Source text for this digital edition:
Beaumont, Francis; Fletcher, John. The Maid’s Tragedy. 1619. In: Mueller, Martin (gen. ed.) Shakespeare His Contemporaries Northwestern University. [Accessed: 28 October 2016]

Note on this digital edition

This electronic transcription comes from the original-spelling text in the Shakespeare His Contemporaries project, which offers curated versions of texts from Early English Books Online - Text Creation Partnership. It differs in textual corrections (detailed in the appendix) made with reference to the transcription in the English Drama collection published by Chadwyck-Healey, and in assigning role identifiers to speakers. This curation has been carried out by Sonia Sofía Perelló.
The SHC source text has been re-encoded by Jesús Tronch Pérez in order to be used in the databases of the EMOTHE project and of the HIERONIMO project.
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With the support of research project GVAICO2016-094, funded by Generalitat Valenciana (2016-2017).

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The Maides Tragedy.
AS IT HATH BEENE
diuers times Acted at the Blacke-friers by
the KINGS Maiesties Seruants.

LONDON
Printed for Francis Constable and are to be sold
at the white Lyon ouer against the great North
doore of Pauls Church. 1619.

SPEAKERS.

KING.

LYSIPPVS brother to the King.

AMINTOR.

EVADNE wife to AMINTOR.

MELANTIVS brothers to EVADNE.

DIPHILVS

ASPATIA troth-plight wife to AMINTOR.

CALLIANAX an old humorous Lord, and father to ASPATIA.

CLEON Gentlemen.

STRATO

DIAGORAS a servant.

ANTIPHILA waiting Gentlewomen to ASPATIA.

OLIMPIAS

DVLA a Lady.

NIGHT Maskers.

CINTHIA

NEPTVNE

EOLVS

The Maydes Tragedy.

Act I

Actus. I. Scaen. I.

Enter CLEON, STRATO, LISIPPVS, DIPHILVS.

CLEON.

The rest are making ready sir,

LYS.

So let them, theres time enough.

DIPH.

You are brother to the King my Lord, wee'le take your word.

LIS.

Strato thou hast some skill in poetrie,

What think'st thou of a maske, will it be well?

STR.

As well as masks can be.

LIS.

As masks can be.

STRA.

Yes, they must commend, and speake in praise of the assembly, blesse the Bride and groome, in person of some god, there tied to rules of flatterie.

CLE.

See good my Lord who is return'd.

LIS.

Enter Melantius the land by me welcomes thy vertues home, thou that with blowes abroad bringst vs our peace at home, the breath of Kings is like the breath of gods, my brother wisht thee here, and thou art here, he will be kinde; and wearie thee with often welcome, but the time doth giue thee a welcome, aboue his, or all the world. Noble Melantius,

MEL.

My Lord, my thankes, but these scratcht limbes of mine, haue spoke my loue and truth vnto my friends, more then my tongue ere could, my mind's the same it euer was to you; where I finde worth

ErrorMetrica

I loue the keeper, till he let it goe,

And then I follow it.

DIPH.

Haile worthy brother,

He that reioyces not at your returne

In safetie, is mine enemy for euer.

MEL.

I thanke thee Diphilus: but thou art faultie,

I sent for thee to exercise thine armes

With me at Patria, thou camst not Diphilus:

Twas ill.

DIPH.

My noble brother my excuse

Is my Kings straight command, which you my Lord

Can witnesse with me.

LIS.

Tis most true Melantius,

He might not come till the solemnities

Of this great match were past.

DIPH.

Haue you heard of it.

MEL.

Yes, and haue giuen cause to those, that here

Enuy my deedes abroad, to call me gamesome,

I haue no other busines here at Rhodes.

LIS.

We haue a maske to night,

And you must tread a souldiers measure.

MEL.

These soft and silken warres are not for me,

The musicke must be shrill and all confus'd

That stirs my blood, and then I daunce,

But is Amintor wed?

DIPH.

This day?

MEL.

All ioyes vpon him, for he is my friend,

Wonder not that I call a man so young;

His worth is great, valiant he is,

And one that neuer thinkes his life his owne,

If his friend neede it, when he was a boy,

As oft as I return'd (as without boast)

I brought home conquest, he would gaze vpon me,

And view me round, to finde in what one limbe

The vertue lay to doe those things he heard,

Then would he wish to see my sword, and feele

The quicknesse of the edge, and in his hand

Weighes it, he oft would make me smile at this;

His youth did promise much, and his ripe yeares

Will see it all perform'd.

Enter Aspatia passing with attendance.

Haile Maide and Wife.

Thou faire Aspatia, may the holy knot,

That thou hast tied to day, last till the hand

Of age vndoe't, mayst thou bring a race

Vnto Amintor, that may fill the world

Successiuely with souldiers.

ASP.

My hard fortunes

Deserue not scorne, for I was neuer proud

When they were good.

Exit Aspatia.

MEL.

Howes this.

LIS.

You are mistaken sir, she is not married.

MEL.

You said Amintor was.

DIPH.

Tis true, but

MEL.

Pardon me, I did receiue

Letters at Patria from my Amintor

That he should marie her.

DIPH.

And so it stood,

In all opinion long, but your arriuall

Made me imagine you had heard the change.

MEL.

Who has he taken then?

LIS.

A Ladie sir,

That beares the light aboue her, and strikes dead

With flashes of her eye, the faire Euadne

Your vertuous sister.

MEL.

Peace of heart betwixt them,

But this is strange.

LIS.

The King my brother did it

To honour you, and these solemnities

Are at his charge.

MEL.

Tis royall like himselfe,

But I am sad, my speech beares so infortunate a sound

To beautifull Aspatia, there is rage

Hid in her fathers breast Calianax,

Bent long against me and 'a should not thinke,

Could I but call it backe, that I would take

Such base reuenges as to scorne the state

Of his neglected daughter.

LIS.

O t'were pittie, for this Lady sir,

Sits discontented with her watrie eyes bent on the ear

In vnfrequented woods are her delight,

Where when she sees a bancke stucke full of flowers,

Then she will sit, and sigh, and tell

Her seruants, what a prittie place it were

To burie louers in, and make her maides

Pluck'em, and strow them ouer her like a corse,

She carries with her an infectious griefe,

That strikes all her beholders, she will sing

The Mournfulst things that euer eare hath heard,

And swound, and sing againe, and when the rest

Of your young Ladyes in their wanton blood,

Tell mirthfull tales in course that fils the roome

With laughter, she will with so sad a looke

Bring forth a storie of the silent death

Of some forsaken virgin, which her griefe

Will put in such a phrase, that ere she end

Shee'le send them weeping one by one away.

MEL.

She has a brother vnder my command

Like her, a face as womanish as hers,

But with a spirit that hath much outgrowne

The number of his yeares.

Enter Amintor.

CLE.

My Lord the Bridegroome.

MEL.

I might run fiercely, not more hastily,

Vpon my foe, I loue thee well Amintor,

My mouth is much too narrow for my heart,

100

I ioy to looke vpon those eyes of thine,

Thou art my friend, but my disordred speech

Cuts off my loue.

AMIN.

Thou art Melantius,

All loue is spoke in that, a sacrifice

105

To thanke the gods, Melantius is return'd

In safty, victory sits on his sword

As she was wont, may she build there, and dwell,

And may thy armour be as it hath beene,

Onely thy valour and thine innocence,

110

What endlesse treasures would our enemies giue,

That I might hold thee still thus.

MEL.

I am poore in words, but credit me young man

Thy mother could do no more but weep, for ioy to see thee

After long absence, all the wounds I haue,

115

Fetcht not so much away, nor all the cries

Of widdowed mothers: But this is peace

And that was warre.

AMINT.

Pardon thou holy god

Of marriage bed, and frowne not, I am for'st

120

In answere of such noble teares as these,

To weepe vpon my weding day.

MEL.

I feare thou art growne too cruell, for I heare

A Lady mournes for thee, men say to death,

forsaken of thee, on what tearmes I know not.

AMINT.

125

She had my promise, but the King forbad it,

And made me make this worthy change, thy sister

Accompanied with graces about her,

With whom I long to loose my lusty youth,

And grow olde in her armes.

MEL.

Be prosperous.

AMINT.

My Lord the maskers rage for you.

LIS.

130

We are gone,

Cleon, Strato, Diphilus.

Exeunt Lysippus, Cleon, Steat, Diphilus.

AMINT.

Weele all attend you, we shall trouble you

With our solemnities.

MEL.

Not so Amintor.

135

But if you laugh at my rude carriage

In sports, il'e doe as much for you in warre

When you come thither, but I haue a mistresse

To bring to your delights, rough though I am,

I haue a mistresse and she has a heart

140

She saies, but trust me, it is stone, no better,

There is no place that I can challenge gentlemen,

But you stand still, and here my way lies.

Exeunt.

Enter Calianax, and Diagoras.

CAL.

Diagoras looke to the dores better for shame, you let in all the world, and anon the King will be angry with me, why very well said, by Ioue the King wil haue the show o'th the Court;

DIAG.

Why doe you sweare so my Lord,

You know heele haue it here.

CAL.

By this light if he be wise, he will not.

DIAG.

And if he will not be wise, you are forsworne.

CAL.

145

One must sweat out his heart with swearing, & get

Thankes on no side, ile be gone, looke too't who will.

DIAG.

My Lord I shall neuer keepe them out,

Your lookes will terrifie them.

CAL.

My lookes terrifie them, you coxcomely asse, Ile be iudge by all the company, whether thou hast not a worse face then I.

DIAG.

I meane because they know you, and your office.

CAL.

Office, I would I could put it off, I am sure I sweat quite through in my office, I might haue made room at my daughters wedding, they ha neere kild her amongst them. But now I must doe seruice for him that hath forsaken her, serue that will.

Exit Calianax,

DIAG.

within Knock within Hee's so humerous since his daughter was forsaken? hark, hark, whose there, codes, codes, What now?

MEL.

Open the dore.

DIAG.

Who i'st.

MEL.

Melantius.

DIAG.

I hope your Lord-ship brings no troope, for if you doe, I must returne them.

Enter Melantius and a Lady.

MEL.

None but this Lady sir.

DIAG.

The Ladies are all plac'd aboue, saue those that come in the Kings troope, the best of Rhodes sit there, there is no roome.

MEL.

I thanke you sir, when I haue seene you placed madam, I must attend the King, but the maske done, ile waite on you againe.

Exit Melantius Lady other dore.

DIAG.

Stand backe there, roome for my Lord Melantius, pray beare back, this is no place for such youthes and their truls, let the dores shut agen, no; do your heads itch, ile scratch them, so now thrust and hang, againe, who i'st now, I cannot blame my Lord Calianax for giuing way, would he were here, he would run raging amongst them, and breake a dozen heads in the twinckling of an eye, what's the newes now?

within I pray you can you helpe mee to the speech of the maister Cooke?

DIAG.

If I open the dore ile cooke some of your calues heads. Peace rogues? — againe, — who i'st?

MEL.

Melantius?

within Enter Calianax.

CAL.

Let him not in.

DIAG.

O my Lord a must, make roome there for my Lord, is your Lady plast.

Enter Melantius.

MEL.

Yes sir, I thanke you, my Lord Calianax, well met,

150

Your causelesse hate to me I hope is buried.

CAL.

Yes I doe seruice for your sister here,

That brings mine owne poore child to timelesse death,

She loues your friend Amintor, such another false hearted

Lord as you.

MEL.

155

You doe me wrong,

A most vnmanly one, and I am slow

In taking vengeance, be well aduis'd.

CAL.

It may be so, who plac'd the Lady there.

MEL

I did.

CAL.

My Lord she must not sit there.

MEL.

Why?

CAL.

The place is kept for women of more worth.

MEL.

More worth then she, it misbecomes your age,

And place to be so womanish, forbeare,

160

What you haue spoke I am content to thinke

The palsey shooke your tongue to.

CAL.

Tis well if I stand here to place mens wenches.

MEL.

I shall quite forget this place, thy age, my safety, and through all cut that poore sickly weeke thou hast to liue, away from thee.

CAL.

Nay I know you can fight for your whore.

MEL.

Bate me the King, and be of flesh and blood

A lies that sayes it, thy mother at fifteene

Was black and sinfull to her.

DIAG.

Good my Lord.

MEL.

165

Some god pluck threescore yeares from that fond man,

That I may kill him, and not staine mine honor,

It is the curse of souldiers that in peace,

They shall be braued by such ignoble men,

As (if the land were troubled,) would with teares

170

And knees beg succor from 'em, would the blood

(That sea of blood) that I haue lost in fight,

Were running in thy veines, that it might make thee

Apt to say lesse, and able to maintaine,

Shouldst thou say more, — This Rhodes I see is nought

175

But a place priuiledg'd to doe men wrong.

CAL.

I, you may talke your pleasure.

Enter Amintor.

AMINT.

What vilde wrong

Has sturd my worthy friend, who is as slow

To fight with words as he is quick of hands,

CAL.

That heape of age, which I should reuerence,

180

If it were temperate, but testie yeares

Are most contemptible.

AMINT.

Good sir forbeare.

CAL.

There is iust such another as your selfe.

AMINT.

He will wrong you, or me, or any man,

And talke as if he had no life to loose

Since this our match: the King is come in,

185

I would not for more wealth then I enioy

He should perceiue you raging, he did heare

You were at difference now, which hastned him.

CAL.

Make roome there.

Hoboyes play within

Enter King Euadne, Aspatia, Lords and Ladies.

ErrorMetrica

Melantius thou art welcome, and thy loue

Is with me still; but this is not a place

190

To brable in, Calianax, ioyne hands.

CAL.

He shall not haue mine hand.

KING.

This is no time

To force you too't I doe loue you both,

Calianax you looke well to your office,

And you Melantius are welcome home,

195

Begin the maske.

MEL.

Sister I ioy to see you, and your choyce,

You lookt with my eies when you tooke that man,

Recorders

Be happy in him.

EVAD.

O my deerest brother,

200

Your presence is more ioyfull then this day,

Maske.

Night rises in mists.

NIG.

Our raigne is now, for in the quenching sea

The Sun is drownd, and with him fell the day,

Bright Cinthia heare my voyce, I am the night

For whom thou bearst about, thy borrowed light,

205

Appeare, no longer thy pale visage shrowde,

But strike thy siluer hornes quite through a cloud,

And send a beame vpon my swarthie face,

By which I may discouer all the place

And persons that haue many longing eies,

210

Are come to waite on our solemnities.

Enter Cinthia.

How dull and black am I, can I not finde

This beautie without thee, am I so blinde,

Me thinkes they shew like to those easterne streaks,

That warne vs hence before the morning breaks,

215

Back my pale seruant, for these eies know how,

To shoote farre more and quicker rayes then thou.

CINTH.

Great Queen they be a troop for whom alone,

One of my clearest moones I haue put on,

A troope that lookes as if thy selfe and I,

220

Had pluckt our reines in, and our whips laid by

To gaze vpon those, that appeare

Brighter then we.

NIGH.

Then let vs keepe 'em here,

And neuer more our chariots driue away,

225

But hold our places and out-shine the day.

CINTH.

Great Queene of shaddowes you are pleasd to speake,

Of more then may be done, we may not breake

The gods decrees, but when our time is come,

Must driue away and giue the day our roome.

NIGH.

230

Then shine at full pale Queen, & by that power,

Produce a birth to fill this happy houre,

Of Nimphes and shepheards, and let their songs discouer,

Easie and sweete who is a happy louer,

Or if thou w'oot thine owne Endimion

235

From the sweete flowrie banck he lies vpon,

On Latmus brow thy pale beames drawne away,

And of his long night let him make thy day.

CIN.

Thou dreamst darke power, that faire boy was not mine,

Not went I downe to kisse him, ease and winde,

240

Haue bred these bold tales, poets when they rage

Turnes gods to men, and make an houre an age,

But I will giue a greater state and glory,

And raise to time a nobler memory

Of what these louers are, rise, rise, I say,

245

Thou power of deepes, thy surges laid away,

Neptune great King of waters, and by me

Be proud to be commanded.

Neptune rises.

NEP.

Cinthia see,

Thy word hath force me hither, let me know

250

Why I ascend.

CINTH.

Doth this maiestick show

Giue thee no knowledge yet.

NEP.

Yes, now I see,

Something entended Cinthia worthy thee,

255

Go on, ile be a helper.

CINTH.

Hie thee then,

And charge the winde goe from his rockie den,

Let loose his subiects, onely Boreas

Too foule for our intensions as he was,

260

Still keepe him fast chain'd, we must haue none here

But vernall blasts and gentle winds appeare,

Such as blow flowers, and through the glad bowes sing,

Many soft welcome to the lusty spring.

Bid them draw neere to haue thy watrie race

265

Led on in couples, we are pleas'd to grace

This noble night each in their richest things,

Your owne deepes or the broken vessels brings,

Be prodigall and I shall be as kinde,

And shine at full vpon you.

NEP.

270

See the winde

Enter Eolus out of a Rock.

Commanding Eolus.

EOL.

Great Neptune.

NEPT.

He.

EOL.

What is thy will.

NEPT.

We doe command thee free,

Fauonius and thy milder winds to waite

Vpon our Cinthia, but tie Boreas straight,

275

Hee's rebellious.

EOL.

I shall doe it.

NEPT.

Doe maister of the flould, and all below

Thy full command has taken

EOL.

O! the Maine

Neptune.

NEPT.

Here.

EOL.

280

Boreas has broke his chaine,

And strugling with the rest has got away.

NEPT.

Let him alone ile take him vp at sea,

I will not be long thence, goe hence againe

And bid the other call out of the Maine,

285

Blew Proteus, and the rest, charge them put on

Their greatest pearles and the most sparkling stone

The beaten rock breeds, till this night is done,

By me a solemne honor to the Moone,

Flie like a full saile.

EOL.

I am gone.

CINTH.

290

Darke night

Strike a full scilence, doe a thorow right

To this great Chorus, that our musique may

Touch high as heauen, and make the East breake day

Musique Song.

At mid-night.

295

Cinthia to thy power and thee

we obey,

Ioy to this great company

and no day,

Come to steale this night away

300

Till the rights of loue are ended,

And the lusty Bridegroome say,

Welcome light of all befriended.

Pace out you waterie powers below,

let your feete

305

Like the gallies when they row

euen beate.

Let your vnknowne measures set

To the still winds, tell to all,

That gods are come immortall great,

310

To honour this great Nuptuall. The Measure. Second Song.

Hold back thy houres old night till we haue done,

The day will come too soone,

Young Maydes will curse thee if thou steal'st away,

And leau'st their losses open to the day,

315

Stay, Stay, and hide

the blushes of the Bride.

Stay gentle night and with thy darkenesse couere

the kisses of her louer.

Stay and confound her teares and her loud cryings,

320

Her weake denials vowes and often dyings,

Stay and hide all,

but helpe not if she call.

Maskers daunce, Neptune leads it

EOL.

Ho Neptune.

NEP.

Eolus.

EOL.

The sea goes hie,

Boreas has rais'd a storme, goe and apply

325

Thy trident, else I prophesie ere day,

Many a tall ship will be cast away,

desend with all the gods, and all their powre

To strike a calme.

CINTH.

We thanke you for this houre,

330

My fauour to you all to gratulate

So great a seruice done at my desire,

Ye shall haue many floods fuller and higher

Then you haue wisht for, and no eb shall dare,

To let the day see where your dwellings are.

335

Now back vnto your gouernments in hast,

Least your proud waters should swell aboue the wast,

And win vpon the Iland.

Exeunt Maskers Descend.

NEPT.

We obey.

CIN.

Hold vp thy head dead night seest thou not day,

The East begins to lighten I must downe

340

And giue my brother place.

NIGHT.

Oh I could frowne

To see the day, the day that flings his light

Vpon my kingdome, and contemnes olde night,

Let him goe on, and flame, I hope to see

345

Another wild fire in his axeltree,

And all fall drencht, but I forget, speake Queene,

The day growes on, I dare no more be seene.

CIN.

Once heaue thy drowsie head agen and see

A greater light a greater Maiestie

350

Betweene our sect and vs, lash vp thy teame

The day breaks here, and yon sun flaring streame

Shot from the south, say which way wilt thou goe.

NIGHT.

Ile vanish into mists.

Exeunt.

CINTH.

Adew.

KING.

Take light their Ladyes, get the Bride to bed,

We will not see you laid, good night Amintor,

355

Weele ease you of that tedious ceremony,

Were it my case I should thinke time runne slow

If thou beest noble youth, get me a boy

That may defend my Kingdomes from my foes.

AMINT.

All happinesse to you.

KING.

Good night Melantius.

Exeunt.

Act II

Actus Secundus.

Enter EVADNE, ASPATIA, DVLA, and other Ladyes.

DVL.

Madame shall we vndresse you for this fight,

360

The wars are nak't that you must make to night.

EVAD.

You are merry Dula.

DVL.

I should be far merrier Madame, if it were with me

As it is with you.

EVAD.

Howes that?

DVL.

That I might goe to bed with him with credit that you doe.

EVAD.

Why how now wench.

DVL.

Come Ladyes, will you helpe.

EVAD.

I am soone vndone.

DVL.

And as soone done,

Good store of clothes will trouble you at both.

EVAD.

Art thou drunke Dula.

DVL.

Why heres none but we.

EVAD.

365

Thou thinkst belike there is no modesty

When we'are alone.

DVL.

I by my troth, you hit my thoughts right.

EVAD.

You prick me Madame.

1. LAD.

Tis against my will.

DVL.

Anon you must indure more and lie still,

Tis best to practise.

EVAD.

Sure this wench is mad.

DVL.

No faith, this is a trick that I haue had

370

Since I was foureteene.

EVAD.

Tis time to leaue it.

DVL.

Nay now ile keepe it till the trick leaue me,

A dozen wanton words put in your head,

Will make you liuelier in your husbands bed.

EVAD.

Nay faith then take it.

DVL.

Take it Madame, where,

375

We all will take it I hope that are here.

EVAD.

Nay then ile giue you ore.

DVL.

So will I make

The ablest man in Rhodes or his heart ake.

EVAD.

Wilt lie in my place to night.

DVL.

Ile hold your cards against any two I know.

EVAD.

What wilt thou doe.

DVL.

Madame weele doo't and make'm leaue play too.

EVAD.

Aspatia take her part.

DVL.

I will refuse it,

She will pluck downe aside, she does not vse it.

EVAD.

Doe I prethee.

DVL.

380

You will finde the play

Quickly, because your head lies well that way.

EVAD.

I thanke thee Dula, would thou coulst instill

Some of thy mirth into Aspatia,

Nothing but sad thoughts in her brest doe dwell,

385

Me thinkes a meane betwixt you would doe well.

DVL.

She is in loue, hang me if I were so,

But I could run my Countrey I loue too,

To doe those things that people in loue doe.

ASP.

It were a timelesse smile should proue my cheeke,

390

It were a fitter houre for me to laugh,

When at the Alter the religious Priest,

Were passifying the offended powers,

With sacrifice, then now, this should haue beene

My right, and all your hands haue bin imployd,

395

In giuing me a spotlesse offering

To young Amintors bed, as we are now,

For you pardon Euadne, would my worth

Were great as yours, or that the King or he

Or both thought so, perhaps he found me worthlesse,

400

But till he did so, in these eares of mine,

These credulous eares, he powred the sweetest words

That art or loue could frame, if he were false

Pardon it heauen, and if I did want

Vertue, you safely may forgiue that too,

405

For I haue lost none that I had from you.

EVAD.

Nay leaue this sad talke Madame.

ASP.

Would I could, then I should leaue the cause.

EVAD.

Loe if you haue not spoild all Dulas mirth.

ASP.

Thou thinkst thy heart hard, but if thou beest caught remember me; thou shalt perceiue a fire shot suddenly vnto thee.

DVL.

Thats not so good, let'em shoot any thing but sire, and I feare'm not.

ASP.

Well wench thou must be taken.

EVAD.

Ladies good night, Ile doe the rest my selfe.

DVL.

Nay let your Lord doe some.

ASP.

Madame good night, may all the mariage ioyes

That longing maides imagine in their beds

Proue so vnto you, may not discontent

Grow twixt your loue and you, but if there doe,

410

Enquire of me and I will guide your mone,

And teach you an artificiall way to grieue,

To keepe your sorrow waking, loue your Lord

No worse then I, but if you loue so well,

Alas you may displease him, so did I,

415

This is the last time you shall looke on me:

Ladies farewell, as soone as I am dead,

Come all and watch one night about my hearse.

Bring each a mournefull storie and a teare,

To offer at it when I goe to earth;

420

With flattering Iuy claspe my coffin round,

Write on my brow my fortune, let my beere

Be borne by Virgins that shall sing by course,

The truth of maides, and periuries of men.

EVAD.

Alas I pittie thee.

Exit Euadne.

OMNES.

Madame good night.

1. LAD.

Come weele let in the Bridegroome.

DVL.

Where's my Lord?

1. LAD.

Enter Amintor.

Here take this light,

DVL.

Heele finde her in the darke.

1. LAD.

Your Ladye's scarse a bed, you must helpe her.

ASP.

425

Goe and be happy in your Ladyes loue,

May all the wrongs that you haue done to me,

Be vtterly forgotten in my death,

Ile trouble you no more, yet I will take

A parting kisse, and will not be denied,

430

You'le come my Lord and see the virgins weepe,

When I am laid in earth; though you your selfe

Can know no pittie, thus I winde my selfe

Into this willow garland, and am prouder

That I was once your loue, (though now refus'd)

435

Then to haue had another true to me.

So with praiers I leaue you, and must trie

Some yet vnpractis'd way to grieue and die,

DVL.

Come Ladies will you goe.

Exit Aspatia.

1. LAD.

Good night my Lord.

AMIN.

Much happinesse vnto you all.

Exe: Ladies.

I did that Lady wrong, me thinkes I feele

440

A griefe shoot suddenly through all my veines,

Mine eyes raine, this is strange at such a time,

It was the King first mou'd me too't, but he

Has not my will in keeping, — why did I

perplex my selfe thus; something whispers me,

445

Goe not to bed, my guilt is not so great

as mine owne conscience, too sencible

Would make me thinke, I onely breake a promise,

And twas the King inforst me, timerous flesh,

Enter Euadne

Why shakst thou so, away my idle feares,

450

Yonder is she, the luster of whose eie,

Can blot away the sad remembrance

Of all these things: — oh my Euadne spare

That tender body, let it not take cold,

The vapors of the night shall not fall here,

455

To bed my loue, Hymen will punish vs,

For being slack performers of his rights,

Camst thou to call me.

EVAD.

No?

AMINT.

Come, come, my loue,

And let vs loose our selues to one another,

460

Why art thou vp so long.

EVAD.

I am not well.

AMINT.

To bed, then let me winde thee in these armes,

Till I haue banisht sicknesse.

EVAD.

Good my Lord I cannot sleepe.

AMIN.

Euadne weele watch, I meane no sleeping.

EVAD.

Ile not goe to bed.

AMIN.

I prethee doe.

EVAD.

I will not for the world.

AMIN.

Why my deere loue.

EVAD.

Why? I haue sworne I will not.

AMIN.

Sworne!

EVAD.

AMIN.

How? Sworne Euadne.

EVAD.

Yes, sworne Amintor, and will sweare againe.

If you will wish to heare me.

AMIN.

To whom haue you sworne this.

EVAD.

If I should name him the matter were not great.

AMIN.

Come, this is but the coynesse of a bride.

EVAD.

The coynesse of a bride.

AMIN.

How pretilie that frowne becomes thee.

EVAD.

Doe you like it so.

AMIN.

465

Thou canst not dresse thy face in such a looke,

But I shall like it.

EVAD.

What looke will like you best.

AMIN.

Why doe you aske.

EVAD.

That I may shew you one lesse pleasing to you,

AMIN.

Howes that.

EVAD.

That I may shew you one lesse pleasing to you.

AMIN.

I prethee put thy Iests in milder lookes,

It shewes as thou wert angry.

EVAD.

So perhaps I am indeede.

AMIN.

Why, who has done thee wrong,

470

Name me the man, and by thy selfe sweete loue,

Thy yet vnconquered selfe, I will reuenge it.

EVAD.

Now I shall trie thy truth, if thou doest loue me.

Thou waighst not any thing compar'd to me,

Life, honour, ioyes eternall, all delights

475

The world can yeeld, are light as aire

To a true louer when his Lady frownes,

And bids him doe this, wilt thou kill this man,

Sweare my Amintor, and ile kisse the sun

Of thy lips.

AMIN.

I wonnot swear sweet loue, till I know the cause.

EVAD.

480

I wood thou wouldst,

Why, it is thou that wrongst me, I hate thee,

Thou should'st haue kild thy selfe.

AMIN.

If I should know that, I should quickly kill

The man you hated.

EVAD.

Know it, and doo't.

AMIN.

485

Oh no, what looke so ere thou should'st put on,

To trie my faith, I cannot thinke thee false,

I cannot finde one blemish in thy face

Where falsehood should abide, leaue, and to bed,

If you haue sworne to any of the virgins

490

That were your olde companions to preserue

Your maidenhead a night, it may be done

Without this meanes.

EVAD,

A maidenhead Amintor at my yeares.

AMIN.

Sure she raues, this cannot be,

Her naturall temper, shall I call thy maides,

495

Either thy healthfull sleepe hath left thee long,

Or else some feauer rages in thy blood.

EVAD.

Neither of these, what thinke you I am mad,

Because I speake the truth.

AMIN.

Is this the truth, wil you not lie with me to night.

EVAD.

You talke as if you thought I would hereafter.

AMIN.

Hereafter, yes I doe.

EVD.

You are deceiu'd, put off amazement & with patience mark,

500

What I shall vtter, for the Oracle

Knowes nothing truer tis not for a night

Or two that I forbeare your bed, but euer.

AMIN.

I dreame, — awake Amintor.

EVAD.

You heare right,

I sooner would finde out the beds of Snakes,

505

And with my youthfull blood warme their cold flesh,

Letting them curle themselues about my limbes,

then sleepe one night with thee; this is not faind,

Nor sounds it like the kisses of a bride.

AMIN.

Is flesh so earthly to endure all this,

510

Are these the ioyes of mariage, Hymen keepe

This story (that will make succeeding youth

Neglect thy ceremonies) from all eares.

Let it not rise vp for thy shame and mine

To after ages, we will scorne thy lawes,

515

If thou no better blesse them, touch the heart

Of her whom thou hast sent me, or the world

Shall know this, not an altar then will smoake

In praise of thee, we will adopt vs sonnes,

Then vertue shall inherit and not blood,

520

If we doe lust, we'le take the next we meet;

Seruing our selues as other creatures doe,

And neuer take note of the female more,

Nor of her issue: I doe rage in vaine,

She cannot iest; Oh pardon me my loue,

525

So deare the thoughts are which I hold of thee,

That I must breake forth; satisfie my feare,

It is a paine beyond the paine of death,

To be in doubt; confirme it with an oath,

If this be true.

EVAD.

530

Doe you inuent the forme,

Let there be in it all the binding wordes

Diuels and coniurers can put together,

And I will take it, I haue sworne before,

And here by all things holy doe againe,

535

Neuer to be acquainted with thy bed,

Is your doubt ouer now.

AMIN.

I know too much, would I had doubted still,

Was euer such a mariage night as this:

You powers aboue, if you did euer meane

540

Man should be vs'd thus, you haue thought a way

How he may beare himselfe, and saue his honour:

Instant me with it, for to my dull eyes

There is no meane, no moderate course to runne,

I must liue scorn'd or be a murderer:

545

Is there a third, why is this night so calme,

Why does not heauen speake in thunder to vs,

And drowne their voyce.

EVAD.

This rage will doe no good.

AMIN.

Euadne, heare me, thou hast tane an oath,

But such a rash one, that to keepe it were

550

Worse then to sweare it, call it backe to thee,

Such vowes as that neuer ascend the heauen,

A teare or two will wash it quite away,

Haue mercy on my youth, my hopefull youth,

If thou be pittifull, for without boast

555

This land was proud of me, what Lady was there

That men cald faire, and vertuous in this Isle

That would haue shund my loue, it is in thee

To make me hold this worth — Oh we vaine men

That trust all our reputation

560

To rest vpon the weake and yeelding hand

Of feeble woman, but thou art not stone,

Thy flesh is soft, and in thine eyes doe dwell

The spirit of loue, thy heart cannot be hard,

Come leade me from the bottome of dispaire,

565

To all the ioyes thou hast, I know thou wilt.

And make me carefull least the sudden change

Ore-come my spirits.

EVAD.

When I call back this oath, the paines of hell inuiron me.

AMIN.

I sleepe and am to temporate, come to bed,

Or by those haires which if thou hast a soule; like to thy locks,

570

Were threads for Kings to weare

About their armes.

EVAD.

Why so perhaps they are.

AMIN.

Ile dragge thee to my bed, and make thy tongue

Vndoe this wicked oath, or on thy flesh

Ile print a thousand wounds to let out life.

EVAD.

575

I feare thee not, doe what thou darst to me,

Euery ill sounding word, or threatning looke

Thou shewest to me, will be reueng'd at full.

AMIN.

It will not sure Euadne.

EVAD.

Doe not you hazard that.

AMIN.

Ha ye your Champions.

EVAD.

Alas Amintor thinkst thou I forbeare

To sleepe with thee, because I haue put on

580

A maidens strictnesse, looke vpon these cheekes,

And thou shalt finde the hot and rising blood

Vnapt for such a vow, no, in this heart

There dwels as much desire, and as much will,

To put that wished act, as euer yet

585

Was knowne to woman, and they haue been showne

Both, but it was the folly of thy youth,

To thinke this beauty, to what land soe're

It shall be cald, shall stoope to any second,

I doe enioy the best, and in that height

590

Haue sworne to stand or die, you guesse the man.

AMIN.

No, let me know the man that wrongs me so,

That I may cut his body into motes,

And scatter it before the Northen winde.

EVAD.

You dare not strike him.

AMIN.

Doe not wrong me so,

595

Yes, if his body were a poysonous plant,

That it were death to touch, I haue a soule

Will throw me on him.

EVAD.

Why tis the King.

AMIN.

The King.

EVAD.

What will you doe now?

AMIN.

It is not the King.

EVAD.

What did he make this match for dull Amintor.

AMIN.

Oh thou hast nam'd a word that wipes away

All thoughts reuengefull, in that sacred word,

600

The King, there lies a terror, what fraile man

Dares lift his hand against it, let the Gods

Speake to him when they please, till when let vs

Suffer, and waite.

EVAD.

Why should you fill your selfe so full of heate,

605

And haste so to my bed, I am no virgin.

AMIN.

What Diuell hath put it in thy fancy then

To mary mee.

EVAD.

Alas, I must haue one

To father children, and to beare the name

610

Of husband to me, that my sinne may be

More honorable.

AMIN.

What strange thing am I?

A miserable one, one that my selfe

Am sory for.

AMIN.

615

Why shew it then in this,

If thou hast pittie, though thy loue be none,

Kill me, and all true louers that shall loue

In after ages crost in their desires,

Shall blesse thy memorie, and call thee good,

620

Because such mercy in thy breast was found,

To rid a lingring wretch.

EVAD.

I must haue one

To fill thy roome againe if thou wert dead,

Else by this night I could, I pitty thee.

AMIN.

625

These strange and sudden iniuries haue falen

So thick vpon me, that I lose all sense

Of what they are, me thinkes I am not wrong'd,

Nor is it ought, if from the censuring world

I can but hide it — reputation

630

Thou art a word, no more, but thou hast showne

An impudence so high, that to the world

I feare thou wilt betray or shame thy selfe.

EVAD.

To couer shame, I tooke thee neuer feare,

That I would blaze my selfe.

AMIN.

635

Nor let the King

Know I conceiue he wrongs me, then mine honour

Will thrust me into action, that my flesh

Could beare with patience, and it is some ease

To me in these extreames, that I know this

640

Before I toucht thee, else had all the sinnes

Of mankinde stood betwixt me and the King,

I had gone through, e'ne to his hart and thine

I haue left one desire, tis not his crowne

Shall buy me to thy bed, now I resolue

645

He has dishonour'd thee, giue me thy hand,

Be carefull of thy credit, and sinne close

Tis all I wish, vpon thy chamber floure

Ile rest to night, that morning visiters

May thinke we did as married people vse,

650

And prethee smile vpon me when they come,

And seeme to toy as if thou hadst beene pleas'd

With what I did.

EVAD.

Feare not, I will doe this.

AMIN.

Come let vs practise, and as wantonly

As euer longing bride and bridegroome met,

655

Lets laugh and enter here.

EVAD.

I am content.

Downe all the swellings of my troubled heart,

When we walke thus intwind let all eyes see,

If euer louers better did agree.

Exit.

Enter Aspatia, Antiphila, Olimpias.

ASP.

660

Away you are not, force it no further,

Good, good, how well you looke, such a full colour

Young bashfull brides put on, sure you are new maried.

ANT.

Yes Madame to your griefe.

ASP.

Alas poore wentches

Goe learne to loue first, learne to lose your selues,

665

Learne to be flattered, and beleeue and blesse

The double tongue that did it,

Did you ere loue yet wenches, speake Olimpas,

Thou hast a metled temper, fit for stamp.

OLM.

Neuer.

ASP.

Nor you Antiphila.

ANT.

Nere I.

ASP.

Then my good girles be more then women wise

670

At least, be more then I was, come lets be sad my girles,

That downe cast of thine eye Olimpias,

Showes a faind sorrow; marke Antiphila,

Iust such another was the Nymph Oenes,

When Paris brought home Hellen, now a teare,

675

And then thou art a peece expressing furie,

The Carthage Queene when from a cold Sea rock,

Full with her sorrow, she tyed fast her eyes,

To the faire Troian ships, hauing lost them,

Iust as thine does, downe stole a teare! Antiphila,

680

What would this wench doe if she were Aspatia,

Here she would stand, till some more, pittying god

Turnd her to Marble, tis enough my wench,

Show me the peece of needle worke you wrought.

ANT.

Of Ariadne Madame?

ASP.

Yes that peece,

685

This should be Theseus, has a cousening face,

You ment him for a man.

ANT.

He was so Madame.

ASP.

Why then tis well enough, neuer looke black,

You haue a full winde, and a false heart Theseus,

Does not the story say, his Keele was split,

690

Or his masts spent, or some kind rock or other

Met with his vessell.

ANT.

Not as I remember.

ASP.

It should ha been so, could the Gods know this,

And none of all their number raise a storme,

But they are all as ill, this false smile was exprest well,

695

Iust such another caught me, you shall not goe so

Antiphila, in this place worke a quick-sand,

And ouer it a shallow smiling water,

And his ship plowing it, and then a feare,

700

Doe that feare brauely wench.

OLIM.

Twill wrong the storie.

ASP.

Twill make the story, wrong'd by wanton Poets,

Liue long and be beleeu'd, but wheres the Lady.

ANT.

There Madame.

ASP.

Fie, you haue mist it there Antipila,

You are much mistaken wench:

705

These colours are not dull and pale enough,

To show a soule so full of miserie

As this poore Ladies was, doe it by me,

Doe it againe, by me the lost Aspatia,

And you will find all true but the wilde Iland,

710

Suppose I stand vpon the Sea, breach now

Mine armes thus, and mine haire blowne with the wind,

Wilde as the place she was in, let all about me

Be teares of my story, doe my face,

If thou hadst euer feeling of a sorrow,

715

Thus, thus, Antiphila make me looke good girle

Like sorrowes mount, and the trees about me

Let them be dry and leauelesse, let the rocks

Groane with continuall surges, and behind me

Make all a desolation, see, see wenches,

720

A miserable life of this poore picture.

OLIM.

Deare Madame.

ASP.

I haue done, sit downe, and let vs

Vpon that point fixe all our eyes, that point there;

Make a dumbe silence till you feele a sudden sadnesse

Giue vs new soules.

Enter Calianax.

CAL.

725

The King may doe this, and he may not doe it,

My childe is wrongd, disgrac'd, well, how now huswiues,

What at your ease, is this a time to sit still, vp you young

Lazie whores, vp or ile swenge you.

OLIM.

Nay good my Lord.

CAL.

You'l lie downe shortly, in and whine there,

730

What are you growne so rustie you want heates,

We shall haue some of the Court boyes heat you shortly.

ANT.

Good my Lord be not angry, we doe nothing

But what my Ladies pleasure is, we are thus in griefe,

She is forsaken. .

CAL.

735

Theres a rogue too,

A slie dissembling slaue, well? get you in,

Ile haue about with that boy, tis hie time

Now to be valiant, I confesse my youth

Was neuer prone that way,

740

A Court stale, well I must be valiant,

And beate some dozen of these whelps, and theres

Another of'em, a trim cheating souldier,

Ile maule that raschall, has out-brau'd me twice,

But now I thanke the Gods I am valiant,

745

Goe, get you in, ile take a course with all.

Exeunt omnes.

Act III

Actus Tertius.

Enter CLEON, STRATO, DIPHILVS.

CLE.

Your sister is not vp yet.

DIPH.

Our brides must take their mornings rest,

The night is troublesome.

STRA.

But not tedious,

DIPH.

What ods, hee has not my sisters maiden-head to night.

STRA.

None, its ods against any bridegrome liuing, he nere gets it while he liues.

DIPH.

Y'are merry with my sister, you'le please to allow me the same freedome with your mother.

STRA.

Shees at your seruice.

DIPH.

Then shees merry enough of herselfe, shee needs no tickling, knock at the dore.

STRA.

We shall interrupt them.

DIPH.

No matter they haue the yeare before them, good morrow sister, spare your selfe to day, the night will come againe.

Enter Amintor.

AMIN.

Whose there my brother, I am no readier yet, your sister is but now vp.

DIPH.

You looke as you had lost your eyes to night, I thinke you ha not slept.

AMIN.

I faith I did not.

DIPH.

You haue done better then.

AMIN.

We haue ventured for a boy, when hee is twelue, a shall command against the foes of Rhodes, shall we be merry.

STRA.

You cannot, you want sleepe,

AMIN.

Tis true, but she

750

As if she had drunke Lethe, or had made

aside.

Euen with heauen, did fetch so still a sleepe,

So sweet and sound.

DIP.

Whats that?

AMIN.

Your sister frets this morning, and doth turne her eyes vpon mee, as people on the headsman, she does chafe, and kisse and chafe, and clap my cheeks, shees in another world.

DIP.

Then I had lost, I was about to lay, you had not got her maiden head to night.

AMIN.

Ha, does hee not mocke mee, y'ad lost indeed I doe not bungle.

CLEO.

You doe deserue her.

AMIN.

I laid my lips to hers, and that wilde breach

That was so rude and rough to me, last night

755

Was sweete as Aprill, ile be guilty too,

If these be the effects.

Enter Melantius.

MEL.

Good day Amintor, for to me the name

Of brother is too distant, we are friends,

And that is nearer.

AMIN.

760

Deare Melantius,

Let me behold thee, is it possible.

MEL.

What sudden gaze is this.

AMIN.

Tis wondrous strange.

MEL.

Why does thine eye desire so strict a view

Of that it knowes so well? theres nothing here

That is not thine.

AMIN.

765

I wonder much Melantius.

To see those noble lookes that make mo thinke,

How vertuous thou art, and on this sudden

Tis strange to me, thou shouldst haue worth and honour,

Or not be base and false, and treacherous,

770

And euery ill.

MEL.

Say, stay my friend,

I feare this sound will not become our loues, no more embrace me.

AMIN.

Oh mistake me not,

I know thee to be full of all those deeds,

775

That we fraile men call good, but by the course

Of nature thou shouldst be as quickly chang'd,

As are the windes dissembling, as the Sea,

That now weares browes as smooth as virgins be,

Tempting the Merchant to inuade his face.

780

And in an houre call his billowes vp,

And shoot em at the Sun, destroying all

A carries on him, Oh how neare am I

aside.

To vtter my sicke thoughts.

MEL.

Why, my friend, should I be so by nature?

AMIN.

I haue wed thy sister, who hath vertuous thoughts enow for one whole familie, and it is strange, That you should feele no want.

MEL.

Beleeue me this is cōplement too cunning for me.

DIP.

What should I be then by the course of nature,

785

They hauing both robd me of so much vertue.

STRA.

Oh call the bride my Lord Amintor, that wee may see her blush, and turne her eyes downe, it is the prittiest sport.

AMIN.

Euadne.

EVAD.

My Lord.

Within.

AMIN.

Come forth my loue,

Your brothers doe attend to wish you ioy.

EVAD.

I am not ready yet.

AMIN.

Enough, enough,

EVAD.

They'le mocke me.

AMIN.

Faith thou shalt come in.

Enter Euadne.

MEL.

Good morrow sister, he that vnderstands

790

Whom you haue wed, need not to wish you ioy,

You haue enough, take heed you be not proud.

DIPH.

O sister what haue you done.

EVAD.

Why what haue I done?

STRA.

My Lord Amintor sweares you are no maid now.

EVAD.

Push.

STRA.

I faith he does.

EVAD.

I knew I should be mockt.

DIPH.

With a truth.

EVAD.

If twere to do againe, in faith I would not mary.

AMIN.

Nor I by heauen.

DIP.

Sister, Dula sweares she heard you cry two roomes off.

EVAD.

Fie how you talke.

DIPH.

Lets see you walke.

EVAD.

By my troth y'are spoild.

MEL.

Amintor.

AMIN.

Ha.

MEL.

Thou art sad.

AMIN.

Who I, I thanke you for that, shall Diphilus thou and I sing a catch.

MEL.

How?

AMIN.

Prethee lets.

MEL.

Nay thats too much the other way,

AMIN.

I am so heightned with my happinesse, how dost thou loue, kisse me.

EVAD.

I connot loue you, you tell tales of me.

AMIN.

Nothing but what becomes vs, Gentlemen

Would you had all such wiues, and all the world,

That I might be no wonder, y'are all sad,

795

What doe you enuie me, I walke me thinkes

On water, and nere sinke I am so light.

MEL.

Tis well you are so.

AMIN.

Well? can you be other when shee lookes thus,

Is there no musike there, lets dance.

MEL.

Why? this is strange.

AMIN.

I do not know my selfe, yet I could wish my ioy were lesse.

DIPH.

Ile marrie if it will make one thus

EVAD.

Amintor, harke.

Aside

AMIN.

What sayes my loue I must obey.

EVAD.

You doe it scuruily, twill be perceiu'd.

CLE.

My Lord the King is here.

Enter King & Lisip:

AMIN.

Where.

STRA.

And his brother.

KING.

Good morrow all.

800

Amintor ioy on ioy fall thicke vpon thee,

But Madame you are alterd since I saw you,

I must salute you, you are now anothers,

How lik't you your nights rest.

EVAD.

Ill sir.

AMIN.

Indeede she tooke but little.

LIS.

You'le let her take more, &c thanke her too shortly.

KING.

Amintor wert thou truely honest till thou wert married.

AMIN.

Yes sir.

KING.

Tell me how then shewes the sport to you.

AMIN.

Why well?

KING.

What did you doe.

AMIN.

no more nor lesse then other couples vse,

805

You know what tis, it has but a course name.

KING.

But prethee I should thinke by her black eie

And her red cheeke, she should be quick and stirring

In this same businesse; ha?

AMIN.

I cannot tell I nere tried other sir, but I perceiue

810

She is as quick as you deliuered.

KING.

Well youle trust me then Amintor,

To choose a wife for you agen.

AMIN.

No neuer sir.

KING.

Why? like you this so ill.

AMIN.

So well I like her,

For this I bow my knee in thanks to you,

815

And vnto heauen will pay my gratefull tribute

Hourely, and doe hope we shall draw out,

A long contented life together here,

And die both full of gray haires in one day,

for which the thanks is yours, but if the powers

820

That rule vs, please to call her first away,

Without pride spoke, this world holds not a wife

Aside

Worthy to take her roome.

KING.

I doe not like this; all forbeare the roome

But you Amintor and your Lady, I haue some speech that may

825

Concerne your after liuing well,

AMIN.

A will not tell me that he lies with her, if hee doe,

For it is apt to thrust this arme of mine to acts vnlawfull.

KING.

You will suffer me to talke with her Amintor,

And not haue iealous pangs.

AMIN,

830

Sir, I dare trust my wife,

When she dares to talke, and not be iealous

KING.

How doe you like Amintor.

EVAD.

As I did sir.

KING.

Howes that?

EVAD.

As one that to fulfill your pleasure,

I haue giuen leaue to call me wife and loue.

KING.

I see there is no lasting faith in sin,

835

They that breake word with heauen, will breake agen

With all the world, and so doest thou with me.

EVAD.

How sir.

KING.

This subtle womans ignorance

Will not excuse you, thou hast taken oathes

So great, that me thought they did misbecome

840

A womans mouth, that thou wouldst nere inioy

A man but me.

EVAD.

I neuer did sweare so, you doe me wrong.

KING.

Day and night haue heard it.

EVAD.

I swore indeede that I would neuer loue

A man of lower place, but if your fortune

Should throw you from this hight, I bad you trust

845

I would forsake you, and would bend to him

That won your throne, I loue with my ambition,

Not with my eies, but if I euer yet

Toucht any other, Leprosie light here

Vpon my face, which for your royaltie

850

I would not staine.

KING.

Why thou dissemblest, and it is in me

To punish thee.

EVAD.

Why, it is in me then, not to loue you, which will

More afflict your bodie, then your punishment can mine.

KING.

But thou hast let Amintor lie with thee.

EVAD.

I hannot.

KING.

Impudence, he saies himselfe so.

EVAD.

A lies.

KING.

A does not.

EVAD.

855

By this light he does, strangely and basely, and

Ile prooue it so, I did not onely shun him for a night,

But told him I would neuer close with him.

KING.

Speake lower, tis false.

EVAD.

I am no man to answer with a blow,

Or if I were, you are the King, but vrge not, tis most true.

KING.

860

Doe not I know the vncontrouled thoughts,

That youth brings with him, when his blood is high,

With expectation and desire of that

He long hath waited for, is not his spirit

Though he be temperate, of a valiant straine

865

As this our age hath knowne, what could he doe

If such a suddaine speech had met his blood,

But ruine thee for euer, if he had not kild thee

He could not beare it thus, he is as we

Or any other wrong'd man.

EVAD.

870

This is dissembling,

Amintor, thou hast an ingenious looke,

And should'st be vertuous, it amazeth me

That thou should'st make such base malicious lies.

AMIN.

What my deere wife.

EVAD.

Deere wife, I doe despise thee,

875

Why nothing can be baser then to sow

Discention amongst louers,

AMIN.

Louers? who.

EVAD.

The King and I.

AMIN.

Oh God.

EVAD.

Who should liue long and loue without distast,

Were it not for such pickthanks as thy selfe,

Did you lie with me, sweare now, and be punisht in hell

880

For this.

AMIN.

The faithlesse sin I made

To faire Aspatia, is not yet reueng'd,

It followes me, I will not loose a word

To this wilde woman, but to you my King,

885

The anguish of my soule thrusts out this truth,

Y'are a tirant, and not so much to wrong

An honest man thus, as to take a pride

In talking with him of it.

EVAD.

Now sir, see how loud this fellow lies.

AMIN.

You that can know to wrong, shold know how

890

Men must right themselues, what punishment is due,

From me to him that shall abuse my bed,

It is not death, nor can that satisfie,

Vnlesse I show how nobly I haue freed my selfe.

KING.

Draw not thy sword, thou knowst I cannot feare

895

A subiects hand, but thou shalt feele the weight

Of this if thou doest rage.

AMIN.

The waite of that,

If you haue any worth, for heauens sake thinke

I feare not swords, for as you are meere man,

900

I dare as easily kill you for this deede,

As you dare thinke to doe it, but there is.

Diuinitie about you, that strikes dead

My rising passions, as you are my King,

I fall before you and present my sword,

905

To cut mine owne flesh if it be your will,

Alas! I am nothing but a multitude of

walking griefes, yet should I murder you,

I might before the world take the excuse

Of madnesse, for compare my iniuries,

910

And they will well appeare too sad a weight

For reason to endure, but fall I first

Amongst my sorrowes, ere my treacherous sword

Touch holy things, but why? I know not what

I haue to say, why did you choose out me

915

To make thus wretched, there are thousands

Easie to worke on, and of state enough

Within the Land.

EVAD.

I wold not haue a foole, it were no credit for me.

AMINT.

Worse and worse,

Thou that darst talke vnto thy husband thus,

920

Professe thy selfe a whore, and more then so,

Resoule to be so still, is it my fault,

To beare and bow beneath a thousand griefes,

To keepe that little credit with the world,

But there were wise ones to, you might haue tane another.

KIN.

No, for I beleeue thee honest, as thou wert valiant.

AMIN.

925

All the happinesse

Bestowd vpon me turnes into disgrace,

Gods take your honesty againe, for I

Am loaden with it, good my Lord the King

Be priuate in it.

KING.

930

Thou maist liue Amintor,

Free as thy King, if thou wilt winke at this,

And be a meanes that we may meet in secret,

AMIN.

A baud, hold, hold my breast, a bitter curse

Ceaze me, if I forget not all respects

935

That are religious, on an other word

Seconded like that, and through a Sea of sinnes

Will wade to my reuenge, though I should call

Plagues here, and after life, vpon my soule.

KING.

Well, I am resolute, you lay with her,

940

And so I leaue you.

Exit King.

EVAD.

You must needs be prating, and see what follows.

AMIN.

Prethee vex me not,

Leaue me, I am afraid some sudden start

Will pull a murther on me.

EVAD.

I am gone, I loue my life well.

Exit Euadne.

AMIN.

I hate mine as much,

945

This tis to breake a troth, I should be glad,

If all this tide of griefe would make me mad.

Exit.

Enter Melantius.

MEL.

Ile know the cause of all Amintors griefes,

Or friendship shall be idle.

Enter Calianax.

CAL.

O Melantius, my daughter will die.

MEL.

Trust me I am sory, would thou hadst tane her part.

CAL.

Thou art a slaue, a cut-throat slaue, a bloody —

MEL.

Take heed old man, thou wilt be heard to raue,

950

And lose thine office.

CAL.

I am valiant growne,

At all these yeares, and thou art but a slaue.

MEL.

Some companie will come, and I respect

Thy yeares, not thee so much, that I could wish

955

To laugh at thee alone.

CAL.

Ile spoile your mirth, I meane to fight with thee,

There lie my cloake, this was my fathers sword,

And he durst fight, are you prepar'd?

MEL.

Why? wilt thou doate thy selfe out of thy life, hence get thee to bed, haue carefull looking to, and eate warme things, and trouble not mee, my head is full of thoughts, more waighty then thy life or death can be.

CAL.

You haue a name in warre, where you stand safe

960

Amongst a multitude, but I will try,

What you dare doe vnto a weake old man,

In single fight you'l giue ground I feare,

Come draw.

MEL.

I will not draw, vnlesse thou pulst thy death

965

Vpon thee with a stroke, theres no one blow

That thou canst giue hast strength enough can kill me,

Tempt me not so far then, the power of earth

Shall not redeeme thee.

CAL.

I must let him alone,

970

Hees stout, and able, and to say the truth,

How euer I may set a face and talke,

I am not valiant, when I was a youth

I kept my credit with a testie tricke,

I had mongst cowards, but durst neuer fight.

MEL.

I will not promise to preserue your life if you doe stay.

CAL.

I would giue halfe my land that I durst fight with that proud man a little, if I had men to holde him, I would beate him, till hee askt mee mercie.

MEL.

Sir will you begone?

CAL.

I dare not stay, but I will beate my seruants all ouer for this.

Exit Calianax

MEL.

975

This old fellow haunts me,

But the distracted carriage of mine Amintor,

Takes deeply on me, I will find the cause,

I feare his conscience cries, he wrongd Aspatia.

Enter Amintor.

AMIN.

Mans eyes are not subtile to perceiue

980

My inward miserie, I beare my griefe

Hid from the world, how art thou wretched then,

For ought I know all husbands are like me,

And euery one I talke with of his wife,

Is but a well dissembler of his woes

985

As I am, would I knew it for the rarenesse

Afflicts me now.

MEL.

Amintor, we haue not enioy'd our friendship of late, for we were wont to charge our soules in talke.

AMIN.

Melantius, I can tell the a good iest of Strato, and a Lady the last day.

MEL.

How wast;

AMIN.

Why such an odde one.

MEL.

I haue longd to speake with you, not of an idle iest thats forst, but of matter you are bound to vtter to me.

AMIN.

What is that my friend?

MEL.

I haue obseru'd your wordes fall from your tongue

Wildely, and all your carriage

Like one that striues to shew his merry moode,

990

When he were ill dispos'd, you were not wont

To put such scorne into your speech — yow weare

Vpon your face ridiculous iollity,

Some sadnesse sits heere, which your tongue would

Couer ore with smiles, and twill not be,

995

What is it?

AMIN.

A sadnesse here, what cause

Can Fate prouide for me to make me so,

Am I not lou'd through all this Isle, the King

Raines greatnesse on me, haue I not receiued

1000

A Lady to my bed, that in her eye

Keepes mounting fire, and on her tender cheekes

Immutable colour, in her heart

A prison for all vertue, are not you,

Which is aboue all ioyes, my constant friend:

1005

What saddnesse can I haue, no, I am light,

And feele the courses of my blood more warme

And stirring then they were; faith marry too,

And you will feele so vnexprest a ioy

In chaste embraces, that you will indeed

1010

Appeare another.

MEL.

You may shape Amintor

Causes to cozen the whole world withall,

And yourselfe too, and tis not like a friend,

To hide your soule from me, tis not your nature

1015

To be thus idle, I haue seene you stand,

As you were blasted midst of all your mirth,

Call thrice aloud, and then start, fayning ioy

So coldly, world? what doe I here, a friend

Is nothing, heauen I would ha told that man

1020

My secret sinnes, ile search an vnknowne land,

And there plant friendship, all is withered here,

Come with a complement, I would haue fought,

Or told my friends a lied, ere soothd him so;

Out of my bosome.

AMIN.

But there is nothing.

MEL.

1025

Worse and worse, farewell;

From this time haue acquaintance, but no friend.

AMIN.

Melantius, stay, you shall know what that is.

MEL.

See how you plead with friendship, be aduis'd

How you giue cause vnto your selfe to say,

You ha lost a friend.

AMIN.

1030

Forgiue what I ha done,

For I am so ore-gon with miseries,

Vnheard of, that I lose consideration

Of what I ought to do, — oh — oh.

MEL.

Doe not weepe, what ist?

1035

May I once but know the man

Hath turnd my friend thus.

AMIN.

I had spoke at first, but that,

MEL.

But what?

AMIN.

I held it most vnfit

For you to know, faith doe not know it yet.

MEL.

1040

Thou seest my loue, that will keep company

With thee in teares, hide nothing then from me,

For when I know the cause of thy distemper,

With mine old armour ile adorne my selfe,

My resolution, and cut through thy foes

1045

Vnto thy quiet, till I place thy heart

As peaceable as spotlesse innocence.

What is it?

AMIN.

Why tis this, — it is too bigge

To get out, let my teares make way awhile.

MEL.

1050

Punish me strangly heauen, if he scape

Of life or fame, that brought this youth to this.

AMIN.

Your sister.

MEL.

Well sayd.

AMIN.

You'l wisht vnknowne when you haue heard it.

MEL.

No.

AMIN.

Is much to blame,

And to the King has giuen her honour vp,

And liues in whoredome with him.

MEL.

1055

How's this?

Thou art run mad with iniury indeed,

Thou couldst not vtter this, else speake againe,

For I forgiue it freely, tell thy griefes.

AMIN.

shees wanton, I am loth to say a whore,

1060

Though it be true.

MEL.

Speake yet againe, before mine anger grow

Vp beyond throwing downe, what are thy griefes?

AMIN.

By all our friendship, these.

MEL.

What, am I sane,

After mine actions, shall the name of friend

1065

Blot all our family, and stick the brand

Of whore vpon my sister vnreueng'd

My shaking flesh be thou a witnesse for me,

With what vnwillingnesse I goe to scourge

This rayler, whom my folly hath cald friend,

1070

I will not take thee basely, thy sword

Hangs neere thy hand, draw it, that I may whip

Thy rashnesse to repentance, draw thy sword.

AMIN.

Not on thee, did thine anger goe as high

As troubled waters, thou shouldst doe me ease,

1075

Heere, and eternally, if thy noble hand,

Would cut me from my sorrowes.

MEL.

This is base,

And fearefull, they that vse to vtter lies,

Prouide not blowes, but wordes to qualifie

1080

The men they wrong'd, thou hast a guilty cause.

AMIN.

Thou pleasest me, for so much more like this,

Will raise my anger vp aboue my griefes,

Which is a passion easier to be knowne,

And I shall then be blessed.

MEL.

1085

Take then more, to raise thine anger, tis meere

Cowardise makes thee not draw, & I will leaue thee dead

How euer, but if thou art so much prest,

With guilt and feare, as not to dare to fight,

Ile make thy memory loath'd, and fix a farewell

1090

Vpon thy name for euer.

AMIN.

