SCENE V.

_Enter_ PLANGUS _with his sword drawn_.

PLAN. I bore whil[e]st I could; but now 'tis grown Too great to be contain'd in human breast, And it shall out, though hoop'd with walls of brass. Are they at it? I stood once listening At their entreaty; this time at my own I'll stand and hearken.

[_Steps aside._

AND. 'Tis impossible.

LIB. I tell you, no. I'll aggravate the injuries, And tell him how basely poor it was for A father to betray his son so.

AND. His piety shall never----

LIB. But his fury shall. I'll stab the king himself, and bring Those witnesses shall swear 'twas Plangus.

PLAN. Nay, then, 'tis time to strike-- There, carry thy intents to hell.

[_He stabs_ LIBACER.

AND. Help! murder, murder! a rape, a rape!

_Enter_ EPHORBAS.

EPH. What dismal note was that?

AND. Sir, there You see your martyr, whose force being Too weak to save my honour, his fidelity Was greater, and [has] died a royal sacrifice, Offer'd by th' impious hand of that vile man.

EPH. O heav'n! doth not the earth yet gape and swallow thee? Thy life shall be my crime no longer; I gave it thee, And thus resume it with a thousand curses.

[_He stabs_ PLANGUS.

PLAN. Sir, I at length am happy to the height Of all my wishes. I'm a-going suddenly

[_Faints._

From all my troubles, all your fears; but I Will tell my story first-- How you have wrong'd, and been wronged yourself. This woman, to be short, hath twin'd Like ivy with my naked limbs, before She married you, and would--O, In spite of death I will go on--have tempted me To bed her since. Upon refusal, she Turned her love to hate, and plots my ruin, And next your death--I can no more--I kill'd The instrument--farewell, forgive me.

[_Dies._

EPH. Can this be true, Andromana?

AND. Do you believe it?

EPH. I wish I had not cause----

AND. Sir, every syllable was true he told you; Whose words I thus confirm.

[_She takes_ PLANGUS'S _dagger, flings it at_ EPHORBAS, _and kills him_.

EPH. I'm slain! mercy, Heaven!

_Enter_ INOPHILUS.

AND. You should have come a little sooner.

INO. Do I see well? or is the prince here slain?

AND. He is, and 'cause you love him, Carry that token of my love to him.

[_Stabs_ INOPHILUS.

I know he'll take it kindly that you take So long a journey only to see him.

INO. It was the devil struck, sure, A woman could not do it.--Plangus, O!

[_Dies._