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THE ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD (650-1066) BEOWULF: THE STORY Hrothgar, king of the Danes, or Scyldings, builds a great ead-hall, or !alace, in "hich he ho!es to feast his liege en and to gi#e the !resents. $he %oy of king and retainers is, ho"e#er, of short duration. &rendel, the onster, is sei'ed "ith hateful %ealousy. He cannot brook the sounds of %oyance that reach hi do"n in his fen-d"elling near the hall. (ft and anon he goes to the %oyous building, bent on direful ischief. $hane after thane is ruthlessly carried off and de#oured, "hile no one is found strong enough and bold enough to co!e "ith the onster. )or t"el#e years he !ersecutes Hrothgar and his #assals. (#er sea, a day*s #oyage off, +eo"ulf, of the &eats, ne!he" of Higelac, king of the &eats, hears of &rendel*s doings and of Hrothgar*s isery. He resol#es to crush the fell onster and relie#e the aged king. ,ith fourteen chosen co !anions, he sets sail for Dane-land. -eaching that country, he soon !ersuades Hrothgar of his ability to hel! hi . $he hours that ela!se before night are s!ent in beer-drinking and con#ersation. ,hen Hrothgar*s bedti e co es he lea#es the hall in charge of +eo"ulf, telling hi that ne#er before has he gi#en to another the absolute "ardshi! of his !alace. .ll retire to rest, +eo"ulf, as it "ere, slee!ing u!on his ar s. &rendel co es, the great arch-ste!!er, bearing &od*s anger. He sei'es and kills one of the slee!ing "arriors. $hen he ad#ances to"ards +eo"ulf. . fierce and des!erate hand-to-hand struggle ensues. /o ar s are used, both co batants trusting to strength and hand-gri!. +eo"ulf tears &rendel*s shoulder fro its socket, and the onster retreats to his den, ho"ling and yelling "ith agony and fury. $he "ound is fatal. $he ne0t orning, at early da"n, "arriors in nu bers flock to the hall Heorot, to hear the ne"s. 1oy is boundless. &lee runs high. Hrothgar and his retainers are la#ish of gratitude and of gifts. &rendel*s other, ho"e#er, co es the ne0t night to a#enge his death. She is furious and raging. ,hile +eo"ulf is slee!ing in a roo so e"hat a!art 203 fro the 4uarters of the other "arriors, she sei'es one of Hrothgar*s fa#orite counsellors, and carries hi off and de#ours hi . +eo"ulf is called. Deter ined to lea#e Heorot entirely !urified, he ar s hi self, and goes do"n to look for the fe ale onster. .fter tra#eling through the "aters any hours, he eets her near the sea-botto . She drags hi to her den.
The Pilgrims Progress
$here he sees &rendel lying dead. .fter a des!erate and al ost fatal struggle "ith the "o an, he slays her, and s"i s u!"ard in triu !h, taking "ith hi &rendel*s head. 1oy is rene"ed at Heorot. 5ongratulations cro"d u!on the #ictor. Hrothgar literally !ours treasures into the la! of +eo"ulf6 and it is agreed a ong the #assals of the king that +eo"ulf "ill be their ne0t liegelord. +eo"ulf lea#es Dane-land. Hrothgar "ee!s and la ents at his de!arture. ,hen the hero arri#es in his o"n land, Higelac treats hi as a distinguished guest. He is the hero of the hour. +eo"ulf subse4uently beco es king of his o"n !eo!le, the &eats. .fter he has been ruling for fifty years, his o"n neighborhood is "ofully harried by a fire-s!e"ing dragon. +eo"ulf deter ines to kill hi . 7n the ensuing struggle both +eo"ulf and the dragon are slain. $he grief of the &eats is ine0!ressible. $hey deter ine, ho"e#er, to lea#e nothing undone to honor the e ory of their lord. . great funeral-!yre is built, and his body is burnt. $hen a e orial-barro" is ade, #isible fro a great distance, that sailors afar ay be constantly re inded of the !ro"ess of the national hero of &eatland. $he !oe closes "ith a glo"ing tribute to his bra#ery, his gentleness, his goodness of heart, and his generosity.
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$H9 D9.$H () +9(,;=) Beowulf | III. Grendel The Murderer. {Grendel attacks the sleeping heroes} ,hen the sun "as sunken, he set out to #isit $he lofty hall-building, ho" the -ing-Danes had used it )or beds and benches "hen the ban4uet "as o#er. 5 $hen he found there re!osing any a noble .slee! after su!!er6 sorro" the heroes,283 ?isery kne" not. $he onster of e#il &reedy and cruel tarried but little, {He drags off thirty of them, and devours them} )ell and frantic, and forced fro their slu bers $hirty of thane en6 thence he de!arted 10 =ea!ing and laughing, his lair to return to, ,ith surfeit of slaughter sallying ho e"ard. 7n the dusk of the da"ning, as the day "as %ust breaking, ,as &rendel*s !ro"ess re#ealed to the "arriors@ A0
{A cry of agony goes up, when Grendel s horri!le deed is fully reali"ed#} $hen, his eal-taking finished, a oan "as u!lifted, 15 ?orning-cry ighty. $he an-ruler fa ous, $he long-"orthy atheling, sat #ery "oful, Suffered great sorro", sighed for his liege en, ,hen they had seen the track of the hateful !ursuer, $he s!irit accursed@ too crushing that sorro", {The monster returns the ne$t night#} A0 $oo loathso e and lasting. /ot longer he tarried, +ut one night after continued his slaughter Sha eless and shocking, shrinking but little )ro alice and urder6 they astered hi fully. He "as easy to find then "ho other"here looked for . !leasanter !lace of re!ose in the lodges, A5 . bed in the bo"ers. $hen "as brought to his notice $old hi truly by token a!!arent $he hall-thane*s hatred@ he held hi self after )urther and faster "ho the foe an did baffle. B0 2>3So ruled he and strongly stro#e against %ustice =one against all en, till e !ty u!to"ered {%ing Hrothgar s agony and suspense last twelve years#} $he choicest of houses. =ong "as the season@ $"el#e-"inters* ti e torture suffered $he friend of the Scyldings, e#ery affliction, B5 9ndless agony6 hence it after2103 beca e 5ertainly kno"n to the children of en Sadly in easures, that long against Hrothgar &rendel struggled@--his grudges he cherished, ?urderous alice, any a "inter, C0 Strife unre itting, and !eacefully "ished he 2113=ife-"oe to lift fro no liege an at all of $he en of the Dane-folk, for oney to settle, /o counsellor needed count for a o ent (n handso e a ends at the hands of the urderer6 {Grendel is unremitting in his persecutions#} C5 $he onster of e#il fiercely did harass, $he ill-!lanning death-shade, both elder and younger, $ra!!ing and tricking the . He trod e#ery night then $he ist-co#ered oor-fens6 en do not kno" "here ,itches and "i'ards "ander and ra ble. 50 So the foe of ankind any of e#ils A1
&rie#ous in%uries, often acco !lished, Horrible her it6 Heort he fre4uented, &e -bedecked !alace, "hen night-shades had fallen {God is against the monster#} (Since &od did o!!ose hi , not the throne could he touch,21A3 55 $he light-flashing %e"el, lo#e of Hi kne" not). *$"as a fearful affliction to the friend of the Scyldings {The king and his council deli!erate in vain#} Soul-crushing sorro". /ot seldo in !ri#ate Sat the king in his council6 conference held they ,hat the bra#es should deter ine *gainst terrors unlooked for. {They invoke the aid of their gods#} 60 .t the shrines of their idols often they !ro ised &ifts and offerings, earnestly !rayed they $he de#il fro hell "ould hel! the to lighten $heir !eo!le*s o!!ression. Such !ractice they used then, Ho!e of the heathen6 hell they re e bered 65 7n inner ost s!irit, &od they kne" not, {The true God they do not know#} 1udge of their actions, .ll-"ielding -uler, /o !raise could they gi#e the &uardian of Hea#en, $he ,ielder of &lory. ,oe "ill be his "ho $hrough furious hatred his s!irit shall dri#e to D0 $he clutch of the fire, no co fort shall look for, ,a0 no "iser6 "ell for the an "ho, =i#ing his life-days, his =ord ay face .nd find defence in his )ather*s e braceE Beowulf | VI. Beowulf Introdu e! H"#!elf $t The %&l& e. $he high"ay glistened "ith any-hued !ebble, . by-!ath led the liege en together. 21>3)ir and hand-locked the "ar-burnie glistened, $he ring-s"ord radiant rang * id the ar or 5 .s the !arty "as a!!roaching the !alace together {They set their arms and armor against the wall#} 7n "arlike e4ui! ents. *&ainst the "all of the building $heir "ide-fashioned "ar-shields they "eary did set then, +attle-shields sturdy6 bench"ard they turned then6 $heir battle-sarks rattled, the gear of the heroes6 10 $he lances stood u! then, all in a cluster, $he ar s of the sea en, ashen-shafts ounted AA
,ith edges of iron@ the ar or-clad troo!ers {A &anish hero asks them whence and why they are come#} ,ere decked "ith "ea!ons. $hen a !roud- ooded hero .sked of the cha !ions 4uestions of lineage@ 15 F)ro "hat borders bear ye your battle-shields !lated, &ilded and glea ing, your gray-colored burnies, Hel ets "ith #isors and hea! of "ar-lancesG-$o Hrothgar the king 7 a ser#ant and liege an. *?ong folk fro far-lands found 7 ha#e ne#er {He e$presses no little admiration for the strangers#} A0 ?en so any of ien ore courageous. 7 "een that fro #alor, no"ise as outla"s, +ut fro greatness of soul ye sought for Hing Hrothgar.F {'eowulf replies#} $hen the strength-fa ous earl an ans"er rendered, $he !roud- ooded ,ederchief re!lied to his 4uestion, {(e are Higelac s ta!le)companions, and !ear an important commission to your prince#} . A5 Hardy *neath hel et@ FHigelac*s ates are "e6 +eo"ulf hight 7. $o the bairn of Healfdene, $he fa ous folk-leader, 7 freely "ill tell $o thy !rince y co ission, if !leasantly hearing He*ll grant "e ay greet hi so gracious to all en.F B0 ,ulfgar re!lied then (he "as !rince of the ,endels, His boldness of s!irit "as kno"n unto any, His !ro"ess and !rudence)@ F$he !rince of the Scyldings, {(ulfgar, the thane, says that he will go and ask Hrothgar whether he will see the strangers#} $he friend-lord of Dane en, 7 "ill ask of thy %ourney, $he gi#er of rings, as thou urgest e do it, B5 $he folk-chief fa ous, and infor thee early ,hat ans"er the good one indeth to render e.F He turned then hurriedly "here Hrothgar "as sitting, 2A03(ld and hoary, his earl en attending hi 6 $he strength-fa ous "ent till he stood at the shoulder C0 (f the lord of the Dane en, of courteous thane en $he custo he inded. ,ulfgar addressed then His friendly liegelord@ F)olk of the &eat en {He thereupon urges his liegelord to receive the visitors courteously#} (*er the "ay of the "aters are "afted hither, )aring fro far-lands@ the fore ost in rank AB
C5 $he battle-cha !ions +eo"ulf title. $hey ake this !etition@ "ith thee, ( y chieftain, $o be granted a conference6 ( gracious Hing Hrothgar, )riendly ans"er refuse not to gi#e the E {Hrothgar, too, is struck with 'eowulf s appearance#} 7n "ar-tra!!ings "eeded "orthy they see 50 (f earls to be honored6 sure the atheling is doughty ,ho headed the heroes hither"ard co ing.F Beowulf | 'II. Grendel $nd Beowulf. {Grendel comes from the fens#} */eath the cloudy cliffs ca e fro the oor then &rendel going, &od*s anger bare he. $he onster intended so e one of earth en 7n the hall-building grand to entra! and ake "ay "ith@ {He goes towards the *oyous !uilding#} 5 He "ent under "elkin "here "ell he kne" of $he "ine-%oyous building, brilliant "ith !lating, &old-hall of earth en. /ot the earliest occasion {This was not his first visit there#} He the ho e and anor of Hrothgar had sought@ /e*er found he in life-days later nor earlier 10 Hardier hero, hall-thanes2B53 ore sturdyE $hen ca e to the building the "arrior arching, {His horrid fingers tear the door open#} +ereft of his %oyance. $he door 4uickly o!ened (n fire-hinges fastened, "hen his fingers had touched it6 $he fell one had flung then--his fury so bitter-15 (!en the entrance. 9arly thereafter $he foe an trod the shining hall-!a#e ent, {He strides furiously into the hall#} Strode he angrily6 fro the eyes of hi gli ered . lustre unlo#ely likest to fire. He beheld in the hall the heroes in nu bers, A0 . circle of kins en slee!ing together, {He e$ults over his supposed prey#} . throng of thane en@ then his thoughts "ere e0ultant, He inded to sunder fro each of the thane en $he life fro his body, horrible de on, 9re orning ca e, since fate had allo"ed hi {+ate has decreed that he shall devour no more heroes# 'eowulf suffers AC
from suspense#} A5 $he !ros!ect of !lenty. <ro#idence "illed not $o !er it hi any ore of en under hea#en $o eat in the night-ti e. Higelac*s kins an &reat sorro" endured ho" the dire- ooded creature 7n unlooked-for assaults "ere likely to bear hi . B0 /o thought had the onster of deferring the atter, {Grendel immediately sei"es a sleeping warrior, and devours him#} +ut on earliest occasion he 4uickly laid hold of . soldier aslee!, suddenly tore hi , +it his bone-!rison, the blood drank in currents, S"allo"ed in outhfuls@ he soon had the dead an*s B5 )eet and hands, too, eaten entirely. /earer he strode then, the stout-hearted "arrior {'eowulf and Grendel grapple#} Snatched as he slu bered, sei'ing "ith hand-gri!, )or"ard the foe an foined "ith his hand6 5aught he 4uickly the cunning de#iser, C0 (n his elbo" he rested. $his early disco#ered $he aster of alice, that in iddle-earth*s regions, */eath the "hole of the hea#ens, no hand-gra!!le greater {The monster is ama"ed at 'eowulf s strength#} 7n any an else had he e#er encountered@ )earful in s!irit, faint- ooded "a0ed he, C5 /ot off could betake hi 6 death he "as !ondering, {He is an$ious to flee#} ,ould fly to his co#ert, seek the de#ils* asse bly@ His calling no ore "as the sa e he had follo"ed =ong in his lifeti e. $he liege-kins an "orthy {'eowulf recalls his !oast of the evening, and determines to fulfil it#} (f Higelac inded his s!eech of the e#ening, 50 Stood he u! straight and stoutly did sei'e hi . His fingers crackled6 the giant "as out"ard, $he earl ste!!ed farther. $he fa ous one inded $o flee a"ay farther, if he found an occasion, .nd off and a"ay, a#oiding delay, 55 $o fly to the fen- oors6 he fully "as "are of $he strength of his gra!!le in the gri! of the foe an. { Twas a luckless day for Grendel#} *$"as an ill-taken %ourney that the in%ury-bringing, Harrying har er to Heorot "andered@ A5
{The hall groans#} $he !alace re-echoed6 to all of the Dane en, 60 D"ellers in castles, to each of the bold ones, 9arl en, "as terror. .ngry they both "ere, .rch"arders raging.2B63 -attled the building6 *$"as a ar#ellous "onder that the "ine-hall "ithstood then $he bold-in-battle, bent not to earth"ard, 65 90cellent earth-hall6 but "ithin and "ithout it ,as fastened so fir ly in fetters of iron, +y the art of the ar orer. (ff fro the sill there +ent ead-benches any, as en ha#e infor ed e, .dorned "ith gold-"ork, "here the gri ones did struggle. D0 $he Scylding "ise en "eened ne*er before $hat by ight and ain-strength a an under hea#en ?ight break it in !ieces, bone-decked, res!lendent, 5rush it by cunning, unless clutch of the fire 7n s oke should consu e it. $he sound ounted u!"ard {Grendel s cries terrify the &anes#} D5 /o#el enough6 on the /orth Danes fastened . terror of anguish, on all of the en there ,ho heard fro the "all the "ee!ing and !laining, $he song of defeat fro the foe an of hea#en, Heard hi hy ns of horror ho"l, and his sorro" 80 Hell-bound be"ailing. He held hi too fir ly ,ho "as strongest of ain-strength of en of that era. Beowulf | ''III. Beowulf(! F")ht W"th Grendel(! Mother. {'eowulf makes a parting speech to Hrothgar#} +eo"ulf s!ake, 9cgtheo"*s son@ F-ecall no", oh, fa ous kins an of Healfdene, <rince #ery !rudent, no" to !art 7 a ready, &old-friend of earl en, "hat erst "e agreed on, {,f , fail, act as a kind liegelord to my thanes,} 5 Should 7 lay do"n y life in lending thee assistance, ,hen y earth-%oys "ere o#er, thou "ouldst e#er ore ser#e 7n stead of a father6 y faithful thane en, ?y trusty retainers, !rotect thou and care for, )all 7 in battle@ and, Hrothgar belo#ed, {and send Higelac the *ewels thou hast given me} 10 Send unto Higelac the high-#alued %e"els $hou to e hast allotted. $he lord of the &eat en
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?ay !ercei#e fro the gold, the Hrethling ay see it {, should like my king to know how generous a lord , found thee to !e#} ,hen he looks on the %e"els, that a ge -gi#er found 7 &ood o#er- easure, en%oyed hi "hile able. 15 .nd the ancient heirloo ;nferth !er it thou, $he fa ed one to ha#e, the hea#y-s"ord s!lendid2663 $he hard-edged "ea!on6 "ith Hrunting to aid e, 7 shall gain e glory, or gri -death shall take e.F {'eowulf is eager for the fray#} $he atheling of &eat en uttered these "ords and A0 Heroic did hasten, not any re%oinder ,as "illing to "ait for6 the "a#e-current s"allo"ed {He is a whole day reaching the !ottom of the sea#} $he doughty-in-battle. $hen a day*s-length ela!sed ere He "as able to see the sea at its botto . 9arly she found then "ho fifty of "inters A5 $he course of the currents ke!t in her fury, &risly and greedy, that the gri one*s do inion {Grendel s mother knows that some one has reached her domains#} So e one of en fro abo#e "as e0!loring. )orth did she grab the , gra!!led the "arrior ,ith horrible clutches6 yet no sooner she in%ured B0 His body unscathed@ the burnie out-guarded, $hat she !ro#ed but !o"erless to !ierce through the ar or, $he li b- ail locked, "ith loath-grabbing fingers. $he sea-"olf bare then, "hen botto "ard ca e she, {-he gra!s him, and !ears him to her den#} $he ring-!rince ho e"ard, that he after "as !o"erless B5 (He had daring to do it) to deal "ith his "ea!ons, +ut any a ere-beast tor ented hi s"i ing, {-ea)monsters !ite and strike him#} )lood-beasts no fe" "ith fierce-biting tusks did +reak through his burnie, the bra#e one !ursued they. $he earl then disco#ered he "as do"n in so e ca#ern C0 ,here no "ater "hate#er any"ise har ed hi , .nd the clutch of the current could co e not anear hi , Since the roofed-hall !re#ented6 brightness a-glea ing )ire-light he sa", flashing res!lendent. $he good one sa" then the sea-botto *s onster, {'eowulf attacks the mother of Grendel#} C5 $he ighty ere-"o an6 he ade a great onset AD
,ith "ea!on-of-battle, his hand not desisted )ro striking, that "ar-blade struck on her head then . battle-song greedy. $he stranger !ercei#ed then {The sword will not !ite#} $he s"ord "ould not bite, her life "ould not in%ure, 50 +ut the falchion failed the folk-!rince "hen straitened@ 9rst had it often onsets encountered, (ft clo#en the hel et, the fated one*s ar or@ *$"as the first ti e that e#er the e0cellent %e"el Had failed of its fa e. )ir - ooded after, 55 /ot heedless of #alor, but indful of glory, ,as Higelac*s kins an6 the hero-chief angry 5ast then his car#ed-s"ord co#ered "ith %e"els $hat it lay on the earth, hard and steel-!ointed6 {The hero throws down all weapons, and again trusts to his hand)grip#} He ho!ed in his strength, his hand-gra!!le sturdy. 60 So any ust act "hene#er he thinketh $o gain hi in battle glory unending, .nd is reckless of li#ing. $he lord of the ,ar-&eats (He shrank not fro battle) sei'ed by the shoulder26D3 $he other of &rendel6 then ighty in struggle 65 S"ung he his ene y, since his anger "as kindled, $hat she fell to the floor. ,ith furious gra!!le {'eowulf falls#} She ga#e hi re4uital2683 early thereafter, .nd stretched out to grab hi 6 the strongest of "arriors )aint- ooded stu bled, till he fell in his traces, {The monster sits on him with drawn sword#} D0 )oot-going cha !ion. $hen she sat on the hall-guest .nd "ielded her "ar-knife "ide-bladed, flashing, )or her son "ould take #engeance, her one only bairn. {His armor saves his life#} His breast-ar or "o#en bode on his shoulder6 7t guarded his life, the entrance defended D5 *&ainst s"ord-!oint and edges. 9cgtheo"*s son there Had fatally %ourneyed, cha !ion of &eat en, 7n the ar s of the ocean, had the ar or not gi#en, 5lose-"o#en corslet, co fort and succor, {God arranged for his escape#} .nd had &od ost holy not a"arded the #ictory, 80 .ll-kno"ing =ord6 easily did hea#en*s A8
-uler ost righteous arrange it "ith %ustice626>3 ;!rose he erect ready for battle. Beowulf | 'LIII. The Burn"n) Of Beowulf. {'eowulf s pyre#} $he folk of the &eat en got hi then ready . !ile on the earth strong for the burning, +ehung "ith hel ets, hero-knights* targets, .nd bright-shining burnies, as he begged they should ha#e the 6 5 $hen "ailing "ar-heroes their "orld-fa ous chieftain, $heir liegelord belo#ed, laid in the iddle. {The funeral)flame#} Soldiers began then to ake on the barro" $he largest of dead-fires@ dark o*er the #a!or $he s oke-cloud ascended, the sad-roaring fire, 10 ?ingled "ith "ee!ing (the "ind-roar subsided) $ill the building of bone it had broken to !ieces, Hot in the heart. Hea#y in s!irit $hey ood-sad la ented the en-leader*s ruin6 .nd ournful easures the uch-grie#ing "ido" 15 I I I I I I I A0 I I I I I I I {The (eders carry out their lord s last re.uest#} $he en of the ,eders ade accordingly . hill on the height, high and e0tensi#e, (f sea-going sailors to be seen fro a distance, .nd the bra#e one*s beacon built "here the fire "as, A5 7n ten-days* s!ace, "ith a "all surrounded it, .s "isest of "orld-folk could ost "orthily !lan it. $hey !laced in the barro" rings and %e"els, {/ings and gems are laid in the !arrow#} .ll such orna ents as erst in the treasure ,ar- ooded en had "on in !ossession@ B0 $he earnings of earl en to earth they entrusted, $he gold to the dust, "here yet it re aineth .s useless to ortals as in foregoing eras. *-ound the dead- ound rode then the doughty-in-battle, +airns of all t"el#e of the chiefs of the !eo!le, {They mourn for their lord, and sing his praises#} B5 ?ore "ould they ourn, la ent for their ruler, S!eak in easure, ention hi "ith !leasure, A>
,eighed his "orth, and his "arlike achie#e ents ?ightily co ended, as *tis eet one !raise his =iegelord in "ords and lo#e hi in s!irit, C0 ,hen forth fro his body he fares to destruction. So la ented ourning the en of the &eats, )ond-lo#ing #assals, the fall of their lord, {An ideal king#} Said he "as kindest of kings under hea#en, &entlest of en, ost "inning of anner, C5 )riendliest to folk-troo!s and fondest of honor. JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ the elegies (The (anderer)
The W&nderer (ften the solitary one finds grace for hi self the ercy of the =ord, .lthough he, sorry-hearted, ust for a long ti e o#e by hand 2in conte0t K ro"3 along the "ater"ays, (along) the ice-cold sea, tread the !aths of e0ile. 9#ents al"ays go as they ustE So s!oke the "anderer, indful of hardshi!s, of fierce slaughters and the do"nfall of kins en@ (ften (or al"ays) 7 had alone to s!eak of y trouble each orning before da"n. $here is none no" li#ing to "ho 7 dare clearly s!eak of y inner ost thoughts. 7 kno" it truly, B0
that it is in en a noble custo , that one should kee! secure his s!irit-chest ( ind), guard his treasure-cha ber (thoughts), think as he "ishes. $he "eary s!irit cannot "ithstand fate (the turn of e#ents), nor does a rough or sorro"ful ind do any good (!erfor anything hel!ful). $hus those eager for glory often kee! secure dreary thoughts in their breast6 So 7, often "retched and sorro"ful, bereft of y ho eland, far fro noble kins en, ha#e had to bind in fetters y in ost thoughts, Since long years ago 7 hid y lord in the darkness of the earth, and 7, "retched, fro there tra#elled ost sorro"fully o#er the fro'en "a#es, sought, sad at the lack of a hall, a gi#er of treasure, "here 7, far or near, ight find one in the eadhall "ho kne" y !eo!le, or "ished to console the friendless one, e, entertain ( e) "ith delights. He "ho has tried it kno"s ho" cruel is sorro" as a co !anion to the one "ho has fe" belo#ed friends@ B1
the !ath of e0ile ("rLclast) holds hi , not at all t"isted gold, a fro'en s!irit, not the bounty of the earth. He re e bers hall-"arriors and the gi#ing of treasure Ho" in youth his lord (gold-friend) accusto ed hi to the feasting. .ll the %oy has diedE .nd so he kno"s it, he "ho ust forgo for a long ti e the counsels of his belo#ed lord@ $hen sorro" and slee! both together often tie u! the "retched solitary one. He thinks in his ind that he e braces and kisses his lord, and on his (the lord*s) knees lays his hands and his head, 1ust as, at ti es (h"ilu ), before, in days gone by, he en%oyed the gift-seat (throne). $hen the friendless an "akes u! again, He sees before hi fallo" "a#es Sea birds bathe, !reening their feathers, )rost and sno" fall, i0ed "ith hail. $hen are the hea#ier the "ounds of the heart, grie#ous (sare) "ith longing for (Lfter) the lord. Sorro" is rene"ed "hen the ind ( od) sur#eys BA
the e ory of kins en6 He greets the %oyfully, eagerly scans the co !anions of en6 they al"ays s"i a"ay. $he s!irits of seafarers ne#er bring back there uch in the "ay of kno"n s!eech. 5are is rene"ed for the one "ho ust send #ery often o#er the binding of the "a#es a "eary heart. 7ndeed 7 cannot think "hy y s!irit does not darken "hen 7 !onder on the "hole life of en throughout the "orld, Ho" they suddenly left the floor (hall), the !roud thanes. So this iddle-earth, a bit each day, droo!s and decays $herefore an ("er) cannot call hi self "ise, before he has a share of years in the "orld. . "ise an ust be !atient, He ust ne#er be too i !ulsi#e nor too hasty of s!eech, nor too "eak a "arrior nor too reckless, nor too fearful, nor too cheerful, nor too greedy for goods, nor e#er too eager for boasts, before he sees clearly. . an ust "ait "hen he s!eaks oaths, until the !roud-hearted one BB
sees clearly "hither the intent of his heart "ill turn. . "ise hero ust reali'e ho" terrible it "ill be, "hen all the "ealth of this "orld lies "aste, as no" in #arious !laces throughout this iddle-earth "alls stand, blo"n by the "ind, co#ered "ith frost, stor -s"e!t the buildings. $he halls decay, their lords lie de!ri#ed of %oy, the "hole troo! has fallen, the !roud ones, by the "all. ,ar took off so e, carried the on their "ay, one, the bird took off across the dee! sea, one, the gray "olf shared one "ith death, one, the dreary-faced an buried in a gra#e. .nd so He destroyed this city, He, the 5reator of ?en, until de!ri#ed of the noise of the citi'ens, the ancient "ork of giants stood e !ty. He "ho thought "isely on this foundation, and !ondered dee!ly on this dark life, "ise in s!irit, re e bered often fro afar any conflicts, BC
and s!oke these "ords@ ,here is the horse goneG ,here the riderG ,here the gi#er of treasureG ,here are the seats at the feastG ,here are the re#els in the hallG .las for the bright cu!E .las for the ailed "arriorE .las for the s!lendour of the !rinceE Ho" that ti e has !assed a"ay, dark under the co#er of night, as if it had ne#er beenE /o" there stands in the trace of the belo#ed troo! a "all, "ondrously high, "ound round "ith ser!ents. $he "arriors taken off by the glory of s!ears, the "ea!ons greedy for slaughter, the fa ous fate (turn of e#ents), and stor s beat these rocky cliffs, falling frost fetters the earth, the harbinger of "inter6 $hen dark co es, nightshado"s dee!en, fro the north there co es a rough hailstor in alice against en. .ll is troubleso e in this earthly kingdo , the turn of e#ents changes the "orld under the hea#ens. Here oney is fleeting, here friend is fleeting, here an is fleeting, here kins an is fleeting, all the foundation of this "orld turns to "asteE
B5
So s!ake the "ise an in his ind, "here he sat a!art in counsel. &ood is he "ho kee!s his faith, .nd a "arrior ust ne#er s!eak his grief of his breast too 4uickly, unless he already kno"s the re edy a hero ust act "ith courage. 7t is better for the one that seeks ercy, consolation fro the father in the hea#ens, "here, for us, all !er anence rests. "The Wanderer," ( e!"re #$%&' &enre@ e!ic song, so eti es described as an FelegyF or la ent for things andMor !ersons lost to death. $he !redo inant features of .nglo-Sa0on #erse are !roduced by oral-for ulaic co !osition, in "hich an illiterate but i ensely learned bard sings, to his o"n instru ental acco !ani ent, a song he co !oses as he sings by follo"ing strict etrical rules and a huge array of the atic content strands. 9!ic singers of this ty!e sur#i#ed in Serbia, +osnia and .lbania until the early !art of this century. (See .lbert =ord, $he Singer of $ales 21>D13 for further infor ation.) $he !oe *s date is i !ossible to deter ine e0ce!t that it ust ha#e been co !osed and "ritten do"n before the 90eter +ook, in "hich its sole sur#i#ing co!y "as found, "as donated to the 90eter 5athedral library by 90eter*s first bisho!, =eofric, u!on his death in 10DA. Scholars generally acce!t the conclusion that this, the largest sur#i#ing collection of .nglo-Sa0on !oetry (1B1 !arch ent lea#es easuring roughly 1A.5 by 8.6 inches), is the anuscri!t the bisho!*s "ill calls F.i. ycel englisc boc be geh"ilcu Ningu on leoO"isan ge"orht.F 2Fone great 9nglish book "ith any things "ritten in #erse.F3 )or @ four-stress lines of #arying syllable lengths, di#ided in hal#es by a caesura "hich often indicates a breath !ause. $he !rose translation obscures any of the "ork*s !oetic features, but .nglo-Sa0on #erse is notoriously difficult to translate into ?odern 9nglish #erse. )or a transcri!tion of the first four lines in (ld 9nglish, click here. $o see an enlarged i age of the first !age of F$he ,andererF "ith infor ation about the 90eter +ook*s sur#i#al, click here. 5haracters@ the narrator of the F"ise anF*s s!eech, and the F"ise an,F !resu ably the F,anderer,F hi self. (So e critics ha#e argued F,andererF "as the !roduct of three !oe s* fusion, but conte !orary readers tend to
B6
distrust this, arguing that .nglo-Sa0on !oetic !roductions need not satisfy ?odern 9nglish aesthetic standards for aesthetic unity.) Su ary@ $he narrator ad#ises us to listen to the #oice of the ,anderer, "hose recollections of lost lords, ladies, and courtly settings, establishes the need for self-restraint, endurance, and an a!!reciation for the fleeting nature of all earthly things. 1) FEleg("as a Genre) .n elegy la ents the loss or !assing of belo#ed !ersons, !laces, or things. $hat they are co on in "orld literature tells us so ething about the hu an condition and !oetryPs function inde!endent of cultural difference. 7n so e national literatures, elegies are for ally defined in eter, rhy e, and stan'aic structure. 7n (ld 9nglish, elegy is ore of a F odeF or anner of "riting that can !roduce !oe s of any ty!es, all using the basic four-stress, oral-for ulaic line. 7n the elegiac ode, "e see e#idence that the !oetPs %ob as kee!er of the co unityPs collecti#e e ory !roduced fre4uent occasions on "hich the dead and the #anished ust be recalled in sadness. =ike the biblical !sal ist, ho"e#er, the .nglo-Sa0on bards tended to generali'e the conse4uences of $i ePs corrosi#e effect on all hu an a bitions, turning the !oe s into fierce, sad conde nations of the #ery structures "hose glories are celebrated in the e!ic "ar songs@ rings, horses, falcons, s"ords, "arriors, ladies, and the great halls of kings. $he elegy confronts the e!ic "ith the ine#itable e0tinction of its sub%ects, listing the in acts of re!eated, balanced !arallelis si ilar to the synta0 "ith "hich both !oe s like to construct their sentences. 5onsider HrothgarPs re"ard gi#en to +eo"ulf for the destruction of &rendel@ F$hen the son of Healfdene ga#e +eo"ulf a golden standard to re"ard his #ictoryQa decorated battle bannerQa hel et and ail-shirt@ any sa" the glorious costly s"ord borne before the "arrior. +eo"ulf drank of the cu! in the ead-hall. He had no need to be asha ed before fighting en of those rich gifts. 7 ha#e not heard of any en "ho ga#e four !recious, goldadorned things to another on the ale-bench in a ore friendly "ay. $he ri around the hel etPs cro"n had a head-!rotection, "ound of "ire, so that no battle-hard shar! s"ord ight badly hurt hi "hen the shield-"arrior should go against his foe. $hen the !eo!lePs !rotector co anded eight horses "ith golden bridles to be led into the hall, "ithin the "alls. $he saddle of one of the stood shining "ith hand-orna ents, adorned "ith %e"els@ that had been the "ar-seat of the high king "hen the son of Healfdene "ould %oin s"ord!lay@ ne#er did the "arfare of the "ide-kno"n one fail "hen en died in battle. F (9.$. Donaldson*s translation fro the /orton 6th edition) BD
$hen co !are the ,andererPs #ie" of a si ilar scene@ F,here has the horse goneG ,here the young "arriorG ,here is the gi#er of treasureG ,hat has beco e of the feasting seatsG ,here are the %oys of the hallG .las, the bright cu!E .las, the ailed "arriorE .las, the !rincePs gloryE Ho" that ti e has gone, #anished beneath nightPs co#er, %ust as if it ne#er had beenE $he "all, "ondrous high, decorated "ith snake-likenesses, stands no" o#er traces of the belo#ed co !any. $he ash-s!earsP ight has borne the earls a"ayQ"ea!ons greedy for slaughter, )ate the ighty6 and stor s beat on the stone "alls, sno", the herald of "inter, falling thick binds the earth "hen darkness co es and the night-shado" falls, sends harsh hailstones fro the north in hatred of en. .ll earthPs kingdo is "retched, the "orld beneath the skies is changed by the "ork of the fates. Here "ealth is fleeting, here friend is fleeting, here an is fleeting, here "o an is fleeting Qall this earthly habitation shall be e !tied.F (101-A) /o" the hall, con4uered by )ate, is ruled by "inter, "hose herald, sno", announces the ne" lordPs arri#al "ith hail, and the entire earth (not %ust the hall) is stri!!ed of all significance. So "hat does this !arallelis eanG Does the elegy Fans"erF the e!ic in so e anner, and if so, fro "hat !osition in ti e or cultureG 7t is a co on error to assu e that F,andererF ust ha#e been "ritten after +eo"ulf because the for erPs !essi is arises fro the destruction of .nglo-Sa0on culture "hich +eo"ulfPs sad funeral at the end of the latter !oe ight also see to antici!ate. $o be sure, history records that +eo"ulfPs &eats ceased to e0ist as a tribe soon after the ti e in "hich the e!ic "as set, and the !oe ay be so e"hat older than F,anderer,F but the culture "hich !roduced the ring-gi#ers and their households continued until so e ti e after the /or an in#asion of 1066. ,ith "hat intent did they re"ard the !oet of F,andererF for telling the , as they feasted in their glory, that they all "ere doo ed to dustG $his !oe is not an isolated incident, oreo#er, as a reading of FSeafarer,F FDeor,F F,ifePs =a ent,F and other !oe s "ill confir . Ho" "ould the elegiac !oe o!erate side-by-side "ith the e!icG ,ould one only sing the at certain occasions, like dirges at funerals, or "ere they considered a tonic "hich balanced the e!ic heroPs triu !hs "ith a healthy ske!ticis , uch as each co !etitor in ancient &reek dra atic festi#als ingled three tragedies "ith the ribaldry of a satyr !layG 7f the second inter!retation better describes the .nglo-Sa0onsP cultural use of the !oe s, "hat does that ean for the odern reader "ho is assigned to read only +eo"ulf or the +attle of ?aldonG $o "hat degree does ?odern 9nglish literature retain B8
traces of the elegiac ode and to "hat uses is it !utG ,hat kinds of loss does it no" la ent, and to "hat e0tent does its audience heed its essageG &'Old English S(nta* and +sage) 9. $. DonaldsonPs translation does a re arkable %ob of trans itting, in ?odern 9nglish, the con#oluted, !u''ling, and sur!rising turns of the (ld 9nglish !oetPs sentences. 9ach one is gra atically co !lete, if one allo"s for elli!sis (o ission of "ords one assu es fro conte0t), but ost are aster!ieces of sus!ended de#elo! ent. $he !oet often builds the u! using a set of !arallel sub%ect-noun !hrases, either follo"ing or !receding the #erb, "hich ay act on so e si ilarly sus!ended ob%ect-nouns that coil sinuously a ong the !oe Ps half-lines (see 5aed onPs hy n, !ages AC-5). $he nouns, the sel#es, often are !u''les, eta!hors for the thing itself in a short !hrase called a Fkenning.F )or instance, the !oet ight refer to the sea as the F"halePs roadF or to a flight of arro"s as Fbattle-adders.F Hennings ha#e the uncanny ability to con%ure the noun to "hich they refer along "ith a sur!rising second i age, the "hale undulating along the surface beside a boat, or the hissing, snake-like !eril of the arro"sP flight to"ard a line of "arriors. $hose stacked nouns beco e richly inscribed "ith these associati#e te0tures rather like the iniature scenes, faces, and sy bols "orked into .nglo-Sa0on decorati#e arts. $he larger for of the !oe gro"s by accu ulation of any s aller for s "hich, in the for of kennings, flash before our eyes "hile "e "ait for the sentence to co !lete its utterance. Ho" any eta!hors can you s!ot in a line of ty!ical odern !oetryG 7f you "ere to insert eta!hors in !lace of e#ery noun and #erb in the line (also called F i0ed eta!horF by gra ar handbooks), "hat "ould ha!!en to the sense of the lineG Ho" does the .nglo-Sa0on !oe *s eta!hor use a#oid the F i0ed eta!hor !roble G ,' The War -and.s /0st"1s) F,andererF alludes fa iliarly to nu erous no"-#anished as!ects of .ngloSa0on culture as kno"n to the "arrior elite "ho ruled and defended it. $he dryghten or Fleige lordF stands at the to! of the hierarchy, taking oaths and dis!ensing treasure, ser#ing all of the socially constituati#e functions . ericans assign to e !loyers, !riests and rabbis, !residents, teachers, %udges, bankers, and generals. $he "arrior ser#es the "arlord eagerly because there is no other route of ad#ance ent, no other "ay to be, in the B>
culture. $he alternati#e to this association, "hich the ,anderer describes, is the lonely life of the #iking, those "ho ha#e taken shi! for foreign !laces, ho!ing to sur#i#e by !lunder in solitary struggle "ith no land-based co unity to "hich they ay return. ($he #ikings "ho attacked +yrtnothPs "arriors ay ha#e been e bers of a single "ar band "ho "ould return to their o"n hall at the end of the raiding season, rather than the true loners "ho had no kin and no Fgold friendF to shelter the .) Such "arriors a!!arently "ere e0tre ely "ary of loose talkQthe !oe Ps re!eated !raise of taciturnity are echoed in other (ld 9nglish "orksQ!erha!s because the "ar bandPs social relations "ere constructed in the language of deadly serious !ro ises. Ho" does the !oet, a necessarily Fo!en- outhedF an, fit into this culture*s reigning rule of silenceG Does the !oet ha#e a s!ecial e0e !tion fro the rule, and if so, "hat is that e0e !tion*s !riceG 5onsider current debates on Ffreedo of s!eechF in artistic !erfor ances "hen offensi#e things are said and done. Ho" "ould you co !are us as latter-day .nglo-Sa0onsG $he Fgift-gi#ingF (101) "as a for al cere ony re!eated any ti es to as a stage in for ing the associati#e link begun by the "arriorPs oath. $he laying of a kneeling "arriorPs hands and head u!on the knee of a seated lord is nearly the sa e gesture used in the /or an-)rench-influenced edie#al custo of ho age during later eras. 7t e !hasi'es the lordPs FfatherlyF relation to the "arrior, his Fbattle-son,F in a !seudo-kinshi! nearly as !o"erful as blood relation. $he treasure referred to in the !oe is a !ly re!resented in the artifacts disco#ered at the fa ous shi!-burial at Sutton Hoo, 9ngland. Ho" "ould a gift-gi#ing society differ fro a F"ork-for-salaryF society in the "ays their e bers related to one anotherG ;nder "hat circu stances "ould oney be an a!!ro!riate gift in the for er, and "ould gifts e#er be an a!!ro!riate substitute for oney in the latterG ,hat kind of gift or "ork is the !oe , and ho" ight it be re"arded or !aid forG *OLLEE+ L. ,LEES $he (ld 9nglish, or .nglo-Sa0on, era of 9ngland lasted fro about C501066 ..D. $he tribes fro &er any that con4uered +ritain in the fifth century carried "ith the both the (ld 9nglish language and a detailed !oetic tradition. $he tradition included alliteration, stressed and unstressed syllables, but ore i !ortantly, the !oetry "as usually ournful, reflecting on suffering and loss.1$hese sorro"ful !oe s fro the .nglo Sa0on ti e !eriod are i etic to the .nglo-Sa0ons the sel#es6 they reflect the often C0
burdened and iserable li#es and ti es of the !eo!le "ho created the . $he .nglo-Sa0on !oe s, R$he ,anderer,S R$he Seafarer,S and R$he ,ifePs =a ent,S are three e0a !les ho" literature is i etic, for they ca!ture the culturePs heroic beliefs of )a e and )ate, the culturePs societal structure, and religious struggle of the (ld 9nglish ti e !eriod@ aking the transition fro !aganis to 5hristianity. 7n order to understand ho" these !oe s irror the .nglo-Sa0onsP li#es, one ust kno" a little history about the culture. 7n the fifth century, the inhabitants of the island of +ritain hired &er an ercenaries to defend the against their "arring neighbors, the <icts and the Scots. A .fter ha#ing defeated the ene ies, the !agan .ngles, or Sa0ons, re#olted against their for er allies, the +ritons, killing e#eryone, no atter "hat their status or occu!ation, destroyed to"ns and buildings, and dro#e out 5hristianity, the +ritonsP religion. $he con4uerors "ere .ngles, Sa0ons, 1utes, )ranks, and )risians, but they all had a si ilar culture so they beca e kno"n as .ngloSa0ons. B .nglo-Sa0ons set u! &er anic kingdo s, each one ruled by a lord. 7n the ne" .nglo-Sa0on society, the strongest bonds "ere not bet"een a husband and "ife, or !arents and children, but "ere bet"een a lord and his kin.C $he &er anic co itatus "as ade u! of en "ho ser#ed this lord "ith a fierce loyalty and "ould selflessly fight for hi .5 $hey "ere his "arriors. $he co itatus Rstressed the loyalty of a thane to his chieftain and treated e0ile and outla"ry as the ost tragic lots that could befall one. $his secular sense of loss is keen in $he ,anderer.S6 /ot only is the loss of a lord e#ident in R$he ,anderer,S but in R$he SeafarerS and R$he ,ifePs =a entS as "ell. $he !oe R$he ,andererS s!eaks of a an "ho has been e0iled fro his clan, and is no" forced to roa the land alone. Se!aration fro his fello" kins en and lord see s to be the "orst fate i aginable. $he an s!eaks of his great loss, re e bering the ti e "hen he "as ha!!y "ith his liege, ,hen friendshi!s are no ore. His fortune is e0ile, /ot gifts of fine gold6 a heart that is fro'en, 9arthPs "iso eness dead. .nd he drea s of the hall- en, $he dealing of treasure, the days of his youth, ,hen his lord bade "elco e to "assail and feast. +ut gone is that gladness, and ne#er again Shall co e the lo#ed counsel of co rade and king. (77. ADBC) $he s!eaker of R$he SeafarerS is also an outcast sailing the sea in solitude, and he s!eaks si ilarly of his e0ile fro his lord and kins en@ R,retched and an0ious, in the !aths of e0ileM =acking dear friends, hung round by icicles.S (77. 1C-15) He see s to belie#e that if he has lost his fello" "arriors and lord, or his friends, the only thing left in life is the nature that surrounds hi . C1
$he s!eaker of R$he ,ifePs =a entS is also in e0ile, but she is no "arrior6 she is a lordPs "ife, and is distressed because she has been se!arated fro hi @ 7 e#er suffered grief through banish ent. )or since y lord de!arted fro his !eo!le (#er the sea, each da"n 7 had care ,ondering "here y lord ay be on land.,hen 7 set off to %oin and ser#e y lord, . friendless e0ile in y sorry !light. . .(77. 6-10) .ll three ournful !oe s act i etically, because they !ro#e the i !ortance of a lord and co itatus to the .nglo-Sa0on society by sho"ing the great sorro" the !eo!le go through "hen they lose their leader. $he lord of a co itatus "ould care for his "arriors6 he allo"ed the to dine in ead halls, and if a "arrior "ere loyal to his lord, the lord "ould re"ard his sub%ect "ith treasures. R$he ,andererS and R$he SeafarerS are i etic "hen the s!eakers reflect on the dining halls and re"ards during the .ngloSa0on ti es. R$he SeafarerS s!eaks of re"ards fro the lord, and refers to the as Rring recei#ing,SD (7. CC) "hich "as described as Rrings or gold or other #aluable ob%ects "ere custo arily gi#en by .nglo-Sa0on kings to their retainers to affir a utual bond of loyalty and !rotection.S8 +ecause a !o"erful lord could !ro#ide !rotection, food, and gifts to his "eaker, lo"er kin, the .nglo-Sa0ons felt they needed a leader, so eone to "ho they could be loyal, for "ithout hi they "ould ha#e nothing.> 7t is e#ident that R$he ,andererS is i etic, because the s!eaker reflects ho" the !eo!le of the ti e longed for such a leader@ 9#en in slu ber his sorro" assaileth, .nd, drea ing he clas!eth his dear lord again, Head on knee, hand on knee, loyally laying, <ledging his liege as in days long !ast. $hen fro his slu ber he starts lonely hearted. . . $he longing for lo#ed one@ his grief is rene"ed. (77. A5-B>, CC) $hese three !oe s, R$he ,anderer,S R$he Seafarer,S and R$he ,ifePs =a entS are considered to be elegiac, one of the ain categories of (ld 9nglish !oetry. 9legiac !oe s are ournful, reflecting on a great loss or losses, and re inisce about the better, ha!!ier ti es one once kne".10 $he (ld 9nglish elegy is defined by Stanley +. &reenfield as R Ta relati#ely short reflecti#e or dra atic !oe e bodying a contrasting !attern of loss and consolation, ostensibly based u!on a s!ecific !ersonal e0!erience or obser#ation, and e0!ressing an attitude to"ards that e0!erience.PS11 $herefore, because these three !oe s are considered elegiac, the situations that are "ritten, na ely, the e0iles and se!aration fro lords, are indeed true, !ersonal e0!eriences or obser#ations of the s!eakers. ,hether obser#ation or !ersonal e0!erience, these are e#ents that actually occurred in .nglo-Sa0on CA
ti e. $hey are not si !ly stan'as of fiction "ritten by an i aginati#e author6 these !oe s are reflections of the life of the .nglo-Sa0on culture, e0!eriences of the !eo!le, and therefore are i etic. $he .nglo-Sa0ons brought "ith the their &er anic !hiloso!hies of !aganis to the island. .s !agans, they belie#ed in any gods, but they also belie#ed strongly in !agan heroic traditions that ruled their society and literature.1A $hese heroic traditions "ere based on the !hiloso!hies of )a e and )ate. 7t "as belie#ed that )ate, or ,yrd, controlled !eo!lePs li#es and could R!ut en and "o en into !ositions "hence it see s i !ossible for the to e erge "ith honor. $hey are %udged by their choice, still ore, !erha!s, by the steadfastness "ith "hich they carry out their chosen ai , ne#er looking back.S1B Heroes and heroines often could not lea#e a situation "ith honor because they could only choose bet"een t"o e#ils. $his usually eant that they could either succu b to their fate and sho" no #alor, or try to resist it "ith #iolence, "hich !robably ended in onePs death.1C $he courage to resist onePs fate brought about the idea of )a e, "hich Ris so ething greater than )ate@ the strength of "ill and the courage of hu an beings, and the e ory "hich could !reser#e their deeds.S15 7f one resisted his fate, he had to ha#e courage because it often eant facing great !hysical hardshi!s, kno"ing that he "ould ost likely die. +ut heroes "ould rather die an early, courageous death, trying to achie#e )a e rather than sitting back and doing nothing, because Rfa e dies ne#er for hi "ho gets it "orthily.S16 )or the !agan .nglo-Sa0ons, there "as no afterlife or re"ard in hea#en, so the !eo!le "anted to fore#er be re e bered on earth for their great feats. $he fa ous !oe +eo"ulf sho"s that the .nglo-Sa0on culture regarded )a e as #ery a!!ealing@ RSo fa eM 5o es to the en "ho ean to "in itM .nd care about nothing elseES1D (77. 50D-50>). .round the end of the si0th century, ho"e#er, 5hristian issionaries arri#ed fro -o e and 7reland, and successfully began to con#ert the for er !olytheistic .nglo-Sa0ons into onotheistic 5hristians.18 $he 5hristian religion included the belief of an afterlife in Hea#en or Hell6 "here one "ent de!ended on the sins he had co itted during his earthly life. +ecause "here one "ent in his afterlife resulted fro his actions, 5hristians did not belie#e in the !agan conce!t of )ate. 7nstead they trusted in the %ustice of &od. Defeat and isfortune "ere easier to understand in this ne" religion. 7f one suffered on earth, but led a good life de#oted to &od, 5hristians belie#ed that he "ould be re"arded for his suffering in the hea#en.1> +ecause of this ore ho!eful outlook on life, it is easy to understand "hy any !agans con#erted to 5hristianity, no force needed. 9#en though the king of Hent con#erted to 5hristianity, he did not de and CB
the !eo!le also con#ert6 he "anted con#ersions to be #oluntary.A0 +ut 5hristian and !agan !hiloso!hies are strikingly different, and the .ngloSa0ons had difficulty shifting their beliefs so 4uickly. $he literature of the ti e tells of the !eo!lePs struggle to understand "hich faith "as #alid, after they disco#er that 5hristians do not honor their fa iliar !agan beliefs of )a e and )ate. $he glory of )a e and riches on earth holds no #alue in hea#en, so therefore aterial ite s ean nothing. .cce!ting the 5hristian religion eant that their heroes in literature could no longer follo" tradition by fighting off )ate to gain )a e.A1 $he .nglo-Sa0ons "ere torn bet"een the fa iliar religion they once kne" and the !otentially ore ho!eful one that "as !resented to the . +ecause of Rthe arkedly elegiac note of such !oe s as R$he ,anderer,S and R$he -uin,S scholars usually assu e that elancholy "as an inborn trait of the .nglo-Sa0ons.SAA +ut "hen considering the ne" religion to "hich they 4uickly tried to ada!t, scholars then reali'ed that the transition in .nglo-Sa0on thought fro !agan defiance to 5hristian resignation, fro the glory of undying )a e to the nothingness of this "orld, ight "ell !roduce the elancholy in .ngloSa0on !oetry, "hich strikes such an alien note in the chorus of heroic song.AB 7n other "ords, the conflicting ideas and beliefs during the ti e of the confused .nglo-Sa0ons are con#eyed in the !oe s R$he ,anderer,S R$he SeafarerS therefore gi#ing the the right to be called i etic. $he s!eaker of R$he ,andererS see s to be struggle "ith the &er anic and 5hristian !hiloso!hies, trying to understand "hy he suffers in life, and ho", or if, he can obtain relief. 7t can be seen in the o!ening lines ho" he clings to both religions@ (ft to the ,anderer, "eary of e0ile, 5o eth &odPs !ity, co !assionate lo#e, $hough "oefully toiling on "intry seas ,ith churning oar in the icy "a#e, Ho eless and hel!less he fled fro )ate. (77. 1-5) $hese first fi#e lines introduce his struggle. $he s!eaker at first see s to ha#e acce!ted 5hristianity as he e braces &odPs lo#e for hi , but at the sa e ti e he still belie#es in the !agan belief of fate. .s the !oe continues, it see s as if the s!eaker is still a !agan, for he longs for the days of ead-halls and earthly riches fro his lord@ T,here no" is the "arriorG ,here is the "ar horseG +esto"al of treasure, and sharing of feastG .lasE $he bright ale-cu!, the byrny-clad "arrior, $he !rince in his s!lendorQthose days are long s!ed 7n the night of the !ast, as if they ne#er had beenE (77. 8C-88) $he s!eaker "ants aterialistic !ossessions and to li#e the life he once kne" "ith the co fort of a lord6 he "ants to li#e the heroic culture, e#en though CC
this for er life caused hi to be the "andering outcast that he is. He ourns for the old !agan life, yet in the last lines of the !oe , he re e bers &odPs eternal lo#e for those "ho suffer, and once again turns to 5hristianity as he says, He ust ne#er too 4uickly unburden his breast (f its sorro", but eagerly stri#e for redress6 .nd ha!!y the an "ho seeketh for ercy )ro his hea#enly )ather, our )ortress and Strength. (77. 105-108) +ecause the original .nglo-Sa0on !oe s "ere originally !reser#ed orally by sco!sAC, and "ere not "ritten do"n until any years later, there is s!eculation that the 5hristian lines could ha#e !ossibly been added in "hen recorded, and "ere not !art of the original "ork. R$he ,andererS acts i etically as it reflects the .nglo-Sa0on traditions of its for er heroic culture, and as it !erfectly ca!tures one anPs efforts to find ans"ers to his dee!est 4uestions. His faith in the &er anic heroic code has been shaken, for it has forced hi into a "retched e0istence. Uet e#en as he turns to 5hristianity for a ne" !ur!ose and direction, he cannot hel! looking back fondly and sadly on the traditions that "ere a !art of hi .A5 $he s!eaker in R$he SeafarerS see s to ha#e ore readily acce!ted 5hristianity than the s!eaker in R$he ,anderer,S yet he also is shaky about this con#ersion. 7n the beginning of the !oe it is ob#ious that he yearns for his for er heroic days as he istakes Rthe cries M (f curle"s for the issing irth of en, M $he singing gull instead of the ead in hall.S (77. 1>-A1). +ut he then see s to shake these e ories and turns steadfast the 5hristian faith as he !roclai s that his ind doesnPt focus on earthly ho!es and treasures R+ecause the %oys of &od ean ore to e M $han this dead transitory life on land.S (77. 65-66). $he s!eaker gi#es a 5hristian-like ser on, encouraging others to obey the =ord, and again re!eats that riches on earth ean nothing after death. (ne ight assu e that he is a de#oted, ne"ly con#erted 5hristian, but "ords about the !agan beliefs of )ate and )a e, indicate Rthe !oe is a direct reflection of the s!eakerPs o"n uncertainty and conflict.SA6 7n the !oe , the s!eaker see s to think that he understands the 5hristian religion, but in reality he does not. He ent"ines his ne" faith "ith his old6 he still belie#es in )a e and )ate, but in a 5hristian "ay. He defies the old belief of )a e, saying, R)a e is brought lo",S (77. 88). Uet only a fe" lines earlier, he talks about the fa e one "ill achie#e on earth after he his death for the de#oted life he li#ed@ ?e orial is the !raise of li#ing en .fter his death, that ere he ust de!art He shall ha#e done good deeds on earth against $he alice of his foes, and noble "orks .gainst the de#il, that the sons of en ?ay !raise after hi , and his glory li#e )or e#er "ith the angels in the s!lendor. . .(77. DB-D8) C5
$he s!eaker see s to think that by doing good "orks and getting to hea#en, one "ill gain fa e for doing so. He also still belie#es in the !agan !hiloso!hy of )ate@ RUet fate is ightier, the =ordPs ordaining M ?ore !o"erful than any an can kno".S (77. 118-11>). 9#en though he thinks the one and only true &od creates onePs destiny, his belief is "rong because 5hristians do not belie#e in the conce!t of fate6 they belie#e in free "ill. $hough the s!eaker is truly trying to act like a 5hristian, he cannot esca!e the for er traditions of the .nglo-Sa0on ti e. $here has been endless debate about "hat !arts of the .nglo-Sa0on !oe , +eo"ulf, are original and "hat !arts "ere added in. So e belie#e that the 5hristian co !onents "ere added in later centuries. So e !onder "hether the !oe "as "ritten by a 5hristian or a !agan.AD (ne thing is for certain ho"e#er@ Rthe ost striking feature of the !oe , na ely the fact that, though it abounds in e0!ressions of 5hristian senti ent, yet the custo s and cere onies to "hich it alludes are unifor ly heathen.SA8 =ike R$he SeafarerS and R$he ,anderer,S +eo"ulf has both 5hristian and !agan ele ents, and also si ilar to the !oe s, +eo"ulf s!eaks of the lords and ead halls of the ti e !eriod. +eo"ulf is so i etic to the .nglo-Sa0on ti e that .rchibald Strong "ent so far to declare, R T+eo"ulf is the !icture of a "hole ci#ili'ation. . . +eo"ulf is an i !ortant historical docu ent.PSA> +ecause +eo"ulf is i etic, and R$he ,andererS and R$he SeafarerS are so si ilar to the e!ic !oe , they too can be considered i etic. $he three elegiac !oe s, R$he ,anderer,S R$he Seafarer,S and R$he ,ifePs =a entS gi#e the odern day "orld a gli !se ho" life "as for the .ngloSa0ons in the early centuries. $hese three e0!eriences or obser#ations of the ti e sho" ho" the .nglo-Sa0on society "as organi'ed and the i !ortance of the lord to his co itatus6 they s!eak of the for er heroic tradition and the belief and )a e and )ate6 the s!eakers of the !oe s 4uestion the beliefs of their ne" religion, and sho" the ain struggle of the culture during that ti e@ the transition fro !aganis to 5hristianity. +y irroring the li#es of .ngloSa0ons, these !oe s beha#e i etically. JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ JJJJJJ - the religi"0s 2"etr( (The &ream of the /ood) The -re&# of the Rood +eholdE $he best of drea s 7 shall tell, "hat 7 drea t in the idnight, after ortal en u!on couches d"ell. 7t see to e that 7 !ercei#ed a rare and "ondrous tree C6
e0tending on high a surrounding light alit the "ood brightly. .ll that beacon "as co#ered "ith gold6 %e"els studded lo#ingly at its 9arthen base, "hile like"ise there "ere fi#e u!on that shoulder-s!an. +ehold there the .ngel of &od, 10 lo#ely through-out eternity. $here "as not an e#il cri inal on the gallo"s, but it "as at He there ga'ed the Holy S!irits, en throughout 9arth and all this glorious creation. ,ondrous "as that Victory $ree, and 7 the sinner guilty and badly "ounded "ith stain. $here 7 obser#ed the glorious "ood 15 adorned "ith gar ent that beautifully bea ed, garnished "ith gold6 "ith it ge s stood co#ering s!lendidly the =ord*s tree. +ut ne#ertheless through that gold 7 understood the "retched ancient struggle, "hen it first began A0 bleeding on the right side. 7 "as "ith sorro" disturbed, frightened for this stunning #ision. Sa" 7 that brilliant beacon then change gar ent and color@ so eti es "ith oisture soaked, drenched in flo"ing blood, so eti es "ith treasure still adorned. +ut ne#ertheless 7 there lay a long ti e 7 took A5 sorro"fully ga'ing at the Sa#iours*s tree, until then 7 drea t that it s!oke6 beginning "ith these "ords the tree did decree@ F. long ti e ago -- yet still 7 re e ber-that 7 "as cut do"n fro the edge of the ti ber, B0 and re o#ed fro y roots. <o"erful fiends there held e off, for a s!ectacle to ake, co and e a cri inal to aloft. 7 on their shoulders these en bore u! the to! of a hill to !lant6 fastened there a id ene ies a!lenty. $hen 7 sa" the =ord of ankind hasten "ith great 'eal that he "ould on e cli b. B5 $here 7 did not dare to break &od*s "ord and bend do"n or break, though 7 felt the tre ble of the 9arthen surface. 7 ight ha#e been able u!on those fiends to fall, yet 7 stood stable. F$hen the young hero did disrobe -- that "as &od .l ighty--, CD
C0 strong and resolute6 on the "retched gallo"s he did ascend, bold and courageous as any obser#ed for ankind*s !ast he "ould a end. $re ble did 7 as the hero e braced e6 but yet 7 dared not bend, and fall to the 9arth*s surface, therefore 7 stood fir . . cross 7 beca e6 lifted u! "ith the ighty Hing, C5 the Hea#enly ?aster6 but yet 7 dared not bend. ,ith dark nails they !ierced e@ on e the scars are #isible, the o!en and alicious "ounds. )or hi 7 dared not, so no one did 7 in%ure. ?ocked they us both together. 7 "as all "ith blood sodden fro the side of the Hero after his s!irit "as ceded. 50 ?uch ridicule on that hill did 7 e0!erience "ith this cruel e#ent@ $he &od of Hosts hideously stretched out. Darkness had no" co#ered "ith clouds the =ord*s cor!se, and its shining radiance6 . darkness "ent forth, 55 black under the clouds. ,ee! all creation, la ent the Hing*s fall@ 5hrist "as on the 5ross. F+ut then there hastened any fro afar to that <rince@ 7 beheld it all. 7 "as "ith sorro" troubled, so bo"ed 7 did to the hands of en, 60 "ith great hu ility. $hey then took the al ighty &od, and re o#ed hi fro that bitter !unish ent. =eft e then those "arriors s!rinkled "ith blood6 all badly "ounded "ith s!ears. $hey laid hi do"n "eary of li b, and at his head they stood6 ga'ing there at Hea#en*s =ord, as He there rested, 65 e0hausted fro his bitter struggle. . se!ulcher they began to build before the eyes of His tor enters, car#ed out of the brightest of stone, there the Victorious =ord "as !laced6 then they began a sorro"ful dirge, as e#ening ti e ca e. .fter"ards they "ent "earily fro the glorious <rince6 there he rested alone. D0 9#en so there "e "e!t a good "hile standing affi0ed, after "hich de!arted the "arrior. His cor!se gre" cold, C8
that lo#ely body. $hen en cho!!ed us do"n to the 9arth6 that "as such a terrible e#entE D5 $hey buried us in a dee! !it6 but there the =ord*s ser#ants, disco#ered us, and girded e "ith gold and sil#er. F/o" you ay ha#e heard, y dear belo#ed an, of the deeds of e#il en 7 ha#e e0!erienced, 80 sore and grie#ous they are. +ut no" is the ti e that 7 be re#ered far and "ide by en throughout the 9arth and all this glorious creation, should !ray to this beacon. (n e the Son of &od did suffer6 for that 7 gloriously no" 85 to"er under hea#en, that 7 ight heal each and e#eryone that sho"s a"e of e. (f old 7 "as once the ost bitter of tortures, hated by !eo!le, until 7 sho"ed hi life*s !ath !ro!erly o!ened, before ortal an. >0 +ehold, e the honored glorious lord abo#e all the trees of the forest, the &uardian of Hea#en, %ust as His other, ?ary herself, al ighty &od all en honor abo#e all of "o ankind. >5 /o" 7 do co and, y dear belo#ed one, that you this #ision tell to an@ re#eal the "ord that it is this glorious tree, on "hich al ighty &od did suffer for ankind*s any sins 100 and .da *s isdeeds of old. Death he there tasted6 yet the =ord arose again "ith his great !o"er to hel! an. He then to Hea#en ascended. $o here again on this ?iddle 9arth shall co e to ankind 105 on Doo sday the =ord hi self, al ighty &od, and "ith his .ngels, that "e "ill ad%udge, using that !o"er of %udg ent, u!on each indi#idual as to their !ast li#es here in this fleeting life to !re!are. 110 /or ay there any be not afraid for the "ords that the =ord ay say@ He shall ask before the ultitude "here is that an, "ho in the =ord*s na e "ould take death*s C>
bitter taste, %ust as He did before on the tree. 115 +ut they then shall be afraid and fe" "ill i agine "hat to 5hrist they can begin to say. (f no benefit then for anyone to be #ery frightened if Hi in their breast they carry this select of beacons, and by #irtue of the 5ross shall co e to the Hingdo 1A0 of 9arth each and e#ery soul, to "ith the =ord desire to d"ell.F <rayed 7 then to the tree in %oyful s!irit, "ith great 'eal, and then there 7 "as alone in s all co !any. 7t "as by y heart 1A5 urging on for"ard, the any e0!eriences do 7 long for. 7t is no" y life*s %oyous ho!e that 7 the Victory $ree ay be allo"ed to seek and oreo#er that all en, eagerly honor it thus@ it is y desire that 1B0 7 gro" great in s!irit and that y ho!e of !rotection is !ro!er to the 5ross. .lthough 7 do not ha#e any !o"erful friends in this "orld, for they ha#e left fro here and de!arted the "orldly %oys, and sought the "ondrous Hing, "ho li#es no" in Hea#en "ith the Hea#enly )ather, 1B5 "here they d"ell in glory, so 7 look for"ard each day to the ti e "hen y =ord*s 5ross, "hich here on 9arth 7 had earlier beheld, "ill fro this fleeting life carry e off and bring e then there "ith great bliss, 1C0 the hea#enly drea , there "ith the =ord*s !eo!le to be "ith al"ays, there in !er!etual bliss, and 7 then shall li#e there e#er after and allo"ed to d"ell in glory, "ith the Saints and in %oyful bliss. 7 shall be the =ord*s friend, 1C5 "ho here on 9arth did suffer once on that gallo"s tree for an*s sins@ He redee ed us and ga#e us life, and a hea#enly ho e. Ho!e has been rene"ed "ith blessings and "ith bliss for those "ho endured the fire6 150 the Son "as #ictorious on that %ourney, !o"erful and successful, that he left "ith a large ar y of souls to &od*s kingdo , the -uler al ighty, to angelic bliss he brought all the souls and ca e to Hea#en 50
155 to d"ell in glory, and that the =ord ca e, the al ighty &od, there to his ho eland "ent. 3The Drea1 "! the R""d3 "n the R0th4ell /r"ss and in the 5er6elli -""7 $he !oe in runes on the -uth"ell 5ross is the first "ritten religious !oe and !rayer in 9nglish "e ha#e today (+ede*s #ersion of 5Ld on*s 5reation Hy n is in =atin translation, not its .nglo-Sa0on original), and, like the Hy n to the 5reation, it is si ilarly a drea #ision. $he -o an 9 !ress Helena, "ho likely ca e fro Uork, "here her son had been !roclai ed 9 !eror, had co enced the !ractice and conte !lation of !ilgri age to the Holy <laces, to be follo"ed in turn by "o en such as <aula, 9ustochiu , )abiola, ?arcella, 9geria and others. 9 !eror 5onstantine had hi self been con#erted to 5hristianity, and con#erted the "hole -o an 9 !ire "ith hi to 5hristianity, because of his 5hristian other Helena and because of the drea #ision he e0!erienced (..D. B1A) of the 5ross seen by hi in the sky, !rior to his #ictory o#er a !agan ene y. /orthu bria*s Hing (s"ald (..D. 6BC), a successor to Hing 9d"in, then erected a cross !rior to the +attle of Hea#enfield in i itation of the 9 !eror 5onstantine. $he .nglo-Sa0on -uth"ell 5ross, reflecting 5onstantine and (s"ald*s crosses, allo"s those "ho see and read it to conte !late in turn each !lace concerning the life of 5hrist, /a'areth, the 9gy!tian ,ilderness, the 1ordan ,ilderness, &alilee, and 1erusale , cul inating "ith the 5rucifi0ion. 7t is a a! of the Holy <laces that !ilgri s ay read. $he runes of the *Drea of the -ood* inscribed about their edges, their argins, describe the "riter, likely 5Ld on, drea ing of the 5ross s!eaking to hi , narrating of the "ood and blood and of the sacred burden it had once borne6 then, in 5yne"ulf*s longer #ersion, of its being turned into the sacred reli4uary bedecked by the 9 !eror 5onstantine "ith gold and rubies at 5onstantino!le.
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$he &ream of the /ood is !art of the 10th century 0ercelli 'ook, but the te0t itself is older. <art of it is chiselled as runic te0t onto the -uth"ell 5ross of /orthu bria, "hich ste s fro the early eighth century. $he i age on the left is a !hotogra!h of the cross, and the te0t can be seen as lines in the fra es around the reliefs. .ccording to Heenan, the !oe *sho"s an affinity "ith 9lene in that both are disco#eries of the cross. $he disco#ery in 1lene is !seudohistorical6 that in the Drea is #isionary.* 7n fact, the &ream of the /ood is the earliest 9nglish drea -#ision. 7t is di#ided into three !arts - the #ision of the 5ross, its s!eech and the concluding reflections of the drea er. $he role of the 5ross for ulates an interesting !arado0@ $he 5ross ser#es as a faithful retainer, but in order to obey its =ord, it has to beco e his slayer. $he !oe has 4uite a fe" a!ocaly!tic ele ents. (ne of those is the idea of the 5ross as a sal#atory instru ent before %udge ent. The delight of being a !ilgri scholar is in %ourneying to 5arlisle, then across the border fro Hadrian*s ,all to +e"castle and -uth"ell to see these ancient onu ents, and then to Vercelli in 7taly and seeing its anuscri!t. /one of the original #ersions of this !oe are today in 9ngland. $oday, the 9nglish language in the "orld*s eyes, is the language of co erce, of !o"er, of imperium, like that of !agan -o e. ,e tend to forget its earliest !oe , centred ost crucially u!on the 5ross , u!on s!irituality. $hough 7 earlier ade the clai that Hilda "as res!onsible for the -uth"ell 5ross, 7 no" belie#e that it is s!ecifically the result of 5eolfrith and +ede*s ission to Hing /echtan in D10. (,e recall that 5eolfrith "as %ourneying to 5A
-o e "ith the huge 23&14 A5,AT,67- "hen he died in D1B.) 1arro" has the sa e inhabited #ine scul!ture as has the -uth"ell 5ross, co!ying classici'ing scu!tural ele ents foreign to Hibernian or .nglo-Sa0on "ork, and 5eolfrith "as s!ecifically noted by +ede to ha#e sent such stone- asons skilled in -o an "ork to Hing /echtan. $he ele ents co !rising the -uth"ell 5ross and that at +e"castle, as "ell as the fa ous !oe in runes scul!ted u!on -uth"ell, see to co e fro all the cultural ele ents !resent at 7ona, ,hitby, =indisfarne and 1arro", to be a glorious i0ture of 7rish, .nglo-Sa0on, and +y'antine styles, to be a truly cos o!olitan gathering. Si ilarly +ede de onstrates, in his "ritings, such a cos o!olitan gathering of aterials. Hilda, 5Ld on and the -uth"ell 5ross .bbess Hilda "as the great niece of Hing 9d"in, being ba!tised "ith hi by <aulinus, .ugustine*s associate, at Uork ?inster (..D. 6A5). She s!ent the first thirty-three years of her life as a secular noble"o an, the second thirtythree years as a consecrated nun and abbess at Hartle!ool, later co ing to ,hitby (..D. 680). 7n these !laces she established the onastic life obser#ing righteousness, ercy, !eace and charity. +ede tells us that@ *.fter the e0a !le of the !ri iti#e 5hurch, no one there "as rich, no one "as needy, for e#erything "as held in co on, and nothing "as considered to be anyone*s !ersonal !ro!erty. So great "as her !rudence that not only ordinary folk, but kings and !rinces used to co e and ask her ad#ice in their difficulties and take it. $hose under her direction "ere re4uired to ake a thorough study of the Scri!tures and occu!y the sel#es in good "orks, to such good effect that any "ere found fitted for Holy (rders and the ser#ice of &od*s altar. )i#e en fro this onastery later beca e bisho!s.* .t ,hitby the co"herd 5Ld on "as too asha ed to sing in turn to the har! the !agan lays, such as 'eowulf, that the others sang. +ut one night he recei#ed a #ision in "hich he "as told by an angel to sing of the 5reation of the ,orld. =ike ?ary at the .nnunciation he !rotested his un"orthiness but then obeyed. +ede records the song he sang for the angel and for Hilda. Praise "e the )ashioner no" of Hea#en*s fabric, $he a%esty of his ight and his ind*s "isdo , ,ork of the "orld "arden, "orker of all "onders, Ho" he the =ord of &lory e#erlasting, ,rought first for the race of en Hea#en as a rooftree, $hen ade he ?iddle 9arth to be their ansion. =indisfarne "as settled fro 7ona (..D. 6B5), the 9nglish 5hurch in /orthu bria, unlike that in Hent, aintaining good relationshi!s bet"een 5elts and .nglo-Sa0ons. $he 5elts had been 5hristiani'ed long before, the .nglo-Sa0on in#aders and settlers only recently beco ing con#erted to 5B
5hristianity. )ro Hilda*s ,hitby "ent issioners to co !lete that task, es!ecially along Hadrian*s ,all. .t +e"castle and at -uth"ell stand se#enth-century .nglo-Sa0on !reaching crosses, the first celebrating !eace"ea#ing arriages bet"een 5hristian and !agan .nglo-Sa0on kings and 4ueens, the second ha#ing on it, in .nglo-Sa0on runes , the !oe of * $he Drea of the -ood*. -uth"ell, %ust across the border in Scotland, "as only under .nglo-Sa0on control until ..D. 685. *$he Drea of the -ood* is likely 5Ld on*s co !osition. 7ts !agan counter!art ay be found in the Havamal, "here (dinn learns the runes of life by being hanged u!on the tree Uggdrasil for nine days and nights. 5enturies later *$he Drea of the -ood* "as re#ised by 5yne"ulf and is to be found in a anuscri!t left by an 9nglish !ilgri at 7talian Vercelli, along "ith 5yne"ulf*s other "orks, such as a !oe on St Helena , the +ritish other to the 9 !eror 5onstantine, "ho, in the legend, disco#ered the $rue 5ross in 1erusale .
A. THE 8IDDLE ENGLISH PERIOD (1066-1C00) - the drea1 alleg"r( (Langland, The 0ision of Piers the Plowman) %"er! %low#&n %"er! %low#&n (". ca. 1B60W1B>>) or 0isio (illelmi de Petro Ploughman ((illiam s 0ision of Piers Plowman ) is the title of an a!ocaly!tic ?iddle 9nglish allegorical narrati#e "ritten by ,illia =angland. 7t is "ritten in unrhy ed alliterati#e #erse di#ided into sections called F!assusF (=atin for Fste!F). Piers is considered one of the early great "orks of 9nglish literature. 7t is one of a #ery fe" ?iddle 9nglish !oe s that can stand beside 5haucer*s 2anter!ury Tales. $he !oe concerns the narrator*s intense 4uest for the true 5hristian life, in the ter s of the edie#al 5atholic ind. $hat 4uest entails a series of drea -#isions and an e0a ination into the li#es of three allegorical characters, Do-,el (8&o)(ell8), Do-+et (8&o)'etter8), and Do-+est, "ho are sought by <iers, the hu ble !lo" an of the title. $he !oe begins on the ?al#ern Hills in ?al#ern, ,orcestershire. Title and a0th"rshi2 $he ost likely (no" co only acce!ted) candidate for Piers authorshi! is a recent scholarly attribution to a ,illia =angland, about "ho little is 5C
kno"n. $his attribution to =angland is based on internal e#idence, !ri arily a see ingly autobiogra!hical section in <assus 5 of the 5-te0t of the !oe . $he ain narrator of the !oe in all the #ersions is na ed ,ill, "ith allegorical resonances clearly intended, and =angland (or =ongland) is thought to be indicated as a surna e through a!!arent !uns6 e.g., the narrator calls hi self Flong ,illF "ho has li#ed Flong in the land.F7n the si0teenth century, "hen Piers "as first !rinted, authorshi! "as attributed by #arious anti4uarians (such as 1ohn +ale) and !oets to1ohn ,ycliffe and &eoffrey 5haucer, a ongst others. So e si0teenth and se#enteenth-century !ersons regarded the !oe as anony ous, andMor associated it "ith te0ts in the !lo" an tradition of social co !laint, !articularly the 5haucerian !seude!igra!ha, The Plowman s Tale and Pierce the Ploughman s 2rede. ($he latter "as a!!ended to ("en -ogers* 1560 edition of Piers Plowman, a degraded #ersion of -obert 5ro"ley*s 1550 editions.) $he character of <iers hi self had co e to be considered by any readers to be in so e sense the author.$he first !rinted editions by 5ro"ley na ed the author as F-obert =anglandF in a !refatory note. =angland is described as a !robable !rotegX of ,ycliffe. ,ith 5ro"ley*s editions, the !oe follo"ed an e0isting and subse4uently re!eated con#ention of titling the !oe The 0ision of Piers 2or <ierce3 Plowman, "hich is in fact the con#entional na e of %ust one section of the !oe . D;-7/& the long years after the /or an 5on4uest "hen 9nglish "as a des!ised language, it beca e broken u! into any dialects. +ut as ti e "ent on and 9nglish beca e once ore the language of the educated as "ell as of the uneducated, there arose a cultured 9nglish, "hich beca e the language "hich "e s!eak to-day. 7n the ti e of 9d"ard 777 9ngland "as 9ngland again, and the rulers "ere 9nglish both in heart and in na e. +ut 9ngland "as no longer a country a!art, she "as no longer a lonely sea-girt island, but had taken her !lace a ong the great countries of 9uro!e. )or the reign of 9d"ard 777 "as a brilliant one. $he knightly, chi#alrous Hing set his country high a ong the countries of 9uro!e. ?en ade songs and sang of his #ictories, of 5re and of 5alais, and )rance bo"ed the knee to 9ngland. +ut the "ars and triu !hs of the Hing !ressed hardly on the !eo!le of 9ngland, and ere his reign "as o#er isery, !estilence, and fa ine filled the land. So any en had been killed in 9d"ard*s )rench and Scottish "ars that there "ere too fe" left to till the land. $hen ca e a terrible disease called the +lack Death, slaying young and old, rich and !oor, until nearly half the !eo!le in the land "ere dead.
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$hen fe"er still "ere left to do the "ork of the far s. 5attle and shee! strayed "here they "ould, for there "ere none to tend the . 5orn ri!ened and rotted in the fields, for there "ere none to gather it. )ood gre" dear as "orkers gre" scarce. $hen the field laborers "ho "ere left began to de and larger "ages. ?any of these laborers "ere little ore than sla#es, and their asters refused to !ay the better. $hen so e left their ho es and "ent a"ay to seek ne" asters "ho "ould be "illing to !ay ore, "hile others took to a life of "andering beggary. $he o"ners of the land had thought that they should be ruined did they !ay the great "ages de anded of the . /o" they sa" that they should be ruined 4uite as uch if they could find no one at all to do the "ork. So la"s "ere ade forcing en to "ork for the sa e "ages they had recei#ed before the !lague, and forbidding the to lea#e the to"ns and #illages in "hich they had been used to li#e. 7f they disobeyed they "ere i !risoned and !unished. Uet these ne" la"s "ere broken again and again, because bread had no" beco e so dear that it "as i !ossible for en to li#e on as little as they had done before. Still any asters tried to enforce the la", and the land "as soon filled not only "ith hunger and isery, but "ith a fierce class hatred bet"een aster and an. 7t "as the beginning of a long and bitter struggle, and as the cry of the !oor gre" louder and louder, the hatred and s!irit of re#olt gre" fiercer. +ut the great of the land see ed little touched by the sorro"s of the !eo!le. ,hile they star#ed and died, the Hing, surrounded by a glittering court, ga#e s!lendid feasts and tourna ents. He built fair !alaces and cha!els, founded a ne" round table, and thought to ake the glorious days of .rthur li#e again. .nd the great a ong the clergy cared as little for the !oor as did the great a ong the nobles. ?any of the had beco e selfish and "orldly, so e of the "icked, though of course there "ere any good en left a ong the too. $he 5hurch "as "ealthy but the !o"erful !riests ke!t that "ealth in their o"n hands, and any of the country clergy "ere al ost as iserably !oor as the !eo!le "ho they taught. .nd it "as through one of these !oor !riests, na ed ,illia =angland, that the sorro"s of the !eo!le found a #oice. ,e kno" #ery little about =angland. So little do "e kno" that "e are not sure if his na e "as really ,illia or not. +ut in his !oe called $he Vision of <iers the <lough an he says, F7 ha#e li#ed in the land, 4uoth 7, y na e is long ,ill.F 7t is chiefly fro his !oe that "e learn to kno" the an. ,hen "e ha#e read it, "e see to see hi , tall and thin, "ith lean earnest face, out of "hich shine great eyes, the eyes that see #isions. His head is sha#en like a onk*s6 he "ears a shabby long go"n "hich fla!s in the bree'e as he strides along. =angland "as born in the country, !erha!s in (0fordshire, !erha!s in Shro!shire, and he "ent to school at &reat ?al#ern. He lo#ed school, for he says@-56
F)or if hea#en be on earth, and ease to any soul, 7t is in cloister or in school. +e any reasons 7 find )or in the cloister co eth no an, to chide nor to fight, +ut all is obedience here and books, to read and to learn.F <erha!s =angland*s friends sa" that he "as cle#er, and ho!ed that he ight beco e one of the great ones in the 5hurch. 7n those days (the ?iddle .ges they "ere called) there "as no shar! line di#iding the !riests fro the !eo!le. $he one shaded off into the other, as it "ere. $here "ere any "ho "ore long go"ns and sha#ed their heads, "ho yet "ere not !riests. $hey "ere called clerks, and for a su of oney, often #ery s all, they hel!ed to sing asses for the souls of the dead, and !erfor ed other offices in connection "ith the ser#ices of the 5hurch. $hey "ere bound by no #o"s and "ere allo"ed to arry, but of course could ne#er ho!e to be !o"erful. Such "as =angland6 he arried and al"ays re ained a !oor Fclerk.F +ut if =angland did not rise high in the 5hurch, he ade hi self fa ous in another "ay, for he "rote <iers the <lough an. $his is a great book. $here is no other "ritten during the fourteenth century, in "hich "e see so clearly the life of the !eo!le of the ti e. $here are se#eral #ersions of <iers, and it is thought by so e that =angland hi self "rote and re-"rote his !oe , trying al"ays to ake it better. +ut others think that so e one else "rote the later #ersions. $he !oe is di#ided into !arts. $he first !art is $he Vision of <iers the <lough an, the second is $he Vision 5oncerning Do ,ell, Do +et, Do +est. 7n the beginning of <iers the <lough an =angland tells us ho" F7n a su er season "hen soft "as the sun, 7 "ra!!ed yself in a cloak as if 7 "ere a she!herd 7n the habit of a her it unholy of "orks, .broad 7 "andered in this "orld "onders to hear. +ut on a ?ay orning on ?al#ern Hills ?e befell a "onder, a strange thing. ?ethought, 7 "as "eary of "andering, and "ent e to rest ;nder a broad bank by a burn side. .nd as 7 lay, and leaned, and looked on the "aters 7 slu bered in a slee!ing it sounded so erry.F 7f you "ill look back you "ill see that this !oetry is #ery uch ore like =aya on*s than like the !oetry of Ha#elok the Dane. .lthough !eo!le had, for any years, been "riting rhy ing #erse, =angland has, you see, gone back to the old alliterati#e !oetry. <erha!s it "as that, li#ing far a"ay in the country, =angland had "ritten his !oe before he had heard of the ne" kind of rhy ing #erses, for ne"s tra#eled slo"ly in those days. $"o hundred years later, "hen $he Vision of <iers the <lough an "as first !rinted, the !rinter in his !reface e0!lained alliterati#e #erse #ery "ell. 5D
F=angland "rote altogether in etre,F he says, Fbut not after the anner of our ri ers that "rite no"adays (for his #erses end not alike), but the nature of his etre is to ha#e three "ords, at the least, in e#ery #erse "hich begin "ith so e one letter. .s for e0a !le the first t"o #erses of the book run u!on *s,* as thus@ *7n a so er season "han sette "as the sunne 7 sho!e e into shrobbes as 7 a she!e "ere.* $he ne0t runneth u!on *h,* as thus@ *7n habite as an Her ite unholy of "orkes.* $his thing being noted, the etre shall be #ery !leasant to read. $he 9nglish is according to the ti e it "as "ritten in, and the sense so e"hat dark, but not so hard but that it ay be understood of such as "ill not stick to break the shell of the nut for the kernel*s sake.F $his !rinter also says in his !reface that the book "as first "ritten in the ti e of Hing 9d"ard 777, F7n "hose ti e it !leased &od to o!en the eyes of any to see his truth, gi#ing the boldness of heart to o!en their ouths and cry out against the "orks of darkness. . . . $here is no anner of #ice that reigneth in any estate of an "hich this "riter hath not godly, learnedly, and "ittily rebuked.FI I-. 5ro"ley is his !reface to <iers <lough an, !rinted in 1550. 7 ho!e that you "ill be a ong those "ho "ill not Fstick to break the shell of the nut for the kernel*s sake,F and that although the Fsense be so e"hat darkF you "ill so e day read the book for yoursel#es. ?eanti e in the ne0t cha!ter 7 "ill tell you a little ore about it. ,H9/ =angland fell aslee! u!on the ?al#ern Hills he drea ed a "ondrous drea . He thought that he sa" a Ffair field full of folk,F "here "as gathered Fall the "ealth of the "orld and the "oe both.F F,orking and "ondering as the "orld asketh, So e !ut the to the !lough and !layed the full seldo , 7n eareing and so"ing laboured full hard.F +ut so e are gluttons and others think only of fine clothes. So e !ray and others %est. $here are rogues and kna#es here, friars and !riests, barons and burgesses, bakers and butchers, tailors and tanners, asons and iners, and folk of any other crafts. 7ndeed, the field is the "orld. 7t lies bet"een a to"er and a dungeon. $he to"er is &od, the dungeon is the d"elling of the 9#il (ne. $hen, as =angland looked on all this, he sa" F. lady lo#ely in face, in linnen i-clothed, 5o e ado"n fro the cliff and s!ake e fair, .nd said, *Son, slee!est thouG Seest thou this !eo!le .ll ho" busy they be about the a'eG*F =angland "as Fafeard of her face though she "as fair.F +ut the lo#ely lady, "ho is Holy 5hurch, s!eaks gently to the drea er. She tells hi that the to"er is the
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d"elling of $ruth, "ho is the lord of all and "ho gi#es to each as he hath need. $he dungeon is the castle of 5are. F$herein li#eth a "ight that ,rong is called, $he )ather of )alseness.F =o#e alone, said the lady, leads to Hea#en, F$herefore 7 "arn ye, the rich, ha#e ruth on the !oor. $hough ye be ighty in councils, be eek in your "orks, )or the sa e easure ye eet, a iss or other"ise, Ue shall be "eighed there"ith "hen ye "end hence.F F$ruth is best in all things,F she said at length. F7 ha#e told thee no" "hat $ruth is, and ay no longer linger.F .nd so she ade ready to go. +ut the drea er kneeled on his knees and !rayed her stay yet a "hile to teach hi to kno" )alsehood also, as "ell as $ruth. .nd the lady ans"ered@-F*=ook on thy left hand and see "here he standeth, +oth )alse and )lattery and all his train.* 7 looked on the left hand as the =ady e taught. $hen "as 7 "are of a "o an "ondrously cloth <urfled "ith fur, the richest on earth. 5ro"ned "ith a cro"n. $he Hing hath no better. .ll her fi#e fingers "ere fretted "ith rings (f the ost !recious stones that a !rince e#er "ore6 7n red scarlet she rode, beribboned "ith gold, $here is no 4ueen ali#e that is ore adorned.F $his "as =ady ?eed or +ribery. F$o- orro",F said Holy 5hurch, Fshe shall "ed "ith )alse.F .nd so the lo#ely =ady de!arted. =eft alone the drea er "atched the !re!arations for the "edding. $he 9arldo of 9n#y, the Hingdo of 5o#etousness, the 7sle of ;sury "ere granted as arriage gifts to the !air. +ut $heology "as angry. He "ould not !er it the "edding to take !lace. F9re this "edding be "rought, "oe betide thee,F he cried. F?eed is "ealthy6 7 kno" it. &od grant us to gi#e her unto "ho $ruth "ills. +ut thou hast bound her fast to )alseness. ?eed is gently born. =ead her therefore to =ondon, and there see if the la" allo"s this "edding.F So, listening to the ad#ice of $heology, all the co !any rode off to =ondon, &uile leading the "ay. +ut Soothness !ricked on his !alfrey and !assed the all and ca e to the Hing*s court, "here he told 5onscience all about the atter, and 5onscience told the Hing. $hen 4uoth the Hing, F7f 7 ight catch )alse and )lattery or any of their asters, 7 "ould a#enge e on the "retches that "ork so ill, and "ould hang the by the neck and all that the abet.F 5>
So he told the 5onstable to sei'e )alse and to cut off &uile*s head, Fand let not =iar esca!e.F +ut Dread "as at the door and heard the doo . He "arned the others, so that they all fled a"ay sa#e ?eed the aiden. FSa#e ?eed the aiden no an durst abide, .nd truly to tell she tre bled for fear, .nd she "e!t and "rung her hands "hen she "as taken.F +ut the Hing called a 5lerk and told hi to co fort ?eed. So 1ustice soon hurried to her bo"er to co fort her kindly, and any others follo"ed hi . ?eed thanked the all and Fga#e the cu!s of clean gold and !ieces of sil#er, rings "ith rubies and riches enough.F .nd !retending to be sorry for all that she had done a iss, ?eed confessed her sins and "as forgi#en. $he Hing then, belie#ing that she "as really sorry, "ished to arry her to 5onscience. +ut 5onscience "ould not ha#e her, for he kne" that she "as "icked. He tells of all the e#il things she does, by "hich =angland eans to sho" "hat "icked things en "ill do if te !ted by bribery and the ho!e of gain. F$hen ourned ?eed and !lained her to the Hing.F 7f en did great and noble deeds, she said, they deser#ed !raise and thanks and re"ards. F */ay,* 4uoth 5onscience to the Hing, and kneeled to the ground, *$here be t"o anner of ?eeds, y =ord, by thy life, $hat one the good &od gi#eth by His grace, gi#eth in His bliss $o the that "ill "ork "hile that they are here.*F ,hat a laborer recei#ed, he said, "as not ?eed but %ust ,ages. +ribery, on the other hand, "as e#er "icked, and he "ould ha#e none of her. 7n s!ite of all the talk, ho"e#er, no one could settle the 4uestion. So at length 5onscience set forth to bring -eason to decide. ,hen -eason heard that he "as "anted, he saddled his horse Suffer-till-7-see- yti e and ca e to court "ith ,it and ,isdo in his train. $he Hing recei#ed hi kindly, and they talked together. +ut "hile they talked <eace ca e co !laining that ,rong had stolen his goods and ill-treated hi in any "ays. ,rong "ell kne" that the co !laint "as %ust, but "ith the hel! of ?eed he "on ,it and ,isdo to his side. +ut -eason stood out against hi . F*5ounsel e not,* 4uoth -eason, *ruth to ha#e $ill lords and ladies all lo#e truth .nd their su !tuous gar ents be !ut into chests, $ill s!oiled children be chastened "ith rods, $ill clerks and knights be courteous "ith their tongues, $ill !riests the sel#es !ractise their !reaching .nd their deeds be such as ay dra" us to goodness.*F
60
$he Hing ackno"ledged that -eason "as right, and begged hi to stay "ith hi al"ays and hel! hi to rule. F7 a ready,F 4uoth -eason, Fto rest "ith thee e#er so that 5onscience be our counsellor.F $o that the Hing agreed, and he and his courtiers all "ent to church. Here suddenly the drea ends. =angland cries@-F$hen "aked 7 of y slee!. 7 "as "oe "ithal $hat 7 had not sle!t ore soundly and seen uch ore.F $he drea er arose and continued his "andering. +ut he had only gone a fe" ste!s "hen once again he sank u!on the grass and fell aslee! and drea ed. .gain he sa" the field full of folk , and to the no" 5onscience "as !reaching, and at his "ords any began to re!ent the of their e#il deeds. <ride, 9n#y, Sloth and others confessed their sins and recei#ed forgi#eness. $hen all these !enitent folk set forth in search of Saint $ruth, so e riding, so e "alking. F+ut there "ere fe" there so "ise as to kno" the "ay thither, and they "ent all a iss.F /o an could tell the "here Saint $ruth li#ed. .nd no" a!!ears at last <iers <lough an, "ho gi#es his na e to the "hole !oe . F:uoth a !lough an and !ut forth his head, *7 kno" hi as "ell as a clerk kno" his books. 5lear 5onscience and ,it sho"ed e his !lace .nd did engage e since to ser#e hi e#er. +oth in so"ing and setting, "hich 7 labour, 7 ha#e been his an this fifteen "inters.*F <iers described to the !ilgri s all the long "ay that they ust go in order to find $ruth. He told the that they ust go through ?eekness6 that they ust cross the ford Honor-your-father and turn aside fro the brook +ear-no-false-"itness, and so on and on until they co e at last to Saint $ruth. F7t "ere a hard road unless "e had a guide that ight go "ith us afoot until "e got there,F said the !ilgri s. So <iers offered, if they "ould "ait until he had !lo"ed his field, to go "ith the and sho" the the "ay. F$hat "ould be a long ti e to "ait,F said a lady. F,hat could "e "o en do eanti eGF .nd <iers ans"ered@-FSo e should se" sacks to hold "heat. .nd you "ho ha#e "ool "ea#e it fast, S!in it s!eedily, s!are not your fingers ;nless it be a holy day or holy e#e. =ook out your linen and "ork on it 4uickly, $he needy and the naked take care ho" they li#e, .nd cast on the clothes for the cold, for so $ruth desires.F $hen any of the !ilgri s began to hel! <iers "ith his "ork. 9ach an did "hat he could, Fand so e to !lease <iers !icked u! the "eeds.F 61
F+ut so e of the sat and sang at ale .nd hel!ed hi to !lough "ith *Hytrolly-lolly.*F $o these idle ones <iers "ent in anger. F7f ye do not run 4uickly to your "ork,F he cried, Fyou "ill recei#e no "age6 and if ye die of hunger, "ho "ill care.F $hen these idle ones began to !retend that they "ere blind or la e and could not "ork. $hey ade great oan, but <iers took no heed and called for Hunger. $hen Hunger sei'ed the idle ones and beat and buffeted the until they "ere glad to "ork. .t last $ruth heard of <iers and of all the good that he "as doing a ong the !ilgri s, and sent hi a !ardon for all his sins. 7n those days !eo!le "ho had done "rong used to !ay oney to a !riest and think that they "ere forgi#en by &od. .gainst that belief =angland !reaches, and his !ardon is so ething different. 7t is only FDo "ell and ha#e "ell, and &od shall ha#e thy soul. .nd do e#il and ha#e e#il, ho!e none other $hat after thy death day thou shalt turn to the 9#il (ne.F .nd o#er this !ardon a !riest and <iers began so loudly to dis!ute that the drea er a"oke, F.nd sa" the sun that ti e to"ards the south, .nd 7 eatless and oneyless u!on the ?al#ern Hills.F $hat is a little of the story of the first !art of <iers <lough an. 7t is an allegory, and in "riting it =angland "ished to hold u! to scorn all the "ickedness that he sa" around hi , and shar!ly to !oint out any causes of isery. $here is laughter in his !oe , but it is the terrible and harsh laughter of conte !t. His ost bitter "ords, !erha!s, are for the idle rich, but the idle !oor do not esca!e. $hose "ho beg "ithout sha e, "ho cheat and steal, "ho are greedy and drunken ha#e a share of his "rath. Uet =angland is not all harshness. His great "ord is Duty, but he s!eaks of =o#e too. F=earn to lo#e, 4uoth Hing, and lea#e off all other.F $he !oe is ra bling and disconnected. 5haracters co e on the scene and #anish again "ithout cause. Stories begin and do not end. 7t is all "ild and i !robable like a drea , yet it is full of interest. +ut !erha!s the chief interest and #alue of <iers <lough an is that it is history. 7t tells us uch of "hat the !eo!le thought and of ho" they li#ed in those days. 7t sho"s us the first utterings of the stor that "as to rend the "orld. $his "as the stor of the -efor ation "hich "as to di#ide the "orld into <rotestant and 5atholic. +ut =angland hi self "as not a <rotestant. .lthough he s!eaks bitter "ords against the e#il deeds of !riest and onk, he does not attack the 5hurch. $o hi she is still Holy 5hurch, a radiant and lo#ely lady.
6A
the Arth0rian r"1an6e (-ir Gawain and the Green %night)
H"!tor" &l %rolo)ue (1) $he siege and assault ha#ing ceased at $roy as its bla'ing battle ents blackened to ash, the an "ho had !lanned and !lotted that treason had trial enough for the truest traitorE $hen .eneas the !rince and his honored line !lundered !ro#inces and held in their !o"er nearly all the "ealth of the "estern isles. $hus -o ulus s"iftly arri#ing at -o e sets u! that city and in s"elling !ride gi#es it his na e, the na e it no" bears6 and in $uscany $irius raises u! to"ns, and in =o bardy =angoberde settles the land, and far !ast the )rench coast )eli0 +rutus founds +ritain on broad hills, and so bright ho!es begin, "here "onders, "ars, isfortune and troubled ti es ha#e been, "here bliss and blind confusion ha#e co e and gone again. (A) )ro the founding of +ritain by this bra#e !rince, 6B
bold en ha#e bred there, burning for "ar, stirring u! tur oil through the turning years. ?ore "onders in the "orld ha#e been "itnessed here than any"here else fro that age for"ard. +ut of all "ho "ere cro"ned kings o#er +ritain the ost honor "as .rthur*s, as old tales tell. So 7 ean to ake kno"n a ar#el on earth, an astonishing sight, as so e en "ould call it, an e0traordinary e0!loit a ong .rthur*s "onders. =isten to this lay for a little "hile and as to"ns en tell it, so this tale "ill tri! along, a story !inned in !atterns steadfast, steady, strong@ aligned in linking letters as folk ha#e lo#ed so long. +ook 7@ 5hrist as in 5a elot (B) (ne 5hrist as in 5a elot Hing .rthur sat at ease "ith his lords and loyal liege en arranged as brothers round the -ound $able. $heir reckless %okes rang about that rich hall till they turned fro the table to the tourna ent field and %ousted like gentle en "ith lances and laughs, then troo!ed to court in a carolling cro"d. )or the feast lasted a full fifteen days of eals and erri ent (as uch as could fit.) Such gay glee ust gladden the ear -by day "hat a din, and dancing by nightE $he halls and cha bers "ere hea!ed "ith ha!!y lords and ladies as high as you likeE $here they "ere gathered "ith all the "orld*s goodness@ knights as kind as 5hrist hi self, ladies as lo#ely as e#er ha#e li#ed, and the noblest king our nation has kno"n. $hey "ere yet in the !ride, in the !ri e of their youth, and filled as full of hea#en*s blessing as the king had strength of "ill. 6C
.nd ighty en sur!assing all "ere gathered on that hill. (C) ,hile the year "as as young as /e" Uears can be the dais "as !re!ared for a double feast. $he king and his co !any ca e in together "hen ass had been chanted6 and the cha!el e !tied as clergy and co ons alike cried out, F/oelE /oelEF again and again. .nd the lords ran around loaded "ith !arcels, !al s e0tended to !ass out !resents, or cro"ded together co !aring gifts. $he ladies laughed "hen they lost at a ga e (that the "inner "as "illing, you ay "ell belie#eE) -ound they illed in a erry ob till the eal "as ready, "ashed the sel#es "ell, and "alked to their !laces (the best for the best on seats raised abo#e.) $hen &uine#ere o#ed gaily a ong the , took her !lace on the dais, "hich "as dearly adorned "ith sides of fine silk and a cano!ied ceiling of sheer stuff@ and behind her shi ering ta!estries fro far $arsus, e broidered, bedecked "ith bright ge s that the %e"elers "ould !ay a !retty !rice for any day, but the finest ge in the field of sight looked back@ her eyes "ere grey. $hat a lo#elier*s li#ed to delight the ga'e - is a lie, 7*d sayE (5) +ut .rthur "ould not eat till all "ere ser#ed. He bubbled to the bri "ith boyish s!irits@ liked his life light, and loathed the thought of la'ing for long or sitting still longer. So his young blood boiled and his brain ran "ild, and in any "ays o#ed hi still ore as a !oint of honor ne#er to eat on a high holiday till he should ha#e heard 65
a strange story of stirring ad#entures, of ighty ar#els to ake the ind "onder, of !rinces, !ro"ess, or !erilous deeds. (r so eone ight co e, seeking a knight to %oin hi in %ousting, en%oying the risk of laying their li#es on the line like en lea#ing to fortune the choice of her fa#or. $his "as the king*s custo at court, the !ractice he follo"ed at !leasant feasts held in his hall6 therefore "ith bold face he stood there straight and tall. .s /e" Uears !roceeded a!ace he eant to ha#e irth "ith the all. (6) So he stood there stock-still, a king standing tall, talking of courtly trifles before the high table. +y &uine#ere sat &a"ain the &ood, and .gra#aine of the Hea#y Hand on the other side@ knights of great "orth, and ne!he"s to the king. +ald"in, the bisho!, "as abo#e, by the head, "ith U"ain, ;rien*s son, sitting across. $hese sat at the dais and "ere ser#ed "ith due honor6 and any ighty en "ere seated on either side. $hen the first course ca e "ith a cla or of tru !ets "hose banners billo"ed bright to the eye, "hile kettledru s rolled and the cry of the !i!es "akened a "ild, "arbling usic "hose touch ade the heart tre ble and ski!. Delicious dishes "ere rushed in, fine delicacies fresh and !lentiful, !iled so high on so any !latters they had !roble s finding !laces to set do"n their sil#er bo"ls of stea ing sou!@ no s!ot "as clear. 9ach lord dug in "ith !leasure, and grabbed at "hat lay near@ t"el#e !latters !iled !ast easure, bright "ine, and foa ing beer.
