A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume I Part 9

CAL. Christ make thee strong! [_Exit Sem_.

The mighty and perdurable G.o.d be his guide, As he guided the three kings into Bedlam[40]

From the east by the star, and again did provide As their conduct to return to their own realm; So speed my Semp.r.o.nio to quench the leme[41]

Of this fire, which my heart doth waste and spend; And that I may come to my desired end!

To pa.s.s the time now will I walk Up and down within mine orchard, And to myself go commune and talk; And pray that fortune to me be not hard; Longing to hear, whether made or marred, My message shall return by my servant Semp.r.o.nio.

Thus farewell, my lords; for a while I will go.

_Enter_ CELESTINA, _the bawd_.

CEL. Now the blessing that our lady gave her son, That same blessing I give now to you all!

That I come thus homely, I pray you of pardon; I am sought and send for as a woman universal.

Celestina, of truth, my name is to call; Semp.r.o.nio for me about doth inquire, And it was told me I should have found him here.

I am sure he will come hither anon; But the whilst I shall tell you a pretty game: I have a wench of Semp.r.o.nio's, a pretty one, That sojourneth with me: Elicaea is her name.

But the last day we were both nigh a stark shame, For Semp.r.o.nio would have her to himself several; And she loveth one Crito better or as well.

This Crito and Elicaea sat drinking In my house, and I also making merry; And as the devil would, far from our thinking, Semp.r.o.nio almost came on us suddenly.

But then wrought I my craft of bawdry; I bade Crito go up, and make himself room To hide him in my chamber among the broom.[42]

Then made I Elicaea sit down a-sewing, And I with my rock[43] began for to spin; As who saith of Semp.r.o.nio we had no knowing.

He knocked at the door, and I let him in; And for a countenance I did begin To catch him in mine arms, and said, see, see!

Who kisseth me, Elicaea, and will not kiss thee?

Elicaea for a countenance made her grieved, And would not speak, but still did sew.

Why speak ye not? quoth Semp.r.o.nio, be ye moved?

Have I not a cause, quoth she? no, quoth he, I trow.

Ah! traitor, quoth she, full well dost thou know!

Where hast thou been these three days from me, That the imposthumes and evil death take thee!

Peace, mine Elicaea, quoth he, why say ye thus?

Alas! why put you yourself in this woe?

The hot fire of love so brenneth between us, That my heart is with yours, wherever I go; And for three days' absence to say to me so, In faith, methinketh, ye be to blame.

But now hark well, for here beginneth the game!

Crito, in my chamber above that was hidden, I think lay not easily, and began to rumble; Semp.r.o.nio heard that, and asked who was within, Above in the chamber that so did tumble.

Who? quoth she; a lover of mine! may-hap, ye stumble, Quoth he, on the truth, as many one doth.

So up, quoth she, and look, whether it be sooth.

Well, quoth he, I go. Nay, thought I, not so, I said, come, Semp.r.o.nio, let this fool alone; For of thy long absence she is in such woe, And half beside herself, and her wit nigh gone.

Well, quoth he, above yet there is one.

Wilt thou know, quoth I? yea, quoth he, I thee require; It is a wench, quoth I, sent me by a friar.

What friar? quoth he. Wilt thou needs know? quoth I; then It is the friar[44] ...

Oh, quoth he, what a load hath that woman To bear him! Yea, quoth I; though women per case Bear heavy full oft, yet they gall in no place.

Then he laughed; yea, quoth I, no more words of this For this time; too long we spend here amiss.

_Intrat_ SEMp.r.o.nIO.

SEM. O mother Celestine, I pray G.o.d prosper thee.

CEL. My son Semp.r.o.nio, I am glad of our meeting.

And, as I hear say, ye go about to seek me?

SEM. Of truth, to seek you was mine hither coming.

Mother, lay apart now all other thing, And alonely tend to me, and imagine In that that I purpose now to begin.

Calisto in the love of fair Melibaea Burneth; wherefore of thee he hath great need.

CEL. Thou say'st well, knowest not me Celestina?

