ved
From damned spirits, and the torturing cries
Of men, his breth'ren, fashion'd of the earth,
As he was, nourish'd with the self-same bread,
Belike his kindred or companions once--
Through everlasting ages now divorced,
In chains and savage torments to repent
Short years of folly on earth. Their groans unheard
In heav'n, the saint nor pity feels, nor care,
For those thus sentenced--pity might disturb
The delicate sense and most divine repose
Of spirits angelical. Blessed be God,
The measure of his judgments is not fix'd
By man's erroneous standard. He discerns
No such inordinate difference and vast
Betwixt the sinner and the saint, to doom
Such disproportion'd fates. Compared with him,
No man on earth is holy call'd: they best
Stand in his sight approved, who at his feet
Their little crowns of virtue cast, and yield
To him of his own works the praise, his due.

A TRAGEDY.

* * * * *

CHARACTERS.

SIR WALTER WOODVIL.
JOHN, }
SIMON, }_his sons_.

LOVELL, }
GRAY, }_Pretended friends of John_.

SANDFORD. _Sir Walter's old steward_.
MARGARET. _Orphan Ward of_ Sir Walter.
FOUR GENTLEMEN. _John's riotous companions_.
SERVANTS.

SCENE--_for the most part at Sir Walter's mansion in_ DEVONSHIRE; _at
other times in the Forest of_ SHERWOOD.

TIME--_soon after the_ RESTORATION.

* * * * *

ACT THE FIRST.

SCENE--_A Servants' Apartment in Woodvill Hall. Servants drinking--_

TIME, _the Morning_.

_A Song, by_ DANIEL.

"When the King enjoys his own again."

_Peter_. A delicate song. Where didst learn it, fellow?

_Dan_. Even there, where thou learnest thy oaths and thy politics--at
our master's table.--Where else should a serving-man pick up his poor
accomplishments?

_Mar_. Well spoken, Daniel. O rare Daniel! his oaths and his
politics! excellent!

_Fran_. And where didst pick up thy knavery, Daniel?

_Peter_. That came to him by inheritance. His family have supplied
the shire of Devon, time out of mind, with good thieves and bad
serving-men. All of his race have come into the world without their
conscience.

_Mar_. Good thieves, and bad serving-men! Better and better. I marvel
what Daniel hath got to say in reply.

_Dan_. I marvel more when thou wilt say anything to the purpose, thou
shallow serving-man, whose swiftest conceit carries thee no higher
than to apprehend