Complete Dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker

by Thomas Dekker

  Welcome.Rise, and rise up high

  In honours and our favour.You have thrust

  Your arms into our coffers, have you not?

  BOTH

  Yes, sacred Empress.

  CAMPEIUS

  And into our own

  Have rained down showers of gold.

  EMPRESS

  You shall deserve it.

  You see what ocean can replenish you,

  Be you but duteous tributary streams.

  But is your temper right?Are not the edges

  Of your sharp spirits rebated?Are you ours?

  Do not your hearts sink down yet?Will you on?

  BOTH

  Stood death i’th’way.

  ROPUS

  Stood hell.

  EMPRESS

  Nobly resolv’d.

  But listen to us, and observe our counsen:

  Back must we sent you to the Fairy Land.

  Danger goes with you.Here’s your safety; listen.

  Choose winds to sail by; if the wayward seas

  Grow stormy, hover, keep aloof; if fears,

  Shipwracks, and death lie tumbling on the waves,

  And will not off, then on, be venturous.

  Conquests hard got are sweet and glorious.

  Being landed, if suspicion cast on you

  Her narrow eyes, turn yourselves then to moles,

  Work underground, and undermine your country,

  Though you cast earth up but a handful high,

  To make her stumble; if that bloodhound hunt you,

  That long-ear’d Inquisition, take the thickets,

  Climb the haymows, live like birds, and eat

  The underflowered corn; in hollow trees

  Take such provision as the ant can make.

  Fly with the bat under the eves of night,

  And shift your nests; or like to ancresses,

  Close up yourselves in artificial walls.

  Or if you walk abroad, be wrap’d in clouds,

  Have change of hairs, or eyebrows; halt with soldiers,

  Be shaven and be old women, take all shapes

  To escape taking.But if the air be clear,

  Fly to the court and underneath the wings

  Of the eagle, falcon, or some great bird, hover;

  Oaks and large beech trees many beasts to cover.

  He that first sings a dirge tun’d to the death

  Of that my only foe, the Fairy Queen,

  Shall be my love and, clad in purple, ride

  Upon that scarlet-coloured beast that bears

  Seven kingdoms on seven heads.

  CAMPEIUS

  If all the spells

  That wit, or eloquence, or arts can set;

  If all the sleights that bookmen use in schools

  Be powerful in such happiness, ’tis mine.

  ROPUS

  What physic can, i dare, only to grow,

  But as I merit shall, up in your eye.

  EMPRESS

  We’ll erect ladders for you strong and high

  That you shall climb to starry dignity.

  BOTH

  We take our leave, dread Empress. [Exeunt CAMPEIUS and ROPUS.

  EMPRESS

  Fare you well.

  Our benediction go along with you.

  Our malediction and your souls’ confusion,

  Like shiver’d towers fall on your luckless heads

  And wedge you into earth low as the deep

  Where are the damned, if our world you fire,

  Since desperately you’ll ride and dare aspire.

  FIRST KING

  But is this all?Shall we thus bend our sinews

  Only to empty quivers and to shoot

  Whole sheaves of forked arrows at the sun,

  Yet never hit him?

  SECOND CARDINAL

  And the mark so fair!

  FIRST CARDINAL

  Nay, which is more, suppose that all these torrents

  Which from your sea of greatness, you, for your part,

  And all those straggling floods which we have driven

  With full and stiff winds to the Fairy strands

  Should all break in at once, and in a deluge

  Of innovation, rough rebellion, factions,

  Of massacres, and pale destruction

  Swallow the kingdom up, and that the blood

  Even of Titania’s heart should in deep crimson

  Dye all these waters; what of this?What share

  Is yours?What land shall you recover?

  FIRST KING

  All.

  FIRST CARDINAL

  All!

  FIRST KING

  Ay, all.

  Between the transversaries that do run

  Upon this cross-staff, a dull eye may find

  In what degree we are, and of what height

  Yourself, our brightest Ariadne, is,

  Being underneath that tropic, as those jewels

  Of night and day are by alternate course

  Worn in heaven’s forehead, so when death’s winter comes,

  And shortens all, those beams of majesty,

  Which in this oblique and zodiacal sphere

  Move with Titania now, shall lose their heat,

  Where must the next sun rise but here?From whence

  Shall Fairy Land get warmth? Merely from hence.

  Let but the taper of her life burn out,

  We have such torches ready in her land

  To catch fire from each other, that the flames

  Shall make the frighted people think earth burns,

  And being dazzled with our copes of stars,

  We shall their tempels hallow with such ease,

  As ‘twere in solemn gay procession.

  FIRST CARDINAL

  Some line sea cards, that know not the seas taste

  Nor scarce the colour.By your charms I gather

  You ahve seen Fairy Land.But in a map,

  Can tell how’t stands.But if you give’t a fall,

  You must get bigger bones, for let me whisper

  This to your ear:though you bait hooks with gold,

  Ten thousand may be nibbling when none bites,

  And those you take for angels, you’ll find sprites.

