English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Bar_. I wilbe vext,
And such an anger I will fling amongst 'em
Shall shake the servile soules of these poore wretches
That stick his slight deservings above mine.
I charge ye draw your Guard off and disperce 'em:
I have a powre as full as theirs.
_Cap_. You'll find not;
And I must have ye with me.
_Bar_. And am I subiect
That have stood the brunt of all their busines,
And when they slept watcht to secure their slombers,--
Subiect to slights, to scornes, to taynts, to tortures?
To feed one privat mallice am I betrayd?
Myne age, myne honour and my honest dealing
Sold to the hangmans Sword?
_Cap_. I cannot stay.
_Bar_. Take me
And glory in my blood, you most ungratefull;
Feed your long bloody hopes and bath your angers
In _Barnavelts_ deservings; share my Services;
Let it be death to pitty me; to speak well of me,
The ruyn of whole famylies. When I am gon
And angry war againe shall ceize your Cuntry,
Too late remember then and cursse your follyes.
--I am ready. Farwell, Son; remember me
But not my fortune; let them cry that shall want me.
_Cap_. No man come neere on paine of death: away with him.
[_Exeunt_.
SCAENA 4.
_Enter Orange & 1 Captaine_.[185]
_Cap_. And as I told your Highnes, so wee tooke him.
_Or_. 'Twas with discretion and valour followd.
You were not noted as you made entraunce
Into the _Hague_?
_Cap_. No, Sir; 'twas about midnight,
And few were stirring but the Guard.
_Or_. The better.
Let his being brought in be still conceald, and tell him
If uncompelld he will confes the truth
At _Barnavelts_ Arraignement, that all favour
That I can wyn him shall prepare a way
To quallifie his fault.
_Cap_. Ile work him to it
And doubt not.
_Enter Burgers & Women with bowghs & flowres_.
_Cap_. 'Tis Kramis[186]-time,
In which it is a custome with the people
To deck their dores with Garlonds, Bowghes, and flowres
That are most gratious.
_Or_. I remember.
--Stand close.
[1] _Burg_. Strew, strew: more Garlonds and more Flowres.
Up with the Bowghes! Sacramant, I will have
My noble frends house, Mounseiur _Barnavelts_,
As well deckt as his Excellencies Court,
For though they have got him in prison he deserves
As well as any.
_Cap_. Mark you that.
2 _Burg_. 'Tis said
They will cutt of his head.
1 _Burg_. Much![187] with a Cusshin!
They know he has too many frends.
[2] _Burg_. They dare not.
People will talke: I hope ere long to see him
As great as ever.
[1] _Burg_. Greater too, I doubt not,
And of more powre; his feet upon the necks
Of all his Enemies.
_Or_. I am glad I heard this;
And _Barnavelt_ shall feele I will make use oft.
Come; follow me.
[_Exeunt_.
2 _Burg_. So, now the merry Song
We made for his good Lady. Lustique,[188] hoa!
[Song.
_Enter Wife above_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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