With joy should offer.-Is my high birth a ble- | Retaining still the clearness of the spring, mish? Or does my wealth, which all the vain expence Am I deformed, or, for my father's sins, Your loose desires, insatiate as the grave. In the way of supposition, and entreat you, That you would free yourself from these aspersions, Or any imputation black-tongued slander Timag. Are you stupid? 'Slight, leap into his arms, and there ask pardon- Arch. You forget The dignity of the place. Diph. Silence! Timol. Speak boldly. Pis. 'Tis your authority gives me a tongue; And with what pleasure undergone the burthen From whence it took beginning, may be thought Timag. Bold, presumptuous villain ! Pis. I will go farther, and make good upon him, In the pride of all his honours, birth and fortunes, He's more unworthy than myself. Leost. Thou liest. Timag. Confute him with a whip, and, the doubt decided, Punish him with a halter. My ribs, though made of brass, cannot contain Whom they have injured, they may faint with horror Of my revenge, which, wretched men! expect, As sure as fate, to suffer! Leost. Ha! Pisander? Timag. 'Tis the bold Theban! Asot. There's no hope for me then! I thought I should have put in for a share, And borne Cleora from them both: But now, This stranger looks so terrible, that I dare not So much as look on her. Pis. Now, as myself, Thy equal at thy best, Leosthenes.— If she resemble not Pisander's sister, Leost. 'Tis the same! my guilt Pis. This is she, To whom thou wert contracted: This is the lady, That, when thou wert my prisoner, fairly taken In the Spartan war, that begged thy liberty, ceive True sorrow in his looks, and a consent To make me reparation in mine honour; And then I am most happy. Pis. The wrong done her Such as have undergone their insolence, It may not be offensive, though I study Drew me from Thebes with a full intent to kill Pity more than revenge. thee: But this fair object met me in my fury, And quite disarmed me. Being denied to have her By you, my lord Archidamus, and not able Timol. Strange meanders! Cor. 'Twill best become you. Asot. For me, I'll find a time Enter GRACCULO, CIMBRIO, POLIPHRON, ZANTHIA and the other slaves, with halters about their necks. Grac. Give me leave; I'll speak for all. Timol. What canst thou say, to hinder Pis. There how I bare myself needs no rela- The course of justice? Grac. Nothing. You may see We are prepared for hanging, and confess Timol. Twice? How mean'st thou ? Grac. At the gallows first, and after in a ballad, Sung to some villainous tune. There are tengroat rhymers About the town grown fat on these occasions.→ They are cold in their graves, some damned ditty's made, Which makes their ghosts walk.-Let the staté take order For the redress of this abuse, recording CHARMI. Charmi. SIR, I may move the court to serve your will; But therein shall both wrong you and myself. With what will be their answer: They will say, Rom. You know not, sir, How, in this cause, they may dispense with law, And therefore frame not you their answer for them, But do your part. Charmi. I love the cause so well, That I could run the hazard of a check for it. Charmi. Some of the bench that watch to give it, Rom. Now you are noble. Charmi. I shall deserve this better yet, in gi ving My lord some counsel (if he please to hear it) Rom. What may it be, sir? Charmi. That it would please his lordship, as the presidents And counsellors of court come by, to stand Enter ROCHFORT and DU CROY. I must go get me a place. You'll find me in court, And at your service.. [Exit Charmi. Rom. Now, put on your spirits! Du Croy. The ease that you prepare yourself, my lord, In giving up the place you hold in court, Will prove, I fear, a trouble in the state; Roch. Pray you, sir, no more. Rom. Now, sir, lose not this offered means: Fixed on you with a pitying earnestness, Du Croy. You know him? Roch. I do; and much lament the sudden fall Of his brave house. It is young Charalois, Son to the marshal, from whom he inherits His fame and virtues only. Rom. Ha! they name you. Du Croy. His father died in prison two days since. Roch. Yes, to the shame of this ungrateful That such a master in the art of war, From this forgetful country, should, for want The sum he took up for the general good, Rom. Dare you ever hope for like apportunity? Roch. My wish bring comfort to you. [Exeunt Rochfort and Du Croy. Rom. This obstinate spleen, You think becomes your sorrow, and sorts well With your black suits: But, grant me wit or judgment, And, by the freedom of an honest man, them As loud and fertile-headed; and the client, Rom. Would I were not! But, sir! you have a cause, a cause so just, Char. And to these can I become a suitor ? Would you consider, that, to gain their favours, Make sacrifice of gold, poets of wit, And men religious part with fame and goodness. Be therefore won to use the means that may Advance your pious ends. Char. You shall o'ercome. Rom. And you receive the glory. Pray you now practise. 'Tis well. Enter Old NovALL, LILADAM, and three Char. Not look on me! Rom. You must have patience—Offer it again. Char. And be again contemned! Nov. I know what's to be done. 1 Cred. And, that your lordship Will please to do your knowledge, we offer first Nov. One word more of this, Lilad. Friends! you mistake The way to win my lord; he must not hear this, Nov. 'Tis well. Lilad. Observe him now. Nov. Your cause being good, and your proceedings so, Without corruption I am your friend; 2 Cred. Oh, they are charitable; Two hundred thousand crowns, which by his death Nov. You shew in it A father's care. I have a son myself, Nov. So are many that rake dunghills. Rom. Yes, as the matter may be carried; and To manage the conveyance-Follow him. Lilad. Look upon me better; Are these the ensigns of so coarse a fellow? Rom. Out, rogue! do not I know [Kicks him. These glorious weeds spring from the sordid dunghill Of thy officious baseness? Wert thou worthy I would do more than this,-more, you courtspider! Lilad. But that this man is lawless, he should find That I am valiant. 1 Cred. If your ears are fast, 'Tis nothing. What's a blow or two? As much : 2 Cred. These chastisements as useful are as frequent To such as would grow rich. Rom. Are they so, rascals? I will befriend you then [Kicks them. 1 Cred. Bear witness, sirs! Lilad. Truth, I have born my part already, friends! In the court you shall hear more. Rom. I know you for [Exit. The worst of spirits, that strive to rob the tombs That hold the charter of your wealth and freedom, By being knaves and cuckolds, that never prayed, But when you fear the rich heirs will grow wise, To keep their lands out of your parchment toils The difficulties that you encounter with, Or dare the axe. This is a way will sort SCENE II. Enter ROCHFORT, NovALL, sen. CHARMI, Du CROY, advocates, BEAUMONT, officers, and three presidents. Du Croy. Your lordship is seated. May this meeting prove Prosperous to us, and to the general good of Burgundy. Nov. sen. Speak to the point! With honour to dispose the place and power |