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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    William. Ah Marques, thy wordes bring heauen vnto my soule,
    And had I heauen to giue for thy reward:
    70Thou shouldst be thronde in no vnworthie place.
    But let my vttermost wealth suffice thy worth,
    Which here I vowe, and to aspire the blisse
    That hangs on quicke atchiuement of my loue,
    Thy selfe and I will traueile in disguise,
    75To bring this Ladie to our Brittaine Court.
    Marques. Let William but be thinke what may auayle,
    And let me die if I denie my ayde.
    William. Then thus the Duke Dirot and Therle Dimach
    Will I leaue substitutes to rule my Realme,
    80While mightie loue forbids my being here,
    And in the name of Sir Robert of Windsor
    Will goe with thee vnto the Danish Court.
    Keepe Williams secretes Marques if thou loue him.
    Bright Blaunch I come, sweete fortune fauour me,
    85And I will laud thy name eternally.
    Exeunt.
    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
    A 3