And the poor boy, and let me stand the shock Of this mad sea-breach; which I'll either turn, Or perish with it. King. Let your own word free them. Phi. Then thus I take my leave, kissing your hand, And hanging on your royal word. Be kingly, And be not moved, sir: I shall bring you peace, Or never bring myself back. King. All the gods go with thee! [Exeunt. Enter an Old Captain and Citizens, with PHA RAMOND. Cap. Come, my brave myrmidons, let's fall on! let our caps swarm, my boys, and your nimble tongues forget your mother's gibberish, of what dy'e lack, and set your mouths up, children, till your palates fall frighted, half a fathom past the cure of bay-salt and gross pepper. And then cry Philaster, brave Philaster! Let Philaster be deeper in request, my dingdongs, my pairs of dear indentures, kings of clubs, than your cold water camlets, or your paintings spotted with copper. Let not your hasty silks, or your branched cloth of bodkin, or your tissues, dearly beloved of spiced cake and custard, your Robinhoods, Scarlets and Johns, tie your affections in darkness to your shops. No, dainty duckers, up with your threepiled spirits, your wrought valours; and let your uncut choler make the king feel the measure of your mightiness. Philaster! cry, my rose-nobles, cry. All. Philaster! Philaster! Cap. How do you like this, my lord prince? These are mad boys, I tell you; these are things, that will not strike their top-sails to a foist; and let a man of war, an argosy, hull and cry cockles. Pha. Why, you rude slave, do you know what you do? Cap. My pretty prince of puppets, we do know; and give your greatness warning, that you talk no more such bug-words, or that soldered crown shall be scratched with a musquet. Dear prince Pippen, down with your noble blood; or, as I live, I'll have you coddled. Let him loose, my spirits! Make us a round ring with your bills, my Hectors, and let us see what this trim man dares do. Now, sir, have at you! Here I lie, and with this swashing blow (do you sweat, prince?) I could hulk your grace, and hang you up cross-legged, like a hare at a poulterer's, and do this with this wiper. Pha. You will not see me murdered, wicked villains? 1 Cit. Yes, indeed, will we, sir: We have not seen one foe a great while. Cap. He would have weapons, would he? Give him a broadside, my brave boys, with your pikes; branch me his skin in flowers like a sattin, and between every flower a mortal cut. Your royalty shall ravel! Jag him, gentlemen: I'll have him cut to the kell, then down the seams. Oh, for a whip to make him galloon-laces! I'll have a coachwhip. Pha. Oh, spare me, gentlemen! Cap. Hold, hold; the man begins to fear, and know himself; he shall for this time only be seeled up, with a feather through his nose, that he may only see heaven, and think whither he is going. Nay, my beyond-sea sir, we will proclaim you: You would be king! Thou tender heir-apparent to a church-ale, thou slight prince of single sarcenet; thou royal ring-tail, fit to fly at nothing but poor mens' poultry, and have every boy beat thee from that too with his bread and butter! Pha. Gods keep me from these hell hounds! 2 Cit. Shall's geld him, captain? Cap. No, you shall spare his dowcets, my dear donsels; as you respect the ladies, let them flourish: The curses of a longing woman kill as speedy as a plague, boys. 1 Čit. I'll have a leg, that's certain. 2 Cit. I'll have an arm. 3 Cit. I'll have his nose, and at mine own charge build a college, and clap it upon the gate. 4 Cit. I'll have his little gut to string a kit with; for, certainly, a royal gut will sound like silver. Pha. 'Would they were in thy belly, and I past my pain at once! 5 Cit. Good captain, let me have his liver to feed ferrets. Cap. Who will have parcels else? speak. Pha. Good gods, consider me! I shall be tortured. 1 Cit. Captain, I'll give you the trimming of your two-hand sword, and let me have his skin to make false scabbards. 2 Cit. He has no horns, sir, has he? Cap. No, sir, he's a pollard. What would'st thou do with horns? 2 Cit. Oh, if he had, I would have made rare hafts and whistles of them; but his shin-bones, if they be sound, shall serve me. Enter PHILASTER. All. Long live Philaster, the brave prince Phi laster! Phi. I thank you, gentlemen. But why are these Rude weapons brought abroad, to teach your hands Uncivil trades? Cap. My royal Rosiclear, We are thy myrmidons, thy guard, thy roarers! Phi. I am what I desire to be, your friend; Pha. Sir, there is some humanity in you; To be as many creatures as a woman, Phi. I do pity you.