第4章
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  CAMBER。

  Nay——Itrust—

  Man。

  GUENDOLEN。

  Andhasthearttomakethyspoilofme?

  CAMBER。

  WouldGodImight!

  GUENDOLEN。

  Thouartmadeofliesandlust—

  Earth’sworstisalltoogoodforsuchtosee,Andyetthineeyesturnheavenward——astheymust,Beingman’s——ifmanbesuchasthou——andsoilThelighttheysee。Thouhastmadeofmethyspoil,Thyscorn,thyprofit——yea,mywholesoul’splunderIsallthytrophy,thytriumphalprizeAndharvestreapedofthee;nay,trampledunderAndrootedupandscattered。YettheskiesThatseethytrophiesrearedarefullofthunder,Andheaven’shighjusticelovesnotlustandlies。

  CAMBER。

  Illthenshouldfarethylord——ifheavenbejust,Andliesbelies,andlawlesslovebelust。

  GUENDOLEN。

  Thouliest。Iknowmylordandthee。Thouliest。

  CAMBER。

  Ifhebetrueandtruthbefalse,Ilie。

  GUENDOLEN。

  Thouartlowestofallmenborn——whilehesitshighest。

  CAMBER。

  Ay——whilehesits。Howlongshallhesithigh?

  GUENDOLEN。

  IfIbutwhisperhimofthee,thoudiest。

  CAMBER。

  Ifearnot,iftillthensecureamI。

  GUENDOLEN。

  Secureasfoolsarehardylivethoustill。

  CAMBER。

  Whileillwithgoodisguerdoned,goodwithill。

  GUENDOLEN。

  Ihaveitinmymindtotakethinehead。

  Dostthounotfeartoputmethusinfear?

  CAMBER。

  Ifearnormannorwoman,quicknordead:

  Anddeadinspiritalreadystand’stthouhere。

  GUENDOLEN。

  Thoudarestnotswearmylordhathwrongedmybed。

  Thoudarestbutsmileandmutter,lieandleer。

  CAMBER。

  IswearnoqueenboreevercrownonbrowWhomeeklierboreaheavierwrongthanthou。

  GUENDOLEN。

  FromtheewillIbearnothing。Gettheehence:

  Thineeyesdefileme。Gettheefrommysight。

  CAMBER。

  Thegodsdefendthee,soulandspiritandsense,Fromsenseofthingsthoudarestnotreadaright!

  Farewell。[Exit。

  GUENDOLEN。

  Farethounotwell,andbedefenceFarfromthysoulcastnakedforthbynight!

  Haterosefromhellaliar:lovecamedivineFromheaven:yetshethatboretheeboreLocrine。

  [Exit。

  ACTIII。

  SCENEI。——Troynovant。ARoominthePalace。

  EnterLOCRINEandDEBON。

  LOCRINE。

  Thouknowestnotwhatsheknowsordreamsof?whyHerfaceisdarkandwan,herlipandeyeRestlessandredasfever?HastthoukeptFaith?

  DEBON。

  HasmymasterfoundmyfaithalieOncealltheseyearsthrough?haveIstrayedorsleptOnce,whenhebademewatch?whatproofhasleaptAtlasttolightagainstme?

  LOCRINE。

  Surely,none。

  Weepnot。

  DEBON。

  Mylord’sgreyvassalhathnotweptOnce,evensincedarknesscoveredfromthesunThewoman’sface——thesolesweetwifelikeone—

  Whosememoryholdshisheartyetfast:butnowTears,wereoldagenotpoorintears,mightrunFreeasthewordsthatbidhisstrickenbrowBurnandbowdowntohearthem。

  LOCRINE。

  HastnotthouHeldcounsel——playedthetalebearerwhosetalesBearplagueabroadandpoison,knowingnothow—

  Notwithmywifenorbrother?

  DEBON。

  NoughtavailsFalsehood:andtruthitis,thekingofWalesSopliedme,sir,withforceofcraftandthreat—

  LOCRINE。

  Thatthou,whosefaithswervesnever,flagsnorfailsNorfalters,beingasstarsareloyal,yetWastfoundasthosethatfallfromheaven,forgetTheirstation,shootandshudderdowntodeathDeepasthepitofhell?WhatsnaresweresetTotakethysoul——whatmistoftreasonousbreathMadeblindintheethesensethatquickenethIntruemen’sinwardeyesight,whentheyknowAndknownothowtheyknowtheworditsaith,Thewarningwordthatwhispersloudorlow—

  Iasknot:beitenoughthesethingsareso。

  Thouhastplayedmefalse。

  DEBON。

  Nay,nowthislongtimesinceWehaveseenthequeen’sfacewanwithwrathandwoe—

  HaveseenherlipwritheandhereyelidwinceTotakemen’shomage——proofthatmightconvinceOfgriefinexpiableandinsatiateshameHerspiritinallmen’sjudgment。

  LOCRINE。

  Buttheprince—

  Mybrother,whomthouknowestbyproof,notfame,AcowardwhoseheartisallaflickeringflameThatfainwouldburnanddaresnot——whencehadheThepoisonthathegaveher?Speak:thiscameBychance——mishap——mosthaplesslyfortheeWhohadstmyheartinthine,andmadestofmeNomorethanmightforfolly’ssakeorfear’sBebaredforevensucheyesashistosee?

