Chapter II: Part 2

_King_. Well, you'l trust me then _Amintor_,
To choose a Wife for you agen?

_Amint_. No never Sir.

_King_. Why? like you this so ill?

_Amint_. So well I like her.
For this I bow my knee in thanks to you,
And unto Heaven will pay my grateful tribute
Hourly, and to hope we shall draw out
A long contented life together here,
And die both full of gray hairs in one day;
For which the thanks is yours; but if the powers
That rule us, please to call her first away,
Without pride spoke, this World holds not a Wife
Worthy to take her room.

_King_. I do not like this; all forbear the room
But you _Amintor_ and your Lady. I have some speech with
You, that may concern your after living well.
_Amint_. He will not tell me that he lies with her: if
he do,
Something Heavenly stay my heart, for I shall be apt
To thrust this arm of mine to acts unlawful.

_King_. You will suffer me to talk with her _Amintor_,
And not have a jealous pang!

_Amint_. Sir, I dare trust my Wife
With whom she dares to talk, and not be jealous.

_King_. How do you like _Amintor_?

_Evad_. As I did Sir.

_King_. How's that!

_Evad_. As one that to fulfil your will and pleasure,
I have given leave to call me Wife and Love.

_King_. I see there is no lasting Faith in Sin;
They that break word with Heaven, will break again
With all the World, and so dost thou with me.

_Evad_. How Sir?

_King_. This subtile Womans ignorance
Will not excuse you; thou hast taken Oaths
So great, methought they did not well become
A Womans mouth, that thou wouldst ne're enjoy
A man but me.

_Evad_. I never did swear so; you do me wrong.

_King_. Day and night have heard it.

_Evad_. I swore indeed that I would never love
A man of lower place; but if your fortune
Should throw you from this height, I bade you trust
I would forsake you, and would bend to him
That won your Throne; I love with my ambition,
Not with mine eyes; but if I ever yet
Toucht any other, Leprosie light here
Upon my face, which for your Royalty I would not stain.

_King_. Why thou dissemblest, and it is in me to punish thee.

_Evad_. Why, it is in me then not to love you, which will
More afflict your body, than your punishment can mine.

_King_. But thou hast let _Amintor_ lie with thee.

_Evad_. I ha'not.

_King_. Impudence! he saies himself so.

_Evad_. He lyes.

_King_. He does not.

_Evad_. By this light he does, strangely and basely, and
I'le prove it so; I did not shun him for a night,
But told him I would never close with him.

_King_. Speak lower, 'tis false.

_Evad_. I'm no man to answer with a blow;
Or if I were, you are the King; but urge me not, 'tis
most true.

_King_. Do not I know the uncontrouled thoughts
That youth brings with him, when his bloud is high
With expectation and desires of that
He long hath waited for? is not his spirit,
Though he be temperate, of a valiant strain,
As this our age hath known? what could he do,
If such a sudden speech had met his blood,
But ruine thee for ever? if he had not kill'd thee,
He could not bear it thus; he is as we,
Or any other wrong'd man.

_Evad_. It is dissembling.

_King_. Take him; farewel; henceforth I am thy foe;
And what disgraces I can blot thee, look for.

_Evad_. Stay Sir; _Amintor_, you shall hear, _Amintor_.

_Amint_. What my Love?

_Evad_. _Amintor_, thou hast an ingenious look,
And shouldst be vertuous; it amazeth me,
That thou canst make such base malicious lyes.

_Amint_. What my dear Wife?

_Evad_. Dear Wife! I do despise thee;
Why, nothing can be baser, than to sow
Dissention amongst Lovers.

_Amint_. Lovers! who?

_Evad_. The King and me.

_Amint_. O Heaven!

_Evad_. Who should live long, and love without distaste,
Were it not for such pickthanks as thy self!
Did you lie with me? swear now, and be punisht in hell
For this.

_Amint_. The faithless Sin I made
To fair _Aspatia_, is not yet reveng'd,
It follows me; I will not lose a word
To this wild Woman; but to you my King,
The anguish of my soul thrusts out this truth,
Y'are a Tyrant; and not so much to wrong
An honest man thus, as to take a pride
In talking with him of it.

_Evad_. Now Sir, see how loud this fellow lyed.

_Amint_. You that can know to wrong, should know how
Men must right themselves: what punishment is due
From me to him that shall abuse my bed!
It is not death; nor can that satisfie,
Unless I send your lives through all the Land,
To shew how nobly I have freed my self.

_King_. Draw not thy Sword, thou knowest I cannot fear
A subjects hand; but thou shalt feel the weight of this
If thou dost rage.

_Amint_. The weight of that?
If you have any worth, for Heavens sake think
I fear not Swords; for as you are meer man,
I dare as easily kill you for this deed,
As you dare think to do it; but there is
Divinity about you, that strikes dead
My rising passions, as you are my King,
I fall before you, and present my Sword
To cut mine own flesh, if it be your will.
Alas! I am nothing but a multitude
Of walking griefs; yet should I murther you,
I might before the world take the excuse
Of madness: for compare my injuries,
And they will well appear too sad a weight
For reason to endure; but fall I first
Amongst my sorrows, ere my treacherous hand
Touch holy things: but why? I know not what
I have to say; why did you choose out me
To make thus wretched? there were thousand fools
Easie to work on, and of state enough within the Island.

_Evad_. I would not have a fool, it were no credit for me.

_Amint_. Worse and worse!
Thou that dar'st talk unto thy Husband thus,
Profess thy self a Whore; and more than so,
Resolve to be so still; it is my fate
To bear and bow beneath a thousand griefs,
To keep that little credit with the World.
But there were wise ones too, you might have ta'ne
another.

_King_. No; for I believe thee honest, as thou wert valiant.

_Amint_. All the happiness
Bestow'd upon me, turns into disgrace;
Gods take your honesty again, for I
Am loaden with it; good my Lord the King, be private
in it.

_King_. Thou may'st live _Amintor_,
Free as thy King, if thou wilt wink at this,
And be a means that we may meet in secret.

