CAMBER。
Thine——withthatgreygoat’sfleeceonchin,sir?NeedsMustshebefair:thou,wraptinage’sweeds,Whoseblood,iftimehavetoucheditnotandstilled,Thesun’sownfiremustoncehavekindled,——thouSingpraiseofsoft—lippedwomen?dothnotshameStingthee,tosoundthisminstrel’snote,andgildAgirl’sproudfacewithpraises,thoughherbrowWerebrightasdawn’s?AndhadhergracenonameFormentoworshipby?Hername?
DEBON。
Estrild。
CAMBER。
Mybrotherisaprinceofparamours—
Eyescolouredlikethespringtidesea,andhairBrightaswithfireofsundawn——faceasfairAsmineisswartandwornwithhaggardhours,Thoughlessinyearsthanhis——suchhapwasoursWhenchancedrewforthforusthelotsthatwereHidcloseintime’sclenchedhand:andnowIswear,Thoughhisbegoodlierthanthestarsorflowers,Iwouldnotchangethisheadofmine,orcrownScarceworthasmileofhis——thylordLocrine’s—
Forthatfairheadandcrownimperial;nay,NotwereIcastbyforceoffortunedownLowerthanthelowestleanserfthatprowlsandpinesAndloathesforfearallhoursofnightandday。
DEBON。
Whatsaysmylord?howmeanshe?
CAMBER。
VexnotthouThineoldhoarheadwithcaretolearnofmeThis。Greatistime,andwhathewillstobeIshereoreverproofmaybringit:now,Nowisthefuturepresent。IfthyvowConstraintheenot,yetwouldIknowoftheeOnething:thislustrouslove—bird,whereisshe?
WhatnestishersonwhatgreenfloweringboughDeepinwhatwildsweetwoodland?
DEBON。
Goodmylord,HaveInotsinnedalready——flawedmyfaith,Tolendsucheareventosuchroyalsuit?
CAMBER。
Yea,bymykingdomhastthou——bymysword,Yea。Nowspeakon。
DEBON。
Yethope——orhonour——saithIdidnotilltotrustthebloodofBruteWithinthee。NotprinceHector’ssovereignsoul,Thelightofallthylineage,moreabhorredTreasonthanallhisdaysdidBrutemylord。
Mytrustshallrestnotintheelessthanwhole。
CAMBER。
Speak,then:toolongthoufalterestnighthegoal。
DEBON。
ThereisabowerbuiltfastbesideafordInEssex,heldinsureandsecretwardOfwoodsandwallsandwaters,stillandsoleAslovecouldchooseforharbourage:therethekingKeepsclosefromallmennowthesesevenyearssinceThelightwhereinhelives:andtherehathsheBornehimamaidenchildmoresweetthanspring。
CAMBER。
Achildherdaughter?therenowhidden?
DEBON。
Prince,Whatailsthee?
CAMBER。
Nought。Thisriver’sname?
DEBON。
TheLey。
CAMBER。
NighLeytonstoneinEssex——calledofoldBymenthineeldersDurolitum?ThereArehindandfawncouchedcloseinonegreenlair?
Speak:hastthounotmyfaithinpawn,toholdFastasmybrother’sheartthislove,untoldAndundivinedofallmen?mustIswearTwice——I,tothee?
DEBON。
Butifthousetnosnare,Whyshinethineeyessosharp?Iamoverbold:
Sir,pardonme。
CAMBER。
MyswordshallsplitthineheartWithpardonifthoupalterwithme。
DEBON。
Sir,Thereistheplace:butthoughthybrowbegrimAshell——Iknewtheenotthemanthouart—
Iwillnotbringtheetoit。
CAMBER。
Forloveofher?
Nay——bettershouldstthouknowmyloveofhim。
[Exeunt。
ACTII。
SCENEI。——ThebanksoftheLey。
EnterESTRILDandSABRINA。
SABRINA。
Butwillmyfathercomenot?nottoday,Mother?
ESTRILD。
Godhelpthee!child,Icannotsay。
Whythisofalldaysyetinsummer’ssight?
SABRINA。
Mybirthday!
