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 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 Actus Quartus Enter MELANTIVS EVADNE and a Lady MEL. God saue you EVAD. 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. I le lock your dores first Exit Ladyes EVAD. Why MEL. 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 t will 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. 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. T is yet in thy repentance foolish woman To make me gentle EVAD. How is this MEL. T is 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 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 Though she had twins within her EVAD. This is saucie Looke you intrude no more there 's 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. 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. They and the seconds of it are base people Beleeue them not thei le 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. 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 I le finde him 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 that 's your safty MEL. I le be a woulfe first t is 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 A goate is cooler will you tell me yet EVAD. If you stay here and raile thus I shall tell you I le 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. 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 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 here 's 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 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 thei le stinke here MEL. Doe you raise mirth out of my easinesse Forsake me then all weaknesses of nature 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 I le kill thee And when thou hast told all thou wilt deserue it EVAD. You will not murther me MEL. No t is a iustice and a noble one 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 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. T is 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 I le 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. None but a fearfull conscience that 's too many Who i st 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 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
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 You are well satisfied King Licip cheare Amintor and his Lady there 's 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. T is strange you should Call T is strang a should beleeue an old mans word That neuer lied in s life Mel. I talke not to thee Shall the wilde words of this distempered man Frantique with age and sorrow make a breach Betwixt your Maiestie and me t was 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 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 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 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 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 Thinke better and deliuer it Call My leige hee s 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. 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 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 I le 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 you le giue it vp When I haue vsd you thus a month I hope Cal. Now now t is plaine Sir he does moue me still He saies he knowes I le 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 That has no virtue in him all 's in his sword before me doe but take his weapons from him And hee s 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 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 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. You cannot blast me with your tongue and that 's 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 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 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 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 o th' 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 In this perplexitie till peeuishnesse And his disgrace haue laid thee in thy graue But if thou wilt deliuer vp the fort I le take thy trembling body in my armes And beare thee ouer dangers thou shalt hold 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 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 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 for t but yet the King shall know There was some such thing in t I told him of And that I was an honest man Mel. Hee le buy that knowledge very deerely Diph What newes with thee Ent. Diphilus Diph. This were a night indeed to doe it in 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 hee le giue it thee Diph. Ha you got that Call Art thou of the same breed canst thou denie 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 I le giue
thou doest loue me Thou waighst not any thing compar'd to me Life honour ioyes eternall all delights 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 I le kisse the sun Of thy lips AMIN. I wonnot swear sweet loue till I know the cause EVAD. 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. 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 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 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 What I shall vtter for the Oracle Knowes nothing truer t is 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 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 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 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 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 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. 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Were threads for Kings to weare About their armes EVAD. Why so perhaps they are AMIN. I le dragge thee to my bed and make thy tongue Vndoe this wicked oath or on thy flesh I le print a thousand wounds to let out life EVAD. 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 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 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 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 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 t is 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 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 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 Of husband to me that my sinne may be More honorable AMIN. What strange thing
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 That 's 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 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 There 's something yet which I am loath to leaue There 's 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 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 When I haue paid to her in teares my sorrow I will not leaue this act vnsatisfied If all that 's left in me can answer it Aspat. Was it a dreame There stands Amintor still Or I dreame still Amint. How doest thou speake receiue my loue helpe Thy bloud climbes vp to his old place againe There 's hope of thy recouerie Aspat. Did you not name Aspatia Amint. I did Aspat. And talkt of teares and sorrow vnto her Amint. T is true and till these happie signes in thee Staid my course it was thither I was going Aspat. 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 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 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 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 Such as may chaine life euer to this frame Aspatia speake what no helpe yet I foole I le chafe her temples yet there nothing stirs Some hidden power tell her Amintor cals And let her answer me Aspatia speake 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 I le call it mercy if you le pittie me 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 I le bow the body once againe Aspatia The soule is fled for euer and I wrong My selfe so long to loose her companie Must I talke now Here 's to be with thee loue Kils himselfe 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. Where 's 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 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 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 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 What youth lies slaine there by thee Amint. T is Aspatia My last is said let me giue vp my soule Into thy bosome Call What 's that what 's that Aspatia Mel. I neuer did repent the greatnesse of heart till now 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 You haue giuen me that among you will kill me Quickly but I le 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 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 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