Classic Poem

[SCENE XVI.]

Enter Queen E LINOR .

Q. Elinor. Now fits the time to purge our melancholy,
And be revenged upon this London dame. —
Katherina!

Enter K ATHERINA .

Katherina. At hand, madam.
Q. Elinor. Bring forth our London Mayoress here.
Katherina. I will, madam.
Q. Elinor. Now, Nell,
Bethink thee of some tortures for the dame,
And purge thy choler to the uttermost.

Enter Mayoress and K ATHERINA .

Now, Mistress Mayoress, you have attendance urged,
And therefore to requite your courtesy,
Our mind is to bestow an office on you straight.
Mayoress. Myself, my life, and service, mighty queen,
Are humbly at your majesty's command.
Q. Elinor. Then, Mistress Mayoress, say whether will you be
Our nurse or laundress?
Mayoress. Then may it please your majesty
To entertain your handmaid for your nurse,
She will attend the cradle carefully.
Q. Elinor. O, no, nurse; the babe needs no great rocking; it can lull itself. — Katherina, bind her in the chair, and let me see how she'll become a nurse. [ The Mayoress is bound to the chair .] So: now, Katherina, draw forth her breast, and let the serpent suck his fill. [ The serpent is applied to her breast .] Why, so; now she is a nurse. — Suck on, sweet babe.
Mayoress. Ah, queen, sweet queen, seek not my blood to spill,
For I shall die before this adder have his fill!
Q. Elinor. Die or die not, my mind is fully pleased. —
Come, Katherina: to London now will we,
And leave our Mayoress with her nursery.
Katherina. Farewell, sweet Mayoress, look unto the babe.
Mayoress . Farewell, proud queen, the author of my death,
The scourge of England and to English dames! —
Ah, husband, sweet John Bearmber, Mayor of London,
Ah, didst thou know how Mary is perplex'd,
Soon wouldst thou come to Wales, and rid me of this pain;
But, O, I die! my wish is all in vain.