 | The Excellent Comedy, called The Old Law |  |
Act. V.
Scen. I.
Sword and Mace carried before them.Enter Simonides, and the Courtiers.
Sim.
Be ready with your Prisoner, weel sit instantly and
rise before leaven, or when we please:
Cour.
Tis committed
All to our power, censure and pleasure, now
The Duke hath made us cheef Lords of this Sessions,
And we may speake by fits, or sleep by turnes.
Sim.
Leave that to us, but what so ere we do
The Prisoner shall be sure to be condemnd,
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Before we set upon him.
Eugenia.
2. Cour.
Make you question
If not Cleanthes and one enemy
Nay a concealor of his father too.
A vild example in these dayes of youth.
Sim.
If they were given to follow a such examples
But sure I think they are not, how so ere
'Twas wickedly attempted, thats my judgement,
And it shall passe whilst I am in power to sit,
Never by Prince were such yong judges made,
But now the cause requires it, if you marke it
He must make yong or none, for all the old ones
Her father he hath sent a fishing, and my fathers one,
I humbly thanke his Highness.
Enter Eugenia
1. Cour.
Widdows?
Eug.
You almost hit my name, no Gentlemen
You come so wondrous neare it I admire you
For your Judgement.
Sim.
My wife that must be she.
Eug.
My husband goes upon his last houre now.
1. Cour.
On his last legs I am sure.
Eug.
September the seventeenth
I will not bate an houre ont, and to morrow
His latest houres expired.
2. Cour.
Bring him to judgement,
The juries panneld and the verdict given
Ever he appears we have tane course for that.
Sim.
And Officers to attach the gray yong man,
The youth of fourscore be of comfort Lady:
We shall no longer bosome January:
For that I will take order, and provide
For you a lusty Aprill.
Lisander and Guardian:
Eug.
The month that ought indeed
To go before May.
1. Cour.
Doe as we have sayd,
Take a strong guard and bring him into Court,
Lady Eugenia see this charge performed
That having his life forfeited by the Law
Hee may relieve his soule.
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Willingly
From shaven chinns never came better Justice
Then these new tucht by reason.
Sim.
What you doe
Doe suddenly wee charge you, for we purpose to make but a short
Sessions, a new business
Enter Hippolita.
1. Cour.
The faire Hippolita, now whats your suits?
Hip.
Alas I know not how to stile you yet,
To call you judges doth not suit your yeares
Nor heads and braines shew more antiquity,
Yet sway your selves with equity and truth
And i'le proclaime you reverent, and repeat
Once in my life time I have seene grave heads
Plac't upon yong mens shoulders.
2. Cour.
Hark she flouts us,
And thinks to make us monstrous.
Hip.
Prove not so,
For yet me thinks you beare the shapes of men,
Though nothing more then meerly beautifeaus
To make you appeare Angels, but if Crimson
Your name and power with blood and cruelty,
Suppress faire virtue and enlarge of old vice,
Both against Heaven and Nature, draw your sword
Make either will or humor turn the soule
Of your created greatnesse, and in that
Oppose all goodnesse. I must tell you there
Y'are more then monstrous, in the very act,
You change your selfe to Devils.
1. Cour.
Shees a witch
Harke she begins to conjure.
Sim.
Time you see
Is short much business now on foot, shall I
Give her her answer?
2. Cour.
None upon the Bench
More learnedly can do it.
Sim.
He, he, hem, then list
I wonder at thine impudence yong huswife
That thou darst plead for such a base offender,
Conceale a father past his time to die:
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1. Cour.
I vow not I.
Hip.
Because yee are paricides
And how can comfort be derived from such
That pitty not their fathers?
2. Cour.
You are fresh and faire, practise yong womens ends
when husbands are distrest provide them friends.
Sim.
I'le set him forward fee thee
Some wives would pay for such a curtesie.
without fee.
Hip.
Times of amazement what duty goodness dwell,
I soaught for charity but knock at Hel.
Exit.
