University of Virginia Library

SCE. V.

Enter And. Steph. Bas.—(shouts within.)
And.
What would you have me do?—

Ste.
Troth, play no longer;
(Pardon the language) They are all agog,
And may do mischief.—

Bas.
If you slip this minute,
You may wait long enough, e're you get another;
If once they settle, all our labour's lost;
They'll understand themselves—Besides, you're gon
Too far, to go no farther:—

And.
You mistake me;
I am resolv'd upon it—What before
Lookt like ambition, Is but safety now;
I only stopt a while, as doubting, whether
'Twere fit t'accept it yet—

Ste.
What said the Lords?

And.
Most satisfy'd; only Mamalus's face
Spake more, than his tongue durst.—

Bas.
Puh, he's but one,
And may be made; at least, be taken off,
By (the old way) preferment, or his head:

Ste.
But there are others, and not least concern'd,
The sober party, that have stakes to lose;
(The age is too refin'd for men to walk
Invisible) They ha'n't been dealt with yet.

Ste.
'Tis one o'th' greatest follies in the world,
For to believe the world wiser than 'tis;
Call me a Junto—They shall do it for you;
You'll ne're want men, until you want Preferment.

And.
That were to let 'um see, I needed 'um;
Put a sword in their hands, and make my self
Less than I am; them, more than they should.

Bas.
How will y'avoid it? There is no other way
To fix, and settle; then you'll plead consent;
Nor will it be difficult to bring 'um to't:
The people are like sheep, 'tis better driving
A flock, than one.—

And.
But say they should prove sullen?
Unravle my Title?—

Ste.
You must venture that;
'Tis easie turning 'um to grass agen;
By all means let 'um meet, though they do nothing,
But set the rates of Tripes, and Pudding-pies.

And.
Well, be it so; And now my friend, you may
Rally your rabble-Regiment agen:
Tell 'um—I accept it.

Exit Basilius.
Ste.
I'll secure your Highness,
They shall not squabble for want of work; my self
Has cut out more than they'll make up in hast;
Nor shall their speed be more than we think good;
Whilst, though wisemen propose, fools must debate it:

Shout within.
And.
Now how I love my Genius (hugs him)
Let's keep here,
All will be well enough; And though I cannot
Make the deaf Adder hear, I'll be sure this,
To charm him so, he shall not dare to hiss.

Exeunt.
Shouts within proclaiming Andronicus.