Part 28 (1/2)

Here's some strange novelty.

Possenne:

Sure we are mock'd, Speak one at once: say wherein hath your Son Transgress'd the Law?

Ca.s.silanes:

O the gross mists of dulness!

Are you this Kingdomes Oracles, yet can be So ignorant? first hear, and then consider.

That I begot him, gave him birth and life, And education, were, I must confess, But duties of a Father: I did more; I taught him how to manage Arms, to dare An Enemy; to court both death and dangers; Yet these were but additions to compleat A well accomplish'd Souldier: I did more yet.

I made him chief Commander in the field Next to my self, and gave him the full prospeft Of honour, and preferment; train'd him up In all perfections of a Martiallist: But he unmindful of his grat.i.tude, You know with what contempt of my deserts, First kick'd against mine honour, scorned all My services; then got the palm of glory Unto himself: yet not content with this, He (lastly) hath conspir'd my death, and sought Means to engage me to this Lady's debt, Whose bounty all my whole estate could never Give satisfaction to: now honoured Fathers, For this cause only, if your Law be law, And you the Ministers of justice; then Think of this strange ingrat.i.tude in him.

Philander:

Can this be so _Antinous_?

Antinous:

'Tis all true, Nor hath my much wrong'd father limn'd my faults In colours half so black, as in themselves, My guilt hath dy'd them: were there mercy left, Yet mine own shame would be my Executioner: Lords, I am guilty.

Erota:

Thou beliest, _Antinous_, Thine innocence: alas, my Lords, he's desperate, And talks he knows not what: you must not credit 290] His lunacy; I can my self disprove This accusation: _Ca.s.silane_, be yet More mercifull; I beg it.

Ca.s.silanes:

Time, not fate, The world, or what is in it, shall not alter My resolution: he shall dye.

Erota:

The Senats Prayers, or weeping Lovers, shall not alter My resolution: thou shalt dye.

Antinous:

Why Madam, Are ye all Marble?

Possenne:

Leave your s.h.i.+fts _Antinous_, What plead you to your Fathers accusation?

Antinous:

Most fully guilty.

Possenne:

You have doom'd your self, We cannot quit you now.

Ca.s.silanes: