Mel. Take it—I know this goes unto the King,But I am arm'd.[Ex. Melant.
Cal. Me thinks I feel my selfBut twenty now agen; this fighting foolWants Policy; I shall revenge my Girl,And make her red again; I pray, my legsWill last that pace that I will carry them,I shall want breath before I find the King.
Actus Quartus.
EnterMelantius, Evadne,and aLady.
Mel. Save you.
Evad. Save you sweet Brother.
Mel. In my blunt eye methinks you lookEvadne.
Evad. Come, you would make me blush.
Mel. I wouldEvadne, I shall displease my ends else.
Evad. You shall if you command me; I am bashful;Come Sir, how do I look?
Mel. I would not have your women hear meBreak into commendation of you, 'tis not seemly.
Evad. Go wait me in the Gallery—now speak.
Mel. I'le lock the door first.
[Exeunt Ladies.
Evad. Why?
Mel. I will not have your guilded things that dance in visitation with their Millan skins choke up my business.
Evad. You are strangely dispos'd Sir.
Mel. Good Madam, not to make you merry.
Evad. No, if you praise me, 'twill make me sad.
Mel. Such a sad commendation I have for you.
Evad. Brother, the Court hath made you witty, And learn to riddle.
Mel. I praise the Court for't; has it learned you nothing?
Evad. Me?
Mel. IEvadne, thou art young and handsom,A Lady of a sweet complexion,And such a flowing carriage, that it cannotChuse but inflame a Kingdom.
Evad. Gentle Brother!
Mel. 'Tis yet in thy remembrance, foolish woman, To make me gentle.
Evad. How is this?
Mel. 'Tis base, And I could blush at these years, through all My honour'd scars, to come to such a parly.
Evad. I understand you not.
Mel. You dare not, Fool;They that commit thy faults, fly the remembrance.
Evad. My faults, Sir! I would have you know I care notIf they were written here, here in my forehead.
Mel. Thy body is too little for the story,The lusts of which would fill another woman,Though she had Twins within her.
Evad. This is saucy;Look you intrude no more, there lies your way.
Mel. Thou art my way, and I will tread upon thee,Till I find truth out.
Evad. What truth is that you look for?
Mel. Thy long-lost honour: would the Gods had set meOne of their loudest bolts; come tell me quickly,Do it without enforcement, and take heedYou swell me not above my temper.
Evad. How Sir? where got you this report?
Mel. Where there was people in every place.
Evad. They and the seconds of it are base people; Believe them not, they lyed.
Mel. Do not play with mine anger, do not Wretch, I come to know that desperate Fool that drew thee From thy fair life; be wise, and lay him open.
Evad. Unhand me, and learn manners, such anotherForgetfulness forfeits your life.
Mel. Quench me this mighty humour, and then tell meWhose Whore you are, for you are one, I know it.Let all mine honours perish but I'le find him,Though he lie lockt up in thy blood; be sudden;There is no facing it, and be not flattered;The burnt air, when theDograigns, is not foulerThan thy contagious name, till thy repentance(If the Gods grant thee any) purge thy sickness.
Evad. Be gone, you are my Brother, that's your safety.
Mel. I'le be a Wolf first; 'tis to be thy BrotherAn infamy below the sin of a Coward:I am as far from being part of thee,As thou art from thy vertue: seek a kindredMongst sensual beasts, and make a Goat thy Brother,A Goat is cooler; will you tell me yet?
Evad. If you stay here and rail thus, I shall tell you,I'le ha' you whipt; get you to your command,And there preach to your Sentinels,And tell them what a brave man you are; I shall laughat you.
Mel. Y'are grown a glorious Whore; where be yourFighters? what mortal Fool durst raise thee to thisdaring,And I alive? by my just Sword, h'ad saferBestride a Billow when the angry NorthPlows up the Sea, or made Heavens fire his food;Work me no higher; will you discover yet?
Evad. The Fellow's mad, sleep and speak sense.
Mel. Force my swollen heart no further; I would save thee; your great maintainers are not here, they dare not, would they were all, and armed, I would speak loud; here's one should thunder to 'em: will you tell me? thou hast no hope to scape; he that dares most, and damns away his soul to do thee service, will sooner fetch meat from a hungry Lion, than come to rescue thee; thou hast death about thee: h'as undone thine honour, poyson'd thy vertue, and of a lovely rose, left thee a canker.
