Part 8

APPIUS. I mean so, I will so, if thou do persuade me, To hap or to hazard what thing shall invade me? I King and I Kaiser, I rule and overwhelm; I do what it please me within this my realm. Wherefore in thy judgment see that thou do enter: Hap life or hap death, I surely will venter.

HAPHAZARD. Then this and in this sort standeth the matter: What need many words, unless I should flatter? Full many there be will hazard their life, Happ’ly to ease your grace of all your strife. Of this kind of conspiracy now let us common.[178] Some man Virginius before you must summon, And say that Virginia is none of his daughter, But that Virginius by night away caught her: Then charge you the father his daughter to bring; Then do you detain her, till proved be the thing: Which well you may win her, she present in house. It is but haphazard, a man or a mouse.

APPIUS. I find it, I mind it, I swear that I will, Though shame or defame do happen, no skill.[179] But out, I am wounded: how am I divided! [Sidebar: Here let him make as Two states of my life from me though he went out, and let are now glided; Conscience and Justice come out For Conscience he pricketh me after[180] him, and let contemned, Conscience hold in his hand a And Justice saith, judgment lamp burning, and let Justice have would have me condemned: a sword, and hold it before Conscience saith, cruelty sure Appius’ breast.] will detest me; And Justice saith, death in th’ end will molest me: And both in one sudden me-thinks they do cry, That fire eternal my soul shall destroy.

HAPHAZARD. Why, these are but thoughts, man: why, fie for shame, fie! For Conscience was careless and sailing by seas, Was drowned in a basket and had a disease, Sore moved for pity, when he would grant none, For being hard-hearted was turned to a stone: And sailing by Sandwich he sank for his sin. Then care not for conscience the worth of a pin. And judgment judge[d] Justice to have a reward For judging still justly, but all now is marr’d; For gifts they are given where judgment is none. Thus judgment and justice a wrong way hath gone. Then care not for Conscience the worth of a fable; Justice is no man, nor nought to do able.

APPIUS. And sayest thou so, my ’sured friend? then hap as hap shall it: Let Conscience grope and judgment crave, I will not shrink one whit. I will persever in my thought: I will deflower her youth; I will not sure reverted be, my heart shall have no ruth. Come on, proceed, and wait on me, I will, hap woe or wealth: Hap blunt, hap sharp, hap life, hap death: th[r]ough Haphazard be of health.

HAPHAZARD. At hand (quoth pick-purse) here ready am I. See well to the cut-purse: be ruled by me. [_Exeunt._

_Enter_ CONSCIENCE.

CONSCIENCE. O clear unspotted gifts of Jove, How haps thou art refused? O Conscience clear, what cruel mind Thy truth hath thus misused? I spotted am by wilful will, By lawless love and lust, By dreadful danger of the life, By faith that is unjust,

JUSTICE. Ah gift of Jove, Ah Fortune’s face, Ah state of steady life! I Justice am, and prince of peers, The end of laws and strife: A guider of the common weal, A guardian[181] to the poor; And yet hath filthy lust suppress’d My virtues in one hour. Well, well, this is the most to trust, In end we shall aspire To see the end of these our foes With sword and eke with fire.

CONSCIENCE. O help, ye gods, we members require. [_Exeunt._

_Enter_ HAPHAZARD.

When gain is no grandsire,[182] And gauds nought set by; Nor puddings nor pie-meat Poor knaves will come nigh, Then hap and Haphazard Shall have a new coat. And so it may happen To cut covetousness’ throat. Yea, then shall Judge Appius Virginia obtain, And geese shall crack mussels Perhaps in the rain: Larks shall be leverets, And skip to and fro; And churls shall be cods-heads, Perhaps and also. But peace, for man’s body! Haphazard be mum! Fie, prattling noddy, Judge Appius is come.

_Here entereth_ JUDGE APPIUS _and_ CLAUDIUS.

