ACT IV. SCENE I.

_A Public Way near_ HENGIST’s _Castle_.

_Enter_ SIMON _and all his brethren, a mace and sword before him, meeting_ VORTIGER, CASTIZA, HENGIST, ROXENA, HORSUS, _and two_ LADIES.

SIM. Lo,[474] I, the Mayor of Queenborough by name, With all my brethren, saving one that’s lame, Are come as fast as fiery mill-horse gallops To greet thy grace, thy queen, and her fair trollops. For reason of our coming do not look; It must be done, I find it i’ the town-book; And yet not I myself, I cannot[475] read; I keep a clerk to do those jobs for need. And now expect a rare conceit before Thong-Castle see thee.— Reach me the thing to give the king, the other too, I prithee.— Now here they be, for queen and thee; the gift all steel and leather, But the conceit of mickle weight, and here they come together: To shew two loves must join in one, our town presents by me This gilded scabbard to the queen, this dagger unto thee. [_Offers the scabbard and dagger._ VORT. Forbear your tedious and ridiculous duties; I hate them, as I do the riots[476] of your Inconstant rabble; I have felt your fits: Sheathe up your bounties with your iron wits. [_Exit with his train._ SIM. Look, sirs, is his back turn’d? ALL. It is, it is. SIM. Then bless the good earl of Kent, say I! I’ll have this dagger turn’d into a pie, And eaten up for anger, every bit on’t: And when this pie shall be cut up by some rare cunning pie-man, They shall full lamentably sing, Put up thy dagger, Simon. [_Exeunt._