WILLIAM

Ah: good my Lords, misconstrue not the cause: At least, suspect not my displeased brows I amorously do bear to your intent: For thanks and all that you can wish I yield. But that which makes me blush and shame to tell, Is cause why thus I turn my conquering eyes To cowards looks and beaten fantasies. Ah Marks Lubeck, in thy power it lies To rid my bosom of these thraled dumps: And therefore, good my Lords forbear awhile, That we may parley of these private cares, Whose strength subdues me more than all the world. Now Marks must a Conqueror at arms disclose himself thralled to unarmed thoughts, And threatened of a shadow, yield to lust: No sooner had my sparkling eyes beheld The flames of beauty blazing on this piece, But suddenly a sense of miracle Imagined on thy lovely Masters face, Made me abandon bodily regard, And cast all pleasures on my woonded soul: Then gentle Marks tell me what she is, That thus thou honourest on thy warlike shield. And if thy love and interest be such, As justly may give place to mine, That if it be: my soul with honours wings May fly into the bosom of my deer. If not, close them and stoop into my graven. Ah Marks, thy words bring heaven unto my soul, And had I heaven to give for thy reward: Thou shouldst be thronde in no unworthy place. But let my uttermost wealth suffice thy worth, Which here I vow, and to aspire the bliss That hangs on quick achievement of my love, Thy self and I will travel in disguise, To bring this Lady to our Britain Court. Con. Lady this is well and happily met, Fortune hitherto hath been my foe, And though I have oft sought to speak with you, Yet still I have been crossed with sinister haps. I cannot Madame tell a loving tale Or court my Masters with fabulous discoursies, That am a soldier sworn to follow arms: But this I bluntly let you understand, I honour you with such religious Zeal As may become and honourable mind. Nor may I make my love the siege of Troy That am a stranger in this Country. First what I am, I know you are resolved, For that my friend hath let you that to understand, The Marks Lubeck to whom I am so bound, That whilst I live I count me only his. And yields my Lady then at his request. To grace Duke William with her gracious love? Not otherwise but well and honorably. I have at Sea a ship that does attend, Which shall forthwith conduct us into England Where when we are, I straight will marry thee. We may not stay deliberating long Least that suspicion, envious of our weal Set in a foot to hinder our pretence. Oh happy William, blessed in thy love: Most fortunate in Mariana's love, Well Lubeck well, this courtesy of thine I will requite if God permit me life. Exit. Come on my love, the comfort of my life: Disguised thus we may remain unknown. And get we once to Seas, I force not then, We quickly shall attain the English shore. Lady, as little tarriance as we may, Lest some misfortune happen by the way. Could any cross, could any plague be worse? Could heaven or hell? Did both conspire in one To afflict my soul, invent a greater scourge Then presently I am tormented with? Ah Mariana cause of my lament: Joy of my heart, and comfort of my life. For thee I breath my sorrows in the air, And Tyre my self: for silently I sighs, My sorrows afflictes me soul with equal passion. In knowing this, I know thou art a traitor. A rebel, and mutinous conspirator. Why Demarch, knowest thou who I am? What news with the Denmark Ambassador? Ambassador, this answer Iretorne thy King. He wills me to send his daughter Blanch : Saying I conveyed her from the Danish court, That never yet did once as think thereof. As for his menacing and daunting threats I nill regard him nor his Danish power. For if he come to fetch her forth my Realm, I will provide him such abanquet here That he shall have small cause to give me thanks. Demarch our subjects erst levied in civil broils, Mustered forthwith for to defend the Realm, In hope whereof that we shall find you true, We freely pardon this thy late offence. Nay, that was Mariana, who wrongfully thou detainest prisoner. It cannot be I should be so deceived. It may be so: but on my life it is not? Yet Demarch, go and fetch her Straight. Oh Marks Lubeck how it grieves me, That for my sake thou shouldst endure these bonds. Be judge my soul that feels the martyrdom. Away Demarch, what tellest thou me of Ladies? I so detest the dealing of their sex, As that I count a lovers state to be the base And vildest slavery in the world. Zweno I was deceived, yea utterly deceived, Yet this is she: this same is Lady Blanch. And for mine error, here I am content To do whatsoever Zweno shall set down. Ah cruel Mariana thus to use The man which loved and honoured thee with his heart. May this be true? It cannot be but true. Was it Lady Blanch which I conveyed away? Unconstant Mariana, Thus to deal with him which meant to thee nought but faith. A proper coniuntion: as who should say, Lately come out of the fire, I would go thrust my self into the flame. Let Masters nice go Saint it where she list, And coily quaint it with dissembling face. I hold in scorn the fooleries that they use, I being free will never subject my self to any such as she is underneath the Sun. Conseit hath wrought such general dislike Through the false dealing of