OFFA

Take my company in that, deer Brother. Instruct and aid us some superior power, Which dost behold our forced necessity 'Tis well advised, weel not assay to mend it: This effected Mother, weel come and take our leaves. But where your own safety? With constant hope, that though veiled honour bear and Ecliptic stain, our sun will pass it, and shine bright again I Brother, would we were of this Fellowship. Why not? that was not without troubles of the mind, And methinks to exchange for the bodies labour, were a far Freer good; to sing with homely cheer, Were sweeter far then to feed fat with fear. Mine Crispinus. 'Tis our Mother Offa, take heed our tears do not discover. Alas Sir, it's oft times the barren fruits of Subject's Loves, when they behold their Prince; but much more Will the Flux of sorrow sir abound, when they behold Them thrown to misery. Alas sir, who could choose, passion me thought Did make me apprehend strange fautasies, I made The case mine own, supposed my Mother had been Haled to Prison; some would have pitied her, though But a mean woman, much more at such a Sovereigns fallen. No doubt, nay Master without offence, it was your fault too, For in your eye I spied a pearl of pity. Crispinus Madam. I have forgotten Madam But since these last wars Lady, yet as I remember they were Better then my present profession. I'll do my best to mend it Madam. I shall attend your Highness. Is it not here they pinch you Madam? I will not Madam, my duty to your Highness. Madam, in this revived memory I protest. Yes Madam. My trade, in that sense I confess it Lady, And so far I am a Suitor to your Highness. I trouble you Madam. Madam, this intercourse, you have vouchsafed so kindly with Your Servant, somewhat inboldens me. She's old. Since I am free to speak, I would Lady; young for my eye, and Rich to mend my state: but alas Madam, I am a prentice and must Not wed. Nay, I might Triple that doubling, for to a wife I bind me to a perpetual prenticeship. I think it were Madam. If both parties were agreed Lady. It pleases Majesty some times to make sport with humble Vasselage, so do you with me Lady. I would venture a chiding to stay so long: what my this mean? I see a shadow Madam. I know not Madam, I am enchanted with your Magic 'Tis very well made Madam. Your self, I think Lady. I would she were not. Because no like's the same. Danger Madam, were she browed Like Nemisis, Tuskt with Scorpions stings, as keen for spoil as and Incensed fury, I would stand in this quarrel against her Open throat: but do you not dally with a poor wretch? Faith Madam, your lips deserve better than your foot, That's two piled velvet, this must needs be three: Nay since you have raised me above the instep I'll reach at the highest now. What's then to be done? There shall not want a Bridegroom. The morning and a Priest shall make one of both. I'll keep it till to morrow. What pretty flies in loves sweet web do lurk, I must be Married, then unto my work. Exit Cris. The Drums and Trumpets will revive thee man. I beseech you sir let me excuse the rest: I have a mind To meet a foe i'th field, methinks I could perform Some worthy act, that at my back return, You should be proud to say my Servant did it. Good dame persuade him not against his heart, such brave designs As Soldiers undergo, should not be forced, but free and voluntary. A Coward in a Camp more spoils and Army by faint example of his frozen blood, than a full Squadron of the daringest foes Surprising to advantage. A Soldier: What art thou so faved? Thou art saved then by a Warlike Britain soldier: And had as many lives as drops of blood, de spend them all to do great Caesar good. I will. Exit. Base Goes look up, and see here hovers Eagle Winged victory, recovered from thy troops. We shall, or die: This holds the Goths death; this thy liberty. Talk not of debts, or pay, let's hence and fight; As long as I have breath I'll hold your right. Soldiers troop close, our task is not yet done; I'll keep your Eagle till the battle's won. Be comforted my deer Leodice. I know it Princely Love, and fear the event; Love in the paths of danger ever went: The morning flames of our desires burn bright, And shall do still in scorn of Fortune's spite, If you but feed the fire. Why shouldst thou fear the knot our hearts hath tide? Had heavens strength to it; and heaven will sure provide For those whose names and faiths are written there. Stay, lets devise. I prithee peace, the clock of misery goes always Too true: yet let me f it now. Do this then; if the