidas," i. 163--

"Look homeward, angel, now and melt with _ruth_,

And, O ye Dolphins, waft the helpless youth."

And in Churchyard's "Worthiness of Wales," 1587--

"Great _ruth_, to let so trim a seate goe downe,

The countries strength, and beautie of the towne."

[37] [Mine almighty.--MS.]

[38] [This, and the three following lines, are not in the MSS.]

[39] [In creeping thorough all her veins within,

That she thereby shall raise much ruth and woe.--MS.]

[40] [This, and the five preceding lines, are not in the MSS.]

[41] [Lo, this before your eyes so will I show,

That ye shall justly say with one accord

We must relent and yield; for now we know

Love rules the world, love only is the lord.--MS.]

[42] [Hath taught me plain to know our state's unrest.--MS.]

[43] [O mighty Jove, O heavens and heavenly powers.--MS.]

[44] [This, and the next line, do not occur in the MSS.]

[45] [Thy sprite, I know, doth linger hereabout

And looks that I, poor wretch, should after come;

I would, God wot, my lord, if so I mought:

But yet abide, I may perhaps devise

Some way to be unburdened of my life,

And with my ghost approach thee in some wise

To do therein the duty of a wife.--MS.]

[46] These omissions are frequent in our old plays. See note on "Love's

Labour Lost," edit. of Shakspeare, 1778, vol. ii. p. 410.--_Steevens_.

[47] In this manner the word was formerly accented. See Dr Farmer's

"Essay on the Learning of Shakspeare."

[48] Go. So in Epilogue--

"With violent hands he that his life doth end,

His damned soul to endless night doth _wend_."

Again, in the "Return from Parnassus," 1600, act v. sc. 4--

"These my companions still with me must _wend_."

In "George a Green Pinner of Wakefield," [Dyce's "Greene and Peele,"

1861, p. 259, &c.]--

"Wilt thou leave Wakefield and _wend_ with me ...

So will I _wend_ with Robin all along ...

For you are wrong, and may not _wend_ this way."

And in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," Prologue, line 19--

"Byfel, that, on that sesoun on a day,

In Southwerk at the Tabbard as I lay,

Redy to _wenden_ on my pilgrimage,

To Canturbury with ful devout corage."

[49] Alexander.

[50] Hector.

[51] _Euripus Euboicus_, or _Chalcidicus_, is a narrow passage of sea

dividing _Attica_ and the Island of _Euboea_, now called the _Gulf of

Negropont_. It ebbs and flows seven times every day: the reason of

which, it is said, when Aristotle could not find, he threw himself into

the sea with these words: _Quia ego non capio te, tu capias me_. Sir

Thomas Brown, in his "Enquiries into Vulgar Errors," b. vii. c. 14,

appears to have been not satisfied with this account of Aristotle's

death, which he has taken some pains to render doubtful.

[52] [Go]. So act ii. sc. 3--

"Therefore my counsel is you shall not stir,

Nor farther _wade_ in such a case as this,"

And in Turbervile's "Tragical Tales," 1587--

"Eare thou doe _wade_ so farre, revoke to minde the bedlam boy.

That in his forged wings of waxe reposed too great a joy."

[53] _Sadly_, in most of our ancient writers, is used as here for

_seriously_. So in Nash's "Lenten Stuff," 1599: "Nay, I will lay no

wagers, for, now I perponder more _sadly_ upon it, I think I am out

indeed."

Again, in Hall's "Chronicle," 1550, fo. 2: "His cosyn germaine was nowe

brought to that trade of livynge, that he litle or nothynge regarded the

counsaill of his uncles, nor of other grave and _sadde_ persones, but

did all thynge at his pleasure."

In Ascham's "Toxophilus," 1571: "And when I sawe not you amonges them,

but at the last espyed you lookinge on your booke here so _sadlye_, I

thought to come and hold you with some communication."

And in Warton's "Life of Sir Thomas Pope," p. 30: "Wherein is an abbes

namyd Dame Alice Fitzherbert, of the age LX yeares, a very _sadde_,

discreate, and relegyous woman."

[54] Formerly this diversion was as much followed in the evening, as it

was at an earlier hour in the day. In "Laneham's Account of the

Entertainment at Kenelworth Castle," we find that Queen Elizabeth

always, while there, hunted in the afternoon. "Monday was hot, and

therefore her highness kept in till _five a clok in the eeveing; what

time it pleaz'd to ryde forth into the chase too hunt the hart of fors:

which found anon, and after sore chased," &c. Again, "Munday the 18 of

this July, the weather being hot, her highness kept the castle for

coolness, till about _five a clok_, her majesty in the chase, hunted the

hart (as before) of forz" &c.

[55] That is, _proceed no further_.

[56] i.e., Of nature.

[57] Acquaint her with my resolution. _To resolve_, however, was

sometimes used for _convince_, or _satisfy_. It may therefore mean,

_convince her of the propriety of my command_. So in Middleton's "More

Dissemblers besides Women," act i. sc. 3--

"The blessing of perfection to your thoughts, lady,

For I'm _resolv'd_ they are good ones."

Reed is right in his first explanation; it is so used in Chapman's

"May Day," act i. sc. 1.

"Tell her such a man will _resolve_ her naming me."

--"Anc. Dram.," vol. vi. p. 6.--_Gilchrist_.

[A few lines further on in the text, however,] _resolve_ has the same

meaning as _dissolve_; and so in Lyly's "Euphues and his England,"

p. 38: "I could be content to _resolve_ myselfe into teares to rid thee

of trouble."

Marlowe, as quoted in "England's Parnassus," 1600, p. 480 [see Dyce's

"Marlowe," iii., 301], uses it in the same way--

"No molten Christall but a Richer mine,

Euen natures rarest alchumie ran there,

Diamonds _resolu'd_, and substance more diuine.

Through whose bright gliding current might appeare

A thousand naked Nymphes, whose yuorie shine,

Enameling the bankes, made them more deare

Then euer was that glorious Pallas gate.

Where the day-shining sunne in triumph sate."

See also Shakespeare's "Hamlet," act i. sc. 2, and Mr Steevens's note

on it.

[58] _To quail_, is to _languish, to sink into dejection_. So in

Churchyard's "Challenge," 24--

"Where malice sowes, the seedes of wicked waies,

Both honor _quailes_, and credit crackes with all:

Of noblest men, and such as fears no fall."

See also Mr Steevens's notes on the "First Part of Henry IV.," act iv.

sc. 2, and "Cymbeline," act v. sc. 5.

[Had the writer this passage in his mind when he wrote the well-known

lines on Shakespeare, "What need my Shakespeare," &c., which occur in

the folio of 1632?]

[59] [The second Chorus to leave off abruptly with this word, the third

Chorus taking up the narrative.]

[60] A compliment to Queen Elizabeth.--_S.P_.

It was, as Mr Steevens observes, no uncommon thing to introduce a

compliment to Queen Elizabeth in the body of a play. See "Midsummer's

Night's Dream," act ii. sc. 2. See also "Locrine," act v. sc. last.

[61] Probably Henry Noel, younger brother to Sir Andrew Noel, and one of

the gentlemen pensioners to Queen Elizabeth; a man, says Wood, of

excellent parts, and well skilled in music. See "Fasti," p. 145. A poem,

entitled, "Of disdainful Daphne," by M[aster] H. Nowell, is printed in

"England's Helicon," 1600, 4to. The name of Mr Henry Nowell also appears

in the list of those lords and gentlemen that ran at a tilting before

Queen Elizabeth. See Peele's "Polyhymnia," 1590.

"I cannot here let pass unremembered a worthy gentleman, Master Henry

Noel, brother to the said Sir Andrew Noel, one of the gentlemen

pensioners [see Peck's "Life of Milton," p. 225, for the Gentlemen

Pensioners.] to Queen Elizabeth; a man for personage, parentage, grace,

gesture, valour, and many excellent parts, inferior to none of his rank

in the court; who, though his lands and livelihoods were but small,

having nothing known certain but his annuity and his pension, yet in

state, pomp, magnificence and expenses, did equalise barons of great

worth. If any shall demand whence this proceeded, I must make answer

with that Spanish proverb--

'_Aquello qual vienne de arriba ninguno lo pregunta_.'

'That which cometh from above let no one question.'

"This is the man of whom Queen Elizabeth made this enigmatical distich--

'The word of denial, and letter of fifty,

Is that gentleman's name that will never be thrifty.'

He, being challenged (as I have heard) by an Italian gentleman at the

_baloune_ (a kind of play with a great ball tossed with wooden braces

upon the arm), used therein such violent motion, and did so overheat his

blood, that he fell into a calenture, or burning fever, and thereof

died, Feb. 26, 1596, and was by her majesty's appointment buried in the

abbey church of Westminster, in the chapel of St Andrew."--_Benton in

Nichols's "Leicestershire_," vol. iii. p. 249.

Henry Noel was the second son of Sir Edward Noel, of Dalby, by his

second wife, Elizabeth, daughter and heir of William Hopton, of ----,

Shropshire, relict of Sir John Peryent, Knt.--Ibid. 254.--_Gilchrist_.

[62] In the former edition, the word _denay'd_ was altered to the more

modern one of _deny'd_. _Denay'd_, however, was the ancient manner of

spelling it. So in the "Second Part of Henry VI.," act i. sc. 3--

"Then let him be _denay'd_ the regentship."

Again, in the "First Part of Jeronimo," 1605--

"And let not wonted fealty be _denayed_."

And in "Gammer Gurton's Needle"--

"Loke, as I have promised, I will not _denay_ it."

--_Collier_.

[63] _Prease_ signifies _a crowd or multitude, or any assemblage of a

number of persons_. So in "Damon and Pithias," vol. iv., pp. 49, 53--

"The King is at hand, stand close in _the prease_, beware," &c.

And ibid.--

"Away from the prisoner, what a _prease_ have we here!"

Again, in the "History of Euordanus Prince of Denmark," 1605, sig. H:

"The Prince passing forwards sorely shaken, having lost both his

stirrups: at length recovering himselfe, entred _the prease_, where on

all sides he beate downe knights, and unbarred helms."

[It must be repeated, once for all, that such totally unnecessary notes

as this have been retained only from a reluctance to impart to these

volumes the character of an abridged or mutilated republication.]

[64] [Draweth.]

[65] _Raught_ is the ancient preterite of the word _reach_. It is

frequently used by Spenser, Shakespeare, and other ancient writers.

[66] [Old copy, _where her_.]

[67] [Reward.]

[68] Alluding to the vulture that gnawed the liver of Titius. In "Ferrex

and Porrex," act ii. sc. 1, is this line--

"Or cruell gripe to gnaw my groaning hart."

--_Reed_. The allusion is rather to the vulture of Prometheus.

--Steevens.

[69] _Vipeream inspirans animam_. The image is from Virgil. Rowe

likewise adopts it in his "Ambitious Stepmother"--

"And send a _snake_ to every vulgar breast."--_Steevens_.

[70] i.e., The wretch. The word _miser_ was anciently used without

comprehending any idea of avarice. See note on "King Henry VI, Part I.,"

edit. of Shakespeare, 1778, vol. vi. p. 279.--_Steevens_.

[71] "A _stoop_, or _stowp_; a post fastened in the earth, from the

Latin _stupa_."--Ray's "North Country Words," p. 58, edit. 1742.

[72] Not that she is careful or anxious about, or regrets the loss of

this life. So in Milton's "Paradise Lost," Bk. ix. line 171--

"Revenge at first though sweet,

Bitter ere long back on itself recoils;

Let it; _I reck not_, so it light well aim'd."

And again, in the "History of Sir John Oldcastle," 1600--

"I _reck_ of death the less in that I die,

Not by the sentence of that envious priest."

[73] Petrarch and Laura.

[74] These initials were almost unquestionably intended for Christopher

Hatton, afterwards knighted and created Lord Chancellor of England. In

the fourth year of Queen Elizabeth, 1562, about six years before this

play is supposed to have been written, we learn from Dugdale's "Origines

Juridiciales," p. 150, a magnificent Christmas was kept in the Inner

Temple, at which her majesty was present, and Mr Hatton was appointed

Master of the Game. Historians say he owed his rise, not so much to his

mental abilities, as to the graces of his person and his excellence in

dancing, which captivated the Queen to such a degree, that he arose

gradually from one of her Gentlemen Pensioners to the highest employment

in the law, which he, however, filled without censure, supplying his own

defects by the assistance of the ablest men in the profession. _The

grave Lord Keeper_, after his promotion, still retained his fondness for

that accomplishment to which he was indebted for his rise, _and led the

Brawls_ almost until his death. In 1589, on the marriage of his heir

with Judge Gawdy's daughter, "the Lord Chancellor danced the measures at

the solemnity, and left his gown on the chair, saying _Lie there,

Chancellor_." His death, which happened two years after, was hastened by

an unexpected demand of money from the Queen, urged in so severe a

manner, that all the kindness she afterwards showed to him was

insufficient to remove the impression it had made on him. See Birch's

"Memoirs of Queen Elizabeth." vol. i. pp. 8, 56, [and Nicolas's "Life of

Hatton," p. 478.]

[75] Dryden's translation of Boccaccio's "Description of the Cave" is as

follows:--

"Next the proud palace of Salerno stood

A Mount of rough ascent, and thick with wood.

Through this a cave was dug with vast expence:

The work it seem'd of some suspicious prince,

Who, when abusing power with lawless might,

From public justice would secure his flight.

The passage made by many a winding way,

Reach'd even the room in which the tyrant lay.

Fit for his purpose on a lower floor,

He lodged, whose issue was an iron door;

From whence by stairs descending to the ground.

In the blind grot a safe retreat he found.

Its outlet ended in a brake o'ergrown

With brambles, choak'd by time, and now unknown.

A rift there was, which from the mountain's height

Convey'd a glimm'ring and malignant light,

A breathing place to draw the damps away,

A twilight of an intercepted day."

--"Sigismonda and Guiscardo." Dryden's Works, vol. iii. p. 251.

[76] See Milton's "Paradise Lost," Bk. i. l. 60.

[77] _Fetters_ or _chains_. So in Beaumont and Fletcher's "Beggar's

Bush," act iii. sc. 4--

"_Gyves_ I must wear, and cold must be my comfort."

Marston's "What You Will," act ii. sc. 1--

"Think'st thou a libertine, _an ungiv'd_ beast,

Scornes not the shackles of thy envious clogs?"

Milton's "Samson Agonistes," l. 1092--

"Dost thou already single me? I thought

_Gyves_ and the mill had tam'd thee."

See Dr Newton's note on the last passage; and Mr Steevens's note on

"First Part of Henry IV.," act iv. sc. 3.

