A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 10
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 10
English drama
TYR. I would fain send death after him, but I dare not--
He knows I dare not; that would give just cause
Of her unkindness everlasting to me.
His life may thank his daughter. Sophonirus!
Here, take this jewel, bear it as a token
To our heart's saint, 'twill do thy words no harm;
Speech may do much, but wealth's a greater charm
Than any made of words; and to be sure,
If one or both should fail, I provide farther.
Call forth those resolute fellows, whom our clemency
Sav'd from a death of shame in time of war
For field offences: give them charge from us
They arm themselves with speed, beset the house
Of Govianus round; that if thou fail'st,
Or stay'st beyond the time thou leav'st with them,
They may with violence break in themselves,
And seize her for our use.
[_Exeunt. Manet_ SOPHONIRUS.
SOPH. They're not so savage
To seize her for their own, I hope,
As there are many knaves will begin first,
And bring their lords the bottom; I have been serv'd so
A hundred times myself by a scurvy page
That I kept once; but my wife lov'd him,
And I could not help it. [_Exit._
FOOTNOTES:
[459] The beginning of this act, down to the line _Comes with my
father_, is inserted, like some other passages further on, on a
separate slip in the MS., as if it were an afterthought.
[460] [The MS. reads _that_.]
[461] [Former edit., _separation._]
[462] [MS. reads _boast_.]
[463] [Saunce bell, soul bell, or parting bell. See "Popular
Antiquities of Great Britain," ii. 159, 160.]
ACT III., SCENE I.
_Enter_ GOVIANUS, _with his_ LADY _and a servant. A_
_flourish_.
GOV. What is he?
SER. An old lord come from the court.
GOV. He should be wise by's years; he will not dare
To come about such business; 'tis not man's work.
Art sure he desir'd to speak with thy lady?
SER. Sure, sir.
GOV. Faith, thou'rt mistook, 'tis with me certain.
Let's do the man no wrong: go, know it truly, sir!
SER. This is a strange humour, we must know things twice.
[_Aside. Exit._
GOV. There's no man is so dull, but he will weigh
The work he undertakes, and set about it
E'en in the best sobriety of his judgment,
With all his senses watchful; then his guilt
Does equal his for whom 'tis undertaken.
_Enter_ SERVANT.
What says he now?
SER. E'en as he said at first, sir.
He's business with my lady from the king.
GOV. Still from the king! he will not come near, will he?
SER. Yes, when he knows he shall, sir.
GOV. I cannot think it,
Let him be tried!
SER. Small trial will serve him, I warrant you, sir.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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