MELANTIUS

My Lord, my thanks, but these scratched limbs of mine, have spoke my love and truth unto my friends, more then my tongue ere could, my mind's the same it e ver was to you; where I find worth I love the keeper, till he let it go, And then I follow it. I thank thee Diphilus: but thou art faul j, I sent for thee to exercise thine arms With me at Patriam, thou camest not Diphilus : It ill. Yes, and have given cause to those, that here Envy my deeds abroad, to call me gamesome, I have no other business here at Rhodes. These soft and silken wars are not for me, The music must be shrill and all confused That stirs my blood, and then I dance, But is Amintor wed? All joys upon him, for he is my friend, Wonder not that I call a man so young; His worth is great, valiant he is, And one that never thinks his life his own, If his friend need it, when he was a boy, As oft as I returned (as without boast) I brought home conquest, he would gaze upon me, And view me round, to Jude in what one limb The virtue lay to do those things he herd, Then would he wish to see my sword, and feel The quickness of the edge, and in his hand Weighs it, he oft would make me smile at this; His youth did promise much, and his ripe years Will see it all performed. Enter Aspatia passing with attendance. Hail Maid and Wife. Thou fair Aspatia, may the holy knot, That thou hast tied to day, last till the hand Of age vndoe't, mayest thou bring a raze Unto Amintor, that may fill the world Successively with soldiers. Howes this. You said Amintor was. Pardon me, I did receive Letters at Patriam from my Amintor That he should marry her. Who has he taken then? Peace of heart betwixt them, But this is strange. 'Tis royal Like himself, But I am sad, my speech bears so infortunate a found To beautiful Aspatia, there is rage Hid in her father's breast Calianax, Bent long against me and he should not think, Could I but call it back, that I would take Such base revenges as to scorn the state Of his neglected daughter. She has a brother under my command Like her, a face as womanish as hers, But with a spirit that hath much outgrown The number of his years. Enter Amintor. I might run fiercely, not more would tily, Upon my foe, I love thee well Amintor, My mouth is much too narrow for my heart, I joy to look upon those eyes of thine, Thou art my friend, but my disordered speech Cuts off my love. I am poor in words, but credit me young man Thy mother could do no more but weep, for joy to see thee After long absence, all the wound I have, Fetched not so much away, nor all the cries Of widowed mother's: But this is peace And that was war. I fear thou art grown too cruel, for I hear A Lady mourns for thee, men say to death, orsaken of thee, on what terms I know not. Be prosperous. Not so Amintor. But if you laugh at my rude carriage In sports, il'e do as much for you in war When you come thither, but I have a mistress To bring to your delights, rough though I am, I have a mistress and she has a heart She says, but trust me, it is stone, no better, There is no place that I can challenge gentlemen, But you stand still, and here my way lies. Exeunt. Open the door. Melantius. None but this Lady sir. I thank you sir, when I have seen you placed ma dam, I must attend the King, but the mask done, isle wait on you again. Exit Melantius Lady other door. Melantius? within Enter Calianax. Yes sir, I thank you, my Lord Calianax, well met, Your causeless hate to me I hope is buried. You do me wrong, A most unmanly one, and I am slow In taking vengeance, be well advised. Why? More worth then she, it misbecomes your age, And place to be so womanish, forbear, What you have spoke I am content to think The palsy hook your tongue to. I shall quite forget this place, thy age, my safety, and through all cut that poor sickly week thou hast to live, away from thee. Bore me the King, and be of flesh and blood A lies that says it, thy mother at fifteen Was black and sinful to her. Some God pluck threescore years from that found man, That I may kill him, and not stain mine honour, It is the curse of soldiers that in peace, They shall be braved by such ignoble men, As (if the land were troubled,) would with tears And knees beg succour from they, would the blood (That sea of blood) that I have lost in fight, Were running in thy veins, that it might make thee Apt to say less, and able to maintain, Shouldst thou say more,— This Rhodes I see is nought But a place privileged to do men wrong. Sister I joy to see you, and your choice, You looked with my eyes when you took that man, Be happy in him. Recorders Good day Amintor, for to me the name Of brother is too distant, we are friends, And that is nearer. What sudden gaze is this. Why does thine eye desire so strict a view Of that it knows so well? theres nothing here That is not thine. Say, stay my friend, I fear this found will not become our loves, no more em brace me. Why, my friend, should