THE FREEING OF PHARAMOND _DRAMATIS PERSONAE_ GILES, } _Peasant-folk._ JOAN, _his Wife_, } THE EMPEROR. THE EMPRESS. THE MAYOR. A COUNCILLOR. MASTER OLIVER, _King Pharamond's Foster-father_. A NORTHERN LORD. KING PHARAMOND. AZALAIS, _his Love_. KING THEOBALD. HONORIUS, _the Councillor_. LOVE. LOVE IS ENOUGH ARGUMENT This story, which is told by way of a morality set before an Emperor and Empress newly wedded, showeth of a King whom nothing but Love might satisfy, who left all to seek Love, and, having found it, found this also, that he had enough, though he lacked all else. _In the streets of a great town where the people are gathered together thronging to see the Emperor and Empress pass_. GILES Look long, Joan, while I hold you so, For the silver trumpets come arow. JOAN O the sweet sound! the glorious sight! O Giles, Giles, see this glittering Knight! GILES Nay 'tis the Marshalls'-sergeant, sweet-- --Hold, neighbour, let me keep my feet!-- There, now your head is up again; Thus held up have you aught of pain? JOAN Nay, clear I see, and well at ease! God's body! what fair Kings be these? GILES The Emperor's chamberlains, behold Their silver shoes and staves of gold. Look, look! how like some heaven come down The maidens go with girded gown! JOAN Yea, yea, and this last row of them Draw up their kirtles by the hem, And scatter roses e'en like those About my father's garden-close. GILES Ah! have I hurt you? See the girls Whose slim hands scatter very pearls. JOAN Hold me fast, Giles! here comes one Whose raiment flashes down the sun. GILES O sweet mouth! O fair lids cast down! O white brow! O the crown, the crown! JOAN How near! if nigher I might stand By one ell, I could touch his hand. GILES Look, Joan! if on this side she were Almost my hand might touch her hair. JOAN Ah me! what is she thinking on? GILES Is he content now all is won? JOAN And does she think as I thought, when Betwixt the dancing maids and men, Twixt the porch rose-boughs blossomed red I saw the roses on my bed? GILES Hath he such fear within his heart As I had, when the wind did part The jasmine-leaves, and there within The new-lit taper glimmered thin? THE MUSIC (As the EMPEROR and EMPRESS enter.) _LOVE IS ENOUGH; though the World be a-waning And the woods have no voice but the voice of complaining, Though the sky be too dark for dim eyes to discover The gold-cups and daisies fair blooming thereunder; Though the hills be held shadows, and the sea a dark wonder, And this day draw a veil over all deeds passed over, Yet their hands shall not tremble, their feet shall not falter, The void shall not weary, the fear shall not alter These lips and these eyes of the loved and the lover._ THE EMPEROR