-Friends, discharge your Deliver me the prince: I'll warrant you, Enter KING, ARETHUSA, GALATEA, MEGRA, CLEREMONT, DION, THRASILINE, BELLARIO, and attendants. King. Is it appeased? Dion. Sir, all is quiet as the dead of night, As peaceable as sleep. My lord Philaster Brings on the prince himself. King. Kind gentleman! I will not break the least word I have given Enter PHILASTER and PHARAMOND. Blest be the time, that I have leave to call grief, Streams of That I have wronged thee, and as much of joy She is thy right too; and forget to urge Phi. Sir, it is blotted from my memory, 3 Cit. Good sir, take heed he does not hurt How like you this piece? you: He's a fierce man, I can tell you, sir. Cap. Prince, by your leave, I'll have a surcingle, And mail you like a hawk, [He stirs. Phi. Away, away; there is no danger in him: Alas, he had rather sleep to shake his fit off. Look ye, friends, how gently he leads. Upon my word, He's tame enough, he needs no further watching. Good my friends, go to your houses, And by me have your pardons, and my love; To give you more thanks were to flatter you. All. Long may'st thou live, brave prince! brave Brave prince! Ex. PHI. and PHA. Cap. Thou art the king of courtesy ! Fall off again, my sweet youths. Come, and every man trace to his house again, and hang his pewter up; then to the tavern, and bring your wives in muffs. We will have music; and the red grape shall make us dance, and rise, boys. [Breunt. Meg. Sir, he likes it well; For he hath tried it, and found it worth Meg. You must get another ship, Meg. Others took me, and I took her and him King. Clear thou thyself, or know not me for Are. This earth, how false it is! What means For me to clear myself? It lies in your belief. Bel. Oh, stop your ears, great king, that I may As freedom would; then I will call this lady Meg. By this good light, he bears it handsomely. Phi. This lady? I will sooner trust the wind King. Forget her, sir, since all is knit To what you promise. Phi. By the powers above! Let it not be the death of her or him, King. Bear away that boy To torture; I will have her cleared or buried. Phi. Oh, let me call my words back, worthy sir! Ask something else! Bury my life and right King. Away with him! it stands irrevocable. man, The falsest and the basest of this world. My former deeds were hateful, but this last Have given the dear preserver of my life Of flesh and blood, to carry this and live! [Offers to kill himself. near That I may gaze upon thee. Art thou she, Dion. What's thy name? Bel. Euphrasia. Dion. Oh, 'tis just, 'tis she! Now I do know thee. Oh, that thou hadst died, Bel. 'Would I ha. died indeed! I wish it too: King. What have you done? Phi. Why then hold you me? [He offers to stab himself. Are. Dear sir, be patient yet ! Oh, stay that | All is discovered ! Pray you, let me go. King. Stay him. Are. What is discovered? Dion. Why, my shame! It is a woman: let her speak the rest. Phi. How? that again ! Dion. It is a woman. Phi, But, Bellario, (For I must call thee still so) tell me why Bel. My father oft would speak Your worth and virtue; and, as I did grow More and more apprehensive, I did thirst To see the man so praised; but yet all this Was but a maiden longing, to be lost As soon as found; till sitting in my window, Printing my thoughts in lawn, I saw a god, I thought, (but it was you) enter our gates. My blood flew out, and back again as fast, As I had puffed it forth and sucked it in Like breath; then was I called away in haste, To entertain you. Never was a man, Heaved from a sheep-cot to a sceptre, raised So high in thoughts as I : you left a kiss Upon these lips then, which I mean to keep From you for ever. I did hear you talk, Far above singing! after you were gone, I grew acquainted with my heart, and searched What stirred it so: alas! I found it love; Yet far from lust; for could I but have lived In presence of you, I had had my end. For this I did delude my noble father With a feigned pilgrimage, and dressed myself In habit of a boy; and, for I knew My birth no match for you, I was past hope Of having you; and, understanding well, That, when I made discovery of my sex, I could not stay with you, I made a vow, By all the most religious things a maid Could call together, never to be known, Whilst there was hope to hide me from men's eyes, For other than I seemed, that I might ever Abide with you: then sat I by the fount, Where first you took me up. Cannot be jealous, though you had a lady Dressed like a page to serve you; nor will I Suspect her living here. Come, live with me; Live free, as I do. She, that loves my lord, Curst be the wife that hates her! Phi. I grieve such virtues should be laid in earth Without an heir. Hear me, my royal father: Wrong not the freedom of our souls so much, To think to take revenge of that base woman; Her malice cannot hurt us. Set her free As she was born, saving from shame and sin. King. Set her at liberty; but leave the court; This is no place for such! You, Pharamond, Shall have free passage, and a conduct home, Worthy so great a prince. When you come there, Remember, 'twas your faults, that lost you her, And not my purposed will. Pha. I do confess, Renowned sir. King. Last, join your hands in one. Enjoy, This kingdom, which is yours, and after me [Exeunt omnes, K VOL. I. |