Chapter V: Part 5

Agathon, he whose counsel wise
To princes weal extended,
By good advice unto a prince
Three things he hath commended
First is, that he hath government,
And ruleth over men;
Secondly, to rule with laws,
Eke justice (saith he) then;
Thirdly, that he must well conceive,
He may not always reign:
Lo, thus the rule unto a prince
Agathon squared plain.
Tully the wise, whose sapience
In volumes great doth tell,
Who in wisdom in that time
Did many men excel,
A prince (saith he) is of himself
A plain and speaking law,
The law, a schoolmaster divine,
This by his rule I draw.
The sage and witty Seneca
His words thereto did frame;
The honest exercise of kings,
Men will ensue the same.
But contrary-wise, if that a king
Abuse his kingly seat,
His ignomy and bitter shame
In fine shall be more great.
In Persia there reign’d a king,
Who Cyrus hight by name,
Who did deserve, as I do read,
The lasting blast of fame:
But he, when sisters three had wrought
To shear his vital thread,
As heir due to take the crown,
Cambyses did proceed;
He in his youth was trained up
By trace of virtue’s lore,
Yet (being king) did clean forget
His perfect race before.
Then cleaving more unto his will,
Such vice did imitate,
As one of Icarus his kind,
Forewarning then did hate;
Thinking that none could him dismay
Ne none his facts could see;
Yet at the last a fall he took,
Like Icarus to be.
Else as the fish, which oft had take
The pleasant bait from hook,
In safe did spring, and pierce the streams,
When fisher fast did look,
To hoist up from the wat’ry waves
Unto the dried land,
Then scap’d, at last by subtle bait
Come to the fisher’s hand:
Even so this king Cambyses here,
When he had wrought his will,
Taking delight the innocent
His guiltless blood to spill;
Then mighty Jove would not permit
To prosecute offence,
But what measure the king did meet,
The same did Jove commence.
To bring to end with shame his race,
Two years he did not reign:
His cruelty we will dilate,
And make the matter plain;
Craving that this may suffice now,
Your patience to win:
I take my way; behold, I see
The players coming in.

FINIS.

A COMEDY OF KING CAMBYSES.

_First enter_ CAMBYSES _the king_, KNIGHT, _and_ COUNCILLOR.

CAMBYSES.

My Council grave and sapient,
With lords of legal train,
Attentive ears towards bend,
And mark what shall be sain.
So you likewise, my valiant knight,
Whose manly acts doth fly,
By brute of fame the sounding trump
Doth pierce the azure sky:
My sapient words, I say, perpend,
And so your skill dilate.
You know that Mors vanquished hath
Cyrus that king of state;
And I, by due inheritance,
Possess that princely crown,
Ruling by sword of mighty force
In place of great renown.
You know, and often have heard tell,
My father’s worthy facts;
A manly Mars’ heart he bare,
Appearing by his acts.
And what, shall I to ground let fall
My father’s golden praise?
No, no; I mean for to attempt
This fame more large to raise,
In that that I, his son, succeed
His kingly seat as due:
Extend your counsel unto me
In that I ask of you.
I am the King of Persia,
A large and fertile soil:
The Egyptians against us repugn,
As varlets slave and vile;
Therefore I mean with Mars’ heart,
With wars them to frequent,
Them to subdue as captives mine,
This is my heart’s intent:
So shall I win honour’s delight,
And praise of me shall go.
My Council, speak; and lordings eke,
Is it not best do so?

COUNCIL.

O puissant king, your blissful words
Deserves abundant praise,
That you in this do go about
Your father’s fame to raise.
O blissful day, that king so young
Such profit should conceive;
His father’s praise and his to win,
From those that would deceive.
Sure, my true and sovereign king,
I fall before you prest,
Answer to give as duty mine,
In that your grace request.
If that your heart addicted be,
The Egyptians to convince,
Through Mars’ aid the conquest won,
Then deed of happy prince
Shall pierce the skies unto the throne
Of the supernal seat,
And merit there a just reward
Of Jupiter the great.
But then your grace must not turn back
From this pretenced will,
For to proceed in virtuous life,
Employ endeavour still;
Extinguish vice, and in that cup
To drink have no delight:
To martial feats and kingly sports
Fix all your whole delight,

KING.

My Council grave, a thousand thanks
With heart I do you render.
That you my case so prosperous
Entirely do tender:
I will not swerve from those your steps,
Whereto you would me train.
But now, my lord and valiant knight,
With words give answer plain:
Are you content with me to go
The Mars’ games to try?

LORD.

Yea, peerless prince, to aid your grace,
Myself will live and die.

KNIGHT.

And I, for my hability,
For fear will not turn back;
But, as the ship against the rocks,
Sustain and bide the wrack.

KING.

O willing hearts, a thousand thanks
I render unto you:
Strike up your drums with courage great;
We will march forth even now.

COUNCIL.

Permit (O King) few words to hear,
My duty serves no less;
Therefore give leave to Council thine,
His mind for to express.

KING.

Speak on, my Council, what it be;
You shall have favour mine.

COUNCIL.

Then will I speak unto your grace,
As duty doth me bind:
Your grace doth mean for to attempt
Of war the manly art;
Your grace therein may hap receive,
With others, for your part
The dent of death: in those affairs
All persons are alike:
The heart courageous oftentimes
His detriment doth seek;
It’s best therefore for to permit
A ruler of your land
To sit and judge with equity,
When things of right are scann’d.

KING.

My grace doth yield to this your talk,
To be thus now it shall:
My Knight, therefore prepare yourself
Sisamnes for to call:
A judge he is of prudent skill,
Even he shall bear the sway,
In absence mine, when from the land
I do depart my way.

KNIGHT.

Your Knight before your grace even here
Himself hath ready prest,
With willing heart for to fulfil,
As your grace made request. [_Exit._

COUNCIL.

Pleaseth your grace, I judge of him
To be a man right fit;
For he is learned in the law,
Having the gift of wit:
In your grace’s precinct I do not view
For it a meeter man:
His learning is of good effect,
Bring proof thereof I can.
I do not know what is his life,
His conscience hid from me,
I doubt not but the fear of God
Before his eyes to be.

