Page:Works of Sir John Suckling.djvu/226

206 Prove ills.

Sure, I can look a man into misfortune!

The plague's so great within me, 'tis infectious.

O, I am weary of myself.

Sir, I beseech you, yet accept of it;

For I shall be this way a sufferer

And an executioner too.

Samorat. I beg of thee, no more;

Thou dost beget in me desire to live:

For, when I find how much I am behind

In noble acts of friendship,

I cannot choose but wish for longer time,

That I might struggle with thee for what thou hast

Too clearly now got from me, the point of honour.

O, it is wisdom and great thrift to die!

For who with such a debt of friendship and

Of love, as you and my Sabrina must

Expect from me, could e'er subsist?

Nassurat. They are complimenting; 'sfoot, they make

no more of it than if 'twere who should go in first at a door.

I think, Pellegrin, as you and I have cast it up, it comes to

something more.

Messenger. Gentlemen, prepare: the court is sitting.

Samorat. Friends,

This is no time for ceremony; but what

A rack have I within me to see you suffer!

And yet I hope the Prince will let his anger

Die in me, not to take the forfeiture of you.

Nassurat. If he should, Pellegrin and I are resolved,

and are ready—all but our speeches to the people; and

those will not trouble us much, for we intend not to trouble

them.

Prince. Not accept it! Lose this way too!—

What shall I do? he makes advantages

Of mine; and, like a skilful tennis-player,

Returns my very best with excellent design.

It must not be. Bring to the closet here above

The chief o' th' jury: I'll try another way. [Exeunt to the gallery above