A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 105

Did you but see the man, I am a.s.sur'd You would not choose but pardon Ethenwald.

PERIN.

Why, Dunstan, you have seen as well as I, That Ethenwald hath dissembled with the king.

My gracious lord, first cut that traitor down, And then will others fear the like amiss.

DUNSTAN.

I tell thee, Perin, were the earl in place, Thou wouldst eat these words utter'd in his disgrace.

Veni, Astoroth![320]

And, in good time, see where he comes. [_Aside_.

_Here enter_ ALFRIDA _disguised, with the_ DEVIL, [_disguised as_ ETHENWALD.]

KING.

But tell me, Dunstan, is this Alfrida?

DUNSTAN.

It is, my gracious lord, and this is Ethenwald, That lays his breast wide open to your grace, If so it please your grace to pardon him.

KING.

Yes, Dunstan, I am well content to pardon him.

Ethenwald, stand up, and rise up, Alfrida, For Edgar now gives pardon to you both.

DUNSTAN.

Astoroth, away! [_Aside_.]

My gracious lord, Dunstan will not forget This unknown favour shown Earl Ethenwald; For which account my nephew and myself Do yield both lives and goods at your dispose.

KING.

Thanks, Dunstan, for thy honourable love: And thou deserv'st to be a councillor, For he deserves not other to command, That hath no power to master his desire; For Locrine, being the eldest son of Brute, Did doat so far upon an Almain maid, And was so ravished with her pleasing sight, That full seven years he kept her under earth, Even in the lifetime of fair Gwendolin: Which made the Cornish men to rise in arms, And never left, till Locrine was slain.

And now, though late, at last I call to mind What wretched ends fell to adulterers.

DUNSTAN.

And if your grace call Abram's tale to mind, When that Egyptian Pharaoh crav'd his wife, You will, no doubt, forgive my nephew's guilt; Who by the merry jest he showed your grace, Did save your honour and her chast.i.ty.

KING.

We take it so; and for amends, Ethenwald, Give me thy hand and we are friends; And love thy wife, and live together long, For Edgar hath forgot all former wrong.

ETHENWALD.

Thanks, gracious king, and here upon my knee I rest to be disposed, as you please.

KING.

Enough, Ethenwald. But who comes here?

_Enter_ HONESTY.

HONESTY.

Why, I think I have taken in hand an endless task, To smell a knave: 'tis more than a dog can do.

I have disguised myself of purpose to find A couple of knaves, which are yet behind.

The next knave is a priest, call'd John the precise, That with counterfeit holiness blinds the people's eyes.

This is one of them, that will say it is a shame For men to swear and blaspheme G.o.d's holy name; Yet if a make a good sermon but once in a year, A will be forty times in a tavern making good cheer: Yet in the church he will read with such sobriety, That you would think him very precise and of great honesty. [_Aside_.]

KING.

What, Honesty, hast thou despatch'd, and found these privy knaves?

HONESTY.

I shall do anon: I have them in scent; but I will be gone.

[_Exit_.

_Enter_ PRIEST.

PRIEST.

Good Lord! I praise G.o.d I am come from our morning's exercise, Where I have profited myself, and e[d]ified my brethren In shewing the way to salvation by my doctrine; And now I am going to the court to prefer my pet.i.tion.

I would give a hundred pound it were granted; 'Tis a thing of nothing: but here comes one of the court.

_Enter_ HONESTY.

G.o.d save you, brother in Christ: are you towards the king?

HONESTY.

Ay, marry am I: what then? why dost thou ask?

PRIEST.

Nothing, sir, but I would desire you to stand my friend, To get me the king's hand and seal to this letter.

I would not use it, sir, to hinder any man for a thousand pound; For indeed I am a clergyman by my profession.

'Tis nothing, sir, but, as you see, to have the king's seal To carry tin, lead, wool, and broadcloths beyond seas, For you know, sir, every man will make the most he can of his own; And for my part, I use it but for a present necessity, If you will undertake to do it, I'll give you a hundred pound.

HONESTY.

I thank you, sir, but I am afraid the king will hardly grant it: why, 'tis an undoing to the commonwealth; But, truly, I will move the king to hang you, priest, i'faith.-- [_Aside_.

May it please your grace to grant me my pet.i.tion, For I offer it your grace in pure devotion.

KING.

O monstrous! Dunstan, didst thou ever hear the like?

Now fie upon the base villain! lay hands on him.

HONESTY.

On me? nay, on him. Priest, I give your pet.i.tion to the king, And I will speak to him you may be but hanged; For if you should live, till the king granted your pet.i.tion, The very ravens would pick out thine eyes living; And therefore 'twere better you were hanged, to save the birds a labour.

KING.

Now, Honesty, hast thou done? Is here all?

HONESTY.

O no, my lord, for there are so many behind, That I am afraid my work will never have an end.

But I see by the priest's looks he lacks company: Stay awhile, my lord, I'll fetch another presently.

[_Exit_.

KING.

Fie, graceless man! hast thou no fear of G.o.d, To withhold thee from these lawless motions?

Why, thou shouldst be as [a] messenger of G.o.d, And hate deceit and wicked avarice: But thou art one of those whom G.o.d doth hate, And thy vild deeds will witness 'gainst thy soul, And make the most abominable in his sight, That made thee, wretch, but to a better end, Than thus to wrong his sacred Deity.

Now, fie upon thee, monster of a man?

That for to gain thyself a private gain, Wouldst seek the undoing of a commonwealth: And though thou bide[321] ten thousand torments here, They cannot quit thee, where thou shalt appear.