BRA.  If you want witness to confirm the deed,
I heard him speak it; and that to his face,
Before this presence, I will justify;
I will not part hence, till I see him swing.

MRS SPLAY.  I heard him too:  pity but he should die,
And like a murderer be sent to hell. 
To poison her, and make her belly swell!

MRS MA.  Why stay you, then? give judgment on the slave,
Whose shameless life deserves a shameful grave.

Y. ART.  Death’s bitter pangs are not so full of grief
As this unkindness:  every word thou speak’st
Is a sharp dagger thrust quite through my heart. 
As little I deserve this at thy hands,
As my kind patient wife deserv’d of me: 
I was her torment, God hath made thee mine;
Then wherefore at just plagues should I repine?

JUS.  Where did’st thou buy this poison? for such drugs
Are felony for any man to sell.

Y. ART.  I had the poison of Aminadab: 
But, innocent man, he was not accessory
To my wife’s death; I clear him of the deed.

JUS.  No matter; fetch him, fetch him, bring him
To answer to this matter at the bar. 
Hugh, take these officers and apprehend him.

BRA.  I’ll aid him too; the schoolmaster, I see,
Perhaps may hang with him for company.

    Enter ANSELM and FULLER.

ANS.  This is the day of Arthur’s examination
And trial for the murder of his wife;
Let’s hear how Justice Reason will proceed,
In censuring of his strict punishment.

FUL.  Anselm, content; let’s thrust in ’mong the throng.

    Enter AMINADAB, brought in with OFFICERS.

AMIN. O Domine! what mean these knaves,
To lead me thus with bills and glaves? 
O, what example would it be
To all my pupils for to see,
To tread their steps all after me,
If for some fault I hanged be;
Somewhat surely I shall mar,
If you bring me to the bar. 
But peace; betake thee to thy wits,
For yonder Justice Reason sits.

JUS.  Sir Dab, Sir Dab, here’s one accuseth you,
To give him poison, being ill-employ’d: 
Speak, how in this case you can clear yourself.

AMIN. Hei mihi! what should I say? the poison given I deny;
He took it perforce from my hands, and, Domine, why not? 
I got it of a gentleman; he most freely gave it,
As he knew me; my meaning was only to have it.[24]

Y. ART.  ’Tis true, I took it from this man perforce,
And snatch’d it from his hand by rude constraint,
Which proves him in this act not culpable.

JUS.  Ay, but who sold the poison unto him? 
That must be likewise known; speak, schoolmaster.

AMIN.  A man verbosus, that was a fine generosus;
He was a great guller, his name I take to be Fuller;
See where he stands, that unto my hands convey’d a powder;
And, like a knave, sent her to her grave, obscurely to shroud her.