SCENE II.

_Another apartment in the castle._

_Enter_ TOMASO.

TOM. I cannot taste the benefits of life With the same relish I was wont to do: Man I grow weary of, and hold his fellowship A treacherous bloody friendship; and because I'm ignorant in whom my wrath should settle, I must think all men villains, and the next I meet, whoe’er he be, the murderer Of my most worthy brother. Ha! what’s he?

DE FLORES _passes over the stage_.

O, the fellow that some call honest De Flores; But methinks honesty was hard bested To come there for a lodging; as if a queen Should make her palace of a pest-house: I find a contrariety in nature Betwixt that face and me; the least occasion Would give me game upon him; yet he’s so foul One would scarce touch [him] with a sword he lov’d And made account of; so most deadly venomous, He would go near to poison any weapon That should draw blood on him; one must resolve Never to use that sword again in fight In way of honest manhood that strikes him; Some river must devour it; ’twere not fit That any man should find it. What, again?

_Re-enter_ DE FLORES.

He walks a' purpose by, sure, to choke me up, T' infect my blood. DE F. My worthy noble lord! TOM. Dost offer to come near and breathe upon me? [_Strikes him._ DE F. A blow! [_Draws._ TOM. Yea, are you so prepar’d? I'll rather like a soldier die by th' sword, Than like a politician by thy poison. [_Draws._ DE F. Hold, my lord, as you are honourable! TOM. All slaves that kill by poison are still cowards. DE F. I cannot strike; I see his brother’s wounds Fresh bleeding in his eye, as in a crystal.— [_Aside._ I will not question this, I know you’re noble; I take my injury with thanks given, sir, Like a wise lawyer, and as a favour Will wear it for the worthy hand that gave it.—Why this from him that yesterday appear’d So strangely loving to me? O, but instinct is of a subtler strain! Guilt must not walk so near his lodge again; He came near me now. [_Aside, and exit._ TOM. All league with mankind I renounce for ever, Till I find this murderer; not so much As common courtesy but I'll lock up; For in the state of ignorance I live in, A brother may salute his brother’s murderer, And wish good speed to th' villain in a greeting.

_Enter_ VERMANDERO, ALIBIUS, _and_ ISABELLA.

VER. Noble Piracquo! TOM. Pray, keep on your way, sir; I've nothing to say to you. VER. Comforts bless you, sir! TOM. I've forsworn compliment, in troth, I have, sir; As you are merely man, I have not left A good wish for you, nor [for] any here. VER. Unless you be so far in love with grief, You will not part from’t upon any terms, We bring that news will make a welcome for us. TOM. What news can that be? VER. Throw no scornful smile Upon the zeal I bring you,’tis worth more, sir; Two of the chiefest men I kept about me I hide not from the law or your just vengeance. TOM. Ha! VER. To give your peace more ample satisfaction, Thank these discoverers. TOM. If you bring that calm, Name but the manner I shall ask forgiveness in For that contemptuous smile [I threw][495] upon you, I'll perfect it with reverence that belongs Unto a sacred altar. [_Kneels._ VER. [_raising him_] Good sir, rise; Why, now you overdo as much ’a this hand As you fell short ’a t’other.—Speak, Alibius. ALIB. ’Twas my wife’s fortune, as she is most lucky At a discovery, to find out lately, Within our hospital of fools and madmen, Two counterfeits slipp’d into these disguises, Their names Franciscus and Antonio. VER. Both mine, sir, and I ask no favour for ’em. ALIB. Now that which draws suspicion to their habits, The time of their disguisings agrees justly With the day of the murder. TOM. O blest revelation! VER. Nay, more, nay, more, sir—I'll not spare mine own In way of justice—they both feign’d a journey To Briamata,[496] and so wrought out their leaves; My love was so abus’d in’t. TOM. Time’s too precious To run in waste now; you have brought a peace The riches of five kingdoms could not purchase: Be my most happy conduct; I thirst for ’em: Like subtle lightning will I wind about ’em, And melt their marrow in ’em. [_Exeunt._