Cast. Discreetly

And privately it must be done; 'twill miss else, And prove our ruins. Most of the noble citizens Know it by me, and stay the hour to attend it. Prepare your hearts and friends, let theirs be right And keep about the king, to avoid suspicion. [too, When you shall hear the castle bell, take courage, And stand like men. Away! the king is coming. [Exeunt all but CASTRUCCIO.

Enter FREDERICK and SORANO,

Fred. Now, captain! What have you done with your prisoner?

Cast. He is dead, sir, and his body flung i' th' To feed the fishes; 'twas your will, I take it; [sea, I did it from a strong commission, And stood not to capitulate.

Fred. 'Tis well done,

And I shall love you for your faith. What anger Or sorrow did he utter at his end?

Cast. 'Faith, little, sir, that I gave any ear to: He would have spoke, but I had no commission To argue with him, so I flung him off.

His lady would have seen; but I lock'd her up,
For fear her woman's tears should hinder us.

Fred. 'Twas trusty still. I wonder, my Sorano,
We hear not from the monastery: I believe
They gave it not, or else it wrought not fully.
Cast. Did you name the monastery?
Fred. Yes, I did, captain.

Cast. I saw the friar this morning, and Lord
Rugio,

Bitterly weeping, and wringing of their hands;
And all the holy men hung down their heads.
Sor. 'Tis done, I'll warrant you.

Cast. I ask'd the reason.

Fred. What answer hadst thou?

Cast. This in few words, sir:

Your brother's dead; this morning he deceased.
I was your servant, and I wept not, sir;

I knew 'twas for your good.

Fred. It shall be for thine too,
Captain; indeed it shall.-Oh, my Sorano,
Now we shall live!

Sor. Ay, now there's none to trouble you.
Fred. Captain, bring out the woman; and give
To any suitor that shall come to marry her, [way
Of what degree soever.

Cast. It shall be done, sir.

[Exit CASTRUCcio.

Fred. Oh, let me have a lusty banquet after it; I will be high and merry!

Sor. There be some lords

That I could counsel you to fling from court, sir;
They pry into our actions. They are such
The foolish people call their country's honours,

(Honest brave things) and style them with such titles,

[us,

As if they were the patterns of the kingdom;
Which makes them proud, and prone to look into
And talk at random of our actions.
They should be lovers, sir, of your commands,
And followers of your will, bridles and curbs
To the hard-headed commons that malign us.
Enter CAMILLO, CLEANTHES, and MENALLO.
They come here to do honour to my sister,
To laugh at your severity, and fright us :
If they had power, what would these men do!
Do you hear, sir, how privily they whisper ?
Fred. I shall silence 'em,

And to their shames, within this week, Sorano;
In the meantime, have patience.

Sor. How they leer,

And look upon me as I were a monster!

And talk and jeer!-How I shall pull your plumes,

lords,

How I shall humble you within these two days! Your great names, nor your country, cannot save ye.

Fred. Let in the suitors.-Yet submit, I'll pardon you.

Enter EVANTHE, Lawyer, Physician, Captain, Cutpurse, and TONY.

You are half undone already; do not wind
My anger to that height, it may consume you,
And utterly destroy thee, fair Evanthe!
Yet I have mercy.

Evan. Use it to your bawds;

To me use cruelty, it best becomes you,

And shews more kingly! I contemn your mercy!

It is a cozening and a bawdy mercy.

Can anything be hoped for, to relieve me?
Or is it fit I thank you for a pity,
When you have kill'd my lord?

Fred. Who will have her?
Evan. My tears are gone,

My tears of love unto my dear Valerio,
But I have fill'd mine eyes again with anger;
Oh, were it but so powerful to consume you!
My tongue with curses I have arm'd against you,
(With maiden curses, that heaven crowns with
horrors)

My heart set round with hate against thy tyranny.
Oh! 'would my hands could hold the fire of heaven,
Wrapt in the thunder that the gods revenge with,
That like stern justice I might fling it on thee!
Thou art a king of monsters, not of men,
And shortly thou wilt turn this land to devils!
Fred. I'll make you one first, and a wretched
Come, who will have her?
[devil.-
Law. I, an't like your majesty. I am a lawyer,
I can make her a jointure of any man's land in

Naples,

And she shall keep it too; I have a trick for it.

