Scene 3
Enter the King OF S UAVIA with the Herald before him , C LAMYDES , three Lords.
King of S . Come, Clamydes, thou our son, thy father's talk attend.
Since thou art prest thy youthful days in prowess for to spend,
And dost of us the order ask of knighthood for to have,
We know thy deeds deserve the same, and that which thou dost crave
Thou shalt possess: but first, my son, know thou thy father's charge,
And what to knighthood doth belong, thine honour to enlarge;
Unto what end a knight is made that likewise thou mayst know,
And bear the same in mind also, that honour thine may flow
Amongst the worthies of the world to thy immortal fame.
Know thou, therefore, Clamydes dear, to have a knightly name
Is, first, above all other things, his God for to adore
In truth, according to the laws prescribed to him before;
Secondly, that he be true unto his lord and king;
Thirdly, that he keep his faith and troth in every thing;
And then before all other things that else we can commend,
That he be always ready prest his country to defend;
The widow, poor, and fatherless, or innocent bearing blame,
To see their cause redressed right a faithful knight must frame;
In truth he always must be tried: this is the total charge,
That will receive a knightly name his honour to enlarge.
Clam . O father, this your gracious counsel given to me your only son,
Shall not be in oblivion cast till vital race be run!
What way doth win Dame Honour's crown, those paths my steps shall trace,
And those that to Reproach do lead, which seeketh to deface
True Honour in her regal seat, I shall detest for aye,
And be as utter enemy to them both night and day
By flying force of flickering fame your grace shall understand
Of my behaviour, noble sire, in every foreign land;
And if you hear by true report I venture in the barge
Of Wilfulness, contrary this your grace's noble charge,
Let Ignomy to my reproach, instead of Lady Fame,
Sound through the earth and azure skies the strained blast of shame,
Whereby within Oblivion's tomb my deeds shall be detain'd,
Where otherwise of Memory the mind I might have gain'd,
So that the den of Darksomeness shall ever be my chest,
Where worthy deeds prefer each wight with honour to be blest.
[ Enter, behind , C LYOMON and S UBILE S HIFT .]
King of S . Well, Clamydes, then kneel down, according as is right,
That here thou mayst receive of me the order of a knight.
Here let him kneel down , C LYOMON with S UBILE S HIFT watching in place, and as the King doth go about to lay the mace of his head, let C LYOMON take the blow, and so pass away presently .
S. Shift . Now prepare yourself, or I'll be either a knight or a knave
Clyo . Content thyself, Knowledge, for I'll quickly him deceive.
King of S . The noble order of a knight, Clamydes, unto thee
We give through due desert; wherefore see that thou be
Both valiant, wise, and hardy —
S. Shift . Away now quickly, lest we be take tardy.
King of S . Ah stout attempt of baron bold, that hath from this my son
The knighthood ta'en! My lords, pursue ere far he can be run.
Ah Clamydes, how art thou bereft of honour here!
Was like presumption ever seen, that one, a stranger mere,
Should come in presence of a prince and 'tempt, as he hath done,
To take the knighthood thus away from him who is his son?
Clam . Ah father, how am I perplex'd, till I revenged be
Upon the wretch which here hath ta'en the honour thus from me!
Was ever any one deceived of knighthood so before?
King of S . Well, Clamydes, my lords return; stay till we do know more.
Enter S HIFT , brought in by the two Lords who pursued C LYOMON .
First Lord . O king, the knight is fled and gone, pursuit prevaileth nought;
But here his slave we taken have to tell why this he wrought.
King of S . Ah cruel grudge that grieves my ghost! shall he escape me so?
Shall he with honour from my son, without disturbance, go? —
Ah caitiff thou, declare his name, and why he ventured here,
Or death shall be thy guerdon sure, by all the gods I swear!
S. Shift . Ah, and't shall please you, I know neither him, his country, nor name.
Sec Lord . What, what, sir? are not you his servant? will you deny the same?
King of S . Nay, then you are a dissembling knave, I know very well.
S. Shift . And't shall please your grace, even the very troth I shall tell:
I should have been his servant when we met togither,
Which was not full three hours before we came hither.
King of S . Well, what is his name, and of what country, declare.
S. Shift . That cannot I tell, and't shall please you: you never saw servant in such care
To know his master's name, neither in town nor field,
And what he was, he would [not] tell but the Knight of the Golden Shield.
King of S . Well, Clamydes, mark my charge, what I to thee shall say:
Prepare thyself for to pursue that traitor on his way,
Which hath thine honour reft from thee, and, either by force of hand
Or love, his name and native soil see that thou understand,
That I may know for what intent he bare this grudge to thee,
Else see thou never dost return again to visit me;
For this imports him for to be of valiant heart and mind,
And therefore do pursue thy foe until thou dost him find,
To know his name and what he is, or, as I said before,
Do never view thy father I in presence any more.