[78] _Amate_ is to daunt or confound. Skinner, in his "Etymologicon,"

explains it thus: "Perterrefacere, Attonitum reddere, Obstupefacere,

mente consternare, Consilii inopem reddere." So in "Thule or Vertue's

Historic," by Francis Rous, 1598, sig. B--

"At last with violence and open force.

They brake the posternes of the Castle gate,

And entred spoyling all without remorce,

Nor could old Sobrin now resist his fate,

But stiffe with feare ev'n like a senceles corse

Whom grisly terror doth so much _amate_,

He lyes supine upon his fatall bed.

Expecting ev'ry minute to be dead."

Again, Ibid., sig. D--

"He would forsake his choyse, and change his fate,

And leave her quite, and so procure her woe,

Faines that a sudden grief doth her _amate_,

Wounded with piercing sicknes' Ebon bow."

[79] Astonished. So in "Euphues and his England," p. 102--"Philautus,

_astonied_ at this speech," &c. And again, in the "Fable of Jeronimi,"

by G. Gascoigne, p. 209: "When Ferdinando (somewhat _astonied_ with hir

strange speech) thus answered." And in "Thieves Falling Out," &c., 1615,

by Rob. Greene: "The gentleman, _astonied_ at this strange metamorphosis

of his mistress."

[80] _Sprent_ is sprinkled. So in Spenser's "Shepherd's Calendar,"

December--

"My head _besprent_ with hoary frost I find."

And Fairfax's "Tasso," cant. xii. st. 101--

"His silver locks with dust he foul _besprent_."

Again in Milton's "Comus," l. 542--

"Of knot grass dew _besprent_."

[81] Harbour.

[82] Old copy, _hasteth_.

[83] Habiliments, _S.P_.

[84] Unrevenged. [The more correct form would be _unwroken_.] So in Ben

Jonson's "Every Man out of his Humour," act ii. sc. 4--

"Would to heaven,

In _wreak_ of my misfortunes, I were turn'd

To some fair water nymph."

In "Sejanus his Fall," act iv.--

"Made to speak

What they will have to fit their tyrannous _wreak_."

In Massinger's "Fatal Dowry," act iv. sc. 4--

"But there's a heaven above, from whose just _wreak_

No mists of policy can hide offenders."

In his "Very Woman," act i.

"And our just _wreak_, by force or cunning practice

With scorn prevented."

See also Mr Steevens's note on "Coriolanus," act iv. sc. 5. "Moriamur

_in ultae_?"--Virgil's "Aeneid," lib. iv.--_Steevens_.

[85] Sorrow. Again, act v. sc. 3--

"His death, her woe, and her avenging _teen_."

And in Shakespeare's "Venus and Adonis"--

"More I could tell, but more I dare not say,

The text is old, the orator too green.

Therefore in sadness now I will away,

My face is full of shame, my heart of _teen_."

[86] Old copy, _but hell_.

[87] _Untrimmed locks_ are locks dishevelled or undressed. _Trim_, in

the language of the times, was frequently used for dress. So in

Massinger's "Emperor of the East," act ii. sc. 1--

"Our Eastern queens, at their full height bow to thee,

And are, in their best _trim_, thy foils and shadows."

See also Mr Steevens's note on "King John," act iii. sc. 3.

[88] Alluding to a custom of which mention is made in Genesis, chap.

xxiv. 9--"And the servant put his _hand_ under the _thigh_ of Abraham

his master, and _sware_ to him concerning that matter." The same form

was likewise observed by Jacob and Joseph when they were dying. Some

mystery is supposed to be couched under this practice. The most

probable, at least the most decent, supposition is, that it was a token

of subjection or homage from a servant to his lord, when the former

solemnly promised to perform whatever should be commanded by the

latter.--_Steevens_.

[89] The following account of Lodge and his works is very imperfect.

See the Shakespeare Society volume, 1853, containing much fuller

particulars.

[90] In the "Epistle of England to her Three Daughters," in Clarke's

"Polimanteia," 1595, Lodge is spoken of as belonging to Oxford.

--_Collier_.

[91] Mr Malone ("Shakespeare," by Boswell, iii. 40, note 9) says that it

was printed about 1580; but Lodge himself, writing in 1584, speaks of

Gosson's "Plays Confuted," as written "about two years since."

[92] "Scilla's Metamorphosis," 1589; "Diogenes in his Singularity,"

1591; and "A Fig for Momus," 1595, are all stated to be by T.L., or

Thomas Lodge, of Lincoln's Inn, Gentleman.

[93] A French sonnet by Thomas Lodge is prefixed to Robert Greene's

"Spanish Masquerado." He has also some French verses in "Rosalynde."

[94] The lines upon Lodge in "The Return from Parnassus," 1606, would

show that it did occur:--

"He that turns over Galen every day,

To sit and simper 'Euphues' Legacy,'" &c.

--_Collier_.

[95] Afterwards purchased by Mr Collier.

[96] [This does not appear quite to follow. In a poem, "Upon London

Physicians," written about 1620, and quoted in "Inedited Poetical

Miscellanies," edit. Hazlitt, 1870, sig. Ff 5, he is mentioned in the

same way, without any reference to his literary repute or performances.]

It is to be observed in the list of Lodge's productions, that there is

an interval between 1596, when "Wit's Misery and the World's Madness"

appeared, and 1603, when the "Treatise of the Plague" was published.

[97] Others have been attributed to him in conjunction with Greene, but

on no sufficient evidence--viz., "Lady Alimony," not printed until 1659;

"The Laws of Nature," and "The Contention between Liberality and

Prodigality," 1602.

[98] [Reprinted in Mr Dyce's editions of Greene's Works, 1831 and 1861.]

Henslowe probably alludes to this play in his MSS., and if so, it was

acted as early as 1591. The following is the entry: "R. (i.e., received)

at _the Looking Glasse_, the 8th of Marche, 1591, vij s." [See Mr

Collier's edit. 1845, pp. 23-8.]

[99] [Here follows in the former edition a list of Lodge's works, which

will be found more fully and correctly given in Hazlitt's "Handbook,"

in _v_.]

[100] In the course of the incidents of this historical tragedy, Lodge

has very much followed the lives of Marius and Sylla, as given by

Plutarch: he was a scholar, and it was not necessary therefore for him

to resort to Sir Thomaa North's translation from the French, of which

Shakespeare availed himself, and of which there were many editions

subsequent to its first appearance in 1579. It is pretty evident,

however, from a comparison of a few passages quoted in the notes in the

progress of the play, that Lodge did employ this popular work, although

he has varied some of the events, and especially the death of Sylla.

It is not, perhaps, possible now to settle the point when this tragedy

was first represented on the stage, but it was most likely some time

before its publication in 1594. We know that Lodge had written in

defence of the stage before 1582, and it is not unlikely that he did so,

because he had already written for it. Robert Greene, in his "Groat's

worth of Wit," speaks of Lodge as a dramatic poet in 1592; and the

comedy which they wrote together, it is ascertained, was acted in March

1591, if not earlier, although it was not printed until three years

afterwards. The versification of "The Wounds of Civil War" certainly

affords evidence that it was penned even before Marlowe had improved the

measure of dramatic blank verse, which Shakespeare perfected: it is

heavy, monotonous, and without the pauses subsequently introduced; if

therefore Lodge produced it after Marlowe's "Edward II." was brought

out, he did not at least profit by the example. All the unities are set

at defiance.

[101] The "consul's pall" is the consul's robe. Thus Milton in

"Il Penseroso"--

"Let gorgeous Tragedy

In scepter'd _pall_ come sweeping by."

Purple _pall_ is very commonly met with in our old writers.

