OBER. But why, living in such reputation, didst thou leave to be a courtier ?

Вон. Because my pride was vanity, my expense loss, my reward fair words and large promises, and my hopes spilt, for that after many years' service one outran me, and what the deil should I then do there? No, no; flattering knaves that can cog and prate fastest, speed best in the court.

OBER. To what life didst thou then betake thee? BOн. I then changed the court for the country, and the wars for a wife: but I found the craft of swains more wise than the servants, and wives' tongues worse than the wars itself, and therefore I gave o'er that, and went to the city to dwell; and there, I kept a great house with small cheer, but all was ne'er the

OBER. And why?

Вон. Because, in seeking friends, I found tableguests to eat me and my meat, my wife's gossips to bewray the secrets of my heart, kindred to betray the effect of my life which when I noted, the court ill, the country worse, and the city worst of all, in good time my wife died,-ay would she had died twenty winter sooner by the mass, leaving my two sons to the world, and shutting myself into this tomb, where if I die I am sure I am safe from wild beasts, but whilst I live cannot be free from ill company. Besides now I am [sure] gif all my friends fail me, I sall have a grave of mine own providing, this is all. Now, what art thou?

OBER. Oberon, king of fairies, that loves thee because thou hatest the world; and to gratulate thee, I brought these Antics to shew thee some sport in dancing, which thou hast loved well.

* ne'er the near] See note † vol. i. p. 167.

+ leaving, &c.] Some words seem wanting here. Greene, now and then, forgets to make Bohan adhere to the Scottish dialect.

A

Вон. Ha, ha, ha! Thinkest thou those puppets can please me? whay, I have two sons, that with one Scottish jig shall break the necks of thy Antics. OBER. That I would fain see.

Bон. Why, thou shalt.

How, boys!

Enter SLIPPER and NANO.

Haud your clucks, lads, trattle not for thy life, but gather opp your legs and dance me forthwith a jig worth the sight.

SLIP. Why, I must talk, an* I die for't: wherefore was my tongue made?

Вон. Prattle, an thou darest, one word more, and ais dab this whinyard in thy womb.

OBER. Be quiet, Bohan. I'll strike him dumb, and his brother too: their talk shall not hinder our jig. Fall to it, dance, I say, man.

Вон. Dance Heimore, dance, ay rid thee.

[The two dance a jig devised for the nonst.† Now get you to the wide world with more than my father gave me, that's learning enough both kinds, knavery and honesty; and that I gave you, spend at pleasure.

OBER. Nay, for their sport I will give them this gift to the dwarf I give a quick wit, pretty of body, and a warrant his preferment to a prince's service, where by his wisdom he shall gain more love than common; and to loggerhead your son I give a wandering life, and promise he shall never lack, and avow that, if in all distresses he call upon me, to help him. Now let them go.

[Exeunt [Slipper and Nano] with courtesies. BOH. Now, king, if thou be a king, I will shew thee whay I hate the world by demonstration. In the year 1520, was in Scotland a king, over-ruled with parasites, misled by lust, and many circum

*an] The 4to. "on." + nonst] or nonce-i. e. occasion.

stances too long to trattle on now, much like our court of Scotland this day. That story have I set down. Gang with me to the gallery, and I'll* shew thee the same in action, by guid fellows of our countrymen, and then when thou see'st that, judge if any wise man would not leave the world if he could.

OBER. That will I see: lead, and I'll follow thee. [Exeunt.

Laus Deo deter in eternum.

ACT I. SCENE I.

Enter the KING OF ENGLAND, the KING OF SCOTS, DOROTHEA his Queen, the COUNTESS, LADY IDA, with other Lords; and ATEUKIN with them, aloof. K. OF SCOTS. Brother of England, since our neighbouring land,

And near alliance, do † invite our loves,
The more I think upon our last accord,
The more I grieve your sudden parting hence.
First, laws of friendship did confirm our peace,
Now both the seal of faith and marriage bed,
The name of father, and the style of friend;
These force in me affection full confirm'd ;
So that I grieve, and this my hearty grief
The heavens record, the world may witness well,
To lose your presence, who are now to me
A father, brother, and a vowed friend.

[in one : K. OF ENG. Link all these lovely styles, good king, And since thy grief exceeds in my depart,

I leave my Dorothea to enjoy

Thy whole compact [of] loves and plighted vows.
Brother of Scotland, this is my joy, my life,

*I'll] The 4to. "he."

t do] The 4to. "doth."

Her father's honour, and her country's hope,
Her mother's comfort, and her husband's bliss:
I tell thee, king, in loving of my Doll,

Thou bind'st her father's heart, and all his friends,
In bands of love, that death cannot dissolve.

[me,

K. OF SCOTS. Nor can her father love her like to My life's light, and the comfort of my soul. Fair Dorothea, that wast England's pride, Welcome to Scotland; and, in sign of love, Lo, I invest thee with the Scottish crown. Nobles and ladies, stoop unto your queen, And trumpets sound, that heralds may proclaim Fair Dorothea peerless queen of Scots!

ALL. Long live and prosper our fair queen of Scots! [Install and crown her. DOR. Thanks to the king of kings for my dignity; Thanks to my father that provides so carefully; Thanks to my lord and husband for this honour; And thanks to all that love their king and me.

ALL. Long live fair Dorothea, our true queen!
K. OF ENG. Long shine the sun of Scotland in her
pride,

Her father's comfort, and fair Scotland's bride!
But, Dorothea, since I must depart,

And leave thee from thy tender mother's charge,
Let me advise my lovely daughter first
What best befits her in a foreign land.
Live, Doll, for many eyes shall look on thee,
Have care of honour and the present state;
For she that steps to height of majesty
Is even the mark whereat the enemy aims:
Thy virtues shall be construed to vice;
Thine affable discourse to abject mind;
If coy, detracting tongues will call thee proud.
Be therefore wary in this slippery state:
Honour thy husband, love him as thy life,

heart:

Make choice of friends, as eagles of their young,
Who soothe no vice, who flatter not for gain,
But love such friends as do the truth maintain.
Think on these lessons when thou art alone,
And thou shalt live in health when I am gone.
DOR. I will engrave these precepts
in my
And as the wind with calmness wooes you hence,
Even so I wish the heavens in all mishaps
May bless my father with continual grace.
K. OF ENG. Then, son, farewell:
The favouring winds invite* us to depart.
Long circumstance in taking princely leaves
Is more officious than convenient.

Brother of Scotland, love me in my child;
You greet me well, if so you will her good.

K. OF SCOTS. Then, lovely Doll, and all that fa

vour me,

Attend to see our English friends at sea:

Let all their charge depend upon my purse:
They are our neighbours, by whose kind accord
We dare attempt the proudest potentate.
Only, fair countess, and your daughter, stay;
I have some other thing to say.

With you

[Exeunt all, save the King, the Countess, Ida, Ateukin, in all royalty.

K. OF SCOTS. So let them triumph, that have
cause to joy:

But, wretched king, thy nuptial knot is death,
Thy bride the breeder of thy country's ill;
For thy false heart dissenting from thy hand,
Misled by love, hath † made another choice,
Another choice, even when thou vow'd'st thy soul
To Dorothea, England's choicest pride:

O, then thy wandering eyes bewitch'd thy heart!
Even in the chapel did thy fancy change,
When, perjur'd man, though fair Doll had thy hand,

invite] The 4to. "invites." thath] The 4to." hast."