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Full speech
Content our sweetest good, we do salute thee But if you knew his name were Olygoros, which signifies Contempt, you would not mistake him, and name him Content. Oh jure, quaque iniuriam. What the Courtier dreamingly possesses, the Con trey Gentleman with curses, and the Soldier with cares: I quietly enjoy without control. In my study I contemplate what can be done in batels, & with my pen hurt more than thou sands do with pikes, I strike him that sees me not. I see the height of heaven. I view the depth of hell. This soldier is as rough as if he were in the field Why you shall be my guest for this once. How say you master soldier? Content is my landlord, peace and quiet are my companions, I am not with the Courtier bound to dance at tendance; nor with the Countryman bind I others to attend on me. I possess pleasure more than mortal, and my con templation is only of the life immortal. I will not acquaint you sir with my intent, for they are fools that in secret affairs are too familiar, know this, that I intend to await occasion. He raves my Lord, its ill advised of you To suffer him so near your princely excellence. What cause hadst thou to kill this Gentleman? The lykelyer may it Like your grace of his consent, It good they both did suffer punishment. Come sirrah, you and your wise must go to ward, Till you be tried for clearness or con ent. Here is a messenger my gracious Lord, That brings ill tidings to your quiet state. Now see I that this simple witted man, This poor plain Cobbler truly did divine, The Gods when we refuse the common means Sent by their oracles and learned priests, Raise up some man contemptible and vile, In whom they breath the pureness of their spirits, And make him bold to speak and prophesy. Welcome friend Sateros, you are fitly come, The Duke intends that you shall lead to field The powers of Boaetia gainst his foes, Are you prepared, and willingly resolved? Soldier, stand not on that, discharge your duty, The country needs our service and our counsel, I'll do my best, and do you your endeavour, For public quiet and Booetias honour. A blessed concord, I will to the Duke, And leave thee Sateros to thy glorious war. Let every Scholar be a Soldiers friend, As I am friend to thee and so will rest.
Plot summary
Plot — The Cobbler's Prophecy
Security has bred social ills in Boeotia, including impiety and disrespect for age. Meanwhile Venus scandalizes heaven with her adulterous liaison with Mars. Mercury selects Ralph Cobbler at random to prophesy to both Mars and Boeotia, and strikes his wife Zelota mad. A courtier, landlord, scholar, and soldier debate the relative merits of their different estates; Sateros the soldier, who is seeking employment from Mars, is obviously the worthiest. He visits the Muses to seek directions to Mars’s court, while Ralph tries to ride there with Charon. On arrival, they are sent on to Venus’ court by a dangerous route, and find Mars engaged in sexual dalliance with Venus. Mars recommends Sateros to the Duke of Boeotia, but is ===== PAGE 168 ===== infuriated by Ralph’s prophecy and quarrels with Venus. When he learns that she has another sexual partner, Contempt, he becomes jealous and misogynistic, and returns to his proper concern with warfare. Venus bears Contempt’s illegitimate child, Ruina. She is deprived of her godhead and banished from heaven; Contempt also abandons her. The Duke hires Sateros and learns from Ralph that the courtier Emnius is plotting to assassinate him while they are out hunting. Under questioning, Emnius confesses, but pretends to repent under threat of being shot with his own pistol. Spared but determined to take revenge, he assaults Ralph and is stabbed to death by mad Zelota. Both Ralph and Zelota are imprisoned for the killing. Boeotia is invaded by foreign powers, and Sateros musters the army; prisoners, including Ralph, are released to serve as soldiers. The invasion is understood to be a punishment from the gods for disregarding Ralph’s prophecies, and in penance the Duke has Contempt’s cabin burnt. News arrives of victory, granted by the gods. Ralph returns to shoemaking, Zelota is cured and pardoned, and Sateros and the scholar unite in support of the Duke’s regime.