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King. But thou hast let Amintor lie with thee. Evad. I have not.

King. Impudence! he says himself so.

Evad. He lies.

King. He does not.

King. Draw not thy sword; thou know'st I cannot fear

A subject's hand; but thou shalt feel the weight Of this, if thou dost rage.

Amin. The weight of that!

Evad. By this light he does, strangely and If you have any worth, for heaven's sake, think

basely!

And I'll 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 am no man

To answer with a blow; or, if I were,

You are the king! But urge me not; it is most true.
King. Do not I know the uncontrouled 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 strain
As this our age hath known? What could he do,
If such a sudden speech had met his blood,
But ruin thee for ever? If he had not killed thee,
He could not bear it thus. He is as we,
any other wronged man.

Or

Evad. It is dissembling.

King. Take him! farewell! henceforth I am thy foe;

And what disgraces I can blot thee, look for. Evad. Stay, sir!-Amintor!-You shall hear.— Amintor!

Amin. What, my love?

Evad. Amintor, thou hast an ingenuous look, And should'st be virtuous: It amazeth me, That thou canst make such base malicious lies! Amin. What, my dear wife?

Evad. Dear wife! I do despise thee.
Why, nothing can be baser than to sow
Dissention amongst lovers.

Amin. Lovers! who?
Evad. The king and me.
Amin. O, Heaven!

Evad. Who should live long, and love without
distaste,

Were it not for such pickthanks as thyself!
Did you lie with me? Swear now, and be punished
In hell for this!

Amin. The faithless sin I made

To fair Aspatia, is not yet revenged;
It follows me. I will not lose a word
To this vile woman: But to you, my king,
The anguish of my soul thrusts out this truth,
You 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 lied. Amin. 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?
Is it not death? Nor can that satisfy,
Unless I send your lives through all the land,
To shew how nobly I have freed myself.

I fear not swords; for as you are mere 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 murder 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 chuse out me
To make thus wretched? There were thousand
fools

Easy to work on, and of state enough,
Within the island.

Evad. I would not have a fool;

It were no credit for me.

Amin. Worse and worse!

Thou, that darest talk unto thy husband thus,
Profess thyself 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'en
Another.

King. No; for I believed thee honest,
As thou wert valiant.

Amin. All the happiness

Bestowed 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.
Amin. A bawd! Hold, hold, my breast! A bit-

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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'll spoil your mirth! I mean to fight with thee.

There lie, my cloak! This was my father's sword, And he durst fight. Are you prepared?

Mel. Why wilt thou doat thyself 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, where you stand safe

Amongst a multitude; but I will try
What you dare do unto a weak old man,
In single fight. You will give ground, I fear.
Come, draw.

Mel. I will not draw, unless thou pull'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 testy 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 him, I would beat him, Till he asked me mercy.

Mel. Sir, will you be gone?

Cal. I dare not stay; but I'll go home and beat My servants all over for this. [Exit Calianax. Mel. This old fellow haunts me! But the distracted carriage of my Amintor Takes deeply on me! I will find the cause.

I fear his conscience cries, he wronged Aspatia.

Enter AMINTOR.

Amin. Men's eyes are not so subtle to perceive My inward misery: I bear my grief,

Hid from the world. How art thou wretched, then?

For aught 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 enjoyed our friendship of late, for we were wont to change our souls in talk.

Amin. Melantius, I can tell thee a good jest of Strato and a lady the last day.

Mel. How was it?

Amin. Why, such an odd one!

Mel. I have longed to speak with you; not of an idle jest, that's forced, but of matter you are bound

to utter to me.

Amin. What is that, my friend?

Mel. I have observed your words Fall from your tongue wildly; and all your carriage Like one, that strove to shew his merry mood, When he were ill disposed; 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'er with smiles, and 'twill not be. What is it?

Amin. A sadness here! what cause
Can fate provide for me, to make me so?
Am I not loved 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
Immutable colour, in her heart

A prison for all virtue? Are not you,
Which is above all joys, 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 unexpressed a joy
In chaste embraces, that you will indeed
Appear another.

Mel. You may shape, Amintor,
Causes to cozen the whole world withal,
And yourself 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 have told that man
My secret sins! I'll search an unknown land,
And there plant friendship; all is withered here.
Come with a compliment! I would have fought,
Or told my friend he lied,' ere soothed him so.
Out of my bosom !

