A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 3

Excerpt: ...Made & composed all for severall yeares, Have I runne throughe in your most faythfull service. Oth scullerye I was three yeares before: So, blacke and blewe86, I make account I've served Your Lordshypp five and twentye. Gan. What meanes thys? Fue. My servyce notwithstandinge, thys proude Jacke Abuses me in words I understand not; And therefore in playne tearmes if you keepe hym I am no longer for you. Gan. Patyence, man: If thys be all Ile see it remedyed. He shalbe sorrye for the wronge thats past And promyse thee to second it with other. Fue. Shall he? why, let him then, and I wilbe content to dye in peace. Did. I bothe repent and promyse no amends. Fue. Well, that shall pacyfie, we will be frends And live in peace together. Did. On condytion That hence you take no lycence to deprave My good indevours. Fue. In my contyence He wrongs me now agayne. Did. Nor on this growe Sawcie and insolent. Fue. Hay da! can oughte Proceeding from my gravitie to thee Be esteemd sawcynes? you heare, my lorde; Can fleshe and bloode induer thys? I doe knowe My servyce is more pretyous then to be Thus touzd and sullyed by hys envyous breathe; And though in pollycie I will not leave Your lordshypps servyce, yet if polycie Or brayne of man may studdye a revendge, Thys wytt of myne thats seldome showne in vayne Shall fashyon out a rare one. Exit La Fue. Gan. Syllye foole! Come, Didier; mynde not hys peeyvishe hate Ile make thee yet obscurd an envyed state. Exeunt. Actus 2. SCENE I. Enter Orlando, Reinaldo, Oliver, Souldiers, Attendants. Orl. O that my cursse had power to wounde the starres That with a more then envyous aspect Thus racke me & my fortunes! marryed? I coulde allmost brable with destenye For giveinge thys curst maryadge holye forme. And suer it errd in't: tys no gordyon knott That tyes suche a disparytie together. But what will not soothd prynces? theire hye blood A flatterye drawes...