[102] "Sylla _nill_ brook" is "Sylla _ne will_, or will not brook."

Shakespeare uses the word. See Mr Steevens's note, "Taming of the

Shrew," act ii. sc. 1.

[103] "But specially one day above the rest, having made him sup with

him at his table, some one after supper falling in talke of Captaines

that were in Rome at that time, one that stood by Scipio asked him

(either because he stood in doubt, or else for that he would curry

favour with Scipio), what other Captaine the Romanes should have after

his death, like unto him? Scipio having Marius by him, gently clapped

him upon the shoulders and said, Peradventure this shall be he."

--_North's Plutarch, "Life of Caius Marius_."

[104] [Old copy, _into_.]

[105] [Old copy, _shall_, and so in the next line.]

[106] It is doubtful whether we ought to read _impale_ or _impall_.

If the latter, it means to enfold with a _pall_; but Cleveland uses

_impale_ in the same sense--

"I now _impale_ her in my arms."

This, however, is rather a forced construction.

[107] [Old copy, _spence_.] This may mean "the _expense_ of years that

Marius hath o'erpast," or it may be an easy misprint for "space of

years." Either may be right.

[108] [Old copy, _mate_.]

[109] [Old copy, _conservatives_.]

[110] "To _bandy_ a ball" Coles defines _clava pilam torquere_; "to

bandy at tennis," "Dict." 1679. See Mr Malone's note on "Lear," act i.

sc. 4.

[111] _Prest_ for Asia, is ready for Asia. It is almost unnecessary to

multiply instances, but the following is very apposite:--

"Dispisde, disdainde, starvde, whipt and scornd,

_Prest_ through dispaire myself to quell."

--R. Wilson's "Cobbler's Prophecy," 1594, sig. C4.

[112] Lodge and other writers not unfrequently use the adjective for the

substantive: thus, in "The Discontented Satyre:"--

"Blush, daies eternal lampe, to see thy lot,

Since that thy _cleere_ with cloudy _darkes_ is scar'd."

[113] The quarto has the passage thus--

"These peers of Rome have mark'd

A rash revenging _hammer_ in thy brain;"

which seemed so decidedly wrong as to warrant the change that, without

much violence, has been made.

[114] _Guerdon_ is synonymous with _reward_. It is scarcely yet

obsolete.

[115] Old copy, _hammer_.

[116] Vengeance.

[117] Scarce. It is found in Spenser. Robert Greene also uses it--

"It was frosty winter season,

And fair Flora's wealth was _geason_."

--"Philomela," 1592. Again, we find it in the tragical comedy of "Appius

and Virginia," 1575--"Let my counsel at no time lie with you _geason,_"

sig. D. [vol. iv. p. 138].

[118] Open them.

[119] Old copy, _what_.

[120] The meaning of "would _amate_ me so," is, would daunt or confound

me so. See note to "Tancred and Gismunda" [_suprâ_, p. 79], where

instances are given.

[121] Mr Steevens, in a note on the "Comedy of Errors," act ii. sc. 1,

has collected a number of quotations to show the meaning of the word

_stale_, and to them the reader is referred. In this place it signifies

a false allurement, bait, or deception on the part of fortune.

[122] The barbarous jargon put into the mouth of this Frenchman is given

in the orthography of the old copy, since it was vain to attempt

correction.

[123] "Now when they were agreed upon it, they could not find a man in

the city that durst take upon him to kill him; but a man of armes of the

Gaules, or one of the Cimbres (for we find both the one and the other in

writing) that went thither with his sword drawn in his hand. Now that

place of the chamber where Marius lay was very dark, and, as it is

reported, the man of armes thought he saw two burning flames come out of

Marius's eyes, and heard a voice out of that dark corner, saying unto

him: O fellow, thou, darest thou come to kill Caius Marius? The

barbarous Gaule, hearing these words, ran out of the chamber presently."

--_North's Plutarch, "Life of Caius Marius_."

[124] "For when he was but very young, and dwelling in the country, he

gathered up in the lap of his gowne the ayrie of an eagle, in the which

were seven young eagles; whereat his father and mother much wondering,

asked the soothsayers what that meant? They answered that their sonne

should one day be one of the greatest men in the world, and that out of

doubt he should obtain seven times in his life the chiefest office of

dignity in his country."--_North's Plutarch, "Life of Caius Marius_."

[125] The old quarto divides the play very irregularly; for according to

it there are two Acts iii. and two Acts iv. One of the Acts iii. was

made to commence here.

[126] Necessarily or unavoidably.

[127] Old copy, _Picaeo_.

[128] Old copy, metals.

[129] An early instance of an echo of this kind upon the stage is to be

found in Peele's "Arraignment of Paris," 1584. Mr D'Israeli has an

entertaining essay upon them in his "Curiosities of Literature," second

series. They were carried to a most ridiculous excess afterwards.

[130] The old spelling of _than_ was _then_, and this must be observed

here. The echo is supposed to encourage Marius again to take up arms--

"Nought better fits old Marius' mind than war."

And the reply of the echo is, "Then war," or then go to war.

[131] This passage is quoted by Mr Steevens in a note on "Hamlet,"

act v. sc. 1, to show that "the winter's _flaw_" there spoken of means

"the winter's _blast_."

[132] Old copy, Distia.

[133] _Dreariment_ is not so frequently met in any of our old writers

as Spenser: I do not recollect it in any play before. It requires no

explanation.

[134] Old copy, _coffer_.

[135] Old copy, _Marius live_.

[136] _Lozel_ is always used as a term of contempt, and means a

worthless fellow.

[137] Old copy, _have_.

[138] Old copy, _And_.

[139] Old copy, _consist_.

[140] We have before had Pedro the Frenchman, or rather the _Gaul_,

according to Plutarch (though why he is called by the Spanish name of

Pedro, we know not), employed to murder Marius, swearing _Par le sang de

Dieu, Notre Dame_, and _Jesu_: and towards the close of the play, where

a couple of ludicrous characters are introduced, "to mollify the

vulgar," the "_Paul's steeple_ of honour" is talked of. Such

anachronisms, however gross, are common to all the dramatists of that

day. Shakespeare is notoriously full of them; and all must remember the

discussion between Hamlet and his friend regarding the children of

Paul's and of the Queen's chapel.

[141] Shakespeare and many other writers of the time use this form of

_fetch_: thus in "Henry V." act iii. sc. 1--

"On, on, you noble English,

Whose blood is _fet_ from fathers of war-proof."

[142] _Glozing_ and _flattering_ are synonymous: perhaps to _gloze_, or,

as it is sometimes spelt, to _glose_, is the same word as to _gloss_. It

is common in Milton in the sense that it bears in the text.

[143] [i.e., Pinky eyne or pink (small) eyes.] See Mr Steevens's note

on the song in "Anthony and Cleopatra," beginning--

"Come, thou monarch of the vine,

Plumpy Bacchus, with _pink_ eyne."

[144] This incident is founded upon a passage in Plutarch's "Life of

Caius Marius," only in that author the man with the wine discloses where

Anthony is concealed to the drawer, of whom he gets the wine, and not to

the soldiers.

[145] The meaning of to _assoil_ is to absolve (see note 4 to "The

Adventurers of Five Hours"), from the Latin _absolvere_; but here it

signifies to _resolve_ or _remove_ doubts. Thus in a passage quoted by

Mr Todd--

"For the _assoiling_ of this difficulty, I lay down these three

propositions."--Mede, _Rev. of God's House_.

