CAMBER。
  Thine——withthatgreygoat’sfleeceonchin,sir?NeedsMustshebefair:thou,wraptinage’sweeds,Whoseblood,iftimehavetoucheditnotandstilled,Thesun’sownfiremustoncehavekindled,——thouSingpraiseofsoft—lippedwomen?dothnotshameStingthee,tosoundthisminstrel’snote,andgildAgirl’sproudfacewithpraises,thoughherbrowWerebrightasdawn’s?AndhadhergracenonameFormentoworshipby?Hername?
  DEBON。
  Estrild。
  CAMBER。
  Mybrotherisaprinceofparamours—
  Eyescolouredlikethespringtidesea,andhairBrightaswithfireofsundawn——faceasfairAsmineisswartandwornwithhaggardhours,Thoughlessinyearsthanhis——suchhapwasoursWhenchancedrewforthforusthelotsthatwereHidcloseintime’sclenchedhand:andnowIswear,Thoughhisbegoodlierthanthestarsorflowers,Iwouldnotchangethisheadofmine,orcrownScarceworthasmileofhis——thylordLocrine’s—
  Forthatfairheadandcrownimperial;nay,NotwereIcastbyforceoffortunedownLowerthanthelowestleanserfthatprowlsandpinesAndloathesforfearallhoursofnightandday。
  DEBON。
  Whatsaysmylord?howmeanshe?
  CAMBER。
  VexnotthouThineoldhoarheadwithcaretolearnofmeThis。Greatistime,andwhathewillstobeIshereoreverproofmaybringit:now,Nowisthefuturepresent。IfthyvowConstraintheenot,yetwouldIknowoftheeOnething:thislustrouslove—bird,whereisshe?
  WhatnestishersonwhatgreenfloweringboughDeepinwhatwildsweetwoodland?
  DEBON。
  Goodmylord,HaveInotsinnedalready——flawedmyfaith,Tolendsucheareventosuchroyalsuit?
  CAMBER。
  Yea,bymykingdomhastthou——bymysword,Yea。Nowspeakon。
  DEBON。
  Yethope——orhonour——saithIdidnotilltotrustthebloodofBruteWithinthee。NotprinceHector’ssovereignsoul,Thelightofallthylineage,moreabhorredTreasonthanallhisdaysdidBrutemylord。
  Mytrustshallrestnotintheelessthanwhole。
  CAMBER。
  Speak,then:toolongthoufalterestnighthegoal。
  DEBON。
  ThereisabowerbuiltfastbesideafordInEssex,heldinsureandsecretwardOfwoodsandwallsandwaters,stillandsoleAslovecouldchooseforharbourage:therethekingKeepsclosefromallmennowthesesevenyearssinceThelightwhereinhelives:andtherehathsheBornehimamaidenchildmoresweetthanspring。
  CAMBER。
  Achildherdaughter?therenowhidden?
  DEBON。
  Prince,Whatailsthee?
  CAMBER。
  Nought。Thisriver’sname?
  DEBON。
  TheLey。
  CAMBER。
  NighLeytonstoneinEssex——calledofoldBymenthineeldersDurolitum?ThereArehindandfawncouchedcloseinonegreenlair?
  Speak:hastthounotmyfaithinpawn,toholdFastasmybrother’sheartthislove,untoldAndundivinedofallmen?mustIswearTwice——I,tothee?
  DEBON。
  Butifthousetnosnare,Whyshinethineeyessosharp?Iamoverbold:
  Sir,pardonme。
  CAMBER。
  MyswordshallsplitthineheartWithpardonifthoupalterwithme。
  DEBON。
  Sir,Thereistheplace:butthoughthybrowbegrimAshell——Iknewtheenotthemanthouart—
  Iwillnotbringtheetoit。
  CAMBER。
  Forloveofher?
  Nay——bettershouldstthouknowmyloveofhim。
  [Exeunt。
  ACTII。
  SCENEI。——ThebanksoftheLey。
  EnterESTRILDandSABRINA。
  SABRINA。
  Butwillmyfathercomenot?nottoday,Mother?
  ESTRILD。
  Godhelpthee!child,Icannotsay。
  Whythisofalldaysyetinsummer’ssight?
  SABRINA。
  Mybirthday!
