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  • Title: Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay (Quarto)
  • Editors: Christopher Hicklin, Christopher Matusiak

  • Copyright Queen's Men Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: Robert Greene
    Editors: Christopher Hicklin, Christopher Matusiak
    Peer Reviewed

    Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay (Quarto)

    The honourable historie of Frier Bacon.
    960Lacie. Truth all my Lord and thus I make replie,
    At Harlstone faire there courting for your grace,
    When as mine eye suruaid her curious shape,
    And drewe the beautious glory of her looks,
    To diue into the center of my heart.
    965Loue taught me that your honour did but iest,
    That princes were in fancie but as men,
    How that the louely maid of Fresingfield,
    Was fitter to be Lacies wedded wife,
    Than concubine vnto the prince of Wales.
    970Edward. Iniurious Lacie did I loue thee more
    Than Alexander his Hephestion,
    Did I vnfould the passion of my loue,
    And locke them in the closset of thy thoughts,
    Wert thou to Edward second to himselfe,
    975Sole freind, and partner of his secreat loues,
    And could a glaunce of fading bewtie breake,
    The inchained fetters of such priuat freindes,
    Base coward, false, and too effeminate,
    To be coriuall with a prince in thoughts,
    980From Oxford haue I posted since I dinde,
    To quite a traitor fore that Edward sleepe.
    Marg. Twas I my Lord, not Lacie stept awry,
    For oft he sued and courted for yourselfe,
    And still woode for the courtier all in greene,
    985But I whome fancy made but ouer fond,
    Pleaded my selfe with looks as if I lovd,
    I fed myne eye with gazing on his face,
    And still bewicht lovd Lacie with my looks,
    My hart with sighes, myne eyes pleaded with tears,
    990My face held pittie and content at once,
    And more I could not sipher out by signes
    But that I lovd Lord Lacie with my heart,
    Then worthy Edward measure with thy minde,
    If womens fauours will not force men fall,
    995If bewtie and if darts of persing loue,
    If
    E