CAMBER。
  Nay——Itrust—
  Man。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Andhasthearttomakethyspoilofme?
  CAMBER。
  WouldGodImight!
  GUENDOLEN。
  Thouartmadeofliesandlust—
  Earth’sworstisalltoogoodforsuchtosee,Andyetthineeyesturnheavenward——astheymust,Beingman’s——ifmanbesuchasthou——andsoilThelighttheysee。Thouhastmadeofmethyspoil,Thyscorn,thyprofit——yea,mywholesoul’splunderIsallthytrophy,thytriumphalprizeAndharvestreapedofthee;nay,trampledunderAndrootedupandscattered。YettheskiesThatseethytrophiesrearedarefullofthunder,Andheaven’shighjusticelovesnotlustandlies。
  CAMBER。
  Illthenshouldfarethylord——ifheavenbejust,Andliesbelies,andlawlesslovebelust。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Thouliest。Iknowmylordandthee。Thouliest。
  CAMBER。
  Ifhebetrueandtruthbefalse,Ilie。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Thouartlowestofallmenborn——whilehesitshighest。
  CAMBER。
  Ay——whilehesits。Howlongshallhesithigh?
  GUENDOLEN。
  IfIbutwhisperhimofthee,thoudiest。
  CAMBER。
  Ifearnot,iftillthensecureamI。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Secureasfoolsarehardylivethoustill。
  CAMBER。
  Whileillwithgoodisguerdoned,goodwithill。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Ihaveitinmymindtotakethinehead。
  Dostthounotfeartoputmethusinfear?
  CAMBER。
  Ifearnormannorwoman,quicknordead:
  Anddeadinspiritalreadystand’stthouhere。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Thoudarestnotswearmylordhathwrongedmybed。
  Thoudarestbutsmileandmutter,lieandleer。
  CAMBER。
  IswearnoqueenboreevercrownonbrowWhomeeklierboreaheavierwrongthanthou。
  GUENDOLEN。
  FromtheewillIbearnothing。Gettheehence:
  Thineeyesdefileme。Gettheefrommysight。
  CAMBER。
  Thegodsdefendthee,soulandspiritandsense,Fromsenseofthingsthoudarestnotreadaright!
  Farewell。[Exit。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Farethounotwell,andbedefenceFarfromthysoulcastnakedforthbynight!
  Haterosefromhellaliar:lovecamedivineFromheaven:yetshethatboretheeboreLocrine。
  [Exit。
  ACTIII。
  SCENEI。——Troynovant。ARoominthePalace。
  EnterLOCRINEandDEBON。
  LOCRINE。
  Thouknowestnotwhatsheknowsordreamsof?whyHerfaceisdarkandwan,herlipandeyeRestlessandredasfever?HastthoukeptFaith?
  DEBON。
  HasmymasterfoundmyfaithalieOncealltheseyearsthrough?haveIstrayedorsleptOnce,whenhebademewatch?whatproofhasleaptAtlasttolightagainstme?
  LOCRINE。
  Surely,none。
  Weepnot。
  DEBON。
  Mylord’sgreyvassalhathnotweptOnce,evensincedarknesscoveredfromthesunThewoman’sface——thesolesweetwifelikeone—
  Whosememoryholdshisheartyetfast:butnowTears,wereoldagenotpoorintears,mightrunFreeasthewordsthatbidhisstrickenbrowBurnandbowdowntohearthem。
  LOCRINE。
  HastnotthouHeldcounsel——playedthetalebearerwhosetalesBearplagueabroadandpoison,knowingnothow—
  Notwithmywifenorbrother?
  DEBON。
  NoughtavailsFalsehood:andtruthitis,thekingofWalesSopliedme,sir,withforceofcraftandthreat—
  LOCRINE。
  Thatthou,whosefaithswervesnever,flagsnorfailsNorfalters,beingasstarsareloyal,yetWastfoundasthosethatfallfromheaven,forgetTheirstation,shootandshudderdowntodeathDeepasthepitofhell?WhatsnaresweresetTotakethysoul——whatmistoftreasonousbreathMadeblindintheethesensethatquickenethIntruemen’sinwardeyesight,whentheyknowAndknownothowtheyknowtheworditsaith,Thewarningwordthatwhispersloudorlow—
  Iasknot:beitenoughthesethingsareso。
  Thouhastplayedmefalse。
  DEBON。
  Nay,nowthislongtimesinceWehaveseenthequeen’sfacewanwithwrathandwoe—
  HaveseenherlipwritheandhereyelidwinceTotakemen’shomage——proofthatmightconvinceOfgriefinexpiableandinsatiateshameHerspiritinallmen’sjudgment。
  LOCRINE。
  Buttheprince—
  Mybrother,whomthouknowestbyproof,notfame,AcowardwhoseheartisallaflickeringflameThatfainwouldburnanddaresnot——whencehadheThepoisonthathegaveher?Speak:thiscameBychance——mishap——mosthaplesslyfortheeWhohadstmyheartinthine,andmadestofmeNomorethanmightforfolly’ssakeorfear’sBebaredforevensucheyesashistosee?
