A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 22

What, shall she, villain?

FIDELIA.

Help, help! alas!

_Enter_ PHIZANTIES [_the prince], a_ LORD, _and_ PENULO [_a parasite_].

PHIZANTIES.

What stir is here? what means this broil begun?

Give me to know th'occasion of this strife?

How falls it out? Armenio, my son, Hath wound receiv'd by stroke of naked knife.

Say to me straight, what one hath done this deed?

His blows are big that makes a prince to bleed.

FIDELIA.

My sovereign father, pardon his offence,[78]

Whose grief of mind is greater than his wound.

My rightful quarrel yields me safe defence, And here they stand that guilty must be found.

ARMENIO.

Traitor, O king, unto your majesty, Whose proud attempt doth touch your grace so near, As what may be the greatest villainy Upon recital shall be opened here.

My sister and your far unworthy child, Forgetting love and fear of G.o.ds and thee, And honour of her name, is thus beguil'd To love this gentleman, whom here you see-- Hermione, whom for a jewel of some price Old Hermet gave[79] your highness long ago.

And for I gave rebuke to her[80] device, In gallant thought he would not take it so; But, as it seems, to do my body good-- I thank him--deign'd himself to let me blood.

PHIZANTIES.

Hermione, and hast thou done this deed?

And couldst thou shrine such treason in thy thought?

Armenio, jest not with thy hurt: take heed.

And thou, fond girl, whose stained blood hath wrought, How hath mine age and honour been abus'd, My princely care, Hermione, of thee?

The fault so great it cannot be excus'd, And you enforc'd the shame thereof to see.

But far we fear some farther ill may fall, Through love and hate of one and of the other: Her foolish love, I mean; and therewithal The hot disdain and stomach of her brother.

Hermione, weigh what our pleasure is.

Whilome, thou knowest, we entertained[81] thee willingly; Now, seeing thou hast done so far amiss To reach above thy reach unorderly, In milder words, because we love thee well, Lo, we discharge thee of our princely court: Thou mayest no longer with Fidelia dwell, Forbidden to her presence to resort.

Behold my 'ward,[82] that am no bitter judge, And wend thy way, where'er thou likest to go: This only way I take to end the grudge, And stop the love that each to other owe.

Among such haps as might my mind content, Whereof the gracious G.o.ds have given me store, I count this one, if thus I might prevent The furthest outrage of the swelling sore.

HERMIONE.

Alas! now have I lived too long, I see, Confounded so to yield to fortune's will: My sovereign prince offended thus with me, And I adjudg'd to death, though living still.

Ah, my good lord! whom I have honoured long, Long may your highness joy this highest place: Thyself the root and cause of mine own wrong.

But must I leave to view my lady's face, And, banish'd from my prince's royal court, Wander,[83] as erst the unhappy Oedipus, Whose pain my foes will make their chiefest sport-- My most unhappy chance will have it thus.

ARMENIO.

No force forsooth: unpitied might he die, That to his sovereign means such villainy.

HERMIONE.

Such villainy! who ever meant more good?

ARMENIO.

The venom of thy villainy withstood.

HERMIONE.

Armenio, I forbear thee here for reverence; Yet, by my prince's leave, in my defence I may allege I lov'd thy sister here; Which love though I am like to buy full dear; Yet is her love more precious than the price.

But since hard hap prevents our late device, Long live my lord, long live my lady's grace: G.o.d send them friends as loyal in my place; And, trust me, then their fortune shall be such, As not thy love shall ever prove so much.

PHIZANTIES.

Hermione, give me thy hand: adieu: Think this is done t'avoid a further ill, And double mischief that might else ensue.

For my sake cease to love Fidelia still: Unequal love is enemy to rest.

She is too young to love thee as she should-- And thou, Hermione, canst conceive the rest.

My meaning is, she loves not as we would.

Time may afford to both your hearts' desires New choice to cool these newly-kindled fires.

FIDELIA.

Never, alas! never will be the day, That I shall leave to love Hermione.

Sooner shall nature's course quite altered be, Than I shall leave, dear knight, to honour thee.

Good father, let him stay, who, if he part, 'Gainst law is like to steal away my heart.

ARMENIO.

May it please your grace to keep the body here, It's like enough the heart will hover[84] near.

HERMIONE.

My lord, laugh not oppressed souls to scorn.

Losers, they say, may easily be forborne.

PHIZANTIES.

Forbear these words; and thou, Fidelia, These misbeseeming foolish fas.h.i.+ons stay.

Let it suffice that thou shalt live in court, Where, if among the jolly brave resort Of sundry knights of n.o.ble personage, Worthy thy love for gifts and parentage, Thou shalt espy one[85] such as we do like, Our favours shall not be too far to seek.

FIDELIA.

Ah, my Hermione!

HERMIONE.

Sweet lady mine, farewell.[86]

Farewell, the courteous't dame that on earth do dwell.

ARMENIO.

Sir, now you are packing, let me know your walk, For I have that may not be past without some talk: Nor stands it with mine honour to let thee bear it clear, But I will make thee know Armenio's blood is dear.

HERMIONE.

My lord, I make no challenge with offence; But first I will prepare for my defence.

ARMENIO.

So, sir, you are aforehand: keep you so, And reckon of Armenio for thy vowed foe.

Go, wend thy ways obscurer than the night, And Fortune for revenge plague thee with spite.

[_Exit_.

HERMIONE.

Farewell, my cruel foe; not thou nor Fortune may Add more unto the miseries that I have felt to-day; Nor but by safe return[87] unto this happy place, Can G.o.ds or Fortune make amends in this distressed case.

Then cease, Hermione, to utter speech of this; Words not suffice this endless woe, but death, i-wis: And part thou from the place a dead and liveless man, Robb'd of thy senses and thy joy, since first this stir began.

PENULO.