POLYMETES

ROscio. Hast thou divulged the news That my son died at Athens. That's well, that's very well, now Roscio Follows my partly, I must express a grief Not usual, not Like a well left heir For his dead father, or a lusty Widow For her old husband, must I counterfeit, But in a deeper, a far deeper strain Weep Like a Father for his only son, Is not that hard to do, would, Roscio ? By th'masse 'tis true, I have seen the knave paint grief In such a lively colour, that for false And acted passion he has drawn true tears From the spectators eyes, Ladies in the boxes Kept time with sighs, and tears to his sad accents As had he truly been the new man he seemed. Well then I'll near despair; but tell me thou Thou that hast still been privy to my bosom, How will this project take? Those are not they I look for, no, my ne Are spread for other game, the rich and greedy Those that have wealth enough, yet gape for more They are for me, Nay fear not that, there's none shall have access To see my daughter, or to speak to her, But such as I approve, and aim to catch. This was a jest well thought of, the conceit Will feed me fat, with sport that it shall make, Beside the large adventures it brings home Unto my daughter. How now. enter servant Conduct him in; So, so, it takes already See Roscio see, this is the very man My project aimed at, the rich Count that know No end of his large wealth, yet gapes for more There was no other loadstone could attract His Iron heart, for could beauty have moved him, Nature has been no niggard to my girl, But I must to my grief, here comes the Count. I do entreat your Lordship pardon, my grief and some want of sleep have made me at this time un mannerly, not fit to entertain guests of your worth. Nay heaven forbid I should repine at what the Justice of those powers ordain, it has pleased Them to confine my care only to one, and to See her well bestowed is all the comfort I now Must look for, but if it had pleased heaven that My son, ah my Eugenio. he weeps. O my good Lord, you never had a soon. And therefore cannot tell what 'tis to lose A son, a good son, and and only son. Pray Pardon me my Lord, if I forget my self to ward you at this time, if it please you visit my house ofter you shall be welcome. You shall be wondrous welcome, Wait on my Lord out there. exit Virr . So now he's gone, how thinkest thou Roscio, Will not this Gudgeon bite? There's all the difficulty, we must win her to love , I doubt the peevish Girl will think him too , he's well near threescore: in this business I must eave somewhat to thy wit and care, praise him beyond all measure. If thou effect it, I will make thee happy. exeunt Nay noble Count you are too old a Soldier To take a maids first no, for a denial, They will be nice at first, men must pursue That will obtain, woe her my Lord and take her, You have my free consent if you can get hers, Yonder she walks alone, go comfort her. I wonder Roscio that the peevish Girl Comes on so slowly on persuasions That I can use, do move the setting forth Count Ʋ irroes greatness, wealth and dignity Seems not to affect her, Roscio. Thou art my Oracle, My Brain, my Soul, my very being Roscio, Walk on and speed while I but second thee. Admit him, now friend, your business with me. The same. How, lives. Thanks for thy good news, Towards him Roscio, but now tell me friend Hast thou revealed this news to any man In Syracuse but me. Worthy f iend. I now must thank your wisdom as your love In this well carried Actium, I'll requite it, Mean time pray use my house, and still continue your Silence in this business, Roscio make him welcome, and Partly as little from him as you can for fear. Psecas come hither. come noble Count, I must for this time interrupt you You'll find time enough within to talk. I Cannot credit it, nor think that she Of all the noble youth in Sicilly, Should make so strange a choice, that none but he, None but the son of my vowed enemy Must be her mate, it strikes me to amaze, Minion take heed, do not belie your Mistress. Well I believe thee wench, and will reward Thy trust in this, go get thee in again And bring me word when Philocles is come, Sir yowl be secret to our purpose. I shall rest thankful to you: This stranger must be soothd lest he mar all. With blessed occasion I will so pursue As childless Euphes shall for ever rue. Rise in thy blackest look direst Nemesis Assistant to my purpose, help m glut My thirsty soul with blood. This bold young man To his rash love shall sacrifice his life. Why kill him presently. Should I now let him go now I have caught him How should that be? speak man. Thou art my Oracle deer Roscio, Heres Psecas come again; how now what news? 