English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Pike_. What to doe, pray, with me?[41]
1. To point with our fingers
Out all such rockes, shelves, quicksands, gulfes, & shallowes
Lying in the sea through which you are to passe
In the most dangerous voyage you ere made:
Eyther by our care to sett you safe on land,
Or, if you fly from us your heavenly pilotts,
Sure to be wrackt for ever.
_Pike_. What must I doe?
2. Confesse to one of us what rancke and foule impostumes
Have bred about your soule.
1. What Leprosies
Have run ore all your Conscience.
2. What hott feavers
Now shake your peace of mind.
1. For we are come
To cure your old Corruptions.
2. We are come
To be your true and free Physitians.
1. Without the hope of gold, to give you health.
2. To sett you on your feete on the right way.
1. To _Palestine_, the _New Jerusalem_.
2. Say;
Will you unlocke the closet of your heart
To one of us? chuse which, & be absolvd
For all your blacke Crimes on a free confession?
1. To him or me, for you must dye to morrow.
_Pike_. Welcome!
To morrow shall I be in another country,
Where are no Examiners, nor Jayles,
Nor bolts, nor barres, nor irons. I beseech you
Give me a little respite to retire
Into the next roome, & I will instantly
Returne to give you satisfaction.
[_Exit_.
_Ambo_. Goe, brother.
1. A goodly man!
2. Well limbd & strong of heart.
1. Now I well view his face did not we two
At our last being in _Plymouth_ in disguise,
When there the King of _England_ rode about
To see the soldiers in their musterings
And what their armes were, just before this fleet
Sett out, did we not see him there?
2. May be we did; I know not; if he were there 'tis now out of my
memory.
_Enter Pike_.
1. Are you resolvd?
_Pike_. Yes.
2. To confesse?
_Pike_. I ha' don't already.
1. To whom?
_Pike_. To one who is in better place
And greater power then you to cure my sicke
Infected part, though maladies as infinite
As the sea sands, the grassy spears on earth,
Or as the dropps of raine & stars in the firmament
Stucke on me he can cleare all, cleanse me throughly.
2. You will not then confesse?
_Pike_. No, I confesse I will not.
1. We are sorry for you;
For Countryes sake this Counsaile do I give you:
When y'are before the Lords rule well your tongue,
Be wary how you answer, least they tripp you;
For they know the whole number of your shipps,
Burthen, men & munition, as well
As you in _England_.
_Pike_. I thanke you both.
2. Prepare to dye.
[_Exeunt Fryers_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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