A King, and No King | Page 9

give me ought; yet so I must: I would you were not fair, nor wise, for in your ill consists my good: if you were foolish, you would hear my prayer, if foul, you had not power to hinder me: he would not love you.
Pan.
What's the meaning of it.
Spa.
Nay, my request is more without the bounds?Of reason yet: for 'tis not in the power?Of you to do, what I would have you grant.
Pan.
Why then 'tis idle, pray thee speak it out.
Spa.
Your brother brings a Prince into this land,?Of such a noble shape, so sweet a grace,?So full of worth withal, that every maid?That looks upon him, gives away her self?To him for ever; and for you to have?He brings him: and so mad is my demand?That I desire you not to have this man,?This excellent man, for whom you needs must die,?If you should miss him. I do now expect?You should laugh at me.
Pan.
Trust me I could weep rather, for I have found him?In all thy words a strange disjoynted sorrow.
Spa.
'Tis by me his own desire so, that you would not love him.
Pan.
His own desire! why credit me Thalestris, I am no common wooer: if he shall wooe me, his worth may be such, that I dare not swear I will not love him; but if he will stay to have me wooe him, I will promise thee, he may keep all his graces to himself, and fear no ravishing from me.
Spa.
'Tis yet his own desire, but when he sees your face, I fear it will not be; therefore I charge you as you have pity, stop these tender ears from his enchanting voice, close up those eyes, that you may neither catch a dart from him, nor he from you; I charge you as you hope to live in quiet; for when I am dead, for certain I will walk to visit him if he break promise with me: for as fast as Oaths without a formal Ceremony can make me, I am to him.
Pan.
Then be fearless;?For if he were a thing 'twixt God and man,?I could gaze on him; if I knew it sin?To love him without passion: Dry your eyes,?I swear you shall enjoy him still for me,?I will not hinder you; but I perceive?You are not what you seem, rise, rise Thalestris,?If your right name be so.
Spa.
Indeed it is not, Spaconia is my name; but I desire not to be known to other.
Pan.
Why, by me you shall not, I will never do you wrong, what good I can, I will, think not my birth or education such, that I should injure a stranger Virgin; you are welcome hither, in company you wish to be commanded, but when we are alone, I shall be ready to be your servant.
[Exeunt.
Enter three Men and a Woman.
_1_.
Come, come, run, run, run.
_2_.
We shall out-go her.
_3_.
One were better be hang'd than carry out women fidling to these shews.
_ Wom_.
Is the King hard by?
_1_.
You heard he with the Bottles said, he thought we should come too late: What abundance of people here is!
_ Wom_.
But what had he in those Bottles?
_3_.
I know not.
_2_.
Why, Ink goodman fool.
_3_.
Ink, what to do?
_1_.
Why the King look you, will many times call for these?Bottles, and break his mind to his friends.
_ Wom_.
Let's take our places, we shall have no room else.
_2_.
The man told us he would walk o' foot through the people.
_3_.
I marry did he.
_1_.
Our shops are well look't to now.
_2_.
'Slife, yonder's my Master, I think.
_1_.
No 'tis not he.
Enter a man with two Citizens-wives.
1 Cit.
Lord how fine the fields be, what sweet living 'tis in the Country!
2 Cit.
I poor souls, God help 'em; they live as contentedly as one of us.
1 Cit.
My husbands Cousin would have had me gone into the Country last year, wert thou ever there?
2 Cit.
I, poor souls, I was amongst 'em once.
1 Cit.
And what kind of creatures are they, for love of God?
2 Cit.
Very good people, God help 'em.
1 Cit.
Wilt thou go down with me this Summer when I am brought to bed?
2 Cit.
Alas, it is no place for us.
1 Cit.
Why, pray thee?
2 Cit.
Why you can have nothing there, there's no body cryes brooms.
1 Cit.
No?
2 Cit.
No truly, nor milk.
1 Cit.
Nor milk, how do they?
2 Cit.
They are fain to milk themselves i'th' Country.
1 Cit.
Good Lord! but the people there, I think, will be very dutiful to one of us.
2 Cit.
I God knows will they, and yet they do not greatly care for our husbands.
1 Cit.
Do they not? Alas! I'good faith I cannot blame them: for we do not greatly care for them our selves. Philip, I pray choose us a place.
_ Phil_.
There's the best forsooth.
1 Cit.
By your leave good people a little.
_3_.
What's the matter?
_ Phil_.
I pray you my friend, do not thrust my Mistress so, she's with Child.
_2_.
Let her look to her self then, has she