The Complete Works of George Gascoigne; The Posies Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ...of Thebes. Then set aside these vaine forwasted wordes, And yeelde me leave to go where neede doth presse: And now good sir, get you out of these walles, Unlesse you meane to buy abode with bloude. Po. And who is he that seekes to have my bloude, And shall not shed his owne as fast as myne? Ete. By thee he standes, and thou standst him before: Loe here the sworde that shall perfourme his worde. Po. And this shall eke mainteine my rightfull cause. Joe. O sonnes, dear sonnes, away with glittring armes: And first, before you touch cache others flesh, With doubled blowcs come pierce this brest of mine. Po. Ah wretch, thou art both vile and cowarde like, Thy high estate esteemes thy life to deare. Ete. If with a wretch or coward shouldst thou fighte, Oh dastard villaine, what first moved thee With swarmes of Greekes to take this enterprise? Po. For well I wist, that cankred heart of thine Coulde safely kepe thy heade within these walles, And flee the fielde when combate should be callde. Ete. This truce assureth thee Poiynices, And makes thee bolde to give such bosting wordes: So be thou sure, that had this truce not bene, Then long ere this, these handes had bene embrude, And eke this soyle besprinkled with thy bloude. Po. Not one small drop of my bloude shalt thou spill, But buy it deare against thy cankred will. "Joe. O sonnes, my sonnes, for pittie yet refrayne. Ch. Good Gods, who ever sawe so strange a sight? True love and frindship both be put to flight. Po. Yelde villein, yelde my right which thou witholdst. Ete. Cut of thy hope to reigne in Tkebane walles, Nought hast thou here, nor nought shal ever have, Away. Pa. O aultars of my countrie soyle. Ete. Whome thou art come to spoyle and to deface. Po. O Gods, give eare unto my honest cause. Ete....