The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 08Dryden, John
General
The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 08
Dryden, John
English drama -- 17th century
_Hengo._ But my head, uncle!
Methinks the rock goes round.
_Enter, below_, MACER _and_ JUDAS, _Romans_.
_Macer._ Mark them well, Judas.
_Judas._ Peace, as you love your life.
_Hengo._ Do not you hear
The noise of bells?
_Car._ Of bells, boy? 'tis thy fancy;
Alas, thy body's full of wind!
_Hengo._ Methinks, sir,
They ring a strange sad knell, a preparation
To some near funeral of state.--Nay, weep not,
Mine own sweet uncle; you will kill me sooner.
_Car._ Oh, my poor chicken!
_Hengo._ Fie, faint-hearted uncle!
Come, tie me in your belt, and let me down.
_Car._ I'll go myself, boy.
_Hengo._ No, as you love me, uncle;
I will not eat it, if I do not fetch it;
The danger only I desire: pray tie me.
_Car._ I will, and all my care hang o'er thee! Come, child,
My valiant child.
_Hengo._ Let me down apace, uncle;
And you shall see how, like a daw, I'll whip it
From all their policies; for 'tis most certain
A Roman train; and you must hold me sure too;
You'll spoil all else. When I have brought it, uncle,
We'll be as merry----
_Car._ Go, in the name of heaven, boy.--
[_Lets him down._
_Hengo._ Quick, quick, good uncle! I have it--Oh!
[JUDAS _shoots_ HENGO.
_Car._ What ailest thou?
_Hengo._ Oh, my best uncle, I am slain!
_Car._ I see you,
And heaven direct my hand.--
[_He kills_ JUDAS _with a stone_.
Destruction
Go with thy coward soul!--How dost thou, boy?--
Oh villain, pocky villain!
_Hengo._ Oh, uncle, uncle,
Oh how it pricks me! Am I preserved for this?
Extremely pricks me.
_Car._ Coward, rascal coward!
Dogs eat thy flesh!
_Hengo._ Oh, I bleed hard! I faint too; out upon't,
How sick I am!--the lean rogue, uncle!
_Car._ Look, boy;
I've laid him sure enough.
_Hengo._ Have you knocked his brains out?
_Car._ I warrant thee, for stirring more; cheer up, child.
_Hengo._ Hold my sides hard; stop, stop; oh, wretched fortune,
Must we part thus? Still I grow sicker, uncle.
_Car._ Heaven look upon this noble child!
_Hengo._ I once hoped
I should have lived to have met these bloody Romans
At my sword's point, to have revenged my father,
To have beaten them. Oh hold me hard!--but, uncle--
_Car._ Thou shalt live still, I hope, boy. Shall I draw it?
_Hengo._ You draw away my soul, then. I would live
A little longer; spare me, heavens! but only
To thank you for your tender love. Good uncle,
Good noble uncle, weep not.
_Car._ Oh my chicken,
My dear boy, what shall I lose!
_Hengo._ Why, a child
That must have died however; had this 'scaped me,
Fever or famine. I was born to die, sir.
_Car._ But thus unblown, my boy?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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