When gain is no grandsire,[182]And gauds nought set by;Nor puddings nor pie-meatPoor knaves will come nigh,Then hap and HaphazardShall have a new coat.And so it may happenTo cut covetousness’ throat.Yea, then shall Judge AppiusVirginia obtain,And geese shall crack musselsPerhaps in the rain:Larks shall be leverets,And skip to and fro;And churls shall be cods-heads,Perhaps and also.But peace, for man’s body!Haphazard be mum!Fie, prattling noddy,Judge Appius is come.
When gain is no grandsire,[182]
And gauds nought set by;
Nor puddings nor pie-meat
Poor knaves will come nigh,
Then hap and Haphazard
Shall have a new coat.
And so it may happen
To cut covetousness’ throat.
Yea, then shall Judge Appius
Virginia obtain,
And geese shall crack mussels
Perhaps in the rain:
Larks shall be leverets,
And skip to and fro;
And churls shall be cods-heads,
Perhaps and also.
But peace, for man’s body!
Haphazard be mum!
Fie, prattling noddy,
Judge Appius is come.
Here enterethJudge AppiusandClaudius.
The furies fell of Limbo lakeMy princely days do short:All drown’d in deadly ways I live,That once did joy in sport.I live and languish in my life,As doth the wounded deer.I thirst, I crave, I call and cry.And yet am nought the near:[183]And yet I have that me so matchWithin the realm of mine:But (Tantalus amids my care)I hunger—starve, and pine.As Sisyphus, I roll the stoneIn vain to top of hill,That ever more uncertainlyRevolving slideth still.O, if to her ’twere as to me,[184]What labours would I fly,What raging seas would I not ploughTo her commodity?But out alas, I doubt it sore,Lest drowsy Morpheus[185]His slumb’ry kingdoms planted hathWith dews unbeauteous.[186]O gods above that rule the skies:Ye babes that brag in bliss:Ye goddesses, ye Graces, you,What burning brunt is this?Bend down your ire, destroy me quick.Or else to grant me grace,No more, but that my burning breastVirginia may embrace.[187]If case your ears be dead and deaf,The fiend and spirits below,You careless carls of Limbo lake,Your forced mights do show.Thou caitif king of darksome dens,Thou Pluto, plagued knave,Send forth thy sacred vengeance straight,Consume them to the grave,That will not aid my case—Claudius.Content, and if it like your grace,I will attempt the deed:I summon will VirginiusBefore your seat with speed.Haphazard.Do so, my lord: be you not afraid,And so you may happen to hazard the maid:It is but in hazard and may come by hap:Win her or lose her, try you the trap.Appius.By the gods, I consent to thee, Claudius, now;Prepare thee in haste Virginius unto.Charge him, command him, upon his allegiance,With all kind of speed to yield his obeisance,Before my seat in my consistory,Subpœnâof land, life and treasury.No let, no stay, nor ought perturbanceShall cause me to omit the furtheranceOf this my weighty charge.[Here letClaudiusgo out withHaphazard.Appius.Well, now I range at large my will for to express;For look, how Tarquin Lucrece fair by force did once oppress,Even so will I Virginia use.[Here letConsciencespeak within.Judge Appius, prince, O stay, refuse;Be ruled by thy friend!What bloody death with open shameDidTarquin gain in end?Appius.Whence does this pinching sound descend?Conscience.From contrite Conscience, pricked onBy member of thy life,Inforced for to cry and call,And all to end our strife.Appius.Who art thou then? declare; be brief!Conscience.Not flesh nor filthy lust I am,But secret Conscience I,Compell’d to cry with trembling soul,At point near-hand to die.Appius.Why, no disease hath me approach’d, no grief doth make me grudge,But want of fair Virginia, whose beauty is my judge:By her I live, by her I die, for her I joy or woe,For her my soul doth sink or swim, for her I swear I go.Conscience.Ah gods, what wits doth reign! and yet to you unknowen,I die the death, and soul doth sink this filthy flesh hath sowen.Appius.I force it not; I will attempt: I stay for Claudius here;Yet will I go to meet with him, to know what news and cheer.
The furies fell of Limbo lakeMy princely days do short:All drown’d in deadly ways I live,That once did joy in sport.I live and languish in my life,As doth the wounded deer.I thirst, I crave, I call and cry.And yet am nought the near:[183]And yet I have that me so matchWithin the realm of mine:But (Tantalus amids my care)I hunger—starve, and pine.As Sisyphus, I roll the stoneIn vain to top of hill,That ever more uncertainlyRevolving slideth still.O, if to her ’twere as to me,[184]What labours would I fly,What raging seas would I not ploughTo her commodity?But out alas, I doubt it sore,Lest drowsy Morpheus[185]His slumb’ry kingdoms planted hathWith dews unbeauteous.[186]O gods above that rule the skies:Ye babes that brag in bliss:Ye goddesses, ye Graces, you,What burning brunt is this?Bend down your ire, destroy me quick.Or else to grant me grace,No more, but that my burning breastVirginia may embrace.[187]If case your ears be dead and deaf,The fiend and spirits below,You careless carls of Limbo lake,Your forced mights do show.Thou caitif king of darksome dens,Thou Pluto, plagued knave,Send forth thy sacred vengeance straight,Consume them to the grave,That will not aid my case—
The furies fell of Limbo lake
My princely days do short:
All drown’d in deadly ways I live,
That once did joy in sport.
I live and languish in my life,
As doth the wounded deer.
I thirst, I crave, I call and cry.
And yet am nought the near:[183]
And yet I have that me so match
Within the realm of mine:
But (Tantalus amids my care)
I hunger—starve, and pine.
As Sisyphus, I roll the stone
In vain to top of hill,
That ever more uncertainly
Revolving slideth still.
O, if to her ’twere as to me,[184]
What labours would I fly,
What raging seas would I not plough
To her commodity?
But out alas, I doubt it sore,
Lest drowsy Morpheus[185]
His slumb’ry kingdoms planted hath
With dews unbeauteous.[186]
O gods above that rule the skies:
Ye babes that brag in bliss:
Ye goddesses, ye Graces, you,
What burning brunt is this?
Bend down your ire, destroy me quick.
Or else to grant me grace,
No more, but that my burning breast
Virginia may embrace.[187]
If case your ears be dead and deaf,
The fiend and spirits below,
You careless carls of Limbo lake,
Your forced mights do show.
Thou caitif king of darksome dens,
Thou Pluto, plagued knave,
Send forth thy sacred vengeance straight,
Consume them to the grave,
That will not aid my case—
Claudius.Content, and if it like your grace,I will attempt the deed:I summon will VirginiusBefore your seat with speed.
Claudius.Content, and if it like your grace,
I will attempt the deed:
I summon will Virginius
Before your seat with speed.
Haphazard.Do so, my lord: be you not afraid,And so you may happen to hazard the maid:It is but in hazard and may come by hap:Win her or lose her, try you the trap.
Haphazard.Do so, my lord: be you not afraid,
And so you may happen to hazard the maid:
It is but in hazard and may come by hap:
Win her or lose her, try you the trap.
Appius.By the gods, I consent to thee, Claudius, now;Prepare thee in haste Virginius unto.Charge him, command him, upon his allegiance,With all kind of speed to yield his obeisance,Before my seat in my consistory,Subpœnâof land, life and treasury.No let, no stay, nor ought perturbanceShall cause me to omit the furtheranceOf this my weighty charge.[Here letClaudiusgo out withHaphazard.
Appius.By the gods, I consent to thee, Claudius, now;
Prepare thee in haste Virginius unto.
Charge him, command him, upon his allegiance,
With all kind of speed to yield his obeisance,
Before my seat in my consistory,
Subpœnâof land, life and treasury.
No let, no stay, nor ought perturbance
Shall cause me to omit the furtherance
Of this my weighty charge.
[Here letClaudiusgo out withHaphazard.
Appius.Well, now I range at large my will for to express;For look, how Tarquin Lucrece fair by force did once oppress,Even so will I Virginia use.[Here letConsciencespeak within.Judge Appius, prince, O stay, refuse;Be ruled by thy friend!What bloody death with open shameDidTarquin gain in end?
Appius.Well, now I range at large my will for to express;
For look, how Tarquin Lucrece fair by force did once oppress,
Even so will I Virginia use.
[Here letConsciencespeak within.
