A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xi Part 133

I tell thee, sweet, a face not half so fair As thine hath arm'd whole nations in the field, And brought a thousand ships to Tenedos, To sack lamented Troy; and should I fear To venture one poor life, and such a life As would be lost in not possessing thee?

Come, come, make that no scruple: when shall we go?

LEU. This present evening; for to-morrow morning My father looks that I should give consent To marry with the count.

PHIL. Best of all, would 'twere this present hour; I'll go prepare: but shall I call thee here?

LEU. O no, we'll meet.

PHIL. Where, dearest?

LEU. East from the city, by a river's side, Not distant half a mile, there stands a grove, Where, often riding by, I have observ'd A little hermitage; there will I stay, If I be first; if you, do you the like: Let th' hour be ten; then shall I best escape.

PHIL. Ne'er sweeter comfort came from angel's lips!

I know the place, and will be ready there Before the hour. I'll bring a friend with me As true as mine own heart, one Clerimont, That may do us good if danger happen.

LEU. Use your pleasure.

PHIL. Dearest, farewell; Hours will seem years, till we are met again. [_Exeunt._

POL. Ah, sirrah! this gear goes well. G.o.d-a-mercy, girl, for thy intelligence! Why, this is as much as a man could desire--the time, place, and everything. I warrant 'em, they pa.s.s no further. Well, go thou in and wait upon thy mistress; she's melancholy till she see her sweetheart again; but when she does, she shall not see him long. Not a word of what's pa.s.sed among us, for your life.

PSEC. I warrant you, my lord. [_Exit._

POL. I'll not so much as show an angry look or any token that I know of any of their proceedings. But, Roscio, we must lay the place strongly.

If they should 'scape us, I were prettily fooled now, after all this.

ROS. Why, 'tis impossible, my lord; we'll go strong enough: besides, I think it fit we took an officer along with us, to countenance it the better.

POL. Thou sayest well; go, get one. I'll go myself along with you too; I love to see sport, though I am old. You'll go along with us too, sir?

EUG. Ay, sir; you shall command my service when you are ready.

POL. Now, Euphues, what I did but barely act, Thy bleeding heart shall feel, loss of a son, If law can have his course, as who can let it?[429]

I know thou think'st mine dead, and in thy heart Laugh'st at my falling house; but let them laugh, That win the prize: things ne'er are known till ended.

[_Exeunt_ POLYMETES _and_ ROSCIO.

EUGENIO _solus_.

EUG. Well, I like my sister's choice; she has taken a man whose very looks and carriage speak him worthy: besides, he is n.o.ble, his fortune's sufficient, they both love each other. What can my father more desire, that he gapes so after this old count, that comes for the estate, as t'other, upon my soul, does not, but pure, spotless love? But now his plot is for revenge upon his old enemy. Fie, fie! 'tis b.l.o.o.d.y and unchristian; my soul abhors such acts. This match may rather reconcile our houses, and I desire, where worth is, to have friendship as, on my soul, 'tis there. Well, Philocles, I hope to call thee brother. Somewhat I'll do. I'll go persuade Count Virro not to love her.

I know the way, and I'll but tell him truth--her brother lives; that will cool his love quickly. But soft! here comes the count, as fit as may be.

_Enter_ VIRRO.

VIR. She loves me not yet, but that's no matter. I shall have her; her father says I shall, and I dare take his word. Maids are quickly overruled. Ha, ha! methinks I am grown younger than I was by twenty years. This fortune cast upon me is better than Medea's charm to make an old man young again, to have a lord's estate freely bestowed, and with it such a beauty as would warm Nestor's blood, and make old Priam l.u.s.ty.

Fortune, I see thou lovest me now. I'll build a temple to thee shortly, and adore thee as the greatest deity. Now, what are you?

EUG. A poor scholar, my lord; one that am little beholding to fortune.

VIR. So are most of your profession. Thou shouldst take some more thriving occupation. Be a judge's man; they are the bravest nowadays, or a cardinal's pander--that were a good profession, and gainful.

EUG. But not lawful, my lord.

VIR. Lawful! that cardinal may come to be pope, and then he could pardon thee and himself too.

EUG. My lord, I was brought up a scholar, and I thank you for your counsel, my lord: I have some for you, and therefore I came.

VIR. For me! what, I prythee?

EUG. 'Tis weighty, and concerns you near.

VIR. Speak, what is't?

EUG. My lord, you are to marry old Polymetes's daughter.

VIR. And heir.

EUG. No heir, my lord; her brother is alive.

VIR. How! thou art mad.

EUG. My lord, what I speak is true; and to my knowledge his father gives it out in policy to marry his daughter the better; to hook in suitors, and specially aimed at you, thinking you rich and covetous; and now he has caught you.

VIR. But dost thou mock me?

EUG. Let me be ever miserable if I speak not truth: as sure as I am here, Eugenio lives; I know it, and know where he is.

VIR. Where, prythee?

EUG. Not a day's journey hence, where his father enjoined him to stay till your match, and sends word to him of this plot: besides, I overheard the old lord and his man Roscio laughing at you for being caught thus.

VIR. Why, wert thou at the house then?

EUG. Yes, but had scurvy entertainment, which I have thus revenged.

VIR. Beshrew my heart, I know not what to think on't. 'Tis like enough: this lord was always cunning beyond measure, and it amazed me that he should grow so extreme kind to me on the sudden, to offer me all this.

Besides, this fellow is so confident, and on no ends of cosenage, that I can see. Well, I would fain enjoy her--the wench is delicate; but I would have the estate too, and not be gulled. What shall I do? Now, brains, if ever you will, help your master.

EUG. It stings him. [_Aside._]

VIR. Well, so, sir, what may I call your name?

EUG. Irus,[430] my lord.

VIR. Your name, as well as your attire, speaks you poor.

EUG. I am so.

VIR. And very poor.