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 Placere cupio LONDON Printed by Tho. Iohnson for Francis Kirkman and Henry Marsh and are to be sold at the Princes Arms in Chancery-Lane 1662 Drammatis Personae The Scene BRITTAIN AVrelius King of Brittain Vortiger King of Brittain Vter Pendragon the Prince Brother to Aurelius Donobert a Nobleman and Father to Constantia and Modestia The Earl of Gloster and Father to Edwyn Edoll Earl of Chester and General to King Aurelius Cador Earl of Cornwal and Suitor to Constantia Edwyn Son to the Earl of Gloster and Suitor to Modestia Toclio and Oswald two Noblemen Merlin the Prophet Anselme the Hermit after Bishop of Winchester Clown brother to Ione mother of Merlin Sir Nichodemus Nothing a Courtier The Devil father of Merlin Ostorius the Saxon General Octa a Saxon Nobleman Proximus a Saxon Magician Two Bishops Two Saxon Lords Two of Edols Captains Two Gentlemen A little Antick Spirit Artesia Sister to Ostorius the Saxon General Constantia and Modestia Daughters to Donobert Ione Goe-too 't Mother of Merlin A Waiting-woman to Artesia Lucina Queen of the Shades The BIRTH of MERLIN OR The Childe hath found his Father ACTUS I. Enter Donobert Gloster Cador Edwin Constantia and Modestia Cador YOu teach me language sir as one that knows the Debt of Love I owe unto their Vertues wherein like a true Courtier I have fed my self with hope of fair Success and now attend your wisht consent to my long Suit Dono. Believe me youthful Lord time could not give an opportunity more fitting your desires always provided my Daughters love be suited with my Grant Cador. 'T is the condition sir her Promise seal'd Dono. I st so Constantia Constan. I was content to give him words for oathes he swore so oft he lov'd me Dono. That thou believest him Const. He is a man I hope Dono. That 's in the trial Girl Const. However I am a woman sir Dono. The Law 's on thy side then sha't have a Husband I and a worthy one Take her brave Cornwal and make our happiness great as our wishes Cador. Sir I thank you Glost. Double the fortunes of the day my Lord and crown my wishes too I have a son here who in my absence would protest no less unto your other Daughter Dono. Ha Gloster is it so what says Lord Edwin will she protest as much to thee Edwin Else must she want some of her Sisters faith Sir Modesta. Of her credulity much rather Sir My Lord you are a Soldier and methinks the height of that Profession should diminish all heat of Loves desires being so late employ'd in blood and ruine Edwin The more my Conscience tyes me to repair the worlds losses in a new succession Modest. Necessity it seems ties your affections then and at that rate I would unwillingly be thrust upon you a wife is a dish soon cloys sir Edwin Weak and diseased appetites it may Modest. Most of your making have dull stomacks sir Dono. If that be all Girl thou shalt quicken him be kinde to him Modesta: Noble Edwin let it suffice what 's mine in her speaks yours For her consent let your fair suit go on She is a woman sir and will be won Enter Toclio. Edwin You give me comfort sir Dono. Now Toclio Toclio. The King my honor'd Lords requires your presence and calls a Councel for return of answer unto the parling enemy whose Embassadors are on the way to Court Dono. So suddenly Chester it seems has ply'd them hard at war they sue so fast for peace which by my advice they ne're shall have unless they leave the Realm Come noble Gloster let 's attend the King it lies sir in your Son to do me pleasure and save the charges of a Wedding Dinner If you 'l make haste to end your Love affairs One cost may give discharge to both my cares Exit Dono. Glost. Edwin I 'le do my best Cador. Now Toclio what stirring news at Court Toclio. Oh my Lord the Court 's all fill'd with rumor the City with news and the Country with wonder and all the bells i' th' Kingdom must proclaim it we have a new Holy-day a coming Consta. A holy-day for whom for thee Toclio. Me Madam 'sfoot I 'de be loath that any man should make a holy-day for me yet In brief 't is thus there 's here arriv'd at Court sent by the Earl of Chester to the King a man of rare esteem for holyness a reverent Hermit that by miracle not onely saved our army but without aid of man o'rethrew the pagan Host and with such wonder sir as might confirm a Kingdom to his faith Edwin This is strange news indeed where is he Toclio. In