GONERIL

I marvel, Ragan, how you can endure To see that proud pert Peat, our youngest sister, So slightly to account of us, her elders, As if we were no better then her self! We cannot have a quaint device so soon, Or new made fashion, of our choice invention; But if she Like it, she will have the same, Or study newer to exceed us both. Beside, she is so nice and so demure; So sober, courteous, modest, and precise, That all the Court hath work enough to do, To talk how she exceeds me and you. By my virginity, rather then she shall have A husband before me, I'll marry one or other in his shirt: And yet I have made half a grant already Of my good will unto the King of Cornwall. What ever thouspeakst to us, kind Skalliger, Think that thou speakest it only to thy self. Thanks, gentle Skalliger, thy kindness undeserved, Shall not be unrequited, if we live. Nay, our revenge we will inflict on her, Shall be accounted piety in us: I will so flatter with my doting father, As he was never so flattered in his life. Nay, I will say, that if it be his pleasure, To match me to a beggar, I will yield: For why, I know what ever I do say, He means to match me with the Cornwall King. I smile to think, in what a woeful plighted Cordella will be, when we answer thus: For she will rather die, then give consent To join in marriage with the Irish King: So will our father think, she loves him not, Because she will not grant to his desire, Which we will aggravate in such bitter terms, That he will soon convert his love to hate: For he, you know, is always in extremes. Our royal Lord and father, in all duty, We come to know the tenor of your will, Why you so hastily have sent for us? I hope, my gracious father makes no doubt Of any of his daughters love to him: Yet for my partly, to show my zeal to you, Which cannot be in windy words rehearsed, I prize my love to you at such a rate, I think my life inferior to my love. Should you enjoin me for to tie a millstone About my neck, and leap into the Sea, At your command I willingly would do it: Yea, for to do you good, I would ascend The highest Turret in all Brittany, And from the top leap headlong to the ground: Nay, more, should you appoint me for to marry The meanest vassayle in the spacious world, Without reply I would accomplish it: In brief, command what ever you desire, And if I fail, no favour I require. Here is and answer answerless indeed: Were you my daughter, I should scarcely brook it. You were not best say I flatter: if you do, My deeds shall show, I flatter not with you. I love my father better then thou canst. I ever thought that pride would have a fallen. Sister, when did you see Cordella last, That pretty piece, that thinks none good enough To speak to her, because (sir-reverence) She hath a little beauty extraordinary? I have incensed my father so against her, As he will never be reclaimed again. Faith, sister, what moves you to bear her such good will? Beshrew your fingers, how right you can guess: I tell you true, it cuts me to the heart. Who ever hath her, shall have a rich marriage of her. With nothing! marry God forbid: why, are there any such? I cry you mercy, I mistook you much: And she is far too stately for the Church; Sheele lay her husbands Benefice on her back, Even in one gown, if she may have her will. And so do I, until the Cornwall King Present himself, to consummate my joys. Peace, here comes my father. As welcome, as Leander was to Hero, Or brave Aeneas to the Carthage Queen: So and more welcome is your Grace to me. I prithee, Skalliger, tell me what thou thinkest: Could any woman of our dignity Endure such quips and peremptory taunts, As I do daily from my doting father? Doth't not suffice that I him keep of alms, Who is not able for to keep himself? But as if he were our better, he should think To check and snap me up at every word. I cannot make me a new fashioned gown, And set it forth with more then common cost; But his old doting doltish withered wit, Is sure to give a sense less check for it. I cannot make a banquet extraordinary, To grace my self, and spread my name abroad, But he, old fool, is captious by and by, And say, the cost would well suffice for twice. Judge then, I pray, what reason is't, that I Should stand alone charged with his vain expense, And that my sister Ragan should go free, To whom he gave as much, as unto me? I prithee, Skalliger, tell me, if thou know, By any means to rid me of this woe. What, do you fear, that I have angered him? Hath he complained of me unto my Lord: I'll provide him a piece of bred and cheese; For in a time heel practice nothing else, Then carry tales from one unto another. 