Which knowing, he will therefore cleave to me. Not out of friendship, do I show him favour. Enter GILBERT MATTHEW. Well, honest Gilbert, are the knights not gone? GILBERT. Not yet, my lord; they urge in lieu of lives To fill your coffers. I denied them roundly. I bid thee not! But EARL. GILBERT. Lives, lives, my lord, take freely; spare the lands and burgages and moneys. The father dead, shall sleep and be forgotten; The patrimony gone,-that makes a wound That's slow to heal; heirs are above-ground ever. Well, be it so. EARL. GILBERT. The knights wait here without. They ask an audience of leave, and bring A new adherent. EARL. Give them entrance, Gilbert. GILBERT MATTHEW goes out, and returns with SIR SIMON Bette and SIR GUISEBERT GRUTT. SIR SIMON. This audience we made bold to crave, my lord, He shall be welcome. EARL. Does he wait? SIR SIMON. He does; And with your highness' leave I'll bring him to you. EARL. Think'st thou he may be steadied? [Exit. GILBERT. At this time He has great power to do your highness service; And your free pardon for all past misdeeds, EARL. Well, well, so be it. 'Tis no such urgent need we have of him; But if he be so contrite, it is well. Re-enter SIR SIMON BETTE with Occo. You're a bold man, my Lord of Occo, you That have so long borne arms against your liege, OCCO. My sole safe-conduct is the good intent Nought else impell'd me hither, and nought else, EARL. Thou shalt return in safety. Say, what news OCCO. My lord, Peace, peace! is there The only cry, except with desperate chiefs, Who are so weak that fair conditions now Would draw their followers from them to a man. EARL. Our proffer of conditions is made known Already to our good Sir Simon Bette And Guisebert Grutt. SIR GUISEBERT. My lord is pleased to grant Indemnity to all save some three hundred; OCCO. This is well! These terms are just and merciful indeed! Have still indulged-we never cry for peace But when we're out of breath; give breathing-time, And ere the echo of our cry for peace Have died away, we drown it with War! war! EARL. Ha! Artevelde? that name is ominous. I have not heard the name of Artevelde What is he made of? Of his father's metal ? GILBERT. Oh fear him not, my lord; his father's name He is a man of singular address In catching river-fish. His life hath been. OCCO. Yet is his name so worshipp'd of the people, EARL. Let him be noted. Think you, then, Sir Guy, OCCO. Let these good knights make instant speed to Ghent EARL. You counsel well. Prepare, sirs, to depart; Farewell, my you them. Sir Guisebert Grutt, farewell.-We'll send you them. [Exeunt the EARL, GILBERT MATTHEW, Occo, and SIR SIMON BETTE. AS SIR GUISEBERT GRUTT is following, he is detained by D'ARLON. One word, fair sir. D'ARLON. SIR GUISEBERT. My good lord, at your pleasure. D'ARLON. I have a foolish errand in your town. There is a damsel . . . . . . but your head is white; You will not heed me. SIR GUISEBERT. Pray proceed, my lord, I have not yet forgotten how in youth. A damsel's love, amongst the amorous, Was more than bed of down or morning posset. D'ARLON. In brief, kind sir, conveyance hence to Ghent |