A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Viii Part 12

[_Exeunt_.

SCENE III.

_Enter_ ROBIN HOOD, LITTLE JOHN _following him; the one Earl of Huntington, the other his servant_, ROBIN _having his napkin on his shoulder, as if he were suddenly raised from dinner_.

ROB. H. As I am outlaw'd from my fame and state, Be this day outlawed from the name of days.

Day luckless, outlaw luckless, both accurs'd!

[_Flings away his napkin and hat, and sitteth down_.

LIT. JOHN. Do not forget your honourable state, Nor the true n.o.blesse of your worthy house.

ROB. H. Do not persuade me; vain as vanity Are all thy comforts: I am comfortless.

LIT. JOHN. Hear me, my lord.

ROB. H. What shall I hear thee say?

Already hast thou said too much to hear: Already hast thou stabb'd me with thy tongue, And the wide wound with words will not be clos'd.

Am I not outlaw'd by the Prior of York?

Proclaim'd in court, in city, and in town A lawless person? this thy tongue reports, And therefore seek not to make smooth my grief; For the rough storm thy windy words have rais'd, Will not be calm'd, till I in grave be laid.

LIT. JOHN. Have patience yet.

ROB. H. Yea, now indeed thou speakest.

Patience hath power to bear a greater cross Than honour's spoil or any earthly loss.

LIT. JOHN. Do so, my lord.

ROB. H. Ay, now I would begin: But see, another scene of grief comes in.

_Enter_ MARIAN.[163]

MAR. Why is my lord so sad? wherefore so soon, So suddenly, arose ye from the board?

Alas, my Robin! what distempering grief Drinks up the roseate colour of thy cheeks?

Why art thou silent? answer me, my love.

ROB. H. Let him, let him, let him make thee as sad.

He hath a tongue can banish thee from joy, And chase thy crimson colour from thy cheeks.

Why speak'st thou not? I pray thee, Little John, Let the short story of my long distress Be utter'd in a word. What, mean'st thou to protract?

Wilt thou not speak? then, Marian, list to me.

This day thou wert a maid, and now a spouse, Anon, poor soul, a widow thou must be!

Thy Robin is an outlaw, Marian; His goods and land must be extended on, Himself exil'd from thee, thou kept from him By the long distance of unnumbered miles.

[_She sinks in his arms_.

Faint'st thou at this? speak to me, Marian: My old love, newly met, part not so soon; We have a little time to tarry yet.

MAR. If but a little time, let me not stay Part we to-day, then will I die to-day!

LIT. JOHN. For shame, my lord! with courage of a man Bridle this over-grieving pa.s.sion, Or else dissemble it to comfort her.

ROB. H. I like thy counsel. Marian, clear these clouds, And with the sunny beams of thy bright eyes Drink up these mists of sorrow that arise.

MAR. How can I joy, when thou art banished?

ROB. H. I tell thee, love, my grief is counterfeit; And I abruptly from the table rose, The banquet being almost at an end, Only to drive confused and sad thoughts [Out of][164] the minds of the invited guests.

For, gentle love, at great or nuptial feasts, With comic sports or tragic stately plays We use to recreate the feasted guests, Which I am sure our kinsfolk do expect.

MAR. Of this, what then? this seems of no effect.

ROB. H. Why, thus of this: as Little John can tell, I had bespoken quaint comedians; But great John, John the prince, my liege's brother-- My rival, Marian, he that cross'd our love-- Hath cross'd me in this jest,[165] and at the court Employs the players should have made us sport.

This was the tidings brought by Little John, That first disturbed me, and begot this thought Of sudden rising, which by this, I know, Hath with amazement troubled all our guests.

Go in, good love: thou as the chorus shalt Express the meaning of my silent grief, Which is no more but this: I only mean (The more to honour our right n.o.ble friends) Myself in person to present some scenes Of tragic matter, or perchance of mirth, Even such as first shall jump with my conceit.

MAR. May I be bold thou hast the worst expressed?

LIT. JOHN. Fair mistress, all is true my lord hath said.

ROB. H. It is, it is.

MAR. Speak not so hollow then: So sigh and sadly speak true-sorrowing men.

ROB. H. Believe me, love, believe me (I beseech), My first scene tragic is, therefore tragic speech And accents filling woful action, I strive to get. I pray thee, sweet, Go in, and with thy sight appease The many doubts that may arise. That done, Be thou their usher, bring them to this place, And thou shalt see me with a lofty verse Bewitch the hearers' ears, and tempt their eyes To gaze upon the action that I use.

MAR. If it be but a play, I'll play my part: But sure some earnest grief affrights thy[166] heart.

LIT. JOHN. Let me entreat ye, madam, not to fear, For, by the honesty of Little John, It's but a tragic scene we have in hand, Only to fit the humour of the queen, Who is the chiefest at your troth-plight feast.

MAR. Then will I fetch her highness and the rest.

[_Exit_.

ROB. H. Ay, that same jealous queen, whose doting age Envies the choice of my fair Marian, She hath a hand in this.

LIT. JOHN. Well, what of that?

Now must your honour leave these mourning tunes, And thus by my areed you shall provide.

Your plate and jewels I will straight pack up, And toward Nottingham convey them hence.

At Rowford, Sowtham, Wortley, Hothersfield, Of all your cattle money shall be made; And I at Mansfield will attend your coming, Where we'll determine which way's best to take.

ROB. H. Well, be it so; a' G.o.d's name, let it be; And, if I can, Marian shall come with me.

LIT. JOHN. Else care will kill her. Therefore, if you please, At th'utmost corner of the garden wall, Soon in the evening wait for Marian; And as I go I'll tell her of the plan.[167]

Your horses at the Bell shall ready be, I mean Belsavage;[168] whence as citizens, That mean[169] to ride for pleasure some small way, You shall set forth.

ROB. H. Be it as thou dost say.

Farewell awhile: In spite of grief, thy love compels me smile, But now our audience comes, we must look sad.[170]

_Enter_ QUEEN ELINOR, MARIAN, SENTLOE, LACY, BROUGHTON, WARMAN, _Robin's steward. As they meet_, LITTLE JOHN _whispers with_ MARIAN, _and exit_.