Save you, sir. Sir, there is one Downright hath abused this gentleman and myself: and if you would do us the favour to procure a warrant. . you shall be well considered, I assure you, sir.

Brain. Sir, you know my service is my living if you will lay me down a brace of angels 180 in my hand you shall have it, otherwise not. (They give him money.) Well, gentlemen, I'll procure you this warrant presently: but who will you have to serve it? . . . Why, you were best get one of the varlets of the city, a sergeant. I'll appoint you one, if you please.

Capt. B. We'll leave it to you, sir.

[Exeunt. Re-enter BRAINWORM, in a sergeant's gown.

Brain. Well, of all my disguises yet, now am I most like myself, being in this sergeant's 190 gown. A man of my present profession never counterfeits till he lays hold upon a debtor, and says he 'rests him; for then he brings him to all manner of unrest. . . . .. Well, I know not what danger I undergo by this exploit: pray heaven, I come well off!

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210

Re-enter CAPTAIN BOBADIL and MASTER

MATTHEW.

Mat. See, I think yonder is the varlet, by his gown. 'Save you, friend; are not you here by appointment of Justice Clement's man?

Brain. Yes, an please you, sir; he told me two gentlemen had willed him to procure a warrant from his master, which I have about me, to be served on one Downright.

Mat. It is honestly done of you both; and see where the party comes you must arrest. . . . Enter MASTER STEPHEN, in DOWNRIGHT'S

cloak.

Capt. B. Bear back, Master Matthew. Brain. Master Downright, I arrest you i' the Queen's name, and must carry you before a justice, by virtue of this warrant.

Step. Me, friend? I am no Downright, I. I am Master Stephen; you do not well to arrest

Down. Why, how now, Seignior Gull? Are you turned filcher of late? Come, deliver my 2 cloak.

Step. Your cloak, sir! I bought it even now in open market.

Brain. Master Downright, I have a warrant I must serve upon you, procured by these two gentlemen.

Down. These gentlemen! These rascals! Brain. Keep the peace, I charge you in her Majesty's name.

Down. I obey thee. officer? Brain. Go before Master Justice Clement, to answer what they can object against you, I will use you kindly, sir.

What must I do, 2

sir.

[Exeunt MATT. and Capt. B. Down. Gull, you'll gi' me my cloak? Step. Sir, I bought it, and I'll keep it. Down. You will?

Step. Ay, that I will.

Down. Officer, there's thy fee: arrest him. Brain. Master Stephen, I must arrest you. Step. Arrest me! I scorn it; there, take your cloak, I'll none on't. Down. Nay, that shall not serve your turn now, sir. Officer, I'll go with thee to the Justice's. Bring him along.

Step. Why, is not here your cloak; what would you have?

Down. I'll ha' you answer it, sir.

Brain. Sir, I'll take your word, and this gentleman's too, for his appearance.

Down. I'll ha' no words taken. Bring him along.

2

2

20

Just. C. A gentleman! What is he? Serv. A soldier, sir, he says.

Just. C. A soldier! My sword, quickly. A soldier speak with me! .

Give me my

gorget, my sword. . . . Let the soldier enter.

Enter CAPTAIN BOBADIL and MASTER
MATTHEW.

Now, sir, what ha' you to say to me?
Capt. B. By your worship's favour-
Just. C. Nay, keep out, sir, I know not
your pretence: you send me word, sir, you are
a soldier. Why, sir, you shall be answered
here; here be they that have been among
soldiers. Sir, your pleasure?

Capt. B. Faith, sir, so it is: this gentleman and myself have been most uncivilly wronged and beaten by one Downright, a coarse fellow about the town here; and, for my own part, I protest, being a man in no sort given to this 20 filthy humour of quarrelling, he hath assaulted

30

40

50

me in the way of my peace, despoiled me of mine honour; disarmed me of my weapons, and rudely laid me along in the open streets, when I not so much as once offered to resist him.

Just C. O, God's precious! is this the soldier? Lie there, my sword, 'twill make him swoon, I fear; he is not fit to look on't, that will put up a blow.

Mat. An't please your worship, he was bound to the peace.

Just. C. Why, an he were, sir, his hands were not bound, were they?

Serv. There's one of the varlets of the city, sir, has brought two gentlemen here; one upon your worship's warrant.