'Tis well Minion you are bold Enough I see to choose your friends without my leave. You may be deceived though, You have no such great reason To thank your Stars if you knew all. Nay too't again, your sweet meat shall have sour sauce. I thank you for that good daughter. Ah Sirrah, this gear goes well, God a mercy girl For thy intelligence, why this is as much as a Man could desire, the time, place, and every thing; I warrant um they pass no further, well Go thou in and wait upon thy Mistress, she's Melancholy till she see her sweet heart again, but When she does, she shall not see him long, Not a word of whats passed among us for your life. I'll not so much as show and angry look, Or any token that I know any of their proceedings, But Rosio, we must lay the place strongly, if they Should escape us, I were pritily fooled now after all This. Thou sayest well, go get one, I'll go my self along with you too, I love To see sport though I am old, you'll go Along with us to Sir. Now Euphues, what I did but barely act Thy bleeding heart shall feel, lose of a son If Law can have his course, as who can let it, I know thou thinkest mine dead, and in thy heart Laughest at my falling house, but let them laugh That win the prize, things never are known till ended. Upon um Officers, yonder they are. Thou art the Thief and the Villain too, Give me my Daughter thou ravisher. Upon um I say. fight. Knock um down Officers if they resist, they are taken. So keep um fast, weel have um faster shortly, and for you Minion, I'll tie a clog about your neck for run ning away any more. Call me not father thou disobedient wretch, Thou Runaway, thou art no child of mine, My Daughter never wore Breeches. Officers away with um, peace Stumpet, You may discharge him, he's but and assistant. Come have you done, Officers away with him. I'll be your keeper, but I'll look better to you. But Rosy you and I must about the business: sir let it be your charge to watch my Daughter, And see she send no message any whither, Nor receive any. Why now my Lord you are nearer to her love then ever you were yet, your rival by this accident shall be re moved out of the way, for before the scornful girl would never fancy any man else. I laboured it for your sake as much as for my Own, to remove your rival and my enemy, you Have your love, and I have my revenge. My Lord you are gracious with the King. Then see no pardon be granted, you may stop any thing; I knew Euphues will be soliciting for his son. I seek but Law, I am abused my Liege, Justice is all I beg, my Daughters stolen, Staff of my age, let the law do me right, Mercy is but the Kings prerogative, 'Tis Justice is his office, doing that He can wrong no man, no man can complain, But mercy showed oft takes way relief From the wronged party that the Law would give him: The King I hope in this will not do so, Minion who sent for you, it more modesty For you to be at home. No doubt he does my Lord I Like this passage well. No sure he herd us, but 'tis very strange. I Like not this. I will my Liege, Rosio see her there I wonder what is done. This is beyond our wishes. 'Tis a happy Land Where the King squares his actions by the law. And sought redress but by a lawful course. Now we have our ends. exeunt. Here my Lords, I am the wronged party, And the fact my man, here beside the Officers That took them can justify. 'Tis too true, This fellows sudden going from my house Put me into a fear. Wretch that I am, is my dissembled grief Turned to true sorrow, were my acted tears But Prophecies of my ensuing woe, And is he truly dead. o pardon me De j Ghost of my Eugenio, it my fault That called this hasty vengeance from the Gods, And shortened thus thy life, for while with tricks ought to fasten wealth upon our house, rought a Canniball to be the graven Of me and mine, base bloody murderous Count. Lord Euphues and Philocles forgive me To make amends, I know's impossible For what my malice wrought, but I would feign that might testify my grief repentance. My son, Welcome from death. I see it, And now son Philocles give me thy hand, Here take thy wife, she loves thee I dare swear, And for the wrong that I intended thee, Her portion shall be double what I meant it. Brother Euphues, I hope all enmity is now forgotten Betwixt our houses. Let us conclude within. Your royal presence shall much honour us. And such a one is he, he ever loved The beauty of my girl, but thats not it Can draw the earth bred thoughts of his gross soul Gold is the God of his idolatry, hope of which I'll feed him, till at length I make him fasten, and Ixion Like For his loved Juno grasp and empty cloud. How should I find it out Never by this means youngster. Amen. a fool. for ever, all will out. How's this I cannot tell what I should think of it, the man that lately brought me news 1 line What question? speak. As willingly as I would breath my self.