Emperor call for thee, Besicke and keep thy chamber, Until I get some place for thy delivery. What ever thou desirest. By all the truths that man ere swore by, No force of strength shall partly us. I warrant you Mistress. Even so my heart goes from me: Oh what waves swim Lovers in of fears, of Hope's, of cares, Of discontents, terrors, and despairs. A thousand fears do now my poor heart shake, What medicine's best? counsel, and that I'll take. Whither should I go? prithee tell me, What make you all at Canterbury? In sadness I cannot. Misery of times when Kings do kill, Not armed by Law to do it, but by will. From these deep woes that my poor Country bears Heaven save the Queen my Mother, Fates are just, And till the thread be spun, none turn to dust. Yes my good Dame; they are all before you. Oh my good Dame! I have ever found you a kind loving Dame, nay, a good Mother Both to my self, and my poor Brother Crispianus. O my go worser dame, I to your ears must now unlock A secret, which, if ere you blab abroad — Nor be angry with me? You have found my grief, Good dame, indeed I have. Nay good Dame. Sweet Dame, you swore You would say nothing. Pardon me Sir. Unless you stand my friend, Alas I am but dead. Oh Sir, if any but my dame and you should know it, I were lost for ever. The Emperors Daughter Sir. I have climbed farther Sir; she's now my Wife, And I have married her. That very day my Brother was pressed forth— She knew my Fortune's ever she married me, And now your selves shall know them: I and my Brother that thus have served you Like Prentices, Are Princes both, and Sons to Allured, late King of Britain. The Emperor Maximinus slew my Father, And put the Queen my Mother into Prison: What mean you gentle Master, pray be covered. And seeing all my Hope's lie dead save in her self, I loved, revealed my self, and married her; Yet I entreat you both—Nay gentle Master, I am your Prentice still, pray stand not bore. All I entreat of you, is some advice To get my fair Leodice from Court, and then some secret place Where she might be in safety till her sweet delivery, And then I'll dare misfortune. That's all my care indeed, to steal her thence. I Like it well, and will acquaint the Princess with it. The stratagem takes rarely, come fair Leodice, This tumult in the Court gives means to fly. Talk not of Death, live, and be blessed for ever, No frown of Fate two faithful hearts can fever. Exeunt. Health to the Emperor from the Roman State. None my good Lord, not any; From France and Dioclesian thus I bring These Britain Soldiers back triumphant home: The black storm there is laid, and sure these fears That bring these homebred terrors, all are fa S : And as I guess, the firing of the Beacons, Was at the fight of Dioclesian's Fleet, That with himself now rides in Dover -road, And is by this on shore: and how in France the die of War hath run His aj sty in these Imperial Letters certifies. I am your lowly Vassal, royal Sovereign, I humbly thank my Lords; I'll ask no Gold, nor Lands, nor Oh fices; but thus high, To beg a prisoners life and liberty. Yes my good Lord, my Kingly Father slain, I and my brother did disguised remain, Till I was pressed for France. Fame speaks not always troth: I we, But of my brother what's become, as yet I have not herd. Zoonds base? Most Royal Sovereign, Suffer not wrath to kindle in your bosom, His baseness and mine run even in one stream: It is my brother, Princes by birth, the King of Britons sons; Our names Eldred and Offa ; for these names Of Crispine and Crispianus we but borrowed To keep our lives in safety. Pray heaven they do not, I fear my eyes will be kind traitors. 'Tis my duty Madam, misery hath not changed your name, Though bated of your power, you are my Queen still. I would be as Dutiful as my Brother, Madam. I Brother, and suppose her Sons, though Royal, Had seen our mother as we saw her, in Princely compassion Perhaps they would have done the Like. I could not choose by supposition so, if I durst speak freely. Not, I'll quell your fears, for now I'll put my life Into your hands, to manifest the virtue of my love, for Heaven hath been a motive to your love: For know sweet, It's no base contract, but of the Royalst Blood in Britanny : Love would not so have forced you to and error, Crispinus Is but borrowed, a poor shroud to keep my life in, Offa is my Own, the youngest Son to the late vanquished Allured, Eldred my Brother, both supposed slain, yet live within a Parallel disguise; I am no richerthan I was before, But in that clouded Title.