I have the end of the matter, and for more speed Thou shalt wade no farther; for of this deed I am as glad, as ever was the surgeon For salves for broke heads to make provision.

And so intend I to do to Calisto: To give him hope and a.s.sure him remedy; For long hope to the heart much trouble will do.

Wherefore to the effect thereof I will hie.

SEM. Peace, for methinketh Calisto is nigh.

_Intrat_ CALISTO _et_ PARMENO.

CAL. Parmeno.

PAR. What say you?

CAL. Wottest who is here?

Semp.r.o.nio! that reviveth my cheer.

PAR. It is Semp.r.o.nio, with that old bearded wh.o.r.e.

Be ye they my master so sore fordoth long?[45]

CAL. Peace, I say, Parmeno, or go out of the door!

Comest thou to hinder me? then dost thou me wrong; I pray thee help for to make me more strong, To win this woman: else, G.o.ds forbode, She hath equal power of my life under G.o.d.

PAR. Wherefore to her do ye make such sorrow?

Think ye in her a.r.s.e there is any shame?

The contrary who telleth you, be never his borrow; For as much she glorifieth her in her name, To be called an old wh.o.r.e, as ye would of fame.

Dogs in the street and children at every door Bark and cry out, There goeth an old wh.o.r.e!

CAL. How knowest all this? dost thou know her?

PAR. Yea that [I do time long][46] agone For a false wh.o.r.e, the devil overthrow her!

My mother, when she died, gave me to her alone, And a starker bawd was there never none.

For that I know I dare well say:[47]

Let see the contrary who can lay.

I have been at her house and seen her trinkets For painting; things innumerable; Squalms and balms; I wonder where she gets The things that she hath with folks for to fable, And to all bawdry ever agreeable.

Yet worse than that, which will never be laft, Not only a bawd, but a witch by her craft.

CEL. Say what thou wilt, son, spare not me.

SEM. I pray thee, Parmeno, leave thy malicious envy.

[_Calisto goes aside_.

PAR. Hark hither, Semp.r.o.nio, here is but we three; In that I have said canst thou deny?

GAL. Come hence, Parmeno, I love not this, I; And, good mother, grieve you not, I you pray.

My mind I shall show now, hark what I say.

O notable woman, O ancient virtue!

O glorious hope of my desired intent!

The end of my delectable hope to renew: My regeneration to this life present, Resurrection from death so excellent; Thou art above [all] other. I desire humbly To kiss thy hands, wherein lieth my remedy.

But mine unworthiness maketh resistance; Yet worship I the ground that thou goest on, Beseeching thee, good woman, with most reverence On my pain with thy pity to look upon.

Without thy comfort my life is gone; To revive my dead spirits thou may'st prefer me, With the words of thy mouth to make or mar me.

CEL. Semp.r.o.nio, can I live with these bones, That thy master giveth me here for to eat?

Words are but wind; therefore at once Bid him close his mouth, and to his purse get.

For money maketh [the] merchant, that must jet.[48]

I have heard his words, but where be his deeds?

For without money with me nothing speeds. [_Aside_.

CAL. What saith she, Semp.r.o.nio? alas, my heart bleeds, That I with you, good woman, mistrust should be.

SEM. Sir, she thinketh that money all thing feeds.

CAL. Then come on, Semp.r.o.nio, I pray thee, with me; And tarry here, mother, awhile, I pray thee; For where of mistrust ye have me appealed, Have here my cloak, till your doubt be a.s.soiled.

SEM. Now do ye well; for weeds among corn, Nor suspicions with friends, did never well.

For[49] faithfulness of words turned to a scorn Maketh minds doubtful, good reason doth tell.

CAL. Come on, Semp.r.o.nio, thou givest me good counsel.

SEM. Go ye before, and I shall wait you upon.

Farewell, mother, we will come again anon.

[_Exeunt_.

PAR. How say ye, my lords? see ye not this smoke, In my master's eyes that they do cast?

The one hath his chain, the other his cloak; And I am sure they will have all at last.