_Amint_. A Baud! hold my breast, a bitter curse
Seize me, if I forget not all respects
That are Religious, on another word
Sounded like that, and through a Sea of sins
Will wade to my revenge, though I should call
Pains here, and after life upon my soul.

_King_. Well I am resolute you lay not with her,
And so leave you.

[_Exit King_.

_Evad_. You must be prating, and see what follows.

_Amint_. Prethee vex me not.
Leave me, I am afraid some sudden start
Will pull a murther on me.

_Evad_. I am gone; I love my life well.

[_Exit Evadne_.

_Amint_. I hate mine as much.
This 'tis to break a troth; I should be glad
If all this tide of grief would make me mad.

[_Exit_.

_Enter Melantius_.

_Mel_. I'le know the cause of all _Amintors_ griefs,
Or friendship shall be idle.

[_Enter Calianax_.

_Cal_. O _Melantius_, my Daughter will die.

_Mel_. Trust me, I am sorry; would thou hadst ta'ne her room.

_Cal_. Thou art a slave, a cut-throat slave, a bloody treacherous
slave.

_Melan_. Take heed old man, thou wilt be heard to rave,
And lose thine Offices.

_Cal_. I am valiant grown
At all these years, and thou art but a slave.

_Mel_. Leave, some company will come, and I respect
Thy years, not thee so much, that I could wish
To laugh at thee alone.

_Cal_. I'le spoil your mirth, I mean to fight with thee;
There lie my Cloak, this was my Fathers Sword,
And he durst fight; are you prepar'd?

_Mel_. Why? wilt thou doat thy self out of thy life?
Hence get thee to bed, have careful looking to, and eat
warm things, and trouble not me: my head is full of
thoughts more weighty than thy life or death can be.

_Cal_. You have a name in War, when you stand safe
Amongst a multitude; but I will try
What you dare do unto a weak old man
In single fight; you'l ground I fear: Come draw.

_Mel_. I will not draw, unless thou pul'st thy death
Upon thee with a stroke; there's no one blow
That thou canst give, hath strength enough to kill me.
Tempt me not so far then; the power of earth
Shall not redeem thee.

_Cal_. I must let him alone,
He's stout and able; and to say the truth,
However I may set a face, and talk,
I am not valiant: when I was a youth,
I kept my credit with a testie trick I had,
Amongst cowards, but durst never fight.

_Mel_. I will not promise to preserve your life if you do stay.

_Cal_. I would give half my Land that I durst fight with
that proud man a little: if I had men to hold, I would
beat him, till he ask me mercy.

_Mel_. Sir, will you be gone?

_Cal_. I dare not stay, but I will go home, and beat my
servants all over for this.

[_Exit Calianax_.

_Mel_. This old fellow haunts me,
But the distracted carriage of mine _Amintor_
Takes deeply on me, I will find the cause;
I fear his Conscience cries, he wrong'd _Aspatia_.

_Enter Amintor_.

_Amint_. Mens eyes are not so subtil to perceive
My inward misery; I bear my grief
Hid from the World; how art thou wretched then?
For ought I know, all Husbands are like me;
And every one I talk with of his Wife,
Is but a well dissembler of his woes
As I am; would I knew it, for the rareness afflicts me
now.

_Mel_. _Amintor_, We have not enjoy'd our friendship of late,
for we were wont to charge our souls in talk.

_Amint_. _Melantius_, I can tell thee a good jest of _Strato_ and
a Lady the last day.

_Mel_. How wast?

_Amint_. Why such an odd one.

_Mel_. I have long'd to speak with you, not of an idle jest
that's forc'd, but of matter you are bound to utter
to me.

_Amint_. What is that my friend?

_Mel_. I have observ'd, your words fall from your tongue
Wildly; and all your carriage,
Like one that strove to shew his merry mood,
When he were ill dispos'd: you were not wont
To put such scorn into your speech, or wear
Upon your face ridiculous jollity:
Some sadness sits here, which your cunning would
Cover o're with smiles, and 'twill not be. What is it?

_Amint_. A sadness here! what cause
Can fate provide for me, to make me so?
Am I not lov'd through all this Isle? the King
Rains greatness on me: have I not received
A Lady to my bed, that in her eye
Keeps mounting fire, and on her tender cheeks
Inevitable colour, in her heart
A prison for all vertue? are not you,
Which is above all joyes, my constant friend?
What sadness can I have? no, I am light,
And feel the courses of my blood more warm
And stirring than they were; faith marry too,
And you will feel so unexprest a joy
In chast embraces, that you will indeed appear another.

_Mel_. You may shape, _Amintor_,
Causes to cozen the whole world withal,
And your self too; but 'tis not like a friend,
To hide your soul from me; 'tis not your nature
To be thus idle; I have seen you stand
As you were blasted; midst of all your mirth,
Call thrice aloud, and then start, feigning joy
So coldly: World! what do I here? a friend
Is nothing, Heaven! I would ha' told that man
My secret sins; I'le search an unknown Land,
And there plant friendship, all is withered here;
Come with a complement, I would have fought,
Or told my friend he ly'd, ere sooth'd him so;
Out of my bosom.

_Amint_. But there is nothing.

_Mel_. Worse and worse; farewel;
From this time have acquaintance, but no friend.

_Amint_. _Melantius_, stay, you shall know what that is.

_Mel_. See how you play'd with friendship; be advis'd
How you give cause unto your self to say, You ha'lost
a friend.

_Amint_. Forgive what I have done;
For I am so ore-gone with injuries
Unheard of, that I lose consideration
Of what I ought to do--oh--oh.

_Mel_. Do not weep; what is't?
May I once but know the man
Hath turn'd my friend thus?

_Amint_. I had spoke at first, but that.

_Mel_. But what?

_Amint_. I held it most unfit
For you to know; faith do not know it yet.

