A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume I Part 12

MEL. If this be true, that thou say'st to me now, Mine heart is lightened, perceiving the case: I would be content well, if I wist how, To bring this sick knight unto some solace.

CEL. Fair damsel, to thee be health and grace: For if this knight and ye were acquainted both two, Ye would not judge him the man that ye do.

By G.o.d and by my soul, in him is no melancholy: With grace endued in freedom as Alexander, In strength as Hector, in countenance merry: Gracious, envy in him reigned never.

Of n.o.ble blood, as thou knowest, and if ye ever Saw him armed, he seemeth a Saint George.

Rather than to be made in nature's forge, An angel thou would'st judge him, I make a vow.

The gentle Narcissus was never so fair, That was enamoured on his own shadow; Wherefore, fair maid, let thy pity repair: Let mercy be thy mother, and thou her heir.

This knight, whom I come for, never ceaseth.

But crieth out of pain, that still increaseth.

MEL. How long time, I pray thee, hath it holden him?

CEL. I think he be twenty-four years of age; I saw him born, and holp for to fold him.

MEL. I demand thee not thereof: thine answer a.s.suage; I ask thee how long in this painful rage He hath lain?

CEL. Of truth, fair maiden, as he says, He hath be in this agony this eight days.

But he seemeth, [as] he had lain this seven year.

MEL. Oh, how it grieveth me the ill of my patient, Knowing his agony and thy innocency here.

Unto mine anger thou hast made resistance, Wherefore thy demand I grant in recompense.

Have here my girdle: the prayer is not ready; To-morrow it shall be: come again secretly.

And, mother, of these words pa.s.sed between us Show nothing thereof unto this knight, Lest he would report me cruel and furious.

I trust thee now be true, for thoughts be light.

CEL. I marvel greatly thou dost me so atwite Of the doubt, that thou hast of my secretness: As secret as thyself I shall be doubtless.

And to Calisto with this girdle Celestina Shall go, and his leady heart make whole and light.

For Gabriel to our lady with Ave Maria Came never gladder than I shall to this knight.

Calisto, how wilt thou now sit upright?

I have showed thy water to thy physician: Comfort thyself: the field is half-won. [_Aside_.

MEL. Mother, he is much beholden unto thee.

CEL. Fair maiden, for the mercy thou hast done to us This knight and I both thy beadfolks shall be.

MEL. Mother, if need be, I will do more than thus.

CEL. It shall be needful to do so and righteous; For this thus begun must needs have an end, Which never can be without ye condescend.

MEL. Well, mother, to-morrow is a new day:[70]

I shall perform that I have you promised.

Show to this sick knight in all that I may.

Bid him be bold in all things honest, And though he to me as yet be but a guest, If my word or deed his health may support, I shall not fail; and thus bid him take comfort.

[_Exit Melibaea_.

CEL. Now, Christ comfort thee, and keep thee in thy need!

Now say you, now is not this matter carried clear?

Cannot old Celestina her matter speed?

A thing not well handled is not worth a bean.

Now know ye by the half tale what the whole doth mean: These women at the first be angry and furious: Fair weather cometh after storms tempestuous.

And now to Calisto I will me dress, Which lieth now languishing in great pain, And show him that he is not remediless; And bear him this to make him glad and fain; And handle him, so that ye shall see plain, That I am well worthy to bear the name, For to be called a n.o.ble arch dame. [_Exit_.

_Intrat_ DANIO _pater_ MELIBAEAE.

O marvellous G.o.d, what a dream had I to-night!

Most terrible vision to report and hear!

I had never none such, nor none yearthly wight.

Alas! when I think thereon, I quake for fear; It was of Melibaea, my daughter dear.

G.o.d send me good tidings of her shortly, For, till I hear from her, I cannot be merry.

_Intrat_ MELIBAEA.

MEL. O dear father, nothing may me more displease, Nothing may do me more annoyance, Nothing may do me greater disease, Than to see you, father, in any perturbance, For me chiefly, or for any other chance.

But for me I pray you not to be sad, For I have no cause but to be merry and glad.

DAN. O sweet Melibaea, my daughter dear, I am replete with joy and felicity, For that ye be now in my presence here, As I perceive, in joy and prosperity; From death to life me thinketh it reviveth me; For the fearful dream that I had lately.

MEL. What dream, sir, was that, I pray you heartily?

DAN. Doubtless, me thought that I was walking In a fair orchard, where were places two: The one was a hot bath, wholesome and pleasing To all people that did repair thereto, To wash them and clean them from sickness also; The other a pit of foul stinking water; Shortly they died, all that therein did enter.

And unto this wholesome bath methought that ye In the right path were coming apace, But before that methought that I did see A foul, rough b.i.t.c.h--a p.r.i.c.k-eared cur it was-- Which straking her body along on the gra.s.s, And with her tail licked her so, that she Made herself a fair spaniel to be.

This b.i.t.c.h then (methought) met you in the way, Leaping and fawning upon you apace, And round about you did run and play, Which made you then disport and solace; Which liked you so well, that in short s.p.a.ce The way to the hot bath anon ye left it, And took the straight way to the foul pit.

