Amint. No, let me know the man that wrongs me so,That I may cut his body into motes,And scatter it before the Northern wind.
Evad. You dare not strike him.
Amint. Do not wrong me so;Yes, if his body were a poysonous plant,That it were death to touch, I have a soulWill throw me on him.
Evad. Why 'tis the King.
Amint. The King!
Evad. What will you do now?
Amint. 'Tis not the King.
Evad. What, did he make this match for dullAmintor?
Amint. Oh! thou hast nam'd a word that wipes awayAll thoughts revengeful: in that sacred name,The King, there lies a terror: what frail manDares lift his hand against it? let the GodsSpeak to him when they please;Till then let us suffer and wait.
Evad. Why should you fill your self so full of heat,And haste so to my bed? I am no Virgin.
Amint. What Devil put it in thy fancy thenTo marry me?
Evad. Alas, I must have oneTo Father Children, and to bear the nameOf Husband to me, that my sin may be more honourable.
Amint. What a strange thing am I!
Evad. A miserable one; one that my self am sorry for.
Amint. Why shew it then in this,If thou hast pity, though thy love be none,Kill me, and all true Lovers that shall liveIn after ages crost in their desires,Shall bless thy memory, and call thee good,Because such mercy in thy heart was found,To rid a lingring Wretch.
Evad. I must have oneTo fill thy room again, if thou wert dead,Else by this night I would: I pity thee.
Amint. These strange and sudden injuries have falnSo thick upon me, that I lose all senseOf what they are: methinks I am not wrong'd,Nor is it ought, if from the censuring WorldI can but hide it—Reputation,Thou art a word, no more; but thou hast shownAn impudence so high, that to the WorldI fear thou wilt betray or shame thy self.
Evad. To cover shame I took thee, never fearThat I would blaze my self.
Amint. Nor let the KingKnow I conceive he wrongs me, then mine honourWill thrust me into action, that my fleshCould bear with patience; and it is some easeTo me in these extreams, that I knew thisBefore I toucht thee; else had all the sinsOf mankind stood betwixt me and the King,I had gone through 'em to his heart and thine.I have lost one desire, 'tis not his crownShall buy me to thy bed: now I resolveHe has dishonour'd thee; give me thy hand,Be careful of thy credit, and sin close,'Tis all I wish; upon thy Chamber-flooreI'le rest to night, that morning visitersMay think we did as married people use.And prethee smile upon me when they come,And seem to toy, as if thou hadst been pleas'dWith what we did.
Evad. Fear not, I will do this.
Amint. Come let us practise, and as wantonly As ever loving Bride and Bridegroom met, Lets laugh and enter here.
Evad. I am content.
Amint. Down all the swellings of my troubled heart. When we walk thus intwin'd, let all eyes see If ever Lovers better did agree.
[Exit.
EnterAspatia, AntiphilaandOlympias.
Asp. Away, you are not sad, force it no further; Good Gods, how well you look! such a full colour Young bashful Brides put on: sure you are new married.
Ant. Yes Madam, to your grief.
Asp. Alas! poor Wenches.Go learn to love first, learn to lose your selves,Learn to be flattered, and believe, and blessThe double tongue that did it;Make a Faith out of the miracles of Ancient Lovers.Did you ne're love yet Wenches? speakOlympias,Such as speak truth and dy'd in't,And like me believe all faithful, and be miserable;Thou hast an easie temper, fit for stamp.
Olymp. Never.
Asp. Nor youAntiphila?
Ant. Nor I.
Asp. Then my good Girles, be more than Women, wise. At least be more than I was; and be sure you credit any thing the light gives light to, before a man; rather believe the Sea weeps for the ruin'd Merchant when he roars; rather the wind courts but the pregnant sails when the strong cordage cracks; rather the Sun comes but to kiss the Fruit in wealthy Autumn, when all falls blasted; if you needs must love (forc'd by ill fate) take to your maiden bosoms two dead cold aspicks, and of them make Lovers, they cannot flatter nor forswear; one kiss makes a long peace for all; but man, Oh that beast man! Come lets be sad my Girles; That down cast of thine eye,Olympias, Shews a fine sorrow; markAntiphila, Just such another was the NymphOenone, WhenParisbrought homeHelen: now a tear, And then thou art a piece expressing fully TheCarthageQueen, when from a cold Sea Rock, Full with her sorrow, she tyed fast her eyes To the fairTrojanships, and having lost them, Just as thine eyes do, down stole a tear,Antiphila; What would this Wench do, if she wereAspatia? Here she would stand, till some more pitying God Turn'd her to Marble: 'tis enough my Wench; Shew me the piece of Needle-work you wrought.
