Scene 2 - The Appointment of Merry Report

85	But now, for fine, the rest of our intent
	Wherefore, as now, we hither are descended,
	Is only to satisfy and content
	All manner people which have been offended
	By any weather meet to be amended.
90	Upon whose complaints, declaring their grief,
	We shall shape remedy for their relief.

	And to give knowledge for their hither resort,
	We would this afore proclaimed to be
	To all our people by some one of this sort
95	Whom we list to choose here amongst all ye.
	Wherefore each man avaunce and we shall see
	Which of you is most meet to be our cryer.

	Here enters Merry Report.

	Merry Report
	[To a torch-bearer] Brother, hold up your torch a little higher!
	Now I beseech you my lord, look on me first.
100	I trust your lordship shall not find me the worst.

	Jupiter
	Why, what art thou that approachest so nigh?

	Merry Report
	Forsooth, and please your lordship it is I.

	Jupiter
	All that we know very well, but what I?

	Merry Report
	What I? Some say I am I perse I.
105	But, what manner I so ever be I,
	I assure your good lordship, I am I.

	Jupiter
	What manner man art thou, show quickly.

	Merry Report
	By god, a poor gentleman dwelleth here by.

	Jupiter
	A gentleman? Thy self bringeth witness nay,
110	Both in thy light behaviour and array!
	But what art thou called where thou dost resort?

	Merry Report
	Forsooth, my lord, master Merry Report.

	Jupiter
	Thou arte no mete man in our business
	For thine appearance is of too much lightness.

	Merry Report
115	Why, can not your lordship like my manner,
	Mine apparel, nor my name nuther?

	Jupiter
	To nuther of all we have devotion.

	Merry Report
	A proper likelihood of promotion!
	Well than, as wise as ye seem to be,
120	Yet can ye see no wisdom in me.
	But, since ye dispraise me for so light an elf,
	I pray you give me leave to praise my self.
	And for the first part I will begin
	In my behaviour at my coming in,
125	Wherein I think I have little offended,
	For sure my courtesy could not be amended.
	And, as for my suit, your servant to be
	Might ill have been missed, for your honesty;
	For as I be saved, if I shall not lie,
130	I saw no man sue for the office but I.
	Wherefore, if ye take me not or I go
	Ye must anon, whether ye will or no.
	And since your intent is but for the weathers
	What skills our apparel to be frise or feathers?
135	I think it wisdom since no man forbad it
	With this to spare a better, if I had it.
	And for my name, reporting always truly
	What hurt to report a sad matter merely?
	As by occasion, for the same intent
140	To a certain widow this day was I sent
	Whose husband departed without her witting
	(A special good lover and she his own sweeting)
	To whom at my coming I cast such a figure,
	Mingling the mater according to my nature,
145	That when we departed above all other things
	She thanked me heartily for my merry tidings.
	And if I had not handled it merrily,
	Perchance she might have taken it heavily.
	But in such fashion I conjured and bound her
150	That I left her merrier then I found her.
	What man may compare to show the like comfort
	That daily is showed by me, Merry Report?
	And for your purpose at this time meant:
	For all weathers I am so indifferent,
155	Without affection, standing so up right:
	Sunlight, moonlight, starlight, twilight, torch light,
	Cold, heat, moist, dry, hail, rain, frost, snow, lightning, thunder,
	Cloudy, misty, windy, fair, foul, above head or under,
	Temperate or distemperate: what ever it be,
160	I promise your lordship all is one to me.

	Jupiter
	Well, son, considering thine indifferency,
	And partly the rest of thy declaration,
	We make thee our servant, and immediately
	We will thou depart and cause proclamation,
165	Publishing our pleasure to every nation
	Which thing once done, with all diligence
	Make thy return again to this presence.

	Here to receive all suitors of each degree
	And such as to thee may seem most meetly
170	We will thou bring them before our majesty
	And for the rest, that be not so worthy;
	Make thou report to us effectually
	So that we may hear each manner suit at large.
	Thus see thou depart, and look upon thy charge.

	Merry Report
175	Now, good my lord god, Our Lady be with ye!
	Friends, a fellowship, let me go by ye!
	Think ye I may stand thrusting among you there?
	Nay by God, I must thrust about other gear.

	Merry Report goes out. At the end of this stanza the god hath a song played in his throne or Merry Report come in.

	Jupiter
	Now, since we have thus far set forth our purpose,
180	A while we will withdraw our godly presence
	To enbold all such more plainly to disclose
	As here will attend in our foresaid pretence.
	And now, according to your obedience,
	Rejoice ye in us with joy most joyfully,
185	And we our self shall joy in our own glory.

Jupiter needs someone to aid him in this task, in order both to publish his intent to all mortals, but also to mediate their petitions by deciding who should be granted an audience with the god, and who should have their suits reported by the officer. The only person to come forward is Merry Report, who is initially dismissed on account of his frivolous behaviour and appearance. As Merry Report points out, however, he is the only person to offer his service so Jupiter must employ him whether he wants to or not. Jupiter therefore sends Merry Report to complete the first part of his job; to proclaim his purpose on earth.

Key Research Topic

The Vice and The Fool
	A reflection upon the origins, tradition and characteristics of the Vice in the Tudor drama, and the exploration of these in performance.

Historical Context

Lists of Places in Early Modern Drama
	The listing of places (as Merry Report does shortly after his appointment as Jupiter's servant), is a common feature of fifteenth and early sixteenth-century English drama. Presented here are two examples from Heywood's The Four PP and the anonymous Play of the Sacrament.

Resources

View film stills from Scene 2

View photos of Danny Scheinmann as Merry Report

Scene 2 - The Appointment of Merry Report

Key Research Topic

The Vice and The Fool

Historical Context

Lists of Places in Early Modern Drama

Resources