Are. This earth, how false it is! What means is left for me

To clear myself? It lies in your belief.
My lords, believe me; and let all things else
Struggle together to dishonour me.

Bel. Oh, stop your ears, great King, that I may speak

45

As freedom would! Then I will call this lady
As base as are her actions. Hear me, sir;
Believe your heated blood when it rebels
Against your reason, sooner than this lady.
Meg. By this good light, he bears it hand-
somely.

Phi. This lady I will sooner trust the wind
With feathers, or the troubled sea with pearl,
Than her with any thing. Believe her not.
Why, think you, if I did believe her words,
I would outlive 'em? Honour cannot take
Revenge on you; then what were to be known
But death?

50

55

Swear to be true co

By the powers above

Let it not be the death of her or him,

Bear away that boy

And it is granted!
King.
To torture; I will have her clear'd or buried.
Phi. Oh, let me call my word back, worthy sir!
Ask something else: bury my life and right 66
In one poor grave; but do not take away
My life and fame at once.

King. Away with him! It stands irrevocable.
Phi. Turn all your eyes on me. Here stands

You know, just gods, though I discover all. King. How 's that? Will he confess? Dion.

King. Speak then.

Bel.

Sir, so he says.

Great King, if you comman This lord to talk with me alone, my tongue Urg'd by my heart, shall utter all the thought My youth hath known; and stranger thin

than these

You hear not often. King.

Walk aside with him.
[DION and BELLARIO walk apa

Dion. Why speak'st thou not?
Bel.

Dion. No. Bel.

Know you this face, my lord

Have you not seen it, nor the lik Dion. Yes, I have seen the like, but readily I know not where.

Bel. I have been often told In court of one Euphrasia, a lady, And daughter to you; betwixt whom and e They that would flatter my bad face would swear There was such strange resemblance, that'

two

Could not be known asunder, drest alike,
Dion. By Heaven, and so there is!
Bel.
For her fair sake,
Who now doth spend the spring-time of her life
In holy pilgrimage, move to the King,
That I may scape this torture.

Dion.
But thou speak st
As like Euphrasia as thou dost look.
How came it to thy knowledge that she lives
In pilgrimage?
Bel.
I know it not, my lord;
But I have heard it, and do scarce believe
Dion. Oh, my shame! is it possible & Draw

Euphasia

2 In some barbarous countries, it was believed the murderer inherited the form and qualities of victim. (Mason.)

But, Bellario, (For I must call thee still so,) tell me why Thou didst conceal thy sex. It was a fault, A fault, Bellario, though thy other deeds Of truth outweigh'd it: all these jealousies Had flown to nothing if thou hadst discovered What now we know.

145

Bel.
My father oft would speak 150
Your worth and virtue; and, as I did grow
More and more apprehensive,1 I did thirst
To see the man so prais'd. But yet all this
Was but a maiden-longing, to be lost

As soon as found; till, sitting in my window, 155
Printing my thoughts in lawn, I saw a god,
I thought, (but it was yon,) enter our gates.
My blood flew out and back again, as fast
As I had puft it forth and suckt it in
Like breath. Then was I call'd away in haste

1 Quick to understand.

1/59

100

170

To entertain you. Never was a man,
Heav'd from a sheep-cote to a sceptre, rais'd
So high in thoughts as I. You left a kiss
Upon these lips then, which I mean to keep
From you for ever. I did hear you talk,
Far above singing. After you were gone,
I grew acquainted with my heart, and search'd
What stirr'd it so: alas, I found it love!
Yet far from lust; for, could I but have liv'd
In presence of you, I had had my end.
For this I did delude my noble father
With a feign'd pilgrimage, and drest myself
In habit of a boy; and, for I knew
My birth no match for you, I was past hope
Of having you; and, understanding well
That when I made discovery of my sex
I could not stay with you, I made a vow,
By all the most religious things a maid
Could call together, never to be known,
Whilst there was hope to hide me from men's

178

180

Search out a match Within our kingdom, where and when thou wilt, And I will pay thy dowry; and thyself Wilt well deserve him.