Enter Eugenia, with Lisander Prisoner, a Guard.
Simonides.
Eugenia come.
Command a second guard
To bring Cleanthes in weel not sit long,
My stomack strives to dinner.
Eug.
Now servants may a Lady be so bold
To call your power so low?
Sim.
A Mistresse may,
She can make all things low, then in that language
There can be no offence.
Eug.
The times now come
Of manumissions take him into bonds,
And I am then at freedome.
2. Cour.
This the man,
He, hath left of late to feed on snakes,
His beards turnd white again
1. Court.
Ist possible these gowty legs danc't lately,
And shatterd in a Galliard?
Eug.
Jealousie,
And fear of death can worke strange prodigies.
2. Cour.
The nimble Fencer this that made me tear
And traverse bout the Chamber.
Sim.
I and gave me
Those elbow Healths the hangman take him fort:
They had almost fetcht my heart out, the Dutch Veny
I swallowed pretty wel, but the halfe pike
Had almost prepard me but had I took
Being swolne I had cast my Lungs out.
Florish.
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A flemish
Enter the Duke.
2. Cour.
Peace the Duke.
Nay bathe your seats, whose that?
Duk.
May't please yeur Highness.
Sim.
Tis old Lisander.
Duk.
And brought in by his wife a worthy president
Of one that no way would offend the Law.
And should not passe away without remark,
You have been lookt for long.
Lis.
But never fit
To die till now my Lord, my sins and I
Have been but newly parted, much a do
I had to get them leave me, or be taught
That difficult lesson how to learn to die.
I never thought there had been such an act
And tis the only discipline we are borne for
All studdies as are, are but as circular lines
And death the center where they must all meet.
I now can looke uppon thee erring woman
And not be vext with jealousie, on yong men,
And no way envy their delicious health,
Pleasure and strength, all which were once mine owne
And mine must be theirs one day.
Duk.
You have tamd him
Sim.
And know how to dispose him that my Liege
Hath been before determined, you confesse
Your selfe of full age.
Lis.
Yes and prepard to inherit
Hip.
Your place above—Duke—away to death with him
Sim.
Of which the hangmans strength
Cleanthes Guard.
Shall put him in possession, tis still guard
To take me willing and in mind to die.
And such are when the earth growes weary of them
Most fit for heaven, the Court shall make his Mittimus
And send him thither presently ith mean time.
Enter a Guard with Cleanthes, Hippollita weeping after him.
So see another person brought to the Barr.
1. Cour.
The arch Malefactor.
2. Cour.
The grand offenders the most refractory
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Hee.
Sim,
That would have sons grave fathers ere their fathers
Be sent unto their graves.
Duk.
There will be expectation
In your severe pooceedings against him;
His act being so Capitall.
Sim.
Fearfull and bloody,
Therefore we charge these women leave the Court
Lest they should stand to heare it.
Eug.
I in expectation
Of a most happy freedome.
Exit.
Hip.
I with the apprehension
Of a most sad and desolate widdow hood.
Exit.
1. Cour.
We bring him to the Bar.
2. Cour.
Hold up your hand sir.
Clean.
More reverence to the place then to the persons
To the one I offer up a palm
Of duty and obedience showd us to heaven,
Imploring justice which was never wanting
Upon that Bench whilst their own fathers sat:
But unto you, my hands contracted thus,
As threatning vengeance against murtherers,
For they that kill in thought shed innocent blood
With pardon to your highness too much passion
Made me forget your presence and the place,
I now am cald too.
Duk.
All one Majesty
And Power we have to pardon or condemne
Is now conferd on them.
Sim.
And these weel use
Little to thine advantage.
Clean.
I expect it
And as to these I look no mercy from
And much lesse showne to intrest it, I thus now
Submit me the Emblemes of your power I meane
The Sword and Bench but my most reverend judges
Ere you proceed to sentence, for I know
You have given me lost, will you resolve me one thing?
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So it be breefly questioned.
