English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
1 _Cap_. But doe you thinck
They meane to take his head of, or to fright him?
2 _Cap_. Heaven keep me from such frights. Why are theis Guards
Commaunded to make good the Execution,
If they intend not death?
1 _Cap_. But dare they doe it?
2 _Cap_. What dare not Justice do that's right and honest?
Is he not proov'd a guilty man? What bugs
Should publick safety be afraid to looke on?
Do you hold the United _States_ so tame to feare him,--
Feare him a Traitor, too?
1 _Cap_. You know hee's much lov'd,
And every where they stir in his Compassion.
2 _Cap_. They'll stir so long till some of 'em will sinck for't,
Some of the best I feare that glewd his faction;
Their building lyes discoverd and their bases broken.
1 _Cap_. There is much money laid in every place, too,
Hundreds and thousands, that they dare not strike him.
2 _Cap_. Give loosers leave to play the fooles; 'tis lost all.
Secure yourself he dyes; nor is it wisdom
To go an ace lesse with him: he is monstrous.
--The people hurry now; stand fast, he is comming.
_Enter Provost, Soldiers & Executioners, with a Coffin & a Gibbett_.
_Pro_. Make roome before! cleere all theis gaping people
And stop their passage.
1 _Cap_. How now? What wonder's this?
_Prov_. Stay! or ile make ye stay: I charge ye stir not.
2 _Cap_. What thinck you now? dare not theis men do Justice?
This is the body of _Leidenberg_, that killd himself
To free his Cause: his shame has found him yet.
_Prov_. Up with him, come: set all your hands & heave him!
_Exec_. A plaguy, heavy Lubber! Sure this fellow
Has a bushell of plot in's belly, he weighes so massy.
Heigh! now againe! he stincks like a hung poll cat.
This rotten treason has a vengeance savour;
This venison wants pepper and salt abhominably.
_Prov_. Pyn him aloft, and pin him sure.
_Exec_. I warrant ye;
If ere he run away againe ile swing for him.
This would make a rare signe for a Cookes shop,
The Christmas pie.
[_Exeunt Executioners_.
_Prov_. Come; now about the rest.--Keepe the Court cleere still.
[_Exeunt Provost and Soldiers_.
2 _Cap_. What thinck you now?
1 _Cap_. Now I am afraid of him.
This prologue should portend a fatall Tragedie:
Theis examples will make 'em shake.
2 _Cap_. 'Tis well they have 'em;
Their stubbornenes and pride requires 'em greater.
The Prince strikes iust ith' nick and strikes home nobely:
This new pretending faction had fird all els;
They had floong a generall ruyn on the Cuntry.
_Enter Boyes & Burgers_.
1 _Boy_. He comes, he comes, he comes! ô for a place now!
2 _Boy_. Let's climb the Battlements.
_Cap_. Away with theis rogues.
1 _Burg_. I saw the Guard goe for him: Where shall we be now?
2 _Burg_. He will make a notable Speech, I warrant him.
3 _Burg_. Let's get us neere the Skaffold.
1 _Cap_. Keep of, Turnops:
Ye come upon our Pikes els.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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