Go, and with yours be safe; I have such cause Of grief, (nay more, to love it) that I will not Have such as these be sharers in it.

Lec. Madam!

Prot. Another time were better.
Brun. Do not stir,

For I must be resolv'd, and will: Be statues !

Enter MARTELL.

Thi. Ay, thou art welcome; and upon my soul Thou art an honest man. Do you see! he has

tears

To lend to him whom prodigal expence

Of sorrow has made bankrupt of such treasure! Nay, thou dost well.

Mart. I would it might excuse

The ill I bring along!

Thi. Thou mak'st me smile

P th' heighth of my calamities: As if
There could be the addition of an atom,

To the giant-body of my miseries!

And with what willingness 'twas done! for which
My last request unto him is, that he

Would instantly make choice of one (most happy
In being so chosen) to supply my place;
By whom if Heav'n bless him with a daughter,
In my remembrance let it bear my name!
Which said, she died.

Thi. I hear this, and yet live!

death

To any that shall dare to interrupt him

In look, gesture, or word.

Mart. And such attention

As is due to the last, and the best story
That ever was deliver'd, will become you.
The griev'd Ordella (for all other titles
But take away from that) having from me,
Prompted by your last parting groan, enquir'd
What drew it from you, and the cause soon learn'd;
For she whom barbarism could deny nothing,
With such prevailing earnestness desir'd it,
'Twas not in me, tho' it had been my death,
To hide it from her: She, I say, in whom
All was, that Athens, Rome, or warlike Sparta,
Have register'd for good in their best women,
But nothing of their ill; knowing herself
Mark'd out (I know not by what power, but sure
A cruel one) to die, to give you children;
Having first with a settled countenance
Look'd up to heaven, and then upon herself,
(It being the next best object) and then smil'd,
As if her joy in death to do you service
Would break forth, in despite of the much sorrow
She shew'd she had to leave you; and then taking
Me by the hand, (this hand, which I must ever
Love better than I have done, since she touch'd it)
Go, said she, to my lord, (and to go to him
Is such a happiness I must not hope for)
And tell him that he too much priz’d a trifle
Made only worthy in his love, and her
Thankful acceptance, for her sake to rob
The orphan kingdom of such guardians, as
Must of necessity descend from him;
And therefore, in some part of recompence
Of his much love, and to shew to the world
That 'twas not her fault only, but her fate,
That did deny to let her be the mother
Of such most certain blessings; yet, for proof
She did not envy her, that happy her,
That is appointed to them, her quick end
Should make way for her. Which no sooner spoke,
But in a moment this too-ready engine

break thee?

Deserves all blessings.

Brun. So soon to forget

The loss of such a wife, believe it, will Be censur'd in the world.

Thi. Pray you, no more!

There is no argument you can use to cross it,
But does encrease in me such a suspicion
I would not cherish.-Who's that?

Enter MEMBERGE.

Memb. One, no guard

Can put back from access, whose tongue no threats
Nor pray'rs can silence! a bold suitor, and
For that which, if you are yourself, a king,
You were made so to grant it: Justice, justice!
Thi. With what assurance dare you hope for
that

Which is denied to me? or how can I
Stand bound to be just unto such as are
Beneath me, that find none from those that are
Above me?

Memb. There is justice: 'Twere unfit
That any thing but vengeance should fall on him,
That, by his giving way to more than murder,
(For my dear father's death was parricide)
Makes it his own.

Brun. I charge you, hear her not!

Memb. Hell cannot stop just prayers from ent'ring Heav'n:

I must and will be heard! Sir, but remember
That he that by her plot fell, was your brother;
And the place where, your palace, against all
Th' inviolable rights of hospitality;
Your word, a king's word, given for his safety;
His innocence, his protection; and the gods
Bound to revenge the impious breach of such
So great and sacred bonds! and can you wonder
That (in not punishing such a horrid murder
You did it) that Heav'ns favour is gone from you?
Which never will return, until his blood
Be wash'd away in hers.

Brun. Drag hence the wretch!

Thi. Forbear. With what variety

Of torments do I meet! Oh, thou hast open'd
A book, in which, writ down in bloody letters,
My conscience finds that I am worthy of
More than I undergo; but I'll begin,
For my Ordella's sake, and for thine own,

To make less Heav'n's great anger: Thou hast lost

A father; I to thee am so: The hope
Of a good husband; in me have one! Nor

Brun. That it might

[Aside.

Have ever grown inseparably upon thee!What will you do? Is such a thing as this Worthy the lov'd Ordella's place? the daughter Of a poor gardener?

Memb. Your son!

Thi. The power

To take away that lowness is in me.

Brun. Stay yet; for rather than that thou shalt add

Incest unto thy other sins, I will,
With hazard of my own life, utter all:
Theodoret was thy brother.

Thi. You denied' it,

Upon your oath; nor will I now believe you: Your Protean turnings cannot change my purpose!

Memb. And for me, be assur'd the means to be Reveng❜d on thee, vile hag, admits no thought But what tends to it!

Brun. Is it come to that?

