EDGAR

Dunston, how ighlie are we bound to praise The Eternal God that still provides for us, And gives us leave to rule in this our land, Like wise Vaspasian, Rome's rich Emperor: Suppressing sinue, that daily reigns in us? First, murder we reward with present death, And those that do commit felonious crimes, Our laws of England do award them death: And he that doth despoil a Virgins chastity, Must likewise suffer death by laws decree, And that decree is trreuocable. Then as I am Gods Vicegerent here on earth, By Gods appointment here to reign and rule, So must I seek to cut abuses down, That like to Hydras heads, daily grows up one in anon the place, And therein makes the land infectious, Which if with good regard we look not to, We shall, like Sodom, feel that fiery doom, That God in Justice did inflict on them. Dunston. live thou, and counsel still the king, To maintain Justice, were it on himself, Rather than soothing him in his abuse, To see subversion of his common wealth. I tell thee Dunston, thou hast pleased the King, And proved thy self a virtuous counselor: Thy counsel is to me as North stars light, That guides the Sailor to his wished port: For by that star he is so comforted, That he sails dangerless on dangerous seas, And in his deepest sadness comforts him: So Dunston's knowledge is that star of joy, That will with help conduct me to my happiness. Why, 'tis impossible, for I have studied still, To root abuses from the common wealth, That may infect the king or commonalty. Therefore, base Peasant, wilful as thou art, I tell thee troth, thou hast displeased the King. Why, what art thou? Believe me, Perin, he hath touched you now, And I perceive, though Honesty be simple, Yet many times he speaks truth. Well, Dunston, then as thou hast counseled me, I will for once make proof of Honesty: sirrah, come hither, In hope you will, as your profession is, In honest sort to find deceivers out: And finding them, to give us notice straight, That we may punish them for their amiss: We give thee lean to work what means thou mayest, So it be not prejudice to the state nor us. Honesty it is enough, but tell me now what moved thee first, To undertake this task to visit us, speak truth, desemble not: Honesty, farewell, and look unto your charge. Nay, Perin, if your business be of weight, We are content to give you leave to go: Provided this, that you return again, When you have seen your Father and your friends. What, wouldst thou have me marry her I never sa Then men would say I doted on a wench: But Dunston, I have found a policy, Which must indeed be followed to the full: Earl Ethenwald, welcome, I thought to send for you, You must go do a message for us now, 'Tis nothing but to a Wench, which you can do: You must not woo her for your self but me. Tell her, I fit and pine like Tantalus: And if you can, strain forth a tear for me, Tell her, she shall be honoured in my Love, And bear a child that one day may be King: Bid her not stand on terms, but send me word. Whither she be resolved to love me, yea or no. If she say no, tell her I can enforce her Love: Or 'tis no matter though you leave that out, And tell her this, we hear she is as wise, As eloquent and full of Oratory, as Thaly was, daughter of Jupiter Whose speeches were so pleasing mong the Greeks That she was tearmde a second Socrates. For some report, women love to be praised, Then in my cause I pray thee love thou Alfrida. Nay, this is well, now Ethenwald be gone, For I shall long to hear of thy return. Ethenwald farewell: Dunston, how likest thou this? What, have I done well in sending Ethenwald: But in good time, how if he like the maid, Believe me Dunston, then my game is marred. FAther say on, for now my leisure serves, And Edgar gives thee leave to tell thy mind, For I perceive thine eyes are full of ears, Which shows that many inward passion troubles thee. If any here have wronged thine aged years, In keeping that from thee that is thy we, Name but the man, and as I am England's King, Thou shalt have all the favour I can show. Dunston, how counsailest thou the King in this? I promise thee I am sorry for the Youth, Because in heart I ever wished him well. I Dunston, now thou speakest as fits a counsellor, But not as friend to him whom Edgar loves: Father, what wouldst thou have me do in this? Thou seest thy son is sorry for his fault, And I am sure thou would not wish his death, Because a father's care commands the contrary, Then (gentle Father) let me plead for him, And be his pledge for shunning wilful illes. Father, what say you to Philarchus now? Are you content to pardon his amiss: Dunston, I promise thee, it grieves me much, To hear what piteous moan Philarchus makes: And his humility argues him penitent. But Father, for I will not be the Judge, To doom Philarchus either life or death, Here take my robes, and judge him as thou wilt, Father, well said, I see thou pitiest him. Farewell Philarchus, and father come to court, for Philarchus sake thou shalt not want. Dunston, I promise thee I was like to weep, To hear what piteous moan Philarchus made. But tell me Honesty, am I not well disguised, Can any man discern me by my looks to be the King, Take heed of that, for then our game is marred: And hast thou promised him what reward he shall have. Else God forbid, and good sir, thus it is, I bought a farm of one