_Mel_. Thou seest my love, that will keep company
With thee in tears; hide nothing then from me;
For when I know the cause of thy distemper,
With mine own armour I'le adorn my self,
My resolution, and cut through thy foes,
Unto thy quiet, till I place thy heart
As peaceable as spotless innocence. What is it?

_Amint_. Why, 'tis this--it is too big
To get out, let my tears make way a while.

_Mel_. Punish me strangely heaven, if he escape
Of life or fame, that brought this youth to this.

_Amint_. Your Sister.

_Mel_. Well said.

_Amint_. You'l wish't unknown, when you have heard it.

_Mel_. No.

_Amint_. Is much to blame,
And to the King has given her honour up,
And lives in Whoredom with him.

_Mel_. How, this!
Thou art run mad with injury indeed,
Thou couldst not utter this else; speak again,
For I forgive it freely; tell thy griefs.

_Amint_. She's wanton; I am loth to say a Whore,
Though it be true.

_Mel_. Speak yet again, before mine anger grow
Up beyond throwing down; what are thy griefs?

_Amint_. By all our friendship, these.

_Mel_. What? am I tame?
After mine actions, shall the name of friend
Blot all our family, and strike the brand
Of Whore upon my Sister unreveng'd?
My shaking flesh be thou a Witness for me,
With what unwillingness I go to scourge
This Rayler, whom my folly hath call'd Friend;
I will not take thee basely; thy sword
Hangs near thy hand, draw it, that I may whip
Thy rashness to repentance; draw thy sword.

_Amint_. Not on thee, did thine anger swell as high
As the wild surges; thou shouldst do me ease
Here, and Eternally, if thy noble hand
Would cut me from my sorrows.

_Mel_. This is base and fearful! they that use to utter lyes,
Provide not blows, but words to qualifie
The men they wrong'd; thou hast a guilty cause.

_Amint_. Thou pleasest me; for so much more like this,
Will raise my anger up above my griefs,
Which is a passion easier to be born,
And I shall then be happy.

_Mel_. Take then more to raise thine anger. 'Tis meer
Cowardize makes thee not draw; and I will leave thee
dead
However; but if thou art so much prest
With guilt and fear, as not to dare to fight,
I'le make thy memory loath'd, and fix a scandal
Upon thy name for ever.

_Amint_. Then I draw,
As justly as our Magistrates their Swords,
To cut offenders off; I knew before
'Twould grate your ears; but it was base in you
To urge a weighty secret from your friend,
And then rage at it; I shall be at ease
If I be kill'd; and if you fall by me,
I shall not long out-live you.

_Mel_. Stay a while.
The name of friend is more than family,
Or all the world besides; I was a fool.
Thou searching humane nature, that didst wake
To do me wrong, thou art inquisitive,
And thrusts me upon questions that will take
My sleep away; would I had died ere known
This sad dishonour; pardon me my friend;
If thou wilt strike, here is a faithful heart,
Pierce it, for I will never heave my hand
To thine; behold the power thou hast in me!
I do believe my Sister is a Whore,
A Leprous one, put up thy sword young man.

_Amint_. How should I bear it then, she being so?
I fear my friend that you will lose me shortly;
And I shall do a foul action my self
Through these disgraces.

_Mel_. Better half the Land
Were buried quick together; no, _Amintor_,
Thou shalt have ease: O this Adulterous King
That drew her to't! where got he the spirit
To wrong me so?

_Amint_. What is it then to me,
If it be wrong to you!

_Mel_. Why, not so much: the credit of our house
Is thrown away;
But from his Iron Den I'le waken death,
And hurle him on this King; my honesty
Shall steel my sword, and on its horrid point
I'le wear my cause, that shall amaze the eyes
Of this proud man, and be too glittering
For him to look on.

_Amint_. I have quite undone my fame.

_Mel_. Dry up thy watry eyes,
And cast a manly look upon my face;
For nothing is so wild as I thy friend
Till I have freed thee; still this swelling breast;
I go thus from thee, and will never cease
My vengeance, till I find my heart at peace.

_Amint_. It must not be so; stay, mine eyes would tell
How loth I am to this; but love and tears
Leave me a while, for I have hazarded
All this world calls happy; thou hast wrought
A secret from me under name of Friend,
Which Art could ne're have found, nor torture wrung
From out my bosom; give it me agen,
For I will find it, wheresoe're it lies
Hid in the mortal'st part; invent a way to give it back.

_Mel_. Why, would you have it back?
I will to death pursue him with revenge.

_Amint_. Therefore I call it back from thee; for I know
Thy blood so high, that thou wilt stir in this, and
shame me
To posterity: take to thy Weapon.

_Mel_. Hear thy friend, that bears more years than thou.

_Amint_. I will not hear: but draw, or I----

_Mel_. _Amintor_.

_Amint_. Draw then, for I am full as resolute
As fame and honour can inforce me be;
I cannot linger, draw.

_Mel_. I do--but is not
My share of credit equal with thine if I do stir?

_Amint_. No; for it will be cal'd
Honour in thee to spill thy Sisters blood,
If she her birth abuse, and on the King
A brave revenge: but on me that have walkt
With patience in it, it will fix the name
Of fearful Cuckold--O that word! be quick.

_Mel_. Then joyn with me.

_Amint_. I dare not do a sin, or else I would: be speedy.

_Mel_. Then dare not fight with me, for that's a sin.
His grief distracts him; call thy thoughts agen,
And to thy self pronounce the name of friend,
And see what that will work; I will not fight.

_Amint_. You must.

_Mel_. I will be kill'd first, though my passions
Offred the like to you; 'tis not this earth
Shall buy my reason to it; think a while,
For you are (I must weep when I speak that)
Almost besides your self.

_Amint_. Oh my soft temper!
So many sweet words from thy Sisters mouth,
I am afraid would make me take her
To embrace, and pardon her. I am mad indeed,
And know not what I do; yet have a care
Of me in what thou doest.

_Mel_. Why thinks my friend I will forget his honour, or to save
The bravery of our house, will lose his fame,
And fear to touch the Throne of Majesty?

