Everyman and Other Old Religious Plays, with an Introduction
A >> Anonymous >> Everyman and Other Old Religious Plays, with an Introduction_1st Shepherd._ This is a false work.--I would fain be wroken:[183]
Get a weapon!
_Wife._ He was taken by an elf;[184]
I saw it myself.
When the clock struck twelve,
Was he mis-shapen.
_2nd Shepherd._ Ye two are right deft,--same in a stead.
_3rd Shepherd._ Since they maintain their theft,--let's do them to dead.
_Mac._ If I trespass eft, gird off my head.
With you will I be left.
_1st Shepherd._ Sirs, do my red
For this trespass,
We will neither ban nor flyte[185]
Fight, nor chyte,[186]
But seize him tight,
And cast him in canvas.
[_They toss Mac for his sins._
* * * * *
_1st Shepherd_ (_as the three return to the fold_). Lord, how I am sore,
in point for to tryst:
In faith I may no more, therefore will I rest.
_2nd Shepherd._ As a sheep of seven score, he weighed in my fist.
For to sleep anywhere, methink that I list.
_3rd Shepherd._ Now I pray you,
Lie down on this green.
_1st Shepherd._ On these thefts yet I mean.
_3rd Shepherd._ Whereto should ye tene?[187]
Do as I say you.
[_Enter an Angel above, who sings "Gloria in Excelsis," then says:_
Rise, hired-men, heynd,[188] for now is he born
That shall take from the fiend, that Adam had lorn:[189]
That warlock to sheynd,[190] this night is he born.
God is made your friend: now at this morn,
He behests;
To Bedlem go see,
There lies that free[191]
In a crib full poorly,
Betwixt two beasts.
_1st Shepherd._ This was a quaint stevyn[192] that ever yet I heard.
It is a marvel to nevyn[193] thus to be scared.
_2nd Shepherd._ Of God's son of heaven, he spoke up word.
All the wood like the levin,[194] methought that he gard
Appear.
_3rd Shepherd._ He spoke of a bairn
In Bedlem I you warn.
_1st Shepherd._ That betokens yonder starn[195]
Let us seek him there.
_2nd Shepherd._ Say, what was his song? Heard ye not how he cracked it?
Three breves to a long.[196]
_3rd Shepherd._ Yea, marry, he hacked[197] it.
Was no crochet wrong, nor no thing that lacked it.
_1st Shepherd._ For to sing us among, right as he knacked it,
I can.
_2nd Shepherd._ Let us see how ye croon
Can ye bark at the moon?
_3rd Shepherd._ Hold your tongues, have done.
_1st Shepherd._ Hark after, then.
_2nd Shepherd._ To Bedlem he bade--that we should gang:
I am full feared--that we tarry too lang.
_3rd Shepherd._ Be merry and not sad: of mirth is our sang,
Everlasting glad, our road may we fang,[198]
Without noise.
_1st Shepherd._ Hie we thither quickly;
If we be wet and weary,
To that child and that lady
We have it not to slose.[199]
_2nd Shepherd._ We find by the prophecy--let be your din--
Of David and Esai, and more than I min;[200]
They prophesied by clergy, that on a virgin
Should he light and ly, to pardon our sin
And slake it,
Our kind from woe;
For Esai said so,
_Cite virgo
Concipiet a child that is naked._
_3rd Shepherd._ Full glad may we be,--and abide that day
That lovely to see,--that all mights may.
Lord, well for me,--for once and for aye,
Might I kneel on my knee--some word for to say
To that child.
But the angel said
In a crib was he laid;
He was poorly arrayed,
Both meaner and mild.
_1st Shepherd._ Patriarchs that have been,--and prophets beforn,
They desired to have seen--this child that is born.
They are gone full clean,--that have they lorn.
We shall see him, I ween,--e'er it be morn
By token
When I see him and feel,
Then know I full weel
It is true as steel
That prophets have spoken.
To so poor as we are, that he would appear,
First find, and declare by his messenger.
_2nd Shepherd._ Go we now, let us fare: the place is us near.
_3rd Shepherd._ I am ready and yare:[201] go we in fear
To that light!
Lord! if thy wills be,
We are lewd[202] all three,
Thou grant us of thy glee,[203]
To comfort thy wight.
* * * * *
[_The Shepherds arrive at Bethlehem._
_1st Shepherd._ Hail, comely and clean; hail, young child!
Hail, maker, as I mean, of a maiden so mild!