The furies fell of Limbo lake My princely days do short: All drown’d in deadly ways I live, That once did joy in sport. I live and languish in my life, As doth the wounded deer. I thirst, I crave, I call and cry. And yet am nought the near:[183] And yet I have that me so match Within the realm of mine: But (Tantalus amids my care) I hunger--starve, and pine. As Sisyphus, I roll the stone In vain to top of hill, That ever more uncertainly Revolving slideth still. O, if to her ’twere as to me,[184] What labours would I fly, What raging seas would I not plough To her commodity? But out alas, I doubt it sore, Lest drowsy Morpheus[185] His slumb’ry kingdoms planted hath With dews unbeauteous.[186] O gods above that rule the skies: Ye babes that brag in bliss: Ye goddesses, ye Graces, you, What burning brunt is this? Bend down your ire, destroy me quick. Or else to grant me grace, No more, but that my burning breast Virginia may embrace.[187] If case your ears be dead and deaf, The fiend and spirits below, You careless carls of Limbo lake, Your forced mights do show. Thou caitif king of darksome dens, Thou Pluto, plagued knave, Send forth thy sacred vengeance straight, Consume them to the grave, That will not aid my case--

CLAUDIUS. Content, and if it like your grace, I will attempt the deed: I summon will Virginius Before your seat with speed.

HAPHAZARD.Do so, my lord: be you not afraid, And so you may happen to hazard the maid: It is but in hazard and may come by hap: Win her or lose her, try you the trap.

APPIUS. By the gods, I consent to thee, Claudius, now; Prepare thee in haste Virginius unto. Charge him, command him, upon his allegiance, With all kind of speed to yield his obeisance, Before my seat in my consistory, _Subpœnâ_ of land, life and treasury. No let, no stay, nor ought perturbance Shall cause me to omit the furtherance Of this my weighty charge. [_Here let_ CLAUDIUS _go out with_ HAPHAZARD.

APPIUS. Well, now I range at large my will for to express; For look, how Tarquin Lucrece fair by force did once oppress, Even so will I Virginia use.

[_Here let_ CONSCIENCE _speak within_. Judge Appius, prince, O stay, refuse; Be ruled by thy friend! What bloody death with open shame Did Tarquin gain in end?

APPIUS. Whence does this pinching sound descend?

CONSCIENCE. From contrite Conscience, pricked on By member of thy life, Inforced for to cry and call, And all to end our strife.

APPIUS. Who art thou then? declare; be brief!

CONSCIENCE. Not flesh nor filthy lust I am, But secret Conscience I, Compell’d to cry with trembling soul, At point near-hand to die.

APPIUS. Why, no disease hath me approach’d, no grief doth make me grudge, But want of fair Virginia, whose beauty is my judge: By her I live, by her I die, for her I joy or woe, For her my soul doth sink or swim, for her I swear I go.

CONSCIENCE. Ah gods, what wits doth reign! and yet to you unknowen, I die the death, and soul doth sink this filthy flesh hath sowen.

APPIUS. I force it not; I will attempt: I stay for Claudius here; Yet will I go to meet with him, to know what news and cheer.

_Here entereth_ HAPHAZARD.

Haste for a hangman in hazard of hemp: Run for a ridduck, there is no such imp. Claudius is knocking with hammer and stone At Virginius’ gate, as hard as he can lay on. By the gods, my masters, Haphazard is hardy, For he will run rashly, be they never so many: Yea, he will sing sow’s snout, and snap with the best. But peace! who comes yonder, that jolly good guest?

_Here enter with a song._[188]

_When men will seem misdoubtfully Without an why to call and cry, And fearing with temerity its jeopardy of liberty, We wish him to take to cheer his heart Haphazard, Bold [as] blind bayard. A fig for his uncourtesy That seeks to shun good company._

MANSIPULUS. _What if case that cruelty should bustle me and jostle me,_ _And Holywand should tickle me for keeping of good company, I’ll follow, by my honesty, hap Haphazard, bold [as] blind bayard. A fig for his uncourtesy that seeks to shun good company._

_All sing this._

_When men will seem misdoubtfully Without an why to call and cry, &c._

MANSIPULA. _Never was that mistress so furious nor curious, Nor yet her blows so boisterous, nor roisterous, nor dolorous, But sure I would venture,[189] hap Haphazard, bold [as] blind bayard. A fig for his uncourtesy that seeks to shun good company._

_All sing this._

_When men will seem misdoubtfully Without an why to call and cry, &c._

HAPHAZARD. _Then wend ye on and follow me, Mansipula, Mansipula, Let croping cares be cast away, come follow me, come follow me. Subservus is a jolly lout, brace Haphazard, bold [as] blind bayard. A fig for his uncourtesy that seeks to shun good company._

_All sing this._

_When men will seem misdoubtfully Without an why to call and cry, &c._ [_The end of the song._

_Here_ HAPHAZARD _speaketh_.

