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

Scene iii

Enter the King of Suavia with the Herald before him, Clamydes, and three Lords.

King of Suavia

Come, Clamydes, thou our son, thy father’s talk attend.

Since thou art prest thy youthful days in prowess for to spend,

And dost of us the order ask of knighthood for to have,

We know thy deeds deserves^[1] the same, and that which thou dost crave

Thou shalt possess: but first, my son, know thou thy father’s charge,

And what to knighthood doth belong, thine honor to enlarge;

Unto what end a knight is made that likewise thou mayst know,

And bear the same in mind also, that honor thine may flow

Amongst the worthies of the world to thy immortal fame.

Know thou, therefore, Clamydes dear, to have a knightly name

Is, first, above all other things, his God for to adore

In truth, according to the laws prescribed to him before;

Secondly, that he be true unto his lord and king;

Thirdly, that he keep his faith and troth in every thing;

And then before all other things that else we can commend,

He be always ready prest his country to defend;

The widow, poor, and fatherless, or innocent bearing blame,

To see their cause redressed right a faithful knight must frame;

In truth he always must be tried: this is the total charge,

That will receive a knightly name his honor to enlarge.

Clamydes

O father, this your gracious counsel given to me your only son,

Shall not be in oblivion cast till vital race be run.

What way doth win Dame Honor’s crown, those paths my steps shall trace,

And those that to Reproach doth^[2] lead, which seeketh to deface

True Honor in her regal seat, I shall detest for aye,

And be as utter enemy to them both night and day.

By flying force of flickering fame your grace shall understand

Of my behavior, noble sire, in every foreign land;

And if you hear by true report, I venture in the barge

Of Wilfulness, contrary this your grace’s noble charge,

Let Ignomy to my reproach, instead of Lady Fame,

Sound through the earth and azure skies the strained blast of shame,

Whereby within Oblivion’s tomb my deeds shall be detained,

Where otherwise of Memory the mind I might have gained,

So that the den of Darksomeness shall ever be my chest,

Where worthy deeds prefer each wight with honor to be blessed.

Enter, behind, Clyomon and Subtle Shift.

King of Suavia

Well, Clamydes, then kneel down, according as is right,

That here thou mayst receive of me the order of a knight.

Here let him kneel down, Clyomon with Subtle Shift watching in place, and as the King doth go about to lay the mace of his head, let Clyomon take the blow, and so pass away presently.

Subtle Shift

Now prepare yourself, or I’ll be either a knight or a knave.

Clyomon

Content thyself, Knowledge, for I’ll quickly him deceive.

King of Suavia

The noble order of a knight, Clamydes, unto thee

We give through due desert, wherefore see that thou be,

Both valiant, wise, and hardy—

Subtle Shift

Away now quickly, lest we be take tardy.

King of Suavia

Ah stout attempt of baron bold, that hath from this my son,

The knighthood ta’en! My lords, pursue ere far he can he run.

[Pursue him and bring in Shift.

Ah Clamydes, how art thou bereft of honor here!

Was like presumption ever seen, that one, a stranger mere,

Should come in presence of a prince, and ‘tempt as he hath done,

To take the knighthood thus away, from him who is his son?

Clamydes

Ah father, how am I perplexed, till I revenged be,

Upon the wretch which here hath ta’en the honor thus from me!

Was ever any one deceived of knighthood so before?

King of Suavia

Well Clamydes, my lords return; stay till we do know more.

Enter Shift, brought in by the two Lords who pursued Clyomon.

First Lord

O king, the knight is fled and gone, pursuit prevaileth nought;

But here his slave we taken have to tell why this he wrought.

King of Suavia

Ah cruel grudge that grieves my ghost! shall he escape me so?

Shall he with honor from my son, without disturbance go?—

Ah catiff thou, declare his name, and why he ventured here:

Or death shall be thy guerdon sure, by all the gods I swear.

Subtle Shift

Ah, and’t shall please you, I know neither him, his country nor name.

Second Lord

What, what sir? are not you his servant? will you deny the same?

King of Suavia

Nay, then you are a dissembling knave, I know very well.

