 | The Heire |  |
Actus quintus.
Enter Franklin, Shallow, Luce, Francisco in a Parsons habit, and a true Parson otherwise attyred.Frank.
Ile take your counsell Sir, Ile not be seene in't, but
meete you when tis done, youle marry them.
Fran.
Feare not that Sir, Ile doe the deede.
Frank.
I shall rest thankfull to you, till then Ile leaue you.
Sha.
I pray father leaue vs, wee know how to behaue
our selues alone, mee thinkes Luce wee are too many by
two yet.
Luce.
You are merry Sir.
exeunt manet Franklin.
Frank.
Now they are sure or neuer, poore Francisco
Thou metst thy match, when thou durst vndertake
To ouerreach me with tricks, wher's now your Sumner?
Fore heauen I cannot but applaud my braine,
To take my daughter euen against her will,
And great with child by another, her shame publisht,
She cited to the Court, and yet bestow her
On such a fortune as rich Shallow is,
Nay that which is the Master-peece of all,
Make him beleeue 'tis his, though he nere toucht her,
If men nere met with crosses in the world,
There were no difference twixt the wise and fooles,
But ile goe meete vm, when tis done, I feare not.
exit.
Enter Francisco, Parson, Shallow, Luce.
Fran.
Nay fret not now, you haue beene worse abusd
Luce.
I euer scorn'd thy folly and hated thee, though
Sometimes afore my father I would make an Asse
Of thee.
Shal.
Oh women, monstrous women,
Little does her father know who has married her.
Luce.
Yes, he knowes the Parson married me,
And you can witnesse that.
Fran.
And he shall know the Parson will lye with her.
Shal.
Well Parson, I will be reuenged on all thy coate,
I will not plough an Acre of ground for you to
Tyth, Ile rather pasture my neighbours cattle
For nothing.
Par.
Oh be more charitable Sir, bid God giue vm ioy.
Shal.
I care not greatly if I do, he is not the first
Parson that has taken a gentlemans leauings.
Fran.
How meane you Sir?
Shal.
You guesse my meaning, I hope to haue good luck
To horse-flesh now she is a Parsons wife.
Fran.
You haue laine with her then Sir.
Shal.
I cannot tell you that, but if you saw a woman
with child without lying with a man, then perhaps I haue
not.
Luce.
Impudent Coxcombe, darest thou say that
euer thou layst with mee, didst thou euer so much as kisse
my hand in priuate.
Shal.
These things must not be spoken of in company.
Luce.
Thou know'st I euer hated thee.
Shal.
But when you were i'th good humour you would
tell me another tale.
Luce.
The foole is mad, by heauen my
Francisco I am wrong'd.
He discouers himselfe.
Fran.
Then I must change my note, sirrah, vnsay
What you haue spoken, sweare here before
The Parson and my selfe, you neuer toucht her, or
Ile cut thy throat, it is Francisco threatens thee.
Shal.
I am in a sweete case, what should I doe now, her
Father thinkes I haue laine with her, if I deny it
Heele haue about with me, if I say I haue, this
Young rogue will cut my throat.
Come will you sweare.
Shal.
I would I were fairely off, I would lose my wench
with all my heart, I sweare.
Fran.
So, now thou art free
from any imputation that his tongue can stick vpon thee.
Enter Franklin.
Frank.
Well now I see tis done.
Shal.
Her's one
Shall talke with you.
Frank.
God giue you ioy sonne
Shallow.
Fran.
I thanke you father.
Frank.
How's this, Francisco in the Parsons habite,
Fran.
I haue married her as you bad me Sir, but this
Was the truer Parson of the two, he tyed the
Knot, and this Gentleman is our witnesse.
Frank.
I am vndone, Strumpet thou hast betraied thy
false to beggery, to shame besides, and that in open Court,
but take what thou hast sought, hang, beg, and starue, ile neuer
pitty thee.
Luce.
Good Sir.
Shal.
I told you what would come on't.
Frank.
How did your wisedome lose her?
Shal.
Eene as you see, I was beguild, and so were you.
Frank.
Francisco take her, thou seest the portion thou art
like to haue.
Fran.
Tis such a portion as will euer please
mee, but for her sake be not vnnaturall.
Luce.
Do not reiect me father.
Fran.