66
(D) 7 need say no ore ho" they ser#ed the food, for "hat fool "ould fancy their feast "as a fa ineG +ut a ne" noise announced itself 4uickly enough to grant the high lord lea#e to ha#e dinner. $he usic had finished but a o ent before, the first course %ust ser#ed, and set before the court, "hen a horrible horse an hurtled through the doors, his body as bra"ny as any can be, so bull-necked, big-thighed, bulky and s4uare, so long-legged, large-li bed, loo ing so tall 7 can hardly tell if he "ere half troll, or erely as large as li#ing an can be -a handso e one too6 as hearty a hulk as e#er rode horse. His back and chest "ere broad as a barrel, but he sli ed at the "aist, "ith a slender sto ach, and his face "as "ell for ed, "ith features shar! and clean -?en sat there ga!ing, gas!ing at his strange, unearthly sheen, as if a ghost "ere !assing, for e#ery inch "as green. (8) He "as got u! in green fro head to heel@ a tunic "orn tight, tucked to his ribs6 and a rich cloak cast o#er it, co#ered inside "ith a fine fur lining, fitted and se"n "ith er ine tri that stood out in contrast fro his hair "here his hood lay folded flat6 and handso e hose of the sa e green hue "hich clung to his cal#es, "ith clustered s!urs of bright gold6 beneath the stri!ed e broidered silk abo#e his bare shanks, for he rode shoeless. His clothes "ere all kindled "ith a clear light like e eralds@ His belt buckles s!arkled, and bright stones "ere set in rich ro"s arranged u! and do"n hi self and his saddle. ,orked in the silk "ere too any trifles to tell the half of@ 6D
e broidered birds, butterflies, and other things in a gaudy glory of green and inlaid gold. .nd the bit and bridle, the breast!late on the horse, and all its tackle "ere tri ed "ith green ena el, e#en the saddlestra!s, the stirru!s on "hich he stood, and the bo"s of his saddle "ith its billo"ing skirts "hich gli ered and glinted "ith green %e"els. $he stallion that bore hi "as the best of its breed it "as !lain, a green horse great and strong, that sidled, danced and strained, but the bridle-braid led it along, turning as it "as trained. (>) He "as a fine fello" fitted in green -.nd the hair on his head and his horse*s atched. 7t fanned out freely enfolding his shoulders, and his beard hung belo" as big as a bush, all i0ed "ith the ar#elous ane on his head, "hich "as cut off in curls cascading to his elbo"s, "ra!!ing round the rest of hi like a king*s ca!e clas!ed to his neck. .nd the ane of his ount "as uch the sa e, but curled u! and co bed in cris! knots, in braids of bright gold thread and brilliant green criss-crossed hair by hair. .nd the tossing tail "as t"in to the ane, for both "ere bound "ith bright green ribbons, strung to the end "ith long strands of !recious stones, and turned back tight in a t"isted knot bright "ith tinkling bells of burnished gold. /o such horse on hoof had been seen in that hall, nor horse an half so strange as their eyes no" held in sight. He looked a lightning flash, they say@ he see ed so bright6 and "ho "ould dare to clash in elee "ith such ightG
68
(10) Uet he had on no hauberk, nor a hel et for his head, neither neck-guard nor breast!late to break hea#y blo"s, neither shaft nor shield for the shock of co bat. +ut he held in one hand a s!rig of holly that bursts out greenest "hen branches are bare6 and his other hand hefted a huge and a"ful a0, a broad battlea0 "ith a bit to tell (take it "ho can) "ith a large head four feet long@ the green steel do"n the grain etched "ith gold, its broad edge burnished and bright, sha!ed ra'or-shar! to sheer through steel, and held high on a hea#y staff "hich "as bound at the base "ith iron bands gracefully engra#ed in bright green !atterns. . stra! "as strung through the steel head, running loo! after loo! do"n the length of the handle, "hich "as tied "ith tassels in abundance, attaching by rich braids onto bright green buttons. $his rider reined in as he rode through the doors direct to the high dais "ithout a "ord, gi#ing no greeting, ga'ing do"n on the all. His first "ord ca e "hen he sto!!ed. F,here,F he said, Fis the aster of these enG 7*#e a ind to see his face and "ould fancy a chat "ith the fello" "ho "ears the cro"n.F $o each lord he turned and glancing u! and do"n he fi0ed each face to learn "hich knight held ost reno"n. (11) $hey stared at the stranger, stunned, a #ery long ti e. )or each an "ondered "hat it ight ean that an and ount both shone a shade as green as the grass, and greener e#en than green ena el glo"s "hen gold akes it brighter. .ll eyes "ere on hi , and so e edged closer, "ondering "hat in the "orld he "ould do. 6>
$hey had seen enough strange sights to kno" ho" seldo they are real6 therefore they feared hi for a !hanto , a sending fro the ;nseen -eal . So of all those noble knights, none dared ans"er but sat there stu!efied by the strength of his #oice. . silence fell filling that rich hall as if they*d all fainted or suddenly sle!t@ their #oices %ust #anished at their height. So e, 7 su!!ose, "ere not floored, but chose to be !olite, letting their leader and lord be first to s!eak to that knight. (1A) .rthur stood "atching ad#enture ad#ance and ans"ered 4uickly as honor bid, neither a"ed nor afraid, saying, F,anderer, kno" you are "elco e here. dis ount, if you ay6 ake erry as you "ish, and "e ay learn in a little "hile "hat you "ould like.F FSo hel! e &od "ho sits on high,F he said, F/o.F F7t is not y !ur!ose to !ass any ti e in this !lace. +ut 7 ha#e been told that your re!utation to"ers to hea#en@ that your court and castle are accounted the finest, your knights and their steeds as the sturdiest in steel, the best, the boldest, the bra#est on earth, and as fitting foes in any fine s!ort. $rue knighthood is kno"n here, or so the tale runs, "hich is "hy 7 ha#e co e calling today. Uou ay be sure by this branch that 7 bear that 7 co e in !eace, "ith no !lans for battle. 7 ha#e a hauberk at ho e, and a hel et too, and other "ea!ons 7 kno" "ell ho" to "ield. Uet as "ar is not y "ish 7 a "earing soft silk, but, if you are as bold as en belie#e you to be, you "ill be glad to grant e the ga e that is ine by right.F $hen .rthur said, F7 s"ear,F F ost courteous, noble knight, if you*d like to battle bare, you*ll not fail to find a fight.F
D0
(1B) F/e#er fear,F he said, F7* not fishing for a fight "ith the beardless children on the benches all about. 7f 7 "ere stra!!ed on steel on a sturdy horse no an here has ight to atch e. /o, 7 ha#e co e to this court for a bit of 5hrist as fun fitting for Uuletide and /e" Uears "ith such a fine cro"d. ,ho here in this house thinks he has "hat it takes, has bold blood and a brash head, and dares to stand his ground, gi#ing stroke for strokeG HereE 7 shall gi#e hi this gilded blade as y gift6 this hea#y a0 shall be his, to handle as he likes. and 7 shall stand here bare of ar or, and bra#e the first blo". 7f anyone*s tough enough to try out y ga e, let hi co e here 4uickly and clai his "ea!onE 7 gi#e u! all rights6 he "ill get it for kee!s. 7*ll stand like a tree trunk -- he can strike at e once, if you*ll grant e the right to gi#e as good as 7 get in !lay. +ut later is soon enough, a full year and a day. &et u!, if you think you*re rough, let*s see "hat you dare to sayEF (1C) 7f at first he had stunned the , no" they sat stone-still@ the "hole hall, both high and lo". $he ounted an o#ed in his saddle, glared a red glance gri ly about, arched his bushy bro"s, all brilliant and green, his beard "a#ing as he "aited for one an to rise, to call or ca e for"ard. He coughed loudly, stretched slo"ly, and straightened to s!eak. FHahE $hey call this Hing .rthur*s house, a li#ing legend in land after landG ,here ha#e your !ride and your !o"er gone, your bragging boasts, your big "ordsG $he glories and triu !hs of the -ound $able ha#e to!!led at the touch of one an*s "ordsE D1
,hatG )ainting "ith fear, "hen no fight is offeredGF He let out a laugh so loud that .rthur "inced "ith sha e6 the blood shot to his flushed face and churned "ith rage and raised a stor until their hearts all burned. .ll king in face and for , he reached that rider, turned, (15) and said, F=ook here, by hea#enE Ha#e you lost your indG 7f you "ant to be ad, 7 "ill ake you "elco eE /obody 7 kno" is bo"led o#er by your big "ords, so hel! e &odE Hand e that a0 -7 "ill grant you the gift you beg e to gi#eEF He lea!ed lightly u! and lifted it fro his hand. $hen the an dis ounted, o#ing !roudly, "hile .rthur held the a0, both hands on the haft, hefted it sternly, considered his stroke. $hat burly an bulked big and tall, a head higher than anyone in the house. He stood there hard-faced, stroking his beard, i !assi#ely "atching as he !ulled off his coat, no ore o#ed or dis ayed by his ighty s"ings than anybody "ould be if so ebody brought hi a bottle of "ine. &a"ain, sitting by the 4ueen, could tell the king his ind@ F=ord, hear "ell "hat 7 ean, and let this atch be ine.F (16) F&rant lea#e, good lord,F said &a"ain to the king, Fto stir fro y seat and stand by your side6 that 7 ight rise "ithout rudeness fro this table "ithout fear of offending your fair 4ueen, and co e before your court as a counselor should. 7t is !lainly i !ro!er, as !eo!le kno" "ell, to !oint this !ro!osal at the !rince hi self. DA
$hough you ay be eager to act for yourself, there are so any bold knights on the benches all about, none ore asterful in ind aybe than o#e o#e under hea#en, nor any built better for the field of battle. (f all your en of "ar 7 a the "eakest and least "ise, and y life little enough to lose, if you look at it clearly. ?y only honor is that you are y uncle6 y only boast is that y body carries your blood. Since this "hole atter is such a ockery, it is not eant for you6 and 7 a first on the field@ let this folly be ine. 7f y clai is uncalled-for let the court %udge6 7 "ill bear the bla e.F $hey huddled hushed around and all ad#ised the sa e@ res!ect the royal cro"n, and gi#e &a"ain the ga e. (1D) $hen the king co anded hi to rise and co e for"ard, and he stood 4uickly, "alked "ith stately ste!s to kneel before the king and clai his "ea!on. .rthur handed it o#er and held u! his hand to gi#e hi &od*s blessing. ,ith a glad s ile he charged hi to be hardy in heart. F5ousin, careful,F he said, Fcut hi but once. and if you teach hi truly, 7 trust you "ill find you can bear the blo" that he brings you later.F &a"ain "ent to the "arrior, "ea!on in hand, not the least bit bashful, as bold as can be. $hen the &reen Hnight said to &a"ain, F,e should go o#er our agree ent before "e begin. )irst, knight, 7 "ould kno" your na e, told truly as one 7 can trust.F F?y na e is &a"ain,F he said, F7 gi#e it in good faith, as 7 "ill gi#e you a blo" and bear "hat co es after. .t this ti e in t"el#e onths 7 "ill take a blo" back fro "hat "ea!on you "ish, but fro no other knight ali#e.F $he other ans"ering s!oke, FSir &a"ain@ good. 7 deri#e DB
great !leasure fro the stroke your hardy hands "ill dri#e.F (18) F&adEF the &reen Hnight said. FSir &a"ain, 7 a glad that your fist "ill fetch e the fun 7 ho!ed to find. Uou ha#e 4uickly retold in trust"orthy "ords a correct account of the contract 7 asked of the king, sa#e one sti!ulation that 7 ust state@ let it stand as your oath that you "ill seek e yourself, and search any"here you feel 7 ay be found to fetch back the sa e "ages 7 a !aid today before this !roud court.F F,here should 7 lookGF &a"ain asked, F,here do you li#eGF F+y Hi that ade e, your house is not kno"n to e, neither do 7 kno" you, knight, nor your court nor your na e. +ut teach e truly, tell e "here to find you and 7 shall "ork y "its out to "in y "ay there. 7 gi#e y !lain !ro ise6 7 !ledge you y "ord.F F$hat is enough for a /e" Uear*s !ledge6 you need say no ore,F -- So the green an ans"ered gracious &a"ain -F7f 7* telling the truth, "hy, "hen 7*#e taken your ta!, and you*#e lo!!ed e lo#ingly, you*ll learn at once of y house and y ho e and ho" 7 a na ed. $hen you can try y hos!itality and be true to our co !act. (r 7*ll ha#e no "ords to "aste, "hich "ould be "ell for you@ you*d rela0 in this land, and not look for e further. +ut sto!E $ake u! the gri tool you need, and sho" e ho" you cho!.F F&ladly, sir,F he said, F7ndeed,F and ga#e the a0 a stro!. (1>) $he green knight got ready, feet fir on the ground6 leaned his head a little to let the cheek sho", and raised the rich riot of his hair so the na!e of his neck "as naked and e0!osed. &a"ain held the a0 high o#erhead, his left foot set before hi on the floor, DC
s"ung s"iftly at the soft flesh so the bit of the blade broke through the bones, crashed through the clear fat and cut it in t"o, and the brightly burnished edge bit into the earth. $he handso e head fell, hit the ground, and rolled for"ard6 they fended it off "ith their feet. $he red blood burst bright fro the green body, yet the fello" neither faltered nor fell but ste!!ed strongly out on sturdy thighs, reached roughly right through their legs, grabbed his graceful head and lifted it fro the ground, ran to his horse, caught hold of the reins, ste!!ed in the stirru!, strode into the saddle, the head dangling by the hair fro his hand, and seated hi self as fir ly in the saddle as if he "ere unhurt, though he sat on his horse "ithout a head. He s"i#eled his bulk about6 the ugly stu ! still bled. $hey ga!ed in fear and doubt because of the "ords he said. (A0) )or he held the head u! e#enly in his hand, turned the face to"ard the to! of the high table, and the eyelids lifted and looked on the all "hile the outh o#ed, aking these "ords@ F&a"ain, get ready to go as you ha#e !ro ised, Seek e out, sir6 search till you find e as s"orn here in this hall "here all these knights heard. 7 charge you, co e as you chose to the &reen 5ha!el to get as good as you ga#e -- you*#e got it co ing and "ill be !aid !ro !tly "hen another year has !assed. ?any en kno" e as the Hnight of the &reen 5ha!el, so search faithfully and you*ll not fail to find e. 5o e, or be called a faithless co"ardEF He roared like a raging bull, turned the reins, and dro#e for the door, still dangling the head, "hile fire flashed fro the horse*s feet as if its hoo#es "ere flints. ,here he "ent no one kne", D5
nor could they na e the country he ca e fro nor his kin. ,hat thenG $he king and &a"ain grinned and laughed at the &reen Hnight "hen they kne" full "ell it had been a !ortent to their en. (A1) $hough High Hing .rthur*s heart "as hea#y "ith "onder he let no sign of it be seen, but said aloud "ith a king*s courtesy to his lo#ely 4ueen@ F+elo#ed lady, ne#er let this dis ay you. 7t is good to get such ga es at 5hrist as, light interludes, laughter and song, or the "hole court singing carols in chorus. +ut truly, 7 can turn no" to y table and feast6 as y "ord is good, 7 ha#e "itnessed a "onder.F He turned to Sir &a"ain and tactfully said, FHang u! your a06 it has cut all it can.F 7t "as attached to a ta!estry abo#e the high table for all en to ar#el on "ho ight see it there, as a true token of a tale of "onder. $hen they sat in their seats to resu e their feast, &a"ain and the king together, "hile good en ser#ed the the rarest, dearest delicacies in double !ortions, "ith "hole batteries of the best foods, and the singing of bards. $he day finished, and their feast "as filled "ith %oy and 'est. Sir &a"ain, ha#e a care to kee! your courage for the test, and do the deed you*#e dared. Uou*#e begun@ no" bra#e the rest. )or"ard to +ook 77 &a"ain*s 1ourney (=ines C>1-D8C, sections AA-BB) (AA) $his gift of ad#enture is "hat .rthur got to bring in the year "ith the boasts he liked best. Uet they said little, but sat, took their seats, D6
gorged "ith gri business hea!ed in their hands. &a"ain "as glad "hen those ga es began, but no one should "onder at the "eighty ending. ?en*s inds ay gro" erry "hen their drinks are ighty, but a year !aces !ast in unforeseen !atterns@ $he odel seldo atches "hat is ade. So Uule raced by, and the year ran after, each season !assing in set se4uence. .fter 5hrist as co es the disco fort of =ent, "hich tries the flesh "ith fish and si !le food. +ut then the "orld*s "eather "restles "ith "inter@ cold clings to the ground, but clouds rise, releasing "ar rain6 rinsing sho"ers fall to the flat earth6 flo"ers a!!ear, both field and forest are fringed "ith green. +irds busy the sel#es building, and "ith brilliant song celebrate su er, for soon each slo!e "ill rush to bloo "ith blosso s set in lines lu0uriant and lush, "hile noble notes for nets that fill the forest hush. (AB) $hen the su er season "hen the "est bree'e blo"s and soft "inds sigh on seed and ste . Ho" the green things glory in their urgent gro"th "hen the dri!!ing de" dro!s fro the lea#es, "aiting for the "ar sun*s "elco e glance. +ut then )all flies in, and fills their hearts, +idding the be rich, ri!e, and ready for "inter. $he autu n drought dri#es u! dust that billo"s in clouds abo#e the broad earth. ,ild "inds "histle, "restling the sun6 =ea#es launch fro each li b and land on the soil, "hile the green grass fades to grey. ,hat rose at the first no" ri!ens and rots till the year has gathered its full yield of yesterdays. 7n the "ay of the "orld, "inter "inds .round til the ?ichael as oon brings frost to touch the ground. DD
,hen &a"ain re e bers all too soon that he is duty bound. (AC) Uet he lingered "ith .rthur !ast .ll Saints 9#e "ho set u! a feast to send his knight off "ith re#elry rich as the -ound $able offered. Uet lordly knights and lo#ely ladies ga'ing at &a"ain an0ious "ith grief let nothing but laughter !ass through their li!s. $hey ade the sel#es erry for one an*s sake. Sad after su!!er he sought out his uncle, s!oke of his 4uest, and clearly !roclai ed@ F?y life*s o"n liege lord, 7 ask no" your lea#e. ,hat this atter eans, and ho" uch it costs you kno" "ell enough@ nothing "orth "ords. +ut soon after da"n 7 ust search out onslaught and eet the green an@ ay &od be y guide.F $hen the highest in that hall hastened together, 7"ain, and 9rric, and any another W Sir Dodinel de Sau#age, the Duke of 5larence, =ancelot, and =yonel, and =ucan the &ood, Sir +ors and Sir +edi#ere (big en both) .nd any !roud lords, "ith ?ador de la <ort. $hus the court collected and ca e near the king to offer ad#ice "ith anguished hearts. So uch secret sorro" s"e!t through that hall that one so good as &a"ain ust go forth doo ed to bear the brunt of a blo" and let his o"n blade rest. +ut &a"ain said "ith cheerful face@ F,hy shrink back fro the 4uestG $hough fate bring glory or disgrace . an ust eet the test.F (A5) He rested till orning then rose to get ready, asked early for his ar or and they brought it all out, arranging each !iece on a rich, red rug "here the gear all glittered like a gallery of gold. $he strong knight stood there to take u! his steel, dearly dressed in a doublet of silk and a hooded cloak cunningly ade D8
"ith a lining of er ine layered inside. His feet "ere fitted in fine steel shoes, and his legs "ere sheathed in shining grea#es "ith kneeguards abo#e the , burnished bright and tied to his knees "ith tassels of gold -$hen cuisse-!lates "hose cle#er cur#es enclosed his thick, hard thighs, and "ere bound there "ith thongs6 "hile the esh of his ail-shirt "ith its rings of bright etal richly 4uilted, "ra!!ed hi round, and "ell-burnished braces on both of his ar s, gallant elbo"-gear and gauntlets of steel, and all the finest, fairest stuff to fit hi for his ride a surcoat richly ade, his gold s!urs "orn "ith !ride, girt "ith a glistening blade, a silk sash round his side. (A6) ,hen he got it all on his gear "as s!lendid@ each loo! and latch-hook lustrous "ith gold. He left as he "as, then listened to ass offered in honor before the high altar, ca e to the king and his court co !anions, took lo#ing lea#e of lords and ladies in a cro"d of kisses and ho!es for 5hrist*s care. &ringolet "as groo ed and ready to go, his glea ing saddle gaily fringed "ith gold ne"ly nailed there for this atter of note. His stri!ed bridle "as bound "ith bright gold. $he !attern of the harness and the !roud skirts, of saddle-bo", ca!arison, cru!!er "ere all the sa e@ red arrayed "ith rich gold studs that glinted and glittered like the glance of the sun. $hen he held u! his hel and kissed it in haste@ 7t "as stiffened "ith sta!les, !added "ith stuffing, Sat high on his head, and buckled behind "here the neck-guard "as graced "ith glea ing silk bedecked and e broidered "ith the best ge s. $here "ere birds on the sea s of the broad silk bands@ !ainted !arrots on a field of !eri"inkles, turtledo#es ent"ined "ith truelo#e bloo s too thick D>
to be se"n by any "o en in se#en "inters* care. Uet nothing half so dear brought color any"here as the circlet*s bright and clear dia onds in his hair. (AD) ,hen they brought hi his shield, it "as bright red gules, !ainted "ith a !entacle of !urest gold. Holding the baldric, he hung it fro his neck, and the sign thus set suited hi "ell. ,hy the !entacle is !ro!er to that noble !rince 7 ust let you kno", though 7 linger in the telling. 7t is a sign that Solo on set long ago to signify truth by a trust"orthy token. 7t is a figure "ith fi#e fine !oints and each line o#erla!s and locks "ith the others, e#ery"here endless@ the 9nglish, 7 hear, ost often call it the 9ndless Hnot. .nd so it fits this knight "ith his flashing ar or, "ho "as faithful fi#e "ays and fi#e ti es each. .ll kne" &a"ain to be good as !urified gold@ de#oid of #illainy, his #irtues "ere a court*s delight. $hus he "ore the fi#e-!oint star on shield and surcoat in !lain sight, his honor "ithout stain or scar, a gentle, lo"-#oiced knight. (A8) )irst, he "as found faultless in his fi#e senses, and his fi#e fingers ne#er failed hi in any deed, and all his faith in this "orld "as in the fi#e "ounds that 5hrist carried on the cross, as the 5reed infor s us. /o atter "here he o#ed in elee or in battle it "as his fer#ent thought through thick or thin that "hen he fought his courage ca e fro the fi#e %oys the high :ueen of Hea#en had of her child. (.nd so the noble knight "ould ne#er "ear his shield till her i age had been !ainted on the inner half6 for "hen he sa" her face his courage ne#er failed.) .nd a fifth fi#e "as found in &a"ain@ 80
bounty and brotherhood abo#e all else6 courtesy and a clean heart (these "ere ne#er crooked) and the finest !oint, co !assion -- these fi#e #irtues arked hi ore than any an ali#e. /o" all these fi#e fi#es "ere fastened round this knight and each e braced the others in unbroken !attern and et in fi#e fi0ed !oints that ne#er failed, nor bunched together, nor s!lit in !ieces, but ran on endlessly at e#ery !oint -"here the figure failed, it found ne" beginnings. $herefore the shield shone "ith the knot thus sha!ed, gold royally arranged against red gules -the noble !entacle as it is kno"n by en of lore. /o" ready to go his "ay, he lifted his lance as if for "ar, ga#e the all good day -and left the there fore#er ore. (A>) He set s!urs to his steed and s!rang on his "ay so s"iftly the s!arks s!rayed out behind hi . .ll that sa" hi so s!lendid sighed dee! "ithin and "his!ered soft "ords one to another in co !assion for that !rince@ F+y 5hrist, "hat a !ity, to lose such a leader, "h ose life is so nobleE $here is hardly his e4ual any"here on earthE . "ary a!!roach "ould ha#e been "iser6 better to ha#e ade such a an a duke -such a brilliant leader6 the best in the land. +etter by far than this foolish "aste, beheaded by an elf, and all for arrogant !rideE ,hat kind of king "ould take such counsel "hen his courtiers 4uarrel o#er 5hrist as ga esG Ho" the "ar tears "elled till all their eyes "ere "et "hen that handso e lord left his ho e behind that day, nor lingered on his road, but s"iftly found his "ay. $hrough !athless real s he rode -so 7 heard the annal say. (B0) 81
So this rider rode through the real of +ritain, Sir &a"ain in &od*s ser#ice@ and to hi it "as no ga e. He "ould lie do"n alone "ith no one to lead, nor find before hi any food that he liked, /or any hel! but his horse o#er hill and "ood, /or any an but his ?aker to ake con#ersation -till he neared the neighborhood of /orth ,ales, held all the isles of .nglesey on his left and reached the ri#er "here its headlands rose high near Holyhead, and held on across through the )orest of ,irral. )e" or none li#ed there "ho &od could lo#e, or a good-hearted an. .nd he asked often, of all "ho he et if they could gi#e hi ne"s of a green knight or ho" he could get to the &reen 5ha!el. .nd they all said no, ne#er in their li#es had they seen so eone "ho "as such a shade as green. $he !aths he "ould take "ere strange, "ith little cheer to glean, and his ho!es "ould often change till that cha!el could be seen. (B1) He cli bed !ast cliffs in unkno"n country, a stranger faring far fro his ho e. .t each strea and ford that he found in those lands ene ies lurked (unless his luck held) -#icious, #iolent, hard to a#oid. 7n those ountains he et so any strange "onders a tenth of the total could hardly be told. He dared to fight dragons and "arred "ith "ol#es, or lurking "oses, li#ing "ild on the crags, or "ith bulls, or bears, or boars on occasion, and trolls that hunted hi across the high hills. (nly constant courage and the care of his &od could sa#e hi so eti es fro certain death. )or if "arfare "as hard, "inter "as "orse, "hen the clouds shed "ater cold and clear "hich fro'e in the air and fell as sleet. He lay do"n half-dead, drenched in his ar or, too any ti es to bear@ and on barren stone 8A
"here cold-running creeks ca e clattering do"n and icecicles hardened high o#erhead. $hus "ith !eril and !ain, in difficult !light, he carried on alone till the 9#e of 5hrist as fell. $hen lifting head he cried@ F&ood ?ary, hear e "ell -and grant e grace to ride to real s "here !eo!le d"ell.F (BA) ,ith sunrise his heart rose as he rode fro the highlands dee! into "oodland "ild !ast belief. $here the high hills he ed in a forest of huge and hoary oaks -- hundreds together6 and hea#y ha'el and ha"thorn thickets "ith rags of rough oss "ra!!ed round each li b -"hile on the bare branches the huddled birds "ere !erched, !i!ing !itifully in the cold. &a"ain !assed the on &ringolet, going on through arsh and ire, a an all alone and "orried. He "ondered "hat he could do to celebrate our Sa#ior*s ser#ice on the #ery night he "as born of a #irgin to bear our sorro"s. .nd therefore sighing he said, F7 beseech thee, =ord and ?ary, the ildest, dearest of others@ Hel! e to so e ha#en "here ass can be heard, and atins to orro". 7 ask this eekly, and in token no" !ray y <ater, y .#e, y 5reed. He continued on his "ay, confessing his isdeeds, and crossed hi self to !ray, F5hrist*s cross no" grant e s!eedEF (BB) He had signed hi self scarcely three ti es "hen he ade out a oat and a ound in the "ood -a lo" hill "ith a la"n, through a lace"ork of branches that gre" fro great oaks guarding a dike. He had found there a castle fit for a lord, !laced in the o!en, a !ark all around it, "ith bristling stakes in a strong stockade 8B
that turned for t"o iles round gro#es of trees. Sir &a"ain sa" one "hole side of that stronghold as it shi ered and shone through the shaking lea#es. He held his hel , "ith head bo"ed in thanks to 1esus and Saint 1ulian, "hose gentle grace had cared for his needs and co e to his aid. FSafe lodging,F he called, F7 beseech of you yetEF $hen he goaded &ringolet "ith gilded heels and choosing the chief road"ay by sheer chance he ca e 4uickly to the cause"ay*s end at last to dra"bridge lifted tight to gate"ay shuttered fast. Such "alls in granite ight "ould shrug off "ind or blast. ($he ne0t !art of +ook 77 co#ers &a"ain*s rece!tion at this castle.) 5hrist as at a Strange 5astle (=ines D85-11A5, sections BC-C5) (BC) He held back his horse "here the bank halted in a dee! double ditch close dug to the "all, "hich !lunged in the !ool i !ossibly dee! -and then its full, huge height hea#ed itself u! in tiers of tough stone straight to the to!, its battle ents built in the best style, its guard-to"ers rising in graceful ro"s lined "ith loo!holes co#ered and latched@ a barbican better than the best he kne". He noticed behind it a high-roofed hall tucked a ong to"ers, fro "hose clustered ti!s buttresses s!rang, and !innacled s!ires cunningly car#ed, and crafted "ith skill. 5halk-"hite chi neys "ere checkered about like radiance rising fro roofto!s and to"ers. So any !ainted !innacles stood round that !lace or cli bed fro the castle*s crenellated "alls that it see ed like a cutout cli!!ed fro !a!er. .s he sat there in saddle, it see ed #ery fine if only he could enter the inner ost court, and "in "elco e there to "orshi! in a house 8C
so blessed. . !orter ca e at call, ore gracous than the best, "ho stood u!on the "all and hailed that knight on 4uest. (B5) F&ood sir,F said &a"ain, F!lease grant e the fa#or (if your lord allo"s) to lodge in this house.F F+y <eter,F said the !orter, Fbe !erfectly sure that you, =ord, are "elco e as long as you likeEF $hen s"ift-!aced the !orter o#ed to a!!roach hi , and others ca e "ith hi to "elco e their guest. $hey dro!!ed the great dra"bridge, then dra"ing near !roudly, they bo"ed, their knees bent u!on the bare earth to one "ho they "elco ed as "orthy of honor. $hey granted hi !assage6 the !ortals s"ung "ide6 he called the to rise, and crossed the great bridge. ?en steadied his saddle@ he sli!!ed off his horse and sturdy en ca e to lead it to stable. Hnights and their s4uires "ere the ne0t to co e, delighted to lead the lord to the hall. Hardly had he lifted his hel "hen any hands "ere s"ift to recei#e it in courteous ser#ice -and in the sa e "ay his s"ord "as set by his shield. He nobly ackno"ledged each of those knights, !roud en close-!ressed to honor a !rince. Still stra!!ed in bright steel, he strode to the hall "here a bonfire burned bright on the hearth. $hen the lord hi self descended to see hi , o#ing to eet hi "ith e04uisite anners. FUou are "elco e,F he said, Fto "hat this house holds,F Fe#erything is yours to use as you !lease in this !lace.F F&od bless you,F said &a"ain then, F.nd 5hrist re!ay your grace.F $hey et like %oyful en in o!en-ar ed e brace. (B6) &a'ing on one "ho greeted hi so "ell, 85
&a"ain felt that fortress had a fine lord@ a an in his !ri e, assi#ely ade6 his beard all bea#er-bro"n, glossy and broad6 stern, stal"art in stance on his sturdy thighs, his face bold as fire, a fair-s!oken an -"ho certainly see ed "ell-suited, he %udged, to rule there as aster of e0cellent en. $he lord led hi in, and ordered at once that so eone be sent to ser#e in his cha ber. $hen the household staff hurried to obey and brought hi to a bedroo , brightly arranged "ith gold-tri ed curtains of the clearest silk and fine-crafted co#erlets, beautiful 4uilts "ith bright fur abo#e and e broidered edges. $here "ere rings of red gold on ro!e-dra"n dra!es, tight-hung ta!estries fro $arsus and $olouse6 and si ilar fabrics "ere set underfoot. .s they talked "ith hi gaily, they took off his gar ents, re o#ing his byrnie and his bright ar or. $hen rich robes "ere brought as the ser#ants rushed in a choice fro the best to change for his o"n. .s soon as he !icked one and !ulled it in !lace, a fine-fitting kilt "ith s"irling folds, it see ed to the all that suddenly light shone round his sha!e in the shades of s!ring, beautiful, bright about all his li bs. 5hrist ne#er had such a handso e knight, they thought@ ,here#er en a!!ear, surely &a"ain ought to reign "ithout a !eer in fields "here fierce en fought. (BD) +efore the chi ney "here charcoal glo"ed a chair lined "ith fine fabric "as found for Sir &a"ain, su !tuous "ith cushions on a 4uilted seat. .nd then a rich robe "as thro"n around hi of brilliant, gaily e broidered silk filled out "ith fur@ the finest of !elts, and e#ery bit er ine, e#en the hood. 86
$hus he sat, rela0ed and in la#ish s!lendor, till he felt far better in the fire*s "ar th. $hen they took a table, laid it on trestles, and co#ered it "ith clean and clear "hite cloth, saltcellars, na!kins, and a sil#er ser#ice. He "ashed as he "ished and "ent to his eal. $hen the table "as set in suitable style "ith sou!s of all kinds, seasoned su!erbly in double-si'ed ser#ings6 !lus assorted fish, so e breaded and baked, so e broiled on the coals, so e si ered, so e set in sa#ory ste"s6 each subtly s!iced "ith sauces that !leased hi . 90clai ing he ke!t on calling it a feast, but all of the ans"ered "ith e4ual courtesy and said, F$ake !enance "hile you can6 to orro" you*ll be fedEF He ade a erry an -the "ine "ent to his head. (B8) $hen 4ueries and 4uestions carefully fra ed on !ri#ate atters "ere !ut to that !rince. So he s!oke of his court, in courteous "ords, as that "hich highborn .rthur held as his o"n, "ho ruled the -ound $able as its regal king -and their guest, he told the , "as &a"ain hi self, co e to the at 5hrist as as his course unfolded. (n learning "ho luck had brought hi the lord laughed out loud for sheer heart*s delight. ,ithin that oat e#ery an "as eager to o#e, and !ressed for"ard !ro !tly to enter the !resence of Fthat !aragon of !ro"ess and of !erfect anners, "hose #irtues and !erson are constantly !raised@ of all en on earth ost "orthy of honorEF 9ach an of the , ur uring, re arked to his fello"s, F/o" "e shall see courtesy cle#erly dis!layed a ong faultless feats of fine con#ersationE ,e "ill learn untaught ho" to talk nobly "hen "e face such a fine father of breedingE &od has graced us indeed, "ith a grand blessing, 8D
to grant us the guest that &a"ain "ill ake "hen "e sit and sing glad songs of 5hrist*s ne" birth. $he eaning of his annered "ays "ill sho" "hat "ords are "orth -and teach us ter s to !lay the ga e of lo#ers* irth.F (B>) ,hen the dinner "as done, and their darling rose, it "as nearly dark, for night "as a!!roaching. $he cha!els "ere o!ened as the cha!lains ca e "ith bells ringing richly, right as they should for #es!er de#otions on the #erge of 5hrist as. $he lord no" led the "ay, his lady beside hi 6 she !aced along !rettily and entered her !e". ,hen &a"ain ca e gliding in "ith a glad heart, the lord latched on to hi and led hi to his seat, glad-handing &a"ain, greeting hi by na e, and said he "as the ost "elco e guest in the "orld. .fter hearty hugs and heartfelt thanks, they sat soberly together till the ser#ice ended. .s the lady had been longing to look on the knight, she e erged to eet hi , her aidens about her. 7n for she "as fairest@ in figure and face, co !le0ion, co !ort ent sur!assing all others, and to &a"ain not e#en &uine#ere could e4ual her grace. She steered through the chancel to strengthen his "elco e. .nother lady led her by the left hand "ho "as ob#iously older@ an elderly atron "ho the household held in the highest honor. +ut in looks the t"o ladies "ere ob#iously unlike@ one acti#e and young, one yello" "ith age. (n the first a flush rose, ruddy and fair6 on the other, rough "rinkles on rugged cheeks . (n the first one, clear !earls dis!layed on a kerchief shone fro her breast and her bare throat "hiter than sno" on the "inter hills. $he other one*s kerchief co#ered her neck, and bright #eils billo"ed round her black chin, "hile silk fra ed her forehead, "hich "as fretted round 88
"ith lace"ork linked in delicate loo!s. /othing "as bare about her but her black bro"s, o#er eyes and nose o#er naked li!s, and those ade a sorry sight, bleary and sour. She "as, &od kno"sE . lady of grace and !ride -but her body "as short and thick6 her buttocks big and "ide. . tastier !lu to !ick "as the beauty by her side. (C0) ?eeting her gracious, light-hearted ga'e he took the lord*s lea#e and a!!roached the ladies. He greeted the elder "ith a grand bo", and "ra!!ing the lo#elier in a light e brace, he !lanted a !retty kiss "ith e0tra#agant !raise. $hey offered their ac4uaintance, and he asked at once to be their faithful ser#ant if it see ed fitting. $hey took hi bet"een the and led hi off, talking, to a chi neyed cha ber6 and they charged the ser#ants to s!eed out for s!ices, and not to be s!aring, but to bring back each ti e the best of the "ine. $he lord ke!t lea!ing about in delight, bid the ake erry as uch as they could, then hauled off his hood and hung it on a s!ear, urging the to earn it as a signal honor for the erriest an a ong the that 5hrist as. F+y y "ordE 7 shall "ork to "in "ith the rest against all this co !any, to kee! it yselfEF $hus the lord ade it li#ely "ith laughter and %okes to gladden Sir &a"ain "ith the %oy that ga es incite. $i e !assed6 the t"ilight fled6 the ser#ants kindled light. $hen &a"ain sought his bed, and bade the all good night. (C1) 7n the orning "hen en re e ber the birth of our dear =ord to die for our destiny*s sake, 8>
all en on earth gro" erry at heart. So it "as that delicacies filled out their day@ .t breakfast and ban4uet the best of the food "as s!read out in s!lendor by s!irited en. $he old, ancient "o an had honor of !lace, "ith the lord, 7 belie#e, !olitely beside her. &a"ain and the gracious lady "ere both gi#en seats in the iddle, "here the eal "as easured out first, and after"ard to e#eryone all through the hall, ser#ed in due se4uence, as it see ed !ro!er. $hey had food, they had fun, they "ere filled "ith %oy@ too uch for tongue to tell of "ith ease, and a struggle, at least, to state it in full. +ut this 7 gi#e you@ that &a"ain and the gracious lady "ere !erfect co !anions in their !lace together, and such !leasantries !assed in their !ri#ate s!eech ("hich "as fine and fair6 also free fro sin) that no !rincely s!ort could !ossibly sur!ass their ga e. $hen tru !ets, dru s to easure tunes that !i!es !roclai @ as each an took his !leasure, and those t"o did the sa e. (CA) (ne fun-filled day follo"ed another, "ith a third day thrust into the thick of it. Saint 1ohn*s day "as generous "ith %ubilant song@ the last day like it left to the there. $he guests "ould be going in the grey orning, so they "ere u! to all hours o#er their "ine, ke!t calling for dances and caroling round, and left their lea#etaking till late in the night that "ould soon send the off by se!arate "ays. *&ood day,* began &a"ain, but grabbing hi his host !ulled hi aside !ri#ately by a !leasant fire, laid it on at length and la#ishly thanked hi for granting hi such grace and gladness of heart as to honor his house on this high season and fill u! his fortress "ith the finest anners. *.s long as 7 li#e, sir, y life "ill be better >0
to ha#e had &a"ain as y guest at &od*s o"n feast.* *&od hel! e,* said &a"ain, * ay He grant you better@ for any such honor is only your due. 7 a si !ly your ser#ant, one "ho seeks to !lease you, oath-bound to honor all en, be they high or lo".* .nd though the lord takes !ains to urge hi not to go, Sir &a"ain still e0!lains his ans"er ust be no. (CB) F+ut &a"ain,F that good an graciously asked, FHas so e dark deed dri#en you forth, that you rushed fro the royal courtG ?ust you no" ride alone "hen holiday feasts are not "holly doneGF FSir,F he res!onded, Fyou ha#e s!oken truly@, F7 had to de!art on a high and a hasty atter. )or 7 yself a su oned to seek out a !lace, though 7 "onder "here in the "orld to find it. 7*d not fail to near it by /e" Uear*s orning for all the land in +ritain -- by the lo#e of &odE 7 ha#e co e "ith 4uestions that re4uire ans"ers -so tell e the truth@ has any tale reached you of the &reen 5ha!el, or on "hat ground it stands, or about its guardian, a green-skinned knightG )or 7 ha#e set yself, by ost sole n !ledge, to eet this an, though it ay go hard. +ut no" the /e" Uear is nearly co !lete, and if the =ord allo"s it, 7*ll look u!on hi ore gladly -- by &od*s SonE -- than on any good thing. $herefore sir, as you see, 7 ust set out no" for 7 doubt that three days "ill do for this business and 7*d far rather die than be doo ed to fail.F $hen the lord ans"ered, laughing, FUou ust linger no"EF FUou "ill get to your goal in good enough ti e, and can gi#e u! guessing on "hat ground it lies, and can lie abed as late as you "ish, and finally set forth the first of the year, yet ake it there "ith orning still ostly left that day ->1
s!end till /e" Uears as you !lease, then rise and ride that "ay6 ,e*ll guide you there "ith ease -it*s not t"o iles a"ay.F (CC) $hen gaiety filled &a"ain, and he gladly laughed. F7 ust earnestly offer y utter ost thanksE ,ith y goal at hand, 7 can grant your "ish, d"ell here a "hile, and do as you bid e.F FSit do"n,F said his host, sei'ing his ar . F5o e, let*s delight in the ladies* !resenceEF $hus they ade a !leasant !arty a!art by the sel#es. $he lord let out laughs as loud and as erry as a ad an, aybe, "hose ind "as far gone. He called to his co !any, crying aloud, FUou ha#e s"orn to ser#e e ho"e#er see s best6 "ill you act to honor this oath here and no"GF F5ertainly, sir,F he said in re!ly. F,hile your "alls "ard e your "ill is su!re e.F He returned@ FUou are tired, and ha#e tra#eled far. ,e all ha#e been "akeful, nor are you "ell-rested, nor fed 4uite as fully, 7 fear, as should be. Uou ust lie in late, and lounge at your ease !ast orning ass, and ake it to breakfast "hene#er you "ish. ?y "ife "ill eat "ith you and kee! you co !any till 7 co e again. Uou stay, but 7 yself "ill ride hunting at break of day.F $hen &a"ain bo"ed "ith !ride and !ro ised to obey. (C5) F=ook,F said the lord - F=et us no" bargain@ ,hat 7 get in the "ood 7 "ill gi#e to you, and charge in e0change "hate#er chance ay deal you. )riend, here*s ho" to do it@ "e*ll hold to our "ord regardless "ho gains or gi#es u! the ost.F F+y &odEF &a"ain ans"ered, F7 grant "hat you ask6 %ust gi#e e the ga e -- 7 "ill gladly !lay itEF >A
F$hen let*s do"n this drink, and our deal is adeEF said the lord of that land, and they laughed together. So these lords and ladies rela0ed as they drank and !layed gallant ga es "hile it ga#e the !leasure. $hen in )rench fashion, "ith any fine "ords, they ade their e0cuses "ith ur ured fare"ells, and !retty !ecks !lanted on either cheek. $hen bright burning torches "ere born by the ser#ants "ho led the at last to lie do"n softly in bed. +efore they reached the door, "hat !ro ises they saidE .nd ho" that country*s lord ade fun ti es fly aheadE JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ - the 1edie9al 2"etr( (/ha06er, The 2anter!ury Tales) The General Pr"l"g0e Here begins the +ook of the $ales of 5anterbury ,hen .!ril "ith his sho"ers s"eet "ith fruit $he drought of ?arch has !ierced unto the root .nd bathed each #ein "ith li4uor that has !o"er $o generate therein and sire the flo"er6 ,hen Ye!hyr also has, "ith his s"eet breath, :uickened again, in e#ery holt and heath, $he tender shoots and buds, and the young sun 7nto the -a one half his course has run, .nd any little birds ake elody $hat slee! through all the night "ith o!en eye (So /ature !ricks the on to ra ! and rage)$hen do folk long to go on !ilgri age, .nd !al ers to go seeking out strange strands, $o distant shrines "ell kno"n in sundry lands. .nd s!ecially fro e#ery shire*s end (f 9ngland they to 5anterbury "end, $he holy blessed artyr there to seek ,ho hel! ed the "hen they lay so ill and "eal +efell that, in that season, on a day 7n South"ark, at the $abard, as 7 lay >B
-eady to start u!on y !ilgri age $o 5anterbury, full of de#out ho age, $here ca e at nightfall to that hostelry So e nine and t"enty in a co !any (f sundry !ersons "ho had chanced to fall 7n fello"shi!, and !ilgri s "ere they all $hat to"ard 5anterbury to"n "ould ride. $he roo s and stables s!acious "ere and "ide, .nd "ell "e there "ere eased, and of the best. .nd briefly, "hen the sun had gone to rest, So had 7 s!oken "ith the , e#ery one, $hat 7 "as of their fello"shi! anon, .nd ade agree ent that "e*d early rise $o take the road, as you 7 "ill a!!rise. +ut none the less, "hilst 7 ha#e ti e and s!ace, +efore yet farther in this tale 7 !ace, 7t see s to e accordant "ith reason $o infor you of the state of e#ery one (f all of these, as it a!!eared to e, .nd "ho they "ere, and "hat "as their degree, .nd e#en ho" arrayed there at the inn6 .nd "ith a knight thus "ill 7 first begin. A 7night there "as, and he a "orthy an, ,ho, fro the o ent that he first began $o ride about the "orld, lo#ed chi#alry, $ruth, honour, freedo and all courtesy. )ull "orthy "as he in his liege-lord*s "ar, .nd therein had he ridden (none ore far) .s "ell in 5hristendo as heathenesse, .nd honoured e#ery"here for "orthiness. .t .le0andria, he, "hen it "as "on6 )ull oft the table*s roster he*d begun .bo#e all nations* knights in <russia. 7n =at#ia raided he, and -ussia, /o christened an so oft of his degree. 7n far &ranada at the siege "as he (f .lgeciras, and in +el arie. .t .yas "as he and at Satalye ,hen they "ere "on6 and on the ?iddle Sea .t any a noble eeting chanced to be. (f ortal battles he had fought fifteen, >C
.nd he*d fought for our faith at $ra issene $hree ti es in lists, and each ti e slain his foe. $his self-sa e "orthy knight had been also .t one ti e "ith the lord of <alatye .gainst another heathen in $urkey@ .nd al"ays "on he so#ereign fa e for !ri'e. $hough so illustrious, he "as #ery "ise .nd bore hi self as eekly as a aid. He ne#er yet had any #ileness said, 7n all his life, to "hatsoe#er "ight. He "as a truly !erfect, gentle knight. +ut no", to tell you all of his array, His steeds "ere good, but yet he "as not gay. (f si !le fustian "ore he a %u!on Sadly discoloured by his habergeon6 )or he had lately co e fro his #oyage .nd no" "as going on this !ilgri age. ,ith hi there "as his son, a youthful s:0ire, . lo#er and a lusty bachelor, ,ith locks "ell curled, as if they*d laid in !ress. So e t"enty years of age he "as, 7 guess. 7n stature he "as of an a#erage length, ,ondrously acti#e, aye, and great of strength. He*d ridden so eti e "ith the ca#alry 7n )landers, in .rtois, and <icardy, .nd borne hi "ell "ithin that little s!ace 7n ho!e to "in thereby his lady*s grace. <rinked out he "as, as if he "ere a ead, .ll full of fresh-cut flo"ers "hite and red. Singing he "as, or fluting, all the day6 He "as as fresh as is the onth of ?ay. Short "as his go"n, "ith slee#es both long and "ide. ,ell could be sit on horse, and fairly ride. He could ake songs and "ords thereto indite, 1oust, and dance too, as "ell as sketch and "rite. So hot he lo#ed that, "hile night told her tale, He sle!t no ore than does a nightingale. 5ourteous he, and hu ble, "illing and able, .nd car#ed before his father at the table. A (e"1an had he, nor ore ser#ants, no, .t that ti e, for he chose to tra#el so6 >5
.nd he "as clad in coat and hood of green. . sheaf of !eacock arro"s bright and keen ;nder his belt he bore right carefully (,ell could he kee! his tackle yeo anly@ His arro"s had no draggled feathers lo"), .nd in his hand he bore a ighty bo". . cro!!ed head had he and a sun-bro"ned face. (f "oodcraft kne" he all the useful "ays. ;!on his ar he bore a bracer gay, .nd at one side a s"ord and buckler, yea, .nd at the other side a dagger bright, ,ell sheathed and shar! as s!ear !oint in the light6 (n breast a 5hristo!her of sil#er sheen. He bore a horn in baldric all of green6 . forester he truly "as, 7 guess. $here "as also a nun, a 2ri"ress, ,ho, in her s iling, odest "as and coy6 Her greatest oath "as but F+y Saint 9loyEF .nd she "as kno"n as ?ada 9glantine. )ull "ell she sang the ser#ices di#ine, 7ntoning through her nose, beco ingly6 .nd fair she s!oke her )rench, and fluently, .fter the school of Stratford-at-the-+o", )or )rench of <aris "as not hers to kno". .t table she had been "ell taught "ithal, .nd ne#er fro her li!s let orsels fall, /or di!!ed her fingers dee! in sauce, but ate ,ith so uch care the food u!on her !late $hat ne#er driblet fell u!on her breast. 7n courtesy she had delight and 'est. Her u!!er li! "as al"ays "i!ed so clean $hat in her cu! "as no iota seen (f grease, "hen she had drunk her draught of "ine. +eco ingly she reached for eat to dine. .nd certainly delighting in good s!ort, She "as right !leasant, a iable- in short. She "as at !ains to counterfeit the look (f courtliness, and stately anners took, .nd "ould be held "orthy of re#erence. +ut, to say so ething of her oral sense, She "as so charitable and !iteous >6
$hat she "ould "ee! if she but sa" a ouse 5aught in a tra!, though it "ere dead or bled. She had so e little dogs, too, that she fed (n roasted flesh, or ilk and fine "hite bread. +ut sore she*d "ee! if one of the "ere dead, (r if en s ote it "ith a rod to s art@ )or !ity ruled her, and her tender heart. -ight decorous her !leated "i !le "as6 Her nose "as fine6 her eyes "ere blue as glass6 Her outh "as s all and there"ith soft and red6 +ut certainly she had a fair forehead6 7t "as al ost a full s!an broad, 7 o"n, )or, truth to tell, she "as not undergro"n. /eat "as her cloak, as 7 "as "ell a"are. (f coral s all about her ar she*d bear . string of beads and gauded all "ith green6 .nd therefro hung a brooch of golden sheen ,hereon there "as first "ritten a cro"ned F.,F .nd under, . or #incit o nia. .nother little n0n "ith her had she, ,ho "as her cha!lain6 and of 2riests she3d three; A 1"n7 there "as, one ade for astery, .n outrider, "ho lo#ed his #enery6 . anly an, to be an abbot able. )ull any a blooded horse had he in stable@ .nd "hen he rode en ight his bridle hear .-%ingling in the "histling "ind as clear, .ye, and as loud as does the cha!el bell ,here this bra#e onk "as of the cell. $he rule of ?aurus or Saint +enedict, +y reason it "as old and so e"hat strict, $his said onk let such old things slo"ly !ace .nd follo"ed ne"-"orld anners in their !lace. He cared not for that te0t a clean-!lucked hen ,hich holds that hunters are not holy en6 /or that a onk, "hen he is cloisterless, 7s like unto a fish that*s "aterless6 $hat is to say, a onk out of his cloister. +ut this sa e te0t he held not "orth an oyster6 .nd 7 said his o!inion "as right good. ,hatG Should he study as a ad an "ould >D
;!on a book in cloister cellG (r yet &o labour "ith his hands and s"ink and s"eat, .s .ustin bidsG Ho" shall the "orld be ser#edG =et .ustin ha#e his toil to hi reser#ed. $herefore he "as a rider day and night6 &reyhounds he had, as s"ift as bird in flight. Since riding and the hunting of the hare ,ere all his lo#e, for no cost "ould he s!are. 7 sa" his slee#es "ere !urfled at the hand ,ith fur of grey, the finest in the land6 .lso, to fasten hood beneath his chin, He had of good "rought gold a curious !in@ . lo#e-knot in the larger end there "as. His head "as bald and shone like any glass, .nd s ooth as one anointed "as his face. )at "as this lord, he stood in goodly case. His bulging eyes he rolled about, and hot $hey glea ed and red, like fire beneath a !ot6 His boots "ere soft6 his horse of great estate. /o" certainly he "as a fine !relate@ He "as not !ale as so e !oor "asted ghost. . fat s"an lo#ed he best of any roast. His !alfrey "as as bro"n as is a berry. A !riar there "as, a "anton and a erry, . li iter, a #ery festi#e an. 7n all the (rders )our is none that can 94ual his gossi! and his fair language. He had arranged full any a arriage (f "o en young, and this at his o"n cost. ;nto his order he "as a noble !ost. ,ell liked by all and inti ate "as he ,ith franklins e#ery"here in his country, .nd "ith the "orthy "o en of the to"n@ )or at confessing he*d ore !o"er in go"n (.s he hi self said) than it good curate, )or of his order he "as licentiate. He heard confession gently, it "as said, &ently absol#ed too, lea#ing naught of dread. He "as an easy an to gi#e !enance ,hen kno"ing he should gain a good !ittance6 )or to a begging friar, oney gi#en >8
7s sign that any an has been "ell shri#en. )or if one ga#e (he dared to boast of this), He took the an*s re!entance not a iss. )or any a an there is so hard of heart He cannot "ee! ho"e#er !ains ay s art. $herefore, instead of "ee!ing and of !rayer, ?en should gi#e sil#er to !oor friars all bare. His ti!!et "as stuck al"ays full of kni#es .nd !ins, to gi#e to young and !leasing "i#es. .nd certainly he ke!t a erry note@ ,ell could he sing and !lay u!on the rote. .t balladry he bore the !ri'e a"ay. His throat "as "hite as lily of the ?ay6 Uet strong he "as as e#er cha !ion. 7n to"ns he kne" the ta#erns, e#ery one, .nd e#ery good host and each bar aid too+etter than begging le!ers, these he kne". )or unto no such solid an as he .ccorded it, as far as he could see, $o ha#e sick le!ers for ac4uaintances. $here is no honest ad#antageousness 7n dealing "ith such !o#erty-stricken curs6 7t*s "ith the rich and "ith big #ictuallers. .nd so, "here#er !rofit ight arise, 5ourteous he "as and hu ble in en*s eyes. $here "as no other an so #irtuous. He "as the finest beggar of his house6 . certain district being far ed to hi , /one of his brethren dared a!!roach its ri 6 )or though a "ido" had no shoes to sho", So !leasant "as his 7n !rinci!io, He al"ays got a farthing ere he "ent. He li#ed by !ickings, it is e#ident. .nd he could ro ! as "ell as any "hel! . (n lo#e days could he be of ickle hel! . )or there he "as not like a cloisterer, ,ith threadbare co!e as is the !oor scholar, +ut he "as like a lord or like a !o!e. (f double "orsted "as his se i-co!e, $hat rounded like a bell, as you ay guess. He lis!ed a little, out of "antonness, >>
$o ake his 9nglish soft u!on his tongue6 .nd in his har!ing, after he had sung, His t"o eyes t"inkled in his head as bright .s do the stars "ithin the frosty night. $his "orthy li iter "as na ed Hubert. $here "as a 1er6hant "ith forked beard, and girt 7n otley go"n, and high on horse he sat, ;!on his head a )le ish bea#er hat6 His boots "ere fastened rather elegantly. His s!oke his notions out right !o !ously, Stressing the ti es "hen he had "on, not lost. He "ould the sea "ere held at any cost .cross fro ?iddleburgh to (r"ell to"n. .t oney-changing he could ake a cro"n. $his "orthy an ke!t all his "its "ell set6 $here "as no one could say he "as in debt, So "ell he go#erned all his trade affairs ,ith bargains and "ith borro"ings and "ith shares. 7ndeed, he "as a "orthy an "ithal, +ut, sooth to say, his na e 7 can*t recall. A 6ler7 fro (0ford "as "ith us also, ,ho*d turned to getting kno"ledge, long ago. .s eagre "as his horse as is a rake, /or he hi self too fat, 7*ll undertake, +ut he looked hollo" and "ent soberly. -ight threadbare "as his o#ercoat6 for he Had got hi yet no churchly benefice, /or "as so "orldly as to gain office. )or he "ould rather ha#e at his bed*s head So e t"enty books, all bound in black and red, (f .ristotle and his !hiloso!hy $han rich robes, fiddle, or gay !saltery. Uet, and for all he "as !hiloso!her, He had but little gold "ithin his coffer6 +ut all that he ight borro" fro a friend (n books and learning he "ould s"iftly s!end, .nd then he*d !ray right busily for the souls (f those "ho ga#e hi "here"ithal for schools. (f study took he ut ost care and heed. /ot one "ord s!oke he ore than "as his need6 .nd that "as said in fullest re#erence 100
.nd short and 4uick and full of high good sense. <regnant of oral #irtue "as his s!eech6 .nd gladly "ould he learn and gladly teach. A sergeant "! the la4, "ary and "ise, ,ho*d often gone to <aul*s "alk to ad#ise, $here "as also, co !act of e0cellence. Discreet he "as, and of great re#erence6 .t least he see ed so, his "ords "ere so "ise. (ften he sat as %ustice in assi'e, +y !atent or co ission fro the cro"n6 +ecause of learning and his high reno"n, He took large fees and any robes could o"n. So great a !urchaser "as ne#er kno"n. .ll "as fee si !le to hi , in effect, ,herefore his clai s could ne#er be sus!ect. /o"here a an so busy of his class, .nd yet he see ed uch busier than he "as. .ll cases and all %udg ents could he cite $hat fro Hing ,illia *s ti e "ere a!!osite. .nd he could dra" a contract so e0!licit /ot any an could fault therefro elicit6 .nd e#ery statute he*d #erbati 4uote. He rode but badly in a edley coat, +elted in a silken sash, "ith little bars, +ut of his dress no ore !articulars. $here "as a !ran7lin in his co !any6 ,hite "as his beard as is the "hite daisy. (f sanguine te !era ent by e#ery sign, He lo#ed right "ell his orning so! in "ine. Delightful li#ing "as the goal he*d "on, )or he "as 9!icurus* #ery son, $hat held o!inion that a full delight ,as true felicity, !erfect and right. . householder, and that a great, "as he6 Saint 1ulian he "as in his o"n country. His bread and ale "ere al"ays right "ell done6 . an "ith better cellars there "as none. +aked eat "as ne#er "anting in his house, (f fish and flesh, and that so !lenteous 7t see ed to sno" therein both food and drink (f e#ery dainty that a an could think. 101
.ccording to the season of the year He changed his diet and his eans of cheer. )ull any a fattened !artridge did he e", .nd any a brea and !ike in fish-!ond too. ,oe to his cook, e0ce!t the sauces "ere <oignant and shar!, and ready all his gear. His table, "aiting in his hall al"ay, Stood ready co#ered through the li#elong day. .t county sessions "as he lord and sire, .nd often acted as a knight of shire. . dagger and a trinket-bag of silk Hung fro his girdle, "hite as orning ilk. He had been sheriff and been auditor6 .nd no"here "as a "orthier #a#asor. A ha erdasher and a 6ar2enter, An arras-1a7er, d(er, and 4ea9er ,ere "ith us, clothed in si ilar li#ery, .ll of one sober, great fraternity. $heir gear "as ne" and "ell adorned it "as6 $heir "ea!ons "ere not chea!ly tri ed "ith brass, +ut all "ith sil#er6 chastely ade and "ell $heir girdles and their !ouches too, 7 tell. 9ach an of the a!!eared a !ro!er burges $o sit in guildhall on a high dais. .nd each of the , for "isdo he could s!an, ,as fitted to ha#e been an alder an6 )or chattels they*d enough, and, too, of rent6 $o "hich their good"i#es ga#e a free assent, (r else for certain they had been to bla e. 7t*s good to hear F?ada F before one*s na e, .nd go to church "hen all the "orld ay see, Ha#ing one*s antle borne right royally. A 6""7 they had "ith the , %ust for the nonce, $o boil the chickens "ith the arro"-bones, .nd fla#our tartly and "ith galingale. ,ell could he tell a draught of =ondon ale. .nd he could roast and seethe and broil and fry, .nd ake a good thick sou!, and bake a !ie. +ut #ery ill it "as, it see ed to e, $hat on his shin a deadly sore had he6 )or s"eet blanc- ange, he ade it "ith the best. 10A
$here "as a sail"r, li#ing far out "est6 )or aught 7 kno", he "as of Dart outh to"n. He sadly rode a hackney, in a go"n, (f thick rough cloth falling to the knee. . dagger hanging on a cord had he .bout his neck, and under ar , and do"n. $he su er*s heat had burned his #isage bro"n6 .nd certainly he "as a good fello". )ull any a draught of "ine he*d dra"n, 7 tro", (f +ordeau0 #intage, "hile the trader sle!t. /ice conscience "as a thing he ne#er ke!t. 7f that he fought and got the u!!er hand, +y "ater he sent the ho e to e#ery land. +ut as for craft, to reckon "ell his tides, His currents and the dangerous "atersides, His harbours, and his oon, his !ilotage, $here "as none such fro Hull to far 5arthage. Hardy. and "ise in all things undertaken, +y any a te !est had his beard been shaken. He kne" "ell all the ha#ens, as they "ere, )ro &ottland to the 5a!e of )inisterre, .nd e#ery creek in +rittany and S!ain6 His #essel had been christened ?adeleine. ,ith us there "as a d"6t"r "! 2h(si6< 7n all this "orld "as none like hi to !ick )or talk of edicine and surgery6 )or he "as grounded in astrono y. He often ke!t a !atient fro the !all +y horosco!es and agic natural. ,ell could he tell the fortune ascendent ,ithin the houses for his sick !atient. He kne" the cause of e#ery alady, ,ere it of hot or cold, of oist or dry, .nd "here engendered, and of "hat hu our6 He "as a #ery good !ractitioner. $he cause being kno"n, do"n to the dee!est root, .non he ga#e to the sick an his boot. -eady he "as, "ith his a!othecaries, $o send hi drugs and all electuaries6 +y utual aid uch gold they*d al"ays "on$heir friendshi! "as a thing not ne" begun. 10B
,ell read "as he in 9scula!ius, .nd Deiscorides, and in -ufus, Hi!!ocrates, and Hali, and &alen, Sera!ion, -ha'es, and .#icen, .#errhoes, &ilbert, and 5onstantine, +ernard and &atisden, and 1ohn Da ascene. 7n diet he "as easured as could be, 7ncluding naught of su!erfluity, +ut nourishing and easy. 7t*s no libel $o say he read but little in the +ible. 7n blue and scarlet he "ent clad, "ithal, =ined "ith a taffeta and "ith sendal6 .nd yet he "as right chary of e0!ense6 He ke!t the gold he gained fro !estilence. )or gold in !hysic is a fine cordial, .nd therefore lo#ed he gold e0ceeding all. $here "as a h"0se4i!e 6"1e !r"1 -ath, or near, ,ho- sad to say- "as deaf in either ear. .t aking cloth she had so great a bent She bettered those of U!res and e#en of &hent. 7n all the !arish there "as no good"ife Should offering ake before her, on y life6 .nd if one did, indeed, so "roth "as she 7t !ut her out of all her charity. Her kerchiefs "ere of finest "ea#e and ground6 7 dare s"ear that they "eighed a full ten !ound ,hich, of a Sunday, she "ore on her head. Her hose "ere of the choicest scarlet red, 5lose gartered, and her shoes "ere soft and ne". +old "as her face, and fair, and red of hue. She*d been res!ectable throughout her life, ,ith fi#e churched husbands bringing %oy and strife, /ot counting other co !any in youth6 +ut thereof there*s no need to s!eak, in truth. $hree ti es she*d %ourneyed to 1erusale 6 .nd any a foreign strea she*d had to ste 6 .t -o e she*d been, and she*d been in +oulogne, 7n S!ain at Santiago, and at 5ologne. She could tell uch of "andering by the "ay@ &a!-toothed "as she, it is no lie to say. ;!on an a bler easily she sat, 10C
,ell "i !led, aye, and o#er all a hat .s broad as is a buckler or a targe6 . rug "as tucked around her buttocks large, .nd on her feet a !air of shar!ened s!urs. 7n co !any "ell could she laugh her slurs. $he re edies of lo#e she kne", !erchance, )or of that art she*d learned the old, old dance. $here "as a good an of religion, too, A 6"0ntr( 2ars"n, !oor, 7 "arrant you6 +ut rich he "as in holy thought and "ork. He "as a learned an also, a clerk, ,ho 5hrist*s o"n gos!el truly sought to !reach6 De#outly his !arishioners "ould he teach. +enign he "as and "ondrous diligent, <atient in ad#erse ti es and "ell content, .s he "as oftti es !ro#en6 al"ays blithe, He "as right loath to curse to get a tithe, +ut rather "ould he gi#e, in case of doubt, ;nto those !oor !arishioners about, <art of his inco e, e#en of his goods. 9nough "ith little, coloured all his oods. ,ide "as his !arish, houses far asunder, +ut ne#er did he fail, for rain or thunder, 7n sickness, or in sin, or any state, $o #isit to the farthest, s all and great, &oing afoot, and in his hand, a sta#e. $his fine e0a !le to his flock he ga#e, $hat first he "rought and after"ards he taught6 (ut of the gos!el then that te0t he caught, .nd this figure he added thereunto$hat, if gold rust, "hat shall !oor iron doG )or if the !riest be foul, in "ho "e trust, ,hat "onder if a lay an yield to lustG .nd sha e it is, if !riest take thought for kee!, . shitty she!herd, she!herding clean shee!. ,ell ought a !riest e0a !le good to gi#e, +y his o"n cleanness, ho" his flock should li#e. He ne#er let his benefice for hire, =ea#ing his flock to flounder in the ire, .nd ran to =ondon, u! to old Saint <aul*s $o get hi self a chantry there for souls, 105
/or in so e brotherhood did he "ithhold6 +ut d"elt at ho e and ke!t so "ell the fold $hat ne#er "olf could ake his !lans iscarry6 He "as a she!herd and not ercenary. .nd holy though he "as, and #irtuous, $o sinners he "as not i !iteous, /or haughty in his s!eech, nor too di#ine, +ut in all teaching !rudent and benign. $o lead folk into Hea#en but by stress (f good e0a !le "as his busyness. +ut if so e sinful one !ro#ed obstinate, +e "ho it ight, of high or lo" estate, Hi he re!ro#ed, and shar!ly, as 7 kno". $here is no"here a better !riest, 7 tro". He had no thirst for !o ! or re#erence, /or ade hi self a s!ecial, s!iced conscience, +ut 5hrist*s o"n lore, and His a!ostles* t"el#e He taught, but first he follo"ed it hi sel#e. ,ith hi there "as a 2l"41an, "as his brother, $hat any a load of dung, and any another Had scattered, for a good true toiler, he, =i#ing in !eace and !erfect charity. He lo#ed &od ost, and that "ith his "hole heart .t all ti es, though he !layed or !lied his art, .nd ne0t, his neighbour, e#en as hi self. He*d thresh and dig, "ith ne#er thought of !elf, )or 5hrist*s o"n sake, for e#ery !oor "ight, .ll "ithout !ay, if it lay in his ight. He !aid his ta0es, fully, fairly, "ell, +oth by his o"n toil and by stuff he*d sell. 7n a tabard he rode u!on a are. $here "ere also a ree#e and iller there6 . su oner, anci!le and !ardoner, .nd these, beside yself, ade all there "ere. The 1iller "as a stout churl, be it kno"n, Hardy and big of bra"n and big of bone6 ,hich "as "ell !ro#ed, for "hen he "ent on la .t "restling, ne#er failed he of the ra . He "as a chunky fello", broad of build6 He*d hea#e a door fro hinges if he "illed, (r break it through, by running, "ith his head. 106
His beard, as any so" or fo0, "as red, .nd broad it "as as if it "ere a s!ade. ;!on the co!ing of his nose he had . "art, and thereon stood a tuft of hairs, -ed as the bristles in an old so"*s ears6 His nostrils they "ere black and #ery "ide. . s"ord and buckler bore he by his side. His outh "as like a furnace door for si'e. He "as a %ester and could !oeti'e, +ut ostly all of sin and ribaldries. He could steal corn and full thrice charge his fees6 .nd yet he had a thu b of gold, begad. . "hite coat and blue hood he "ore, this lad. . bag!i!e he could blo" "ell, be it kno"n, .nd "ith that sa e he brought us out of to"n. $here "as a 1an6i2le fro an inn of court, $o "ho all buyers ight 4uite "ell resort $o learn the art of buying food and drink6 )or "hether he !aid cash or not, 7 think $hat he so kne" the arkets, "hen to buy, He ne#er found hi self left high and dry. /o" is it not of &od a full fair grace $hat such a #ulgar an has "it to !ace $he "isdo of a cro"d of learned enG (f asters had he ore than three ti es ten, ,ho "ere in la" e0!ert and curious6 ,hereof there "ere a do'en in that house )it to be ste"ards of both rent and land (f any lord in 9ngland "ho "ould stand ;!on his o"n and li#e in anner good, 7n honour, debtless (sa#e his head "ere "ood), (r li#e as frugally as he ight desire6 $hese en "ere able to ha#e hel! ed a shire 7n any case that e#er ight befall6 .nd yet this anci!le outguessed the all. The ree9e he "as a slender, choleric an ,ho sha#ed his beard as close as ra'or can. His hair "as cut round e#en "ith his ears6 His to! "as tonsured like a !ul!iteer*s. =ong "ere his legs, and they "ere #ery lean, .nd like a staff, "ith no calf to be seen. 10D
,ell could he anage granary and bin6 /o auditor could e#er on hi "in. He could foretell, by drought and by the rain, $he yielding of his seed and of his grain. His lord*s shee! and his o0en and his dairy, His s"ine and horses, all his stores, his !oultry, ,ere "holly in this ste"ard*s anaging6 .nd, by agree ent, he*d ade reckoning Since his young lord of age "as t"enty years6 Uet no an e#er found hi in arrears. $here "as no agent, hind, or herd "ho*d cheat +ut he kne" "ell his cunning and deceit6 $hey "ere afraid of hi as of the death. His cottage "as a good one, on a heath6 +y green trees shaded "ith this d"elling-!lace. ?uch better than his lord could he !urchase. -ight rich he "as in his o"n !ri#ate right, Seeing he*d !leased his lord, by day or night, +y gi#ing hi , or lending, of his goods, .nd so got thanked- but yet got coats and hoods. 7n youth he*d learned a good trade, and had been . car!enter, as fine as could be seen. $his ste"ard sat a horse that "ell could trot, .nd "as all da!!le-grey, and "as na ed Scot. . long surcoat of blue did he !arade, .nd at his side he bore a rusty blade. (f /orfolk "as this ree#e of "ho 7 tell, )ro near a to"n that en call +ades"ell. +undled he "as like friar fro chin to crou!, .nd e#er he rode hind ost of our troo!. A s011"ner "as "ith us in that !lace, ,ho had a fiery-red, cherubic face, )or ec'e a he had6 his eyes "ere narro" .s hot he "as, and lecherous, as a s!arro"6 ,ith black and scabby bro"s and scanty beard6 He had a face that little children feared. $here "as no ercury, sul!hur, or litharge, /o bora0, ceruse, tartar, could discharge, /or oint ent that could cleanse enough, or bite, $o free hi of his boils and !i !les "hite, /or of the bosses resting on his cheeks. 108
,ell lo#ed he garlic, onions, aye and leeks, .nd drinking of strong "ine as red as blood. $hen "ould he talk and shout as ad an "ould. .nd "hen a deal of "ine he*d !oured "ithin, $hen "ould. he utter no "ord sa#e =atin. So e !hrases had he learned, say t"o or three, ,hich he had garnered out of so e decree6 /o "onder, for he*d heard it all the day6 .nd all you kno" right "ell that e#en a %ay 5an call out F,atF as "ell as can the !o!e. +ut "hen, for aught else, into hi you*d gro!e, *$"as found he*d s!ent his "hole !hiloso!hy6 1ust F:uestio 4uid %urisF "ould he cry. He "as a noble rascal, and a kind6 . better co rade *t"ould be hard to find. ,hy, he "ould suffer, for a 4uart of "ine, So e good fello" to ha#e his concubine . t"el#e- onth, and e0cuse hi to the full (+et"een oursel#es, though, he could !luck a gull). .nd if he chanced u!on a good fello", He "ould instruct hi ne#er to ha#e a"e, 7n such a case, of the archdeacon*s curse, 90ce!t a an*s soul lie "ithin his !urse6 )or in his !urse the an should !unished be. F$he !urse is the archdeacon*s Hell,F said he. +ut "ell 7 kno" he lied in "hat he said6 . curse ought e#ery guilty an to dread ()or curse can kill, as absolution sa#e), .nd *"are significa#it to the gra#e. 7n his o"n !o"er had he, and at ease, $he boys and girls of all the diocese, .nd kne" their secrets, and by counsel led. . garland had he set u!on his head, =arge as a ta#ern*s "ine-bush on a stake6 . buckler had he ade of bread they bake. ,ith hi there rode a gentle 2ard"ner (f -ounci#al, his friend and his co !eer6 Straight fro the court of -o e had %ourneyed he. =oudly he sang F5o e hither, lo#e, to e,F $he su oner %oining "ith a burden round6 ,as ne#er horn of half so great a sound. 10>
$his !ardoner had hair as yello" as "a0, +ut lank it hung as does a strike of fla06 7n "is!s hung do"n such locks as he*d on head, .nd "ith the he his shoulders o#ers!read6 +ut thin they dro!!ed, and stringy, one by one. +ut as to hood, for s!ort of it, he*d none, $hough it "as !acked in "allet all the "hile. 7t see ed to hi he "ent in latest style, Dishe#elled, sa#e for ca!, his head all bare. .s shiny eyes he had as has a hare. He had a fine #eronica se"ed to ca!. His "allet lay before hi in his la!, Stuffed full of !ardons brought fro -o e all hot. . #oice he had that bleated like a goat. /o beard had he, nor e#er should he ha#e, )or s ooth his face as he*d %ust had a sha#e6 7 think he "as a gelding or a are. +ut in his craft, fro +er"ick unto ,are, ,as no such !ardoner in any !lace. )or in his bag he had a !illo"case $he "hich, he said, "as (ur $rue =ady*s #eil@ He said he had a !iece of the #ery sail $hat good Saint <eter had, "hat ti e he "ent ;!on the sea, till 1esus changed his bent. He had a latten cross set full of stones, .nd in a bottle had he so e !ig*s bones. +ut "ith these relics, "hen he ca e u!on So e si !le !arson, then this !aragon 7n that one day ore oney stood to gain $han the !oor du!e in t"o onths could attain. .nd thus, "ith flattery and suchlike %a!es, He ade the !arson and the rest his a!es. +ut yet, to tell the "hole truth at the last, He "as, in church, a fine ecclesiast. ,ell could he read a lesson or a story, +ut best of all he sang an offertory6 )or "ell he kne" that "hen that song "as sung, $hen ight he !reach, and all "ith !olished tongue. $o "in so e sil#er, as he right "ell could6 $herefore he sang so errily and so loud. <-(=(&;9 110
/o" ha#e 7 told you briefly, in a clause, $he state, the array, the nu ber, and the cause (f the asse bling of this co !any 7n South"ark, at this noble hostelry Hno"n as the $abard 7nn, hard by the +ell. +ut no" the ti e is co e "herein to tell Ho" all "e bore oursel#es that #ery night ,hen at the hostelry "e did alight. .nd after"ard the story 7 engage $o tell you of our co on !ilgri age. +ut first, 7 !ray you, of your courtesy, Uou*ll not ascribe it to #ulgarity $hough 7 s!eak !lainly of this atter here, -etailing you their "ords and eans of cheer6 /or though 7 use their #ery ter s, nor lie. )or this thing do you kno" as "ell as 7@ ,hen one re!eats a tale told by a an, He ust re!ort, as nearly as he can, 9#ery least "ord, if he re e ber it, Ho"e#er rude it be, or ho" unfit6 (r else he ay be telling "hat*s untrue, 9 bellishing and fictioni'ing too. He ay not s!are, although it "ere his brother6 He ust as "ell say one "ord as another. 5hrist s!oke right broadly out, in holy "rit, .nd, you kno" "ell, there*s nothing lo" in it. .nd <lato says, to those able to read@ F$he "ord should be the cousin to the deed.F .lso, 7 !ray that you*ll forgi#e it e 7f 7 ha#e not set folk, in their degree Here in this tale, by rank as they should stand. ?y "its are not the best, you*ll understand. &reat cheer our host ga#e to us, e#ery one, .nd to the su!!er set us all anon6 .nd ser#ed us then "ith #ictuals of the best. Strong "as the "ine and !leasant to each guest. . see ly an our good host "as, "ithal, )it to ha#e been a arshal in so e hall6 He "as a large an, "ith !rotruding eyes, .s fine a burgher as in 5hea!side lies6 +old in his s!eech, and "ise, and right "ell taught, 111
.nd as to anhood, lacking there in naught. .lso, he "as a #ery erry an, .nd after eat, at !laying he began, S!eaking of irth a ong so e other things, ,hen all of us had !aid our reckonings6 .nd saying thus@ F/o" asters, #erily Uou are all "elco e here, and heartily@ )or by y truth, and telling you no lie, 7 ha#e not seen, this year, a co !any Here in this inn, fitter for s!ort than no". )ain "ould 7 ake you ha!!y, kne" 7 ho". .nd of a ga e ha#e 7 this o ent thought $o gi#e you %oy, and it shall cost you naught. FUou go to 5anterbury6 ay &od s!eed .nd the blest artyr soon re4uite your eed. .nd "ell 7 kno", as you go on your "ay, Uou*ll tell good tales and sha!e yoursel#es to !lay6 )or truly there*s no irth nor co fort, none, -iding the roads as du b as is a stone6 .nd therefore "ill 7 furnish you a s!ort, .s 7 %ust said, to gi#e you so e co fort. .nd if you like it, all, by one assent, .nd "ill be ruled by e, of y %udg ent, .nd "ill so do as 7*ll !roceed to say, $o orro", "hen you ride u!on your "ay, $hen, by y father*s s!irit, "ho is dead, 7f you*re not gay, 7*ll gi#e you u! y head. Hold u! your hands, nor ore about it s!eak.F (ur full assenting "as not far to seek6 ,e thought there "as no reason to think t"ice, .nd granted hi his "ay "ithout ad#ice, .nd bade hi tell his #erdict %ust and "ise, F?asters,F 4uoth he, Fhere no" is y ad#ice6 +ut take it not, 7 !ray you, in disdain6 $his is the !oint, to !ut it short and !lain, $hat each of you, beguiling the long day, Shall tell t"o stories as you "end your "ay $o 5anterbury to"n6 and each of you (n co ing ho e, shall tell another t"o, .ll of ad#entures he has kno"n befall. .nd he "ho !lays his !art the best of all, 11A
$hat is to say, "ho tells u!on the road $ales of best sense, in ost a using ode, Shall ha#e a su!!er at the others* cost Here in this roo and sitting by this !ost, ,hen "e co e back again fro 5anterbury. .nd no", the ore to "arrant you*ll be erry, 7 "ill yself, and gladly, "ith you ride .t y o"n cost, and 7 "ill be your guide. +ut "hosoe#er shall y rule gainsay Shall !ay for all that*s bought along the "ay. .nd if you are agreed that it be so, $ell e at once, or if not, tell e no, .nd 7 "ill act accordingly. /o ore.F $his thing "as granted, and our oaths "e s"ore, ,ith right glad hearts, and !rayed of hi , also, $hat he "ould take the office, nor forgo $he !lace of go#ernor of all of us, 1udging our tales6 and by his "isdo thus .rrange that su!!er at a certain !rice, ,e to be ruled, each one, by his ad#ice 7n things both great and s all6 by one assent, ,e stood co itted to his go#ern ent. .nd thereu!on, the "ine "as fetched anon6 ,e drank, and then to rest "ent e#ery one, .nd that "ithout a longer tarrying. /e0t orning, "hen the day began to s!ring, ;! rose our host, and acting as our cock, He gathered us together in a flock, .nd forth "e rode, a %og-trot being the !ace, ;ntil "e reached Saint $ho as* "atering-!lace. .nd there our host !ulled horse u! to a "alk, .nd said@ F/o", asters, listen "hile 7 talk. Uou kno" "hat you agreed at set of sun. 7f e#en-song and orning-song are one, =et*s here decide "ho first shall tell a tale. .nd as 7 ho!e to drink ore "ine and ale, ,hoso !ro#es rebel to y go#ern ent Shall !ay for all that by the "ay is s!ent. 5o e no", dra" cuts, before "e farther "in, .nd he that dra"s the shortest shall begin. Sir knight,F said he, F y aster and y lord, 11B
Uou shall dra" first as you ha#e !ledged your "ord. 5o e near,F 4uoth he, F y lady !rioress@ .nd you, sir clerk, !ut by your bashfulness, /or !onder ore6 out hands, flo", e#ery anEF .t once to dra" a cut each one began, .nd, to ake short the atter, as it "as, ,hether by chance or "hatsoe#er cause, $he truth is, that the cut fell to the knight, .t "hich right ha!!y then "as e#ery "ight. $hus that his story first of all he*d tell, .ccording to the co !act, it befell, .s you ha#e heard. ,hy argue to and froG .nd "hen this good an sa" that it "as so, +eing a "ise an and obedient $o !lighted "ord, gi#en by free assent, He slid@ FSince 7 ust then begin the ga e, ,hy, "elco e be the cut, and in &od*s na eE /o" let us ride, and hearken "hat 7 say.F .nd at that "ord "e rode forth on our "ay6 .nd he began to s!eak, "ith right good cheer, His tale anon, as it is "ritten here. H9-9 9/DS $H9 <-(=(&;9 () $H7S +((H ./D H9-9 +9&7/S $H9 )7-S$ $.=9, ,H75H 7S $H9 H/7&H$*S $.=9 The %&rdoner.! T&le 7n )landers, once, there "as a co !any (f young co !anions gi#en to folly, -iot and ga bling, brothels and ta#erns6 .nd, to the usic of har!s, lutes, gitterns, $hey danced and !layed at dice both day and night. .nd ate also and drank beyond their ight, ,hereby they ade the de#il*s sacrifice ,ithin that de#il*s te !le, "icked "ise, +y su!erfluity both #ile and #ain. So da nable their oaths and so !rofane $hat it "as terrible to hear the s"ear6 (ur +lessed Sa#iour*s +ody did they tear6 $hey thought the 1e"s had rent Hi not enough6 11C
.nd each of the at others* sins "ould laugh. $hen entered dancing-girls of ill re!ute, &raceful and sli , and girls "ho !eddled fruit, Har!ers and ba"ds and "o en selling cake, ,ho do their office for the De#il*s sake, $o kindle and blo" the fire of lechery, ,hich is so closely %oined "ith gluttony6 7 call on holy "rit, no", to "itness $hat lust is in all "ine and drunkenness. =o, ho" the drunken =ot unnaturally =ay "ith his daughters t"o, un"ittingly6 So drunk he "as he kne" not "hat he "rought. Herod, as in his story*s clearly taught, ,hen full of "ine and erry at a feast, Sitting at table idly ga#e behest $o slay 1ohn +a!tist, "ho "as all guiltless. Seneca says a good "ord too, doubtless6 He says there is no difference he can find +et"een a an that*s 4uite out of his ind .nd one that*s drunken, sa#e !erha!s in this $hat "hen a "retch in adness fallen is, $he state lasts longer than does drunkenness. ( gluttony6 full of all "ickedness, ( first cause of confusion to us all, +eginning of da nation and our fall, $ill 5hrist redee ed us "ith His blood againE +ehold ho" dearly, to be brief and !lain, ,as !urchased this accursed #illainy6 5orru!t "as all this "orld "ith gluttonyE .da our father, and his "ife also, )ro <aradise to labour and to "oe ,ere dri#en for that #ice, no doubt6 indeed $he "hile that .da fasted, as 7 read, He "as in <aradise6 but then "hen he .te of the fruit forbidden of the tree, .non he "as cast out to "oe and !ain. ( gluttony, of you "e ay co !lainE (h, kne" a an ho" any aladies )ollo" on e0cess and on gluttonies, Surely he "ould be then ore oderate 7n diet, and at table ore sedate. 115
.lasE $he throat so short, the tender outh, 5ausing that east and "est and north and south, 7n earth, in air, in "ater en shall s"ink $o get a glutton dainty eat and drinkE (f this sa e atter <aul does "isely treat@ ?eat for the belly and belly for the eat@ .nd both shall &od destroy, as <aul does say. .lasE . foul thing is it, by y fay, $o s!eak this "ord, and fouler is the deed, ,hen an so gu''les of the "hite and red $hat of his o"n throat akes he his !ri#y, +ecause of this cursed su!erfluity. $he a!ostle, "ee!ing, says ost !iteously@ )or any "alk, of "ho 7*#e told you, aye, ,ee!ing 7 tell you once again they*re dross, )or they are foes of 5hrist and of the 5ross, ,hose end is death, "hose belly is their god. ( gutE ( bellyE ( you stinking cod, )illed full of dung, "ith all corru!tion foundE .t either end of you foul is the sound. ,ith ho" great cost and labour do they find Uour foodE $hese cooks, they !ound and strain and grind6 Substance to accident they turn "ith fire, .ll to fulfill your gluttonous desireE (ut of the hard and ri#en bones knock they $he arro", for they thro" nothing a"ay $hat ay go through the gullet soft and s"eet6 ,ith s!icery, "ith leaf, bark, root, re!lete Shall be the sauces ade for your delight, $o furnish you a shar!er a!!etite. +ut truly, he that such delights entice 7s dead "hile yet he "allo"s in this #ice. . lecherous thing is "ine, and drunkenness 7s full of stri#ing and of "retchedness. ( drunken an, disfigured is your face, Sour is your breath, foul are you to e brace, .nd through your drunken nose there co es a sound .s if you snored out Sa son, Sa son round6 .nd yet &od kno"s that Sa son drank no "ine. Uou fall do"n %ust as if you "ere stuck s"ine6 Uour tongue is loose, your honest care obscure6 116
)or drunkenness is #ery se!ulture (f any ind a an ay chance to o"n. 7n "ho strong drink has do ination sho"n He can no counsel kee! for any dread. /o" kee! you fro the "hite and fro the red, .nd s!ecially fro the "hite "ine gro"n at =e!e $hat is for sale in )ish Street or in 5hea!. $his "ine of S!ain, it i0es craftily ,ith other "ines that chance to be near by, )ro "hich there rise such fu es, as "ell ay be, $hat "hen a an has drunk t"o draughts, or three, .nd thinks hi self to be at ho e in 5hea!, He finds that he*s in S!ain, and right at =e!e,/ot at -ochelle nor yet at +ordeau0 to"n, .nd then "ill he snore out Sa son, Sa son. +ut hearken, asters, one "ord ore 7 !ray@ $he greatest deeds of all, 7* bold to say, (f #ictories in the old testa ent, $hrough the $rue &od, ,ho is o ni!otent, ,ere gained by abstinence and after !rayer@ =ook in the +ible, you ay learn this there. =o, .ttila, the ighty con4ueror, Died in his slee!, in sha e and dishonour, .nd bleeding at the nose for drunkenness6 . great ca!tain should li#e in soberness. .bo#e all this, ad#ise yourself right "ell ,hat "as co anded unto =e uel/ot Sa uel, but =e uel, say 7$he +ible*s "ords you cannot "ell deny@ Drinking by agistrates is called a #ice. /o ore of this, for it ay "ell suffice. .nd no" that 7 ha#e told of gluttony, 7*ll take u! ga bling, sho"ing you thereby $he curse of chance, and all its e#ils treat6 )ro it !roceeds false s"earing and deceit, +las!he ing, urder, and- "hat*s ore- the "aste (f ti e and oney6 add to "hich, debased .nd sha ed and lost to honour 4uite is he, ,ho once a co on ga bler*s kno"n to be. .nd e#er the higher one is of estate, $he ore he*s held disgraced and desolate. 11D
.nd if a !rince !lays si ilar ha'ardry 7n all his go#ern ent and !olicy, He loses in the esti ate of en His good re!ute, and finds it not again. 5hilon, "ho "as a "ise a bassador, ,as sent to 5orinth, all in great honour, )ro =acedae on, to ake alliance. .nd "hen he ca e, he noticed there, by chance, .ll of the greatest !eo!le of the land <laying at ha'ard there on e#ery hand. ,herefore, and all as soon as it ight be, He stole off ho e again to his country, .nd said@ 7 "ill not thus debase y na e6 /or "ill 7 take u!on e so great sha e Uou to ally "ith co on ha'arders. Send, if you "ill, other a bassadors6 )or, y truth, 7 say 7*d rather die $han you "ith ga blers like to the ally. )or you that are so glorious in honours Shall ne#er ally yoursel#es "ith ha'arders +y y consent, or treaty 7 ha#e ade. $his "ise !hiloso!her, *t"as thus he said. =et us look, then, at Hing De etrius. $he king of <arthia, as the book tells us, Sent hi a !air of golden dice, in scorn, +ecause the na e of ga bler he had borne6 ,herefore he arked his re!utation do"n .s #alueless des!ite his "ide reno"n. &reat lords ay find sufficient other !lay See ly enough to "hile the ti e a"ay. /o" "ill 7 s!eak of oaths both false and great . "ord or t"o, "hereof the old books treat. &reat s"earing is a thing abo inable, .nd #ain oaths yet ore re!rehensible. $he High &od did forbid s"earing at all, .s "itness ?atthe"6 but in es!ecial (f s"earing says the holy 1ere iah, $hou shalt not s"ear in #ain, to be a liar, +ut s"ear in %udg ent and in righteousness6 +ut idle s"earing is a "ickedness. +ehold, in the first table of the =a", 118
$hat should be honoured as High &od*s, sans fla", $his second one of His co and ents !lain@ $hou shalt not take the =ord &od*s na e in #ain. /ay, sooner He forbids us such s"earing $han ho icide or any a "icked thing6 7 say that, as to order, thus it stands6 *$is kno"n by hi "ho His "ill understands $hat the great second la" of &od is that. ?oreo#er, 7 "ill tell you full and flat, $hat retribution "ill not 4uit his house ,ho in his s"earing is too outrageous. +y &od*s o"n !recious heart, and by His nails, .nd by the blood of 5hrist that*s no" at Hales, Se#en is y chance, and yours is fi#e and treyE +y &od*s good ar s, if you do falsely !lay, $his dagger through your heart 7*ll stick for youE Such is the "hel!ing of the bitched bones t"o@ <er%ury, anger, cheating, ho icide. /o" for the lo#e of 5hrist, ,ho for us died, )orgo this s"earing oaths, both great and s all6 +ut, sirs, no" "ill 7 tell to you y tale. /o" these three roisterers, "hereof 7 tell, =ong before !ri e "as rung by any bell, ,ere sitting in a ta#ern for to drink6 .nd as they sat they heard a s all bell clink +efore a cor!se being carried to his gra#e6 ,hereat one of the called unto his kna#e@ &o run, said he, and ask the ci#illy ,hat cor!se it is that*s %ust no" !assing by, .nd see that you re!ort the an*s na e "ell. Sir, said the boy, it needs not that they tell. 7 learned it, ere you ca e here, full t"o hours6 He "as, by gad, an old co rade of yours6 .nd he "as slain, all suddenly, last night, ,hen drunk, as he sat on his bench u!right6 .n unseen thief, called Death, ca e stalking by, ,ho hereabouts akes all the !eo!le die, .nd "ith his s!ear he clo#e his heart in t"o .nd "ent his "ay and ade no ore ado. He*s slain a thousand "ith this !estilence6 .nd, aster, ere you co e in his !resence, 11>
7t see s to e to be right necessary $o be fore"arned of such an ad#ersary@ +e ready to eet hi for e#er ore. ?y other taught e this, 7 say no ore. +y holy ?ary, said the innkee!er, $he boy s!eaks truth, for Death has slain, this year, . ile or ore hence, in a large #illage, +oth an and "o an, child and hind and !age. 7 think his habitation ust be there6 $o be ad#ised of hi great "isdo *t"ere, +efore he did a an so e dishonour. Uea, by &od*s ar sE e0clai ed this roisterer, 7s it such !eril, then, this Death to eetG 7*ll seek hi in the road and in the street, .s 7 no" #o" to &od*s o"n noble bonesE Hear, co rades, "e*re of one ind, as each o"ns6 =et each of us hold u! his hand to other .nd each of us beco e the other*s brother, .nd "e three "ill go slay this traitor Death6 He shall be slain "ho*s sto!!ed so any a breath, +y &od*s great dignity, ere it be night. $ogether did these three their !ledges !light $o li#e and die, each of the for the other, .s if he "ere his #ery o"n blood brother. .nd u! they started, drunken, in this rage, .nd forth they "ent, and to"ards that #illage ,hereof the innkee!er had told before. .nd so, "ith any a grisly oath, they s"ore .nd 1esus* blessed body once ore rentDeath shall be dead if "e find "here he "ent. ,hen they had gone not fully half a ile, 1ust as they "ould ha#e trodden o#er a stile, .n old an, and a !oor, "ith the did eet. $his ancient an full eekly the did greet, .nd said thus@ /o", lords, &od kee! you and seeE* $he one that "as ost insolent of these three -e!lied to hi @ ,hatG 5hurl of e#il grace, ,hy are you all "ra!!ed u!, e0ce!t your faceG ,hy do you li#e so long in so great ageG $his ancient an looked u!on his #isage .nd thus re!lied@ +ecause 7 cannot find 1A0
. an, nay, though 7 "alked fro here to 7nd, 9ither in to"n or country "ho*ll engage $o gi#e his youth in barter for y age6 .nd therefore ust 7 kee! y old age still, .s long a ti e as it shall be &od*s "ill. /ot e#en Death, alasE y life "ill take6 $hus restless 7 y "retched "ay ust ake, .nd on the ground, "hich is y other*s gate, 7 knock "ith y staff early, aye, and late, .nd cry@ *( y dear other, let e inE =o, ho" 7* "asted, flesh and blood and skinE .lasE ,hen shall y bones co e to their restG ?other, "ith you fain "ould 7 change y chest, $hat in y cha ber so long ti e has been, .yeE )or a haircloth rag to "ra! e inE* +ut yet to e she "ill not sho" that grace, .nd thus all !ale and "ithered is y face. +ut, sirs, in you it is no courtesy $o s!eak to an old an des!itefully, ;nless in "ord he tres!ass or in deed. 7n holy "rit you ay, yoursel#es, "ell read *+efore an old an, hoar u!on the head, Uou should arise.* ,hich 7 ad#ise you read, /or to an old an any in%ury do ?ore than you "ould that en should do to you 7n age, if you so long ti e shall abide6 .nd &od be "ith you, "hether you "alk or ride. 7 ust !ass on no" "here 7 ha#e to go. /ay, ancient churl, by &od it sha*n*t be so, 5ried out this other ha'arder, anon6 Uou sha*n*t de!art so easily, by Saint 1ohnE Uou s!oke %ust no" of that sa e traitor Death, ,ho in this country sto!s our good friends* breath. Hear y true "ord, since you are his o"n s!y, $ell "here he is or you shall rue it, aye +y &od and by the holy Sacra entE 7ndeed you ust be, "ith this Death, intent $o slay all us young !eo!le, you false thief. /o", sirs, said he, if you*re so keen, in brief, $o find out Death, turn u! this crooked "ay, )or in that gro#e 7 left hi , by y fay, 1A1
;nder a tree, and there he "ill abide6 /or for your boasts "ill he a o ent hide. See you that oakG -ight there you shall hi find. &od sa#e you, ,ho redee ed all hu ankind, .nd end your "aysE- thus said this ancient an. .nd e#ery one of these three roisterers ran $ill he ca e to that tree6 and there they found, (f florins of fine gold, ne"- inted, round, ,ell-nigh eight bushels full, or so they thought. /o longer, then, after this Death they sought, +ut each of the so glad "as of that sight, +ecause the florins "ere so fair and bright, $hat do"n they all sat by this !recious hoard. $he "orst of the "as first to s!eak a "ord. +rothers, said he, take heed to "hat 7 say6 ?y "its are keen, although 7 ock and !lay. $his treasure here )ortune to us has gi#en $hat irth and %ollity our li#es ay li#en, .nd easily as it*s co e, so "ill "e s!end. 9hE +y &od*s !recious dignityE ,ho*d !retend, $oday, that "e should ha#e so fair a graceG +ut ight this gold be carried fro this !lace Ho e to y house, or if you "ill, to yours)or "ell "e kno" that all this gold is ours$hen "ere "e all in high felicity. +ut certainly by day this ay not be6 )or en "ould say that "e "ere robbers strong, .nd "e*d, for our o"n treasure, hang ere long. $his treasure ust be carried ho e by night .ll !rudently and slyly, out of sight. So 7 !ro!ose that cuts a ong us all +e dra"n, and let*s see "here the cut "ill fall6 .nd he that gets the short cut, blithe of heart Shall run to to"n at once, and to the art, .nd fetch us bread and "ine here, !ri#ately. .nd t"o of us shall guard, right cunningly, $his treasure "ell6 and if he does not tarry, ,hen it is night "e*ll all the treasure carry ,here, by agree ent, "e ay think it best. $hat one of the the cuts brought in his fist .nd bade the dra" to see "here it ight fall6 1AA
.nd it fell on the youngest of the all6 .nd so, forth to"ard the to"n he "ent anon. .nd %ust as soon as he had turned and gone, $hat one of the s!oke thus unto the other@ Uou kno" "ell that you are y o"n s"orn brother, So to your !rofit 7 "ill s!eak anon. Uou kno" "ell ho" our co rade is %ust gone6 .nd here is gold, and that in great !lenty, $hat*s to be !arted here a ong us three. /e#ertheless, if 7 can sha!e it so $hat it be !arted only by us t"o, Shall 7 not do a turn that is friendlyG $he other said@ ,ell, no", ho" can that beG He kno"s "ell that the gold is "ith us t"o. ,hat shall "e say to hi G ,hat shall "e doG Shall it be secretG asked the first rogue, then, .nd 7 "ill tell you in eight "ords, or ten, ,hat "e ust do, and ho" bring it about. .greed, re!lied the other, /e#er doubt, $hat, on y "ord, 7 nothing "ill betray. /o", said the first, "e*re t"o, and 7 dare say $he t"o of us are stronger than is one. ,atch "hen he sits, and soon as that is done .rise and ake as if "ith hi to !lay6 .nd 7 "ill thrust hi through the t"o sides, yea, $he "hile you ro ! "ith hi as in a ga e, .nd "ith your dagger see you do the sa e6 .nd then shall all this gold di#ided be, ?y right dear friend, %ust bet"een you and e6 $hen ay "e both our e#ery "ish fulfill .nd !lay at dice all at our o"n s"eet "ill. .nd thus agreed "ere these t"o rogues, that day, $o slay the third, as you ha#e heard e say. $his youngest rogue "ho*d gone into the to"n, (ften in fancy rolled he u! and do"n $he beauty of those florins ne" and bright. ( =ord, thought he, if so be that 7 ight Ha#e all this treasure to yself alone, $here is no an "ho li#es beneath the throne (f &od that should be then so erry as 7. .nd at the last the )iend, our ene y, 1AB
<ut in his thought that he should !oison buy ,ith "hich he ight kill both his fello"s6 aye, $he De#il found hi in such "icked state, He had full lea#e his grief to consu ate6 )or it "as utterly the an*s intent $o kill the both and ne#er to re!ent. .nd on he strode, no longer "ould he tarry, 7nto the to"n, to an a!othecary, .nd !rayed of hi that he*d !re!are and sell So e !oison for his rats, and so e as "ell )or a !olecat that in his yard had lain, $he "hich, he said, his ca!ons there had slain, .nd fain he "as to rid hi , if he ight, (f #er in that thus da aged hi by night. $he a!othecary said@ .nd you shall ha#e . thing of "hich, so &od y s!irit sa#e, 7n all this "orld there is no li#e creature $hat*s eaten or has drunk of this i0ture .s uch as e4uals but a grain of "heat, $hat shall not sudden death thereafter eet6 Uea, die he shall, and in a shorter "hile $han you re4uire to "alk but one short ile6 $his !oison is so #iolent and strong. $his "icked an the !oison took along ,ith hi bo0ed u!, and then he straight"ay ran 7nto the street ad%oining, to a an, .nd of hi borro"ed generous bottles three6 .nd into t"o his !oison then !oured he6 $he third one he ke!t clean for his o"n drink. )or all that night he "as resol#ed to s"ink 7n carrying the florins fro that !lace. .nd "hen this roisterer, "ith e#il grace, Had filled "ith "ine his ighty bottles three, $hen to his co rades forth again "ent he. ,hat is the need to tell about it oreG )or %ust as they had !lanned his death before, 1ust so they urdered hi , and that anon. .nd "hen the thing "as done, then s!oke the one@ /o" let us sit and drink and so be erry, .nd after"ard "e "ill his body bury. .nd as he s!oke, one bottle of the three 1AC
He took "herein the !oison chanced to be .nd drank and ga#e his co rade drink also, )or "hich, and that anon, lay dead these t"o. 7 feel 4uite sure that Doctor .#icena ,ithin the sections of his 5anon ne#er Set do"n ore certain signs of !oisoning $han sho"ed these "retches t"o at their ending. $hus ended these t"o ho icides in "oe6 Died thus the treacherous !oisoner also. ( cursed sin, full of abo inablenessE ( treacherous ho icideE ( "ickednessE ( gluttony, lechery, and ha'ardryE ( blas!he er of 5hrist "ith #illainy, .nd "ith great oaths, habitual for !rideE .lasE ?ankind, ho" ay this thing betide $hat to thy dear 5reator, ,ho thee "rought, .nd "ith His !recious blood sal#ation bought, $hou art so false and so unkind, alasE /o", good en, &od forgi#e you each tres!ass, .nd kee! you fro the sin of a#arice. ?y holy !ardon cures and "ill suffice, So that it brings e gold, or sil#er brings, (r else, 7 care not- brooches, s!oons or rings. +o" do"n your heads before this holy bullE 5o e u!, you "i#es, and offer of your "oolE Uour na es 7*ll enter on y roll, anon, .nd into Hea#en*s bliss you*ll go, each one. )or 7*ll absol#e you, by y s!ecial !o"er, Uou that ake offering, as clean this hour .s you "ere born. .nd lo, sirs, thus 7 !reach. .nd 1esus 5hrist, "ho is our souls* great leech, So grant you each his !ardon to recei#e6 )or that is best6 7 "ill not you decei#e. +ut, sirs, one "ord forgot 7 in y tale6 7*#e relics in y !ouch that cannot fail, .s good as 9ngland e#er sa", 7 ho!e, $he "hich 7 got by kindness of the !o!e. 7f gifts your change of heart and ind re#eal, Uou*ll get y absolution "hile you kneel. 5o e forth, and kneel do"n here before, anon, .nd hu bly you*ll recei#e y full !ardon6 1A5
(r else recei#e a !ardon as you "end, .ll ne" and fresh as e#ery ile shall end, So that you offer e each ti e, ane", ?ore gold and sil#er, all good coins and true. 7t is an honour to each one that*s here $hat you ay ha#e a co !etent !ardoner $o gi#e you absolution as you ride, )or all ad#entures that ay still betide. <erchance fro horse ay fall do"n one or t"o, +reaking his neck, and it ight "ell be you. See "hat insurance, then, it is for all $hat 7 "ithin your fello"shi! did fall, ,ho ay absol#e you, both the great and less, ,hen soul fro body !asses, as 7 guess. 7 think our host ight %ust as "ell begin, )or he is ost-en#elo!ed in all sin. 5o e forth, sir host, and offer first anon, .nd you shall kiss the relics, e#ery one, .ye, for a groatE ;nbuckle no" your !urse. /ay, nay, said he, then ay 7 ha#e 5hrist*s curseE 7t sha*n*t be, said he, as 7*#e ho!e for riches, ,hy, you "ould ha#e e kissing your old breeches, .nd s"ear they "ere the relics of a saint, $hough "ith your e0cre ent *t"ere dabbed like !aint. +y cross Saint Helen found in Holy =and, 7 "ould 7 had your ballocks in y hand 7nstead of relics in a reli4uary6 =et*s cut the off, and the 7*ll hel! you carry6 $hey shall be shrined "ithin a hog*s fat turd. $his !ardoner, he ans"ered not a "ord6 So "rathy "as he no "ord "ould he say. /o", said our host, 7 "ill no longer !lay ,ith you, nor any other angry an. +ut at this !oint the "orthy knight began, ,hen that he sa" ho" all the folk did laugh@ /o ore of this, for it*s gone far enough6 Sir !ardoner, be glad and erry here6 .nd you, sir host, "ho are to e so dear, 7 !ray you that you kiss the !ardoner. .nd, !ardoner, 7 !ray you to dra" near, .nd as "e did before, let*s laugh and !lay. 1A6
.nd then they kissed and rode forth on their "ay. Pr"l"g0e t" the Pard"ner3s Tale) $he Host thinks that the cause of Virginia*s death in the !re#ious tale "as her beauty. $o counter the sadness of the tale, the Host suggests that the <ardoner tell a lighter tale. $he <ardoner delays, for he "ants to finish his eal, but says that he shall tell a oral tale. He says that he "ill tell a tale "ith this oral@ the lo#e of oney is the root of all e#il. He clai s that during his ser ons he sho"s useless trifles that he !asses off as saints* relics. He !roudly tells about ho" he defrauds !eo!le "ho belie#ed they ha#e sinned. He states e0!licitly that his goal is not to sa#e !eo!le fro sin, but to gain oney fro the . $he <ardoner says that he "ill not i itate the a!ostles in their !o#erty, but "ill ha#e food, co fort, and a "ench in e#ery to"n. Anal(sis . ong the #arious !ilgri s featured in the 5anterbury $ales, the <ardoner is one of the ost fully reali'ed characters. $he only character to "ho 5haucer gi#es greater detail is the ,ife of +ath. $he <ardoner is a fraudulent huckster "ho sho"s no 4ual s about !assing off false ite s as the relics of saints, but he also de onstrates a great sense of self-loathing. $he <ardoner shifts fro o ents of direct honesty to sha eless deceit, o!enly ad itting the tricks of his trade to the tra#elers but ne#ertheless atte !ting to use these #arious ethods on these tra#elers "ho are a"are of his sche es. $he <ardoner is in any senses a "ar!ed character, unable to hold to any consistent code of oral beha#ior. 9#en in his !hysicality he is defor ed. $he &eneral <rologue, suggesting that the <ardoner rese bles a *gelding or a are,* hints that the <ardoner ay be a congenital eunuch or, taken less literally, that he is a ho ose0ual. 7n his defor ity the <ardoner beco es a shell of a !erson. .lthough he is one of the ost de#elo!ed characters, he is the character !erha!s ost defined by his !rofession. $he <ardoner has substituted a syste of #alues "ith a rote !erfor ance, "hich confor s to his !rofession, "hich substitutes a eaningless onetary transaction for !enance for sin. $he <ardoner therefore suggests a traditional Vice character "ho beha#es strictly out of the ost i !ure oti#es, but "here he de!arts fro #ice characters, "ho sha elessly co it isdeeds for their o"n !leasure, is that he lacks the necessary a oral 4uality. $he <ardoner is not a oral an, but he ne#ertheless has a oral syste to "hich he ost certainly does not adhere. 1AD
The Pard"ner3s Tale) $here once li#ed in )landers a grou! of three rioters "ho did nothing but engage in irres!onsible and sinful beha#ior. $hey "ere blas!he ous drunkards "ho, "hile in a ta#ern one night, "itnessed en carrying a cor!se to its gra#e. . boy told the rioters that the dead an "as one of their friends, slain by an unseen thief called Death. $hey re ark that Death has slain thousands, and #o" to slay Death the sel#es. $he three drunken en go off to find Death, but only co e across an ancient an shrouded in robes. He clai s that Death "ill not take hi , and says that they can find Death underneath a nearby oak tree. ,hen they found the tree they only found bushels of gold. $hey decide to take the treasure and di#ide it e#enly, but reali'e that if they i ediate "ent into to"n "ith it they "ould be !resu ed robbers. $hey therefore dra" lots6 the one "ith the shortest stra" shall go into to"n and fetch food and drink for the . $hey shall stay in the forest "ith the gold until they can lea#e in the iddle of the night. $he youngest dre" the shortest lot and "as sent into to"n. $he t"o that re ain decide to urder the third once he returns, for they "ould then be able to di#ide the gold by t"o instead of three. Ho"e#er, "hile the third rioter "as in to"n, he bought !oison fro an a!othecary "hich he !oured into the "ine bottle. ,hen he returned, the t"o rioters stabbed the third, urdering hi . $hey then drank the !oisoned "ine and died the sel#es. $he <ardoner interru!ts the end of his tale "ith a diatribe against the sin of a#arice, then launches into a ser on in "hich he atte !ts to sell relics to the other tra#elers. $he Host argues "ith hi , telling hi that the only relic he "ould "ant fro the <ardoner is his testicles enclosed in a hog*s turd. $he knight ediates the conflict. Anal(sis) $he <ardoner*s $ale is a direct e0tension of the !ersonality of the narrator, an o#ertly oralistic tale that ser#es !ri arily to elicit a s!ecific res!onse. 7t is a !articularly sha eless tale, a conde nation of a#arice that ste s fro the a#arice of its narrator6 by conde ning the sin, the <ardoner ho!es to oti#ate the tra#elers to !ay the <ardoner to absol#e their sins. $he character of the <ardoner is o ni!resent throughout the tale, "hich is told in an inti idating oratorical style that intends to create a sense of horror at the conse4uences for sinful action. $hroughout the tale the narrator drifts in and out fro the story, as the <ardoner occasionally lea#es the !lot of the tale to launch into ser ons against sin. )inally, at the conclusion of the tale, he re#eals the rationale for this authorial inter#ention, !reaching against a#arice for the sole intention of selling !hony relics to the tra#elers. $he tale is thus less of a fully for ed 1A8
narrati#e than a !erfor ance gi#en by the <ardoner in "hich he ne#er sub erges his !resence in the story. $he i !ortance of the narrator is reflected in the relati#e uni !ortance of the characters in the story. $he three rioters are anony ous hoodlu s to "ho the narrator gi#es no distincti#e characteristics. $he one distinction that the <ardoner akes a ong the three is that the rioter "ho is sent for food and drink is younger than the other t"o. $heir characteristics are unifor ly negati#e, but relati#ely broad they are a#aricious, but also drunkards and urderers, "hich gi#es the <ardoner o!!ortunity to conde n a #ast array of sins. $he old an that !oints the rioters in the direction of death is the single de#elo!ed character in the story, a grotes4ue figure "ho "aits to die out of e0tre e "eariness for life. ,hen he tells the rioters that he "ishes to die, he clai s that he "alks on the ground, his * other*s gate,* and asks to return to the earth (in the for of a decayed cor!se). $his confor s to the idea of rebirth, as the old an asks to return to the earth (his other*s "o b) !resu ably to be born once again. Ho"e#er, for the old an this is only his second choice. He "ould !refer to e0change bodies "ith a young an, but can find no an "illing to trade. He suffers the isery of a an "ho does sees no ho!e for rede !tion. He does not consider the !ossibility of hea#en and 5hristian rede !tion, but rather adheres to ideas of earthly reincarnation. :uite significantly, this is the only e0!ression of any s!irituality contained in the <ardoner*s $ale. $he <ardoner has little concern "ith actual religious atters and akes no real reference to 5hristianity. His concern is oney, and the 5hristian religion is only the eans to achie#e this end. $he $ale itself is a relati#ely si !listic oral fable that hinges on the distinctions bet"een literal and figurati#e language. $he initial !ersonification of death that the young child uses as a eta!hor and eu!he is leads to the actual !hysical anifestation of Death as a tangible ob%ect@ the !iles of gold that the three rioters find. $he !lot of the tale deri#es fro the rioters* literal inter!retation of eu!he is since death has taken their friend, they ust find death. $his !ersonification of death finally beco es eta!hor once again "hen the !iles of gold re!resent the death that they find. JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ. B. THE RENAISSAN/E (1500-16A5) - the l"9e l(ri6s (W(att@ The long love6 Surrey@ Alas, so all things)
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R" ert H0ntingt"n =let6her W>ATT AND S+RRE> AND THE NEW POETR>
7n the literature of fine art also the ne" beginning "as ade during the reign of Henry V through the introduction by Sir $ho as ,yatt of the 7talian fashion of lyric !oetry. ,ya gentle birth, entered 5a bridge at the age of t"el#e and recei#ed his degree of ?. .. se#e His ature life "as that of a courtier to "ho the king*s fa#or brought high a!!oint en #icissitudes of fortune, including occasional i !rison ents, as for ed at that ti e a co o courtier*s lot. ,yatt, ho"e#er, "as not a erely "orldly !erson, but a <rotestant see ingly so e"hat se#ere oral character. He died in 15CA at the age of thirty-nine of a fe#er caug hastening, at the king*s co and, to eet and "elco e the S!anish a bassador.
(n one of his issions to the 5ontinent, ,yatt, like 5haucer, had #isited 7taly. 7 !ressed "i of 7talian #erse and the contrasting rudeness of that of conte !orary 9ngland, he deter ine the latter in the style of the for er. Here a brief historical retros!ect is necessary. $he 7talian si0teenth century had itself been originally an i itation, na ely of the !oetry of <ro#ence )rance. $here, in the t"elfth century, under a delightful cli ate and in a region of enchanting arisen a lu0urious ci#ili'ation "hose !oets, the troubadours, any of the en of nob carried to the furthest e0tre e the "o an-"orshi! of edie#al chi#alry and had enshrin !oetry of su!erb and #aried s"eetness and beauty. 7n this highly con#entionali'ed !oetry fore#er sighing for his lady, a corres!ondingly obdurate being "hose fa#or is to be "on onl the ost un4ualified and unreasoning de#otion. )ro <ro#ence, 7taly had taken u! the style the other for s for its e0!ression, in the t"elfth and thirteenth centuries, had de#ised the !oe fourteen-line stan'a "hich "e call the sonnet. $he "hole o#e ent had found its gre <etrarch, "ho, in hundreds of !oe s, ostly sonnets, of !erfect beauty, had sung the !raise of his nearly i aginary =aura.
7t "as this highly artificial but #ery beautiful !oetic fashion "hich ,yatt deliberately introduce into 9ngland. $he nature and success of his inno#ation can be su ari'ed in a state ents.
1. 7 itating <etrarch, ,yatt nearly li its hi self as regards substance to the trea artificial lo#e-the e, la enting the unkindness of ladies "ho #ery !robably ne#er "hose fa#or in any case he !robably regarded #ery lightly6 yet e#en so, he often str 9nglish note of inde!endence, declaring that if the lady continues obstinate he "ill n lo#e.
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A. Historically uch the ost i !ortant feature of ,yatt*s e0!eri ent "as the introd sonnet, a #ery substantial ser#ice indeed6 for not only did this for , like the lo#e-th by far the ost !o!ular one a ong 9nglish lyric !oets of the ne0t t"o generatio fashion "hich "as carried to an astonishing e0cess6 but it is the only artificial for origin "hich has e#er been really ado!ted and naturali'ed in 9nglish, and it still re instru ent for the terse e0!ression of a single !oetic thought. ,yatt, it should generally de!arts fro the <etrarchan ri e-sche e, on the "hole unfortunately, by s third 4uatrain for the first four lines of the sestet. $hat is, "hile <etrarch*s ri e-ar either a b b a a b b a c d c d c d or a b b a a b b a c d e c d e ,yatt*s is usually a b b a c e e. B. 7n his atte !ted refor ation of 9nglish etrical irregularity ,yatt, in his sonnets, sh uncertain hand of a beginner. He generally secures an e4ual nu ber of syllables in e he often erely counts the off on his fingers, "renching the accents all a"r #iolently forcing the ri es as "ell. 7n his songs, ho"e#er, "hich are uch ore nu the sonnets, he attains delightful fluency and elody. His *?y =ute, ."ake,* and *)o are still counted a ong the notable 9nglish lyrics. C. . !articular and characteristic !art of the con#entional 7talian lyric a!!aratus " trans!lanted "as the *conceit.* . conceit ay be defined as an e0aggerated figure !lay on "ords in "hich intellectual cle#erness figures at least as largely as real "hich is often dragged out to e0tre ely co !licated lengths of literal a!!lication. . ,yatt*s declaration (after <etrarch) that his lo#e, li#ing in his heart, ad#ances to his f enca !s, dis!laying his banner ("hich erely eans that the lo#er blushes "ith his introducing the conceit ,yatt fathered the ost cons!icuous of the su!erficial gen "hich "ere to do inate 9nglish !oetry for a century to co e. 5. Still another, inor, inno#ation of ,yatt "as the introduction into 9nglish #erse of *satire* ( oral !oe , reflecting on current follies) in the for of three etrical letters these the eter is the ter'a ri a of Dante.
,yatt*s "ork "as continued by his !oetical disci!le and successor, Henry Ho"ard, "ho, Duke of /orfolk, held the courtesy title of 9arl of Surrey. . brilliant though "ilful re!r $udor chi#alry, and distinguished in "ar, Surrey see s to ha#e occu!ied at 5ourt al co anding !osition as Sir <hili! Sidney in the follo"ing generation. His career "as tragically ironical fashion at the age of thirty by the !lots of his ene ies and the dying blood Hing Henry, "hich together led to his e0ecution on a tru !ed-u! charge of treason. 7t "as countless brutal court cri es, but it see s the ore hateful because if the king had died earlier Surrey could ha#e been sa#ed.
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Surrey*s ser#ices to !oetry "ere t"o@
1. He i !ro#ed on the #ersification of ,yatt*s sonnets, securing fluency and s oothnes A. 7n a translation of t"o books of Vergil*s *.neid* he introduced, fro the 7talian, !ent #erse, "hich "as destined thenceforth to be the eter of 9nglish !oetic dra a and of greatest 9nglish non-dra atic !oetry. )urther, though his !oe s are less nu erous ,yatt, his range of sub%ects is so e"hat broader, including so e a!!reciati#e e0ternal /ature. He see s, ho"e#er, so e"hat less sincere than his teacher. 7n h abandoned the for follo"ed by ,yatt and ado!ted (still fro the 7talian) the on subse4uently used by Shakes!eare, consisting of three inde!endent 4uatrains follo ,yatt, by a cou!let "hich su s u! the thought "ith e!igra atic force, thus@ a b a b f g g.
,yatt and Surrey set a fashion at 5ourt6 for so e years it see s to ha#e been an al o acco !lish ent for e#ery young noble to turn off lo#e !oe s after 7talian and )rench ode too had no" taken u! the fashion. $hese !oe s "ere generally and naturally regarded as th the 5ourt and of the gentry, and circulated at first only in anuscri!t a ong the author*s fri general !ublic beca e curious about the , and in 155D one of the !ublishers of the day, -i securing a nu ber of those of ,yatt, Surrey, and a fe" other noble or gentle authors, !ublish little #olu e, "hich is kno"n as
*$ottel*s ?iscellany.* 5o ing as it does in the year before the accession of :ueen 9li'abeth, the co !arati#ely barren reigns of 9d"ard and ?ary, this book is taken by co on consen the beginning of the literature of the 9li'abethan !eriod. 7t "as the !re ature !redecesso nu ber of such anthologies "hich "ere !ublished during the latter half of 9li'abeth*s reign.
Th"1as W(att TH1 9301/ +3/ -HA51+A-T61-- H,&1TH H,- &1-,/1 (,TH,6 H,- +A,TH+79 H1A/T#: $H9 long lo#e that in y thought 7 harbour, .nd in ine heart doth kee! his residence, 7nto y face !resseth "ith bold !retence, .nd therein ca !eth dis!laying his banner. She that e learneth to lo#e and to suffer, 1BA
.nd "ills that y trust, and lust*s negligence +e reined by reason, sha e, and re#erence, ,ith his hardiness takes dis!leasure. ,here"ith lo#e to the heart*s forest he fleeth, =ea#ing his enter!rise "ith !ain and cry, .nd there hi hideth, and not a!!eareth. ,hat ay 7 do, "hen y aster feareth, +ut in the field "ith hi to li#e and dieG )or good is the life, ending faithfully. Henr( H"4ard, Earl "! S0rre( A9A-, -3 A99 TH,6G- 63( &3 H39& TH1,/ P1A21 .las, so all things no" do hold their !eace, Hea#en and earth distrubed in no-thing6 $he beasts, the air, the birds their song do cease, $he nightes chair the stars about do bring. 5al is the sea@ the "a#es "ork less and less6 So a not 7, "ho lo#e, alas, doth "ring, +ringing before y face the great increase (f y desires, "hereat 7 "ee! and sing 7n %oy and "oe as in a doubtful ease6 )or y s"eet thoughts so etyi e do !leasure bring, +ut by and by the cause of y disease &i#es e a !ang that in"ardly doth sting, ,hen that 7 think "hat grief it is again $o lo#e and lack the thing should rid y !ain. Dra(t"n +A/1(199 T3 9301 Since there*s no hel!, co e let us kiss and !art6 /ay 7 ha#e done, you get no ore of e6 .nd 7 a glad, yea, glad "ith all y heart, $hat thus so cleanly 7 yself can free6 Shake hands for e#er, cancel all our #o"s, .nd "hen "e eet at any ti e again, +e it not seen in either of our bro"s $hat "e one %ot of for er lo#e retain. /o" at the last gas! of lo#e*s latest breath, ,hen his !ulse failing, !assion s!eechless lies, ,hen faith is kneeling by his bed of death, 1BB
.nd innocence is closing u! his eyes, /o" if thou "ould*st, "hen all ha#e gi#en hi o#er, )ro death to life thou ight*st hi yet reco#er. - the s"nnet (Sidne() 9oving in truth, (ith how sad steps, 3 5oon, 2ome -leep; 3 -leep , on my horse, and 9oue on me6) Sir Phili2 Sidne(, A-T/3PH19 A6& -T199A S"nnet I =o#ing in truth, and fain in #erse y lo#e to sho", $hat she, dear she, ight take so e !leasure of y !ain, <leasure ight cause her read, reading ight ake her kno", Hno"ledge ight !ity "in, and !ity grace obtain,Q 7 sought fit "ords to !aint the blackest face of "oe 6 Studying in#entions fine, her "its to entertain, (ft turning others* lea#es to see if thence "ould flo" So e fresh and fruitful sho"ers u!on y sun-burned brain. +ut "ords ca e halting forth, "anting in#ention*s stay 6 7n#ention, nature*s child, fled ste!-da e Study*s blo"s, .nd others* feet still see ed but strangers in y "ay. $hus, great "ith child to s!eak, and hel!less in y throes, +iting y truant !en, beating yself for s!ite, )ool, said y use to e, look in thy heart and "rite. S"nnet XXXI ,ith ho" sad ste!s, ( ?oon, thou cli b*st the skies E Ho" silently, and "ith ho" "an a face E ,hat, ay it be that e#en in hea#enly !lace $hat busy archer his shar! arro"s triesG Sure, if that long "ith lo#e-ac4uainted eyes 5an %udge of lo#e, thou feel*st a lo#er*s case< 7 read it in thy looks< thy languisht grace $o e that feel the like, thy state descries. $hen, e#en of fello"shi!, ( ?oon, tell e, 7s constant lo#e dee ed there but "ant of "itG .re beauties there as !roud as here they beG Do they abo#e lo#e to be lo#ed, and yet $hose lo#ers scorn "ho that lo#e doth !ossessG
1BC
Do they call #irtue there, ungratefulnessG S"nnet XXXIX 5o e Slee!E ( Slee!, the certain knot of !eace, $he baiting !lace of "it, the bal of "oe, $he !oor an*s "ealth, the !risoner*s release, $he indifferent %udge bet"een the high and lo"< ,ith shield of !roof, shield e fro out the !rease (f those fierce darts Des!air at e doth thro"< ( ake in e those ci#il "ars to cease< 7 "ill good tribute !ay, if thou do so. $ake thou of e s ooth !illo"s, s"eetest bed, . cha ber deaf to noise and blind to light, . rosy garland and a "eary head) .nd if these things, as being thine by right, ?o#e not thy hea#y grace, thou shalt in e, =i#elier than else"here, Stella*s i age see.
'LI' 7 on y horse, and =oue on e, doth trie (ur horse anshi!s, "hile by strange "orke 7 !roue . hors an to y horse, a horse to =oue, .nd no" ans "rongs in e, !oor beastE descrie. $he raines "here"ith y rider doth e tie .re hu bled thoughts, "hich bit of reuerence oue, 5urb*d-in "ith feare, but "ith gilt bosse aboue (f ho!e, "hich akes it see fair to the eye@ $he "and is "ill6 thou, )ancie, saddle art, &irt fast by ?e orie6 and "hile 7 s!urre ?y horse, he s!urres "ith shar!e desire y hart. He sits e fast, ho"euer 7 do sturre, .nd no" hath ade e to his hand so right, $hat in the anage y selfe take delight. (S2enser, -weet is the /ose, 3ne day , wrote her name, 5en call you fayre, 1pithalamion< And ye high heavens =44,,,>> Ed10nd S2enser
1B5
SO++ET ''VI. S"eet is the -ose, but gro"es u!on a brere6 S"eet is the %uni!ere, but shar!e his bough6 s"eet is the 9glantine, but !ricketh nere6 s"eet is the firbloo e, but his braunches rough. S"eet is the 5y!resse, but his rynd is tough, s"eet is the nut, but bitter is his !ill6 s"eet is the broo e-flo"re, but yet so"re enough6 and s"eet is ?oly, but his root is ill. So e#ery s"eet "ith soure is te !red still, that aketh it be co#eted the ore@ for easie things that ay be got at "ill, ost sorts of en doe set but little store. ,hy then should 7 account of little !aine, that endlesse !leasure shall unto e gaine. SO++ET L''V. (/e day 7 "rote her na e u!on the strand, but ca e the "a#es and "ashed it a "ay@ agayne 7 "rote it "ith a second hand, but ca e the tyde, and ade y !aynes his !ray. Vayne an, sayd she, that doest in #aine assay, a ortall thing so to i ortali'e. for 7 y self shall lyke to this decay, and eek y na e bee "y!ed out lyke"i'e. /ot so, (4uod 7) let baser things de#i'e, to dy in dust, but you shall li#e by fa e@ y #erse your #ertues rare shall eterni'e, and in the hea#ens "ryte your glorious na e. ,here "henas death shall all the "orld subde", our lo#e shall li#e, and later life rene". SO++ET L''I'. ?9n call you fayre, and you doe credit it, )or that your selfe ye dayly such doe see@ but the tre" fayre, that is the gentle "it, and #ertuous ind is uch ore !raysd of e. )or all the rest, ho" e#er fayre it be, shall turne to nought and loose that glorious he"@ but onely that is !er anent and free fro frayle corru!tion, that doth flesh ense". 1B6
$hat is true beautie@ that doth argue you to be di#ine and borne of hea#enly seed@ deri#*d fro that fayre S!irit, fro "ho al true and !erfect beauty did at first !roceed. He only fayre, and "hat he fayre hath ade, all other fayre lyke flo"res unty ely fade. E%ITH$L$MIO+ .nd ye high hea#ens, the te !le of the gods, 7n "hich a thousand torches fla ing bright Doe burne, that to us "retched earthly clods@ 7n dreadful darknesse lend desired light6 .nd all ye !o"ers "hich in the sa e re ayne, ?ore then "e en can fayne, <oure out your blessing on us !lentiously, .nd ha!!y influence u!on us raine, $hat "e ay raise a large !osterity, ,hich fro the earth, "hich they ay long !ossesse, ,ith lasting ha!!inesse, ;! to your haughty !allaces ay ount, .nd for the guerdon of theyr glorious erit ?ay heauenly tabernacles there inherit, (f blessed Saints for to increase the count. So let us rest, s"eet lo#e, in ho!e of this, .nd cease till then our ty ely ioyes to sing, $he "oods no ore us ans"er, nor our eccho ring. (Sha7es2eare@ -hall , compare thee, That time of year, 9et me not, Two loves , have)) Willia1 Sha7es2eare X5III Shall 7 co !are thee to a su erPs dayG $hou art ore lo#ely and ore te !erate@ -ough "inds do shake the darling buds of ?ay, .nd su erPs lease hath all too short a date@ So eti e too hot the eye of hea#en shines, .nd often is his gold co !le0ion di Pd, .nd e#ery fair fro fair so eti e declines, +y chance, or naturePs changing course untri Pd@ 1BD
+ut thy eternal su er shall not fade, /or lose !ossession of that fair thou o"Pst, /or shall death brag thou "anderPst in his shade, ,hen in eternal lines to ti e thou gro"Pst, So long as en can breathe, or eyes can see, So long li#es this, and this gi#es life to thee. XX . "o anPs face "ith naturePs o"n hand !ainted, Hast thou, the aster istress of y !assion6 . "o anPs gentle heart, but not ac4uainted ,ith shifting change, as is false "o enPs fashion@ .n eye ore bright than theirs, less false in rolling, &ilding the ob%ect "hereu!on it ga'eth6 . an in hue all ThuesP in his controlling, ,hich steals enPs eyes and "o enPs souls a a'eth. .nd for a "o an "ert thou first created6 $ill /ature, as she "rought thee, fell a-doting, .nd by addition e of thee defeated, +y adding one thing to y !ur!ose nothing. +ut since she !rickPd thee out for "o enPs !leasure, ?ine be thy lo#e and thy lo#ePs use their treasure. XXIX ,hen in disgrace "ith fortune and enPs eyes 7 all alone be"ee! y outcast state, .nd trouble deaf hea#en "ith y bootless cries, .nd look u!on yself, and curse y fate, ,ishing e like to one ore rich in ho!e, )eaturPd like hi , like hi "ith friends !ossessPd, Desiring this anPs art, and that anPs sco!e, ,ith "hat 7 ost en%oy contented least6 Uet in these thoughts y self al ost des!ising, Ha!ly 7 think on thee,Q and then y state, =ike to the lark at break of day arising )ro sullen earth, sings hy ns at hea#enPs gate,6 )or thy s"eet lo#e re e berPd such "ealth brings $hat then 7 scorn to change y state "ith kings. 1B8
LXXIII $hat ti e of year thou ayst in e behold ,hen yello" lea#es, or none, or fe", do hang ;!on those boughs "hich shake against the cold, +are ruinPd choirs, "here late the s"eet birds sang. 7n e thou seePst the t"ilight of such day .s after sunset fadeth in the "est6 ,hich by and by black night doth take a"ay, DeathPs second self, that seals u! all in rest. 7n e thou seePst the glo"ing of such fire, $hat on the ashes of his youth doth lie, .s the death-bed, "hereon it ust e0!ire, 5onsu Pd "ith that "hich it "as nourishPd by. $his thou !ercei#Pst, "hich akes thy lo#e ore strong, $o lo#e that "ell, "hich thou ust lea#e ere long. /X5I =et e not to the arriage of true inds .d it i !edi ents. =o#e is not lo#e ,hich alters "hen it alteration finds, (r bends "ith the re o#er to re o#e@ (, noE it is an e#er-fi0ed ark, $hat looks on te !ests and is ne#er shaken6 7t is the star to e#ery "andering bark, ,hose "orthPs unkno"n, although his height be taken. =o#ePs not $i ePs fool, though rosy li!s and cheeks ,ithin his bending sicklePs co !ass co e6 =o#e alters not "ith his brief hours and "eeks, +ut bears it out e#en to the edge of doo . 7f this be error and u!on e !ro#Pd, 7 ne#er "rit, nor no an e#er lo#Pd /XX5II 7n the old age black "as not counted fair, (r if it "ere, it bore not beautyPs na e6 +ut no" is black beautyPs successi#e heir, .nd beauty slanderPd "ith a bastard sha e@ )or since each hand hath !ut on /aturePs !o"er, 1B>
)airing the foul "ith .rtPs false borro"ed face, S"eet beauty hath no na e, no holy bo"er, +ut is !rofanPd, if not li#es in disgrace. $herefore y istressP eyes are ra#en black, Her eyes so suited, and they ourners see .t such "ho, not born fair, no beauty lack, SlandPring creation "ith a false estee @ Uet so they ourn beco ing of their "oe, $hat e#ery tongue says beauty should look so.
/XXIX $he e0!ense of s!irit in a "aste of sha e 7s lust in action@ and till action, lust 7s !er%urPd, urderous, bloody, full of bla e, Sa#age, e0tre e, rude, cruel, not to trust6 9n%oyPd no sooner but des!ised straight6 <ast reason hunted6 and no sooner had, <ast reason hated, as a s"allo"Pd bait, (n !ur!ose laid to ake the taker ad@ ?ad in !ursuit and in !ossession so6 Had, ha#ing, and in 4uest, to ha#e e0tre e6 . bliss in !roof,Q and !ro#Pd, a #ery "oe6 +efore, a %oy !ro!osPd6 behind a drea . .ll this the "orld "ell kno"s6 yet none kno"s "ell $o shun the hea#en that leads en to this hell. /XXX ?y istressP eyes are nothing like the sun6 5oral is far ore red, than her li!s red@ 7f sno" be "hite, "hy then her breasts are dun6 7f hairs be "ires, black "ires gro" on her head. 7 ha#e seen roses da askPd, red and "hite, +ut no such roses see 7 in her cheeks6 .nd in so e !erfu es is there ore delight $han in the breath that fro y istress reeks. 7 lo#e to hear her s!eak, yet "ell 7 kno" $hat usic hath a far ore !leasing sound@ 7 grant 7 ne#er sa" a goddess go,Q 1C0
?y istress, "hen she "alks, treads on the ground@ .nd yet by hea#en, 7 think y lo#e as rare, .s any she belied "ith false co !are. /XXX5 ,hoe#er hath her "ish, thou hast thy T,ill,P .nd T,illP to boot, and T,illP in o#er-!lus6 ?ore than enough a 7 that #e0Pd thee still, $o thy s"eet "ill aking addition thus. ,ilt thou, "hose "ill is large and s!acious, /ot once #ouchsafe to hide y "ill in thineG Shall "ill in others see right gracious, .nd in y "ill no fair acce!tance shineG $he sea, all "ater, yet recei#es rain still, .nd in abundance addeth to his store6 So thou, being rich in T,ill,P add to thy T,illP (ne "ill of ine, to ake thy large "ill ore. =et no unkind T/oP fair beseechers kill6 $hink all but one, and e in that one T,ill.P
/XLI5 $"o lo#es 7 ha#e of co fort and des!air, ,hich like t"o s!irits do suggest e still@ $he better angel is a an right fair, $he "orser s!irit a "o an colourPd ill. $o "in e soon to hell, y fe ale e#il, $e !teth y better angel fro y side, .nd "ould corru!t y saint to be a de#il, ,ooing his !urity "ith her foul !ride. .nd "hether that y angel be turnPd fiend, Sus!ect 7 ay, yet not directly tell6 +ut being both fro e, both to each friend, 7 guess one angel in anotherPs hell@ Uet this shall 7 nePer kno", but li#e in doubt, $ill y bad angel fire y good one out. /XL5II 1C1
?y lo#e is as a fe#er longing still, )or that "hich longer nurseth the disease6 )eeding on that "hich doth !reser#e the ill, $he uncertain sickly a!!etite to !lease. ?y reason, the !hysician to y lo#e, .ngry that his !rescri!tions are not ke!t, Hath left e, and 7 des!erate no" a!!ro#e Desire is death, "hich !hysic did e0ce!t. <ast cure 7 a , no" -eason is !ast care, .nd frantic- ad "ith e#er ore unrest6 ?y thoughts and y discourse as ad enPs are, .t rando fro the truth #ainly e0!ressPd6 )or 7 ha#e s"orn thee fair, and thought thee bright, ,ho art as black as hell, as dark as night. /LI5 $he little =o#e-god lying once aslee!, =aid by his side his heart-infla ing brand, ,hilst any ny !hs that #o"Pd chaste life to kee! 5a e tri!!ing by6 but in her aiden hand $he fairest #otary took u! that fire ,hich any legions of true hearts had "ar Pd6 .nd so the general of hot desire ,as, slee!ing, by a #irgin hand disar Pd. $his brand she 4uenched in a cool "ell by, ,hich fro =o#ePs fire took heat !er!etual, &ro"ing a bath and healthful re edy, )or en diseasPd6 but 7, y istressP thrall, 5a e there for cure and this by that 7 !ro#e, =o#ePs fire heats "ater, "ater cools not lo#e the dra1a (Sha7es2eare, Hamlet)
Willia1 Sha7es2eare 1CA
H&#let/ %r"n e of -en#&r0 S011ar( A6t I; Shakes!eare*s longest !lay and the !lay res!onsible for the i ortal lines F$o be or not to be@ that is the 4uestion@F and the ad#ise Fto thine o"n self be true,F begins in Den ark "ith the ne"s that Hing Ha let of Den ark has recently died. Den ark is no" in a state of high alert and !re!aring for !ossible "ar "ith Uoung )ortinbras of /or"ay. . ghost rese bling the late Hing Ha let is s!otted on a !latfor before 9lsinore 5astle in Den ark. Hing 5laudius, "ho no" rules Den ark, has taken Hing Ha let*s "ife, :ueen &ertrude as his ne" "ife and :ueen of Den ark. Hing 5laudius fearing Uoung )ortinbras of /or"ay ay in#ade, has sent a bassadors to /or"ay to urge the Hing of /or"ay to restrain Uoung )ortinbras. Uoung Ha let distrusts Hing 5laudius. $he Hing and :ueen do not understand "hy Ha let still ourns his father*s death o#er t"o onths ago. 7n his first solilo4uy, Ha let e0!lains that he does not like his other arrying the ne0t Hing of Den ark so 4uickly "ithin a onth of his father*s death... =aertes, the son of =ord 5ha berlain <olonius, gi#es his sister (!helia so e brotherly ad#ice. He "arns (!helia not to fall in lo#e "ith Uoung Ha let6 she "ill only be hurt. <olonius tells his daughter (!helia not to return Ha let*s affections for her since he fears Ha let is only using her... Ha let eets the &host of his father, Hing Ha let and follo"s it to learn ore... Ha let learns fro Hing Ha let*s &host that he "as !oisoned by Hing 5laudius, the current ruler of Den ark. $he &host tells Ha let to a#enge his death but not to !unish :ueen &ertrude for re arrying6 it is not Ha let*s !lace and her conscience and hea#en "ill %udge her... Ha let s"ears Horatio and ?arcellus to silence o#er Ha let eeting the &host. A6t II; <olonius tells -eynaldo to s!y on his son =aertes in <aris. <olonius learns fro his daughter (!helia that a badly dressed Ha let et her, studied her face and !ro !tly left. <olonius belie#es that Ha let*s odd beha#ior is because (!helia has re%ected hi . <olonius decides to tell Hing 5laudius the reason for Ha let*s recently odd beha#ior. 1CB
Hing 5laudius instructs courtiers -osencrant' and &uildenstern to find out "hat is causing Ha let*s strange Ftransfor ation,F or change of character. :ueen &ertrude re#eals that only Hing Ha let*s death and her recent re arriage could be u!setting Ha let. ,e learn ore of Uoung )ortinbras* o#e ents and <olonius has his o"n theory about Ha let*s transfor ation6 it is caused by Ha let*s lo#e for his daughter (!helia. Ha let akes his fa ous s!eech about the greatness of an. Ha let !lans to use a !lay to test if Hing 5laudius really did kill his father as Hing Ha let*s &host told hi ... A6t III; $he Hing*s s!ies, -osencrant' and &uildenstern re!ort to Hing 5laudius on Ha let*s beha#ior. Ha let is eager for Hing 5laudius and :ueen &ertrude to "atch a !lay tonight "hich Ha let has added lines to. Hing 5laudius and <olonius listen in on Ha let*s and (!helia*s !ri#ate con#ersation. Ha let sus!ects (!helia is s!ying on hi and is increasingly hostile to her before lea#ing. Hing 5laudius decides to send Ha let to 9ngland, fearing danger in Ha let since he no longer belie#es Ha let is erely lo#esick. $he Hing agrees to <olonius* !lan to ea#esdro! on Ha let*s con#ersation "ith his other after the !lay to ho!efully learn ore fro Ha let. $he !lay Ha let had added lines to is !erfor ed. $he i e !receding the !lay "hich i ics the &host*s descri!tion of Hing Ha let*s death goes unnoticed. $he ain !lay called F$he ?urder of &on'agoF is !erfor ed, causing Hing 5laudius to react in a "ay "hich con#inces Ha let that his uncle did indeed !oison his father Hing Ha let as the &host !re#iously had told hi ... Ha let !retends not to kno" that the !lay has offended Hing 5laudius. Ha let agrees to s!eak "ith his other in !ri#ate... Hing 5laudius ad its his gro"ing fear of Ha let and decides to send hi o#erseas to 9ngland "ith -osencrant' and &uildenstern in order to !rotect hi self. .lone, Hing 5laudius re#eals in solilo4uy his o"n kno"ledge of the cri e he has co itted (!oisoning Hing Ha let) and reali'es that he cannot esca!e di#ine %ustice... :ueen &ertrude atte !ts to scold her son but Ha let instead scolds his other for her actions. :ueen &ertrude cries out in fear, and <olonius echoes it and is stabbed through the arras (subdi#ision of a roo created by a hanging ta!estry) "here he "as listening in. Ha let continues scolding his other but the &host rea!!ears, telling Ha let to be gentle "ith the :ueen. )or her !art, :ueen &ertrude agrees to sto! li#ing "ith Hing 5laudius, beginning her rede !tion.... 1CC
A6t I5; Hing 5laudius s!eaks "ith his "ife, :ueen &ertrude. He learns of <olonius* urder "hich shocks hi 6 it could easily ha#e been hi . :ueen &ertrude lies for her son, saying that Ha let is as ad as a te !estuous sea. Hing 5laudius, no" scared of Ha let, decides to ha#e Ha let sent a"ay to 9ngland i ediately... He also sends courtiers and s!ies -osencrant' and &uildenstern to s!eak "ith Ha let to find out "here Ha let has hidden <olonius* body so they can take it to the cha!el. Ha let refuses to tell -osencrant' and &uildenstern "here <olonius* dead body is hidden. He calls -osencrant' and &uildenstern la!dogs re#ealing his true a"areness that they are not his friends. Ha let agrees to see Hing 5laudius. Ha let continues to refuse to tell -osencrant' and &uildenstern "here <olonius* body is. Ha let is brought before the Hing. $he t"o e0change "ords, clearly circling each other, each a"are that the other is a threat. Ha let tells Hing 5laudius "here <olonius body is. Hing 5laudius o inously tells Ha let to lea#e for 9ngland su!!osedly for Ha let*s o"n safety. ,ith Ha let gone, Hing 5laudius re#eals his !lans for Ha let to be killed in 9ngland, freeing Hing 5laudius fro further "orry fro this threat... Uoung )ortinbras arches his ar y across Den ark to fight the <olish. Ha let la ents that he does not ha#e in hi the strength of Uoung )ortinbras, "ho "ill lead an ar y into !ointless fighting, if only to aintain honor. Ha let asks hi self ho" he cannot fight for honor "hen his father has been killed and his other ade a "hore in his eyes by beco ing Hing 5laudius* "ife. $he death of <olonius lea#es its ark on (!helia "ho beco es ad fro the grief of losing her father. =aertes stor s Hing 5laudius* castle, de anding to see his father and "anting %ustice "hen he learns that his father, <olonius has been killed. Hing 5laudius re ains cal , telling =aertes that he too ourned his father*s loss... Horatio is greeted by sailors "ho ha#e ne"s fro Ha let. Horatio follo"s the sailors to learn ore... Hing 5laudius e0!lains to =aertes that Ha let killed his father, <olonius. Deciding they ha#e a co on ene y, they !lot Ha let*s death at a fencing atch to be arranged bet"een =aertes and Ha let. =aertes learns of his sister (!helia*s death by dro"ning... A6t 5;
1C5
Ha let and Horatio s!eak "ith a cheerful 5lo"n or gra#edigger. Ha let fa ously reali'es that an*s acco !lish ents are transitory (fleeting) and holding the skull of Uorick, a childhood %ester he re e bered, creates a fa ous scene about an*s insignificance and inability to control his fate follo"ing death. .t (!helia*s burial, the <riest re#eals a "idely held belief that (!helia co itted suicide, angering =aertes. Ha let fights =aertes o#er (!helia*s gra#e, angered by =aertes e0aggerated e !hasis of his sorro" and because he belie#es he lo#ed (!helia uch ore than her brother. Ha let e0!lains to Horatio ho" he a#oided the death !lanned for hi in 9ngland and had courtiers* -osencrant' and &uildenstern !ut to death instead. Ha let re#eals his desire to kill Hing 5laudius. Su oned by (sric to fence against =aertes, Ha let arri#es at a hall in the castle and fights =aertes. :ueen &ertrude drinks a !oisoned cu! eant for Ha let, dying but not before telling all that she has been !oisoned. Ha let "ins the first t"o rounds against =aertes but is stabbed and !oisoned fatally in the third round. 90changing s"ords "hilst fighting, Ha let "ounds and !oisons =aertes "ho e0!lains that his s"ord is !oison ti!!ed. /o" dying, Ha let stabs Hing 5laudius "ith this sa e s"ord, killing hi . Ha let, dying, tells Horatio to tell his story and not to co it suicide. Ha let reco ends Uoung )ortinbras as the ne0t Hing of Den ark. Uoung )ortinbras arri#es, cleaning u! the assacre. Horatio !ro ises to tell all the story "e ha#e %ust "itnessed, ending the !lay
. <=.$)(-? +9)(-9 $H9 5.S$=9 () 9=S7/9;-. H.?=9$, H(-.$7(, ?.-59==;S, ./D $H9 &H(S$. .5$ 7. S59/9 7V.
