The Israelites to kill, so soon as they were born: My darling likewise doth the selfsame thing, And therefore causes kings and princes to be sworn, That with might and main they shall keep up his horn, And shall destroy with fire, axe, and sword, Such as against him shall speak but one word. And even as I was somewhat too slow, So that notwithstanding the Israelites did augment; So (for lack of murthering) God's people do grow, And daily increase at this time present; Which my son shall feel incontinent. Yet another practice, this evil to withstand, He learned of me, which now he takes in hand. For when as Moses I might not destroy, Because that he was of the Lord appointed To bring the people from thraldom to joy, I did not cease, whilst I had invented, Another means to have him prevented; By accompting himself the son of Pharaoh, To make him loth Egypt to forego. The same advice I also attempted Against the Son of God, when he was incarnate; Hoping thereby to have him relented, And for promotion-sake himself to prostrate Before my feet, when I did demonstrate The whole world unto him and all the glory, As it is recorded in Matthew's history. So hath the Pope, who is my darling dear, My eldest boy, in whom I do delight, Lest he should fall, which thing he greatly fear, Out of his seat of honour, pomp and might, Hath got to him, on his behalf to fight, Two champions stout, of which the one is Avarice, The other is called Tyrannical Practice. For, as I said, although I claim by right The kingdom of this earthly world so round, And in my stead to rule with force and might I have assigned the Pope, whose match I nowhere found, His heart with love to me so much abound; Yet divers men of late, of malice most unkind, Do study, to displace my son, some wayward means to find. Wherefore I marvel much what cause of let there is, That hitherto they have not their office put in ure. I will go see: for why I fear that somewhat is amiss; If not, to range abroad the world I will them straight procure: But needs they must have one to help, men's hearts for to allure Unto their train: who that should be, I cannot yet espy. No meeter match I can find out than is Hypocrisy; Who can full well in time and place dissemble either part. No man shall easily perceive with which side he doth bear; But when once favour he hath got, and credit in man's heart, He will not slack in mine affairs: I do him nothing fear. But time doth run too fast away for me to tarry here; For[28] none will be enamoured of my shape, I do know, I will therefore mine imps send out from hell their shapes to show. [_Exit_. ACT I, SCENE 2. MATHETES, PHILOLOGUS.