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

Scene xiii

Enter Clyomon with a Knight, signifying one of those that Clamydes had delivered.

Clyomon

Sir knight, of truth this fortune was most luckily assigned,

That we should meet in travel thus, for thereby to my mind

You have a castle of comfort brought, in that you have me told,

Clamydes our appointed day no more then I did hold.

Knight

No, certis, sir, he kept not day, the cause I have expressed,

Through that enchanter Bryan’s charms he came full sore distressed;

Yet fortune favored so his state that through his help all we,

Which captives were through cowardly craft, from bondage were set free;

And at our parting willed us, if any with you met,

We should inform you with the truth what was his only let.

Clyomon

Well, know you where he abideth now, sir knight, I crave of courtesy.

Knight

No, questionless, I know not I, to say it of a certainty.

Clyomon

Well, then, adieu, sir knight, with thanks; I let you on your way.

Knight

Unto the gods I you commit; naught else I have to say.

[Exit.

Clyomon

A[h] sirrah, now the hugy heaps of cares that lodged in my mind

Are scaled from their nestling-place, and pleasures passage find,

For that, as well as Clyomon, Clamydes broke his day;

Upon which news my passage now in seeking him I’ll stay,

And to Neronis back again my joyful journey make,

Lest that she should in absence mine some cause of sorrow take:

And now all dumps of deadly dole that daunted knightly breast,

Adieu, since salve of solace sweet hath sorrows all suppressed.

For that Clamydes cannot brag nor me accuse in ought,

Unto the gods of destinies, that thus our fates have brought

In equal balance to be weighed, due praises shall I send,

That thus to weigh each cause aright, their eyes to earth did bend.

Well, to keep my day with lady now I mind not to be slack,

Wherefore unto Patranius’ court, I’ll dress my journey back:

But stay, methinks I Rumor hear throughout this land to ring;

I will attend his talk to know what tidings he doth bring.

Enter Rumor running.

Rumor

Ye rolling clouds, give Rumor room, both air and earth below,

By sea and land, that every ear may understand and know

What woeful hap is chanced now, within the Isle of late,

Which of Strange Marshes beareth name, unto the noblest state.

Neronis, daughter to the king, by the King of Norway he

Within a ship of merchandise, conveyed away is she.

The king with sorrow for her sake hath [un]to death resigned;

And having left his queen with child to guide the realm behind,

Mustantius, brother to the king, from her the crown would take;

But till she be delivered the lords did order make,

That they before King Alexander thither coming should appeal,

And he, by whom they hold the crown, therein should rightly deal

For either part: lo, this to tell I Rumor have in charge,

And through all lands I do pretend to publish it at large.

[Exit.

Clyomon

Ah, woeful Rumor ranging thus! what tidings do I hear?

Hath that false King of Norway stoln my love and lady dear?

Ah heart, ah hand, ah head, and mind, and every sense beside,

To serve your master’s turn in need do every one provide!

For till that I revenged be upon that wretched king,

And have again my lady dear and her from Norway bring,

I vow this body takes no rest. Ah Fortune, fickle dame,

That canst make glad and so soon sad a knight of worthy fame.

But what should I delay the time, now that my dear is gone?

Availeth aught to ease my grief, to make this pensive moan?

No, no;^[1]

Wherefore come, courage to my heart, and, happy hands prepare!

For of that wretched king I will wreak all my sorrow and care,

And, maugre all the might he may be able for to make,

By force of arms my lady I from him and his will take.

[Exit.

Textual Notes

1. No, no;] Printed as part of the following line in Q

Explanatory Notes

castle of comfort: a proverbial expression. One of Thomas Becon’s works bears this title.—Bullen.

certis: certainly

willed: i.e. Clamydes willed, desired.

hugy: huge.

scaled: separated, dispersed.—Dyce.

Rumor: Compare The Induction to Shakespeare’s Henry IV., Part Second.—Dyce.

the King of Norway: i.e. Thrasellus.

pretend: intend.

of: on.

diseased: troubled, uneasy.

viage: voyage.