Three Wonder Plays Part 48

_2nd Wrenboy_: It is the young Princes in our clothes!

_3rd Wrenboy_: What in the world wide brought them here? Believe me it was through some villainy of the Grugach.

_4th Wrenboy_: What at all has happened?

_5th Wrenboy_: Go ask them what it was brought them, or what they came doing.

_1st Wrenboy: (To Princes_) What is it brought you here so soon?

(_Princes shake their heads_)

_2nd Wrenboy: (Coming back_) There is a gag on their mouths!

_3rd Wrenboy: (Going and looking_) Their hands are tied with a rope.

_4th Wrenboy_: They had not the wit to stand against the Grugach; it is not long till they were brought to trouble.

_5th Wrenboy_: It was seventeen times worse for them to be under him than for ourselves that was used to him, and to his cruelty and his ways.

_1st Wrenboy_: It was bad enough for ourselves.

We were not built for roguery.

(_The Dowager Messengers rus.h.i.+ng in_.)

_Dowager Messengers: (Together.)_ What is going on? What has happened?

_Guardian_: What you see before you has happened.

Those young thieves came to try and to rob the house. They were found by myself in the very act of bringing away my golden-handled sword! They were stopped by this honest man.

(_Points to Ogre_.)

_1st Dowager Messenger_: There would seem to be a great deal of wickedness around this place!

_Guardian_: I'll put a stop to it! I'll use my rights as Judge! To have that sort of villainy running through the Island, it would come through walls of gla.s.s or of marble, and lead away the best.

_2nd Dowager Messenger_: There must be something gone wrong in the stars, our own young princes having gone wild out of measure, and these young vagabonds doing no less than house-breaking!

It is hard to live!

_Ogre_: Indeed, ma'am, it would be a great blessing to the world if all the boys in it could be born grown up.

_Guardian: (Sighing_.) I, myself, am beginning to have that same opinion.

_1st Dowager Messenger_: And so am I myself.

Young men have strength and beauty, and old men have knowledge and wisdom, but as to boys!

After what we saw a while ago in the supper room!

_Servant_: The Court is about to sit! Take your places!

_(Wrenboys make for the dock and Princes the jury-box.)_

_Guardian_: What do you mean, prisoners, going up there, that is the place for honourable men!

For a jury! It is here in the criminals' dock your place is.

_Servant: (To Wrenboys_.) Oh, that is the wrong place you're in. That is for the wicked and the poor that are brought to be tried and condemned.

_1st Wrenboy_: It is a place the like of that I was put one time I was charged before a magistrate for snaring rabbits.

_Servant_: Silence in the Court. The Judge is about to speak.

_Guardian: (Reading out of book.)_ It's laid down in a clause of the Cretian laws, That were put through a filter by Solon, That for theft the first time, though a capital crime A criminal may keep his poll on.

Though _(consults another book_) some jurists believe That a wretch who can thieve, Has earned a full stop, not a colon.

_Ogre_: That was said by a better than Solon.

_Guardian_: And the book says in sum, to cut off the left thumb, May be penalty enough for a warning; Though _(looks at another book_) the Commentors say That one let off that way Will be thieving again before morning.

_Ogre_: So he will, and the jury suborning.

_Guardian:_ For the second offence, as the crime's more immense, Take the thumb off the _right_ hand instead; And the third time he'll steal, without any appeal, The hangman's to whip off his head.

_Ogre_: Very right to do so, for a thief as we know, Isn't likely to steal when he's dead.

_2nd Dowager Messenger_: You won't order the worst, as this crime is the first, It's a pity if they have to swing.

_Guardian_: In the Commentors' sense, a _primal_ offence Is as much an impossible thing As a stream without source, a blow struck without force, Or leaves without roots in the spring.

_Ogre_: Or a catapult wanting a sling.

_Guardian_: But although this case is proved on its face To be what is called _a priori_ I cannot refuse to consider the views Of the amiable lady before me. _(Bows to 2nd Dowager Messenger.)_ In compliance to her I am ready to err On the side that she leans to, of mercy, For she has a kind tongue, and the prisoners are young; But that they may not live to curse me, I give out my decree, the _left_ thumb shall be Kept in Court till the next time they'll come.

And now if you please let whoever agrees With my pledge turn down his own thumb.

_1st Dowager Messenger_: It is very just and right.

(_Turns down hers_.)

_Ogre_: You're letting them off too easy. They're a bad example to the world. But to take the thumb off them is better than nothing! _(Turns down both his thumbs.)_

_Guardian: (To Wrenboys.)_ Well, my dear pupils, I don't see you turn down your thumbs.

_1st Wrenboy_: We cannot do it. _(They cover their faces with their hands.)_

_Ogre_: Get on so. I never saw the work I'd sooner do than checking youngsters!

_Guardian_: Where is the Executioner?

_Servant_: I sent seeking him a while ago, thinking he might be needed.

_Guardian_: Bring him in.

_Servant_: He is not in it. There was so little business for him this long time under your own peaceable rule, that he is after leaving us, and taking a job in a slaughter house out in foreign.