University of Virginia Library

Scena sexta.

Iudge, Doctor, Witnesses, Uerdugo, Officers.
Iud.
Since it hath bin the custome of this state
To place a stranger on this high Tribunall
Ordayning a professor of the Lawes,
As his assistant (being the place you hold)
It is our duty to discharge that trust
With all integrity, and not to looke
Vpon mens persons, but to weigh their crimes
In equall ballance, to which purpose now
Although a strange and horrid sacriledge
Ha's cald us hither in unusuall haste;
Yet it must be our cheife care to proceed
With due deliberation; otherwise
Though just our sentence be, we are unjust.

Doc.
I have for some yeares had the happines
To be a witnes of your constant session,
In all which time I have not heard a sentence
Pronounc't by you that envy could pervert.

Iud.
We must not thinke we deserve prayse for that
Which to neglect would merit punishment.

Doc.
But yet there are degrees of good and ill,
Wherein the actor takes a liberty.

Jud.
Yet where the lawe prescribes a certaine rule
A iust Iudge cannot challenge liberty:
But let us now pursue the worke in hand,
Where is the pris'ner?

Off.
Heere.

Doc.
Let him draw neere.

Iud.
His name?

Off.
He calls himselfe Virdugo, sir.

Iud.
Then know, Virdugo, though thy haynous fact
Be evident, yet the Iustice of this state
Grants thee free leave to answer for thy selfe.

Ver.
I thanke the state for their set complement.

Iud.
Bring forth the witnesses that he may see them.

Off.
They are both heere an't please your excellence.

Iud.
Have they bin sworne?

Doc.
Yes both sir, before me.

Jud.
Then, by the oath you tooke, declare the truth
Of what you know concerning this delinquent,
Begin you first.

Wit. 1.
Aboute som three howres since
Being in the Domo, I espi'd this man
At his first entrance, and although I never
To my remembrance saw his face before,
Yet instantly I found a strange mislike
Of his aspect, which did increase the more,
Because I saw him often fix his eyes
On him he slew, whom I conceiv'd to be
Signior Jmperiale, I reveal'd my thoughts
To this yong man who then stood next me, who
Concurring with me, did resolve as I
To watch him narrowly; we both agreed
To keepe on either side of him, at length
In midst of all the crowd, raising his arme
To fetch his blow, he hit me with his elbow,
At which I suddenly laid hold on him,
Supposing he had snatcht at some mans purse,
But then I saw drop from his hand the sheath
Of that dire weapon, he had newly buried
In the warme bowels of that Gentleman.

Wit. 2.
Most part of this I averre, I stood so neere him
That I perceiv'd the motion of his arme,
And looking down, spi'd bloud upon his hand.

Ver.
The Canker take your Phisiognomy
That made you try conclusions upon me.

Jud.
There cannot be more cleere and pregnant proofe,
What have you to alledge in your defence?

Doc.
He hath confest the fact.

Iud.
Hath he confest
Who set him on? whether he meant to kill
Signior Imperiale, or yong Spinola?

Ver.
The one had done me wrong, but destiny
Made th'other take a Carnivall disguise
Somewhat too soone.

Iud.
Such recreations
Though in themselves they be indifferent,
Yet in a sacred Temple th'are prophane,
And draw downe vengeance.

Ver.
Had there bin but hope
To have enervated their testimony:
The racke, nor the Strapado, no nor yet
The subtler torment both of fire and water
Should have inforc't me to the least confession:
But 'tis my fate, and therefore let me heare
My passing bell, my doome quickly pronounc'd;
For't were ridiculous to expect favour,
Since your integrity (as you confest)
May not shew any, where the law condemnes.

Doc.
Dar'st thou deride the Iudge?

Jud.
Let him alone,
He hath no sence of his owne misery,
His boldnesse moves not me, I shall proceed
With the unchanged countenance of Law,
And with a voyce not furious, but severe;
When I condemne a guilty man, 'tis done,
As if I strooke a Serpent, not with passion.

Doc.
His wicked acts have hardned him, he came
No novice to this cruell enterprise.
In Venice he climing a Ladder, shot
Through the glasse window a Clarissimo
Sitting at supper, slew a Count of Naples
In his owne garden, having first observ'd
A place where he might scale the wall t'escape;
And that his wants may not obtrude the guilt
Vpon his fortune, he but lately ravish't
A yong and Noble Virgin in Siena,
The onely daughter of Petruccio.

Ver.
Can that be thought to be a great offence?

Doc.
The harmelesse man thinks it no great offence,
With hot and beastly lust to vitiate
A Damzell, at the most but ten yeers old.

Ver.
Beleeve it, I have found um good at eight;
Why there are many like Quartella, sir,
Remember not that they were ever maids.

Iud.
He takes delight not onely in the act,
But in the infamy of wickednesse;
But I will rid the world of such a monster;
And therefore now, Verdugo, I pronounce,
Because th'hast heap'd up crimes, and drunk in vice,
Which is dispersed into every limbe,
Thy body shall be laid upon a wheele,
And limb by limb be broken, till thou dyest;
Nor shalt thou then finde any other grave,
Then the blacke mawes of Vultures, and remaine.
In the meane time a spectacle to men:
This sentence justice hath declar'd by me.

Ver.
Sir?

Iud.
Not to be revok't, take him away,
And early in the morning see't be done.

Ver.
I'le beare it manfully, although I feele
Ixion-like the torment of the wheele.

Iud.
Such malefactors in a State are like
To putrified members in mans body,
Which like a skilfull Surgeon, law findes best
To cut off quite, lest they infect the rest.

Chorus of two.
1

2

1

2

1

2