The Spanish Tragedy Part 13

PED. So then I must up?

HANG. No remedy.

PED. Yes, but there shall be for my coming down.

HANG. Indeed here's a remedy for that.

PED. How? be turn'd off?

HANG. Aye, truly. Come, are you ready?

I pray you, sir, dispatch, the day goes away.

PED. What, do you hang by the hour? If you do, I may chance to break your old custom.

HANG. Faith, you have no reason, for I am like to break your young neck.

PED. Dost thou mock me, hangman? Pray G.o.d I be not preserved to break your knaves-pate for this!

HANG. Alas, sir, you are a foot too low to reach it, and I hope you will never grow so high while I am in office.

PED. Sirrah, dost see yonder boy with the box in his hand?

HANG. What, he that points to it with his finger?

PED. Aye, that companion.

HANG. I know him not; but what of him?

PED. Dost thou think to live till his old doublet will make thee a new truss?

HANG. Aye, and many a fair year after, to truss up many an honester man then either thou or he.

PED. What hath he in his box, as thou thinkst?

HANG. Faith, I cannot tell, nor I care not greatly.

Me thinks you should rather hearken to your soul's health.

PED. Why, sirrah hangman, I take it that that is good for the body is likewise good for the soul: and it may be in that box is balm for both.

HANG. Well, thou art even the merriest piece of man's flesh that e'er groaned at my office-door.

PED. Is your roguery become an office, with a knave's name?

HANG. Aye, and that shall all they witness that see you seal it with a thief's name.

PED. I prithee, request this good company to pray for me.

HANG. Aye, marry, sir, this is a good motion! My masters, you see here's a good fellow.

PED. Nay, nay, now I remember me, let them alone till some other time; for now I have no great need.

HIERO. I have not seen a wretch so impudent.

O monstrous times where murders are so light, And where the soul that should be shrin'd in heav'n Solely delights in interdicted things, Still wand'ring in the th.o.r.n.y pa.s.sages That intercepts itself of happiness!

Murder? O b.l.o.o.d.y monster! G.o.d forbid A fault so foul should 'scape unpunished!

Dispatch and see this execution done; This makes me to remember thee, my son.

Exit HIERONIMO.

PED. Nay, soft! no haste!

DEPU. Why, wherefore stay you? Have you hope of life?

PED. Why, aye.

HANG. As how?

PED. Why, rascal, by my pardon from the king.

HANG. Stand you on that? then you shall off with this.

He turns him off.

DEPU. So, executioner, convey him hence; But let his body be unburied.

Let not the earth be choked or infect What that which Heav'ns contemns and men neglect.

Exeunt.

[ACT III. SCENE 7.]

[HIERONIMO's house.]

Enter HIERONIMO.

HIER. Where shall I run to breath abroad my woes,-- My woes whose weight hath wearied the earth, Or mine exclaims that have surcharg'd the air With ceaseless plaints for my deceased son?

The bl.u.s.t'ring winds, conspiring with my words, At my lament have mov'd to leafless trees, Disrob'd the meadows of their flower'd green, Made mountains marsh with spring-tides of my tears, And broken through the brazen gates of h.e.l.l; Yet still tormented is my tortur'd soul With broken sighs and restless pa.s.sions, That, winged, mount, and hovering in the air, Beat at the windows of the brightest heav'ns, Soliciting for justice and revenge.

But they are plac'd in those empyreal heights, Where, countermur'd with walls of diamond, I find the place impregnable, and they Resist my woes and give my words no way.

Enter HANGMAN with a letter.

HANG. O Lord, sir! G.o.d bless you, sir! The man, sir,-- Petergade, sir: he that was so full of merry conceits--

HIER. Well, what of him?

HANG. O Lord, sir! he went the wrong way; the fellow had a fair commission to the contrary. Sir, here is his pa.s.sport, I pray you, sir; we have done him wrong.

HIERO. I warrant thee; give it me.