Clam . Well, father, sith it is your charge and precept given to me,
And more for mine own honour's sake, I frankly do agree
To undertake the enterprise, his name to understand,
Or never else to show my face again in Suavia land
Wherefore I humbly do desire the order to receive
Of knighthood, which my sole desire hath ever been to have:
It is the name and mean whereby true honour is achived;
Let me not, then, O father dear, thereof be now deprived,
Sith that mine honour cowardly was stoln by caitiff he,
And not by dinted dastard's deed, O father, lost by me!
King of S . Well, Clamydes, then kneel down: here in our nobles' sight,
We give to thee that art our son the order of a knight;
But, as thou wilt our favour win, accomplish my desire
Clam . Else never to your royal court, O father, I'll retire
King of S . Well, then, adieu, Clamydes dear: the gods thine aider be! —
But come, my lords, to have his hire, that caitiff bring with me.
S. Shift . Alas, and't shall please you, I am Knowledge, and no evil did pretend!
Set me at liberty; it was the knight that did offend.
Clam . O father, sith that he is Knowledge, I beseech your grace set him free;
For in these affairs he shall wait and tend on me,
If he will protest to be true to me ever.
S. Shift . Ah noble Clamydes, here's my hand, I'll deceive you never!
Clam . Well, then, father, I beseech your grace grant that I may have him
King of S . Well, Clamydes, I am content, sith thou, my son, dost crave him:
Receive him therefore at my hands. — My lords, come, let's depart.
All the Lords . We ready are to wait on you, O king, with willing heart.
[ Exeunt [ all except C LAMYDES and S UBILE S HIFT ]
Clam . Well, Knowledge, do prepare thyself, for here I do protest,
My father's precepts to fulfil, no day nor night to rest
From toilsome travel till I have revenged my cause aright
On him who of the Golden Shield now beareth name of Knight;
Who of mine honour hath me robb'd in such a cowardly sort
As for to be of noble heart it doth him not import
But, Knowledge, to me thy service still thou must with loyal heart profess.
S. Shift . Use me that all other villains may take ensample by me, if I disgress.
Clam . Well, then, come follow speedily, that him pursue we may.
S. Shift . Keep you before, and't shall please you, for I mind not to stay.
Ah sirrah Shift, thou wast driven to thy shifts now indeed!
I dream'd before that untowardly I should speed;
And yet it is better luck than I looked to have:
But, as the proverb saith, good fortune ever happeneth to the veriest knave:
And yet I could not escape with my master, do what I can:
Well, by this bargain he hath lost his new serving-man.
But if Clamydes overtake him now, what buffets will there be!
Unless it be four miles off the fray, there will be no standing for me.
Well, after him I will; but howsoever my master speed,
To shift for myself I am fully decreed.
King of S . Come, Clamydes, thou our son, thy father's talk attend.
Since thou art prest thy youthful days in prowess for to spend,
And dost of us the order ask of knighthood for to have,
We know thy deeds deserve the same, and that which thou dost crave
Thou shalt possess: but first, my son, know thou thy father's charge,
And what to knighthood doth belong, thine honour to enlarge;
Unto what end a knight is made that likewise thou mayst know,
And bear the same in mind also, that honour thine may flow
Amongst the worthies of the world to thy immortal fame.
Know thou, therefore, Clamydes dear, to have a knightly name
Is, first, above all other things, his God for to adore
In truth, according to the laws prescribed to him before;
Secondly, that he be true unto his lord and king;
Thirdly, that he keep his faith and troth in every thing;
And then before all other things that else we can commend,
That he be always ready prest his country to defend;
The widow, poor, and fatherless, or innocent bearing blame,
To see their cause redressed right a faithful knight must frame;
In truth he always must be tried: this is the total charge,
That will receive a knightly name his honour to enlarge.
Clam . O father, this your gracious counsel given to me your only son,
Shall not be in oblivion cast till vital race be run!
What way doth win Dame Honour's crown, those paths my steps shall trace,
And those that to Reproach do lead, which seeketh to deface
True Honour in her regal seat, I shall detest for aye,
And be as utter enemy to them both night and day
By flying force of flickering fame your grace shall understand
Of my behaviour, noble sire, in every foreign land;
And if you hear by true report I venture in the barge
Of Wilfulness, contrary this your grace's noble charge,
Let Ignomy to my reproach, instead of Lady Fame,
Sound through the earth and azure skies the strained blast of shame,
Whereby within Oblivion's tomb my deeds shall be detain'd,
Where otherwise of Memory the mind I might have gain'd,
So that the den of Darksomeness shall ever be my chest,
Where worthy deeds prefer each wight with honour to be blest.
[ Enter, behind , C LYOMON and S UBILE S HIFT .]
King of S . Well, Clamydes, then kneel down, according as is right,
That here thou mayst receive of me the order of a knight.
Here let him kneel down , C LYOMON with S UBILE S HIFT watching in place, and as the King doth go about to lay the mace of his head, let C LYOMON take the blow, and so pass away presently .
S. Shift . Now prepare yourself, or I'll be either a knight or a knave
Clyo . Content thyself, Knowledge, for I'll quickly him deceive.
