THE PLAYHOUSE SERIES 
 
 UC-NRLF 
 
 B 3 321 fllS 
 
 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 AND 
 
 LOVES CONSTANCY 
 
 * • 
 
 ARRANGED BY 
 
 WILLIAM POEL 
 
 DIRECTOR OF THE ELIZABETHAN 
 STAGE SOCIETY 
 
 BRENTANO'S : NEW YORE 
 
 £=£ 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 
 AND 
 
 love's constancy 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 AND 
 
 LOVE'S CONSTANCY 
 
 • • 
 
 ARRANGED BY 
 
 WILLIAM POEL 
 
 DIRECTOR OF THE ELIZABETHAN 
 STAGE SOCIETY 
 
 BRENTANO'S : NEW YORK 
 
COPYRIGHT, 1906, BY BRENT ANO's 
 
 D. B. UPDIKE, THE MERRYMOUNT PRESS, BOSTON 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 THESE two plays are modified versions of older ones, 
 and the second of them is in all probability a com- 
 position by Shakespeare. It originally formed a part of 
 the early chronicle play, Edward the Third, a drama which 
 can be said to have small dramatic or poetic merit beyond 
 the love-scene supplied by Shakespeare. For this reason 
 it is now separated from the rest of the chronicle so as to 
 form a play complete in itself, and it has been given be- 
 sides an independent title. 
 
 The first play is also re-named because it has been al- 
 most entirely reconstructed to allow of its being acted on 
 the modern stage. Both dramas deal with the subject of 
 unlawful love, but the method of treatment is strikingly 
 different in each, as also is the portraiture of the two wo- 
 men, — Alice Arden and Lady Salisbury. They are in fact 
 the antithesis of each other, and can with advantage be 
 studied side by side. This the present publication renders 
 convenient for the first time. 
 
 In the appendix many passages from Love's Constancy 
 are quoted in comparison with other lines by Shakespeare 
 to show their similarity in diction, and all of them belong 
 to his lyrical period. Those who are familiar with the 
 rhythm of Shakespeare's verse at the time he was writing 
 Richard the Second will not fail to detect his hand in the 
 new play. Nor is the similarity confined to the versifica- 
 tion, for it is equally noticeable in the dramatic treatment 
 of the subject. No other dramatist of the time would have 
 invested such an episode with tragic pathos, nor have 
 conceived that touching moment when the King sees re- 
 flected in his young son's face the image of the wife and 
 
 fMQ 
 
iv INTRODUCTION 
 
 the mother whom he would wrong. Neither would any 
 other contemporary writer have chosen for his theme the 
 sin involved "in loving virtue." In this respect the play 
 resembles Measure for Measure. Until Angelo has seen 
 the saintly Isabella he has never known what it is to 
 love. 
 
 " When men were fond I smiled and wondered how," 
 
 describes his previous attitude. In the same way does Lady 
 Salisbury's beauty move the King when he exclaims: 
 
 " Whether is her beauty by her words divine, 
 Or are her words sweet chaplains to her beauty?" 
 
 And Shakespeare by depicting in men, who are not in 
 themselves ignoble, an infatuation for women who are 
 types, the one of impassioned holiness, and the other of 
 unwavering loyalty, has consciously heightened the diffi- 
 culty of his task so that he may bring into full play all 
 the marvellous resources of his poetic art, and lift the 
 spectator into an atmosphere of the loftiest sentiment. 
 
 In what a different world of ideas are the characters 
 of Alice Arden and Mosbie conceived ! Here the passions 
 are represented as being uncontrolled by any thought of 
 moral responsibility, and they are not even excused by 
 an aesthetic gratification. It is a picture of coarse realism 
 drawn with unerring insight and power. While the story 
 of Love's Constancy has in its hold over the intellect and 
 the imagination a beauty comparable to a picture by 
 Raphael, the intrigues of Arden's wife are in their way 
 not unlike a study by Hogarth. Thus both compositions 
 may be said to be the work of master minds, but can 
 scarcely be classed as products of the same brain. All 
 that can definitely be gathered as to the authorship of 
 
INTRODUCTION v 
 
 the first play is that its excellence in verse and in char- 
 acterization place it altogether beyond the powers of any 
 writer of average ability. But we may take into con- 
 sideration those unnamed authors who assisted in writing 
 the three parts of Henry the Sixth, plays which were 
 included in the first collected edition of Shakespeare's 
 works. And it is certain that besides Shakespeare Mar- 
 lowe also helped in these compositions, together with 
 men of such acknowledged reputation as Greene, Kyd, 
 and Lodge. If, however, Marlowe's Edward the Second is 
 read in conjunction with the best scenes in Arden of 
 Faversham, the metre and the metaphors will be found to 
 have some resemblance. But Marlowe could never have 
 created the humorous character of Black Will, and if 
 this part was not written by Shakespeare it must be 
 conceded that Pistol in Henry the Fifth is an open imi- 
 tation of the part. Finally in regard to the question of 
 authorship, in so far as it affects both plays, it is well to 
 bear in mind that Edward the Second, Edward the Third, 
 "the three parts of Henry the Sixth" and Arden of Fa- 
 versham, are all compositions written within a short time 
 of each other. 
 
 In justification of the reconstruction of scenes in the 
 first play it must be remembered that by our early Eng- 
 lish playwrights the art of dramatic construction was 
 still but little understood. A unity or design is wanting, 
 as well as continuity of action leading directly to a cli- 
 max. The interest around one scene is too often lost in 
 the next, and the plays, when judged by modern stand- 
 ards, appear ineffective and unconvincing. In this re- 
 spect Everyman, which has excited so deep an interest 
 since it was first revived by the Elizabethan Stage So- 
 
vi INTRODUCTION 
 
 ciety, stands alone among the compositions of its time, 
 nor except in the case of the plays of Shakespeare, Ben 
 Jonson and Ford, do we find among the Elizabethan 
 dramatists dramatic construction that is in any way 
 suitable for the modern stage. This is mainly due to the 
 fact that Elizabethan Plays needed an altogether differ- 
 ent mode of presentation from that now in use. For this 
 reason a reconstruction of Arden of Faversham was es- 
 sential if the play was ever to be acted inside a twentieth 
 century theatre. 
 
 It is much to be regretted that the repertory of old 
 English plays which survives as acted drama is so small 
 compared with the amount of dramatic material avail- 
 able, — material which is only waiting to be adapted to 
 new conditions to enjoy a fresh lease of life on the stage. 
 And there can be little doubt that the original authors 
 themselves, were they now living, would not hesitate to 
 reconstruct their plays sooner than see them confined to 
 the bookshelf. But unfortunately whenever such adapt- 
 ing has been attempted by later dramatists such as 
 Davenant, Colley Cibber, Lillo and others, it has rarely 
 been of a satisfactory or lasting nature. This may be be- 
 cause the merits of the original work were not sufficiently 
 appreciated. And so far as Elizabethan dramatic litera- 
 ture is concerned it was disastrous to interfere with the 
 poetry, the dialogue, or the characterization. In these 
 respects the adapters should have esteemed the work of 
 the older dramatists as that of their masters; nor should 
 any attempt have been made to take the story out of 
 its proper environment. Merely in the art of construc- 
 tion, that is, in the art of presenting the story in a more 
 consecutive and condensed form, should improvements 
 
INTRODUCTION vii 
 
 have been attempted. It is in this spirit that the present 
 experiment has been made, with a view to bringing again 
 into popular favour this lurid Kentish tragedy, a mas- 
 terpiece of its kind, and one of the comparatively few 
 plays of the sixteenth century in which the plot and 
 action are founded upon English life and manners. And 
 as regards the second play, Love's Constancy, the revision 
 in this case, besides the removal of the episode from the 
 chronicle play, consists in the addition of the necessary 
 stage directions to make of it an independent play. 
 
 W. P. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 a Cragetip 
 
 ADAPTED FROM THE PLAY 
 
 ARDEN OF FAVERSHAM 
 
 ARRANGED IN ONE ACT 
 BY 
 
 WILLIAM POEL 
 
 DIRECTOR OF THE ELIZABETHAN 
 STAGE SOCIETY 
 
CHARACTERS 
 
 Thomas Arden, Gentleman of F aver sham. 
 
 Franklin, his Friend. 
 
 Mosbie, Steward to Lord Clifford. 
 
 Clarke, a Fop. 
 
 Bradshaw, a Goldsmith. 
 
 Greene, a Factor. 
 
 Michael, Arden' s Servant. 
 
 Black WillI 
 
 J- Murderers. 
 Shakebag J 
 
 Mayor of Faversham and Watch 
 
 Alice, A r den's Wife. 
 
 Susan, Mosbie 's Sister. 
 
 Scene : The Parlour in Arden 's House at Faversham. 
 Period, 1551. 
 
First performed by the Elizabethan Stage Society at 
 St. George's Hall, Langham Place, London, on July 9, 
 1897, with the following cast: 
 
 Thomas Arden Mr. D. L. Mannering. 
 
 Franklin Mr. Paget Bowman. 
 
 Mosbie Mr. Leonard Outram. 
 
 Michael Mr. G. H. Blagrove. 
 
 Greene Mr. George Herbert. 
 
 Black Will Mr. Arthur Broughton. 
 
 Shakebag Mr. Play ford. 
 
 Mayor Mr. C. Bright. 
 
 Alice Miss Alice Isaac. 
 
 Susan Miss Ettie Carlisle. 
 
 The play produced under the direction of 
 Mr. William Poel. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 9 CtageDp 
 
 IN ONE ACT 
 
 SCENE 
 
 A Parlour in the Manor House. At the back of the 
 . stage there is a door to the left leading to a porch, 
 also a staircase to the light leading to a gallery, near 
 which is a passage leading to the kitchen. On a sideboard 
 is a tankard of wine with cups; on a table lie Arden's 
 whip, hat, gloves, and sword. It is early morning. Michael 
 is discovered looking anxiously towards the gallery. Black 
 Will and Shakebag enter cautiously from the porch 
 door. 
 
 Will 
 
 Draw, Shakebag, for here's that villain Michael. 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 Speak, milksop slave, and never after speak. 
 
 Michael 
 
 For God's sake, sirs, let me excuse myself: 
 For here I swear, by heaven and earth and all, 
 I did perform the utmost of my task, 
 And left the doors unbolted and unlocked. 
 But see the chance: Franklin and my master 
 Were very late conferring in the porch, 
 And Franklin left his napkin where he sat 
 With certain gold knit in it, as he said. 
 
2 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Being in bed, he did bethink himself, 
 And coming down he found the doors unshut: 
 He locked the gates, and brought away the keys, 
 For which offence my master rated me. 
 But now I am going to see what flood it is, 
 For with the tide my master will away; 
 Lord Cheiny bids him to a feast at Shurland, 
 And by the way once more you'll meet with him, 
 Where you may front him well upon the coast, 
 A place well fitting such a stratagem. 
 
 Will 
 
 And if all the Cheinies in the world say no, 
 I'll have a bullet in his breast to-morrow. 
 Your excuse hath somewhat mollified my choler. 
 
 Sh AKEBAG 
 
 But is this true? 
 
 Michael 
 
 As true as I report it to be true. 
 
 Will 
 
 Come, Shakebag, let's go seek out Greene who now 
 
 Is at the alehouse butting Arden's house. 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 And Michael you shall bear no news of this 
 
 For we will plot our purpose thoroughly. 
 
 Michael 
 
 Why, I'll agree to anything you'll have me. 
 
 Will 
 
 Come, let's go drink : choler makes me as dry as a dog. 
 [Will and Shakebag go out by the porch door. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 3 
 
 Michael 
 
 Thus feeds the lamb securely on the down, 
 
 Whilst through the thicket of an arbour brake 
 
 The hunger-bitten wolf o'erpries his haunt 
 
 And takes advantage for to eat him up. 
 
 Ah, harmless Arden, how hast thou misdone, 
 
 That thus thy gentle life is levelled at? 
 
 The many good turns that thou hast done to me, 
 
 Now must I quittance, with betraying thee. 
 
 I that should take the weapon in my hand 
 
 And buckler thee from ill-intending foes, 
 
 Do lead thee with a wicked fraudful smile, 
 
 As unsuspected, to the slaughter-house. 
 
 So have I sworn to Mosbie and my mistress, 
 
 So have I promised to the slaughtermen; 
 
 And should I not deal currently with them, 
 
 Their lawless rage would take revenge on me. 
 
 Tush, I will spurn at mercy for this once: 
 
 Let pity lodge where feeble women lie, 
 
 I am resolved, and Arden needs must die. 
 
 Michael goes out by the kitchen passage; Franklin 
 
 and Arden enter from the staircase, 
 Franklin 
 
 Comfort thyself, sweet friend; it is not strange 
 That women will be false and wavering. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Ay, but to dote on such a one as he 
 
 Is monstrous, Franklin, and intolerable. 
 
 Franklin 
 Why, what is he? 
 
4 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Arden 
 
 A botcher, and no better at the first; 
 
 Who, by base brokage getting some small stock, 
 
 Crept into service of a nobleman, 
 
 And by his servile flattery and fawning 
 
 Is now become the steward of his house, 
 
 And bravely jets it in his silken gown. 
 
 Franklin 
 
 No nobleman will countenance such a peasant. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Yes, the Lord Clifford, he that loves not me. 
 
 But through his favour let him not grow proud ; 
 
 For were he by the Lord Protector backed, 
 
 He should not make me to be pointed at. 
 
 I am by birth a gentleman of blood, 
 
 And that injurious ribald, he attempts 
 
 To violate my dear wife's chastity, 
 
 For dear I hold her love, as dear as heaven. 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Be patient, gentle friend, and learn of me 
 
 To ease thy grief and save her chastity : 
 
 Intreat her fair; sweet words are fittest engines 
 
 To race the flint walls of a woman's breast. 
 
 In any case be not too jealous, 
 
 Nor make no question of her love to thee. 
 
 Arden 
 
 This night I dreamt that, being in a park, 
 
 A toil was pitched to overthrow the deer, 
 
 And I upon a little rising hill 
 
 Stood whistly watching for the herd's approach. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Even there, methought, a gentle slumber took me, 
 
 And summoned all my parts to sweet repose; 
 
 But in the pleasure of this golden rest 
 
 An ill-thewed foster had removed the toil, 
 
 And rounded me with that beguiling home 
 
 Which late, methought, was pitched to cast the deer. 
 
 With that he blew an evil-sounding horn, 
 
 And at the noise another herdman came, 
 
 With falchion drawn, and bent it at my breast, 
 
 Crying aloud, "Thou art the game we seek!" 
 
 With this I woke, and trembled every joint, 
 
 Like one obscured in a little bush, 
 
 That sees a lion foraging about, 
 
 And, when the dreadful forest-king is gone, 
 
 He pries about with timorous suspect 
 
 Throughout the thorny casements of the brake, 
 
 And will not think his person dangerless, 
 
 But quakes and shivers, though the cause be gone: 
 
 So, trust me, Franklin, when I did awake, 
 
 I stood in doubt whether I waked or no: 
 
 Such great impression took this fond surprise. 
 
 God grant this vision bedeem me any good. 
 
 Franklin 
 
 This fantasy doth rise from Michael's fear, 
 Who being awaked with the noise he made, 
 His troubled senses yet could take no rest; 
 And this, I warrant you, procured your dream. 
 
 Arden 
 
 It may be so, God frame it to the best, 
 
 But oftentimes my dreams presage too true. 
 
6 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Franklin 
 
 To such as note their nightly fantasies, 
 Some one in twenty may incur belief, 
 But use it not, 'tis but a mockery. 
 
 Alice comes down the staircase. 
 Alice 
 
 Husband, what mean you to get up so early? 
 Summer-nights are short, and yet you rise ere day. 
 Had I been wake, you had not risen so soon. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Sweet love, thou knowest that we two, Ovid-like, 
 
 Have often chid the morning when it 'gan to peep, 
 
 And often wished that dark night's purblind steeds 
 
 Would pull her by the purple mantle back, 
 
 And cast her in the ocean to her love. 
 
 But this night, sweet Alice, thou hast killed my heart : 
 
 I heard thee call on Mosbie in thy sleep. 
 
 Alice 
 
 'T is like I was asleep when I named him, 
 
 For being awake he comes not in my thoughts. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Ay, but you started up and suddenly, 
 
 Instead of him, caught me about the neck. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Instead of him? why, who was there but you? 
 
 And where but one is, how can I mistake? 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Arden, leave to urge her over-far. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 7 
 
 Arden 
 
 Nay, love, there is no credit in a dream; 
 
 Let it suffice, I know thou lovest me well. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Now I remember whereupon it came: 
 
 Had we no talk of Mosbie yesternight? 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Mistress Alice, I heard you name him once or twice. 
 
 Alice 
 
 And thereof came it, and therefore blame not me. 
 
 Arden 
 
 I know it did, and therefore let it pass. 
 Franklin and I will down unto the quay; 
 For I have certain goods there to unload. 
 Meanwhile prepare our breakfast, gentle Alice. 
 
