(SCENE 1.)

Enter Lady Marlowe sola.

Lady. Twas[122] here about; these are the poplars, this The yewe he named. How prettily thees trees Bow, as each meant to Consecrate a branch To the drownd lovers! and, methinks, the streame Pitt[y]ing their herse should want all funerall rights, Snatches the virgin lillies from his bankes To strow their watry sepulcher. Who would Desire an easier wafting to their death Then through this River? what a pleasing sound Its liquid fingers, harping on the stones, Yeilds to th'admiring eare!

Enter Thorowgood, Clariana, and Magdalen.

Mag. This way she went, Ime sure. She has deliv[er']d So many strang distractions that I feare Sheele act some wilfull violence on her selfe If we prevent it not.

Cla. Yonder is somebody among the Trees Hard by the River: alasse, tis shee!

Tho. Come softly; if she heare our footing, her disp[aire May] anticipate our diligence.

Lady. Tempt me not, frailty: I disdaine revolt From ought the awfull violence of my will Has once[123] determind. Dost thou tremble, flesh? Ile cure thy ague instantly: I shall, Like some insatiate drunkard of the age, But take a cup to much and next day sleepe An hower more then ordinary.

Tho. Heaven and good Angells guard you!

Cla. My deare Mother!

Mag. My gratious Lady!

Lady. What inhumaine creatures Are you that rob me of the priviledge Of wellcome death, which I will run to meet Spight of your malice!

Tho. Oh decline those thoughts; Let not the lucid tapers of your soule, Bright grace and reason, fondly be extinct. Essentiall virtue, whether art thou fled, To what unknowne place? wert thou hid mongst ro[cks] Or horid grots where comfortable light Hates to dispence its luster, yet my search Should find thee out, reduce thee to this brest Once[124] thy lovd Paradice. Pray, madam, pray: From those faire eyes one penetentiall teare Would force whole legions of heavens brightest Sa[ints] If they have power to intercede for earth To beg for mercy for you.

Lady. These are toyes Forgd to delude mortality: let me die And afterwards my uncontroled Ghost Shall visitt you. I only goe and aske How my Belisia does enioy her health Since she exchangd her native ayre of earth For those dull regions. If I find the clime Does to our constitutions promise life, Ile come to you and in those happy shades Will live in peace eternally.

[[125]Cla. Alas, I feare shees Irrecoverable. Twas Ill don to affright her thus.

Mag. Expect the best: The Gentleman will perswade her.

Tho. O, dispaire, Grimme homicide of soules, how thou involvst More haplesse creatures in distracted Ills Ore [w]home thou triumpst; but Ile fright thee hence: No feind shall add a trophy to thy acts For victory over her.] Deare madam, heare me: You had a noble husband, while he livd; And I beleive That no perswasion cold have forcd you yeild To vitiation of his honord bed, Not with a prince. And will you give your soule, Which heaven in its creation had designd A bride to faire eternity of blisse, By vild procurement of hells bawd, despaire, To prostitution of unnaturall death And then of woes erelasting which admit Noe diminution? Can you heare this, Madam, And does the flintie substance of your heart Not thaw, like to a hill of Russian Ice When fires applid to't? Yes, your eyes demonstrate It[126] melts already.

Cla. Deare Mother, please you walke Into your Chamber: here the wind is cold And may disease your weaknes.

Mag. Here is your vayle, and't please your ladiship.

Lady. Let me alone, you trouble me; I feele A soddaine change; each organ of my soule Suffers a strong vicissitude; and, though I do detest a voluntary death, My Conscience tells me that it is most iust That the cursd author of such impious ills Ought not to live.

Tho. O thinke not soe: those words Retaine affinity with that passion I hop'd youd left. The greatest of your Sinns Mercy will smile at, when you doe implore Its unconsuming grace: the dullest cloud Will, when you pray, be active as the ayre In opening to receive that breath to heaven Thats spent to purge your ills. Why, you may live To make a faire lustration for your faults And die a happie Convert.

[Ho]llow within: Follow, follow, follow! that way he went.

Enter Young Marlowe, Alexander, [Consta]ble and [office]rs.

Y. M. Hell, I will flie no farther; since my hand Is guilt in murder it shall sacrifice Some of my apprehenders.

Tho. Whats the matter? Deare Sir, what ayles you?

Lady. O my Sonne! I feare.

Alex. Stand back, goe to; what meanes this rudenes. I say goe to, keepe back.

Con. Sir, we must enter: here he is. I charge you Asist us to lay hold on him.

Lady. Why, how now, Fellowes? what makes you presse in here thus rudely? Whom do you follow?

Con. Madam, Ime sorry my authority Enforces me to doe it: your sonn iust now Has slaine one Mr. Thurstone, and the law Commaunds us apprehend him.

Y. M. Here take my sword: When I but doe waigh the iustnes of the cause For which I suffer, though I could escape, My Conscience would forbid me. Come, Ile goe Whither you please.

Lady. Stay, officers; all accessaries are As liable to punishment for murder As those who act it. I confesse twas I Enforcd my son to slay that gentleman. Your warrant extends to take me with him.

Tho. Alas, beleive her not; greife for her sonne Has made her franticke.

Lady. By heaven tis truth! If you refuse to execute your office I shall confesse my act unto the Judg And soe condemne you of partiality. My Sonn knowes this is truth.

Y. M. I must acknowledge Mr. Alexander oft did instigate me To kill him.

Con. Sir, you must clere your selfe of this.

Alex. Who? I? Goe, take the babe from its Mothers teat and taxe him with this crime. I accessary to a murder! goe to.

Con. Why, and goe to, sir, and avoid resistance; You must goe. Will your ladiship walke with us?

Lady. Yes, most willingly. I doe this most abhorrid life despise Since tis to iustice a iust sacrifice.

[Exeunt omnes.