LORD.

Report declares, he is a man
That to himself is nigh;
One that favoureth much the world,
And too much sets thereby:
But this I say of certainty,
If he your grace succeed,
In your absence but for a while,
He will be warn’d indeed
No injustice for to frequent,
No partial judge to prove,
But rule all things with equity,
To win your grace’s love.

KING.

Of that he shall a warning have
My hests for to obey;
Great punishment for his offence
Against him will I lay.

COUNCIL.

Behold, I see him now aggress,
And enter into place.

SISAMNES.

O puissant prince and mighty king,
The gods preserve your grace!
Your grace’s message came to me,
Your will purporting forth:
With grateful mind I it received,
According to mine oath,
Erecting then myself with speed,
Before your grace’s eyes,
The tenor of your princely will
From you for to agnise.

KING.

Sisamnes, this the whole effect,
The which for you I sent:
Our mind it is to elevate,
You to great preferment.
My grace, and gracious Council eke,
Hath chose you for this cause:
In judgment you do office bear,
Which have the skill in laws;
We think that you accordingly
By justice rule will deal,
That for offence none shall have cause
Of wrong you to appeal.

SISAMNES.

Abundant thanks unto your grace
For this benignity:
To you his Council in like case,
With lords of clemency.
What so your grace to me permits,
If I therein offend,
Such execution then commence,
And use it to this end.
That all other (by that my deed)
Example so may take;
To admonish them to flee the same,
By fear it may them make.

KING.

Then according to your word,
If you therein offend,
I assure you even from my breast
Correction shall extend.
I mean to go[232]
Into the Egypt land,
Them to convince by force of arms,
And win the upper hand.
While I therefore absent shall be,
I do you full permit,
As governor in this my right,
In that estate to sit,
For to detect, and eke correct,
Those that abuse my grace:
This is the total of my will;
Give answer in this case.

SISAMNES.

Unworthy much (O prince) am I,
And for this gift unfit;
But sith that it hath pleased your grace,
That I in it must sit,
I do avouch unto my death,
According to my skill,
With equity for to observe
Your grace’s mind and will;
And nought from it to swerve indeed,
But sincerely to stay:
Else let me taste the penalty,
As I before did say.

KING.

Well then of this authority
I give you full possession.

SISAMNES.

And I will it fulfil also,
As I have made profession.

KING.

My Council, then, let us depart,
A small stay to make:
To Egypt land now forth with speed
My voyage I will take.
Strike up your drums us to rejoice,
To hear the warlike sound:
Stay you here, Sisamnes, judge,
And look well to your bound.
[_Exeunt_ KING, LORD, _and_ COUNCIL.

SISAMNES.

Even now the king hath me extoll’d,
And set me up aloft;
Now may I wear the brodered guard,
And lay in down-bed soft;
Now may I purchase house and land,
And have all at my will;
Now may I build a princely place,
My mind for to fulfil;
Now may I abrogate the law,
As I shall think it good;
If any one me now offend,
I may demand his blood.
According to the proverb old,
My mouth I will up make;
Now it doth lie all in my hand,
To leave or else to take;
To deal with justice to my bound,
And so to live in hope:
But oftentimes the birds be gone,
While one for nest doth grope.
Do well or ill I dare avouch,
Some evil on me will speak:
No, truly yet I do not mean
The king’s precepts to break;
To place I mean for to return
My duty to fulfil.
[_Exit._

_Enter the_ VICE _with an old capcase on his head, an
old pail about his hips for harness, a scummer and a
potlid by his side, and a rake on his shoulder_.

AMBIDEXTER.

Stand away, stand away, for the passion of God;
Harnessed I am, prepared to the field:
I would have been content at home to have bod,
But I am sent forth with my spear and shield.
I am appointed to fight against a snail,[233]
And Wilkin Wren the ancient shall bear;
I doubt not but against him to prevail,
To be a man my deeds shall declare.
If I overcome him, then a butterfly takes his part,
His weapon must be a blue speckled hen:
But you shall see me overthrow him with a fart,
So without conquest he shall go home again.
If I overcome him, I must fight with a fly,
And a black pudding the fly’s weapon must be:
At the first blow on the ground he shall lie,
I will be sure to thrust him through the mouth to the knee.
To conquest these fellows the man I will play,[234]
Ha, ha, ha, now ye will make me to smile,
To see, if I can all men beguile.
Ha, my name? my name would you so fain know?
Yea, i-wis, shall ye, and that with all speed:
I have forgot it, therefore I cannot show;
Ha, ha, now I have it, I have it indeed.
My name is Ambidexter: I signify one
That with both hands finely can play;
Now with king Cambyses, and by and by gone:
Thus do I run this and that way.
For while I mean with a soldier to be,
Then give I a leap to Sisamnes the judge;
I dare avouch, ye shall his destruction see:
To all kind of estates I mean for to trudge.
Ambidexter, nay, he is a fellow if ye knew all:
Cease for awhile; hereafter hear more ye shall.

_Enter three Ruffians_, HUFF, RUFF, _and_ SNUFF, _singing_.

HUFF.

Gog’s flesh and his wounds, these wars rejoice my heart;
By his wounds, I hope to do well, for my part:
By Gog’s heart, the world shall go evil, if I do not shift;
At some old carl’s bouget I mean for to lift.

RUFF.

By his flesh, nose, eyes, and ears,
I will venter void of all cares:
He is not a soldier that doth fear any doubt;
If that he would bring his purpose about.

SNUFF.

Fear that fear list, it shall not be I:
By Gog’s wounds, I will make some neck stand awry;
If I lose my share, I swear by Gog’s heart,
Then let another take up my part.

HUFF.

Yet I hope to come the richest soldier away.

RUFF.

If a man ask ye, ye may hap to say nay.

SNUFF.

Let all men get what they can, not to lese I hope:
Wheresoever I go in, each corner I will grope.

AMBIDEXTER.

