English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Did_.--True, except a man searche the Idyotts hospytall.
_Char_. Thou never shalt goe from me.
_Fue_. O yes, by all meanes. Shall my master say I ranne away like a
rascall? No, you shall give me leave to take my leave. That ceremonye
performd, I'm yours tyll doomes day.
_Char_. I cannot live without thee.
_Fue_. Ile not stay a day at furthest.
_Char_. I darre denye thee nothynge. Kysse & goe:
Thynke how I languyshe for thee.
_Fue_. And I will condole in recyprocall kyndnes.
_Char_. Bishopp, attend my dearest.
_Tur_. Greate Sir, I was toe impudent even nowe
To trooble you with my token; good Sir, please
To give it me agayne: a meaner man
Shall serve my humble messadge.
_Fue_. Bishopp, I doe voutsafe it; theres thy ringe.
[_Gives him the ringe_.
_Tur_.--And you agayne a basse most scurvye thynge.
[_Exe. Turp., Fue_.
_Enter La Busse_.
_Char_. Howe nowe, _La Busse_? What newse from _Ganelon_?
_Bus_. Suche as can come from sorrowe: he is all
Wretchednes and mysfortune, and in me
Speaks to your sacred goodnes to be pleasd
Voutsafe to call your fayre dove to your fyst
(Mercye I meane) that may abate the stroake
Of your sharpe eagle justyce, and you will
Be wrytt the best of prynces.
_Char_. Come, no more:
Your fathers sentence is irrevocable.
_Bus_. Yet, gratyous Sir, sende hym hys honors backe
And for those fewe pore howers he hathe to breathe
Let hym injoy those deare companyons.
_Char_. You are the good sonne of an evyll man
And I comend your vertue, but thys suyte
Is past all restytution: to thys prynce
I've given all your father governed.
_Rich_. Which, royall sir?
_Char_. Cossen, no more; I know your modesty.
... ... ... your languadge; hees my foe
That next solycytts me for _Ganelon_.
_Bus_. O doe not make me, sir, be impyous,
For shoulde your breathe crushe me to attomyes,
Yet whylst my memorye can call hym father
I must invocke you for hym.
_Char_. Which to prevent
Take my last resolutyon, & from it
Swearve not in thyne alleagance: when thou shalt
Meete me uppon a way was never usd
By horse nor man, and thou thy selfe dost ryde
On neyther horsse, mare, asse, & yet thy beast
An usuall thynge for burthen, thou thy selfe
Neyther uncloathd nor naked, & shalt brynge
Thy greatest frend & greatest enemye
Coopld for thy companyons; then I vowe
To doe thy father honor, but tyll then
My mallyce hangs about hym.--Come, coossen, attend us.
[_Exe. Char., Rich_.
_Bus_. Then dye, pore _Ganelon_. When I shall meete
The kynge on no hye way, when I shall ryde
Uppon no beast & yet a beast of burthen,
Be neyther nakt nor cloathed, in my hande
My greatest frende & greatest enemye;
And but then get his favor. There is no sphynxe
That can absolve thys ryddell: well, tys decreed
Ile breake my brayne but Ile performe the deede.
_Did_. Sir, would it were in me to helpe your fortune.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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