Amin. But there is nothing

Mel. Worse and worse! farewell! From this time have acquaintance, but no friend.

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

Amin. 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?
Amin. By all our friendship, these.
Mel. What, am I tame?

After mine actions, shall the name of friend
Blot all our family, and stick the brand
Of whore upon my sister, unrevenged?
My shaking flesh, be thou a witness for me,
With what unwillingness I go to scourge
This railer, whom my folly hath called 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!

Amin. 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 lics,

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The name of friend is more than family,
Or all the world besides: I was a fool!
Thou searching human nature, that didst wake
To do me wrong, thou art inquisitive,
And thrust'st 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 în me!
I do believe my sister is a whore,

A leprous one! Put up thy sword, young man.

Amin. 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 act on myself, Through these disgraces.

Mel. Better half the land

Were buried quick together. No, Amintor;
Thou shalt have ease. Oh, this adulterous king,
That drew her to it! Where got he the spirit
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 thrown away.
But from his iron den I'll waken Death,
And hurl him on this king! My honesty
Shall steel my sword; and on its horrid point
I'll wear my cause, that shall amaze the eyes
Of this proud man, and be too glittering
For him to look on.

Amin. I have quite undone my fame.
Mel. Dry up thy watery 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!
thus from thee, and will never cease
My vengeance, till I find thy heart at peace.

go

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sin.

His grief distracts him; Call thy thoughts again, And to thyself pronounce the name of friend, And see what that will work. I will not fight. Amin. You must.

Mel. I will be killed first. Though my passions Offered the like to you, 'tis not this earth Shall buy my reason to it. Think awhile, For you are (I must weep, when I speak that) Almost besides yourself."

Amin. Oh, my soft temper!

So many sweet words from thy sister's 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 dost.

Mel. Why thinks my friend

Iwill forget his honour? or, to save
The bravery of our house, will lose his fame,
And fear to touch the throne of majesty?

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

Mel. I'll do what worth shall bid me, and no

more.

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

Mel. Come, take again your mirth about you. Amin. I shall never do't.

Mel. I warrant you; look up; we'll walk together; Put thine arm here; all shall be well again. Amin. Thy love (oh, wretched!) ay, thy love, Melantius!

Why, I have nothing else.
Mel. Be merry then.

Enter MELANTIUS again.

[Exeunt.

Mel. This worthy young man may do violence Upon himself; but I have cherish'd 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 laughed 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 myself, and find it.

Mel. That was spoke according to our strain. Come, join 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 passed
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'll tell you wonders. We are wronged. Diph. But I will tell you now, we'll 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 myself withal, Were idle; and to escape impossible, Without I had the fort, which (misery!) Remaining in the hands of my old enemy Calianax- -But I must have it. See,

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Without I have this fort.

Mel. You're touchy without all cause.
Cal. Do, mock me.

Mel. By mine honour I speak truth.
Cal. Honour? where is it?

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 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 wronged you and your daughter. Cal. Out, traitor!

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I will not, he will kill me; I do see it
Writ in his looks; and should I say I will,
He'll 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 armed.
[Exit Melantius.

Cal. Methinks I feel myself
But twenty now again! 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:

Mel. Nay, but stay! I cannot escape, the deed I shall want breath, before I find the king. once done,

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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. [Exeunt ladies.

Mel. I'll lock the door first.
Evad. Why?

Mel. I will not have your gilded things, that dance
In visitation with their Milan skins,
Choke up my business.

Evad. You are strangely disposed, sir. Mel. Good madam, not to make you merry. Evad. No; if you praise me, it will make me sad. Mel. Such a sad commendation I have for you. Ecad. Brother, the court hath made you witty, And learn to riddle.

Mel. I praise the court for it: Has it learnt you nothing?

Evad. Me?

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Mel. Tis base;

And I could blush, at these years, through all
My honoured scars, to come to such a parley.
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. 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

Rather to grapple with the plague, or stand
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 were people, in every place. Evad. They and the seconds of it are base people: Believe them not, they lied.

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'll find him, Though he lie locked up in thy blood! Be sudden; There is no facing it, and be not flattered!

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