University of Virginia Library

Scena Secunda.

Enter a Hermit and his Sonne with the body of an old man.
Her.
Gently sonne lay him downe, bow him forward
Storme.
More of those waters, he stirrs, so, so,
Chafe him still while I dry his snow, which the Sea
Could not melt, 'tis he, strange accident!
But Ile not be discover'd yet.

Sonne.
He sighes there's some comfort in that:

Her.
Sad condition for thy age, when tis a joy
To heare thee sigh.

Sonne.
Good heaven: what does age abroad
At this time of his life?

Herm,
Sure he has wandred farre that has mist
A resting place in his evening, and to be pittied
When it's forc'd to seeke his Inne thus late
At night.

Sonne.
Sure he was of some religious order
By his habite?

Herm.
No matter for his habit, pull it off
And fetch him my gray coate,
Dry now is better then rich.

Sonne.
Which opinion if he had held, perhaps
His had beene dry now.

Herm.
Good heaven what a night's here, the Evening
Promis'd dangers, but not like this: Sure this Barke
Was one of that fleet that we saw off the point
Last night, if we can recall life,
He may informe us who they were.

He stirres
Son.
He stirres and sighes still.

Iudg.
Wretched, wretched Theogines, what mercy
Is this that at length has found thee?
Was my selfe onely saved of this wracke?

Her.
All else perish'd.

Iudg.
Oh that I had mist this charity too
My friend aged Pensius my brother
Brave Memnon and my sonne the hopefull;
All these my former losses have rob'd me of
My griefe, which else these poore men
Would have required of me. Oh equall heaven
Thy abus'd Oracle and breach of vowes
Thou now but begin'st to punish.
Father by thy habit thou art vow'd
Vnto the Gods, if then like me thou'lt not
Be punish't for perjury, againe deliver me
To the doome they appointed; and
In the watery wombe of the Sea
Intombe me.

Her.
Oh Sir, despaire not; they appoint us better
Then we can choose, and in our greatest distrust
Surprise us with their mercies.

Iudg.
Heare but what I am and thou'lt be affraid:
To harbour me: for where e're I goe
Their vengeance pursue me
My name Theogines the Iudge.
Blest with all that men call happinesse,
Children wealth and power, to save or destroy
Where I liv'd: And though our state forbad
Kings, all but the name I possest, my brother
They have punish'd raign'd chiefe Priest.
As I rul'd Iudge equall in our birth's,
Equall in our blessings, in our power equall
And in our faults too alike guilty, But
Not alike punish'd, for he I feare
Is lost for ever: But the fault which now
They are busie in punishing is this, 'twas
By our predecessours enjoyned as
A gratefull offering to peace, under whose protection
We found such benefits, As all our neighbour countries
Wanted; That it should not be lawfull
For any to take up Armes but in their owne defence
Nor any upon paine of perpetuall banishment
Send their Sonnes abroad lest they might bring
Home, the dang'rous customes of other countries.
This Law was made and vowes with it
Of the strictest eyes: This vow we vow'd
And to this law with oathes were bound.

Herm.
What danger could that bring you?

Iudg,
O Father, this Law we broke and the curse
Of this vow pursues us, we know we had
Each of us a sonne and daughter, which blessings
Made us covetous to have our sonnes succeede
Vs in our honors, and therefore thought to breed
'Vm abroad, where they might learne to rule.
Thus by ambition blinded he abus'd
The Oracle, and told the people 'twas
The will of the gods our sonnes should be sent
Abroad, and I affirmed if they commanded
The law assented. Then to the charge of
A fatihfull friend we gave our children
(Who were so young they knew not themselves
What they were) with a command to breed 'um
Fit to be Princes: But neither to the world
Nor to themselves discover that they were so.
Long this fault lay not hid, for the abus'd Oracle
Vnask'd complaines, and to the incens'd people
Tells our falsehood: By them we were banish'd
Never to returne, which was some mercy,
But alas! Fate was juster then the people
For our sonnes are lost, my friend dyed and
My brother in our pilgrimage by a strange accident
Divided from me,
Now ought I to hope for mercy, or wish
To outlive their losses?

Herm.
Yee are not secur'd yet that these are losses
Nor ha's any assured you they are dead,
Therefore deferre this sadnesse, and let me
Lead thee into my Cabbin.

Iudg.
O let me leane upon thy aged shoulder
For I have load will sinke me.

Herm.
Doe:
Sad time the while when I can be a stay
To a Princes Sonne, make a fire upon the shore
He makes a fire upon the Stage.
That if any wretch unfortunate be cast
Vpon this lone place they may see it, and
Repaire hither, 'twill be some comfort
To finde we have charitie.

Exeunt.