Act 5 — [Scene I.][4001]

Beat. One struck, and yet she lies by ’t! O my fears! This strumpet serves her own ends, ’t is apparent now, Devours the pleasure with a greedy appetite, And never minds my honour or my peace,5 Makes havoc of my right. But she pays dearly for ’t; No trusting of her life with such a secret That cannot rule her blood to keep her promise; Beside, I ’ve some suspicion of her faith to me, Because I was suspected of my lord,10 And it must come from her. [Striks two.] Hark! by my horrors, Another clock strikes two!

De F. Pist! where are you? Beat. De Flores? De F. Ay. is she not come from him yet? Beat. As I ’m a living soul, not! De F. Sure the devil Hath sow’d his itch within her. Who would trust15 A waiting-woman? Beat. I must trust somebody. De F. Push! they ’re termagants; Especially when they fall upon their masters And have their ladies’ first fruits; they ’re mad whelps, You cannot stave ’em off from game royal: then20 You are so rash[4002] and hardy, ask no counsel; And I could have helpt you to a ’pothecary’s daughter Would have fall’n off before eleven, and thank[t] you too. Beat. O me, not yet! this whore forgets herself. De F. The rascal fares so well: look, you’re undone;25 The day-star, by this hand! See Phosphorus[4003] plain yonder. Beat. Advise me now to fall upon some ruin; There is no counsel safe else. De F. Peace! I ha ’t now, For we must force a rising, there’s no remedy. Beat. How? take heed of that.30 De F. Tush! be you quiet, or else give over all. Beat. Prithee, I ha’ done then. De F. This is my reach:[4004] I ’ll set Some part a-fire of Diaphanta’s chamber. Beat. How? Fire, sir? That may endanger the whole house. De F. You talk of danger when your fame ’s on fire?35 Beat. That ’s true; do what thou wilt now. De F. Push! I aim At a most rich success strikes all dead sure. The chimney being a-fire, and some light parcels Of the least danger in her chamber only, If Diaphanta should be met by chance then40 Far from her lodging, which is now suspicious, It would be thought her fears and affrights then Drove her to seek for succour; if not seen Or met at all, as that ’s the likeliest, For her own shame she ’ll hasten towards her lodging;45 I will be ready with a piece[4005] high-charg’d, As ’t were to cleanse the chimney, there ’t is proper now But she shall be the mark. Beat. I ’m forc’d to love thee now, ’Cause thou provid’st so carefully for my honour. De F. ’Slid, it concerns the safety of us both,50 Our pleasure and continuance. Beat. One word now, Prithee; how for the servants? De F. I ’ll despatch them, Some one way, some another in the hurry, For buckets, hooks, ladders; fear not you, The deed shall find its time; and I ’ve thought since55 Upon a safe conveyance for the body too: How this fire purifies wit! Watch you your minute. Beat. Fear keeps my soul upon ’t, I cannot stray from ’t.

De F. Ha! what art thou that tak’st away the light Betwixt that star and me? I dread thee not.—60 ’T was but a mist of conscience; all ’s clear again. Exit. Beat. Who ’s that, De Flores? Bless me, it slides by! [Exit Ghost.] Some ill thing haunts the house; ’t has left behind it A shivering sweat upon me; I ’m afraid now. This night hath been so tedious! O this strumpet!65 Had she a thousand lives, he should not leave her Till he had destroy’d the last. List! O my terrors! Struck three o’clock. Three struck by St. Sebastian’s! Within. Fire, fire, fire! Beat. Already? How rare is that man’s speed!70 How heartily he serves me! his face loathes one; But look upon his care, who would not love him? The east is not more beauteous than his service. Within. Fire, fire, fire!

De F. Away, despatch! hooks, buckets, ladders! that ’s well said.[4006]75 The fire-bell rings; the chimney works, my charge; The piece is ready. Exit. Beat. Here ’s a man worth loving! Enter Diaphanta. O you’re a jewel! Dia. Pardon frailty, madam; In troth, I was so well. I ev’n forgot myself. Beat. You ’ve made trim work! Dia. What? Beat. Hie quickly to your chamber;80 Your reward follows you. Dia. I never made So sweet a bargain. Exit.

Als. O my dear Joanna, Alas! art thou risen too? I was coming, My absolute treasure! Beat. When I mist you, I could not choose but follow. Als. Thou ’rt all sweetness:85 The fire is not so dangerous. Beat. Think you so, sir? Als. I prithee, tremble not; believe me, ’t is not.

Ver. O bless my house and me! Als. My lord your father.

Ver. Knave, whither goes that piece? De F. To scour the chimney. Exit. Ver. O, well said, well said!90 That fellow ’s good on all occasions. Beat. A wondrous necessary man, my lord. Ver. He hath a ready wit; he ’s worth ’em all, sir; Dog at a house of fire; I ha’ seen him singed ere now.— The piece goes off. Ha, there he goes! Beat. ’T is done! Als. Come, sweet, to bed now;95 Alas! thou wilt get cold. Beat. Alas! the fear keeps that out! My heart will find no quiet till I hear How Diaphanta, my poor woman, fares; It is her chamber, sir, her lodging chamber. Ver. How should the fire come there?100 Beat. As good a soul as ever lady countenanc’d, But in her chamber negligent and heavy: She scapt a mine twice. Ver. Twice? Beat. Strangely twice, sir. Ver. Those sleepy sluts are dangerous in a house, An they be ne’er so good.

De F. O poor virginity,105 Thou hast paid dearly for ’t! Ver. Bless us, what ’s that? De F. A thing you all knew once, Diaphanta’s burnt. Beat. My woman! O my woman! De F. Now the flames Are greedy of her; burnt, burnt, burnt to death, sir! Beat. O my presaging soul! Als. Not a tear more!110 I charge you by the last embrace I gave you In bed, before this rais’d us. Beat. Now you tie me; Were it my sister, now she gets no more.

Ver. How now? Ser. All danger ’s past; you may now take115 Your rests, my lords; the fire is throughly quencht. Ah, poor gentlewoman, how soon was she stifled! Beat. De Flores, what is left of her inter, And we as mourners all will follow her. I will entreat that honour to my servant120 Ev’n of my lord himself. Als. Command it, sweetness. Beat. Which of you spied the fire first? De F. ’T was I, madam. Beat. And took such pains in ’t too? A double goodness! ’T were well he were rewarded. Ver. He shall be.— De Flores, call upon me. Als. And upon me, sir. 125 Exeunt [all except De Flores]. De F. Rewarded? Precious! here ’s a trick beyond me. I see in all bouts, both of sport and wit, Always a woman strives for the last hit. Exit.