 | The Partiall Law |  |
Scena Prima.
The King, Philocres, Lords with Attendants.King.
In faith Prince you have mist the bravest sport
Perhaps you ever saw. What say you, Lords?
Flew not the Hawkes all well? all passing well?
Besides the evening was so calme, the game
So plentiful, that in good sooth my Lord
I'm sorry you did misse your share thereof.
Gar.
'Twas pastime fitted for a King, and he
Who fayrely by your Majesty invited
Forbeare to come did not deserve the sight.
Phil.
Sir, first, I humbly begge your Highnesse pardon,
Then yours, my Lords. The knave my man, who went
To fetch my horse, loytred so long till I
Thought it had beene too late to overtake you,
Besides there past some serious discourse
'Twixt me and Bellamour, in which some houres
E're we were well aware on't, slip't away.
King.
'Twas well remembered; I doe wonder much
I saw not Bellamour all yesternight
Nor yet to day, he is not us'd t'absent
Himselfe so long away from me; to whom
He knowes his company is always wellcome.
Saw you him lately, Lords? Lord Garamont
You are most inward with him; what's the cause
He hath not yet to day appear'd in Court?
Gar.
Late yesternight so please your Majesty
I saw him, not since then, and then he was
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I ever saw.
King.
Sad and disconsolate!
Ha! what's the matter? hide it not from me,
For by my life I so much love his worth,
As I should grieve to see him sad, and if
It lyes within my pow're to helpe him, what
Soever be the cause of this his griefe,
I'ngage mine honour I will see't remoov'd,
And him restor'd unto his former health
Of minde. Therefore if you do know the cause
Speake it in his behalf, that so our Grace
May come upon him unexpected.
Gar.
Sir,
I could not learne the cause, do what I could.
(Aside)
(Pardon me, conscience, if I tell a lye)
But with perswasions and meanes I us'd
I left him much more quiet than before.
King.
I'le know it whatsoe'er it be: I know
He'll not conceale't from me: who waytes without?
Enter Groome.
Sirra, you, goe finde out Bellamour his lodging straight,
Tell him we greet him well, and much desire
His Company, and if he be not busy
Bring him along with you, make haste.
Groome.
I'm gone.
Phil.
(aside)
I thought 'twould be a bitter pille to swallow
King.
What's that you say, my Lord?
Phil.
I say perhaps
H'as swallowed down some pilles to worke away
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King.
I'm resolv'd
If he be not in case to come to me
I'le goe to him, for I do sit on thornes
'Till I doe know what 'tis that troubles him,
And when I know't, then I shall be as much
Perplex't till I have eas'd him of his griefe:
But see the Messenger's return'd, what newes my friend?
How fares our Bellamour?
Groome.
I know not Sir.
King.
How's that? you know not Sir, wherefore I pray
Were you sent to him?
Groome.
Sir, he's not within,
Nor hath not been in's chamber since the clocke
Strucke five.
King.
Who told thee so, thou nightcrow? say.
Groome.
His man, so't please my Liege.
King.
What said he more?
How did he rest last night?
Groome.
Sir, I did aske
His man who waytes upon him in his chamber,
What was the cause of his so earely rising?
His man reply'de he did not rise at all,
For he who did not goe to bed
Cannot be said to rise.
King.
How witty all
These Rascalls are in tort'ring with delayes;
Why went he not to bed? My soul prophetique
Foretells some dire event; I am afraid
To aske, for feare of hearing some ill newes.
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All I could learne, Sir, was that he came in
Much later than of usuall, last night,
Was very sad, and overheard to say
That he would not outlive th'ensuing day,
That after having oft'times measur'd out
His chambers length with walking o're and o're
With armes acrosse and eyes fixt on the ground,
As soone as 'twas broad day he left the roome,
And follow'd by his man, he beat him backe,
Threatning to kill him, if he straight-way not
Went to his chamber; charging him to stay
'Till he return'd, which might be should be never.
His man though did pursue him with his eye
Untill he saw him out o'th'gate, which leades
To the Sea-side. Now Sir, you have the whole.
King.
And in that whole much more than I desire.
Lords, hasten after him, pursue with speede,
Take every one a severall way, and he
Whose lucke it is to bring him backe to me,
Shall from my 'Chequer for a boone receive
Tenne thousand Duckets, for if he be lost
The cause not know'en, never was king so crost.
(Exit.
Gar.
Nay feare not but the cause shall soone be know'en;
If ought of ill betide him what a foole
Was I so soone to leave him, yet I had
His honour plighted hee'd appease himselfe
Before I left him, but what will you more?
No salve is to be found for such a sore.
(Exit.
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