Scene 3.10

A

What ministers men must, for practise, vse!

>The rash, the ambitious, needy, desperate,

>Foolish, and wretched, eu'n the dregs of Mankinde,

>To whores, and women! Still, it must be so.

>Each have their proper place; and, in their roomes,

>They are the best. Groomes fittest kindle fires,

>Slaues carry burdens, Butchers are for slaughters,

>Apothecaries, Butlers, Cookes for poysons;

>As these for me: Dull, stupide Lentulus,

>My stale, with whom I stalke; the rash Cethegus,

>My executioner; and fat Longinus,

>Statilius, Curius, Ceparius, Cimber.

>My laborers, pioners, and incendiaries;

>With these domesticke traitors, bosome theeues,

>Whom custome hath call'd Wiues; the readiest helpes,

>To strange head-strong Husbands; rob the easie;

>And lend the moneyes, on returnes of lust.

>Shall Catiline not do, now, with these aides,

>So sought, so sorted, something shall be call'd

>Their labor, but his profit? and make Cæsar

>Repent his ventring counsels, to a spirit,

>So much his Lord in mischiefe? when all these,

>Shall, like the Brethren sprung of Dragons teeth,

>Ruine each other; and he fall amongst them:

>With Crassus, Pompey, or who else appeares,

>But like, or neare a great one. May my braine

>Resolue to water, and my bloud turne phlegme,

>My hands, drop off, vnworthy of my sword,

>And that be inspired, of it selfe, to rip

>My breast, for my lost entrailes; when I leaue

>A soule, that will not serue. And who will, are

>The same with slaues; such clay I dare not feare.

>The cruelty, I meane to act, I wish

>Should be call'd mine, and tary in my name;

>Whil'st after Ages do toyle out themselues

>In thinking for the like, but do it lesse:

>And, were the power of all the fiends let loose,

>With Fate to boote, it should be, still, example.

>When, what the Gaule or Moore could not effect,

>Nor æmulous Carthage, with their length of spight,

>Shall be the worke of one, and that my night.