EUSTACE

I beshrew him, I should have be at breakfast with two or three good boys this morning: but that match is disappointed by this meeting. Father, I say, Hawking is a pretty sport, And Hunting is a Princely exercise; To ride a great horse, o it's admirable! Me thinks I could endure it for seven years, Did not my Master keep me in too much. I cannot go to breakfast in a morning With my kind mates and fellow-prentices, But he cries Eustace, one bid Eustace come: And my name Eustace is in every room. If I might once a week but see a Tilting, Six days I would all unto my business close, And ere the weeks end win that idle day. He will not let me see a mu , Nor in a Mayday morning changed in May. I am no sooner God into the Fencing-school, To play a venew with some friend I bring; But Eustace, Eustace, all the street must ring. He will allow me not one how for sport. I must not strike a soot-ball in the street, But he will frown: not view the dancing-school, But he will miss straight: not suffer me So much as take up cudgels in the street, But he will chide: I must not go to buffets; No, though I be provoked; that's the hell, Were't not for this, I could endure it well. I am a Grocer: Yet had rather see A fair gilded sword hung in a velvet sheath, Then the best Barbary sugar in the world; Were it a freight of price inestimable. I have a de of prompting in my brain, That says; Though I be bound to a swee e Trade, I must forgo it, I keep too much in I would fast from meat and drink a Summer's day, To see swords clafh, or view a desperate fray. A minute! not a moment. Would you put a moment Into a thousand parts, that thousandth partly Would not I linger, might I go to war. Why, I would presently run from my Master, Did I but hear where were a drum to follow. I good faith, sweet Sister, I would show him as fine a pair of heals, as light and nimble, as any the neatest cork shoe in all the Town turns up: I would faith. My legs are marching straight when I but hear it. R n, tan, tan: O I could led a drum Wit a good grace, if I but saw behind me And hundred soldiers follow in even ranks. Had I but here a band of men to led, Methinks I could do wonders: O it's brave To be a Captain, and command to have. Ran, tan, tan. Now by S. George, he tells gallant news: I'll home no more; I le run away to night. For my Trades sake, if good success I have, The Grocers Arms shall in mine Ensign wave. Fortune. Overcome. I think these upright craggy mon aine tops, Are (if the truth were known) high way to heaven: For it is straight, and narrow, and some places Are for the steepiness, inaccessible. Fair fallen a ra ter, and a gale of wind, Or I had gone to heaven away by water Nearer then this by land; that way they found, Who in the salt remorc less seas were drowned, My brother's, whom I dream on when I sleep; And my eyes waking at their Fortune's weep. Forgetting them; the S endly Irish Coast Gave me safe harbour; thence I have travailed hither Even to these lofty hills of Italy, After Prince Robert Duke of Normandy. It's safer sitting in my Masters Shop, Crying what lack you, then it's here to stay, To Wolves and wild beasts to be made a prey. Well, fortune hath preserved me to some end. It is for some thing, that I did not sink, When the salt waves my mouth and ears did drink. I might have fed the Haddocks; but some power, Is my good Master, and preserves me still. Well, sword in all my troubles stand me by, Thou art bound to win me somewhat ere I die. He strikes his own soul down to Erebus, That lifts a sword that shall but touch his hair. Yes I will stand, base wretch, when thou shalt fallen; And strike thee dead, and trampling on thy bulk By stamping with my foot crush out thy soul. Take that you slave, for bidding Eustace stand. Now father go in peace. No, father, keep it; thou art old and poor: But when I want, my sword shall purchase more. The Captains father, whom the slaves had killed Had not our coming intervented them, Resembles mine in gesture, face, and look. But the old Earl my father is by this Within the walls of fair Jerusalem. Else had I had surely took this aged man To-have asked him blessing. But what next cusues? I find these Mountains will be full of news. More Thieves and villains have begirt us round. Now Eustace, for the honour of thy name, Return them to their Captain back with shame. Ye slaves, I'll beat you all into a mousehole: And Like a baited Lion at a stake, Kill all the curs that come but near to bark. Ye Gulls, have ye no better men amongst you. Defy your Captain from me: here I stand, To dare him to a combat hand to hand. By all the land I have left me in the world, that's but my graven: Captain thou honorest me. False was my mother to my father's bed, If I should ask more