  Oldfriendthatwast,Iwouldnotseethytears。
  Godcomfortthydishonour!
  DEBON。
  AlltheseyearsHaveInotservedthee?
  LOCRINE。
  Yea。Socheertheenow。
  DEBON。
  Cheeredbethetraitor,whomthetruemancheers?
  Nay,smiteme:Godcanbenotsuchasthou,Andwillnotdamnmewithforgiveness。HowHastthousuchheart,tocomfortsuchasme?
  God’sthunderwerelessfearfulthanthebrowThatfrownsnotonthyfriendfoundfalsetothee。
  Thyfriend——thousaid’st——thyfriend。Strangefriendsarewe。
  Nay,slaymethen——nay,slaymerather。
  LOCRINE。
  Friend,Takecomfort。God’swide—reachingwillshallbeHereasofoldaccomplished,thoughitblendAllgoodwithillthatnonemaymarormend。
  Thyworksandmineareripplesonthesea。
  Takeheart,Isay:weknownotyettheirend。
  [Exeunt。
  SCENEII。——GardensofthePalace。
  EnterCAMBERandMADAN。
  CAMBER。
  Hathnomanseenthee?
  MADAN。
  Hadheseen,andspoken,Hisheadshouldloseitstongue。IamfarawayInCornwall。
  CAMBER。
  WherethefrontofwarisbrokenBytheonsetofthyforce——therebelfrayShattered。Hadnoman——canstthousurelysay?—
  Knowledgebetimes,togiveusknowledgehere—
  Usbabblers,tonguesmadequickwithfraudandfear—
  ThatthouwastboundfromCornwallhither?
  MADAN。
  None,Ithink,whoknowingofsteelandfireandcordThattheycansmiteandburnandstrangleoneWouldloosewithoutleaveofhispartinglordThetonguethatelseweresharperthanaswordTocutthethroatitsprangfrom。
  CAMBER。
  Nephewmine,Ihaveeverlovedthee——notthysireLocrineMore——andforveryandonlyloveoftheeHaveIdesired,orevereventhymotherBeheldthee,heretoknowoftheeandmeWhichlovesherbest——herandthysiremybrother。
  MADAN。
  Hebeingaway,farhence——andsononeother—
  Nothe——shouldsharetheknowledge?
  CAMBER。
  SurelynotHe。Knowestthouwhitherhencehewent?
  MADAN。
  Godwot,No:haplytowardsomehiddenparamour。
  CAMBER。
  Andthatshouldsetnot,forthymother’ssake,Andthine,theheartintheeonfire?
  MADAN。
  AnhourIslessthaneventhetimewhereinwetakeBreathtoletloosethewordthatfainwouldbreak,Andcannot,evenforpassion,——ifwesetAnhouragainstthelengthoflife:andyetLessinaccountoflifeshouldbethosehours—
  Shouldbe?shouldbenot,livenot,benotknown,Notthoughtof,notrememberedevenasours,—
  WhereonthefleshorfancybearsaloneRulethatthesoulrepudiatesforitsown,Rejectsandmocksandmournsfor,andreclaimsItsnature,nonetheignoblerfortheshamesThatwerebutshadowsonit——shedbutshadeAndperished。Ifthybrotherandking,mysire—
  CAMBER。
  Nokingofmineishe——weareequal,weighedArightinstate,thoughherehisthronestandhigher。
  MADAN。
  Sobeit。Isay,ifevensomeearth—bornfireHaveeverluredtheloftiestheadthatearthSeesroyal,towardacharmofbaserbirthAndforcelessgodlikethanthesacredspellThatlinkswithhimmymother,whatwerethisToherorme?
  CAMBER。
  TohernomorethanhellTosoulscastforthwhohearallhell—firehissAllroundthem,andwhofeeltheredworm’skissShootmortalpoisonthroughtheheartthatrestsImmortal:serpentssuckledatherbreasts,Firefeedingonherlimbs,lesspainshouldbeThansenseofpridelaidwasteandlovelaidlow,Ifshebequeenorwoman:andtothee—
  MADAN。
  TomethatwaxnotwomanthoughIknowThis,whatshallhaporhapnot?
  CAMBER。
  Wereitso,Itshouldnotirkthee,shebeingwrongedalone;
  Thymother’sbed,andnotthyfather’sthrone,Beingsoiledwithusurpation。Ay?butsayThatnowmineuncleandhersireliesdeadAndhelplessnowtohelpher,oraffrayTheheartwhereinherruinandthinewerebred,Notshewerecastforthonlyfromhisbed,Butthou,loathedissueofacontractloathedSincefirsttheirhandswerejoinednotbutbetrothed,Wertcastforthoutofkingship?strippedofstate,Unmadehisson,unseated,unallowed,Discrowned,disorbed,discrested——thou,butlatePrince,andofallmen’sthroatsacclaimedaloud,Ofallmen’sheartsacceptedandavowedPrince,nowproclaimedforsomesweetbastard’ssakePeasant?
