University of Virginia Library

Sce. 5.

Enter Bermudo.
Ber.
Now sayles our wishes with a steddy course,
The tottering bark poiz'd by a seconds help
Floats safely on the Maine. But yet be not
Too credulous fond man, the ballance is uncertain,
And should that fail the shipwrack would be deadly.
Trust not too much unto a friend; Opportunity
Base mischiefs Bawd to them is too obsequious.
Brutus could pierce great Cæsars side
When Pompey could not; Mistrust then all Bermudo,
Be intimate with none: 'Tis State policy.
A Snake though foster'd in a Kings own bosome
Will grow at length as mischievous as uncontroulable,
And pierce that breast that nourish'd it.

Enter Charastas.
Cha.
Ye silent Ministers of Night
Send your Cimmerian darkness ore the world,
Choak up the Sun with fogs and misty vapours,
Let it be night eternall, or let my eyes
Drop from their hollow caverns, that I may never see again
So gross impiety.

Ber.
What fury does transport thee?

Cha.
In what foul part lies my accursed memory?
I'le tear it out, and be a lump of dead for forgetfulness.
Entombe ye just Heavens within oblivions Cave,
I would forget my self, my all, so with them
I might forget that wickedness
Which these my eyes were witnesse off.

Ber.
What art thou frantick fellow?

Cha.
Pardon dread Soveraign if my rage
Has slack't my due obedience. Fury so blinded me
I could not see those rayes which from your Majestie
Shoot in a continued lustre.
Oh Modesty where's now thy ruddy wings?
Where is that bashfull trembling which so oft
I have seen adorning Country Mansions?
Why liv'st thou now an exile in the woods
Banisht from Court and City?

Ber.
The man is mad.

Cha.
I would I were great King so this were false:
Oh Sir, your Court is spotted with such Lust
As can command a blush for ever in my cheek to think on.

Ber.
Ha! my Court?

Cha.
Yes, your Court, that Holy Temple
Where Justice and Religion hand in hand
Walks in a happy unitie, is now become
The sink of foul impietie.

Ber.
My Court become a brothell house of Lust?

Cha.
These two unhappy eyes saw two
Melting in close embraces, Kissing each other with such fervencie
As if their lips desir'd to be united and become
An individuall happiness; Alas my chaster tongue
Cannot express those amorous tricks
Which their hot appetites belcht out
To teach old Lust a new lasciviousness.

Ber.
Swell higher yet my rage;
Thou art at too low an ebb to punish such impietie,
Swell till your channels crack;
Let a generall inundation break the banks
And turn to ruine all it meets with.
Their two deaths cannot alone dissolve
This mass of wickedness: Thousands must dye
To expiate this crime, if it be true.

Cha.
'Tis too true great Sir; your eyes
Shall be witness of it, if you'l be pleas'd to follow.

Ber.
Lead on.

Exeunt.