Act 4 — [Scene II.][3390]

King. I cannot tell how I should credit this From you, that are his enemy. Cal. I am sure He said it to me; and I ’ll justify it What way he dares oppose—but with my sword. King. But did he break, without all circumstance, To you, his foe, that he would have the fort,6 To kill me, and then scape? Cal. If he deny it, I ’ll make him blush. King. It sounds incredibly. Cal. Ay, so does every thing I say of late. King. Not so, Calianax. Cal. Yes, I should sit10 Mute, whilst a rogue with strong arms cuts your throat. King. Well, I will try him; and, if this be true, I ’ll pawn my life I ’ll find it; if ’t be false, And that you clothe your hate in such a lie, You shall hereafter dote in your own house,15 Not in the court. Cal. Why, if it be a lie. Mine ears are false, for I ’ll be sworn I heard it. Old men are good for nothing; you were best Put me to death for hearing, and free him For meaning it. You would ha’ trusted me20 Once, but the time is altered. King. And will still, Where I may do with justice to the world. You have no witness. Cal. Yes, myself. King. No more, I mean, there were that heard it. Cal. How? no more! Would you have more? Why, am not I enough25 To hang a thousand rogues? King. But so you may Hang honest men too, if you please. Cal. I may! ’T is like I will do so: there are a hundred Will swear it for a need too, if I say it—— King. Such witnesses we need not. Cal. And ’t is hard30 If my word cannot hang a boisterous knave. King. Enough.—Where ’s Strato?

Strato. Sir? King. Why, where ’s all the company? Call Amintor in; Evadne. Where ’s my brother, and Melantius? Bid him come too; and Diphilus. Call all35 That are without there. Exit Strato. If he should desire The combat of you, ’t is not in the power Of all our laws to hinder it, unless We mean to quit ’em. Cal. Why, if you do think ’T is fit an old man and a councillor40 To fight for what he says, then you may grant it.

King. Come, sirs!—Amintor, thou art yet a bridegroom, And I will use thee so; thou shalt sit down.— Evadne, sit;—and you, Amintor, too; This banquet is for you, sir.—Who has brought45 A merry tale about him, to raise laughter Amongst our wine? Why, Strato, where art thou? Thou wilt chop out with them unseasonably, When I desire ’em not. Stra. ’T is my ill luck, sir, so to spend them, then.50 King. Reach me a bowl of wine.—Melantius, thou Art sad. Mel. I should be, sir, the merriest here, But I ha’ ne’er a story of mine own Worth telling at this time. King. Give me the wine.—55 Melantius, I am now considering How easy ’t were for any man we trust To poison one of us in such a bowl. Mel. I think it were not hard, sir, for a knave. Cal. [Aside.] Such as you are.60 King. I’ faith, ’t were easy. It becomes us well To get plain-dealing men about ourselves; Such as you all are here.—Amintor, to thee; And to thy fair Evadne. [Drinks.] Mel. [Aside.] Have you thought Of this, Calianax? Cal. Yes, marry, have I.65 Mel. And what ’s your resolution? Cal. You shall have it,— [Aside.] Soundly, I warrant you. King. Reach to Amintor, Strato. Amin. Here, my love; [Drinks and then hands the cup to Evadne.] This wine will do thee wrong, for it will set Blushes upon thy cheeks; and, till thou dost70 A fault, ’t were pity. King. Yet I wonder much [At] the strange desperation of these men, That dare attempt such acts here in our state: He could not scape that did it. Mel. Were he known, Unpossible. King. It would be known, Melantius.75 Mel. It ought to be. If he got then away, He must wear all our lives upon his sword: He need not fly the island; he must leave No one alive. King. No; I should think no man Could kill me, and scape clear, but that old man.80 Cal. But I! Heaven bless me! I! should I, my liege? King. I do not think thou wouldst; but yet thou mightst, For thou hast in thy hands the means to scape, By keeping of the fort.—He has, Melantius, And he has kept it well. Mel. From cobwebs, sir,85 ’T is clean swept; I can find no other art In keeping of it now. ’T was ne’er besieg’d Since he commanded. Cal. I shall be sure Of your good word; but I have kept it safe From such as you. Mel. Keep your ill temper in:90 I speak no malice; had my brother kept it, I should ha’ said as much. King. You are not merry. Brother, drink wine. Sit you all still:—(Aside.) Calianax, I cannot trust this. I have thrown out words, That would have fetcht warm blood upon the cheeks95 Of guilty men, and he is never mov’d; He knows no such thing. Cal. Impudence may scape, When feeble virtue is accus’d. King. ’A must, If he were guilty, feel an alteration At this our whisper, whilst we point at him: You see he does not. Cal. Let him hang himself;101 What care I what he does? This he did say. King. Melantius, you can easily conceive What I have meant; for men that are in fault Can subtly apprehend when others aim105 At what they do amiss: but I forgive Freely before this man,—Heaven do so too! I will not touch thee, so much as with shame Of telling it. Let it be so no more. Cal. Why, this