THE TENTH SATYRE.
[OF BRIBERIE.]
Diagoras was once to pleade a cause,
Which th' aduerse partie hauing well obserued,
Claps me a guilded goblet in his clawes,
Which He as priuately (forsooth) reserued;
Speake (quoth this client) either nought at all,
Or else absent you from the sessions hall.
Absent He would not be, and yet as good,
For his mute tongue was absent in the cause,
Saying, the cause he had not vnderstood,
And therefore wish'd that he a while might pause;
But hauing paus'd too long, through his delay
The Court dismist, the Senat went away.
Seeing the Senate gone, good gods (quoth he)
Can we not haue our causes heard, whose truth
Is manifest as light? ô thus we see
Our Clients wrong'd, whose wrongs afford much ruth:
I would not answer this before Ioues throne,
If I thereby might make the world mine owne.
Nought to a conscience pure and void of blame,
Which (Ioue be prais'd) is in this spotlesse brest,
For no foule act could blemish ere my name,
No corrupt bribe did ere enrich my chest;
Yes one (the Clyent answer'd) you know when:
It's true indeed (my friend) and nere but then.
Yes once you know (another answer'd) more,
When you protested the Angina pain'd you,
For which corruption, you had gold in store,
That silent speech of yours abundance gain'd you:
It's true indeed, yet there's none can conuict me,
That ere my conscience for these did afflict me.
Nay that He sweare (quoth one) I neuer knew
Remorce of conscience or relenting teare:
That heart of yours aid nere repentance shew,
But could take more, if that you did not feare
You should detected be, and your offence,
As
There were certaine images of Iudges (by report) set vp at Athens, hauing neither hands, nor eyes: implying that Rulers and Magistrates should neither be infected with bribes, nor any otherway drawne from that which was lawfull and right. But most happiest were those dayes wherein Basil the Emperour of Constantinople liued, that whensoeuer he came to his iudgment seate, he found neither partie to accuse, nor defendant to answer.
iustice craues, should giue you recompence.
Thus as they talk'd, thus as they did discourse,
In came a Senatour, which did reueale,
His corrupt dealings, for He did enforce
Himselfe to publish what He did conceale:
Whose crimes diuulg'd, He presently was led
To Coos hauen, whence He was banished.
Thus was a corrupt Orator conuicted,
Pressing himselfe with his owne obloquie,
Whose selfe-detection made his state afflicted,
His hands the weauers of his tragedie;
Which I could wish to all of like desert,
Whose good profession's made a guilefull art.
