The birth of Merlin, or, The childe hath found his father as it hath been several times acted with great applause / written by William Shakespear and William Rowley.

ACT. 4. SCENE. 1. (Book 4)

Enter Clown, Merlin, and a little antick Spirit.

Mer.

HOw now Uncle, why do you search your pockets so? do you miss any thing?

Clown.

Ha, Cousin Merlin, I hope your beard does not overgrow your honesty, I pray remem∣ber you are made up of sisters thread, I am your mothers brother, whosoever was your father.

Merlin.

Why, wherein can you task my duty, Uncle?

Clown.

Your self, or your page it must be, I have kept no other company, since your mother bound your head to my Protectorship, I do feel a fault of one side, either it was that Sparrowhawk, or a Cast of Merlins, for I finde a Covy

of Cardecu's sprung out of my pocket.

Merlin.

Why, do you want any money U••cle? sirrah, had you any from him?

Clown.

Deny it not, for my pockets are witness against you.

Spirit.

Yes I had, to teach you better wit to look to it.

Clown.

Pray use your fingers better, and my wit may serve as it is sir.

Merlin.

Well, restore it.

Spirit.

There it is.

Clown.

I, there's some honestly in this, 'twas a token from your invisible Father Cousin, which I would not have to go inv••sibly from me agen.

Mer.

Well, you are sure you have it now Uncle?

Clown.

Yes, and mean to keep it now, from your pa∣ges filching fingers too.

Spirit.

If you have it so sure, pray show it me agen.

Clown.

Yes, my little juggler, I dare show it, ha, cleanly conveyance agen, ye have no invisible fingers have ye? 'Tis gone certainly.

Spirit.

Why sir, I toucht you not.

Mer.

Why look you Uncle, I have it now, how ill do you look to it? here keep it safer.

Clown

Ha, ha, this is fine yfaith, I must keep some other company if you have these slights of hand.

Merlin.

Come, come, Uncle, 'tis all my Art which shall not offend you sir, onely I give you a taste of it, to show you sport.

Clown.

Oh, but 'tls ill jesting with a mans pocket tho'—but I am glad to see you cunning Cousin, for now will I warrant thee a li∣ving till thou diest. You have heard the news in Wales here?

Mer

Uncle, let me prevent your care and counsel, 'twill give you better knowledge of my cunning, you would prefer me now in hope of gain, to Vortiger King of the Welch Brittains, to whom are all the Artists summon'd now, that seeks the secrets of futurity, the Bards, the Druids, Wizards, Conjurers, not an Aurasper with his

Whisling spells, no Capuomanster with his musty fumes, No Witch or Juggler, but is thither sent, To calculate the strange and fear'd event

Of his prodigious Castle now in building, where all the labors of the painful day, are ruin'd still ith' night, and to this place you would have me go.

Clown.

Well, if thy mother were not my sister, I would say she was a witch that begot this; but this is thy father, not thy mother wit, thou hast taken my tale into thy mouth, and spake my thoughts before me; therefore away, shuffle thy self amongst the Conjurers, and be a made man before thou comest to age.

Mer.

Nay, but stay Uncle, you overslip my dangers:

the Prophecies and all the cunning Wizards, have certifi'd the King, that this his Castle can never stand, till the foundation's laid with Mortar temper'd with the fatal blood of such a childe, whose father was no mortal.

Clown.

What's this to thee? If the devil were thy father, was not thy mother born at Carmarden? Diggon for that then, and then it must be a childes blood, and who will take thee for a childe with such a beard of thy face? Is there not diggon for that too Cousin?

Merlin.

I must not go, lend me your ear a while, I'le give you reasons to the contrary.

Enter two Gentlemen.

1 Gentle.

Sure this is an endless piece of work the King has sent us about!

2 Gentle.

Kings may do it, man, the like has been done to finde out the Unicorn.

1 Gentle.

Which will be sooner found I think, then this fien'd begotten childe we seek for.

