Act 5 — [Scene V.][2906]

Nich. Here’s a circumstance![2907] A man may be made cuckold in the time That he ’s about it. An the case were mine. As ’t is my master’s, ’sblood! (that he makes me swear!),4 I would have plac’d his action,[2908] enter’d there; I would, I would!

Frank. Oh! oh! Nich. Master! ’Sblood! Master, master! Frank. Oh me unhappy! I have found them lying Close in each other’s arms, and fast asleep.9 But that I would not damn two precious souls, Bought with my Saviour’s blood, and send them, laden With all their scarlet sins upon their backs, Unto a fearful judgment, their two lives Had met upon my rapier. Nich. Master, what, have you left them sleeping still?15 Let me go wake ’em! Frank. Stay, let me pause awhile!— Oh, God! Oh, God! That it were possible To undo things done; to call back yesterday; That Time could turn up his swift sandy glass, To untell[2909] the days, and to redeem these hours! Or that the sun21 Could, rising from the west, draw his coach backward; Take from th’ account of time so many minutes, Till he had all these seasons call’d again, Those minutes, and those actions done in them, Even from her first offence; that I might take her26 As spotless as an angel in my arms! But, oh! I talk of things impossible, And cast beyond the moon. God give me patience; For I will in, and wake them. Exit. Nich. Here’s patience perforce!30 He needs must trot afoot that tires his horse. [Exit.]

Frank. I thank thee, maid; thou, like the angel’s hand, Hast stay’d me from a bloody sacrifice.— Go, villain; and my wrongs sit on thy soul As heavy as this grief doth upon mine!35 When thou record’st my many courtesies, And shalt compare them with thy treacherous heart, Lay them together, weigh them equally,— ’T will be revenge enough. Go, to thy friend A Judas; pray, pray, lest I live to see40 Thee, Judas-like, hang’d on an elder-tree!

Mrs. F. Oh, by what word, what title, or what name, Shall I entreat your pardon? Pardon! Oh! I am as far from hoping such sweet grace, As Lucifer from Heaven. To call you husband,— 45 (Oh me, most wretched!) I have lost that name; I am no more your wife. Nich. ’Sblood, sir, she swoons. Frank. Spare thou thy tears, for I will weep for thee; And keep thy count’nance, for I ’ll blush for thee. Now, I protest, I think ’t is I am tainted, 50 For I am most asham’d; and ’t is more hard For me to look upon thy guilty face Than on the sun’s clear brow. What! Would’st thou speak? Mrs. F. I would I had no tongue, no ears, no eyes, No apprehension, no capacity. 55 When do you spurn me like a dog? When tread me Under feet? When drag me by the hair? Though I deserve a thousand, thousand fold, More than you can inflict—yet, once my husband, For womanhood, to which I am a shame, 60 Though once an ornament—even for His sake, That hath redeem’d our souls, mark not my face, Nor hack me with your sword; but let me go Perfect and undeformed to my tomb! I am not worthy that I should prevail 65 In the least suit; no, not to speak to you, Nor look on you, nor to be in your presence; Yet, as an abject,[2911] this one suit I crave;— This granted, I am ready for my grave. Frank. My God, with patience arm me!—Rise, nay, rise, 70 And I ’ll debate with thee. Was it for want Thou play’dst the strumpet? Wast thou not suppli’d With every pleasure, fashion, and new toy,— Nay, even beyond my calling?[2912] Mrs. F. I was. Frank. Was it, then, disability in me;75 Or in thine eye seem’d he a properer man? Mrs. F. Oh, no! Frank. Did I not lodge thee in my bosom? Wear thee here in my heart? Mrs. F. You did. Frank. I did, indeed; witness my tears, I did— Go, bring my infants hither!— [Two Children are brought in.] Oh, Nan! Oh, Nan! If neither fear of shame, regard of honour,81 The blemish of my house, nor my dear love, Could have withheld thee from so lewd a fact; Yet for these infants, these young, harmless souls,84 On whose white brows thy shame is character’d, And grows in greatness as they wax in years,— Look but on them, and melt away in tears!— Away with them; lest, as her spotted body Hath stain’d their names with stripe of bastardy, So her adulterous breath may blast their spirits With her infectious thoughts! Away with them!91 [Exeunt Children.] Mrs. F. In this one life, I die ten thousand deaths. Frank. Stand up, stand up! I will do nothing rashly. I will retire awhile into my study, And thou shalt hear thy sentence presently. Exit. Mrs. F. ’T is welcome, be it death. Oh me, base strumpet,96 That, having such a husband, such sweet children, Must enjoy neither! Oh, to redeem mine honour, I ’d have this hand cut off, these my breasts sear’d; Be rack’d, strappado’d, put to any torment:100 Nay, to whip but this scandal out, I’d hazard The rich and dear redemption of my soul! He cannot be so base as to forgive me, Nor I so shameless to accept his pardon. Oh, women, women, you that yet have kept105 Your holy matrimonial vow unstain’d, Make me your instance; when you tread awry, Your sins, like mine, will on your consciense lie.

All. Oh, mistress, mistress! What have you done, mistress? Nich. ’Sblood, what a caterwauling keep you here!110 Jen. O Lord, mistress, how comes this to pass? My master is run away in his shirt, and never so much as call’d me to bring his clothes after him. Mrs. F. See what guilt is! Here stand I in this place,115 Asham’d to look my servants in the face.

Frank. My words are regist’red in Heaven already. With patience hear me! I ’ll not martyr thee, Nor mark thee for a strumpet; but with usage Of more humility torment thy soul,120 And kill thee even with kindness. Cran. Master Frankford——— Frank. Good Master Cranwell!—Woman, hear thy judgment! Go make thee ready in thy best attire;124 Take with thee all thy gowns, all thy apparel; Leave nothing that did ever call thee mistress, Or by whose sight, being left here in the house, I may remember such a woman by. Choose thee a bed and hangings for thy chamber; Take with thee every thing which hath thy mark,130 And get thee to my manor seven mile off, Where live;—’t is thine; I freely give it thee. My tenants by[2913] shall furnish thee with wains To carry all thy stuff within two hours; No longer will I limit[2914] thee my sight.135 Choose which of all my servants thou lik’st best, And they are thine to attend thee. Mrs. F. A mild sentence. Frank. But, as thou hop’st for Heaven, as thou believ’st Thy name’ s recorded in the book of life, I charge thee never after this sad day140 To see me, or to meet me; or to send, By word or writing, gift or otherwise, To move me, by thyself, or by thy friends; Nor challenge any part in my two children. So farewell, Nan; for we will henceforth be145 As we had never seen, ne’er more shall see. Mrs. F. How full my heart is, in mine eyes appears; What wants in words, I will supply in tears. Frank. Come, take your coach, your stuff; all must along. Servants and all make ready; all begone!150 It was thy hand cut two hearts out of one. [Exeunt.]