Fall.  I, all too soone, thou viper, paracide! 
But for thy tongue thy mother had not dyde: 
That belching voice, that harsh night-raven sound,
Untimely sent thy mother to the ground: 
Upbraid my fault, I did deceive my brother;
Cut out thy tongue, that slue thy carefull mother.

Allen.  God love my soule, as I in heart rejoyce
To have such power in my death-bringing voice,
See how in steade of teares and hartie sighes;
Of foulded armes and sorrow-speaking lookes,
I doe behold with cheerefull countenance
The livelesse roote of my nativitie,
And thanke her hasty soule that thence did goe
To keep her from her sonne and husbandes woe.—­
Now, father, give attention to my tale;
I will not dip my griefe-deciphering tongue
In bitter wordes of reprehension. 
Your deeds have throwne more mischiefes on your head
Then wit or reason can remove againe;
For to be briefe, Pertillo, (oh that name
Cannot be nam’de without a hearty sigh!)
Is murthered, and—­

Fal.  What and? this newes is good.

Allen.  The men which you suborn’d to murther him—­

Fal.  Better and better, then it cannot out, Unlesse your love will be so scripulous [sic] That it will overthrowe your selfe and me.

Allen.  The best is last, and yet you hinder me.  The Duke of Padua hunting in the wood, Accompanied with Lordes and Gentlemen—­

Fal.  Swones what of that? what good can come of that?

Allen.  Was made acquainted by the one of them, (That had some little remnant of his life) With all your practice and conspiracie.

Fall.  I would that remnant had fled quicke to hell, To fetch fierce fi[e]ndes to rend their carcases, Rather then bring my life in ieopardie!  Is this the best? swones, doe you mocke me, sonne, And make a iest at my calamitie?

Allen.  Not I, good father; I will ease your woe, If you but yeeld unto my pollicie.

Fal.  Declare it then, my wits are now to seeke; That peece of life hath so confounded mee That I am wholly overcome with feare.

Allen.  The Duke hath vow’d to prosecute your life,
With all the strict severitie he can;
But I will crosse his resolution
And keepe you from his furie well enough. 
Ile weare your habit, I will seeme the man
That did suborne the bloodie murtherers;
I will not stir from out this house of woe,
But waight the comming of the officers,
And answere for you fore the angrie Duke,
And, if neede be, suffer your punishment.

Fall.  Ile none of that; I do not like the last;
I love thee dearer then I doe my life,
And all I did, was to advance thy state
To sunne-bright beames of shining happinesse.

Allen.  Doubte not my life, for when I doe appeare Before the Duke, I being not the man, He can inflict no punishment on mee.