Chapter 5

_Mel_. Thy long-lost honour: would the Gods had set me One of their loudest bolts; come tell me quickly, Do it without enforcement, and take heed You swell me not above my temper.

_Evad_. How Sir? where got you this report?

_Mel_. Where there was people in every place.

_Evad_. They and the seconds of it are base people; Believe them not, they lyed.

_Mel_. Do not play with mine anger, do not Wretch, I come to know that desperate Fool that drew thee From thy fair life; be wise, and lay him open.

_Evad_. Unhand me, and learn manners, such another Forgetfulness forfeits your life.

_Mel_. Quench me this mighty humour, and then tell me Whose Whore you are, for you are one, I know it. Let all mine honours perish but I'le find him, Though he lie lockt up in thy blood; be sudden; There is no facing it, and be not flattered; The burnt air, when the _Dog_ raigns, is not fouler Than thy contagious name, till thy repentance (If the Gods grant thee any) purge thy sickness.

_Evad_. Be gone, you are my Brother, that's your safety.

_Mel_. I'le be a Wolf first; 'tis to be thy Brother An infamy below the sin of a Coward: I am as far from being part of thee, As thou art from thy vertue: seek a kindred Mongst sensual beasts, and make a Goat thy Brother, A Goat is cooler; will you tell me yet?

_Evad_. If you stay here and rail thus, I shall tell you, I'le ha' you whipt; get you to your command, And there preach to your Sentinels, And tell them what a brave man you are; I shall laugh at you.

_Mel_. Y'are grown a glorious Whore; where be your Fighters? what mortal Fool durst raise thee to this daring, And I alive? by my just Sword, h'ad safer Bestride a Billow when the angry North Plows up the Sea, or made Heavens fire his food; Work me no higher; will you discover yet?

_Evad_. The Fellow's mad, sleep and speak sense.

_Mel_. Force my swollen heart no further; I would save thee; your great maintainers are not here, they dare not, would they were all, and armed, I would speak loud; here's one should thunder to 'em: will you tell me? thou hast no hope to scape; he that dares most, and damns away his soul to do thee service, will sooner fetch meat from a hungry Lion, than come to rescue thee; thou hast death about thee: h'as undone thine honour, poyson'd thy vertue, and of a lovely rose, left thee a canker.

_Evad_. Let me consider.

_Mel_. Do, whose child thou wert, Whose honour thou hast murdered, whose grave open'd, And so pull'd on the Gods, that in their justice They must restore him flesh again and life, And raise his dry bones to revenge his scandal.

_Evad_. The gods are not of my mind; they had better let 'em lie sweet still in the earth; they'l stink here.

_Mel_. Do you raise mirth out of my easiness? Forsake me then all weaknesses of Nature, That make men women: Speak you whore, speak truth, Or by the dear soul of thy sleeping Father, This sword shall be thy lover: tell, or I'le kill thee: And when thou hast told all, thou wilt deserve it.

_Evad_. You will not murder me!

_Mel_. No, 'tis a justice, and a noble one, To put the light out of such base offenders.

_Evad_. Help!

_Mel_. By thy foul self, no humane help shall help thee, If thou criest: when I have kill'd thee, as I have Vow'd to do, if thou confess not, naked as thou hast left Thine honour, will I leave thee, That on thy branded flesh the world may read Thy black shame, and my justice; wilt thou bend yet?

_Evad_. Yes.

_Mel_. Up and begin your story.

_Evad_. Oh I am miserable.

_Mel_. 'Tis true, thou art, speak truth still.

_Evad_. I have offended, noble Sir: forgive me.

_Mel_. With what secure slave?

_Evad_. Do not ask me Sir. Mine own remembrance is a misery too mightie for me.

_Mel_. Do not fall back again; my sword's unsheath'd yet.

_Evad_. What shall I do?

_Mel_. Be true, and make your fault less.

_Evad_. I dare not tell.

_Mel_. Tell, or I'le be this day a killing thee.

_Evad_. Will you forgive me then?

_Mel_. Stay, I must ask mine honour first, I have too much foolish nature in me; speak.

_Evad_. Is there none else here?

_Mel_. None but a fearful conscience, that's too many. Who is't?

_Evad_. O hear me gently; it was the King.

_Mel_. No more. My worthy father's and my services Are liberally rewarded! King, I thank thee, For all my dangers and my wounds, thou hast paid me In my own metal: These are Souldiers thanks. How long have you liv'd thus _Evadne_?