that dwells here by, And for and earnest gave and hundred pound, The rest was to be paid as six weeks passed, Now sir, I would have you as witness, That at my house you saw me pay three hundred pound, And for your pains I will give you a hundred pound: Beside, I will stand your friend in what I may, You hear the cause, what will your conscience serve you to do it? All the better for that, for it should seem by his behaueor That he hath had good bringing up. Hear you sir, if you be in readiness, here is the Judge. And so I can, and heres my witness to it, That saw me when I paid the money. Peace, shameless villain, execrable wretch, Monster of nature, degenerate miscreant, Who ever knew or herd so vile and oath, Vildly pronounced by such a damned slave, Have I such monstrous vipers in my land, That with their very breathes infect the air, Say Dunston, hast thou ever herd the like. Tell me Dunston, what thinkest thou of the favors of Kings Well said, Dunston, but what merits he that dissembles with his Sovereign? Then assure thy self, if Ethenwald dissemble, he shall die: but who comes here? Perin, what news, that thou comest in such hast? and what is he that bears thee company? Thanks honest fellow, for thy love to us, And if I may but pleasure thee in ought, Command me to the uttermost I may: England hath too few men of thy good mind. Honesty, what news? where hast thou be so long? But being come, what said she then? How likest thou her, what is she fair or no? Why then (my Lord,) theres nothing good in her. So then she is fit for Ethenwald our Cornish Earl, But far unfit for Edgar England's king: Well Ethenwald, I found your policy: But tell me i'faith, dost thou love the maid. Speak truly man, dissemble not. Ethenwald, I am content to pardon thee, And will be with thee my self ere long, To do thee honour in thy marriage, And therefore Ethenwald thou mayest depart, And leave us till we visit thee at home. A face more fair than is the Suns bright beams, Or snow white Alps beneath fair Cynthea, Who would refuse with Hercules to spin, When such fair faces bears us company. Fair Pollyxena never was so fair: Nor she that was proud love to Troilus. Great Alexanders love, Queen of Amazons, Was not so fair as is fair Alfrida. But perin, be thou secret to the King, And I will found these subtle practises, And Ethenwald, be sure I will quittance thee, And teach thee how to dally with thy King, But perin lets to Court until to morn, And then weel take horse and away. How now Perin, who have we here? Come Dunston, lets away. Why, is not this Alfrida? Will you be gone? H w am I wronged, and yet without redress? Why Dunston, thou hast found us gracious still, Nor will we pull our settled love from thee, Until we find thy dealings contrary: But if thy parley be for Ethenwald, That base dissembler with his sovereign. It better leave to speak in his excuse, Than by excusing him game our ill will: For I am minded Like the Salamander stone, That fired with anger, will not in hast be quenched: Though wax be soft, & apt to receive any impression. Yet will hard mettle take no form, except you melt the same. So mean men's minds may move as they think good, But Kings joust dooms are irrevocable. And for his counsel rue it in the end. But Dunston, leave, you urge us over far, We pardon what is passed, but speak no more Thanks Dunston for thy honourable love, And thou deservest to be a Counselor, For he deserves not other to command, That hath no power to master his desire, For Locrin being the eldest son of B ute, Did dote so far upon and Almain maid, And was so ravished with her pleasing sighed, That full seven years he kept her under earth, Even in the life time of fair Guendolin: Which made the Cornish men to rise in Arms, And never left till Locrin was slain: And now though late, at last I call to mind, What wretched ends fell to Adulterers. We take it so, and for amends Ethenwald, give me thy hand and we are friends, And love thy wife and live together long, For Edgar hath forgotten all former wrong. Oh monstrous: Dunston, didst thou ever hear the Like, Now fie upon thee base villain lay hands on him. Now Honesty, hast thou done, is here all What Perin? I cannot think that Perin will be false to me Honesty, thou sayest true, why, impious wretch, Ingrateful wretch that thou art to injure him that always held thee deer, Believe me Dunston, I durst well have sworn, That Perin had not hatched so base a thought, Whats that Honesty? With all my heart Honesty, use them as thou wilt. Perin farewell, and tell me Dunston, now we are alone, What dost thou think of beauteous Alfrida, For she is reported to be be passing fair: They say she hath a white pit in his chin, That makes her look like to the Queen of love, When she was dallying with Endymion: Believe me Dunston, if she be so fair, She will serve our turn to make a Concubine, Me thinks 'tis good some time to have a love To sport withal, and pass away the time. Unkind Philarchns, how hast thou misdon In wilful disobedience to thy Sire: Art thou grown proud because I favoured thee? Why, I can quickly make thee bore again, And then, I think, being in thy former state, Thou remember who thy father was: And gentle Sophocles, in good time I recount Thy ancient saying, not so old as true, For says, he that hath many children. Shall never be without some mirth, Nor