University of Virginia Library

SCENA. 2.

Enter 2. Gentlemen with Libels in their hands.
1. Gent.
Nay such prophane and monstrous Sodomie,
Such obscure Incest and Adultery,
Such odious Auarice and perfidie,
Such vinolence and brutish gluttony,
So barren of sincere integritie.

2. Gent.
In whom there is no shame nor veritie,
Faith nor religion, but meere cruelty?
Immoderate ambition, guilfull treacherie,
Such prophanation and Apostacie,
And in all falsehood such dexteritie.

1. Gent.
As heauens detest, and men on earth distaste.

2. Gent.
Such impious sacriledge, such adulation:

1. Gent.
Of all good men such detestation.

2. Gent.
Such Magick skill, such diuilish incantation.

1. Gent.
Apparant figures of damn'd reprobation.

2. Gent.
As in all thoughts is thought abhomination.

1. Gent.
Time will out-strip vs; for the morning starre,
Portends the mounting of faire Phœbus Carre.

2. Gent.
Hast we, for danger drawne on by delay,
Admits no time to tarry till cleere day.

1. Gent.
Fix on your Papers, these for Alexander
And his ambitious Cæsar: set on yours.
Hale reuerent I'asquill Idoll of veritie,
As hee fixeth on his papers.
Accept these sacrifices which we bring.

2. Gent.
These be sinne offrings figuring foule vice.
Oh glorious guider of the golden Spheres,
And thou that from thy pretious lyricke strings
Makes Gods and men in heauen and earth to dance
With sacred touch of sweetest harmony:
Pitty these times, by whose malignitie,
We loose our grace, and thou thy dignity.

1. Gent.
High Muse, which whilome vertues patronized,
In whose eternall rowles of memory
The famous acts of Princes were comprized
By force of euer-liuing Historie:
What shall wee doe to call thee backe againe?
True Chronicler of all immortall glory,
When here with mortall men nought is deuis'd,
But how all stories with foule vice to staine:
So that alas thy gratious Oratorie,
Which with meere truth and vertue simpathiz'd,
Is silent; and wee Poets now with paine,
(Which in Castalian Fountaines dip'd our quilles)
Are forc'd of mens impietie to plaine;
And well thou wotest, wrought against our wills,
In rugged verse, vile matters to containe:
And herein lurkes the worst of mortall ills,
That Rome (which should be Vertues Paradice)
Bare of all good, is wildernesse of vice.

2. Gent.
How luculent and more conspicuous
Euen then the sunne, in cleerest Maiestie,
His vehement and more then hellish thirst
Soaring to pearch vpon the spire of honour
Displaies his bastard wings: and in that nest
Where princely Fawlcons, or Ioues kingly Birds,
Should hatch their young ones, plants his rauenous Harpies,
His gracelesse, impious, and disastrous sonnes,
Euen in the soueraigne Chaire of domination.

1. Gent.
But chiefly one, that diuelish Cardinall,
Proud Cæsar, farst, with fierce impietie:
His Oracle and instrument of shame
In all nefarious plotts and practises,
Is now become as wicked as himselfe:
But hast we now, least any should suspect vs.

2. Gent.
Much conference with Pasquill may detect vs.

Exeunt.