Enter Officers, Boy and PEDRINGANO, with a letter in his hand, bound.
Dep. Bring forth the prisoner, for the court is set.
Ped. Gramercy boy, but it was time to come,
For I had written to my lord anew
A nearer matter that concerneth him,
For fear his lordship had forgotten me;
But sith he hath remember'd me so well—
Come, come, come on, when shall we to this gear?
Hier. Stand forth, thou monster, murderer of men,
And here, for satisfaction of the world,
Confess thy folly and repent thy fault,
For there's thy place of execution.
Ped. This is short work: well, to your marshalship
First I confess, nor fear I death therefore,
I am the man, 'twas I slew Serberine.
But sir, then you think this shall be the place
Where we shall satisfy you for this gear?
Dep. Ay, Pedringano.
Hier. Peace impudent, for thou shalt find it so:
For blood with blood shall, while I sit as judge
Be satisfied, and the law discharg'd;
And though myself cannot receive the like,
Yet will I see that others have their right.
Despatch! the fault's approved and confess'd,
And by our law he is condemn'd to die.
Hangman Come on sir, are you ready?
Ped. To do what, my fine officious knave?
Hangm. To go to this gear.
Ped. O sir, you are too forward; thou wouldst fain furnish me with a halter, to disfurnish me of my habit, so I should go out of this gear, my raiment, into that gear, the rope; but hangman, now I spy your knavery, I'll not change without boot, that's flat.
Hangm. Come sir.
Ped. So then, I must up?
Hangm. No remedy.
Ped. Yes, but there shall be for my coming down.
Hangm. Indeed, here's a remedy for that.
Ped. How? be turned off?
Hangm. Ay truly; come, are you ready? I pray sir, despatch: the day goes away.
Ped. What, do you hang by the hour? If you do, I may chance to break your old custom.
Hangm. Faith, you have reason, for I am like to break your young neck.
Ped. Dost thou mock me, hangman? Pray God I be not preserved to break your knave's pate for this!
Hangm. Alas sir, you are a foot too low to reach it, and I hope you will never grow so high while I am in the office.
Ped. Sirrah, dost see yonder boy with the box in his hand?
Hangm. What, he that points to it with his finger?
Ped. Ay, that companion.
Hangm. I know him not, but what of him?
Ped. Dost thou think to live till his old doublet will make thee a new truss?
Hangm. Ay, and many a fair year after, to truss up many an honester man than either thou or he.
Ped. What hath he in his box, as thou think'st?
Hangm. Faith, I cannot tell, nor I car not greatly. Methinks you should rather hearken to your soul's health.
Ped. Why, sirrah hangman? I take it, that that is good for the body is likewise good for the soul: and it may be, in that box is balm for both.
Hangm. Well, thou art even the merriest piece of man's flesh that e'er groaned at my office door.
Ped. Is your roguery become an office, with a knave's name?
Hangm. Ay, and that shall all they witness that see you seal it with a thief's name.
Ped. I prithee request this good company to pray with me.
Hangm. Ay marry sir, this is a good motion: my masters, you see here's a good fellow.
Ped. Nay, nay, now I remember me, let them alone till some other time, for now I have no great need.
Hier. I have not seen a wretch so impudent!
O monstrous times, where murder's set so light,
And where the soul, that should be shrin'd in heaven,
Solely delights in interdicted things,
Still wand'ring in the thorny passages
That intercepts itself of happiness.
Murder, O bloody monster—God forbid
A fault so foul should scape unpunished.
Despatch, and see this execution done:
This makes me to remember thee, my son. Exit HIERONIMO.
Ped. Nay, soft, no haste.
Dep. Why, wherefore stay you? have you no hope of life?
Ped. Why, ay.
Hangm. As how?
Ped. Why, rascal, by my pardon from the king.
Hangm. Stand you on that? then you shall off with this. He turns him off.
Dep. So, executioner; convey him hence,
But let his body be unburied.
Let not the earth be choked or infect
With that which heaven contemns and men neglect. Exeunt.
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