When I am ashes, is my son in wishes; And what I must do, lady. Ord. You are the king, sir, And what you do I'll suffer; and that blessing That you desire, the gods shower on the kingdom! Thi. Thus much before I strike then; for I must kill you, The gods have will'd it so: Thou'rt made the blessing Must make France young again, and me a man. Keep up your strength still nobly! Ord. Fear me not. Thi. And meet Death like a measure! Thi. Thou shalt be sainted, woman; and thy tomb Cut out in crystal, pure and good as thou art; Ord. I dare, sir. For may this work be done by common women? Mart. Where should he then seek children? In wombs ordain'd for issues; in those beauties That bless a marriage-bed, and make it procreant With kisses that conceive, and fruitful pleasures: Mine, like a grave, buries those loyal hopes, And, too, a grave it covets. Mart. You are too good, Too excellent, too honest! Rob not us, Thi. Ha! [Pulls off her veil, lets fall his sword. Your lord of such obedience, all of honour! Mart. Oh, sir, you must not do it. Thi. No, I dare not! There is an angel keeps that paradise, Ord. Strike, sir, strike! And if in my poor death fair France may merit, Thi. First, let the earth be barren, And man no more remember'd! Rise, Ordella, The nearest to thy Maker, and the purest That ever dull flesh shew'd us!-Oh, my heartstrings! [Exit. Mart. I see you full of wonder; therefore, noblest, And truest amongst women, I will tell you Ord. Amazement Has so much won upon my heart, that truly Mart. Oh, no, sweet lady. Ord. Robb'd me of such a glory, by his pity And most unprovident respectMart. Dear lady, It was not meant to you. Ord. Else where the day is, And hours distinguish time, time runs to ages, And ages end the world, I had been spoken! Mart. I'll tell you what it was, if but your patience Will give me hearing. Ord. If I have transgress'd, Forgive me, sir! Mart. Your noble lord was counsell'd In coveting a cruelty is not yours, A will short of your wisdom, make not error I find to what I am reserv'd, and needful: Now all good angels bless thee! oh, sweet lady! you; To ruin all you build! Would you be famous? Is that your end? Ord. I would be what I should be. Mart. Live and confirm the gods then! live and be loaden With more than olives bear, or fruitful autumn! What 'tis to die thus ? how you strike the stars, L But he that thought his hell here. Ord. I am counsell'd. And we will stand or fall together: For Mart. And i am glad on't; lie, I know you The journey, which we wish should never end, Whether this plot be heav'n's, or hell's your To look upon it. mother! And I will find it, if it be in mankind To search the centre of it: In the mean time, Ord. Do what's fittest; And I will follow you. Mart. Then ever live Or fear made him forbear to execute, Brun. Coward, I will meet it, And know from whence't has birth.--Son! kingly Thierry! Thi. Is cheating grown so common among men, And thrives so well here, that the gods endeavour To practise it above? Brun. Your mother! Thi. Ha! Or are they only careful to revenge, Brun. Will you not hear me? Thi. To lose the ability to perform those duties For which I entertain'd the name of husband, Ask'd more than common sorrow; but to impose, For the redress of that defect, a torture In marking her to death, (for whom alone I felt that weakness as a want) requires More than the making the head bald, or falling Thus flat upon the earth, or cursing that way, Or praying this. Oh, such a scene of grief, And so set down, (the world the stage to act on) May challenge a tragedian better practis'd Than I am to express it! for my cause Of passion is so strong, and my performance So weak, that tho' the part be good, I fear The ill acting of it will defraud it of The poor reward it may deserve, mens' pity. Brun. I've given you way thus long: A king, and what Thi. How dare you then omit the ceremony Due to the funeral of all my hopes? Or come unto the marriage of my sorrows, But in such colours as may sort with them? Prot. Alas, we will wear any thing. Brun. This is madness! Take but my counsel ! Thi. Yours? dare you again, Tho' arm'd with the authority of a mother, Attempt the danger that will fall on you, If such another syllable awake it? 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. 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 I' th' heighth of my calamities: As if There could be the addition of an atom, To the giant-body of my miseries! Made such a battery in the choicest castle Presume to shed a tear before me? or Mart. Fall'n thus, once more she smil'd, as if that Death For her had studied a new way to sever seen, And with what willingness 'twas done! for which Would instantly make choice of one (most happy Thi. I hear this, and yet live! But try; for I will hear thee. All sit down! tis Heart! art thou thunder-proof? will nothing 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 Would break forth, in despite of the much sorrow break thee? Thì. Oh, Thou dost throw charms upon me, against which Brun. How do I remove one mischief, Thou only good man, to whom for herself Mart. Your command, that makes way 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! [Exit. Be fearful, I am still no man; already That weakness is gone from me. There is no argument you can use to cross it, Enter MEMBERGE. Memb. One, no guard Can put back from access, whose tongue no threats 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! I must and will be heard! Sir, but remember Brun. Drag hence the wretch! Thi. Forbear. With what variety Of torments do I meet! Oh, thou hast open'd To make less Heav'n's great anger: Thou hast lost A father; I to thee am so: The hope Brun. That it might [Aside. Have ever grown inseparably upon thee!- Worthy the lov'd Ordella's place? the daughter Memb. Your son! 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, 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; Thi. This night I'll keep it; Brun. Is the poison mortal? [Exit Now for our own security! You, Protaldye, In which we will make known what for his rising [Exeunt, Omnes. We understand you not, captain. The last, and the only quintessence of fifty crowns, 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, To persuade it, I'll keep it myself. A partial judge in your own cause, you shall. 2 Sold. I'll begin to you: Brave sir, be proud 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 reverence, When they shall hear of thy courtesy To their wandering countrymen. 1 Sold. You that will use Your friends so hardly to bring them in debt, sir, Will deserve worse of a stranger; wherefore, Pead on, pead on, I say! 4 Sold. It is the Welsh Must do't, I see.-Comrade, man of urship, If she part with her bounties to him, that is a great deal Away from her cousins, and has two big suits in law 1 Sold. And that you are like to want, for aught I perceive yet. Vitry. Stand, deliver! 1 Sold. 'Foot, what mean you? You will not rob the exchequer ? Vitry. Do you prate? 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!' Omnes. Why, what would you have us to do, Vitry. Beg, beg, and keep constables waking, Wear out stocks and whipcord, Maunder for butter-milk, die of the jaundice, May you starve, and the fear of the gallows If any come within a furlong of our fingers. Vitry. Then you will not beg again? 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 1 |