Judge Appius, prince, O stay, refuse;
Be ruled by thy friend!
What bloody death with open shame
DidTarquin gain in end?
Appius.Whence does this pinching sound descend?
Appius.Whence does this pinching sound descend?
Conscience.From contrite Conscience, pricked onBy member of thy life,Inforced for to cry and call,And all to end our strife.
Conscience.From contrite Conscience, pricked on
By member of thy life,
Inforced for to cry and call,
And all to end our strife.
Appius.Who art thou then? declare; be brief!
Appius.Who art thou then? declare; be brief!
Conscience.Not flesh nor filthy lust I am,But secret Conscience I,Compell’d to cry with trembling soul,At point near-hand to die.
Conscience.Not flesh nor filthy lust I am,
But secret Conscience I,
Compell’d to cry with trembling soul,
At point near-hand to die.
Appius.Why, no disease hath me approach’d, no grief doth make me grudge,But want of fair Virginia, whose beauty is my judge:By her I live, by her I die, for her I joy or woe,For her my soul doth sink or swim, for her I swear I go.
Appius.Why, no disease hath me approach’d, no grief doth make me grudge,
But want of fair Virginia, whose beauty is my judge:
By her I live, by her I die, for her I joy or woe,
For her my soul doth sink or swim, for her I swear I go.
Conscience.Ah gods, what wits doth reign! and yet to you unknowen,I die the death, and soul doth sink this filthy flesh hath sowen.
Conscience.Ah gods, what wits doth reign! and yet to you unknowen,
I die the death, and soul doth sink this filthy flesh hath sowen.
Appius.I force it not; I will attempt: I stay for Claudius here;Yet will I go to meet with him, to know what news and cheer.
Appius.I force it not; I will attempt: I stay for Claudius here;
Yet will I go to meet with him, to know what news and cheer.
Here enterethHaphazard.
Haste for a hangman in hazard of hemp:Run for a ridduck, there is no such imp.Claudius is knocking with hammer and stoneAt Virginius’ gate, as hard as he can lay on.By the gods, my masters, Haphazard is hardy,For he will run rashly, be they never so many:Yea, he will sing sow’s snout, and snap with the best.But peace! who comes yonder, that jolly good guest?
Haste for a hangman in hazard of hemp:
Run for a ridduck, there is no such imp.
Claudius is knocking with hammer and stone
At Virginius’ gate, as hard as he can lay on.
By the gods, my masters, Haphazard is hardy,
For he will run rashly, be they never so many:
Yea, he will sing sow’s snout, and snap with the best.
But peace! who comes yonder, that jolly good guest?
Here enter with a song.[188]
When men will seem misdoubtfullyWithout an why to call and cry,And fearing with temerity its jeopardy of liberty,We wish him to take to cheer his heart Haphazard,Bold[as]blind bayard.A fig for his uncourtesyThat seeks to shun good company.Mansipulus.What if case that cruelty should bustle me and jostle me,And Holywand should tickle me for keeping of good company,I’ll follow, by my honesty, hap Haphazard, bold[as]blind bayard.A fig for his uncourtesy that seeks to shun good company.
When men will seem misdoubtfullyWithout an why to call and cry,And fearing with temerity its jeopardy of liberty,We wish him to take to cheer his heart Haphazard,Bold[as]blind bayard.A fig for his uncourtesyThat seeks to shun good company.
When men will seem misdoubtfully
Without an why to call and cry,
And fearing with temerity its jeopardy of liberty,
We wish him to take to cheer his heart Haphazard,
Bold[as]blind bayard.
A fig for his uncourtesy
That seeks to shun good company.
Mansipulus.What if case that cruelty should bustle me and jostle me,And Holywand should tickle me for keeping of good company,I’ll follow, by my honesty, hap Haphazard, bold[as]blind bayard.A fig for his uncourtesy that seeks to shun good company.
Mansipulus.What if case that cruelty should bustle me and jostle me,
And Holywand should tickle me for keeping of good company,
I’ll follow, by my honesty, hap Haphazard, bold[as]blind bayard.
A fig for his uncourtesy that seeks to shun good company.
All sing this.
When men will seem misdoubtfullyWithout an why to call and cry, &c.Mansipula.Never was that mistress so furious nor curious,Nor yet her blows so boisterous, nor roisterous, nor dolorous,But sure I would venture,[189]hap Haphazard, bold[as]blind bayard.A fig for his uncourtesy that seeks to shun good company.
When men will seem misdoubtfullyWithout an why to call and cry, &c.
When men will seem misdoubtfully
Without an why to call and cry, &c.
Mansipula.Never was that mistress so furious nor curious,Nor yet her blows so boisterous, nor roisterous, nor dolorous,But sure I would venture,[189]hap Haphazard, bold[as]blind bayard.A fig for his uncourtesy that seeks to shun good company.
Mansipula.Never was that mistress so furious nor curious,
Nor yet her blows so boisterous, nor roisterous, nor dolorous,
But sure I would venture,[189]hap Haphazard, bold[as]blind bayard.
A fig for his uncourtesy that seeks to shun good company.
All sing this.
When men will seem misdoubtfullyWithout an why to call and cry, &c.Haphazard.Then wend ye on and follow me, Mansipula, Mansipula,Let croping cares be cast away, come follow me, come follow me.Subservus is a jolly lout, brace Haphazard, bold[as]blind bayard.A fig for his uncourtesy that seeks to shun good company.
When men will seem misdoubtfullyWithout an why to call and cry, &c.
When men will seem misdoubtfully
Without an why to call and cry, &c.
Haphazard.Then wend ye on and follow me, Mansipula, Mansipula,Let croping cares be cast away, come follow me, come follow me.Subservus is a jolly lout, brace Haphazard, bold[as]blind bayard.A fig for his uncourtesy that seeks to shun good company.
Haphazard.Then wend ye on and follow me, Mansipula, Mansipula,
Let croping cares be cast away, come follow me, come follow me.
Subservus is a jolly lout, brace Haphazard, bold[as]blind bayard.
A fig for his uncourtesy that seeks to shun good company.
All sing this.
When men will seem misdoubtfullyWithout an why to call and cry, &c.[The end of the song.
When men will seem misdoubtfullyWithout an why to call and cry, &c.[The end of the song.
When men will seem misdoubtfully
Without an why to call and cry, &c.
[The end of the song.
HereHaphazardspeaketh.
Ay, by the gods, my masters, I told you plain,Who companies with me will desire me again.But how did ye speed, I pray ye show me?Was all well agreed? did nobody blow ye?Mansipulus.Mass, sir, hap did so happen, that my lord and masterStayed in beholding and viewing the pasture,Which when I perceived, what excuse did I make?I came in the crossway on the nearside the Forlake,Hard by Hodge’s half acre, at Gaffer Miller’s stile,The next way round about, by the space of a mile.And at Simkin’s side-ridge my lord stood talking,And angerly to me quoth he, Where hast thou been walking?Without any staggering, I had ready my lie:Out at bridge-meadow and at Benol’s lease (quoth I).Your fatlings are feeding well, sir, the gods be praised,A goodly loume of beef on them is already raised.Then out steps Francis Fabulator, that was never my friend:How pass’d you Carter’s hay-rick at Long Meadow end?There might one (quoth he) within this few daysWith a cast-net had given four knaves great essays,Under the hedge with a pair of new cards both rip and fledge.Is it true? quoth my Lord: will this gear never be left?This causes swearing and staring, prowling and theft.Well (quoth my lord) take heed, lest I find it,And so pass’d his way, and did no more mind it.Haphazard.By the gods, that was sport, yea, and sport alone.Mansipula.Yea; but I was in a worse case, by Saint John.My lady in church was set full devout,And hearing my coming she turned about;But as soon as I heard her snappishly sound,In this sort I crouched me down to the ground,And mannerly made,[190]as though I were sad.[191]As soon as the pew then strawed I had,She gave me a wink and frowardly frown,Whereby I do judge she would cudgel my gown.Then I did devise a pretty fine prank,A mean whereby to pick me a thank,Of Margery Mildon, the maid of the milk-house,And Stainer the stutter,[192]the guid[193]of the storehouse.Then was my lady’s anger well gone,And will be so still, and the truth be not known.Haphazard.By ’r Lady barefoot, this bakes trimly.Subservus.Nay, but I escaped more finely;For I under this hedge one while did stay.Then in this bush, then in that way:Then slip I behind them among all the rest,And seemed to commune, too, of things with the best:But so it did happen, that all things were well,But hazard it is, lest time will truth tell.Haphazard.Tut, tut, that was but by hap, and if it be so:Well, sith it was in hazard, then let it go.Subservus.Content, by my honesty: then farewell all woe.Mansipulus.Come out, dog, ye speak happily, of truth, if it be so.All speak.Now, Master Haphazard, fare you well for a season.Haphazard.Let my counsel at no time with you lie geason.[194]All speaketh.No, by the gods, he sure not so.Haphazard.Well, sith here is no company, have with ye to Jericho.[Exit.