  Say that Titania were now drawing short breath,

  As that’s the cone and button that together

  Clasps all our hopes, our of her ashes may

  A second Phœnix rise, of larger wing,

  Of stronger talent, of more dreadful beak,

  Who swooping through the air may with his beating

  So well command the winds that all those trees

  Where sit birds of our hatching, now fled thither,

  Will tremble, and, through fear struck dead, to earth,

  Throw those that sit and sing there, or in flocks

  Drive them from thence, yea, and perhaps his talent

  May be so bony and so large of grip

  That it may shake all Babylon.

  EMPRESS

  All Babylon!

  FIRST CARDINAL

  Your pardon.But who’ll swear

  This may not be?

  EMPRESS

  How the prevention?

  FIRST CARDINAL

  Thus:to fell down their queen is but one stroke;

  Our axe must cleave the kingdom, that’s the oak.

  EMPRESS

  The manner?

  FIRST CARDINAL

  Easy:whilst our thunderbolts

  Are anviling broad, call Satyron home.

  He in his fathom metes vast argosies,

  Huge galleasses, and such wooden castles

  As by enchantment on the waters move.

  To his, marry yours and ours; and of them all

  Create a brave armado, such a fleet

  That may break Neptune’s back to carry it.

  Such for variety, number, and puissance

  As may fetch all the Fairy Land in turfs,

  To mak
e a green for you to walk upon

  In Babylon.

  FIRST KING

  Invincible!Go on.

  FIRST CARDINAL

  Now when the volley of those murd’ring shot

  That are to play first on Titania’s breast,

  And, yet, lean on their rests, go off and kill her,

  So that the very Alverado given

  Sounds the least hope of conquest, then, then show

  Your warlike pageants dancing on the waves;

  Yours is the land, the nation are your slaves.

  OMNES

  Counsel from heaven!

  EMPRESS

  None this shall overwhelm.

  Brave voyage!Rig out ships, and fetch a realm. [Exeunt.

  Act Three, Scene Two

  ENTER PARIDEL AND PALMIO.

  PALMIO

  You arrive on a blest shore.The freight you bring

  Is good.It will be brought up of us all

  With our dear bloods; be constant, do not warp

  In this your zeal to Babylon.

  PARIDEL

  Grave Palmio,

  To you I have unladen even my soul.

  The wings from home that brought me had sick feathers;

  Some you have pull’d off; my own country grass

  Was to my feet sharp needles, stuck upright,

  I tread on down-beds now.

  PALMIO

  But are your countrymen,

  I mean those that in thought with us feast richly,

  Fed with the course bread of affliction still?

  PARIDEL

  Still father Palmio, and to relieve them

  I dare do what I told you.

  PALMIO

  Noble valour!

  PARIDEL

  So that I might but read on yonder scrolls

  A warrant writ under the seal of heaven

  To justify the act.

  PALMIO

  You have my hand

  And shall have more.Y’are reconcil’d, son?

  PARIDEL

  Yes.

  PALMIO

  Who did confess you?

  PARIDEL

  Father Anniball

  PALMIO

  But did the Nuntio Campeggio

  Present your letters, and your vowed service

  At Babylon.

  PARIDEL

  He did.I sued our warrant

  For passage safely thither, and from grave Como,

  One of the capital columns of the state,

  This I received.

  PALMIO

  He sends you here good welcome.

  ’Tis strong.Why went you not?

  PARIDEL

  I like it not.

  There wants a convoy of some better words,

  Which hourly I expect.Upon a sea

  So dangerous, so full of rocks, so narrow,

  Albeit the venture holy and of honour,

  I would not gladly sail without direction

  Of noble pilots; home I would not come

  Basely, but like a glorious voyager.

  Enter RAGAZZONI.

  PALMIO

  Yes, you do well.The Nuntio Ragazzoni!

  Not know him?

  PARIDEL

  Certes no.

  PALMIO

  Come, you shall meet.

  Monsignor, here’s a gentleman desires

  To have your arms about him.

  RAGAZZONI

  Willingly.

  PALMIO

  He undertakes an action full of merit

  Sans promise or reward, to cure all those

  Through Fairy Land, that are diseas’d within,

  And he will do’t, by letting one vein blood.

  RAGAZZONI

  Shoots he at highest?

  PALMIO

  Yes.

  RAGAZZONI

  Draw home, and give

  Your arrows compass, that until they fall

  Full on the head, none see them.You do well.

  My hands are yours.Good speed.[Exit RAGAZZONI.

  Enter CAMPEGGIO.

  PALMIO

  Campeggio?

  Now shall you hear some news.

  CAMPEGGIO

  I do assure you,

  The mistress of us all hath on this paper

  Breath’d you a blessing.Your devotion

  Is recommended highly, and to nourish

  The flames new kindled in you, here’s more feul.

  PARIDEL

  Licence to go and come, in verbo imperatricis per omnes jurisdictiones Babilonicas absque impedimento.

  Good.Would it had come sooner.

  CAMPEGGIO

  Why?

  PALMIO

  ’Tis general,

  Exceeding absolute and peremptory.

  PARIDEL

  I gives me my full sail, but by deep vows,

  I am to travel lower, yet if season

  Beat me not back, I will to Babylon.