2 Gentle.

Pox of those Conjurers that would speak of such a one, and yet all their cunning could not tell us where to finde him.

1 Gentle.

In Wales they say assuredly he lives, come let's enquire further.

Mer.

Uncle, your perswasions must not prevail with me, I know mine enemies better then you do.

Clown.

I say th'art a bastard then if thou disobey thine Uncle, was not Ioan Go-too't thy mother, my sister? if the devil were thy father, what kin art thou to any man alive, but Bailys and Brokers? and they are but brothers in Law to thee neither.

1 Gentle.

How's this, I think we shall speed here.

2 Gentle.

I, and unlook't for too, go ne're and listen to them.

Clown.

Hast thou a beard to hide it, wil't thou show thy self a childe, wil't thou have more hair then wit? Wil't thou deny thy mother, b••cause no body knows thy father? Or shall thine Uncle be an ass?

1 Gentle.

Bless ye friend, pray what call you this small Gentlemans name?

Clown.

Small, sir, a small man may be a great Gentleman, his fa∣ther may be of an ancient house, for ought we know sir.

2 Gentle.

Why? do you not know his father?

Clown.

No, nor you neither I think, unless the devil be in ye.

1 Gentle.

What is his name sir?

Clown.

His name is my Cousin sir, his education is my sisters son, but his maners are his own.

Merlin.

Why ask ye Gen∣t••••men? my name is Merlin.

Clown.

Yes, and a Goshawk was his father, for ought we know, for I am sure his mother was a Wind-••ucker.

2 Gentle.

He has a mother then?

Clown.

As sure

as I have a sister, sir.

1 Gentle.

But his father you leave doubt∣ful.

Clown.

Well Sir, as wise men as you, doubt whether he had a father or no?

1 Gentle.

Sure this is he we seek for.

2 Gent.

I think no less: and sir, we let you know the King hath sent for you.

Clown.

The more childe he, and he had bin rul'd by me, he should have gone before he was sent for.

1 Gent.

May we not see his mother?

Clown.

Yes, and feel her too if you anger her, a devilish thing I can tell ye she has been, Ile go fetch her to ye.

Exit.

2 Gent.

Sir, it were fit you did resolve for speed, you must unto the King.

Mer.

My Service sir, shall need no strict com∣mand, it shall obey most peaceably, but needless 'tis to fetch what is brought home, my journey may be staid, the King is coming hi∣ther with the same quest you bore before him, hark, this drum will tell ye.

Within Drums beat a low March.

1 Gent.

This is some cunning indeed ••r.

Florish. Enter Vortiger reading a letter, Proximus, with Drum and Soldiers, &c.

Vorti.

Still in our eye your message Proximus, we keep to spur our speed: Ostorius, and Octa, we shall salute with succor against Prince Vter and Aurelius, whom now we hear incamps at Winchester, there's nothing interrupts our way so much, as doth the erection of this fa∣tal Castle, that spite of all our Art and daily labor, the night still ruines.

Prox.

As erst I did affirm, still I maintain, the fien'd begotten childe must be found out, whose blood gives strength to the foundation, it cannot stand else.

Enter Clown, and Ioan, Merlin.

Vorti.

Ha! I'st so? then Proximus by this intelligence he should be found: speak, is this he you tell of?

Clown.

Yes Sir, and I his Uncle, and she his mother.

Vorti.

And who is his father?

Clown.

Why, she his mother can best tell you that, and yet I think the childe be wise enough, for he has found his father.

Vort.

Woman, is this thy son?

Ioan.

It is, my Lord.

Vor.

What was his father? Or where lives he?

Merl.

Mother speak freely and unastonisht, That which you dar'd to act, dread not to name.

Ioan.

