 | The Jewes Tragedy, or, Their Fatal and Final Overthrow by Vespatian and Titus his Son |  |
Incipit Actus tertius
Scena secunda.
Enter Zareck, with Ieho. Letter.The time steals on a pace, I must be brief in my delivery.
Knocks within.
Who knocks?
Za.
A servant to the Lord Iehochanan,
Serv.
Your business?
Za.
Tis private to your Lord,
Serv.
I will inform him so:
Enter Skimeon.
Skim.
From whom thy business?
Za.
Read this my Lord, and you shall be resolv'd.
Skim.
My Lord, multiplicity of words protract time, the third
night from the date of this you shall have entrance into the City, be
sudden, strong, a bold farewel.
37
I shall not fail, commend me to thy Lord, and bid him rest assured of
my appearance.
Exit.
Za.
I will my Lord.
Skim.
Farewel, be sudden, strong, and bold;
Za.
I will be all.
But 'tis Iehochanan to work thy fall.
Exit.
Enter Eleazer.
Elea.
To be, or not to be, I there's the doubt,
For to be Sovereign by unlawful means,
Is but to be a slave to base desire,
And where's my honour then?
What a strange buzzing of ambition
Pursues my thirsty soul?
O Eleazer! can thy traytor breast
Give harbour to a thought of Paricide?
It is thy father, O the sacred tye
Of filial duty, how that awful name
Affrighteth all my faculties with fear—
With fear?—of what?—with foolery by heaven;
If there be ought within this awful name
That can extort obedience from a son.
'Tis but the rotten Carcass, there's the thing
That for to please its self begets another,
So does a beast, and yet 'twixt them we see
An equal freedome of society:
As for the nobler part of man we know
That's of a higher birth, if it be so,
Thus low my knee shall bend, but thou my heart
Bends his knee.
Scorn to obey, remember where thou art:
I am resolv'd, the times are bloody, and the peoples hearts
I hear, are bent on me: Iehochanans the man
that I must fairly close with all, this done,
We shall be strong for opposition.
Soft, here a comes.
Enter Jehochanan.
Iehoc.
My Lord Eleazer.
Elea.
Iehochanan, well met.
Ie.
My Lord, if without a breach of manners, I might be bold to
question with your Lordship; I should desire to know the secret cause
of your accustomed sadness, which good my Lord (pardon my boldness)
as tender of your Lordships health and honour, I have of late
observed.
38
O my Iehochanan, I know thou lovest me well
embraces him.
Nor will I in words or actions give the cause
To say I am unthankful, though I must confess
The greatest part of my requital, is
Too mean for thy deserts, the means Iehochanan,
I want the means to counterpoise thy worth.
Io.
O my gracious Lord, your love hath ever been
A full requital to my poor deserts:
But, good my Lord, the cause of this your sadness?
Elea.
O I have been tormented to the soul,
To see the strange distraction of the times,
To see the sacred City rul'd by those
Whose poor decrepid brains are fitter far
For drowsing pillows, than for bloody war.
Ie.
My Lord your father—
Elea.
O that cheating name,
With what a magick spell it doth bewitch
The crazy judgement, and besot the soul
With adoration of this lump of earth?
Ie.
You know my Lord there is a sacred tye
Enjoyns obedience.
Elea.
Tush, meer policy,
A trick, a cheat, to keep the world in aw:
Death, I am vext to think how men are gull'd.
Ie.
My Lord, I understand not what you mean,
Elea.
Thou canst not be so dull:
Is't so? I dare not utter now, what I conceive,
O my good Lord remember that your father—
Apart.
Elea.
No more, by all that's good I hate the name of father.
Ie.
Death, I am discover'd
Ie.
Now I have found ye Sir, and must have leave
To tell your Lordship that you do me wrong,
From which of all my actions have ye pickt
Even but a shew of treason to the state?
Elea.
How? ye forget your self.
Ie.
Tis you my Lord that both forget your self and me.
Elea.
Agen?
Ie.
Nay I must tell ye, 'twas not for your honour,
Vpon the buzzing of some bare report,
To undermine your friend.
Elea.
Speakst thou this in earnest?
Ie.
I do, and will in earnest, stand
Against that traytor whose presumptuous hand
Dare touch your aged father.
Elea.
Vngrateful slave, the traytor I return
39
Traytor to me, and traytor to the state.
