 | The Partiall Law |  |
Scena Tertia.
Garamont, Arnaldo, Montalto.Gar.
I have sought East as far as Land permits,
Inquired in every place, and yet can heare
No tidings of him.
Arn.
Well met Garamont,
Heare you yet any newes of Bellamour?
Gar.
Not I, doe you know any?
Arn.
Faith nor I,
Yet I have sought him Westward to the mountaines,
Here comes two more, perhaps they may
Have met with him. Montalto, is it you
Have wonne the boone? the King's tenne thousand crownes.
Mon.
No by this hand, not I, yet I have sought
As one would seeke a needle 'mongst the rushes.
I dare not see the King till he be found.
Gar.
None of us heare of him, sure he is sunke.
But heere comes one, I'le goe inquire of him.
Sir—
Mess.
Sir, by your leave, 'tis I must first be heard,
My errand is of greater consequence.
Are any of you Courtiers?
Gar.
Yes all.
Mess.
Then haste and send Physitians to the Princesse,
She is gone sicke to bed.
Arn.
Gone sicke to bed!
What is the cause and how came you to know it?
Mess.
To answer why, and what and how, I knew it
Will be but to repeate that o're againe
Which I could wish had beene as yet conceal'd,
Besides the repetition may prolong
The Princesse succours; therefore pray make haste
To send the speediest helpe; soone enough
You all may heare what you'll be sorry for.
(Exit.
Gar.
What meanes this bird of midnight? heaven forbid
My feares prove true.
Arn.
Nay I will after too,
I know nor what to hope nor feare.
Mon.
E're long
Whate're it be will publickely be know'en,
If good, then soone enough, if bad too soone.
(Exeunt.
Enter Serving Men.
1. Man.
What can the matter be my maisters? I n'ere saw
a house turn'd topsy turvy so on the sudden; nothing yesterday
but tilting and revelling, nothing to day but finger in the
eye and lamentable complayning.
Why man, they say my yong mistresse, the Lady
Florabella, is not well, and can you then blame all the young
gallants to hang their heads? Nay, they say the good old
King too in sufficiently unsensified.
3. Man.
The King out of his wits! the King mad! beare
witnesse fellow Roger, if this be not downeright treason, I
know not what's what.
2. Man.
Why goodman Jobernoll, you'll give me leave to
misinterpret my selfe. I mean insenst, and that's a word
surpasses your understanding, I wis.
3. Man.
Nay, if you speake what I understand not I crave
your mercy, Sir, I am sure then I am not guilty of any fault,
if any such be therein.
1. Man.
For what concerns faults doubtlesly there are
enough in us all, therefore never fall out concerning that. I
am sure, though some vertue went from me last night, 'twas
no vertuous act my neighbour's daughter and I were
employed in; she appointed another meeting e're long, but
if matters mend not, our daunce by my good will shall be to
the tune of Lachrimy, though played on the baggepipe, as
well that we may follow the fashion in dauncing to a lamentable
tune as also that we may shew some compunction for our
late misdemeanour.
3. Man.
Nay, soft, fellow Roger, by your leave, I'le taste
the sweet, as belike you have done, before I trye the sowre;
sweet meate they say, indeede must have sowre sauce. But
marke, I pray, the sweet goes before the sowre, the meate
before the sauce, not I, I thanke you, I have yet onely had
faire promises, and promise is no performance.
2. Man.
I would I could but performe as fairely as my lasse
hand with the best of you, but alas! alas!
3. Man.
God sends a curst cow short hornes, you would
say, would you not?
2. Man.
Faith much thereabouts, but they say he's an
errant Jade, that can neither wihye nor wagge his tayle,
therefore I'le not fayle to meete my mayde Maryon at the
great oake at the time appointed.
3. Man.
The great oake, marry that is the place my minion
appointed to meete me at.
1. Man.
The time?
(they whisper)
, good lassies, in faith
all's made of the same metall, how they jumpe together in
their appointments, hearke you Sirras, and you say the word,
let us practise the Catch we learn'd the other day, that we
may be ready in it when we meete with our Myrmidonians, and
then catch who catch may.
(They sing a Catch.
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