A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 3 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 319 pages of information about A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 3.

A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 3 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 319 pages of information about A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 3.

Eud.  Sir, I am.

Gan.  What says fayre Bertha?

Ber.  That my free will dothe bynde My love to his comandment.

Gan.  Then take her, boy; we wilbe hencefourthe frends,
And howsoever crosses come & goe
Ile leave thee cloathes inowe for winter tyme.

Bus.  Sir, I am bound to you & to my mistress,
And will so arme my servyce with delighte
That, madam, you shall counte thys maryadge yoake
The onlye lyst of pleasure.

Ber.  Thats my hope:  Bate me the pleasure, and, beleive it, Sir, I shall crye out oth bargayne.

Bus.  Feare me not.

Gan.  Come, we will have thys maryage sollempnyzd,
In which I meane to feighte with agonye
And shoe the worlde I can cast honors of
More easlye then my garments.  Wisdome & thought
Most precious ever when tys dearest bought.

[Exe. all but Gab.

Gab.  Suer thys should be the day of Valentyne
When everye byrd dothe coople, onlye I
Pore forlorne turtle, haveinge lost my mate,
Must dye on a bare braunche.  Wytt defend me! 
Youthe & my pleasures will not suffer it. 
I’ve here contryved a letter to my frende
In myne ill brothers name.  It may worke
Somethynge to gayne my wishes; at the worst
It cannot make me more then I am accurst. 
And heres my messenger.—­

    Enter La Fue.

Howe nowe Mounseir Fue
Whyther gost thou in suche a sweatinge passyon?

Fue.  O, Madam, sweatynge is goode for the itche, and the rascall Didier haveing playd the roague with my lord ist possyble but I should itche to be about hys eares when I see the knaves countenance?  Therefore to avoyde troble I affect sweatinge.

Gab.  Why, thou dost not see hym nor art thou licklye.

Fue.  O by all meanes I cannot mysse the devyll.  Why, I am goeing to the courte, Madam, & the knave wilbe in everye corner, Didier I meane, by all meanes; so that if I doe not sweate I shall scratche the skynne from myne elbowes.

Gab.  Then to further your sweatinge take paynes with thys letter; tell noble Richard, the sonne of Aimon, your master sente it, but doe not tell your master I imployd you.  Take this rewarde and deale wiselye.

Fue.  As wisely as my blewe coate will suffer me.

[Exe.

Act 4.

[SCENE I.]

Enter Richard readinge a letter.

Rich. [Read] Myne enemyes have labord much, but my worst afflyctyon is thy lamented absence which may endanger us alyke.  There is no means to prevent all evyls but the injoyinge of my sister Gabriella:  therefore force in thy selfe an affectyon.  She may otherwise growe discontent and trooble us with her mallyce.  Therefore preserve thy selfe and me together, who am thy best on earthe:  Ganelon.

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A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 3 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.