English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Cor_. Nor a Coranta[210] neither, tho it were seal'd with Butter;
and yet I know where they both lye passing well.
_Enter Lopez_.
_Lop_. The King sends round about the Court to seek you.
_Bal_. Away, Otterhound.
_Cor_. Dancing Beare, I'me gone. [_Exit_.
_Enter King attended_.
_King_. A private roome.-- [_Exeunt Omnes_.
Is't done? hast drawne thy two edg'd sword out yet?
_Bal_. No, I was striking at the two Iron Barres that hinder your
passage; and see, Sir. [_Drawes_.
_King_. What meanst thou?
_Bal_. The edge abated? feele.
_King_. No, no, I see it.
_Bal_. As blunt as Ignorance.
_King_. How? put up--So--how?
_Bal_. I saw by chance, hanging in Cardinall _Alvarez_ Gallery,
a picture of hell.
_King_. So; what of that?
_Bal_. There lay upon burnt straw ten thousand brave fellowes, all
starke naked, some leaning upon Crownes, some on Miters, some on bags
of gold; Glory in another Corner lay like a feather beaten in the
raine; Beauty was turn'd into a watching Candle that went out stinking;
Ambition went upon a huge high paire of stilts but horribly rotten;
some in another nooke were killing Kings, and some having their elbowes
shov'd forward by Kings to murther others: I was (methought) halfe in
hell my selfe whilst I stood to view this peece.
_King_. Was this all?
_Bal_. Was't not enough to see that? a man is more healthfull that eats
dirty puddings than he that feeds on a corrupted Conscience.
_King_. Conscience! what's that? a Conjuring booke ne're open'd
Without the readers danger: 'tis indeed
A scare-crow set i'th world to fright weake fooles.
Hast thou seene fields pav'd o're with carkasses
Now to be tender-footed, not to tread
On a boyes mangled quarters and a womans?
_Bal_. Nay, Sir, I have search'd the records of the Low-Countries and
finde that by your pardon I need not care a pinne for Goblins; and
therefore I will doo't, Sir: I did but recoyle because I was double
charg'd.
_King_. No more; here comes a Satyre with sharpe hornes.
_Enter Cardinall, and Medina like a French Doctor_.
_Car_. Sir, here's a Frenchman charg'd with some strange businesse
Which to your close eare onely hee'll deliver,
Or else to none.
_King_. A Frenchman?
_Med_. We, Mounsire.
_King_. Cannot he speake the Spanish?
_Med_. Si Signior, vr Poco:--Monsir, Acoutez in de Corner; me come for
offer to your Bon gace mi trez humble service. By gar no John fidleco
shall put into your neare braver Melody dan dis vn petite pipe shall
play upon to your great bon Grace.
_King_. What is the tune you'll strike up? touch the string.
_Med_. Dis; me ha run up and downe mane Countrie and learne many fine
ting and mush knavery; now more and all dis me know you ha jumbla de
fine vench and fill her belly wid a Garsoone: her name is le Madame--
_King_. _Onaelia_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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