 [Arden and Franklin go out by the porch door. 
 Alice 
 
 Sweet love, come soon. O that some airy spirit 
 Would in the shape and likeness of a horse 
 Gallop with Arden 'cross the Ocean, 
 And throw him from his back into the waves 
 And make him wise in death that lived a fool. 
 Alas! 'tis Mosbie that hath won my heart: 
 Arden usurps it, having nought but this, 
 That I am tied to him by marriage. 
 Love is a God, and marriage is but words; 
 And is not Mosbie's title therefore best? 
 Tush ! whether it be or no, he shall be mine, 
 In spite of him, of Hymen, and of rites. 
 There is no nectar, but in Mosbie's lips ! 
 
8 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Had chaste Diana kissed him, she like me 
 Would grow love-sick, and from her watery bower 
 Fling down Endymion, and snatch him up. 
 
 Michael enters from the passage. 
 Michael 
 
 He whom you wot of, Mosbie, Mistress Alice, 
 Is come to town, and sends you word by me 
 In any case you may not visit him. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Not visit him? 
 
 Michael 
 
 No, nor take no knowledge of his being here. 
 
 Alice 
 
 But tell me, is he angry or displeased? 
 
 Michael 
 
 It should seem so, for he is wondrous sad. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Were he as mad as raving Flercules, 
 
 I '11 see him. 
 
 Michael 
 Nay, then — 
 
 Alice 
 
 Stay! Michael, stay! 
 
 Ask Mosbie how I have incurred his wrath ; 
 
 Bear him from me these pair of silver dice, 
 
 With which we played for kisses many a time, 
 
 And when I lost, I won, and so did he; — 
 
 Such winning and such losing Jove send me! 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 9 
 
 And bid him, if his love do not decline, 
 To come this morning but along my door, 
 And as a stranger but salute me there : 
 This may he do without suspect or fear. 
 
 Michael 
 
 I'll tell him what you say. [Michael goes out. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Do, and one day I'll make amends for all. — 
 
 I know he loves me well, but dares not come, 
 
 Because my husband is so jealous, 
 
 And these my narrow-prying neighbours blab, 
 
 Hinder our meetings when we would confer. 
 
 But, if I live, then thou that comes by stealth, 
 
 Shalt neither fear the biting speech of men, 
 
 Nor Arden's looks. [Mosbie appears in the passage. 
 
 Mosbie my love! 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Away, I say, and talk not to me now. 
 
 Alice 
 
 A word or two, sweetheart, and then I will. 
 
 'Tis yet but early days, thou needst not fear. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Where is your husband? 
 
 Alice 
 
 'Tis now high water, and he is at the quay. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 There let him be; henceforward know me not. 
 
10 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Alice 
 
 Is this the end of all thy solemn oaths? 
 Is this the fruit thy reconcilement buds? 
 Have I for this given thee so many favours, 
 Incurred my husband's hate, and, out alas! 
 Made shipwreck of mine honour for thy sake? 
 And dost thou say "henceforward know me not?" 
 The heavens can witness, and the world can tell, 
 Before I saw that falsehood look of thine, 
 'Fore I was tangled with thy 'ticing speech, 
 Arden to me was dearer than my soul, — 
 And shall be still: base peasant, get thee gone, 
 And boast not of thy conquest over me, 
 Gotten by witchcraft and mere sorcery! 
 For what hast thou to countenance my love, 
 Being descended of a noble house, 
 And matched already with a gentleman 
 Whose servant thou may'st be! — and so farewell. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Ungentle and unkind Alice, now I see 
 That which I ever feared, and find too true: 
 A woman's love is as the lightning-flame, 
 Which even in bursting forth consumes itself. 
 To try thy constancy have I been strange; 
 Would I had never tried, but lived in hope! 
 
 Alice 
 
 What need'st thou try me whom thou ne'er found false ? 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Yet pardon me, for love is jealous. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 11 
 
 Alice 
 
 So lists the sailor to the mermaid's song, 
 
 So looks the traveller to the basilisk : 
 
 I am content for to be reconciled, 
 
 And that, I know, will be mine overthrow. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Thine overthrow? first let the world dissolve. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Nay, Mosbie, let me still enjoy thy love, 
 And happen what will, I am resolute. 
 My saving husband hoards up bags of gold 
 To make our homestead rich, and now is he 
 Gone to unload the goods that shall be thine, 
 Why should he thrust his sickle in our corn, 
 Or what hath he to do with thee, my love, 
 Or govern me that am to rule myself? 
 Forsooth, for credit sake, I must leave thee! 
 Nay, he must leave to live that we may love, 
 May live, may love; for what is life but love? 
 And love shall last as long as life remains, 
 And life shall end before my love depart. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Why, what is love without true constancy? 
 
 Like to a pillar built of many stones, 
 
 Yet neither with good mortar well compact 
 
 Nor with cement to fasten it in the joints, 
 
 But that it shakes with every blast of wind, 
 
 And, being touched, straight falls unto the earth, 
 
 And buries all his haughty pride in dust. 
 
 No, let our love be rocks of adamant, 
 
 Which time nor place nor tempest can asunder. 
 
12 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Alice 
 
 Mosbie, leave protestations now, 
 
 And let us bethink us what we have to do. 
 
 Mosbie and Alice go out by the staircase. Susan enters 
 from the passage and prepares the table for breakfast; 
 she is followed by Clarke. 
 
 Susan 
 
 Ah, that thou couldst be secret! 
 
 Clarke 
 
 Let it suffice. I know she loves me well, 
 
 And fain would have her husband made away : 
 
 Wherein, trust me, she shows a noble mind, 
 
 That rather than shell live with him she hates 
 
 Shell venture life and die with him she loves. 
 
 Susan 
 
 This well I know, 
 
 That nothing would enforce her to the deed 
 
 But love of thee. Might she without control 
 
 Enjoy thy love, then Arden should not die. 
 
 Clarke 
 
 But seeing she cannot, therefore let him die. 
 I happened on a painter yesternight, 
 The only cunning man of Christendom ; 
 For he can temper poison with his oil, 
 That whoso looks upon the work he draws 
 Shall, with the beams that issue from his sight, 
 Suck venom to his breast and slay himself. 
 Let him then draw thy mistress"* counterfeit, 
 That Arden may, by gazing on it, perish. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 13 
 
 Susan 
 
 Ay, gentle sir, but that is dangerous, 
 
 For thou, or I, or any other else, 
 
 Coming into the chamber where it hangs may die. 
 
 Clarke 
 
 Ay, but she'll have it covered with a cloth 
 
 And hung up in the study for himself. 
 
 Susan 
 
 It may not be, for when the picture's drawn, 
 
 Arden, you know, might come and show it me. 
 
 Clarke 
 
 I do remember once in secret talk 
 
 He told me how he could compound by art 
 
 A crucifix impoisoned. 
 
 That whoso look upon it should wax blind, 
 
 And with the scent be stifled, that ere long 
 
 He should die poisoned that did view it well. 
 
 Now let him make me such a crucifix, 
 
 And then I know your mistress will be mine. 
 
 Susan 
 
 Nay, I am loth because it toucheth other's life, 
 
 Besides, no way in reason is it possible 
 
 That he should paint and draw it out himself, 
 
 The colours being baleful and impoisoned, 
 
 And no way prejudice himself withal. 
 
 Clarke 
 
 Well questioned, wench, but yet I'll answer you, 
 
 And easily, for I can tell you straight 
 
 How he does work of these impoisoned drugs. 
 
14. LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 He fastens on his spectacles so close 
 As nothing can offend the needed sight. 
 Then as he puts a leaf within his nose, 
 So puts he rhubarb to avoid the smell, 
 And softly as another work he paints. 
 
 Susan 
 
 Enough! Enough! 
 
 Your trick of poisoned pictures we dislike; 
 
 Some other poison would do better far. 
 
 Clarke 
 
 Ay, such as might be put into his broth, 
 
 And yet in taste not to be found at all. 
 
 I know your mind, and here I have it for you. 
 
 Put but a dram of this into his drink, 
 
 Or any kind of broth that he shall eat, 
 
 And he shall die within an hour after. 
 
 Susan 
 
 And as I am her waiting-maid, next day 
 
 Thou and my mistress shall be married. 
 
 Michael enters from the passage. 
 Michael [a$itfe] 
 Now who is this? The rhymester, 
 He who Mistress Susan needs would win; 
 And I to humour her do call my corrival. 
 
 Clarke 
 
 How now, Michael? How doth your mistress? 
 
 Michael 
 
 Who? Susan Mosbie? She is your mistress too? 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 15 
 
 Clarke 
 
 Ay, how doth she and all the rest? 
 
 Michael 
 
 All's well but Susan; she is sick. 
 
 Susan 
 Sick! 
 
 Clarke 
 
 Of what disease? 
 
 Michael 
 
 Of a great fever. 
 
 Clarke 
 A fever? 
 
 Susan 
 God forbid! 
 
 Michael 
 
 Yes, faith, and of a lordaine * too, as big as yourself. 
 
 Susan 
 
 Oh, Michael, the spleen prickles you. 
 
 Clarke 
 
 Go to, you carry an eye over Mistress Susan. 
 
 Michael 
 
 I' faith, to keep her from the rhymester. 
 
 Clarke 
 
 Why more from a rhymester than from a serving creature 
 like yourself? 
 
 * Clown. 
 
16 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Michael 
 
 Because you rhymesters can spoil her beauty with blotting. 
 
 Clarke 
 
 And but another word will cost you a cuff or a knock. 
 
 Michael 
 
 What, with a dagger made of a pencil ? 
 Faith, 'tis too weak, and therefore thou too weak to win 
 Susan. 
 
 Clarke 
 
 Would Susan's love lay upon this stroke. 
 
 [He boxes Michael's ears. 
 Susan 
 I'll lay my life 'tis not for Susan's love! 
 
 Arden and Franklin return by the porch door; Su- 
 san, Clarke, and Michael run down the passage. 
 Arden 
 
 No, Franklin, no : if fear or stormy threats, 
 If love of me or care of womanhood, 
 If fear of God or common speech of men, 
 Who mangle credit with their wounding words, 
 And couch dishonour as dishonour buds, 
 Might join repentance in her wanton thoughts. 
 No question then but she would turn the leaf 
 And sorrow for her dissolution ; 
 But she is rooted in her wickedness, 
 Perverse and stubborn, not to be reclaimed; 
 Good counsel is to her as rain to weeds, 
 And reprehension makes her vice to grow 
 As Hydra's head that plenished by decay. 
 Her faults, methink, are painted in my face, 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 17 
 
 For every searching eye to overread; 
 And Mosbie's name, a scandal unto mine, 
 Is deeply trenched in my blushing brow. 
 Ah, Franklin, Franklin, when I think on this, 
 My heart's grief rends my other powers 
 Worse than the conflict at the hour of death. 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Gentle Arden, leave this sad lament: 
 
 She will amend, and so your griefs will cease ; 
 
 Or else she'll die, and so your sorrows end. 
 
 If neither of these two do haply fall, 
 
 Yet let your comfort be that others bear 
 
 Your woes, twice doubled all, with patience. 
 
 * 
 
 Arden 
 
 My house is irksome; here I cannot rest. 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Then come with me to London; stay not here. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Then that base Mosbie doth usurp my room 
 And makes his triumph of my being thence. 
 At home or not at home, where'er I be, 
 Here, here it lies, ah, Franklin, here it lies 
 That will not out till wretched Arden dies. 
 
 [Arden buries Jus face in his hands. 
 Franklin 
 
 Ah, what a hell is fretful jealousy ! 
 What pity-moving words, what deep-fetched sighs, 
 What grievous groans and overlading woes 
 Accompanies this gentle gentleman! 
 Now will he shake his care-oppressed head, 
 
18 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Then fix his sad eyes on the sullen earth, 
 Ashamed to gaze upon the open world; 
 Now will he cast his eyes up towards the heaven, 
 Looking that way for redress of wrong: 
 Sometimes he seeketh to beguile his grief 
 And tells a story with his careful tongue; 
 Then comes his wife's dishonour in his thoughts 
 And in the middle cutteth off his tale, 
 Pouring fresh sorrow on his weary limbs. 
 So woe-begone, so inly charged with woe, 
 Was never any lived and bare it so. 
 
 Alice and Mosbie return by the staircase. 
 Alice 
 
 In good time see where my husband is, 
 Master Mosbie, ask him the question yourself. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Master Arden, being at London yesternight, 
 
 The Abbey lands, whereof you are now possessed, 
 
 Were offered me on some occasion 
 
 By Greene, one of Sir Antony Ager's men : 
 
 I pray you, sir, tell me, are not the lands yours? 
 
 Hath any other interest herein? 
 
 Arden 
 
 Mosbie, that question we'll decide anon. 
 
 Alice, make ready my breakfast, I must hence. 
 
 [Alice goes down the passage. 
 As for the lands, Mosbie, they are mine 
 By letters patents from his Majesty. 
 But I must have a mandate for my wife; 
 They say you seek to rob me of her love: 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 19 
 
 Villain, what makes thou in her company? 
 She's no companion for so base a groom. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Arden, I thought not on her, I came to thee; 
 
 But rather than I pocket up this wrong — 
 
 Franklin 
 
 What will you do, sir? 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Revenge it on the proudest of you both. 
 
 [Arden draws Mosbie's sword oat of its scabbard. 
 Arden 
 
 So, sirrah; you may not wear a sword, 
 The statute makes against artificers; 
 I warrant that I do. Now use your bodkin, 
 Your Spanish needle, and your pressing iron, 
 For this shall go with me; and mark my words, 
 You goodman botcher, 'tis to you I speak: 
 The next time that I take thee near my house, 
 Instead of legs I'll make thee crawl on stumps. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Ah, Master Arden, you have injured me: 
 
 I do appeal to God and to the world. 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Why, canst thou deny thou wert a botcher once? 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Measure me what I am, not what I was. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Why, what art thou now but a velvet drudge, 
 
 A cheating steward, and base-minded peasant? 
 
20 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 MOSBIE 
 
 Arden, now thou hast belched and vomited 
 The rancorous venom of thy mis-swoll'n heart, 
 Hear me but speak: as I intend to live 
 With God and his elected saints in heaven, 
 I never meant more to solicit her; 
 And that she knows, and all the world shall see. 
 I loved her once — sweet Arden, pardon me, 
 I could not choose, her beauty fired my heart, 
 But time hath quenched these over-raging coals; 
 And, Arden, though I now frequent thy house, 
 'Tis for my sister's sake, her waiting-maid, 
 And not for hers. Mayest thou enjoy her long: 
 Hell-fire and wrathful vengeance light on me, 
 If I dishonour her or injure thee. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Mosbie, with these thy protestations 
 
 The deadly hatred of my heart's appeased, 
 
 And thou and I '11 be friends, if this prove true. 
 
 As for the base terms I gave thee late, 
 
 Forget them, Mosbie; I had cause to speak, 
 
 When all the knights and gentlemen of Kent 
 
 Make common table talk of her and thee. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Who lives that is not touched with slanderous tongues? 
 
 F^RANKLIN 
 
 Then, Mosbie, to eschew the speech of men, 
 Upon whose general bruit all honour hangs, 
 Forbear his house. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 21 
 
 Arden 
 
 Forbear it! nay, rather frequent it more: 
 The world shall see that I distrust her not, 
 To warn him on the sudden from my house 
 Were to confirm the rumour that is grown. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 By my faith, sir, you say true, 
 
 And therefore will I sojourn here a while, 
 
 Until our enemies have talked their fill; 
 
 And then, I hope, they'll cease, and at last confess 
 
 How causeless they have injured her and me. 
 
 Alice returns with Susan and Michael who are car- 
 rying the breakfast. 
 Alice 
 Husband, sit down; your breakfast will be cold. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Come, Master Mosbie, will you sit with us? 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 I cannot eat, but I '11 sit for company. 
 
 [They sit and Arden eats some porridge. 
 Arden 
 
 Sirrah Michael, see our horse be ready. 
 Come, Master Franklin, onwards with your tale. 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Do you remember where my tale did leave? 
 
 Arden 
 
 Ay, where the gentleman did check his wife. 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Pardon me, Master Arden, but not now. 
 
22 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Arden 
 
 Nay! a pretty tale beguiles — 
 
 Alice 
 
 Husband, why pause ye? why eat you not? 
 
 Arden 
 
 I am not well; there's something in this porridge — 
 
 A heavy blood is gathered at my heart, 
 
 And in the sudden is my wind so short — 
 
 This is not wholesome: didst thou make it, Alice? 
 
 Alice 
 
 I did, and that 's the cause it likes not you. 
 
 [She snatches up his bowl of por- 
 ridge and throws it on the ground. 
 There's nothing that I do can please your taste; 
 You were best to say I would have poisoned you. 
 I cannot speak or cast aside my eye, 
 But he imagines I have stepped awry. 
 Here's he that you cast in my teeth so oft: 
 I charge thee speak to this mistrustful man, 
 Thou that wouldst see me hang, thou, Mosbie, thou : 
 What favour hast thou had more than a kiss 
 At coming or departing from the town? 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 You wrong yourself and me to cast these doubts : 
 
 Your loving husband is not jealous. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Why, gentle Mistress Alice, cannot I be ill 
 
 But you'll accuse yourself? [All rise. 
 
