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 walls. Mel. If the dull people can believe I am armed, (Be constant, Diphilus!) now we have time, Either to bring our banish'd honours home, Or create new ones in our ends. Diph. I fear not. My spirit lies not that way. Courage, Calianax. Cal. Would I had any! you should quickly know it. Mel. Speak to the people: Thou art eloquent. Cal. 'Tisa fine eloquence to come to the gallows! You were born to be my end. The devil take you! Now must I hang for company. 'Tis strange, 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; I do believe him noble; and this action Never requir'd such distance. Pray Heaven, Cal. When time was, I was mad; some, that I hope will pay this rascal. Mel. Royal young man, whose tears look lovely on thee, Had they been shed for a deserving one, him With that strong faith, that most unwearied valour, Pull'd people from the farthest sun to seek him, Urgeth me thus; I do desire again If not, I know my strength, and will unbuild Stru. Be sudden, sir, to tie All up again: What's done is past recall, And past you to revenge; and there are thousands, That wait for such a troubled hour as this. Lys. Melantius, write in that Thy choice: My seal is at it. Mel. It was our honours drew us to this act, Not gain; and we will only work our pardons. Cal. Put my name in too. Diph. You disclaim'd us all But now, Calianax. Cul. That is all one; I'll not be hang'd hereafter by a trick: I'll have it in. Mel. You shall, you shall. Come to the back gate, and we'll call you king, And give you up the fort. Lys. Away, away. [Exeunt omnes. Enter ASPATIA, in man's apparel. Asp. This is my fatal hour. Heav'n may forgive My rash attempt, that causelessly hath laid Griefs on me, that will never let me rest; And put a woman's heart into my breast. It is more honour for you, that I die; For she, that can endure the misery, That I have on me, and be patient too, May live and laugh at all that you can do. God save you, sir; Enter Servant. Ser. And you, sir. What's your business? Asp. With you, sir, now; to do me the fair office To help me to your lord. Ser. What, would you serve him? Asp. I'll do him any service; but, to haste, For my affairs are earnest, I desire To speak with him. Ser. Sir, because you're in such haste, I would be loth delay you any longer: You cannot. Asp. It shall become you, though, to tell your lord. Ser. Sir, he will speak with nobody; but, in particular, I have in charge, about no weighty matters. Asp. This is most strange. Art thou gold-proof? There's for thee; help me to him. Ser. Pray be not angry, sir. I'll do my best. [Erit. Asp. How stubbornly this fellow answer'd me! There is a vile dishonest trick in man, More than in women: All the men I meet Appear thus to me, are all harsh and rude; And have a subtilty in every thing, Which love could never know. But we fond wo men Harbour the easiest and the smoothest thoughts, And think, all shall go so! It is unjust, Unto the wrong'd Amintor! Let me kiss Asp. I would I could with credit. I would not, though. I shall not need to tell you, Amin. Charitable youth, (If thou be'st such) think not I will maintain Asp. Thus, she swore, Thou wouldst behave thyself; and give me words, That would fetch tears into my eyes; and so Thou dost, indeed. But yet she bade me watch, Lest I were cozen'd; and be sure to fight, Amin. That must not be with me. Asp. You must be urg'd. I do not deal uncivilly with those, All this. Good gods! a blow I can endure! Asp. Thou art some prating fellow; Thus, to be kick'd!-Why should he be so slow [Aside. Forgive me then! [They fight. In giving me my death? Thou canst not fight: The blows thou mak'st at me Alas, defenceless! Asp. I have got enough, And my desire. There is no place so fit Enter EVADNE, her hands bloody, with a knife. Evad. Amintor, I am loaden with events, Amin. Thou canst not fool me to believe again; But thou hast looks and things so full of news, That I am stay'd. Evad. Noble Amintor, put off thy amaze, Let thine eyes loose, and speak: Am I not fair? Looks not Evadne beauteous, with these rites now? Were those hours half so lovely in thine eyes, When our hands met before the holy man? I was too foul within to look fair then: Since I knew ill, I was not free till now. Amin. There is presage of some important thing About thee, which, it seems, thy tongue hath lost. Thy hands are bloody, and thou hast a knife! Evad. In this consists thy happiness and mine. Joy to Amintor! for the king is dead. Amin. Those have most pow'r to hurt us, that We lay our sleeping lives within their arms! Black is thy colour now, disease thy nature. Evad. 