Dra1atis Pers"nae
1C6
5=.;D7;S king of Den ark. H.?=9$ son to the late, and ne!he" to the !resent king. <(=(/7;S lord cha berlain. H(-.$7( friend to Ha let. =.9-$9S son to <olonius. =;57./;S ne!he" to the king. V(=$7?./D, 5(-/9=7;S, -(S9/5-./$Y, &;7=D9/S$9-/, (S-75 Z courtiers. . &entle an, . <riest. ?.-59==;S, +9-/.-D( Z officers. )-./57S5( a soldier. -9U/.=D( ser#ant to <olonius. <layers. $"o 5lo"ns, gra#e-diggers. )(-$7/+-.S !rince of /or"ay. . 5a!tain. 9nglish . bassadors. &9-$-;D9 4ueen of Den ark, and other to Ha let. (<H9=7. daughter to <olonius. =ords, =adies, (fficers, Soldiers, Sailors, ?essengers, and other .ttendants. &host of Ha let*s )ather. 2-cene< &enmark#3 A6t # S6ene # 21lsinore# A platform !efore the castle#3 2+/A62,-23 at his post# 1nter to him '1/6A/&33 '1/6A/&3 ,ho*s thereG +/A62,-23 /ay, ans"er e@ stand, and unfold yourself. '1/6A/&3 =ong li#e the kingE +/A62,-23 +ernardoG '1/6A/&3 He. +/A62,-23 1CD
Uou co e ost carefully u!on your hour. '1/6A/&3 *$is no" struck t"el#e6 get thee to bed, )rancisco. +/A62,-23 )or this relief uch thanks@ *tis bitter cold, .nd 7 a sick at heart. '1/6A/&3 Ha#e you had 4uiet guardG +/A62,-23 /ot a ouse stirring. '1/6A/&3 ,ell, good night. 7f you do eet Horatio and ?arcellus, $he ri#als of y "atch, bid the ake haste. +/A62,-23 7 think 7 hear the . Stand, hoE ,ho*s thereG 21nter H3/AT,3 and 5A/21997-3 H3/AT,3 )riends to this ground. 5A/21997.nd liege en to the Dane. +/A62,-23 &i#e you good night. 5A/21997(, fare"ell, honest soldier@ ,ho hath relie#ed youG +/A62,-23 +ernardo has y !lace. &i#e you good night. 21$it3 5A/21997HollaE +ernardoE '1/6A/&3 Say, ,hat, is Horatio thereG H3/AT,3 . !iece of hi . '1/6A/&3 ,elco e, Horatio@ "elco e, good ?arcellus. 5A/21997,hat, has this thing a!!ear*d again to-nightG 1C8
'1/6A/&3 7 ha#e seen nothing. 5A/21997Horatio says *tis but our fantasy, .nd "ill not let belief take hold of hi $ouching this dreaded sight, t"ice seen of us@ $herefore 7 ha#e entreated hi along ,ith us to "atch the inutes of this night6 $hat if again this a!!arition co e, He ay a!!ro#e our eyes and s!eak to it. H3/AT,3 $ush, tush, *t"ill not a!!ear. '1/6A/&3 Sit do"n a"hile6 .nd let us once again assail your ears, $hat are so fortified against our story ,hat "e ha#e t"o nights seen. H3/AT,3 ,ell, sit "e do"n, .nd let us hear +ernardo s!eak of this. '1/6A/&3 =ast night of all, ,hen yond sa e star that*s "est"ard fro the !ole Had ade his course to illu e that !art of hea#en ,here no" it burns, ?arcellus and yself, $he bell then beating one, -21nter Ghost3 5A/21997<eace, break thee off6 look, "here it co es againE '1/6A/&3 7n the sa e figure, like the king that*s dead. 5A/21997$hou art a scholar6 s!eak to it, Horatio. '1/6A/&3 =ooks it not like the kingG ark it, Horatio. H3/AT,3 ?ost like@ it harro"s e "ith fear and "onder. '1/6A/&3 7t "ould be s!oke to. 5A/21997:uestion it, Horatio. 1C>
H3/AT,3 ,hat art thou that usur!*st this ti e of night, $ogether "ith that fair and "arlike for 7n "hich the a%esty of buried Den ark Did so eti es archG by hea#en 7 charge thee, s!eakE 5A/219977t is offended. '1/6A/&3 See, it stalks a"ayE H3/AT,3 StayE s!eak, s!eakE 7 charge thee, s!eakE 21$it Ghost3 5A/21997*$is gone, and "ill not ans"er. '1/6A/&3 Ho" no", HoratioE you tre ble and look !ale@ 7s not this so ething ore than fantasyG ,hat think you on*tG H3/AT,3 +efore y &od, 7 ight not this belie#e ,ithout the sensible and true a#ouch (f ine o"n eyes. 5A/219977s it not like the kingG H3/AT,3 .s thou art to thyself@ Such "as the #ery ar our he had on ,hen he the a bitious /or"ay co bated6 So fro"n*d he once, "hen, in an angry !arle, He s ote the sledded <olacks on the ice. *$is strange. 5A/21997$hus t"ice before, and %u ! at this dead hour, ,ith artial stalk hath he gone by our "atch. H3/AT,3 7n "hat !articular thought to "ork 7 kno" not6 +ut in the gross and sco!e of y o!inion, $his bodes so e strange eru!tion to our state. 5A/21997&ood no", sit do"n, and tell e, he that kno"s, ,hy this sa e strict and ost obser#ant "atch 150
So nightly toils the sub%ect of the land, .nd "hy such daily cast of bra'en cannon, .nd foreign art for i !le ents of "ar6 ,hy such i !ress of shi!"rights, "hose sore task Does not di#ide the Sunday fro the "eek6 ,hat ight be to"ard, that this s"eaty haste Doth ake the night %oint-labourer "ith the day@ ,ho is*t that can infor eG H3/AT,3 $hat can 76 .t least, the "his!er goes so. (ur last king, ,hose i age e#en but no" a!!ear*d to us, ,as, as you kno", by )ortinbras of /or"ay, $hereto !rick*d on by a ost e ulate !ride, Dared to the co bat6 in "hich our #aliant Ha let -)or so this side of our kno"n "orld estee *d hi -Did slay this )ortinbras6 "ho by a seal*d co !act, ,ell ratified by la" and heraldry, Did forfeit, "ith his life, all those his lands ,hich he stood sei'ed of, to the con4ueror@ .gainst the "hich, a oiety co !etent ,as gaged by our king6 "hich had return*d $o the inheritance of )ortinbras, Had he been #an4uisher6 as, by the sa e co#enant, .nd carriage of the article design*d, His fell to Ha let. /o", sir, young )ortinbras, (f uni !ro#ed ettle hot and full, Hath in the skirts of /or"ay here and there Shark*d u! a list of la"less resolutes, )or food and diet, to so e enter!rise $hat hath a sto ach in*t6 "hich is no other -.s it doth "ell a!!ear unto our state -+ut to reco#er of us, by strong hand .nd ter s co !ulsatory, those foresaid lands So by his father lost@ and this, 7 take it, 7s the ain oti#e of our !re!arations, $he source of this our "atch and the chief head (f this !ost-haste and ro age in the land. '1/6A/&3 7 think it be no other but e*en so@ ,ell ay it sort that this !ortentous figure 151
5o es ar ed through our "atch6 so like the king $hat "as and is the 4uestion of these "ars. H3/AT,3 . ote it is to trouble the ind*s eye. 7n the ost high and !al y state of -o e, . little ere the ightiest 1ulius fell, $he gra#es stood tenantless and the sheeted dead Did s4ueak and gibber in the -o an streets@ .s stars "ith trains of fire and de"s of blood, Disasters in the sun6 and the oist star ;!on "hose influence /e!tune*s e !ire stands ,as sick al ost to doo sday "ith ecli!se@ .nd e#en the like !recurse of fierce e#ents, .s harbingers !receding still the fates .nd !rologue to the o en co ing on, Ha#e hea#en and earth together de onstrated ;nto our cli atures and country en. -+ut soft, beholdE lo, "here it co es againE 2/e)enter Ghost3 7*ll cross it, though it blast e. Stay, illusionE 7f thou hast any sound, or use of #oice, S!eak to e@ 7f there be any good thing to be done, $hat ay to thee do ease and grace to e, S!eak to e@ 22ock crows3 7f thou art !ri#y to thy country*s fate, ,hich, ha!!ily, forekno"ing ay a#oid, (, s!eakE (r if thou hast u!hoarded in thy life 90torted treasure in the "o b of earth, )or "hich, they say, you s!irits oft "alk in death, S!eak of it@ stay, and s!eakE Sto! it, ?arcellus. 5A/21997Shall 7 strike at it "ith y !artisanG H3/AT,3 Do, if it "ill not stand. '1/6A/&3 *$is hereE H3/AT,3 *$is hereE 5A/2199715A
*$is goneE 21$it Ghost3 ,e do it "rong, being so a%estical, $o offer it the sho" of #iolence6 )or it is, as the air, in#ulnerable, .nd our #ain blo"s alicious ockery. '1/6A/&3 7t "as about to s!eak, "hen the cock cre". H3/AT,3 .nd then it started like a guilty thing ;!on a fearful su ons. 7 ha#e heard, $he cock, that is the tru !et to the orn, Doth "ith his lofty and shrill-sounding throat ."ake the god of day6 and, at his "arning, ,hether in sea or fire, in earth or air, $he e0tra#agant and erring s!irit hies $o his confine@ and of the truth herein $his !resent ob%ect ade !robation. 5A/219977t faded on the cro"ing of the cock. So e say that e#er *gainst that season co es ,herein our Sa#iour*s birth is celebrated, $he bird of da"ning singeth all night long@ .nd then, they say, no s!irit dares stir abroad6 $he nights are "holeso e6 then no !lanets strike, /o fairy takes, nor "itch hath !o"er to char , So hallo"*d and so gracious is the ti e. H3/AT,3 So ha#e 7 heard and do in !art belie#e it. +ut, look, the orn, in russet antle clad, ,alks o*er the de" of yon high east"ard hill@ +reak "e our "atch u!6 and by y ad#ice, =et us i !art "hat "e ha#e seen to-night ;nto young Ha let6 for, u!on y life, $his s!irit, du b to us, "ill s!eak to hi . Do you consent "e shall ac4uaint hi "ith it, .s needful in our lo#es, fitting our dutyG 5A/21997=et*s do*t, 7 !ray6 and 7 this orning kno" ,here "e shall find hi ost con#eniently. 21$eunt3 15B
S6ene & 2A room of state in the castle#3 21nter %,6G 29A7&,7-, ?7116 G1/T/7&1, HA591T, P3936,7-, 9A1/T1-, 039T,5A6&, 23/619,7-, 9ords, and Attendants3 %,6G 29A7&,7$hough yet of Ha let our dear brother*s death $he e ory be green, and that it us befitted $o bear our hearts in grief and our "hole kingdo $o be contracted in one bro" of "oe, Uet so far hath discretion fought "ith nature $hat "e "ith "isest sorro" think on hi , $ogether "ith re e brance of oursel#es. $herefore our so eti e sister, no" our 4ueen, $he i !erial %ointress to this "arlike state, Ha#e "e, as *t"ere "ith a defeated %oy, -,ith an aus!icious and a dro!!ing eye, ,ith irth in funeral and "ith dirge in arriage, 7n e4ual scale "eighing delight and dole, -$aken to "ife@ nor ha#e "e herein barr*d Uour better "isdo s, "hich ha#e freely gone ,ith this affair along. )or all, our thanks. /o" follo"s, that you kno", young )ortinbras, Holding a "eak su!!osal of our "orth, (r thinking by our late dear brother*s death (ur state to be dis%oint and out of fra e, 5olleagued "ith the drea of his ad#antage, He hath not fail*d to !ester us "ith essage, 7 !orting the surrender of those lands =ost by his father, "ith all bonds of la", $o our ost #aliant brother. So uch for hi . /o" for ourself and for this ti e of eeting@ $hus uch the business is@ "e ha#e here "rit $o /or"ay, uncle of young )ortinbras, -,ho, i !otent and bed-rid, scarcely hears (f this his ne!he"*s !ur!ose, -- to su!!ress His further gait herein6 in that the le#ies, $he lists and full !ro!ortions, are all ade (ut of his sub%ect@ and "e here dis!atch 15C
Uou, good 5ornelius, and you, Volti and, )or bearers of this greeting to old /or"ay6 &i#ing to you no further !ersonal !o"er $o business "ith the king, ore than the sco!e (f these delated articles allo". )are"ell, and let your haste co end your duty. 23/619,7-, 039T,5A6& 7n that and all things "ill "e sho" our duty. %,6G 29A7&,7,e doubt it nothing@ heartily fare"ell. 21$eunt 039T,5A6& and 23/619,7-3 .nd no", =aertes, "hat*s the ne"s "ith youG Uou told us of so e suit6 "hat is*t, =aertesG Uou cannot s!eak of reason to the Dane, .nd loose your #oice@ "hat "ouldst thou beg, =aertes, $hat shall not be y offer, not thy askingG $he head is not ore nati#e to the heart, $he hand ore instru ental to the outh, $han is the throne of Den ark to thy father. ,hat "ouldst thou ha#e, =aertesG 9A1/T1?y dread lord, Uour lea#e and fa#our to return to )rance6 )ro "hence though "illingly 7 ca e to Den ark, $o sho" y duty in your coronation, Uet no", 7 ust confess, that duty done, ?y thoughts and "ishes bend again to"ard )rance .nd bo" the to your gracious lea#e and !ardon. %,6G 29A7&,7Ha#e you your father*s lea#eG ,hat says <oloniusG 93/& P3936,7He hath, y lord, "rung fro e y slo" lea#e +y labourso e !etition, and at last ;!on his "ill 7 seal*d y hard consent@ 7 do beseech you, gi#e hi lea#e to go. %,6G 29A7&,7$ake thy fair hour, =aertes6 ti e be thine, .nd thy best graces s!end it at thy "illE +ut no", y cousin Ha let, and y son, -HA591T 2Aside3 155
. little ore than kin, and less than kind. %,6G 29A7&,7Ho" is it that the clouds still hang on youG HA591T /ot so, y lord6 7 a too uch i* the sun. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 &ood Ha let, cast thy nighted colour off, .nd let thine eye look like a friend on Den ark. Do not for e#er "ith thy #ailed lids Seek for thy noble father in the dust@ $hou kno"*st *tis co on6 all that li#es ust die, <assing through nature to eternity. HA591T .y, ada , it is co on. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 7f it be, ,hy see s it so !articular "ith theeG HA591T See s, ada E nay it is6 7 kno" not *see s.* *$is not alone y inky cloak, good other, /or custo ary suits of sole n black, /or "indy sus!iration of forced breath, /o, nor the fruitful ri#er in the eye, /or the de%ected *ha#ior of the #isage, $ogether "ith all for s, oods, sha!es of grief, $hat can denote e truly@ these indeed see , )or they are actions that a an ight !lay@ +ut 7 ha#e that "ithin "hich !asseth sho"6 $hese but the tra!!ings and the suits of "oe. %,6G 29A7&,7*$is s"eet and co endable in your nature, Ha let, $o gi#e these ourning duties to your father@ +ut, you ust kno", your father lost a father6 $hat father lost, lost his, and the sur#i#or bound 7n filial obligation for so e ter $o do obse4uious sorro"@ but to !erse#er 7n obstinate condole ent is a course (f i !ious stubbornness6 *tis un anly grief6 7t sho"s a "ill ost incorrect to hea#en, . heart unfortified, a ind i !atient, .n understanding si !le and unschool*d@ 156
)or "hat "e kno" ust be and is as co on .s any the ost #ulgar thing to sense, ,hy should "e in our !ee#ish o!!osition $ake it to heartG )ieE *tis a fault to hea#en, . fault against the dead, a fault to nature, $o reason ost absurd@ "hose co on the e 7s death of fathers, and "ho still hath cried, )ro the first corse till he that died to-day, *$his ust be so.* ,e !ray you, thro" to earth $his un!re#ailing "oe, and think of us .s of a father@ for let the "orld take note, Uou are the ost i ediate to our throne6 .nd "ith no less nobility of lo#e $han that "hich dearest father bears his son, Do 7 i !art to"ard you. )or your intent 7n going back to school in ,ittenberg, 7t is ost retrograde to our desire@ .nd "e beseech you, bend you to re ain Here, in the cheer and co fort of our eye, (ur chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 =et not thy other lose her !rayers, Ha let@ 7 !ray thee, stay "ith us6 go not to ,ittenberg. HA591T 7 shall in all y best obey you, ada . %,6G 29A7&,7,hy, *tis a lo#ing and a fair re!ly@ +e as ourself in Den ark. ?ada , co e6 $his gentle and unforced accord of Ha let Sits s iling to y heart@ in grace "hereof, /o %ocund health that Den ark drinks to-day, +ut the great cannon to the clouds shall tell, .nd the king*s rouse the hea#ens all bruit again, -e-s!eaking earthly thunder. 5o e a"ay. 21$eunt all !ut HA591T3 HA591T (, that this too too solid flesh "ould elt $ha" and resol#e itself into a de"E (r that the 9#erlasting had not fi0*d His canon *gainst self-slaughterE ( &odE &odE Ho" "eary, stale, flat and un!rofitable, 15D
See to e all the uses of this "orldE )ie on*tE ah fieE *tis an un"eeded garden, $hat gro"s to seed6 things rank and gross in nature <ossess it erely. $hat it should co e to thisE +ut t"o onths dead@ nay, not so uch, not t"o@ So e0cellent a king6 that "as, to this, Hy!erion to a satyr6 so lo#ing to y other $hat he ight not betee the "inds of hea#en Visit her face too roughly. Hea#en and earthE ?ust 7 re e berG "hy, she "ould hang on hi , .s if increase of a!!etite had gro"n +y "hat it fed on@ and yet, "ithin a onth -=et e not think on*t -- )railty, thy na e is "o anE -. little onth, or ere those shoes "ere old ,ith "hich she follo"*d y !oor father*s body, =ike /iobe, all tears@ -- "hy she, e#en she -(, &odE a beast, that "ants discourse of reason, ,ould ha#e ourn*d longer -- arried "ith y uncle, ?y father*s brother, but no ore like y father $han 7 to Hercules@ "ithin a onth@ 9re yet the salt of ost unrighteous tears Had left the flushing in her galled eyes, She arried. (, ost "icked s!eed, to !ost ,ith such de0terity to incestuous sheetsE 7t is not nor it cannot co e to good@ +ut break, y heart6 for 7 ust hold y tongue. 21nter H3/AT,3, 5A/21997-, and '1/6A/&33 H3/AT,3 Hail to your lordshi!E HA591T 7 a glad to see you "ell@ Horatio, -- or 7 do forget yself. H3/AT,3 $he sa e, y lord, and your !oor ser#ant e#er. HA591T Sir, y good friend6 7*ll change that na e "ith you@ .nd "hat ake you fro ,ittenberg, HoratioG ?arcellusG 5A/21997?y good lord -HA591T
158
7 a #ery glad to see you. &ood e#en, sir. +ut "hat, in faith, ake you fro ,ittenbergG H3/AT,3 . truant dis!osition, good y lord. HA591T 7 "ould not hear your ene y say so, /or shall you do ine ear that #iolence, $o ake it truster of your o"n re!ort .gainst yourself@ 7 kno" you are no truant. +ut "hat is your affair in 9lsinoreG ,e*ll teach you to drink dee! ere you de!art. H3/AT,3 ?y lord, 7 ca e to see your father*s funeral. HA591T 7 !ray thee, do not ock e, fello"-student6 7 think it "as to see y other*s "edding. H3/AT,3 7ndeed, y lord, it follo"*d hard u!on. HA591T $hrift, thrift, HoratioE the funeral baked eats Did coldly furnish forth the arriage tables. ,ould 7 had et y dearest foe in hea#en (r e#er 7 had seen that day, HoratioE ?y fatherE -- ethinks 7 see y father. H3/AT,3 ,here, y lordG HA591T 7n y ind*s eye, Horatio. H3/AT,3 7 sa" hi once6 he "as a goodly king. HA591T He "as a an, take hi for all in all, 7 shall not look u!on his like again. H3/AT,3 ?y lord, 7 think 7 sa" hi yesternight. HA591T Sa"G "hoG H3/AT,3 ?y lord, the king your father. HA591T $he king y fatherE 15>
H3/AT,3 Season your ad iration for a"hile ,ith an attent ear, till 7 ay deli#er, ;!on the "itness of these gentle en, $his ar#el to you. HA591T )or &od*s lo#e, let e hear. H3/AT,3 $"o nights together had these gentle en, ?arcellus and +ernardo, on their "atch, 7n the dead #ast and iddle of the night, +een thus encounter*d. . figure like your father, .r ed at !oint e0actly, ca!-a-!e, .!!ears before the , and "ith sole n arch &oes slo" and stately by the @ thrice he "alk*d +y their o!!ress*d and fear-sur!rised eyes, ,ithin his truncheon*s length6 "hilst they, distilled .l ost to %elly "ith the act of fear, Stand du b and s!eak not to hi . $his to e 7n dreadful secrecy i !art they did6 .nd 7 "ith the the third night ke!t the "atch6 ,here, as they had deli#er*d, both in ti e, )or of the thing, each "ord ade true and good, $he a!!arition co es@ 7 kne" your father6 $hese hands are not ore like. HA591T +ut "here "as thisG 5A/21997?y lord, u!on the !latfor "here "e "atch*d. HA591T Did you not s!eak to itG H3/AT,3 ?y lord, 7 did6 +ut ans"er ade it none@ yet once ethought 7t lifted u! its head and did address 7tself to otion, like as it "ould s!eak6 +ut e#en then the orning cock cre" loud, .nd at the sound it shrunk in haste a"ay, .nd #anish*d fro our sight. HA591T *$is #ery strange. 160
H3/AT,3 .s 7 do li#e, y honour*d lord, *tis true6 .nd "e did think it "rit do"n in our duty $o let you kno" of it. HA591T 7ndeed, indeed, sirs, but this troubles e. Hold you the "atch to-nightG 5A/21997-, '1/6A/&3 ,e do, y lord. HA591T .r *d, say youG 5A/21997-, '1/6A/&3 .r *d, y lord. HA591T )ro to! to toeG 5A/21997-, '1/6A/&3 ?y lord, fro head to foot. HA591T $hen sa" you not his faceG H3/AT,3 (, yes, y lord6 he "ore his bea#er u!. HA591T ,hat, look*d he fro"ninglyG H3/AT,3 . countenance ore in sorro" than in anger. HA591T <ale or redG H3/AT,3 /ay, #ery !ale. HA591T .nd fi0*d his eyes u!on youG H3/AT,3 ?ost constantly. HA591T 7 "ould 7 had been there. H3/AT,3 7t "ould ha#e uch a a'ed you. HA591T Very like, #ery like. Stay*d it longG H3/AT,3 161
,hile one "ith oderate haste ight tell a hundred. 5A/21997-, '1/6A/&3 =onger, longer. H3/AT,3 /ot "hen 7 sa"*t. HA591T His beard "as gri''led -- noG H3/AT,3 7t "as, as 7 ha#e seen it in his life, . sable sil#er*d. HA591T 7 "ill "atch to-night6 <erchance *t"ill "alk again. H3/AT,3 7 "arrant it "ill. HA591T 7f it assu e y noble father*s !erson, 7*ll s!eak to it, though hell itself should ga!e .nd bid e hold y !eace. 7 !ray you all, 7f you ha#e hitherto conceal*d this sight, =et it be tenable in your silence still6 .nd "hatsoe#er else shall ha! to-night, &i#e it an understanding, but no tongue@ 7 "ill re4uite your lo#es. So, fare you "ell@ ;!on the !latfor , *t"i0t ele#en and t"el#e, 7*ll #isit you. All (ur duty to your honour. HA591T Uour lo#es, as ine to you@ fare"ell. 21$eunt all !ut HA591T3 ?y father*s s!irit in ar sE all is not "ell6 7 doubt so e foul !lay@ "ould the night "ere co eE $ill then sit still, y soul@ foul deeds "ill rise, $hough all the earth o*er"hel the , to en*s eyes. 21$it3 S6ene , 2A room in Polonius house#3 21nter 9A1/T1- and 3PH19,A3 9A1/T116A
?y necessaries are e bark*d@ fare"ell@ .nd, sister, as the "inds gi#e benefit .nd con#oy is assistant, do not slee!, +ut let e hear fro you. 3PH19,A Do you doubt thatG 9A1/T1)or Ha let and the trifling of his fa#our, Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood, . #iolet in the youth of !ri y nature, )or"ard, not !er anent, s"eet, not lasting, $he !erfu e and su!!liance of a inute6 /o ore. 3PH19,A /o ore but soG 9A1/T1$hink it no ore6 )or nature, crescent, does not gro" alone 7n the"s and bulk, but, as this te !le "a0es, $he in"ard ser#ice of the ind and soul &ro"s "ide "ithal. <erha!s he lo#es you no", .nd no" no soil nor cautel doth bes irch $he #irtue of his "ill@ but you ust fear, His greatness "eigh*d, his "ill is not his o"n6 )or he hi self is sub%ect to his birth@ He ay not, as un#alued !ersons do, 5ar#e for hi self6 for on his choice de!ends $he safety and health of this "hole state6 .nd therefore ust his choice be circu scribed ;nto the #oice and yielding of that body ,hereof he is the head. $hen if he says he lo#es you, 7t fits your "isdo so far to belie#e it .s he in his !articular act and !lace ?ay gi#e his saying deed6 "hich is no further $han the ain #oice of Den ark goes "ithal. $hen "eigh "hat loss your honour ay sustain, 7f "ith too credent ear you list his songs, (r lose your heart, or your chaste treasure o!en $o his un aster*d i !ortunity. )ear it, (!helia, fear it, y dear sister, .nd kee! you in the rear of your affection, (ut of the shot and danger of desire. 16B
$he chariest aid is !rodigal enough, 7f she un ask her beauty to the oon@ Virtue itself *sca!es not calu nious strokes@ $he canker galls the infants of the s!ring, $oo oft before their buttons be disclosed, .nd in the orn and li4uid de" of youth 5ontagious blast ents are ost i inent. +e "ary then6 best safety lies in fear@ Uouth to itself rebels, though none else near. 3PH19,A 7 shall the effect of this good lesson kee!, .s "atch an to y heart. +ut, good y brother, Do not, as so e ungracious !astors do, Sho" e the stee! and thorny "ay to hea#en6 ,hiles, like a !uff*d and reckless libertine, Hi self the !ri rose !ath of dalliance treads, .nd recks not his o"n rede. 9A1/T1(, fear e not. 7 stay too long@ but here y father co es. 21nter P3936,7-3 . double blessing is a double grace, (ccasion s iles u!on a second lea#e. 93/& P3936,7Uet here, =aertesE aboard, aboard, for sha eE $he "ind sits in the shoulder of your sail, .nd you are stay*d for. $here6 y blessing "ith theeE .nd these fe" !rece!ts in thy e ory See thou character. &i#e thy thoughts no tongue, /or any un!ro!ortioned thought his act. +e thou fa iliar, but by no eans #ulgar. $hose friends thou hast, and their ado!tion tried, &ra!!le the to thy soul "ith hoo!s of steel6 +ut do not dull thy !al "ith entertain ent (f each ne"-hatch*d, unfledged co rade. +e"are (f entrance to a 4uarrel, but being in, +ear*t that the o!!osed ay be"are of thee. &i#e e#ery an thy ear, but fe" thy #oice6 $ake each an*s censure, but reser#e thy %udg ent. 5ostly thy habit as thy !urse can buy, +ut not e0!ress*d in fancy6 rich, not gaudy6 16C
)or the a!!arel oft !roclai s the an, .nd they in )rance of the best rank and station .re of a ost select and generous chief in that. /either a borro"er nor a lender be6 )or loan oft loses both itself and friend, .nd borro"ing dulls the edge of husbandry. $his abo#e all@ to thine o"nself be true, .nd it ust follo", as the night the day, $hou canst not then be false to any an. )are"ell@ y blessing season this in theeE 9A1/T1?ost hu bly do 7 take y lea#e, y lord. 93/& P3936,7$he ti e in#ites you6 go6 your ser#ants tend. 9A1/T1)are"ell, (!helia6 and re e ber "ell ,hat 7 ha#e said to you. 3PH19,A *$is in y e ory lock*d, .nd you yourself shall kee! the key of it. 9A1/T1)are"ell. 21$it3 93/& P3936,7,hat is*t, (!helia, be hath said to youG 3PH19,A So !lease you, so ething touching the =ord Ha let. 93/& P3936,7?arry, "ell bethought@ *$is told e, he hath #ery oft of late &i#en !ri#ate ti e to you6 and you yourself Ha#e of your audience been ost free and bounteous@ 7f it be so, as so *tis !ut on e, .nd that in "ay of caution, 7 ust tell you, Uou do not understand yourself so clearly .s it beho#es y daughter and your honour. ,hat is bet"een youG gi#e e u! the truth. 3PH19,A He hath, y lord, of late ade any tenders (f his affection to e. 93/& P3936,7165
.ffectionE !oohE you s!eak like a green girl, ;nsifted in such !erilous circu stance. Do you belie#e his tenders, as you call the G 3PH19,A 7 do not kno", y lord, "hat 7 should think. 93/& P3936,7?arry, 7*ll teach you@ think yourself a baby6 $hat you ha#e ta*en these tenders for true !ay, ,hich are not sterling. $ender yourself ore dearly6 (r -- not to crack the "ind of the !oor !hrase, -unning it thus -- you*ll tender e a fool. 3PH19,A ?y lord, he hath i !ortuned e "ith lo#e 7n honourable fashion. 93/& P3936,7.y, fashion you ay call it6 go to, go to. 3PH19,A .nd hath gi#en countenance to his s!eech, y lord, ,ith al ost all the holy #o"s of hea#en. 93/& P3936,7.y, s!ringes to catch "oodcocks. 7 do kno", ,hen the blood burns, ho" !rodigal the soul =ends the tongue #o"s@ these bla'es, daughter, &i#ing ore light than heat, e0tinct in both, 9#en in their !ro ise, as it is a- aking, Uou ust not take for fire. )ro this ti e +e so e"hat scanter of your aiden !resence6 Set your entreat ents at a higher rate $han a co and to !arley. )or =ord Ha let, +elie#e so uch in hi , that he is young .nd "ith a larger tether ay he "alk $han ay be gi#en you@ in fe", (!helia, Do not belie#e his #o"s6 for they are brokers, /ot of that dye "hich their in#est ents sho", +ut ere i !lorators of unholy suits, +reathing like sanctified and !ious ba"ds, $he better to beguile. $his is for all@ 7 "ould not, in !lain ter s, fro this ti e forth, Ha#e you so slander any o ent leisure, .s to gi#e "ords or talk "ith the =ord Ha let. =ook to*t, 7 charge you@ co e your "ays. 166
3PH19,A 7 shall obey, 21$eunt3
y lord. S6ene ?
2The platform#3 21nter HA591T, H3/AT,3, and 5A/21997-3 HA591T $he air bites shre"dly6 it is #ery cold. H3/AT,3 7t is a ni!!ing and an eager air. HA591T ,hat hour no"G H3/AT,3 7 think it lacks of t"el#e. HA591T /o, it is struck. H3/AT,3 7ndeedG 7 heard it not@ then it dra"s near the season ,herein the s!irit held his "ont to "alk. 2A flourish of trumpets, and ordnance shot off, within3 ,hat does this ean, y lordG HA591T $he king doth "ake to-night and takes his rouse, Hee!s "assail, and the s"aggering u!-s!ring reels6 .nd, as he drains his draughts of -henish do"n, $he kettle-dru and tru !et thus bray out $he triu !h of his !ledge. H3/AT,3 7s it a custo G HA591T .y, arry, is*t@ +ut to y ind, though 7 a nati#e here .nd to the anner born, it is a custo ?ore honour*d in the breach than the obser#ance. $his hea#y-headed re#el east and "est ?akes us traduced and ta0*d of other nations@ $hey cle!e us drunkards, and "ith s"inish !hrase Soil our addition6 and indeed it takes )ro our achie#e ents, though !erfor *d at height, $he !ith and arro" of our attribute. 16D
So, oft it chances in !articular en, $hat for so e #icious ole of nature in the , .s, in their birth -- "herein they are not guilty, Since nature cannot choose his origin -+y the o*ergro"th of so e co !le0ion, (ft breaking do"n the !ales and forts of reason, (r by so e habit that too uch o*er-lea#ens $he for of !lausi#e anners, that these en, 5arrying, 7 say, the sta ! of one defect, +eing nature*s li#ery, or fortune*s star, -$heir #irtues else -- be they as !ure as grace, .s infinite as an ay undergo -Shall in the general censure take corru!tion )ro that !articular fault@ the dra of eale Doth all the noble substance of a doubt $o his o"n scandal. H3/AT,3 =ook, y lord, it co esE 21nter Ghost3 HA591T .ngels and inisters of grace defend usE +e thou a s!irit of health or goblin da n*d, +ring "ith thee airs fro hea#en or blasts fro hell, +e thy intents "icked or charitable, $hou co est in such a 4uestionable sha!e $hat 7 "ill s!eak to thee@ 7*ll call thee Ha let, Hing, father, royal Dane@ (, ans"er eE =et e not burst in ignorance6 but tell ,hy thy canoni'ed bones, hearsed in death, Ha#e burst their cere ents6 "hy the se!ulchre, ,herein "e sa" thee 4uietly inurn*d, Hath o!ed his !onderous and arble %a"s, $o cast thee u! again. ,hat ay this ean, $hat thou, dead corse, again in co !lete steel -e#isit*st thus the gli !ses of the oon, ?aking night hideous6 and "e fools of nature So horridly to shake our dis!osition ,ith thoughts beyond the reaches of our soulsG Say, "hy is thisG "hereforeG "hat should "e doG 2Ghost !eckons HA591T3 H3/AT,3 168
7t beckons you to go a"ay "ith it, .s if it so e i !art ent did desire $o you alone. 5A/21997=ook, "ith "hat courteous action 7t "a#es you to a ore re o#ed ground@ +ut do not go "ith it. H3/AT,3 /o, by no eans. HA591T 7t "ill not s!eak6 then 7 "ill follo" it. H3/AT,3 Do not, y lord. HA591T ,hy, "hat should be the fearG 7 do not set y life in a !in*s fee6 .nd for y soul, "hat can it do to that, +eing a thing i ortal as itselfG 7t "a#es e forth again@ 7*ll follo" it. H3/AT,3 ,hat if it te !t you to"ard the flood, y lord, (r to the dreadful su it of the cliff $hat beetles o*er his base into the sea, .nd there assu e so e other horrible for , ,hich ight de!ri#e your so#ereignty of reason .nd dra" you into adnessG think of it@ $he #ery !lace !uts toys of des!eration, ,ithout ore oti#e, into e#ery brain $hat looks so any fatho s to the sea .nd hears it roar beneath. HA591T 7t "a#es e still. &o on6 7*ll follo" thee. 5A/21997Uou shall not go, y lord. HA591T Hold off your hands. H3/AT,3 +e ruled6 you shall not go. HA591T
16>
?y fate cries out, .nd akes each !etty artery in this body .s hardy as the /e ean lion*s ner#e. Still a 7 call*d. ;nhand e, gentle en. +y hea#en, 7*ll ake a ghost of hi that lets eE 7 say, a"ayE &o on6 7*ll follo" thee. 21$eunt Ghost and HA591T3 H3/AT,3 He "a0es des!erate "ith i agination. 5A/21997=et*s follo"6 *tis not fit thus to obey hi . H3/AT,3 Ha#e after. $o "hat issue "ill this co eG 5A/21997So ething is rotten in the state of Den ark. H3/AT,3 Hea#en "ill direct it. 5A/21997/ay, let*s follo" hi . 21$eunt3 S6ene @ 2Another part of the platform#3 21nter GH3-T and HA591T3 HA591T ,here "ilt thou lead eG s!eak6 7*ll go no further. Ghost ?ark e. HA591T 7 "ill. Ghost ?y hour is al ost co e, ,hen 7 to sul!hurous and tor enting fla es ?ust render u! yself. HA591T .las, !oor ghostE Ghost <ity e not, but lend thy serious hearing $o "hat 7 shall unfold. HA591T 1D0
S!eak6 7 a bound to hear. Ghost So art thou to re#enge, "hen thou shalt hear. HA591T ,hatG Ghost 7 a thy father*s s!irit, Doo *d for a certain ter to "alk the night, .nd for the day confined to fast in fires, $ill the foul cri es done in y days of nature .re burnt and !urged a"ay. +ut that 7 a forbid $o tell the secrets of y !rison-house, 7 could a tale unfold "hose lightest "ord ,ould harro" u! thy soul, free'e thy young blood, ?ake thy t"o eyes, like stars, start fro their s!heres, $hy knotted and co bined locks to !art .nd each !articular hair to stand on end, =ike 4uills u!on the fretful !or!entine@ +ut this eternal bla'on ust not be $o ears of flesh and blood. =ist, list, (, listE 7f thou didst e#er thy dear father lo#e -HA591T ( &odE Ghost -e#enge his foul and ost unnatural urder. HA591T ?urderE Ghost ?urder ost foul, as in the best it is6 +ut this ost foul, strange and unnatural. HA591T Haste e to kno"*t, that 7, "ith "ings as s"ift .s editation or the thoughts of lo#e, ?ay s"ee! to y re#enge. Ghost 7 find thee a!t6 .nd duller shouldst thou be than the fat "eed $hat roots itself in ease on =ethe "harf, ,ouldst thou not stir in this. /o", Ha let, hear@ *$is gi#en out that, slee!ing in y orchard, . ser!ent stung e6 so the "hole ear of Den ark 1D1
7s by a forged !rocess of y death -ankly abused@ but kno", thou noble youth, $he ser!ent that did sting thy father*s life /o" "ears his cro"n. HA591T ( y !ro!hetic soulE ?y uncleE Ghost .y, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, ,ith "itchcraft of his "it, "ith traitorous gifts, -( "icked "it and gifts, that ha#e the !o"er So to seduceE -- "on to his sha eful lust $he "ill of y ost see ing-#irtuous 4ueen@ ( Ha let, "hat a falling-off "as thereE )ro e, "hose lo#e "as of that dignity $hat it "ent hand in hand e#en "ith the #o" 7 ade to her in arriage, and to decline ;!on a "retch "hose natural gifts "ere !oor $o those of ineE +ut #irtue, as it ne#er "ill be o#ed, $hough le"dness court it in a sha!e of hea#en, So lust, though to a radiant angel link*d, ,ill sate itself in a celestial bed, .nd !rey on garbage. +ut, softE ethinks 7 scent the orning air6 +rief let e be. Slee!ing "ithin y orchard, ?y custo al"ays of the afternoon, ;!on y secure hour thy uncle stole, ,ith %uice of cursed hebenon in a #ial, .nd in the !orches of y ears did !our $he le!erous distil ent6 "hose effect Holds such an en ity "ith blood of an $hat s"ift as 4uicksil#er it courses through $he natural gates and alleys of the body, .nd "ith a sudden #igour doth !osset .nd curd, like eager dro!!ings into ilk, $he thin and "holeso e blood@ so did it ine6 .nd a ost instant tetter bark*d about, ?ost la'ar-like, "ith #ile and loathso e crust, .ll y s ooth body. $hus "as 7, slee!ing, by a brother*s hand (f life, of cro"n, of 4ueen, at once dis!atch*d@ 1DA
5ut off e#en in the blosso s of y sin, ;nhousel*d, disa!!ointed, unanel*d, /o reckoning ade, but sent to y account ,ith all y i !erfections on y head@ (, horribleE (, horribleE ost horribleE 7f thou hast nature in thee, bear it not6 =et not the royal bed of Den ark be . couch for lu0ury and da ned incest. +ut, ho"soe#er thou !ursuest this act, $aint not thy ind, nor let thy soul contri#e .gainst thy other aught@ lea#e her to hea#en .nd to those thorns that in her boso lodge, $o !rick and sting her. )are thee "ell at onceE $he glo"-"or sho"s the atin to be near, .nd *gins to !ale his uneffectual fire@ .dieu, adieuE Ha let, re e ber e. 21$it3 HA591T ( all you host of hea#enE ( earthE "hat elseG .nd shall 7 cou!le hellG (, fieE Hold, hold, y heart6 .nd you, y sine"s, gro" not instant old, +ut bear e stiffly u!. -e e ber theeE .y, thou !oor ghost, "hile e ory holds a seat 7n this distracted globe. -e e ber theeE Uea, fro the table of y e ory 7*ll "i!e a"ay all tri#ial fond records, .ll sa"s of books, all for s, all !ressures !ast, $hat youth and obser#ation co!ied there6 .nd thy co and ent all alone shall li#e ,ithin the book and #olu e of y brain, ;n i0*d "ith baser atter@ yes, by hea#enE ( ost !ernicious "o anE ( #illain, #illain, s iling, da ned #illainE ?y tables, -- eet it is 7 set it do"n, $hat one ay s ile, and s ile, and be a #illain6 .t least 7* sure it ay be so in Den ark@ 2(riting3 So, uncle, there you are. /o" to y "ord6 7t is *.dieu, adieuE re e ber e.* 7 ha#e s"orn *t. 5A/21997-, H3/AT,3 1DB
2(ithin3 ?y lord, y lord, -5A/219972(ithin3 =ord Ha let, -H3/AT,3 2(ithin3 Hea#en secure hi E HA591T So be itE H3/AT,3 2(ithin3 Hillo, ho, ho, y lordE HA591T Hillo, ho, ho, boyE co e, bird, co e. 21nter H3/AT,3 and 5A/21997-3 5A/21997Ho" is*t, y noble lordG H3/AT,3 ,hat ne"s, y lordG HA591T (, "onderfulE H3/AT,3 &ood y lord, tell it. HA591T /o6 you*ll re#eal it. H3/AT,3 /ot 7, y lord, by hea#en. 5A/21997/or 7, y lord. HA591T Ho" say you, then6 "ould heart of an once think itG +ut you*ll be secretG H3/AT,3, 5A/21997.y, by hea#en, y lord. HA591T $here*s ne*er a #illain d"elling in all Den ark +ut he*s an arrant kna#e. H3/AT,3 $here needs no ghost, y lord, co e fro the gra#e $o tell us this. 1DC
HA591T ,hy, right6 you are i* the right6 .nd so, "ithout ore circu stance at all, 7 hold it fit that "e shake hands and !art@ Uou, as your business and desire shall !oint you6 )or e#ery an has business and desire, Such as it is6 and for ine o"n !oor !art, =ook you, 7*ll go !ray. H3/AT,3 $hese are but "ild and "hirling "ords, y lord.
HA591T 7* sorry they offend you, heartily6 Ues, *faith heartily. H3/AT,3 $here*s no offence, y lord. HA591T Ues, by Saint <atrick, but there is, Horatio, .nd uch offence too. $ouching this #ision here, 7t is an honest ghost, that let e tell you@ )or your desire to kno" "hat is bet"een us, (*er aster *t as you ay. .nd no", good friends, .s you are friends, scholars and soldiers, &i#e e one !oor re4uest. H3/AT,3 ,hat is*t, y lordG "e "ill. HA591T /e#er ake kno"n "hat you ha#e seen to-night. H3/AT,3, 5A/21997?y lord, "e "ill not. HA591T /ay, but s"ear*t. H3/AT,3 7n faith, ?y lord, not 7. 5A/21997/or 7, y lord, in faith. HA591T ;!on y s"ord. 1D5
5A/21997,e ha#e s"orn, y lord, already. HA591T 7ndeed, u!on y s"ord, indeed. Ghost 2'eneath3 S"ear. HA591T .h, ha, boyE say*st thou soG art thou there, true!ennyG 5o e on -- you hear this fello" in the cellarage -5onsent to s"ear. H3/AT,3 <ro!ose the oath, y lord. HA591T /e#er to s!eak of this that you ha#e seen, S"ear by y s"ord. Ghost 2'eneath3 S"ear. HA591T Hic et ubi4ueG then "e*ll shift our ground. 5o e hither, gentle en, .nd lay your hands again u!on y s"ord@ /e#er to s!eak of this that you ha#e heard, S"ear by y s"ord. Ghost 2'eneath3 S"ear. HA591T ,ell said, old oleE canst "ork i* the earth so fastG . "orthy !ionerE (nce ore re o#e, good friends. H3/AT,3 ( day and night, but this is "ondrous strangeE HA591T .nd therefore as a stranger gi#e it "elco e. $here are ore things in hea#en and earth, Horatio, $han are drea t of in your !hiloso!hy. +ut co e6 Here, as before, ne#er, so hel! you ercy, Ho" strange or odd soe*er 7 bear yself, .s 7 !erchance hereafter shall think eet 1D6
$o !ut an antic dis!osition on, $hat you, at such ti es seeing e, ne#er shall, ,ith ar s encu ber*d thus, or this headshake, (r by !ronouncing of so e doubtful !hrase, .s *,ell, "ell, "e kno",* or *,e could, an if "e "ould,* (r *7f "e list to s!eak,* or *$here be, an if they ight,* (r such a biguous gi#ing out, to note $hat you kno" aught of e@ this not to do, So grace and ercy at your ost need hel! you, S"ear. Ghost 2'eneath3 S"ear. HA591T -est, rest, !erturbed s!iritE 2They swear3 So, gentle en, ,ith all y lo#e 7 do co end e to you@ .nd "hat so !oor a an as Ha let is ?ay do, to e0!ress his lo#e and friending to you, &od "illing, shall not lack. =et us go in together6 .nd still your fingers on your li!s, 7 !ray. $he ti e is out of %oint@ ( cursed s!ite, $hat e#er 7 "as born to set it rightE /ay, co e, let*s go together. 21$eunt3 A6t & S6ene # 2A room in P3936,7- house#3 21nter P3936,7- and /1@6A9&33 93/& P3936,7&i#e hi this oney and these notes, -eynaldo. /1@6A9&3 7 "ill, y lord. 93/& P3936,7Uou shall do ar#ellous "isely, good -eynaldo, +efore you #isit hi , to ake in4uire (f his beha#ior. /1@6A9&3 ?y lord, 7 did intend it. 93/& P3936,7-
1DD
?arry, "ell said6 #ery "ell said. =ook you, sir, 7n4uire e first "hat Danskers are in <aris6 .nd ho", and "ho, "hat eans, and "here they kee!, ,hat co !any, at "hat e0!ense6 and finding +y this enco !ass ent and drift of 4uestion $hat they do kno" y son, co e you ore nearer $han your !articular de ands "ill touch it@ $ake you, as *t"ere, so e distant kno"ledge of hi 6 .s thus, *7 kno" his father and his friends, .nd in !art hi @ * do you ark this, -eynaldoG /1@6A9&3 .y, #ery "ell, y lord. 93/& P3936,7*.nd in !art hi 6 but* you ay say *not "ell@ +ut, if*t be he 7 ean, he*s #ery "ild6 .ddicted so and so@* and there !ut on hi ,hat forgeries you !lease6 arry, none so rank .s ay dishonour hi 6 take heed of that6 +ut, sir, such "anton, "ild and usual sli!s .s are co !anions noted and ost kno"n $o youth and liberty. /1@6A9&3 .s ga ing, y lord. 93/& P3936,7.y, or drinking, fencing, s"earing, 4uarrelling, Drabbing@ you ay go so far. /1@6A9&3 ?y lord, that "ould dishonour hi . 93/& P3936,7*)aith, no6 as you ay season it in the charge Uou ust not !ut another scandal on hi , $hat he is o!en to incontinency6 $hat*s not y eaning@ but breathe his faults so 4uaintly $hat they ay see the taints of liberty, $he flash and outbreak of a fiery ind, . sa#ageness in unreclai ed blood, (f general assault. /1@6A9&3 +ut, y good lord, -93/& P3936,7,herefore should you do thisG 1D8
/1@6A9&3 .y, y lord, 7 "ould kno" that. 93/& P3936,7?arry, sir, here*s y drift6 .nd 7 belie#e, it is a fetch of "it@ Uou laying these slight sullies on y son, .s *t"ere a thing a little soil*d i* the "orking, ?ark you, Uour !arty in con#erse, hi you "ould sound, Ha#ing e#er seen in the !reno inate cri es $he youth you breathe of guilty, be assured He closes "ith you in this conse4uence6 *&ood sir,* or so, or *friend,* or *gentle an,* .ccording to the !hrase or the addition (f an and country. /1@6A9&3 Very good, y lord. 93/& P3936,7.nd then, sir, does he this -- he does -- "hat "as 7 about to sayG +y the ass, 7 "as about to say so ething@ "here did 7 lea#eG /1@6A9&3 .t *closes in the conse4uence,* at *friend or so,* and *gentle an.* 93/& P3936,7.t *closes in the conse4uence,* ay, arry6 He closes thus@ *7 kno" the gentle an6 7 sa" hi yesterday, or t* other day, (r then, or then6 "ith such, or such6 and, as you say, $here "as a* ga ing6 there o*ertook in*s rouse6 $here falling out at tennis@* or !erchance, *7 sa" hi enter such a house of sale,* Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth. See you no"6 Uour bait of falsehood takes this car! of truth@ .nd thus do "e of "isdo and of reach, ,ith "indlasses and "ith assays of bias, +y indirections find directions out@ So by y for er lecture and ad#ice, Shall you y son. Uou ha#e e, ha#e you notG /1@6A9&3 1D>
?y lord, 7 ha#e. 93/& P3936,7&od be "i* you6 fare you "ell. /1@6A9&3 &ood y lordE 93/& P3936,7(bser#e his inclination in yourself. /1@6A9&3 7 shall, y lord. 93/& P3936,7.nd let hi !ly his usic. /1@6A9&3 ,ell, y lord. 93/& P3936,7)are"ellE 21$it /1@6A9&33 21nter 3PH19,A3 Ho" no", (!heliaE "hat*s the atterG 3PH19,A (, y lord, y lord, 7 ha#e been so affrightedE 93/& P3936,7,ith "hat, i* the na e of &odG 3PH19,A ?y lord, as 7 "as se"ing in y closet, =ord Ha let, "ith his doublet all unbraced6 /o hat u!on his head6 his stockings foul*d, ;ngarter*d, and do"n-gy#ed to his ancle6 <ale as his shirt6 his knees knocking each other6 .nd "ith a look so !iteous in !ur!ort .s if he had been loosed out of hell $o s!eak of horrors, -- he co es before e. 93/& P3936,7?ad for thy lo#eG 3PH19,A ?y lord, 7 do not kno"6 +ut truly, 7 do fear it. 93/& P3936,7,hat said heG 3PH19,A He took e by the "rist and held e hard6 $hen goes he to the length of all his ar 6 180
.nd, "ith his other hand thus o*er his bro", He falls to such !erusal of y face .s he "ould dra" it. =ong stay*d he so6 .t last, a little shaking of ine ar .nd thrice his head thus "a#ing u! and do"n, He raised a sigh so !iteous and !rofound .s it did see to shatter all his bulk .nd end his being@ that done, he lets e go@ .nd, "ith his head o#er his shoulder turn*d, He see *d to find his "ay "ithout his eyes6 )or out o* doors he "ent "ithout their hel!s, .nd, to the last, bended their light on e. 93/& P3936,75o e, go "ith e@ 7 "ill go seek the king. $his is the #ery ecstasy of lo#e, ,hose #iolent !ro!erty fordoes itself .nd leads the "ill to des!erate undertakings .s oft as any !assion under hea#en $hat does afflict our natures. 7 a sorry. ,hat, ha#e you gi#en hi any hard "ords of lateG 3PH19,A /o, y good lord, but, as you did co and, 7 did re!el his fetters and denied His access to e. 93/& P3936,7$hat hath ade hi ad. 7 a sorry that "ith better heed and %udg ent 7 had not 4uoted hi @ 7 fear*d he did but trifle, .nd eant to "reck thee6 but, beshre" y %ealousyE +y hea#en, it is as !ro!er to our age $o cast beyond oursel#es in our o!inions .s it is co on for the younger sort $o lack discretion. 5o e, go "e to the king@ $his ust be kno"n6 "hich, being ke!t close, ight o#e ?ore grief to hide than hate to utter lo#e. 21$eunt3 S6ene & 2A room in the castle#3 21nter %,6G 29A7&,7-, ?7116 G1/T/7&1, /3-162/A6TA, G7,9&16-T1/6, and Attendants3 181
%,6G 29A7&,7,elco e, dear -osencrant' and &uildensternE ?oreo#er that "e uch did long to see you, $he need "e ha#e to use you did !ro#oke (ur hasty sending. So ething ha#e you heard (f Ha let*s transfor ation6 so call it, Sith nor the e0terior nor the in"ard an -ese bles that it "as. ,hat it should be, ?ore than his father*s death, that thus hath !ut hi So uch fro the understanding of hi self, 7 cannot drea of@ 7 entreat you both, $hat, being of so young days brought u! "ith hi , .nd sith so neighbour*d to his youth and ha#ior, $hat you #ouchsafe your rest here in our court So e little ti e@ so by your co !anies $o dra" hi on to !leasures, and to gather, So uch as fro occasion you ay glean, ,hether aught, to us unkno"n, afflicts hi thus, $hat, o!en*d, lies "ithin our re edy. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 &ood gentle en, he hath uch talk*d of you6 .nd sure 7 a t"o en there are not li#ing $o "ho he ore adheres. 7f it "ill !lease you $o sho" us so uch gentry and good "ill .s to e0!end your ti e "ith us a"hile, )or the su!!ly and !rofit of our ho!e, Uour #isitation shall recei#e such thanks .s fits a king*s re e brance. /3-162/A6TA +oth your a%esties ?ight, by the so#ereign !o"er you ha#e of us, <ut your dread !leasures ore into co and $han to entreaty. G7,9&16-T1/6 +ut "e both obey, .nd here gi#e u! oursel#es, in the full bent $o lay our ser#ice freely at your feet, $o be co anded. %,6G 29A7&,7$hanks, -osencrant' and gentle &uildenstern. 18A
?7116 G1/T/7&1 $hanks, &uildenstern and gentle -osencrant'@ .nd 7 beseech you instantly to #isit ?y too uch changed son. &o, so e of you, .nd bring these gentle en "here Ha let is. G7,9&16-T1/6 Hea#ens ake our !resence and our !ractises <leasant and hel!ful to hi E ?7116 G1/T/7&1 .y, a enE 21$eunt /3-162/A6TA, G7,9&16-T1/6, and some Attendants3 21nter P3936,7-3 93/& P3936,7$he a bassadors fro /or"ay, y good lord, .re %oyfully return*d. %,6G 29A7&,7$hou still hast been the father of good ne"s. 93/& P3936,7Ha#e 7, y lordG 7 assure y good liege, 7 hold y duty, as 7 hold y soul, +oth to y &od and to y gracious king@ .nd 7 do think, or else this brain of ine Hunts not the trail of !olicy so sure .s it hath used to do, that 7 ha#e found $he #ery cause of Ha let*s lunacy. %,6G 29A7&,7(, s!eak of that6 that do 7 long to hear. 93/& P3936,7&i#e first ad ittance to the a bassadors6 ?y ne"s shall be the fruit to that great feast. %,6G 29A7&,7$hyself do grace to the , and bring the in. 21$it P3936,7-3 He tells e, y dear &ertrude, he hath found $he head and source of all your son*s diste !er. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 7 doubt it is no other but the ain6 His father*s death, and our o*erhasty arriage. %,6G 29A7&,7,ell, "e shall sift hi . 2/e)enter P3936,7-, with 039T,5A6& and 23/619,7-3 18B
,elco e, y good friendsE Say, Volti and, "hat fro our brother /or"ayG 039T,5A6& ?ost fair return of greetings and desires. ;!on our first, he sent out to su!!ress His ne!he"*s le#ies6 "hich to hi a!!ear*d $o be a !re!aration *gainst the <olack6 +ut, better look*d into, he truly found 7t "as against your highness@ "hereat grie#ed, $hat so his sickness, age and i !otence ,as falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests (n )ortinbras6 "hich he, in brief, obeys6 -ecei#es rebuke fro /or"ay, and in fine ?akes #o" before his uncle ne#er ore $o gi#e the assay of ar s against your a%esty. ,hereon old /or"ay, o#erco e "ith %oy, &i#es hi three thousand cro"ns in annual fee, .nd his co ission to e !loy those soldiers, So le#ied as before, against the <olack@ ,ith an entreaty, herein further sho"n, 2Giving a paper3 $hat it ight !lease you to gi#e 4uiet !ass $hrough your do inions for this enter!rise, (n such regards of safety and allo"ance .s therein are set do"n. %,6G 29A7&,77t likes us "ell6 .nd at our ore consider*d ti e "ell read, .ns"er, and think u!on this business. ?eanti e "e thank you for your "ell-took labour@ &o to your rest6 at night "e*ll feast together@ ?ost "elco e ho eE 21$eunt 039T,5A6& and 23/619,7-3 93/& P3936,7$his business is "ell ended. ?y liege, and ada , to e0!ostulate ,hat a%esty should be, "hat duty is, ,hy day is day, night night, and ti e is ti e, ,ere nothing but to "aste night, day and ti e. $herefore, since bre#ity is the soul of "it, .nd tediousness the li bs and out"ard flourishes, 18C
7 "ill be brief@ your noble son is ad@ ?ad call 7 it6 for, to define true adness, ,hat is*t but to be nothing else but adG +ut let that go. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 ?ore atter, "ith less art. 93/& P3936,7?ada , 7 s"ear 7 use no art at all. $hat he is ad, *tis true@ *tis true *tis !ity6 .nd !ity *tis *tis true@ a foolish figure6 +ut fare"ell it, for 7 "ill use no art. ?ad let us grant hi , then@ and no" re ains $hat "e find out the cause of this effect, (r rather say, the cause of this defect, )or this effect defecti#e co es by cause@ $hus it re ains, and the re ainder thus. <er!end. 7 ha#e a daughter -- ha#e "hile she is ine -,ho, in her duty and obedience, ark, Hath gi#en e this@ no" gather, and sur ise. 2/eads3 *$o the celestial and y soul*s idol, the ost beautified (!helia,* -$hat*s an ill !hrase, a #ile !hrase6 *beautified* is a #ile !hrase@ but you shall hear. $hus@ 2/eads3 *7n her e0cellent "hite boso , these, [c.* ?7116 G1/T/7&1 5a e this fro Ha let to herG 93/& P3936,7&ood ada , stay a"hile6 7 "ill be faithful. 2/eads3 *Doubt thou the stars are fire6 Doubt that the sun doth o#e6 Doubt truth to be a liar6 +ut ne#er doubt 7 lo#e. *( dear (!helia, 7 a ill at these nu bers6 7 ha#e not art to reckon y groans@ but that 7 lo#e thee best, ( ost best, belie#e it. .dieu. *$hine e#er ore ost dear lady, "hilst this achine is to hi , H.?=9$.* $his, in obedience, hath y daughter sho"n e, 185
.nd ore abo#e, hath his solicitings, .s they fell out by ti e, by eans and !lace, .ll gi#en to ine ear. %,6G 29A7&,7+ut ho" hath she -ecei#ed his lo#eG 93/& P3936,7,hat do you think of eG %,6G 29A7&,7.s of a an faithful and honourable. 93/& P3936,77 "ould fain !ro#e so. +ut "hat ight you think, ,hen 7 had seen this hot lo#e on the "ing -.s 7 !ercei#ed it, 7 ust tell you that, +efore y daughter told e -- "hat ight you, (r y dear a%esty your 4ueen here, think, 7f 7 had !lay*d the desk or table-book, (r gi#en y heart a "inking, ute and du b, (r look*d u!on this lo#e "ith idle sight6 ,hat ight you thinkG /o, 7 "ent round to "ork, .nd y young istress thus 7 did bes!eak@ *=ord Ha let is a !rince, out of thy star6 $his ust not be@* and then 7 !rece!ts ga#e her, $hat she should lock herself fro his resort, .d it no essengers, recei#e no tokens. ,hich done, she took the fruits of y ad#ice6 .nd he, re!ulsed -- a short tale to ake -)ell into a sadness, then into a fast, $hence to a "atch, thence into a "eakness, $hence to a lightness, and, by this declension, 7nto the adness "herein no" he ra#es, .nd all "e ourn for. %,6G 29A7&,7Do you think *tis thisG ?7116 G1/T/7&1 7t ay be, #ery likely. 93/& P3936,7Hath there been such a ti e -- 7*d fain kno" that -$hat 7 ha#e !ositi#ely said *$is so,* ,hen it !ro#ed other"iseG %,6G 29A7&,7186
/ot that 7 kno". 93/& P3936,72Pointing to his head and shoulder3 $ake this fro this, if this be other"ise@ 7f circu stances lead e, 7 "ill find ,here truth is hid, though it "ere hid indeed ,ithin the centre. %,6G 29A7&,7Ho" ay "e try it furtherG 93/& P3936,7Uou kno", so eti es he "alks four hours together Here in the lobby. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 So he does indeed. 93/& P3936,7.t such a ti e 7*ll loose y daughter to hi @ +e you and 7 behind an arras then6 ?ark the encounter@ if he lo#e her not .nd be not fro his reason fall*n thereon, =et e be no assistant for a state, +ut kee! a far and carters. %,6G 29A7&,7,e "ill try it. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 +ut, look, "here sadly the !oor "retch co es reading. 93/& P3936,7."ay, 7 do beseech you, both a"ay@ 7*ll board hi !resently. 21$eunt %,6G 29A7&,7-, ?7116 G1/T/7&1, and Attendants 3 21nter HA591T, reading3 (, gi#e e lea#e@ Ho" does y good =ord Ha letG HA591T ,ell, &od-a- ercy. 93/& P3936,7Do you kno" e, y lordG HA591T 90cellent "ell6 you are a fish onger. 93/& P3936,7/ot 7, y lord. HA591T 18D
$hen 7 "ould you "ere so honest a an. 93/& P3936,7Honest, y lordE HA591T .y, sir6 to be honest, as this "orld goes, is to be one an !icked out of ten thousand. 93/& P3936,7$hat*s #ery true, y lord. HA591T )or if the sun breed aggots in a dead dog, being a god kissing carrion, -- Ha#e you a daughterG 93/& P3936,77 ha#e, y lord. HA591T =et her not "alk i* the sun@ conce!tion is a blessing@ but not as your daughter ay concei#e. )riend, look to *t. 93/& P3936,72Aside3 Ho" say you by thatG Still har!ing on y daughter@ yet he kne" e not at first6 he said 7 "as a fish onger@ he is far gone, far gone@ and truly in y youth 7 suffered uch e0tre ity for lo#e6 #ery near this. 7*ll s!eak to hi again. ,hat do you read, y lordG HA591T ,ords, "ords, "ords. 93/& P3936,7,hat is the atter, y lordG HA591T +et"een "hoG 93/& P3936,77 ean, the atter that you read, y lord. HA591T Slanders, sir@ for the satirical rogue says here that old en ha#e grey beards, that their faces are "rinkled, their eyes !urging thick a ber and !lu -tree gu and that they ha#e a !lentiful lack of "it, together "ith ost "eak ha s@ all "hich, sir, though 7 ost !o"erfully and !otently belie#e, yet 7 hold it not honesty to ha#e it thus set do"n, for 188
yourself, sir, should be old as 7 a , if like a crab you could go back"ard. 93/& P3936,72Aside3 $hough this be adness, yet there is ethod in *t. ,ill you "alk out of the air, y lordG HA591T 7nto y gra#e. 93/& P3936,77ndeed, that is out o* the air. 2Aside3 Ho" !regnant so eti es his re!lies areE a ha!!iness that often adness hits on, "hich reason and sanity could not so !ros!erously be deli#ered of. 7 "ill lea#e hi , and suddenly contri#e the eans of eeting bet"een hi and y daughter. -- ?y honourable lord, 7 "ill ost hu bly take y lea#e of you. HA591T Uou cannot, sir, take fro e any thing that 7 "ill ore "illingly !art "ithal@ e0ce!t y life, e0ce!t y life, e0ce!t y life. 93/& P3936,7)are you "ell, y lord. HA591T $hese tedious old foolsE 21nter /3-162/A6TA and G7,9&16-T1/63 93/& P3936,7Uou go to seek the =ord Ha let6 there he is. /3-162/A6TA 2To P3936,7-3 &od sa#e you, sirE 21$it P3936,7-3 G7,9&16-T1/6 ?y honoured lordE /3-162/A6TA ?y ost dear lordE HA591T ?y e0cellent good friendsE Ho" dost thou, &uildensternG .h, -osencrant'E &ood lads, ho" do ye bothG /3-162/A6TA .s the indifferent children of the earth. 18>
G7,9&16-T1/6 Ha!!y, in that "e are not o#er-ha!!y6 (n fortune*s ca! "e are not the #ery button. HA591T /or the soles of her shoeG /3-162/A6TA /either, y lord. HA591T $hen you li#e about her "aist, or in the iddle of her fa#oursG G7,9&16-T1/6 *)aith, her !ri#ates "e. HA591T 7n the secret !arts of fortuneG (, ost true6 she is a stru !et. ,hat*s the ne"sG /3-162/A6TA /one, y lord, but that the "orld*s gro"n honest. HA591T $hen is doo sday near@ but your ne"s is not true. =et e 4uestion ore in !articular@ "hat ha#e you, y good friends, deser#ed at the hands of fortune, that she sends you to !rison hitherG G7,9&16-T1/6 <rison, y lordE HA591T Den ark*s a !rison. /3-162/A6TA $hen is the "orld one. HA591T . goodly one6 in "hich there are any confines, "ards and dungeons, Den ark being one o* the "orst. /3-162/A6TA ,e think not so, y lord. HA591T ,hy, then, *tis none to you6 for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking akes it so@ to e it is a !rison. /3-162/A6TA ,hy then, your a bition akes it one6 *tis too narro" for your ind. HA591T 1>0
( &od, 7 could be bounded in a nut shell and count yself a king of infinite s!ace, "ere it not that 7 ha#e bad drea s. G7,9&16-T1/6 ,hich drea s indeed are a bition, for the #ery substance of the a bitious is erely the shado" of a drea . HA591T . drea itself is but a shado". /3-162/A6TA $ruly, and 7 hold a bition of so airy and light a 4uality that it is but a shado"*s shado". HA591T $hen are our beggars bodies, and our onarchs and outstretched heroes the beggars* shado"s. Shall "e to the courtG for, by y fay, 7 cannot reason. /3-162/A6TA, G7,9&16-T1/6 ,e*ll "ait u!on you. HA591T /o such atter@ 7 "ill not sort you "ith the rest of y ser#ants, for, to s!eak to you like an honest an, 7 a ost dreadfully attended. +ut, in the beaten "ay of friendshi!, "hat ake you at 9lsinoreG /3-162/A6TA $o #isit you, y lord6 no other occasion. HA591T +eggar that 7 a , 7 a e#en !oor in thanks6 but 7 thank you@ and sure, dear friends, y thanks are too dear a half!enny. ,ere you not sent forG 7s it your o"n incliningG 7s it a free #isitationG 5o e, deal %ustly "ith e@ co e, co e6 nay, s!eak. G7,9&16-T1/6 ,hat should "e say, y lordG HA591T ,hy, any thing, but to the !ur!ose. Uou "ere sent for6 and there is a kind of confession in your looks "hich your odesties ha#e not craft enough to colour@ 7 kno" the good king and 4ueen ha#e sent for you. /3-162/A6TA $o "hat end, y lordG HA591T
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$hat you ust teach e. +ut let e con%ure you, by the rights of our fello"shi!, by the consonancy of our youth, by the obligation of our e#er-!reser#ed lo#e, and by "hat ore dear a better !ro!oser could charge you "ithal, be e#en and direct "ith e, "hether you "ere sent for, or noG /3-162/A6TA 2Aside to G7,9&16-T1/63 ,hat say youG HA591T 2Aside3 /ay, then, 7 ha#e an eye of you. -- 7f you lo#e e, hold not off. G7,9&16-T1/6 ?y lord, "e "ere sent for. HA591T 7 "ill tell you "hy6 so shall y antici!ation !re#ent your disco#ery, and your secrecy to the king and 4ueen oult no feather. 7 ha#e of late -- but "herefore 7 kno" not -- lost all y irth, forgone all custo of e0ercises6 and indeed it goes so hea#ily "ith y dis!osition that this goodly fra e, the earth, see s to e a sterile !ro ontory, this ost e0cellent cano!y, the air, look you, this bra#e o*erhanging fir a ent, this a%estical roof fretted "ith golden fire, "hy, it a!!ears no other thing to e than a foul and !estilent congregation of #a!ours. ,hat a !iece of "ork is a anE ho" noble in reasonE ho" infinite in facultyE in for and o#ing ho" e0!ress and ad irableE in action ho" like an angelE in a!!rehension ho" like a godE the beauty of the "orldE the !aragon of ani alsE .nd yet, to e, "hat is this 4uintessence of dustG an delights not e@ no, nor "o an neither, though by your s iling you see to say so. /3-162/A6TA ?y lord, there "as no such stuff in y thoughts. HA591T ,hy did you laugh then, "hen 7 said * an delights not /3-162/A6TA
e*G
1>A
$o think, y lord, if you delight not in an, "hat lenten entertain ent the !layers shall recei#e fro you@ "e coted the on the "ay6 and hither are they co ing, to offer you ser#ice. HA591T He that !lays the king shall be "elco e6 his a%esty shall ha#e tribute of e6 the ad#enturous knight shall use his foil and target6 the lo#er shall not sigh gratis6 the hu ourous an shall end his !art in !eace6 the clo"n shall ake those laugh "hose lungs are tickled o* the sere6 and the lady shall say her ind freely, or the blank #erse shall halt for*t. ,hat !layers are theyG /3-162/A6TA 9#en those you "ere "ont to take delight in, the tragedians of the city. HA591T Ho" chances it they tra#elG their residence, both in re!utation and !rofit, "as better both "ays. /3-162/A6TA 7 think their inhibition co es by the eans of the late inno#ation. HA591T Do they hold the sa e esti ation they did "hen 7 "as in the cityG are they so follo"edG /3-162/A6TA /o, indeed, are they not. HA591T Ho" co es itG do they gro" rustyG /3-162/A6TA /ay, their endea#our kee!s in the "onted !ace@ but there is, sir, an aery of children, little eyases, that cry out on the to! of 4uestion, and are ost tyrannically cla!!ed for*t@ these are no" the fashion, and so berattle the co on stages -- so they call the -- that any "earing ra!iers are afraid of goose-4uills and dare scarce co e thither. HA591T ,hat, are they childrenG "ho aintains *e G ho" are they escotedG ,ill they !ursue the 4uality no longer than they can singG "ill they not say 1>B
after"ards, if they should gro" the sel#es to co on !layers -- as it is ost like, if their eans are no better -- their "riters do the "rong, to ake the e0clai against their o"n successionG /3-162/A6TA *)aith, there has been uch to do on both sides6 and the nation holds it no sin to tarre the to contro#ersy@ there "as, for a "hile, no oney bid for argu ent, unless the !oet and the !layer "ent to cuffs in the 4uestion. HA591T 7s*t !ossibleG G7,9&16-T1/6 (, there has been uch thro"ing about of brains. HA591T Do the boys carry it a"ayG /3-162/A6TA .y, that they do, y lord6 Hercules and his load too. HA591T 7t is not #ery strange6 for ine uncle is king of Den ark, and those that "ould ake o"s at hi "hile y father li#ed, gi#e t"enty, forty, fifty, an hundred ducats a-!iece for his !icture in little. *Sblood, there is so ething in this ore than natural, if !hiloso!hy could find it out. 2+lourish of trumpets within3 G7,9&16-T1/6 $here are the !layers. HA591T &entle en, you are "elco e to 9lsinore. Uour hands, co e then@ the a!!urtenance of "elco e is fashion and cere ony@ let e co !ly "ith you in this garb, lest y e0tent to the !layers, "hich, 7 tell you, ust sho" fairly out"ard, should ore a!!ear like entertain ent than yours. Uou are "elco e@ but y uncle-father and aunt- other are decei#ed. G7,9&16-T1/6 7n "hat, y dear lordG HA591T 7 a but ad north-north-"est@ "hen the "ind is southerly 7 kno" a ha"k fro a handsa". 1>C
21nter P3936,7-3 93/& P3936,7,ell be "ith you, gentle enE HA591T Hark you, &uildenstern6 and you too@ at each ear a hearer@ that great baby you see there is not yet out of his s"addling-clouts. /3-162/A6TA Ha!!ily he*s the second ti e co e to the 6 for they say an old an is t"ice a child. HA591T 7 "ill !ro!hesy he co es to tell e of the !layers6 ark it. Uou say right, sir@ o* ?onday orning6 *t"as so indeed. 93/& P3936,7?y lord, 7 ha#e ne"s to tell you. HA591T ?y lord, 7 ha#e ne"s to tell you. ,hen -oscius "as an actor in -o e, -93/& P3936,7$he actors are co e hither, y lord. HA591T +u', bu'E 93/& P3936,7;!on ine honour, -HA591T $hen ca e each actor on his ass, -93/& P3936,7$he best actors in the "orld, either for tragedy, co edy, history, !astoral, !astoral-co ical, historical-!astoral, tragical-historical, tragicalco ical-historical-!astoral, scene indi#idable, or !oe unli ited@ Seneca cannot be too hea#y, nor <lautus too light. )or the la" of "rit and the liberty, these are the only en. HA591T ( 1e!hthah, %udge of 7srael, "hat a treasure hadst thouE 93/& P3936,7,hat a treasure had he, y lordG HA591T
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,hy, *(ne fair daughter and no ore, $he "hich he lo#ed !assing "ell.* 93/& P3936,72Aside3 Still on y daughter. HA591T . 7 not i* the right, old 1e!hthahG 93/& P3936,77f you call e 1e!hthah, y lord, 7 ha#e a daughter that 7 lo#e !assing "ell. HA591T /ay, that follo"s not. 93/& P3936,7,hat follo"s, then, y lordG HA591T ,hy, *.s by lot, &od "ot,* and then, you kno", *7t ca e to !ass, as ost like it "as,* -the first ro" of the !ious chanson "ill sho" you ore6 for look, "here y abridge ent co es. 21nter four or five Players3 Uou are "elco e, asters6 "elco e, all. 7 a glad to see thee "ell. ,elco e, good friends. (, y old friendE thy face is #alenced since 7 sa" thee last@ co est thou to beard e in Den arkG ,hat, y young lady and istressE +y*r lady, your ladyshi! is nearer to hea#en than "hen 7 sa" you last, by the altitude of a cho!ine. <ray &od, your #oice, like a!iece of uncurrent gold, be not cracked "ithin the ring. ?asters, you are all "elco e. ,e*ll e*en to*t like )rench falconers, fly at any thing "e see@ "e*ll ha#e a s!eech straight@ co e, gi#e us a taste of your 4uality6 co e, a !assionate s!eech. +irst Player ,hat s!eech, y lordG HA591T 7 heard thee s!eak e a s!eech once, but it "as ne#er acted6 or, if it "as, not abo#e once6 for the !lay, 7 re e ber, !leased not the illion6 *t"as 1>6
ca#iare to the general@ but it "as -- as 7 recei#ed it, and others, "hose %udg ents in such atters cried in the to! of ine -- an e0cellent !lay, "ell digested in the scenes, set do"n "ith as uch odesty as cunning. 7 re e ber, one said there "ere no sallets in the lines to ake the atter sa#oury, nor no atter in the !hrase that ight indict the author of affectation6 but called it an honest ethod, as "holeso e as s"eet, and by #ery uch ore handso e than fine. (ne s!eech in it 7 chiefly lo#ed@ *t"as .eneas* tale to Dido6 and thereabout of it es!ecially, "here he s!eaks of <ria *s slaughter@ if it li#e in your e ory, begin at this line@ let e see, let e see -*$he rugged <yrrhus, like the Hyrcanian beast,* -it is not so@ -- it begins "ith <yrrhus@ -*$he rugged <yrrhus, he "hose sable ar s, +lack as his !ur!ose, did the night rese ble ,hen he lay couched in the o inous horse, Hath no" this dread and black co !le0ion s ear*d ,ith heraldry ore dis al6 head to foot /o" is he total gules6 horridly trick*d ,ith blood of fathers, others, daughters, sons, +aked and i !asted "ith the !arching streets, $hat lend a tyrannous and da ned light $o their lord*s urder@ roasted in "rath and fire, .nd thus o*er-si'ed "ith coagulate gore, ,ith eyes like carbuncles, the hellish <yrrhus (ld grandsire <ria seeks.* So, !roceed you. 93/& P3936,7*)ore &od, y lord, "ell s!oken, "ith good accent and good discretion. +irst Player *.non he finds hi Striking too short at &reeks6 his anti4ue s"ord, -ebellious to his ar , lies "here it falls, -e!ugnant to co and@ une4ual atch*d, <yrrhus at <ria dri#es6 in rage strikes "ide6 +ut "ith the "hiff and "ind of his fell s"ord $he unner#ed father falls. $hen senseless 7liu , 1>D
See ing to feel this blo", "ith fla ing to! Stoo!s to his base, and "ith a hideous crash $akes !risoner <yrrhus* ear@ for, loE his s"ord, ,hich "as declining on the ilky head (f re#erend <ria , see *d i* the air to stick@ So, as a !ainted tyrant, <yrrhus stood, .nd like a neutral to his "ill and atter, Did nothing. +ut, as "e often see, against so e stor , . silence in the hea#ens, the rack stand still, $he bold "inds s!eechless and the orb belo" .s hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder Doth rend the region, so, after <yrrhus* !ause, .roused #engeance sets hi ne" a-"ork6 .nd ne#er did the 5yclo!s* ha ers fall (n ?ars*s ar our forged for !roof eterne ,ith less re orse than <yrrhus* bleeding s"ord /o" falls on <ria . (ut, out, thou stru !et, )ortuneE .ll you gods, 7n general synod *take a"ay her !o"er6 +reak all the s!okes and fellies fro her "heel, .nd bo"l the round na#e do"n the hill of hea#en, .s lo" as to the fiendsE* 93/& P3936,7$his is too long. HA591T 7t shall to the barber*s, "ith your beard. <rithee, say on@ he*s for a %ig or a tale of ba"dry, or he slee!s@ say on@ co e to Hecuba. +irst Player *+ut "ho, (, "ho had seen the obled 4ueen -- * HA591T *$he obled 4ueenG* 93/& P3936,7$hat*s good6 * obled 4ueen* is good. +irst Player *-un barefoot u! and do"n, threatening the fla es ,ith bisson rheu 6 a clout u!on that head ,here late the diade stood, and for a robe, .bout her lank and all o*er-tee ed loins, . blanket, in the alar of fear caught u!6 1>8
,ho this had seen, "ith tongue in #eno stee!*d, *&ainst )ortune*s state "ould treason ha#e !ronounced@ +ut if the gods the sel#es did see her then ,hen she sa" <yrrhus ake alicious s!ort 7n incing "ith his s"ord her husband*s li bs, $he instant burst of cla our that she ade, ;nless things ortal o#e the not at all, ,ould ha#e ade ilch the burning eyes of hea#en, .nd !assion in the gods.* 93/& P3936,7=ook, "hether he has not turned his colour and has tears in*s eyes. <ray you, no ore. HA591T *$is "ell@ 7*ll ha#e thee s!eak out the rest soon. &ood y lord, "ill you see the !layers "ell besto"edG Do you hear, let the be "ell used6 for they are the abstract and brief chronicles of the ti e@ after your death you "ere better ha#e a bad e!ita!h than their ill re!ort "hile you li#e. 93/& P3936,7?y lord, 7 "ill use the according to their desert. HA591T &od*s bodykins, an, uch better@ use e#ery an after his desert, and "ho should *sca!e "hi!!ingG ;se the after your o"n honour and dignity@ the less they deser#e, the ore erit is in your bounty. $ake the in. 93/& P3936,75o e, sirs. HA591T )ollo" hi , friends@ "e*ll hear a !lay to- orro". 21$it P3936,7- with all the Players !ut the +irst3 Dost thou hear e, old friend6 can you !lay the ?urder of &on'agoG +irst Player .y, y lord. HA591T ,e*ll ha*t to- orro" night. Uou could, for a need, study a s!eech of so e do'en or si0teen lines, "hich 7 "ould set do"n and insert in*t, could you notG 1>>
+irst Player .y, y lord. HA591T Very "ell. )ollo" that lord6 and look you ock hi not. 21$it +irst Player3 ?y good friends, 7*ll lea#e you till night@ you are "elco e to 9lsinore. /3-162/A6TA &ood y lordE HA591T .y, so, &od be "i* ye6 21$eunt /3-162/A6TA and G7,9&16-T1/63 /o" 7 a alone. (, "hat a rogue and !easant sla#e a 7E 7s it not onstrous that this !layer here, +ut in a fiction, in a drea of !assion, 5ould force his soul so to his o"n conceit $hat fro her "orking all his #isage "ann*d, $ears in his eyes, distraction in*s as!ect, . broken #oice, and his "hole function suiting ,ith for s to his conceitG and all for nothingE )or HecubaE ,hat*s Hecuba to hi , or he to Hecuba, $hat he should "ee! for herG ,hat "ould he do, Had he the oti#e and the cue for !assion $hat 7 ha#eG He "ould dro"n the stage "ith tears .nd clea#e the general ear "ith horrid s!eech, ?ake ad the guilty and a!!al the free, 5onfound the ignorant, and a a'e indeed $he #ery faculties of eyes and ears. Uet 7, . dull and uddy- ettled rascal, !eak, =ike 1ohn-a-drea s, un!regnant of y cause, .nd can say nothing6 no, not for a king, ;!on "hose !ro!erty and ost dear life . da n*d defeat "as ade. . 7 a co"ardG ,ho calls e #illainG breaks y !ate acrossG <lucks off y beard, and blo"s it in y faceG $"eaks e by the noseG gi#es e the lie i* the throat, .s dee! as to the lungsG "ho does e thisG HaE A00
*S"ounds, 7 should take it@ for it cannot be +ut 7 a !igeon-li#er*d and lack gall $o ake o!!ression bitter, or ere this 7 should ha#e fatted all the region kites ,ith this sla#e*s offal@ bloody, ba"dy #illainE -e orseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless #illainE (, #engeanceE ,hy, "hat an ass a 7E $his is ost bra#e, $hat 7, the son of a dear father urder*d, <ro !ted to y re#enge by hea#en and hell, ?ust, like a "hore, un!ack y heart "ith "ords, .nd fall a-cursing, like a #ery drab, . scullionE )ie u!on*tE fohE .bout, y brainE 7 ha#e heard $hat guilty creatures sitting at a !lay Ha#e by the #ery cunning of the scene +een struck so to the soul that !resently $hey ha#e !roclai *d their alefactions6 )or urder, though it ha#e no tongue, "ill s!eak ,ith ost iraculous organ. 7*ll ha#e these !layers <lay so ething like the urder of y father +efore ine uncle@ 7*ll obser#e his looks6 7*ll tent hi to the 4uick@ if he but blench, 7 kno" y course. $he s!irit that 7 ha#e seen ?ay be the de#il@ and the de#il hath !o"er $o assu e a !leasing sha!e6 yea, and !erha!s (ut of y "eakness and y elancholy, .s he is #ery !otent "ith such s!irits, .buses e to da n e@ 7*ll ha#e grounds ?ore relati#e than this@ the !lay *s the thing ,herein 7*ll catch the conscience of the king. 21$it3 A6t , S6ene # 2A room in the castle#3 21nter %,6G 29A7&,7-, ?7116 G1/T/7&1, P3936,7-, 3PH19,A, /3-162/A6TA, and G7,9&16-T1/63 %,6G 29A7&,7-
A01
.nd can you, by no drift of circu stance, &et fro hi "hy he !uts on this confusion, &rating so harshly all his days of 4uiet ,ith turbulent and dangerous lunacyG /3-162/A6TA He does confess he feels hi self distracted6 +ut fro "hat cause he "ill by no eans s!eak. G7,9&16-T1/6 /or do "e find hi for"ard to be sounded, +ut, "ith a crafty adness, kee!s aloof, ,hen "e "ould bring hi on to so e confession (f his true state. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 Did he recei#e you "ellG /3-162/A6TA ?ost like a gentle an. G7,9&16-T1/6 +ut "ith uch forcing of his dis!osition. /3-162/A6TA /iggard of 4uestion6 but, of our de ands, ?ost free in his re!ly. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 Did you assay hi G $o any !asti eG /3-162/A6TA ?ada , it so fell out, that certain !layers ,e o*er-raught on the "ay@ of these "e told hi 6 .nd there did see in hi a kind of %oy $o hear of it@ they are about the court, .nd, as 7 think, they ha#e already order $his night to !lay before hi . 93/& P3936,7*$is ost true@ .nd he beseech*d e to entreat your a%esties $o hear and see the atter. %,6G 29A7&,7,ith all y heart6 and it doth uch content e $o hear hi so inclined. &ood gentle en, gi#e hi a further edge, .nd dri#e his !ur!ose on to these delights. /3-162/A6TA A0A
,e shall, y lord. 21$eunt /3-162/A6TA and G7,9&16-T1/63 %,6G 29A7&,7S"eet &ertrude, lea#e us too6 )or "e ha#e closely sent for Ha let hither, $hat he, as *t"ere by accident, ay here .ffront (!helia@ Her father and yself, la"ful es!ials, ,ill so besto" oursel#es that, seeing, unseen, ,e ay of their encounter frankly %udge, .nd gather by hi , as he is beha#ed, 7f *t be the affliction of his lo#e or no $hat thus he suffers for. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 7 shall obey you. .nd for your !art, (!helia, 7 do "ish $hat your good beauties be the ha!!y cause (f Ha let*s "ildness@ so shall 7 ho!e your #irtues ,ill bring hi to his "onted "ay again, $o both your honours. 3PH19,A ?ada , 7 "ish it ay. 21$it ?7116 G1/T/7&13 93/& P3936,7(!helia, "alk you here. &racious, so !lease you, ,e "ill besto" oursel#es. 2To 3PH19,A3 -ead on this book6 $hat sho" of such an e0ercise ay colour Uour loneliness. ,e are oft to bla e in this, -*$is too uch !ro#ed -- that "ith de#otion*s #isage .nd !ious action "e do sugar o*er $he de#il hi self. %,6G 29A7&,72Aside3 (, *tis too trueE Ho" s art a lash that s!eech doth gi#e y conscienceE $he harlot*s cheek, beautied "ith !lastering art, 7s not ore ugly to the thing that hel!s it $han is y deed to y ost !ainted "ord@ ( hea#y burthenE A0B
93/& P3936,77 hear hi co ing@ let*s "ithdra", y lord. 21$eunt %,6G 29A7&,7- and P3936,7-3 21nter HA591T3 HA591T $o be, or not to be@ that is the 4uestion@ ,hether *tis nobler in the ind to suffer $he slings and arro"s of outrageous fortune, (r to take ar s against a sea of troubles, .nd by o!!osing end the G $o die@ to slee!6 /o ore6 and by a slee! to say "e end $he heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks $hat flesh is heir to, *tis a consu ation De#outly to be "ish*d. $o die, to slee!6 $o slee!@ !erchance to drea @ ay, there*s the rub6 )or in that slee! of death "hat drea s ay co e ,hen "e ha#e shuffled off this ortal coil, ?ust gi#e us !ause@ there*s the res!ect $hat akes cala ity of so long life6 )or "ho "ould bear the "hi!s and scorns of ti e, $he o!!ressor*s "rong, the !roud an*s contu ely, $he !angs of des!ised lo#e, the la"*s delay, $he insolence of office and the s!urns $hat !atient erit of the un"orthy takes, ,hen he hi self ight his 4uietus ake ,ith a bare bodkinG "ho "ould fardels bear, $o grunt and s"eat under a "eary life, +ut that the dread of so ething after death, $he undisco#er*d country fro "hose bourn /o tra#eller returns, !u''les the "ill .nd akes us rather bear those ills "e ha#e $han fly to others that "e kno" not ofG $hus conscience does ake co"ards of us all6 .nd thus the nati#e hue of resolution 7s sicklied o*er "ith the !ale cast of thought, .nd enter!rises of great !ith and o ent ,ith this regard their currents turn a"ry, .nd lose the na e of action. -- Soft you no"E $he fair (!heliaE /y !h, in thy orisons +e all y sins re e ber*d. 3PH19,A A0C
&ood y lord, Ho" does your honour for this any a dayG HA591T 7 hu bly thank you6 "ell, "ell, "ell. 3PH19,A ?y lord, 7 ha#e re e brances of yours, $hat 7 ha#e longed long to re-deli#er6 7 !ray you, no" recei#e the . HA591T /o, not 76 7 ne#er ga#e you aught. 3PH19,A ?y honour*d lord, you kno" right "ell you did6 .nd, "ith the , "ords of so s"eet breath co !osed .s ade the things ore rich@ their !erfu e lost, $ake these again6 for to the noble ind -ich gifts "a0 !oor "hen gi#ers !ro#e unkind. $here, y lord. HA591T Ha, haE are you honestG 3PH19,A ?y lordG HA591T .re you fairG 3PH19,A ,hat eans your lordshi!G HA591T $hat if you be honest and fair, your honesty should ad it no discourse to your beauty. 3PH19,A 5ould beauty, y lord, ha#e better co erce than "ith honestyG HA591T .y, truly6 for the !o"er of beauty "ill sooner transfor honesty fro "hat it is to a ba"d than the force of honesty can translate beauty into his likeness@ this "as so eti e a !arado0, but no" the ti e gi#es it !roof. 7 did lo#e you once. 3PH19,A 7ndeed, y lord, you ade e belie#e so. HA591T A05
Uou should not ha#e belie#ed e6 for #irtue cannot so inoculate our old stock but "e shall relish of it@ 7 lo#ed you not. 3PH19,A 7 "as the ore decei#ed. HA591T &et thee to a nunnery@ "hy "ouldst thou be a breeder of sinnersG 7 a yself indifferent honest6 but yet 7 could accuse e of such things that it "ere better y other had not borne e@ 7 a #ery !roud, re#engeful, a bitious, "ith ore offences at y beck than 7 ha#e thoughts to !ut the in, i agination to gi#e the sha!e, or ti e to act the in. ,hat should such fello"s as 7 do cra"ling bet"een earth and hea#enG ,e are arrant kna#es, all6 belie#e none of us. &o thy "ays to a nunnery. ,here*s your fatherG 3PH19,A .t ho e, y lord. HA591T =et the doors be shut u!on hi , that he ay !lay the fool no "here but in*s o"n house. )are"ell. 3PH19,A (, hel! hi , you s"eet hea#ensE HA591T 7f thou dost arry, 7*ll gi#e thee this !lague for thy do"ry@ be thou as chaste as ice, as !ure as sno", thou shalt not esca!e calu ny. &et thee to a nunnery, go@ fare"ell. (r, if thou "ilt needs arry, arry a fool6 for "ise en kno" "ell enough "hat onsters you ake of the . $o a nunnery, go, and 4uickly too. )are"ell. 3PH19,A ( hea#enly !o"ers, restore hi E HA591T 7 ha#e heard of your !aintings too, "ell enough6 &od has gi#en you one face, and you ake yoursel#es another@ you %ig, you a ble, and you lis!, and nick-na e &od*s creatures, and ake your "antonness your ignorance. &o to, 7*ll no ore on*t6 it hath ade e ad. 7 say, "e "ill ha#e no ore arriages@ A06
those that are arried already, all but one, shall li#e6 the rest shall kee! as they are. $o a nunnery, go. 21$it3 3PH19,A (, "hat a noble ind is here o*erthro"nE $he courtier*s, soldier*s, scholar*s, eye, tongue, s"ord6 $he e0!ectancy and rose of the fair state, $he glass of fashion and the ould of for , $he obser#ed of all obser#ers, 4uite, 4uite do"nE .nd 7, of ladies ost de%ect and "retched, $hat suck*d the honey of his usic #o"s, /o" see that noble and ost so#ereign reason, =ike s"eet bells %angled, out of tune and harsh6 $hat un atch*d for and feature of blo"n youth +lasted "ith ecstasy@ (, "oe is e, $o ha#e seen "hat 7 ha#e seen, see "hat 7 seeE 2/e)enter %,6G 29A7&,7- and P3936,7-3 %,6G 29A7&,7=o#eE his affections do not that "ay tend6 /or "hat he s!ake, though it lack*d for a little, ,as not like adness. $here*s so ething in his soul, (*er "hich his elancholy sits on brood6 .nd 7 do doubt the hatch and the disclose ,ill be so e danger@ "hich for to !re#ent, 7 ha#e in 4uick deter ination $hus set it do"n@ he shall "ith s!eed to 9ngland, )or the de and of our neglected tribute Ha!ly the seas and countries different ,ith #ariable ob%ects shall e0!el $his so ething-settled atter in his heart, ,hereon his brains still beating !uts hi thus )ro fashion of hi self. ,hat think you on*tG 93/& P3936,77t shall do "ell@ but yet do 7 belie#e $he origin and co ence ent of his grief S!rung fro neglected lo#e. Ho" no", (!heliaE Uou need not tell us "hat =ord Ha let said6 ,e heard it all. ?y lord, do as you !lease6 +ut, if you hold it fit, after the !lay =et his 4ueen other all alone entreat hi A0D
$o sho" his grief@ let her be round "ith hi 6 .nd 7*ll be !laced, so !lease you, in the ear (f all their conference. 7f she find hi not, $o 9ngland send hi , or confine hi "here Uour "isdo best shall think. %,6G 29A7&,77t shall be so@ ?adness in great ones ust not un"atch*d go. 21$eunt3 S6ene & 2A hall in the castle#3 21nter HA591T and Players3 HA591T S!eak the s!eech, 7 !ray you, as 7 !ronounced it to you, tri!!ingly on the tongue@ but if you outh it, as any of your !layers do, 7 had as lief the to"n-crier s!oke y lines. /or do not sa" the air too uch "ith your hand, thus, but use all gently6 for in the #ery torrent, te !est, and, as 7 ay say, the "hirl"ind of !assion, you ust ac4uire and beget a te !erance that ay gi#e it s oothness. (, it offends e to the soul to hear a robustious !eri"ig-!ated fello" tear a !assion to tatters, to #ery rags, to s!lit the ears of the groundlings, "ho for the ost !art are ca!able of nothing but ine0!licable du bsho"s and noise@ 7 "ould ha#e such a fello" "hi!!ed for o*erdoing $er agant6 it out-herods Herod@ !ray you, a#oid it. +irst Player 7 "arrant your honour. HA591T +e not too ta e neither, but let your o"n discretion be your tutor@ suit the action to the "ord, the "ord to the action6 "ith this s!ecial o*erste! not the odesty of nature@ for any thing so o#erdone is fro the !ur!ose of !laying, "hose end, both at the first and no", "as and is, to hold, as *t"ere, the irror u! to nature6 to sho" #irtue her o"n feature, scorn her o"n i age, and the #ery age and body of the ti e his for and !ressure. /o" this o#erdone, A08
or co e tardy off, though it ake the unskilful laugh, cannot but ake the %udicious grie#e6 the censure of the "hich one ust in your allo"ance o*er"eigh a "hole theatre of others. (, there be !layers that 7 ha#e seen !lay, and heard others !raise, and that highly, not to s!eak it !rofanely, that, neither ha#ing the accent of 5hristians nor the gait of 5hristian, !agan, nor an, ha#e so strutted and bello"ed that 7 ha#e thought so e of nature*s %ourney en had ade en and not ade the "ell, they i itated hu anity so abo inably. +irst Player 7 ho!e "e ha#e refor ed that indifferently "ith us, sir. HA591T (, refor it altogether. .nd let those that !lay your clo"ns s!eak no ore than is set do"n for the 6 for there be of the that "ill the sel#es laugh, to set on so e 4uantity of barren s!ectators to laugh too6 though, in the ean ti e, so e necessary 4uestion of the !lay be then to be considered@ that*s #illanous, and sho"s a ost !itiful a bition in the fool that uses it. &o, ake you ready. 21$eunt Players3 21nter P3936,7-, /3-162/A6TA, and G7,9&16-T1/63 Ho" no", y lordE 7 "ill the king hear this !iece of "orkG 93/& P3936,7.nd the 4ueen too, and that !resently. HA591T +id the !layers ake haste. 21$it P3936,7-3 ,ill you t"o hel! to hasten the G /3-162/A6TA, G7,9&16-T1/6 ,e "ill, y lord. 21$eunt /3-162/A6TA and G7,9&16-T1/63 HA591T ,hat hoE HoratioE 21nter H3/AT,33 H3/AT,3 Here, s"eet lord, at your ser#ice. HA591T A0>
Horatio, thou art e*en as %ust a an .s e*er y con#ersation co!ed "ithal. H3/AT,3 (, y dear lord, -HA591T /ay, do not think 7 flatter6 )or "hat ad#ance ent ay 7 ho!e fro thee $hat no re#enue hast but thy good s!irits, $o feed and clothe theeG ,hy should the !oor be flatter*dG /o, let the candied tongue lick absurd !o !, .nd crook the !regnant hinges of the knee ,here thrift ay follo" fa"ning. Dost thou hearG Since y dear soul "as istress of her choice .nd could of en distinguish, her election Hath seal*d thee for herself6 for thou hast been .s one, in suffering all, that suffers nothing, . an that fortune*s buffets and re"ards Hast ta*en "ith e4ual thanks@ and blest are those ,hose blood and %udg ent are so "ell co ingled, $hat they are not a !i!e for fortune*s finger $o sound "hat sto! she !lease. &i#e e that an $hat is not !assion*s sla#e, and 7 "ill "ear hi 7n y heart*s core, ay, in y heart of heart, .s 7 do thee. -- So ething too uch of this. -$here is a !lay to-night before the king6 (ne scene of it co es near the circu stance ,hich 7 ha#e told thee of y father*s death@ 7 !rithee, "hen thou seest that act afoot, 9#en "ith the #ery co ent of thy soul (bser#e ine uncle@ if his occulted guilt Do not itself unkennel in one s!eech, 7t is a da ned ghost that "e ha#e seen, .nd y i aginations are as foul .s Vulcan*s stithy. &i#e hi heedful note6 )or 7 ine eyes "ill ri#et to his face, .nd after "e "ill both our %udg ents %oin 7n censure of his see ing. H3/AT,3 ,ell, y lord@ 7f he steal aught the "hilst this !lay is !laying, .nd *sca!e detecting, 7 "ill !ay the theft. A10
HA591T $hey are co ing to the !lay6 7 ust be idle@ &et you a !lace. 2&anish march# A flourish# 1nter %,6G 29A7&,7-, ?7116 G1/T/7&1, P3936,7-, 3PH19,A, /3-162/A6TA, G7,9&16-T1/6, and others3 %,6G 29A7&,7Ho" fares our cousin Ha letG HA591T 90cellent, i* faith6 of the cha eleon*s dish@ 7 eat the air, !ro ise-cra ed@ you cannot feed ca!ons so. %,6G 29A7&,77 ha#e nothing "ith this ans"er, Ha let6 these "ords are not ine. HA591T /o, nor ine no". 2To P3936,7-3 ?y lord, you !layed once i* the uni#ersity, you sayG 93/& P3936,7$hat did 7, y lord6 and "as accounted a good actor. HA591T ,hat did you enactG 93/& P3936,77 did enact 1ulius 5aesar@ 7 "as killed i* the 5a!itol6 +rutus killed e. HA591T 7t "as a brute !art of hi to kill so ca!ital a calf there. +e the !layers readyG /3-162/A6TA .y, y lord6 they stay u!on your !atience. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 5o e hither, y dear Ha let, sit by e. HA591T /o, good other, here*s etal ore attracti#e. 93/& P3936,72To %,6G 29A7&,7-3 (, hoE do you ark thatG HA591T =ady, shall 7 lie in your la!G 29ying down at 3PH19,A s feet3 3PH19,A A11
/o, y lord. HA591T 7 ean, y head u!on your la!G 3PH19,A .y, y lord. HA591T Do you think 7 eant country attersG 3PH19,A 7 think nothing, y lord. HA591T $hat*s a fair thought to lie bet"een aids* legs. 3PH19,A ,hat is, y lordG HA591T /othing. 3PH19,A Uou are erry, y lord. HA591T ,ho, 7G 3PH19,A .y, y lord. HA591T ( &od, your only %ig- aker. ,hat should a an do but be erryG for, look you, ho" cheerfully y other looks, and y father died "ithin these t"o hours. 3PH19,A /ay, *tis t"ice t"o onths, y lord. HA591T So longG /ay then, let the de#il "ear black, for 7*ll ha#e a suit of sables. ( hea#ensE die t"o onths ago, and not forgotten yetG $hen there*s ho!e a great an*s e ory ay outli#e his life half a year@ but, by*r lady, he ust build churches, then6 or else shall he suffer not thinking on, "ith the hobby-horse, "hose e!ita!h is *)or, (, for, (, the hobby-horse is forgot.* 2Haut!oys play# The dum!)show enters3 21nter a %ing and a ?ueen very lovinglyB the ?ueen em!racing him, and he her# -he kneels, and makes show of protestation unto him# He takes her up, and declines his head upon her neck< lays him down upon a !ank of flowers< she, seeing him asleep, leaves him# A1A
Anon comes in a fellow, takes off his crown, kisses it, and pours poison in the %ing s ears, and e$it# The ?ueen returnsB finds the %ing dead, and makes passionate action# The Poisoner, with some two or three 5utes, comes in again, seeming to lament with her# The dead !ody is carried away# The Poisoner wooes the ?ueen with gifts< she seems loath and unwilling awhile, !ut in the end accepts his love3 21$eunt3 3PH19,A ,hat eans this, y lordG HA591T ?arry, this is iching allecho6 it eans ischief. 3PH19,A +elike this sho" i !orts the argu ent of the !lay. 21nter Prologue3 HA591T ,e shall kno" by this fello"@ the !layers cannot kee! counsel6 they*ll tell all. 3PH19,A ,ill he tell us "hat this sho" eantG HA591T .y, or any sho" that you*ll sho" hi @ be not you asha ed to sho", he*ll not sha e to tell you "hat it eans. 3PH19,A Uou are naught, you are naught@ 7*ll ark the !lay. Prologue )or us, and for our tragedy, Here stoo!ing to your cle ency, ,e beg your hearing !atiently. 21$it3 HA591T 7s this a !rologue, or the !osy of a ringG 3PH19,A *$is brief, y lord. HA591T .s "o an*s lo#e. 21nter two Players, %ing and ?ueen3 Player %ing )ull thirty ti es hath <hoebus* cart gone round /e!tune*s salt "ash and $ellus* orbed ground, .nd thirty do'en oons "ith borro"*d sheen .bout the "orld ha#e ti es t"el#e thirties been, A1B
Since lo#e our hearts and Hy en did our hands ;nite co utual in ost sacred bands. Player ?ueen So any %ourneys ay the sun and oon ?ake us again count o*er ere lo#e be doneE +ut, "oe is e, you are so sick of late, So far fro cheer and fro your for er state, $hat 7 distrust you. Uet, though 7 distrust, Disco fort you, y lord, it nothing ust@ )or "o en*s fear and lo#e holds 4uantity6 7n neither aught, or in e0tre ity. /o", "hat y lo#e is, !roof hath ade you kno"6 .nd as y lo#e is si'ed, y fear is so@ ,here lo#e is great, the littlest doubts are fear6 ,here little fears gro" great, great lo#e gro"s there. Player %ing *)aith, 7 ust lea#e thee, lo#e, and shortly too6 ?y o!erant !o"ers their functions lea#e to do@ .nd thou shalt li#e in this fair "orld behind, Honour*d, belo#ed6 and ha!ly one as kind )or husband shalt thou -Player ?ueen (, confound the restE Such lo#e ust needs be treason in y breast@ 7n second husband let e be accurstE /one "ed the second but "ho kill*d the first. HA591T 2Aside3 ,or "ood, "or "ood. Player ?ueen $he instances that second arriage o#e .re base res!ects of thrift, but none of lo#e@ . second ti e 7 kill y husband dead, ,hen second husband kisses e in bed. Player %ing 7 do belie#e you think "hat no" you s!eak6 +ut "hat "e do deter ine oft "e break. <ur!ose is but the sla#e to e ory, (f #iolent birth, but !oor #alidity6 ,hich no", like fruit unri!e, sticks on the tree6 +ut fall, unshaken, "hen they ello" be. A1C
?ost necessary *tis that "e forget $o !ay oursel#es "hat to oursel#es is debt@ ,hat to oursel#es in !assion "e !ro!ose, $he !assion ending, doth the !ur!ose lose. $he #iolence of either grief or %oy $heir o"n enactures "ith the sel#es destroy@ ,here %oy ost re#els, grief doth ost la ent6 &rief %oys, %oy grie#es, on slender accident. $his "orld is not for aye, nor *tis not strange $hat e#en our lo#es should "ith our fortunes change6 )or *tis a 4uestion left us yet to !ro#e, ,hether lo#e lead fortune, or else fortune lo#e. $he great an do"n, you ark his fa#ourite flies6 $he !oor ad#anced akes friends of ene ies. .nd hitherto doth lo#e on fortune tend6 )or "ho not needs shall ne#er lack a friend, .nd "ho in "ant a hollo" friend doth try, Directly seasons hi his ene y. +ut, orderly to end "here 7 begun, (ur "ills and fates do so contrary run $hat our de#ices still are o#erthro"n6 (ur thoughts are ours, their ends none of our o"n@ So think thou "ilt no second husband "ed6 +ut die thy thoughts "hen thy first lord is dead. Player ?ueen /or earth to e gi#e food, nor hea#en lightE S!ort and re!ose lock fro e day and nightE $o des!eration turn y trust and ho!eE .n anchor*s cheer in !rison be y sco!eE 9ach o!!osite that blanks the face of %oy ?eet "hat 7 "ould ha#e "ell and it destroyE +oth here and hence !ursue e lasting strife, 7f, once a "ido", e#er 7 be "ifeE HA591T 7f she should break it no"E Player %ing *$is dee!ly s"orn. S"eet, lea#e e here a"hile6 ?y s!irits gro" dull, and fain 7 "ould beguile $he tedious day "ith slee!. 2-leeps3 Player ?ueen A15
Slee! rock thy brain, .nd ne#er co e ischance bet"een us t"ainE 21$it3 HA591T ?ada , ho" like you this !layG ?7116 G1/T/7&1 $he lady !rotests too uch, ethinks. HA591T (, but she*ll kee! her "ord. %,6G 29A7&,7Ha#e you heard the argu entG 7s there no offence in *tG HA591T /o, no, they do but %est, !oison in %est6 no offence i* the "orld. %,6G 29A7&,7,hat do you call the !layG HA591T $he ?ouse-tra!. ?arry, ho"G $ro!ically. $his !lay is the i age of a urder done in Vienna@ &on'ago is the duke*s na e6 his "ife, +a!tista@ you shall see anon6 *tis a kna#ish !iece of "ork@ but "hat o* thatG your a%esty and "e that ha#e free souls, it touches us not@ let the galled %ade "ince, our "ithers are un"rung. 21nter 972,A67-3 $his is one =ucianus, ne!he" to the king. 3PH19,A Uou are as good as a chorus, y lord. HA591T 7 could inter!ret bet"een you and your lo#e, if 7 could see the !u!!ets dallying. 3PH19,A Uou are keen, y lord, you are keen. HA591T 7t "ould cost you a groaning to take off y edge. 3PH19,A Still better, and "orse. HA591T So you ust take your husbands. +egin, urderer6 !o0, lea#e thy da nable faces, and begin. 5o e@ *the croaking ra#en doth bello" for re#enge.* A16
972,A67$houghts black, hands a!t, drugs fit, and ti e agreeing6 5onfederate season, else no creature seeing6 $hou i0ture rank, of idnight "eeds collected, ,ith Hecate*s ban thrice blasted, thrice infected, $hy natural agic and dire !ro!erty, (n "holeso e life usur! i ediately. 2Pours the poison into the sleeper s ears3 HA591T He !oisons hi i* the garden for*s estate. His na e*s &on'ago@ the story is e0tant, and "rit in choice 7talian@ you shall see anon ho" the urderer gets the lo#e of &on'ago*s "ife. 3PH19,A $he king rises. HA591T ,hat, frighted "ith false fireE ?7116 G1/T/7&1 Ho" fares y lordG 93/& P3936,7&i#e o*er the !lay. %,6G 29A7&,7&i#e e so e light@ a"ayE All =ights, lights, lightsE 21$eunt all !ut HA591T and H3/AT,33 HA591T ,hy, let the stricken deer go "ee!, $he hart ungalled !lay6 )or so e ust "atch, "hile so e ust slee!@ So runs the "orld a"ay. ,ould not this, sir, and a forest of feathers -- if the rest of y fortunes turn $urk "ith e -- "ith t"o <ro#incial roses on y ra'ed shoes, get e a fello"shi! in a cry of !layers, sirG H3/AT,3 Half a share. HA591T . "hole one, 7. )or thou dost kno", ( Da on dear, $his real dis antled "as A1D
(f 1o#e hi self6 and no" reigns here . #ery, #ery -- !a%ock. H3/AT,3 Uou ight ha#e rhy ed. HA591T ( good Horatio, 7*ll take the ghost*s "ord for a thousand !ound. Didst !ercei#eG H3/AT,3 Very "ell, y lord. HA591T ;!on the talk of the !oisoningG H3/AT,3 7 did #ery "ell note hi . HA591T .h, haE 5o e, so e usicE co e, the recordersE )or if the king like not the co edy, ,hy then, belike, he likes it not, !erdy. 5o e, so e usicE 2/e)enter /3-162/A6TA and G7,9&16-T1/63 G7,9&16-T1/6 &ood y lord, #ouchsafe e a "ord "ith you. HA591T Sir, a "hole history. G7,9&16-T1/6 $he king, sir, -HA591T .y, sir, "hat of hi G G7,9&16-T1/6 7s in his retire ent ar#ellous diste !ered. HA591T ,ith drink, sirG G7,9&16-T1/6 /o, y lord, rather "ith choler. HA591T Uour "isdo should sho" itself ore richer to signify this to his doctor6 for, for e to !ut hi to his !urgation "ould !erha!s !lunge hi into far ore choler. G7,9&16-T1/6 &ood y lord, !ut your discourse into so e fra e and start not so "ildly fro y affair. A18
HA591T 7 a ta e, sir@ !ronounce. G7,9&16-T1/6 $he 4ueen, your other, in ost great affliction of s!irit, hath sent e to you. HA591T Uou are "elco e. G7,9&16-T1/6 /ay, good y lord, this courtesy is not of the right breed. 7f it shall !lease you to ake e a "holeso e ans"er, 7 "ill do your other*s co and ent@ if not, your !ardon and y return shall be the end of y business. HA591T Sir, 7 cannot. G7,9&16-T1/6 ,hat, y lordG HA591T ?ake you a "holeso e ans"er6 y "it*s diseased@ but, sir, such ans"er as 7 can ake, you shall co and6 or, rather, as you say, y other@ therefore no ore, but to the atter@ y other, you say, -/3-162/A6TA $hen thus she says6 your beha#ior hath struck her into a a'e ent and ad iration. HA591T ( "onderful son, that can so astonish a otherE +ut is there no se4uel at the heels of this other*s ad irationG 7 !art. /3-162/A6TA She desires to s!eak "ith you in her closet, ere you go to bed. HA591T ,e shall obey, "ere she ten ti es our other. Ha#e you any further trade "ith usG /3-162/A6TA ?y lord, you once did lo#e e. HA591T So 7 do still, by these !ickers and stealers. /3-162/A6TA
A1>
&ood y lord, "hat is your cause of diste !erG you do, surely, bar the door u!on your o"n liberty, if you deny your griefs to your friend. HA591T Sir, 7 lack ad#ance ent. /3-162/A6TA Ho" can that be, "hen you ha#e the #oice of the king hi self for your succession in Den arkG HA591T .y, but sir, *,hile the grass gro"s,* -- the !ro#erb is so ething usty. 2/e)enter Players with recorders3 (, the recordersE let e see one. $o "ithdra" "ith you@ -- "hy do you go about to reco#er the "ind of e, as if you "ould dri#e e into a toilG G7,9&16-T1/6 (, y lord, if y duty be too bold, y lo#e is too un annerly. HA591T 7 do not "ell understand that. ,ill you !lay u!on this !i!eG G7,9&16-T1/6 ?y lord, 7 cannot. HA591T 7 !ray you. G7,9&16-T1/6 +elie#e e, 7 cannot. HA591T 7 do beseech you. G7,9&16-T1/6 7 kno" no touch of it, y lord. HA591T *$is as easy as lying@ go#ern these #entages "ith your lingers and thu b, gi#e it breath "ith your outh, and it "ill discourse ost elo4uent usic. =ook you, these are the sto!s. G7,9&16-T1/6 +ut these cannot 7 co and to any utterance of har ony6 7 ha#e not the skill. HA591T
AA0
,hy, look you no", ho" un"orthy a thing you ake of eE Uou "ould !lay u!on e6 you "ould see to kno" y sto!s6 you "ould !luck out the heart of y ystery6 you "ould sound e fro y lo"est note to the to! of y co !ass@ and there is uch usic, e0cellent #oice, in this little organ6 yet cannot you ake it s!eak. *Sblood, do you think 7 a easier to be !layed on than a !i!eG 5all e "hat instru ent you "ill, though you can fret e, yet you cannot !lay u!on e. 21nter P3936,7-3 &od bless you, sirE 93/& P3936,7?y lord, the 4ueen "ould s!eak "ith you, and !resently. HA591T Do you see yonder cloud that*s al ost in sha!e of a ca elG 93/& P3936,7+y the ass, and *tis like a ca el, indeed. HA591T ?ethinks it is like a "easel. 93/& P3936,77t is backed like a "easel. HA591T (r like a "haleG 93/& P3936,7Very like a "hale. HA591T $hen 7 "ill co e to y other by and by. $hey fool e to the to! of y bent. 7 "ill co e by and by. 93/& P3936,77 "ill say so. HA591T +y and by is easily said. 21$it P3936,7-3 =ea#e e, friends. 21$eunt all !ut HA591T3 $is no" the #ery "itching ti e of night, ,hen churchyards ya"n and hell itself breathes out 5ontagion to this "orld@ no" could 7 drink hot blood, .nd do such bitter business as the day AA1
,ould 4uake to look on. SoftE no" to y other. ( heart, lose not thy nature6 let not e#er $he soul of /ero enter this fir boso @ =et e be cruel, not unnatural@ 7 "ill s!eak daggers to her, but use none6 ?y tongue and soul in this be hy!ocrites6 Ho" in y "ords soe#er she be shent, $o gi#e the seals ne#er, y soul, consentE 21$it3 S6ene , 2A room in the castle#3 21nter %,6G 29A7&,7-, /3-162/A6TA, and G7,9&16-T1/63 %,6G 29A7&,77 like hi not, nor stands it safe "ith us $o let his adness range. $herefore !re!are you6 7 your co ission "ill forth"ith dis!atch, .nd he to 9ngland shall along "ith you@ $he ter s of our estate ay not endure Ha'ard so dangerous as doth hourly gro" (ut of his lunacies. G7,9&16-T1/6 ,e "ill oursel#es !ro#ide@ ?ost holy and religious fear it is $o kee! those any any bodies safe $hat li#e and feed u!on your a%esty. /3-162/A6TA $he single and !eculiar life is bound, ,ith all the strength and ar our of the ind, $o kee! itself fro noyance6 but uch ore $hat s!irit u!on "hose "eal de!end and rest $he li#es of any. $he cease of a%esty Dies not alone6 but, like a gulf, doth dra" ,hat*s near it "ith it@ it is a assy "heel, )i0*d on the su it of the highest ount, $o "hose huge s!okes ten thousand lesser things .re ortised and ad%oin*d6 "hich, "hen it falls, 9ach s all anne0 ent, !etty conse4uence, .ttends the boisterous ruin. /e#er alone Did the king sigh, but "ith a general groan. AAA
%,6G 29A7&,7.r you, 7 !ray you, to this s!eedy #oyage6 )or "e "ill fetters !ut u!on this fear, ,hich no" goes too free-footed. /3-162/A6TA ,e "ill haste us. 21$eunt /3-162/A6TA and G7,9&16-T1/63 21nter P3936,7-3 93/& P3936,7?y lord, he*s going to his other*s closet@ +ehind the arras 7*ll con#ey yself, $o hear the !rocess6 and "arrant she*ll ta0 hi ho e@ .nd, as you said, and "isely "as it said, *$is eet that so e ore audience than a other, Since nature akes the !artial, should o*erhear $he s!eech, of #antage. )are you "ell, y liege@ 7*ll call u!on you ere you go to bed, .nd tell you "hat 7 kno". %,6G 29A7&,7$hanks, dear y lord. 21$it P3936,7-3 (, y offence is rank it s ells to hea#en6 7t hath the !ri al eldest curse u!on*t, . brother*s urder. <ray can 7 not, $hough inclination be as shar! as "ill@ ?y stronger guilt defeats y strong intent6 .nd, like a an to double business bound, 7 stand in !ause "here 7 shall first begin, .nd both neglect. ,hat if this cursed hand ,ere thicker than itself "ith brother*s blood, 7s there not rain enough in the s"eet hea#ens $o "ash it "hite as sno"G ,hereto ser#es ercy +ut to confront the #isage of offenceG .nd "hat*s in !rayer but this t"o-fold force, $o be forestalled ere "e co e to fall, (r !ardon*d being do"nG $hen 7*ll look u!6 ?y fault is !ast. +ut, (, "hat for of !rayer 5an ser#e y turnG *)orgi#e e y foul urder*G $hat cannot be6 since 7 a still !ossess*d (f those effects for "hich 7 did the urder, ?y cro"n, ine o"n a bition and y 4ueen. AAB
?ay one be !ardon*d and retain the offenceG 7n the corru!ted currents of this "orld (ffence*s gilded hand ay sho#e by %ustice, .nd oft *tis seen the "icked !ri'e itself +uys out the la"@ but *tis not so abo#e6 $here is no shuffling, there the action lies 7n his true nature6 and "e oursel#es co !ell*d, 9#en to the teeth and forehead of our faults, $o gi#e in e#idence. ,hat thenG "hat restsG $ry "hat re!entance can@ "hat can it notG Uet "hat can it "hen one can not re!entG ( "retched stateE ( boso black as deathE ( li ed soul, that, struggling to be free, .rt ore engagedE Hel!, angelsE ?ake assayE +o", stubborn knees6 and, heart "ith strings of steel, +e soft as sine"s of the ne"born babeE .ll ay be "ell. 2/etires and kneels3 21nter HA591T3 HA591T /o" ight 7 do it !at, no" he is !raying6 .nd no" 7*ll do*t. .nd so he goes to hea#en6 .nd so a 7 re#enged. $hat "ould be scann*d@ . #illain kills y father6 and for that, 7, his sole son, do this sa e #illain send $o hea#en. (, this is hire and salary, not re#enge. He took y father grossly, full of bread6 ,ith all his cri es broad blo"n, as flush as ?ay6 .nd ho" his audit stands "ho kno"s sa#e hea#enG +ut in our circu stance and course of thought, *$is hea#y "ith hi @ and a 7 then re#enged, $o take hi in the !urging of his soul, ,hen he is fit and season*d for his !assageG /oE ;!, s"ord6 and kno" thou a ore horrid hent@ ,hen he is drunk aslee!, or in his rage, (r in the incestuous !leasure of his bed6 .t ga ing, s"earing, or about so e act $hat has no relish of sal#ation in*t6 $hen tri! hi , that his heels ay kick at hea#en, AAC
.nd that his soul ay be as da n*d and black .s hell, "hereto it goes. ?y other stays@ $his !hysic but !rolongs thy sickly days. 21$it3 %,6G 29A7&,72/ising3 ?y "ords fly u!, y thoughts re ain belo"@ ,ords "ithout thoughts ne#er to hea#en go. 21$it3 S6ene ? 2The ?ueen s closet#3 21nter ?7116 5A/GA/1T and P3936,7-3 93/& P3936,7He "ill co e straight. =ook you lay ho e to hi @ $ell hi his !ranks ha#e been too broad to bear "ith, .nd that your grace hath screen*d and stood bet"een ?uch heat and hi . 7*ll sconce e e#en here. <ray you, be round "ith hi . HA591T 2(ithin3 ?other, other, otherE ?7116 G1/T/7&1 7*ll "arrant you, )ear e not@ "ithdra", 7 hear hi co ing. 2P3936,7- hides !ehind the arras3 21nter HA591T3 HA591T /o", other, "hat*s the atterG ?7116 G1/T/7&1 Ha let, thou hast thy father uch offended. HA591T ?other, you ha#e y father uch offended. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 5o e, co e, you ans"er "ith an idle tongue. HA591T &o, go, you 4uestion "ith a "icked tongue. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 ,hy, ho" no", Ha letE HA591T ,hat*s the atter no"G AA5
?7116 G1/T/7&1 Ha#e you forgot eG HA591T /o, by the rood, not so@ Uou are the 4ueen, your husband*s brother*s "ife6 .nd -- "ould it "ere not soE -- you are y other. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 /ay, then, 7*ll set those to you that can s!eak. HA591T 5o e, co e, and sit you do"n6 you shall not budge6 Uou go not till 7 set you u! a glass here you ay see the in ost !art of you. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 ,hat "ilt thou doG thou "ilt not urder eG Hel!, hel!, hoE 93/& P3936,72'ehind3 ,hat, hoE hel!, hel!, hel!E HA591T 2&rawing3 Ho" no"E a ratG Dead, for a ducat, deadE 25akes a pass through the arras3 93/& P3936,72'ehind3 (, 7 a slainE 2+alls and dies3 ?7116 G1/T/7&1 ( e, "hat hast thou doneG HA591T /ay, 7 kno" not@ 7s it the kingG ?7116 G1/T/7&1 (, "hat a rash and bloody deed is thisE HA591T . bloody deedE al ost as bad, good other, .s kill a king, and arry "ith his brother. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 .s kill a kingE HA591T AA6
.y, lady, *t"as y "ord. 29ifts up the array and discovers P3936,7-3 $hou "retched, rash, intruding fool, fare"ellE 7 took thee for thy better@ take thy fortune6 $hou find*st to be too busy is so e danger. =ea#e "ringing of your hands@ !eaceE sit you do"n, .nd let e "ring your heart6 for so 7 shall, 7f it be ade of !enetrable stuff, 7f da ned custo ha#e not brass*d it so $hat it is !roof and bul"ark against sense. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 ,hat ha#e 7 done, that thou darest "ag thy tongue 7n noise so rude against eG HA591T Such an act $hat blurs the grace and blush of odesty, 5alls #irtue hy!ocrite, takes off the rose )ro the fair forehead of an innocent lo#e .nd sets a blister there, akes arriage-#o"s .s false as dicers* oaths@ (, such a deed .s fro the body of contraction !lucks $he #ery soul, and s"eet religion akes . rha!sody of "ords@ hea#en*s face doth glo"@ Uea, this solidity and co !ound ass, ,ith tristful #isage, as against the doo , 7s thought-sick at the act. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 .y e, "hat act, $hat roars so loud, and thunders in the inde0G HA591T =ook here, u!on this !icture, and on this, $he counterfeit !resent ent of t"o brothers. See, "hat a grace "as seated on this bro"6 Hy!erion*s curls6 the front of 1o#e hi self6 .n eye like ?ars, to threaten and co and6 . station like the herald ?ercury /e"-lighted on a hea#en-kissing hill6 . co bination and a for indeed, ,here e#ery god did see to set his seal, $o gi#e the "orld assurance of a an@ $his "as your husband. =ook you no", "hat follo"s@ AAD
Here is your husband6 like a ilde"*d ear, +lasting his "holeso e brother. Ha#e you eyesG 5ould you on this fair ountain lea#e to feed, .nd batten on this oorG HaE ha#e you eyesG Uou cannot call it lo#e6 for at your age $he hey-day in the blood is ta e, it*s hu ble, .nd "aits u!on the %udg ent@ and "hat %udg ent ,ould ste! fro this to thisG Sense, sure, you ha#e, 9lse could you not ha#e otion6 but sure, that sense 7s a!o!le0*d6 for adness "ould not err, /or sense to ecstasy "as ne*er so thrall*d +ut it reser#ed so e 4uantity of choice, $o ser#e in such a difference. ,hat de#il "as*t $hat thus hath co'en*d you at hood an-blindG 9yes "ithout feeling, feeling "ithout sight, 9ars "ithout hands or eyes, s elling sans all, (r but a sickly !art of one true sense 5ould not so o!e. ( sha eE "here is thy blushG -ebellious hell, 7f thou canst utine in a atron*s bones, $o fla ing youth let #irtue be as "a0, .nd elt in her o"n fire@ !roclai no sha e ,hen the co !ulsi#e ardour gi#es the charge, Since frost itself as acti#ely doth burn .nd reason !anders "ill. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 ( Ha let, s!eak no ore@ $hou turn*st ine eyes into y #ery soul6 .nd there 7 see such black and grained s!ots .s "ill not lea#e their tinct. HA591T /ay, but to li#e 7n the rank s"eat of an ensea ed bed, Ste"*d in corru!tion, honeying and aking lo#e (#er the nasty sty, -?7116 G1/T/7&1 (, s!eak to e no ore6 $hese "ords, like daggers, enter in ine ears6 /o ore, s"eet Ha letE HA591T
AA8
. urderer and a #illain6 . sla#e that is not t"entieth !art the tithe (f your !recedent lord6 a #ice of kings6 . cut!urse of the e !ire and the rule, $hat fro a shelf the !recious diade stole, .nd !ut it in his !ocketE ?7116 G1/T/7&1 /o oreE HA591T . king of shreds and !atches, -21nter Ghost3 Sa#e e, and ho#er o*er e "ith your "ings, Uou hea#enly guardsE ,hat "ould your gracious figureG ?7116 G1/T/7&1 .las, he*s adE HA591T Do you not co e your tardy son to chide, $hat, la!sed in ti e and !assion, lets go by $he i !ortant acting of your dread co andG (, sayE Ghost Do not forget@ this #isitation 7s but to "het thy al ost blunted !ur!ose. +ut, look, a a'e ent on thy other sits@ (, ste! bet"een her and her fighting soul@ 5onceit in "eakest bodies strongest "orks@ S!eak to her, Ha let. HA591T Ho" is it "ith you, ladyG ?7116 G1/T/7&1 .las, ho" is*t "ith you, $hat you do bend your eye on #acancy .nd "ith the incor!oral air do hold discourseG )orth at your eyes your s!irits "ildly !ee!6 .nd, as the slee!ing soldiers in the alar , Uour bedded hair, like life in e0cre ents, Starts u!, and stands on end. ( gentle son, ;!on the heat and fla e of thy diste !er S!rinkle cool !atience. ,hereon do you lookG HA591T (n hi , on hi E =ook you, ho" !ale he glaresE His for and cause con%oin*d, !reaching to stones, AA>
,ould ake the ca!able. Do not look u!on e6 =est "ith this !iteous action you con#ert ?y stern effects@ then "hat 7 ha#e to do ,ill "ant true colour6 tears !erchance for blood. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 $o "ho do you s!eak thisG HA591T Do you see nothing thereG ?7116 G1/T/7&1 /othing at all6 yet all that is 7 see. HA591T /or did you nothing hearG ?7116 G1/T/7&1 /o, nothing but oursel#es. HA591T ,hy, look you thereE look, ho" it steals a"ayE ?y father, in his habit as he li#edE =ook, "here he goes, e#en no", out at the !ortalE 21$it Ghost3 ?7116 G1/T/7&1 $his the #ery coinage of your brain@ $his bodiless creation ecstasy 7s #ery cunning in. HA591T 9cstasyE ?y !ulse, as yours, doth te !erately kee! ti e, .nd akes as healthful usic@ it is not adness $hat 7 ha#e utter*d@ bring e to the test, .nd 7 the atter "ill re-"ord6 "hich adness ,ould ga bol fro . ?other, for lo#e of grace, =ay not that attering unction to your soul, $hat not your tres!ass, but y adness s!eaks@ 7t "ill but skin and fil the ulcerous !lace, ,hilst rank corru!tion, ining all "ithin, 7nfects unseen. 5onfess yourself to hea#en6 -e!ent "hat*s !ast6 a#oid "hat is to co e6 .nd do not s!read the co !ost on the "eeds, $o ake the ranker. )orgi#e e this y #irtue6 )or in the fatness of these !ursy ti es Virtue itself of #ice ust !ardon beg, Uea, curb and "oo for lea#e to do hi good. AB0
?7116 G1/T/7&1 ( Ha let, thou hast cleft y heart in t"ain. HA591T (, thro" a"ay the "orser !art of it, .nd li#e the !urer "ith the other half. &ood night@ but go not to ine uncle*s bed6 .ssu e a #irtue, if you ha#e it not. $hat onster, custo , "ho all sense doth eat, (f habits de#il, is angel yet in this, $hat to the use of actions fair and good He like"ise gi#es a frock or li#ery, $hat a!tly is !ut on. -efrain to-night, .nd that shall lend a kind of easiness $o the ne0t abstinence@ the ne0t ore easy6 )or use al ost can change the sta ! of nature, .nd either . . . . the de#il, or thro" hi out ,ith "ondrous !otency. (nce ore, good night@ .nd "hen you are desirous to be bless*d, 7*ll blessing beg of you. )or this sa e lord, 2Pointing to P3936,7-3 7 do re!ent@ but hea#en hath !leased it so, $o !unish e "ith this and this "ith e, $hat 7 ust be their scourge and inister. 7 "ill besto" hi , and "ill ans"er "ell $he death 7 ga#e hi . So, again, good night. 7 ust be cruel, only to be kind@ $hus bad begins and "orse re ains behind. (ne "ord ore, good lady. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 ,hat shall 7 doG HA591T /ot this, by no eans, that 7 bid you do@ =et the bloat king te !t you again to bed6 <inch "anton on your cheek6 call you his ouse6 .nd let hi , for a !air of reechy kisses, (r !addling in your neck "ith his da n*d fingers, ?ake you to ra#el all this atter out, $hat 7 essentially a not in adness, +ut ad in craft. *$"ere good you let hi kno"6 )or "ho, that*s but a 4ueen, fair, sober, "ise, ,ould fro a !addock, fro a bat, a gib, AB1
Such dear concernings hideG "ho "ould do soG /o, in des!ite of sense and secrecy, ;n!eg the basket on the house*s to!. =et the birds fly, and, like the fa ous a!e, $o try conclusions, in the basket cree!, .nd break your o"n neck do"n. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 +e thou assured, if "ords be ade of breath, .nd breath of life, 7 ha#e no life to breathe ,hat thou hast said to e. HA591T 7 ust to 9ngland6 you kno" thatG ?7116 G1/T/7&1 .lack, 7 had forgot@ *tis so concluded on. HA591T $here*s letters seal*d@ and y t"o schoolfello"s, ,ho 7 "ill trust as 7 "ill adders fang*d, $hey bear the andate6 they ust s"ee! y "ay, .nd arshal e to kna#ery. =et it "ork6 )or *tis the s!ort to ha#e the engineer Hoist "ith his o"n !etard@ and *t shall go hard +ut 7 "ill del#e one yard belo" their ines, .nd blo" the at the oon@ (, *tis ost s"eet, ,hen in one line t"o crafts directly eet. $his an shall set e !acking@ 7*ll lug the guts into the neighbour roo . ?other, good night. 7ndeed this counsellor 7s no" ost still, ost secret and ost gra#e, ,ho "as in life a foolish !rating kna#e. 5o e, sir, to dra" to"ard an end "ith you. &ood night, other. 21$eunt severallyB HA591T dragging in P3936,7-3 A6t ? S6ene # 2A room in the castle#3 21nter %,6G 29A7&,7-, ?7116 G1/T/7&1, /3-162/A6TA, and G7,9&16-T1/63 %,6G 29A7&,7-
ABA
$here*s atter in these sighs, these !rofound hea#es@ Uou ust translate@ *tis fit "e understand the . ,here is your sonG ?7116 G1/T/7&1 +esto" this !lace on us a little "hile. 21$eunt /3-162/A6TA and G7,9&16-T1/63 .h, y good lord, "hat ha#e 7 seen to-nightE %,6G 29A7&,7,hat, &ertrudeG Ho" does Ha letG ?7116 G1/T/7&1 ?ad as the sea and "ind, "hen both contend ,hich is the ightier@ in his la"less fit, +ehind the arras hearing so ething stir, ,hi!s out his ra!ier, cries, *. rat, a ratE* .nd, in this brainish a!!rehension, kills $he unseen good old an. %,6G 29A7&,7( hea#y deedE 7t had been so "ith us, had "e been there@ His liberty is full of threats to all6 $o you yourself, to us, to e#ery one. .las, ho" shall this bloody deed be ans"er*dG 7t "ill be laid to us, "hose !ro#idence Should ha#e ke!t short, restrain*d and out of haunt, $his ad young an@ but so uch "as our lo#e, ,e "ould not understand "hat "as ost fit6 +ut, like the o"ner of a foul disease, $o kee! it fro di#ulging, let it feed 9#en on the !ith of =ife. ,here is he goneG ?7116 G1/T/7&1 $o dra" a!art the body he hath kill*d@ (*er "ho his #ery adness, like so e ore . ong a ineral of etals base, Sho"s itself !ure6 he "ee!s for "hat is done. %,6G 29A7&,7( &ertrude, co e a"ayE $he sun no sooner shall the ountains touch, +ut "e "ill shi! hi hence@ and this #ile deed ,e ust, "ith all our a%esty and skill, +oth countenance and e0cuse. Ho, &uildensternE 2/e)enter /3-162/A6TA and G7,9&16-T1/63 ABB
)riends both, go %oin you "ith so e further aid@ Ha let in adness hath <olonius slain, .nd fro his other*s closet hath he dragg*d hi @ &o seek hi out6 s!eak fair, and bring the body 7nto the cha!el. 7 !ray you, haste in this. 21$eunt /3-162/A6TA and G7,9&16-T1/63 5o e, &ertrude, "e*ll call u! our "isest friends6 .nd let the kno", both "hat "e ean to do, .nd "hat*s unti ely done . . . . . . ,hose "his!er o*er the "orld*s dia eter, .s le#el as the cannon to his blank, $rans!orts his !oison*d shot, ay iss our na e, .nd hit the "oundless air. (, co e a"ayE ?y soul is full of discord and dis ay. 21$eunt3 S6ene & 2Another room in the castle#3 21nter HA591T3 HA591T Safely sto"ed. /3-162/A6TA, G7,9&16-T1/6 2(ithin3 Ha letE =ord Ha letE HA591T ,hat noiseG "ho calls on Ha letG (, here they co e. 21nter /3-162/A6TA and G7,9&16-T1/63 /3-162/A6TA ,hat ha#e you done, y lord, "ith the dead bodyG HA591T 5o !ounded it "ith dust, "hereto *tis kin. /3-162/A6TA $ell us "here *tis, that "e ay take it thence .nd bear it to the cha!el. HA591T Do not belie#e it. /3-162/A6TA +elie#e "hatG HA591T
ABC
$hat 7 can kee! your counsel and not ine o"n. +esides, to be de anded of a s!ongeE "hat re!lication should be ade by the son of a kingG /3-162/A6TA $ake you e for a s!onge, y lordG HA591T .y, sir, that soaks u! the king*s countenance, his re"ards, his authorities. +ut such officers do the king best ser#ice in the end@ he kee!s the , like an a!e, in the corner of his %a"6 first outhed, to be last s"allo"ed@ "hen he needs "hat you ha#e gleaned, it is but s4uee'ing you, and, s!onge, you shall be dry again. /3-162/A6TA 7 understand you not, y lord. HA591T 7 a glad of it@ a kna#ish s!eech slee!s in a foolish ear. /3-162/A6TA ?y lord, you ust tell us "here the body is, and go "ith us to the king. HA591T $he body is "ith the king, but the king is not "ith the body. $he king is a thing -G7,9&16-T1/6 . thing, y lordE HA591T (f nothing@ bring e to hi . Hide fo0, and all after. 21$eunt3 S6ene , 2Another room in the castle#3 21nter %,6G 29A7&,7-, attended3 %,6G 29A7&,77 ha#e sent to seek hi , and to find the body. Ho" dangerous is it that this an goes looseE Uet ust not "e !ut the strong la" on hi @ He*s lo#ed of the distracted ultitude, ,ho like not in their %udg ent, but their eyes6 .nd "here tis so, the offender*s scourge is "eigh*d, +ut ne#er the offence. $o bear all s ooth and e#en, AB5
$his sudden sending hi a"ay ust see Deliberate !ause@ diseases des!erate gro"n +y des!erate a!!liance are relie#ed, (r not at all. 21nter /3-162/A6TA3 Ho" no"E "hat hath befall*nG /3-162/A6TA ,here the dead body is besto"*d, y lord, ,e cannot get fro hi . %,6G 29A7&,7+ut "here is heG /3-162/A6TA ,ithout, y lord6 guarded, to kno" your !leasure. %,6G 29A7&,7+ring hi before us. /3-162/A6TA Ho, &uildensternE bring in y lord. 21nter HA591T and G7,9&16-T1/63 %,6G 29A7&,7/o", Ha let, "here*s <oloniusG HA591T .t su!!er. %,6G 29A7&,7.t su!!erE "hereG HA591T /ot "here he eats, but "here he is eaten@ a certain con#ocation of !olitic "or s are e*en at hi . Uour "or is your only e !eror for diet@ "e fat all creatures else to fat us, and "e fat oursel#es for aggots@ your fat king and your lean beggar is but #ariable ser#ice, t"o dishes, but to one table@ that*s the end. %,6G 29A7&,7.las, alasE HA591T . an ay fish "ith the "or that hath eat of a king, and cat of the fish that hath fed of that "or . %,6G 29A7&,7,hat dost you ean by thisG HA591T
AB6
/othing but to sho" you ho" a king ay go a !rogress through the guts of a beggar. %,6G 29A7&,7,here is <oloniusG HA591T 7n hea#en6 send hither to see@ if your essenger find hi not there, seek hi i* the other !lace yourself. +ut indeed, if you find hi not "ithin this onth, you shall nose hi as you go u! the stairs into the lobby. %,6G 29A7&,7&o seek hi there. 2To some Attendants3 HA591T He "ill stay till ye co e. 21$eunt Attendants3 %,6G 29A7&,7Ha let, this deed, for thine es!ecial safety, -,hich "e do tender, as "e dearly grie#e )or that "hich thou hast done, -- ust send thee hence ,ith fiery 4uickness@ therefore !re!are thyself6 $he bark is ready, and the "ind at hel!, $he associates tend, and e#ery thing is bent )or 9ngland. HA591T )or 9nglandE %,6G 29A7&,7.y, Ha let. HA591T &ood. %,6G 29A7&,7So is it, if thou kne"*st our !ur!oses. HA591T 7 see a cherub that sees the . +ut, co e6 for 9nglandE )are"ell, dear other. %,6G 29A7&,7$hy lo#ing father, Ha let. HA591T ?y other@ father and other is an and "ife6 an and "ife is one flesh6 and so, y other. 5o e, for 9nglandE 21$it3 ABD
%,6G 29A7&,7)ollo" hi at foot6 te !t hi "ith s!eed aboard6 Delay it not6 7*ll ha#e hi hence to-night@ ."ayE for e#ery thing is seal*d and done $hat else leans on the affair@ !ray you, ake haste. 21$eunt /3-162/A6TA and G7,9&16-T1/63 .nd, 9ngland, if y lo#e thou hold*st at aught -.s y great !o"er thereof ay gi#e thee sense, Since yet thy cicatrice looks ra" and red .fter the Danish s"ord, and thy free a"e <ays ho age to us -- thou ayst not coldly set (ur so#ereign !rocess6 "hich i !orts at full, +y letters congruing to that effect, $he !resent death of Ha let. Do it, 9ngland6 )or like the hectic in y blood he rages, .nd thou ust cure e@ till 7 kno" *tis done, Ho"e*er y ha!s, y %oys "ere ne*er begun. 21$it3 S6ene ? 2A plain in &enmark#3 21nter +3/T,6'/A-, a 2aptain, and -oldiers, marching3 P/,621 +3/T,6'/A&o, ca!tain, fro e greet the Danish king6 $ell hi that, by his licence, )ortinbras 5ra#es the con#eyance of a !ro ised arch (#er his kingdo . Uou kno" the rende'#ous. 7f that his a%esty "ould aught "ith us, ,e shall e0!ress our duty in his eye6 .nd let hi kno" so. 2aptain 7 "ill do*t, y lord. P/,621 +3/T,6'/A&o softly on. 21$eunt +3/T,6'/A- and -oldiers3 21nter HA591T, /3-162/A6TA, G7,9&16-T1/6, and others3 HA591T &ood sir, "hose !o"ers are theseG 2aptain $hey are of /or"ay, sir. HA591T Ho" !ur!osed, sir, 7 !ray youG AB8
2aptain .gainst so e !art of <oland. HA591T ,ho co ands the , sirG 2aptain $he ne!he"s to old /or"ay, )ortinbras. HA591T &oes it against the ain of <oland, sir, (r for so e frontierG 2aptain $ruly to s!eak, and "ith no addition, ,e go to gain a little !atch of ground $hat hath in it no !rofit but the na e. $o !ay fi#e ducats, fi#e, 7 "ould not far it6 /or "ill it yield to /or"ay or the <ole . ranker rate, should it be sold in fee. HA591T ,hy, then the <olack ne#er "ill defend it. 2aptain Ues, it is already garrison*d. HA591T $"o thousand souls and t"enty thousand ducats ,ill not debate the 4uestion of this stra"@ $his is the i !osthu e of uch "ealth and !eace, $hat in"ard breaks, and sho"s no cause "ithout ,hy the an dies. 7 hu bly thank you, sir. 2aptain &od be "i* you, sir. 21$it3 /3-162/A6TA ,ilt !lease you go, y lordG HA591T 7*ll be "ith you straight go a little before. 21$eunt all e$cept HA591T3 Ho" all occasions do infor against e, .nd s!ur y dull re#engeE ,hat is a an, 7f his chief good and arket of his ti e +e but to slee! and feedG a beast, no ore. Sure, he that ade us "ith such large discourse, =ooking before and after, ga#e us not $hat ca!ability and god-like reason AB>