The word is frequently to be met with in Spenser in the sense of to

discharge, or set free.

[146] In _doly_ season is in melancholy or wintry season: an adjective

formed from _dole_, and with the same meaning as _doleful_.

[147] The death of Anthony is thus related in North's Plutarch, "Life of

Marius"--

"But he (Marius) sent Annius one of his captaines thither ... and when

they were come to the house which the drawer had brought them to, Annius

taried beneath at the doore, and the souldiers went up the staiers into

the chamber, and finding Anthonie there, they began to encourage one

another to kill him, not one of them having the heart to lay hands upon

him. For Anthonies tongue was as sweet as a Syrene, and had such an

excellent grace in speaking, that when he began to speake unto the

souldiers and to pray them to save his life, there was not one of them

so hard-hearted as once to touch him, no not onely to looke him in the

face, but looking downewards fell a weeping. Annius perceiving they

taried long and came not downe, went himself up into the chamber and

found Anthonie talking to his souldiers, and them weeping, his sweete

eloquent tongue had so melted their hearts: but he, rating them, ran

furiously upon him and strake off his head with his owne hands."

[148] Shakespeare's commentators might have added this passage to the

long list of others they have brought forward (see note on "Othello,"

act i. sc. 3), to show that _intention_ and _attention_, and _intentive_

and _attentive_, were once, synonymous.

[149] This expression is also introduced by Lodge into his "Rosalynde,"

1590, though probably this play was written first--

"With sad and sorry cheer

About her wond'ring stood

The _citizens of the wood_."

Shakespeare calls deer in "As You Like It" citizens, and elsewhere,

"native burghers of this desert city."

The author of "Fuimus Troes" goes farther, and calls the blessed souls

in heaven _citizens_--

"Then shall I

Envy no more those _citizens_ above

The ambrosian juncates of the Olympian hall."

[150] Old copy, _arm_.

[151] The name of _Carbo_ is accidently omitted before this reply in

the quarto.

[152] Old copy misplaces the words _break_ and _bend_; the alteration

here made was suggested by Mr Collier.

[153] i.e., With a _withy_, or twig of willow.

[154] Old copy, _the ravens_.

[155] The quarto reads: "Enter Scipio and Norbanus, Publius Lentulus,"

but the latter has nothing to do with the scene, while Carinna is

omitted.

[156] Old copy, _heedless_.

[157] It is very common for Shakespeare and his contemporaries to use

the word _pretend_ for intend. See notes to "The Two Gentlemen of

Verona," act ii. sc. 6.

[158] In his "Life of Marius," Plutarch states that this event occurred

at Perusia, and that Young Marius was besieged there by Sylla; but in

his "Life of Sylla" he corrects the error, and informs us that Young

Marius was besieged by Lucretius, and that he slew himself at Praeneste.

[159] _Jest_ was used by our ancestors in various senses, but here it

means a deed or action only; thus Sir T. Elyot, as Mr Todd notes, speaks

of "the _jests_ or acts of princes and captains." In fact, this is the

general signification of the term, though it has sometimes a more

particular application. _Gest_ and _jest_ are the same word, though now

and then distinguished.

[160] Old copy, _floats_.

[161] Old copy, _lo_.

[162] Old copy, _yea_. By _She_ Sylla must be understood to refer to

Fate, whom he has just mentioned.

[163] [Old copy, _while_.]

[164] i.e., _Verse_.

[165] See vol. iv. p. 80, respecting the _razors of Palermo.--Collier_.

[Mr Collier's suggested retention of _shave_, the reading of the old

copy, I cannot support.]

[166] "_Phlegon's_ hot breath" is mentioned in "Fuimus Troes;" one of

the horses of the sun was so named.

[167] [Old copy, _fairs_.]

[168] From the edition of 1610. It is not in the first 4°.

[169] In the edition of 1610 the number of performers is raised to ten.

The two additional characters are the _King of Valentia_ and _Anselmo_.

[170] Perhaps the earliest instance of the use of this expression, as to

which see "Old English Jest-Books," 1864, iii.; "Pleasant Conceits of

Old Hobson," Introd.

[171] [The 4° of 1610 makes Tremelio enter here; but he does not appear

to come on till afterwards.]

[172] [Old copies, _Catalone, a_.]

[173] [Old copies, _Oh_.]

[174] Old copies, hardly I did oft.

[175] Old copies, _on_.

[176] Edit. 1598, _Therefore to_. Edit. 1610, _There for to_.

[177] Edit. 1598 and 1610, _hath forget_.

[178] Edits, transpose the two commencing words of this line, and the

first word of the preceding one.

[179] Edits., _say_.

[180] Anticipated. Old copies read _we_ for _me_.

[181] Old copy, _are_

[182] Old copies, _her_.

[183] Edit. 1610, _attend_.

[184] Edit. 1610, _axe_.

[185] Old copies, _his_.

[186] Edit. 1598, _Wily_; edit. 1610, _wilde_.

[187] Old copies, _his Bremo_.

[188] Edits., _ah, hermit_!

[189] Edits., _fair lady_.

[190] Edits., _this is_.

[191] In the old copies there is here a direction, _He disguiseth

himself_, which appears wrong, as Mucedorus is already disguised, and

what he next does is, in fact, to discover himself.

[192] Edits., _none, none, no_.

[193] Edit. 1620, _sacred_.

[194] Old copies, _look_.

[195] Edit. 1598, _paled_; 1106, _pallade_.

[196] Edit. 1610, _strike_.

[197] After this line, in the edition of 1610, occurs the following

substitution for the lines in edit. 1598, beginning "Ho, lords," and

concluding with "Exeunt omnes:"--

Were but thy father, the Valentia lord,

Present in view of this combining knot.

_A shout within. Enter a_ MESSENGER.

What shout was that?

MESSENGER. My lord, the great Valentia king,

Newly arrived, entreats your presence.

MUCEDORUS. My father?

KING OF ARRAGON. Prepared welcomes; give him entertainment.

A happier planet never reigned than that,

Which governs at this hour.

[_Sound_.

_Enter the_ KING OF VALENTIA, ANSELMO, RODRIGO, BARCHEUS,

_with others_; _the_ KING _runs and embraces his son_.

KING OF VALENTIA. Rise, honour of my age, food to my rest:

Condemn not (mighty King of Arragon)

My rude behaviour, so compell'd by Nature,

That manner stood unknowledged.

KING OF ARRAGON. What we have to recite would tedious prove

By declaration; therefore in and feast.

To-morrow the performance shall explain,

What words conceal; till then, drums, speak, bells, ring:

Give plausive welcomes to our brother king.

[_Sound drums and trumpets. Exeunt omnes_.

[198] [In the edition of 1610, the conclusion, from this line, is so

different, that the best mode appeared to be to give it at the foot of

the page:--

COMEDY. Envy, spit thy gall;

Plot, work, contrive; create new fallacies;

Team from thy womb each minute a black traitor,

Whose blood and thoughts have twin conception:

Study to act deeds yet unchronicled;

Cast native monsters in the moulds of men;

Case vicious devils under sancted rochets;

Unhasp the wicket, where all perjureds roost,

And swarm this ball with treasons. Do thy worst;

Thou canst not (hell-hound) cross my star[A] to-night.

[A] [Old copy, _steare_.]

Nor blind that glory, where I wish delight.

ENVY. I can. I will.

COMEDY. Nefarious hag, begin;

And let us tug, till one the mast'ry win.

ENVY. Comedy, thou art a shallow goose;

I'll overthrow thee in thine own intent,

And make thy fall my comic merriment.