What, and ye run into the corner of some pretty maid?

SNUFF.

To grope there, good fellow, I will not be afraid.

HUFF.

Gog’s wounds, what art thou that with us dost mell?
Thou seemest to be a soldier, the truth to tell;
Thou seemest to be harnessed, I cannot tell how:
I think he came lately from riding some cow;
Such a deformed slave did I never see:
Ruff, dost thou know him? I pray thee, tell me,

RUFF.

No, by my troth, fellow Huff, I never see him before.

SNUFF.

As for me I care not, if I never see him more.
Come, let us run his arse against the post.

AMBIDEXTER.

Ah, ye slaves, I will be with you at the host:
Ah, ye knaves, I will teach ye how ye shall me deride.
[_Here let him swinge them about._
Out of my sight; I can ye not abide.
Now, goodman pouchmouth, I am a slave with you!
Now have at ye afresh again even now:
Mine arse against the post you will run?
But I will make ye from that saying to turn.

HUFF.

I beseech ye heartily to be content.

RUFF.

I insure you, by mine honesty, no hurt we meant:
Beside that, again, we do not know what ye are;
Ye know, that soldiers their stoutness will declare.
Therefore, if we have anything offended,
Pardon our rudeness, and it shall be amended.

AMBIDEXTER.

Yea, God’s pity, begin ye to entreat me?
Have at ye once again! by the mass, I will beat ye.
[_Fight again._

HUFF.

Gog’s heart, let us kill him; suffer no longer.
[_Draw their swords._

SNUFF.

Thou slave, we will see, if thou be the stronger.

RUFF.

Strike off his head at one blow:
That we be soldiers, Gog’s heart, let him know.

AMBIDEXTER.

O’ the passion of God, I have done, by mine honesty:
I will take your part hereafter verily.

ALL.

Then, content; let us agree.

AMBIDEXTER.

Shake hands with me, I shake hands with thee:
Ye are full of courtesy, that is the best;
And you take great pain, ye are a mannerly guest.
Why, masters, do you not know me? the truth to me tell--

ALL.

No, trust us, not very well.

AMBIDEXTER.

Why, I am Ambidexter, whom many soldiers do love.

HUFF.

Gog’s heart, to have thy company needs we must prove.
We must play with both hands with our hostess and host,
Play with both hands, and score on the post,
Now and then with our captain for many a delay,
We will not stick with both hands to play.

AMBIDEXTER.

The honester man ye, ye may me trust.

_Enter_ MERETRIX, _with a staff on her shoulder_.

MERETRIX.

What, is there no lads here that hath a lust
To have a passing trull to help at their need?

HUFF.

Gog’s heart, she is come indeed.
What, Mistress Meretrix? by his wounds, welcome to me.

MERETRIX.

What will you give me? I pray you, let me see.

RUFF.

By his heart, she looks for gifts by and by.

MERETRIX.

What, Master Ruff, I cry you mercy;
The last time I was with you, I got a broken head,
And lay in the street all night for want of a bed.

SNUFF.

Gog’s wounds, kiss me, my trull so white.
In thee I swear is all my delight;
If thou shouldest have had a broken head for my sake,
I would have made his head to ache.

MERETRIX.

What, Master Ambidexter? who looked for you?

AMBIDEXTER.

Mistress Meretrix, I thought not to see you here now.
There is no remedy; at meeting I must have a kiss.

MERETRIX.

What, man? I will not stick for that, by Giss.
[_Kiss._

AMBIDEXTER.

So now, gramercy, I pray thee be gone.

MERETRIX.

Nay, soft, my friend; I mean to have one:
Nay, soft; I swear, and if ye were my brother,
Before I let go, I will have another.
[_Kiss, kiss, kiss._

RUFF.

Gog’s heart, the whore would not kiss me yet.

MERETRIX.

If I be a whore, thou art a knave, then it is quit.

HUFF.

But hear’st thou, Meretrix? with who this night wilt thou lie?

MERETRIX.

With him that giveth the most money.

HUFF.

Gog’s heart, I have no money in purse, ne yet in clout.

MERETRIX.

Then get thee hence, and pack like a lout.

HUFF.

Adieu, like a whore.
[_Exit_ HUFF.

MERETRIX.

Farewell, like a knave.

RUFF.

Gog’s nails, Mistress Meretrix, now he is gone,
A match ye shall make straight with me;
I will give thee sixpence to lie one night with thee.

MERETRIX.

Gog’s heart, slave, dost thou think I am a six-penny jug?
No, wis ye, Jack, I look a little more smug.

SNUFF.

I will give her eighteenpence to serve me first.

MERETRIX.

Gramercy, Snuff, thou art not the worst.

RUFF.

By Gog’s heart, she were better be hanged, to forsake me, and take
thee.

SNUFF.

Were she so? that shall we see.

RUFF.

By Gog’s heart, my dagger into her I will thrust.

SNUFF.

Ah, ye boy, ye would do it, and ye durst!

AMBIDEXTER.

Peace, my masters; ye shall not fight:
He that draws first, I will him smite.

RUFF.

Gog’s wounds, Master Snuff, are ye so lusty?

SNUFF.

Gog’s sides, Master Ruff, are ye so crusty?

RUFF.

You may happen to see.

SNUFF.

Do what thou darest to me.

[_Here draw and fight. Here she must lay on and coil
them both, the_ VICE _must run his way for fear_,
SNUFF _fling down his sword and buckler, and run
his way_.

MERETRIX.

Gog’s sides, knaves, seeing to fight ye be so rough,
Defend yourselves, for I will give ye both enough:
I will teach you how ye shall fall out for me;
Yea, thou slave Snuff, no more blows wilt thou bide?
To take thy heels a time hast thou spied?
Thou villain, seeing Snuff has gone away,
A little better I mean thee to pay.

[_He falleth down, she falleth upon him, and
beats him, and taketh away his weapon._]

RUFF.

Alas, good Mistress Meretrix, no more;
My legs, sides, and arms with beating be sore.

MERETRIX.