Subtle Shift

And’t shall please your grace, even the very troth I shall tell:

I should have been his servant when we met togither,

Which was not full three hours before we came hither.

King of Suavia

Well, what is his name, and of what country, declare?

Subtle Shift

That cannot I tell, and’t shall please you: you never saw servant in such care

To know his master’s name, neither in town nor field,

And what he was, he would [not^[3]] tell, but the Knight of the Golden Shield.

King of Suavia

Well, Clamydes, mark my charge, what I to thee shall say,

Prepare thyself for to pursue that traitor on his way,

Which hath thine honor reft from thee, and, either by force of hand

Or love, his name and native soil see that thou understand,

That I may know for what intent, he bare this grudge to thee,

Else see thou never dost^[4] return again to visit me;

For this imports him for to be of valiant heart and mind,

And therefore do pursue thy foe until thou dost him find,

To know his name and what he is, or as I said before,

Do never view thy father I in presence any more.

Clamydes

Well, father, sith it is your charge, and precept given to me,

And more for mine own honor’s sake, I frankly do agree

To undertake the enterprise, his name to understand,

Or never else to show my face again in Suavia land.

Wherefore I humbly do desire the order to receive,

Of knighthood, which my sole desire hath ever been to have:

It is the name and mean whereby true honor is achived:

Let me not, then, O father dear, thereof be now deprived,

Sith that mine honor cowardly was stolen by caitiff he,

And not by dint of^[5] dastard’s deed, O father, lost by me!

King of Suavia

Well, Clamydes, then kneel down: here in our nobles’ sight,

We give to thee that art our son the order of a knight;

But, as thou wilt our favor win, accomplish my desire.

Clamydes

Else never to your royal court, O father, I’ll retire.

King of Suavia

Well, then, adieu, Clamydes dear: the gods thine aider^[6] be!

But come, my lords, to have his hire, that caitiff bring with me.

Subtle Shift

Alas and’t shall please you, I am Knowledge, and no evil did pretend!

Set me at liberty; it was the knight that did offend.

Clamydes

O father, sith that he is Knowledge, I beseech your grace set him free;

For in these affairs he shall wait and tend on me,

If he will protest to be true to me ever.

Subtle Shift

Ah noble Clamydes, here’s my hand, I’ll deceive you never!

Clamydes

Well, then, father, I beseech your grace grant that I may have him.

King of Suavia

Well, Clamydes, I am content, sith thou, my son, dost crave him:

Receive him therefore at my hands.—My lords, come, let’s depart.

All the Lords

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

[Exeunt [all except Clamydes and Subtle Shift].

Clamydes

Well, Knowledge, do prepare thyself, for here I do protest,

My father’s precepts to fulfill, no day nor night to rest

From toilsome travel till I have revenged my cause aright

On him who of the Golden Shield now beareth name of knight;

Who of mine honor hath me robbed in such a cowardly sort

As for to be of noble heart it doth him not import.

But, Knowledge, to me thy service run thou must with loyal heart profess.

Subtle Shift

Use me that all other villains may take ensample by me, if I digress.

Clamydes

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

Subtle Shift

Keep you before, and’t shall please you, for I mind not to stay.

[Exit Clamydes.

Ah sirrah Shift, thou wast driven to thy shifts now indeed!

I dreamed before that untowardly I should speed;

And yet it is better luck then I looked to have:

But as the proverb saith, good fortune ever happeneth to the veriest knave:

And yet I could not escape with my master, do what I can:

Well by this bargain he hath loft his new serving-man.

But if Clamydes overtake him now, what buffets will there be!

Unless it be four miles off the fray, there will be no standing for me.

Well after him I will; but howsoever my master speed,

To shift for myself I am fully decreed.

[Exit.

Textual Notes

1. deserves] Q; deserve D B
2. doth] Q; do D B
3. not] added by D B; omitted by Q
4. dost] Q B; do D
5. dint of] P. A. Daniel's suggestion; dinted Q D B. "Dinted is suspicious. Qy. dint of or daunted."—P. A. Daniel
6. aider] Q B; aiders D.

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

Clyomon.

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.

Exeunt.

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.

Exit.

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.

Exit.