Act 4 — ACT IV. SCENE I.

A Public Way near Hengist’s Castle.

Enter Simon and all his brethren, a mace and sword before him, meeting Vortiger, Castiza, Hengist, Roxena, Horsus, and two Ladies.

Sim. Lo,^[474] I, the Mayor of Queenborough by name,

With all my brethren, saving one that’s lame,

Are come as fast as fiery mill-horse gallops

To greet thy grace, thy queen, and her fair trollops.

For reason of our coming do not look;

It must be done, I find it i’ the town-book;

And yet not I myself, I cannot^[475] read;

181I keep a clerk to do those jobs for need.

And now expect a rare conceit before Thong-Castle see thee.—

Reach me the thing to give the king, the other too, I prithee.—

Now here they be, for queen and thee; the gift all steel and leather,

But the conceit of mickle weight, and here they come together:

To shew two loves must join in one, our town presents by me

This gilded scabbard to the queen, this dagger unto thee.

[Offers the scabbard and dagger.

Vort. Forbear your tedious and ridiculous duties;

I hate them, as I do the riots^[476] of your

Inconstant rabble; I have felt your fits:

Sheathe up your bounties with your iron wits. [Exit with his train.

Sim. Look, sirs, is his back turn’d?

All. It is, it is.

Sim. Then bless the good earl of Kent, say I!

I’ll have this dagger turn’d into a pie,

And eaten up for anger, every bit on’t:

And when this pie shall be cut up by some rare cunning pie-man,

They shall full lamentably sing, Put up thy dagger, Simon. [Exeunt.

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