Act 3 — SCENE VII.
Reading edition
The funeral passes over the stage. Nennius's 'scutcheon, armour, Cæsar's sword borne. Torches, mourners.
Cas. Set down that heavy load with heavier hearts. Could virtuous valour, honourable thoughts, A noble scorn of fortune, pride and death, Myriads of vows and prayers sent to heaven; Could country's love or Britain's genius save A mortal man from sleeping in his grave, Then hadst thou liv'd, great Nennius, and outliv'd The smooth-tongu'd Greek. But we may more envy, And less bewail thy loss, since thou didst fall On honour's lofty field-bed, on which stage Never did worthy act a statelier part. Nor durst pale death approach with cypress sad, Till flourishing bays thy conquering temples clad.
A Funeral Elegy sung to the Harp.
Turnus may conceal his name, Nennius had Æneas' fame. Hannibal let Afric smother, Nennius was great Scipio's brother. Greece, forbear Achilles' story, Nennius had brave Hector's glory. Thrush and nightingale, be dumb: Sorrowful songs befit a tomb. Turn, ye marble stones, to water: Isis' nymphs forswear all laughter: Sigh and sob upon your bed, Beli's noble son is dead.
A banquet served over the stage. Rollano, with a leg of a capon and a tankard of wine.
Rol. I like such slaughtering well of birds and beasts, Which wear no swords, nor shake a fatal pike, When hogsheads bleed, and oxen mangled lie. O, what a world of victuals is prepar'd For sacrifice and feasting! Forty thousand Fat bullocks! then the parks and forests send Full thirty thousand wild beasts, arm'd with horns And dangerous teeth: the main battalion Consists of sheep, an hundred thousand fat: The wings are both supplied with birds and fowls Sans number: and some fish for succours serve— A goodly army. Troynovant doth smoke, And smells all like a kitchen. The king, princes, And nobles of the land a triumph hold. Music and songs, good cheer and wine; and wine And songs, and music and good cheer. Hei, brave! No more shall barley-broth pollute my throat, But nectar—nectar of the grape's sweet blood. Come, heavenly potion—wine, whose gentle warmth Softens the brain, unlocks the silent tongue; Wit's midwife, and our spirit's vestal priest, Keeping alive the natural heat. A health, A health (to make short work) to all the world! So will it (sure) go round. [Steals behind.
The triumphs. Cassibelanus: four Kings of Kent: three Kings, Cridous, Britael, Guerthed; Androgeus, Tenantius, Hirildas, Eulinus, Belinus, take places.
Cas. Sorrow must doff her sable weeds, and joy Furbish the Court with fresh and verdant colours; Else should we seem ungrateful to the gods. Triumphs must thrust out obsequies; and tilt With tourney, and our ancient sport call'd Troy, Such as Iulus 'bout his grandsire's tomb Did represent; and at each temple's porch, Games, songs, and holy murdering of beasts. [They sit down.
A dancing masque of six enters, then the epinicion[316] sung by two bards.
The Roman eagle, threatening woe, The sea did shadow with her wing; But our goose-quills did prick her so That from the clouds they down her bring. Both. Sing then, ye hills and dales so-so clear, That Iö Pæan all may hear. They may us call isles fortunate; They sought for life here, not for fame. All yield to them, they to our state: The world knows but our double name. Both. Sing then, ye streams and woods so-so clear, That Iö Pæan all may hear.
Androgeus and Tenantius play at foils, then Hirildas and Eulinus play.
Eul. 'Twas foully play'd. Hir. You lie, 'twas fairly hit. Eul. I'll give a quittance. Hir. Do your worst, vain braggart.
[They take swords, fight, Hirildas slain.
O, I'm slain. Cas. Hold, hold! my nephew's slain before my face. Life shall be paid with life. And. He shall not die. Cas. Shall not? your king and uncle says he shall. Eul. No kingly menace or censorious frown Do I regard. Tanti[317] for all your power! But the compunction of my guilt doth send A shudd'ring chilness through my veins inflam'd. Why do ye stare, ye grisly powers of night? There, there his soul goes: I must follow him.
[Offers to kill himself: is hindered.
And. He was provok'd, and did it in defence: And, being my kinsman, shall be judg'd by laws Of Troynovant: such custom claims our court. Cas. No custom shall bar justice. I command That he appear before us. And. Trials are vain when passion sits as judge. Cas. I'll soon rebate this insolent disdain.
[Exeunt Androgeus, Tenantius, and Eulinus.
Let not this dismal chance deface our joy, Most royal friends. Cri. War being silenced, and envy's rage In hell fast fetter'd, sound we now retreat, That soldiers may regreet their household gods; Their children cling about their armed thighs. Bri. And place their trophies 'bout their smoky halls; There hang a gauntlet bright, here a stabb'd buckler, Pile up long pikes,[318] and in that corner plant A weighty sword, brandish'd by some centurion: Not he, who ne'er on snaky perils trod, But happy he, who hath them stoutly pass'd: For danger's sauce gives joy a better taste. Guer. Great monarch, if thy summons call us back, We tender here our service, men and arms, As duty bids and binds. Cas. Should he return, our province dares him front. So a most kind adieu unto all three.
[Exeunt Cridous, Britael, and Guerthed.
Cingetorix, Carvilius, Taximagulus, Segonax, I know your faithful love: Kent's fourfold head Will check rash rebels, and as firmly stand As hearty oaks, who bear off Æolus' blows, And with a whistle but deride his force.
[Exeunt four Kings of Kent.
Burst, gall, and dye my actions in flame-colour! I saw Hirildas fall, and breathe his soul Even in my face; as though hell watch'd a time To crush our pomp and glory into sighs. The conduits of his vital spring being ripp'd, Spurtl'd my robes, soliciting revenge. Belinus, Attach the murderer, and if abettors Deny obedience, then with sword and fire Waste their dominions. For a traitor's sake, Whole towns shall tremble, and the ground shall quake. [Exeunt.