Then I draw,

As iustly as our Magistrates their swords,

To cut offenders off; I knew before,

Twould grate your eares, but it was base in you

1095

To vrge a waighty secret from your friend,

And then rage at it, I shall be at ease

If I be kild, and if you fall by me,

I shall not long out liue you.

MEL.

Stay a while,

1100

The name of friend, is more then familie,

Or all the world besides; I was a foole,

Thou searching humane nature, that didst make

To doe me wrong thou art inquisitiue,

And thrusts me vpon questions that will take

1105

My sleepe away, would I had died ere knowne

This sad dishonor, pardon me my friend,

If thou wilt strike, here is a faithfull heart,

Pearce it, for I will neuer heaue my hand

To thine, behold the power thou hast in me,

1110

I doe beleeue my sister is a whore,

A leprous one, put vp thy sword young man.

AMINT.

How should I beare it then she being so,

I feare my friend that you will loose me shortly,

And I shall doe a foule act on my selfe

1115

Through these disgraces.

MEL.

Better halfe the land

Were buried quick together, no Amintor,

Thou shalt haue ease of this adulterous King

That drew her too't, where got he the spirit

1120

To wrong me so.

AMIN.

What is it then to me?

If it be wrong to you.

MEL.

Why not so much, the credit of our house

Is throwne away,

1125

But from his iron den ile waken death,

And hurle him on this King, my honestie

shall steele my sword, and on my horrid point

Ile weare my cause, that shall amaze the eyes

Of this proud man, and be to glittring

1130

For him to looke on.

AMIN.

I haue quite vndone my fame.

MEL.

Drie vp thy watrie eyes,

And cast a manly looke vpon my face,

For nothing is so wilde as I thy friend

Till I haue freed thee, still this swelling brest,

1135

I goe thus from thee, and will neuer cease

My vengeance till I finde thy heart at peace.

AMIN.

It must not be so, stay, mine eyes would tell

How loath I am to this, but loue and teares

Leaue me a while, for I haue hazarded

1140

All that this world calls happy, thou hast wrought

A secret from me vnder name of friend,

Which art could nere haue found, nor torture wrong

From out this bosome, giue it me agen,

For I will finde it where so ere it lies

1145

Hid in the mortal'st part, inuent a way

To giue it backe.

MEL.

Why? would you haue it backe,

I will to death persue him with reuenge.

AMIN.

Therefore I call it frō thee, for I know

1150

Thy blood so high, that thou wilt stir in this, take to thy weapon

MEL.

Heare thy friend that bears more yeares then thou.

AMIN.

I will not heare, but draw, or I —

MEL.

Amintor?

AMIN.

Draw then, for I am full as resolute

As fame, and honor can inforce me,

I cannot linger, draw?

MEL.

I doe, — but is not

1155

My share of credit equall with thine

If I doe stir.

AMIN.

No? for it will be cald

Honor in thee to spill thy sisters blood,

If she her birth abuse, and on the King

1160

A braue reuenge, but on me that haue walkt

With patience in it, it will fixe the name

Of fearefull cuckold, — O that word,

Be quick.

MEL.

Then ioyne with me.

AMIN.

I dare not doe a sinne, or else I would be speedy.

MEL.

Then dare not fight with me, for that's a sin,

1165

His griefe distracts him, call thy thoughts agen,

And to thy selfe pronounce the name of friend,

And see what that will worke, I will not fight.

AMIN.

You must?

MEL.

I will be kild first, though my passions

Offered the like to you, tis not this earth

1170

Shall by my reason to it, thinke awhile

For you are, (I must weepe when I speake it,)

All most besides your selfe.

AMIN.

Oh my soft temper,

So many sweete words from thy sisters mouth,

1175

I am afraid would make me take her,

To embrace and pardon her, I am mad indeede,

And know not what I doe, but haue a care

Of me in what thou doest.

MEL.

Why thinks my friend I will forget his honor, or to saue

1180

The brauerie of your house, will loose his fame

And feare to touch the throne of Maiestie.

AMIN.

A curse will follow that, but rather liue

And suffer with me.

MEL.

I will doe what worth shall bid me.

AMIN.

Faith I am sicke, and desperately I hope,

1185

Yet leaning thus I feele a kinde of ease.

MEL.

Come take agen your mirth about you.

AMIN.

I shall neuer doo't.

MEL.

I warrant you, looke vp, weele walke together,

Put thine arme here, all shall be well agen.

AMIN.

Thy loue, o wretched, I thy loue Melantius, why I

Haue nothing else.

Exeunt.

MEL.

Be merry then.

Enter Melantius agen.

MEL.

1190

This worthie yong man may doe violence

Vpon himselfe, but I haue cherisht him

As well as I could, and sent him smiling from me

To counterfeit againe, sword hold thine edge,

My heart will neuer faile me? Diphilus,

1195

Thou comst as sent.

Enter Diphilus.

DIPH.

Yonder has bin such laughing.

MEL.

Betwixt whom?

DIPH.

Why our sister and the King,

I thought their spleenes would breake,

They laught vs all out of the roome.

MEL.

They must weepe Diphilus.

DIPH.

Must they?

MEL.

They must? thou art my brother, & if I did beleeue,

1200

Thou hadst a base thought, I would rip it out,

Lie where it durst.

DIPH.

You should not, I would first mangle my selfe & finde it.

MEL.

That was spoke according to our strain, come ioyne thy hands,

And sweare a firmenesse to what proiect I

Shall lay before thee.

DIPH.

1205

You doe wrong vs both,

People hereafter shall not say there past

A bond more then our loues to tie our liues

And deathes together.

MEL.

It is as nobly said as I would wish,

1210

Anon ile tell you wonders, we are wrong'd.

DIPH.

But I will tell you now, weele right our selues.

MEL.

Stay not, prepare the armour in my house,

And what friends you can draw vnto our side,

Not knowing of the cause, make ready too,

Hast Diph: the time requires it, hast.

Exit Diphilus.

1215

I hope my cause is iust, I know my blood

Tels me it is, and I will credit it,

To take reuenge and loose my selfe withall,

Were idle, and to scape, impossible,

Without I had the fort, which miserie

1220

Remaining in the hands of my olde enemy

Calianax, but I must haue it, see

Enter Calianax.

Where he comes shaking by me, good my Lord

Forget your spleene to me, I neuer wrong'd you,

But would haue peace with euery man.

CAL.

1225

Tis well?

If I durst fight, your tongue would lie at quiet.

MEL.

Y'are touchie without all cause.

CAL.

Doe? mock me.

MEL.

By mine honor I speake truth.

CAL.

Honor? where ist.

MEL.

See what starts you make into your idle hatred.

I am come with resolution to obtaine a sute

Of you.

CAL.

A sute of me, tis very like it should be granted sir.

MEL.

1230

Nay, goe not hence,

Tis this, you haue the keeping of the fort,

And I would wish you by the loue you ought

To beare vnto me to deliuer it

Into my hands.

CAL.

I am in hope thou art mad, to talke to me thus.

MEL.

1235

But there is a reason to moue you to it, I would

Kill the King, that wrong'd you and your daughter.

CAL.

Out traitor.

MEL.

Nay but stay, I cannot scape the deede once done

Without I haue this fort.

CAL.

And should I help thee, now thy treacherous mind betraies it selfe.

MEL.

Come delay me not,

1240

Giue me a suddaine answere, already,

The last is spoke, refuse my offerd loue,

When it comes clad in secrets.

CAL.

If I say I will not, he will kill me, I doe see't writ

In his lookes, and should I say I will, heele run and tell the

1245

King: I doe not shun your friendship deere Melantius,

But this cause is weightie, giue me but an houre to thinke.

MEL.

Take it, — I know this goes vnto the King,

But I am arm'd.

Exit Melantius.

CAL.

Me thinkes I feele my selfe

1250

But twenty now agen, this fighting foole

Wants policie, I shall reuenge my girle,

And make her red againe, I pray, my legges

Will last that pace that I will carrie them,

I shall want breath before I finde the King,

Act IV

Actus Quartus.

Enter MELANTIVS, EVADNE, and a Lady.

MEL.

God saue you.

EVAD.

1255

Saue you sweete brother,

MEL.

In my blunt eye me thinkes you looke Euadne.

EVAD.

Come, you would make, me blush.

MEL.

I would Euadne, I shall displease my ends els.

EVAD.

You shall if you command me, I am bashfull,

Come sir, how doe I looke.

MEL.

I would not haue your women heare me

Breake into a commendations of you, it is not seemely.

EVAD.

Goe waite me in the gallerie, — now speake.

MEL.

Ile lock your dores first.

Exit Ladyes

EVAD.

Why?

MEL.

1260

I will not haue your guilded things that daunce

In visitation with their millan skins

Choake vp my businesse.

EVAD.

You are strangely dispos'd sir.

MEL.

Good Madame, not to make you merry.

EVAD.

No, if you praise me twill make me sad.

MEL.

Such a sad commendations I haue for you.

EVAD.

Brother, the Court has made you wittie,

And learne to riddle.

MEL.

I praise the Court for't, has learnd you nothing.

EVAD.

Me?

MEL.

1265

I Euadne, thou art yong and hansome,

A Lady of a sweete complexion,

And such a flowing carriage, that it cannot

Chuse but inflame a Kingdome.

EVAD.

Gentle brother.

MEL.

Tis yet in thy repentance, foolish woman,

1270

To make me gentle.

EVAD.

How is this.

MEL.

Tis base,

And I could blush at these yeares, through all

My honord scars: to come to such a parlie.

EVAD.

I vnderstand ye not.

MEL.

You dare not foole,

1275

They that commit thy faults flie the remembrance.

EVAD.

My faults sir, I would haue you know I care not

If they were writtem here, here in my forehead.

MEL.

Thy body is to little for the story,

The lusts of which would fill another woman,

1280

Though she had twins within her.

EVAD.

This is saucie,

Looke you intrude no more, theres your way.

MEL.

Thou art my way, and I will tread vpon thee,

Till I finde truth out.

EVAD.

What truth is that you looke for?

MEL.

1285

Thy long lost honor, would the gods had set me

Rather to grapple with the plague, or stand

One of their loudest bolts, come tell me quickly,

Doe it without inforcement, and take heede

You swell me not aboue my temper.

EVAD.

How sir? where got you this report.

MEL.

Where there was people in euery place.

EVAD.

1290

They and the seconds of it are base people,

Beleeue them not, theile lie.

MEL.

Doe not play with mine anger, doe not wretch,

I come to know that desperate foole, that drew thee

From thy faire life, be wise and lay him open.

EVAD.

1295

Vnhand me and learne manners, such another

Forgetfulnesse forfits your life.

MEL.

Quench me this mighty humor, and then tell me

Whose whore you are, for you are one, I know it,

Let all mine honors perish but ile finde him,

1300

Though he lie lockt vp in thy blood, come tell me,

There is no facing it, and be not flattered,

The burnt aire when the dog raines, is not fouler

Then thy contagious name, till thy repentance,

If the gods grant thee any, purge thy sicknesse.

EVAD.

Begon, you are my brother thats your safty.

MEL.

1305

Ile be a woulfe first, tis to be thy brother

An infamy below the sin of coward,

I am as far from being part of thee,

As thou art from thy vertue, seeke a kindred

Mongst sensuall beasts, and make a goate thy father,

1310

A goate is cooler, will you tell me yet.

EVAD.

If you stay here and raile thus, I shall tell you,

Ile ha you whipt, get you to your command,

And there preach to your Centinels,

And tell thē what a braue man you are, I shal laugh at you.

MEL.

1315

Y'are growne a glorious whore, where bee your

Fighters, what mortall foole durst raise thee to this daring,

And I aliue, by my iust sword, h'ad Safer

Bestride a billow when the angry North

Plowes vp the sea, or made heauens fire his foe,

1320

Worke me no hier, will you discouery yet.

EVAD.

The fellowes mad, sleepe and speake sence.

MEL.

Force my swolne heart no further, I would saue thee, your great maintainers are not here, they dare not, would they were al, and armed, I would speake loud, heres one should thunder to'em, will you tell me.

EVAD.

Let me consider.

MEL.

Doe, whose child thou wert,

Whose honor thou hast murdered, whose graue opened,

And so pul'd on the gods, that in their iustice

They must restore him flesh agen and life,

1325

And raise his drie bones to reuenge this scandall.

EVAD.

The gods are not of my minde, they had better

Let'em lie sweete still in the earth, theile stinke here.

MEL.

Doe you raise mirth out of my easinesse,

Forsake me then all weaknesses of nature,

1330

That make men women, speake you whore, speake truth,

Or by the deare soule of thy sleeping father,

This sword shall be thy louer, tell or ile kill thee,

And when thou hast told all, thou wilt deserue it.

EVAD.

You will not murther me.

MEL.

No, tis a iustice and a noble one,

1335

To put the light out of such base offenders.

EVAD.

Helpe?

MEL.

By thy foule selfe, no humaine help shall help thee,

If thou criest, when I haue kild thee, as I haue

Vow'd to doe, if thou confesse not, naked as thou hast left

Thine honor, will I leaue thee,

1340

That on thy branded flesh the world may reade

Thy blacke shame and my iustice, wilt thou bend yet?

Euad.

Yes.

Mel.

Vp and beginne your storie.

Euad.

Oh I am miserable.

Mel.

Tis true, thou art, speake truth still.

Euad.

I haue offended, noble Sir forgiue me.

Mel.

With what secure slaue?

Euad.

Doe not aske me Sir,

Mine owne remembrance is a miserie

Too mightie for me.

Mel.

Doe not fall backe agen, my sword's vnsheathed yet.

Euad.

What shall I doe?

Mel.

Be true, and make your fault lesse.

Euad.

I dare not tell.

Mel.

Tell, or ile be this day a killing thee.

Euad.

Will you forgiue me then?

Mel.

Stay I must aske mine honour first, I haue too much foolish nature in me, speake.

Euad.

Is there no more here?

Mel.

1345

None but a fearfull conscience, that's too many.

Who ist?

Euad.

The King.

Mel.

My worthy fathers and my seruices

Are liberally rewarded, King I thanke thee:

For all my dangers and my wounds thou hast paid me

1350

In my owne metall, these are souldiers thankes.

How long haue you liued thus Euadne?

Euad.

Too long, too late I finde it.

Mel.

Can you be very sorry?

Euad.

Would I were halfe as blamelesse.

Mel.

Woman thou wilt not to thy trade againe.

Euad.

First to my graue.

Mel.

Would gods thou hadst beene so blest.

Dost thou not hate this King now? prethee hate him.

Has sunke thy faire soule, I command thee curse him,

1355

Curse till the gods heare and deliuer him

To thy iust wishes, yet I feare Euadne

You had rather play your game out.

Euad.

No I feele

Too many sad confusions here to let in

1360

Any loose flame hereafter.

Mel.

Dost thou not feele amongst al those one braue anger

That breakes out nobly, and directs thine arme

To kill this base King?

Euad.

All the gods forbid it.

Mel.

No al the gods require it, they are dishonored in him.

Euad.

Tis too fearfull.

Mel.

Y'are valiant in his bed, and bold enough

1365

To be a stale whore, and haue your Madams name,

Discourse for groomes and pages, and hereafter

When his coole Maiestie hath laid you by

To be at pension with some needie Sir

For meat and courser cloathes, thus farre you had no feare.

1370

Come you shall kill him.

Euad.

Good Sir.

Mel.

And twere to kisse him dead, thoudst smother him.

