SCENE IX. A room in the house of a Magistrate.
[Enter a knight with two or three Gentlemen.]
KNIGHT.
Endangered so his wife? murdered his children?
1 GENTLEMAN. So the Cry comes.
Knight.
I am sorry I ere knew him,
That ever he took life and natural being
From such an honoured stock, and faira descent;
Til this black minute without stain or blemish.
1 GENTLEMAN. Here come the men.
[Enter the master of the college and the rest, with the prisoner.]
KNIGHT.
The serpent of his house! I’m sorry
For this time that I am in place of justice.
MASTER.
Please you, Sir.
KNIGHT.
Do not repeat it twice I know too much,
Would it had ne’er been thought on:
Sir, I bleed for you.
1 GENTLEMAN.
Your fathers sorrows are alive in me:
What made you shew such monstrous cruelty?
HUSBAND. In a word, Sir, I have consumd all, played away long acre, and I thought it the charitablest deed I could do to cussen beggery and knock my house oth head.
KNIGHT.
Oh, in a cooler blood you will repent it.
HUSBAND.
I repent now, that ones left unkild,
My brat at nurse. Oh, I would full fain have weand him.
KNIGHT.
Well, I do not think but in to morrows judgement,
The terror will sit closer to your soul,
When the dread thought of death remembers you;
To further which, take this sad voice from me:
Never was act played more unnaturally.
HUSBAND.
Thank you, Sir.
KNIGHT.
Go, lead him to the Jail:
Where justice claims all, there must pity fail.
HUSBAND.
Come, come, away with me.
[Exit prisoner.]
MASTER.
Sir, you deserve the worship of your place.
Would all did so: in you the law is grace.
KNIGHT.
It is my wish it should be so.—Ruinous man,
The desolation of his house, the blot
Upon his predecessors honord name!
That man is nearest shame that is past shame.
[Exit.]