Ant. OfAriadne, Madam?
Asp. Yes that piece. This should beTheseus, h'as a cousening face, You meant him for a man.
Ant. He was so Madam.
Asp. Why then 'tis well enough, never look back,You have a full wind, and a false heartTheseus;Does not the story say, his Keel was split,Or his Masts spent, or some kind rock or otherMet with his Vessel?
Ant. Not as I remember.
Asp. It should ha' been so; could the Gods know this,And not of all their number raise a storm?But they are all as ill. This false smile was wellexprest;Just such another caught me; you shall not gosoAntiphila,In this place work a quick-sand,And over it a shallow smiling Water.And his ship ploughing it, and then a fear.Do that fear to the life Wench.
Ant. 'Twill wrong the story.
Asp. 'Twill make the story wrong'd by wanton Poets Live long and be believ'd; but where's the Lady?
Ant. There Madam.
Asp. Fie, you have mist it hereAntiphila,You are much mistaken Wench;These colours are not dull and pale enough,To shew a soul so full of miseryAs this sad Ladies was; do it by me,Do it again by me the lostAspatia,And you shall find all true but the wild Island;I stand upon the Sea breach now, and thinkMine arms thus, and mine hair blown with the wind,Wild as that desart, and let all about meTell that I am forsaken, do my face
(If thou hadst ever feeling of a sorrow)Thus, thus,Antiphilastrive to make me lookLike sorrows monument; and the trees about me,Let them be dry and leaveless; let the RocksGroan with continual surges, and behind meMake all a desolation; look, look Wenches,A miserable life of this poor Picture.
Olym. Dear Madam!
Asp. I have done, sit down, and let usUpon that point fix all our eyes, that point there;Make a dull silence till you feel a sudden sadnessGive us new souls.[Enter Calianax.
Cal. The King may do this, and he may not do it;My child is wrong'd, disgrac'd: well, how now Huswives?What at your ease? is this a time to sit still? up youyoungLazie Whores, up or I'le sweng you.
Olym. Nay, good my Lord.
Cal. You'l lie down shortly, get you in and work;What are you grown so resty? you want ears,We shall have some of the Court boys do that Office.
Ant. My Lord we do no more than we are charg'd:It is the Ladies pleasure we be thus in grief;She is forsaken.
Cal. There's a Rogue too,A young dissembling slave; well, get you in,I'le have a bout with that boy; 'tis high timeNow to be valiant; I confess my youthWas never prone that way: what, made an Ass?A Court stale? well I will be valiant,And beat some dozen of these Whelps; I will; and there'sAnother of 'em, a trim cheating souldier,I'le maul that Rascal, h'as out-brav'd me twice;But now I thank the Gods I am valiant;Go, get you in, I'le take a course with all.
[Exeunt Omnes.
Actus Tertius.
EnterCleon, Strato, Diphilus.
Cle. Your sister is not up yet.
Diph. Oh, Brides must take their mornings rest, The night is troublesome.
Stra. But not tedious.
Diph. What odds, he has not my Sisters maiden-head tonight?
Stra. No, it's odds against any Bridegroom living, hene're gets it while he lives.
Diph. Y'are merry with my Sister, you'l please to allowme the same freedom with your Mother.
Stra. She's at your service.
Diph. Then she's merry enough of her self, she needs no tickling; knock at the door.
Stra. We shall interrupt them.
Diph. No matter, they have the year before them. Good morrow Sister; spare your self to day, the night will come again.
[Enter Amintor.
Amint. Who's there, my Brother? I am no readier yet,your Sister is but now up.
Diph. You look as you had lost your eyes to night; Ithink you ha' not slept.
Amint. I faith I have not.
Diph. You have done better then.
Amint. We ventured for a Boy; when he is Twelve,He shall command against the foes ofRhodes.
