Читать книгу Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (3 of 10): The Loyal Subject - Beaumont Francis - Страница 3

Duke. No news of Archas yet?

Bur. But now, and't please ye,

A Post came in, Letters he brought none with him,

But this deliver'd: He saw the Armies join,

The game of Blood begun, and by our General,

Who never was acquainted but with Conquest,

So bravely fought, he saw the Tartars shaken,

And there he said he left 'em.

Du. Where's Boroskie?

1 Gent. He's up again, and't please ye.

Bur. Sir, methinks

This News should make ye lightsome, bring joy to ye,

It strikes our hearts with general Comfort. [Exit Duke.

Gone? What should this mean, so suddenly?

He's well?

2 Gent. We see no other.

1 Gent. Would the rest were well too,

That put these starts into him.

Bur. I'll go after him.

2 Gent. 'Twill not be fit, Sir: h'as some secret in him

He would not be disturb'd in: know you any thing

Has crost him since the General went?

Bur. Not any:

If there had been, I am sure I should have found it:

Only I have heard him oft complain for money:

Money he says he wants.

1 Gent. It may be that then.

Bur. To him that has so ma[n]y wayes to raise it,

And those so honest, it cannot be.

1 Gent. He comes back,

And Lord Boroskie with him.

Bur. There the game goes,

I fear some new thing hatching.

Duke. Come hither Burris.

Go see my Sister, and commend me to her,

And to my little Mistriss give this Token;

Tell her I'le see her shortly.

Bur. Yes, I shall, Sir. [Ex. Bur. and Gent.

Duke. Wait you without: I would yet try him further.

Bor. 'Twill not be much amiss: has your Grace heard yet

Of what he has done i'th' Field?

Duke. A Post but now

Came in, who saw 'em joyn, and has delivered,

The Enemy gave ground before he parted.

Bor. 'Tis well.

Duke. Come, speak thy mind man: 'tis not for fighting,

A noise of War, I keep thee in my bosom;

Thy ends are nearer to me; from my Childhood

Thou brought'st me up: and like another nature,

Made good all my necessities: speak boldly.

Bor. Sir, what I utter, will be thought but envy

Though I intend, high heaven knows, but your honour,

When vain and empty people shall proclaim me —

Good Sir excuse me.

Duke. Do you fear me for your Enemy?

Speak on your duty.

Bor. Then I must, and dare, Sir:

When he comes home, take heed the Court receive him not,

Take heed he meet not with their loves and praises,

That Glass will shew him ten times greater, Sir,

(And make him strive to make good that proportion,)

Than ere his fortune bred him, he is honourable,

At least I strive to understand him so,

And of a nature, if not this way poyson'd,

Perfect enough, easie, and sweet, but those are soon seduc'd, Sir;

He's a great man, and what that Pill may work,

Prepar'd by general voices of the people,

Is the end of all my Counsel, only this, Sir,

Let him retire a while, there's more hangs by it

Than you know yet: there if he stand a while well,

But till the Souldier cool, whom, for their service

You must pay now most liberally, most freely,

And showre your self into 'em; 'tis the bounty

They follow with their loves, and not the bravery.

Duke. But where's the Money? how now?

2 Gent. Sir, the Colonel,

Son to the Lord Archas, with most happy news

Of the Tartars overthrow, without here

Attends your Graces pleasure.

Bor. Be not seen, Sir,

He's a bold fellow, let me stand his Thunders,

To th' Court he must not come: no blessing here, Sir,

No face of favour, if you love your honour.

Duke. Do what you think is meetest; I'le retire, Sir. [Ex.

Bor. Conduct him in, Sir – welcome noble Colonel.

The. That's much from your Lordship: pray where's the Duke?

Bor. We hear you have beat the Tartar.

The. Is he busie, Sir?

Bor. Have ye taken Olin yet?

The. I would fain speak with him.

Bor. How many men have ye lost?

The. Do's he lye this way?

Bor. I am sure you fought it bravely.

The. I must see him.

Bor. You cannot yet, ye must not, what's your Commission?

The. No Gentleman o'th' Chamber here?

Bor. Why, pray ye, Sir?

Am not I fit to entertain your business?

The. I think you are not, Sir; I am sure ye shall not.

I bring no tales, nor flatteries: in my tongue, Sir,

I carry no fork'd stings.

Bor. You keep your bluntness.

The. You are deceiv'd: it keeps me: I had felt else

Some of your plagues ere this: but good Sir trifle not,

I have business to the Duke.

Bor. He's not well, Sir,

And cannot now be spoke withal.

The. Not well, Sir?

How would he ha' been, if we had lost? not well, Sir?

I bring him news to make him well: his enemy

That would have burnt his City here, and your House too,

Your brave gilt house, my Lord, your honours hangings,

Where all your Ancestors, and all their Battels,

Their silk and golden Battels are decipher'd:

That would not only have abus'd your buildings,

Your goodly buildings, Sir, and have drunk dry your butteries,

Purloin'd your Lordships Plate, the Duke bestow'd on you,

For turning handsomly o'th' toe, and trim'd your Virgins,

Trim'd 'em of a new cut, and't like your Lordship,

'Tis ten to one, your Wife too, and the curse is

You had had no remedy against these Rascals,

No Law, and't like your Honour; would have kill'd you too

And roasted ye, and eaten ye, ere this time:

Notable Knaves my Lord, unruly Rascals:

These youths have we ty'd up, put muzzels on 'em,

And par'd their Nails, that honest civil Gentlemen,

And such most noble persons as your self is,

May live in peace, and rule the land with a twine thread.

These news I bring.

Bor. And were they thus deliver'd ye?

The. My Lord, I am no pen-man, nor no Orator,

My tongue was never Oyl'd with Here and't like ye,

There I beseech ye, weigh, I am a Souldier,

And truth I covet only, no fine terms, Sir;

I come not to stand treating here; my business

Is with the Duke, and of such general blessing —

Bor. You have overthrown the enemy, we know it,

And we rejoyce in't; ye have done like honest Subjects,

You have done handsomely and well.

Theo. But well, Sir?

But handsomely and well? what are we juglers?

I'le do all that in cutting up a Capon.

But handsomely and well? does your Lordship take us

For the Dukes Tumblers? we have done bravely, Sir,

Ventur'd our lives like men.

Bor. Then bravely be it.

Theo. And for as brave rewards we look, and graces,

We have sweat and bled for't, Sir.

Bor. And ye may have it,

If you will stay the giving. Men that thank themselves first

For any good they do, take off the lustre,

And blot the benefit.

Theo. Are these the welcomes,

The Bells that ring out our rewards? pray heartily,

Early and late, there may be no more Enemies:

Do my good Lord, pray seriously, and sigh too,

For if there be —

Bor. They must be met, and fought with.

Theo. By whom? by you? they must be met and flatter'd.

Why, what a Devil ail'd ye to do these things?

With what assurance dare ye mock men thus?

You have but single lives, and those I take it

A Sword may find too: why do ye dam the Duke up?

And choak that course of love, that like a River

Should fill our empty veins again with comforts?

But if ye use these knick knacks,

This fast and loose, with faithful men and honest,

You'l be the first will find it.

Boros. You are too untemperate.

Theo. Better be so, and thief too, than unthankful:

Pray use this old man so, and then we are paid all.

The Duke thanks ye for your service, and the Court thanks ye,

And wonderful desirous they are to see ye;

Pray Heaven we have room enough to march for May-games,