How goes affairs?35
Gra. Well.
Vil. But well?
Gra. Faith,
'Tis now upon the turning of the balance;
A most equal business40
Betwixt rebellion and loyalty.
Vil. What dost mean?
Gra. Why! which shall be the virtue, and which the vice.
Vil. How the devil can that be?
Gra. O, success is a rare paint, hides all the ugliness.45
Vil. Prithee, what's the quarrel?
Gra. Nay, for that excuse us. Ask the children of
peace; they have the leisure to study it; we know nothing
of it: liberty, they say.
Vil. 'Sfoot, let the king make an act that any man may50
be unmarried again: there's liberty for them! a race of
half-witted fellows quarrel about freedom, and all that
while allow the bonds of matrimony!
Gra. You speak very well, sir.
Enter King, Lords, Brennoralt
Mar. Soft, the king and council.55
Gra. Look, they follow after, like tired spaniels quest
sometimes for company, that is, concur; and that's their
business.
Mar. They are as weary of this sport as a young unthrift
of's land; any bargain to be rid on't. Can you blame60
them? Who's that?
Gra. Brennoralt, our brave Coronel: a discontent, but
what of that? who is not?
Vil. His face speaks him one.
Gra. Thou art i' th' right: he looks still as if he were65
saying to Fortune, 'Huswife, go about your business!'
Come, let's retire to Barathen's tent. Taste a bottle, and
speak bold truths; that's our way now.
Miesta. Think not of pardon, sir;
Rigour and mercy us'd in states uncertainly,70
And in ill times, look not like th' effects
Of virtue, but necessity. Nor will
They thank your goodness, but your fears.
Mel. My lords,
Revenge in princes should be still imperfect:
