Digital Renaissance Editions

About this text

  • Title: Fair Em (Quarto 1, 1593)
  • Editor: Brett Greatley-Hirsch
  • 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
    Editor: Brett Greatley-Hirsch
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Fair Em (Quarto 1, 1593)

    The Millers daughter
    Manuile. What comes he to, to intercept my loue?
    320Then hye thee Manuile to forestall such foes.Exit Manuile
    Mountney. What now Lord Ualingford are you behind?
    The king had chosen you to goe with him.
    Ualingford. So chose he you, therefore I marueile much
    That both of vs should linger in this sort.
    325What may the king imagine of our staye?
    Mountney. The king may iustly think we are to blame:
    But I immagined I might well be spared
    And that no other man had borne my mind.
    Ualingford. The like did I: in frendship then resolue
    330What is the cause of your vnlookt for stay?
    Mountney. Lord Ualingford I tell thee as a friend,
    Loue is the cause why I haue stayed behind.
    Ualinford. Loue my Lord? of whome.
    Mountney. Em the millers daughter of Manchester.
    335Ualingford. But may this be?
    Mountney. Why not my Lord? I hope full well you know
    That loue respectes no difference of state
    So beautie serue to stirr affection.
    Ualingford. But this it is that makes me wonder most:
    340That you and I should be of one conseite
    In such a straunge vnlikly passion.
    Mountney. But is that true? my Lord: I hope you do but iest.
    Valingford. I would I did: then were my griefe the lesse.
    Mountney. Nay neuer grieue: for if the cause be such
    345To ioyne our thoughts in such a Simpathy:
    All enuie set asyde: let vs agree
    To yeeld to eythers fortune in this choyce.
    Valingford. Content say, I, and what so ere befall,
    Shake hands my Lord and fortune thriue at all.Exeunt
    350Enter Em and Trotter the Millers man with a kerchife on
    his head, and an Urinall in his hand.
    Em. Trotter where haue you beene?
    Trotter. Where haue I bene? why what signifies this.
    Em. A kerchiefe, doth it not?
    Trotter