ALL SPEAK. Now, Master Haphazard, fare you well for a season. HAPHAZARD. Let my counsel at no time with you lie geason.[194] ALL SPEAKETH. No, by the gods, he sure not so. HAPHAZARD. Well, sith here is no company, have with ye to Jericho. [_Exit_. _Enter_ VIRGINIUS. What! so the gods they have decreed to work and do by me? I marvel why Judge Appius he such greetings lets me see: I served have his seat and state, I have maintained his weal, I have suppress’d the rebels stout, I bear to him such zeal; And now he sends to me such charge upon my life and lands Without demur or further pause, or ere ought thing[195] be scann’d, That I in haste with posting speed to court I do repair, To answer that alleged is before his judgment-chair. Some histories they do express, when such mishaps do fall, They should have taken many a one; I have not one but all. My jewels sometime precious do fade and bear no hue, My senses they do shun their course, my lights do burn as blue; My willing wits[196] are waxed slow, that once were swift in speed; My heart it throbs in wonderous sort, my nose doth often bleed: My dreadful dreams do draw my woe, and hateful hazard hale.[197] These tokens of evil hap, this is the old wive’s tale. But yet, O thou Virginius, whose hoary hairs are old, Did’st treason never yet commit, of this thou may’st be bold. In Mars his games, in martial feats thou wast his only aid. The huge Charibd his hazards[198] thou for him hast[199] oft assail’d: Was Scylla’s force by thee oft shunn’d, or yet Lady Circe’s[200] land, Pasiphae’s[201] child, the[202] Minotaur, did cause thee ever stand? To pleasure him, to serve thy liege,[203] to keep all things upright, Thou God above, then what is it that yieldeth me this spite? Sith nothing needs misdoubted be, where grounded cause is none, I enter will Judge Appius’ gate, rejecting care and moan. But stay, Virginius: lo, thy prince doth enter into place, O sovereign lord and rightful judge, the gods do save thy grace. _Here entereth_ JUDGE APPIUS _and_ CLAUDIUS. With tender heart, Virginius, thou welcome art to me. I sorry am to utter out the things I hear of thee; For Claudius, a subject here, a man of mickle fame, Appealeth thee before my court in deed of open shame. And though indeed I love thee so as thy deserts desire, Yet not so but I must judgment give, as justice doth require. VIRGINIUS. My lord, and reason good it is: your servant doth request No partial hand to aid his cause, no partial mind or breast. If ought I have offended you, your court or eke your crown, From lofty top of turret high precipitate me down. If treason none by me be done, or any fault committed. Let my accusers bear the blame, and let me be remitted.