conference with the King that much respects him Modest. Trust me I long to see him Toclio. Faith you will finde no great pleasure in him for ought that I can see Lady they say he is half a Prophet too would he could tell me any news of the lost Prince there 's twenty Talents offer'd to him that finds him Cador. Such news was breeding in the morning Toclio. And now it has birth and life sir if fortune bless me I 'le once more search those woods where then we lost him I know not yet what fate may follow me Exit Cador. Fortune go with you sir come fair Mistriss your Sister and Lord Edwin are in game and all their wits at stake to win the Set Consta. My sister has the hand yet we had best leave them She will be out anon as well as I He wants but cunning to put in a Dye Exit Cador Constan. Edwin You are a cunning Gamester Madam Modest. It is a desperate Game indeed this Marriage where there 's no winning without loss to either Edwin Why what but your perfection noble Lady can bar the worthiness of this my suit if so you please I count my happiness from difficult obtaining you shall see my duty and observance Modest. There shall be place to neither noble sir I do beseech you let this mild Reply give answer to your suit for here I vow if e're I change my Virgin name by you it gains or looses Edwin My wishes have their crown Modest. Let them confine you then as to my promise you give faith and credence Edwin In your command my willing absence speaks it Exit Modest. Noble and vertuous could I dream of Marriage I should affect thee Edwin oh my soul here 's something tells me that these best of creatures these models of the world weak man and woman should have their souls their making life and being to some more excellent use if what the sense calls pleasure were our ends we might justly blame great natures wisdom who rear'd a building of so much art and beauty to entertain a guest so far incertain so imperfect if onely speech distinguish us
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 because 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 father 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 Gentlemen 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-sucker 2 Gentle He has a mother then Clown As sure as I have a sister sir 1 Gentle But his father you leave doubtful 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 I le 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 command it shall obey most peaceably but needless 't is to fetch what is brought home my journey may be staid the King is coming hither 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 sir 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 fatal 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 unto my self that I did hate all other such disdain was in my scornful eye that I suppos'd no mortal creature worthy to enjoy me thus with the Peacock I beheld my train but never saw the blackness of my feet oft have I child the winds for breathing on me and curst the Sun fearing to blast my beauty in midst of this most leaprous disease a seeming fair yong man appear'd unto me in all things suiting my aspiring pride and with him brought along a conquering power to which my frailty yielded from whose embraces 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 Lord leave further quest since 't is 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 mischief 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
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 ACT. 5. SCENE 1. Thunder then Musick Enter Ioan fearfully the Devil following her Ioan. HEnce thou black horror is thy lustful fire kindled agen not thy loud throated thunder nor thy adulterate infernal Musick shall e're bewitch me more oh too too much is past already Devil Why dost thou fly me I come a Lover to thee to imbrace and gently twine thy body in mine arms Ioan. Out thou Hell-hound Devil What hound so e're I be Fawning and sporting as I would with thee why should I not be stroakt and plaid withal will 't thou not thank the Lion might devour thee if he shall let thee pass Ioan. Yes thou art he free me and I le thank thee Devil Why whither wouldst I am at home with thee thou art mine own have we not charge of family together where is your son Ioan. Oh darkness cover me Devil There is a pride which thou hast won by me the mother of a fame shall never die Kings