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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    of Manchester.
    Where I may not be disturbed
    Sith God hath visited me both of my sight and hearing.
    Miller. Tell me sweete Em how came this blindnes.
    Thy eyes are louely to looke on,
    935And yet haue they lost the benefit of their sight.
    What a griefe is this to thy poore father?
    Em. Good father let me not stand as an open gazing stock to (euerie one,
    But in a place alone as fits a creature so miserable.
    Miller. Trotter lead her in, the vtter ouerthrowe
    940Of poore Goddardes ioy and onely solace.
    Exit the Miller, Trotter and Em.
    Manuile. Both blind and deafe, then is she no wife for me?
    And glad am I so good occasion is hapned:
    Now will I awaie to Manchester
    945And leaue these gentlemen to their blind fortune.Exit Manuile
    Mountney. Since fortune hath thus spitefully crost our hope,
    Let vs leaue this guest and harken after our King:
    Who is at this daie landed at Lirpoole.Exit Mountney.
    Valingford. Goe my Lord Ile follow you.
    950Well, now Mountney is gone
    Ile staie behind to solicit my loue,
    For I imagine that I shall find this but a fained inuention
    Thereby to haue vs leaue off our sutes.
    Enter Marques Lubeck and the King of Denmark
    955angerly with some attendants.
    Zweno. K. Well Lubeck well, it is not possible
    But you must be concenting to this acte?
    Is this the man so highly you extold?
    And playe a parte so hatefull with his friend?
    960Since first he came with thee into the court
    What entertainement and what countenance
    He hath receiued, none better knowes than thou.
    In recompence whereof he quites me well,
    To steale awaie faire Mariana my prisoner,
    965Whose raunsome being lately greed vpon,
    I am deluded of by this escape.
    Besides
    D 3