Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 07 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Dutch._ A pretty foolish Squire, what must the Knight be?
_Sy._ Some Jugler or some Mad man.
_Sil._ I was not so,
When thy faint Troops in flocks I beat before me,
When, through the thickest of thy warlike horse,
I shot my self even to thy Standard Duke,
And there found thee, there singled thee, there shew'[d t]hee
The temper of my Sword. 'Tis true, thou stoodst me,
And like a noble soldier bidst me welcome;
And this I'll say, More honor in that arme,
I found and tryed, than all thy Army carried:
What follows thy imprisonment can tell thee.
_Sy._ His fair relation carries truth and virtue,
And by those Arms I see, (for such were his,
So old, so rusty) this may be he that forc'd me.
_Sil._ Do you know this Jewel, from your Cask I rent it,
Even as I clos'd, and forced ye from your saddle;
Do you now remember me?
_Sy._ This is the valour
Madam, for certain he, it must be he,
That day I wore this Jewel, you remember it.
_Dutch._ Yes, very well; not long before I sent it.
_Sy._ That day I lost this Jewel, in fight I lost it,
I felt his strokes, and felt him take it from me,
I wore it in my Cask; take it again Sir,
You won it nobly, 'tis the prize of honor.
_Soto._ My Father and my self are made for ever.
_Dutch._ Kneel down brave Sir thus my Knight first I raise ye,
Gird on a Sword; next General of my Army, [_Discovers himself._
Give him a staff; last, one in Counsel near me.
Now, make us happy with your sight: how? _Silvio_?
Have I on thee bestow'd this love, this honor?
The Treasons thou hast wrought set off with favours?
Unarm him presently: Oh thou foul Traitor,
Traitor to me, mine honor, and my Countrey,
Thou kindler of these Wars.
_Sil._ Mistake not Madam.
_Dutch._ Away with him to prison,
See him safe kept, the Law shall shortly sirrah,
Find fitter Titles for ye, than I gave ye.
_Soto._ This is the youth that kill'd me, I'll be quit with him,
What a blind rogue was I, I could never know him!
And't please your Grace, I claim the benefit
Of the Proclamation that proclaim'd him Traitor,
I brought him in.
_Dutch._ Thou shalt have thy reward for't.
_Soto._ Let him he hang'd, or drown'd then.
_Dutch._ Away with him.
_Sil._ Madam, I crave your promise first; you are tyed to it,
You have past your Princely word.
_Dutch._ Prove it, and take it.
_Sil._ This is the day appointed,
Appointed by your Grace for my appearance,
To answer to the Question.
_Dutch._ I remember it.
_Sil._ I claim it then.
_Dutch._ If you perform it not,
The penalty you claim too.
_Sil._ I not repent it;
If I absolve the words?
_Dutch._ Your life is free then,
You have drawn a speedy course above my wishes,
To my revenge, be sure ye hit it right,
Or I'll be sure you shall not scape the danger.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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