This is the indictment of the good Lord Hastings; Which in a set hand fairly is engross’d, That it may be this day read o’er in Paul’s. And mark how well the sequel hangs together: Eleven hours I spent to write it over, For yesternight by Catesby was it brought me; The precedent195 was full as long a-doing: And yet within these five hours lived Lord Hastings, Untainted, unexamined, free, at liberty. Here’s a good world the while! Why, who’s so gross, That seeth not this palpable device? Yet who’s so blind, but says he sees it not?
SCENE VI. The Same.
A Street. Enter a Scrivener, with a paper in his hand
SCRIV.
This is the indictment of the good Lord Hastings;
Which in a set hand fairly is engross’d,
That it may be this day read o’er in Paul’s.
And mark how well the sequel hangs together:
Eleven hours I spent to write it over,
For yesternight by Catesby was it brought me;
The precedent 195 was full as long a-doing:
And yet within these five hours lived Lord Hastings,
Untainted, unexamined, free, at liberty.
Here’s a good world the while! Why, who’s so gross,
That seeth not this palpable device?
Yet who’s so blind, but says he sees it not?
Bad is the world; and all will come to nought,
When such bad dealing must be seen in thought. 196
Footnotes
195 precedent] first draft.
196 in thought] in silence, unvoiced.