Thou hast wared, I ween, off the warlock[204] so wild,
The false guiler of teen,[205] now goes he beguiled.
Lo, he merry is!
Lo, he laughs, my sweeting,
A welcome meeting!
I have given my greeting
Have a bob of cherries?
_2nd Shepherd._ Hail, sovereign saviour, for thou hast us sought!
Hail freely, leaf and flow'r, that all thing has wrought!
Hail full of favour, that made all of nought!
Hail! I kneel and I cower. A bird have I brought
To my bairn!
Hail, little tiny mop,[206]
Of our creed thou are crop!
I would drink in thy cup,
Little day-starn.[207]
_3rd Shepherd._ Hail, darling dear, full of godheed!
I pray thee be near, when that I have need.
Hail! sweet is thy cheer: my heart would bleed
To see thee sit here in so poor weed.
With no pennies.
Hail! put forth thy dall!--[208]
I bring thee but a ball
Have and play thee with all,
And go to the tennis.
_Mary._ The Father of Heaven, God omnipotent,
That set all on levin,[209] his son has he sent.
My name could he neven,[210] and laught as he went.[211]
I conceived him full even, through might, as God meant;
And new is he born.
He keep you from woe:
I shall pray him so;
Tell forth as ye go,
And mind on this morn.
_1st Shepherd._ Farewell, lady, so fair to behold,
With thy child on thy knee.
_2nd Shepherd._ But he lies full cold,
Lord, well is me: now we go forth, behold!
_3rd Shepherd._ Forsooth, already it seems to be told
Full oft.
_1st Shepherd._ What grace we have fun.[212]
_2nd Shepherd._ Come forth, now are we won.
_3rd Shepherd._ To sing are we bun:[213]
Let take on loft.[214]
THE COVENTRY NATIVITY PLAY OF THE COMPANY OF SHEARMEN AND TAILORS
CHARACTERS
Isaiah (_as Prologue_)
Gabriel
Joseph
Mary
The Three Kings
The Three Shepherds
The Two Prophets
King Herod
A Herald
An Angel
Two Soldiers
Three Women
THE COVENTRY NATIVITY PLAY
PROLOGUE
_Isaiah._ The sovereign that seeth every secret
He save you all and make you perfect and strong:
And give his grace with his mercy thereto meet,
For now in great misery mankind is bound.
The serpent hath given us so mortal a wound
That no creature is able us for to release
Till the right unction of Judah doth cease.
Then shall much mirth and joy increase
And the right root in Israel spring,
That shall bring forth the grain of holiness:
And out of danger he shall us bring
Into that region where he is king:
Which above all other doth abound
And that cruel Satan he shall confound.
Wherefore I come here upon this ground,
To comfort every creature of birth;
For I, Isaiah, the prophet, hath found
Many sweet matters, whereof we may make mirth
On this same wise.
For though Adam be doomed to death
With all his children, as Abel and Seth:
Yet, _Ecce virgo concipiet!_[215]
Lo, where a remedy shall rise!
Behold a maid shall conceive a child,
And get us more grace than ever man had.
And her maidenhood nothing defiled:
She is deputed to bear the Son, Almighty God.
Lo, sovereignties now may you be glad,
For of this maiden all we may be fain;[216]
For Adam that now lies in sorrows full sad,
Her glorious birth shall redeem him again
From bondage and thrall.
Now be merry every man,
For this deed briefly in Israel shall be done,
And before the Father on his throne
That shall glad us all.
More of this matter fain would I move,
But longer time I have not here for to dwell.
That lord that is merciful, his mercy so in us may prove
For to save our souls from the darkness of hell,
And to his bliss--he us bring
As he is--both lord and king;
And shall be everlasting
_In secula seculos_:[217] Amen.
[_Exit._
[_Enter Gabriel to Mary._]
_Gabriel._ Hail! Mary, full of grace,
Our Lord God is with thee!
Above all women that ever was;
Lady, blessed may thou be.
_Mary._ Almighty Father and King of bliss
From all dyskes[218] thou save me now:
For inwardly my spirit troubled is,
I am amazed and know not how.
_Gabriel._ Dread thee nothing, maiden, of this:
From heaven above hither am I sent,
Of embassage from that King of bliss,
Unto the lady and virgin reverent,
Saluting thee here as most excellent,
Whose virtue above all other doth abound;
Wherefore in thee grace shall be found:
For thou shalt conceive upon this ground
The Second Person of God on throne;
He will be born of thee alone,
Without sin tho shalt him see.