Bel.

Never, sir, will I

Marry; it is a thing within my vow:

185

But, if I may have leave to serve the princess,
To see the virtues of her lord and her,
I shall have hope to live.

100

Are. I, Philaster, Cannot be jealous, though you had a lady Drest like a page to serve you; nor will I Suspect her living here.- Come, live with me; Live free as I do, She that loves my lord, Curst be the wife that hates her!

195

Phi. I grieve such virtue should be laid in earth

Without an heir. - Hear me, my royal father:
Wrong not the freedom of our souls so much,
To think to take revenge of that base woman;
Her malice cannot hurt us. Set her free
As she was born, saving from shame and sin.
King. Set her at liberty. But leave the
court;

200

This is no place for such.- You. Pharamond, Shall have free passage, and a conduct home' Worthy so great a prince. When you come there,

205

Remember 't was your faults that lost you her,
And not my purpos'd will.
Pha.
Renowned sir.

I do confess,

King. Last, join your hands in one. Enjoy,
Philaster,

This kingdom, which is yours, and, after me, no
Whatever I call mine. My blessing on you!
All happy hours be at your marriage-joys,
That you may grow yourselves over all lands,
And live to see your plenteous branches spring
Wherever there is sun! Let princes learn
By this to rule the passions of their blood;
For what Heaven wills can never be withstood.
Exeunt omnes.

218

Diph.

Hail, worthy brother!

LUS.

is mine enemy for ever.

Inf. I thank thee, Diphilus. But thou art

Mel.

faulty:

I sent for thee to exercise thine arms With me at Patria; thou cam'st not, Diphilus; 'T was ill.

Diph. My noble brother, my excuse

Is my king's strict command, which you, my

lord,

I brought home conquest), he would gaze upon

me

55

And view me round, to find in what one limb The virtue lay to do these things he heard ; Then would he wish to see my sword, and feel The quickness of the edge, and in his hand Weigh it. He oft would make me smile at this. His youth did promise much, and his ripe years Will see it all perform'd.

Enter ASPATIA, passing by.

Hail, maid and wife! Thou fair Aspatia, may the holy knot That thou hast tied to-day last till the hand co Of age undo 't! May'st thou bring a race Unto Amintor, that may fill the world Successively with soldiers!

Asp. My hard fortunes Deserve not scorn, for I was never proud When they were good.

Exit.

You are mistaken, sir; os

Mel.

How's this?

You said Amintor was.

Mel.

The King, my brother, did it To honour you; and these solemnities Are at his charge.

Mel. 'Tis royal, like himself. But I am sad My speech bears so unfortunate a sound To beautiful Aspatia. There is rage Hid in her father's breast, Calianax,

80

85

Bent long against me; and he should not think,
If I could call it back, that I would take
So base revenges, as to scorn the state
Of his neglected daughter. Holds he still
His greatness with the King?

Lys.
Yes. But this lady
Walks discontented, with her watery eyes
Bent on the earth. The unfrequented woods
Are her delight; where, when she sees a bank
Stuck full of flowers, she with a sigh will tell
Her servants what a pretty place it were
To bury lovers in ; and make her maids
Pluck 'em, and strow her over like a corse.
She carries with her an infectious grief,
That strikes all her beholders: she will sing
The mournful'st things that ever ear hath
heard,

And sigh, and sing again; and when the rest

95

1 So Q.. Q, above. The choice of reading depends on hether her refers to Aspatia or Evadne.

Of our young ladies, in their wanton blood,
Tell mirthful tales in course,2 that fill the room
With laughter, she will, with so sad a look, 101
Bring forth a story of the silent death

Of some forsaken virgin, which her grief
Will put in such a phrase that, ere she end,
She'll send them weeping one by one away. 105
Mel. She has a brother under my command,8
Like her; a face as womanish as hers;
But with a spirit that hath much outgrown
The number of his years.