shall have need of written Chronicles to keep their names alive but Merlin none ages to ages shall like Sabalists Report the wonders of his name and glory While there are tongues and times to tell his story Ioan. Oh rot my memory before my flesh let him be called some hell or earth-bred monster that ne're had hapless woman for a mother sweet death deliver me hence from my sight why shouldst thou now appear I had no pride nor lustful thought about me to conjure and call thee to my ruine when as at first thy cursed person became visible Devil I am the same I was Ioan. But I am chang'd Devil Agen I le change thee to the same thou wert quench to my lust come forth by thunder led my Coajutors in the spoils of mortals Thunder Enter Spirit Claspe in your Ebon arms that prize of mine mount her as high as palled Hecate and on this rock I le stand to cast up fumes and darkness o're the blew fac'd firmament from Brittain and from Merlin I le remove her they ne're shall meet agen Ioan. Help me some saving hand if not too late I cry let mercy come Enter Merlin Mer. Stay you black slaves of night let loose your hold set her down safe or by th' infernal Stix I le binde you up with exorcisms so strong that all the black pentagoron of hell shall ne're release you save you selves and vanish Exit Spirit Devil Ha! What 's he Mer. The Childe has found his Father do you not know me Devil Merlin Ioan. Oh help me gentle son Mer. Fear not they shall not hurt you Devil Relievest thou her to disobey thy father Mer. Obedience is no lesson in your school nature and kind to her commands my duty the part that you begot was against kinde so all I ow to you is to be unkind Devil I le blast thee slave to death and on this rock stick thee an eternal Monument Mer. Ha ha thy powers too weak what art thou devil but an inferior lustful Incubus taking advantage of the wanton flesh wherewith thou dost beguile the ignorant put off the form of thy humanity and cral upon thy speckled belly serpent or I le unclasp the jaws of Achoron and fix thee ever in the local fire Devil Traitor to hell curse that I e're begot thee Mer. Thou didst beget thy scourge storm not nor stir the power of Merlins Art is all confirm'd in the Fates decretals I le ransack hell and make thy Thunder and Lighting in the Rock masters bow unto my spells thou first shall taste it Tenibrarum precis devitiarum infirorum Deus hunc Incubum in ignis eterni abisum accipite aut in hoc carcere tenebroso in sempeternum astringere mando the Rock incloses him So there beget earthquakes or some noisom damps for never shalt thou touch a woman more How chear you mother Ioan. Oh now my son is my deliverer yet I must name him with my deepest sorrow Alarum afar off Mer. Take comfort now past times are ne're recal'd I did foresee your mischief and prevent it hark how the sounds of war now call me hence to aid Pendragon that in battail stands against the Saxons from whose aid Merlin must not be absent leave this soyl and I le conduct you to a place retir'd which I by art have rais'd call'd Merlins Bower there shall you dwell with solitary sighs with grones and passions your companions to weep away this flesh you have offended with and leave all bare unto your aierial soul and when you die I will erect a Monument upon the verdant Plains of Salisbury no King shall have so high a sepulchre with pendulous stones that I will hang by art where neither Lime nor Morter shal be us'd a dark Enigma to the memory for none shall have the power to number them a place that I will hollow for your rest Where no Night-hag shall walk nor Ware-wolf tread Where Merlins Mother shall be sepulcher'd Exeunt Enter Donobert Gloster and Hermit Dono. Sincerely Gloster I have told you all My Daughters are both vow'd to Single Life and this day gone unto the Nunnery though I begot them to another end and fairly promis'd them in Marriage one to Earl Cador t'other to your son my worthy friend the Earl of Gloster Those lost I am lost they are lost all 's lost Answer me this then I st a sin to marry Hermit Oh no my Lord Dono. Go to then I le go no further with you I perswade you to no ill perswade you then that I perswade you well Gloster 'T will be a good Office in you sir Enter Cador and Edwin Dono. Which since they thus neglect my memory shall lose them now for ever See see the Noble Lords their promis'd Husbands had Fate so pleas'd you might have call'd me Father Edwin Those hopes are past my Lord for even this minute we saw them both enter the Monastery secluded from the world and men for ever Cador. 