Part 9

I came from Caleco even the same hour, And Hap was hired to hackney in hempstrid: In hazard he was of riding on beamstrid. Then, crow crop on tree-top, hoist up the sail, Then groaned their necks by the weight of their tail: Then did Carnifex put these three together, Paid them their passport for clust’ring thither.

APPIUS. Why, how now, Haphazard, of what dost thou speak? Methinks in mad sort thy talk thou dost break. Those three words, chop all in one, Is Carnifex: that signifieth hangman. Peace! no such words before me do utter.

HAPHAZARD. Nay, I lie as still as a cat in a gutter. Go to, Judge Appius; go forward, good prince: Perhaps ye may have that the which will not blince.

APPIUS. What is the man that liveth now so near to door of death, As I for lust of lady fair, whose lack will stop my breath? But long I shall not want her sight, I stay her coming here. O lucky light! lo, present here her father doth appear. O, how I joy! yet brag thou not; dame beauty bides behind. Virginius, where is the maid? how haps thou break my mind?

_Here entereth_ VIRGINIUS [_bearing Virginia’s head_.]

Ah wicked judge, the virgin chaste Hath sent her beauteous face, In recompense of lecher gain, To thee, so void of grace. She bids thee imbrue thy bloody hands And filthy lecherous mind With Venus’ damsels, void of shame, Where such thou haps to find. But thou as with Diana’s imps Shalt never be acquainted: They rather wish the naked knife Than virgin’s life attainted. And in[217] just proof whereof Behold Virginia’s head: She sought her fame, thou sought her shame: This arm hath smit her dead.

APPIUS. O curst and cruel cankered churl, O carl unnatural; Which hast the seed of thine own loin[218] thrust forth to funeral! Ye gods, bend down your ire, do plague him for his deed, You sprites below, you hellish hounds, do give him gall for meed. Myself will see his latter end; I judge him to the death. Like death that fair Virginia took, the like shall stop his breath; The flashy[219] fiends of Limbo lake his ghost do so turmoil, That he have need of Charon’s help for all his filthy toil. Come, Justice, then; come on, Reward; come, aid me in my need. Thou wicked knight, shalt slaughtered[220] be with self-same knife with speed.

VIRGINIUS. Sith she a virgin pure and chaste in heaven leads her life, Content I am to die with her, and die upon her knife.

APPIUS. Come, Justice, then: come on, Reward, when Judgment now doth call.

_Here entereth_ JUSTICE _and_ REWARD, _and they both speak this_.

We both are ready here at hand to work thy fatal fall.

JUSTICE [_speaketh_]. O gorgon judge, what lawless life hast thou most wicked led! Thy soaking sin hath sunk thy soul, thy virtues all are fled. Thou chaste and undefiled life did seek for to have spotted, And thy reward is ready here, by Justice now allotted.

REWARD. Thy just reward is deadly death; wherefore come, wend away: To death I straight will do thy corpse; then lust shall have his prey. Virginius, thou woful knight, come near and take thy foe. In prison [do] thou make him fast: no more let him do so. Let Claudius for tyranny be hanged on a tree.

VIRGINIUS. Ah, right Reward: the gods be bless’d, this day I chance to see!

_Enter_ HAPHAZARD.

HAPHAZARD. Why, how now, my lord Appius, what cheer? Why, where is my reward for this gear? Why did I ride, run, and revel, And for all my jaunting now made a javel? Why--run, sir knave, call me Claudius? Then--run with a vengeance, watch Virginius: Then--ride, sirrah; is Virginia at church? Then--gallop to see where her father doth lurch. Then--up, sirrah; now what counsel? Of dame beauty what news canst thou tell? Thus in hurly burly, from pillar to post, Poor Haphazard daily was toss’d; And now with Virginius he goes sadly walking, And nothing at all will listen my talking: But shall I be so used at his hands? As lief I were near in Limbo bands. That dronel, that drousy drakenosed drivel, He never learned his manners in Siville.[221] A judge may cause a gentleman--a gentleman? nay, a jack-herring, As honest as he that carries his hose on his neck for fear of wearing. A caitiff, a cut-throat, a churl worthy blame. I will serve him no longer, the devil give him shame! Yet, by the mouse-foot, I am not content, I will have a reward, sure, else will I repent. To master Reward I straightways will go: The worst that can hap is but a no. But sure I know his honesty is such, That he will recompense me with little or much: And well this proverb cometh in my head, By ’r lady, half a loaf is better than ne’er a whit of bread. Therefore hap and be happy,[222] hap that hap may, I will put it in hazard, I[’ll] give it assay. All hail, Master Reward and righteous Justice: I beseech you let me be recompensed too, according to my service; For why all this long time I have lived in hope.