is very fine! Mel. I cannot tell110 What ’t is you mean; but I am apt enough Rudely to thrust into an ignorant fault. But let me know it. Happily[3391] ’t is nought But misconstruction; and, where I am clear, I will not take forgiveness of the gods,115 Much less of you. King. Nay, if you stand so stiff, I shall call back my mercy. Mel. I want smoothness To thank a man for pardoning of a crime I never knew. King. Not to instruct your knowledge, but to show you120 My ears are every where; you meant to kill me, And get the fort to scape. Mel. Pardon me, sir; My bluntness will be pardoned. You preserve A race of idle people here about you, Facers[3392] and talkers, to defame the worth125 Of those that do things worthy. The man that uttered this Had perisht without food, be ’t who it will, But for this arm, that fenc’d him from the foe; And if I thought you gave a faith to this, The plainness of my nature would speak more. Give me a pardon (for you ought to do ’t)131 To kill him that spake this. Cal. [Aside.] Ay, that will be The end of all; then I am fairly paid For all my care and service. Mel. That old man, Who calls me enemy, and of whom I135 (Though I will never match my hate so low) Have no good thought, would yet, I think, excuse me, And swear he thought me wrong’d in this. Cal. Who, I? Thou shameless fellow! didst thou not speak to me Of it thyself? Mel. Oh, then it came from him!140 Cal. From me! who should it come from but from me? Mel. Nay, I believe your malice is enough; But I have lost my anger.—Sir, I hope You are well satisfied. King. Lysippus, cheer Amintor and his lady.—There ’s no sound145 Comes from you; I will come and do ’t myself. Amin. [Aside.] You have done already, sir, for me, I thank you. King. Melantius, I do credit this from him, How slight soe’er you make ’t. Mel. ’T is strange you should. Cal. ’T is strange ’a should believe an old man’s word150 That never lied in ’s life! Mel. I talk not to thee.— Shall the wild words of this distempered man, Frantic with age and sorrow, make a breach Betwixt your majesty and me? ’T was wrong To hearken to him; but to credit him,155 As much at least as I have power to bear, But pardon me—whilst I speak only truth, I may commend myself—I have bestow’d My careless blood with you, and should be loth To think an action that would make me lose160 That and my thanks too. When I was a boy, I thrust myself into my country’s cause, And did a deed that pluckt five years from time, And styl’d me man then. And for you, my King, Your subjects all have fed by virtue of165 My arm. This sword of mine hath plough’d the ground, And reapt the fruit in peace; And you yourself have liv’d at home in ease. So terrible I grew, that without swords, My name hath fetcht you conquest: and my heart170 And limbs are still the same; my will as great To do you service. Let me not be paid With such a strange distrust. King. Melantius, I held it great injustice to believe Thine enemy, and did not; if I did,175 I do not; let that satisfy.—What, struck With sadness all? More wine! Cal. A few fine words Have overthrown my truth. Ah, thou ’rt a villain! Mel. (Aside.) Why, thou wert better let me have the fort: Dotard, I will disgrace thee thus for ever;180 There shall no credit lie upon thy words. Think better, and deliver it. Cal. My liege, He ’s at me now again to do it.—Speak; Deny it, if thou canst.—Examine him Whilst he is hot; for, if he cool again,185 He will forswear it. King. This is lunacy, I hope, Melantius. Mel. He hath lost himself Much, since his daughter mist the happiness My sister gain’d; and, though he call me foe, I pity him. Cal. Pity! A pox upon you!190 Mel. Mark his disordered words: and at the masque Diagoras knows he rag’d and rail’d at me, And call’d a lady “whore,” so innocent She understood him not. But it becomes Both you and me too to forgive distraction:195 Pardon him, as I do. Cal. I ’ll not speak for thee, For all thy cunning.—If you will be safe, Chop off his head; for there was never known So impudent a rascal. King. Some, that love him, Get him to bed. Why, pity should not let200 Age make itself contemptible; we must be All old. Have him away. Mel. [Aside.] Calianax, The king believes you; come, you shall go home, And rest; you ha’ done well. You ’ll give it up, When I have us’d you thus a month, I hope.205 Cal. Now, now, ’t is plain, sir; he does move me still. He says, he knows I ’ll give him up the fort. When he has us’d me thus a month. I am mad, Am I not, still? All. Ha, ha, ha! Cal. I shall be mad indeed, if you do thus. Why should you trust a sturdy fellow there211 (That has no virtue in him, all ’s in his sword) Before me? Do but take his weapons from him, And he ’s an ass; and I am a very fool, Both with ’em[3393] and without ’em,[3393] as you use me.215 All. Ha, ha, ha! King. ’T is well, Calianax: but if you use This once again, I shall entreat some other To see your offices be well discharg’d.— Be merry, gentlemen.—It grows somewhat late.—220 Amintor, thou wouldst be a-bed again. Amin. Yes, sir. King. And you, Evadne.