University of Virginia Library

Scena. 5.

Sir Vlrico, with diuers papers in his hand, two poore Citysens, soliting complayntes.
Vl.
As thou complaynst, agaynst all equity,
Houldes Phallax thy house, by this extremity?

First.
Yea sure, and he hath bound me so subtylly,
As lesse you helpe, lawe yeeldes mee no remidy.

Vl.
Well, what say you? is Phallax mony payd?

Se.
Saue fyue pound Syr:

Vl.
For which your bond is stayde.

Se.
Nay mary, the same I would gladly pay,
But my bonde for the forfeyt he doth stay.

Vl.
Summum Ius, I see, is Summa Iniuria:
So these wronges must be salued some other way.

First.
Yea, more then this, most men say:

Vl.
What?

First.
To be playne, he keepes Mistris Lamia.

Vl.
Admyt he doe, what helpe haue you by this?

Se.
Yes mary, it prooues, a double knaue he is:
A couetous churle, and a lecher too.

Vl.
Well, well, honest men, for your witnesse go,
And as on proofe, I fynde your iniuries,
So I wyl moue, the king for remedyes.

Both.
We thanke your honour.

Exeunt.
Vl.
Tys more then straunge, to see with honest show,
What fowle deceytes, lewde officers can hyde:
In euery case, their crafte, they collour so,
As styll they haue, stryckt lawe vpon their side.
These cunning Theeues, with lawe, can Lordships steale,
When for a sheepe, the ignoraunt are trust:
Yea, who more rough, with small offenders deale,
Then these false men, to make themselues seeme iust?
The tirant Phallaris, was praysed in this,
When Perillus the brasen torment made:
He founde the wretch, strayght wayes in some amys,
And made him first, the scourge thereof taste:
A iust reward for such as doe present
An others fault, himselfe, the guiltyest man.
Well, to our weale, our gratious king is bent,
To taste these theeues, to vse what meanes he can.
But as at Cheastes, though skylfull players play,
Skyllesse vewers, may see, what they omyt:
So though our king, in searching Iudgement may,
Gesse at their faultes, which secret wronges commit:
Yet for to iudge, by trueth, and not by ame,
My selfe in cheefe, his highnesse doth auctorise,
On proofe for to returne who meryts blame,
And as I fynde, so he himselfe will punish:
So that to vse, my charge indyfferently,
My Clyents wronges, I wyll with wytnesse trye.

As he is going out, Pimos, a young gentelman speakes to him.