_A place being provided for the devil's consistory, enter_ ST DUNSTAN, _with his beads, book, and crosier-staff, &c_. ST. DUN. Envy, that always waits on virtue's train, And tears the graves of quiet sleeping souls, Hath brought me after many hundred years To show myself again upon the earth. Know then (who list) that I am English born, My name is Dunstan; whilst I liv'd with men, Chief primate of the holy English church. I was begotten in West Saxony:[423] My father's name was Heorstan, my mother's Cinifred. Endowed with my merit's legacy, I flourish'd in the reign of seven great kings: The first was Athelstane, whose niece Elfleda Malicious tongues reported I defiled: Next him came Edmond, then Edred, and Edwy. And after him reign'd Edgar, a great prince. But full of many crimes, which I restrain'd: Edward his son, and lastly Ethelred. With all these kings was I in high esteem, And kept both them and all the land in awe: And, had I liv'd, the Danes had never boasted Their then beginning conquest of this land. Yet some accuse me for a conjuror, By reason of those many miracles Which heaven for holy life endowed me with; But whoso looks into the "Golden Legend"[424] (That sacred register of holy saints) Shall find me by the pope canonised, And happily the cause of this report Might rise by reason of a vision Which I beheld in great King Edgar's days, Being that time Abbot of Glastonbury, Which (for it was a matter of some worth) I did make known to few until this day: But now I purpose that the world shall see How much those slanderers have wronged me: Nor will I trouble you with courts and kings; Or drive a feigned battle out of breath; Or keep a coil myself upon the stage; But think you see me in my secret cell, Arm'd with my portass,[425] bidding of my beads. But on a sudden I'm o'ercome with sleep! If aught ensue, watch you, for Dunstan[426] dreams. [_He layeth him down to sleep; lightning and thunder; the curtains drawn on a sudden_; PLUTO, MINOS, AEACUS, RHADAMANTHUS, _set in counsel; before them_ MALBECCO'S _ghost guarded with furies_. PLU. You ever-dreaded judges of black hell, Grim Minos, Aeacus, and Rhadamanth, Lords of Cocytus, Styx, and Phlegethon, Princes of darkness, Pluto's ministers, Know that the greatness of his present cause Hath made ourselves in person sit as judge, To hear th'arraignment of Malbecco's ghost. Stand forth, thou ghastly pattern of despair, And to this powerful synod tell thy tale, That we may hear if thou canst justly say Thou wert not author of thy own decay.