In which I shall betray my sin and shame,

But since it must be so, then know great King, all that my self yet

knows of him, is this: In pride of blood and beauty I did live, my glass the Altar was, my face the Idol, such was my peevish love un∣to my self, that I did hate all other, such disdain was in my scorn∣ful eye, that I suppos'd no mortal creature worthy to enjoy me, thus with the Peacock I beheld my train, but never saw the black∣ness of my feet, oft have I child the winds for breathing on me, and curst the Sun, fearing to blast my beauty, in mid••t of this most lea∣prous disease, a seeming fair yong man appear'd unto me, in all things suiting m•• aspiring pride, and with him brought along a conquering power, to which my frailty yielded, from whose em∣braces this issue came, what more he is, I know not.

Vorti.

Some Incubus, or Spirit of the night begot him then, for sure no mortal did it.

Mer.

No matter who my Lo••d, leave fur∣ther quest, since 'tis as hurtful as unnecessary more to enquire: Go to the cause my Lord, why you have sought me thus?

Vorti.

I doubt not but thou knowst, yet to be plain, I sought thee for thy blood.

Mer.

By whose direction?

Prox.

By mine, my Art infalable instructed me, upon thy blood must the foundation rise of the Kings building, it cannot stand else.

Mer.

Hast thou such leisure to enquire my Fate, and let thine own hang careless over thee? Knowst thou what pendelous mis∣chief roofs thy head, how fatal, and how sudden?

Prox.

Pish, bearded abortive, thou foretel my danger my Lord, he trifles to delay his own.

Mer.

No, I yield my self: and here before the King, make good thine Augury, as I shall mine, if thy fate fall not, thou hast spoke all truth, and let my blood satisfie the Kings desires: if thou thy self wilt write thine Epitaph, dis∣patch it quickly, there's not a minutes time 'twixt thee and thy death.

A stone falls and kills Proximus.

Prox.

Ha, ha, ha.

Mer.

I, so, thou mayest die laughing.

Vorti.

Ha! This is above admiration, look, is he dead?

Clown.

Yes sir, here's brains to make morter on, if you'l use them: Cousin Merlin, there's no more of this stone fruit ready to fall, is there? I pray give your Uncle a little fair warning.

Mer.

Remove that shape of death, and now my Lord for clear satisfaction of your doubts, Merlin will show the fatal cause that keeps your fatal Castle down, and hinders your proceedings: Stand there, and by an apparition see the labor and end of all your destiny.

Mother and Uncle, you must be absent.

Clown.

Is your fa∣ther coming Cousin?

Mer.

Nay, you must be gone.

Ioan

Come, you'l offend him brother.

Clown.

I would fain see my Brother i'law, if you were married I might lawfully call him so.

Merlin strikes his wand.

Thunder and Lightning, two Dragons appear, a White and a Red, they fight a while and pause.

V••r.

What means this stay?

Mer.

Be not amaz'd my Lord, for on the victory Of loss or gain, as these two Champions ends Your fate, your life, and kingdom all depends, therefore observe it well.

Vor.

I shall, heaven be auspicious to us.

Thunder: The two Dragons fight agen, and the White Dragon drives off the Red.

Vor.

The conquest is on the white Dragons part, now Merlin faithfully expound the meaning.

Mer.

Your Grace must then not be offended with me.

Vor.

It is the weakest part I found in thee, to doubt of me so slightly, shall I blame my prophet that foretells me of my dangers? thy cunning I approve most excellent.

Mer.

Then know my Lord, there is a dampish Cave, the night∣ly habitation of these Dragons, vaulted beneath where you would build your Castle, whose enmity and nightly combats there, main∣tain a constant ruine of your labors: To make it more plain, the Dragons then your self betoken, and the Saxon King, the vanquisht Red, is sir, your dreadful Emblem.

Vort.

Oh my fate!

Mer.

Nay, you must hear with patience Royal sir, you slew the lawful King Constantius, 'twas a red deed, your Crown his blood did cement, the English Saxon first brought in by you, for aid a∣gainst Constantius brethren, is the white horror who now knit toge∣ther, have driven and shut you up in these wilde mountains, and though they now seek to unite with friendship, it is to wound your bosom, not embrace it, and with an utter extirpation to rout the Brittains out, and plant the English. Seek for your safety Sir, and spend no time to build the airy Castles, for Prince Vter armed with vengeance for his brothers blood is hard upon you, if you mistrust me, and to my words craves witness sir, then know here comes a messenger to tell you so.

