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And the damn'd witch Artesia, sure, has done it.

PRINCE.

Poison'd! oh, look further, gentle Merlin,

Behold the Star agen, and do but finde

Revenge for mne, though it cost thousand lives,

And mine the foremost.

MER.

Comfort your self, the heavens have given it fully:

All the portentous ills to you is told.

Now hear a happy story, sir, from me

To you and to your fair posterity.

CLOWN.

Me thinks, I see something like a peel'd Onion; it makes me weep agen.

MER.

Be silent, Uncle, you'e be forc't else.

CLOWN.

Can you not finde in the Star, Cousin, whether I can hold

my tongue or no?

EDOL.

Yes, I must cut it out.

CLOWN.

Phu, you speak without book, sir, my Cousin Merlin knows.

MER.

True, I must tie it up. Now speak your pleasure, Uncle.

CLOWN.

Hum, hum, hum, hum.

MER.

So, so. -

Now observe, my Lord, and there behold,

Above yon flame-hair'd beam that upward shoots,

Appears a Dragons head, out of whose mouth

To streaming lights point their flame-feather'd darts

Contrary ways, yet both shall have their aims:

Agin behold, from the ignifirent body

Seven splendant and illustrious rays are spred,

All speaking Heralds to this Brittain Isle,

And thus they are expounded: The Dragons head

Is the Herogliphick that figures out

Your Princeley self, that here must reign a King;

Those by-form'd fires that from the Dragons mouth

Shoot East and West, emblem two Royal babes,

Which shall proceed from you, a son and daughter.

Her pointed constellation Northwest bending,

Crowns Her a Queen in Ireland, of whom first springs

That Kingdoms Title to the Brittain Kings.

CLOWN.

Hum, hum, hum.

MER.

But of your Son thus Fate and Merlin tells:

All after times shall fill their Chronicles

With fame of his renown, whose warlike sword

Shall pass through fertile France and Germany;

Nor shall his conquering foot be forc't to stand,

Till Romes Imperial Wreath hath crown'd his Fame

With Monarch of the West, from whose seven hillls,

With Conquest and contributory Kings,

He back returns to inlarge the Brittain bounds,

His Heraldry adorn'd, with thirteen Crowns.

CLOWN.

Hum, hum, hum.

MER.

He to the world shall add another Worthy,

And, as a Loadstone, for his prowess draw

A train of Marshal Lovers to his Court:

It shall be then the best of Knight-hoods honor,

At Winchester to fill his Castle Hall,

And at his Royal Table sit and feast

In warlike orders, all their arms round hurl'd,

As if they meant to circumscribe the world.

(he touches the Clowns mouth with his wand.

CLOWN.

Hum, hum, hum: oh, thatI could speak a little!

MER.

I know your mind, Uncle; agen be silent.

(strikes agen.

PRINCE.

Thou speakst of wonders, Merlin; prithee go on,

Declare at full this Constellation.

MER.

Those seven beams pointing downward, sir, betoken

The troubles of this Land, which then shall meet

With other Fate: War and Dissension strives

To make division, till seven Kings agree

To draw this Kingdom to a Hepterchy.

PRINCE.

Thine art hath made such proof that we believe

Thy words authentia: be ever neer us,

My Prophet and the Guide of all my actions.

MER.

My service shall be faithful to your person,

And all my studies for my Countries safety.

CLOWN.

Hum, hum, hum.

MER.

Come, you are releast, sir.

CLOWN.

Cousin, pray, help me to my tongue agen; you do not mean I shall

be dumb still, I hope?

MER.

Why, hast thou not thy tongue?

CLOWN.

Ha! yes, I feel it now, I was so long dumb, I could not well tell

whether I spake or no.

PRINCE.

Is't thy advice we presently pursue

The bloody Saxons, that have slain my brother?

MER.

With your best speed, my Lord;

Prosperity will kep you company.

CADOR.

Take, then, your Title with you, Royal Prince,

'Twill adde unto our strength: Long live King Uter!

EDOL.

Put the Addition to't that Heaven hath given you:

The DRAGON is your Emblem, bear it bravely,

And so live long and ever happy, styl'd

Uter-Pendragon, lawful King of Britain.

PRINCE.

Thanks, Edol, we imbrace the name and title,