Act 3 — SCENE II.

Grounds near the Palace.

Enter Castiza with a book, and two Ladies.

Cast. Methinks, you live strange lives; when I see it not,

It grieves me less; you know how to ease me then:

If you but knew how well I lov’d your absence,

You would bestow’t^[439] upon me without asking.

First Lady. Faith, for my part, were it no more for ceremony than for love, you should walk long enough without my attendance; and so think all my fellows, though they say nothing. Books in women’s hands are as much against the hair,^[440] methinks, as to see men wear stomachers, or night-rails.^[441]—She 164that has the green-sickness, and should follow her counsel, would die like an ass, and go to the worms like a salad; not I: so long as such a creature as man is made, she is a fool that knows not what he is good for. [Exeunt Ladies.

Cast. Though among life’s elections, that of virgin

I did speak noblest of, yet it has pleas’d the king

To send me a contented blessedness

In that of marriage, which I ever doubted.

Enter Vortiger and Horsus disguised.

I see the king’s affection was a true one;

It lasts and holds out long, that’s no mean virtue

In a commanding man; though in great fear

At first I was enforc’d to venture on it.

Vort. All’s happy, clear, and safe.

Hor. The rest comes gently on.

Vort. Be sure you seize on her full sight at first,

For fear of my discovery.

Hor. Now, fortune, and I am sped.

[Seizes and blindfolds Castiza.

Cast. Treason! treason!

Hor. Sirrah, how stand you? prevent noise and clamour,

Or death shall end thy service.

Vort. A sure cunning. [Aside.

Cast. O, rescue! rescue!

Hor. Dead her voice! away, make speed!

Cast. No help? no succour?

Hor. Louder yet, extend

Your voice to the last rack;^[442] you shall have leave now,

You’re far from any pity.

165Cast. What’s my sin?

Hor. Contempt of man; and he’s a noble creature,

And takes it in ill part to be despis’d.

Cast. I never despis’d any.

Hor. No? you hold us

Unworthy to be lov’d; what call you that?

Cast. I have a lord disproves you.

Hor. Pish! your lord?

You’re bound to love your lord, that’s^[443] no thanks to you;

You should love those you are not tied to love,

That’s the right trial of a woman’s charity.

Cast. I know not what you are, nor what my fault is:

If it be life you seek, whate’er you be,

Use no immodest words, and take it from me;

You kill me more in talking sinfully

Than acting cruelly:^[444] be so far pitiful,

To end me without words.

Hor. Long may you live!

’Tis the wish of a good subject: ’tis not life

That I thirst after; loyalty forbid

I should commit such treason: you mistake me,

I’ve^[445] no such bloody thought; only your love

Shall content me.

Cast. What said you, sir?

Hor. Thus plainly,

To strip my words as naked as my purpose,

I must and will enjoy thee. [She faints.]—Gone already?

Look to her, bear her up, she goes apace;

I fear’d this still, and therefore came provided.

166There’s that will fetch life from a dying spark,

And make it spread a furnace; she’s well straight.

[Pours drops from a vial into Castiza’s mouth.

Pish, let her go; she stands, upon my knowledge,

Or else she counterfeits; I know the virtue.

Cast. Never did sorrows in afflicted woman

Meet with such cruelties, such hard-hearted ways

Human invention never found before:

To call back life to live, is but ill taken

By some departing soul[s]; then to force mine back

To an eternal act of death in lust,

What is it but most execrable?

Hor. So, so:

But this is from my business. List to me:

Here you are now far from all hope of friendship,

Save what you make in me; ’scape me you cannot,

Send your soul that assurance; that resolv’d on,

You know not who I am, nor ever shall,

I need not fear you then; but give consent,

Then with the faithfulness of a true friend

I’ll open myself to you, fall your servant,

As I do now in hope, proud of submission,

And seal the deed up with eternal secrecy;

Not death shall pluck’t^[446] from me, much less the king’s

Authority or torture.

Vort. I admire him. [Aside.

Cast. O sir! whate’er you are, I teach my knee

Thus to requite you, be content to take [Kneels.

Only my sight, as ransom for my honour,

And where^[447] you have but mock’d my eyes with darkness,

Pluck them quite out; all outward lights of body

I’ll spare most willingly, but take not from me

167That which must guide me to another world,

And leave me dark for ever; fast without

That cursed pleasure, which will make two souls

Endure a famine everlastingly.

Hor. This almost moves. [Aside.

Vort. By this light he’ll be taken! [Aside.

Hor. I’ll wrestle down all pity. [Aside.]—What! will you consent?

Cast. I’ll never be so guilty.

Hor. Farewell words then!

You hear no more of me; but thus I seize you.

Cast. O, if a power above be reverenc’d by thee,

I bind thee by that name, by manhood, nobleness,

And all the charms of honour!

[Vortiger snatches her up, and carries her off.

Hor. Ah, ha! here’s one caught

For an example: never was poor lady

So mock’d into false terror; with what anguish

She lies with her own lord! now she could curse

All into barrenness, and beguile herself by’t.^[448]

Conceit’s^[449] a powerful thing, and is indeed

Plac’d as a palate to taste grief or love,

And as that relishes, so we approve;

Hence comes it that our taste is so beguil’d,

Changing pure blood for some that’s mix’d and soil’d. [Exit.