SCENE II.

_Enter the_ TYRANT _with_ SOPHONIRUS, MEMPHONIUS, _and other nobles. A flourish_.

TYR. My joys have all false parts, there's nothing true to me, That's either kind or pleasant. I'm hardly dealt withal; I must not miss her, I want her sight too long. Where's this old fellow?

SOPH. Here's one, my lord, of threescore and seventeen.

TYR. Pish! That old limber ass puts in his head still. Helvetius! where is he?

MEM. Not yet return'd, my lord.

_Enter_ HELVETIUS.

TYR. Your lordship lies; Here comes the kingdom's father. Who amongst you Dares say this worthy man has not made speed? I would fain hear that fellow!

SOPH. I'll not be he; I like the standing of my head too well To have it mended!

TYR. Thy sight quickens me. I find a better health when thou art present, Than all times else can bring me. Is the answer As pleasing as thyself?

HEL. Of what, my lord?

TYR. Of what? fie now! He did not say so, did he?

SOPH. O, no, my lord, not he; he spoke no such word. I'll say, as he would have't, for I'd be loth To have my body used like butchers' meat. [_Aside._

TYR. When comes she to our bed?

HEL. Who, my lord?

TYR. Hark! You heard that plain amongst you?

SOPH. O my lord, as plain as my wife's tongue, That drowns a saunce bell.[463] Let me alone to lay about for honour: I'll shift for one.

TYR. When comes the lady, sir, That Govianus keeps?

HEL. Why, that's my daughter!

TYR. O, is it so! Have you unlock'd your memory? What says she to us?

HEL. Nothing.

TYR. How thou tempt'st us! What didst thou say to her, being sent from us?

HEL. More than was honest, yet it was but little.

TYR. How cruelly thou work'st upon our patience, Saving advantage, 'cause thou art her father! But be not bold too far; if duties leave thee, Kespect will fall from us.

HEL. Have I kept life So long, till it looks white upon my head; Been threescore years a courtier; and a flatterer Not above threescore hours, which time's reputed Amongst my greatest follies; and am I at these days Fit for no place but bawd to mine own flesh? You'll prefer all your old courtiers to good services. If your lust keep but hot some twenty winters, We are like to have a virtuous world of wives, Daughters and sisters, besides kinswomen And cousin-germans remov'd up and down, Where'er you please to have 'em! Are white hairs A colour fit for panders and flesh-brokers, Which are the honour'd ornaments of age, To which e'en kings owe reverence, as they're men. And greater in their goodness than their greatness? And must I take my pay all in base money? I was a lord born, set by all court grace: And am I thrust now to a squire's place?

TYR. How comes the moon to change so in this manner. That was in full, but now, of all performance, And swifter than our wishes? I beshrew that virtue, That busied herself with him: she might have found Some other work. The man was fit for me, Before she spoil'd him. She has wrong'd my heart in't, And marr'd me a good workman. Now his art fails him, What makes the man at court? This is no place For fellows of no parts; he lives not here, That puts himself from action, when we need him [_Aside._ I take off all thy honours, and bestow 'em On any of this rank that will deserve 'em.

SOPH. My lord, that's I: trouble your grace no further. I'll undertake to bring her to your bed With some ten words. Marry, they're special charms: No lady can withstand 'em--a witch taught me 'em. If you doubt me, I'll leave my wife in pawn For my true loyalty, and your majesty May pass away the time, till I return. I have a care in all things.

TYR. That may thrive best, Which the least hope looks after; but, however, Force shall help nature; I'll be so sure now Thy willingness may be fortunate. We employ thee.

SOPH. Then I'll go fetch my wife, and take my journey.

TYR. Stay! we require no pledge: we think thee honest.

SOPH. Troth, the worse luck for me; we had both been made by't; It was the way to make my wife great too.

TYR. [_to_ HELVETIUS.] I'll teach thee to be wide and strange to me-- I'll not leave thee A title to put on, but the bare name That man must call thee by, and know thee miserable.

HEL. 'Tis miserable, king, to be of thy making, And leave a better workman; if thy honours Only keep life in baseness, take 'em to thee, And give them to the hungry; there's one gapes.

SOPH. One that will swallow you, sir, for that jest, And all your titles after.

HEL. The devil follow them! There's room enough for him too. Leave me, thou king, As poor as Truth, the mistress I now serve, And never will forsake her for her plainness, That shall not alter me.

TYR. No? Our guard within there!

_Enter_ GUARD.

GUARD. My lord!

TYR. Bear that old fellow to our castle, prisoner; Give charge he be kept close.

HEL. Close prisoner! Why, my heart thanks thee; I shall have more time And liberty to virtue in one hour, Than all those threescore years I was a courtier. So by imprisonment I sustain great loss; Heav'n opens to that man the world keeps close. [_Exit with_ GUARD.

SOPH. But I'll not go to prison to try that, Give me the open world: there's a good air!

TYR. I would fain send death after him, but I dare not-- He knows I dare not; that would give just cause Of her unkindness everlasting to me. His life may thank his daughter. Sophonirus! Here, take this jewel, bear it as a token To our heart's saint, 'twill do thy words no harm; Speech may do much, but wealth's a greater charm Than any made of words; and to be sure, If one or both should fail, I provide farther. Call forth those resolute fellows, whom our clemency Sav'd from a death of shame in time of war For field offences: give them charge from us They arm themselves with speed, beset the house Of Govianus round; that if thou fail'st, Or stay'st beyond the time thou leav'st with them, They may with violence break in themselves, And seize her for our use.

[_Exeunt. Manet_ SOPHONIRUS.

SOPH. They're not so savage To seize her for their own, I hope, As there are many knaves will begin first, And bring their lords the bottom; I have been serv'd so A hundred times myself by a scurvy page That I kept once; but my wife lov'd him, And I could not help it. [_Exit._

FOOTNOTES:

[459] The beginning of this act, down to the line _Comes with my father_, is inserted, like some other passages further on, on a separate slip in the MS., as if it were an afterthought.

[460] [The MS. reads _that_.]

[461] [Former edit., _separation._]

[462] [MS. reads _boast_.]

[463] [Saunce bell, soul bell, or parting bell. See "Popular Antiquities of Great Britain," ii. 159, 160.]