A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vii Part 98

JOHN. A vengeance on him!

GLO. Do not curse, good prince; He's bad enough, 'twere better pray for him.

JOHN. I'll kill thee, and thou bid us pray for him, I'll fell [the] woods, and ring thee round with fire, Make thee an offering unto fierce revenge, If thou have but a thought to pray for him.

GLO. I am bound to pray for[514] all men, chiefly Christians.

JOHN. Ha, ha, for Christians? think'st thou he is one?

For men? hast thou opinion he is a man?

He that changes himself to sundry shapes, Is he a Christian? can he be a man?

O irreligious thoughts!

GLO. Why, worthy prince, I saw him christened, dipp'd into the font.

JOHN. Then nine times, like the northern Laplanders, He backward circled the sacred font, And nine times backward said his orisons: As often curs'd the glorious host of heaven, As many times invok'd the fiends of h.e.l.l, And so turn'd witch; for Gloster is a witch.

GLO. Have patience, gentle prince; he shall appear Before your kingly father speedily.

JOHN. Shall he indeed? sweet comfort, kiss thy cheek; Peace circle in thy aged honoured head.

When he is taken, hermit, I protest I'll build thee up a chapel and a shrine: I'll have thee worshipp'd as a man divine, a.s.sure [ye] he shall come, and Skink shall come.

FAU.[515] Aye, that same Skink; I prythee, send that Skink.

JOHN. Send both; and both, as prisoners criminate.

Shall forfeit their lost[516] lives to England's state, Which way will Fauconbridge?

FAU. Over the water, and So with all speed I may to Stepney.

JOHN. I must to Stepney too, and revel, and be blithe, Old [Knight], wink at my mirth; 't may make amends, So thou and I, and our friends, may be friends.

FAU. With all my heart, with all my heart, Prince [John], Old Fauconbridge will wait upon your grace.

Be good to Gloster, for my Marian's sake, And me and mine you shall your servants make.

GLO. Of that anon: my pleasure being serv'd, Gloster shall have what Gloster hath deserv'd.

FAU. Why, that's well said; adieu, good honest hermit.

[_Exit_.

JOHN. Hermit, farewell, if I had my desire, I'll make the world thy wondrous deeds admire.

[_Exit_.

GLO. Still good, still pa.s.sing good; Gloster is still Henry's true hate, foe to John's froward will, No more of that: for them in better time.

If this same hermit be an honest man, He will protect me by his[517] simple life; If not, I care not; I'll be ever Gloster, Make him my footstool, if he be a slave, For baseness over worth can have no power.

Robin, bethink thee, thou art come from kings, Then scorn to be [a] slave to underlings, Look well about thee, lad, and thou shalt see Them burst in envy, that would injure thee.

Hermit, I'll meet you in your hermit's gown, Honest, I'll love you: worse, I'll knock you down.

[_Exit_.

SCENE THE TWENTY-EIGHTH.

_Enter_ PRINCE RICHARD, _with music_.

P. RICH. Kind friends, we have troubled Lady Fauconbridge, And either she's not willing to be seen, Or else not well, or with our boldness griev'd, To ease these, I have brought you to this window, Knowing you are in music excellent.

I have penn'd a ditty here, and I desire You would sing it for her love and my content.

MUS. With all my heart, my lord.

_Enter_ ROBIN HOOD, _like the_ LADY [FAUCONBRIDGE].

ROB. Your excellence forgets your princely worth; If I may humbly crave it at your hands, Let me desire this music be dismiss'd.

RICH. Forbear, I pray, and withdraw yourselves; Be not offended, gracious Marian. [_Exeunt music_.

Under the upper heaven nine goodly spheres Turn with a motion ever, musical; In palaces of kings melodious sounds Offer pleasures to their sovereigns ears.

In temples, milk-white-clothed quiristers Sing sacred anthems, bowing to the shrine; And in the fields whole quires of winged clerks Salute the[518] morning bright and crystalline.

Then blame not me; you are my heaven, my queen: My saint, my comfort, brighter than the morn.

To you all music and all praise is due; For your delight, for you,[519] delight was born.

The world would have no mirth, no joy, no day, If from the world your beauty were away.

ROB. Fie on love's blasphemy and forgery, To call that joy[520] that's only misery!

I, that am wedded to suspicious age, Solicited by your lascivious youth; I, that have [only] one poor comfort living-- Gloster my brother, my high-hearted brother-- He flies for fear, lest he should faint, and fall Into the hands of hate tyrannical.

RICH. What would you I should do?

ROB. I would full fain My brother Gloster had his peace again.

RICH. Shall love be my reward, if I do bring A certain token of his good estate, And after pacify my brother's wrath?

Say you will love, he[521] will be fortunate!

ROB. I will.

RICH. No more; I vow to die unblest If I perform not this imposed quest.

But one word, madam; pray, can you tell Where Huntington my ward is?

ROB. I was bold To send young Robin Hood, your n.o.ble ward, Upon some business of import for me.

RICH. I am glad he is employed in your affairs; Farewell, kind fair; let [not] one cloudy frown Shadow the bright sun of thy beauty's light: Be confident in this--I'll find thy brother, Raise power but he'll[522] have peace: only perform Your gracious promise at my back-return.

ROB. Well, here's my hand, Prince Richard; that same night, Which secondeth the day of your return, I'll be your bed-fellow, and from that hour Forswear the loathed bed of Fauconbridge: Be speedy, therefore, as you hope to speed.

RICH. O that I were as large-winged as the wind, Then should you see my expeditious will.

My most desire, adieu! guess by my haste Of your sweet promise the delicious taste.

[_Exit_.

ROB. Why so: I am rid of him by this device, He would else have tired me with his songs and sighs.[523]

_Enter_ BLOCK.