User:Sbh/Sir Clyomon and Sir Clamydes (critical edition)/Scene iii

Explanatory Notes

 * prest: ready, prompt,—here, perhaps, eager—Dyce


 * That: i.e. for him that will receive, &c.—Bullen


 * Ignomy: Ignomy for ignominy is frequently found.—Bullen


 * Where: Whereas.


 * stranger mere: utter stranger.


 * prevaileth: availeth.—Cf. Sec. Part of Tamburlaine, ii. 4:—“Nothing prevails, for she is dead, my lord.”—Bullen


 * pretend: intend.

Old Spelling
Enter the Ring of' Suauia, with the Herauld before him: Clamydes, three Lords.


 * King. Come Clamides, thou our ſonne, thy Fathers talke attend,
 * Since thou art preſt thy youthfull days in proweſſe for to ſpend:
 * And doeſt of vs the order aske, of knighthood for to haue,
 * We know thy deeds deſerues the ſame, and that which thou doeſt craue
 * Thou ſhalt poſſeſſe: but firſt my ſonne, know thou thy fathers charge,
 * And what to knighthood doth belong, thine honour to enlarge:
 * Vnto what end a knight is made, that likewiſe thou maiſte know,
 * And beare the ſame in mind alſo, that honour thine may flow
 * Amongſt the worthies of the world, to thy immortall fame:
 * Know thou therefore Clamydes deare, to haue a knightly name
 * Is firſt aboue all other things his God for to adore,
 * In truth according to the lawes preſcribde to him before.
 * Secondly, that he be true vnto his Lord and king.
 * Thirdly, that he keepe his faith and troth in euery thing.
 * And then before all other things that elſe we can commend,
 * He be alwaies ready preſt, his country to defend:
 * The Widow poor, and fatherleſſe, or Innocent bearing blame,
 * To ſee their cauſe redreſſed right, a faithfull knight muſt frame:
 * In truth he always muſt be tried, this is the totall charge,
 * That will receiue a knightly name, his honour to enlarge.


 * Cla. O Father, this your gracious counſell giuen, to me your onely ſonne,
 * Shall not be in obliuion caſt, till vitall race be runne:
 * What way dooth winne Dame Honours Crowne, thoſe pathes my ſteppes ſhall trace.
 * And thoſe that to reproach doth leade, which ſeeketh to deface
 * True Honour in her Regall ſeate, I ſhall deteſt for aye,
 * And be as vtter enemie, to them both night and day:
 * By flying force of flickring fame, your grace ſhall vnderſtand
 * Of my behauiour noble ſyre, in euery forraine land.
 * And if you heare by true report, I venture in the Barge
 * Of wilfulneſſe contrary this, your graces noble charge:
 * Let ignomie to my reproach, in ſteed of Lady fame,
 * Sound through the earth and Azure Skies, the ſtrained blaſt of ſhame:
 * Whereby within Obliuions Tombe, my deeds ſhall be detained,
 * Where otherwiſe of memorie, the mind I might haue gained;
 * So that the den of darkſomeneſſe, ſhall euer be my cheſt,
 * Where worthy deeds prefers each wight, with honour to be bleſt.


 * King. Well Clamydes then kneele downe, according as is right,
 * That here thou mayſt receiue of me, the order of a Knight.

Here let him kneele down, Clyomon with Subtill Shift watching in place, and as the King doth go about to lay the Mace of his head, let Clyomon take the blowe, and ſo paſſe away preſently.


 * Shift. :Now prepare your ſelfe, or ile be either a Knight or a knaue.


 * Clyo. Content thy ſelfe knowledge, for ile quickly him deceiue.


 * King. The Noble orders of a Knight, Clamydes vnto thee
 * We giue through due deſert, wherefore ſee that thou bee,
 * Both Valiant, Wiſe, and Hardie.


 * Shift. Away now quickly, leaſt we be take tardie.

Exeunt.


 * King. Ah ſtout attempt of Baron bold, that hath from this my ſonne,
 * The Knight-hood tane, my Lords purſue, ere far he can be runne.

Purſue him and bring in Shift.
 * Ah Clamydes how art thou bereft of honour here?
 * Was like preſumption euer ſeene, that one a ſtraunger meere,
 * Should come in preſence of a Prince, and tempt as he hath done,
 * To take the Knight-hood thus away, from him who is his ſonne?


 * Clamy. Ah father, how am I perplext, till I reuenged be,
 * Vpon the wretch which here hath tane, the honour thus from me?
 * Was euer any one deceiu'd of knighthood ſo before?


 * King. Well Clamydes, my Lords returne, ſtay till we do know more.

Enter Shift brought in by the two Lords, who purſued <DIV style="text-indent:15%;">Clyomon.</DIV>


 * 1 Lord. O King the knight is fled and gone, purſute preuaileth nought,
 * But here his ſlaue we taken haue, to tell why this he wrought.


