The Scottish History of James the Fourth: 1598Greene, Robert
History
The Scottish History of James the Fourth: 1598
Greene, Robert
Historical drama; James IV, King of Scotland, 1473-1513 -- Drama; Scotland -- History -- James IV, 1488-1513 -- Drama
_Doro._ I am the whelpe, bred by this Lyon vp,
This royall English king my happy sire,
Poore _Nano_ is the hinde that tended me:
My father Scottish king, gaue me to thee:
A haplesse wife, thou quite misled by youth,
Haste fought sinister loues and forraine ioyes, 2490
The fox _Ateukin_, cursed Parasite,
Incenst your grace to send the woolfe abroad,
The French borne _Iaques_, for to end my daies,
Hee traiterous man, pursued me in the woods,
And left mee wounded, where this noble knight,
Both rescued me and mine, and sau’d my life.
Now keep thy promise, _Dorothea_ liues:
Giue _Anderson_ his due and iust reward:
And since you kings, your warres began by me,
Since I am safe, returne surcease your fight. 2500
_K. of S._ Durst I presume to looke vpon those eies,
Which I haue tired with a world of woes,
Or did I thinke submission were ynough,
Or sighes might make an entrance to my soule:
You heauens, you know how willing I wold weep:
You heauens can tell, how glad I would submit:
You heauens can say, how firmly I would sigh.
_Do._ Shame me not Prince, companion in thy bed,
Youth hath missed: tut but a little fault,
Tis kingly to amend what is amisse: 2510
Might I with twise as many paines as these,
Vnite our hearts, then should my wedded Lord,
See how incessaunt labours I would take.
My gracious father gouerne your affects,
Giue me that hand, that oft hath blest this head,
And claspe thine armes, that haue embraced this,
About the shoulders of my wedded spouse:
Ah mightie Prince, this king and I am one,
Spoyle thou his subiects, thou despoylest me:
Touch thou his brest, thou doest attaint this heart, 2520
Oh bee my father then in louing him.
_K. of Eng._ Thou prouident kinde mother of increase,
Thou must preuaile, ah nature thou must rule:
Holde daughter, ioyne my hand and his in one,
I will embrace him for to fauour thee,
I call him friend, and take him for my sonne.
_Dor._ Ah royall husband, see what God hath wrought,
Thy foe is now thy friend: good men at armes,
Do you the like, these nations if they ioyne,
What Monarch with his leigemen in this world, 2530
Dare but encounter you in open fielde?
_K. of S._ Al wisedome ioynde with godly pietie,
Thou English king, pardon my former youth,
And pardon courteous Queen my great misdeed:
And for assurance of mine after life,
I take religious vowes before my God,
To honour thee for fauour, her for wife.
_L. And._ But yet my boones good Princes are not past,
First English king I humbly do request,
That by your meanes our Princesse may vnite, 2540
Her loue vnto mine alder truest loue,
Now you will loue, maintaine and helpe them both.
_K. of Eng._ Good _Anderson_, I graunt thee thy request.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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