Vortigern Studies Index

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SCENE II. - A CHAMBER IN VORTIGERN'S PALACE.

Enter EDMUNDA and FLAVIA.
" Fla. My dearest mother! why let watery grief,
" Like a corroding and slow malady,
" Nip thus the fairest and most beauteous form
" That bounteous nature, in her happiest mood,
" E'er fram'd in mould celestial to grace
" This nether world?" --Oh! my beloved mother!
Turn, turn those tear-worn eyes, and let one smile,
One cheering look of sweet serenity,
Beam forth to comfort my afflicted soul!

Edm. Oh! heavens! my gentle Flavia, would I could!
But this corroding, pensive melancholy,
Most venom-like, destroys its nourisher.
Oh! Vortigern, my lov'd, once loving husband,
Why rend this bursting heart with cold disdain ?
E'en the poor culprit, dragg'd before his judge,
May boldly plead his cause; but I, alas!
Most innocent and ignorant of fault,
Must bear the weight of judgment.

Enter PASCENTIUS.

Fla. What news of fav'ring import, dearest brother,
Does this thine eager joy forebode?

Pas. Oh! I have tidings I would fain make known;
Yet are they of such wondrous magnitude,
Scarce can I give them utterance.

Edm. Oh! speak, my child! my dear Pascentius, speak;
For much thy mother consolation needs.

Pas. The King, then, madam, in his royal bounty,
Hath, jointly with himself, conferr'd the sway
Of this our mighty kingdom, on my father.

Edm. Now wo, indeed, hath made its master-piece!
Thou fell ambition! thou art mine enemy:
Thy idle dreams have forc'd my husband from me;
Thy honey'd visions have depriy'd my soul
Of that alone which made life worth retaining.
Yes, thou art now, alas! become a flower,
That, by the radiance of the sun, is parch'd,
And, lacking drops of succour, droops and dies.

Enter FOOL, whimsically attired, with his bells and ladle.

Pas. Whither so fast, good Fool?

Fool. Good Fool, say'st thou! Marry, these are sweet
words, that do not often fall to our lot; but let me tell
yon, good master, fools have excellent wits, and those
that ha' none will gladly go flatter, lest the fool's folly
should make them still more foolish.

Pas. But, prithee, tell us what is thine affair?

Fool. Oh ! my affair is weighty indeed, being burthened
with the speech o' royalty.

Pas. And wherefore so!

Fool. I prithee, stay thy patience but awhile, and I will
tell thee: thou dost expect nought from the Fool but
folly; but from a king thou wouldst a cunning speech.

Pas. And is't not so ?

Fool. Oh no! by my troth, our good sovereign hath
unto my noble master betrayed great lack of policy.

Pas. How so ?

Fool. Why, your wise man will tell you, the crown
doth gall the wearer; but, marry, I will show myself the
fool indeed; for I do say the half oft pinches more than
the whole.

Pas. Thou wouldst be witty, Fool!

Fool. Marry, say not I would be, but that I am; for,
let me tell you, the wit of your Fool is true wit: being
solely his own, no man coveting it; whereas, that of your
wise man comes from books, and from those who went
before. But wherefore should I thus lose wind? My wit,
being folly, is not by your wise man understood; there-
fore, I'll to the purpose. My master is made half king,
and sends me, his Mercury, to tell your gentle ladyship
his honour's pleasure.

Edm. Prithee, be brief, and speak thine errand quickly.

Fool. An't please you, sweetest mistress, this he wills:
that, in your best attire, you straight attend to honor him
and th' other half of the crown.

Edm. We shall be ready at command. [Exeunt.

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