'T is both our griefs we cannot Sir but from the King take you the Times joy from us The Saxon King Ostorius slain and Octa fled that Woman-fury Queen Artesia is fast in hold and forc't to re-deliver London and Winchester which she had fortifi'd to Princely Vter lately styl'd Pendragon who now triumphantly is marching hither to be invested with the Brittain Crown Dono. The joy of this shall banish from my breast all thought that I was Father to two Children two stubborn Daughters that have left me thus Let my old arms embrace and
call you Sons for by the Honor of my Fathers House I 'le part my estate most equally betwixt you Edwin Cador. Sir y' are most noble Flor. Tromp Enter Edol with Drum and Colours Oswold bearing the Standard Toclio the Sheild with the Red Dragon pictur'd in 'em two Bishops with the Crown Prince Vter Merlin Artesia bound Guard and Clown Prince Set up our Sheild and Standard noble Soldiers We have firm hope that tho' our Dragon sleep Merlin will us and our fair Kingdom keep Clown As his Uncle lives I warrant you Glost. Happy Restorer of the Brittains fame uprising Sun let us salute thy glory ride in a day perpetual about us and no night be in thy thrones zodiack why do we stay to binde those Princely browes with this Imperial Honor Prince Stay noble Gloster that monster first must be expel'd our eye or we shall take no joy in it Dono. If that be hindrance give her quick Judgement and send her hence to death she has long deserv'd it Edol. Let my Sentence stand for all take her hence and stake her carcase in the burning Sun till it be parcht and dry and then fley off her wicked skin and stuff the pelt with straw to be shown up and down at Fairs and Markets two pence a piece to see so foul a Monster will be a fair Monopoly and worth the begging Artes. Ha ha ha Edol. Dost laugh Erictho Artes. Yes at thy poor invention is there no better torturemonger Dono. Burn her to dust Artes. That 's a Phaenix death and glorious Edol. I that 's to good for her Prince Alive she shall be buried circled in a wall thou murdress of a King there starve to death Artes. Then I le starve death when he comes for his prey and i' th' mean time I le live upon your curses Edol I 't is diet good enough away with her Artes. With joy my best of wishes is before Thy brother's poison'd but I wanted more Exit Prince Why does our Prophet Merlin stand apart sadly observing these our Ceremonies and not applaud our joys with thy hid knowledge Let thy divining Art now satisfie some part of my desires for well I know 't is in thy power to show the full event that shall both end our Reign and Chronicle speak learned Merlin and resolve my feats whether by war we shall expel the Saxons or govern what we hold with beauteous peace in Wales and Brittain Mer. Long happiness attend Pendragons Reign what Heaven decrees fate hath no power to alter The Saxons sir will keep the ground they have and by supplying numbers still inccrease till Brittain be no more So please your Grace I will in visible apparitions present you Prophecies which shall concern Succeeding Princes which my Art shall raise Till men shall call these times the latter days Prince Do it my Merlin and Crown me with much joy and wonder Merlin strikes Hoeboys Enter a King in Armour his Sheild quarter'd with thirteen Crowns At the other door enter divers Princes who present their Crowns to him at his feet and do him homage then enters Death and strikes him he growing sick Crowns Constantine Exeunt Mer. This King my Lord presents your Royal Son who in his prime of years shall be so fortunate that thirteen several Princes shall present their several Crowns unto him and all Kings else shall so admire his fame and victories that they shall all be glad either through fear or love to do him homage But death who neither favors the weak nor valliant in the middest of all his glories soon shall seize him scarcely permitting him to appoint one in all his purchased Kingdoms to succeed him Prince Thanks to our Prophet for this so wish'd for satisfaction and hereby now we learn that always Fate must be observ'd what ever that decree All future times shall still record this Story Of Merlin's learned worth and Arthur's glory Exeunt Omnes FINIS