that must sit all the week in taverns and ale-houses, and on the Saturday bestow two hours in study, which, when they utter the next day, there's none can understand it. Anar. The blind cares not, if Sol ne'er shine, they still can grope their way; my son shall be a scholar, and let the worldlings wallow in the dung, while he the Indies bears about him; none knows the learned's bliss, but those that learned are; I do look on Plato's divinity, next unto Moses's writings; fam'd Aristotle's learned philosophy, next unto Jesse's sons rare proverbs; Livy's large book, next to the chronicles of Israel's kings, and Homer's deathless verse, next unto David's lays: May hell conspire to cast plagues on those would not have learning be advanc'd and honour'd, when ignorant armies, ignorant parliaments, ignorant synods, ignorant fools and knaves Shall lie unthought of, rotting in their graves; The learned's songs, when they in dust do lie, Enter Moneyless. Mr. Moneyless, I joy to see you, Sir. Mon. Sir, I made bold to press into your privacies unawares; my ignorance will, I hope, purchase my pardon. Anar. Still complimenting; you courtiers feed on compliments as your meat; leave it, and take more solid food, a thousand of 'em will not staunch ones hunger: What news, what news abroad? Mon. Faith, none that makes for me; the King must not yet see Whitehall; Cromwell won't have it so. Anar. We can grow great without him; what profit doth the world receive by Kings, who, at the best, are but relenting tyrants, whose power is dissonant from God's appointment? How bravely Holland thrives, guided by States, where people rule the people? There's a strong sympathy in nature; the mutual love they talk of, that was wont to be 'twixt subjects and their Kings, is now for ever lost. Mon. Sir, I know you are an enemy to monarchy, and would digress even from your principles, should you allow of kingly government, which makes your words invalid. Anar. Well said, I like thee, that adversity's bleak storms have not unriveted thy fix'd resolves, but thou still art faithful to thy master. O, Courtier, curse them that have caus'd thy woe, That like a skeleton thou now dost show: You came, I know, to dine with me, and are most welcome: What printed news abroad? Mon. As I was coming to you, I met another meagre courtier's face, and he shewed me a song, of which I begg'd the copy; I hope 'twill not offend your ears, if I do sing them to you. Anar. Not the least, let's hear. Moneyless sings. THE King shall now enjoy his own, And have the sovereignty, Once more fill his refulgent throne Like to some deity. But first of all his charge must hear Three kingdoms blood, Lilburne doth swear, The parliament, as some report, And, if they would, we'd thank them for❜t, And something give in hand. They now have seven years sat, Is it not pity, that at last, When they intended flitting, And all the gold that they have got, Of Brown that wooden jailor, 'Tis very good to ease our teen, Why sure it cannot but well hap, The propositions now are gone, He cannot sure dare to resist, If he intend to eat, For 'tis well known he long hath mist Our dearest brother (Jockey) now And very fain would something do To purchase his undoing. Their long-eared assembly' Do grieve and groanin ire, That their compounded presbytery Truth is, how much the more, at first, We are so much the more accurst, How like you this? Anar. 'Tis an excellent song, yfaith; Shall I, Mr. Moneyless, crave a copy of it? Mon. Both I and it are at your service. Anar. Come, Mr. Moneyless, 'tis almost dinner-time, time was you welcomed me; 'tis fit I should be grateful; come wife. Exeunt Anar. Priscilla, manet Mon. Did I e'er think that want should so oppress me, that I should be constrained to wait on this man for a dinner? Yet, of my wants, how dare I so complain? Whom yet I'll not despair to see plac'd in his throne, his crown on's head, Exit. ACT III. Recorders, a Consistory of the Presbytery; then enter Directory, Sargus, Luxurio, after them, with officers, Liturgy, Dipwell afar off. Direct. BRING forth those weeds of shame-apparel him. [A coat of sackloth brought out.] Litur. I hope I shall have licence for to speak. Direct. Not a syllable; 'tis known thou art by name and nature an enemy to our government, and hast avouch'd it to be tyrannous; saying, that Scotland, by their policy in bringing their church-form amongst us, do put assassinate our monarchy, thirsting to be our lords, all which here openly recant, or we'll surrender thee. Litur. I recant, ye Cacodemons; hear me, and mark, First, leathern swains shall plow amid the sky, Thames turn his course, and leave his channel dry; Leviathan and Neptune's hungry train; Fishes the flood forsake, and fowls of heaven Before I change my settled constant mind, To damn myself, that you may count me kind; Sha'nt make me stoop to such base fools as you, Sarg. He raves: Sir, these loose words will but augment your sorrow in the end; do you know where you are? Litur. Very well, lecherous Sargus, better than thou knowest to be honest. Direct. Stop his mouth, were ever heard speeches so desperate? That mangles Memphians on the banks of Nile; 7 Lux. Venerable fathers, this is unsufferable; if with audaciousness you thus dispense, hereafter never look to be reverenc'd, but to be scorn'd and laugh'd at. Direct. Satan hath sure inspired him; bring forth the engine; support him up. [The stool of repentance brought forth, contrived in the fashion of a pulpit, covered over with black. Litur. He that lays hand on me, encounters death. [Plucks forth a dagger. Direct. Hear then your sentence: Since you deny to be a penitent, we here confiscate all is yours, to be employ'd for pious uses, yourself within three days for to depart the land, and never to return, on pain of death; this is your doom, and now break up the court. [Exeunt. Litur. O my mild judges, you shew your pity and your piety; your utmost wrath can't hurt my inward man, I there am still the same, and not exil'd. Guilt sorrow, shame, horror attend you still, And let wild Ate lead you where she will. Dipw. Heaven keep me stedfast to my principles, Is this a limb of the presbytery? Direct. Yes; but his merits make him fit to be lopped off, for it; Who could be infected worse than they are? Dipw You hear your sentence, will you depart the land? Litur. No, I'll not forsake my native soil upon such slender grounds, I'll live a while in private; I know an independent army will crop presbytery in the bud, and break this bed of snakes, the only way that now is visible for to repair my breaches; O thou etern, the true almighty Jove, suffer not innovations to go on, to bring this kingdom to destruction; but why, alas, do I now talk of Jove? For now, alas! no Jupiter is found, Exeunt: ACT IV. Enter the two elders, Sargus and Luxurio, singing. Sarg. NOW sable night hath with her ebon robe And let us in embraces spend the night. [Six whores put forth on two beds, three on a bed, musick, they rise and dance with the two elders. A SONG. MEET, meet, and kiss, And girt each others waist, All day, must sport at night, Twill heighten appetite. Sarg. Those three are thine, these mine, let's to't Like monkies, or the reeking goat. [They ascend each on a several bed, and are drawn in. SCENE II. Enter Priscilla sola. Prisc. Methinks the hours fly not with winged haste as they were wont, or is't the expectation of my love, that makes the night seem tedious; my heart extremely throbs, methinks the walls seem as wash'd o'er with blood; 'tis my fantasy, thought, like a subtle juggler, makes us see things that really are not; there's something in me whispers fatal |