University of Virginia Library

Scœna 6.

Constabarus, Babus Sonnes, and their guard.
Const:
Now here we step our last, the way to death,
We must not tread this way a second time:
Yet let vs resolutely yeeld our breath,
Death is the onely ladder, Heau'n to clime.

Babus 1. Sonne.
With willing mind I could my selfe resigne,
But yet it grieues me with a griefe vntold:
Our death should be accompani'd with thine,
Our friendship we to thee haue dearely sold.

Const.
Still wilt thou wrong the sacred name of friend?
Then should'st thou neuer stile it friendship more:
But base mechanicke traffique that doth lend,
Yet will be sure they shall the debt restore.
I could with needlesse complement returne,
Tis for thy ceremonie I could say:
Tis I that made the fire your house to burne,
For but for me she would not you betray.
Had not the damned woman sought mine end,
You had not bene the subiect of her hate:
You neuer did her hatefull minde offend,
Nor could your deaths haue freed your nuptiall fate.
Therefore faire friends, though you were still vnborne,
Some other subtiltie deuisde should bee:
Were by my life, though guiltles should be torne,
Thus haue I prou'd, tis you that die for mee.
And therefore should I weakely now lament,
You haue but done your duties, friends should die:
Alone their friends disaster to preuent,
Though not compeld by strong necessitie.
But now farewell faire citie, neuer more
Shall I behold your beautie shining bright:
Farewell of Iewish men the worthy store,
But no farewell to any female wight.
You wauering crue: my curse to you I leaue,
You had but one to giue you any grace:
And you your selues will Mariams life bereaue,
Your common-wealth doth innocencie chase.
You creatures made to be the humane curse,
You Tygers, Lyonesses, hungry Beares,
Teare massacring Hienas: nay far worse,
For they for pray doe shed their fained teares.
But you will weepe, (you creatures crosse to good)
For your vnquenched thirst of humane blood:
You were the Angels cast from heaue'n for pride,
And still doe keepe your Angels outward show,
But none of you are inly beautifide,
For still your heau'n depriuing pride doth grow.
Did not the sinnes of many require ascourge,
Your place on earth had bene by this withstood:
But since a flood no more the world must purge,
You staid in office of a second flood.
You giddy creatures, sowers of debate,
You'll loue to day, and for no other cause,
But for you yesterday did deply hate,
You are the wreake of order, breach of lawes.
You best, are foolish, froward, wanton, vaine,
Your worst adulterous, murderous, cunning, prouds
And Salome attends the latter traine,
Or rather he their leader is allowd.
I do the sottishnesse of men bewaile,
That doe with following you inhance your pride:
T'were better that the humane race should faile,
Then be by such a mischiefe multiplide.
Chams seruile curse to all your sexe was giuen,
Because in Paradise you did offend:
Then doe we not resist the will of Heauen,
When on your willes like seruants we attend?
You are to nothing constant but to ill,
You are with nought but wickednesse indude:
Your loues are set on nothing but your will,
And thus my censure I of you conclude.
You are the least of goods, the worst of euils,
Your best are worse then men: your worst then diuels.

Babus second sonne.
Come let vs to our death: are we not blest?
Our death will freedome from these creatures giue:
Those trouble quiet sowers of vnrest,
And this I vow that had I leaue to liue,
I would for euer leade a single life,
And neuer venter on a diuellish wife.