With sinful ears, and belch'd out blasphemous words

Against his Deity, which then I knew not,

Nor did believe in him.

Diocle. Why, dost thou now?

Or dar'st thou, in our hearing
Theoph. Were my voice

As loud as is His thunder, to be heard
Through all the world, all potentates on earth
Ready to burst with rage, should they but hear it;
Though hell, to aid their malice, lent her furies,
Yet I would speak, and speak again, and boldly,
I am a Christian, and the Powers you worship,
But dreams of fools and madmen.

Max. Lay hands on him.

Diocle. Thou twice a child! for doating age so makes thee,

Thou couldst not else, thy pilgrimage of life
Being almost past through, in this last moment
Destroy whate'er thou hast done good or great-
Thy youth did promise much; and, grown a man,
Thou mad'st it good, and, with increase of years,
Thy actions still better'd: as the sun,
Thou did'st rise gloriously, kept'st a constant
in the evening,

course

In all thy journey; and now,

When thou should'st pass with honour to thy rest, Wilt thou fall like a meteor?

Sap. Yet confess

And grant one boon; 'tis not for life I sue for;
Nor is it fit that I, that ne'er knew pity
To any Christian, being one myself,
Should look for any; no, I rather beg
The utmost of your cruelty. I stand
Accomptable for thousand Christians' deaths;
And, were it possible that I could die
A day for every one, then live again
To be again tormented, 'twere to me
An easy penance, and I should pass through
A gentle cleansing fire; but, that denied me,
It being beyond the strength of feeble nature,
My suit is, you would have no pity on me.

In mine own house there are a thousand engines
Of studied cruelty, which I did prepare

For miserable Christians; let me feel,

As the Sicilian did his brazen bull,

The horrid'st you can find; and I will say,
In death, that you are merciful.

Diocle. Despair not;

In this thou shalt prevail. Go fetch them hither: [Exeunt some of the Guard.

Death shall put on a thousand shapes at once, And so appear before thee; racks, and whips !Thy flesh, with burning pincers torn, shall feed The fire that heats them; and what's wanting to The torture of thy body, I'll supply

In punishing thy mind. Fetch all the Christians

That are in hold; and here, before his face, Cut them in pieces.

Theoph. 'Tis not in thy power:

It was the first good deed I ever did.

They are removed out of thy reach; howe'er,

I was determined for my sins to die, j

I first took order for their liberty;

And still I dare thy worst.

Re-enter Guard with racks and other instruments of torture.

Diocle. Bind him, I say;

Make every artery and sinew crack:

The slave that makes him give the loudest shriek,
Shall have ten thousand drachmas: wretch ! I'll
To curse the Power thou worship'st. [force thee
Theoph. Never, never:

No breath of mine shall e'er be spent on Him,
[They torment him.
But what shall speak His majesty or mercy.
I'm honour'd in my sufferings. Weak tormentors,
More tortures, more :-alas! you are unskilful—
For heaven's sake more; my breast is yet untorn:
Here purchase the reward that was propounded.
The irons cool,-here are arms yet, and thighs;
Spare no part of me.

Max. He endures beyond
The sufferance of a man.
Sup. No sigh nor groan,
To witness he hath feeling.
Diocle. Harder, villains!

Enter DOROTHEA in a white robe, a crown upon her head, led in by ANGELO; Antoninus, Calista, and CHRISTETA following, all in white, but less glorious; ANGELO holds out a crown to THEOPHILUS.

Theoph. Most glorious vision!

Did e'er so hard a bed yield man a dream
So heavenly as this? I am confirm'd,
Confirm'd, you blessed spirits, and make haste
To take that crown of immortality
You offer to me. Death! till this blest minute,
I never thought thee slow-paced; nor would I
Hasten thee now, for any pain I suffer,
But that thou keep'st me from a glorious wreath,
Which through this stormy way I would creep to,
And, humbly kneeling, with humility wear it.
Oh! now I feel thee :-blessed spirits! I come;
And, witness for me all these wounds and scars,
I die a soldier in the Christian wars.
[Dies.

Sap. I have seen thousands tortured, but ne'er A constancy like this.

Harp. I am twice damn'd.

[yet

Ang. Haste to thy place appointed, cursed fiend !

[HARPAX sinks with thunder and lightning. In spite of hell, this soldier's not thy prey; 'Tis I have won, thou that hast lost the day. [Exit with Dor, &c. Diocle. I think the centre of the earth be crack'd

Yet I stand still unmoved, and will go on :
The persecution that is here begun,
Through all the world with violence shall run.
[Flourish. Exeunt.

Shall cool their feet without; this being the pickThat never fails. [lock

Montr. 'Tis true, gold can do much, But beauty more. Were I the governor, Though the admiral, your father, stood convicted Of what he's only doubted, half a dozen Of sweet close kisses from these cherry lips, With some short active conference in private, Should sign his general pardon.

Theoc. These light words, sir,

Do ill become the weight of my sad fortune;
And I much wonder you, that do profess
Yourself to be my father's bosom friend,
Can raise mirth from his misery.

