[SCENE VIII.]

Enter Alenso in Falleriaes apparell and berd; Falleria shaven in shepheards habilliments.

Fal. Part of my selfe, now seemst thou wholy me, And I seeme neither like my selfe nor thee, Thankes to thy care and this unknown disguise. I like a shepheard now must learn to know, When to lead foorth my little bleating flock, To pleasing pastures, and well-fatting walkes; In stormie time to drive them to the lee; To cheere the pretie Lambes, whose bleating voice Doth crave the wished comfort of their dams; To sound my merry Bag-pipe on the downes, In shearing times, poore Shepheards festivals; And lastlie, how to drive the Wolfe away, That seeke to make the little Lambes their pray.

Allen. Ah, have you care to drive the Wolfe away From sillie creatures wanting intellecte, And yet would suffer your devouring thoughts, To suck the blood of your dead brothers sonne! As pure and innocent as any Lambe Pertillo was, which you have fed upon. But things past helpe may better be bewaild With carefull teares, then finde a remedie; Therefore, for feare our practise be espide, Let us to question of our husbandrie. How many Lambes fell from the middle flock, Since I myselfe did take the latter view?

Enter Vesuvio, Turqual, Alberto.

Fall. Some vive and twenty, whereof two are dead. But three and twenty scud about the fields, That glads my hart to ze their iollitie.

Vesu. This is the man, conferring of his Lambes, That slew a Lambe worth all his flock besides.

Allen. What is the time to let the Weathers blood? The forward spring, that hath such store of grasse, Hath fild them full of ranke unwholsome blood, Which must be purg'd; else, when the winter comes, The rot will leave me nothing but their skinnes.

Fall. Chil let om blood, but yet it is no time, Untill the zygne be gone below the hart.[41]

Vesu. Forbeare a while this idle businesse, And talke of matters of more consequence.

Fall. Che tell you plaine, you are no honest man, To call a shepheards care an idle toye. What though we have a little merry sport With flowrie gyrlonds, and an Oaten pipe, And jolly friskins on a holly-day, Yet is a shepheards cure a greater carke Then sweating Plough-men with their busie warke.

Vesu. Hence! leave your sheepish ceremoniall!— And now, Fallerio, in the Princes name, I do arrest you, for the cruell murther Of young Pertillo, left unto your charge, Which you discharged with a bloody writ, Sign'd by the hands of those you did suborne. Nay, looke not strange, we have such evidence, To ratifie your Stigian cruelty, That cannot be deluded any way.

Allen. Alas, my Lords, I know not what you say! As for my Nephew, he, I hope, is well: I sent him yesterday to Padua.

Alber. I, he is well, in such a vengers handes, As will not winck at your iniquitie.

Allen. By heaven and earth my soule is innocent! Say what you will, I know my conscience.

Fal.—To be afflicted with a scourge of care, Which my oreweaning rashnesse did infflict.

Turq. Come, beare him hence! expostulate no more; That heart that could invent such treachery, Can teach his face to brave it cunninglie.

Alen. I do defie your accusations; Let me have justice, I will answere it.

Vesuv. So, beare him hence! I meane to stay behinde, To take possession of his goods and landes For the Dukes use: it is too manifest.

Allen. I hope youle answere anything you doe. My Lord Vesuvio, you shall answere it, And all the rest that use extremities.

Alber. I, to the Dukes Exchecker, not to you.

[Exeunt omnes; manet Falleria.

Fal. Thus shades are caught when substances are fled. Indeede they have my garments, but my selfe Am close enough from their discoverie; But not so close but that my verie soule, Is ract with tormentes for Pertillos death. I am Acteon; I doe beare about, My hornes of shame and inhumanitie. My thoughts, like hounds which late did flatter me With hope of great succeeding benefits, Now gin to teare my care-tormented heart With feare of death and tortring punishment. These are the stings whenas our consciences Are stuf'd and clogd with close-concealed crimes. Well, I must smoather all these discontentes, And strive to beare a smoother countenaunce Then rugged care would willingly permit. Ile to the Court to see Allenso free, That he may then relieve my povertie.

[Exit.