A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Ix Part 119

SCAR. And this divine did marry me, Whose tongue should be the key to open truth, As G.o.d's amba.s.sador. Deliver, deliver, deliver. [_Aside_.

DOC. Master Scarborow.

SCAR. I'll be with you straight, sir: Salvation to afflicted consciences, And not give torment to contented minds, Who should be lamps to comfort out our way, And not like firedrakes[438] to lead men astray, Ay, I'll be with you straight, sir.

_Enter_ BUTLER, [_with Wife and Children_].

BUT. Here's your wife and children, sir.

SCAR. Give way, then, I have my lesson perfect; leave us here.

BUT. Yes, I will go, but I will be so near, To hinder the mishap, the which I fear.

[_Exit_ BUTLER.

SCAR. Now, sir, you know this gentlewoman?

DOC. Kind Mistress Scarborow.

SCAR. Nay, pray you keep your seat, for you shall hear The same affliction you have taught me fear, Due to yourself.

DOC. To me, sir?

SCAR. To you, sir.

You match'd me to this gentlewoman?

DOC. I know I did, sir.

SCAR. And you will say she is my wife then.

DOC. I have reason, sir, because I married you.

SCAR. O, that such tongues should have the time to lie, Who teach men how to live, and how to die; Did not you know my soul had given my faith, In contract to another? and yet you Would join this loom unto unlawful twists.

DOC. Sir?

SCAR. But, sir, You that can see a mote within my eye, And with a ca.s.sock blind your own defects, I'll teach you this: 'tis better to do ill, That's never known to us, than of self-will.

Stand these[439], all these, in thy seducing eye, As scorning life, make them be glad to die.

DOC. Master Scarborow--

SCAR. Here will I write that they, which marry wives, Unlawful live with strumpets all their lives.

Here will I seal the children that are born, From wombs unconsecrate, even when their soul Has her infusion, it registers they are foul, And shrinks to dwell with them, and in my close I'll show the world, that such abortive men Knit hands without free tongues, look red like them Stand you and you to acts most tragical: Heaven has dry eyes, when sin makes sinners fall.

DOC. Help, Master Scarborow.

CHIL. Father.

KATH. Husband.

SCAR. These for thy act should die, she for my Clare, Whose wounds stare thus upon me for revenge.

These to be rid from misery, this from sin, And thou thyself shalt have a push amongst them, That made heaven's word a pack-horse to thy tongue, Quot'st Scripture to make evil shine like good!

And as I send you thus with worms to dwell, Angels applaud it as a deed done well.

_Enter_ BUTLER.

DOC. Stay him, stay him.

BUT. What will you do, sir?

SCAR. Make fat worms of stinking carcases.

What hast thou to do with it?

_Enter_ ILFORD _and his Wife, the two Brothers, and_ SIR WILLIAM SCARBOROW.

BUT. Look, who are here, sir?

SCAR. Injurious villain! that prevent'st me still.

BUT. They are your brothers and alliance, sir.

SCAR. They are like full ordnance then who, once discharg'd, Afar off give a warning to my soul, That I have done them wrong.

SIR WIL. Kinsman.

BRO. AND SIS. Brother.

KATH. Husband.

CHIL. Father.

SCAR. Hark, how their words like bullets shoot me thorough, And tell me I have undone them: this side might say, We are in want, and you are the cause of it; This points at me, y'are shame unto your house: This tongue says nothing, but her looks do tell She's married, but as those that live in h.e.l.l: Whereby all eyes are but misfortune's pipe, Fill'd full of woe by me: this feels the stripe.

BUT. Yet look, sir, Here's your brothers hand in hand, whom I have knit so.

SIS. And look, sir, here's my husband's hand in mine, And I rejoice in him, and he in me.

SIR WIL. I say, cos, what is pa.s.s'd is the way to bliss, For they know best to mend, that know amiss.

KATH. We kneel: forget, and say if you but love us, You gave us grief for future happiness.

SCAR. What's all this to my conscience?

BUT. Ease, promise of succeeding joy to you; Read but this letter.

SIR WIL. Which tells you that your lord and guardian's dead.

BUT. Which tells you that he knew he did you wrong, Was griev'd for't, and for satisfaction Hath given you double of the wealth you had.

BRO. Increas'd our portions.