[SCENE 3.]
Reading edition
Enter Orlando, Reinaldo, Oliver.
Orl. Pray, thee, good coosse, perswade not my beleife; I cannot stoope[97] the harte of Ganelon. My crosse unhappye fortune hathe decreed A never shalbe conquerd; any ells, Should a but vowe to conquer 50 worlds, I would beleive a myght doo't: onlye I Shall never master a dejected slave.
Rei. Indeede tys but your passyon so perswads you.
Oli. Be not fantastyque; that which we perswade Hathe bothe an eassye and a certayne way, Nor can it yeild to you a syngle joye But muche redoobled sweetnes. And behould Here comes the newe made marquesse.
Enter Richard.
Good sweete lorde, Give my free speche suer passadge. … … … … …
0l. Foote! thys newe pyle of honor walks as if A would knocke patts with heaven.
Rich. Tys not unlike Your owne true pryde dothe make you speculous.
Rei. Tys farre shorte of youre sweete harte Ganelons.
Rich. Sir, hees a noble gentyllman.
Oli. A Baboone, A verye windye caske of emptynes.
Rich. I wonder y'are so impudent. My frende Hath vertues lefte: if you had eyther shame Or charytie you would accuse your lybells. But as the ravens which in Arabia live, Haveinge flowne all the feylde of spyces ore, Seaze on a stynkinge carkasse, so doe you Swiftlye leape over a most plentyous vale Of good examples which grace Ganelon And fasten on the scandall which was formd By a lewde treacherous knave to gett rewarde.
Oli. I give your aplycatyon the broade lye.
Rich. And tys thy last foule languadge. [Offer to Drawe.
Orl. Hould! who drawes must be myne enemye.
Rich. I'm easlye chydd from tumulte, but, deare Sir, Tell me in pryvatt howe you dare maynteyne it. [Whisper.
Enter alofte[98] Ganelon.
Gan.—Yonder a stands consultinge with my foes. Perhapps thys present mynute he reveales My systers whoredome, or to take away All feare of my revendge he now contryves That my sadd deathe may fynishe my disgrace. Myne eies are dazeld, but it is no wonder, For in that glassye fellowe I dyserne The true reflectyon of my fate & feares. Tys he, tys he; there wants but a good crossbowe[99] To levell at hys harte nowe. I began A littill synce to chide my rashe beleife And so was readye to tourne foole agayne; But I am nowe deliverd & hencefourthe, If wisdome or occassyon doe me righte, I will determine never to mystake. Heres a full proofe of what my mother spake.
Oli. As I respect myne honor I will meete you.
Rei. Are you agreed?
Oli. Yes, sir.
Orl. Away and shape our purposse.
[Ex. all but Richard.
Rich. Tys put to tryall; but I doe suspecte Theire whysprynge plotts. Thys equall hazard may Shadowe the meanynge of some certayne danger, The rather synce Reinaldo seconds it. I must see Ganelon & speake theise douts: This quarrell most concerns hym, for the wronge And capytall abuse toucht onlye hym. I gave a constant promyse never more To vyssytt hym without the emperours leave, And yet I will adventure. He may guesse At secrett workings & confyrme my feare. Thys nighte I will adventure, & obay As he shall fashyion me to meete or stay.
[Ex.
Actus 5.