Ay, by the gods, my masters, I told you plain, Who companies with me will desire me again. But how did ye speed, I pray ye show me? Was all well agreed? did nobody blow ye?

MANSIPULUS. Mass, sir, hap did so happen, that my lord and master Stayed in beholding and viewing the pasture, Which when I perceived, what excuse did I make? I came in the crossway on the nearside the Forlake, Hard by Hodge’s half acre, at Gaffer Miller’s stile, The next way round about, by the space of a mile. And at Simkin’s side-ridge my lord stood talking, And angerly to me quoth he, Where hast thou been walking? Without any staggering, I had ready my lie: Out at bridge-meadow and at Benol’s lease (quoth I). Your fatlings are feeding well, sir, the gods be praised, A goodly loume of beef on them is already raised. Then out steps Francis Fabulator, that was never my friend: How pass’d you Carter’s hay-rick at Long Meadow end? There might one (quoth he) within this few days With a cast-net had given four knaves great essays, Under the hedge with a pair of new cards both rip and fledge. Is it true? quoth my Lord: will this gear never be left? This causes swearing and staring, prowling and theft. Well (quoth my lord) take heed, lest I find it, And so pass’d his way, and did no more mind it.

HAPHAZARD. By the gods, that was sport, yea, and sport alone.

MANSIPULA. Yea; but I was in a worse case, by Saint John. My lady in church was set full devout, And hearing my coming she turned about; But as soon as I heard her snappishly sound, In this sort I crouched me down to the ground, And mannerly made,[190] as though I were sad.[191] As soon as the pew then strawed I had, She gave me a wink and frowardly frown, Whereby I do judge she would cudgel my gown. Then I did devise a pretty fine prank, A mean whereby to pick me a thank, Of Margery Mildon, the maid of the milk-house, And Stainer the stutter,[192] the guid[193] of the storehouse. Then was my lady’s anger well gone, And will be so still, and the truth be not known.

HAPHAZARD. By ’r Lady barefoot, this bakes trimly.

SUBSERVUS. Nay, but I escaped more finely; For I under this hedge one while did stay. Then in this bush, then in that way: Then slip I behind them among all the rest, And seemed to commune, too, of things with the best: But so it did happen, that all things were well, But hazard it is, lest time will truth tell.

HAPHAZARD. Tut, tut, that was but by hap, and if it be so: Well, sith it was in hazard, then let it go.

SUBSERVUS. Content, by my honesty: then farewell all woe.

MANSIPULUS. Come out, dog, ye speak happily, of truth, if it be so.

ALL SPEAK. Now, Master Haphazard, fare you well for a season.

HAPHAZARD. Let my counsel at no time with you lie geason.[194]

ALL SPEAKETH. No, by the gods, he sure not so.

HAPHAZARD. Well, sith here is no company, have with ye to Jericho. [_Exit_.

_Enter_ VIRGINIUS.

What! so the gods they have decreed to work and do by me? I marvel why Judge Appius he such greetings lets me see: I served have his seat and state, I have maintained his weal, I have suppress’d the rebels stout, I bear to him such zeal; And now he sends to me such charge upon my life and lands Without demur or further pause, or ere ought thing[195] be scann’d, That I in haste with posting speed to court I do repair, To answer that alleged is before his judgment-chair. Some histories they do express, when such mishaps do fall, They should have taken many a one; I have not one but all. My jewels sometime precious do fade and bear no hue, My senses they do shun their course, my lights do burn as blue; My willing wits[196] are waxed slow, that once were swift in speed; My heart it throbs in wonderous sort, my nose doth often bleed: My dreadful dreams do draw my woe, and hateful hazard hale.[197] These tokens of evil hap, this is the old wive’s tale. But yet, O thou Virginius, whose hoary hairs are old, Did’st treason never yet commit, of this thou may’st be bold. In Mars his games, in martial feats thou wast his only aid. The huge Charibd his hazards[198] thou for him hast[199] oft assail’d: Was Scylla’s force by thee oft shunn’d, or yet Lady Circe’s[200] land, Pasiphae’s[201] child, the[202] Minotaur, did cause thee ever stand? To pleasure him, to serve thy liege,[203] to keep all things upright, Thou God above, then what is it that yieldeth me this spite? Sith nothing needs misdoubted be, where grounded cause is none, I enter will Judge Appius’ gate, rejecting care and moan. But stay, Virginius: lo, thy prince doth enter into place, O sovereign lord and rightful judge, the gods do save thy grace.

