Col. Now, devils, you have done your worst with tortures; death's a privation of pain, but they were a continual dying.
Jul. Farewell, my dearest! I may have many husbands,
But never one like thee.
Per. As you love my soul, take hence that woman.—
My English friends, I'm not ashamed of death,
While I have you for partners; I know you innocent,
And so am I, of this pretended plot;
But I am guilty of a greater crime;
For, being married in another country,
The governor's persuasions, and my love
To that ill woman, made me leave the first,
And make this fatal choice.
I'm justly punished; for her sake I die:
The Fiscal, to enjoy her, has accused me.
There is another cause;
By his procurement I should have killed—
Fisc. Away with him, and stop his mouth.[He is led off.
Tow. I leave thee, life, with no regret at parting;
Full of whatever thou could'st give, I rise
From thy neglected feast, and go to sleep:
Yet, on this brink of death, my eyes are opened,
And heaven has bid me prophecy to you,
The unjust contrivers of this tragic scene:—
An age is coming, when an English monarch
With blood shall pay that blood which you have shed:
To save your cities from victorious arms,
You shall invite the waves to hide your earth[1],
And, trembling, to the, tops of houses fly,
While deluges invade your lower rooms:
Then, as with waters you have swelled our bodies,
With damps of waters shall your heads be swoln:
Till, at the last, your sapped foundations fall,
And universal ruin swallows all. [He is led out with the English; the Dutch remain.
Van. Her. Ay, ay, we'll venture both ourselves and children for such another pull.
1 Dutch. Let him prophecy when his head's off.
2 Dutch. There's ne'er a Nostradamus of them all shall fright us from our gain.
Fisc. Now for a smooth apology, and then a fawning letter to the king of England; and our work's done.
Har. 'Tis done as I would wish it:
Now, brethren, at my proper cost and charges,
Three days you are my guests; in which good time
We will divide their greatest wealth by lots,
While wantonly we raffle for the rest:
Then, in full rummers, and with joyful hearts,
We'll drink confusion to all English starts.[Exeunt.