University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE I.

The TOWN.
Enter Harrol and Vandunk, followed by four Merchants.
1st. Mer.
Nay, if 'twou'd do you courtesy—

Van.
Oh, courteous gentlemen!

Har.
What was't you said?

1st. Mer.
If it would do you courtesy—

Har.
None at all, sir;
Take it, 'tis your's, there's your ten thousand for you.
Give in my bills.

Van.
You're paid I hope.

Har.
Your sixteen—

3d. Mer.
Nay be pleas'd, sir, to make a farther use—

Har.
No.

Van.
No.

3d. Mer.
What I have, sir, you may command.
Pray let me be your servant.

Van.
Your sycophant!—
Put on your hats.

2d. Mer.
I have a freight of pepper—

Van.
Rot your pepper!

Har.
Away—I care not for your courtesies,
They're most untimely done; and no truth in 'em;
Shall I trust you again? There's your seven thousand.

4th. Mer.
Or if you want fine sugars, 'tis but sending—

Har.
No, I can send to Barbary—those people,
Who never yet knew faith, have nobler hearts.
[Cannons go off.
Why are those pieces?

Enter a Sailor.
Sail.
Health to the noble merchant!
The Susan is return'd.

Van.
Huzza!

Har.
Well, sailor?

Sail.
Well, and rich, sir,
And now put in.

Har.
Heaven thou hast heard my prayers!

Sail.
The brave Rebekah, too, bound from the Streights,
With the next wind, is ready to put after.

Van.
Mark that.

Har.
What news o'th' fly boat?

Sail.
If this wind hold till midnight,
She will be here and wealthy—she's scap'd fairly.

Van.
And that, ye knaves.

Har.
How 'scap'd she sailor?

Sail.
Thus, sir.—She had a fight,
Seven hours together, with six Turkish gallies,
And she sought bravely, but at length was boarded
And overlaid with strength; when presently
Comes boring up the wind, captain Vannoke,
That valiant gentleman you redeemed from prison.
He knew the boat, set in, and fought it bravely,
Beat all the gallies off, sunk three, redeem'd her,
And, as a duty to you, sent her home.

Har.
An honest, noble captain, and a grateful.

Van.
And this is he you wou'd have hang'd,
But that it did not suit your interest.

[To the 4th merchant.
Har.
There's for thy good news, honest sailor!

Van.
And there—go drink the captain's health—
Drink till thou drown thyself.

Sail.
I thank your bounty,
And I'll do't to a doit, sir.
[Exit Sailor.

1st. Merch.
What miracles are pour'd upon this man!

Van.
Why ay—this year, I hope, he will 'scape-prison,
For all your cares to catch him.

2d. Mer.
You may please, sir,
To think of your poor servants in displeasure,
Whose all, cash, merchandize, are at your service.

Van.
Lord! how your notes are chang'd! Answer me, knaves,
Have ye not often profited by this man, revell'd at his expence?

1st. Mer.
Sir, we confess—

Van.
AIR.
[Exeunt Merchants.

Har.
How does she, sir?

Van.
She will be better soon, I hope.

Har.
Soon! When?

Van.
Why when you have her in your arms, my boy;
This night she is your wife.

Har.
With all my soul, I take her.

Van.
Thou hast been wrong'd, and no more shall my service
Wait on the knave, her uncle; I have heard
All his baits for my boy, but thou shalt have her.
Hast thou dispatch'd thy business?

Har.
Most.

Van.
AIR.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The Wood.
Enter Clause, meeting Hubert.
Hub.
Old sir, you are well encountered thus alone.
Gerrard! nay, do not start nor fear me;
I know you, and he knows you that best loves you.
Hubert speaks to you, and you must be Gerrard,
The time invites you to it.

Clause.
Challeng'd thus, I throw aside reserve, and trust your honour.
I'm glad to see you, sir, and I am Gerrard;
How stand our hopes?

Hub.
Fair, if you now pursue 'em—
Hempskirke I have let go—

Clause.
Releas'd him!

Hub.
Ay, sir,
Gull'd him and sent him home as a decoy,
To draw lord Wolfort hither, with his guards,
To seize (so he'll expect) all the old lords,
Who stood between him and a safe possession
Of Flanders' earldom—an hour hence he meets me,
West of the plain, by the broad oak; what use
I make of these proceedings for our ends,
This paper shews—a counterpart whereof
I've lodg'd in Vandunk's hands, our sworn ally,
Your comrades come—I'll fall into my duty,
And wait your answer—the secret is not yet
Ripe for their knowledge.

[Retires.
Enter Prig, Higgen, Ginks, Snap, and Ferret.
Clause.
Now, what's the news in town?

Ginks.
No news but joy, sir.
Every man wooing of the noble merchant,
Who sends his hearty commendations to you.

Fer.
Yes, this is news, this night he's to be married.

Prig.
By the mass, that's true, he marries Vandunk's daughter,
The dainty black-ey'd Dell.

Clause.
Married to Vandunk's daughter!

Ginks.
'Tis very true, sir.

Hig.
Oh the pies! the piping hot mince pies!

Prig.
The fine fat poultry!

Hig.
For one leg of a goose now, would I venture
A limb, boys! I love a fat goose as I love
Allegiance; but, hark ye, brother Prig, shall we
Do nothing in the 'foresaid wedding? there's money
To be got, and meat too, I take it.
What think you of a morris?

Clause.
To Vandunk's daughter! no, he must not marry.

Prig.
A morris!—No, by no means, that goes no farther than the street,
There leaves us; now we must think of something
That may draw us into the bowels of it, into the
Buttery, the kitchen, and the cellar—something
Which that old jolly burgomaster loves—what
Think you of a wassail?

Hig.
I think worthily.
Then will I make a speech, and a brave one,
In praise of merchants.

Prig.
And I'll so roar
Catches of glee, and wedding songs, the notes
Shall make the glasses totter 'gainst each other,
And gingle into chorus.

Clause.
I do rejoice in it—'tis passing well.

[To Hub.
Hub.
An hour hence—

Clause.
I'll be ready.

Hub.
These our comrades
I have especial need of.

Clause.
They are yours.
I shall give order—hear me, all; keep in,
Till this your huntsman call ye forth, then do
His bidding faithfully—till he appear,
No man stir hence, I charge ye.

Prig.
Not to the wedding, sir?

Clause.
Not any where.

Hig.
The wedding must be seen, sir; we want meat,
We're horribly out of meat.

Clause.
Not a word more—obey.

[Exeunt Clause and Hub.
Prig.
Nay, an there be a wedding, and we shut out—

AIR.
[Prig.]

Hig.

Prig.

Hig.

SCENE III.

The Street.
Enter two young Merchants.
1st. Mer.
Well met, sir! you are for this noble wedding.

2d. Mer.
I am, sir; so are you, I take it.

1st. Mer.
Yes;
And much it glads me, that to do him service,
Who is the pride and honour of our trade,
We meet thus happily.

2d. Mer.
He's a noble fellow!
And well deserves a bride of so much beauty.

1st. Mer.
She's passing fair indeed; long may their loves
Continue like themselves in spring of sweetness!
All the young merchants will be here, no doubt,
For he who comes not to attend this wedding,
The curse of a most blind one fall upon him,
A loud wife and a lazy! Here comes Clause.

Enter Clause.
2d. Mer.
How now Clause! you are come to see your master
In all his joy—'tis honestly done of you—
And here he comes.

Enter Harrol.
Har.
Stand at the door, my friends!
I pray walk in—there's a young lady, who
Will bid ye welcome.

1st. Mer.
We enjoy your happiness.

[Ex. Merchants.
Har.
Clause, nobly welcome!
My honest, my best friend! I have been careful
To see thy monies duly plac'd in—

Clause.
Sir,
No doubt you have; that brought me not—D'you know
This ring again?

Har.
'Tis that thou had'st of me.

Clause.
And do you recollect the boon you promis'd,
On the return of this?

Har.
Yes, and I grant it,
Be't what it may, within my power.

Clause.
You are not married yet?

Har.
No.

Clause.
Faith, I shall ask you that which will disturb you,
But I must put you to your promise.

Har.
Do—
And if I faint, or flinch in't—

Clause.
Well said, master;
And yet it grieves me too—and it must be—

Har.
Pr'ythee, distrust me not.

Clause.
You must not marry—
That's part o' th' power you gave me;—to compleat it,
You must depart forthwith, and follow me.

Har.
Not marry, Clause!

Clause.
Not, if you keep your promise.

Har.
Pr'ythee, think better—dost thou fear her honesty?

Clause.
Chaste, chaste as ice, I doubt not.

Clause.
That allow'd,
Give me thy reason.

Clause.
I may not now discover.

Har.
Must not marry!
Shall I break now, when the poor heart is pawn'd?
When all my preparation—

Clause.
Now or never.

Har.
Can'st be so cruel?

Clause.
You may break your word, sir,
But never more in my thought appear honest.

Har.
Didst thou e'er see her?

Clause.
No, sir.

Har.
AIR.

Clause.
You make me sad, sir.

Hub.
Pr'ythee, then, good Clause,
Take a friend's heart, and feel what misery
Awaits me, if I lose her.

Clause.
My dear master,
Take you a noble heart, and keep your promise:
I forsook all I had, to make you happy.
She comes; now bear the trial like yourself,
A good and constant man; in the dark walk
Of aged elms, that opens to the plain,
I wait you with impatience—you must follow.

[Exit.
Har.
Hard heart, I will! for hast thou not redeem'd me
From deepest woe? and shall I dare deny?
Yet my dear Gertrude—

Enter Gertrude.
Ger.
Harrol!—in affliction!
Lord of my heart and hopes, look up! Explain
What envious cloud has darken'd o'er the hour,
Thou hadst set down the brightest of thy life?
Nay, answer me in words—Those silent sighs
Import a grief most mighty.

Har.
We must part,
Gertude, we must—this hour—

Ger.
What voice enjoins,
What power commands us? Have not our chaste loves
Been such as angels might approve? Say then
What earthly bidding—

Har.
But we meet again—
I trust we shall—for surely honest Clause

Ger.
Clause!
Is he the ruler of Harrol's destiny?

Har.
Some wond'rous secret
Is lab'ring in his breast; with earnest look,
Yet melting while it aw'd, even now he bade me
In the dark row of elms attend his councils.
By oath, by duty, gratitude and honour
Solemnly bound, what can thy Harrol do?

Ger.
For ever must we part?

Har.
AIR.

Ger.
AIR.

[Exit.

SCENE IV.

Changes to the Bush.
Enter Hubert, with a Letter; and the Beggars, one with a Torch.
Hub.
Tread soft, and watchful.

Hig.
But what's the action we are for now? ha!
Robbing a Ripper of his fish?

Prig.
Or taking a poulterer prisoner without ransom?

Hig.
Or cutting off a convoy of butter?
Or surprising a boor's ken for grunting cheats?

Prig.
Or cackling cheats? Oh I could drive a regiment
Of geese before me such a night as this, ten leagues,
With my hat and staff, and not a hiss heard, nor
A wing of all my troops disorder'd.

Hub.
So far my hopes are fair!

Hig.

Let me alone with the farmer's dog, if you
have a mind to the cheese-lost—'tis but thus—and he's
a silenc'd mastiff, during pleasure.

Hub.
Wou'd it might please you to be silent!

Hig.
Mum!

Hub.
Now, boys, for your allegiance! Be careful;
It shall make fortunes for ye!

Prig.
Doubt us not, boy.

Hub.
You heed not a few scratches?

Prig.
No, nor bruises in the service of our master.

Hub.
'Tis bravely said—Lead on to the dark hovel,
That stands hard by under the blasted sir!
There will I follow straight—and give ye all
Your full instructions.

Prig.
'Tis enough—we're gone.

[Exeunt.
Hub.
AIR.

[Exit.

SCENE V.

Another Part of the Wood.
Enter Gertrude and a Boor.
Ger.
Lead, if thou think'st we're right; why dost thou make
These frequent stands? Thou saidst thou knew'st the way.

Boor.

Yes, mistress; but sure it grows somewhat
pretty dark.

Ger.

What then?

Boor.

Nay, nothing—don't think I'm afraid, altho'
perhaps you are.

Ger.

I am not—Forward!

Boor.

Sure but you are—give me your hand—fear
nothing. Don't pull me backward—What a sweat one
of us is in! Is it you or I?

Ger.
What ails the fellow?

Boor.
Hark, I beseech you—do you hear nothing?

Ger.
No.

Boor.
List! a wild hog! he grunts—now 'tis a bear,
This wood is full of 'em—and now a wolf, mistress;
It is the howling of a wolf.

Ger.
Of the wind, coward!

Boor.
See, there's a serpent; it has eyes as broad as platters;
It spits fire—now it creeps towards us—help me
To say my prayers.

Ger.
Why, thou strange timorous sot, canst thou
Perceive any thing but a poor glow-worm?

Boor.
It may be, 'tis but a poor glow-worm now,
But 'twill grow to a fire-drake presently.

