University of Virginia Library

SCEN. 6.

Enter Basilius the Patriarch, and Monobius.
Bas.
Let's now renew our old acquaintance, friend,
It is an age since our last interview,

Mon.
But Sir, I come to chide your Holiness
That earth you practise, and yet profess a heaven.

Bas.
Unriddle your own words.

Mon.
Y'ave bin of late,
An over-active stickler in the Nation.

Bas.
Earth's but my Inne, but I make heaven my home,

Mon.
I fear you oft mistake your Inn for home,
You are not stor'd with forrein observations.

Bas.
We are enabled by our educations;
This does admit us to a general knowledge,
For Schollership doth fit us for all callings.

Mon.
None can attend two callings at one time.

Bas.
Yes if subordinate, as means and end.

Mon.
But these are opposite, the Church and State.

Bas:
Hippocrates his twins did never meet
With a more mutual love then these agree,
Do you advance State-matters 'bove our reach

Mon.
I stoop them far beneath your cognizance,
Such medling draws the Laities envie on us.

Bas.
Such envie keeps the Laity more in awe.

Mon.
But you should rather labour for their love.

Bas.
Love without awe proves seldome lasting to us,
But to the point, with secular affairs
Meddle we may, but must not be intangled.

Mon.
The one cannot be done without the other.

Bas.
As if no man could feed but he must furfet.

Mon.
This World's a Witch, and quickly it will charm us.

Bas.
I know t'arm my soul with Counterspels,
Would you shut a Divine out of the State?

Mon.
No, in the State I would confine his work
So far as to consult, not act therein.

Bas.
Hence would a lazie Clergy soon proceed

Mon.
State-laziness doth breed Church-industry,
“Mark Clergy-Sticklers on the Civil Stage,
“A quiet death doth seldome crown their Age.

Bas.
Proofs from th'event, men do esteem for Ciphers,

Mon.
Ciphers with figures joyn'd make numbers,
John Golden-mouth long since your Predecessor,
Did onely pray and preach, and read, and write,
Which made him happy spight of all his foes.

Bas.
Why he was twice expel'd this place (poor man)

Mon.
And twice restor'd again with greater grace.

Bas.
He lost his place for want of policy,

Mon.
But gain'd his place with store of piety.

Bas.
Great Hippo's Prelate, through the world renown'd,
For's Piety and Schollership,
Kept in his House a Court of Conscience where
When he had din'd he gave his neighbours audience.
Redrest each grievance, and becalm'd each strife,
Medled in state, and was a Civill Judge.

Mon.
Hereby he worthily did raise his fame,

Bas.
You blame in me, what you do praise in him,

Mon.
You cause dissentions, but he did compose them,
You make th'wound wider, which he sought to close.

Bas.
You envy at the splendor of our height,

Mon.
Just as I do to see a Gloe worm shine.

Bas.
Your envie's at the Lustre of our place.

Mon.
I pitty from my heart your woful condition.
I will not turn my Cowl into your Mitre.

Exit Monobius
Bas.
You kick down pride, with greater pride;
Farewel, Farewell.