 Franklin, thou hast a box of mithridate ; 
 
 I'll take a little to prevent the worst. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 23 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Do so, and let us presently take horse; 
 
 My life for yours, ye shall do well enough. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Give me a spoon, I'll eat of it myself; 
 Would it were full of poison to the brim, 
 Then should my cares and troubles have an end. 
 Was ever silly woman so tormented? 
 
 Arden 
 
 Be patient, sweet love; I mistrust not thee. 
 
 Alice 
 
 God will revenge it, Arden, if thou dost; 
 For never woman loved her husband better 
 Than I do thee. 
 
 Arden 
 
 I know it, sweet Alice; cease to complain, 
 Lest that in tears I answer thee again. 
 The season fits; come, Franklin, let's away. 
 
 Alice 
 
 I thought you did pretend some special hunt, 
 
 That made you thus cut short the time of rest. 
 
 Arden 
 
 It was no chase that made me rise so early, 
 
 But, as I told thee yesternight, to go 
 
 To the Isle of Sheppy, there to dine with my Lord 
 
 Cheiny ; 
 For so his honour late commanded me. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Ay, such kind husbands seldom want excuses; 
 
24 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Home is a wild cat to a wandering wit. 
 
 The time hath been, — would God it were not past, — 
 
 That honour's title nor a lord's command 
 
 Could once have drawn you from these arms of mine. 
 
 But my deserts or your desires decay, 
 
 Or both ; yet if true love may seem desert, 
 
 I merit still to have thy company, 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Why, I pray you, sir, let her go along with us; 
 
 I am sure his honour will welcome her 
 
 And us the more for bringing her along. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Content; sirrah, saddle your mistress' nag. 
 
 Alice 
 
 No ! Begged favour merits little thanks ; 
 If I should go, our house would run away, 
 Or else be stolen; therefore I'll stay behind. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Nay, see how mistaking you are ! I pray thee, go. 
 
 Alice 
 
 No, no, not now. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Then let me leave thee satisfied in this, 
 That time nor place nor persons alter me, 
 But that I hold thee dearer than my life. 
 
 Alice 
 
 That by your quick return will soon be seen. 
 
 Farewell, husband, seeing you'll have it so; 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 25 
 
 And, Master Franklin, seeing you take him hence, 
 In hope you'll hasten him home, I'll give you this. 
 
 [Kisses him. 
 Franklin 
 
 And if he stay, the fault shall not be mine. 
 
 Mosbie, farewell, and see you keep your oath. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 I hope he is not jealous of me now. 
 
 Arden 
 
 No, Mosbie, no ; hereafter think of me 
 
 As of your dearest friend, and so farewell. 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Come, Michael, are our horses ready? 
 
 Michael 
 
 Ay, your horses are ready, but I am not ready, for I have 
 
 lost my purse with six and thirty shillings in't. 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Why, I pray you, let us go before, while he stays behind 
 
 to seek his purse. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Go to, sirrah ! See you follow us to the Isle of Sheppy, 
 
 To my Lord Cheiny's, where we mean to dine. 
 
 [Arden and Franklin go out by the porch. 
 
 Michael [at the porch door] 
 
 So fare weather after you, for before you lies Black Will 
 and Shakebag in the alehouse close, too close for you : 
 they'll be your ferrymen to long home. 
 
 [Michael goes out by the passage. Alice and 
 Mosbie look at each other for a moment in silence. 
 
26 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Alice 
 
 Why, he 's as well now as he was before. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 But had he eaten but three spoonfuls more 
 
 Then had he died, and so our love continued. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Why, so it shall, Mosbie, albeit he live. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 It is impossible, for I have sworn 
 
 Never hereafter to solicit thee, 
 
 Or, whilst he lives, once more importune thee. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Thou shalt not need, I will importune thee. 
 What, shall an oath make thee forsake my love? 
 As if I have not sworn as much myself 
 And given my hand unto him in the church! 
 Tush, Mosbie; oaths are words, and words is wind, 
 And wind is mutable: then, I conclude, 
 'Tis childishness to stand upon an oath. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Well proved, Mistress Alice; yet by your leave 
 
 I '11 keep mine unbroken whilst he lives. 
 
 Alice 
 
 I Ve such good news that I must laugh with joy 
 
 Before I can begin my tale. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Let 's hear them, that I may laugh for company. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 27 
 
 Alice 
 
 Last morning, Master Greene, Dick Greene I mean, 
 
 From whom my husband had the Abbey land, 
 
 Came hither, railing, for to know the truth 
 
 Whether my husband had the lands by grant. 
 
 I told him all, whereat he stormed amain 
 
 And swore he would cry quittance with the churl, 
 
 And, if he did deny his interest, 
 
 Stab him, whatsoever did befall himself. 
 
 Whenas I saw his choler thus to rise, 
 
 I whetted on the gentleman with words; 
 
 And, to conclude, Mosbie, at last he grew 
 
 To composition for my husband's death. 
 
 I gave him ten pounds for to hire knaves, 
 
 By some device to make away the churl; 
 
 When he is dead he shall have twenty more, 
 
 And repossess his former lands again. 
 
 On this we 'greed, and he is plotting straight. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 But call you this good news? 
 
 Alice 
 
 Ay, sweetheart, be they not? 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 'Twere cheerful news to hear the churl were dead; 
 
 But trust me, Alice, I take it passing ill 
 
 You would be so forgetful of our state 
 
 To make recount of it to every groom. 
 
 What! to acquaint each stranger with our drifts, 
 
 Chiefly in case of murder, why, 'tis the way 
 
 To make it open unto Arden's self 
 
 And bring thyself and me to ruin both. 
 
28 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Forewarned, forearmed; who threats his enemy 
 Lends him a sword to guard himself withal. 
 
 Alice 
 
 I did it for the best. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Well, seeing 'tis done, cheerly let it pass. 
 You know this Greene; is he not religious? 
 A man, I guess, of great devotion ? 
 
 Alice 
 He is. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 'Twill serve the turn. 
 Now, Alice, let's in and see what cheer you keep. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Mosbie, you know, who's master of my heart, 
 
 He well may be the master of the house. 
 
 Alice and Mosbie go out by the staircase; Michael 
 returns by the passage with Susan; she clears the 
 breakfast table. 
 Michael 
 
 Ah, Mistress Susan, abolish that paltry rhymester; cut 
 him off by the shins with a frowning look of your 
 crabbed countenance, and think upon Michael, who 
 drunk with the dregs of your favour, will cleave as fast 
 to your love as a plaster of pitch to a galled horseback. 
 I hope you'll think on me. 
 
 Susan 
 
 Ay ; but, good Michael, see you keep your oath, 
 
 As you are resolute, be you as secret. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 29 
 
 Michael 
 
 I '11 see he shall not live above a week. 
 
 Susan 
 
 On that condition, Michael, know in truth 
 
 None shall have Mosbie's sister but thyself. 
 
 Michael 
 
 Nay, but they say that rhymester here hard by 
 
 Hath made report that he and you are sure. 
 
 Susan 
 
 There 's no such matter, Michael ; believe it not. 
 
 Michael 
 
 But he hath sent a dagger sticking in a heart, 
 
 With a verse or two stolen from a painted cloth, 
 
 The which I hear thou keepest in thy chest. 
 
 Well, keep it there! I shall find a fellow 
 
 That can both write and read and make rhymes too. 
 
 And if I do — well, I say no more: 
 
 For I will send thee such a taunting letter 
 
 As thou shalt eat the heart he sent with salt, 
 
 And fling the dagger at this rhymester's head. 
 
 Susan 
 
 What needs all this? I say that I am thine. 
 
 Michael 
 
 Why, then, I say that I will kill thy master, 
 
 Or anything that thou wilt have me do. 
 
 Susan 
 
 But, Michael, see you do it cunningly. 
 
SO LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Michael 
 
 Why, say I should be took, I'll ne'er confess 
 
 That you know anything; and since you are a maid, 
 
 You'll beg me from the gallows of the sheriff. 
 
 Susan 
 
 Trust not to that, Michael. 
 
 Michael 
 
 You cannot tell, and I have seen it, I. 
 
 But Susan knows, whether I live or die, 
 
 I'll make her worth more than that rhymester can. 
 
 For I will rid mine elder brother away, 
 
 And then the farm of Bolton will be mine, 
 
 Who would not venture upon house and land 
 
 When he may have it for a right down blow? 
 
 [The porch door opens. 
 Susan 
 
 Yonder comes Greene. Michael, get thee gone, 
 And let not him nor any know thy drift. 
 
 Michael [o^'die] 
 
 Shall I be married to so base a trull 
 
 As Mosbie's sister? Nay, not I. Squire Franklin 
 
 Shall rouse her from remaining in this house. 
 
 Both she and Mosbie, Clarke and Greene and all, 
 
 A crew of harlots ! 
 
 Michael goes down the passage; Greene enters by 
 
 the porch door. 
 Greene 
 
 Ah, Mistress Susan, now well met in faith. 
 And so I hear your master is from home. 
 But where 's your mistress, may I speak with her? 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 31 
 
 Susan 
 
 What is it, Master Greene ? If that I may 
 
 Or can with safety, I will answer you. 
 
 Greene 
 
 Your master does me wrong 
 
 To wring me from the little land I have 
 
 And what is left remainder of my portion 
 
 Which is my life, alas! Ay, only that. 
 
 Desire of wealth is endless in his mind, 
 
 And he is greedy — gaping still for gain; 
 
 Nor cares he though young gentlemen do beg, 
 
 So he may scrape and hoard up in his pouch. 
 
 But, seeing he hath ta'en my lands, I'll value life 
 
 As careless as he is careful for to get; 
 
 And tell your mistress that I am revenged, 
 
 And so shell hear within this hour at most. 
 
 Susan 
 
 Alas, poor gentleman, I pity you, 
 
 And woe is me that any man should want! 
 
 God knows 't is not her fault ; but wonder not 
 
 Though he be hard to others, when to my mistress 
 
 Ah, Master Greene, God knows how she is used. 
 
 Greene 
 
 Why, Mistress Susan, can the crabbed churl 
 Use her unkindly? Respects he not her birth, 
 Her honourable friends, nor what she brought? 
 Nor parentage? Why, all Kent knows her worth. 
 
 Susan 
 
 Ah, Master Greene, be it spoken in secret here, 
 
 She never lives good day with him alone: 
 
32 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 When he's at home, then has she fro ward looks, 
 
 Hard words and blows to mend the match withal; 
 
 And though she might content as good a man, 
 
 Yet doth he keep in every corner trulls; 
 
 And when he wearies of his trugs at home, 
 
 Then rides he straight to London; there, forsooth, 
 
 He revels it among such filthy ones 
 
 As counsels him to make away his wife. 
 
 Thus live she daily in continual fear, 
 
 In sorrow ; so despairing of redress 
 
 As every day she wish with hearty prayer 
 
 That he or she were taken from the world. 
 
 Greene 
 
 Now trust me, Mistress Susan; it grieveth me 
 
 So fair a creature should be so abused. 
 
 Why, who would have thought the civil sir so sullen 
 
 He looks so smoothly. Now, fie upon him, churl! 
 
 And if he live a day, he lives too long. 
 
 Susan 
 
 But speak you as you think? 
 
 Greene 
 
 Ay, God's my witness; I mean plain dealing 
 
 So she keep promise with me about my land. 
 
 Susan 
 
 Or count her false, or perjured whilst I live. 
 
 [The porch door opens sloitfy. 
 Greene 
 
 But here's Black Will. Perchance — 
 You shall hear more anon. I'll follow you. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 33 
 
 Susan 
 
 Good fortune follow all your forward thoughts. 
 
 Susan leaves by the passage as Black Will and 
 
 Shakebag enter by the porch door. 
 Greene 
 What, is he down, is he dispatched? 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 Ay, in health towards Surland to shame us all. 
 
 Greene 
 
 The devil he is! why, sirs, how escaped he? 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 When we were ready to shoot, 
 
 Comes my Lord Cheiny to prevent his death. 
 
 Greene 
 
 The Lord of Heaven hath preserved him ! 
 
 Will 
 
 Preserved a fig! the Lord Cheiny hath preserved him, 
 
 And bids him to a feast to his house at Surland. 
 
 Greene 
 
 What! dare you not do it? 
 
 Will 
 
 Yes, sir, we dare do it; but, were my consent to give 
 again, we would not do it under ten pound more. I 
 value every drop of my blood at a French crown. I have 
 had ten pound to steal a dog, and we have no more here 
 to kill a man; but that a bargain is a bargain, and so 
 forth, you should do it yourself. 
 
34 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Greene 
 
 I pray thee, how came thy head broke? 
 
 Will 
 
 Why, thou seest it is broke, dost thou not? 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 But forbearance is no acquittance; another time we'll do 
 
 it, I warrant thee. 
 
 Greene 
 
 I pray thee, Will, make clean thy bloody brow, 
 And let us think upon some other place 
 Where Arden may be met with handsomely. 
 Remember how devoutly thou hast sworn 
 To kill the villain ; think upon thine oath. 
 
 Will 
 
 Tush, I have broken five-hundred oaths! 
 
 But wouldst thou charm me to effect this deed, 
 
 Tell me of gold, my resolution's fee; 
 
 Say thou seest Mosbie kneeling at my knees, 
 
 Offering me service for my high attempt; 
 
 And sweet Alice Arden, with a lap of crowns, 
 
 Comes with a lowly curtsey to the earth, 
 
 Saying "Take this but for thy quarterage, 
 
 Such yearly tribute will I answer thee."" 
 
 Why, this would steel soft-mettled cowardice, 
 
 With which Black Will was never tainted yet. 
 
 I tell thee, Greene, the forlorn traveller, 
 
 Whose lips are glued with summer's parching heat, 
 
 Ne'er longed so much to see a running brook 
 
 As I to finish Arden's tragedy. 
 
 Seest thou this gore that cleaveth to my face? 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 35 
 
 From hence ne'er will I wash this bloody stain, 
 Till Arden's heart be panting in my hand. 
 
 Greene 
 
 Why, that's well said; but what saith Shakebag? 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 I cannot paint my valour out with words: 
 
 But, give me place and opportunity, 
 
 Such mercy as the starven lioness, 
 
 When she is dry sucked of her eager young, 
 
 Shows to the prey that next encounters her, 
 
 On Arden so much pity would I take. 
 
 Greene 
 
 So should it fare with men of firm resolve. 
 
 Michael returns by the passage. 
 Michael 
 
 How now, Master Shakebag ? what, Black Will ! 
 God's dear lady, how chance your face is so bloody? 
 
 Will 
 
 Go to, sirrah, there is a chance in it; this sauciness in 
 
 you will make you be knocked. 
 
 Michael 
 
 Nay, an you be offended, I'll be gone. 
 
 Greene 
 
 Stay, Michael, you may not escape us so. 
 
 Michael, I know you love your master well. 
 
 Michael 
 
 Why, so I do; but wherefore urge you that? 
 
36 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Greene 
 
 Because I think you love your mistress better. 
 
 Michael 
 
 So think not I; but say, i' faith, what if I should? 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 Come to the purpose, Michael; we hear 
 
 You have a pretty love in Faversham. 
 
 Michael 
 
 Why, have I two or three, what's that to thee! 
 
 Will 
 
 You deal too mildly with the peasant. Thus it is; 
 'T is known to us that you love Mosbie's sister ; 
 We know besides that you have ta'en your oath 
 To further Mosbie to your mistress' house 
 And kill your master for his sister's sake. 
 Now, sir, a poorer coward than yourself 
 Was never fostered in the coast of Kent : 
 How comes it then that such a knave as you 
 Dare swear a matter of such consequence? 
 
 Greene 
 Ah, Will— 
 
 Will 
 
 Tush, give me leave, there's no more but this: 
 
 Sith thou hast sworn, we dare discover all; 
 
 And hadst thou or should'st thou utter it, 
 
 We have devised a complat under hand, 
 
 Whatever shall betide to any of us, 
 
 To send thee roundly to the devil of hell. 
 
 And therefore thus : / am the very man, 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 37 
 
 Marked in my birth-hour by the destinies, 
 To give an end to Arden's life on earth ; 
 Thou but a member but to whet the knife 
 Whose edge must serve the closet of his breast: 
 Thy office is but to appoint the place, 
 And train thy master to his tragedy; 
 Mine to perform it when occasion serves. 
 Then be not nice, but here devise with us 
 How and what way we may conclude his death. 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 So shalt thou purchase Mosbie for thy friend, 
 
 And by his friendship gain his sister's love. 
 
 Greene 
 
 So shall thy mistress be thy favourer, 
 
 And thou disburdened of the oath thou made. 
 
 Michael 
 
 Well, gentlemen, I cannot but confess, 
 
 Sith you have urged me so apparently, 
 
 That I have vowed my master Arden's death; 
 
 And he whose kindly love and liberal hand 
 
 Doth challenge nought but good deserts of me, 
 
 I will deliver over to your hands. 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 Come, Will, see thy tools be in a readiness! 
 
 Is not thy powder dank, or will thy flint strike fire? 
 
 Will 
 
 Then ask me if my nose be on my face, 
 
 Or whether my tongue be frozen in my mouth. 
 
 Zounds, here 's a coil ! 
 
