Though light, take pieces for the figure's fake; [He fleeps. Solemn mufick: Enter, as in an apparition, Sicilius Leonatus, father to Pofthumus, an old man, attired like a warrior; leading in his hand an ancient matron, his wife, and mother to Pofthumus, with mufick before them. Then, after other mufick, follow the two young Leonati, brothers to Pofthumus, with wounds as they died in the wars. They circle Pofthumus round, as he lyes fleeping. Sici. No more, thou thunder-master, shew With Mars fall out, with Juno chide, That thy Adulteries Rates and revenges. Hath my poor boy done aught but well, I dy'd, whilft in the womb he stay'd, Whose father, Jove! (as men report, Thou should't have been, and fhielded him That from me my Pofthumus ript, A thing of pity! Sici. Great Nature, like his ancestry, That he deferv'd the praise o'th' world, As great Sicilius' heir. 1 Bro. When once he was mature for man, In Britaine where was he, That could stand up his parallel, Or rival object be N. 3 In In eye of Imogen, that beft Could deem his dignity? Moth. With marriage therefore was he mockt, From Leonatus' feat, and caft From her his deareft one? Sweet Imogen! Sici. Why did you fuffer lachimo, To taint his noble heart and brain And to become the geek and fcorn 2 Bro. For this, from stiller feats we came, Our fealty, and Tenantius' right, 1 Bro. Like hardiment Pofthumus hath Then, Jupiter, thou King of Gods, The graces Being all to dolours turn'd? Sici. Thy cryftal window ope; look out; Upon a valiant race, thy harfh And potent injuries. Moth. Since, Jupiter, our fon is good, Sici. Peep through thy marble manfion, help! Or we poor ghosts will cry To th' fhining fynod of the reft, Against thy Deity. Breth. Help, Jupiter, or we appeal, Jupiter Jupiter defcends in thunder and lightning, fitting upon an eagle; he throws a thunder-bolt. The ghosts fall on their knees. Jupit. No more, you petty fpirits of region low, No care of yours it is: you know, 'tis ours. His comforts thrive, his tryals well are spent ; And happier much by his affliction made. [Afcends [Jup. drops a tablet. Our pleasure his full fortune doth confine; And fo, away;no farther with your din Express impatience, left you stir up mine; Mount, eagle, to my palace crystalline. Sici. He came in thunder, his cœleftial breath Was fulphurous to fmell; the holy eagle Stoop'd, as to foot us; his afcenfion is More fweet than our bleft fields; his royal bird Prunes the immortal wing, and cloys his beak As when his God is pleas'd. All. Thanks, Jupiter! Sici. The marble pavement closes, he is enter'd His radiant roof: away, and to be bleft Let us with care perform his great beheft. [Vanish. Poft. [waking,] Sleep, thou hast been a grandfire, and begot A father to me: and thou haft created A mother and two brothers. But, oh fcorn! N 4 Gone Gone they went hence fo foon as they were born; And yet are steep'd in favours; fo am I [Reads.] WHEN as the lion's whelp hall, to himself unknown, without feeking find, and be embrac'd by a piece of tender air; and when from a stately cedar fhall be lopt branches, which, being dead many years, shall after revive, be jointed to the old flock, and freshly grow, then Shall Pofthumus end his miferies, Britaine be fortunate, and flourish in peace and plenty. 'Tis ftill a dream; or else fuch fluff, as madmen Tongue, and brain not: (do either both, or nothing;-) Or fenfeless speaking, or a fpeaking fuch As fenfe cannot untie. But what it is, The action of my life is like it, which I'll keep Enter Goaler. Goal. Come, Sir, are you ready for death? Poft. Over-roafted rather: ready long ago. Goal. Hanging is the word, Sir; if you be ready for that, you are well cookt. Poft. So if it prove a good repast to the spectators, the dish pays the fhot. Goal. A heavy reckoning for you, Sir; but the comfort is, you shall be call'd to no more payments, fear no more tavern bills, which are often the fadness of parting, as the procuring of mirth; you come in faint for want of meat, depart reeling with too much drink; forry that you have paid too much, and forry that you are are paid too much; purfe and brain, both empty, the brain the heavier, for being too light; the purse too light, being drawn of heaviness. Oh, of this contradiction you fhall now be quit: oh, the charity of a penny cord, it fums up thousands in a trice; you have no true debtor, and creditor, but it; of what's past, is, and to come, the discharge; your neck, Sir, is pen, book, and counters; fo the acquittance follows. Poft. I am merrier to die, than thou art to live. Goal. Indeed, Sir, he, that fleeps, feels not the tooth-ache: but a man that were to fleep your fleep, and a hangman to help him to bed, I think, he would' change places with his officer: for look you, Sir, you: know not which way you fhall go. Poft. Yes, indeed, do I, fellow. Goal. Your death has eyes in's head then; I have not feen him fo pictur'd: you must either be directed by fome that take upon them to know; or to take upon your felf that, which, I am fure, you do not know; or lump the after-enquiry on your own peril; and how you shall speed in your journey's-end, I think, you'll never return to tell. one. Poft. I tell thee, fellow, there are none want eyes, to direct them the way I am going, but fuch as wink, and will not use them. Goal. What an infinite mock is this, that a man fhould have the best use of eyes, to fee the way of blind.ness! I am fure, hanging's the way of winking. Enter a Melenger. Mef. Knock off his manacles, bring your prisoner to› the King. Poft. Thou bring'ft good news; I am called to be: made free. Goal. I'll be hang'd then. Poft. Thou shalt be then freer than a goaler; no bolts for the dead. [Exeunt Pofthumus and Meffenger.. Goal. Unless a man would marry a gallows, and be-get young gibbets, I never faw one fo prone.. Yet, on my confcience; there are verier knaves defire to live, for N-5 all! |