Tony. Canst thou make her a jointure of thine Or thy ability, thou lewd abridgment? [honesty, Those are nonsuited and flung o'er the bar.

Phy. An't please your majesty to give me leave, I dare accept her; and though old I seem, lady, Like Æson, by my art I can renew Youth and ability.

Tony. In a powdering-tub

Stew thyself tender again, like a cock-chicken; The broth may be good, but the flesh is not fit for

dogs, sure.

live on.

Evan. Poor wretched people, why do you wrong yourselves?

Though I fear'd death, I should fear you ten times more;

You are every one a new death, and an odious !
The earth will purify corrupted bodies;
You'll make us worse, and stink eternally.

Go home, go home, and get good nurses for you;
Dream not of wives.

Fred. You shall have one of 'em, If they dare venture for you.

Evan. They are dead already, Crawling diseases that must creep into

The next grave they find open: Are these fit husbands

Cutpurse. Adieu, sweet lady!

Lay me, when I am dead, near a rich alderman,
I cannot pick his purse: No, I'll no dying;
Though I steal linen, I'll not steal my shrowd yet.
All. Send you a happy match!
[Exeunt.
Tony. And you all halters!

You have deserved 'em richly. These do all villanies,

And mischiefs of all sorts, yet those they fear not: To flinch where a fair wench is at the stake!

Evan. Come, your sentence ! let me die! You | see, sir,

None of your valiant men dare venture on me ;
A Month's a dangerous thing.-Will you then be

willing

To die at the time prefix'd? That I must know too, And know it beyond doubt.

Fred. What if I did, wench?

Evan. On that condition, if I had it certain,

I would be your any thing, and you should enjoy
However in my nature I abhor you,
[me.

Yet, as I live, I would be obedient to you;
But when your time came, how I should rejoice!
How then I should bestir myself to thank you!
To see your throat cut, how my heart would leap,
sir !

I would die with you; but first I would so torture
And cow you in your end, so despise you, [you,
For a weak and wretched coward, you must end

Cam. Stay; there's another, and a gentleman; His habit shews no less. May be his business Is for this lady's love.

Fred. Say why you come, sir,

And what you are.

Val. I am descended nobly,

A prince by birth, and by my trade a soldier,
A prince's fellow; Abydos brought me forth;
My parents, Duke Agenor and fair Egla;
My business hither, to renew my love
With a young noble spirit, call'd Valerio :
Our first acquaintance was at sea, in fight
Against a Turkish man of war, a stout one,
Where lion-like I saw him shew his valour,
And, as he had been inade of complete virtue,
Spirit, and fire, no dregs of dull earth in him-
Evan. Thou art a brave gentleman, and bravely
speak'st him!

Val. The vessel dancing under him for joy, And the rough whistling winds becalm'd to view him,

I saw the child of honour, for he was young,
Deal such an alms amongst the spiteful pagans,
(His towering sword flew like an eager falcon)
And round about his reach invade the Turks
He had intrench'd himself in his dead quarries ;
The silver crescents on the tops they carried
Shrunk in their heads to see his rage so bloody,
And from his fury suffer'd sad eclipses;
The game of death was never play'd more nobly;
The meagre thief grew wanton in his mischiefs,
And his shrunk hollow eyes smiled on his ruins.
Evan. Heaven keep this gentleman from being
a suitor,

For I shall ne'er deny him, he's so noble !

Val. But what can last long? Strength and spirit wasted,

And fresh supplies flew on upon this gentleman :
Breathless and weary with oppression,

And almost kill'd with killing, 'twas my chance
(In a tall ship I had) to view the fight;
I set into him, entertain'd the Turk,
And for an hour gave him so hot a breakfast,
He clapp'd all linen up he had to save him,
And like a lover's thought he fled our fury:
There first I saw the man I loved, Valerio ;
There was acquainted, there my soul grew to him,
And his to me; we were the twins of friendship.
Evan. Fortune protect this man, or I shall ruin
him!