$o fust in us unused. /o", "hether it be +estial obli#ion, or so e cra#en scru!le (f thinking too !recisely on the e#ent, . thought "hich, 4uarter*d, hath but one !art "isdo .nd e#er three !arts co"ard, 7 do not kno" ,hy yet 7 li#e to say *$his thing*s to do6* Sith 7 ha#e cause and "ill and strength and eans $o do*t. 90a !les gross as earth e0hort e@ ,itness this ar y of such ass and charge =ed by a delicate and tender !rince, ,hose s!irit "ith di#ine a bition !uff*d ?akes ouths at the in#isible e#ent, 90!osing "hat is ortal and unsure $o all that fortune, death and danger dare, 9#en for an egg-shell. -ightly to be great 7s not to stir "ithout great argu ent, +ut greatly to find 4uarrel in a stra" ,hen honour*s at the stake. Ho" stand 7 then, $hat ha#e a father kill*d, a other stain*d, 90cite ents of y reason and y blood, .nd let all slee!G "hile, to y sha e, 7 see $he i inent death of t"enty thousand en, $hat, for a fantasy and trick of fa e, &o to their gra#es like beds, fight for a !lot ,hereon the nu bers cannot try the cause, ,hich is not to b enough and continent $o hide the slainG (, fro this ti e forth, ?y thoughts be bloody, or be nothing "orthE 21$it3 S6ene @ 21lsinore# A room in the castle#3 21nter ?7116 G1/T/7&1, H3/AT,3, and a Gentleman3 ?7116 G1/T/7&1 7 "ill not s!eak "ith her. Gentleman She is i !ortunate, indeed distract@ Her ood "ill needs be !itied. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 ,hat "ould she ha#eG AC0
Gentleman She s!eaks uch of her father6 says she hears $here*s tricks i* the "orld6 and he s, and beats her heart6 S!urns en#iously at stra"s6 s!eaks things in doubt, $hat carry but half sense@ her s!eech is nothing, Uet the unsha!ed use of it doth o#e $he hearers to collection6 they ai at it, .nd botch the "ords u! fit to their o"n thoughts6 ,hich, as her "inks, and nods, and gestures yield the , 7ndeed "ould ake one think there ight be thought, $hough nothing sure, yet uch unha!!ily. H3/AT,3 *$"ere good she "ere s!oken "ith6 for she ay stre" Dangerous con%ectures in ill-breeding inds. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 =et her co e in. 21$it H3/AT,33 $o y sick soul, as sin*s true nature is, 9ach toy see s !rologue to so e great a iss@ So full of artless %ealousy is guilt, 7t s!ills itself in fearing to be s!ilt. 2/e)enter H3/AT,3, with 3PH19,A3 3PH19,A ,here is the beauteous a%esty of Den arkG ?7116 G1/T/7&1 Ho" no", (!heliaE 3PH19,A 2-ings3 Ho" should 7 your true lo#e kno" )ro another oneG +y his cockle hat and staff, .nd his sandal shoon. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 .las, s"eet lady, "hat i !orts this songG 3PH19,A Say youG nay, !ray you, ark. 2-ings3 He is dead and gone, lady, He is dead and gone6 AC1
.t his head a grass-green turf, .t his heels a stone. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 /ay, but, (!helia, -3PH19,A <ray you, ark. 2-ings3 ,hite his shroud as the ountain sno", -21nter %,6G 29A7&,7-3 ?7116 G1/T/7&1 .las, look here, y lord. 3PH19,A 2-ings3 =arded "ith s"eet flo"ers ,hich be"e!t to the gra#e did go ,ith true-lo#e sho"ers. %,6G 29A7&,7Ho" do you, !retty ladyG 3PH19,A ,ell, &od *ild youE $hey say the o"l "as a baker*s daughter. =ord, "e kno" "hat "e are, but kno" not "hat "e ay be. &od be at your tableE %,6G 29A7&,75onceit u!on her father. 3PH19,A <ray you, let*s ha#e no "ords of this6 but "hen they ask you "hat it eans, say you this@ 2-ings3 $o- orro" is Saint Valentine*s day, .ll in the orning beti e, .nd 7 a aid at your "indo", $o be your Valentine. $hen u! he rose, and donn*d his clothes, .nd du!!*d the cha ber-door6 =et in the aid, that out a aid /e#er de!arted ore. %,6G 29A7&,7<retty (!heliaE 3PH19,A 7ndeed, la, "ithout an oath, 7*ll ake an end on*t@ 2-ings3 ACA
+y &is and by Saint 5harity, .lack, and fie for sha eE Uoung en "ill do*t, if they co e to*t6 +y cock, they are to bla e. :uoth she, before you tu bled e, Uou !ro ised e to "ed. So "ould 7 ha* done, by yonder sun, .n thou hadst not co e to y bed. %,6G 29A7&,7Ho" long hath she been thusG 3PH19,A 7 ho!e all "ill be "ell. ,e ust be !atient@ but 7 cannot choose but "ee!, to think they should lay hi i* the cold ground. ?y brother shall kno" of it@ and so 7 thank you for your good counsel. 5o e, y coachE &ood night, ladies6 good night, s"eet ladies6 good night, good night. 21$it3 %,6G 29A7&,7)ollo" her close6 gi#e her good "atch, 7 !ray you. 21$it H3/AT,33 (, this is the !oison of dee! grief6 it s!rings .ll fro her father*s death. ( &ertrude, &ertrude, ,hen sorro"s co e, they co e not single s!ies +ut in battalions. )irst, her father slain@ /e0t, your son gone6 and he ost #iolent author (f his o"n %ust re o#e@ the !eo!le uddied, $hick and un"holeso e in their thoughts and "his!ers, )or good <olonius* death6 and "e ha#e done but greenly, 7n hugger- ugger to inter hi @ !oor (!helia Di#ided fro herself and her fair %udg ent, ,ithout the "hich "e are !ictures, or ere beasts@ =ast, and as uch containing as all these, Her brother is in secret co e fro )rance6 )eeds on his "onder, kee!s hi self in clouds, .nd "ants not bu''ers to infect his ear ,ith !estilent s!eeches of his father*s death6 ,herein necessity, of atter beggar*d, ,ill nothing stick our !erson to arraign 7n ear and ear. ( y dear &ertrude, this, ACB
=ike to a urdering-!iece, in any !laces &i#es e su!erfluous death. 2A noise within3 ?7116 G1/T/7&1 .lack, "hat noise is thisG %,6G 29A7&,7,here are y S"it'ersG =et the guard the door. 21nter another Gentleman3 ,hat is the atterG Gentleman Sa#e yourself, y lord@ $he ocean, o#er!eering of his list, 9ats not the flats "ith ore i !etuous haste $han young =aertes, in a riotous head, (*erbears your officers. $he rabble call hi lord6 .nd, as the "orld "ere no" but to begin, .nti4uity forgot, custo not kno"n, $he ratifiers and !ro!s of e#ery "ord, $hey cry *5hoose "e@ =aertes shall be king@* 5a!s, hands, and tongues, a!!laud it to the clouds@ *=aertes shall be king, =aertes kingE* ?7116 G1/T/7&1 Ho" cheerfully on the false trail they cryE (, this is counter, you false Danish dogsE %,6G 29A7&,7$he doors are broke. 26oise within3 21nter 9A1/T1-, armedB &anes following3 9A1/T1,here is this kingG Sirs, stand you all "ithout. &anes /o, let*s co e in. 9A1/T17 !ray you, gi#e e lea#e. &anes ,e "ill, "e "ill. 2They retire without the door3 9A1/T17 thank you@ kee! the door. ( thou #ile king, &i#e e y fatherE ?7116 G1/T/7&1 ACC
5al ly, good =aertes. 9A1/T1$hat dro! of blood that*s cal !roclai s e bastard, 5ries cuckold to y father, brands the harlot 9#en here, bet"een the chaste uns irched bro" (f y true other. %,6G 29A7&,7,hat is the cause, =aertes, $hat thy rebellion looks so giant-likeG =et hi go, &ertrude6 do not fear our !erson@ $here*s such di#inity doth hedge a king, $hat treason can but !ee! to "hat it "ould, .cts little of his "ill. $ell e, =aertes, ,hy thou art thus incensed. =et hi go, &ertrude. S!eak, an. 9A1/T1,here is y fatherG %,6G 29A7&,7Dead. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 +ut not by hi . %,6G 29A7&,7=et hi de and his fill. 9A1/T1Ho" ca e he deadG 7*ll not be %uggled "ith@ $o hell, allegianceE #o"s, to the blackest de#ilE 5onscience and grace, to the !rofoundest !itE 7 dare da nation. $o this !oint 7 stand, $hat both the "orlds 7 gi#e to negligence, =et co e "hat co es6 only 7*ll be re#enged ?ost thoroughly for y father. %,6G 29A7&,7,ho shall stay youG 9A1/T1?y "ill, not all the "orld@ .nd for y eans, 7*ll husband the so "ell, $hey shall go far "ith little. %,6G 29A7&,7&ood =aertes, 7f you desire to kno" the certainty (f your dear father*s death, is*t "rit in your re#enge, AC5
$hat, s"oo!stake, you "ill dra" both friend and foe, ,inner and loserG 9A1/T1/one but his ene ies. %,6G 29A7&,7,ill you kno" the thenG 9A1/T1$o his good friends thus "ide 7*ll o!e y ar s6 .nd like the kind life-rendering !elican, -e!ast the "ith y blood. %,6G 29A7&,7,hy, no" you s!eak =ike a good child and a true gentle an. $hat 7 a guiltless of your father*s death, .nd a ost sensible in grief for it, 7t shall as le#el to your %udg ent !ierce .s day does to your eye. &anes 2(ithin3 =et her co e in. 9A1/T1Ho" no"E "hat noise is thatG 2/e)enter 3PH19,A3 ( heat, dry u! y brainsE tears se#en ti es salt, +urn out the sense and #irtue of ine eyeE +y hea#en, thy adness shall be !aid by "eight, $ill our scale turn the bea . ( rose of ?ayE Dear aid, kind sister, s"eet (!heliaE ( hea#ensE is*t !ossible, a young aid*s "its Should be as oral as an old an*s lifeG /ature is fine in lo#e, and "here *tis fine, 7t sends so e !recious instance of itself .fter the thing it lo#es. 3PH19,A 2-ings3 $hey bore hi barefaced on the bier6 Hey non nonny, nonny, hey nonny6 .nd in his gra#e rain*d any a tear@ -)are you "ell, y do#eE 9A1/T1-
AC6
Hadst thou thy "its, and didst !ersuade re#enge, 7t could not o#e thus. 3PH19,A 2-ings3 Uou ust sing a-do"n a-do"n, .n you call hi a-do"n-a. (, ho" the "heel beco es itE 7t is the false ste"ard, that stole his aster*s daughter. 9A1/T1$his nothing*s ore than atter. 3PH19,A $here*s rose ary, that*s for re e brance6 !ray, lo#e, re e ber@ and there is !ansies. that*s for thoughts. 9A1/T1. docu ent in adness, thoughts and re e brance fitted. 3PH19,A $here*s fennel for you, and colu bines@ there*s rue for you6 and here*s so e for e@ "e ay call it herb-grace o* Sundays@ ( you ust "ear your rue "ith a difference. $here*s a daisy@ 7 "ould gi#e you so e #iolets, but they "ithered all "hen y father died@ they say he ade a good end, -2-ings3 )or bonny s"eet -obin is all y %oy. 9A1/T1$hought and affliction, !assion, hell itself, She turns to fa#our and to !rettiness. 3PH19,A 2-ings3 .nd "ill he not co e againG .nd "ill he not co e againG /o, no, he is dead@ &o to thy death-bed@ He ne#er "ill co e again. His beard "as as "hite as sno", .ll fla0en "as his !oll@ He is gone, he is gone, .nd "e cast a"ay oan@ &od ha* ercy on his soulE .nd of all 5hristian souls, 7 !ray &od. &od be "i* ye. 21$it3 ACD
9A1/T1Do you see this, ( &odG %,6G 29A7&,7=aertes, 7 ust co une "ith your grief, (r you deny e right. &o but a!art, ?ake choice of "ho your "isest friends you "ill. .nd they shall hear and %udge *t"i0t you and e@ 7f by direct or by collateral hand $hey find us touch*d, "e "ill our kingdo gi#e, (ur cro"n, our life, and all that "e can ours, $o you in satisfaction6 but if not, +e you content to lend your !atience to us, .nd "e shall %ointly labour "ith your soul $o gi#e it due content. 9A1/T1=et this be so6 His eans of death, his obscure funeral -/o tro!hy, s"ord, nor hatch ent o*er his bones, /o noble rite nor for al ostentation -5ry to be heard, as *t"ere fro hea#en to earth, $hat 7 ust call*t in 4uestion. %,6G 29A7&,7So you shall6 .nd "here the offence is let the great a0e fall. 7 !ray you, go "ith e. 21$eunt3 S6ene A 2Another room in the castle#3 21nter H3/AT,3 and a -ervant3 H3/AT,3 ,hat are they that "ould s!eak "ith eG -ervant Sailors, sir@ they say they ha#e letters for you. H3/AT,3 =et the co e in. 21$it -ervant3 7 do not kno" fro "hat !art of the "orld 7 should be greeted, if not fro =ord Ha let. 21nter -ailors3 +irst -ailor &od bless you, sir. AC8
H3/AT,3 =et hi bless thee too. +irst -ailor He shall, sir, an*t !lease hi . $here*s a letter for you, sir6 it co es fro the a bassador that "as bound for 9ngland6 if your na e be Horatio, as 7 a let to kno" it is. H3/AT,3 2/eads3 *Horatio, "hen thou shalt ha#e o#erlooked this, gi#e these fello"s so e eans to the king@ they ha#e letters for hi . 9re "e "ere t"o days old at sea, a !irate of #ery "arlike a!!oint ent ga#e us chase. )inding oursel#es too slo" of sail, "e !ut on a co !elled #alour, and in the gra!!le 7 boarded the @ on the instant they got clear of our shi!6 so 7 alone beca e their !risoner. $hey ha#e dealt "ith e like thie#es of ercy@ but they kne" "hat they did6 7 a to do a good turn for the . =et the king ha#e the letters 7 ha#e sent6 and re!air thou to e "ith as uch s!eed as thou "ouldst fly death. 7 ha#e "ords to s!eak in thine ear "ill ake thee du b6 yet are they uch too light for the bore of the atter. $hese good fello"s "ill bring thee "here 7 a . -osencrant' and &uildenstern hold their course for 9ngland@ of the 7 ha#e uch to tell thee. )are"ell. *He that thou kno"est thine, H.?=9$.* 5o e, 7 "ill ake you "ay for these your letters6 .nd do*t the s!eedier, that you ay direct e $o hi fro "ho you brought the . 21$eunt3 S6ene % 2Another room in the castle#3 21nter %,6G 29A7&,7- and 9A1/T1-3 %,6G 29A7&,7/o" ust your conscience y ac4uaintance seal, .nd you ust !ut e in your heart for friend, Sith you ha#e heard, and "ith a kno"ing ear,
AC>
$hat he "hich hath your noble father slain <ursued y life. 9A1/T17t "ell a!!ears@ but tell e ,hy you !roceeded not against these feats, So cri eful and so ca!ital in nature, .s by your safety, "isdo , all things else, Uou ainly "ere stirr*d u!. %,6G 29A7&,7(, for t"o s!ecial reasons6 ,hich ay to you, !erha!s, see uch unsine"*d, +ut yet to e they are strong. $he 4ueen his other =i#es al ost by his looks6 and for yself -?y #irtue or y !lague, be it either "hich -She*s so con%uncti#e to y life and soul, $hat, as the star o#es not but in his s!here, 7 could not but by her. $he other oti#e, ,hy to a !ublic count 7 ight not go, 7s the great lo#e the general gender bear hi 6 ,ho, di!!ing all his faults in their affection, ,ould, like the s!ring that turneth "ood to stone, 5on#ert his gy#es to graces6 so that y arro"s, $oo slightly ti ber*d for so loud a "ind, ,ould ha#e re#erted to y bo" again, .nd not "here 7 had ai *d the . 9A1/T1.nd so ha#e 7 a noble father lost6 . sister dri#en into des!erate ter s, ,hose "orth, if !raises ay go back again, Stood challenger on ount of all the age )or her !erfections@ but y re#enge "ill co e. %,6G 29A7&,7+reak not your slee!s for that@ you ust not think $hat "e are ade of stuff so flat and dull $hat "e can let our beard be shook "ith danger .nd think it !asti e. Uou shortly shall hear ore@ 7 lo#ed your father, and "e lo#e ourself6 .nd that, 7 ho!e, "ill teach you to i agine -21nter a 5essenger3 Ho" no"E "hat ne"sG 5essenger A50
=etters, y lord, fro Ha let@ $his to your a%esty6 this to the 4ueen. %,6G 29A7&,7)ro Ha letE "ho brought the G 5essenger Sailors, y lord, they say6 7 sa" the not@ $hey "ere gi#en e by 5laudio6 he recei#ed the (f hi that brought the . %,6G 29A7&,7=aertes, you shall hear the . =ea#e us. 21$it 5essenger3 2/eads3 *High and ighty, Uou shall kno" 7 a set naked on your kingdo . $o- orro" shall 7 beg lea#e to see your kingly eyes@ "hen 7 shall, first asking your !ardon thereunto, recount the occasion of y sudden and ore strange return. *H.?=9$.* ,hat should this eanG .re all the rest co e backG (r is it so e abuse, and no such thingG 9A1/T1Hno" you the handG %,6G 29A7&,7*$is Ha lets character. */akedE .nd in a !ostscri!t here, he says *alone.* 5an you ad#ise eG 9A1/T17* lost in it, y lord. +ut let hi co e6 7t "ar s the #ery sickness in y heart, $hat 7 shall li#e and tell hi to his teeth, *$hus didest thou.* %,6G 29A7&,77f it be so, =aertes -.s ho" should it be soG ho" other"iseG -,ill you be ruled by eG 9A1/T1.y, y lord6 So you "ill not o*errule e to a !eace. %,6G 29A7&,7$o thine o"n !eace. 7f he be no" return*d, .s checking at his #oyage, and that he eans /o ore to undertake it, 7 "ill "ork hi A51
$o an e0!loit, no" ri!e in y de#ice, ;nder the "hich he shall not choose but fall@ .nd for his death no "ind of bla e shall breathe, +ut e#en his other shall uncharge the !ractise .nd call it accident. 9A1/T1?y lord, 7 "ill be ruled6 $he rather, if you could de#ise it so $hat 7 ight be the organ. %,6G 29A7&,77t falls right. Uou ha#e been talk*d of since your tra#el uch, .nd that in Ha let*s hearing, for a 4uality ,herein, they say, you shine@ your su of !arts Did not together !luck such en#y fro hi .s did that one, and that, in y regard, (f the un"orthiest siege. 9A1/T1,hat !art is that, y lordG %,6G 29A7&,7. #ery riband in the ca! of youth, Uet needful too6 for youth no less beco es $he light and careless li#ery that it "ears $han settled age his sables and his "eeds, 7 !orting health and gra#eness. $"o onths since, Here "as a gentle an of /or andy@ -7*#e seen yself, and ser#ed against, the )rench, .nd they can "ell on horseback@ but this gallant Had "itchcraft in*t6 he gre" unto his seat6 .nd to such "ondrous doing brought his horse, .s he had been incor!sed and de i-natured ,ith the bra#e beast@ so far he to!!*d y thought, $hat 7, in forgery of sha!es and tricks, 5o e short of "hat he did. 9A1/T1. /or an "as*tG %,6G 29A7&,7. /or an. 9A1/T1;!on y life, =a ond. %,6G 29A7&,7A5A
$he #ery sa e. 9A1/T17 kno" hi "ell@ he is the brooch indeed .nd ge of all the nation. %,6G 29A7&,7He ade confession of you, .nd ga#e you such a asterly re!ort )or art and e0ercise in your defence .nd for your ra!ier ost es!ecially, $hat he cried out, *t"ould be a sight indeed, 7f one could atch you@ the scri ers of their nation, He s"ore, had had neither otion, guard, nor eye, 7f you o!!osed the . Sir, this re!ort of his Did Ha let so en#eno "ith his en#y $hat he could nothing do but "ish and beg Uour sudden co ing o*er, to !lay "ith hi . /o", out of this, -9A1/T1,hat out of this, y lordG %,6G 29A7&,7=aertes, "as your father dear to youG (r are you like the !ainting of a sorro", . face "ithout a heartG 9A1/T1,hy ask you thisG %,6G 29A7&,7/ot that 7 think you did not lo#e your father6 +ut that 7 kno" lo#e is begun by ti e6 .nd that 7 see, in !assages of !roof, $i e 4ualifies the s!ark and fire of it. $here li#es "ithin the #ery fla e of lo#e . kind of "ick or snuff that "ill abate it6 .nd nothing is at a like goodness still6 )or goodness, gro"ing to a !lurisy, Dies in his o"n too uch@ that "e "ould do ,e should do "hen "e "ould6 for this *"ould* changes .nd hath abate ents and delays as any .s there are tongues, are hands, are accidents6 .nd then this *should* is like a s!endthrift sigh, $hat hurts by easing. +ut, to the 4uick o* the ulcer@ -Ha let co es back@ "hat "ould you undertake, A5B
$o sho" yourself your father*s son in deed ?ore than in "ordsG 9A1/T1$o cut his throat i* the church. %,6G 29A7&,7/o !lace, indeed, should urder sanctuari'e6 -e#enge should ha#e no bounds. +ut, good =aertes, ,ill you do this, kee! close "ithin your cha ber. Ha let return*d shall kno" you are co e ho e@ ,e*ll !ut on those shall !raise your e0cellence .nd set a double #arnish on the fa e $he )rench an ga#e you, bring you in fine together .nd "ager on your heads@ he, being re iss, ?ost generous and free fro all contri#ing, ,ill not !eruse the foils6 so that, "ith ease, (r "ith a little shuffling, you ay choose . s"ord unbated, and in a !ass of !ractise -e4uite hi for your father. 9A1/T17 "ill do*t@ .nd, for that !ur!ose, 7*ll anoint y s"ord. 7 bought an unction of a ountebank, So ortal that, but di! a knife in it, ,here it dra"s blood no cata!las so rare, 5ollected fro all si !les that ha#e #irtue ;nder the oon, can sa#e the thing fro death $hat is but scratch*d "ithal@ 7*ll touch y !oint ,ith this contagion, that, if 7 gall hi slightly, 7t ay be death. %,6G 29A7&,7=et*s further think of this6 ,eigh "hat con#enience both of ti e and eans ?ay fit us to our sha!e@ if this should fail, .nd that our drift look through our bad !erfor ance, *$"ere better not assay*d@ therefore this !ro%ect Should ha#e a back or second, that ight hold, 7f this should blast in !roof. SoftE let e see@ ,e*ll ake a sole n "ager on your cunnings@ 7 ha*t. ,hen in your otion you are hot and dry -.s ake your bouts ore #iolent to that end -.nd that he calls for drink, 7*ll ha#e !re!ared hi A5C
. chalice for the nonce, "hereon but si!!ing, 7f he by chance esca!e your #eno *d stuck, (ur !ur!ose ay hold there. 21nter ?7116 G1/T/7&13 Ho" no", s"eet 4ueenE ?7116 G1/T/7&1 (ne "oe doth tread u!on another*s heel, So fast they follo"6 your sister*s dro"n*d, =aertes. 9A1/T1Dro"n*dE (, "hereG ?7116 G1/T/7&1 $here is a "illo" gro"s aslant a brook, $hat sho"s his hoar lea#es in the glassy strea 6 $here "ith fantastic garlands did she co e (f cro"-flo"ers, nettles, daisies, and long !ur!les $hat liberal she!herds gi#e a grosser na e, +ut our cold aids do dead en*s fingers call the @ $here, on the !endent boughs her coronet "eeds 5la bering to hang, an en#ious sli#er broke6 ,hen do"n her "eedy tro!hies and herself )ell in the "ee!ing brook. Her clothes s!read "ide6 .nd, er aid-like, a"hile they bore her u!@ ,hich ti e she chanted snatches of old tunes6 .s one inca!able of her o"n distress, (r like a creature nati#e and indued ;nto that ele ent@ but long it could not be $ill that her gar ents, hea#y "ith their drink, <ull*d the !oor "retch fro her elodious lay $o uddy death. 9A1/T1.las, then, she is dro"n*dG ?7116 G1/T/7&1 Dro"n*d, dro"n*d. 9A1/T1$oo uch of "ater hast thou, !oor (!helia, .nd therefore 7 forbid y tears@ but yet 7t is our trick6 nature her custo holds, =et sha e say "hat it "ill@ "hen these are gone, $he "o an "ill be out. .dieu, y lord@ 7 ha#e a s!eech of fire, that fain "ould bla'e, +ut that this folly douts it. A55
21$it3 %,6G 29A7&,7=et*s follo", &ertrude@ Ho" uch 7 had to do to cal his rageE /o" fear 7 this "ill gi#e it start again6 $herefore let*s follo". 21$eunt3 A6t @ S6ene # 2A churchyard#3 21nter two 2lowns, with spades, Cc 3 +irst 2lown 7s she to be buried in 5hristian burial that "ilfully seeks her o"n sal#ationG -econd 2lown 7 tell thee she is@ and therefore ake her gra#e straight@ the cro"ner hath sat on her, and finds it 5hristian burial. +irst 2lown Ho" can that be, unless she dro"ned herself in her o"n defenceG -econd 2lown ,hy, *tis found so. +irst 2lown 7t ust be *se offendendo6* it cannot be else. )or here lies the !oint@ if 7 dro"n yself "ittingly, it argues an act@ and an act hath three branches@ it is, to act, to do, to !erfor @ argal, she dro"ned herself "ittingly. -econd 2lown /ay, but hear you, good an del#er, -+irst 2lown &i#e e lea#e. Here lies the "ater6 good@ here stands the an6 good6 if the an go to this "ater, and dro"n hi self, it is, "ill he, nill he, he goes, -- ark you that6 but if the "ater co e to hi and dro"n hi , he dro"ns not hi self@ argal, he that is not guilty of his o"n death shortens not his o"n life. -econd 2lown +ut is this la"G A56
+irst 2lown .y, arry, is*t6 cro"ner*s 4uest la". -econd 2lown ,ill you ha* the truth on*tG 7f this had not been a gentle"o an, she should ha#e been buried out o* 5hristian burial. +irst 2lown ,hy, there thou say*st@ and the ore !ity that great folk should ha#e countenance in this "orld to dro"n or hang the sel#es, ore than their e#en 5hristian. 5o e, y s!ade. $here is no ancient gentle an but gardeners, ditchers, and gra#e- akers@ they hold u! .da *s !rofession. -econd 2lown ,as he a gentle anG +irst 2lown He "as the first that e#er bore ar s. -econd 2lown ,hy, he had none. +irst 2lown ,hat, art a heathenG Ho" dost thou understand the Scri!tureG $he Scri!ture says *.da digged@* could he dig "ithout ar sG 7*ll !ut another 4uestion to thee@ if thou ans"erest e not to the !ur!ose, confess thyself --econd 2lown &o to. +irst 2lown ,hat is he that builds stronger than either the ason, the shi!"right, or the car!enterG -econd 2lown $he gallo"s- aker6 for that fra e outli#es a thousand tenants. +irst 2lown 7 like thy "it "ell, in good faith@ the gallo"s does "ell6 but ho" does it "ellG it does "ell to those that do in@ no" thou dost ill to say the gallo"s is built stronger than the church@ argal, the gallo"s ay do "ell to thee. $o*t again, co e. -econd 2lown
A5D
*,ho builds stronger than a ason, a shi!"right, or a car!enterG* +irst 2lown .y, tell e that, and unyoke. -econd 2lown ?arry, no" 7 can tell. +irst 2lown $o*t. -econd 2lown ?ass, 7 cannot tell. 21nter HA591T and H3/AT,3, at a distance3 +irst 2lown 5udgel thy brains no ore about it, for your dull ass "ill not end his !ace "ith beating6 and, "hen you are asked this 4uestion ne0t, say *a gra#e- aker@ *the houses that he akes last till doo sday. &o, get thee to Uaughan@ fetch e a stou! of li4uor. 21$it -econd 2lown3 2He digs and sings3 7n youth, "hen 7 did lo#e, did lo#e, ?ethought it "as #ery s"eet, $o contract, (, the ti e, for, ah, y beho#e, (, ethought, there "as nothing eet. HA591T Has this fello" no feeling of his business, that he sings at gra#e- akingG H3/AT,3 5usto hath ade it in hi a !ro!erty of easiness. HA591T *$is e*en so@ the hand of little e !loy ent hath the daintier sense. +irst 2lown 2-ings3 +ut age, "ith his stealing ste!s, Hath cla"*d e in his clutch, .nd hath shi!!ed e intil the land, .s if 7 had ne#er been such. 2Throws up a skull3 HA591T
A58
$hat skull had a tongue in it, and could sing once@ ho" the kna#e %o"ls it to the ground, as if it "ere 5ain*s %a"-bone, that did the first urderE 7t ight be the !ate of a !olitician, "hich this ass no" o*er-reaches6 one that "ould circu #ent &od, ight it notG H3/AT,3 7t ight, y lord. HA591T (r of a courtier6 "hich could say *&ood orro", s"eet lordE Ho" dost thou, good lordG* $his ight be y lord such-a-one, that !raised y lord such-a-one*s horse, "hen he eant to beg it6 ight it notG H3/AT,3 .y, y lord. HA591T ,hy, e*en so@ and no" y =ady ,or *s6 cha!less, and knocked about the a''ard "ith a se0ton*s s!ade@ here*s fine re#olution, an "e had the trick to see*t. Did these bones cost no ore the breeding, but to !lay at loggats "ith *e G ine ache to think on*t. . !ick-a0e, and a s!ade, a s!ade, )or and a shrouding sheet@ (, a !it of clay for to be ade )or such a guest is eet. 2Throws up another skull3 HA591T $here*s another@ "hy ay not that be the skull of a la"yerG ,here be his 4uiddities no", his 4uillets, his cases, his tenures, and his tricksG "hy does he suffer this rude kna#e no" to knock hi about the sconce "ith a dirty sho#el, and "ill not tell hi of his action of batteryG Hu E $his fello" ight be in*s ti e a great buyer of land, "ith his statutes, his recogni'ances, his fines, his double #ouchers, his reco#eries@ is this the fine of his fines, and the reco#ery of his reco#eries, to ha#e his fine !ate full of fine dirtG "ill his #ouchers #ouch hi no ore of his !urchases, and double ones too, than the length and breadth of a !air of indenturesG $he
A5>
#ery con#eyances of his lands "ill hardly lie in this bo06 and ust the inheritor hi self ha#e no ore, haG H3/AT,3 /ot a %ot ore, y lord. HA591T 7s not !arch ent ade of shee!skinsG H3/AT,3 .y, y lord, and of calf-skins too. HA591T $hey are shee! and cal#es "hich seek out assurance in that. 7 "ill s!eak to this fello". ,hose gra#e*s this, sirrahG +irst 2lown ?ine, sir. 2-ings3 (, a !it of clay for to be ade )or such a guest is eet. HA591T 7 think it be thine, indeed6 for thou liest in*t. +irst 2lown Uou lie out on*t, sir, and therefore it is not yours@ for y !art, 7 do not lie in*t, and yet it is ine. HA591T *$hou dost lie in*t, to be in*t and say it is thine@ *tis for the dead, not for the 4uick6 therefore thou liest. +irst 2lown *$is a 4uick lie, sir6 *t"ill a"ay gain, fro e to you. HA591T ,hat an dost thou dig it forG +irst 2lown )or no an, sir. HA591T ,hat "o an, thenG +irst 2lown )or none, neither. HA591T ,ho is to be buried in*tG +irst 2lown (ne that "as a "o an, sir6 but, rest her soul, she*s dead. HA591T
A60
Ho" absolute the kna#e isE "e ust s!eak by the card, or e4ui#ocation "ill undo us. +y the =ord, Horatio, these three years 7 ha#e taken a note of it6 the age is gro"n so !icked that the toe of the !easant co es so near the heel of the courtier, he gaffs his kibe. Ho" long hast thou been a gra#e- akerG +irst 2lown (f all the days i* the year, 7 ca e to*t that day that our last king Ha let o#erca e )ortinbras. HA591T Ho" long is that sinceG +irst 2lown 5annot you tell thatG e#ery fool can tell that@ it "as the #ery day that young Ha let "as born6 he that is ad, and sent into 9ngland. HA591T .y, arry, "hy "as he sent into 9nglandG +irst 2lown ,hy, because he "as ad@ he shall reco#er his "its there6 or, if he do not, it*s no great atter there. HA591T ,hyG +irst 2lown *$"ill, a not be seen in hi there6 there the en are as ad as he. HA591T Ho" ca e he adG +irst 2lown Very strangely, they say. HA591T Ho" strangelyG +irst 2lown )aith, e*en "ith losing his "its. HA591T ;!on "hat groundG +irst 2lown ,hy, here in Den ark@ 7 ha#e been se0ton here, and boy, thirty years. HA591T
an
A61
Ho" long "ill a an lie i* the earth ere he rotG +irst 2lown 7* faith, if he be not rotten before he die -- as "e ha#e any !ocky corses no"-a-days, that "ill scarce hold the laying in -- he "ill last you so e eight year or nine year@ a tanner "ill last you nine year. HA591T ,hy he ore than anotherG +irst 2lown ,hy, sir, his hide is so tanned "ith his trade, that he "ill kee! out "ater a great "hile6 and your "ater is a sore decayer of your "horeson dead body. Here*s a skull no"6 this skull has lain in the earth three and t"enty years. HA591T ,hose "as itG +irst 2lown . "horeson ad fello"*s it "as@ "hose do you think it "asG HA591T /ay, 7 kno" not. +irst 2lown . !estilence on hi for a ad rogueE a* !oured a flagon of -henish on y head once. $his sa e skull, sir, "as Uorick*s skull, the king*s %ester. HA591T $hisG +irst 2lown 9*en that. HA591T =et e see. 2Takes the skull3 .las, !oor UorickE 7 kne" hi , Horatio@ a fello" of infinite %est, of ost e0cellent fancy@ he hath borne e on his back a thousand ti es6 and no", ho" abhorred in y i agination it isE y gorge ri s at it. Here hung those li!s that 7 ha#e kissed 7 kno" not ho" oft. ,here be your gibes no"G your ga bolsG your songsG your flashes of erri ent, that "ere "ont to set the table on a roarG /ot one no", to ock your o"n grinningG 4uite cha!-fallenG /o" get you to y lady*s cha ber, and tell her, let A6A
her !aint an inch thick, to this fa#our she ust co e6 ake her laugh at that. <rithee, Horatio, tell e one thing. H3/AT,3 ,hat*s that, y lordG HA591T Dost thou think .le0ander looked o* this fashion i* the earthG H3/AT,3 9*en so. HA591T .nd s elt soG !ahE 2Puts down the skull3 H3/AT,3 9*en so, y lord. HA591T $o "hat base uses "e ay return, HoratioE ,hy ay not i agination trace the noble dust of .le0ander, till he find it sto!!ing a bung-holeG H3/AT,3 *$"ere to consider too curiously, to consider so. HA591T /o, faith, not a %ot6 but to follo" hi thither "ith odesty enough, and likelihood to lead it@ as thus@ .le0ander died, .le0ander "as buried, .le0ander returneth into dust6 the dust is earth6 of earth "e ake loa 6 and "hy of that loa , "hereto he "as con#erted, ight they not sto! a beer-barrelG 7 !erious 5aesar, dead and turn*d to clay, ?ight sto! a hole to kee! the "ind a"ay@ (, that that earth, "hich ke!t the "orld in a"e, Should !atch a "all to e0!el the "inter fla"E +ut softE but softE aside@ here co es the king. 21nter Priest, Cc# in processionB the 2orpse of 3PH19,A, 9A1/T1- and 5ourners followingB %,6G 29A7&,7-, ?7116 G1/T/7&1, their trains, Cc 3 $he 4ueen, the courtiers@ "ho is this they follo"G .nd "ith such ai ed ritesG $his doth betoken $he corse they follo" did "ith des!erate hand )ordo its o"n life@ *t"as of so e estate. 5ouch "e a"hile, and ark. A6B
2/etiring with H3/AT,33 9A1/T1,hat cere ony elseG HA591T $hat is =aertes, . #ery noble youth@ ark. 9A1/T1,hat cere ony elseG +irst Priest Her obse4uies ha#e been as far enlarged .s "e ha#e "arrantise@ her death "as doubtful6 .nd, but that great co and o*ers"ays the order, She should in ground unsanctified ha#e lodged $ill the last tru !et@ for charitable !rayers, Shards, flints and !ebbles should be thro"n on her6 Uet here she is allo"*d her #irgin crants, Her aiden stre" ents and the bringing ho e (f bell and burial. 9A1/T1?ust there no ore be doneG +irst Priest /o ore be done@ ,e should !rofane the ser#ice of the dead $o sing a re4uie and such rest to her .s to !eace-!arted souls. 9A1/T1=ay her i* the earth@ .nd fro her fair and un!olluted flesh ?ay #iolets s!ringE 7 tell thee, churlish !riest, . inistering angel shall y sister be, ,hen thou liest ho"ling. HA591T ,hat, the fair (!heliaE ?7116 G1/T/7&1 S"eets to the s"eet@ fare"ellE 2-cattering flowers3 7 ho!ed thou shouldst ha#e been y Ha let*s "ife6 7 thought thy bride-bed to ha#e deck*d, s"eet aid, .nd not ha#e stre"*d thy gra#e. 9A1/T1-
A6C
(, treble "oe )all ten ti es treble on that cursed head, ,hose "icked deed thy ost ingenious sense De!ri#ed thee ofE Hold off the earth a"hile, $ill 7 ha#e caught her once ore in ine ar s@ 29eaps into the grave3 /o" !ile your dust u!on the 4uick and dead, $ill of this flat a ountain you ha#e ade, $o o*erto! old <elion, or the skyish head (f blue (ly !us. HA591T 2Advancing3 ,hat is he "hose grief +ears such an e !hasisG "hose !hrase of sorro" 5on%ures the "andering stars, and akes the stand =ike "onder-"ounded hearersG $his is 7, Ha let the Dane. 29eaps into the grave3 9A1/T1$he de#il take thy soulE 2Grappling with him3 HA591T $hou !ray*st not "ell. 7 !rithee, take thy fingers fro y throat6 )or, though 7 a not s!leniti#e and rash, Uet ha#e 7 so ething in e dangerous, ,hich let thy "iseness fear@ hold off thy hand. %,6G 29A7&,7<luck the asunder. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 Ha let, Ha letE All &entle en, -H3/AT,3 &ood y lord, be 4uiet. 2The Attendants part them, and they come out of the grave3 HA591T ,hy 7 "ill fight "ith hi u!on this the e ;ntil y eyelids "ill no longer "ag. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 ( y son, "hat the eG A65
HA591T 7 lo#ed (!helia@ forty thousand brothers 5ould not, "ith all their 4uantity of lo#e, ?ake u! y su . ,hat "ilt thou do for herG %,6G 29A7&,7(, he is ad, =aertes. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 )or lo#e of &od, forbear hi . HA591T *S"ounds, sho" e "hat thou*lt do@ ,oo*t "ee!G "oo*t fightG "oo*t fastG "oo*t tear thyselfG ,oo*t drink u! eiselG eat a crocodileG 7*ll do*t. Dost thou co e here to "hineG $o outface e "ith lea!ing in her gra#eG +e buried 4uick "ith her, and so "ill 7@ .nd, if thou !rate of ountains, let the thro" ?illions of acres on us, till our ground, Singeing his !ate against the burning 'one, ?ake (ssa like a "artE /ay, an thou*lt outh, 7*ll rant as "ell as thou. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 $his is ere adness@ .nd thus a"hile the fit "ill "ork on hi 6 .non, as !atient as the fe ale do#e, ,hen that her golden cou!lets are disclosed, His silence "ill sit droo!ing. HA591T Hear you, sir6 ,hat is the reason that you use e thusG 7 lo#ed you e#er@ but it is no atter6 =et Hercules hi self do "hat he ay, $he cat "ill e" and dog "ill ha#e his day. 21$it3 %,6G 29A7&,77 !ray you, good Horatio, "ait u!on hi . 21$it H3/AT,33 2To 9A1/T1-3 Strengthen your !atience in our last night*s s!eech6 ,e*ll !ut the atter to the !resent !ush. &ood &ertrude, set so e "atch o#er your son. $his gra#e shall ha#e a li#ing onu ent@ A66
.n hour of 4uiet shortly shall "e see6 $ill then, in !atience our !roceeding be. 21$eunt3 S6ene & 2A hall in the castle#3 21nter HA591T and H3/AT,33 HA591T So uch for this, sir@ no" shall you see the other6 Uou do re e ber all the circu stanceG H3/AT,3 -e e ber it, y lordG HA591T Sir, in y heart there "as a kind of fighting, $hat "ould not let e slee!@ ethought 7 lay ,orse than the utines in the bilboes. -ashly, .nd !raised be rashness for it, let us kno", (ur indiscretion so eti es ser#es us "ell, ,hen our dee! !lots do !all@ and that should teach us $here*s a di#inity that sha!es our ends, -ough-he" the ho" "e "ill, -H3/AT,3 $hat is ost certain. HA591T ;! fro y cabin, ?y sea-go"n scarf*d about e, in the dark &ro!ed 7 to find out the 6 had y desire. )inger*d their !acket, and in fine "ithdre" $o ine o"n roo again6 aking so bold, ?y fears forgetting anners, to unseal $heir grand co ission6 "here 7 found, Horatio, -( royal kna#eryE -- an e0act co and, =arded "ith any se#eral sorts of reasons 7 !orting Den ark*s health and 9ngland*s too, ,ith, hoE such bugs and goblins in y life, $hat, on the su!er#ise, no leisure bated, /o, not to stay the grinding of the a0e, ?y head should be struck off. H3/AT,3 7s*t !ossibleG HA591T A6D
Here*s the co ission@ read it at ore leisure. +ut "ilt thou hear e ho" 7 did !roceedG H3/AT,3 7 beseech you. HA591T +eing thus be-netted round "ith #illanies, -9re 7 could ake a !rologue to y brains, $hey had begun the !lay -- 7 sat e do"n, De#ised a ne" co ission, "rote it fair@ 7 once did hold it, as our statists do, . baseness to "rite fair and labour*d uch Ho" to forget that learning, but, sir, no" 7t did e yeo an*s ser#ice@ "ilt thou kno" $he effect of "hat 7 "roteG H3/AT,3 .y, good y lord. HA591T .n earnest con%uration fro the king, .s 9ngland "as his faithful tributary, .s lo#e bet"een the like the !al ight flourish, .s !eace should stiff her "heaten garland "ear .nd stand a co a *t"een their a ities, .nd any such-like *.s*es of great charge, $hat, on the #ie" and kno"ing of these contents, ,ithout debate ent further, ore or less, He should the bearers !ut to sudden death, /ot shri#ing-ti e allo"*d. H3/AT,3 Ho" "as this seal*dG HA591T ,hy, e#en in that "as hea#en ordinant. 7 had y father*s signet in y !urse, ,hich "as the odel of that Danish seal6 )olded the "rit u! in for of the other, Subscribed it, ga#e*t the i !ression, !laced it safely, $he changeling ne#er kno"n. /o", the ne0t day ,as our sea-fight6 and "hat to this "as se4uent $hou kno"*st already. H3/AT,3 So &uildenstern and -osencrant' go to*t. HA591T A68
,hy, an, they did ake lo#e to this e !loy ent6 $hey are not near y conscience6 their defeat Does by their o"n insinuation gro"@ *$is dangerous "hen the baser nature co es +et"een the !ass and fell incensed !oints (f ighty o!!osites. H3/AT,3 ,hy, "hat a king is thisE HA591T Does it not, think*st thee, stand e no" u!on -He that hath kill*d y king and "hored y other, <o!!*d in bet"een the election and y ho!es, $hro"n out his angle for y !ro!er life, .nd "ith such co'enage -- is*t not !erfect conscience, $o 4uit hi "ith this ar G and is*t not to be da n*d, $o let this canker of our nature co e 7n further e#ilG H3/AT,3 7t ust be shortly kno"n to hi fro 9ngland ,hat is the issue of the business there. HA591T 7t "ill be short@ the interi is ine6 .nd a an*s life*s no ore than to say *(ne.* +ut 7 a #ery sorry, good Horatio, $hat to =aertes 7 forgot yself6 )or, by the i age of y cause, 7 see $he !ortraiture of his@ 7*ll court his fa#ours. +ut, sure, the bra#ery of his grief did !ut e 7nto a to"ering !assion. H3/AT,3 <eaceE "ho co es hereG 21nter 3-/,23 3-/,2 Uour lordshi! is right "elco e back to Den ark. HA591T 7 hu bly thank you, sir. Dost kno" this "ater-flyG H3/AT,3 /o, y good lord. HA591T $hy state is the ore gracious6 for *tis a #ice to kno" hi . He hath uch land, and fertile@ let a A6>
beast be lord of beasts, and his crib shall stand at the king*s ess@ *tis a chough6 but, as 7 say, s!acious in the !ossession of dirt. 3-/,2 S"eet lord, if your lordshi! "ere at leisure, 7 should i !art a thing to you fro his a%esty. HA591T 7 "ill recei#e it, sir, "ith all diligence of s!irit. <ut your bonnet to his right use6 *tis for the head. 3-/,2 7 thank your lordshi!, it is #ery hot. HA591T /o, belie#e e, *tis #ery cold6 the "ind is northerly. 3-/,2 7t is indifferent cold, y lord, indeed. HA591T +ut yet ethinks it is #ery sultry and hot for y co !le0ion. 3-/,2 90ceedingly, y lord6 it is #ery sultry, -- as *t"ere, -- 7 cannot tell ho". +ut, y lord, his a%esty bade e signify to you that he has laid a great "ager on your head@ sir, this is the atter, -HA591T 7 beseech you, re e ber -2HA591T moves him to put on his hat3 3-/,2 /ay, good y lord6 for ine ease, in good faith. Sir, here is ne"ly co e to court =aertes6 belie#e e, an absolute gentle an, full of ost e0cellent differences, of #ery soft society and great sho"ing@ indeed, to s!eak feelingly of hi , he is the card or calendar of gentry, for you shall find in hi the continent of "hat !art a gentle an "ould see. HA591T Sir, his define ent suffers no !erdition in you6 though, 7 kno", to di#ide hi in#entorially "ould di''y the arith etic of e ory, and yet but ya" neither, in res!ect of his 4uick sail. +ut, in the #erity of e0tol ent, 7 take hi to be a soul of AD0
great article6 and his infusion of such dearth and rareness, as, to ake true diction of hi , his se blable is his irror6 and "ho else "ould trace hi , his u brage, nothing ore. 3-/,2 Uour lordshi! s!eaks ost infallibly of hi . HA591T $he concernancy, sirG "hy do "e "ra! the gentle an in our ore ra"er breathG 3-/,2 SirG H3/AT,3 7s*t not !ossible to understand in another tongueG Uou "ill do*t, sir, really. HA591T ,hat i !orts the no ination of this gentle anG 3-/,2 (f =aertesG H3/AT,3 His !urse is e !ty already6 all*s golden "ords are s!ent. HA591T (f hi , sir. 3-/,2 7 kno" you are not ignorant -HA591T 7 "ould you did, sir6 yet, in faith, if you did, it "ould not uch a!!ro#e e. ,ell, sirG 3-/,2 Uou are not ignorant of "hat e0cellence =aertes is -HA591T 7 dare not confess that, lest 7 should co !are "ith hi in e0cellence6 but, to kno" a an "ell, "ere to kno" hi self. 3-/,2 7 ean, sir, for his "ea!on6 but in the i !utation laid on hi by the , in his eed he*s unfello"ed. HA591T ,hat*s his "ea!onG 3-/,2 -a!ier and dagger. HA591T AD1
$hat*s t"o of his "ea!ons@ but, "ell. 3-/,2 $he king, sir, hath "agered "ith hi si0 +arbary horses@ against the "hich he has i !oned, as 7 take it, si0 )rench ra!iers and !oniards, "ith their assigns, as girdle, hangers, and so@ three of the carriages, in faith, are #ery dear to fancy, #ery res!onsi#e to the hilts, ost delicate carriages, and of #ery liberal conceit. HA591T ,hat call you the carriagesG H3/AT,3 7 kne" you ust be edified by the argent ere you had done. 3-/,2 $he carriages, sir, are the hangers. HA591T $he !hrase "ould be ore ger an to the atter, if "e could carry cannon by our sides@ 7 "ould it ight be hangers till then. +ut, on@ si0 +arbary horses against si0 )rench s"ords, their assigns, and three liberal-conceited carriages6 that*s the )rench bet against the Danish. ,hy is this *i !oned,* as you call itG 3-/,2 $he king, sir, hath laid, that in a do'en !asses bet"een yourself and hi , he shall not e0ceed you three hits@ he hath laid on t"el#e for nine6 and it "ould co e to i ediate trial, if your lordshi! "ould #ouchsafe the ans"er. HA591T Ho" if 7 ans"er *no*G 3-/,2 7 ean, y lord, the o!!osition of your !erson in trial. HA591T Sir, 7 "ill "alk here in the hall@ if it !lease his a%esty, *tis the breathing ti e of day "ith e6 let the foils be brought, the gentle an "illing, and the king hold his !ur!ose, 7 "ill "in for hi an 7 can6 if not, 7 "ill gain nothing but y sha e and the odd hits. 3-/,2 Shall 7 re-deli#er you e*en soG HA591T ADA
$o this effect, sir6 after "hat flourish your nature "ill. 3-/,2 7 co end y duty to your lordshi!. HA591T Uours, yours. 21$it 3-/,23 He does "ell to co end it hi self6 there are no tongues else for*s turn. H3/AT,3 $his la!"ing runs a"ay "ith the shell on his head. HA591T He did co !ly "ith his dug, before he sucked it. $hus has he -- and any ore of the sa e be#y that 7 kno" the dressy age dotes on -- only got the tune of the ti e and out"ard habit of encounter6 a kind of yesty collection, "hich carries the through and through the ost fond and "inno"ed o!inions6 and do but blo" the to their trial, the bubbles are out. 21nter a 9ord3 9ord ?y lord, his a%esty co ended hi to you by young (sric, "ho brings back to hi that you attend hi in the hall@ he sends to kno" if your !leasure hold to !lay "ith =aertes, or that you "ill take longer ti e. HA591T 7 a constant to y !ur!ose6 they follo" the king*s !leasure@ if his fitness s!eaks, ine is ready6 no" or "hensoe#er, !ro#ided 7 be so able as no". 9ord $he king and 4ueen and all are co ing do"n. HA591T 7n ha!!y ti e. 9ord $he 4ueen desires you to use so e gentle entertain ent to =aertes before you fall to !lay. HA591T She "ell instructs e. 21$it 9ord3 H3/AT,3 Uou "ill lose this "ager, y lord. HA591T ADB
7 do not think so@ since he "ent into )rance, 7 ha#e been in continual !ractise@ 7 shall "in at the odds. +ut thou "ouldst not think ho" ill all*s here about y heart@ but it is no atter. H3/AT,3 /ay, good y lord, -HA591T 7t is but foolery6 but it is such a kind of gain-gi#ing, as "ould !erha!s trouble a "o an. H3/AT,3 7f your ind dislike any thing, obey it@ 7 "ill forestall their re!air hither, and say you are not fit. HA591T /ot a "hit, "e defy augury@ there*s a s!ecial !ro#idence in the fall of a s!arro". 7f it be no", *tis not to co e6 if it be not to co e, it "ill be no"6 if it be not no", yet it "ill co e@ the readiness is all@ since no an has aught of "hat he lea#es, "hat is*t to lea#e beti esG 21nter %,6G 29A7&,7-, ?7116 G1/T/7&1, 9A1/T1-, 9ords, 3-/,2, and Attendants with foils, Cc 3 %,6G 29A7&,75o e, Ha let, co e, and take this hand fro e. 2%,6G 29A7&,7- puts 9A1/T1- hand into HA591T s3 HA591T &i#e e your !ardon, sir@ 7*#e done you "rong6 +ut !ardon*t, as you are a gentle an. $his !resence kno"s, .nd you ust needs ha#e heard, ho" 7 a !unish*d ,ith sore distraction. ,hat 7 ha#e done, $hat ight your nature, honour and e0ce!tion -oughly a"ake, 7 here !roclai "as adness. ,as*t Ha let "rong*d =aertesG /e#er Ha let@ 7f Ha let fro hi self be ta*en a"ay, .nd "hen he*s not hi self does "rong =aertes, $hen Ha let does it not, Ha let denies it. ,ho does it, thenG His adness@ if*t be so, Ha let is of the faction that is "rong*d6 His adness is !oor Ha let*s ene y. Sir, in this audience, ADC
=et y disclai ing fro a !ur!osed e#il )ree e so far in your ost generous thoughts, $hat 7 ha#e shot ine arro" o*er the house, .nd hurt y brother. 9A1/T17 a satisfied in nature, ,hose oti#e, in this case, should stir e ost $o y re#enge@ but in y ter s of honour 7 stand aloof6 and "ill no reconcile ent, $ill by so e elder asters, of kno"n honour, 7 ha#e a #oice and !recedent of !eace, $o kee! y na e ungored. +ut till that ti e, 7 do recei#e your offer*d lo#e like lo#e, .nd "ill not "rong it. HA591T 7 e brace it freely6 .nd "ill this brother*s "ager frankly !lay. &i#e us the foils. 5o e on. 9A1/T15o e, one for e. HA591T 7*ll be your foil, =aertes@ in ine ignorance Uour skill shall, like a star i* the darkest night, Stick fiery off indeed. 9A1/T1Uou ock e, sir. HA591T /o, by this hand. %,6G 29A7&,7&i#e the the foils, young (sric. 5ousin Ha let, Uou kno" the "agerG HA591T Very "ell, y lord Uour grace hath laid the odds o* the "eaker side. %,6G 29A7&,77 do not fear it6 7 ha#e seen you both@ +ut since he is better*d, "e ha#e therefore odds. 9A1/T1$his is too hea#y, let e see another. HA591T $his likes e "ell. $hese foils ha#e all a lengthG AD5
2They prepare to play3 3-/,2 .y, y good lord. %,6G 29A7&,7Set e the stoo!s of "ine u!on that table. 7f Ha let gi#e the first or second hit, (r 4uit in ans"er of the third e0change, =et all the battle ents their ordnance fire@ $he king shall drink to Ha let*s better breath6 .nd in the cu! an union shall he thro", -icher than that "hich four successi#e kings 7n Den ark*s cro"n ha#e "orn. &i#e e the cu!s6 .nd let the kettle to the tru !et s!eak, $he tru !et to the cannoneer "ithout, $he cannons to the hea#ens, the hea#ens to earth, */o" the king dunks to Ha let.* 5o e, begin@ .nd you, the %udges, bear a "ary eye. HA591T 5o e on, sir. 9A1/T15o e, y lord. 2They play3 HA591T (ne. 9A1/T1/o. HA591T 1udg ent. 3-/,2 . hit, a #ery !al!able hit. 9A1/T1,ell6 again. %,6G 29A7&,7Stay6 gi#e e drink. Ha let, this !earl is thine6 Here*s to thy health. 2Trumpets sound, and cannon shot off within3 &i#e hi the cu!. HA591T 7*ll !lay this bout first6 set it by a"hile. 5o e. 2They play3 .nother hit6 "hat say youG AD6
9A1/T1. touch, a touch, 7 do confess. %,6G 29A7&,7(ur son shall "in. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 He*s fat, and scant of breath. Here, Ha let, take y na!kin, rub thy bro"s6 $he 4ueen carouses to thy fortune, Ha let. HA591T &ood ada E %,6G 29A7&,7&ertrude, do not drink. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 7 "ill, y lord6 7 !ray you, !ardon e. %,6G 29A7&,72Aside3 7t is the !oison*d cu!@ it is too late. HA591T 7 dare not drink yet, ada 6 by and by. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 5o e, let e "i!e thy face. 9A1/T1?y lord, 7*ll hit hi no". %,6G 29A7&,77 do not think*t. 9A1/T12Aside3 .nd yet *tis al ost *gainst y conscience. HA591T 5o e, for the third, =aertes@ you but dally6 7 !ray you, !ass "ith your best #iolence6 7 a afeard you ake a "anton of e. 9A1/T1Say you soG co e on. 2They play3 3-/,2 /othing, neither "ay. 9A1/T1Ha#e at you no"E 29A1/T1- wounds HA591TB then in scuffling, they change rapiers, and HA591T wounds 9A1/T1-3 ADD
%,6G 29A7&,7<art the 6 they are incensed. HA591T /ay, co e, again. 2?7116 G1/T/7&1 falls3 3-/,2 =ook to the 4ueen there, hoE H3/AT,3 $hey bleed on both sides. Ho" is it, y lordG 3-/,2 Ho" is*t, =aertesG 9A1/T1,hy, as a "oodcock to ine o"n s!ringe, (sric6 7 a %ustly kill*d "ith ine o"n treachery. HA591T Ho" does the 4ueenG %,6G 29A7&,7She s"ounds to see the bleed. ?7116 G1/T/7&1 /o, no, the drink, the drink, -- ( y dear Ha let, -$he drink, the drinkE 7 a !oison*d. 2&ies3 HA591T ( #illanyE HoE let the door be lock*d@ $reacheryE Seek it out. 9A1/T17t is here, Ha let@ Ha let, thou art slain6 /o edicine in the "orld can do thee good6 7n thee there is not half an hour of life6 $he treacherous instru ent is in thy hand, ;nbated and en#eno *d@ the foul !ractise Hath turn*d itself on e lo, here 7 lie, /e#er to rise again@ thy other*s !oison*d@ 7 can no ore@ the king, the king*s to bla e. HA591T $he !ointE -- en#eno *d tooE $hen, #eno , to thy "ork. 2-ta!s %,6G 29A7&,7-3 All $reasonE treasonE %,6G 29A7&,7AD8
(, yet defend e, friends6 7 a but hurt. HA591T Here, thou incestuous, urderous, da ned Dane, Drink off this !otion. 7s thy union hereG )ollo" y other. 2%,6G 29A7&,7- dies3 9A1/T1He is %ustly ser#ed6 7t is a !oison te !er*d by hi self. 90change forgi#eness "ith e, noble Ha let@ ?ine and y father*s death co e not u!on thee, /or thine on e. 2&ies3 HA591T Hea#en ake thee free of itE 7 follo" thee. 7 a dead, Horatio. ,retched 4ueen, adieuE Uou that look !ale and tre ble at this chance, $hat are but utes or audience to this act, Had 7 but ti e -- as this fell sergeant, death, 7s strict in his arrest -- (, 7 could tell you -+ut let it be. Horatio, 7 a dead6 $hou li#est6 re!ort e and y cause aright $o the unsatisfied. H3/AT,3 /e#er belie#e it@ 7a ore an anti4ue -o an than a Dane@ Here*s yet so e li4uor left. HA591T .s thou*rt a an, &i#e e the cu!@ let go6 by hea#en, 7*ll ha#e*t. ( good Horatio, "hat a "ounded na e, $hings standing thus unkno"n, shall li#e behind eE 7f thou didst e#er hold e in thy heart .bsent thee fro felicity a"hile, .nd in this harsh "orld dra" thy breath in !ain, $o tell y story. 25arch afar off, and shot within3 ,hat "arlike noise is thisG 3-/,2
AD>
Uoung )ortinbras, "ith con4uest co e fro <oland, $o the a bassadors of 9ngland gi#es $his "arlike #olley. HA591T (, 7 die, Horatio6 $he !otent !oison 4uite o*er-cro"s y s!irit@ 7 cannot li#e to hear the ne"s fro 9ngland6 +ut 7 do !ro!hesy the election lights (n )ortinbras@ he has y dying #oice6 So tell hi , "ith the occurrents, ore and less, ,hich ha#e solicited. $he rest is silence. 2&ies3 H3/AT,3 /o" cracks a noble heart. &ood night s"eet !rince@ .nd flights of angels sing thee to thy restE ,hy does the dru co e hitherG 25arch within3 21nter +3/T,6'/A-, the 1nglish Am!assadors, and others3 P/,621 +3/T,6'/A,here is this sightG H3/AT,3 ,hat is it ye "ould seeG 7f aught of "oe or "onder, cease your search. P/,621 +3/T,6'/A$his 4uarry cries on ha#oc. ( !roud death, ,hat feast is to"ard in thine eternal cell, $hat thou so any !rinces at a shot So bloodily hast struckG +irst Am!assador $he sight is dis al6 .nd our affairs fro 9ngland co e too late@ $he ears are senseless that should gi#e us hearing, $o tell hi his co and ent is fulfill*d, $hat -osencrant' and &uildenstern are dead@ ,here should "e ha#e our thanksG H3/AT,3 /ot fro his outh, Had it the ability of life to thank you@ He ne#er ga#e co and ent for their death. +ut since, so %u ! u!on this bloody 4uestion, Uou fro the <olack "ars, and you fro 9ngland, A80
.re here arri#ed gi#e order that these bodies High on a stage be !laced to the #ie"6 .nd let e s!eak to the yet unkno"ing "orld Ho" these things ca e about@ so shall you hear (f carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts, (f accidental %udg ents, casual slaughters, (f deaths !ut on by cunning and forced cause, .nd, in this u!shot, !ur!oses istook )all*n on the in#entors* reads@ all this can 7 $ruly deli#er. P/,621 +3/T,6'/A=et us haste to hear it, .nd call the noblest to the audience. )or e, "ith sorro" 7 e brace y fortune@ 7 ha#e so e rights of e ory in this kingdo , ,hich no" to clai y #antage doth in#ite e. H3/AT,3 (f that 7 shall ha#e also cause to s!eak, .nd fro his outh "hose #oice "ill dra" on ore6 +ut let this sa e be !resently !erfor *d, 9#en "hile en*s inds are "ild6 lest ore ischance (n !lots and errors, ha!!en. P/,621 +3/T,6'/A=et four ca!tains +ear Ha let, like a soldier, to the stage6 )or he "as likely, had he been !ut on, $o ha#e !ro#ed ost royally@ and, for his !assage, $he soldiers* usic and the rites of "ar S!eak loudly for hi . $ake u! the bodies@ such a sight as this +eco es the field, but here sho"s uch a iss. &o, bid the soldiers shoot. 2A dead march# 1$eunt, !earing off the dead !odiesB after which a peal of ordnance is shot off3
/hrist"2her 8arl"4, -r F&u!tu!

S011ar(
A81
Doctor )austus, a talented &er an scholar at ,ittenburg, rails against the li its of hu an kno"ledge. He has learned e#erything he can learn, or so he thinks, fro the con#entional acade ic disci!lines. .ll of these things ha#e left hi unsatisfied, so no" he turns to agic. . &ood .ngle and an 9#il .ngel arri#e, re!resenting )austus* choice bet"een 5hristian conscience and the !ath to da nation. $he for er ad#ises hi to lea#e off this !ursuit of agic, and the latter te !ts hi . )ro t"o fello" scholars, Valdes and 5ornelius, )austus learns the funda entals of the black arts. He thrills at the !o"er he "ill ha#e, and the great feats he*ll !erfor . He su ons the de#il ?e!hosto!hilis. $hey flesh out the ter s of their agree ent, "ith ?e!hosto!hilis re!resenting =ucifer. )austus "ill sell his soul, in e0change for t"enty-four years of !o"er, "ith ?e!hosto!hilis as ser#ant to his e#ery "hi . 7n a co ic relief scene, "e learn that )austus* ser#ant ,agner has gleaned so e agic learning. He uses it to con#ince -obin the 5lo"n to be his ser#ant. +efore the ti e co es to sign the contract, )austus has isgi#ings, but he !uts the aside. ?e!hosto!hilis returns, and )austus signs a"ay his soul, "riting "ith his o"n blood. $he "ords FHo o fugeF (F)ly, an) a!!ear on his ar , and )austus is sei'ed by fear. ?e!hosto!hilis distracts hi "ith a dance of de#ils. )austus re4uests a "ife, a de and ?e!hosto!hilis denies, but he does gi#e )austus books full of kno"ledge. So e ti e has !assed. )austus curses ?e!hosto!hilis for de!ri#ing hi of hea#en, although he has seen any "onders. He anages to tor ent ?e!hosto!hilis, he can*t sto ach ention of &od, and the de#il flees. $he &ood .ngel and 9#il .ngel arri#e again. $he &ood .ngel tells hi to re!ent, and the 9#il .ngel tells hi to stick to his "icked "ays. =ucifer, +el'ebub, and ?e!hosto!hilis return, to inti idate )austus. He is co"ed by the , and agrees to s!eak and think no ore of &od. $hey delight hi "ith a !ageant of the Se#en Deadly Sins, and then =ucifer !ro ises to sho" )austus hell. ?ean"hile, -obin the 5lo"n has gotten one of )austus* agic books. )austus has e0!lored the hea#ens and the earth fro a chariot dra"n by dragons, and is no" flying to -o e, "here the feast honoring St. <eter is about to be celebrated. ?e!hosto!hilis and )austus "ait for the <o!e, de!icted as an arrogant, decidedly unholy an. $hey !lay a series of tricks, by using agic to disguise the sel#es and ake the sel#es in#isible, before lea#ing. $he 5horus returns to tell us that )austus returns ho e, "here his #ast kno"ledge of astrono y and his abilities earn hi "ide reno"n. ?ean"hile,
A8A
-obin the 5lo"n has also learned agic, and uses it to i !ress his friend -afe and su on ?e!hosto!hilis, "ho doesn*t see too ha!!y to be called. .t the court of 5harles V, )austus !erfor s illusions that delight the 9 !eror. He also hu iliates a knight na ed +en#olio. ,hen +en#olio and his friends try to a#enge the hu iliation, )austus has his de#ils hurt the and cruelly transfor the , so that horns gro" on their heads. )austus s"indles a Horse-courser, and "hen the Horse-courser returns, )austus !lays a frightening trick on hi . )austus then goes off to ser#e the Duke of Vanholt. -obin the 5lo"n, his friend Dick, the Horse-courser, and a 5arter all eet. $hey all ha#e been s"indled or hurt by )austus* agic. $hey go off to the court of the Duke to settle scores "ith )austus. )austus entertains the Duke and Duchess "ith !etty illusions, before -obin the 5lo"n and his band of ruffians arri#es. )austus toys "ith the , besting the "ith agic, to the delight of the Duke and Duchess. )austus* t"enty-four years are running out. ,agner tells the audience that he thinks )austus !re!ares for death. He has ade his "ill, lea#ing all to ,agner. +ut e#en as death a!!roaches, )austus s!ends his days feasting and drinking "ith the other students. )or the delight of his fello" scholars, )austus su ons a s!irit to take the sha!e of Helen of $roy. =ater, an (ld ?an enters, "arning )austus to re!ent. )austus o!ts for !leasure instead, and asks ?e!hosto!hilis to bring Helen of $roy to hi , to be his lo#e and co fort during these last days. ?e!hosto!hilis readily agrees. =ater, )austus tells his scholar friends that he is da ned, and that his !o"er ca e at the !rice of his soul. 5oncerned, the Scholars e0it, lea#ing )austus to eet his fate. .s the hour a!!roaches, ?e!hosto!hilis taunts )austus. )austus bla es ?e!hosto!hilis for his da nation, and the de#il !roudly takes credit for it. $he &ood and 9#il .ngel arri#e, and the &ood .ngel abandons )austus. $he gates of Hell o!en. $he 9#il .ngel taunts )austus, na ing the horrible tortures seen there. $he 5lock strikes ele#en. )austus gi#es a final, fren'ied onologue, regretting his choices. .t idnight the de#ils enter. .s )austus begs &od and the de#il for ercy, the de#ils drag hi a"ay. =ater, the Scholar friends find )austus* body, torn to !ieces. 9!ilogue. $he 5horus e !hasi'es that )austus is gone, his once-great !otential "asted. $he 5horus "arns the audience to re e ber his fall, and the lessons it offers.
A8B
TH1 T/AG,2A9 H,-T3/@ 3+ &32T3/ +A7-T7'@ 2H/,-T3PH1/ 5A/93(1 )-(? $H9 :;.-$( () 1616.
D-.?.$7S <9-S(/.9. $H9 <(<9. $H9 9?<9-(- () &9-?./U. -.U?(/D, king of Hungary. D;H9 () S.\(/U. +-;/(. D;H9 () V./H(=$. ?.-$7/(, )-9D9-75H, gentle en. +9/V(=7(, ).;S$;S. V.=D9S, friends to ).;S$;S. 5(-/9=7;S, ,.&/9-, ser#ant to ).;S$;S. 5lo"n. -(+7/. D75H. Vintner. Horse-courser. 5arter. .n (ld ?an. Scholars, 5ardinals, .-5H+7SH(< () -H97?S, +isho!s, ?onks, )riars, Soldiers, and .ttendants. D;5H9SS () V./H(=$. A8C
Hostess. =;57)9-. +9=Y9+;+. ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S. &ood .ngel. 9#il .ngel. $he Se#en Deadly Sins. De#ils. S!irits in the sha!es of .=9\./D9- $H9 &-9.$, of his <ara our, of D.-7;S, and of H9=9/. 5horus. 9nter 5H(-;S. 5H(-;S. /ot arching in the fields of $hrasy ene, ,here ?ars did ate the "arlike 5arthagens6 /or s!orting in the dalliance of lo#e, 7n courts of kings "here state is o#erturn*d6 /or in the !o ! of !roud audacious deeds, 7ntends our ?use to #aunt her hea#enly #erse@ (nly this, gentles,--"e ust no" !erfor $he for of )austus* fortunes, good or bad@ .nd no" to !atient %udg ents "e a!!eal, .nd s!eak for )austus in his infancy. /o" is he born of !arents base of stock, 7n &er any, "ithin a to"n call*d -hodes@ .t ri!er years, to ,ittenberg he "ent, ,hereas his kins en chiefly brought hi u!. So uch he !rofits in di#inity, $hat shortly he "as grac*d "ith doctor*s na e, 90celling all, and s"eetly can dis!ute 7n th* hea#enly atters of theology6 $ill s"oln "ith cunning, of a self-conceit, His "a0en "ings did ount abo#e his reach, .nd, elting, hea#ens cons!ir*d his o#erthro"6 )or, falling to a de#ilish e0ercise, .nd glutted no" "ith learning*s golden gifts, He surfeits u!on cursed necro ancy6 /othing so s"eet as agic is to hi , ,hich he !refers before his chiefest bliss@ .nd this the an that in his study sits. A85
290it.3 ).;S$;S disco#ered in his study. ).;S$;S. Settle thy studies, )austus, and begin $o sound the de!th of that thou "ilt !rofess@ Ha#ing co enc*d, be a di#ine in sho", Uet le#el at the end of e#ery art, .nd li#e and die in .ristotle*s "orks. S"eet .nalytics, *tis thou hast ra#ish*d eE +ene disserere est finis logices. 7s, to dis!ute "ell, logic*s chiefest endG .ffords this art no greater iracleG $hen read no ore6 thou hast attain*d that end@ . greater sub%ect fitteth )austus* "it@ +id 9cono y fare"ell, and &alen co e@ +e a !hysician, )austus6 hea! u! gold, .nd be eterni'*d for so e "ondrous cure@ Su u bonu edicinoe sanitas, $he end of !hysic is our body*s health. ,hy, )austus, hast thou not attain*d that endG .re not thy bills hung u! as onu ents, ,hereby "hole cities ha#e esca!*d the !lague, .nd thousand des!erate aladies been cur*dG Uet art thou still but )austus, and a an. 5ouldst thou ake en to li#e eternally, (r, being dead, raise the to life again, $hen this !rofession "ere to be estee *d. <hysic, fare"ellE ,here is 1ustinianG 2-eads.3 Si una eade 4ue res legatur duobus, alter re , alter #alore rei, [c. . !etty case of !altry legaciesE 2-eads.3 90hoereditare filiu non !otest !ater, nisi, [c. Such is the sub%ect of the institute, .nd uni#ersal body of the la"@ $his study fits a ercenary drudge, ,ho ai s at nothing but e0ternal trash6 $oo ser#ile and illiberal for e. ,hen all is done, di#inity is best@ A86
1ero e*s +ible, )austus6 #ie" it "ell. 2-eads.3 Sti!endiu !eccati ors est. HaE Sti!endiu , [c. $he re"ard of sin is death@ that*s hard. 2-eads.3 Si !eccasse nega us, falli ur, et nulla est in nobis #eritas6 7f "e say that "e ha#e no sin, "e decei#e oursel#es, and there is no truth in us. ,hy, then, belike "e ust sin, and so conse4uently die@ .y, "e ust die an e#erlasting death. ,hat doctrine call you this, 5he sera, sera, ,hat "ill be, shall beG Di#inity, adieuE $hese eta!hysics of agicians, .nd necro antic books are hea#enly6 =ines, circles, scenes, letters, and characters6 .y, these are those that )austus ost desires. (, "hat a "orld of !rofit and delight, (f !o"er, of honour, and o ni!otence, 7s !ro is*d to the studious arti'anE .ll things that o#e bet"een the 4uiet !oles Shall be at y co and@ e !erors and kings .re but obeyed in their se#eral !ro#inces6 +ut his do inion that e0ceeds in this, Stretcheth as far as doth the ind of an6 . sound agician is a de igod@ Here tire, y brains, to gain a deity. 9nter ,.&/9-. ,agner, co end e to y dearest friends, $he &er an Valdes and 5ornelius6 -e4uest the earnestly to #isit e. ,.&/9-. 7 "ill, sir. 290it.3 ).;S$;S. $heir conference "ill be a greater hel! to $han all y labours, !lod 7 ne*er so fast. 9nter &((D ./&9= and 9V7= ./&9=.
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&((D ./&9=. (, )austus, lay that da ned book aside, .nd ga'e not on it, lest it te !t thy soul, .nd hea! &od*s hea#y "rath u!on thy headE -ead, read the Scri!tures@--that is blas!he y. 9V7= ./&9=. &o for"ard, )austus, in that fa ous art ,herein all /ature*s treasure is contain*d@ +e thou on earth as 1o#e is in the sky, =ord and co ander of these ele ents. 290eunt ./&9=S.3 ).;S$;S. Ho" a 7 glutted "ith conceit of thisE Shall 7 ake s!irits fetch e "hat 7 !lease, -esol#e e of all a biguities, <erfor "hat des!erate enter!rise 7 "illG 7*ll ha#e the fly to 7ndia for gold, -ansack the ocean for orient !earl, .nd search all corners of the ne"-found "orld )or !leasant fruits and !rincely delicates6 7*ll ha#e the read e strange !hiloso!hy, .nd tell the secrets of all foreign kings6 7*ll ha#e the "all all &er any "ith brass, .nd ake s"ift -hine circle fair ,ertenberg6 7*ll ha#e the fill the !ublic schools "ith silk, ,here"ith the students shall be bra#ely clad6 7*ll le#y soldiers "ith the coin they bring, .nd chase the <rince of <ar a fro our land, .nd reign sole king of all the !ro#inces6 Uea, stranger engines for the brunt of "ar, $han "as the fiery keel at .nt"er!-bridge, 7*ll ake y ser#ile s!irits to in#ent. 9nter V.=D9S and 5(-/9=7;S. 5o e, &er an Valdes, and 5ornelius, .nd ake e blest "ith your sage conference. Valdes, s"eet Valdes, and 5ornelius, Hno" that your "ords ha#e "on e at the last $o !ractice agic and concealed arts. <hiloso!hy is odious and obscure6 +oth la" and !hysic are for !etty "its@ *$is agic, agic that hath ra#ish*d e. $hen, gentle friends, aid e in this atte !t6 A88
.nd 7, that ha#e "ith subtle syllogis s &ra#ell*d the !astors of the &er an church, .nd ade the flo"ering !ride of ,ittenberg S"ar to y !roble s, as th* infernal s!irits (n s"eet ?usaeus "hen he ca e to hell, ,ill be as cunning as .gri!!a "as, ,hose shado" ade all 9uro!e honour hi . V.=D9S. )austus, these books, thy "it, and our e0!erience, Shall ake all nations to canoni'e us. .s 7ndian ?oors obey their S!anish lords, So shall the s!irits of e#ery ele ent +e al"ays ser#iceable to us three6 =ike lions shall they guard us "hen "e !lease6 =ike .l ain rutters "ith their horse en*s sta#es, (r =a!land giants, trotting by our sides6 So eti es like "o en, or un"edded aids, Shado"ing ore beauty in their airy bro"s $han ha#e the "hite breasts of the 4ueen of lo#e@ )ro Venice shall they drag huge argosies, .nd fro . erica the golden fleece $hat yearly stuffs old <hili!*s treasury6 7f learned )austus "ill be resolute. ).;S$;S. Valdes, as resolute a 7 in this .s thou to li#e@ therefore ob%ect it not. 5(-/9=7;S. $he iracles that agic "ill !erfor ,ill ake thee #o" to study nothing else. He that is grounded in astrology, 9nrich*d "ith tongues, "ell seen in inerals, Hath all the !rinci!les agic doth re4uire@ $hen doubt not, )austus, but to be reno" *d, .nd ore fre4uented for this ystery $han heretofore the Del!hian oracle. $he s!irits tell e they can dry the sea, .nd fetch the treasure of all foreign "recks, Uea, all the "ealth that our forefathers hid ,ithin the assy entrails of the earth@ $hen tell e, )austus, "hat shall "e three "antG ).;S$;S. /othing, 5ornelius. (, this cheers y soulE 5o e, she" e so e de onstrations agical, $hat 7 ay con%ure in so e bushy gro#e, .nd ha#e these %oys in full !ossession. A8>
V.=D9S. $hen haste thee to so e solitary gro#e, .nd bear "ise +acon*s and .lbertus* "orks, $he Hebre" <salter, and /e" $esta ent6 .nd "hatsoe#er else is re4uisite ,e "ill infor thee ere our conference cease. 5(-/9=7;S. Valdes, first let hi kno" the "ords of art6 .nd then, all other cere onies learn*d, )austus ay try his cunning by hi self. V.=D9S. )irst 7*ll instruct thee in the rudi ents, .nd then "ilt thou be !erfecter than 7. ).;S$;S. $hen co e and dine "ith e, and, after eat, ,e*ll can#ass e#ery 4uiddity thereof6 )or, ere 7 slee!, 7*ll try "hat 7 can do@ $his night 7*ll con%ure, though 7 die therefore. 290eunt.3 9nter t"o S5H(=.-S. )7-S$ S5H(=.-. 7 "onder "hat*s beco e of )austus, that "as "ont to ake our schools ring "ith sic !robo. S95(/D S5H(=.-. $hat shall "e !resently kno"6 here co es his boy. 9nter ,.&/9-. )7-S$ S5H(=.-. Ho" no", sirrahE "here*s thy asterG ,.&/9-. &od in hea#en kno"s. S95(/D S5H(=.-. ,hy, dost not thou kno", thenG ,.&/9-. Ues, 7 kno"6 but that follo"s not. )7-S$ S5H(=.-. &o to, sirrahE lea#e your %esting, and tell us "here he is. ,.&/9-. $hat follo"s not by force of argu ent, "hich you, being licentiates, should stand u!on@ therefore ackno"ledge your error, and be attenti#e. S95(/D S5H(=.-. $hen you "ill not tell usG ,.&/9-. Uou are decei#ed, for 7 "ill tell you@ yet, if you "ere not dunces, you "ould ne#er ask e such a 4uestion6 for is he not cor!us naturaleG and is not that obileG then "herefore should you ask e such a 4uestionG +ut that 7 a by nature !hleg atic, slo" to "rath, and !rone to lechery (to lo#e, 7 "ould say), it "ere not for you to co e "ithin forty foot of the !lace of e0ecution, although 7 do not doubt but to see you both hanged A>0
the ne0t sessions. $hus ha#ing triu !hed o#er you, 7 "ill set y countenance like a !recisian, and begin to s!eak thus@-$ruly, y dear brethren, y aster is "ithin at dinner, "ith Valdes and 5ornelius, as this "ine, if it could s!eak, "ould infor your "orshi!s@ and so, the =ord bless you, !reser#e you, and kee! you, y dear brethrenE 290it.3 )7-S$ S5H(=.-. ( )austusE $hen 7 fear that "hich 7 ha#e long sus!ected, $hat thou art fall*n into that da ned art )or "hich they t"o are infa ous through the "orld. S95(/D S5H(=.-. ,ere he a stranger, not allied to e, $he danger of his soul "ould ake e ourn. +ut, co e, let us go and infor the -ector@ 7t ay be his gra#e counsel ay reclai hi . )7-S$ S5H(=.-. 7 fear e nothing "ill reclai hi no". S95(/D S5H(=.-. Uet let us see "hat "e can do. 290eunt.3 9nter ).;S$;S. ).;S$;S. /o" that the gloo y shado" of the night, =onging to #ie" (rion*s dri''ling look, =ea!s fro th* antartic "orld unto the sky, .nd di s the "elkin "ith her !itchy breath, )austus, begin thine incantations, .nd try if de#ils "ill obey thy hest, Seeing thou hast !ray*d and sacrific*d to the . ,ithin this circle is 1eho#ah*s na e, )or"ard and back"ard anagra ati'*d, $h* abbre#iated na es of holy saints, )igures of e#ery ad%unct to the hea#ens, .nd characters of signs and erring stars, +y "hich the s!irits are enforc*d to rise@ $hen fear not, )austus, to be resolute, .nd try the ut ost agic can !erfor . 2$hunder.3 Sint ihi dii .cherontis !ro!itiiE Valeat nu en tri!le0 1eho#oeE 7gnei, aerii, a4uatani s!iritus, sal#eteE (rientis !rince!s +el'ebub, inferni ardentis onarcha, et De ogorgon, !ro!itia us #os, ut a!!areat et surgat ?e!histo!hilis Dragon, 4uod tu eraris@ A>1
!er 1eho#a , &ehenna , et consecrata a4ua 4ua nunc s!argo, signu 4ue crucis 4uod nunc facio, et !er #ota nostra, i!se nunc surgat nobis dicatus ?e!histo!hilisE 9nter ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S. 7 charge thee to return, and change thy sha!e6 $hou art too ugly to attend on e@ &o, and return an old )ranciscan friar6 $hat holy sha!e beco es a de#il best. 290it ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S.3 7 see there*s #irtue in y hea#enly "ords. ,ho "ould not be !roficient in this artG Ho" !liant is this ?e!histo!hilis, )ull of obedience and hu ilityE Such is the force of agic and y s!ells. -e-enter ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S like a )ranciscan friar. ?9<H7S$. /o", )austus, "hat "ouldst thou ha#e e doG ).;S$;S. 7 charge thee "ait u!on e "hilst 7 li#e, $o do "hate#er )austus shall co and, +e it to ake the oon dro! fro her s!here, (r the ocean to o#er"hel the "orld. ?9<H7S$. 7 a a ser#ant to great =ucifer, .nd ay not follo" thee "ithout his lea#e@ /o ore than he co ands ust "e !erfor . ).;S$;S. Did not he charge thee to a!!ear to eG ?9<H7S$. /o, 7 ca e hither of ine o"n accord. ).;S$;S. Did not y con%uring s!eeches raise theeG s!eakE ?9<H7S$. $hat "as the cause, but yet !er accidens6 )or, "hen "e hear one rack the na e of &od, .b%ure the Scri!tures and his Sa#iour 5hrist, ,e fly, in ho!e to get his glorious soul6 /or "ill "e co e, unless he use such eans ,hereby he is in danger to be da n*d. $herefore the shortest cut for con%uring 7s stoutly to ab%ure all godliness, .nd !ray de#outly to the !rince of hell. A>A
).;S$;S. So )austus hath .lready done6 and holds this !rinci!le, $here is no chief but only +el'ebub6 $o "ho )austus doth dedicate hi self. $his "ord Fda nationF terrifies not e, )or 7 confound hell in 9lysiu @ ?y ghost be "ith the old !hiloso!hersE +ut, lea#ing these #ain trifles of en*s souls, $ell e "hat is that =ucifer thy lordG ?9<H7S$. .rch-regent and co ander of all s!irits. ).;S$;S. ,as not that =ucifer an angel onceG ?9<H7S$. Ues, )austus, and ost dearly lo#*d of &od. ).;S$;S. Ho" co es it, then, that he is !rince of de#ilsG ?9<H7S$. (, by as!iring !ride and insolence6 )or "hich &od thre" hi fro the face of hea#en. ).;S$;S. .nd "hat are you that li#e "ith =uciferG ?9<H7S$. ;nha!!y s!irits that fell "ith =ucifer, 5ons!ir*d against our &od "ith =ucifer, .nd are for e#er da n*d "ith =ucifer. ).;S$;S. ,here are you da n*dG ?9<H7S$. 7n hell. ).;S$;S. Ho" co es it, then, that thou art out of hellG ?9<H7S$. ,hy, this is hell, nor a 7 out of it@ $hink*st thou that 7, that sa" the face of &od, .nd tasted the eternal %oys of hea#en, . not tor ented "ith ten thousand hells, 7n being de!ri#*d of e#erlasting blissG (, )austus, lea#e these fri#olous de ands, ,hich strike a terror to y fainting soulE ).;S$;S. ,hat, is great ?e!histo!hilis so !assionate )or being de!ri#ed of the %oys of hea#enG =earn thou of )austus anly fortitude, .nd scorn those %oys thou ne#er shalt !ossess. &o bear these tidings to great =ucifer@ Seeing )austus hath incurr*d eternal death +y des!erate thoughts against 1o#e*s deity, Say, he surrenders u! to hi his soul, So he "ill s!are hi four and t"enty years, =etting hi li#e in all #olu!tuousness6 Ha#ing thee e#er to attend on e, $o gi#e e "hatsoe#er 7 shall ask, A>B
$o tell e "hatsoe#er 7 de and, $o slay ine ene ies, and to aid y friends, .nd al"ays be obedient to y "ill. &o, and return to ighty =ucifer, .nd eet e in y study at idnight, .nd then resol#e e of thy aster*s ind. ?9<H7S$. 7 "ill, )austus. 290it.3 ).;S$;S. Had 7 as any souls as there be stars, 7*d gi#e the all for ?e!histo!hilis. +y hi 7*ll be great e !eror of the "orld, .nd ake a bridge thorough the o#ing air, $o !ass the ocean "ith a band of en6 7*ll %oin the hills that bind the .fric shore, .nd ake that country continent to S!ain, .nd both contributary to y cro"n@ $he 9 !eror shall not li#e but by y lea#e, /or any !otentate of &er any. /o" that 7 ha#e obtain*d "hat 7 desir*d, 7*ll li#e in s!eculation of this art, $ill ?e!histo!hilis return again. 290it.3 9nter ,.&/9- and 5=(,/. ,.&/9-. 5o e hither, sirrah boy. 5=(,/. +oyE (, disgrace to y !ersonE 'ounds, boy in your faceE Uou ha#e seen any boys "ith beards, 7 a sure. ,.&/9-. Sirrah, hast thou no co ings inG 5=(,/. Ues, and goings out too, you ay see, sir. ,.&/9-. .las, !oor sla#eE see ho" !o#erty %ests in his nakednessE 7 kno" the #illain*s out of ser#ice, and so hungry, that 7 kno" he "ould gi#e his soul to the de#il for a shoulder of utton, though it "ere blood-ra". 5=(,/. /ot so neither@ 7 had need to ha#e it "ell roasted, and good sauce to it, if 7 !ay so dear, 7 can tell you. ,.&/9-. Sirrah, "ilt thou be y an, and "ait on e, and 7 "ill ake thee go like :ui ihi disci!ulusG 5=(,/. ,hat, in #erseG ,.&/9-. /o, sla#e6 in beaten silk and sta#es-acre. 5=(,/. Sta#es-acreE that*s good to kill #er in@ then, belike, A>C
if 7 ser#e you, 7 shall be lousy. ,.&/9-. ,hy, so thou shalt be, "hether thou dost it or no6 for, sirrah, if thou dost not !resently bind thyself to e for se#en years, 7*ll turn all the lice about thee into fa iliars, and ake the tear thee in !ieces. 5=(,/. /ay, sir, you ay sa#e yourself a labour, for they are as fa iliar "ith e as if they !aid for their eat and drink, 7 can tell you. ,.&/9-. ,ell, sirrah, lea#e your %esting, and take these guilders. 2&i#es oney.3 5=(,/. Ues, arry, sir6 and 7 thank you too. ,.&/9-. So, no" thou art to be at an hour*s "arning, "hensoe#er and "heresoe#er the de#il shall fetch thee. 5=(,/. Here, take your guilders again6 7*ll none of *e . ,.&/9-. /ot 76 thou art !ressed@ !re!are thyself, or 7 "ill !resently raise u! t"o de#ils to carry thee a"ay.--+anioE +elcherE 5=(,/. +elcherE an +elcher co e here, 7*ll belch hi @ 7 a not afraid of a de#il. 9nter t"o D9V7=S. ,.&/9-. Ho" no", sirE "ill you ser#e e no"G 5=(,/. .y, good ,agner6 take a"ay the de#il2s3, then. ,.&/9-. S!irits, a"ayE 290eunt D9V7=S.3 /o", sirrah, follo" e. 5=(,/. 7 "ill, sir@ but hark you, aster6 "ill you teach e this con%uring occu!ationG ,.&/9-. .y, sirrah, 7*ll teach thee to turn thyself to a dog, or a cat, or a ouse, or a rat, or any thing. 5=(,/. . dog, or a cat, or a ouse, or a ratE (, bra#e, ,agnerE ,.&/9-. Villain, call e ?aster ,agner, and see that you "alk attenti#ely, and let your right eye be al"ays dia etrally fi0ed u!on y left heel, that thou ayst 4uasi #estigiis nostris insistere. 5=(,/. ,ell, sir, 7 "arrant you. 290eunt.3 ).;S$;S disco#ered in his study.
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).;S$;S. /o", )austus, ?ust thou needs be da n*d, canst thou not be sa#*d. ,hat boots it, then, to think on &od or hea#enG ."ay "ith such #ain fancies, and des!air6 Des!air in &od, and trust in +el'ebub@ /o", go not back"ard, )austus6 be resolute@ ,hy "a#er*st thouG (, so ething soundeth in ine ear, F.b%ure this agic, turn to &od againEF ,hy, he lo#es thee not6 $he god thou ser#*st is thine o"n a!!etite, ,herein is fi0*d the lo#e of +el'ebub@ $o hi 7*ll build an altar and a church, .nd offer luke"ar blood of ne"-born babes. 9nter &((D ./&9= and 9V7= ./&9=. 9V7= ./&9=. &o for"ard, )austus, in that fa ous art. &((D ./&9=. S"eet )austus, lea#e that e0ecrable art. ).;S$;S. 5ontrition, !rayer, re!entance--"hat of theseG &((D ./&9=. (, they are eans to bring thee unto hea#enE 9V7= ./&9=. -ather illusions, fruits of lunacy, $hat ake en foolish that do use the ost. &((D ./&9=. S"eet )austus, think of hea#en and hea#enly things. 9V7= ./&9=. /o, )austus6 think of honour and of "ealth. 290eunt ./&9=S.3 ).;S$;S. ,ealthE ,hy, the signiory of 9 bden shall be ine. ,hen ?e!histo!hilis shall stand by e, ,hat !o"er can hurt eG )austus, thou art safe@ 5ast no ore doubts.--?e!histo!hilis, co e, .nd bring glad tidings fro great =ucifer6-7s*t not idnightG--co e ?e!histo!hilis, .nd bring glad tidings fro great =ucifer6-7s*t not idnightG--co e ?e!histo!hilis, Veni, #eni, ?e!histo!hileE 9nter ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S. /o" tell e "hat saith =ucifer, thy lordG
A>6
?9<H7S$. $hat 7 shall "ait on )austus "hilst he li#es, So he "ill buy y ser#ice "ith his soul. ).;S$;S. .lready )austus hath ha'arded that for thee. ?9<H7S$. +ut no" thou ust be4ueath it sole nly, .nd "rite a deed of gift "ith thine o"n blood6 )or that security cra#es =ucifer. 7f thou deny it, 7 ust back to hell. ).;S$;S. Stay, ?e!histo!hilis, and tell e, "hat good "ill y soul do thy lordG ?9<H7S$. 9nlarge his kingdo . ).;S$;S. 7s that the reason "hy he te !ts us thusG ?9<H7S$. Sola en iseris socios habuisse doloris. ).;S$;S. ,hy, ha#e you any !ain that torture othersG ?9<H7S$. .s great as ha#e the hu an souls of en. +ut, tell e, )austus, shall 7 ha#e thy soulG .nd 7 "ill be thy sla#e, and "ait on thee, .nd gi#e thee ore than thou hast "it to ask. ).;S$;S. .y, ?e!histo!hilis, 7*ll gi#e it thee. ?9<H7S$. $hen, )austus, stab thine ar courageously, .nd bind thy soul, that at so e certain day &reat =ucifer ay clai it as his o"n6 .nd then be thou as great as =ucifer. ).;S$;S. 2Stabbing his ar 3 =o, ?e!histo!hilis, for lo#e of thee, )austus hath cut his ar , and "ith his !ro!er blood .ssures his soul to be great =ucifer*s, 5hief lord and regent of !er!etual nightE Vie" here this blood that trickles fro ine ar , .nd let it be !ro!itious for y "ish. ?9<H7S$. +ut, )austus, ,rite it in anner of a deed of gift. ).;S$;S. 2,riting3 .y, so 7 do. +ut, ?e!histo!hilis, ?y blood congeals, and 7 can "rite no ore. ?9<H7S$. 7*ll fetch thee fire to dissol#e it straight. 290it.3 ).;S$;S. ,hat ight the staying of y blood !ortendG 7s it un"illing 7 should "rite this billG ,hy strea s it not, that 7 ay "rite afreshG ).;S$;S &7V9S $( $H99 H7S S(;=@ (, there it stay*dE ,hy shouldst thou notG is not thy soul thine o"nG $hen "rite again, ).;S$;S &7V9S $( $H99 H7S S(;=.
A>D
-e-enter ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S "ith the chafer of fire. ?9<H7S$. See, )austus, here is fire6 set it on. ).;S$;S. So, no" the blood begins to clear again6 /o" "ill 7 ake an end i ediately. 2,rites.3 ?9<H7S$. ,hat "ill not 7 do to obtain his soulG 2.side.3 ).;S$;S. 5onsu atu est6 this bill is ended, .nd )austus hath be4ueath*d his soul to =ucifer. +ut "hat is this inscri!tion on ine ar G Ho o, fuge@ "hither should 7 flyG 7f unto &od, he*ll thro" e do"n to hell. ?y senses are decei#*d6 here*s nothing "rit@-(, yes, 7 see it !lain6 e#en here is "rit, Ho o, fuge@ yet shall not )austus fly. ?9<H7S$. 7*ll fetch hi so e"hat to delight his ind. 2.side, and then e0it.3 9nter D9V7=S, gi#ing cro"ns and rich a!!arel to ).;S$;S. $hey dance, and then de!art. -e-enter ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S. ).;S$;S. ,hat eans this sho"G s!eak, ?e!histo!hilis. ?9<H7S$. /othing, )austus, but to delight thy ind, .nd let thee see "hat agic can !erfor . ).;S$;S. +ut ay 7 raise such s!irits "hen 7 !leaseG ?9<H7S$. .y, )austus, and do greater things than these. ).;S$;S. $hen, ?e!histo!hilis, recei#e this scroll, . deed of gift of body and of soul@ +ut yet conditionally that thou !erfor .ll co#enants and articles bet"een us bothE ?9<H7S$. )austus, 7 s"ear by hell and =ucifer $o effect all !ro ises bet"een us bothE ).;S$;S. $hen hear e read it, ?e!histo!hilis. 2-eads.3 (/ $H9S9 5(/D7$7(/S )(==(,7/&. )7-S$, $H.$ ).;S$;S ?.U +9 . S<7-7$ 7/ )(-? ./D S;+S$./59. S95(/D=U, $H.$ ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S A>8
SH.== +9 H7S S9-V./$, ./D +9 +U H7? 5(??./D9D. $H7-D=U, $H.$ ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S SH.== D( )(- H7?, ./D +-7/& H7? ,H.$S(9V9- H9 D9S7-9S. )(;-$H=U, $H.$ H9 SH.== +9 7/ H7S 5H.?+9- (H(;S9 7/V7S7+=9. =.S$=U, $H.$ H9 SH.== .<<9.- $( $H9 S.7D 1(H/ ).;S$;S, .$ .== $7?9S, 7/ ,H.$ SH.<9 ./D )(-? S(9V9- H9 <=9.S9. 7, 1(H/ ).;S$;S, () ,7$$9/+9-&, D(5$(-, +U $H9S9 <-9S9/$S, D( &7V9 +($H +(DU ./D S(;= $( =;57)9- <-7/59 () $H9 9.S$, ./D H7S ?7/7S$9?9<H7S$(<H7=7S6 ./D );-$H9-?(-9 &-./$ ;/$( $H9?, $H.$, )(;--./D$,9/$U U9.-S +97/& 9\<7-9D, ./D $H9S9 .-$75=9S .+(V9,-7$$9/ +97/& 7/V7(=.$9, );== <(,9- $( )9$5H (- 5.--U $H9 S.7D 1(H/ ).;S$;S, +(DU ./D S(;=, )=9SH ./D +=((D, 7/$( $H97- H.+7$.$7(/ ,H9-9S(9V9-. +U ?9, 1(H/ ).;S$;S. ?9<H7S$. S!eak, )austus, do you deli#er this as your deedG ).;S$;S. .y, take it, and the de#il gi#e thee good of itE ?9<H7S$. So, no", )austus, ask e "hat thou "ilt. ).;S$;S. )irst 7 "ill 4uestion "ith thee about hell. $ell e, "here is the !lace that en call hellG ?9<H7S$. ;nder the hea#ens. ).;S$;S. .y, so are all things else6 but "hereaboutsG ?9<H7S$. ,ithin the bo"els of these ele ents, ,here "e are tortur*d and re ain for e#er@ Hell hath no li its, nor is circu scrib*d 7n one self-!lace6 but "here "e are is hell, .nd "here hell is, there ust "e e#er be@ .nd, to be short, "hen all the "orld dissol#es, .nd e#ery creature shall be !urified, .ll !laces shall be hell that are not hea#en. ).;S$;S. 7 think hell*s a fable. ?9<H7S$. .y, think so still, till e0!erience change thy ind. A>>
).;S$;S. ,hy, dost thou think that )austus shall be da n*dG ?9<H7S$. .y, of necessity, for here*s the scroll 7n "hich thou hast gi#en thy soul to =ucifer. ).;S$;S. .y, and body too6 and "hat of thatG $hink*st thou that )austus is so fond to i agine $hat, after this life, there is any !ainG /o, these are trifles and ere old "i#es* tales. ?9<H7S$. +ut 7 a an instance to !ro#e the contrary, )or 7 tell thee 7 a da n*d and no" in hell. ).;S$;S. /ay, an this be hell, 7*ll "illingly be da n*d@ ,hatE slee!ing, eating, "alking, and dis!utingE +ut, lea#ing this, let e ha#e a "ife, $he fairest aid in &er any6 )or 7 a "anton and lasci#ious, .nd cannot li#e "ithout a "ife. ?9<H7S$. ,ell, )austus, thou shalt ha#e a "ife. 2?9<H7S$(<H7=7S fetches in a ,(?./-D9V7=.3 ).;S$;S. ,hat sight is thisG ?9<H7S$. /o", )austus, "ilt thou ha#e a "ifeG ).;S$;S. Here*s a hot "hore, indeed@ no, 7*ll no "ife. ?9<H7S$. ?arriage is but a cere onial toy, .nd, if thou lo#*st e, think no ore of it. 7*ll cull thee out the fairest courte'ans, .nd bring the e#ery orning to thy bed@ She "ho thine eye shall like, thy heart shall ha#e, ,ere she as chaste as "as <enelo!e, .s "ise as Saba, or as beautiful .s "as bright =ucifer before his fall. Here, take this book, !eruse it "ell@ $he iterating of these lines brings gold6 $he fra ing of this circle on the ground +rings thunder, "hirl"inds, stor , and lightning6 <ronounce this thrice de#outly to thyself, .nd en in harness shall a!!ear to thee, -eady to e0ecute "hat thou co and*st. ).;S$;S. $hanks, ?e!histo!hilis, for this s"eet book@ $his "ill 7 kee! as chary as y life. 290eunt.3 9nter ).;S$;S, in his study, and ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S.
B00
).;S$;S. ,hen 7 behold the hea#ens, then 7 re!ent, .nd curse thee, "icked ?e!histo!hilis, +ecause thou hast de!ri#*d e of those %oys. ?9<H7S$. *$"as thine o"n seeking, )austus6 thank thyself. +ut, think*st thou hea#en is such a glorious thingG 7 tell thee, )austus, it is not half so fair .s thou, or any an that breathes on earth. ).;S$;S. Ho" !ro#*st thou thatG ?9<H7S$. *$"as ade for an6 then he*s ore e0cellent. ).;S$;S. 7f hea#en "as ade for an, *t"as ade for e@ 7 "ill renounce this agic and re!ent. 9nter &((D ./&9= and 9V7= ./&9=. &((D ./&9=. )austus, re!ent6 yet &od "ill !ity thee. 9V7= ./&9=. $hou art a s!irit6 &od cannot !ity thee. ).;S$;S. ,ho bu''eth in ine ears 7 a a s!iritG +e 7 a de#il, yet &od ay !ity e6 Uea, &od "ill !ity e, if 7 re!ent. 9V7= ./&9=. .y, but )austus ne#er shall re!ent. 290eunt ./&9=S.3 ).;S$;S. ?y heart is harden*d, 7 cannot re!ent6 Scarce can 7 na e sal#ation, faith, or hea#en@ S"ords, !oisons, halters, and en#eno *d steel .re laid before e to des!atch yself6 .nd long ere this 7 should ha#e done the deed, Had not s"eet !leasure con4uer*d dee! des!air. Ha#e not 7 ade blind Ho er sing to e (f .le0ander*s lo#e and (enon*s deathG .nd hath not he, that built the "alls of $hebes ,ith ra#ishing sound of his elodious har!, ?ade usic "ith y ?e!histo!hilisG ,hy should 7 die, then, or basely des!airG 7 a resol#*d6 )austus shall not re!ent.-5o e, ?e!histo!hilis, let us dis!ute again, .nd reason of di#ine astrology. S!eak, are there any s!heres abo#e the oonG .re all celestial bodies but one globe, .s is the substance of this centric earthG ?9<H7S$. .s are the ele ents, such are the hea#ens, 9#en fro the oon unto th* e !yreal orb, B01
?utually folded in each other*s s!heres, .nd %ointly o#e u!on one a0letree, ,hose ter ine is ter *d the "orld*s "ide !ole6 /or are the na es of Saturn, ?ars, or 1u!iter )eign*d, but are erring stars. ).;S$;S. +ut ha#e they all one otion, both situ et te !oreG ?9<H7S$. .ll o#e fro east to "est in four-and-t"enty hours u!on the !oles of the "orld6 but differ in their otions u!on the !oles of the 'odiac. ).;S$;S. $hese slender 4uestions ,agner can decide@ Hath ?e!histo!hilis no greater skillG ,ho kno"s not the double otion of the !lanetsG $hat the first is finish*d in a natural day6 $he second thus6 Saturn in thirty years6 1u!iter in t"el#e6 ?ars in four6 the Sun, Venus, and ?ercury in a year6 the ?oon in t"enty-eight days. $hese are fresh en*s 4uestions. +ut tell e, hath e#ery s!here a do inion or intelligentiaG ?9<H7S$. .y. ).;S$;S. Ho" any hea#ens or s!heres are thereG ?9<H7S$. /ine6 the se#en !lanets, the fir a ent, and the e !yreal hea#en. ).;S$;S. +ut is there not coelu igneu et crystallinu G ?9<H7S$. /o, )austus, they be but fables. ).;S$;S. -esol#e e, then, in this one 4uestion6 "hy are not con%unctions, o!!ositions, as!ects, ecli!ses, all at one ti e, but in so e years "e ha#e ore, in so e lessG ?9<H7S$. <er inoe4uale otu res!ectu totius. ).;S$;S. ,ell, 7 a ans"ered. /o" tell e "ho ade the "orldG ?9<H7S$. 7 "ill not. ).;S$;S. S"eet ?e!histo!hilis, tell e. ?9<H7S$. ?o#e e not, )austus. ).;S$;S. Villain, ha#e 7 not bound thee to tell e any thingG ?9<H7S$. .y, that is not against our kingdo 6 this is. $hou art da ned6 think thou of hell. ).;S$;S. $hink, )austus, u!on &od that ade the "orld. ?9<H7S$. -e e ber this. 290it.3 ).;S$;S. .y, go, accursed s!irit, to ugly hellE *$is thou hast da n*d distressed )austus* soul. 7s*t not too lateG
B0A
-e-enter &((D ./&9= and 9V7= ./&9=. 9V7= ./&9=. $oo late. &((D ./&9=. /e#er too late, if )austus "ill re!ent. 9V7= ./&9=. 7f thou re!ent, de#ils "ill tear thee in !ieces. &((D ./&9=. -e!ent, and they shall ne#er ra'e thy skin. 290eunt ./&9=S.3 ).;S$;S. ( 5hrist, y Sa#iour, y Sa#iour Hel! to sa#e distressed )austus* soulE 9nter =;57)9-, +9=Y9+;+, and ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S. =;57)9-. 5hrist cannot sa#e thy soul, for he is %ust@ $here*s none but 7 ha#e interest in the sa e. ).;S$;S. (, "hat art thou that look*st so terriblyG =;57)9-. 7 a =ucifer, .nd this is y co !anion-!rince in hell. ).;S$;S. ( )austus, they are co e to fetch thy soulE +9=Y9+;+. ,e are co e to tell thee thou dost in%ure us. =;57)9-. $hou call*st of 5hrist, contrary to thy !ro ise. +9=Y9+;+. $hou shouldst not think on &od. =;57)9-. $hink of the de#il. +9=Y9+;+. .nd his da too. ).;S$;S. /or "ill )austus henceforth@ !ardon hi for this, .nd )austus #o"s ne#er to look to hea#en. =;57)9-. So shalt thou she" thyself an obedient ser#ant, .nd "e "ill highly gratify thee for it. +9=Y9+;+. )austus, "e are co e fro hell in !erson to she" thee so e !asti e@ sit do"n, and thou shalt behold the Se#en Deadly Sins a!!ear to thee in their o"n !ro!er sha!es and likeness. ).;S$;S. $hat sight "ill be as !leasant unto e, .s <aradise "as to .da the first day (f his creation. =;57)9-. $alk not of <aradise or creation6 but ark the sho".-&o, ?e!histo!hilis, and fetch the in. ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S brings in the S9V9/ D9.D=U S7/S. +9=Y9+;+. /o", )austus, 4uestion the of their na es and dis!ositions. ).;S$;S. $hat shall 7 soon.--,hat art thou, the firstG B0B
<-7D9. 7 a <ride. 7 disdain to ha#e any !arents. 7 a like to (#id*s flea6 7 can cree! into e#ery corner of a "ench6 so eti es, like a !erri"ig, 7 sit u!on her bro"6 ne0t, like a necklace, 7 hang about her neck6 then, like a fan of feathers, 7 kiss her li!s6 and then, turning yself to a "rought s ock, do "hat 7 list. +ut, fie, "hat a s ell is hereE 7*ll not s!eak a "ord ore for a king*s ranso , unless the ground be !erfu ed, and co#ered "ith cloth of arras. ).;S$;S. $hou art a !roud kna#e, indeed.--,hat art thou, the secondG 5(V9$(;S/9SS. 7 a 5o#etousness, begotten of an old churl, in a leather bag@ and, ight 7 no" obtain y "ish, this house, you, and all, should turn to gold, that 7 ight lock you safe into y chest@ ( y s"eet goldE ).;S$;S. .nd "hat art thou, the thirdG 9/VU. 7 a 9n#y, begotten of a chi ney-s"ee!er and an oyster-"ife. 7 cannot read, and therefore "ish all books burned. 7 a lean "ith seeing others eat. (, that there "ould co e a fa ine o#er all the "orld, that all ight die, and 7 li#e aloneE then thou shouldst see ho" fat 7*d be. +ut ust thou sit, and 7 standG co e do"n, "ith a #engeanceE ).;S$;S. (ut, en#ious "retchE--+ut "hat art thou, the fourthG ,-.$H. 7 a ,rath. 7 had neither father nor other@ 7 lea!t out of a lion*s outh "hen 7 "as scarce an hour old6 and e#er since ha#e run u! and do"n the "orld "ith this case of ra!iers, "ounding yself "hen 7 could get none to fight "ithal. 7 "as born in hell6 and look to it, for so e of you shall be y father. ).;S$;S. .nd "hat art thou, the fifthG &=;$$(/U. 7 a &luttony. ?y !arents are all dead, and the de#il a !enny they ha#e left e, but a s all !ension, and that buys e thirty eals a-day and ten be#ers,--a s all trifle to suffice nature. 7 co e of a royal !edigree@ y father "as a &a on of +acon, y other "as a Hogshead of 5laret-"ine6 y godfathers "ere these, <eter <ickled-herring and ?artin ?artle as-beef6 but y god other, (, she "as an ancient gentle"o an6 her na e "as ?argery ?arch-beer. /o", )austus, thou hast heard all y !rogeny6 "ilt thou bid e to su!!erG ).;S$;S. /ot 7. &=;$$(/U. $hen the de#il choke theeE ).;S$;S. 5hoke thyself, gluttonE--,hat art thou, the si0thG S=($H. HeighoE 7 a Sloth. 7 "as begotten on a sunny bank. B0C
HeighoE 7*ll not s!eak a "ord ore for a king*s ranso . ).;S$;S. .nd "hat are you, ?istress ?in0, the se#enth and lastG =95H9-U. ,ho, 7, sirG 7 a one that lo#es an inch of ra" utton better than an ell of fried stock-fish6 and the first letter of y na e begins "ith =. =;57)9-. ."ay to hell, a"ayE (n, !i!erE 290eunt the S7/S.3 ).;S$;S. (, ho" this sight doth delight y soulE =;57)9-. $ut, )austus, in hell is all anner of delight. ).;S$;S. (, ight 7 see hell, and return again safe, Ho" ha!!y "ere 7 thenE =;57)9-. )austus, thou shalt6 at idnight 7 "ill send for thee. ?ean"hile !eruse this book and #ie" it throughly, .nd thou shalt turn thyself into "hat sha!e thou "ilt. ).;S$;S. $hanks, ighty =uciferE $his "ill 7 kee! as chary as y life. =;57)9-. /o", )austus, fare"ell. ).;S$;S. )are"ell, great =ucifer. 290eunt =;57)9- and +9=Y9+;+.3 5o e, ?e!histo!hilis. 290eunt.3 9nter -(+7/, "ith a book. -(+7/. ,hat, DickE look to the horses there, till 7 co e again. 7 ha#e gotten one of Doctor )austus* con%uring-books6 and no" "e*ll ha#e such kna#ery as*t !asses. 9nter D75H. D75H. ,hat, -obinE you ust co e a"ay and "alk the horses. -(+7/. 7 "alk the horsesE 7 scorn*t, faith@ 7 ha#e other atters in hand@ let the horses "alk the sel#es, an they "ill.-2-eads.3 . !er se, a6 t, h, e, the6 o !er se, o6 De y orgon gorgon.-Hee! further fro e, ( thou illiterate and unlearned hostlerE D75H. *Snails, "hat hast thou got thereG a bookE "hy, thou canst not tell ne*er a "ord on*t. -(+7/. $hat thou shalt see !resently@ kee! out of the circle, 7 say, lest 7 send you into the ostry "ith a #engeance. D75H. $hat*s like, faithE you had best lea#e your foolery6 for, B05
an y aster co e, he*ll con%ure you, faith. -(+7/. ?y aster con%ure eE 7*ll tell thee "hat6 an y aster co e here, 7*ll cla! as fair a !air of horns on*s head as e*er thou sa"est in thy life. D75H. $hou need*st not do that, for y istress hath done it. -(+7/. .y, there be of us here that ha#e "aded as dee! into atters as other en, if they "ere dis!osed to talk. D75H. . !lague take youE 7 thought you did not sneak u! and do"n after her for nothing. +ut, 7 !rithee, tell e in good sadness, -obin, is that a con%uring-bookG -(+7/. Do but s!eak "hat thou*lt ha#e e to do, and 7*ll do*t@ if thou*lt dance naked, !ut off thy clothes, and 7*ll con%ure thee about !resently6 or, if thou*lt go but to the ta#ern "ith e, 7*ll gi#e thee "hite "ine, red "ine, claret-"ine, sack, uscadine, al sey, and "hi!!incrust, hold, belly, hold6 and "e*ll not !ay one !enny for it. D75H. , bra#eE <rithee, let*s to it !resently, for 7 a as dry as a dog. -(+7/. 5o e, then, let*s a"ay. 290eunt.3 9nter 5H(-;S. 5H(-;S. =earned )austus, $o find the secrets of astrono y &ra#en in the book of 1o#e*s high fir a ent, Did ount hi u! to scale (ly !us* to!6 ,here, sitting in a chariot burning bright, Dra"n by the strength of yoked dragons* necks, He #ie"s the clouds, the !lanets, and the stars, $he tro!ic 'ones, and 4uarters of the sky, )ro the bright circle of the horned oon 9#en to the height of <ri u ?obile6 .nd, "hirling round "ith this circu ference, ,ithin the conca#e co !ass of the !ole, )ro east to "est his dragons s"iftly glide, .nd in eight days did bring hi ho e again. /ot long he stay*d "ithin his 4uiet house, $o rest his bones after his "eary toil6 +ut ne" e0!loits do hale hi out again@ B06
.nd, ounted then u!on a dragon*s back, $hat "ith his "ings did !art the subtle air, He no" is gone to !ro#e cos ogra!hy, $hat easures coasts and kingdo s of the earth6 .nd, as 7 guess, "ill first arri#e at -o e, $o see the <o!e and anner of his court, .nd take so e !art of holy <eter*s feast, $he "hich this day is highly sole ni'*d. 290it.3 9nter ).;S$;S and ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S. ).;S$;S. Ha#ing no", y good ?e!histo!hilis, <ass*d "ith delight the stately to"n of $rier, 9n#iron*d round "ith airy ountain-to!s, ,ith "alls of flint, and dee!-entrenched lakes, /ot to be "on by any con4uering !rince6 )ro <aris ne0t, coasting the real of )rance, ,e sa" the ri#er ?aine fall into -hine, ,hose banks are set "ith gro#es of fruitful #ines6 $hen u! to /a!les, rich 5a !ania, ,hose buildings fair and gorgeous to the eye, $he streets straight forth, and !a#*d "ith finest brick, :uarter the to"n in four e4ui#alents@ $here sa" "e learned ?aro*s golden to b6 $he "ay he cut, an 9nglish ile in length, $horough a rock of stone, in one night*s s!ace6 )ro thence to Venice, <adua, and the rest, 7n one of "hich a su !tuous te !le stands, $hat threats the stars "ith her as!iring to!, ,hose fra e is !a#*d "ith sundry-colour*d stones, .nd roof*d aloft "ith curious "ork in gold. $hus hitherto hath )austus s!ent his ti e@ +ut tell e no", "hat resting-!lace is thisG Hast thou, as erst 7 did co and, 5onducted e "ithin the "alls of -o eG ?9<H7S$. 7 ha#e, y )austus6 and, for !roof thereof, $his is the goodly !alace of the <o!e6 .nd, *cause "e are no co on guests, 7 choose his !ri#y-cha ber for our use. ).;S$;S. 7 ho!e his Holiness "ill bid us "elco e. B0D
?9<H7S$. .ll*s one, for "e*ll be bold "ith his #enison. +ut no", y )austus, that thou ayst !ercei#e ,hat -o e contains for to delight thine eyes, Hno" that this city stands u!on se#en hills $hat under!ro! the ground"ork of the sa e@ 1ust through the idst runs flo"ing $iber*s strea , ,ith "inding banks that cut it in t"o !arts6 (#er the "hich t"o stately bridges lean, $hat ake safe !assage to each !art of -o e@ ;!on the bridge call*d <onte .ngelo 9rected is a castle !assing strong, ,here thou shalt see such store of ordnance, .s that the double cannons, forg*d of brass, Do atch the nu ber of the days contain*d ,ithin the co !ass of one co !lete year6 +eside the gates, and high !yra ides, $hat 1ulius 5aesar brought fro .frica. ).;S$;S. /o", by the kingdo s of infernal rule, (f Sty0, of .cheron, and the fiery lake (f e#er-burning <hlegethon, 7 s"ear $hat 7 do long to see the onu ents .nd situation of bright-s!lendent -o e@ 5o e, therefore, let*s a"ay. ?9<H7S$. /ay, stay, y )austus@ 7 kno" you*d see the <o!e, .nd take so e !art of holy <eter*s feast, $he "hich, in state and high sole nity, $his day, is held through -o e and 7taly, 7n honour of the <o!e*s triu !hant #ictory. ).;S$;S. S"eet ?e!histo!hilis, thou !leasest e. ,hilst 7 a here on earth, let e be cloy*d ,ith all things that delight the heart of an@ ?y four-and-t"enty years of liberty 7*ll s!end in !leasure and in dalliance, $hat )austus* na e, "hilst this bright fra e doth stand, ?ay be ad ir*d thorough the furthest land. ?9<H7S$. *$is "ell said, )austus. 5o e, then, stand by e, .nd thou shalt see the co e i ediately. ).;S$;S. /ay, stay, y gentle ?e!histo!hilis, .nd grant e y re4uest, and then 7 go. $hou kno"*st, "ithin the co !ass of eight days ,e #ie"*d the face of hea#en, of earth, and hell6 B08
So high our dragons soar*d into the air, $hat, looking do"n, the earth a!!ear*d to e /o bigger than y hand in 4uantity6 $here did "e #ie" the kingdo s of the "orld, .nd "hat ight !lease ine eye 7 there beheld. $hen in this sho" let e an actor be, $hat this !roud <o!e ay )austus* cunning see. ?9<H7S$. =et it be so, y )austus. +ut, first, stay, .nd #ie" their triu !hs as they !ass this "ay6 .nd then de#ise "hat best contents thy ind, +y cunning in thine art to cross the <o!e, (r dash the !ride of this sole nity6 $o ake his onks and abbots stand like a!es, .nd !oint like antics at his tri!le cro"n6 $o beat the beads about the friars* !ates, (r cla! huge horns u!on the 5ardinals* heads6 (r any #illany thou canst de#ise6 .nd 7*ll !erfor it, )austus. HarkE they co e@ $his day shall ake thee be ad ir*d in -o e. 9nter the 5.-D7/.=S and +7SH(<S, so e bearing crosiers, so e the !illars6 ?(/HS and )-7.-S, singing their !rocession6 then the <(<9, -.U?(/D king of Hungary, the .-5H+7SH(< () -H97?S, +-;/( led in chains, and .$$9/D./$S. <(<9. 5ast do"n our footstool. -.U?(/D. Sa0on +runo, stoo!, ,hilst on thy back his Holiness ascends Saint <eter*s chair and state !ontifical. +-;/(. <roud =ucifer, that state belongs to e6 +ut thus 7 fall to <eter, not to thee. <(<9. $o e and <eter shalt thou gro#elling lie, .nd crouch before the <a!al dignity.-Sound tru !ets, then6 for thus Saint <eter*s heir, )ro +runo*s back, ascends Saint <eter*s chair. 2. flourish "hile he ascends.3 $hus, as the gods cree! on "ith feet of "ool, =ong ere "ith iron hands they !unish en, So shall our slee!ing #engeance no" arise, .nd s ite "ith death thy hated enter!rise.-=ord 5ardinals of )rance and <adua, B0>
&o forth"ith to our holy consistory, .nd read, a ongst the statutes decretal, ,hat, by the holy council held at $rent, $he sacred synod hath decreed for hi $hat doth assu e the <a!al go#ern ent ,ithout election and a true consent@ ."ay, and bring us "ord "ith s!eed. 5.-D7/.= () )-./59. ,e go, y lord. 290eunt 5.-D7/.=S of )rance and <adua.3 <(<9. =ord -ay ond. 2$hey con#erse in du b sho".3 ).;S$;S. &o, haste thee, gentle ?e!histo!hilis, )ollo" the cardinals to the consistory6 .nd, as they turn their su!erstitious books, Strike the "ith sloth and dro"sy idleness, .nd ake the slee! so sound, that in their sha!es $hyself and 7 ay !arley "ith this <o!e, $his !roud confronter of the 9 !eror6 .nd, in des!ite of all his holiness, -estore this +runo to his liberty, .nd bear hi to the states of &er any. ?9<H7S$. )austus, 7 go. ).;S$;S. Des!atch it soon@ $he <o!e shall curse, that )austus ca e to -o e. 290eunt ).;S$;S and ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S.3 +-;/(. <o!e .drian, let e ha#e right of la"@ 7 "as elected by the 9 !eror. <(<9. ,e "ill de!ose the 9 !eror for that deed, .nd curse the !eo!le that sub it to hi @ +oth he and thou shall stand e0co unicate, .nd interdict fro church*s !ri#ilege .nd all society of holy en. He gro"s too !roud in his authority, =ifting his lofty head abo#e the clouds, .nd, like a stee!le, o#er!eers the church@ +ut "e*ll !ull do"n his haughty insolence6 .nd, as <o!e .le0ander, our !rogenitor, $rod on the neck of &er an )rederick, .dding this golden sentence to our !raise, F$hat <eter*s heirs should tread on 9 !erors, .nd "alk u!on the dreadful adder*s back, B10
$reading the lion and the dragon do"n, .nd fearless s!urn the killing basilisk,F So "ill "e 4uell that haughty schis atic, .nd, by authority a!ostolical, De!ose hi fro his regal go#ern ent. +-;/(. <o!e 1ulius s"ore to !rincely Sigis ond, )or hi and the succeeding <o!es of -o e, $o hold the 9 !erors their la"ful lords. <(<9. <o!e 1ulius did abuse the church*s rights, .nd therefore none of his decrees can stand. 7s not all !o"er on earth besto"*d on usG .nd therefore, though "e "ould, "e cannot err. +ehold this sil#er belt, "hereto is fi0*d Se#en golden seals, fast sealed "ith se#en seals, 7n token of our se#en-fold !o"er fro hea#en, $o bind or loose, lock fast, conde n or %udge, -esign or seal, or "hat so !leaseth us@ $hen he and thou, and all the "orld, shall stoo!, (r be assured of our dreadful curse, $o light as hea#y as the !ains of hell. -e-enter ).;S$;S and ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S, in the sha!es of the 5.-D7/.=S of )rance and <adua. ?9<H7S$. /o" tell e, )austus, are "e not fitted "ellG ).;S$;S. Ues, ?e!histo!hilis6 and t"o such cardinals /e*er ser#*d a holy <o!e as "e shall do. +ut, "hilst they slee! "ithin the consistory, =et us salute his re#erend fatherhood. -.U?(/D. +ehold, y lord, the 5ardinals are return*d. <(<9. ,elco e, gra#e fathers@ ans"er !resently ,hat hath our holy council there decreed 5oncerning +runo and the 9 !eror, 7n 4uittance of their late cons!iracy .gainst our state and !a!al dignityG ).;S$;S. ?ost sacred !atron of the church of -o e, +y full consent of all the synod (f !riests and !relates, it is thus decreed,-$hat +runo and the &er an 9 !eror +e held as =ollards and bold schis atics, .nd !roud disturbers of the church*s !eace6 B11
.nd if that +runo, by his o"n assent, ,ithout enforce ent of the &er an !eers, Did seek to "ear the tri!le diade , .nd by your death to cli b Saint <eter*s chair, $he statutes decretal ha#e thus decreed,-He shall be straight conde n*d of heresy, .nd on a !ile of faggots burnt to death. <(<9. 7t is enough. Here, take hi to your charge, .nd bear hi straight to <onte .ngelo, .nd in the strongest to"er enclose hi fast. $o- orro", sitting in our consistory, ,ith all our college of gra#e cardinals, ,e "ill deter ine of his life or death. Here, take his tri!le cro"n along "ith you, .nd lea#e it in the church*s treasury. ?ake haste again, y good =ord 5ardinals, .nd take our blessing a!ostolical. ?9<H7S$. So, so6 "as ne#er de#il thus bless*d before. ).;S$;S. ."ay, s"eet ?e!histo!hilis, be gone6 $he 5ardinals "ill be !lagu*d for this anon. 290eunt ).;S$;S and ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S "ith +-;/(.3 <(<9. &o !resently and bring a ban4uet forth, $hat "e ay sole ni'e Saint <eter*s feast, .nd "ith =ord -ay ond, Hing of Hungary, Drink to our late and ha!!y #ictory. . Sennet "hile the ban4uet is brought in6 and then enter ).;S$;S and ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S in their o"n sha!es. ?9<H7S$. /o", )austus, co e, !re!are thyself for irth@ $he slee!y 5ardinals are hard at hand, $o censure +runo, that is !osted hence, .nd on a !roud-!ac*d steed, as s"ift as thought, )lies o*er the .l!s to fruitful &er any, $here to salute the "oful 9 !eror. ).;S$;S. $he <o!e "ill curse the for their sloth to-day, $hat sle!t both +runo and his cro"n a"ay. +ut no", that )austus ay delight his ind, .nd by their folly ake so e erri ent, S"eet ?e!histo!hilis, so char e here, $hat 7 ay "alk in#isible to all, B1A
.nd do "hate*er 7 !lease, unseen of any. ?9<H7S$. )austus, thou shalt@ then kneel do"n !resently, ,hilst on thy head 7 lay y hand, .nd char thee "ith this agic "and. )irst, "ear this girdle6 then a!!ear 7n#isible to all are here@ $he !lanets se#en, the gloo y air, Hell, and the )uries* forked hair, <luto*s blue fire, and Hecat*s tree, ,ith agic s!ells so co !ass thee, $hat no eye ay thy body seeE So, )austus, no", for all their holiness, Do "hat thou "ilt, thou shalt not be discern*d. ).;S$;S. $hanks, ?e!histo!hilis.--/o", friars, take heed, =est )austus ake your sha#en cro"ns to bleed. ?9<H7S$. )austus, no ore@ see, "here the 5ardinals co eE -e-enter the 5.-D7/.=S of )rance and <adua "ith a book. <(<9. ,elco e, =ord 5ardinals6 co e, sit do"n.-=ord -ay ond, take your seat.--)riars, attend, .nd see that all things be in readiness, .s best besee s this sole n festi#al. 5.-D7/.= () )-./59. )irst, ay it !lease your sacred Holiness $o #ie" the sentence of the re#erend synod 5oncerning +runo and the 9 !erorG <(<9. ,hat needs this 4uestionG did 7 not tell you, $o- orro" "e "ould sit i* the consistory, .nd there deter ine of his !unish entG Uou brought us "ord e#en no", it "as decreed $hat +runo and the cursed 9 !eror ,ere by the holy council both conde n*d )or loathed =ollards and base schis atics@ $hen "herefore "ould you ha#e e #ie" that bookG 5.-D7/.= () )-./59. Uour grace istakes6 you ga#e us no such charge. -.U?(/D. Deny it not6 "e all are "itnesses $hat +runo here "as late deli#er*d you, ,ith his rich tri!le cro"n to be reser#*d .nd !ut into the church*s treasury. +($H 5.-D7/.=S. +y holy <aul, "e sa" the notE B1B
<(<9. +y <eter, you shall die, ;nless you bring the forth i ediatelyE-Hale the to !rison, lade their li bs "ith gy#es.-)alse !relates, for this hateful treachery 5urs*d be your souls to hellish iseryE 290eunt .$$9/D./$S "ith the t"o 5.-D7/.=S.3 ).;S$;S. So, they are safe. /o", )austus, to the feast@ $he <o!e had ne#er such a frolic guest. <(<9. =ord .rchbisho! of -hei s, sit do"n "ith us. .-5H+7SH(<. 7 thank your Holiness. ).;S$;S. )all to6 the de#il choke you, an you s!areE <(<9. ,ho is that s!okeG--)riars, look about.-=ord -ay ond, !ray, fall to. 7 a beholding $o the +isho! of ?ilan for this so rare a !resent. ).;S$;S. 7 thank you, sir. 2Snatches the dish.3 <(<9. Ho" no"E "ho snatch*d the eat fro eG Villains, "hy s!eak you notG-?y good =ord .rchbisho!, here*s a ost dainty dish ,as sent e fro a cardinal in )rance. ).;S$;S. 7*ll ha#e that too. 2Snatches the dish.3 <(<9. ,hat =ollards do attend our holiness, $hat "e recei#e such great indignityG )etch e so e "ine. ).;S$;S. .y, !ray, do, for )austus is a-dry. <(<9. =ord -ay ond, 7 drink unto your grace. ).;S$;S. 7 !ledge your grace. 2Snatches the cu!.3 <(<9. ?y "ine gone tooE--Ue lubbers, look about, .nd find the an that doth this #illany, (r, by our sanctitude, you all shall dieE-7 !ray, y lords, ha#e !atience at this $roubleso e ban4uet. .-5H+7SH(<. <lease it your Holiness, 7 think it be so e ghost cre!t out of <urgatory, and no" is co e unto your Holiness for his !ardon. <(<9. 7t ay be so.-&o, then, co and our !riests to sing a dirge, $o lay the fury of this sa e troubleso e ghost. B1C
290it an .$$9/D./$.--$he <(<9 crosses hi self.3 ).;S$;S. Ho" no"E ust e#ery bit be s!ic*d "ith a crossG-/ay, then, take that. 2Strikes the <(<9.3 <(<9. (, 7 a slainE--Hel! e, y lordsE (, co e and hel! to bear y body henceE-Da n*d be his soul for e#er for this deedE 290eunt all e0ce!t ).;S$;S and ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S.3 ?9<H7S$. /o", )austus, "hat "ill you do no"G for 7 can tell you you*ll be cursed "ith bell, book, and candle. ).;S$;S. +ell, book, and candle,--candle, book, and bell,-)or"ard and back"ard, to curse )austus to hellE -e-enter the )-7.-S, "ith bell, book, and candle, for the Dirge. )7-S$ )-7.-. 5o e, brethren, lets about our business "ith good de#otion. 2$hey sing.3 5;-S9D +9 H9 $H.$ S$(=9 H7S H(=7/9SS* ?9.$ )-(? $H9 $.+=9E aledicat Do inusE 5;-S9D +9 H9 $H.$ S$-;5H H7S H(=7/9SS . +=(, (/ $H9 ).59E aledicat Do inusE 5;-S9D +9 H9 $H.$ S$-;5H )-7.- S./D9=( . +=(, (/ $H9 <.$9E aledicat Do inusE 5;-S9D +9 H9 $H.$ D7S$;-+9$H (;- H(=U D7-&9E aledicat Do inusE 5;-S9D +9 H9 $H.$ $((H .,.U H7S H(=7/9SS* ,7/9E aledicat Do inusE 2?9<H7S$(<H7=7S and ).;S$;S beat the )-7.-S, and fling fire-"orks a ong the , and e0eunt.3 9nter -(+7/ and D75H "ith a cu!. D75H. Sirrah -obin, "e "ere best look that your de#il can ans"er the stealing of this sa e cu!, for the Vintner*s boy follo"s us at the hard heels. -(+7/. *$is no atter6 let hi co e@ an he follo" us, 7*ll so B15
con%ure hi as he "as ne#er con%ured in his life, 7 "arrant hi . =et e see the cu!. D75H. Here *tis. 2&i#es the cu! to -(+7/.3 Uonder he co es@ no", -obin, no" or ne#er she" thy cunning. 9nter V7/$/9-. V7/$/9-. (, are you hereG 7 a glad 7 ha#e found you. Uou are a cou!le of fine co !anions@ !ray, "here*s the cu! you stole fro the ta#ernG -(+7/. Ho", ho"E "e steal a cu!E take heed "hat you say@ "e look not like cu!-stealers, 7 can tell you. V7/$/9-. /e#er deny*t, for 7 kno" you ha#e it6 and 7*ll search you. -(+7/. Search eE ay, and s!are not. --Hold the cu!, Dick 2.side to D75H, gi#ing hi the cu!3.-5o e, co e, search e, search e. 2V7/$/9- searches hi .3 V7/$/9-. 5o e on, sirrah, let e search you no". D75H. .y, ay, do, do. --Hold the cu!, -obin 2.side to -(+7/, gi#ing hi the cu!3.-7 fear not your searching@ "e scorn to steal your cu!s, 7 can tell you. 2V7/$/9- searches hi .3 V7/$/9-. /e#er out-face e for the atter6 for, sure, the cu! is bet"een you t"o. -(+7/. /ay, there you lie6 *tis beyond us both. V7/$/9-. . !lague take youE 7 thought *t"as your kna#ery to take it a"ay@ co e, gi#e it e again. -(+7/. .y, uchE "hen, can you tellG--Dick, ake e a circle, and stand close at y back, and stir not for thy life.--Vintner, you shall ha#e your cu! anon.--Say nothing, Dick.--2-eads fro a book3 ( !er se, (6 De ogorgon6 +elcher, and ?e!histo!hilisE 9nter ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S. ?9<H7S$. Uou !rincely legions of infernal rule, Ho" a 7 #e0ed by these #illains* char sE )ro 5onstantino!le ha#e they brought e no", (nly for !leasure of these da ned sla#es. 290it V7/$/9-.3 B16
-(+7/. +y lady, sir, you ha#e had a shre"d %ourney of itE "ill it !lease you to take a shoulder of utton to su!!er, and a tester in your !urse, and go back againG D75H. .y, 7 !ray you heartily, sir6 for "e called you but in %est, 7 !ro ise you. ?9<H7S$. $o !urge the rashness of this cursed deed, )irst, be thou turned to this ugly sha!e, )or a!ish deeds transfor ed to an a!e. -(+7/. (, bra#eE an a!eE 7 !ray, sir, let e ha#e the carrying of hi about, to she" so e tricks. ?9<H7S$. .nd so thou shalt@ be thou transfor ed to a dog, and carry hi u!on thy back. ."ayE be goneE -(+7/. . dogE that*s e0cellent@ let the aids look "ell to their !orridge-!ots, for 7*ll into the kitchen !resently.--5o e, Dick, co e. 290eunt -(+7/ and D75H.3 ?9<H7S$. /o" "ith the fla es of e#er-burning fire 7*ll "ing yself, and forth"ith fly a ainsic ;nto y )austus, to the &reat $urk*s court. 290it.3 9nter ?.-$7/( and )-9D9-75H at se#eral doors. ?.-$7/(. ,hat, ho, officers, gentle enE Hie to the !resence to attend the 9 !eror.-&ood )rederick, see the roo s be #oided straight@ His a%esty is co ing to the hall6 &o back, and see the state in readiness. )-9D9-75H. +ut "here is +runo, our elected <o!e, $hat on a )ury*s back ca e !ost fro -o eG ,ill not his grace consort the 9 !erorG ?.-$7/(. (, yes6 and "ith hi co es the &er an con%urer, $he learned )austus, fa e of ,ittenberg, $he "onder of the "orld for agic art6 .nd he intends to she" great 5arolus $he race of all his stout !rogenitors, .nd bring in !resence of his a%esty $he royal sha!es and !erfect se blances (f .le0ander and his beauteous !ara our. )-9D9-75H. ,here is +en#olioG ?.-$7/(. )ast aslee!, 7 "arrant you6 B1D
He took his rouse "ith stoo!s of -henish "ine So kindly yesternight to +runo*s health, $hat all this day the sluggard kee!s his bed. )-9D9-75H. See, see, his "indo"*s o!eE "e*ll call to hi . ?.-$7/(. ,hat, hoE +en#olioE 9nter +9/V(=7( abo#e, at a "indo", in his nightca!, buttoning. +9/V(=7(. ,hat a de#il ail you t"oG ?.-$7/(. S!eak softly, sir, lest the de#il hear you6 )or )austus at the court is late arri#*d, .nd at his heels a thousand )uries "ait, $o acco !lish "hatsoe*er the doctor !lease. +9/V(=7(. ,hat of thisG ?.-$7/(. 5o e, lea#e thy cha ber first, and thou shalt see $his con%urer !erfor such rare e0!loits, +efore the <o!e and royal 9 !eror, .s ne#er yet "as seen in &er any. +9/V(=7(. Has not the <o!e enough of con%uring yetG He "as u!on the de#il*s back late enough@ .n if he be so far in lo#e "ith hi , 7 "ould he "ould !ost "ith hi to -o e againE )-9D9-75H. S!eak, "ilt thou co e and see this s!ortG +9/V(=7(. /ot 7. ?.-$7/(. ,ilt thou stand in thy "indo", and see it, thenG +9/V(=7(. .y, an 7 fall not aslee! i* the ean ti e. ?.-$7/(. $he 9 !eror is at hand, "ho co es to see ,hat "onders by black s!ells ay co !ass*d be. +9/V(=7(. ,ell, go you attend the 9 !eror. 7 a content, for this once, to thrust y head out at a "indo"6 for they say, if a an be drunk o#er night, the de#il cannot hurt hi in the orning@ if that be true, 7 ha#e a char in y head, shall control hi as "ell as the con%urer, 7 "arrant you. 290eunt )-9D9-75H and ?.-$7/(.3 . Sennet. 9nter 5H.-=9S the &er an 9 !eror, +-;/(, D;H9 () S.\(/U, ).;S$;S, ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S, )-9D9-75H, ?.-$7/(, and .ttendants. 9?<9-(-. ,onder of en, reno" *d agician, $hrice-learned )austus, "elco e to our court. $his deed of thine, in setting +runo free )ro his and our !rofessed ene y, B18
Shall add ore e0cellence unto thine art $han if by !o"erful necro antic s!ells $hou couldst co and the "orld*s obedience@ )or e#er be belo#*d of 5arolusE .nd if this +runo, thou hast late redee *d, 7n !eace !ossess the tri!le diade , .nd sit in <eter*s chair, des!ite of chance, $hou shalt be fa ous through all 7taly, .nd honour*d of the &er an 9 !eror. ).;S$;S. $hese gracious "ords, ost royal 5arolus, Shall ake !oor )austus, to his ut ost !o"er, +oth lo#e and ser#e the &er an 9 !eror, .nd lay his life at holy +runo*s feet@ )or !roof "hereof, if so your grace be !leas*d, $he doctor stands !re!ar*d by !o"er of art $o cast his agic char s, that shall !ierce through $he ebon gates of e#er-burning hell, .nd hale the stubborn )uries fro their ca#es, $o co !ass "hatsoe*er your grace co ands. +9/V(=7(. +lood, he s!eaks terriblyE but, for all that, 7 do not greatly belie#e hi @ he looks as like a con%urer as the <o!e to a coster onger. 2.side.3 9?<9-(-. $hen, )austus, as thou late didst !ro ise us, ,e "ould behold that fa ous con4ueror, &reat .le0ander, and his !ara our, 7n their true sha!es and state a%estical, $hat "e ay "onder at their e0cellence. ).;S$;S. Uour a%esty shall see the !resently.-?e!histo!hilis, a"ay, .nd, "ith a sole n noise of tru !ets* sound, <resent before this royal 9 !eror &reat .le0ander and his beauteous !ara our. ?9<H7S$. )austus, 7 "ill. 290it.3 +9/V(=7(. ,ell, ?aster Doctor, an your de#ils co e not a"ay 4uickly, you shall ha#e e aslee! !resently@ 'ounds, 7 could eat yself for anger, to think 7 ha#e been such an ass all this "hile, to stand ga!ing after the de#il*s go#ernor, and can see nothingE ).;S$;S. 7*ll ake you feel so ething anon, if y art fail e not.-B1>
?y lord, 7 ust fore"arn your a%esty, $hat, "hen y s!irits !resent the royal sha!es (f .le0ander and his !ara our, Uour grace de and no 4uestions of the king, +ut in du b silence let the co e and go. 9?<9-(-. +e it as )austus !lease6 "e are content. +9/V(=7(. .y, ay, and 7 a content too@ an thou bring .le0ander and his !ara our before the 9 !eror, 7*ll be .ctaeon, and turn yself to a stag. ).;S$;S. .nd 7*ll !lay Diana, and send you the horns !resently. Sennet. 9nter, at one door, the 9?<9-(- .=9\./D9-, at the other, D.-7;S. $hey eet. D.-7;S is thro"n do"n6 .=9\./D9- kills hi , takes off his cro"n, and, offering to go out, his <.-.?(;- eets hi . He e braceth her, and sets D.-7;S* cro"n u!on her head6 and, co ing back, both salute the 9?<9-(-, "ho, lea#ing his state, offers to e brace the 6 "hich ).;S$;S seeing, suddenly stays hi . $hen tru !ets cease, and usic sounds. ?y gracious lord, you do forget yourself6 $hese are but shado"s, not substantial. 9?<9-(-. (, !ardon eE y thoughts are so ra#ish*d ,ith sight of this reno" ed e !eror, $hat in ine ar s 7 "ould ha#e co !ass*d hi . +ut, )austus, since 7 ay not s!eak to the , $o satisfy y longing thoughts at full, =et e this tell thee@ 7 ha#e heard it said $hat this fair lady, "hilst she li#*d on earth, Had on her neck a little "art or ole6 Ho" ay 7 !ro#e that saying to be trueG ).;S$;S. Uour a%esty ay boldly go and see. 9?<9-(-. )austus, 7 see it !lain6 .nd in this sight thou better !leasest e $han if 7 gain*d another onarchy. ).;S$;S. ."ayE be goneE 290it sho".3--See, see, y gracious lordE "hat strange beast is yon, that thrusts his head out at "indo"G 9?<9-(-. (, "ondrous sightE--See, Duke of Sa0ony, $"o s!reading horns ost strangely fastened ;!on the head of young +en#olioE S.\(/U. ,hat, is he aslee! or deadG ).;S$;S. He slee!s, y lord6 but drea s not of his horns. BA0
9?<9-(-. $his s!ort is e0cellent@ "e*ll call and "ake hi .-,hat, ho, +en#olioE +9/V(=7(. . !lague u!on youE let e slee! a "hile. 9?<9-(-. 7 bla e thee not to slee! uch, ha#ing such a head of thine o"n. S.\(/U. =ook u!, +en#olio6 *tis the 9 !eror calls. +9/V(=7(. $he 9 !erorE "hereG--(, 'ounds, y headE 9?<9-(-. /ay, an thy horns hold, *tis no atter for thy head, for that*s ar ed sufficiently. ).;S$;S. ,hy, ho" no", Sir HnightE "hat, hanged by the hornsE this is ost horrible@ fie, fie, !ull in your head, for sha eE let not all the "orld "onder at you. +9/V(=7(. Younds, doctor, this is your #illanyE ).;S$;S. (, say not so, sirE the doctor has no skill, /o art, no cunning, to !resent these lords, (r bring before this royal 9 !eror $he ighty onarch, "arlike .le0ander. 7f )austus do it, you are straight resol#*d, 7n bold .ctaeon*s sha!e, to turn a stag@-.nd therefore, y lord, so !lease your a%esty, 7*ll raise a kennel of hounds shall hunt hi so .s all his foot anshi! shall scarce !re#ail $o kee! his carcass fro their bloody fangs.-Ho, +eli oth, .rgiron, .sterothE +9/V(=7(. Hold, holdE--Younds, he*ll raise u! a kennel of de#ils, 7 think, anon.--&ood y lord, entreat for e.--*Sblood, 7 a ne#er able to endure these tor ents. 9?<9-(-. $hen, good ?aster Doctor, =et e entreat you to re o#e his horns6 He has done !enance no" sufficiently. ).;S$;S. ?y gracious lord, not so uch for in%ury done to e, as to delight your a%esty "ith so e irth, hath )austus %ustly re4uited this in%urious knight6 "hich being all 7 desire, 7 a content to re o#e his horns.--?e!histo!hilis, transfor hi 2?9<H7S$(<H7=7S re o#es the horns3@--and hereafter, sir, look you s!eak "ell of scholars. +9/V(=7(. S!eak "ell of yeE *sblood, an scholars be such cuckold- akers, to cla! horns of honest en*s heads o* this order, 7*ll ne*er trust s ooth faces and s all ruffs ore.--+ut, an 7 be not re#enged for this, "ould 7 ight be turned to a ga!ing oyster, and drink nothing but salt "aterE BA1
2.side, and then e0it abo#e.3 9?<9-(-. 5o e, )austus@ "hile the 9 !eror li#es, 7n reco !ense of this thy high desert, $hou shalt co and the state of &er any, .nd li#e belo#*d of ighty 5arolus. 290eunt.3 9nter +9/V(=7(, ?.-$7/(, )-9D9-75H, and S(=D79-S. ?.-$7/(. /ay, s"eet +en#olio, let us s"ay thy thoughts )ro this atte !t against the con%urer. +9/V(=7(. ."ayE you lo#e e not, to urge e thus@ Shall 7 let sli! so great an in%ury, ,hen e#ery ser#ile groo %ests at y "rongs, .nd in their rustic ga bols !roudly say, F+en#olio*s head "as grac*d "ith horns todayGF (, ay these eyelids ne#er close again, $ill "ith y s"ord 7 ha#e that con%urer slainE 7f you "ill aid e in this enter!rise, $hen dra" your "ea!ons and be resolute6 7f not, de!art@ here "ill +en#olio die, +ut )austus* death shall 4uit y infa y. )-9D9-75H. /ay, "e "ill stay "ith thee, betide "hat ay, .nd kill that doctor, if he co e this "ay. +9/V(=7(. $hen, gentle )rederick, hie thee to the gro#e, .nd !lace our ser#ants and our follo"ers 5lose in an a bush there behind the trees. +y this, 7 kno" the con%urer is near@ 7 sa" hi kneel, and kiss the 9 !eror*s hand, .nd take his lea#e, laden "ith rich re"ards. $hen, soldiers, boldly fight@ if )austus die, $ake you the "ealth, lea#e us the #ictory. )-9D9-75H. 5o e, soldiers, follo" e unto the gro#e@ ,ho kills hi shall ha#e gold and endless lo#e. 290it )-9D9-75H "ith S(=D79-S.3 +9/V(=7(. ?y head is lighter, than it "as, by the horns6 +ut yet y heart*s ore !onderous than y head, .nd !ants until 7 see that con%urer dead. ?.-$7/(. ,here shall "e !lace oursel#es, +en#olioG +9/V(=7(. Here "ill "e stay to bide the first assault@ (, "ere that da ned hell-hound but in !lace, BAA
$hou soon shouldst see -e-enter )-9D9-75H.
