Languages & literature > Key to the drama

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he enjoined, that in neither words, looks or
actions, 1 fhould Ihew the fmallefl difap-
probation of his next orders: he elevated,
with luch implements as he could find, a
fcaffold, which he ordered fhould be en¬
circled by the prifoners, and commanded
them to Ihout with acclamations of joy,
when, at the found of a trumpet, the exe¬
cutioner fhould fever the head from the bo¬
dy of the arch-rebel their leader; promifing
them, that, as he Ihould difeover their fa-
tisfa&ion to be real or counterfeited, he
would deal with them accordingly : he re¬
garded them, as far as his eye could com¬
prehend them, with great exaftnefs himfelf,
and he had agents mingled with them to
report as to thofe he could not fee. How
foon the execution of Macgild was over, he
ordered all the prifoners to be drawn up in
right lines before him, and picking out
thofe who had been leaft affedted, and loud-
eft in their huzzas, he alfo ordered them
for immediate execution, declaring aloud,
that thofe villains who could be fo indif¬
ferent about the fate of a mafter whom
they knew, and had fworn to ferve, could
never be faithful to another whom they did
not know; and as he was refolved to take
the reft under his protedlion, and employ
them in his fervice, he Ihould hope, that
as they had felt for the fuffering of a mafter