  What rubs so’er I meet in letters still,

  I’ll kiss her sacred hand.

  CAMPEGGIO

  You change not bias.

  PARIDEL

  Oh, good sir, yonder is the goal I run for!

  Enter RAGAZZONI at one door, a Gentleman at another.

  RAGAZZONI

  Lend me your speeches, both.

  PALMIO

  Yonder comes one

  Of your own country.

  PARIDEL

  Oh, I know him, sir.

  PALMIO

  Walk in this college class but some few minutes,

  I’ll send or bring you to a gentleman,

  Next neighbour to your country; an Albanois.

  The man I told you of. [ExeuntPALMIO, RAGAZZONI and CAMPEGGIO.

  PARIDEL

  Thanks, sir.

  GENTLEMAN

  Met happily.I look’d for you.

  PARIDEL

  Dear countryman, the parley we late held

  About the land that bred us, as how order

  Was robb’d of ceremony, the rish robe of order,

  How Truth was freckled, spotted, nay, made leprous,

  How Justice —

  GENTLEMAN

  Come, no more.

  PARIDEL

  Even now, as then,

  Your ward blows off from her, that at all weapons

  Stikes atyour head, but I repent we drew not

  That dialogue out to length, it was so sweet.

  GENTLEMAN

  At hours more opportune we shall.But, countryman,

  I heard of late the music of my soul,

  And you the instrument are made that sounds it.

  ’Tis given me, that yourself hath seal’d to heaven

  A bond of your devotion to go forth

  As champion of us all, in that good quarrel

  That hath cost many lives.

  PARIDEL

  What need we use

  Circumgyrations and such wheelings?Sir,

  Believe it, to recover our sick nurse

  I’d kill the noblest foster-child she keeps.

  GENTLEMAN

  I know what bird you mean, and whom you hate,

  But let him stand to fall.No sir, the dear

  Which we allhope you’ll strike, is even the pride

  And glory of the forest.So, no not?

  PARIDEL

  My vows are flown up, and it must be done

  So this may be but settled.

  GENTLEMAN

  Do you stagger?

  PARIDEL

  All winds are not yet laid.

  GENTLEMAN

  Have you looked out

  For skilful coasters, that know all the sounds,

  The flats, and quicksands, and can safely land you

  Out of all touch of danger?

  PARIDEL

  I have met many,

  And like a consort they hold several tunes.

  GENTLEMAN

  But make they music?

  PARIDEL

  Faith, a li
ttle jarring.

  Sometimes a string or so; yet reverend Palmio,

  And Anniball a Codreto keep the stream

  In which I swim.The Nuntio Ragazzoni

  Plies me with wholesome physic; so the Nuntio.

  My honoured friend Campeggio makes it clear

  That it is lawful.

  GENTLEMAN

  Where at stick you then?

  PARIDEL

  At a small rock, a dispensation.

  Enter PALMIO, CAMPEGGIO, and the ALBANOIS.

  GENTLEMAN

  You cannot want for hands to help you forward.

  In such a noble work your friends are near.

  Dear countrymen, my sword, my state, and honour

  Are for your use.Go on, and let no heat

  Thaw your strong resolution.I shall see you

  Before you take to sea.

  PARIDEL

  You shall.

  GENTLEMAN

  My duty. [Exit.

  PALMIO

  This is the worthy gentleman to whom

  I wish your love endear’d.We have some conference.

  [PALMIO’s party stand aloof.

  PARIDEL

  Born, sir, in Fairy Land?

  ALBANOIS

  No, marry sir,

  An Albanois.

  PARIDEL

  Then for proximity

  Of countries, let us interchange acquaintance.

  I wish’d for your embracements, for your name

  Is crown’d with titles of integrity,

  Judgement and learning.Let me upon their bases

  Erect a pillar, by which Babylon

  And all we may be strengthened.

  ALBANOIS

  I pray, be apert and plain.

  PARIDEL

  Then thus, sir:by the way of argument

  I would a question put, to taste your censure,

  Because i do not soundly relish it.

  ALBANOIS

  Propone it, sir.I’ll solve it as I can.

  PARIDEL

  Suppose that in the field there were an army,

  Commixt of half your kinsfolk, friends, and lovers;

  The other half sworn foes, all countrymen,

  And that the leader of them were your father,

  And that this leading father were so partial

  That to preserve that half which loves you not,

  Ye would lose that which loves you, and that to take

  This captain’s life away, might bring this good

  Of two sides to make one, and save much blood.

  Would not you do it?

  ALBANOIS

  Umh!Y’are full of ambage,

  I answer as my spirits lead me, thus:

  I would not do it.

  PARIDEL

  Why, sir?

  ALBANOIS

  Because I hold

  Quod non omnino Licet.

  PARIDEL

  Come, come, I know, without all commenting,

  This text you understand.Weigh the utility

  That goes with it:the health is gives to thousands.

  The sap it spreads through branches which now wither.

  The restoration —

  ALBANOIS

  Sir, I see to the bottom

  Of this deep well you dive in.I do arm you