Chapter VI: Introduction (6)

EPIRE. Madam, although against the nature of my spirit,
And my first duty bound to your allegiance,
Yet now compell'd by duty and by truth,
I must of force become your opposite.

QUEEN. Thou art no true Italian, nor true gentleman,
Thus to confound the glory of thy judgment.
Hath not that arm which now is arm'd against me--
That valour, spirit, judgment, and that worth,
Which only makes you worthy--stood t' approve
More than myself will challenge to my virtues?
And are you now basely turn'd retrograde?
Well, I perceive there's nought in you but spleen
And time's observance, still to hold the best--
Still I demand the law.

CYP. And you shall have it in the amplest manner.
Sound, cornets.

_Here the cornets sound thrice, and at the third sound_
_enters_ PHILOCLES, _disguised like a combatant_.

FLO. There is a combatant on the defendant's part;
Your majesty's pleasure?

CYP. Give him his oath according to the laws.

FLO. Are the fair ends of this your warlike posture
To prove the innocence of these two condemn'd?
So help you Jove!

PHIL. They are.

CYP. Then give the warlike signal to the fight.

_Here the combat being fought_, PHILOCLES _overcomes_
_the_ DUKE.

PHIL. Thou art my slave, either confess or die.

EPIRE. Didst thou speak true, I would not sound a word
To save the world from cinders; yet that thou may'st
With more resolv'd fury murder me,
This I confess: 'twas I that only stirr'd,
Out of strong falsehood's hate and jealousy,
The king's eternal wrath, and made him think
Untruths, that even untruth would not suggest:
And all my malice sprung from that Prince Philocles.

PHIL. No, 'twas from me, that still am Philocles.

CYP. My Philocles, my queen! O, double pardon me,
My jealousy, his envy, and your virtues,
Are sprung from such impatient contraries,
I cannot reconcile them; yet, O, pardon me:
My faith in life shall make you recompense.
For thee, rare Mariana, thou hast wrought
A work of noble constant magnitude.
As for this monster, this my tempting devil,
Whose forfeit life is witness to his shame,
I give his life and fortunes to the queen,
She, whom his malice would have brought to death,
Shall now be judge and juror of his breath.

MAR. In which commission, madam, let it be enroll'd,
He is my brother and my next[226] of blood.

QUEEN. And only that is charter for his life--
Live, envious lord, more envious than thou'rt great,
Live to lament thy worst of wretchedness,
Live to repent, since this I certain know,
Thine own gall'd conscience will be thy worst woe.

_Enter a guard of_ WATCHMEN _with_ ALPHONSO.

1ST WATCHMAN. Come, bring away, thrust him forward, though
favour and a great purse were against him.

CYP. How now, what tumult have we there?

2D WATCH. An't please your majesty, we have brought you here a
slip,[227] a piece of false coin: one that is neither stamped
with true coin for his excuse, nor with good clothes for his
redemption.

CYP. Alphonso! in the name of madness, how comes this
metamorphosis? Nay, stand forth, discourse: if thou dost lie,
thou art mine enemy.

MECH. Nay more, if thou stick in any bog, and by a trick seek
to wind out, I will discover you.

ALPH. This conjuration (believe it, my lord), shall make me
leap out of all fetters, and briefly thus: I have long time
loved the fair wife of the orator, and, having no opportunity
but his absence at the senate, I took that season; he, out of
negligence, omitting his papers, returned unseasonably, found
me [clothed] insufficiently, and forced to take sanctuary
strangely, which, however, I purchased; yet he found mine
apparel, and mistaken in the tenure, reached it presently, put
it on immediately; and now in the senate-house is pleading in
it seriously.

CYP. I cannot blame him, you having got so much within his
inward garment.

MECH. Of all which, my lord, I being, in a strict conceit, a
bawdy witness, and having, both from the orator's scorns and
delays received many indignities, thought by this discovery to
cry quittance with my proud enemy.

CYP. And you have amply done it; yet this jest
So perfect doth deserve more memory.
Florio, go bid the orator attend us presently.
[_Exit_ FLORIO.
And now to you, Drap and Velours, I did
Refer you long since to the orator.
Yet I note your attention: come, there is
Some too close-fisted hardness in your hearts:
You gripe too hard, your bribes will not disburse:
Come, tell me truly, as you look for heaven,
What must you pay for your despatches?

DRAP _and_ VEL. A thousand crowns we oft'er'd willingly.

CYP. And will your suit avail with such disbursement?

DRAP _and_ VEL. It will, and we most richly satisfied.

CYP. We'll see the business perfected.

DRAP _and_ VEL. With all our hearts, and be full-joy'd thereat;
Here are the crowns.

CYP. You shall have your despatches.

_Enter_ PRATE _and_ FLORIO.

See, here comes the orator. Prate, come hither;
These gentlemen, whom long since I referr'd
To your despatches, are yet unsatisfied.

