A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Ix Part 21

Am I a tyrant that do thirst for blood?

O. ART. Ay, if thou seek'st the ruin of my son, Thou art a tyrant and a blood-sucker.

O. LUS. Ay, if I seek the ruin of thy son, I am indeed.

O. ART. Nay, more, thou art a dotard; And, in the right of my accused son, I challenge thee the field. Meet me, I say, To-morrow morning beside Islington, And bring thy sword and buckler, if thou dar'st.

O. LUS. Meet thee with my sword and buckler?

There's my glove.

I'll meet thee, to revenge my daughter's death.

Call'st thou me dotard? Though these threescore years I never handled weapon but a knife, To cut my meat, yet will I meet thee there.

G.o.d's precious! call me dotard?

O. ART. I have cause, Just cause, to call thee dotard, have I not?

O. LUS. Nay, that's another matter; have you cause?

Then G.o.d forbid that I should take exceptions To be call'd dotard of one that hath cause.

JUS. My masters, you must leave this quarrelling, for quarrellers are never at peace; and men of peace, while they are at quiet, are never quarrelling: so you, whilst you fall into brawls, you cannot choose but jar. Here comes your son accused, and his wife the accuser; stand forth both. Hugh, be ready with your pen and ink to take their examinations and confessions.

_Enter_ MISTRESS MARY, BRABO, YOUNG MASTER ARTHUR, MISTRESS SPLAY, HUGH, _and_ OFFICERS.

Y. ART. It shall not need; I do confess the deed, Of which this woman here accuseth me; I poison'd my first wife, and for that deed I yield me to the mercy of the law.

O. LUS. Villain! thou mean'st my only daughter, And in her death depriv'dst me of all joys.

Y. ART. I mean her. I do confess the deed; And though my body taste the force of law, Like an offender, on my knee I beg Your angry soul will pardon me her death.

O. LUS. Nay, if he kneeling do confess the deed, No reason but I should forgive her death.

JUS. But so the law must not be satisfied; Blood must have blood, and men must have death; I think that cannot be dispens'd withal.

MRS MA. If all the world else would forgive the deed, Yet would I earnestly pursue the law.

Y. ART. I had a wife would not have us'd me so; The wealth of Europe could not hire her tongue To be offensive to my patient ears; But, in exchanging her, I did prefer A devil before a saint, night before day, h.e.l.l before heaven, and dross before tried gold; Never was bargain with such damage sold.

BRA. If you want witness to confirm the deed, I heard him speak it; and that to his face, Before this presence, I will justify; I will not part hence, till I see him swing.

MRS SPLAY. I heard him too: pity but he should die, And like a murderer be sent to h.e.l.l.

To poison her, and make her belly swell!

MRS MA. Why stay you, then? give judgment on the slave, Whose shameless life deserves a shameful grave.

Y. ART. Death's bitter pangs are not so full of grief As this unkindness: every word thou speak'st Is a sharp dagger thrust quite through my heart.

As little I deserve this at thy hands, As my kind patient wife deserv'd of me: I was her torment, G.o.d hath made thee mine; Then wherefore at just plagues should I repine?

JUS. Where did'st thou buy this poison? for such drugs Are felony for any man to sell.

Y. ART. I had the poison of Aminadab: But, innocent man, he was not accessory To my wife's death; I clear him of the deed.

JUS. No matter; fetch him, fetch him, bring him To answer to this matter at the bar.

Hugh, take these officers and apprehend him.

BRA. I'll aid him too; the schoolmaster, I see, Perhaps may hang with him for company.

_Enter_ ANSELM _and_ FULLER.

ANS. This is the day of Arthur's examination And trial for the murder of his wife; Let's hear how Justice Reason will proceed, In censuring of his strict punishment.

FUL. Anselm, content; let's thrust in 'mong the throng.

_Enter_ AMINADAB, _brought in with_ OFFICERS.

AMIN. _O Domine_! what mean these knaves, To lead me thus with bills and glaves?

O, what example would it be To all my pupils for to see, To tread their steps all after me, If for some fault I hanged be; Somewhat surely I shall mar, If you bring me to the bar.

But peace; betake thee to thy wits, For yonder Justice Reason sits.

JUS. Sir Dab, Sir Dab, here's one accuseth you, To give him poison, being ill-employ'd: Speak, how in this case you can clear yourself.

AMIN. _Hei mihi_! what should I say? the poison given I deny; He took it perforce from my hands, and, _Domine_, why not?

I got it of a gentleman; he most freely gave it, As he knew me; my meaning was only to have it.[24]

Y. ART. 'Tis true, I took it from this man perforce, And s.n.a.t.c.h'd it from his hand by rude constraint, Which proves him in this act not culpable.

JUS. Ay, but who sold the poison unto him?

That must be likewise known; speak, schoolmaster.

AMIN. A man _verbosus_, that was a fine _generosus_; He was a great guller, his name I take to be Fuller; See where he stands, that unto my hands convey'd a powder; And, like a knave, sent her to her grave, obscurely to shroud her.

JUS. Lay hands on him; are you a poison-seller?

Bring him before us: sirrah, what say you?

Sold you a poison to this honest man?

FUL. I sold no poison, but I gave him one To kill his rats?

JUS. Ha, ha! I smell a rat.

You sold him poison then to kill his rats?

The word to kill argues a murd'rous mind; And you are brought in compa.s.s of the murder So set him by, we will not hear him speak: That Arthur, Fuller, and the schoolmaster, Shall by the judges be examined.

ANS. Sir, if my friend may not speak for himself, Yet let me his proceedings justify.

JUS. What's he that will a murther justify?

Lay hands on him, lay hands on him, I say; For justifiers are all accessories, And accessories have deserved to die.

Away with him! we will not hear him speak; They all shall to the High Commissioners.

_Enter_ MISTRESS ARTHUR.

MRS ART. Nay, stay them, stay them yet a little while!

I bring a warrant to the contrary; And I will please all parties presently.