University of Virginia Library

SCEN. 4.

Enter Messenger.
And.
Bring'st ought which is worth so much posting speed?

Mes.
A blazing Star, was lately seen i'th'East,

And.
A mighty bulchin Calf was calv'd i'th West.

Mes.
I'm glad your Highnes makes so light of it.

And.
A blazing Starrs beneath me, I'm the Sun
That brightly shine i'th'Grecian Firmament,
What is a blazing Star, the Kithin-stuffe,
O'th'lower Region fir'd, then fades in snuffe.

Mes.
Is stream'd with beams like hair unto the death.

And.
Sure it presageth then some Princes death;
That wears long locks, but see my hair is short.
It seems the Heavens are merry, and now make Bonefires.

Mes.
A Woman was delivered of a child.

And.
That's strange indeed, but had.
A child bin now deliver'd of a Woman.

Mes.
Deliver'd of a child that had two heads,
The one alive sprightly plump, fat and fair,
The other dwinling, wither'd, old, and dead.

And.
Herein Dame Nature doth not prophecy,
But only doth relate an History:
These double heads were verified thus,
The living we, Alexius the dead.

Mes.
An Earthquake in the south was plainly felt,

And.
Our Mother Earth was troubled with the collick,
Some prison'd Wind striv'd for his liberty.

Mes.
Saint Paul (your Tutelary Saint) his statue
Of brass did weep.

And.
For joy of our success,
Give him an Hankerchief to wipe his eyes.
I wonder at those wonder at these joyes,
To those they'r onely true, who do them dread,
Fortune fear'd 's a Tyrant, scorn'd a Coward
(Exit 1. Messenger
(Enter 2. Messenger.
Our words and thoughts are many miles apart,
Fair weather in our face, storms in our heart.
Such Prodigies I fear pretend no good;
Another Messenger, more Prodigies.
You bring the second part to the same tune.

2. Mes.
A tune will scarse sound pleasing in our ears,
Isachius appear'd i't'h Market place.
And there made an Oration to the people.

And.
He an Oration? Then a Jews-trump's a Lute
Pan made such Musick on an Oaten Pipe,

2. Mes.
Pan's Musicks best where Midas is the Judge,
He made his speech unto the peoples ears.

And.
He is as Eloquent as Valiant.

2. Mes.
Hee's Eloquent that doth attain his ends,
What he did lack in Rhetorick, he did
Supply with Logick, with his Arguments.
He prov'd his hearers all into his subjects,
It is the language now of all the City,
Long live the Emperour Isachius.

And.
Surprised, surprised,
I'th'port I have a Pinnace under sail,
Long since provided if all else should fail.
Thither Ile now retire my self in hast;
Hee's not quite broke, who hath one shift at last.