User:Sbh/Sir Clyomon and Sir Clamydes (critical edition)/Scene xii
Scene xii edit
Enter Thrasellus, King of Norway, and two Lords.
Thrasellus
- Where deep desire hath taken root, my lords, alas, you see
- How that persuasion booteth not, if contrary it be
- Unto the first expected hope, where fancy hath take place;
- And vain it is for to withdraw by counsel in that case
- The mind who with affection is to one only thing affected,
- The which may not till dint of death from thence[1] be sure rejected.
- You know, my lords, through fame what force of love hath taken place
- Within my breast as touching now Neronis’ noble grace,
- Daughter to Patranius King, who doth the scepter sway
- And in the Isle of Marshes eke bear rule now at this day:
- Through love of daughter his my sorrows daily grow,
- And daily dolours do me daunt, for that, alas, I show
- Such friendship whereas favor none is to be found again;
- And yet from out my careful mind naught may her love restrain.
- I sent to crave her of the king; he answered me with nay:
- But shall I not provide by force to fetch her thence away?
- Yes, yes, my lords, and therefore let your aids be prest with mine,
- For I will sure Neronis have, or else my days I’ll pine;
- For King Patranius and his power I hold of small account:
- To win his daughter to my spouse amids his men I’ll mount.
First Lord
- Most worthy prince, this rash attempt I hold not for the best,
- For sure Patranius’ power is great, and not to be suppressed;
- For why the isle environed is with sea on every side,
- And landing-place, lo, is there none whereas you may have tide
- To set your men from ship to shore, but by one only way,
- And in that place a garrison great he keepeth at this day;
- So that if you should bring your power, your travail were in vain:
- That is not certainly the way Neronis for to gain.
- But this your grace may do indeed, and so I count it best;
- To be in all points with a ship most like a merchant prest,
- And sail with such as you think best, all dressed in merchants’ guise,
- And for to get her to your ship some secret mean devise,
- By showing of strange merchandise, or other such like thing:
- Lo, this is best advice I can, Thrasellus, lord and king.
Second Lord
- And certainly, as you have said, my lord, it is the way:—
- Wherefore, O king, do prosecute the same without delay.
Thrasellus
- Of truth, my lords, this your advice doth for our purpose frame:
- Come, therefore, let us hence depart, to put in ure the same
- With present speed, for merchant-wise myself will thither sail.
First Lord
- This is the way, if any be, of purpose to prevail.
[Exeunt.
Textual Notes edit
- ↑ thence] D B; them Q
Explanatory Notes edit
- fancy: love
- Through love: “Thorough the love”?—P. A. Daniel.
- prest: ready
- pine: Qy. “fine” (i.e., end)?—P. A. Daniel.
- For why: Because.
- put in ure: put in practice.