Scene 2
Enter Sir C LYOMON , Knight of the Golden Shield, son to the King of Denmark, booted . — S UBILE S HIFT , the Vice, within, also booted .
Clyo . [ to S UBILE S HIFT within .] Come on, good fellow, follow me, that I may understand
Of whence thou art, thus travelling here in a foreign land;
Come, why dost thou not leave loitering there and follow after me?
S. Shift [ within ]. Ah, I am in, and't shall please you!
Clyo . In! why, where art thou in?
S. Shift . Faith, in a dirty ditch with a wanion so beray'd as it's pity to see.
Clyo . Well, I see thou art a merry companion, I shall like better of thy company:
But, I pray thee, come away.
S. Shift . [ within .] If I get out one of my legs, as fast as I may.
Ha lo! ah my buttock! the very foundation thereof doth break;
Ha lo! once again I am as fast as though I had frozen here a week.
Clyo . Why, how now! whither runn'st thou? art thou foolish in thy mind?
S. Shift . But to fetch one of my legs, and't shall please, that I have left in the mire behind.
Clyo . One of thy legs! why, look, man, both thy legs thou hast!
It is but one of thy boots thou hast lost, thy labour thou dost waste.
S. Shift . But one of my boots! Jesu, I had such a wrench with the fall,
That, I assure, I did think one of my legs had gone withal
Clyo . Well, let that pass, and tell me what thou art, and what is thy name,
And from whence thou cam'st, and whither thy journey thou dost frame,
That I have met thee by the way, thus travelling in this sort.
S. Shift . What you have requested, and't shall please, I am able to report.
What I am by my nature each wight shall perceive
That frequenteth my company by the learning I have:
I am the son of Apollo, and from his high seat I came;
But whither I go, it skills not, for Knowledge is my name,
And whoso hath knowledge, what needs he to care
Which way the wind blow, his way to prepare?
Clyo . And art thou Knowledge? of troth, I am glad that I have met with thee.
S. Shift . I am Knowledge, and have as good skill in a woman as any man whatsoever he be,
For this I am certain off, let me but lie with her all night,
And I'll tell you in the morning whether she is maid, wife, or sprite;
And as for other matters, speaking of languishes or any other thing,
I am able to serve, and't shall please, and't were great Alexander the King.
Clyo . Of troth, then, for thy excellency I will thee gladly entertain,
If in case that with me thou wilt promise to remain.
S. Shift . Nay, and't shall please ye, I am like to a woman, — say nay, and take it;
When a gentleman proffers entertainment, I were a fool to forsake it.
Clyo . Well, Knowledge, then sith thou art content my servant to be,
And endu'd with noble qualities thy personage I see,
Thou having perfect knowledge how thyself to behave,
I will send thee of mine errand; but haste thither, I crave,
For here I will stay thy coming again.
S. Shift . Declare your pleasure, sir, and whither I shall go, and then the case is plain.
Clyo . Nay, of no great importance, but being here in Suavia
And near unto the court, I would have thee to take thy way
Thither with all speed, because I would hear
If any shows or triumphs be towards, else would I not come there;
For only upon featsof arms is all my delight.
S. Shift . [ aside .] If I had known so much before, serve that serve will, I would have serv'd no martial knight. —
Well, sir, to accomplish your will, to the court I will hie,
And what news is there stirring bring word by and by.
Clyo . Do so, good Knowledge, and here in place thy coming I will stay,
For nothing doth delight me more than to hear of martial play.
Can food unto the hungry corps be cause of greater joy
Than for the haughty heart to hear, which doth itself employ
Through martial exercises much to win the bruit of fame,
Where mates do meet which thereunto their fancies seem to frame?
Can music more the pensive heart or daunted mind delight,
Can comfort more the careful corps and over-palled sprite
Rejoice, than sound of trumpet doth each warlike wight allure,
And drum and fife unto the fight do noble hearts procure,
To see in sunder shivered the lance that leads the way,
And worthy knights unbeavered in field amidst the fray?
To hear the rattling cannons roar, and hilts on helmets ring,
To see the soldiers swarm on heaps where valiant hearts do bring
The cowardly crew into the case of careful captives' band,
Where ancients brave displayed be and won by force of hand?
What wight would not as well delight as this to hear and see,
Betake himself in like affairs a fellow mate to be
With Clyomon, to Denmark King the only son and heir,
Who of the Golden Shield as now the knightly name doth bear
In every land, since that I foil'd the worthy knight of fame,
Sir Samuel, before the king and prince of martial game,
Alexander call'd the Great; which when he did behold,
He gave to me in recompense this shield of glittering gold,
Requesting for to know my name, the which shall not be shown
To any knight unless by force he make it to be known;
For so I vow'd to Denmark King, my father's grace, when I
First got his leave that I abroad my force and strength might try,
And so I have myself behaved in city, town, and field,
That never yet did fall reproach to the Knight of the Golden Shield.
Re-enter S UBILE S WIFT running .
S. Shift . God's ames, where are you, where are you? and you be a man, come away.
Clyo . Why, what is the matter, Knowledge? to tell thy errand stay.
S. Shift . Stay! what talk you of staying? why, then, all the sight will be past:
Clamydes the king's son shall be dubb'd knight in all haste.
Clyo . Ah Knowledge, then come indeed, and good pastime thou shalt see!
I will take the honour from him that dubbed I may be:
Upon a courageous stomach, come, let us haste thither.
S. Shift . Lead you the way and I'll follow; we'll be both made knights togither.
Ah sirrah, is my master so lusty or dares he be so bold?
It is no marvel, then, if he bear a shield of gold:
But, by your patience, if he continue in this business, farewell master than,
For, I promise you, I intend not very long to be his man,
Although under the title of Knowledge my name I do feign,
Subtle Shift I am called, that is most plain;
And as it is my name, so it is my nature also
To play the shifting knave wheresoever I go.
Well, after him I will — but, soft now! if my master chance to be lost,
And any man examine me, in telling his name I am as wise as a post:
What a villain was I that, ere he went, could not ask it!
Well, it's no great matter, I am but half bound, I may serve whom I will yet.
Clyo . [ to S UBILE S HIFT within .] Come on, good fellow, follow me, that I may understand
Of whence thou art, thus travelling here in a foreign land;
Come, why dost thou not leave loitering there and follow after me?
S. Shift [ within ]. Ah, I am in, and't shall please you!
Clyo . In! why, where art thou in?
S. Shift . Faith, in a dirty ditch with a wanion so beray'd as it's pity to see.
Clyo . Well, I see thou art a merry companion, I shall like better of thy company:
But, I pray thee, come away.
S. Shift . [ within .] If I get out one of my legs, as fast as I may.
Ha lo! ah my buttock! the very foundation thereof doth break;
Ha lo! once again I am as fast as though I had frozen here a week.
Clyo . Why, how now! whither runn'st thou? art thou foolish in thy mind?
S. Shift . But to fetch one of my legs, and't shall please, that I have left in the mire behind.
Clyo . One of thy legs! why, look, man, both thy legs thou hast!
It is but one of thy boots thou hast lost, thy labour thou dost waste.
S. Shift . But one of my boots! Jesu, I had such a wrench with the fall,
That, I assure, I did think one of my legs had gone withal
Clyo . Well, let that pass, and tell me what thou art, and what is thy name,
And from whence thou cam'st, and whither thy journey thou dost frame,
That I have met thee by the way, thus travelling in this sort.
S. Shift . What you have requested, and't shall please, I am able to report.
What I am by my nature each wight shall perceive
That frequenteth my company by the learning I have:
I am the son of Apollo, and from his high seat I came;
But whither I go, it skills not, for Knowledge is my name,
And whoso hath knowledge, what needs he to care
Which way the wind blow, his way to prepare?
Clyo . And art thou Knowledge? of troth, I am glad that I have met with thee.
