Four Plays of Gil Vicente Part 27

_N._ _Amen._ _C._ _Dominus vobisc.u.m._

_N._ Sing on, padre. _C._ _Sursum corda._

160 _N._ Your voice, less soft than a recorder, Is thick as an elephant's that has fed Its fill of soup--and no more said.

_C._ Worse voice has Simo Vaz, I ween, Yet he's Treasurer and King's Chaplain, worse voice has the Dean --Like a pelican _he_ sings-- And others that may be seen In the palace. Let me end My singing and great things you'll see.

170 _N._ I think I'm rather tired, friend.

But the King's you'll surely be, Nor need we further effort spend.

_C._ Sir, the difficulty's this: For you'll say: 'My chaplain he,'

The King knows what your income is And he'll laugh right merrily And send me to the Treasury.

_N._ If you had but a good ear!

_C._ How sing well when 'tis your use 180 To give me everlasting cheer Of stockfish salted yesteryear, The worst that all the seas produce?

_One of the n.o.bleman's pages comes and says:_

_Page._ My lord, the goldsmith's at the door.

_N._ Show him in.--He's come for more Money.--Come in, Sir, good-day.

Put your hat on, I implore, I'm your great friend, you may say, Since I e'er your praises sing.

Only last night to the King 190 You most highly I commended And I know that he intended To employ you. I'll insist Every time I see him, for Such mention oft advances more Than directly to a.s.sist, And these little things, you know, May to a great value grow As your name and fame have grown.

_G._ No other patron would I own, 200 Sir, I'll serve him with all zest.

_N._ Know you what I like the best In you? (To the King I said it And it's greatly to your credit) That you ne'er for payment pressed Nor your creditors molest.

Ne'er such patience did I see, Such superiority And anxiety to please.

_G._ Our account's so small a thing 210 And is so long overdue, 'Tis half dead of promises, So that when I bring it you I but a dead promise bring.

_N._ How most cunningly inlaid And enamelled is each word!

I rejoice not to have paid For the sake of having heard Phrases with such skill arrayed.

_G._ Sir, I kiss your hands, but still 220 What is mine would see in mine.

_N._ Another courtier's phrase so fine!

'Sir, I kiss your hands, but still What is mine would see in mine!'

Fair flowers of speech are yours at will.

What did the salt-cellar weigh?

_G._ A good two marks, most accurately.

_N._ The silver. And your work, I pray?

_G._ That may almost be ignored.

_N._ In all what may its value be?

230 _G._ Just nine thousand reis, my lord.

And I can no longer wait For I'm killed by your delay.

_N._ Your insistence, Sir, is great And I shall have told a lie For quite differently I Praised you. Praise may turn to gibe: you Surely will not gain thereby.

_G._ With the cellar must I bribe you?

_N._ 'Tis of salt-cellars the worst 240 For which I e'er gave a s.h.i.+lling.

_G._ Though three years have pa.s.sed since first I let you have it I am willing To retake it even now.

_N._ No, no, that I won't allow For I would not have you lose.

_G._ Why then pay me not my dues?

For myself the charcoal bought With which you turn my hopes to nought.

_N._ Boy, go see what does the King, 250 And if there are ladies to be seen, The whole day shall not pa.s.s, I ween, In pay and won't pay: no such thing.

And you return some other day: And if you find that I'm away Then speak unto my Chamberlain, He of all moneys that accrue Has charge and of the revenue That yearly comes from t.i.the and grain: And from him you will obtain 260 Most certainly what is your due.

_G._ And do you pay me with parade Of words and other bounties vain?

_N._ See to it you that you are paid.

_As the chaplain goes out he says:_

_C._ Shall such men go to paradise?

If so I'll not believe in it.

But I'll be even with them yet: Henceforth, proof against each device, I'll countermine them by my wit.

_The page comes with a message and says:_

_P._ The King be in the palace, Sir.

270 _N._ In what room?

_P._ No more I know.

_N._ Low-born villain, is it so That a message you deliver?

_P._ Arrah, I know what I'm about.

_N._ Arrah! just listen to the lout!

Are any ladies present there?

_P._ Yes, I saw ladies, I aver, For they upon the terrace were.

_N._ Who were they?