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Enter STRATO.

Stra. Never follow her;

For she, alas! was but the instrument.
News is now brought in that Melantius
Has got the fort, and stands upon the wall;
And with a loud voice calls those few, that pass
At this dead time of night, delivering
The innocence of this act.

Lys. Gentlemen, I am your king.
Stra. We do acknowledge it.

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,
I should be old, and neither wise nor valiant.
Enter LYSIPPUS, DIAGORAS, CLEON, STRATO,
and Guard.

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;
Under your gracious pardon, let me speak it!
Though he be mighty spirited, and forward
To all great things; to all things of that danger
Worse men shake at the telling of; yet, cer-
tainly,

I do believe him noble; and this action
Rather pull'd on, than sought: His mind was

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Never requir'd such distance. Pray Heaven,
You have not left yourself, and sought this safety
More out of fear than honour! You have lost
A noble master; which your faith, Melantius,
Some think, might have preserv'd: Yet you
know best.

Cal. When time was, I was mad; some, that
dares fight,

I hope will pay this rascal.

Mel. Royal young man, whose tears look lovely on thee,

Had they been shed for a deserving one,
They had been lasting monuments! Thy brother,
While he was good, I call'd him king; and serv'd

him

With that strong faith, that most unwearied valour,

Pull'd people from the farthest sun to seek him,
And beg his friendship. I was then his soldier.
But since his hot pride drew him to disgrace me,
(That never-cur'd dishonour of my sister,
And brand my noble actions with his lust
Base stain of whore! and, which is worse,
The joy to make it still so), like myself,
Thus I have flung him off with my allegiance;
And stand here mine own justice, to revenge
What I have suffer'd in him; and this old man,
Wronged almost to lunacy.

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Urgeth me thus; I do desire again
To be a subject, so I may be free.

If not, I know my strength, and will unbuild
This goodly town. Be speedy, and be wise,
In a reply.

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.
Throw him the blank.

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,

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Unto the wrong'd Amintor! Let me kiss
That hand of thine, in honour that I bear
Unto the wrong'd Aspatia. Here I stand,
That did it: 'Would he could not! Gentle youth,
Leave me; for there is something in thy looks,
That calls my sins, in a most hideous form,
Into my mind; and I have grief enough
Without thy help.

Asp. I would I could with credit.
Since I was twelve years old, I had not seen
My sister till this hour; I now arriv'd:
She sent for me to see her marriage;
A woeful one! But they, that are above,
Have ends in every thing. She us'd few words;
But yet enough to make me understand
The baseness of the injuries you did her.
That little training I have had, is war:
I may behave myself rudely in peace;

I would not, though. I shall not need to tell you,
I am but young, and would be loth to lose
Honour, that is not easily gain'd again.
Fairly I mean to deal: The age is strict
For single combats; and we shall be stopp'd,
If it be published. If you like your sword,
Use it if mine appear a better to you,
Change; for the ground is this, and this the time
To end our difference.

Amin. Charitable youth,

(If thou be'st such) think not I will maintain
So strange a wrong: And, for thy sister's sake,
Know, that I could not think that desperate thing
I durst not do; yet, to enjoy this world
I would not see her; for, beholding thee,
I am I know not what. If I have aught,
That may content thee, take it, and be gone;
For death is not so terrible as thou.
Thine eyes shoot guilt into me.

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,
Ere I returned.

Amin. That must not be with me.
For her I'll die directly; but against her
Will never hazard it.

Asp. You must be urg'd.

I do not deal uncivilly with those,
That dare to fight; but such a one as you
Must be us'd thus.
[She strikes him.
Amin. I prithee, youth, take heed.
Thy sister is a thing to me so much.
Above mine honour, that I can endure

All this. Good gods! a blow I can endure!
But stay not, lest thou draw a timeless death
Upon thyself.

Asp. Thou art some prating fellow;
One, that hath studied out a trick to talk,
And move soft-hearted people; to be kick'd
[She kicks him.

Thus, to be kick'd!-Why should he be so slow

[Aside.

Forgive me then!

[They fight.