Amin. Thou art Melantius; All love is spoke in that. A sacrifice, To thank the gods Melantius is return'd In safety! Victory sits on his sword, As she was wont May she build there and dwell;

And may thy armour be, as it hath been, 120
Only thy valour and thine innocence!

What endless treasures would our enemies give,
That I might hold thee still thus !
Mel.

I am poor

In words; but credit me, young man, thy

mother

124

Could do no more but weep for joy to see thee
After long absence. All the wounds I have
Fetcht not so much away, nor all the cries
Of widowed mothers. But this is peace,
And that was war.
Amin.

Pardon, thou holy god
Of marriage-bed, and frown not, I am forc'd,
In answer of such noble tears as those,
To weep upon my wedding-day!

131

Mel. I fear thou art grown too fickle; for I hear

A lady mourns for thee, men say, to death, Forsaken of thee, on what terms I know not. Amin. She had my promise; but the King forbad it,

136

And made me make this worthy change, thy sister,

Accompanied with graces [far] 5 above 6 her,
With whom I long to lose my lusty youth
And grow old in her arms.
Mel.

Be prosperous! :40
Enter Messenger.

Mess. My lord, the masquers rage for you.
Lys. Cleon, Strato, Diphilus! We are gone.
Amin. We'll all attend you.

Exeunt LYSIPPUS, CLEON, STRATO,
DIPHILUS [and Messenger],
We shall trouble you

With our solemnities. Mel.

2 In turn.

3 Cf. V. ii. 42.

4 Under what circumstances.

Enter CALIANAX with DIAGORAS.

Cal. Diagoras, look to the doors better, for shame! You let in all the world, and anon the King will rail at me. Why, very well said.2 By Jove, the King will have the show i' th' court! Diag. Why do you swear so, my lord? You know he'll have it here.

Cal. By this light, if he be wise, he will not. Diag. And if he will not be wise, you are for

sworn.

Cal. One may wear his heart out with swearing, and get thanks on no side. I'll be gone, [11 look to 't who will..

Diag. My lord, I shall never keep them out. Pray, stay; your looks will terrify them.

Cal. My looks terrify them, you coxcom- [15 bly ass, you! I'll be judged by all the company whether thou hast not a worse face than I.

Diag. I mean, because they know you and your office.

Cal. Office! I would I could put it off! I [20 am sure I sweat quite through my office. I might have made room at my daughter's wedding; they ha' near kill'd her among them; and now I must do service for him that hath forsaken her. Serve that will!

Exit. 25

Diag. He's so humorous & since his daughter was forsaken! (Knock within.) Hark, hark! there, there! so, so! codes, codes! 4 What now? Mel. (within.) Open the door. Diag. Who's there?

Mel. [within. Melantius.

30

Diag. I hope your lordship brings no troop with you; for, if you do, I must return them. [Opens the door.]

Enter MELANTIUS and a Lady.

Mel. None but this lady, sir. Diag. The ladies are all plac'd above, save [35 those that come in the King's troop; the best of Rhodes sit there, and there's room.

Mel. I thank you, sir. When I have seen you placed, madam, I must attend the King; but, the masque done, I'll wait on you again.

40

Diag. [opening another door.] Stand back there! Room for my Lord Melantius! (Exeunt MELANTIUS and Lady, other door.) - Pray, bear back this is no place for such youth and their trulls 5 — let the doors shut again. No! - do your heads itch? I'll scratch them for [48

Why, 't is well, ∞

If I stand here to place men's wenches.
Mel.
I
Shall quite forget this place, thy age. my safety,
And, through all, cut that poor sickly week
Thou hast to live away from thee.

Cal. Nay, I know you can fight for your whore.

Mel. Bate me the King, and, be he flesh and blood,

He lies that says it! Thy mother at fifteen
Was black and sinful to her.
Diag.
Good my lord —
Mel. Some god pluck threescore years from
that fond man,

That I may kill him, and not stain mine honour !
It is the curse of soldiers, that in peace
They shall be brav'd by such ignoble men
As, if the land were troubled, would with tears
And knees beg succour from 'em. Would that

blood,

• Foolish.