A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 37

I'faith, sirrah, thou and I may hold our peace, with their leave, For none but wise men speak here, I perceive.

LENTULO.

In some respects so, in some respects not; For a fool's bolt is soon enough shot.

FORTUNE.

Phizanties, fear no longer his distress; The gracious G.o.ds provide for his redress.

The shedding of thy daughter's dearest blood Shall both to him and to this man do good; For let this fern be dipp'd in many a place, And, as he sleepeth, cast it in his face, And let his tongue be washed therewithal, And both of them relieved see you shall.

PHIZANTIES.

How say you, daughter, will you grant thereto?

FIDELIA.

Most willing, sir, if you vouchsafe to do But this request, which I most humbly pray-- Then I may be Hermione's for aye.

PHIZANTIES.

With all my heart: hereon I give my hand.

FIDELIA.

I take it, sir; and to your word I stand.

And for thy sake, Hermione, my dear, See what I do, although it touch me near.

Now take thy fill, and for his madness prove.

[_Bares her breast_.]

HERMIONE.

O sweet and fearful sight, the sign of love!

LENTULO.

If it be any sweeter, masters, that runs from you so, I pray you give me some of your blessings, ere you go.

ARMENIO.

I strive to speak, and glad to find my speech.

Forgive, Hermione, forgive me, I beseech.

And you, good sister; pardon, my friends, too; Too rash in all I ventured to do.

See what proceedeth from unstable youth!

Shame to himself, and to his friends a cause of ruth.

HERMIONE.

Armenio, long hath my mind[136] desired To hear the proffer of this pleasant peace, Which sith the G.o.ds do grant as we require, Henceforth let rancour and contention cease, And in our breast be knit for ever sure The links of love, perpetual to endure.

BOMELIO [_waking_].

What have I heard? what is it that they say?

Amazed quite! confounded every way!

My son Hermione, I know that is the same!

And that's my prince: now comes grief and shame!

PHIZANTIES.

My Lord Bomelio, shun not; I know you now.

Forgive the fact my father did to you; And what he did, impute it not to me.

Thy former place I will restore to thee.

In token of our faithful amity, We will be joined in near affinity.

BOMELIO.

Long live Phizanties, long live in happy ease; The G.o.ds be bless'd I live this day to see!

What please the one, shall never me displease: Thrice happy now for all my misery.

PENULO.

Why then, sir, sith everything is come to so good an end, I hope, my good master, you'll stand-by my good friend, And give me but two or three thousand pound a year to live on.

LENTULO.

Much in my nock, Nichols:[137] you and I shall slave it anon.

ARMENIO.

a.s.sure thee, Penulo, thou shalt not want as long as I live.

LENTULO.

Why then, master, mine old master, I pray you forgive Your old runaway. 'Twas for fas.h.i.+on-sake: I'll do so no more.

BOMELIO.

Look you do not, sirrah, and then I pardon you therefore.

[_Enter_ VENUS _and_ FORTUNE.]

VENUS.

Thus everything united is by Love.

Now G.o.ds and men are reconcil'd again; On whom, because I did my pleasure prove, I will reward you for your former pain.

Receive the favours of our deity, And sing the praise of Venus' sovereignty.

FORTUNE.

And for I play'd my part with Lady Love, While each did strive for chief authority, Your good deserts Dame Fortune so doth move To give these signs of liberality.

Thus for amends of this your late unrest, By Love and Fortune you shall all be blest.

And thus hereof this inward care I have, That Wisdom ruleth Love, and Fortune both: Though riches fail, and beauty seem to save, Yet wisdom forward still unconquered go'th.

This, we beseech you, take friendly in worth; And sith by Love and Fortune our troubles all do cease, G.o.d save her majesty, that keeps us all in peace.

Now they and we do all triumph in joy, And Love and Fortune are linked sure friends: All grief is fled; for your annoy Fortune and Love makes all amends.

Let us rejoice, then, in the same, And sing high praises of their name.

FINIS.

THE THREE LADIES OF LONDON.

_EDITION_.