Vortigern
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SCENE
VI. - A CHAMBER IN THE PALACE.
Enter
EDMUNDA and Attendants.
Edm.
I will not to my chamber, then, I tell ye.
1st
Maid. Beseech
you, madam, to return again;
For so did your
physician order.
Edm.
Come hither, pretty maid, look at me well:
Now say, hath he so
order'd it, or not?
1st
Maid. Indeed, he
hath.
Edm.
Nay, get thee gone ; a maid, and still so false!
Go to, live I not
yet ? Am I, then, call'd ?
And hath my
sweetheart, death, yet fondly clasp'd me:
Say, hath the heavy
passing bell yet sounded,
And hail'd me to my
snug and chilly chamber ?
2nd
Maid. Madam, I
fear your reason wanders.
Edm.
Ay, ay! I understand thee, it is flown;
My poor brain, alas!
is sore distemper'd.
Sweet, sweet, come
from yon branch, here's food for thee:
My pretty birds,
come back, I will not harm ye;
My bosom, as your
little nest, is warm,
And is as soft, ay,
and full of comfort, too.
Nay, stop! it is too
warm, come not! twill burn ye.
2nd
Maid. My tears do
flow for her so plenteously,
That I have left in
me no power to help her.
Edm.
0! you great gods! why pelt ye thus my brain,
And with your
thunders loud, cause such dire outrage
Within this little
ball - this, 0! this nothing?
Tell me, high
heaven! is this your justice ?
Did I not nourish
them: ay, teach them, love them?
Yes, little drops,
oh! come, cool my poor face:
Speak! ay, ye come,
I know, to say I did.
Now, please your
highness, and what would you more?
Say, are not here a
host of witnesses ?
Longer, 0! let me
not detain the court;
For in such plenty
they do now rush forth,
That you, sir, you
who fill yon seat of justice,
Must throw away your
gown, and swim for life.
1st
Maid. Will't
please, we lead you in ?
Edm.
I'gin, indeed, to think I need support;
For I am even weaker
than a babe.
Hush! hush! come
hither both, I'll tell ye something.
Now, then, your
ears; I'm mad: ha! ha! ha!
Say! is not this
Whitsuntide?
2nd
Maid. Ay, an't
please you, madam.
Edm.
Then, listen.
She
sings.
Last Whitsanday, they brought me
Roses, and lilies fair;
Violets, too, they gave me
To bind my auburn hair:
But, then, my face look'd smiling,
'Cause that my babes were near;
Now yon stinging nettle bring,
'Twill better suit this tear.
How like
you this?
1st
Maid. Excellently
well, madam.
Edm.
The time has been, when thus thou mightst have
said,
What, must these
poor eyes never see them more ?
And have I need of
these vile rags ? off! off!
I'll follow ye to
th' extreme point o'the world;
And, naked, bear the
icy mountains cold,
And the dread
scorches o'that ball of fire,
Till I have found
them i'the antipodes;
Should I not meet
them there, I will rail so!
Pardon these starts!
in troth I will not harm ye;
Indeed, indeed. I'm
wrong'd! most sadly wrong'd!
Did these my
warblings charm ye? then I'll die;
For look you,
maiden, I'll sing sweeter far,
Than dying swan at
ninety and nine years!
Lack, lack, a day!
I'm faint! your arm, sweet maid.
There is my gage,
farewell: good night, sweet! good
night! [Exeunt.
END OF
THE THIRD ACT,
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