2. Cour.
Shew your honor,
Day spends it selfe a pace.
Clean.
My Lords it shall
Resolve me then where are your filliall tears
Your mourning habits and sad hearts become.
That should attend your fathers funerall
Though the strick Law which I will not accuse
Because a subject snatcht away their lives
It doth not barr them to lament their deaths
Or if you cannot spare one sad suspire
It doth not bid you laugh them to their graves
Lay subtle traines to antidate their yeares,
To be the sooner ceas'd of their estates.
Oh time of age wheres that Eneas now
Who letting all his Jewels to the flames.
Forgetting country kindred treasure friends
Fortunes and all things save the name of son
Which you so much forget, goe like Eneas
Who tooke his bedrid father on his back
And with that sacred load (to him no burden)
Hewd out his way through blood, through fire, through
Even all the armed streets of bright burning Troy,
Onely to save a father.
Sim.
We have no leasure now
To heare lessons read from Virgill, wee are past schoole,
And all this time thy judges.
2. Cour.
Tis fit,
That we proceed to sentence.
1. Cour.
You are the mouth
And now tis fit to open.
Sim.
Justice indeed
Should ever be close ear'd, and open mouthd
That is to heare him little, and speake much
Low then Cleanthes there is none can be
A good son and a bad subject, for if Princes
Be cald the peoples fathers then the subjects
Are all his sones, and he that flouts the Prince
Doth disobey his father, there yeare gone.
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And not to be recovered.
Sim.
And again.
2. Cour.
If he be gone once call him not againe.
Sim.
I say againe this act of thine expresses
A double disobedience, as our Princes
Are fathers, so they are our soveraignes too,
And he that doth rebell against soveraignety
Doth commit treason in the height of degree
And now thou art quite gone.
1. Cour.
Our brother in commission
Hath spoke his mind both learnedly and neatly,
And I can add but little, howsoever
Ie shall send him packing.
He that begins a fault that wants example
Ought to be made example for the fault.
Clean.
A fault no longer can I hold my selfe
To heare vice upheld and vertue throwne downe,
A fault judge then, I desire where it lyeth
In those that are my judges or in mee
Heaven stand on my side pitty love and duty.
Sim.
Where are they sir who fees them but your selfe.
Clean.
Not you, and I am sure,
You never had the gracious eyes to see them,
You think you arraigne me, but I hope
To sentence you at the Bar.
2. Cour.
That would shew brave.
Clean.
This were the judgement seat, we now
The heaviest crimes that ever made up
Unnaturallness in humanity,
You are found fowle and guilty by a Jury
Made of your fathers curses, which have brought
Vengeance impending on you, and I now
Am forst to pronounce judgement on my judges.
The common Lawes of reason and of nature
Condemne you ipso facto, you are paricides,
And if you marry will beget the lyar
Who when y'are growne to full maturity
Will hurry you their fathers to their graves;
Like Traytors you take counsell from the living
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Experience and discretion snatcht away
From the earths face, turne all into disorder,
Imprison vertue, and infranchice vice,
And put the Sword of justice into the hands of
Boyes and mad men.
Sim.
Well, well, have you done sir?
Clean.
I have spoke my thoughts.
Sim.
Then i'le begin and end.
Duk.
Tis time I now begin,
Where your commission ends,
Cleanthes you come from the Bar
Because I know y'are severally disposd;
I heere invite you to an object will no doubt
Recorders.
Worke in you contrary effects.
Old men.
Musick.
Musick, Sons and the old men appeare.
Clean.
Pray Heaven I dream not, sure he moves, talkes comfortably,
as joy can wish a man, if he be changd
His face doth promise fullness of content
And glory hath a part int.
Lea.
Oh my son.
Duk.
You that can claime acquaintance with these lads
Talke freely.
Sim.
I can see none there thats worth one hand to you from
me.
Duk.
These are thy judges and by their grave Law
I find thee cleare, but these Delinquents guilty:
You must change places for tis so decreed
Such just preheminence hath thy goodness gaind
Thou art the judge now, they the men arraignd.
