SCENE VIII.
Enter Jaques de Boys.
Jaq. de B.
Let me have audience for a word or two—
I am the second son of old Sir Rowland,
That bring these tidings to this fair assembly.
Duke Frederick hearing, how that every day
Men of great worth resorted to this forest,
Address'd a mighty power, which were on foot
In his own conduct purposely to take
His brother here, and put him to the sword:
And to the skirts of this wild wood he came,
Where meeting with an old religious man,
After some question with him, was converted
Both from his enterprize, and from the world;
His Crown bequeathing to his banish'd brother,
And all their lands restor'd to them again,
That were with him exil'd. This to be true,
I do engage my life.
Duke Sen.
Welcome young man:
Thou offer'st fairly to thy brother's wedding;
To one, his lands with-held; and to the other,
-- 106 --
A land itself at large, a potent Dukedom.
First, in this forest, let us do those ends
That here were well begun, and well begot:
And, after, every of this happy number,
That have endur'd shrewd days and nights with us,
Shall share the good of our returned fortune,
According to the measure of their states.
Mean time, forget this new-fall'n dignity,
And fall into our rustick revelry:
Play, musick; and you brides and bridegrooms all,
With measure heap'd in joy, to th' measures fall.
Jaq.
Sir, by your patience: if I heard you rightly,
The Duke hath put on a religious life,
And thrown into neglect the pompous Court.
Jaq. de B.
He hath.
Jaq.
To him will I: out of these convertites
There is much matter to be heard and learn'd.
You to your former Honour I bequeath,
[To the Duke.
Your patience and your virtue well deserve it.
You to a love, that your true faith doth merit;
[To Orla.
You to your land, and love, and great allies;
[To Oli.
You to a long and well deserved bed;
To Silv.
And you to wrangling; for thy loving voyage
[To the Clown.
Is but for two months victual'd—so to your pleasures:
I am for other than for dancing measures.
Duke Sen.
Stay, Jaques, stay.
Jaq.
To see no pastime, I—what you would have,
I'll stay to know at your abandon'd Cave.
[Exit.
Duke Sen.
Proceed, proceed; we will begin these rites;
As, we do trust they'll end, in true delights.
-- 107 --
EPILOGUE.
Ros.
It is not the fashion to see the lady the Epilogue;
but it is no more unhandsome, than to see the
lord the Prologue. If it be true, that good wine needs
no bush, 'tis true, that a good Play needs no Epilogue.
Yet to good wine they do use good bushes; and good
Plays prove the better by the help of good Epilogues.
What a case am I in then,5 note that am neither a good
Epilogue, nor can insinuate with you in the behalf of
a good Play? I am not furnish'd like a beggar;6 note
therefore to beg will not become me. My way is to
conjure you, and I'll begin with the women. I charge
you, O women,7 note
for the love you bear to men, to
like as much of this Play as pleases you: and I charge
you, O men, for the love you bear to women, (as I
perceive by your simpring, none of you hate them)
-- 108 --
that between you and the women, the Play may please.
If I were a woman,8 note I would kiss as many of you as
had beards that pleas'd me, complexions that lik'd me,
and breaths that I defy'd not: and, I am sure, as
many as have good beards, or good faces, or sweet
breaths, will for my kind offer, when I make curt'sy,
bid me farewel.
[Exeunt omnes.9 note