Ay, by the gods, my masters, I told you plain,Who companies with me will desire me again.But how did ye speed, I pray ye show me?Was all well agreed? did nobody blow ye?
Ay, by the gods, my masters, I told you plain,
Who companies with me will desire me again.
But how did ye speed, I pray ye show me?
Was all well agreed? did nobody blow ye?
Mansipulus.Mass, sir, hap did so happen, that my lord and masterStayed in beholding and viewing the pasture,Which when I perceived, what excuse did I make?I came in the crossway on the nearside the Forlake,Hard by Hodge’s half acre, at Gaffer Miller’s stile,The next way round about, by the space of a mile.And at Simkin’s side-ridge my lord stood talking,And angerly to me quoth he, Where hast thou been walking?Without any staggering, I had ready my lie:Out at bridge-meadow and at Benol’s lease (quoth I).Your fatlings are feeding well, sir, the gods be praised,A goodly loume of beef on them is already raised.Then out steps Francis Fabulator, that was never my friend:How pass’d you Carter’s hay-rick at Long Meadow end?There might one (quoth he) within this few daysWith a cast-net had given four knaves great essays,Under the hedge with a pair of new cards both rip and fledge.Is it true? quoth my Lord: will this gear never be left?This causes swearing and staring, prowling and theft.Well (quoth my lord) take heed, lest I find it,And so pass’d his way, and did no more mind it.
Mansipulus.Mass, sir, hap did so happen, that my lord and master
Stayed in beholding and viewing the pasture,
Which when I perceived, what excuse did I make?
I came in the crossway on the nearside the Forlake,
Hard by Hodge’s half acre, at Gaffer Miller’s stile,
The next way round about, by the space of a mile.
And at Simkin’s side-ridge my lord stood talking,
And angerly to me quoth he, Where hast thou been walking?
Without any staggering, I had ready my lie:
Out at bridge-meadow and at Benol’s lease (quoth I).
Your fatlings are feeding well, sir, the gods be praised,
A goodly loume of beef on them is already raised.
Then out steps Francis Fabulator, that was never my friend:
How pass’d you Carter’s hay-rick at Long Meadow end?
There might one (quoth he) within this few days
With a cast-net had given four knaves great essays,
Under the hedge with a pair of new cards both rip and fledge.
Is it true? quoth my Lord: will this gear never be left?
This causes swearing and staring, prowling and theft.
Well (quoth my lord) take heed, lest I find it,
And so pass’d his way, and did no more mind it.
Haphazard.By the gods, that was sport, yea, and sport alone.
Haphazard.By the gods, that was sport, yea, and sport alone.
Mansipula.Yea; but I was in a worse case, by Saint John.My lady in church was set full devout,And hearing my coming she turned about;But as soon as I heard her snappishly sound,In this sort I crouched me down to the ground,And mannerly made,[190]as though I were sad.[191]As soon as the pew then strawed I had,She gave me a wink and frowardly frown,Whereby I do judge she would cudgel my gown.Then I did devise a pretty fine prank,A mean whereby to pick me a thank,Of Margery Mildon, the maid of the milk-house,And Stainer the stutter,[192]the guid[193]of the storehouse.Then was my lady’s anger well gone,And will be so still, and the truth be not known.
Mansipula.Yea; but I was in a worse case, by Saint John.
My lady in church was set full devout,
And hearing my coming she turned about;
But as soon as I heard her snappishly sound,
In this sort I crouched me down to the ground,
And mannerly made,[190]as though I were sad.[191]
As soon as the pew then strawed I had,
She gave me a wink and frowardly frown,
Whereby I do judge she would cudgel my gown.
Then I did devise a pretty fine prank,
A mean whereby to pick me a thank,
Of Margery Mildon, the maid of the milk-house,
And Stainer the stutter,[192]the guid[193]of the storehouse.
Then was my lady’s anger well gone,
And will be so still, and the truth be not known.
Haphazard.By ’r Lady barefoot, this bakes trimly.
Haphazard.By ’r Lady barefoot, this bakes trimly.
Subservus.Nay, but I escaped more finely;For I under this hedge one while did stay.Then in this bush, then in that way:Then slip I behind them among all the rest,And seemed to commune, too, of things with the best:But so it did happen, that all things were well,But hazard it is, lest time will truth tell.
Subservus.Nay, but I escaped more finely;
For I under this hedge one while did stay.
Then in this bush, then in that way:
Then slip I behind them among all the rest,
And seemed to commune, too, of things with the best:
But so it did happen, that all things were well,
But hazard it is, lest time will truth tell.
Haphazard.Tut, tut, that was but by hap, and if it be so:Well, sith it was in hazard, then let it go.
Haphazard.Tut, tut, that was but by hap, and if it be so:
Well, sith it was in hazard, then let it go.
Subservus.Content, by my honesty: then farewell all woe.
Subservus.Content, by my honesty: then farewell all woe.
Mansipulus.Come out, dog, ye speak happily, of truth, if it be so.
Mansipulus.Come out, dog, ye speak happily, of truth, if it be so.
All speak.Now, Master Haphazard, fare you well for a season.
All speak.Now, Master Haphazard, fare you well for a season.
Haphazard.Let my counsel at no time with you lie geason.[194]
Haphazard.Let my counsel at no time with you lie geason.[194]
All speaketh.No, by the gods, he sure not so.
All speaketh.No, by the gods, he sure not so.
Haphazard.Well, sith here is no company, have with ye to Jericho.[Exit.
Haphazard.Well, sith here is no company, have with ye to Jericho.
[Exit.
EnterVirginius.
What! so the gods they have decreed to work and do by me?I marvel why Judge Appius he such greetings lets me see:I served have his seat and state, I have maintained his weal,I have suppress’d the rebels stout, I bear to him such zeal;And now he sends to me such charge upon my life and landsWithout demur or further pause, or ere ought thing[195]be scann’d,That I in haste with posting speed to court I do repair,To answer that alleged is before his judgment-chair.Some histories they do express, when such mishaps do fall,They should have taken many a one; I have not one but all.My jewels sometime precious do fade and bear no hue,My senses they do shun their course, my lights do burn as blue;My willing wits[196]are waxed slow, that once were swift in speed;My heart it throbs in wonderous sort, my nose doth often bleed:My dreadful dreams do draw my woe, and hateful hazard hale.[197]These tokens of evil hap, this is the old wive’s tale.But yet, O thou Virginius, whose hoary hairs are old,Did’st treason never yet commit, of this thou may’st be bold.In Mars his games, in martial feats thou wast his only aid.The huge Charibd his hazards[198]thou for him hast[199]oft assail’d:Was Scylla’s force by thee oft shunn’d, or yet Lady Circe’s[200]land,Pasiphae’s[201]child, the[202]Minotaur, did cause thee ever stand?To pleasure him, to serve thy liege,[203]to keep all things upright,Thou God above, then what is it that yieldeth me this spite?Sith nothing needs misdoubted be, where grounded cause is none,I enter will Judge Appius’ gate, rejecting care and moan.But stay, Virginius: lo, thy prince doth enter into place,O sovereign lord and rightful judge, the gods do save thy grace.
What! so the gods they have decreed to work and do by me?
I marvel why Judge Appius he such greetings lets me see:
I served have his seat and state, I have maintained his weal,
I have suppress’d the rebels stout, I bear to him such zeal;
And now he sends to me such charge upon my life and lands
Without demur or further pause, or ere ought thing[195]be scann’d,
That I in haste with posting speed to court I do repair,
To answer that alleged is before his judgment-chair.
Some histories they do express, when such mishaps do fall,
They should have taken many a one; I have not one but all.
My jewels sometime precious do fade and bear no hue,
My senses they do shun their course, my lights do burn as blue;
My willing wits[196]are waxed slow, that once were swift in speed;
My heart it throbs in wonderous sort, my nose doth often bleed:
My dreadful dreams do draw my woe, and hateful hazard hale.[197]
These tokens of evil hap, this is the old wive’s tale.
But yet, O thou Virginius, whose hoary hairs are old,
Did’st treason never yet commit, of this thou may’st be bold.
In Mars his games, in martial feats thou wast his only aid.
The huge Charibd his hazards[198]thou for him hast[199]oft assail’d:
Was Scylla’s force by thee oft shunn’d, or yet Lady Circe’s[200]land,
Pasiphae’s[201]child, the[202]Minotaur, did cause thee ever stand?
To pleasure him, to serve thy liege,[203]to keep all things upright,
Thou God above, then what is it that yieldeth me this spite?
Sith nothing needs misdoubted be, where grounded cause is none,
I enter will Judge Appius’ gate, rejecting care and moan.
But stay, Virginius: lo, thy prince doth enter into place,
O sovereign lord and rightful judge, the gods do save thy grace.
Here enterethJudge AppiusandClaudius.
With tender heart, Virginius, thou welcome art to me.I sorry am to utter out the things I hear of thee;For Claudius, a subject here, a man of mickle fame,Appealeth thee before my court in deed of open shame.And though indeed I love thee so as thy deserts desire,Yet not so but I must judgment give, as justice doth require.Virginius.My lord, and reason good it is: your servant doth requestNo partial hand to aid his cause, no partial mind or breast.If ought I have offended you, your court or eke your crown,From lofty top of turret high precipitate me down.If treason none by me be done, or any fault committed.Let my accusers bear the blame, and let me be remitted.Appius.Good reason, too, Virginius. Come, Claudius, show thy mind:Let justice hear, if judgment may Virginius guilty find.Claudius.Thou sovereign lord and rightful judge, this[204]standeth now the case.In tender youth, not long agone, near sixteen years of space,Virginius a thrall of mine, a child and infant young,From me did take by subtle means, and keeps by arm full strong:And here before your grace I crave, that justice be extended,That I may have my thrall again, and faults may be amended.Virginius.Ah gods, that guide the globe above, what forged tales I hear!O Judge Appius, bend your ears, while this my crime I clear.She is my child, and of my wife her tender corpse did spring:Let all the country where I dwell bear witness of the thing.[AppiusandClaudiusgo forth, butAppiusspeaketh this.Nay, by the gods, not so, my friend, I do not so decree:I charge thee here in pain of death thou bring the maid to me.In chamber close, in prison sound, she secret shall abide,And no kind of wight shall talk with her, until the truth be tried.This do I charge, this I command: in pain of death, let see,Without any let that she be brought as prisoner unto me.[Exit.[Here let Virginius go about the scaffold.Ah fickle fall, unhappy doom, O most uncertain fate,[205]That ever chance so churlishly, that never stay’d in state.What judge is this? what cruel wretch? what faith doth Claudius find?The gods do recompense with shame his false and faithless mind!Well, home I must, no remedy; where shall my soaking tears.Augment my woes, decrease my joys, while death do rid my fears.
With tender heart, Virginius, thou welcome art to me.I sorry am to utter out the things I hear of thee;For Claudius, a subject here, a man of mickle fame,Appealeth thee before my court in deed of open shame.And though indeed I love thee so as thy deserts desire,Yet not so but I must judgment give, as justice doth require.
With tender heart, Virginius, thou welcome art to me.
I sorry am to utter out the things I hear of thee;
For Claudius, a subject here, a man of mickle fame,
Appealeth thee before my court in deed of open shame.
And though indeed I love thee so as thy deserts desire,
Yet not so but I must judgment give, as justice doth require.
Virginius.My lord, and reason good it is: your servant doth requestNo partial hand to aid his cause, no partial mind or breast.If ought I have offended you, your court or eke your crown,From lofty top of turret high precipitate me down.If treason none by me be done, or any fault committed.Let my accusers bear the blame, and let me be remitted.
Virginius.My lord, and reason good it is: your servant doth request
No partial hand to aid his cause, no partial mind or breast.
If ought I have offended you, your court or eke your crown,
From lofty top of turret high precipitate me down.
If treason none by me be done, or any fault committed.
Let my accusers bear the blame, and let me be remitted.
Appius.Good reason, too, Virginius. Come, Claudius, show thy mind:Let justice hear, if judgment may Virginius guilty find.
Appius.Good reason, too, Virginius. Come, Claudius, show thy mind:
Let justice hear, if judgment may Virginius guilty find.
Claudius.Thou sovereign lord and rightful judge, this[204]standeth now the case.In tender youth, not long agone, near sixteen years of space,Virginius a thrall of mine, a child and infant young,From me did take by subtle means, and keeps by arm full strong:And here before your grace I crave, that justice be extended,That I may have my thrall again, and faults may be amended.
Claudius.Thou sovereign lord and rightful judge, this[204]standeth now the case.
In tender youth, not long agone, near sixteen years of space,
Virginius a thrall of mine, a child and infant young,
From me did take by subtle means, and keeps by arm full strong:
And here before your grace I crave, that justice be extended,
That I may have my thrall again, and faults may be amended.
Virginius.Ah gods, that guide the globe above, what forged tales I hear!O Judge Appius, bend your ears, while this my crime I clear.She is my child, and of my wife her tender corpse did spring:Let all the country where I dwell bear witness of the thing.
Virginius.Ah gods, that guide the globe above, what forged tales I hear!
O Judge Appius, bend your ears, while this my crime I clear.
She is my child, and of my wife her tender corpse did spring:
Let all the country where I dwell bear witness of the thing.
[AppiusandClaudiusgo forth, butAppiusspeaketh this.Nay, by the gods, not so, my friend, I do not so decree:I charge thee here in pain of death thou bring the maid to me.In chamber close, in prison sound, she secret shall abide,And no kind of wight shall talk with her, until the truth be tried.This do I charge, this I command: in pain of death, let see,Without any let that she be brought as prisoner unto me.[Exit.[Here let Virginius go about the scaffold.Ah fickle fall, unhappy doom, O most uncertain fate,[205]That ever chance so churlishly, that never stay’d in state.What judge is this? what cruel wretch? what faith doth Claudius find?The gods do recompense with shame his false and faithless mind!Well, home I must, no remedy; where shall my soaking tears.Augment my woes, decrease my joys, while death do rid my fears.
[AppiusandClaudiusgo forth, butAppiusspeaketh this.
Nay, by the gods, not so, my friend, I do not so decree:
I charge thee here in pain of death thou bring the maid to me.
In chamber close, in prison sound, she secret shall abide,
And no kind of wight shall talk with her, until the truth be tried.
This do I charge, this I command: in pain of death, let see,
Without any let that she be brought as prisoner unto me.
[Exit.
[Here let Virginius go about the scaffold.
Ah fickle fall, unhappy doom, O most uncertain fate,[205]
That ever chance so churlishly, that never stay’d in state.
What judge is this? what cruel wretch? what faith doth Claudius find?
The gods do recompense with shame his false and faithless mind!
Well, home I must, no remedy; where shall my soaking tears.
Augment my woes, decrease my joys, while death do rid my fears.
Here enterethRumour.
Come, Ventus, come: blow forth thy blast:Prince Eol, listen well:The filthiest fact that ever wasI, Rumour, now shall tell.You gods, bend down to hear my cry,Revengement duly show,Thy Rumour craves, bid[206]Claudius stay,[207]And bring Judge Appius low.That wicked man, that fleshly judge,Hath hired ClaudiusTo claim a child, the only heirOf old Virginius:A virgin pure, a queen in life,Whose state may be deplored;For why the queen of chaste lifeIs like to be deflow’redBy false Judge Appius, cruel wretch,Who straitly hath commanded,That she to keeping his be brought:Prince Pluto this demanded.To skies I fly, to blaze abroadThe tromp of deep defame.Revenge, you gods, this Rumour craves,This blood and bloody shame.Have through the air! give place, you airs,This is my duty done.The gods confound such lecherers!Lo, Rumour, this I run.Virginius.O man, O mould, O muck, O clay! O hell, O hellish hound,O false Judge Appius, rabbling[208]wretch, is this thy treason found?Woe worth the man that gave the seed, whereby ye first did spring!Woe worth the womb that bare the babe to mean this bloody thing!Woe worth the paps that gave thee suck, woe worth the fosters eke:Woe worth all such as ever did thy health or liking seek!O, that these gravèd hairs[209]of mine were covered in the clay!