Stra. You cannot, you want sleep.[Aside.
Amint. 'Tis true; but sheAs if she had drunkLethe, or had madeEven with Heaven, did fetch so still a sleep,So sweet and sound.
Diph. What's that?
Amint. Your Sister frets this morning, and does turn her eyes upon me, as people on their headsman; she does chafe, and kiss, and chafe again, and clap my cheeks; she's in another world.
Diph. Then I had lost; I was about to lay, you had notgot her Maiden-head to night.
Amint. Ha! he does not mock me; y'ad lost indeed;I do not use to bungle.
Cleo. You do deserve her.
Amint. I laid my lips to hers, and [t]hat wild breath That was rude and rough to me, last night
[_Aside.
Was sweet asApril; I'le be guilty too,If these be the effects.
[Enter Melantius.
Mel. Good dayAmintor, for to me the name Of Brother is too distant; we are friends, And that is nearer.
Amint. DearMelantius! Let me behold thee; is it possible?
Mel. What sudden gaze is this?
Amint. 'Tis wonderous strange.
Mel. Why does thine eye desire so strict a viewOf that it knows so well?There's nothing here that is not thine.
Amint. I wonder muchMelantius,To see those noble looks that make me thinkHow vertuous thou art; and on the sudden'Tis strange to me, thou shouldst have worth and honour,Or not be base, and false, and treacherous,And every ill. But—
Mel. Stay, stay my Friend,I fear this sound will not become our loves; no more,embrace me.
Amint. Oh mistake me not;I know thee to be full of all those deedsThat we frail men call good: but by the courseOf nature thou shouldst be as quickly chang'dAs are the winds, dissembling as the Sea,That now wears brows as smooth as Virgins be,Tempting the Merchant to invade his face,And in an hour calls his billows up,And shoots 'em at the Sun, destroying allHe carries on him. O how near am I
[Aside.
To utter my sick thoughts!
Mel. But why, my Friend, should I be so by Nature?
Amin. I have wed thy Sister, who hath vertuous thoughts Enough for one whole family, and it is strange That you should feel no want.
Mel. Believe me, this complement's too cunning for me.
Diph. What should I be then by the course of nature, They having both robb'd me of so much vertue?
Strat. O call the Bride, my LordAmintor, that we may see her blush, and turn her eyes down; it is the prettiest sport.
Amin.Evadne!
Evad. My Lord! [Within.
Amint. Come forth my Love,Your Brothers do attend to wish you joy.
Evad. I am not ready yet.
Amint. Enough, enough.
Evad. They'l mock me.
Amint. Faith thou shalt come in.
[Enter Evadne.
Mel. Good morrow Sister; he that understands Whom you have wed, need not to wish you joy. You have enough, take heed you be not proud.
Diph. O Sister, what have you done!
Evad. I done! why, what have I done?
Strat. My LordAmintorswears you are no Maid now.
Evad. Push!
Strat. I faith he does.
Evad. I knew I should be mockt.
Diph. With a truth.
Evad. If 'twere to do again, in faith I would not marry.
Amint. Not I by Heaven. [Aside.
Diph. Sister, Dula swears she heard you cry two rooms off.
Evad. Fie how you talk!
Diph. Let's see you walk.
Evad. By my troth y'are spoil'd.
Mel.Amintor!
Amint. Ha!
Mel. Thou art sad.
Amint. Who I? I thank you for that, shallDiphilus, thou and I sing a catch?
Mel. How!
Amint. Prethee let's.
Mel. Nay, that's too much the other way.
Amint. I am so lightned with my happiness: how dost thou Love? kiss me.
Evad. I cannot love you, you tell tales of me.
Amint. Nothing but what becomes us: Gentlemen,Would you had all such Wives, and all the world,That I might be no wonder; y'are all sad;What, do you envie me? I walk methinksOn water, and ne're sink, I am so light.
Mel. 'Tis well you are so.
Amint. Well? how can I be other, when she looks thus? Is there no musick there? let's dance.
Mel. Why? this is strange,Amintor!
Amint. I do not know my self; Yet I could wish my joy were less.
Diph. I'le marry too, if it will make one thus.
Evad.Amintor, hark. [Aside.
Amint. What says my Love? I must obey.
