A MOST PLEASANT COMEDY OF MUCEDORUS THE KING’S SON OF VALENCIA, AND AMADINE, THE KING’S DAUGHTER OF ARAGON Contents THE PROLOGUE INDUCTION ACT I Scene I. Valencia. The Court Scene II. A Forest in Aragon Scene III. The same Scene IV. Outskirts of the Forest ACT II Scene I. The Camp of the King of Aragon Scene II. The same Scene III. The Forest Scene IV. Aragon. a Room of State in the Court ACT III Scene I. Grove near the Court Scene II. The Court Scene III. The Forest Scene IV. The same Scene V. The same ACT IV Scene I. Valencia. The Court Scene II. The Forest Scene III. The same Scene IV. The Court ACT V Scene I. The Forest Scene II. Open Place near the Court of the King of Aragon EPILOGUE Dramatis Personæ Adrostus, the KING OF ARAGON AMADINE, the King’s daughter of Aragon ARIENA, Amadine’s maid, SEGASTO, a Nobleman of Aragon RUMBELO, a Nobleman of Aragon COLLEN, a Councillor TREMELIO, a Captain MOUSE, the Clown KING OF VALENCIA MUCEDORUS, the Prince of Valencia ANSELMO, his friend RODERIGO, Nobleman of Valencia BORACHIUS, Nobleman of Valencia BREMO, a wild man COMEDY ENVY An OLD WOMAN Noblemen, Councillors, a Messenger, a Boy THE PROLOGUE Most sacred Majesty, whose great deserts Thy subject England, nay, the world, admires: Which heaven grant still increase! O, may your praise Multiplying with your hours, your fame still raise! Embrace your council: love with faith them guide, That both, as one, bench by each other’s side. So may your life pass on, and run so even, That your firm zeal plant you a throne in heaven, Where smiling angels shall your guardians be From blemish’d traitors, stain’d with perjury. And as the night’s inferior to the day, So be all earthly regions to your sway! Be as the sun to day, the day to night, For from your beams Europe shall borrow light. Mirth drown your bosom, fair delight your mind, And may our pastime your contentment find. [_Exit Prologue._] INDUCTION Enter Comedy, joyfully, with a Garland of Bays on her head. COMEDY. Why so; thus do I hope to please: Music revives, and mirth is tolerable; Comedy, play thy part and please; Make merry them that comes to joy with thee. Joy then, good gentles; I hope to make you laugh. Sound forth Bellona’s silver-tuned strings; Time fits us well, the day and place is ours. Enter Envy, his arms naked, besmeared with blood. ENVY. Nay, stay, you minion, stay; there lies a block! What, all on mirth? I’ll interrupt your tale, And mix your music with a tragic end. COMEDY. What monstrous ugly hag is this, That dares control the pleasures of our will? Vaunt, churlish cur, besmear’d with gory blood, That seemst to check the blossoms of delight, And stifle the sound of sweet Bellona’s breath; Blush, monster, blush, and post away with shame, That seekest disturbance of a goddess’ deeds.