The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [1532]
escape unpunished: what remedie 1 I am not of power to revenge: to complayne, I expresse my owne infamie, but withal proclaime his vilanie: and to heare his lewdnes reproved woulde take away the bitternesse of my death. I will goe unto the king, who is just and mercifull: hee shall heare the ruthfull events of Promos tyrrannie; and to give him example of vengeaunce, I will seale my complaintes with my dearest bloode.
Continuing this determination, Cassandra buried her imagined brothers heade, and with speed jornyed unto king Corvinus court; before whose presence when shee arrived, her mourninge attyre, but especially her modest countenaunce, moved him to beholde her with an especiall regarde.
Cassandra (uppon the graunt of audience) with her eyes overcharged with teares, reported the alreadie discoursed ac- cidentes, with suche an apparaunce of greefe, as the king and his attendants were astonied to heare her; and sure had shee not been happily prevented, shee had concluded her determination with chast Lucretias destiny. The king comforted her with many gratious words, and promised to take such order, that (although he could not be revived) her brothers death should fully be revenged, and her erased honour re- payred without blemish of her former reputation.
Cassandra, upon these comfortable wordes, a lytell succoured her afflicted hart, and with patience attended the justice of the king; who with a chosen companie made a pro- gresse to Julio, and entred the town with a semblaunce of great favour towardes Promos, by that colour to learne what other corrupte majestrates ruled in the cittie: for well he knewe, that byrdes of a feather would flie together, and wicked men would joyne in affection to boulster each others evil.
After this gratious king had by heedfull intelligence un- derstoode the factions of the people, unlooked for of the magistrates, he caused a proclamation to be published, in which was a clause, that if anie person coulde charge anie magis-
trate or officer with anie notable or haynous offence, treason, murder, rape, sedition, or with any such notorious crime, where they were the judges of the multitude, hee woulde himselfe bee the judge of them, and doe justice unto the meanest. Uppon this proclamation it was a hell to heare the exclaim mations of the poore, and the festered consciences of the rich appeared as lothsome as the river of Stix.
Among manie that complayned, and received judgement of comfort, Cassandras processe was presented, who, lead be- tweene sorrow and shame, accused Promos to his face, i The evidence was so playne, as the horrour of a guiltie conscience reaved Promos of all motions of excuse; so that holding up his hande among the worst degree of theeves, the litle hope that was leaft moved him to confesse the crime, and with repentance to sue for mercy.
O! (quoth the king) such espetial mercy were tyrannie to a ! common wealth. No, Promos no: Hoc facias alteri, quod tibi vis fieri: you shall be measured with the grace you be- to wed on Andrugio.
I O God! (quoth hee) if men durst bark as dogges, manie a judge in the world would be bewrayed for a theefe. It be- hoveth a Prince to know to whom he committeth authoritie, jleast the sword of justice, appointed to chasten the lewde, 8 wound the good; and where good subjects are wronged, evill officers receave the benefit, and their soveraignes beareth the blame.
Well, wicked Promos, to scourge thy impious offences, I heere give sentence, that thou foorthwith marry Cassandra, * to repayre her honour by thee violated, and thaf the next day thou lose thy head, to make satisfaction for her brothers death.
This just judgement of the good kinge in the first point was foorthwith executed; but sacred is the authoritie, that d the vertues of the