Ie.
This, but to play another time upon me,
Which ended, still Iehochanan's the same.
Elea.
Dar'st thou not stand for Eleazer then?
Ie.
I neither dare, nor will:
Elea.
Then I dare kill thee.
They draw and fight.
Ie.
Hold, art thou in earnest?
Elea.
The to'ther bout will tell thee;
Ie.
Swear by the honour of a loyal friend,
And I beleeve it.
Elea.
By heaven I swear, and by the sacred tye
Of settled friendship, what my words express,
My actions shall confirm.
Ie.
Then thus I do imbrace your love. Now my Lord,
What ere the project be,
I vow assistance and fidelity:
Elea.
Then take it thus,
Thou hast command to muster up thy forces,
Let it be done with expedition,
My doting father hath devis'd this plot
To cheat the Citizens, whose greedy souls
thirst for Vespatians blood; but fearful, they
while thus they gull the people, mean to pay
the wonted tribute money, and with slavish fear
to crave a peace of the proud Emperour.
This on my life is true, but wee'l prevent it.
Ie.
I but the means my Lord?
E.
To morrow morning ere the break of day
Muster thy forces to the market place,
there I will meet thee with a warlike troop
Of youthful Citizens, then wee'l command
On pain of death that none presume to stand
for peace, or for the payment of the tribute money;
this done, what's he that dares deny it.
Ie.
My Lord, I do approve of the design,
But fear a potent opposition,
I therefore do advise, that we provide
Some speedy aids to give assistance to
Our enterprize.
Elea.
But how shall this be done?
Ie.
Leave that to me, mean while be sure
to keep the time appointed:
Elea.
I will not fail, farewel Iehochanan.
Exit Eleazer.
40
A dew my Lord:
Why let the Mungril Curs go play,
And lordly Lions fight.
The braver beast shall win the day,
And so my Lord good night:
But I forget my self:
Tis now about the time the lazy watch
With wary steps begin to walk the round:
And this the night that Zareck must be here,
I will withdraw my self, for what noise is that?
Enter the Watch.
1 W.
Come neighbor, come; 'tis we must stand too't when all's done.
2 W.
I neighbour, wee'l stand to our tacklings
I warrant ye.
Je.
The Watch, I've steal aside.
1.
What was that that went by neighbour?
2.
Where, where, neighbour, where?
1.
Marry there, just there something stole along,
2.
Was it not a spright, God bless us?
1.
No, no, no, 'twas nothing but a diffusion.
But as I was saying, neighbour; 'tis we must stand too't, because we be
not book-learn'd, as they say, they count us but unlitter'd fellows, but
let um say what they will, we are the very legs of the Commonwealth;
for when we be drunk, the City reels fort I'me sure.
2.
Mas neighbour, and ye say true.
1.
I woo'l stand toot, that a Watchman hath more torrity than a
Justice a Peace.
2.
What wool ye neighbour, how prove ye that?
1.
Marry thus I prove it:
Yet watchman (taking him in his office of prefermity) may be drunk
by torrity of his place, because he watches the City, and no body
watches him, so cannot your Justice. Agen, your watchman may issue
out, and reprehend any person for any fribolous offence, as murder,
or the like, and for a feeling, as they call it, let him go without further
excommunication, so cannot your Justice; for when the Benefactor is
before him, he must nilli willi reign him according to the vigour of
the Law.
2.
How say by that.
1.
Nay I heard my neighbour Timothy say, that if all your chief officers
should dye in a night, your watchman should be a Justice a peace
himself: nay I tell ye neighbours, the depth of our places is very
high.
3.
See, see.
41
Well, come let us take our stand here, we shall see some vacant
fellow, rambling this way anon, I warrant you.
2.
What must we do then neihbour?
1.
Marry we must remit um to prison, and then ask 'um whither
they were going.
3.
But what if they run away neighbour?
1.
Why then we must knock um down, and bid 'um stand.
Nay I warrant ye neighbour, I have all ye'r points of law Barbatim.
1.
This gate neighbour (you wood 'mire to hear it)
This gate—for I am sure I speak within my compass:
This gate—Lord how the time runs away, me thinks 'twas e'ne but yesterday.
This very Gate—
Thunder.
What was that, what was that neighbour?
2.
'Twas a clap of thunder.
1.