Evad. Let me consider.
Mel. Do, whose child thou wert,Whose honour thou hast murdered, whose grave open'd,And so pull'd on the Gods, that in their justiceThey must restore him flesh again and life,And raise his dry bones to revenge his scandal.
Evad. The gods are not of my mind; they had betterlet 'em lie sweet still in the earth; they'l stink here.
Mel. Do you raise mirth out of my easiness?Forsake me then all weaknesses of Nature,That make men women: Speak you whore, speak truth,Or by the dear soul of thy sleeping Father,This sword shall be thy lover: tell, or I'le kill thee:And when thou hast told all, thou wilt deserve it.
Evad. You will not murder me!
Mel. No, 'tis a justice, and a noble one, To put the light out of such base offenders.
Evad. Help!
Mel. By thy foul self, no humane help shall help thee,If thou criest: when I have kill'd thee, as I haveVow'd to do, if thou confess not, naked as thou hastleftThine honour, will I leave thee,That on thy branded flesh the world may readThy black shame, and my justice; wilt thou bend yet?
Evad. Yes.
Mel. Up and begin your story.
Evad. Oh I am miserable.
Mel. 'Tis true, thou art, speak truth still.
Evad. I have offended, noble Sir: forgive me.
Mel. With what secure slave?
Evad. Do not ask me Sir. Mine own remembrance is a misery too mightie for me.
Mel. Do not fall back again; my sword's unsheath'd yet.
Evad. What shall I do?
Mel. Be true, and make your fault less.
Evad. I dare not tell.
Mel. Tell, or I'le be this day a killing thee.
Evad. Will you forgive me then?
Mel. Stay, I must ask mine honour first, I have too much foolish nature in me; speak.
Evad. Is there none else here?
Mel. None but a fearful conscience, that's too many. Who is't?
Evad. O hear me gently; it was the King.
Mel. No more. My worthy father's and my servicesAre liberally rewarded! King, I thank thee,For all my dangers and my wounds, thou hast paid meIn my own metal: These are Souldiers thanks.How long have you liv'd thusEvadne?
Evad. Too long.
Mel. Too late you find it: can you be sorry?
Evad. Would I were half as blameless.
Mel.Evadne, thou wilt to thy trade again.
Evad. First to my grave.
Mel. Would gods th'hadst been so blest:Dost thou not hate this King now? prethee hate him:Couldst thou not curse him? I command thee curse him,Curse till the gods hear, and deliver himTo thy just wishes: yet I fearEvadne;You had rather play your game out.
Evad. No, I feelToo many sad confusions here to let in any loose flamehereafter.
Mel. Dost thou not feel amongst all those one brave angerThat breaks out nobly, and directs thine arm to killthis base King?
Evad. All the gods forbid it.
Mel. No, all the gods require it, they are dishonoured in him.
Evad. 'Tis too fearful.
Mel. Y'are valiant in his bed, and bold enoughTo be a stale whore, and have your Madams nameDiscourse for Grooms and Pages, and hereafterWhen his cool Majestie hath laid you by,To be at pension with some needy SirFor meat and courser clothes, thus far you know no fear.Come, you shall kill him.
Evad. Good Sir!
Mel. And 'twere to kiss him dead, thou'd smother him;Be wise and kill him: Canst thou live and knowWhat noble minds shall make thee see thy selfFound out with every finger, made the shameOf all successions, and in this great ruineThy brother and thy noble husband broken?Thou shalt not live thus; kneel and swear to help meWhen I shall call thee to it, or by allHoly in heaven and earth, thou shalt not liveTo breath a full hour longer, not a thought:Come 'tis a righteous oath; give me thy hand,And both to heaven held up, swear by that wealthThis lustful thief stole from thee, when I say it,To let his foul soul out.
Evad. Here I swear it,And all you spirits of abused LadiesHelp me in this performance.
Mel. Enough; this must be known to noneBut you and IEvadne; not to your Lord,Though he be wise and noble, and a fellowDares step as far into a worthy action,As the most daring, I as far as Justice.Ask me not why. Farewell.
