User:Sbh/Clyomon1

Prologue

 * As lately lifting up the leaves of worthy writers’ works,
 * Wherein the noble acts and deeds of many hidden lurks,
 * Our author he hath found the glass of glory shining bright,
 * Wherein their lives are to be seen which honor did delight,
 * To be a lantern unto those which daily do desire
 * Apollo’s garland by desert in time for to aspire;
 * Wherein the froward chances oft of fortune you shall see,
 * Wherein the cheerful countenance of good successes be,
 * Wherein true lovers findeth joy with hugy heaps of care,
 * Wherein as well as famous facts, ignomious placed are,
 * Wherein the just reward of both is manifestly shown,
 * That virtue from the root of vice might openly be known.
 * And doubting naught right courteous all, in your accustomed wont
 * And gentle ears, our author he is prest to bide the brunt
 * Of babblers’ tongues, to whom be thinks as frustrate all his toil,
 * As pearls taste to filthy swine which in the mire doth moil.
 * Well, what he hath done for your delight, he gave not me in charge:
 * The actors come, who shall express the same to you at large.

[Exit.

Scene i
Enter Clamydes.

Clamydes
 * As to the weary wandering wights whom  waltering waves environ,
 * No greater joy of joys may be, then when from out the ocean
 * They may behold the altitude of billows to abate,
 * For to observe the longitude of seas in former rate,
 * And having then the latitude of sea-room for to pass,
 * Their joy is greater through the grief than erst before it was;
 * So likewise I, Clamydes, Prince of Suavia, noble soil,
 * Bringing my bark to Denmark here, to bide the bitter broil
 * And beating blows of billows high, while raging storms did last,
 * My griefs was greater then might be, but, tempests overpassed,
 * Such gentle calms ensued hath as makes my joys more,
 * Through terror of the former fear, than erst it was before.
 * So that I sit in safety, as sea-man under shrouds
 * When he perceives the storms be past, through vanishing of clouds;
 * For why
 * The doubtful care that drave me off, in danger to prevail,
 * Is dashed through bearing lesser brain and keeping under sail,
 * So that I have through travail long at last possessed the place
 * Whereas my bark in harbor safe doth pleasures great embrace,
 * And hath such license limited, as heart can seem to ask,
 * To go and come, of custom free or any other task:
 * I mean by Juliana she, that blaze of beauty’s breeding,
 * And for her noble gifts of grace, all other dames exceeding;
 * She hath from bondage set me free, and freed, yet still bound
 * To her above all other dames that live upon the ground;
 * For had not she been merciful, my ship had rushed on rocks,
 * And so decayed amids the storms through force of clubbish knocks;
 * But when she saw the danger great, where subject I did stand
 * In bringing of my silly bark full-fraught from out my land,
 * She like a meek and modest dame—what should I else say more?—
 * Did me permit with full consent to land upon her shore,
 * Upon true promise that I would, here faithful still remain,
 * And that perform which she had vowed for those that should obtain
 * Her princely person to possess, which thing to know I stay,
 * And then adventurously for her, to pass upon my way.
 * Lo where she comes! Ah peerless dame, my Juliana dear!

Enter Juliana with a white shield.

Juliana
 * My Clamydes! of troth, sir prince, to make you stay thus here
 * I proffer too much injury, that’s doubtless on my part;
 * But let it no occasion give to breed within your heart
 * Mistrust that I should forge or feign with you my love in aught.

Clamydes
 * No, lady, touching you in me doth lodge no such a thought,
 * But thanks for your great courtesy, that would so friendly here
 * In mids of misery receive a foreign stranger mere.
 * But lady, say what is your will, that it I may perstand.

Juliana
 * Sir prince,
 * Upon a vow who spouseth me must needsly take in hand
 * The flying serpent for to slay, which in the forest is,
 * That of Strange Marvels beareth name; which serpent doth not miss,
 * By daily use from every coast that is adjacent there,
 * To fetch a virgin maid, or wife, or else some lady fair,
 * To feed his hungry paunch withal, if case he can them take;
 * His nature, lo, it only is of women spoil to make:
 * Which thing, no doubt, did daunt me much, and made me vow indeed,
 * Who should espouse me for his wife should bring to me his head;
 * Whereto my father willingly did give his like consent:
 * Lo, Sir Clamydes, now you know what is my whole intent;
 * And if you will, as I have said, for me this travail take,
 * That I am yours with heart and mind, your full account do make.

Clamydes
 * Ah lady,
 * If case these travails should surmount the travails whereby came
 * Unto the worthies of the world such noble bruit and fame,
 * Yea, though the dangers should surpass stout Hercules his toil,
 * Who, fearing naught the dogged fiend, stern Cerberus did foil;
 * Take here my hand, if life and limb the living gods do lend,
 * To purchase thee the dearest drop of blood my heart shall spend:
 * And therefore, lady, link with me thy loyal heart for aye,
 * For I am thine till fates untwine of vital life the stay,
 * Protesting here, if gods assist, the serpent for to kill.

Juliana
 * Then shalt thou of all women win the heart and great good-will,
 * And me possess for spoused wife, who in election am
 * To have the crown of Denmark here as heir unto the same;
 * For why no children hath my sire besides me but one other,
 * And he, indeed, is heir before for that he is my brother,
 * And Clyomon so hight his name; but where he doth remain,
 * Unto my parents is unknown, for once he did obtain
 * Their good-wills for to go abroad, a while to spend his days
 * In purchasing through active deeds both honor, laud, and praise,
 * Whereby he might deserve to have the order of a knight:
 * But, this omitting, unto thee, Clamydes, here I plight
 * My faith and troth, if what is said by me thou dost perform.

Clamydes
 * If not,
 * Be sure, O lady, with my life I never will return.

Juliana
 * Then as thou seem’st in thine attire a virgin’s knight to be,
 * Take thou this shield likewise of white, and bear thy name by me—
 * The White Knight of the Silver Shield—to elevate thy praise.

[Gives shield.

Clamydes
 * O lady, as your pleasure is, I shall at all assays
 * Endeavor my good-will to win, if Mars do send me might,
 * Such honor as your grace with joy shall welcome home your knight.

Juliana
 * Then farewell, my dear Clamydes: the gods direct thy way,
 * And grant that with the serpent’s head behold thy face I may!

Clamydes
 * You shall not need to doubt thereof, O faithful dame so true!
 * And humbly kissing here thy hand, I bid thy grace adieu.

[Exit Juliana.
 * Ah happy time and blissful day, wherein by fate I find
 * Such friendly favors as is food to feed both heart and mind!
 * To Suavia soil I swiftly will prepare my footsteps right,
 * There of my father to receive the order of a knight,
 * And afterwards address myself, in hope of honor’s crown,
 * Both tiger fell and monster fierce by dint for to drive down.
 * The flying serpent soon shall feel how boldly I dare vaunt me;
 * And if that Hydra’s head she had, yet dread should never daunt me;
 * If murdering Minotaur a man might count this ugly beast,
 * Yet for to win a lady such I do account it least
 * Of travails toil to take in hand; and therefore, farewell care,
 * For hope of honor sends me forth ‘mongst warlike wights to share.

[Exit.