Whilst I do bring my dreadful furies forth, (They come to cover.) (The while they cover.) Come forth and cover, for the time draws on; (Here some strange solemn music like bells is heard Do fill the roof with sounds of tragedy: (The Furies go to the door and meet them; first the The following scene, which takes place immediately after Brown has committed the murder, and when he is eager to enjoy the advantages he sought to obtain by it, contains one of those admirable touches of nature in which the old dramatic writers excelled, and is equal to any thing in the compass of our stage poetry. Scene before SANDERS's house. Enter SANDERS'S Young Son, and another boy from school, Boy. Go to, where shall we play? Young San, Here at our door. Boy. What, if your father find us? Young San. No, he's at Woolwich, and will not come home to night. Enter to them BROWN and ROGER. Brown. Is she so out of patience as thou say'st? To hate and be at variance with ourselves, Roger. How now Captain? (He spies the boys.) Why stop you on the sudden? Why go you not? What makes you look so ghastly towards the house? Brown. Is not the foremost of those pretty boys One of George Sauders' sons? Roger. Yea, 'tis his youngest. Brown. Both youngest and eldest are now fatherless And take him from the door, the sight of him Nor stir my foot until he be removed, To bar my entrance at that fatal door: I prithee step, and take him quickly thence. Present Master Barnes, Master James, and others, with John Beane, wounded in a chair :— enter to them the Mayor of Rochester, with Brown a prisoner. Barnes. As I take it, Master Mayor of Rochester. Barnes. What happy fortune sent you here to Woolwich: Mayor. Believe me, sad indeed, and very sad:- Barnes. Believe me Sir, ye have done right good service, And shall no doubt deserve well of the state. James. No doubt you shall, and I durst assure you so, The council will accept well of the same. Barnes. Good master Mayor, this wretched man of mine Mayor. Alas, poor wretch! Barnes. Is this that Brown that is suspected to have done the murder?- -a goodly man, believe me : Too fair a creature for so foul an act. Brown. My name is Brown, Sir. James. I know you well, your fortunes have been fair, But Brown, should you be guilty of this fact,— Brown. He doth not live dare charge me with it. James. Pray God there be not. Mayor. Serjeants bring him nearer, see if this poor soul know him, Barnes. It cannot be, these two days space he knew no creature. Brown. Swounds! lives the villain yet? (aside.) O how his very sight affrights my soul! Barnes. See how his wounds break out afresh in Which now be fifteen mouths that do accuse me : In every wound there is a bloody tongue, Which will all speak, although he hold his peace; Barnes. John, dost thou hear? Know'st thou this man? John. Yea, this is he that murdered me and Master Sanders. James. O hold him up! Mayor, John comfort thyself! James. Bow him ;-give him air. Barnes. No, he is dead. (He sinks down.) Brown. Methinks he is so fearful in my sight, That were he now but where I saw him last, For all this world I would not look upon bim. Barnes. The wondrous work of God!-that the poor creature not speaking for two days, yet now should speak to accuse this man, and presently yield up his soul. James. 'Tis very strange. Mayor. Serjeants away!-prepare you for the court, Barnes. Sure the revealing of this murder's strange. God's justice hath been still miraculous: The murther yet at length did come to light. Barnes. I have heard it told, that once a traveller Being in the hands of him that murdered him, Told him, the fern that then grew in the place, If nothing else, yet that would sure reveal him : And seven years after, being safe in London, There came a sprig of fern borne by the wind, Into the room wheras the murderer was, |