Just. C. My warrant?

Serv. Yes, sir; the officer says, procured by these two.

Just. C. Bid him come in. Set by this picture. What, Mr Downright, are you brought at Mr Freshwater's suit here?

Enter DOWNRIght, Master STEPHEN, and BRAINWORM.

Down. I'faith, sir! And here's another brought at my suit.

...

Just. C. What are you, sir? Step. A gentleman, sir. I am wronged here monstrously; he charges me with stealing of his cloak, and would I might never stir, if I did not find it in the street by chance.

Down. Oh, did you find it, now? You said you bought it erewhile.

Step. And you said I stole it. Nay, . . . I'll do well enough with you.

Just. C. Well, let this breathe awhile. You that have cause to complain there, stand forth.

Had you my warrant for this gentleman's apprehension?

Capt. B. Ay an't please your worship. Just. C. Nay, do not speak in passion so. Where had you it?

Capt. B. Of your clerk, sir.

Just. C. That's well, an my clerk can make warrants, and my hand not at 'em! Where is the warrant? Officer, have you it?

[Capt. B. and MATTHEW steal off. Brain. No, sir; your worship's man, Master Formal, bid me do it for these gentlemen, and he would be my discharge.

Just. C. Why, Master Downright, are you such a novice to be served, and never see the warrant?

Down. Sir, he did not serve it on me.
Just. C. No; how then?

Down. Marry, sir, he came to me, and said he must serve it, and he would use me kindly, and so

Just. C. O, God's pity! was it so, sir? He must serve it? Give me a warrant; I must serve one, too. You knave, you slave, you rogue! Do you say you must, sirrah? Away with him to gaol. I'll teach you a trick for your must, sir.

me.

Brain. Good sir, I beseech you, be good to

Just. C. Tell him he shall to the gaol; away with him, I say.

Brain. Ay, sir, if you will commit me, it shall be for committing more than this. (Throws off his disguise.)

Just. C. How is this?

Down. Brainworm!

Just. C. I told you all there was device.

some

Brain. Nay, excellent justice, since I have laid myself thus open to you, now stand strong for me both with your sword and your balance. Just. C. Body o' me! a merry knave! Give me a bowl of sack. (A servant brings it him.)

Brain. Sir, if you'll pardon me only, I'll glory in all the rest of my exploits. This has been the day of my metamorphoses; I have been Brainworm, Fitz-Sword the reformed soldier, Master Justice's man; then I sold your worship's warrant to these two, pawned his livery for that varlet's gown to serve it in; and thus have brought myself, by my activity, to your worship's consideration. Just. C. And I will consider thee in a cup Here's to thee (drinks); which having drunk off, this is my sentence, pledge me. Thou hast done, or assisted to nothing, in my judgment, but deserves to be pardoned for the wit of the offence.

of sack.

Afer. The triumph that thou hadst in Germany

For thy late victory on Sacrovir,

Thou hast enjoyed so freely, Caius Silius,
As no man it envied thee; nor would Cæsar,
Or Rome admit, that thou wert then defrauded
Of any honours thy deserts could claim

In the fair service of the commonwealth :
But now, if after all their loves and graces
(Thy actions and their courses being dis-
covered),

It shall appear to Cæsar, and this senate,
Thou hast defiled those glories with thy

crimes

Sil. Crimes?

Afer. Patience, Silius.

Sil. Tell thy moil of patience

I am a Roman. What are my crimes? proclaim them.

Am I too rich? too honest for the times?
Have I or treasure, jewels, land, or houses,
That some informer gapes for? Is my strength
Too much to be admitted? or my knowledge?
These now are crimes.

Afer. Nay, Silius, if the name

Of crime so touch thee, with what impotence
Wilt thou endure the matter to be searched?
Sil. I tell thee, Afer, with more scorn than
fear :

Employ your mercenary tongue and art.
Where's my accuser?

Var. Here.

Var. If I not prove it, Cæsar, but unjustly Have called him into trial; here I bind Myself to suffer what I claim against him; And yield to have what I have spoke confirmed

By judgment of the court, and all good men. Sil. Caesar, I crave to have my cause deferred,

Till this man's consulship be out.

Tib. We cannot,

Nor may we grant it.

