A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 100

KING.

Alas, poor Piers Plowman! what ailest thou?

Why dost thou weep? Peace, man: if any have Offended thee, thou shalt be made amends Unto the most.

PIERS PLOWMAN.

I beseech your grace To pity my distress. There is an unknown thief That robs the commonwealth, and makes me and my Poor wife and children beg for maintenance.

The time hath been, my lord, _in diebus illis_, That the ploughman's coat was of good homespun russet cloth, Whereof neither I nor my servants had no want, Though now both they and I want, And all by this unknown farmer; For there cannot be an acre of ground to be sold, But he will find money to buy it: nay, my lord, He hath money to buy whole lords.h.i.+ps, and yet but a farmer.

I have kept a poor house, where I dwell this fourscore year, Yet was I never driven to want till now: I beseech your grace, as you have still been just, To seek redress for this oppression.

I beseech your grace, read my humble pet.i.tion.

[_Delivers it to the_ KING.]

KING.

Let me see: The humble pet.i.tion of poor Piers Plowman.

Alas, poor Piers! I have heard my father say, That Piers Plowman was one of the best members in a commonwealth; For his table was never empty of bread, beef, and beer, As a help to all distressed travellers. But where thou tellest me I harbour him, and he is daily under my elbow, I a.s.sure thee, 'tis more than I know; for I harbour None but this, which is my honest friend.

HONESTY.

Is this your honest friend? the devil a is. [_Aside_].

My lord, this is he: if you doubt my word to be true, call in Clerk of the a.s.sizes. Now shall your grace see, how Honesty can shake out a knave in this company.

_Enter_ CLERK OF THE a.s.sIZE.

Sirrah, tell me who hath most poor men in suit at this Sizes?

CLERK.

That hath Walter Would-have-more: He hath one poor man in suit for certain barley, And another, for that his horse was taken in his corn.

HONESTY.

But what indictments are against him? read them.

CLERK. [_Read the indictment_.

First, he hath conveyed corn out of the land to feed the enemy. Next, he hath turned poor Piers Plowman out of doors by his great raising of rents. Next, he is known to be a common disturber of men of their quiet, by serving writs on them, and bringing them to London, to their utter undoing. Also, he keeps corn in his barn, and suffers his brethren and neighbours to lie and want; and thereby makes the market so dear, that the poor can buy no corn.

KING.

Enough! Now, fie upon thee, thou monster of nature, To seek the utter undoing of many, to enrich thyself.-- Honesty, take him, and use him as thou wilt.

HONESTY.

Come, sir, I think I found out your knavery.

Away, sir, and bear your fellow company.

[_Exeunt omnes but the_ KING _and_ DUNSTAN.

_Enter_ ETHENWALD.

ETHENWALD.

Health and good hap befall your majesty.

KING.

Ethenwald, welcome; how fares our beauteous love?

Be brief, man: what, will she love or no?

ETHENWALD.

Then, as your grace did give to me in charge, I have discharged my duty every way, And communed with the maid you so commend: For when the sun, rich father of the day, Eye of the world, king of the spangled vale, Had run the circuit of the horizon, And that Artofelex, the night's bright star, Had brought fair Luna from the purpled main, Where she was dallying with her wanton love, To lend her light to weary travellers, Then 'twas my chance to arrive at Osrick's house: But being late, I could not then unfold The message that your grace had given in charge; But in the morn Aurora did appear, At sight of whom the welkin straight did clear.

Then was the spangled veil of heaven drawn in, And Phoebus rose, like heaven's imperial king; And ere the sun was mounted five degrees, The maid came down, and gave me the good day.

KING.

But being come, what said she then?

How likest thou her? what, is she fair or no?

ETHENWALD.

My lord, she is coloured like the Scythia maid,[308]

That challenged Lucio at the Olympian games.

Well-bodied, but her face was something black, Like those that follow household business: Her eyes were hollow, sunk into her head, Which makes her have a cloudy countenance.

She hath a pretty tongue, I must confess, And yet, my lord, she is nothing eloquent.

KING.

Why then, my lord, there's nothing good in her.

ETHENWALD.

Yes, my lord, she is fit to serve an earl or so, But far unfit for Edgar, England's king.

KING.

So then she is fit for Ethenwald, our Cornish earl, But far unfit for Edgar, England's king.

Well, Ethenwald, I sound your policy: But tell me, i'faith, dost thou love the maid?

Speak truly, man; dissemble not.

ETHENWALD.

I do, my gracious lord, and therewithal Entreat your majesty to pardon me.

KING.

Ethenwald, I am content to pardon thee, And will be with thee myself ere long, To do thee honour in thy marriage: And therefore, Ethenwald, thou may'st depart, And leave us till we visit thee at home.

ETHENWALD.

My gracious lord, I humbly take my leave.

DUNSTAN.

If it please your grace, pardon me, and give me leave, I would gladly bring my nephew on the way.

KING.

With all my heart, Dunstan; but stay not long.

ETHENWALD.

I humbly take my leave of your majesty.

[_Exeunt_ DUNSTAN _and_ ETHENWALD.

[_Enter_ PERIN.]

KING.

Farewell, Ethenwald. But, Perin, tell me now, What dost thou think of Alfrida?