_Here entereth_ JUDGE APPIUS _and_ CLAUDIUS.

With tender heart, Virginius, thou welcome art to me. I sorry am to utter out the things I hear of thee; For Claudius, a subject here, a man of mickle fame, Appealeth thee before my court in deed of open shame. And though indeed I love thee so as thy deserts desire, Yet not so but I must judgment give, as justice doth require.

VIRGINIUS. My lord, and reason good it is: your servant doth request No partial hand to aid his cause, no partial mind or breast. If ought I have offended you, your court or eke your crown, From lofty top of turret high precipitate me down. If treason none by me be done, or any fault committed. Let my accusers bear the blame, and let me be remitted.

APPIUS. Good reason, too, Virginius. Come, Claudius, show thy mind: Let justice hear, if judgment may Virginius guilty find.

CLAUDIUS. Thou sovereign lord and rightful judge, this[204] standeth now the case. In tender youth, not long agone, near sixteen years of space, Virginius a thrall of mine, a child and infant young, From me did take by subtle means, and keeps by arm full strong: And here before your grace I crave, that justice be extended, That I may have my thrall again, and faults may be amended.

VIRGINIUS. Ah gods, that guide the globe above, what forged tales I hear! O Judge Appius, bend your ears, while this my crime I clear. She is my child, and of my wife her tender corpse did spring: Let all the country where I dwell bear witness of the thing.

[APPIUS _and_ CLAUDIUS _go forth, but_ APPIUS _speaketh this_.

Nay, by the gods, not so, my friend, I do not so decree: I charge thee here in pain of death thou bring the maid to me. In chamber close, in prison sound, she secret shall abide, And no kind of wight shall talk with her, until the truth be tried. This do I charge, this I command: in pain of death, let see, Without any let that she be brought as prisoner unto me. [_Exit_. [_Here let Virginius go about the scaffold._

Ah fickle fall, unhappy doom, O most uncertain fate,[205] That ever chance so churlishly, that never stay’d in state. What judge is this? what cruel wretch? what faith doth Claudius find? The gods do recompense with shame his false and faithless mind! Well, home I must, no remedy; where shall my soaking tears. Augment my woes, decrease my joys, while death do rid my fears.

_Here entereth_ RUMOUR.

Come, Ventus, come: blow forth thy blast: Prince Eol, listen well: The filthiest fact that ever was I, Rumour, now shall tell. You gods, bend down to hear my cry, Revengement duly show, Thy Rumour craves, bid[206] Claudius stay,[207] And bring Judge Appius low. That wicked man, that fleshly judge, Hath hired Claudius To claim a child, the only heir Of old Virginius: A virgin pure, a queen in life, Whose state may be deplored; For why the queen of chaste life Is like to be deflow’red By false Judge Appius, cruel wretch, Who straitly hath commanded, That she to keeping his be brought: Prince Pluto this demanded. To skies I fly, to blaze abroad The tromp of deep defame. Revenge, you gods, this Rumour craves, This blood and bloody shame. Have through the air! give place, you airs, This is my duty done. The gods confound such lecherers! Lo, Rumour, this I run.

VIRGINIUS. O man, O mould, O muck, O clay! O hell, O hellish hound, O false Judge Appius, rabbling[208] wretch, is this thy treason found? Woe worth the man that gave the seed, whereby ye first did spring! Woe worth the womb that bare the babe to mean this bloody thing! Woe worth the paps that gave thee suck, woe worth the fosters eke: Woe worth all such as ever did thy health or liking seek! O, that these gravèd hairs[209] of mine were covered in the clay!

_Here entereth_ VIRGINIA.

Let patience, dear father mine, your rigour something stay: Why do you wail in such a sort? why do you weep and moan?

VIRGINIUS. O daughter dear and only heir, my life is near begone, And all for love of thee.