 You were best swear me on the interrogatories 
 
38 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 How many pistols I have took in hand, 
 Or whether I love the smell of gunpowder, 
 Or dare abide the noise the dag* will make, 
 Or will not wink at flashing of the fire. 
 I pray thee, Shakebag, let this answer thee, 
 That I have took more purses on a down 
 Than e'er thou handledst pistols in thy life. 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 Ay, haply thou hast picked more in a throng: 
 But, should I brag what booties I have took, 
 I think the overplus that's more than thine 
 Would mount to a greater sum of money 
 Then either thou or all thy kin are worth. 
 Zounds, I hate them as I hate a toad 
 That carry a muscado in their tongue, 
 And scarce a hurting weapon in their hand. 
 
 Will 
 
 Greene, intolerable ! 
 
 It is not for mine honour to bear this. 
 
 Why, Shakebag, I did serve the king at Boulogne, 
 
 And thou canst brag of nothing that thou hast done. 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 Why, so can Jack of Faversham, 
 
 That sounded for a fillip on the nose, 
 
 When he that gave it him holloed in his ear, 
 
 And he supposed a cannon bullet hit him. 
 
 Greene 
 
 1 pray you, sirs, list to ^Esop's talk: 
 
 Whilst two stout dogs were striving for a bone, 
 
 * A pistol. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 39 
 
 There comes a cur and stole it from them both; 
 
 So, while you stand striving on these terms of manhood, 
 
 Arden escapes us, and deceives us all. 
 
 Shakebag 
 Why, he begun. 
 
 Will 
 
 And thou shalt find I'll end; 
 
 I do but slip it until better time: 
 
 But, if I do forget — 
 
 [Will kneels as if protesting before Heaven. 
 
 Greene 
 
 Well, take your fittest standings, and once more 
 
 Lime well your twigs to catch this wary bird. 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 He 's dead as if he had been condemned by Act of Par- 
 liament, if once Black Will and I swear his death. 
 
 Greene 
 
 But, sirs, be sure to speed him when he comes. 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 If he be not paid his own, ne'er trust Shakebag. 
 
 Will 
 
 My fingers itches to be at the peasant, 
 
 Ah ! that I might be set awork thus through the year, 
 and that murder would grow to an occupation that a 
 man might follow without danger of law. 
 
 Greene 
 
 But brawl not when I am gone, in any case. 
 
 And now I'll leave you till the deed be done. 
 
 [Greener out by the porch door. 
 
40 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Will 
 
 Sirrah, Shakebag, at his coming home I'll run him 
 
 through, 
 And then to the quay, and there take water and away. 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 And see thou miss him not. 
 
 Greene returns. 
 Greene 
 
 Ay, and excuse yourselves to Mistress Arden, 
 O, how she '11 chafe when she shall hear of this. 
 
 Susan enters with lights. 
 Will 
 
 Zounds, I could kill myself for very anger, 
 His lordship chops me in, 
 Even when my dag was levelled at his heart. 
 
 Greene 
 
 Why, I'll warrant you she'll think you dare not do it. 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 Arden he has wondrous holy luck. 
 
 Did ever man escape as he has done? 
 
 Susan 
 
 Fie, what a mist there is! 
 
 Greene 
 
 And this same mist, good Sue, is mystical. 
 
 Like to a pothouse stinkard's brain, 
 
 That was half drowned with new ale over-night. 
 
 Susan 
 
 'Twere pity but his skull were opened to make more 
 chimney-room. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 41 
 
 Will [at porch door] 
 
 Did you ever see such a mist as this? 
 
 Susan 
 
 Nor two such cowards, so will my mistress say. 
 
 Will 
 
 Then let us wait and tell her all the matter, 
 And plot the news to cut him off to-morrow. 
 Come, Shakebag, we '11 go drink and then return. 
 
 Greene 
 
 Now ye have missed the mark of your intent ! 
 
 [Black Will, Shakebag, and Greener out 
 by the porch door; Susan retires down the passage. 
 
 Michael [alone] 
 
 That grim-faced fellow, pitiless Black Will, 
 
 And Shakebag, stern in bloody stratagem, 
 
 — Two rougher ruffians never lived in Kent, — 
 
 Have sworn my death, if I infringe my vow, 
 
 A dreadful thing to be considered of. 
 
 My Master's kindness pleads to me for life 
 
 With just demand and I must grant it him. 
 
 Methinks I see them with their bolstered hair 
 
 Staring and grinning in my master's face, 
 
 And in their ruthless hands their daggers drawn, 
 
 Insulting o'er him with a peck of oaths, 
 
 Whilst he submissive, pleading for relief, 
 
 Is mangled by their ireful instruments. 
 
 Methinks I hear them ask where Michael is, 
 
 And pitiless Black Will cries: "Stab the slave! 
 
 The peasant will detect the tragedy!" 
 
 The wrinkles in his foul death-threat'ning face 
 
42 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Gapes open wide, like graves to swallow men. 
 My death to him is but a merriment, 
 And he will murder me to make him sport. 
 My trembling joints witness my inward fear. 
 
 Michael goes out by the porch door; Mosbie enters 
 
 from the staircase. 
 Mosbie 
 
 Disturbed thoughts drives me from company 
 And dries my marrow with their watchfulness ; 
 Continual trouble of my moody brain 
 Feebles my body by excess of drink, 
 And nips me as the bitter north-east wind 
 Doth check the tender blossoms in the spring. 
 Well fares the man, howe'er his cates do taste, 
 That tables not with foul suspicion; 
 And he but pines amongst his delicates, 
 Whose troubled mind is stuffed with discontent. 
 My golden time was when I had no gold; 
 Though then I wanted, yet I slept secure; 
 My daily toil begat me nights repose, 
 My night's repose made daylight fresh to me. 
 But since I climbed the top-bough of the tree 
 And sought to build my nest among the clouds, 
 Each gentle stirry gale doth shake my bed, 
 And makes me dread my downfall to the earth. 
 But whither doth contemplation carry me? 
 The one I seek to find, where pleasure dwells, 
 Is hedged behind me that I cannot back, 
 But needs must on, although to danger's gate. 
 Then, Arden, perish thou by that decree; 
 For Greene doth ear the land and weed thee up 
 To make my harvest nothing but pure corn. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 43 
 
 And for his pains I'll hive him up a while, 
 
 And after smother him to have his wax : 
 
 Such bees as Greene must never live to sting. 
 
 Then is there Michael, Clarke, and Shakebag, too, 
 
 Chief actors now to Arden's overthrow ; 
 
 Who when they see me sit in Arden's seat, 
 
 They will insult upon me for my meed, 
 
 Or fright me by detecting of his end. 
 
 I'll none of that, for I can cast a bone 
 
 To make these curs pluck out each other's throat, 
 
 And then am I sole ruler of mine own. 
 
 Yet Mistress Arden lives; but she's myself, 
 
 And holy Church rites makes us two but one. 
 
 But what for that? I may not trust you, Alice: 
 
 You have supplanted Arden for my sake, 
 
 And will extirpen me to plant another. 
 
 'Tis fearful sleeping in a serpent's bed, 
 
 And I will cleanly rid my hands of her. 
 
 Alice comes down the staircase; a breviary is in her 
 
 hand. 
 But here she comes, and I must flatter her. 
 — How now, Alice? what, sad and passionate? 
 Make me partaker of thy pensiveness : 
 Fire divided burns with lesser force. 
 
 Alice 
 
 But I will dam that fire in my breast 
 Till by the force thereof my part consume. 
 Ah, Mosbie! 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Such deep pathaires, like to a cannon's burst 
 
 Discharged against a ruinated wall, 
 
44 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Breaks my relenting heart in thousand pieces. 
 Ungentle Alice, thy sorrow is my sore; 
 Thou know'st it well, and 'tis thy policy 
 To forge distressful looks to wound a breast 
 Where lies a heart that dies when thou art sad. 
 It is not love that loves to anger love. 
 
 Alice 
 
 It is not love that loves to murder love. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 How mean you that? 
 
 Alice 
 
 Thou knowest how dearly Arden loved me. 
 
 Mosbie 
 And then? 
 
 Alice 
 
 And then — conceal the rest, for 'tis too bad, 
 Lest that my words be carried with the wind, 
 And published in the world to both our shames. 
 I pray thee, Mosbie, let our springtime wither; 
 Our harvest else will yield but loathsome weeds. 
 Forget, I pray thee, what hath passed betwixt us, 
 For how I blush and tremble at the thoughts! 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 What? are you changed? 
 
 Alice 
 
 Ay, to my former happy life again, 
 
 From title of an odious strumpet's name 
 
 To honest Arden's wife, not Arden's honest wife. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 45 
 
 Ha, Mosbie! 'tis thou hast rifled me of that 
 And made me slanderous to all my kin; 
 Even in my forehead is thy name ingraven, 
 A mean artificer, that low-born name. 
 I was bewitched: woe worth the hapless hour 
 And all the causes that enchanted me! 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Nay, if you ban, let me breathe curses forth 
 
 And if you stand so nicely at your fame, 
 
 Let me repent the credit I have lost. 
 
 I have neglected matters of import 
 
 That would have stated me above thy state, 
 
 Forslowed advantages, and spurned at time; 
 
 Ay, Fortune's right hand Mosbie hath forsook 
 
 To take a wanton giglot by the left. 
 
 I left the marriage of an honest maid, 
 
 Whose dowry would have weighed down all thy wealth, 
 
 Whose beauty and demeanour far exceeded thee: 
 
 This certain good I lost for changing bad, 
 
 And wrapt my credit in thy company. 
 
 / was bewitched, — that is no theme of thine, 
 
 And thou unhallowed has enchanted me. 
 
 But I will break thy spells and exorcisms, 
 
 And put another sight upon these eyes 
 
 That showed my heart a raven for a dove. 
 
 Thou art not fair, I viewed thee not till now; 
 
 Thou art not kind, till now I knew thee not; 
 
 And now the rain hath beaten off thy gilt, 
 
 Thy worthless copper shows thee counterfeit. 
 
 It grieves me not to see how foul thou art, 
 
 But mads me that I ever thought thee fair. 
 
46 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Go, get thee gone, a copesmate for thy hinds; 
 I am too good to be thy favourite. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Ay, now I see, and too soon find it true, 
 Which often hath been told me by my friends, 
 That Mosbie loves me not but for my wealth, 
 Which too incredulous I ne'er believed. 
 
 [Mosbie puts on his hat to go. 
 Nay, hear me speak, Mosbie, a word or two; 
 I'll bite my tongue if it speak bitterly. 
 Look on me, Mosbie, or I'll kill myself: 
 Nothing shall hide me from thy stormy look. 
 If thou cry war, there is no peace for me; 
 I will do penance for offending thee, 
 And burn this prayer, where I here use 
 The holy word that had converted me. 
 See, Mosbie, I will tear away the leaves, 
 And all the leaves, and in this golden cover 
 Shall thy sweet phrases and thy letters dwell; 
 And thereon will I chiefly meditate, 
 And hold no other sect but such devotion. 
 Wilt thou not look? is all thy love o'erwhelmed? 
 Wilt thou not hear? what malice stops thine ears? 
 Why speaks thou not? what silence ties thy tongue? 
 Thou hast been sighted as the eagle is, 
 And heard as quickly as the fearful hare, 
 And spoke as smoothly as an orator, 
 When I have bid thee hear or see or speak, 
 And art thou sensible in none of these? 
 Weigh all thy good turns with this little fault, 
 And I deserve not Mosbie's muddy looks. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 47 
 
 A fence of trouble is not thickened still : 
 Be clear again, 1 11 ne'er more trouble thee. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Oh, no; I am a base artificer: 
 
 My wings are feathered for a lowly flight. 
 
 Mosbie ? fie ! no, not for a thousand pound. 
 
 Make love to you? why, 'tis unpardonable; 
 
 We beggars must not breathe where gentles are. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Sweet Mosbie is as gentle as a king, 
 
 And I too blind to judge him otherwise. 
 
 Flowers do sometimes spring in fallow lands, 
 
 Weeds in gardens, roses grow on thorns; 
 
 So, whatsoe'er my Mosbie's father was, 
 
 Himself is valued gentle by his worth. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Ah, how you women can insinuate, 
 
 And clear a trespass with your sweet-set tongue! 
 
 I will forget this quarrel, gentle Alice, 
 
 Provided I be tempted so no more. 
 
 Black Will and Shakebag return by the porch door, 
 
 their clothes covered with mud. 
 Black Will and Shakebag, what make you here? 
 What, is the deed done? is Arden dead? 
 
 Will 
 
 What could a blinded man perform in arms? 
 Saw you not how till now the sky was dark, 
 That neither horse nor man could be discerned ? 
 Yet did we hear their horses as they passed. 
 
48 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 MOSBIE 
 
 Have they escaped you, then, and passed the ferry? 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 Zounds, I was ne^r so toiled in all my life 
 
 In following so slight a task as this. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 How cam'st thou so berayed? 
 
 Will 
 
 With making false footing in the dark; 
 
 Alice 
 
 Here 's to pay for a fire and good cheer. 
 
 Will 
 
 Ay, Mistress Arden, this will serve the turn, 
 
 In case we fall into a second fog. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Go in, Black Will ; call for a cup of ale, 
 
 And thou shalt stay with us till supper time. 
 
 If I call "murder," then return at once, 
 
 And bring your honest friend along with you. 
 
 Will 
 
 Come, Shakebag, 
 
 We shall be hanged in Kent when all is done. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Not hanged, God save the mark ! 
 
 You are my bedesmen, bound to pray for me. 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 He never said a prayer in all his life. 
 
 [Black Will and Shakebag 
 retire down the passage. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 4f) 
 
 MOSBIE 
 
 These knaves will never do it, let us give it over. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Soon, when my husband is returning back, 
 
 Like loving friends we'll meet him on the way, 
 
 And boldly beard and brave him to his teeth. 
 
 When words grow hot and blows begin to rise, 
 
 I '11 call these cutters forth our tenement, 
 
 Who, in a manner to take up the fray, 
 
 Shall wound my husband Hornsby to the death. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 A fine device! why, this deserves a kiss. 
 
 Alice is leaning against the table and Mosbie seated 
 near her; as they embrace, Franklin and A it den en- 
 ter by the porch door. 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Why, there 's no better creatures in the world 
 
 Then women are when they are in good humours. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Humours, forsooth, that stifle like this fog! 
 Who is that? Mosbie? what, so familiar? 
 Injurious strumpet, and thou ribald knave, 
 Untwine those arms. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Ay, with a sugared kiss let them untwine. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Ah, Mosbie! perjured beast! bear this and all! 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 And yet no horned beast; the horns are thine. 
 
50 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Oh, monstrous ! Nay, then it is time to draw. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Help, help! they murder my husband. 
 
 Will and Shakebag return with drawn swords. 
 Shakebag 
 Zounds, who injures Master Mosbie? 
 
 [There is a fight; Franklin attacks Will and 
 Shakebag, who run away at once, frightened ; A r - 
 den disarms Mosbie with his sword, wounding him. 
 Help! Will! I am hurt. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 I may thank you, Mistress Arden, for this wound. 
 
 [Mosbie goes out by the porch door. 
 Alice 
 
 Ah, Arden, what folly blinded thee? 
 Ah, jealous harebrained man, what hast thou done 
 When we, to welcome thee with intended sport, 
 Stood lovingly to greet thy coming home, 
 Thou drew'st thy sword, enraged with jealousy, 
 And hurt thy friend whose thoughts were free from 
 
 harm: 
 All for a worthless kiss and joining arms, 
 Both done but merrily to try thy patience. 
 And me unhappy that devised the jest, 
 Which, though begun in sport, yet ends in blood! 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Marry, God defend me from such a jest! 
 
 Alice 
 
 Could'st thou not see us friendly smile on thee, 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 51 
 
 When we joined arms, and when I kissed his cheek? 
 Hast thou not lately found me over-kind? 
 Did'st thou not hear me cry "they murder thee"? 
 Called I not help to set my husband free? 
 No, ears and all were witched; ah, me accursed 
 To link in liking with a frantic man ! 
 Henceforth I'll be thy slave, no more thy wife, 
 For with that name I never shall content thee. 
 If I be merry, thou straightways thinks me light; 
 If sad, thou sayest the sullens trouble me; 
 If well attired, thou thinks I will be gadding; 
 If homely, I seem sluttish in thine eye : 
 Thus am I still, and shall be while I die. 
 Poor wench abused by thy misgovernment! 
 
 Arden 
 
 But is it for truth that neither thou nor he 
 
 Intendedst malice in your misdemeanour? 
 
 Alice 
 
 The heavens can witness of our harmless thoughts. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Then pardon me, sweet Alice, and forgive this fault. 
 
 Forget but this and never see the like. 
 
 Impose me penance, and I will perform it, 
 
 For in thy discontent I find a death, — 
 
 A death tormenting more than death itself. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Nay, had'st thou loved me as thou dost pretend, 
 
 Thou wouldst have marked the speeches of thy friend, 
 
 Who going wounded from the place, he said 
 
 His skin was pierced only through my device: 
 
52 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 And if sad sorrow taint thee for this fault, 
 Thou wouldst have followed him, and seen him dressed, 
 And cried him mercy whom thou hast misdone; 
 Ne'er shall my heart be eased till this be done. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Content thee, sweet Alice, thou shalt have thy will, 
 
 Whate'er it be. For that I injured thee, 
 
 And wronged my friend, shame scourgeth my offence; 
 
 Come thou thyself, and go along with me, 
 
 And be a mediator 'twixt us two. 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Why, Master Arden ! know you what you do ? 
 
