Scene III
Enter General of the Rebels, Palatines of Trock and Menseck, Francelia, Almerin, Iphigene
Gen. As your friend,
My lord, he has the privilege of ours,
And may enjoy a liberty we would
Deny to enemies.
Alm. I thank your excellence. O Iphigene,5
He does not know
That thou the nobler part of friendship hold'st,
And dost oblige, while I can but acknowledge.
Men. Opportunity to statesmen
Is as the just degree of heat to chymists;10
It perfects all the work: and in this pris'ner
'Tis offered. We now are there, where men
Should still begin. To treat upon advantage,
The Palatine of Trock, and Menseck, with Almerin,
Shall to the king:15
Petitions shall be drawn, humble in form,
But such for matter
As the bold Macedonian youth would send
To men he did despise for luxury.
The first begets opinion of the world,20
Which looks not far, but on the outside dwells:
Th' other enforces courage in our own;
For bold demands must boldly be maintained.
Trock. Let all go on still in the public name,
But keep an ear open to particular offers.25
Liberty and public good are like great olios—
Must have the upper end still of our tables,
Though they are but for show.
Fran. Would I had ne'er seen this shape! 't has poison in't.
Yet where dwells good, if ill inhabits there?30
Mens. Press much religion;
For, though we dress the scruples for the multitude,
And for ourselves reserve th' advantages
(It being much pretext), yet it is necessary;
For things of faith are so abstruse and nice,35
They will admit dispute eternally.
So, howsoe'er other demands appear,
These never can be proved unreasonable:
