THE OLD LAW. A COMEDY. BY PHILIP MASSIN GER, THOMAS MIDDLETON, AND WILLIAM ROWLEY. The Duke of Epire enacts a law, that all men who have reached the age of fourscore, shall be put to death, as being adjudged useless to the commonwealth. Simonides, the bad, and Cleanthes, the good son, are differently affected by the promulgation of the edict. Sim. Cleanthes,, Oh, lad, here's a spring for young plants to flourish ! We shall rise now, boy. Cle. Whither, sir, I pray? To the bleak air of storms, among those trees Sim. Yes, from our growth, Our sap and livelihood, and from our fruit. What! 'tis not jubilee with thee yet, I think; Thou look'st so sad on't. How old is thy father? Cle. Jubilee! no, indeed; 'tis a bad year with me. He is too old, being now expos'd Unto the rigour of a cruel edict; And yet not old enough by many years, 'Cause I'd not see him go an hour before me. * * Cle. Why, here's a villain, * * * Able Able to corrupt a thousand by example. To comfort his old limbs in fruitless winter? Cleanthes, to save his old father, Leonides, from the operation of the law, gives out that he is dead, celebrating a pretended funeral, to make it believed. Duke. Courtiers. Cleanthes, as following his father's body to the grave. Duke. Cleanthes ? Court. Tis, my lord, and in the place Light colours and light cheeks-who should this be? Cle. O my lord! Duke. He laugh'd outright now. Was ever such a contrariety seen In natural courses yet, nay, profess'd openly? Duke. How can that be? Cle. I joy-to make it plain-my father's dead. Court. Old Leonides? Cle. In his last month dead. He beguil'd cruel law the sweetliest It grieves me that a tear should fall upon't, So So mountingly, I touch'd the stars, methought. I wonder whence that tear came, when I smil'd That can, when joy looks on, steal forth a grief. I shall return your servant. Duke. Well, perform it; The law is satisfied: they can but die. Cleanthes conceals Leonides in a secret apartment within a wood, where himself, and his wife Hippolita, keep watch for the safety of the old man. This coming to the duke's knowledge, he repairs to the wood and makes discovery of the place where they have hid Leonides. The Wood.-Cleanthes listening, as fearing every sound. Cle. What's that? Oh, nothing but the whisp'ring wind Breathes thro' yon churlish hawthorn, that grew rude I cannot be too circumspect, too careful, For in these woods lies hid all my life's treasure, Though it be never lost; and if our watchfulness Ought Ought to be wise and serious 'gainst a thief The nerves of confidence; he that hides treasure, When 'tis a thing least minded; nay, let him change There will the fear keep still. Yonder's the store-house A dear one to me. Precious chief of women! Hip. Beshrew me, sir, he made the heartiest meal to day, Much good may't do his health. Cle. A blessing on thee, Both for thy news and wish. Hip. His stomach, sir, Is better'd wond'rously, since his concealment. Cle. Heav'n has a blessed work in't. here. Come, we're safe I pri'thee, call him forth, the air is much wholesomer. Hip. Father. Leonides comes forth. Leon. How sweetly sounds the voice of a good woman! It is so seldom heard, that, when it speaks, It ravishes all senses. Lists of honour, I've a joy weeps to see you, 'tis so full, Cle. I hope to see you often, and return G g And And lose not one in thousands, they're dispers'd Ha! A Horn is heard. Leon. What was't disturb'd my joy? As afar off? Hip. What, my excellent consort ? Cle. Nor you Hip. I heard a Cle. Hark, again Leon. Bless my joy, What ails it on a sudden? Cle. Now since -lately Leon. 'Tis nothing but a symptom of thy care, man. Cle. Alas! you do not hear well. Leon. What was't, daughter? Hip. I heard a sound, twice. Cle. Hark! louder and nearer. In, for the precious good of virtue, quick, sir. (Leonides goes in.) Hip. Now let them come, and spare not. Enter Duke, Courtiers, Attendants, as if hunting. ingly. is't not the Duke? look spar Hip. 'Tis he, but what of that? alas! take heed, sir; Your care will overthrow us. Cle. Come, it shall not. Let's set a pleasant face upon our fears, Though our hearts shake with horror. Ha! ha! ha! Cle. Prithee, proceed; I'm taken with these light things infinitely, Since the old man's decease.-Ha! ha! ha! Duke. |