SCENE II
A room in the royal palace of Cambria.
[Enter Cambria and Ragan with nobles.]
Cam. What strange mischance or unexpected hap
Hath thus deprived us of our father's presence?
Can no man tell us what is become of him,
With whom we did converse not two days since?
My lords, let everywhere light horse be sent,
And scour about through all our regiment.
Dispatch a post immediately to Cornwall,
To see if any news be of him there;
Myself will make a strict enquiry here,
And all about our cities near at hand,
Till certain news of his abode be brought.
Rag. All sorrow is but counterfeit to mine,
Whose lips are almost sealed up with grief:
Mine is the substance, whilst they do but seem
To weep the loss, which tears cannot redeem.
O, never was heard so strange a misadventure,
A thing so far beyond the reach of sense,
Since no man's reason in the cause can enter.
What hath removed my father thus from hence?
O, I do fear some charm or invocation
Of wicked spirits, or infernal fiends,
Stirred by Cordella, moves this innovation,
And brings my father timeless to his end.
But might I know, that the detested witch
Were certain cause of this uncertain ill,
Myself to France would go in some disguise,
And with these nails scratch out her hateful eyes:
For since I am deprived of my father,
I loath my life, and wish my death the rather.
Cam. The heavens are just, and hate impiety,
And will, no doubt, reveal such heinous crimes:
Censure not any, till you know the right:
Let him be judge, that bringeth truth to light.
Rag. O, but my grief, like to a swelling tide,
Exceeds the bounds of common patience:
Nor can I moderate my tongue so much,
To conceal them, whom I hold in suspect.
Cam. This matter shall be sifted: if it be she,
A thousand Frances shall not harbour her.
Amb.. All happiness unto the Cambrian king.
Cam. Welcome, my friend, from whence is thy Ambassage?
Amb.. I came from Gallia, unto Cornwall sent,
With letters to your honourable father,
Whom there not finding, as I did expect,
I was directed hither to repair.
Rag. Frenchman, what is thy message to my father?
Amb.. My letters, madam, will import the same,
Which my commission is for to deliver.
Rag. In his absence you may trust us with your letters.
Amb.. I must perform my charge in such a manner,
As I have strict commandment from the king.
Rag. There is good packing betwixt your king and you:
You need not hither come to ask for him,
You know where he is better than ourselves.
Amb.. Madam, I hope not far off.
Rag. Hath the young murderess, your outrageous queen,
No means to colour her detested deeds,
In finishing my guiltless father's days,
Because he gave her nothing to her dower
But by the colour of a feigned Amb.assage,
To send him letters hither to our court?
Go carry them to them that sent them hither,
And bid them keep their scrolls unto themselves:
They cannot blind us with such slight excuse,
To smother up so monstrous vile abuse.
And were it not, it is against law of arms,
To offer violence to a messenger,
We would inflict such torments on thyself,
As should enforce thee to reveal the truth.
Amb.. Madam, your threats no whit appal my mind,
I know my conscience guiltless of this act;
My king and queen, I dare be sworn, are free
From any thought of such impiety:
And therefore, madam, you have done them wrong,
And ill-beseeming with a sister's love,
Who in mere duty tender him as much,
As ever you respected him for dower.
The king your husband will not say as much.
Cam. I will suspend my judgment for a time,
Till more appearance give us further light:
Yet to be plain, your coming doth enforce
A great suspicion to our doubtful mind,
And that you do resemble, to be brief,
Him that first robs, and then cries, ‘Stop the thief.’
Amb.. Pray God some near you have not done the like.
Rag. Hence, saucy mate, reply no more to us;
For law of arms shall not protect thy tongue.
Amb.. Never was I offered such discourtesy;
God and my king, I trust, ere it be long,
Will find a mean to remedy this wrong.
Rag. How shall I live, to suffer this disgrace,
At every base and vulgar peasant's hands?
It ill befitteth my imperial state,
To be thus used, and no man take my part.
Cam. What should I do? infringe the law of arms,
Were to my everlasting obloquy:
But I will take revenge upon his master,
Which sent him hither, to delude us thus.
Rag. Nay, if you put up this, be sure, ere long,
Now that my father thus is made away,
She will come and claim a third part of your crown,
As due unto her by inheritance.
Cam. But I will prove her title to be nought
But shame, and the reward of parricide,
And make her an example to the world,
For after-ages to admire her penance.
This will I do, as I am Cambria’s king,
Or lose my life, to prosecute revenge.
Come, first let us learn what news is of our father,
And then proceed, as best occasion fits.
{Exeunt}
