And though the history of itself be too-too dolorous, And would constrain a man with tears of blood his cheeks to wet, Yet to refresh the minds of them that be the auditors, Our Author intermixed hath, in places fit and meet, Some honest mirth, yet always 'ware decorum to exceed. But list, I hear the players prest in presence forth to come: I therefore cease, and take my leave: my message I have done. [_Exit_. THE CONFLICT OF CONSCIENCE. ACT I., SCENE 1. SATAN. High time it is for me to stir about, And do my best my kingdom to maintain, For why I see of enemies a rout, Which all my laws and statutes do disdain; Against my state do fight and strive amain: Whom in time if I do not dissipate, I shall repent it, when it is too late. My mortal foe, the carpenter's poor son, Against my children--the Pharisees I mean-- Upbraiding them, did use this comparison, As in the story of his life may be seen. There was a man which had a vineyard green, Who, letting it to husbandmen unkind, Instead of fruit unthankfulness did find. So that his servants firstly they did beat. His son likewise they afterward did kill: And hereupon that man, in fury great, Did soldiers send these husbandmen to spill; Their town to burn he did them also will: But out alas, alas, for woe I cry, To use the same far juster cause have I. For where the kingdom of this world is mine, And his on whom I will the same bestow, As prince hereof I did myself assign: My darling dear, whose faithful love I know,[26] Shall never fail from me, but daily flow. But who that is, perhaps some man may doubt; I will therefore in brief portract and paint him out. The mortal man by nature's rule is bound That child to favour more than all the rest, Which to himself in face is likest found; So that he shall with all his goods be blest: Even so do I esteem and like him best, Which doth most near my dealings imitate, And doth pursue God's laws with deadly hate. As therefore I, when once in angel's state I was, did think myself with God as mate to be, So doth my son himself now elevate Above man's nature in rule and dignity. So that _in terris Deus sum_, saith he: In earth I am a God, with sins for to dispense, And for rewards I will forgive each manner of offence. I said to Eve: tush, tush, thou shalt not die, But rather shalt as God know everything; My son likewise, to maintain idolatry, Saith: tush, what hurt can carved idols bring? Despise this law of God, the heavenly King, And set them in the church for men thereon to look: An idol doth much good: it is a layman's book. Nembroth,[27] that tyrant, fearing God's hand, By me was persuaded to build up high Babel, Whereby he presumed God's wrath to withstand: So hath my boy devised very well Many pretty toys to keep men's soul from hell, Live they never so evil here and wickedly, As masses, trentals, pardons, and scala coeli. I egged on Pharaoh, of Egypt the king,