e 4uit
y foul disgraceE
)-9D9-75H. 5lose, closeE the con%urer is at hand, .nd all alone co es "alking in his go"n6 +e ready, then, and strike the !easant do"n. +9/V(=7(. ?ine be that honour, then. /o", s"ord, strike ho eE )or horns he ga#e 7*ll ha#e his head anon. ?.-$7/(. See, see, he co esE 9nter ).;S$;S "ith a false head. +9/V(=7(. /o "ords. $his blo" ends all@ Hell take his soulE his body thus ust fall. 2Stabs ).;S$;S.3 ).;S$;S. 2falling.3 (E )-9D9-75H. &roan you, ?aster DoctorG +9/V(=7(. +reak ay his heart "ith groansE--Dear )rederick, see, $hus "ill 7 end his griefs i ediately. ?.-$7/(. Strike "ith a "illing hand. 2+9/V(=7( strikes off ).;S$;S* head.3 His head is off. +9/V(=7(. $he de#il*s dead6 the )uries no" ay laugh. )-9D9-75H. ,as this that stern as!ect, that a"ful fro"n, ?ade the gri onarch of infernal s!irits $re ble and 4uake at his co anding char sG ?.-$7/(. ,as this that da ned head, "hose art cons!ir*d +en#olio*s sha e before the 9 !erorG +9/V(=7(. .y, that*s the head, and there the body lies, 1ustly re"arded for his #illanies. )-9D9-75H. 5o e, let*s de#ise ho" "e ay add ore sha e $o the black scandal of his hated na e. +9/V(=7(. )irst, on his head, in 4uittance of y "rongs, 7*ll nail huge forked horns, and let the hang ,ithin the "indo" "here he yok*d e first, $hat all the "orld ay see y %ust re#enge. ?.-$7/(. ,hat use shall "e !ut his beard toG +9/V(=7(. ,e*ll sell it to a chi ney-s"ee!er@ it "ill "ear out ten birchen broo s, 7 "arrant you. )-9D9-75H. ,hat shall his eyes doG BAB
+9/V(=7(. ,e*ll !ull out his eyes6 and they shall ser#e for buttons to his li!s, to kee! his tongue fro catching cold. ?.-$7/(. .n e0cellent !olicyE and no", sirs, ha#ing di#ided hi , "hat shall the body doG 2).;S$;S rises.3 +9/V(=7(. Younds, the de#il*s ali#e againE )-9D9-75H. &i#e hi his head, for &od*s sake. ).;S$;S. /ay, kee! it@ )austus "ill ha#e heads and hands, .y, all your hearts to reco !ense this deed. Hne" you not, traitors, 7 "as li ited )or four-and-t"enty years to breathe on earthG .nd, had you cut y body "ith your s"ords, (r he"*d this flesh and bones as s all as sand, Uet in a inute had y s!irit return*d, .nd 7 had breath*d a an, ade free fro har . +ut "herefore do 7 dally y re#engeG-.steroth, +eli oth, ?e!histo!hilisG 9nter ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S, and other De#ils. &o, horse these traitors on your fiery backs, .nd ount aloft "ith the as high as hea#en@ $hence !itch the headlong to the lo"est hell. Uet, stay@ the "orld shall see their isery, .nd hell shall after !lague their treachery. &o, +eli oth, and take this caitiff hence, .nd hurl hi in so e lake of ud and dirt. $ake thou this other, drag hi through the "oods . ongst the !ricking thorns and shar!est briers6 ,hilst, "ith y gentle ?e!histo!hilis, $his traitor flies unto so e stee!y rock, $hat, rolling do"n, ay break the #illain*s bones, .s he intended to dis e ber e. )ly hence6 des!atch y charge i ediately. )-9D9-75H. <ity us, gentle )austusE sa#e our li#esE ).;S$;S. ."ayE )-9D9-75H. He ust needs go that the de#il dri#es. 290eunt ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S and D9V7=S "ith +9/V(=7(, ?.-$7/(, and )-9D9-75H.3
BAC
9nter the a bushed S(=D79-S. )7-S$ S(=D79-. 5o e, sirs, !re!are yoursel#es in readiness6 ?ake haste to hel! these noble gentle en@ 7 heard the !arley "ith the con%urer. S95(/D S(=D79-. See, "here he co esE des!atch and kill the sla#e. ).;S$;S. ,hat*s hereG an a bush to betray y lifeE $hen, )austus, try thy skill.--+ase !easants, standE )or, lo, these trees re o#e at y co and, .nd stand as bul"arks *t"i0t yoursel#es and e, $o shield e fro your hated treacheryE Uet, to encounter this your "eak atte !t, +ehold, an ar y co es incontinentE 2).;S$;S strikes the door, and enter a D9V7= !laying on a dru 6 after hi another, bearing an ensign6 and di#ers "ith "ea!ons6 ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S "ith fire-"orks. $hey set u!on the S(=D79-S, dri#e the out, and e0eunt.3 9nter, at se#eral doors, +9/V(=7(, )-9D9-75H, and ?.-$7/(, their heads and faces bloody, and bes eared "ith ud and dirt6 all ha#ing horns on their heads. ?.-$7/(. ,hat, ho, +en#olioE +9/V(=7(. Here.--,hat, )rederick, hoE )-9D9-75H. (, hel! e, gentle friendE--,here is ?artinoG ?.-$7/(. Dear )rederick, here, Half s other*d in a lake of ud and dirt, $hrough "hich the )uries dragg*d e by the heels. )-9D9-75H. ?artino, see, +en#olio*s horns againE ?.-$7/(. (, iseryE--Ho" no", +en#olioE +9/V(=7(. Defend e, hea#enE shall 7 be haunted stillG ?.-$7/(. /ay, fear not, an6 "e ha#e no !o"er to kill. +9/V(=7(. ?y friends transfor ed thusE (, hellish s!iteE Uour heads are all set "ith horns. )-9D9-75H. Uou hit it right6 7t is your o"n you ean6 feel on your head. +9/V(=7(. Younds, horns againE ?.-$7/(. /ay, chafe not, an6 "e all are s!ed. +9/V(=7(. ,hat de#il attends this da n*d agician, $hat, s!ite of s!ite, our "rongs are doubledG )-9D9-75H. ,hat ay "e do, that "e ay hide our sha esG BA5
+9/V(=7(. 7f "e should follo" hi to "ork re#enge, He*d %oin long asses* ears to these huge horns, .nd ake us laughing-stocks to all the "orld. ?.-$7/(. ,hat shall "e, then, do, dear +en#olioG +9/V(=7(. 7 ha#e a castle %oining near these "oods6 .nd thither "e*ll re!air, and li#e obscure, $ill ti e shall alter these our brutish sha!es@ Sith black disgrace hath thus ecli!s*d our fa e, ,e*ll rather die "ith grief than li#e "ith sha e. 290eunt.3 9nter ).;S$;S, a H(-S9-5(;-S9-, and ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S. H(-S9-5(;-S9-. 7 beseech your "orshi!, acce!t of these forty dollars. ).;S$;S. )riend, thou canst not buy so good a horse for so s all a !rice. 7 ha#e no great need to sell hi @ but, if thou likest hi for ten dollars ore, take hi , because 7 see thou hast a good ind to hi . H(-S9-5(;-S9-. 7 beseech you, sir, acce!t of this@ 7 a a #ery !oor an, and ha#e lost #ery uch of late by horse-flesh, and this bargain "ill set e u! again. ).;S$;S. ,ell, 7 "ill not stand "ith thee@ gi#e e the oney 2H(-S9-5(;-S9- gi#es ).;S$;S the oney3. /o", sirrah, 7 ust tell you that you ay ride hi o*er hedge and ditch, and s!are hi not6 but, do you hearG in any case, ride hi not into the "ater. H(-S9-5(;-S9-. Ho", sirE not into the "aterE "hy, "ill he not drink of all "atersG ).;S$;S. Ues, he "ill drink of all "aters6 but ride hi not into the "ater@ o*er hedge and ditch, or "here thou "ilt, but not into the "ater. &o, bid the hostler deli#er hi unto you, and re e ber "hat 7 say. H(-S9-5(;-S9-. 7 "arrant you, sirE--(, %oyful dayE no" a 7 a ade an for e#er. 290it.3 ).;S$;S. ,hat art thou, )austus, but a an conde n*d to dieG $hy fatal ti e dra"s to a final end6 Des!air doth dri#e distrust into y thoughts@ 5onfound these !assions "ith a 4uiet slee!@ $ush, 5hrist did call the thief u!on the 5ross6 $hen rest thee, )austus, 4uiet in conceit. BA6
2He sits to slee!.3 -e-enter the H(-S9-5(;-S9-, "et. H(-S9-5(;-S9-. , "hat a co'ening doctor "as thisE 7, riding y horse into the "ater, thinking so e hidden ystery had been in the horse, 7 had nothing under e but a little stra", and had uch ado to esca!e dro"ning. ,ell, 7*ll go rouse hi , and ake hi gi#e e y forty dollars again.--Ho, sirrah Doctor, you co'ening scabE ?aster Doctor, a"ake, and rise, and gi#e e y oney again, for your horse is turned to a bottle of hay, ?aster DoctorE 2He !ulls off ).;S$;S* leg3. .las, 7 a undoneE "hat shall 7 doG 7 ha#e !ulled off his leg. ).;S$;S. (, hel!, hel!E the #illain hath urdered e. H(-S9-5(;-S9-. ?urder or not urder, no" he has but one leg, 7*ll outrun hi , and cast this leg into so e ditch or other. 2.side, and then runs out.3 ).;S$;S. Sto! hi , sto! hi , sto! hi E--Ha, ha, haE )austus hath his leg again, and the Horse-courser a bundle of hay for his forty dollars. 9nter ,.&/9-. Ho" no", ,agnerE "hat ne"s "ith theeG ,.&/9-. 7f it !lease you, the Duke of Vanholt doth earnestly entreat your co !any, and hath sent so e of his en to attend you, "ith !ro#ision fit for your %ourney. ).;S$;S. $he Duke of Vanholt*s an honourable gentle an, and one to "ho 7 ust be no niggard of y cunning. 5o e, a"ayE 290eunt. 9nter -(+7/, D75H, the H(-S9-5(;-S9-, and a 5.-$9-. 5.-$9-. 5o e, y asters, 7*ll bring you to the best beer in 9uro!e.--,hat, ho, hostessE "here be these "horesG 9nter H(S$9SS. H(S$9SS. Ho" no"E "hat lack youG ,hat, y old guessE "elco e. -(+7/. Sirrah Dick, dost thou kno" "hy 7 stand so uteG D75H. /o, -obin@ "hy is*tG BAD
-(+7/. 7 a eighteen-!ence on the score. but say nothing6 see if she ha#e forgotten e. H(S$9SS. ,ho*s this that stands so sole nly by hi selfG ,hat, y old guestE -(+7/. (, hostess, ho" do youG 7 ho!e y score stands still. H(S$9SS. .y, there*s no doubt of that6 for ethinks you ake no haste to "i!e it out. D75H. ,hy, hostess, 7 say, fetch us so e beer. H(S$9SS. Uou shall !resently.--=ook u! into the hall there, hoE 290it.--Drink is !resently brought in.3 D75H. 5o e, sirs, "hat shall "e do no" till ine hostess co esG 5.-$9-. ?arry, sir, 7*ll tell you the bra#est tale ho" a con%urer ser#ed e. Uou kno" Doctor )austusG H(-S9-5(;-S9-. .y, a !lague take hi E here*s so e on*s ha#e cause to kno" hi . Did he con%ure thee tooG 5.-$9-. 7*ll tell you ho" he ser#ed e. .s 7 "as going to ,ittenberg, t*other day, "ith a load of hay, he et e, and asked e "hat he should gi#e e for as uch hay as he could eat. /o", sir, 7 thinking that a little "ould ser#e his turn, bad hi take as uch as he "ould for three farthings@ so he !resently ga#e e y oney and fell to eating6 and, as 7 a a cursen an, he ne#er left eating till he had eat u! all y load of hay. .==. (, onstrousE eat a "hole load of hayE -(+7/. Ues, yes, that ay be6 for 7 ha#e heard of one that has eat a load of logs. H(-S9-5(;-S9-. /o", sirs, you shall hear ho" #illanously he ser#ed e. 7 "ent to hi yesterday to buy a horse of hi , and he "ould by no eans sell hi under forty dollars. So, sir, because 7 kne" hi to be such a horse as "ould run o#er hedge and ditch and ne#er tire, 7 ga#e hi his oney. So, "hen 7 had y horse, Doctor )austus bad e ride hi night and day, and s!are hi no ti e6 but, 4uoth he, in any case, ride hi not into the "ater. /o", sir, 7 thinking the horse had had so e 4uality that he "ould not ha#e e kno" of, "hat did 7 but rid hi into a great ri#erG and "hen 7 ca e %ust in the idst, y horse #anished a"ay, and 7 sate straddling u!on a bottle of hay. .==. (, bra#e doctorE H(-S9-5(;-S9-. +ut you shall hear ho" bra#ely 7 ser#ed hi for it. 7 "ent e ho e to his house, and there 7 found hi aslee!. 7 ke!t a hallooing and "hoo!ing in his ears6 but all could not "ake hi . 7, seeing that, took hi by the leg, and ne#er rested BA8
!ulling till 7 had !ulled e his leg 4uite off6 and no" *tis at ho e in ine hostry. -(+7/. .nd has the doctor but one leg, thenG that*s e0cellent6 for one of his de#ils turned e into the likeness of an a!e*s face. 5.-$9-. So e ore drink, hostessE -(+7/. Hark you, "e*ll into another roo and drink a "hile, and then "e*ll go seek out the doctor. 290eunt.3 9nter the D;H9 () V./H(=$, his D;5H9SS, ).;S$;S, ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S, and .$$9/D./$S. D;H9. $hanks, ?aster Doctor, for these !leasant sights6 nor kno" 7 ho" sufficiently to reco !ense your great deserts in erecting that enchanted castle in the air, the sight "hereof so delighted e as nothing in the "orld could !lease e ore. ).;S$;S. 7 do think yself, y good lord, highly reco !ensed in that it !leaseth your grace to think but "ell of that "hich )austus hath !erfor ed.--+ut, gracious lady, it ay be that you ha#e taken no !leasure in those sights6 therefore, 7 !ray you tell e, "hat is the thing you ost desire to ha#e6 be it in the "orld, it shall be yours@ 7 ha#e heard that great-bellied "o en do long for things are rare and dainty. D;5H9SS. $rue, ?aster Doctor6 and, since 7 find you so kind, 7 "ill ake kno"n unto you "hat y heart desires to ha#e6 and, "ere it no" su er, as it is 1anuary, a dead ti e of the "inter, 7 "ould re4uest no better eat than a dish of ri!e gra!es. ).;S$;S. $his is but a s all atter.--&o, ?e!histo!hilis6 a"ayE 290it ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S.3 ?ada , 7 "ill do ore than this for your content. -e-9nter ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S "ith gra!es. Here no", taste you these@ they should be good, for they co e fro a far country, 7 can tell you. D;H9. $his akes e "onder ore than all the rest, that at this ti e of the year, "hen e#ery tree is barren of his fruit, fro "hence you had these ri!e gra!es. ).;S$;S. <lease it your grace, the year is di#ided into t"o circles o#er the "hole "orld6 so that, "hen it is "inter "ith BA>
us, in the contrary circle it is like"ise su er "ith the , as in 7ndia, Saba, and such countries that lie far east, "here they ha#e fruit t"ice a-year6 fro "hence, by eans of a s"ift s!irit that 7 ha#e, 7 had these gra!es brought, as you see. D;5H9SS. .nd, trust e, they are the s"eetest gra!es that e*er 7 tasted. 2$he 5=(,/S bounce at the gate, "ithin.3 D;H9. ,hat rude disturbers ha#e "e at the gateG &o, !acify their fury, set it o!e, .nd then de and of the "hat they "ould ha#e. 2$hey knock again, and call out to talk "ith ).;S$;S.3 S9-V./$. ,hy, ho" no", astersE "hat a coil is thereE ,hat is the reason you disturb the DukeG D75H 2"ithin3. ,e ha#e no reason for it6 therefore a fig for hi E S9-V./$. ,hy, saucy #arlets, dare you be so boldG H(-S9-5(;-S9- 2"ithin3. 7 ho!e, sir, "e ha#e "it enough to be ore bold than "elco e. S9-V./$. 7t a!!ears so@ !ray, be bold else"here, and trouble not the Duke. D;H9. ,hat "ould they ha#eG S9-V./$. $hey all cry out to s!eak "ith Doctor )austus. 5.-$9- 2"ithin3. .y, and "e "ill s!eak "ith hi . D;H9. ,ill you, sirG--5o it the rascals. D75H 2"ithin3. 5o it "ith usE he "ere as good co it "ith his father as co it "ith us. ).;S$;S. 7 do beseech your grace, let the co e in6 $hey are good sub%ect for a erri ent. D;H9. Do as thou "ilt, )austus6 7 gi#e thee lea#e. ).;S$;S. 7 thank your grace. 9nter -(+7/, D75H, 5.-$9-, and H(-S9-5(;-S9-. ,hy, ho" no", y good friendsE )aith, you are too outrageous@ but, co e near6 7 ha#e !rocur*d your !ardons@ "elco e, all. -(+7/. /ay, sir, "e "ill be "elco e for our oney, and "e "ill !ay for "hat "e take.--,hat, hoE gi#e*s half a do'en of beer here, and be hangedE ).;S$;S. /ay, hark you6 can you tell e "here you areG 5.-$9-. .y, arry, can 76 "e are under hea#en. S9-V./$. .y6 but, Sir Saucebo0, kno" you in "hat !laceG BB0
H(-S9-5(;-S9-. .y, ay, the house is good enough to drink in. --Youns, fill us so e beer, or "e*ll break all the barrels in the house, and dash out all your brains "ith your bottlesE ).;S$;S. +e not so furious@ co e, you shall ha#e beer.-?y lord, beseech you gi#e e lea#e a "hile6 7*ll gage y credit *t"ill content your grace. D;H9. ,ith all y heart, kind doctor6 !lease thyself6 (ur ser#ants and our court*s at thy co and. ).;S$;S. 7 hu bly thank your grace.--$hen fetch so e beer. H(-S9-5(;-S9-. .y, arry, there s!ake a doctor, indeedE and, faith, 7*ll drink a health to thy "ooden leg for that "ord. ).;S$;S. ?y "ooden legE "hat dost thou ean by thatG 5.-$9-. Ha, ha, haE--Dost hear hi , DickG he has forgot his leg. H(-S9-5(;-S9-. .y, ay, he does not stand uch u!on that. ).;S$;S. /o, faith6 not uch u!on a "ooden leg. 5.-$9-. &ood =ord, that flesh and blood should be so frail "ith your "orshi!E Do not you re e ber a horse-courser you sold a horse toG ).;S$;S. Ues, 7 re e ber 7 sold one a horse. 5.-$9-. .nd do you re e ber you bid he should not ride hi into the "aterG ).;S$;S. Ues, 7 do #ery "ell re e ber that. 5.-$9-. .nd do you re e ber nothing of your legG ).;S$;S. /o, in good sooth. 5.-$9-. $hen, 7 !ray you, re e ber your courtesy. ).;S$;S. 7 thank you, sir. 5.-$9-. *$is not so uch "orth. 7 !ray you, tell e one thing. ).;S$;S. ,hat*s thatG 5.-$9-. +e both your legs bed-fello"s e#ery night togetherG ).;S$;S. ,ouldst thou ake a 5olossus of e, that thou askest e such 4uestionsG 5.-$9-. /o, truly, sir6 7 "ould ake nothing of you6 but 7 "ould fain kno" that. 9nter H(S$9SS "ith drink. ).;S$;S. $hen, 7 assure thee certainly, they are. 5.-$9-. 7 thank you6 7 a fully satisfied. ).;S$;S. +ut "herefore dost thou askG 5.-$9-. )or nothing, sir@ but ethinks you should ha#e a "ooden BB1
bed-fello" of one of *e . H(-S9-5(;-S9-. ,hy, do you hear, sirG did not 7 !ull off one of your legs "hen you "ere aslee!G ).;S$;S. +ut 7 ha#e it again, no" 7 a a"ake@ look you here, sir. .==. (, horribleE had the doctor three legsG 5.-$9-. Do you re e ber, sir, ho" you co'ened e, and eat u! y load of---2).;S$;S, in the iddle of each s!eech, char s the du b.3 D75H. Do you re e ber ho" you ade e "ear an a!e*s---H(-S9-5(;-S9-. Uou "horeson con%uring scab, do you re e ber ho" you co'ened e "ith a ho----(+7/. Ha* you forgotten eG you think to carry it a"ay "ith your hey-!ass and re-!ass@ do you re e ber the dog*s fa---290eunt 5=(,/S.3 H(S$9SS. ,ho !ays for the aleG hear you, ?aster Doctor6 no" you ha#e sent a"ay y guess, 7 !ray "ho shall !ay e for y a---290it H(S$9SS.3 D;5H9SS. ?y lord, ,e are uch beholding to this learned an. D;H9. So are "e, ada 6 "hich "e "ill reco !ense ,ith all the lo#e and kindness that "e ay@ His artful s!ort dri#es all sad thoughts a"ay. 290eunt.3 $hunder and lightning. 9nter D9V7=S "ith co#ered dishes6 ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S leads the into ).;S$;S*S study6 then enter ,.&/9-. ,.&/9-. 7 think y aster eans to die shortly6 he has ade his "ill, and gi#en e his "ealth, his house, his goods, and store of golden !late, besides t"o thousand ducats ready-coined. 7 "onder "hat he eans@ if death "ere nigh, he "ould not frolic thus. He*s no" at su!!er "ith the scholars, "here there*s such belly-cheer as ,agner in his life ne*er sa" the like@ and, see "here they co eE belike the feast is ended. 290it.3 9nter ).;S$;S, ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S, and t"o or three S5H(=.-S. )7-S$ S5H(=.-. ?aster Doctor )austus, since our conference about fair ladies, "hich "as the beautifulest in all the "orld, BBA
"e ha#e deter ined "ith oursel#es that Helen of &reece "as the ad irablest lady that e#er li#ed@ therefore, ?aster Doctor, if you "ill do us so uch fa#our as to let us see that !eerless da e of &reece, "ho all the "orld ad ires for a%esty, "e should think oursel#es uch beholding unto you. ).;S$;S. &entle en, )or that 7 kno" your friendshi! is unfeign*d, 7t is not )austus* custo to deny $he %ust re4uest of those that "ish hi "ell@ Uou shall behold that !eerless da e of &reece, /o other"ise for !o ! or a%esty $han "hen Sir <aris cross*d the seas "ith her, .nd brought the s!oils to rich Dardania. +e silent, then, for danger is in "ords. ?usic sounds. ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S brings in H9=9/6 she !asseth o#er the stage. S95(/D S5H(=.-. ,as this fair Helen, "hose ad ired "orth ?ade &reece "ith ten years* "ar afflict !oor $royG $H7-D S5H(=.-. $oo si !le is y "it to tell her "orth, ,ho all the "orld ad ires for a%esty. )7-S$ S5H(=.-. /o" "e ha#e seen the !ride of /ature*s "ork, ,e*ll take our lea#es@ and, for this blessed sight, Ha!!y and blest be )austus e#er oreE ).;S$;S. &entle en, fare"ell@ the sa e "ish 7 to you. 290eunt S5H(=.-S.3 9nter an (=D ?./. (=D ?./. ( gentle )austus, lea#e this da ned art, $his agic, that "ill char thy soul to hell, .nd 4uite berea#e thee of sal#ationE $hough thou hast no" offended like a an, Do not !erse#er in it like a de#il@ Uet, yet thou hast an a iable soul, 7f sin by custo gro" not into nature6 $hen, )austus, "ill re!entance co e too late6 $hen thou art banish*d fro the sight of hea#en@ /o ortal can e0!ress the !ains of hell. 7t ay be, this y e0hortation BBB
See s harsh and all un!leasant@ let it not6 )or, gentle son, 7 s!eak it not in "rath, (r en#y of thee, but in tender lo#e, .nd !ity of thy future isery6 .nd so ha#e ho!e that this y kind rebuke, 5hecking thy body, ay a end thy soul. ).;S$;S. ,here art thou, )austusG "retch, "hat hast thou doneG Hell clai s his right, and "ith a roaring #oice Says, F)austus, co e6 thine hour is al ost co e6F .nd )austus no" "ill co e to do thee right. 2?9<H7S$(<H7=7S gi#es hi a dagger.3 (=D ?./. (, stay, good )austus, stay thy des!erate ste!sE 7 see an angel ho#er o*er thy head, .nd, "ith a #ial full of !recious grace, (ffers to !our the sa e into thy soul@ $hen call for ercy, and a#oid des!air. ).;S$;S. ( friend, 7 feel $hy "ords to co fort y distressed soulE =ea#e e a "hile to !onder on y sins. (=D ?./. )austus, 7 lea#e thee6 but "ith grief of heart, )earing the ene y of thy ha!less soul. 290it.3 ).;S$;S. .ccursed )austus, "retch, "hat hast thou doneG 7 do re!ent6 and yet 7 do des!air@ Hell stri#es "ith grace for con4uest in y breast@ ,hat shall 7 do to shun the snares of deathG ?9<H7S$. $hou traitor, )austus, 7 arrest thy soul )or disobedience to y so#ereign lord@ -e#olt, or 7*ll in !iece- eal tear thy flesh. ).;S$;S. 7 do re!ent 7 e*er offended hi . S"eet ?e!histo!hilis, entreat thy lord $o !ardon y un%ust !resu !tion, .nd "ith y blood again 7 "ill confir $he for er #o" 7 ade to =ucifer. ?9<H7S$. Do it, then, )austus, "ith unfeigned heart, =est greater dangers do attend thy drift. ).;S$;S. $or ent, s"eet friend, that base and aged an, $hat durst dissuade e fro thy =ucifer, ,ith greatest tor ents that our hell affords. ?9<H7S$. His faith is great6 7 cannot touch his soul6 +ut "hat 7 ay afflict his body "ith BBC
7 "ill atte !t, "hich is but little "orth. ).;S$;S. (ne thing, good ser#ant, let e cra#e of thee, $o glut the longing of y heart*s desire,-$hat 7 ay ha#e unto y !ara our $hat hea#enly Helen "hich 7 sa" of late, ,hose s"eet e braces ay e0tinguish clean $hose thoughts that do dissuade e fro y #o", .nd kee! y oath 7 ade to =ucifer. ?9<H7S$. $his, or "hat else y )austus shall desire, Shall be !erfor *d in t"inkling of an eye. -e-enter H9=9/, !assing o#er the stage bet"een t"o 5;<7DS. ).;S$;S. ,as this the face that launch*d a thousand shi!s, .nd burnt the to!less to"ers of 7liu G-S"eet Helen, ake e i ortal "ith a kiss.-2Hisses her.3 Her li!s suck forth y soul@ see, "here it fliesE-5o e, Helen, co e, gi#e e y soul again. Here "ill 7 d"ell, for hea#en is in these li!s, .nd all is dross that is not Helena. 7 "ill be <aris, and for lo#e of thee, 7nstead of $roy, shall ,ittenberg be sack*d6 .nd 7 "ill co bat "ith "eak ?enelaus, .nd "ear thy colours on y !lu ed crest6 Uea, 7 "ill "ound .chilles in the heel, .nd then return to Helen for a kiss. (, thou art fairer than the e#ening air 5lad in the beauty of a thousand stars6 +righter art thou than fla ing 1u!iter ,hen he a!!ear*d to ha!less Se ele6 ?ore lo#ely than the onarch of the sky 7n "anton .rethusa*s a'ur*d ar s6 .nd none but thou shalt be y !ara ourE 290eunt.3 $hunder. 9nter =;57)9-, +9=Y9+;+, and ?9<H7S$(<H7=7S. =;57)9-. $hus fro infernal Dis do "e ascend $o #ie" the sub%ects of our onarchy, $hose souls "hich sin seals the black sons of hell6 BB5
*?ong "hich, as chief, )austus, "e co e to thee, +ringing "ith us lasting da nation $o "ait u!on thy soul@ the ti e is co e ,hich akes it forfeit. ?9<H7S$. .nd, this gloo y night, Here, in this roo , "ill "retched )austus be. +9=Y9+;+. .nd here "e*ll stay, $o ark hi ho" he doth de ean hi self. ?9<H7S$. Ho" should he but in des!erate lunacyG )ond "orldling, no" his heart-blood dries "ith grief6 His conscience kills it6 and his labouring brain +egets a "orld of idle fantasies $o o#er-reach the de#il6 but all in #ain6 His store of !leasures ust be sauc*d "ith !ain. He and his ser#ant ,agner are at hand6 +oth co e fro dra"ing )austus* latest "ill. See, "here they co eE 9nter ).;S$;S and ,.&/9-. ).;S$;S. Say, ,agner,--thou hast !erus*d Ho" dost thou like itG ,.&/9-. Sir, So "ondrous "ell, .s in all hu ble duty 7 do yield ?y life and lasting ser#ice for your lo#e. ).;S$;S. &ra ercy, ,agner. 9nter S5H(=.-S. ,elco e, &entle en. 290it ,.&/9-.3 )7-S$ S5H(=.-. /o", "orthy )austus, ethinks your looks are chang*d. ).;S$;S. (, gentle enE S95(/D S5H(=.-. ,hat ails )austusG ).;S$;S. .h, y s"eet cha ber-fello", had 7 li#ed "ith thee, then had 7 li#ed stillE but no" ust die eternally. =ook, sirs, co es he notG co es he notG )7-S$ S5H(=.-. ( y dear )austus, "hat i !orts this fearG S95(/D S5H(=.-. 7s all our !leasure turn*d to elancholyG BB6 y "ill,--
$H7-D S5H(=.-. He is not "ell "ith being o#er-solitary. S95(/D S5H(=.-. 7f it be so, "e*ll ha#e !hysicians, .nd )austus shall be cur*d. $H7-D S5H(=.-. *$is but a surfeit, sir6 fear nothing. ).;S$;S. . surfeit of deadly sin, that hath da ned both body and soul. S95(/D S5H(=.-. Uet, )austus, look u! to hea#en, and re e ber ercy is infinite. ).;S$;S. +ut )austus* offence can ne*er be !ardoned@ the ser!ent that te !ted 9#e ay be sa#ed, but not )austus. ( gentle en, hear e "ith !atience, and tre ble not at y s!eechesE $hough y heart !ant and 4ui#er to re e ber that 7 ha#e been a student here these thirty years, (, "ould 7 had ne#er seen ,ittenberg, ne#er read bookE and "hat "onders 7 ha#e done, all &er any can "itness, yea, all the "orld6 for "hich )austus hath lost both &er any and the "orld, yea, hea#en itself, hea#en, the seat of &od, the throne of the blessed, the kingdo of %oy6 and ust re ain in hell for e#er, hell. (, hell, for e#erE S"eet friends, "hat shall beco e of )austus, being in hell for e#erG S95(/D S5H(=.-. Uet, )austus, call on &od. ).;S$;S. (n &od, "ho )austus hath ab%uredE on &od, "ho )austus hath blas!he edE ( y &od, 7 "ould "ee!E but the de#il dra"s in y tears. &ush forth blood, instead of tearsE yea, life and soulE (, he stays y tongueE 7 "ould lift u! y hands6 but see, they hold *e , they hold *e G *G* sic .==. ,ho, )austusG ).;S$;S. ,hy, =ucifer and ?e!histo!hilis. ( gentle en, 7 ga#e the y soul for y cunningE .==. (, &od forbidE ).;S$;S. &od forbade it, indeed6 but )austus hath done it@ for the #ain !leasure of four-and-t"enty years hath )austus lost eternal %oy and felicity. 7 "rit the a bill "ith ine o"n blood@ the date is e0!ired6 this is the ti e, and he "ill fetch e. )7-S$ S5H(=.-. ,hy did not )austus tell us of this before, that di#ines ight ha#e !rayed for theeG ).;S$;S. (ft ha#e 7 thought to ha#e done so6 but the de#il threatened to tear e in !ieces, if 7 na ed &od, to fetch e body and soul, if 7 once ga#e ear to di#inity@ and no" *tis too late. &entle en, a"ay, lest you !erish "ith e. S95(/D S5H(=.-. (, "hat ay "e do to sa#e )austusG ).;S$;S. $alk not of e, but sa#e yoursel#es, and de!art. BBD
$H7-D S5H(=.-. &od "ill strengthen e6 7 "ill stay "ith )austus. )7-S$ S5H(=.-. $e !t not &od, s"eet friend6 but let us into the ne0t roo , and !ray for hi . ).;S$;S. .y, !ray for e, !ray for e6 and "hat noise soe#er you hear, co e not unto e, for nothing can rescue e. S95(/D S5H(=.-. <ray thou, and "e "ill !ray that &od ay ha#e u!on thee. ).;S$;S. &entle en, fare"ell@ if 7 li#e till orning, 7*ll #isit you6 if not, )austus is gone to hell. .==. )austus, fare"ell. 290eunt S5H(=.-S.3 ?9<H7S$. .y, )austus, no" thou hast no ho!e of hea#en6 $herefore des!air6 think only u!on hell, )or that ust be thy ansion, there to d"ell. ).;S$;S. ( thou be"itching fiend, *t"as thy te !tation Hath robb*d e of eternal ha!!inessE ?9<H7S$. 7 do confess it, )austus, and re%oice@ *$"as 7 that, "hen thou "ert i*the "ay to hea#en, Da *d u! thy !assage6 "hen thou took*st the book $o #ie" the Scri!tures, then 7 turn*d the lea#es, .nd led thine eye. ,hat, "ee!*st thouG *tis too late6 des!airE )are"ell@ )ools that "ill laugh on earth ust "ee! in hell. 290it.3 9nter &((D ./&9= and 9V7= ./&9= at se#eral doors. &((D ./&9=. )austus, if thou hadst gi#en ear to e, 7nnu erable %oys had follo"*d theeE +ut thou didst lo#e the "orld. 9V7= ./&9=. &a#e ear to e, .nd no" ust taste hell-!ains !er!etually. &((D ./&9=. (, "hat "ill all thy riches, !leasures, !o !s, .#ail thee no"G 9V7= ./&9=. /othing, but #e0 thee ore, $o "ant in hell, that had on earth such store. &((D ./&9=. , thou hast lost celestial ha!!iness, <leasures uns!eakable, bliss "ithout end Hadst thou affected s"eet di#inity, Hell or the de#il had had no !o"er on thee@ Hadst thou ke!t on that "ay, )austus, behold,
ercy
BB8
2?usic, "hile a throne descends.3 7n "hat res!lendent glory thou hadst sit 7n yonder throne, like those bright-shining saints, .nd triu !h*d o#er hellE $hat hast thou lost6 .nd no", !oor soul, ust thy good angel lea#e thee@ $he %a"s of hell are o!en to recei#e thee. 290it. $he throne ascends.3 9V7= ./&9=. /o", )austus, let thine eyes "ith horror stare 2Hell is disco#ered.3 7nto that #ast !er!etual torture-house@ $here are the )uries tossing da ned souls (n burning forks6 there bodies boil in lead6 $here are li#e 4uarters broiling on the coals, $hat ne*er can die6 this e#er-burning chair 7s for o*er-tortur*d souls to rest the in6 $hese that are fed "ith so!s of fla ing fire, ,ere gluttons, and lo#*d only delicates, .nd laugh*d to see the !oor star#e at their gates@ +ut yet all these are nothing6 thou shalt see $en thousand tortures that ore horrid be. ).;S$;S. (, 7 ha#e seen enough to torture eE 9V7= ./&9=. /ay, thou ust feel the , taste the s art of all@ He that lo#es !leasure ust for !leasure fall@ .nd so 7 lea#e thee, )austus, till anon6 $hen "ilt thou tu ble in confusion. 290it. Hell disa!!ears.--$he clock strikes ele#en.3 ).;S$;S. ( )austus, /o" hast thou but one bare hour to li#e, .nd then thou ust be da n*d !er!etuallyE Stand still, you e#er- o#ing s!heres of hea#en, $hat ti e ay cease, and idnight ne#er co e6 )air /ature*s eye, rise, rise again, and ake <er!etual day6 or let this hour be but . year, a onth, a "eek, a natural day, $hat )austus ay re!ent and sa#e his soulE ( lente, lente currite, noctis e4uiE $he stars o#e still, ti e runs, the clock "ill strike, $he de#il "ill co e, and )austus ust be da n*d. (, 7*ll lea! u! to hea#enE--,ho !ulls e do"nG-BB>
See, "here 5hrist*s blood strea s in the fir a entE (ne dro! of blood "ill sa#e e@ ( y 5hristE--end not y heart for na ing of y 5hrist6 Uet "ill 7 call on hi @ (, s!are e, =uciferE-,here is it no"G *tis gone@ .nd, see, a threatening ar , an angry bro"E ?ountains and hills, co e, co e, and fall on e, .nd hide e fro the hea#y "rath of hea#enE /oE $hen "ill 7 headlong run into the earth@ &a!e, earthE (, no, it "ill not harbour eE Uou stars that reign*d at y nati#ity, ,hose influence hath allotted death and hell, /o" dra" u! )austus, like a foggy ist, 7nto the entrails of yon labouring cloud2s3, $hat, "hen you #o it forth into the air, ?y li bs ay issue fro your s oky ouths6 +ut let y soul ount and ascend to hea#enE 2$he clock strikes the half-hour.3 (, half the hour is !astE *t"ill all be !ast anon. (, if y soul ust suffer for y sin, 7 !ose so e end to y incessant !ain6 =et )austus li#e in hell a thousand years, . hundred thousand, and at last be sa#*dE /o end is li ited to da ned souls. ,hy "ert thou not a creature "anting soulG (r "hy is this i ortal that thou hastG (, <ythagoras* ete !sychosis, "ere that true, $his soul should fly fro e, and 7 be chang*d 7nto so e brutish beastE all beasts are ha!!y, )or, "hen they die, $heir souls are soon dissol#*d in ele ents6 +ut ine ust li#e still to be !lagu*d in hell. 5urs*d be the !arents that engender*d eE /o, )austus, curse thyself, curse =ucifer $hat hath de!ri#*d thee of the %oys of hea#en. 2$he clock strikes t"el#e.3
BC0
7t strikes, it strikesE /o", body, turn to air, (r =ucifer "ill bear thee 4uick to hellE ( soul, be chang*d into s all "ater-dro!s, .nd fall into the ocean, ne*er be foundE $hunder. 9nter D9V7=S. (, ercy, hea#enE look not so fierce on eE .dders and ser!ents, let e breathe a "hileE ;gly hell, ga!e notE co e not, =uciferE 7*ll burn y booksE--( ?e!histo!hilisE 290eunt D9V7=S "ith ).;S$;S.3 9nter S5H(=.-S. )7-S$ S5H(=.-. 5o e, gentle en, let us go #isit )austus, )or such a dreadful night "as ne#er seen6 Since first the "orld*s creation did begin, Such fearful shrieks and cries "ere ne#er heard@ <ray hea#en the doctor ha#e esca!*d the danger. S95(/D S5H(=.-. (, hel! us, hea#enE see, here are )austus* li bs, .ll torn asunder by the hand of deathE $H7-D S5H(=.-. $he de#ils "ho )austus ser#*d ha#e torn hi thus6 )or, t"i0t the hours of t"el#e and one, ethought, 7 heard hi shriek and call aloud for hel!6 .t "hich self ti e the house see *d all on fire ,ith dreadful horror of these da ned fiends. S95(/D S5H(=.-. ,ell, gentle en, though )austus* end be such .s e#ery 5hristian heart la ents to think on, Uet, for he "as a scholar once ad ir*d )or "ondrous kno"ledge in our &er an schools, ,e*ll gi#e his angled li bs due burial6 .nd all the students, cloth*d in ourning black, Shall "ait u!on his hea#y funeral. 290eunt.3 9nter 5H(-;S. 5H(-;S. 5ut is the branch that ight ha#e gro"n full straight, BC1
.nd burned is .!ollo*s laurel-bough, $hat so eti e gre" "ithin this learned an. )austus is gone@ regard his hellish fall, ,hose fiendful fortune ay e0hort the "ise, (nly to "onder at unla"ful things, ,hose dee!ness doth entice such for"ard "its $o !ractise ore than hea#enly !o"er !er its. 290it.3 $er inat hora die 6 ter inat auctor o!us. C. THE LATE RENAISSAN/E (-) - the /a9aliers (-en B"ns"n, R" ert Herri67, Gather ye rose)!uds)
ROBERT HERRI*, (15>1-16DC) 1*herr2 r"3e...4 5herry ri!e, ri!e, ri!e, 7 cry, )ull and fair ones6 co e and buy@ 7f so be, you ask e "here $hey do gro"G 7 ans"er, * $here, ,here y 1ulia*s li!s do s ile $here*s the land, or 5herry 7sle@ ,hose !lantations fully sho" .ll the year, "here 5herries gro".P CGather (e r"se- 0ds;;;. &ather ye rose-buds "hile ye ay, (ld $i e is still a-flying@ .nd this sa e flo"er that s iles to-day, $o- orro" "ill be dying. $he glorious =a ! of Hea#en, the Sun, $he higher he*s a-getting $he sooner "ill his race be run, .nd nearer he*s to setting. $hat age is best "hich is the first, BCA
,hen youth and blood are "ar er@ +ut being s!ent, the "orse, and "orst $i es, still succeed the for er. $hen, be not coy, but use your ti e6 .nd "hile ye ay, go arry@ )or ha#ing lost but once your !ri e, Uou ay for e#er tarry.
BCB
To -&ffod"l! )air Daffodils, "e "ee! to see Uou haste a"ay so soon6 .s yet the early rising sun Has not attained his noon. Stay, stay, ;ntil the hasting day Has run +ut to the e#en-song6 .nd, ha#ing !rayed together, "e ,ill go "ith you along. ,e ha#e short ti e to stay, as you, ,e ha#e as short a s!ring6 .s 4uick a gro"th to eet decay, .s you, or anything. ,e die .s your hours do, and dry ."ay, =ike to the su er*s rain6 (r as the !earls of orning*s de", /e*er to be found again. +2"n the L"ss "! His 8istresses 7 ha#e lost, and lately, these ?any dainty istresses6 Stately 1ulia, !ri e of all6 Sa!ho ne0t, a !rinci!al@ S ooth .nthea, for a skin ,hite, and Hea#en-like crystalline@ S"eet 9lectra, and die choice ?yrrha, for the lute, and #oice. /e0t, 5orinna, for her "it, .nd for the graceful use of it@ ,ith <erilla@ all are gone6 (nly Herrick*s left alone, )or to nu ber sorro" by $heir de!artures hence, and die.
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*or"nn&(! Go"n) &5M&2"n) &et u!, get u! for sha e, the bloo ing orn ;!on her "ings !resents the god unshorn. See ho" .urora thro"s her fair )resh-4uilted colours through the air6 &et u!, s"eet slug-a-bed, and see $he de" bes!angling herb and tree. 9ach flo"er has "e!t and bo"ed to"ard the east .bo#e an hour since@ yet you not dressed6 /ayE not so uch as out of bedG ,hen all the birds ha#e atins said .nd sung their thankful hy ns, *tis sin, /ay, !rofanation, to kee! in, ,henas a thousand #irgins on this day S!ring, sooner than the lark, to fetch in ?ay. -ise, and !ut on your foliage, and be seen $o co e forth, like the s!ring-ti e, fresh and green, .nd s"eet as )lora. $ake no care )or %e"els for your go"n or hair@ )ear not6 the lea#es "ill stre" &e s in abundance u!on you@ +esides, the childhood of the day has ke!t, .gainst you co e, so e orient !earls un"e!t6 5o e and recei#e the "hile the light Hangs on the de"-locks of the night@ .nd $itan on the eastern hill -etires hi self, or else stands still $ill you co e forth. ,ash, dress, be brief in !raying@ )e" beads are best "hen once "e go a-?aying. 5o e, y 5orinna, co e6 and, co ing ark Ho" each field turns a street, each street a !ark ?ade green and tri ed "ith trees6 see ho" De#otion gi#es each house a bough (r branch@ each !orch, each door ere this .n ark, a tabernacle is, ?ade u! of "hite-thorn, neatly inter"o#e6 .s if here "ere those cooler shades of lo#e. 5an such delights be in the street .nd o!en fields and "e not see*tG BC5
5o e, "e*ll abroad6 and let*s obey $he !rocla ation ade for ?ay@ .nd sin no ore, as "e ha#e done, by staying@ +ut, y 5orinna, co e, let*s go a-?aying. $here*s not a budding boy or girl this day +ut is got u!, and gone to bring in ?ay. . deal of youth, ere this, is co e +ack, and "ith "hite-thorn laden ho e. So e ha#e des!atched their cakes and crea +efore that "e ha#e left to drea @ .nd so e ha#e "e!t, and "ooed, and !lighted troth, .nd chose their !riest, ere "e can cast off sloth@ ?any a green-go"n has been gi#en6 ?any a kiss, both odd and e#en@ ?any a glance too has been sent )ro out the eye, lo#e*s fir a ent6 ?any a %est told of the keys betraying $his night, and locks !icked, yet "e*re not a-?aying. 5o e, let us go "hile "e are in our !ri e6 .nd take the har less folly of the ti e. ,e shall gro" old a!ace, and die +efore "e kno" our liberty. (ur life is short, and our days run .s fast a"ay as does the sun6 .nd, as a #a!our or a dro! of rain, (nce lost, can n*er be found again, So "hen or you or 7 are ade . fable, song, or fleeting shade, .ll lo#e, all liking, all delight =ies dro"ned "ith us in endless night $hen "hile ti e ser#es, and "e are but decaying, 5o e, y 5orinna, co e, let*s go a-?aying. The +")ht5%"e e Her eyes the glo"-"or lend thee, $he shooting stars attend thee6 .nd the el#es also, ,hose little eyes glo", BC6
=ike the s!arks of fire, befriend thee. /o "ill-o*-th*-"is! is-light thee6 /or snake, or slo"-"or bite thee6 +ut on, on thy "ay /ot aking a stay, Since ghost there*s none to affright thee. =et not the dark thee cu ber6 ,hat though the ?oon does slu berG $he Stars of the night ,ill lend thee their light, =ike ta!ers clear "ithout nu ber. $hen 1ulia let e "oo thee, $hus, thus to co e unto e@ .nd "hen 7 shall eet $hy sil#*ry feet, ?y soul 7*ll !our into thee. -el")ht "n -"!order . s"eet disorder in the dress Hindles in clothes a "antonness@ . la"n about the shoulders thro"n 7nto a fine distraction, .n erring lace, "hich here and there 9nthrals the cri son sto acher, . cuff neglectful, and thereby -ibbands to flo" confusedly, . "inning "a#e, deser#ing note, 7n the te !estuous !etticoat, . careless shoe-string, in "hose tie 7 see a "ild ci#ility, Do ore be"itch e, than "hen art 7s too !recise in e#ery !art.
BCD
Ri6hard L"9ela6e, =To 9ucasta, Going to the (arsB ) RI*H$R- LOVEL$*E (1618-1658) Son) $o =ucasta, &oing to the ,ars $ell e not, s"eet, 7 a unkind, $hat fro the nunnery (f thy chaste breast and 4uiet ind, $o "ar and ar s 7 fly. $rue, a ne" istress no" 7 chase, $he first foe in the field6 .nd "ith a stronger faith e brace . s"ord, a horse, a shield. Uet this inconstancy is such .s you too shall adore6 7 could not lo#e thee, dear, so uch, =o#ed 7 not honour ore. $o .lthea fro <rison ,hen =o#e "ith unconfined "ings Ho#ers "ithin y gates, .nd y di#ine .lthea brings $o "his!er at the grates6 ,hen 7 lie tangled in her hair .nd fetter*d to her eye, $he birds that "anton in the air Hno" no such liberty. ,hen flo"ing cu!s run s"iftly round ,ith no allaying $ha es, (ur careless heads "ith roses cro"nPd, (ur hearts "ith loyal fla es6 ,hen thirsty grief in "ine "e stee!, ,hen healths and draughts go free, )ishes that ti!!le in the dee! Hno" no such liberty. ,hen, linnet-like confined, 7 ,ith shriller throat shall sing $he s"eetness, ercy, a%esty .nd glories of y Hing6 ,hen 7 shall #oice aloud ho" good He is, ho" great should be, 9nlarged "inds, that curl the flood, Hno" no such liberty. BC8
Stone "alls do not a !rison ake, /or iron bars a cage6 ?inds innocent and 4uiet take $hat for an her itage@ 7f 7 ha#e freedo in y lo#e .nd in y soul a free, .ngels alone, that soar abo#e, 9n%oy such liberty. To Lu &!t&/ on Go"n) Be2ond the Se&! 7f to be absent "ere to be ."ay fro thee6 (r that "hen 7 a gone Uou or 7 "ere alone6 $hen, y =ucasta, ight 7 cra#e <ity fro blustering "ind, or s"allo"ing "a#e. $hough seas and land be *t"i0t us both, (ur faith and troth, =ike se!arated souls, .ll ti e and s!ace controls@ .bo#e the highest s!here "e eet ;nseen, unkno"n, and greet as .ngels greet. So then "e do antici!ate (ur after-fate, .nd are ali#e i* the skies, 7f thus our li!s and eyes 5an s!eak like s!irits unconfin*d 7n Hea#en, their earthy bodies left behind. Andre4 8ar9ell, =To His 2oy 5istress) $+-REW M$RVELL (16A1-16D8) To H"! *o2 M"!tre!! Had "e but "orld enough, and ti e $his coyness, =ady, "ere no cri e. ,e "ould sit do"n and think "hich "ay $o "alk and !ass our long lo#e*s day. $hou by the 7ndian &anges* side Shouldst rubies find6 7 by the tide (f Hu ber "ould co !lain. 7 "ould =o#e you ten years before the )lood, .nd you should, if you !lease, refuse $ill the con#ersion of the 1e"s. ?y #egetable lo#e should gro" Vaster than e !ires, and ore slo"6 BC>
.n hundred years should go to !raise $hine eyes, and on thy forehead ga'e. $"o hundred to adore each breast, +ut thirty thousand to the rest6 .n age at least to e#ery !art .nd the last age should sho" your heart. )or, =ady, you deser#e this state /or "ould 7 lo#e at lo"er rare. +ut at y back 7 al"ays hear $i e*s "inged chariot hurrying near6 .nd yonder all before us lie Deserts of #ast eternity. $hy beauty shall no ore be found. /or, in thy arble #ault, shall sound ?y echoing song6 then "or s shall try $hat long !reser#ed #irginity, .nd your 4uaint honour turn to dust, .nd into ashes all y lust@ $he gra#e*s a fine and !ri#ate !lace. +ut none, 7 think, do there e brace. /o" therefore, "hile the youthful hue Sits on thy skin like orning de", .nd "hile thy "illing soul trans!ires .t e#ery !ore "ith instant fires, /o" let us s!ort us "hile "e ay, .nd no", like a orous birds of !rey, -ather at once our ti e de#our $han languish in his slo"-cha!t !o"er. =et us roll all our strength and all (ur s"eetness u! into one ball. .nd tear our !leasures "ith rough strife $horough the iron gates of life. $hus, though "e cannot ake our sun Stand still, yet "e "ill ake hi run. The Garden Ho" #ainly en the sel#es a a'e, $o "in the !al , the oak or bays, .nd their incessant labours see 5ro"n*d fro so e single herb or tree, ,hose short and narro"-#erged shade Does !rudently their toils u!braid, ,hile all the flo"ers, and trees, do close, $o "ea#e the garlands of re!oseE )air :uiet, ha#e 7 found thee here, .nd 7nnocence, thy sister dearG ?istaken long, 7 sought you then 7n busy co !anies of en, B50
Uour sacred !lants, if here belo", (nly a ong the !lants "ill gro"6 Society is all but rude, $o this delicious solitude. /o "hite nor red "as e#er seen So a orous as this lo#ely green. )ond lo#ers, cruel as their fla e, 5ut in these trees their istress* na e6 =ittle, alasE they kno" or heed, Ho" far these beauties her e0ceedE )air treesE "here*er your barks 7 "ound, /o na e shall but your o"n be found. ,hen "e ha#e run our !assion*s heat, =o#e hither akes his best retreat. $he gods, "ho ortal beauty chase, Still in a tree did end their race6 .!ollo hunted Da!hne so, (nly that she ight laurel gro"6 .nd <an did after Syrin0 s!eed, /ot as a ny !h, but for a reed. ,hat "ond*rous life is this 7 leadE -i!e a!!les dro! about y head6 $he luscious clusters of the #ine ;!on y outh do crush their "ine6 $he nectarine, and curious !each, 7nto y hands the sel#es do reach6 Stu bling on elons, as 7 !ass, 7nsnared "ith flo"ers, 7 fall on grass. ?ean"hile the ind, fro !leasure less, ,ithdra"s into its ha!!iness6 $he ind, that ocean "here each kind Does straight its o"n rese blance find6 Uet it creates, transcending these, )ar other "orlds, and other seas, .nnihilating all that*s ade $o a green thought in a green shade. Here at the fountain*s sliding foot, (r at so e fruit-tree*s ossy root, 5asting the body*s #est aside, ?y soul into the boughs does glide@ $here, like a bird, it sits and sings, $hen "hets and cla!s its sil#er "ings, .nd, till !re!ar*d for longer flight, ,a#es in its !lu es the #arious light. Such "as that ha!!y garden-state, ,hile an there "alked "ithout a ate@ B51
.fter a !lace so !ure and s"eet, ,hat other hel! could yet be eetE +ut *t"as beyond a ortal*s share $o "ander solitary there@ $"o !aradises *t"ere in one, $o li#e in !aradise alone. Ho" "ell the skilful gardener dre" (f flo"ers, and herbs, this dial ne", ,here, fro abo#e, the ilder sun Does through a fragrant 'odiac run, .nd, as it "orks the industrious bee 5o !utes its ti e as "ell as "eE Ho" could such s"eet and "holeso e hours +e reckoned but "ith herbs and flo"ersG the 8eta2h(si6als(B"hn D"nne, The Good 5orrowB 9ove s GrowthB &eathB -ongB Going to 'edB 9oves ProgressB The +leaB) 6OH+ -O++E =:DEF):GF:> The Good5Morrow 7 "onder, by y troth, "hat thou and 7 Did, till "e lo#*dG ,ere "e not "ean*d till thenG +ut suck*d on country !leasures, childishlyG (r snorted "e in the Se#en Slee!ers* denG *$"as so6 but this, all !leasures fancies be6 7f e#er any beauty 7 did see, ,hich 7 desir*d, and got, *t"as but a drea of thee. .nd no" good- orro" to our "aking souls, ,hich "atch not one another out of fear6 )or lo#e all lo#e of other sights controls, .nd akes one little roo an e#ery"here =et sea-disco#erers to ne" "orlds ha#e gone6 =et a!s to other, "orlds on "orlds ha#e sho"n6 =et us !ossess one "orld6 each hath one, and is one. ?y face in thine eyes, thine in ine a!!ears, .nd true !lain hearts do in the faces rest6 ,here can "e find t"o better he is!heres ,ithout shar! north, "ithout declining "estG ,hate#er dies, "as not i0*d e4ually6 7f our t"o lo#es be one, or thou and 7 =o#e so alike that none do slacken, none can die. Lo7e(! Growth 7 scarce belie#e y lo#e to be so !ure .s 7 had thought it "as, B5A
+ecause it doth endure Vicissitude, and season, as the grass6 ?ethinks 7 lied all "inter, "hen 7 s"ore ?y lo#e "as infinite, if s!ring ake it ore. +ut if this edicine, lo#e, "hich cures all sorro" ,ith ore, not only be no 4uintessence, +ut i0*d of all stuffs, #e0ing soul, or sense, .nd of the sun his acti#e #igour borro", =o#e*s not so !ure, and abstract, as they use $o say, "hich ha#e no istress but their ?use6 +ut as all else, being ele ented too, =o#e so eti es "ould conte !late, so eti es do. .nd yet no greater, but ore e inent, =o#e by the s!ring-is gro"n6 .s in the fir a ent Stars by the sun are not enlarged, but sho"n, &entle lo#e deeds, as blosso s on a bough, )ro lo#e*s a"aken*d root do bud out no". 7f, as in "ater stirr*d ore circles be <roduced by one, lo#e such additions take, $hose like so any s!heres but one hea#en )or they are all concentric unto thee6 .nd though each s!ring do add to lo#e ne" heat, .s !rinces do in ti es of action get /e" ta0es, and re it the not in !eace, /o "inter shall abate this s!ring*s increase. Son) &o and catch a tailing star. &et "ith child a andrake root, $ell e "here all !ast years are. (r "ho cleft the De#il*s foot6 $each e to hear er aids singing, (r to kee! off en#y*s stinging, .nd find ,hat "ind Ser#es to ad#ance an honest ind. 7f thou be*st born to strange sights, $hings in#isible to see, -ide ten thousand days and nights, $ill age sno" "hite hairs on thee. $hou, "hen thou return*st, "ilt tell e, .ll strange "onders that befell thee, .nd s"ear /o "here =i#es a "o an true and fair. 7f thou find*st one, let e kno". B5B
ake,
Such a !ilgri age "ere s"eet. Uet do not@ 7 "ould not go, $hough at ne0t door "e ight eet. $hough she "ere true "hen you et her, .nd last till you "rite your letter, Uet she ,ill be )alse, ere 7 co e, to t"o or three. The Rel" ,hen y gra#e is broke u! again So e second guest to entertain, - )or gra#es ha#e learn*d that "o an-head, $o be to ore than one a bed .nd he that digs it, s!ies . bracelet of bright hair about the bone, ,ill not he let us alone, .nd think that there a lo#ing cou!le lies, ,ho thought that this de#ice ight be so e "ay $o ake their souls at the last busy day ?eet at this gra#e, and ake a little stayG 7f this fall in a ti e, or land, ,here ass-de#otion doth co and, $hen he that digs us u! "ill bring ;s to the bisho! or the king, $o ake us relics6 then $hou shalt be a ?ary ?agdalen, and 7 . so ething else thereby6 .ll "o en should adore us, and so e en. .nd, since at such ti e iracles are sought, 7 "ould ha#e that age by this !a!er taught ,hat iracles "e har less lo#ers "rought. )irst "e lo#ed "ell and faithfully, Uet kne" not "hat "e lo#ed, nor "hy6 Difference of se0 "e ne#er kne", /o ore than guardian angels do6 5o ing and going "e <erchance ight kiss, but not bet"een those eals6 (ur hands ne*er touch*d the seals, ,hich nature, in%ured by late la", sets free. $hese iracles "e did6 but no" alasE .ll easure, and all language, 7 should !ass, Should 7 tell "hat a iracle she "as. The Ind"fferent 7 can lo#e both fair and bro"n, Her "ho abundance elts, and her "ho "ant betrays, Her "ho lo#es loneness best, and her "ho asks and !lays, Her "ho the country for ed, and "ho the to"n, B5C
Her "ho belie#es, and her "ho tries, Her "ho still "ee!s "ith s!ongy eyes, .nd her "ho is dry cork, and ne#er cries6 7 can lo#e her, and her, and you, and you, 7 can lo#e any, so she be not true. ,ill no other #ice content youG ,ill it not ser#e your turn to do as did your othersG (r ha#e you all old #ices s!ent, and no" "ould find out othersG (r doth a fear that en are true tor ent youG ( "e are not, be not you so6 =et e, and do you, t"enty kno"6 -ob e, but bind e not, and let e go. ?ust 7, "ho ca e to tra#ail thorough you, &ro" your fi0ed sub%ect, because you are trueG Venus heard e sigh this song, .nd by lo#e*s s"eetest !art, #ariety, she s"ore, She heard not this till no"6 and that it should be so no She "ent, e0a ined, and returned ere long, .nd said, .las, so e t"o or three <oor heretics in lo#e there be, ,hich think to *stablish dangerous constancy. +ut 7 ha#e told the , Since you "ill be true, Uou shall be true to the "ho are false to you. The *&non"8&t"on )or &od*s sake hold your tongue, and let e lo#e, (r chide y !alsy, or y gout, ?y fi#e gray hairs, or ruined fortune, flout, ,ith "ealth your state, your ind "ith arts i !ro#e $ake you a course, get you a !lace, (bser#e His Honor, or His &race, (r the Hing*s real, or his sta !ed face 5onte !late6 "hat you "ill, a!!ro#e, So you "ill let e lo#e. .las, alas, "ho*s in%ured by y lo#eG ,hat erchant*s shi!s ha#e y sighs dro"nedG ,ho says y tears ha#e o#erflo"ed his groundG ,hen did y colds a for"ard s!ring re o#eG ,hen did the heats "hich y #eins fill .dd one an to the !laguy billG Soldiers find "ars, and la"yers find out still =itigious en, "hich 4uarrels o#e, $hough she and 7 do lo#e. 5all us "hat you "ill, "e are ade such by lo#e6 5all her one, e another fly, ,e*re ta!ers too, and at our o"n cost die, .nd "e in us find the eagle and the do#e. B55
ore.
$he !hoeni0 riddle hath ore "it +y us@ "e t"o being one, are it. So, to one neutral thing both se0es fit. ,e die and rise the sa e, and !ro#e ?ysterious by this lo#e. ,e can die by it, if not li#e by lo#e, .nd if unfit for to bs and hearse (ur legend be, it "ill be fit for #erse6 .nd if no !iece of chronicle "e !ro#e, ,e*ll build in sonnets !retty roo s6 .s "ell a "ell-"rought urn beco es $he greatest ashes, as half-acre to bs, .nd by these hy ns, all shall a!!ro#e ;s canoni'ed for lo#e@ .nd thus in#oke us@ Uou "ho re#erend lo#e ?ade one another*s her itage6 Uou, to "ho lo#e "as !eace, that no" is rage6 ,ho did the "hole "orld*s soul contract, and dro#e 7nto the glasses of your eyes (So ade such irrors, and such s!ies, $hat they did all to you e!ito i'e) 5ountries, to"ns, courts@ +eg fro abo#e . !attern of your lo#eE Bre&0 of -&2 T$is true, *tis day6 "hat though it beG ( "ilt thou therefore rise fro eG ,hy should "e rise because *tis lightG Did "e lie do"n because *t"as nightG =o#e, "hich in s!ite of darkness brought us hither, Should in des!ite of light kee! us together. =ight hath no tongue, but is all eye6 7f it could s!eak as "ell as s!y, $his "ere the "orst that it could say, $hat being "ell, 7 fain "ould stay, .nd that 7 lo#ed y heart and honor so $hat 7 "ould not fro hi , that had the , go. ?ust business thee fro hence re o#eG (, that*s the "orst disease of lo#e. $he !oor, the foul, the false, lo#e can .d it, but not the busied an. He "hich hath business, and akes lo#e, doth do Such "rong, as "hen a arried an doth "oo.
B56
The Fle& ?ark but this flea, and ark in this, Ho" little that "hich thou deniest e is6 ?e it sucked first, and no" sucks thee, .nd in this flea our t"o bloods ingled be6 $hou kno"*st that this cannot be said . sin, or sha e, or loss of aidenhead, Uet this en%oys before it "oo, .nd !a !ered s"ells "ith one blood ade of t"o, .nd this, alas, is ore than "e "ould do. (h stay, three li#es in one flea s!are, ,here "e al ost, nay ore than arried are. $his flea is you and 7, and this (ur arriage bed and arriage te !le is6 $hough !arents grudge, and you, "e are et, .nd cloistered in these li#ing "alls of %et. $hough use ake you a!t to kill e =et not to that, self- urder added be, .nd sacrilege, three sins in killing three. 5ruel and sudden, hast thou since <ur!led thy nail in blood of innocenceG ,herein could this flea guilty be, 90ce!t in that dro! "hich it sucked fro theeG Uet thou triu !h*st, and say*st that thou )ind*st not thy self nor e the "eaker no"6 T$is true6 then learn ho" false fears be@ 1ust so uch honor, "hen thou yield*st to e, ,ill "aste, as this flea*s death took life fro thee. $ V&led" t"on: For9"dd"n) Mourn"n) .s #irtuous en !ass ildly a"ay, .nd "his!er to their souls to go, ,hilst so e of their sad friends do say $he breath goes no", and so e say, /o6 So let us elt, and ake no noise, /o tear-floods, nor sigh-te !ests o#e, *$"ere !rofanation of our %oys $o tell the laity our lo#e. ?o#ing of th* earth brings har s and fears, ?en reckon "hat it did and eant6 +ut tre!idation of the s!heres, $hough greater far, is innocent. Dull sublunary lo#ers* lo#e (,hose soul is sense) cannot ad it .bsence, because it doth re o#e $hose things "hich ele ented it. B5D
+ut "e, by a lo#e so uch refined $hat our sel#es kno" not "hat it is, 7nter-assured of the ind, 5are less, eyes, li!s, and hands to iss. (ur t"o souls therefore, "hich are one, $hough 7 ust go, endure not yet . breach, but an e0!ansion, =ike gold to airy thinness beat. 7f they be t"o, they are t"o so .s stiff t"in co !asses are t"o6 $hy soul, the fi0ed foot, akes no sho" $o o#e, but doth, if th* other do. .nd though it in the center sit, Uet "hen the other far doth roa , 7t leans and hearkens after it, .nd gro"s erect, as that co es ho e. Such "ilt thou be to e, "ho ust =ike th* other foot, obli4uely run6 $hy fir ness akes y circle %ust, .nd akes e end "here 7 begun.
B58
Ele)2 :;. Lo7e! %ro)re!! ,ho e#er lo#es, if hee doe not !ro!ose $he right true end of lo#e, heePs one "hich goes $o sea for nothing but to ake hi sicke. .nd lo#ePs a beare-"hel!e borne6 if "eePo#erlicke (ur lo#e, and force it ne" strange sha!es to take ,e erre, and of a lu !e a onster ake. ,ere not a 5alfe a onster that "ere gro"ne )acPd like a an, though better than his o"neG <erfection is in unitie6 <referre (ne "o an first, and then one thing in her. 7, "hen 7 #alue gold, ay thinke u!on $he ductillness, the a!!lication, $he "holso eness, the ingenuity, )ro rust, fro soyle, fro fyre e#er free, +ut if 7 lo#e it, Ttis because Ttis ade +y our ne" /ature, use, the soule of trade. .ll these in "o en "ee ight thinke u!on (7f "o en had the ) but yet lo#e but one. 5an en ore in%ure "o en than to say $hey lo#ePthe for that by "hich they are not theyG ?akes #irtue "o anG ?ust 7 cool y blood $ill 7 bothe bee, and find one, "ise and goodG ?ay barren .ngels lo#e so@ +ut if "ee ?ake lo#e to "o an, Vertue is not shee, .s +eautyPs not, nor ,ealth. Hee that strayes thus, )ro her to hers, is ore adulterous $han if hee tooke her ayde. Search e#ery s!heare .nd fir a ent, our 5u!id is not there. HePs an infernall &od, and under ground ,ith <luto d"ells, "here gold and fyre abound. ?en to such &ods their sacrificing coales Did not in .ltars lay, but !its and holes. .lthough "ee see celestiall bodies o#e .bo#e the earth, the earth "e till and lo#e@ So "e her ayres conte !late, "ords and hart .nd #irtues6 +ut "e lo#e the 5entri4ue !art. /or is the soule ore "orthy, or ore fit )or lo#e than this, as infinite as it. +ut in attaining this desired !lace Ho" uch they stray that set out at the face. $he hair a forrest is of a bushes, (f s!ringes, snares, fetters and anacles. $he bro" becal s us, "hen Ttis s ooth and !laine, .nd "hen Ttis "rinkled, shi!"recks us againe6 S ooth Ttis a <aradise "here "e "ould ha#e 7 ortal stay, and "rinkled Ttis our gra#e. $he nose like to the first ?eridian runs /ot Tt"i0t an 9ast and ,est, but Tt"i0t t"o suns. 7t lea#es a cheeke, a rosy he is!here, (n either side, and then directs us "here B5>
;!on the 7lands )ortunate "ee fall (/ot faint 5anarye but . brosiall), Her s"elling li!s6 to "hich "hen "e are co e ,ee anchor there, and think our sel#es at ho e, )or they see all@ there Syrens songs, and there ,ise Del!hi4ue (racles doe fill the eare6 $here in a creeke "here chosen !earles doe s"ell $he -e ora, her clea#ing tongue doth d"ell. $hese, and the glorious !ro ontorye, her chinne, (Pr!ast6 and the straight Helles!ont bet"een $he Sestos and .bydos of her brests, /ot of t"o =o#ers, but t"o =o#es, the nests, Succeeds a boundless sea, but that thine eye So e 7land oles ay scatterPd there descrye6 .nd sailing to"ards her 7ndia, in that "ay Shall at her faire .tlanti4ue na#ell stay6 $hough thence the current be thy !ilot ade, Uet ere thou bee "here thou "ouldst bee e brayPd, $hou shalt u!on another forrest set ,here so e doe shi!"racke, and no farther gett. ,hen thou art there, consider "hat this chace ?is!ent, by thy beginning at the face. -ather set out belo"6 !ractice y art. So e sy etrie the foote hath "ith that, ,hich thou dost seeke, and is thy a! for that, =o#ely enough to sto!, but not stay at6 =east sub%ect to disguise and change it is, ?en say, the de#ill ne#er can change his. 7t is the e ble e that hath figured )ir ness6 Ttis the first !art that co es to bed. 5i#ility, "ee see, refinPd the kisse ,hich, at the face begun, trans!lanted is Since to the hand, since to thP7 !eriall knee, /o" at the <a!all foote delights to bee. 7f kings thinke that the nearer "ay and doe -ise fro the foote, lo#ers ay doe so too. )or as free s!heares o#e faster far than can +irds, "ho e the ayre resists, so ay that an ,hich goes this e !ty and etheriall "ay $han if at beauties ele ents stay. -ich /ature hath in "o an "isely ade $"o !urses, and their ouths a#ersely laid6 $hey then "hich to the lo"er tribute o"e $hat "ay "hich the e0che4uer lookes ust goe. Hee "hich doth not, his error is as greate .s "ho by 5lyster ga#e the sto ach eate. Ele)2 :<. Go"n) to Bed 5o e, ?ada , co e, all rest y !o"ers defy, ;ntil 7 labor, 7 in labor lie. $he foe oft-ti es, ha#ing the foe in sight, 7s tired "ith standing though he ne#er fight. B60
(ff "ith that girdle, like hea#en*s 'one glistering, +ut a far fairer "orld enco !assing. ;n!in that s!angled breast!late "hich you "ear $hat th* eyes of busy fools ay be sto!!ed there. ;nlace yourself, for that har onious chi e $ells e fro you that no" it is bed-ti e. (ff "ith that ha!!y busk, "hich 7 en#y, $hat still can be and still can stand so nigh. Uour go"n going off, such beauteous state re#eals .s "hen fro flo"ery eads th* hill*s shado" steals. (ff "ith that "iry coronet and sho" $he hairy diade "hich on you doth gro"6 /o" off "ith those shoes, and then safely tread 7n this lo#e*s hallo"ed te !le, this soft bed. 7n such "hite robes, hea#en*s angels used to be -ecei#ed by en6 thou, angel, bring*st "ith thee . hea#en like ?aho et*s !aradise6 and though 7ll s!irits "alk in "hite, "e easily kno" +y this these angels fro an e#il s!rite, $hose set our hairs, but these our flesh u!right. =icense y ro#ing hands, and let the go +efore, behind, bet"een, abo#e, belo". ( y . ericaE y ne"-found-land, ?y kingdo , safeliest "hen "ith one an anned, ?y ine of !recious stones, y e !ery, Ho" blest a 7 in this disco#ering theeE $o enter in these bonds is to be free6 $here "here y hand is set, y seal shall be. )ull nakednessE .ll %oys are due to thee, .s souls unbodied, bodies unclothed ust be, $o taste "hole %oys. &e s "hich you "o en use .re like .talanta*s balls, cast in en s #ie"s, $hat "hen a fool*s eye lighteth on a ge , His earthly soul ay co#et theirs, not the . =ike !ictures, or like books* gay co#erings, ade )or lay en, are all "o en thus arrayed6 $he sel#es are ystic books, "hich only "e (,ho their i !uted grace "ill dignify) ?ust see re#ealed. $hen since that 7 ay kno", .s liberally as to a id"ife sho" $hyself@ cast all, yea, this "hite linen hence, $here is no !enance due to innocence. $o teach thee, 7 a naked first6 "hy then ,hat need*st thou ha#e ore co#ering than a anG Fro# Hol2 Sonnet! 1 $hou hast ade e, and shall thy "ork decayG -e!air e no", for no" ine end doth haste6 7 run to death, and death eets e as fast, .nd all y !leasures are like yesterday. 7 dare not o#e y di eyes any "ay, B61
Des!air behind, and death before doth cast Such terror, and y feeble flesh doth "aste +y sin in it, "hich it to"ards hell doth "eigh. (nly thou art abo#e, and "hen to"ards thee +y thy lea#e 7 can look, 7 rise again6 +ut our old subtle foe so te !teth e $hat not one hour yself 7 can sustain. $hy grace ay "ing e to !re#ent his art, .nd thou like ada ant dra" ine iron heart. 5 7 a a little "orld ade cunningly (f ele ents, and an angelic s!rite6 +ut black sin hath betrayed to endless night ?y "orld*s both !arts, and (, both !arts ust die. Uou "hich beyond that hea#en "hich "as ost high Ha#e found ne" s!heres, and of ne" lands can "rite, <our ne" seas in ine eyes, that so 7 ight Dro"n y "orld "ith y "ee!ing earnestly, (r "ash it if it ust be dro"ned no ore. +ut (, it ust be burntE .las, the fire (f lust and en#y ha#e burnt it heretofore, .nd ade it fouler6 let their fla es retire, .nd burn e, ( =ord, "ith a fiery 'eal (f thee and thy house, "hich doth in eating heal. D .t the round earth*s i agined corners, blo" Uour tru !ets, angels6 and arise, arise )ro death, you nu berless infinities (f souls, and to your scattered bodies go@ .ll "ho the flood did, and fire shall, o*erthro", .ll "ho "ar, dearth, age, agues, tyrannies, Des!air, la", chance hath slain, and you "hose eyes Shall behold &od, and ne#er taste death*s "oe. +ut let the slee!, =ord, and e ourn a s!ace6 )or, if abo#e all these, y sins abound, *$is late to ask abundance of thy grace ,hen "e are there. Here on this lo"ly ground, $each e ho" to re!ent6 for that*s as good .s if thou hadst sealed y !ardon "ith thy blood. > 7f !oisonous inerals, and if that tree ,hose fruit thre" death on else-i ortal us, 7f lecherous goats, if ser!ents en#ious 5annot be da ned, alasE "hy should 7 beG ,hy should intent or reason, born in e, ?ake sins, else e4ual, in e ore heinousG .nd, ercy being easy and glorious $o &od, in his stern "rath "hy threatens heG +ut "ho a 7 that dare dis!ute "ith thee B6A
( &odG (h, of thine only "orthy blood .nd y tears, ake a hea#enly =ethean flood, .nd dro"n in it y sin*s black e ory. $hat thou re e ber the so e clai as debt6 7 think it ercy if thou "ilt forget. 10 Death, be not !roud, though so e ha#e called thee ?ighty and dreadful, for thou art not so6 )or those "ho thou think*st thou dost o#erthro" Die not, !oor Death, nor yet canst thou kill e. )ro rest and slee!, "hich but thy !ictures be, ?uch !leasure6 then fro thee uch ore ust flo", .nd soonest our best en "ith thee do go, -est of their bones, and soul*s deli#ery. $hou art sla#e to fate, chance, kings, and des!erate en, .nd dost "ith !oison, "ar, and sickness d"ell, .nd !o!!y or char s can ake us slee! as "ell .nd better than thy stroke6 "hy s"ell*st thou thenG (ne short slee! !ast, "e "ake eternally .nd death shall be no ore6 Death, thou shalt die. 1B ,hat if this !resent "ere the "orld*s last nightG ?ark in y heart, ( soul, "here thou dost d"ell, $he !icture of 5hrist crucified, and tell ,hether that countenance can thee affright. $ears in his eyes 4uench the a a'ing light, +lood fills his fro"ns, "hich fro his !ierced head fell6 .nd can that tongue ad%udge thee unto hell ,hich !rayed forgi#eness for his foes* fierce s!iteG /o, no6 but as in y idolatry 7 said to all y !rofane istresses, +eauty of !ity, foulness only is . sign of rigor@ so 7 say to thee, $o "icked s!irits are horrid sha!es assigned, $his beauteous for assures a !iteous ind. 1C +atter y heart, three-!ersoned &od6 for you .s yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to end6 $hat 7 ay rise and stand, o*erthro" e, and bend Uour force to break, blo", burn, and ake e ne". 7, like an usur!ed to"n, to another due, =abor to ad it you, but (, to no end6 -eason, your #iceroy in e, e should defend, +ut is ca!ti#ed, and !ro#es "eak or untrue. Uet dearly 7 lo#e you, and "ould be lo#ed fain, +ut a betrothed unto your ene y. Di#orce e, untie or break that knot again6 $ake e to you, i !rison e, for 7, 90ce!t you enthrall e, ne#er shall be free, B6B
/or e#er chaste, e0ce!t you ra#ish
e.
1D Since she "ho 7 lo#ed hath !aid her last debt $o /ature, and to hers, and y good is dead, .nd her soul early into hea#en ra#ished, ,holly on hea#enly things y ind is set. Here the ad iring her y ind did "het $o seek thee, &od6 so strea s do sho" the head6 +ut though 7 ha#e found thee, and thou y thirst hast fed, . holy thirsty dro!sy elts e yet. +ut "hy should 7 beg ore lo#e, "henas thou Dost "oo y soul, for hers offering all thine@ .nd dost not only fear lest 7 allo" ?y lo#e to saints and angels, things di#ine, +ut in thy tender %ealousy dost doubt =est the "orld, flesh, yea, de#il !ut thee out. 18 Sho" e, dear 5hrist, thy s!ouse so bright and clear. ,hatE is it she "hich on the other shore &oes richly !aintedG or "hich, robbed and tore, =a ents and ourns in &er any and hereG Slee!s she a thousand, then !ee!s u! one yearG 7s she self-truth, and errsG no" ne", no" out"oreG Doth she, and did she, and shall she e#er ore (n one, on se#en, or on no hill a!!earG D"ells she "ith us, or like ad#enturing knights )irst tra#el "e to seek, and then ake lo#eG +etray, kind husband, thy s!ouse to our sights, .nd let ine a orous soul court thy ild do#e, ,ho is ost true and !leasing to thee then ,hen she is e braced and o!en to ost en. Ge"rge Her ert, The 2ollar GEORGE HERBERT (15>B-16BB) The *oll&r 7 struck the beard, and cried */o ore@ 7 "ill abroad. ,hat, shall 7 e#er sigh and !ineG ?y lines and life are fee6 free as the road, =oose as the "ind, as large as store. Shall 7 be still in suitG Ha#e 7 no har#est but a thorn $o let e blood, and not restore ,hat 7 ha#e lost "ith cordial fruitG Sure there "as "ine +efore y sighs did dry it6 there "as corn +efore y tears did dro"n it6 B6C
7s the year only lost to eG Ha#e 7 no bays to cro"n it, /o flo"ers, no garlands gayG all blasted, .ll "astedG /ot so, y heart6 but there is fruit, .nd thou hast hands. -eco#er all thy sigh-blo"n age (n double !leasures6 lea#e thy cold dis!ute (f "hat is fit and not6 forsake thy cage. $hy ro!e of sands ,hich !etty thoughts ha#e ade6 and ade to thee &ood cable, to enforce and dra", .nd be thy la", ,hile thou didst "ink and "ouldst not see. ."ayE take heed6 7 "ill abroad. 5all in thy death*s-head there, tie u! thy fears6 He that forbears $o suit and ser#e his need Deser#es his load.* +ut as 7 ra#*d and gre" ore fierce and "ild .t e#ery "ord, ?ethought 7 heard one calling * 5hild*6 .nd 7 re!lied, * ?y =ord.* the religi"0s 2"etr( (B"hn 8ilt"n, Paradise 9ostB 3n His 'lindness) 6OH+ MILTO+ (1608-16DC) On H"! Bl"ndne!! ,hen 7 consider ho" y light is s!ent, 9re half y days, in this dark "orld and "ide, .nd that one talent "hich is death to hide, =odg*d "ith e useless, though y soul ore bent $o ser#e there"ith y ?aker, and !resent ?y true account, lest He returning chide, Doth &od e0act day-labour, light denied, 7 fondly ask6 but !atience to !re#ent $hat ur ur, soon re!lies, &od doth not need 9ither an*s "ork or His o"n gifts6 "ho best +ear His ild yoke, they ser#e Hi best. His state 7s kingly. $housands at His bidding s!eed .nd !ost o*er land and ocean "ithout rest6 $hey also ser#e "ho only stand and "ait.
