Fair Em


ACT IV.

     SCENE I.

     Chester.  Before the Citizen’s House.

     [Enter the Citizen of Chester, and his daughter Elner, and
     Manville.]
     CITIZEN.
     In deed, sir, it would do very well if you could intreat your
     father to come hither:  but if you think it be too far, I care
     not much to take horse and ride to Manchester.  I am sure my
     daughter is content with either.  How sayest thou, Elner, art
     thou not?

     ELNER.
     As you shall think best I must be contented.

     MANVILLE.
     Well, Elner, farewell.  Only thus much, I pray:  make all
     things in a readiness, either to serve here, or to carry
     thither with us.

     CITIZEN.
     As for that, sir, take you no care; and so I betake you to
     your journey.

     [Exit Manville.]

     [Enter Valingford.]

     But soft, what gentleman is this?

     VALINGFORD.
     God speed, sir.  Might a man crave a word or two with you?

     CITIZEN.
     God forbid else, sir; I pray you speak your pleasure.

     VALINGFORD.
     The gentleman that parted from you, was he not of Manchester,
     his father living there of good account?

     CITIZEN.
     Yes, marry is he, sir.  Why do you ask?  Belike you have had
     some acquaintance with him.

     VALINGFORD.
     I have been acquainted in times past, but, through his double
     dealing, I am growen weary of his company.  For, be it spoken
     to you, he hath been acquainted with a poor millers daughter,
     and diverse times hath promist her marriage.  But what with
     his delays and flouts he hath brought her into such a taking
     that I fear me it will cost her her life.

     CITIZEN.
     To be plain with you, sir, his father and I have been of old
     acquaintance, and a motion was made between my daughter and
     his son, which is now throughly agreed upon, save only the
     place appointed for the marriage, whether it shall be kept
     here or at Manchester; and for no other occasion he is now
     ridden.

     ELNER.
     What hath he done to you, that you should speak so ill of
     the man?

     VALINGFORD.
     Oh, gentlewoman, I cry you mercy:  he is your husband that
     shall be.

     ELNER.
     If I knew this to be true, he should not be my husband were
     he never so good:  And therefore, good father, I would
     desire you to take the pains to bear this gentleman company
     to Manchester, to know whether this be true or no.

     CITIZEN.
     Now trust me, gentleman, he deals with me very hardly,
     knowing how well I meant to him; but I care not much to
     ride to Manchester, to know whether his fathers will be he
     should deal with me so badly.  Will it please you, sir, to
     go in?  We will presently take horse and away.

     VALINGFORD.
     If it please you to go in, I’ll follow you presently.

     [Exit Elner and her father.]

     Now shall I be revenged on Manville, and by this means get
     Em to my wife; and therefore I will straight to her fathers
     and inform them both of all that is happened.

     [Exit.]
     SCENE II.

     The English Court.

     [Enter William, the Ambassador of Denmark, Demarch, and
     other attendants.]
     WILLIAM.
     What news with the Denmark Embassador?

     EMBASSADOR.
     Marry, thus:
     The King of Denmark and my Sovereign
     Doth send to know of thee what is the cause
     That injuriously, against the law of arms,
     Thou hast stolen away his only daughter Blaunch,
     The only stay and comfort of his life.
     Therefore by me
     He willeth thee to send his daughter Blaunch,
     Or else foorthwith he will levy such an host,
     As soon shall fetch her in dispite of thee.

     WILLIAM.
     Embassador, this answer I return thy King.
     He willeth me to send his daughter Blaunch,
     Saying, I conveyed her from the Danish court,
     That never yet did once as think thereof.
     As for his menacing and daunting threats,
     I nill regard him nor his Danish power;
     For if he come to fetch her foorth my Realm
     I will provide him such a banquet here,
     That he shall have small cause to give me thanks.

     EMBASSADOR.
     Is this your answer, then?

     WILLIAM.
     It is; and so begone.

     EMBASSADOR.
     I go; but to your cost.

     [Exit Embassador.]

     WILLIAM.
     Demarch, our subjects, earst levied in civil broils,
     Muster foorthwith, for to defend the Realm.
     In hope whereof, that we shall find you true,
     We freely pardon this thy late offence.

     DEMARCH.
     Most humble thanks I render to your grace.

     [Exeunt.]
     SCENE III.

     Manchester.  The Mill.

     [Enter the Miller and Valingford.]
     MILLER.
     Alas, gentleman, why should you trouble your self so much,
     considering the imperfections of my daughter, which is able
     to with-draw the love of any man from her, as already it
     hath done in her first choice.  Maister Manville hath
     forsaken her, and at Chester shall be married to a mans
     daughter of no little wealth.  But if my daughter knew so
     much, it would go very near her heart, I fear me.