S. Shift . I am Knowledge, and have as good skill in a woman as any man whatsoever he be,
For this I am certain off, let me but lie with her all night,
And I'll tell you in the morning whether she is maid, wife, or sprite;
And as for other matters, speaking of languishes or any other thing,
I am able to serve, and't shall please, and't were great Alexander the King.
Clyo . Of troth, then, for thy excellency I will thee gladly entertain,
If in case that with me thou wilt promise to remain.
S. Shift . Nay, and't shall please ye, I am like to a woman, — say nay, and take it;
When a gentleman proffers entertainment, I were a fool to forsake it.
Clyo . Well, Knowledge, then sith thou art content my servant to be,
And endu'd with noble qualities thy personage I see,
Thou having perfect knowledge how thyself to behave,
I will send thee of mine errand; but haste thither, I crave,
For here I will stay thy coming again.
S. Shift . Declare your pleasure, sir, and whither I shall go, and then the case is plain.
Clyo . Nay, of no great importance, but being here in Suavia
And near unto the court, I would have thee to take thy way
Thither with all speed, because I would hear
If any shows or triumphs be towards, else would I not come there;
For only upon featsof arms is all my delight.
S. Shift . [ aside .] If I had known so much before, serve that serve will, I would have serv'd no martial knight. —
Well, sir, to accomplish your will, to the court I will hie,
And what news is there stirring bring word by and by.
Clyo . Do so, good Knowledge, and here in place thy coming I will stay,
For nothing doth delight me more than to hear of martial play.
Can food unto the hungry corps be cause of greater joy
Than for the haughty heart to hear, which doth itself employ
Through martial exercises much to win the bruit of fame,
Where mates do meet which thereunto their fancies seem to frame?
Can music more the pensive heart or daunted mind delight,
Can comfort more the careful corps and over-palled sprite
Rejoice, than sound of trumpet doth each warlike wight allure,
And drum and fife unto the fight do noble hearts procure,
To see in sunder shivered the lance that leads the way,
And worthy knights unbeavered in field amidst the fray?
To hear the rattling cannons roar, and hilts on helmets ring,
To see the soldiers swarm on heaps where valiant hearts do bring
The cowardly crew into the case of careful captives' band,
Where ancients brave displayed be and won by force of hand?
What wight would not as well delight as this to hear and see,
Betake himself in like affairs a fellow mate to be
With Clyomon, to Denmark King the only son and heir,
Who of the Golden Shield as now the knightly name doth bear
In every land, since that I foil'd the worthy knight of fame,
Sir Samuel, before the king and prince of martial game,
Alexander call'd the Great; which when he did behold,
He gave to me in recompense this shield of glittering gold,
Requesting for to know my name, the which shall not be shown
To any knight unless by force he make it to be known;
For so I vow'd to Denmark King, my father's grace, when I
First got his leave that I abroad my force and strength might try,
And so I have myself behaved in city, town, and field,
That never yet did fall reproach to the Knight of the Golden Shield.
Re-enter S UBILE S WIFT running .
S. Shift . God's ames, where are you, where are you? and you be a man, come away.
Clyo . Why, what is the matter, Knowledge? to tell thy errand stay.
S. Shift . Stay! what talk you of staying? why, then, all the sight will be past:
Clamydes the king's son shall be dubb'd knight in all haste.
Clyo . Ah Knowledge, then come indeed, and good pastime thou shalt see!
I will take the honour from him that dubbed I may be:
Upon a courageous stomach, come, let us haste thither.
S. Shift . Lead you the way and I'll follow; we'll be both made knights togither.
Ah sirrah, is my master so lusty or dares he be so bold?
It is no marvel, then, if he bear a shield of gold:
But, by your patience, if he continue in this business, farewell master than,
For, I promise you, I intend not very long to be his man,
Although under the title of Knowledge my name I do feign,
Subtle Shift I am called, that is most plain;
And as it is my name, so it is my nature also
To play the shifting knave wheresoever I go.
Well, after him I will — but, soft now! if my master chance to be lost,
And any man examine me, in telling his name I am as wise as a post:
What a villain was I that, ere he went, could not ask it!
Well, it's no great matter, I am but half bound, I may serve whom I will yet.
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