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    Not Peer Reviewed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
    William. A proper coniuntion: as who should saie,
    Lately come out of the fyer,
    I would goe thrust my selfe into the flame.
    Let Maistres nice goe Saint it where she list,
    1395And coyly quaint it with dissembling face.
    I hold in scorne the fooleries that they vse,
    I being free will neuer subiect my selfe
    to any such as shee is vnderneth the Sunne.
    Zweno. Refusest thou to take my daughter to thy wife?
    1400I tel thee Duke, this rash deniall
    May bring more mischiefe on thee then thou canst avoide.
    William. Conseit hath wrought such generall dislike
    Through the false dealing of Mariana,
    That vtterly I doe abhore their sex.
    1405They are all disloyall, vnconstant, all vniust:
    Who tryes as I haue tryed,
    And findes as I haue founde,
    Will saie thers no such creatures on the ground.
    Blanch. Vnconstant Knight, though some deserue no trust
    1410Thers others faithfull, louing, loyall, & iust.

    Enter to them Valingford with Em and the Miller,
    and Mountney, and Manuile, and Elner.

    Willi. How now Lord Valingford what makes these women here?
    Ualing. Here be two women, may it please your grace,
    1415that are contracted to one man,
    And are in strife whether shall haue him to their husband.
    William. Stand foorth women and saie,
    To whether of you did he first giue his faith.
    Em. To me forsooth.
    1420Elner. To me my gratious Lord.
    William. Speak Manuile, to whether didst thou giue thy faitth?
    Manuile. To saie the troth: this maide had first my loue.
    Elner. Yea Manuile, but there was no witnesse by.
    Em. Thy conscience Manuile a hundred witnesses.
    Elner