  MADAN。
  Thysirewassurelessmanthansnake,Thoughminemiscalltheebrother。
  CAMBER。
  Cowardormad?
  Whichmightonecalltheerather,whoseharshheartEnvenomssothytonguetowardonethathadNothoughtlesskindly——towardeventheethatartKindless——thanbestbeseemsakinsman’spart?
  MADAN。
  Laynotonmethineownfoulshame,whosetongueWouldturnmybloodtopoison,whileitstungThybrother’sfametodeath。IknowmysireAsshameknowsthee——andbetternomanknowsAught。
  CAMBER。
  Havethywill,then:takethyfulldesire:
  Drinkdrythedraughtofruin:bidallblowsWelcome:beingharshwithfriends,bemildwithfoes,Andgiveshamethanksforbuffets。YetIthought—
  Buthowshouldhelpavailwhereheartisnought?
  MADAN。
  Yet——thoudidstthinktohelpme?
  CAMBER。
  Kinsman,ay。
  Myhandhadheldthefieldbesidethineown,AndallwildhillsthatknowmyrallyingcryHadpouredforthwarforheart’spurelovealoneTohelpthee——wouldstthouheedme——tothythrone。
  MADAN。
  Forpureheart’slove?whatwageholdsloveinfee?
  Mighthalfmykingdomserve?Nay,mocknotme,Fairuncle:shouldIcleavethecrownintwainAndgirdthytempleswiththegoodlierhalf,Think’stthoumydebtmightsobepaidagain—
  ThysceptremadeamoreimperialstaffThanswaysasnowthyhill—folk?
  CAMBER。
  Dostthoulaugh?
  Werethistoomuchforkingstogiveandtake?
  IfwarriorWalesdobattleforthysake,ShouldIthatkeptthycrownfortheebeheldWorthlessthanroyalguerdon?
  MADAN。
  Keepthineown,AndlettheloudfierceknavesthybrethrenquelledWardoffthewolveswhosehidesshouldlinethythrone,Wertthounocoward,norecreanttothebone,Noliarinspiritandsoulandheartlessheart,Noslave,notraitor——noughtofallthouart。
  Athinglikethee,madebigwithbraggartbreath,Whosetongueshootsfire,whosepromisepoisonstrust,WouldcastashieldlesssoldierforthtodeathAndwreckthreerealmstosatehisrancorouslustWithruinofthemwhohaveweighedandfoundhimdust。
  GettheetoWales:therestrutinspeechandswell:
  AndthencebetimesGodspeedtheesafetohell。
  [Exeuntseverally。
  ACTIV。
  SCENEI。——ThebanksoftheLey。
  EnterLOCRINEandESTRILD。
  LOCRINE。
  Ifthoudidsteverloveme,lovemenow。
  Iamwearyatheartofallonearthsavethee。
  AndyetIlie:andyetIlienot。Thou—
  Dostthounotthinkforlove’ssakescornofme?
  ESTRILD。
  Asearthofheaven:asmorningofthesun。
  LOCRINE。
  Nay,whatthinksevening,whomheleavesundone?
  ESTRILD。
  Thoumadestmequeenandwoman:thoughmylifeWeretaken,thesethoucouldstnottakeagain,Thegiftsthougavestme。MoreamIthanwife,Whom,tillmytyrantbythystrengthwereslainAndbythylovemyservileshamecastout,MynakedsorrowsclothedandgirtaboutWithprincelierpridethanbindsthebrowsofqueens,Thousawestofallthingsleastandlowestalive。
  Whatmeansthydoubt?
  LOCRINE。
  Fearknowsnotwhatitmeans:
  AndIwasfearfulevenofcloudsthatdriveAcrossthedawn,anddie——ofall,ofnought—
  Windswhisperingonthedarklingwaysofthought,Sunbeamsthatflashlikefire,andhopeslikefearsThatslaythemselves,andliveagain,anddie。
  Butinmineeyesthylightis,inmineearsThymusic:Iamthine,andmorethanI,Beinghalfofthysweetsoul。
  ESTRILD。
  Woeworthmethen!
  Foronerequirestheewholly。
  LOCRINE。
  Guendolen?
  ESTRILD。
  Isaidshewasthefairer——andIliednot。
  LOCRINE。
  Thouartthefairestfoolalive。
  ESTRILD。
  Butshe,Beingwise,exceedsme:yet,soshedividenotThineheart,mybest—belovedofliars,withme,Icarenot——norIwillnotcare。SomepartShehathhad,itmaybe,ofthyfondfalseheart—
  Nay,couldstthouchoose?butnow,thoughshebefairer,Lethertakeallornone:IwillnotbePartakerofherperfectsway,norsharerWithanyonearthmoredearorlesstothee。
  Nay,benotwroth:whatwiltthouhavemesay?
  ThatIcanlovetheelessthanshecan?Nay,ThouknowestIwillnotilltoher;butshe—
  WouldshenotburnmychildandmewithfireTowreakherself,wholovedtheeonce,onthee?