 | The right excellent and famous Historye, of Promos and Cassandra ... the fyrste parte |  |
Actus. 1.
Scena. 1.
Promos, Mayor, Shirife, Sworde bearer: One with a bunche of keyes: Phallax, Promos man.
You Officers which now in Iulio staye,
Know you our leadge, the King of Hungarie:
Sent me Promos, to ioyne with you in sway:
That styll we may to Iustice haue an eye.
And now to show, my rule & power at lardge,
Attentiuelie, his Letters Pattents heare:
Phallax, reade out my Soueraines chardge.
Phal.
As you commaunde, I wyll: giue heedefull eare.
Phallax readeth the Kinges Letters Patents, which must be fayre written in parchment, with some great counterfeat zeale.
Pro.
Loe, here you see what is our Soueraignes wyl,
Loe, heare his wish, that right, not might, beare swaye:
Loe, heare his care, to weede from good the yll,
To scoorge the wights, good Lawes that disobay.
Such zeale he beares, vnto the Common weale,
(How so he byds, the ignoraunt to saue)
As he commaundes, the lewde doo rigor feele.
Such is his wish, such is my wyll to haue:
And such a Iudge, here Promos vowes to be.
No wylfull wrong, sharpe punishment shall mysse,
The simple thrall, shalbe iudgde with mercie,
Each shall be doombde, euen as his merite is:
Loue shall not staye, nor hate reuenge procure,
Ne yet shall Coyne, corrupt or foster wrong:
I doo protest, whylste that my charge indure,
For friende nor foe, to singe a partiall song.
Loe, heare his wish, that right, not might, beare swaye:
Loe, heare his care, to weede from good the yll,
To scoorge the wights, good Lawes that disobay.
Such zeale he beares, vnto the Common weale,
(How so he byds, the ignoraunt to saue)
As he commaundes, the lewde doo rigor feele.
Such is his wish, such is my wyll to haue:
And such a Iudge, here Promos vowes to be.
No wylfull wrong, sharpe punishment shall mysse,
The simple thrall, shalbe iudgde with mercie,
Each shall be doombde, euen as his merite is:
Loue shall not staye, nor hate reuenge procure,
Ne yet shall Coyne, corrupt or foster wrong:
I doo protest, whylste that my charge indure,
For friende nor foe, to singe a partiall song.
Thus haue you heard, howe my Commission goes,
He absent, I present our Soueraigne styll:
It aunsweres then, each one his dutie showes,
To mee, as him, what I commaunde and wyll.
He absent, I present our Soueraigne styll:
It aunsweres then, each one his dutie showes,
To mee, as him, what I commaunde and wyll.
Worthy Deputie, at thy chardge we ioye,
We doe submitte our selues, to worke thy heast:
Receyue the sword of Iustice to destroy,
The wicked impes, and to defend the rest.
Shri.
Our Citty keyes, take wisht Liftenaunt heare,
We doe committe our safetie to thy head:
Thy wyse foresight, will keepe vs voyde of feare,
Yet wyll we be assistant still at neede.
Pro.
Both Swoorde and Keies, vnto my Princes vse,
I doo receyue and gladlie take my chardge.
It resteth nowe, for to reforme abuse,
We poynt a tyme, of Councell more at lardge,
To treate of which, a whyle we wyll depart.
Al
speake.
To worke your wyll, we yeelde a wylling hart.
Exeunt.
Scena. 2.
Lamia, a Curtizane, entreth synging.
The Song.
Al a flaunt now vaunt it, braue wenche cast away care,
With Layes of Loue chaunt it, for no cost see thou spare:
With Layes of Loue chaunt it, for no cost see thou spare:
Sith Nature hath made thee, with bewty most braue,
Sith Fortune doth lade thee, with what thou wouldst haue.
Ere Pleasure doth vade thee, thy selfe set to sale:
All wantons wyll trade thee, and stowpe to thy stale.
Sith Fortune doth lade thee, with what thou wouldst haue.
Ere Pleasure doth vade thee, thy selfe set to sale:
All wantons wyll trade thee, and stowpe to thy stale.
All a flaunt, Ut Supra.
