Volume Ix Part 60 (1/2)

Will not the presence of thy friend prevail, Nor hope expel these sullen fits?

Cannot mirth wring if but a forged smile From those sad drooping looks of thine?

Rely on hope, whose hap will lead thee right To her, whom thou dost call thy heart's delight: Look cheerly, man; the time is near at hand, That Hymen, mounted on a snow-white coach, Shall tend on Sophos and his lovely bride.

SOPHOS.

'Tis impossible: her father, man, her father-- He's all for Peter Plod-all.

FORTUNATUS.

Should I but see that Plod-all offer love, This sword should pierce the peasant's breast, And chase his soul from his accursed corpse By an unwonted way unto the grisly lake.

But now th'appointed time is near, That Churms should come with his supposed love: Then sit we down under these leafy shades, And wait the time of Lelia's wish'd approach.

[_They sit down_.

SOPHOS.

Ay, here I'll wait for Lelia's wish'd approach; More wish'd to me than is a calm at sea[161]

To s.h.i.+pwreck'd souls, when great G.o.d Neptune frowns.

Though sad despair hath almost drown'd my hopes, Yet would I pa.s.s the burning vaults of Ork[162], As erst did Hercules to fetch his love, If I might meet my love upon the strond, And but enjoy her love one minute of an hour.

_Enter_ ROBIN GOODFELLOW.

But stay; what man or devil, or h.e.l.lish fiend comes here, Transformed in this ugly, uncouth shape?

FORTUNATUS.

O, peace a while; you shall see good sport anon.

ROBIN GOODFELLOW.

Now I am clothed in this h.e.l.lish shape, If I could meet with Sophos in these woods, O, he would take me for the devil himself: I should ha' good laughing, beside the forty s.h.i.+llings Peter Plod-all has given me; and if I get no more, I'm sure of that. But soft; Now I must try my cunning, for here he sits.-- The high commander of the d.a.m.ned souls, Great Dis, the duke of devils, and prince of Limbo lake, High regent of Acheron, Styx, and Phlegeton, By strict command from Pluto, h.e.l.l's great monarch, And fair Proserpina, the queen of h.e.l.l, By full consent of all the d.a.m.ned hags, And all the fiends that keep the Stygian plains, Hath sent me here from depth of underground To summon thee to appear at Pluto's court.

FORTUNATUS.

A man or devil, or whatsoe'er thou art, I'll try if blows will drive thee down to h.e.l.l: Belike, thou art the devil's parator, The basest officer that lives in h.e.l.l; For such thy words import thee for to be.

'Tis pity you should come so far without a fee; And because I know money goes low with Sophos, I'll pay you your fees: [_He beats him_.

Take that and that, and that, upon thee.

ROBIN GOODFELLOW.

O good sir, I beseech you; I'll do anything.

FORTUNATUS.

Then down to h.e.l.l; for sure thou art a devil.

ROBIN GOODFELLOW.

O, hold your hands; I am not a devil, by my troth.

FORTUNATUS.

Zounds, dost thou cross me? I say thou art a devil.

[_Beats him again_.

ROBIN GOODFELLOW.

O Lord! sir, save my life, and I'll say as you say, Or anything else you'll ha' me do.

FORTUNATUS.

Then stand up, And make a preachment of thy pedigree, And how at first thou learn'dst this devilish trade: Up, I say. [_Beats him_.