Be wise and kill him, canst thou liue and know

What noble minds shall make thee see thy selfe,

Found out with euery finger, made the shame

1375

Of all successions, and in this thy ruine

Thy brother and thy noble husband broken?

Thou shalt not liue thus, kneele and sweare to helpe me

When I shall call thee to it, or by all

Holy in heauen and earth thou shalt not liue

1380

To breathe a foule houre longer, not a thought.

Come tis a righteous oath, giue me thy hand,

And both to heauen held vp, sweare by that wealth

This lustfull theefe stole from thee, when I say it,

To let his foule soule out.

Euad.

1385

Here I sweare it,

And all you spirits of abused Ladies,

Helpe me in this performance.

Mel.

Enough, this must be knowne to none

But you and I Euadne, not to your Lord,

1390

Though he be wise and noble, and a fellow

Dare step as farre into a worthy action,

As the most daring, I as farre as iustice.

Aske me not why. Farewell.

Exit Mel.

Euad.

Would I could say so to my blacke disgrace,

1395

Gods where haue I beene all this time; how friended,

That I should lose my selfe thus desperately,

And none for pittie shew me how I wandred.

There is not in the compasse of the light

A more vnhappy creature, sure I am monstrous,

1400

For I haue done those follies those mad mischiefes

Would dare a woman. O my loaden soule,

Be not so cruell to me, choake not vp

Enter Amintor.

The way to my repentance. O my Lord.

Amint.

How now?

Euad.

My much abused Lord.

Kneele.

Amint.

This cannot be.

Euad.

I doe not kneele to liue, I dare not hope it,

1405

The wrongs I did are greater, looke vpon me

Though I appeare with all my faults.

Amint.

Stand vp.

This is a new way to beget more sorrowes,

Heauen knowes I haue too many, doe not mocke me,

1410

Though I am tame and bred vp with my wrongs,

Which are my foster-brothers, I may leape

Like a hand-wolfe into my naturall wildnesse,

And doe an outrage, prethee doe not mocke me.

Euad.

My whole life is so leaprous it infects

1415

All my repentance, I would buy your pardon

Though at the highest set, euen with my life,

That sleight contrition, that; no sacrifice

For what I haue committed.

Amint

Sure I dazle.

1420

There cannot be A faith in that foule woman

That knowes no God more mighty then her mischiefes,

Thou doest still worse, still number on thy faults,

To presse my poore heart thus. Can I beleeue

Theres any seed of vertue in that woman

1425

Left to shoot vp, that dares goe in sinne

Knowne and so knowne as thine is, O Euadne,

Would there were any safetie in thy sex,

That I might put a thousand sorrowes off,

And credit thy repentance, but I must not,

1430

Thou hast brought me to that dull calamitie,

To that strange misbeleefe of all the world,

And all things that are in it, that I feare

I shall fall like a tree, and finde my graue,

Only remembring that I grieue.

Euad.

1435

My Lord,

Giue me your griefes, you are an innocent,

A soule as white as heauen, let not my sinnes

Perish your noble youth, I doe not fall here

To shadow by dissembling with my teares

1440

As all say women can, or to make lesse

What my hot will hath done, which heauen and you

Knowes to be tougher then the hand of time

Shall cut from mans remembrance, no I doe not,

I doe appeare the same, the same Euadne,

1445

Drest in the shames I liu'd in, the same monster.

But these are names of honour to what I am,

I doe present my selfe the foulest creature,

Most poisonous, dangerous, and despisde of men

Lerna ere bred or Nilus, I am hell,

1450

Till you my deare Lord shoot your light into me,

The beames of your forgiuenesse, I am soule sicke,

And wither with the feare of one condemnd,

Till I haue got your pardon.

Amint.

Rise Euadne.

1455

Those heauenly powers that put this good into thee

Grant a continuance of it, I forgiue thee

Make thyselfe worthy of it, and take heed

Take heed Euadne this be serious

Mocke not the powers aboue that can, and dare

1460

Giue thee a great example of their iustice

To all insuing eyes, if thou plai'st

With thy repentance, the best sacrifice.

Euad.

I haue done nothing good to get beleife,

My life hath beene so faithlesse, all the Creatures

1465

Made for heauens honors haue their ends, and good ones

Al but the cousening Crocodiles false women.

They raigne here like those plagues, those killing soares

Men pray against, and when they die; like tales

Ill told, and vnbeleiu'd they passe away,

1470

And go to dust forgotten: But my Lord

Those short daies I shall number to my rest,

(As many must not see me,) shall though too late,

Though in my euening, yet perceiue a will

Since I can doe no good because a woman,

1475

Reach constantly at something that is neere it,

I will redeeme one minute of my age,

Or like another Niobe ile weepe

Till I am water.

Amint.

I am dissolued.

1480

My frozen soule melts, may each sin thou hast,

Finde a new mercy, rise, I am at peace:

Hadst thou beene thus, thus excellently good

Before that deuill King tempted thy frailty

Sure thou hadst made a Star, giue me thy hand

1485

From this time I will know thee, and as far

As honour giues me leaue, be thy Amintor,

When we meete next I will salute thee fairely,

And pray the gods to giue thee happy daies,

My Charity shall go along with thee

1490

Though my embraces must be far from thee,

I should ha' kild thee, but this sweete repentance

Lockes vp my vengeance, for which, thus I kisse thee

The last kisse we must take, and would to heauen

The holy Preist that gaue our hands together,

1495

Had giuen vs equall virtues, go Euadne

The gods thus part our bodies, haue a care

My honour falles no further, I am well then.

Euad.

All the deare ioyes here, and aboue hereafter

Crowne thy faire soule, thus I take leaue my Lord,

1500

And neuer shall you see the foule Euadne

Till she haue tried all honoured meanes that may

Set her in rest, and wash her staines away.

Exeunt.

Hoboies play within.

Banquet. Enter King, Calianax.

I cannot tell how I should credit this

From you that are his enemie.

Call.

1505

I am sure he said it to me, and ile iustifie it

What way he dares oppose, but with my sword.

King.

But did he breake without all circumstance

To you his Foe, that he would haue the fort

To kill me, and then scape.

Call.

If he deny it, ile make him blush.

King.

It sounds incredibly.

Call.

I so does euery thing I say of late.

King.

Not so Callianax.

Call.

1510

Yes I should sit

Mute whilst a Rogue with strong armes cuts your throate.

King.

Well I will trie him, and if this be true

Ile pawne my life ile finde it, ift be false

And that you cloath your hate in such a lie

1515

You shall hereafter doate, in your owne house,

Not in the Court.

Call.

Why if it be a lie

Mine eares are false, for I besworne I heard it,

Old men are good for nothing, you were best

1520

Put me to death for hearing, and free him

For meaning it, you would a trusted me

Once, but the time is altered.

King.

And will still where I may doe with iustice to the world, you haue no witnesse.

Call.

Yes my selfe.

King.

No more I meane there were that heard it.

Call.

How no more? would you haue more? why am not

I enough to hang a thousand Rogues.

King.

But so you may hang honest men too if you please.

Call.

I may, tis like I will doe so, there are a hundred will sweare it for a need too, if I say it.

King.

Such witnesses we need not.

Call.

And tis hard if my word cannot hang a boisterous knaue.

King.

Enough, where's Strato.

Strat.

1525

Sir

Enter Strat.

King.

Why wheres all the Company? call Amintor in

Euadne, wheres my brother, and Melantius,

Bid him come too, and Diphilus, call all

Exit Strat.

That are without there, if he should desire

1530

The combat of you, tis not in the power

Of all our lawes to hinder it, vnlesse

We meane to quit 'em.

Call.

Why if you doe thinke

Tis fit an old man, and a Counsellor

1535

To fight for what he saies, then you may grant it.

Enter Amintor, Euadne, Melant. Diph. Lysip. Cle. Stra.

King.

Come sirs, Amintor thou art yet a Bridegroome,

And I will vse thee so, thou shalt sit downe,

Euadne sit, and you Amintor too

This banquet is for you sir, who has brought

1540

A merry tale about him, to raise laughter

Amongst our wine, why Strato where art thou

Thou wilt chopt out with them vnseasonably

When I desire 'em not.

Strat.

Tis my ill lucke Sir, so to spend them then.

King.

Reach me a boule of wine, Melantius thou art sad.

Mel.

I should be Sir the merriest here,

1545

But I ha nere a story of mine owne

worth telling at this time.

King.

Giue me the wine.

Melantius I am now considering

How easie twere for any man we trust

1550

To poyson one of vs in such a boule.

Mel.

I thinke it were not hard Sir, for a Knaue.

Cal.

Such as you are.

King.

I faith twere easie, it becomes vs well

To get plaine dealing men about our selues,

Such as you all are here, Amintor to thee

And to thy faire Euadne.

Mel.

Haue you thought of this Callianax.

Cal.

Yes marry haue I.

Mel.

And whats your resolution?

Cal.

Ye shall haue it soundly I warrant you.

King.

Reach to Amintor, Strato.

Amint.

1555

Here my loue,

This wine will doe thee wrong, for it will set

Blushes vpon thy cheekes, and till thou dost

A fault twere pitty.

King.

Yet I wonder much

1560

Of the strange desperation of these men

That dare attempt such acts here in our state,

He could not scape that did it.

Mel.

Were he knowne, vnpossible.

King.

It would be knowne Melantius.

Mel.

It ought to be, if he got then away

He must weare all our liues vpon his sword,

1565

He need not flie the Iland, he must leaue

No one aliue.

King.

No I should thinke no man

Could kill me and scape cleare but that old man.

Call.

But I? heauen blesse me, I, should I my liege?

King.

I doe not thinke thou wouldst but yet thou mightst,

1570

For thou hast in thy hands the meanes to scape,

By keeping of the fort, he has Melantius,

And he has kept it well.

Mel.

From Cobwebs Sir,

Tis cleane swept, I can finde no other Art

1575

In keeping of it now, twas nere beseidge

Since he commaunded.

Call.

I shall be sure of your good word,

But I haue kept it safe from such as you.

Mel.

Keepe your ill temper in,

1580

I speake no malice, had my brother kept it

I should ha sed as much.

King.

You are not merry, brother drinke wine,

Sit you all still, Callianax

Aside

I cannot trust thus, I haue throwne out words,

1585

That would haue fetcht warme bloud vpon the cheekes

Of guilty men, and he is neuer mou'd,

He knowes no such thing.

Call.

Impudence may scape, when feeble virtue is accus'd.

King.

A must if he were guilty feele an alteration

At this our whisper, whilst we point at him,

1590

You see he does not.

Call.

Let him hang himselfe,

What care I what he does, this he did say.

King.

Melant. you can easily conceiue

What I haue meant, for men that are in faults

1595

Can subtly apprehend when others aime

At what they doe amisse, but I forgiue

Freely before this man, heauen doe so too;

I will not touch thee so much as with shame

Of telling it, let it be so no more.

Call.

Why this is very fine.

Mel.

1600

I cannot tell

What tis you meane, but I am apt enough

Rudely to thrust into ignorant fault,

But let me know it, happily tis naught

But misconstruction, and where I am cleare

1605

I will not take forgiuenesse of the gods,

Much lesse of you.

King.

Nay if you stand so stiffe, I shall call back my mercy.

Mel.

I want smoothnes

To thanke a man for pardoning of a crime

I neuer knew.

King.

Not to instruct your knowledge, but to show you my eares are euery where, you meant to kill me, and get the fort to scape.

Mel.

1610

Pardon me Sir, my bluntnesse will be pardoned, you preserue

A race of idle people here about you,

Facers, and talkers to defame the world

Of those that doe things worthy, the man that vttered this

Had perisht without food, bee't who it will,

1615

But for this arme that fenst him from the Foe.

And if I thought you gaue a faith to this,

The plainenesse of my nature would speake more,

Giue me a pardon, for you ought to doo't

To kill him that spake this.

Call.

1620

I that will be the end of all,

Then I am fairely paide for all my care and seruice.

Mel.

That old man, who calls my enemy, and of whom I

(Though I will neuer match my hate so low,)

Haue no good thought, would yet I thinke excuse me,

1625

And sweare he thought me wrong'd in this.

Call.

Who I, thou shamelesse Fellow that hast spoke to me

Of it thy selfe.

Mel.

O then it came from him.

Call.

From me, who should it come from but from me?

Mel.

Nay I beleeue your malice is enough,

But I ha lost my anger, Sir I hope

1630

You are well satisfied.

King.

Licip: cheare Amintor and his Lady, theres no sound

Comes from you, I will come and doo't my selfe.

Amint.

You haue done all ready Sir for me I thanke you.

King.

Melantius I doe credit this from him,

How sleight so ere you mak't.

Mel.

Tis strange you should.

Call.

1635

Tis strang a should beleeue an old mans word,

That neuer lied ins life.

Mel.

I talke not to thee.

Shall the wilde words of this distempered man;

Frantique with age and sorrow make a breach

1640

Betwixt your Maiestie and me, twas wrong

To harken to him, but to credit him

As much, at least, as I haue power to beare.

But pardon me, whilst I speake onely truth,

I may commend my selfe — I haue bestowd

1645

My carelesse bloud with you, and should be loath

To thinke an action that would make me loose

That, and my thankes too: when I was a boy

I thrust my selfe into my Countries cause,

And did a deed, that pluckt fiue yeares from time

1650

And stil'd me man then, and for you my king

Your Subiects all haue fed by vertue of my arme,

And you your selfe haue liu'd at home in ease,

So terrible I grew that without swords

My name hath fetcht you conquest, and my heart

1655

And limmes are still the same, my will as great

To doe you seruice: let me not be paid

With such a strange distrust.

King.

Melantius I held it great iniustice to beleeue

Thine enemie, and did, if I did,

1660

I doe not, let that satisfie, what strooke

With sadnesse all? more wine.

Call.

A few fine words haue ouerthrowne my truth, a th'art a Villaine.

Mel.

Why, thou wert better let me haue the fort,

Dotard, I wil disgrace thee thus for euer,

There shall no credit lie vpon thy words,

1665

Thinke better and deliuer it.

Call.

My leige, hees at me now agen to doe it, speake

Denie it if thou canst, examine him

Whilst he is hot, for if hee coole agen,

He will forsweare it.

King.

This is lunacie I hope, Melantius.

Mel.

1670

He hath lost himselfe

Much since his daughter mist the happinesse

My sister gaind, and though he call me Foe,

I pittie him.

Call.

A pittie a pox vpon you.

Mel.

Marke his disordered words, and at the Maske

Mel.

Diagoras knowes he rag'd, and raild at me,

1675

And cald a Ladie Whore so innocent

She vnderstood him not, but it becomes

Both you and me to forgiue distraction,

Pardon him as I doe.

Call.

Ile not speake for thee, for all thy cunning, if you will be safe chop off his head, for there was neuer knowne so impudent a Rascall.

King.

Some that loue him get him to bed, why? pittie should not let age make it selfe contemptible, we must be all old, haue him away.

Mel.

Callianax the King beleeues you, come, you shall go home, and rest, you ha done well, youle giue it vp When I haue vsd you thus a month, I hope.

Cal.

Now, now, tis plaine Sir, he does moue me still,

1680

He saies he knowes ile giue him vp the fort

When he has vsd me thus a month, I am mad

Am I not still?

Omnes.

Ha ha ha.

Cal.

I shall be mad indeed if you doe thus,

Why should you trust a sturdie fellow there,

1685

(That has no virtue in him, alls in his sword)

before me; doe but take his weapons from him

And hees an Asse, and I am a very foole

Both with him, and without him, as you vse me.