Ger.
I have a precious guide in you—pr'ythee be
Resolute, and on.

[Hallooing within.
Boor.
It thunders—you hear that now.

Ger.
I hear one halloo.

Boor.
No, it's thunder—and see, a flash of light'ning.
Are not you struck, mistress?

Ger.
What strange wonders
Fear creates in a coward! Canst thou not move?

Boor.
No; the earth opens.

Ger.
Pr'ythee, hold thy peace.

Boor.
What, will you venture then?

Ger.
AIR.

[Exit.
Boor.
AIR.

Enter Wolfort, Hempskirke, and Attendants with Torches.
Hemp.
It was the fellow, sure, he that should guide us,
The huntsman, that did halloo us.

Wol.
Best make a stand, and listen to his next—ha!

Hemp.
Who goes there?

Boor.
Mistress, I'm taken.

Hemp.
Mistress!—look forth, soldiers.

[Ex. soldiers.
Wol.
What are you, sirrah?

Boor.
Truly, all that's left of a poor Boor by day;
By night, nobody. You might have spar'd your
Drums and guns, for I am none that will
Stand out—you may take me with a walking-stick,
And hold me with a packthread.

Hemp.
What woman was't you call'd to?

Boor.
Woman! none sir.

Wol.
None! did not you name mistress?

Boor.
Yes, but she's no woman yet—she was to have
Been married to-night, but in came Clause,
The old lame beggar, and whips up the bridegroom,
Master Harrol, under his arm, as a kite
Or an old fox would sweep away a gosling.

Hemp.
Sure it should be she!
Soldiers return with Gertrude.
Niece!

Ger.
I'm miserably lost, thus fall'n
From all my hopes, into my uncle's hands.

Hemp.
'Tis she, indeed, sir.
This was a noble entrance to your fortune,
That being on the point thus to be married,
You should surprise and take her.

Wol.
I begin, Hempskirke, to believe my fate
Works to my ends.

Hemp.
Yes, sir; and this adds trust
Unto the fellow, our guide, who told me Florez
Liv'd in some merchant's shape, as Gerrard did
In the old beggar's; and that he would use
Him for a train, to call the others forth;
All which, we find, is done. [Halloo within.]
That's he again.

Wol.
Good! we sent out to meet him!

Hemp.
And here's the oak
Where he appointed us.—All's right.

Wol.
Who's there?

Enter Hubert and Beggars, as Boors.
Hub.
A friend, the huntsman.

Hemp.
Ay, 'tis he.

Hub.
I have kept touch, sir—which is the earl now?
Will he know a poor man?

Hemp.
This, my lord, is the friend
Hath underta'en to do us this great service.

Hub.
It shall be worth his lordship's thanks anon.
I know to pitch my toils, drive in my game,
And I have don't—both Florez and his father,
Old Gerrard; with lord Arnold, of Benthuison,
Costin, and Jaculin, young Florez' sister—
I have 'em all.

Wol.
Thou speak'st too much, too happy,
To carry faith with it.

Hub.
Why, I can bring you,
Where you shall see, and take 'em.

Wol.
We will double
Whatever Hempskirke then hath promis'd thee.

Hub.
And I'll deserve it treble: what horse have you?

Wol.
An hundred.

Hub.
That's well—divide
Your force into five squadrons, for there are
So many out-lets thro' the wood.
I and four boors will be your guides herein;
And that they may be more secure, I'll use
My wonted whoops and halloos—as I were
Hunting for 'em.

Wol.
'Tis order'd well, and relisheth the soldier:
Make the division, Hempskirke—you are my charge.
Fair-one, I'll look to you.

Ger.
Lost! lost! undone for ever!

[Exeunt Wol. Hemp. Ger. and Guards.
Boor.
Nobody need take care of me, I'll take care of myself now.

[Exit.
Hub.
Now, lads, to the work!
Mind your instructions close—and when you hear me
Wind my horn loud and quick, be that your signal
For the great master-stroke.

Hig.
Enough, boy. Conclude it done!

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.

A dark Wood.
Enter Clause and Harrol.
Clau.
By this time, sir, I hope you want no reason
Why I break off your marriage; for tho' I
Should, as a subject, hold you for my prince
In general things, it will not yet too far
Discredit you t'acknowledge me your father,
And hearken to my necessary councils.

