The Knight’s house
Enters a Knight with two or three Gentlemen.
KNIGHT
Endangered so his wife? Murdered his children?
FOURTH GENTLEMAN
So the cry comes.
KNIGHT
I am sorry I e’er knew him,
That ever he took life and natural being
From such an honoured stock and fair descent
Till this black minute without stain or blemish.
FOURTH GENTLEMAN
Here come the men.
Enter the Master of the College and the rest, with the [Husband] prisoner.
KNIGHT
The serpent of his house?
I’m sorry for this time that I am in place of justice.
MASTER
Please you, sir.
KNIGHT
Do not repeat it twice: I know too much.
Would it had ne’er been thought on.
Sir, I bleed for you.
FOURTH GENTLEMAN
Your father’s sorrows are alive in men:
What made you show such monstrous cruelty?
HUSBAND
In a word, sir,
I have consum’d all, play’d away Longacre,
And I thought it the charitablest deed I could do
To cozen beggary, and knock my house o’ th’ head.
KNIGHT
Oh, in a cooler blood you will repent it!
HUSBAND
I repent now, that one’s left unkill’d,
My brat at nurse. Oh, I would full fain have wean’d him!
KNIGHT
Well, I do not think but in tomorrow’s judgment
The terror will sit closer to your soul
When the dread thought of death remembers you;
To further which, take this sad voice from me:
Never was act play’d more unnaturally.
HUSBAND
I thank you, sir.
KNIGHT
Go, lead him to the jail,
Where justice claims all; there must pity fail.
HUSBAND
Come, come, away with me.
Exit [the Husband as] prisoner.
MASTER
Sir, you deserve the worship of your place;
Would all did so: in you the law is grace.
KNIGHT
It is my wish it should be so. Ruinous man,
The desolation of his house, the blot
Upon his predecessors’ honour’d name:
That man is nearest shame that is past shame.