Evad. You do it scurvily, 'twill be perceiv'd.
Cle. My Lord the King is here.
[Enter King and Lysi.
Amint. Where?
Stra. And his Brother.
King. Good morrow all.Amintor,joy on, joy fall thick upon thee! And Madam, you are alter'd since I saw you, I must salute you; you are now anothers; How lik't you your nights rest?
Evad. Ill Sir.
Amint. I! 'deed she took but little.
Lys. You'l let her take more, and thank her too shortly.
King.Amintor, wert thou truly honest Till thou wert Married?
Amint. Yes Sir.
King. Tell me then, how shews the sport unto thee?
Amint. Why well.
King. What did you do?
Amint. No more nor less than other couples use; You know what 'tis; it has but a course name.
King. But prethee, I should think by her black eye, And her red cheek, she should be quick and stirring In this same business, ha?
Amint. I cannot tell, I ne're try'd other Sir, but I perceiveShe is as quick as you delivered.
King. Well, you'l trust me thenAmintor,To choose a Wife for you agen?
Amint. No never Sir.
King. Why? like you this so ill?
Amint. So well I like her.For this I bow my knee in thanks to you,And unto Heaven will pay my grateful tributeHourly, and to hope we shall draw outA long contented life together here,And die both full of gray hairs in one day;For which the thanks is yours; but if the powersThat rule us, please to call her first away,Without pride spoke, this World holds not a WifeWorthy to take her room.
King. I do not like this; all forbear the roomBut youAmintorand your Lady. I have some speech withYou, that may concern your after living well.Amint. He will not tell me that he lies with her: ifhe do,Something Heavenly stay my heart, for I shall be aptTo thrust this arm of mine to acts unlawful.
King. You will suffer me to talk with herAmintor,And not have a jealous pang!
Amint. Sir, I dare trust my WifeWith whom she dares to talk, and not be jealous.
King. How do you likeAmintor?
Evad. As I did Sir.
King. How's that!
Evad. As one that to fulfil your will and pleasure, I have given leave to call me Wife and Love.
King. I see there is no lasting Faith in Sin; They that break word with Heaven, will break again With all the World, and so dost thou with me.
Evad. How Sir?
King. This subtile Womans ignoranceWill not excuse you; thou hast taken OathsSo great, methought they did not well becomeA Womans mouth, that thou wouldst ne're enjoyA man but me.
Evad. I never did swear so; you do me wrong.
King. Day and night have heard it.
Evad. I swore indeed that I would never loveA man of lower place; but if your fortuneShould throw you from this height, I bade you trustI would forsake you, and would bend to himThat won your Throne; I love with my ambition,Not with mine eyes; but if I ever yetToucht any other, Leprosie light hereUpon my face, which for your Royalty I would not stain.
King. Why thou dissemblest, and it is in me to punish thee.
Evad. Why, it is in me then not to love you, which will More afflict your body, than your punishment can mine.
King. But thou hast letAmintorlie with thee.
Evad. I ha'not.
King. Impudence! he saies himself so.
Evad. He lyes.
King. He does not.
Evad. By this light he does, strangely and basely, and I'le prove it so; I did not shun him for a night, But told him I would never close with him.
King. Speak lower, 'tis false.
Evad. I'm no man to answer with a blow; Or if I were, you are the King; but urge me not, 'tis most true.
King. Do not I know the uncontrouled thoughtsThat youth brings with him, when his bloud is highWith expectation and desires of thatHe long hath waited for? is not his spirit,Though he be temperate, of a valiant strain,As this our age hath known? what could he do,If such a sudden speech had met his blood,But ruine thee for ever? if he had not kill'd thee,He could not bear it thus; he is as we,Or any other wrong'd man.
Evad. It is dissembling.
King. Take him; farewel; henceforth I am thy foe; And what disgraces I can blot thee, look for.
Evad. Stay Sir;Amintor, you shall hear,Amintor.
Amint. What my Love?
Evad.Amintor, thou hast an ingenious look, And shouldst be vertuous; it amazeth me, That thou canst make such base malicious lyes.
Amint. What my dear Wife?
Evad. Dear Wife! I do despise thee; Why, nothing can be baser, than to sow Dissention amongst Lovers.