_Amint_. A curse will follow that, but rather live
And suffer with me.

_Mel_. I will do what worth shall bid me, and no more.

_Amint_. Faith I am sick, and desperately I hope,
Yet leaning thus, I feel a kind of ease.

_Mel_. Come take agen your mirth about you.

_Amint_. I shall never do't.

_Mel_. I warrant you, look up, wee'l walk together,
Put thine arm here, all shall be well agen.

_Amint_. Thy Love, O wretched, I thy Love, _Melantius_;
why, I have nothing else.

_Mel_. Be merry then.

[_Exeunt. Enter Melantius agen_.

_Mel_. This worthy young man may do violence
Upon himself, but I have cherisht him
To my best power, and sent him smiling from me
To counterfeit again; Sword hold thine edge,
My heart will never fail me: _Diphilus_,
Thou com'st as sent.

[_Enter Diphilus_.

_Diph_. Yonder has been such laughing.

_Mel_. Betwixt whom?

_Diph_. Why, our Sister and the King,
I thought their spleens would break,
They laught us all out of the room.

_Mel_. They must weep, _Diphilus_.

_Diph_. Must they?

_Mel_. They must: thou art my Brother, and if I did believe
Thou hadst a base thought, I would rip it out,
Lie where it durst.

_Diph_. You should not, I would first mangle my self and find it.

_Mel_. That was spoke according to our strain; come
Joyn thy hands to mine,
And swear a firmness to what project I shall lay
before thee.

_Diph_. You do wrong us both;
People hereafter shall not say there past
A bond more than our loves, to tie our lives
And deaths together.

_Mel_. It is as nobly said as I would wish;
Anon I'le tell you wonders; we are wrong'd.

_Diph_. But I will tell you now, wee'l right our selves.

_Mel_. Stay not, prepare the armour in my house;
And what friends you can draw unto our side,
Not knowing of the cause, make ready too;
Haste _Diphilus_, the time requires it, haste.

[_Exit Diphilus_.

I hope my cause is just, I know my blood
Tells me it is, and I will credit it:
To take revenge, and lose my self withal,
Were idle; and to scape impossible,
Without I had the fort, which misery
Remaining in the hands of my old enemy
_Calianax_, but I must have it, see

[_Enter Calianax_.

Where he comes shaking by me: good my Lord,
Forget your spleen to me, I never wrong'd you,
But would have peace with every man.

_Cal_. 'Tis well;
If I durst fight, your tongue would lie at quiet.

_Mel_. Y'are touchie without all cause.

_Cal_. Do, mock me.

_Mel_. By mine honour I speak truth.

_Cal_. Honour? where is't?

_Mel_. See what starts you make into your hatred to my
love and freedom to you.--
I come with resolution to obtain a suit of you.

_Cal_. A suit of me! 'tis very like it should be granted, Sir.

_Mel_. Nay, go not hence;
'Tis this; you have the keeping of the Fort,
And I would wish you by the love you ought
To bear unto me, to deliver it into my hands.

_Cal_. I am in hope that thou art mad, to talk to me thus.

_Mel_. But there is a reason to move you to it. I would
kill the King that wrong'd you and your daughter.

_Cal_. Out Traytor!

_Mel_. Nay but stay; I cannot scape, the deed once done,
Without I have this fort.

_Cal_. And should I help thee? now thy treacherous mind
betrays it self.

_Mel_. Come, delay me not;
Give me a sudden answer, or already
Thy last is spoke; refuse not offered love,
When it comes clad in secrets.

_Cal_. If I say I will not, he will kill me, I do see't writ
In his looks; and should I say I will, he'l run
and tell the
King: I do not shun your friendship
dear _Melantius_,
But this cause is weighty, give me but an hour
to think.

_Mel_. Take it--I know this goes unto the King,
But I am arm'd.
[_Ex. Melant_.

_Cal_. Me thinks I feel my self
But twenty now agen; this fighting fool
Wants Policy; I shall revenge my Girl,
And make her red again; I pray, my legs
Will last that pace that I will carry them,
I shall want breath before I find the King.

_Actus Quartus_.

_Enter_ Melantius, Evadne, _and a_ Lady.

_Mel_. Save you.

_Evad_. Save you sweet Brother.

_Mel_. In my blunt eye methinks you look _Evadne_.

_Evad_. Come, you would make me blush.

_Mel_. I would _Evadne_, I shall displease my ends else.

_Evad_. You shall if you command me; I am bashful;
Come Sir, how do I look?

_Mel_. I would not have your women hear me
Break into commendation of you, 'tis not seemly.

_Evad_. Go wait me in the Gallery--now speak.

_Mel_. I'le lock the door first.

[_Exeunt Ladies_.

_Evad_. Why?

_Mel_. I will not have your guilded things that dance in
visitation with their Millan skins choke up my business.

_Evad_. You are strangely dispos'd Sir.

_Mel_. Good Madam, not to make you merry.

_Evad_. No, if you praise me, 'twill make me sad.

_Mel_. Such a sad commendation I have for you.

_Evad_. Brother, the Court hath made you witty,
And learn to riddle.

_Mel_. I praise the Court for't; has it learned you nothing?

_Evad_. Me?

_Mel_. I _Evadne_, thou art young and handsom,
A Lady of a sweet complexion,
And such a flowing carriage, that it cannot
Chuse but inflame a Kingdom.

_Evad_. Gentle Brother!

_Mel_. 'Tis yet in thy remembrance, foolish woman,
To make me gentle.

_Evad_. How is this?

_Mel_. 'Tis base,
And I could blush at these years, through all
My honour'd scars, to come to such a parly.

_Evad_. I understand you not.

_Mel_. You dare not, Fool;
They that commit thy faults, fly the remembrance.

_Evad_. My faults, Sir! I would have you know I care not
If they were written here, here in my forehead.

_Mel_. Thy body is too little for the story,
The lusts of which would fill another woman,
Though she had Twins within her.

_Evad_. This is saucy;
Look you intrude no more, there lies your way.