 Will you follow him that hath dishonoured you? 
 
 Alice 
 
 Why, canst thou prove that I have been disloyal? 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Why, Mosbie taunted your husband with the like. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Ay, after that he had reviled him 
 
 By the injurious name of perjured beast: 
 
 He knew no wrong could spite a jealous man 
 
 More than the hateful naming of the like. 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Suppose 'tis true; yet is it dangerous 
 
 To follow him whom he hath lately hurt. 
 
 Alice 
 
 A fault confessed is more than half amends; 
 
 But men of such ill spirit as yourself 
 
 Work crosses and debates 'twixt man and wife. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 53 
 
 Arden 
 
 I pray thee, gentle Franklin, hold thy peace: 
 
 I know my wife doth counsel for the best. 
 
 I '11 seek out Mosbie where his wound is dressed, 
 
 And salve this hapless quarrel if I may. 
 
 [Arden goes out by the porch door, 
 
 and Alice retires by the staircase. 
 Franklin 
 
 He whom the devil drives must go perforce. 
 
 Poor gentleman, how soon he is bewitched! 
 
 And yet, because his wife is the instrument, 
 
 His friends must not be lavish in their speech. 
 
 Franklin goes out by the porch door ; Black Will awe? 
 
 Shakebag return with Greene by the passage. 
 Will 
 Sirrah Greene, when was I so long in killing a man? 
 
 Greene 
 
 I think we shall never do it; let us give it over. 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 Nay, Zounds ! we '11 kill him, though we be hanged at 
 
 his door for our labour. 
 
 Will 
 
 Thou knowst, Greene, that I have lived in London this 
 twelve years, where I have made some go upon wooden 
 legs for taking the wall on me; divers with silver noses 
 for saying "There goes Black Will!" I have cracked as 
 many blades as thou hast nuts. 
 
 Greene 
 
 Oh monstrous lie! 
 
54 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Will 
 
 Faith, in a manner I have. For a cross word of a tapster 
 I have pierced one barrel after another with my dagger, 
 and held him by the ears till all his beer hath run out. 
 In Thames Street a brewer's cart was like to have run 
 over me : I made no more ado, but went to the clerk and 
 cut all the notches of his tallies and beat them about his 
 head. I and my company have taken the constable from 
 his watch, and carried him about the fields on a coltstaff. 
 I have broken a sergeant's head with his own mace, and 
 bailed whom I list with my sword and buckler. All the 
 tenpenny-alehouses-men would stand every morning with 
 a quart pot in their hand, saying, "Will it please your 
 worship drink?" He that had not done so, had been sure 
 to have had his sign pulled down and his lattice borne 
 away the next night. To conclude, what have I not done? 
 yet cannot do this ; doubtless, he is preserved by miracle. 
 
 Alice returns by the staircase. 
 Greene 
 Hence, Will! here comes Mistress Arden. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Ah, gentlemen, how missed you of your purpose? 
 
 Greene 
 
 Twas 'long of Shakebag, that unlucky villain. 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 Thou dost me wrong; I did as much as any. 
 
 Will 
 
 Nay then, Mistress Arden, I'll tell you how it was: 
 When he should have locked with both his hilts, 
 He in a bravery flourished o'er his head; 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 55 
 
 With that comes Franklin at him lustily, 
 And hurts the slave; with that he slinks away. 
 Now his way had been to have come hand and feet, one 
 and two round, at his costard; he like a fool bears his 
 sword-point half a yard out of danger. [He takes a posi- 
 tion on gtiard.] I lie here for my life; if the devil come, 
 and he have no more strength than I have fence, he shall 
 never beat me from this ward, I'll stand to it; a buckler 
 in a skilful hand is as good as a castle; nay, 'tis better 
 than a sconce, for I have tried it. 
 Mosbie, perceiving this, began to faint: 
 With that comes Arden with his arming sword, 
 And thrust him through the shoulder in a trice. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Ay, but I wonder why you both stood still. 
 
 Will 
 
 Faith, I was so amazed, I could not strike. 
 
 Mosbie returns by the porch door, his arm is in a sling-. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Sweet Mosbie, hide thy arm, it kills my heart. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Ay, Mistress Arden, this is your favour. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Ah, say not so; for when I saw thee hurt, 
 I could have took the weapon thou let'st fall, 
 And run at Arden. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Then had we been undone. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Why, how long shall he liver 
 
56 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 MOSBIE 
 
 Faith, Alice, no longer than this night. — 
 You, Master Greene, shall single Franklin forth, 
 And hold him with a long tale of strange news, 
 That he may not come home till supper-time. 
 I'll fetch Master Arden home, and we like friends 
 Will play a game or two at tables here. 
 
 Alice 
 
 But what of all this ? 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Shakebag and Will behind that passage door 
 
 Shall at a certain watchword given rush forth. 
 
 Will 
 
 What shall the watchword be? 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 "Now I take vou:" that shall be the word: 
 
 But come not forth before in any case. 
 
 Will 
 
 I warrant you. But who shall lock me in ? 
 
 Alice 
 
 That will I do. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Come, Master Greene, go you along with me. 
 
 See all things ready, Alice, against we come. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Take no care for that; send you him home. 
 
 [Mosbie and Greene^o out by the porch door. 
 How like you this? say, will you do it, sirs? 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 57 
 
 Will 
 
 Ay, and that bravely, too. Mark my device: 
 
 Place Mosbie, being a stranger, in a chair, 
 
 And let your husband sit upon a stool, 
 
 That I may come behind him cunningly, 
 
 And with a towel pull him to the ground. 
 
 That done, bear him behind the Abbey, 
 
 That those that find him murdered may suppose 
 
 Some slave or other killed him for his gold. 
 
 Alice 
 
 A fine device! you shall have twenty pound. 
 
 Will 
 
 Give me the key that locks this passage door. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Here would I stay and still encourage you; 
 
 But that I know how resolute you are. 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 Tush, you are too faint-hearted; we must do it. 
 
 Alice 
 
 But Mosbie will be there, whose very looks 
 
 Will add unwonted courage to my thought. 
 
 Will 
 
 Tush, get you gone; 'tis we must do the deed. 
 
 When this door opens next, look for his death. 
 
 Will and Shakebag retire; Michael returns by the 
 porch door; Susan enters to prepare the table for 
 supper. 
 
 Michael 
 
 Mistress, my master is coming hard by. 
 
58 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Alice 
 
 Who comes with him? 
 
 Michael 
 
 Nobody but Mosbie. 
 
 Alice 
 
 That's well, Michael. Fetch in the tables, and when 
 
 thou hast done, stand before the passage door. 
 
 Michael 
 Why so? 
 
 Alice 
 
 Black Will is locked within to do the deed. 
 
 Michael 
 
 What? shall he die to-night? 
 
 Alice 
 
 Ay, Michael. 
 
 Michael 
 
 But shall not Susan know it? 
 
 Alice 
 
 Yes, for she'll be as secret as ourselves. 
 
 Michael 
 
 That 's brave. I '11 go fetch the tables. 
 
 Alice 
 
 But, Michael, 
 
 When my husband is come in, lock the street-door; 
 
 Arden returns with Mosbie. 
 Husband, what mean you to bring Mosbie home? 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 59 
 
 Although I wished you to be reconciled, 
 'Twas more for fear of you than love of him. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Master Arden, methinks your wife would have me gone. 
 
 Arden 
 
 No, good Master Mosbie; women will be prating. 
 
 Alice, bid him welcome; he and I are friends. 
 
 Alice 
 
 But I had rather die than bid him welcome. 
 
 Mosbie [a&ife] 
 
 Oh, how cunningly she can dissemble! 
 
 Arden 
 
 Now he is here, you will not serve me so. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Pardon me, Master Arden ; I '11 away. 
 
 Arden 
 
 No, good Master Mosbie. 
 
 Alice 
 
 We shall have guests enough, though you go hence. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 I pray you, Master Arden, let me go. 
 
 Arden 
 
 I pray thee, Mosbie, let her prate her fill. 
 
 Alice 
 
 The doors are open, sir, you may be gone. 
 
60 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Michael [asicfe] 
 
 Nay, that's a lie, for I have locked the doors. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Sirrah, fetch me a cup of wine, I'll make them friends. 
 
 Frown not, I'll have it so. 
 
 Alice 
 
 I pray you meddle with that you have to do. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Why, Alice! how can I do too much for him 
 
 Whose life I have endangered without cause? 
 
 Alice 
 
 'Tis true; and, seeing 'twas partly through my means, 
 
 I am content for once to drink to him. 
 
 Here, Master Mosbie! and I pray you, henceforth 
 
 Be you as strange to me as I to you. 
 
 Your company hath purchased me ill friends. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Now, Arden, I protest to thee by heaven, 
 
 Thou ne'er shalt see me more after this night. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Tush, I'll have no such vows made in my house. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Yes, I pray you, husband, let him swear; 
 
 And, on that condition, Mosbie, pledge me here. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Ay, as willingly as I mean to live. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Come, Alice, is our supper ready yet? 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 6l 
 
 Alice 
 
 Ay! when you have a game at tables played. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Come, Master Mosbie, what shall we play for? 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Three games for a French crown, sir, and please you. 
 
 Arden 
 Content. 
 
 They go to a small table on the left of the stage and play 
 tables on a draught-board with counters and dice. Mos- 
 bie is in the armchair and Arden sits on a stool. 
 Will and Shakebag appear at the back. Will has 
 a towel in his hand. 
 
 Will 
 
 — Can he not take him yet? what a spite is that? 
 
 Alice 
 
 — Not yet, Will; take heed he see thee not. 
 
 Will 
 
 — I fear he will spy me as I am coming. 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 — To prevent that, creep betwixt my legs. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 One ace, or else I lose the game. 
 
 Arden 
 
 Marry, sir, there's two for failing. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Ah, Master Arden, "now I can take you." 
 
 [Will, by means of the towel held in both 
 hands, like anoose,pidls Arden off the stool. 
 
62 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Arden 
 
 Mosbie! Michael! Alice! what will you do? 
 
 Will 
 
 Nothing but take you up, sir, nothing else. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 There's for the pressing iron you told me of. 
 
 [Stabs him. 
 Shakebag 
 
 And there's for the ten pound in my sleeve. [Stabs him. 
 
 Alice 
 
 What ! groans thou ? nay, then give me the weapon ! 
 
 Take this for hindering Mosbie's love and mine. 
 
 [Slie stabs him. 
 Michael 
 O, mistress! 
 
 Will 
 
 Ah, that villain will betray us all. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Tush, fear him not; he will be secret. 
 
 Michael 
 
 Why, dost thou think I will betray myself? 
 
 Will 
 
 Shift for yourselves; we two will leave you now. 
 
 Alice 
 
 But first convey the body to the fields, 
 
 And throw the knife and towel down the well. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 63 
 
 Shakebag 
 
 We have our gold; Mistress Alice, adieu; 
 
 Mosbie, farewell, and Michael, farewell too. 
 
 [The body is carried out down the passage by Will, 
 Shakebag, and Michael; Alice and Susan 
 tidy the room. Knocking is heard at the porch door. 
 
 Susan 
 
 Mistress, the guests are at the door. 
 
 Hearken, they knock: what, shall I let them in? 
 
 Alice 
 
 Mosbie, go thou and bear them company. 
 
 [Mosbie goes to porch door. 
 Susan, some water here upon this blood. 
 
 Susan 
 
 The blood cleaveth to the ground and will not out. 
 
 Alice 
 
 The more you strive, the more the blood appears! 
 
 Susan 
 
 What's the reason, mistress, can you tell? 
 
 Alice 
 
 Because I blush not at my husband's death. 
 
 Mosbie returns. 
 Mosbie 
 
 How now? what's the matter? is all well? 
 
 Alice 
 
 Ay, well, if Arden were alive again. 
 
 In vain we strive, for here his blood remains. 
 
64 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 MOSBIE 
 
 Why, strew rushes on it, can you not? 
 
 This wench doth nothing: fall unto the work. 
 
 Alice 
 
 'Twas thou that made me murder him. 
 
 Mo SB IE 
 What of that? 
 
 Alice 
 
 Nay, nothing, Mosbie, so it be not known. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Keep thou it close, and 'tis unpossible. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Ah, but I cannot ! was he not slain by me ? 
 
 My husband's death torments me at the heart. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 It shall not long torment thee, gentle Alice; 
 
 I am thy husband, think no more of him. 
 
 Greene enters with Clarke and Bradshaw. 
 Greene 
 Now, Mistress Arden, lack you any guests? 
 
 Alice 
 
 Ah, Master Greene, did you see my husband lately? 
 
 Greene 
 
 I saw him walking behind the Abbey even now. 
 
 Franklin enters. 
 Alice 
 
 I do not like this being out so late — 
 
 Master Franklin, where did you leave my husband? 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 65 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Fear you not, he'll come anon; meantime 
 
 You may do well to bid his guests sit down. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Ay, so they shall; Master Bradshaw, sit you there; 
 
 I pray you, be content, I'll have my will. 
 
 Master Mosbie, sit you in my husband's seat. 
 
 [All sit: the stool on which Arden sat is still 
 vacant near the centre of the stage , Alice be- 
 ing afraid to touch it or to seat any one upon it. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Sirrah Michael, give us some cups. 
 
 Michael 
 
 Susan, shall you or I wait on them? 
 
 Susan 
 
 Peace, we have other matters now in hand. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Mistress Arden, here's to your husband. 
 
 Alice 
 
 My husband! 
 
 Franklin 
 
 What ails you, woman, to cry so suddenly. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Ah, neighbours, a sudden qualm came o'er my heart; 
 
 My husband being forth torments my mind. 
 
 I know something's amiss, he is not well; 
 
 Or else I should have heard of him ere now. 
 
66 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 MOSBIE 
 
 — She will undo us through her foolishness. 
 
 Greene 
 
 Fear not, Mistress Arden, he's well enough. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Tell not me; I know he is not well : 
 
 He was not wont for to stay thus late. 
 
 Good Master Franklin, go and seek him forth, 
 
 And if you find him, send him home to me, 
 
 And tell him what a fear he hath put me in. 
 
 Franklin 
 
 I like not this; I pray God all be well. 
 
 [Franklin goes out. 
 Alice [to guests] 
 
 Ah, gentlemen, take pity on my fears! 
 And sweetly lend thy aid to seek for him. 
 
 Guests 
 
 Ay, that we will! 
 
 Alice 
 
 Good Michael, light them forth and lend a link. 
 
 [Michael, Greene, and the ttvo guests 
 retire by the porch door. Alice and M o s b i e 
 look at each other. There is a momenfs silence. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Sweet Mosbie, 
 
 I have my wish in that I joy thy sight — 
 
 But it behoves us to be circumspect. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Ay, for Franklin thinks that we have murdered him. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 67 
 
 Alice 
 
 Ay, but he cannot prove it for his life. 
 
 Michael and Greene return. 
 Michael 
 
 O mistress, the Mayor and all the watch 
 Are coming towards our house with glaives and bills. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Tell me, sweet Alice, how shall I escape? 
 
 Alice 
 
 Out at the back-door, over the pile of wood, 
 
 And for one night lie at the Flower-de-luce. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 That is the next way to betray myself. 
 
 Greene 
 
 Alas, Mistress Arden, the watch will take me too, 
 
 And cause suspicion, where else would be none. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Why, take that way that Master Mosbie doth; 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Until to-morrow, sweet Alice, now farewell: 
 
 And see you confess nothing in any case. 
 
 Greene 
 
 Be resolute, Mistress Alice, betray us not, 
 
 But cleave to us as we will stick to you. 
 
 [Mosbie and Greene go out by the passage. 
 Alice 
 
 Now let the judge and juries do their worst: 
 My house is clear, and now I fear them not. 
 
68 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Susan 
 
 As they went, it snowed all the way, 
 
 Which makes me fear their footsteps will be spied. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Peace, fool, the snow will cover them again. 
 
 Susan 
 
 But it had done before they did come back. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Hark, hark, they knock! Go, Michael, let them in. 
 
 The Mayor and the Watch enter. 
 How now, Master Mayor, have you brought my hus- 
 band home? 
 
 Mayor 
 
 I saw him come into your house an hour ago. 
 
 Alice 
 
 You are deceived; it was a Londoner. 
 
 Mayor 
 
 Mistress Arden, know you not one that is called Black 
 Will? 
 
 Alice 
 
 I know none such: what mean these questions? 
 
 Mayor 
 
 I have the Council's warrant to apprehend him. 
 
 Alice 
 
 — I am glad it is no worse. 
 
 Why, Master Mayor, think you I harbour any such? 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 69 
 
 Mayor 
 
 We are informed that here he is; 
 
 And therefore pardon us, for we must search. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Ay, search, and spare you not, through every room: 
 
 Were my husband at home, you would not offer this. 
 