1. Cour.
Heers fine dancing Gentlemen.
2. Cour.
Is thy father amongst them?
Clean.
Oh a Pox I saw him the first thing I lookt on
A live againe, slight I believe now a father
Hath as many lives as a mother.
Sim.
Tis full as blessed as tis wonderfull
Oh bring me back to the same law againe
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And bring me to new sentence.
Clean.
Whats all this?
A fault not to be pardoned
Unnaturallness is but suns shaddow to it.
Sim.
I am glad of that, I hope the case may alter
And I turne judge againe.
Duk.
Name your offence.
Clean.
That I should be so vild
As once to think you cruell.
Duk.
Is that all?
'Twas pardond ere confest, you that have sons
If they be worthy heare my challenge then.
Cle.
I should have one amongst them had he had grace
To have retaind that name.
Sim.
I pray you Father.
Kneeles.
Cle.
That name I know
Hath been long since forgot.
Sim.
I find but small comfort in remembring it now.
Duk.
Cleanthes take your places with these grave father
And read what in that table is inscribed
Now set these at the Bar,
And read Cleanthes to the dread and terror
Of disobedience and unnaturall blood.
Clean.
It is decreed by the grave and learned
Counsell of Epire, that no son and heire
Shall be held capable of his inheritance
At the age of one and twenty, unlesse he be at that time
As nature in obedience, manners and goodnesse.
Sim.
Sure I shall never be at full age then,
Though I live to an hundred years, and thats nearer by twenty,
Then the last Statute allowd.
1. Cour.
A terrible act.
Moreover is enacted that all sons aforesaid, whom either this Law
or their owne grace, whom it shall reduce into the true method of
duty, vertue, and affection; and relate their triall and approbation
from Cleanthes the Son of Leonides—from me my Lord.
Duk.
From none but you as fullest, proceed sir.
Clean.
Whom for his manifest vertues, we make such
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manners.
Sim.
This is a brave world, when a man should be
Selling Land he must be learning manners,
Ist not my Masters?
Eugenia.
Enter Eugenia.
Eug.
Whats heere to do, my suitors at the Barr
The old baud shines againe, oh miserable!
She sounds.
Duk.
Read the Law over to her twill awake her
Tis one deserves small pitty.
Clean.
Lastly it is ordained that all such wives now whatsoever
that shall designe the husbands death to bee soone rid of them
and entertaine suitors in their husbands life time.
Sim.
You had best read that a little lowder,
For if any thing that will bring her to her selfe againe, and finde
her tongue.
Clean.
Shall not presume on the penalty of our heavy displeasure
to marry within ten years after.
Eug.
That Lawes too long by nine years and a halfe.
I'le take my death upont, so shall most women.
Clean.
And those incontinent women so offending
To be judge and censured by Hippolita,
Wife to Cleanthes.
Hippolita.
Eug.
Of all the rest i'le not be judge by her.
Enter Hop.
Clean.
Ah heere shee comes, let mee prevent thy joyes, prevent
them but in part and hide the rest, thou hast not strength enough to
beare them else.
Hip.
Leonides.
Shee faints.
Clean.
I feared it all this while.
I knew 'twas past thy power Hippolita,
What contrariety is in womens blood?
One faints for spleene and anger, shee for grace.
Duk.
Of Sons and Wives we see the worst and best,
My future ages yeeld Hippolitas
Many, but few like thee Eugenia.
Let no Simonides henceforth have a fame
But all blest sons live in Cleanthes name
Musick.
Ha what strange kind of melody was that?
Yet give it entrance whatsoere it be.
Musick
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Clo.
&c.
Enter Musick one carrying a Bridecake, the Clowne, the rest with them old Women.
Enter Clowne, and Wench, the rest with the old women, the Clownes wife, Musick, and a Bride Cake the wedding.
Clo.
Fidlers crowd on, crowd on, let no man lay a block in
your way, crowd on I say.
