Ver. Now ye see what they are; the punishment of this
Must be referred to the goddess Nemesis:
She is the most high goddess of correction;
Clear of conscience, and void of affection;
She hath power from above, and is newly sent down
To redress all outrages, in city and in town;
She hath power from God all practice to repeal
Which might bring annoyance to lady Commonweal;
To her office belongeth the proud to overthrow,
And such to restore as injury hath brought low;
'Tis her power to forbid and punish in all estates
All presumptuous immoderate attemptates.
Her cognisance, therefore, is a wheel and wings to fly,
In token her rule extendeth far and nigh;
A rudder, eke, she beareth in her other hand,
As directri[c]e of all things in every land;
Then pranketh she her elbows out, under her side,
To keep back the heady, and to temper their pride.
To her, therefore, dear sisters! we must now resort,
That she may give sentence upon this naughty sort;
She knoweth what is fittest for their correction;
Nemesis must, therefore, herein give direction.
Just. Then, People! while we lady Nemesis do fet
All these offenders in this custody we set;
Them to apprehend and keep till we come again.
People. An ye give me tority, chill keep om, that is plain.
Insol., Oppr. Shall People keep us, of whom we have been lords?
People. Stand still, or by Jis! [chill] bind you vast with cords.
Nay, sirs! ich ha' you now in my custodity.
Avar. Mass, I will be gone for my mine own commodity.
People. Zoft! whither wilt thou? wilt thou not be roiled?
Stand still, skitbrained thief, or thy bones shall be coiled!
Yond be they coming now, che war't that will tame ye.
A, zee! art thou gone too? come back, and evil a thee!
ACTUS QUINTI, SCENA DE[CIMA].
Nemesis. Respublica. Misericordia. Veritas. Justice. Pax. People. Insolence. Oppression. Adulation. Avarice.
Nem. Come forth, Respublica, our darling most dear!