Montr. You mistake me;

I share in his calamity, and only

Deliver my thoughts freely, what I should do
For such a rare petitioner: and if
You'll follow the directions I prescribe,

With my best judgment I'll mark out the way
For his enlargement.

Theoc. With all real joy

I shall put what you counsel into act,
Provided it be honest.

Will do it, when there's something he likes better.
These courses in an old crone of threescore,
That had seven years together tired the court
With tedious petitions, and clamours,
For the recovery of a straggling husband,
To pay, forsooth, the duties of one to her ;-
But for a lady of your tempting beauties,
Your youth, and ravishing features, to hope only
In such a suit as this is, to gain favour,
Without exchange of courtesy, you conceive

me

Enter BEAUFORT junior, and Belgarde.
Were madness at the height. Here's brave young
Beaufort,

The meteor of Marseilles, one that holds
The governor his father's will and power
In more awe than his own! Come, come, ad-

vance,

Present your bag, cramm'd with crowns of the

sun;

Do you think he cares for money? he loves plea

sure.

Burn your petition, burn it: he doats on you,
Upon my knowledge: to his cabinet, do,
And he will point you out a certain course,

Be the cause right or wrong, to have your father
Released with much facility.

Theoc. Do you hear?

Take a pander with you.

Beauf. jun. I tell thee there is neither Employment yet, nor money.

Belg. I have commanded,

[Exit.

And spent my own means in my country's service, In hope to raise a fortune.

Beauf. jun. Many have hoped so;

But hopes prove seldom certainties with soldiers. Belg. If no preferment, let me but receive

My pay that is behind, to set me up

A tavern, or a vaulting-house; while men love Or drunkenness, or lechery, they'll ne'er fail me: Shall I have that?

Beauf. jun. As our prizes are brought in ; Till then you must be patient.

Belg. In the mean time,

How shall I do for clothes?

Beauf. jun. As most captains do:

Philosopher-like, carry all you have about you.

Belg. But how shall I do, to satisfy colon, monsieur ?

Tales out of school! take heed, you will be breech'd else.

1 Wom. My lady's colour changes.

2 Wom. She falls off too.

Theoc. You are a naughty man, indeed you are; And I will sooner perish with my father, Than at this price redeem him.

Montr. Take your own way, Your modest, legal way: 'tis not your veil, Nor mourning habit, nor these creatures taught To howl, and cry, when you begin to whimper; Nor following my lord's coach in the dirt, Nor that which you rely upon, a bribe,

Beauf. jun. That's easily decided;
My father's table's free for any man
That hath born arms.

Belg. And there's good store of meat?
Beauf. jun. Never fear that.

Belg. I'll seek no other ordinary then,
But be his daily guest without invitement ;
And if my stomach hold, I'll feed so heartily,
As he shall pay me suddenly, to be quit of me.
Beauf. jun. 'Tis she.

Belg. And further——

Beauf. jun. Away, you are troublesome; Designs of more weight

Belg. Ha! fair Theocrine.

Nay, if a velvet petticoat move in the front,
Buff jerkins must to the rear; I know my man-

ners :

This is, indeed, great business, mine a gewgaw.
I may dance attendance, this must be dispatch'd,

And suddenly, or all will go to wreck : Charge her home in the flank, my lord: nay, I am gone, sir. [Exit. Beauf. jun. [raising THEOC. from her knees.] Nay, pray you, madam, rise, or I'll kneel with you. Page. I would bring you on your knees, were I

a woman.

Beauf. jun. What is it can deserve so poor a

name,

As a suit to me? This more than mortal form
Was fashion'd to command, and not entreat :
Your will but known is served.

Theoc. Great sir, my father,

My brave deserving father;-but that sorrow
Forbids the use of speech-

Beauf. jun. I understand you,
Without the aids of those interpreters

That fall from your fair eyes: I know you labour
The liberty of your father; at the least,
An equal hearing to acquit himself:
And, 'tis not to endear my service to you,
Though I must add, and pray you with patience
hear it,

'Tis hard to be effected, in respect

The state's incensed against him: all presuming,
The world of outrages his impious son,
Turn'd worse than pirate in his cruelties,
Express'd to this poor country, could not be
With such ease put in execution, if
Your father, of late our great admiral,
Held not or correspondence, or connived
At his proceedings.

Theoc. And must he then suffer,
His cause unheard?

Beauf. jun. As yet it is resolved so,
In their determination. But suppose
(For I would nourish hope, not kill it, in you)
Ì should divert the torrent of their purpose,
And render them, that are implacable,
Impartial judges, and not sway'd with spleen;
Will you, I dare not say in recompense,
For that includes a debt you cannot owe me,
But in your liberal bounty, in my suit
To you, be gracious?

Theoc. You entreat of me, sir,

What I should offer to you, with confession
That you much undervalue your own worth,
Should you receive me, since there come with you
Not lustful fires, but fair and lawful flames.
But I must be excused, 'tis now no time
For me to think of Hymeneal joys.
Can he (and pray you, sir, consider it)
That gave me life, and faculties to love,
Be, as he's now, ready to be devour'd

By ravenous wolves, and at that instant, I
But entertain a thought of those delights,

In which, perhaps, my ardour meets with yours!
Duty and piety forbid it, sir.

