The Laws of Candy Part 29

Ca.s.silanes:

Impudent Traitor!

Philander:

Her? O spare _Antinous_; The world reputes thee valiant, do not soyle All thy past n.o.bleness with such a cowardize.

As murthering innocent Ladies will stamp on thee.

Antinous:

Brave Prince, with what unwillingness I force Her follies, and in those her sin, be witness, All these about me: she is bloudy minded, And turns the justice of the Law to rigor: It is her cruelites, not I accuse her: Shall I have Audience?

Erota:

Let him speak my Lords.

Decius:

Your memory will rot.

Antinous:

Cast all your eyes On this, what shall I call her? truthless woman, When often in my discontents, the sway Of her unruly bloud, her untam'd pa.s.sion, (Or name it as you list) had hour by hour Solicited my love, she vow'd at last She could not, would not live unless I granted What she long sued for: I in tender pity, To save a Lady of her birth from ruine, Gave her her life, and promis'd to be hers: Nor urg'd I ought from her, but secresie, And then enjoyn'd her to supply such wants As I perceiv'd my Fathers late engagements Had made him subject to; what shall I heap up Long repet.i.tions? she to quit my pity, Not only hath discover'd to my Father What she had promis'd to conceal, but also Hath drawn my life into this fatal forfeit; For which since I must dye, I crave a like Equality of justice against her; Not that I covet bloud, but that she may not Practise this art of falsehood on some other, Perhaps more worthy of her love hereafter.

Porphycio:

If this be true--

Erota:

My Lords, be as the Law is, Indifferent, upright, I do plead guilty: Now Sir, what glory have you got by this?

293] 'Las man, I meant not to outlive thy doom, Shall we be friends in death?

Ca.s.silanes:

Hear me, the villain Scandals her, honour'd Lords.

Erota:

Leave off to doat, And dye a wise man.

Antinous:

I am over-reach'd, And master'd in my own resolution.

Philander:

Will ye be wilfull Madam? here's the curse Of loves disdain.

Ca.s.silanes:

Why sit you like dumb Statues?

Demur no longer.

Possenne:

_Ca.s.silane_, _Erota_, _Antinous_, death ye ask; and 'tis your dooms, You in your follies liv'd, dye in your follies.

Ca.s.silanes:

I am reveng'd, and thank you for it.

Erota:

Yes, and I: _Antlnous_ hath been gracious.

Antinous:

Sir, may I presume to crave a blessing from you Before we part?

Ca.s.silanes:

Yes, such a one as Parents Bestow on cursed sons, now now, I laugh To see how those poor younglings are both cheated Of life and comfort: look ye, look ye, Lords, I go but some ten minutes (more or less) Before my time, but they have finely cozen'd Themselves of many, many hopefull years Amidst their prime of youth and glory; now

[Enter _Annophel_]

My vengeance is made full. Welcom my joy, Thou com'st to take a seasonable blessing From thy half buried Fathers hand; I am dead Already girle, and so is she and he, We all are worms-meat now.

Annophel:

I have heard all; Nor shall you dye alone: Lords on my knees I beg for justice too.

Porphycio:

'Gainst whom, for what?

Annophel:

First let me be resolv'd; does the Law favour None, be they ne're so mighty?

294]

Porphycio:

Not the greatest.

Annophel:

Then justly I accuse of foul ingrat.i.tude My Lords, you of the Senate all, not one Excepted.