I be so by nature? Believe me this is continued ̄ plement too cunning for me. Good morrow sister, he that understands Whom you have wed, needs not to wish you joy, You have enough, take heed you be not proud. Amintor. Thou art sad. How? Nay that too much the other way 'Tis well you are so. Why? this is strange. I'll know the cause of all Amintors griefs, Or friendship shall be idle. Enter Calianax. Trust me I am sorry, would thou hadst taken her partly. Take heed old man, thou wilt be herd to rave, And loose thine office. Some company will come, and I respect Thy years, not thee so much, that I could wish To laugh at thee alone. Why? wilt thou dote thy self out of thy life, hence get thee to bed, have careful looking to, and eat warm things, and trouble not me, my head is full of thoughts, more weighty then thy life or death can be. I will not draw, unless thou pulst thy death Upon thee with a stroke, there S no on blow That thou canst give hast rength enough can kill me, Tempt me not so far then, the power of earth Shall not redeem thee. I will not promise to preserve your life if you do stay. Sir will you begone? This old fellow haunts me, But the distracted carriage of mine Amintor, Takes deeply on me, I will find the cause, I fear his conscience cries, he wronged Aspatia. Amintor, we have not enjoyed our friendship of late, for we were wont to charge our souls in talk. How wast; I have longed to speak with you, not of and idle I st thats forced, but of matter you are bound to utter to me. I have observed your words fallen from your tongue Wildly, and all your carriage Like one that strives to show his merry mood, When he were ill disposed, you were not wont To put such scorue into your speech—you wear Upon your face ridiculous jollity, Some sadness sits here, which your tongue would Cover over with smiles, and 'twill not be, What is it? You may shape Amintor Causes to cozen the whole world withal, And yourself too, and 'tis not Like a friend, To hide your soul from me, 'tis not your nature To be thus idle, I have seen you stand, As you were blasted amid of all your mirth, Call thrice aloud, and then start, feigning joy So coldly, world? what do I here, a friend Is nothing, heaven I would would told that man My secret inns, isle search and unknown and, And there plant friendship, all is withered here, Come with a compliment, I would have fought, Or told my friends a lied, ere soothd him so; Out of my bosom. Worse and worse, farewell; From this time have acquaintance, but no friend. See how you plead with friendship, be advised How you give cause unto your self to say, You would lost a friend. Do not weep, what is't? May I once but know the man Hath turned my friend thus. But what? Thou seest my love, that will keep company With thee in tears, hide nothing then from me, For when I know the cause of thy distemper, With mine old armour isle adorn my self, My resolution, and cut through thy foes Unto thy quiet, till I place thy heart As peaceable as spotless innocence. What is it? Punish me strangely heaven, if he escape Of life or fame, that brought this youth to this. Well said. No. How's this? Thou art run mad with injury indeed, Thou couldst not utter this, else speak again, For I forgive it freely, tell thy griefs. Speak yet again, before mine anger grow Up beyond throwing down, what are thy griefs? What, am I ane, After mine actions, shall the name of friend Blot all our family, and stick the brand Of whore upon my sister unrevenged My shaking flesh be thou a witness for me, With what unwillingness I go to scourge This railer, whom my folly hath called friend, I will not take thee basely, thy sword Hangs near thy hand, draw it, that I may whip Thy rashness to repentance, draw thy sword. This is base, And fearful, they that use to utter lies, Provide not blows, but words to qualify The men they wronged, thou hast a guilty cause. Take then more, to raise thine anger, 'tis mere Cowardice makes thee not draw, & I will leave thee dead How ever, but if thou art so much pressed, With gilded and fear, as not to dare to fight, I'll make thy memory loathed, and fix a farewell Upon thy name for ever. Stay a while, The name of friend, is more then family, Or all the world beside; I was a fool, Thou searching humane nature, that didst make To do me wrong thou art inquisitive, And thrusts me upon questions that will take My sleep away, would I had died ere known This sad dishonour, pardon me my friend, If thou wilt strike, here is a faithful heart, Pierce it, for I will never heave my hand To thine, behold the power thou hast in me, I do believe my sister is a whore, A leprous one, put up thy sword young man. Better half the la worser Were buried quick together, no Amintor, Thou shalt have ease of this adulterous King That drew her too't, where God he the spirit To wrong me so. Why not so much, the credit of our house Is thrown away, But from his iron den isle waken