Thou a soldier, and loose thy weapon!
Go hence, sir boy; say, a woman hath thee beaten.

RUFF.

Good Mistress Meretrix, my weapon let me have;
Take pity on me, mine honesty to save!
If it be known this repulse I sustain,
It will redound to my ignomy and shame.

MERETRIX.

If thou wilt be my man, and wait upon me,
This sword and buckler I will give thee.

RUFF.

I will do all at your commandment;
As servant to you I will be obedient.

MERETRIX.

Then let me see how before me ye can go.
When I speak to you, ye shall do so:
Off with your cap at place and at board:
_Forsooth, Mistress Meretrix_, at every word,
Tut, tut, in the camp such soldiers there be;
One good woman would beat away two or three.
Well, I am sure, customers tarry at home:
Mannerly, before: and let us begone.
[_Exeunt._

_Enter_ AMBIDEXTER.

AMBIDEXTER.

O’ the passion of God, be they here still or no?
I durst not abide to see her beat them so.
I may say to you I was in such a fright:
Body of me, I see the hair of my head stand upright.
When I saw her so hard upon them lay,
O’ the passion of God, thought I, she will be with me anon.
I made no more ado, but avoided the thrust,
And to my legs began for to trust;
And fell a laughing to myself, when I was once gone:
It is wisdom (quoth I), by the mass, to save one.
Then into this place I intended to trudge,
Thinking to meet Sisamnes the judge.
Behold, where he cometh, I will him meet;
And like a gentleman I mean him to greet.

_Enter_ SISAMNES.

SISAMNES.

Since that the king’s grace’s majesty in office did me set,
What abundance of wealth to me might I get?
Now and then some vantage I achieve,
Much more yet may I take;
But that I fear unto the king
That some complaint will make.

AMBIDEXTER.

Jesu, Master Sisamnes, you are unwise.

SISAMNES.

Why so? I pray ye, let me agnise,
What, Master Ambidexter, is it you?
Now welcome to me, I make God a vow.

AMBIDEXTER.

Jesu, Master Sisamnes, with me you are well acquainted:
By me rulers may be trimly painted.
Ye are unwise, if ye take not time while ye may:
If ye will not now, when ye would, ye shall have nay.
What is he, that of you dare make exclamation,
Of your wrong-dealings to make explication?
Can you not play with both hands, and turn with the wind?

SISAMNES.

Believe me, your words draw deep in my mind,
In colour wise unto this day
To bribes I have inclined:
More the same for to frequent
Of truth I am now minded.
Behold, even now unto me suitors do proceed.

SMALL HABILITY.

I beseech you here, good master judge,
A poor man’s cause to tender;
Condemn me not in wrongful wise,
That never was offender.
You know right well, my right it is,
I have not for to give!
You take away from me my due,
That should my corpse relieve.
The Commons of you do complain,
From them you devocate;
With anguish great and grievous words
Their hearts do penetrate.
From[235] right you fell unto the wrong,
Your private gain to win;
You violate the simple man,
And count it for no sin.

SISAMNES.

Hold thy tongue, thou prattling knave,
And give to me reward;
Else in this wise, I tell thee truth,
Thy tale will not be heard.
Ambidexter, let us go hence, and let the knave alone.

AMBIDEXTER.

Farewell, Small Hability, for help now get ye none.
Bribes hath corrupt him, good laws to pollute.
[_Exeunt._

SMALL HABILITY.

A naughty man that will not obey the king’s constitute.
With heavy heart I will return,
Till God redress my pain.
[_Exit._

_Enter_ SHAME, _with a trump black_.

SHAME.

From among the grisly ghosts I come,
From tyrant’s testy train;
Unseemly Shame of sooth I am,
Procured to make plain
The odious facts and shameless deeds
That Cambyses king doth use;
All piety and virtuous life
He doth it clean refuse.
Lechery and drunkenness
He doth it much frequent;
The tiger’s kind to imitate
He hath given full consent.
He nought esteems his Council grave,
Ne virtuous bringing up;
But daily still receives the drink
Of damned vice’s cup:
He can bide no instruction,
He takes so great delight
In working of iniquity,
For to frequent his spite:
As fame doth sound the royal trump
Of worthy men and trim,
So shame doth blow with strained blast
The trump of shame on him.
[_Exit_.

_Enter the_ KING, LORD, PRAXASPES, _and_ SISAMNES.

KING.

My judge, since my departure hence,
Have you used judgment right?
If faithful steward I ye find
The same I will requite.

SISAMNES.

No doubt, your grace shall not once hear
That I have done amiss.

PRAXASPES.

I much rejoice to hear so good news as this.

_Enter_ COMMONS’ CRY _running in, speak this verse,
go out again hastily._

COMMONS’ CRY.

Alas, alas, how are the Commons oppressed
By that vile judge, Sisamnes by name?
I do not know, how it should be redressed;
To amend his life no whit he doth frame.
We are undone, and thrown out of door,
His damnable dealing doth us so torment:
At his hand we can find no relief nor succour.
God grant him grace for to repent.
[_Run away crying._

KING.

What doleful cries be these, my lord,
That sound do in my ear?
Intelligence if you can give,
Unto your king declare.
To me it seemeth my Commons all
They do lament and cry
Out at[236] Sisamnes judge most chief,
Even now standing us by.

PRAXASPES.

Even so (O king) it seem’d to me,
As you rehearsal made;
I doubt the judge culpable be
In some respect or trade.

SISAMNES.

Redoubted king, have no mistrust,
No whit your mind dismay;
There is not one that can me charge,
Or ought against me lay.

_Enter_ COMMONS’ COMPLAINT, _with_ PROOF _and_ TRIAL.

COMMONS’ COMPLAINT.

Commons’ Complaint I represent,
With thrall of doleful state,
By urgent cause erected forth
My grief for to dilate.
Unto the king I will prepare
My misery to tell,
To have relief of this my grief,
And fettered feet so fell.
Redoubted prince and mighty king,
Myself I prostrate here;
Vouchsafe (O king) with me to bear
For this that I appear.
With humble suit I pardon crave
Of your most royal grace,
To give me leave my mind to break,
Before you in this place.