REWARD. Then for thy reward, then, here is a rope.

HAPHAZARD. Nay, soft, my masters: by Saint Thomas of Trunions, I am not disposed to buy of your onions. A rope? (quoth you) away with that showing! It would grieve a man having two ploughs going. Nay, stay, I pray you, and let the cat wink: It is naught in dry summer for-letting my drink.[223]

JUSTICE. Let or let not, there is no remedy: hanging shall be thy reward verily.

HAPHAZARD. Is there nothing but hanging to my lot doth fall? Then take you my reward; much good do it you withal. I am not so hasty, although I be claiming, But that I can afford you the most of my gaining. I will set, let, grant, yield, permit and promise All the revenues to you of my service. I am friendly, I am kindly, I proffer you fair: You shall be my full executor and heir.

REWARD. Nay, make you ready first to die, by the rood, Then we will dispose it, as we think good: Then those that with you to this did consent, The like reward shall cause them repent.

JUSTICE. Nay, stay a while, Virginius is coming. Nay, soft, Haphazard, you are not so cunning, Thus to escape without punishment. [HAPHAZARD _presses to go forth, but is forced to stay_.][224]

REWARD. No, certes, it is not so expedient.

_Here entereth_ VIRGINIUS.

O noble Justice, duty done, behold I come again, To show you that Appius he himself hath lewdly slain. As soon as he in prison was enclosed out of sight, He desperate for bloody deed did sle himself outright; And Claudius doth mercy crave, who did the deed for fear. Vouchsafe, O judge, to save his life, though country he forbear.

JUSTICE. We grant him grace at thy request, but banish him the land. And see that death be done outright on him that here doth stand.

HAPHAZARD. Nay, Master Virginius, [_Take him by the hand._[225]] I crave not for service the thing worth ought: Hanging, quoth you? it is the last end of my thought. Fie for shame, fie--stay, by my father’s soul, Why, this is like to Tom Turner’s dole: Hang one man and save all the rest! Take part one with another: plain dealing is best.

REWARD. This is our dealing; thus deal we with thee. Take him hence, Virginius; go, truss him to a tree.

HAPHAZARD. Shall ye,[226] in a rope’s name? whither away with me?

VIRGINIUS. Come, wend thou in haste thy death for to take, To the hangman I will lead thee, a quick despatch to make.

HAPHAZARD. Must I needs hang? by the gods, it doth spite me To think how crabbedly this silk lace will bite me. Then come, cousin Cutpurse, come, run, haste and follow me: Haphazard must hang; come, follow the livery. [_Exit_.

JUSTICE.. Well, wend we now: the final end of fleshly lust we see.

REWARD. Content: Reward is ready bent with Justice to agree.

_Here entereth_ FAME [_with_ DOCTRINA _and_ MEMORY _bearing a tomb, also_ VIRGINIUS].[227]

O stay, you noble Justice, stay! Reward, do make no haste. We ladies three have brought the corse, in earth that must be placed. We have brought back Virginius the funeral to see. I grant him that the learned pen shall have the aid of me, To write in learned verse the honour of her name.

FAME. And eke it shall resound by trump of me Dame Fame.

[_Here let_ MEMORY _write on the tomb_.

I Memory will mind her life: her death shall ever reign Within the mouth and mind of man, from age to age again.

JUSTICE. And Justice, sure, will aid all those that imitate her life.

REWARD. And I Reward will punish those that move such dames to strife.

FAME. Then sing we round about the tomb, in honour of her name.

REWARD. Content we are with willing mind to sing with sound of Fame.

THE EPILOGUE.

As earthly life is granted none for evermore to reign, But denting death will cause them all to grant this world as vain; Right worshipful, sith sure it is that mortal life must vade, Do practise then to win his love, that all in all hath made. And by this poet’s feigning here example do you take Of Virginia’s life of chastity, of duty to thy make; Of love to wife, of love to spouse, of love to husband dear, Of bringing up of tender youth: all these are noted here. I doubt it not, right worshipful, but well you do conceive The matter that is ended now, and thus I take my leave: Beseeching God, as duty is, our gracious Queen to save The nobles and the commons eke, with prosperous life, I crave!

