Classic Poem

[SCENE VIII.]

Here let them make a noise as though they were
Mariners; and after , C LYOMON , knight of G. S.,
come in with one.

Clyo. [ within. ] Ah, set me to shore, sirs, in what country soever we be!
Shipmaster. [ within. ] Well, hale out the cock-boat, seeing so sick we do him see:
Strike sail, cast anchors, till we have rigged our ship again,
For never were we in such storms before, that's plain.

Enter C LYOMON , Boatswain.

Clyo. Ah, boatswain, gramercies for thy setting me to shore!
Boat. Truly, gentleman, we were never in the like tempests before.
Clyo. What country is this wherein now we be!
Boat. Sure, the Isle of Strange Marshes, as our master told to me.
Clyo. How far is it from Macedonia canst thou declare?
Boat. More than twenty days' sailing, and if the weather were fair.
Clyo. Ah cruel hap of Fortune's spite, which 'sign'd this luck to me!—
What palace, boatswain, is this same, canst thou declare, we see?
Boat. There King Patranius keeps his court, so far as I do guess,
And by this train of ladies here I sure can judge no less.
Clyo. Well, boatswain, there is for thy pains; and here upon the shore
I'll lie to rest my weary bones; of thee I crave no more.

Enter N ERONIS , daughter to P AIRANIUS ; King of
the Strange Marshes, two Lords, two Ladies.

Nero. My lords,
Come, will it please you walk abroad to take the pleasant air,
According to our wonted use, in fields both fresh and fair?
My ladies here, I know right well, will not gainsay the same.
First Lord. Nor we, sure, for to pleasure you, Neronis, noble dame.
Nero. Yes, yes, men they love entreaty much before they will be won.
Sec. Lord. No, princess, that hath women's natures been since first the world begun.
Nero. So you say
First Lord. We boldly may,
Under correction of your grace.
Nero. Well, will it please you forth to trace?
That, when we have of fragrant fields the dulcet fumes obtain'd,
We may unto the sea-side go, whereas are to be gain'd
More stranger sights among Neptune's waves in seeing ships to sail,
Which pass here by my father's shore with merry western gale.
First Lord. We shall your highness lead the way to fields erst spoke before.
Nero. Do so, and, as we do return, we'll come hard by the shore.
Clyo. What greater grief can grow to gripe the heart of grievèd wight
Than thus to see fell Fortune she to hold his state in spite?
Ah cruel chance, ah luckless lot, to me poor wretch assign'd!
Were ever seen such contraries by fraudulent goddess blind
To any one, save only I, imparted for to be?
T' amate the mind of any man, did ever Fortune she
Show forth herself so cruel bent as thus to keep me back
From pointed place by weather driven, my sorrows more to sack?
Ah fatal hap! herein, alas, what further shall I say?
Since I am forcèd for to break mine oath and pointed day
Before King Alexander's grace: Clamydes will be there,
And I through Fortune's cruel spite oppress'd with sickness here;
For now within two days it is that we should meet togither:
Woe worth the wind and raging storms, alas, that brought me hither!
Now will Clamydes me accuse a faithless knight to be,
And eke report that cowardliness did daunt the heart of me:
The worthy praise that I have won through fame shall be defaced,
The name of the Knight of the Golden Shield, alas, shall be erased!
Before that noble prince of might whereas Clamydes he
Will show himself in combat-wise for to exclaim on me
For breaking of my pointed day; and, Clyomon, to thy grief,
Now art thou in a country strange, clean void of all relief,
Oppress'd with sickness through the rage of stormy blasts and cold:—
Ah Death, come with thy direful mace! for longer to unfold
My sorrows here it booteth not: yet, Clyomon, do stay;
The ladies, lo, come towards thee that walk'd the other way.

Enter N ERONIS , two Lords, and two Ladies.

Nero. Come, fair dames, sith that we have in fragrant fields obtain'd
Of dulcet flowers the pleasant smell, and that these knights disdain'd
Not to bear us company, our walk more large to make,
Here by the sea of surging waves our home-return we'll take.—
My lords, therefore, do keep your way.
First Lord. As it please your grace, we shall obey.
But, behold, madam, what woful wight here in our way before,
As seemeth very sick to me, doth lie upon the shore.
Nero. My lords, let's know the cause of grief whereof he is oppress'd,
That, if he be a knight, it may by some means be redress'd—
Fair sir, well met: why lie you here? what is your cause of grief?
Clyo. O lady, sickness by the sea hath me oppress'd, in brief.
Nero. Of truth, my lords, his countenance bewrays him for to be,
In health, of valiant heart and mind and eke of high degree.
Sec. Lord. It doth no less than so import, O princess, as you say.
Nero. Of whence are you, or what's your name, you wander forth this way?
Clyo. Of small valure, O lady fair, alas, my name it is!
And for not telling of the same hath brought me unto this.
Nero. Why, for what cause, sir knight, should you not once express your name?
Clyo. Because, O lady, I have vow'd contráry to the same;
But where I travel, lady fair, in city, town, or field,
I'm callèd and do bear by name the Knight of the Golden Shield.
Nero. Are you that Knight of the Golden Shield, of whom such fame doth go?
Clyo. I am that selfsame knight, fair dame, as here my shield doth show.
Nero. Ah worthy, then, of help indeed!—My lords, assist, I pray,
And to my lodging in the court see that you him convey.
For certainly within my mind his state is much deplored.—
But do despair in naught, sir knight, for you shall be restored,
If physic may your grief redress; for I, Neronis, lo,
Daughter to Patranius King, for that which fame doth show
Upon your acts, will be your friend, as after you shall prove.
First Lord. In doing so you shall have meed of mighty Jove above
Clyo. O princess, if I ever be to health restored again,
Your faithful servant, day and night, I vow here to remain
Nero. Well, my lords, come after me; do bring him, I require.
Both Lords. We shall, O princess, willingly accomplish your desire.