Come, Ventus, come: blow forth thy blast:Prince Eol, listen well:The filthiest fact that ever wasI, Rumour, now shall tell.You gods, bend down to hear my cry,Revengement duly show,Thy Rumour craves, bid[206]Claudius stay,[207]And bring Judge Appius low.That wicked man, that fleshly judge,Hath hired ClaudiusTo claim a child, the only heirOf old Virginius:A virgin pure, a queen in life,Whose state may be deplored;For why the queen of chaste lifeIs like to be deflow’redBy false Judge Appius, cruel wretch,Who straitly hath commanded,That she to keeping his be brought:Prince Pluto this demanded.To skies I fly, to blaze abroadThe tromp of deep defame.Revenge, you gods, this Rumour craves,This blood and bloody shame.Have through the air! give place, you airs,This is my duty done.The gods confound such lecherers!Lo, Rumour, this I run.
Come, Ventus, come: blow forth thy blast:
Prince Eol, listen well:
The filthiest fact that ever was
I, Rumour, now shall tell.
You gods, bend down to hear my cry,
Revengement duly show,
Thy Rumour craves, bid[206]Claudius stay,[207]
And bring Judge Appius low.
That wicked man, that fleshly judge,
Hath hired Claudius
To claim a child, the only heir
Of old Virginius:
A virgin pure, a queen in life,
Whose state may be deplored;
For why the queen of chaste life
Is like to be deflow’red
By false Judge Appius, cruel wretch,
Who straitly hath commanded,
That she to keeping his be brought:
Prince Pluto this demanded.
To skies I fly, to blaze abroad
The tromp of deep defame.
Revenge, you gods, this Rumour craves,
This blood and bloody shame.
Have through the air! give place, you airs,
This is my duty done.
The gods confound such lecherers!
Lo, Rumour, this I run.
Virginius.O man, O mould, O muck, O clay! O hell, O hellish hound,O false Judge Appius, rabbling[208]wretch, is this thy treason found?Woe worth the man that gave the seed, whereby ye first did spring!Woe worth the womb that bare the babe to mean this bloody thing!Woe worth the paps that gave thee suck, woe worth the fosters eke:Woe worth all such as ever did thy health or liking seek!O, that these gravèd hairs[209]of mine were covered in the clay!
Virginius.O man, O mould, O muck, O clay! O hell, O hellish hound,
O false Judge Appius, rabbling[208]wretch, is this thy treason found?
Woe worth the man that gave the seed, whereby ye first did spring!
Woe worth the womb that bare the babe to mean this bloody thing!
Woe worth the paps that gave thee suck, woe worth the fosters eke:
Woe worth all such as ever did thy health or liking seek!
O, that these gravèd hairs[209]of mine were covered in the clay!
Here enterethVirginia.
Let patience, dear father mine, your rigour something stay:Why do you wail in such a sort? why do you weep and moan?Virginius.O daughter dear and only heir, my life is near begone,And all for love of thee.Virginia.Ah, gods, how may this be?Dear father, do withdraw your dread, and let me know the cause:Myself will aid with life or death without demur or pause.Then tender your child that craveth this bound.[210]Virginius.O, hearken, dear daughter, attend thou my sound.Judge Appius, prick’d forth with filthy desire,Thy person as leman doth greatly require;And no kind of entreaty, no fear, nor no shame,Will he hear alleged, defending[211]the same.And straight without staying, in pain of my death,I must bring thee thither. Wherefore stop my breath.O sisters; I search, I seek, and I craveNo more at your hands but death for to have,Rather than see my daughter deflow’red,Or else in ill sort so wildly devour’d.Virginia.O father, O friendship, O fatherly favour,Whose dulcet words so sweetly do savour,On knees I beseech thee to grant my request,In all things according as liketh thee best.Thou knowest, O my father, if I be once spotted,My name and my kindred then forth will be blotted:And if thou, my father, should die for my cause,The world would accompt me guilty in cause.Then rather, dear father, if it be thy pleasure,Grant me the death; then keep I my treasure,My lamp, my light, my life undefiled,And so may Judge Appius of [my] flesh be beguiled.This upon my knees with humble behest,Grant me, O father, my instant request.Virginius.Then rise up, my daughter: my answer do noteFrom mouth of thy father, whose eyes do now float.O daughter, O dear, O darling, O dame,Dispatch me, I pray thee, regard not my name:But yet as thou sayest, sith remedy none,But leman thou must be, if I were gone,And better it is to die with good fame,Than longer to live to reap us but shame:But if thou do die no doubt is at all,But presently after myself follow shall,Then end without shame, so let us persever,With trump of good fame, so die shall we never.[Virginia here kneeleth.Then, tender arms, complect the neck: do dry thy father’s tears,You nimble hands, for woe whereof my loving heart it wears.Virginia.O father mine, refrain no whit your sharped knife to takeFrom gilded[212]sheath my shame to end, and body dead to make.Let not the shameless bloody judge defile my virgin’s life;Do take my head, and send it him upon your bloody knife:Bid him imbrue his bloody hands in guiltless blood of me:I virgin die, he lecher lives; he was my end, you see.No more delays—lo, kiss me first, then stretch your strongest arm:Do rid my woe, increase my joy, do ease your child of harm.Virginius.O weary wits of woe or wealth, O feeble aged man,How can thy arm give such a blow! thy death I wish thee then!But sith that shame with endless trump will sound, if case thy joyBy[213]means of false Judge Appius be, myself will thee destroy.Forgive me, babe, this bloody deed, and meekly take thy end.[Here let him proffer a blow.Virginia.The gods forgive thee, father dear! farewell, thy blow do bend.Yet stay a while, O father dear, for flesh to death is frail:Let first my wimple bind my eyes, and then thy blow assail.Now, father, work thy will on me, that life I may enjoy.[Here tie a handkercher about her eyes, and then strike off her head.Now stretch thy hand, Virginius, that loth would flesh destroy.O cruel hands, O[214]bloody knife, O man, what hast thou done?Thy daughter dear and only heir her vital end hath won.Come, fatal blade, make like despatch: come, Atropos: come, aid![215]Strike home, thou careless arm, with speed; of death be not afraid.
Let patience, dear father mine, your rigour something stay:Why do you wail in such a sort? why do you weep and moan?
Let patience, dear father mine, your rigour something stay:
Why do you wail in such a sort? why do you weep and moan?
Virginius.O daughter dear and only heir, my life is near begone,And all for love of thee.
Virginius.O daughter dear and only heir, my life is near begone,
And all for love of thee.
Virginia.Ah, gods, how may this be?Dear father, do withdraw your dread, and let me know the cause:Myself will aid with life or death without demur or pause.Then tender your child that craveth this bound.[210]
Virginia.Ah, gods, how may this be?
Dear father, do withdraw your dread, and let me know the cause:
Myself will aid with life or death without demur or pause.
Then tender your child that craveth this bound.[210]
Virginius.O, hearken, dear daughter, attend thou my sound.Judge Appius, prick’d forth with filthy desire,Thy person as leman doth greatly require;And no kind of entreaty, no fear, nor no shame,Will he hear alleged, defending[211]the same.And straight without staying, in pain of my death,I must bring thee thither. Wherefore stop my breath.O sisters; I search, I seek, and I craveNo more at your hands but death for to have,Rather than see my daughter deflow’red,Or else in ill sort so wildly devour’d.
Virginius.O, hearken, dear daughter, attend thou my sound.
Judge Appius, prick’d forth with filthy desire,
Thy person as leman doth greatly require;
And no kind of entreaty, no fear, nor no shame,
Will he hear alleged, defending[211]the same.
And straight without staying, in pain of my death,
I must bring thee thither. Wherefore stop my breath.
O sisters; I search, I seek, and I crave
No more at your hands but death for to have,
Rather than see my daughter deflow’red,
Or else in ill sort so wildly devour’d.
