A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vii Part 80

ROB. Block, by the antiquity of your ancestry, I have given your lady not so much as the least cause of dislike; if she be displeased at any news I bring, it's more than I must blab.

BLO. Zounds, these pages be so proud, they care not for an old servingman; you are a ward and so an earl, and no more: you disquiet our house--that's the most; and I may be even with thee--that's the least.

_Enter the_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE.

LADY F. What, Block, what, Block, I say! what do you there?

BLO. Making the young lord merry, madam.

LADY F. Go, attend the gate; See if you can let in more grief thereat.

BLO. Zounds, and grief come in there; and I see Him once, I'll conjure his gaberdine. [_Aside_.

LADY F. Will you be gone, sir?

BLO. Hem! these women, these women!

And she be not in love either with Prince Richard or this lad, let Block's head be made a chopping-block.

[_Exit BLOCK_.

ROB. Fair madam, what reply you to my suit?

The prince expects[470] smiles, welcomes, loving looks.

LADY F. The prince, if he give heed to Marian's suit, Must hear heart-sighs, see sorrow in my eyes, And find cold welcome to calamities.

ROB. And why, for G.o.d's sake?

LADY F. Even for Gloster's sake.

ROB. Why, by mine honour, and Prince Richard saith, Your brother Gloster shall have liberty, Upon condition you release a prisoner, That you have long held in captivity.

LADY F. I have no prisoner.

ROB. Yes, a world of eyes Your beauty in a willing bondage ties.

LADY F. Go to, you are dispos'd to jest, my lord.

ROB. In earnest, I must be an earnest suitor To you for love; yet you must be my tutor.

LADY F. Are you in love?

ROB. I dearly love Prince Richard.

LADY F. Then do you love the loveliest man alive, The princeliest person of King Henry's sons.

ROB. I like this well. [_Aside_.

LADY F. He is virtuous in his mind, his body fair; His deeds are just, his speeches debonair.

ROB. Better and better still. [_Aside_.

LADY F. Indeed he is, what n.o.body can deny, All lovely, beauty all, all majesty.

ROB. I'll tell his excellence what you report; No doubt he will be very thankful for't.

LADY F. Nay, hear you, young lord! [for] G.o.d's pity, stay.

ROB. What, have you more in Richard's praise to say?

LADY F. I have said too much, if you misconstrue me.

Duty bids praise him, not unchast.i.ty.

ROB. Unchast.i.ty? holy heavens forfend it, That he or I, or you should once intend it!

SCENE THE NINTH.

_Enter_ BLOCK _and_ RICHARD.

BLO. They are there, sir, close at it, I leave you, sir; the more room the less company.

RICH. Drink that; farewell. [_Gives him money_.

BLO. If that Sir Richard comes; this ties, this binds; O gold, thy power converteth servants' minds.

[_Exit_.

RICH. How now, fair madam, who hath anger'd you?

LADY F. Grief at my brother's durance angers me.

RICH. I had thought my ward, young Huntington, had vex'd you.

LADY F. Who? he? alas, good gentleman, he wrong'd me not; No matter, for all this I'll tell your tale.

_A noise within, enter_ SKINK, BLOCK, CONSTABLE.

BLO. Sir, there comes no more of you in with him than the constable.

Zounds, here's a beadroll of bills at the gate indeed; back, ye base!

LADY F. Now, sirrah, what's the matter?

BLO. Marry, here's a stammerer taken clipping the king's English, and the constable and his watch hath brought him to you to be examin'd.

CON. No, madam, we are commanded by the king to watch; and meeting this fellow at Mile-end, he tells us he is the porter's son of the Fleet, [and] that the Earl of Gloster sent him to you.

SKINK. Ay, f-forsooth he desire[d] you to speak to the p-prince for him.

LADY F. O, I conceive thee; bid him blithely fare, Bear him this ring in token of my care.