The Maids Tragedy Part 13

_Mel_. Then dare not fight with me, for that's a sin.

His grief distracts him; call thy thoughts agen, And to thy self p.r.o.nounce the name of friend, And see what that will work; I will not fight.

_Amint_. You must.

_Mel_. I will be kill'd first, though my pa.s.sions Offred the like to you; 'tis not this earth Shall buy my reason to it; think a while, For you are (I must weep when I speak that) Almost besides your self.

_Amint_. Oh my soft temper!

So many sweet words from thy Sisters mouth, I am afraid would make me take her To embrace, and pardon her. I am mad indeed, And know not what I do; yet have a care Of me in what thou doest.

_Mel_. Why thinks my friend I will forget his honour, or to save The bravery of our house, will lose his fame, And fear to touch the Throne of Majesty?

_Amint_. A curse will follow that, but rather live And suffer with me.

_Mel_. I will do what worth shall bid me, and no more.

_Amint_. Faith I am sick, and desperately I hope, Yet leaning thus, I feel a kind of ease.

_Mel_. Come take agen your mirth about you.

_Amint_. I shall never do't.

_Mel_. I warrant you, look up, wee'l walk together, Put thine arm here, all shall be well agen.

_Amint_. Thy Love, O wretched, I thy Love, _Melantius_; why, I have nothing else.

_Mel_. Be merry then.

[_Exeunt. Enter Melantius agen_.

_Mel_. This worthy young man may do violence Upon himself, but I have cherisht him To my best power, and sent him smiling from me To counterfeit again; Sword hold thine edge, My heart will never fail me: _Diphilus_, Thou com'st as sent.

[_Enter Diphilus_.

_Diph_. Yonder has been such laughing.

_Mel_. Betwixt whom?

_Diph_. Why, our Sister and the King, I thought their spleens would break, They laught us all out of the room.

_Mel_. They must weep, _Diphilus_.

_Diph_. Must they?

_Mel_. They must: thou art my Brother, and if I did believe Thou hadst a base thought, I would rip it out, Lie where it durst.

_Diph_. You should not, I would first mangle my self and find it.

_Mel_. That was spoke according to our strain; come Joyn thy hands to mine, And swear a firmness to what project I shall lay before thee.

_Diph_. You do wrong us both; People hereafter shall not say there past A bond more than our loves, to tie our lives And deaths together.

_Mel_. It is as n.o.bly said as I would wish; Anon I'le tell you wonders; we are wrong'd.

_Diph_. But I will tell you now, wee'l right our selves.

_Mel_. 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; Haste _Diphilus_, the time requires it, haste.

[_Exit Diphilus_.

I hope my cause is just, 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 scape impossible, Without I had the fort, 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 wrong'd you, But would have peace with every man.

_Cal_. 'Tis well; If I durst fight, your tongue would lie at quiet.

_Mel_. Y'are touchie without all cause.

_Cal_. Do, mock me.

_Mel_. By mine honour I speak truth.

_Cal_. Honour? where is't?

_Mel_. See what starts you make into your hatred to my love and freedom to you.-- I come with resolution to obtain a suit of you.

_Cal_. A suit of me! 'tis very like it should be granted, Sir.

_Mel_. 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.

_Cal_. I am in hope that thou art mad, to talk to me thus.

_Mel_. But there is a reason to move you to it. I would kill the King that wrong'd you and your daughter.

_Cal_. Out Traytor!

_Mel_. Nay but stay; I cannot scape, the deed once done, Without I have this fort.

_Cal_. And should I help thee? now thy treacherous mind betrays it self.

_Mel_. Come, delay me not; Give me a sudden answer, or already Thy last is spoke; refuse not offered love, When it comes clad in secrets.

_Cal_. If I say I will not, he will kill me, I do see't writ In his looks; and should I say I will, he'l run and tell the King: I do not shun your friends.h.i.+p dear _Melantius_, But this cause is weighty, give me but an hour to think.

_Mel_. Take it--I know this goes unto the King, But I am arm'd.

[_Ex. Melant_.

_Cal_. Me thinks I feel my self But twenty now agen; this fighting fool Wants Policy; I shall revenge my Girl, And make her red again; I pray, my legs Will last that pace that I will carry them, I shall want breath before I find the King.