Complete Dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker

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Complete Dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker Page 60

by Thomas Dekker


  Which springing vp, loe! to what heigth tis growne

  In Thee and These is seene. And (to maintaine

  This Greatnesse) Twelue strong Pillars it sustaine;

  Vpon whose Capitals, Twelue Societies stand,

  (Graue and well-ordred) bearing chiefe Command

  Within this City, and (with Loue) thus reare

  Thy fame, in free election, for this yeare.

  All arm’d, to knit their Nerues (in One) with Thine,

  To guard this new Troy: And, (that She may shine

  In Thee, as Thou in Her) no Misers kay

  Has bard the Gold vp; Light flies from the Day

  Not of more free gift, thau from them their Cost:

  For whats now spar’d, that only they count Lost.

  As then their Ioynd-hands lift Thee to thy Seate.

  (Changing thereby thy Name for one More

  And as this City, with her Loud, Full Voice,

  (Drowning all spite that murmures at the Choice,

  If at least such there be) does Thee preferre,

  So art thou bound to loue, both Them and Her.

  For Know, thou art not like a Pinnacle, plac’d

  Onely to stand aloft, and to be grac’d

  With wondring eyes, or to haue caps and knees

  Heape worship on thee: for that Man does leeze

  Himselfe and his Renowne, whose growth being Hye

  In the weale-publicke (like the Cypres tree)

  Is neither good to Build-with, nor beare Fruit;

  Thou must be now, Stirring, and Resolute.

  To be what thou art Sworne, (a waking Eye)

  A farre off (like a Beacon) to descry

  What stormes are comming, and (being come) must then

  Shelter with spred armes, the poor’st Citizen.

  Set Plenty at thy Table, at thy Gate

  Bounty, and Hospitality: hee’s most Ingrate

  Into whose lap the Publicke-weale hauing powr’d

  Her Golden shewers, from Her his wealth should hoord.

  Be like those Antient Spirits, that (long agon)

  Could thinke no Good deed sooner, than twas Don;

  Others to pleasure. Hold it Thou more Glory,

  Than to be pleas’d Thy Selfe. And be not sory

  If Any striue (in best things) to exceed thee,

  But glad, to helpe thy Wrongers, if they need thee.

  Nor feare the Stings of Enuy, nor the Threates

  Of her inuenomd Arrowes, which at the Seates

  Of those Who Best Rule, euermore are shot,

  But the Aire blowes off their fethers, and they hit not.

  Come therefore on; nor dread her, nor her Sprites,

  The poyson she spits vp, on her owne Head lights.

  On, on, away.

  This Chariot or Throne of Vertue is then set forward, and followes that of Neptune, this taking place iust before the Lord Maior: And this concludes the second Triumphant shew.

  THE THIRD DEUICE.

  THE THIRD DEUICE is a Forlorne Castle, built close to the little Conduit in Cheap-side, by which as the Throne of Vertue comes neerer and neerer, there appeare aboue (on the battlements) Enuy, as chiefe Commandresse of that infernall Place, and euery part of it guarded with persons representing all those that are fellowes and followers of Enuy: As Ignorance, Sloth, Oppression, Disdaine, &c. Enuy her selfe being attired like a Fury, her haire full of Snakes, her countenance pallid, meagre and leane, her body naked, in her hand a knot of Snakes, crawling and writhen about her arme.

  The rest of her litter are in as vgly shapes as the Dam, euery one of the¯ being arm’d with black bowes, & arrows ready to bee shot at Vertue. At the gates of this Fort of Furies, stand Ryot and Calumny, in the shapes of Gyants, with clubs, who offer to keep back the Chariot of Vertue,and to stop her passage. All the rest likewise on the battlements offering to discharge their blacke Artillery at her: but she onely holding vp her bright shield, dazzles them, and confounds them, they all on a sudden shrinking in their heads, vntill the Chariot be past, and then all of them appearing againe: their arrowes, which they shoote vp into the aire, breake there out in fire-workes, as hauing no power to do wrong to so sacred a Deity as Vertue.

  This caue of Monsters stands fixed to the Conduit, in which Enuie onely breathes out her poyson to this purpose.