  ESTRILD。
  Thatshouldbringhim——ifitmay。
  SABRINA。
  Mayshouldbemust:hemustnotbeaway。
  Hisfaithwaspledgedtomeaskingandknight。
  ESTRILD。
  Smallfearheshouldnotkeepit——ifhemight。
  SABRINA。
  Might!andaking’smighthis?dokingsbearswayFornought,thataughtshouldkeephimhencetillnight?
  WhydidstthoubidGodhelpmewhenIsoughtToknowbutofhiscoming?
  ESTRILD。
  EvenfornoughtButlaughtereventothinkhowstraitaboundShutsinthemeasureofthysightandthoughtWhoseestnotwhythysirehathheedofaughtSavetheeandme——norwhereforemenstandcrownedAndgirtaboutwithempire。
  SABRINA。
  HavetheyfoundSuchjoythereinasmeanerthingshavewrought?
  Singmethesongthatripplesroundandround。
  ESTRILD(sings):—
  HadIwist,quothspringtotheswallow,Thatearthcouldforgetme,kissedBysummer,andluredtofollowDownwaysthatIknownot,I,Myheartshouldhavewaxednothigh:
  MidMarchwouldhaveseenmedie,HadIwist。
  HadIwist,Ospring,saidtheswallow,ThathopewasasunlitmistAndthefaintlightheartofithollow,Thywoodshadnotheardmesing,Thywindshadnotknownmywing;
  Ithadfalterederethinedid,spring,HadIwist。
  SABRINA。
  ThatsongishardlyevenaswiseasI—
  Nay,veryfoolishnessitis。TodieInMarchbeforeitslifewerewellonwing,Beforeitstimeandkindlyseason——whyShouldspringbesad——beforetheswallowsfly—
  Enoughtodreamofsuchawintrything?
  SuchfoolishwordsweremoreunmeetforspringThansnowforsummerwhenhisheartishigh;
  Andwhyshouldwordsbefoolishwhentheysing?
  Thesong—birdsarenot。
  ESTRILD。
  Dostthouunderstand,Child,whatthebirdsaresinging?
  SABRINA。
  AllthelandKnowsthat:thewatertellsittotherushesAloud,andlowerandsoftliertothesand:
  Theflower—fays,liptolipandhandinhand,LaughandrepeatitalltilldarknesshushesTheirsingingwithawordthatfallsandcrushesAllsongtosilencedowntheriver—strandAndwherethehawthornshearkenforthethrushes。
  AndallthesecretsenseissweetandwiseThatsingsthroughalltheirsinging,andrepliesWhenwewouldknowifheavenbegayorgreyAndwouldnotopenalltoosoonoureyesTolookperchanceonnosuchhappyskies—
  Assleepbringscloseandwakingblowsaway。
  ESTRILD。
  WhatgivesthyfancyfaithenoughtosayThis?
  SABRINA。
  Why,meseemsthesunwouldhardlyriseElse,northeworldbehalfsogladofday。
  ESTRILD。
  Whydidstthoucraveofmethatsong,Sabrina?
  SABRINA。
  Because,methought,thoughonewerekingorqueenAndhadtheworldtoplaywith,ifonemissedWhatmostweregoodtohave,suchjoy,Iween,WerewofulasasongwithsobsbetweenAndwellmightwailforever,’HadIwist!’
  Andmightmyfatherdobutashelist,Andmakethisdaywhatotherdayshavebeen,Ishouldnotshuttonightmineeyesunkissed。
  ESTRILD。
  Iwisthouwouldstnot。
  SABRINA。
  ThenIwouldhewereNokingatall,andsavehisgoldenhairWoreonhisgraciousheadnogoldencrown。
  Musthebekingforever?