Amint. Lovers! who?
Evad. The King and me.
Amint. O Heaven!
Evad. Who should live long, and love without distaste,Were it not for such pickthanks as thy self!Did you lie with me? swear now, and be punisht in hellFor this.
Amint. The faithless Sin I madeTo fairAspatia, is not yet reveng'd,It follows me; I will not lose a wordTo this wild Woman; but to you my King,The anguish of my soul thrusts out this truth,Y'are a Tyrant; and not so much to wrongAn honest man thus, as to take a prideIn talking with him of it.
Evad. Now Sir, see how loud this fellow lyed.
Amint. You that can know to wrong, should know howMen must right themselves: what punishment is dueFrom me to him that shall abuse my bed!It is not death; nor can that satisfie,Unless I send your lives through all the Land,To shew how nobly I have freed my self.
King. Draw not thy Sword, thou knowest I cannot fearA subjects hand; but thou shalt feel the weight of thisIf thou dost rage.
Amint. The weight of that?If you have any worth, for Heavens sake thinkI fear not Swords; for as you are meer man,I dare as easily kill you for this deed,As you dare think to do it; but there isDivinity about you, that strikes deadMy rising passions, as you are my King,I fall before you, and present my SwordTo cut mine own flesh, if it be your will.Alas! I am nothing but a multitudeOf walking griefs; yet should I murther you,I might before the world take the excuseOf madness: for compare my injuries,And they will well appear too sad a weightFor reason to endure; but fall I firstAmongst my sorrows, ere my treacherous handTouch holy things: but why? I know not whatI have to say; why did you choose out meTo make thus wretched? there were thousand foolsEasie to work on, and of state enough within the Island.
Evad. I would not have a fool, it were no credit for me.
Amint. Worse and worse!Thou that dar'st talk unto thy Husband thus,Profess thy self a Whore; and more than so,Resolve to be so still; it is my fateTo bear and bow beneath a thousand griefs,To keep that little credit with the World.But there were wise ones too, you might have ta'neanother.
King. No; for I believe thee honest, as thou wert valiant.
Amint. All the happinessBestow'd upon me, turns into disgrace;Gods take your honesty again, for IAm loaden with it; good my Lord the King, be privatein it.
King. Thou may'st liveAmintor,Free as thy King, if thou wilt wink at this,And be a means that we may meet in secret.
Amint. A Baud! hold my breast, a bitter curseSeize me, if I forget not all respectsThat are Religious, on another wordSounded like that, and through a Sea of sinsWill wade to my revenge, though I should callPains here, and after life upon my soul.
King. Well I am resolute you lay not with her,And so leave you.
[Exit King.
Evad. You must be prating, and see what follows.
Amint. Prethee vex me not. Leave me, I am afraid some sudden start Will pull a murther on me.
Evad. I am gone; I love my life well.
[Exit Evadne.
Amint. I hate mine as much. This 'tis to break a troth; I should be glad If all this tide of grief would make me mad.
[Exit.
Enter Melantius.
Mel. I'le know the cause of allAmintorsgriefs, Or friendship shall be idle.
[Enter Calianax.
Cal. OMelantius, my Daughter will die.
Mel. Trust me, I am sorry; would thou hadst ta'ne her room.
Cal. Thou art a slave, a cut-throat slave, a bloody treacherous slave.
Melan. Take heed old man, thou wilt be heard to rave,And lose thine Offices.
Cal. I am valiant grownAt all these years, and thou art but a slave.
Mel. Leave, some company will come, and I respectThy years, not thee so much, that I could wishTo laugh at thee alone.
Cal. I'le spoil your mirth, I mean to fight with thee;There lie my Cloak, this was my Fathers Sword,And he durst fight; are you prepar'd?
Mel. Why? wilt thou doat thy self out of thy life?Hence get thee to bed, have careful looking to, and eatwarm things, and trouble not me: my head is full ofthoughts more weighty than thy life or death can be.
Cal. You have a name in War, when you stand safeAmongst a multitude; but I will tryWhat you dare do unto a weak old manIn single fight; you'l ground I fear: Come draw.
Mel. I will not draw, unless thou pul'st thy deathUpon thee with a stroke; there's no one blowThat thou canst give, hath strength enough to kill me.Tempt me not so far then; the power of earthShall not redeem thee.