Thy grace and thy goodness will never be gone
But ever to live in virginity.
_Mary._ I marvel sore how that may be:
Man's company knew I never yet,
Nor never to do cast I me,
While that our Lord sendeth me my wit.
_Gabriel._ The Holy Ghost in thee shall light,
And shall endue thy soul so with virtue
From the Father that is on high:
These words, turtle, they be full true.
This child that of thee shall be born
Is the Second Person in Trinity.
He shall save that was forlorn,
And the fiend's power destroy shall he.
These words, lady, full true they be,
And further, lady, in thy own lineage,
Behold Elizabeth, thy cousin clean,
The which was barren and past all age.
And now with child she hath been
Six months and more as shall be seen;
Wherefore, discomfort thee not, Mary,
For to God impossible nothing may be.
_Mary._ Now and it be that Lord's will
Of my body to be born and for to be
His high pleasure for to fulfil,
As his one handmaid I submit me.
_Gabriel._ Now blessed be the time set
That thou wast born in thy degree:
For now is the knot surely knit
And God conceived in Trinity.
Now farewell lady of might most,
Unto the Godhead I thee beteyche.[219]
_Mary._ That lord thee guide in every cost
And lowly he lead me and be my leech.[220]
[_Here the Angel departeth and Joseph cometh in and saith:_
_Joseph._ Mary, my wife so dear!
How do ye, dame, and what cheer
Is with you this tide?
_Mary._ Truly, husband, I am here
Our Lord's will for to abide.
_Joseph._ What! I trow we be all shent![221]
Say, woman, who hath been here since I went
To rage with thee?
_Mary._ Sir, here was neither man, nor man's even,[222]
But only the sond[223] of our Lord God in heaven.
_Joseph._ Say not so, woman, for shame let be:
Ye be with child so wondrous great,
Ye need no more thereof to treat
Against all right.
For sooth this child, dame, is not mine;
Alas, that ever with my eyne[224]
I should see this sight.
Tell me, woman, whose is this child?
_Mary._ None but yours, husband, so mild
And that shall be seen, I wis.
_Joseph._ But mine, alas! alas! why say ye so?
Well away, woman, now may I go
Beguiled as many another is.
_Mary._ Nay truly, sir, ye be not beguiled
Nor yet with spot of sin I am not defiled;
Trust it well, husband.
_Joseph._ Husband in faith, and that acold;
Ah well away, Joseph, as thou art old!
Like a fool now may I stand
And truss; but in faith, Mary, thou art in sin.
So much as I have cherished thee, dame, and all thy kin,
Behind my back to serve me thus:
All old men example take by me,
How I am beguiled here may you see,
To wed so young a child.
Now farewell, Mary, I leave thee here alone,
Woe worth thee dame, and thy works each one!
For I will no more be beguiled
For friend nor foe.
Now of this deed I am so dull
And of my life I am so full,
No farther may I go.
_Angel._ Arise up, Joseph, and go home again
Unto Mary thy wife that is so free;
To comfort her look that thou be fain,
For, Joseph, a clean maiden is she.
She hath conceived without any trayne
The Second Person in Trinity:
Jesu shall be his name certainly,
And all this world save shall he.
Be not aghast.
_Joseph._ Now, Lord, I thank thee with heart full sad.
For of these tidings I am so glad
That all my care away is cast,
Wherefore to Mary I will in haste.
Ah, Mary, Mary, I kneel full low,
Forgive me, sweet wife, here in this land;
Mercy, Mary, for now I know
Of your good governance and how it doth stand:
Though that I did thee misname.
Mercy, Mary, while I live
Will I never, sweet wife, thee grieve,
In earnest nor in game.
_Mary._ Now, that Lord in Heaven, sir,--he you forgive!
And I do forgive you in his name
For evermore.
_Joseph._ Now truly, sweet wife, to you I say the same;
But now to Bethlehem must I wynde[225]
And show myself so full of care,
And I to leave you this great behind,
God wot, the while, dame, how you should fare.
_Mary._ Nay hardily, husband, dread ye nothing,
For I will walk with you on the way.
I trust in God, Almighty King,
To speed right well in our journey.
_Joseph._ Now I thank you, Mary, of your goodness
That you my words will not blame;
And since that to Bethlehem we shall us address
Go we together in God's holy name.
[_They set out on their way._
Now to Bethlehem have we leagues three,
The day is nigh spent, it draweth towards night,
Fain at your ease, dame, I would that ye should be:
For you grow all weary, it seemeth, in my sight.