In giving me my death?
Amin. A man can bear
No more, and keep his flesh.
I would endure yet, if I could. Now shew
The spirit thou pretend'st, and understand,
Thou hast no hour to live.-
What dost thou mean?

Thou canst not fight: The blows thou mak'st at me
Are quite besides; and those, I offer at thee,
Thou spread'st thine arms, and tak'st upon thy
breast,

Alas, defenceless!

Asp. I have got enough,

And my desire. There is no place so fit
For me to die as here.

Enter EVADNE, her hands bloody, with a knife.

Evad. Amintor, I am loaden with events,
That fly to make thee happy. I have joys,
That in a moment can call back thy wrongs,
And settle thee in thy free state again.
It is Evadne still, that follows thee,
But not her mischiefs.

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 love;

We lay our sleeping lives within their arms!
Why, thou hast raised up mischief to his height,
And found one, to out-name thy other faults.
Thou hast no intermission of thy sins,
But all thy life is a continued ill.

Black is thy colour now, disease thy nature.
Joy to Amintor! Thou hast touch'd a life,
The very name of which had pow'r to chain
Up all my rage, and calm my wildest wrongs.

Evad. 'Tis done; and since I could not find a way
To meet thy love so clear as through his life,
I cannot now repent it.

Amin. Couldst thou procure the gods to speak

to me,

To bid me love this woman, and forgive,
I think I should fall out with them. Behold,
Here lies a youth, whose wounds bleed in my
breast,

Sent by his violent fate, to fetch his death
From my slow hand: And, to augment my woe,
You now are present, stain'd with a king's blood,
Violently shed. This keeps night here,

And throws an unknown wilderness about me.
Asp. Oh, oh, oh!

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.
I'm worse than sick to see knees follow me,
For that I must not grant. For heaven's sake, stand.
Evad. Receive me, then.

Amin. I dare not stay thy language:

In midst of all my anger and my grief,
Thou dost awake something that troubles me,
And "I lov'd thee once.' I dare not stay;
says,
There is no end of woman's reasoning.

[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.

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That death can bring; and yet, 'would it were done!

I can find nothing in the whole discourse
Of death, I durst not meet the boldest way;
Yet still, betwixt the reason and the act,
The wrong i to Aspatia did stands up:
I have not such another fault to answer.
Though she may justly arm herself with scorn
And hate of me, my soul will part less troubled,
When I have paid to her in tears my sorrow.
I will not leave this act unsatisfied,
If all that's left in me can answer it.

Asp. Was it a dream? There stands Amintor
still;

Or I dream still.

Amin. How dost thou? Speak; receive my love and help.

Thy blood climbs up to his old place again :
There's hope of thy recovery.

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:
Have I thy hand, Amintor?

Amin. Thou greatest blessing of the world,
thou hast.

Asp. I do believe thee better than my sense. Oh! I must go. Farewell! [Dies.

Amin. She swoons! Aspatia! Help! for hea-
ven's sake, water!

Such as may chain life ever to this frame.
Aspatia, speak! What, no help yet? I fool!
I'll chafe her temples: Yet there's nothing stirs ;
Some hidden power tell her, Amintor calls,
And let her answer me! Aspatia, speak!
I've heard, if there be any life, but bow
The body thus, and it will shew itself.
Oh, she is gone! I will not leave her yet.
Since out of justice we must challenge nothing,
I'll call it mercy, if you'll pity me,

Ye heav'nly powers! and lend, for some few years,
The blessed soul to this fair seat again.

No comfort comes; the gods deny me too!
I'll bow the body once again. Aspatia!--
The soul is fled for ever; and I wrong
Myself, so long to lose her company.
Must I talk 'now? Here's to be with thee, love!
[Kills himself.

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-
ON, DIPHILUS, and STRATO.

Lys. Where's Amintor?
Serv. Oh, there, there.
Lys. How strange is this!
Cal. What should we do here?

Mel. These deaths are such acquainted things
with me,

That yet my heart dissolves not. May I stand
Stiff here for ever! Eyes, call up your tears!
This is Amintor: Heart! he was my friend;
Melt; now it flows. Amintor, give a word
To call me to thee.

Amin. Oh!

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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,

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