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Syndercomb [with a wrathful glance at Barebones.
A Perrizite is he, or at the least
A Zoroastrian!
Garland. A Zoroastrian! What is the source
Of this ill-omened sympathy for Cromwell?
Barebones.To shed his blood is to infringe the law.
Syndercomb [striking him on the shoulder.
Must not this monarch's purple cloak be dyed?
Pride.Barebones is mad!
Wildman. Barebones is mad! Brother, dost thou draw back?
Ludlow [shaking his head.
Treasons there be that masquerade as scruples.
Barebones [alarmed.]You cannot think—
Syndercomb [to Barebones, in a rage.] Silence!
Garland [to Barebones.] …Silence! Hast thou by chance
Drunk of the Dead Sea water?
Harrison. Drunk of the Dead Sea water? He upholds
Belshazzar!
Overton. Belshazzar! Can it be that you have come,
Another Achan, to our peaceful vales,
To vex the calm of the abandoned tribes?
Pride.I know not Barebones thus!—May it not be
A demon hath his features taken on
To succour Ammon-Cromwell?
Garland. To succour Ammon-Cromwell? So it is!—
I had last night an evil dream; 'twas this—
Syndercomb [drawing his dagger.
Let us subject his magic to the test of steel!

[Seeing the flash of the blade, Barebones, who has not made himself heard, shouts louder.

Barebones.But listen!
Lambert. But listen! Speak.
Barebones [in terror.] …Speak. My friends, I have no wish
To save the English Ehud from a death
Too well deserved; nathless, he may be slain