HEROD

Who sits on the Tribunal, sits on thorn, And dangers do surround him; for at it Envy stands ever gazing, and with darts Headed with lightning strikes unto the heart Of every noble Actium: What can Kings Do, that the rude not censure and pervert To vild interpretations? Nay, although Justice and mercy guard them; though men's faults Are grown so odious, that even Cruelty Is a commended goodness, mere Distrust A reasonable virtue; Secrecy, Important and most needful; and Suspect, A worthy truth, which needs no witnesses: Yet, in this case, (where men cannot err twice) What shall we do, that shall escape Infamy? Oh it's a hell to think on, that how ere Our nature's are inclined to pity, yet Our actions must be cruel (or so thought) To guard our lives from danger; wicked men With their sins so transform us. Oh my Love, This unto thee I speak, whose tender heart I know hath bitter thoughts, when it records Thy Father's and thy Grandfathers mishaps: It's true, I caused them die; but (gentle Sweet) Necessity, thy safety, mine, nay all the Lands, Were my most joust assistants; and the act Was noble, how ere blamed of Cruelty. It shall indeed; and be this kiss a seal Of our perpetual love-knot; yet (my Queen) There are new Treasons hatching, which (beleeu't) Will stretch thy patience higher: Joseph, read That strange and cunning Letter. Dear wife and Sons, Love hath a blindfold judgement; would their hearts Were harmless as your wishes; but here comes The man will reconcile us: Captain, speak, Where's Alexandra? Where's Aristobulus? Fled! do not speak it; better thou hadst sunk To hell, then bring that mischief. Whence I may gather my despair and grief; Villain, thou hast betrayed me; in their lose, I'm lost to fate and danger: Silly Snail; Could Sloth have crept so slowly? Why, thy way Was smooth as glass, and thou mightest have surprised Them easier then to speak it. Oh you Gods, What plummets hang at Vassals heals; and how Does sleep and dulness cease them! But I vow, Thy life shall pay thy forfeit. Talkest thou of grace; and in this act hast lost, All things that's Like, or near it? Did not scorn Hold me, my hand should kill thee. That you're too rude to offer thus to thrust betwixt me and my resolution. Lost, and fled, and gone, and all my hope Turned topsy turuie downward? Joseph, hark. It's resolved, Force shall compel what virtuously I would Have sought from mild entreaty; for those Trunks, Go throw them into Silo, let that Lake Devour them and their treasures. True, You have prevailed, break up those rotten Tombs, Lets see what Ghosts they harbour. Would, whats this? What's here: the high Priest Like a Juggler? Are these his holy Garments; this his Robe, His Breastplate and his Ephod, his rich Coat, His Miter and his Girdle? Can it be, That this was once Queen of Jerusalem? Oh you immortal Gods, to what disguise Will Treachery transform us! It's a good resolution; for (beleeu't) Your days on earth are finished; treacherous plots Like these, shall not over take me. You are plain. Your despair Turn temperance into folly; Charity Would more become the dying. So I will; Your own lips are your Judges; and these hands, Armed with these two Stillettos at one blow, Shall thus driven all fears from me; but unite Two friends in mine embraces; happy ones, Exceediug happy ones; let not your fears Draw to your eyes false figures, or make me Appear that which I am not: come, I love you, Dearly I love you; all that I have done Constraint, and not my nature perfitted: Be henceforth free for ever; Egypt, nor The World shall safelier guard you; as you stan Thus shall you still support me; Holiness Upon my right hand; Mother you shall fit Ever upon my left hand; both shall be Mine Armour, counsel, and prosperity. It's but their first step to felicity: Antipater, your ear. How soon a foul day's cleared: Now to make Your happiness more constant; Brother, know, The Temple of King Salomon which I The other day defaced and threw down Low as the earth it stood on; once again I will erect with double excellence. Joseph, my Brother, to your noble charge I give that holy building; see it framed To height of Art and wonder; spare no gold, Jewels, nor rich imbosture; I have mines, And all shall be exhausted; that the world May boast, King Herod outwent Salomon. 'Tis known too well: How now, what news Centurion? How stands fate Between Augustus and Mark Anthony? Thou hast spoke Much sorrow in a few words. Sir, no more, Th'ast split me with thy Thunder; I have made Room and the world my mortal enemies; Yet virtue did transport me; but that guard Is no guard now: Tell me, Centurion, Where did you leave Augustus? 