A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume I Part 7

Sleepest thou, wakest thou, Geffrey c.o.ke?

A hundred winter the water was deep, I can not tell you how broad.

He took a goose neck in his hand, And over the water he went.

He start up to a thistle top, And cut him down a hollen club.

He stroke the wren between the horns, That fire sprang out of the pig's tail.

Jack boy, is thy bow i-broke?

Or hath any man done the wriguldy wrag?

He plucked muscles out of a willow, And put them into his satchel!

Wilkin was an archer good, And well could handle a spade; He took his bent bow in his hand, And set him down by the fire.

He took with him sixty bows and ten, A piece of beef, another of bacon.

Of all the birds in merry England So merrily pipes the merry bottle![28]

NATURE.

Well, Humanity, now I see plainly That thou hast used much folly, The while I have been absent.

HU. Sir, I trust I have done nothing That should be contrary to your pleasing, Nor never was mine intent; For I have followed the counsel clear, As ye me bade, of Studious Desire, And for necessity among Sometime Sensual Appet.i.te's counsel, For without him, ye know right well, My life cannot endure long.

NATURE.

Though it be for thee full necessary For thy comfort sometime to satisfy Thy sensual appet.i.te, Yet it is not convenient for thee To put therein thy felicity And all thy whole delight; For if thou wilt learn no science, Nother by study nor experience, I shall thee never advance; But in the world thou shalt dure then, Despised of every wise man, Like this-rude beast Ignorance.

[_The original here ends imperfectly_.]

THE TRAGI-COMEDY OF CALISTO AND MELIBAEA.

_A new comedy in English in manner of an interlude right elegant and full of craft of rhetoric: wherein is shewed and described as well the beauty and good properties of women, as their vices and evil conditions, with a moral conclusion and exhortation to virtue. [Col.] Johes rastell me imprimi fecit. c.u.m privilegio regali. Folio, black letter_.

The only copy known of this piece is among the books of Malone in the Bodleian Library, and it has never hitherto been reprinted. An account of it is given, however, by Collier (_History of English Dramatic Poetry_, ii. 408-12).

AN INTERLUDE, SHOWING THE BEAUTY AND GOOD PROPERTIES OF WOMEN.

MELIBAEA.

Franciscus Petrarcus, the poet laureate, Saith that Nature, which is mother of all things, Without strife can give life to nothing create; And Herac.l.i.tus, the wise clerk, in his writing, Saith in all things create strife is their working; And there is nothing under the firmament With any other in all points equivalent.

And, according to their diets rehea.r.s.ed as thus, All things are create in manner of strife.

These foolish lovers, then, that be so amorous, From pleasure to displeasure how lead they their life: Now sorry, now sad: now joyous, now pensive: Alas! I, poor maiden, then what shall I do, c.u.mbered by dotage of one Calisto?

I know that Nature hath given me beauty, With sanguineous complexion, favour, and fairness: The more to G.o.d ought I to do fea'ty With will, life, land, and love of perfectness.

I deny not but Calisto is of great worthiness, But what of that? for all his high estate, His desire I defy, and utterly shall hate.

Oh, his sayings and suits so importune, That of my life he maketh me almost weary!

Oh, his lamentations and exclamations on fortune, With similitude [of] manner as one that should die!

But who shall pity this? In faith, not I.

Shall I accomplish his carnal desire?

Nay, yet at a stake rather bren in a fire.

Of truth, I am sorry for his trouble; To strive with himself thus for love of me; But though his sorrows, I a.s.sure you, should double, Out of his danger[29] will I be at liberty.

[_Enter_ CALISTO _unseen_.]

CAL. What amiss, woman, now Christ benedicite?

[_Aside_.

MEL. Nay, nay, he shall never that day see; His voluptuous appet.i.te consented by me.

Wist he now that I were present here, I a.s.sure you shortly he would seek me; And without doubt he doth now inquire, Whither I am gone, or where I should be.

See, is he not now come? I repent[30] me Alas, of this man I can never be rid: Would to Christ I wist, where I might be hid.

CAL. By you, fair Melibaea, may be seen The grace, the gifts, the greatness of G.o.d.

MEL. Wherein?

CAL. In taking effect of Dame Nature's strene;[31]

Nor yearthly, but angelic of likelihood; In beauty so pa.s.sing the kind of woman-hood.

O G.o.d, I might in your presence be able To manifest my dolours incomparable; Greater were that reward than the grace Heaven to obtain by works of pity!

Not so glorious be the saints that see G.o.d's face, Ne joy not so much, as I do you to see.

Yet difference there is between them and me, For they glorify by His a.s.sured presence, And I in torment because of your absence.

MEL. Why, thinkest thou that so great a reward?

CAL. Yea, more greater than if G.o.d would set me In heaven above all saints, and more in regard; And think it a more higher felicity.

MEL. Yet more greater thy reward shall be, If thou flee from the determination Of thy consent of mind by such temptation.

I perceive the extent of thy words all, As of the wit of him, that would have the virtue Of me such a woman to become thrall.

Go thy way with sorrow! I would thou knew I have, foul scorn of thee, I tell thee true, Or [of] any human creature with me should begin Any communication pertaining to sin.

And I promise thee, where--thou art present, While I live, by my will I will be absent.

[_Exit_.

CAL. Lo! out of all joy I am fallen in woe, Upon whom adverse fortune hath cast her chance Of cruel hate, which causeth now away to go The keeper of my joy and all my pleasance.

Alas, alas, now to me what noyance!

_Enter_ SEMp.r.o.nIO, _a parasite_.

SEM. _Dieu garde_, my lord, and G.o.d be in this place!

CAL. Semp.r.o.nio?

SEM. Yea, sir.

CAL. Ah, sir, I shrew thy face!

Why hast thou been from me so long absent?

SEM. For I have been about your business, To order such things as were convenient, Your house and horse, and all things, was to dress.

CAL. O Semp.r.o.nio, have pity on my distress; For of all creatures I am the woefullest.

SEM. How so? what is the cause of your unrest?

CAL. For I serve in love to the goodliest thing That is or ever was.

SEM. What is she?

CAL. It is one which is all other exceeding: The picture of angels, if thou her see: Phoebus or Phoebe no comparison may be To her.

SEM. What hight she?

CAL. Melibaea is her name.

SEM. Marry, sir, this would make a wild horse tame!

CAL. I pray thee, Semp.r.o.nio, go fet me my lute, And bring some chair or stool with thee; The arguments of love that I may dispute, Which science, I find, thou[32] art without pity.

Hie thee, Semp.r.o.nio, hie thee, I pray thee.

SEM. Sir, shortly, I a.s.sure you, it shall be done.