PRATE. Alas! my lord, the state----

CYP. ----I know, employs you, yet there's many minutes
May give your best cares leisure; come, there is
Some odd disburse, some bribe, some gratulance,
Which makes you lock up leisure; come, tell true,
What bribe must they give, what is your utmost price?

PRATE. But five hundred crowns, of my best conscience.

CYP. Tut, it is nothing, hold, here's the coin,
And let them have their patents presently:
Or look to lose both place and sovereignty.

PRATE. Legions of devils haunt their diligence!

CYP. Fie! I would not have a man of your high place,
Or for respect of wealth or base observance,
In smallest things thus to neglect your credit,
Why, look you, my lords,
This orator is not like others of his rank,
Who from their garish[228] and fantastic humours
Go through the streets, spotted with peacock's plumes,
Wearing all colours, laces, broideries,
Satins and silks, so antic-garnished,
That when their gowns are off, you cannot find
In Italy a master shap'd more nice.
But this fellow Prate here's of another sort,
Cloth'd like himself, demure and soberly:
Nay, you shall see him for a precedent. [_Ungowns the orator._
Passion of mine eyesight' who have we here?
This is Alphonso, there's the orator.

PRATE. Heart of impatience, I am then a cuckold!
A scorn, a byword, and a laughing-stock.
What, is my wife turn'd whore? and must her depth
Be sounded by the plumbs[229] of foreigners?
Well, the revenge that I will take for this my shame
Shall make all whores hereafter dread my name.

CYP. Not for thy life, not for my love, I charge thee:
Thy wife is honest, chaste, and virtuous:
Only this wanton lord with lust and coin
Hath much attempted, but prevail'd in nought.
For proof, see here the crowns 'he would have given
To have purchas'd her bed's honour, but she would not;
Which I bestow on you for recompense.
Therefore, as thou dost hope my grace to find,
So to thy wife be loving, gentle, kind.

PRATE. Your majesty may mould me to your pleasure.

CYP. I thank you, and will quittance it.
Now, Mechant, we restore you to your lands,
Your honours and near places, next ourself:
To all that feel distaste in any sore,
We give to cure them all our grace and favour.
Thus storms bring gentle sunshine; and our hands
May, after shipwreck, bring us to safe lands.

FINIS.

FOOTNOTES:

[222] Foolish.

[223] _Thy tears are of the spears of crocodiles_, are the words in both the quartos; probably the amendment of Mr Reed is correct.--_Collier._

[224] [Old copies, _My dearest dread, my best best_.]

[225] _i.e._, What hath passed between you. See notes of Dr Johnson and Mr Steevens to "All's Well that Ends Well," act i. sc. 1.

[226] [Old copies, _best_.]

[227] Again, in Day's "Law Tricks," 1608, act iii.--

"A gilded _slip_ carries as fair a show
As perfect gold, gilt honour may do so.
But put your _slip_ to trial, the slight gold
Is soon rubb'd of."

[228] [Edits., _gainish_.]

[229] _i.e._, The plummets.--_Steevens._

THE MERRY DEVIL OF EDMONTON.

_EDITIONS._

(1.) _The Merry Deuill of Edmonton. As it hath beene sundry
times Acted, by his Maiesties Seruants at the Globe on the
banke-side. London Printed by Henry Ballard for Arthur
Iohnson, dwelling at the signe of the White-horse in Paules
Churchyard, ouer against the great North doore of Paules._
1608. 4o.

(2.) _The Merry Devill of Edmonton. As it hath bene sundry
times Acted by his Maiesties Seruants at the Globe on the
Bancke side. London, Printed by Thomas Creede for Arthur
Iohnson, dwelling &c._ 1612. 4o.

(3.) _The Merry Divel of Edmonton. As it hath beene sundry
times acted by his Maiesties Seruants, at the Globe on
the Banke-side. At London. Printed by G. Eld, for Arthur
Iohnson, dwelling at the signe of the white-Horse in Paules
Churchyard, ouer against the great North Doore of Paules._
1617. 4o.

(4.) _The Merry Deuill of Edmonton. As it hath been sundry
times Acted by his Maiesties Seruants, at the Globe, on the
Banke-side. London printed by A.M. for Francis Falkner, and
are to be sold at his Shoppe neere vnto S. Margarites-hill,
in Southwarke._ 1626. 4o.

(5.) _The Merry Deuill of Edmonton. As it hath been sundry
times Acted by his Maiesties Seruants, at the Globe,
on the Bancke-side. London. Printed by T.P. for Francis
Falkner, and are to be sold at his Shoppe neere vnto S.
Margarites-hill, in Southwarke._ 1631. 4o.

(6.) _The Merry Devil of Edmonton.... London. Printed for
William Gilbertson, and are to be sold at his Shop, at the
Sign of the Bible, in Giltspur-street, without Newgate_,
1655. 4o.[230]