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My glass the Altar was, my face the Idol;

Such was my peevish love unto my self,

That I did hate all other; such disdain

Was in my scornful eye that I suppos'd

No mortal creature worthy to enjoy me.

Thus with the Peacock I beheld my train,

But never saw the blackness of my feet;

Oft have I chid the winds for breathing on me,

And curst the Sun, fearing to blast my beauty.

In midst of this most leaprous disease,

A seeming fair yong man appear'd unto me,

In all things suiting my aspiring pride,

And with him brought along a conquering power,

To which my frailty yielded; from whose embraces

This issue came; what more he is, I know not.

VORTI.

Some Incubus or Spirit of the night

Begot him then, for, sure, no mortal did it.

MER.

No matter who, my Lord; leave further quest,

Since, 'tis as hurtful as unnecessary

More to enquire; Go to the cause, my Lord,

Why you have sought me thus?

VORTI.

I doubt not but thou knowst; yet, to be plain,

I sought thee for thy blood.

MER.

By whose direction?

PROX.

By mine;

My Art infalable instructed me,

Upon thy blood must the foundation rise

Of the Kings building; it cannot stand else.

MER.

Hast thou such leisure to enquire my Fate,

And let thine own hang carelss over thee?

Knowst thou what pendelous mischief roofs thy head,

How fatal, and how sudden?

PROX.

Pish!

Bearded abortive, thou foretel my danger!

My Lord, he trifles to delay his own.

MER.

No, I yield my self: and here before the King

Make good thine Augury, as I shall mine.

If thy fate fall not, thou hast spoke all truth,

And let my blood satisfie the Kings desires:

If thou th self wilt write thine Epitaph,

Dispatch it quickly, there's not a minutes time

'Twixt thee and thy death.

PROX.

Ha, ha, ha!

(A stone falls and kills PROXIMUS.

MER.

I, so thou mayest die laughing.

VORTI.

Ha! This is above admiration: look, is he dead?

CLOWN.

Yes, sir, here's brains to make morter on, if you'l use them.

Cousin Merlin, there's no more of this stone fruit ready to fall,

is there? I pray, give your Uncle a little fair warning.

MER.

Remove that shape of death. An now, my Lord,

For clear satisfaction of your doubts,

Merlin will show the fatal cause that keeps

Your Castle down and hinders your proceedings,

Stand there, and by an apparition see

The labor and end of all your destiny.

Mother and Uncle, you must be absent.

CLOWN.

Is your father coming, Cousin?

MER.

Nay, you must be gone.

JOAN.

Come, you'l offend him, brother.

CLOWN.

I would fain see my Brother i'law; if you were married, I might

lawfully call him so.

(Exeunt JOAN and CLOWN.)

MERLIN strikes his wand. Thunder and Lightning; two Dragons appear,

a White and a Red; theym fight a while, and pause.

VOR.

What means this stay?

MER.

Be not amaz'd, my Lord, for on the victory,

Of loss or gain, as these two Champions ends,

Your fate, your life, and kingdom all depends;

Therefore observe it well.

VOR.

I shall: heaven be auspicious to us.

(Thunder: The two Dragons fight agen, and the White Dragon

drives off the Red.

VOR.

The conquest is on the white Dragons part.

Now, Merlin, faithfully expound the meaning.

MER.

Your grace must then not be offended with me.

VOR.

It is the weakest part I found in thee,

To doubt of me so slightly. Shall I blame

My prophet that foretells me of my dangers?

Thy cunning I approve most excellent.

MER.

Then know, my Lord, there is a dampish Cave,

The nightly habitation of these Dragons,

Vaulted beneath where you would build your Castle,

Whose enmity and nightly combats there

Maintain a constant ruine of your labors.

To make it more plain, the Dragons, then,

Your self betoken anbd the Saxon King;

The vaquisht Red is, sir, your dreadful Emblem.

VOR.

Oh, my fate!

MER.

Nay, youmust hear with patience, Royal sir.

You slew the lawful King Constantius:

'Twas a red deed, your Crown his blood did cement.

The English Saxon, first brought in by you

For aid against Constantius brethren,

Is the white horror