But for the fault
that she must answere for, or shame shee should endure in
Court, behold her yet an vntoucht Virgin, Cushion come
forth, her signior Shallow, take your child vnto you, make
much of it, it may proue as wise as the father.
He flings the Cushion at him.
Frank.
This is more strange then tother, ah Luce, wert
Thou so subtill to deceiue thy selfe, and me; well
Take thy fortune, tis thine owne choise.
Fran.
Sir we can force no bounty from you, and therefore
must rest content with what your pleasure is.
Enter Euphues, Alphonso.
Al.
Yonder he is my Lord, that's he in the Parsons Habit,
he is thus disguisd about the businesse I told you of
Eu.
Welcome my long lost sonne from all the stormes
Of frowning fortune that thou hast endur'd
Into thy fathers armes.
Luce.
Is my Francisco noble.
Frank.
Lord Euphues
sonne, I am amaz'd.
Eup.
I heare Lysandro that you are
married.
Francisco.
Yes my Lord, this is my Bride, the
Daughter and Heyre of this rich Gentleman, twas onely
she that when my state was nothing, my poore selfe and
Parentage vnknowne, vouchsaf't to know, nay grace mee
with her loue, her constant loue.
Euph.
Such merit must not be forgot my sonne,
Daughter much ioy attend vpon your choise.
Fran.
Now wants but your consent.
Frank.
Which with a willing heart I do bestow.
Pardon me worthy sonne, I haue so long
Beene hard to you, twas ignorance
Of what you were, and care I tooke for her.
Fran.
Your care needes no Apology.
Euph.
But now Lysandro I must make thee sad
Vpon thy wedding day, and let thee know
There is no pure and vncompounded ioy
Lent to mortality, in depth of woe
Thou metst the knowledge of thy parentage,
Thy elder brother Philocles must dye,
And in his tragedy, our name and house
Had sunke for euer, had not gracious heauen
Sent as a comfort to my childlesse age,
Thy long lost selfe supporter of the name.
Franc.
But can there be no meanes to saue his life.
Euph.
Alas ther's none, the King has tane an oath
Neuer to pardon him, but since they say
His Maiesty repents, and faine would saue him.
Franc,
Then am I wretched, like a man long blind,
That comes at last to see the wisht for sonne,
But finds it in ecclipse, such is my case,
To meete in this darke woe my dearest friends,
Had you not heard this newes before Lysandro?
Fran.
Yes Sir, and did lament,
As for a worthy stranger, but nere knew
My sorrow stood engag'd by such a tye
As brotherhood, where may we see him Sir?
Eu.
This morning hee's arraign'd, put of that habite
You are in, and goe along with me, leaue your
Friends heare a while.
Fran.
Farewell father,
Deare Luce till soone farewell, nought but so sad
A chaunce, could make mee cloudy now.
Exeunt
Frank:
Well Luce thy choice has proued better then we
Expected, but this cloud of griefe has dimde
Our mirth, but will I hope blow ouer,
Heauen graunt it may.
And signior Shallow, though you haue mist what
My loue meant you once, pray be my guest.
Shal.
I thanke you Sir, Ile not be strange.
Exeunt
Enter King, Nicanor.
King.
Nicanor, I would find some priuy place
Where I might stand vnseene, vnknowne of any,
To heare the arraignment of yong Philocles.
Ni.
The Iudges are now entring, please you Sir
Heere to ascend, you may both heare and see.
King.
Well Ile goe vp,
And like a iealous husband heere and see
That that will strike me dead, am I a King
And cannot pardon such a small offence,
I cannot doo't, nor am I Cæsar now,
Lust has vncrown'd me, and my rash tane oath
Has rest me of a Kings prerogatiue,
Come come Nicanor, helpe me to ascend,
And see that fault that I want power to mend.
Ascendant
Enter 3. Iudges, Virro, Polimetes, Euphues, Francisco, Leucothoe, Clerimont, Roscio.
1. Iu.
Bring forth the prisoner, where are the witnesses?
Pol.
Here my Lords, I am the wrong'd party,
And the fact my man, here besides the Officers
2. Iu.
That's enough,
Enter Philocles with a guard.
1. Iu.
Philocles stand to the Barre, and answere to such
Crimes as shall be here obiected against thy life.
Reade the enditement.
Phi.