_Mary._ God have mercy, Joseph, my spouse, so dear!
All prophets hereto do bear witness
The evry time now draweth near
That my child will be born, which is King of bliss.
Unto some place, Joseph, kindly me lead,
That I might rest me with grace in this tide,
The light of the Father over us both spread
And the grace of my son with us here abide.
_Joseph._ Lo, blessed Mary, here shall ye lend;[226]
Chief chosen of our Lord, and cleanest in degree:
And I for help to town, will I wend.
Is not this the best, dame, what say ye?
_Mary._ God have mercy! Joseph, my husband, so meek,
And I heartily pray you go now from me.
_Joseph._ That shall be done in haste, Mary, so sweet!
The comfort of the Holy Ghost leave I with thee.
Now to Bethlehem strait will I go,
To get some help for Mary so free,
Some help of women, God may me send!
That Mary, full of grace, pleased may be.
[_Enter a Shepherd._
_1st Shepherd._ Now God that art in Trinity,
Thou sawest my fellows and me;
For I know not where my sheep nor they be,
This night it is so cold,
Now is it nigh the middest of the night,
These weathers are dark and dim of light,
That of them can I have no sight,
Standing here on this wold.
But now to make their hearts light,
Now will I full right
Stand upon this loe.[227]
And to them cry with all my might:
Full well my voice they know,
What ho, fellows, ho, hoo, ho!
[_Enter two other Shepherds._
_2nd Shepherd._ Hark, Sym, hark, I hear our brother on the loe,[227]
This is his voice, right well I know,
Therefore towards him let us go,
And follow his voice aright,
See, Sym, see where he doth stand;
I am right glad we have him found.
Brother! where hast thou been so long,
And it is so cold this night?
_1st Shepherd._ Oh, friends! there came a pyrie[228] of wind
With a mist suddenly,
That forth off my ways went I,
And great heaviness then made I,
And was full sore afright;
Then for to go wist I not whither,
But travelled on this hill hither and thither.
I was so weary of this cold weather,
That near passed was my might.
_3rd Shepherd._ Brother, now we be past that fright,
And it is far within the night:
Full soon will spring the daylight,
It draweth full near the tide.
Here awhile let us rest
And repast ourselves of the best.
Till that the sun rise in the east,
Let us all here abide.
[_There the Shepherds draw forth their meat, and do eat and drink, and
as they drink they see the star and say thus:_
Brother, look up and behold,
What thing is yonder that shineth so bright?
As long as ever I have watched my fold,
Yet saw I never such a sight
In field.
Aha! now is come the time that old fathers hath told,
That in the winter's night so cold,
A child of maiden born, be he would,
In whom all prophecies shall be fulfilled.
_1st Shepherd._ Truth it is without nay,
So said the prophet Isaye,
That a child should be born of a maid so bright
In winter nigh the shortest day,
Or else in the middest of the night.
_2nd Shepherd._ Loved be God, most of might!
That our grace is to see that sight;
Pray we to him as it is right
If that his will it be,
That we may have knowledge of this signification,
And why it appeareth on this fashion
And ever to him let us give laudation,
In earth, while that we be.
[_There the angels sing "Gloria in Excelsis Deo."_
_3rd Shepherd._ Hark, they sing above in the clouds clear!
Heard I never of so merry a choir.
Now gentle brother draw we near
To hear their harmony?
_1st Shepherd._ Brother, mirth and solace is come us among
For, by the sweetness of their song;
God's Son is come, whom we have looked for long,
As signifieth this star we do see.
_2nd Shepherd._ Glory, _Gloria in Excelsis_, that was their song,
How say ye fellows! said they not thus?
_1st Shepherd._ That is well said, now go we hence
To worship that child of high magnificence;
And that we may sing in his presence,
_Et in terra pax omnibus._
[_There the Shepherds sing:_]
As I out rode this enderes' night,
Of three jolly shepherds I saw a sight,
And all about their fold a star shone bright;
They sang, Terli, terlow;
So merrily the shepherds their pipes can blow.
_Joseph._ Now, Lord, this noise that I do hear
With this great solemnity,
Greatly amended hath my cheer,
I trust high news shortly will be.
[_There the Angels sing "Gloria in Excelsis" again._
_Mary._ Ah Joseph, husband, come hither anon
My child is born that is King of bliss.
