Part 9

SIM. Eugenia come! Command a second guard To bring Cleanthes in; we’ll not sit long; My stomach strives to dinner.[276] EUG. Now, servants, may a lady be so bold To call your power so low? SIM. A mistress may; She can make all things low; then in that language There can be no offence. EUG. The time’s now come Of manumissions; take him into bonds, And I am then at freedom. SECOND COURT. This the man! He hath left off [o’] late to feed on snakes; His beard’s turn’d white again. FIRST COURT. Is’t possible these gouty legs danc’d lately, And [s]hatter’d in a galliard? EUG. Jealousy And fear of death can work strange prodigies. SECOND COURT. The nimble fencer this, that made me tear And traverse ’bout the chamber? SIM. Ay, and gave me Those elbow-healths, the hangman take him for’t! They had almost fetch’d my heart out: the Dutch venny[277] I swallow’d pretty well; but the half-pike Had almost pepper’d[278] me; but had I took [long- sword], Being swollen, I had cast my lungs out.

_A Flourish._[279] _Enter_ EVANDER _and_ CRATILUS.

FIRST[280] COURT. Peace, the duke! EVAN. Nay, back t’ your seats:[281] who’s that? SECOND COURT. May’t please your highness, it is old Lysander.[282] EVAN. And brought in by his wife! a worthy precedent Of one that no way would offend the law, And should not pass away without remark. You have been look’d for long. LYS. But never fit To die till now, my lord. My sins and I Have been but newly parted; much ado I had to get them leave me, or be taught That difficult lesson, how to learn to die. I never thought there had been such an act, And ’tis the only discipline we are born for: All studies else[283] are but as circular lines, And death the centre where they must all meet. I now can look upon thee, erring woman,Cro And not be vex’d with jealousy; on young men, Pleasure, and strength; all which were once mine own, And mine must be theirs one day. EVAN. You have tam’d him. SIM. And know how to dispose him; that, my liege, Hath been before determin’d. You confess Yourself of full age? LYS. Yes, and prepar’d to inherit—— EUG. Your place above.[284] SIM. Of which the hangman’s strength Shall put him in possession. LYS. ’Tis still car’d[285] To take me willing and in mind to die; And such are, when the earth grows weary of them, Most fit for heaven. SIM. The court shall make his mittimus, And send him thither presently: i’th’ mean time—— EVAN. Away[286] to death with him. [_Exit_ CRATILUS _with_ LYSANDER.

_Enter_ GUARD _with_ CLEANTHES, HIPPOLITA _following, weeping_.

SIM. So! see another person brought to the bar. FIRST COURT. The arch-malefactor. SECOND COURT. The grand offender,[287] the most refractory To all good order;[288] ’tis Cleanthes, he—— SIM. That would have sons grave fathers, ere their fathers Be sent unto their graves. EVAN. There will be expectation In your severe proceedings against him; His act being so capital. SIM. Fearful and bloody; Therefore we charge these women leave the court, Lest they should swoon[289] to hear it. EUG. I, in expectation Of a most happy freedom. [_Exit._ HIP. I, with the apprehension Of a most sad and desolate widowhood. [_Exit._ FIRST COURT. We bring him to the bar—— SECOND COURT. Hold up your hand, sir. CLEAN. More reverence to the place than to the persons: To the one I offer up a [spreading][290] palm Of duty and obedience, [a]s to heaven, Imploring justice, which was never wanting Upon that bench whilst their own fathers sat; But unto you, my hands contracted thus, As threatening vengeance against murderers, For they that kill in thought shed innocent blood.— With pardon of[291] your highness, too much passion Made me forget your presence, and the place I now am call’d to. EVAN. All our[292] majesty And power we have to pardon or condemn Is now conferr’d on them. SIM. And these we’ll use Little to thine advantage. CLEAN. I expect it: And as to these, I look no mercy from [them], And much less mean[293] to entreat it. I thus now Submit me [to] the emblems of your power, The sword and bench: but, my most reverend judges, Ere you proceed to sentence, (for I know You have given me lost,) will you resolve me one thing? FIRST COURT. So it be briefly question’d. SECOND COURT. Shew your humour;[294] Day spends itself apace. CLEAN. My lords, it shall.[295] Resolve me, then, where are your filial tears, Your mourning habits, and sad hearts become, That should attend your fathers’ funeral[s]? Though the stric[t] law (which I will not accuse, Because a subject) snatch’d away their lives, It doth not bar you[296] to lament their deaths: Or if you cannot spare one sad suspire, It doth not bid you laugh them to their graves, Lay subtle trains to antedate their years, To be the sooner seis’d of their estates. O, time of age! where’s that Æneas now, Who letting all his jewels to the flames; Forgetting country, kindred, treasure, friends, Fortunes, and all things, save the name of son, Which you so much forget, godlike[297] Æneas, Who took his bedrid father on his back, And with that sacred load (to him no burthen) Hew’d out his way through blood, through fire, through [arms], Even all the arm’d streets of bright-burning Troy, Only to save a father? SIM. We’ve[298] no leisure now To hear lessons read from Virgil; we’re[299] past school, And all this time thy judges. SECOND COURT. It is[300] fit That we proceed to sentence. FIRST COURT. You are the mouth, And now ’tis fit to open. SIM. Justice, indeed, Should ever be close-ear’d and open-mouth’d; That is, to hear a[301] little, and speak much. Know then, Cleanthes, there is none can be A good son and bad[302] subject; for, if princes Be call’d the people’s fathers, then the subjects Are all his sons, and he that flouts the prince Doth disobey his father: there you’re[303] gone. FIRST COURT. And not to be recover’d. SIM. And again— SECOND COURT. If he be gone once, call him not again. SIM. I say again, this act of thine expresses A double disobedience: as our princes Are fathers, so they are our sovereigns too; And he that doth rebel ’gainst[304] sovereignty Doth commit treason in the height of degree: And now thou art quite gone. FIRST COURT. Our brother in commission Hath spoke his mind both learnedly and neatly, And I can add but little; howsoever, It shall send him packing. He that begins a fault that wants example Ought to be made example for the fault. CLEAN. A fault! no longer can I hold myself To hear vice upheld and virtue thrown down. A fault! judge, I desire, then,[305] where it lieth, In those that are my judges, or in me: Heaven stand[s] on my side, pity, love, and duty. SIM. Where are they, sir? who sees them but yourself? CLEAN. Not you; and I am sure You never had the gracious eyes to see them. You think [that] you arraign me, but I hope To sentence you at the bar. SECOND COURT. That would shew brave. CLEAN. This were the judgment-seat we [stand at] now![306] [Of] the heaviest crimes that ever made up [sin], Unnaturalness and inhumanity, You are found foul and guilty, by a jury Made of your fathers’ curses, which have brought Vengeance impending on you; and I, now, Am forc’d to pronounce judgment on my judges. The common laws of reason and of nature Condemn you, _ipso facto_; you are parricides, And if you marry, will beget the like,[307] Who, when they’re[308] grown to full maturity, Will hurry you, their fathers, to their graves. Like traitors, you take council from the living, Of upright judgment you would rob the bench, (Experience and discretion snatch’d away From the earth’s face,) turn all into disorder, Imprison virtue, and infranchise vice, And put the sword of justice into the hands Of boys and madmen. SIM. Well, well, have you done, sir? CLEAN. I have spoke my thoughts. SIM. Then I’ll begin and end. EVAN. ’Tis time I now begin— Here[309] your commission ends. Cleanthes, come you[310] from the bar. Because I know you are[311] severally disposed, I here Invite you to an object will, no doubt, Work in you contrary effects.—Music!

