Act 3 — [Scene I.][3361]

Diph. No matter; they have the year before them. [Strato knocks at the door.] Good morrow, sister. Spare yourself to-day; The night will come again.

Amin. Who ’s there? My brother! I ’m no readier[3362] yet.20 Your sister is but now up. Diph. You look as you had lost your eyes tonight: I think you ha’ not slept. Amin. I’ faith I have not. Diph. You have done better, then. Amin. We ventur’d for a boy; when he is twelve,25 ’A shall command against the foes of Rhodes. Shall we be merry? Stra. You cannot; you want sleep. Amin. ’T is true.—(Aside.) But she, As if she had drank Lethe, or had made Even with Heaven, did fetch so still a sleep,30 So sweet and sound—— Diph. What’s that? Amin. Your sister frets This morning; and does turn her eyes upon me, As people on their headsman. She does chafe, And kiss, and chafe again, and clap my cheeks: She ’s in another world.35 Diph. Then I had lost: I was about to lay You had not got her maidenhead to-night. Amin. [Aside.] Ha! does he not mock me? You ’d lost indeed; I do not use to bungle. Cleo. You do deserve her. Amin. (Aside.) I laid my lips to hers, and that wild breath,40 That was so rude and rough to me last night, Was sweet as April. I ’ll be guilty too, If these be the effects.

Mel. Good day, Amintor; for to me the name Of brother is too distant: we are friends,45 And that is nearer. Amin. Dear Melantius! Let me behold thee. Is it possible? Mel. What sudden gaze is this? Amin. ’T is wondrous strange! Mel. Why does thine eye desire so strict a view Of that it knows so well? There ’s nothing here50 That is not thine. Amin. I wonder much, Melantius, To see those noble looks, that make me think How virtuous thou art: and, on the sudden, ’T is strange to me thou shouldst have worth and honour; Or not be base, and false, and treacherous,55 And every ill. But—— Mel. Stay, stay, my friend; I fear this sound will not become our loves. No more; embrace me.[3363] Amin. Oh, mistake me not! I know thee to be full of all those deeds59 That we frail men call good; but by the course Of nature thou shouldst be as quickly chang’d As are the winds; dissembling as the sea, That now wears brows as smooth as virgins’ be, Tempting the merchant to invade his face, And in an hour calls his billows up,65 And shoots ’em at the sun, destroying all ’A carries on him.—(Aside.) Oh, how near am I To utter my sick thoughts! Mel. But why, my friend, should I be so by nature? Amin. I have wed thy sister, who hath virtuous thoughts70 Enough for one whole family; and it is strange That you should feel no want. Mel. Believe me, this is compliment too cunning for me. Diph. What should I be then by the course of nature,74 They having both robb’d me of so much virtue? Stra. Oh, call the bride, my Lord Amintor, That we may see her blush, and turn her eyes down. It is the prettiest sport! Amin. Evadne! Evad. (within.) My lord? Amin. Come forth, my love; Your brothers do attend to wish you joy.80 Evad. [within.] I am not ready yet. Amin. Enough, enough. Evad. [within.] They ’ll mock me. Amin. Faith, thou shalt come in.

Mel. Good morrow, sister. He that understands Whom you have wed, need not to wish you joy; You have enough: take heed you be not proud. Diph. Oh, sister, what have you done?86 Evad. I done! why, what have I done? Stra. My Lord Amintor swears you are no maid now. Evad. Pish! Stra. I’ faith, he does. Evad. I knew I should be mockt.90 Diph. With a truth. Evad. If ’t were to do again, In faith I would not marry. Amin. (Aside.) Nor I, by Heaven! Diph. Sister, Dula swears She heard you cry two rooms off. Evad. Fie, how you talk! Diph. Let ’s see you walk, Evadne. By my troth,95 You ’re spoil’d.[3364] Mel. Amintor.— Amin. Ha! Mel. Thou art sad. Amin. Who, I? I thank you for that. Shall Diphilus, thou, and I, sing a catch? Mel. How!100 Amin. Prithee, let ’s. Mel. Nay, that ’s too much the other way. Amin. I ’m so light’ned with my happiness!— How dost thou, love? Kiss me. Evad. I cannot love you, you tell tales of me.105 Amin. Nothing but what becomes us.—Gentlemen, Would you had all such wives, and all the world, That I might be no wonder! You ’re all sad: What, do you envy me? I walk, methinks, On water, and ne’er sink, I am so light.110 Mel. ’T is well you are so. Amin. Well! how can I be other, When she looks thus?—Is there no music there? Let ’s dance. Mel. Why this is strange, Amintor! Amin. I do not know myself; yet I could wish My joy were less.115 Diph. I ’ll marry too, if it will make one thus. Evad. (Aside.) Amintor, hark. Amin. What says my love?—I must obey. Evad. You do it scurvily, ’t will be perceiv’d. Cleo. My lord, the King is here.120