Omnes.

Ha ha ha.

King.

Too well, Cal: but if you vse

1690

This once agen I shall intreat some other

To see your offices be well dischargd.

Be merry Gentlemen it growes somewhat late,

Amintor thou wouldst be a bed agen.

Amint.

Yes Sir.

King.

And you Euadne let me take thee in my arme, Melantius thou art as thou deseruest to be, my freind,

1695

Still, and for euer good Call:

Sleepe soundly, it will bring thee to thy selfe.

Exeunt omnes. Manent Mel. & Cal.

Call.

Sleepe soundly! I sleepe soundly now I hope,

I could not be thus else. How dar'st thou stay

Alone with me, knowing how thou hast vsed me?

Mel.

1700

You cannot blast me with your tongue, and thats the strongest

Part you haue about ye.

Call.

Dost not thou looke for some great punishment for this? I feele

My selfe beginne to forget all my hate,

And tak't vnkindly that mine enemy

1705

Should vse me so extremely scuruily.

Mel.

I shall meet too, if you begin to take

Vnkindnesse, I neuer meant you hurt.

Call.

Thoult anger me agen; thou wretched roague,

Meant me no wrong! disgrace me with the King,

1710

Lose all my offices, this is no hurt

Is it, I prethee what dost thou call hurt?

Mel.

To poison men because they loue me not,

To call the credit of mens wiues in question,

To murder children, betwixt me and Land,

1715

This I call hurt.

Call.

All this thou think'st is sport,

For mine is worse, but vse thy will with me,

For betwixt griefe and anger I could crie.

Mel.

Be wise then and be safe, thou maist reuenge.

Call.

I oth' the King, I would reuenge of thee.

Mel.

That you must plot your selfe.

Call.

I am a fine plotter.

Mel.

The short is, I will hold thee with the King

1720

In this perplexitie till peeuishnesse

And his disgrace haue laid thee in thy graue.

But if thou wilt deliuer vp the fort,

Ile take thy trembling body in my armes,

And beare thee ouer dangers, thou shalt hold

1725

Thy wonted state.

Call.

If I should tell the King, canst thou deni't agen?

Mel.

Trie and beleeue.

Call.

Nay then thou canst bring any thing about,

Melantius, thou shalt haue the fort.

Mel.

Why well, here let our hate be buried, and

This hand shall right vs both, giue me thy aged brest

1730

To compasse.

Call.

Nay I doe not loue thee yet,

I cannot well endure to looke on thee,

And if I thought it were a curtesie,

Thou shouldst not haue it, but I am disgrac't,

1735

My offices are to be tane away,

And if I did but hold this fort a day,

I doe beleeue the King would take it from me,

And giue it thee, things are so strangely carried,

Nere thanke me fort, but yet the King shall know

1740

There was some such thing int I told him of,

And that I was an honest man.

Mel.

Heele buy that knowledge very deerely: Diph

What newes with thee?

Ent. Diphilus.

Diph.

This were a night indeed to doe it in,

1745

The King hath sent for her.

Mel.

She shall performe it then, goe Diph

And take from this good man my worthy friend

The fort, heele giue it thee.

Diph.

Ha you got that?

Call.

Art thou of the same breed? canst thou denie

1750

This to the King too?

Diph.

With a confidence as great as his.

Call.

Faith like enough.

Mel.

Away and vse him kindly.

Call.

Touch not me, I hate the whole straine, if thou follow me a great way off, Ile giue thee vp the fort, and hang your selues.

Mel.

Be gone.

Diph.

Hees finely wrought.

Exeunt Call. Diph.

Mel.

This is a night spight of Astronomers

To doe the deed in, I will wash the staine

That rests vpon our house, off with his bloud.

Ent. Amint.

Amint.

Melantius now assist me if thou beest

1755

That which thou saist, assist me, I haue lost

All my distempers, and haue found a rage

So pleasing, helpe me.

Mel.

Who can see him thus,

And not sweare vengeance? whats the matter friend?

Amint.

1760

Out with thy sword, and hand in hand with me

Rush to the chamber of this hated King,

And sinke him with the weight of all his sins

To hell for euer.

Mel.

Twere a rash attempt,

1765

Not to be done with safetie, let your reason

Plot your reuenge, and not your passion.

Amint.

If thou refusest me in these extremes,

Thou art no friend, he sent for her to me,

By heauen to me, my selfe, and I must tell ye

1770

I loue her as a stranger, there is worth

In that vild woman, worthy things Melantius,

And she repents, Ile doo't my selfe alone,

Though I be slaine, farewell.

Mel.

Heele ouerthrow my whole designe with madnes, Amintor.

1775

Thinke what thou doest, I dare as much as valour,

But tis the King, the King, the King, Amintor,

With whom thou fightest, I know hees honest.

Aside.

And this will worke with him.

Amint.

I cannot tell

1780

What thou hast said, but thou hast charmd my sword

Out of my hand, and left me shaking here

Defencelesse.

Mel.

I will take it vp for thee.

Amint.

What a wilde beast is vncollected man!

The thing that we call honour beares vs all

1785

Headlong vnto sinne, and yet it selfe is nothing.

Mel.

Alas how variable are thy thoughts?

Amint.

Iust like my fortunes, I was run to that,

I purposd to haue chid thee for some plot

I did distrust thou hadst against the King

By that old fellowes carriage, but take heed,

1790

Theres not the least limbe growing to a King

But carries thunder in't.

Mel.

I haue none against him.

Amint.

Why come then, and still remember wee may not thinke reuenge.

Mel.

I will remember.

Exeunt.

Act V

Actus 5.

Enter Euadne and a Gentleman.

EVad.

Sir is the King abed?

Gent.

Madam an houre agoe.

Euad.

Giue me the key then, and Sir let none be neere.

Tis the Kings pleasure.

Gent.

I vnderstand you Madam, would twere mine,

1795

I must not wish good rest vnto your Ladiship.

Euad.

You talke, you talke.

Gent.

Tis all I dare doe Madam, but the King will wake, and then me thinkes.

Euad.

Sauing your imagination, pray good night Sir.

Gent.

A good night be it then, and a long one Madam, I am gone.

Exit.

Euad.

The night growes horrible, and all about me

Like my blacke purpose, O the conscience

K. a bed.

Of a lost virtue, whither wilt thou pull me?

To what things dismall, as the depth of hell,

1800

Wilt thou prouoke me? Let no woman dare

From this houre be disloyall, if her heart

Be flesh; if she haue bloud and can feare, tis a madnesse

Aboue that desperate mans that left his peace,

And went to sea to fight, tis so many sins,

1805

An age cannot repent 'em, and so great,

The gods want mercy for, yet I must through 'em,

I haue begun a slaughter on my honour,

And I must end it there, a sleepes, oh God,

Why giue you peace to this vntemperate beast,

1810

That has so farre transgrest you? I must kill him,

And I will doo't brauely: the meere ioy

Confirmes me that I merit, yet I must not

Thus tamely doe it as he sleepes, that were

To rake him to another world, my vengeance

1815

Shall seaze him waking, and then say before him

The number of his wrongs and punishments.

Ile shape his sins like furies till I waken

His euill Angell, his sicke conscience,

Ties his armes to the bed.

And then I strike him dead. King by your leaue,

1820

I dare not trust your strength, your Grace and I

Must grapple vpon euen tearmes no more.

So, if he raile me not from my resolution,

As I beleeue I shall not, I shall fit him.

My Lord the King, my Lord, a sleepes

1825

As if he meant to wake no more, my Lord,

Is he not dead already? Sir, my Lord.

King.

Whose that?

Euad.

O you sleepe soundly Sir.

King.

My deare Euadne,

I haue beene dreaming of thee, come to bed.

Euad.

I am come at length Sir, but how welcome?

King.

What prettie new deuice is this Euadne?

1830

What, doe you tie me to you by my loue?

This is a queint one: come my deare and kisse me,

Ile be thy Mars, to bed my Queene of loue,

Let vs be caught together, that the gods may looke,

And enuie our embraces.

Euad.

1835

Stay Sir, stay,

You are too hot, and I haue brought you physicke,

To temper your high veines.

King.

Prethee to bed then, let me take it warme,

Here thou shalt know the state of my body better.

Euad.

1840

I know you haue a surfeited foule body,

And you must bleed.

King.

Bleed!

Euad.

I you shall bleed, lie still, and if the deuill

Your lust will giue you leaue, repent, this steele

Comes to redeeme the honour that you stole

1845

King, my faire name, which nothing but thy death

Can answer to the world.

King.

How Euadne?

Euad.

I am not she, nor beare I in this breast

So much cold spirit to be cald a woman,

I am a Tiger, I am any thing

1850

That knowes not pittie, stirre not, if thou doest,

Ile take thee vnprepar'd, thy feares vpon thee,

That make thy sins looke double, and so send thee

(By my reuenge I will) to looke those torments

Prepar'd for such blacke soules.

King.

1855

Thou doest not meane this, tis impossible,

Thou art too sweet and gentle.

Euad.

No I am not,

I am as foule as thou art, and can number

As many such hels here: I was once faire,

1860

Once I was louely, not a blowing rose

More chastly sweet, till thou, thou, thou foule canker,

(Stirre not) didst poison me, I was a world of vertue,

Till your curst Court and you (hell blesse you for't)

With your temptations on temptations

1865

Made me giue vp mine honour, for which (King)

I am come to kill thee.

King.

No.

Euad.

I am.

King.

Thou art not.

I prethee speake not these things, thou art gentle,

And wert not meant thus rugged.

Euad.

1870

Peace and heare me.

Stirre nothing but your tongue, and that for mercy,

To those aboue vs, by whose lights I vow,

Those blessed fires, that shot to see our sinne,

If thy hot soule had substance with thy bloud,

1875

I would kill that too, which being past my steele,

My tongue shall reach: Thou art a shamelesse villaine,

A thing out of the ouercharge of nature,

Sent like a thicke cloud to disperse a plague

Vpon weake catching women, such a tyrant,

1880

That for his lust would sell away his subiects,

I all his heauen hereafter.

King.

Heare Euadne,

Thou soule of sweetnesse, heare, I am thy King.

Euad.

Thou art my shame, lie still, theres none about you

1885

Within your cries, all promises of safetie

Are but deluding dreames, thus, thus thou foule man,

Thus I begin my vengeance.

King.

Hold Euadne,

I doe command thee, hold.

Euad.

1890

I doe not meane Sir

To part so fairely with you, we must change

More of these loue-trickes yet.

King.

What bloudie villanie

Prouok't thee to this murther?

Euad.

Thou, thou monster.

Stabs him.

King.

Oh.

Euad.

1895

Thou keptst me braue at Court, and whorde me, King,

Then married me to a young noble Gentleman,

And whorde me still.

King.

Euadne, pittie me.

Euad.

Hell take me then, this for my Lord Amintor,

This for my noble brother, and this stroke

1900

For the most wrongd of women.

Kils him.

King.

Oh I die.

Euad.

Die all our faults together, I forgiue thee.

Exeunt.

Enter two of the Bed-chamber.

Come now shees gone, lets enter, the King expects it, and will be angry.

Tis a fine wench, weele haue a snap at her one of these nights as she goes from him.

Content: how quickly he had done with her, I see Kings can doe no more that way then other mortall people.

How fast he is! I cannot heare him breathe.

Either the tapers giue a feeble light, or he lookes very pale.

Lets looke: Alas, hees stiffe, wounded and dead.

Treason.

Run forth and call.

Exit Gent.

Treason, treason.

This will be laid on vs: who can beleeue

A woman could doe this?

Enter Cleon and Lysippus.

Cle.

How now? wheres the traitor?

1905

Fled, fled away, but there her wofull act

Lies still.

Cle.

Her act! a woman!

Lys.

Wheres the body?

There.

Lys.

Farewell thou worthy man, there were two bonds

That tied our loues, a brother and a King,

The least of which might fetch a floud of teares:

1910

But such the miserie of greatnesse is,

They haue no time to mourne, then pardon me.

Sirs, which way went she?

Enter Strato.

Strat.

Neuer follow her,

For she alas was but the instrument.

1915

Newes is now brought in that Melantius

Has got the Fort, and stands vpon the wall,

And with a loud voice cals to those few that passe

At this dead time of night, deliuering

The innocence of this act.

Lys

Gentlemen, I am your King.

Strat.

We doe acknowledge it.

Lys.

I would I were not: follow all, for this must haue a sudden stop.

Exeunt.

Ent. Melant. Diph. Calli on the walls.

Mel.

1920

If the dull people can beleeue I am arm'd,

Be constant Diph. now we haue time,

Either to bring our banisht honours home,

Or to create new ones in our ends.

Diph.

I feare not,

1925

My spirit lies not that way. Courage Callianax.

Call.

Would I had any, you should quickly know it.

Mel.

Speake to the people, thou art eloquent.

Call.

Tis a fine eloquence to come to the gallowes,

You were borne to be my end, the deuill take you,

Now must I hang for company, tis strange

I should be old, and neither wise, nor valiant.

Enter Lysip. Diag. Cleon. Strato. Guard.

Lys.

1930

See where he stands as boldly confident,

As if he had his full command about him.

Strat.

He lookes as if he had the better cause, Sir,

Vnder your gracious pardon let me speake it,

Though he be mightie spirited and forward

1935

To all great things, to all things of that danger

Worse men shake at the telling of, yet certaine

I doe beleeue him noble, and this action

Rather puld on then sought, his minde was euer

As worthy as his hand.

Lys.

1940

Tis my feare too,

Heauen forgiue all: summon him Lord Cleon.

Cle.

Ho from the walls there.

Mel.

Worthy Cleon welcome,

We could a wisht you here Lord, you are honest.

Call.

Well thou art as flattering a knaue, though I dare not tell thee so.

Aside.

Lys.

Melantius.

Mel.

Sir.

Lys.

I am sorrie that we meet thus, our old loue

1945

Neuer requir'd such distance, pray to heauen

You haue not left your selfe, and sought this safetie

More out of feare then honour, you haue lost

A noble master, which your faith, Melantius,

I'm sure might haue preserued.

Melant.

1950

Royall young man, tho se teares looke louely on thee,

Had they beene shed for a deseruing one,

They had beene lasting monuments: Thy brother,

Whilst he was good, I cald him King, and seru'd him,

With that strong faith, that most vnwearied valour,

1955

Puld people from the farthest sunne to seeke him,

And begge his friendship, I was then his souldier,

But since his hot pride drew him to disgrace me,

And brand my noble actions with his lust,

(That neuer-cur'd dishonour of my sister,

1960

Base staine of whore, and which is worse,

The ioy to make it still so, like my selfe)

Thus I haue flung him off with my allegeance,

And stand here mine owne iustice for reuenge,

What I haue suffred in him, and this old man

1965

Wrongd almost to lunacie.

Call.

Who I? You wud draw me in, I haue had no wrong,

I doe disclaime ye all.

Mel.

The short is this,

Tis no ambition to lift vp my selfe

1970

Vrgeth me thus, I doe desire againe

To be a subiect, so I may be free;

If not, I know my strength, and will vnbuild

This goodly towne, be speedie, and be wise, in a replie.

Strat.

Be sudden Sir to tie

1975

All vp againe, what's done is past recall,

And past you to reuenge, and there are thousands

That wait for such a troubled houre as this.

Throw him the blanke.

Lys.

Melantius, write in that thy choice,

1980

My seale is at it.

Mel.

