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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)

    945Enter prince Edward with his poinard in his hand, Lacie
    and Margret.
    Edward. Lacie thou canst not shroud thy traitrous thoughts,
    Nor couer as did Cassius all his wiles,
    For Edward hath an eye that lookes as farre,
    950As Lincaeus from the shores of Grecia,
    Did not I sit in Oxford by the Frier,
    And see thee court the mayd of Fresingfield,
    Sealing thy flattering fancies with a kisse,
    Did not prowd Bungay draw his portasse foorth,
    955And ioyning hand in hand had married you,
    If Frier Bacon had not stroke him dumbe,
    And mounted him vpon a spirits backe,
    That we might chat at Oxford with the frier,
    Traitor what answerst, is not all this true?
    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,
    Is not of force to bury thoughts of friendes.
    Edward. I tell thee Peggie I will haue thy loues,
    Edward or none shall conquer Margret,
    In Frigats bottomd with rich Sethin planks,
    1000Topt with the loftie firs of Libanon,
    Stemd and incast with burnisht Iuorie
    And ouerlaid with plates of Persian wealth,
    Like Thetis shalt thou wanton on the waues
    And draw the Dolphins to thy louely eyes,
    1005To daunce lauoltas in the purple streames,
    Sirens with harpes and siluer psalteries,
    Shall waight with musicke at thy frigots stem,
    And entertaine faire Margret with her laies,
    England and Englands wealth shall wait on thee,
    1010Brittaine shall bend vnto her princes loue,
    And doe due homage to thine excellence,
    If thou wilt be but Edwards Margret.
    Margret. Pardon my lord if Ioues great roialtie,
    Sent me such presents as to Danae,
    1015If Phoebus tied in Latonas webs,
    Come courting from the beautie of his lodge,
    The dulcet tunes of frolicke Mercurie,
    Not all the wealth heauens treasurie affords,
    Should make me leaue lord Lacie or his loue.
    1020Edw. I haue learnd at Oxford then this point of schooles,
    Abbata causa, tollitur effectus,
    Lacie the cause that Margret cannot loue,
    Nor fix her liking on the English Prince,
    Take him away, and then the effects will faile,
    1025Villaine prepare thy selfe for I will bathe
    My poinard in the bosome of an eatle.
    Lacie. Rather then liue, and misse faire Margrets loue,
    Prince Edward stop not at the fatall doome,
    But stabb it home, end both my loues and life.
    1030Marg. Braue Prince of Wales, honoured for royall deeds,
    Twere sinne to staine fair Venus courts with blood,
    Loues conquests ends my Lord in courtesie,
    Spare Lacie gentle Edward, let me die,
    For so both you and he doe cease your loues.
    1035Edward. Lacie shall die as traitor to his Lord.
    Lacie. I haue deserued it, Edward act it well.
    Margret What hopes the Prince to gaine by Lacies death?
    Edward. To end the loues twixt him and Margeret.
    Marg. Why, thinks king Henries sonne that Margrets loue,
    1040Hangs in the vncertaine ballance of proud time,
    That death shall make a discord of our thonghts,
    No, stab the earle, and fore the morning sun
    Shall vaunt him thrice, ouer the loftie east,
    Margret will meet her Lacie in the heauens.
    1045Lacie. If ought betides to louely Margret,
    That wrongs or wrings her honour from content,
    Europes rich wealth nor Englands monarchie,
    Should not allure Lacie to ouerliue,
    Then Edward short my life and end her loues.
    1050Margret. Rid me, and keepe a friend worth many loues.
    Lacie. Nay Edward keepe a loue worth many friends.
    Margret. And if thy mind be such as fame hath blazde,
    Then princely Edward let vs both abide
    The fatall resolution of thy rage,
    1055Banish thou fancie, and imbrace reuenge,
    And in one toombe knit both our carkases,
    Whose hearts were linked in one perfect loue,
    Edward. Edward Art thou that famous prince of Wales,
    Who at Damasco beat the Sarasens,
    1060And broughtst home triumphe on thy launces point,
    And shall thy plumes be puld by Venus downe,
    Is it princely to disseuer louers leagues,
    To part such friends as glorie in their loues,
    Leaue Ned, and make a vertue of this fault,
    1065And further Peg and Lacie in their loues,
    So in subduing fancies passion,
    Conquering thy selfe thou getst the richest spoile,
    Lacie rise vp, faire Peggie heeres my hand,
    The prince of Wales hath conquered all his thoughts
    1070And all his loues he yeelds vnto the earle,
    Lacie enioy the maid of Fresingfield,
    Make her thy Lincolne countesse at the church,
    And Ned as he is true Plantagenet,
    Will giue her to thee franckly for thy wife.
    1075Lacie. Humbly I take her of my soueraigne,
    As if that Edward gaue me Englands right,
    And richt me with the Albion diadem.
    Margret. And doth the English Prince mean true,
    Will he vouchsafe to cease his former loues,
    1080And yeeld the title of a countrie maid,
    Vnto lord Lacie.
    Edward. I will faire Peggie as I am true lord.
    Marg. Then lordly sir, whose conquest is as great,
    In conquering loue as Caesars victories,
    1085Margret as milde and humble in her thoughts,
    As was Aspatia vnto Cirus selfe,
    Yeelds thanks, and next lord Lacie, doth inshrine
    Edward the second secret in her heart.
    Edw. Gramercie Peggie, now that vowes are past,
    1090And that your loues are not be reuolt:
    Once Lacie friendes againe, come we will post
    To Oxford, for this day the king is there,
    And brings for Edward Castile Ellinor.
    Peggie I must go see and view my wife,
    1095I pray God I like her as I loued thee.
    Beside, lord Lincolne we shall heare dispute,
    Twixt frier Bacon, and learned Vandermast,
    Peggie weele leaue you for a week or two.
    Margret. As it please lord Lacie, but loues foolish looks,
    1100Thinke footsteps Miles, and minutes to be houres.
    Lacie. Ile hasten Peggie to make short returne,
    But please your houour goe vnto the lodge,
    We shall haue butter, cheese, and venison.
    And yesterday I brought for Margret,
    1105A lustie bottle of neat clarret wine,
    Thus can we feast and entertaine your grace.
    Edward. Tis cheere lord Lacie for an Emperour,
    If he respect the person and the place:
    Come let vs in, for I will all this night,
    1110Ride post vntill I come to Bacons cell.
    Exeunt.
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