A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Viii Part 52

See what it is to be a soldier.

But what foul hand hath harm'd Matilda's fair?[332]

Speak, honourable maid, who tore thy hair?

Did Salisbury or the queen this violence?

MAT. Ungentle grooms first took and tore me thus, From whom old Salisbury, chastising their wrong, Most kindly brought me to this gentle queen; Who laid her soft hand on my bleeding cheeks, Gave kisses to my lips, wept for my woe; And was devising how to send me back, Even when your last alarum frighted us, And by her kindness fell into your hands.

LEI. Which kindness we return: Madam, be free.

Soldiers, conduct the queen whither she please.

QUEEN. Farewell, Matilda; if I live, believe I will remember this. O, how I grieve That I should wrong so innocent a maid!

Come, lady, old Fitzwater is not far: He'll weep to see these scars, full well I know.

MAT. Would I were from this woful world of war!

Sure I will 'scape, and to some nunnery go.

[_Exeunt_.

SCENE V.

_Enter_ KING, SALISBURY, HUBERT.

KING. Had you her, then, had you her in your power?

SAL. Ay, marry had we: we had taken her.

KING. O, had she been in mine, not all earth's power From my power should have freed her!

SAL. You are a king, and high are princes' thoughts: It may be, with your sight you could have chas'd A host of armed men; it may be so: But we, your subjects, did the best we could.

Yet Bruce the father, backing Bruce the son, Scatter'd our troops, brought rescue to Matilda, And took your peerless queen their prisoner.

KING. On all the race of Bruces for this wrong I will have vengeance! Hubert, call in Brand. [_Exit_ HUBERT.

My Lord of Salisbury, give us leave awhile To be alone.

SAL. I will, my liege. Be you comforted; The queen will be recovered, do not fear, As well as e'er she was.

KING. Salisbury, forbear, I pray.

SAL. Yet for the wrong she did unto Matilda, I fear, I fear-- [_Exit_.

KING. The father and the son did rescue her; The mother and the son shall rue the deed.

So it shall be; I am resolv'd thereon.

Matilda, my soul's food, those have bereft, And these of body's food I will bereave.

_Enter_ HUBERT [_with_] BRAND.

KING. Will Brand.

BRAND. Your majesty. [_Make legs_.

KING. Less of your court'sy. Hubert, stand aside.

Post speedily to Windsor; take this ring; Bid Blunt deliver Bruce's wife and child Into your hands, and ask him for the key Of the dark tower o'er the dungeon vault: In that see you shut up the dam and brat.

Pretend to Blunt that you have left them meat, Will serve some se'ennight; and unto him say, It is my will you bring the key away.

And hear you, sir, I charge you on your life, You do not leave a bit of bread with them.

BRAND. I warrant you; let me alone.

KING. Come back again with all the speed you may.

[_Exit_ BRAND.

HUB. Some cruel task is pointed for that slave, Which he will execute as cruelly. [_Aside_.]

KING. No ruth, no pity shall have harbour here, Till fair Matilda be within these arms.

_Enter_ SALISBURY _with the_ QUEEN.

SAL. Comfort, my lord; comfort, my gracious lord; Your love is come again!

KING. Ah, Salisbury! where?

SAL. Here, my dread sovereign.

KING. Thou liest; she is not there.

SAL. Under correction you wrong my age.

Say, I beseech you, is not this the queen?

KING. I cry you mercy, Salisbury; 'tis indeed.

Where is Matilda?

QUEEN. Where virtue, chast.i.ty, and innocence remain, There is Matilda.

KING. How comes she, pray, to be so chaste, so fair: So virtuous in your eye?

QUEEN. She freed me from my foes, and never urg'd My great abuse when she was prisoner.

KING. What did you to her!

QUEEN. Rail'd upon her first, Then tare her hair, and rent her tender cheeks.

KING. O heaven! was not the day dark at that foul deed?

Could the sun see without a red eclipse The purple tears fall from those tyrant wounds?

Out, Ethiop, gipsy, thick-lipped blackamoor!

Wolf, tigress! worse than either of them both!

SAL. Are you advis'd, my lord?