Andronicus Comnenius A Tragedy |
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 | Andronicus Comnenius |  |
SCE. III.
Enter a Rabble of Citizens.1. Cit.
Come neighbour, come—It is not to be endur'd.
2. Cit.
No Troth is it not—'Twould make
a Man a whore, to consider it seriously.
7. Cit.
I tould you this before—You might have harken'd to a fool.
3. Cit.
I neighbour, would you had:
5. Cit.
Hang would—Lets be doing:
6. Cit.
I but what neighbour? What?
4. Cit.
Any thing—Any thing—I am for any thing:
Omnes.
Liberty—Liberty—Liberty—
A Hollow.
1. Cit.
Why should this Andronicus Lord it over us any longer?
2. Cit.
He is a very Tyrant, that's certain.
5. Cit.
Troth all I got by his Government, is, that where
I had a little money before, now I have none at all.
6. Cit.
Nor I neither—The Devil might have danc'd in
my pock it this twelve-month, and not broke his shins against
one single cross:—Call you me this assisting?
5. Cit.
It seems Neighbour it is not altogether so plain
as you made it:
1. Cit.
What say you Gentlemen:—There's Isacius
Angelus—And as I have heard say, has as good a Title
to the Crown as another Man.
2. Cit.
Constantinus appointed us to have met him
her—'O my word they say he is a pretty Gentelman;
4. Cit.
I wonder they should stay so long.
6. Cit.
Tell me of none of your pretty Gentelmen;—I
am for Liberty.
Liberty—Liberty—Liberty:
A Hollow
1. Cit.
But hark you neighbours—We must have some
Government.
2. Cit.
Time enough to think of that hereafter;—Let's
destroy this first.
3. Cit.
What think you of Aristotocracy?
4. Cit.
No, no, no—Oligasky for my money.
5. Cit.
By your favour neighbour, I should think Demococracy.
6. Cit.
And with your favour too; why not Anarchy?
2. Cit.
Any thing, any thing, but what we are:
Omnes.
Liberty—Liberty—Liberty—
A Hollow
Enter Philo
Ph.
Save you Gent.—What's the business?—'Tis not
Midsomer Moon I hope?
3. Cit.
Suppose it be—What then?
Ph.
Nothing good Gent.—But if it be, I hope it will not last all the year.
2. Cit.
Then we shall have another in's room—But
what's that to you?
Ph.
Pray Gent.—you need not be so stout—I could
tell you news deserv'd a better face.
Omnes.
What's that? what's that?
Ph.
The Emperor has thought upon a device, that no
Freeman of Constantinople, shall ever want money, unless
it be his own fault;
5. Cit.
That would do well.
6. Cit.
Yes o'my conscience neighbour would it:
Omnes.
But how? But how?
Ph.
Do but acquiesce a while, and you'll quickly see;
—whereas if you disturb him in't, you spoil all; and
perhaps may repent it when 'tis too late:
2. Cit.
Acquiesce—That's the word—Huh!
5. Cit.
I neighbour I: Acquiesce:
3. Cit.
Troth he speaks reason:
4. Cit.
Marry does he:
5. Cit.
Our City Orator's but an Ass to him:
Ph.
What say you then Gentlemen?
2. Cit.
For my part (now) I'll live and die with him.
And so will I—We may do worse:
Ph.
Yes—I dare trust 'um for the first
(aside)
But what's the matter?—Has so good an Emperor but
two friends among you all?—Throw up your caps, and
away with't:
Omnes.
One and all—One and all—Long live Andronicus.
Ph.
He is beholding to you—And I'll let him know as
much:—Farewel good Gent.—'Twas a fare scape.
(aside
Exit Philo. Hollow.
Omnes.
Farewel, Farewel—Long live Andronicus.
1. Cit.
Come neighbours, come:—We had as good be
quiet—There will be faults while there are men.
3. Cit.
I, I,—Let's home—Let's home:—'Tis good
sleeping in a whole skin:
As they are going off, Enter Isa. Const.
Const.
Now Gent. I see you're men of your words:
'Tis but an easie risk, and all's our own.
Can you remember your old Emperor,
Or his late murder'd Son; and not acknowledge
The Heir—Th'undoubted Heir?—
1. Cit.
I neighbour I—'Twas this we came about.
2. Cit.
Where's that Rogue Philo? knock out's brains.
Omnes.
I, I, I, Where is he?—Where is he?
3. Cit.
We cannot for shame now, but proclaim him Emperor.
6. Cit.
Oh by any means:
Omnes.
Long live Isacius Emperor of Greece!
Isa.
It was so far (my friends and Countrymen)
From my desires, t'ave liv'd to see this day,
'Twas never in my thoughts—My privacy
Was all the Empire I or wisht, or dream't:
But since your joint unanimous consent
Has firm'd! that Title, which my birth right gave me;
I cannot but I must acknowledge it:
3. Cit.
What's that he says—Long live Isacius?
Omnes.
Long live the Emperor?
4. Cit.
Peace, hear him speak.
Isa.
'Tis not my business here to rip old sores,
Or to keepe ope those wounds; which let alone,
To what we should be, is to know what we are;
Let me once ask you—What d'you call this place?
Greece, or her ruines?—You had once an Emperor,
A good one too, I mean Alexius:
I will not say who murder'd him—He had
A sister—I do not say she was poison'd:
You had good Laws:—Andronicus made more,
I would he had kept either:—I forbear
Conto, Mamalus, Cæsar, Basilius,
Lapardos, Ducas, and a 1000 more,
Some murder'd, others, their eies bor'd out—My way
Is not to speak against such as are absent:
Omnes.
Yes—Yes—Yes—Pray on:—Long live Isacius!
6. Cit.
Peace, hear him speak:
Isa.
Believe it loose, and might fall off?—What though
You scapt when others fell, you were but kept
To close his stomack, and be last eat up.
He brought the City once again within
Her Walls, whose Suburbs (like the Spleen) had swoll'n
To the consumption of the rest o'th' body;
I would he'd left Inhabitants enough,
To people that little remain'd—He built a Chappel,
I would the Devil had not set up the Cross;
An Aquaduct, I would the kennels had run
No other colour:—One or two good Actions
To blanch and varnish o're a deal of ill,
Is but the Musick to a Tragedy:
But I forget my self:—I never lov'd
To rake in Dunghils—I only wish their Author
Had his desert—Not that I bid you lay
Violent hands upon him—Justice will do
Enough, but give her leave—And so I shall not
Detain you longer; Only let me beg you
If you meet Manuel, to preserve him safe,
His only crime is, that Andronicus gat him:
I, Here's one spoke like an Emperor.
Omnes.
Long Live Isacius.
3. Cit.
Come we lose time—Andronicus may chance
to give us the slip.
5. Cit.
But if we take him, we'll give it him.
Omnes.
Follow—Follow—Follow—Whoop!
Exeunt.
| Andronicus Comnenius | |