[Exit Mel.
Evad. Would I could say so to my black disgrace.Oh where have I been all this time! how friended,That I should lose my self thus desperately,And none for pity shew me how I wandred?There is not in the compass of the lightA more unhappy creature: sure I am monstrous,For I have done those follies, those mad mischiefs,Would dare a woman. O my loaden soul,Be not so cruel to me, choak not up
[Enter Amintor.
The way to my repentance. O my Lord.
Amin. How now?
Evad. My much abused Lord! [Kneels.
Amin. This cannot be.
Evad. I do not kneel to live, I dare not hope it;The wrongs I did are greater; look upon meThough I appear with all my faults.
Amin. Stand up.This is no new way to beget more sorrow;Heaven knows I have too many; do not mock me;Though I am tame and bred up with my wrongs,Which are my foster-brothers, I may leapLike a hand-wolf into my natural wilderness,And do an out-rage: pray thee do not mock me.
Evad. My whole life is so leprous, it infectsAll my repentance: I would buy your pardonThough at the highest set, even with my life:That slight contrition, that's no sacrificeFor what I have committed.
Amin. Sure I dazle:There cannot be a faith in that foul womanThat knows no God more mighty than her mischiefs:Thou dost still worst, still number on thy faults,To press my poor heart thus. Can I believeThere's any seed of Vertue in that womanLeft to shoot up, that dares go on in sinKnown, and so known as thine is, OEvadne!Would there were any safety in thy sex,That I might put a thousand sorrows off,And credit thy repentance: but I must not;Thou hast brought me to the dull calamity,To that strange misbelief of all the world,And all things that are in it, that I fearI shall fall like a tree, and find my grave,Only remembring that I grieve.
Evad. My Lord,Give me your griefs: you are an innocent,A soul as white as heaven: let not my sinsPerish your noble youth: I do not fall hereTo shadow by dissembling with my tears,As all say women can, or to make lessWhat my hot will hath done, which heaven and youKnows to be tougher than the hand of timeCan cut from mans remembrance; no I do not;I do appear the same, the sameEvadne,Drest in the shames I liv'd in, the same monster.But these are names of honour, to what I am;I do present my self the foulest creature,Most poysonous, dangerous, and despis'd of men,Lernae're bred, orNilus; I am hell,Till you, my dear Lord, shoot your light into me,The beams of your forgiveness: I am soul-sick,And [wither] with the fear of one condemn'd,Till I have got your pardon.
Amin. RiseEvadne,Those heavenly powers that put this good into thee,Grant a continuance of it: I forgive thee;Make thy self worthy of it, and take heed,Take heedEvadnethis be serious;Mock not the powers above, that can and dareGive thee a great example of their justiceTo all ensuing eyes, if thou plai'stWith thy repentance, the best sacrifice.
Evad. I have done nothing good to win belief,My life hath been so faithless; all the creaturesMade for heavens honours have their ends, and good ones,All but the couseningCrocodiles, false women;They reign here like those plagues, those killing soresMen pray against; and when they die, like talesIll told, and unbeliev'd, they pass away,And go to dust forgotten: But my Lord,Those short dayes I shall number to my rest,(As many must not see me) shall though too late,Though in my evening, yet perceive a will,Since I can do no good because a woman,Reach constantly at some thing that is near it;I will redeem one minute of my age,Or like anotherNiobeI'le weep till I am water.
Amin. I am now dissolved:My frozen soul melts: may each sin thou hast,Find a new mercy: Rise, I am at peace:Hadst thou been thus, thus excellently good,Before that devil King tempted thy frailty,Sure thou hadst made a star: give me thy hand;From this time I will know thee, and as farAs honour gives me leave, be thyAmintor:When we meet next, I will salute thee fairly,And pray the gods to give thee happy dayes:My charity shall go along with thee,Though my embraces must be far from thee.I should ha' kill'd thee, but this sweet repentanceLocks up my vengeance, for which thus I kiss thee,The last kiss we must take; and would to heavenThe holy Priest that gave our hands together,Had given us equal Vertues: goEvadne,The gods thus part our bodies, have a careMy honour falls no farther, I am well then.
Evad. All the dear joyes here, and above hereafterCrown thy fair soul: thus I take leave my Lord,And never shall you see the foulEvadneTill sh'ave tryed all honoured means that maySet her in rest, and wash her stains away.
[Exeunt.
Banquet. Enter King, Calianax. Hoboyes play within.
King. I cannot tell how I should credit thisFrom you that are his enemy.
Cal. I am sure he said it to me, and I'le justifie itWhat way he dares oppose, but with my sword.
King. But did he break without all circumstanceTo you his foe, that he would have the FortTo kill me, and then escape?
Cal. If he deny it, I'le make him blush.
King. It sounds incredibly.
Cal. I, so does every thing I say of late.
King. Not soCalianax.
Cal. Yes, I should sitMute, whilst a Rogue with strong arms cuts your throat.
King. Well, I will try him, and if this be trueI'le pawn my life I'le find it; if't be false,And that you clothe your hate in such a lie,You shall hereafter doat in your own house, not in theCourt.
Cal. Why if it be a lie,Mine ears are false; for I'le be sworn I heard it:Old men are good for nothing; you were bestPut me to death for hearing, and free himFor meaning of it; you would ha' trusted meOnce, but the time is altered.
King. And will still where I may do with justice to the world;You have no witness.
Cal. Yes, my self.
King. No more I mean there were that heard it.
Cal. How no more? would you have more? why am Not I enough to hang a thousand Rogues?
King. But so you may hang honest men too if you please.
Cal. I may, 'tis like I will do so; there are a hundred will swear it for a need too, if I say it.
King. Such witnesses we need not.
Cal. And 'tis hard if my Word cannot hang a boysterous knave.
King. Enough; where'sStrato?
Stra. Sir!
Enter Strato.
King. Why where's all the company? callAmintorin.Evadne, where's my Brother, andMelantius? Bid him come too, andDiphilus; call all
[Exit Strato.
That are without there: if he should desireThe combat of you, 'tis not in the powerOf all our Laws to hinder it, unless we mean toquit 'em.
Cal. Why if you do think'Tis fit an old Man and a Counsellor,To fight for what he sayes, then you may grant it.
Enter Amin. Evad. Mel. Diph. [Lisip.] Cle. Stra. Diag.
King. Come Sirs,Amintorthou art yet a Bridegroom,And I will use thee so: thou shalt sit down;Evadnesit, and youAmintortoo;This Banquet is for you, sir: Who has broughtA merry Tale about him, to raise a laughterAmongst our wine? whyStrato, where art thou?Thou wilt chop out with them unseasonablyWhen I desire 'em not.
Strato. 'Tis my ill luck Sir, so to spend them then.
King. Reach me a boul of wine:Melantlius, thou art sad.
Amin. I should be Sir the merriest here, But I ha' ne're a story of mine own Worth telling at this time.
King. Give me the Wine.Melantius, I am now considering How easie 'twere for any man we trust To poyson one of us in such a boul.
Mel. I think it were not hard Sir, for a Knave.
Cal. Such as you are.
King. I' faith 'twere easie, it becomes us wellTo get plain dealing men about our selves,Such as you all are here:Amintor, to theeAnd to thy fairEvadne.
Mel. Have you thought of thisCalianax?
[Aside.
Cal. Yes marry have I.
Mel. And what's your resolution?
Cal. Ye shall have it soundly?
King. Reach toAmintor,Strato.
Amin. Here my love,This Wine will do thee wrong, for it will setBlushes upon thy cheeks, and till thou dost afault, 'twere pity.
King. Yet I wonder muchOf the strange desperation of these men,That dare attempt such acts here in our State;He could not escape that did it.
Mel. Were he known, unpossible.
King. It would be known,Melantius.
Mel. It ought to be, if he got then away He must wear all our lives upon his sword, He need not fly the Island, he must leave no one alive.
King. No, I should think no man Could kill me and scape clear, but that old man.
Cal. But I! heaven bless me: I, should I my Liege?
King. I do not think thou wouldst, but yet thou might'st,For thou hast in thy hands the means to scape,By keeping of the Fort; he has,Melantius, and he haskept it well.
Mel. From cobwebs Sir,'Tis clean swept: I can find no other ArtIn keeping of it now, 'twas ne're besieg'd since hecommanded.
