FRIAR. Off then, I wish you, with your Kendal green; Let not sad grief in fresh array be seen. Matilda's story is replete with tears, Wrongs, desolations, ruins, deadly fears. In, and attire ye. Though I tired be, Yet will I tell my mistress' tragedy. Apollo's masterdom[289] I invocate, To whom henceforth my deeds I dedicate; That of his godhead, 'bove all gods divine, With his rich spirit he would lighten mine: That I may sing true lays of trothless deeds, Which to conceive my heart through sorrow bleeds, Cheer thee, sad soul, and in a lofty line Thunder out wrong, compass'd in cloudy tears: [_Enter in black_.[290] Show to the eyes, fill the beholders' ears, With all the lively acts of lustful rage, Restrain'd by modest tears and chastity's intreats: And let King John, that ill-part[291] personage, By suits, devices, practices, and threats, And when he sees all serveth to no end, Of chaste Matilda let him make an end. CHO. We are all fitted, Friar: shall we begin? FRIAR. Well art thou suited: would my order would Permit me habit equal to my heart! CHO. If you remember, John did take an oath Never again to seek Matilda's love. FRIAR. O, what is he, that's sworn affection's slave, That will not violate all laws, all oaths? And, being mighty, what will he omit To compass his intents, though ne'er so ill?-- You must suppose King Richard now is dead, And John, resistless, is fair England's lord Who, striving to forget Matilda's love, Takes to his wife the beauteous Isabel, Betroth'd to Hugh le Brun, Earl of North-March:[292] And picking quarrels under show of kin, Wholly divorces his first queen away. But yet Matilda still-still troubles him, And being in the court, so oft he courts her, That by her noble father, old Fitzwater, She is remov'd from his lust-tempting eye. But tides restrain'd o'erswell their bounds with rage: Her absence adds more fuel to his fire. In sleep he sees her, and his waking thoughts Study by day to compass his desire. CHO. Friar, since now you speak of visions, It was received by tradition From those that were right near unto King John, Of three strange visions that to him appear'd; And, as I guess, I told you what they were. FRIAR. With them I will begin. Draw but that veil, And there King John sits sleeping in his chair. [_Draw the curtain: the king sits sleeping, his sword by his side. Enter Austria, before whom cometh Ambition, and bringing him before the chair, King John in sleep maketh signs to avoid, and holdeth his own crown fast with both his hands_. FRIAR. Ambition, that had ever waited on King John, Now brings him Austria, easy to be ta'en, Being wholly tam'd by Richard's warlike hand. And bids him add that dukedom to his crown: But he puts by Ambition, and contemns All other kingdoms but the English crown, Which he holds fast, as if he would not loose[293].