COMEDY. Thy policy wants gravity; thou art too weak.

Speak, fiend. As how?

ENVY. Why thus;

From my foul study will I hoist a wretch,

A lean and hungry negro [Old copy, _neagre_.] cannibal:

Whose jaws swell to his eyes with chawing malice,

And him I'll make a poet.

COMEDY. What's that to th'purpose?

ENVY. This scrambling raven, with his needy beard,

Will I whet on to write a comedy,

Wherein shall be compos'd dark sentences,

Pleasing to factious brains:

And every other where place me a jest.

Whose high abuse shall more torment than blows.

Then I myself (quicker than lightning),

Will fly me to a puissant magistrate,

And waiting with a trencher at his back,

In midst of jollity rehearse those galls [Old copy, _gaules_.]

(With some additions) so lately vented in your theatre:

He upon this cannot but make complaint,

To your great danger, or at least restraint.

COMEDY. Ha, ha, ha! I laugh to hear thy folly;

This is a trap for boys, not men, nor such,

Especially desertful in their doings,

Whose staid discretion rules their purposes.

I and my faction do eschew those vices.

But see, O see, the weary sun for rest

Hath lain his golden compass to the west,

Where he perpetual bide and ever shine,

As David's offspring in his happy clime.

Stoop, Envy, stoop, bow to the earth with me,

Let's beg our pardons on our bended knee. [_They kneel_.

ENVY. My power has lost her might; Envy's date's expired,

Yon splendant majesty hath fell'd my sting,

And I amazed am. [_Fall down and quake_.

COMEDY. Glorious and wise Arch-Caesar on this earth,

At whose appearance Envy's stroken dumb,

And all bad things cease operation,

Vouchsafe to pardon our unwilling error,

So late presented to your gracious view,

And we'll endeavour with excess of pain

To please your senses in a choicer strain,

Thus we commit you to the arms of night,

Whose spangled carcase would (for your delight)

Strive to excel the day. Be blessed then:

Who other wishes, let him never speak.

ENVY. Amen!

To Fame and Honour we commend your rest;

Live still more happy, every hour more blest.

FINIS.]

[199] To the edition printed in the Percy Society's Series.

[200] The old spelling has now been abandoned.

[201] For these I am indebted to the kindness of Mr J.P. Collier, who is

now editing "Henslowe's Diary" for the Shakespeare Society. The portions

of it which were published by Malone are very incorrectly given.

[202] _Book_ in these entries means play.

[203] This entry is struck through, the money having been repaid.

[204] This entry is in Porter's own handwriting.

[205] "Spec. of Engl. Dram. Poets," ii. 185, edit. 1835.

[206] See Hazlitt's "Popular Poetry," iv, 38-40.

[207] Second edit., _Welcome then_.

[208] From the second edit. Not in first edit.

[209] Prospects, views, scenes in sight; a meaning of the word which is

found in much later writers.

[210] So second edit. First edit. _he_.

[211] Absolute, perfect, [or rather, perhaps, pure.]

[212] Read, for the metre, _He will_.

[213] So second edit. First edit., _to_.

[214] The audience were to suppose that the stage now represented an

orchard; for be it remembered that there was no movable painted scenery

in the theatres at the time when this play was produced.

[215] Second edit., _rubber_, but the other form is common in our old

writers.

[216] [So second edit.] Equivalent to be hanged.

[217] Second edit., _woman_, which is probably right; see two passages

farther on, in one of which both editions have _woman_.

[218] Gold coins. The words give occasion to innumerable puns in our

early dramas.

[219] Read, for the metre, _here is_

[220] Second edit., _woman_: see note [217].

[221] A term of the game.

[222] Edits., _better_,--the eye of the original compositor having

caught the word above.

[223] A term of the game.

[224] i.e. _Hit_.

[225] Here, probably, Mistress Goursey should make her exit.

[226] i.e., We cannot help it.

[227] So second edit. First edit., _Afford_.

[228] The author probably wrote, "_I_ do _impart_:" compare the next

line.

[229] [Old copies, _tick_.]

[230] i.e., Taught her to tread the ring,--to perform various movements

in different directions within a ring marked out on a piece of ground:

see Markham's "Cheap and Good Husbandry," &c. p. 18, sqq. edit. 1631.

[231] [_Campagne_.] A form of _campaign_ common in our early writers.

[232] i.e., Wilt thou wear, &c.: _point_ means one of the tagged laces

which were used in dress to attach the hose or breeches to the doublet,

&c.

[233] So second edit. First edit., _th'art_.

[234] [Old copies read _when_.]

[235] So second edit. First edit., _in the_.

[236] So second edit. Not in first edit.

[237] [Meaning a tavern of that name.]

[238] Sheathe your sword.

[239] Edits., _me_.

[240] [Old copy, _He's_.] Read, for the metre, _He is_.

[241] i.e., Quality, disposition.

[242] [Old copies, _he'll_.] Read, for the metre, _he will_.

[243] [Fine worsted.]

[244] [Old copies, _his hat, and all green hat_.]

[245] [Old copies, _indirect_.]

[246] Edits., _vassailes_.

[247] So second edit. First edit., _women's_.

[248] Qy. _for an_?

[249] [Old copies, _She's_.] Read, for the metre, _She is_.

[250] A corruption of God's.

[251] [Old copies, _pale_.]

[252] Edits., _apprehend_, but certainly Mall had spoken with sufficient

plainness.

[253] i.e., Nature.

[254] So second edit. First edit., _nay_.

[255] The common dress of a serving-man.

[256] Edits., _you_, which, perhaps, is the right reading, some word

having dropp'd out after it. Qy. thus--

'MRS BAR. Mistresse flurt, you _mean_,

Foule strumpet, light a loue, short heeles! Mistresse Goursey

Call her,' &c.

--_Dyce_. [But _yea_ seems to be the more likely word.]

[257] So second edit. First edit., _tell_.

[258] i.e., Vile.

[259] Edits., _forlorn_.

[260] Qy., _Mother, he loves_?

[261] So second edit. First edit., _the_.

[262] So second edit. First edit., _Thaust_.

[263] i.e., Refuse.

[264] So second edit. First edit., _Gads_.

[265] Edits., _His_.

[266] Qy., _Franke_ he is _young_? Compare the preceding line but one.

[267] i.e., By our lady.

[268] i.e., Miserly persons.

[269] The author probably wrote _neuer was_.

[270] i.e., Honest men.

[271] So second edit. First edit., _ma_.

[272] [See Hazlitt's "Proverbs," 1869, p. 128.]

[273] So second edit. First edit., _faith in_.

[274] Edits., _some_.

[275] Edits., _treason_.

[276] i.e., Vomits: a common pun in old dramas.

[277] i.e., Easily.

[278] Edits., _But_.

[279] So second edit., First edit., _cehape_.

[280] Read, for the metre, _He is_.

[281] Equivalent to--poor, contemptible fellow: but I must leave the

reader to determine the exact meaning of this term of reproach. As

_pingle_ signifies a small croft, Nares (citing a passage from Lyly's

"Euphues") says that _pingler_ is "probably a labouring horse, kept by a

farmer in his homestead." "Gloss." in v.--In Brockett's "Gloss, of North

Country Words" is "_Pingle_, to work assiduously but inefficiently,--to

labour until you are almost blind." In Forby's "Vocab. of East Anglia"

we find, "_Pingle_, to pick one's food, to eat squeamishly:" and in

Moor's "Suffolk Words" is a similar explanation. See also Jamieson's

"Et. Dict. of Scott. Lang."

