How could the truth from falsehood be discern'd?
Did we not taste the bitterness of war,
How could we know the sweet effects of peace?
Did we not feel the nipping winter frosts,
How should we know the sweetness of the spring?
Should all things still remain in one estate,
Should not in greatest arts some scars be found,
Were all upright nor* chang'd, what world were this?
A chaos, made of quiet, yet no world,
Because the parts thereof did still accord :
This matter craves a variance, not a speech.
But, sir Divine, to you; look on your maims,
Divisions, sects, your symonies, and bribes,
Your cloaking with the great for fear to fall,
You shall perceive you are the cause of all.
Did each man know there were a storm at hand,
Who would not cloathe him well, to shun the wet?
Did prince and peer, the lawyer and the least,
Know what were sin without a partial gloss,
We need no long discovery† then of crimes,
For each would mend, advis'd by holy men.
Thus [I] but slightly shadow out your sins,
But if they were depainted out for life,
Alas, we both had wounds enough to heal!
MERCH. None of you both, I see, but are in fault;
Thus simple men, as I, do swallow flies.
This grave divine can tell us what to do,
But we may say, physician, mend thyself.
This lawyer hath a pregnant wit to talk,
But all are words, I see no deeds of worth.
LAW. Good merchant, lay your fingers on your
Be not a blab, for fear you bite yourself.
[mouth; What should I term your state, but even the way To every ruin in this commonweal?
* nor] The 4to. " and."
+ discovery] Qy. "discoursing."
You bring us in the means of all excess,
You rate it, and retail* it, as you please;
You swear, forswear, and all to compass
Your money is your god, your hoard your heaven;
You are the ground-work of contention.
First heedless youth by you is over-reach'd;
We are corrupted by your many crowns:
The gentlemen, whose titles you have bought,
Lose all their fathers' toil within a day,
Whilst Hob your son, and Sib your nutbrown child,
Are gentlefolks, and gentles are beguil❜d.
This makes so many noble minds† to stray,
And take sinister courses in the state.
SCOUT. My friends, begone, and if you love your lives,
The king of England marcheth here at hand:
Enter the camp, for fear you be surpris'd.
DIV. Thanks, gentle scout, God mend that is amiss, And place true zeal, whereas corruption is !
Enter DOROTHEA, LADY ANDERSON, and NANO.
DOR. What news in court, Nano? let us know it. NANO. If so you please, my lord, I straight will shew it:
The English king hath all the borders spoil'd,
Hath taken Morton prisoner, and hath slain
Seven thousand Scottish lords, not far from Tweed.
DOR. A woeful murder, and a bloody deed!
NANO. The king,‡ our liege, hath sought by many
For to appease his enemy by prayers;
Nought will prevail unless he can restore
Fair Dorothea, long supposed dead:
To this intent he hath proclaimed late,
That whosoever return the queen to court
Shall have a thousand marks for his reward.
LADY AN. He loves her then, I see, although enforc'd,
That would bestow such gifts for to regain her.
Why sit you sad, good sir? be not dismay'd.
NANO. I'll lay my life, this man would be a maid.
DOR. Fain would I shew myself, and change my
LADY AN. Whereon divine you, sir?
NANO. Upon desire.
Madam, mark but my skill, I'll lay my life,
My master here will prove a married wife.
DOR. Wilt thou bewray me, Nano?
NANO. Madam, no:
You are a man, and like a man you go:
But I that am in speculation seen,'
Know you would change your state to be a queen. DOR. Thou art not, dwarf, to learn thy mistress' mind:
Fain would I with thyself disclose my kind,
NANO. What blush you, madam, than,† To be yourself, who are a feigned man?
[so? LADY AN. Deceitful beauty, hast thou scorn'd me NANO. Nay, muse not, madam,‡ for she tells you
LADY AN. Beauty bred love, and love hath bred my shame.
NANO. And women's faces work more wrongs than these.
seen] i. e. skilled.
p. 121.
+ than] See note *
madam] The 4to." maiden."
Take comfort, madam, to cure your* disease.
And yet he loves a man as well as you,
Only this difference, he† cannot fancy two.
LADY AN. Blush, grieve, and die in thine insatiate lust.
DOR. Nay, live, and joy that thou hast won a That loves thee as his life by good desert. [friend, LADY AN. I joy, my lord, more than my tongue can tell,
Although not as I desir'd, I love you well;
But modesty, that never blush'd before,
Discover my false heart: I say no more.
Let me alone.
DOR. Good Nano, stay awhile.
Were I not sad, how kindly could I smile,
To see how fain I am to leave this weed;
And yet I faint to shew myself indeed :
But danger hates delay, I will be bold.
Fair lady, I am not suppose
A man, but even that queen, more hapless I,
Whom Scottish king appointed hath to die;
I am the hapless princess, for whose right
These kings in bloody wars revenge dispite.
I am that Dorothea, whom they seek,
Yours bounden for your kindness and relief;
And since you are the means that save my life,
Yourself and I will to the camp repair,
Whereas your husband shall enjoy reward,
And bring me to his highness once again.
LADY AN. Pardon, most gracious princess, if you please,
My rude discourse and homely entertain ;
And if my words may savour any worth,
Vouchsafe my counsel in this weighty cause:
* your] The 4to. "our."
the] The 4to. "she."
Since that our liege hath so unkindly dealt,
Give him no trust, return unto your sire,
There may you safely live in spite of him.
DOR. Ah lady, so would worldly counsel work! But constancy, obedience, and my love, In that my husband is my lord and chief, These call me to compassion of his estate: Dissuade me not, for virtue will not change. LADY AN. What wondrous constancy is this I hear! If English dames their husbands love so dear, I fear me, in the world they have no peer.
NANO. Come, princess, wend, and let us change your weed:
I long to see you now a queen indeed.
[Exeunt. Enter the KING OF SCOTS, the ENGLISH HERald, &c. and LORDS.
K. OF SCOTS. He would have parley, lords: herald,
And get thee gone: go, leave me to myself.
[Exit Herald. "Twixt love and fear continual are * the wars:
The one assures me of my Ida's love,
The other moves me for my murder'd queen.
Thus find I grief of that whereon I joy,
And doubt in greatest hope, and death in weal,
Alas, what hell may be compar'd with mine,
Since in extremes my comforts do consist!
War then will cease, when dead ones are reviv'd;
Some then will yield, when I am dead for hope.
Who doth disturb me? Andrew ?
ANDREW enter, with SLIPPEr.
AND. Ay, my liege.
K. OF SCOTS. What news?
are] The 4to. " is."
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