Enter LEONORA, BERTRAN, and Attendants.

Raym. And that accursed Bertran Stalks close behind her, like a witch’s fiend, Pressing to be employed; stand, and observe them.

Leo. to Bert. Buried in private, and so suddenly! 
It crosses my design, which was to allow
The rites of funeral fitting his degree,
With all the pomp of mourning.

Bert. It was not safe: 
Objects of pity, when the cause is new,
Would work too fiercely on the giddy crowd: 
Had Caesar’s body never been exposed,
Brutus had gained his cause.

Leo. Then, was he loved?

Bert. O, never man so much, for saint-like goodness.

Ped. Had bad men feared him, but as good men loved him, He had not yet been sainted. [Aside.

Leo. I wonder how the people bear his death.

Bert. Some discontents there are; some idle murmurs.

Ped. How, idle murmurs!  Let me plainly speak: 
The doors are all shut up; the wealthier sort,
With arms across, and hats upon their eyes,
Walk to and fro before their silent shops;
Whole droves of lenders crowd the bankers’ doors,
To call in money; those, who have none, mark
Where money goes; for when they rise, ’tis plunder: 
The rabble gather round the man of news,
And listen with their mouths;
Some tell, some hear, some judge of news, some make it;
And he, who lies most loud, is most believed.

Leo. This may be dangerous.

Raym. Pray heaven it may! [Aside.

Bert. If one of you must fall,
Self-preservation is the first of laws;
And if, when subjects are oppressed by kings,
They justify rebellion by that law,
As well may monarchs turn the edge of right
To cut for them, when self-defence requires it.

Leo. You place such arbitrary power in kings,
That I much fear, if I should make you one,
You’ll make yourself a tyrant; let these know
By what authority you did this act.

Bert. You much surprise me, to demand that question:  But, since truth must be told, ’twas by your own.

Leo. Produce it; or, by heaven, your head shall answer The forfeit of your tongue.

Raym. Brave mischief towards. [Aside.

Bert. You bade me.

Leo. When, and where?

Bert. No, I confess, you bade me not in words;
The dial spoke not, but it made shrewd signs,
And pointed full upon the stroke of murder: 
Yet this you said,
You were a woman, ignorant and weak,
So left it to my care.

Leo. What, if I said,
I was a woman, ignorant and weak,
Were you to take the advantage of my sex,
And play the devil to tempt me?  You contrived,
You urged, you drove me headlong to your toils;
And if, much tired, and frighted more, I paused,
Were you to make my doubts your own commission?