Cal. I must let him alone,He's stout and able; and to say the truth,However I may set a face, and talk,I am not valiant: when I was a youth,I kept my credit with a testie trick I had,Amongst cowards, but durst never fight.
Mel. I will not promise to preserve your life if you do stay.
Cal. I would give half my Land that I durst fight with that proud man a little: if I had men to hold, I would beat him, till he ask me mercy.
Mel. Sir, will you be gone?
Cal. I dare not stay, but I will go home, and beat my servants all over for this.
[Exit Calianax.
Mel. This old fellow haunts me,But the distracted carriage of mineAmintorTakes deeply on me, I will find the cause;I fear his Conscience cries, he wrong'dAspatia.
Enter Amintor.
Amint. Mens eyes are not so subtil to perceiveMy inward misery; I bear my griefHid from the World; how art thou wretched then?For ought I know, all Husbands are like me;And every one I talk with of his Wife,Is but a well dissembler of his woesAs I am; would I knew it, for the rareness afflicts menow.
Mel.Amintor, We have not enjoy'd our friendship of late,for we were wont to charge our souls in talk.
Amint.Melantius, I can tell thee a good jest ofStratoanda Lady the last day.
Mel. How wast?
Amint. Why such an odd one.
Mel. I have long'd to speak with you, not of an idle jest that's forc'd, but of matter you are bound to utter to me.
Amint. What is that my friend?
Mel. I have observ'd, your words fall from your tongueWildly; and all your carriage,Like one that strove to shew his merry mood,When he were ill dispos'd: you were not wontTo put such scorn into your speech, or wearUpon your face ridiculous jollity:Some sadness sits here, which your cunning wouldCover o're with smiles, and 'twill not be. What is it?
Amint. A sadness here! what causeCan fate provide for me, to make me so?Am I not lov'd through all this Isle? the KingRains greatness on me: have I not receivedA Lady to my bed, that in her eyeKeeps mounting fire, and on her tender cheeksInevitable colour, in her heartA prison for all vertue? are not you,Which is above all joyes, my constant friend?What sadness can I have? no, I am light,And feel the courses of my blood more warmAnd stirring than they were; faith marry too,And you will feel so unexprest a joyIn chast embraces, that you will indeed appear another.
Mel. You may shape,Amintor,Causes to cozen the whole world withal,And your self too; but 'tis not like a friend,To hide your soul from me; 'tis not your natureTo be thus idle; I have seen you standAs you were blasted; midst of all your mirth,Call thrice aloud, and then start, feigning joySo coldly: World! what do I here? a friendIs nothing, Heaven! I would ha' told that manMy secret sins; I'le search an unknown Land,And there plant friendship, all is withered here;Come with a complement, I would have fought,Or told my friend he ly'd, ere sooth'd him so;Out of my bosom.
Amint. But there is nothing.
Mel. Worse and worse; farewel; From this time have acquaintance, but no friend.
Amint.Melantius, stay, you shall know what that is.
Mel. See how you play'd with friendship; be advis'd How you give cause unto your self to say, You ha'lost a friend.
Amint. Forgive what I have done;For I am so ore-gone with injuriesUnheard of, that I lose considerationOf what I ought to do—oh—oh.
Mel. Do not weep; what is't?May I once but know the manHath turn'd my friend thus?
Amint. I had spoke at first, but that.
Mel. But what?
Amint. I held it most unfitFor you to know; faith do not know it yet.
Mel. Thou seest my love, that will keep companyWith thee in tears; hide nothing then from me;For when I know the cause of thy distemper,With mine own armour I'le adorn my self,My resolution, and cut through thy foes,Unto thy quiet, till I place thy heartAs peaceable as spotless innocence. What is it?
Amint. Why, 'tis this—it is too bigTo get out, let my tears make way a while.
Mel. Punish me strangely heaven, if he escapeOf life or fame, that brought this youth to this.
Amint. Your Sister.
Mel. Well said.
Amint. You'l wish't unknown, when you have heard it.
Mel. No.
Amint. Is much to blame,And to the King has given her honour up,And lives in Whoredom with him.