[282] So second edit. Not in first edit.

[283] So second edit. First edit., _drinke_.

[284] So second edit. First edit., _Nich_.

[285] [This is probably intended to run into verse--

"For when a man doth to Rome come,

He must do as there is done."]

[286] [Old copies, _crush_.]

[287] A form of _digest_, common in our early writers.

[288] [This emendation was suggested by Dyce.]

[289] [Old copies, _shape_.]

[290] So second edit. First edit., _fathers_.

[291] So second edit. First edit., _than_.

[292] Edits., _Franke_.

[293] [Old copies, _boye yee_.]

[294] [Old copies, _love capable to_.]

[295] So second edit. First edit., _Maister_.

[296] Some word most probably has dropped out from the line.

[Perhaps _not_.]

[297] So second edit. First edit., _craft_.

[298] A familiar term for the old English broadsword.

[299] The sharp point in the centre of the buckler.

[300] So second edit. First edit., _and_.

[301] [Dyce proposed to read _ont_.]

[302] i.e., Brave.

[303] [Old copies, _strukst_.]

[304] i.e., Manlike, masculine.

[305] See note [218].

[306] i.e., The parson: _Sir_ was a title applied to clergymen.

[307] See note [255].

[308] [A line appears to be lost here, probably ending with _selves_, as

the whole dialogue is in rhyme.]

[309] i.e., Forester.

[310] Seems to be used here for herd; an unusual meaning of the word.

[See Halliwell's "Diet." _v. Berry_, No. 3.]

[311] So second edit. First edit. _me_.

[312] So second edit. First edit. _th'_.

[313] Edits. _he_.

[314] So second edit. First edit. _thee_.

[315] So second edit. First edit. _thorowly_.

[316] See note [218].

[317] Swoon.

[318] Read, for the metre, _she is_.

[319] Edits., _wone_.

[320] i.e., An _I_ of the Christ-cross row or alphabet.

[321] A term of endearment, formed, perhaps, from _pink_, to wink, to

contract the eyelids.

[322] Edits., _sower_.

[323] i.e., A good whip (_whipstock_ is properly the stock or handle

of a whip).

[324] A term of endearment, which often occurs in our early dramatists.

[325] Edits., _patient_.

[326] [Old copies, _thy_.]

[327] So second edit. First edit., _cheesse_.

[328] So second edit. First edit., _to_.

[329] Read, for the metre, _Shee is_.

[330] A recollection perhaps of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet,"

act iii. sc. 5--

"If I would the fool were married to her grave!"

[331] i.e., Honest.

[332] i.e., Deny.

[333] Read, for the metre, _is it_.

[334] So second edit. First edit., _mistrurst_.

[335] Qy., _now I swear_:

[336] Edits., _confederates_.

[337] Occurs somewhat earlier in edits. (to warn the actors to be in

readiness for coming on the stage).

[338] A well-known part of Oxford. "The principal street is the High

Street, running from Magdalen Bridge to Carfax Church," &c

--New Oxford Guide, p. 3, 8th edit.

[339] i.e., Fine.

[340] A common proverbial expression: "Beggars'-bush being a tree

notoriously known, on the left-hand of the London road, from Huntingdon

to Caxton." [Hazlitt'a "Proverbs," 1869, p. 401. See also pp. 82, 199.]

[341] i.e., Refuse.

[342] Is a common term for a small dagger, but here it seems to be used

in contempt; see the next speech of Coomes.

[343] The origin of this corrupted oath is, I believe, unknown.

[344] i.e., Rabbit-burrow.

[345] i.e., Call me horse.

[346] A not uncommon proverbial expression. Nares ("Gloss." in _v_.)

mentions three places which still retain the name--one between Oxford

and Banbury, another close to Stafford, the third near Shrewsbury.

[347] i.e., Counsel, advice.

[348] i.e., Vile.

[349] So second edit. First edit., _upon_.

[350] i.e., Till.

[351] i.e., A kind of net for catching rabbits,--usually stretched

before their holes.

[352] [The name of a popular game.]

[353] So second edit. First edit., _do_.

[354] i.e., A sucking, or young rabbit.

[355] Vile.

[356] So second edit. First edit., _you'r_.

[357] Second edit., _wilt not_.

[358] i.e., Honest.

[359] Edits. _glimpes_ (the two last letters transposed by mistake.)

[360] i.e., Gave notice of, discovered.

[361] So second edit. First edit. _metamorphesie_.

[362] So second edit. First edit. _these_.

[363] So second edit. First edit. _'Sbloud_.

[364] i.e., Nearer.

[365] So second edit. Not in first edit.

[366] Qy. "_Sir Ralph Smith_, I know."

[367] So second edit. These words are wanting in first edit.

[368] This stage direction occurs somewhat earlier in edits.

[369] I am not sure that this stage direction, which I have added, is

the right one. It would seem, however, that Sir Ralph Smith remains on

the stage, and is supposed not to overhear the dialogue which ensues

between Francis and Will.

[370] Edits., _Sbloud_.

[371] So second edit. First edit., _whench_.

[372] Edits., _ask't_ and _aske_.

[373] Read, for the metre, _It is_.

[374] So second edit. Not in first edit.

[375] Qy., _order here_?

[376] i.e., Nearer.

[377] Perhaps he ought only to retire.

[378] So second edit. First edit., _asgoe_.

[379] [Old copies, _boye_.]

[380] It would seem that something is wanting after this speech, unless

we are to suppose that here the Boy lies down and falls asleep, and that

he wakens on the second entrance of Hodge,--where, however, the edits.

distinctly mark "Enter Hodge _and Boy_"; see later: _Enter [severally]_

HODGE _and_ BOY.

[381] i.e., Excels.

[382] So second edit. First edit. _clowdes_.

[383] So second edit. Not in first edit.

[384] Second edit. _ye_.

[385] Qy. Is this a stage direction crept into the text?

[386] Second edit. _grope_.

[387] Second edit. _so_.

[388] [Old copies, _paint_.]

[389] So second edit. First edit. _buze_.

[390] Second edit. _lips_.

[391] So second edit. First edit. _I have had a Pumpe set up, as good_.

[392] i.e., (Perhaps) swore by our Lady of Walsingham, in Norfolk.

[393] [The name of a game, though here used as a bye-word. See "Popular

Antiquities of Gr. Britain," ii. 341.]

[394] So second edit. First edit., _Tripe-cheeke_.

[395] i.e., Had I known the consequences; a common proverbial expression

of repentance.

[396] See note [16].

[397] So second edit. First edit., _his_.

[398] [Edits., _me_.]

[399] Qy. a proverbial allusion to the famous Brazen-head?

[400] So second edit. First edit., _breath_.

[401] So second edit. Not in first edit.

[402] The hero of a popular German jest-book ("Eulenspiegel,") which was

translated into English at a very early period: see Gifford's note on

Jonson's "Works," iv. 60, and Nares' Gloss. in v.

[403] [First 4º, _silly_.]

[404] So second edit. First edit., _shew_.

[405] i.e., Bauble.

[406] Random.

[407] [i.e., Coomes and Nicholas both retire to the back of the stage.]

[408] Edits., _hap_.

[409] i.e., Ill-will.

[410] Second edit., _he a_; but _a_ is a common contraction for _he_.

[411] So second edit. First edit., _tell_,

[412] i.e., Blind-man's-buff.

[413] So second edit. Not in first edit.

[414] [Old copy, _thief_.]