Mariana, That utterly I do abhor their sex. They are all disloyal, unconstant, all unjust: Who tries as I have tried, And finds as I have found, Will say the no such creatures on the ground. Stand forth women and say, To whither of you did he first give his faith. What were the impediments? I see that women are not general evils. Blanch is fair: Methinks I see in her, A modest countenance, a heavenly blush. Zweno, receive a reconciled foe, Not as thy friend, but as thy son in law, If so that thou be thus content. Now sir, how stands the case with you? And may it be a Millers daughter by her birth? I cannot think but she is better born. And what says Em to lovely Valingford ? It seemed he loved you well, That for your sake durst leave his King. Then here Lord Valingford, Receive fair Em. Here take her, make her thy espoused wife. Then go we in, that preparation may be made, to see these nuptials solemny performed. Then thus the Duke Dirot and Therle Dimach Will I leave substitutes to rule my Realm, While mighty love forbids my being here, And in the name of Sir Robert of Windsor Will go with thee unto the Danish Court. Keep Williams secrets Marks if thou love him. Bright Blanch I come, sweet fortune favour me, And I will laud thy name eternally. And easy matter to get you from the Court, If case that you will thereto give consent. A good devise: till then, Farewell fair love. I hold that man most shameless in his sin That seeks to wrong and honest Ladies name Whom he thinks worthy of his marriage bed. Mariana, here I swear to thee by heaven, And by the honour that I bear to Arms, Never to seek or crave at hands of thee The spoil of honourable chastity Until we do attain the English coast, Where thou shalt be my right espoused Queen. Hence villains hence, dare you lay your hands Upon your Sovereign? Where is Lord Dirot ? Well, come let us go, I fear I shall find traitors of you both. Exit. All but Demarch go shroud you out of sighed, For I will go parley with the Prince my self. No no Demarch, that were abreach Against the law of Arms: therefore begun, And leave us here alone. Exeunt. I see that Zweno is master of his word. Zweno, William of Saxony greets thee Either well oryll, according to thy intent. If well thou wish to him and Saxony, He bids thee friendly welcome as he can. If ill thou wish to him and Saxanie, He must withstand thy malice as he may. Herein Zweno dost thou abase thy state, To break the peace which by our ancestors Hath heretofore be honourably kept. Is this the colour of your quarrel Zweno ? I well perceive the wisest men may err. And think you I conveyed away your daughter Blanch ? What proof is there? Did I confess I stole your daughter Blanch ? I have and do. Speak Manuile, to whither didst thou give thy faith? Now she does both. Maiden, how were you cured: Sir Thomas Goddard welcome to thy Prince, And fair Em, frolic with thy good father. As glad am I to find Sir Thomas Goddard As good Sir Edmund Treford on the plains: He Like a shepherd, and thou our country Miller. But say Sir Thomas, shall I give thy daughter? And to my Lord the king shall I recount Your graces courteous entertainment, That for his sake vouchsafe to honour me A simple Knight attendant on his grace. Robert Windsor and Like your Majesty. Thanks gentle Lady. Lord Marks, what is she? May this be she, for whom I crossed the Seas? I am ashamed to think I was so found. In whom the nothing that contents my mind. Ill head, worse featured, uncomely, nothing courtly. Swart and ill favoured, a Colliers sanguine skin. I never saw a harder favoured slut. Love her? for what: I can no whit abide her. I thank your hightnes, whose bounden I remain. Unhappy Blanch, what strange effects are these That works within my thoughts confusedly, That still me thinks affection draws me on To take, to Like, nay more, to love this Knight. A modest countenance, no heavy sullen look, Not very fair, but richly decked with favour: A sweet face, and exceeding dainty hand, A body were it framed of wax By all the cunning artists of the world It could not better be proportioned. My Lord, there is a certain odd conceit, Which on the sudden greatly troubles me. The more I look, the more I love to look. Who says that Mariana is not fair? I'll gage my gauntlet gainst the envious man, That dares avow there lives her compare. yea, my Lord: She is counterfeit in deed: For there is the substance that best contents me. I'faith my Lord a prisoner: but what ails your arm? What, not in the mask at the Court gate? Lord Marks, you offered me disgrace to shoulder me. I'faith I am content with my nights lodging If you be content with your hurt. My Lord, here comes Lady Blannch, lets away. The better for you sir, she is your Love, As for the wrong, I see not how it grows. As who should say your love were privileged That none might look upon her but your self. Why my Lord, am not I of flesh and blood as well as you? Then give me leave to love as well as you. So Sir, we are through for that L. Ladies farewell. Lord Marks, will you go? I will find a time to speak with her I trow? Why then my Lord I thank you for my nights lodging. Why Demarch, what is the cause my subjects are in arms? How now Lord Valingford what makes these women here? It is and so begone. And what of this.