_Joseph._ Now welcome to me, the maker of man,
With all the homage that I can;
Thy sweet mother here will I kiss.
_Mary._ Ah Joseph, husband, my child waxeth cold
And we have no fire to warm him with.
_Joseph._ Now in my arms I shall him fold,
King of all kings by field and by frith,[229]
He might have had better, and himself would
Than the breathing of these beasts to warm him with.
_Mary._ Now, Joseph, my husband, fetch hither my child,
The maker of man, and high King of bliss.
_Joseph._ That shall be done, anon, Mary so mild!
For the breathing of these beasts hath warmed him, I wis.
_1st Angel._ Herdmen kind, dread ye nothing,
Of this star that ye do see;
For this same morn God's son is born,
In Bethlem of a maiden fre.[230]
_2nd Angel._ Hie you hither in haste,
It is his will ye shall him see
Lying in a crib of poor repast;
Yet of David's line come is he.
_1st Shepherd._ Hail, maid-mother, and wife so mild!
As the angel said, so have we found,
I have nothing to present to thy child,
But my pipe; hold, hold! take it in thy hand;
Wherein much pleasure that I have found,
And now to honour thy glorious birth,
Thou shalt it have to make thee mirth.
_2nd Shepherd._ Now, hail be thou, child, and thy dame,
For in a poor lodging here art thou laid;
So the angel said, and told us thy name.
Hold, take thou here my hat on thy head,
And now of one thing thou art well sped;
For weather thou hast no cause to complain,
For wind, nor sun, hail, snow, and rain.
_3rd Shepherd._ Hail, be thou Lord over water and lands
For thy coming all we may make mirth,
Have here my mittens to put on thy hands
Other treasure have I none to present thee with.
_Mary._ Now, herdmen kind,
For your coming,
To my child shall I pray,
As he is heaven's king,
To grant you his blessing,
And to his bliss that ye may wynd[231]
At your last day.
[_There the Shepherds sing again:_]
Down from heaven, from heaven so high,
Of angels there came a great company,
With mirth, and joy, and great solemnity
They sang, Terli, terlow;
So merrily the shepherds their pipes can blow.
[_The two prophets come in._
_1st Prophet._ Novellis, novellis,[232] of wonderful marvellys,[233]
Were high and sweet unto the hearing,
As Scripture tellis, these strange novellis
To you I bring.
_2nd Prophet._ Now, heartily, sir, I desire to know,
If it would please you for to show,
Of what manner a thing?
_1st Prophet._ Were it mystical unto your hearing,--
Of the nativity of a king?
_2nd Prophet._ Of a king?
Whence should he come?
_1st Prophet._ From that region royal and mighty mansion,
The seed celestial and heavenly wisdom,
The Second Person, and God's one Son,
For our sake is man become.
This godly sphere, descended here,
Into a virgin clear,
She undefiled,
By whose work, obscure our frail nature
Is now beguiled.
_2nd Prophet._ Why, hath she a child?
_1st Prophet._ Ah, trust it well,
And never the less,
Yet is she a maid even as she was,
And her son the king of Israel.
_2nd Prophet._ A wonderful marvel, How that may be,
And far doth excel--
All our capacity,
How that the trinity,
Of so high regality,
Should joined be,
Unto our mortality.
_1st Prophet._ Of his one great mercy
As ye shall see the exposition,
Through whose humanity all Adam's progeny
Redeemed shall be
Out of perdition;
Sith man did offend, who should amend,
But the said man and no other;
For the which cause he,
Incarnate would be,
And live in misery
As man's one brother.
_2nd Prophet._ Sir, upon the Deity, I believe perfectly,
Impossible to be, there is nothing;
Howbeit this work, unto me is dark,
In the operation or working.
_1st Prophet._ What more reproof is unto belief
Than to be doubting.
_2nd Prophet._ Yet doubts ofttimes hath derivation.
_1st Prophet._ That is by the means of communication,
Of truths to have a due probation,--
By the same doubts, reasoning.
_2nd Prophet._ Then to you, this one thing,
Of what noble and high lineage is she,
That might this verible prince's mother be?
_1st Prophet._ Undoubted she is come of high parrage,[234]
Of the house of David, and Solomon the sage,
And one of the same line joined to her by marriage
Of whose tribe, we do subscribe
This child's lineage.
_2nd Prophet._ And why in that wise?
_1st Prophet._ For it was the guise
To count the parent on the man's line,
And not on the feminine,
Amongst us here in Israel.
