That are, or should be, eyes of commonweal, His abject care of counsel and his friends, DOR. Ah father, are you so estrang'd from love, That see their lands unfruitful, to forsake them; Default ye, lords, except yourselves do fail? DOUG. Men seek not moss upon a rolling stone, Or water from the sieve, or fire from ice, Or comfort from a reckless monarch's hands. * spoke] The 4to. "spake." + frump] i. e. flout. Gnatho] i.e. Ateukin: Gnatho is the parasite in the Eunuchus of Terence. And if your Grace consider your estate, DOUG. As if you have not heard His lawless love to Ida grown of late, His careless estimate of your estate. DOR. Ah Douglas, thou misconst'rest* his intent! He doth but tempt his wife, he tries my love: This injury pertains to me, not to you. The king is young, and if he step awry, He may amend, and I will love him still. Should we disdain our vines, because they sprout Before their time? or young men, if they strain Beyond their reach? No; vines that bloom and spread, Do promise fruits, and young men that are wild, In age grow wise. My friends, and Scottish peers, If that an English princess may prevail, Stay, stay with him: lo, how my zealous prayer Is plead with tears! fie, peers, will you hence? BP. OF ST. AND. Madam, 'tis virtue in to plead ; But we that see his vain untoward course, your Grace [well. you DOR. Will you not stay? then, lordings, fare Though you forsake your king, the heavens, I hope, Will favour him through mine incessant prayer. NANO. Content you, madam; thus old Ovid sings, 'Tis foolish to bewail recureless things. DOR. Peace, dwarf; these words my patience move. NANO. Although you charm my speech, charm not my love. [Exeunt Queen and Nano.+ misconst'rest] From misconster, not misconstrue: "wherein, lest any one should misconster my meaning, (as I hope none will,)" &c. Preface to Barnfield's Cynthia, 1595. See too my note on Peele's Works, vol. i. p. 24, ed. 1829. + Nano] The 4to. "Dwarfs:" see note * p. 103. Enter the KING OF SCOTS; the Nobles* [spying him as they are about to go off] return. K. OF SCOTS. Douglas, how now? why changest thou thy chear? DOUG. My private troubles are so great, my liege, As I must crave your licence for a while, For to intend mine own affairs at home. K. of Scors. You may depart. [Exit Douglas. But why is Morton sad? MOR. The like occasion doth import me too, So I desire your Grace to give me leave. K. OF SCOTS. Well, sir, you may betake you to [Exit Morton. When such grim sirs are gone, I see no let your ease. To work my will. BP. OF ST. AND.† What, like the eagle then Whilst cloaking craft with soothing climbs so high, Thy father left thee with estate and crown, A learned council to direct thy court: These carelessly, O king, thou castest off, Thou well may'st see, although thou wilt not see, every eye and ear both sees and hears That The certain signs of thine incontinence. *Enter the King of Scots, the Nobles, &c.] The 4to. "Enter the King of Scots, Arius, the nobles," &c. + Bp. of St. And.] The 4to. "8 Atten." but it is plain, from the King's reply, that the Bishop of St. Andrews is the speaker. Thinketh your Grace, he can endure and brook K. OF SCOTS. Go, pack thou too, unless thou mend thy talk : On pain of death, proud bishop, get you gone, you BP. OF ST. AND.* Thou God of heaven prevent my country's fall! [Exit. K. OF SCOTS. These stays and lets to pleasure plague my thoughts, Forcing my grievous wounds anew to bleed: Enter ATEUKIN.† Ateukin, what news? ATEU. The adamant, O king, will not be fil'd But by itself, and beauty that exceeds, By some exceeding favour must be wrought. Ida is coy as yet, and doth repine, Objecting marriage, honour, fear, and death: She's holy, wise, and too precise for me. K. OF SCOTS. Are these thy fruits of wits, thy sight Thine eloquence, thy policy, thy drift, *Bp. of St. And.] The 4to. "8 Atten." + Ateukin] The 4to. "Gnato." See note ‡ p. 105. [in art, To mock thy prince? Then, caitiff, pack thee hence, And let me die devoured in my love. ATEU. Good Lord, how rage gainsayeth reason's My dear, my gracious, and beloved prince, [power! The essence of my suit, my god on earth, Sit down, and rest yourself: appease your wrath, That either now, to save my prince's life, K. OF SCOTS. Why, sirrah, is there means to move her mind? ATEU. O, should I not offend my royal liegeK. OF SCOTS. Tell all, spare nought, so I may gain my love. ATEU. Alas, my soul, why art thou torn in twain, For fear thou talk a thing that should displease! K. of Scots. Tut, speak what so thou wilt, I pardon thee. ATEU. How kind a word, how courteous is his Grace! Who would not die to succour such a king? My liege, this lovely maid of modest mind, Could well incline to love, but that she fears Fair Dorothea's power: your Grace doth know, Your wedlock is a mighty let to love. Were Ida sure to be your wedded wife, That then the twig would bow, you might command : Ladies love presents, pomp, and high estate. K. OF SCOTS. Ah Ateukin, how should we displace this let? [whist! + ATEU. Tut, mighty prince,-O, that I might be * displace] The 4to. “display." |