Virginia.O father, O friendship, O fatherly favour,Whose dulcet words so sweetly do savour,On knees I beseech thee to grant my request,In all things according as liketh thee best.Thou knowest, O my father, if I be once spotted,My name and my kindred then forth will be blotted:And if thou, my father, should die for my cause,The world would accompt me guilty in cause.Then rather, dear father, if it be thy pleasure,Grant me the death; then keep I my treasure,My lamp, my light, my life undefiled,And so may Judge Appius of [my] flesh be beguiled.This upon my knees with humble behest,Grant me, O father, my instant request.
Virginia.O father, O friendship, O fatherly favour,
Whose dulcet words so sweetly do savour,
On knees I beseech thee to grant my request,
In all things according as liketh thee best.
Thou knowest, O my father, if I be once spotted,
My name and my kindred then forth will be blotted:
And if thou, my father, should die for my cause,
The world would accompt me guilty in cause.
Then rather, dear father, if it be thy pleasure,
Grant me the death; then keep I my treasure,
My lamp, my light, my life undefiled,
And so may Judge Appius of [my] flesh be beguiled.
This upon my knees with humble behest,
Grant me, O father, my instant request.
Virginius.Then rise up, my daughter: my answer do noteFrom mouth of thy father, whose eyes do now float.O daughter, O dear, O darling, O dame,Dispatch me, I pray thee, regard not my name:But yet as thou sayest, sith remedy none,But leman thou must be, if I were gone,And better it is to die with good fame,Than longer to live to reap us but shame:But if thou do die no doubt is at all,But presently after myself follow shall,Then end without shame, so let us persever,With trump of good fame, so die shall we never.[Virginia here kneeleth.Then, tender arms, complect the neck: do dry thy father’s tears,You nimble hands, for woe whereof my loving heart it wears.
Virginius.Then rise up, my daughter: my answer do note
From mouth of thy father, whose eyes do now float.
O daughter, O dear, O darling, O dame,
Dispatch me, I pray thee, regard not my name:
But yet as thou sayest, sith remedy none,
But leman thou must be, if I were gone,
And better it is to die with good fame,
Than longer to live to reap us but shame:
But if thou do die no doubt is at all,
But presently after myself follow shall,
Then end without shame, so let us persever,
With trump of good fame, so die shall we never.
[Virginia here kneeleth.
Then, tender arms, complect the neck: do dry thy father’s tears,
You nimble hands, for woe whereof my loving heart it wears.
Virginia.O father mine, refrain no whit your sharped knife to takeFrom gilded[212]sheath my shame to end, and body dead to make.Let not the shameless bloody judge defile my virgin’s life;Do take my head, and send it him upon your bloody knife:Bid him imbrue his bloody hands in guiltless blood of me:I virgin die, he lecher lives; he was my end, you see.No more delays—lo, kiss me first, then stretch your strongest arm:Do rid my woe, increase my joy, do ease your child of harm.
Virginia.O father mine, refrain no whit your sharped knife to take
From gilded[212]sheath my shame to end, and body dead to make.
Let not the shameless bloody judge defile my virgin’s life;
Do take my head, and send it him upon your bloody knife:
Bid him imbrue his bloody hands in guiltless blood of me:
I virgin die, he lecher lives; he was my end, you see.
No more delays—lo, kiss me first, then stretch your strongest arm:
Do rid my woe, increase my joy, do ease your child of harm.
Virginius.O weary wits of woe or wealth, O feeble aged man,How can thy arm give such a blow! thy death I wish thee then!But sith that shame with endless trump will sound, if case thy joyBy[213]means of false Judge Appius be, myself will thee destroy.Forgive me, babe, this bloody deed, and meekly take thy end.[Here let him proffer a blow.
Virginius.O weary wits of woe or wealth, O feeble aged man,
How can thy arm give such a blow! thy death I wish thee then!
But sith that shame with endless trump will sound, if case thy joy
By[213]means of false Judge Appius be, myself will thee destroy.
Forgive me, babe, this bloody deed, and meekly take thy end.
[Here let him proffer a blow.
Virginia.The gods forgive thee, father dear! farewell, thy blow do bend.Yet stay a while, O father dear, for flesh to death is frail:Let first my wimple bind my eyes, and then thy blow assail.Now, father, work thy will on me, that life I may enjoy.[Here tie a handkercher about her eyes, and then strike off her head.Now stretch thy hand, Virginius, that loth would flesh destroy.O cruel hands, O[214]bloody knife, O man, what hast thou done?Thy daughter dear and only heir her vital end hath won.Come, fatal blade, make like despatch: come, Atropos: come, aid![215]Strike home, thou careless arm, with speed; of death be not afraid.
Virginia.The gods forgive thee, father dear! farewell, thy blow do bend.
Yet stay a while, O father dear, for flesh to death is frail:
Let first my wimple bind my eyes, and then thy blow assail.
Now, father, work thy will on me, that life I may enjoy.
[Here tie a handkercher about her eyes, and then strike off her head.
Now stretch thy hand, Virginius, that loth would flesh destroy.
O cruel hands, O[214]bloody knife, O man, what hast thou done?
Thy daughter dear and only heir her vital end hath won.
Come, fatal blade, make like despatch: come, Atropos: come, aid![215]
Strike home, thou careless arm, with speed; of death be not afraid.
Here enterethComfort.
O noble knight, Virginius, do stay, be not dismay’d:I, curing Comfort, present am, your dolor [for] to aid.Virginius.Sith joy is gone, sith life is dead,What comfort can there be?No more! there is but deep despair,And deadly death to me.Comfort.No more, Sir Knight, but take the head, and wend a while with me:It shall be sent to court, for that Judge Appius may it see.In recompense of lecher’s lust this present let him have,And stay your corpse for certain space in coping from the grave:So shall you see the end of him and all his whole concent.[216]This will be comfort to your heart: Virginius, be content.Virginius.Of truth, even so, for comfort else I know right well is none,Wherefore I do consent with you: come on, let us be gone.But messenger myself will be, myself will give the gift.Come on, good Comfort, wend we then; there is no other shift.[Exeunt.
O noble knight, Virginius, do stay, be not dismay’d:I, curing Comfort, present am, your dolor [for] to aid.
O noble knight, Virginius, do stay, be not dismay’d:
I, curing Comfort, present am, your dolor [for] to aid.
Virginius.Sith joy is gone, sith life is dead,What comfort can there be?No more! there is but deep despair,And deadly death to me.
Virginius.Sith joy is gone, sith life is dead,
What comfort can there be?
No more! there is but deep despair,
And deadly death to me.
Comfort.No more, Sir Knight, but take the head, and wend a while with me:It shall be sent to court, for that Judge Appius may it see.In recompense of lecher’s lust this present let him have,And stay your corpse for certain space in coping from the grave:So shall you see the end of him and all his whole concent.[216]This will be comfort to your heart: Virginius, be content.
Comfort.No more, Sir Knight, but take the head, and wend a while with me:
It shall be sent to court, for that Judge Appius may it see.
In recompense of lecher’s lust this present let him have,
And stay your corpse for certain space in coping from the grave:
So shall you see the end of him and all his whole concent.[216]
This will be comfort to your heart: Virginius, be content.
Virginius.Of truth, even so, for comfort else I know right well is none,Wherefore I do consent with you: come on, let us be gone.But messenger myself will be, myself will give the gift.Come on, good Comfort, wend we then; there is no other shift.[Exeunt.
Virginius.Of truth, even so, for comfort else I know right well is none,
Wherefore I do consent with you: come on, let us be gone.
But messenger myself will be, myself will give the gift.
Come on, good Comfort, wend we then; there is no other shift.
[Exeunt.
Here enterethJudge Appius.
Well, hap as hap can, hap or no,In hazard it is, but let that go.I will, what so happen, pursue on still:Why, none there is living can let me my will.I will have Virginia; I will her deflow’r,Else rigorous sword her heart shall devour.
Well, hap as hap can, hap or no,
In hazard it is, but let that go.
I will, what so happen, pursue on still:
Why, none there is living can let me my will.
I will have Virginia; I will her deflow’r,
Else rigorous sword her heart shall devour.
Here enterethHaphazard.
