[RALPH ROISTER _beateth him with his staff, and_ TOM TOSSPOT _with his bottle_.
RALPH. Take this of me, before I go hence.
TOM. Take that of me in part of recompense.
NEW. Now am I driven to play the master of fence. Come no near[358] me, you knaves, for your life, [_They have him down, and beat him, and he crieth for help._
Lest I stick you both with this woodknife. Back, I say! back, thou sturdy beggar! Body of me, they have ta'en away my dagger.
RALPH. Now, in faith, you whoreson, take heed, I you advise, How you do any more young men entice.
TOM. Now, farewell, thou hast thy just meed.
Ralph. Now we go abegging, God send us good speed!
[RALPH ROISTER _and_ TOM TOSSPOT _go out, and_ SEVERITY, _the judge, entereth, and_ NICHOL NEWFANGLE _lieth on the ground groaning_.
SEV. That upright judgment without partiality Be minist'red duly to ill-doers and offenders! I am one, whose name is Severity, Appointed a judge to suppress evil-doers, Not for hatred nor yet for malice: But to advance virtue and suppress vice. Wherefore Isodorus these words doth say: _Non est Judex, si in eo non est Justitia!_ He is not a judge that Justice doth want, But he that truth and equity doth plant.
Fully also these words doth express, Which words are very true doubtless. _Semper iniquus est judex, qui aut invidet aut favet_: They are unrightful judges all, That are either envious or else partial.
NEW. Help me up, good sir, for I have got a fall.
SEV. What cause have you, my friend, thus heavily to groan?
NEW. O sir, I have good cause to make great moan; Here were two fellows but right now, That (I think) have killed me, I make God a vow. I pray you, tell me, am I alive or am I dead?
SEV. Fellow, it is more meet for thee to be in thy bed, Than to lie here in such sort as thou dost.
NEW. In faith, I should have laid some of the knaves in the dust, If I had had your sword right now in presence; I would have had a leg or an arm, ere they had gone hence.
SEV. Who is it that hath done thee this injury?
NEW. A couple of beggars have done me this villainy.
SEV. I see, if severity should not be executed, One man should not live by another. If such injuries should not be confuted, The child would regard neither father nor mother. Give me thy hand, and I shall help thee.