University of Virginia Library

Scœn. 6.

Malindo
, Hyrvdo.
Good slaue I thanke thee, thou hast reconcil'd
The Kings distastfull and ambiguous frowne,
I must enroule thee in the Catalogue
Of my professed fauorites: contemne
The seruile clog of stooping curtesie:
Enioy what euer in the bounds of freedome.
Be idle, and securely friuolous,
Wanton or any thing that appertaines
Vnto a noble personage of worth.
Or if thou wishest a contented life,
Free from the cauils incident to worth,
Bee onely idle, euer gazing out
Of publique windowes, and obserue the pride
Of such a man, faire mounted on his cloth
And gelding dapple gray, accounting all
His footmen, till the coltish bayard stumble.
Bee whom thou pleasest, whom thou dost suppose
A blessed man is, absolutely rich.

Hy.
All this demands a furtherance, my Lord.

Ma.
Yes, and that furtherance will I bestow:
But the most noble haue their enemies,
Their opposites, antigonists; nay some
Of ragged base repute do still suruiue,
Who (notwithstanding) dare maligne the state
Of vs, though splendor to the Common-weale.
These vomit forth each scandall, each contempt,
Malice and gall together: poyson choke them;
I feele their aspicke venome here involu'd,
They wound worse then a raging Basyliske.
How bitter is the taste of contumele!
Some patience I intreate thee (heau'n) bestow
Vpon our scandalized name: Reproch,
That common aduersary of vs all,
Who are in a good way to purchase fame,
Doth dog vs to our latest winding-sheet,
Euen to the wombe of our great grand-mother,
That neuer satisfied wombe of earth.
Blame not my zealous anger, I am hot,
And carried with true valour, to the pitch
Of an exclaime so requisite: ô slaues,
And prodigies of nature, that will taint
Pure sanctity; nay, eu'n the Gods aboue,
And their incomprehended holinesse;
Their sacred essence, with like blasphemy;
If but enrag'd awhile, as they do mine.

Hy.
Who? or what man is he that dares do thus?
S'death I will not endure the sight of him.

Ma.
How? speake that againe, doe you remember well?

Hy.
S'death I will not endure the sight of him.

Ma.
No? why thou vngratefull man; must I aduance,
Must I search out a lodging for thy soule,
And make roome for thy friendship in our bosome?
Canst euer hope to bee incorporate
With my owne essence? the same man almost,
And not endure the presence, nay the sight
Of our malitious foe? recall your thought:
Each timorous fellow, that abhorres the name
Of absolute reuenge, could say no more:
What? runne away from our contemned foe?

Hy.
Il'e not endure the presence; nay the sight
Of such a slaue, yet neuer turne my heeles:
No, I'de embowell the base rogue at first,
Contriue a quicke dispatch: the villaines heart
Would I expose vpon a mountaines top,
Or offer it vpon my faulchions point,
Fresh bleeding to some wrathfull Deity,
Of vnappeas'd reuenge, in sacrifice:
I'de mixe my vrine with his reeking blood,
And pisse vpon the carkasse in despight,
Disseuer ioynts and flesh, till all were done,
Then toast his marrow in the melting Sunne:
I'de not endure the sight of him aliue.

Ma.
Couragious resolution! I commend
Such vehemence in valor: this doth vrge
And animate my purpose to be quicke,
Royall, and open-breasted to a man
Of such full vndertaking euery way.
Let vs imploy this youthfull vehemence
Betimes: a quicke bloud cals for action.
Imagine this the pauement where my foe
Hath fixt (vpon the quarrell) his firme foot;
For know that such a villaine doth suruiue,
Whom I will scourge in thee my fauorite,
Briefly you must disgrace and murder him
Whose name is hitherto conceal'd; but you
(After instruction for the stratagem)
Shall know the varlet, whom you must imagine
(Meerely for apprehension) is your selfe.
I like a ruffaine (which remember well,
You must hereafter practise) though for instance
I will now vndertake it, vnawares
I fetch away your not misdoubting heeles
From of the trampled earth, eu'n thus: then sweare
Some oath of high importance, that the aire
Shall neuer be infected with a slaue,
Who breathes out poysoned blasphemy on earth.
Sweare then that neither shining light of day
No interchanged seasons shall affoord
One minute more of blessing, that himselfe
Shall not enioy one article of breath
Beside, to aske forgiuenesse of the world:
Sweare that no planet, no supernall starre,
No Hercules, no Gigantæan arme
Shall rescue villaines from appointed harme:
Then spit him through the center of his heart,
Eu'n thus, Hirudo.

Hy.
But you iest Im'e sure.
S'death I am slaine; forbeare, ingratitude!
I perish without expectation: O.

Ma.
May my suspected agents perish euer.