English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Or_. I pray ye, no more; as you love me, no more.
Stupid I never was nor so secure yet
To lead my patience to mine owne betraying:
I shall find time and riper cause.-- [_Guard at dore_.
Now, frends,
Are my Lords the States set yet.
1 _Gu_. An houre agoe, Sir.
_Or_. Beshrew ye, Gentlemen, you have made me tardy:
Open the dore,
1 _Gu_. I beseech your Grace to pardon me.[153]
_Or_. Do'st thou know who I am?
1 _Gu_. Yes, Sir, and honour you.
_Or_. Why do'st thou keep the dore fast then?
_Will_. Thou fellow,
Thou sawcy fellow, and you that stand by gaping!
Is the Prince of no more value, no more respect
Then like a Page?
2 _Gu_. We beseech your Excellencies
To pardon us; our duties are not wanting,
Nor dare we entertaine a thought to crosse ye:
We are placed here on Commaund.
_Or_. To keepe me out?
Have I lost my place in Councell? are my services
Growne to so poore regards, my worth so bankrupt?
Or am I tainted with dishonest actions,
That I am held unfitt my Cuntries busines?
Who placd ye here?
1 _Gu_. The body of the Councell;
And we beseech your Grace make it not our syn:
They gave us strict commaund to stop your passage.
_Or_. 'Twas frendly don and like my noble masters.
_Will_. Deny you place? make good the dore against ye?
This is unsufferable, most unsufferable.
_Or_. Now I begin to feele those doubts; I feare still--
_Col_. So far to dare provoke ye! 'tis too monstrous;
And you forget your self, your birth, your honour,
The name of Soldier if you suffer this,
Suffer from these, these things, these--pox upon't!--
These molds of men made noble by your services,
Your daylie sweatts.
1 _Cap_. It must not be endured thus,
The wrong extends to us, we feele it severally.
2 _Cap_. Your sweet humillitie has made 'em scorne ye
And us, and all the world that serve their uses;
And stick themselves up teachers, masters, princes,
Allmost new gods too, founders of new faithes.
--Weell force your way.
_Col_. Let's see then who dare stop ye.
_Gu_. Not we, I am sure.
_Col_. Let's see who dare denie ye
Your place and right of councell.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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