odds of Hercules. Were I the world-commanding Alexander, I would make thee my Ephestion for that word. I love thee for thy valour, Captain Thief. It is a match, I'll seize them to thy grief. Now True man try, if thou anst rob a Thief. Why then Kings truce. But let the pu es lie: They'le fallen oh my advantage by and by. I am half in love already, at first sighed: How will this raging flame increase by might? Love me, I'll kiss away these tears of grief; Sweet wench embrace a Trueman, scorn a Thief. My interest is as much; in this it's greater, Because that of the two, I love her better. If I eat air, thou shalt digest my sword. By heaven, I scorn to stay, Till both the purses I have taken away. Because I hear thy life in jeopardy, And thou hast dealt with me so honourably: Receive my hand; now I am wholly thine. And ye mad rogues, I am half your Captain now. Look when ye see me nod, ye crouch and kneel, Make legs, and curtsies, and keep bore your Crowns. Speak, do you all accept me? Then brother thief, I am turned Outlaw too. But to do no man wrong; I make that Law, Only to pass this tedious Summer here, Till we our downcast Fortune's may uprear. Their voice is welcome: O that I had with me As many good lads, honest Prentices, apart. From Eastcheape, Canwicke-streete, and London-stone, To end this battle, as could wish themselves Under my conduct if they knew me here; The doubtful days success we needs not fear. And I another. And I his out-law-brother. So am I. My love. What, do you think to have a double share? Half of hers mine; I will not bore and hair. But I'll have all, my Title is increased. True (valiant Prince) my Hope's shall his destroy: Thou art mine own, sweet wench, God give us joy. Since what we both desire, one can but have, Take charge of her. Let me receive the charge Of a great Army, and commanding power: Before I marry, I must win my Dower. Till these wars ended be I prithee sweet love, keep thy heart to me. Princes, my Master County Palatine, Wondering what bold foot durst presume to tread Upon his Confines without asking leave, Sends me to know the cause of your arrive: Or why the armed hoofes of your fiery S eeds Dare wound the forehead of his peaceful Land. The naked tenor of my Masters mind Thus I enfold; rash saucy insolent, That by audacious boldness have not feared To break into my Sovereigns royal pale; I charge you to return the way you came, And step by step tell every tedious stride, That you have measured rashly in his Land: Or by the honour of his name he swears, To chase you from the margin of his Coast, With a unnumbered Army and huge Host. So said, so done, brave Lord, were gallant play. But you would at the first push shrink away. They have won honour, I have idly stood: By my good stars I'll have a challenge too, If any in their Camp dares answer me. Give me thy Pike, a Pike a Prince may trail, And at that weapon will I challenge all. Great Prince, these fiery Princes that came hither To brave our forces, had a Champion To challenge us: Are we as valiant, And shall we ail to do the Like to them? Give me but leave, my Lord, to send one boast Affright them, Like a devil, through their Host. I am here; stand thou forth on the adverse par Survey me well, brave Hector I resemble, Whose very brow did make the Greeks to tremble. Rapier and Pike, this combat shall decide: Gods, Angels, Men, shall see me tame thy pride. Thou wouldst instruct thy Master at this play. Thinkest thou this rye-strew can over-rule my arm? Thus do I bear him when I use to march: Thus can I fling him up, and catch him thus: They toss their Pikes. Then thus, to try the si ewes of my arm. All that is nothing, I can toss him thus. We trifle time, this shall thy rage withstand. Partly of it's mine. Madame: Hence with frivolous words. Blade when thou next art seen Thou makest thy Lord a King, his Love a Queen. Lady, the virtuous motions of your heart Add to the abundant graces of your fame, It was your beauty that did blind our souls, And in our close breasts placed oblivion. It's true, we have ordained a strict decree, That whosoever in our Christian Host Strikes with a sword in hostile enmity, Forfeits his life, then break off this debate, And keep our own decrees I violate. Peace we defy: let's hear what thou canst say. Why, I am born to nothing in this world But what my sword can conquer. Should we yield Our Fortune's to base composition, I have no Hope's mine honour to increase. Cursed be his base ear that attends to peace. Dares the Majestic spirit of thy King Answer a challenge? dares he pawn his Crown Against the hazard of ten thousand lives? I. Thee. Fire mount' gainst his mad fury, check his rage. Burn out then flame, his blood thy heat shall suage. Even what you please. We have