'Tis a fair easy Journey, I'm resolved; Nor shall persuasion change me; hence I'll go, And as a Hermit throw at Caesars feet My Crown and person; if he pity them, My peace is made; if otherwise, My fault flies not beyond me. Be content, Mother and Sister, nothing alters me; Nor do they love me, that would draw my will To any other compass: Joseph, to you I leave the Realms protection, and the care Or building up the Temple: Nay, no tears, They prophesy my death, which do but show A low dejected countenance; if I have Power in your hearts, this day I challenge you To give them unto pastime, that the world May see, we dread not fortune. How is't made? Are all agreed? For those young men it skills not; but Sir, you, I'm curious of your danger. Be your will Your own director; I am satisfied. Yet look well to your safeties; for my self, Rhodes is mine object: Dearest Love, farewell; This kiss seal my remembrance; Mother's, let Your only prayers assist me; for the rest, Despair not till my downfall; go, away, Reply not, if you love me; only Antipater, Stay and attend me further. Princely youth, Of all the Hope's that do attend my life, Thy Greatness is my greatest; nor would I Imba que me in this desperate vessel thus, Were't not to raise thy Fortune's: But 'tis now No time for Courtship; only, I must leave Two sad commandments with thee. 'Tis nobly said: Thou seest the high Priest Aristobulus, And knowest how Like a heavy weight he hangs, Pressing our Fortune's downward; if he live Our lives have no assurance. Thou hast hit The object that I looked at. This performed, There yet remains another thing to do, Which neerelier does concern me. Briefly thus, If through my fortune, or Augustus wrath, I perish in this Journey; by that love, Which nam re, favour, or my best deserts Can kindle in thy bosom; I conjure And bind thee on the first intelligence, By poison, sword, or any violent means, To kill my Wife Marriam; let no man But Herod taste her sweetness; which performed, My soul in death shall love thee. Be thy self, Constant and unremoved; so farewell. Mighty Sir; to you, as him of whom I first received. The Crown of Juda, humbly I return it; And thus arise. Know now (the great'st'mongst men) 'Tis not for Life I plead, but Honesty, For Virtue, Valour, Honour, Prowess, Grace, And all good men's acquaintance: I confess, I aided Anthony; if for that I fallen, A true friends tears shall be my Funeral. 'Tis true (great Sir) your sacred hand was first Invested me in Juda; gave me that I can forsake with comfort: keep it still; Who from a Crown is rid, is free from cares; I prize the worth, less then two flaxine tears. Hear me forth; And when y'aue herd; this, for extremity: Since first the time I wore the sorrowful Wreathe, (For Crowns and Sorrows are incorporate, And hang Like links, one wreathed in another) Since first the Crown I wore, you knew my grieves; But never relieved me by Person or by Deputy; No, not when Asia and the Africa strands Joined both to overthrow me: only, then The ever-praised (now lost) Mark Anthony Thrust forth his hand and stayed me; he kept firm My foot that then was sliding; I, for this, Sent him not aid, but rend long purchased. Oh (gracious Sir) view mine oblidgements well, And you shall see virtue did govern me. Why, did his life yet lie within my hands, Thus would I straddle over him as I stand; Mine arms dissevered Like two Rhodian Props; And ere I bent, my Trunk should be the Base For his dread foes to built Ambition on: This would I do; and, if this be a Crime, It is so good and one, I scorn my breath: Who lives the lives the longest still must end in death; And so must I. Caesar, no; Virtue was the foundation, and you may Batter, but not overthrow it. Do not defer it Caesar, I have made peace with my Conscience long since. Caesar is royal; and, by this, hath bound A faithful Servant to him. We thank you: Mother & Sister, rise; let no knee bow But to the Gods of Greece; by whose support We stand unshaked and unremoved: but (me thinks) In this great universal Rhapsody Of comfort and amazement, I do miss Two fair companious of my happiness: Where is my lovely Marriam? what withdraws Her Mother Alexandra? Sure, my heart Looked for their entertainment. That guest is soon removed; go, my Sons, Inform your Grandmother and Mother-queen,, How much I long to see them. Joseph, go, attend; There's needs of your assistance. Good Sister, think not so; a lose Like theirs Will make dumb patience mutiny; beleeu't, It moves much in my own breast; as for plots, Alas, what can they dream of? Incontinent! with whom? Peace for shame; Your Jealousy does fool you. Thart jealous Sister, and than such a fiend, There is no worse companion: come, no more; Should all the Prophets, Patriarchs, and Priests Lodged in the holy Books of Israel Come forth and tell this message, I would stand Boldly and interpose them; for I know, There is no truth to guard them; no nor faith. Oh my Divinest Marriam, how art thou And thy great sweetness injured? Unblown Rose, The mines of Crystal, nor the Diamond, Are half so chafed, so pure and innocent. Oh poor forsaken Virtue, how art thou Torn down by thy despisers, and consumed By th'enuious flame of the malicious? But I am come to guard thee, and restore Thy goodness back with interest; for I vow To hear nought but thy praises: here she comes; Welcome my dearest, sweetest, happiest, All that my longings look for; thus, and thus, Like a rich Chain, my love shall hang about thee; And make the whole world do thee reverence; Nay weep not Mother; come, I know your care, And bear and equal burden: here, Oh here Is the true Tomb of Aristobulus. Say not so; You must forget the work of accident. Good sweet, no more; Let not your Judgement wrong you to suspect Mine Innocence unjustly; for, I vow, Never came death so near me; or did force My tears in such abundance; but you know, Earth must not question Heaven: Yet to show My fair affection to your Princely Son; Within and Urn of Gold, I'll lodge his bones; And to his Funeral Rites, add such a Pomp, As shall amaze Invention; and beside, There's not and eye in all Jerusalem, But shall drop sorrow for him. Why looks my lovely Marriam downward, & dejects The glory of her bright eye? I had thought My safe return (which strikes a general joy Through Juda and Jerusalem, and makes Mount Sion so triumphant) had not had The power to kill her comforts: Lovely one; How have I lost thy friendship; or, what Fiend Sends this Divorce betwixt us? What, your self? Oh do not speak it; for to that blessed Shrine I have been so religious, that the world Hath oft condemned me of Idolatry: And can you then accuse me? Let me then Be struck with fearful Thunder. Let it come: You call a Love in question, that's as joust As Equity or Goodness; by that power— Sir, a word: You're a faithless young man; and have lost The great hope I had in you. I'm resolved. Madam, you have accused me; and I stand So strongly on mine own truth, that you must Discover your Informers: By that love Once you did feign to bear me; by that faith Which should link married couples; by the awe, Duty and truth of Women; or if these Be canceled with you fury; yet by that Great power your King hath over you, and to shun The scourge of Torments, which I solemnly Will try to the extremest; here I bind, Nay, do command you, that unfeignedly You tell me who informed you. Would; Joseph! Oh my abused confidence! Joseph? was't Joseph? then 'tis time to feel My cold dull unbelieving. No, your lust, And you shall buy it dearly: Call a Guard. Have I for this so often lost my self Within the Labyrinth of her wanton eyes; And am I now repaid with Treachery: Cease on those wretched Creatures; Salumith, Stand forth, and what thy knowledge can approve Against those Traitors, speak it; now mine ear Lies open to my safety. How now, what tumult's that? Speak; against whom? Utter it. How answer you this Treason? Thats a confession. The guilty ever plead thus; cursed chance, To have my Joys devour me: but, 'tis done; Princes, your ears and Counsels. Princely youths, Nature and love deceives you: wretched things, What can you say to stay destruction? 'Tis the Plea Of every guilty person: Animis, Convey those wicked creatures, with your Guard, Unto the marketplace, and there in sighed Of all the people, cause the Hangman take Their cursed head from their bodies. No more. I'll hear no more. Once again, I charge you to forget her. How am I vexed with importunity; Away to Execution: if again I do command 'tis fatal. What; am I braved by Traitors? Villains, force Way to the Execution, or you perish. Passing true; But I'll root out that vengeance: yet again, When I awake my memory, to look Upon her sweetness, goodness, and conceive, That no affair, no wisdom, or found zeal, Which oft attainteth others, could touch her; Oh then, me thinks, I might at least have breathed, Before I had condemned her; Justice should Ith dark of these confusions, born a Torch Before Truth and mine anger: but alas, Folly and Rashness led me; and I've lost All my delight at one throw. Antipater, Go, run, fly; Oh, stay the Execution. Good, no more; go stay the Execution. Lord to see how time is lost with talking. Yet again. Speak my Lord; where is my Queen? Oh, where's my Marriam? Dead? Be the world dead with her; for on earth There's no life but her glory: yet declare How died the woeful