A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 25

LENTULO.

By my troth, sir, no more but to try, If you be not as blind a gentleman in the purse as I.

PENULO.

I use not to carry my money in a purse.

LENTULO.

All in a pocket? well, never a whit the worse; I must search your pocket.

PENULO.

What, if it be elsewhere?

LENTULO.

Wheresoever it is, I must seek out this gear, I'll not lose my wager, that's certain.

Very well, sir; will you put me to pain?

PENULO.

Have I never a weapon?--I'll look--I pray thee, be content.

LENTULO.

You shall have your wager, sir, as it was meant.

PENULO.

Hold thy hands, good fellow: I'll do anything for thee.

I perceive a wise man of a fool overtaken may be.

LENTULO.

Thou blind gentleman! unless it be for my commodiosity, I'll teach thee to be blind, and go so bravely.

PENULO.

I'll do anything for thee, if thou strike me no more, Because I perceive thou art almost as poor As myself am, and yet there is somewhat in thee: I'll prefer thee to a service in the Court presently.

LENTULO.

Ha! wilt thou do so?

PENULO.

That I will.

LENTULO.

Wilt thou do so, indeed?

Swear to me by thy ten commandments in thy creed.

PENULO.

I do so.

LENTULO.

Troth, then, we are friends: say nothing, I pray, And you shall see me prove a rank runaway.

Why, when a man may be a courtier, and live at ease, Should a' not leave his old master to please?

Sirrah blind gentleman, we two blind gentlemen, and [you] do as thou promis'd here, Perhaps I may be as good to thee as two pots of beer.

I'll go with thee, i'faith; gaw, let's be gone.

PENULO.

Soft; tarry a while: I'll go with thee anon.

_Enter_ ARMENIO.

ARMENIO.

How thinkest thou, Penulo, am I not provided now?

LENTULO.

I warrant, sir, a' shall have a cold pull of you, And a' begin to make another brawl.

ARMENIO.

Farewell, when thou wilt; I trust I shall Meet with him: am I not almost at the tree?

PENULO.

That same is it, sir.

LENTULO.

Sirrah, what's he?

PENULO.

What car'st thou I come, go thou with me.

Why, I shall have but an ill-favoured courtier of ye.

LENTULO.

Now, for a runaway, G.o.d send us good chance.

Then, maids, at your marriage I mean me to dance.

[_Exit_.

ARMENIO.

Now serves the time to wreak me of my foe-- My b.a.s.t.a.r.d foe--that to dishonour me In privy corners seeks to shame me so, That my discredit might his credit be.

And hath my father from his tender youth Vouchsaf'd to bring thee up? did I therefore Believe so earnestly thy perjur'd truth, Advancing still thine honour evermore, That, not contented with a common wrack, Thou shouldst intend the ruin of us all; And when thou seemd'st afraid to turn thy back, To make a glory of our greater fall?

Before thou triumph in thy treachery, Before thou 'scape untouched for thy sin, Let never Fates nor Fortune favour me, But wretched let me live and die therein.

Few words shall serve, my deeds shall prove it now That, ere I sleep, I mean to meet with you.

[_Exit_.

_Enter_ FIDELIA.

FIDELIA.

Behold the s.h.i.+fts that faithful love can make; See what I dare adventure for thy sake.

In case extreme make virtue of a need, But hence the grief which maketh my heart to bleed.

My love and life, wherever that thou be, I am in dole constrain'd to follow thee: Hence sprung the h.e.l.l of my tormented mind, The fear of some misfortune yet behind.

If thou escape the peril of distress, My fear and care is twenty times more less.

No reason 'tis that I should live in joy, When thou art wrapt in fetters of annoy; Nor to that end I swear to be thy wife, To live in peace with thee and state of life; But as to dwell at ease in pleasure's lap, Even so to bear some part of thy mishap, And so to draw in equal portion still Of both our fortunes, either good or ill.

And sith the lots of our unconstant fate Have turn'd our former bliss to wretched state, I am content to tread the woful dance, That sounds the measure of our hapless chance.

I'll wait thy coming; long thou wilt not stay: High Jove defend and keep thee in the way!

_Enter_ BOMELIO.

BOMELIO.