Mar. In which commission, madam, let it be enroll'd,
He is my brother and my next[226] of blood.
Queen. And only that is charter for his life—
Live, envious lord, more envious than thou'rt great,
Live to lament thy worst of wretchedness,
Live to repent, since this I certain know,
Thine own gall'd conscience will be thy worst woe.
Enter a guard of Watchmen with Alphonso.
1st Watchman. Come, bring away, thrust him forward, though favour and a great purse were against him.
Cyp. How now, what tumult have we there?
2d Watch. An't please your majesty, we have brought you here a slip,[227] a piece of false coin: one that is neither stamped with true coin for his excuse, nor with good clothes for his redemption.
Cyp. Alphonso! in the name of madness, how comes this metamorphosis? Nay, stand forth, discourse: if thou dost lie, thou art mine enemy.
Mech. Nay more, if thou stick in any bog, and by a trick seek to wind out, I will discover you.
Alph. This conjuration (believe it, my lord), shall make me leap out of all fetters, and briefly thus: I have long time loved the fair wife of the orator, and, having no opportunity but his absence at the senate, I took that season; he, out of negligence, omitting his papers, returned unseasonably, found me [clothed] insufficiently, and forced to take sanctuary strangely, which, however, I purchased; yet he found mine apparel, and mistaken in the tenure, reached it presently, put it on immediately; and now in the senate-house is pleading in it seriously.
Cyp. I cannot blame him, you having got so much within his inward garment.