Volume Viii Part 79 (2/2)

[_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.

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