Exit Mer.

Enter Messenger.

Messen.

My Lord•• Prince Vter••

Vort.

And who else sir?

Messen.

Edol, the great General.

Vort.

The great Devil, they are coming to meet us.

Messen.

With a full power my Lord.

Vort.

With a full vengeance they mean to meet us, so we are ready to their confront as full march double footing, we'l loose no ground, nor shall their numbers fright us,

If it be Fate, it cannot be withstood, We gotour Crown so, be it lost in blood.

Exeunt.

Enter Prince Vter, Edol, Cador, Edwin, Toclio, with Drum and Soldiers.

Prince.

Stay, and advice, hold drum.

Edol.

Beat slave, why do you pause? why make a stand? where are our enemies? or do you mean we fight amongst our selves?

Prince.

Nay, noble Edol, let us here take counsel, it cannot burt, it is the ••urest Garison to safety.

Edol.

Fie on such slow delays! so fearful men that are to pass over a flowing river, stand on the bank to parly of the dan∣ger, till the tide rise and then be swallowed, is not the King in field?

Cador.

Proud Vortiger, the Trator is in field.

Edwin.

The Murderer, and Usurper.

Edol.

Let him be the devil so I may fight with him, for heavens love sir march on, oh my patience, will you delay untill the Saxons come to aid his party? A Tucket.

Prince.

There's no such fear, prithee be calm a while, hark, it seems by this, he comes or sends to us.

Edol.

If it be for parly, I will drown the summons, if all our drums and hoarseness choke me me not.

Enter Captain.

Prince.

Nay, prithee hear, from whence art thou?

Cap.

From the King Vortiger.

Edol.

Traitor, there's none such: Alarum drum, strike slave, or by mine honor I will break thy head, and beat thy drums heads both about thine ears.

Prince.

Hold noble Edol, let's hear what Articles he can inforce.

Edol.

What articles, or what conditions can you expect to value half your wrong, unless he kill himself by thousand tortures, and send his carcase to appease your vengeance, for the foul murder of Constantius, and that's not a tenth part neither. Prince 'Tis true, my brothers blood is crying to me now, I do ap••a••d thy counsel: hence, be gone.

Exit Capt.

We'l hear no parly now but by our swords.

Edol.

And those shall speak home in death killing words, Alarum to the fight, sound, sound the Alarum.

Exeunt.

Alarum. Enter Edol driving all Vortigers Force before him, then Enter Prince Vter pursuing Vortiger.

Exit.

Vort.

Dost follow me?

Prince.

Yes, to thy death I will.

Vort.

Stay, be advis'd, I would not be the onely fall of Princes, I slew thy brother:

Prince.

Thou didst black Traitor, and in that vengeance I pursue thee.

Vort.

Take mercy for thy self, and flie my sword, save thine own life as satisfaction, which here I give thee for thy brothers death.

Prince.

Give what's thine own: a Traitors heart and head, that's all thou art right Lord of; the Kingdom which thou usurp'st, thou most unhappy Tyrant, is leaving thee, the Saxons which thou broughtst to back thy usurpa∣tions, are grown great, and where they seat themselves, do hourly seek to blot the Records of old Brute and Brittains, from memory of men, calling themselves Hingest-men, and Hingest-land, that no more the Brittain name be known; all this by thee, thou base de∣stroyer of thy Native Countrey.

Enter Edol.

Edol.

What, stand you talking? Fight.

Prince.

Hold Edol.

Ed.

Hold out my sword, and listen not to King or Princes word, There's work enough abroad, this task is mine.

Alarum.

Prince.

Prosper thy Valour, as thy Vertues shine.

Exeunt.

Enter Cador and Edwin.

Cador.

Bright Victory her self fights on our part, and buckled in a golden Beaver, rides triumphantly before us.

