A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Ii Part 63

I burn and yet I freeze, I flame and cool as fast, In hope to win and for to lese, my pensiveness doth last; Why should my dull spirit appal my courage so?

O, salve my sore, or sle me quite, by saying yea or no!

You are the mark at whom I shoot to hit or miss, My life it stays on you alone, to you my suit it is, A suit[400] not much unmeet with you some grace[401] to find, Dame Nature's son, my name is Wit, that fancieth you by kind, And here I come this day to wait and to attend, In hope to have my hoped prey,[402] or else my life to end.

SCIENCE.

Good cause there is, wherefore I should embrace, This loving heart which you have borne to me, And glad I am, that we be both in place, Each one of us each other's looks to see.

Your picture and your person doth agree, Your prince-like port and eke your n.o.ble face; Wherein so many signs of virtue be: That I must needs be moved in your case.

REASON.

Friend Wit, are you the man indeed, which you intend?[403]

Can you be well content, until your life doth end, To join and knit most sure with this my daughter here, And unto her alone your fixed faith to bear?

WIT.

As I am bent to this, so let my suit be sped, If I do fail, ten thousand plagues and more light on my head!

EXPERIENCE.

There are, that promise fair, and mean as well, As any heart[404] can think, or tongue can tell: Which at the first are hot, and kindle in desire, But in one month or twain quite quenched is the fire.

Such is the train[405] of youth, whom fancy's force doth lead, Whose love is only at the plunge, and cannot long proceed.

WIT.

Credit my words, and ye shall find me true.

EXPERIENCE.

Suppose you keep not touch, who should this bargain rue?

WIT.

I will be sworn here solemnly before you both.

EXPERIENCE.

Who breaketh promise, will not stick likewise to break his oath.

WIT.

I will be bound in all that ever I can make.

EXPERIENCE.

What good were that to us, if we th'advantage take?

WIT.

Will neither promise serve, nor oath, nor bands?[406]

What other a.s.surance will ye ask at my hands?

WILL.

My master is a gentleman, I tell you, and his word, I would you knew it, shall with his deeds accord.

REASON.

We know not whom to trust, the world is so ill.

WILL.

Indeed, sir, as you say, you may mend, when ye will; But in good earnest, madam, speak--off or on?

Shall we speed at your hand, or shall we be gone?

I love not these delays; say so, if we shall have you, If not, say no; and let another crave you.

WIT.

Soft and fair, sir boy, you talk, you wot not what. [_Aside_.

WILL.

Can you abide to be driven off with this and that, Can they ask any more than good a.s.surance at your hands? [_Aside_.

EXPERIENCE.

All is now too little, son, as the matter stands.

WILL.

If all be too little, both goods and lands, I know not what will please you, except Darby's bands.[407]

SCIENCE.

I have an enemy, my friend Wit, a mortal foe to me; And therewithal the greatest plague that can befal to thee.

WIT.

Must I fight with him?

REASON.

Can you fight, if need be?

WILL.

If any such thing fall, count the charge to me, Trouble not yourself.

WIT.

Hold thy peace, elf.

SCIENCE.

Hear out my tale; I have a mortal foe, That lurketh in the wood hereby, as you come and go; This monstrous giant bears a grudge to me and mine, And will attempt to keep thee back from this desire of thine.

The bane of youth, the root of ruin and distress:[408]

Devouring those that sue to me, his name is Tediousness.

No sooner he espies the n.o.ble Wit begin: To stir and pain itself the love of me to win.

But forth he steps, and with strong hands by might and main.

He beats and buffets down the force and liveliness of brain.

That done, in deep despair he drowns him villainously: Ten thousand suitors in a year are cast away thereby.

Now, if your mind be surely fixed so, That for no toil nor cost my love you will forego, Bethink you well, and of this monster take good heed, Then may you have with me the greater hope to speed.

Herein use good advice, to make you strong and stout, To feud and keep him off a while, until his rage be out.

Then when you feel yourself well able to prevail, Bid you the battle, and that so courageously a.s.sail.

If you can win the field, present me with his head, I ask no more, and I forthwith shall be your own to bed.

WIT.

Ill might I thrive, and lack that likes me best, If I be not a scourge to him, that breedeth[409] your unrest.

Madam, a.s.sure yourself, he lives not in the land, With whom I would not in your cause encounter hand to hand.

And as for Tediousness that wretch, your common foe, Let me alone, we twain shall cope, before I sleep, I trow.

WILL.

l.u.s.tily spoken, let me claw thee by the back: How say you now sir, here are three against twain!