English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Const_. If their testimonie will not satisfie, here my Title: At this
place, in this time, and upon this occasion I am Prince over these
Publicans, Lord over these Larroones,[147] Regent of these Rugs,[148]
Viceroy over these Vagabonds, King of these Caterpillars; and indeed,
being a Constable, directly Soveraigne over these my Subiects.
2 _Off_. If all these stiles, so hard to climbe over, belong to the
office of a Constable, what kin is he to the Divell?
_Const_. Why to the Devill, my friend?
_Clown_. Ile tell you: because a Constable is King of Nights and the
other is Prince of Darknesse.
_Const_. Darke as it is, by the twilight of my Lanthorne methinks I see
a company of Woodcocks.
_2 Off_. How can you discerne them?
_Enter Epidophorus, Victoria and Bellina_.
_Clown_. Oh excellent well, by their bills: see, see, here comes the
Lieutenant.
_Epi_. Well sayd, my friends: you keep good watch, I see.
_Clown_. Yes, Sir, we Officers have breath as strong as Garlick: no
Christian by their good wills dare come neare us.
_Epi_. 'Tis well, forbeare.--
Oh, Madam, had you scene with what a vehemency
He did blaspheme the gods,
Like to a man pearcht on some lofty Spire
Amazed which way to relieve himselfe,
You would have stood, as did the King, amaz'd.
_Vict_. God grant him liberty,
And with that give us privacy; I doubt not
But our sweet conference shall work much on him.
_Epi_. _Iove_ grant it: Ile leave the roome.
[_Exit Epi_.
_Clown_. A Iaylor seldome lookes for a bribe but hee's prevented.
[_Exeunt Officers_.
_Enter Bellizarius in his night-gown, with Epidophorus_.
_Epi_. My Lord, your Lady and her most beauteous daughter
Are come to visit you, and here attend.
_Belliz_. My Wife and Daughter? oh welcome, love,
And blessing Crowne thee, my beloved _Bellina_.
_Vict_. My Lord, pray leave us.
_Epi_. Your will be your owne Law.
[_Exit Epidoph_.
_Vict_. Why study you, my Lord? why is your eye fixt
On your _Bellina_ more than on me?
_Belliz_. Good, excellent good:
What pretty showes our fancies represent us!
My faire _Bellina_ shines like to an Angel;
Has such a brightnesse in her Christall eyes
That even the radiancy duls my sight.
See, my _Victoria_, lookes she not sweetly?
_Vict_. Shee does, my Lord; but not much better than she was wont.
_Belliz_. Oh shee but beginnes to shine as yet,
But will I hope ere long be stellified.
Alas, my _Victoria_, thou look'st nothing like her.
_Vict_. Not like her? why, my Lord?
_Belliz_. Marke and Ile tell thee how:
Thou art too much o'er growne with sinne and shame,
Hast pray'd too much, offered too much devotion
To him and those that can nor helpe nor hurt,
Which my _Bellina_ has not:
Her yeares in sinne are not, as thine are, old;
Therefore me thinks she's fairer farre than thou.
_Vict_. I, my Lord, guided by you and by your precepts,
Have often cal'd on _Iupiter_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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