FIRST COURT. Nay, I knew my father would do well, my lord,

Whene'er he came to die; I'd that opinion of him,
Which made me the more willing to part from him;
He was not fit to live i'the world, indeed
Any time these ten years, my lord,

But I would not say so much.

EVAN. No! you did not well in't,

For he that's all spent is ripe for death at all hours, And does but trifle time out.

FIRST COURT. Troth, my lord,

I would I had known your mind nine years ago. EVAN. Our law is fourscore years, because we judge

Dotage complete then, as unfruitfulness

In women at threescore; marry, if the son
Can, within compass, bring good solid proofs
Of his own father's weakness, and unfitness
To live, or sway the living, though he want five
Or ten years of his number, that's not it;
His defect makes him fourscore, and 'tis fit
He dies when he deserves; for every act
Is in effect then, when the cause is ripe.

SECOND COURT. An admirable prince! how rarely he talks!

O that we'd known this, lads! What a time did we endure

In two-penny commons, and in boots twice vamp'd! FIRST COURT. Now we have two pair a week, and

yet not thankful;

"Twill be a fine world for them, sirs, that come

after us.

SECOND COURT. Ay, and they knew't.

FIRST COURT. Peace, let them never know't.

and] i. e. if.

Old ed." 2."

THIRD COURT. A pox, there be young heirs will soon smell't out.

SECOND COURT. "Twill come to 'em by instinct, man. May your grace

Never be old, you stand so well for youth!

EVAN. Why now, methinks, our court looks like a spring,

Sweet, fresh, and fashionable, now the old weeds are gone.

FIRST COURT. 'Tis as a court should be:

Gloss and good clothes, my lord, no matter for

merit;

And herein your law proves a provident act,*
When men pass not the palsy of their tongues,
Nor colour in their cheeks.

EVAN. But women,

By that law, should live long, for they're ne'er past it.

FIRST COURT. It will have heats though, when they see the painting

Go an inch deep i'the wrinkle, and take up

A box more than their gossips: but for men, my

lord,

That should be the sole bravery of a palace,

To walk with hollow eyes and long white beards, As if a prince dwelt in a land of goats;

With clothes as if they sat on their backs on pur

pose

To arraign a fashion, and condemn't to exile;
Their pockets in their sleeves, as if they laid
Their ear to avarice, and heard the devil whisper!
Now ours lie downward, here, close to the flank ;
Right spending pockets, as a son's should be

That lives i'the fashion: where m our diseas'd fa

thers,

Wood" with the sciatica and aches,

Brought up your pan'd hose° first, which ladies laugh'd at,

Giving no reverence to the place lies ruined:
They love a doublet that's three hours a buttoning,
And sits so close makes a man groan again,

And his soul mutter half a day; yet these are those
That carry sway and worth: prick'd up in clothes,
Why should we fear our rising?

EVAN. You but wrong

Our kindness, and your own deserts, to doubt on't. Has not our law made you rich before your time? Our countenance then can make you honourable. FIRST COURT. We'll spare for no cost, sir, to appear worthy.

EVAN. Why, you're i'the noble way then, for the

most

Are but appearers; worth itself is lost,
And bravery stands for't.

Enter CREON, ANTIGONA, and SIMONIDES.

FIRST COURT. Look, look, who comes here!
I smell death, and another courtier,
Simonides.

where] i. e. whereas.

"Wood] i. e. mad, raging: so M. Mason reads, for "Would" of the old ed. Gifford gives "Worried," to per fect, as he says, the metre: but he forgot (what he elsewhere notices) that "aches" was formerly a dissyllable, and pronounced aitches.

pan'd hose] i. e. breeches (generally made full and bombasted) having panes or openings in the cloth, where other colours were inserted in silk, and drawn through.

P bravery] “i.e. ostentatious finery of apparel."-GIFford.

SECOND COURT. Sim!

SIM. Push! I'm not for you yet,

Your company's too costly; after the old man's
Despatch'd, I shall have time to talk with you;
I shall come into the fashion, ye shall see too,
After a day or two; in the mean time,

I am not for your company.

EVAN. Old Creon, you have been expected long; Sure you're above fourscore.

SIM. Upon my life,

Not four-and-twenty hours, my lord; I search'd
The church-book yesterday. Does your grace think
I'd let my father wrong the law, my lord?
"Twere pity a' my life then! no, your act
Shall not receive a minute's wrong by him,
While I live, sir; and he's so just himself too,
I know he would no[t] offer't:-here he stands.
CREON. 'Tis just

I die, indeed, my lord; for I confess

I'm troublesome to life now, and the state
Can hope for nothing worthy from me now,
Either in force or counsel; I've a' late
Employ'd myself quite from the world, and he
That once begins to serve his Maker faithfully
Can never serve a worldly prince well after;
'Tis clean another way.

ANT. O, give not confidence

To all he speaks, my lord, in his own injury.
His preparation only for the next world

Push] This exclamation (which Gifford alters to Pish) is several times used by Middleton, as well as by other authors of his time: so Chapman;

"And lest some Momus here might now crie push,

Say our pageant is not worth a rush."

Gentleman Usher, 1606, sig. c 4.

Makes him talk wildly, to his wrong, of this;
He is not lost in judgment.

SIM. She spoils all again.

[Aside.

ANT. Deserving any way for state employment. SIM. Mother

ANT. His very household laws prescrib'd at home by him

Are able to conform seven Christian kingdoms,
They are so wise and virtuous.

SIM. Mother, I say

ANT. I know your laws extend not to desert, sir, But to unnecessary years; and, my lord,

His are not such; though they shew white, they're worthy,

Judicious, able, and religious.

SIM. I'll help you to a courtier of nineteen, mother.

ANT. Away, unnatural!

SIM. Then I am no fool, I'm sure,

For to be natural at such a time

Were a fool's part indeed.

ANT. Your grace's pity, sir,

And 'tis but fit and just.

CREON. The law, my lord,

And that's the justest way.

SIM. Well said, father, i'faith!

Thou wert ever juster than my mother still.

EVAN. Come hither, sir.

SIM. My lord.

EVAN. What are those orders?

ANT. Worth observation, sir,

So please you hear them read.

SIM. The woman speaks she knows not what, my lord.

He make a law, poor man! he bought a table, in

deed,