A Select Collection of Old English Plays Part 13

TROT. O captain, captain! yonder is the mad Orlando the furious, and I think he takes me for----What do you call him?

CAPT. What, Medor?[31]

TROT. Ay, ay, Medor: the devil Medor him, he has so nuddled[32]

me----O, here he comes: I'll be gone.

[_Exit._

_Enter_ GIOVANNO.

GIO. Stay, satyr, stay; you are too light of foot, I cannot reach your paces, prythee, stay.

What G.o.ddess have you there? Sure, 'tis Evadne!

Are you the dragons that ne'er sleep, but watch The golden fruit of the Hesperides?

Ha! then I am Hercules; fly ye! Sure, That face dwelt on Evadne's shoulders.

[_He beats them off, and unbinds_ EVADNE.

EVAD. O thou preserver of near-lost Evadne!

What must my weakness pay?

GIO. 'Tis [she,] 'tis she; she must not know I'm mad.

EVAD. a.s.sist me, some good pow'r; it is my friend.

[_Aside._]

Make me but wise enough to resolve myself.

GIO. It may be 'tis not she; I'll ask her name.

What are you call'd, sweet G.o.ddess?

EVAD. They that know me mortal term me Evadne.

GIO. 'Tis she: ay, ay, 'tis she.

EVAD. Pray you, sir, unto the bond of what I owe you, which is a poor distressed virgin's life, add this one debt: [tell me,] what are you?

GIO. Not worth your knowledge: I am a poor, a very, very poor despised thing: but say, I pray, are you sure your name's Evadne?

EVAD. 'Tis questionless my tailor. [_Aside._] I am she; receive me to your arms not alter'd in my heart, though in my clothes.

GIO. I do believe you, indeed I do; but stay, I don't. Are you a maid, a virgin, pray, tell me? for my Evadne could not tell a lie; speak, I shall love you, though that jewel's gone.

EVAD. I am as spotless, thank your happy self that sav'd Me from those robbers, as the child which yet Is but a jelly, 'tis so young.

GIO. No more, no more, trust me, I do believe you.

[They are] so many slaves, whose flaming appet.i.tes Would in one night ravish a throng of virgins, And never feel digression in their heat.

I'll after, and murder all.

EVAD. How do you?

GIO. Well, very well: belike, you think I am mad.

EVAD. You look distractedly.

GIO. 'Tis but your thoughts; indeed I am wondrous well.

How fair she looks after so foul a deed!

It cannot be she should be false to me: No, thou art mad to think so. Fool, O fool!

Think'st thou those slaves, having so fair a mark, Would not be shooting? Yes, they would: they have.

Evadne is fly-blown: I cannot love her.

[_Aside._]

EVAD. What say you, sweet?

GIO. The innocence that sits upon that face Says she is chaste; the guilty cannot speak So evenly as she does: guilty, said I?

Alas! it were not her fault, were she ravish'd.

O madness, madness! whither wilt thou bear me?

[_Aside._]

EVAD. His senses are unsettled; I'll go seek Some holy man to rectify his wits.

Sweet, will you go unto some hermit's cell?

You look as you lack'd rest.

GIO. She speaks Like to an angel, she's the same as when I saw her first: as pure, as chaste. Did she Retain the substance of a sinner--for she is none-- Her breath would then be sour, and betray The rankness of the act: but her chaste sighs Beget as sweet a dew as that of May.

Why weeps Evadne? truly I am not mad.

See, I am tame; pray, lead me where you please.

[_Exeunt._

_a banquet is set forth: enter_ PETRUCHIO, AURELIA, _with two servants bringing_ ANTONIO _asleep in a chair, and set him to the table_.

PET. The drink has done its part effectually; 'Twas a strong powder that could hold his senses So fast, that this removing, so full of noise, Had not the power to wake him.

AUR. Good father, let Aurelia, your daughter, Do this same act of justice; let me tread The pin:[33] the fact of his being so foul, so hateful, Has lent me, though a maid, such fort.i.tude.

PET. Thou hast thy wish, do't boldly; 'tis a deed That, in the ignorance of elder ages, Would be thought full of merit. Be not daunted.

AUR. I have a thought tells me it is religious To sacrifice a murtherer to death; Especially one that did act a deed So generally accounted odious.

PET. By holy Jaques,[34] I am a governor, And should my life (though by the hand of him My duty does call king) be stroke i' th' air; My injur'd corpse should not forsake the earth Till I did see't reveng'd: be resolute, thy foot Is guided by a power that, though unseen, Is still a furtherer of good attempts.

AUR. Pray, sir, lend me the key of the back-ward, For though my conscience tells me 'tis an act I may hereafter boast of, yet I'll pa.s.s Unto our Lady's chapel, when 'tis done, To be confess'd, ere I am seen of any.

PET. I am proud to see thee so well given.

Take 'em, [my] girl, and with 'em take my prayers.

AUR. He wakes; pray, leave me, sir.