 Some of the Watch go down the passage: Franklin 
 
 returns by the porch door. 
 Master Franklin, what mean you come so sad? 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Arden, thy husband and my friend, is slain. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Ah, by whom? Master Franklin, can you tell? 
 
 Franklin 
 
 I know not. But behind the Abbey 
 
 There he lies murdered in most piteous case. 
 
 Mayor 
 
 But, Master Franklin, are you sure 'tis he? 
 
 Franklin 
 
 I am too sure; would God I were deceived. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Find out the murderers, let them be known. 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Ay, so they shall : come you along with us. 
 
 Alice 
 Wherefore? 
 
70 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Know you this hand-towel and this knife? 
 
 Susan 
 
 — Ah, Michael, through this thy negligence 
 
 Thou hast betrayed and undone us all. 
 
 Michael 
 
 — I was so afraid I knew not what I did: 
 
 I thought I had thrown them both into the well. 
 
 Alice 
 
 But wherefore stay you? find out the murderers. 
 
 Mayor 
 
 I fear me you '11 prove one of them yourself. 
 
 Alice 
 
 I one of them? What mean such questions? 
 
 Franklin 
 
 I fear me he was murdered in this house 
 And carried to the fields; for from that place 
 Backwards and forwards may you see 
 The print of many feet within the snow. 
 And look about this chamber where we are, 
 And you shall find part of his guiltless blood; 
 For in his slipshoe did I find some rushes, 
 Which argueth he was murdered in this room. 
 
 Mayor 
 
 Look in the place where he was wont to sit. 
 
 See, see ! his blood ! It is too manifest. 
 
 Alice 
 
 It is a cup of wine that Michael shed. 
 
LILIES THAT FESTER 71 
 
 Michael 
 Ay, truly. 
 
 Franklin 
 
 It is his blood, which, strumpet, thou has shed. 
 
 But if I live, thou and thy 'complices 
 
 Which have conspired and wrought his death shall rue it. 
 
 Mosbie and Greene are brought in prisoners. 
 Mayor 
 Confess this foul fault and be penitent. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Forgive me, Arden : I repent me now, 
 
 And, would my death save thine, thou should'st not die. 
 
 Mayor 
 
 Say, Mosbie, what made thee murder him? 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Study not for an answer; look not down. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 I hired Black Will and Shakebag, ruffians both, 
 And they and I have done this murderous deed. 
 Convey me from the presence of that strumpet. 
 
 Alice 
 
 Ah, but for thee I had never been a strumpet. 
 
 Mayor 
 
 Leave to accuse each other now, 
 
 And listen to the sentence I shall give. 
 
 Bear Mosbie and his sister to London straight, 
 
 Bear Mistress Arden unto Canterbury. 
 
72 LILIES THAT FESTER 
 
 Alice 
 
 Let my death make amends for all my sins. 
 
 Mosbie 
 
 Fie upon women! this shall be my song; 
 
 But bear me hence, for I have lived too long. 
 
 Mayor 
 
 To speedy execution with them all! 
 
 [The prisoners are led out by the porch door. 
 Curtain 
 
LOVES CONSTANCY 
 
 IN THE PLAY OF 
 "EDWARD THE THIRD" 
 
 ARRANGED IN ONE ACT 
 
 BY 
 
 WILLIAM POEL 
 
 DIRECTOR OF THE ELIZABETHAN 
 STAGE SOCIETY 
 
CHARACTERS 
 
 Edward the Third. King of England. 
 
 Edward, Prince of Wales, his Son. 
 
 Earl of Warwick. 
 
 Earl of Derby. 
 
 Lord Audley. 
 
 Lodwick, Edward 's Secretary. 
 
 Countess of Salisbury. 
 
 Attendant on the Countess. 
 
 Lords, Heralds, Officers, Soldiers, &c, 
 
 Scene: Roxburgh ; Gardens of the Castle. 
 Period, 1335. 
 
First performed by the Elizabethan Stage Society at 
 St. George^s Hall, Langham Place, London, on July 9, 
 1897, with the following cast: 
 
 King Edward Mr. F. Rawson Buckley. 
 
 Prince of Wales Miss Muriel Ashwynne. 
 
 Warwick Mr. Ernest Meads. 
 
 Derby Mr. Percy Varley. 
 
 Audley Mr. Davidson, 
 
 Lodwick Mr. Fowler. 
 
 Lady Salisbury Miss Riddell. 
 
 Attendant Mr. Cocker ell. 
 
 The play produced under the direction of 
 Mr. William Poel. 
 
LOVES CONSTANCY 
 
 SCENE 
 
 THE gardens of Roxburgh Castle ; a terrace in the 
 background overlooking the Walls. An entrance to 
 the apartments of the castle on the left ; a stone seat and 
 table on the right, shadowed by an oak-tree and shrubs; 
 a sundial in the centre of the greensward. 
 
 Before the curtain rises, a trumpet-call is heard, fol- 
 lowed by a roll on the drum in the distance; then the sound 
 of chains as if the drawbridge was being lowered. The 
 Countess of Salisbury is discovered alone on the ter- 
 race, looking over the Walls into the plain below. Her 
 attendants are standing 071 the left, near the entrance to 
 the apartments. 
 
 Count. 
 
 O happy comfort, welcome to our house! 
 The confident and boist'rous boasting Scot, — 
 That swore before my walls, they would not back 
 For all the armed power of this land, — 
 With faceless fear that ever turns his back, 
 Turn'd hence against the blasting north-east wind 
 Upon the bare report and name of arms. 
 
 Enter a messenger attended. The drum and trumpet are 
 
 again heard in the distance. 
 O summer's day! see where my kinsmen come. 
 Well may I give a welcome, sir, to thee, 
 For thou com'st well to chase my foes from hence. 
 
78 LOVE'S CONSTANCY 
 
 Mess. 
 
 The king himself is come in person hither; 
 
 Dear madam, prepare to gratulate his highness. 
 
 Count. 
 
 How may I entertain his majesty, 
 
 To show my duty and his dignity? 
 
 Some attendants join the Countess on the terrace. A 
 flourish, and then enter from the right King Edward, 
 Warwick, Artois, Lodwick, and attendants. 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 What, are the stealing foxes fled and gone 
 
 Before we could uncouple at their heels? 
 
 War. 
 
 They are, my liege; but, with a cheerful cry, 
 Hot hounds and hardy chase them at the heels. 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 That is the countess, Warwick, is it not? 
 
 War. 
 
 Even she, my liege; whose beauty tyrant's fear, 
 As a May blossom with pernicious winds, 
 Hath sullied, wither'd, overcast, and done. 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 Hath she been fairer, Warwick, than she is? 
 
 War. 
 
 My gracious king, fair is she not at all, 
 If that herself were by to stain herself, 
 As I have seen her when she was herself. 
 
LOVE'S CONSTANCY 79 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 What strange enchantment lurk'd in those her eyes 
 When they excelPd this excellence they have, 
 That now their dim decline hath power to draw 
 My subject eyes from piercing majesty 
 To gaze on her with doting admiration? 
 
 Countess comes forward, folloived by her attendants. 
 Count. 
 
 In duty lower than the ground I kneel, 
 And for my dull knees bow my feeling heart, 
 To witness my obedience to your highness; 
 With many millions of a subject's thanks 
 For this your royal presence, whose approach 
 Hath driven war and danger from my gate. 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 Lady, stand up: I come to bring thee peace, 
 
 However thereby I have purchas'd war. 
 
 Count. 
 
 No war to you, my liege; the Scots are gone, 
 
 And gallop home toward Scotland with their hate. 
 
 K. Ed. [aside] 
 
 Lest yielding here I pine in shameful love, 
 
 Come, we'll pursue the Scots; — Artois, away! 
 
 [The drum and trumpet are 
 again heard in the distance. 
 Count. 
 
 A little while, my gracious sovereign, stay, 
 And let the power of a mighty king 
 Honour our roof; my husband in the wars, 
 When he shall hear it, will triumph for joy: 
 
80 LOVE'S CONSTANCY 
 
 Then, dear my liege, now niggard not thy state; 
 Being at the wall, enter our homely gate. 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 Pardon me, countess, I will come no near; 
 
 I dream'd to-night of treason, and I fear. 
 
 Count. 
 
 Far from this place let ugly treason lie! 
 
 K. Ed. [aside] 
 
 No farther off than her conspiring eye, 
 
 Which shoots infected poison in my heart 
 
 Beyond repulse of wit or cure of art. 
 
 Now in the sun alone it doth not lie 
 
 With light to take light from a mortal eye; 
 
 For here two day-stars, that mine eyes would see, 
 
 More than the sun, steals mine own light from me. 
 
 Contemplative desire ! desire to be 
 
 In contemplation, that may master thee! 
 
 Warwick, Artois, to horse, and let's away! 
 
 [The drum and trumpet re- 
 peated, and growing fainter. 
 
 Count. 
 
 What might I speak, to make my sovereign stay? 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 What needs a tongue to such a speaking eye 
 That more persuades than winning oratory? 
 
 Count. 
 
 Let not thy presence, like the April sun, 
 Flatter our earth and suddenly be done. 
 More happy do not make our outward wall 
 Than thou wilt grace our inner house withal. 
 
LOVE'S CONSTANCY 81 
 
 Our house, my liege, is like a country swain, 
 Whose habit rude and manners blunt and plain 
 Presageth nought, yet inly beautified 
 With bounty's riches and fair hidden pride : 
 For, where the golden ore doth buried lie, 
 The ground, undeck'd with nature's tapestry, 
 Seems barren, sere, unfertile, fruitless, dry; 
 And where the upper turf of earth doth boast 
 His pride, perfumes and parti -colour'd cost, 
 Delve there, and find this issue and their pride 
 To spring from ordure and corruption's side. 
 But, to make up my all too long compare, 
 These ragged walls no testimony are 
 What is within ; but, like a cloak, doth hide, 
 From weather's waste, the under-garnish'd pride. 
 More gracious than my terms can let them be, 
 Intreat thyself to stay a while with me. 
 
 K. Ed. [aside] 
 
 As wise as fair; what fond fit can be heard 
 
 When wisdom keeps the gate as beauty's guard? — 
 
 Countess, albeit my business urgeth me, 
 
 It shall attend while I attend on thee. — 
 
 Come on, my lords, here will I host to-night. 
 
 [The drum and trumpet continue growing 
 fainter until their sound dies away; then, from 
 the apartments of the castle, is heard a plea- 
 sant melody from stringed instruments ; the 
 King leads the Countess into the castle, 
 
 followed by all the attendants but Lodwick. 
 Lod. 
 
 I might perceive his eye in her eye lost, 
 
 His ear to drink her sweet tongue's utterance; 
 
82 LOVE'S CONSTANCY 
 
 And changing passion, like inconstant clouds 
 
 That rack upon the carriage of the winds, 
 
 Increase and die in his disturbed cheeks. 
 
 Lo, when she blush'd, even then did he look pale, 
 
 As if her cheeks, by some enchanted power, 
 
 Attracted had the cherry blood from his: 
 
 Anon, with reverent fear when she grew pale, 
 
 His cheeks put on their scarlet ornaments, 
 
 But no more like her oriental red, 
 
 Than brick to coral or live things to dead. 
 
 Why did he then thus counterfeit her looks? 
 
 If she did blush, 'twas tender modest shame, 
 
 Being in the sacred presence of a king; 
 
 If he did blush, 'twas red immodest shame, 
 
 To veil his eyes amiss, being a king : 
 
 If she look'd pale, 'twas silly woman's fear, 
 
 To bear herself in presence of a king ; 
 
 If he look'd pale, it was with guilty fear, 
 
 To dote amiss, being a mighty king: 
 
 Then, Scottish wars, farewell ! I fear, 't will prove 
 
 A ling'ring English siege of peevish love. 
 
 The music ceases. Enter King Edward. 
 K. Ed. 
 
 She is grown more fairer far since I came hither; 
 
 Her voice more silver every word than other, 
 
 Her wit more fluent: what a strange discourse 
 
 Unfolded she of David and his Scots ! 
 
 "Even thus," quoth she, "he spake," — and then spoke 
 
 broad, 
 With epithets and accents of the Scot; 
 But somewhat better than the Scot could speak: 
 "And thus," quoth she — and answer'd then herself; 
 
LOVE'S CONSTANCY 83 
 
 For who could speak like her? but she herself 
 
 Breathes from the wall an angel's note from heaven 
 
 Of sweet defiance to her barbarous foes. 
 
 When she would talk of peace, methinks, her tongue 
 
 Commanded war to prison ; when of war, 
 
 It waken'd Caesar from his Roman grave, 
 
 To hear war beautified by her discourse. 
 
 Wisdom is foolishness, but in her tongue, 
 
 Beauty a slander, but in her fair face : 
 
 There is no summer, but in her cheerful looks, 
 
 Nor frosty winter, but in her disdain. 
 
 I cannot blame the Scots that did besiege her, 
 
 For she is all the treasure of our land ; 
 
 But call them cowards, that they ran away, 
 
 Having so rich and fair a cause to stay. — 
 
 Art thou there, Lodwick? give me ink and paper. 
 
 Lod. 
 
 I will, my sovereign. 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 And bid the lords forbear to visit me, 
 For we will walk and meditate alone. 
 
 Lod. 
 
 I will, my liege. 
 
 Lodwick enters the castle. 
 K.Ed. 
 
 This fellow is well read in poetry 
 
 And hath a lusty and persuasive spirit: 
 
 I will acquaint him with my passion; 
 
 Which he shall shadow with a veil of lawn. 
 
84 LOVE'S CONSTANCY 
 
 Through which the queen of beauty's queens shall see 
 Herself the ground of my infirmity. — 
 
 Re-enter Lodwick. 
 Hast thou pen, ink, and paper ready, Lodwick ? 
 
 Lod. 
 
 Ready, my liege. 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 Then in the summer arbour sit by me, 
 
 Make it our council-house, or cabinet; 
 
 Since green our thoughts, green be the conventicle 
 
 Where we will ease us by disburd'ning them. 
 
 Now, Lodwick, invocate some golden muse 
 
 To bring thee hither an enchanted pen 
 
 That may, for sighs, set down true sighs indeed; 
 
 Talking of grief, to make thee ready groan ; 
 
 And, when thou writ'st of tears, encouch the word, 
 
 Before and after, with such sweet laments, 
 
 That it may raise drops in a Tartars eye, 
 
 And make a flint-heart Scythian pitiful: 
 
 For so much moving hath a poet's pen ; 
 
 Then, if thou be a poet, move thou so, 
 
 And be enriched by thy sovereign's love. 
 
 For, if the touch of sweet concordant strings 
 
 Could force attendance in the ears of hell ; 
 
 How much more shall the strains of poet's wit 
 
 Beguile and ravish soft and human minds? 
 
 Lod. 
 
 To whom, my lord, shall I direct my style? 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 To one that shames the fair and sots the wise; 
 
LOVE'S CONSTANCY 85 
 
 Whose body is an abstract or a brief, 
 Contains each general virtue in the world. 
 Better than beautiful, thou must begin; 
 Devise for fair a fairer word than fair; 
 And every ornament, that thou wouldst praise 
 Fly it a pitch above the soar of praise: 
 For flattery fear thou not to be convicted; 
 For, were thy admiration ten times more, 
 Ten times ten thousand more the worth exceeds, 
 Of that thou art to praise, thy praise's worth. 
 Begin, I will to contemplate the while: 
 Forget not to set down, how passionate, 
 How heart-sick, and how full of languishment, 
 Her beauty makes me. 
 
 Lod. 
 
 Write I to a woman? 
 K. Ed. 
 
 What beauty else could triumph over me; 
 Or who, but women, do our love-lays greet? 
 What, think'st thou I did bid thee praise a horse? 
 
 Lod. 
 
 Of what condition or estate she is, 
 
 'Twere requisite that I should know, my lord. 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 Of such estate, that hers is as a throne, 
 
 And my estate the footstool where she treads : 
 
 Then may'st thou judge what her condition is, 
 
 By the proportion of her mightiness. 
 
 Write on, while I peruse her in my thoughts. 
 
 [Soft music is again heard 
 coming' from the apartments. 
 
86 LOVE'S CONSTANCY 
 
 Her voice to music, or the nightingale: 
 
 To music every summer-leaping swain 
 
 Compares his sun-burnt lover when she speaks: 
 
 And why should I speak of the nightingale ? 
 
 The nightingale sings of adulterate wrong ; 
 
 And that, compar'd, is too satirical: 
 
 For sin, though sin, would not be so esteemM; 
 
 But, rather, virtue sin, sin virtue deem'd. 
 
 Her hair, far softer than the silkworm's twist, 
 
 Like to a flattering glass, doth make more fair 
 
 The yellow amber: "like a flattering glass" 
 
 Comes in too soon ; for, writing of her eyes, 
 
 I'll say, that like a glass they catch the sun, 
 
 And thence the hot reflection doth rebound 
 
 Against my breast, and burns my heart within. 
 
 Ah, what a world of descant makes my soul 
 
 Upon this voluntary ground of love ! — [Music ceases. 
 
 Come, Lodwick, hast thou turn'd thy ink to gold? 
 
 If not, write but in letters capital 
 
 My mistress? name, and it will gild thy paper. 
 