FINIS.

[150] This list is inserted in the centre of the title page of the old copy. [The title runs as follows: “A new Tragicall Comedie of Apius and Virginia. Wherein is liuely expressed a rare example of the vertue of Chastitie by Virginias Constancy in wishing rather to be slaine at her owne Fathers handes, then to be dishonored of the wicked Iudge Apius. By R. B. The players’ names (as above). Imprinted at London by William How for Richard Ihones. 1575.”]

[151] It was well to reprint this singular production, if only to rescue it from the ravages of time. The old copy has received damage, and is fast decaying: the beginnings of the nine following lines have crumbled away, but it has not been difficult to restore the words, or parts of words lost.

[152] [These Latin lines are full of false grammar, sense, and quantities, of which some are beyond conjecture.]

[153] [Old copy has _like_.]

[154] [Old copy, _infected_.]

[155] [Old copy, _detected_.]

[156] [Old copy, _Thy sufferent_.]

[157] [Old copy, _feare_.]

[158] The old copy gives this line to Virginius.

[159] [_i.e._, The earth. Old copy, _Glope_.]

[160] [Old copy gives this line to Virginia.]

[161] [Old copy has _keyser to, ber_.]

[162] [In the old copy this line runs thus--

“I babe, and I blisse, your health am againe.”]

[163] In the old copy the word _earth_ is repeated.

[164] [Old copy, _When_.]

[165] The old copy reads “to _nurtue_ to be brought,” but it is probably a misprint.

[166] [Old copy, _Exit_, but all three leave the stage.]

[167] [The ordinary proverb runs, “Who _sups_,” &c.]

[168] [A sleepy-head or a stupid.]

[169] [For the future.]

[170] This allusion to the _sweat_, a word anciently used as synonymous with the _plague_, seems to fix the date, when “Appius and Virginia” was written, in 1563: according to Camden’s Annals, there was then “a raging plague in London.”

[171] [Old copy, _Bayberry_.]

[172] [Strown.]

[173] [Knowledge, perception.]

[174] [If the case be that.]

[175] [Old copy, _coy strange_.]

[176] [Old copy, _he_.]

[177] [Old copy, _wages_.]

[178] [_i.e._, Commune.]

[179] No matter.

[180] [Old copy, _of_.]

[181] [Old copy, _gwerdon_.]

[182] [It at first appeared as if _gransier_, the reading of the old copy, was an error or corruption for _gain, sir_, but possibly the word is used in the sense of _great_.]

[183] [The nearer.]

[184] [Old copy, _as if to her it were to me_.]

[185] [To be pronounced as a trisyllable here.]

[186] [Old copy, _Graunted ... With dewes and bewteous_. It is conceivable that _beauteous_ may be misprinted for _beauty’s use_, and the meaning of the passage may then be, that Virginia had forgotten him (Appius), or, in the words of the writer, “That drowsy Morpheus has granted his slumb’ry kingdom _to beauty’s use_?”]

[187] [Old copy, _imbace_.]

[188] Mansipulus, Mansipula, and Subservus enter, but their names are omitted.

[189] [Old copy, _venterous_.]

[190] [Old copy, _maude_.]

[191] [Serious.]

[192] [Stutterer.]

[193] [Query, _guide_, _carter_.]

[194] [_Scarce_.]

[195] [Old copy, _things_.]

[196] [Old copy, _wights_.]

[197] [See Halliwell in _v. Hale._]

[198] [The dangers of Charybdis.]

[199] [Old copy, _was_.]

[200] [Old copy, _Adrice_.]

[201] [Old copy, _Laceface_.]

[202] [Old copy, _that_.]

[203] [Old copy, _leach_.]

[204] [Thus.]

[205] [Old copy, _faul ... rate_.]

[206] [Old copy, _did_.]

[207] [Old copy, _lay_.]

[208] [Intriguing, insinuating.]

[209] [Vexed or troubled hairs. Old copy, _the graued yeares_.]

[210] [Boon.]

[211] Opposing, preventing.

[212] [Old copy, _giltes_.]

[213] [Old copy, _thou joy, My meanes_.]

[214] [Old copy, _or_.]

[215] [Old copy, _end_.]

[216] [Old copy, _consent_. _Concent_ here must be understood to signify _following_ or _adherents_.]