  ESTRILD。
  NotifprayerCouldliftfromoffhisheartthatcrownofcareAnddrawhimtowardusaswithmusicdown。
  SABRINA。
  Notso,butupwardtous。HewouldbutfrownToheartheetalkasthoughthewoodlandsthereWerebuiltnolordlierthanthewide—walledtown。
  Thouknowest,whenIdesireofhimtoseeWhatmannerofcrownthatwreathoftowersmaybeThatmakesitsproudheadshinelikeolderTroy’s,HisbrowsarebentevenwhilehelaughsonmeAndbidsmethinknomorethereonthanhe,Forflowersareseriousthings,buttowersaretoys。
  ESTRILD。
  Ay,child;hisheartwaslesscare’sthronethanjoy’s,Power’slessthanlove’sfriendever:andwiththeeHismoodthatplaysisblitherthanaboy’s。
  SABRINA。
  Iwouldtheboywouldgivethemaidherwill。
  ESTRILD。
  Hasnotthineheartasminehashereitsfill?
  SABRINA。
  Sohaveourheartswhilesleeping——tilltheywake。
  ESTRILD。
  Toosoonisthisforwaking:sleepthoustill。
  SABRINA。
  Bidthenthedawnsleep,andtheworldliechill。
  ESTRILD。
  Thisnestiswarmforonesmallwood—dove’ssake。
  SABRINA。
  Andwarmtheworldthatfeelsthesundawnbreak。
  ESTRILD。
  Buthathmyfledgelingcushatheresleptill?
  SABRINA。
  Noplaintisthis,butpleading,thatImake。
  ESTRILD。
  Pleadnotagainstthineowngladlife:thepleaWerelikeawranglingbabe’sthatfainwouldbeFreefromthehelpitshardyheartcontemns,Freefromthehandthatguidesandguardsit,freeTotakeitswayandsprawlandstumble。See!
  HavewenothereenoughofdiademsHunghighroundportalspillaredsmoothwithstemsMorefairthanmarble?
  SABRINA。
  ThisisbuttheLey:
  IfainwouldlookuponthelordlierThames。
  ESTRILD。
  Averywater—birdthouart:theriverSodrawstheetoitthat,seeing,myheart—stringsquiverAndyearnwithfearlestperilteachtheefearToolateforhelpordaringtodeliver。
  SABRINA。
  Nay,letthewindmakewillowsweepandshiver:
  Meshallnorwindnorwater,whileIhearWhatgoodlywordssaitheachinother’sear。
  Andwhichisgiventhegift,andwhichthegiver,Iknownot,buttheytakeandgivegoodcheer。
  ESTRILD。
  Howe’erthisbe,thouhastnoheedofmine,TotakesolittleofthislifeofthineIgaveandwouldnotseetheecastawayForchildishnessinchildhood,thoughitshineFormesolecomfort,formylordLocrineChiefcomfortintheworld。
  SABRINA。
  Nay,mother,nay,Makemenotweepwithchiding:wiltthousayIlovetheenot?Hark!see,mysireforsign!
  Ihearhishorse。
  ESTRILD。
  Hecomes!
  SABRINA。
  Hecomestoday!
  [ExeuntSCENEII。——Troynovant。ARoominthePalace。
  EnterGUENDOLENandCAMBER。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Iknownot,sir,whatailsyoutodesireSuchaudienceofmeasIgive。
  CAMBER。
  WhatailsMe,sister?WeretheheartinmenohigherThanhiswhoheedsnomorethanharpers’talesSuchgriefsassetasister’sheartonfire—
  GUENDOLEN。
  ThenweremybrothernowatrestinWales,Androyal。
  CAMBER。
  AmIlessthanroyalhere?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Evenhereastherealike,sir。
  CAMBER。
  DostthoufearNothing?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Myprincelycousin,notindeedMuchthatmighthapatwordorwillofthine。
  CAMBER。
  Ay——meanestamIofmyfather’sseed,Ifmenmisjudgenot,cousin;andLocrineNoblest。
  GUENDOLEN。
  ShouldIgainsaytheirgeneralrede,Myheartwouldmockme。
  CAMBER。
  SuchaspiritasmineBeingspiritless——mywordsheartless——mineactsFaintshadowsofLocrine’sorAlbanact’s?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Nay——notsomuch——Isaidnotso。SaythouWhatthouwouldsthave——ifaughtthouwouldst——withme。
  CAMBER。
  NomanmightseethineeyesandlipsandbrowWhowouldnot——whathedurstnotcraveofthee。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Ay,verily?AndthyspiritexaltstheenowSohighthatthesethywordsflyforthsofree,Andfainthineactwouldfollow——flyingaboveShame’sreachandfear’s?Whatgiftmaythisbe?Love?