_Mel_. Thou art my way, and I will tread upon thee,
Till I find truth out.

_Evad_. What truth is that you look for?

_Mel_. Thy long-lost honour: would the Gods had set me
One of their loudest bolts; come tell me quickly,
Do it without enforcement, and take heed
You swell me not above my temper.

_Evad_. How Sir? where got you this report?

_Mel_. Where there was people in every place.

_Evad_. They and the seconds of it are base people;
Believe them not, they lyed.

_Mel_. Do not play with mine anger, do not Wretch,
I come to know that desperate Fool that drew thee
From thy fair life; be wise, and lay him open.

_Evad_. Unhand me, and learn manners, such another
Forgetfulness forfeits your life.

_Mel_. Quench me this mighty humour, and then tell me
Whose Whore you are, for you are one, I know it.
Let all mine honours perish but I'le find him,
Though he lie lockt up in thy blood; be sudden;
There is no facing it, and be not flattered;
The burnt air, when the _Dog_ raigns, is not fouler
Than thy contagious name, till thy repentance
(If the Gods grant thee any) purge thy sickness.

_Evad_. Be gone, you are my Brother, that's your safety.

_Mel_. I'le be a Wolf first; 'tis to be thy Brother
An infamy below the sin of a Coward:
I am as far from being part of thee,
As thou art from thy vertue: seek a kindred
Mongst sensual beasts, and make a Goat thy Brother,
A Goat is cooler; will you tell me yet?

_Evad_. If you stay here and rail thus, I shall tell you,
I'le ha' you whipt; get you to your command,
And there preach to your Sentinels,
And tell them what a brave man you are; I shall laugh
at you.

_Mel_. Y'are grown a glorious Whore; where be your
Fighters? what mortal Fool durst raise thee to this
daring,
And I alive? by my just Sword, h'ad safer
Bestride a Billow when the angry North
Plows up the Sea, or made Heavens fire his food;
Work me no higher; will you discover yet?

_Evad_. The Fellow's mad, sleep and speak sense.

_Mel_. Force my swollen heart no further; I would save
thee; your great maintainers are not here, they dare
not, would they were all, and armed, I would speak
loud; here's one should thunder to 'em: will you tell
me? thou hast no hope to scape; he that dares most,
and damns away his soul to do thee service, will
sooner fetch meat from a hungry Lion, than come to
rescue thee; thou hast death about thee: h'as
undone thine honour, poyson'd thy vertue, and of a
lovely rose, left thee a canker.

_Evad_. Let me consider.

_Mel_. Do, whose child thou wert,
Whose honour thou hast murdered, whose grave open'd,
And so pull'd on the Gods, that in their justice
They must restore him flesh again and life,
And raise his dry bones to revenge his scandal.

_Evad_. The gods are not of my mind; they had better
let 'em lie sweet still in the earth; they'l stink here.

_Mel_. Do you raise mirth out of my easiness?
Forsake me then all weaknesses of Nature,
That make men women: Speak you whore, speak truth,
Or by the dear soul of thy sleeping Father,
This sword shall be thy lover: tell, or I'le kill thee:
And when thou hast told all, thou wilt deserve it.

_Evad_. You will not murder me!

_Mel_. No, 'tis a justice, and a noble one,
To put the light out of such base offenders.

_Evad_. Help!

_Mel_. By thy foul self, no humane help shall help thee,
If thou criest: when I have kill'd thee, as I have
Vow'd to do, if thou confess not, naked as thou hast
left
Thine honour, will I leave thee,
That on thy branded flesh the world may read
Thy black shame, and my justice; wilt thou bend yet?

_Evad_. Yes.

_Mel_. Up and begin your story.

_Evad_. Oh I am miserable.

_Mel_. 'Tis true, thou art, speak truth still.

_Evad_. I have offended, noble Sir: forgive me.

_Mel_. With what secure slave?

_Evad_. Do not ask me Sir.
Mine own remembrance is a misery too mightie for me.

_Mel_. Do not fall back again; my sword's unsheath'd yet.

_Evad_. What shall I do?

_Mel_. Be true, and make your fault less.

_Evad_. I dare not tell.

_Mel_. Tell, or I'le be this day a killing thee.

_Evad_. Will you forgive me then?

_Mel_. Stay, I must ask mine honour first, I have too much
foolish nature in me; speak.

_Evad_. Is there none else here?

_Mel_. None but a fearful conscience, that's too many. Who is't?

_Evad_. O hear me gently; it was the King.

_Mel_. No more. My worthy father's and my services
Are liberally rewarded! King, I thank thee,
For all my dangers and my wounds, thou hast paid me
In my own metal: These are Souldiers thanks.
How long have you liv'd thus _Evadne_?

_Evad_. Too long.

_Mel_. Too late you find it: can you be sorry?

_Evad_. Would I were half as blameless.

_Mel_. _Evadne_, thou wilt to thy trade again.

_Evad_. First to my grave.

_Mel_. Would gods th'hadst been so blest:
Dost thou not hate this King now? prethee hate him:
Couldst thou not curse him? I command thee curse him,
Curse till the gods hear, and deliver him
To thy just wishes: yet I fear _Evadne_;
You had rather play your game out.

_Evad_. No, I feel
Too many sad confusions here to let in any loose flame
hereafter.

_Mel_. Dost thou not feel amongst all those one brave anger
That breaks out nobly, and directs thine arm to kill
this base King?

_Evad_. All the gods forbid it.

_Mel_. No, all the gods require it, they are dishonoured in him.

_Evad_. 'Tis too fearful.

_Mel_. Y'are valiant in his bed, and bold enough
To be a stale whore, and have your Madams name
Discourse for Grooms and Pages, and hereafter
When his cool Majestie hath laid you by,
To be at pension with some needy Sir
For meat and courser clothes, thus far you know no fear.
Come, you shall kill him.

_Evad_. Good Sir!

