Act 4 — ACT IV., SCENE 1.
Reading edition
Enter Ephorbas, solus.
Eph. For aught I know, my bed may be the next; Men are not bad by halves, nor doth one mischief Stop a man in his career of sin. There's as much reason i' th' one as th' other. Doth he affect my kingdom, 'cause I'm old? No, that's not it; he knows I must die shortly. 'Tis not a desire of rule, and glory of Their bending knees makes him forget his duty. He may as well covet Andromana, 'cause she's handsome. He satisfies a lust alike in both. Well, let him be My rival in the kingdom; 'tis but what He was born to, and I must leave it him; But for my wife he must excuse me—nay, He shall [Pauses.]——Yet now I think on't better, The grounds are slender, and my suspicions slight; No evidence against him but the people's love, And that's no fault of his, unless deserving Be a crime. Who is without there?
Enter Libacer.
Go, call in Plangus, and bid him not stay, For I must speak with him.
[Exit King.