_Evad_. Too long.

_Mel_. Too late you find it: can you be sorry?

_Evad_. Would I were half as blameless.

_Mel_. _Evadne_, thou wilt to thy trade again.

_Evad_. First to my grave.

_Mel_. Would gods th'hadst been so blest: Dost thou not hate this King now? prethee hate him: Couldst thou not curse him? I command thee curse him, Curse till the gods hear, and deliver him To thy just wishes: yet I fear _Evadne_; You had rather play your game out.

_Evad_. No, I feel Too many sad confusions here to let in any loose flame hereafter.

_Mel_. Dost thou not feel amongst all those one brave anger That breaks out nobly, and directs thine arm to kill this base King?

_Evad_. All the gods forbid it.

_Mel_. No, all the gods require it, they are dishonoured in him.

_Evad_. 'Tis too fearful.

_Mel_. Y'are valiant in his bed, and bold enough To be a stale whore, and have your Madams name Discourse for Grooms and Pages, and hereafter When his cool Majestie hath laid you by, To be at pension with some needy Sir For meat and courser clothes, thus far you know no fear. Come, you shall kill him.

_Evad_. Good Sir!

_Mel_. And 'twere to kiss him dead, thou'd smother him; Be wise and kill him: Canst thou live and know What noble minds shall make thee see thy self Found out with every finger, made the shame Of all successions, and in this great ruine Thy brother and thy noble husband broken? Thou shalt not live thus; kneel and swear to help me When I shall call thee to it, or by all Holy in heaven and earth, thou shalt not live To breath a full hour longer, not a thought: Come 'tis a righteous oath; give me thy hand, And both to heaven held up, swear by that wealth This lustful thief stole from thee, when I say it, To let his foul soul out.

_Evad_. Here I swear it, And all you spirits of abused Ladies Help me in this performance.

_Mel_. Enough; this must be known to none But you and I _Evadne_; not to your Lord, Though he be wise and noble, and a fellow Dares step as far into a worthy action, As the most daring, I as far as Justice. Ask me not why. Farewell.

[_Exit Mel_.

_Evad_. Would I could say so to my black disgrace. Oh where have I been all this time! how friended, That I should lose my self thus desperately, And none for pity shew me how I wandred? There is not in the compass of the light A more unhappy creature: sure I am monstrous, For I have done those follies, those mad mischiefs, Would dare a woman. O my loaden soul, Be not so cruel to me, choak not up

[_Enter Amintor_.

The way to my repentance. O my Lord.

_Amin_. How now?

_Evad_. My much abused Lord! [_Kneels_.

_Amin_. This cannot be.

_Evad_. I do not kneel to live, I dare not hope it; The wrongs I did are greater; look upon me Though I appear with all my faults.

_Amin_. Stand up. This is no new way to beget more sorrow; Heaven knows I have too many; do not mock me; Though I am tame and bred up with my wrongs, Which are my foster-brothers, I may leap Like a hand-wolf into my natural wilderness, And do an out-rage: pray thee do not mock me.

_Evad_. My whole life is so leprous, it infects All my repentance: I would buy your pardon Though at the highest set, even with my life: That slight contrition, that's no sacrifice For what I have committed.

_Amin_. Sure I dazle: There cannot be a faith in that foul woman That knows no God more mighty than her mischiefs: Thou dost still worst, still number on thy faults, To press my poor heart thus. Can I believe There's any seed of Vertue in that woman Left to shoot up, that dares go on in sin Known, and so known as thine is, O _Evadne_! Would there were any safety in thy sex, That I might put a thousand sorrows off, And credit thy repentance: but I must not; Thou hast brought me to the dull calamity, To that strange misbelief of all the world, And all things that are in it, that I fear I shall fall like a tree, and find my grave, Only remembring that I grieve.

_Evad_. My Lord, Give me your griefs: you are an innocent, A soul as white as heaven: let not my sins Perish your noble youth: I do not fall here To shadow by dissembling with my tears, As all say women can, or to make less What my hot will hath done, which heaven and you Knows to be tougher than the hand of time Can cut from mans remembrance; no I do not; I do appear the same, the same _Evadne_, Drest in the shames I liv'd in, the same monster. But these are names of honour, to what I am; I do present my self the foulest creature, Most poysonous, dangerous, and despis'd of men, _Lerna_ e're bred, or _Nilus_; I am hell, Till you, my dear Lord, shoot your light into me, The beams of your forgiveness: I am soul-sick, And [wither] with the fear of one condemn'd, Till I have got your pardon.