Val. I made this voyage to behold my friend,
To warm my love anew at his affection;
But since I landed, I have heard his fate:
My father's had not been to me more cruel.
I have lamented too, and yet I keep
The treasure of a few tears, for you, lady;
For, by description, you were his Evanthe.

Evan. Can he weep that's a stranger to my story, And I stand still and look on? Sir, I thank you! If noble spirits after their departure

Can know, and wish, certain his soul gives thanks

Evan. That I may remember,

That little time I have to live, your friendships, My tongue shall study both.

Fred. Do you come hither

Only to tell this story, prince Urbino?

Val. My business now is, sir, to woo this lady. Evan. Blessing defend you! do you know the danger?

Val. Yes, and I fear it not; danger's my playfellow;

Since I was man, 't has been my best companion.—
I know your doom; 'tis for a month you give her,
And then his life you take that marries her.

Fred. 'Tis true; nor can your being born a
If you accept the offer, free you from it. [prince,
Val. I not desire it; I have cast the worst,
And even that worst to me is many blessings.
I loved my friend, not measured out by time,
Nor hired by circumstance of place and honour;
But for his wealthy self and worth I loved him,
His mind and noble mold he ever moved in;
And woo his friend, because she was worthy of
The only relic that he left behind, sir, [him,
To give his ashes honour.-Lady, take me,
And in me keep Valerio's love alive still.
When I am gone, take those that shall succeed me:
Heaven must want light, before you want a hus-
band,

To raise up heirs of love and noble memory,
To your unfortunate-

Evan. Am I still hated?

Hast thou no end, oh, fate of my affliction ?
Was I ordain'd to be a common murdress?
And of the best men too? Good sir--

Fred. I stop it! None shall have her! Convey this stranger hence.

Val. I am no stranger! [Throws off his disguise.] Hark to the bell that rings!

Hark, hark, proud Frederick, that was king of mischief!

Hark, thou abhorr'd man! dost thou hear thy sentence?

Does not this bell ring in thine ears thy ruin?
Fred. What bell is this?

Cam. The castle-bell. Stand sure, sir,
And move not; if you do, you perish.

Men. It rings your knell!-Alphonso! king All. Alphonso! king Alphonso! [Alphonso! Fred. I am betray'd!—

Lock fast the palace.

Cam. We have all the keys, sir,

And no door here shall shut without our licence. Cle. Do you shake now, lord Sorano? no new trick ?

Nor speedy poison to prevent this business?
No bawdy meditation now to fly to?

Fred. Treason, treason, treason!

Cam. Yes, we hear you,

And we have found the traitor in your shape, sir; We'll keep him fast too. [They seire him. Enter ALPHONSO, RUGIO, MARco, Castruccio, and MARIA, with Guards.

Fred. Recovered! Then I am gone; The sun of all my pomp is set and vanish'd. Alph. Have you not forgot this face of mine, king Frederick ?

Brother, I am come to see you and have brought
A banquet, to be merry with your grace:
[Showing the phial.

I pray sit down, I do beseech your majesty,
And eat, eat freely, sir. Why do you start?
Have you no stomach to the meat I bring you?
Dare you not taste? have ye no antidotes?
You need not fear; Sorano's a good apothecary.
Methinks you look not well; some fresh wine for
Some of the same he sent me by Sorano; [him,

I thank you for't, it saved my life, I am bound to you ;

But how 'twill work on you—I hope your lordship

Will pledge him too: methinks you look but scurAnd would be put into a better colour; [vily, But I have a candied toad for your good lordship. Sor. 'Would I had anything that would dispatch So it were down, and I out of this fear once! [me, Fred. Sir, thus low, as my duty now compels [He and MARIA kneel.

me,

I do confess my unbounded sins, my errors,
And feel within my soul the smarts already.
Hide not the noble nature of a brother,
The pity of a friend, from my afflictions;
Let me a while lament my misery,
And cast the load off of my wantonness,
Before I find your fury; then strike home;
(I do deserve the deepest blow of Justice)
And then how willingly, oh death, I'll meet thee!
Alph. Rise, madam; those sweet tears are
potent speakers :-

And, brother, live; but in the monastery
Where I lived, with the self-same silence too:
I'll teach you to be good against your will, brother!
Your tongue has done much harm; that must be

The daily pilgrimage to my father's tomb

dumb now:

Alph. What lady's that that kneels ?