 Read, Lodwick, read; 
 
 Fill thou the empty hollows of mine ears 
 
 With the sweet hearing of thy poetry. 
 
 Lod. 
 
 I have not to a period brought her praise. 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 Her praise is as my love, both infinite, 
 
 Which apprehend such violent extremes 
 
 That they disdain an ending period. 
 
 Her beauty hath no match but my affection; 
 
 Hers more than most, mine most, and more than more: 
 
LOVE'S CONSTANCY 87 
 
 Hers more to praise than tell the sea by drops; 
 Nay, more, than drop the massy earth by sands, 
 And, sand by sand, print them in memory: 
 Then wherefore talk'st thou of a period, 
 To that which craves unended admiration? 
 Read, let us hear. 
 
 Lod. 
 
 "More fair and chaste than is the queen of shades," — 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 That line hath two faults, gross and palpable: 
 Compar'st thou her to the pale queen of night, 
 Who, being set in dark, seems therefore light? 
 What is she, when the sun lifts up his head, 
 But like a fading taper, dim and dead? 
 My love shall brave the eye of heaven at noon, 
 And, being unmasked, outshine the golden sun. 
 
 Lod. 
 
 What is the other fault, my sovereign lord? 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 Read o'er the line again. 
 
 Lod. 
 
 "More fair and chaste," — 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 I did not bid thee talk of chastity, 
 
 To ransack so the treasure of her mind ; 
 
 For I had rather have her chas'd, than chaste. 
 
 Out with the moon-line, I will none of it, 
 
 And let me have her liken'd to the sun : 
 
 Say, she hath thrice more splendour than the sun, 
 
88 LOVE'S CONSTANCY 
 
 That her perfections emulates the sun, 
 
 That she breeds sweets as plenteous as the sun, 
 
 That she doth thaw cold winter like the sun, 
 
 That she doth cheer fresh summer like the sun, 
 
 That she doth dazzle gazers like the sun : 
 
 And, in this application to the sun, 
 
 Bid her be free and general as the sun; 
 
 Who smiles upon the basest weed that grows, 
 
 As lovingly as on the fragrant rose. 
 
 Let's see what follows that same moon -light line. 
 
 Lod. 
 
 "More fair and chaste than is the queen of shades; 
 
 More bold in constancy" — 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 In constancy! than who? 
 
 Lod. 
 
 — "than Judith was." 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 monstrous line! Put in the next a sword, 
 And I shall woo her to cut off my head. 
 
 Blot, blot, good Lodwick ! Let us hear the next. 
 
 Lod. 
 
 There's all that yet is done. 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 1 thank thee then, thou hast done little ill; 
 But what is done, is passing passing ill. 
 No, let the captain talk of boist'rous war; 
 The prisoner, of immured dark constraint ; 
 
 The sick man best sets down the pangs of death ; 
 
LOVE'S CONSTANCY 89 
 
 The man that starves, the sweetness of a feast; 
 The frozen soul, the benefit of fire ; 
 And every grief, his happy opposite. 
 
 [Soft music begins again. 
 Love cannot sound well, but in lovers' tongues; 
 Give me the pen and paper, I will write. — 
 
 Enter Countess with Warwick and attendants, who 
 
 remain near the door. 
 But soft, here comes the treasurer of my spirit. — 
 Lodwick, thou know'st not how to draw a battle; 
 These wings, these flankers, and these squadrons 
 Argue in thee defective discipline: 
 Thou shouldst have plac'd this here, this other here. 
 
 Count. 
 
 Pardon my boldness, my thrice-gracious lord; 
 Let my intrusion here be call'd my duty, 
 That comes to see my sovereign how he fares. 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 Go, draw the same, I tell thee in what form. 
 
 Lod. 
 
 I go. [Lodwick retires to the terrace: music ceases. 
 
 Count. 
 
 Sorry I am, to see my liege so sad : 
 
 What may thy subject do, to drive from thee 
 
 Thy gloomy consort, sullen melancholy? 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 Ah, lady, I am blunt, and cannot strew 
 The flowers of solace, in a ground of shame : 
 Since I came hither, countess, I am wrong'd. 
 
90 LOVE'S CONSTANCY 
 
 Count. 
 
 Now, God forbid, that any in my house 
 
 Should think my sovereign wrong ! Thrice-gentle king, 
 
 Acquaint me with your cause of discontent. 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 How near then shall I be to remedy? 
 
 Count. 
 
 As near, my liege, as all my woman's power 
 
 Can pawn itself to buy thy remedy. 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 If thou speak'st true, then have I my redress: 
 Engage thy power to redeem my joys, 
 And I am joyful, countess; else, I die. 
 
 Count. 
 
 I will, my liege. 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 Swear, countess, that thou wilt. 
 
 Count. 
 
 By Heaven, I will. 
 K. Ed. 
 
 Then take thyself a little way aside, 
 And tell thyself, a king doth dote on thee : 
 Say that within thy power it doth lie 
 To make him happy, and that thou hast sworn 
 To give him all the joy within thy power: 
 Do this; and tell me, when I shall be happy. 
 
 Count. 
 
 All this is done, my thrice-dread sovereign : 
 
 That power of love, that I have power to give, 
 
LOVE'S CONSTANCY 91 
 
 Thou hast with all devout obedience; 
 Employ me how thou wilt in proof thereof. 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 Thou hear'st me say, that I do dote on thee. 
 
 Count. 
 
 If on my beauty, take it if thou canst; 
 Though little, I do prize it ten times less: 
 If on my virtue, take it if thou canst ; 
 For virtue's store by giving doth augment: 
 Be it on what it will, that I can give 
 And thou canst take away, inherit it. 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 It is thy beauty that I would enjoy. 
 
 Count. 
 
 O, were it painted, I would wipe it off 
 
 And dispossess myself, to give it thee. 
 
 But, sovereign, it is solder'd to my life; 
 
 Take one, and both; for, like an humble shadow, 
 
 It haunts the sunshine of my summer's life. 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 But thou may'st lend it me. 
 
 Count. 
 
 As easy may my intellectual soul 
 
 Be lent away, and yet my body live, 
 
 As lend my body, palace to my soul, 
 
 Away from her, and yet retain my soul. 
 
 If I should lend her house, my lord, to thee, 
 
 I kill my poor soul, and my poor soul me. 
 
92 LOVE'S CONSTANCY 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 Didst thou not swear, to give me what I would? 
 
 Count. 
 
 I did, my liege; so, what you would, I could. 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 I wish no more of thee than thou may'st give, 
 
 Nor beg I do not, but I rather buy; 
 
 That is, thy love ; and, for that love of thine, 
 
 In rich exchange, I tender to thee mine. 
 
 Count. 
 
 But that your lips were sacred, O my lord! 
 
 You would profane the holy name of love. 
 
 That love, you offer me, you cannot give, 
 
 For Caesar owes that tribute to his queen : 
 
 That love, you beg of me, I cannot give, 
 
 For Sara owes that duty to her lord. 
 
 He that doth clip or counterfeit your stamp 
 
 Shall die, my lord: and will your sacred self 
 
 Commit high treason against the King of Heaven, 
 
 To stamp his image in forbidden metal, 
 
 Forgetting your allegiance or your oath? 
 
 In violating marriage' sacred law, 
 
 You break a greater honour than yourself: 
 
 To be a king, is of a younger house 
 
 Than to be married; your progenitor, 
 
 Sole-reigning Adam on the universe, 
 
 By God was honour'd for a married man, 
 
 But not by him anointed for a king. 
 
 It is a penalty to break your statutes, 
 
 Though not enacted with your highness' hand: 
 
LOVE'S CONSTANCY 93 
 
 How much more, to infringe the holy act 
 Made by the mouth of God, seal'd with his hand? 
 I know, my sovereign — in my husband's love, 
 Who now doth loyal service in his wars — 
 Doth but to try the wife of Salisbury, 
 Whether she will hear a wanton's tale, or no; 
 Lest being therein guilty by my stay, 
 From that, not from my liege, I turn away. 
 
 [Countess joins Warwick and her at- 
 tendants and retires with them to the terrace. 
 K. Ed. 
 
 Whether is her beauty by her words divine, 
 Or are her words sweet chaplains to her beauty ? 
 Like as the wind doth beautify a sail, 
 And as a sail becomes the unseen wind, 
 So do her words her beauty, beauty words. 
 O, that I were a honey-gathering bee, 
 To bear the comb of virtue from his flower; 
 And not a poison-sucking envious spider, 
 To turn the juice I take to deadly venom! 
 Religion is austere, and beauty gentle; 
 Too strict a guardian for so fair a ward. 
 O, that she were, as is the air, to me! 
 Why, so she is; for, when I would embrace her, 
 This do I, and catch nothing but myself. 
 I must possess her; for I cannot beat, 
 With reason and reproof, fond love away. 
 
 Warwick comes from the terrace. 
 Here comes her father: I will work with him, 
 To bear my colours in this field of love. 
 
94 LOVE'S CONSTANCY 
 
 War. 
 
 How is it, that my sovereign is so sad? 
 
 May I with pardon know your highness' grief, 
 
 And that my old endeavour will remove it, 
 
 It shall not cumber long your majesty. 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 A kind and voluntary gift thou proffer'st, 
 
 That I was forward to have begg'd of thee. 
 
 But, O thou world, great nurse of flattery, 
 
 Why dost thou tip men's tongues with golden words 
 
 And peise their deeds with weight of heavy lead, 
 
 That fair performance cannot follow promise? 
 
 O, that a man might hold the heart's close book, 
 
 And choke the lavish tongue when it doth utter 
 
 The breath of falsehood not character'd there ! 
 
 War. 
 
 Far be it from the honour of my age 
 
 That I should owe bright gold and render lead! 
 
 Age is a cynic, not a flatterer: 
 
 I say again, that, if I knew your grief, 
 
 And that by me it may be lessened, 
 
 My proper harm should buy your highness' good. 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 These are the vulgar tenders of false men, 
 
 That never pay the duty of their words. 
 
 Thou wilt not stick to swear what thou hast said; 
 
 But, when thou know'st my grief's condition, 
 
 This rash-disgorged vomit of thy word 
 
 Thou wilt eat up again, and leave me helpless. 
 
LOVE'S CONSTANCY 95 
 
 War. 
 
 By Heaven, I will not, though your majesty 
 
 Did bid me run upon your sword and die. 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 Say, that my grief is no way med'cinable, 
 
 But by the loss and bruising of thine honour ? 
 
 War. 
 
 If nothing but that loss may vantage you, 
 
 I would account that loss my vantage too. 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 Think'st that thou canst unswear thy oath again ? 
 
 War. 
 
 I cannot ; nor I would not, if I could. 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 But, if thou dost, what shall I say to thee ? 
 
 War. 
 
 What may be said to any perjur'd villain 
 That breaks the sacred warrant of an oath. 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 What wilt thou say to one that breaks an oath? 
 
 War. 
 
 That he hath broke his faith with God and man 
 
 And from them both stands excommunicate. 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 What office were it to suggest a man 
 To break a lawful and religious vow? 
 
 War. 
 
 An office for the devil, not for man. 
 
96 LOVE'S CONSTANCY 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 That devil's office must thou do for me; 
 Or break thy oath and cancel all the bonds 
 Of love and duty 'twixt thyself and me. 
 And therefore, Warwick, if thou art thyself, 
 The lord and master of thy word and oath, 
 Go to thy daughter, and in my behalf 
 Command her, woo her, win her any ways, 
 To be my mistress and my secret love. 
 I will not stand to hear thee make reply; 
 Thy oath break hers, or let thy sovereign die. 
 
 [The King goes into the castle. 
 War. 
 
 O doting king! O detestable office! 
 Well may I tempt myself to wrong myself, 
 When he hath sworn me by the name of God 
 To break a vow made by the name of God. 
 What if I swear by this right hand of mine 
 To cut this right hand off? the better way 
 Were to profane the idol than confound it: 
 But neither will I do; I'll keep mine oath, 
 And to my daughter make a recantation 
 Of all the virtue I have preach'd to her. 
 I'll say, she must forget her husband Salisbury, 
 If she remember to embrace the king; 
 I'll say, an oath may easily be broken, 
 But not so easily pardon'd, being broken; 
 I'll say, it is true charity to love, 
 But not true love to be so charitable; 
 I'll say, his greatness may bear out the shame, 
 But not his kingdom can buy out the sin ; 
 
LOVE'S CONSTANCY 97 
 
 I'll say, it is my duty to persuade, 
 But not her honesty to give consent. 
 
 Countess comes from the terrace. 
 See, where she comes: was never father, had 
 Against his child an embassage so bad. 
 
 Count. 
 
 My lord and father, I have sought for you: 
 
 My mother and the peers importune you 
 
 To keep in presence of his majesty 
 
 And do your best to make his highness merry. 
 
 War. [aside] 
 
 How shall I enter in this arrant errand? 
 
 I must not call her child; for where 's the father 
 
 That will, in such a suit, seduce his child ? 
 
 Then, Wife of Salisbury, — shall I so begin? 
 
 No, he's my friend; and where is found the friend, 
 
 That will do friendship such endamagement? — 
 
 [To the Countess.] Neither my daughter, nor my dear 
 
 friend's wife, 
 I am not Warwick, as thou think'st I am, 
 But an attorney from the court of hell ; 
 That thus have hous'd my spirit in his form, 
 To do a message to thee from the king. 
 The mighty King of England dotes on thee : 
 He that hath power to take away thy life 
 Hath power to take thine honour; then consent 
 To pawn thine honour, rather than thy life: 
 Honour is often lost and got again; 
 But life, once gone, hath no recovery, 
 The sun, that withers hay, doth nourish grass; 
 The king that would distain thee will advance thee. 
 
98 LOVE'S CONSTANCY 
 
 The poets write that great Achilles'* spear 
 Could heal the wound it made; the moral is, 
 What mighty men misdo, they can amend. 
 The lion doth become his bloody jaws 
 And grace his foragement, by being mild 
 When vassal fear lies trembling at his feet. 
 The king will in his glory hide thy shame; 
 And those that gaze on him to find out thee 
 Will lose their eyesight, looking in the sun. 
 What can one drop of poison harm the sea, 
 Whose hugy vastures can digest the ill 
 And make it lose his operation ? 
 The king's great name will temper thy misdeeds, 
 And give the bitter potion of reproach 
 A sugar'd-sweet and most delicious taste : 
 Besides, it is no harm, to do the thing 
 Which without shame could not be left undone. 
 Thus have I, in his majesty's behalf, 
 ApparelPd sin in virtuous sentences, 
 And dwell upon thy answer in his suit. 
 
 Count. 
 
 Unnatural besiege! Woe me unhappy, 
 
 To have escap'd the danger of my foes 
 
 And to be ten times worse envir'd by friends! 
 
 Hath he no means to stain my honest blood, 
 
 But to corrupt the author of my blood 
 
 To be his scandalous and vile solicitor? 
 
 No marvel, though the branches be then infected, 
 
 When poison hath encompassed the root: 
 
 Why then, give sin a passport to offend, 
 
 And youth the dangerous rein of liberty : 
 
LOVE'S CONSTANCY 99 
 
 Blot out the strict forbidding of the law ; 
 And cancel every canon, that prescribes 
 A shame for shame, or penance for offence. 
 No, let me die, if his too boisfrous will 
 Will have it so, before I will consent 
 To be an actor in his graceless lust. 
 
 War. 
 
 Why, now thou speak'st as I would have thee speak: 
 
 And mark how I unsay my words again. 
 
 An honourable grave is more esteem'd 
 
 Than the polluted closet of a king : 
 
 The greater man, the greater is the thing, 
 
 Be it good or bad, that he shall undertake : 
 
 An unreputed mote, flying in the sun, 
 
 Presents a greater substance than it is: 
 
 The freshest summer's day doth soonest taint 
 
 The loathed carrion that it seems to kiss: 
 
 Deep are the blows made with a mighty axe: 
 
 The sin doth ten times aggravate itself, 
 
 That is committed in a holy place : 
 
 An evil deed, done by authority, 
 
 Is sin and subornation: deck an ape 
 
 In tissue, and the beauty of the robe 
 
 Adds but the greater scorn unto the beast. 
 
 A spacious field of reasons could I urge 
 
 Between his glory, daughter, and thy shame: 
 
 That poison shows worst in a golden cup; 
 
 Dark night seems darker by the lightning-flash; 
 
 Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds; 
 
 And every glory that inclines to sin, 
 
 The shame is treble by the opposite. 
 
100 LOVE'S CONSTANCY 
 
 So leave I, with my blessings in thy bosom; 
 
 Which then convert to a most heavy curse, 
 
 When thou convert'st from honour's golden name 
 
 To the black faction of unblushing shame ! 
 
 [Warwick retires by the terrace. 
 Count. 
 
 I'll follow thee; and, when my mind turns so, 
 
 My body sink my soul in endless woe! [Retires. 
 
 A trumpet sounds, Derby with attendants cross from 
 the castle to the right of the stage; then Audley en- 
 ters attended. 
 
 Aud. 
 
 What news, my Lord of Derby, from the emperor? 
 
 Dee. 
 