And ever ye looked continually Upon that same b.i.t.c.h, and so much her eyed, That ye came to the foul pit-brink suddenly, Like to have fallen in, and to have been destroyed, Which when I saw, anon then I cried, Starting in my sleep, and therewith did awake; That yet for fear, methink, my body doth quake.

Was not this a fearful dream and marvellous?

I pray you, daughter, what think ye now to this?

_Hic_ MELIBAEA _certo tempore non loquitur, sed vultu lamentabili respicit_.

Why speak ye not? why be ye now so studious?

Is there anything that hath chanced you amiss?

I am your father: tell me what it is.

MEL. Alas, now your dream, which ye have expressed, Hath made me all pensive and sore abashed.

DAN. I pray you, dear daughter, now tell me why?

MEL. Sir, I know the cause of your vision, And what your dreadful dream doth signify.

DAN. Thereof would I fain now have knowlition.

MEL. Alas, dear father, alas, what have I done?

Offended G.o.d as a wretch unworthy!

DAN. Wherein? despair not; G.o.d is full of mercy.

_Et genuflectat_.

MEL. Then on my knees now I fall down, And of G.o.d chiefly asking forgiveness; And next of you; for into oblivion I have put your doctrine and lessons doubtless.

DAN. Fear not, daughter, I am not merciless; I trust ye have not so greatly offended, But that right well it may be amended.

MEL. Ye have fostered me up full lovingly In virtuous discipline, which is the right path To all grace and virtue; which doth signify By your dream the fair, pleasant, wholesome bath: The foul pit, whereof ye dreamed, which hath Destroyed so many, betokeneth vice and sin, In which, alas, I had almost fallen in.

The p.r.i.c.k-eared cur and the foul b.i.t.c.h, Which made herself so smooth and fair to see, Betokeneth an old quean, a bawdy witch, Called Celestina, that woe might she be!

Which with her fair words aye so persuaded me, That she had almost brought me hereunto, To fulfil the foul l.u.s.t of Calisto.

DAN. Alas, dear daughter, I taught you a lesson, Which way ye should attain unto virtue: That was every morning to say an orison, Praying G.o.d for grace all vice to eschew.

MEL. O dear father, that lesson I have kept true; Which preserved me, for though I did consent In mind, yet had he never his intent.

DAN. The virtue of that prayer, I see well one thing, Hath preserved you from the shame of that sin; But because ye were somewhat consenting, Ye have offended G.o.d greatly therein; Wherefore, daughter, ye must now begin Humbly to beseech G.o.d of His mercy For to forgive you your sin and misery.

MEL. O blessed Lord, and father celestial, Whose infinite mercy no tongue can express, Though I be a sinner, wretch of wretches all, Yet of thy great mercy grant me forgiveness.

Full sore I repent, my sin I confess: Intending henceforth never to offend more: Now humbly I beseech thy mercy therefore.

DAN. Now that is well said, mine own fair daughter; Stand up therefore, for I know verily, That G.o.d is good and merciful ever To all sinners which will ask mercy, And be repentant and in will clearly To sin no more. He of His great goodness Will grant them therefore His grace and forgiveness.

Lo, here ye may see, what a thing it is To bring up young people virtuously, In good custom; for grace doth never miss To them that use good prayers daily, Which hath preserved this maid undoubtedly, And kept her from actual deed of shame: Brought her to grace: preserved her good name.

Wherefore, ye virgins and fair maidens all, Unto this example now take good heed; Serve G.o.d daily; the sooner ye shall To honesty and goodness no doubt proceed; And G.o.d shall send you ever his grace at need To withstand all evil temptations, That shall come to you by any occasions.

And ye, fathers, mothers, and other, which be Rulers of young folks, your charge is doubtless To bring them up virtuously, and to see Them occupied still in some good business; Not in idle pastime or unthriftiness, But to teach them some art, craft, or learning, Whereby to be able to get their living.

The bringers-up of youth in this region Have done great harm because of their negligence, Not putting them to learning nor occupations: So, when they have no craft nor science, And come to man's state, ye see the experience, That many of them compelled be To beg or steal by very necessity.

But if there be therefore any remedy, The heads and rulers must first be diligent To make good laws, and execute them straitly, Upon such masters that be negligent.

Alas! we make no laws, but punishment, When men have offended. But laws evermore Would be made to prevent the cause before.

If the cause of the mischiefs were seen before, Which by conjecture to fall be most likely, And good laws and ordinance made therefore To put away the cause, that were best remedy.

What is the cause, that there be so many Thefts and robberies? It is because men be Driven thereto by need and poverty.

And what is the very cause of that need?

Because they labour not for their living; And truth is, they cannot well labour indeed, Because in youth of their idle upbringing.

But this thing shall never come to reforming, But the world continually shall be nought, As long as young people be evil up-brought.

Wherefore the eternal G.o.d, that reigneth on high, Send his merciful grace and influence To all governors, that they circ.u.mspectly May rule their inferiors by such prudence, To bring them to virtue and due obedience, And that they and we all by his great mercy May be partners of his blessed glory.

AMEN.[71]