University of Virginia Library

SCEN. 5.

Enter Panergus, and Spiculator.
Pan.
Pray use me kindly, we should be a kin,
My mother was the daughter of a Hangman
Better extracted by my Fathers side,
He was a Projector.

Spic.
Who your grandfather?

Pan.
I know vvhom to call Grandfather:
For Grandfather I'ad either none or all,

Spic.
So much of your Original Now for your end,
Your Pedigree is good, but wants this vvreath.
Takes the halter in his hand, and shews it.
Come thou Panpharmacon of all diseases,
Purges are base, vvorse vomits, blisters painful,
Blood-letting cruel, glisters are immodest,
This Feavers quenches, and moist Dropsies dreines,
Cures Plurisies, not opening of a Vein,
Stays the Vertigo, helps the the Strangury,
Opens the Urine, only stops the breath.

Pan.
Can you thus jeer at one consign'd to death

Spic.
I learnt it from some Sages in our State,
A hangman may well imitate a judge,
Some vvhen they do begin to give sentence;
First break a jest, and then the Offenders neck,
But to be serious, would you have a Confessor?

Pan.
With all my heart.

Spic.
I'le send for th'Patriarch,

Pan.
Nay, spare your pains, for his unholiness;
Hath more need to confess to me,
His Conscience is so wide, 'tis none at all.

Spic.
Improve the little time you have to spend,
Not to blame others, but to mend your self.

Pan.
'Tis gravely spoken, Oh, novv for Monobius.

Spic.
What he who late crept from his Cell?

Pan.
The same,

Spic.
VVhose looks do carry Lent.

Pan.
The self same man.

Spic.
Mistake not.

Pan.
I am sure;

Spic.
Then be assur'd,
He shall not come to be your Confessor,
You would not one, shall not have the other.
Wee'l teach them not to chuse, who are to crave,

[He puts the Rope about his neck, Andron. enters.
And.
Hold Hangman thou hast acted well thy part,
By all those Saints, whom truly I adore,
All that I did before was but in jest.
I did but try thee whether thou wert able?
To be miserable with minde undaunted,
I now commend thy carriage all this time,
Thy courage makes thy miseries to smile.

Pan.
O happy eares! Oh voice more then Divine.

And.
Thou hast not bow'd thy soul beneath thy self,
Speak freely didst thou think I was in earnest?

Pan.
I thought so when I seriously beheld,
Your power unbounded, but when I reflected
Upon your goodness, then I hop'd you jested.

And.
Our power revives you now out of the grave.

Pan.
I humbly live to meditate upon,
Your mercy and my resurrection:

And.
His soul's exalted now sufficiently,
Ile stoop him in the Zenith of his joy,
He shall again dance back into the rope,
No torture to the rack 'twixt fear and hope.
Hangman to your work,
Deaths sentence shall proceed, for all this now;
Was interpos'd as a Parenthesis.

Pan.
Remember Sir, the oath you lately took,
By all the saints whom truely you adore,

An.
Deep oath indeed as if that I should swear,
By all the love which I do bear to thee.

Pan.
May causeless jealousies possess thy mind,
Seeking for that thou wouldest be loath to find;
Ten thousand furies in thy conscience yell,
Till that we both together meet in—

(He strangles him.
Spi.
Ile spoil your rime,
And may all Traytors have this just reward.

An.
Preserve the Halter I have a further drift,

Spi.
Sir, It is done, these times will teach us thrift.