Amin. Prithee, vex me not! Ecad. I am gone; Leave me! I am afraid some sudden start I love my life well. [Exit EVADNE. Amin. I hate mine as much. [Exit. Enter MELANTIUS. My servants all over for this. [Exit CALIANAX. Amin. Men's eyes are not so subtle to perceive Hid from the world. How art thou wretched, then? Mel. I'll know the cause of all Amintor's griefs, For aught I know, all husbands are like me; Or friendship shall be idle. Enter CALIANAX. Cal. O Melantius, my daughter will die. Mel. Trust me, I am sorry. "Would thou hadst ta'en her room! Cal. Thou art a slave, A cut-throat slave, a bloody treacherous slave! to rave, And lose thine offices. Cal. I am valiant grown, At all these years, and thou art but a slave! Thy years, not thee, so much, that I could wish Cat. I'll spoil your mirth: I mean to fight There lie, my cloak! This was my father's sword, Mel. Why wilt thou doat thyself out of thy life? Cal. You have a name in war, where you stand Amongst a multitude; but I will try Mel. I will not draw, unless thou pull'st thy death Upon thee with a stroke. There's no one blow, me. Tempt me not so far then: The power of earth Cal. I must let him alone; He's stout and able; and, to say the truth, Cal. I would give half my land, That I durst fight with that proud man a little. Me!. Sir, will you be gone? | And every one, I talk with of his wife, As I am. 'Would I knew it; for the rareness Mel. Amintor, we have not enjoy'd 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't? Amin. Why, such an odd one! Mel. I have long'd to speak with you; not of an idle jest, that's forc'd, but of matter you are bound to utter to me. Amin. What is that, my friend? Mel. I have observ'd your words Fall from your tongue wildly; and all your carriage Some sadness sits here, which your cunning would Amin. A sadness here! what cause A prison for all virtue? Are not you, Mel. You may shape, Amintor, Cal. I dare not stay; but I'll go home and beat Out of my bosom! Amin. But there is nothing- How you give cause unto yourself to say, Amin. Forgive what I have done; Mel. Do not weep. What is it? May I once but know the man Hath turned my friend thus! Amin. I had spoke at first, But that Mel. But what? Amin. I held it most unfit For you to know. Faith, do not know it yet. Amin. Why, 'tis this-It is too big Mel. Well said. Amin. You will wish't unknown, When you have heard it. Mel. No. Amin. Is much to blame, And to the king has given her honour up, And lives in whoredom with him. Mel. How is this? Thou art run mad with injury, indeed; Amin. She's wanton: I am loth to say, 'a whore,' Though it be true. Mel. Speak yet again, before mine anger grow After mine actions, shall the name of Friend The name of Friend is more than family, A leprons one! Put up thy sword, young man. Mel. Better half the land Were buried quick together. No, Amintor; Thou shalt have ease. Oh, this adult'rous 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. Amin. I have quite undone my fame. And cast a manly look upon my face; I How loth I am to this; but, love and tears, wrung From out my bosom: Give it me again; Mel. Why would you have it back? Thy blood so high, that thou wilt stir in this, Amin. I will not hear! but draw, or I- Amin. Draw then; for I am full as resolute As fame and honour can enforce me be! I cannot linger. Draw! Mel. I do. But is not My share of credit equal with thine, Amin. No; for it will be call'd Honour in thee to spill thy sister's blood, A brave revenge: But on me, that have walk'd Of fearful cuckold. Oh, that word! Be quick. Mel. Then join with me. Amin. I dare not do a sin, or else I would. Be speedy. Mel. Then dare not fight with me; for that's a '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 kill'd first. Though my passions Offer'd the like to you, 'tis not this earth Amin. Oh, my soft temper! So many sweet words from thy sister's mouth, To embrace, and pardon her. I am mad, indeed, Mel. Why, thinks my friend I will forget his honour? or, to save 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. Diph. Yonder has been such