 * King. Ah cruell grudge that greeues my ghoſt, ſhall he eſcape me ſo?
 * Shall he with honour from my ſonne, without diſturbance go?
 * Ah Catiffe thou, declare his name, and why he ventred here:
 * Or death ſhall be thy guerdon ſure, by all the Gods I ſweare.


 * Shift. Ah ant ſhall pleaſe you, I know neither him, his country nor name.


 * 2 Lo. What, what ſir? are not you his ſeruant? will you deny the ſame?


 * King. Nay then you are a diſſembling knaue, I know very well.


 * Shift. Ant ſhall pleaſe your Grace, euen the very troth I ſhall tell,
 * I ſhould haue bene his ſeruant when we met togither,
 * Which was not full three hours before we came hither.


 * King. Well what is his name, and of what countrey declare?


 * Shift. That cannot I tell ant ſhall pleaſe you, you neuer ſaw ſeruant in ſuch care:
 * To know his Maiſters name, neither in Towne nor Field,
 * And what he was he would tell, but the Knight of the Golden Sheeld.


 * King. Well Clamides marke my charge, what I to thee ſhall ſay,
 * Prepare thy ſelfe for to purſue that Traytor on his way:
 * Which hath thine honour reft from thee, and either by force of hand
 * Or loue, his name and natiue ſoyle, ſee that thou vnderſtand,
 * That I may know for what intent, he bare this grudge to thee,
 * Elſe ſee thou neuer doeſt return againe to viſit me:
 * For this imports him for to be, of valiant heart and mind:
 * And therefore do purſue thy foe, vntill thou doeſt him find.
 * To know his name and what he is, or as I ſaid before,
 * Do neuer view thy father I, in preſence any more.


 * Clamy. Well father, ſith it is your charge, and precept giuen to mee,
 * And more for mine owne honours ſake, I franckly do agree
 * To vndertake the enterpriſe, his name to vnderſtand,
 * Or neuer elſe to ſhew my face againe in Suauia land.
 * Wherefore I humbly do deſire, the order to receiue,
 * Of Knighthood, which my ſole deſire hath euer bene to haue:
 * It is the name and meane, whereby true honour is atchiued:
 * Let me not then O father deare, thereof be now depriued.
 * Sith that mine honour cowardly was ſtolne by Caitiffe he,
 * And not by dinted daſtards deed, O father loſt by me.


 * King. Well Clamides, then kneele downe, here in our Nobles ſight,
 * We giue to thee that art our ſonne, the order of a Knight:
 * But as thou wilt our fauour winne, accompliſh my deſire.


 * Clamy. Elſe neuer to your royall Court, O father ile retire.


 * King. Well, then adue Clamides deare, the Gods thine ayder be:
 * But come my Lords, to haue his hire, that Caitiffe bring with me.


 * Shift. Alas ant ſhall pleaſe you, I am knowledge, and no euill did pretend,
 * Set me at libertie, it was the knight that did offend.


 * Cla. O father, ſith that he is knowledge, I beſeech your grace ſet him free,
 * For in theſe affaires he ſhall waite and tend on mee:
 * If he will proteſt, to be true to me euer.


 * Shift. Ah Noble Clamydes, heeres my hand, ile deceiue you neuer.


 * Clamy. :Wel then father, I beſeech your Grace grant that I may haue him.


 * King. Well Clamydes, I am content, ſith thou my ſonne doeſt craue him.
 * Receiue him therefore at my hands. My Lords come lets depart.


 * All. We ready are to wait on you, O king, with willing heart.

<DIV style="text-indent:55%;">Exeunt.</DIV>
 * Clamy. Well knowledge, do prepare thy ſelfe, for here I do proteſt,
 * My fathers precepts to fulfill, no day nor night to reſt
 * From toylſome trauell, till I haue reuengd my cauſe aright,
 * On him who of the golden Sheeld, now beareth name of knight:
 * Who of mine honour hath me robd, in ſuch a cowardly ſort,
 * As for to be of noble heart, it doth him not import.
 * But knowledge, to me thy ſeruice ſtill thou muſt with loyall heart profeſſe.


 * Shift. Vſe me that all other villains may take enfample by me, if I digreſſe.


 * Clamy. Well then come follow ſpeedily, that him purſue we may.

<DIV style="text-indent:56%;">Exit.</DIV>


 * Shift. Keepe you before ant ſhall pleaſe you, for I mind not to ſtay.
 * Ah ſirrah Shift, thou waſt driuen to thy ſhifts now indeed,
 * I dreamd bfore, that vntowardly I ſhould ſpeed:
 * And yet it is better lucke then I looked to haue:
 * But as the prouerb ſaith, good fortune euer hapneth to the veryeſt knaue:
 * And yet I could not eſcape with my maiſter, do what I can,
 * Well by this bargaine he hath loft his new Seruing-man:
 * But if Clamydes ouertake him now, what buffets will there be,
 * Vnleſſe it be four miles off the fray, there will be no ſtanding for me.
 * Well after him I will, but howſoeuer my maſter ſpeed,
 * To ſhift for my ſelfe I am fully decreed.

<DIV style="text-indent:56%;">Exit.</DIV>