Mas if this weather hold, we shall have a stormy night on't.
Where did I end neighbour, can ye tell?
2.
At [gate] neighbour Oliver:
1.
Well.
Well, this very gate was directed that very night that I was made a
watchman, which did pronosticate (as I may say) the good service
that I shoo'd do here.
Thunders agen.
2.
Trust me truly neighbour, if this weather hold, we shall have a
soul night on't as you say.
1.
'Twas e'ne in such a night as this that my neighbour Timothy
and I ran away from the Constable; for I tell ye neighbour, we are
not to repose our selves to the danger of such seasonable weather.
2.
Mas neighbour I'me e'ne of your minde for that, let's go get some
shelter.
1.
Content, content.
Exeunt.
Thunder, and enter Zareck with a Rapier, and a wrenching Iron.
Za.
Lye there a while till I have
Layes down the Iron, and goes soft to the Gate.
use for thee:
A, as I could wish it, this stormy night hath driven the watch away
Beyond my hopes; why it may now be done
With ease and safety.
Thunder.
Speak lowder, lowder yet thou dreadful sky,
Whose flaming face speaks terror to the world;
The daring Lion now dares not approach
The craggy mountain to devour his prey.
42
And howls to hear this strange combustion,
the fatal bird of night, whose dismal voice
Foretels some ill event, cryes now for fear:
Nor man, nor beast dares budg, yet unto me
thou art as pleasing as the rosie morn,
Whose lovely cheeks look smiling on the day,
How fit thou comest to give assistance too
My brave exploit? for now no sooner shall
the thunder speak, but I will thunder too
upon the gates: now, now the sport begins:
It thunders, and he wrenches the gate.
the gates unbar'd, and Edomites let in,
Ile post immediately to the Synagogue,
And there relate with admiration
the strange effect of the late fearful thunder,
till I have maz'd the learned fools with wonder:
thunder agen, he opens the gates.
Agen, agen, agen, once more, and then 'tis done
And bravely too, without suspicion.
Enter L. Skimeon with others, with torches, Rapiers, and a Drum.
Za.
My Lord?
Sk.
Thou art a trusty fellow, I will reward thy pains,
Where is thy Lord?
Za.
Follow me, I will conduct ye to him.
About to go out.
Enter Jehochanan, and others, with torches and Rapiers.
Ie.
Welcome, my dearest friend, come wee'l away,
And take our stand within the market place,
Strike up the Drum, the dreadful noise will fright
the drowsie Prelats in the dead of night.
Exeunt.
Enter H. Priest and Gorion at several doors in haste, with Night-gowns and tapers.
H. P.
O Gorion we are lost,
the Rebel Skimeon with his ragged band
of theeves, and Cut-throats, this tempestuous night
Hath gotten entrance, Jehochanan I fear
will joyn his forces too, speak Gorion, speak,
What's to be done?
Go.
Wee'l take the temple for our sanctuary,
thither the Citizens will boldly come.
H. P.
We must be speedy then, O Gorion, we
want time to weep for our calamity.
43
Cap.
Come on my brave bilbow blades, my roaring Renegadoes,
and my ragged Ruffians, which side shall we take now?
1.
Marry my brave Captain of the ragged Regiment, we will take
the strongest.
Cap.
Mark me my valiant Mirmidons.
2 Me.
Mark him, mark him.
C.
I will instruct ye in the Rudiments of war;
1. M.
A will instruct us rudely in the war; mark him, mark him.
Cap.
When I your brave Commander bid you stand,
Be sure ye budg not, Hum, Hum, Stand:
1 M.
Why so we do, don't we?
C.
March up in equal rank.
2 M.
We are not such fools I trow; did not a bid us stand?
1 M.
I marry did a, we wont budg an inch I warrant him.
Cap.
By the bright honour of mine Eminence
My reputation will be quite defac't.
I must indoctrinate their dull capacities
With a more ample measure of my meaning:
Advance your Bilbows thus:
They advance.
Now faces about.
Look over their shoulders.
C.
Now Mars defend me, what a rabblement
Of rude disorderd Rebels have I met with all?
1 M.
O ho faces about; follow me, follow me.
Cap.
Well done my valiant Varlets,
Now march each man with fury in his face,
And I your valiant Don
will lead you on
unto the Market place.
Enter Zareck.
M.