lived with pain, and we can die with ease: Thank me for this; for, next th'Almighty Powers, I have be the means to save your desperate lium S. Now, Christian Princes, I am quit with you For all the grace you have done me in the Camp; And now you owe me for my banishment. And though you have exiled me from your Tents, You have not power to keep me from the wars. Upon this shield I bear the Grocers Arms, Unto which Trade I was enrolled and bound: And Like a strange Knight, I will aid the Christians, Thou Trade which didst sustain my poverty, Didst helpless, help me; though I left thee then, Yet that the world shall see I am not ingrate, Or scorning that, which gave my Fortune's breath, I will enlarge these Arms, and make their name The original and life of all my fame. But I am tired with travail, Shield lie there, O that I could but see that lusty spirit, My archfoe, rival in my banishment, To be revenged, and end my hostile hate! I'll dream I fight with him to ease my spleen, And in that thought I lay me on this Green. The hours have overrun me with swift pace, And time hath fastened to him swallows wings. Come sword, come Shield; but soft, thou art a stranger, And pardon me good shield, I know thee not. What have we here? Ask not who that Shield do h owe, For he is thy mortal foe: And where ere he sees that shield, C ty, Burrough, Grove, or Field He that bears it, bears his bane, By his hand he must be slain. Thine, in spite of thee, he'll bear, (If thou darest) his Scutcheon wear. He writ this, that thy shield will keep, And might have ine thee being asleep. It's a fine fellow; by this light, he is And honest Rogue, and hath a good conceit. Wear it? I'll wear it. If I do no ! well, He needed not to have put in the word (Dare) For I dare: dare I?, he shall see I dare. Belike he fears I dare not challenge mine. Were't fastened to the arm of Beelzebub, I would fight with him with firebrands for my shield. But dares he wear mine? On my li e he dares: I love him Like my brother for this act: And I will bear this shield with as much pride, As sat I in a chariot by Jove's side. Shine bright my Stars, to do me ome fair grace, Bring us to meet in some auspicious place. Base villain, darest thou offer violence Unto a Lady; stay, maintain thy challenge. Mount up my soul, unto the height of joy! Saving my foe, whose honoured shield I bear, None living did I more desire to meet. Well met, brave Saint, in these unpeopled paths, Fear no rude force, for I am civil born, Descended from a Princely parentage And though and exile from the Christians Camp, Yet in my heart I wear the Cro e of CHRIST, Even in as deep a crimson as the best. Love me, though I am Landless, and remote From the fair climb where first I breathed this air, Yet know I bear a Kingdom in this sword, And ere I die, look to behold this Front Impaled and circled with a royal Crown. I had a sister, Lady, with that read, That gives a crimson cture to your cheek, With such a hand hid in a glove of snow, That spoke all music, Like your heavenly tongue; And for her sake, fair Saint, I honour you. View her well. Imagine her but thus attired, and she Would Bellam Franca, and my sister be. Sister! Make me immortal then, by heaven I vow, I am richer then the Persian Sophy now. How have you passed The perilous Land, and crossed the Seas so vast? O, those words, Pierce to my heart Like Darts, and pointed swords, Omit these passion, sister, they are dead. But to forget these griefs, what youth is this? It's he I hate, As chief occasion of my banishment. Well, sirrah, for your truth and honesty I pardon thee, though I detest thy Lord. Nay, if it please thee; I am well content. Come, best partly of my self, we now will go To wail our Fortune's, and discourse our woe. I will disguised unto the famous siege, And in these Arms make known my valours propose: You shall in secret in my Tent abide. I to achieve fame will my spirits employ, After this grief my heart divines much joy. Witness this royal Crown upon my head, I seized the Ensign, I hung up that Shield. By heaven not I, I never came in place, Where Robert or that Gallant were distressed: But there are others thankless, whom I freed, And now too proud forget that honoured deed. Mine. The shield I challenge, but the act deny, I never gave you life or liberty. Who owes that shield? I. Thanks fortune, that I do. Brave foe have at thee too. For one blow more, take here my Crown amongst you, Now that my spleen is up, it will not down, I'll give you all I have for one bout more. Nay I am sure you long to know me too. I am your Outlaw brother, one of your Leaders, Banished with him: that from the Persians rage Freed Tancred, and that valiant man at Arms; How ever now they can forget my prowess. What needs