Go. How now, sir? What time a day is't? Arg. I cannot show you precisely, an't please your honour. Go. What? shall we have replications, rejoinders? Tha. Such a creature fool is, when he bestrides the back of authority. It Go. Sirrah, stand you forth! supposed thou hast committed a most inconvenient murther upon the body of Lysander. Lyc. My good lord, I have not. Go. Peace, varlet, dost chop with me? I say it is imagined thou hast murthered Lysander. How it will be proved, I know not. Thou shalt therefore presently be had to execution; as justice, in such cases, requireth. Soldiers, take him away. Bring forth the sentinel. Lyc. Your lordship will first let my defence be heard. Go. Sirrah! I'll no fending nor proving. For my part, I am satisfied it is so; that's enough for thee. I had ever a sympathy in my mind against him. Let him be had away. Tha. A most excellent apprehension! He's able, ye see, to judge of a cause at first sight, and hear but two parties. Here's a second Solon. Eu. Hear him, my lord; presumptions oftentimes (Though likely grounded) reach not to the And truth is oft abused by likelihood. Go. Madam, content yourself. I will do justice; I will not hear him. Your late lord was my honourable predecessor, but your ladyship must pardon me: in matters of justice I am blind. Go. Your husband was a noble gentleman, but, alas! he came short: he was no statesman. He has left a foul city behind him. Tha. Ay, and I can tell you 'twill trouble his lordship and all his honourable assistants of scavengers to sweep it clean. Go. It's full of vices, and great ones, too. Tha. And thou none of the meanest. Go. But I'll turn all topsy-turvy, and set up a new discipline amongst you. I'll cut off all perished members. Tha. That's the surgeon's office. Go. Cast out these rotten, stinking carcasses, for infecting the whole city. Arg. Rotten they may be, but their wenches use to pepper them, and their surgeons to parboil them; and that preserves them from stinking, an't please your honour. Go. Peace, sirrah, peace; and yet 'tis well said, too. A good pregnant fellow, i'faith! But to proceed. I will spue drunkenness out ath' city. Tha. Into th' country. Go. Shifters shall cheat and starve, and no man shall do good but where there is no need. Braggarts shall live at the head, and the tumult that haunt taverns. Asses shall bear good qualities, and wise men shall use them. I will whip lechery out ath' the city; there shall be no more cuckolds. They that heretofore were arrant cornutos, shall now be honest shopkeepers, and justice shall take place. I will hunt jealousy out of my dominion. Tha. Do ye hear, brother? Go. It shall be the only note of love to the husband, to love the wife; and none shall be more kindly welcome to him than he that cuckolds him. Tha. Believe it a wholesome reforma Tha. That's true. Go. I know no persons. If a Court | tion. favourite write to me in a case of justice, I will pocket his letter, and proceed. If a suitor in a case of justice thrusts a bribe into my hand, I will pocket his bribe, and proceed. Therefore, madam, set your heart at rest; I am seated in the throne of justice, and I will do justice; I will not hear him. Eu. Not hear him, my lord? Go. No, my lady: and moreover, put you in mind in whose presence you stand; if you parrot to me long-go to. Tha. Nay, the Vice must snap his authority at all he meets, how shall't else be known what part he plays? Go. I'll have no more beggars. Fools shall have wealth, and the learned shall live by their wits. I'll have no more bankrouts. They that owe money shall pay it at their best leisure, and the rest shall make a virtue of imprisonment, and their wives shall help to pay their debts. I'll have all young widows spaded for marrying again. For the old and withered, they shall be confiscate to unthrifty gallants and decayed knights; if they be poor they shall be burnt to make soap-ashes, or given to Surgeon's Hall to be stamped to salve for the French measles. To conclude, I will cart pride out ath' town. Go. A good undertaking presence; a well-promising forehead. Your gentleman usher, madam? Eu. Yours, if you please, my lord. Arg. Ay, an't please your honour, but begot i'th Court. Go. Tressel-legged? Arg. Ay, an't please your honour. Go. The better; it bears a breadth, makes room a both sides. Might I not see his pace? Arg. Yes, an't please your honour. [Argus stalks. Go. 