Act 5 — THE SHOEMAKERS’ HOLIDAY
Reading edition
BY THOMAS DEKKER
[DRAMATIS PERSONAE
The King.
The Earl of Cornwall.
Sir Hugh Lacy, Earl of Lincoln.
Rowland Lacy, otherwise Hans, } His Nephews.
Askew
Sir Roger Oately, Lord Mayor of London.
Master Hammon, } Citizens of London.
Master Warner,
Master Scott,
Simon Eyre, the Shoemaker.
Roger, commonly called Hodge, } Eyre’s Journeymen.
Firk,
Ralph,
Lovell, a Courtier.
Dodger, a Servant to the Earl of Lincoln.
A Dutch Skipper.
A Boy.
Rose, Daughter of Sir Roger.
Sybil, her Maid.
Margery, Wife of Simon Eyre.
Jane, Wife of Ralph.
Courtiers, Attendants, Officers, Soldiers, Hunters, Shoemakers, Apprentices, Servants.
Scene.—London and Old Ford.]
THE PROLOGUE
As it was pronounced before the Queen’s Majesty
As wretches in a storm, expecting day, With trembling hands and eyes cast up to heaven, Make prayers the anchor of their conquer’d hopes, So we, dear goddess, wonder of all eyes, Your meanest vassals, through mistrust and fear5 To sink into the bottom of disgrace By our imperfect pastimes, prostrate thus On bended knees, our sails of hope do strike, Dreading the bitter storms of your dislike. Since then, unhappy men, our hap is such10 That to ourselves ourselves no help can bring, But needs must perish, if your saint-like ears, Locking the temple where all mercy sits, Refuse the tribute of all begging tongues; Oh, grant, bright mirror of true chastity,15 From those life-breathing stars, your sun-like eyes, One gracious smile; for your celestial breath Must send us life, or sentence us to death.