 As good as we desire: the emperor 
 
 Hath yielded to his highness friendly aid; 
 
 And makes our king lieutenant-general 
 
 In all his lands and large dominions : 
 
 Then via for the spacious bounds of France! 
 
 Aud. 
 
 What, doth his highness leap to hear these news? 
 
 Der. 
 
 I have not yet found time to open them; 
 
 The king is in his closet, malcontent, 
 
 For what I know not, but he gave in charge, 
 
 Till after dinner, none should interrupt him: 
 
 The Countess Salisbury, and her father Warwick, 
 
 Artois, and all, look underneath the brows. 
 
LOVE'S CONSTANCY 101 
 
 Aud. 
 
 Undoubtedly then something is amiss. 
 
 Here comes his highness. 
 
 Re-enter King Edward. 
 Der. 
 
 Befall my sovereign all my sovereign's wish! 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 Ah, that thou wert a witch, to make it so ! 
 
 Der. 
 
 The emperor greeteth you : [Presenting letters. 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 Would it were the countess! 
 Der. 
 
 And hath accorded to your highness' suit — 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 Thou liest, she hath not; but I would, she had! 
 
 Aud. 
 
 All love and duty to my lord the king! 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 Well, all but one is none: — what news with you? 
 
 Aud. 
 
 I have, my liege, levied those horse and foot, 
 
 According to your charge, and brought them hither. 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 Then let those foot trudge hence upon those horse, 
 
 According to our discharge, and be gone. — 
 
 Derby, 
 
 I'll look upon the countess' mind anon. 
 
102 LOVE'S CONSTANCY 
 
 Der. 
 
 The countess** mind, my liege? 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 I mean the emperor: leave me alone. 
 
 Aud. 
 
 What's in his mind? 
 
 Der. Let's leave him to his humour. 
 
 [Derby and Audley retire. 
 K. Ed. 
 
 Thus from the heart's abundance speaks the tongue; 
 Countess for emperor: and, indeed, why not? 
 She is as imperator over me; 
 And I to her 
 
 Am as a kneeling vassal that observes 
 The pleasure or displeasure of her eye. — 
 
 Lodwick comes from the terrace. 
 What says the more than Cleopatra's match 
 To Caesar now? 
 
 Lod. 
 
 That yet, my liege, ere night, 
 She will resolve your majesty. 
 
 [A drum and march are heard in the distance. 
 K. Ed. 
 
 What drum is this, that thunders forth this march, 
 To start the tender Cupid in my bosom? 
 Poor sheep-skin, how it brawls with him that beateth it ! 
 Go, break the thund'ring parchment-bottom out, 
 And I will teach it to conduct sweet lines 
 Unto the bosom of a heavenly nymph : 
 
LOVE'S CONSTANCY 103 
 
 For I will use it as my writing-paper; 
 
 And so reduce him, from a scolding drum, 
 
 To be the herald and dear counsel-bearer 
 
 Betwixt a goddess and a mighty king. 
 
 Go, bid the drummer learn to touch the lute, 
 
 Or hang him in the braces of his drum ; 
 
 For now we think it an uncivil thing, 
 
 To trouble heaven with such harsh resounds: 
 
 Away. — [Lodwick retires to the right of the stage. 
 
 The quarrel, that I have, requires no arms 
 
 But these of mine; and these shall meet my foe 
 
 In a deep march of penetrable groans : 
 
 My eyes shall be my arrows; and my sighs 
 
 Shall serve me as the vantage of the wind, 
 
 To whirl away my sweet'st artillery: 
 
 Ah but, alas, she wins the sun of me, 
 
 For that is she herself; and thence it comes 
 
 That poets term the wanton warrior blind; 
 
 But love hath eyes as judgment to his steps, 
 
 Till too-much-loved glory dazzles them. — 
 
 Lodwick returns; the drum and march nearer. 
 How now? 
 
 Lod. 
 
 My liege, the drum that struck the lusty march 
 Stands with Prince Edward, your thrice-valiant son. 
 
 A flourish and then enter on the right Prince Edward, 
 who is received by Derby and Audley : soft music is 
 again heard from the apartments. 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 I see the boy. O, how his mother's face, 
 
104 LOVE'S CONSTANCY 
 
 Modell'd in his, corrects my stray'd desire 
 
 And rates my heart and chides my thievish eye; 
 
 Who being rich enough in seeing her, 
 
 Yet seeks elsewhere: and basest theft is that 
 
 Which cannot cloak itself on poverty. — 
 
 Now, boy, what news? 
 
 Pr. Ed. [kneels] 
 
 I have assembled, my dear lord and father, 
 The choicest buds of all our English blood 
 For our affairs to France : and here we come, 
 To take directions from your majesty. 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 Still do I see in him delineate 
 
 His mother's visage; those his eyes are hers, 
 
 Who looking wistly on me make me blush; 
 
 For faults against themselves give evidence: 
 
 Lust is a fire; and men, like Ian thorns, show 
 
 Light lust within themselves, even through themselves. 
 
 Away, loose silks of wavering vanity ! 
 
 Shall the large limit of fair Brittany 
 
 By me be overthrown? and shall I not 
 
 Master this little mansion of myself? 
 
 Give me an armour of eternal steel; 
 
 I go to conquer kings; and shall I then 
 
 Subdue myself and be my enemy's friend? 
 
 It must not be. — Come, boy, forward, advance! 
 
 Let's with our colours sweet the air of France. 
 
 Drum and trumpet heard in the distance; Lodwick ad- 
 vances from the terrace. 
 
LOVE'S CONSTANCY 105 
 
 Lod. 
 
 My liege, the countess with a smiling cheer 
 
 Desires access unto your majesty. 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 Why, there it goes! that very smile of hers 
 Hath ransom'd captive France, and set the king, 
 The dauphin, and the peers, at liberty. — 
 Go, leave me, Ned, and revel with thy friends. 
 
 [The Prince retires. 
 Thy mother is but black; and thou, like her, 
 Dost put into my mind how foul she is. — 
 Go, fetch the countess hither in thy hand 
 And let her chase away those winter clouds; 
 For she gives beauty both to heaven and earth. 
 
 [Lod wick retires. 
 The sin is more to hack and hew poor men, 
 Than to embrace in an unlawful way. 
 The register of all true rarieties 
 Since leathern Adam till this youngest hour. 
 
 Hie Countess advances. 
 Now, my soul's playfellow! art thou come, 
 To speak the more than heavenly word of yea 
 To my objection in thy beauteous love? [Music ceases. 
 
 Count. 
 
 My father on his blessing hath commanded — 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 That thou shalt yield to me. 
 
 Count. 
 
 Ay, dear my liege, your due. 
 
106 LOVE'S CONSTANCY 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 And that, my dearest love, can be no less 
 Than right for right and tender love for love. 
 
 Count. 
 
 Than wrong for wrong and endless hate for hate, 
 
 But, — sith I see your majesty so bent, 
 
 That my unwillingness, my husband's love, 
 
 Your high estate, nor no respect respected 
 
 Can be my help, but that your mightiness 
 
 Will overbear and awe these dear regards, — 
 
 I bind my discontent to my content, 
 
 And, what I would not, I'll compel I will; 
 
 Provided that yourself remove those lets 
 
 That stand between your highness' love and mine. 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 Name them, fair countess, and by heaven, I will. 
 
 Count. 
 
 It is their lives that stand between our love, 
 
 That I would have chok'd up, my sovereign. 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 Whose lives, my lady? 
 
 Count. 
 
 My thrice-loving liege, 
 Your queen, and Salisbury my wedded husband; 
 Who living have that title in our love 
 That we cannot bestow but by their death. 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 Thy opposition is beyond our law. 
 
LOVE'S CONSTANCY 107 
 
 Count. 
 
 So is your desire : if the law 
 
 Can hinder you to execute the one, 
 
 Let it forbid you to attempt the other: 
 
 I cannot think you love me as you say 
 
 Unless you do make good what you have sworn. 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 No more; thy husband and the queen shall die. 
 Fairer thou art by far than Hero was; 
 Beardless Leander not so strong as I : 
 He swum an easy current for his love; 
 But I will through a Hellespont of blood 
 To arrive at Sestos where my Hero lies. 
 
 Count. 
 
 Nay, you'll do more; you'll make the river, too, 
 With their heart-bloods that keep our love asunder, 
 Of which my husband and your wife are twain. 
 
 K. Ed. 
 
 Thy beauty makes them guilty of their death 
 
 And gives in evidence that they shall die; 
 
 Upon which verdict, I, their judge, condemn them. 
 
 Count. 
 
 O perjur'd beauty! more corrup ted judge! 
 
 When to the great star-chamber o'er our heads 
 
 The universal sessions calls to count 
 
 This packing evil, we both shall tremble for it. 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 What says my fair love? is she resolute? 
 
108 LOVE'S CONSTANCY 
 
 Count. 
 
 Resolv'd to be dissolv'd; and, therefore, this, — 
 Keep but thy word, great king, and I am thine. 
 Stand where thou dost, I'll part a little from thee, 
 And see how I will yield me to thy hands. 
 
 [Turning- suddenly upon him, 
 and showing two daggers. 
 Here by my side doth hang my wedding knives: 
 Take thou the one and with it kill thy queen 
 And learn by me to find her where she lies; 
 And with this other I'll despatch my love, 
 Which now lies fast asleep within my heart: 
 When they are gone, then I'll consent to love. 
 Stir not, lascivious king, to hinder me; 
 My resolution is more nimbler far 
 Than thy prevention can be in my rescue, 
 And, if thou stir, I strike : therefore stand still, 
 And hear the choice that I will put thee to: 
 Either swear to leave thy most unholy suit, 
 And never henceforth to solicit me; 
 Or else, by Heaven, [kneeling] this sharp-pointed knife 
 Shall stain thy earth with that which thou wouldst stain, 
 My poor chaste blood. Swear, Edward, swear, 
 Or I will strike, and die before thee here. 
 
 K.Ed. 
 
 Even by that Power I swear, that gives me now 
 The power to be ashamed of myself, 
 I never mean to part my lips again 
 In any words that tends to such a suit. 
 Arise, true English lady, whom our isle 
 May better boast of, than e'er Roman might 
 
LOVE'S CONSTANCY 109 
 
 Of her, whose ransack'd treasury hath task'd 
 The vain endeavour of so many pens : 
 Arise; and be my fault thy honour's fame, 
 Which after-ages shall enrich thee with. 
 I am awaked from this idle dream: — 
 
 [Drum and trumpet are heard in the distance. 
 Warwick, my son, Derby, Artois, and Audley, 
 Brave warriors all, where are you all this while? 
 
 The Prince and Lords advance; the stage Jills with 
 
 soldiers. 
 Warwick, I make thee Warden of the North: — 
 Thou, Prince of Wales, and Audley, straight to sea; 
 Scour to Newhaven; some there stay for me: — 
 Myself, Artois, and Derby, will through Flanders 
 To greet our friends there and to crave their aid; 
 This night will scarce suffice me to discover 
 My folly's siege against a faithful lover; 
 For, ere the sun shall gild the eastern sky, 
 We'll wake him with our martial harmony. 
 
 There is flourish, and then the drums play a march; the 
 Countess kneels and kisses the King's hand with 
 marked reverence; he then goes out on the right with 
 the Prince a?zc?LoRD ^followed by the attendants and 
 soldiers. The Countess is seen again standing alone 
 on the terrace looking towards the plain; the stage is 
 nearly dark. 
 
 Curtain 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 IT may be interesting to note some of the passages 
 in Loves Constancy which recall, either by phrase or 
 thought, similar lines in Shakespeare's plays. 
 
 The effects of the chilling blasts of spring is noticed more 
 than once by Shakespeare: 
 
 Whose beauty tyrant' s fear , 
 As a may-blossom with pernitious winds 
 Hath sully d, wither d, overcast, and done. 
 
 Edward III, i, ii 
 
 Rough rvinds do shake the darling buds of May. 
 
 Sonnet 18 
 
 Let not thy presence, like the April sun, 
 Flatter our earth, and suddenly be done. 
 
 Edward III, i, ii 
 
 Full many a glorious morning have I seen 
 Flatter the mountain tops with sovereign eye. 
 
 Sonnet 33 
 
 In the following lines "cost" is used in the sense of cos- 
 tume, and is made to rhyme with "boast." 
 
 And where the upper turf of earth doth boast 
 His pied perfumes, and party -colour d cost. 
 
 Edward III, i, ii 
 
 Thy love is better than high birth to me, 
 Richer than wealth, prouder than garments' cost, 
 Of more delight than hawks or horses be; 
 And having thee of all men's pride I boast. 
 
 Sonnet 91 
 
112 APPENDIX 
 
 There are three references to Julius Caesar in the Episode. 
 Shakespeare's admiration for the Roman Conqueror has 
 been often noticed. 
 
 When she would talk of peace, methinks, her tongue 
 Commanded war to prison; when of war, 
 It waken d Ccesar from his Roman grave 
 To hear war beautify d by her discourse. 
 
 Edward III, n, i 
 
 List his discourse of war, and you shall hear 
 A fearful battle render d you in music. 
 
 Henry V, i, i 
 
 Both the following passages are probably a reminiscence 
 of Marlowe's Tamburlane : 
 
 That it may raise drops in a Tartar s eye, 
 And make a flint-heart Scythian pitiful. 
 
 Edward III, n, i 
 From brassy bosoms a?id rough hearts of flint, 
 From stubborn Turks and Tartars, never trained 
 To offices of gentle courtesy. 
 
 Merchant of Venice, iv, i 
 
 For if the touch of sweet concordant strings 
 
 Edward III, n, i 
 
 Mark how one string, sweet husband to another, 
 
 Strikes each in each by mutual ordering; 
 
 Sonnet 8 
 
 The sick man best sets down the pangs of death ; 
 The man that starves, the sweetness of a feast; 
 The frozen soul, the benefit of fire ; 
 And every grief his happy opposite. 
 
 Edward III, n, i 
 
APPENDIX 113 
 
 0, who can hold afire in his hand 
 By thinking on the frosty Caucasus® 
 Or cloy the hungry edge of appetite 
 By bare imagination of a feast? 
 
 Richard II, i, iii 
 
 That breaks the sacred warrant of an oath. 
 
 Edward III, n, i 
 
 And cracking the strong warrant of an oath. 
 
 Richard II, iv, i 
 
 Well may I tempt myself to wrong myself. 
 
 Edward III, n, i 
 
 Eliz. Shall I forget myself to be myself? 
 Rich. Ay, if yourself s remembrance wrong yourself . 
 
 Richard III, iv, iv 
 
 This simile is quite in Marlowe's style: 
 
 The poets write, that great Achilles' spear 
 
 Could heal the wound it made. 
 
 Edward III, 11, i 
 
 Whose smile and frown, like to Achilles spear 
 Is able with the change to kill and cure. 
 
 2 Henry VI, v, i 
 
 The freshest summer s day doth soonest taint 
 The loathed carrion that it seems to kiss. 
 
 Edward III, n, i 
 
 For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a god kissing 
 
 carrion. 
 
 Hamlet, ii, ii 
 
114 APPENDIX 
 
 Mr. Tyler observes that the first line in the following pas- 
 sage from the Sonnets is somewhat forced, as if to bring 
 in a rhyme to the second line. He thinks it probable that 
 the second passage is quoted from the previous one. Also 
 that the expression " scarlet ornaments" occurs only in the 
 Sonnets. 
 
 Lilies that fester, smell far worse than weeds. 
 
 Edward III, 11, i 
 For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds ; 
 Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds. 
 
 Sonnet 94 
 
 For sin, though sin, would not be so esteem d; 
 But, rather, virtue sin, sin virtue deemed. 
 
 Edward III, n, i 
 And right perfection wrongfully disgracd, 
 
 And simple truth miscall'd simplicity. 
 
 Sonnet 66 
 
 Anon, with reverent fear when she grew pale, 
 His cheeks put on their scarlet ornaments. 
 
 Edward III, n, i 
 
 Those lips of thine 
 That have prof an d their scarlet ornaments 
 And seal' d false bonds of love as oft as mine. 
 
 Sonnet 142 
 
 • • 
 
 For faults against themselves give evidence. 
 
 Edward III, n, ii 
 
APPENDIX 115 
 
 We ourselves compelFd 
 
 Even to the teeth and forehead of our faults 
 
 To give in evidence. 
 
 Hamlet, hi, iii 
 
 The similarity of treatment in the scenes between the King 
 and the Countess and Angelo and Isabella should also be 
 noticed. The following are parallel passages: 
 
 Contemplative desire! desire to be 
 
 In contemplation that may master thee! 
 
 Edward III, i, ii 
 
 cunning enemy that, to catch a saint, 
 With saints dost bait thy hook! 
 
 Measure for Measure, ii, ii 
 
 Delve there, and find this issue and their pride 
 To spring from ordure and corruption s side. 
 
 Edward III, i, ii 
 
 Do as the carrion does, not as the fotver, 
 Corrupt with virtuous season. 
 
 Measure for Measure, ii, ii 
 
 To stamp His image in forbidden metal, 
 
 Edward III, ii, i 
 
 that do coin Heaven s image 
 In stamps that are forbid. 
 
 Measure for Measure, ii, iv 
 
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