'Tis well, 'tis very well. Give me thy hand. Madam, I will accept this property at your hand, and will wear it threadbare for your sake. Fall in there, sirrah. And for the matter of Lycus, madam, I must tell you you are shallow. There's a state point in't, hark you: the Viceroy has given him, and we must uphold correspondence. He must walk. Say one man goes wrongfully out ath' world, there are hundreds to one come wrongfully into th' world. Eu. Your lordship will give me but a word in private. Tha. Come, brother, we know you well. What means this habit? Why stayed you not at Dipolis, as you resolved, to take advertisement for us of your wife's bearing? Lyc. O brother, this jealous frenzy has borne me headlong to ruin. Tha. Go to, be comforted; uncase! yourself and discharge your friend. Go. Is that Lysander, say you? And is all his story true? By'rlady, madam, this jealousy will cost him dear. He undertook the person of a soldier; and, as a soldier, must have justice. Madam, his Altitude in this case cannot dispense. Lycus, this soldier hath acquitted you. Tha. And that acquital I'll for him requite; the body lost, is by this time restored to his place. Your lordship there shall hear the ample story; And how the ass wrapt in a lion's skin Fearfully roar'd; but his large ears appear'd And made him laugh'd at, that before was fear'd. Go. I'll go with you. For my part, I am at a nonplus. [Eudora whispers with Cynthia. Tha. Come, brother, thank the countess; she hath sweat to make your peace. Sister, give me your hand. So, brother, let your lips compound the strife, And think you have the only constant wife. [Exeunt. The Mask of the Middle Lincoln's Inn.* ΤΟ THE MOST NOBLE AND CONSTANT COMBINER OF HONOUR AND VIRTUE, SIR EDWARD PHILIPS, KNIGHT, MASTER OF THE ROLLS. THIS noble and magnificent performance, renewing the ancient spirit and honour of the Inns of Court, being especially furthered and followed by your most laborious and honoured endeavours (for his Majesty's service, and honour of the all-grace-deserv ing nuptials of the thrice gracious Princess Elizabeth, his Highness' daughter), deserves especially to be in this sort consecrate to your worthy memory and honour." Honour having never her fair hand more freely and nobly given to riches (being a fit particle of this invention) than by yours at this nuptial solemnity. To which assisted and memorable ceremony the joined hand and industry of the worthily honoured Knight, Sir H. Hubberd, his Majesty's Attorney-General, deserving in good part a joint memory with yours, I have submitted it freely to his noble acceptance. The poor pains I added to this Royal service being wholy chosen and commanded by your most constant and free favour, I hope will now appear nothing neglective of their expected duties. Hearty will and care enough, I am assured, was employed in me, and the only ingenuous will, being first and principal step to virtue, I beseech you let it stand for the performing virtue itself. In which addition of your ever-honoured favours you shall ever bind all my future service to your most wished commandment. God send you long health, and your virtues will indue you with honour enough, By your free merits' ever-vowed honourer, and most unfeignedly affectionate observant, GEO. CHAPMAN. "The Memorable Maske of the two Honorable Houses or Inns of Court; the Middle Temple, and Lyncolns Inne. As it was performed before the King, at White-Hall on Shroue Munday at night; being the 15. of February, 1613. At the Princely celebration of the most Royall Nuptialls of the Palsgraue, and his thrice gratious Princesse Elizabeth. &c. With a description of their whole show; in the manner of their march on horse-backe to the Court from the Maister of the Rolls his house with all their right Noble consorts, and most showfull attendants. Inuented, and fashioned, with the ground, and speciall structure of the whole worke, By our Kingdomes most Artfull and Ingenious Architect Innigo Iones. Supplied, Aplied, Digested, and written, By Geo: Chapman. At London, Printed by G. Eld, for George Norton, and are to be sould at his shoppe neere Temple-bar." |