Duk.
Stay the crowd a while, lets know the reason
Of this jollity.
Clean.
Sirrah doe you know where you are?
Clo.
Yes sir, I am heere, now heere, and now heere agen sir.
Lis.
Your hats too high crownd the Duke in presence.
Clo.
The Duke (as hee is my Soveraigne) I doe give him two
Crownes for it, and thats equall change all the world over, as
am Lord of the day (being my marriage day the second) I doe advance
bonnet crowd on a fore.
Leon.
Good sir a few words if you'l vouchsafe em
Or will you be forc'd?
Clo.
Forc'd, I would the Duke himselfe would say so.
Duk.
I think he dares sir, and does, if you stay not
You shall be forc'd.
Clo.
I thinke so my Lord, and good reason too, shall not I stay
when your grace sayes I shall, I were unworthy to bee a Bridegroom
in any part of your Highness Dominions then, will it please
you to tast of the wedlock courtesie?
Duke.
Oh by no meanes sir, you shall not deface
So faire an ornament for me.
Clo.
If your grace please to be cacated say so.
Clo.
And which might be your faire Bride sir?
Clo.
This is my two for one that must be uxor uxoris,
The remedy doloris, and the very syceum Amoris.
Duk.
And hast thou any else?
Clo.
I have an older my Lord for other uses.
Cle.
My Lord I doe observe a strange decorum heere
These that do lead this day of jollity
Doe march with Musick and most mirthfull cheeks
Those that doe follow sad, and wofully
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Then a wedding.
Duk.
Tis true, pray expound that sir.
Clo.
As the destiny of the day falls out my Lord, one goes out
to wedding another goes to hanging; and your Grace in the due
consideration shall finde em much alike, the one hath the ring upon
her finger, the other a halter about her neck.
I take thee Beatrice sayes the Bridegroome, I take thee Agatha
sayes the hangman, and both say together to have and to hold till
death do part us.
Duk.
This is not yet plaine enough to my understanding.
Clo.
If further your Grace examine it, you shall find I shew my
selfe a dutifull subject and obedient to the Law, my selfe (with
these my good friends, and your good subjects) our old wives
whose daies are ripe, and their lives forfeit to the Law onely my
selfe more forward then the rest, am already provided of my second
choice.
Duk.
Oh take heede sir, you'l run your selfe into danger,
If the Law finds you with two wives at once
Theres a shrewd premunire.
Clo.
I have taken leave of the old my Lord, I have nothing to
say to her, shees going to Sea, your Grace knowes whether better
then I doe, shee has a strong wind with her, it stands full in her
poope when you please let her disemboge.
Cook.
And the rest of her neighbours with her whom wee present
to the satisfaction of your Highnes Law.
Clo.
And so wee take our leaves and leave them to your Highness,
croud on.
Duk.
Stay, stay, you are too forward, will you marry?
And your wife yet living.
Clo.
Alas Sheel bee dead before wee can get to Church, if your
Grace would set her in the way, I would dispatch her, I have a
venter ont, which would returne mee, if your Highnes would
make a little more hast two for one.
Duk.
Come my Lords we must sit agen, heers a Case
Craves a most serious censure.
Cook.
Now they shall be dispatcht out of the way.
Clo.
I would they were gone once, the time goes away.
Duk.
Which is the wife unto the forward Bridegroome?
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I am and it please your grace.
Duk.
Trust me a lusty woman, able bodied
And well blooded cheeks.
Clo.
Oh she paints my Lord, she was a Chamber Maid once, and
learnt it of her Lady.
Duk.
Sure I think she cannot be so old.
Wife.
Truly I think so too, and please your grace.
Clo.
Two to one with your grace of that, shees threescore by
the Book.
Leo.
Peace sirra y'are to loud.
Cook.
Take heed Gnothoes if you moove the Dukes patience, tis
an edge toole but a word and a blow, he cuts off your head.
Clo.
