The Colloquies of Edward Osborne, Citizen and Clothworker of LondonManning, Anne
History
The Colloquies of Edward Osborne, Citizen and Clothworker of London
Manning, Anne
Biographical fiction; London (England) -- History -- 16th century -- Fiction; Osborne, Edward, 1530?-1591 -- Fiction
—And so forth, explaining why he had been banished from Heaven by
_Jupiter_. Entereth to him _Admetus_, not wisting who he is, beyond his
hired Servant, whereon they parley on Things in general, especially the
Wool Trade and Clothworking, (with a Hit, here and there, at the
Drapers.) Then the merry Sound of Drumes and Pfiffes causeth them to
step aside behind the Trees, and there entereth a Company of Shepherds
and Shepherdesses singing the Praises of their fair Lady _Alcestis_,
represented by a fair Boy i' the Midst, crowned with Guirlands. Then
_Admetus_ doeth _Apollo_ to wit how that he is enamoured of _Alcestis_,
whose Father will in no wise bestow her save on one that shall yoke a
Boar and Lion together in a Car. Then _Apollo_, who hath a dark Lanthorn
aneath his Cloke wherewith he ever and anon maketh a sudden Flare into
_Admetus'_ Eyes, who wisteth not whence it cometh, nor wotteth 'tis the
sunbright Glory of his celestial Guest, biddeth _Admetus_ not to lose
Heart, for that he will accomplish his Task for him. And thereupon
taking up his Lyre, he beginneth to sing and play after such a
transporting Manner, that the Birds give over singing in the Trees and
hop down on his Shoulders, the Beasts begin to glare at him through the
Thickets, and then to gather about him, subdued unto a kind of surly
Softness,—whereon _Apollo_, giving _Admetus_ a private Nod and
continuing his playing, _Admetus_ without more Ado takes a Yoke wreathed
with Flowers from one of the Shepherds, yoketh therewith a Lion and a
Boar into a Car that is presently brought in, placeth _Alcestis_ in it,
driveth her to the Feet of her Father, (a King,) who arriveth
opportunely and can no longer say why the Marriage should not be
solemnizated; and, their Hands being joined by him, the Shepherds and
Shepherdesses dance about them, _Apollo_ still playing; and one and all
chant a Chorus in Praise of Clothworking.
Ha! that was a notable good Pageant! Far better than mine own, many
Years after, which I need not tell thee, Lad, I did not devise myself.
The Toy was pretty, too, and appropriate—the Story of _Jason_, whom I
believe to have been nothing more nor less than a Merchant-adventurer
that equipped his Ship the _Argonaut_, and by his Traffic and Commerce
carried off the Golden Fleece; that is to say, the Trade of the World.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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