From the base beadle's whip, crown'd all thy hopes: But, sirrah, ran there in thy veins one drop Thou would'st not change condition, to be second Simn. He's past Recovery; a Bedlam cannot cure him. Urs. Away, inform the king of his behaviour. Simn. Perkin, beware the rope! the hangman's coming. [Exit. Urs. If yet thou hast no pity of thy body, Pity thy soul! Enter KATHERINE, JANE, DALYELL, and Ox Jane. Dear lady! FORD. Orf. Whither will you, Without respect of shame? Kath. Forbear me, sir, And trouble not the current of my duty!- Lend me assistance, that I may partake Th' infliction of this penance. My life's dearest, Forgive me; I have staid too long from tend'ring Attendance on reproach, yet bid me welcome. War. Great miracle of constancy! my miseries Were never bankrupt of their confidence In worst afflictions, till this-now, I feel them. Report, and thy deserts, thou best of creatures, Might to eternity have stood a pattern For every virtuous wife, without this conquest. Thou hast outdone belief; yet may their ruin In after marriages, be never pitied, To whom thy story shall appear a fable! To glorify thy vows by such a servitude? A woman's faith hath robb'd thy fame of triumph! Orf. Sirrah, leave off your juggling, and tie up The devil that ranges in your tongue. Urs. Thus witches, Possess'd, even [to] their deaths deluded,+ say, Thus witches, Possess'd, even to their deaths deluded, &c.] The old copy is imperfect here; it reads, Possess'd, even their deaths deluded, &c. Perhaps it may be set right by a change still more slight than that of the text, by reading e'en in, for even. Of the fact itself, the age of our poet afforded unfortunately too many instances. They have been wolves and dogs, and sail'd in egg-shells Over the sea, and rid on fiery dragons; Pass'd in the air more than a thousand miles, Is powerful, but false; and falsehood 's confident. from That impudent impostor! Kath. You abuse us : For when the holy churchman join'd our hands, Was not in apparition, but in act. Be what these people term thee, I am certain Or we will live, or let us die together. There is a cruel mercy. War. Spite of tyranny We reign in our affections, blessed woman! Even when I fell, I stood enthroned a monarch Shall raise thy name up to an adoration; When I am turn'd into the self-same dust Orf. The lord ambassador, Huntley, your father, madam, should he look on Your strange subjection, in a gaze so public, Would blush on your behalf, and wish his country Unleft, for entertainment to such sorrow. Kath. Why art thou angry, Oxford? I must be More peremptory in my duty.-Sir, Impute it not unto immodesty, That I presume to press you to a legacy, Before we part for ever! War. Let it be then My heart, the rich remains of all my fortunes. Kath. Confirm it with a kiss, pray! I wish to breathe my last; upon thy lips, The testament of honourable vows: [Kisses her. This sacred print next, may he prove more thrifty In this world's just applause, not more desertful! Kath. By this sweet pledge of both our souls, I swear To die a faithful widow to thy bed; Not to be forced or won: oh, never, never!" 5 The better genius of Ford, which had so admirably served him hitherto, appears to have left his side, at this moment; he would not else have permitted Katherine to injure herself by a speech for which there was not the slightest occasion. She should have had nothing in common with the Player Queen, no, not even an oath. Enter SURREY, DAWBENEY, HUNTLEY, and CRAWFORD. Daw. Free the condemned person; quickly free him! What has he yet confess'd? [WARBECK is taken out of the stocks. Urs. Nothing to purpose; But still he will be king. Sur. Prepare your journey To a new kingdom then,-unhappy madman," Wilfully foolish!-See, my lord ambassador, Your lady daughter will not leave the counterfeit In this disgrace of fate. Hunt. I never pointed Thy marriage, girl; but yet, being married, The griefs are mine. I glory in thy constancy; In every duty of a wife and daughter, 6 unhappy madman, Wilfully foolish!] The 4to, by an unlucky transposition, reads-" "madam." |