gged his fiery beard; I ha'
sung songs to the faint moon's echoes at daybreak and danced here away
and there away, like the lightning through a forest! As to your sword
and dagger play, I've got the trick o' the eye and wrist--who was he?
What's all his gods--his goddesses and lies?--the first a'nt worth a
word; and for the two last, I was always a prince of both! "Caitiff!"
and "beast!" and "nothing!"--who was he?

CHIEF OFFICER.

You're ours, for sundry villanies committed,
Sufficient each to bring your vice to an end;
The law hath got you safely in its grasp!

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 Marlo