—Let me take Thee in my arms, Melantius, and believe Thou art, as thou deserv’st to be, my friend Still and for ever.—Good Calianax,225 Sleep soundly; it will bring thee to thyself. Exeunt all except Melantius and Calianax. Cal. Sleep soundly! I sleep soundly now, I hope; I could not be thus else.—How dar’st thou stay Alone with me, knowing how thou hast us’d me? Mel. You cannot blast me with your tongue, and that ’s230 The strongest part you have about you. Cal. I Do look for some great punishment for this; For I begin to forget all my hate, And take ’t unkindly that mine enemy Should use me so extraordinarily scurvily.235 Mel. I shall melt too, if you begin to take Unkindnesses: I never meant you hurt. Cal. Thou ’lt anger me again. Thou wretched rogue, Meant me no hurt! Disgrace me with the King! Lose all my offices! This is no hurt,240 Is it? I prithee, what dost thou call hurt? Mel. To poison men, because they love me not; To call the credit of men’s wives in question; To murder children betwixt me and land;244 This is all hurt. Cal. All this thou think’st is sport; For mine is worse: but use thy will with me; For betwixt grief and anger I could cry. Mel. Be wise, then, and be safe; thou may’st revenge— Cal. Ay, o’ the King: I would revenge of thee. Mel. That you must plot yourself. Cal. I ’m a fine plotter. Mel. The short is, I will hold thee with the King251 In this perplexity, till peevishness And thy disgrace have laid thee in thy grave. But if thou wilt deliver up the fort, I ’ll take thy trembling body in my arms,255 And bear thee over dangers. Thou shalt hold Thy wonted state. Cal. If I should tell the King, Canst thou deny ’t again? Mel. Try, and believe. Cal. Nay, then, thou canst bring any thing about. Melantius, thou shalt have the fort. Mel. Why, well. Here let our hate be buried; and this hand261 Shall right us both. Give me thy aged breast To compass. Cal. Nay, I do not love thee yet; I cannot well endure to look on thee; And if I thought it were a courtesy,265 Thou shouldst not have it. But I am disgrac’d; My offices are to be ta’en away; And, if I did but hold this fort a day, I do believe the King would take it from me, And give it thee, things are so strangely carried.270 Ne’er thank me for ’t; but yet the King shall know There was some such thing in ’t I told him of, And that I was an honest man. Mel. He ’ll buy That knowledge very dearly. Re-enter Diphilus. Diphilus, What news with thee? Diph. This were a night indeed To do it in: the King hath sent for her.276 Mel. She shall perform it then.—Go, Diphilus, And take from this good man, my worthy friend, The fort; he ’ll give it thee. Diph. Ha’ you got that? Cal. Art thou of the same breed? Canst thou deny280 This to the King too? Diph. With a confidence As great as his. Cal. Faith, like enough. Mel. Away, and use him kindly. Cal. Touch not me; I hate the whole strain.[3394] If thou follow me A great way off, I ’ll give thee up the fort;285 And hang yourselves. Mel. Begone. Diph. He ’s finely wrought. Exeunt Calianax and Diphilus. Mel. This is a night, spite of astronomers,[3395] To do the deed in. I will wash the stain That rests upon our house off with his blood.

Amin. Melantius, now assist me: if thou be’st290 That which thou say’st, assist me. I have lost All my distempers, and have found a rage So pleasing! Help me. Mel. [Aside.] Who can see him thus. And not swear vengeance?—What ’s the matter, friend? Amin. Out with thy sword; and, hand in hand with me,295 Rush to the chamber of this hated King, And sink him with the weight of all his sins To hell for ever. Mel. ’T were a rash attempt, Not to be done with safety. Let your reason Plot your revenge, and not your passion.300 Amin. If thou refusest me in these extremes, Thou art no friend. He sent for her to me; By Heaven, to me, myself! and, I must tell you, I love her as a stranger: there is worth In that vile woman, worthy things, Melantius; And she repents. I ’ll do ’t myself alone,306 Though I be slain. Farewell. Mel. [Aside.] He ’ll overthrow My whole design with madness.—Amintor, Think what thou dost: I dare as much as valour; But ’t is the King, the King, the King, Amintor,310 With whom thou fightest! (Aside.)—I know he is honest,[3396] And this will work with him. Amin. I cannot tell What thou hast said; but thou hast charm’d my sword Out of my hand, and left me shaking here, Defenceless. Mel. I will take it up for thee.315 Amin. What a wild beast is uncollected[3397] man! The thing that we call honour bears us all Headlong unto sin, and yet itself is nothing. Mel. Alas, how variable are thy thoughts! Amin. Just like my fortunes. I was run to that320 I purpos’d to have chid thee for. Some plot, I did distrust, thou hadst against the King, By that old fellow’s carriage. But take heed; There ’s not the least limb growing to a King But carries thunder in ’t. Mel. I have none325 Against him. Amin. Why, come, then; and still remember We may not think revenge. Mel. I will remember. Exeunt.