O ho, here comes one, knock him down, down with him.
Ca.
Hold I say, he comes perhaps to joyn in our Batalio,
Whose side art thou on fellow? speak, why dost not speak? Ha.
Za.
Your patience, and Ile declare my business.
1 Me.
Patience? we scorn patience, we must march in fury.
2 M.
Down with him, down with him, do's a talk of patience?
Cap.
Silence, I say, ye shallow-brain'd simplicians,
For we are pleas'd to hear his embassie.
1.
Silence, silence, and listen to the emphasis:
Apart. Za.
Vnless I speak in some unheard of stile
Tis sure impossible to get fairly off:
Most indefatigable Commander, and cabalistical Captain of this
most enormious equipage.
44
The stile is most profound, and enigmatical,
Za.
From the three Captains of the Regiment
I was commanded to accoast thy greatness:
Cap.
Hum, hum, declare the sum of thy concernancy.
Za.
I will be most concise,
By the energetical power of this my embassie, I do command thee
tell why thou art up in Arms.
Cap.
Thou hast concocted the crudities of my stomack into choller,
and I am displeased at thy most profuse evaporation.
Talk'st thou of commanding fellow, Hah?
Za.
Mistake me not, most mighty man at Arms.
Cap.
Avant thou vapour of indignity,
Go tel thy Lord, I'le parly with himself.
Za.
I will return thy most elaborate encounter.
Exit.
Cap.
Now by mine honour, I am mov'd with mighty indignation,
and will approach in my fury: Come follow my boyes, follow.
M.
Follow, follow.
Exeunt.
Enter Ananias and Gorion with weapons, and Eleazar, Jeho. Skimeon, with weapons at several doors.
Ananias.
Goodness defend me, am I awake? or do I dream of horror?
Starts back at the sight of his son.
Look up ye wretched eyes, and gaze your fill,
Glut all the greedy faculties of soul
With this prodigious sight:
Rebellious boy, I do command thee kneel:
Elea. smiles.
By all that's good a laughs, laughs me to scorn,
And still persists, even to my face persists
with mockery.
Assist me heaven, and thou distressed earth,
Extend thy forces to the highest strain
Of mans invention; let this fatal hour
Extort the noblest of thine aged powr:
Ignoble, irreligious, Paricide,
Monster of men, rebellious runnagate;
By the Celestial powers severe commands,
By filial duty, and the sacred tye
Of Iewries Law, or if by none of these,
By that eternal vengeance that shall
Fall upon thy cursed head; I do command thee kneel:
Guard me ye blessed ones, and look up
E. laughs.
the great affliction of a poor old man.
37
I knew the froward humor must have vent:
Now it has eas'd it self, and will not be so tutchy.
Why thou impetuous fool, canst thou expect
Obedience from a Son?
Look, look but upon thy self, and see
Of what decrepped age and misery
thou art compos'd: Behold the reeling State
Distracted, feeble, seek, and ruinate,
turn'd topsie-turvy by thy doating brain.
And canst thou dream of Soveraignty?
An.
O my distressed Fate!
Ingrateful Cur, that hast been bred to prove
An open shame to all posterity.
Behold me wretch, and whilst thou look'st upon
A Sons Rebellion, and a Fathers wrong;
Curse the detested hour that did beguile
Thy erring foul with this pernicious plot.
Elea.
Peace dotard, I will hear no more:
the rotten tooth infects the wholsom gum,
Is noisom, painful, loose and troublesom,
Hinders the growth of that that must succeed,
And must be drawn.
Enter Mechanicks.
Cap.
Come follow, follow my boys, follow.
Go.
Welcome my worthy citizens, thrice welcom all.
Cap.
Gramarcy old bully.
Go.
Behold—
Sk.
If ye respect your lives and liberties, hear not
the babler speak.
Go.
Behold dear countrey-men, behold a man,
Points to the high-priest.
Your Priest, your Prophet, and your Soveraign:
Religious, wise, and zealous for the state,
Even from his Infancy immaculate.
Cap.
Be brief, be brief old boy.
Behold a Son; O heaven! why do I call
Him son? behold a villain most unnatural,
A cursed wretch, that dares devise a plot
to cheat the State, and cut the Kingdoms throat.
Cap.
How's that? how's that? cheaters and cut-throats, cheaters
and cut-throats, I like not that Barlady.
