Eld. And you are reconcyld? you see hys harte Is made of meltinge waxe & not of marble. Faythe, twas a harde parte; you have brought us lowe, Lowe as the earthe we treade on, but Ile ceasse Further reitteratyon: synce hees pleasd To burye all, I wilbe patyent; You knowe I ever lovd you & you have Doone me most worthye, honest offyces.

Did. And many more will dedycatt unto you; My lorde & I am reconcyld at full And have disburdend all our greivances. I doe confes I was bewytcht with fate But will redeeme myne error; synce I knowe He loves me nowe more then he did before, I will deserv't so bravely you shall call And sweare I am a noble instrument.

Eld. You trust hys protestatyons then?

Did. Madam, or ells I were an Infidell.

[Eld.] … … … … … And I could chyde my love that pytties you. He dothe dissemble with you; you are lost. Of myne owne knowlege he hathe layd suche baytts You cannot live twoe howers. Goe where you will, He hathe a plott that haunts you. If you can Fynde for your selfe any preventyon, Use it with quycke indevor; for I knowe The thunder speaks that presentlye will splytt you.

Did. You doe amaze me.

Eld. And like the chaesd Roe stand in that amaze Tyll the hounds catche you. What I speake Is to prevent your present tragedye And to blott murder from my Ganelon. Be wise. [Ex. Eldegrad.

Did. Am I then noosd! will styll my villanous wytts Betray me to mysfortune, am I lymed! What shall I doe? flight will not nowe avayle me. I knowe hys projects like hys mallyce runns To everye place of hoped securytie. I have't: thys key, which I have choycelye kepte (Longe synce by me most fynelye counterfaytt) Enters hys chambers & hys cabanett And everye place retyrd. I am resolvde; Thoughe I had thousand ways to scape besyde, Yet I will stay onlye to murther hym. Within hys lodginge will I hyde me safe, And when sleepe lulls hym—farwell Ganelon! He shall not outlive mydnyght: here Ile lye, And thoughe I followe nexte thys lorde shall dye. [Hydes hym.

Enter Ganelon.

Gan. My plotts are layd most certayne & no fatte Can interposse betwixte theym: Didier dyes And so shall Richarde. O the wearye thoughts That keepe a daylie senate in my braynes, Repeat unto me what I loathe to heare, A frends disloyaltye. Be wysser you That undertake the greate & hallowed leauge Of frendlye comforte. Scoole your ryotous bloode And teache your fancyes Wisdome; be not drawne With suche a frayle unproffytable thynge As face or person when you chusse a frende; Th'are all deceytfull. Would my funerall rytts Were as I wishe provyded, to dispeirse A warnynge by my horryble abuse, And I would dye to morrowe. I lament That such another pyttied foole as I Should be amongst the liveinge.—Harke! who knocks? [Richard knocks. Aunswere, what are you?

Rich. Open to your frende.

Gan. O my starrs, tys he! can myschiefe thus Come flyinge to my bossome?—Sir, I come To open twoe dores, thys & thy false bossome. [Stabbs hym.

Rich. O y'ave slayne me! tell me, cruell Sir, Why you have doone thys that myne inocent soule May teache repentance to you— [Dies.

Gan. Speake it out. What, not a worde? dumbe with a littill blowe? You are growne statlye, are you? tys even so: You have the trycke of mightie men in courte To speake at leasure & pretend imployment. Well, take your tyme; tys not materyall Whether you speake the resydue behynde Nowe or at doomes day. If thy comon sence Be not yet parted from thee, understande I doe not cursse[100] thee dyinge, because once I loved thee dearlye; & collect by that There is no devyll in me nor in hell That could have flesht me to thys violent deathe, Hadst thou beene false to all the worlde but me.— But he is nowe past thynkinge on for that, And were he buryed all were perfytted.

[Didier stepps out.

Did. What will you say if I become the sexton?

Gan. That after that thou mayst hang thy selfe ithe bellropps. —What makst thou heare?

Did. I will assuer you, Sir, No legge to your wise lordshypp for my life, Thyngs standinge as they doe.

Gan. Verye good, Sir, Y'are wondrous merry.

Did. Can you blame me, Sir, When I may treade upon myne enemye? I am your condemd creature, I am lost.

Gan. … … … … … Howe camst thou hyther?

Did. Why, looke you, Sir, by thys, [Shoes the key. Thys that Ive kepte as a stronge cordyall Agaynst your vyllanyes. Nay, behould it well, For as I live tys counterfayte.

Gan. What a leaden-skulld slave he maks me.— Why, art thou doutfull of me? faythe I love thee.

Did. Yes, as the devyll does freirs holye water. Come, I doe knowe your practyse gaynst my life, And ment my selfe t'have easd myne injuryes; But nowe thys act hathe given you to the lawe And saved me from all daunger.

Gan. What! that I Have practysd gaynst thee! tys most damned false. I doe protest I love thee trulye, fullye. Come, let us joyne; my contyence says thou didst But what was good & noble.

Did. Nay, by's lighte, I make no suyte fort, tys at your free choyce. If I but chaunce to toule hys passinge bell And give the parryshe notyce who is dead, You know what tends the rumor.

Gan. Come, no more; I faythe I love thee dearelye, trust uppon't; And to abandon feare on eyther parte, Give the dead carcasse lodginge in the ground: We bothe are safe & thys newe frendshypp sounde.

Did. Once more Ile trust you. Come, then, my burthen, no, my wellcome taske. Howe prosperous villanye keepes all in awe: We are saved by that which glutts bothe deathe & lawe.

[Exe. with the dead.