Spare that labour,
I do confesse the fact that I am charg'd with,
And speake as much as my accusers can,
As much as all the witnesses can proue,
Twas I that stole away the Daughter and Heire
Of the Lord Polimetes, which wert to doe againe
Rather then lose her, I againe would venture,
This was the fact, your sentence honour'd fathers.
Cler.
Tis braue and resolute.
1. Iu.
A heauy sentence noble Philocles,
And such a one, as I could wish my selfe
Off from this place, some other might deliuer,
You must dye for it, death is your sentence.
Phi.
Which I embrace with willingnesse, now my Lord,
to Pol.
Is your hate glutted yet, or is my life
Too poore a sacrifice to appease the rancor
Of your inueterate malice, if it be to
Inuent some scandall that may after blot
My reputation, father dry your teares,
Weepe not for me, my death shall leaue no staine
Vpon your bloud, nor blot on your faire name:
The honour'd ashes of my ancestors
May still rest quiet in their teare wet Vrnes
For any fact of mine, I might haue liu'd
If heauen had not preuented it, and found
Death for some foule dishonourable act.
Brother farewell, no sooner haue I found
to Francisco
But I must leaue thy wisht for company.
Farewell my dearest loue, liue thou still happy,
And may some one of more desert then I,
Be blest in the enioying what I loose,
I neede not wish him happinesse that has thee,
As thou are worthy.
Leu.
dearest Philocles,
There is no roome for any man but thee
Within this brest, oh good my Lords
Bee mercifull, condemne vs both together
Our faults are both alike, why should the law
See parciall thus, and lay it all on him,
1. Iu.
Lady, I would we could as lawfully
Saue him as you, hee should not dye for this,
Enter Constable leading Eugenio.
How now, whose that you haue brought there?
Con.
A benefactor, if it please your Lordships,
I reprehended him in my watch last night.
Uir.
Irus is taken.
2 Iu.
What's his offence?
Con,
murder.
Watch.
No master Constable, twas but poisoning of a man.
Con.
Go thou art a foole.
Vir.
I am vndon for euer, all will out.
3. Iu.
What proofes haue you against him?
Con.
His owne profession if it please your honor.
3. Iu.
And thats an ill profession, to be a murderer, thou
Meanest hee has confest the fact.
Con.
Yes my Lord, hee cannot deny it.
1. Iu.
Did he not name the party who it was that he had
Poisoned?
Con.
marry with reuerance be it spoken.
It was Eugenio, my Lord Polimetes his sonne.
Pol.
How's this
1. Iu.
He did long sence at Athens.
Pol.
I cannot tell what I should thinke of it,
This is the man that lately brought me newes
My sonne was liuing.
2. Iu.
Fellow stand to the barre, thou hearst thy accusation
What canst thou say.
Eug.
Ah my good Lord,
I cannot now deny what I haue saide,
This man oreheard me, as my bleeding heart
Was making a confession of my crime.
Con.
I told him ant shall please your Lordhips
The Kings officers had eies to heare such rascalls.
You haue bin carefull in your office Constable,
You may now leaue your Prisoner,
Con.
Ile leaue the fellon with your Lordship.
1. Iu.
Farewel good
Con.
Murder I see will out.
exit Con.
Why didst thou poison him.
Eug.
I was poore,
And want made me be hir'd.
2. Iu.
Hir'd, by whom?
Eu.
By Count Uirro,
There he stands.
Uir.
I do beseech your Lordships not to credit
What this base fellow speakes, I am innocent.
1. Iu.
I doe beleeue you are, sirrah speake truth,
You haue not long to liue.
Eu.
Please it your Lordship
I may relate the manner.
3. Iu.
doe.
Eug.
Eugenio was aliue when first the newes
Was spred in Syracuse he was dead,
Which false report Count Virro crediting,
Became an earnest suitor to his Sister
Thinking her Heyre, but finding afterwards
Her brother liu'd, and comming home
Not a dayes iourney hence, he sent me to him,
And with a promise of fiue hundred crownes
Hir'd me to poyson him, that this is true
Heer's his owne hand to witnesse it against him,
Please it your Lordships to peruse the writing.
1. Iu.
This is his hand.
2. Iu.
Sure as I liue,
I haue seene Warrants from him with iust these
Carracters.
3. Iu.
Besides me thinkes this fellowes
Tale is likely.
Pol.
Tis too true,
This fellowes suddaine going from my house
Put me into a feare.
1. Iu.
Count Virro, stand to the barre,
What can you say to cleere you of this murder?