I came from Caleco even the same hour,And Hap was hired to hackney in hempstrid:In hazard he was of riding on beamstrid.Then, crow crop on tree-top, hoist up the sail,Then groaned their necks by the weight of their tail:Then did Carnifex put these three together,Paid them their passport for clust’ring thither.Appius.Why, how now, Haphazard, of what dost thou speak?Methinks in mad sort thy talk thou dost break.Those three words, chop all in one,Is Carnifex: that signifieth hangman.Peace! no such words before me do utter.Haphazard.Nay, I lie as still as a cat in a gutter.Go to, Judge Appius; go forward, good prince:Perhaps ye may have that the which will not blince.Appius.What is the man that liveth now so near to door of death,As I for lust of lady fair, whose lack will stop my breath?But long I shall not want her sight, I stay her coming here.O lucky light! lo, present here her father doth appear.O, how I joy! yet brag thou not; dame beauty bides behind.Virginius, where is the maid? how haps thou break my mind?
I came from Caleco even the same hour,And Hap was hired to hackney in hempstrid:In hazard he was of riding on beamstrid.Then, crow crop on tree-top, hoist up the sail,Then groaned their necks by the weight of their tail:Then did Carnifex put these three together,Paid them their passport for clust’ring thither.
I came from Caleco even the same hour,
And Hap was hired to hackney in hempstrid:
In hazard he was of riding on beamstrid.
Then, crow crop on tree-top, hoist up the sail,
Then groaned their necks by the weight of their tail:
Then did Carnifex put these three together,
Paid them their passport for clust’ring thither.
Appius.Why, how now, Haphazard, of what dost thou speak?Methinks in mad sort thy talk thou dost break.Those three words, chop all in one,Is Carnifex: that signifieth hangman.Peace! no such words before me do utter.
Appius.Why, how now, Haphazard, of what dost thou speak?
Methinks in mad sort thy talk thou dost break.
Those three words, chop all in one,
Is Carnifex: that signifieth hangman.
Peace! no such words before me do utter.
Haphazard.Nay, I lie as still as a cat in a gutter.Go to, Judge Appius; go forward, good prince:Perhaps ye may have that the which will not blince.
Haphazard.Nay, I lie as still as a cat in a gutter.
Go to, Judge Appius; go forward, good prince:
Perhaps ye may have that the which will not blince.
Appius.What is the man that liveth now so near to door of death,As I for lust of lady fair, whose lack will stop my breath?But long I shall not want her sight, I stay her coming here.O lucky light! lo, present here her father doth appear.O, how I joy! yet brag thou not; dame beauty bides behind.Virginius, where is the maid? how haps thou break my mind?
Appius.What is the man that liveth now so near to door of death,
As I for lust of lady fair, whose lack will stop my breath?
But long I shall not want her sight, I stay her coming here.
O lucky light! lo, present here her father doth appear.
O, how I joy! yet brag thou not; dame beauty bides behind.
Virginius, where is the maid? how haps thou break my mind?
Here enterethVirginius[bearing Virginia’s head.]
Ah wicked judge, the virgin chasteHath sent her beauteous face,In recompense of lecher gain,To thee, so void of grace.She bids thee imbrue thy bloody handsAnd filthy lecherous mindWith Venus’ damsels, void of shame,Where such thou haps to find.But thou as with Diana’s impsShalt never be acquainted:They rather wish the naked knifeThan virgin’s life attainted.And in[217]just proof whereofBehold Virginia’s head:She sought her fame, thou sought her shame:This arm hath smit her dead.Appius.O curst and cruel cankered churl, O carl unnatural;Which hast the seed of thine own loin[218]thrust forth to funeral!Ye gods, bend down your ire, do plague him for his deed,You sprites below, you hellish hounds, do give him gall for meed.Myself will see his latter end; I judge him to the death.Like death that fair Virginia took, the like shall stop his breath;The flashy[219]fiends of Limbo lake his ghost do so turmoil,That he have need of Charon’s help for all his filthy toil.Come, Justice, then; come on, Reward; come, aid me in my need.Thou wicked knight, shalt slaughtered[220]be with self-same knife with speed.Virginius.Sith she a virgin pure and chaste in heaven leads her life,Content I am to die with her, and die upon her knife.Appius.Come, Justice, then: come on, Reward, when Judgment now doth call.
Ah wicked judge, the virgin chasteHath sent her beauteous face,In recompense of lecher gain,To thee, so void of grace.She bids thee imbrue thy bloody handsAnd filthy lecherous mindWith Venus’ damsels, void of shame,Where such thou haps to find.But thou as with Diana’s impsShalt never be acquainted:They rather wish the naked knifeThan virgin’s life attainted.And in[217]just proof whereofBehold Virginia’s head:She sought her fame, thou sought her shame:This arm hath smit her dead.
Ah wicked judge, the virgin chaste
Hath sent her beauteous face,
In recompense of lecher gain,
To thee, so void of grace.
She bids thee imbrue thy bloody hands
And filthy lecherous mind
With Venus’ damsels, void of shame,
Where such thou haps to find.
But thou as with Diana’s imps
Shalt never be acquainted:
They rather wish the naked knife
Than virgin’s life attainted.
And in[217]just proof whereof
Behold Virginia’s head:
She sought her fame, thou sought her shame:
This arm hath smit her dead.
Appius.O curst and cruel cankered churl, O carl unnatural;Which hast the seed of thine own loin[218]thrust forth to funeral!Ye gods, bend down your ire, do plague him for his deed,You sprites below, you hellish hounds, do give him gall for meed.Myself will see his latter end; I judge him to the death.Like death that fair Virginia took, the like shall stop his breath;The flashy[219]fiends of Limbo lake his ghost do so turmoil,That he have need of Charon’s help for all his filthy toil.Come, Justice, then; come on, Reward; come, aid me in my need.Thou wicked knight, shalt slaughtered[220]be with self-same knife with speed.
Appius.O curst and cruel cankered churl, O carl unnatural;
Which hast the seed of thine own loin[218]thrust forth to funeral!
Ye gods, bend down your ire, do plague him for his deed,
You sprites below, you hellish hounds, do give him gall for meed.
Myself will see his latter end; I judge him to the death.
Like death that fair Virginia took, the like shall stop his breath;
The flashy[219]fiends of Limbo lake his ghost do so turmoil,
That he have need of Charon’s help for all his filthy toil.
Come, Justice, then; come on, Reward; come, aid me in my need.
Thou wicked knight, shalt slaughtered[220]be with self-same knife with speed.
Virginius.Sith she a virgin pure and chaste in heaven leads her life,Content I am to die with her, and die upon her knife.
Virginius.Sith she a virgin pure and chaste in heaven leads her life,
Content I am to die with her, and die upon her knife.
Appius.Come, Justice, then: come on, Reward, when Judgment now doth call.
Appius.Come, Justice, then: come on, Reward, when Judgment now doth call.
Here enterethJusticeandReward,and they both speak this.
We both are ready here at hand to work thy fatal fall.Justice[speaketh]. O gorgon judge, what lawless life hast thou most wicked led!Thy soaking sin hath sunk thy soul, thy virtues all are fled.Thou chaste and undefiled life did seek for to have spotted,And thy reward is ready here, by Justice now allotted.Reward. Thy just reward is deadly death; wherefore come, wend away:To death I straight will do thy corpse; then lust shall have his prey.Virginius, thou woful knight, come near and take thy foe.In prison [do] thou make him fast: no more let him do so.Let Claudius for tyranny be hanged on a tree.Virginius.Ah, right Reward: the gods be bless’d, this day I chance to see!
We both are ready here at hand to work thy fatal fall.
We both are ready here at hand to work thy fatal fall.
Justice[speaketh]. O gorgon judge, what lawless life hast thou most wicked led!Thy soaking sin hath sunk thy soul, thy virtues all are fled.Thou chaste and undefiled life did seek for to have spotted,And thy reward is ready here, by Justice now allotted.
Justice[speaketh]. O gorgon judge, what lawless life hast thou most wicked led!
Thy soaking sin hath sunk thy soul, thy virtues all are fled.
Thou chaste and undefiled life did seek for to have spotted,
And thy reward is ready here, by Justice now allotted.
Reward. Thy just reward is deadly death; wherefore come, wend away:To death I straight will do thy corpse; then lust shall have his prey.Virginius, thou woful knight, come near and take thy foe.In prison [do] thou make him fast: no more let him do so.Let Claudius for tyranny be hanged on a tree.
Reward. Thy just reward is deadly death; wherefore come, wend away:
To death I straight will do thy corpse; then lust shall have his prey.
