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Full speech
O help, good heaven save a poor wretch from slaugh ter. O whither shall I fly with these poor Babe ̄ S? Twice set upon by Thieves within this Forest Who robbed me of my Clothes, and left me these, Which better suit with my calamity: What fate pursues the good old King my husband, I cannot learn which is my worst affliction; O treacherous Lapirus! impious Nephew! All horrors of a guilty breast keep with thee; Either poor Babes, you must pine here for food, Or have the wars drink your immaculate blood. O fly ̄ , least life and honour be betrayed. Exit. If ever woman boar you. Let me dissuade you from all hope of recompense Save thanks and prayers, which are the Beggars gifts, Generous sir, I was of Lydia once, as happy then As now unfortunate; till one Lapyrus, That traitorous villain Nephew to the King Sought the confusion of his State and him; And with a secret Army girt his Land, When peace was plighted by his enemies hand Little expecting such unnatural Treason From forth a Kinsmans bosom; all admired But I his miserable Queen. I'll tell you all; for your so late attempt Confirms you honest, and my thoughts so keep you: I frighted at new wars, and his false breath, Chosen rather with these Babes this lingering death. The truth of this sad story hath been yours. Now, courteous sir, may I request your name, That in my prayers I may place the same, I hear you not sir, I desire you name. In this Forest lurks that abhorred villain? His speedy death, I should forget all mercy, Had I but means fully to express my vengeance. No? by these Infants tears That weep for hunger, I would thoroughly doe't. O where ̄ ? I see him not. Pray let me see him first. Puls off his false beard and kneels. Lapirus! O fortunate revenge! now all thy villainies Shall be at once requited, thy countries ruin The King thy Uncle's sorrow, my own Misery's, Shall at this minute all one vengeance meet. Alas, he does submit, prays, and relents, Who could wish more? none made from woman can, Small glory 'twere to kill a kneeling man: When he in penitent sighs his soul commends Thou sendest him to the Gods, thy self to the fiends: But Harken to thy piteous Infants cries, And th'are for vengeance, peace then, now he die. Ingrateful woman, he delivered thee From ravishment, canst thou his murthresse be? What's riches to thy honours? that rare treasure Which world's redeem not, yet 'tis lost at pleasure. Kill him that preserved that? and in thy rescue His noble rage so manfully behaved: Rise, rise, he that repents is ever saved. I am better than my word, my word was death I pardon all Lapyrus. And only to one penance I enjoin thee For all thy faults passed, while we here remain Within this Forest, this thy task shall be, To procure succour to my Babes and me. Th'art now grown good, here could I ever dwell, Were the old King, my husband safe and well. Exeunt. The peacefull'st reign that ever Prince enjoyed. Unworthiest of all the joys this hour brings forth. Your poor distressed Queen. Your joys are perfect though he stand not there, And your wish blessed behold a hopeful heir: Stand not amazed, it's Manophes. Happy hour, Heaven hath not taken all our happiness; For though your elder met ill fate, good heaven Hath thus preserved your younger for your heir.
Plot summary
Plot — The Bloody Banquet
Although peace between Lydia and Lycia is guaranteed by an exchange of hostages, the King of Lycia persuades the Lydian hostage, Lapyrus, to betray his country. When hostilities resume, Lydia solicits military assistance from Armatrites, King of Cilicia, who repels the invaders - but then seizes the Lydian throne. The Queen flees with her infant children into the forest, where Lapyrus rescues her from the advances of two soldiers. In remorse for his treachery, he gives her the opportunity to kill him, but she cannot bring herself to do it. He becomes her protector, and goes in search of food, but falls into a wolf-trap. One of the babies dies of starvation. The old King of Lydia rescues Lapyrus from the pit, but the Queen has gone when Lapyrus shows the King where he left her. Armatrites’ son, Zenarchus, promises Tymethes, the heir of Lydia, that he will give back the kingdom when he succeeds to the throne. Tymethes falls in love with Zenarchus’ sister, Amphridote, who has been promised in marriage to the court favourite Mazeres. Zenarchus and Tymethes visit the young Queen of Cilicia, whom Armatrites has jealously locked up in a castle. She conceives a passion for Tymethes, and bribes her keeper Roxano to arrange an assignation, with the proviso that Tymethes must not know her identity lest he boast of his conquest; but Mazeres also bribes Roxano to kill Tymethes, and his gold seems to weigh the heavier. Tymethes keeps the appointment, is taken to the Queen with a hood over his head, and is feasted, then seduced. With Roxano’s help, Mazeres poses as one of the masked waiters; he attempts to poison Tymethes’ wine, ===== PAGE 92 ===== but the wine is spilt by accident. Though enjoined not to inquire into the lady’s identity, Tymethes purloins her ring in the hope of learning who she is. Mazeres and Armatrites secretly watch a liaison between Tymethes and Amphridote. She begs the ring from Tymethes, and is given it on condition that she keeps it safe. When the King confronts his daughter, he recognizes his wife’s ring, and Mazeres explains how Tymethes came by it. Amphridote is horrified, switches her affections to Mazeres, and swears revenge. On his ‘hext darkling visit to his lover, Tymethes brings a light and learns that she is the Queen; she shoots him dead. ‘When Armatrites arrives, she claims that she was defending herself against a rapist, but the King will not believe her; her punishment will be to banquet on Tymethes’ flesh. Armatrites learns from…