Act 5 — [Scene VIII.][212]

P. Edw. Lacy, thou canst not shroud thy traitorous thoughts, Nor cover, as did Cassius, all his wiles; For Edward hath an eye that looks as far As Lynceus from the shores of Græcia. Did not I sit in Oxford by the friar,5 And see thee court the maid of Fressingfield, Sealing thy flattering fancies with a kiss? Did not proud Bungay draw his portace forth, And, joining hand in hand, had married you, If Friar Bacon had not struck him dumb,10 And mounted him upon a spirit’s back, That we might chat at Oxford with the friar? Traitor, what answer’st? Is not all this true? Lacy. Truth all, my lord; and thus I make reply: At Harleston fair, there courting for your grace, Whenas mine eye survey’d her curious shape,16 And drew the beauteous glory of her looks To dive into the centre of my heart, Love taught me that your honour did but jest, That princes were in fancy[213] but as men;20 How that the lovely maid of Fressingfield Was fitter to be Lacy’s wedded wife Than concubine unto the Prince of Wales. P. Edw. Injurious Lacy, did I love thee more Than Alexander his Hephæstion?25 Did I unfold the passions of my love, And lock them in the closet of thy thoughts? Wert thou to Edward second to himself, Sole friend, and partner of his secret loves? And could a glance of fading beauty break30 Th’ enchained fetters of such private friends? Base coward, false, and too effeminate To be corrival[214] with a prince in thoughts! From Oxford have I posted since I din’d, To quite a traitor ’fore that Edward sleep.35 Mar. ’T was I, my lord, not Lacy stept awry: For oft he su’d and courted for yourself, And still woo’d for the courtier all in green; But I, whom fancy made but over-fond, Pleaded myself with looks as if I lov’d;40 I fed mine eye with gazing on his face, And still bewitch’d lov’d Lacy with my looks; My heart with sighs, mine eyes pleaded with tears, My face held pity and content at once, And more I could not cipher-out by signs,45 But that I lov’d Lord Lacy with my heart. Then, worthy Edward, measure with thy mind If women’s favours will not force men fall, If beauty, and if darts of piercing love, Are not of force to bury thoughts of friends.50 P. Edw. I tell thee, Peggy, I will have thy loves; Edward or none shall conquer Margaret In frigates bottom’d with rich Sethin[215] planks, Topt with the lofty firs of Lebanon, Stemm’d and incas’d with burnish’d ivory,55 And over-laid with plates of Persian wealth, Like Thetis shalt thou wanton on the waves, And draw the dolphins to thy lovely eyes, To dance lavoltas in the purple streams: Sirens, with harps and silver psalteries,60 Shall wait with music at thy frigate’s stem, And entertain fair Margaret with their lays. England and England’s wealth shall wait on thee; Britain shall bend unto her prince’s love, And do due homage to thine excellence,65 If thou wilt be but Edward’s Margaret. Mar. Pardon, my lord: if Jove’s great royalty Sent me such presents as to Danaë; If Phœbus, tired in Latona’s webs, Come courting from the beauty of his lodge;70 The dulcet tunes of frolic Mercury,— Nor all the wealth heaven’s treasury affords Should make me leave Lord Lacy or his love. P. Edw. I have learn’d at Oxford, then, this point of schools,— Ablata causa, tollitur effectus:75 Lacy, the cause that Margaret cannot love Nor fix her liking on the English prince, Take him away, and then th’ effects will fail. Villain, prepare thyself; for I will bathe My poniard in the bosom of an earl.80 Lacy. Rather than live, and miss fair Margaret’s love, Prince Edward, stop not at the fatal doom, But stab it home: end both my loves and life. Mar. Brave Prince of Wales, honoured for royal deeds, ’Twere sin to stain fair Venus’ courts with blood;85 Love’s conquest ends, my lord, in courtesy. Spare Lacy, gentle Edward; let me die, For so both you and he do cease your loves. P. Edw. Lacy shall die as traitor to his lord. Lacy. I have deserv’d it, Edward; act it well.90 Mar. What hopes the prince to gain by Lacy’s death? P. Edw. To end the loves ’twixt him and Margaret. Mar. Why, thinks King Henry’s son that Margaret’s love Hangs in th’ uncertain balance of proud time? That death shall make a discord of our thoughts?95 No, stab the earl, and, ’fore the morning sun Shall vaunt him thrice over the lofty east, Margaret will meet her Lacy in the heavens. Lacy If aught betides to lovely Margaret That wrongs or wrings her honour from content,100 Europe’s rich wealth nor England’s monarchy Should not allure Lacy to over-live. Then, Edward, short my life, and end her loves. Mar. Rid[216] me, and keep a friend worth many loves. Lacy. Nay, Edward, keep a love worth many friends.105 Mar. An if thy mind be such as fame hath blaz’d, Then, princely Edward, let us both abide The fatal resolution of thy rage. Banish thou fancy and embrace revenge, And in one tomb knit both our carcases,110 Whose hearts were linked in one perfect love. P. Edw. [aside.] Edward, art thou that famous Prince of Wales, Who at Damasco beat the Saracens, And brought’st home triumph on thy lance’s point? And shall thy plumes be pull’d by Venus down?115 Is’t princely to dissever lovers’ leagues, To part such friends as glory in their loves? Leave, Ned, and make a virtue of this fault, And further Peg and Lacy in their loves: So in subduing fancy’s passion,120 Conquering thyself, thou gett’st the richest spoil.——- Lacy, rise up. Fair Peggy, here’s my hand. The Prince of Wales hath conquered all his thoughts, And all his loves he yields unto the earl. Lacy, enjoy the maid of Fressingfield;125 Make her thy Lincoln Countess at the church, And Ned, as he is true Plantagenet, Will give her to thee frankly for thy wife. Lacy. Humbly I take her of my sovereign, As if that Edward gave me England’s right,130 And rich’d me with the Albion diadem. Mar. And doth the English prince mean true? Will he vouchsafe to cease his former loves, And yield the title of a country maid Unto Lord Lacy?135 P. Edw. I will, fair Peggy, as I am true lord. Mar. Then, lordly sir, whose conquest is as great, In conquering love, as Caesar’s victories, Margaret, as mild and humble in her thoughts As was Aspasia unto Cyrus’ self,140 Yields thanks, and, next Lord Lacy, doth enshrine Edward the second secret in her heart. P. Edw. Gramercy, Peggy. Now that vows are past, And that your loves are not to be revolt,[217] Once, Lacy, friends again. Come, we will post To Oxford; for this day the king is there,145 And brings for Edward Castile Elinor. Peggy, I must go see and view my wife: I pray God I like her as I loved thee. Beside, Lord Lincoln, we shall hear dispute150 ’Twixt Friar Bacon and learned Vandermast. Peggy, we’ll leave you for a week or two. Mar. As it please Lord Lacy; but love’s foolish looks Think footsteps miles and minutes to be hours. Lacy. I’ll hasten, Peggy, to make short return.——155 But please your honour go unto the lodge, We shall have butter, cheese, and venison; And yesterday I brought for Margaret A lusty bottle of neat claret-wine: Thus can we feast and entertain your grace.160 P. Edw. ’Tis cheer, Lord Lacy, for an emperor, If he respect the person and the place. Come, let us in; for I will all this night Ride post until I come to Bacon’s cell. Exeunt.