Me.
Look to your pockets boyes, look to your pockets, they be
cheaters.
38
O can ye see those precious tears run down,
And not be mov'd with pity?
Ananias weeps.
M.
Pity! hang pity, we are Souldiers, we scorn pity.
Ie.
Dear friends, wise Citizens, and valiant countrey men]
Salutes them.
M.
I, I, let us alone for Wisdom and Valour.
Cap.
Let the circle of thy circumference be mov'd to his proper place.
1 M.
What dee mean? what dee mean? pray be cover'd.
2 M.
Go not too near him Captain, for all this,
the more curtsie, the more craft.
An.
Ingrateful slave, dar'st thou oppose thy self 'gainst him
that gave thee life and liberty?
Go.
O hear him not dear friends, a will beguile
Your honest understandings.
C.
Beguile a pudding, speak on Jocky, speak on.
Ie.
That you are zealous for your Countries good,
I nothing doubt; nor do I fear your love
And fair attentions.
Mark then dear Countreymen, mark I beseech you,
And with your deep discretions truly weigh
the scope of our proceedings.
Cap.
Hum, hum, begin my man of mettle.
Ie.
In the black tempest of a shipwrackt State,
When Prince and People stagger'd with the load
Of sad Oppression; when the peoples groans,
When Mothers tears, and Infants miseries
Were at the full; where, where was then the man
that durst oppose this strange confusion?
Was it not I, my valiant Countrey-men?
Behold Iehochanan dar'st boldly say,
'twas he that forc'd that bastard King from hence,
that slew the Roman Lords, that did deny
to yeild to Romes outragious cruelty:
Tis not unknown unto the meanest here?
M.
What's that? does a make mean fellows of us?
Ie.
Mistake me not, I know ye worthy all,
All men of judgement, wise and valiant all.
Yet give me leave dear friends to let ye know
there are degrees of worth.
M.
O ho, we mistoost him, we mistook him, we are mean in worth
that's well, that's well; go on my brave Captain.
Ie.
'Tis not unknown I say, what heavy yokes
Observe the word dear friends, for 'tis emphatical.
Cap.
Very good, an emphatical yoke.
Ie.
What heavy yokes I say have been impos'd
Vpon this injur'd Nation.
What loads of sorrows have been laid upon
39
With what strange patience and humility
We have endur'd it.
Are not your Kings depos'd, your freedoms lost,
Your Laws transacted, and your goods despoil'd,
Your Wives abus'd, your children massacred,
Your Rulers banisht, and your selves become
A scorn to all posterity?
Will ye be asses still, and bear this heavy load?
Will ye be slaves for ever? Can there be
At least a thought of such stupidity?
M.
O Heaven
M.
How's that! how's that! a calls us slaves and asses:
Down with him, Captain, down with him.
Cap.
Hold, hold I say, my ragged rusticks,
For his Emphasis will bear it.
M.
His Emphasis bear it! his Emphasis's an ass,
We scorn to bear it; down with him I say, down with him.
Cap.
Now by the might of my omnipotence, he that dares strike a
blow, a shall feel the fury of mine indignation.
Elea.
And now dear Countrey-men behold the man,
Your Priest, your Prophet, and your Soveraign.
An.
Dar'st thou to boast in thy impiety?
Skim.
If ye be free-men let me hear ye cry,
Lord Eleazer, Life and Liberty.
All M.
A Free-man, a Free-man, a Freeman; down with old gray
beard, down with gray beard.
Go.
Curse on that wicked hand that dares a blow
against that sacred head; let it be seiz'd with death by a Divine revenge;
Or let it ever be
A withered member of impiety.
But if the wicked fury must have vent,
Vpon my knees I beg, let it be poured out
Vpon this head of mine.
O Eleazer, canst thou look upon
the great afflictions of this good old man,
And not be drownd in tears of penitence?
Behold the torrent of his grief is such,
A has not power to express his misery.
A has no eyes to weep no tongue to speak,
No sence to comfort, but a heart to break.
Elea.
Theres something in this old enchanters tongue
that will beguile me; peace, I will hear no more.
Go.
Then mayst thou ne're be heard of heaven.
Behold, the highest strain of misery,
old Gorion begs even of his enemy.
40
Peace impotent fool, I say, I will hear no more.
Go.