  THE SPEECH OF ENUY.

  ENVY.

  ADders shoote, hysse speckled Snakes;

  Sloth craule vp, see Oppression wakes;

  (Baine to learning) Ignorance

  Shake thy Asses eares, Disdaine, aduance

  Thy head Luciferan: Ryot split

  Thy ribbes with curses: Calumny spit

  Thy rancke-rotten gall vp: See, See, See,

  That Witch, whose bottomelesse Sorcery

  Makes fooles runne mad for her; that Hag

  For whom your Dam pines, hangs out her flag

  Our Den to ransacke: Vertue, that whore;

  See, see, how braue shee’s, I am poore.

  VERTVE.

  On, on, the beames of Vertue, are so bright,

  They dazle Enuy, on: the Hag’s put to flight.

  ENVY.

  Snakes, from your virulent spawne ingender

  Dragons, that may peece-meale rend her,

  Adders shoote your stings like quils

  Of Porcupines, (Stiffe) hot Aetnean hils

  Vomit sulphure to confound her,

  Fiendes and Furies (that dwell vnder)

  Lift hell gates from their hindges: come

  You clouen-foote-broode of Barrathrum,

  Stop, stay her, fright her, with your shreekes,

  And put fresh bloud in Enuies cheekes.

  VERTVE.

  On, on, the beames of Vertue, are so bright,

  They dazle Enuy: on the Hag’s put to flight.

  OMNES.

  Shoote, Shoote, &c. All that are with Enuy.

  Either during this speech, or else when it is done, certaine Rockets flye vp into the aire; The Throne of Vertue passing on still, neuer staying, but speaking still those her two last lines, albeit, shee bee out of the hearing of Enuy: and the other of Enuies Faction, crying still, shoote, shoote, but seeing they preuaile not, all retire in, and are not seene till the Throne comes backe againe.

  And this concludes this Triumphant assault of Enuy: her conquest is to come.

  THE FOURTH DEUICE.

  THIS THRONE OF Vertue passeth along vntill it come to the Crosse in Cheape, where the presentation of another Triumph attends to welcome the Lord Maior, in his passage, the Chariot of Vertue is drawne then along, this other that followes taking her place, the Deuice bearing this argument.

  Vertue hauing by helpe of her followers, conductedthe Lord Maior safely, eue¯, as it were, through the iawes of Enuy and all her Monsters: The next and highest honour shee can bring him to, is to make him ariue at the house of Fame, And that is this Pageant. In the vpper seat sits Fame crowned in rich attire, a Trumpet in her hand, &c. In other seuerall places sit Kings, Princes, and Noble persons, who haue benefice of the Marchant-tailors: A perticular roome being reserued for one that represents the person of Henry the now Prince of Wales.

  The onely speaker heere is Fame her selfe, whose wordes sound out these glad welcomes.

  THE SPEECH OF FAME.

  WELCOME TO FAMES high Temple: here fix fast

  Thy footing; for the wayes which thou hast past

  Will be forgot and worne out, and no Tract

  Of steps obseru’d, but what thou now shalt Act.

  The booke is shut of thy precedent deedes,

  And Fame vnclaspes another, where shee reades

  (Aloud) the Chronickle of a dangerous yeare,

  For Each Eye will looke through thee, and Each Eare

  Way-lay thy Words and Workes. Th’hast yet but gon

  About a Pyramid’s foote; the Top’s not won,

  That’s glasse; who slides there, fals, and once falne downe

  Neuer more
rises: No Art cures Renowne

  The wound being sent to ‘th Heart. Tis kept from thence

  By a strong Armor, Vertues influence;

  She guides thee, Follow her. In this Court of Fame

  None else but Vertue can enrole thy Name.

