Lord B. Nor coming on, sweet lady, things thus standing. Fly. But what's the heinousness of my offence, Lord B. Was that your plot, Fly? beggars- That shall decide it; I will try it there. Nurse. Nay then, my lord, it's not enough, I see, Should dare to except against, her poverty; Lord B. The age counts it so. Nurse. God help your lordship, and your peers that think so, If any be: if not, God bless them all, And better blood, running in those small veins, Host. Old mother of records, Thou know'st her pedigree then: whose daughter is she? Nurse. The daughter and co-heirtothelord Frampul, This lady's sister. Lady F. Mine! what is her name ? Nurse. Lætitia. Lady F. That was lost! Nurse. The true Lætitia. Lady F. Sister, O gladness! Then you are our mother ? Nurse. I am, dear daughter. Lady F. On my knees I bless The light I see you by. Nurse. And to the author Of that blest light, I ope my other eye, Lord B. Give me my wife, I own her now, and will have her. Host. But you must ask my leave first, my young lord. Leave is but light. -Ferret, go bolt your master, Here's gear will startle him. [Exit FERRET.] I cannot keep 4 Than all the race of Beauforts, &c.] "The children of John o' Gaunt, by his third wife, Catherine Swinford, widow of sir Hugh Swinford, Bt. and daughter to sir Paen Roet, Kt. Guyen king at arms, took their name from the castle of Beaufort in France, which came to the house of Lancaster by Blanch of Artois, wife to Edmund Crouchback, the first earl of Lancaster. They were legitimated by Act of Parliament in the 20th of Richard II." The passion in me, I am e'en turn'd child, [Pulls off his disguise. My beard and cap here from me, and fetch my lord. [Exit FLY. I am her father, sir, and you shall now Have measured all the shires of England over, Re-enter FLY with lord FRAMPUL'Ss robes. Nurse. I may look up, admire, I cannot speak Yet to my lord. Host. Take heart, and breathe, recover, Thou hast recover'd me, who here had coffin'd Myself alive, in a poor hostelry, In penance of my wrongs done unto thee, Whom I long since gave lost. Nurse. So did I you, Till stealing mine own daughter from her sister, Lord B. And in that cure, include my trespass, mother, And father, for my wife- Host. No, the Star-chamber. Lord B. Away with that, you sour the sweetest lettice Was ever tasted. Host. Give you joy, my son, Cast her not off again. Enter LOVEL. O call me father, Lovel, and this your mother, if you like. But take your mistress, first, my child; I have power To give her now, with her consent; her sister Lov. Is this a dream now, after my first sleep, Host. Best go to bed, And dream it over all. Let's all go sleep, But here stands Prue, neglected, best deserving Lord B. And I as much. Host. There's somewhat yet, four thousand pound! that's better, Than sounds the proverb, four bare legs in a bed. Lov. Me and her mistress, she hath power to coin Up into what she will. 5 Than sounds the proverb.] The proverb, at full is, "There goes more to matrimony than four bare legs," &c. Lady F. Indefinite Prue! Lord L. But I must do the crowning act of bounty. Host. What's that, my lord? Lord L. Give her myself, which here By all the holy vows of love I do. Spare all your promised portions; she's a dowry Pru. My lord, Your praises are instructions to mine ears, Lov. Stay, let my mistress But hear my vision sung, my dream of beauty, Host. 'Twill be an incense to our sacrifice [Exeunt with a song. EPILOGUE. Plays in themselves have neither hopes nor fears; The maker is sick, and sad. But do him right; 6 And like Mæcenas, having but one wife, I'll marry her every hour of life hereafter.] Terentia, the wife of Mæcenas, is reported to have been not of the most gentle and complying manners, which necessarily produced many quarrels and reconcilements between her and her husband: this gave occasion to those words of Seneca, to which our poet alludes: Huncesse, qui uxorem millies duxit, cum unam habuerit. Epist. 114. WHAL. |