Cal. I shall be sure of your good word,But I have kept it safe from such as you.
Mel. Keep your ill temper in, I speak no malice; had my brother kept it I should ha' said as much.
King. You are not merry, brother; drink wine, Sit you all still!Calianax, [Aside. I cannot trust thus: I have thrown out words That would have fetcht warm blood upon the cheeks Of guilty men, and he is never mov'd, he knows no such thing.
Cal. Impudence may scape, when feeble vertue is accus'd.
King. He must, if he were guilty, feel an alteration At this our whisper, whilst we point at him, You see he does not.
Cal. Let him hang himself,What care I what he does; this he did say.
King.Melantius, you cannot easily conceiveWhat I have meant; for men that are in faultCan subtly apprehend when others aimeAt what they do amiss; but I forgiveFreely before this man; heaven do so too:I will not touch thee so much as with shameOf telling it, let it be so no more.
Cal. Why this is very fine.
Mel. I cannot tellWhat 'tis you mean, but I am apt enoughRudely to thrust into ignorant fault,But let me know it; happily 'tis noughtBut misconstruction, and where I am clearI will not take forgiveness of the gods, much lessof you.
King. Nay if you stand so stiff, I shall call back my mercy.
Mel. I want smoothness To thank a man for pardoning of a crime I never knew.
King. Not to instruct your knowledge, but to shew you my ears are every where, you meant to kill me, and get the Fort to scape.
Mel. Pardon me Sir; my bluntness will be pardoned:You preserveA race of idle people here about you,Eaters, and talkers, to defame the worthOf those that do things worthy; the man that utteredthisHad perisht without food, be't who it will,But for this arm that fenc't him from the foe.And if I thought you gave a faith to this,The plainness of my nature would speak more;Give me a pardon (for you ought to do't)To kill him that spake this.
Cal. I, that will be the end of all,Then I am fairly paid for all my care and service.
Mel. That old man who calls me enemy, and of whom I(Though I will never match my hate so low)Have no good thought, would yet I think excuse me,And swear he thought me wrong'd in this.
Cal. Who I, thou shameless fellow! didst thou not speak to me of it thy self?
Mel. O then it came from him.
Cal. From me! who should it come from but from me?
Mel. Nay, I believe your malice is enough, But I ha' lost my anger. Sir, I hope you are well satisfied.
King.Lisip. ChearAmintorand his Lady; there's no sound Comes from you; I will come and do't my self.
Amin. You have done already Sir for me, I thank you.
King.Melantius, I do credit this from him, How slight so e're you mak't.
Mel. 'Tis strange you should.
Cal. 'Tis strange he should believe an old mans word,That never lied in his life.
Mel. I talk not to thee;Shall the wild words of this distempered man,Frantick with age and sorrow, make a breachBetwixt your Majesty and me? 'twas wrongTo hearken to him; but to credit himAs much, at least, as I have power to bear.But pardon me, whilst I speak only truth,I may commend my self—I have bestow'dMy careless blood with you, and should be lothTo think an action that would make me loseThat, and my thanks too: when I was a boy,I thrust my self into my Countries cause,And did a deed that pluckt five years from time,And stil'd me man then: And for you my King,Your subjects all have fed by vertue of my arm.This sword of mine hath plow'd the ground,And reapt the fruit in peace;And your self have liv'd at home in ease:So terrible I grew, that without swordsMy name hath fetcht you conquest, and my heartAnd limbs are still the same; my will is greatTo do you service: let me not be paidWith such a strange distrust.
King.Melantius, I held it great injustice to believeThine Enemy, and did not; if I did,I do not, let that satisfie: what struckWith sadness all? More Wine!
Cal. A few fine words have overthrown my truth:Ah th'art a Villain.
Mel. Why thou wert better let me have the Fort,Dotard, I will disgrace thee thus for ever;
[Aside.
There shall no credit lie upon thy words;Think better and deliver it.
Cal. My Liege, he's at me now agen to do it; speak, Deny it if thou canst; examine him Whilst he's hot, for he'l cool agen, he will forswear it.
King. This is lunacy I hope,Melantius.
Mel. He hath lost himself Much since his Daughter mist the happiness My Sister gain'd; and though he call me Foe, I pity him.