It was our honours drew vs to this act,

No gaine, and we will only worke our pardons.

Call.

Put my name in too.

Diph.

You disclaim'd vs all but now Callianax.

Call.

Thats all one,

Ile not be hangd hereafter by a tricke,

1985

Ile haue it in.

Mel.

You shall, you shall:

Come to the backe gate, and weele call the King,

And giue you vp the Fort.

Lys.

Away, away.

Exeunt omnes.

Enter Aspat. in mans apparell.

Aspat.

This is my fatall houre, heauen may forgiue

1990

My rash attempt that causelesly hath laid

Griefes on me that will neuer let me rest,

And put a womans heart into my breast,

It is more honour for you that I doe,

For she that can endure the miserie

1995

That I haue on me, and be patient too,

May liue and laugh at all that you can doe.

God saue you Sir.

Enter Seruant.

Ser.

And you Sir, whats your businesse?

Aspat.

With you Sir now, to doe me the faire office

To helpe me to your Lord.

Ser.

What would you serue him?

Aspat.

2000

Ile doe him any seruice, but to haste,

For my affaires are earnest, I desire

To speake with him.

Ser.

Sir because you are in such haste, I would be loth to delay you longer: you cannot.

Aspat.

It shall become you though to tell your Lord.

Ser.

Sir he will speake with no body, but in particular, I haue in charge about no waightie matters.

Aspat.

This is most strange: art thou gold proofe? theres for thee, helpe me to him.

Ser.

Pray be not angry Sir, Ile doe my best.

Exit.

Aspat.

How stubbornly this fellow answer'd me!

There is a vild dishonest tricke in man,

2005

More then in women: all the men I meet

Appeare thus to me, are harsh and rude,

And haue a subtletie in euery thing,

Which loue could neuer know; but we fond women

Harbour the easiest and the smoothest thoughts,

2010

And thinke all shall goe so, it is vniust

That men and women should be matcht together.

Amint.

Where is he?

Enter Amintor and his man.

Ser.

There my Lord.

Amint.

What would you Sir?

Aspat.

Please it your Lordship to command your man

Out of the roome, I shall deliuer things

Worthy your hearing.

Amint.

Leaue vs.

Aspat.

O that that shape should burie falshood in it.

Aside.

Amint.

Now your will Sir.

Aspat.

2015

When you know me, my Lord, you needs must ghesse

My businesse, and I am not hard to know.

For till the chance of warre markt this smooth face

With these few blemishes, people would call me

My sisters picture, and her mine: in short,

2020

I am the brother to the wrong'd Aspatia.

Amint.

The wrong'd Aspatia, would thou wert so too

Vnto the wrong'd Amintor, let me kisse

That hand of thine in honour that I beare

Vnto the wrong'd Aspatia, here I stand

2025

That did it, would he could not, gentle youth

Leaue me, for there is something in thy lookes

That cals my sins in a most odious forme

Into my minde, and I haue griefe enough

Without thy helpe.

Aspat.

2030

I would I could with credit.

Since I was twelue yeeres old I had not seene

My sister till this houre, I now arriu'd,

She sent for me to see her marriage,

A wofull one, but they that are aboue

2035

Haue ends in euery thing, she vsd few words,

But yet enough to make me vnderstand

The basenesse of the iniuries you did her,

That little trayning I haue had, is war,

I may behaue my selfe rudely in peace,

2040

I would not though, I shall not need to tell you

I am but young, and would be loth to loose

Honour that is not easily gaind againe,

Fairely I meane to deale, the age is strict

For single combats, and we shall be stopt

2045

If it be publisht, if you like your sword

Vse it, if mine appeare a better to you,

Change, for the ground is this, and this the time

To end our difference.

Amint.

Charitable youth,

2050

If thou beest such, thinke not I will maintaine

So strange a wrong, and for thy sisters sake,

Know, that I could not thinke that desperate thing

I durst not doe, yet to inioy this world

I would not see her, for beholding thee,

2055

I am I know not what, if I haue ought

That may content thee, take it, and be gone,

For death is not so terrible as thou,

Thine eies shoote guilt into me.

Aspat.

Thus she swore,

2060

Thou wouldst behaue thy selfe and giue me words

That would fetch teares into my eies, and so

Thou doest indeed, but yet she bad me watch,

Least I were cossend, and be sure to fight

Ere I returnd.

Amint.

2065

That must not be with me,

For her ile die directly, but against her

Will neuer hazard it.

Aspat.

You must be vrgd, I doe not deale vnciuilly with those that dare to fight, but such a one as you Must be vsd thus.

She strikes him.

Amint.

I prethee youth take heed,

Thy sister is a thing to me so much

2070

Aboue mine honour, that I can indure

All this, good gods — a blow I can indure,

But stay not, least thou draw a timelesse death

Vpon thy selfe.

Aspat.

Thou art some prating Fellow,

2075

One that has studied out a tricke to talke

And moue soft harted people; to be kickt

She kickes him aside.

Thus to be kickt — why should he be so slow

In giuing me my death.

Amint.

A man can beare

2080

No more and keepe his flesh, forgiue me then,

I would indure yet if I could, now show

The spirit thou pretendest, and vnderstand

they fight

Thou hast no houre to liue, what dost thou meane,

Thou canst not fight, the blowes thou makst at me

2085

Are quite besides, and those I offer at thee

Thou spreadst thine armes, and takst vpon thine brest

Alas defencelesse.

Aspat.

I haue got enough,

And my desire, there is no place so fit

2090

For me to die as here.

Ent. Euadne.

Euad.

Amintor I am loaden with euents

That flie to make thee happy, I haue ioyes

That in a moment can call backe thy wrongs

And settle thee in thy free state againe,

2095

It is Euadne still that followes thee

But not her mischiefes.

Amint.

Thou canst not foole me to beleeue agen,

But thou hast bookes and things so full of newes

That I am stald.

Euad.

2100

Noble Amintor put off thy amaze,

Let thine eies loose, and speake, am I not faire,

Lookes not Euad: beatious with these rites now

Were those houres halfe so louely in thine eyes

When our hands met before the holy man,

2105

I was too foule within, to looke faire then,

Since I knew ill I was not free till now.

Amint.

There is presage of some important thing

About thee which it seemes thy tongue hath lost,

Thy hands are bloudy, and thou hast a knife.

Euad.

2110

In this consists thy happinesse and mine,

Ioy to Amintor for the King is dead.

Amint.

Those haue most power to hurt vs, that we loue

We lay our sleeping liues within their armes,

Why thou hast raisd vp mischiefe to his height

2115

And found one, to out-name thy other faults,

Thou hast no intermission of thy sinnes,

But all thy life is a continued ill,

Blacke is thy coulor now, disease thy nature

Ioy to Amintor, thou hast toucht a life

2120

The very name of which had power to chaine

Vp all my rage, and tame my wildest wrongs.

Euad.

Tis done, and since I could not finde away

To meete thy loue so cleare, as through his life

I cannot now repent it.

Amint.

2125

Cudst thou procure the gods to speake to me,

To bid me loue this woman, and forgiue,

I thinke I should fall out with them, behold

Here lies a youth whose wounds bleed in my breast,

Sent by his violent Fate to fetch his death

2130

From my slow hand, this keepes night here

And throwes an vnknowne Wildernesse about me.

Aspat.

Oh oh oh.

Amint.

No more persue me not.

Euad.

Forgiue me then and take me to thy bed,

We may not part.

Amint.

Forbeare be wise, and let my rage go this way.

Euad.

Tis you that I would stay, not it.

Amint.

Take heed it will returne with me.

Euad.

If it must be I shall not feare to meete it,

2135

Take me home.

Amint.

Thou Monster of crueltie, forbeare.

Euad.

For heauens sake looke more calme,

Thine eies are crueller, then thou canst make thy sword.

Amint.

Away, away thy knees are more to me then violence,

I am worse then sicke to see knees follow me,

2140

For that I must not grant, for Gods sake stand,

Euad.

Receiue me then.

Amint.

I dare not stay, thy language,

In midst of all my anger, and my griefe,

Thou doest awake some thing that troubles me,

And saies I lou'd thee once, I dare not stay,

2145

leaues her.

There is no end of womans reasoning.

Euad.

Amintor thou shalt loue me now againe,

Go I am calme, farwell, And peace for euer.

Euadne whom thou hatst will die for thee.

Kills herselfe.

Amint.

I haue a little humane nature yet

2150

Thats lest for thee, that bids me stay thy hand.

Returnes.

Euad.

Thy hand was welcome but it came too late,

Oh I am lost the heauie sleepe makes hast.

Aspat.

Oh oh oh.

Amint.

This earth of mine doth tremble, and I feele

A starke affrighted motion in my bloud,

2155

My soule growes weary of her house, and I

All ouer am a trouble to my selfe,

There is some hidden power in these dead things

That calls myselfe vnto'em, I am cold,

Be resolute, and beare'em company,

2160

Theres something yet which I am loath to leaue,

Theres man enough in me to meete the feares

That death can bring, and yet would it were done,

I can finde nothing in the whole discourse

Of death I durst not meete the bouldest way,

2165

Yet still betwixt the reason and the act

The wrong I to Aspatia did stands vp,

I haue not such another fault to answer,

Though she may iustly arme her selfe with scorne

And hate of me, my soule will part lesse troubled,

2170

When I haue paid to her in teares my sorrow,

I will not leaue this act vnsatisfied,

If all thats left in me can answer it.

Aspat.

Was it a dreame? There stands Amintor still,

Or I dreame still.

Amint.

2175

How doest thou? speake, receiue my loue & helpe:

Thy bloud climbes vp to his old place againe,

Theres hope of thy recouerie.

Aspat.

Did you not name Aspatia?

Amint.

I did.

Aspat.

And talkt of teares and sorrow vnto her.

Amint.

Tis true, and till these happie signes in thee

Staid my course, it was thither I was going.

Aspat.

2180

Thou art there already, and these wounds are hers:

Those threats I brought with me, sought not reuenge,

But came to fetch this blessing from thy hand.

I am Aspatia yet.

Amint.

Dare my soule euer looke abroad agen?

Aspat.

I shall sure liue Amintor, I am well,

2185

A kinde of healthfull ioy wanders within me.

Amint.

The world wants lines to excuse thy losse,

Come let me beare thee to some place of helpe.

Aspat.

Amintor thou must stay, I must rest here,

My strength begins to disobey my will.

2190

How dost thou my best soule? I would faine liue,

Now if I could, wouldst thou haue loued me then?

Amint.

Alas, all that I ams not worth a haire

From thee.

Aspat.

Giue me thine hand, mine eyes grow vp & downe,

2195

And cannot finde thee, I am wondrous sicke.

Haue I thy hand, Amintor?

Amint.

Thou greatest blessing of the world, thou hast.

Aspat.

I doe beleeue thee better then my sense,

Oh I must goe, farewell.

Amint.

She sounds: Aspatia. Helpe, for Gods sake: water,

2200

Such as may chaine life euer to this frame.

Aspatia, speake: what no helpe? yet I foole,

Ile chafe her temples, yet there nothing stirs.

Some hidden power tell her Amintor cals,

And let her answer me: Aspatia speake.

2205

I haue heard, if there be any life, but bow

The body thus, and it will shew it selfe.

Oh she is gone, I will not leaue her yet.

Since out of iustice we must challenge nothing,

Ile call it mercy if youle pittie me,

2210

You heauenly powers, and lend forth some few yeeres

The blessed soule to this faire seat againe.

No comfort comes, the gods deuie me too.

Ile bow the body once againe: Aspatia.

The soule is fled for euer, and I wrong

2215

My selfe, so long to loose her companie.

Kils himselfe.

Must I talke now? Heres to be with thee loue,

Enter Seruant.

Ser.

This is a great grace to my Lord to haue the new King come to him, I must tell him he is entring. Oh God, helpe, helpe.

Enter Lysip. Melant. Call. Diph. Strato.

Lys.

Wheres Amintor?

Strat.

O there, there.

Lys.

How strange is this?

Call.

What should we doe here?

Mel.

These deaths are such acquainted things with me,

That yet my heart dissolues not. May I stand

2220

Stiffe here for euer: eyes call vp your teares,

This is Amintor: heart, he was my friend,

Melt, now it flowes, Amintor giue a word

To call me to thee.

Amint.

Oh.

Mel.

Melantius cals his friend Amintor, oh thy armes

2225

Are kinder to me then thy tongue,

Speake, speake.

Amint.

What?

Mel.

That little word was worth all the sounds

That euer I shall heare againe.

Diph.

Oh brother here lies your sister slaine,

2230

You loose your selfe in sorrow there.

Mel.

Why Dip. it is

A thing to laugh at in respect of this,

Here was my Sister, Father, Brother, Sonne,

All that I had, speake once againe

2235

What youth lies slaine there by thee.

Amint.

Tis Aspatia,

My last is said, let me giue vp my soule

Into thy bosome.

Call.

Whats that, whats that Aspatia?

Mel.

I neuer did repent the greatnesse of heart till now,

2240

It will not burst at need.

Call.

My daughter, dead here too, and you haue all fine new trickes to greiue, but I nere knew any but direct crying.

Mel.

I am a Pratler, but no more.

Diph.

Hold Brother.

Lisip.

Stop him.

Diph.

Fie how vnmanly was this offer in you,

Does this become our straine.

Call.

I know not what the matter is, but I am

Growne very kinde, and am friends with you all now

2245

You haue giuen me that among you will kill me

Quickly, but Ile go home and liue as long as I can.

Exit.

Mel.

His spirit is but poore, that can be kept.

From death for want of weapons,

Is not my hands a weapon sharpe enough

2250

To stop my breath, or if you tie downe those,

I vow Amintor I will neuer eate

Or drinke, or sleepe, or haue to doe with that

That may preserue life, this I sweare to keepe.

Lisip.

Looke to him tho, and beare those bodies in

2255

May this a faire example be to me.

To rule with temper, for on lustfull Kings

Vnlookt for suddaine deaths from God are sent,

But curst is he that is their instrument.

FINIS.

[ EDITORIAL CASTLIST

KING.

LYSIPPVS, brother to the King.

AMINTOR.

EVADNE,, wife to AMINTOR.

MELANTIVS, brothers to EVADNE.

DIPHILVS

ASPATIA, troth-plight wife to AMINTOR.

CALLIANAX, an old humorous Lord, and father to ASPATIA.

CLEON, Gentlemen.

STRATO

DIAGORAS, a servant.

ANTIPHILA, waiting Gentlewomen to ASPATIA.

OLIMPIAS

DVLA, a Lady.

NIGHT, Maskers.

CINTHIA

NEPTVNE

EOLVS

1. Lady

All.

A Gentleman.

Bed-chamber 1

Bed-chamber 2

Servant ]

The Maydes Tragedy

Francis Beaumont

The Maides Tragedy.AS IT HATH BEENEdiuers times Acted at the Blacke-friers bythe KINGS Maiesties Seruants.LONDONPrinted for Francis Constable and are to be soldat the white Lyon ouer against the great Northdoore of Pauls Church. 1619.

Act I

Actus. I. Scaen. I.

Maske.

Act II

Actus Secundus.

Act III

Actus Tertius.

Act IV

Actus Quartus.

Act V

Actus 5.

FINIS.

The Maides Tragedy.
AS IT HATH BEENE
diuers times Acted at the Blacke-friers by
the KINGS Maiesties Seruants.

LONDON
Printed for Francis Constable and are to be sold
at the white Lyon ouer against the great North
doore of Pauls Church. 1619.