Part 66

Cler. These are too grave for brave wits; give them toyes; 125 Labour bestow'd on these is harsh and thriftlesse. If you would Consull be (sayes one) of Rome, You must be watching, starting out of sleepes; Every way whisking; gloryfying Plebeians; Kissing Patricians hands, rot at their dores; 130 Speake and doe basely; every day bestow Gifts and observance upon one or other: And what's th'event of all? Twelve rods before thee; Three or foure times sit for the whole tribunall; Exhibite Circean games; make publike feasts; 135 And for these idle outward things (sayes he) Would'st thou lay on such cost, toile, spend thy spirits? And to be voide of perturbation, For constancie, sleepe when thou would'st have sleepe, Wake when thou would'st wake, feare nought, vexe for nought, 140 No paines wilt thou bestow? no cost? no thought?

Ren. What should I say? As good consort with you As with an angell; I could heare you ever.

Cler. Well, in, my lord, and spend time with my sister, And keepe her from the field with all endeavour. 145 The souldiers love her so, and shee so madly Would take my apprehension, if it chance, That bloud would flow in rivers.

Ren. Heaven forbid! And all with honour your arrivall speede! Exit.

Enter Messenger with two Souldiers like Lackies.

Messenger. Here are two lackies, sir, have message to you. 150

Cler. What is your message? and from whom, my friends?

1[st Soldier.] From the Lieutenant, Colonell, and the Captaines, Who sent us to informe you that the battailes Stand ready rang'd, expecting but your presence To be their honor'd signall when to joyne, 155 And we are charg'd to runne by, and attend you.

Cler. I come. I pray you see my running horse Brought to the backe-gate to mee.

Mess. Instantly. Exit Mess[enger].

Cler. Chance what can chance mee, well or ill is equall In my acceptance, since I joy in neyther, 160 But goe with sway of all the world together. In all successes Fortune and the day To mee alike are; I am fixt, be shee Never so fickle; and will there repose, Farre past the reach of any dye she throwes. 165 Ex cum Pediss[equis].

Finis Actus tertii.

LINENOTES:

114 as't. Emended by ed.; Q, as.

ACTUS QUARTI SCAENA PRIMA.

Alarum within: Excursions over the Stage.

The [Soldiers disguised as] Lackies running, Maillard following them.

Maillard. Villaines, not hold him when ye had him downe!

1[st Soldier.] Who can hold lightning? Sdeath a man as well Might catch a canon bullet in his mouth, And spit it in your hands, as take and hold him.

Mail. Pursue, enclose him! stand or fall on him, 5 And yee may take him. Sdeath! they make him guards. Exit.

Alarum still, and enter Chalon.

Challon. Stand, cowards, stand; strike, send your bullets at him.

1[st Soldier.] Wee came to entertaine him, sir, for honour.

2[d Soldier.] Did ye not say so?

Chal. Slaves, hee is a traitor; Command the horse troopes to over-runne the traitor. Exeunt. 10

Shouts within. Alarum still, and Chambers shot off. Then enter Aumall.

Aumale. What spirit breathes thus in this more then man, Turnes flesh to ayre possest, and in a storme Teares men about the field like autumne leaves? He turnd wilde lightning in the lackies hands, Who, though their sodaine violent twitch unhorst him, 15 Yet when he bore himselfe, their saucie fingers Flew as too hot off, as hee had beene fire. The ambush then made in, through all whose force Hee drave as if a fierce and fire-given canon Had spit his iron vomit out amongst them. 20 The battailes then in two halfe-moones enclos'd him, In which he shew'd as if he were the light, And they but earth, who, wondring what hee was, Shruncke their steele hornes and gave him glorious passe. And as a great shot from a towne besieg'd 25 At foes before it flyes forth blacke and roring, But they too farre, and that with waight opprest (As if disdaining earth) doth onely grasse, Strike earth, and up againe into the ayre, Againe sinkes to it, and againe doth rise, 30 And keepes such strength that when it softliest moves It piece-meale shivers any let it proves-- So flew brave Clermont forth, till breath forsooke him, Then fell to earth; and yet (sweet man) even then His spirits convulsions made him bound againe 35 Past all their reaches; till, all motion spent, His fixt eyes cast a blaze of such disdaine, All stood and star'd, and untouch'd let him lie, As something sacred fallen out of the skie. A cry within. O now some rude hand hath laid hold on him! 40

Enter Maillard, Chalon leading Clermont, Captaines and Souldiers following.