Lady? Enough, too much; th'ast slain me Pheroas; Oh, I have lost in her death more true joys, Then Heaven can give or, earth is worthy of: I am a Traitor to my self and love; To Nature, Virtue, Beauty, Excellence; I have destroyed the whole world; for but her, It had no Soul, nor moving; no delig to, No triumph, glory, or continuance: I cannot live to loose her; call her back, Or I shall die complaining. Easily Sir, My sighs shall breath life in her; and my voice Rouse her, as does a Trumpet; nay, more loved Then either wind or Thunder: canst thou think That I can live without her; she, to whom The whole world was a Theater, where men Sat viewing her good actions; she, that had As much right unto Paradise, as Kings Would e to their Courts and Kingdoms; she that lent Mintage to others beauty's; for, none are Or good, or fair, but such as looked Like her: She, in whose body sweetly was contained Th'Easterne Spicery, the Western treasure, And all the world holds happy: may it be That I can live and want her? or, could I With one sad breath destroy her? she, that had (In her own thoughts) read all that ere was writ, To better, or instruct us: She, that knew Heaven so well on Earth; that, being there, S ee finds no more then she did think on here; And have I killed her? She, whose very dreams Were more devout then our Petitions; Have I profaned that Temple? Fallen, Oh fallen Down to the gro and and perish; never look up, But when or Blastings, Mildews, Lightenings, Oh poisonous Serenes strike thee. Herod, here, Oh here, dig up thy graven with sorrow. You're a fool; He that not mourns for her, will never mourn; But is worse then the Devil. Marriam, Oh Marriam; thou that through the Spheres (As through so many golden Beads) hast run, In one poor moment, to felicity; Look down upon thy Vassal, me thy Slave, And see how much I languish: let thine eye Guild my complaints, and cheer my misery. Sir, you j; deadly and falsely; for she does deserve The tears of men and Angels: Sh e, Oh she, Of who the Ancients prophesied, when first They made all Virtues Females; She, that was The first and best fair Copy, from whose lines The world might draw perfection: She, not worth The tears of all thats living? Worser lnesse, go; Pack from my sighed for ever: Oh, 'twas thou, Thou that didst make me kill her: hence, avant; By all that's good or holy; if, from hence Thou ere presume to see me, or come near The place of my abiding; it's thy death, As certain as Fate spoke it. Away; reply, and I will kill thee. On whom? On you, the City; but especially, Upon the Prince Antipater. No more, Th'are angry surges, which with one poor blast, I'll make all to the Centre; troubled thoughts, Rest till this storm be over: happy man, I'll make thee tread upon them; this day shall Be thy Coronation; but their Funeral. Villains, Traitors, Vipers. Give me way; Shall my own blood destroy me? that I gave I'll sacrifice to Justice. What, Villains that are armed against me? But truth accuse you? Oh strange impudence! Th'art not of Brass, but Adamant: seest thou this, This man you hired with stone to murder me; This man with timber; both you wrought to stain The sacred building with foul Parricide. Is not this true? No, not these Your vild acts do destroy you: Speak, my Lord; Did not you see these in the dead of night, Armed with their weapons, watch at my Chamber door, Intending to assault me? What, does this Bristle your guilty spirits? No, I'll come Nearer unto your Treasons; here's your hands, Your own hands, most unnatural: Sister, see; See, mine Antipater; ( or I know, you both Are perfect in their hands and Characters) This Letter did they traitorously convey Unto Chrysander, which commands our Powers, And Conquests wone in Greece; inciting him To break his firm allegiance, and to join His strength with theirs, to work our overthrow. Speak, our Centurion; did not you receive This Letter from Chrysander? And that it is their own hands, witness you; And you; and all that know them. But never I, it is imposs ible. I'm resolved, Chrysander shall be sent for: would, how now? Why starest thou? why art breathless? Villain, speak this again. From which, thus Mine own hand shall secure me; villain, die, That knewest a way to kill me; and henceforth, What Slave soever dare to fill mine ear With tales of this foul nature, thus shall perish; I'll not be tortured living: where's my Guard? Handle those treacherous young men; and, with cords, Strangle them both immediately. Never, I am deaf; Villains, that hatch such execrable thoughts, Unfit for noble spirits, shall not breath: Dispatch I say; for unto time I'll raise Such Trophies of Severity; that he Which reads your Story with a bloody thought, Shall tremble and forsake it. Pull, and dispatch them. 