Sil. Why? shall he design

My day of trial? is he my accuser?
And must he be my judge?

Tib. It hath been usual,

And is a right that custom hath allowed
The magistrate, to call forth private men,
And to appoint their day; which privilege
We may not in the consul see infringed,
By whose deep watches, and industrious care,
It is so laboured as the commonwealth
Receive no loss, by any oblique course.

Sil. Cæsar, thy fraud is worse than violence.
Tib. Silius, mistake us not, we dare not

Sej. This, to the consul, is most insolent And impious!

Sil. Ay, take part. Reveal yourselves. Alas! I scent not your confed'racies, Your plots, and combinations? I not know 100 Minion Sejanus hates me, and that all

This boast of law, and law is but a form,
A net of Vulcan's filing, a mere engine,
To take that life by a pretext of justice,
Which you pursue in malice? I want brain,
Or nostril to persuade me, that your ends
And purposes are made to what they are,
Before my answer? O, you equal gods!
Whose justice not a world of wolf-turned men
Shall make me to accuse, howe'er provoked;
110 Have I for this so oft engaged myself?

Stood in the heat and fervour of a fight,
When Phoebus sooner hath forsook the day
Than I the field, against the blue-eyed Gauls
And crispèd Germans? when our Roman
eagles

Have fanned the fire with their labouring
wings,

And no blow dealt, that left not death behind it?

When I have charged, alone, into the troops Of curled Sicambrians, routed them, and came Not off, with backward ensigns of a slave, 120 But forward marks, wounds on my breast and face,

Were meant to thee, O Cæsar, and thy Rome?
And have I this return? did I for this
Perform so noble and so brave defeat
On Sacrovir? O Jove, let it become me

To boast my deeds, when he, whom they

concern,

Shall thus forget them!

[Afer. Silius, Silius,

These are the common customs of thy blood, When it is high with wine, as now with rage: 130 This well agrees with that intemperate vaunt Thou lately mad'st at Agrippina's table,

That, when all other of the troops were prone
To fall into rebellion, only thine

Remained in their obedience. Thou wert he
That saved the empire, which had then been
lost,

Had but thy legions, there, rebelled or mutined;
Thy virtue met, and fronted every peril;
Thou gav'st to Cæsar, and to Rome, their
surety,

Their name, their strength, their spirit, and
their state;

140 Their being was a donative from thee!

Arr. Well worded, and most like an orator.
Tib. Is this true, Silius?

Sil. Save thy question, Cæsar,

The spy of famous credit hath affirmed it.

Sej. If this be so, there needs no other

cause

Of crime against him.

Stay, most officious senate, I shall straight
Delude thy fury. Silius hath not placed
His guards within him, against fortune's spite,
So weakly, but he can escape your gripe,
That are but hands of fortune: she herself,
When virtue doth oppose, must lose her
threats.

All that can happen in humanity,

The frown of Cæsar, proud Sejanus' hatred,
Base Varro's spleen, and Afer's bloodying 180
tongue,

The Senate's servile flattery, and these
Mustered to kill, I'm fortified against,
And can lock down upon: they are beneath

CATILINE

-'fall'n greater.'

Friar Paul (sings).

Felix venter quem intrabis!
Felix guttur quod rigabis!
Felix os quod tu lavabis!
Et beata labia!

Friar Cuthbert. Peace! I say, peace!
Will you never cease?

You will rouse up the Abbot, I tell you again! Friar John. No danger; to-night he will let us alone,

As I happen to know he has guests of his own. Friar Cuthbert. Who are they?

Friar John. A German Prince and his train. Who arrived here just before the rain. There is with them a damsel fair to see, As slender and graceful as a reed!

When she alighted from her steed,

It seemed like a blossom blown from a tree. Friar Cuthbert. None of your pale-faced girls for me!

None of your damsels of high degree!

Friar John. Come, old fellow, drink down to your peg,

But do not drink any further, I beg.

Friar Paul (sings).

In the days of gold,
The days of old,
Cross of wood

And bishop of gold!

Friar Cuthbert. What an infernal racket

and riot!

Can you not take your wine in quiet?

Why fill the convent with such scandals,

As if you were so many drunken Vandals? Friar Paul (continues).

Now we have changed That law so good,

To cross of gold

And bishop of wood!