Act 4 — [Scene III.][3248]
Reading edition
[Scene III.][3248]
Enter Arethusa.
Are. Where am I now? Feet, find me out a way, Without the counsel of my troubled head. I’ll follow you boldly about these woods, O’er mountains, thorough brambles, pits, and floods. Heaven, I hope, will ease me: I am sick. 5 Sits down.
Enter Bellario.
Bel. [Aside.] Yonder ’s my lady. God knows I want nothing, Because I do not wish to live; yet I Will try her charity.—Oh hear, you have plenty! From that flowing store drop some on dry ground.—See, The lively red is gone to guard her heart!10 I fear she faints.—Madam, look up!—She breathes not.— Open once more those rosy twins, and send Unto my lord your latest farewell!—Oh, she stirs.— How is it, Madam? Speak comfort. Are. ’T is not gently done, To put me in a miserable life,15 And hold me there. I prithee, let me go; I shall do best without thee; I am well.
Enter Philaster.
Phi. I am to blame to be so much in rage. I ’ll tell her coolly when and where I heard This killing truth. I will be temperate20 In speaking, and as just in hearing.—— Oh, monstrous! Tempt me not, you gods! good gods, Tempt not a frail man! What ’s he, that has a heart, But he must ease it here! Bel. My lord, help, help! The princess!25 Are. I am well: forbear. Phi. [Aside.] Let me love lightning, let me be embrac’d And kist by scorpions, or adore the eyes Of basilisks, rather than trust the tongues Of hell-bred women! Some good god look down,30 And shrink these veins up! Stick me here a stone, Lasting to ages in the memory Of this damn’d act!—Hear me, you wicked ones! You have put hills of fire into this breast, Not to be quench’d with tears; for which may guilt35 Sit on your bosoms! At your meals and beds Despair await you! What, before my face? Poison of asps between your lips! Diseases Be your best issues! Nature make a curse, And throw it on you! Are. Dear Philaster, leave40 To be enrag’d, and hear me. Phi. I have done; Forgive my passion. Not the calmed sea, When Aeolus locks up his windy brood, Is less disturb’d than I. I ’ll make you know ’t. Dear Arethusa, do but take this sword,45 Offers his drawn sword. And search how temperate a heart I have; Then you and this your boy may live and reign In lust without control.—Wilt thou, Bellario? I prithee kill me; thou art poor, and may’st49 Nourish ambitious thoughts; when I am dead, Thy way were freer. Am I raging now? If I were mad, I should desire to live. Sirs,[3249] feel my pulse, whether you have known A man in a more equal tune to die. Bel. Alas, my lord, your pulse keeps madman’s time!55 So does your tongue. Phi. You will not kill me, then? Are. Kill you! Bel. Not for the world. Phi. I blame not thee, Bellario; thou hast done but that which gods Would have transform’d themselves to do. Be gone, Leave me without reply; this is the last60 Of all our meetings—(Exit Bellario.) Kill me with this sword; Be wise, or worse will follow: we are two Earth cannot bear at once. Resolve to do, Or suffer.64 Are. If my fortune be so good to let me fall Upon thy hand, I shall have peace in death. Yet tell me this, will there be no slanders, No jealousy in the other world; no ill there? Phi. No. Are. Show me, then, the way.70 Phi. Then guide my feeble hand, You that have power to do it, for I must Perform a piece of justice!—If your youth Have any way offended Heaven, let prayers Short and effectual reconcile you to it.75 Are. I am prepared.
Enter a Country Fellow.
C. Fell. I ’ll see the King, if be he in the forest; I have hunted him these two hours. If I should come home and not see him, my sisters would laugh at me. I can see nothing80 but people better hors’d than myself, that outride me; I can hear nothing but shouting. These kings had need of good brains; this whooping is able to put a mean man out of his wits. There ’s a courtier with his sword85 drawn; by this hand, upon a woman, I think!
Phi. Are you at peace?
Are. With heaven and earth.
Phi. May they divide thy soul and body!
Wounds her.
C. Fell. Hold, dastard! strike a woman! Thou ’rt a craven. I warrant thee, thou90 wouldst be loth to play half a dozen venies[3250] at wasters[3251] with a good fellow for a broken head.
Phi. Leave us, good friend. Are. What ill-bred man art thou, to intrude thyself Upon our private sports, our recreation?95 C. Fell. God ’uds[3252] me, I understand you not; but I know the rogue has hurt you.
Phi. Pursue thy own affairs: it will be ill To multiply blood upon my head; which thou Wilt force me to.100
C. Fell. I know not your rhetoric; but I can lay it on, if you touch the woman.
Phi. Slave, take what thou deservest!
They fight.
Are. Heavens guard my lord!
C. Fell. Oh, do you breathe?104
Phi. I hear the tread of people. I am hurt. The gods take part against me: could this boor Have held me thus else? I must shift for life, Though I do loathe it. I would find a course To lose it rather by my will than force. Exit.
C. Fell. I cannot follow the rogue. I pray thee, wench, come and kiss me now.111
Enter Pharamond, Dion, Cleremont, Thrasiline, and Woodmen.
Pha. What art thou? C. Fell. Almost kill’d I am for a foolish woman; a knave has hurt her.114 Pha. The princess, gentlemen!—Where ’s the wound, madam! Is it dangerous? Are. He has not hurt me. C. Fell. By God, she lies; h’as hurt her in the breast; Look else. Pha. O sacred spring of innocent blood! Dion. ’T is above wonder! Who should dare this?120 Are. I felt it not. Pha. Speak, villain, who has hurt the princess? C. Fell. Is it the princess? Dion. Ay. C. Fell. Then I have seen something yet.125 Pha. But who has hurt her? C. Fell. I told you, a rogue; I ne’er saw him before, I. Pha. Madam, who did it? Are. Some dishonest wretch; Alas, I know him not, and do forgive him!
C. Fell. He ’s hurt too; he cannot go far;130 I made my father’s old fox[3253] fly about his ears.
Pha. How will you have me kill him?
Are. Not at all; ’t is some distracted fellow.
Pha. By this hand, I ’ll leave ne’er a piece of him bigger than a nut, and bring him135 all to you in my hat.
Are. Nay, good sir. If you do take him, bring him quick[3254] to me, And I will study for a punishment Great as his fault.140 Pha. I will. Are. But swear. Pha. By all my love, I will.—— Woodmen, conduct the princess to the King, And bear that wounded fellow to dressing.—— Come, gentlemen, we ’ll follow the chase close. Exeunt [on one side] Pharamond, Dion, Cleremont, and Thrasiline; [exit on the other] Arethusa [attended by] 1 Woodman. C. Fell. I pray you, friend, let me see145 the King. 2 Wood. That you shall, and receive thanks. C. Fell. If I get clear with this, I ’ll go see no more gay sights. Exeunt.150