KING.

Commons’ Complaint, keep nothing back,
Fear not thy tale to tell;
Whate’er he be within this land
That hath not used thee well,
As prince’s mouth shall sentence give,
He shall receive the same;
Unfold the secrets of thy breast,
For I extinguish blame.

COMMONS’ COMPLAINT.

God preserve your royal grace,
And send you blissful days,
That all your deeds might still accord
To give to[237] God the praise.
My complaint is (O mighty king)
Against that judge you by;
Whose careless deeds, gain to receive,
Hath made the Commons cry:
He, by taking bribes and gifts,
The poor he doth oppress,
Taking relief from infants young,
Widows and fatherless.

KING.

Untruthful traitor and corrupt judge,
How likest thou this complaint?
Forewarning I to thee did give,
Of this to make restraint:
And hast thou done this devilish deed,
Mine ire for to augment?
I sentence give, thou Judas judge;
Thou shalt thy deed repent.

SISAMNES.

O puissant prince, it is not so,
His complaint I deny.

COMMONS’ COMPLAINT.

If it be not so (most mighty king),
In place then let me die:
Behold that I have brought with me
Both Proof and Trial true,
To stand even here, and sentence give,
What by him did ensue.

PROOF.

I Proof do him in this appeal,
He did the Commons wrong;
Unjustly he with them hath dealt,
His greedy[238] was so strong:
His heart did covet in to get,
He cared not which way;
The poor did lese their due and right,
Because they wont[239] to pay
Unto him for bribes indeed,
This was his wonted use:
Whereas your grace good laws did make,
He did the same abuse.

TRIAL.

I Trial here to verify
What Proof doth now unfold,
To stand against him in his wrong,
As now I dare be bold.

KING.

How likest thou this, thou caitiff vile?
Canst thou the same deny?

SISAMNES.

O noble king, forgive my fact:
I yield to thy mercy.

KING.

Complaint and Proof, redress will I
All this your misery:
Depart with speed from whence you came,
And straight command by me
The execution-man to come
Before my grace with haste.

ALL.

For to fulfil this your request,
No time we mean to waste.
[_Exeunt they three._

KING.

My lord, before my grace go call
Otian, this judge’s son;
And he shall hear, and also see,
What his father hath done.
The father he shall suffer death,
The son his room succeed;
And if that he no better prove,
So likewise shall he speed.

PRAXASPES.

As your grace hath commandment given,
I mean for to fulfil.
[_Step aside and fetch him._

KING.

Accursed judge, couldst thou consent
To do this cursed ill?
According unto thy demand,
Thou shalt for this thy guilt
Receive thy death before mine eyes:
Thy blood it shall be spilt.

PRAXASPES.

Behold (O king) Sisamnes’ son
Before you doth appear.

KING.

Otian, this is my mind,
Therefore to me come near:
Thy father here for judgment wrong
Procured hath his death,
And thou his son shalt him succeed,
When he hath lost his breath;
And if that thou dost once offend,
As thou seest thy father have,
In like wise thou shalt suffer death,
No mercy shall thee save.

OTIAN.

O mighty king, vouchsafe your grace
My father to remit;
Forgive his fault, his pardon I
Do ask of you as yet.
Alas, although my father hath
Your princely heart offended,
Amends for miss he will now make,
And faults shall be amended.
Instead of his requested life,
Pleaseth your grace take mine:
This offer I as tender child,
So duty doth me bind.

KING.

Do not entreat my grace no more,
For he shall die the death;
Where is the execution-man,
Him to bereave of breath?

_Enter_ EXECUTION.

EXECUTION.

At hand and, if it like your grace,
My duty to dispatch;
In hope that I, when deed is done,
A good reward shall catch.

KING.

Dispatch with sword this judge’s life,
Extinguish fear and cares:
So done, draw thou his cursed skin
Straight over both his ears.
I will see the office done,
And that before mine eyes.

EXECUTION.

To do the thing my king commands,
I give the enterprise.

SISAMNES.

Otian, my son, the king to death
By law hath me condemned;
And you in room and office mine
His grace’s will hath placed:
Use justice therefore in this case,
And yield unto no wrong,
Lest thou do purchase the like death,
Ere ever it be long.

OTIAN.

O father dear, these words to hear,
That thou must die by force,
Bedews my cheeks with stilled tears;
The king hath no remorse.
The grievous grief and strained sighs
My heart doth break in twain,
And I deplore, most woful child,
That I should see you slain.
O false and fickle frowning dame,
That turneth as the wind,
Is this the joy in father’s age,
Thou me assign’st to find?
O doleful day, unhappy hour,
That loving child should see:
His father dear before his face,
Thus put to death should be.
Yet, father, give me blessing thine,
And let me once embrace
Thy comely corpse in folded arms,
And kiss thy ancient face.

SISAMNES.

O child, thou makes mine eyes to run,
As rivers do, by stream;
My leave I take of thee, my son,
Beware of this my beam.

KING.

Dispatch even now, thou man of death;
No longer seem to stay.

EXECUTION.

Come, Master Sisamnes, come on your way,
My office I must pay;
Forgive therefore my deed.

SISAMNES.

I do forgive it thee, my friend;
Dispatch therefore with speed.
[_Smite him in the neck with a sword
to signify his death._

PRAXASPES.

Behold (O king), how he doth bleed,
Being of life bereft.

KING.

In this wise he shall not yet be left.
Pull his skin over his ears,
To make his death more vile:
A wretch he was, a cruel thief,
My Commons to beguile.
[_Flays him with a false skin._

OTIAN.

What child is he of nature’s mould
Could bide the same to see,
His father flead in this wise?
O, how it grieveth me!

KING.

Otian, thou seest thy father dead,
And thou art in his room:
If thou beest proud as he hath been,
Even thereto shalt thou come.

OTIAN.

O king, to me this is a glass:
With grief in it I view
Example that unto your grace
I do not prove untrue.

