The Laws of Candy Part 27

Thus n.o.ble Prince--

Ca.s.silanes:

Let me alone, thou troublest me, I will be heard.

Arcanes:

You know not what you do.

Possenne:

Forbear: who's he that is so rude? what's he that dares To interrupt our counsels?

Ca.s.silanes:

One that has guarded, Those Purple robes from Cankers worse than Moths, One that hath kept your fleeces on your backs, That would have been s.n.a.t.c.h'd from you: but I see 'Tis better now to be a Dog, a Spaniel In times of Peace, then boast the bruised scars, Purchas'd with loss of bloud in n.o.ble wars, My Lords, I speak to you.

Porphycio:

Lord _Ca.s.silane_, We know not what you mean.

Ca.s.silanes:

Yes, you are set Upon a bench of justice; and a day Will come (hear this, and quake ye potent great ones) When you your selves shall stand before a judge, Who in a pair of scales will weigh your actions, Without abatement of one grain: as then You would be found full weight, I charge ye fathers Let me have justice now.

Possenne:

Lord _Ca.s.silane_, What strange distemperature provokes distrust Of our impartiality? be sure We'l flatter no mans injuries.

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Ca.s.silanes:

'Tis well; You have a Law, Lords, that without remorse Dooms such as are belepred with the curse Of foul ingrat.i.tude unto death.

Porphycio:

We have.

Ca.s.silanes:

Then do me justice.

[Enter _Antinous_, _Decius_, _Erota_, _Hyparcha_.]

Decius:

Mad-man, whither run'st thou?

Antinous:

Peace _Decius_, I am deaf.

Hyparcha:

Will you forget Your greatness, and your modesty?

Erota Hyparcha:

leave, I will not hear.

Antinous:

Lady; great, gentle, Lady.

Erota:

Prethee young man forbear to interrupt me, Triumph not in thy fortunes; I will speak.

Possenne:

More uproars yet! who are they that disturb us?

Ca.s.silanes:

The viper's come; his fears have drawn him hither, And now, my Lords, be Ch[ro]nicled for ever, And give me justice against this vile Monster, This b.a.s.t.a.r.d of my bloud.

Erota:

'Tis justice, Fathers, I sue for too: and though I might command it, (If you remember Lords, whose child I was) Yet I will humbly beg it; this old wretch Has forfeited his life to me.

Ca.s.silanes:

Tricks, tricks; Complots, devices, 'twixt these pair of young-ones, To blunt the edge of your well temper'd Swords, Wherewith you strike offenders, Lords, but I Am not a baby to be fear'd with bug-bears, 'Tis justice I require.

Erota:

And I.

Antinous:

You speak too tenderly; and too much like yourself To mean a cruelty; which would make monstrous Your s.e.x: yet for the loves sake, which you once Pleas'd to pretend, give my griev'd Father leave To urge his own revenge; you have no cause For yours: keep peace about ye.

Ca.s.silanes:

Will you hear me?

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Philander: