Malo. Come, ’Tis a golden president in a Sonne, [10]
To let strong nature haue the better hand,
(In such a case) of all affected reason.
What yeeres sits on this Charolois?
Baum. Twenty eight,
For since the clocke did strike him 17 old
Vnder his fathers wing, this Sonne hath fought, [15]
Seru’d and commanded, and so aptly both,
That sometimes he appear’d his fathers father,
And neuer lesse then’s sonne; the old man’s vertues
So recent in him, as the world may sweare,
Nought but a faire tree, could such fayre fruit beare. [20]
Pont. But wherefore lets he such a barbarous law,
And men more barbarous to execute it,
Preuaile on his soft disposition,
That he had rather dye aliue for debt
Of the old man in prison, then he should [25]
Rob him of Sepulture, considering
These monies borrow’d bought the lenders peace,
And all their meanes they inioy, nor was diffus’d
In any impious or licencious path?
Bau. True: for my part, were it my fathers trunke, [30]
The tyrannous Ram-heads, with their hornes should gore it,
Or, cast it to their curres (than they) lesse currish,
Ere prey on me so, with their Lion-law,
Being in my free will (as in his) to shun it.
Pont. Alasse! he knowes him selfe (in pouerty) lost: [35]
For in this parciall auaricious age
What price beares Honor? Vertue? Long agoe
It was but prays’d, and freez’d, but now a dayes
’Tis colder far, and has, nor loue, nor praise,
Very prayse now freezeth too: for nature [40]
Did make the heathen, far more Christian then,
Then knowledge vs (lesse heathenish) Christian.
Malo. This morning is the funerall.
Pont. Certainely!
And from this prison ’twas the sonnes request
That his deare father might interment haue. (Recorders Musique, [45]
See, the young sonne interd a liuely graue.
Baum. They come, obserue their order.
Enter Funerall. Body borne by 4. Captaines and Souldiers, Mourners, Scutchions, and very good order. Charolois, and Romont meet it. Char. speaks. Rom. weeping, solemne Musique, 3 Creditors.
Char. How like a silent streame shaded with night,
And gliding softly with our windy sighes;
Moues the whole frame of this solemnity! [50]
Teares, sighs, and blackes, filling the simily,
Whilst I the onely murmur in this groue
Of death, thus hollowly break forth! Vouchsafe
To stay a while, rest, rest in peace, deare earth,
Thou that brought’st rest to their vnthankfull lyues, [55]
Whose cruelty deny’d thee rest in death:
Heere stands thy poore Executor thy sonne,
That makes his life prisoner, to bale thy death;
Who gladlier puts on this captiuity,
Then Virgins long in loue, their wedding weeds: [60]
Of all that euer thou hast done good to,
These onely haue good memories, for they
Remember best, forget not gratitude.
I thanke you for this last and friendly loue.
And tho this Country, like a viperous mother, [65]
Not onely hath eate vp vngratefully
All meanes of thee her sonne, but last thy selfe,
Leauing thy heire so bare and indigent,
He cannot rayse thee a poore Monument,
Such as a flatterer, or a vsurer hath. [70]
Thy worth, in euery honest brest buyldes one,
Making their friendly hearts thy funerall stone.