  Orliking?orcompassion?
  CAMBER。
  TakenotthusMineinnocentwordsamiss,norwrestawryTheirpiteouspurposetowardthee。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Piteous!
  WholivessolowandlooksupontheskyAswoulddesire——whosharesthesunwithusThatmightdeservethypity?
  CAMBER。
  Thou。
  GUENDOLEN。
  NotI,ThoughIwerecastouthence,castoff,discrowned,Abject,ungirtofallthatguardsmeround,Naked。Whatvillainousmadness,knaveandking,IsthisthatputsuponthybabblingtonguePoison?
  CAMBER。
  ThetruthisasasnaketostingThatbreathesillnews:butwhereitsfanghathstungTheverypangbidshealthandhealingspring。
  Godknowsthegriefwherewithmyspiritiswrung—
  Thespiritoftheesoscorned,somisesteemed,SomockedwithstrangemisprisionandmisdeemedMerciless,false,unbrotherly——totakeSuchtaskuponitasmayburnthineheartWithbittererhatredofmethatIspakeWhat,hadIheldmypeaceandcreptapartAndtamedmysoultosilenceforthysakeAndmercytowardtheroyalthingthouart,ChancehaplymighthavemadeafieryswordToslaytheewith——slaythee,andsparethylord。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Worsehaditdonetoslaymylord,andspareMe。Wiltthounowshowmercytowardme?ThenStrikewiththatswordmineheartthrough——ifthoudare。
  Allknowthytongue’sedgedeadly。
  CAMBER。
  Guendolen,ThouseestmelikeavassalboundtobearAllbitterwordsthatbitetheheartsofmenFromthee,sobeitthispleasethywrath。IstandSlaveofthytongueandsubjectofthinehand,Andpitythee。Take,ifthouwilt,myhead;
  Giveitmybrother。ThoushalthearmespeakFirst,thoughthesoothfastwordthathangsunsaidAsyet,beingspoken,——albeitthishandbeweakAndfaintthisheart,thousayest——shouldstriketheedeadEvenwiththatroseofwrathonbrowandcheek。
  GUENDOLEN。
  IholdnottheetoofaintofhearttoslayWomen。Sayforthwhate’erthouhasthearttosay。
  CAMBER。
  SilenceIhavenothearttokeep,andseeScornandderisiongirdtheeroundwithshame,NotknowingwhatallthyserfswhomockattheeKnow,andmakemirthandhavocofthyname。
  Doesthisnotmovethee?
  GUENDOLEN。
  HowshouldaughtmovemeFallenfromsuchtonguesasfalsehoodfindsthesame—
  Suchtonguesasfraudortreasonoushateo’erscurfsWithleprouslust——aprince’soraserf’s?
  CAMBER。
  Thatlustoftheevil—speakingtonguewhichgivesQuickbreathtodeadlylies,andstingstolifeTherottennessoffalsehood,whenitlives,Fallsdumb,andleavesthelietobringforthstrife。
  Theliarwillsaynomore——hisheartmisgivesHisknaveship——shouldhesundermanandwife?
  Such,sister,inthysight,itseems,amI。
  Yetshaltthoutake,tokeeporcastitby,ThetruthofshameIwouldnothavetheehear,—
  NotmightIchoose,——butchooseImaynot。
  GUENDOLEN。
  ShameAndtruth?Shamenevertowardthineheartcamenear,Andallthylifehathhungaboutthyname。
  NorevertruthdrewnighthelipsthatfearWhitens,andmakesthebloodthatfeedsthemtame。
  Speakallthouwilt——butevenforshame,forsooth,Talknotofshame——andtellmenotoftruth。
  CAMBER。
  Thenshaltthouhearalie。ThylovinglordLovesnonesavethee;hisheart’spulsebeatsinthine;
  Nofairerwoman,captiveofhissword,CaughtevercaptiveandsubduedLocrine:
  Thegodofliesbearwitness。AtthefordOfHumberbloodwasnevershedlikewine:
  OurbrotherAlbanactlived,fought,anddied,Never:andIthatswearithavenotlied。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Fairer?
  CAMBER。
  Theysayit:butwhatareliestothee?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Artthounormannorwoman?