University of Virginia Library

SCEN. 10.

Enter three Citizens of Constantinople, two of them having rescued the Corps of Andronicus from the fury of the People.
1. Cit.
Abuse the dead! fie, fie, for shame forbear!

2. Cit.
A Corps is senceless, therefore feels no pain.

3. Cit.
More senceless you, that offer it this disgrace,
Dead Corps cannot be hurt, but may be wrong'd.

2. Cit.
To be more active, to torment his Ghost,
I wish I were a Devill for his sake.

1. Cit.
Your hellish wish makes you a Devil now.

3. Cit.
He had a peircing eye, a Princely garbe,
A winning gesture, and a charming tongue.

1. Cit.
A handsom body, comely in each part:

2. Cit.
A rotten soul, and a perfidious heart;

1. Cit.
All have their faults.

2. Cit.
All han't their villanies.

3. Cit.
He did erect a Stately Hospital.

2. Cit.
It will not hold half those he hath Beggars made.

1. Cit.
Two glorious Churches he built and endow'd.

2. Cit.
Poor recompence to wrong'd Religion,
Churches to build, and pluck down Piety.

1. Cit.
He made good Laws,

2. Cit.
And brake them first himself;
Besides himself hee'd have none other bad.

3. Cit.
That was some goodness,

2. Cit.
Tyrants are inforc't,
Sometimes to make good Laws, not out of love
To vertue, but to secure their safety,
Wherein their private ends are not concern'd,
Unpartial Justice there they must dispence,
More safely at other times to be unjust:
They'l stumble now and then on some good deeds,
To render themselves passable with men.

1. Cit.
He bare his torture with great patience,
Even when his open'd Entrals call'd upon
Tormentors bowels for compassion,
Calm was his soul whilst all that tempest fell,
He like a Lamb.

2. Cit.
Went quietly to Hell:

1. Cit.
Be charitable Sir,

2. Cit.
My Charity
Shall ne're destroy my judgment in such cases
Think you that he hath liv'd so wickedly,
With few good words stole happines at last.

3. Cit.
That sigh might marry him to bliss whose force
Did quite divorce his body from his soul.

2. Cit.
Preach but this doctrine.—
And Heaven you'l people with another Nation,
Of Whores and Thieves make there a new Plantation.

1 Cit.
Repenting whores are Virgins, Theeves true men,

2. Cit.
Well if he be in Heaven, Ile boldly say
Its pitty any on Earth should know so much.

Exit.
1. Cit.
If not a grave, Wee'l make a hole for him
If not for th'dead, yet for the livings sake.

3. Cit.
I hated him whilst living, now I feel
A chill remorse runs thorow all my veins,
My soul I see doth sing the common ditty,
Envies all height, and pities all in woe.