FRANCE

Dissuade me not, my Lords, I am resolved, This next fair wind to sail for Brittany, In some disguise, to see if flying fame Be not too prodigal in the wondrous praise Of these three Nymphs, the daughters of King Leir. If present view do answer absent praise, And eyes allow of what our ears have herd, And Venus stand auspicious to my vows, And Fortune favour what I take in hand; I will return seized of as rich a prize As Jason, when he won the golden fleece. Thy pleasant company will make the way see me short. It rests now, that in my absence hence, I do commit the government to you My trusty Lords and faithful Counsellers. Time cutteth off the rest I have to say: The wind blows fair, and I must needs away. My Lord? I told you of this foolish humour, My Lord again? then let's have nothing else, And so be cane for spies, and then 'tis well. Call me Trofillus: I'll call thee Denapoll. Then call me Will, isle call thee Jack. Stand close; for here a British Lady continued ̄ meth: A fairer creature never mine eyes beheld. It is no Goddess; for she does complaint On fortune, and unkindness of her father. I can forbear no longer for to speak: For if I do, I think my heart will break. I am in such a labyrinth of love, As that I know not which way to get out. I prithee lack, cross not my passion. Thou fairest creature, whatsoever thou art, That ever any mortal eyes be held, Vouchsafe to me, who have overheard thy woees, To show the cause of these thy sad laments. To utter grief, does ease a heart over charged. The silly mouse, by virtue of her teeth, Released the princely Lion from the net. Why, who debars his honourable age, From being still the King of Brittany? Hath he given nothing to your lovely self? Sweet Lady, say there should come a King, As good as either of your sisters husbands, To crave your love, would you accept of him? Think not, sweet Nymph, 'tis holy Palmer's guise, To grieved souls fresh torments to devise: Therefore in witness of my true intent, Let heaven and earth bear record of my words: There is a young and lusty Gallian King, So Like to me, as I am to my self, That earnestly does crave to have thy love, And join with thee in Hymen's sacred bonds. Your birth's too high for any, but a King. Oh, but you never can endure their life, Which is so straight and full of penury. 'Twere sin to hold her longer in suspense, Since that my soul hath vowed she shall be mine. Ah, deer Cordella, cordial to my heart, I am no Palmer, as I seem to be, But hither come in this unknown disguise, To view th'admired beauty of those eyes. I am the King of Gallia, gentle maid, (Although thus slenderly accompanied) And yet thy vassayle by imperious Love, And sworn to serve thee everlastingly. What rests then our happiness to procure? It shall be so, because the world shall say, King Leirs three daughters were wedded in one day: The celebration of this happy chance, We will defer, until we come to France. When will these clouds of sorrow once disperse, And smiling joy triumph upon thy brow: When will this Scene of sadness have and end, And pleasant acts ensue, to move delight? When will my lovely Queen cease to lament, And take some comfort to her grieved thoughts; If of thy self thou daignst to have no care, Yet pity me, whom thy grief makes despair. But thou art now grafted in another stock; I am the stock, and thou the lovely branch: And from my root continual sap shall flow, To make thee flourish with perpetual spring. Forget thy father and thy kindred now, Since they forsake thee Like inhumane beasts, Think they are dead, since all their kindness die, And bury them, where black oblivion lies. Think not thou art the daughter of old Leir, Who did unkindly disinherit thee: But think thou art the noble Gallian Queen, And wife to him that dearly loves thee: Embrace the joys that present with thee dwell, Let sorrow pack and hide her self in hell. Mirror of virtue, Phoenix of our age! Too kind a daughter for and unkind father, Be of good comfort; for I will dispatch Ambassadors immediately for Britain, Unto the King of Cornwalls Court, whereas Your father keepeth now his residence, And in the kindest manner him entreat, That setting former grievances apart, He will be pleased to come and visit us. If no entreaty will suffice the turn, I'll offer him the half of all my Crown: If that moves not, weel furnish out a Fleet, And sail to Cornwall for to visit him; And there you shall be firemly reconcilde In perfect love, as erst you were before. Only be blithe, and frolic (sweet) with me: This and much more isle do to comfort thee. By this, our father understands our mind, And our kind greetings sent to him of late; Therefore my mind presages ere't be long, We shall receive from Britain happy news. Fear not, my love, since that we know the worst, The last means helps, if that we miss