ESTRILD。
Thatshouldbringhim——ifitmay。
SABRINA。
Mayshouldbemust:hemustnotbeaway。
Hisfaithwaspledgedtomeaskingandknight。
ESTRILD。
Smallfearheshouldnotkeepit——ifhemight。
SABRINA。
Might!andaking’smighthis?dokingsbearswayFornought,thataughtshouldkeephimhencetillnight?
WhydidstthoubidGodhelpmewhenIsoughtToknowbutofhiscoming?
ESTRILD。
EvenfornoughtButlaughtereventothinkhowstraitaboundShutsinthemeasureofthysightandthoughtWhoseestnotwhythysirehathheedofaughtSavetheeandme——norwhereforemenstandcrownedAndgirtaboutwithempire。
SABRINA。
HavetheyfoundSuchjoythereinasmeanerthingshavewrought?
Singmethesongthatripplesroundandround。
ESTRILD(sings):—
HadIwist,quothspringtotheswallow,Thatearthcouldforgetme,kissedBysummer,andluredtofollowDownwaysthatIknownot,I,Myheartshouldhavewaxednothigh:
MidMarchwouldhaveseenmedie,HadIwist。
HadIwist,Ospring,saidtheswallow,ThathopewasasunlitmistAndthefaintlightheartofithollow,Thywoodshadnotheardmesing,Thywindshadnotknownmywing;
Ithadfalterederethinedid,spring,HadIwist。
SABRINA。
ThatsongishardlyevenaswiseasI—
Nay,veryfoolishnessitis。TodieInMarchbeforeitslifewerewellonwing,Beforeitstimeandkindlyseason——whyShouldspringbesad——beforetheswallowsfly—
Enoughtodreamofsuchawintrything?
SuchfoolishwordsweremoreunmeetforspringThansnowforsummerwhenhisheartishigh;
Andwhyshouldwordsbefoolishwhentheysing?
Thesong—birdsarenot。
ESTRILD。
Dostthouunderstand,Child,whatthebirdsaresinging?
SABRINA。
AllthelandKnowsthat:thewatertellsittotherushesAloud,andlowerandsoftliertothesand:
Theflower—fays,liptolipandhandinhand,LaughandrepeatitalltilldarknesshushesTheirsingingwithawordthatfallsandcrushesAllsongtosilencedowntheriver—strandAndwherethehawthornshearkenforthethrushes。
AndallthesecretsenseissweetandwiseThatsingsthroughalltheirsinging,andrepliesWhenwewouldknowifheavenbegayorgreyAndwouldnotopenalltoosoonoureyesTolookperchanceonnosuchhappyskies—
Assleepbringscloseandwakingblowsaway。
ESTRILD。
WhatgivesthyfancyfaithenoughtosayThis?
SABRINA。
Why,meseemsthesunwouldhardlyriseElse,northeworldbehalfsogladofday。
ESTRILD。
Whydidstthoucraveofmethatsong,Sabrina?
SABRINA。
Because,methought,thoughonewerekingorqueenAndhadtheworldtoplaywith,ifonemissedWhatmostweregoodtohave,suchjoy,Iween,WerewofulasasongwithsobsbetweenAndwellmightwailforever,’HadIwist!’
Andmightmyfatherdobutashelist,Andmakethisdaywhatotherdayshavebeen,Ishouldnotshuttonightmineeyesunkissed。
ESTRILD。
Iwisthouwouldstnot。
SABRINA。
ThenIwouldhewereNokingatall,andsavehisgoldenhairWoreonhisgraciousheadnogoldencrown。
Musthebekingforever?
ESTRILD。
NotifprayerCouldliftfromoffhisheartthatcrownofcareAnddrawhimtowardusaswithmusicdown。
SABRINA。
Notso,butupwardtous。HewouldbutfrownToheartheetalkasthoughthewoodlandsthereWerebuiltnolordlierthanthewide—walledtown。
Thouknowest,whenIdesireofhimtoseeWhatmannerofcrownthatwreathoftowersmaybeThatmakesitsproudheadshinelikeolderTroy’s,HisbrowsarebentevenwhilehelaughsonmeAndbidsmethinknomorethereonthanhe,Forflowersareseriousthings,buttowersaretoys。
ESTRILD。
Ay,child;hisheartwaslesscare’sthronethanjoy’s,Power’slessthanlove’sfriendever:andwiththeeHismoodthatplaysisblitherthanaboy’s。
SABRINA。
Iwouldtheboywouldgivethemaidherwill。
ESTRILD。
Hasnotthineheartasminehashereitsfill?