Then have at the last refuge! Art thou grown Insensible in ill, that thou goest on

Without the least compunction? There, take that! To witness that thou hadst a mother, which Foresaw thy cause of grief and sad repentance, That, so soon after bless'd Ordella's death, Without a tear, thou canst embrace another! Forgetful man!

Thi. Mine eyes, when she is nam'd, Cannot forget their tribute, and your gift Is not unuseful now.

Lec. He's past all cure;
That only touch is death.

Thi. This night I'll keep it;
To-morrow I will send it you, and full
Of my affliction.

Brun. Is the poison mortal?
Lec. Above the help of physic.
Brun. To my wish.

[Exit

Omnes. We understand you not, captain.
Vitry. You see this cardecue ;

The last, and the only quintessence of fifty crowns,
Distill'd in the limbeck of your gardage,

Of which happy piece thou shalt be treasurer: Now he that can soonest persuade him to part with it,

Enjoys it, possesses it, and, with it,
Me and my future countenance.
1 Sold. If they want art

To persuade it, I'll keep it myself.
Vitry. So you be not

A partial judge in your own cause, you shall.
Omnes. A match!

2 Sold. I'll begin to you: Brave sir, be proud
To make him happy by your liberality,
Whose tongue vouchsafes now to petition,
Was never heard before less than to command.
I am a soldier by profession, a gentleman
By birth, and an officer by place;
Whose, poverty blushes to be the cause,
That so high a virtue should descend
To the pity of your charity.

1 Sold. In any case keep your high stile! It is not charity to shame any man, Much less a virtue of your eminence; Wherefore preserve your worth, and I'll preserve My money.

3 Sold. You persuade? You are shallow! Give way to merit: Ah, by the bread of God, man, Thou hast a bonny countenance and a blith, Promising mickle good to a siking wemb, That has trod a long and a sore ground to meet With friends, that will owe much to thy reve

1 Sold. Hold, hold! here, captain! 2 Sold. Why, I could have done this Before you.

3 Sold. And I.

4 Sold. And I.

Vitry. You have done this:

Brave man, be proud to make him happy!'
By the bread of God, man, thou hast a bonny
countenance !'

"Comrade, man of urship, St. Tavy be her patron!'
Out upon you, you uncurried colts!
Walking cans, that have no souls in you,
But a little rosin to keep your ribs sweet,
And hold in liquor!

Omnes. Why, what would you have us to do,
captain?

Vitry. Beg, beg, and keep constables waking, Wear out stocks and whipcord,

Maunder for butter-milk, die of the jaundice,
Yet have the cure about you, lice, large lice,
Begot of your own dust, and the heat of the
brick-kilns!

May you starve, and the fear of the gallows
(Which is a gentle consumption to it)
Only preserve you from it or may you fall
Upon your fear, and be hang'd for selling
Those purses to keep you from famine,
Whose monies my valour empties,
And be cast without other evidence!
Here is my fort, my castle of defence;
Who comes by shall pay me toll;
The first purse is your mittimus, slaves.
2 Sold. The purse? 'foot, we'll share in the
money, captain,

If any come within a furlong of our fingers.
4 Sold. Did you doubt but we could steal
As well as yourself? Did not I speak Welsh?
3 Sold. We are thieves from our cradles, and
will die so.

Vitry. Then you will not beg again?
Omnes. Yes, as you did:

Stand and deliver!

2 Sold. Hark! here comes handsel:

'Tis a trade quickly set up, and as soon cast down. Vitry. Have goodness in your minds, varlets, and to't

Like men: He that has more money than we Cannot be our friend, and I hope there is no law For spoiling the enemy.

3 Sold. You need not

Instruct us further; your example pleads enough. Vitry. Disperse yourselves; and as their company is, fall on!

2 Sold. Come, there are a band of 'em! I'll charge single. [Exeunt Soldiers.

Enter PROTALDYE.

Prot. 'Tis wonderful dark! I have lost my man, And dare not call for him, lest I should have

And fetch them again.

Vitry. What blessed tongue spake to me? Where, where are you, sir?

Prot. A plague of your bawling throat! We are well enough, if you have the grace To be thankful for't. Do but snore to me, And 'tis as much as I desire, to pass Away time with, 'till morning; then talk As loud as you please. Sir, I am bound not to stir,

Wherefore, lie still and snore, I say.

Vitry. Then you have met with thieves too, I

in them,

And therefore desire to hear no more of them. Vitry. Now blessing on your wit, sir! what a dull

Slave was I, dream'd not of your conveyance!
Help to unbind me, sir, and I'll undo you;
My life for yours, no worse thief than myself
Meets you again this night.

Prot. Reach me thy hands!

Vitry. Here, sir, here; I could beat my brains out,

That could not think of boots,

Boots, sir, wide-topt boots; I shall love them
The better whilst I live. But are you sure
Your jewels are here, sir?

Prot. Sure, say'st thou? ha, ha, ha!
Vitry. So ho, illo ho!

Sold. [Within.] Here, captain, here.
Prot. 'Foot, what do you mean, sir?

Enter Soldiers.

Vitry. A trick to boot, say you?