PRAXASPES.

Otian, convey your father hence
To tomb where he shall lie.

OTIAN.

And if it please your lordship,
It shall be done by and by.
Good execution-man, for need
Help me with him away.

EXECUTION.

I will fulfil, as you to me did say.
[_They take him away._

KING.

My lord, now that my grace hath seen,
That finish’d is this deed,
To question mine give ’tentive ear,
And answer make with speed.
Have not I done a gracious deed,
To redress my Commons’ woe.

PRAXASPES.

Yea, truly, if it please your grace,
Ye have indeed done so:
But now (O king) in friendly wise
I counsel you in this;
Certain vices for to leave,
That in you placed is:
The vice of drunkenness (O king)
Which doth you sore infect,
With other great abuses, which
I wish you to detect.

KING.

Peace, my lord; what needeth this?
Of this I will not hear:
To palace now I will return,
And there to make good cheer.
God Bacchus he bestows his gifts,
We have good store of wine;
And also that the ladies be
Both passing brave and fine:
But, stay; I see a lord now come,
And eke a valiant knight.
What news, my lord? to see you here
My heart it doth delight.

_Enter_ LORD _and_ KNIGHT _to meet the_ KING.

LORD.

No news (O king), but of duty come,
To wait upon your grace.

KING.

I thank you, my lord and loving knight,
I pray you with me trace.
My lords and knight, I pray ye tell,
I will not be offended:
Am I worthy of any crime
Once to be reprehended?

PRAXASPES.

The Persians much praise your grace,
But one thing discommend,
In that to wine subject you be,
Wherein you do offend.
Sith that the might of wine effect,
Doth oft subdue your brain,
My counsel is, to please their hearts,
From it you would refrain.

LORD.

No, no, my lord, it is not so;
For this of prince they tell,
For virtuous proof and princely facts
Cyrus he doth excel;
By that his grace by conquest great
The Egyptians did convince;
Of him report abroad doth pass,
To be a worthy prince.

KNIGHT.

In person of Crœsus I answer make,
We may not his grace compare,
In whole respect for to be like,
Cyrus the king’s father:
In so much your grace hath yet no child,
As Cyrus left behind,
Even you I mean, Cambyses king,
In whom I favour find.

KING.

Crœsus said well in saying so:
But, Praxaspes, tell me why,
That to my mouth in such a sort
Thou should avouch a lie,
Of drunkenness me thus to charge:
But thou with speed shalt see,
Whether that I a sober king
Or else a drunkard be.
I know thou hast a blissful babe,
Wherein thou dost delight:
Me to revenge of these thy words,
I will go wreak this spite.
When I the most have tasted wine,
My bow it shall be bent,
At heart of him even then to shoot
Is now my whole intent:
And if that I his heart can hit,
The king no drunkard is;
If heart of his I do not kill,
I yield to thee in this.
Therefore, Praxaspes, fetch to me
Thy youngest son with speed;
There is no way, I tell thee plain,
But I will do this deed.

PRAXASPES.

Redoubted prince, spare my sweet child,
He is mine only joy:
I trust your grace to infant heart
No such thing will employ.
If that his mother hear of this,
She is so nigh her flight,
In clay her corpse will soon be shrin’d
To pass from world’s delight.

KING.

No more ado, go fetch me him,
It shall be as I say:
And if that I do speak the word,
How dare ye once say nay?

PRAXASPES.

I will go fetch him to your grace;
But so, I trust, it shall not be.

KING.

For fear of my displeasure great,
Go fetch him unto me.
Is he gone? Now, by the gods,
I will do as I say;
My lord, therefore, fill me some wine,
I heartily you pray;
For I must drink to make my brain
Somewhat intoxicate:
When that the wine is in my head,
O, trimly I can prate!

LORD.

Here is the cup with filled wine,
Thereof to take repast.

KING.

Give it me to drink it off,
And see no wine be waste:
[_Drink._
Once again enlarge this cup,
For I must it still taste:[240]
[_Drink._
By the gods, I think, of pleasant wine
I cannot take my fill.
Now drink is in, give me my bow,
And arrows from sir knight;
At heart of child I mean to shoot,
Hoping to cleave it right.

KNIGHT.

Behold (O king) where he doth come,
His infant young in hand.

PRAXASPES.

O mighty king, your grace behest
With sorrow I have scann’d,
And brought my child fro mother’s knee,
Before you to appear:
And she thereof no whit doth know,
That he in place is here.

KING.

Set him up my mark to be,
I will shoot at his heart.

PRAXASPES.

I beseech your grace not so to do,
Set this pretence[241] apart.
Farewell, my dear and loving babe;
Come, kiss thy father dear;
A grievous sight to me it is,
To see thee slain even here.
Is this the gain now from the king
For giving counsel good,
Before my face with such despite
To spill my son’s heart-blood?
O heavy day to me this is
And mother in like case.

YOUNG CHILD.

O father, father, wipe your face,
I see the tears run from your eye:
My mother is at home sewing of a band;
Alas, dear father, why do you cry?

KING.

Before me as a mark now let him stand;
I will shoot at him my mind to fulfil.

YOUNG CHILD.

Alas, alas! father, will you me kill?
Good Master King, do not shoot at me,
My mother loves me best of all.

KING.

I have despatched him, down he doth fall;
[_Shoot._
As right as a line his heart I have hit:
Nay, thou shall see, Praxaspes, stranger news yet.
My knight, with speed his heart cut out,
And give it unto me.

KNIGHT.

It shall be done (O mighty king)
With all celerity.

LORD.

My lord Praxaspes, this had not been,
But your tongue must be walking;
To the king of correction
You must needs be talking.

PRAXASPES.

No correction (my lord), but counsel for the best.

KNIGHT.

Here is the heart, according to your grace’s behest.

KING.

Behold, Praxaspes, thy son’s own heart:
O, how well the same was hit!
After this wine to do this deed,
I thought it very fit:
Esteem thou may’st right well thereby,
No drunkard is the king,
That in the midst of all his cups
Could do this valiant thing.
My lord and knight, on me attend;
To palace we will go,
And leave him here to take his son,
When we are gone him fro.