Mel. How, this!Thou art run mad with injury indeed,Thou couldst not utter this else; speak again,For I forgive it freely; tell thy griefs.
Amint. She's wanton; I am loth to say a Whore,Though it be true.
Mel. Speak yet again, before mine anger growUp beyond throwing down; what are thy griefs?
Amint. By all our friendship, these.
Mel. What? am I tame?After mine actions, shall the name of friendBlot all our family, and strike the brandOf Whore upon my Sister unreveng'd?My shaking flesh be thou a Witness for me,With what unwillingness I go to scourgeThis Rayler, whom my folly hath call'd Friend;I will not take thee basely; thy swordHangs near thy hand, draw it, that I may whipThy rashness to repentance; draw thy sword.
Amint. Not on thee, did thine anger swell as highAs the wild surges; thou shouldst do me easeHere, and Eternally, if thy noble handWould cut me from my sorrows.
Mel. This is base and fearful! they that use to utter lyes,Provide not blows, but words to qualifieThe men they wrong'd; thou hast a guilty cause.
Amint. Thou pleasest me; for so much more like this,Will raise my anger up above my griefs,Which is a passion easier to be born,And I shall then be happy.
Mel. Take then more to raise thine anger. 'Tis meerCowardize makes thee not draw; and I will leave theedeadHowever; but if thou art so much prestWith guilt and fear, as not to dare to fight,I'le make thy memory loath'd, and fix a scandalUpon thy name for ever.
Amint. Then I draw,As justly as our Magistrates their Swords,To cut offenders off; I knew before'Twould grate your ears; but it was base in youTo urge a weighty secret from your friend,And then rage at it; I shall be at easeIf I be kill'd; and if you fall by me,I shall not long out-live you.
Mel. Stay a while.The name of friend is more than family,Or all the world besides; I was a fool.Thou searching humane nature, that didst wakeTo do me wrong, thou art inquisitive,And thrusts me upon questions that will takeMy sleep away; would I had died ere knownThis sad dishonour; pardon me my friend;If thou wilt strike, here is a faithful heart,Pierce it, for I will never heave my handTo thine; behold the power thou hast in me!I do believe my Sister is a Whore,A Leprous one, put up thy sword young man.
Amint. How should I bear it then, she being so?I fear my friend that you will lose me shortly;And I shall do a foul action my selfThrough these disgraces.
Mel. Better half the LandWere buried quick together; no,Amintor,Thou shalt have ease: O this Adulterous KingThat drew her to't! where got he the spiritTo wrong me so?
Amint. What is it then to me,If it be wrong to you!
Mel. Why, not so much: the credit of our houseIs thrown away;But from his Iron Den I'le waken death,And hurle him on this King; my honestyShall steel my sword, and on its horrid pointI'le wear my cause, that shall amaze the eyesOf this proud man, and be too glitteringFor him to look on.
Amint. I have quite undone my fame.
Mel. Dry up thy watry eyes,And cast a manly look upon my face;For nothing is so wild as I thy friendTill I have freed thee; still this swelling breast;I go thus from thee, and will never ceaseMy vengeance, till I find my heart at peace.
Amint. It must not be so; stay, mine eyes would tellHow loth I am to this; but love and tearsLeave me a while, for I have hazardedAll this world calls happy; thou hast wroughtA secret from me under name of Friend,Which Art could ne're have found, nor torture wrungFrom out my bosom; give it me agen,For I will find it, wheresoe're it liesHid in the mortal'st part; invent a way to give it back.
Mel. Why, would you have it back?I will to death pursue him with revenge.
Amint. Therefore I call it back from thee; for I know Thy blood so high, that thou wilt stir in this, and shame me To posterity: take to thy Weapon.
Mel. Hear thy friend, that bears more years than thou.
Amint. I will not hear: but draw, or I——
Mel.Amintor.
Amint. Draw then, for I am full as resolute As fame and honour can inforce me be; I cannot linger, draw.
Mel. I do—but is notMy share of credit equal with thine if I do stir?
Amint. No; for it will be cal'dHonour in thee to spill thy Sisters blood,If she her birth abuse, and on the KingA brave revenge: but on me that have walktWith patience in it, it will fix the nameOf fearful Cuckold—O that word! be quick.