  Erect thou then a Serious Eye, And looke

  What Worthies fill vp Fames Voluminous booke,

  That now (thine owne name read there) none may blot

  Thy leafe with soule inke, nor thy Margent quoate

  With any Act of Thine, which may disgrace

  This Citties choice, thy selfe, or this thy Place:

  Or, that which may dishonour the high Merits

  Of thy Renown’d Society: Roiall Spirits

  Of Princes holding it a grace to weare

  That Crimson Badge, which these about them beare,

  Yea, Kings themselues ‘mongst you haue Fellowes bene,

  Stil’d by the Name of a Free-citizen:

  For instance, see, seuen English Kings there plac’d,

  Cloth’d in your Liuery, The first Seate being grac’d

  By second Richard: next him

  Henry Bullingbrooke:

  Then, that Fift (thundring) Henry: who all France shook:

  By him, his sonne (sixth Henry) By his side

  Fourth Edward: who the Roses did diuide:

  Richard the third, next him, and then that King,

  Who made both Roses in one Branch to spring:

  A Spring of which Branch, (Highest now but One)

  Is Henry Prince of Wales, followed by none:

  Who of this Brotherhood, last and best steps forth,

  Honouring your Hall: To Heighthen more your worth.

  I can a Register show of seuenteene more,

  (Princes and Dukes All:) entombed long before,

  Yet kept aliue by Fame; Earles thirty one,

  And Barons sixty six that path haue gone:

  Of Visecounts onely one, your Order tooke:

  Turne ouer one leafe more in our vast booke

  And you may reade the Names of Prelates there,

  Of which one Arch-bishop your cloth did weare.

  And Byshops twenty foure: of Abbots seue,

  As many Priors, to make the number euen:

  Of forty Church men, I, one sub prior adde,

  You from all these, These from you honour had:

  Women of high bloud likewise laid aside

  Their greater State so to be dignified:

  Of which a Queene the first was, then a paire

  of Dukes wiues: And to leaue the Roll more faire

  Fiue Countesses and two Ladies are the last,

  Whose Birth & Beauties haue your Order gracd.

  But I too long spin out this Thrid of Gold;

  Here breakes it off. Fame hath them All en-rold

  On a Large File (with Others,) And their Story

  The world shall reade, to Adde vnto thy Glory,

  Which I am loath to darken: thousand eyes

  Yet aking till they enioy thee, win then that prise

  Which Vertue holds vp for thee, And (that done)

  Fame shall the end crowne, as she hath begun.

  Set forward.

  Those Princes and Dukes (besides the Kings nominated before) are these.

  In the time of Richard the second.

  Iohn Duke of Lancaster.

  Edmond Duke of Yorke.

  The Duke of Gloster.

  The Duke of Surrey.

  In the time of Henry the the fifth.

  Humfry Duke of Gloster.

  Richard Duke of Yorke.

  In the time of Edward the 4.

  George D. of Clarence.

  In the time of Richard the third.

  Duke of Suffolke

  Iohn D. of Norfolke

  George D. of Bedford.

  Edward D. of Buckingham, In the time of Henry the 7. with others, whose Rol is too long, here to be opened. The Queene spoken of, was Anne wife to Richard the 2.

  Dukes wiues these, viz.

  The Dutchesse of Gloster. In the time of Richard the 2. Elionor Dutchesse of Gloster. In the time of H. the 5.

  Now for Prelates, I reckon onely these,

  The Prior of Saint Bartholmewes,

  And his Sub-prior.

  The Prior of Elsing-spittle,

  Thomas Arundell Arch-bishop of Canterbury

  Henry Bewfort Bishop of Winton.

  The Abbot of Barmondsey.

  The Abbot of Towrchill.

  Philip Morgan Bishop of Worster.

  The Abbot of Tower-hill.

  The Prior of Saint Mary Ouery.

  The Prior of Saint Trinity in Cree-church.

  The Abbot and Prior of Westminster.

  Kemp Bishop of London.

  W. Wainfleete B. of Winchester.

  George Neuill Bishop of Winchester, and Chauncelor of England.

  Iohn May Abbot of Chertsay,

  Laurence Bishop of Durham.

  Iohn Russell Bishop of Rochester.

  If I should lengthen this number, it were but to trouble you with a large Index of names onely, which I am loath to do, knowing your expectation is to bee otherwise feasted.

  The Speech of Fame therefore being ended, as ’tis set downe before, this Temple of Hers takes place next before the Lord Maior, those of Neptune and Vertue marching in precedent order. And as this Temple is carryed along, a Song is heard, the Musicke being queintly conueyed in a priuate roome, and not a person discouered.

