Pray go with us unto your bed, and there
Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber.

Q. Come then, come, and be thou not disturbed

By my infirmity. I'll to my bed

And there repose till golden day doth break;
So good night.

Ladies. Your good grace, we wish you peace.

(Exeunt.)

Actus Tertius. Scena Tertia.

(Outer Chamber of the Queen.)

Ladies of the Bed Chamber.

First Lady. What noise is that! didst thou not hear a noise?

Second Lady. I heard no noise.

F. L. Hark! Twice have the trumpets sounded!
Marry, what's he that now is here at door?
Stand! in the princess' name, O stand! sir, stand!

(Enter Essex.)

Essex. Peace I prithee, peace; I am Essex' Earl. F. L. Have a care, my lord; you will wake the Queen Who is disposed to sleep.

Es. Hence, hence, away!

F. L. My lord, you are unjust, and more than so: You pass not here, lord; I'll keep this door safe.

(Stands in front of the door.)

Es. If she be up, I'll speak with her: if not, Let her lie still, and dream: by your leave,-hoa!

I know her women are about her; what,

What! barr'st thou me my way!

Queen. Hoa! come hither!

Who i' th' second chamber so wildly talks?

F. L. Your grace, 'tis the noble Earl of Essex. Q. Let him approach; call in my gentlewomen. F. L. Gentlewomen, her royal highness calls. My good lord Earl, the Queen would speak with you. (Enter Essex and Gentlewomen.)

Q. Ah, my good lord Robert, give me your hand; Come here; stand by me.

Es. O your majesty,

If I had had time to have new liveries made,

I would have bestowèd the thousand pounds

I borrowed of thee.

Q. 'Tis no matter;

This poor show doth better; this doth infer
The zeal thou hast to see me.

Es. It doth so;

It shows my earnestness in affection.

Q. It doth so.

Es. My devotion

Q. It doth, it doth, it doth.

Es. As it were, to ride day and night, and not

To deliberate, not to remember,

Not to have patience to shift me even—

Q. It is most certain.

Es. But to stand, O Queen,

Travel-stained and sweating with desire
To see thee, and thinking of nothing else,
Aye, putting all affairs in oblivion,

As if there were nothing else to be done

But to see thee.

Q. Bless thee, my blessèd boy.

Es. I would not change this oddly suited hue,
Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle Queen.
Dare I open my mind to thee, O Queen,
And discourse a matter of some moment?
Dare I presume what audacity wants,
And bashfulness forbids?

Q. My sweet prince, speak; say on.

Es. Madam, there is no simple man that sees
This jarring discord of our nobility,

This should'ring of each other in the court,
This factious bandying of their favourites,
But says it does presage some ill event.
When black envy breeds unkind division,
There comes the ruin, there begins confusion.
Q. Tush! that's but fancy, let it rest.

Other affairs must now be managed.

Draw near; wear thou this chain about thy neck,

Then, sir, withdraw, and in an hour return.

Es. Though kind and loving thou hast always been,

Thy gentle words do comfort me this day;

With griefs allayed, with sorrows eased,

I willing go but to return; farewell.

(Exit Essex.)

Q. Unpin my night-gown here; prithee, dispatch.
F. L. Your grace, shall I go fetch your silver wool?
Q. No, I'll wear my silk garb mingled with gold.

F. L. Well troth, I think your other rebato

Were better.

Q. No, I pray thee, good Meg; I'll wear this.

F. L. By my troth, your grace, it is not so good; It is too costly to wear every day.

Q. Thou art a fool; I will wear none but this. F. L. O your grace, I beseech you pardon me; I was born to speak all mirth and no matter.

Q. Your silence most offends me; to be merry Best becomes you, for out of question, girl,

You were born in a very merry hour.

F. L. Sure your highness; my mother cried, and then A star daunc'd, and under that was I born.

I like this new tire excellently well,

If the hair were a single thought browner;

And i' faith, your gown's a most rare fashion;

I saw the Duchess of Milan's new gown

That they praise so.

Q. O that exceeds they say.

F. L. By my troth's but a night-gown in respect

Of yours; 'tis cloth a gold and cuts and lac'd

With silver, set with pearles down sleeves, side sleeves,
And skirts, round underborn with a bluish

Tinsel, but for a fine, quaint, and graceful,
Excellent fashion, yours is worth ten on't.

Q. God give me grace to wear it, for my heart
Is exceeding heavy. When thou hast done this chore,
I'll give thee leave to play. Give me my robe,
Now, rubies and diamonds, now, my gloves,
And mind sweet heart, array my curled hair,
And on my head put my cap; now, my shoes.
My lord shall find us in a rich wardrobe
When he doth come. No, no perfume, I pray.

F. L. These gloves are a most excellent perfume.
Q. Look who comes here! belike it is the Earl;
Stand all aside; now show I like a Queen.

(Enter Essex.)

I trow, he shines like to the morning sun,
And doth perfume the chamber as he comes.
My gentle lord, I wish thee joy: come here
And hang thou in my arms, like loving fruit.

(Queen embraces him.)

Es. By my soul, till the tree doth die I will.
Q. My noble lord Earl, how brook'st thou the air
After thy late tossing on th' breaking seas?

Es. O madam, I thought myself in heaven;
And did salute the dear earth with my hand,

As a long parted mother with her child,

Plays fondly with her tears, and smiles, in meeting;
So weeping, smiling, I did greet the earth,

And with my hands did favor it; oh I
Did like it well, and did weep for joy

To stand upon thy kingdom once again.

Q. But, my lord, fain would I hear of Ireland:

Upon pretexts incompetent and false,

All of that land, I know, is up in arms.

Es. Madam, the wild Irish are incult dogs,

Subtle, barbarous, uncivil beggars,

Naked, bare legg'd, and ugly to behold;

Idle wenches and knaves. And they have turn'd

A paradise into a wilderness.

Than a woman, they far more fickle are,
And be full of jealousy, and novelty.
Brought up unto no calling, in a word,
They are compelled to beg, steal, or fight,
And then to be hang'd for such fight or theft.
Q. From you, my lord, their vices dissolute
No blazon needs: they already too well
Are known in every hamlet, village, town