A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Viii Part 48

These, patch'd together, fasten'd unto staves, They will not stick to swear have been advanc'd Against the Sophy, Soldan, and the Turk.

LEI. Do not maintain proud Chester, my life's liege: Your words I must put up; his if I bear--

KING.[318] Yes, you shall bear them, bear, and yet not bite: We have you muzzled now. Remember once You brav'd us with your bombard boasting words.

Come (briefly), Leicester, Richmond, both Fitzwaters, Bruce, Deliver up your swords immediately; And either yield your bodies to our hands, Or give such pledges as we shall accept Unto our steward Winchester with speed.

LEI. I will not leave my arms, nor break my word, Except I be provok'd: your liege-man I am sworn; That oath is pledge enough. If you mislike--

KING. Thou hear'st me say I do.

LEI. And I reply: That pledge refus'd, I have no more for you.

RICH. And Richmond says as n.o.ble Leicester saith.

Already have we plighted fame and faith Which, being scorn'd, returns to us again, And by the king's own mouth we are discharged.

KING. Fitzwater, what say you?

FITZ. What pledge desires my liege?

KING. I ask your stubborn daughter.

YOUNG B. That were a gage To be engaged.

FITZ. Peace, thou headstrong boy!

Pardon me, sovereign; all my power is yours; My goods you may command, my life you may: My children too, I know, with both their lives Will readily adventure death's worst wrongs, To do such service as true subjects should; But honourable fame; true chast.i.ty--

KING. Make no exceptions: yield her up to me, Or look for ever for my enmity.

FITZ. Nay, then, Fitzwater tells your majesty, You do him wrong; and well will let you wit, He will defend his honour to the death.

KING. And, Bruce, you are no otherwise disposed: You will not give your sons to me for pledge.

BRUCE. I have but one, being my lesser boy, Who is at Guildford: for my other son--

KING. He braves me with the rest.

Well, it is night, and there's no sun to swear by, But G.o.d's[319] son, and by him I here protest A miserable storm this night to raise That shall not cease, while England giveth rest To such vile traitors. Bruce, I'll begin with you; I will, i' faith, as true as G.o.d is true.

[_Exit_ KING, _c.u.m suis_.

LEI. Then shall a storm be rais'd against a storm, And tempest be with tempest beaten back.

FITZ. But this firm island, like the sea, will toss.

And many goodly buildings go to wrack; Many a widow weep her dying son, And many a mother to her weeping babes Cry out uncomfortably, "Children, peace, Your crying unto me is all in vain, Dead is my husband, your poor father slain!"

YOUNG B. We cannot help it, uncle.

RICH. No, you see Entreats and humble suits have now no power, But l.u.s.t and wrath the kingdom do devour.

BRUCE. Me he did menace first, and much I fear He will to Guildford, and besiege my wife.

FITZ. O, hie to save her! Richmond, ride with him.

RICH. Let us away, Bruce, lest we come too late, And with us take some score of men well-arm'd.

[_Exeunt_ RICHMOND _and_ BRUCE.

FITZ. Do: Leicester and myself will keep the city, Till we are furnish'd with an able army.

Your nephew Bruce shall take an hundred men,[320]

And post to Hertford Castle with your sister.

Sith wrong doth[321] wake us, we will keep such watch, As for his life he shall not hurt us bring.

[_Exeunt omnes_.

ACT III., SCENE I.

_Enter_ QUEEN, BRUCE'S LADY, HUBERT, SALISBURY.

QUEEN. Be comforted, good madam, do not fear, But give your son as pledge unto the king: Yourself at court may keep him company.

LADY B. I am betray'd! alas, I am betray'd!

And little thought your highness had been bent So much against me for my many loves, As to prepare an entrance for my foe.

QUEEN. As I shall live in heaven, I did not know Of Hubert's coming. But lament not this: Your son, you say, is gone; what fear you then?

LADY B. O madam, murder, mischief, wrongs of men I fear, I fear--what is't I do not fear, Sith hope is so far off, despair so near?

SAL. Answer me, good Hubert, I pray thee, Hubert, do: What think you of this matter? may I on your word Persuade the woman that all things are well?

HUB. You may persuade her if you can, my lord; For I protest I know no other thing, But that the king would have him for a pledge Of the Lord Bruce's faith.

SAL. And reason, too.

Now, by my honour, Hubert, I protest It is good reason: Bruce, I tell you plain, Is no sound cloak to keep John from the rain.[322]

I will go to her.

HUB. Do, good simple earl.

If not by threats nor my entreats she yield, Thy brain is barren of invention, Dried up with care; and never will she yield Her son to thee, that having power want'st wit.

LADY B. I overhear thee, Hubert.

SAL. So do I, Dame Bruce; But stir no coals: the man is well belov'd, And merits more than so.

LADY B. But I will answer.

Hubert, thou fatal keeper of poor babes, That are appointed hostages for John,[323]

Had I a son here, as I have not one, (For yesterday I sent him into Wales), Think'st thou I would be so degenerate, So far from kind, to give him unto thee?

I would not, I protest: thou know'st my mind.