_Mal._ Faith,[523] as bawds go to church, for fashion' sake. Come, be not confounded; thou'rt but in danger to lose a dukedom. Think this:--this earth is the only grave and Golgotha wherein all things that live must rot; 'tis but the draught wherein the heavenly bodies discharge their corruption; the very muck-hill on which the sublunary orbs cast their excrements: man is the slime of this dung-pit, and princes are the governors of these men; for, for our souls, they are as free as emperors, all of one piece; there[524] goes but a pair of shears betwixt an emperor and the son of a bagpiper; only the dying, dressing, pressing, glossing, makes the difference. Now, what art thou like to lose? 151 A gaoler's office to keep men in bonds, Whilst toil and treason all life's good confounds. _Pietro._ I here renounce for ever regency: O Altofront, I wrong thee to supplant thy right, To trip thy heels up with a devilish sleight! For which I now from throne am thrown: world-tricks abjure; For vengeance though't[525] comes slow, yet it comes sure. O, I am chang'd! for here, 'fore the dread power, In true contrition, I do dedicate 160 My breath to solitary holiness, My lips to prayer, and my breast's care shall be, Restoring Altofront to regency. _Mal._ Thy vows are heard, and we accept thy faith. [_Undisguiseth himself._ _Re-enter_ FERNEZE _and_ CELSO. Banish amazement: come, we four must stand Full shock of fortune: be not so wonder-stricken. _Pietro._ Doth Ferneze live? _Fer._ For your pardon. _Pietro._ Pardon and love. Give leave to recollect My thoughts dispers'd in wild astonishment. My vows stand fix'd in heaven, and from hence 170 I crave all love and pardon. _Mal._ Who doubts of providence, That sees this change? a hearty faith to all! He needs must rise who[526] can no lower fall: For still impetuous vicissitude Touseth[527] the world; then let no maze intrude Upon your spirits: wonder not I rise; For who can sink that close can temporise? The time grows ripe for action: I'll detect My privat'st plot, lest ignorance fear suspect. Let's close to counsel, leave the rest to fate: 180 Mature discretion is the life of state. [_Exeunt._ [506] Ed. 1. "in." [507] Ed. 2. "rand." [508] Some copies of ed. 1. "mazde." [509] Added in ed. 2. [510] Ed. 1. "led."--Ed. 2. "ledde." [511] Some copies of ed. 1. "try." [512] The text is not satisfactory, though the meaning is perfectly plain.--Quy. "Judgment is just, _yea_, _e'en_ from," &c.