Yong Ruflers maintaines thee, defends thee and thine,
Olde Dottrels retaines thee, thy Beuties so shine:
Though many disdaynes thee, yet none maye thee tuch:
Thus Enuie refraynes thee, thy countenaunce is such.
Olde Dottrels retaines thee, thy Beuties so shine:
Though many disdaynes thee, yet none maye thee tuch:
Thus Enuie refraynes thee, thy countenaunce is such.
All a flaunt, Ut Supra:
Triumphe
fayre Lamia now, thy wanton flag aduaunce,
Shee speaketh.
Set foorth thy selfe to brauest show, bost thou of happy chaunce:
Gyrle, accompt thou thy selfe the cheefe, of Lady Pleasures traine,
Thy face is faire, thy forme cōtent, thy Fortunes both doth staine.
Euen as thou wouldst, thy house doth stande, thy furniture is gay,
Thy weedes are braue, thy face is fine, & who for this doth paye?
Thou thy self? no, the rushing Youthes, yt bathe in wanton blisse,
Yea, olde and dooting fooles sometimes, doo helpe to paye for this.
Free cost betweene them both I haue, all this for my behoue,
I am the sterne, yt gides their thoughts, looke what I like, they loue
Few of them sturre, that I byd staie, if I bid go, they flye:
If I on foe pursue reuenge, Alarme a hundred crye.
The brauest I their harts, their handes, their purses holde at wyl,
Ioynde with the credite of the best, to bowlster mee in yll.
But see wher as my trustie man, doth run, what newes brings he?
Gyrle, accompt thou thy selfe the cheefe, of Lady Pleasures traine,
Thy face is faire, thy forme cōtent, thy Fortunes both doth staine.
Euen as thou wouldst, thy house doth stande, thy furniture is gay,
Thy weedes are braue, thy face is fine, & who for this doth paye?
Thou thy self? no, the rushing Youthes, yt bathe in wanton blisse,
Yea, olde and dooting fooles sometimes, doo helpe to paye for this.
Free cost betweene them both I haue, all this for my behoue,
I am the sterne, yt gides their thoughts, looke what I like, they loue
Few of them sturre, that I byd staie, if I bid go, they flye:
If I on foe pursue reuenge, Alarme a hundred crye.
The brauest I their harts, their handes, their purses holde at wyl,
Ioynde with the credite of the best, to bowlster mee in yll.
But see wher as my trustie man, doth run, what newes brings he?
Scena. 3.
Rosko (Lamias man) Lamia.Ros.
Good people, did none of you, my mistresse Lamia see?
La.
Rosko, what newes, that in such haste you come blowing?
Ros.
Mistresse, you must shut vp your shops, & leaue your occupying.
La.
What so they be, foolish knaue, tell mee true?
Ros,
Oh yll, for thirtie? besydes you.
La.
For mee good fellowe, I praye thee why so?
Ros.
Be patient Mistresse, and you shall knowe,
La.
Go too, saye on:
Ros,
Marrie, right nowe at the Sessions I was,
And thirtie must to Trussum corde go.
Among the which (I weepe to showe) alas:
La.
Why, what's the matter man?
Ros.
O Andrugio,
For louing too kindlie, must loose his heade,
And his sweete hart, must weare the shamefull weedes:
Ordainde for Dames, that fall through fleshly deedes.
Is this offence, in question come againe?
Tell, tell, no more, 'tys tyme this tale were done:
See, see, howe soone, my triumphe turnes to paine.
Ros.
Mistresse, you promised to be quiet,
For Gods sake, for your owne sake, be so
La.
Alas poore Rosko, our dayntie dyet,
Our brauerie and all we must forgo.
Ros.
I am sorie.
La.
Yea, but out alas, sorrowe wyll not serue:
Rosko, thou must needes prouide thee else where,
My gaynes are past, yea, I my selfe might starue:
Saue that, I did prouide for a deare yeare.
Ros.
They rewarde fayre (their haruest in the stacke,)
When winter coms, that byd their seruaunts packe.
Alas Mistresse, if you turne mee off now,
Better then a Roge, none wyll me allowe.
