EUME. Must my entire and lasting innocence Be still rewarded with a curse, and from A noble brother too, whose jealousy Can ne'er be cur'd, but by my vow'd Perpetual absence from the Court, which is A remedy that will destroy the King.

Enter AMADORE.

AMAD. This is her chamber, sure! I watch'd with heed

If the Queen and Oramont in their return

Took not their straight immediate

hence.

way from

I'll make the door secure to hinder all accessEUME. What are you, sir, that rudely press to so Reserv'd a place ?

AMAD. With wise intent did Oramont detain Me still from seeing her. She looks as she

Were made to conquer or betray.

EUME. Why do you gaze with such amazement, sir?

Come you t'admire, or scornfully to kill

What you behold?

AMAD. T'instruct you who I am,

Know, I am proud to call my self the friend
To Oramont.

EUME. Was't he that sent you hither?

AMAD. No, lady! by my own contrivance, I come resolv'd, through all the dangers death Can minister, to find you here; friendship Hath given my resolution strength to meet Even that which overcame the valiant King, Your beauty's force.

EUME. Discover quickly your intents! Ere fear distracts my understanding so, That I shall suffer, and not know the cause.

AMAD. Your brother thinks your youth defil'd, which breeds

Such a distemper in his breast, that now
His stronger senses yield to ev'ry doubt.
This melancholy sickness I would cure,
And can invent no means, so fully fraught
With hope, as to convey you from the Court
In this disguise-

EUME. Stay Whither would you lead me, sir?

I dare

Not trust my self to furious men :

To me you are a stranger, and may feign
The story of that cause which tempts you so
Uncivilly to gain my brother's love. Take heed!
If you abuse the royal privilege

That guards this place, an army call'd

To your defence cannot secure your life.

AMAD. Danger's a vain, unbody'd blast; let it Prevail with infants often frighted in Their sleep; with judges grown effeminate In their warm furs; who think most fearfully Of death, because 'tis terrible to those Whom they condemn; with priests, who at Their frequent visits find the sickly in Despair, that hourly see the guilty die, And, by uncertain faith, derive at last Their fears unto themselves. To such As these preach danger, but to me it is The music of the drum, ordain'd to fright Cowards, but gives the valiant appetite.

EUME. Is there no help, but what with unprepar'd Devotion, rudely I must call from Heaven? AMAD. Delay me not in hope of a surprize, But strait put on this borrow'd shape, and then With silence follow me, or on thy heart My sword shall spoil the figure of the King. [Draws his sword.

EUME. Did I believe that dying is the worst
You would enforce, I should invite it now.
Kill her that is most willingly prepar'd.

AMAD. Have you the vanity to be believ'd
So innocent, as that you fear not death?

EUME. Sir, if you think I borrow virtue for
A safe disguise, here I present my breast.
AMAD. Assemble all your thoughts together, and
Consult within; are there no terrors near
The grave No angry spirits, whose
Employment is to hurry, and transmit the soul
From flame to flame, from wind to wind-poor
Vex'd and weary stranger-till groaning
With the burden of its long remembered sins,
Shall wish that its too soon forsaken flesh
Were on again?

EUME. I cannot think of any willing crime,
I e'er commited, that may make me fear
I shall be troubled after death.

AMAD. Yet study more; perhaps I have
Defac'd your memory with the disorder that
My threats have made.

EUME. 'Tis you are guilty, sir, and may suspect The confidence you brought, not what you

Find in me; besides my innocence, I have
So many griefs, as may declare I am

Willing enough to die. Begin that work

You thought you could so quickly finish with your sword.

AMAD. Thou but pretendst this virtuous bold

ness to

Beguile my wrath. Receive the just reward
That such hypocrisy provokes!

EUME. What interrupts you now, why are you slow

To execute what you did promise with such eager haste ?

AMAD. Then she is clear! and I am lost, betray'd!

And by the easiness of friendship wrought

Basely to place suspicions on a saint.

Upon my knee, I beg you, by

Your hasty pardon, would prevent that curse,
That black dishonour, which your brother's
Jealousy might lay upon your sex.

[Knocking at the door. EUME. Hide, hide your self, if you desire to live! Ferchance it is the King.

AMAD. He comes most timely, then; for had I

power

I would command him here.

If life will satisfy th' arrears of guilt,

Take it, who e'er thou art, for I will let

Thee in!

Enter KING.

[Opens the door.

KING. This, mistress, is a pretty needless safety, D'you guard your door with bolts ?

Amadore!

That gave to Oramont his ransom, with

Such brave munificence.

Hah!

EUME. Was he the author of my brother's liberty? Then I shall more lament his loss.

KING. How, sir! Your sword naked, as 'twere drawn

For violent designs! If treacherously

It aims at me, thou shalt have cause to praise
My valour more, than thou dost fear the King.
I will not call for help, but thus unarm'd

I dare resist a traitor's force.

AMAD. Had I not wrong'd that lady, sir, with

most

Unworthy doubts, then free from guilt I

Should have boldness to encounter all assaults,

Though num'rously address'd; but as I am
Th'abuser of her fame, I weakly yield

My weapon to your hand. Revenge her cause,
Whom you so nobly love!

[Kneels, and gives his sword. EUME. How strangely he becomes this penitence! O sir, believe him not! distraction makes

Him own a crime which he did ne'er commit. KING. Eumena, he is safe! thou shouldst not think

I'll vanquish him that overcomes himself;
Yet it is just I give him to the trial

Of the laws; for ev'ry circumstance denotes
There is some great rash injury, which, sure,
Thy goodness labours to conceal.

AMAD. If your strict laws could punish me with death,

For saucily infringing thus the peace

And secret quiet of your Court, I then

Would cheerfully commend the doom.

EUME. For my sake, pity, sir, his madness 'gainst

Himself! Shall he that made my brother free
Be fetter'd and confin'd in bonds?

to my sense.

AMAD. My vile subjection grows more hideous [King takes Eumena aside. KING. Those little forms that bring authority Regardful awe, and keep it great, should still Be sullen and severe. 'Tis not with Kings, Eumena, as with lesser men, that may In gentle courtesy forgive; for if

The Lord of Laws should compliment

With crimes, the law it self that makes him safe
Would be but ceremony thought, and get

No more regard than as 'tis eloquently writ
Or spoke. Believ't, 'tis fit he suffer for
Example only, to deter the bad.