Har.
Acknowledge you my father! Sir I do—
And may all peace and comfort leave my heart
When I forget to pay you a son's duty!

Clau.
I pray you rise—
And may those powers, who see, and love this in you,
Reward you for it! Taught by your example,
Having received the rights due to a father,
I tender you th'allegiance of a subject,
Which, as my prince, accept of.

Har.
Kneel to me!
I am your son, sir, and am prouder far
To be the son of such distinguish'd worth,
(Which Heaven be pleas'd I may inherit from you)
Than I e'er could be of those splendid titles
Left by my mother, which assert my claim
To Flanders' earldom.

Clau.
I do believe it.

Har.
Oh! my lov'd father!
Before I knew you were so, nature taught me
Instinctively, to look upon your wants
Not as a stranger's—And, I know not how,
What you call'd charity, I thought the payment
Of some religious debt nature stood bound for.

Clau.
Cease, cease, my Florez. At your mother's death
Your tender age, and the troubles of the times
Making your stay in Flanders dangerous,
(My power alas! was small. Possessing none
But what your gracious mother's favour gave me
Receiving to her state a private gentleman)
I sent you into England, and there placed you
With a brave Flanders merchant, call'd rich Harrol,
Who some years after settling here in Bruges,
And dying here, left you his name and fortune,
As his reputed son, and still received so;
But now as Florez, and a prince, remember
Your country's and your subject's general good
Must challenge the first part in your affection.
That fair maid, whom you chose to be your wife,
Being so far beneath you, even your love
Must own the match ill-suited,

Har.
In descent,
Or borrow'd glories from dead ancestors,
I must acknowledge it—but in her virtues,
A monarch might esteem himself o'erpaid,
Were she his kingdom's price. In this alone
Be an indulgent father, in all else
Use your authority.

Enter Hubert, Wolfort, Hempskirke, and Gertrude.
Hub.
Sir, here are two of them,
The father, and the son—the rest you shall have,
As fast as I can rouse 'em.

[Exit.
Clau.
Who's this? Wolfort?

Wol.
Ay, impostor,
Your coarse disguise no longer can conceal you;
No further art, for I must here find Gerrard,
And in this merchant's habit, one call'd Florez,
Who fain would be an earl.

Har.
And is, wert thou a subject.

Ger.
My Harro! turn'd a prince!
O! I am poorer by this start of greatness,
Than all my fears and sorrows ever made me.

Har.
My Gertrude! whence? why do I see you here?
O! think what—

Wol.
Stay, sir,—you were to day too near her;
You must no more aim at these close endearments,
Nor long survive such bold presumption! Hempskirke,
Summon the officers of blood.

AIR.
Ger.
kneeling.
Oh! spare my Harrol! spare my love!
Let these streaming sorrows move;
Restrain the breath
That dooms his death—
Does no good angel see my pain,
And is it thus we meet again?
My Harrol speak,
My heart will break—
On me, on me your torments wreak;—
But spare my Harrol! spare my love!
Let these streaming sorrows move.

Har.
No—death, my Gertrude, can't be half so painful,
As to behold thee kneel, and waste thy tears
On such a fiend—Strike the decisive blow,
And end our shames and miseries together.

Wol.
This is no Gertrude; no no, nor Hempskirke's niece,
Nor Vandunk's daughter. This is Bertha! Bertha,
The heir of Brabant, she that caus'd the war;
Whom I did steal, during my treaty there
While you were yet a child, to raise myself;
Foreseeing that theft wou'd cause a war; that war
Call for my arm to guide it: and the victory
(Which happily I atchiev'd) render my power
Such as might grasp the earldom—This obtain'd,
I meant her for my wife; thereby to fix
My empire sure; which had been done ere this,
She come of years, but that the expectation
First of her father's death, retarded it,
And since, the standing out of Bruges, where
Hempskirke he hid her, till she was near lost,
But she is here recover'd.—She is mine, sir,
Your merchantship may break now, I believe,
For this was one of your best ventures.

Clau.
Insolent devil!

Wol.
Hempskirke, who are these?

Hem.
More, more, sir.

Enter Hubert, with Ginks, Ferret and Jaculin.
Hub.
Lord Arnold of Benthuesen—this lord Costin,
This Jaculin, the sister unto Florez.

Wol.
All found? Why here's brave game, this is sport royal!
This spot, where they are taken, will I make
Their place of death.—Dispatch this moment.

Hub.
Or suppose, my lord,
They shou'd be broken up upon a scaffold,
Will't not shew better?