Amin. Where? Stra. And his brother. King. Good morrow, all!— Amintor, joy on joy fall thick upon thee!— And, madam, you are alter’d since I saw you; I must salute you; you are now another’s.126 How lik’d you your night’s rest? Evad. Ill, sir. Amin. Indeed, She took but little. Lys. You ’ll let her take more, And thank her too, shortly. King. Amintor, wert thou truly honest till130 Thou wert married? Amin. Yes, sir. King. Tell me, then, how shows The sport unto thee? Amin. Why, well. King. What did you do? Amin. No more, nor less, than other couples use; You know what ’t is; it has but a coarse, name. King. But, prithee, I should think, by her black eye,135 And her red cheek, she should be quick and stirring In this same business; ha? Amin. I cannot tell; I ne’er tried other, sir; but I perceive She is as quick as you delivered. King. Well, you ’ll trust me then, Amintor, to choose140 A wife for you again? Amin. No, never, sir. King. Why, like you this so ill? Amin. So well I like her. For this I bow my knee in thanks to you, And unto Heaven will pay my grateful tribute Hourly; and do hope we shall draw out145 A long contented life together here, And die both, full of grey hairs, in one day: For which the thanks is yours. But if the powers That rule us please to call her first away, Without pride spoke, this world holds not a wife150 Worthy to take her room. King. I do not like this.—All forbear the room, But you, Amintor, and your lady. [Exeunt all but the King, Amintor, and Evadne.] I have some speech with you, that may concern Your after living well.155 Amin. [Aside.] ’A will not tell me that he lies with her! If he do, something heavenly stay my heart, For I shall be apt to thrust this arm of mine To acts unlawful! King. You will suffer me To talk with her, Amintor, and not have160 A jealous pang? Amin. Sir, I dare trust my wife With whom she dares to talk, and not be jealous. [Retires.] King. How do you like Amintor? Evad. As I did, sir. King. How ’s that? Evad. As one that, to fulfil your will and pleasure,165 I have given leave to call me wife and love. King. I see there is no lasting faith in sin; They that break word with Heaven will break again With all the world, and so dost thou with me. Evad. How, sir? King. This subtle woman’s ignorance170 Will not excuse you: thou hast taken oaths, So great that, methought, they did misbecome A woman’s mouth, that thou wouldst ne’er enjoy A man but me. Evad. I never did swear so; You do me wrong. King. Day and night have heard it.175 Evad. I swore indeed that I would never love A man of lower place; but, if your fortune Should throw you from this height, I bade you trust I would forsake you, and would bend to him That won your throne. I love with my ambition,180 Not with my eyes. But, if I ever yet Toucht any other, leprosy light here Upon my face! which for your royalty I would not stain! King. Why, thou dissemblest, and It is in me to punish thee. Evad. Why, it is in me,185 Then, not to love you, which will more afflict Your body than your punishment can mine. King. But thou hast let Amintor lie with thee. Evad. I ha’ not. King. Impudence! he says himself so. Evad. ’A lies. King. ’A does not. Evad. By this light, he does,190 Strangely and basely! and I ’ll prove it so. I did not only shun him for a night, But told him I would never close with him. King. Speak lower; it is false. Evad. I am no man To answer with a blow; or, if I were,195 You are the King. But urge me not; ’t is most true. King. Do not I know the uncontrolled thoughts That youth brings with him, when his blood is high With expectation and desire of that He long hath waited for? Is not his spirit,200 Though he be temperate, of a valiant strain As this our age hath known? What could he do, If such a sudden speech had met his blood, But ruin thee for ever, if he had not kill’d thee? He could not bear it thus: he is as we,205 Or any other wrong’d man. Evad. It is dissembling. King. Take him! farewell: henceforth I am thy foe; And what disgraces I can blot thee with, look for. Evad. Stay, sir!