English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Nav_. Be not dismayd; at length sheele pity thee.
Sonne, bid our Officers adorne our Court
In her chiefe glory, for this happy night
Shall set a period to this smarting war.
Your sister shalbe troth-plight to Prince Philip,
And France and we made friends about it then.
Pembrooke, have you the charge to see our Captaines
Prepare a martiall welcome to the King.
Ile not be idle: since Navar was crownd
Our heart with so much joy did ne're abound.
[_Exit Navar_.
_Fer_. Nor mine with so much hate. Pembrooke, a word.
_Pem_. What wills your Grace?
_Fer_. That Pembrooke is a villayne.
Looke not so strange: I speake it; not your friend;
But hee that in his soule hath sworne thine end.
_Pem_. A villayne? and my death? I am amaz'd:
Art thou awake, or is all this a dreame.
_Fer_. A dreame of death. Meet me to morrow morning,
As thou art Pembrooke and a Gentleman,
By yon fayre River side which parts our Camps.
You know the place: come armde, and so farewell.
_Pem_. Deare friend.
_Fer_. Push! meet me.
_Pem_. Ferdinand, I will.
_Fer_. Revenge, smile on, thou shalt drink bloud thy fill.
[_Exeunt_.
[SCENE 3.]
_Enter Peter standing sentronell_.
_Pet_. This is my wayting night: tis for no good
That I stand sentronell. Well, good or ill,
I care not greatly, so I get the gold:
Therefore, to avoyd prolixity, here walke I.
Here comes the men that must reward my paine.
_Enter Burbon and Rodoricke_.
_Bur_. Have you the poyson?
_Rod_. And a strong one too.
Heere's a preservative to save your hand:
When Rodoricke fayles your Lordship, heaven shall fayle
To illuminate the world with cheereful light.
_Bur_. Then here about should Peter wayt for me,
For this is the Pavilion of the Princesse.
_Pet_. My Lord.
_Bur_. Peter.
_Pet_. Here is the key that opens to the Tent:
I stole it from my sweet heart Thomasin.
Enter without prolixity, woo and winne the Lady;
But give me gold (my Lord) and Ile to Dice.
_Bur_. Hold, take thy fill.
_Pet_. And it shall goe as fast.
_Bur_. Now, gentle Peter, get thee unto rest.
My businesse craves the absence of the world:
None but my selfe and Rodoricke shall behold
The secret complot that I doe intend.
_Pet_. I goe, my Lord. [_Exit_.
_Bur_. Now, blessed key, open unto my love,
Doe more then loving lynes or words can doe.
My letters have bin answerd with disdayne:
Her father I have mov'd to gayne my love,
But he is frosty in my fervent suite;
And now perforce I will obtayne her love
Or ease her puling hatred by revenge.
_Rod_. You stay too long: Ile help to turne the key.
_Discover her sitting in a chayre asleepe_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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