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Waller [to Thurloe.]⁠Not to harass his Highness is my rule.
Nathless—

[They speak with the utmost volubility and nearly all at once. Thurloe seems to make fruitless efforts to make himself heard and to escape from their importunities.

Carr [in a voice of thunder, with his eyes fixed on the ceiling.] Nathless So this is Sodom born again!

[All turn about in amazement and fasten their eyes on Carr, who stands like a statue, with his arms folded across his breast.

Sir William Murray.⁠What unfamiliar animal is this?
Carr [solemnly.] A man! I understand that in this den
Where Baal shows his face without a mask,
Where none are seen save wolves and mountebanks,
False prophets, sparrow-hawks, and drunken curs,
Winged serpents, dragons with a thousand heads,
Vultures, and those who take God's name in vain,
And basilisks with darts of flame for tails—
That here his face should unfamiliar be!
Waller [laughing.]⁠If these be our portraits, sir, much thanks!
Carr [becoming excited.]⁠Ye fellow-revellers of Satan, hear!
The ashes are within the apple—eat!
Vampires of Israel, the people's dead;
Feed on its flesh, the flesh of the elect
Of heav'n, the flesh of mighty men of war,
The flesh of horses!
Waller [laughing.] … horses! No undainty dish.
And so we have the honour, one and all;
The signal honour, to be basilisks