_Mel_. And 'twere to kiss him dead, thou'd smother him;
Be wise and kill him: Canst thou live and know
What noble minds shall make thee see thy self
Found out with every finger, made the shame
Of all successions, and in this great ruine
Thy brother and thy noble husband broken?
Thou shalt not live thus; kneel and swear to help me
When I shall call thee to it, or by all
Holy in heaven and earth, thou shalt not live
To breath a full hour longer, not a thought:
Come 'tis a righteous oath; give me thy hand,
And both to heaven held up, swear by that wealth
This lustful thief stole from thee, when I say it,
To let his foul soul out.

_Evad_. Here I swear it,
And all you spirits of abused Ladies
Help me in this performance.

_Mel_. Enough; this must be known to none
But you and I _Evadne_; not to your Lord,
Though he be wise and noble, and a fellow
Dares step as far into a worthy action,
As the most daring, I as far as Justice.
Ask me not why. Farewell.

[_Exit Mel_.

_Evad_. Would I could say so to my black disgrace.
Oh where have I been all this time! how friended,
That I should lose my self thus desperately,
And none for pity shew me how I wandred?
There is not in the compass of the light
A more unhappy creature: sure I am monstrous,
For I have done those follies, those mad mischiefs,
Would dare a woman. O my loaden soul,
Be not so cruel to me, choak not up

[_Enter Amintor_.

The way to my repentance. O my Lord.

_Amin_. How now?

_Evad_. My much abused Lord!
[_Kneels_.

_Amin_. This cannot be.

_Evad_. I do not kneel to live, I dare not hope it;
The wrongs I did are greater; look upon me
Though I appear with all my faults.

_Amin_. Stand up.
This is no new way to beget more sorrow;
Heaven knows I have too many; do not mock me;
Though I am tame and bred up with my wrongs,
Which are my foster-brothers, I may leap
Like a hand-wolf into my natural wilderness,
And do an out-rage: pray thee do not mock me.

_Evad_. My whole life is so leprous, it infects
All my repentance: I would buy your pardon
Though at the highest set, even with my life:
That slight contrition, that's no sacrifice
For what I have committed.

_Amin_. Sure I dazle:
There cannot be a faith in that foul woman
That knows no God more mighty than her mischiefs:
Thou dost still worst, still number on thy faults,
To press my poor heart thus. Can I believe
There's any seed of Vertue in that woman
Left to shoot up, that dares go on in sin
Known, and so known as thine is, O _Evadne_!
Would there were any safety in thy sex,
That I might put a thousand sorrows off,
And credit thy repentance: but I must not;
Thou hast brought me to the dull calamity,
To that strange misbelief of all the world,
And all things that are in it, that I fear
I shall fall like a tree, and find my grave,
Only remembring that I grieve.

_Evad_. My Lord,
Give me your griefs: you are an innocent,
A soul as white as heaven: let not my sins
Perish your noble youth: I do not fall here
To shadow by dissembling with my tears,
As all say women can, or to make less
What my hot will hath done, which heaven and you
Knows to be tougher than the hand of time
Can cut from mans remembrance; no I do not;
I do appear the same, the same _Evadne_,
Drest in the shames I liv'd in, the same monster.
But these are names of honour, to what I am;
I do present my self the foulest creature,
Most poysonous, dangerous, and despis'd of men,
_Lerna_ e're bred, or _Nilus_; I am hell,
Till you, my dear Lord, shoot your light into me,
The beams of your forgiveness: I am soul-sick,
And [wither] with the fear of one condemn'd,
Till I have got your pardon.

_Amin_. Rise _Evadne_,
Those heavenly powers that put this good into thee,
Grant a continuance of it: I forgive thee;
Make thy self worthy of it, and take heed,
Take heed _Evadne_ this be serious;
Mock not the powers above, that can and dare
Give thee a great example of their justice
To all ensuing eyes, if thou plai'st
With thy repentance, the best sacrifice.

_Evad_. I have done nothing good to win belief,
My life hath been so faithless; all the creatures
Made for heavens honours have their ends, and good ones,
All but the cousening _Crocodiles_, false women;
They reign here like those plagues, those killing sores
Men pray against; and when they die, like tales
Ill told, and unbeliev'd, they pass away,
And go to dust forgotten: But my Lord,
Those short dayes I shall number to my rest,
(As many must not see me) shall though too late,
Though in my evening, yet perceive a will,
Since I can do no good because a woman,
Reach constantly at some thing that is near it;
I will redeem one minute of my age,
Or like another _Niobe_ I'le weep till I am water.

_Amin_. I am now dissolved:
My frozen soul melts: may each sin thou hast,
Find a new mercy: Rise, I am at peace:
Hadst thou been thus, thus excellently good,
Before that devil King tempted thy frailty,
Sure thou hadst made a star: give me thy hand;
From this time I will know thee, and as far
As honour gives me leave, be thy _Amintor_:
When we meet next, I will salute thee fairly,
And pray the gods to give thee happy dayes:
My charity shall go along with thee,
Though my embraces must be far from thee.
I should ha' kill'd thee, but this sweet repentance
Locks up my vengeance, for which thus I kiss thee,
The last kiss we must take; and would to heaven
The holy Priest that gave our hands together,
Had given us equal Vertues: go _Evadne_,
The gods thus part our bodies, have a care
My honour falls no farther, I am well then.

_Evad_. All the dear joyes here, and above hereafter
Crown thy fair soul: thus I take leave my Lord,
And never shall you see the foul _Evadne_
Till sh'ave tryed all honoured means that may
Set her in rest, and wash her stains away.

[_Exeunt_.

_Banquet. Enter King, Calianax. Hoboyes play within_.

_King_. I cannot tell how I should credit this
From you that are his enemy.

_Cal_. I am sure he said it to me, and I'le justifie it
What way he dares oppose, but with my sword.

_King_. But did he break without all circumstance
To you his foe, that he would have the Fort
To kill me, and then escape?

_Cal_. If he deny it, I'le make him blush.

_King_. It sounds incredibly.

_Cal_. I, so does every thing I say of late.