Cut off my head, away ignorant, hee knowes it cost more
in the haire, he does not use to cut off many such heads as mine, I
will talke to him to, it he cut off my head, ile give him my eares, I
say my wife is at full age for the Law, the Clark shall take his oath
and the Church Book shall be sworne too.
Duk.
My Lords, I leave this sensure to you
Leo.
Then first this fellow does deserve punishment
For offering up a lusty able woman
Which may do service to the commonwealth,
Where the Law craves one impotent and useless.
Creon,
Therefore to be severely punished
For thus attempting a second marriage
His wife yet livinge.
Lis.
Nay to have it trebled
That even the daye and instant when he should mourne
As a kind husband to her funerall,
Hee leads a triumph to the scorne of it
Which unseasonable joy ought to bee punished
With all severity.
But.
The fiddles will be in a foule case too by and by.
Leo.
Nay further it seemes hee has a venter
Of two for one at his second marriage
Which cannot be but a conspiracie
Against the former.
Clo.
A messe of wise old men.
Lis.
Sirrah what can you answer to all these?
Clo.
Ye'are good old men and talke as age will give you leave; I
would speake with the youthfull Duke himselfe, hee and I may
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rotten, alas you are heere to day and gone to Sea to morrow.
Duk.
Introath sir then I must be plaine with you
The Law that should take away your old wife from you
The which I doe perceive was your desire,
Is voyd and frustrate, so for the rest,
There has been since another Parliament
Has cut it off.
Clo.
I see your grace is disposd to be pleasant.
Duk.
Yes you might perceive that, I had not else
Thus dallied with your follies.
Clo.
Ile talke further with your grace when I come
Back from Church, in the meane time you know what to doe
With the old women.
Duk.
Stay sir unlesse in the mean time you mean
I cause a sibber to be set up in your way
and hang you at your return.
Wife.
Oh gratious Prince.
Duk.
Your old wives cannot die to day by any
Law of mine, for ought I can say too em
They may by a new edict bury you,
And then perhaps you pay a new fine too.
Clo.
This is fine indeed.
Wife.
Oh Gracious Prince may he live a hundred years more.
Cook.
Your venture is not like to come in to day Gnothoes.
Clo.
Give me the principall back.
Cook.
Nay by my troath weel venter still, and i'me sure wee
have as ill a venter of it as you, for wee have taken old wives of
purpose, where that we had thought to have put away at this market,
and now we cannot utter a pennyworth.
Duke.
Well sirrah you were best to discharge
Your new charge and take your old one to you.
Clo.
Oh Musick, no musick, but prove most dolefull Trumpets,
Oh Bride no Bride, but thou maist prove a Strumpet,
Oh venter, no venter, I have for one now none,
Oh wife, thy life is sav'd when I hope t'had been gone,
Case up your fruitless strings. no penny no wedding,
Case up thy Maiden head, no Priest no bedding.
Avant my venter it can nere be restord,
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Then come agen old Agg since it must be so,
Let Bride, and venter with wofull Musick goe.
Cook.
What for the Bridecake Gnothoes?
Clo.
Let it be mouldy now tis out of season,
Let it grow out of date currant and reason,
Let it be chip'd and chopt and given to chickens.
No more is got by that, then William Dickins
Got by his wooden dishes.
Put up your plums as fidlers put up pipes,
The Wedding dasht the Bridegroome
Weeps and wipes.
Fidlers farwell and now without perhaps,
Put up your Fiddles as you put up scraps.
Lis.
This passion has given some satisfaction yet,
My Lord I think you'l pardon him now,
Withall the rest so they live honestly
With the wives they have.
Duke.
Oh most freely, free pardon to all.
Cook.
I wee have deserv'd our pardons if wee can live honestly
with such reverent wives that have no motion in em but their
tongues.
Wife.
Heaven blesse your Grace, y'are a just Prince.
Clo.
All hopes dash'd, the Clarks duties lost, Venter gon, my
second wife divorc'd, and which is worst the old one come back
agen.