Cal. Pity! a pox upon you.
King. Mark his disordered words, and at the Mask.
Mel.Diagorasknows he raged, and rail'd at me,And cal'd a Lady Whore, so innocentShe understood him not; but it becomesBoth you and me too, to forgive distraction,Pardon him as I do.
Cal. I'le not speak for thee, for all thy cunning, if youwill be safe chop off his head, for there was neverknown so impudent a Rascal.
King. Some that love him, get him to bed: Why, pityshould not let age make it self contemptible; we mustbe all old, have him away.
Mel. Calianax, the King believes you; come, you shall goHome, and rest; you ha' done well; you'l give it upWhen I have us'd you thus a moneth I hope.
Cal. Now, now, 'tis plain Sir, he does move me still;He sayes he knows I'le give him up the Fort,When he has us'd me thus a moneth: I am mad,Am I not still?
Omnes. Ha, ha, ha!
Cal. I shall be mad indeed, if you do thus;Why would you trust a sturdy fellow there(That has no vertue in him, all's in his sword)Before me? do but take his weapons from him,And he's an Ass, and I am a very fool,Both with him, and without him, as you use me.
Omnes. Ha, ha, ha!
King. 'Tis wellCalianax; but if you use This once again, I shall intreat some other To see your Offices be well discharg'd. Be merry Gentlemen, it grows somewhat late.Amintor, thou wouldest be abed again.
Amin. Yes Sir.
King. And youEvadne; let me take thee in my arms,Melantius, and believe thou art as thou deservest to be, my friend still, and for ever. GoodCalianax, Sleep soundly, it will bring thee to thy self.
[Exeunt omnes. Manent Mel. andCal.
Cal. Sleep soundly! I sleep soundly now I hope,I could not be thus else. How dar'st thou stayAlone with me, knowing how thou hast used me?
Mel. You cannot blast me with your tongue,And that's the strongest part you have about you.
Cal. I do look for some great punishment for this,For I begin to forget all my hate,And tak't unkindly that mine enemyShould use me so extraordinarily scurvily.
Mel. I shall melt too, if you begin to takeUnkindnesses: I never meant you hurt.
Cal. Thou'lt anger me again; thou wretched rogue,Meant me no hurt! disgrace me with the King;Lose all my Offices! this is no hurt,Is it? I prethee what dost thou call hurt?
Mel. To poyson men because they love me not;To call the credit of mens Wives in question;To murder children betwixt me and land; this isall hurt.
Cal. All this thou think'st is sport;For mine is worse: but use thy will with me;For betwixt grief and anger I could cry.
Mel. Be wise then, and be safe; thou may'st revenge.
Cal. I o'th' King? I would revenge of thee.
Mel. That you must plot your self.
Cal. I am a fine plotter.
Mel. The short is, I will hold thee with the King In this perplexity, till peevishness And thy disgrace have laid thee in thy grave: But if thou wilt deliver up the Fort, I'le take thy trembling body in my arms, And bear thee over dangers; thou shalt hold thy wonted state.
Cal. If I should tell the King, can'st thou deny't again?
Mel. Try and believe.
Cal. Nay then, thou can'st bring any thing about: Thou shalt have the Fort.
Mel. Why well, here let our hate be buried, and This hand shall right us both; give me thy aged breast to compass.
Cal. Nay, I do not love thee yet:I cannot well endure to look on thee:And if I thought it were a courtesie,Thou should'st not have it: but I am disgrac'd;My Offices are to be ta'ne away;And if I did but hold this Fort a day,I do believe the King would take it from me,And give it thee, things are so strangely carried;Nere thank me for't; but yet the King shall knowThere was some such thing in't I told him of;And that I was an honest man.
Mel. Hee'l buy that knowledge very dearly.
[Enter Diphilus.
What news with thee?
Diph. This were a night indeed to do it in; The King hath sent for her.
Mel. She shall perform it then; goDiphilus, And take from this good man, my worthy friend, The Fort; he'l give it thee.
Diph. Ha' you got that?
Cal. Art thou of the same breed? canst thou deny This to the King too?
Diph. With a confidence as great as his.
Cal. Faith, like enough.
Mel. Away, and use him kindly.