King of S . The noble order of a knight, Clamydes, unto thee
We give through due desert; wherefore see that thou be
Both valiant, wise, and hardy —
S. Shift . Away now quickly, lest we be take tardy.
King of S . Ah stout attempt of baron bold, that hath from this my son
The knighthood ta'en! My lords, pursue ere far he can be run.
Ah Clamydes, how art thou bereft of honour here!
Was like presumption ever seen, that one, a stranger mere,
Should come in presence of a prince and 'tempt, as he hath done,
To take the knighthood thus away from him who is his son?
Clam . Ah father, how am I perplex'd, till I revenged be
Upon the wretch which here hath ta'en the honour thus from me!
Was ever any one deceived of knighthood so before?
King of S . Well, Clamydes, my lords return; stay till we do know more.
Enter S HIFT , brought in by the two Lords who pursued C LYOMON .
First Lord . O king, the knight is fled and gone, pursuit prevaileth nought;
But here his slave we taken have to tell why this he wrought.
King of S . Ah cruel grudge that grieves my ghost! shall he escape me so?
Shall he with honour from my son, without disturbance, go? —
Ah caitiff thou, declare his name, and why he ventured here,
Or death shall be thy guerdon sure, by all the gods I swear!
S. Shift . Ah, and't shall please you, I know neither him, his country, nor name.
Sec Lord . What, what, sir? are not you his servant? will you deny the same?
King of S . Nay, then you are a dissembling knave, I know very well.
S. Shift . And't shall please your grace, even the very troth I shall tell:
I should have been his servant when we met togither,
Which was not full three hours before we came hither.
King of S . Well, what is his name, and of what country, declare.
S. Shift . That cannot I tell, and't shall please you: you never saw servant in such care
To know his master's name, neither in town nor field,
And what he was, he would [not] tell but the Knight of the Golden Shield.
King of S . Well, Clamydes, mark my charge, what I to thee shall say:
Prepare thyself for to pursue that traitor on his way,
Which hath thine honour reft from thee, and, either by force of hand
Or love, his name and native soil see that thou understand,
That I may know for what intent he bare this grudge to thee,
Else see thou never dost return again to visit me;
For this imports him for to be of valiant heart and mind,
And therefore do pursue thy foe until thou dost him find,
To know his name and what he is, or, as I said before,
Do never view thy father I in presence any more.
Clam . Well, father, sith it is your charge and precept given to me,
And more for mine own honour's sake, I frankly do agree
To undertake the enterprise, his name to understand,
Or never else to show my face again in Suavia land
Wherefore I humbly do desire the order to receive
Of knighthood, which my sole desire hath ever been to have:
It is the name and mean whereby true honour is achived;
Let me not, then, O father dear, thereof be now deprived,
Sith that mine honour cowardly was stoln by caitiff he,
And not by dinted dastard's deed, O father, lost by me!
King of S . Well, Clamydes, then kneel down: here in our nobles' sight,
We give to thee that art our son the order of a knight;
But, as thou wilt our favour win, accomplish my desire
Clam . Else never to your royal court, O father, I'll retire
King of S . Well, then, adieu, Clamydes dear: the gods thine aider be! —
But come, my lords, to have his hire, that caitiff bring with me.
S. Shift . Alas, and't shall please you, I am Knowledge, and no evil did pretend!
Set me at liberty; it was the knight that did offend.
Clam . O father, sith that he is Knowledge, I beseech your grace set him free;
For in these affairs he shall wait and tend on me,
If he will protest to be true to me ever.
S. Shift . Ah noble Clamydes, here's my hand, I'll deceive you never!
Clam . Well, then, father, I beseech your grace grant that I may have him
King of S . Well, Clamydes, I am content, sith thou, my son, dost crave him:
Receive him therefore at my hands. — My lords, come, let's depart.
All the Lords . We ready are to wait on you, O king, with willing heart.
[ Exeunt [ all except C LAMYDES and S UBILE S HIFT ]
Clam . Well, Knowledge, do prepare thyself, for here I do protest,
My father's precepts to fulfil, no day nor night to rest
From toilsome travel till I have revenged my cause aright
On him who of the Golden Shield now beareth name of Knight;
Who of mine honour hath me robb'd in such a cowardly sort
As for to be of noble heart it doth him not import
But, Knowledge, to me thy service still thou must with loyal heart profess.
S. Shift . Use me that all other villains may take ensample by me, if I disgress.
Clam . Well, then, come follow speedily, that him pursue we may.
S. Shift . Keep you before, and't shall please you, for I mind not to stay.
Ah sirrah Shift, thou wast driven to thy shifts now indeed!
I dream'd before that untowardly I should speed;
And yet it is better luck than I looked to have:
But, as the proverb saith, good fortune ever happeneth to the veriest knave:
And yet I could not escape with my master, do what I can:
Well, by this bargain he hath lost his new serving-man.
But if Clamydes overtake him now, what buffets will there be!
Unless it be four miles off the fray, there will be no standing for me.
Well, after him I will; but howsoever my master speed,
To shift for myself I am fully decreed.
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