the first: If he'll not come to Gallia unto us, Then we will sail to Britain unto him. Nay, we see you have a handsome hose. I, but one term and a cart will serve the turn. Prithee, Lord Mumford, what promise did I make thee? Faith, in this motion I will join with thee, And be a mediator to my Queen. Prithee, my Love, let this march go forward, My mind foretells, it'll be a lucky voyage. Weel go disguised, all unknown to any. Faith thus: my Queen & I will be disguised, Like a plain country couple, and you shall be Roger Our man, and wait upon us: or if you will, You shall go first, and we will wait on you. This tedious journey all on foot, sweet Love, Cannot be pleasing to your tender joints, Which never were used to these toilsome walks. Sweet Love, reveal not what thou art as yet, Until we know the ground of this ill. Forbear a while, until his strength return, Lest being overjoyed with seeing thee, His poor weak senses should forsake their office, And so our cause of joy be turned to sorrow. Nor never Like impiety was done, Since the creation of the world begun. All you have spoke: now let me speak my mind, And in few words much matter here conclude: If ere my heart do harbour any joy, Or true content repose within my breast, Till I have rooted out this viperous sect, And repossest my father of his Crown, Let me be counted for the periurdst man, That ever spoke word since the world began. Come, let's to arms for to redress this wrong: Till I am there, me thinks, the time seems long. Thus have we brought our army to the sea, Whereas our ships are ready to receive us: The wind stands fair, and we in four hours sail, May easily arrive on British shore, Where unexpected we may them surprise, And gain a glorious victory with ease. Wherefore, my loving Countrymen, resolve, Since truth and justice fights on our sides, That we shall march with conquest where we go. My self will be as forward as the first, And step by step march with the hardiest wight: And not the meanest soldier in our Camp Shall be in danger, but isle second him. To you, my Lord, we give the whole command Of all the army, next unto our self, Not doubting of you, but you will extend Your wonted valour in this needful case, Encouraging the rest to do the Like, By your approved magnanimity. Then what should more persuasion needs to those, That rather with to deal, then hear of blows? Let's to our ships, and it that God permit, In four houressayle, I hope we shall be there. Now march our ensigns on the British earth, And we are near approaching to the town: Then look about you, valiant Countrymen, And we shall finish this exploit with ease. Th'ihabitants of this mistrustful place, Are dead asleep, as men that are secure: Here shall we skirmish but with naked men, Devoid of sense, new waked from a dream, That know not what our coming does pretend, Till they do feel our meaning on their skins: Therefore assail: God and our right for us. Fear not, my friends, you shall receive no hurt, If you'll subscribe unto your lawful King, And quite revoke your fealty from Cambria, And from aspiring Cornwall too, whose wives Have practised treason against their father's life. We come in justice of your wronged King, And do intend no harm at all to you, So you submit unto your lawful King. Me thinks, your words do amplify (my friends) And add freth vigor to my willing limbs: But hark, I hear the adverse Drum approach. God and our right, Saint Denis, and Saint George, Over-daring Cornwall, know, we came in right. And joust revengement of the wronged King, Whose daughters there, fell vipers as they are, Have sought to murder and deprive of life: But God protected him from all their spite, And we are come in justice of his right. Too't, gallants, too't, let's not stand brawling thus. Thanks be to God, your foes are overcome, And you again possessed of your right. Thank heavens, not me, my zeal to you is such, Command my utmost, I will never grutch. Lord Mumford, you have saved me a labour, In offering that which I did mean to ask: And I most willingly accept your company. Yet first I will enjoin you to observe Some few conditions which I shall propose. To bind thee from a thing thou canst not leave, Were but a mean to make thee seek it more: And therefore speak, look, kiss, salute for me; In these my self am Like to second thee. Now hear thy task. I charge thee from the time That first we set sail for the British shore, To use no words of dignity to me, But in the friendliest manner that thou canst, Make use of me as thy companion: For we will go disguised in Palmer's weeds, That no man shall mistrust us what we are. Let me break off this loving controversy, Which does rejoice my very soul to see. Good father, rise, she is your loving daughter, And honours you with as respective duty, As if you were the Monarch of the world.