JEROME

I truly Princes, my father has had but hard luck since your coming to his court, for ought I know you are bred of ill weather, come before you are sent for, yet if my most gracious father say you are welcome, I his more gracious son take you by the hands, though I can tell you my mother's death comes somewhat near my heart, but I am a prince, and princes have power more then common people to subdue their passion. True, I am no fool, I have been at Wittenberg, where wit grows. Well, and you were not my father,—s'nailes, and I would not draw rather then put up the fool, would I might never win this lady at tilt and tournament: S Knights, I defy you both, for her; even you Lodowick, that loves her, and your brother that loves you: look to me, Stilt, and I have practised these two days: s'nailes God forgive me to swear, she shall not be carried away so. As I am a Prince, and a Worser kes heir, though I say it my self, I am as full of resolution as the proudest of you all Heart you would not unhorse Hercules for her fa there, isle practice again at Dantzike, you say in the Dukes mead; isle meet thee Mathias: ther's my glove For a gauntle , though my father count me a fool, you shall find me none. Come Stilt, bestir your stumps; you know I must be a tilter. what dost thou count it madness to run a tilt. Why? they say Stilt, that stone Mares are gentler, see if thou canst get me one of them. Well, isle try one course with thee at the half pike, and then go, come draw thy pike. I have answered you Stilt, that Princes have no needs to be taught, and I have even determined with my self, not to run at tilt, least I hazard my horse and harness: therefore isle to the court, and only see my new cousin, that they said was drowned: and then retire to my (astle at Helsen, and there write a new poem, that I have taken pains in, almost these ten years: It is in praise of pick toothes. Nay sirrah, isle get a patent from the Duke, my father, for the Cum Privilegio for that poem, And imprimendum solum; beside thou shalt have a priniledge, that no man shall fell tooth picks without thy seal: my father says I am a fool, but I think I bestow my time to look out for setting a new nap upon his threadbare Common wealth: Who's that knocks? who dares disturb our honourable meditation? hark Stilt, dost thou see no noise? Sprinkle, good Stilt, sprinkle, for my late practice hath brought me into strange favour: would mother of me, thou hadst almost blinded the eyes of excellence; but omniam be, let them approach now, and I appear not Like a Prince, let my father casheere me, as some say he will. Why? but hear you father Why, but Stilt, what's now to be done Stilt? No more Stilt, I have it here; it's in my head, and out it shall not come, till read revenge in robes of fire, and mad ding mischief run and rave: they say I am a fool Stilt, but follow me; isle seek out my notes of Machiavel, they say he's and odd politician. Well, sword come forth, and courage enter in, Breast break with grief; yet hold to be revenged: Follow me Stilt; widows unborn shall weep, And beardless boys with armour on their backs Shall bear us out, Stilt we will tread on stilts, Through the purple pavement of the court, Which shall be, let me see, what shall it be? No court, but even cave of misery. Ther's and excellent speech Stilt, follow me, pursue me, will accquire, And either die, or compass my desire. Most noble Countrymen I cannot but cond le in joy, and smile in tears to see you assembled in my right, but this is the lamentation that I poor Prince must make, who for my father's proclamation am Like for to lose my head; except you stand to me, for they are come ming on with bows, bills, and guns, against us: but if you be valiant, and stand to me lustily, allth' earth shall roar but we'll have victory. Come, come, you shall have your hands full, and you Come where we have to do, stand to it Stilt. I, I pray hear him; nay I charge you all upon pain of death that you hear my cozen. Give me your hand of that Cozen; well said, now get a pardon for me, and my merry men all; and then let me be my father's Taster, being the office belonging to his eldest son; I Being the same, and then you shall see me behave my self, not as a rebel, or reprobate, but as a most reasonable Prince, and sufficient subject. Pray Father, forgive me, and my man, And my men father by our single selves; For we have been the capital offenders. I and me too. I sir I am the legitimate, and am able to entertain A gentleman though I say't and he be of any quality, I tell thee, I am the Prince, my cozen knows it, That's my cozen, this is stilt my man. It shall bedone cozen; isle talk with him a little And follow you, go commend me to my father Tell him I am coming, and Stilt, and this stranger, be mindful cozen, as you will answer to my Princely in diguation. Well, I apprehend thee, I have a certain Princely feeling in my self that he loves me not. I but how Stilt, but how? Didst, thou know her French doctor? didst thou? I, but he always drinks in my Father's cup. What poison my father? no, I Like not that so well. This is the poison then, and this is the medicine? Well Physician, attend in my chamber here, till Stilt and I return; and if I pepper him not, say I am not wor thy to be called a Duke, but a drawlatch. I am at hand with my office. I have no mind to it Stilt, for all my antidote. Here cozen, will you begin to my father? Well God be with it, it's gone down, and now isle send the medicine after; Father pray drink to my cozen for he is so mannerly that he'll not drink before you. Here cozen for your Excellence, pray drink you to the Duke of Saxony. Gods Lady, I think Stilt, we are all undone, for I feel a jumbling worse and worse. Oh lord, father, and ye mean to be a lives man take some of this. True, but it was prepared for you and me by and ex cellent fellow, a french Doctor? Never to you Father, but to my cozen Charles indeed I meant to poison him, but I have pepperd my self. Father, I am dying too, o now I depart, Be good to Stilt my man, he was accessary to all this. I sir woe worth him, farewell Stilt, farewell father's I ask you pardon with repentant eyes; Fallen stars, Oh Stilt, for thus thy master die. A hall then; my father and my new cousin: stand aside, that I may set my countenance, my beard brush and mirror, Stilt, that set my countenance right to the mirror of Knighthood, for your mirror of magistrates is some what to sober how likest me? Nay but cozen cozen, i'st not necessary I wait Upon mine own father? and stilt upon me? Why see now what a thing Majesty is; Stilt and the rest of my good people; my cozen) Charles looking but in the face of our excellence Cannot choose but take our part.