VIRGINIA. Ah, gods, how may this be? Dear father, do withdraw your dread, and let me know the cause: Myself will aid with life or death without demur or pause. Then tender your child that craveth this bound.[210]

VIRGINIUS. O, hearken, dear daughter, attend thou my sound. Judge Appius, prick’d forth with filthy desire, Thy person as leman doth greatly require; And no kind of entreaty, no fear, nor no shame, Will he hear alleged, defending[211] the same. And straight without staying, in pain of my death, I must bring thee thither. Wherefore stop my breath. O sisters; I search, I seek, and I crave No more at your hands but death for to have, Rather than see my daughter deflow’red, Or else in ill sort so wildly devour’d.

VIRGINIA. O father, O friendship, O fatherly favour, Whose dulcet words so sweetly do savour, On knees I beseech thee to grant my request, In all things according as liketh thee best. Thou knowest, O my father, if I be once spotted, My name and my kindred then forth will be blotted: And if thou, my father, should die for my cause, The world would accompt me guilty in cause. Then rather, dear father, if it be thy pleasure, Grant me the death; then keep I my treasure, My lamp, my light, my life undefiled, And so may Judge Appius of [my] flesh be beguiled. This upon my knees with humble behest, Grant me, O father, my instant request.

VIRGINIUS. Then rise up, my daughter: my answer do note From mouth of thy father, whose eyes do now float. O daughter, O dear, O darling, O dame, Dispatch me, I pray thee, regard not my name: But yet as thou sayest, sith remedy none, But leman thou must be, if I were gone, And better it is to die with good fame, Than longer to live to reap us but shame: But if thou do die no doubt is at all, But presently after myself follow shall, Then end without shame, so let us persever, With trump of good fame, so die shall we never. [_Virginia here kneeleth._ Then, tender arms, complect the neck: do dry thy father’s tears, You nimble hands, for woe whereof my loving heart it wears.

VIRGINIA. O father mine, refrain no whit your sharped knife to take From gilded[212] sheath my shame to end, and body dead to make. Let not the shameless bloody judge defile my virgin’s life; Do take my head, and send it him upon your bloody knife: Bid him imbrue his bloody hands in guiltless blood of me: I virgin die, he lecher lives; he was my end, you see. No more delays--lo, kiss me first, then stretch your strongest arm: Do rid my woe, increase my joy, do ease your child of harm.

VIRGINIUS. O weary wits of woe or wealth, O feeble aged man, How can thy arm give such a blow! thy death I wish thee then! But sith that shame with endless trump will sound, if case thy joy By[213] means of false Judge Appius be, myself will thee destroy. Forgive me, babe, this bloody deed, and meekly take thy end. [_Here let him proffer a blow_.

VIRGINIA. The gods forgive thee, father dear! farewell, thy blow do bend. Yet stay a while, O father dear, for flesh to death is frail: Let first my wimple bind my eyes, and then thy blow assail. Now, father, work thy will on me, that life I may enjoy. [_Here tie a handkercher about her eyes, and then strike off her head._ Now stretch thy hand, Virginius, that loth would flesh destroy. O cruel hands, O[214] bloody knife, O man, what hast thou done? Thy daughter dear and only heir her vital end hath won. Come, fatal blade, make like despatch: come, Atropos: come, aid![215] Strike home, thou careless arm, with speed; of death be not afraid.

_Here entereth_ COMFORT.

O noble knight, Virginius, do stay, be not dismay’d: I, curing Comfort, present am, your dolor [for] to aid.

VIRGINIUS. Sith joy is gone, sith life is dead, What comfort can there be? No more! there is but deep despair, And deadly death to me.

COMFORT. No more, Sir Knight, but take the head, and wend a while with me: It shall be sent to court, for that Judge Appius may it see. In recompense of lecher’s lust this present let him have, And stay your corpse for certain space in coping from the grave: So shall you see the end of him and all his whole concent.[216] This will be comfort to your heart: Virginius, be content.

VIRGINIUS. Of truth, even so, for comfort else I know right well is none, Wherefore I do consent with you: come on, let us be gone. But messenger myself will be, myself will give the gift. Come on, good Comfort, wend we then; there is no other shift. [_Exeunt._

_Here entereth_ JUDGE APPIUS.

Well, hap as hap can, hap or no, In hazard it is, but let that go. I will, what so happen, pursue on still: Why, none there is living can let me my will. I will have Virginia; I will her deflow’r, Else rigorous sword her heart shall devour.

_Here entereth_ HAPHAZARD.