Cast. The chaste Evanthe.

Alph. Sweet, your petition?

Evan. 'Tis for this bad man, sir, Abominable bad, but yet my brother.

Alph. The bad man shall attend as bad a master, And both shall be confined within the monastery : His rank flesh shall be pull'd with daily fasting; But once a-week he shall smell meat, he'll surfeit else;

And his immodest mind compell'd to prayer;
On the bare boards he shall lie, to remember
The wantonness he did commit in beds;

And drink fair water; that will ne'er enflame him :
He saved my life, though he purposed to destroy
[rable.-
For which I'll save his, though I make it mise-

me,

All. Long live Alphonso, king of us, and Naples ! Alph. Is this the lady that the wonder goes on? Honour'd sweet maid! Here, take her, my Valerio ; The king now gives her, she is thine own without fear.

Brother, have you so much provision that is good,
Not season'd by Sorano and his cooks,

That we may venture on with honest safety,
We and our friends?

Fred. All that I have is yours, sir.

[tial;

Alph. Come then; let's in, and end this nupThen to our coronation with all speed! My virtuous maid, this day I'll be your bride-man, And see you bedded to your own desires too. Beshrew me, lords, who is not merry hates me ! Only Sorano shall not bear my cup. Come, now forget old pains and injuries, As I must do, and drown all in fair healths: That kingdom's blessed, where the king begins His true love first, for there all loves are twins. [Exeunt.

Alph. Yes, it seems so !

Seb. A father of so sweet a child, so happy, (Fy, sir!) so excellent in all endowments, In blessedness of beauty, such a mirror ! Alph. She is a fool; away!

Seb. Can you be angry?

Can any wind blow rough upon a blossom So fair and tender? Can a father's nature, A noble father too

Alph. All this is but prating:

[her,

Let her be ruled; let her observe my humour;
With my eyes let her see; with my ears listen:
I am her father; I begot her, bred her,
And I will make her-

Curio. No doubt, you may compel her;
But what a mischievous unhappy fortune
May wait upon this will of yours, as commonly
Such forcings ever end in hates and ruins!

Alph. Is't not a man I wish her to? a strong man?

What can she have? what could she have? a gentleman?

A young man? and an able man? a rich man?
A handsome man? a valiant man? do you mark me?
None of your pieced companions, your pined gal-
lants,

That fly to fitters, with every flaw of weather;
None of your imped bravadoes: What can she
Is't not a mettled man, fit for a woman? [ask more?
A strong-chin'd man? I'll not be fool'd, nor flurted!

Seb. I grant you, Roderigo is all these, And a brave gentleman: Must it therefore follow Upon necessity she must dote upon him? Will you allow no liberty in choosing?

Curio. Alas! she's tender yet. Alph. Enough, enough, enough, sir; She's malleable, she'll endure the hammer: And why not that strong workman that strikes

deepest?

Let me know that: She's fifteen, with the vantage, And if she be not ready now for manage-

Seb. You know he is a banish'd man, an outlaw, And how he lives; his nature rough and bloody By customary rapines: Now, her sweet humour, That is as easy as a calm, and peaceful; All her affections, like the dews on roses; Fair as the flowers themselves, as sweet and gentle; How would you have these meet?

Alph. A-bed, a-bed, sir:

Let her be the fairest rose, and the sweetest,
Yet I know this fair rose must have her prickles.

I grant you, Roderigo is an outlaw;

An easy composition calls him in again.
He is a valiant man, and he's a rich man,
And loves the fool; a little rough by custom;
She'll like him ten times better. She'll dote upon

him ;

If e'er they come to grappling, run mad for him:
But there's another in the wind, some castrel,
That hovers over her, and dares her daily;
Some flick'ring slave!

Curio. I dare not think so poorly.
Alph. Something there is, and must be; but I
shall scent it,

And hunt it narrowly.
Seb. I never saw her yet