Cal. Touch not me, I hate the whole strain: if thou follow me a great way off, I'le give thee up the Fort; and hang your selves.
Mel. Be gone.
Diph. He's finely wrought.
[Exeunt Cal. Diph.
Mel. This is a night in spite of Astronomers To do the deed in; I will wash the stain That rests upon our House, off with his blood.
Enter Amintor.
Amin.Melantius, now assist me if thou beest That which thou say'st, assist me: I have lost All my distempers, and have found a rage so pleasing; help me.
Mel. Who can see him thus, And not swear vengeance? what's the matter friend?
Amin. Out with thy sword; and hand in hand with me Rush to the Chamber of this hated King, And sink him with the weight of all his sins to hell for ever.
Mel. 'Twere a rash attempt,Not to be done with safety: let your reasonPlot your revenge, and not your passion.
Amint. If thou refusest me in these extreams,Thou art no friend: he sent for her to me;By Heaven to me; my self; and I must tell yeI love her as a stranger; there is worthIn that vile woman, worthy things,Melantius;And she repents. I'le do't my self alone,Though I be slain. Farewell.
Mel. He'l overthrow my whole design with madness:Amintor, think what thou doest; I dare as much asvalour;But 'tis the King, the King, the King,Amintor,With whom thou fightest; I know he's honest,
[Aside.
And this will work with him.
Amint. I cannot tell What thou hast said; but thou hast charm'd my sword Out of my hand, and left me shaking here defenceless.
Mel. I will take it up for thee.
Amint. What a wild beast is uncollected man! The thing that we call Honour, bears us all Headlong unto sin, and yet it self is nothing.
Mel. Alas, how variable are thy thoughts!
Amint. Just like my fortunes: I was run to thatI purpos'd to have chid thee for.Some Plot I did distrust thou hadst against the KingBy that old fellows carriage: but take heed,There is not the least limb growing to a King,But carries thunder in it.
Mel. I have none against him.
Amint. Why, come then, and still remember we may not think revenge.
Mel. I will remember.
Actus Quintus.
EnterEvadneand aGentleman.
Evad. Sir, is the King abed?
Gent. Madam, an hour ago.
Evad. Give me the key then, and let none be near;'Tis the Kings pleasure.
Gent. I understand you Madam, would 'twere mine.I must not wish good rest unto your Ladiship.
Evad. You talk, you talk.
Gent. 'Tis all I dare do, Madam; but the King will wake, and then.
Evad. Saving your imagination, pray good night Sir.
Gent. A good night be it then, and a long one Madam;I am gone.
Evad. The night grows horrible, and all about meLike my black purpose: O the Conscience[King abed.
Of a lost Virgin; whither wilt thou pull me?To what things dismal, as the depth of Hell,Wilt thou provoke me? Let no [woman] dareFrom this hour be disloyal: if her heartBe flesh, if she have blood, and can fear, 'tis a daringAbove that desperate fool that left his peace,And went to Sea to fight: 'tis so many sinsAn age cannot prevent 'em: and so great,The gods want mercy for: yet I must through 'em.I have begun a slaughter on my honour,And I must end it there: he sleeps, good heavens!Why give you peace to this untemperate beastThat hath so long transgressed you? I must kill him,And I will do't bravely: the meer joyTells me I merit in it: yet I must notThus tamely do it as he sleeps: that wereTo rock him to another world: my vengeanceShall take him waking, and then lay before himThe number of his wrongs and punishments.I'le shake his sins like furies, till I wakenHis evil Angel, his sick Conscience:And then I'le strike him dead: King, by your leave:
[Ties his armes to the bed.
I dare not trust your strength: your Grace and IMust grapple upon even terms no more:So, if he rail me not from my resolution,I shall be strong enough.My Lord the King, my Lord; he sleepsAs if he meant to wake no more, my Lord;Is he not dead already? Sir, my Lord.
King. Who's that?
Evad. O you sleep soundly Sir!
King. My dearEvadne, I have been dreaming of thee; come to bed.
Evad. I am come at length Sir, but how welcome?
King. What pretty new device is thisEvadne?What do you tie me to you by my love?This is a quaint one: Come my dear and kiss me;I'le be thyMarsto bed my Queen of Love:Let us be caught together, that the Gods may see,And envy our embraces.