ALL.

With all our hearts we give consent
To wait upon your grace.

PRAXASPES.

A woful man (O lord) am I,
To see him in this case:
My days I deem desires their end,
This deed will help me hence,
To have the blossoms of my field
Destroy’d by violence.

_Enter_ MOTHER.

MOTHER.

Alas, alas! I do hear tell
The king hath kill’d my son:
If it be so, woe worth the deed,
That ever it was done.
It is even so, my lord, I see,
How by him he doth weep:
What meant I, that from hands of him
This child I did not keep?
Alas! husband and lord, what did you mean
To fetch this child away?

PRAXASPES.

O lady wife, I little thought
For to have seen this day.

MOTHER.

O blissful babe, O joy of womb,
Heart’s comfort and delight,
For counsel given unto the king,
Is this thy just requite?
O heavy day and doleful time,
These mourning tunes to make!
With blubb’red eyes into my arms
From earth I will thee take,
And wrap thee in mine apron white:
But O my heavy heart?
The spiteful pangs that it sustains
Would make it in two to part:
The death of this my son to see,
O heavy mother now,
That from thy sweet and sug’red joy
To sorrow so shouldst bow.
What grief in womb did I retain,
Before I did thee see?
Yet at the last, when smart was gone,
What joy wert thou to me?
How tender was I of thy food
For to preserve thy state?
How stilled I thy tender heart
At times early and late?
With velvet paps I gave thee suck,
With issue from my breast,
And danced thee upon my knee
To bring thee unto rest.
Is this the joy of thee I reap?
O king of tiger’s brood!
O tiger’s whelp, hadst thou the heart,
To see this child’s heart-blood?
Nature enforceth me, alas!
In this wise to deplore;
To wring my hands, O wel-away,
That I should see this hour!
Thy mother yet will kiss thy lips,
Silk-soft and pleasant white;
With wringing hands lamenting for
To see thee in this plight.
My lording dear, let us go home,
Our mourning to augment.

PRAXASPES.

My lady dear, with heavy heart
To it I do consent:
Between us both the child to bear
Unto our lordly place.
[_Exeunt._

_Enter_ AMBIDEXTER.

AMBIDEXTER.

Indeed, as ye say, I have been absent a long space:
But is not my cousin Cutpurse with you in the meantime?
To it, to it, cousin; and do your office fine.
How like you Sisamnes for using of me?
He play’d with both hands, but he sped ill favouredly.
The king himself was godly uptrained;
He professed virtue, but I think it was feigned:
He plays with both hands good deeds and ill;
But it was no good deed Praxaspes’ son for to kill:
As he for the good deed on the judge was commended,
For all his deeds else he is reprehended.
The most evil-disposed person that ever was;
All the state of his life he would not let pass.
Some good deeds he will do, though they be but few:
The like things this tyrant Cambyses doth show.
No goodness from him to none is exhibited;
But still maledictions abroad is distributed.
And yet ye shall see in the rest of his race,
What infamy he will work against his own grace.
Whist, no more words: here comes the king’s brother.

_Enter_ LORD SMIRDIS, _with_ ATTENDANCE _and_ DILIGENCE.

SMIRDIS.

The king’s brother by birth am I,
Issued from Cyrus’ loins:
A grief to me it is to hear
Of this the king’s repines.
I like not well of those his deeds,
That he doth still frequent;
I wish to God, that other ways
His mind he could content:
Young I am, and next to him,
No mo of us there be;
I would be glad a quiet realm
In this his reign to see.

ATTENDANCE.

My lord, your good and willing heart
The gods will recompense,
In that your mind so pensive is
For those his great offence.
My lord, his grace shall have a time
To pair and to amend:
Happy is he that can escape,
And not his grace offend.

DILIGENCE.

If that wicked vice he could refrain,
From wasting wine forbear,
A moderate life he would frequent,
Amending this his square.

AMBIDEXTER.

My lord, and if your honour it shall please,
I can inform you what is best for your ease;
Let him alone, of his deeds do not talk,
Then by his side ye may quietly walk;
After his death you shall be king,
Then may you reform each kind of thing.
In the meantime live quietly, do not with him deal;
So shall it redound much to your weal.

SMIRDIS.

Thou say’st true, my friend, that is the best:
I know not whether he love me, or do me detest.

ATTENDANCE.

Learn from his company all that you may;
I faithful Attendance will your honour obey.
If against your honour he take any ire,
His grace is as like to kindle his fire,
To your honour’s destruction as otherwise.

DILIGENCE.

Therefore, my lord, take good advice,
And I Diligence your case will so tender,
That to his grace your honour shall be none offender.

SMIRDIS.

I thank you both, entire friends, with my honour still remain.

AMBIDEXTER.

Behold, where the king doth come with his train.

_Enter_ KING _and one_ LORD.

KING.

O lording dear, and brother mine,
I joy your state to see;
Surmising much what is the cause,
You absent thus from me.

SMIRDIS.

Pleaseth your grace, no absence I,
But ready to fulfil
At all assays, my prince and king,
In that your grace me will:
What I can do in true defence,
To you, my prince, aright,
In readiness I always am
To offer forth my might.

KING.

And I the like to you again
Do here avouch the same.

ALL.

For this your good agreement here,
Now praised be God’s name.

AMBIDEXTER.

But hear ye, noble prince; hark in your ear:
It is best to do as I did declare.

KING.

My lord and brother Smirdis now,
This is my mind and will,
That you to court of mine return,
And there to tarry still,
Till my return within short space
Your honour for to greet.

SMIRDIS.

At your behest so will I do,
Till time again we meet:
My leave I take from you (O king);
Even now I do depart.
[_Exeunt_ SMIRDIS, ATTENDANCE, _and_ DILIGENCE.

KING.

Farewell lord and brother mine,
Farewell with all my heart.
My lord, my brother Smirdis is
Of youth and manly might;
And in his sweet and pleasant face
My heart doth take delight.