Edw.

Justice is with her, who ever takes the true and rightful cause, let us not lag behinde them.

Enter Prince.

Cador.

Here comes the Prince, how goes our fortunes Sir?

Prince.

Hopeful, and fair, brave Cador, proud Vortiger beat down by Edols sword, was rescu'd by the following multitudes, and now for safety's fled unto a Castle here standing on the hill: but I have sent a cry of hounds as violent as hunger, to break his stony walls, or if they fail,

We'l send in wilde fire to dislodge him thence, Or burn them all with flaming violence.

Exeunt.

Blazing Star appears

Florish Tromp. Enter Prince, Vter, Edol, Cador, Edwin, Toclio with with Drum and Soldiers.

Prin.

Look Edol: still this fiery exalation shoots his frightful hor∣rors on th'amazed world, see in the beam that 'bout his flaming ring, a Dragons head appears, from out whose mouth two flaming flakes of fire, stretch East and West.

Edol.

And see, from forth the body of the Star, seven smaller blazing streams, directly point on this affrighted kingdom.

Cador.

'Tis a dreadful Meteor.

Edwin.

And doth portend strange fears.

Prince.

This is no Crown of Peace, this angry fire hath something more to burn then Vortiger; if it alone were pointed at his fall; it would pull in his blasing Piramids, and be appeas'd, for Vortiger is dead.

Edol.

These never come without their large effects.

Prince.

The will of heaven be done, our sorrows this we want, a mistick Pithon to expound this fiery Oracle.

Cador.

Oh no my Lord, you have the best that ever Brittain bred, and durst I prophecy of your Prophet sir, none like him shall suc∣ceed him.

Prince.

You mean Merlin.

Cador.

True sir, wonderous Merlin, he met us in the way, and did foretell the for∣tunes of this day successful to us.

Edwin.

He's sure about the Camp, send for him sir.

Cador.

He told the bloody Vortiger his fate, and truely too, and if I could give faith to any Wizards skill, it should be Merlin.

Enter Merlin and Clown.

Cador.

And see my Lord, as if to satisfie your Highness pleasure, Merlin is come.

Prince.

See, the Comet's in his eye, disturb him nor.

Edol.

With what a piercing judgement he beholds it!

Mer.

Whither will Heaven and Fate translate this King∣dom? what revolutions, rise and fall of Nations

Is figur'd yonder in that Star, that sings The change of Brittains State, and death of Kings? Ha! He's dead already, how swiftly mischief creeps! Thy fatal end sweet Prince, even Merlin weeps.

Prince.

He does foresee some evil, his action shows it, for e're he does expound, he weeps the story.

Edol.

There's another weeps too. Sirrah dost thou understand what thou lamentst for?

Clown.

No sir, I am his Uncle, and weep because my Cousin weeps, flesh and blood cannot forbear.

Prince.

Gentle Merlin, speak thy prophetick knowledge, in explanation of this fiery hor∣ror, from which we gather from thy mournful tears, much sorrow

and disaster in it.

Mer.

'Tis true fair Prince, but you must hear the rest with patience.

Mer.

I vow I will, tho' it portend my ruine.

Mer.

There's no such fear, this brought the fiery fall of Vortiger, and yet not him alone, this day is faln a King more good, the glory of our Land, the milde, and gentle, sweet Aurelius.

Prince.

Our brother!

Edwin.

Forefend it heaven.

Mer.

He at his Palace Royal sir at Winchester, this day is dead and poison'd.

Cador.

By whom? Or what means Merlin?

Mer.

By the Traiterous Saxons.

Edol.

I ever fear'd as much: that devil Os••orius, and the damn'd witch Artesia, sure has done it.

Prince.

Poison'd! oh look further gentle Merlin, behold the Star agen, and do but finde revenge for me, though it cost thousand lives, and mine the foremost.

Mer.

Comfort your self, the heavens have given it fully, all the portentious ills to you is told, now hear a happy story sir from me, to you and to your fair po∣sterity.

