English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
[_Exit Cap. and Modesb_.]
_Vand_. This is an impudence I never read of.
But now wee'll show thee, miserable man,
Such further prooffes as would call up a blush
Upon the devills cheeke. Looke upon this,
Signd by the Governor, Chauncellor and Counsell
Of _Gilderland_ and _Zutphen_, who here name thee
The roote and head of the late Schisme.
_Bred_. And this
Sent from the Lords of _Utrecht_, where 'tis prov'd
That the new Companies were raisd by you,
And to what purpose.
_William_. To subvert Religion,
To deface Justice and to breake the union
And holly League betweene the _Provinces_.
[_Henry_.[193] The Proclamations are allowd by you
Sent forth against the Protestants; and here
Your resolution to degrade my Brother
And then dispose of him as you thought fitt.]
_Vand_. Your plott here to withdraw all the old Soldiers
From the Commandement of the States, and wyn them
To serve for your ends in a Civill war.
_Bred_. To raise up Cittizen against Cittizen,
Stranger gainst stranger, Soldier against Soldier,
And Maiestrates against the Maiestrates.
_Or_. To waste the Land within that with lesse danger
The forraigne Enemy might make his entraunce.
Yf then this be not treacherie beyond
All presidents of Traitours--
_Bar_. Give me Leave
Onely to smile, then say all theis are falce,
Your witnesses subornd, your testemonies
And wrytings forgd, and this elaborate forme
Of Justice to delude the world a cover
For future practises: this I affirme
Upon my soule[194]. Now when you please condempne me:
I will not use one sillable for your mercy
To have mine age renewd and once againe
To see a second triumph of my glories.
You rise, and I grow tedious; let me take
My farwell of you yet, and at the place
Where I have oft byn heard; and, as my life
Was ever fertile of good councells for you,
It shall not be in the last moment barren.
_Octavius_[195], when he did affect the Empire
And strove to tread upon the neck of _Rome_
And all hir ancient freedoms, tooke that course[196]
That now is practisd on you; for the _Catos_
And all free sperritts slaine or els proscribd
That durst have stir'd against him, he then sceasd
The absolute rule of all. You can apply this[197]:
And here I prophecie I, that have lyvd
And dye a free man, shall when I am ashes
Be sensible of your groanes and wishes for me;
And when too late you see this Goverment
Changd to a Monarchie[198] youll howle in vaine
And wish you had a _Barnavelt_ againe.
Now lead me where you will: a speedy Sentence:
I am ready for it and 'tis all I ask you.
[_Exeunt_.
_Actus Quintus_.
SCAENA PRIMA.
_Enter Wife, Daughter, Servant with Peares_.
_Wife_. Denyde to see my Husband! ô you Tirants!
And (to increase my misery) in vaine
By heaven I kneeld for't, wept and kneeld in vaine
To such as would, while _Barnavelt_ was himself--
But why do I remember that word 'was,'
That never happie word of 'was.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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