Mel. Then joyn with me.
Amint. I dare not do a sin, or else I would: be speedy.
Mel. Then dare not fight with me, for that's a sin.His grief distracts him; call thy thoughts agen,And to thy self pronounce the name of friend,And see what that will work; I will not fight.
Amint. You must.
Mel. I will be kill'd first, though my passionsOffred the like to you; 'tis not this earthShall buy my reason to it; think a while,For you are (I must weep when I speak that)Almost besides your self.
Amint. Oh my soft temper!So many sweet words from thy Sisters mouth,I am afraid would make me take herTo embrace, and pardon her. I am mad indeed,And know not what I do; yet have a careOf me in what thou doest.
Mel. Why thinks my friend I will forget his honour, or to saveThe bravery of our house, will lose his fame,And fear to touch the Throne of Majesty?
Amint. A curse will follow that, but rather liveAnd suffer with me.
Mel. I will do what worth shall bid me, and no more.
Amint. Faith I am sick, and desperately I hope, Yet leaning thus, I feel a kind of ease.
Mel. Come take agen your mirth about you.
Amint. I shall never do't.
Mel. I warrant you, look up, wee'l walk together,Put thine arm here, all shall be well agen.
Amint. Thy Love, O wretched, I thy Love,Melantius;why, I have nothing else.
Mel. Be merry then.
[Exeunt. Enter Melantius agen.
Mel. This worthy young man may do violenceUpon himself, but I have cherisht himTo my best power, and sent him smiling from meTo counterfeit again; Sword hold thine edge,My heart will never fail me:Diphilus,Thou com'st as sent.
[Enter Diphilus.
Diph. Yonder has been such laughing.
Mel. Betwixt whom?
Diph. Why, our Sister and the King, I thought their spleens would break, They laught us all out of the room.
Mel. They must weep,Diphilus.
Diph. Must they?
Mel. They must: thou art my Brother, and if I did believe Thou hadst a base thought, I would rip it out, Lie where it durst.
Diph. You should not, I would first mangle my self and find it.
Mel. That was spoke according to our strain; comeJoyn thy hands to mine,And swear a firmness to what project I shall laybefore thee.
Diph. You do wrong us both;People hereafter shall not say there pastA bond more than our loves, to tie our livesAnd deaths together.
Mel. It is as nobly said as I would wish;Anon I'le tell you wonders; we are wrong'd.
Diph. But I will tell you now, wee'l right our selves.
Mel. Stay not, prepare the armour in my house;And what friends you can draw unto our side,Not knowing of the cause, make ready too;HasteDiphilus, the time requires it, haste.
[Exit Diphilus.
I hope my cause is just, I know my bloodTells me it is, and I will credit it:To take revenge, and lose my self withal,Were idle; and to scape impossible,Without I had the fort, which miseryRemaining in the hands of my old enemyCalianax, but I must have it, see
[Enter Calianax.
Where he comes shaking by me: good my Lord,Forget your spleen to me, I never wrong'd you,But would have peace with every man.
Cal. 'Tis well;If I durst fight, your tongue would lie at quiet.
Mel. Y'are touchie without all cause.
Cal. Do, mock me.
Mel. By mine honour I speak truth.
Cal. Honour? where is't?
Mel. See what starts you make into your hatred to my love and freedom to you.— I come with resolution to obtain a suit of you.
Cal. A suit of me! 'tis very like it should be granted, Sir.
Mel. Nay, go not hence;'Tis this; you have the keeping of the Fort,And I would wish you by the love you oughtTo bear unto me, to deliver it into my hands.
Cal. I am in hope that thou art mad, to talk to me thus.
Mel. But there is a reason to move you to it. I would kill the King that wrong'd you and your daughter.
Cal. Out Traytor!
Mel. Nay but stay; I cannot scape, the deed once done,Without I have this fort.
Cal. And should I help thee? now thy treacherous mindbetrays it self.
Mel. Come, delay me not;Give me a sudden answer, or alreadyThy last is spoke; refuse not offered love,When it comes clad in secrets.
Cal. If I say I will not, he will kill me, I do see't writ In his looks; and should I say I will, he'l run and tell the King: I do not shun your friendship dearMelantius, But this cause is weighty, give me but an hour to think.