A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Viii Part 15

Warman, let's in; I'll fit him presently: Only for Marian am I now his enemy.

[_Exeunt_.

_Enter_ ROBIN, _like a citizen_.

ROB. H. Earl John[177] and Warman, two good friends of mine: I think they knew me not, or if they did I care not what can follow. I am sure The sharpest end is death, and that will come.

But what of death or sorrow do I dream?

My Marian, my fair life, my beauteous love Is coming, to give comfort to my grief, And the sly queen, intending to deceive, Hath taught us how we should her sleights receive.[178]

But who is this? G.o.d's pity! here's Prince John.

JOHN. Good even, sir. This clear evening should portend Some frost, I think: how judge you, honest friend?

ROB. H. I am not weather-wise; but it may be We shall have hard frost; for true charity, Good dealing, faithful friends.h.i.+p, honesty, Are chill-cold, dead with cold.

JOHN. O good sir, stay, That frost hath lasted many a bitter day.

Know ye no frozen hearts that are belov'd?

ROB. H. Love is a flame, a fire, that being moved, Still brighter grows. But say, are you beloved?

JOHN. I would be, if I be not: but pa.s.s that.

Are ye a dweller in this city, pray?

ROB. H. I am; and for a gentlewoman stay, That rides some four or five mile in great haste.

_Enter_ QUEEN _and_ MARIAN.[179]

JOHN. I see your labour, sir, is not in waste, For here come two; are either of these yours?

ROB. H. Both are--one most.[180]

JOHN. Which do you most respect?

ROB. H. The youngest and the fairest I reject.

JOHN. Robin, I'll try you, whether ye say true. [_Aside_.

ROB. H. As you with me, so, John, I'll jest with you. [_Aside_.

QU. ELIN. Marian, let me go first to Robin Hood, And I will tell him what we do intend.

MAR. Do what your highness please; your will is mine.

JOHN. My mother is with gentle Marian: O, it doth grieve her to be left behind.

QU. ELIN. Shall we away, my Robin, lest the queen Betray our purpose? sweet, let us away: I have great will to go, no heart to stay.

ROB. H. Away with thee? No; get thee far away From me, foul Marian, fair though thou be nam'd; For thy bewitching eyes have raised storms, That have my name and n.o.blesse ever sham'd; Prince John, my dear friend once, is now for thee Become an unrelenting enemy.

JOHN. But I'll relent and love thee, if thou leave her.

ROB. H. And Elinor my sovereign, mother-queen,[181]

That yet retains true pa.s.sion in her breast, Stands mourning yonder. Hence! I thee detest.

I will submit me to her majesty.

Great princess, if you will but ride with me A little of my way, I will express My folly past, and humble pardon beg.

MAR. I grant, Earl Robert, and I thank thee too.

QU. ELIN. She's not the queen; sweet Robin, it is I.

ROB. H. Hence, sorceress! thy beauty I defy.

If thou have any love at all to me, Bestow it on Prince John; he loveth thee.

[_Exeunt_ ROBIN, MARIAN.

JOHN. And I will love thee, Robin, for this deed, And help thee, too, in thy distressful need.

QU. ELIN. Wilt thou not stay nor speak, proud Huntington?

Ay me! some whirlwind hurries them away.

JOHN. Follow him not, fair love, that from thee flies, But fly to him that gladly follows thee.

Wilt thou not, girl? turn'st thou away from me?

QU. ELIN. Nay, we shall have it then, If my quaint son his mother 'gin to court. [_Aside_.

JOHN. Wilt thou not speak, fair Marian, to Prince John, That loves thee well?

QU. ELIN. Good sir, I know you do.

JOHN. That can maintain thee.

QU. ELIN. Ay, I know you can, But hitherto I have maintained you.

JOHN. My princely mother!

QU. ELIN. Ay, my princely son.

JOHN. Is Marian then gone hence with Huntington?

QU. ELIN. Ay, she is gone; ill may they either thrive.

JOHN. Mother, they [needs] must go, whom the devil drives; For your sharp fury and infernal rage, Your scorn of me, your spite to Marian, Your overdoating love to Huntington, Hath cross'd yourself, and me it hath undone.

QU. ELIN. I in mine own deceit have met deceit: In brief the manner thus I will repeat.

I knew with malice that the Prior of York Pursued Earl Robert; and I furthered it, Though G.o.d can tell, for love of Huntington.

For thus I thought: when he was in extremes, Need and my love would win some good regard From him to me, if I reliev'd his want.

To this end came I to the mock spouse-feast; To this end made I change for Marian's weed, That me for her Earl Robert should receive: But now I see they both of them agreed, In my deceit I might myself deceive.

Come in with me, come in, and meditate How to turn love to never-changing hate.

[_Exit_.