Enter the Emperor [of Germany] with a pointless sword, next the King of 2075Castile carrying a sword with a point, Lacy carrying the 2076globe, [Prince] Ed[ward], Warr[en] carrying a rod of gold with a dove on it, 2077Ermsby with a crown and scepter, [Princess Eleanor] with [Margaret] the 2078fair maid of Fressingfield [and countess of Lincoln] on her left hand, [King] Henry, Bacon, 2079with other Lords attending. [Kneeling] Great potentates, earth's miracles for state,
15.22081Think that Prince Edward humbles at your feet,
15.32082And for these favors, on his martial
15.42083He vows perpetual homage to your selves,
15.52084Yielding these honors unto Eleanor.
[He rises.] Gramercies, lordlings. Old Plantagenet
15.72086That rules and sways the Albion diadem,
15.82087With tears discovers these conceive}d joys,
15.92088And vows requital if his men-at-arms,
15.102089The wealth of England, or due honors done
15.112090To Eleanor, may quite his favorites.
15.122091But all this while, what say you to the dames
15.132092That shine like to the crystal lamps of heaven?
If but a third were added to these two,
15.152094They did surpass those gorgeous images
15.162095That gloried Ida with rich beauty's wealth.
[Kneeling] 'Tis I, my lords, who humbly on my knee
15.182097Must yield her orisons to mighty Jove
15.192098For lifting up his handmaid to this state;
15.202099Brought from her homely cottage to the court
15.212100And graced with kings, princes, and emperors,
15.222101To whom (next to the noble Lincoln earl)
15.232102I vow obedience and such humble love
15.242103As may a handmaid to such mighty men.
[She rises.] Thou martial man that wears the Almain crown,
15.262105And you, the western potentates of might,
15.272106The Albion princess, English Edward's wife,
15.282107Proud that the lovely star of Fressingfield,
15.292108Fair Margaret, countess to the Lincoln earl,
15.302109Attends on Eleanor--gramercies, lord, for her--
15.312110'Tis I give thanks for Margaret to you all,
15.322111And rest, for her, due bounden to yourselves.
Seeing the marriage is solemnized,
15.342113Let's march in triumph to the royal feast.--
15.352114But why stands Friar Bacon here so mute?
Repentant for the follies of my youth
15.372116That magic's secret mysteries misled,
15.392118Portends such bliss unto this matchless realm.
Why, Bacon, what strange event shall happen to this land?
15.412120Or what shall grow from Edward and his queen?
I find by deep prescience of mine art,
15.432122Which once I tempered in my secret cell,
15.442123That here, where Brut did build his Troynovant,
15.452124From forth the royal garden of a king
15.462125Shall flourish out so rich and fair a bud,
15.472126Whose brightness shall deface proud Phoebus's flower
15.482127And overshadow Albion with her leaves.
15.492128Till then, Mars shall be master of the field,
15.502129But then the stormy threats of wars shall cease;
15.512130The horse shall stamp as careless of the pike;
15.522131Drums shall be turned to timbrels of delight.
15.532132With wealthy favors plenty shall enrich
15.542133The strand that gladded wandering Brut to see,
15.552134And peace from heaven shall harbor in these leaves
15.562135That gorgeous beautify this matchless flower.
15.572136Apollo's heliotropian then shall stoop,
15.582137And Venus's hyacinth shall vail her top;
15.592138Juno shall shut her gillyflowers up,
15.602139And Pallas's bay shall bash her brightest green;
15.612140Ceres's carnation in consort with those
15.622141Shall stoop and wonder at Diana's rose.
This prophesy is mystical.--
15.642143But, glorious commanders of Europa's love,
15.652144That make fair England like that wealthy isle
15.662145Circled with Gihon and first Euphrates,
15.682147With presence of your princely mightiness,
15.692148Let's march. The tables all are spread,
15.702149And viands such as England's wealth affords
15.712150Are ready set to furnish out the boards.
15.722151You shall have welcome, mighty potentates;
15.732152It rests to furnish up this royal feast
15.742153Only your hearts be frolic, for the time
15.752154Craves that we taste of naught but jouissance.
2155Thus glories England over all the west.