_Loud Music._ _Enter_ LEONIDES, CREON, LYSANDER, _and other old men_. CLEAN. Pray, heaven, I dream not! sure he moves, talks comfortably, As joy can wish a man. If he be chang’d (Far above from me), he’s[312] not ill entreated; His face doth promise fulness of content, And glory hath a part in’t. LEON. O my son! EVAN. You that can claim acquaintance with these lads, Talk freely. SIM. I can see none there that’s worth One hand to you from me. EVAN. These are thy judges, and by their grave law I find thee clear, but these delinquents guilty. You must change places, for ’tis so decreed: Such just pre-eminence hath thy goodness gain’d, Thou art the judge now, they the men arraign’d. [_To_ CLEANTHES. FIRST COURT. Here’s fine dancing, gentlemen. SECOND COURT. Is thy father amongst them? SIM.[313] O, pox![314] I saw him the first thing I look’d on. Alive again! ’slight, I believe now a father Hath as many lives as a mother. CLEAN.[315] ’Tis full as blessed as ’tis wonderful. O, bring me back to the same law again! I am fouler than all these; seize on me, officers, And bring me to new sentence. SIM.[316] What’s all this? CLEAN. A fault not to be pardon’d, Unnaturalness is but sin’s shadow to it. SIM. I am glad of that; I hope the case may alter, And I turn judge again. EVAN. Name your offence. CLEAN. That I should be so vild[317] As once to think you cruel. EVAN. Is that all? ’Twas pardon’d ere confess’d: you that have sons, If they be worthy, here may challenge them.[318] CREON.[319] I should have one amongst them, had he had grace To have retain’d that name. SIM. I pray you, father. [_Kneels._ CREON.[320] That name, I know, hath been long since forgot. SIM. I find but small comfort in remembering it now. EVAN. Cleanthes, take your place[321] with these grave father[s], And read what in that table is inscrib’d. [_Gives him a paper._ Now set these at the bar, And read, Cleanthes, to the dread and terror Of disobedience and unnatural blood. CLEAN. [reads.] _It is decreed by the grave and learned council of Epire, that no son and heir shall be held capable of his inheritance at the age of one and twenty, unless he be at that time as mature[322] in obedience, manners, and goodness._ SIM. Sure I shall never be at full age, then, though I live to an hundred years; and that’s nearer by twenty than the last statute allowed. FIRST COURT. A terrible act! CLEAN.[323] _Moreover_, [_it_] _is enacted that all sons aforesaid, whom either this law, or their own grace, shall[324] reduce into the true method of duty, virtue, and affection_, [_shall appear before us_][325] _and relate their trial and approbation from Cleanthes, the son of Leonides_—from me, my lord! EVAN. From none but you, as fullest. Proceed, sir. CLEAN. _Whom, for his manifest virtues, we make such judge and censor of youth, and the absolute reference of life and manners._ SIM. This is a brave world! when a man should be selling land, he must be learning manners. Is’t not, my masters?

_Re-enter_ EUGENIA.

EUG. What’s here to do? my suitors at the bar! The old band[326] shines again: O miserable! [_She swoons._ EVAN. Read the law over to her, ’twill awake her: ’Tis on deserves small pity. CLEAN. _Lastly, it is ordained, that all such wives now whatsoever, that shall design the[ir] husbands’ death, to be soon rid of them, and entertain suitors in their husbands’ lifetime_— SIM. You had best read that a little louder; for, if any thing, that will bring her to herself again, and find her tongue. CLEAN. _Shall not presume, on the penalty of our heavy displeasure, to marry within ten years after._ EUG. That law’s too long by nine years and a half, I’ll take my death upon’t, so shall most women. CLEAN. _And those incontinent women so offending, to be judge[d] and censured by Hippolita, wife to Cleanthes._ EUG. Of all the rest, I’ll not be judg[’d] by her.

_Re-enter_ HIPPOLITA.

CLEAN. Ah! here she comes. Let me prevent thy joys, Prevent them but in part, and hide the rest; Thou hast not strength enough to bear them, else. HIP. Leonides! [_She faints._ CLEAN. I fear’d it all this while; I knew ’twas past thy power. Hippolita!— What contrariety is in women’s blood! One faints for spleen and anger, she for grace. EVAN. Of sons and wives we see the worst and best. May[327] future ages yield Hippolitas Many; but few like thee, Eugenia! Let no Simonides henceforth have a fame, But all blest sons live in Cleanthes’ name— [_Harsh music within._ Ha! what strange kind of melody was that? Yet give it entrance, whatsoe’er it be, This day is all devote to liberty.

_Enter_ FIDDLERS, GNOTHO, COURTEZAN, COOK, BUTLER, _&c. with the old_ WOMEN, AGATHA, _and one bearing a bridecake for the wedding_.