'Tis true; and I am resolute to run a Course, Affright the proudest Attempter; go, convey Those bodies unto Burial: Antipater, Come near me man; th'art now the only branch Left of this aged Body; which, howere Disdained, for want of grafting; yet, I'll now Make thee the chief, the best, and principal. It is our pleasure, that with winged speed, Forthwith you pass to Room; and, in our name, Salute the great Augustus; say, that age, grief, And some natural sickness, having made My mind unfit for Government; I crave, He would confirm thee in the Royalty: Which granted, I will instantly give up To thee and to thy goodness, all I hold; Either in Crown, or Greatness. Do not cross my commandment; for I know Thy sweet and modest temper: but away; Fly in thy happy journey; I presage, Those which did hate my Youth, will love mine Age. Where is Niraleus? what, have you taken survey Of all the holy Building? May't be said, Herod in it hath outgone Salomon? Come discourse The manner of the Building. What's within? Enough, th'ast given me satisfaction; and forthwith, In solemn wise I'll have it consecrate Unto the God of Israel: how now; Why comes our Sister thus amazedly. Whence is the Eunuch? Let him speak freely. 'Tis enough; Th'ast told me likely danger: Hillus with Your Guard attach the Wife of Pheroas; Then search the house; and whatsoever you find Like Poison, see you bring me: Animis, With your Guard cease my Mother; go, away; Be careful, & be happy. Still shall I thus be hunted, and compelled To turn head on mine own blood? Is there left Nothing to guard me but my Cruelty? Then let my Passion conquer and keep down All Mercy from appearing. 'Tis most true, And I will hence begin to study it. How now, whom have you there? By what means comes she thus disabled? What of the Poison? But a toy; They which dare do, dare suffer; desperate Soul, Do not play with more mischief; but confess, Where is the Poison, which thy treacherous Lord (Having for me provided) did convey Unto thy charge and keeping. Come 'tis false; Nor can you now outstrip me; to deny, Is but to add to sorrow; or confess, Or drink of more affliction. Quickly speak; For I am sudden in my Cruelty. Prepare her for the Torture: Shall my life Lie in these rotten Caskets, and not I Dare to consume or break them? Wretched thing, I'll make you speak louder then Tempests do; And true as Oracles; or else, beleeu't, He crack your strongest heartstrings: so, pull home; Stretch her out Like a Lutestring. Speak truth, or there's no mercy; higher yet. Do it with truth there's safety, give her ease. Who then became the Author? Antipat ! how, from Antipater? Can you tell by whose means he attained it? What did you with that Poison? Take her down; This at the first had eased your misery: Would Sir, Antipater; all this Antipater? Oh Heaven! But 'tis no wonder. Doubt me not. Here comes my second trouble: what the Jew? You have prevented sending for: false Queen, That hast disgraced thy Sex with Cruelty. What Poison's in your keeping? Not any: impudent? That your intent Was, therewith to destroy me. Oh, you Gods! What's life, when This can take it? This, this drop; This little paltry nothing. You're indeed A mischief too long growing. Sirrah, Jew; Was this your Composition? Who made you to prepare it? And Sirrah, you had a finger in this work too. Was this Poison then prepared for me? 'Tis true, and you shall both find it: go, hang up that Peasant presently; and then cast him into Silo. Away with him; and for that treacherous Jew, And you falsehearted Madam, both shall taste Of that you would have tendered; equally Divide that Bane into two cups of wine, And give it them to drink off; 'tis decreed, What was prepared for me, shall make you bleed. Say not so; I know this smoke will kindle, and my care Must now prevent my danger. Animis, Guard you my Sister safely: Hillus, cause Those bodies to be buried: you Niraleus, Shall make for Room with all speed; thence, bring back That false, ingrateful, proud Antipater: Carry the matter close, but cunningly: For that poor Soul, bid our Physicians With all care to respect her; for 'tis she That only can accuse our enemies. Thus runs the wheels of State, now up, now down; And none that lives finds safety in a Crown. The Justice that you merit; hence away with him. Through what a Labyrinth is mercy led; Rise in our favo r evermore beloved. All these are passed and cannot be recalled. All those forenamed were of no effect: My Marriam; Oh my heart: hence with the Slave; I'll hear no more of his enchanting words. Away with him; I'll blot out all Affinity: Oh