_Enter_ JONAS, RASNI, ALVIDA, _the_ KING OF CILICIA, _and other_ Kings, _royally attended._ _Jonas._ Come, careful king, cast off thy mournful weeds, Exchange thy cloudy looks to smoothèd smiles; Thy tears have pierc'd the piteous throne of grace, Thy sighs, like incense pleasing to the Lord, Have been peace-offerings for thy former pride: Rejoice, and praise his name that gave thee peace. And you, fair nymphs, ye lovely Ninevites, Since you have wept and fasted 'fore the Lord, He graciously hath temper'd his revenge: Beware henceforth to tempt him any more: Let not the niceness of your beauteous looks Engraft in you a high-presuming mind; For those that climb he casteth to the ground, And they that humble be he lifts aloft. _Rasni._ Lowly I bend with awful bent of eye, Before the dread Jehovah, God of hosts, Despising all profane device of man. Those lustful lures, that whilom led awry My wanton eyes, shall wound my heart no more; And she, whose youth in dalliance I abus'd, Shall now at last become my wedlock-mate.-- Fair Alvida, look not so wo-begone; If for thy sin thy sorrow do exceed, Blessèd be thou; come, with a holy band Let's knit a knot to salve our former shame. _Alvi._ With blushing looks, betokening my remorse, I lowly yield, my king, to thy behest, So as this man of God shall think it good. _Jonas._ Woman, amends may never come too late; A will to practise good is virtuous: The God of heaven, when sinners do repent, Doth more rejoice than in ten thousand just. _Rasni._ Then witness, holy prophet, our accord. _Alvi._ Plight in the presence of the Lord thy God. _Jonas._ Blest may you be, like to the flowering sheaves That play with gentle winds in summer-tide; Like olive-branches let your children spread, And as the pines in lofty Lebanon, Or as the kids that feed on Sepher[130] plains, So be the seed and offspring of your loins! _Enter the_ Usurer, THRASYBULUS, _and_ ALCON. _Usurer._ Come forth, my friends, whom wittingly I wrong'd: Before this man of God receive your due; Before our king I mean to make my peace.-- Jonas, behold, in sign of my remorse, I here restore into these poor men's hands Their goods which I unjustly have detain'd; And may the heavens so pardon my misdeeds As I am penitent for my offence! _Thras._ And what through want from others I purloin'd, Behold, O king, I proffer 'fore thy throne, To be restor'd to such as owe[131] the same. _Jonas._ A virtuous deed, pleasing to God and man. Would God, all cities drownèd in like shame Would take example of these Ninevites.