death, And hurl him on this King, my honesty shall steel my sword, and on my horrid point I'll wear my cause, that shall amaze the eyes Of this proud man, and be to glittering For him to look on. Worser j up thy watery eyes, And cast a manly look upon my face, For nothing is so wild as I thy friend Till I have freed thee, still this swelling breast, I go thus from thee, and will never cease My vengeance till I find thy heart at peace. Why? would you have it back, I will to death pursue him with revenge. Hear thy friend that bears more years then thou. Amintor? I do, — but is not My share of credit equal with thine If I do stir. Then join with me. Then dare not fight with me, for that's a sin, His grief distracts him, call thy thoughts again, And to thy self pronounce the name of friend, And see what that will work, I will not fight. I will be killed first, though my passion Offered the Like to you, 'tis not this earth Shall by my reason to it, think awhile For you are, (I must weep when I speak it,) All most beside your self. Why thinks my friend I will forget his honour, or to save The bravery of your house, will lose his fame And fear to touch the throne of Majesty. I will do what worth shall bid me. Come take again your mirth about you. I warrant you, look up, weel walk together, Put thine arm here, all shall be well again. Be merry then. Enter Melantius again. This worthy young man may do violence Upon himself, but I have cherished him As well as I could, and sent him S iling from me To counterfeit again, sword hold thine edge, My heart will never fail me? Diphilus, Thou comest as sent. Enter Diphilus. Betwixt whom? They must weep Diphilus. They must? thou art my brother, & if I did believe, Thou hadst a base thought, I would ip it out, Lie where it durst. That was spoke according to our strain, come join thy hands, And swear a fiermenesse to what project Shall lay before thee. It is as nobly said as I would wish, Anon isle tell you wonders, we are wronged. Stay not, prepare the armour in my house, And what friends you can draw unto our side, Not knowing of the cause, make ready too, Hast Diph: the time requires it, hast. Exit Diphilus. I hope my cause is joust, I know my blood Tells me it is, and I will credit it, To take revenge and lose my self withal, Were idle, and to escape, impossible, Without I had the word, which misery Remaining in the hands of my old enemy Calianax, but I must have it, see Enter Calianax. Where he comes shaking by me, good my Lord Forget your spleen to me, I never wronged you, But would have peac with every man. You're touchy without all cause. By mine honour I speak truth. See what starts you make into your idle hatred. I am come with resolution to obtain a suit Of you. Nay, go not hence, 'Tis this, you have the keeping of the fort, And I would wish you by the love you ought To bear unto me to deliver it Into my hands. But there is a reason to move you to it, I would Kill the King, that wronged you and your daughter. Nay but stay, I cannot escape the deed once done Without I have this fort. Come delay me not, Give me a sudden answer, already, The last is spoke, refuse my offered love, When it comes clad in secrets. Take it, — I know this goes unto the King, But I am armed. Exit Melantius. God save you. In my blunt eye me thinks you look Euadn . I would Evadne, I shall displease my ends else. I would not have your women hear me Break into a commendations of you, it is not seemly. I'll lock your doors first. Exit Ladies I will not have your guilded things that dance In visitation with their Milan skins Choke up my business. Good Madame, not to make you merry. Such a sad commendations I have for you. I praise the Court for't, has learned you nothing. I Evadne, thou art young and handsome, A Lady of a sweet complexion, And such a flowing carriage, that it cannot Choose but inflame a Kingdom. 'Tis yet in thy repentance, foolish woman, To make me gentle. 'Tis base, And I could blush at these years, through all My honoured scars: to come to such a parley. You dare not fool, They that commit thy faults fly the remembrance. Thy body is to little for the story, The lustest of which would fill another woman, Though she had twins within her. Thou art my way, and I will tread upon thee, Till I find truth out. Thy long lost honour, would the gods had set me Rather to grapple with the plague, or stand One of their loudest bolts, come tell me quickly, Do it without enforcement, and take heed You swell me not above my temper. Where there was people in every place. 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. 