A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 99

ETHENWALD.

I cannot tell, but sure it pains me much.

Nor did it ever trouble me till now; For till I came to lodge within your house, My eyes were clear, and I never felt the pain.

OSRICK.

I am sorry that my house should cause your grief.

Daughter, if you have any skill at all, I pray you, use your cunning with the earl, And see if you can ease him of his pain.

ALFRIDA.

Father, such skill as I received of late, By reading many pretty-penn'd receipts, Both for the ache of head and pain of eyes, I will, if so it please the earl to accept it, Endeavour what I may to comfort him.

My lord, I have waters of approved worth, And such as are not common to be found; Any of which, if it please your honour use them, I am in hope will help you to your sight.

ETHENWALD.

No, matchless Alfrida, they will do me no good, For I am troubled only when I look.

ALFRIDA.

On what, my lord, or whom?

ETHENWALD.

I cannot tell.

ALFRIDA.

Why, let me see your eyes, my lord; look upon me.

ETHENWALD.

Then 'twill be worse.

ALFRIDA.

What, if you look on me? then, I'll be gone.

ETHENWALD.

Nay, stay, sweet love, stay, beauteous Alfrida, And give the Earl of Cornwall leave to speak.

Know, Alfrida, thy beauty hath subdued, And captivate the Earl of Cornwall's heart: Briefly, I love thee, seem I ne'er so bold, So rude and rashly to prefer my suit; And if your father give but his consent, Eased be that pain that troubles Ethenwald: And, this considered. Osrick shall prove My father and his daughter be my love.

Speak, Osrick, shall I have her, ay or no?

OSRICK.

My lord, with all my heart: you've my consent, If so my daughter please to condescend.

ETHENWALD.

But what say'th Alfrida?

ALFRIDA.

I say, my lord, that seeing my father grants, I will not gainsay what his age thinks meet: I do appoint myself, my lord, at your dispose.

ETHENWALD.

Well, Osrick, now you see your daughter's mine; But tell me when shall be the wedding-day?

OSRICK.

On Monday next; till then you are my guest.

ETHENWALD.

Well, Osrick, when our nuptial rites are past, I must to court of business to the king.

ALFRIDA.

Let that be as you please, my lord; but stay Not long, for I shall hardly brook your absence then.

ETHENWALD.

Fear not, Alfrida, I will not stay there long.

But come, let us in; Father, pray lead the way.

[_Exeunt_.

_Enter the_ KING _and_ DUNSTAN.

KING.

Tell me, Dunstan, what thinkest thou of the favours of kings?

DUNSTAN.

I think of kings' favours as of a marigold flower That, as long as the sun s.h.i.+neth openeth her leaves And with the least cloud closeth again: Or like the violets in America, that in summe yield an odoriferous smell, And in winter a most infectious savour: For at every full sea they flourish, or at every dead ebb[307] they vade.

The fish palerna, being perfect white in the calm, Yet turneth black with every storm.

Or like the trees in the deserts of Africa, That flourish but while the south-west wind bloweth: Even so, my lord, the favours of kings to them they favour; For as their favours give life, so their frowns yield death.

KING.

Well said, Dunstan: but what merits he, that dissembles with his sovereign?

DUNSTAN.

In my opinion, my lord, he merits death.

KING.

Then a.s.sure thyself, if Ethenwald dissemble, he shall die. But who comes here? Perin, what news, that thou comest in such haste? and what is he that bears thee company?

[_Enter_ PERIN _and the_ FARMER.]

PERIN.

It is, my gracious lord, an honest man, and one, It seems, that loves your majesty; for as your grace Gave me in charge, I went about into the country, To see what sums of money I could make.

Among the chiefest of the commonalty: And 'mongst the richest knights that I could find, They would lend your grace at most but twenty pound, And every squire would lend your grace but ten.

Then came I, 'mongst the rest, to this plain man, And asked him what he would lend the king.

He answered, sir, you see I am but poor, Not half so wealthy as a knight or squire, And yet, in sign of duty to his grace, I will lend his majesty two hundred pound.

KING.

Thanks, honest fellow, for thy love to us; And if I may but pleasure thee in ought, Command me to the uttermost I may.

England hath too few men of thy good mind.

_Enter_ HONESTY _and_ PIERS PLOWMAN.

Honesty, what news? where hast thou been so long?

HONESTY.

Ah, my lord, I have been searching for a privy knave; One, my lord, that feeds upon the poor commons, And makes poor Piers Plowman wear a thread-bare coat.

It is a farmer, my lord, which buys up all the corn in the market, And sends it away beyond seas, and thereby feeds the enemy.