_King_. Not so _Calianax_.

_Cal_. Yes, I should sit
Mute, whilst a Rogue with strong arms cuts your throat.

_King_. Well, I will try him, and if this be true
I'le pawn my life I'le find it; if't be false,
And that you clothe your hate in such a lie,
You shall hereafter doat in your own house, not in the
Court.

_Cal_. Why if it be a lie,
Mine ears are false; for I'le be sworn I heard it:
Old men are good for nothing; you were best
Put me to death for hearing, and free him
For meaning of it; you would ha' trusted me
Once, but the time is altered.

_King_. And will still where I may do with justice to the world;
You have no witness.

_Cal_. Yes, my self.

_King_. No more I mean there were that heard it.

_Cal_. How no more? would you have more? why am
Not I enough to hang a thousand Rogues?

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

_Cal_. I may, 'tis like I will do so; there are a hundred will
swear it for a need too, if I say it.

_King_. Such witnesses we need not.

_Cal_. And 'tis hard if my Word cannot hang a boysterous knave.

_King_. Enough; where's _Strato_?

_Stra_. Sir!

_Enter Strato_.

_King_. Why where's all the company? call _Amintor_ in.
_Evadne_, where's my Brother, and _Melantius_?
Bid him come too, and _Diphilus_; call all

[_Exit Strato_.

That are without there: if he should desire
The combat of you, 'tis not in the power
Of all our Laws to hinder it, unless we mean to
quit 'em.

_Cal_. Why if you do think
'Tis fit an old Man and a Counsellor,
To fight for what he sayes, then you may grant it.

_Enter Amin. Evad. Mel. Diph. [Lisip.] Cle. Stra. Diag_.

_King_. Come Sirs, _Amintor_ thou art yet a Bridegroom,
And I will use thee so: thou shalt sit down;
_Evadne_ sit, and you _Amintor_ too;
This Banquet is for you, sir: Who has brought
A merry Tale about him, to raise a laughter
Amongst our wine? why _Strato_, where art thou?
Thou wilt chop out with them unseasonably
When I desire 'em not.

_Strato_. 'Tis my ill luck Sir, so to spend them then.

_King_. Reach me a boul of wine: _Melantlius_, thou art sad.

_Amin_. I should be Sir the merriest here,
But I ha' ne're a story of mine own
Worth telling at this time.

_King_. Give me the Wine.
_Melantius_, I am now considering
How easie 'twere for any man we trust
To poyson one of us in such a boul.

_Mel_. I think it were not hard Sir, for a Knave.

_Cal_. Such as you are.

_King_. I' faith 'twere easie, it becomes us well
To get plain dealing men about our selves,
Such as you all are here: _Amintor_, to thee
And to thy fair _Evadne_.

_Mel_. Have you thought of this _Calianax_?

[_Aside_.

_Cal_. Yes marry have I.

_Mel_. And what's your resolution?

_Cal_. Ye shall have it soundly?

_King_. Reach to _Amintor_, _Strato_.

_Amin_. Here my love,
This Wine will do thee wrong, for it will set
Blushes upon thy cheeks, and till thou dost a
fault, 'twere pity.

_King_. Yet I wonder much
Of the strange desperation of these men,
That dare attempt such acts here in our State;
He could not escape that did it.

_Mel_. Were he known, unpossible.

_King_. It would be known, _Melantius_.

_Mel_. It ought to be, if he got then away
He must wear all our lives upon his sword,
He need not fly the Island, he must leave no one alive.

_King_. No, I should think no man
Could kill me and scape clear, but that old man.

_Cal_. But I! heaven bless me: I, should I my Liege?

_King_. I do not think thou wouldst, but yet thou might'st,
For thou hast in thy hands the means to scape,
By keeping of the Fort; he has, _Melantius_, and he has
kept it well.

_Mel_. From cobwebs Sir,
'Tis clean swept: I can find no other Art
In keeping of it now, 'twas ne're besieg'd since he
commanded.

_Cal_. I shall be sure of your good word,
But I have kept it safe from such as you.

_Mel_. Keep your ill temper in,
I speak no malice; had my brother kept it I should ha'
said as much.

_King_. You are not merry, brother; drink wine,
Sit you all still! _Calianax_, [_Aside_.
I cannot trust thus: I have thrown out words
That would have fetcht warm blood upon the cheeks
Of guilty men, and he is never mov'd, he knows
no such thing.

_Cal_. Impudence may scape, when feeble vertue is accus'd.

_King_. He must, if he were guilty, feel an alteration
At this our whisper, whilst we point at him,
You see he does not.

_Cal_. Let him hang himself,
What care I what he does; this he did say.

_King_. _Melantius_, you cannot easily conceive
What I have meant; for men that are in fault
Can subtly apprehend when others aime
At what they do amiss; but I forgive
Freely before this man; heaven do so too:
I will not touch thee so much as with shame
Of telling it, let it be so no more.

_Cal_. Why this is very fine.

_Mel_. I cannot tell
What 'tis you mean, but I am apt enough
Rudely to thrust into ignorant fault,
But let me know it; happily 'tis nought
But misconstruction, and where I am clear
I will not take forgiveness of the gods, much less
of you.

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

_Mel_. I want smoothness
To thank a man for pardoning of a crime I never knew.

_King_. Not to instruct your knowledge, but to shew you
my ears are every where, you meant to kill me, and get
the Fort to scape.

_Mel_. Pardon me Sir; my bluntness will be pardoned:
You preserve
A race of idle people here about you,
Eaters, and talkers, to defame the worth
Of those that do things worthy; the man that uttered
this
Had perisht without food, be't who it will,
But for this arm that fenc't him from the foe.
And if I thought you gave a faith to this,
The plainness of my nature would speak more;
Give me a pardon (for you ought to do't)
To kill him that spake this.

_Cal_. I, that will be the end of all,
Then I am fairly paid for all my care and service.

