Mel. And what's your resolution? Cal. Why, this is very fine. Mel. I cannot tell What 'tis you mean; but I am apt enough Rudely to thrust into an ignorant fault. Cal. You shall have it, soundly, I warrant you. But let me know it: Happily, 'tis nought Mel. Were he known, Impossible. King. It would be known, Melantius. King. No; I should think no man King. I do not think thou would'st; but yet thou might'st; For thou hast in thy hands the means to escape, Mel. From cobwebs, sir, 'Tis clean swept: I can find no other art Cal. I shall be sure Of your good word: But I have kept it safe Mel. Keep your ill temper in : I speak no malice. Had my brother kept it, I should have said as much. King. You are not merry. Brother, drink wine. Sit you all still!—Calianax, Of guilty men, and he is never moved : Cal. Impudence may 'scape, When feeble virtue is accused. King. He must, If he were ty, feel an alteration [Apart. At this our whisper, whilst we point at him: Cal. Let him hang himself: What care I what he does? This he did say. King. Melantius, you can easily conceive What I have meant; for men, that are in fault, Can subtly apprehend, when others aim At what they do amiss: But I forgive Freely, before this man. Heaven do so too! But misconstruction; and, where I am clear, 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, King. Not to instruct your knowledge, but to shew you My cars are every where, you meant to kill me, And get the fort to escape. Mel. Pardon me, sir; My bluntness will be pardoned: You preserve Had perished without food, be it who it will, Cal. Ay, 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, ex Frantic with age and sorrow, make a breach My arm. This sword of mine hath plowed the ground, And reaped the fruit in peace; And you yourself have lived at home in case. My name hath fetched you conquest: And my heart And limbs are still the same; my will as great King. Melantius, I held it great injustice to believe I do not; let that satisfy. What, struck Cal. A few fine words Cal. Pity? a pox upon you! Cal. I shall be mad indeed, if you do thus! Why should you trust a sturdy fellow there (That has no virtue in him; all's in his sword) Before me? Do but take his weapons from him, And he's an ass; and I'm 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 entreat some other To see your offices be well discharged. Be merry, gentlemen; it grows somewhat late. Amintor, thou wouldst be a-bed 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 thyself. [Excunt. Manent MELANTIUS and CALIANAX. 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 Mel. Mark his disordered words! And, at the Meant me no hurt! Disgrace me with the king; masque, Diagoras knows, he raged, and railed at me, Cal. I'll not speak for thee, King. Some, that love him, Get him to bed. Why, pity should not let Lose all my offices! This is no hurt, Is it? I prithee, what dost thou call hurt? Mel. To poison men, because they love ine not; To call the credit of men's 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. Ay, o' the king? I would revenge o' thee. Mel. The short is, I will hold thee with the king | To do the deed in. I will wash the stain, In this perplexity, till peevishness And thy disgrace have laid thee in thy grave. But, if thou wilt deliver up the fort, I'll 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, Canst thou deny it again? Mel. Try, and believe. Cal, Nay, then thou canst bring any thing about. Thou shalt have the fort. Mel. Why, well: Here let our hate be buried; and this hand Cal. Nay, I do not love thee yet; I cannot well endure to look on thee: Thou should'st not have it. But I am disgraced; And, if I did but hold this fort a day, I do believe, the king would take it from me, And give it thee, things are so strangely carried. Ne'er thank me for it; but yet the king shall know There was some such thing in it I told him of; And that I was an honest man. Mel. He'll buy That knowledge very dearly. Diphilus, That rests upon our house, off with his blood. Enter AMINTOR. Amin. Melantius, now assist me: If thou be'st That, which thou sayest, assist me. I have lost All my distempers, and have found a rage So pleasing! Help me. Mel. Who can see him thus, And not swear vengeance? What's the matter, friend? Amin. Out with thy sword! and, hand in hand Rush to the chamber of this hated king, Mel. 