 | The right excellent and famous Historye, of Promos and Cassandra ... the fyrste parte |  |
Scena. 2.
Cassandra, Promos.Cassandra Speakes to her selfe.
Cass.
I see two thralles, sweete seemes a lytle ioye,
For fancies free, Andrugios breast hath scope:
But least detract, doth rayse a new annoye,
I nowe will seeke to turne, to happe his hope.
See, as I wisht, Lord Promos is in place,
Nowe in my sute, God graunt I maye finde grace.
For fancies free, Andrugios breast hath scope:
But least detract, doth rayse a new annoye,
I nowe will seeke to turne, to happe his hope.
See, as I wisht, Lord Promos is in place,
Nowe in my sute, God graunt I maye finde grace.
Renowned Lorde, whylst life in me doth last,
Shee kneeling speaks to Promos.
In homage bondes, I binde my selfe to thee:
And though I did thy goodnesse latelie taste,
Yet once againe, on knees I mercie seeke:
In his behalfe, that hanges twene death and life,
Who styll is preast, if you the mendes do leeke:
His lawles loue, to make his lawfull wife.
And though I did thy goodnesse latelie taste,
Yet once againe, on knees I mercie seeke:
In his behalfe, that hanges twene death and life,
Who styll is preast, if you the mendes do leeke:
His lawles loue, to make his lawfull wife.
Pro.
Faire Dame, I wel haue wayd thy sute, & wish to do thee good,
But all in vaine, al things conclude, to haue thy brothers blood:
The stricknes of the lawe condempnes, an ignoraunt abuse,
Then wylfull faultes are hardlie helpt, or cloked with excuse:
And what maye be more wylfull, then a Maide to violate.
Cas.
The force was smal, when with hir wyl, he wretch ye conquest gate.
Pro.
Lawe euer at the worst, doth conster euyl intent.
Cas.
And lawe euen with the worst, awardes them punishment:
And sith that rigorous lawe adiudgd him to dye,
Your glorie will be much the more, in showing him mercie.
And where cause is, there mercy should abate the force of lawes.
Pro.
Cassandra in thy brothers halfe, thou hast sayde what may be
And for thy sake, it is, if I doe set Andrugio free:
Short tale to make, thy beauty hath, surprysed mee with loue,
That maugre wit, I turne my thoughts, as blynd affections moue.
And quite subdude by Cupids might, neede makes mee sue for grace
To thee Cassandra, which doest holde, my freedome in a lace.
Yeelde to my will, and then commaund, euen what thou wilt of mee,
Thy brothers life, and all that else, may with thy liking gree.
Cas.
And may it be, a Iudge himself, the selfe same fault should vse:
Cassādra to hir self.
For which he domes, an others death, O crime without excuse.
Renowned Lorde, you vse this speach (I hope) your thrall to trye,
If otherwise, my brothers life, so deare I will not bye.
Pro.
Faire Dame my outward looks, my inward thoughts bewray,
If you mistrust, to search my harte, would God you had a kaye.
Cas.
If that you loue (as so you saye) the force of loue you know,
Which fealt, in conscience you should, my brother fauour show.
Pro.
In doubtfull warre, one prisoner still, doth set another free.
Cas.
UUhat so warre seekes, loue vnto warre, contrary is, you see.
Hate fostreth warre, loue cannot hate, then maye it couet force.
Pro.
The Louer ofte sues to his foe, and findeth no remorse:
Then if he hap to haue a helpe, to wyn his frowarde foe,
Too kinde a foole, I will him holde, that lets such vantage goe.
Cas.
Well, to be short, my selfe wyll dye, ere I my honor staine,
You know my minde, leaue off to tempt, your offers are in vaine.
Pro.
Bethink your self, at price inough I purchase sweet your loue,
Andrugios life suffis'd alone, your straungenes to remoue:
The which I graunt, with any wealth that else you wyll require,
Who buyeth loue at such a rate, payes well for his desire.
Cas.
No Promos, no, honor neuer at value maye be solde,
Honor farre dearer is then life, which passeth price of golde:
Pro.
To buie this Iuell at the full, my wife I may thee make:
Cas.
For vnsure hope, that peereles pearle, I neuer will forsake:
Pro.
These sutes seemes strange at first I see, wher modesty beares sway,
To himself.
I therfore wil set down my wyll, & for hir answer staye.
Fayre Cassandra, the iuell of my ioye,
Howe so in showe, my tale, seemes straunge to thee:
The same well waide, thou need'st not be so coye,
Yet for to giue thee respite to agree.
I wyll two daies hope styll of thy consent,
VVhich if thou graunt (to cleare my clowdes of care)
Cloth'd like a Page (suspect for to preuent.)
Vnto my Court, some night, sweet wenche repaire.
Tyl then adue, thou these my words, in works perform'd shalt find.Howe so in showe, my tale, seemes straunge to thee:
The same well waide, thou need'st not be so coye,
Yet for to giue thee respite to agree.
I wyll two daies hope styll of thy consent,
VVhich if thou graunt (to cleare my clowdes of care)
Cloth'd like a Page (suspect for to preuent.)
Vnto my Court, some night, sweet wenche repaire.
Cas.
Farewel my Lord, but in this sute, you bootles wast your wind:
Cassandra, O most vnhappy, subiect to euerie woe,
What tōgue can tel, what thought cōceiue, what pen thy griefe can show?
Whom to scurge, Nature, heauē & earth, do heapes of thral ordain,
Whose words in waste, whose works are lost, whose wishes are in vain.
That which to others cōfort yeelds, doth cause my heuy cheer,
I meane my beautie breedes my bale, which many hold so deere.
I woulde to God that kinde else where, bestowed had this blase,
My vertues then had wrought regard, my shape now giues ye gase:
This forme so Promos fiers with Loue, as wisdom can not quench,
His hote desire, tyll he lust, in Venus seas hath drencht.
At these wordes Ganio must be readie to speake.
| The right excellent and famous Historye, of Promos and Cassandra ... the fyrste parte | |