'Tis all his practice for to kindle strife, betwixt you, my Lord, and me your loving wife: But I will take and order, if I can, To cease effect, where first the cause began. What, breeds young bones already! you will make And honest woman of me then, belike. Oh vild old wretch! who ever herd the Like, That seeks thus his own child to defame? For any one that loves your company, You may go pack, and seek some other place, To sow the seed of discord and disgrace. Alas, my Lord, whom does it touch so near, Or who hath interest in this grief, but I, Whom sorrow had brought to her longest home, But that I know his qualities so well? I know, he is but stolen upon my sister At unawares, to see her how she fares, And spend a little time with her, to note How all things go, and how she likes her choice: And when occasion serves, heel steal from her, And unawares return to us again. Therefore, my Lord, be frolic, and resolve To see my father here again ever long. But I will intercept the Messenger, And temper him before he does depart, With sweet persuasions, and with found rewards, That his report shall ratify my speech, And make my Lord cease further to inquire. If he be not gone to my sisters Court, As sure my mind presages that he is, He happily may, by travelling unknown ways, Fallen sick, and as a common passenger, Be dead and buried: would God it were so well; For then there were no more to do, but this, He went away, and none knows where he is, But say he be in Cambria with the King, And there exclaim against me, as he will: I know he is as welcome to my sister, As water is into a broken ship. Well, after him I'll send such thunderclaps Of slander, scandal, and inuentedtales, That all the blame shall be removed from me, And unperceived rebound upon himself. Thus with one nail another I'll expel, And make the world judge, that I used him well. My honest friend, whither away so fast? To whom? Let me see them. 'Twas was I that opened them, it was not thou. He that hangs thee, were better hang his father, Or that but hurts thee in the least degree. I tell thee, we make great account of thee. I, but thou wouldst keep one life still, And that's as many as thou art Like to have. In token of further employment, take that. I Like thee well; thou hast a good tongue. Oh, thou art a fit man for my purpose. Well said, then this is thy trial: Instead of carrying the Kings letters to my father, carry thou these letters to my sister, which contain matter quite contrary to the other: there shall she be given to understand, that my father hath detracted her, given out slaundrous speeches against her; and that he hath most intolerably abused me, let my Lord and me at vam riance, and made mutinies amongst the commons. These things (although it be not so) Yet thou must affirm them to be true, With oaths and protestations as will serve, To driven my sister out of love with him, And cause my will accomplished to be. This do, thou winnest my favour for ever, And makest a hie way of preferment to thee And all thy friends. Yet there is a further matter. If my sister thinketh convenient, as my letters imports, to make him away, hast thou the heart to effect it? About it presently, I long till it be done, My Lord, I think the reason may be this: My father means to come along with him And therefore 'tis his pleasure he shall stay, For to attend upon him on the way. If you might speak with him? why, do you think, We are afraid that you should speak with him? Are not we worthy to receive your message: It may be then it'll not be done in haste. How does my sister brook the air of France? I am the more sorry. Didst thou not say, that she was ever sick, Since the first hour that she arrived there? Then I mistook thee. God continue it. Why, her health. Should I be a mean to exasperate his wrath Against my sister, whom I love so deer? no, no. Oh, I, what else? It were great pity it should be otherwise. Then that they should be reconcilde again. They lie, that say, we sought our father's death. Peace (Puritan) dissembling hypocrite, Which art so good, that thou wilt prove stark nought: Anon, when as I have you in my fingers, I'll make you wish your self in Purgatory. Peace, peace, old fellow, thou art sleepy still. Well, Skalliger, for thy kind advice herein, I will not be ungrateful, if I live: I have restrained half his portion already, And I will presently restrain the other, That having no means to relieve himself, He may go seek elsewhere for better help.