A Select Collection of Old English Plays: Originally Published by Robert Dodsley in the year 1744
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays: Originally Published by Robert Dodsley in the year 1744
English drama
APPIUS. I find it, I mind it, I swear that I will,
Though shame or defame do happen, no skill.[179]
But out, I am wounded: how am
I divided! [Sidebar: Here let him make as
Two states of my life from me though he went out, and let
are now glided; Conscience and Justice come out
For Conscience he pricketh me after[180] him, and let
contemned, Conscience hold in his hand a
And Justice saith, judgment lamp burning, and let Justice have
would have me condemned: a sword, and hold it before
Conscience saith, cruelty sure Appius’ breast.]
will detest me;
And Justice saith, death in th’ end will molest me:
And both in one sudden me-thinks they do cry,
That fire eternal my soul shall destroy.
HAPHAZARD. Why, these are but thoughts, man: why, fie for shame,
fie!
For Conscience was careless and sailing by seas,
Was drowned in a basket and had a disease,
Sore moved for pity, when he would grant none,
For being hard-hearted was turned to a stone:
And sailing by Sandwich he sank for his sin.
Then care not for conscience the worth of a pin.
And judgment judge[d] Justice to have a reward
For judging still justly, but all now is marr’d;
For gifts they are given where judgment is none.
Thus judgment and justice a wrong way hath gone.
Then care not for Conscience the worth of a fable;
Justice is no man, nor nought to do able.
APPIUS. And sayest thou so, my ’sured friend? then hap as hap shall
it:
Let Conscience grope and judgment crave, I will not shrink one whit.
I will persever in my thought: I will deflower her youth;
I will not sure reverted be, my heart shall have no ruth.
Come on, proceed, and wait on me, I will, hap woe or wealth:
Hap blunt, hap sharp, hap life, hap death: th[r]ough Haphazard be
of health.
HAPHAZARD. At hand (quoth pick-purse) here ready am I.
See well to the cut-purse: be ruled by me.
[_Exeunt._
_Enter_ CONSCIENCE.
CONSCIENCE. O clear unspotted gifts of Jove,
How haps thou art refused?
O Conscience clear, what cruel mind
Thy truth hath thus misused?
I spotted am by wilful will,
By lawless love and lust,
By dreadful danger of the life,
By faith that is unjust,
JUSTICE. Ah gift of Jove, Ah Fortune’s face,
Ah state of steady life!
I Justice am, and prince of peers,
The end of laws and strife:
A guider of the common weal,
A guardian[181] to the poor;
And yet hath filthy lust suppress’d
My virtues in one hour.
Well, well, this is the most to trust,
In end we shall aspire
To see the end of these our foes
With sword and eke with fire.
CONSCIENCE. O help, ye gods, we members require.
[_Exeunt._
_Enter_ HAPHAZARD.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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