Fair Em (Quarto 1, 1593)
Scene 2
Enter the Miller, and Em his daughter.
Miller. Come daughter we must learne to shake of pomp,
To leaue the state that earst beseemd a Knight,
90And gentleman of no meane discent,
To vndertake this homelie millers trade:
Thus must we maske to saue our wretched liues,
Threatned by Conquest of this haplesse Yle:
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 Godard 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 harmeles liues, which ledd in greater port
105Would be an enuious obiect to our foes,
That seeke to roote all Britaines Gentrie
From bearing countenance against their tyrannie.
Em. Good Father let my full resolued thoughts,
With setled patiens to support this chaunce
110Be some poore comfort to your aged soule:
For therein restes the height of my estate,
That you are pleased with this deiection,
And that all toyles my hands may vndertake,
May serue to worke your worthines content.
115Miller. Thankes my deere Daughter: these thy plesant words
Transferre my soule into a second heauen:
And in thy setled minde, my ioyes consist,
My state reuyued and I in former plight.
Although our outward pomp be thus abased,
120And thralde to drudging, stay lesse of the world,
Let vs retaine those honorable mindes
Thar lately gouerned our superior state.
Wherein true gentrie is the only meane
That makes vs differ from base millers borne:
125Though we expect no knightly delicates,
Nor thirst in soule for former soueraintie.
Yet may our myndes as highly scorne to stoope
To base desires of vulgars worldlynes,
As if we were in our presedent way.
130And louely daughter, since thy youthfull yeares
Must needes admit as yong affections:
And that sweete loue vnpartiall perceiues
Her daintie subiects through euery part,
In chiefe receiue these lessons from my lippes.
135The true discouerers of a Virgins due
Now requisite, now that I know thy mynde
Somthing enclynde to fauour Manuils sute,
A gentleman, thy Louer in protest:
And that thou maist not be by loue deceiued,
140But trye his meaning fit for thy desert,
In pursuite of all amorous desires,
Regard thine honour. Let not vehement sighes
Nor earnest vowes importing feruent loue,
Render thee subiect to the wrath of lust:
145For that transformed to former sweete delight,
Will bring thy bodie and thy soule to shame.
Chaste thoughts and modest conuersations,
Of proofe to keepe out all inchaunting vowes,
Vaine sighes, forst teares, and pittifull aspectes,
150Are they that make deformed Ladies faire,
Poore wretch, and such intycing men,
That seeke of all but onely present grace,
Shall in perseuerance of a Virgins due
Prefer the most refusers to the choyce
155Of such a soule as yeelded what they thought.
But hoe: where is Trotter?
Here enters Trotter the Millers man to them: And they
within call to him for their gryste.
Trotter. Wheres Trotter? why Trotter is here.
160yfaith, you and your daughter go vp and downe weeping,
And wamenting and keeping of a wamentation,
As who should saye, the Mill would go with your wamenting.
Miller. How now Trotter? why complainest thou so.
Trotter. Why yonder is a company of yong men and maydes
165Keepe such a styr for their grist, that they would haue it before
my stones be readie to grinde it. But yfaith, I would I coulde
breake winde enough backward: you should not tarrie for your
gryst I warrant you. Here he [...]
Miller. Content thee Trotter, I will go pacifie them. Em abo[...]
170Trotter. Iwis you will when I cannot. Why looke, necke.
You haue a Mill. Why, whats your Mill without mee?
Or rather Mistres, what were I without you?
Em. Nay Trotter, if you fall achyding, I wil giue you ouer.
Trotter. I chyde you dame to amend you.
175You are too fyne to be a Millers daughter:
For if you should but stoope to take vp the tole dish
You will haue the crampe in your finger
At least ten weekes after.
Miller. Ah well said Trotter, teach her to plaie the good huswife
180And thou shalt haue her to thy wife, if thou canst get her good will.
Trotter. Ah words wherein I see Matrimonie come loaden
With kisses to salute me: Now let me alone, to pick the Mill,
To fill the hopper, to take the tole, to mend the sayles,
Yea, and to make the mill to goe with the verie force of my loue.
185Here they must call for their gryst within.
Trotter. I come I come, yfaith now you shall haue your gryst
Or else Trotter will trot and amble himselfe to death.
They call him againe. Exit.

Fair Em (Quarto 1, 1593)