Then thou must stop thine ear, for I must speak:
Elea.
Come Souldiers, let's away, hear not the babler speak.
M.
No, no, no, wee'l hear no impudent old men.
Cap.
March on my man of mettle, we will follow thee
through thick and thin, up to the chin
In blood, my bonny buntings.
Exeunt omnes, but high Priest and Gorion
Go.
Heaven give thee strength to bear this misery.
An.
In what a labyrinth of wretchedness
Dwells this forsaken City! how the streets
Swarm with the sons of death! the sons of death I
O may that name of son for ever dye,
And yet nought but the Name, the wretched Name:
Long may the Substance live: the Substance—why?
What is the Substance? If the Name be foul,
Farewel the rest for ever. And yer methinks it were
too short a time to take so long a leave:
Stay then, what is the Substance? the Substance is my son,
Agen my son: Ile say it is my self,
My very self divided from my self:
And then methinks 'tis wondrous strange to see
(And yet 'tis wondrous true, my self to be
A butcher to my self: And then—if it be so,
Why do I blame a Son—was it not I
that gave him shape, and life, his faculties
Of will and reason? to do well or ill, are from above.
Had a been born a beast, a had been free
From such unheard-of, cursed crueltie.
Go.
How strongly Nature works, ere it can part
With that it woo'de effect.
An.
O Eleazer, if thou wert not mine,
I could be happy in my misery.
Thou art a villain, yet thou art my son,
My son, and yet a villain; there's a word
Able to make a Fathers heart-string's crack,
Go.
No more good man.
An.
Strange actions I have heard
have sometimes wrought strange alterations.
Were it not strange to see the Sun go back,
Or borrow light of the unconstant Moon!
Were it not strange to see the Cedar bend,
And do his homage to the lowly shrub!
Or to behold the stately Lion crouch,
And stand in fear of the dejected Lamb;
41
A thing more strange; the head must serve the heel,
The Villain Son must stand. the Father kneel.
O Gorion! if one spark of love he left
In that ingrateful breast; or if there be
At least one dram of goodness yet remaining,
this act will penetrate his erring soul,
Startle his Conscience, and amaze the will,
Affright the judgement, and divert the plot,
the bloody plot: O! I am lost with grief,
And do I know not what—And yet it must be done:
Come, go with me I say, for I will kneel.
Go.
Heaven send thee comfort in this extasie.
Exeunt.
Enter a Carter with his whip, at one door whistling, and the Lady Miriams man, Peter, at another.
Peter.
What, brother Penuel, what a murren mak'st thou here.
Nay, nay, nay, I prethee leave thy whewing, and tell me
apart.
what thou mak'st here—no I'le hold a groat I'le make
ye leave anon; why sirrah, if thou didst but behold what a
pittiful pernicious face thou mak'st with whistling, thou wouldst take
up stones and throw at it.
Pen.
Take heed thou dost not whistle Peter.
P.
O, I thought I should put ye out a tune.
Pet.
Why prethee?
Pen.
I can hardly endure thy face without it.
If thou shouldst whistle, thou wert utterly undone,
I should never forbear throwing at it.
Pet.
Well contorted efaith boy.
Ped.
Nay I can tell ye Peter, for wit and understanding I am not regenerate,
as they say, for my Father had as much knowledge as any
man of his understanding in the town I woos.
Pet.
Well, well, well, I have nothing to do with knowledge and
understanding
Pen.
Then thou'rt a fool Peter.
Pet.
I am won of your making then, and indeed it may well be
for they say won fool makes many: I think I was even w'ye there for
the fool.
Pen.
Excellent good efaith Peter.
Pet.
Nay I can tell ye, I had a Father too; well, well, I know what
I know; but all's one for that—um, um: But I prethee boy tell me,
tell me what mak'st thou here?
By this hand if thou wilt not leave whistling,
Ile throw stones.
42
Why canst not thou tell what I make here?
Pet.
Not I as I am a Gentleman.
Pen.
Why thou hearst I make musick bully.
Pet.
Musick with a pox, prethee leave making Musick, and make
me an answer.
Pen.
Marry then I will tell thee what I make here:
I am come to follow the wars my boy:
They say the new Captains entertain all comers,
And I am all on fire to be at it.
O—methinks I could so pepper thee now.
Pet.