La.
Thou shalt haue a Pasporte,
Ros.
Yea, but after what sorte?
La.
Why, that thou wart my man.
Ros.
O the Iudge, sylde showes the fauour,
To let one theefe, bayle another:
Tush I know, ere long you so wyll slyp awaye,
As you, for your selfe, must seeke some testimony
Of your good lyfe.
La.
Neuer feare: honestly
Lamia nowe meanes to lyue, euen tyll she dye.
Ros.
As iumpe as Apes, in vewe of Nuttes to daunce,
Kytte wyll to kinde, of custome, or by chaunce:
Well, howe so you stande vpon this holy poynt,
For the thing you knowe, you wyll ieobarde a ioynt.
La.
Admitte I woulde, my hazarde were in vaine.
Ros.
Perhappes I know, to turne the same to gaine.
La.
Thou comforts mee, good Rosko, tell mee howe?
Ros.
You wyl be honest, 'twere syn to hinder you.
La.
I dyd but ieast, good sweete seruaunt tell mee.
Ros.
Sweete seruaunt now, and late, pack syr, god bwy ye.
Tush, to trye thy vnwillingnesse, I dyd but ieast.
Ros.
And I doo but trye, how long you woulde be honest.
La.
I thought thy talke was too sweete to be true.
Ros.
Yea, but meant you, to byd honestie adue?
La.
No, I dyd so long since, but inforste by neede,
To byd him welcome home againe, I was decreede.
Ros.
Uerie good, Mistresse, I know your minde,
And for your ease, this remedie I finde:
Prying abroade, for playe fellowes and such,
For you Mistresse, I hearde of one Phallax,
A man esteemde, of Promos verie much:
Of whose Nature, I was so bolde to axe,
And I smealt, he lou'd lase mutton well.
La.
And what of this?
Ros.
Marry of this, if you the waye can tell
To towle him home, he of you wyll be fayne:
Whose countenaunce, wyll so excuse your faultes,
As none for life, dare of your lyfe complaine.
La.
A good deuice, God graunt vs good successe:
But I praye thee, what trade doth he professe?
Ros.
He is a paltrie petyfogger.
La.
All the better, suspition wyll be the lesse.
Well, go thy wayes, and if thou him espye,
Tell him from mee, that I a cause or two,
Woulde put to him, at leysure wyllinglie.
Ros.
Hir case is so common, that smal pleading wyl serue,
I go (nay ronne) your commaundement to obserue.
La.
Aye me alas, lesse Phallax helpe, poore wench vndone I am:
My foes nowe in the winde, wyll lye to worke my open shame:
Now enuious eyes will prie abroade, offenders to intrap,
Of force now Lamia, must be chaste, to shun a more mishap.
And wanton girle, how wilt thou shift, for garments fine and gay?
For dainty fare, can crusts cōtent? who shal thy houserent pay?
And that delights thee most of all, thou must thy daliaunce leaue?
And can then the force of lawe, or death, thy minde of loue bereaue?
In good faith, no: the wight that once, hath tast the fruits of loue,
Untill hir dying daye will long, Sir Chaucers iests to proue.
Sce. 4.
Lamias mayde, Lamia.May.
Forsooth Mistris your thraule stayes for you at home,
La.
Were you borne in a myll, curtole? you prate so hye:
May.
The gentelman, that came the last day with Captain Prie:
La.
What young Hipolito?
May.
Euen he.
La.
Least he be gone, home hye:
And will Dalia pop him in the neather roome,
And keepe the falling doore close tyll I come:
And tell my thraule his fortune wyll not staye.
May.
Wyll you ought else?
Exet.
La.
Pratyng vixen away.
Gallants adue, I venter must Hipolito to see,
He is both young and welthy yet, the better spoyle for mee.
My hassard for his sake I trowe, shall make him pray and pay:
He: he: shal pranck me in my plumes, and deck mee braue and gay,
Of Curtisie, I praye you yet, if Phallax come this waye,
Report to put a case with him, heare Lamia long dyd stay.
Exet.
| The right excellent and famous Historye, of Promos and Cassandra ... the fyrste parte | |