Will not this poison scatter them?

O! my brother's in execution among devils,
That stretch him, and make him give;

And I in want:

Not able for to live, nor to redeem him.
Divines and dying men may talk of hell,
But in my heart her several torments dwell :5
Slavery and misery! Who in this case
Would not take up money on his soul,
Pawn his salvation, live at interest?

I that did ever in abundance dwell,

For me to want exceeds the throes of hell.

Enter a little Boy with a top and scourge.

I can

Son. What ail you, father? Are you not well? not scourge my top as long as you stand so you take up all the room with your wide legs. Puh! you cannot make me afraid with this; I fear no vizards, nor bugbears.

[The Father takes up the Boy by his long coat with one hand, and with the other draws his dagger. Hus. Up, sir; for here thou hast no inheritance left. Son. O! what will you do, father, for I am your white boy ?6

Hus. Thou shalt be my red boy take that.

Son. O! you hurt me, father.

Hus. My eldest beggar,

[Wounding him.

This couplet is from T. Nash's Supplication to the Devil, 1592, 4to. Gabriel Harvey mistakenly imputes it to Robert Greene.

❝ A common term of endearment found in the old comedy of Ralph Roister Doister, in Massinger's Virgin Martyr, etc.

Thou shalt not live to ask a usurer bread,

To cry at a great man's gate, or follow

Good your honour by a coach; no, nor your brother.
'Tis charity to brain you.

Son. How shall I learn, now my head is broke?
Hus. Bleed, bleed!

[Stabbing him.

Rather than beg: be not thy name's disgrace :

Spurn thou thy fortunes first; if they be base.

Come, view thy second brother's. Fates, my children's

blood

Shall spin into your faces: you shall see

How confidently we scorn beggary.

[Exit, carrying away the Boy.

SCENE V.

A Maid discovered with a Child in her arms: the Mother on a couch by her, asleep.

Maid. Sleep, sweet babe: sorrow makes thy mother sleep.

It bodes small good when heaviness falls so deep.

Hush, pretty boy: thy hopes might have been better:

'Tis lost at dice what ancient honour won.

Hard, when the father plays away the son!
Nothing but misery serves in this house,
Ruin and desolation.—O !

Enter HUSBAND, bearing his bleeding Son.

Hus. Whore! give me that boy.

[Striving for the Child.

Maid. O, help! help! out, alas! murder! murder! Hus. Are you gossiping, you prating sturdy quean? I'll break your clamour with your neck down stairs: Tumble, tumble headlong-so,

[Throwing her down stairs, and stabbing the Child
in her arms.

The surest way to charm a woman's tongue
Is break her neck: a politician did it.7

Son. Mother, mother! I am killed, mother!

[Waking the WIFE.

Wife. Ha! who's that that cried? O me! my

children

Both, both bloody? bloody?

[Catching up the youngest.

Hus. Strumpet! let go the boy: let go the beggar.
Wife. O, my sweet husband!

Hus. Filth! harlot !

Wife. O! what will you do, dear husband?

Hus. Give me the bastard.

Wife. Your own sweet boy?

[They strive for the Child.

Hus. There are too many beggars.

Wife. Good my husband!

Hus. Dost thou prevent me still?
Wife. O, God!

Hus. Have at his heart.

Wife. O, my dear boy!

[Stabbing the Child in her arms.

[Sinking down wounded.

Hus. Brat, thou shalt not live to shame thy house,

Wife. O, heaven!

Hus. And perish.-Now, begone:

7 -a politician did it.] Supposed to allude to the Earl of Leicester, and his concern in the death of Amy Robsart: "charm" is silence.

There's whores enough, and want would make thee one.

Enter a lusty Servant.

Ser. O, sir! what deeds are these?

Hus. Base slave! My vassal!

Com'st thou between my fury to question me?

Ser. Were you the devil, I would hold you, sir.

Hus. Hold me? presumption! I'll undo thee for it. Ser. 'Sblood! you have undone us all, sir.

Hus. Tug at thy master?

Ser. Tug at a monster!

Hus. Have I no power? shall my slave fetter me?
Ser. Nay then, the devil wrestles : I am thrown.

[HUSBAND overcomes him. Hus. O, villain! now I'll tug thee: now, I'll tear thee, Set quick spurs to my vassal: bruise him, trample him.

[Stamping on him.

So, I think thou wilt not follow me in haste.

[Servant limps away.

My horse stands ready saddled. Away! away!
Now, to my brat at nurse, my sucking beggar.
Fates! I'll not leave you one to trample on.

[Exit.

SCENE VI.

A Courtyard before the House.

Enter HUSBAND; the Master of the College meeting him.

Mast. How is it with you, sir?

Methinks you look of a distracted colour.

Hus. Who? I, sir? It is but your fancy.

Please you walk in, sir, and I'll soon resolve you :

I want one small part to make up the sum,

And then my brother shall rest satisfied.

Mast. I shall be glad to see it: I'll attend you.

SCENE VII.

A Room in the House.

WIFE and Children are discovered.

[Exeunt.

Enter a lame Servant.

8

Ser. O! I am scarce able to heave up myself,
He has so bruis'd me with his devilish weight,
And torn my flesh with his blood-hasty spurs :
A man before of easy constitution,
Till now hell-power supplied to his soul's wrong.
O, how damnation can make weak men strong!

Enter Master of the College, and two Servants.

O, the most piteous deed, sir, since you came!

Mast. A deadly greeting! Hath he summ'd up these To satisfy his brother? Here's another,

And by the bleeding infants the dead mother.

Wife. O! O!

Mast. Surgeons, surgeons! she recovers life.—

One of his men, all faint and bloodied.

First Ser. Follow! our murderous master has took horse

To kill the child at nurse. O! follow quickly.

Mast. I am the readiest: it shall be my charge

-blood-HASTY] Perhaps a misprint for blood-thirsty.

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