A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Viii Part 55

HUB. When all these fields were walks for rage and fear: This howling like a head of hungry wolves,[338]

That, scudding as a herd of frighted deer: When dust, arising like a coal-black fog, From friend divided friend, join'd foe to foe, Yet neither those nor these could either know; Till here and there, through large wide-mouthed wounds, Proud life, even in the glory of his heat Losing possession, belch'd forth streams of blood, Whose spouts in falling made ten thousand drops, And with that purple shower the dust allay'd-- At such a time met I the trembling maid; Seeming a dove from all her fellows parted-- Seen, known, and taken; unseen and unknown To any other that did know us both, At her entreats I sent her safely guided To Dunmow Abbey; and the guide return'd a.s.sures me she was gladfully receiv'd, Pitied, and in his sight did take her oath.

FITZ. Hubert, for this thy honourable deed I and my house will reverence thy name.

HUB. Yet, I beseech you, hide it from the king; At least that I convey'd her to the place.

_Enter_ KING, MOWBRAY, CHESTER.

FITZ. Hubert, I will.

KING. What, stand they still on terms?

LEI. On honourable terms, on terms of right.

Our lives without our liberty we scorn.

KING. You shall have life and liberty, I swear.

LEI. Then Leicester bows his knee to his liege lord, And humbly begs his highness to beware Of wronging innocence, as he hath done.

RICH. The like Richmond desires, and yields his sword.

KING. I do embrace ye both, and hold myself Richer by a whole realm in having you.

FITZ. Much is my wrong; yet I submit with these, Begging free leave to live a private life.

KING. Old brands of malice in thy bosom rest: Thou shalt have leave to leave me, never doubt.

Fitzwater, see thou ship thee straight for France, And never set thy foot on English sh.o.r.e, Till I repeal thee. Go, go hence in peace.

LEI. Why doth your highness wrong Fitzwater thus?

KING. I right his wrong; he's weary of the land.

RICH. Not of the land, but of a public life.

KING. Content ye, lords: in such quick times as these We must not keep a drone among our bees.

FITZ. I am as glad to go as you to send: Yet I beseech this favour of your grace, That I may see Matilda, ere I part.

KING. Matilda! see Matilda, if thou canst, Before sunset: stay not another day.

FITZ[339]. The abbey-walls, that shroud my happy child, Appear within her hapless father's sight.

Farewell, my sovereign, Leicester, Richmond, lords: Farewell to all; grief gives no way to words.

KING. Fitzwater, stay: lords, give us leave awhile.

Hubert, go you before unto the abbess, And signify our coming. Let her bring Matilda to her father. (_Exit_ HUBERT.) Come, old man; Be not too froward, and we shall be friends.

About this girl our mortal jars began, And, if thou wilt, here all our quarrel ends.

FITZ. Reserve my honour and my daughter's fame, And no poor subject that your grace commands Shall willinger submit, obey, and serve.

KING. Do then but this. Persuade thy beauteous child To leave the nunnery and return to court, And I protest from henceforth to forswear All such conceits of l.u.s.t as I have borne.

FITZ. I will, my lord, do all that I may do; But give me leave in this to doubt of you.

KING. This small thing grant, and ask me anything; Or else die in exile, loath'd of the king.

FITZ. You shall perceive I will do what I may.

_Enter on the wall_, ABBESS, MATILDA. _Re-enter_ HUBERT.

HUB. Matilda is afraid to leave the house; But lo, on yonder battlement she stands, But in no case will come within your hands.

KING. What! will my lady-abbess war[340] with us?

Speak, lady; wherefore shut you up your gates?

ABB. Have we not reason, when an host of men Hunt and pursue religious chast.i.ty?

King John, bethink thee what thou tak'st in hand On pain of interdiction of thy land.

Murderers and felons may have sanctuary, And shall not honourable maids distress'd, Religious virgins, holy nuns profess'd, Have that small privilege? Now, out upon thee, out!

Holy Saint Catherine, shield my virginity!

I never stood in such extremity.

HUB. My lord, the abbess lies, I warrant you; For I have heard there is a monk of Bury, That once a week comes thither to make merry.

KING. Content thee, Hubert; that same monk and she, And the worst come, my instruments shall be.

Good lady-abbess, fear no violence; There's not one here shall offer you offence.

FITZ. Daughter, all this while tears my speech have stay'd.

My lord the king, lords, all draw near, I pray, And hear a poor man's parting from his child.

Matilda, still my unstain'd honour's joy, Fair ornament of old Fitzwater's coat,[341]

Born to rich fortunes, did not this ill-age Bereave thee of thy birthright's heritage, Thou see'st our sovereign--lord of both our lives, A long besieger of thy chast.i.ty-- Hath scatter'd all our forces, slain our friends, Razed our castles, left us ne'er a house Wherein to hide us from his wrathful eye: Yet G.o.d provides; France is appointed me, And thou find'st house-room in this nunnery.

Here, if the king should dote as he hath done, It's sacrilege to tempt a holy nun: But I have hope he will not; yet my fear So drowns my hope, as I am forc'd to stay, And leave abruptly what I more would say.

MAT. O, go not yet, my griev'd heart's comforter!

I am as valiant to resist desire As ever thou wert worthy in the field.

John may attempt, but if Matilda yield, O, then--

FITZ. Ay, then, Matilda, thou dost lose The former glory of thy chaste resolves.

These seven years hast thou bid[342] a martyr's pains, Resisting in thyself l.u.s.t-growing fire, For, being mortal, sure thou hast desire; And five sad winters have their full course run, Since thou didst bury n.o.ble Huntington.

In these years many months and many days Have been consum'd thy virtues to consume.

Gifts have been heralds; panders did presume To tempt thy chaste ears with their unchaste tongues: All in effect working to no effect; For I was still the watchman of thy tower, The keeper of foul worms from my fair flower.

But now no more, no more Fitzwater may Defend his poor lamb from the lion's prey-- Thy order and thy holy prayers may.

To help thee thou hast privilege by law; Therefore be resolute, and n.o.bly die!

Abhor base l.u.s.t, defend thy chast.i.ty.

KING. Despatch, Fitzwater: hinder not thy child: Many preferments do on her await.

FITZ. Ay, girl, I know thou shalt be offer'd wealth, Which is a shrewd enticement in sad want, Great honours to lift up thy low estate, And glorious t.i.tles to eternise thee.

All these do but gild over ugly shame; Such wealth, my child, foreruns releaseless need, Such honour ever proves dishonourate.

For t.i.tles, none comes near a virtuous name: O, keep it ever, as thou hast done yet!

And though these dark times should forget thy praise, An age will come that shall eternise it.