Virginius, thou woful knight, come near and take thy foe.
In prison [do] thou make him fast: no more let him do so.
Let Claudius for tyranny be hanged on a tree.
Virginius.Ah, right Reward: the gods be bless’d, this day I chance to see!
Virginius.Ah, right Reward: the gods be bless’d, this day I chance to see!
EnterHaphazard.
Haphazard.Why, how now, my lord Appius, what cheer?Why, where is my reward for this gear?Why did I ride, run, and revel,And for all my jaunting now made a javel?Why—run, sir knave, call me Claudius?Then—run with a vengeance, watch Virginius:Then—ride, sirrah; is Virginia at church?Then—gallop to see where her father doth lurch.Then—up, sirrah; now what counsel?Of dame beauty what news canst thou tell?Thus in hurly burly, from pillar to post,Poor Haphazard daily was toss’d;And now with Virginius he goes sadly walking,And nothing at all will listen my talking:But shall I be so used at his hands?As lief I were near in Limbo bands.That dronel, that drousy drakenosed drivel,He never learned his manners in Siville.[221]A judge may cause a gentleman—a gentleman? nay, a jack-herring,As honest as he that carries his hose on his neck for fear of wearing.A caitiff, a cut-throat, a churl worthy blame.I will serve him no longer, the devil give him shame!Yet, by the mouse-foot, I am not content,I will have a reward, sure, else will I repent.To master Reward I straightways will go:The worst that can hap is but a no.But sure I know his honesty is such,That he will recompense me with little or much:And well this proverb cometh in my head,By ’r lady, half a loaf is better than ne’er a whit of bread.Therefore hap and be happy,[222]hap that hap may,I will put it in hazard, I[’ll] give it assay.All hail, Master Reward and righteous Justice:I beseech you let me be recompensed too, according to my service;For why all this long time I have lived in hope.Reward.Then for thy reward, then, here is a rope.Haphazard.Nay, soft, my masters: by Saint Thomas of Trunions,I am not disposed to buy of your onions.A rope? (quoth you) away with that showing!It would grieve a man having two ploughs going.Nay, stay, I pray you, and let the cat wink:It is naught in dry summer for-letting my drink.[223]Justice.Let or let not, there is no remedy: hanging shall be thy reward verily.Haphazard.Is there nothing but hanging to my lot doth fall?Then take you my reward; much good do it you withal.I am not so hasty, although I be claiming,But that I can afford you the most of my gaining.I will set, let, grant, yield, permit and promiseAll the revenues to you of my service.I am friendly, I am kindly, I proffer you fair:You shall be my full executor and heir.Reward.Nay, make you ready first to die, by the rood,Then we will dispose it, as we think good:Then those that with you to this did consent,The like reward shall cause them repent.Justice.Nay, stay a while, Virginius is coming.Nay, soft, Haphazard, you are not so cunning,Thus to escape without punishment.[Haphazardpresses to go forth, but is forced to stay.][224]Reward.No, certes, it is not so expedient.
Haphazard.Why, how now, my lord Appius, what cheer?Why, where is my reward for this gear?Why did I ride, run, and revel,And for all my jaunting now made a javel?Why—run, sir knave, call me Claudius?Then—run with a vengeance, watch Virginius:Then—ride, sirrah; is Virginia at church?Then—gallop to see where her father doth lurch.Then—up, sirrah; now what counsel?Of dame beauty what news canst thou tell?Thus in hurly burly, from pillar to post,Poor Haphazard daily was toss’d;And now with Virginius he goes sadly walking,And nothing at all will listen my talking:But shall I be so used at his hands?As lief I were near in Limbo bands.That dronel, that drousy drakenosed drivel,He never learned his manners in Siville.[221]A judge may cause a gentleman—a gentleman? nay, a jack-herring,As honest as he that carries his hose on his neck for fear of wearing.A caitiff, a cut-throat, a churl worthy blame.I will serve him no longer, the devil give him shame!Yet, by the mouse-foot, I am not content,I will have a reward, sure, else will I repent.To master Reward I straightways will go:The worst that can hap is but a no.But sure I know his honesty is such,That he will recompense me with little or much:And well this proverb cometh in my head,By ’r lady, half a loaf is better than ne’er a whit of bread.Therefore hap and be happy,[222]hap that hap may,I will put it in hazard, I[’ll] give it assay.All hail, Master Reward and righteous Justice:I beseech you let me be recompensed too, according to my service;For why all this long time I have lived in hope.
Haphazard.Why, how now, my lord Appius, what cheer?
Why, where is my reward for this gear?
Why did I ride, run, and revel,
And for all my jaunting now made a javel?
Why—run, sir knave, call me Claudius?
Then—run with a vengeance, watch Virginius:
Then—ride, sirrah; is Virginia at church?
Then—gallop to see where her father doth lurch.
Then—up, sirrah; now what counsel?
Of dame beauty what news canst thou tell?
Thus in hurly burly, from pillar to post,
Poor Haphazard daily was toss’d;
And now with Virginius he goes sadly walking,
And nothing at all will listen my talking:
But shall I be so used at his hands?
As lief I were near in Limbo bands.
That dronel, that drousy drakenosed drivel,
He never learned his manners in Siville.[221]
A judge may cause a gentleman—a gentleman? nay, a jack-herring,
As honest as he that carries his hose on his neck for fear of wearing.
A caitiff, a cut-throat, a churl worthy blame.
I will serve him no longer, the devil give him shame!
Yet, by the mouse-foot, I am not content,
I will have a reward, sure, else will I repent.
To master Reward I straightways will go:
The worst that can hap is but a no.
But sure I know his honesty is such,
That he will recompense me with little or much:
And well this proverb cometh in my head,
By ’r lady, half a loaf is better than ne’er a whit of bread.
Therefore hap and be happy,[222]hap that hap may,
I will put it in hazard, I[’ll] give it assay.
All hail, Master Reward and righteous Justice:
I beseech you let me be recompensed too, according to my service;
For why all this long time I have lived in hope.
Reward.Then for thy reward, then, here is a rope.
Reward.Then for thy reward, then, here is a rope.
Haphazard.Nay, soft, my masters: by Saint Thomas of Trunions,I am not disposed to buy of your onions.A rope? (quoth you) away with that showing!It would grieve a man having two ploughs going.Nay, stay, I pray you, and let the cat wink:It is naught in dry summer for-letting my drink.[223]
Haphazard.Nay, soft, my masters: by Saint Thomas of Trunions,
I am not disposed to buy of your onions.
A rope? (quoth you) away with that showing!
It would grieve a man having two ploughs going.
Nay, stay, I pray you, and let the cat wink:
It is naught in dry summer for-letting my drink.[223]
Justice.Let or let not, there is no remedy: hanging shall be thy reward verily.
Justice.Let or let not, there is no remedy: hanging shall be thy reward verily.
Haphazard.Is there nothing but hanging to my lot doth fall?Then take you my reward; much good do it you withal.I am not so hasty, although I be claiming,But that I can afford you the most of my gaining.I will set, let, grant, yield, permit and promiseAll the revenues to you of my service.I am friendly, I am kindly, I proffer you fair:You shall be my full executor and heir.
Haphazard.Is there nothing but hanging to my lot doth fall?
Then take you my reward; much good do it you withal.
I am not so hasty, although I be claiming,
But that I can afford you the most of my gaining.
I will set, let, grant, yield, permit and promise
All the revenues to you of my service.
I am friendly, I am kindly, I proffer you fair:
You shall be my full executor and heir.
Reward.Nay, make you ready first to die, by the rood,Then we will dispose it, as we think good:Then those that with you to this did consent,The like reward shall cause them repent.
Reward.Nay, make you ready first to die, by the rood,
Then we will dispose it, as we think good:
Then those that with you to this did consent,
The like reward shall cause them repent.
Justice.Nay, stay a while, Virginius is coming.Nay, soft, Haphazard, you are not so cunning,Thus to escape without punishment.[Haphazardpresses to go forth, but is forced to stay.][224]
Justice.Nay, stay a while, Virginius is coming.
Nay, soft, Haphazard, you are not so cunning,
Thus to escape without punishment.
[Haphazardpresses to go forth, but is forced to stay.][224]
Reward.No, certes, it is not so expedient.
Reward.No, certes, it is not so expedient.
Here enterethVirginius.