—Amintor!—You shall hear.—Amintor! Amin. [coming forward.] What, my love.210 Evad. Amintor, thou hast an ingenious[3365] look, And shouldst be virtuous: it amazeth me That thou canst make such base malicious lies! Amin. What, my dear wife? Evad. Dear wife! I do despise thee. Why, nothing can be baser than to sow215 Dissension amongst lovers. Amin. Lovers! Who? Evad. The king and me— Amin. Oh, God! Evad. Who should live long, and love without distaste, Were it not for such pickthanks[3366] as thyself. Did you lie with me? Swear now, and be punisht220 In hell for this! Amin. The faithless sin I made To fair Aspatia is not yet reveng’d; It follows me.—I will not lose a word To this vile woman: but to you, my King,224 The anguish of my soul thrusts out this truth: You ’re a tyrant! and not so much to wrong An honest man thus, as to take a pride In talking with him of it. Evad. Now, sir, see How loud this fellow lied! Amin. You that can know to wrong, should know how men230 Must right themselves. What punishment is due From me to him that shall abuse my bed? Is it not death? Nor can that satisfy, Unless I send your limbs[3367] through all the land, To show how nobly I have freed myself.235 King. Draw not thy sword; thou know’st I cannot fear A subject’s hand; but thou shalt feel the weight Of this, if thou dost rage. Amin. The weight of that! If you have any worth, for Heaven’s sake, think I fear not swords; for, as you are mere man,240 I dare as easily kill you for this deed, As you dare think to do it. But there is Divinity about you that strikes dead My rising passions: as you are my King, I fall before you, and present my sword245 To cut mine own flesh, if it be your will. Alas, I am nothing but a multitude Of walking griefs! Yet, should I murder you, I might before the world take the excuse Of madness: for, compare my injuries,250 And they will well appear too sad a weight For reason to endure. But, fall I first Amongst my sorrows, ere my treacherous hand Touch holy things! But why (I know not what I have to say), why did you choose out me255 To make thus wretched? There were thousands, fools Easy to work on, and of state enough, Within the island. Evad. I would not have a fool; It were no credit for me. Amin. Worse and worse!259 Thou, that dar’st talk unto thy husband thus, Profess thyself a whore, and, more than so, Resolve to be so still!——It is my fate To bear and bow beneath a thousand griefs, To keep that little credit with the world!— But there were wise ones too; you might have ta’en265 Another. King. No: for I believ’d thee honest, As thou wert valiant. Amin. All the happiness[3368] Bestow’d upon me turns into disgrace. Gods, take your honesty again, for I270 Am loaden with it!—Good my lord the King, Be private in it. King. Thou mayst live, Amintor, Free as thy king, if thou wilt wink at this, And be a means that we may meet in secret. Amin. A bawd! Hold, hold, my breast! A bitter curse275 Seize me, if I forget not all respects That are religious, on another word Sounded like that; and through a sea of sins Will wade to my revenge, though I should call Pains here and after life upon my soul!280 King. Well, I am resolute[3369] you lay not with her; And so I leave you. Exit. Evad. You must needs be prating; And see what follows! Amin. Prithee, vex me not. Leave me; I am afraid some sudden start Will pull a murder on me. Evad. I am gone;285 I love my life well. Exit. Amin. I hate mine as much. This ’t is to break a troth! I should be glad, If all this tide of grief would make me mad. Exit.