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 isle find him, Though he lie locked up in thy blood, come tell me, There is no facing it, and be not flattered, The burned air when the dog reins, is not fouler Then thy contagious name, till thy repentance, If the gods grant thee any, purge thy sickness. I'll be a wolf first, 'tis to be thy brother And infamy below the sin of coward, I am as far from being partly of thee, As thou art from thy virtue, seek a kindred Amongst sensual beasts, and make a goat thy father, A goat is cooler, will you tell me yet. You're grown a glorious whore, where be your Fighters, what mortal fool durst raise thee to this daring, And I alive, by my joust sword, had Safer Bestride a billow when the angry North Plows up the sea, or made heavens fire his foe, Work me no hire, will you discovery yet. Force my swollen heart no further, I would save thee, your great maintain S are not here, they dare not, would they were all, and armed, I would speak loud, heres one should thunder to'em, will you tell me. Do, whose child thou Wertenberg, Whose honour thou hast murdered, whose graven opened, And so pulled on the God , that in their justice They must restore him flesh again and life, And raise his dry bones to revenge this scandal. 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 deer soul of thy sleeping father, This sword shall be thy lover, tell or isle kill thee, And when thou hast told all, thou wilt deserve it. No, 'tis a justice and a noble one, To put the light out of such base offenders. By thy foul self, no human help shall help thee, If thou criest, when I have killed thee, as I have Vowed 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? Up and begin your story. 'Tis true, thou art, speak truth still. With what secure slave? Do not fallen back again my sword's unsheathed yet. Be true, and make your fault less. Tell, or isle be this day a killing thee. Stay I must ask mine honour first, I have too much foolish nature in me, speak. None but a fearful conscience, that's too many. Who is't? 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 soldiers thanks. How long have you lived thus Evadne? Can you be very sorry? Woman thou wilt not to thy trade again. Would gods thou hadst been so blessed. Dost thou not hate this King now? prithee hate him. Has sunk thy fair soul, I command thee curse him, Curse till the gods hear and deliver him To thy joust wishes, yet I fear Evadne You had rather play your game out. Dost thou not feel amongst all those one brave anger That breaks out nobly, and directs thin arm To kill this base King? No all the gods require it, they are dishonoured in him. You're 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 Majesty hath laid you by To be at pension with some needy Sir For meat and courser clothes, thus far you had no fear. Come you shall kill him. And it to kiss him dead, thoudst 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 thy ruin 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 breathe a foul 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. 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 Dare step as far into a worthy Actium, As the most daring, I as far as justice. Ask me not why. Farewell. Exit Mell. I should be Sir the merriest here, But I would never a story of mine own worth telling at this time. I think it were not would worser Sir, for a Knave. Have you thought of this Callianax. And whats your resolution? Were he known, unpossible. It ought to be, if he God then away He must wear all our lives upon his sword, He needs not fly the Island, he must leave No one alive. From Cobwebs Sir, 'Tis clean swept, I can find no other Art In keeping of it now, it never beseidge Since he commanded. Keep your ill temper in, I speak no malice, had my brother kept it I should would said as much. 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. I want smoothness To thank a man for pardoning of a crime I never knew. Pardon me Sir, my bluntness will be pardoned, you preserve A raze of idle people here about you, Facers, and talkers to defame the world Of those that do things worthy, the man that uttered this Had perished without food, be't who it will, But for this arm that fenced him from the Foe. And if I thought you gave a faith to this, The plainness e of my nature would speak more, Give me a pardon, for you ought to doo't To kill him that spoke this. That old man, who calls my 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 wronged in this. Oh then it came from him. Nay I believe your malice is enough, But I would lost my anger, Sir I hope You are well satisfied. 