  Oldfriendthatwast,Iwouldnotseethytears。

  Godcomfortthydishonour!

  DEBON。

  AlltheseyearsHaveInotservedthee?

  LOCRINE。

  Yea。Socheertheenow。

  DEBON。

  Cheeredbethetraitor,whomthetruemancheers?

  Nay,smiteme:Godcanbenotsuchasthou,Andwillnotdamnmewithforgiveness。HowHastthousuchheart,tocomfortsuchasme?

  God’sthunderwerelessfearfulthanthebrowThatfrownsnotonthyfriendfoundfalsetothee。

  Thyfriend——thousaid’st——thyfriend。Strangefriendsarewe。

  Nay,slaymethen——nay,slaymerather。

  LOCRINE。

  Friend,Takecomfort。God’swide—reachingwillshallbeHereasofoldaccomplished,thoughitblendAllgoodwithillthatnonemaymarormend。

  Thyworksandmineareripplesonthesea。

  Takeheart,Isay:weknownotyettheirend。

  [Exeunt。

  SCENEII。——GardensofthePalace。

  EnterCAMBERandMADAN。

  CAMBER。

  Hathnomanseenthee?

  MADAN。

  Hadheseen,andspoken,Hisheadshouldloseitstongue。IamfarawayInCornwall。

  CAMBER。

  WherethefrontofwarisbrokenBytheonsetofthyforce——therebelfrayShattered。Hadnoman——canstthousurelysay?—

  Knowledgebetimes,togiveusknowledgehere—

  Usbabblers,tonguesmadequickwithfraudandfear—

  ThatthouwastboundfromCornwallhither?

  MADAN。

  None,Ithink,whoknowingofsteelandfireandcordThattheycansmiteandburnandstrangleoneWouldloosewithoutleaveofhispartinglordThetonguethatelseweresharperthanaswordTocutthethroatitsprangfrom。

  CAMBER。

  Nephewmine,Ihaveeverlovedthee——notthysireLocrineMore——andforveryandonlyloveoftheeHaveIdesired,orevereventhymotherBeheldthee,heretoknowoftheeandmeWhichlovesherbest——herandthysiremybrother。

  MADAN。

  Hebeingaway,farhence——andsononeother—

  Nothe——shouldsharetheknowledge?

  CAMBER。

  SurelynotHe。Knowestthouwhitherhencehewent?

  MADAN。

  Godwot,No:haplytowardsomehiddenparamour。

  CAMBER。

  Andthatshouldsetnot,forthymother’ssake,Andthine,theheartintheeonfire?

  MADAN。

  AnhourIslessthaneventhetimewhereinwetakeBreathtoletloosethewordthatfainwouldbreak,Andcannot,evenforpassion,——ifwesetAnhouragainstthelengthoflife:andyetLessinaccountoflifeshouldbethosehours—

  Shouldbe?shouldbenot,livenot,benotknown,Notthoughtof,notrememberedevenasours,—

  WhereonthefleshorfancybearsaloneRulethatthesoulrepudiatesforitsown,Rejectsandmocksandmournsfor,andreclaimsItsnature,nonetheignoblerfortheshamesThatwerebutshadowsonit——shedbutshadeAndperished。Ifthybrotherandking,mysire—

  CAMBER。

  Nokingofmineishe——weareequal,weighedArightinstate,thoughherehisthronestandhigher。

  MADAN。

  Sobeit。Isay,ifevensomeearth—bornfireHaveeverluredtheloftiestheadthatearthSeesroyal,towardacharmofbaserbirthAndforcelessgodlikethanthesacredspellThatlinkswithhimmymother,whatwerethisToherorme?

  CAMBER。

  TohernomorethanhellTosoulscastforthwhohearallhell—firehissAllroundthem,andwhofeeltheredworm’skissShootmortalpoisonthroughtheheartthatrestsImmortal:serpentssuckledatherbreasts,Firefeedingonherlimbs,lesspainshouldbeThansenseofpridelaidwasteandlovelaidlow,Ifshebequeenorwoman:andtothee—

  MADAN。

  TomethatwaxnotwomanthoughIknowThis,whatshallhaporhapnot?

  CAMBER。

  Wereitso,Itshouldnotirkthee,shebeingwrongedalone;

  Thymother’sbed,andnotthyfather’sthrone,Beingsoiledwithusurpation。Ay?butsayThatnowmineuncleandhersireliesdeadAndhelplessnowtohelpher,oraffrayTheheartwhereinherruinandthinewerebred,Notshewerecastforthonlyfromhisbed,Butthou,loathedissueofacontractloathedSincefirsttheirhandswerejoinednotbutbetrothed,Wertcastforthoutofkingship?strippedofstate,Unmadehisson,unseated,unallowed,Discrowned,disorbed,discrested——thou,butlatePrince,andofallmen’sthroatsacclaimedaloud,Ofallmen’sheartsacceptedandavowedPrince,nowproclaimedforsomesweetbastard’ssakePeasant?

