Part 63

JACCONOT (after a pause).

Then may Vice and I sit crown'd in heaven, while Law and Honesty stalk damned through hell! Now do I see the thing very plain!--treachery--treachery, my masters! I know the jade that hath betrayed me--I know her. 'Slud! who cares? She was a fine woman, too--a rare person--and a good spirit; but there's an end of all now--she's turned foolish and virtuous, and a tell-tale, and I am to be turned to dust through it--long, long before my time: and these princely limbs must go make a dirt-pie--build up a mud hut--or fatten an alderman's garden! There! calf-heads--there's a lemon for your mouths! Heard'st ever such a last dying speech and confession! Write it in red ochre on a sheet of Irish, and send it to Mistress Cecily for a death-winder. I know what you've got against me--and I know you all deserve just the same yourselves--but lead on, my masters!

Exeunt JACCONOT and OFFICERS.

MIDDLETON.

O Marlowe! canst thou rise with power no more? Can greatness die thus?

HEYWOOD (bending over the body.)

Miserable sight!

(A shriek outside the house).

MIDDLETON.

That cry!--what may that mean?

HEYWOOD (as if awaking).

I hear no cry.

MIDDLETON.

What is't comes hither, like a gust of wind?

CECILIA rushes in.

CECILIA.

Where--where? O, then, 'tis true--and he is dead! All's over now--there's nothing in the world-- For he who raised my heart up from the dust, And show'd me noble lights in mine own soul, Has fled my gratitude and growing love-- I never knew how deep it was till now! Through me, too!--do not curse me!--I was the cause-- Yet do not curse me--No! no! not the cause, But that it happen'd so. This is the reward Of Marlowe's love!--why, why did I delay? O, gentlemen, pray for me! I have been Lifted in heavenly air--and suddenly The arm that placed me, and with strength sustain'd me, Is snatch'd up, starward: I can neither follow, Nor can I touch the gross earth any more! Pray for me, gentlemen!--but breathe no blessings-- Let not a blessing sweeten your dread prayers-- I wish no blessings--nor could bear their weight; For I am left, I know not where or how: But, pray for me--my soul is buried here.

(Sinks down upon the body.)

MIDDLETON.

"Cut is the branch that might have grown full straight, And burned is Apollo's laurel bough!"

(Solemn music.)

Dark Curtain.

FOOTNOTES:

The inverted iron horns or tubes, a few of which still remain on lamp-posts and gates, were formerly used as extinguishers to the torches which were thrust into them.

INDEX TO THE NOTES.

affects, iii. 60 again, ii. 161 a-good, ii. 49 air of life, ii. 217 Albertus, i. 220. Alcides' post, i. 105 a-life, iii. 175 Alleyn, Edward, ii. 6 Almain rutters, i. 112 amorous, i. 121 Antwerp, blockade of, i. 217 aphorisms, i. 213 appointed, ii. 190 approve, iii. 263 Aquarius, iii. 279 Arden of Feversham, quoted, ii. 89 argins, i. 149 Ariosto, incident taken from, i. 177 artier, i. 45 axes, iii. 255 azur'd, i. 276

bable, iii. 299 Badgeth, i. 115 baiting, iii. 99 ballace, ii. 335 bandy, ii. 125 Banks' horse, iii. 232 Barabas' nose, ii. 47 basilisks, i. 67 bassoes, i. 48 bastones, i. 57 bevers, i. 246 bezzling, iii. 247 bid a base, ii. 191 bill, i. 213 bird-bolt, iii. 96 blazing star, iii. 225 block, iii. 226 blubbered, i. 85 bombards, ii. 105 border, iii. 129 boss, i. 62 Boulogne, taking of, iii. 224 Bourne, Vincent, his Cantatrices, iii. 238 bousing-glass, iii. 247 brave, i. 21 braves, ii. 175 Brest, expedition against, iii. 239 Britainy, ii. 10 bugs, i. 164 bullets wrapt in fire, ii. 40 burn, iii. 234 by, ii. 14

Cadiz, expedition against, iii. 48 carbonadoes, i. 79 case, i. 246 cast, ii. 165 Catullus imitated, iii. 89 catzery, ii. 89 cavaliero, i. 141 cazzo, ii. 75 centronel, ii. 328 champion, i. 32 channel (collar-bone), i. 125 channel (gutter), ii. 127 cleapt, iii. 98 cleys, iii. 279 clift, i. 206 clout, i. 37 coated, iii. 314 coll, ii. 354 colts, i. 180 competitor, i. 25 confits, iii. 85 convertite, ii. 22 counterfeit, i. 51 counterscarfs, iii. 228 covent, ii. 78 covered way, i. 149 Creusa's crown, allusion to, ii. 207 cross, ii. 52 cross-biting, ii. 89 cullions, ii. 148 curst, iii. 225 custom, ii. 13 cypress, iii. 51