Page:The First Part of the True and Honorable Historie of the Life of Sir John Old-castle (1600).pdf/76

 No gentle Lord, your presence would giue ease To death it selfe, should he now seaze vpon me, Behold what my foresight hath vndertane For feare we faint, they are but homely cates. Yet saucde with hunger, they may seeme as sweete, As greater dainties we were wont to taste.

Oldca.Praise be to him whose plentie sends both this, And all things else our mortall bodies need, Nor scorne we this poore feeding, nor the state We now are in, for what is it on earth, Nay vnder heauen, continues at a stay? Ebbes not the sea, when it hath ouerflowne? Flowes not darknes when the day is gone? And see we not sometime the eie of heauen, Dimmd with ouerflying clowdes: the•es not that worke Of carefull nature, or of cunning art, (How strong, how beauteous, or how rich it be) But falls in time to ruine: here gentle Madame, In this one draught I wash my sorrow downe.

LadyAnd I incoragde with your cheerefull speech, Wil do the like.

Oldca.Pray God poore Harpoole come, If he should fall into the Bishops hands, Or not remember where we bade him meete vs, It were the thing of all things else, that now Could breede reuolt in this new peace of mind.

LadyFeare not my Lord, hees witty to deuise, And strong to execute a present shift.

Oldca.That power be stil his guide hath guided vs, My drowsie eies waxe heauy, earely rising, Together with the trauell we haue had, Make me that I could gladly take a nap, Were I perswaded we might be secure.

LadyLet that depend on me, whilst you do sleepe, Ile watch that no misfortune happen vs, Lay then your head vpon my lap sweete Lord, And