Vir.
Nothing my Lords, I must confesse the fact.
2. Iu.
Why then against you both doe I pronounce.
Sentence of death.
Amb.
The Law is iust.
Pol.
Wretch that I am, is my dissembled griefe
Turn'd to true sorrow, were my acted teares
And is he truely dead: oh pardon me
Deare Ghost of my Eugenio, twas my fault
That cal'd this hasty vengeance from the Gods,
And shortened thus thy life, for whilst with tricks
I sought to fasten wealth vpon our house,
I brought a Canniball to be the graue
Of me and mine, base bloudy murderous Count.
Vir.
Vile Cousner, cheating Lord, dissembler.
1. Iu.
Peace, stop the mouth of malediction there,
This is no place to raile in.
Eu.
Ye iust powers,
That to the quality of mans offence,
Shape your correcting rods, and punish there
Where he has sinn'd, did not my bleeding heart
Beare such a heauy share in this dayes woe,
I could with a free soule applaud your iustice.
Pol.
Lord Euphues and Philocles forgiue me
To make amends, I know's impossible
For what my malice wrought, but I would faine
Doe somewhat that might testifie my griefe
And true repentance.
Eu.
This is that I look't for.
Eup.
Y'are kind too late my Lord, had you bin thus
When neede required, y'had sau'd your selfe and me,
Our haplesse sonnes, but if your griefe be true
I can forgiue you heartily.
Phi.
And I,
Eug.
Now comes my que, my Lord Polimetes,
Vnder correction let me aske one question.
Pol.
What question? speake.
Eu.
if this young Lord
Should liue, would you bestow your Daughter
Willingly vpon him, would you Lord?
Pol.
As willingly as I would breath my selfe.
Eug.
Then dry all your eyes,
Ther's no man heare shall haue a cause to weeke,
to Phil.
Your life is sau'd, Leucothoe is no Heire,
Her brother liues, and that cleares you Count Virro
Of your supposed murder.
All.
How, liues?
Yes liues to call thee brother Philocles.
He discouers himselfe.
Leu.
Oh my deare Brother.
Pol.
My sonne,
Welcome from death.
Eu.
Pardon me good my Lord that I thus long
Haue from your knowledge kept my selfe conceal'd,
My end was honest.
Pol.
I see twas,
And now sonne Philocles giue mee thy hand,
Heere take thy wife, she loues thee I dare sweare,
And for the wrong that I intended thee,
Her portion shall be double what I meant it.
Phi.
I thanke your Lordship.
Pol.
Brother Euphues,
I hope all enmity is now forgot
Betwixt our houses.
Eu.
Let it be euer so, I do embrace your loue.
Vir.
Well my life is sau'd yet, though my wench be lost,
God giue you ioy.
Phi.
Thankes good my Lord.
1. Iu.
How suddenly this tragicke sceane is chang'd,
And turn'd to Comedy.
2. Iu.
Tis very strange.
The King speakes from aboue.
Pol.
Let vs conclude within.
King.
Stay,
And take my ioy with you.
Eup.
His Maiesty
Is comming downe, let vs attend.
Enter King.
King.
These iarres are well clos'd vp, now Philocles,
What my rash oath deni'de me, this blest howre
And happy accident has brought to passe,
The sauing of thy life.
Phi.
A life my Leige,
That shall be euer ready to be spent
Vpon your seruice.
King.
Thankes good Philocles,
But wher's the man whose happy presence brought
All this vnlook't for sport: where is Eugenio?
Eu.
Heere my dread Leige.
King.
Welcome to Syracuse;
Welcome Eugenio, prithee aske some boone
That may requite the good that thou hast done.
Eu.
I thanke your Maiesty, what I haue done
Needes no requitall, but I haue a suite
Vnto Lord Euphues, please it your Maiesty
To be to him an intercessor for me,
King.
What is it? speake, it shall be granted thee.
Eu.
That it would please him to bestow on me
His Neece, the faire and vertuous Lady Læda.
Euph.
With all my heart, I know 'twill please her well,
I haue often heard her praise Eugenio,
It shall be done within.
King.
Then here all strife ends,
Ile be your guest my selfe to day, and helpe
To solemnize this double marriage.
Pol.
Your royall presence shall much honour vs.
King.
Then leade away, the happy knot you tye,
Concludes in loue two houses enmity.
FINIS.
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