  MADAN。

  Thysirewassurelessmanthansnake,Thoughminemiscalltheebrother。

  CAMBER。

  Cowardormad?

  Whichmightonecalltheerather,whoseharshheartEnvenomssothytonguetowardonethathadNothoughtlesskindly——towardeventheethatartKindless——thanbestbeseemsakinsman’spart?

  MADAN。

  Laynotonmethineownfoulshame,whosetongueWouldturnmybloodtopoison,whileitstungThybrother’sfametodeath。IknowmysireAsshameknowsthee——andbetternomanknowsAught。

  CAMBER。

  Havethywill,then:takethyfulldesire:

  Drinkdrythedraughtofruin:bidallblowsWelcome:beingharshwithfriends,bemildwithfoes,Andgiveshamethanksforbuffets。YetIthought—

  Buthowshouldhelpavailwhereheartisnought?

  MADAN。

  Yet——thoudidstthinktohelpme?

  CAMBER。

  Kinsman,ay。

  Myhandhadheldthefieldbesidethineown,AndallwildhillsthatknowmyrallyingcryHadpouredforthwarforheart’spurelovealoneTohelpthee——wouldstthouheedme——tothythrone。

  MADAN。

  Forpureheart’slove?whatwageholdsloveinfee?

  Mighthalfmykingdomserve?Nay,mocknotme,Fairuncle:shouldIcleavethecrownintwainAndgirdthytempleswiththegoodlierhalf,Think’stthoumydebtmightsobepaidagain—

  ThysceptremadeamoreimperialstaffThanswaysasnowthyhill—folk?

  CAMBER。

  Dostthoulaugh?

  Werethistoomuchforkingstogiveandtake?

  IfwarriorWalesdobattleforthysake,ShouldIthatkeptthycrownfortheebeheldWorthlessthanroyalguerdon?

  MADAN。

  Keepthineown,AndlettheloudfierceknavesthybrethrenquelledWardoffthewolveswhosehidesshouldlinethythrone,Wertthounocoward,norecreanttothebone,Noliarinspiritandsoulandheartlessheart,Noslave,notraitor——noughtofallthouart。

  Athinglikethee,madebigwithbraggartbreath,Whosetongueshootsfire,whosepromisepoisonstrust,WouldcastashieldlesssoldierforthtodeathAndwreckthreerealmstosatehisrancorouslustWithruinofthemwhohaveweighedandfoundhimdust。

  GettheetoWales:therestrutinspeechandswell:

  AndthencebetimesGodspeedtheesafetohell。

  [Exeuntseverally。

  ACTIV。

  SCENEI。——ThebanksoftheLey。

  EnterLOCRINEandESTRILD。

  LOCRINE。

  Ifthoudidsteverloveme,lovemenow。

  Iamwearyatheartofallonearthsavethee。

  AndyetIlie:andyetIlienot。Thou—

  Dostthounotthinkforlove’ssakescornofme?

  ESTRILD。

  Asearthofheaven:asmorningofthesun。

  LOCRINE。

  Nay,whatthinksevening,whomheleavesundone?

  ESTRILD。

  Thoumadestmequeenandwoman:thoughmylifeWeretaken,thesethoucouldstnottakeagain,Thegiftsthougavestme。MoreamIthanwife,Whom,tillmytyrantbythystrengthwereslainAndbythylovemyservileshamecastout,MynakedsorrowsclothedandgirtaboutWithprincelierpridethanbindsthebrowsofqueens,Thousawestofallthingsleastandlowestalive。

  Whatmeansthydoubt?

  LOCRINE。

  Fearknowsnotwhatitmeans:

  AndIwasfearfulevenofcloudsthatdriveAcrossthedawn,anddie——ofall,ofnought—

  Windswhisperingonthedarklingwaysofthought,Sunbeamsthatflashlikefire,andhopeslikefearsThatslaythemselves,andliveagain,anddie。

  Butinmineeyesthylightis,inmineearsThymusic:Iamthine,andmorethanI,Beinghalfofthysweetsoul。

  ESTRILD。

  Woeworthmethen!

  Foronerequirestheewholly。

  LOCRINE。

  Guendolen?

  ESTRILD。

  Isaidshewasthefairer——andIliednot。

  LOCRINE。

  Thouartthefairestfoolalive。

  ESTRILD。

  Butshe,Beingwise,exceedsme:yet,soshedividenotThineheart,mybest—belovedofliars,withme,Icarenot——norIwillnotcare。SomepartShehathhad,itmaybe,ofthyfondfalseheart—

  Nay,couldstthouchoose?butnow,thoughshebefairer,Lethertakeallornone:IwillnotbePartakerofherperfectsway,norsharerWithanyonearthmoredearorlesstothee。

  Nay,benotwroth:whatwiltthouhavemesay?

  ThatIcanlovetheelessthanshecan?Nay,ThouknowestIwillnotilltoher;butshe—

  WouldshenotburnmychildandmewithfireTowreakherself,wholovedtheeonce,onthee?

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