laughing. Diph. Why, our sister and the king; I thought their spleens would break; they laugh'd 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 Diph. You do wrong us both: People hereafter shall not say, there passed Mel. It is as nobly ́said as I would wish. selves. Mel. Stay not: Prepare the armour in my And what friends you can draw unto our side, Cal. And should I help thee? Now thy treacherous mind betrays itself. Mel. Come, delay me not; Give me a sudden answer, or already Thy last is spoke! refuse not offer'd love, When it comes clad in secrets. Cal. If I say I will not, he will kill me; I do see it Cal. Methinks I feel myself Mel. Nay, but stay! I cannot 'scape, the deed And make her red again. I pray, my legs once done, Without I have this fort. Will last that pace, that I will carry them: I shall want breath, before I find the king. [Exit. ACT IV. Enter MELANTIUS, EVADNE, and a Lady. Evad. Save you, sweet brother! Methinks, you look, Evadne-- Evad. Come, you would make me blush. Mel. I would, Evadne: I shall displease my ends else. Evad. You shall, if you commend me; I am -bashful. Come, sir, how do I look ? 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. Mel. I will not have your gilded things, that dance A lady of a sweet complexion, And such a flowing carriage, that it cannot Chuse but inflame a kingdom. Evad. Gentle brother! Evad. 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 Do it without enforcement, and take heed Evad. How, sir! where got you this report? 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 Mel. "Tis yet in thy repentance, foolish wo- 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 lock'd up in thy blood! Be sudden; There is no facing it, and be not flatter'd ! The burnt air, when the Dog reigns, is not fouler Than thy contagious name, 'till thy repentance (If the gods grant thee any) purge thy sickness. Evad. Be gone! You are my brother; that's your safety. Mel. I'll be a wolf first! 'Tis, 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 virtue: Seek a kindred 'Mongst sensual beasts, and make a goat thy brother; A goat is cooler. Will you tell me yet? Evad. If you stay here and rail thus, I shall tell you, I'll have you whipp'd! get you to your command, What mortal fool durst raise thee to this daring, Here's one should thunder to them! will you tell me? Thou hast no hope to 'scape: He, that dares most, And damns away his soul to do thee service, Will sooner fetch meat from a hungry lion, Than come to rescue thee; thou'st death about thee. This sword shall be thy lover! Tell, or I'll kill thee; And when thou hast told all, thou wilt deserve it. Evad. You will not murder me? Mel. No! 'tis a justice, and a noble one, To put the light out of such base offenders. Evad. Help! Mel. By thy foul self, no human help shall help thee, If thou criest! When I have killed thee, as I have Vow'd to do, if thou confess not, naked, As thou hast left thine honour, will I leave thee; That on thy branded flesh the world may read Thy black shame, and my justice. Wilt thou bend yet? Evad. Yes. Mel. Up, and begin your story. Evad. Oh, I am miserable! Mel. 'Tis true, thou art. Speak truth still. Evad. I have offended: Noble sir, forgive me. Mel. With what secure slave? Evad. Do not ask me, sir: Mel. Do not fall back again : Evad. What shall I do? Mel. Be true, and make your fault less. Evad. I dare not tell. Mel. Tell, or I'll be this day a-killing thee. Evad. Will you forgive me then? Mel. Stay; I must ask Are liberally rewarded. King, I thank thee! For all my dangers and my wounds, thou hast paid me In my own metal: These are soldiers' thanks! Who has undone thine honour, poison'd thy How long have you liv'd thus, Evadne ? virtue, Evad. Too long. Mel. Too late you find it. Can you be sorry? Mel. 'Would gods th' hadst been so blest! Dost thou not hate this king now? prithee hate him. Couldst thou not curse him? I command thee, curse him. Curse, till the gods hear, and deliver him Evad. No; I feel Too many sad confusions here, to let in Mel. Dost thou not feel, among all those, one brave anger, F |