Fer.
Wretch! art thou not content thou hast betray'd,
But thou must mock us too?

Gink.
False Hubert! murderer!

Wol.
Hubert!

Hemp.
Who, this?

Ginks.
Yes, this is Hubert, Wolfort.
I hope he has help'd himself to a tree.

Wol.
The first,
The first of all; I'm glad again to catch you,
I let you go before but as a spy,
Now, as a spy I'll treat you.

Hub.
Nay, then I'll ring my own death's knell.

Hubert sounds his Horn loud and quick; Drum answers within. Vandunk, Prig, Higgen, Soldiers, and all the Beggars rush on, seize and disarm Wolfort, Hempskirke, and their Party.
Wol.
Betray'd!

Hub.
No, but well caught, and I the huntsman!
Now shall I wind your fall? and Hempskirke's there?

Hig.
We have led your squadrons, sir, where
They have torn their legs and faces soundly.

Prig.
Yes, and run their heads against trees.

Hig.
We have filled a pit with your people;
Some with legs, some with arms broken.

Prig.
And a few necks, I think, are out.

Hig.
'Tis captain Prig, sir.

Prig.
And colonel Higgen.—

Van.
How do you, Wolfort? Rascal! tyrant Wolfort!
I speak it now above the rose—and Hempskirke,
Rogue-Hempskirke! you that have no niece! this lady
Was stolen by you, and hid by you; but now
Resign'd by me to the right owner here—
Take her, my prince.

Har.
Are then these blessings real?

Ger.
And shall we part no more?

Van.
I have given her to you twice—now keep her better,
And thank lord Hubert, who contriv'd our plot,
And in good Gerrard's name, sent for Vandunk,
General Vandunk—

Hub.
Conqueror Vandunk.

Van.
AIR.

Van.
Give me my bottle, and set down the drum;
I'll sit as judge upon 'em—you stole the lady.

Clause.
'Twas like yourself, honest and noble Hubert!
Canst thou behold these mirrors, all together,
Of thy long, false, and bloody usurpation,
And not behold thyself, and so fall down,
O'erwhelm'd with sorrow, shame, and penitence?

Wol.
Who, I repent?
And say I'm sorry! No—'tis the fool's language,
But not for Wolfort.

Van.
Wolfort, thou art a devil, and speak'st his language.
Oh! that I had my longing for thy sake!
Under this row of trees, the spot your lordship
Meant for these worthy ones, I'd hang thee instantly.

Har.
No, let him live, until he can repent,
But banish'd from our state—that be his doom.

Van.
Then hang his worthy captain here, this Hempskirke,
For sake of the example.

Har.
No, let him
Enjoy his shame too, with his conscious life.

Van.
A noble prince! and yet I'd fain have somebody hang'd.

Clause.
Sir, you must help to join
A pair of hands, as they have done of hearts,
And to their loves wish happiness.

Har.
As to my own!
My dearest sister! truly worthiest brother!

AIR.
Jac.
Such scenes of strange delight arise,
And croud upon my view,
I gaze around with wild surprize,
And scarce believe true.
A father! brother! lover! friend!
Of joy a larger store,
Nor Hope could ask, nor Fortune send—
My cup of bliss runs o'er.

Van.
I'll lead ye home, and have the bonfires made,
My fireworks and flap—dragons—and an ocean
Of generous liquor, to soak down,
To the honour of this day.

Hig.
'Slight! here be changes! the bells have not so many.

Prig.
Our company's grown horrible thin by it.
What think you, Higgen?

Hig.
Marry, I think that we might all be lords now,
If we'd stand for't.

Clause.
Sir, you must thank this honest burgomaster;
Here be more friends, ask to be look'd on too,
And thank'd; who, though their trade and course of life
Be not so perfect, but it may be better'd,
Have yet us'd me with courtesy, and been
True subjects to me while I was their king.
Your grace command them follow you to Bruges,
Where I will take the care on me, to find
Some manly and more profitable course,
To fit them as a part of the republic.

Har.
Do ye hear, sirs? do so.

Hig.
Thanks to your good grace!

Prig.
To your good lordship!

Har.
Now to compleat our bliss! Be it our care
To merit it, by using well the power,
And wealth entrusted to our charge, to lighten
The woes of others—to enrich our country,
And bid our wishes and endeavours reach
Even to the meanest subject in our state!

Van.
To all the world, say I!