Act 5 — [Scene IV.][2934]
Reading edition
[Scene IV.][2934]
Enter Sir Francis Acton, Sir Charles Mountford, Cranwell, [Malby,] and Susan.
Sir F. Brother, and now my wife, I think these troubles, Fall on my head by justice of the heavens, For being so strict to you in your extremities; But we are now aton’d. I would my sister Could with like happiness o’ercome her griefs5 As we have ours. Susan. You tell us, Master Cranwell, wondrous things Touching the patience of that gentleman, With what strange virtue he demeans[2935] his grief. Cran. I told you what I was a witness of;10 It was my fortune to lodge there that night. Sir F. Oh, that same villain, Wendoll! ’T was his tongue That did corrupt her; she was of herself Chaste and devoted well.[2936] Is this the house? Cran. Yes, sir; I take it, here your sister lies.[2937]15 Sir F. My brother Frankford show’d too mild a spirit In the revenge of such a loathed crime. Less than he did, no man of spirit could do. I am so far from blaming his revenge, That I commend it. Had it been my case,20 Their souls at once had from their breasts been freed; Death to such deeds of shame is the due meed.
Enter Jenkin and Cicely.
Jen. Oh, my mistress, mistress! my poor mistress!
Cicely. Alas! that ever I was born; what25 shall I do for my poor mistress?
Sir C. Why, what of her?
Jen. Oh, Lord, sir! she no sooner heard that her brother and her friends had come to see how she did, but she, for very shame of her30 guilty conscience, fell into such a swoon, that we had much ado to get life in her.
Susan. Alas, that she should bear so hard a fate! Pity it is repentance comes too late. Sir F. Is she so weak in body?35
Jen. Oh, sir! I can assure you there ’s no hope of life in her; for she will take no sust’nance: she hath plainly starv’d herself, and now she ’s as lean as a lath. She ever looks for the good hour. Many gentlemen and gentlewomen of the40 country are come to comfort her.