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  • Title: Fair Em (Quarto 2, 1631)
  • Editors: Brett Greatley-Hirsch, Kevin A. Quarmby
  • ISBN:

    Copyright Digital Renaissance Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: Anonymous
    Editors: Brett Greatley-Hirsch, Kevin A. Quarmby
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Fair Em (Quarto 2, 1631)

    of Manchester.
    William. Ah Marques, thy words bring heauen vnto my soule,
    And had I heauen to giue for thy reward,
    70Thou shouldst be thronde in no vnworthy place.
    But let my vttermost wealth suffice thy worth,
    Which here I vowe, and to aspire the blisse
    That hangs on quicke atchiuement of my loue,
    Thy selfe and I will trauell in disguise,
    75To bring this Ladie to our Brittaine Court
    Marques. Let William but bethinke what may auayle,
    And let mee die if I denie my ayde.
    William. Then thus: The Duke Dirot and th'Earle Dimach
    Will I leaue substitutes to rule my Realme,
    80While mightie loue forbids my being here,
    And in the name of Sir Robert of Windsor
    Will goe with thee vnto the Danish Court.
    Keepe Williams secrets Marques if thou loue him.
    Bright Blaunch I come, sweet fortune fauour me,
    85And I will laud thy name eternally.
    Exeunt.
    Enter the Miller and Em his daughter.
    Miller. Come daughter we must learne to shake off pompe.
    To leaue the state that earst beseemd a Knight,
    90And gentleman of no meane discent,
    To vndertake this homely millers trade:
    Thus must we maske to saue our wretched liues,
    Threatned by Conquest of this haplesse Ile:
    Whose sad inuasions by the Conqueror,
    95Haue made a number such as we subiect
    Their gentle neckes vnto their stubborne yoke,
    Of drudging labour and base pesantrie.
    Sir Thomas Goddard now old Goddard is,
    Goddard the Miller of faire Manchester.
    100Why should not I content me with this state?
    As good Sir Edmund Trofferd did the flaile.
    And thou sweete Em must stoope to high estate.
    To ioyne with mine that thus we may protect
    Our
    A 3