A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Viii Part 79

SCENE III.

_Enter_ BELPHEGOR, _attired like a physician_; AKERc.o.c.k, _his man, in a tawny coat_.

BEL. Now is Belphegor, an incarnate devil, Come to the earth to seek him out a dame: h.e.l.l be my speed! and so, I hope, it will.

In lovely London are we here arrived; Where, as I hear, the earl hath a fair daughter So full of virtue and soft modesty, That yet she never gave a man foul word.

AKER. Marry, indeed, they say she cannot speak.

BEL. For this cause have I taken this disguise, And will profess me a physician, Come up on purpose for to cure the lady: Marry, no may[434] shall bind me but herself, And she I do intend shall be my wife.

AKER. But, master, tell me one thing by the way: Do you not mean that I shall marry too?

BEL. No, Akerc.o.c.k, thou shalt be still unwed; For if they be as bad as is reported, One wife will be enough to tire us both.

AKER. O, then you mean that I shall now and then Have, as it were, a course at base[435] with her.

BEL. Not so, not so, that's one of marriage's plagues Which I must seek to shun amongst the rest, And live in sweet contentment with my wife, That when I back again return to h.e.l.l, All women may be bound to reverence me For saving of their credits, as I will.

But who comes here?

_Enter_ CAPTAIN CLINTON.

CLIN. This needs must tickle Musgrave to the quick, And stretch his heart-strings farther by an inch, That Lacy must be married to his love: And by that match my market is near marr'd For Mariana, whom I most affect; But I must cast about by some device To help myself, and to prevent the earl.

BEL. This fellow fitly comes to meet with me, Who seems to be acquainted with the earl. [_Aside_.

Good fortune guide you, sir!

CLIN. As much to you.

BEL. Might I entreat a favour at your hands?

CLIN. What's that?

BEL. I am a stranger here in England, sir, Brought from my native home upon report, That the earl's daughter wants the use of speech; I have been practised in such cures ere now, And willingly would try my skill on her.

Let me request you so to favour me, As to direct me to her father's house.

CLIN. With all my heart, and welcome shall you be To that good earl, who mourns his daughter's want: But they have for a holy abbot sent, Who can, men say, do many miracles, In hope that he will work this wondrous cure.

BEL. Whate'er he be, I know 'tis past his skill; Nor any in the world, besides myself, Did ever sound the depth of that device.

_Enter_ MUSGRAVE.

CLIN. Musgrave, well met: I needs must speak with you.

MUS. I came to seek you.

CLIN. Tarry you a while.

[_To_ BEL.] Shall I entreat you, sir, to walk before With this same gentleman? I'll overtake you.

[_Exeunt_ BELPHEGOR _and_ AKERc.o.c.k.

This is the news: the Earl of Kent is come, And in all haste the marriage must be made.

Your lady weeps, and knows not what to do; But hopes that you will work some means or other To stop the cross-proceedings of the earl.

MUS. Alas, poor Clinton! what can Musgrave do?

Unless I should by stealth convey her thence, On which a thousand dangers do depend.

CLIN. Well, to be brief, because I cannot stay, Thus stands the case: if you will promise me To work your cousin Marian to be mine, I'll so devise that you shall purchase[436] her; And therefore, tell me if you like the match?

MUS. With all my heart, sir; yea, and thank you, too.

CLIN. Then say no more, but leave the rest to me, For I have plotted how it shall be done.

I must go follow yon fair gentleman, On whom I build my hopes. Musgrave, adieu.

MUS. Clinton, farewell; I'll wish thee good success.

[_Exeunt_.

ACT II., SCENE I.

_Enter_ MORGAN, LACY, DUNSTAN, FORREST, HONOREA, MARIAN.

MOR. Thou holy man, to whom the higher powers Have given the gift of cures beyond conceit, Welcome thou art unto Earl Morgan's house: The house of sorrow yet, unless by thee Our joys may spring anew; which if they do, Reward and praise shall both attend on thee.

LACY. And we will ever reverence thy name, Making the chronicles to speak thy praise: So Honorea may but have her speech.

DUN. My lords, you know the hallow'd gift of tongues Comes from the selfsame power that gives us breath: He binds and looseth them at his dispose; And in his name will Dunstan undertake To work this cure upon fair Honorea.

Hang there, my harp, my solitary muse, Companion of my contemplation.

[_He hangs his harp on the wall_.

And, lady, kneel with me upon the earth, That both our prayers may ascend to heaven.

[_They kneel down. Then enters_ CLINTON, _with_ BELPHEGOR, _terming himself_ CASTILIANO, _and_ AKERc.o.c.k, _as_ ROBIN GOODFELLOW.

CLIN. So shall you do the lady a good turn, And bind both him and me to you for ever. [_Aside_.]

BEL. I have determin'd what I mean to do. [_Aside_.]

CLIN. Here be the earls, and with them is the friar. [_Aside_.]

BEL. What, is he praying? [_Aside_.]

CLIN. So methinks he is; But I'll disturb him. [_Aside_.] By your leave, my lords, Here is a stranger from beyond the seas Will undertake to cure your lords.h.i.+p's daughter.

MOR. The holy abbot is about the cure.