'Tis strange you should. I talk not to thee. Shall the wild word of this distempered man; Frantic with age and sorrow make a breach Betwixt your Majesty and me, it wrong To harken to him, but to credit him As much, at least, as I have power to bear. But pardon me, while I speak only truth, I may commend my self — I have bestowed My careless blood with you, and should be loath To think a Actium that would make me lose That, and my thanks too: when I was a boy I thrust my self into my Countries cause, And did a deed, that plucked five years from time And stiled me man then, and for you my king Your Subjects all have fed by virtue of my arm, And you your self have lived at home in ease, So terrible I grew that without swords My name hath fetched you conquest, and my heart And limbs are still the same, my will as great To do you service: let me not be paid With such a strange distrust. Why, thou Wertenberg better let me have the fort, Dotard, I will disgrace thee thus for ever, There shall no credit lie upon thy words, Think better and deliver it. He hath lost himself Much since his daughter missed the happiness My sister gained, and though he call me Foe, I pity him. Mark his disordered words, and at the Mask Diagoras knows he raged, and railed at me, And called a Lady Whore so innocent She understood him not, but it becomes Both you and me to forgive distraction, Pardon him as I do. Callianax the King believes you, come, you shall go home, and rest, you would done well, yowl give it up When I have used you thus a month, I hope. You cannot blast me with your tongue, and thats the strongest Partly you have about you. I shall meet too, if you begin to take Unkindness, I never meant you hurt. To poison men because they love me not, To call the credit of men's wives in question, To murder children, betwixt me and Land, This I call hurt. Be wise then and be safe, thou mayest revenge. That you must plot your self. The short is, I will hold thee with the King In this perplexity till peevishness And his disgrace have laid thee in thy graven. But if thou wilt deliver up the fort, I'll take thy trembling body in my arms, And bear thee over dangers, thou shalt hold Thy wonted state. Try and believe. Why well, here let our hate be buried, and This hand shall right us both, give me thy aged breast To compass. Heel buy that knowledge very dearly: Diph. What news with thee? Ent. Diphilus. She shall perform it then, go Diph. And take from this good man my worthy friend The fort, heel give it thee. Away and use him kindly. Be gone. This is a night spite of Astronomers To do the deed in, I will wash the stain That rests upon our house, off with his blood. Ent. Amint. Who can see him thus, And not swear vengeance? whats the matter friend? It a rash attempt, Not to be done with safety, let your reason Plot your revenge, and not your passion. Heel overthrow my whole design with madne , Amintor. Think what thou dost, I dare as much as valour, But 'tis the King, the King, the King, Amintor, With whom thou fightest, I know he's honest. Aside. And this will work with him. I will take it up for thee. Alas how variable are thy thoughts? I have none against him. I will remember. Exeunt. If the dull people can believe I am armed, Be constant Diph. now we have time, Either to bring our banished honours home, Or to create new ones in our ends. Speak to the people, thou art eloquent. Worthy Cleon welcome, We could a wished you here Lord, you are honest. Sir. The short is this, 'Tis no ambition to lift up my self Urges me thus, I do desire again To be a subject, so I may be free; If not, I know my strength, and will unbuild This goodly town, be speedy, and be wise, in a reply. It was our honours drew us to this act, No gain, and we will only work our pardons. You shall, you shall: Come to the back gate, and weel call the King, And give you up the Fort. These death's are such acquainted things with me, That yet my heart dissolves not. May I stand Stiff here for ever: eyes call up your tears, This is Amintor : heart, he was my friend, Melt, now it flows, Amintor give a word To call me to thee. Melantius calls his friend Amintor, o thy arms Are kinder to me then thy tongue, Speak, speak. That little word was worth all the sounds That ever I shall hear again. Why Dip. it is A thing to laugh at in respect of this, Here was my Sister, Father, Brother, Son, All that I had, speak once again What youth lies slain there by thee. I never did repent the greatness of heart till now, It will not burst at needs. I am a Prattler, but no more. His spirit is but poor, that can be kept. From deam h for want of weapons, Is not my hands a weapon sha pe enough To stop my breath, or if you tie down those, I vow Amintor I will never eat Or drink, or sl epe, or have to do with that That may prese we life, this I swear to keep. Royal young man, those tears look lovely on thee, Had they been shed for a deserving one, They had been lasting monuments: Thy brother, While he was good, I called him King, and served him, With that strong faith, that most unwearied valour, Pulled people from the farthest sun to seek him, And beg his friendship, I was then his soldier, But since his hight pride drew him to disgrace me, And brand my noble actions with his lust, (That neuer-cur'd dishonour of my sister, Base stain of whore, and which is worse, The joy to make it still so, Like my self) Thus I have flung him off with my allegiance, And stand here mine own justice for revenge, What I have suffered in him, and this old man Wronged almost to lunacy. I did.