     VALINGFORD.
     Father miller, such is the entire affection to your daughter,
     as no misfortune whatsoever can alter.  My fellow Mountney,
     thou seest, gave quickly over; but I, by reason of my good
     meaning, am not so soon to be changed, although I am borne
     off with scorns and denial.

     [Enter Em to them.]

     MILLER.
     Trust me, sir, I know not what to say.  My daughter is not
     to be compelled by me; but here she comes her self: speak
     to her and spare not, for I never was troubled with love
     matters so much before.

     EM.
     [Aside.]  Good Lord! shall I never be rid of this importunate
     man?  Now must I dissemble blindness again.  Once more for
     thy sake, Manville, thus am I inforced, because I shall
     complete my full resolved mind to thee.  Father, where are
     you?

     MILLER.
     Here, sweet Em.  Answer this gentleman, that would so fayne
     enjoy thy love.

     EM.
     Where are you, sir? will you never leave this idle and vain
     pursuit of love?  Is not England stord enough to content you,
     but you must still trouble the poor contemptible maid of
     Manchester?

     VALINGFORD.
     None can content me but the fair maid of Manchester.

     EM.
     I perceive love is vainly described, that, being blind
     himself, would have you likewise troubled with a blind wife,
     having the benefit of your eyes.  But neither follow him so
     much in folly, but love one in whom you may better delight.

     VALINGFORD.
     Father Miller, thy daughter shall have honor by graunting me
     her love.  I am a Gentleman of king Williams Court, and no
     mean man in king Williams favour.

     EM.
     If you be a Lord, sir, as you say, you offer both your self
     and me great wrong:  yours, as apparent, in limiting your
     love so unorderly, for which you rashly endure reprochement;
     mine, as open and evident, when, being shut from the vanities
     of this world, you would have me as an open gazing stock to
     all the world; for lust, not love, leads you into this error.
     But from the one I will keep me as well as I can, and yield
     the other to none but to my father, as I am bound by duty.

     VALINGFORD.
     Why, fair Em, Manville hath forsaken thee, and must at
     Chester be married: which if I speak otherwise than true,
     let thy father speak what credibly he hath heard.

     EM.
     But can it be Manville will deal so unkindly to reward my
     justice with such monstrous ungentleness?  Have I dissembled
     for thy sake, and doest thou now thus requite it?  In deed
     these many days I have not seen him, which hath made me
     marvel at his long absence.  But, father, are you assured
     of the words he spake were concerning Manville?

     MILLER.
     In sooth, daughter, now it is foorth I must needs confirm
     it:  Maister Manville hath forsaken thee, and at Chester
     must be married to a mans daughter of no little wealth.
     His own father procures it, and therefore I dare credit
     it; and do thou believe it, for trust me, daughter, it is so.

     EM.
     Then, good father, pardon the injury that I have done to
     you, only causing your grief, by over-fond affecting a man
     so trothless.  And you likewise, sir, I pray hold me
     excused, a I hope this cause will allow sufficiently for
     me:  My love to Manville, thinking he would requite it,
     hath made me double with my father and you, and many more
     besides, which I will no longer hide from you.  That
     inticing speeches should not beguile me, I have made my
     self deaf to any but to him; and lest any mans person
     should please me more than his, I have dissembled the want
     of sight:  Both which shadows of my irrevocable affections
     I have not spared to confirm before him, my father, and all
     other amorous soliciters—wherewith not made acquainted, I
     perceive my true intent hath wrought mine own sorrow, and
     seeking by love to be regarded, am cut of with contempt, and
     dispised.

     MILLER.
     Tell me, sweet Em, hast thou but fained all this while for
     his love, that hath so descourteously forsaken thee?

     EM.
     Credit me, father, I have told you the troth; wherewith I
     desire you and Lord Valingford not to be displeased.  For
     ought else I shall say, let my present grief hold me excused.
     But, may I live to see that ungrateful man justly rewarded
     for his treachery, poor Em would think her self not a little
     happy.  Favour my departing at this instant; for my troubled
     thought desires to meditate alone in silence.

     [Exit Em.]

     VALINGFORD.
     Will not Em shew one cheerful look on Valingford?

     MILLER.
     Alas, sir, blame her not; you see she hath good cause, being
     so handled by this gentleman:  And so I’ll leave you, and go
     comfort my poor wench as well as I may.

     [Exit the Miller.]

     VALINGFORD.
     Farewell, good father.

     [Exit Valingford.]

All books are sourced from Project Gutenberg