Of our nose, besides these two fountaines of fresh water,
Your grace had been more kind to your yong subjects,
Heaven blesse, and mend your Lawes, that they do
Not gull your poore Country men: fashion, but I am not
The first by forty that has been undone by the Law,
Tis but a folly to stand upon Termes,
I take my leave of your Grace, as well as mine eyes will give me
leave, I would they had been a sleep in their beds when they opend
em to see this day: come Agg, come Agg.
Creon.
Were not you all my servants?
Cook.
During your life as we thought sir, but our yong Master
turnd us away.
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How headlong villaine wert thou in thy ruine?
Sim.
I followed the fashion sir as other yong men did,
If you have as we thought you had been
We should nere have come for this I warrant you,
We did not feed after the old fashion on Beefe
And Mutton and such like.
Creon.
Well what dammage or charge you have run
Your selves into by marriage, I cannot help
Nor deliver you from your wives, them you must keepe
Your selves shall againe retaine to me.
Om.
We thank your Lordship for your love, and must thanke
our selves for our bad bargains.
Duk.
Cleanthes You delay the power of Law,
To be inflicted on these misgovernd men,
That filiall duty have so far transgrest.
Clean.
My Lord I see a satisfaction
Meeting the sentence, even preventing it
Beating my words back in their utterance
See sir theres salt sorrow bringing forth fresh
And new duties (as the sea propagate)
The Elephants have found their joynts too, why
Heres humility able to bind up
The punishing hands of the severest masters
Much more the gentle fathers.
Sim.
I had nere thought to have been brought so low as my
knees agen, but since thers no remedy, fathers, reverent fathers, as
you ever hope to have good sons and heirs, a handfull of pitty wee
confesse wee have deservd more then wee are willing to receive at
your hands, though sonnes can never deserve too much of their fathers
as shall appeare afterwards.
Creon.
And what way can you decline your feeding now?
You cannot retire to Beeves and Muttons sure.
Sim.
Alas sir you see a good pattern for that, now we have laid by
our high and lusty meats, and are downe to our mary bones allready.
Creon.
Well sir rise to vertues weel bound you now,
You that were too weake your selves to govern,
By others shall be governd.
Lis.
Cleanthes.
75
If there be tears of faith in womans brest
I have receivd a mirriade which confirmes me
To finde a happy renovation.
Clean.
Heers Virtues Throne
Which i'le imbellish with my dearest Jewels
Of Love and Faith, Peace and Affection,
This is the Altar of my Sacrifice,
Where dayly my devoted knees shall bend
Age honored shrine, time still so love you,
That I so long may have you in mine eye
Untill my memory lose your beginning.
For you great Prince, long may your fame survive,
Your justice and your wisdome never die,
Crowne of your Crowne, the blessing of your Land
Which you reach to her from your regents hand.
Leon.
Oh Cleanthes had you with us tasted
The entertainment of our retirement
Feard and exclaimd on in your ignorance,
You might have sooner died upon the wonder
Then any rage or passion for our losse.
A place at hand we were all strangers in
So spheard about with Musik, such delights
Viands and attendance, and once a day
So cheared with a royall visitant
That oft times (waking) our unsteady phantasies
Would question whether we yet livd or no
Or had possession of that Paradice
Where Angells be the guard.
Duk.
Enough Leonides
You go beyond the prayse, we have our end
And all is ended well, we have now seene
The flowers and weeds that grew about our Court.
Sim.
If these be weeds i'me afraid I shall weare none so good agen
as long as my father lives.
Duke.
Only this Gentleman we did abuse
With our owne bosome, we seemd a Tyrant
And he our instrument, looke tis Cratilus.
Discover the Executioner.
The man that you suppos'd had now been traveld,
76
And bring us forraigne languages to Greece
Alls joyed I see, let Musick be the Crowne,
And set it high, the good needs feare no Law,
It is his safety, and the bad mans aw.
FINIS.
| The Excellent Comedy, called The Old Law | |