Evad. Stay Sir, stay,You are too hot, and I have brought you PhysickTo temper your high veins.
King. Prethee to bed then; let me take it warm,There you shall know the state of my body better.
Evad. I know you have a surfeited foul body,And you must bleed.
King. Bleed!
Evad. I, you shall bleed: lie still, and if the Devil,Your lust will give you leave, repent: this steelComes to redeem the honour that you stole,King, my fair name, which nothing but thy deathCan answer to the world.
King. How's thisEvadne?
Evad. I am not she: nor bear I in this breastSo much cold Spirit to be call'd a Woman:I am a Tyger: I am any thingThat knows not pity: stir not, if thou dost,I'le take thee unprepar'd; thy fears upon thee,That make thy sins look double, and so send thee(By my revenge I will) to look those tormentsPrepar'd for such black souls.
King. Thou dost not mean this: 'tis impossible:Thou art too sweet and gentle.
Evad. No, I am not:I am as foul as thou art, and can numberAs many such hells here: I was once fair,Once I was lovely, not a blowing RoseMore chastly sweet, till tho[u], thou, thou, foulCanker,(Stir not) didst poyson me: I was a world of vertue,Till your curst Court and you (hell bless you for't)With your temptations on temptationsMade me give up mine honour; for which (King)I am come to kill thee.
King. No.
Evad. I am.
King. Thou art not.I prethee speak not these things; thou art gentle,And wert not meant thus rugged.
Evad. Peace and hear me.Stir nothing but your tongue, and that for mercyTo those above us; by whose lights I vow,Those blessed fires that shot to see our sin,If thy hot soul had substance with thy blood,I would kill that too, which being past my steel,My tongue shall teach: Thou art a shameless Villain,A thing out of the overchange of Nature;Sent like a thick cloud to disperse a plagueUpon weak catching women; such a tyrantThat for his Lust would sell away his Subjects,I, all his heaven hereafter.
King. HearEvadne,Thou soul of sweetness! hear, I am thy King.
Evad. Thou art my shame; lie still, there's none about you,Within your cries; all promises of safetyAre but deluding dreams: thus, thus, thou foul man,Thus I begin my vengeance.
[Stabs him.
King. HoldEvadne! I do command thee hold.
Evad. I do not mean Sir, To part so fairly with you; we must change More of these love-tricks yet.
King. What bloody villain Provok't thee to this murther?
Evad. Thou, thou monster.
King. Oh!
Evad. Thou kept'st me brave at Court, and Whor'd me; Then married me to a young noble Gentleman; And Whor'd me still.
King.Evadne, pity me.
Evad. Hell take me then; this for my LordAmintor; This for my noble brother: and this stroke For the most wrong'd of women.
[Kills him.
King. Oh! I die.
Evad. Die all our faults together; I forgive thee.
[Exit.
Enter two of the Bed-Chamber.
1. Come now she's gone, let's enter, the King expectsit, and will be angry.
2. 'Tis a fine wench, we'I have a snap at her one of thesenights as she goes from him.
1. Content: how quickly he had done with her! I seeKings can do no more that way than other mortal people.
2. How fast he is! I cannot hear him breathe.
1. Either the Tapers give a feeble light, or he looks very pale.
2. And so he does, pray Heaven he be well. Let's look: Alas! he's stiffe, wounded and dead: Treason, Treason!
1. Run forth and call.
[Exit Gent.
2. Treason, Treason!
1. This will be laid on us: who can believe A Woman could do this?
EnterCleonandLisippus.
Cleon. How now, where's the Traytor?
1. Fled, fled away; but there her woful act lies still.
Cle. Her act! a Woman!
Lis. Where's the body?
1. There.
Lis. Farewel thou worthy man; there were two bondsThat tyed our loves, a Brother and a King;The least of which might fetch a flood of tears:But such the misery of greatness is,They have no time to mourn; then pardon me.Sirs, which way went she?
[Enter Strato.
Strat. Never follow her,For she alas! was but the instrument.News is now brought in, thatMelantiusHas got the Fort, and stands upon the wall;And with a loud voice calls those few that passAt this dead time of night, deliveringThe innocent of this act.
Lis. Gentlemen, I am your King.