[217] [Old copy, _In end_.]

[218] [Old copy, _lym_.]

[219] [Old copy, _flasky_. Perhaps even _flashy_ may not be the true word. See Nares, 1859, in _v._ Could the author have written _dusky_?]

[220] [Old copy, _shal slaughter_.]

[221] [_Seville_. So for the sake of the _jeu de mot_.]

[222] [Old copy, _happely_]

[223] [Old copy, _naught ... for letting_--the meaning being apparently “It is too bad of you to stop my drink in this dry weather by hanging me.”]

[224] [Old copy, _Prece to go foorth_.]

[225] The words “take him by the hand” [in the old copy form part of the text].

[226] [Old copy, _ye shall_.]

[227] [This stage direction, in the old copy, is divided into two portions, but all appear to enter together. The old copy reads also, as if it was Virginius who brought in the tomb; but surely it is Doctrina and Memory who do so.]

CAMBYSES.

_EDITIONS._

_A lamentable tragedy mixed ful of pleasant mirth, conteyning the life of Cambises King of Percia, from the beginning of his kingdom vnto his death, his one good deed of execution, after that many wicked deeds and tirannous murders, committed by and through him, and last of all his odious death by Gods Iustice appointed, in such order as followeth. By Thomas Preston._

THE DIVISION OF THE PARTS.

COUNSEL, } HUFF, } PRAXASPES, } _For one man._ MURDER, } LOB, } THE THIRD LORD. }

LORD, } RUFF, } COMMON’S CRY, } _For one man._ COMMON’S COMPLAINT, } LORD SMIRDIS, } VENUS. }

KNIGHT, } SNUFF, } SMALL HABILITY, } PROOF, } _For one man._ EXECUTION, } ATTENDANCE, } SECOND LORD. }

CAMBYSES, } _For one man._ EPILOGUS. }

PROLOGUE, } SISAMNES, } DILIGENCE, } CRUELTY, } _For one man._ HOB, } PREPARATION, } THE FIRST LORD. }

AMBIDEXTER, } _For one man._ TRIAL. }

MERETRIX, } SHAME, } OTIAN, } _For one man._ MOTHER, } LADY, } QUEEN. }

YOUNG CHILD, } _For one man._ CUPID. }

[Col.] Imprinted at London by John Allde. 4o. Black letter.

A Lamentable Tragedie, &c. [Col.] Imprinted at London by Edward Allde. 4o. Black letter.

HAWKINS’S PREFACE.

This is the play that Shakespeare is supposed to allude to, when he introduces Falstaff speaking in King Cambyses’ vein, in the “First Part of King Henry the Fourth.”[228] It was written early in the reign of Elizabeth (according to some in 1561), by Thomas Preston, M.A., Fellow of King’s College, and afterwards L.D. and Master of Trinity Hall, in Cambridge. He performed so admirably well in the tragedy of Dido, before Queen Elizabeth, when she was entertained in that university in 1564; and did so genteelly and gracefully dispute before her, that she gave him £20 per annum for so doing. See Thomas Hatcher, or his continuator, in the catalogue of provosts, fellows, and scholars of King’s College--MS. under the year 1560 (Oldys’ MSS. Notes on Langbaine).

The play is here given from a black-letter copy in Mr Garrick’s collection, printed by John Allde. [There is a second edition from the press of his son and successor Edward Allde; both are undated.[229]] The prologue and great part of “Cambyses” was written by the author in long Alexandrines, which the narrowness of the page rendered it necessary here to subdivide.

The prevailing turn for drollery and comic humour was at first so strong, that in order to gratify it even in more serious and solemn scenes, it was necessary still to retain the Vice or artful Buffoon, who (like his contemporary the privileged Fool in the courts of princes and castles of great men) was wont to enter into the most stately assemblies and vent his humour without restraint. We have a specimen of this character in the play of “Cambyses,” where Ambidexter, who is expressly called the Vice, enters “with an old capcase for a helmet and a skimmer for his sword,” in order, as the author expresses it, “to make pastime.”[230]

[Besides his play of “Cambyses,” Preston wrote and published two ballads,[231] of which Hazlitt gives the full titles, and perhaps other things lost or unrecovered. The best parts of “Cambyses” are the comic scenes, or those portions of the dialogue which are spoken by Ambidexter; these seem to indicate that Preston would have been more successful if he had avoided the tragic vein altogether; but his language is harsh and unpolished even for the time, as if the play had been written some years before it appeared in type. Yet this is scarcely probable, from the allusion to Bishop Bonner towards the conclusion.