Clown.

Me thinks I see something like a peel'd Oinon, it makes me weep agen.

Mer.

Be silent Uncle, you'l be forc't else.

Clown.

Can you not finde in the Star, Cousin, whether I can hold my tongue or no?

Edol.

Yes, I must cut it out.

Clown.

Phu, you speak without book sir, my Cousin Merlin knows.

Mer.

True, I must tie it up, now speak your pleasure Uncle.

Clown.

Hum, hum, hum, hum.

Mer.

So, so—now observe my Lord, and there behold above yo•• flame-hair'd beam that upward shoots, appears a Dragons head, out of whose mouth two streaming lights point their flame-feather'd darts contrary ways, yet both shall have their aims: Again behold from the igni∣firent body, seven splendant and illustrious rays are spred, all speaking Heralds to this Brittain Isle, and thus they are ex∣pounded: The Dragons head is the Herogliphick that figures out your Princely self, that here must reign a King, those by-form'd fires that from the Dragons mouth shoot East and West, emblem two Royal babes, which shall proceed from you, a son and daugh∣ter: her pointed constellation Northwest bending,

Crowns Her a Queen in Ireland, of whom first springs

That Kingdoms Title to the Brittain Kings.

Clown.

Hum, hum, hum.

Mer.

But of your Son, thus Fate and Merlin tells, all after times shall fill their Chronicles with fame of his renown, whose warlike sword shall pass through fertile France

and Germany, nor shall his conjuring foot be forc't to stand, till Romes Imperial Wreath hath crown'd his Fame with Monarch of the West, from whose seven hills with Conquest, and contributory Kings, he back returns to inlarge the Brittain bounds, his Heral∣dry adorn'd with thirteen Crowns.

Clown.

Hum, hum, hum▪

Mer.

He to the world shall add another Worthy, and as a Load∣stone for his prowess, draw a train of Marshal Lovers to his Court: It shall be then the best of Knight-hoods honor, at Winchester to fill his Castle Hall, and at his Royal Table sit and feast in warlike orders, all their arms round hurl'd, as if they meant to circumscribe the world.

[he touches the Clowns mouth with his wand

Clown.

Hum, hum, hum, oh that I could speak a little.

Mer.

I know your mind Uncle, agen be silent.

[strikes agen

Prince.

Thou speakst of wonders Merlin, prithee go on, declare at full this Constellation.

Mer.

Those seven beams pointing downward, sir, betoken the troubles of this Land, which then shall meet with other Fate; War and Dissension strives to make divi∣sion, till seven Kings agree to draw this Kingdom to a Hepterchy.

Prince.

Thine art hath made such proof, that we believe thy words authentical, be ever neer us, my Prophet, and the Guide of all my actions.

Mer.

My service shall be faithful to your per∣son, and all my studies for my Countries safety.

Clown.

Hum, hum, hum.

Mer.

Come, you are releast, sir.

Clown.

Cousin, pray help me to my tongue agen, you do not mean I shall be dumb still I hope?

Mer.

Why, hast thou not thy tongue?

Clown.

Ha! yes, I feel it now, I was so long dumb, I could not well tell whether I spake or no.

Prince.

I'st thy advice we pre∣sently pursue the bloody Saxons, that have slain my brother?

Mer.

With your best speed, my Lord, Prosperity will keep you company.

Cador.

Take then your Title with you, Royal Prince, 'twill adde unto our strength, Long live King Uter.

Edol.

Put the Addition to't that Heaven hath given you: The DRAGON is your Emblem, bear it bravely, and so long live and ever happy styl'd Vter-Pendragon, lawful King of Brittain.

Prince.

Thanks Edol, we imbrace the name and title, and in our Sheild and Standard shall the figure of a Red Dragon still be born before us, to fright the bloody Saxons. Oh my Aurelius, sweet rest thy soul; let thy disturbed spirit

Expect revenge, think what it would, it hath, The Dragon's coming in his fiery wrath.

Exeunt.