SCENE II.

_Enter_ Geta, _Lictors._

_Get._ I am too merciful, I find it, friends, Of too soft a nature to be an Officer; I bear too much remorse.

_1 Lict._ 'Tis your own fault, Sir; For look you, one so newly warm in Office Should lay about him blindfold, like true Justice, Hit where it will: the more ye whip and hang, Sir, (Though without cause; let that declare it self afterward) The more ye are admired.

_Get._ I think I shall be.--

_2 Lict._ Your worship is a man of a spare body, And prone to anger.

_Get._ Nay, I will be angry, And, the best is, I need not shew my reason.

_2 Lict._ You need not, Sir, your place is without reason; And what you want in growth and full proportion, Make up in rule and rigour.

_Get._ A rare Counsellor; Instruct me further. Is it fit, my friends, The Emperour my Master _Dioclesian_ Should now remember or the times or manners That call'd him plain down _Diocles_?

_1 Lict._ He must not, It stands not with his Royaltie.

_Get._ I grant ye, I being then the _Edile Getianus_, A man of place, and Judge, is it held requisite I should commit to my consideration Those Rascals of removed and ragged hours, That with unreverend mouths call'd me Slave _Geta_?

_2 Lict._ You must forget their names; your honour bids ye.

_Get._ I do forget; but I'le hang their natures: I will ascend my place, which is of Justice; And mercy, I forget thee.

_Suitor._ A rare Magistrate! Another _Solon_ sure.

_Get._ Bring out the offenders.

_1 Lict._ There are none yet, Sir, but no doubt there will be. But if you please touch some things of those natures.

_Get._ And am I ready, and mine anger too? The melancholy of a Magistrate upon me, And no offenders to execute my fury? Ha? no offenders, knaves?

_1 Lict._ There are knaves indeed, Sir, But we hope shortly to have 'em for your worship.

_Get._ No men to hang or whip? are you good officers, That provide no fuel for a Judges fury? In this place something must be done; this Chair, I tell ye, When I sit down, must savour of Severitie: Therefore I warn ye all, bring me lewd people, Or likely to be lewd; twigs must be cropt too: Let me have evil persons in abundance, Or make 'em evil; 'tis all one, do but say so, That I may have fit matter for a Magistrate; And let me work. If I sit empty once more, And lose my longing, as I am true _Edile_, And as I hope to rectifie my Countrie, You are those scabs I will scratch off from the Commonwealth, You are these Rascals of the State I treat of, And you shall find and feel.--

_2 Lict._ You shall have many, Many notorious people.

_Get._ Let 'em be people, And take ye notorious to your selves. Mark me, my Lictors, And you, the rest of my Officials; If I be angry, as my place will ask it, And want fit matter to dispose my Authoritie, I'le hang a hundred of ye: I'le not stay longer, Nor enquire no further into your offences: It is sufficient that I find no Criminals, And therefore I must make some: if I cannot, Suffer my self; for so runs my Commission.

_Suitor._ An admirable, zealous and true Justice.

_1 Lict._ I cannot hold: if there be any people, Of what degree soever, or what qualitie, That would behold the wonderful works of Justice In a new Officer, a man conceal'd yet, Let him repair, and see, and hear, and wonder At the most wise and gracious _Getianus_.

_Enter_ Delphia, _and_ Drusilla.

_Get._ This qualifies a little. What are these?

_Del._ You shall not mourn still: times of recreation, To allay this sadness, must be sought. What's here? A superstitious flock of sensless people Worshipping a sign in Office?

_Get._ Lay hold on her, And hold her fast, She'll slip thorow your fingers like an Eel else; I know her tricks: hold her, I say, and bind her, Or hang her first, and then I'le tell her wherefore.

_Del._ What have I done?

_Get._ Thou hast done enough to undo thee; Thou hast pressed to the Emperours presence without my warrant, I being his key and image.

_Del._ You are an image indeed, And of the coursest stuff, and the worst making That e're I look'd on yet: I'le make as good an image of an Asse.

_Get._ Besides, thou art a woman of a lewd life.

_Del._ I am no whore, Sir, nor no common fame Has yet proclaim'd me to the people, vitious.

_Get._ Thou art to me a damnable lewd woman, Which is as much as all the people swore it; I know thou art a keeper of tame Devils: And whereas great and grave men of my place Can by the Laws be allow'd but one apiece, For their own services and recreations; Thou, like a traiterous quean, keepst twenty devils; Twenty in ordinary.

_Del._ Pray ye, Sir, be pacified, If that be all: and if ye want a servant, You shall have one of mine shall serve for nothing, Faithful, and diligent, and a wise Devil too; Think for what end.

_Get._ Let her alone, 'tis useful; We men of business must use speedie servants: Let me see your family.

_Del._ Think but one, he is ready.

_Get._ A Devil for intelligence? No, no, He will lye beyond all travellers. A State-Devil? Neither; he will undo me at mine own weapon. For execution? he will hang me too. I would have a handsom, pleasant and a fine she-devil, To entertain the Ladies that come to me; A travell'd Devil too, that speaks the tongues, And a neat carving Devil. [_Musick._

_Enter a she-devil._

_Del._ Be not fearful.

_Get._ A prettie brown devil i'faith; may I not kiss her?

_Del._ Yes, and embrace her too; she is your servant. Fear not; her lips are cool enough.

_Get._ She is marvellous well mounted; what's her name?

_Del. Lucifera._

_Get._ Come hither, _Lucifera_. and kiss me.

_Del._ Let her sit on your knee.

_Get._ The Chair turns: hey-boys: Pleasant i'faith, and a fine facetious Devil. [_Dance._

_Del._ She would whisper in your ear, and tell ye wonders.

_Get._ Come; what's her name?

_Del. Lucifera._

_Get._ Come, _Lucie_, come, speak thy mind. I am certain burnt to ashes. [_Exeunt_. I have a kind of Glasse-house in my cod-piece. Are these the flames of State? I am rosted over, Over, and over-rosted. Is this Office? The pleasure of authoritie? I'le no more on't, Till I can punish Devils too; I'le quit it. Some other Trade now, and some course less dangerous, Or certainly I'le tyle again for two pence. [_Exit._