Volume Viii Part 46 (1/2)

QUEEN. After a long storm in a troublous sea, The pilot is no gladder of a calm, Than Isabel to see the vexed looks Of her lov'd lord chang'd into sweet aspects.

KING. I will not tell thee what a world of foes For thy love (dear love) rise against my life.

Matilda's love, few swords will fight for thee. [_To himself_.

I will not number up the many woes That shall be multiplied: strife upon strife Will follow; but to shun ensuing ills, I'll take such pledges as shall please me ask Of each proud baron dwelling in the realm.

Bruce, kinsman and the deputy to March, Hath a high-minded lady to his wife, An able son for arms, and a less boy, That is the comfort of his father's life.

Madam, I know you love the lady well, And of her wealth you may be bold to build[305], By sending you four hundred white milch kine, And ten like-colour'd bulls to serve that herd; So fair, that every cow did Io seem, And every bull Europa's ravisher.

To friend myself with such a subject's truth, Thus I command: you and Earl Salisbury Shall, with what speed conveniently ye may, Hie ye to Guildford: there the lady lies, And her sons too, as I am told by spies.

All that she hath, I know, she calleth yours; All that she hath I gladly would call mine, If she abuse ye; if she use ye well, For ever be what she retains her own.

Only go by, as queens in progress do, And send me word how she receiveth you.

QUEEN. Well, I avouch, she will, before I go: Far be it John should prove Lord Bruce's foe.

Come, n.o.ble Salisbury, I long to be at Guildford.

SAL. In such a business, madam, so do I.

[_Exeunt_.

KING. Go on, good stales[306]: now Guildford is mine own! [_Aside_.]

Hubert, I charge you take an hundred horse, And follow unto Guildford castle-gates.

The queen pretend you come to tend upon, Sent carefully from us: when you are in, Boldly demand the lady for her sons, For pledges of her husband's faith and hers: Whom when ye have, upon the castle seize, And keep it to our use, until we come.

Meanwhile let me alone with Hugh your son, To work a wonder, if no prodigy; But whatsoe'er, it shall attempted be.

HUB. Even that which to your majesty May seem contentful, thereto I agree.

KING. Go then to Guildford, and a victor be, [_Exit_ HUBERT.

Mowbray, our masque: are you and Chester ready?

MOW. We will before your grace, I warrant you.

KING. How think'st of it, Mowbray?

MOW. As on a masque: but for our torch-bearers, h.e.l.l cannot make so mad a crew as I.

KING. Faith, who is chief?

MOW. Will Brand, my lord; But then your grace must curb his cruelty: The rein once got, he's apt for villainy.

KING. I know the villain is both rough and grim; But as a tie-dog I will muzzle him.

I'll bring him up to fawn upon my friends.

And worry dead my foes. But to our masque.

I mean this night to revel at the feast, Where fair Matilda graceth every guest; And if my hidden courtesy she grace, Old Baynard's Castle, good Fitzwater's place, John will make rich with royal England's wealth: But if she do not, not those scatter'd bands, Dropping from Austria and the Holy Land, That boast so much of glorious victories, Shall stop the inundations of those woes, That like a deluge I will bring on them.

I know the crew is there; banish all fears: If wrong'd, they shall be ours: if welcome, theirs.

[_Exeunt_.

SCENE II.