B65
PARADISE LOST S011ar( 9ach book of <aradise =ost is !refaced "ith an argu ent, or su ary. $hese argu ents "ere "ritten by ?ilton and added because early readers had re4uested so e sort of guide to the !oe . Se#eral of the books also begin "ith a !rologue. $he !rologue to +ook 7 states ?iltonPs !ur!ose@ to tell about the fall of an and %ustify &odPs "ays to an. $he e!ic begins traditionally in edias res. Satan and the other rebellious angels a"ake to find the sel#es in Hell on a lake of fire. Satan is lying beside +eel'ebub. Satan raises hi self fro the lake and flies to the shore. He calls for the other angels to do the sa e, and they asse ble by the lake. Satan tells the that all is not lost and tries to ins!ire his follo"ers. =ed by ?a on and ?ulciber, the fallen angels build their ca!ital and !alace, <ande oniu . $he highest ranking of the angels then asse ble for a council.7n the council, Satan asks "hat the de ons think should be the ne0t o#e against &od. ?oloch argues for o!en "arfare. +elial t"ists ?olochPs argu ents, !ro!osing that nothing should be done. ?a on, the aterialistic angel, argues that they do the best "ith "hat they ha#e. )inally, +eel'ebub, SatanPs second in co and, !ro!oses that the angels try to get at &od through his ne" creation, ?an. +eel'ebubPs !ro!osal, "hich is really SatanPs !ro!osal, is ado!ted, and Satan #olunteers to find the ne" "orld and ne" creatures. He lea#es at once, flying to the &ate of Hell. $here, he eets his children, Sin and Death. Sin o!ens the gate for Satan "ho flies out into 5haos and /ight. Sin and Death follo" hi . )inally, in the distance Satan sees 9arth.&od "atches Satan a!!roach 9arth and !redicts his success in corru!ting ?an. ?an has free "ill. +ut &od o nisciently kno"s "hat "ill ha!!en. &od adds that ?an can be sa#ed through ercy and grace, but he ust also acce!t the %ust !unish ent of death, unless so eone takes on death for ?an. $he Son offers to beco e a an and suffer death in order to o#erco e it. $he angels re%oice. 7n the eanti e, Satan, sitting on the edge of the 9arth, cannot see the "ay to ?an. Satan disguises hi self as a cherub and flies to the sun to talk "ith the archangel, ;riel. ;riel sho"s Satan the "ay to ?an.=ooking at 9arth, Satan is taken "ith its beauty but 4uickly o#erco es his sy !athy to concentrate on "hat he ust do. He sees .da and 9#e and is entranced "ith their beauty. .s Satan listens to the !air, they talk about &odPs one co and ent that they not eat fro the $ree of Hno"ledge under !enalty of death. Satan i ediately begins to for ulate a !lan. ;riel, on the sun, beco es sus!icious of the cherub "hose face sho"s changing e otions and goes to "arn &abriel. &abriel says that he and his angels "ill ca!ture any interlo!ers in the &arden, and late that night 7thuriel and Ye!hron ca!ture Satan "his!ering in 9#ePs ear. $he t"o angels bring Satan before &abriel, "ho, "ith &odPs hel!, banishes the te !ter fro 9arth. ,hen 9#e a"akes, she tells .da of her troubling drea . .da co forts her, re inding her that they are safe if they obey &od. &od decides to send the angel -a!hael to "arn .da and 9#e to be "ary of Satan. -a!hael goes to 9arth "here he eats "ith .da and 9#e. .fter the eal, -a!hael tells .da about the great rebellion in Hea#en. -a!hael says that =ucifer (Satan) "as %ealous of the Son and through so!histic argu ent got his follo"ers, about one third of the angels, to follo" hi to the /orth. $here, only one of SatanPs follo"ers stood u! against hi Q.bdiel, "ho returned to &od. Satan attacks &od and the Hea#enly Host, "hose !o"er has been li ited by &od. /onetheless, &odPs forces ha#e little difficulty in defeating the rebels. ?ichael s!lits Satan in half, "hich is hu iliating, but not deadly, because Satan, as an angel, cannot die. .fter the first day of battle, the rebels construct a cannon and begin the second dayPs battle "ith so e success. &odPs forces begin to !ull u! ountains and hurl the at the rebels, burying the and their cannons. &od is a used at the !resu !tion of the rebels but does not "ant the landsca!e destroyed. He sends the Son forth by hi self in a chariot. $he rebels are 4uickly herded into Hell./e0t, -a!hael res!onds B66
to .da Ps 4uestions about the creation of the "orld. $he angel e0!lains the day-by-day creation of the "orld in si0 days. $hen, in an effort to kee! the angel engaged in con#ersation, .da asks about the otions of the hea#enly bodies. -a!hael e0!lains that .da should lea#e so e 4uestions to &odPs "isdo . /e0t, .da describes his o"n creation, his introduction to 9den, and the creation of 9#e. He describes ho" beautiful 9#e is to hi and the bliss of "edded lo#e. -a!hael gi#es .da a final "arning about Satan as he lea#es.Ha#ing been gone fro 9den for eight days, Satan returns, sneaking in through a fountain near the $ree of Hno"ledge. He takes the for of a ser!ent to try to trick ?an. ,hen .da and 9#e a"ake, they argue o#er "hether they should "ork together or alone. 9#e finally con#inces .da to let her "ork by herself. Satan, in ser!entPs for , a!!roaches 9#e and, using cle#er but fallacious argu ents, con#inces her to eat the fruit of the $ree of Hno"ledge. .fter 9#e eats, she re#eals "hat she has done to .da , "ho, unable to bear the thought of losing 9#e, eats also. Ha#ing eaten the fruit, the t"o are o#erco e "ith lust and run to the "oods to ake lo#e. ,hen they a"ake, they are filled "ith sha e and guilt. 9ach bla es the other. 7n Hea#en, the angels are horrified that ?an has fallen, but &od assures the that He had forekno"ledge of all that "ould ha!!en. He sends the Son to 9arth to !ronounce %udg ent on the hu ans and the ser!ent. $he Son goes to 9arth and akes his %udg ents. He adds though, that through ercy, .da and 9#e and all hu ans ay e#entually be able to o#erco e death. 7n an act of !ity, the Son clothes the t"o hu ans.Sin and Death ean"hile ha#e sensed an o!!ortunity on 9arth. $hey construct a huge cause"ay fro Hell to 9arth. (n their "ay across, they eet Satan returning to Hell. $hey !roceed to 9arth "hile Satan enters Hell in disguise. Satan a!!ears on his throne and announces "hat he has done. 90!ecting to hear the a!!lause of all the fallen angels, he instead hears only hissing as he and all his follo"ers are turned into snakes. ,hen they eat the fruit of the $ree of Hno"ledge "hich a!!ears before the , it turns to bitter ashes.(n 9arth, Sin and Death see infinite o!!ortunities. &od, looking do"n on the t"o, says e#entually they "ill be cast into Hell and sealed u!. .da and 9#e la ent, but 9#e sub issi#ely asks .da Ps forgi#eness. He relents, his lo#e o#erco ing his bitterness. She suggests suicide as a "ay to a#oid the terrible curse on the "orld, but .da says they ust obey &od. &od sends the angel, ?ichael, to take .da and 9#e out of 9den. +efore doing so, ?ichael takes .da to a hill and gi#es the hu an a #ision of biblical history, ending "ith the birth of 1esus "ho "ill be the sa#ior of ?an. .da re%oices. .da and 9#e together are led out of 9den. +ehind the a fla ing s"ord guards the entrance6 ahead, they face a ne" life in a ne" "orld. %$R$-ISE LOST The Argument $his first +ook !ro!oses first in brief the "hole Sub%ect, ?ans disobedience, and the loss thereu!on of <aradise "herein he "as !lacPt@ $hen touches the !ri e cause of his fall, the Ser!ent, or rather Satan in the Ser!ent6 "ho re#olting fro &od, and dra"ing to his side any =egions of .ngels, "as by the co and of &od dri#en out of Hea#en "ith all his 5re" into the great Dee!. ,hich action !ast o#er, the <oe hasts into the idst of things, !resenting Satan "ith his .ngels no" fallen into Hell, describPd here, not in the 5enter (for Hea#en and 9arth ay be su!!osPd as yet not ade, certainly not yet accurst) but in a !lace of utter darkness, fitliest callPd 5haos@ Here Satan "ith his .ngels lying on the burning =ake, thunder-struck and, astonisht, after a certain s!ace reco#ers, as fro confusion, calls u! hi "ho ne0t in (rder and Dignity lay by hi 6 they confer of thir iserable fall. Satan a"akens all his =egions, "ho lay till then in the sa e anner confounded6 $hey rise, thir /u bers, array of +attel, thir chief =eaders na Pd, according to the 7dols kno"n after"ards in 5anaan and the 5ountries ad%oyning. $o these Satan directs his S!eech, co forts the "ith ho!e yet of regaining Hea#en, but tells the lastly of a ne" ,orld and ne" kind of 5reature to be created, according to an ancient <ro!hesie or re!ort in Hea#en6 for that .ngels "ere long before this #isible 5reation, "as the o!inion of any ancient )athers. B6D
$o find out the truth of this <ro!hesie, and "hat to deter in thereon he refers to a full 5ouncell. ,hat his .ssociates thence atte !t. <ande oniu the <alace of Satan rises, suddenly built out of the Dee!@ $he infernal <eers there sit in 5ounsel. 'ook : () ?./S )irst Disobedience, and the )ruit (f that )orbidden $ree, "hose ortal taste +rought Death into the ,orld, and all our "oe, ,ith loss of 9den, till one greater ?an -estore us, and regain the blissful Seat, Sing Hea#Pnly ?use, that on the secret to! (f (reb, or of Sinai, didst ins!ire $hat She!herd, "ho first taught the chosen Seed, 7n the +eginning ho" the Hea#Pns and 9arth -ose out of 5haos@ or if Sion Hill Delight thee ore, and SiloaPs +rook that flo"Pd )ast by the (racle of &od6 7 thence 7n#oke thy aid to y ad#entrous Song, $hat "ith no iddle flight intends to soar .bo#e thP .onian ?ount, "hile it !ursues $hings unatte !ted yet in <rose or -hi e. .nd chiefly $hou ( S!irit, that dost !refer +efore all $e !les thP u!right heart and !ure, 7nstruct e, for $hou kno"Pst6 $hou fro the first ,ast !resent, and "ith ighty "ings outs!read Do#e-like satst brooding on the #ast .byss .nd adPst it !regnant@ ,hat in e is dark 7llu ine, "hat is lo" raise and su!!ort6 $hat to the highth of this great .rgu ent 7 ay assert 9ternal <ro#idence, .nd %ustifie the "ayes of &od to en. (1-A6) Say first, for Hea#Pn hides nothing fro thy #ie" /or the dee! $ract of Hell, say first "hat cause ?o#Pd our &rand <arents in that ha!!y State, )a#ourPd of Hea#Pn so highly, to fall off )ro their 5reator, and transgress his ,ill )or one restraint, =ords of the ,orld besidesG ,ho first seducPd the to that fo"l re#oltG $hP infernal Ser!ent6 he it "as, "hose guile Stird u! "ith 9n#y and -e#enge, decei#Pd $he ?other of ?ankinde, "hat ti e his <ride Had cast hi out fro Hea#Pn, "ith all his Host (f -ebel .ngels, by "hose aid as!iring $o set hi self in &lory abo#e his <eersE He trusted to ha#e e4ualPd the ost High, 7f he o!!osPd6 and "ith a bitious ai .gainst the $hrone and ?onarchy of &od -aisPd i !ious ,ar in Hea#Pn and +attel !roud ,ith #ain atte !t. Hi the .l ighty <o"er Hurld headlong fla ing fro thP 9thereal Skie ,ith hideous ruine and co bustion do"n B68
$o botto less !erdition, there to d"ell 7n .da antine 5hains and !enal )ire, ,ho durst defie thP ( ni!otent to .r s. /ine ti es the S!ace that easures Day and /ight $o ortal en, he "ith his horrid cre" =ay #an4uisht, ro"ling in the fiery &ulfe 5onfounded though i ortal@ +ut his doo -eser#Pd hi to ore "rath6 for no" the thought +oth of lost ha!!iness and lasting !ain $or ents hi 6 round he thro"s his baleful eyes $hat "itnessPd huge affliction and dis ay ?i0t "ith obdurate !ride and stedfast hate@ .t once as far as .ngels kenn he #ie"s $he dis al Situation "aste and "ilde, . Dungeon horrible, on all sides round .s one great )urnace fla Pd, yet fro those fla es /o light, but rather darkness #isible Ser#Pd only to disco#er sights of "oe, -egions of sorro", doleful shades, "here !eace .nd rest can ne#er d"ell, ho!e ne#er co es $hat co es to all6 but torture "ithout end Still urges, and a fiery Deluge, fed ,ith e#er-burning Sul!hur unconsu Pd@ Such !lace 9ternal 1ustice had !re!arPd )or those rebellious, here their <rison ordainPd 7n utter darkness, and their !ortion set .s far re o#Pd fro &od and light of Hea#Pn .s fro the 5enter thrice to thP ut ost <ole. ( ho" unlike the !lace fro "hence they fellE $here the co !anions of his fall, oPre"hel Pd ,ith )loods and ,hirl"inds of te !estuous fire, He soon discerns, and "eltring by his side (ne ne0t hi self in !o"er, and ne0t in cri e, =ong after kno"n in <alestine, and na Pd +eel'ebub. $o "ho thP .rch-9ne y, .nd thence in Hea#Pn callPd Satan, "ith bold "ords +reaking the horrid silence thus began. 7f thou beest he6 +ut ( ho" fallPnE ho" changPd )ro hi , "ho in the ha!!y -eal s of =ight 5lothP d "ith transcendent brightness didst outshine ?yriads though bright@ 7f he ,ho utual league, ;nited thoughts and counsels, e4ual ho!e, .nd ha'ard in the &lorious 9nter!ri'e, 1oynd "ith e once, no" isery hath %oynd 7n e4ual ruin@ into "hat <it thou seest )ro "hat highth falPn, so uch the stronger !ro#d He "ith his $hunder@ and till then "ho kne" $he force of those dire .r sG yet not for those /or "hat the <otent Victor in his rage 5an else inflict do 7 re!ent or change, $hough changPd in out"ard lustre6 that fi0t ind .nd high disdain, fro sence of in%urPd erit, B6>
$hat "ith the ightiest raisPd e to contend, .nd to the fierce contention brought along 7nnu erable force of S!irits ar PdP $hat durst dislike his reign, and e !referring, His ut ost !o"er "ith ad#erse !o"er o!!osPd 7n dubious +attel on the <lains of Hea#Pn, .nd shook his throne. ,hat though the field be lostG .ll is not lost6 the uncon4uerable ,ill, .nd study of re#enge, i ortal hate, .nd courage ne#er to sub it or yield@ .nd "hat is else not to be o#erco eG $hat &lory ne#er shall his "rath or ight 90tort fro e. $o bo" and sue for grace ,ith su!!liant knee, and deifie his !o"er ,ho fro the terrour of this .r so late Doubted his 9 !ire, that "ere lo" indeed, $hat "ere an igno iny and sha e beneath $his do"nfall6 since by )ate the strength of &ods .nd this 9 !yreal substance cannot fail, Since through e0!erience of this great e#ent 7n .r s not "orse, in foresight uch ad#ancPt, ,e ay "ith ore successful ho!e resol#e $o "age by force or guile eternal ,ar 7rreconcileable, to our grand )oe, ,ho no" triu !hs, and in thP e0cess of %oy Sole reigning holds the $yranny of Hea#Pn. (A6-1AC) ,hereto "ith s!eedy "ords thP .rch-fiend re!lyPd. )allPn 5herube, to be "eak is iserable Doing or Suffering@ but of this be sure, $o do ought good ne#er "ill be our task, +ut e#er to do ill our sole delight, .s being the contrary to his high "ill ,ho "e resist. 7f then his <ro#idence (ut of our e#il seek to bring forth good, (ur labour ust be to !er#ert that end, .nd out of good still to find eans of e#il6 ,hich oft ti es ay succeed, so as !erha!s Shall grie#e hi , if 7 fail not, and disturb His in ost counsels fro their destind ai . (156-168) 7s this the -egion, this the Soil, the 5li e, Said then the lost .rch .ngel, this the seat $hat "e ust change for Hea#Pn, this ournful gloo )or that celestial lightG +e it so, since hee ,ho no" is So#ran can dis!ose and bid ,hat shall be right@ fardest fro hi is best ,ho reason hath e4uald, force hath ade su!re e .bo#e his e4uals. )are"el ha!!y )ields ,here 1oy for e#er d"ells@ Hail horrours, hail 7nfernal "orld, and thou !rofoundest Hell -ecei#e thy ne" <ossessor@ (ne "ho brings BD0
. ind not to be changPd by <lace or $i e. $he ind is its o"n !lace, and in it self 5an ake a Hea#Pn Hell, a Hell of Hea#Pn. ,hat atter "here, if 7 be still the sa e, .nd "hat 7 should be, all but less than hee ,ho $hunder hath ade greaterG Here at least ,e shall be free6 thP .l ighty hath not built Here for his en#y, "ill not dri#e us hence@ Here "e ay reign secure, and in y choyce $o reign is "orth a bition though in Hell@ +etter to reign in Hell, then ser#e in Hea#Pn. (ACA-A6B) He callPd so loud, that all the hollo" Dee! (f Hell resounded. <rinces, <otentates, ,arriers, the )lo"r of Hea#Pn, once yours, no" lost, 7f such astonish ent as this can sie'e 9ternal s!irits6 or ha#e ye chosPn this !lace .fter the toyl of +attel to re!ose Uour "earied #ertue, for the ease you find $o slu ber here, as in the Vales of Hea#PnG (r in this ab%ect !osture ha#e ye s"orn $o adore the 5on4uerourG "ho no" beholds 5herube and Sera!h ro"ling in the )lood ,ith scatterPd .r s and 9nsigns, till anon His s"ift !ursuers fro Hea#Pn &ates discern $hP ad#antage, and descending tread us do"n $hus droo!ing, or "ith linked $hunderbolts $ransfi0 us to the botto of this &ulfe. ."ake, arise, or be for e#er fallPn. (B1C-BB0) .ll these and ore ca e flocking6 but "ith looks Do"n cast and da !, yet such "herein a!!earPd (bscure so gli !s of %oy, to ha#e found thir chief /ot in des!air, to ha#e found the sel#es not lost 7n loss it self6 "hich on his countPnance cast =ike doubtful hue@ but he his "onted !ride Soon recollecting, "ith high "ords, that bore Se blance of "orth not substance, gently raisPd $heir fainted courage, and dis!elPd their fears. $hen strait co ands that at the "arlike sound (f $ru !ets loud and 5larions be u!reard His ighty Standard6 that !roud honour clai Pd .'a'el as his right, a 5herube tall@ ,ho forth"ith fro the glittering Staff unfurld $hP 7 !erial 9nsign, "hich full high ad#ancPt Shon like a ?eteor strea ing to the ,ind ,ith &e s and &olden lustre rich i bla'Pd, Sera!hic ar s and $ro!hies@ all the "hile Sonorous ettal blo"ing ?artial sounds@ .t "hich the uni#ersal Host u!sent . shout that tore Hells 5onca#e, and beyond )righted the -eign of 5haos and old /ight. BD1
.ll in a o ent through the gloo "ere seen $en thousand +anners rise into the .ir ,ith (rient 5olours "a#ing@ "ith the rose . )orrest huge of S!ears@ and thronging Hel s .!!earPd, and serried shields in thick array (f de!th i easurable@ (5AA-5C>) Henceforth his ight "e kno", and kno" our o"n So as not either to !ro#oke, or dread /e" "arr, !ro#okPt6 our better !art re ains $o "ork in close design, by fraud or guile ,hat force effected not@ that he no less .t length fro us ay find, "ho o#erco es +y force, hath o#erco e but half his foe. S!ace ay !roduce ne" ,orlds6 "hereof so rife $here "ent a fa e in Hea#Pn that he ere long 7ntended to create, and therein !lant . generation, "ho his choice regard Should fa#our e4ual to the Sons of Hea#en@ $hither, if but to !rie, shall be !erha!s (ur first eru!tion, thither or else"here@ )or this 7nfernal <it shall ne#er hold 5aelestial S!irits in +ondage, nor thP .bysse =ong under darkness co#er. +ut these thoughts )ull 5ounsel ust ature@ <eace is des!aird, )or "ho can think Sub issionE ,arr then, ,arr (!en or understood ust be resol#Pd. (6CB-66A) 'ook ,, The Argument $he 5onsultation begun, Satan debates "hether another +attel be to be ha'arded for the reco#ery of Hea#en@ so e ad#ise it, others dissuade@ . third !ro!osal is !referPd, entionPd before by Satan, to search the truth of that <ro!hesie or $radition in Hea#en concerning another "orld, and another kind of creature e4ual or not uch inferiour to the sel#es, about this ti e to be created@ $hir doubt "ho shall be sent on this difficult search@ Satan thir chief undertakes alone the #oyage, is honourd and a!!lauded. $he 5ouncel thus ended, the rest betake the se#eral "ayes and to se#eral i !loy ents, as thir inclinations lead the , to entertain the ti e till Satan return. He !asses on his %ourney to Hell &ates, finds the shut, and "ho sat there to guard the , by "ho at length they are o!Pnd, and disco#er to hi the great &ulf bet"een Hell and Hea#en6 "ith "hat difficulty he !asses through, directed by 5haos, the <o"er of that !lace, to the sight of this ne" ,orld "hich he sought. ( <rogeny of Hea#Pn, 9 !yreal $hrones, ,ith reason hath dee! silence and de ur SeisPd us, though undis aid@ long is the "ay .nd hard, that out of Hell leads u! to =ight6 (ur !rison strong, this huge con#e0 of )ire, (utrageous to de#our, i ures us round /inefold, and gates of burning .da ant +arrPd o#er us !rohibit all egress. $hese !ast, if any !ass, the #oid !rofound (f unessential /ight recei#es hi ne0t BDA
,ide ga!ing, and "ith utter loss of being $hreatens hi , !lungPd in that aborti#e gulf. 7f thence he sca!e into "hat e#er "orld, (r unkno"n -egion, "hat re ains hi less $hen unkno"n dangers and as hard esca!e. +ut 7 should ill beco e this $hrone, ( <eers, .nd this 7 !erial So#Pranty, adornPd ,ith s!lendor, ar Pd "ith !o"er, if aught !ro!osPd .nd %udgPd of !ublic o ent, in the sha!e (f difficulty or danger could deterre ?e fro atte !ting. ,herefore do 7 assu e $hese -oyalties, and not refuse to -eign, -efusing to acce!t as great a share (f ha'ard as of honour, due alike $o hi "ho -eigns, and so uch to hi due (f ha'ard ore, as he abo#e the rest High honourd sitsG &o therfore ighty !o"ers, $error of Hea#Pn, though fallPn6 intend at ho e, ,hile here shall be our ho e, "hat best ay ease $he !resent isery, and render Hell ?ore tollerable6 if there be cure or char $o res!ite or decei#e, or slack the !ain (f this ill ?ansion@ inter it no "atch .gainst a "akeful )oe, "hile 7 abroad $hrough all the coasts of dark destruction seek Deli#erance for us all@ this enter!ri'e /one shall !artake "ith e. $hus saying rose $he ?onarch, and !re#ented all re!ly. (CB0-C68) $P "ho Satan turning boldly, thus. Ue <o"ers .nd S!irits of this nether ost .byss, 5haos and ancient /ight, 7 co e no S!ie, ,ith !ur!ose to e0!lore or to disturb $he secrets of -eal , but by constraint ,andring this darkso e desart, as y "ay =ies through your s!acious 9 !ire u! to light, .lone, and "ithout guide, half lost, 7 seek ,hat readiest !ath leads "here your gloo ie bounds 5onfine "ith Hea#Pn6 or if so other !lace )ro your Do inion "on, thP 9thereal Hing <ossesses lately, thither to arri#e 7 tra#el this !rofound, direct y course6 Directed, no ean reco !ence it brings $o your behoof, if 7 that -egion lost, .ll usur!ation thence e0!ellPd, reduce $o her original darkness and your s"ay (,hich is y !resent %ourney) and once ore 9rect the Standerd there of ancient /ight6 Uours be thP ad#antage all, ine the re#enge. (>68->8D) 'ook ,,, The Argument BDB
&od sitting on his $hrone sees Satan flying to"ards this "orld, then ne"ly created6 she"s hi to the Son "ho sat at his right hand6 foretells the success of Satan in !er#erting ankind6 clears his o"n %ustice and ,isdo fro all i !utation, ha#ing created ?an free and able enough to ha#e "ithstood his $e !ter6 yet declares his <ur!ose of grace to"ards hi , in regard he fell not of his o"n alice, as did Satan, but by hi seducPt. $he Son of &od renders !raises to his )ather for the anifestation of his gracious !ur!ose to"ards ?an6 but &od again declares, that &race cannot be e0tended to"ards ?an "ithout the satisfaction of di#ine %ustice6 ?an hath offended the a%esty of &od by as!iring to &odhead, and therefore "ith all his <rogeny de#oted to death ust dye, unless so e one can be found sufficient to ans"er for his offence, and undergoe his <unish ent. $he Son of &od freely offers hi self a -anso e for ?an@ the )ather acce!ts hi , ordains his incarnation, !ronounces his e0altation abo#e all /a es in Hea#en and 9arth6 co ands all the .ngels to adore hi 6 they obey, and hy ning to their Har!s in full :uire, celebrate the )ather and the Son. ?ean "hile Satan alights u!on the bare con#e0 of this ,orlds outer ost (rb6 "here "andring he first finds a !lace since callPd $he =y bo of Vanity6 "hat !ersons and things fly u! thither6 thence co es to the &ate of Hea#en, describPd ascending by stairs, and the "aters abo#e the )ir a ent that flo" about it@ His !assage thence to the (rb of the Sun6 he finds there ;riel the -egent of that (rb, but first changes hi self into the sha!e of a eaner .ngel6 and !retending a 'ealous desire to behold the ne" 5reation and ?an "ho &od had !lacPt here, in4uires of hi the !lace of his habitation, and is directed6 alights first on ?ount /i!hates. H.7= holy light, ofs!ring of Hea#Pn first-born, (r of thP 9ternal 5oeternal bea ?ay 7 e0!ress thee unbla PdG since &od is light, .nd ne#er but in una!!roached light D"elt fro 9ternitie, d"elt then in thee, +right effluence of bright essence increate. (r hearPst thou rather !ure 9thereal strea , ,hose )ountain "ho shall tellG before the Sun, +efore the Hea#ens thou "ert, and at the #oice (f &od, as "ith a ?antle didst in#est $he rising "orld of "aters dark and dee!, ,on fro the #oid and for less infinite. $hee 7 re-#isit no" "ith bolder "ing, 9sca!Pt the Stygian <ool, though long detainPd 7n that obscure so%ourn, "hile in y flight $hrough utter and through iddle darkness borne ,ith other notes then to thP (r!hean =yre 7 sung of 5haos and 9ternal /ight, $aught by the hea#Pnly ?use to #enture do"n $he dark descent, and u! to reascend, $hough hard and rare@ thee 7 re#isit safe, .nd feel thy so#ran #ital =a !6 but thou -e#isitPst not these eyes, that ro"le in #ain $o find thy !iercing ray, and find no da"n6 So thick a dro! serene hath 4uencht thir (rbs, (r di suffusion yeild. Uet not the ore 5ease 7 to "ander "here the ?uses haunt 5leer S!ring, or shadie &ro#e, or Sunnie Hill, S it "ith the lo#e of sacred song6 but chief $hee Sion and the flo"rie +rooks beneath $hat "ash thy hallo"d feet, and "arbling flo", /ightly 7 #isit@ nor so ti es forget BDC
$hose other t"o e4ualPd "ith e in )ate, So "ere 7 e4ualPd "ith the in reno"n, +lind $ha yris and blind ?aeonides, .nd $iresias and <hineus <ro!hets old. $hen feed on thoughts, that #oluntarie o#e Har onious nu bers6 as the "akeful +ird Sings darkling, and in shadiest 5o#ert hid $unes her nocturnal /ote. $hus "ith the Uear Seasons return, but not to e returns Day, or the s"eet a!!roach of 9#Pn or ?orn, (r sight of #ernal bloo , or Su ers -ose, (r flocks, or herds, or hu an face di#ine6 +ut cloud in stead, and e#er-during dark Surrounds e, fro the chearful "aies of en 5ut off, and for the +ook of kno"ledge fair <resented "ith a ;ni#ersal blanc (f /atures "orks to ee e0!ungPd and rasPd, .nd "isdo e at one entrance 4uite shut out. So uch the rather thou 5elestial light Shine in"ard, and the ind through all her !o"ers 7rradiate, there !lant eyes, all ist fro thence <urge and dis!erse, that 7 ay see and tell (f things in#isible to ortal sight. /o" had the .l ighty )ather fro abo#e, )ro the !ure 9 !yrean "here he sits High $hronPd abo#e all highth, bent do"n his eye, His o"n "orks and their "orks at once to #ie"@ .bout hi all the Sanctities of Hea#en Stood thick as Starrs, and fro his sight recei#Pd +eatitude !ast utterance6 on his right $he radiant i age of his &lory sat, His onely Son6 (n 9arth he first beheld (ur t"o first <arents, yet the onely t"o (f ankind, in the ha!!ie &arden !lacPt, -ea!ing i ortal fruits of %oy and lo#e, ;ninterru!ted %oy, unri#ald lo#e 7n blissful solitude6 he then sur#eyPd Hell and the &ulf bet"een, and Satan there 5oasting the "all of Hea#Pn on this side /ight 7n the dun .ir subli e, and ready no" $o stoo! "ith "earied "ings, and "illing feet (n the bare outside of this ,orld, that see Pd )ir land i boso Pd "ithout )ir a ent, ;ncertain "hich, in (cean or in .ir. Hi &od beholding fro his !ros!ect high, ,herein !ast, !resent, future he beholds, $hus to his onely Son foreseeing s!ake. (1-D>) +ut yet all is not don6 ?an disobeying, Disloyal breaks his fealtie, and sinns .gainst the high Su!re acie of Hea#Pn, .ffecting &od-head, and so loosing all, BD5
$o e0!iate his $reason hath naught left, +ut to destruction sacred and de#ote, He "ith his "hole !osteritie ust die, Die hee or 1ustice ust6 unless for hi So e other able, and as "illing, !ay $he rigid satisfaction, death for death. Say Hea#Pnly <o"ers, "here shall "e find such lo#e, ,hich of ye "ill be ortal to redee ?ans ortal cri e, and %ust thP un%ust to sa#e, D"els in all Hea#en charitie so deareG He askPd, but all the Hea#Pnly :uire stood ute, .nd silence "as in Hea#Pn@ on ans behalf <atron or 7ntercessor none a!!eerd, ?uch less that durst u!on his o"n head dra" $he deadly forfeiture, and ranso set. .nd no" "ithout rede !tion all ankind ?ust ha#e bin lost, ad%udgPd to Death and Hell +y doo se#ere, had not the Son of &od, 7n "ho the fulness d"els of lo#e di#ine, His dearest ediation thus rene"d. )ather, thy "ord is !ast, an shall find grace6 .nd shall grace not find eans, that finds her "ay, $he s!eediest of thy "inged essengers, $o #isit all thy creatures, and to all 5o es un!re#ented, uni !lorPd, unsought, Ha!!ie for an, so co ing6 he her aide 5an ne#er seek, once dead in sins and lost6 .ttone ent for hi self or offering eet, 7ndebted and undon, hath none to bring@ +ehold ee then, ee for hi , life for life 7 offer, on ee let thine anger fall6 .ccount ee an6 7 for his sake "ill lea#e $hy boso , and this glorie ne0t to thee )reely !ut off, and for hi lastly die ,ell !leasPd, on e let Death "reck all his rage6 ;nder his gloo ie !o"er 7 shall not long =ie #an4uisht6 thou hast gi#n e to !ossess =ife in y self for e#er, by thee 7 li#e, $hough no" to Death 7 yeild, and a his due .ll that of e can die, yet that debt !aid, $hou "ilt not lea#e e in the loathso gra#e His !rey, nor suffer y uns!otted Soule )or e#er "ith corru!tion there to d"ell6 +ut 7 shall rise Victorious, and subdue ?y Van4uisher, s!oild of his #anted s!oile6 Death his deaths "ound shall then recei#e, [ stoo! 7nglorious, of his ortall sting disar Pd. 7 through the a !le .ir in $riu !h high Shall lead Hell 5a!ti#e augre Hell, and sho" $he !o"ers of darkness bound. $hou at the sight <leasPd, out of Hea#en shalt look do"n and s ile, ,hile by thee raisPd 7 ruin all y )oes, BD6
Death last, and "ith his 5arcass glut the &ra#e@ $hen "ith the ultitude of y redee d Shall enter Hea#en long absent, and returne, )ather, to see thy face, "herein no cloud (f anger shall re ain, but !eace assurPd, .nd reconcile ent6 "rauth shall be no ore $henceforth, but in thy !resence 1oy entire. (A0B-A65) 'ook ,0 The Argument Satan no" in !ros!ect of 9den, and nigh the !lace "here he ust no" atte !t the bold enter!ri'e "hich he undertook alone against &od and ?an, falls into any doubts "ith hi self, and any !assions, fear, en#y, and des!are6 but at length confir s hi self in e#il, %ourneys on to <aradise, "hose out"ard !ros!ect and scituation is described, o#erlea!s the bounds, sits in the sha!e of a 5or or ant on the $ree of life, as highest in the &arden to look about hi . $he &arden describPd6 Satans first sight of .da and 9#e6 his "onder at thir e0cellent for and ha!!y state, but "ith resolution to "ork thir fall6 o#erhears thir discourse, thence gathers that the $ree of kno"ledge "as forbidden the to eat of, under !enalty of death6 and thereon intends to found his te !tation, by seducing the to transgress@ then lea#es the a "hile, to kno" further of thir state by so e other eans. ?ean "hile ;riel descending on a Sun-bea "arns &abriel, "ho had in charge the &ate of <aradise, that so e e#il s!irit had esca!Pd the Dee!, and !ast at /oon by his S!here in the sha!e of a good .ngel do"n to <aradise, disco#ered after by his furious gestures in the ?ount. &abriel !ro ises to find hi out ere orning. /ight co ing on, .da and 9#e discourse of going to thir rest@ thir +o"er describPd6 thir 9#ening "orshi!. &abriel dra"ing forth his +ands of /ight-"atch to "alk the round of <aradise, a!!oints t"o strong .ngels to .da s +o"er, least the e#il s!irit should be there doing so e har to .da or 9#e slee!ing6 there they find hi at the ear of 9#e, te !ting her in a drea , and bring hi , though un"illing, to &abriel6 by "ho 4uestionPd, he scornfully ans"ers, !re!ares resistance, but hinderPd by a Sign fro Hea#en, flies out of <aradise. ( thou that "ith sur!assing &lory cro"nd, =ookPst fro thy sole Do inion like the &od (f this ne" ,orld6 at "hose sight all the Starrs Hide thir di inisht heads6 to thee 7 call, +ut "ith no friendly #oice, and add thy na e ( Sun, to tell thee ho" 7 hate thy bea s $hat bring to y re e brance fro "hat state 7 fell, ho" glorious once abo#e thy S!heare6 $ill <ride and "orse . bition thre" e do"n ,arring in Hea#Pn against Hea#Pns atchless Hing@ .h "hereforeE he deser#d no such return )ro e, "ho he created "hat 7 "as 7n that bright e inence, and "ith his good ;!braided none6 nor "as his ser#ice hard. ,hat could be less then to afford hi !raise, $he easiest reco !ence, and !ay hi thanks, Ho" dueE yet all his good !ro#Pd ill in e, .nd "rought but alice6 lifted u! so high 7 Tsdeind sub%ection, and thought one ste! higher ,ould set e highest, and in a o ent 4uit $he debt i ense of endless gratitude, So burthenso e, still !aying, still to o"6 BDD
)orgetful "hat fro hi 7 still recei#d, .nd understood not that a grateful ind +y o"ing o"es not, but still !ays, at once 7ndebted and discharged6 "hat burden thenG ( had his !o"erful Destiny ordaind ?e so e inferiour .ngel, 7 had stood $hen ha!!ie6 no unbounded ho!e had raisPd . bition. Uet "hy notG so other <o"er .s great ight ha#e as!irPd, and e though ean Dra"n to his !art6 but other <o"ers as great )ell not, but stand unshakPn, fro "ithin (r fro "ithout, to all te !tations ar Pd. Hadst thou the sa e free ,ill and <o"er to standG $hou hadst@ "ho hast thou then or "hat to accuse, +ut Hea#Pns free =o#e dealt e4ually to allG +e then his =o#e accurst, since lo#e or hate, $o e alike, it deals eternal "oe. /ay cursPd be thou6 since against his thy "ill 5hose freely "hat it no" so %ustly rues. ?e iserableE "hich "ay shall 7 flie 7nfinite "rauth, and infinite des!aireG ,hich "ay 7 flie is Hell6 y self a Hell6 .nd in the lo"est dee! a lo"er dee! Still threatning to de#our e o!ens "ide, $o "hich the Hell 7 suffer see s a Hea#Pn. ( then at last relent@ is there no !lace =eft for -e!entance, none for <ardon leftG /one left but by sub ission6 and that "ord Disdain forbids e, and y dread of sha e . ong the s!irits beneath, "ho 7 seducPd ,ith other !ro ises and other #aunts $hen to sub it, boasting 7 could subdue $hP ( ni!otent. .y e, they little kno" Ho" dearly 7 abide that boast so #aine, ;nder "hat tor ents in"ardly 7 groane@ ,hile they adore e on the $hrone of Hell, ,ith Diade and Sce!ter high ad#ancd $he lo"er still 7 fall, onely Su!rea 7n iserie6 such %oy . bition findes. +ut say 7 could re!ent and could obtaine +y .ct of &race y for er state6 ho" soon ,ould highth recal high thoughts, ho" soon unsay ,hat feignPd sub ission s"ore@ ease "ould recant Vo"s ade in !ain, as #iolent and #oid. )or ne#er can true reconcile ent gro" ,here "ounds of deadly hate ha#e !eircPd so dee!@ ,hich "ould but lead e to a "orse rela!se, .nd hea#ier fall@ so should 7 !urchase deare Short inter ission bought "ith double s art. $his kno"s y !unisher6 therefore as far )ro granting hee, as 7 fro begging !eace@ .ll ho!e e0cluded thus, behold in stead BD8
(f us out-cast, e0ilPd, his ne" delight, ?ankind created, and for hi this ,orld. So far"el Ho!e, and "ith Ho!e far"el )ear, )ar"el -e orse@ all &ood to e is lost6 9#il be thou y &ood6 by thee at least Di#ided 9 !ire "ith Hea#Pns Hing 7 hold +y thee, and ore then half !erha!s "ill reigne6 .s ?an ere long, and this ne" ,orld shall kno". (B1-11B) +eneath hi "ith ne" "onder no" he #ie"s $o all delight of hu an sense e0!osPd 7n narro" roo /atures "hole "ealth, yea ore, . Hea#en on 9arth@ for blissful <aradise (f &od the &arden "as, by hi in the 9ast (f 9den !lanted6 9den stretchd her =ine )ro .uran 9ast"ard to the -oyal $o"rs (f &reat Seleucia, built by &recian Hings, (r "here the Sons of 9den long before D"elt in $elassar@ in this !leasant soile His farr ore !leasant &arden &od ordaind6 (ut of the fertil ground he causPd to gro" .ll $rees of noblest kind for sight, s ell, taste6 .nd all a id the stood the $ree of =ife, High e inent, bloo ing . brosial )ruit (f #egetable &old6 and ne0t to =ife (ur Death the $ree of Hno"ledge gre" fast by, Hno"ledge of &ood bought dear by kno"ing ill. South"ard through 9den "ent a -i#er large, /or changPd his course, but through the shaggie hill <assPd underneath ingulft, for &od had thro"n $hat ?ountain as his &arden ould high raisPd ;!on the ra!id current, "hich through #eins (f !orous 9arth "ith kindly thirst u! dra"n, -ose a fresh )ountain, and "ith any a rill ,aterd the &arden6 thence united fell Do"n the stee! glade, and et the neather )lood, ,hich fro his darkso !assage no" a!!eers, .nd no" di#ided into four ain Strea s, -uns di#ers, "andring any a fa ous -eal e .nd 5ountry "hereof here needs no account, +ut rather to tell ho", if .rt could tell, Ho" fro that Sa!hire )ount the cris!ed +rooks, -o"ling on (rient <earl and sands of &old, ,ith a'ie error under !endant shades -an /ectar, #isiting each !lant, and fed )lours "orthy of <aradise "hich not nice .rt 7n +eds and curious Hnots, but /ature boon <o"rd forth !rofuse on Hill and Dale and <laine, +oth "here the orning Sun first "ar ly s ote $he o!en field, and "here the un!iercPt shade 7 bround the noontide +o"rs@ $hus "as this !lace, . ha!!y rural seat of #arious #ie". (A05-AC5) BD>
J?ount . ara, though this by so su!!osPd $rue <aradise under the 9thio! =ine +y /ilus head, enclosPd "ith shining -ock, . "hole dayes %ourney high, but "ide re ote )ro this .ssyrian &arden, "here the )iend Sa" undelighted all delight, all kind (f li#ing 5reatures ne" to sight and strange@ $"o of far nobler sha!e erect and tall, &odlike erect, "ith nati#e Honour clad 7n naked ?a%estie see d =ords of all, .nd "orthie see d, for in thir looks Di#ine $he i age of thir glorious ?aker shon, $ruth, ,isdo e, Sanctitude se#ere and !ure, Se#ere, but in true filial freedo !lacPt6 ,hence true autoritie in en6 though both /ot e4ual, as their se0 not e4ual see d6 )or conte !lation hee and #alour for d, )or softness shee and s"eet attracti#e &race, Hee for &od only, shee for &od in hi @ His fair large )ront and 9ye subli e declarPd .bsolute rule6 and Hyacinthin =ocks -ound fro his !arted forelock anly hung 5lustring, but not beneath his shoulders broad@ Shee as a #ail do"n to the slender "aste Her unadorned golden tresses "ore Disshe#eld, but in "anton ringlets "a#Pd .s the Vine curles her tendrils, "hich i !liPd Sub%ection, but re4uirPd "ith gentle s"ay, .nd by her yeilded, by hi best recei#d, Ueilded "ith coy sub ission, odest !ride, .nd s"eet reluctant a orous delay. /or those ysterious !arts "ere then conceald, $hen "as not guiltie sha e, dishonest sha e (f natures "orks, honor dishonorable, Sin-bred, ho" ha#e ye troublPd all ankind ,ith she"s instead, eer she"s of see ing !ure, .nd banisht fro ans life his ha!!iest life, Si !licitie and s!otless innocence. So !assd they naked on, nor shund the sight (f &od or .ngel, for they thought no ill@ So hand in hand they !assd, the lo#liest !air $hat e#er since in lo#es i braces et, .da the goodliest an of en since born His Sons, the fairest of her Daughters 9#e. (A85-BAC) Sole !artner and sole !art of all these %oyes, Dearer thy self then all6 needs ust the <o"er $hat ade us, and for us this a !le ,orld +e infinitly good, and of his good .s liberal and free as infinite, $hat raisPd us fro the dust and !lacPt us here B80
7n all this ha!!iness, "ho at his hand Ha#e nothing erited, nor can !erfor e .ught "hereof hee hath need, hee "ho re4uires )ro us no other ser#ice then to kee! $his one, this easie charge, of all the $rees 7n <aradise that heare delicious fruit So #arious, not to taste that onely $ree (f kno"ledge, !lanted by the $ree of =ife, So neer gro"s Death to =ife, "hat ere Death is, So dreadful thing no doubt6 for "ell thou kno"st &od hath !ronouncPt it death to taste that $ree, $he only sign of our obedience left . ong so any signes of !o"er and rule 5onferrd u!on us, and Do inion gi#Pn (#er all other 5reatures that !ossesse 9arth, .ire, and Sea. $hen let us not think hard (ne easie !rohibition, "ho en%oy )ree lea#e so large to all things else, and choice ;nli ited of anifold delights@ +ut let us e#er !raise hi , and e0toll His bountie, follo"ing our delightful task $o !rune these gro"ing <lants, [ tend these )lours, ,hich "ere it toilso , yet "ith thee "ere s"eet. (C11-CC0)
B81
'ook 0 The Argument ?orning a!!roachPt, 9#e relates to .da her troubleso e drea 6 he likes it not, yet co forts her@ $hey co e forth to thir day labours@ $heir ?orning Hy n at the Door of their +o"er. &od to render ?an ine0cusable sends -a!hael to ad onish hi of his obedience, of his free estate, of his ene y near at hand6 "ho he is, and "hy his ene y, and "hate#er else ay a#ail .da to kno". -a!hael co es do"n to <aradise, his a!!earance describPd, his co ing discernPd by .da afar off sitting at the door of his +o"er6 he goes out to eet hi , brings hi to his lodge, entertains hi "ith the choycest fruits of <aradise got together by 9#e6 their discourse at $able@ -a!hael !erfor s his essage, inds .da of his state and of his ene y6 relates at .da s re4uest "ho that ene y is, and ho" he ca e to be so, beginning fro his first re#olt in Hea#en, and the occasion thereof6 ho" he dre" his =egions after hi to the !arts of the /orth, and there incited the to rebel "ith hi , !ers"ading all but only .bdiel a Sera!h, "ho in .rgu ent dis"ades and o!!oses hi , then forsakes hi . Such "his!ering "akPd her, but "ith startlPd eye (n .da , "ho i bracing, thus she s!ake. ( Sole in "ho y thoughts find all re!ose, ?y &lorie, y <erfection, glad 7 see $hy face, and ?orn returnPd, for 7 this /ight, Such night till this 7 ne#er !assPd, ha#e drea Pd, 7f drea Pd, not as 7 oft a "ont, of thee, ,orks of day !assPt, or orro"s ne0t designe, +ut of offence and trouble, "hich y ind Hne" ne#er till this irkso night6 ethought 5lose at ine ear one callPd e forth to "alk ,ith gentle #oice, 7 thought it thine6 it said, ,hy slee!st thou 9#eG no" is the !leasant ti e, $he cool, the silent, sa#e "here silence yields $o the night-"arbling +ird, that no" a"ake $unes s"eetest his lo#e-laborPd song6 no" reignes )ull (rbPd the ?oon, and "ith ore !leasing light Shado"ie sets off the face of things6 in #ain, 7f none regard6 Hea#Pn "akes "ith all his eyes, ,ho to behold but thee, /atures desire, 7n "hose sight all things %oy, "ith ra#ish ent .ttracted by thy beauty still to ga'e. 7 rose as at thy call, but found thee not6 $o find thee 7 directed then y "alk6 .nd on, ethought, alone 7 !assPd through "ays $hat brought e on a sudden to the $ree (f interdicted Hno"ledge@ fair it see Pd, ?uch fairer to y )ancie then by day@ .nd as 7 "ondring lookt, beside it stood (ne sha!Pd and "ingPd like one of those fro Hea#Pn +y us oft seen6 his de"ie locks distillPd . brosia6 on that $ree he also ga'Pd6 .nd ( fair <lant, said he, "ith fruit surchargPd, Deigns none to ease thy load and taste thy s"eet, /or &od, nor ?an6 is Hno"ledge so des!isPdG (r en#ie, or "hat reser#e forbids to tasteG B8A
)orbid "ho "ill, none shall fro e "ithhold =onger thy offerd good, "hy else set hereG $his said he !ausPd not, but "ith #entrous .r e He !luckt, he tasted6 ee da ! horror chilPd .t such bold "ords #oucht "ith a deed so bold@ +ut he thus o#er%oyPd, ( )ruit Di#ine, S"eet of thy self, but uch ore s"eet thus cro!t, )orbiddPn here, it see s, as onely fit )or &ods, yet able to ake &ods of ?en@ .nd "hy not &ods of ?en, since good, the ore 5o unicated, ore abundant gro"es, $he .uthor not i !airPd, but honourd oreG Here, ha!!ie 5reature, fair .ngelic 9#e, <artake thou also6 ha!!ie though thou art, Ha!!ier, thou ayst be, "orthier canst not be@ $aste this, and be henceforth a ong the &ods $hy self a &oddess, not to 9arth confind, +ut so ti es in the .ir, as "ee, so ti es .scend to Hea#Pn, by erit thine, and see ,hat life the &ods li#e there, and such li#e thou. (A>-81) -a!hael, said hee, thou hearPst "hat stir on 9arth Satan fro Hell sca!Pt through the darkso &ulf Hath raisd in <aradise, and ho" disturbd $his night the hu an !air, ho" he designes 7n the at once to ruin all ankind. &o therefore, half this day as friend "ith friend 5on#erse "ith .da , in "hat +o"re or shade $hou findPst hi fro the heat of /oon retirPd, $o res!it his day-labour "ith re!ast, (r "ith re!ose6 and such discourse bring on, .s ay ad#ise hi of his ha!!ie state, Ha!!iness in his !o"er left free to "ill, =eft to his o"n free ,ill, his ,ill though free, Uet utable, "hence "a e hi to be"are He s"er#e not too secure@ tell hi "ithall His danger, and fro "ho , "hat ene ie =ate falln hi self fro Hea#en, is !lotting no" $he fall of others fro like state of bliss6 +y #iolence, no, for that shall be "ithstood, +ut by deceit and lies6 this let hi kno", =east "ilfully transgressing he !retend Sur!risal, unad onisht, unfore"arnd. (AAC-ACA) $hus .da ade re4uest, and -a!hael .fter short !ause assenting, thus began. High atter thou in%oinst e, ( !ri e of en, Sad task and hard, for ho" shall 7 relate $o hu an sense thP in#isible e0!loits (f "arring S!irits6 ho" "ithout re orse $he ruin of so any glorious once .nd !erfet "hile they stood6 ho" last unfould B8B
$he secrets of another "orld, !erha!s /ot la"ful to re#ealG yet for thy good $his is dis!encPt, and "hat sur ounts the reach (f hu an sense, 7 shall delineate so, +y likPning s!iritual to cor!oral for s, .s ay e0!ress the best, though "hat if 9arth +e but the shaddo" of Hea#Pn, and things therein 9ach to other like, ore then on earth is thoughtG .s yet this "orld "as not, and 5haos "ilde -eignd "here these Hea#Pns no" ro"l, "here 9arth no" rests ;!on her 5enter !oisPd, "hen on a day )or $i e, though in 9ternitie, a!!liPd $o otion, easures all things durable +y !resent, !ast, and future) on such day .s Hea#Pns great Uear brings forth, thP 9 !yreal Host (f .ngels by 7 !erial su ons callPd, 7nnu erable before thP .l ighties $hrone )orth"ith fro all the ends of Hea#Pn a!!eerd ;nder thir Hierarchs in orders bright $en thousand thousand 9nsignes high ad#ancPd, Standards, and &onfalons t"i0t Van and -eare Strea e in the .ire, and for distinction ser#e (f Hierarchies, of (rders, and Degrees6 (r in thir glittering $issues bear i bla'Pd Holy ?e orials, acts of Yeale and =o#e -ecorded e inent. $hus "hen in (rbes (f circuit ine0!ressible they stood, (rb "ithin (rb, the )ather infinite, +y "ho in bliss i boso Pd sat the Son, . idst as fro a fla ing ?ount, "hose to! +rightness had ade in#isible, thus s!ake. Hear all ye .ngels, <rogenie of =ight, $hrones, Do inations, <rincedo s, Vertues, <o"ers, Hear y Decree, "hich unre#okPt shall stand. $his day 7 ha#e begot "ho 7 declare ?y onely Son, and on this holy Hill Hi ha#e anointed, "ho ye no" behold .t y right hand6 your Head 7 hi a!!oint6 .nd by y Self ha#e s"orn to hi shall bo" .ll knees in Hea#Pn, and shall confess hi =ord@ ;nder his great Vice-gerent -eign abide ;nited as one indi#idual Soule )or e#er ha!!ie@ hi "ho disobeyes ?ee disobeyes, breaks union and that day 5ast out fro &od and blessed #ision, falls 7nto utter darkness, dee! ingulft, his !lace (rdaind "ithout rede !tion, "ithout end. (561-615) Son, thou in "ho y glory 7 behold 7n full res!lendence, Heir of all y ight, /eerly it no" concernes us to be sure (f our ( ni!otence, and "ith "hat .r s B8C
,e ean to hold "hat anciently "e clai (f Deitie or 9 !ire, such a foe 7s rising, "ho intends to erect his $hrone 94ual to ours, throughout the s!acious /orth6 /or so content, hath in his thought to trie 7n battel, "hat our <o"er is, or our right. =et us ad#ise, and to this ha'ard dra" ,ith s!eed "hat force is left, and all i !loy 7n our defence, lest una"ares "e lose $his our high !lace, our Sanctuarie, our Hill. $o "ho the Son "ith cal as!ect and cleer =ightPning Di#ine, ineffable, serene, ?ade ans"er. ?ightie )ather, thou thy foes 1ustly hast in derision, and secure =aughPst at thir #ain designes and tu ults #ain, ?atter to ee of &lory, "ho thir hate 7llustrates, "hen they see all -egal <o"er &i#Pn e to 4uell thir !ride, and in e#ent Hno" "hether 7 be de0trous to subdue $hy -ebels, or be found the "orst in Hea#Pn. (D1>-DC1) $hat "e "ere for d then saist thouG [ the "ork (f secondarie hands, by task transferd )ro )ather to his SonG strange !oint and ne"E Doctrin "hich "e "ould kno" "hence learnt@ "ho sa" ,hen this creation "asG re e berst thou $hy aking, "hile the ?aker ga#e thee beingG ,e kno" no ti e "hen "e "ere not as no"6 Hno" none before us, self-begot, self-raisPd +y our o"n 4uickPning !o"er, "hen fatal course Had circlPd his full (rbe, the birth ature (f this our nati#e Hea#Pn, 9thereal Sons. (ur !uissance is our o"n, our o"n right hand Shall teach us highest deeds, by !roof to try ,ho is our e4ual@ then thou shalt behold ,hether by su!!lication "e intend .ddress, and to begirt thP .l ighty $hrone +eseeching or besieging. $his re!ort, $hese tidings carrie to thP anointed Hing6 .nd fly, ere e#il interce!t thy flight. (85A-8D1)
B85
'ook 0, The Argument -a!hael continues to relate ho" ?ichael and &abriel "ere sent forth to +attel against Satan and his .ngels. $he first )ight describPd@ Satan and his <o"ers retire under /ight@ He calls a 5ouncel, in#ents de#ilish 9ngines, "hich in the second dayes )ight !ut ?ichael and his .ngels to so e disorder6 +ut they at length !ulling u! ?ountains o#er"hel Pd both the force and ?achins of Satan@ Uet the $u ult not so ending, &od on the third day sends ?essiah his Son, for "ho he had reser#Pd the glory of that Victory@ Hee in the <o"er of his )ather co ing to the !lace, and causing all his =egions to stand still on either side, "ith his 5hariot and $hunder dri#ing into the idst of his 9ne ies, !ursues the unable to resist to"ards the "all of Hea#en6 "hich o!ening, they lea! do"n "ith horrour and confusion into the !lace of !unish ent !re!arPd for the in the Dee!@ ?essiah returns "ith triu !h to his )ather. $o "ho in brief thus .bdiel stern re!liPd. .!ostat still thou errst, nor end "ilt find (f erring, fro the !ath of truth re ote@ ;n%ustly thou de!ra#Pst it "ith the na e (f Ser#itude to ser#e "ho &od ordains, (r /ature6 &od and /ature bid the sa e, ,hen he "ho rules is "orthiest, and e0cells $he "ho he go#erns. $his is ser#itude, $o ser#e thP un"ise, or hi "ho hath rebelld .gainst his "orthier, as thine no" ser#e thee, $hy self not free, but to thy self enthrallPd6 Uet leudly darPst our inistring u!braid. -eign thou in Hell thy Hingdo , let ee ser#e 7n Hea#Pn &od e#er blest, and his Di#ine +ehests obey, "orthiest to be obeyPd, Uet 5hains in Hell, not -eal s e0!ect@ ean "hile )ro ee returnd, as erst thou saidst, fro flight, $his greeting on thy i !ious 5rest recei#e. (1D1-188) So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high, ,hich hung not, but so s"ift "ith te !est fell (n the !roud 5rest of Satan, that no sight, /or otion of s"ift thought, less could his Shield Such ruin interce!t@ ten !aces huge He back recoild6 the tenth on bended knee His assie S!ear u!staid6 as if on 9arth ,inds under ground or "aters forcing "ay Sidelong, had !ushPt a ?ountain fro his seat Half sunk "ith all his <ines. . a'e ent seisPd $he -ebel $hrones, but greater rage to see $hus foilPd thir ightiest, ours %oy filld, and shout, <resage of Victorie and fierce desire (f +attel@ "hereat ?ichael bid sound $hP .rch-angel tru !et6 through the #ast of Hea#Pn 7t sounded, and the faithful .r ies rung Hosanna to the Highest@ nor stood at ga'e $he ad#erse =egions, nor less hideous %oynPd $he horrid shock@ no" stor ing furie rose, B86
.nd cla our such as heard in Hea#Pn till no" ,as ne#er, .r s on .r our clashing brayPd Horrible discord, and the adding ,heeles (f bra'en 5hariots ragPd6 dire "as the noise (f conflict6 o#er head the dis al hiss (f fiery Darts in fla ing #olies fle", .nd flying #aulted either Host "ith fire. So under fierie 5o!e together rushPd +oth +attels aine, "ith ruinous assault .nd ine0tinguishable rage6 all Hea#Pn -esounded, and had 9arth bin then, all 9arth Had to her 5enter shook. ,hat "onderG "hen ?illions of fierce encountring .ngels fought (n either side, the least of "ho could "eild $hese 9le ents, and ar hi "ith the force (f all thir -egions@ ho" uch ore of <o"er .r ie against .r ie nu berless to raise Dreadful co bustion "arring, and disturb, $hough not destroy, thir ha!!ie /ati#e seat6 Had not thP 9ternal Hing ( ni!otent )ro his strong hold of Hea#Pn high o#er-rulPd .nd li ited thir ight6 though nu berd such .s each di#ided =egion ight ha#e see ed . nu erous Host, in strength each ar ed hand . =egion6 led in fight, yet =eader see d 9ach ,arriour single as in 5hief, e0!ert ,hen to ad#ance, or stand, or turn the s"ay (f +attel, o!en "hen, and "hen to close $he ridges of gri ,arr6 no thought of flight, /one of retreat, no unbeco ing deed $hat arguPd fear6 each on hi self reliPd, .s onely in his ar the o ent lay (f #ictorie6 deeds of eternal fa e ,ere don, but infinite@ for "ide "as s!red $hat ,arr and #arious6 so ti es on fir ground . standing fight, then soaring on ain "ing $or ented all the .ir6 all .ir see d then 5onflicting )ire@ long ti e in ee#en scale $he +attel hung6 till Satan, "ho that day <rodigious !o"er had she"n, and et in .r es /o e4ual, raunging through the dire attack (f fighting Sera!hi confusPd, at length Sa" "here the S"ord of ?ichael s ote, and fellPd S4uadrons at once, "ith huge t"o-handed s"ay +randisht aloft the horrid edge ca e do"n ,ide "asting6 such destruction to "ithstand He hasted, and o!!osPd the rockie (rb (f tenfold .da ant, his a !le Shield . #ast circu ference@ .t his a!!roach $he great .rch-.ngel fro his "arlike toile SurceasPd, and glad as ho!ing here to end 7ntestine ,ar in Hea#Pn, the arch foe subduPd B8D
(r 5a!ti#e dragPd in 5hains, "ith hostile fro"n .nd #isage all enfla Pd first thus began. (18>-A61) So scoffing in a biguous "ords, he scarce Had ended6 "hen to -ight and =eft the )ront Di#ided, and to either )lank retirPd. ,hich to our eyes disco#erd ne" and strange, . tri!le- ounted ro" of <illars laid (n ,heels (for like to <illars ost they see Pd (r hollo"Pd bodies ade of (ak or )ir ,ith branches lo!t, in ,ood or ?ountain fellPd) +rass, 7ron, Stonie ould, had not thir outhes ,ith hideous orifice ga!Pt on us "ide. <ortending behind truce6 at each behind . Sera!h stood, and in his hand a -eed Stood "a#ing ti!t "ith fire6 "hile "e sus!ense, 5ollected stood "ithin our thoughts a usPd, /ot long, for sudden all at once thir -eeds <ut forth, and to a narro" #ent a!!liPd ,ith nicest touch. 7 ediate in a fla e, +ut soon obscurd "ith s oak, all Hea#Pn a!!eerd, )ro those dee!-throated 9ngins belcht, "hose roar 9 bo"eld "ith outragious noise the .ir, .nd all her entrails tore, disgorging foule $hir de#illish glut, chaind $hunderbolts and Hail (f 7ron &lobes, "hich on the Victor Host =e#elPd, "ith such i !etuous furie s ote, $hat "ho they hit, none on thir feet ight stand, $hough standing else as -ocks, but do"n they fell +y thousands, .ngel on .rch-.ngel ro"lPd6 $he sooner for thir .r s, unar Pd they ight Ha#e easily as S!irits e#aded s"ift +y 4uick contraction or re o#e6 but no" )oule dissi!ation should and forcPt rout6 /or ser#Pd it to rela0 thir serried files. ,hat should they doG if on they rusht, re!ulse -e!eated, and indecent o#erthro" DoublPd, "ould render the yet ore des!isPd, .nd to thir foes a laughter6 for in #ie" Stood rankt of Sera!hi another ro" 7n !osture to dis!lode thir second tire (f $hunder@ back defeated to return $hey "orse abhorrPd. Satan beheld thir !light, .nd to his ?ates thus in derision callPd. ( )riends, "hy co e not on these Victors !roudG 9re "hile they fierce "ere co ing, and "hen "ee, $o entertain the fair "ith o!en )ront .nd +rest, ("hat could "e oreG) !ro!ounded ter s (f co !osition, strait they changPd thir inds, )le" off, and into strange #agaries fell, .s they "ould dance, yet for a dance they see d So "hat e0tra#agant and "ilde, !erha!s B88
)or su!!ose of offerd !eace@ but su!!ose 7f our !ro!osals once again "ere heard ,e should co !el the to a 4uick result. (568-61>) So s!ake the Son, and into terrour changPd His countPnance too se#ere to be beheld .nd full of "rauth bent on his 9ne ies. .t once the )our s!red out thir Starrie "ings ,ith dreadful shade contiguous, and the (rbes (f his fierce 5hariot ro"ld, as "ith the sound (f torrent )loods, or of a nu erous Host. Hee on his i !ious )oes right on"ard dro#e, &loo ie as /ight6 under his burning ,heeles $he stedfast 9 !yrean shook throughout, .ll but the $hrone it self of &od. )ull soon . ong the he arri#Pd6 in his right hand &ras!ing ten thousand $hunders, "hich he sent +efore hi , such as in thir Soules infi0Pd <lagues6 they astonisht all resistance lost, .ll courage6 do"n thir idle "ea!ons dro!Pd6 (Pre Shields and Hel es, and hel ed heads he rode (f $hrones and ighty Sera!hi !rostrate, $hat "ishPd the ?ountains no" ight be again $hro"n on the as a shelter fro his ire. /or less on either side te !estuous fell His arro"s, fro the fourfold-#isagPd )oure, Distinct "ith eyes, and fro the li#ing ,heels, Distinct alike "ith ultitude of eyes, (ne S!irit in the rulPd, and e#ery eye &larPd lightning, and shot forth !ernicious fire . ong thP accurst, that "itherd all thir strength, .nd of thir "onted #igour left the draind, 90hausted, s!iritless, afflicted, fallPn. Uet half his strength he !ut not forth, but checkPd His $hunder in id Volie, for he eant /ot to destroy, but root the out of Hea#Pn@ $he o#erthro"n he raisPd, and as a Heard (f &oats or ti erous flock together throngd Dro#e the before hi $hunder-struck, !ursuPd ,ith terrors and "ith furies to the bounds .nd 5hrystall "all of Hea#Pn, "hich o!Pning "ide, -o"ld in"ard, and a s!acious &a! disclosPd 7nto the "astful Dee!6 the onstrous sight Strook the "ith horror back"ard, but far "orse ;rgPd the behind6 headlong the sel#s they thre" Do"n fro the #erge of Hea#Pn, 9ternal "rauth +urnt after the to the botto less !it. Hell heard thP unsufferable noise, Hell sa" Hea#Pn ruining fro Hea#Pn, and "ould ha#e fled .ffrighted6 but strict )ate had cast too dee! Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound. /ine dayes they fell6 confounded 5haos roard, B8>
.nd felt tenfold confusion in thir fall $hrough his "ilde .narchie, so huge a rout 7ncu berd hi "ith ruin@ Hell at last Ua"ning recea#d the "hole, and on the closPd, Hell thir fit habitation fraught "ith fire ;n4uenchable, the house of "oe and !aine. DisburdPnd Hea#Pn re%oicPd, and soon re!aird Her ural breach, returning "hence it ro"ld. Sole Victor fro thP e0!ulsion of his )oes ?essiah his triu !hal 5hariot turnd@ $o eet hi all his Saints, "ho silent stood 9ye "itnesses of his .l ightie .cts, ,ith %ubilie ad#ancPd6 and as they "ent, Shaded "ith branching <al e, each order bright, Sung $riu !h, and hi sung Victorious Hing, Son, Heire, and =ord, to hi Do inion gi#Pn, ,orthiest to -eign@ he celebrated rode $riu !hant through id Hea#Pn, into the 5ourts .nd $e !le of his ightie )ather $hronPd (n high6 "ho into &lorie hi recea#Pd, ,here no" he sits at the right hand of bliss. $hus easuring things in Hea#Pn by things on 9arth .t thy re4uest, and that thou aist be"are +y "hat is !ast, to thee 7 ha#e re#ealPd ,hat ight ha#e else to hu an -ace bin hid@ $he discord "hich befel, and ,arr in Hea#Pn . ong thP .ngelic <o"ers, and the dee! fall (f those too high as!iring, "ho rebelld ,ith Satan, hee "ho en#ies no" thy state, ,ho no" is !lotting ho" he ay seduce $hee also fro obedience, that "ith hi +erea#d of ha!!iness thou aist !artake His !unish ent, 9ternal iserie6 ,hich "ould be all his solace and re#enge, .s a des!ite don against the ost High, $hee once to gaine 5o !anion of his "oe. +ut listPn not to his $e !tations, "arne $hy "eaker6 let it !rofit thee to ha#e heard +y terrible 90a !le the re"ard (f disobedience6 fir they ight ha#e stood, Uet fell6 re e ber, and fear to transgress. (8AC->1A) 'ook 0,, The Argument -a!hael at the re4uest of .da relates ho" and "herefore this "orld "as first created6 that &od, after the e0!elling of Satan and his .ngels out of Hea#en, declarPd his !leasure to create another ,orld and other 5reatures to d"ell therein6 sends his Son "ith &lory and attendance of .ngels to !erfor the "ork of 5reation in si0 dayes@ the .ngels celebrate "ith Hy ns the !erfor ance thereof, and his re-ascention into Hea#en. Silence, ye troublPd "a#es, and thou Dee!, !eace, Said then thP ( nific ,ord, your discord end@ B>0
/or staid, but on the ,ings of 5herubi ;!lifted, in <aternal &lorie rode )arr into 5haos, and the ,orld unborn6 )or 5haos heard his #oice@ hi all his $raine )ollo"Pd in bright !rocession to behold 5reation, and the "onders of his ight. $hen staid the fer#id ,heeles, and in his hand He took the golden 5o !asses, !re!arPd 7n &ods 9ternal store, to circu scribe $his ;ni#erse, and all created things@ (ne foot he centerPd, and the other turnPd -ound through the #ast !rofunditie obscure, .nd said, thus farr e0tend, thus farr thy bounds, $his be thy %ust 5ircu ference, ( ,orld. $hus &od the Hea#Pn created, thus the 9arth, ?atter unfor Pd and #oid@ Darkness !rofound 5o#erPd thP .byss@ but on the "atrie cal e His brooding "ings the S!irit of &od outs!red, .nd #ital #ertue infusPd, and #ital "ar th $ hroughout the fluid ?ass, but do"n"ard !urgPd $he black tartareous cold infernal dregs .d#erse to life6 then founded, then conglobPd =ike things to like, the rest to se#eral !lace Dis!arted, and bet"een s!un out the .ir, .nd 9arth self-ballancPt on her 5enter hung. =et ther be =ight, said &od, and forth"ith =ight 9thereal, first of things, 4uintessence !ure S!rung fro the Dee!, and fro her /ati#e 9ast $o %ournie through the airie gloo began, S!hearPd in a radiant 5loud, for yet the Sun ,as not6 shee in a cloudie $abernacle So%ournPd the "hile. &od sa" the =ight "as good6 .nd light fro darkness by the He is!here Di#ided@ =ight the Day, and Darkness /ight He na Pd. $hus "as the first Day 9e#Pn and ?orn@ /or !ast uncelebrated, nor unsung +y the 5elestial :uires, "hen (rient =ight 90haling first fro Darkness they beheld@ +irth-day of Hea#Pn and 9arth6 "ith %oy and shout $ he hollo" ;ni#ersal (rb they fillPd, .nd touchPt thir &olden Har!s, [ hy ning !raisPd &od and his "orks, 5reatour hi they sung, +oth "hen first 9e#ning "as, and "hen first ?orn. (A16-A60) =et us ake no" ?an in our i age, ?an 7n our si ilitude, and let the rule (#er the )ish and )o"le of Sea and .ire, +east of the )ield, and o#er all the 9arth, .nd e#ery cree!ing thing that cree!s the ground. $his said, he for d thee, .da , thee ( ?an Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breathP d $he breath of =ife6 in his o"n 7 age hee B>1
5reated thee, in the 7 age of &od 90!ress, and thou beca Pst a li#ing Soul. ?ale he created thee, but thy consort )e al for -ace6 then blessPd ?ankinde, and said, +e fruitful, ulti!lie, and fill the 9arth, Subdue it, and throughout Do inion hold (#er )ish of the Sea, and )o"le of the .ire, .nd e#ery li#ing thing that o#es on the 9arth. ,here#er thus created, for no !lace 7s yet distinct by na e, thence, as thou kno"Pst He brought thee into this delicious &ro#e, $his &arden, !lanted "ith the $rees of &od, Delectable both to behold and taste6 .nd freely all thir !leasant fruit for food &a#e thee all sorts are here that all 9arth yeelds, Varietie "ithout end6 but of the $ree ,hich tasted "orks kno"ledge of &ood and 9#il, $hou aiPst not6 in the day thou eatPst, thou diPst6 Death is the !enaltie i !osPd, be"are, .nd go#ern "ell thy a!!etite, least sin Sur!rise thee, and her black attendant Death. Here finishPd hee, and all that he had ade Vie"Pd, and behold all "as entirely good6 So 9#Pn and ?orn acco !lishPt the Si0t day@ Uet not till the 5reator fro his "ork Desisting, though un"earied, u! returnd ;! to the Hea#Pn of Hea#Pns his high abode, $hence to behold this ne" created ,orld $hP addition of his 9 !ire, ho" it she"Pd 7n !ros!ect fro his $hrone, ho" good, ho" faire, .ns"ering his great 7dea. ;! he rode )ollo"d "ith accla ation and the sound Sy !honious of ten thousand Har!es that tunPd .ngelic har onies@ the 9arth, the .ire -esounded, (thou re e berPst for thou heardst) $he Hea#Pns and all the 5onstellations rung, $he <lanets in thir stations listPning stood, ,hile the bright <o ! ascended %ubilant. (51>-56C) 'ook 0,,, The Argument .da in4uires concerning celestial ?otions, is doubtfully ans"erPd, and e0horted to search rather things ore "orthy of kno"ledge@ .da assents, and still desirous to detain -a!hael, relates to hi "hat he re e berPd since his o"n 5reation, his !lacing in <aradise, his talk "ith &od concerning solitude and fit society, his first eeting and /u!tials "ith 9#e, his discourse "ith the .ngel thereu!on6 "ho after ad onitions re!eated de!arts. ,hile thus 7 callPd, and strayPd 7 kne" not "hither, )ro "here 7 first dre" .ire, and first beheld $his ha!!ie =ight, "hen ans"er none returnPd, (n a green shadie +ank !rofuse of )lours <ensi#e 7 sate e do"n6 there gentle slee! B>A
)irst found e, and "ith soft o!!ression seisPd ?y droused sense, untroublPd, though 7 thought 7 then "as !assing to y for er state 7nsensible, and forth"ith to dissol#e@ ,hen suddenly stood at y Head a drea , ,hose in"ard a!!arition gently o#Pd ?y )ancy to belie#e 7 yet had being, .nd li#d@ (ne ca e, ethought, of sha!e Di#ine, .nd said, thy ?ansion "ants thee, .da , rise, )irst ?an, of ?en innu erable ordainPd )irst )ather, callPd by thee 7 co e thy &uide $o the &arden of bliss, thy seat !re!arPd. So saying, by the hand he took e raisPd, .nd o#er )ields and ,aters, as in .ire S ooth sliding "ithout ste!, last led e u! . "oodie ?ountain6 "hose high to! "as !laine, . 5ircuit "ide, enclosPd, "ith goodliest $rees <lanted, "ith ,alks, and +o"ers, that "hat 7 sa" (f 9arth before scarce !leasant see d. 9ach $ree =oadPn "ith fairest )ruit, that hung to the 9ye $e !ting, stirrPd in e sudden a!!etite $o !luck and eate6 "hereat 7 "akPd, and found +efore ine 9yes all real, as the drea Had li#ely shado"d@ Here had ne" begun ?y "andring, had not hee "ho "as y &uide ;! hither, fro a ong the $rees a!!eerPd, <resence Di#ine. -e%oycing, but "ith a"e 7n adoration at his feet 7 fell Sub iss@ he rearPd e, [ ,ho thou soughtst 7 a , Said ildely, .uthor of all this thou seest .bo#e, or round about thee or beneath. $his <aradise 7 gi#e thee, count it thine $o $ill and kee!, and of the )ruit to eate@ (f e#ery $ree that in the &arden gro"es 9ate freely "ith glad heart6 fear here no dearth@ +ut of the $ree "hose o!eration brings Hno"ledg of good and ill, "hich 7 ha#e set $he <ledge of thy (bedience and thy )aith, . id the &arden by the $ree of =ife, -e e ber "hat 7 "arne thee, shun to taste, .nd shun the bitter conse4uence@ for kno", $he day thou eatPst thereof, y sole co and $ransgrest, ine#itably thou shalt dye6 )ro that day ortal, and this ha!!ie State Shalt loose, e0!ellPd fro hence into a ,orld (f "oe and sorro". Sternly he !ronouncPd $he rigid interdiction, "hich resounds Uet dreadful in ine eareJ (A8B-BB5) Hee ended, or 7 heard no ore, for no" ?y earthly by his Hea#Pnly o#er!o"erPd, ,hich it had long stood under, streind to the highth B>B
7n that celestial 5ollo4uie subli e, .s "ith an ob%ect that e0cels the sense, Da'lPd and s!ent, sunk do"n, and sought re!air (f slee!, "hich instantly fell on e, callPd +y /ature as in aide, and closPd ine eyes. ?ine eyes he closPd, but o!Pn left the 5ell (f )ancie y internal sight, by "hich .bstract as in a transe ethought 7 sa", $hough slee!ing, "here 7 lay, and sa" the sha!e Still glorious before "ho a"ake 7 stood6 ,ho stoo!ing o!Pnd y left side, and took )ro thence a -ib, "ith cordial s!irits "ar e, .nd =ife-blood strea ing fresh6 "ide "as the "ound, +ut suddenly "ith flesh fillPd u! [ healPd@ $he -ib he for d and fashond "ith his hands6 ;nder his for ing hands a 5reature gre", ?anlike, but different se0, so lo#ly faire, $hat "hat see d fair in all the ,orld, see d no" ?ean, or in her su d u!, in her containd .nd in her looks, "hich fro that ti e infusPd S"eetness into y heart, unfelt before, .nd into all things fro her .ire ins!irPd $he s!irit of lo#e and a orous delight. She disa!!eerd, and left e dark, 7 ,akPd $o find her, or for e#er to de!lore Her loss, and other !leasures all ab%ure@ ,hen out of ho!e, behold her, not farr off, Such as 7 sa" her in y drea , adornd ,ith "hat all 9arth or Hea#en could besto" $o ake her a iable@ (n she ca e, =ed by her Hea#Pnly ?aker, though unseen, .nd guided by his #oice, nor uninfor d (f nu!tial Sanctitie and arriage -ites@ &race "as in all her ste!s, Hea#Pn in her 9ye, 7n e#ery gesture dignitie and lo#e. 7 o#er%oyPd could not forbear aloud. (C5A-C>0) 'ook ,4 The Argument Satan ha#ing co !ast the 9arth, "ith editated guile returns as a ist by /ight into <aradise, enters into the Ser!ent slee!ing. .da and 9#e in the ?orning go forth to thir labours, "hich 9#e !ro!oses to di#ide in se#eral !laces, each labouring a!art@ .da consents not, alledging the danger, lest that 9ne y, of "ho they "ere fore"arnPd, should atte !t her found alone@ 9#e loath to be thought not circu s!ect or fir enough, urges her going a!art, the rather desirous to ake tryal of her strength6 .da at last yields@ $he Ser!ent finds her alone6 his subtle a!!roach, first ga'ing, then s!eaking, "ith uch flattery e0tolling 9#e abo#e all other 5reatures. 9#e "ondring to hear the Ser!ent s!eak, asks ho" he attainPd to hu an s!eech and such understanding not till no"6 the Ser!ent ans"ers, that by tasting of a certain $ree in the &arden he attainPd both to S!eech and -eason, till then #oid of both@ 9#e re4uires hi to bring her to that $ree, and finds it to be the $ree of Hno"ledge forbidden@ $he Ser!ent no" gro"n bolder, "ith any "iles and argu ents induces her at length to eat6 she !leasPd "ith the taste deliberates a"hile "hether to i !art thereof to .da or not, at last brings hi of the )ruit, relates "hat B>C
!ersuaded her to eat thereof@ .da at first a a'Pd, but !ercei#ing her lost, resol#es through #ehe ence of lo#e to !erish "ith her6 and e0tenuating the tres!ass, eats also of the )ruit@ $he effects thereof in the both6 they seek to co#er thir nakedness, then fall to #ariance and accusation of one another.
$he $e !tation and )all of 9#e 7llustration )ro ?ilton*s F<aradise =ostF 180D ,,illia +lake (1D5D-18ADM J,hat he decreed He effected6 ?an he ade, and for hi built ?agnificent this ,orld, and 9arth his seat, Hi =ord !ronouncPd, and, ( indignitieE Sub%ected to his ser#ice .ngel "ings, .nd fla ing ?inisters to "atch and tend $hir earthie 5harge@ (f these the #igilance 7 dread, and to elude, thus "ra!t in ist (f idnight #a!or glide obscure, and !rie 7n e#ery +ush and +rake, "here ha! ay finde $he Ser!ent slee!ing, in "hose a'ie foulds $o hide e, and the dark intent 7 bring. ( foul descentE that 7 "ho erst contended ,ith &ods to sit the highest, a no" constraind 7nto a +east, and i0t "ith bestial sli e, $his essence to incarnate and i brute, $hat to the hight of Deitie as!irPd6 +ut "hat "ill not . bition and -e#enge Descend toG "ho as!ires ust do"n as lo" .s high he soard, obno0ious first or last $o basest things. -e#enge, at first though s"eet, +itter ere long back on it self recoiles6 =et it6 7 reck not, so it light "ell ai Pd, Since higher 7 fall short, on hi "ho ne0t <ro#okes y en#ie, this ne" )a#orite (f Hea#Pn, this ?an of 5lay, Son of des!ite, ,ho us the ore to s!ite his ?aker raisPd )ro dust@ s!ite then "ith s!ite is best re!aid. (151-1D8) $hat s!ace the 9#il one abstracted stood )ro his o"n e#il and for the ti e re aind Stu!idly good, of en itie disar Pd, (f guile, of hate, of en#ie, of re#enge6 +ut the hot Hell that al"ayes in hi burnes, $hough in id Hea#Pn, soon ended his delight, .nd tortures hi no" ore, the ore he sees (f !leasure not for hi ordainPd@ then soon B>5
)ierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts (f ischief, gratulating, thus e0cites. $houghts, "hither ha#e ye led e, "ith "hat s"eet 5o !ulsion thus trans!orted to forget ,hat hither brought us, hate, nor lo#e, nor ho!e (f <aradise for Hell, ho!e here to taste (f !leasure, but all !leasure to destroy, Sa#e "hat is in destroying, other %oy $o e is lost. $hen let e not let !ass (ccasion "hich no" s iles, behold alone $he ,o an, o!!ortune to all atte !ts, Her Husband, for 7 #ie" far round, not nigh, ,hose higher intellectual ore 7 shun, .nd strength, of courage hautie, and of li b Heroic built, though of terrestrial ould, )oe not infor idable, e0e !t fro "ound, 7 not6 so uch hath Hell debasPd, and !aine 7nfeeblPd e, to "hat 7 "as in Hea#Pn. Shee fair, di#inely fair, fit =o#e for &ods, /ot terrible, though terrour be in =o#e .nd beautie, not a!!roacht by stronger hate, Hate stronger, under she" of =o#e "ell feignPd, $he "ay "hich to her ruin no" 7 tend. (C6B-C>B) ( Sacred, ,ise, and ,isdo -gi#ing <lant, ?other of Science, /o" 7 feel thy <o"er ,ithin e cleere, not onely to discerne $hings in thir 5auses, but to trace the "ayes (f highest .gents, dee d ho"e#er "ise. :ueen of this ;ni#erse, doe not belie#e $hose rigid threats of Death6 ye shall not Die@ Ho" should yeG by the )ruitG it gi#es you =ife $o Hno"ledge@ +y the $hreatnerG look on ee, ?ee "ho ha#e touchPd and tasted, yet both li#e, .nd life ore !erfet ha#e attaind then )ate ?eant ee, by #entring higher then y =ot. Shall that be shut to ?an, "hich to the +east 7s o!enG or "ill &od incense his ire )or such a !etty $res!ass, and not !raise -ather your dauntless #ertue, "ho the !ain (f Death denouncPt, "hate#er thing Death be, Deterrd not fro atchie#ing "hat ight leade $o ha!!ier life, kno"ledge of &ood and 9#il6 (f good, ho" %ustG of e#il, if "hat is e#il +e real, "hy not kno"n, since easier shunndG &od therefore cannot hurt ye, and be %ust6 /ot %ust, not &od6 not feard then, nor obeid@ Uour feare it self of Death re o#es the feare. ,hy then "as this forbidG ,hy but to a"e, ,hy but to kee! ye lo" and ignorant, His "orshi!!ers6 he kno"s that in the day Ue 9ate thereof, your 9yes that see so cleere, B>6
Uet are but di , shall !erfetly be then (!Pnd and cleerd, and ye shall be as &ods, Hno"ing both &ood and 9#il as they kno". $hat ye should be as &ods, since 7 as ?an, 7nternal ?an, is but !ro!ortion eet, 7 of brute hu an, yee of hu an &ods. So ye shall die !erha!s, by !utting off Hu an, to !ut on &ods, death to be "isht, $hough threatPnd, "hich no "orse then this can bring. .nd "hat are &ods that ?an ay not beco e .s they, !artici!ating &od-like foodG $he &ods are first, and that ad#antage use (n our belief, that all fro the !roceeds6 7 4uestion it, for this fair 9arth 7 see, ,ar Pd by the Sun, !roducing e#ery kind, $he nothing@ 7f they all things, "ho enclosPd Hno"ledge of &ood and 9#il in this $ree, $hat "hoso eats thereof, forth"ith attains ,isdo "ithout their lea#eG and "herein lies $hP offence, that ?an should thus attain to kno"G ,hat can your kno"ledge hurt hi , or this $ree 7 !art against his "ill if all be hisG (r is it en#ie, and can en#ie d"ell 7n hea#Pnly brestsG these, these and any ore 5auses i !ort your need of this fair )ruit. &oddess hu ane, reach then, and freely taste. (6D>-DBA) He ended, and his "ords re!lete "ith guile 7nto her heart too easie entrance "on@ )i0t on the )ruit she ga'Pd, "hich to behold ?ight te !t alone, and in her ears the sound Uet rung of his !ers"asi#e "ords, i !regnPd ,ith -eason, to her see ing, and "ith $ruth6 ?ean"hile the hour of /oon dre" on, and "akPd .n eager a!!etite, raisPd by the s ell So sa#orie of that )ruit, "hich "ith desire, 7nclinable no" gro"n to touch or taste, Sollicited her longing eye6 yet first <ausing a "hile, thus to her self she usPd. &reat are thy Vertues, doubtless, best of )ruits, $hough ke!t fro ?an, [ "orthy to be ad irPd, ,hose taste, too long forborn, at first assay &a#e elocution to the ute, and taught $he $ongue not ade for S!eech to s!eak thy !raise@ $hy !raise hee also "ho forbids thy use, 5onceales not fro us, na ing thee the $ree (f Hno"ledge, kno"ledge both of good and e#il6 )orbids us then to taste, but his forbidding 5o ends thee ore, "hile it inferrs the good +y thee co unicated, and our "ant@ )or good unkno"n, sure is not had, or had .nd yet unkno"n, is as not had at all. B>D
7n !lain then, "hat forbids he but to kno", )orbids us good, forbids us to be "iseG Such !rohibitions binde not. +ut if Death +ind us "ith after-bands, "hat !rofits then (ur in"ard freedo G 7n the day "e eate (f this fair )ruit, our doo is, shall die. Ho" dies the Ser!entG hee hath eatPn and li#es, .nd kno"s, and s!eaks, and reasons, and discernes, 7rrational till then. )or us alone ,as death in#entedG or to us deniPd $his intellectual food, for beasts reser#PdG )or +easts it see s@ yet that one +east "hich first Hath tasted, en#ies not, but brings "ith %oy $he good befallPn hi , .uthor unsus!ect, )riendly to an, farr fro deceit or guile. ,hat fear 7 then, rather "hat kno" to feare ;nder this ignorance of &ood and 9#il, (f &od or Death, of =a" or <enaltieG Here gro"s the 5ure of all, this )ruit Di#ine, )air to the 9ye, in#iting to the $aste, (f #ertue to ake "ise@ "hat hinders then $o reach, and feed at once both +odie and ?indG So saying, her rash hand in e#il hour )orth reaching to the )ruit, she !luckPd, she eat@ 9arth felt the "ound, and /ature fro her seat Sighing through all her ,orks ga#e signs of "oe, $hat all "as lost. +ack to the $hicket slunk $he guiltie Ser!ent, and "ell ight, for 9#e 7ntent no" "holly on her taste, naught else -egarded, such dilight till then, as see d, 7n )ruit she ne#er tasted, "hether true (r fansied so, through e0!ectation high (f kno"ledge, nor "as &od-head fro her thought. &reedily she ingorePd "ithout restraint, .nd kne" not eating Death@ Satiate at length, .nd hightPnd as "ith ,ine, %ocondPand boon, $hus to her self she !leasingly began. (DBB-D>0) $hus 9#e "ith 5ountnance blithe her storie told6 +ut in her 5heek diste !er flushing glo"d. (n thP other side, .da , soon as he heard $he fatal $res!ass done by 9#e, a a'Pd, .stonied stood and +lank, "hile horror chill -an through his #eins, and all his %oynts rela0Pd6 )ro his slack hand the &arland "reathP d for 9#e Do"n dro!Pd, and all the faded -oses shed@ S!eechless he stood and !ale, till thus at length )irst to hi self he in"ard silence broke. ( fairest of 5reation, last and best (f all &ods ,orks, 5reature in "ho e0cellPd ,hate#er can to sight or thought be for d, Holy, di#ine, good, a iable, or s"eetE B>8
Ho" art thou lost, ho" on a sudden lost, DefacPt, deflourd, and no" to Death de#oteG -ather ho" hast thou yeelded to transgress $he strict forbiddance, ho" to #iolate $he sacred )ruit forbiddPnE so cursed fraud (f 9ne ie hath beguilPd thee, yet unkno"n, .nd ee "ith thee hath ruind, for "ith thee 5ertain y resolution is to Die6 Ho" can 7 li#e "ithout thee, ho" forgoe $hy s"eet 5on#erse and =o#e so dearly %oynPd, $o li#e again in these "ilde ,oods forlornG Should &od create another 9#e, and 7 .nother -ib afford, yet loss of thee ,ould ne#er fro y heart6 no no, 7 feel $he =ink of /ature dra" e@ )lesh of )lesh, +one of y +one thou art, and fro thy State ?ine ne#er shall be !arted, bliss or "oe. (888->16) So saying, she e bracPd hi , and for %oy $enderly "e!t, uch "on that he his =o#e Had so enoblPd, as of choice to incur Di#ine dis!leasure for her sake, or Death. 7n reco !ence (for such co !liance bad Such reco !ence best erits) fro the bough She ga#e hi of that fair enticing )ruit ,ith liberal hand@ he scru!lPd not to eat .gainst his better kno"ledge, not decea#Pd, +ut fondly o#erco e "ith )e al char . 9arth tre blPd fro her entrails, as again 7n !angs, and /ature ga#e a second groan, Skie lo"rPd, and uttering $hunder, so sad dro!s ,e!t at co !leating of the ortal Sin (riginal6 "hile .da took no thought, 9ating his fill, nor 9#e to iterate Her for er tres!ass fearPd, the ore to soothe Hi "ith her lo#Pd societie, that no" .s "ith ne" ,ine into0icated both $hey s"i in irth, and fansie that they feel Di#initie "ithin the breeding "ings ,here"ith to scorn the 9arth@ but that false )ruit )arr other o!eration first dis!laid, 5arnal desire enfla ing, hee on 9#e +egan to cast lasci#ious 9yes, she hi .s "antonly re!aid6 in =ust they burne@ $ill .da thus Tgan 9#e to dalliance o#e. 9#e, no" 7 see thou art e0act of taste, .nd elegant, of Sa!ience no s all !art, Since to each eaning sa#our "e a!!ly, .nd <alate call %udicious6 7 the !raise Ueild thee, so "ell this day thou hast !ur#eyPd. ?uch !leasure "e ha#e lost, "hile "e abstainPd )ro this delightful )ruit, nor kno"n till no" B>>
$rue relish, tasting6 if such !leasure be 7n things to us forbidden, it ight be "ishPd, )or this one $ree had bin forbidden ten. +ut co e, so "ell refreshPt, no" let us !lay, .s eet is, after such delicious )are6 )or ne#er did thy +eautie since the day 7 sa" thee first and "edded thee, adornPd ,ith all !erfections, so enfla e y sense ,ith ardor to en%oy thee, fairer no" $han e#er, bountie of this #ertuous $ree. (>>0-1BB) 'ook 4 The Argument ?anPs transgression kno"n, the &uardian .ngels forsake <aradise, and return u! to Hea#en to a!!ro#e thir #igilance, and are a!!ro#d, &od declaring that $he entrance of Satan could not be by the !re#ented. He sends his Son to %udge the $ransgressors, "ho descends and gi#es Sentence accordingly6 then in !ity cloaths the both, and reascends. Sin and Death sitting till then at the &ates of Hell, by "ondrous sy !athie feeling the success of Satan in this ne" ,orld, and the sin by ?an there co itted, resol#e to sit no longer confinPd in Hell, but to follo" Satan thir Sire u! to the !lace of ?an@ $o ake the "ay easier fro Hell to this ,orld to and fro, they !a#e a broad High"ay or +ridge o#er 5haos, according to the $rack that Satan first ade6 then !re!aring for 9arth, they eet hi !roud of his success returning to Hell6 thir utual gratulation. Satan arri#es at <ande oniu , in full asse bly relates "ith boasting his success against ?an6 instead of a!!lause is entertained "ith a general hiss by all his audience, transfor Pd "ith hi self also suddenly into Ser!ents, according to his doo gi#Pn in <aradise6 then deluded "ith she" of the forbidden $ree s!ringing u! before the , they greedily reaching to take of the )ruit, che" dust and bitter ashes. $he !roceedings of Sin and Death6 &od foretels the final Victory of his Son o#er the , and the rene"ing of all things6 but for the !resent co ands his .ngels to ake se#eral alterations in the Hea#ens and 9le ents. .da ore and ore !ercei#ing his fallPn condition hea#ily be"ailes, re%ects the condole ent of 9#e6 she !ersists and at length a!!eases hi @ then to e#ade the 5urse likely to fall on thir (fs!ring, !ro!oses to .da #iolent "ayes, "hich he a!!ro#es not, but concei#ing better ho!e, !uts her in ind of the late <ro ise ade the , that her Seed should be re#engPd on the Ser!ent, and e0horts her "ith hi to seek <eace of the offended Deity, by re!entance and su!!lication. J$his ,o an "ho thou adPst to be y hel!, .nd ga#Pst e as thy !erfet gift, so good, So fit, so acce!table, so Di#ine, $hat fro her hand 7 could sus!ect no ill, .nd "hat she did, "hate#er in it self, Her doing see Pd to %ustifie the deed6 Shee ga#e e of the $ree, and 7 did eate. $o "ho the so#ran <resence thus re!liPd. ,as shee thy &od, that her thou didst obey +efore his #oice, or "as shee ade thy guide, Su!erior, or but e4ual, that to her $hou didPst resigne thy ?anhood, and the <lace ,herein &od set thee abo#e her ade of thee, .nd for thee, "hose !erfection farr e0cellPd Hers in all real dignitie@ .dornd She "as indeed, and lo#ely to attract $hy =o#e, not thy Sub%ection, and her &ifts C00
,ere such as under &o#ern ent "ell see Pd, ;nsee ly to heare rule, "hich "as thy !art .nd !erson, hadPst thou kno"n thy self aright. So ha#ing said, he thus to 9#e in fe"@ Say ,o an, "hat is this "hich thou hast doneG $o "ho sad 9#e "ith sha e nigh o#er"hel Pd, 5onfessing soon, yet not before her 1udge +old or lo4uacious, thus abasht re!liPd. $he Ser!ent e beguilPd and 7 did eate. ,hich "hen the =ord &od heard, "ithout delay $o 1udge ent he !roceeded on thP accusPd Ser!ent though brute, unable to transferre $he &uilt on hi "ho ade hi instru ent (f ischief, and !olluted fro the end (f his 5reation6 %ustly then accurst, .s #itiated in /ature@ ore to kno" 5oncernPd not ?an (since he no further kne") /or alterPd his offence6 yet &od at last $o Satan first in sin his doo a!!lyPd $hough in ysterious ter s, %udgPd as then best@ .nd on the Ser!ent thus his curse let fall. (B11-1DC) JHi by fraud 7 ha#e seducPd )ro his 5reator, and the ore to increase Uour "onder, "ith an .!!le6 he thereat (ffended, "orth your laughter, hath gi#Pn u! +oth his belo#ed ?an and all his ,orld, $o Sin and Death a !rey, and so to us, ,ithout our ha'ard, labour, or allar e, $o range in, and to d"ell, and o#er ?an, $o rule, as o#er all he should ha#e rulPd. $rue is, ee also he hath %udgPd, or rather ?ee not, but the brute Ser!ent in "hose sha!e ?an 7 decea#Pd@ that "hich to ee belongs, 7s en ity, "hich he "ill !ut bet"een ?ee and ?ankinde6 7 a to bruise his heel6 His Seed, "hen is not set, shall bruise y head@ . ,orld "ho "ould not !urchase "ith a bruise, (r uch ore grie#ous !ainG Ue ha#e thP account (f y !erfor ance@ ,hat re aines, ye &ods, +ut u! and enter no" into full bliss. (C85-50B) He added not, and fro her turnPd, but 9#e /ot so re!ulst, "ith $ears that ceasPd not flo"ing, .nd tresses all disorderd, at his feet )ell hu ble, and i bracing the , besaught His !eace, and thus !roceeded in her !laint. )orsake e not thus, .da , "itness Hea#Pn ,hat lo#e sincere, and re#erence in y heart 7 beare thee, and un"eeting ha#e offended, ;nha!!ilie decea#Pd6 thy su!!liant 7 beg, and clas! thy knees6 berea#e e not, ,hereon 7 li#e, thy gentle looks, thy aid, C01
$hy counsel in this utter ost distress, ?y onely strength and stay@ forlorn of thee, ,hither shall 7 betake e, "here subsistG ,hile yet "e li#e, scarse one short hour !erha!s, +et"een us t"o let there be !eace, both %oyning, .s %oynPd in in%uries, one en itie .gainst a )oe by doo e0!ress assignPd us, $hat cruel Ser!ent@ (n e e0ercise not $hy hatred for this iserie befallPn, (n e already lost, ee, then thy self ?ore iserable6 both ha#e sinPd, but thou .gainst &od onely, 7 against &od and thee, .nd to the !lace of %udge ent "ill return, $here "ith y cries i !ortune Hea#en, that all $he sentence fro thy head re o#Pd ay light (n e, sole cause to thee of all this "oe, ?ee ee onely %ust ob%ect of his ire. (>0>->B6) 'ook 4, The Argument $he Son of &od !resents to his )ather the <rayers of our first <arents no" re!enting, and intercedes for the @ &od acce!ts the , but declares that they ust no longer abide in <aradise6 sends ?ichael "ith a +and of 5herubi to dis!ossess the 6 but first to re#eal to .da future things@ ?ichaels co ing do"n. .da she"s to 9#e certain o inous signs6 he discerns ?ichaels a!!roach, goes out to eet hi @ the .ngel denounces thir de!arture. 9#ePs =a entation. .da !leads, but sub its@ $he .ngel leads hi u! to a high Hill, sets before hi in #ision "hat shall ha!!Pn till the )lood. ?ichael, this y behest ha#e thou in charge, $ake to thee fro a ong the 5herubi $hy choice of fla ing ,arriours, least the )iend (r in behalf of ?an, or to in#ade Vacant !ossession so ne" trouble raise@ Hast thee, and fro the <aradise of &od ,ithout re orse dri#e out the sinful <air, )ro hallo"d ground thP unholie, and denounce $o the and to thir <rogenie fro thence <er!etual banish ent. Uet least they faint .t the sad Sentence rigorously urgPd, )or 7 behold the softPnd and "ith tears +e"ailing thir e0cess, all terror hide. if !atiently thy bidding they obey, Dis iss the not disconsolate6 re#eale $o .da "hat shall co e in future dayes, .s 7 shall thee enlighten, inter i0 ?y 5o#Pnant in the ,o ans seed rene"d6 So send the forth, though sorro"ing, yet in !eace@ .nd on the 9ast side of the &arden !lace, ,here entrance u! fro 9den easiest cli bes, 5herubic "atch, and of a S"ord the fla e ,ide "a#ing, all a!!roach farr off to fright, .nd guard all !assage to the $ree of =ife@ C0A
=east <aradise a rece!tacle !ro#e $o S!irits foule, and all y $rees thir !rey, ,ith "hose stolPn )ruit ?an once ore to delude. (>>-1A5) His eyes he o!Pnd, and beheld a field, <art arable and tilth, "hereon "ere Shea#es /e" rea!t, the other !art shee!-"alks and foulds6 7thP idst an .ltar as the =and- ark stood -ustic, of grassie sord6 thither anon . s"eatie -ea!er fro his $illage brought )irst )ruits, the green 9are, and the yello" Sheaf, ;ncullPd, as ca e to hand6 a She!herd ne0t ?ore eek ca e "ith the )irstlings of his )lock 5hoicest and best6 then sacrificing, laid $he 7n"ards and thir )at, "ith 7ncense stre"Pd, (n the cleft ,ood, and all due -ites !erfor Pd. His (ffring soon !ro!itious )ire fro Hea#Pn 5onsu Pd "ith ni ble glance, and grateful stea e6 $he others not, for his "as not sincere6 ,hereat hee inlie ragPd, and as they talkPd, S ote hi into the ?idriff "ith a stone $hat beat out life6 he fell, and deadly !ale &roand out his Soul "ith gushing bloud effusPd. ?uch at that sight "as .da in his heart Dis aiPd, and thus in haste to thP .ngel criPd. (CA>-CC>) He lookd, and sa" the .rk hull on the floud, ,hich no" abated, for the 5louds "ere fled, Dri#n by a keen /orth-"inde, that blo"ing drie ,rinklPd the face of Deluge, as decaiPd6 .nd the cleer Sun on his "ide "atrie &lass &a'Pd hot, and of the fresh ,a#e largely dre", .s after thirst, "hich ade thir flo"ing shrink )ro standing lake to tri!!ing ebbe, that stole ,ith soft foot to"ards the dee!, "ho no" had sto!t His Sluces, as the Hea#Pn his "indo"s shut. $he .rk no ore no" flotes, but see s on ground )ast on the to! of so high ountain fi0t. .nd no" the to!s of Hills as -ocks a!!eer6 ,ith cla or thence the ra!id 5urrents dri#e $o"ards the retreating Sea thir furious tyde. )orth"ith fro out the .rke a -a#en flies, .nd after hi , the surer essenger, . Do#e sent forth once and agen to s!ie &reen $ree or ground "hereon his foot ay light6 $he second ti e returning, in his +ill .n (li#e leafe he brings, !acific signe@ .non drie ground a!!eers, and fro his .rke $he ancient Sire descends "ith all his $rain6 $hen "ith u!lifted hands, and eyes de#out, &rateful to Hea#Pn, o#er his head beholds . de"ie 5loud, and in the 5loud a +o" C0B
5ons!icuous "ith three listed colours gay, +etokPning !eace fro &od, and 5o#Pnant ne". ,hereat the heart of .da erst so sad &reatly re%oycPd, and thus his %oy broke forth. (850-86>) 'ook 4,, The Argument $he .ngel ?ichael continues fro the )lood to relate "hat shall succeed6 then, in the ention of .braha , co es by degrees to e0!lain, "ho that Seed of the ,o an shall be, "hich "as !ro ised .da and 9#e in the )all6 his 7ncarnation, Death, -esurrection, and .scention6 the state of the 5hurch till his second 5o ing. .da greatly satisfied and reco forted by these -elations and <ro ises descends the Hill "ith ?ichael6 "akens 9#e, "ho all this "hile had sle!t, but "ith gentle drea s co !osPd to 4uietness of ind and sub ission. ?ichael in either hand leads the out of <aradise, the fiery S"ord "a#ing behind the , and the 5herubi taking thir Stations to guard the <lace. .s one "ho in his %ourney bates at /oone, $hough bent on s!eed, so heer the .rchangel !ausPd +et"i0t the "orld destroyPd and "orld restorPd, 7f .da aught !erha!s ight inter!ose6 $hen "ith transition s"eet ne" S!eech resu es.
.da [ 9#e-$he 90!ulsion )ro (fro ?ilton**s F<aradise =ostF) &usta#e Dore (18BA-188BM
$he &arden
J$his !onder, that all /ations of the 9arth Shall in his Seed be blessed6 by that Seed 7s eant thy great deli#erer, "ho shall bruise $he Ser!ents head6 "hereof to thee anon <lainlier shall be re#eald. $his <atriarch blest, ,ho faithful .braha due ti e shall call, . Son, and of his Son a &rand-childe lea#es, =ike hi in faith, in "isdo , and reno"n6 $he &randchilde "ith t"el#e Sons increast, de!arts )ro 5anaan, to a land hereafter callPd 9gy!t, di#ided by the -i#er /ile6 See "here it flo"s, disgorging at sea#en outhes 7nto the Sea@ to so%ourn in that =and He co es in#ited by a yonger Son 7n ti e of dearth, a Son "hose "orthy deeds -aise hi to be the second in that -eal e (f <harao@ there he dies, and lea#es his -ace &ro"ing into a /ation, and no" gro"n Sus!ected to a se4uent Hing, "ho seeks $o sto! thir o#ergro"th, as in ate guests $oo nu erous6 "hence of guests he akes the sla#es C0C
7nhos!itably, and kills thir infant ?ales@ $ill by t"o brethren (those t"o brethren call ?oses and .aron) sent fro &od to clai e His !eo!le fro enthral ent, they return ,ith glory and s!oile back to thir !ro isPd =and. (1CD-1DA) J+ut the #oice of &od $o ortal eare is dreadful6 they beseech $hat ?oses ight re!ort to the his "ill, .nd terror cease6 he grants the thir desire, 7nstructed that to &od is no access ,ithout ?ediator, "hose high (ffice no" ?oses in figure beares, to introduce (ne greater, of "hose day he shall foretell, .nd all the <ro!hets in thir .ge, the ti es (f great ?essiah shall sing. $hus =a"s and -ites 9stablisht, such delight hath &od in ?en (bedient to his "ill, that he #outsafes . ong the to set u! his $abernacle, $he holy (ne "ith ortal ?en to d"ell@ +y his !rescri!t a Sanctuary is fra Pd (f 5edar, o#erlaid "ith &old, therein .n .rk, and in the .rk his $esti ony, $he -ecords of his 5o#Pnant, o#er these . ?ercie-seat of &old bet"een the "ings (f t"o bright 5herubi , before hi burn Sea#en =a !s as in a Yodiac re!resenting $he Hea#Pnly fires6 o#er the $ent a 5loud Shall rest by Day, a fierie glea e by /ight, Sa#e "hen they %ournie, and at length they co e, 5onducted by his .ngel to the =and <ro isd to .braha and his SeedJ (AB5-A60) $he =a" of &od e0act he shall fulfill +oth by obedience and by lo#e, though lo#e .lone fulfill the =a"6 thy !unish ent He shall endure by co ing in the )lesh $o a re!roachful life and cursed death, <rocla ing =ife to all "ho shall belie#e 7n his rede !tion, and that his obedience 7 !uted beco es theirs by )aith, his erits $o sa#e the , not thir o"n, though legal "orks. )or this he shall li#e hated, be blas!he Pd, SeisPd on by force, %udgPd, and to death conde nd . sha eful and accurst, naild to the 5ross +y his o"n /ation, slaine for bringing =ife6 +ut to the 5ross he nailes thy 9ne ies, $he =a" that is against thee, and the sins (f all ankinde, "ith hi there crucifiPd, /e#er to hurt the ore "ho rightly trust 7n this his satisfaction6 so he dies, +ut soon re#i#es, Death o#er hi no !o"er C05
Shall long usur!6 ere the third da"ning light -eturne, the Starres of ?orn shall see hi rise (ut of his gra#e, fresh as the da"ning light, $hy ranso !aid, "hich ?an fro death redee s, His death for ?an, as any as offerd =ife /eglect not, and the benefit i brace +y )aith not #oid of "orkes@ this &od-like act .nnuls thy doo , the death thou shouldst ha#e dyPd, 7n sin for e#er lost fro life6 this act Shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strength Defeating Sin and Death, his t"o aine ar es, .nd fi0 farr dee!er in his head thir stings $hen te !oral death shall bruise the Victors heel, (r theirs "ho he redee s, a death like slee!, . gentle "afting to i ortal =ife. (C0A-CB5) J$ruth shall retire +estuck "ith slandrous darts, and "orks of )aith -arely be found@ so shall the ,orld goe on, $o good alignant, to bad en benigne, ;nder her o"n "aight groaning, till the day .!!eer of res!iration to the %ust, .nd #engeance to the "icked, at return (f hi so lately !ro issPd to thy aid, $he ,o ans seed, obscurely then foretold, /o" a !lier kno"n thy Sa#iour and thy =ord, =ast in the 5louds fro Hea#Pn to be re#eald 7n glory of the )ather, to dissol#e Satan "ith his !er#erted ,orld, then raise )ro the conflagrant ass, !urgPd and refinPd, /e" Hea#Pns, ne" 9arth, .ges of endless date )ounded in righteousness and !eace and lo#e, $o bring forth fruits 1oy and eternal +liss. (5BD-551) He ended6 and thus .da last re!lyPd. Ho" soon hath thy !rediction, Seer blest, ?easurPd this transient ,orld, the -ace of ti e, $ill ti e stand fi0t@ beyond is all abyss, 9ternitie, "hose end no eye can reach. &reatly instructed 7 shall hence de!art. &reatly in !eace of thought, and ha#e y fill (f kno"ledge, "hat this #essel can containe6 +eyond "hich "as y folly to as!ire. Henceforth 7 learne, that to obey is best, .nd lo#e "ith feare the onely &od, to "alk .s in his !resence, e#er to obser#e His !ro#idence, and on hi sole de!end, ?erciful o#er all his "orks, "ith good Still o#erco ing e#il, and by s all .cco !lishing great things, by things dee d "eak Sub#erting "orldly strong, and "orldly "ise +y si !ly eek6 that suffering for $ruths sake 7s fortitude to highest #ictorie, C06
.nd to the faithful Death the &ate of =ife6 $aught this by his e0a !le "ho 7 no" .ckno"ledge y -edee er e#er blest. $o "ho thus also thP .ngel last re!liPd@ $his ha#ing learnt, thou hast attained the su e (f "isdo 6 ho!e no higher, though all the Starrs $ hou kne"st by na e, and all thP ethereal <o"ers, .ll secrets of the dee!, all /atures "orks, (r "orks of &od in Hea#Pn, .ir, 9arth, or Sea, .nd all the riches of this ,orld en%oydst, .nd all the rule, one 9 !ire6 onely add Deeds to thy kno"ledge ans"erable, add )aith, .dd Vertue, <atience, $e !erance, add =o#e, +y na e to co e callPd 5haritie, the soul (f all the rest@ then "ilt thou not be loath $o lea#e this <aradise, but shalt !osses . <aradise "ithin thee, ha!!ier farr. =et us descend no" therefore fro this to! (f S!eculation6 for the hour !recise 90acts our !arting hence6 and see the &uards, +y ee enca !t on yonder Hill, e0!ect $hir otion, at "hose )ront a fla ing S"ord, 7n signal of re o#e, "a#es fiercely round6 ,e ay no longer stay@ go, "aken 9#e6 Her also 7 "ith gentle Drea s ha#e cal Pd <ortending good, and all her s!irits co !osPd $o eek sub ission@ thou at season fit =et her "ith thee !artake "hat thou hast heard, 5hiefly "hat ay concern her )aith to kno", $he great deli#erance by her Seed to co e ()or by the ,o ans Seed) on all ?ankind. $hat ye ay li#e, "hich "ill be any dayes, +oth in one )aith unani ous though sad, ,ith cause for e#ils !ast, yet uch ore cheerPd ,ith editation on the ha!!ie end. He ended, and they both descend the Hill6 Descended, .da to the +o"re "here 9#e =ay slee!ing ran before, but found her "akPt6 .nd thus "ith "ords not sad she hi recea#Pd. ,hence thou returnst, [ "hither "entst, 7 kno"6 )or &od is also in slee!, and Drea s ad#ise, ,hich he hath sent !ro!itious, so e great good <resaging, since "ith sorro" and hearts distress ,earied 7 fell aslee!@ but no" lead on6 7n ee is no delay6 "ith thee to goe, 7s to stay here6 "ithout thee here to stay, 7s to go hence un"illing6 thou to ee .rt all things under Hea#Pn, all !laces thou, ,ho for y "ilful cri e art banisht hence. $his further consolation yet secure 7 carry hence6 though all by ee is lost, Such fa#our 7 un"orthie a #outsaft, C0D
+y
ee the <ro isPd Seed shall all restore. So s!ake our ?other 9#e, and .da heard ,ell !leasPd, but ans"erPd not6 for no" too nigh $hP .rchangel stood, and fro the other Hill $o thir fi0t Station, all in bright array $he 5herubi descended6 on the ground &liding eteorous, as 9#Pning ?ist -isPn fro a -i#er oPre the arish glides, .nd gathers ground fast at the =abourers heel Ho e"ard returning. High in )ront ad#ancPt, $he brandisht S"ord of &od before the bla'Pd )ierce as a 5o et6 "hich "ith torrid heat, .nd #a!our as the =ibyan .ir adust, +egan to !arch that te !erate 5li e6 "hereat 7n either hand the hastning .ngel caught (ur lingring <arents, and to thP 9astern &ate =ed the direct, and do"n the 5liff as fast $o the sub%ected <laine6 then disa!!eerPd. $hey looking back, all thP 9astern side beheld (f <aradise, so late thir ha!!ie seat, ,a#Pd o#er by that fla ing +rand, the &ate ,ith dreadful )aces throngPd and fierie .r es@ So natural tears they dro!Pd, but "i!Pd the soon6 $he ,orld "as all before the , "here to choose $hir !lace of rest, and <ro#idence thir guide@ $hey hand in hand "ith "andring ste!s and slo", $hrough 9den took thir solitarie "ay. (55A-6C>) 5. THE RESTORATION (-) -the satire (Dr(den, A!salom and Achitophel) $9!&lo# &nd $ h"to3hel .bsalo and .chito!hel is a land ark !oetic !olitical satire by 1ohn Dryden. $he !oe e0ists in t"o !arts. $he first !art, of 1681, is undoubtedly by Dryden. $he second !art, of 168A, "as "ritten by another hand, ost likely /ahu $ate, e0ce!t for a fe" !assages---including attacks on $ho as Shad"ell and 9lkanah Settle as (g and Doeg---that Dryden "rote hi self. $he !oe is an allegory that uses the story of the rebellion of .bsalo against Hing Da#id as the basis for discussion of the background to the ?on outh -ebellion (1685), the <o!ish <lot (16D8) and the 90clusion 5risis. Dryden*s skill at "alking a fine line bet"een !raise and conde nation of his king is e0traordinary, and the !oe is not only the finest satire Dryden "rote, but is !robably the finest !olitical satire e#er "ritten in 9nglish #erse, e#en if the to!icality of the satire is so intense as to obscure its #alue to odern readers. $he story of .bsalo *s re#olt is told in the Second +ook of Sa uel in the (ld $esta ent of the +ible (cha!ters 1C and 15). Da#id fought his beautiful, rebelling son, "ho died after fleeing battle and getting caught by his hair in bra ble bushes. .bsalo *s ad#isor, .hito!hel (.chito!hel in the Vulgate) co itted suicide. $his rebellion caused Da#id enor ous !ersonal grief. 7n 1681 in 9ngland, 5harles 77 "as in ad#anced years. He had had a nu ber of istresses and !roduced a nu ber of illegiti ate children. (ne of these "as 1a es Scott, the Duke of ?on outh, "ho "as #ery !o!ular, both for his !ersonal charis a and his fer#or for the C08
<rotestant cause. 5harles had no legiti ate heirs, and his brother, the future 1a es 77 of 9ngland "as sus!ected of being a -o an 5atholic. ,hen 5harles*s health suffered, there "as a !anic in the House of 5o ons o#er the !otential for the nation being ruled by a -o an 5atholic king. $he 9arl of Shaftesbury had s!onsored and ad#ocated the 90clusion +ill, but this bill "as blocked by the House of =ords on t"o occasions. 7n the S!ring of 1681, at the (0ford <arlia ent, Shaftesbury a!!ealed to 5harles 77 to legiti ate ?on outh. ?on outh "as caught !re!aring to rebel and seek the throne, and Shaftesbury "as sus!ected of fostering this rebellion. $he !oe "as "ritten, !ossibly at 5harles*s behest, and !ublished in early /o#e ber of 1681. (n /o#e ber AC, 1681, Shaftesbury "as sei'ed and charged "ith high treason. . trial before a %ury !icked by ,hig sheriffs ac4uitted hi . =ater, after the death of his father and un"illing to see his uncle 1a es 77 beco e Hing, the Duke of ?on outh e0ecuted his !lans and "ent into full re#olt. $he ?on outh -ebellion "as !ut do"n, and in 1685 the Duke "as e0ecuted. Dryden*s !oe tells the story of the first fo ent by aking ?on outh into .bsalo , the belo#ed boy, 5harles into Da#id ("ho also had so e !hilandering), and Shaftesbury into .chito!hel. 7t !aints +uckingha , an old ene y of Dryden*s (see $he -ehearsal for one e0a !le), into Yi ri, the unfaithful ser#ant. $he !oe !laces ost of the bla e for the rebellion on Shaftesbury and akes 5harles a #ery reluctant and lo#ing an "ho has to be king before father. $he !oe also refers to so e of the <o!ish <lot furor and the +loody .ssi'es. 6OH+ -RY-E+ (16B1-1D00) $ h"to3hel (f these the false .chito!hel "as first, . na e to all succeeding ages curs*d. )or close designs and crooked counsels fit, Sagacious, bold, and turbulent of "it, -estless, unfi0*d in !rinci!les and !lace, 7n !o"*r un!leas*d, i !atient of disgrace6 . fiery soul, "hich "orking out its "ay, )retted the !ig y body to decay@ .nd o*er infor *d the tene ent of clay. . daring !ilot in e0tre ity6 <leas*d "ith the danger, "hen the "a#es "ent high He sought the stor s6 but, for a cal unfit, ,ould steer too nigh the sands to boast his "it. &reat "its are sure to adness near allied, .nd thin !artitions do their bounds di#ide6 9lse, "hy should he, "ith "ealth and honour blest, -efuse his age the needful hours of restG <unish a body "hich he could not !lease, +ankru!t of life, yet !rodigal of easeG .nd all to lea#e "hat "ith his toil he "on $o that unfeather*d t"o-legg*d thing, a son6 &ot, "hile his soul did huddled notions try, .nd born a sha!eless lu !, like anarchy6 7n friendshi! false, i !lacable in hate, -esol#*d to ruin or to rule the State6 $o co !ass this the tri!le bond he broke6 $he !illars of the !ublic safety shook. C0>
.nd fitted 7srael for a foreign yoke6 $hen, sei'*d "ith fear, yet still affecting fa e, ;sur!*d a <atriot*s all-atoning na e. So easy still it !ro#es in factious ti es ,ith !ublic 'eal to cancel !ri#ate cri es. Ho" safe is treason, and ho" sacred ill, ,here none can sin against the !eo!le*s "illE ,here cro"ds can "ink, and no offence be kno"n, Since in another*s guilt they find their o"nE Uet fa e deser#ed no ene y can grudge6 $he states an "e abhor, but !raise the %udge. 7n 7srael*s courts ne*er sat an .bbethdin ,ith ore discerning eyes, or hands ore clean6 ;nbribed, unsought, the "retched to redress6 S"ift of dis!atch, and easy of access. (h, had he been content to ser#e the cro"n, ,ith #irtues only !ro!er to the go"n6 (r had the rankness of the soil been freed )ro cockle, that o!!ressed the noble seed6 Da#id for hi his tuneful har! had strung, .nd Hea#en had "anted one i ortal song. +ut "ild . bition lo#es to slide, not stand, .nd )ortune*s ice !refers to Virtue*s land. .chito!hel, gro"n "eary to !ossess . la"ful fa e, and la'y ha!!iness, Disdained the golden fruit to gather free, .nd lent the cro"d his ar to shake the tree. /o", anifest of cri es contri#ed long since, He stood at bold defiance "ith his !rince6 Held u! the buckler of the !eo!le*s cause .gainst the cro"n, and skulked behind the la"s. $he "ished occasion of the <lot he takes6 So e circu stances finds, but ore he akes. +y bu''ing e issaries fills the ears (f listening cro"ds "ith %ealousies and fears (f arbitrary counsels brought to light, .nd !ro#es the king hi self a 1ebusite. ,eak argu entsE "hich yet he kne" full "ell ,ere strong "ith !eo!le easy to rebel. )or, go#erned by the oon, the giddy 1e"s $read the sa e track "hen she the !ri e rene"s6 .nd once in t"enty years, their scribes record, +y natural instinct they change their lord. .chito!hel still "ants a chief, and none ,as found so fit as "arlike .bsalon. /ot that he "ished his greatness to create, ()or !oliticians neither lo#e nor hate), +ut, for he kne" his title not allo"ed, ,ould kee! hi still de!ending on the cro"d@ $hat kingly !o"er, thus ebbing out, ight be Dra"n to the dregs of a de ocracy. H+rom A!salom and AchitophelI C10
="#r" 7n the first rank of these did Yi ri stand@ . an so #arious, that he see *d to be /ot one, but all ankind*s e!ito e. Stiff in o!inions, al"ays in the "rong6 ,as e#erything by starts, and nothing long@ +ut, in the course of one re#ol#ing oon, ,as che ist, fiddler, states an, and buffoon6 $hen all for "o en, !ainting, rhy ing, drinking, +esides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking. +lest ad an, "ho could e#ery hour e !loy, ,ith so ething ne" to "ish, or to en%oyE -ailing and !raising "ere his usual the es6 .nd both, to sho" his %udg ent, in e0tre es6 So o#er #iolent, or o#er ci#il, $hat e#ery an, "ith hi , "as &od or De#il, 7n s4uand*ring "ealth "as his !eculiar art@ /othing "ent unre"arded, but desert +eggar*d by fools, "ho still he found too late@ He had his %est, and they had his estate. He laugh*d hi self fro court6 then sought relief +y for ing !arties, but could ne*er be chief6 )or, s!ite of hi , the "eight of business fell (n .bsalo and "ise .chito!hel6 $hus "icked but in "ill, of eans bereft, He left not faction, but of that "as left. H+rom A!salom and AchitophelI Son) for S&"nt *e "l"&(! -&2 (/o#e ber AA, 168D) )ro Har ony, fro hea#enly Har ony $his uni#ersal )ra e began@ ,hen /ature underneath a hea! (f %arring ato s lay .nd could not hea#e her head, $he tuneful #oice "as heard fro high, .rise, ye ore than dead. $hen cold and hot and oist and dry 7n order to their stations lea!, .nd usic*s !o"er obey. )ro Har ony, fro hea#enly Har ony $his uni#ersal )ra e began@ )ro Har ony to Har ony $hrough all the co !ass of the notes it ran, $he dia!ason closing full in ?an. ,hat !assion cannot usic raise and 4uellG ,hen 1ubal struck the chorded shell His listening brethren stood around, .nd, "ondering, on their faces fell C11
$o "orshi! that celestial sound@ =ess than a god they thought there could not d"ell ,ithin the hollo" of that shell, $hat s!oke so s"eetly, and so "ell. ,hat !assion cannot usic raise and 4uellG $he tru !et*s loud clangor 90cite us to ar s, ,ith shrill notes of anger .nd ortal alar s. $he double double double beat (f the thund*ring dru 5ries, *hark the foes co e6 5harge, charge, *tis too late to retreatE* $he soft co !laining flute. 7n dying notes disco#ers $he "oes of ho!eless lo#ers, ,hose dirge is "his!er*d by the "arbling lute. Shar! #iolins !roclai $heir %ealous !angs and des!eration, )ury, frantic indignation, De!th of !ains, and height of !assion, )or the fair, disdainful Da e. +ut ohE "hat .rt can teach, ,hat hu an #oice can reach $he sacred organ*s !raiseG /otes ins!iring holy lo#e, /otes that "ing their hea#enly "ays $o end the choirs abo#e. (r!heus could lead the sa#age race .nd trees u!rooted left their !lace, Se4uacious of the lyre@ +ut bright 5ecilia rais*d the "onder higher@ ,hen to her (rgan #ocal breath "as gi#en, .n .ngel heard, and straight a!!ear*d ?istaking 9arth for Hea#en.
G/A6& 2H3/7As from the power of sacred lays The -pheres !egan to move# And sung the great 2reator s praise To all the !lest a!oveB -o when the last and dreadful Hour This crum!ling pageant shall devour, The T/75P1T shall he heard on high, The dead shall live, the living die# And 57-,2 shall untune the sky#
C1A
the alleg"r( (-0n(an, The Pilgrims Progress) 6OH+ BU+Y$+ (16A8-1688)
The Pilgri13s Pr"gress S011ar( 1ohn +unyan "as a !assionately religious an, i !risoned in 1660 for !reaching "ithout a license, and s!ending ost of the ne0t t"el#e years in %ail. 7t "as after his release and during his second i !rison ent in 16D6 that he see s to ha#e "ritten his ost fa ous and influential "ork, $he <ilgri *s <rogress. 7t is an allegory told by a drea er, uch like certain edie#al !oe s (<earl is the clearest e0a !le). 7ts full title is $he <ilgri *s <rogress fro this ,orld to that "hich is to co e and is "as !ublished in t"o !arts, in 16D8 and 168C. $he drea er sees a an, 5hristian, clothed in rags, "ith a burden on his back, lea#ing his house behind in the kno"ledge that it "ill burn do"n. $he book he holds in his hands has told hi so. He has to flee his fa ily "ho think he has gone ad and esca!e the 5ity of Destruction. (n the ad#ice of 9#angelist he begins a %ourney through a series of allegorical !laces@ the Slough of Des!ond, the House +eautiful, the Valley of Hu iliation, the Valley of the Shado" of Death, Vanity )air, Doubting 5astle and so on to the 5elestial 5ity that he seeks. 9ach character and !lace in the drea is gi#en an a!!ro!riate na e@ so 5hristian eets the goodly Ho!eful and )aithful, the cheating ?r =egality and the e#il &iant Des!air. $he for at is not unlike that of S!enser*s $he )aerie :ueene in this sense and in that of a di#inely ins!ired %ourney. $he second !art concerns the 5hristiana, 5hristian*s "ife, "ho is ins!ired to follo" on a si ilar !ilgri age. $he <ilgri *s <rogress has been so successful and ad ired that it has been translated into o#er one hundred languages. The %"l)r"#4! %ro)re!! ]10Z .s 7 "alked through the "ilderness of this "orld, 7 lighted on a certain !lace "here "as a Den, and 7 laid e do"n in that !lace to slee!@ and, as 7 sle!t, 7 drea ed a drea . 7 drea ed, and behold, 7 sa" a an clothed "ith rags, standing in a certain !lace, "ith his face fro his o"n house, a book in his hand, and a great burden u!on his back. 27sa. 6C@66 =uke 1C@BB6 <s. B8@C6 Hab. A@A6 .cts 16@B0,B13 7 looked, and sa" hi o!en the book, and read therein6 and, as he read, he "e!t, and tre bled6 and, not being able longer to contain, he brake out "ith a la entable cry, saying, F,hat shall 7 doGF 2.cts A@BD3 ]11Z 7n this !light, therefore, he "ent ho e and refrained hi self as long as he could, that his "ife and children should not !ercei#e his distress6 but he could not be silent long, because that his trouble increased. ,herefore at length he brake his ind to his "ife and children6 and thus he began to talk to the @ ( y dear "ife, said he, and you the children of y bo"els, 7, your dear friend, a in yself undone by reason of a burden that lieth hard u!on e6 oreo#er, 7 a for certain infor ed that this our city "ill be burned "ith fire fro hea#en6 in "hich fearful o#erthro", both yself, "ith thee y "ife, and you y s"eet babes, shall iserably co e to ruin, e0ce!t (the "hich yet 7 see not) so e "ay of esca!e can be found, "hereby "e ay be deli#ered. .t this his relations "ere sore a a'ed6 not for that they belie#ed that "hat he had said to the "as true, but because they thought that so e fren'y diste !er had got into his head6 therefore, it dra"ing to"ards night, and they ho!ing that slee! ight settle his brains, "ith all haste they got hi to bed. +ut the night "as as troubleso e to hi as the day6 "herefore, instead of slee!ing, he s!ent it in sighs and tears. So, "hen the orning "as co e, they "ould kno" ho" he did. He told the , ,orse and "orse@ he also set to talking to the again6 but they began to be hardened. $hey also thought to dri#e a"ay his diste !er by harsh and surly carriages to hi 6 so eti es they "ould deride, so eti es they "ould chide, and so eti es they "ould C1B
4uite neglect hi . ,herefore he began to retire hi self to his cha ber, to !ray for and !ity the , and also to condole his o"n isery6 he "ould also "alk solitarily in the fields, so eti es reading, and so eti es !raying@ and thus for so e days he s!ent his ti e. ]1AZ /o", 7 sa", u!on a ti e, "hen he "as "alking in the fields, that he "as, as he "as "ont, reading in his book, and greatly distressed in his ind6 and, as he read, he burst out, as he had done before, crying, F,hat shall 7 do to be sa#edGF ]1BZ 7 sa" also that he looked this "ay and that "ay, as if he "ould run6 yet he stood still, because, as 7 !ercei#ed, he could not tell "hich "ay to go. 7 looked then, and sa" a an na ed 9#angelist co ing to hi and asked, ,herefore dost thou cryG 21ob BB@AB3 ]1CZ He ans"ered, Sir, 7 !ercei#e by the book in y hand, that 7 a conde ned to die, and after that to co e to %udge ent 2Heb. >@AD36 and 7 find that 7 a not "illing to do the first 21ob 16@A13, nor able to do the second. 29'ek. AA@1C3 5H-7S$7./ no sooner lea#es the ,orld but eets 9V./&9=7S$, "ho lo#ingly hi greets ,ith tidings of another@ and doth sho" Hi ho" to ount to that fro this belo". ]15Z $hen said 9#angelist, ,hy not "illing to die, since this life is attended "ith so any e#ilsG $he an ans"ered, +ecause 7 fear that this burden is u!on y back "ill sink e lo"er than the gra#e, and 7 shall fall into $o!het. 27sa. B0@BB3 .nd, Sir, if 7 be not fit to go to !rison, 7 a not fit, 7 a sure, to go to %udge ent, and fro thence to e0ecution6 and the thoughts of these things ake e cry. ]16Z $hen said 9#angelist, 7f this be thy condition, "hy standest thou stillG He ans"ered, +ecause 7 kno" not "hither to go. $hen he ga#e hi a !arch ent roll, and there "as "ritten "ithin, )lee fro the "rath to co e. 2?att. B.D3 ]1DZ $he an therefore read it, and looking u!on 9#angelist #ery carefully, said, ,hither ust 7 flyG $hen said 9#angelist, !ointing "ith his finger o#er a #ery "ide field, Do you see yonder "icket-gateG 2?att. D@1B,1C3 $he an said, /o. $hen said the other, Do you see yonder shining lightG 2<s. 11>@1056 A <et. 1@1>3 He said, 7 think 7 do. $hen said 9#angelist, Hee! that light in your eye, and go u! directly thereto@ so shalt thou see the gate6 at "hich, "hen thou knockest, it shall be told thee "hat thou shalt do. ]18Z So 7 sa" in y drea that the an began to run. /o", he had not run far fro his o"n door, but his "ife and children, !ercei#ing it, began to cry after hi to return6 but the an !ut his fingers in his ears, and ran on, crying, =ifeE lifeE eternal lifeE 2=uke 1C@A63 So he looked not behind hi , but fled to"ards the iddle of the !lain. 2&en. 1>@1D3 ]1>Z $he neighbours also ca e out to see hi run 21er. A0@1036 and, as he ran, so e ocked, others threatened, and so e cried after hi to return6 and, a ong those that did so, there "ere t"o that resol#ed to fetch hi back by force. $he na e of the one "as (bstinate and the na e of the other <liable. /o", by this ti e, the an "as got a good distance fro the 6 but, ho"e#er, they "ere resol#ed to !ursue hi , "hich they did, and in a little ti e they o#ertook hi . $hen said the an, /eighbours, "herefore are ye co eG $hey said, $o !ersuade you to go back "ith us. +ut he said, $hat can by no eans be6 you d"ell, said he, in the 5ity of Destruction, the !lace also "here 7 "as born@ 7 see it to be so6 and, dying there, sooner or later, you "ill sink lo"er than the gra#e, into a !lace that burns "ith fire and bri stone@ be content, good neighbours, and go along "ith e. ]A0Z (+S$. ,hatE said (bstinate, and lea#e our friends and our co forts behind usG 5H-. Ues, said 5hristian, for that "as his na e, because that .== "hich you shall forsake is not "orthy to be co !ared "ith a little of that "hich 7 a seeking to en%oy 2A 5or. C@1836 and, if you "ill go along "ith e, and hold it, you shall fare as 7 yself6 for there, "here 7 go, is enough and to s!are. 2=uke 15@1D3 5o e a"ay, and !ro#e y "ords. ]A1Z (+S$. ,hat are the things you seek, since you lea#e all the "orld to find the G 5H-. 7 seek an inheritance incorru!tible, undefiled, and that fadeth not a"ay 21 <et. 1@C3, and it is laid u! in hea#en, and safe there 2Heb. 11@163, to be besto"ed, at the ti e a!!ointed, on the that diligently seek it. -ead it so, if you "ill, in y book. (+S$. $ushE said (bstinate, a"ay "ith your book6 "ill you go back "ith us or noG C1C
5H-. /o, not 7, said the other, because 7 ha#e laid y hand to the !lough. 2=uke >@6A3 ]AAZ (+S$. 5o e, then, neighbour <liable, let us turn again, and go ho e "ithout hi 6 there is a co !any of these cra'y-headed co0co bs, that, "hen they take a fancy by the end, are "iser in their o"n eyes than se#en en that can render a reason. 2<ro#. A6@163 <=7. $hen said <liable, Don*t re#ile6 if "hat the good 5hristian says is true, the things he looks after are better than ours@ y heart inclines to go "ith y neighbour. (+S$. ,hatE ore fools stillE +e ruled by e, and go back6 "ho kno"s "hither such a brainsick fello" "ill lead youG &o back, go back, and be "ise. ]ABZ 5H-. /ay, but do thou co e "ith thy neighbour, <liable6 there are such things to be had "hich 7 s!oke of, and any ore glorious besides. 7f you belie#e not e, read here in this book6 and for the truth of "hat is e0!ressed therein, behold, all is confir ed by the blood of Hi that ade it. 2Heb. >@1D-AA6 1B@A03 <=7. ,ell, neighbour (bstinate, said <liable, 7 begin to co e to a !oint6 7 intend to go along "ith this good an, and to cast in y lot "ith hi @ but, y good co !anion, do you kno" the "ay to this desired !laceG ]ACZ 5H-. 7 a directed by a an, "hose na e is 9#angelist, to s!eed e to a little gate that is before us, "here "e shall recei#e instructions about the "ay. <=7. 5o e, then, good neighbour, let us be going. $hen they "ent both together. (+S$. .nd 7 "ill go back to y !lace, said (bstinate6 7 "ill be no co !anion of such isled, fantastical fello"s. ]A5Z /o", 7 sa" in y drea , that "hen (bstinate "as gone back, 5hristian and <liable "ent talking o#er the !lain6 and thus they began their discourse. ]A6Z 5H-. 5o e, neighbour <liable, ho" do you doG 7 a glad you are !ersuaded to go along "ith e. Had e#en (bstinate hi self but felt "hat 7 ha#e felt of the !o"ers and terrors of "hat is yet unseen, he "ould not thus lightly ha#e gi#en us the back. <=7. 5o e, neighbour 5hristian, since there are none but us t"o here, tell e no" further "hat the things are, and ho" to be en%oyed, "hither "e are going. ]ADZ 5H-. 7 can better concei#e of the "ith y ind, than s!eak of the "ith y tongue. &od*s things uns!eakable@ but yet, since you are desirous to kno", 7 "ill read of the in y book. <=7. .nd do you think that the "ords of your book are certainly trueG 5H-. Ues, #erily6 for it "as ade by Hi that cannot lie. 2$itus 1@A3 <=7. ,ell said6 "hat things are theyG 5H-. $here is an endless kingdo to be inhabited, and e#erlasting life to be gi#en us, that "e ay inhabit that kingdo for e#er. 27sa. C5@1D6 1ohn 10@A8,A>3 <=7. ,ell said6 and "hat elseG 5H-. $here are cro"ns and glory to be gi#en us, and gar ents that "ill ake us shine like the sun in the fir a ent of hea#en. 2A $i . C@86 -e#. B@C6 ?att. 1B@CB3 <=7. $his is #ery !leasant6 and "hat elseG 5H-. $here shall be no ore crying, nor Sorro"@ for He that is o"ner of the !lace "ill "i!e all tears fro our eyes. 27sa. A5.6-86 -e#. D@1D, A1@C3 ]A8Z <=7. .nd "hat co !any shall "e ha#e thereG 5H-. $here "e shall be "ith sera!hi s and cherubi s, creatures that "ill da''le your eyes to look on the . 27sa. 6@A3 $here also you shall eet "ith thousands and ten thousands that ha#e gone before us to that !lace6 none of the are hurtful, but lo#ing and holy6 e#ery one "alking in the sight of &od, and standing in his !resence "ith acce!tance for e#er. 21 $hess. C@16,1D6 -e#. 5@113 7n a "ord, there "e shall see the elders "ith their golden cro"ns 2-e#. C@C3, there "e shall see the holy #irgins "ith their golden har!s 2-e#. 1C@1-53, there "e shall see en that by the "orld "ere cut in !ieces, burnt in fla es, eaten of beasts, dro"ned in the seas, for the lo#e that they bare to the =ord of the !lace, all "ell, and clothed "ith i ortality as "ith a gar ent. 21ohn 1A@A56 A 5or. 5@C3
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<=7. $he hearing of this is enough to ra#ish one*s heart. +ut are these things to be en%oyedG Ho" shall "e get to be sharers thereofG 5H-. $he =ord, the &o#ernor of the country, hath recorded that in this book6 the substance of "hich is, 7f "e be truly "illing to ha#e it, he "ill besto" it u!on us freely. <=7. ,ell, y good co !anion, glad a 7 to hear of these things@ co e on, let us end our !ace. 5H-. 7 cannot go so fast as 7 "ould, by reason of this burden that is on y back. ]A>Z /o" 7 sa" in y drea , that %ust as they had ended this talk they dre" near to a #ery iry slough, that "as in the idst of the !lain6 and they, being heedless, did both fall suddenly into the bog. $he na e of the slough "as Des!ond. Here, therefore, they "allo"ed for a ti e, being grie#ously bedaubed "ith the dirt6 and 5hristian, because of the burden that "as on his back, began to sink in the ire. ]B0Z <=7. $hen said <liable6 .hE neighbour 5hristian, "here are you no"G 5H-. $ruly, said 5hristian, 7 do not kno". <=7. .t this <liable began to be offended, and angrily said to his fello", 7s this the ha!!iness you ha#e told e all this "hile ofG 7f "e ha#e such ill s!eed at our first setting out, "hat ay "e e0!ect bet"i0t this and our %ourney*s endG ?ay 7 get out again "ith y life, you shall !ossess the bra#e country alone for e. .nd, "ith that, he ga#e a des!erate struggle or t"o, and got out of the ire on that side of the slough "hich "as ne0t to his o"n house@ so a"ay he "ent, and 5hristian sa" hi no ore. ]B1Z ,herefore 5hristian "as left to tu ble in the Slough of Des!ond alone@ but still he endea#oured to struggle to that side of the slough that "as still further fro his o"n house, and ne0t to the "icket-gate6 the "hich he did, but could not get out, because of the burden that "as u!on his back@ but 7 beheld in y drea , that a an ca e to hi , "hose na e "as Hel!, and asked hi , ,hat he did thereG 5H-. Sir, said 5hristian, 7 "as bid go this "ay by a an called 9#angelist, "ho directed e also to yonder gate, that 7 ight esca!e the "rath to co e6 and as 7 "as going thither 7 fell in here. ]BAZ H9=<. +ut "hy did not you look for the ste!sG 5H-. )ear follo"ed e so hard, that 7 fled the ne0t "ay, and fell in. H9=<. $hen said he, &i#e e thy hand@ so he ga#e hi his hand, and he dre" hi out, and set hi u!on sound ground, and bid hi go on his "ay. 2<s. C0@A3 ]BBZ $hen 7 ste!!ed to hi that !lucked hi out, and said, Sir, "herefore, since o#er this !lace is the "ay fro the 5ity of Destruction to yonder gate, is it that this !lat is not ended, that !oor tra#ellers ight go thither "ith ore securityG .nd he said unto e, $his iry slough is such a !lace as cannot be ended6 it is the descent "hither the scu and filth that attends con#iction for sin doth continually run, and therefore it is called the Slough of Des!ond6 for still, as the sinner is a"akened about his lost condition, there ariseth in his soul any fears, and doubts, and discouraging a!!rehensions, "hich all of the get together, and settle in this !lace. .nd this is the reason of the badness of this ground. ]BCZ 7t is not the !leasure of the Hing that this !lace should re ain so bad. 27sa. B5@B,C3 His labourers also ha#e, by the direction of His ?a%esty*s sur#eyors, been for abo#e these si0teen hundred years e !loyed about this !atch of ground, if !erha!s it ight ha#e been ended@ yea, and to y kno"ledge, said he, here ha#e been s"allo"ed u! at least t"enty thousand cart-loads, yea, illions of "holeso e instructions, that ha#e at all seasons been brought fro all !laces of the Hing*s do inions, and they that can tell, say they are the best aterials to ake good ground of the !lace6 if so be, it ight ha#e been ended, but it is the Slough of Des!ond still, and so "ill be "hen they ha#e done "hat they can. ]B5Z $rue, there are, by the direction of the =a"-gi#er, certain good and substantial ste!s, !laced e#en through the #ery idst of this slough6 but at such ti e as this !lace doth uch s!e" out its filth, as it doth against change of "eather, these ste!s are hardly seen6 or, if they be, en, through the di''iness of their heads, ste! beside, and then they are be ired to !ur!ose,
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not"ithstanding the ste!s be there6 but the ground is good "hen they are once got in at the gate. 21 Sa . 1A@AB3 ]B6Z /o", 7 sa" in y drea , that by this ti e <liable "as got ho e to his house again, so that his neighbours ca e to #isit hi 6 and so e of the called hi "ise an for co ing back, and so e called hi fool for ha'arding hi self "ith 5hristian@ others again did ock at his co"ardliness6 saying, Surely, since you began to #enture, 7 "ould not ha#e been so base to ha#e gi#en out for a fe" difficulties. So <liable sat sneaking a ong the . +ut at last he got ore confidence, and then they all turned their tales, and began to deride !oor 5hristian behind his back. .nd thus uch concerning <liable. +ut no", in this Valley of Hu iliation, !oor 5hristian "as hard !ut to it6 for he had gone but a little "ay, before he es!ied a foul fiend co ing o#er the field to eet hi 6 his na e is .!ollyon. $hen did 5hristian begin to be afraid, and to cast in his ind "hether to go back or to stand his ground. +ut he considered again that he had no ar our for his back6 and therefore thought that to turn the back to hi ight gi#e hi the greater ad#antage "ith ease to !ierce hi "ith his darts. 5hristian*s resolution at the a!!roach of .!ollyon $herefore he resol#ed to #enture and stand his ground6 for, thought he, had 7 no ore in ine eye than the sa#ing of y life, it "ould be the best "ay to stand. ]1CAZ So he "ent on, and .!ollyon et hi . /o" the onster "as hideous to behold6 he "as clothed "ith scales, like a fish, (and they are his !ride,) he had "ings like a dragon, feet like a bear, and out of his belly ca e fire and s oke, and his outh "as as the outh of a lion. ,hen he "as co e u! to 5hristian, he beheld hi "ith a disdainful countenance, and thus began to 4uestion "ith hi . ]1CBZ .<(=. ,hence co e youG and "hither are you boundG 5H-. 7 a co e fro the 5ity of Destruction, "hich is the !lace of all e#il, and a going to the 5ity of Yion. .<(=. +y this 7 !ercei#e thou art one of y sub%ects, for all that country is ine, and 7 a the !rince and god of it. Ho" is it, then, that thou hast run a"ay fro thy kingG ,ere it not that 7 ho!e thou ayest do e ore ser#ice, 7 "ould strike thee no", at one blo", to the ground. ]1CCZ 5H-. 7 "as born, indeed, in your do inions, but your ser#ice "as hard, and your "ages such as a an could not li#e on, Ffor the "ages of sin is deathF 2-o 6@AB36 therefore, "hen 7 "as co e to years, 7 did, as other considerate !ersons do, look out, if, !erha!s, 7 ight end yself. .!ollyon*s flattery .<(=. $here is no !rince that "ill thus lightly lose his sub%ects, neither "ill 7 as yet lose thee6 but since thou co !lainest of thy ser#ice and "ages, be content to go back@ "hat our country "ill afford, 7 do here !ro ise to gi#e thee. 5H-. +ut 7 ha#e let yself to another, e#en to the Hing of !rinces6 and ho" can 7, "ith fairness, go back "ith theeG ]1C5Z .<(=. $hou hast done in this, according to the !ro#erb, F5hanged a bad for a "orseF6 but it is ordinary for those that ha#e !rofessed the sel#es his ser#ants, after a "hile to gi#e hi the sli!, and return again to e. Do thou so too, and all shall be "ell. 5H-. 7 ha#e gi#en hi y faith, and s"orn y allegiance to hi 6 ho", then, can 7 go back fro this, and not be hanged as a traitorG .<(=. $hou didst the sa e to e, and yet 7 a "illing to !ass by all, if no" thou "ilt yet turn again and go back. ]1C6Z 5H-. ,hat 7 !ro ised thee "as in y nonage6 and, besides, 7 count the <rince under "hose banner no" 7 stand is able to absol#e e6 yea, and to !ardon also "hat 7 did as to y co !liance "ith thee6 and besides, ( thou destroying .!ollyonE to s!eak truth, 7 like his ser#ice, his "ages, his ser#ants, his go#ern ent, his co !any, and country, better than thine6 and, therefore, lea#e off to !ersuade e further6 7 a his ser#ant, and 7 "ill follo" hi . ]1CDZ .<(=. 5onsider, again, "hen thou art in cool blood, "hat thou art like to eet "ith in the "ay that thou goest. $hou kno"est that, for the ost !art, his ser#ants co e to an ill end, C1D
because they are transgressors against e and y "ays. Ho" any of the ha#e been !ut to sha eful deathsE and, besides, thou countest his ser#ice better than ine, "hereas he ne#er ca e yet fro the !lace "here he is to deli#er any that ser#ed hi out of their hands6 but as for e, ho" any ti es, as all the "orld #ery "ell kno"s, ha#e 7 deli#ered, either by !o"er, or fraud, those that ha#e faithfully ser#ed e, fro hi and his, though taken by the 6 and so 7 "ill deli#er thee. 5H-. His forbearing at !resent to deli#er the is on !ur!ose to try their lo#e, "hether they "ill clea#e to hi to the end6 and as for the ill end thou sayest they co e to, that is ost glorious in their account6 for, for !resent deli#erance, they do not uch e0!ect it, for they stay for their glory, and then they shall ha#e it "hen their <rince co es in his and the glory of the angels. .<(=. $hou hast already been unfaithful in thy ser#ice to hi 6 and ho" dost thou think to recei#e "ages of hi G 5H-. ,herein, ( .!ollyonE ha#e 7 been unfaithful to hi G ]1C8Z .<(=. $hou didst faint at first setting out, "hen thou "ast al ost choked in the &ulf of Des!ond6 thou didst atte !t "rong "ays to be rid of thy burden, "hereas thou shouldst ha#e stayed till thy <rince had taken it off6 thou didst sinfully slee! and lose thy choice thing6 thou "ast, also, al ost !ersuaded to go back at the sight of the lions6 and "hen thou talkest of thy %ourney, and of "hat thou hast heard and seen, thou art in"ardly desirous of #ain-glory in all that thou sayest or doest. 5H-. .ll this is true, and uch ore "hich thou hast left out6 but the <rince "ho 7 ser#e and honour is erciful, and ready to forgi#e6 but, besides, these infir ities !ossessed e in thy country, for there 7 sucked the in6 and 7 ha#e groaned under the , been sorry for the , and ha#e obtained !ardon of y <rince. ]1C>Z .<(=. $hen .!ollyon broke out into a grie#ous rage, saying, 7 a an ene y to this <rince6 7 hate his !erson, his la"s, and !eo!le6 7 a co e out on !ur!ose to "ithstand thee. 5H-. .!ollyon, be"are "hat you do6 for 7 a in the Hing*s high"ay, the "ay of holiness6 therefore take heed to yourself. .<(=. $hen .!ollyon straddled 4uite o#er the "hole breadth of the "ay, and said, 7 a #oid of fear in this atter@ !re!are thyself to die6 for 7 s"ear by y infernal den, that thou shalt go no further6 here "ill 7 s!ill thy soul. ]150Z .nd "ith that he thre" a fla ing dart at his breast6 but 5hristian had a shield in his hand, "ith "hich he caught it, and so !re#ented the danger of that. $hen did 5hristian dra", for he sa" it "as ti e to bestir hi 6 and .!ollyon as fast ade at hi , thro"ing darts as thick as hail6 by the "hich, not"ithstanding all that 5hristian could do to a#oid it, .!ollyon "ounded hi in his head, his hand, and foot. $his ade 5hristian gi#e a little back6 .!ollyon, therefore, follo"ed his "ork a ain, and 5hristian again took courage, and resisted as anfully as he could. $his sore co bat lasted for abo#e half a day, e#en till 5hristian "as al ost 4uite s!ent6 for you ust kno" that 5hristian, by reason of his "ounds, ust needs gro" "eaker and "eaker. ]151Z $hen .!ollyon, es!ying his o!!ortunity, began to gather u! close to 5hristian, and "restling "ith hi , ga#e hi a dreadful fall6 and "ith that 5hristian*s s"ord fle" out of his hand. $hen said .!ollyon, 7 a sure of thee no". .nd "ith that he had al ost !ressed hi to death, so that 5hristian began to des!air of life6 but as &od "ould ha#e it, "hile .!ollyon "as fetching of his last blo", thereby to ake a full end of this good an, 5hristian ni bly stretched out his hand for his s"ord, and caught it, saying, F-e%oice not against e, ( ine ene y6 "hen 7 fall 7 shall ariseF 2?icah D@836 (5hristian*s #ictory o#er .!ollyon) and "ith that ga#e hi a deadly thrust, "hich ade hi gi#e back, as one that had recei#ed his ortal "ound. 5hristian !ercei#ing that, ade at hi again, saying, F/ay, in all these things "e are ore than con4uerors through hi that lo#ed usF. 2-o . 8@BD3 .nd "ith that .!ollyon s!read forth his dragon*s "ings, and s!ed hi a"ay, that 5hristian for a season sa" hi no ore. 21a es C@D3 ]15AZ 7n this co bat no an can i agine, unless he had seen and heard as 7 did, "hat yelling and hideous roaring .!ollyon ade all the ti e of the fight -- he s!ake like a dragon6 and, on the C18
other side, "hat sighs and groans burst fro 5hristian*s heart. 7 ne#er sa" hi all the "hile gi#e so uch as one !leasant look, till he !ercei#ed he had "ounded .!ollyon "ith his t"o-edged s"ord6 then, indeed, he did s ile, and look u!"ard6 but it "as the dreadfullest sight that e#er 7 sa". . ore une4ual atch can hardly be, -- 5H-7S$7./ ust fight an .ngel6 but you see, $he #aliant an by handling S"ord and Shield, Doth ake hi , tho* a Dragon, 4uit the field. ]15BZ So "hen the battle "as o#er, 5hristian said, F7 "ill here gi#e thanks to hi that deli#ered e out of the outh of the lion, to hi that did hel! e against .!ollyon.F .nd so he did, saying W &reat +eel'ebub, the ca!tain of this fiend, Design*d y ruin6 therefore to this end He sent hi harness*d out@ and he "ith rage $hat hellish "as, did fiercely e engage. +ut blessed ?ichael hel!ed e, and 7, +y dint of s"ord, did 4uickly ake hi fly. $herefore to hi let e gi#e lasting !raise, .nd thank and bless his holy na e al"ays. ]15CZ $hen there ca e to hi a hand, "ith so e of the lea#es of the tree of life, the "hich 5hristian took, and a!!lied to the "ounds that he had recei#ed in the battle, and "as healed i ediately. He also sat do"n in that !lace to eat bread, and to drink of the bottle that "as gi#en hi a little before6 so, being refreshed, he addressed hi self to his %ourney, "ith his s"ord dra"n in his hand6 for he said, 7 kno" not but so e other ene y ay be at hand. +ut he et "ith no other affront fro .!ollyon 4uite through this #alley. ]A15Z $hen 7 sa" in y drea , that "hen they "ere got out of the "ilderness, they !resently sa" a to"n before the , and the na e of that to"n is Vanity6 and at the to"n there is a fair ke!t, called Vanity )air@ it is ke!t all the year long. 7t beareth the na e of Vanity )air because the to"n "here it is ke!t is lighter than #anity6 and, also because all that is there sold, or that co eth thither, is #anity. .s is the saying of the "ise, Fall that co eth is #anity.F 29ccl. 16 A@11,1D6 11@86 7sa. 11@1D3 ]A16Z $his fair is no ne"-erected business, but a thing of ancient standing6 7 "ill sho" you the original of it. .l ost fi#e thousand years agone, there "ere !ilgri s "alking to the 5elestial 5ity, as these t"o honest !ersons are@ and +eel'ebub, .!ollyon, and =egion, "ith their co !anions, !ercei#ing by the !ath that the !ilgri s ade, that their "ay to the city lay through this to"n of Vanity, they contri#ed here to set u! a fair6 a fair "herein, should be sold all sorts of #anity, and that it should last all the year long@ therefore at this fair are all such erchandise sold, as houses, lands, trades, !laces, honours, !refer ents, titles, countries, kingdo s, lusts, !leasures, and delights of all sorts, as "hores, ba"ds, "i#es, husbands, children, asters, ser#ants, li#es, blood, bodies, souls, sil#er, gold, !earls, !recious stones, and "hat not. .nd, oreo#er, at this fair there is at all ti es to be seen %uggling cheats, ga es, !lays, fools, a!es, kna#es, and rogues, and that of e#ery kind. Here are to be seen, too, and that for nothing, thefts, urders, adulteries, false s"earers, and that of a blood-red colour. ]A1DZ .nd as in other fairs of less o ent, there are the se#eral ro"s and streets, under their !ro!er na es, "here such and such "ares are #ended6 so here like"ise you ha#e the !ro!er !laces, ro"s, streets, (#i'. countries and kingdo s), "here the "ares of this fair are soonest to be found. Here is the +ritain -o", the )rench -o", the 7talian -o", the S!anish -o", the &er an -o", "here se#eral sorts of #anities are to be sold. +ut, as in other fairs, so e one co odity is as the chief of all the fair, so the "are of -o e and her erchandise is greatly !ro oted in this fair6 only our 9nglish nation, "ith so e others, ha#e taken a dislike thereat. ]A18Z /o", as 7 said, the "ay to the 5elestial 5ity lies %ust through this to"n "here this lusty fair is ke!t6 and he that "ill go to the city, and yet not go through this to"n, ust needs go out of C1>
the "orld. 21 5or. 5@103 $he <rince of !rinces hi self, "hen here, "ent through this to"n to his o"n country, and that u!on a fair day too6 yea, and as 7 think, it "as +eel'ebub, the chief lord of this fair, that in#ited hi to buy of his #anities6 yea, "ould ha#e ade hi lord of the fair, "ould he but ha#e done hi re#erence as he "ent through the to"n. 2?att. C@8, =uke C@5-D3 Uea, because he "as such a !erson of honour, +eel'ebub had hi fro street to street, and sho"ed hi all the kingdo s of the "orld in a little ti e, that he ight, if !ossible, allure the +lessed (ne to chea!en and buy so e of his #anities6 but he had no ind to the erchandise, and therefore left the to"n, "ithout laying out so uch as one farthing u!on these #anities. $his fair, therefore, is an ancient thing, of long standing, and a #ery great fair. ]A1>Z /o" these !ilgri s, as 7 said, ust needs go through this fair. ,ell, so they did@ but, behold, e#en as they entered into the fair, all the !eo!le in the fair "ere o#ed, and the to"n itself as it "ere in a hubbub about the 6 and that for se#eral reasons@ for W ]AA0Z )irst, $he !ilgri s "ere clothed "ith such kind of rai ent as "as di#erse fro the rai ent of any that traded in that fair. $he !eo!le, therefore, of the fair, ade a great ga'ing u!on the @ so e said they "ere fools, so e they "ere bedla s, and so e they are outlandish en. 21 5or. A@D-83 ]AA1Z Secondly, .nd as they "ondered at their a!!arel, so they did like"ise at their s!eech6 for fe" could understand "hat they said6 they naturally s!oke the language of 5anaan, but they that ke!t the fair "ere the en of this "orld6 so that, fro one end of the fair to the other, they see ed barbarians each to the other. ]AAAZ $hirdly, +ut that "hich did not a little a use the erchandisers "as, that these !ilgri s set #ery light by all their "ares6 they cared not so uch as to look u!on the 6 and if they called u!on the to buy, they "ould !ut their fingers in their ears, and cry, $urn a"ay ine eyes fro beholding #anity, and look u!"ards, signifying that their trade and traffic "as in hea#en. 2<s. 11>@BD, <hil. B@1>-A03 ]AABZ (ne chanced ockingly, beholding the carriage of the en, to say unto the , ,hat "ill ye buyG +ut they, looking gra#ely u!on hi , ans"ered, F,e buy the truth.F 2<ro#. AB@AB3 .t that there "as an occasion taken to des!ise the en the ore6 so e ocking, so e taunting, so e s!eaking re!roachfully, and so e calling u!on others to s ite the . .t last things ca e to a hubbub and great stir in the fair, inso uch that all order "as confounded. /o" "as "ord !resently brought to the great one of the fair, "ho 4uickly ca e do"n, and de!uted so e of his ost trusty friends to take these en into e0a ination, about "ho the fair "as al ost o#erturned. So the en "ere brought to e0a ination6 and they that sat u!on the , asked the "hence they ca e, "hither they "ent, and "hat they did there, in such an unusual garbG $he en told the that they "ere !ilgri s and strangers in the "orld, and that they "ere going to their o"n country, "hich "as the hea#enly 1erusale , 2Heb. 11@1B-163 and that they had gi#en no occasion to the en of the to"n, nor yet to the erchandisers, thus to abuse the , and to let the in their %ourney, e0ce!t it "as for that, "hen one asked the "hat they "ould buy, they said they "ould buy the truth. +ut they that "ere a!!ointed to e0a ine the did not belie#e the to be any other than bedla s and ad, or else such as ca e to !ut all things into a confusion in the fair. $herefore they took the and beat the , and bes eared the "ith dirt, and then !ut the into the cage, that they ight be ade a s!ectacle to all the en of the fair. +ehold Vanity )airE the <ilgri s there .re chain*d and stand beside@ 9#en so it "as our =ord !ass*d here, .nd on ?ount 5al#ary died. ]AACZ $here, therefore, they lay for so e ti e, and "ere ade the ob%ects of any an*s s!ort, or alice, or re#enge, the great one of the fair laughing still at all that befell the . +ut the en being !atient, and not rendering railing for railing, but contrari"ise, blessing, and good "ords for bad, and kindness for in%uries done, so e en in the fair that "ere ore obser#ing, and less !re%udiced than the rest, began to check and bla e the baser sort for their continual abuses done by the to the en6 they, therefore, in angry anner, let fly at the again, counting the as bad CA0
as the en in the cage, and telling the that they see ed confederates, and should be ade !artakers of their isfortunes. $he other re!lied that, for aught they could see, the en "ere 4uiet, and sober, and intended nobody any har 6 and that there "ere any that traded in their fair that "ere ore "orthy to be !ut into the cage, yea, and !illory too, than "ere the en they had abused. $hus, after di#ers "ords had !assed on both sides, the en beha#ing the sel#es all the "hile #ery "isely and soberly before the , they fell to so e blo"s a ong the sel#es, and did har one to another. $hen "ere these t"o !oor en brought before their e0a iners again, and there charged as being guilty of the late hubbub that had been in the fair. So they beat the !itifully, and hanged irons u!on the , and led the in chains u! and do"n the fair, for an e0a !le and a terror to others, lest any should s!eak in their behalf, or %oin the sel#es unto the . +ut 5hristian and )aithful beha#ed the sel#es yet ore "isely, and recei#ed the igno iny and sha e that "as cast u!on the , "ith so uch eekness and !atience, that it "on to their side, though but fe" in co !arison of the rest, se#eral of the en in the fair. $his !ut the other !arty yet into greater rage, inso uch that they concluded the death of these t"o en. ,herefore they threatened, that the cage nor irons should ser#e their turn, but that they should die, for the abuse they had done, and for deluding the en of the fair. $hen "ere they re anded to the cage again, until further order should be taken "ith the . So they !ut the in, and ade their feet fast in the stocks. ]AA5Z Here, therefore, they called again to ind "hat they had heard fro their faithful friend 9#angelist, and "ere the ore confir ed in their "ay and sufferings by "hat he told the "ould ha!!en to the . $hey also no" co forted each other, that "hose lot it "as to suffer, e#en he should ha#e the best of it6 therefore each an secretly "ished that he ight ha#e that !refer ent@ but co itting the sel#es to the all-"ise dis!osal of Hi that ruleth all things, "ith uch content, they abode in the condition in "hich they "ere, until they should be other"ise dis!osed of. ]AA6Z $hen a con#enient ti e being a!!ointed, they brought the forth to their trial, in order to their conde nation. ,hen the ti e "as co e, they "ere brought before their ene ies and arraigned. $he %udge*s na e "as =ord Hate-good. $heir indict ent "as one and the sa e in substance, though so e"hat #arying in for , the contents "hereof "ere this@ -]AADZ F$hat they "ere ene ies to and disturbers of their trade6 that they had ade co otions and di#isions in the to"n, and had "on a !arty to their o"n ost dangerous o!inions, in conte !t of the la" of their !rince.F /o", ).7$H);=, !lay the an, s!eak for thy &od@ )ear not the "icked*s alice6 nor their rod@ S!eak boldly, an, the truth is on thy side@ Die for it, and to life in triu !h ride. ]AA8Z )aithful*s ans"er for hi self $hen )aithful began to ans"er, that he had only set hi self against that "hich hath set itself against Hi that is higher than the highest. .nd, said he, as for disturbance, 7 ake none, being yself a an of !eace6 the !arties that "ere "on to us, "ere "on by beholding our truth and innocence, and they are only turned fro the "orse to the better. .nd as to the king you talk of, since he is +eel'ebub, the ene y of our =ord, 7 defy hi and all his angels. ]AA>Z $hen !rocla ation "as ade, that they that had aught to say for their lord the king against the !risoner at the bar, should forth"ith a!!ear and gi#e in their e#idence. So there ca e in three "itnesses, to "it, 9n#y, Su!erstition, and <ickthank. $hey "ere then asked if they kne" the !risoner at the bar6 and "hat they had to say for their lord the king against hi . ]AB0Z $hen stood forth 9n#y, and said to this effect@ ?y =ord, 7 ha#e kno"n this an a long ti e, and "ill attest u!on y oath before this honourable bench, that he is W 1;D&9. HoldE &i#e hi his oath. (So they s"are hi .) $hen he said W 9/VU. ?y =ord, this an, not"ithstanding his !lausible na e, is one of the #ilest en in our country. He neither regardeth !rince nor !eo!le, la" nor custo 6 but doth all that he can to !ossess all en "ith certain of his disloyal notions, "hich he in the general calls !rinci!les of CA1
faith and holiness. .nd, in !articular, 7 heard hi once yself affir that 5hristianity and the custo s of our to"n of Vanity "ere dia etrically o!!osite, and could not be reconciled. +y "hich saying, y =ord, he doth at once not only conde n all our laudable doings, but us in the doing of the . 1;D&9. $hen did the 1udge say to hi , Hast thou any ore to sayG 9/VU. ?y =ord, 7 could say uch ore, only 7 "ould not be tedious to the court. Uet, if need be, "hen the other gentle en ha#e gi#en in their e#idence, rather than anything shall be "anting that "ill des!atch hi , 7 "ill enlarge y testi ony against hi . So he "as bid to stand by. $hen they called Su!erstition, and bid hi look u!on the !risoner. $hey also asked, "hat he could say for their lord the king against hi . $hen they s"are hi 6 so he began. ]AB1Z S;<9-. ?y =ord, 7 ha#e no great ac4uaintance "ith this an, nor do 7 desire to ha#e further kno"ledge of hi 6 ho"e#er, this 7 kno", that he is a #ery !estilent fello", fro so e discourse that, the other day, 7 had "ith hi in this to"n6 for then, talking "ith hi , 7 heard hi say, that our religion "as naught, and such by "hich a an could by no eans !lease &od. ,hich sayings of his, y =ord, your =ordshi! #ery "ell kno"s, "hat necessarily thence "ill follo", to "it, that "e do still "orshi! in #ain, are yet in our sins, and finally shall be da ned6 and this is that "hich 7 ha#e to say. ]ABAZ $hen "as <ickthank s"orn, and bid say "hat he kne", in behalf of their lord the king, against the !risoner at the bar. <ickthank*s testi ony <ick. ?y =ord, and you gentle en all, $his fello" 7 ha#e kno"n of a long ti e, and ha#e heard hi s!eak things that ought not to be s!oke6 for he hath railed on our noble !rince +eel'ebub, and hath s!oken conte !tibly of his honourable friends, "hose na es are the =ord (ld ?an, the =ord 5arnal Delight, the =ord =u0urious, the =ord Desire of Vain &lory, y old =ord =echery, Sir Ha#ing &reedy, "ith all the rest of our nobility6 and he hath said, oreo#er, $hat if all en "ere of his ind, if !ossible, there is not one of these noble en should ha#e any longer a being in this to"n. +esides, he hath not been afraid to rail on you, y =ord, "ho are no" a!!ointed to be his %udge, calling you an ungodly #illain, "ith any other such like #ilifying ter s, "ith "hich he hath bes!attered ost of the gentry of our to"n. ]ABBZ ,hen this <ickthank had told his tale, the 1udge directed his s!eech to the !risoner at the bar, saying, $hou runagate, heretic, and traitor, hast thou heard "hat these honest gentle en ha#e "itnessed against theeG ).7$H. ?ay 7 s!eak a fe" "ords in y o"n defenceG 1;D&9. SirrahE sirrahE thou deser#est to li#e no longer, but to be slain i ediately u!on the !lace6 yet, that all en ay see our gentleness to"ards thee, let us hear "hat thou, #ile runagate, hast to say. ]ABCZ )aithful*s defence of hi self ).7$H. 1. 7 say, then, in ans"er to "hat ?r. 9n#y hath s!oken, 7 ne#er said aught but this, $hat "hat rule, or la"s, or custo s, or !eo!le, "ere flat against the ,ord of &od, are dia etrically o!!osite to 5hristianity. 7f 7 ha#e said a iss in this, con#ince e of y error, and 7 a ready here before you to ake y recantation. ]AB5Z A. .s to the second, to "it, ?r. Su!erstition, and his charge against e, 7 said only this, $hat in the "orshi! of &od there is re4uired a Di#ine faith6 but there can be no Di#ine faith "ithout a Di#ine re#elation of the "ill of &od. $herefore, "hate#er is thrust into the "orshi! of &od that is not agreeable to Di#ine re#elation, cannot be done but by a hu an faith, "hich faith "ill not be !rofitable to eternal life. ]AB6Z B. .s to "hat ?r. <ickthank hath said, 7 say (a#oiding ter s, as that 7 a said to rail, and the like) that the !rince of this to"n, "ith all the rabble ent, his attendants, by this gentle an na ed, are ore fit for a being in hell, than in this to"n and country@ and so, the =ord ha#e ercy u!on eE ]ABDZ $hen the 1udge called to the %ury ("ho all this "hile stood by, to hear and obser#e)@ &entle en of the %ury, you see this an about "ho so great an u!roar hath been ade in this CAA
to"n. Uou ha#e also heard "hat these "orthy gentle en ha#e "itnessed against hi . .lso you ha#e heard his re!ly and confession. 7t lieth no" in your breasts to hang hi or sa#e his life6 but yet 7 think eet to instruct you into our la". ]AB8Z $here "as an .ct ade in the days of <haraoh the &reat, ser#ant to our !rince, that lest those of a contrary religion should ulti!ly and gro" too strong for hi , their ales should be thro"n into the ri#er. 290o. 1@AA3 $here "as also an .ct ade in the days of /ebuchadne''ar the &reat, another of his ser#ants, that "hosoe#er "ould not fall do"n and "orshi! his golden i age, should be thro"n into a fiery furnace. 2Dan. B@63 $here "as also an .ct ade in the days of Darius, that "hoso, for so e ti e, called u!on any god but hi , should be cast into the lions* den. 2Dan. 63 /o" the substance of these la"s this rebel has broken, not only in thought, ("hich is not to be borne), but also in "ord and deed6 "hich ust therefore needs be intolerable. ]AB>Z )or that of <haraoh, his la" "as ade u!on a su!!osition, to !re#ent ischief, no cri e being yet a!!arent6 but here is a cri e a!!arent. )or the second and third, you see he dis!uteth against our religion6 and for the treason he hath confessed, he deser#eth to die the death. ]AC0Z $hen "ent the %ury out, "hose na es "ere, ?r. +lind- an, ?r. /o-good, ?r. ?alice, ?r. =o#e-lust, ?r. =i#e-loose, ?r. Heady, ?r. High- ind, ?r. 9n ity, ?r. =iar, ?r. 5ruelty, ?r. Hate-light, and ?r. 7 !lacable6 "ho e#ery one ga#e in his !ri#ate #erdict against hi a ong the sel#es, and after"ards unani ously concluded to bring hi in guilty before the 1udge. .nd first, a ong the sel#es, ?r. +lind- an, the fore an, said, 7 see clearly that this an is a heretic. $hen said ?r. /o-good, ."ay "ith such a fello" fro the earth. .y, said ?r. ?alice, for 7 hate the #ery looks of hi . $hen said ?r. =o#e-lust, 7 could ne#er endure hi . /or 7, said ?r. =i#e-loose, for he "ould al"ays be conde ning y "ay. Hang hi , hang hi , said ?r. Heady. . sorry scrub, said ?r. High- ind. ?y heart riseth against hi , said ?r. 9n ity. He is a rogue, said ?r. =iar. Hanging is too good for hi , said ?r. 5ruelty. =et us des!atch hi out of the "ay, said ?r. Hate-light. $hen said ?r. 7 !lacable, ?ight 7 ha#e all the "orld gi#en e, 7 could not be reconciled to hi 6 therefore, let us forth"ith bring hi in guilty of death. .nd so they did6 therefore he "as !resently conde ned to be had fro the !lace "here he "as, to the !lace fro "hence he ca e, and there to be !ut to the ost cruel death that could be in#ented. ]AC1Z $hey therefore brought hi out, to do "ith hi according to their la"6 and, first, they scourged hi , then they buffeted hi , then they lanced his flesh "ith kni#es6 after that, they stoned hi "ith stones, then !ricked hi "ith their s"ords6 and, last of all, they burned hi to ashes at the stake. $hus ca e )aithful to his end. ]ACAZ /o" 7 sa" that there stood behind the ultitude a chariot and a cou!le of horses, "aiting for )aithful, "ho (so soon as his ad#ersaries had des!atched hi ) "as taken u! into it, and straight"ay "as carried u! through the clouds, "ith sound of tru !et, the nearest "ay to the 5elestial &ate. +ra#e ).7$H);=, bra#ely done in "ord and deed6 1udge, "itnesses, and %ury ha#e, instead (f o#erco ing thee, but sho"n their rage@ ,hen they are dead, thou*lt li#e fro age to ageI. I7n the /e" Hea#en and /e" 9arth. ]footnote fro one editionZ ]ACBZ +ut as for 5hristian, he had so e res!ite, and "as re anded back to !rison. So he there re ained for a s!ace6 but He that o#errules all things, ha#ing the !o"er of their rage in his o"n hand, so "rought it about, that 5hristian for that ti e esca!ed the , and "ent his "ay. .nd as he "ent, he sang, saying W ,ell, )aithful, thou hast faithfully !rofest ;nto thy =ord6 "ith "ho thou shalt be blest, ,hen faithless ones, "ith all their #ain delights, .re crying out under their hellish !lights@ Sing, )aithful, sing, and let thy na e sur#i#e6 )or though they kill*d thee, thou art yet ali#eE ]B8AZ /o" 7 sa" in y drea , that by this ti e the <ilgri s "ere got o#er the 9nchanted CAB
&round, and entering into the country of +eulah, "hose air "as #ery s"eet and !leasant, the "ay lying directly through it, they solaced the sel#es there for a season. Uea, here they heard continually the singing of birds, and sa" e#ery day the flo"ers a!!ear on the earth, and heard the #oice of the turtle in the land. 27sa. 6A@C, Song of Solo on A@10-1A3 7n this country the sun shineth night and day6 "herefore this "as beyond the Valley of the Shado" of Death, and also out of the reach of &iant Des!air, neither could they fro this !lace so uch as see Doubting 5astle. Here they "ere "ithin sight of the city they "ere going to, also here et the so e of the inhabitants thereof6 for in this land the Shining (nes co only "alked, because it "as u!on the borders of hea#en. 7n this land also, the contract bet"een the bride and the bridegroo "as rene"ed6 yea, here, F.s the bridegroo re%oiceth o#er the bride, so did their &od re%oice o#er the .F 27sa. 6A@53 Here they had no "ant of corn and "ine6 for in this !lace they et "ith abundance of "hat they had sought for in all their !ilgri age. 27sa. 6A@83 Here they heard #oices fro out of the city, loud #oices, saying, F^Say ye to the daughter of Yion, +ehold, thy sal#ation co ethE +ehold, his re"ard is "ith hi E* Here all the inhabitants of the country called the , ^$he holy !eo!le, $he redee ed of the =ord, Sought out*F, etc. 27sa. 6A@11,1A3 ]B8BZ /o" as they "alked in this land, they had ore re%oicing than in !arts ore re ote fro the kingdo to "hich they "ere bound6 and dra"ing near to the city, they had yet a ore !erfect #ie" thereof. 7t "as builded of !earls and !recious stones, also the street thereof "as !a#ed "ith gold6 so that by reason of the natural glory of the city, and the reflection of the sunbea s u!on it, 5hristian "ith desire fell sick6 Ho!eful also had a fit or t"o of the sa e disease. ,herefore, here they lay by it a "hile, crying out, because of their !angs, 7f ye find y belo#ed, tell hi that 7 a sick of lo#e. ]B8CZ +ut, being a little strengthened, and better able to bear their sickness, they "alked on their "ay, and ca e yet nearer and nearer, "here "ere orchards, #ineyards, and gardens, and their gates o!ened into the high"ay. /o", as they ca e u! to these !laces, behold the gardener stood in the "ay, to "ho the <ilgri s said, ,hose goodly #ineyards and gardens are theseG He ans"ered, $hey are the Hing*s, and are !lanted here for his o"n delight, and also for the solace of !ilgri s. So the gardener had the into the #ineyards, and bid the refresh the sel#es "ith the dainties. 2Deut. AB@AC3 He also sho"ed the there the Hing*s "alks, and the arbours "here he delighted to be6 and here they tarried and sle!t. ]B85Z /o" 7 beheld in y drea that they talked ore in their slee! at this ti e than e#er they did in all their %ourney6 and being in a use thereabout, the gardener said e#en to e, ,herefore usest thou at the atterG 7t is the nature of the fruit of the gra!es of these #ineyards to go do"n so s"eetly as to cause the li!s of the that are aslee! to s!eak. ]B86Z So 7 sa" that "hen they a"oke, they addressed the sel#es to go u! to the city6 but, as 7 said, the reflection of the sun u!on the city (for the city "as !ure gold) "as so e0tre ely glorious that they could not, as yet, "ith o!en face behold it, but through an instru ent ade for that !ur!ose. So 7 sa", that as 7 "ent on, there et the t"o en, in rai ent that shone like gold6 also their faces shone as the light. 2-e#. A1@18, A 5or. B@183 ]B8DZ $hese en asked the <ilgri s "hence they ca e6 and they told the . $hey also asked the "here they had lodged, "hat difficulties and dangers, "hat co forts and !leasures they had et in the "ay6 and they told the . $hen said the en that et the , Uou ha#e but t"o difficulties ore to eet "ith, and then you are in the city. ]B88Z 5hristian then, and his co !anion, asked the en to go along "ith the 6 so they told the they "ould. +ut, said they, you ust obtain it by your o"n faith. So 7 sa" in y drea that they "ent on together, until they ca e in sight of the gate. ]B8>Z /o", 7 further sa", that bet"i0t the and the gate "as a ri#er, but there "as no bridge to go o#er@ the ri#er "as #ery dee!. .t the sight, therefore, of this ri#er, the <ilgri s "ere uch stunned6 but the en that "ent in "ith the said, Uou ust go through, or you cannot co e at the gate. ]B>0Z $he <ilgri s then began to in4uire if there "as no other "ay to the gate6 to "hich they ans"ered, Ues6 but there hath not any, sa#e t"o, to "it, 9noch and 9li%ah, been !er itted to CAC
tread that !ath since the foundation of the "orld, nor shall, until the last tru !et shall sound. 21 5or. 15@51,5A3 $he <ilgri s then, es!ecially 5hristian, began to des!ond in their inds, and looked this "ay and that, but no "ay could be found by the by "hich they ight esca!e the ri#er. $hen they asked the en if the "aters "ere all of a de!th. $hey said@ /o6 yet they could not hel! the in that case6 for, said they, you shall find it dee!er or shallo"er as you belie#e in the Hing of the !lace. I7n the -esurrection of the -ighteous. 2-e#. A0@C-63 ]B>1Z $hey then addressed the sel#es to the "ater and, entering, 5hristian began to sink, and crying out to his good friend Ho!eful, he said, 7 sink in dee! "aters6 the billo"s go o#er y head, all his "a#es go o#er eE Selah. ]B>AZ 5hristian*s conflict at the hour of death $hen said the other, +e of good cheer, y brother, 7 feel the botto , and it is good. $hen said 5hristian, .hE y friend, the sorro"s of death hath co !assed e about6 7 shall not see the land that flo"s "ith ilk and honey6 and "ith that a great darkness and horror fell u!on 5hristian, so that he could not see before hi . .lso here he in great easure lost his senses, so that he could neither re e ber nor orderly talk of any of those s"eet refresh ents that he had et "ith in the "ay of his !ilgri age. +ut all the "ords that he s!ake still tended to disco#er that he had horror of ind, and heart fears that he should die in that ri#er, and ne#er obtain entrance in at the gate. Here also, as they that stood by !ercei#ed, he "as uch in the troubleso e thoughts of the sins that he had co itted, both since and before he began to be a !ilgri . 7t "as also obser#ed that he "as troubled "ith a!!aritions of hobgoblins and e#il s!irits, for e#er and anon he "ould inti ate so uch by "ords. Ho!eful, therefore, here had uch ado to kee! his brother*s head abo#e "ater6 yea, so eti es he "ould be 4uite gone do"n, and then, ere a "hile, he "ould rise u! again half dead. Ho!eful also "ould endea#our to co fort hi , saying, +rother, 7 see the gate, and en standing by to recei#e us@ but 5hristian "ould ans"er, 7t is you, it is you they "ait for6 you ha#e been Ho!eful e#er since 7 kne" you. .nd so ha#e you, said he to 5hristian. .hE brotherE said he, surely if 7 "as right he "ould no" arise to hel! e6 but for y sins he hath brought e into the snare, and hath left e. $hen said Ho!eful, ?y brother, you ha#e 4uite forgot the te0t, "here it is said of the "icked, F$here are no bands in their death, but their strength is fir . $hey are not in trouble as other en, neither are they !lagued like other en. 2<s. DB@C,53 $hese troubles and distresses that you go through in these "aters are no sign that &od hath forsaken you6 but are sent to try you, "hether you "ill call to ind that "hich heretofore you ha#e recei#ed of his goodness, and li#e u!on hi in your distresses. ]B>BZ $hen 7 sa" in y drea , that 5hristian "as as in a use a "hile. $o "ho also Ho!eful added this "ord, +e of good cheer, 1esus 5hrist aketh thee "hole6 and "ith that 5hristian brake out "ith a loud #oice, (h, 7 see hi againE and he tells e, F,hen thou !assest through the "aters, 7 "ill be "ith thee, and through the ri#ers, they shall not o#erflo" thee.F 27sa. CB@A3 $hen they both took courage, and the ene y "as after that as still as a stone, until they "ere gone o#er. 5hristian therefore !resently found ground to stand u!on, and so it follo"ed that the rest of the ri#er "as but shallo". $hus they got o#er. - the dra1a (,illia 5ongre#e, The (ay of the (orld>
W"ll"&# *on)re7e/ The W&2 of the World Genre) 6"1i6 "r satiri6 dra1a (see "Pr"l"g0e" ll; ,$-?$'; ="r1) 2r"se 4ith s"1e inset l(ri6s; 7n 1D00, "hen The (ay of the (orld "as !erfor ed on the 9nglish stage at =incoln*s 7nn )ields (a ne" theatre that ,illia 5ongre#e anaged), it "as not a !o!ular success. $his "as the last !lay 5ongre#e "as to "rite, !erha!s for that reason. Since that ti e, ho"e#er, this !lay has CA5
co e to be regarded not only as 5ongre#e*s aster!iece, but as a classic e0a !le of the 5o edy of ?anners. $he !lay is a!tly na ed for t"o reasons. )irst, its action takes !lace in the F!resent,F "hich eans it reflects the sa e social !eriod during "hich the !lay "as originally !erfor ed. Second, as a co edy of anners, its !ur!ose is to e0!ose to !ublic scrutiny and laughter the often absurd, yet #ery hu an, !assions and follies that characteri'e social beha#ior. 7t therefore transcends its ti e by holding a irror to the fashionable "orld in all of its fri#olity and confusion, "hile !osing so ething ore !recious and sensible as an antidote..s "ith all co edies of this ty!e, the !rinci!le co ic aterial consists of se0ual relations and confrontations. ?arriages are ade for the sake of con#enience and tolerated "ithin !recise social li its. .ffairs are con#entional, %ealousies abound, lo#ers are coy, and gallantry is contri#ed. Do"ries are the coin of the arriage real , and therefore, they are of central concern in all contracts and adulterous intrigues. 5ongre#e akes clear that the general "ay of the "orld ay be funny, but it is not !articularly nice. 7n the "ay of all ro antic co edies the TT arriage of true indsPP is finally achie#ed, but hu iliation, cruelty, and #illainy are the eans by "hich the action goes for"ard. His co edy is not intended to re edy the "orld, of course, but to offer an insightful and a using #ie" of both its seedy and sy !athetic as!ects. /hara6ters) /ote the FDra atis <ersonaeF*s careful descri!tion of characters in ter s of their lo#e and friendshi! relations, as "ell as their kinshi!s. $his !lay is founded u!on the notion that lo#e stri#es "ith and often o#erthro"s the FnaturalF order of kin relationshi!, including that crucial artificial one that is for ed by arriage. /ote that all fe ale characters "ho are not ser#ants are styled F?rs.F as a ter of res!ect. (nly ?rs. )ainall is actually arried. $he follo"ing list describes the characters by their ty!e, since e bers of the sa e ty!e often are either allies or o!!onents in the !lot.