'Tis done; and since I could not find a way Amin. Couldst thou procure the gods to speak to me, To bid me love this woman, and forgive, Sent by his violent fate, to fetch his death And throws an unknown wilderness about me. Amin. No more; pursue me not. Evad. Forgive me then, and take me to thy bed. We may not part. Amin. Forbear! Be wise, and let my rage Go this way. Evad. 'Tis you, that I would stay, not it. Amin. Take heed; it will return with me. Evad. If it must be, I shall not fear to meet it: Take me home. Amin. Thou monster of cruelty, forbear! Evad. For heaven's sake, look more calm: Thine eyes are sharper than thou canst make thy sword. Amin. Away, away! Thy knees are more to me than violence. Amin. I dare not stay thy language: In midst of all my anger and my grief, [Leaves her. Evad. Amintor, thou shalt love me now again: Go; I am calm. Farewell, and peace for ever! Evadne, whom thou hat'st, will die for thee. [Kills herself. Amin. I have a little human nature yet, That's left for thee, that bids me stay thy hand. [Returns. Evad. Thy hand was welcome, but it came too late. That death can bring; and yet, 'would it were done! I can find nothing in the whole discourse Asp. Was it a dream? There stands Amintor Or I dream still. Amin. How dost thou? Speak; receive my love and help. Thy blood climbs up to his old place again : Asp. Did you not name Aspatia? Amin. I did. Asp. And talk'd of tears and sorrow unto her? Amin. 'Tis true; and 'till these happy signs in thee Did stay my course, 'twas thither I was going. Asp. Thou'rt there already, and these wounds are hers: Those threats, I brought with me, sought not re venge; But came to fetch this blessing from thy hand. I am Aspatia yet. Amin. Dare my soul ever look abroad again? Asp. I shall surely live, Amintor, I am well: A kind of healthful joy wanders within me. Amin. The world wants lives to excuse thy loss! Come, let me bear thee to some place of help. Asp. Amintor, thou must stay; I must rest here; My strength begins to disobey my will. How dost thou, my best soul? I would fain live Now, if I could: Wouldst thou have lov'd me, then? Amin. Alas! All that I am's not worth a hair from thee. Asp. Give me thy hand; my hands grope up and down, And cannot find thee: I am wondrous sick: Amin. Thou greatest blessing of the world, Asp. I do believe thee better than my sense. Oh! I must go. Farewell! [Dies. Amin. She swoons! Aspatia! Help! for hea- Such as may chain life ever to this frame. Ye heav'nly powers! and lend, for some few years, No comfort comes; the gods deny me too! Enter Servant. Serv. This is a great grace to my lord, to have the new king come to him: I must tell him he is entering.-Oh, heaven! Help, help! Enter LYSIPPUS, MELANTIUS, CALIANAX, CLE- Lys. Where's Amintor? Mel. These deaths are such acquainted things That yet my heart dissolves not. May I stand Amin. Oh! Diph. Hold, brother. Lys. Stop him. Diph. Fie? how unmanly was this offer in you; Does this become our strain? Cal. I know not what the matter is, but I am grown very kind, and am friends with you. You have given me that among you, will kill me quickly; but I'll go home, and live as long as I can. Mel. His spirit is but poor, that can be kept From death for want of weapons. Is not my hand a weapon sharp enough To stop my breath? or, if you tie down those, vow, Amintor, I will never eat, I Or drink, or sleep, or have to do with that, That may preserve life! This I swear to keep. Lys. Look to him tho', and bear those bodies in. May this a fair example be to me, To rule with temper: For, on lustful kings, Unlooked-for, sudden deaths from heaven are sent; But curst is he, that is their instrument. [Exeunt omnes, |