A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 08
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 08
English drama
CLIN. 'Zounds, I still watch on this enclosed ground;
For if he rise again, I'll murder him.
HON. My lord, my tongue's not able to report
Those joys my heart conceives to see thee live.
DUN. Give God the glory: he recovered thee,
And wrought this judgment on that cursed man,
That set debate and strife among ye all.
MOR. My lord, our eyes have seen a miracle,
Which after ages ever shall admire.
The Spanish doctor, standing here before us,
Is sunk into the bowels of the earth,
Ending his vile life by a viler death.
LACY. But, gentle Marian, I bewail thy loss,
That wert maid, wife, and widow, all so soon.
MAR. 'Tis your recovery that joys me more,
Than grief can touch me for the doctor's death.
He never lov'd me whilst he liv'd with me,
Therefore the less I mourn his tragedy.
MOR. Henceforth we'll strictlier look to strangers' lives,
How they shall marry any English wives.
Now all men shall record this fatal day;
Lacy revived, the doctor sunk in clay.
[_The trumpets sound, exeunt omnes nisi_ DUNSTAN.
DUN. Now is Earl Lacy's house fill'd full of joy,
He and his lady wholly reconcil'd,
Their jars all ended: those, that were like men
Transformed, turn'd unto their shapes again.
And, gentlemen, before we make an end,
A little longer yet your patience lend,
That in your friendly censures you may see
What the infernal synod do decree;
And after judge, if we deserve to name
This play of ours, _The devil and his dame_.
[_Exit_.
_It thunders and lightneth. Enter_ PLUTO, MINOS,
AEACUS, RHADAMANTHUS, _with Fury bringing in_
MALBECCO'S _Ghost_.
PLU. Minos, is this the day he should return,
And bring us tidings of his twelvemonth spent!
_Enter_ BELPHEGOR, _like a devil, with horns
on his head, and_ AKERCOCK.
MIN. It is, great king, and here Belphegor comes.
PLU. His visage is more ghastly than 'twas wont.
What ornaments are those upon his head?
BEL. Hell, I salute thee! now I feel myself
Rid of a thousand torments. O vile earth,
Worse for us devils than hell itself for men!
Dread Pluto, hear thy subject's just complaint
[BELPHEGOR _kneeleth to_ PLUTO.
Proceeding from the anguish of my soul.
O, never send me more into the earth!
For there dwells dread and horror more than here.
PLU. Stand forth, Belphegor, and report the truth
Of all things have betide thee in the world.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account