'Twere a rash attempt, Not to be done with safety. Let your reason Amin. If thou refusest me in these extremes, Mel. He'll overthrow My whole design with madness. Amintor, Amin. I cannot tell What thou hast said; but thou hast charmed my sword Out of my hand, and left me shaking here, Mel. I will take it up for thee. Amin. What a wild beast is uncollected man! The thing, that we call honour, bears us all Headlong to sin, and yet itself is nothing. Mel. Alas, how variable are thy thoughts! Amin. Just like my fortunes: I was run to that I purposed to have chid thee for. Some plot, I did distrust, thou hadst against the king, By that old fellow's carriage. But take heed; There's not the least limb growing to a king, But carries thunder in it. And hang yourselves. Mel. Be gone. Diph. He's finely wrought. [Exeunt Cal. and Diph. ACT V. Mel. This is a night, 'spite of astronomers, Mel. I will remember. [Exeunt. Evad. Saving your imagination, pray, good night, sir. Gent. A good night be it then, and a long one, madam. I am gone. [Erit. [King a-bed. Evad. The night grows horrible; and all about me Like my black purpose. Oh, the conscience I have begun a slaughter on my honour, And I must end it there. He sleeps. Good Heavens ! Why give you peace to this untemperate beast, That hath so long transgressed you? I must kill him, And I will do it bravely: The mere joy King. Who's that? Evad. Oh, you sleep soundly, sir! I have been dreaming of thee. Come to bed. Evad. I am come at length, sir; but how welcome? King. What pretty new device is this, Evadne? What, do you tie me to you? By my love, This is a quaint one. Coine, my dear, and kiss me; I'll be thy Mars; to bed, my queen of love: Let us be caught together, that the gods May see, and envy our embraces. Evad. Stay, sir, stay; You are too hot, and I have brought you physic To temper your high veins. King. Prithee, to bed then; let me take it warm; Evad. Ay, you shall bleed! Lie still; and, it the devil, Your lust, will give you leave, repent. This steel Comes to redeem the honour, that you stole, King, my fair name; which nothing but thy death Can answer to the world. King. How is this, Evadne? Evad. I am not she; nor bear I in this breas: That knows not pity. Stir not! If thou dost, King. Thou dost not mean this; 'tis impossible Thou art too sweet and gentle. Evad. No, I am not. I prithee speak not these things: Thou art gentle, And wert not meant thus rugged. Evad. Peace, and hear me, Stir nothing but your tongue, and that for mercy A thing out of the overcharge of nature; King. Hear, Evadne, Thou soul of sweetness, hear! I am thy king. Evad. Thou art my shame! Lie still, there's none about you, Within your cries: All promises of safety There thou shalt know the state of my body bet-To part so fairly with you; we must change More of these love-tricks yet. King. What bloody villain Provoked thee to this murder? Evad. Thou, thou monster. Who can believe a woman could do this! Enter CLEON and LYSIPPUS. Cleon. How now! Where's the traitor? [Exit. Enter LYSIPPUS, DIAGORAS, CLEON, STRATO, and guard. Lys. See where he stands, as boldly confident, As if he had his full command about him. Stra. He looks as if he had the better cause, Sir; Under your gracious pardon, let me speak it! Though he be mighty spirited, and forward To all great things; to all things of that danger Worse men shake at the telling of; yet, certainly, I do believe him noble; and this action Rather pulled on, than sought: His mind was ever As worthy as his hand. Lys. 'Tis my fear, too. Lys. I am sorry, that we meet thus; our old love Never required such distance. Pray Heaven, 1. Fled, fled away; but there her woeful act You have not left yourself, and sought this safety lies still. Enter STRATO. Stra. Never follow her; For she, alas! was but the instrument. Lys. Gentlemen, I am your king, Lys. I would I were not! Follow, all; for this Must have a sudden stop. [Exeunt. Enter MELANTIUS, DIPHILUS, and CALIANAX, on the wall. Mel. If the dull people can believe I am armed, (Be constant, Diphilus!) now we have time, Either to bring our banished honours home, Or create new ones in our ends. Diph. I fear not. My spirit lies not that way. Courage, Calianax. More out of fear than honour! You have lost Cal. When time was, I was mad; some, that dares fight, I hope will pay this rascal. Mel. Royal young man, whose tears look lovely on thee, Had they been shed for a deserving one, lour, Pulled people from the farthest sun to seek him, Cal. Who I? You would draw me in. I have had no wrong, 'I do disclaim ye all. Mel. The short is this: Stra. Be sudden, sir, to tie |