[415] i.e., (I suppose) Buoys.

[416] [Old copy, _not envies fellon, not_.]

[417] [Old copies, _what_.]

[418] i.e., A dear lean and out of season.

[419] i.e., The alphabet.

[420] So second edit. First edit. _wandring_.

[421] i.e., suffer, endure. Edits. _stole_.

[422] So second edit. First edit. _Being_.

[423] Read, for the metre, _it is_.

[424] So second edit. First edit. _enforc'st_.

[425] Read, for the metre, _wife is_.

[426] So second edit. First edit. _same_.

[427] Second edit. _you_.

[428] So second edit. First edit. _weere_.

[429] [Old edits., _carerie_.]

[430] So second edit. First edit., _shrowdly_.

[431] Second edit., _me_--wrongly, as appears from what follows.

[432] Edits., _be_.

[433] i.e., Ill-will.

[434] i.e., Satisfy, convince.

[435] Edits., _mindes_.

[436] Qy., _you, mother_?

[437] Read, for the metre, _she is_.

[438] Something has dropt out here.

[439] [Edits., _A little_.]

[440] i.e., Vile.

[441] i.e., The one.

[442] [Old copies, _yond may help that come both together_.]

[443] So second edit. First edit., _fileds_.

[444] A common, familiar contraction of _mine uncle_.

[445] Second edit., _fie_.

[446] So second edit. First edit., _brings_.

[447] i.e., _Traitor_ or _felon_.

[448] i.e., Swoon.

[449] Second edit., _fauours_.

[450] So read for the metre. Old copies, _here's_.

[451] See also Collier's "Hist. of Eng. Dramatic Poetry," i. 3.

[452] See Dyce's "Shakespeare," 1868, ii. 2.

[453] Not in the old copy.

[454] [i.e., to Tyburn.]

[455] [Old copy, _thee_.]

[456] Old copy, _well a neere_. Well-a-year is an unusual phrase, _well_

being corrupted from _wail_. "Well-a-day" in the same sense is common

enough.

[457] Old copy, _otimie_, I conjecture _otomy_ for anatomy, a common

form of _anatomy_.

[458] Halliwell mentions the words _pubble_ and _puble_ in different

senses, and the old copy reads puble; but here the context seems to

require _bubble_. He has immediately before used the term _froth_.

[459] Fear.

[460] Divisions, conflicts.

[461] Old copy, _Henry_.

[462] Old copy, _Aveney_.

[463] But see Hazlitt's "Proverbs," 1869, p. 23.

[464] Old copy, _where stands in_.

[465] i.e., Mary, God's mother.

[466] See Hazlitt's "Proverbs," 1869, p. 289.

[467] Possibly in reference to a tract, so called, printed by Wynkyn de

Worde, and (after him) by others.

[468] He means the stammer of Redcap, which he intends to imitate.

[469] Compare "Damon and Pithias," vol. iv., pp. 67-8.

[470] Old copy, _excepts_.

[471] He does not appear, however, to make himself visible, but stands

aside, listening.

[472] Old copy, _times_. See Halliwell, v. _tine_, where the word is

said to mean "the prong of a fork (second explanation)," thence, as in

the text, a horn.

[473] [Old copy, _attempt_.]

[474] Block seems to refer jocularly to Sir Richard's long aside, under

a sort of invisible cap.

[475] Old copy, _solicitie_.

[476] Old copy, _say_.

[477] Old copy, _you_.

[478] Old copy, _Richard's_.

[479] [Old copy, _us_.]

[480] Succeed.

[481] Perhaps the dance so called is meant.

[482] [Old copy, _them_.]

[483] [Old. copy, _ye spoke_.]

[484] Old copy, _rove_.

[485] i.e., From the time of the Confessor.

[486] i.e., Spain; old copy, _Gads_.

[487] A word or words left blank in the old copy.

[488] His gown.

[489] Old copy, _Levarnian_.

[490] Old copy, _It_.

[491] Old copy, _ane_.

[492] The word _search_ is here, and again a little further on used in

the sense of _searchers_.

[493] Old copy, _another_; but Redcap is evidently accompanied by two

assistants.

[494] This appears to stand for officers of the peace, as the _watch_

and the _search_.

[495] Old copy, _King_.

[496] A brothel.

[497] [Old copy, _age_.]

[498] [Old copy, _Fau_, for _Fauconbridge_.]

[499] [This might appear to be a corruption of _go out_, or of _God's

gut (God's guts_ is an ejaculation found elsewhere); but from a

subsequent passage we can but conclude that the disease so called is

intended.]

[500] Old copy, _fill'd_, the compositor's eye, perhaps, having strayed

to the next line.

[501] Strong. See a long note in Nares, edit. 1859, p. 606.

[502] Old copy; _here_.

[503] A room in the Salutation so called.

[504] Guests.

[505] Old copy, _at_.

[506] Old copy, _Raynald_.

[507] [Old copy, _me of_.]

[508] i.e., Terms, as mentioned before. Old copy, _then_.

[509] To _meet with_ is a very common phrase for to _serve_ out,

_requite_.

[510] Skink issues from the hermit's house in the disguise of the man

whom he is supposed to have cured, and as he leaves, addresses parting

words to the hermit within.

[511] Breviary.

[512] Old copy, _them_.

[513] Brand.

[514] Old copy, _of_.

[515] Old copy, _Glo_.

[516] [Old copy, _last_.]

[517] [Old copy, _this_.]

[518] Old copy, _salutes he_.

[519] Old copy, _you for_.

[520] Old copy, _in_.

[521] [Old copy, _we_.]

[522] [Old copy, _we'll_.]

[523] [Old copy, _sighs and songs_.]

[524] In this passage the phrase, _to wear the yellow_, seems hardly to

bear the ordinary construction of, _to be jealous_.

[525] Old copy, _pining_.

[526] Old copy gives this line to the lady, i.e., the merchant's wife.

[527] This seems to be some popular and well-understood allusion--well

understood then, but now obscure enough; nor does Steevens's explanation

help us much. See "Pop. Antiq. of Gr. Britain," 1870, iii. 322.

[528] An allusion to an old proverb.

[529] Old copy gives this line to Gloster.

[530] Old copy, _weak_.

[531] Halliwell says, "a squall."

[532] Fear.

[533] Old copy, _wray_.

[534] Old copy, _not thou art_.

[535] i.e., Gloster, disguised also as a hermit.

[536] Old copy, _he's_.

[537] Old copy gives as the stage-direction here merely, _Enter John_.

[538] Old copy, _Lan_.

[539] Compare "First Part of Jeronimo," vol. iv., p. 349, and the note.

[540] [Old copy, _breath_.]

[541] [Compare Courthope's "Historic Peerage," 1857, _v_. Hereford.]

[542] [In allusion to the proverb, _Threatened men live long_.]

[543] [Old copy, _William_.]

[544] Old copy, _them_.

[545] Something seems to have dropped out of the text.

[546] I do not find this phrase anywhere.

[547] Old copy, _may_.

[548] i.e., Gloster.

[549] There is an evident corruption here. Query, _Life kneels to

thrones_.

[550] Old copy, _thy_.

[551] Old copy, _not_.

[552] Old copy, _is_.

[553] Old copy, _set_.

[554] i.e., _Mort de Dieu_.

[555] Old copy, _ye_.

[556] Old copy, _Sarasons_.

[557] An exclamation of doubtful meaning and origin. See a long note in

Nares, edit. 1859, _v. Rivo_.

[558] Old copy, _for_.