A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 14
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 14
English drama
CON. Come along with your horns, my lads of metal. It was the
duke's pleasure before his departure, that we should be appointed
the sinks and sentinels of the city, and that none shall have
ingress, egress, or regress but by our special authority and
favour. But, harm watch, harm catch: for my part, since I crept
into this office, I am woven into such a knot of good fellowship,
as I can watch no more than a dormouse: nay, I am verily
persuaded, if I hold constable long, the deputy of the ward will
return me one of the Seven Sleepers. But let me advise you, my
birds of the Capitol, that you walk not after my example: be it
your care to watch, while I sleep. Many eyes are upon you; but my
eyes grow heavy; my day's society bids me take a nap.
WATCH. But one word, good master, before you drop into your
slumber: report goes, that there be spirits that patrol
familiarly in this sentry; what shall we say to them, if they
pass by?
CON. Bid them stand.[158]
WATCH. But what if they either cannot or will not?
CON. Let them then take themselves to their heels, and thank God
you are so well rid of them.
WATCH. One word more, good constable, and then good night. Be
these the spirits that allure our children with spice and
trinkets to their schippers, and so convey them to th'
Bermudas?[159]
CON. In no wise, neighbours; these spirits come from the low
countries: and though at first sight very frightful, yet,
appearing unarmed, they become less fearful.
1ST WATCH. Nay, if these pretty familiars come to our guard
naked,[160] we shall prove hard enough for them.
2D WATCH. Well, neighbour Rugweed, let us not presume too far on
our strength: these spirits be a dangerous kind of whifflers,
and, like our Robin Goodfellows, will play their legerdemain
tricks, scudding here and there in a trice, and nimbly snap you,
when least suspected.
SCENE VI.
_Enter_ GALLERIUS' GHOST.
From the Cinnerian depth here am I come
Leaving an Erra Pater in my tomb,
To take a view, which of my fellows be
The thriving'st artists in astronomy.
Rank one by one in astrologic row,
And dying see, whom thou didst living know.
[_He makes his figure._
Mount, gainful Crinon; for to thee we give,
As thou deserv'st, the sole prerogative:
For thy divining lines have purchas'd more
Than all our prime professors got before.
Jason won much at Colchis; but thy gain
Has lin'd thy shoulders in a Swedish chain.
Rich divination! But what's knowledge worth,
If people do not credit what's set forth?
[Sidenote: _Omnia temporibus cecinit Cassandra futuris. Quæ
ventura suis--via unquam credita Teucris Melitus._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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