Niraleus, he was so deeply rooted in our love; All those and thousands more could never work Me to have sent him from my presence: but My Marriam; Oh, the very name of her Is Like a passing-Knell, to a sick man: For, if to be a King, is to be wretched; Then to be mean is to be glorious: The though ght of Marriam, Like a Fever burns, Diffects me every Nerve; I feel within My cog ations beating, things long passed Are now present worser, now I suffer for them; I m grown a Monster, and could chafe my self Out of my self; I'm all on fire within: Oh Marriam, Marriam, Mistress of my Soul; I shall expire with breathing on thy name: Thy deer remembrance burns me: who attends? Gi e me some Fruit to cool me. No, give me and Apple. Lend me a knife to pare it: Oh Niraleus, I have done cruel Justice; is there left A good thing to succeed me? All my Sons, My Brother's, Sisters; nay, the very last Of all my blood is vanished. Nothing but sought to ease my misery; A little more had done it. Patience, thou seest I have, to kill my self; I shall ere long rest in my Marriams arms: I would not be a King another year, For both the Crowns of Juda and of Room: Provide my Bed, I'm faint and something sick: Antipater, be close, I'll sift your knavery; A King has eyeballs that can pierce through stone; His very looks, shall make the Slave confess, Who's joust, and who's unjust: all is not well; Lend me your hands, we'll try who is the strongest; A wager, of us two, I live the longest. Oh royal Caesar, this grace thus performed In my poor Visitation; makes my Soul A Bondslave to thy Virtue. 'Tis but fit: Yet royal Caesar, what should Nature do; When, Like to me, its grown unnatural? Turned a devouring Serpent; eating up The whole Fry it engendered; nay, the arms And branches of it's body. Sir, 'twas I That killed the virtuous high Priest Aristobulus; See where he comes bright Angel-like: Oh stay, Do not afflict me further: how he moves Like gentle air about me: see, to him, Enters his royal Mother; hold, Oh hold; I do confess my vengeance, and will shed My lifeblood to appease you. See my Sons; My lovely Boys; 'tis true, I murdered you; Come, take revenge, and spare not: art thou there; Oh, let me fly and catch thee: be'st thou Flame, Blastings, or mortal Sickness; yet I dare Leap and embrace my dearest Marriam: Marriam, Oh Marriam; Will nes, let me go; You shall not hold me from her: Oh, a Sword, A Sword for Heavens mercy; for, but death, Nothing can join me to her. Shall I not reach my comfort? then, Oh come You that my wrath hath injured; stick, stick here The Arrows of your Poison: so; it works, it works. Would, would, would; This Vision does not scar me; that you fell, 'Twas I stice and my Virtue; all your threats Do but augment my Triumph: go, pack hence; I grieve for nought but injured innocence. Antipater? speak forth, I hear thee; that's a found Ever craves mine attention. Yes, and then How took he my departing? Come, I see Strange things in thy deliverance: speak, speak free; How took he that sad Message? On thy life Tell me his whole demeanour. Peace, no more; I think what thou canst utter: Oh, this Son, This Bastard Son hath only ruined me: Hell never knew his equal; all my sins Are but the seeds he planted: fie, Oh fie. Thou speakest truth; Would this day did not needs thee: 'tis a world To think how strong our cares are; and how weak All things which do but look Like comfort: there's Not left in me a shadow; not a breath Of any hope hereafter; this Bastards faith, On which so much I doted, to be lost Thus against kind and nature; 'tis a sin, That tears my heart in pieces. Yes, to deserve destruction: wretched thing; Thou scorn of all are scorned; see, I live Only to found thy Judgement: thou, that thoughtest To built thy Throne upon my Sepulchre; See how th'art dashed in pieces. In thy breast Was never thing looked Like Simplicity; Thou hast made Goodness wretched, and defamed All virtuous things that graced Nobility; Th'ast eat my blood up; made my loathed life Only a Scale to reach Confusion; Of these things I accuse thee; this I prove Both by my Life, my Death, and Infamy; And for this thou must perish: One, call forth The Minister of death; and in my view, Some minutes ere my dying; let me see His head taken from his body. And that word Hath brought mine unto cracking; strike, Oh strike; Dispatch the Execution; or mine eyes Will not continue to behold the grace Of the revenge I thrist for. O-o-o- Passing true, young Archelaus and Antipas; Beet the r changed rge to see them sent for home; Something I m st act, worthy my Meditation; I'll not live to have care dwell so near me; one small prick With this will do it: thus I'll try it.