SABRINA。
Sohaveourheartswhilesleeping——tilltheywake。
ESTRILD。
Toosoonisthisforwaking:sleepthoustill。
SABRINA。
Bidthenthedawnsleep,andtheworldliechill。
ESTRILD。
Thisnestiswarmforonesmallwood—dove’ssake。
SABRINA。
Andwarmtheworldthatfeelsthesundawnbreak。
ESTRILD。
Buthathmyfledgelingcushatheresleptill?
SABRINA。
Noplaintisthis,butpleading,thatImake。
ESTRILD。
Pleadnotagainstthineowngladlife:thepleaWerelikeawranglingbabe’sthatfainwouldbeFreefromthehelpitshardyheartcontemns,Freefromthehandthatguidesandguardsit,freeTotakeitswayandsprawlandstumble。See!
HavewenothereenoughofdiademsHunghighroundportalspillaredsmoothwithstemsMorefairthanmarble?
SABRINA。
ThisisbuttheLey:
IfainwouldlookuponthelordlierThames。
ESTRILD。
Averywater—birdthouart:theriverSodrawstheetoitthat,seeing,myheart—stringsquiverAndyearnwithfearlestperilteachtheefearToolateforhelpordaringtodeliver。
SABRINA。
Nay,letthewindmakewillowsweepandshiver:
Meshallnorwindnorwater,whileIhearWhatgoodlywordssaitheachinother’sear。
Andwhichisgiventhegift,andwhichthegiver,Iknownot,buttheytakeandgivegoodcheer。
ESTRILD。
Howe’erthisbe,thouhastnoheedofmine,TotakesolittleofthislifeofthineIgaveandwouldnotseetheecastawayForchildishnessinchildhood,thoughitshineFormesolecomfort,formylordLocrineChiefcomfortintheworld。
SABRINA。
Nay,mother,nay,Makemenotweepwithchiding:wiltthousayIlovetheenot?Hark!see,mysireforsign!
Ihearhishorse。
ESTRILD。
Hecomes!
SABRINA。
Hecomestoday!
[ExeuntSCENEII。——Troynovant。ARoominthePalace。
EnterGUENDOLENandCAMBER。
GUENDOLEN。
Iknownot,sir,whatailsyoutodesireSuchaudienceofmeasIgive。
CAMBER。
WhatailsMe,sister?WeretheheartinmenohigherThanhiswhoheedsnomorethanharpers’talesSuchgriefsassetasister’sheartonfire—
GUENDOLEN。
ThenweremybrothernowatrestinWales,Androyal。
CAMBER。
AmIlessthanroyalhere?
GUENDOLEN。
Evenhereastherealike,sir。
CAMBER。
DostthoufearNothing?
GUENDOLEN。
Myprincelycousin,notindeedMuchthatmighthapatwordorwillofthine。
CAMBER。
Ay——meanestamIofmyfather’sseed,Ifmenmisjudgenot,cousin;andLocrineNoblest。
GUENDOLEN。
ShouldIgainsaytheirgeneralrede,Myheartwouldmockme。
CAMBER。
SuchaspiritasmineBeingspiritless——mywordsheartless——mineactsFaintshadowsofLocrine’sorAlbanact’s?
GUENDOLEN。
Nay——notsomuch——Isaidnotso。SaythouWhatthouwouldsthave——ifaughtthouwouldst——withme。
CAMBER。
NomanmightseethineeyesandlipsandbrowWhowouldnot——whathedurstnotcraveofthee。
GUENDOLEN。
Ay,verily?AndthyspiritexaltstheenowSohighthatthesethywordsflyforthsofree,Andfainthineactwouldfollow——flyingaboveShame’sreachandfear’s?Whatgiftmaythisbe?Love?
Orliking?orcompassion?
CAMBER。
TakenotthusMineinnocentwordsamiss,norwrestawryTheirpiteouspurposetowardthee。
GUENDOLEN。
Piteous!
WholivessolowandlooksupontheskyAswoulddesire——whosharesthesunwithusThatmightdeservethypity?
CAMBER。
Thou。
GUENDOLEN。
NotI,ThoughIwerecastouthence,castoff,discrowned,Abject,ungirtofallthatguardsmeround,Naked。Whatvillainousmadness,knaveandking,IsthisthatputsuponthybabblingtonguePoison?
CAMBER。
ThetruthisasasnaketostingThatbreathesillnews:butwhereitsfanghathstungTheverypangbidshealthandhealingspring。
Godknowsthegriefwherewithmyspiritiswrung—
Thespiritoftheesoscorned,somisesteemed,SomockedwithstrangemisprisionandmisdeemedMerciless,false,unbrotherly——totakeSuchtaskuponitasmayburnthineheartWithbittererhatredofmethatIspakeWhat,hadIheldmypeaceandcreptapartAndtamedmysoultosilenceforthysakeAndmercytowardtheroyalthingthouart,ChancehaplymighthavemadeafieryswordToslaytheewith——slaythee,andsparethylord。
GUENDOLEN。
Worsehaditdonetoslaymylord,andspareMe。Wiltthounowshowmercytowardme?ThenStrikewiththatswordmineheartthrough——ifthoudare。
Allknowthytongue’sedgedeadly。
CAMBER。
Guendolen,ThouseestmelikeavassalboundtobearAllbitterwordsthatbitetheheartsofmenFromthee,sobeitthispleasethywrath。IstandSlaveofthytongueandsubjectofthinehand,Andpitythee。Take,ifthouwilt,myhead;
Giveitmybrother。ThoushalthearmespeakFirst,thoughthesoothfastwordthathangsunsaidAsyet,beingspoken,——albeitthishandbeweakAndfaintthisheart,thousayest——shouldstriketheedeadEvenwiththatroseofwrathonbrowandcheek。
GUENDOLEN。
IholdnottheetoofaintofhearttoslayWomen。Sayforthwhate’erthouhasthearttosay。
CAMBER。
SilenceIhavenothearttokeep,andseeScornandderisiongirdtheeroundwithshame,NotknowingwhatallthyserfswhomockattheeKnow,andmakemirthandhavocofthyname。
Doesthisnotmovethee?
GUENDOLEN。
HowshouldaughtmovemeFallenfromsuchtonguesasfalsehoodfindsthesame—
Suchtonguesasfraudortreasonoushateo’erscurfsWithleprouslust——aprince’soraserf’s?
CAMBER。
Thatlustoftheevil—speakingtonguewhichgivesQuickbreathtodeadlylies,andstingstolifeTherottennessoffalsehood,whenitlives,Fallsdumb,andleavesthelietobringforthstrife。
Theliarwillsaynomore——hisheartmisgivesHisknaveship——shouldhesundermanandwife?
Such,sister,inthysight,itseems,amI。
Yetshaltthoutake,tokeeporcastitby,ThetruthofshameIwouldnothavetheehear,—
NotmightIchoose,——butchooseImaynot。
GUENDOLEN。
ShameAndtruth?Shamenevertowardthineheartcamenear,Andallthylifehathhungaboutthyname。
NorevertruthdrewnighthelipsthatfearWhitens,andmakesthebloodthatfeedsthemtame。
Speakallthouwilt——butevenforshame,forsooth,Talknotofshame——andtellmenotoftruth。
CAMBER。
Thenshaltthouhearalie。ThylovinglordLovesnonesavethee;hisheart’spulsebeatsinthine;
Nofairerwoman,captiveofhissword,CaughtevercaptiveandsubduedLocrine:
Thegodofliesbearwitness。AtthefordOfHumberbloodwasnevershedlikewine:
OurbrotherAlbanactlived,fought,anddied,Never:andIthatswearithavenotlied。
GUENDOLEN。
Fairer?
CAMBER。
Theysayit:butwhatareliestothee?
GUENDOLEN。
Artthounormannorwoman?