_2nd Prophet._ Yet can I not espy, by no wise
How this child born should be without nature's prejudice.
_1st Prophet._ Nay, no prejudice unto nature I dare well say,
For the king of nature may
Have all his one will,
Did not the power of God, make Aaron's rod
Bear fruit in one day?
_2nd Prophet._ Truth it is indeed.
_1st Prophet._ Then look you and rede.[235]
_2nd Prophet._ Ah! I perceive the seed
Whereupon that you spake,
It was for our need
That he frail nature did take,
And his blood he should shed
Amends for to make
For our transgression,
As it is said in prophecy, that of the line of Jude
Should spring a right Messie,
By whom all we
Should have redemption.
_1st Prophet._ Sir, now is the time come,
And the date thereof run
Of his Nativity.
_2nd Prophet._ Yet I beseech you heartily,
That ye would show me how
That this strange novelty
Were brought unto you?
_1st Prophet._ This other night so cold,
Hereby upon a wold,
Shepherds watching their fold
In the night so far,
To them appeared a star,
And ever it drew them near,
Which star they did behold,
Brighter they say a thousand fold
Than the sun so clear
In his midday sphere;
And they these tidings told.
_2nd Prophet._ What, secretly?
_1st Prophet._ Na, na, hardily,[236]
They made there of no council,
For they sang as loud,
As ever they could,
Praising the king of Israel.
_2nd Prophet._ Yet do I marvel,
In what pile or castle,
These herdmen did him see.
_1st Prophet._ Neither in halls, nor yet in bowers,
Born would he not be,
Neither in castles, nor yet in towers,
That seemly were to see,
But at his Father's will,
The prophecy to fulfil,
Betwixt an ox and an ass
Jesu this king born he was;
Heaven he bring us till![237]
_2nd Prophet._ Sir, ah! but when these shepherds had seen him there,
To what place did they repair?
_1st Prophet._ Forth they went, and glad they were;
Going they did sing,
With mirth and solace, they made good cheer,
For joy of that new tiding.
And after as I heard them tell,
He rewarded them full well
He granted them heaven therein to dwell.
In are they gone with joy and mirth,
And their song it is Noel.
[_There the Prophets go forth, and Herod and the messenger (or herald)
comes in._
_Herald._ Peace, Lord Barons of great renown!
Peace, sir knights of noble presence!
Peace, gentlemen companions of noble order!
I command that all of you keep silence.
Peace while your noble king is in presence!
Let no person stint to pay him deference;
Be not bold to strike, but keep your hearts in patience,
And to your Lord keep heart of reverence,
For he, your king, has all puissance!
In the name of the law, I command you peace!
And King Herod--"_la grandeaboly vos umport._"[238]
_Herod._ _Qui status in Jude et Rex Israel_,[239]
And the mightiest conqueror that ever walked on ground;
For I am even he that made both heaven and hell,
And of my mighty power holdeth up this world round.
Magog and Madroke, both them did I confound,
And with this bright brand their bones I brake asunder,
That all on the wide world on those rappis[240] did wonder.
I am the cause of this great light and thunder;
It is through my fury that they such noise do make.
My fearful countenance the clouds so doth encumber,
That often for dread thereof the very earth doth quake.
Look when I with malin this bright brand doth shake;
All the whole world from the north to the south,
I may them destroy with one word of my mouth,
To recount unto you my innumerable substance
That were too much for any tongue to tell;
For all the whole Orient is under mine obedience,
And prince am I of purgatory, and chief captain of hell.
And those tyrannous traitors by force may I compel
Mine enemies to vanquish, and even to dust to drive,
And with a twinkle of mine eye not one to be left alive.
Behold my countenance and my colour,
Brighter than the sun in the middle of the day!
Where can you have a more greater succour,
Than to behold my person that is so gay;
My falchion and my fashion with my gorgeous array?
He that had the grace always thereon to think,
Live they might alway without other meat or drink.
And this my triumphant fame most highly doth abound,
Throughout this world in all regions abroad,
Resembling the favour of that most mighty Mahound
From Jupiter by descent, and cousin to the great God,
And named the most renowned King Herod,
Which that all princes hath under subjection,
And all their whole power under my protection.
And therefore my herald here called Calchas,
Warn thou every port, that no ships arrive,
Nor also alien stranger through my realm pass,
But they for their truage[241] do pay marks five,
Now speed thee forth hastily,
For they that will the contrary,
Upon a gallows hanged shall be;
And, by Mahound, of me they get no grace.