The workes of Beniamin Ionson

Act III. Scene VIII.

RVSTICI.

RVST. 1.

To him.

AYe me, what pittifull sight is this! help, help, help.

RVST. 2.

How now? what's the matter?

RVST. 1.

O, here's a man has hang'd himselfe, helpe to get him againe.

RVST. 2.

Hang'd himselfe? Slid carry him afore a iustice, 'tis chance medley, o' my word.

RVST. 3.

How now, what's here to doe?

RVST. 4.

How comes this?

RVST. 2.

One has executed himselfe, contrary to order of law, and by my consent he shall answer't.

RVST. 5.

Would he were in case, to answere it.

RVST. 1.

Stand by, he recouers, giue him breath.

SORD.

Oh.

RVST. 5.

Masse, 'twas well you vvent the foot-way, neighbour.

RVST. 1.

I, and I had not cut the halter.

SORD.

How! cut the halter? Aye me, I am vndone, I am vndone.

RVST. 2.

Mary, if you had not beene vndone, you had beene hang'd, I can tell you.

SORD.

You thred-bare horse-bread-eating rascals, if you vvould needes haue beene meddling, could you not haue vntied it, but you must out it? and in the midst too! Aye me.

RVST. 1.

Out on me, 'tis the catterpiller SORDIDO! how cursed are the poore, that the viper was blest, vvith this good fortune?

RVST. 2.

Nay, how accurst art thou, that art cause to the curse of the poore?

RVST. 3.

I, and to saue so wretched a caytife?

RVST. 4.

Curst be thy fingers that loos'd him.

RVST. 2.

Some desperate furie possesse thee, that thou maist hang thy selfe too.

RVST. 5.

Neuer maist thou be sau'd, that sau'd so damn'd a monster.

SORDID.

What curses breathe these men! how haue my deeds Made my lookes differ from another mans, That they should thus detest, and lothe my life! Out on my wretched humour, it is that Makes me thus monstrous in true humane eyes. Pardon me (gentle friends) I'le make faire mends For my foule errors past, and twenty-fold Restore to all men, vvhat with vvrong I rob'd them: My barnes, and garners shall stand open still To all the poore that come, and my best graine

Be made almes-bread, to feed halfe-famisht mouthes. Though hither to amongst you I haue liu'd, Like an unsauourie muck-hill to my selfe, Yet now, my gather'd heapes being spread abroad, Shall turne to better, and more fruitfull vses. Blesse then this man, curse him no more for sauing My life, and soule together. O, how deeply The bitter curses of the poore doe pierce! I am by wonder chang'd; come in with me And witnesse my repentance: now I proue, "No life is blest, that is not grac't with loue.

RVST. 2.

O miracle! see vvhen a man ha's grace!

RVST. 3.

Had't not beene pitty, so good a man should haue beene cast away?

RVST. 2.

Well, I'le get our clarke put his conuersion in the Acts, and Monuments.

RVST. 4.

Doe, for I warrant him hee's a Martyr.

RVST.

O god, how he wept, if you mark't it! did you see how the teares trill'd?

RVST. 5.

Yes, beleeue me, like master vicars bowles vpon the greene, for all the world.

3. or 4.

O neighbour, god's blessing o' your heart, neighbour, 'twas a good gratefull deed.

GREX.

COR.

How now, MITIS? what's that you consider so seriously?

MIT.

Troth, that which doth essentially please me, the vvarping con∣dition of this greene, and soggy multitude: but in good saith, signior, your author hath largely out-stript my expectation in this Scene, I will liberal∣ly confesse it. For, when I saw SORDIDO so desperately intended, I thought I had had a hand of him, then.

COR.

What? you suppos'd he should haue hung himselfe, indeed?

MIT.

I did, and had fram'd my obiection to it ready, which may yet be very fitly vrg'd, and with some necessity: for though his purpos'd vio∣lence lost th' effect, and extended not to death, yet the intent and horror of the obiect, was more then the nature of a Comoedie vvill in any sort admit.

COR.

I? vvhat thinke you of PLAVTVS, in his Comoedie, called Cistel∣laria, there? vvhere he brings in ALCESIMARCHVS vvith a drawne sword ready to kill himselfe, and as hee is e'ne fixing his brest vpon it, to bee re∣strain'd from his resolu'd outrage, by SILENIVM, and the bawd: is not his authoritie of power to giue our Scene approbation?

MIT.

Sir, I haue this only euasion left me, to say, I thinke it bee so in∣deed, your memorie is happier then mine: but I wonder, what engine hee vvill vse to bring the rest out of their humours!

COR.

That will appeare anon, neuer preoccupie your imagination

withall. Let your mind keepe companie with the Scene still, which now remoues it selfe from the countrey, to the court. Here comes MACILEN∣TE, and signior BRISKE, freshly suted, lose not your selfe, for now the Epitasis, or busie part of our subiect, is in act.