Oh—oh—prethee hold, or else I shall need to be salted too:
But efaith boy, art in earnest? if thou beest, shake hands, shake hands.
Pen.
Why thou art not run away from thy Lady too, art?
Pet.
No—but I am sent of an everlasting Errand, and will leave the
answer to my Executors: I'me for push a pike boy.
Pen.
Stand close, stand close, here come, the Captains.
Enter Eleazer, Skimeon, and Zareck with a Paper in his hand.
Elea.
The Commons are in arms against us Skimeon,
And resolutely take our Fathers part;
Yet he, I hear, gives no allowance too't,
But thinks with fair perswasions to prevail:
But we are arm'd with resolution.
Sk.
We must be wise my Lord; those aged hairs
Are taught by long experience to intrap
our younger brains; and this may be a plot
to take us at' advantage.
Therefore my Lord, in time let me advise
that we encrease our forces speedily:
Let us make known the Proclamation.
Elea.
Read the contents of it once again.
Zareck reads.
Whosoever listeth to be rid from the bondage of his Master, or hath any injury
in his Countrey; or what servant soever desireth to be set at liberty; or who
so cannot abide the rule of his father or his mother; all that be in debate, and
stand in fear of their Creditors, or fear the Iews for shedding innocent blood:
If there be any man that is accused of any notorious crime, & in danger therefort:
To be short, whosoever is disposed to rob, to haunt Whores, to murder, and
to live freely at other mens cost, let him come to me, and I will relieve him.
Pet.
O rare I am ravished, I am ravished, the wenches, the wenches boy
Elea.
I do not like the Proclamation,
the subject sounds too harsh, and will beget
Distractions in the graver Citizens.
Skim.
Death, what need we care for that,
So we be strong for opposition.
Elea.
Delays are dangerous, and we may be surpriz'd
Indeed upon the sudden: well—let it be done,
But in thy Name, for I must seem to be
Vpright and zealous for their liberty.
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Ananias.
Behold young man, thy aged Father kneels;
And kneels to thee, even unto thee his Son,
And begs with tears, with tears of bitterness,
the ransom of thy soul, and of the State,
Both lost for ever, ever lost if thou persist.
Elea.
Patience defend me, or I shall be o'recom.
Sk.
Take heed ye be not caught.
Elea.
Caught! is't possible for man to view this sight,
Apart.
this most prodigious sight, and not be caught?
O Heavens! Did I not hear him say a was my Father?
Have I not heard him beg, and seen him kneel?
Had a been Jewries slave, a could have done no more.
Is't possible these Rivolets of blood should flow
From such a Fountain. Come hither fellow.
the Carter comes.
Time and Maturity do seem to say
thou mayest have been a Father to a Son:
tell me, hadst thou e're a son?
Go.
this passion I hope, wil work some good effect.
Pet.
Hee'l hang him sure.
Cart.
Had, I, and have too, an't like your Worship, or chood be zorry.
Elea.
The power of Nature works as strong in thee
As in thy Prince; thou lov'st him too, I know.
Cart.
By th'mass I zee your Worship's vilely cunning: I do indeed.
Elea.
Couldst thou afford upon some weighty cause,
(Suppose to save thy life, to kneel unto thy son?
Car.
Kads nails, kneel, I scorn that efaith,
Chil make the Looby kneel to me, chil warrant him.
El.
Come hither; seest thou this old man?
Car.
Ay.
Canst thou believe this man to be my Father?
C.
Vather ketha, no by my troth not I.
El.
Vp thou decrepped lump of vanity.
thou base impostor that wouldst cheat the world
With a supposed Name; thou beastly shame
Of Age and Honour, thou indignity
Vnto thy self, and thy Posterity.
Come, come, disrobe thy self, I say, and yeild
Whilst he speaks, he disrobes him.
these ornaments to him that scorns to kneel:
Here fellow, put um on; put um on, I say, for I will have it so.
Let our Proclamation be publisht.
Za.
It shall my Lord.
Exit Elea. Skim. and Zareck at one door, and Anna. & Gor. at the other, weeping, and after them the Carter whistling
Pet.
'St Pennel, 'st Pennel.
The heighth of his preferment will not let him answer me,
Well, I am astonished to think what honor I shall come too.
Finis Actus primus.
| The Jewes Tragedy, or, Their Fatal and Final Overthrow by Vespatian and Titus his Son | |