University of Virginia Library

SCEN. 5.

Enter Paleologus and Crato.
Pal.
Andronicus is gone to his devotions,

Cra.
The Devil hee's at's devotions, he is gone
Unto his Junto, there they do debate,
How to confer the Imperial Crown on him.

Pal.
I never had a Fancy to these Juntoes,

Cr.
They'r absolutely needful in a State.

Pal.
Let me have things discuss'd at Councel Board
In free and full appearance, where 'tis no Treason
With solid reason to displease a Prince,
Brave bandying points of State, now off, now on,
With Troops of Arguments brought Pro and Con
Where every Councellor may have his due
To be heard out, (though haply not beleev'd)
Now things in private ways are smothered.

Cra.
Such smothering gives the life unto great actions.
Secresie is the soul of grand designs,
You'd have them first proclaim'd i'th'Marketplace,
And made the second course at th'Ordinaries.
“Goods ventur'd in most bottoms most secure,
“But secrets known to fewest brests most sure.
His Junto's but of sour; the first himself,
The Patriarch next, Lapardas and Panergus.

Pal.
One may keep counsel, if there be one more
How many matters not, fourty or four,
If one o'th four prove false, the action fails
Ships drown as deep with one as fourty leaks,

Cra.
Experience proves Juntoes of most dispatch,
The fewer set on brood the more are hatch'd,
And where most doers are, the least is done.

Pal.
What are these men the wisest in the State?
Are they most honest, or most fortunate?

Cra.
Most fortunate in this, they'r most intrusted:

Pal.
But do they best deserve trust, and discharge it?
Amongst those many late Monopolies,
Which swell'd mens private gain with publike loss.
(Heavens grant no Courtier may ingross the Sun
Poor people should pay dear then for fair weather)
None like to this for a few men to sit
Eternal and most absolute Dictators,
Controul, add, alter, ratifie, reverse,
Whilst others which with them claim equal share,
Concernd alike in the countries charge and care,
Yea have the most at stake, are lookers on,
Sometimes admitted to concur by chance,
But kept in wholsome Ignorance for the main.

Cra.
This must be so,
Great Councels this great mischief doth attend,
Therein mens judgements justle, sometimes thwart,
(More minding private Betts, then th'publike game)
A Junto in one currant doth unite.

Pal.
O 'tis safest where there is a multitude,

Cra.
Of Councellors to debate, but not conclude.

Pal.
The more the eyes, the more they do discern,

Cra.
A Junto sees with's own and others eyes,
It doth begin where the great Councel ends
Takes their results, and thereon spend its verdict.
“That Silver which is oftnest tried's most pure,
“That Councel which is most refin'd most sure.
But let's be gone, they'r up, Here comes the Patriarch.

Exeunt.