_Mel_. That old man who calls me enemy, and of whom I
(Though I will never match my hate so low)
Have no good thought, would yet I think excuse me,
And swear he thought me wrong'd in this.

_Cal_. Who I, thou shameless fellow! didst thou not speak
to me of it thy self?

_Mel_. O then it came from him.

_Cal_. From me! who should it come from but from me?

_Mel_. Nay, I believe your malice is enough,
But I ha' lost my anger. Sir, I hope you are well
satisfied.

_King_. _Lisip_. Chear _Amintor_ and his Lady; there's no sound
Comes from you; I will come and do't my self.

_Amin_. You have done already Sir for me, I thank you.

_King_. _Melantius_, I do credit this from him,
How slight so e're you mak't.

_Mel_. 'Tis strange you should.

_Cal_. 'Tis strange he should believe an old mans word,
That never lied in his life.

_Mel_. I talk not to thee;
Shall the wild words of this distempered man,
Frantick with age and sorrow, make a breach
Betwixt your Majesty and me? 'twas wrong
To hearken to him; but to credit him
As much, at least, as I have power to bear.
But pardon me, whilst I speak only truth,
I may commend my self--I have bestow'd
My careless blood with you, and should be loth
To think an action that would make me lose
That, and my thanks too: when I was a boy,
I thrust my self into my Countries cause,
And did a deed that pluckt five years from time,
And stil'd me man then: And for you my King,
Your subjects all have fed by vertue of my arm.
This sword of mine hath plow'd the ground,
And reapt the fruit in peace;
And your self have liv'd at home in ease:
So terrible I grew, that without swords
My name hath fetcht you conquest, and my heart
And limbs are still the same; my will is great
To do you service: let me not be paid
With such a strange distrust.

_King_. _Melantius_, I held it great injustice to believe
Thine Enemy, and did not; if I did,
I do not, let that satisfie: what struck
With sadness all? More Wine!

_Cal_. A few fine words have overthrown my truth:
Ah th'art a Villain.

_Mel_. Why thou wert better let me have the Fort,
Dotard, I will disgrace thee thus for ever;

[_Aside_.

There shall no credit lie upon thy words;
Think better and deliver it.

_Cal_. My Liege, he's at me now agen to do it; speak,
Deny it if thou canst; examine him
Whilst he's hot, for he'l cool agen, he will
forswear it.

_King_. This is lunacy I hope, _Melantius_.

_Mel_. He hath lost himself
Much since his Daughter mist the happiness
My Sister gain'd; and though he call me Foe, I pity
him.

_Cal_. Pity! a pox upon you.

_King_. Mark his disordered words, and at the Mask.

_Mel_. _Diagoras_ knows he raged, and rail'd at me,
And cal'd a Lady Whore, so innocent
She understood him not; but it becomes
Both you and me too, to forgive distraction,
Pardon him as I do.

_Cal_. I'le not speak for thee, for all thy cunning, if you
will be safe chop off his head, for there was never
known so impudent a Rascal.

_King_. Some that love him, get him to bed: Why, pity
should not let age make it self contemptible; we must
be all old, have him away.

_Mel. Calianax_, the King believes you; come, you shall go
Home, and rest; you ha' done well; you'l give it up
When I have us'd you thus a moneth I hope.

_Cal_. Now, now, 'tis plain Sir, he does move me still;
He sayes he knows I'le give him up the Fort,
When he has us'd me thus a moneth: I am mad,
Am I not still?

_Omnes_. Ha, ha, ha!

_Cal_. I shall be mad indeed, if you do thus;
Why would you trust a sturdy fellow there
(That has no vertue in him, all's in his sword)
Before me? do but take his weapons from him,
And he's an Ass, and I am a very fool,
Both with him, and without him, as you use me.

_Omnes_. Ha, ha, ha!

_King_. 'Tis well _Calianax_; but if you use
This once again, I shall intreat some other
To see your Offices be well discharg'd.
Be merry Gentlemen, it grows somewhat late.
_Amintor_, thou wouldest be abed again.

_Amin_. Yes Sir.

_King_. And you _Evadne_; let me take thee in my arms,
_Melantius_, and believe thou art as thou deservest to
be, my friend still, and for ever. Good _Calianax_,
Sleep soundly, it will bring thee to thy self.

[_Exeunt omnes. Manent Mel_. and _Cal_.

_Cal_. Sleep soundly! I sleep soundly now I hope,
I could not be thus else. How dar'st thou stay
Alone with me, knowing how thou hast used me?

_Mel_. You cannot blast me with your tongue,
And that's the strongest part you have about you.

_Cal_. I do look for some great punishment for this,
For I begin to forget all my hate,
And tak't unkindly that mine enemy
Should use me so extraordinarily scurvily.

_Mel_. I shall melt too, if you begin to take
Unkindnesses: I never meant you hurt.

_Cal_. Thou'lt anger me again; thou wretched rogue,
Meant me no hurt! disgrace me with the King;
Lose all my Offices! this is no hurt,
Is it? I prethee what dost thou call hurt?

_Mel_. To poyson men because they love me not;
To call the credit of mens Wives in question;
To murder children betwixt me and land; this is
all hurt.

_Cal_. All this thou think'st is sport;
For mine is worse: but use thy will with me;
For betwixt grief and anger I could cry.

_Mel_. Be wise then, and be safe; thou may'st revenge.

_Cal_. I o'th' King? I would revenge of thee.

_Mel_. That you must plot your self.

_Cal_. I am a fine plotter.

_Mel_. The short is, I will hold thee with the King
In this perplexity, till peevishness
And thy disgrace have laid thee in thy grave:
But if thou wilt deliver up the Fort,
I'le take thy trembling body in my arms,
And bear thee over dangers; thou shalt hold thy wonted
state.

_Cal_. If I should tell the King, can'st thou deny't again?

_Mel_. Try and believe.

_Cal_. Nay then, thou can'st bring any thing about:
Thou shalt have the Fort.

_Mel_. Why well, here let our hate be buried, and
This hand shall right us both; give me thy aged breast
to compass.