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

Scene ix

Enter Bryan Sans-foy having Clamydes his apparel on, his shield, and the serpent’s head.

Bryan Sans-foy

Ah sirrah, ^[1]

Now are the ten days full expired wherein Clamydes he

Shall wake out of his charmed sleep, as shortly you shall see.

But here I have what I desired, his shield, his coat, and head:

To Denmark will I straight prepare, and there present with speed

The same to Juliana’s grace, as in Clamydes’ name,

Whereby I am assured I shall enjoy that noble dame;

For why Clamydes he is safe for ever being free,

And unto Knowledge is he left here guarded for to be.

But no man knows of my pretence, ne whither I am gone;

For secretly from castle I have stoln this night alone,

In this order as you see, in the attire of a noble knight;

But yet, poor Bryan, still thy heart holds courage in despite.

Well, yet the old proverb to disprove I purpose to begin,

Which always saith that cowardly hearts fair lades never win:

Shall I not Juliana win, and who hath a cowardlier heart?

Yet for to brag and boast it out, I’ll will none take my part;

For I can look both grim and fierce as though I were of might,

And yet three frogs out of a bush my heart did so affright

That I fell dead almost therewith: well, cowardly as I am,

Farewell, forest, for now I will, in Knight Clamydes’ name,

To Denmark to present this head to Juliana bright,

Who shall a cowardly dastard wed instead of a worthy knight.

[Exit.

Textual Notes

1. Ah sirrah] printed as part of the next line in Q

Explanatory Notes

prepare: I should have felt no hesitation in altering this word to “repair,” had I not found in the previous portion of the play: “To Suavia soile I swiftly will prepare my footsteps right,” and, in the subsequent part [scene xviii], a passage which is still more to the point: “I, Providence, prepaire / To thee from seate of mightie Joue.”—Dyce

For why: because

pretence: intention

ne: nor

frogs: So in one of Campion’s songs:—“A yellow frog, alas! will fright me so / As I should start and tremble as I go.”—Bullen