Beauf. jun. But this effected, and your father free,

[not

Our late great admiral: though I know you need
Instructions from me, how to dispose of
Yourselves in this man's trial, that exacts
Your clearest judgments, give me leave, with fa-
To offer my opinion. We are to hear him, [vour,
A little looking back on his fair actions,
Loyal, and true demeanour; not as now
By the general voice already he's condemn'd.
But if we find, as most believe, he hath held
Intelligence with his accursed son,

Fallen off from all allegiance, and turn'd
(But for what cause we know not) the most bloody
And fatal enemy this country ever

Repented to have brought forth; all compassion

*

*

*

*

*

Of what he was, or may be, if now pardon'd;
We sit engaged to censure him with all
Extremity and rigour.

Cham. Your lordship shews us

A path which we will tread in.

Lan. He that leaves

To follow, as you lead, will lose himself.

Mont. I'll not be singular.

Re-enter BEAUFORT junior, with Montreville, MALEFORT

senior, BELGARDE, and Officers.

Beauf. sen. He comes, but with

A strange distracted look.

Malef. sen. Live I once more

To see these hands and arms free! these, that
In the most dreadful horror of a fight, [often,
Have been as seamarks to teach such as were
Seconds in my attempts, to steer between
The rocks of too much daring, and pale fear,
To reach the port of victory! when my sword,
Advanced thus, to my enemies appear'd
A hairy comet, threatening death and ruin
To such as durst behold it! These the legs,
That, when our ships were grappled, carried me
With such swift motion from deck to deck,
As they that saw it, with amazement cried,
He does not run, but flies!

Mont. He still retains
The greatness of his spirit.

Malef. sen. Now crampt with irons,

Hunger, and cold, they hardly do support me-
But I forget myself. O, my good lords,
That sit there as my judges, to determine
The life, and death of Malefort, where are now
Those shouts, those cheerful looks, those loud
applauses,

With which, when I return'd loaden with spoil,
You entertain'd your admiral? all's forgotten:
And I stand here to give account of that

Of which I am as free and innocent
As he that never saw the eyes of him,
For whom I stand suspected.

Beauf. sen. Monsieur Malefort,

Let not your passion so far transport you,
As to believe from any private malice,

Or envy to your person, you are questiop'd:
Nor do the suppositions want weight,

That do invite us to a strong assurance,
Your son-

Malef. sen. My shame!

Beauf. sen. Pray you, hear with patience,

Beget a treacherous issue? was't in me, With as much ease to fashion up his mind, As, in his generation, to form

The organs to his body? Must it follow, Because that he is impious, I am false ?

I would not boast my actions, yet 'tis lawful
To upbraid my benefits to unthankful men.
Who sunk the Turkish gallies in the streights
But Malefort? Who rescued the French mer-
chants,

When they were boarded, and stow'd under hatches
By the pirates of Argiers, when every minute
They did expect to be chain'd to the oar,

But your now doubted admiral? then you fill'd
The air with shouts of joy, and did proclaim,
When hope had left them, and grim-look'd despair
Hover'd with sail-stretch'd wings over their heads,
To me, as to the Neptune of the sea,
They owed the restitution of their goods,
Their lives, their liberties. O, can it then
Be probable, my lords, that he that never
Became the master of a pirate's ship,
But at the mainyard hung the captain up,
And caused the rest to be thrown over-board;
Should, after all these proofs of deadly hate,
So oft express'd against them, entertain
A thought of quarter with them; but much less
(To the perpetual ruin of my glories)
To join with them to lift a wicked arm
Against my mother-country, this Marseilles,
Which, with my prodigal expense of blood,
I have so oft protected!

Beauf. sen. What you have done

Is granted and applauded; but yet know
This glorious relation of your actions

Must not so blind our judgments, as to suffer
This most unnatural crime you stand accused of,
To pass unquestion'd.

Cham. No; you must produce

Reasons of more validity and weight,

To plead in your defence, or we shall hardly
Conclude you innocent.

Mont. The large volume of

Your former worthy deeds, with your experience, Both what and when to do, but makes against you. Lan. For had your care and courage been the

same

As heretofore, the dangers we are plunged in
Had been with ease prevented.

Malef. sen. What have I

Omitted, in the power of flesh and blood,
Even in the birth to strangle the designs of
This hell-bred wolf, my son? alas! my lords,
I am no god, nor like him could foresee
His cruel thoughts, and cursed purposes:
Nor would the sun at my command forbear
To make his progress to the other world,
Affording to us one continued light.
Nor could my breath disperse those foggy mists,
Cover'd with which, and darkness of the night,
Their navy undiscern'd, without resistance,
Beset our harbour: make not that my fault,
Which you in justice must ascribe to fortune.-
But if that nor my former acts, nor what
I have deliver'd, can prevail with you,
To make good my integrity and truth;
Rip up this bosom, and pluck out the heart
That hath been ever loyal.

Beauf. sen. How! a trumpet ?
Enquire the cause.

[A trumpet within.

[Exit MONTREVILLE,