Ra7es) )ainall (the antagonist)6 ?irabell (the co-!rotagonist 2"ith ?illa ant3). W"0ld- e Ra7es) ,it"oud and <etulant. /"0ntr( Arist"6rat) Sir ,ilfull ,it"oud. Esta lished ("lder D 1"re 2"4er!0l' /it( W"1an) =ady ,ishfort. >"0nger (1arriaga le "r sed06a le' /it( W"1en) ?illa ant (Flo#ed by thousandsF)6 ?ar"ood (the double agent torn bet"een )ainall and ?irabell)6 ?rs. )ainall (torn bet"een her other*s !o"er 2,ishfort3, her !ast association "ith ?irabell, and her lo#eless arriage to )ainall). Ser9ants) )oible (?rs. ,ishfort*s aid, but ally of ?irabell)6 <eg (?rs. ,ishfort*s underser#ant, subordinate to )oible)6 ?incing (?illa ant*s aid)6 ,ait"ell (?irabell*s ser#ant and ally against )ainall and ,ishfort, the an "ho !lays FSir -o"land,F ?irabell*s Funcle "ho hates hi F)6 +etty (ser#ant in the chocolate house).
S011ar() $he !lot of F,ayF is so co !le0 that it ay be !artly to bla e for the !lay*s lack of critical success "hen 5ongre#e first !ut it on. Ho"e#er, once astered, the !lay begins to shed a glorious light u!on the conte !orary issues of courtshi!, truthfulness, and testing the 4uality of one*s !ros!ecti#e ate and allies. 7t*s also enor ously funny and !ro!hetic $he real stuff of this !lay is in its con#ersation. 1. =ady ,. resists ?irabell*s arriage to her neice, ?illa ant, because ?irabell has toyed "ith =ady ,*s affections, and he has arried off her daughter, his for er istress, to the notorious rake, )ainall. A. ?irabell !lots to F arryF =ady ,. to FSir -o"landF (his ser#ant, ,ait"ell), "hich a!!eals to her #anity and to her desire for re#enge. FSir -o"landF is ru ored to be ?irabel*s uncle, a an "ho hates ?. and "ho could, by ha#ing a ale child of his o"n, disinherit ?irabell in ?*s father*s "ill. $his is a ru or ?irabell started hi self, and he takes great !ains to ake sure it*s s!reading in his interrogation of <etulant in .ct 7. ?rs. CA6
B.
C. 5.
6. D.
)ainall*s aids ?. in this fiction because she is disgusted "ith her husband*s unfaithfulness "ith ?rs. ?ar"ood. ?rs. ?ar"ood sees ?rs. )ainall !lotting "ith )oible, and tells =ady ,. that Sir ,ilfull ,it"oud (=ady ,*s cousin) "ould ake a good and safe atch for ?illa ant. ?illa ant*s inheritance "ill not allo" her to refuse a reasonable atch !ro!osed by her guardian, =ady ,. .lso, all of that forfeited inheritance "ill go fro =ady ,*s neice, ?illa ant, to =ady ,*s daughter, ?rs. )ainall, "hose fortunes are controlled by her husband ("ho "ould then gi#e it to ?rs. ?ar"ood, she thinks (see .ct A, Scene B 21>AD3). ?rs. ?ar"ood, is oti#ated to aid )ainall, though she hates hi , because she has been offended by ?illa ant*s careless taunts about her age and by o#erhearing ?rs. )ainall !lotting "ith )oible. ?rs. ?ar"ood tells )ainall he no" can di#orce ?rs. )ainall (%ealously !resu ing ?rs. ). is ha#ing an affair "ith ?irabell). )ainall foils the atch =ady ,ishfort !lans bet"een ?illa ant and Sir ,ilfull by getting the knight drunk. 7n .ct V, )ainall s!rings his tra!, de anding =ady ,*s estate, his "ife*s estate (?rs. )ainall), and half of ?illa ant*s inheritance (=ady ,*s neice) in return for )ainall*s not charging his "ife "ith adultery. ?rs. )ainall dares the to atte !t !rosecution because she has !roof of innocence, but ?rs. ?ar"ood con#inces =ady ,. that the !ress co#erage of the trial "ould hu iliate the fa ily. =ady , offers ?irabell ?illa ant*s hand in return for hel!ing her esca!e (sa#ing ,*s and ?*s fortunes, but a!!arently lea#ing ?rs. ). in dee! trouble). ?irabell re#eals that ?rs. )ainall, before her arriage, had signed all her !ossessions o#er to hi to !re#ent their falling into )ainall*s hands. $hus, )ainall has nothing to sue for.
Iss0es and Resear6h S"0r6es) 1) $he !lot*s co !le0ity is a significant hurdle for the first-ti e reader. Ho" could 5ongre#e ha#e e0!ected his theater audience to follo" such a !lotG (b#iously, he is trading in a subgenre of this /e"-5o edy style dra a that other "riters ha#e been "orking in for so e ti e before, setting his audience*s e0!ectations for the beha#iors of all the ain character ty!es. -akes "ill seduce, though "ittily, fo!s "ill unconsciously !arody the sel#es "hile i itating the beha#iors of the rakes, the youngest and !rettiest fe ale !art "ill be the F!ri'eF for "hich the rakes co !ete, and the older, ore e0!erienced "o en "ill be torn bet"een their allies or o!!onents to defend their d"indling social !o"er. ,ycherly, 9theridge, and )ar4uar all had !roduced "orks on these the es. /e#ertheless, the !lay "as a failure on its first !erfor ance and arked the end of 5ongre#e*s career. 5ould there be so ething in the !lay*s satire of =ondon society that caused its audience to re%ect itG 5ould it also ark the "aning of audiences* a!!etite for !lays "hich ocked iddle-class ores and institutions like arriage, friendshi!, hard "ork, education, and e#en lo#eG A) =ike Shakes!eare*s Hing =ear, 5ongre#ePs !lay sets u! a sub!lot and ain !lot in "hich ser#ants i ic the beha#iors of the aristocrats and their "ould-be follo"ers. Ho" are the ser#ants treated in this !lay, es!ecially "hen they are detected in isbeha#ior, and "hat does this tell you about 9ngland*s e erging class syste near the beginning of the odern !eriodG B) $he characters of 5ongre#e*s !lay often 4uote (and is4uote) literature fro earlier eras. ?illa ant is es!ecially careful to test her suitors* literary taste in the course of generally discouraging their efforts. 7n .ct 7V, Scenes C and 5, she tests Sir ,ilfull ,it"oud and ?irabell "ith lines by the 5a#alier <oets, Sir 1ohn Suckling and 9d"ard ,aller. ,hat about these t"o !oets* a!!eals to a character like ?illa ant, and "hat does 5ongre#e*s choice of these t"o !oets say about his e0!ectations of their effects u!on his audienceG CAD
,hen ?illa ant recites the first t"o lines of Suckling*s !oe before recei#ing the Fcourtshi!F of Sir ,ilfull ,it"oud (7V), 5ongre#e is telling us so ething about her state of ind by re#ealing "hat lyrics are on her ental F!laylist.F +ecause she does not co !lete the song, only kno"ledgeable audience e bers "ill kno" the rest of "hat she is thinking. ,ouldn*t it ake sense for the "ise odern student /otice "hat she "as talking about i ediately before the !oe ca e to her ind, and "hat the "hole !oe says about lo#e, lo#ers, faithfulness, age, etc.
o
C) 7f bad literary taste is one sign of a Fbad !ersonF in 5ongre#e*s uni#erse, the resort to #iolence or the threat of it a!!ears to be an e#en "orse indicator of character. o Ho" is the custo of the social duel-of-honor used in the characters <etulant and ,it"oud, Sir ,illful, and ?irabellG 5) See es!ecially the e0changes on !!. 1>A1(<etulant to ?irabel re@ Fother throats to be cutF) and 1>CA-B (<etulant to Sir ,ilfull re@ FDo you s!eak by "ay of offense, sirGF). .ll ale characters other than ser#ants routinely "ould be "earing ra!iers, dueling s"ords.$his is crucial to your i !ression of )ainall*s beha#ior, first e0!osed as !hysically abusi#e on !. 1>AD in his inti idation of his istress, ?rs. ?ar"ood (F=et e goF i !lies "hatG), and finally in the ulti ate unacce!table act on !. 1>6>--"hat is he about to do to his "ifeG
o
Ho" do these uses of real force, and the threat of real ar ed co bat in the dra"ing roo , affect your reading of the i agery of ?illa ant*s song in .ct 777, Scene 1A (1>C0)G Ho" ight you co !are it "ith the "ay ?arlo"e used #iolence or the threat of #iolence in the scenes in#ol#ing )austus and the Horse 5ourser or -afe and -obin (#s. the o ent of )austusP da nation in Scene 1B)G
6) -estoration theater audiences "ere e0tre ely "ell-to-do, and "itty (or so they considered the sel#es). 7t "as co on for the to call out %ests to each other and to taunt the actors "hile the !lay "as being !erfor ed. Since the house lights "ere not di ed for the !erfor ance, the !lay "as less of a Fsacred cere onyF and ore of a social e#ent, e#en a social contest bet"een the actors and the audience. Ho" ight this sha!e your sense of the !lay*s long-running the e of F!ublic !erfor ance,F "ith its "o en in asks, its reading of blushes and !aleness, its rituali'ed use of co ic s!eech, and its in-%okes about the co !le0 language for !o!ular fadsG /ote that 5ongre#e*s first great success in the theater ( The 3ld 'achelor, 16>B) "as considered unusual for running as long as fourteen days in !erfor ance. Ho" does that fit into the ne"ly e erging codes of iddle-class consu eris "hich you see in the !lay*s content, and ho" ight that affect the !lay, itself, as so ething audiences Fconsu ed Uou*ll note that the audience in the "ell-lit bo0 seats are easily as Fon stageF as the actors and far ore nu erous. D. 5ongre#e sets $he ,ay of the ,orld*s acts in !laces of iconic i !ortance to =ondon society, es!ecially "ith res!ect to the ne" social ores and inor (and a%or) #ices "hich had beco e ore acce!table in -estoration 9nglish culture. $hough the countryside re ained largely co itted to #alues and "ays of li#ing that had changed little since ?edie#al ti es, cityd"ellers sought ne" sights, sounds, sensations, and odes of social contact in the chocolate houses, St. 1a es*s <ark, and the FsalonsF of "ealthy "o en. 5hocolate and coffee drinking "ere arginally acce!table aristocratic sources of into0ication, !ursued by ales alone (e0ce!t for fe ale ser#ants), and often acco !anied by ga bling. $hese institutions later "ere transfor ed into the Fgentle en*s clubsF of =ondon, fraternities "hich for ed the hidden inner circle of the !o"er structure for !olitics, business, science, and the arts. 7n the late 1600s, ho"e#er, these "ere uch less ta e !laces. ,hat does it ean "hen the elite ales of a nation CA8
find these acti#ities a a%or !art of their daily acti#itiesG St. 1a es*s <ark*s F?all,F allo"ed en and "o en to ingle in socially acce!table circu stances, though it also ade !ossible socially risky beha#ior. $he F?allF*s fa iliarity to 9nglish readers "as such that, "hen +ehn "ants to tell her readers ho" big her citrus garden "as in &uyana, she says it "as Fabout half the length of the ?all hereF (A1>>). $he ?all "as the can#as u!on "hich aristocratic =ondoners sho"ed off ne" fashions and ne" relationshi!s, traded gossi! and ru or, and !lotted "ithMagainst each other. $he FsalonF or !ri#ate roo in a house de#oted to social engage ents offered "o en a chance to rule a social s!ace that could co !ete against the ale do ains of the chocolate and coffee houses. . rural #isitor, like Sir ,ilful ,it"oud, ight find these three do ains as strange as an alien !lanet, but to insiders they are Fthe ,orldF of 5ongre#e*s title. $hink about the "ay that centrali'es all i !ortance "ithin a fe" s4uare iles of the i !erial ca!ital, and "hat it does to the rest of the !lanet, es!ecially 9ngland*s colonial !ossessions. Hee! in ind that, "hile 5ongre#e*s characters are !ursuing their intrigues, the $riangular $rade continues to su!!ly sla#es to the . erican colonies, "ho trade tobacco and sugar cane for anufactured goods and i !orts, like tea, fro the rest of 9ngland*s colonial !ossessions. $hat trade is "hat under!ins the la#ish s!ending and the !ersonal fortunes "hich the !lay*s characters fight to control.
W"ll"&# *on)re7e /The W&2 of the World .udire est o!erae !retiu , !rcedere recte :ui aechis non #ultis.--H(-. Sat. i. A, BD. - ?etuat doti de!rensa.--7bid. $( $H9 -7&H$ H(/(;-.+=9 -.=<H, 9.-= () ?(;/$.&;9, 9$5. ?y =ord,--,hether the "orld "ill arraign e of #anity or not, that 7 ha#e !resu ed to dedicate this co edy to your lordshi!, 7 a yet in doubt6 though, it ay be, it is so e degree of #anity e#en to doubt of it. (ne "ho has at any ti e had the honour of your lordshi!*s con#ersation, cannot be su!!osed to think #ery eanly of that "hich he "ould !refer to your !erusal. Uet it "ere to incur the i !utation of too uch sufficiency to !retend to such a erit as ight abide the test of your lordshi!*s censure. ,hate#er #alue ay be "anting to this !lay "hile yet it is ine, "ill be sufficiently ade u! to it "hen it is once beco e your lordshi!*s6 and it is y security, that 7 cannot ha#e o#errated it ore by y dedication than your lordshi! "ill dignify it by your !atronage. $hat it succeeded on the stage "as al ost beyond y e0!ectation6 for but little of it "as !re!ared for that general taste "hich see s no" to be !redo inant in the !alates of our audience. $hose characters "hich are eant to be ridiculed in ost of our co edies are of fools so gross, that in y hu ble o!inion they should rather disturb than di#ert the "ell-natured and reflecting !art of an audience6 they are rather ob%ects of charity than conte !t, and instead of o#ing our irth, they ought #ery often to e0cite our co !assion. $his reflection o#ed e to design so e characters "hich should a!!ear ridiculous not so uch through a natural folly ("hich is CA>
incorrigible, and therefore not !ro!er for the stage) as through an affected "it@ a "it "hich, at the sa e ti e that it is affected, is also false. .s there is so e difficulty in the for ation of a character of this nature, so there is so e ha'ard "hich attends the !rogress of its success u!on the stage@ for any co e to a !lay so o#ercharged "ith criticis , that they #ery often let fly their censure, "hen through their rashness they ha#e istaken their ai . $his 7 had occasion lately to obser#e@ for this !lay had been acted t"o or three days before so e of these hasty %udges could find the leisure to distinguish bet"i0t the character of a ,it"oud and a $rue"it. 7 ust beg your lordshi!*s !ardon for this digression fro the true course of this e!istle6 but that it ay not see altogether i !ertinent, 7 beg that 7 ay !lead the occasion of it, in !art of that e0cuse of "hich 7 stand in need, for reco ending this co edy to your !rotection. 7t is only by the countenance of your lordshi!, and the )9, so 4ualified, that such "ho "rite "ith care and !ains can ho!e to be distinguished@ for the !rostituted na e of !oet !ro iscuously le#els all that bear it. $erence, the ost correct "riter in the "orld, had a Sci!io and a =elius, if not to assist hi , at least to su!!ort hi in his re!utation. .nd not"ithstanding his e0traordinary erit, it ay be their countenance "as not ore than necessary. $he !urity of his style, the delicacy of his turns, and the %ustness of his characters, "ere all of the beauties "hich the greater !art of his audience "ere inca!able of tasting. So e of the coarsest strokes of <lautus, so se#erely censured by Horace, "ere ore likely to affect the ultitude6 such, "ho co e "ith e0!ectation to laugh at the last act of a !lay, and are better entertained "ith t"o or three unseasonable %ests than "ith the artful solution of the fable. .s $erence e0celled in his !erfor ances, so had he great ad#antages to encourage his undertakings, for he built ost on the foundations of ?enander@ his !lots "ere generally odelled, and his characters ready dra"n to his hand. He co!ied ?enander6 and ?enander had no less light in the for ation of his characters fro the obser#ations of $heo!hrastus, of "ho he "as a disci!le6 and $heo!hrastus, it is kno"n, "as not only the disci!le, but the i ediate successor of .ristotle, the first and greatest %udge of !oetry. $hese "ere great odels to design by6 and the further ad#antage "hich $erence !ossessed to"ards gi#ing his !lays the due orna ents of !urity of style, and %ustness of anners, "as not less considerable fro the freedo of con#ersation "hich "as !er itted hi "ith =elius and Sci!io, t"o of the greatest and ost !olite en of his age. .nd, indeed, the !ri#ilege of such a con#ersation is the only certain eans of attaining to the !erfection of dialogue. 7f it has ha!!ened in any !art of this co edy that 7 ha#e gained a turn of style or e0!ression ore correct, or at least ore corrigible, than in those "hich 7 ha#e for erly "ritten, 7 ust, "ith e4ual !ride and gratitude, ascribe it to the honour of your lordshi!*s ad itting e into your con#ersation, and that of a society "here e#erybody else "as so "ell "orthy of you, in your retire ent last su er fro the to"n@ for it "as i ediately after, CB0
that this co edy "as "ritten. 7f 7 ha#e failed in y !erfor ance, it is only to be regretted, "here there "ere so any not inferior either to a Sci!io or a =elius, that there should be one "anting e4ual in ca!acity to a $erence. 7f 7 a not istaken, !oetry is al ost the only art "hich has not yet laid clai to your lordshi!*s !atronage. .rchitecture and !ainting, to the great honour of our country, ha#e flourished under your influence and !rotection. 7n the eanti e, !oetry, the eldest sister of all arts, and !arent of ost, see s to ha#e resigned her birthright, by ha#ing neglected to !ay her duty to your lordshi!, and by !er itting others of a later e0traction to !re!ossess that !lace in your estee , to "hich none can !retend a better title. <oetry, in its nature, is sacred to the good and great@ the relation bet"een the is reci!rocal, and they are e#er !ro!itious to it. 7t is the !ri#ilege of !oetry to address the , and it is their !rerogati#e alone to gi#e it !rotection. $his recei#ed a0i is a general a!ology for all "riters "ho consecrate their labours to great en@ but 7 could "ish, at this ti e, that this address "ere e0e !ted fro the co on !retence of all dedications6 and that as 7 can distinguish your lordshi! e#en a ong the ost deser#ing, so this offering ight beco e re arkable by so e !articular instance of res!ect, "hich should assure your lordshi! that 7 a , "ith all due sense of your e0tre e "orthiness and hu anity, y lord, your lordshi!*s ost obedient and ost obliged hu ble ser#ant, ,7==. 5(/&-9V9. <-(=(&;9--S!oken by ?r. +etterton. (f those fe" fools, "ho "ith ill stars are curst, Sure scribbling fools, called !oets, fare the "orst@ )or they*re a sort of fools "hich fortune akes, .nd, after she has ade *e fools, forsakes. ,ith /ature*s oafs *tis 4uite a diff*rent case, )or )ortune fa#ours all her idiot race. 7n her o"n nest the cuckoo eggs "e find, (*er "hich she broods to hatch the changeling kind@ /o !ortion for her o"n she has to s!are, So uch she dotes on her ado!ted care. <oets are bubbles, by the to"n dra"n in, Suffered at first so e trifling stakes to "in@ +ut "hat une4ual ha'ards do they runE 9ach ti e they "rite they #enture all they*#e "on@ $he S4uire that*s buttered still, is sure to be undone. $his author, heretofore, has found your fa#our, +ut !leads no erit fro his !ast beha#iour. $o build on that ight !ro#e a #ain !resu !tion, Should grants to !oets ade ad it resu !tion, .nd in <arnassus he ust lose his seat, CB1
7f that be found a forfeited estate. He o"ns, "ith toil he "rought the follo"ing scenes, +ut if they*re naught ne*er s!are hi for his !ains@ Da n hi the ore6 ha#e no co iseration )or dulness on ature deliberation. He s"ears he*ll not resent one hissed-off scene, /or, like those !ee#ish "its, his !lay aintain, ,ho, to assert their sense, your taste arraign. So e !lot "e think he has, and so e ne" thought6 So e hu our too, no farce--but that*s a fault. Satire, he thinks, you ought not to e0!ect6 )or so refor ed a to"n "ho dares correctG $o !lease, this ti e, has been his sole !retence, He*ll not instruct, lest it should gi#e offence. Should he by chance a kna#e or fool e0!ose, $hat hurts none here, sure here are none of those. 7n short, our !lay shall ("ith your lea#e to sho" it) &i#e you one instance of a !assi#e !oet, ,ho to your %udg ents yields all resignation@ So sa#e or da n, after your o"n discretion.
D-.?.$7S <9-S(/.9. ?9/. ).7/.==, in lo#e "ith ?rs. ?ar"ood,--?r. +etterton ?7-.+9==, in lo#e "ith ?rs. ?illa ant,--?r. Verbruggen ,7$,(;D, follo"er of ?rs. ?illa ant,--?r. +o"en <9$;=./$, follo"er of ?rs. ?illa ant,--?r. +o" an S7- ,7=);== ,7$,(;D, half brother to ,it"oud, and ne!he" to =ady ,ishfort,--?r. ;nderhill ,.7$,9==, ser#ant to ?irabell,--?r. +right ,(?9/. =.DU ,7SH)(-$, ene y to ?irabell, for ha#ing falsely !retended lo#e to her,--?rs. =eigh ?-S. ?7==.?./$, a fine lady, niece to =ady ,ishfort, and lo#es ?irabell,--?rs. +racegirdle ?-S. ?.-,((D, friend to ?r. )ainall, and likes ?irabell,--?rs. +arry ?-S. ).7/.==, daughter to =ady ,ishfort, and "ife to )ainall, for erly friend to ?irabell,--?rs. +o" an )(7+=9, "o an to =ady ,ishfort,--?rs. ,illis ?7/57/&, "o an to ?rs. ?illa ant,--?rs. <rince D./59-S, )(($?9/, .$$9/D./$S. S59/9@ =ondon. $he ti e e4ual to that of the !resentation. CBA
.5$ 7.--S59/9 7. . 5hocolate-house. ?7-.+9== and ).7/.== rising fro cards. +9$$U "aiting.
?7-.. Uou are a fortunate an, ?r. )ainall. ).7/. Ha#e "e doneG ?7-.. ,hat you !lease. 7*ll !lay on to entertain you. ).7/. /o, 7*ll gi#e you your re#enge another ti e, "hen you are not so indifferent6 you are thinking of so ething else no", and !lay too negligently@ the coldness of a losing ga ester lessens the !leasure of the "inner. 7*d no ore !lay "ith a an that slighted his ill fortune than 7*d ake lo#e to a "o an "ho under#alued the loss of her re!utation. ?7-.. Uou ha#e a taste e0tre ely delicate, and are for refining on your !leasures. ).7/. <rithee, "hy so reser#edG So ething has !ut you out of hu our. ?7-.. /ot at all@ 7 ha!!en to be gra#e to-day, and you are gay6 that*s all. ).7/. 5onfess, ?illa ant and you 4uarrelled last night, after 7 left you6 y fair cousin has so e hu ours that "ould te !t the !atience of a Stoic. ,hat, so e co0co b ca e in, and "as "ell recei#ed by her, "hile you "ere byG ?7-.. ,it"oud and <etulant, and "hat "as "orse, her aunt, your "ife*s other, y e#il genius--or to su u! all in her o"n na e, y old =ady ,ishfort ca e in. ).7/. (h, there it is then@ she has a lasting !assion for you, and "ith reason.--,hat, then y "ife "as thereG ?7-.. Ues, and ?rs. ?ar"ood and three or four ore, "ho 7 ne#er sa" before6 seeing e, they all !ut on their gra#e faces, "his!ered one another, then co !lained aloud of the #a!ours, and after fell into a !rofound silence. ).7/. $hey had a ind to be rid of you. ?7-.. )or "hich reason 7 resol#ed not to stir. .t last the good old lady broke through her !ainful taciturnity "ith an in#ecti#e against long #isits. 7 "ould not ha#e understood her, but ?illa ant %oining in the argu ent, 7 rose and "ith a constrained s ile told her, 7 thought nothing "as so easy as to kno" "hen a #isit began to be troubleso e6 she reddened and 7 "ithdre", "ithout e0!ecting her re!ly. ).7/. Uou "ere to bla e to resent "hat she s!oke only in co !liance "ith her aunt. ?7-.. She is ore istress of herself than to be under the necessity of such a resignation. ).7/. ,hatG though half her fortune de!ends u!on her arrying "ith y lady*s a!!robationG ?7-.. 7 "as then in such a hu our, that 7 should ha#e been better CBB
!leased if she had been less discreet. ).7/. /o" 7 re e ber, 7 "onder not they "ere "eary of you6 last night "as one of their cabal-nights@ they ha#e *e three ti es a "eek and eet by turns at one another*s a!art ents, "here they co e together like the coroner*s in4uest, to sit u!on the urdered re!utations of the "eek. Uou and 7 are e0cluded, and it "as once !ro!osed that all the ale se0 should be e0ce!ted6 but so ebody o#ed that to a#oid scandal there ight be one an of the co unity, u!on "hich otion ,it"oud and <etulant "ere enrolled e bers. ?7-.. .nd "ho ay ha#e been the foundress of this sectG ?y =ady ,ishfort, 7 "arrant, "ho !ublishes her detestation of ankind, and full of the #igour of fifty-fi#e, declares for a friend and ratafia6 and let !osterity shift for itself, she*ll breed no ore. ).7/. $he disco#ery of your sha addresses to her, to conceal your lo#e to her niece, has !ro#oked this se!aration. Had you disse bled better, things ight ha#e continued in the state of nature. ?7-.. 7 did as uch as an could, "ith any reasonable conscience6 7 !roceeded to the #ery last act of flattery "ith her, and "as guilty of a song in her co endation. /ay, 7 got a friend to !ut her into a la !oon, and co !li ent her "ith the i !utation of an affair "ith a young fello", "hich 7 carried so far, that 7 told her the alicious to"n took notice that she "as gro"n fat of a sudden6 and "hen she lay in of a dro!sy, !ersuaded her she "as re!orted to be in labour. $he de#il*s in*t, if an old "o an is to be flattered further, unless a an should endea#our do"nright !ersonally to debauch her@ and that y #irtue forbade e. +ut for the disco#ery of this a our, 7 a indebted to your friend, or your "ife*s friend, ?rs. ?ar"ood. ).7/. ,hat should !ro#oke her to be your ene y, unless she has ade you ad#ances "hich you ha#e slightedG ,o en do not easily forgi#e o issions of that nature. ?7-.. She "as al"ays ci#il to e, till of late. 7 confess 7 a not one of those co0co bs "ho are a!t to inter!ret a "o an*s good anners to her !re%udice, and think that she "ho does not refuse *e e#erything can refuse *e nothing. ).7/. Uou are a gallant an, ?irabell6 and though you ay ha#e cruelty enough not to satisfy a lady*s longing, you ha#e too uch generosity not to be tender of her honour. Uet you s!eak "ith an indifference "hich see s to be affected, and confesses you are conscious of a negligence. ?7-.. Uou !ursue the argu ent "ith a distrust that see s to be unaffected, and confesses you are conscious of a concern for "hich the lady is ore indebted to you than is your "ife. ).7/. )ie, fie, friend, if you gro" censorious 7 ust lea#e you@7*ll look u!on the ga esters in the ne0t roo . ?7-.. ,ho are theyG ).7/. <etulant and ,it"oud.--+ring e so e chocolate. ?7-.. +etty, "hat says your clockG +9$. $urned of the last canonical hour, sir. ?7-.. Ho" !ertinently the %ade ans"ers eE HaE al ost one a* clockE 2=ooking on his "atch.3 (h, y*are co eE
CBC
S59/9 77. ?7-.+9== and )(($?./. ?7-.. ,ell, is the grand affair o#erG Uou ha#e been so ething tedious. S9-V. Sir, there*s such cou!ling at <ancras that they stand behind one another, as *t"ere in a country-dance. (urs "as the last cou!le to lead u!6 and no ho!es a!!earing of dis!atch, besides, the !arson gro"ing hoarse, "e "ere afraid his lungs "ould ha#e failed before it ca e to our turn6 so "e dro#e round to Duke*s <lace, and there they "ere ri#eted in a trice. ?7-.. So, so6 you are sure they are arriedG S9-V. ?arried and bedded, sir6 7 a "itness. ?7-.. Ha#e you the certificateG S9-V. Here it is, sir. ?7-.. Has the tailor brought ,ait"ell*s clothes ho e, and the ne" li#eriesG S9-V. Ues, sir. ?7-.. $hat*s "ell. Do you go ho e again, d*ye hear, and ad%ourn the consu ation till farther order6 bid ,ait"ell shake his ears, and Da e <artlet rustle u! her feathers, and eet e at one a* clock by -osa ond*s !ond, that 7 ay see her before she returns to her lady. .nd, as you tender your ears, be secret. S59/9 777. ?7-.+9==, ).7/.==, +9$$U. ).7/. 1oy of your success, ?irabell6 you look !leased. ?7-.. .y6 7 ha#e been engaged in a atter of so e sort of irth, "hich is not yet ri!e for disco#ery. 7 a glad this is not a cabalnight. 7 "onder, )ainall, that you "ho are arried, and of conse4uence should be discreet, "ill suffer your "ife to be of such a !arty. ).7/. )aith, 7 a not %ealous. +esides, ost "ho are engaged are "o en and relations6 and for the en, they are of a kind too conte !tible to gi#e scandal. ?7-.. 7 a of another o!inion@ the greater the co0co b, al"ays the ore the scandal6 for a "o an "ho is not a fool can ha#e but one reason for associating "ith a an "ho is one. ).7/. .re you %ealous as often as you see ,it"oud entertained by ?illa antG ?7-.. (f her understanding 7 a , if not of her !erson. ).7/. Uou do her "rong6 for, to gi#e her her due, she has "it. ?7-.. She has beauty enough to ake any an think so, and co !laisance enough not to contradict hi "ho shall tell her so. ).7/. )or a !assionate lo#er ethinks you are a an so e"hat too discerning in the failings of your istress. ?7-.. .nd for a discerning an so e"hat too !assionate a lo#er, for 7 like her "ith all her faults6 nay, like her for her faults. Her follies are so natural, or so artful, that they beco e her, and CB5
those affectations "hich in another "o an "ould be odious ser#e but to ake her ore agreeable. 7*ll tell thee, )ainall, she once used e "ith that insolence that in re#enge 7 took her to !ieces, sifted her, and se!arated her failings@ 7 studied *e and got *e by rote. $he catalogue "as so large that 7 "as not "ithout ho!es, one day or other, to hate her heartily. $o "hich end 7 so used yself to think of *e , that at length, contrary to y design and e0!ectation, they ga#e e e#ery hour less and less disturbance, till in a fe" days it beca e habitual to e to re e ber *e "ithout being dis!leased. $hey are no" gro"n as fa iliar to e as y o"n frailties, and in all !robability in a little ti e longer 7 shall like *e as "ell. ).7/. ?arry her, arry her6 be half as "ell ac4uainted "ith her char s as you are "ith her defects, and, y life on*t, you are your o"n an again. ?7-.. Say you soG ).7/. .y, ay6 7 ha#e e0!erience. 7 ha#e a "ife, and so forth. S59/9 7V. 2$o the 3 ?9SS9/&9-. ?9SS. 7s one S4uire ,it"oud hereG +9$. Ues6 "hat*s your businessG ?9SS. 7 ha#e a letter for hi , fro his brother Sir ,ilfull, "hich 7 a charged to deli#er into his o"n hands. +9$. He*s in the ne0t roo , friend. $hat "ay. S59/9 V. ?7-.+9==, ).7/.==, +9$$U. ?7-.. ,hat, is the chief of that noble fa ily in to"n, Sir ,ilfull ,it"oudG ).7/. He is e0!ected to-day. Do you kno" hi G ?7-.. 7 ha#e seen hi 6 he !ro ises to be an e0traordinary !erson. 7 think you ha#e the honour to be related to hi . ).7/. Ues6 he is half-brother to this ,it"oud by a for er "ife, "ho "as sister to y =ady ,ishfort, y "ife*s other. 7f you arry ?illa ant, you ust call cousins too. ?7-.. 7 had rather be his relation than his ac4uaintance. ).7/. He co es to to"n in order to e4ui! hi self for tra#el. ?7-.. )or tra#elE ,hy the an that 7 ean is abo#e forty. ).7/. /o atter for that6 *tis for the honour of 9ngland that all 9uro!e should kno" "e ha#e blockheads of all ages. ?7-.. 7 "onder there is not an act of !arlia ent to sa#e the credit of the nation and !rohibit the e0!ortation of fools. ).7/. +y no eans, *tis better as *tis6 *tis better to trade "ith a little loss, than to be 4uite eaten u! "ith being o#erstocked. ?7-.. <ray, are the follies of this knight-errant and those of the s4uire, his brother, anything relatedG ).7/. /ot at all@ ,it"oud gro"s by the knight like a edlar grafted on a crab. (ne "ill elt in your outh and t*other set your CB6
teeth on edge6 one is all !ul! and the other all core. ?7-.. So one "ill be rotten before he be ri!e, and the other "ill be rotten "ithout e#er being ri!e at all. ).7/. Sir ,ilfull is an odd i0ture of bashfulness and obstinacy. +ut "hen he*s drunk, he*s as lo#ing as the onster in $he $e !est, and uch after the sa e anner. $o gi#e bother his due, he has so ething of good-nature, and does not al"ays "ant "it. ?7-.. /ot al"ays@ but as often as his e ory fails hi and his co on!lace of co !arisons. He is a fool "ith a good e ory and so e fe" scra!s of other folks* "it. He is one "hose con#ersation can ne#er be a!!ro#ed, yet it is no" and then to be endured. He has indeed one good 4uality@ he is not e0ce!tious, for he so !assionately affects the re!utation of understanding raillery that he "ill construe an affront into a %est, and call do"nright rudeness and ill language satire and fire. ).7/. 7f you ha#e a ind to finish his !icture, you ha#e an o!!ortunity to do it at full length. +ehold the original. S59/9 V7. 2$o the 3 ,7$,(;D. ,7$. .fford e your co !assion, y dears6 !ity e, )ainall, ?irabell, !ity e. ?7-.. 7 do fro y soul. ).7/. ,hy, "hat*s the atterG ,7$. /o letters for e, +ettyG +9$. Did not a essenger bring you one but no", sirG ,7$. .y6 but no otherG +9$. /o, sir. ,7$. $hat*s hard, that*s #ery hard. . essenger, a ule, a beast of burden, he has brought e a letter fro the fool y brother, as hea#y as a !anegyric in a funeral ser on, or a co!y of co endatory #erses fro one !oet to another. .nd "hat*s "orse, *tis as sure a forerunner of the author as an e!istle dedicatory. ?7-.. . fool, and your brother, ,it"oudG ,7$. .y, ay, y half-brother. ?y half-brother he is, no nearer, u!on honour. ?7-.. $hen *tis !ossible he ay be but half a fool. ,7$. &ood, good, ?irabell, =9 D-(=9E &ood, good, hang hi , don*t let*s talk of hi .--)ainall, ho" does your ladyG &ad, 7 say anything in the "orld to get this fello" out of y head. 7 beg !ardon that 7 should ask a an of !leasure and the to"n a 4uestion at once so foreign and do estic. +ut 7 talk like an old aid at a arriage, 7 don*t kno" "hat 7 say@ but she*s the best "o an in the "orld. ).7/. *$is "ell you don*t kno" "hat you say, or else your co endation "ould go near to ake e either #ain or %ealous. ,7$. /o an in to"n li#es "ell "ith a "ife but )ainall. Uour %udg ent, ?irabellG ?7-.. Uou had better ste! and ask his "ife, if you "ould be credibly infor ed. CBD
,7$. ?irabellE ?7-.. .y. ,7$. ?y dear, 7 ask ten thousand !ardons. &ad, 7 ha#e forgot "hat 7 "as going to say to you. ?7-.. 7 thank you heartily, heartily. ,7$. /o, but !rithee e0cuse e@- y e ory is such a e ory. ?7-.. Ha#e a care of such a!ologies, ,it"oud6 for 7 ne#er kne" a fool but he affected to co !lain either of the s!leen or his e ory. ).7/. ,hat ha#e you done "ith <etulantG ,7$. He*s reckoning his oney6 y oney it "as@ 7 ha#e no luck today. ).7/. Uou ay allo" hi to "in of you at !lay, for you are sure to be too hard for hi at re!artee@ since you ono!olise the "it that is bet"een you, the fortune ust be his of course. ?7-.. 7 don*t find that <etulant confesses the su!eriority of "it to be your talent, ,it"oud. ,7$. 5o e, co e, you are alicious no", and "ould breed debates. <etulant*s y friend, and a #ery honest fello", and a #ery !retty fello", and has a s attering--faith and troth, a !retty deal of an odd sort of a s all "it@ nay, 7*ll do hi %ustice. 7* his friend, 7 "on*t "rong hi . .nd if he had any %udg ent in the "orld, he "ould not be altogether conte !tible. 5o e, co e, don*t detract fro the erits of y friend. ).7/. Uou don*t take your friend to be o#er-nicely bredG ,7$. /o, no, hang hi , the rogue has no anners at all, that 7 ust o"n6 no ore breeding than a bu -baily, that 7 grant you@- *tis !ity6 the fello" has fire and life. ?7-.. ,hat, courageG ,7$. Hu , faith, 7 don*t kno" as to that, 7 can*t say as to that. Ues, faith, in a contro#ersy he*ll contradict anybody. ?7-.. $hough *t"ere a an "ho he feared or a "o an "ho he lo#ed. ,7$. ,ell, "ell, he does not al"ays think before he s!eaks. ,e ha#e all our failings6 you are too hard u!on hi , you are, faith. =et e e0cuse hi ,--7 can defend ost of his faults, e0ce!t one or t"o6 one he has, that*s the truth on*t,--if he "ere y brother 7 could not ac4uit hi --that indeed 7 could "ish "ere other"ise. ?7-.. .y, arry, "hat*s that, ,it"oudG ,7$. (h, !ardon e. 90!ose the infir ities of y friendG /o, y dear, e0cuse e there. ).7/. ,hat, 7 "arrant he*s unsincere, or *tis so e such trifle. ,7$. /o, no6 "hat if he beG *$is no atter for that, his "it "ill e0cuse that. . "it should no ore be sincere than a "o an constant@ one argues a decay of !arts, as t*other of beauty. ?7-.. ?aybe you think hi too !ositi#eG ,7$. /o, no6 his being !ositi#e is an incenti#e to argu ent, and kee!s u! con#ersation. ).7/. $oo illiterateG ,7$. $hatG $hat*s his ha!!iness. His "ant of learning gi#es hi the ore o!!ortunities to sho" his natural !arts. ?7-.. He "ants "ordsG ,7$. .y6 but 7 like hi for that no"@ for his "ant of "ords gi#es e the !leasure #ery often to e0!lain his eaning. CB8
).7/. He*s i !udentG ,7$. /o that*s not it. ?7-.. VainG ,7$. /o. ?7-.. ,hat, he s!eaks unseasonable truths so eti es, because he has not "it enough to in#ent an e#asionG ,7$. $ruthsG Ha, ha, haE /o, no, since you "ill ha#e it, 7 ean he ne#er s!eaks truth at all, that*s all. He "ill lie like a cha ber aid, or a "o an of 4uality*s !orter. /o" that is a fault. S59/9 V77. 2$o the 3 5(.5H?./. 5(.5H. 7s ?aster <etulant here, istressG +9$. Ues. 5(.5H. $hree gentle"o en in a coach "ould s!eak "ith hi . ).7/. ( bra#e <etulantE $hreeE +9$. 7*ll tell hi . 5(.5H. Uou ust bring t"o dishes of chocolate and a glass of cinna on "ater. S59/9 V777. ?7-.+9==, ).7/.==, ,7$,(;D. ,7$. $hat should be for t"o fasting stru !ets, and a ba"d troubled "ith "ind. /o" you ay kno" "hat the three are. ?7-.. Uou are #ery free "ith your friend*s ac4uaintance. ,7$. .y, ay6 friendshi! "ithout freedo is as dull as lo#e "ithout en%oy ent or "ine "ithout toasting@ but to tell you a secret, these are trulls "ho he allo"s coach-hire, and so ething ore by the "eek, to call on hi once a day at !ublic !laces. ?7-.. Ho"E ,7$. Uou shall see he "on*t go to *e because there*s no ore co !any here to take notice of hi . ,hy, this is nothing to "hat he used to do@- before he found out this "ay, 7 ha#e kno"n hi call for hi self ).7/. 5all for hi selfG ,hat dost thou eanG ,7$. ?eanG ,hy he "ould sli! you out of this chocolate-house, %ust "hen you had been talking to hi . .s soon as your back "as turned-"hi! he "as gone6 then tri! to his lodging, cla! on a hood and scarf and a ask, sla! into a hackney-coach, and dri#e hither to the door again in a trice6 "here he "ould send in for hi self6 that 7 ean, call for hi self, "ait for hi self, nay, and "hat*s ore, not finding hi self, so eti es lea#e a letter for hi self. ?7-.. 7 confess this is so ething e0traordinary. 7 belie#e he "aits for hi self no", he is so long a co ing6 oh, 7 ask his !ardon. S59/9 7\. <9$;=./$, ?7-.+9==, ).7/.==, ,7$,(;D, +9$$U. CB>
+9$. Sir, the coach stays. <9$. ,ell, "ell, 7 co e. *Sbud, a an had as good be a !rofessed id"ife as a !rofessed "hore aster, at this rate6 to be knocked u! and raised at all hours, and in all !laces. <o0 on *e , 7 "on*t co e. D*ye hear, tell *e 7 "on*t co e. =et *e sni#el and cry their hearts out. ).7/. Uou are #ery cruel, <etulant. <9$. .ll*s one, let it !ass. 7 ha#e a hu our to be cruel. ?7-.. 7 ho!e they are not !ersons of condition that you use at this rate. <9$. 5onditionG 5ondition*s a dried fig, if 7 a not in hu our. +y this hand, if they "ere your--a--a--your "hat-d*ee-call-*e s the sel#es, they ust "ait or rub off, if 7 "ant a!!etite. ?7-.. ,hat-d*ee-call-*e sE ,hat are they, ,it"oudG ,7$. 9 !resses, y dear. +y your "hat-d*ee-call-*e s he eans Sultana :ueens. <9$. .y, -o0olanas. ?7-.. 5ry you ercy. ).7/. ,it"oud says they are <9$. ,hat does he say th*areG ,7$. 7G )ine ladies, 7 say. <9$. <ass on, ,it"oud. Harkee, by this light, his relations--t"o co-heiresses his cousins, and an old aunt, "ho lo#es cater-"auling better than a con#enticle. ,7$. Ha, ha, haE 7 had a ind to see ho" the rogue "ould co e off. Ha, ha, haE &ad, 7 can*t be angry "ith hi , if he had said they "ere y other and y sisters. ?7-.. /oG ,7$. /o6 the rogue*s "it and readiness of in#ention char e, dear <etulant. +9$. $hey are gone, sir, in great anger. <9$. 9nough, let *e trundle. .nger hel!s co !le0ion, sa#es !aint. ).7/. $his continence is all disse bled6 this is in order to ha#e so ething to brag of the ne0t ti e he akes court to ?illa ant, and s"ear he has abandoned the "hole se0 for her sake. ?7-.. Ha#e you not left off your i !udent !retensions there yetG 7 shall cut your throat, so eti e or other, <etulant, about that business. <9$. .y, ay, let that !ass. $here are other throats to be cut. ?7-.. ?eaning ine, sirG <9$. /ot 7--7 ean nobody--7 kno" nothing. +ut there are uncles and ne!he"s in the "orld--and they ay be ri#als. ,hat thenG .ll*s one for that. ?7-.. Ho"G Harkee, <etulant, co e hither. 90!lain, or 7 shall call your inter!reter. <9$. 90!lainG 7 kno" nothing. ,hy, you ha#e an uncle, ha#e you not, lately co e to to"n, and lodges by y =ady ,ishfort*sG ?7-.. $rue. <9$. ,hy, that*s enough. Uou and he are not friends6 and if he should arry and ha#e a child, yon ay be disinherited, haE ?7-.. ,here hast thou stu bled u!on all this truthG CC0
<9$. .ll*s one for that6 "hy, then, say 7 kno" so ething. ?7-.. 5o e, thou art an honest fello", <etulant, and shalt ake lo#e to y istress, thou shalt, faith. ,hat hast thou heard of y uncleG <9$. 7G /othing, 7. 7f throats are to be cut, let s"ords clash. Snug*s the "ord6 7 shrug and a silent. ?7-.. (h, raillery, railleryE 5o e, 7 kno" thou art in the "o en*s secrets. ,hat, you*re a cabalist6 7 kno" you stayed at ?illa ant*s last night after 7 "ent. ,as there any ention ade of y uncle or eG $ell e6 if thou hadst but good nature e4ual to thy "it, <etulant, $ony ,it"oud, "ho is no" thy co !etitor in fa e, "ould sho" as di by thee as a dead "hiting*s eye by a !earl of orient6 he "ould no ore be seen by thee than ?ercury is by the sun@ co e, 7* sure thou "o*t tell e. <9$. 7f 7 do, "ill you grant e co on sense, then, for the futureG ?7-.. )aith, 7*ll do "hat 7 can for thee, and 7*ll !ray that hea#*n ay grant it thee in the eanti e. <9$. ,ell, harkee. ).7/. <etulant and you both "ill find ?irabell as "ar a ri#al as a lo#er. ,7$. <sha", !sha", that she laughs at <etulant is !lain. .nd for y !art, but that it is al ost a fashion to ad ire her, 7 should-harkee--to tell you a secret, but let it go no further bet"een friends, 7 shall ne#er break y heart for her. ).7/. Ho"G ,7$. She*s handso e6 but she*s a sort of an uncertain "o an. ).7/. 7 thought you had died for her. ,7$. ; h--no ).7/. She has "it. ,7$. *$is "hat she "ill hardly allo" anybody else. /o", de e, 7 should hate that, if she "ere as handso e as 5leo!atra. ?irabell is not so sure of her as he thinks for. ).7/. ,hy do you think soG ,7$. ,e stayed !retty late there last night, and heard so ething of an uncle to ?irabell, "ho is lately co e to to"n, and is bet"een hi and the best !art of his estate. ?irabell and he are at so e distance, as y =ady ,ishfort has been told6 and you kno" she hates ?irabell "orse than a 4uaker hates a !arrot, or than a fish onger hates a hard frost. ,hether this uncle has seen ?rs. ?illa ant or not, 7 cannot say6 but there "ere ite s of such a treaty being in e bryo6 and if it should co e to life, !oor ?irabell "ould be in so e sort unfortunately fobbed, i*faith. ).7/. *$is i !ossible ?illa ant should hearken to it. ,7$. )aith, y dear, 7 can*t tell6 she*s a "o an and a kind of a hu orist. ?7-.. .nd this is the su of "hat you could collect last nightG <9$. $he 4uintessence. ?aybe ,it"oud kno"s ore6 he stayed longer. +esides, they ne#er ind hi 6 they say anything before hi . ?7-.. 7 thought you had been the greatest fa#ourite. <9$. .y, tete-e-tete6 but not in !ublic, because 7 ake re arks. ?7-.. Uou doG <9$. .y, ay, !o0, 7* alicious, an. /o" he*s soft, you kno", CC1
they are not in a"e of hi . $he fello"*s "ell bred, he*s "hat you call a--"hat d*ye-call-*e --a fine gentle an, but he*s silly "ithal. ?7-.. 7 thank you, 7 kno" as uch as y curiosity re4uires. )ainall, are you for the ?allG ).7/. .y, 7*ll take a turn before dinner. ,7$. .y, "e*ll all "alk in the !ark6 the ladies talked of being there. ?7-.. 7 thought you "ere obliged to "atch for your brother Sir ,ilfull*s arri#al. ,7$. /o, no, he co es to his aunt*s, y =ady ,ishfort6 !o0 on hi , 7 shall be troubled "ith hi too6 "hat shall 7 do "ith the foolG <9$. +eg hi for his estate, that 7 ay beg you after"ards, and so ha#e but one trouble "ith you both. ,7$. ( rare <etulant, thou art as 4uick as fire in a frosty orning6 thou shalt to the ?all "ith us, and "e*ll be #ery se#ere. <9$. 9nough6 7* in a hu our to be se#ere. ?7-.. .re youG <ray then "alk by yoursel#es. =et not us be accessory to your !utting the ladies out of countenance "ith your senseless ribaldry, "hich you roar out aloud as often as they !ass by you, and "hen you ha#e ade a handso e "o an blush, then you think you ha#e been se#ere. <9$. ,hat, "hatG $hen let *e either sho" their innocence by not understanding "hat they hear, or else sho" their discretion by not hearing "hat they "ould not be thought to understand. ?7-.. +ut hast not thou then sense enough to kno" that thou ought*st to be ost asha ed thyself "hen thou hast !ut another out of countenanceG <9$. /ot 7, by this hand@ 7 al"ays take blushing either for a sign of guilt or ill-breeding. ?7-.. 7 confess you ought to think so. Uou are in the right, that you ay !lead the error of your %udg ent in defence of your !ractice. ,here odesty*s ill anners, *tis but fit $hat i !udence and alice !ass for "it. .5$ 77.--S59/9 7. St. 1a es*s <ark. ?-S. ).7/.== and ?-S. ?.-,((D. ?-S. ).7/. .y, ay, dear ?ar"ood, if "e "ill be ha!!y, "e ust find the eans in oursel#es, and a ong oursel#es. ?en are e#er in e0tre es6 either doting or a#erse. ,hile they are lo#ers, if they ha#e fire and sense, their %ealousies are insu!!ortable@ and "hen they cease to lo#e ("e ought to think at least) they loathe, they look u!on us "ith horror and distaste, they eet us like the ghosts of "hat "e "ere, and as fro such, fly fro us. ?-S. ?.-. $rue, *tis an unha!!y circu stance of life that lo#e should e#er die before us, and that the an so often should outli#e the lo#er. +ut say "hat you "ill, *tis better to be left than ne#er to ha#e been lo#ed. $o !ass our youth in dull indifference, to CCA
refuse the s"eets of life because they once ust lea#e us, is as !re!osterous as to "ish to ha#e been born old, because "e one day ust be old. )or y !art, y youth ay "ear and "aste, but it shall ne#er rust in y !ossession. ?-S. ).7/. $hen it see s you disse ble an a#ersion to ankind only in co !liance to y other*s hu our. ?-S. ?.-. 5ertainly. $o be free, 7 ha#e no taste of those insi!id dry discourses "ith "hich our se0 of force ust entertain the sel#es a!art fro en. ,e ay affect endear ents to each other, !rofess eternal friendshi!s, and see to dote like lo#ers6 but *tis not in our natures long to !erse#ere. =o#e "ill resu e his e !ire in our breasts, and e#ery heart, or soon or late, recei#e and read it hi as its la"ful tyrant. ?-S. ).7/. +less e, ho" ha#e 7 been decei#edE ,hy, you !rofess a libertine. ?-S. ?.-. Uou see y friendshi! by y freedo . 5o e, be as sincere, ackno"ledge that your senti ents agree "ith ine. ?-S. ).7/. /e#er. ?-S. ?.-. Uou hate ankindG ?-S. ).7/. Heartily, in#eterately. ?-S. ?.-. Uour husbandG ?-S. ).7/. ?ost transcendently6 ay, though 7 say it, eritoriously. ?-S. ?.-. &i#e e your hand u!on it. ?-S. ).7/. $here. ?-S. ?.-. 7 %oin "ith you6 "hat 7 ha#e said has been to try you. ?-S. ).7/. 7s it !ossibleG Dost thou hate those #i!ers, enG ?-S. ?.-. 7 ha#e done hating *e , and a no" co e to des!ise *e 6 the ne0t thing 7 ha#e to do is eternally to forget *e . ?-S. ).7/. $here s!oke the s!irit of an . a'on, a <enthesilea. ?-S. ?.-. .nd yet 7 a thinking so eti es to carry y a#ersion further. ?-S. ).7/. Ho"G ?-S. ?.-. )aith, by arrying6 if 7 could but find one that lo#ed e #ery "ell, and "ould be throughly sensible of ill usage, 7 think 7 should do yself the #iolence of undergoing the cere ony. ?-S. ).7/. Uou "ould not ake hi a cuckoldG ?-S. ?.-. /o6 but 7*d ake hi belie#e 7 did, and that*s as bad. ?-S. ).7/. ,hy had not you as good do itG ?-S. ?.-. (h, if he should e#er disco#er it, he "ould then kno" the "orst, and be out of his !ain6 but 7 "ould ha#e hi e#er to continue u!on the rack of fear and %ealousy. ?-S. ).7/. 7ngenious ischiefE ,ould thou "ert arried to ?irabell. ?-S. ?.-. ,ould 7 "ere. ?-S. ).7/. Uou change colour. ?-S. ?.-. +ecause 7 hate hi . ?-S. ).7/. So do 76 but 7 can hear hi na ed. +ut "hat reason ha#e you to hate hi in !articularG ?-S. ?.-. 7 ne#er lo#ed hi 6 he is, and al"ays "as, insufferably !roud. ?-S. ).7/. +y the reason you gi#e for your a#ersion, one "ould think it disse bled6 for you ha#e laid a fault to his charge, of CCB
"hich his ene ies ust ac4uit hi . ?-S. ?.-. (h, then it see s you are one of his fa#ourable ene ies. ?ethinks you look a little !ale, and no" you flush again. ?-S. ).7/. Do 7G 7 think 7 a a little sick o* the sudden. ?-S. ?.-. ,hat ails youG ?-S. ).7/. ?y husband. Don*t you see hi G He turned short u!on e una"ares, and has al ost o#erco e e. S59/9 77. 2$o the 3 ).7/.== and ?7-.+9==. ?-S. ?.-. Ha, ha, haE he co es o!!ortunely for you. ?-S. ).7/. )or you, for he has brought ?irabell "ith hi . ).7/. ?y dear. ?-S. ).7/. ?y soul. ).7/. Uou don*t look "ell to-day, child. ?-S. ).7/. D*ye think soG ?7-.. He is the only an that does, ada . ?-S. ).7/. $he only an that "ould tell e so at least, and the only an fro "ho 7 could hear it "ithout ortification. ).7/. (h, y dear, 7 a satisfied of your tenderness6 7 kno" you cannot resent anything fro e6 es!ecially "hat is an effect of y concern. ?-S. ).7/. ?r. ?irabell, y other interru!ted you in a !leasant relation last night@ 7 "ould fain hear it out. ?7-.. $he !ersons concerned in that affair ha#e yet a tolerable re!utation. 7 a afraid ?r. )ainall "ill be censorious. ?-S. ).7/. He has a hu our ore !re#ailing than his curiosity, and "ill "illingly dis!ense "ith the hearing of one scandalous story, to a#oid gi#ing an occasion to ake another by being seen to "alk "ith his "ife. $his "ay, ?r. ?irabell, and 7 dare !ro ise you "ill oblige us both. S59/9 777. ).7/.==, ?-S. ?.-,((D. ).7/. 90cellent creatureE ,ell, sure, if 7 should li#e to be rid of y "ife, 7 should be a iserable an. ?-S. ?.-. .yG ).7/. )or ha#ing only that one ho!e, the acco !lish ent of it of conse4uence ust !ut an end to all y ho!es, and "hat a "retch is he "ho ust sur#i#e his ho!esE /othing re ains "hen that day co es but to sit do"n and "ee! like .le0ander "hen he "anted other "orlds to con4uer. ?-S. ?.-. ,ill you not follo" *e G ).7/. )aith, 7 think not, ?-S. ?.-. <ray let us6 7 ha#e a reason. ).7/. Uou are not %ealousG ?-S. ?.-. (f "ho G ).7/. (f ?irabell. CCC
?-S. ?.-. 7f 7 a , is it inconsistent "ith y lo#e to you that 7 a tender of your honourG ).7/. Uou "ould inti ate then, as if there "ere a fello"-feeling bet"een y "ife and hi G ?-S. ?.-. 7 think she does not hate hi to that degree she "ould be thought. ).7/. +ut he, 7 fear, is too insensible. ?-S. ?.-. 7t ay be you are decei#ed. ).7/. 7t ay be so. 7 do not no" begin to a!!rehend it. ?-S. ?.-. ,hatG ).7/. $hat 7 ha#e been decei#ed, ada , and you are false. ?-S. ?.-. $hat 7 a falseG ,hat ean youG ).7/. $o let you kno" 7 see through all your little arts.--5o e, you both lo#e hi , and both ha#e e4ually disse bled your a#ersion. Uour utual %ealousies of one another ha#e ade you clash till you ha#e both struck fire. 7 ha#e seen the "ar confession red*ning on your cheeks, and s!arkling fro your eyes. ?-S. ?.-. Uou do e "rong. ).7/. 7 do not. *$"as for y ease to o#ersee and "ilfully neglect the gross ad#ances ade hi by y "ife, that by !er itting her to be engaged, 7 ight continue unsus!ected in y !leasures, and take you oftener to y ar s in full security. +ut could you think, because the nodding husband "ould not "ake, that e*er the "atchful lo#er sle!tG ?-S. ?.-. .nd "here"ithal can you re!roach eG ).7/. ,ith infidelity, "ith lo#ing another, "ith lo#e of ?irabell. ?-S. ?.-. *$is false. 7 challenge you to sho" an instance that can confir your groundless accusation. 7 hate hi . ).7/. .nd "herefore do you hate hi G He is insensible, and your resent ent follo"s his neglect. .n instanceG $he in%uries you ha#e done hi are a !roof@ your inter!osing in his lo#e. ,hat cause had you to ake disco#eries of his !retended !assionG $o undecei#e the credulous aunt, and be the officious obstacle of his atch "ith ?illa antG ?-S. ?.-. ?y obligations to y lady urged e@ 7 had !rofessed a friendshi! to her, and could not see her easy nature so abused by that disse bler. ).7/. ,hat, "as it conscience thenG <rofessed a friendshi!E (h, the !ious friendshi!s of the fe ale se0E ?-S. ?.-. ?ore tender, ore sincere, and ore enduring, than all the #ain and e !ty #o"s of en, "hether !rofessing lo#e to us or utual faith to one another. ).7/. Ha, ha, haE you are y "ife*s friend too. ?-S. ?.-. Sha e and ingratitudeE Do you re!roach eG Uou, you u!braid eG Ha#e 7 been false to her, through strict fidelity to you, and sacrificed y friendshi! to kee! y lo#e in#iolateG .nd ha#e you the baseness to charge e "ith the guilt, un indful of the eritG $o you it should be eritorious that 7 ha#e been #icious. .nd do you reflect that guilt u!on e "hich should lie buried in your boso G ).7/. Uou isinter!ret y re!roof. 7 eant but to re ind you of the slight account you once could ake of strictest ties "hen set in CC5
co !etition "ith your lo#e to e. ?-S. ?.-. *$is false, you urged it "ith deliberate alice. *$"as s!oke in scorn, and 7 ne#er "ill forgi#e it. ).7/. Uour guilt, not your resent ent, begets your rage. 7f yet you lo#ed, you could forgi#e a %ealousy@ but you are stung to find you are disco#ered. ?-S. ?.-. 7t shall be all disco#ered. Uou too shall be disco#ered6 be sure you shall. 7 can but be e0!osed. 7f 7 do it yself 7 shall !re#ent your baseness. ).7/. ,hy, "hat "ill you doG ?-S. ?.-. Disclose it to your "ife6 o"n "hat has !ast bet"een us. ).7/. )ren'yE ?-S. ?.-. +y all y "rongs 7*ll do*t. 7*ll !ublish to the "orld the in%uries you ha#e done e, both in y fa e and fortune@ "ith both 7 trusted you, you bankru!t in honour, as indigent of "ealth. ).7/. Uour fa e 7 ha#e !reser#ed. Uour fortune has been besto"ed as the !rodigality of your lo#e "ould ha#e it, in !leasures "hich "e both ha#e shared. Uet, had not you been false 7 had e*er this re!aid it. *$is true--had you !er itted ?irabell "ith ?illa ant to ha#e stolen their arriage, y lady had been incensed beyond all eans of reconcile ent@ ?illa ant had forfeited the oiety of her fortune, "hich then "ould ha#e descended to y "ife. .nd "herefore did 7 arry but to ake la"ful !ri'e of a rich "ido"*s "ealth, and s4uander it on lo#e and youG ?-S. ?.-. Deceit and fri#olous !retenceE ).7/. Death, a 7 not arriedG ,hat*s !retenceG . 7 not i !risoned, fetteredG Ha#e 7 not a "ifeG /ay, a "ife that "as a "ido", a young "ido", a handso e "ido", and "ould be again a "ido", but that 7 ha#e a heart of !roof, and so ething of a constitution to bustle through the "ays of "edlock and this "orld. ,ill you yet be reconciled to truth and eG ?-S. ?.-. 7 !ossible. $ruth and you are inconsistent.--7 hate you, and shall for e#er. ).7/. )or lo#ing youG ?-S. ?.-. 7 loathe the na e of lo#e after such usage6 and ne0t to the guilt "ith "hich you "ould as!erse e, 7 scorn you ost. )are"ell. ).7/. /ay, "e ust not !art thus. ?-S. ?.-. =et e go. ).7/. 5o e, 7* sorry. ?-S. ?.-. 7 care not. =et e go. +reak y hands, do--7*d lea#e *e to get loose. ).7/. 7 "ould not hurt you for the "orld. Ha#e 7 no other hold to kee! you hereG ?-S. ?.-. ,ell, 7 ha#e deser#ed it all. ).7/. Uou kno" 7 lo#e you. ?-S. ?.-. <oor disse blingE (h, that--"ell, it is not yet ).7/. ,hatG ,hat is it notG ,hat is it not yetG 7t is not yet too late ?-S. ?.-. /o, it is not yet too late--7 ha#e that co fort. ).7/. 7t is, to lo#e another. ?-S. ?.-. +ut not to loathe, detest, abhor ankind, yself, and the CC6
"hole treacherous "orld. ).7/. /ay, this is e0tra#agance. 5o e, 7 ask your !ardon. /o tears--7 "as to bla e, 7 could not lo#e you and be easy in y doubts. <ray forbear--7 belie#e you6 7* con#inced 7*#e done you "rong6 and any "ay, e#ery "ay "ill ake a ends@ 7*ll hate y "ife yet ore, da n her, 7*ll !art "ith her, rob her of all she*s "orth, and "e*ll retire so e"here, any"here, to another "orld6 7*ll arry thee--be !acified.--*Sdeath, they co e@ hide your face, your tears. Uou ha#e a ask@ "ear it a o ent. $his "ay, this "ay@ be !ersuaded. S59/9 7V. ?7-.+9== and ?-S. ).7/.==. ?-S. ).7/. $hey are here yet. ?7-.. $hey are turning into the other "alk. ?-S. ).7/. ,hile 7 only hated y husband, 7 could bear to see hi 6 but since 7 ha#e des!ised hi , he*s too offensi#e. ?7-.. (h, you should hate "ith !rudence. ?-S. ).7/. Ues, for 7 ha#e lo#ed "ith indiscretion. ?7-.. Uou should ha#e %ust so uch disgust for your husband as ay be sufficient to ake you relish your lo#er. ?-S. ).7/. Uou ha#e been the cause that 7 ha#e lo#ed "ithout bounds, and "ould you set li its to that a#ersion of "hich you ha#e been the occasionG ,hy did you ake e arry this anG ?7-.. ,hy do "e daily co it disagreeable and dangerous actionsG $o sa#e that idol, re!utation. 7f the fa iliarities of our lo#es had !roduced that conse4uence of "hich you "ere a!!rehensi#e, "here could you ha#e fi0ed a father*s na e "ith credit but on a husbandG 7 kne" )ainall to be a an la#ish of his orals, an interested and !rofessing friend, a false and a designing lo#er, yet one "hose "it and out"ard fair beha#iour ha#e gained a re!utation "ith the to"n, enough to ake that "o an stand e0cused "ho has suffered herself to be "on by his addresses. . better an ought not to ha#e been sacrificed to the occasion6 a "orse had not ans"ered to the !ur!ose. ,hen you are "eary of hi you kno" your re edy. ?-S. ).7/. 7 ought to stand in so e degree of credit "ith you, ?irabell. ?7-.. 7n %ustice to you, 7 ha#e ade you !ri#y to y "hole design, and !ut it in your !o"er to ruin or ad#ance y fortune. ?-S. ).7/. ,ho ha#e you instructed to re!resent your !retended uncleG ?7-.. ,ait"ell, y ser#ant. ?-S. ).7/. He is an hu ble ser#ant to )oible, y other*s "o an, and ay "in her to your interest. ?7-.. 5are is taken for that. She is "on and "orn by this ti e. $hey "ere arried this orning. ?-S. ).7/. ,hoG ?7-.. ,ait"ell and )oible. 7 "ould not te !t y ser#ant to betray e by trusting hi too far. 7f your other, in ho!es to ruin e, should consent to arry y !retended uncle, he ight, like ?osca in CCD
the )(\, stand u!on ter s6 so 7 ade hi sure beforehand. ?-S. ).7/. So, if y !oor other is caught in a contract, you "ill disco#er the i !osture beti es, and release her by !roducing a certificate of her gallant*s for er arriage. ?7-.. Ues, u!on condition that she consent to y arriage "ith her niece, and surrender the oiety of her fortune in her !ossession. ?-S. ).7/. She talked last night of endea#ouring at a atch bet"een ?illa ant and your uncle. ?7-.. $hat "as by )oible*s direction and y instruction, that she ight see to carry it ore !ri#ately. ?-S. ).7/. ,ell, 7 ha#e an o!inion of your success, for 7 belie#e y lady "ill do anything to get an husband6 and "hen she has this, "hich you ha#e !ro#ided for her, 7 su!!ose she "ill sub it to anything to get rid of hi . ?7-.. Ues, 7 think the good lady "ould arry anything that rese bled a an, though *t"ere no ore than "hat a butler could !inch out of a na!kin. ?-S. ).7/. )e ale frailtyE ,e ust all co e to it, if "e li#e to be old, and feel the cra#ing of a false a!!etite "hen the true is decayed. ?7-.. .n old "o an*s a!!etite is de!ra#ed like that of a girl. *$is the green-sickness of a second childhood, and, like the faint offer of a latter s!ring, ser#es but to usher in the fall, and "ithers in an affected bloo . ?-S. ).7/. Here*s your istress. S59/9 V. 2$o the 3 ?-S. ?7==.?./$, ,7$,(;D, ?7/57/&. ?7-.. Here she co es, i*faith, full sail, "ith her fan s!read and strea ers out, and a shoal of fools for tenders.--Ha, no, 7 cry her ercy. ?-S. ).7/. 7 see but one !oor e !ty sculler, and he to"s her "o an after hi . ?7-.. Uou see to be unattended, ada . Uou used to ha#e the +9.; ?(/D9 throng after you, and a flock of gay fine !erukes ho#ering round you. ,7$. =ike oths about a candle. 7 had like to ha#e lost y co !arison for "ant of breath. ?7==.. (h, 7 ha#e denied yself airs to-day. 7 ha#e "alked as fast through the cro"d ,7$. .s a fa#ourite %ust disgraced, and "ith as fe" follo"ers. ?7==.. Dear ?r. ,it"oud, truce "ith your si ilitudes, for 7 a as sick of *e ,7$. .s a !hysician of a good air. 7 cannot hel! it, ada , though *tis against yself. ?7==.. Uet againE ?incing, stand bet"een e and his "it. ,7$. Do, ?rs. ?incing, like a screen before a great fire. 7 confess 7 do bla'e to-day6 7 a too bright. ?-S. ).7/. +ut, dear ?illa ant, "hy "ere you so longG ?7==.. =ongE =ord, ha#e 7 not ade #iolent hasteG 7 ha#e asked CC8
e#ery li#ing thing 7 et for you6 7 ha#e en4uired after you, as after a ne" fashion. ,7$. ?ada , truce "ith your si ilitudes.--/o, you et her husband, and did not ask hi for her. ?7-.. +y your lea#e, ,it"oud, that "ere like en4uiring after an old fashion to ask a husband for his "ife. ,7$. Hu , a hit, a hit, a !al!able hit6 7 confess it. ?-S. ).7/. Uou "ere dressed before 7 ca e abroad. ?7==.. .y, that*s true. (h, but then 7 had--?incing, "hat had 7G ,hy "as 7 so longG ?7/5. ( e , your lashi! stayed to !eruse a !acket of letters. ?7==.. (h, ay, letters--7 had letters--7 a !ersecuted "ith letters--7 hate letters. /obody kno"s ho" to "rite letters6 and yet one has *e , one does not kno" "hy. $hey ser#e one to !in u! one*s hair. ,7$. 7s that the "ayG <ray, ada , do you !in u! your hair "ith all your lettersG 7 find 7 ust kee! co!ies. ?7==.. (nly "ith those in #erse, ?r. ,it"oud. 7 ne#er !in u! y hair "ith !rose. 7 think 7 tried once, ?incing. ?7/5. ( e , 7 shall ne#er forget it. ?7==.. .y, !oor ?incing tift and tift all the orning. ?7/5. $ill 7 had the cra ! in y fingers, 7*ll #o", e . .nd all to no !ur!ose. +ut "hen your lashi! !ins it u! "ith !oetry, it fits so !leasant the ne0t day as anything, and is so !ure and so cri!s. ,7$. 7ndeed, so cri!sG ?7/5. Uou*re such a critic, ?r. ,it"oud. ?7==.. ?irabell, did you take e0ce!tions last nightG (h, ay, and "ent a"ay. /o" 7 think on*t 7* angry--no, no" 7 think on*t 7* !leased@- for 7 belie#e 7 ga#e you so e !ain. ?7-.. Does that !lease youG ?7==.. 7nfinitely6 7 lo#e to gi#e !ain. ?7-.. Uou "ould affect a cruelty "hich is not in your nature6 your true #anity is in the !o"er of !leasing. ?7==.. (h, 7 ask your !ardon for that. (ne*s cruelty is one*s !o"er, and "hen one !arts "ith one*s cruelty one !arts "ith one*s !o"er, and "hen one has !arted "ith that, 7 fancy one*s old and ugly. ?7-.. .y, ay6 suffer your cruelty to ruin the ob%ect of your !o"er, to destroy your lo#er--and then ho" #ain, ho" lost a thing you*ll beE /ay, *tis true6 you are no longer handso e "hen you*#e lost your lo#er@ your beauty dies u!on the instant. )or beauty is the lo#er*s gift@ *tis he besto"s your char s@- your glass is all a cheat. $he ugly and the old, "ho the looking-glass ortifies, yet after co endation can be flattered by it, and disco#er beauties in it@ for that reflects our !raises rather than your face. ?7==.. (h, the #anity of these enE )ainall, d*ye hear hi G 7f they did not co end us, "e "ere not handso eE /o" you ust kno" they could not co end one if one "as not handso e. +eauty the lo#er*s giftE =ord, "hat is a lo#er, that it can gi#eG ,hy, one akes lo#ers as fast as one !leases, and they li#e as long as one !leases, and they die as soon as one !leases6 and then, if one !leases, one akes ore. CC>
,7$. Very !retty. ,hy, you ake no ore of aking of lo#ers, ada , than of aking so any card- atches. ?7==.. (ne no ore o"es one*s beauty to a lo#er than one*s "it to an echo. $hey can but reflect "hat "e look and say@ #ain e !ty things if "e are silent or unseen, and "ant a being. ?7-.. Uet, to those t"o #ain e !ty things, you o"e t"o the greatest !leasures of your life. ?7==.. Ho" soG ?7-.. $o your lo#er you o"e the !leasure of hearing yoursel#es !raised, and to an echo the !leasure of hearing yoursel#es talk. ,7$. +ut 7 kno" a lady that lo#es talking so incessantly, she "on*t gi#e an echo fair !lay6 she has that e#erlasting rotation of tongue that an echo ust "ait till she dies before it can catch her last "ords. ?7==.. (h, fiction6 )ainall, let us lea#e these en. ?7-.. Dra" off ,it"oud. 2.side to ?-S. ).7/.==.3 ?-S. ).7/. 7 ediately6 7 ha#e a "ord or t"o for ?r. ,it"oud. S59/9 V7. ?-S. ?7==.?./$, ?7-.+9==, ?7/57/&. ?7-.. 7 "ould beg a little !ri#ate audience too. Uou had the tyranny to deny e last night, though you kne" 7 ca e to i !art a secret to you that concerned y lo#e. ?7==.. Uou sa" 7 "as engaged. ?7-.. ;nkindE Uou had the leisure to entertain a herd of fools@ things "ho #isit you fro their e0cessi#e idleness, besto"ing on your easiness that ti e "hich is the incu brance of their li#es. Ho" can you find delight in such societyG 7t is i !ossible they should ad ire you6 they are not ca!able6 or, if they "ere, it should be to you as a ortification@ for, sure, to !lease a fool is so e degree of folly. ?7==.. 7 !lease yself.--+esides, so eti es to con#erse "ith fools is for y health. ?7-.. Uour healthE 7s there a "orse disease than the con#ersation of foolsG ?7==.. Ues, the #a!ours6 fools are !hysic for it, ne0t to assafoetida. ?7-.. Uou are not in a course of foolsG ?7==.. ?irabell, if you !ersist in this offensi#e freedo you*ll dis!lease e. 7 think 7 ust resol#e after all not to ha#e you@- "e shan*t agree. ?7-.. /ot in our !hysic, it ay be. ?7==.. .nd yet our diste !er in all likelihood "ill be the sa e6 for "e shall be sick of one another. 7 shan*t endure to be re!ri anded nor instructed6 *tis so dull to act al"ays by ad#ice, and so tedious to be told of one*s faults, 7 can*t bear it. ,ell, 7 "on*t ha#e you, ?irabell--7* resol#ed--7 think--you ay go--ha, ha, haE ,hat "ould you gi#e that you could hel! lo#ing eG ?7-.. 7 "ould gi#e so ething that you did not kno" 7 could not hel! it. C50
?7==.. 5o e, don*t look gra#e then. ,ell, "hat do you say to eG ?7-.. 7 say that a an ay as soon ake a friend by his "it, or a fortune by his honesty, as "in a "o an "ith !lain-dealing and sincerity. ?7==.. Sententious ?irabellE <rithee don*t look "ith that #iolent and infle0ible "ise face, like Solo on at the di#iding of the child in an old ta!estry hangingE ?7-.. Uou are erry, ada , but 7 "ould !ersuade you for a o ent to be serious. ?7==.. ,hat, "ith that faceG /o, if you kee! your countenance, *tis i !ossible 7 should hold ine. ,ell, after all, there is so ething #ery o#ing in a lo#esick face. Ha, ha, haE ,ell 7 "on*t laugh6 don*t be !ee#ish. HeighoE /o" 7*ll be elancholy, as elancholy as a "atch-light. ,ell, ?irabell, if e#er you "ill "in e, "oo e no".--/ay, if you are so tedious, fare you "ell@ 7 see they are "alking a"ay. ?7-.. 5an you not find in the #ariety of your dis!osition one o ent ?7==.. $o hear you tell e )oible*s arried, and your !lot like to s!eedG /o. ?7-.. +ut ho" you ca e to kno" it ?7==.. ,ithout the hel! of the de#il, you can*t i agine6 unless she should tell e herself. ,hich of the t"o it ay ha#e been, 7 "ill lea#e you to consider6 and "hen you ha#e done thinking of that, think of e. S59/9 V77. ?7-.+9== alone. ?7-.. 7 ha#e so ething ore.--&oneE $hink of youG $o think of a "hirl"ind, though *t"ere in a "hirl"ind, "ere a case of ore steady conte !lation, a #ery tran4uillity of ind and ansion. . fello" that li#es in a "ind ill has not a ore "hi sical d"elling than the heart of a an that is lodged in a "o an. $here is no !oint of the co !ass to "hich they cannot turn, and by "hich they are not turned, and by one as "ell as another6 for otion, not ethod, is their occu!ation. $o kno" this, and yet continue to be in lo#e, is to be ade "ise fro the dictates of reason, and yet !erse#ere to !lay the fool by the force of instinct.--(h, here co e y !air of turtles. ,hat, billing so s"eetlyG 7s not Valentine*s day o#er "ith you yetG S59/9 V777. 2$o hi 3 ,.7$,9==, )(7+=9. ?7-.. Sirrah, ,ait"ell, "hy, sure, you think you "ere arried for your o"n recreation and not for y con#eniency. ,.7$. Uour !ardon, sir. ,ith sub ission, "e ha#e indeed been solacing in la"ful delights6 but still "ith an eye to business, sir. 7 ha#e instructed her as "ell as 7 could. 7f she can take your directions as readily as y instructions, sir, your affairs are in a C51
!ros!erous "ay. ?7-.. &i#e you %oy, ?rs. )oible. )(7+. (--las, sir, 7* so asha ed.--7* afraid y lady has been in a thousand in4uietudes for e. +ut 7 !rotest, sir, 7 ade as uch haste as 7 could. ,.7$. $hat she did indeed, sir. 7t "as y fault that she did not ake ore. ?7-.. $hat 7 belie#e. )(7+. +ut 7 told y lady as you instructed e, sir, that 7 had a !ros!ect of seeing Sir -o"land, your uncle, and that 7 "ould !ut her ladyshi!*s !icture in y !ocket to sho" hi , "hich 7*ll be sure to say has ade hi so ena oured of her beauty, that he burns "ith i !atience to lie at her ladyshi!*s feet and "orshi! the original. ?7-.. 90cellent )oibleE ?atri ony has ade you elo4uent in lo#e. ,.7$. 7 think she has !rofited, sir. 7 think so. )(7+. Uou ha#e seen ?ada ?illa ant, sirG ?7-.. Ues. )(7+. 7 told her, sir, because 7 did not kno" that you ight find an o!!ortunity6 she had so uch co !any last night. ?7-.. Uour diligence "ill erit ore. 7n the eanti e--2gi#es oney3 )(7+. ( dear sir, your hu ble ser#ant. ,.7$. S!ouse ?7-.. Stand off, sir, not a !enny. &o on and !ros!er, )oible. $he lease shall be ade good and the far stocked, if "e succeed. )(7+. 7 don*t 4uestion your generosity, sir, and you need not doubt of success. 7f you ha#e no ore co ands, sir, 7*ll be gone6 7* sure y lady is at her toilet, and can*t dress till 7 co e. (h dear, 7* sure that 2looking out3 "as ?rs. ?ar"ood that "ent by in a ask6 if she has seen e "ith you 7 sure she*ll tell y lady. 7*ll ake haste ho e and !re#ent her. Uour ser#ant, Sir.--+*"*y, ,ait"ell. S59/9 7\. ?7-.+9==, ,.7$,9==. ,.7$. Sir -o"land, if you !lease. $he %ade*s so !ert u!on her !refer ent she forgets herself. ?7-.. 5o e, sir, "ill you endea#our to forget yourself--and transfor into Sir -o"landG ,.7$. ,hy, sir, it "ill be i !ossible 7 should re e ber yself. ?arried, knighted, and attended all in one dayE *$is enough to ake any an forget hi self. $he difficulty "ill be ho" to reco#er y ac4uaintance and fa iliarity "ith y for er self, and fall fro y transfor ation to a refor ation into ,ait"ell. /ay, 7 shan*t be 4uite the sa e ,ait"ell neither--for no" 7 re e ber e, 7* arried, and can*t be y o"n an again. .y, there*s y grief6 that*s the sad change of life@ $o lose y title, and yet kee! y "ife. .5$ 777.--S59/9 7. C5A
. roo in =ady ,ishfort*s house. =.DU ,7SH)(-$ at her toilet, <9& "aiting. =.DU. ?ercifulE /o ne"s of )oible yetG <9&. /o, ada . =.DU. 7 ha#e no ore !atience. 7f 7 ha#e not fretted yself till 7 a !ale again, there*s no #eracity in e. )etch e the red--the red, do you hear, s"eetheartG .n errant ash colour, as 7* a !erson. =ook you ho" this "ench stirsE ,hy dost thou not fetch e a little redG Didst thou not hear e, ?o!usG <9&. $he red ratafia, does your ladyshi! ean, or the cherry brandyG =.DU. -atafia, foolG /o, fool. /ot the ratafia, fool--grant e !atienceE--7 ean the S!anish !a!er, idiot6 co !le0ion, darling. <aint, !aint, !aint, dost thou understand that, changeling, dangling thy hands like bobbins before theeG ,hy dost thou not stir, !u!!etG $hou "ooden thing u!on "iresE <9&. =ord, ada , your ladyshi! is so i !atient.--7 cannot co e at the !aint, ada @ ?rs. )oible has locked it u!, and carried the key "ith her. =.DU. . !o0 take you both.--)etch e the cherry brandy then. S59/9 77. =.DU ,7SH)(-$. 7* as !ale and as faint, 7 look like ?rs. :ual sick, the curate*s "ife, that*s al"ays breeding. ,ench, co e, co e, "ench, "hat art thou doingG Si!!ingG $astingG Sa#e thee, dost thou not kno" the bottleG S59/9 777. =.DU ,7SH)(-$, <9& "ith a bottle and china cu!. <9&. ?ada , 7 "as looking for a cu!. =.DU. . cu!, sa#e thee, and "hat a cu! hast thou broughtE Dost thou take e for a fairy, to drink out of an acornG ,hy didst thou not bring thy thi bleG Hast thou ne*er a brass thi ble clinking in thy !ocket "ith a bit of nut egG 7 "arrant thee. 5o e, fill, fill. So, again. See "ho that is. 2(ne knocks.3 Set do"n the bottle first. Here, here, under the table@- "hat, "ouldst thou go "ith the bottle in thy hand like a ta!sterG .s 7* a !erson, this "ench has li#ed in an inn u!on the road, before she ca e to e, like ?aritornes the .sturian in Don :ui0ote. /o )oible yetG <9&. /o, ada 6 ?rs. ?ar"ood. =.DU. (h, ?ar"ood@ let her co e in. 5o e in, good ?ar"ood. S59/9 7V. 2$o the 3 ?-S ?.-,((D. C5B
?-S. ?.-. 7* sur!rised to find your ladyshi! in D9SH.+7==9 at this ti e of day. =.DU. )oible*s a lost thing6 has been abroad since orning, and ne#er heard of since. ?-S. ?.-. 7 sa" her but no", as 7 ca e asked through the !ark, in conference "ith ?irabell. =.DU. ,ith ?irabellG Uou call y blood into y face "ith entioning that traitor. She durst not ha#e the confidence. 7 sent her to negotiate an affair, in "hich if 7* detected 7* undone. 7f that "heedling #illain has "rought u!on )oible to detect e, 7* ruined. ( y dear friend, 7* a "retch of "retches if 7* detected. ?-S. ?.-. ( ada , you cannot sus!ect ?rs. )oible*s integrity. =.DU. (h, he carries !oison in his tongue that "ould corru!t integrity itself. 7f she has gi#en hi an o!!ortunity, she has as good as !ut her integrity into his hands. .h, dear ?ar"ood, "hat*s integrity to an o!!ortunityG HarkE 7 hear her. Dear friend, retire into y closet, that 7 ay e0a ine her "ith ore freedo -you*ll !ardon e, dear friend, 7 can ake bold "ith you--there are books o#er the chi ney--:uarles and <ryn, and the SH(-$ V79, () $H9 S$.&9, "ith +unyan*s "orks to entertain you.--&o, you thing, and send her in. 2$o <9&.3 S59/9 V. =.DU ,7SH)(-$, )(7+=9. =.DU. ( )oible, "here hast thou beenG ,hat hast thou been doingG )(7+. ?ada , 7 ha#e seen the !arty. =.DU. +ut "hat hast thou doneG )(7+. /ay, *tis your ladyshi! has done, and are to do6 7 ha#e only !ro ised. +ut a an so ena oured--so trans!ortedE ,ell, if "orshi!!ing of !ictures be a sin--!oor Sir -o"land, 7 say. =.DU. $he iniature has been counted like. +ut hast thou not betrayed e, )oibleG Hast thou not detected e to that faithless ?irabellG ,hat hast thou to do "ith hi in the !arkG .ns"er e, has he got nothing out of theeG )(7+. So, the de#il has been beforehand "ith e6 "hat shall 7 sayG-.las, ada , could 7 hel! it, if 7 et that confident thingG ,as 7 in faultG 7f you had heard ho" he used e, and all u!on your ladyshi!*s account, 7* sure you "ould not sus!ect y fidelity. /ay, if that had been the "orst 7 could ha#e borne@ but he had a fling at your ladyshi! too, and then 7 could not hold6 but, i*faith 7 ga#e hi his o"n. =.DU. ?eG ,hat did the filthy fello" sayG )(7+. ( ada , *tis a sha e to say "hat he said, "ith his taunts and his fleers, tossing u! his nose. Hu h, says he, "hat, you are a-hatching so e !lot, says he, you are so early abroad, or catering, says he, ferreting for so e disbanded officer, 7 "arrant. Half !ay is but thin subsistence, says he. ,ell, "hat !ension does your lady !ro!oseG =et e see, says he, "hat, she ust co e do"n !retty dee! no", she*s su!erannuated, says he, and C5C
=.DU. (ds y life, 7*ll ha#e hi --7*ll ha#e hi urdered. 7*ll ha#e hi !oisoned. ,here does he eatG 7*ll arry a dra"er to ha#e hi !oisoned in his "ine. 7*ll send for -obin fro =ocket*s-i ediately. )(7+. <oison hi G <oisoning*s too good for hi . Star#e hi , ada , star#e hi 6 arry Sir -o"land, and get hi disinherited. (h, you "ould bless yourself to hear "hat he said. =.DU. . #illain6 su!erannuatedG )(7+. Hu h, says he, 7 hear you are laying designs against e too, says he, and ?rs. ?illa ant is to arry y uncle (he does not sus!ect a "ord of your ladyshi!)6 but, says he, 7*ll fit you for that, 7 "arrant you, says he, 7*ll ha !er you for that, says he, you and your old fri!!ery too, says he, 7*ll handle you =.DU. .udacious #illainE Handle eG ,ould he durstG )ri!!eryG (ld fri!!eryG ,as there e#er such a foul- outhed fello"G 7*ll be arried to- orro", 7*ll be contracted to-night. )(7+. $he sooner the better, ada . =.DU. ,ill Sir -o"land be here, say*st thouG ,hen, )oibleG )(7+. 7ncontinently, ada . /o ne" sheriff*s "ife e0!ects the return of her husband after knighthood "ith that i !atience in "hich Sir -o"land burns for the dear hour of kissing your ladyshi!*s hand after dinner. =.DU. )ri!!eryG Su!erannuated fri!!eryG 7*ll fri!!ery the #illain6 7*ll reduce hi to fri!!ery and rags, a tatterde alionE--7 ho!e to see hi hung "ith tatters, like a =ong =ane !ent-house, or a gibbet thief. . slander- outhed railerE 7 "arrant the s!endthrift !rodigal*s in debt as uch as the illion lottery, or the "hole court u!on a birthday. 7*ll s!oil his credit "ith his tailor. Ues, he shall ha#e y niece "ith her fortune, he shall. )(7+. HeG 7 ho!e to see hi lodge in =udgate first, and angle into +lackfriars for brass farthings "ith an old itten. =.DU. .y, dear )oible6 thank thee for that, dear )oible. He has !ut e out of all !atience. 7 shall ne#er reco !ose y features to recei#e Sir -o"land "ith any econo y of face. $his "retch has fretted e that 7 a absolutely decayed. =ook, )oible. )(7+. Uour ladyshi! has fro"ned a little too rashly, indeed, ada . $here are so e cracks discernible in the "hite #ernish. =.DU. =et e see the glass. 5racks, say*st thouG ,hy, 7 a arrantly flayed@ 7 look like an old !eeled "all. $hou ust re!air e, )oible, before Sir -o"land co es, or 7 shall ne#er kee! u! to y !icture. )(7+. 7 "arrant you, ada @ a little art once ade your !icture like you, and no" a little of the sa e art ust ake you like your !icture. Uour !icture ust sit for you, ada . =.DU. +ut art thou sure Sir -o"land "ill not fail to co eG (r "ill a not fail "hen he does co eG ,ill he be i !ortunate, )oible, and !ushG )or if he should not be i !ortunate 7 shall ne#er break decoru s. 7 shall die "ith confusion if 7 a forced to ad#ance--oh no, 7 can ne#er ad#ance6 7 shall s"oon if he should e0!ect ad#ances. /o, 7 ho!e Sir -o"land is better bred than to !ut a lady to the necessity of breaking her for s. 7 "on*t be too coy neither--7 "on*t gi#e hi des!air. +ut a little disdain is not a iss6 a little C55
scorn is alluring. )(7+. . little scorn beco es your ladyshi!. =.DU. Ues, but tenderness beco es e best--a sort of a dyingness. Uou see that !icture has a sort of a--ha, )oibleG . s"i ingness in the eyes. Ues, 7*ll look so. ?y niece affects it6 but she "ants features. 7s Sir -o"land handso eG =et y toilet be re o#ed--7*ll dress abo#e. 7*ll recei#e Sir -o"land here. 7s he handso eG Don*t ans"er e. 7 "on*t kno"6 7*ll be sur!rised. 7*ll be taken by sur!rise. )(7+. +y stor , ada . Sir -o"land*s a brisk an. =.DU. 7s heG (h, then, he*ll i !ortune, if he*s a brisk an. 7 shall sa#e decoru s if Sir -o"land i !ortunes. 7 ha#e a ortal terror at the a!!rehension of offending against decoru s. (h, 7* glad he*s a brisk an. =et y things be re o#ed, good )oible. S59/9 V7. ?-S. ).7/.==, )(7+=9. ?-S. ).7/. ( )oible, 7 ha#e been in a fright, lest 7 should co e too late. $hat de#il, ?ar"ood, sa" you in the !ark "ith ?irabell, and 7* afraid "ill disco#er it to y lady. )(7+. Disco#er "hat, ada G ?-S. ).7/. /ay, nay, !ut not on that strange face. 7 a !ri#y to the "hole design, and kno" that ,ait"ell, to "ho thou "ert this orning arried, is to !ersonate ?irabell*s uncle, and, as such "inning y lady, to in#ol#e her in those difficulties fro "hich ?irabell only ust release her, by his aking his conditions to ha#e y cousin and her fortune left to her o"n dis!osal. )(7+. ( dear ada , 7 beg your !ardon. 7t "as not y confidence in your ladyshi! that "as deficient6 but 7 thought the for er good corres!ondence bet"een your ladyshi! and ?r. ?irabell ight ha#e hindered his co unicating this secret. ?-S. ).7/. Dear )oible, forget that. )(7+. ( dear ada , ?r. ?irabell is such a s"eet "inning gentle an. +ut your ladyshi! is the !attern of generosity. S"eet lady, to be so goodE ?r. ?irabell cannot choose but be grateful. 7 find your ladyshi! has his heart still. /o", ada , 7 can safely tell your ladyshi! our success@ ?rs. ?ar"ood had told y lady, but 7 "arrant 7 anaged yself. 7 turned it all for the better. 7 told y lady that ?r. ?irabell railed at her. 7 laid horrid things to his charge, 7*ll #o"6 and y lady is so incensed that she*ll be contracted to Sir -o"land to-night, she says6 7 "arrant 7 "orked her u! that he ay ha#e her for asking for, as they say of a ,elsh aidenhead. ?-S. ).7/. ( rare )oibleE )(7+. ?ada , 7 beg your ladyshi! to ac4uaint ?r. ?irabell of his success. 7 "ould be seen as little as !ossible to s!eak to hi -besides, 7 belie#e ?ada ?ar"ood "atches e. She has a onth*s ind6 but 7 kno" ?r. ?irabell can*t abide her. 25alls.3 1ohn, re o#e y lady*s toilet. ?ada , your ser#ant. ?y lady is so i !atient, 7 fear she*ll co e for e, if 7 stay. C56
?-S. ).7/. 7*ll go "ith you u! the back stairs, lest 7 should her. S59/9 V77. ?-S. ?.-,((D alone.
eet
?-S. ?.-. 7ndeed, ?rs. 9ngine, is it thus "ith youG .re you beco e a go-bet"een of this i !ortanceG Ues, 7 shall "atch you. ,hy this "ench is the <.SS9-<.-$(;$, a #ery aster-key to e#erybody*s strong bo0. ?y friend )ainall, ha#e you carried it so s"i inglyG 7 thought there "as so ething in it6 but it see s it*s o#er "ith you. Uour loathing is not fro a "ant of a!!etite then, but fro a surfeit. 9lse you could ne#er be so cool to fall fro a !rinci!al to be an assistant, to !rocure for hi E . !attern of generosity, that 7 confess. ,ell, ?r. )ainall, you ha#e et "ith your atch.--( an, anE ,o an, "o anE $he de#il*s an ass@ if 7 "ere a !ainter, 7 "ould dra" hi like an idiot, a dri#eller "ith a bib and bells. ?an should ha#e his head and horns, and "o an the rest of hi . <oor, si !le fiendE *?ada ?ar"ood has a onth*s ind, but he can*t abide her.* *$"ere better for hi you had not been his confessor in that affair, "ithout you could ha#e ke!t his counsel closer. 7 shall not !ro#e another !attern of generosity6 he has not obliged e to that "ith those e0cesses of hi self, and no" 7*ll ha#e none of hi . Here co es the good lady, !anting ri!e, "ith a heart full of ho!e, and a head full of care, like any chy ist u!on the day of !ro%ection. S59/9 V777. 2$o her3 =.DU ,7SH)(-$. =.DU. ( dear ?ar"ood, "hat shall 7 say for this rude forgetfulnessG +ut y dear friend is all goodness. ?-S. ?.-. /o a!ologies, dear ada . 7 ha#e been #ery "ell entertained. =.DU. .s 7* a !erson, 7 a in a #ery chaos to think 7 should so forget yself. +ut 7 ha#e such an olio of affairs, really 7 kno" not "hat to do. 25alls.3 )oibleE--7 e0!ect y ne!he" Sir ,ilfull e#*ry o ent too.--,hy, )oibleE--He eans to tra#el for i !ro#e ent. ?-S. ?.-. ?ethinks Sir ,ilfull should rather think of arrying than tra#elling at his years. 7 hear he is turned of forty. =.DU. (h, he*s in less danger of being s!oiled by his tra#els. 7 a against y ne!he"*s arrying too young. 7t "ill be ti e enough "hen he co es back, and has ac4uired discretion to choose for hi self. ?-S. ?.-. ?ethinks ?rs. ?illa ant and he "ould ake a #ery fit atch. He ay tra#el after"ards. *$is a thing #ery usual "ith young gentle en. =.DU. 7 !ro ise you 7 ha#e thought on*t--and since *tis your %udg ent, 7*ll think on*t again. 7 assure you 7 "ill6 7 #alue your %udg ent e0tre ely. (n y "ord, 7*ll !ro!ose it. C5D
S59/9 7\. 2$o the 3 )(7+=9. =.DU. 5o e, co e, )oible--7 had forgot y ne!he" "ill be here before dinner--7 ust ake haste. )(7+. ?r. ,it"oud and ?r. <etulant are co e to dine "ith your ladyshi!. =.DU. (h dear, 7 can*t a!!ear till 7 a dressed. Dear ?ar"ood, shall 7 be free "ith you again, and beg you to entertain e G 7*ll ake all i aginable haste. Dear friend, e0cuse e. S59/9 \. ?-S. ?.-,((D, ?-S. ?7==.?./$, ?7/57/&. ?7==.. Sure, ne#er anything "as so unbred as that odious an. ?ar"ood, your ser#ant. ?-S. ?.-. Uou ha#e a colour6 "hat*s the atterG ?7==.. $hat horrid fello" <etulant has !ro#oked e into a fla e--7 ha#e broke y fan--?incing, lend e yours.--7s not all the !o"der out of y hairG ?-S. ?.-. /o. ,hat has he doneG ?7==.. /ay, he has done nothing6 he has only talked. /ay, he has said nothing neither6 but he has contradicted e#erything that has been said. )or y !art, 7 thought ,it"oud and he "ould ha#e 4uarrelled. ?7/5. 7 #o", e , 7 thought once they "ould ha#e fit. ?7==.. ,ell, *tis a la entable thing, 7 s"ear, that one has not the liberty of choosing one*s ac4uaintance as one does one*s clothes. ?-S. ?.-. 7f "e had that liberty, "e should be as "eary of one set of ac4uaintance, though ne#er so good, as "e are of one suit, though ne#er so fine. . fool and a doily stuff "ould no" and then find days of grace, and be "orn for #ariety. ?7==.. 7 could consent to "ear *e , if they "ould "ear alike6 but fools ne#er "ear out. $hey are such D-.< D9 +9--7 thingsE ,ithout one could gi#e *e to one*s cha ber aid after a day or t"o. ?-S. ?.-. *$"ere better so indeed. (r "hat think you of the !layhouseG . fine gay glossy fool should be gi#en there, like a ne" asking habit, after the as4uerade is o#er, and "e ha#e done "ith the disguise. )or a fool*s #isit is al"ays a disguise, and ne#er ad itted by a "o an of "it, but to blind her affair "ith a lo#er of sense. 7f you "ould but a!!ear barefaced no", and o"n ?irabell, you ight as easily !ut off <etulant and ,it"oud as your hood and scarf. .nd indeed *tis ti e, for the to"n has found it, the secret is gro"n too big for the !retence. *$is like ?rs. <ri ly*s great belly@ she ay lace it do"n before, but it burnishes on her hi!s. 7ndeed, ?illa ant, you can no ore conceal it than y =ady Stra el can her face, that goodly face, "hich in defiance of her -henish-"ine tea "ill not be co !rehended in a ask. ?7==.. 7*ll take y death, ?ar"ood, you are ore censorious than a C58
decayed beauty, or a discarded toast@- ?incing, tell the en they ay co e u!. ?y aunt is not dressing here6 their folly is less !ro#oking than your alice. S59/9 \7. ?-S. ?7==.?./$, ?-S. ?.-,((D. ?7==.. $he to"n has found itG ,hat has it foundG $hat ?irabell lo#es e is no ore a secret than it is a secret that you disco#ered it to y aunt, or than the reason "hy you disco#ered it is a secret. ?-S. ?.-. Uou are nettled. ?7==.. Uou*re istaken. -idiculousE ?-S. ?.-. 7ndeed, y dear, you*ll tear another fan, if you don*t itigate those #iolent airs. ?7==.. ( sillyE Ha, ha, haE 7 could laugh i oderately. <oor ?irabellE His constancy to e has 4uite destroyed his co !laisance for all the "orld beside. 7 s"ear 7 ne#er en%oined it hi to be so coy. 7f 7 had the #anity to think he "ould obey e, 7 "ould co and hi to sho" ore gallantry@ *tis hardly "ell-bred to be so !articular on one hand and so insensible on the other. +ut 7 des!air to !re#ail, and so let hi follo" his o"n "ay. Ha, ha, haE <ardon e, dear creature, 7 ust laugh6 ha, ha, haE $hough 7 grant you *tis a little barbarous6 ha, ha, haE ?-S. ?.-. ,hat !ity *tis so uch fine raillery, and deli#ered "ith so significant gesture, should be so unha!!ily directed to iscarry. ?7==.. HehG Dear creature, 7 ask your !ardon. 7 s"ear 7 did not ind you. ?-S. ?.-. ?r. ?irabell and you both ay think it a thing i !ossible, "hen 7 shall tell hi by telling you ?7==.. (h dear, "hatG )or it is the sa e thing, if 7 hear it. Ha, ha, haE ?-S. ?.-. $hat 7 detest hi , hate hi , ada . ?7==.. ( ada , "hy, so do 7. .nd yet the creature lo#es e, ha, ha, haE Ho" can one forbear laughing to think of itG 7 a a sibyl if 7 a not a a'ed to think "hat he can see in e. 7*ll take y death, 7 think you are handso er, and "ithin a year or t"o as young. 7f you could but stay for e, 7 should o#ertake you--but that cannot be. ,ell, that thought akes e elancholic.--/o" 7*ll be sad. ?-S. ?.-. Uour erry note ay be changed sooner than you think. ?7==.. D*ye say soG $hen 7* resol#ed 7*ll ha#e a song to kee! u! y s!irits. S59/9 \77. 2$o the 3 ?7/57/&. ?7/5. $he gentle en stay but to co b, ada , and "ill "ait on you. ?7==.. Desire ?rs.--that is in the ne0t roo , to sing the song 7 "ould ha#e learnt yesterday. Uou shall hear it, ada . /ot that there*s any great atter in it--but *tis agreeable to y hu our.