_Amin_. Rise _Evadne_, Those heavenly powers that put this good into thee, Grant a continuance of it: I forgive thee; Make thy self worthy of it, and take heed, Take heed _Evadne_ this be serious; Mock not the powers above, that can and dare Give thee a great example of their justice To all ensuing eyes, if thou plai'st With thy repentance, the best sacrifice.

_Evad_. I have done nothing good to win belief, My life hath been so faithless; all the creatures Made for heavens honours have their ends, and good ones, All but the cousening _Crocodiles_, false women; They reign here like those plagues, those killing sores Men pray against; and when they die, like tales Ill told, and unbeliev'd, they pass away, And go to dust forgotten: But my Lord, Those short dayes I shall number to my rest, (As many must not see me) shall though too late, Though in my evening, yet perceive a will, Since I can do no good because a woman, Reach constantly at some thing that is near it; I will redeem one minute of my age, Or like another _Niobe_ I'le weep till I am water.

_Amin_. I am now dissolved: My frozen soul melts: may each sin thou hast, Find a new mercy: Rise, I am at peace: Hadst thou been thus, thus excellently good, Before that devil King tempted thy frailty, Sure thou hadst made a star: give me thy hand; From this time I will know thee, and as far As honour gives me leave, be thy _Amintor_: When we meet next, I will salute thee fairly, And pray the gods to give thee happy dayes: My charity shall go along with thee, Though my embraces must be far from thee. I should ha' kill'd thee, but this sweet repentance Locks up my vengeance, for which thus I kiss thee, The last kiss we must take; and would to heaven The holy Priest that gave our hands together, Had given us equal Vertues: go _Evadne_, The gods thus part our bodies, have a care My honour falls no farther, I am well then.

_Evad_. All the dear joyes here, and above hereafter Crown thy fair soul: thus I take leave my Lord, And never shall you see the foul _Evadne_ Till sh'ave tryed all honoured means that may Set her in rest, and wash her stains away.

[_Exeunt_.

_Banquet. Enter King, Calianax. Hoboyes play within_.

_King_. I cannot tell how I should credit this From you that are his enemy.

_Cal_. I am sure he said it to me, and I'le justifie it What way he dares oppose, but with my sword.

_King_. But did he break without all circumstance To you his foe, that he would have the Fort To kill me, and then escape?

_Cal_. If he deny it, I'le make him blush.

_King_. It sounds incredibly.

_Cal_. I, so does every thing I say of late.

_King_. Not so _Calianax_.

_Cal_. Yes, I should sit Mute, whilst a Rogue with strong arms cuts your throat.

_King_. Well, I will try him, and if this be true I'le pawn my life I'le find it; if't be false, And that you clothe your hate in such a lie, You shall hereafter doat in your own house, not in the Court.

_Cal_. Why if it be a lie, Mine ears are false; for I'le be sworn I heard it: Old men are good for nothing; you were best Put me to death for hearing, and free him For meaning of it; you would ha' trusted me Once, but the time is altered.

_King_. And will still where I may do with justice to the world; You have no witness.

_Cal_. Yes, my self.

_King_. No more I mean there were that heard it.

_Cal_. How no more? would you have more? why am Not I enough to hang a thousand Rogues?

_King_. But so you may hang honest men too if you please.

_Cal_. I may, 'tis like I will do so; there are a hundred will swear it for a need too, if I say it.

_King_. Such witnesses we need not.

_Cal_. And 'tis hard if my Word cannot hang a boysterous knave.

_King_. Enough; where's _Strato_?

_Stra_. Sir!

_Enter Strato_.

_King_. Why where's all the company? call _Amintor_ in. _Evadne_, where's my Brother, and _Melantius_? Bid him come too, and _Diphilus_; call all

[_Exit Strato_.

That are without there: if he should desire The combat of you, 'tis not in the power Of all our Laws to hinder it, unless we mean to quit 'em.

_Cal_. Why if you do think 'Tis fit an old Man and a Counsellor, To fight for what he sayes, then you may grant it.

_Enter Amin. Evad. Mel. Diph. [Lisip.] Cle. Stra. Diag_.

_King_. Come Sirs, _Amintor_ thou art yet a Bridegroom, And I will use thee so: thou shalt sit down; _Evadne_ sit, and you _Amintor_ too; This Banquet is for you, sir: Who has brought A merry Tale about him, to raise a laughter Amongst our wine? why _Strato_, where art thou? Thou wilt chop out with them unseasonably When I desire 'em not.

