University of Virginia Library

SCEN. Ult.

Enter Andronicus, Panergus, and Basilius.
And.
Lets see the List,
Read it Panergus, then will we declare,
Whom we think fit to save, whom fit to kill.

Pan.
Maria Cæsarissa is the first,

Bas.
Sirs, she's a woman, may she not be spar'd?

An.
What is your holiness in love with her?
I tell you Sir, she is more then a woman,
An able active brain, a daring spirit,
She does inherit her father Manuels parts,
She shall be kill'd.

Pa.
How will you dispose of her husband?

An.
I have solemnly observed in all my time,
Never to part the husband and the wife

Pa.
Assotus followeth, what's your highness pleasure,

An.
Erect a scaffold in the Market place,
And there behead him, this shall be his crime
His riot ill imprest the waxen youth,
Of young Alexius this will render us,
Just to the people, and gain reputation.

Pa.
Morio the jester next i'th list succeeds,

Bas.
His body downward's fool, his head's a knave;
Court passages he cunningly doth mark,
And vents them by the priviledge of his coate
In wary twilight betwixt jest and earnest.

An.
Ile not infringe the grand Charter of jesters,
'Tis ancient, and he's beneath my anger.

Pa.
But Sir, Isachius must be lookt unto,
He is the next of the Imperial line.

An.
Let him alone poor narrow hearted soul:
To enjoy his books, and beads, and crucifixes.
He lives, it'h covent and there let him live,

Ba.
Hee's loath to wake a Lyon that doth sleep.

(Asid.
Pa.
Then comes Cleobulus who first deni'de
Unto our grand petition to subscrib,
He must be kill'd.

An.
He must be kept alive.

Pa.
Strange reason Sir,

An.
Our pleasure is our reason.
We do delight to cross mens expectations,
And love to leave th'mazed world at loss
They shall not trace the Labyrinth of my actions,
Wee'l slay, whom they think we will save and whom,
They think wee'l slay wee'l save, the more their thoughts
Are thus defeated, they'l admire
And what they cannot understand adore,

Pa.
Next Paleologus doth take his turn,

An.
A dangerous youth, high birth, and higher parts,
His mind above his means, dispatch him sure.

Pa.
But Sir, on what pretence must these be kill'd?
Some thing must be alleadged first, like truth,
To satisfie the mouths of greedy people.

An.
Power never wanted pretences, and those just,
And legall for to do what it desir'd,
Accuse them, that they lately have conspir'd
Against our sacred person, Knights o'th post,
Of th'Devils dubbing quickly shall depose it,
Their tongues are hired for trifles, and ther's nought
Save honesty, but here it may be bought.

Pa.
Crato doth next succeed.

An.
Enough at once,
I do desire Alexius should be
Well waited on in's progress to his grave,
All these shall Usher him, such as remain
Shall follow after to hold up his train.
Some dishes in our first course we dispose,
Others reserve therewith to close our meal.

Chorus consisting of two companies of old men.
1. Chor.
Neighbours, what news? tell us we pray,
The issue of this pregnant day,
For now, alass, 'tis all our task,
News to tell, or news to ask.
And arived at these years,
Our hands, are turn'd to tongues and ears.

2. Chor.
Gull'd with lyes wee'l be no more,
Which so oft were gull'd before.
Nor will be rob'd by Pamphlet-thief,
First of our coyn, then our belief,
All truth is mounted to the skies,
And all that's left below are lyes.

1. Chor.
Speak you of the other side?
What you say is not denide,
Our foes no open forging spare:
The Country vents the City ware,
Lyes and money both they mynt,
Those sons number, that by stynt.

2. Chor.
Both sides in lying twins are Grown,
But for the Elder, theirs we own,
We started last, have nigh o're got,
Them, and the coppy which they wrote:
So imitate, 'tis hard to say.
Master, scholler, we, or they.

1. Chor.
'Tis true we're all o'th Poets straine,
All are poor, all use to feign.
Henceforth it shall be our care,
Onely to tell, and trust our share.
What news soever men do talk,
Two parts of three, we will defalk.

2. Chor.
Nay, of some news was told a late,
Twice five of ten you must abate.
Castles i't'h air they made to stand,
And march'd o're seas, and sail'd o're land.
With such improbable relations,
Were both the tales, and consultations.

1. Chor.
Such news are useful in these ages,
Our souldiers else would oft want wages,
Such pleasing falshoods, wisely told.
Do serve mens spirits to uphold,
Spirits which fall when once they stoop;
And dye when they begin to droop.

2. Chor.
Then let them drop, then let them dye,
Rather then live, sav'd with a lye;
The higher that mens spirits mount,
Reckoning on a false account,
The lower they will fall to ground,
When truth long hid, at last is found.

1. Chor.
But if some zealous Lady tels,
The news, she converts infidels,
And all do credit her the better,
Seconded by some great Lords letter,
Who doubts reports from persons high,
Do tantomount give them the lye.

2. Chor.
But seeing in this factious age,
All sorts themselves on sides engage,
We take the leave what ere is told.
Wee'l trust when 'tis thrice three daies old,
No news to us doth sent so well,
As when tis stale to others smell.