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S(/&. Set by ?r. 1ohn 9ccles. 7 =o#e*s but the frailty of the ind ,hen *tis not "ith a bition %oined6 . sickly fla e, "hich if not fed e0!ires, .nd feeding, "astes in self-consu ing fires. 77 *$is not to "ound a "anton boy (r a *rous youth, that gi#es the %oy6 +ut *tis the glory to ha#e !ierced a s"ain )or "ho inferior beauties sighed in #ain. 777 $hen 7 alone the con4uest !ri'e, ,hen 7 insult a ri#al*s eyes6 7f there*s delight in lo#e, *tis "hen 7 see $hat heart, "hich others bleed for, bleed for e. S59/9 \777. 2$o the 3 <9$;=./$, ,7$,(;D. ?7==.. 7s your ani osity co !osed, gentle enG ,7$. -aillery, raillery, ada 6 "e ha#e no ani osity. ,e hit off a little "it no" and then, but no ani osity. $he falling out of "its is like the falling out of lo#ers@- "e agree in the ain, like treble and bass. Ha, <etulantG <9$. .y, in the ain. +ut "hen 7 ha#e a hu our to contradict ,7$. .y, "hen he has a hu our to contradict, then 7 contradict too. ,hat, 7 kno" y cue. $hen "e contradict one another like t"o battledores6 for contradictions beget one another like 1e"s. <9$. 7f he says black*s black--if 7 ha#e a hu our to say *tis blue-let that !ass--all*s one for that. 7f 7 ha#e a hu our to !ro#e it, it ust be granted. ,7$. /ot !ositi#ely ust. +ut it ay6 it ay. <9$. Ues, it !ositi#ely ust, u!on !roof !ositi#e. ,7$. .y, u!on !roof !ositi#e it ust6 but u!on !roof !resu !ti#e it only ay. $hat*s a logical distinction no", ada . ?-S. ?.-. 7 !ercei#e your debates are of i !ortance, and #ery learnedly handled. <9$. 7 !ortance is one thing and learning*s another6 but a debate*s a debate, that 7 assert. ,7$. <etulant*s an ene y to learning6 he relies altogether on his !arts. <9$. /o, 7* no ene y to learning6 it hurts not e. ?-S. ?.-. $hat*s a sign, indeed, it*s no ene y to you. <9$. /o, no, it*s no ene y to anybody but the that ha#e it. ?7==.. ,ell, an illiterate an*s y a#ersion6 7 "onder at the i !udence of any illiterate an to offer to ake lo#e. ,7$. $hat 7 confess 7 "onder at, too. ?7==.. .h, to arry an ignorant that can hardly read or "riteE <9$. ,hy should a an be any further fro being arried, though he C60
can*t read, than he is fro being hangedG $he ordinary*s !aid for setting the !sal , and the !arish !riest for reading the cere ony. .nd for the rest "hich is to follo" in both cases, a an ay do it "ithout book. So all*s one for that. ?7==.. D*ye hear the creatureG =ord, here*s co !any6 7*ll begone. S59/9 \7V. S7- ,7=);== ,7$,(;D in a riding dress, ?-S. ?.-,((D, <9$;=./$, ,7$,(;D, )(($?./. ,7$. 7n the na e of +artle e" and his )air, "hat ha#e "e hereG ?-S. ?.-. *$is your brother, 7 fancy. Don*t you kno" hi G ,7$. /ot 7@- yes, 7 think it is he. 7*#e al ost forgot hi 6 7 ha#e not seen hi since the re#olution. )(($. Sir, y lady*s dressing. Here*s co !any, if you !lease to "alk in, in the eanti e. S7- ,7=. DressingE ,hat, it*s but orning here, 7 "arrant, "ith you in =ondon6 "e should count it to"ards afternoon in our !arts do"n in Shro!shire@- "hy, then, belike y aunt han*t dined yet. Ha, friendG )(($. Uour aunt, sirG S7- ,7=. ?y aunt, sirG Ues y aunt, sir, and your lady, sir6 your lady is y aunt, sir. ,hy, "hat dost thou not kno" e, friendG ,hy, then, send so ebody hither that does. Ho" long hast thou li#ed "ith thy lady, fello", haG )(($. . "eek, sir6 longer than anybody in the house, e0ce!t y lady*s "o an. S7- ,7=. ,hy, then, belike thou dost not kno" thy lady, if thou seest her. Ha, friendG )(($. ,hy, truly, sir, 7 cannot safely s"ear to her face in a orning, before she is dressed. *$is like 7 ay gi#e a shre"d guess at her by this ti e. S7- ,7=. ,ell, !rithee try "hat thou canst do6 if thou canst not guess, en4uire her out, dost hear, fello"G .nd tell her her ne!he", Sir ,ilfull ,it"oud, is in the house. )(($. 7 shall, sir. S7- ,7=. Hold ye, hear e, friend, a "ord "ith you in your ear@ !rithee "ho are these gallantsG )(($. -eally, sir, 7 can*t tell6 here co e so any here, *tis hard to kno" *e all. S59/9 \V. S7- ,7=);== ,7$,(;D, <9$;=./$, ,7$,(;D, ?-S. ?.-,((D. S7- ,7=. (ons, this fello" kno"s less than a starling@ 7 don*t think a kno"s his o"n na e. ?-S. ?.-. ?r. ,it"oud, your brother is not behindhand in forgetfulness. 7 fancy he has forgot you too. ,7$. 7 ho!e so. $he de#il take hi that re e bers first, 7 say. S7- ,7=. Sa#e you, gentle en and lady. C61
?-S. ?.-. )or sha e, ?r. ,it"oud6 "hy "on*t you s!eak to hi G--.nd you, sir. ,7$. <etulant, s!eak. <9$. .nd you, sir. S7- ,7=. /o offence, 7 ho!eG 2Salutes ?.-,((D.3 ?-S. ?.-. /o, sure, sir. ,7$. $his is a #ile dog, 7 see that already. /o offenceG Ha, ha, ha. $o hi , to hi , <etulant, s oke hi . <9$. 7t see s as if you had co e a %ourney, sir6 he , he . 2Sur#eying hi round.3 S7- ,7=. Very likely, sir, that it ay see so. <9$. /o offence, 7 ho!e, sirG ,7$. S oke the boots, the boots, <etulant, the boots6 ha, ha, haE S7- ,7==. ?aybe not, sir6 thereafter as *tis eant, sir. <9$. Sir, 7 !resu e u!on the infor ation of your boots. S7- ,7=. ,hy, *tis like you ay, sir@ if you are not satisfied "ith the infor ation of y boots, sir, if you "ill ste! to the stable, you ay en4uire further of y horse, sir. <9$. Uour horse, sirE Uour horse is an ass, sirE S7- ,7=. Do you s!eak by "ay of offence, sirG ?-S. ?.-. $he gentle an*s erry, that*s all, sir. *Slife, "e shall ha#e a 4uarrel bet"i0t an horse and an ass, before they find one another out.--Uou ust not take anything a iss fro your friends, sir. Uou are a ong your friends here, though it-- ay be you don*t kno" it. 7f 7 a not istaken, you are Sir ,ilfull ,it"oudG S7- ,7=. -ight, lady6 7 a Sir ,ilfull ,it"oud, so 7 "rite yself6 no offence to anybody, 7 ho!eG and ne!he" to the =ady ,ishfort of this ansion. ?-S. ?.-. Don*t you kno" this gentle an, sirG S7- ,7=. Hu E ,hat, sure *tis not--yea by*r lady but *tis-*sheart, 7 kno" not "hether *tis or no. Uea, but *tis, by the ,rekin. +rother .ntonyE ,hat, $ony, i*faithE ,hat, dost thou not kno" eG +y*r lady, nor 7 thee, thou art so becra#ated and so be!eri"igged. *Sheart, "hy dost not s!eakG .rt thou o*er%oyedG ,7$. (dso, brother, is it youG Uour ser#ant, brother. S7- ,7=. Uour ser#antG ,hy, yours, sir. Uour ser#ant again-*sheart, and your friend and ser#ant to that--and a--2!uff3 and a fla!-dragon for your ser#ice, sir, and a hare*s foot and a hare*s scut for your ser#ice, sir, an you be so cold and so courtlyE ,7$. /o offence, 7 ho!e, brotherG S7- ,7=. *Sheart, sir, but there is, and uch offence. . !o0, is this your inns o* court breeding, not to kno" your friends and your relations, your elders, and your bettersG ,7$. ,hy, brother ,ilfull of Salo!, you ay be as short as a Shre"sbury cake, if you !lease. +ut 7 tell you *tis not odish to kno" relations in to"n. Uou think you*re in the country, "here great lubberly brothers slabber and kiss one another "hen they eet, like a call of sergeants. *$is not the fashion here6 *tis not, indeed, dear brother. S7- ,7=. $he fashion*s a fool and you*re a fo!, dear brother. *Sheart, 7*#e sus!ected this--by*r lady 7 con%ectured you "ere a fo!, since you began to change the style of your letters, and "rite C6A
in a scra! of !a!er gilt round the edges, no bigger than a sub!oena. 7 ight e0!ect this "hen you left off *Honoured brother,* and *Ho!ing you are in good health,* and so forth, to begin "ith a *-at e, knight, 7* so sick of a last night*s debauch.* (ds heart, and then tell a fa iliar tale of a cock and a bull, and a "hore and a bottle, and so conclude. Uou could "rite ne"s before you "ere out of your ti e, "hen you li#ed "ith honest <u !le-/ose, the attorney of )urni#al*s 7nn. Uou could intreat to be re e bered then to your friends round the ,rekin. ,e could ha#e &a'ettes then, and Da"ks*s =etter, and the ,eekly +ill, till of late days. <9$. *Slife, ,it"oud, "ere you e#er an attorney*s clerkG (f the fa ily of the )urni#alsG Ha, ha, haE ,7$. .y, ay, but that "as but for a "hile. /ot long, not long6 !sha", 7 "as not in y o"n !o"er then. .n or!han, and this fello" "as y guardian6 ay, ay, 7 "as glad to consent to that an to co e to =ondon. He had the dis!osal of e then. 7f 7 had not agreed to that, 7 ight ha#e been bound !rentice to a felt aker in Shre"sbury@ this fello" "ould ha#e bound e to a aker of felts. S7- ,7=. *Sheart, and better than to be bound to a aker of fo!s, "here, 7 su!!ose, you ha#e ser#ed your ti e, and no" you ay set u! for yourself. ?-S. ?.-. Uou intend to tra#el, sir, as 7* infor edG S7- ,7=. +elike 7 ay, ada . 7 ay chance to sail u!on the salt seas, if y ind hold. <9$. .nd the "ind ser#e. S7- ,7=. Ser#e or not ser#e, 7 shan*t ask license of you, sir, nor the "eathercock your co !anion. 7 direct y discourse to the lady, sir. *$is like y aunt ay ha#e told you, ada G Ues, 7 ha#e settled y concerns, 7 ay say no", and a inded to see foreign !arts. 7f an ho" that the !eace holds, "hereby, that is, ta0es abate. ?-S. ?.-. 7 thought you had designed for )rance at all ad#entures. S7- ,7=. 7 can*t tell that6 *tis like 7 ay, and *tis like 7 ay not. 7 a so e"hat dainty in aking a resolution, because "hen 7 ake it 7 kee! it. 7 don*t stand shill 7, shall 7, then6 if 7 say*t, 7*ll do*t. +ut 7 ha#e thoughts to tarry a s all atter in to"n, to learn so e"hat of your lingo first, before 7 cross the seas. 7*d gladly ha#e a s!ice of your )rench as they say, "hereby to hold discourse in foreign countries. ?-S. ?.-. Here*s an acade y in to"n for that use. S7- ,7=. $here isG *$is like there ay. ?-S. ?.-. /o doubt you "ill return #ery uch i !ro#ed. ,7$. Ues, refined like a Dutch ski!!er fro a "hale-fishing. S59/9 \V7. 2$o the 3 =.DU ,7SH)(-$ and ).7/.==. =.DU. /e!he", you are "elco e. S7- ,7=. .unt, your ser#ant. ).7/. Sir ,ilfull, your ost faithful ser#ant. S7- ,7=. 5ousin )ainall, gi#e e your hand. C6B
=.DU. 5ousin ,it"oud, your ser#ant6 ?r. <etulant, your ser#ant. /e!he", you are "elco e again. ,ill you drink anything after your %ourney, ne!he", before you eatG Dinner*s al ost ready. S7- ,7=. 7* #ery "ell, 7 thank you, aunt. Ho"e#er, 7 thank you for your courteous offer. *Sheart, 7 "as afraid you "ould ha#e been in the fashion too, and ha#e re e bered to ha#e forgot your relations. Here*s your cousin $ony, belike, 7 ayn*t call hi brother for fear of offence. =.DU. (h, he*s a rallier, ne!he". ?y cousin*s a "it@ and your great "its al"ays rally their best friends to choose. ,hen you ha#e been abroad, ne!he", you*ll understand raillery better. 2).7/.== and ?-S. ?.-,((D talk a!art.3 S7- ,7=. ,hy, then, let hi hold his tongue in the eanti e, and rail "hen that day co es. S59/9 \V77. 2$o the 3 ?7/57/&. ?7/5. ?e , 7 co e to ac4uaint your lashi! that dinner is i !atient. S7- ,7=. 7 !atientG ,hy, then, belike it "on*t stay till 7 !ull off y boots. S"eetheart, can you hel! e to a !air of sli!!ersG ?y an*s "ith his horses, 7 "arrant. =.DU. )ie, fie, ne!he", you "ould not !ull off your boots hereG &o do"n into the hall@- dinner shall stay for you. ?y ne!he"*s a little unbred@ you*ll !ardon hi , ada . &entle en, "ill you "alkG ?ar"oodG ?-S. ?.-. 7*ll follo" you, ada ,--before Sir ,ilfull is ready. S59/9 \V777. ?-S. ?.-,((D, ).7/.==. ).7/. ,hy, then, )oible*s a ba"d, an errant, rank atch- aking ba"d. .nd 7, it see s, a a husband, a rank husband, and y "ife a #ery errant, rank "ife,--all in the "ay of the "orld. *Sdeath, to be a cuckold by antici!ation, a cuckold in e bryoE Sure 7 "as born "ith budding antlers like a young satyr, or a citi'en*s child, *sdeath, to be out-"itted, to be out-%ilted, out- atri onied. 7f 7 had ke!t y s!eed like a stag, *t"ere so e"hat, but to cra"l after, "ith y horns like a snail, and be outstri!!ed by y "ife--*tis scur#y "edlock. ?-S. ?.-. $hen shake it off@ you ha#e often "ished for an o!!ortunity to !art, and no" you ha#e it. +ut first !re#ent their !lot@- the half of ?illa ant*s fortune is too considerable to be !arted "ith to a foe, to ?irabell. ).7/. Da n hi , that had been ine--had you not ade that fond disco#ery. $hat had been forfeited, had they been arried. ?y "ife had added lustre to y horns by that increase of fortune@ 7 could ha#e "orn *e ti!t "ith gold, though y forehead had been furnished like a de!uty-lieutenant*s hall. ?-S. ?.-. $hey ay !ro#e a ca! of aintenance to you still, if you C6C
can a"ay "ith your "ife. .nd she*s no "orse than "hen you had her@7 dare s"ear she had gi#en u! her ga e before she "as arried. ).7/. Hu E $hat ay be ?-S. ?.-. Uou arried her to kee! you6 and if you can contri#e to ha#e her kee! you better than you e0!ected, "hy should you not kee! her longer than you intendedG ).7/. $he eans, the eansG ?-S. ?.-. Disco#er to y lady your "ife*s conduct6 threaten to !art "ith her. ?y lady lo#es her, and "ill co e to any co !osition to sa#e her re!utation. $ake the o!!ortunity of breaking it %ust u!on the disco#ery of this i !osture. ?y lady "ill be enraged beyond bounds, and sacrifice niece, and fortune and all at that con%uncture. .nd let e alone to kee! her "ar @ if she should flag in her !art, 7 "ill not fail to !ro !t her. ).7/. )aith, this has an a!!earance. ?-S. ?.-. 7* sorry 7 hinted to y lady to endea#our a atch bet"een ?illa ant and Sir ,ilfull6 that ay be an obstacle. ).7/. (h, for that atter, lea#e e to anage hi 6 7*ll disable hi for that, he "ill drink like a Dane. .fter dinner 7*ll set his hand in. ?-S. ?.-. ,ell, ho" do you stand affected to"ards your ladyG ).7/. ,hy, faith, 7* thinking of it. =et e see. 7 a arried already6 so that*s o#er. ?y "ife has !layed the %ade "ith e6 "ell, that*s o#er too. 7 ne#er lo#ed her, or if 7 had, "hy that "ould ha#e been o#er too by this ti e. 1ealous of her 7 cannot be, for 7 a certain6 so there*s an end of %ealousy. ,eary of her 7 a and shall be. /o, there*s no end of that6 no, no, that "ere too uch to ho!e. $hus far concerning y re!ose. /o" for y re!utation@ as to y o"n, 7 arried not for it6 so that*s out of the 4uestion. .nd as to y !art in y "ife*s--"hy, she had !arted "ith hers before6 so, bringing none to e, she can take none fro e@ *tis against all rule of !lay that 7 should lose to one "ho has not "here"ithal to stake. ?-S. ?.-. +esides you forget, arriage is honourable. ).7/. Hu E )aith, and that*s "ell thought on@ arriage is honourable, as you say6 and if so, "herefore should cuckoldo be a discredit, being deri#ed fro so honourable a rootG ?-S. ?.-. /ay, 7 kno" not6 if the root be honourable, "hy not the branchesG ).7/. So, so6 "hy this !oint*s clear. ,ell, ho" do "e !roceedG ?-S. ?.-. 7 "ill contri#e a letter "hich shall be deli#ered to y lady at the ti e "hen that rascal "ho is to act Sir -o"land is "ith her. 7t shall co e as fro an unkno"n hand--for the less 7 a!!ear to kno" of the truth the better 7 can !lay the incendiary. +esides, 7 "ould not ha#e )oible !ro#oked if 7 could hel! it, because, you kno", she kno"s so e !assages. /ay, 7 e0!ect all "ill co e out. +ut let the ine be s!rung first, and then 7 care not if 7 a disco#ered. ).7/. 7f the "orst co e to the "orst, 7*ll turn y "ife to grass. 7 ha#e already a deed of settle ent of the best !art of her estate, "hich 7 "heedled out of her, and that you shall !artake at least. ?-S. ?.-. 7 ho!e you are con#inced that 7 hate ?irabell no"G C65
Uou*ll be no ore %ealousG ).7/. 1ealousG /o, by this kiss. =et husbands be %ealous, but let the lo#er still belie#e@ or if he doubt, let it be only to endear his !leasure, and !re!are the %oy that follo"s, "hen he !ro#es his istress true. +ut let husbands* doubts con#ert to endless %ealousy6 or if they ha#e belief, let it corru!t to su!erstition and blind credulity. 7 a single and "ill herd no ore "ith *e . $rue, 7 "ear the badge, but 7*ll diso"n the order. .nd since 7 take y lea#e of *e , 7 care not if 7 lea#e *e a co on otto to their co on crest. .ll husbands ust or !ain or sha e endure6 $he "ise too %ealous are, fools too secure. .5$ 7V.--S59/9 7. Scene 5ontinues. =.DU ,7SH)(-$ and )(7+=9. =.DU. 7s Sir -o"land co ing, say*st thou, )oibleG .nd are things in orderG )(7+. Ues, ada . 7 ha#e !ut "a0-lights in the sconces, and !laced the foot en in a ro" in the hall, in their best li#eries, "ith the coach an and !ostillion to fill u! the e4ui!age. =.DU. Ha#e you !ul#illed the coach an and !ostillion, that they ay not stink of the stable "hen Sir -o"land co es byG )(7+. Ues, ada . =.DU. .nd are the dancers and the usic ready, that he ay be entertained in all !oints "ith corres!ondence to his !assionG )(7+. .ll is ready, ada . =.DU. .nd--"ell--and ho" do 7 look, )oibleG )(7+. ?ost killing "ell, ada . =.DU. ,ell, and ho" shall 7 recei#e hi G 7n "hat figure shall 7 gi#e his heart the first i !ressionG $here is a great deal in the first i !ression. Shall 7 sitG /o, 7 "on*t sit, 7*ll "alk,--ay, 7*ll "alk fro the door u!on his entrance, and then turn full u!on hi . /o, that "ill be too sudden. 7*ll lie,--ay, 7*ll lie do"n. 7*ll recei#e hi in y little dressing-roo 6 there*s a couch--yes, yes, 7*ll gi#e the first i !ression on a couch. 7 "on*t lie neither, but loll and lean u!on one elbo", "ith one foot a little dangling off, %ogging in a thoughtful "ay. Ues6 and then as soon as he a!!ears, start, ay, start and be sur!rised, and rise to eet hi in a !retty disorder. Ues6 oh, nothing is ore alluring than a le#ee fro a couch in so e confusion. 7t sho"s the foot to ad#antage, and furnishes "ith blushes and re-co !osing airs beyond co !arison. HarkE $here*s a coach. )(7+. *$is he, ada . =.DU. (h dear, has y ne!he" ade his addresses to ?illa antG 7 ordered hi . )(7+. Sir ,ilfull is set in to drinking, ada , in the !arlour. =.DU. (ds y life, 7*ll send hi to her. 5all her do"n, )oible6 bring her hither. 7*ll send hi as 7 go. ,hen they are together, C66
then co e to -o"land.
e, )oible, that 7
ay not be too long alone "ith Sir
S59/9 77. ?-S. ?7==.?./$, ?-S. ).7/.==, )(7+=9. )(7+. ?ada , 7 stayed here to tell your ladyshi! that ?r. ?irabell has "aited this half hour for an o!!ortunity to talk "ith you6 though y lady*s orders "ere to lea#e you and Sir ,ilfull together. Shall 7 tell ?r. ?irabell that you are at leisureG ?7==.. /o. ,hat "ould the dear an ha#eG 7 a thoughtful and "ould a use yself6 bid hi co e another ti e. $here ne#er yet "as "o an ade, /or shall, but to be cursed. 2-e!eating and "alking about.3 $hat*s hardE ?-S. ).7/. Uou are #ery fond of Sir 1ohn Suckling to-day, ?illa ant, and the !oets. ?7==.. HeG .y, and filthy #erses. So 7 a . )(7+. Sir ,ilfull is co ing, ada . Shall 7 send ?r. ?irabell a"ayG ?7==.. .y, if you !lease, )oible, send hi a"ay, or send hi hither, %ust as you "ill, dear )oible. 7 think 7*ll see hi . Shall 7G .y, let the "retch co e. $hyrsis, a youth of the ins!ired train. 2-e!eating3 Dear )ainall, entertain Sir ,ilfull@- thou hast !hiloso!hy to undergo a fool6 thou art arried and hast !atience. 7 "ould confer "ith y o"n thoughts. ?-S. ).7/. 7 a obliged to you that you "ould ake e your !ro0y in this affair, but 7 ha#e business of y o"n. S59/9 777. 2$o the 3 S7- ,7=);==. ?-S. ).7/. ( Sir ,ilfull, you are co e at the critical instant. $here*s your istress u! to the ears in lo#e and conte !lation6 !ursue your !oint, no" or ne#er. S7- ,7=. Ues, y aunt "ill ha#e it so. 7 "ould gladly ha#e been encouraged "ith a bottle or t"o, because 7* so e"hat "ary at first, before 7 a ac4uainted. 2$his "hile ?7==.?./$ "alks about re!eating to herself.3 +ut 7 ho!e, after a ti e, 7 shall break y ind--that is, u!on further ac4uaintance.--So for the !resent, cousin, 7*ll take y lea#e. 7f so be you*ll be so kind to ake y e0cuse, 7*ll return to y co !any ?-S. ).7/. (h, fie, Sir ,ilfullE ,hat, you ust not be daunted. S7- ,7=. DauntedG /o, that*s not it6 it is not so uch for that-for if so be that 7 set on*t 7*ll do*t. +ut only for the !resent, *tis sufficient till further ac4uaintance, that*s all--your ser#ant. ?-S. ).7/. /ay, 7*ll s"ear you shall ne#er lose so fa#ourable an o!!ortunity, if 7 can hel! it. 7*ll lea#e you together and lock the C6D
door. S59/9 7V. S7- ,7=);==, ?7==.?./$. S7- ,7=. /ay, nay, cousin. 7 ha#e forgot y glo#es. ,hat d*ye doG *Sheart, a has locked the door indeed, 7 think.--/ay, cousin )ainall, o!en the door. <sha", "hat a #i0en trick is thisG /ay, no" a has seen e too.--5ousin, 7 ade bold to !ass through as it "ere--7 think this door*s enchanted. ?7==.. 2re!eating3@7 !rithee s!are e, gentle boy, <ress e no ore for that slight toy. S7- ,7=. .nanG 5ousin, your ser#ant. ?7==.. $hat foolish trifle of a heart Sir ,ilfullE S7- ,7=. Ues--your ser#ant. /o offence, 7 ho!e, cousinG ?7==.. 2re!eating3@7 s"ear it "ill not do its !art, $hough thou dost thine, e !loy*st thy !o"er and art. /atural, easy SucklingE S7- ,7=. .nanG SucklingG /o such suckling neither, cousin, nor stri!ling@ 7 thank hea#en 7* no inor. ?7==.. .h, rustic, ruder than &othic. S7- ,7=. ,ell, "ell, 7 shall understand your lingo one of these days, cousin6 in the ean"hile 7 ust ans"er in !lain 9nglish. ?7==.. Ha#e you any business "ith e, Sir ,ilfullG S7- ,7=. /ot at !resent, cousin. Ues, 7 ade bold to see, to co e and kno" if that ho" you "ere dis!osed to fetch a "alk this e#ening6 if so be that 7 ight not be troubleso e, 7 "ould ha#e sought a "alk "ith you. ?7==.. . "alkG ,hat thenG S7- ,7=. /ay, nothing. (nly for the "alk*s sake, that*s all. ?7==.. 7 nauseate "alking@ *tis a country di#ersion6 7 loathe the country and e#erything that relates to it. S7- ,7=. 7ndeedE HahE =ook ye, look ye, you doG /ay, *tis like you ay. Here are choice of !asti es here in to"n, as !lays and the like, that ust be confessed indeed ?7==.. .h, =*9$(;-D7E 7 hate the to"n too. S7- ,7=. Dear heart, that*s uch. HahE that you should hate *e bothE HahE *tis like you ayE $here are so e can*t relish the to"n, and others can*t a"ay "ith the country, *tis like you ay be one of those, cousin. ?7==.. Ha, ha, haE Ues, *tis like 7 ay. Uou ha#e nothing further to say to eG S7- ,7=. /ot at !resent, cousin. *$is like "hen 7 ha#e an o!!ortunity to be ore !ri#ate--7 ay break y ind in so e easure-7 con%ecture you !artly guess. Ho"e#er, that*s as ti e shall try. +ut s!are to s!eak and s!are to s!eed, as they say. C68
?7==.. 7f it is of no great i !ortance, Sir ,ilfull, you "ill oblige e to lea#e e@ 7 ha#e %ust no" a little business. S7- ,7=. 9nough, enough, cousin. Ues, yes, all a case. ,hen you*re dis!osed, "hen you*re dis!osed. /o"*s as "ell as another ti e6 and another ti e as "ell as no". .ll*s one for that. Ues, yes6 if your concerns call you, there*s no haste@ it "ill kee! cold as they say. 5ousin, your ser#ant. 7 think this door*s locked. ?7==.. Uou ay go this "ay, sir. S7- ,7=. Uour ser#ant6 then "ith your lea#e 7*ll return to y co !any. ?7==.. .y, ay6 ha, ha, haE =ike <hoebus sung the no less a *rous boy. S59/9 V. ?-S. ?7==.?./$, ?7-.+9==. ?7-.. =ike Da!hne she, as lo#ely and as coy. Do you lock yourself u! fro e, to ake y search ore curiousG (r is this !retty artifice contri#ed, to signify that here the chase ust end, and y !ursuit be cro"ned, for you can fly no furtherG ?7==.. VanityE /o--7*ll fly and be follo"ed to the last o ent6 though 7 a u!on the #ery #erge of atri ony, 7 e0!ect you should solicit e as uch as if 7 "ere "a#ering at the grate of a onastery, "ith one foot o#er the threshold. 7*ll be solicited to the #ery last6 nay, and after"ards. ?7-.. ,hat, after the lastG ?7==.. (h, 7 should think 7 "as !oor and had nothing to besto" if 7 "ere reduced to an inglorious ease, and freed fro the agreeable fatigues of solicitation. ?7-.. +ut do not you kno" that "hen fa#ours are conferred u!on instant and tedious solicitation, that they di inish in their #alue, and that both the gi#er loses the grace, and the recei#er lessens his !leasureG ?7==.. 7t ay be in things of co on a!!lication, but ne#er, sure, in lo#e. (h, 7 hate a lo#er that can dare to think he dra"s a o ent*s air inde!endent on the bounty of his istress. $here is not so i !udent a thing in nature as the saucy look of an assured an confident of success@ the !edantic arrogance of a #ery husband has not so !rag atical an air. .h, 7*ll ne#er arry, unless 7 a first ade sure of y "ill and !leasure. ?7-.. ,ould you ha#e *e both before arriageG (r "ill you be contented "ith the first no", and stay for the other till after graceG ?7==.. .h, don*t be i !ertinent. ?y dear liberty, shall 7 lea#e theeG ?y faithful solitude, y darling conte !lation, ust 7 bid you then adieuG .y-h, adieu. ?y orning thoughts, agreeable "akings, indolent slu bers, all ye D(;59;-S, ye S(??97=S D; ?.$7/, adieu. 7 can*t do*t, *tis ore than i !ossible--!ositi#ely, ?irabell, 7*ll lie a-bed in a orning as long as 7 !lease. ?7 -.. $hen 7*ll get u! in a orning as early as 7 !lease. ?7==.. .hE 7dle creature, get u! "hen you "ill. .nd d*ye hear, 7 C6>
"on*t be called na es after 7* arried6 !ositi#ely 7 "on*t be called na es. ?7-.. /a esG ?7==.. .y, as "ife, s!ouse, y dear, %oy, %e"el, lo#e, s"eet-heart, and the rest of that nauseous cant, in "hich en and their "i#es are so fulso ely fa iliar--7 shall ne#er bear that. &ood ?irabell, don*t let us be fa iliar or fond, nor kiss before folks, like y =ady )adler and Sir )rancis6 nor go to Hyde <ark together the first Sunday in a ne" chariot, to !ro#oke eyes and "his!ers, and then ne#er be seen there together again, as if "e "ere !roud of one another the first "eek, and asha ed of one another e#er after. =et us ne#er #isit together, nor go to a !lay together, but let us be #ery strange and "ell-bred. =et us be as strange as if "e had been arried a great "hile, and as "ell-bred as if "e "ere not arried at all. ?7-.. Ha#e you any ore conditions to offerG Hitherto your de ands are !retty reasonable. ?7==.. $rifles6 as liberty to !ay and recei#e #isits to and fro "ho 7 !lease6 to "rite and recei#e letters, "ithout interrogatories or "ry faces on your !art6 to "ear "hat 7 !lease, and choose con#ersation "ith regard only to y o"n taste6 to ha#e no obligation u!on e to con#erse "ith "its that 7 don*t like, because they are your ac4uaintance, or to be inti ate "ith fools, because they ay be your relations. 5o e to dinner "hen 7 !lease, dine in y dressingroo "hen 7* out of hu our, "ithout gi#ing a reason. $o ha#e y closet in#iolate6 to be sole e !ress of y tea-table, "hich you ust ne#er !resu e to a!!roach "ithout first asking lea#e. .nd lastly, "here#er 7 a , you shall al"ays knock at the door before you co e in. $hese articles subscribed, if 7 continue to endure you a little longer, 7 ay by degrees d"indle into a "ife. ?7-.. Uour bill of fare is so ething ad#anced in this latter account. ,ell, ha#e 7 liberty to offer conditions@- that "hen you are d"indled into a "ife, 7 ay not be beyond easure enlarged into a husbandG ?7==.. Uou ha#e free lea#e@ !ro!ose your ut ost, s!eak and s!are not. ?7-.. 7 thank you. 7?<-7?7S, then, 7 co#enant that your ac4uaintance be general6 that you ad it no s"orn confidant or inti ate of your o"n se06 no she friend to screen her affairs under your countenance, and te !t you to ake trial of a utual secrecy. /o decoy-duck to "heedle you a )(<-S5-.?+=7/& to the !lay in a ask, then bring you ho e in a !retended fright, "hen you think you shall be found out, and rail at e for issing the !lay, and disa!!ointing the frolic "hich you had to !ick e u! and !ro#e y constancy. ?7==.. Detestable 7?<-7?7SE 7 go to the !lay in a askE ?7-.. 7$9?, 7 article, that you continue to like your o"n face as long as 7 shall, and "hile it !asses current "ith e, that you endea#our not to ne" coin it. $o "hich end, together "ith all #i'ards for the day, 7 !rohibit all asks for the night, ade of oiled skins and 7 kno" not "hat--hog*s bones, hare*s gall, !ig "ater, and the arro" of a roasted cat. 7n short, 7 forbid all co erce "ith the gentle"o en in "hat-d*ye-call-it court. 7$9?, 7 CD0
shut y doors against all ba"ds "ith baskets, and !enny"orths of uslin, china, fans, atlases, etc. 7$9?, "hen you shall be breeding ?7==.. .h, na e it notE ?7-.. ,hich ay be !resu ed, "ith a blessing on our endea#ours ?7==.. (dious endea#oursE ?7-.. 7 denounce against all strait lacing, s4uee'ing for a sha!e, till you ould y boy*s head like a sugar-loaf, and instead of a an-child, ake e father to a crooked billet. =astly, to the do inion of the tea-table 7 sub it6 but "ith !ro#iso, that you e0ceed not in your !ro#ince, but restrain yourself to nati#e and si !le tea-table drinks, as tea, chocolate, and coffee. .s like"ise to genuine and authorised tea-table talk, such as ending of fashions, s!oiling re!utations, railing at absent friends, and so forth. +ut that on no account you encroach u!on the en*s !rerogati#e, and !resu e to drink healths, or toast fello"s6 for !re#ention of "hich, 7 banish all foreign forces, all au0iliaries to the tea-table, as orange-brandy, all aniseed, cinna on, citron, and +arbadoes "aters, together "ith ratafia and the ost noble s!irit of clary. +ut for co"sli!-"ine, !o!!y-"ater, and all dor iti#es, those 7 allo". $hese !ro#isos ad itted, in other things 7 ay !ro#e a tractable and co !lying husband. ?7==.. (h, horrid !ro#isosE )ilthy strong "atersE 7 toast fello"s, odious enE 7 hate your odious !ro#isos. ?7-.. $hen "e*re agreed. Shall 7 kiss your hand u!on the contractG .nd here co es one to be a "itness to the sealing of the deed. S59/9 V7. 2$o the 3 ?-S. ).7/.==. ?7==.. )ainall, "hat shall 7 doG Shall 7 ha#e hi G 7 think 7 ust ha#e hi . ?-S. ).7/. .y, ay, take hi , take hi , "hat should you doG ?7==.. ,ell then--7*ll take y death 7* in a horrid fright-)ainall, 7 shall ne#er say it. ,ell--7 think--7*ll endure you. ?-S. ).7/. )ie, fie, ha#e hi , and tell hi so in !lain ter s@ for 7 a sure you ha#e a ind to hi . ?7==.. .re youG 7 think 7 ha#e6 and the horrid an looks as if he thought so too. ,ell, you ridiculous thing you, 7*ll ha#e you. 7 "on*t be kissed, nor 7 "on*t be thanked.--Here, kiss y hand though, so hold your tongue no"6 don*t say a "ord. ?-S. ).7/. ?irabell, there*s a necessity for your obedience@ you ha#e neither ti e to talk nor stay. ?y other is co ing6 and in y conscience if she should see you, "ould fall into fits, and aybe not reco#er ti e enough to return to Sir -o"land, "ho, as )oible tells e, is in a fair "ay to succeed. $herefore s!are your ecstasies for another occasion, and sli! do"n the back stairs, "here )oible "aits to consult you. ?7==.. .y, go, go. 7n the eanti e 7 su!!ose you ha#e said so ething to !lease e. ?7-.. 7 a all obedience.
CD1
S59/9 V77. ?-S. ?7==.?./$, ?-S. ).7/.==. ?-S. ).7/. Uonder Sir ,ilfull*s drunk, and so noisy that y other has been forced to lea#e Sir -o"land to a!!ease hi 6 but he ans"ers her only "ith singing and drinking. ,hat they ay ha#e done by this ti e 7 kno" not, but <etulant and he "ere u!on 4uarrelling as 7 ca e by. ?7==.. ,ell, if ?irabell should not ake a good husband, 7 a a lost thing@ for 7 find 7 lo#e hi #iolently. ?-S. ).7/. So it see s6 for you ind not "hat*s said to you. 7f you doubt hi , you had best take u! "ith Sir ,ilfull. ?7==.. Ho" can you na e that su!erannuated lubberG fohE S59/9 V777. 2$o the 3 ,7$,(;D fro drinking.
?-S. ).7/. So, is the fray ade u! that you ha#e left *e G ,7$. =eft *e G 7 could stay no longer. 7 ha#e laughed like ten 5hrist*nings. 7 a ti!sy "ith laughing--if 7 had stayed any longer 7 should ha#e burst,--7 ust ha#e been let out and !ieced in the sides like an unsi'ed ca let. Ues, yes, the fray is co !osed6 y lady ca e in like a /(=7 <-(S9:;7, and sto!t the !roceedings. ?7==.. ,hat "as the dis!uteG ,7$. $hat*s the %est@ there "as no dis!ute. $hey could neither of *e s!eak for rage6 and so fell a s!utt*ring at one another like t"o roasting a!!les. S59/9 7\. 2$o the 3 <9$;=./$ drunk. ,7$. /o", <etulantG .ll*s o#er, all*s "ellG &ad, y head begins to "hi it about. ,hy dost thou not s!eakG $hou art both as drunk and as ute as a fish. <9$. =ook you, ?rs. ?illa ant, if you can lo#e e, dear /y !h, say it, and that*s the conclusion--!ass on, or !ass off--that*s all. ,7$. $hou hast uttered #olu es, folios, in less than deci o se0to, y dear =acede onian. Sirrah, <etulant, thou art an e!ito iser of "ords. <9$. ,it"oud,--you are an annihilator of sense. ,7$. $hou art a retailer of !hrases, and dost deal in re nants of re nants, like a aker of !incushions6 thou art in truth ( eta!horically s!eaking) a s!eaker of shorthand. <9$. $hou art ("ithout a figure) %ust one half of an ass, and +ald"in yonder, thy half-brother, is the rest. . &e ini of asses s!lit "ould ake %ust four of you. ,7$. $hou dost bite, y dear ustard-seed6 kiss e for that. <9$. Stand off--7*ll kiss no ore ales--7 ha#e kissed your $"in yonder in a hu our of reconciliation till he 2hiccu!3 rises u!on y sto ach like a radish. ?7==.. 9hE filthy creature6 "hat "as the 4uarrelG <9$. $here "as no 4uarrel6 there ight ha#e been a 4uarrel. CDA
,7$. 7f there had been "ords eno" bet"een *e to ha#e e0!ressed !ro#ocation, they had gone together by the ears like a !air of castanets. <9$. Uou "ere the 4uarrel. ?7==.. ?eG <9$. 7f 7 ha#e a hu our to 4uarrel, 7 can ake less atters conclude !re ises. 7f you are not handso e, "hat thenG 7f 7 ha#e a hu our to !ro#e itG 7f 7 shall ha#e y re"ard, say so6 if not, fight for your face the ne0t ti e yourself--7*ll go slee!. ,7$. Do, "ra! thyself u! like a "oodlouse, and drea re#enge. .nd, hear e, if thou canst learn to "rite by to- orro" orning, !en e a challenge. 7*ll carry it for thee. <9$. 5arry your istress*s onkey a s!ider6 go flea dogs and read ro ances. 7*ll go to bed to y aid. ?-S. ).7/. He*s horridly drunk--ho" ca e you all in this !ickleG ,7$. . !lot, a !lot, to get rid of the knight--your husband*s ad#ice6 but he sneaked off. S59/9 \. S7- ,7=);==, drunk, =.DU ,7SH)(-$, ,7$,(;D, ?-S. ?7==.?./$, ?-S. ).7/.==. =.DU. (ut u!on*t, out u!on*t, at years of discretion, and co !ort yourself at this ranti!ole rateE S7- ,7=. /o offence, aunt. =.DU. (ffenceG .s 7* a !erson, 7* asha ed of you. )oghE Ho" you stink of "ineE D*ye think y niece "ill e#er endure such a +orachioG Uou*re an absolute +orachio. S7- ,7=. +orachioG =.DU. .t a ti e "hen you should co ence an a our, and !ut your best foot fore ost S7- ,7=. *Sheart, an you grutch e your li4uor, ake a bill.--&i#e e ore drink, and take y !urse. 2Sings3@<rithee fill e the glass, $ill it laugh in y face, ,ith ale that is !otent and ello"6 He that "hines for a lass 7s an ignorant ass, )or a bu !er has not its fello". +ut if you "ould ha#e e arry y cousin, say the "ord, and 7*ll do*t. ,ilfull "ill do*t, that*s the "ord. ,ilfull "ill do*t, that*s y crest,-- y otto 7 ha#e forgot. =.DU. ?y ne!he"*s a little o#ertaken, cousin, but *tis drinking your health. (* y "ord, you are obliged to hi S7- ,7=. 7/ V7/( V9-7$.S, aunt. 7f 7 drunk your health to-day, cousin,--7 a a +orachio.--+ut if you ha#e a ind to be arried, say the "ord and send for the !i!er6 ,ilfull "ill do*t. 7f not, dust it a"ay, and let*s ha#e t*other round. $ony--ods-heart, "here*s $onyG-$ony*s an honest fello", but he s!its after a bu !er, and that*s a fault. CDB
,e*ll drink and "e*ll ne#er ha* done, boys, <ut the glass then around "ith the sun, boys, =et .!ollo*s e0a !le in#ite us6 )or he*s drunk e#ery night, .nd that akes hi so bright, $hat he*s able ne0t orning to light us. $he sun*s a good !i !le, an honest soaker, he has a cellar at your anti!odes. 7f 7 tra#el, aunt, 7 touch at your anti!odes--your anti!odes are a good rascally sort of to!sy-tur#y fello"s. 7f 7 had a bu !er 7*d stand u!on y head and drink a health to *e . . atch or no atch, cousin "ith the hard na e6 aunt, ,ilfull "ill do*t. 7f she has her aidenhead let her look to *t6 if she has not, let her kee! her o"n counsel in the eanti e, and cry out at the nine onths* end. ?7==.. Uour !ardon, ada , 7 can stay no longer. Sir ,ilfull gro"s #ery !o"erful. 9ghE ho" he s ellsE 7 shall be o#erco e if 7 stay. 5o e, cousin. S59/9 \7. =.DU ,7SH)(-$, S7- ,7=);== ,7$,(;D, ?-. ,7$,(;D, )(7+=9. =.DU. S ellsG He "ould !oison a tallo"-chandler and his fa ily. +eastly creature, 7 kno" not "hat to do "ith hi . $ra#el, 4uotha6 ay, tra#el, tra#el, get thee gone, get thee but far enough, to the Saracens, or the $artars, or the $urks--for thou art not fit to li#e in a 5hristian co on"ealth, thou beastly !agan. S7- ,7=. $urksG /o6 no $urks, aunt. Uour $urks are infidels, and belie#e not in the gra!e. Uour ?aho etan, your ?ussul an is a dry stinkard. /o offence, aunt. ?y a! says that your $urk is not so honest a an as your 5hristian--7 cannot find by the a! that your ?ufti is orthodo0, "hereby it is a !lain case that orthodo0 is a hard "ord, aunt, and 2hiccu!3 &reek for claret. 2Sings3@$o drink is a 5hristian di#ersion, ;nkno"n to the $urk or the <ersian. =et ?aho etan fools =i#e by heathenish rules, .nd be da ned o#er tea-cu!s and coffee. +ut let +ritish lads sing, 5ro"n a health to the Hing, .nd a fig for your Sultan and So!hy. .h, $onyE 2)(7+=9 "his!ers =.DU ,.3 =.DU. Sir -o"land i !atientG &ood lackE "hat shall 7 do "ith this beastly tu brilG &o lie do"n and slee!, you sot, or as 7* a !erson, 7*ll ha#e you bastinadoed "ith broo sticks. 5all u! the "enches "ith broo sticks. S7- ,7=. .heyE ,enchesG ,here are the "enchesG =.DU. Dear 5ousin ,it"oud, get hi a"ay, and you "ill bind e to you in#iolably. 7 ha#e an affair of o ent that in#ades e "ith CDC
so e !reci!itation.--Uou "ill oblige e to all futurity. ,7$. 5o e, knight. <o0 on hi , 7 don*t kno" "hat to say to hi . ,ill you go to a cock- atchG S7- ,7=. ,ith a "ench, $onyG 7s she a shake-bag, sirrahG =et e bite your cheek for that. ,7$. HorribleE He has a breath like a bag!i!e. .y, ay6 co e, "ill you arch, y Salo!ianG S7- ,7=. =ead on, little $ony. 7*ll follo" thee, y .nthony, y $antony. Sirrah, thou shalt be y $antony, and 7*ll be thy !ig. .nd a fig for your Sultan and So!hy. =.DU. $his "ill ne#er do. 7t "ill ne#er before he has been abroad. ake a atch,--at least
S59/9 \77. =.DU ,7SH)(-$, ,.7$,9== disguised as for S7- -(,=./D. =.DU. Dear Sir -o"land, 7 a confounded "ith confusion at the retros!ection of y o"n rudeness,--7 ha#e ore !ardons to ask than the !o!e distributes in the year of %ubilee. +ut 7 ho!e "here there is likely to be so near an alliance, "e ay unbend the se#erity of decoru , and dis!ense "ith a little cere ony. ,.7$. ?y i !atience, ada , is the effect of y trans!ort6 and till 7 ha#e the !ossession of your adorable !erson, 7 a tantalised on the rack, and do but hang, ada , on the tenter of e0!ectation. =.DU. Uou ha#e e0cess of gallantry, Sir -o"land, and !ress things to a conclusion "ith a ost !re#ailing #ehe ence. +ut a day or t"o for decency of arriage ,.7$. )or decency of funeral, ada E $he delay "ill break y heart--or if that should fail, 7 shall be !oisoned. ?y ne!he" "ill get an inkling of y designs and !oison e--and 7 "ould "illingly star#e hi before 7 die--7 "ould gladly go out of the "orld "ith that satisfaction. $hat "ould be so e co fort to e, if 7 could but li#e so long as to be re#enged on that unnatural #i!er. =.DU. 7s he so unnatural, say youG $ruly 7 "ould contribute uch both to the sa#ing of your life and the acco !lish ent of your re#enge. /ot that 7 res!ect yself6 though he has been a !erfidious "retch to e. ,.7$. <erfidious to youG =.DU. ( Sir -o"land, the hours that he has died a"ay at y feet, the tears that he has shed, the oaths that he has s"orn, the !al!itations that he has felt, the trances and the tre blings, the ardours and the ecstasies, the kneelings and the risings, the hearthea#ings and the hand-gri!ings, the !angs and the !athetic regards of his !rotesting eyesE--(h, no e ory can register. ,.7$. ,hat, y ri#alG 7s the rebel y ri#alG . dies. =.DU. /o, don*t kill hi at once, Sir -o"land@ star#e hi gradually, inch by inch. ,.7$. 7*ll do*t. 7n three "eeks he shall be barefoot6 in a onth out at knees "ith begging an al s6 he shall star#e u!"ard and u!"ard, *till he has nothing li#ing but his head, and then go out in a stink like a candle*s end u!on a sa#e-all. CD5
=.DU. ,ell, Sir -o"land, you ha#e the "ay,--you are no no#ice in the labyrinth of lo#e,--you ha#e the clue. +ut as 7 a a !erson, Sir -o"land, you ust not attribute y yielding to any sinister a!!etite or indigestion of "ido"hood6 nor i !ute y co !lacency to any lethargy of continence. 7 ho!e you do not think e !rone to any iteration of nu!tialsG ,.7$. )ar be it fro e=.DU. 7f you do, 7 !rotest 7 ust recede, or think that 7 ha#e ade a !rostitution of decoru s, but in the #ehe ence of co !assion, and to sa#e the life of a !erson of so uch i !ortance ,.7$. 7 estee it so =.DU. (r else you "rong y condescension ,.7$. 7 do not, 7 do not =.DU. 7ndeed you do. ,.7$. 7 do not, fair shrine of #irtue. =.DU. 7f you think the least scru!le of causality "as an ingredient ,.7$. Dear ada , no. Uou are all ca !hire and frankincense, all chastity and odour. =.DU. (r that S59/9 \777. 2$o the 3 )(7+=9. )(7+. ?ada , the dancers are ready, and there*s one "ith a letter, "ho ust deli#er it into your o"n hands. =.DU. Sir -o"land, "ill you gi#e e lea#eG $hink fa#ourably, %udge candidly, and conclude you ha#e found a !erson "ho "ould suffer racks in honour*s cause, dear Sir -o"land, and "ill "ait on you incessantly. S59/9 \7V. ,.7$,9==, )(7+=9. ,.7$. )ie, fieE ,hat a sla#ery ha#e 7 undergone6 s!ouse, hast thou any cordialG 7 "ant s!irits. )(7+. ,hat a "ashy rogue art thou, to !ant thus for a 4uarter of an hour*s lying and s"earing to a fine ladyG ,.7$. (h, she is the antidote to desire. S!ouse, thou "ilt fare the "orse for*t. 7 shall ha#e no a!!etite to iteration of nu!tials-this eight-and-forty hours. +y this hand 7*d rather be a chair an in the dog-days than act Sir -o"land till this ti e to- orro". S59/9 \V. 2$o the 3 =.DU "ith a letter. =.DU. 5all in the dancers6 Sir -o"land, "e*ll sit, if you !lease, and see the entertain ent. 2Dance.3 /o", "ith your !er ission, Sir -o"land, 7 "ill !eruse y letter. 7 "ould o!en it in your !resence, because 7 "ould not ake you uneasy. 7f it should ake you uneasy, 7 "ould burn it--s!eak if it does--but you ay see, the su!erscri!tion is like a "o an*s hand. CD6
)(7+. +y hea#enE ?rs. ?ar"ood*s, 7 kno" it,-- y heart aches--get it fro herE 2$o hi .3 ,.7$. . "o an*s handG /o ada , that*s no "o an*s hand@ 7 see that already. $hat*s so ebody "hose throat ust be cut. =.DU. /ay, Sir -o"land, since you gi#e e a !roof of your !assion by your %ealousy, 7 !ro ise you 7*ll ake a return by a frank co unication. Uou shall see it--"e*ll o!en it together. =ook you here. 2-eads.3 ?.D.?, $H(;&H ;/H/(,/ $( U(; (look you there, *tis fro nobody that 7 kno".) 7 H.V9 $H.$ H(/(;- )(- U(;- 5H.-.5$9-, $H.$ 7 $H7/H ?US9=) (+=7&9D $( =9$ U(; H/(, U(; .-9 .+;S9D. H9 ,H( <-9$9/DS $( +9 S7- -(,=./D 7S . 5H9.$ ./D . -.S5.=. ( hea#ensE "hat*s thisG )(7+. ;nfortunate6 all*s ruined. ,.7$. Ho", ho", let e see, let e see. 2-eading.3 . -.S5.=, ./D D7S&;7S9D ./D S;+(-/9D )(- $H.$ 7?<(S$;-9--( #illainyE ( #illainyE-+U $H9 5(/$-7V./59 () =.DU. 7 shall faint, 7 shall die. (hE )(7+. Say *tis your ne!he"*s hand. :uickly, his !lot, s"ear, s"ear itE 2$o hi .3 ,.7$. Here*s a #illainE ?ada , don*t you !ercei#e itG Don*t you see itG =.DU. $oo "ell, too "ell. 7 ha#e seen too uch. ,.7$. 7 told you at first 7 kne" the hand. . "o an*s handG $he rascal "rites a sort of a large hand@ your -o an hand.--7 sa" there "as a throat to be cut !resently. 7f he "ere y son, as he is y ne!he", 7*d !istol hi . )(7+. ( treacheryE +ut are you sure, Sir -o"land, it is his "ritingG ,.7$. SureG . 7 hereG Do 7 li#eG Do 7 lo#e this !earl of 7ndiaG 7 ha#e t"enty letters in y !ocket fro hi in the sa e character. =.DU. Ho"G )(7+. (h, "hat luck it is, Sir -o"land, that you "ere !resent at this %unctureE $his "as the business that brought ?r. ?irabell disguised to ?ada ?illa ant this afternoon. 7 thought so ething "as contri#ing, "hen he stole by e and "ould ha#e hid his face. =.DU. Ho", ho"G 7 heard the #illain "as in the house indeed6 and no" 7 re e ber, y niece "ent a"ay abru!tly "hen Sir ,ilfull "as to ha#e ade his addresses. )(7+. $hen, then, ada , ?r. ?irabell "aited for her in her cha ber6 but 7 "ould not tell your ladyshi! to disco !ose you "hen you "ere to recei#e Sir -o"land. ,.7$. 9nough, his date is short. )(7+. /o, good Sir -o"land, don*t incur the la". ,.7$. =a"G 7 care not for la". 7 can but die, and *tis in a good cause. ?y lady shall be satisfied of y truth and innocence, though it cost e y life. =.DU. /o, dear Sir -o"land, don*t fight@ if you should be killed 7 ust ne#er sho" y face6 or hanged,--oh, consider y re!utation, Sir -o"land. /o, you shan*t fight@ 7*ll go in and e0a ine y niece6 7*ll ake her confess. 7 con%ure you, Sir -o"land, by all your lo#e not to fight. ,.7$. 7 a char ed, ada 6 7 obey. +ut so e !roof you ust let e CDD
gi#e you@ 7*ll go for a black bo0, "hich contains the "ritings of y "hole estate, and deli#er that into your hands. =.DU. .y, dear Sir -o"land, that "ill be so e co fort6 bring the black bo0. ,.7$. .nd ay 7 !resu e to bring a contract to be signed this nightG ?ay 7 ho!e so farG =.DU. +ring "hat you "ill6 but co e ali#e, !ray co e ali#e. (h, this is a ha!!y disco#ery. ,.7$. Dead or ali#e 7*ll co e--and arried "e "ill be in s!ite of treachery6 ay, and get an heir that shall defeat the last re aining gli !se of ho!e in y abandoned ne!he". 5o e, y bu0o "ido"@ 9*er long you shall substantial !roof recei#e $hat 7* an arrant knight )(7+. (r arrant kna#e. .5$ V.--S59/9 7. Scene continues. =.DU ,7SH)(-$ and )(7+=9. =.DU. (ut of y house, out of y house, thou #i!er, thou ser!ent that 7 ha#e fostered, thou boso traitress that 7 raised fro nothingE +egone, begone, begone, go, go6 that 7 took fro "ashing of old gau'e and "ea#ing of dead hair, "ith a bleak blue nose, o#er a chafing-dish of star#ed e bers, and dining behind a tra#er*s rag, in a sho! no bigger than a bird-cage. &o, go, star#e again, do, doE )(7+. Dear ada , 7*ll beg !ardon on y knees. =.DU. ."ay, out, out, go set u! for yourself again, do6 dri#e a trade, do, "ith your three!enny"orth of s all "are, flaunting u!on a !ackthread, under a brandy-seller*s bulk, or against a dead "all by a ballad onger. &o, hang out an old frisoneer-gorget, "ith a yard of yello" colberteen again, do6 an old gna"ed ask, t"o ro"s of !ins, and a child*s fiddle6 a glass necklace "ith the beads broken, and a 4uilted night-ca! "ith one ear. &o, go, dri#e a trade. $hese "ere your co odities, you treacherous trull6 this "as the erchandise you dealt in, "hen 7 took you into y house, !laced you ne0t yself, and ade you go#ernant of y "hole fa ily. Uou ha#e forgot this, ha#e you, no" you ha#e feathered your nestG )(7+. /o, no, dear ada . Do but hear e, ha#e but a o ent*s !atience--7*ll confess all. ?r. ?irabell seduced e6 7 a not the first that he has "heedled "ith his disse bling tongue. Uour ladyshi!*s o"n "isdo has been deluded by hi 6 then ho" should 7, a !oor ignorant, defend yselfG ( ada , if you kne" but "hat he !ro ised e, and ho" he assured e your ladyshi! should co e to no da age, or else the "ealth of the 7ndies should not ha#e bribed e to cons!ire against so good, so s"eet, so kind a lady as you ha#e been to e. =.DU. /o da ageG ,hat, to betray e, to arry e to a cast ser#ing- an6 to ake e a rece!tacle, an hos!ital for a decayed !i !G /o da ageG ( thou frontless i !udence, ore than a bigbellied actressE )(7+. <ray do but hear e, ada 6 he could not arry your ladyshi!, CD8
ada . /o indeed, his arriage "as to ha#e been #oid in la"6 for he "as arried to e first, to secure your ladyshi!. He could not ha#e bedded your ladyshi!, for if he had consu ated "ith your ladyshi!, he ust ha#e run the risk of the la", and been !ut u!on his clergy. Ues indeed, 7 en4uired of the la" in that case before 7 "ould eddle or ake. =.DU. ,hatG $hen 7 ha#e been your !ro!erty, ha#e 7G 7 ha#e been con#enient to you, it see s, "hile you "ere catering for ?irabell6 7 ha#e been broker for youG ,hat, ha#e you ade a !assi#e ba"d of eG $his e0ceeds all !recedent. 7 a brought to fine uses, to beco e a botcher of second-hand arriages bet"een .bigails and .ndre"sE 7*ll cou!le you. Ues, 7*ll baste you together, you and your <hilander. 7*ll Duke*s <lace you, as 7* a !erson. Uour turtle is in custody already. Uou shall coo in the sa e cage, if there be constable or "arrant in the !arish. )(7+. (h, that e#er 7 "as bornE (h, that 7 "as e#er arriedE . brideG .y, 7 shall be a +ride"ell bride. (hE S59/9 77. ?-S. ).7/.==, )(7+=9. ?-S. ).7/. <oor )oible, "hat*s the atterG )(7+. ( ada , y lady*s gone for a constable6 7 shall be had to a %ustice, and !ut to +ride"ell to beat he !. <oor ,ait"ell*s gone to !rison already. ?-S. ).7/. Ha#e a good heart, )oible@ ?irabell*s gone to gi#e security for hi . $his is all ?ar"ood*s and y husband*s doing. )(7+. Ues, yes6 7 kno" it, ada @ she "as in y lady*s closet, and o#erheard all that you said to e before dinner. She sent the letter to y lady, and that issing effect, ?r. )ainall laid this !lot to arrest ,ait"ell, "hen he !retended to go for the !a!ers6 and in the eanti e ?rs. ?ar"ood declared all to y lady. ?-S. ).7/. ,as there no ention ade of e in the letterG ?y other does not sus!ect y being in the confederacyG 7 fancy ?ar"ood has not told her, though she has told y husband. )(7+. Ues, ada 6 but y lady did not see that !art. ,e stifled the letter before she read so far. Has that ischie#ous de#il told ?r. )ainall of your ladyshi! thenG ?-S. ).7/. .y, all*s out@ y affair "ith ?irabell, e#erything disco#ered. $his is the last day of our li#ing together6 that*s y co fort. )(7+. 7ndeed, ada , and so *tis a co fort, if you kne" all. He has been e#en "ith your ladyshi!6 "hich 7 could ha#e told you long enough since, but 7 lo#e to kee! !eace and 4uietness by y good "ill. 7 had rather bring friends together than set *e at distance. +ut ?rs. ?ar"ood and he are nearer related than e#er their !arents thought for. ?-S. ).7/. Say*st thou so, )oibleG 5anst thou !ro#e thisG )(7+. 7 can take y oath of it, ada 6 so can ?rs. ?incing. ,e ha#e had any a fair "ord fro ?ada ?ar"ood to conceal so ething that !assed in our cha ber one e#ening "hen you "ere at Hyde <ark, and "e "ere thought to ha#e gone a-"alking. +ut "e "ent u! CD>
una"ares--though "e "ere s"orn to secrecy too@ ?ada ?ar"ood took a book and s"ore us u!on it@ but it "as but a book of !oe s. So long as it "as not a bible oath, "e ay break it "ith a safe conscience. ?-S. ).7/. $his disco#ery is the ost o!!ortune thing 7 could "ish. /o", ?incingG S59/9 777. 2$o the 3 ?7/57/&. ?7/5. ?y lady "ould s!eak "ith ?rs. )oible, e . ?r. ?irabell is "ith her6 he has set your s!ouse at liberty, ?rs. )oible, and "ould ha#e you hide yourself in y lady*s closet till y old lady*s anger is abated. (h, y old lady is in a !erilous !assion at so ething ?r. )ainall has said6 he s"ears, and y old lady cries. $here*s a fearful hurricane, 7 #o". He says, e , ho" that he*ll ha#e y lady*s fortune ade o#er to hi , or he*ll be di#orced. ?-S. ).7/. Does your lady or ?irabell kno" thatG ?7/5. Ues e 6 they ha#e sent e to see if Sir ,ilfull be sober, and to bring hi to the . ?y lady is resol#ed to ha#e hi , 7 think, rather than lose such a #ast su as si0 thousand !ound. (h, co e, ?rs. )oible, 7 hear y old lady. ?-S. ).7/. )oible, you ust tell ?incing that she ust !re!are to #ouch "hen 7 call her. )(7+. Ues, yes, ada . ?7/5. (h, yes e , 7*ll #ouch anything for your ladyshi!*s ser#ice, be "hat it "ill. S59/9 7V. ?-S. ).7/.==, =.DU ,7SH)(-$, ?-S. ?.-,((D. =.DU. ( y dear friend, ho" can 7 enu erate the benefits that 7 ha#e recei#ed fro your goodnessG $o you 7 o"e the ti ely disco#ery of the false #o"s of ?irabell6 to you 7 o"e the detection of the i !ostor Sir -o"land. .nd no" you are beco e an intercessor "ith y son-in-la", to sa#e the honour of y house and co !ound for the frailties of y daughter. ,ell, friend, you are enough to reconcile e to the bad "orld, or else 7 "ould retire to deserts and solitudes, and feed har less shee! by gro#es and !urling strea s. Dear ?ar"ood, let us lea#e the "orld, and retire by oursel#es and be she!herdesses. ?-S. ?.-. =et us first dis!atch the affair in hand, ada . ,e shall ha#e leisure to think of retire ent after"ards. Here is one "ho is concerned in the treaty. =.DU. ( daughter, daughter, is it !ossible thou shouldst be y child, bone of y bone, and flesh of y flesh, and as 7 ay say, another e, and yet transgress the ost inute !article of se#ere #irtueG 7s it !ossible you should lean aside to ini4uity, "ho ha#e been cast in the direct ould of #irtueG 7 ha#e not only been a ould but a !attern for you, and a odel for you, after you "ere brought into the "orld. ?-S. ).7/. 7 don*t understand your ladyshi!. =.DU. /ot understandG ,hy, ha#e you not been naughtG Ha#e you not C80
been so!histicatedG /ot understandG Here 7 a ruined to co !ound for your ca!rices and your cuckoldo s. 7 ust !a"n y !late and y %e"els, and ruin y niece, and all little enough ?-S. ).7/. 7 a "ronged and abused, and so are you. *$is a false accusation, as false as hell, as false as your friend there6 ay, or your friend*s friend, y false husband. ?-S. ?.-. ?y friend, ?rs. )ainallG Uour husband y friend, "hat do you eanG ?-S. ).7/. 7 kno" "hat 7 ean, ada , and so do you6 and so shall the "orld at a ti e con#enient. ?-S. ?.-. 7 a sorry to see you so !assionate, ada . ?ore te !er "ould look ore like innocence. +ut 7 ha#e done. 7 a sorry y 'eal to ser#e your ladyshi! and fa ily should ad it of isconstruction, or ake e liable to affronts. Uou "ill !ardon e, ada , if 7 eddle no ore "ith an affair in "hich 7 a not !ersonally concerned. =.DU. ( dear friend, 7 a so asha ed that you should eet "ith such returns. Uou ought to ask !ardon on your knees, ungrateful creature6 she deser#es ore fro you than all your life can acco !lish. (h, don*t lea#e e destitute in this !er!le0ityE /o, stick to e, y good genius. ?-S. ).7/. 7 tell you, ada , you*re abused. Stick to youG .y, like a leech, to suck your best blood6 she*ll dro! off "hen she*s full. ?ada , you shan*t !a"n a bodkin, nor !art "ith a brass counter, in co !osition for e. 7 defy *e all. =et *e !ro#e their as!ersions@ 7 kno" y o"n innocence, and dare stand a trial. S59/9 V. =.DU ,7SH)(-$, ?-S. ?.-,((D. =.DU. ,hy, if she should be innocent, if she should be "ronged after all, haG 7 don*t kno" "hat to think, and 7 !ro ise you, her education has been une0ce!tionable. 7 ay say it, for 7 chiefly ade it y o"n care to initiate her #ery infancy in the rudi ents of #irtue, and to i !ress u!on her tender years a young odiu and a#ersion to the #ery sight of en6 ay, friend, she "ould ha* shrieked if she had but seen a an till she "as in her teens. .s 7* a !erson, *tis true. She "as ne#er suffered to !lay "ith a ale child, though but in coats. /ay, her #ery babies "ere of the fe inine gender. (h, she ne#er looked a an in the face but her o"n father or the cha!lain, and hi "e ade a shift to !ut u!on her for a "o an, by the hel! of his long gar ents, and his sleek face, till she "as going in her fifteen. ?-S. ?.-. *$"as uch she should be decei#ed so long. =.DU. 7 "arrant you, or she "ould ne#er ha#e borne to ha#e been catechised by hi , and ha#e heard his long lectures against singing and dancing and such debaucheries, and going to filthy !lays, and !rofane usic eetings, "here the le"d trebles s4ueak nothing but ba"dy, and the basses roar blas!he y. (h, she "ould ha#e s"ooned at the sight or na e of an obscene !lay-book--and can 7 think after all this that y daughter can be naughtG ,hat, a "horeG .nd thought it C81
e0co unication to set her foot "ithin the door of a !layhouse. ( dear friend, 7 can*t belie#e it. /o, no6 as she says, let hi !ro#e it, let hi !ro#e it. ?-S. ?.-. <ro#e it, ada G ,hat, and ha#e your na e !rostituted in a !ublic court6 yours and your daughter*s re!utation "orried at the bar by a !ack of ba"ling la"yersG $o be ushered in "ith an (H U9S of scandal, and ha#e your case o!ened by an old fu bling leacher in a 4uoif like a an id"ife6 to bring your daughter*s infa y to light6 to be a the e for legal !unsters and 4uibblers by the statute6 and beco e a %est, against a rule of court, "here there is no !recedent for a %est in any record, not e#en in Doo sday +ook. $o disco !ose the gra#ity of the bench, and !ro#oke naughty interrogatories in ore naughty la" =atin6 "hile the good %udge, tickled "ith the !roceeding, si !ers under a grey beard, and fidges off and on his cushion as if he had s"allo"ed cantharides, or sate u!on co"-itch. =.DU. (h, *tis #ery hardE ?-S. ?.-. .nd then to ha#e y young re#ellers of the $e !le take notes, like !rentices at a con#enticle6 and after talk it o#er again in 5o ons, or before dra"ers in an eating-house. =.DU. ,orse and "orse. ?-S. ?.-. /ay, this is nothing6 if it "ould end here *t"ere "ell. +ut it ust after this be consigned by the shorthand "riters to the !ublic !ress6 and fro thence be transferred to the hands, nay, into the throats and lungs, of ha"kers, "ith #oices ore licentious than the loud flounder- an*s. .nd this you ust hear till you are stunned6 nay, you ust hear nothing else for so e days. =.DU. (h *tis insu!!ortable. /o, no, dear friend, ake it u!, ake it u!6 ay, ay, 7*ll co !ound. 7*ll gi#e u! all, yself and y all, y niece and her all, anything, e#erything, for co !osition. ?-S. ?.-. /ay, ada , 7 ad#ise nothing, 7 only lay before you, as a friend, the incon#eniences "hich !erha!s you ha#e o#erseen. Here co es ?r. )ainall6 if he "ill be satisfied to huddle u! all in silence, 7 shall be glad. Uou ust think 7 "ould rather congratulate than condole "ith you. S59/9 V7. ).7/.==, =.DU ,7SH)(-$, ?-S. ?.-,((D. =.DU. .y, ay, 7 do not doubt it, dear ?ar"ood. /o, no, 7 do not doubt it. ).7/. ,ell, ada , 7 ha#e suffered yself to be o#erco e by the i !ortunity of this lady, your friend, and a content you shall en%oy your o"n !ro!er estate during life, on condition you oblige yourself ne#er to arry, under such !enalty as 7 think con#enient. =.DU. /e#er to arryG ).7/. /o ore Sir -o"lands,--the ne0t i !osture ay not be so ti ely detected. ?-S. ?.-. $hat condition, 7 dare ans"er, y lady "ill consent to, "ithout difficulty6 she has already but too uch e0!erienced the !erfidiousness of en. +esides, ada , "hen "e retire to our C8A
!astoral solitude, "e shall bid adieu to all other thoughts. =.DU. .y, that*s true6 but in case of necessity, as of health, or so e such e ergency ).7/. (h, if you are !rescribed arriage, you shall be considered6 7 "ill only reser#e to yself the !o"er to choose for you. 7f your !hysic be "holeso e, it atters not "ho is your a!othecary. /e0t, y "ife shall settle on e the re ainder of her fortune, not ade o#er already6 and for her aintenance de!end entirely on y discretion. =.DU. $his is ost inhu anly sa#age@ e0ceeding the barbarity of a ?usco#ite husband. ).7/. 7 learned it fro his 5'arish ?a%esty*s retinue, in a "inter e#ening*s conference o#er brandy and !e!!er, a ongst other secrets of atri ony and !olicy, as they are at !resent !ractised in the northern he is!here. +ut this ust be agreed unto, and that !ositi#ely. =astly, 7 "ill be endo"ed, in right of y "ife, "ith that si0 thousand !ound, "hich is the oiety of ?rs. ?illa ant*s fortune in your !ossession, and "hich she has forfeited (as "ill a!!ear by the last "ill and testa ent of your deceased husband, Sir 1onathan ,ishfort) by her disobedience in contracting herself against your consent or kno"ledge, and by refusing the offered atch "ith Sir ,ilfull ,it"oud, "hich you, like a careful aunt, had !ro#ided for her. =.DU. ?y ne!he" "as /(/ 5(?<(S, and could not ake his addresses. ).7/. 7 co e to ake de ands--7*ll hear no ob%ections. =.DU. Uou "ill grant e ti e to considerG ).7/. Ues, "hile the instru ent is dra"ing, to "hich you ust set your hand till ore sufficient deeds can be !erfected@ "hich 7 "ill take care shall be done "ith all !ossible s!eed. 7n the ean"hile 7 "ill go for the said instru ent, and till y return you ay balance this atter in your o"n discretion. S59/9 V77. =.DU ,7SH)(-$, ?-S. ?.-,((D. =.DU. $his insolence is beyond all !recedent, all !arallel. ?ust 7 be sub%ect to this erciless #illainG ?-S. ?.-. *$is se#ere indeed, ada , that you should s art for your daughter*s "antonness. =.DU. *$"as against y consent that she arried this barbarian, but she "ould ha#e hi , though her year "as not out. .hE her first husband, y son =anguish, "ould not ha#e carried it thus. ,ell, that "as y choice, this is hers6 she is atched no" "ith a "itness-7 shall be ad, dear friend6 is there no co fort for eG ?ust 7 li#e to be confiscated at this rebel-rateG Here co e t"o ore of y 9gy!tian !lagues too. S59/9 V777. 2$o the 3 ?-S. ?7==.?./$, S7- ,7=);==. S7- ,7=. .unt, your ser#ant. =.DU. (ut, cater!illar, call not e aunt6 7 kno" thee not. C8B
S7- ,7=. 7 confess 7 ha#e been a little in disguise, as they say. *SheartE and 7* sorry for*t. ,hat "ould you ha#eG 7 ho!e 7 co itted no offence, aunt--and if 7 did 7 a "illing to ake satisfaction6 and "hat can a an say fairerG 7f 7 ha#e broke anything 7*ll !ay for*t, an it cost a !ound. .nd so let that content for "hat*s !ast, and ake no ore "ords. )or "hat*s to co e, to !leasure you 7* "illing to arry y cousin. So, !ray, let*s all be friends, she and 7 are agreed u!on the atter before a "itness. =.DU. Ho"*s this, dear nieceG Ha#e 7 any co fortG 5an this be trueG ?7==.. 7 a content to be a sacrifice to your re!ose, ada , and to con#ince you that 7 had no hand in the !lot, as you "ere isinfor ed. 7 ha#e laid y co ands on ?irabell to co e in !erson, and be a "itness that 7 gi#e y hand to this flo"er of knighthood6 and for the contract that !assed bet"een ?irabell and e, 7 ha#e obliged hi to ake a resignation of it in your ladyshi!*s !resence. He is "ithout and "aits your lea#e for ad ittance. =.DU. ,ell, 7*ll s"ear 7 a so ething re#i#ed at this testi ony of your obedience6 but 7 cannot ad it that traitor,--7 fear 7 cannot fortify yself to su!!ort his a!!earance. He is as terrible to e as a &orgon@ if 7 see hi 7 s"ear 7 shall turn to stone, !etrify incessantly. ?7==.. 7f you disoblige hi he ay resent your refusal, and insist u!on the contract still. $hen *tis the last ti e he "ill be offensi#e to you. =.DU. .re you sure it "ill be the last ti eG 7f 7 "ere sure of that--shall 7 ne#er see hi againG ?7==.. Sir ,ilfull, you and he are to tra#el together, are you notG S7- ,7=. *Sheart, the gentle an*s a ci#il gentle an, aunt, let hi co e in6 "hy, "e are s"orn brothers and fello"-tra#ellers. ,e are to be <ylades and (restes, he and 7. He is to be y inter!reter in foreign !arts. He has been o#erseas once already6 and "ith !ro#iso that 7 arry y cousin, "ill cross *e once again, only to bear e co !any. *Sheart, 7*ll call hi in,--an 7 set on*t once, he shall co e in6 and see "ho*ll hinder hi . 2&oes to the door and he s.3 ?-S. ?.-. $his is !recious fooling, if it "ould !ass6 but 7*ll kno" the botto of it. =.DU. ( dear ?ar"ood, you are not goingG ?-S. ?.-. /ot far, ada 6 7*ll return i ediately. S59/9 7\. =.DU ,7SH)(-$, ?-S. ?7==.?./$, S7- ,7=);==, ?7-.+9==. S7- ,7=. =ook u!, an, 7*ll stand by you6 *sbud, an she do fro"n, she can*t kill you. +esides--harkee, she dare not fro"n des!erately, because her face is none of her o"n. *Sheart, an she should, her forehead "ould "rinkle like the coat of a crea cheese6 but u for that, fello"-tra#eller. ?7-.. 7f a dee! sense of the any in%uries 7 ha#e offered to so good a lady, "ith a sincere re orse and a hearty contrition, can but obtain the least glance of co !assion. 7 a too ha!!y. .h, ada , C8C
there "as a ti e--but let it be forgotten. 7 confess 7 ha#e deser#edly forfeited the high !lace 7 once held, of sighing at your feet6 nay, kill e not by turning fro e in disdain, 7 co e not to !lead for fa#our. /ay, not for !ardon@ 7 a a su!!liant only for !ity@- 7 a going "here 7 ne#er shall behold you ore. S7- ,7=. Ho", fello"-tra#ellerG Uou shall go by yourself then. ?7-.. =et e be !itied first, and after"ards forgotten. 7 ask no ore. S7- ,7=. +y*r lady, a #ery reasonable re4uest, and "ill cost you nothing, aunt. 5o e, co e, forgi#e and forget, aunt. ,hy you ust an you are a 5hristian. ?7-.. 5onsider, ada 6 in reality you could not recei#e uch !re%udice@ it "as an innocent de#ice, though 7 confess it had a face of guiltiness--it "as at ost an artifice "hich lo#e contri#ed-and errors "hich lo#e !roduces ha#e e#er been accounted #enial. .t least think it is !unish ent enough that 7 ha#e lost "hat in y heart 7 hold ost dear, that to your cruel indignation 7 ha#e offered u! this beauty, and "ith her y !eace and 4uiet6 nay, all y ho!es of future co fort. S7- ,7=. .n he does not o#e e, "ould 7 ay ne#er be o* the 4uoru . .n it "ere not as good a deed as to drink, to gi#e her to hi again, 7 "ould 7 ight ne#er take shi!!ing. .unt, if you don*t forgi#e 4uickly, 7 shall elt, 7 can tell you that. ?y contract "ent no farther than a little outh-glue, and that*s hardly dry6 one doleful sigh ore fro y fello"-tra#eller and *tis dissol#ed. =.DU. ,ell, ne!he", u!on your account. .h, he has a false insinuating tongue. ,ell, sir, 7 "ill stifle y %ust resent ent at y ne!he"*s re4uest. 7 "ill endea#our "hat 7 can to forget, but on !ro#iso that you resign the contract "ith y niece i ediately. ?7-.. 7t is in "riting and "ith !a!ers of concern6 but 7 ha#e sent y ser#ant for it, and "ill deli#er it to you, "ith all ackno"ledg ents for your transcendent goodness. =.DU. (h, he has "itchcraft in his eyes and tongue6 "hen 7 did not see hi 7 could ha#e bribed a #illain to his assassination6 but his a!!earance rakes the e bers "hich ha#e so long lain s othered in y breast. 2.side.3 S59/9 \. 2$o the 3 ).7/.==, ?-S. ?.-,((D. ).7/. Uour date of deliberation, ada , is e0!ired. Here is the instru ent6 are you !re!ared to signG =.DU. 7f 7 "ere !re!ared, 7 a not i !o"ered. ?y niece e0erts a la"ful clai , ha#ing atched herself by y direction to Sir ,ilfull. ).7/. $hat sha is too gross to !ass on e, though *tis i !osed on you, ada . ?7==.. Sir, 7 ha#e gi#en y consent. ?7-.. .nd, sir, 7 ha#e resigned y !retensions. S7- ,7=. .nd, sir, 7 assert y right6 and "ill aintain it in defiance of you, sir, and of your instru ent. *Sheart, an you talk of an instru ent sir, 7 ha#e an old fo0 by y thigh shall hack your instru ent of ra #ellu to shreds, sir. 7t shall not be sufficient C85
for a ?itti us or a tailor*s easure6 therefore "ithdra" your instru ent, sir, or, by*r lady, 7 shall dra" ine. =.DU. Hold, ne!he", hold. ?7==.. &ood Sir ,ilfull, res!ite your #alour. ).7/. 7ndeedG .re you !ro#ided of your guard, "ith your single beef-eater thereG +ut 7* !re!ared for you, and insist u!on y first !ro!osal. Uou shall sub it your o"n estate to y anage ent, and absolutely ake o#er y "ife*s to y sole use, as !ursuant to the !ur!ort and tenor of this other co#enant. 7 su!!ose, ada , your consent is not re4uisite in this case6 nor, ?r. ?irabell, your resignation6 nor, Sir ,ilfull, your right. Uou ay dra" your fo0 if you !lease, sir, and ake a bear-garden flourish so e"here else6 for here it "ill not a#ail. $his, y =ady ,ishfort, ust be subscribed, or your darling daughter*s turned adrift, like a leaky hulk to sink or s"i , as she and the current of this le"d to"n can agree. =.DU. 7s there no eans, no re edy, to sto! y ruinG ;ngrateful "retchE Dost thou not o"e thy being, thy subsistance, to y daughter*s fortuneG ).7/. 7*ll ans"er you "hen 7 ha#e the rest of it in y !ossession. ?7-.. +ut that you "ould not acce!t of a re edy fro y hands--7 o"n 7 ha#e not deser#ed you should o"e any obligation to e6 or else, !erha!s, 7 could de#ise =.DU. (h, "hatG "hatG $o sa#e e and y child fro ruin, fro "ant, 7*ll forgi#e all that*s !ast6 nay, 7*ll consent to anything to co e, to be deli#ered fro this tyranny. ?7-.. .y, ada 6 but that is too late, y re"ard is interce!ted. Uou ha#e dis!osed of her "ho only could ha#e ade e a co !ensation for all y ser#ices. +ut be it as it ay, 7 a resol#ed 7*ll ser#e you6 you shall not be "ronged in this sa#age anner. =.DU. Ho"G Dear ?r. ?irabell, can you be so generous at lastG +ut it is not !ossible. Harkee, 7*ll break y ne!he"*s atch6 you shall ha#e y niece yet, and all her fortune, if you can but sa#e e fro this i inent danger. ?7-.. ,ill youG 7 take you at your "ord. 7 ask no ore. 7 ust ha#e lea#e for t"o cri inals to a!!ear. =.DU. .y, ay, anybody, anybody. ?7-.. )oible is one, and a !enitent. S59/9 \7. 2$o the 3 ?-S. ).7/.==, )(7+=9, ?7/57/&. ?-S. ?.-. ( y sha eE 2?7-.+9== and =.DU go to ?-S. ).7/.== and )(7+=9.3 $hese curru!t things are brought hither to e0!ose e. 2$o ).7/.==.3 ).7/. 7f it ust all co e out, "hy let *e kno" it, *tis but the "ay of the "orld. $hat shall not urge e to relin4uish or abate one tittle of y ter s6 no, 7 "ill insist the ore. )(7+. Ues, indeed, ada 6 7*ll take y bible-oath of it. ?7/5. .nd so "ill 7, e . =.DU. ( ?ar"ood, ?ar"ood, art thou falseG ?y friend decei#e eG Hast thou been a "icked acco !lice "ith that !rofligate anG ?-S. ?.-. Ha#e you so uch ingratitude and in%ustice to gi#e C86
credit, against your friend, to the as!ersions of t"o such ercenary trullsG ?7/5. ?ercenary, e G 7 scorn your "ords. *$is true "e found you and ?r. )ainall in the blue garret6 by the sa e token, you s"ore us to secrecy u!on ?essalinas*s !oe s. ?ercenaryG /o, if "e "ould ha#e been ercenary, "e should ha#e held our tongues6 you "ould ha#e bribed us sufficiently. ).7/. &o, you are an insignificant thing. ,ell, "hat are you the better for thisG 7s this ?r. ?irabell*s e0!edientG 7*ll be !ut off no longer. Uou, thing, that "as a "ife, shall s art for this. 7 "ill not lea#e thee "here"ithal to hide thy sha e@ your body shall be naked as your re!utation. ?-S. ).7/. 7 des!ise you and defy your alice. Uou ha#e as!ersed e "rongfully--7 ha#e !ro#ed your falsehood. &o, you and your treacherous--7 "ill not na e it, but star#e together. <erish. ).7/. /ot "hile you are "orth a groat, indeed, y dear. ?ada , 7*ll be fooled no longer. =.DU. .h, ?r. ?irabell, this is s all co fort, the detection of this affair. ?7-.. (h, in good ti e. Uour lea#e for the other offender and !enitent to a!!ear, ada . S59/9 \77. 2$o the 3 ,.7$,9== "ith a bo0 of "ritings. =.DU. ( Sir -o"landE ,ell, rascalG ,.7$. ,hat your ladyshi! !leases. 7 ha#e brought the black bo0 at last, ada . ?7-.. &i#e it e. ?ada , you re e ber your !ro ise. =.DU. .y, dear sir. ?7-.. ,here are the gentle enG ,.7$. .t hand, sir, rubbing their eyes,--%ust risen fro slee!. ).7/. *Sdeath, "hat*s this to eG 7*ll not "ait your !ri#ate concerns. S59/9 \777. 2$o the 3 <9$;=./$, ,7$,(;D. <9$. Ho" no"G ,hat*s the atterG ,hose hand*s outG ,7$. Hey dayE ,hat, are you all got together, like !layers at the end of the last actG ?7-.. Uou ay re e ber, gentle en, 7 once re4uested your hands as "itnesses to a certain !arch ent. ,7$. .y, 7 do, y hand 7 re e ber--<etulant set his ark. ?7-.. Uou "rong hi 6 his na e is fairly "ritten, as shall a!!ear. Uou do not re e ber, gentle en, anything of "hat that !arch ent containedG 2;ndoing the bo0.3 ,7$. /o. <9$. /ot 7. 7 "rit6 7 read nothing. ?7-.. Very "ell, no" you shall kno". ?ada , your !ro ise. =.DU. .y, ay, sir, u!on y honour. ?7-.. ?r. )ainall, it is no" ti e that you should kno" that your C8D
lady, "hile she "as at her o"n dis!osal, and before you had by your insinuations "heedled her out of a !retended settle ent of the greatest !art of her fortune ).7/. SirE <retendedG ?7-.. Ues, sir. 7 say that this lady, "hile a "ido", ha#ing, it see s, recei#ed so e cautions res!ecting your inconstancy and tyranny of te !er, "hich fro her o"n !artial o!inion and fondness of you she could ne#er ha#e sus!ected--she did, 7 say, by the "holeso e ad#ice of friends and of sages learned in the la"s of this land, deli#er this sa e as her act and deed to e in trust, and to the uses "ithin entioned. Uou ay read if you !lease 2holding out the !arch ent3, though !erha!s "hat is "ritten on the back ay ser#e your occasions. ).7/. Very likely, sir. ,hat*s hereG Da nationE 2-eads3 . D99D () 5(/V9U./59 () $H9 ,H(=9 9S$.$9 -9.= () .-.+9==. =./&;7SH, ,7D(,, 7/ $-;S$ $( 9D,.-D ?7-.+9==. 5onfusionE ?7-.. 9#en so, sir@ *tis the "ay of the "orld, sir6 of the "ido"s of the "orld. 7 su!!ose this deed ay bear an elder date than "hat you ha#e obtained fro your lady. ).7/. <erfidious fiendE $hen thus 7*ll be re#enged. 2(ffers to run at ?-S. ).7/.==.3 S7- ,7=. Hold, sir6 no" you ay ake your bear-garden flourish so e"here else, sir. ).7/. ?irabell, you shall hear of this, sir6 be sure you shall. =et e !ass, oaf. ?-S. ).7/. ?ada , you see to stifle your resent ent. Uou had better gi#e it #ent. ?-S. ?.-. Ues, it shall ha#e #ent, and to your confusion, or 7*ll !erish in the atte !t. S59/9 the =ast. =.DU ,7SH)(-$, ?-S. ?7==.?./$, ?7-.+9==, ?-S. ).7/.==, S7- ,7=);==, <9$;=./$, ,7$,(;D, )(7+=9, ?7/57/&, ,.7$,9==. =.DU. ( daughter, daughter, *tis !lain thou hast inherited thy other*s !rudence. ?-S. ).7/. $hank ?r. ?irabell, a cautious friend, to "hose ad#ice all is o"ing. =.DU. ,ell, ?r. ?irabell, you ha#e ke!t your !ro ise, and 7 ust !erfor ine. )irst, 7 !ardon for your sake Sir -o"land there and )oible. $he ne0t thing is to break the atter to y ne!he", and ho" to do that ?7-.. )or that, ada , gi#e yourself no trouble6 let e ha#e your consent. Sir ,ilfull is y friend@ he has had co !assion u!on lo#ers, and generously engaged a #olunteer in this action, for our ser#ice, and no" designs to !rosecute his tra#els. S7- ,7=. *Sheart, aunt, 7 ha#e no ind to arry. ?y cousin*s a fine lady, and the gentle an lo#es her and she lo#es hi , and they deser#e one another6 y resolution is to see foreign !arts. 7 ha#e set on*t, and "hen 7* set on*t 7 ust do*t. .nd if these t"o gentle en "ould tra#el too, 7 think they ay be s!ared. C88
<9$. )or y !art, 7 say little. 7 think things are best off or on. ,7$. 7*gad, 7 understand nothing of the atter@ 7* in a a'e yet, like a dog in a dancing school. =.DU. ,ell, sir, take her, and "ith her all the %oy 7 can gi#e you. ?7==.. ,hy does not the an take eG ,ould you ha#e e gi#e yself to you o#er againG ?7-.. .y, and o#er and o#er again. 2Hisses her hand.3 7 "ould ha#e you as often as !ossibly 7 can. ,ell, hea#*n grant 7 lo#e you not too "ell6 that*s all y fear. S7- ,7=. *Sheart, you*ll ha#e ti e enough to toy after you*re arried, or, if you "ill toy no", let us ha#e a dance in the eanti e6 that "e "ho are not lo#ers ay ha#e so e other e !loy ent besides looking on. ?7-.. ,ith all y heart, dear Sir ,ilfull. ,hat shall "e do for usicG )(7+. (h, sir, so e that "ere !ro#ided for Sir -o"land*s entertain ent are yet "ithin call. 2. dance.3 =.DU. .s 7 a a !erson, 7 can hold out no longer@ 7 ha#e "asted y s!irits so to-day already that 7 a ready to sink under the fatigue6 and 7 cannot but ha#e so e fears u!on e yet, that y son )ainall "ill !ursue so e des!erate course. ?7-.. ?ada , dis4uiet not yourself on that account@ to y kno"ledge his circu stances are such he ust of force co !ly. )or y !art 7 "ill contribute all that in e lies to a reunion. 7n the eanti e, ada 2to ?-S. ).7/.==3, let e before these "itnesses restore to you this deed of trust@ it ay be a eans, "ell anaged, to ake you li#e easily together. )ro hence let those be "arned, "ho ean to "ed, =est utual falsehood stain the bridal-bed@ )or each decei#er to his cost ay find $hat arriage frauds too oft are !aid in kind. 290eunt ( nes.3 9<7=(&;9--S!oken by ?rs. +racegirdle. .fter our 9!ilogue this cro"d dis isses, 7* thinking ho" this !lay*ll be !ulled to !ieces. +ut !ray consider, e*er you doo its fall, Ho" hard a thing *t"ould be to !lease you all. $here are so e critics so "ith s!leen diseased, $hey scarcely co e inclining to be !leased@ .nd sure he ust ha#e ore than ortal skill ,ho !leases anyone against his "ill. $hen, all bad !oets "e are sure are foes, .nd ho" their nu ber*s s"elled the to"n "ell kno"s 7n shoals, 7*#e arked *e %udging in the !it6 $hough they*re on no !retence for %udg ent fit, +ut that they ha#e been da ned for "ant of "it. Since "hen, they, by their o"n offences taught, Set u! for s!ies on !lays, and finding fault. C8>
(thers there are "hose alice "e*d !re#ent@ Such, "ho "atch !lays, "ith scurrilous intent $o ark out "ho by characters are eant@ .nd though no !erfect likeness they can trace, Uet each !retends to kno" the co!ied face. $hese, "ith false glosses, feed their o"n ill-nature, .nd turn to libel "hat "as eant a satire. ?ay such alicious fo!s this fortune find, $o think the sel#es alone the fools designed@ 7f any are so arrogantly #ain, $o think they singly can su!!ort a scene, .nd furnish fool enough to entertain. )or "ell the learned and the %udicious kno", $hat satire scorns to stoo! so eanly lo", .s any one abstracted fo! to sho". )or, as "hen !ainters for a atchless face, $hey fro each fair one catch so e diff*rent grace, .nd shining features in one !ortrait blend, $o "hich no single beauty ust !retend@ So !oets oft do in one !iece e0!ose ,hole +9==9S .SS9?+=99S of co4uettes and beau0. -the diarists and i"gra2hers (E9el(n &iary Se!te ber - ) 6OH+ EVELY+ (16A0-1D06) The -"&r2 of 6ohn E7el2n Se2te1 er > $his fatal night about ten, began that de!lorable fire, neere )ish-streete in =ondon. 7 had !ub@ !rayers at ho e@ after dinner the fire continuing, "ith y ,ife [ Sonn took 5oach [ "ent to the bank side in South"ark, "here "e beheld that dis al s!eectaccle, the "hole 5itty in dreadfull fla es neere the ,ater side, [ had no" consu ed all the houses fro the bridge all $ha es Streete [ u!-"ards to"ards 5hea!e side, do"ne to the three 5ranes, [ so returned e0ceedingly astonishd, "hat "ould beco e of the rest@ $he )ire ha#ing continud all this night (if 7 ay call that night, "hich "as as light as day for 10 iles round about after a dreadfull anner) "hen cons!_irìng "ith a fierce 9astern ,ind, in a #ery drie season, 7 "ent on foote to the sa e !lace, "hen 7 sa" the "hole South !art of the 5itty burning fro 5hea!e side to the $ha es, [ all along 5ornehill (for it like"ise kindled back against the ,ind, as "ell _as` for"ard) $o"er-Streete, )en-church-streete, &racious Streete, [ so along to +ainard 5astle, and "as no" taking hold of St. <aules-5hurch, to "hich the Scaffalds contributed e0ceedingly $he 5onflagration "as so uni#ersal, [ the !eo!le so astonishPd, that fro the beginning (7 kno" not by "hat des!onding or fate), they hardly stirrPd to 4uench it, so as there "as nothing heard or seene but crying out [ la entation, [ running about like distracted creatures, "ithout at all atte !ting to sa#e e#en their goods6 such a strange consternation there "as u!on the , so as it burned both in breadth [ length, $he 5hurches, <ubli4ue Halls, 90change, Hos!itals, ?onu ents, [ orna ents, lea!ing after a !rodigious anner fro house to house [ streete to streete, at greate distance one fro the other, for the heate ("ith a long set of faire [ "ar e "eather) had e#en ignited the aire, [ !re!ared the aterials to concei#e the fire, "hich de#oured after a_n` incredible anner, houses, furniture, [ e#erything@ C>0
Here "e sa" the $ha es co#erd "ith goods floating, all the barges [ boates laden "ith "hat so e had ti e [ courage to sa#e, as on the other, the 5arts [c carrying out to the fields, "hich for any iles "ere stre"ed "ith o#eables of all sorts, [ $ents erecting to shelter both !eo!le [ "hat goods they could get a"ay@ o the iserable [ cala itous s!eectacle, such as ha!!ly the "hole "orld had not seene the like since the foundation of it, nor to be out don, Ptil the uni#ersal 5onflagration of it, all the skie "ere of a fiery as!ect, like the to! of a burning (#en, [ the light seene abo#e C0 iles round about for any nights@ &od grant ine eyes ay ne#er behold the like, "ho no" sa" abo#e ten thousand houses all in one fla e, the noise [ crakling [ thunder of the i !etuous fla es, the shreeking of ,o en [ children, the hurry of !eo!le, the fall of to"ers, houses [ churches "as like an hideous stor e, [ the aire all about so hot [ infla Pd that at the last one "as not able to a!!roch it, so as they "ere forcePd _to` stand still, and let the fla es consu e on "hich they did for neere t"o "hole ile_s` in length and one in bredth@ $he 5lo"ds also of S oke "ere dis all, [ reached u!on co !utation neere 50 iles in length@ $hus 7 left it this afternoone burning, a rese blance of Sodo e, or the last day@ 7t callPd to ind that of J He!@ non enim hic ha!emus sta!ilem 2ivitatem< the ruines rese bling the !icture of $roy@ =ondon "as, but is no ore@ $hus 7 returnPd@ $he burning still rages6 7 "ent no" on horse back, [ it "as no" gotten as far as the 7nner $e !le, all )leetestreete, old baily, =udgate Hill, ,ar"ick =ane, /e"gate, <aules 5haine, ,attling-streete no" fla ing [ ost of it reducPd to ashes, the stones of <aules fle" like granados, the =ead ealting do"n the streetes in a strea e, [ the #ery !a#e ents of the glo"ing "ith a fiery rednesse, so as nor horse nor an "as able to tread on the , [ the de olitions had sto!!ed all the !assages, so as no hel! could be a!!lied6 the 9aster_n` ,ind still ore i !etuously dri#ing the fla es fore"ards@ /othing but the al ighty !o"er of &od "as able to sto! the , for #aine "as the hel! of an@ on the fift it crossed to"ards ,hite-hall, but o the 5onfusion "as then at that 5ourt@ 7t !leased his ?a%estie to co and e a ong the rest to looke after the 4uenching of fetter-lane end, to !reser#e (if !ossible) that !art of Holborn, "hilst the rest of the &ent@ tooke their se#eral !osts, so e at one !art, so e at another, for no" they began to bestirr the sel#es, [ not Ptil no", "ho Ptil no" had stood as en interdict, "ith their hands a crosse, [ began to consider that nothing "as like to !ut a sto!, but the blo"ing u! of so any houses, as ight ake a _"ider` ga!, than any had yet ben ade by the ordinary ethod of !ulling the do"ne "ith 9ngines@ $his so e stout Sea en !ro!osd early enought to ha#e sa#ed the "hole 5itty@ but so e tenacious [ a#aritious ?en, .lder en [c. "ould not !er itt, because their houses ust ha#e ben _of` the first@ 7t "as therefore no" co anded to be !ractised, [ y conerne being !articularly for the Hos!ital of st. +artholo eus neere S ithfield, "here 7 had any "ounded [ sick en, ade e the ore diligent to !ro ote it6 nor "as y care for the Sa#oy lesse@ So as it !leased .l ighty &od by abating of the ,ind, [ the industrie of !eo!le, no" "hen all "as lost, infusing a ne" S!irit into the ([ such as had if e0erted in ti e undoubtedly !reser#ed the "hole) that the furie of it began sensibly to abate, about noone, so as it ca e no farther than the $e !le ,est-"ard, nor than the enterance of S ithfield /orth6 but continued all this day [ night so i !etuous to"ard 5ri!!le-&ate, [ $he $o"er, as ade us e#en all des!aire6 7t also brake out againe in the $e !le@ but the courage of the ultitude !ersisting, [ innu erable houses blo"n u! "ith &un!o"der, such ga!s [ desolations "ere soone ade, as also by the for er three days consu !tion, as the back fire did not so #ehe ently urge u!on the rest, as for erly@ $here "as yet no standing neere the burning [ glo"ing ruines neere a furlongs S!ace6 $he 5oale [ ,ood "harfes [ aga'ines of (yle, ro'ine, 2chandler3 [c@ did infinite ischiefe6 so as the in#ecti#e 7 but a little before dedicated to his ?a%estie [ !ublishPd, gi#ing "arning "hat ight !robably be the issue of suffering those sho!s to be in the 5itty, "as lookd on as !ro!hetic@ but there 7 left this s oking [ sultry hea!e, "hich ounted u! in dis all clo"ds night [ day, the !oore 7nhabitans dis!ersd all about St. &eorges, ?oore filds, as far as higate, [ se#erall iles in 5ircle, So e under tents, others under iserab_lè Hutts and Ho#ells, "ithout C>1
a rag, or any necessary utinsils, bed or board, "ho fro delicatnesse, riches [ easy acco odations in stately [ "ell furnishd houses, "ere no" reducPd to e0trea est isery [ !o#erty@ 7n this 5ala itous 5ondition 7 returnd "ith a sad heart to y house, blessing [ adoring the distinguishing ercy of &od, to e [ ine, "ho in the idst of all this ruine, "as like =ot, in y little Yoar, safe and sound@ $hursday, 7 re!resented to his ?a%estie the 5ase, of the )rench <risoners at ,ar in y 5ustodie, [ besought hi , there ight be still the sa e care of ,atching at all !laces contiguous to unsei'ed houses@ 7t is not indeede i aginable ho" e0traordinary the #igilanc_e` [ acti#ity of the Hing [ Duke "as, e#en labouring in !erson, [ being !resent, to co and, order, re"ard, and enourage ,orke en6 by "hich he she"ed his affection to his !eo!le, [ gained theirs@ Ha#ing then dis!osed of so e under 5ure, at the Sa#oy, 7 returnPd to "hite hall, "here 7 dined at ?r. (ffleys, &roo e-!orter, "ho "as y relation, together "ith the Hnight ?artial, "here 7 also lay that night. 7 "ent this orning on foote fro ,hite hall as far as =ondon bridge, thro the =ate fleete streete, =udgate hill, by St. <aules, 5hea!e side, 90change, +isho!sgate, .ldersgate, [ out to ?orefields, thence thro 5ornehill, [c@ "ith e0traordinary difficulty, cla bring o#er ountaines of yet s oking rubbish, [ fre4uently istaking "here 7 "as, the ground under y feete so hott, as ade e not onely S"eate, but e#en burnt the soles of y shoes, [ !ut e all o#er in S"eate@ 7n the eane ti e his ?a%estie got to the $o"er by ,ater, to de olish the houses about the &raftB, "hich being built intirely about it, had they taken fire, [ atta4Pd the "hite $o"re, "here the ?aga'ines of <o"der lay, "ould undo_u`btedly ha#e not onely beaten do"ne [ destroyed all the bridge, but sunke [ torne all the #essells in the ri#er, [ rendred the de olition beyond all e0!ression for se#erall iles e#en about the 5ountry at any iles distance@ .t y returne 7 "as infinitly concernPd to find that goodly 5hur_c`h St. <aules no" a sad ruine, [ that beautifull <ortico (for structure co !arable to any in 9uro!, as not long before re!aird by the late Hing) no" rent in !ieces, flakes of #ast Stone S!lit in sunder, [ nothing re aining intire but the 7nscri!tion in the .rchitra#e "hich she"ing by "ho it "as built, had not one letter of it defacPd@ "hich 7 could not but take notice of@ 7t "as astonishing to see "hat i ense stones the heate had in a anner 5alcinPd, so as all the orna ents, 5olu ns, free'es, 5a!itels [ !ro%e_c`tures of assie <ortland stone fle" off, e#en to the #ery roofe, "here a Sheete of =eade co#ering no lesse than 6 akers by easure, being totaly ealted, the ruines of the Vaulted roofe, falling brake into St. )aithes, "hich being filled "ith the aga'ines of bookes, belonging to the Stationer_s`, [ carried thither for safty, they "ere all consu ed burning for a "eeke follo"ing@ 7t is also obser#able, that the lead o#er the .ltar at the 9ast end "as untouchPd6 and a ong the di#ers onu ents, the body of one +isho!, re ained intire. $hus lay in ashes that ost #enerab_lè 5hurch, one of the _antientest` <ieces of early <iety in the 5hristian "orld, beside neere 100 ore6 $he lead, yron"orke, bells, !late [c ealted6 the e04uisitely "rought ?ercers 5ha!ell, the Su !tuous 90change, the august fabric4ue of 5hrist church, all the rest of the 5o !anies Halls, su !tuous buildings, .rches, 9nteries, all in dust. $he fountaines dried u! [ ruind, "hilst the #ery "aters re ained boiling6 the Voragos of subterranean 5ellars ,ells [ Dungeons, for erly ,arehouses, still burning in stench [ dark clo"ds of s oke like hell, so as in fi#e or si0 iles tra#ersing about, 7 did not see one load of ti ber unconsu Pd, nor any stones but "hat "ere calcind "hite as sno", so as the !eo!le "ho no" "alked about the ruines, a!!eard like en in so e dis al desart, or rather in so e greate 5itty, layPd "ast by an i !etuous [ cruel 9ne y, to "hich "as added the stench that ca e fro so e !oore 5reaturs bodys, beds [ other co bustible goods@ Sir $ho@ &ressha s Statue, though falln to the ground fro its nich in the -@ 90change re ainPd intire, "hen all those of the Hings since the 5on4uest "ere broken to !ieces@ also the Standard in 5ornehill, [ :@ 9li'abeths 9ffigies, "ith so e ar es on =udgate continud "ith but little detri ent, "hilst the #ast yron 5haines of the 5ittie streetes, #ast hinges, barrs [ gates of <risons "ere any of the ealted, [ reducPd to cinders by the #ehe ent heats@ nor "as 7 yet able to !ass through any of the narro"er streetes, but ke!t _to` the "idest, the ground [ aire, C>A
s oake [ fiery #a!our, continud so intense, y hair being al ost seinged, [ y feete unsufferably surbated@ $he bielanes [ narro"er streetes "ere 4uite fillPd u! "ith rubbish, nor could one ha#e !ossibly kno"ne "here he "as, but by the ruines of so e church, or hall, that had so e re arkable to"re or !inacle re aining@ 7 then "ent to"ards 7slington, [ high-gate, "here one ight ha#e seene t"o hundred thousand !eo!le of all ranks [ degrees, dis!ersed, [ laying along by their hea!es of "hat they could sa#e fro the 7ncendiu , de!loring their losse, [ though ready to !erish for hunger [ destitution, yet not asking one !enny for reliefe, "hich to e a!!eard a stranger sight, than any 7 had yet beheld@ His ?a%estie [ 5ouncil indeeade tooke all i aginable care for their reliefe, by <rocla ation, for the 5ountry to co e in [ refresh the "ith !ro#isions@ "hen in the iddst of all this 5ala ity [ confusion, there "as (7 kno" not ho") an .lar e begun, that the )rench [ Dutch ("ith "ho "e "ere no" in hostility) "ere not onely landed, but e#en entring the 5itty6 there being in truth, greate sus!icion so e days before, of those t"o nations %oyning, [ e#en no", that they had ben the occasion of firing the $o"ne@ $his re!ort did so terrifie, that on a suddaine there "as such an u!rore [ tu ult, that they ran fro their goods, [ taking "hat "ea!ons they could co e at, they could not be sto!Pd fro falling on so e of those nations "ho they casualy et, "ithout sense or reason, the cla or [ !erill gro"ing so e0cessi#e, as ade the "hole 5ourt a a'Pd at it, [ they did "ith infinite !aines, [ greate difficulty reduce [ a!ease the !eo!le, sending &uards [ troo!es of souldiers, to cause the to retire into the fields againe, "here they "ere "atched all this night "hen 7 left the !retty 4uiet, [ ca e ho e to y house, sufficiently "eary [ broken@ $heir s!irits thus a little sedated, [ the affright abated, they no" began to re!aire into the suburbs about the 5itty, "here such as had friends or o!!ortunit_iè got shelter [ harbour for the <resent6 to "hich his ?a%esties <rocla ation also in#ited the . Still the <lage, continuing in our !arish, 7 could not "ithout danger ad#enture to our 5hurch. 7 "ent againe to the ruines, for it "as no" no longer a 5itty@ Pe2(s &iary Se!te ber S$MUEL %E%YS. (16BB-1D0B) The -"&r2 .ugust [ Se!te ber, 1666 And (=ord*s day). So e of our ayds sitting u! late last night to get things ready against our feast to-day, 1ane called us u! about three in the orning, to tell us of a great fire they sa" in the 5ity. So 7 rose and sli!!ed on y nightgo"ne, and "ent to her "indo", and thought it to be on the backside of ?arke-lane at the farthest6 but, being unused to such fires as follo"ed, 7 thought it far enough off6 and so "ent to bed again and to slee!. .bout se#en rose again to dress yself, and there looked out at the "indo", and sa" the fire not so uch as it "as and further off. So to y closett to set things to rights after yesterday*s cleaning. +y and by 1ane co es and tells e that she hears that abo#e B00 houses ha#e been burned do"n to-night by the fire "e sa", and that it is no" burning do"n all )ish-street, by =ondon +ridge. So 7 ade yself ready !resently, and "alked to the $o"er, and there got u! u!on one of the high !laces, Sir 1. -obinson*s little son going u! "ith e6 and there 7 did see the houses at that end of the bridge all on fire, and an infinite great fire on this and the other side the end of the bridge6 "hich, a ong other !eo!le, did trouble e for !oor little ?ichell and our Sarah on the bridge. So do"n, "ith y heart full of trouble, to the =ieutenant of the $o"er, "ho tells e that it begun this orning in the Hing*s baker*s* house in <udding-lane, and that it hath burned St. ?agnus*s 5hurch and ost !art of )ish-street already. So 7 do"n to the "ater-side, and there got a boat and through bridge, and there sa" a la entable fire. <oor ?ichell*s house, as far as the (ld S"an, already C>B
burned that "ay, and the fire running further, that in a #ery little ti e it got as far as the Steeleyard, "hile 7 "as there. 9#erybody endea#ouring to re o#e their goods, and flinging into the ri#er or bringing the into lighters that layoff6 !oor !eo!le staying in their houses as long as till the #ery fire touched the , and then running into boats, or cla bering fro one !air of stairs by the "ater-side to another. .nd a ong other things, the !oor !igeons, 7 !ercei#e, "ere loth to lea#e their houses, but ho#ered about the "indo"s and balconys till they "ere, so e of the burned, their "ings, and fell do"n. Ha#ing staid, and in an hour*s ti e seen the fire@ rage e#ery "ay, and nobody, to y sight, endea#ouring to 4uench it, but to re o#e their goods, and lea#e all to the fire, and ha#ing seen it get as far as the Steele-yard, and the "ind ighty high and dri#ing it into the 5ity6 and e#ery thing, after so long a drought, !ro#ing co bustible, e#en the #ery stones of churches, and a ong other things the !oor stee!le by "hich !retty ?rs.-------li#es, and "hereof y old school-fello" 9lborough is !arson, taken fire in the #ery to!, an there burned till it fell do"n@ 7 to ,hite Hall ("ith a gentle an "ith e "ho desired to go off fro the $o"er, to see the fire, in y boat)6 to ,hite Hall, and there u! to the Hings closett in the 5ha!!ell, "here !eo!le co e about e, and did gi#e the an account dis ayed the all, and "ord "as carried in to the Hing. So 7 "as called for, and did tell the Hing and Duke of Uorke "hat 7 sa", and that unless his ?a%esty did co and houses to be !ulled do"n nothing could sto! the fire. $hey see ed uch troubled, and the Hing co anded e to go to y =ord ?ayor--2Sir $ho as +lud"orth. See 1une B0th, 1666.3-- fro hi , and co and hi to s!are no houses, but to !ull do"n before the fire e#ery "ay. $he Duke of Uork bid e tell hi that if he "ould ha#e any ore soldiers he shall6 and so did y =ord .rlington after"ards, as a great secret. 2Sir ,illia 5o#entry "rote to =ord .rlington on the e#ening of this day, F$he Duke of Uork fears the "ant of "ork en and tools to- orro" orning, and "ishes the de!uty lieutenants and %ustices of !eace to su on the "ork en "ith tools to be there by break of day. 7n so e churches and cha!els are great hooks for !ulling do"n houses, "hich should be brought ready u!on the !lace to-night against the orningF (F5alendar of State <a!ers,F 1666-66, !. >5).3 Here eeting, "ith 5a!tain 5ocke, 7 in his coach, "hich he lent e, and 5reed "ith e to <aul*s, and there "alked along ,atlingstreet, as "ell as 7 could, e#ery creature co ing a"ay loaden "ith goods to sa#e, and here and there sicke !eo!le carried a"ay in beds. 90traordinary good goods carried in carts and on backs. .t last et y =ord ?ayor in 5anningstreet, like a an s!ent, "ith a handkercher about his neck. $o the Hing*s essage he cried, like a fainting "o an, F=ordE "hat can 7 doG 7 a s!ent@ !eo!le "ill not obey e. 7 ha#e been !ulling do"n houses6 but the fire o#ertakes us faster than "e can do it.F $hat he needed no ore soldiers6 and that, for hi self, he ust go and refresh hi self, ha#ing been u! all night. So he left e, and 7 hi , and "alked ho e, seeing !eo!le all al ost distracted, and no anner of eans used to 4uench the fire. $he houses, too, so #ery thick thereabouts, and full of atter for burning, as !itch and tarr, in $ha es-street6 and "arehouses of oyle, and "ines, and brandy, and other things. Here 7 sa" ?r. 7saake Houblon, the handso e an, !rettily dressed and dirty, at his door at Do"gate, recei#ing so e of his brothers* things, "hose houses "ere on fire6 and, as he says, ha#e been re o#ed t"ice already6 and he doubts (as it soon !ro#ed) that they ust be in a little ti e re o#ed fro his house also, "hich "as a sad consideration. .nd to see the churches all filling "ith goods by !eo!le "ho the sel#es should ha#e been 4uietly there at this ti e. +y this ti e it "as about t"el#e o*clock6 and so ho e, and there find y guests, "hich "as ?r. ,ood and his "ife +arbary Sheldon, and also ?r. ?oons@ she ighty fine, and her husband6 for aught 7 see, a likely an. +ut ?r. ?oone*s design and ine, "hich "as to look o#er y closett and !lease hi "ith the sight thereof, "hich he hath long desired, "as "holly disa!!ointed6 for "e "ere in great trouble and disturbance at this fire, not kno"ing "hat to think of it. Ho"e#er, "e had an e0traordinary good dinner, and as erry, as at this ti e "e could be. ,hile at dinner ?rs. +atelier co e to en4uire after ?r. ,oolfe and Stanes ("ho, it see s, are related to the ), "hose houses in )ish-street are all burned6 and they in a sad condition. She "ould not stay in the fright. Soon as dined, 7 and ?oone a"ay, and "alked, through the 5ity, the streets full of C>C
nothing but !eo!le and horses and carts loaden "ith goods, ready to run o#er one another, and, re o#ing goods fro one burned house to another. $hey no" re o#ing out of 5anning-streets ("hich recei#ed goods in the orning) into =u bard-streets, and further6 and a ong others 7 no" sa" y little golds ith, Stokes, recei#ing so e friend*s goods, "hose house itself "as burned the day after. ,e !arted at <aul*s6 he ho e, and 7 to <aul*s ,harf, "here 7 had a!!ointed a boat to attend e, and took in ?r. 5arcasse and his brother, "ho 7 et in the streets and carried the belo" and abo#e bridge to and again to see the fire, "hich "as no" got further, both belo" and abo#e and no likelihood of sto!!ing it. ?et "ith the Hing and Duke of Uork in their barge, and "ith the to :ueenhith and there called Sir -ichard +ro"ne to the . $heir order "as only to !ull do"n houses a!ace, and so belo" bridge the "ater-side6 but little "as or could be done, the fire co ing u!on the so fast. &ood ho!es there "as of sto!!ing it at the $hree 5ranes abo#e, and at +uttol!h*s ,harf belo" bridge, if care be used6 but the "ind carries it into the 5ity so as "e kno" not by the "ater-side "hat it do there. -i#er full of lighters and boats taking in goods, and good goods s"i ing in the "ater, and only 7 obser#ed that hardly one lighter or boat in three that had the goods of a house in, but there "as a !air of Virginalls 2$he #irginal differed fro the s!inet in being s4uare instead of triangular in for . $he "ord !air "as used in the obsolete sense of a set, as "e read also of a !air of organs. $he instru ent is su!!osed to ha#e obtained its na e fro young "o en, !laying u!on it.3 in it. Ha#ing seen as uch as 7 could no", 7 a"ay to ,hite Hall by a!!oint ent, and there "alked to St. 1a es*s <arks, and there et y "ife and 5reed and ,ood and his "ife, and "alked to y boat6 and there u!on the "ater again, and to the fire u! and do"n, it still encreasing, and the "ind great. So near the fire as "e could for s oke6 and all o#er the $ha es, "ith one*s face in the "ind, you "ere al ost burned "ith a sho"er of firedro!s. $his is #ery true6 so as houses "ere burned by these dro!s and flakes of fire, three or four, nay, fi#e or si0 houses, one fro another. ,hen "e could endure no ore u!on the "ater6 "e to a little ale-house on the +ankside, o#er against the *$hree 5ranes, and there staid till it "as dark al ost, and sa" the fire gro"6 and, as it gre" darker, a!!eared ore and ore, and in corners and u!on stee!les, and bet"een churches and houses, as far as "e could see u! the hill of the 5ity, in a ost horrid alicious bloody fla e, not like the fine fla e of an ordinary fire. +arbary and her husband a"ay before us. ,e staid till, it being darkish, "e sa" the fire as only one entire arch of fire fro this to the other side the bridge, and in a bo" u! the hill for an arch of abo#e a ile long@ it ade e "ee! to see it. $he churches, houses, and all on fire and fla ing at once6 and a horrid noise the fla es ade, and the cracking of houses at their ruins. So ho e "ith a sad heart, and there find e#ery body discoursing and la enting the fire6 and !oor $o Hater co e "ith so e fe" of his goods sa#ed out of his house, "hich is burned u!on )ish-streets Hall. 7 in#ited hi to lie at y house, and did recei#e his goods, but "as decei#ed in his lying there, the ne"es co ing e#ery o ent of the gro"th of the fire6 so as "e "ere forced to begin to !ack u! our o"ne goods6 and !re!are for their re o#al6 and did by oonshine (it being bra#e dry, and oon@ shine, and "ar "eather) carry uch of y goods into the garden, and ?r. Hater and 7 did re o#e y oney and iron chests into y cellar, as thinking that the safest !lace. .nd got y bags of gold into y office, ready to carry a"ay, and y chief !a!ers of accounts also there, and y tallys into a bo0 by the sel#es. So great "as our fear, as Sir ,. +atten hath carts co e out of the country to fetch a"ay his goods this night. ,e did !ut ?r. Hater, !oor an, to bed a little6 but he got but #ery little rest, so uch noise being in y house, taking do"n of goods. Brd. .bout four o*clock in the orning, y =ady +atten sent e a cart to carry a"ay all y oney, and !late, and best things, to Sir ,. -ider*s at +ednall-greene. ,hich 7 did riding yself in y night-go"ne in the cart6 and, =ordE to see ho" the streets and the high"ays are cro"ded "ith !eo!le running and riding, and getting of carts at any rate to fetch a"ay things. 7 find Sir ,. -ider tired "ith being called u! all night, and recei#ing things fro se#eral friends. His house full of goods, and uch of Sir ,. +atten*s and Sir ,. <en*s 7 a eased at y heart to ha#e y treasure so "ell secured. $hen ho e, "ith uch ado to find a "ay, nor any slee! all this night to e nor y !oor "ife. +ut then and all this day she and 7, and all y !eo!le C>5
labouring to get a"ay the rest of our things, and did get ?r. $ooker to get e a lighter to take the in, and "e did carry the ( yself so e) o#er $o"er Hill, "hich "as by this ti e full of !eo!le*s goods, bringing their goods thither6 and do"n to the lighter, "hich lay at ne0t 4uay, abo#e the $o"er Docke. .nd here "as y neighbour*s "ife, ?rs. -------,"ith her !retty child, and so e fe" of her things, "hich 7 did "illingly gi#e "ay to be sa#ed "ith ine6 but there "as no !assing "ith any thing through the !ostern, the cro"d "as so great. $he Duke of Uorke of this day by the office, and s!oke to us, and did ride "ith his guard u! and do"n the 5ity, to kee! all 4uiet (he being no" &enerall, and ha#ing the care of all). $his day, ?ercer being not at ho e, but against her istress*s order gone to her other*s, and y "ife going thither to s!eak "ith ,. He"er, et her there, and "as angry6 and her other saying that she "as not a *!rentice girl, to ask lea#e e#ery ti e she goes abroad, y "ife "ith good reason "as angry, and, "hen she ca e ho e, bid her be gone again. .nd so she "ent a"ay, "hich troubled e, but yet less than it "ould, because of the condition "e are in, fear of co ing into in a little ti e of being less able to kee!e one in her 4uality. .t night lay do"n a little u!on a 4uilt of ,. He"er*s in the office, all y o"ne things being !acked u! or gone6 and after e y !oor "ife did the like, "e ha#ing fed u!on the re ains of yesterday*s dinner, ha#ing no fire nor dishes, nor any o!!ortunity of dressing any thing. Cth. ;! by break of day to get a"ay the re ainder of y things6 "hich 7 did by a lighter at the 7ron gate and y hands so fe", that it "as the afternoon before "e could get the all a"ay. Sir ,. <en and 7 to $o"er- streete, and there et the fire burning three or four doors beyond ?r. Ho"ell*s, "hose goods, !oor an, his trayes, and dishes, sho#ells, [c., "ere flung all along $o"er-street in the kennels, and !eo!le "orking there"ith fro one end to the other6 the fire co ing on in that narro" streete, on both sides, "ith infinite fury. Sir ,. +atten not kno"ing ho" to re o#e his "ine, did dig a !it in the garden, and laid it in there6 and 7 took the o!!ortunity of laying all the !a!ers of y office that 7 could not other"ise dis!ose of. .nd in the e#ening Sir ,. <en and 7 did dig another, and !ut our "ine in it6 and 7 y <ar a'an cheese, as "ell as y "ine and so e other things. $he Duke of Uorke "as at the office this day, at Sir ,. <en*s6 but 7 ha!!ened not to be "ithin. $his afternoon, sitting elancholy "ith Sir ,. <en in our garden, and thinking of the certain burning of this office, "ithout e0traordinary eans, 7 did !ro!ose for the sending u! of all our "ork en fro ,ool"ich and De!tford yards (none "hereof yet a!!eared), and to "rite to Sir ,. 5o#entry to ha#e the Duke of Uorke*s !er ission to !ull do"n houses, rather than lose this office, "hich "ould, uch hinder, the Hing*s business. So Sir ,. <en he "ent do"n this night, in order to the sending the u! to- orro" orning6 and 7 "rote to Sir ,. 5o#entry about the business, but recei#ed no ans"er. $his night ?rs. $urner ("ho, !oor "o an, "as re o#ing her goods all this day, good goods into the garden, and kno"s not ho" to dis!ose of the ), and her husband su!!ed "ith y "ife and 7 at night, in the office6 u!on a shoulder of utton fro the cook*s, "ithout any na!kin or any thing, in a sad anner, but "ere erry. (nly no" and then "alking into the garden, and sa" ho" horridly the sky looks, all on a fire in the night, "as enough to !ut us out of our "its6 and, indeed, it "as e0tre ely dreadful, for it looks %ust as if it "as at us6 and the "hole hea#en on fire. 7 after su!!er "alked in the darke do"n to $o"er- streete, and there sa" it all on fire, at the $rinity House on that side, and the Dol!hin $a#erne on this side, "hich "as #ery near us6 and the fire "ith e0traordinary #ehe ence. /o" begins the !ractice of blo"ing u! of houses in $o"er-streete, those ne0t the $o"er, "hich at first did frighten !eo!le ore than anything, but it sto!!ed the fire "here it "as done, it bringing do"n the houses to the ground in the sa e !laces they stood, and then it "as easy to 4uench "hat little fire "as in it, though it kindled nothing al ost. ,. /e"er this day "ent to see ho" his other did, and co es late ho e, telling us ho" he hath been forced to re o#e her to 7slington, her house in <ye-corner being burned6 so that the fire is got so far that "ay, and all the (ld +ayly, and "as running do"n to )leete-streete6 and <aul*s is burned, and all 5hea!side. 7 "rote to y father this night, but the !ost-house being burned, the letter could not go. 21. Hickes "rote to ,illia son on Se!te ber Brd fro the F&olden =yon,F -ed 5ross Street <osthouse. Sir <hili! 2)ro"de3 and his lady fled fro the 2letter3 office at idnight for safety6 C>6
stayed hi self till 1 a . till his "ife and childrens* !atience could stay, no longer, fearing lest they should be 4uite sto!!ed u!6 the !assage "as so tedious they had uch ado to get "here they are. $he 5hester and 7rish, ails ha#e co e-in6 sends hi his letters, kno"s not ho" to dis!ose of the business (F5alendar of State <a!ers,F 1666-6D, !. >5).3 5th. 7 lay do"n in the office again u!on ,. He"er*s, 4uilt, being ighty "eary, and sore in y feet "ith going till 7 "as hardly able to stand. .bout t"o in the orning y "ife calls e u! and tells e of ne" cryes of fire, it being co e to +arkeing 5hurch, "hich is the botto of our lane. 7 u!, and finding it so, resol#ed !resently to take her a"ay, and did, and took y gold, "hich "as about =AB50, ,. /e"er, and 1ane, do"n by <roundy*s boat to ,ool"ich6 but, =ordE "hat sad sight it "as by oone- light to see, the "hole 5ity al ost on fire, that you ight see it !lain at ,ool"ich, as if you "ere by it. $here, "hen 7 co e, 7 find the gates shut, but no guard ke!t at all, "hich troubled e, because of discourse no" begun, that there is !lot in it, and that the )rench had done it. 7 got the gates o!en, and to ?r. Shelden*s, "here 7 locked u! y gold, and charged, y "ife and ,. /e"er ne#er to lea#e the roo "ithout one of the in it, night, or day. So back again, by the "ay seeing y goods "ell in the lighters at De!tford, and "atched "ell by !eo!le. Ho e6 and "hereas 7 e0!ected to ha#e seen our house on fire, it being no" about se#en o*clock, it "as not. +ut to the fyre, and there find greater ho!es than 7 e0!ected6 for y confidence of finding our (ffice on fire "as such, that 7 durst not ask any body ho" it "as "ith us, till 7 co e and sa" it not burned. +ut going to the fire, 7 find by the blo"ing u! of houses, and the great hel!e gi#en by the "ork en out of the Hing*s yards, sent u! by Sir ,. <en, there is a good sto! gi#en to it, as "ell as at ?arke-lane end as ours6 it ha#ing only burned the dyall of +arking 5hurch, and !art of the !orch, and "as there 4uenched. 7 u! to the to! of +arking stee!le, and there sa" the saddest sight of desolation that 7 e#er sa"6 e#ery "here great fires, oyle-cellars, and bri stone, and other things burning. 7 beca e afeard to stay there long, and therefore do"n again as fast as 7 could, the fire being s!read as far as 7 could see it6 and to Sir ,. <en*s, and there eat a !iece of cold eat, ha#ing eaten nothing since Sunday, but the re ains of Sunday*s dinner. Here 7 et "ith ?r. Uoung and ,histler6 and ha#ing re o#ed all y things, and recei#ed good ho!es that the fire at our end6 is sto!!ed, they and 7 "alked into the to"n, and find )anchurch-streete, &racious-streete6 and =u bard-streete all in dust. $he 90change a sad sight, nothing standing there, of all the statues or !illars, but Sir $ho as &resha *s !icture in the corner. ,alked into ?oorefields (our feet ready to burn, "alking through the to"ne a ong the hot coles), and find that full of !eo!le, and !oor "retches carrying their good there, and e#ery body kee!ing his goods together by the sel#es (and a great blessing it is to the that it is fair "eathe for the to kee! abroad night and day)6 drank there, and !aid t"o-!ence for a !lain !enny loaf. $hence ho e"ard, ha#ing !assed through 5hea!side and /e"gate ?arket, all burned, and seen .nthony 1oyce*s House in fire. .nd took u! ("hich 7 kee! by e) a !iece of glasse of ?ercers* 5ha!!ell in the streete, "here uch ore "as, so elted and buckled "ith the heat of the fire like !arch ent. 7 also did see a !oor cat taken out of a hole in the chi ney, %oyning to the "all of the 90change6 "ith, the hair all burned off the body, and yet ali#e. So ho e at night, and find there good ho!es of sa#ing our office6 but great endea#ours of "atching all night, and ha#ing en ready6 and so "e lodged the in the office, and had drink and bread and cheese for the . .nd 7 lay do"n and sle!t a good night about idnight, though "hen 7 rose 7 heard that there had been a great alar e of )rench and Dutch being risen, "hich !ro#ed, nothing. +ut it is a strange thing to see ho" lon g this ti e did look since Sunday, ha#ing been al"ays full of #ariety of actions, and little slee!, that it looked like a "eek or ore, and 7 had forgot, al ost the day of the "eek. 6th. ;! about fi#e o*clock, and "here et ?r. &a"den at the gate of the office (7 intending to go out, as 7 used, e#ery no" and then to-day, to see ho" the fire is) to call our en to +isho!*sgate, "here no fire had yet been near, and there is no" one broke out "hich did gi#e great grounds to !eo!le, and to e too, to think that there is so e kind of !lot 2$he terrible disaster "hich o#ertook =ondon "as borne by the inhabitants of the city "ith great fortitude, but foreigners and -o an 5atholics had a bad di e. .s no cause for the outbreak of the fire could C>D
be traced, a general cry "as raised that it o"ed its origin to a !lot. 7n a letter fro $ho as ,aade to ,illia son (dated F,hitby, Se!t. 1CthF) "e read, F$he destruction of =ondon by fire is re!orted to be a hellish contri#ance of the )rench, Hollanders, and fanatic !artyF (F5alendar of State <a!ers,F 1666-6D, !. 1AC).3 in this (on "hich any by this ti e ha#e been taken, and, it hath been dangerous for any stranger to "alk in the streets), but 7 "ent "ith the en, and "e did !ut it out in a little ti e6 so that that "as "ell again. 7t "as !retty to see ho" hard the "o en did "ork in the cannells, s"ee!ing of "ater6 but then they "ould scold for drink, and be as drunk as de#ils. 7 sa" good butts of sugar broke o!en in the street, and !eo!le go and take handsfull out, and !ut into beer, and drink it. .nd no" all being !retty "ell, 7 took boat, and o#er to South"arke, and took boat on the other side the bridge, and so to ,est inster, thinking to shift yself, being all in dirt fro to! to botto 6 but could not there find any !lace to buy a shirt or !air of glo#es, ,est inster Hall being full of !eo!le*s goods, those in ,est inster ha#ing re o#ed all their goods, and the 90che4uer oney !ut into #essels to carry to /onsuch6 but to the S"an, and there "as tri ed6 and then to ,hite Hall, but sa" nobody6 and so ho e. . sad sight to see ho" the -i#er looks@ no houses nor church near it, to the $e !le, "here it sto!!ed. .t ho e, did go "ith Sir ,. +atten, and our neighbour, Hnightly ("ho, "ith one ore, "as the only an of any fashion left in all the neighbourhood thereabouts, they all re o#ing their goods and lea#ing their houses to the ercy of the fire), to Sir -. )ord*s, and there dined in an earthen !latter-- a fried breast of utton6 a great any of us, but #ery erry, and indeed as good a eal, though as ugly a one, as e#er 7 had in y life. $hence do"n to De!tford, and there "ith great satisfaction landed all y goods at Sir &. 5arteret*s safe, and nothing issed 7 could see, or hurt. $his being done to y great content, 7 ho e, and to Sir ,. +atten*s, and there "ith Sir -. )ord, ?r. Hnightly, and one ,ithers, a !rofessed lying rogue, su!!ed "ell, and ighty erry, and our fears o#er. )ro the to the office, and there sle!t "ith the office full of labourers, "ho talked, and sle!t, and "alked all night long there. +ut strange it "as to see 5loath"orkers* Hall on fire these three days and nights in one body of fla e, it being the cellar full of oyle. Dth. ;! by fi#e o*clock6 and, blessed be &odE find all "ell, and by "ater to <aul*s ,harfe. ,alked thence, and sa", all the to"ne burned, and a iserable sight of <aul*s church6 "ith all the roofs fallen, and the body of the 4uire fallen into St. )ayth*s6 <aul*s school also, =udgate, and )leet-street, y father*s house, and the church, and a good !art of the $e !le the like. So to 5reed*s lodging, near the /e" 90change, and there find hi laid do"n u!on a bed6 the house all unfurnished, there being fears of the fire*s co ing to the . $here borro"ed a shirt of hi , and "ashed. $o Sir ,. 5o#entry, at St. 1a es*s, "ho lay "ithout curtains, ha#ing re o#ed all his goods6 as the Hing at ,hite Hall, and e#ery body had done, and "as doing. He ho!es "e shall ha#e no !ubli4ue distractions u!on this fire, "hich is "hat e#ery body fears, because of the talke of the )rench ha#ing a hand in it. .nd it is a !ro!er ti e for discontents6 but all en*s inds are full of care to !rotect the sel#es, and sa#e their goods@ the ilitia is in ar es e#ery "here. (ur fleetes, he tells e, ha#e been in sight one of another, and ost unha!!ily by fo"le "eather "ere !arted, to our great losse, as in reason they do conclude6 the Dutch being co e out only to ake a she", and !lease their !eo!le6 but in #ery bad condition as to stores6 #ictuals, and en. $hey are at +ullen6 and our fleete co e to St. 9llen*s. ,e ha#e got nothing, but ha#e lost one shi!, but he kno"s not "hat. $hence to the S"an, and there drank@ and so ho e, and find all "ell. ?y =ord +runcker, at Sir ,. +atten*s, and tells us the &enerall is sent for u!, to co e to ad#ise "ith the Hing about business at this %uncture, and to kee! all 4uiet6 "hich is great honour to hi , but 7 a sure is but a !iece of dissi ulation. So ho e, and did gi#e orders for y house to be ade clean6 and then do"n to ,ool"ich, and there find all "ell@ Dined, and ?rs. ?arkha co e to see y "ife. So 7 u! again, and calling at De!tford for so e things of ,. He"er*s, he being "ith e, and then ho e and s!ent the e#ening "ith Sir -. )ord, ?r. Hnightly, and Sir ,. <en at Sir ,. +atten*s@ $his day our ?erchants first et at &resha 5ollege, "hich, by !rocla ation, is to be their 90change. Strange to hear "hat is bid for houses all u! and do"n here6 a friend of Sir ,. -ider*s@ ha#ing =150 for "hat he used to let for =C0 !er annu . ?uch dis!ute "here the 5usto e-house shall be thereby the gro"th of the 5ity again to be foreseen. C>8
?y =ord $reasurer, they say, and others6 "ould ha#e it at the other end of the to"ne. 7 ho e late to Sir ,. <en*s, "ho did gi#e e a bed6 but "ithout curtains or hangings, all being do"n. So here 7 "ent the first ti e into a naked bed, only y dra"ers on6 and did slee! !retty "ell@ but still hath slee!ing and "aking had a fear of fire in y heart, that 7 took little rest. <eo!le do all the "orld o#er cry out of the si !licity of y =ord ?ayor in generall6 and ore !articularly in this business of the fire, laying it all u!on* hi . . !rocla ation 2(n Se!te ber 5th !rocla ation "as ade Fordering that for su!!ly of the distressed !eo!le left destitute by the late dreadful and dis al fire.great !ro!ortions of bread be brought daily, not only to the for er arkets, but to those lately ordained6 that all churches, cha!els, schools, and !ublic buildings are to be o!en to recei#e the goods of those "ho kno" not ho" to dis!ose of the .F (n Se!te ber 6th, !rocla ation ordered Fthat as the arkets are burned do"n, arkets be held in +isho!sgate Street, $o"er Hill, S ithfield, and =eadenhall StreetF (F5alendar of State <a!ers,F 1666-6D, !!. 100, 10C).3 is co e out for arkets to be ke!t at =eadenhall and ?ileendgreene, and se#eral other !laces about the to"ne6 and $o"er-hill, and all churches to be set o!en to recei#e !oor !eo!le. 8th. ;! and "ith Sir ,. +atten and Sir ,. <en by "ater to ,hite Hall and they to St. 1a es*s. 7 sto!!ed "ith Sir &. 5arteret to desire hi to go "ith us, and to en4uire after oney. +ut the first he cannot do, and the other as little, or says, F"hen "e can get any, or "hat shall "e do for itGF He, it see s, is e !loyed in the corres!ondence bet"een the 5ity and the Hing e#ery day, in settling of things. 7 find hi full of trouble, to think ho" things "ill go. 7 left hi , and to St. 1a es*s, "here "e et first at Sir ,. 5o#entry*s cha ber, and there did "hat business "e can, "ithout any books. (ur discourse, as e#ery thing else, "as confused. $he fleete is at <orts outh, there staying a "ind to carry the to the Do"nes, or to"ards +ullen, "here they say the Dutch fleete is gone, and stays. ,e concluded u!on !ri#ate eetings for a "hile, not ha#ing any oney to satisfy any !eo!le that ay co e to us. 7 bought t"o eeles u!on the $ha es, cost e si0 shillings. $hence "ith Sir ,. +atten to the 5ock-!it, "hither the Duke of .lbe arle is co e. 7t see s the Hing holds hi so necessary at this ti e, that he hath sent for hi , and "ill kee! hi here. 7ndeed, his interest in the 5ity, being ac4uainted, and his care in kee!ing things 4uiet, is reckoned that "herein he "ill be #ery ser#iceable. ,e to hi 6 he is courted in a!!earance by e#ery body. He #ery kind to us6 7 !ercei#e he lays by all business of the fleete at !resent, and inds the 5ity, and is no" hastening to &resha 5ollege, to discourse "ith the .lder en. Sir ,. +atten and 7 ho e ("here et by y brother 1ohn, co e to to"n to see ho" things are "ith us), and then !resently he "ith e to &resha 5ollege6 "here infinity of !eo!le, !artly through no#elty to see the ne" !lace, and !artly to find out and hear "hat is beco e one an of another. 7 et "ith any !eo!le undone, and ore that ha#e e0traordinary great losses. <eo!le s!eaking their thoughts #ariously about the beginning of the fire, and the rebuilding6 of the 5ity. $hen to Sir ,. +atten*s, and took y brothet "ith e, and there dined "ith a great co !any of neighbours6 and uch good discourse6 a ong others, of the lo" s!irits of so e rich en in the 5ity, in s!aring any encourage ent to the, !oor !eo!le that "rought for the sa#ing their houses. . ong others, .lder an Starling, a #ery rich an, "ithout6 children, the fire at ne0t door to hi in our lane, after our en had sa#ed his house, did gi#e As. 6d. a ong thirty of the , and did 4uarrel "ith so e that "ould re o#e the rubbish out of the "ay of the fire, saying that they co e to steal. Sir ,. 5o#entry told e of another this orning, in Holborne, "hich he she"ed the Hing that "hen it "as offered to sto! the fire near his house for such a re"ard that ca e but to As. 6d. a an a ong the neighbours he "ould, gi#e but 18d. $hence to +ednall &reen by coach, y brother "ith e, and sa" all "ell there, and fetched a"ay y %ournall book to enter for fi#e days !ast, and then back to the office "here 7 find +ag"ell*s "ife, and her husband co e ho e. .greed to co e to their house to- orro", 7 sending hi a"ay to his shi! to-day. $o the office and late "riting letters, and then to Sir ,. <en*s, y brother lying "ith e, and Sir ,. <en gone do"n to rest hi self at ,ool"ich. +ut 7 "as uch frighted and ke!t a"ake in y bed, by so e noise 7 heard a great "hile belo" stairs6 and the boys not co ing u!
C>>
to e "hen 7 knocked. 7t "as by their disco#ery of !eo!le stealing of so e neighbours* "ine that lay in #essels in the streets. So to slee!6 and all "ell all night. >th (Sunday). ;! and "as tri ed, and sent y brother to ,ool"ich to y "ife, to dine "ith her. 7 to church, "here our !arson ade a elancholy but good ser on6 and any and ost in the church cried, s!ecially the "o en. $he church ighty full6 but fe" of fashion, and ost strangers. 7 "alked to +ednall &reen, and there dined "ell, but a bad #enison !asty at Sir ,. -ider*s. &ood !eo!le they are, and good discourse6 and his daughter, ?iddleton, a fine "o an, discreet. $hence ho e, and to church again, and there !reached Dean Harding6 but, ethinks, a bad, !oor ser on, though !ro!er for the ti e6 nor elo4uent, in saying at this ti e that the 5ity is reduced fro a large folio to a deci otertio. So to y office, there to "rite do"n y %ournall, and take lea#e of y brother, "ho 7 sent back this afternoon, though rainy6 "hich it hath not done a good "hile before. +ut 7 had no roo or con#enience for hi here till y house is fitted6 but 7 "as #ery kind to hi , and do take #ery "ell of hi his %ourney. 7 did gi#e hi C0s. for his !ocket, and so, he being gone, and, it !resently rayning, 7 "as troubled for hi , though it is good for the fyre. .non to Sir ,. <en*s to bed, and ade y boy $o to read e aslee!. 10th. .ll the orning clearing our cellars, and breaking in !ieces all y old lu ber, to ake roo , and to !re#ent fire. .nd then to Sir ,. +atten*s, and dined6 and there hear that Sir ,. -ider says that the to"ne is full of the re!ort of the "ealth that is in his house, and "ould be glad that his friends "ould !ro#ide for the safety of their goods there. $his ade e get a cart6 and thither, and there brought y oney all a"ay. $ook a hackney-coach yself (the hackneycoaches no" standing at .llgate). ?uch "ealth indeed there is at his house. +lessed be &od, 7 got all ine "ell thence, and lodged it in y office6 but #e0ed to ha#e all the "orld see it. .nd "ith Sir ,. +atten, "ho "ould ha#e taken a"ay y hands before they "ere sto"ed. +ut by and by co es brother +alty fro sea, "hich 7 "as glad of6 and so got hi , and ?r. $ooker, and the boy, to "atch "ith the all in the office all night, "hile 7 u!on 1ane*s co ing "ent do"n to y "ife, calling at De!tford, intending to see +ag"ell, but did not *ou#rir la !orte co e %e* did e0!ect. So do"n late to ,ool"ich, and there find y "ife out of hu our and indifferent, as she uses u!on her ha#ing uch liberty abroad. A0 re( ('rief 9ives =ife of .ndre" ?ar#ell) 6OH+ $UBREY (16A6-16>D) L"7e! of E#"nent Men ?Br"ef L"7e!@ ./D-9, ?.-V9== 2+orn 16A1. <oet and satirist. He tra#elled on the 5ontinent for four years. 7n 165B he beca e tutor to 5ro "ell*s "ard, ,illia Dutton, and in 165D "as ade ?ilton*s assistant in the =atin secretaryshi! to the 5ouncil. .fter the -estoration he entered <arlia ent and beca e a #iolent !olitician "ith strong -e!ublican leanings and "rote satires and !a !hlets, attacking first the inisters, but after"ards 5harles 77 hi self. Des!ite this he re ained a fa#ourite "ith the Hing, "ho offered hi a !lace at 5ourt and a !resent of a1000, "hich "ere both declined. )ro 1660 to 16D8 he "rote a series of ne"sletters to his constituents at Hull, chronicling the debates in the House of 5o ons. +ut his fa e rests u!on his !oe s "ritten in !raise of gardens and country life. He died in 16D8.3 H9 "as of iddling stature, !retty strong sett, roundish faced, cherry cheek*t, ha'ell eie, bro"ne haire. He "as in his con#ersation #ery odest, and of #ery fe" "ords @ and though he lo#ed "ine he "ould ne#er drinke hard in co !any, and "as "ont to say that, he "ould not !lay the good-fello" in any an*s co !any in "hose hands he "ould not trust his life. He had not a generall ac4uaintance. 500
7n the ti e of (li#er the <rotector he "as =atin Secretarie. He "as a great aster of the =atin tongue 6 an e0cellent !oet in =atin or 9nglish@ fot =atin #erses there "as no an could co e into co !etition "ith hi . 7 re e ber 7 ha#e heard hi say that the 9arle of -ochester "as the only an in 9ngland that had the true #eine of Satyre. His nati#e to"ne of Hull lo#ed hi so "ell that they elected hi for their re!resentati#e in <arlia ent, and ga#e hi an honourable !ension to aintaine hi . He ke!t bottles of "ine at his lodgeing, and any ti es he "ould drinke liberally by hi selfe to refresh his s!irits, and e0alt his ?use. (7 re e ber 7 ha#e been told that the learned &oclenius (an High-&er an) "as "ont to kee! bottells of good -henish-"ine in his studie, and, "hen his s!irits "asted, he "ould drinke a good -u er of it.) (biit =ondini, .ug. 18. 16D8 6 and is buried in St. &iles church in-the-fields about the iddle of the south aisle. So e sus!ect that he "as-!oysoned.by the 1esuites, but 7 cannot be !ositi#e. $H(?.S ?.U 2+orn 15>5. <oet and historian. $he son of Sir $ho as ?ay, he "ent to 5a bridge and thence to &ray*s 7nn, but soon discarded la" for literature. 7n 16AA he !roduced his first co edy, The Heir, and also a translation of Virgil*s Georgics# Si0 years later a!!eared his translation of 9ucan, "hich gained hi the fa#our of 5harles 7, at "hose co and he "rote t"o !oe s, each in se#en books, The /eigne of %ing Henry ,, and The 0ictorious /eigne of %ing 1dward ,,,# +ut "hen the 5i#il ,ar broke out, ?ay took the side of the <arlia ent and "as ade Secretary to the =ong <arlia ent, the historian of "hich he beca e. T!e History of the Parliament of 1ngland, which !egan 6ov# B, 16C0, "as !ublished in 16CD@ the narrati#e closes "ith the +attle of /e"bury (16CB) and is !refaced "ith a short re#ie" of the !receding reigns fro that of 9li'abeth. ?ay "as also the author of se#eral tragedies, "hich e0hibit either featureless ediocrity or !retentious e0tra#agance. He died in 1650.3 .s to $o ?ay, ?r. 9d und ,yld told e that he "as ac4uainted "ith hi "hen he "as young, and then he "as as other young en of this $o"ne are, seil# he "as debaucht ad omnia< but doe not by any eanes take notice of it6 for "e ha#e all been young. +ut ?r. ?ar#el in his <oe s u!on $o ?ay*s death falls #ery se#ere u!on hi . . great ac4uaintance of $o 5haloner. ,ould, "hen inter pocula, s!eake slightingly of the $rinity. He stood 5andidate for the =aurell after +. 1onson 6 but Sir ,illia Da#enant caried it. Amicus< Sir -ichard )ansha"e. ?r. 9 anuel Decret' (Ser%eant <ainter to Hing 5harles 7st) "as !resent at the debate at their !arting before Sir -ichard "ent to the Hing, "here both 5a !s "ere ost rigorously banded. His translation of =ucan*s e0cellent <oe e ade hi in lo#e "ith the -e!ubli4ue, "hich $ang stuck by hi . 5a e of his death after drinking "ith his chin tyed "ith his ca! (being fatt)6 suffocated.
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The Pilgrims Progress

The Pilgrims Progress

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The Pilgrims Progress

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the Arth0rian r"1an6e (-ir Gawain and the Green %night)

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