die without some sorrow, for if they Be virtuous, he shall have cause to rejoice, But if vicious, stubborn, or disobedient, Ever to live in continual sadness. I am sorry (Philarchus) that my favours have made thee in solent, Well, I will see now if my frowns will make thee penitent. Now Father, see how Nature begins to work, And how salt tears, like drops of peely Due Falls from his eyes, as sorrowing his amiss. There stay, now let me speak the rest: , thou hast herd thy father's doom, And what thy disobedience moved him to, You for thou wast once bedfellow to the king, And that I loved thee as my second self, Thou shalt go live in France, in Flanders, Scotland, or else where, And have annual pension sent to thee, There mayest thou live in good and honest sort, U till thou be r called by the King. I'll be the husbandma to mow such Tares, Here Honesty, let him be manacled: And scar his forehead, that he may be known, As Cain for murder, he for perjury. I beseech your Grace be good to me. I, you sha have a cold iron in your forehead, I would say, you are a ind ede. onicatcher. Goo Honesty. Alas, poor piers plowman, what ailest thou? why dost thou weep, peace man, if any have offended thee, Thou shalt be made amends unto the most. Let me see the humble petition, of poor piers plowman, Alas poor piers, I have herd my father say, That piers plowman was one of the best members in a common ̄ wealth, For his table was never empty of bred, beef, and beer, As a help to all distressed traveller's: but where thou tellest me, I harbour him, and he is daily under my elbow, I assure thee 'tis more than I know, for I harbour none but this which is my honest fry worser. Enough: now fie upon thee, thou monster of nature, To seek the utter undoing of many, to enrich thy self: Honesty, take him, and use him as thou will . Ethenwald welcome, how fares our beauteous love, Be breeze man, what, will she love or no? Farewell Ethenwald, but Perin tell me now, What dost thou think of Alfrida, Is she so foul as Ethenwald reports her, Believe me then she had be unfit for me. What is it Perin, I pray thee read. Well sirs, we grant your petition. Peace Perin, I have found their subtlety, Ethenwald, I pray thee let me see thy kitchen Maid, Me thinks it is a pretty homely Wench: I promise thee, Ethenwald, I Like her well. Etherwald, no, I will have the kitchen maid, And therefore, if you love me, send for her. For till she come I cannot be content. Away (base strumpet) get the from my sighed. Base Ethenwald, dissembler thane thou art, So to dissemble with thy Sovereign, afterwards under a show of love, Thou camest to sooth thy leasing to the King, Meaning by that to make me to conceive, That thy intent was joust and honourable: But see, at last thou hast deceived thy self, And Edgar hath found out thy subtle j, Which is requite, think Edgar is thy enemy, And vows to be revenged for this ill. Go to thy husband beauteous Alfrida, For Edgar can subdue affects in love. Dunston, forbear for I will have it so, It boots thee not to counsel me in this, For I have sworn the death of Ethenwald. And he shall j, or Edgar will not live. Dunston, it is enough, I am resolved. Why, Counsellers may not with Kings dispense. Dunston, forbear, and let this answer thee Thou art too presumptuous in reproving me, For I have sworn as truly as I live, That I will never pardon Ethenwald. But tell me Dunston, is this Alfrida? Enough Ethenwald, but who comes here. What Honesty, hast thou dispatched and found these pri vie knaves? Fie, Graceless man, hast thou no fear of God, To withhold thee from these lawless motions, Why, thou shouldst be as Messenger of God, And hate deceit and wicked avarice: But thou art one of those whom God does hate, And thy vild deeds will witness gainst thy soul: And make the most abominable in his sighed, That made thee (wretch) but to a better end, Then thus to wrong his sacred Deity. Now fie upon thee monster of a man, That for to gain thy self a private gain, Wouldst seek the undoing of a common wealth. And though thou bid ten thousand torments here They cannot quit thee where thou shalt appear. Well Honesty come follow us to Court, Wheee thou shalt be rewarded for thy pain. Forbear, honesty, thou art a good plain fellow, And I continued ̄ mend thy wit, that hast such ways to know a knave. But tell me, Dunston, how thinkest thou of this motion? Were it not good thinkest thou we gave him leave To stifle such Caterpillars as corrupt the common wealth: For many times such simple men as he, Bewray much matter in simplicity: Then tell me Dunston, what thinkest thou of his motion? True Dunston, yet have I read that Love Hath made the son eceiue the father oft: But Dunston, leaving this, come lets to court. With all my heart Dunston, but stay not long. Earl Osric, you must needs hold us excused, Though boldly thus unbid we visit you: But know the cause that moved us leave our Court, Was to do honour to Earl Ethenwald: And see his lovely Bride, fair Alfrida. May, pray thee eat Alfrida, it is enough for me to see thee eat, Thanks Osrick, but I think I am not welcome, Because I cannot see fair Alfrida: Osric, I will not stay, nor eat with thee, Till I have seen the Earl of Cornwels wife. Yes, Dunston, I am well content to pardon him, Ethenwald stand up, and rise up Alfrida, For Edgar now gives pardon to you both.