Part 2 / Act 4 — SCENE III.

A Room in Lady Ager’s House.

Enter Captain Ager.

Cap. Ager. No sooner have I entrance i’ this house now

But all my joy falls from me, which was wont

To be the sanctuary of my comforts:

Methought I lov’d it with a reverent gladness,

As holy men do consecrated temples

For the saint’s sake, which I believ’d my mother;

But prov’d a false faith since, a fearful heresy,

O, who’d erect th’ assurance of his joys

Upon a woman’s goodness! whose best virtue

Is to commit unseen, and highest secrecy

To hide but her own sin; there’s their perfection:

And if she be so good, which many fail of too,

When these are bad, how wondrous ill are they!

What comfort is’t to fight, win this day’s fame,

When all my after-days are lamps of shame?

519Enter Lady Ager.

Lady Ager. Blessings be firm to me! he’s come, ’tis he!— [Aside.

A surgeon speedily!

Cap. Ager. A surgeon? why, madam?

Lady Ager. Perhaps you’ll say ’tis but a little wound;

Good to prevent a danger:—quick, a surgeon!

Cap. Ager. Why, madam?

Lady Ager. Ay, ay, that’s all the fault of valiant men,

They’ll not be known a’ their hurts till they’re past help,

And then too late they wish for’t.

Cap. Ager. Will you hear me?

Lady Ager. ’Tis no disparagement to confess a wound;

I’m glad, sir, ’tis no worse:—a surgeon quickly!

Cap. Ager. Madam——

Lady Ager. Come, come, sir, a wound’s honourable,

And never shames the wearer.

Cap. Ager. By the justice

I owe to honour, I came off untouch’d!

Lady Ager. I’d rather believe that.

Cap. Ager. You believe truth so.

Lady Ager. My tears prevail then. Welcome, welcome, sir,

As peace and mercy to one new departed!

Why would you go though, and deceive me so,

When my abundant love took all the course

That might be to prevent it? I did that

For my affection’s sake—goodness forgive me for’t!—

That were my own life’s safety put upon’t,

I’d rather die than do’t. Think how you us’d me then;

520And yet would you go and hazard yourself too!

'Twas but unkindly done.

Cap. Ager. What’s all this, madam?

Lady Ager. See, then, how rash you were and short in wisdom!

Why, wrong my faith I did, slander’d my constancy,

Belied my truth; that which few mothers will,

Or fewer can, I did, out of true fear

And loving care, only to keep thee here.

Cap. Ager. I doubt I’m too quick of apprehension now.

And that’s a general fault when we hear joyfully,

With the desire of longing for’t: I ask it,

Why, were you never false?

Lady Ager. May death come to me

Before repentance then!

Cap. Ager. I heard it plain sure—

Not false at all?

Lady Ager. By the reward of truth,

I never knew that deed that claims the name on’t!

Cap. Ager. May, then, that glorious reward you swore by

Be never-failing to you! all the blessings

That you have given me, since obedient custom

Taught me to kneel and ask 'em, are not valuable

With this immaculate blessing of your truth:

This is the palm to victory,

The crown for all deserts past and to come:

Let 'em be numberless; they are rewarded,

Already they’re rewarded. Bless this frame,

I feel it much too weak to bear the joy on’t.

[Kneels.

Lady Ager. Rise, sir.

Cap. Ager. O, pardon me!

I cannot honour you too much, too long.

I kneel not only to a mother now,

521But to a woman that was never false:

Ye’re dear, and ye’re good too; I think a’ that:

What reverence does she merit! ’tis fit such

Should be distinguish’d from the prostrate sex;

And what distinction properer can be shewn,

Than honour done to her that keeps her own?

Lady Ager. Come, sir, I’ll have you rise.

Cap. Ager. To do a deed, then, [Rises.

That shall for ever raise me. O my glory,

Why, this, this is the quarrel that I look’d for!

The other^[808] but a shift to hold time play.

You sacred ministers of preservation,

For heaven’s sake send him life,

And with it mighty health, and such a strength

May equal but the cause! I wish no foul things:

If life but glow in him, he shall know instantly

That I’m resolv’d to call him to account for’t.

Lady Ager. Why, hark you, sir——

Cap. Ager. I bind you by your honour, madam,

You speak no hindrance to’s; take heed, you ought not.

Lady Ager. What an unhappiness have I in goodness!

’Tis ever my desire to intend well,

But have no fortunate way in’t. For all this

Deserve I yet no better of you

But to be griev’d again? Are you not well

With honest gain of fame, with safety purchas’d?

Will you needs tempt a ruin that avoids you? [Exit.

Cap. Ager. No, you’ve prevail’d: things of this nature sprung,

When they use action must use little tongue.—

Enter Servant.

Now, sir, the news?

522Ser. Sir, there’s a gentlewoman

Desires some conference with you.

Cap. Ager. How, with me?

A gentlewoman? what is she?

Ser. Her attendant

Deliver’d her to be the Colonel’s sister.

Cap. Ager. O, for a storm then! [Exit Servant] 'las, poor, virtuous gentlewoman,

I will endure her violence with much pity!

She comes to ease her heart, good, noble soul;

’Tis e’en a charity to release the burden;

Were not that remedy ordain’d for women,

Their hearts would never hold three years together:

And here she comes; I never mark’d so much of her;

Enter Colonel’s Sister.

That face can be the mistress of no anger

But I might very well endure a month, methinks.—

I am the man; speak, lady; I’ll stand fair.

Col.’s Sist. And I’m enjoin’d by vow to fall thus low,

[Kneels.

And from the dying hand of a repentant

Offer, for expiation of wrongs done you,

Myself, and with myself all that was his,

Which upon that condition was made mine,

Being his soul’s wish to depart absolute man,

In life a soldier, death a Christian.

Cap. Ager. O, heaven has touch’d him nobly! how it shames

My virtue’s slow perfection! Rise, dear brightness—

I forget manners too—up, matchless sweetness!

Col.’s Sist. I must not, sir; there is not in my vow

That liberty; I must be receiv’d first,

Or all denied; if either, I am free.

523Cap. Ager. He must be without soul should deny thee;

And with that reverence I receive the gift

As it was sent me. [Raises her.] Worthy Colonel,

Has such a conquering way i’ th’ blest things!

Who ever overcomes, he only wins. [Exeunt.