  THE SONG.

  HONOR, ELDEST CHILD of Fame,

  Thou farre older then thy Name,

  Waken with my Song, and see

  One of thine, here waiting thee.

  Sleepe not now

  But thy brow

  Chac’t with Oliues, Oke and Baies

  And an age of happy dayes

  Vpward bring

  Whilst we sing

  In a Chorus altogether,

  Welcome, welcome, welcome hither.

  Longing round about him stay

  Eyes, to make another day,

  Able with their vertuous Light

  Vtterly to banish Night.

  All agree

  This is hee

  Full of bounty, honour, store

  And a world of goodnesse more

  Yet to spring

  Whilst we sing

  In a Chorus altogether,

  Welcome, welcome, welcome hither.

  Enuy angry with the dead,

  Far from this place hide thy head:

  And Opinion, that nere knew

  What was either good or true

  Fly, I say

  For this day

  Shall faire Iustice, Truth, and Right,

  And such happy sonnes of Light

  To vs bring

  Whilst we sing

  In a Chorus altogether,

  Welcome, welcome, welcome hither.

  Goe on nobly, may thy Name,

  Be as old, and good as Fame.

  Euer be remembred here

  Whilst a blessing, or a teare

  Is in store

  With the pore

  So shall SWINERTON nere dye,

  But his vertues vpward flye

  And still spring

  Whilst we sing

  In a Chorus ceasing neuer,

  He is liuing, liuing euer.

  And this concludes this fourth Triumph, till his Lordships returne from the Guild-hall.

  In returning backe from the Guild-hall, to performe the Ceremoniall customes in Pauls Church, these shewes march in the same order as before: and comming with the Throne of Vertue, Enuy and her crue are as busie againe, Enuy vttering some three or foure lines toward the end of her speech onely: As thus:

  ENVY.

  FIends and Furies that dwell vnder,

  Lift Hell-gates from their hindges: Come

  You clouen-footed-brood of Barathrum,

  Stop, stony her, fright her with your shreekes,

  An
d put fresh bloud in Enuyes cheekes.

  VERTVE.

  On, on, the beames of Vertue are so bright,

  They dazzle Enuy: On, the Hag’s put to flight.

  This done, or as it is in doing, those twelue that ride armed discharge their Pistols, at which Enuy, and the rest, vanish, and are seene no more.

  When the Lord Maior is (with all the rest of their Triumphes) brought home, Iustice (for a fare-well) is mounted on some couenient scaffold close to his entrance at his Gate, who thus salutes him.

  THE SPEECH OF IVSTICE.

  MY This-dayes-sworne-protector, welcome home,

  If Iustice speake not now, be she euer dumbe:

  The world giues out shee’s blinde; but men shall see,

  Her Sight is cleere, by influence drawne from Thee.

  For One-yeare therefore, at these Gates shee’l sit,

  To guid thee In and Out: thou shalt commit

  (If Shee stand by thee) not One touch of wrong:

  And though I know thy wisdome built vp strong,

  Yet men (like great ships) being in storms, most neere

  To danger, when vp all their sailes they beare.

  And since all Magistrates tread still on yce,

  From mine owne Schoole I reade thee this aduice:

  Do good for no mans sake (now) but thine owne,

  Take leaue of Friends & foes, both must be knowne

  But by one Face: the Rich and Poore must lye

  In one euen Scale: All Suiters, in thine Eye

  Welcome alike; Euen Hee that seemes most base,

  Looke not vpon his Clothes, but on his Case.

  Let not Oppression wash his hands ith’ Teares

  Of Widowes, or of Orphans: Widowes prayers

  Can pluck downe Thunder, & poore Orphans cries

  Are Lawrels held in fire; the violence flyes

  Vp to Heauen-gates, and there the wrong does tell,

  Whilst Innocence leaues behind it a sweet smell.

  Thy Conscience must be like that Scarlet Dye;

  One fowle spot staines it All: and the quicke Eye

  Of this prying world, will make that spot thy scorne.

  That Collar (which about thy Necke is worne)

  Of Golden Esses, bids thee so to knit

  Men hearts in Loue, and make a Chayne of it.

 

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