The Noble Spanish Soldier Part 14

MEDINA Be that care mine.

Dangers, like stars, in dark attempts best shine.

Exeunt.

ACT FOUR SCENE TWO

Enter Cornego, Balthazar.

CORNEGO The Lady Onaelia dresseth the stead of her commendations in the most courtly attire that words can be clothed with, from herself to you, by me.

BALTHAZAR So Sir, and what disease troubles her now?

CORNEGO The King's evil. And here she hath sent something to you, wrapped up in a white sheet, you need not fear to open it, 'tis no course.

BALTHAZAR What's here? A letter minced into five morsels? What was she doing when thou camest from her?

CORNEGO At her p.r.i.c.k-song.

BALTHAZAR So me thinks, for here's nothing but sol-re-me-fa-mi. What crotchet fills her head now, canst tell?

CORNEGO No crotchets, 'tis only the Cliff has made her mad.

BALTHAZAR What instrument played she upon?

CORNEGO A wind instrument, she did nothing but sigh.

BALTHAZAR Sol, re, me, fa, mi.

CORNEGO My wit has always a singing head, I have found out her note captain.

BALTHAZAR The tune? Come.

CORNEGO Sol, my soul. Re, is all rent and torn like a ragam.u.f.fin. Me, mend it good captain. Fa, fa. What's fa Captain?

BALTHAZAR Fa, why farewell and be hanged.

CORNEGO Mi Captain, with all my heart. Have I tickled my Lady's fiddle well?

BALTHAZAR Oh, but you stick wants rosin <35> to make the strings sound clearly.

No, this double virginal, being cunningly touched, another matter of jack leaps up then is now in mine eye. Sol, re me fa, mi, I have it now. Solus Rex me facit miseram <36>. Alas poor Lady, tell her no apothecary in Spain has any of that a.s.sa foetida <37> she writes for.

CORNEGO a.s.sa foetida? What's that?

BALTHAZARA A thing to be taken in a glister-pipe <38>.

CORNEGO Why, what ails my Lady?

BALTHAZAR What ails she? Why when she cries out, Solus Rex me facit miseram, she says in the Hypocronicall <39> language, that she is so miserably tormented with the wind colic that it racks her very soul.

CORNEGO I said somewhat cut her soul in pieces.

BALTHAZAR But go to her, and say the oven is heating.

CORNEGO And what shall be baked in't?

BALTHAZAR Carp pies.<40> And besides, tell her the hole in her coat shall be mended, and tell her if the dial of good days <41> goes true, why then bounce buckrum.<42>

CORNEGO The devil lies sick of the mulligrubs.<43>

BALTHAZAR Or the Cony is dub'd, and three sheepskins ...

CORNEGO With the wrong side outward ...

BALTHAZAR Shall make the fox a night-cap.

CORNEGO So the goose talks French to the buzzard.

BALTHAZAR But, Sir, if evil days jostle our prognostication to the wall, then say there's a fire in a wh.o.r.e-masters cod-piece.

CORNEGO And a poisoned bag-pudding in Tom Thumb's belly.

BALTHAZAR The first cut be thine. Farewell.

CORNEGO Is this all?

BALTHAZAR Would'st not trust an Almanac?

CORNEGO Not a coranta <44> neither, though it were sealed with b.u.t.ter, <45> and yet I know where they both lie pa.s.sing well.

Enter Lopez.

LOPEZ The King sends round about the court to seek you.

BALTHAZAR Away Otterhound.

CORNEGO Dancing bear, I'm gone.

Exit Cornego. Enter King attended.

KING A Private room,

Exeunt, King and Balthazar remain

I'st done? Hast drawn thy two-edged sword out yet?

BALTHAZAR No, I was striking at the two iron bars that hinder your pa.s.sage, and see Sir.

Draws.