With the admirable comedy of “Ralph Roister Doister” before their eyes, it might seem strange that later writers should have relapsed into comparative barbarism, if we had not abundant evidence of such degeneracy in every period of the history of our dramatic literature, including that which followed the publication of the unrivalled works of Shakespeare himself.]

_The_ PROLOGUE _entereth_.

Agathon, he whose counsel wise To princes weal extended, By good advice unto a prince Three things he hath commended First is, that he hath government, And ruleth over men; Secondly, to rule with laws, Eke justice (saith he) then; Thirdly, that he must well conceive, He may not always reign: Lo, thus the rule unto a prince Agathon squared plain. Tully the wise, whose sapience In volumes great doth tell, Who in wisdom in that time Did many men excel, A prince (saith he) is of himself A plain and speaking law, The law, a schoolmaster divine, This by his rule I draw. The sage and witty Seneca His words thereto did frame; The honest exercise of kings, Men will ensue the same. But contrary-wise, if that a king Abuse his kingly seat, His ignomy and bitter shame In fine shall be more great. In Persia there reign’d a king, Who Cyrus hight by name, Who did deserve, as I do read, The lasting blast of fame: But he, when sisters three had wrought To shear his vital thread, As heir due to take the crown, Cambyses did proceed; He in his youth was trained up By trace of virtue’s lore, Yet (being king) did clean forget His perfect race before. Then cleaving more unto his will, Such vice did imitate, As one of Icarus his kind, Forewarning then did hate; Thinking that none could him dismay Ne none his facts could see; Yet at the last a fall he took, Like Icarus to be. Else as the fish, which oft had take The pleasant bait from hook, In safe did spring, and pierce the streams, When fisher fast did look, To hoist up from the wat’ry waves Unto the dried land, Then scap’d, at last by subtle bait Come to the fisher’s hand: Even so this king Cambyses here, When he had wrought his will, Taking delight the innocent His guiltless blood to spill; Then mighty Jove would not permit To prosecute offence, But what measure the king did meet, The same did Jove commence. To bring to end with shame his race, Two years he did not reign: His cruelty we will dilate, And make the matter plain; Craving that this may suffice now, Your patience to win: I take my way; behold, I see The players coming in.

FINIS.

A COMEDY OF KING CAMBYSES.

_First enter_ CAMBYSES _the king_, KNIGHT, _and_ COUNCILLOR.

CAMBYSES.

My Council grave and sapient, With lords of legal train, Attentive ears towards bend, And mark what shall be sain. So you likewise, my valiant knight, Whose manly acts doth fly, By brute of fame the sounding trump Doth pierce the azure sky: My sapient words, I say, perpend, And so your skill dilate. You know that Mors vanquished hath Cyrus that king of state; And I, by due inheritance, Possess that princely crown, Ruling by sword of mighty force In place of great renown. You know, and often have heard tell, My father’s worthy facts; A manly Mars’ heart he bare, Appearing by his acts. And what, shall I to ground let fall My father’s golden praise? No, no; I mean for to attempt This fame more large to raise, In that that I, his son, succeed His kingly seat as due: Extend your counsel unto me In that I ask of you. I am the King of Persia, A large and fertile soil: The Egyptians against us repugn, As varlets slave and vile; Therefore I mean with Mars’ heart, With wars them to frequent, Them to subdue as captives mine, This is my heart’s intent: So shall I win honour’s delight, And praise of me shall go. My Council, speak; and lordings eke, Is it not best do so?

COUNCIL.

O puissant king, your blissful words Deserves abundant praise, That you in this do go about Your father’s fame to raise. O blissful day, that king so young Such profit should conceive; His father’s praise and his to win, From those that would deceive. Sure, my true and sovereign king, I fall before you prest, Answer to give as duty mine, In that your grace request. If that your heart addicted be, The Egyptians to convince, Through Mars’ aid the conquest won, Then deed of happy prince Shall pierce the skies unto the throne Of the supernal seat, And merit there a just reward Of Jupiter the great. But then your grace must not turn back From this pretenced will, For to proceed in virtuous life, Employ endeavour still; Extinguish vice, and in that cup To drink have no delight: To martial feats and kingly sports Fix all your whole delight,

KING.