you more, I am he that won this Crow , And from these high walls plucked that Ensign down. True, I did so. Ah had I be awake, thou knowest my mind, Thou hadst writ thy ruin in blood. Brother! I had a brother too resembled you: Godfrey mine. Godfrey! My brother Outlaw, and my own true brother! Ireland took me, and there I first touched ground, Presuming that my brother's all were drowned. And witness thou for me. And now my foe-turn'd brother, end our hate, And praise that Power Divine who guides our state. Our joys are not at ull, they shall not yet Know where my sister and their love remains, Until these warros hau end. O had our God Not laid our Fortune's open, but a brother Be brought in triumph to a sisters bed, Clouds of despair had masked our Sun of joy. Yet will I keep her secret, and the rather, To crown our haps when we have freed our father. This for the Persian's sake I'll wear in sighed, And under his own ensign this day fight. My brother Charles General of the Artillery, Under him his Lieutenant commissaries of Munitions, Gentlemen of the Artillery, Colonel of Pioneers, Trench Masters, and carriage Masters. Prince Tancred is our Royal Secretary, Without whom nothing is concluded on. Thus are the special Offices disposed. No man but knows his charge. Brother's and friends, See where they stand for us; this night shall hide All their bright glory which now swells with pride. Pagans? To led your Emperor Captive Like a slave. A Zion, a Zion. A father, and in him a Crown of joy. Through their Decurians, centum ions and Legio , Captains of thousands, and ten thousands guards, We have ventured even upon the Cannons mouth, And scaled the bull works where their Ordinance played. The strength of A mies triumphs in those Ar S, We have surprised the Fortress and the Hold: My shield I have had cut piecemeal from mine arm. But now you would have taken me for and Archer, So many arrows were stuck here and here, The Pagans thought to make a Quiver of me. See brother, how the foe fresh forces gather! A Zion, a Jerusalem, a father. Call forth the Patriarch of Jerusalem, His right hand must be queath that dignity. But Princes, whom will ye elect the King, To guard this City from succeeding peril. Then put it too most voices. Mine shall hang there, a trophy of my fame, My Trade is famous by King Eustace name. Princes, I e fit you all, Lady come forth. And well remembered brother, I must now Entreat you for a pretty boy your Page, That hath on some occasion trayed from you. Pardon him, and I will tell you. The poor boy, brother, stays within my Tent, But so disguised you cannot know him now, For he's turned wench: and but I know the wag, To be a oy, to see him thus transformed, I should h we sworn he had be a we indeed. You have pardoned him? Then lack appear: Fie, are you not ashamed to kiss a boy, And in your arms to grasp him with such joy? A boy, a Page, a wagtail by this light. What say you sister? Do not mistake the sex man, for he's none, It is a rogue, a wag, his name is Jack, A notable dissembling lad, a Crack. A Lady, then I cry you mercy brother, A gallan Bride would I h worser such another. And honoured minded villain, by my sword, A right good fellow, and and honest Thief. If I should have thee prostrate at my mercy, I will not kill thee for thy liberal offer. Yet win it lad, and take it without fail: I scorn to have my purse govnder bail. Half of al's mine, I claim it as my endue: In which bright Virgin, I except not you. Strike up warlike Dumb. Prepare you, Christian Princes, now we come. Stand to't, brave Outlaw-brother Would I were one of them. When did my interest cease I first her thoughts did prove. I, against him, and thee, and all the world. That interdicts my honour. Banishment? TO is was your doing; well, I'll be revenged: By all the Hope's that I have lost, I will. Princes, your dooms are upright, I obey them, And voluntarily exile my self. (Against my furious spirit) I could weep To lea e this royal Army, and to lose The honour promised in the Pagans death's. Farewell to all, with tears of gr fe I go. Ye are all my friends, thou only art my foe. Eustace! even such and accent gave her tongue, So did my name found in my sisters mouth, O Bellam Franca, were't thou not obscured Within a cloud and mask of poverty, Such fame ere this had thy rare virtues won, Thus had thy beauty checked the all-seeing Sun. How! So blushed my sister: and this Outlaw Thief Hath a resemblance to my brother Charles: But she in London lives a Virgin pure: He in some huge Whale's belly too too sure. We have reformed these villains since we came, And taught them manners and civility: All rape and murder we repay with death: Amongst us does not live a ravisher. I will inform the Prince my Sovereign so.