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  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    A Pleasant Commodie of faire
    Em the Millers daughter of Manchester.
    With the loue of William the Conquerour.

    1Actus Primus Scaena prima.
    Enter William the Conqueror: Marques Lubeck, with a picture:
    Mountney: Manuile: Ualingford: and Duke Dirot.

    Marques. WHat meanes faire Britaines mighty Conqueror
    5So suddenly to cast away his staffe?
    And all in passion, to forsake the tylt.
    D. Dirot. My Lord, this triumph we solemnise here,
    Is of meere loue to your increasing ioyes:
    Only expecting cheerefull lookes for all.
    10What sudden pangs than moues your maiestie,
    To dimme the brightnes of the day with frownes?
    W. Conqueror. Ah: good my Lords, misconster not the cause:
    At least, suspect not my displeased browes
    I amorously do beare to your intent:
    15For thanks and all that you can wish I yeeld.
    But that which makes me blush and shame to tell,
    Is cause why thus I turne my conquering eyes
    To cowardes lookes and beaten fantasies.
    Mountney. Since wee are giltlesse, wee the lesse dismay
    20To see this sudden change possesse your cheere:
    For if it issue from your owne conceits,
    Bred by suggestion of some enuious thoughts:
    Your highnes wisdome may suppresse it straight.
    Yet tell vs (good my Lord) what thought it is,
    25That thus bereaues you of your late content,
    That in aduise we may assist your grace,
    Or bend our forces to reuiue your spirits.
    W Con. Ah Marques Lubeck, in thy power it lyes
    To rid my bosome of these thraled dumps:
    30And therefore, good my Lords forbeare a while,
    That we may parley of these priuate cares,
    Whose
    A 2