_Strato_. 'Tis my ill luck Sir, so to spend them then.

_King_. Reach me a boul of wine: _Melantlius_, thou art sad.

_Amin_. I should be Sir the merriest here, But I ha' ne're a story of mine own Worth telling at this time.

_King_. Give me the Wine. _Melantius_, I am now considering How easie 'twere for any man we trust To poyson one of us in such a boul.

_Mel_. I think it were not hard Sir, for a Knave.

_Cal_. Such as you are.

_King_. I' faith 'twere easie, it becomes us well To get plain dealing men about our selves, Such as you all are here: _Amintor_, to thee And to thy fair _Evadne_.

_Mel_. Have you thought of this _Calianax_?

[_Aside_.

_Cal_. Yes marry have I.

_Mel_. And what's your resolution?

_Cal_. Ye shall have it soundly?

_King_. Reach to _Amintor_, _Strato_.

_Amin_. Here my love, This Wine will do thee wrong, for it will set Blushes upon thy cheeks, and till thou dost a fault, 'twere pity.

_King_. Yet I wonder much Of the strange desperation of these men, That dare attempt such acts here in our State; He could not escape that did it.

_Mel_. Were he known, unpossible.

_King_. It would be known, _Melantius_.

_Mel_. It ought to be, if he got then away He must wear all our lives upon his sword, He need not fly the Island, he must leave no one alive.

_King_. No, I should think no man Could kill me and scape clear, but that old man.

_Cal_. But I! heaven bless me: I, should I my Liege?

_King_. I do not think thou wouldst, but yet thou might'st, For thou hast in thy hands the means to scape, By keeping of the Fort; he has, _Melantius_, and he has kept it well.

_Mel_. From cobwebs Sir, 'Tis clean swept: I can find no other Art In keeping of it now, 'twas ne're besieg'd since he commanded.

_Cal_. I shall be sure of your good word, But I have kept it safe from such as you.

_Mel_. Keep your ill temper in, I speak no malice; had my brother kept it I should ha' said as much.

_King_. You are not merry, brother; drink wine, Sit you all still! _Calianax_, [_Aside_. I cannot trust thus: I have thrown out words That would have fetcht warm blood upon the cheeks Of guilty men, and he is never mov'd, he knows no such thing.

_Cal_. Impudence may scape, when feeble vertue is accus'd.

_King_. He must, if he were guilty, feel an alteration At this our whisper, whilst we point at him, You see he does not.

_Cal_. Let him hang himself, What care I what he does; this he did say.

_King_. _Melantius_, you cannot easily conceive What I have meant; for men that are in fault Can subtly apprehend when others aime At what they do amiss; but I forgive Freely before this man; heaven do so too: I will not touch thee so much as with shame Of telling it, let it be so no more.

_Cal_. Why this is very fine.

_Mel_. I cannot tell What 'tis you mean, but I am apt enough Rudely to thrust into ignorant fault, But let me know it; happily 'tis nought But misconstruction, and where I am clear I will not take forgiveness of the gods, much less of you.

_King_. Nay if you stand so stiff, I shall call back my mercy.

_Mel_. I want smoothness To thank a man for pardoning of a crime I never knew.

_King_. Not to instruct your knowledge, but to shew you my ears are every where, you meant to kill me, and get the Fort to scape.

_Mel_. Pardon me Sir; my bluntness will be pardoned: You preserve A race of idle people here about you, Eaters, and talkers, to defame the worth Of those that do things worthy; the man that uttered this Had perisht without food, be't who it will, But for this arm that fenc't him from the foe. And if I thought you gave a faith to this, The plainness of my nature would speak more; Give me a pardon (for you ought to do't) To kill him that spake this.

_Cal_. I, that will be the end of all, Then I am fairly paid for all my care and service.

_Mel_. That old man who calls me enemy, and of whom I (Though I will never match my hate so low) Have no good thought, would yet I think excuse me, And swear he thought me wrong'd in this.

_Cal_. Who I, thou shameless fellow! didst thou not speak to me of it thy self?

_Mel_. O then it came from him.

_Cal_. From me! who should it come from but from me?

_Mel_. Nay, I believe your malice is enough, But I ha' lost my anger. Sir, I hope you are well satisfied.

_King_. _Lisip_. Chear _Amintor_ and his Lady; there's no sound Comes from you; I will come and do't my self.

_Amin_. You have done already Sir for me, I thank you.