I’ll get mine out, and set the rest on fire

[wolfinthewood]

RAGALZAN:* Honor, that wavering Judge, here interposes,
Which turns to every Tale: Honor, that spins
Fine curious Paralels, that never meet:
What says she then? First, I must right my self;
And then, not wrong the Public. Rare distinction!
Public! fine Canting word, the Public! Are my Arms,
Or Legs, joyn’d to the Public? Am I in pain
When this Man’s hang’d, that Torturd? Do I eat
The less, when this Man starves? Or when he's Froze
Or burnt, do I feel that by my Fire side or Grotto?
But, each man's private good lurks in the Public?
Then, each man take his part, and where’s the Public?
Oh, but the Public is the Store-house! No:
Rather the Jayl, that keeps mens private goods
Confin’d. I’ll get mine out, and set the rest on fire.
My private Pleasure is my well-known Soveraign good:
T’obey and gratifie each strong Impulse
Of Friendly Nature. What makes the Publick? Power.
And what destroys the Publick? Why, Power again.
Then let this Power dispose the Publick still;
My private Will shall rule that angry Power.

* ‘one of Tamerlane's Chief Officers; a Villain’ – Dramatis Personae

Sir Francis Fane (d. 1691)

from The Sacrifice: a Tragedy (1686)

Last month I found part of this speech used as a chapter epigraph in an obscure Victorian historical novel about the highwayman Claude Du Vall. I had never heard of Fane before, and to judge from the trouble I had to find out anything about him, he really is rather obscure. The Sacrifice was never acted, apparently. But this is powerful, angry stuff; it reminded me a bit of Rochester, and I am not surprised to discover that Fane was a friend and admirer of his. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the play.


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