LORD.

Yea, noble prince, if that your grace
Before his honour die,
He will succeed a virtuous king,
And rule with equity.

KING.

As you have said, my lord, he is
Chief heir next my grace:
And if I die to-morrow, next
He shall succeed my place.

AMBIDEXTER.

And if it please your grace (O king),
I heard him say,
For your death unto the god[s,]
Day and night he did pray:
He would live so virtuously,
And get him such a praise,
That Fame by trump his due deserts
His honour should up-raise.
He said your grace deserved had
The cursing of all men;
That ye should never after him
Get any praise again.

KING.

Did he speak thus of my grace,
In such despiteful wise?
Or else dost thou presume to fill
My princely ears with lies?

LORD.

I cannot think it in my heart,
That he would report so.

KING.

How sayst thou? speak the truth,
Was it so or no?

AMBIDEXTER.

I think so, if it please your grace, but I cannot tell.

KING.

Thou play’st with both hands, now I perceive well,
But for to put all doubts aside,
And to make him lese his hope,
He shall die by dent of sword,
Or else by choking rope.
Shall he succeed when I am gone,
To have more praise than I?
Were he father, as brother mine,
I swear that he shall die.
To palace mine I will therefore,
His death for to pursue.
[_Exit._

AMBIDEXTER.

Are ye gone? straightway I will follow you.
How like ye now, my masters? doth not this gear cotton?
The proverb old is verified, soon ripe and soon rotten.
He will not be quiet, till his brother he kill’d:
His delight is wholly to have his blood spill’d.
Marry, sir, I told him a notable lie:
If it were to do again, man, I durst do it, I.
Marry, when I had done, to it I durst not stand:
Thereby you may perceive I use to play with each hand.
But how now, cousin Cutpurse? with whom play you?
Take heed, for his hand is groping even now:
Cousin, take heed, if ye do secretly grope;
If ye be taken, cousin, ye must look through a rope.
[_Exit_.

_Enter_ LORD SMIRDIS _alone_.

SMIRDIS.

I am wand’ring alone, here and there to walk;
The court is so unquiet, in it I take no joy:
Solitary to myself now I may talk;
If I could rule, I wist what to say.

_Enter_ CRUELTY _and_ MURDER _with bloody hands_.

CRUELTY.

My coequal partner Murder, come away;
From me long thou may’st not stay.

MURDER.

Yes, from thee I may stay, but not thou from me:
Therefore I have a prerogative above thee.

CRUELTY.

But in this case we must together abide:
Come, come; Lord Smirdis I have spied:
Lay hands on him with all festination,
That on him we may work our indignation.

SMIRDIS.

How now, my friends? What have you to do with me?

MURDER.

King Cambyses hath sent us unto thee,
Commanding us straitly without mercy or favour,
Upon thee to bestow our behaviour;
With Cruelty to murder you, and make you away.
[_Strike him in divers places._

SMIRDIS.

Yet pardon me, I heartily you pray:
Consider, the king is a tyrant tyrannious;
And all his doings be damnable and pernicious:
Favour me therefore, I did him never offend.

CRUELTY.

No favour at all; your life is at an end.
Even now I strike his body to wound:
Behold, now his blood springs out on the ground.
[_A little bladder of vinegar pricked._

MURDER.

Now he is dead, let us present him to the king.

CRUELTY.

Lay to your hand, away him to bring.
[_Exeunt._

_Enter_ AMBIDEXTER.

AMBIDEXTER.

O’ the passion of God, yonder is a heavy court:
Some weeps, some wails, and some make great sport.
Lord Smirdis by Cruelty and Murder is slain;
But, Jesus! for want of him, how some do complain!
If I should have had a thousand pound, I could not forbear weeping.
Now Jesus have his blessed soul in keeping!
Ah good lord to think on him, how it doth me grieve!
I cannot forbear weeping, ye may me believe.
[_Weep._
O my heart! how my pulses do beat:
With sorrowful lamentations I am in such a heat.
Ah my heart! how for him it doth sorrow!
Nay, I have done in faith now, and God give you good morrow!
Ha, ha, weep! nay, laugh, with both hands to play;
The king through his cruelty hath made him away.
But hath not he wrought a most wicked deed?
Because king after him he should not proceed,
His own natural brother, and having no more,
To procure his death by violence sore;
In spite because his brother should never be king,
His heart being wicked consented to this thing.
Now he hath no more brothers nor kindred alive:
If the king use this gear still, he cannot long thrive.

_Enter_ HOB _and_ LOB.

HOB.

God’s hat, neighbours, come away; it’s time to market to go.

LOB.

God’s vast, neighbour, zay ye zo?
The clock hath stricken vive, ich think, by lakin:[242]
Bum vay,[243] vrom sleep cham not very well waken.
But, neighbour Hob, neighbour Hob, what have ye to zell?

HOB.

Bum troth, neighbour Lob, to you I chil tell:
Chave two goslings and a chine of good pork;
There is no vatter between this and York.
Chave a pot of strawberries and a calf’s head,
A zennight zince to-morrow it hath been dead.

LOB.

Chave a score of eggs and of butter a pound:
Yesterday a nest of goodly young rabbits I vound.
Chave forty things mo, of more and of less;
My brain is not very good them to express.
But God’s hat, neighbour, wot’st what?

HOB.

No, not well, neighbour, what’s that?

LOB.

Bum vay, neighbour, master king is a zhrode lad;
Zo God help me and holidam, I think the vool be mad:
Zome zay he deal cruelly, his brother he did kill;
And also a goodly young lad’s heart-blood he did spill.

HOB.

Vorbod of God, neighbour, has he played such a voolish deed?

AMBIDEXTER.

Goodman Hob and goodman Lob, God be your speed:
As you two towards market did[244] walk,
Of the king’s cruelty I did hear you talk,
I insure you he is a king most vile and pernicious;
His doings and life are odious and vicious.

LOB.

It were a good deed zomebody would break his head.

HOB.

Bum vay, neighbour Lob, I chould he were dead.

AMBIDEXTER.