HIERO. Stand forth, thou monster, murderer of men, And here, for satisfaction of the world, Confess thy folly and repent thy fault, For there's thy place of execution. PED. This is short work! Well, to your martiallship First I confess, nor fear I death therefore, I am the man,--'twas I slew Serberine. But, sir, then you think this shall be the place Where we shall satisfy you for this gear? DEPU. Aye, Pedrigano. PED. No I think not so. HEIRO. Peace, impudent! for thou shalt find it so; For blood with blood shall, while I sit as judge, Be satisfied, and the law discharg'd. And, though myself cannot receive the like, Yet will I see that others have their right. Dispatch! the fault approved and confess'd, And by our law he is condemn'd to die. HANG. Come on, sir! are you ready? PED. To do what, my fine officious knave? HANG. To go to this gear. PED. O, sir, you are to forward; thou wouldst fain furnish me with a halter, to disfurnish me of my habit. So should I go out of this gear, my raiment, into that gear, the rope. But, hangman, now I spy your knavery, I'll not change without boot; that's flat. HANG. Come, sir. PED. So then I must up? HANG. No remedy. PED. Yes, but there shall be for my coming down. HANG. Indeed here's a remedy for that. PED. How? be turn'd off? HANG. Aye, truly. Come, are you ready? I pray you, sir, dispatch, the day goes away. PED. What, do you hang by the hour? If you do, I may chance to break your old custom. HANG. Faith, you have no reason, for I am like to break your young neck. PED. Dost thou mock me, hangman? Pray God I be not preserved to break your knaves-pate for this! HANG. Alas, sir, you are a foot too low to reach it, and I hope you will never grow so high while I am in office. PED. Sirrah, dost see yonder boy with the box in his hand? HANG. What, he that points to it with his finger? PED. Aye, that companion. HANG. I know him not; but what of him? PED. Dost thou think to live till his old doublet will make thee a new truss? HANG. Aye, and many a fair year after, to truss up many an honester man then either thou or he. PED. What hath he in his box, as thou thinkst? HANG. Faith, I cannot tell, nor I care not greatly. Me thinks you should rather hearken to your soul's health. PED. Why, sirrah hangman, I take it that that is good for the body is likewise good for the soul: and it may be in that box is balm for both. HANG. Well, thou art even the merriest piece of man's flesh that e'er groaned at my office-door. PED. Is your roguery become an office, with a knave's name? HANG. Aye, and that shall all they witness that see you seal it with a thief's name. PED. I prithee, request this good company to pray for me.