The Maids Tragedy

Banquet. Enter King, Calianax. Hoboyes play within.

King. I cannot tell how I should credit this                 From you that are his enemy.Cal. I am sure he said it to me, and I'le justifie it                 What way he dares oppose, but with my sword.King. But did he break without all circumstance                 To you his foe, that he would have the Fort                 To kill me, and then escape?Cal. If he deny it, I'le make him blush.King. It sounds incredibly.Cal. I, so does every thing I say of late.King. Not so Calianax.Cal. Yes, I should sit                 Mute, whilst a Rogue with strong arms cuts your throat.King. Well, I will try him, and if this be true                 I'le pawn my life I'le find it; if't be false,                 And that you clothe your hate in such a lie,                 You shall hereafter doat in your own house, not in the                 Court.Cal. Why if it be a lie,                 Mine ears are false; for I'le be sworn I heard it:                 Old men are good for nothing; you were best                 Put me to death for hearing, and free him                 For meaning of it; you would ha' trusted me                 Once, but the time is altered.King. And will still where I may do with justice to the world;                 You have no witness.Cal. Yes, my self.King. No more I mean there were that heard it.

Cal. How no more? would you have more? why am Not I enough to hang a thousand Rogues?

King. But so you may hang honest men too if you please.

Cal. I may, 'tis like I will do so; there are a hundred will swear it for a need too, if I say it.

King. Such witnesses we need not.Cal. And 'tis hard if my Word cannot hang a boysterous knave.King. Enough; where's Strato?Stra. Sir!

Enter Strato.

King. Why where's all the company? call Amintor in. Evadne, where's my Brother, and Melantius? Bid him come too, and Diphilus; call all

[Exit Strato.

                 That are without there: if he should desire                 The combat of you, 'tis not in the power                 Of all our Laws to hinder it, unless we mean to                 quit 'em.Cal. Why if you do think                 'Tis fit an old Man and a Counsellor,                 To fight for what he sayes, then you may grant it.

Enter Amin. Evad. Mel. Diph. [Lisip.] Cle. Stra. Diag.

King. Come Sirs, Amintor thou art yet a Bridegroom,                 And I will use thee so: thou shalt sit down;                 Evadne sit, and you Amintor too;                 This Banquet is for you, sir: Who has brought                 A merry Tale about him, to raise a laughter                 Amongst our wine? why Strato, where art thou?                 Thou wilt chop out with them unseasonably                 When I desire 'em not.Strato. 'Tis my ill luck Sir, so to spend them then.King. Reach me a boul of wine: Melantlius, thou art sad.

Amin. I should be Sir the merriest here, But I ha' ne're a story of mine own Worth telling at this time.

King. Give me the Wine. Melantius, I am now considering How easie 'twere for any man we trust To poyson one of us in such a boul.

Mel. I think it were not hard Sir, for a Knave.Cal. Such as you are.King. I' faith 'twere easie, it becomes us well                 To get plain dealing men about our selves,                 Such as you all are here: Amintor, to thee                 And to thy fair Evadne.Mel. Have you thought of this Calianax?

[Aside.

Cal. Yes marry have I.Mel. And what's your resolution?Cal. Ye shall have it soundly?King. Reach to Amintor, Strato.Amin. Here my love,                 This Wine will do thee wrong, for it will set                 Blushes upon thy cheeks, and till thou dost a                 fault, 'twere pity.King. Yet I wonder much                 Of the strange desperation of these men,                 That dare attempt such acts here in our State;                 He could not escape that did it.Mel. Were he known, unpossible.King. It would be known, Melantius.Mel. It ought to be, if he got then away                 He must wear all our lives upon his sword,                 He need not fly the Island, he must leave no one alive.King. No, I should think no man                 Could kill me and scape clear, but that old man.Cal. But I! heaven bless me: I, should I my Liege?King. I do not think thou wouldst, but yet thou might'st,                 For thou hast in thy hands the means to scape,                 By keeping of the Fort; he has, Melantius, and he has                 kept it well.Mel. From cobwebs Sir,                 'Tis clean swept: I can find no other Art                 In keeping of it now, 'twas ne're besieg'd since he                 commanded.Cal. I shall be sure of your good word,                 But I have kept it safe from such as you.

Mel. Keep your ill temper in, I speak no malice; had my brother kept it I should ha' said as much.

King. You are not merry, brother; drink wine, Sit you all still! Calianax, [Aside. I cannot trust thus: I have thrown out words That would have fetcht warm blood upon the cheeks Of guilty men, and he is never mov'd, he knows no such thing.

Cal. Impudence may scape, when feeble vertue is accus'd.

King. He must, if he were guilty, feel an alteration At this our whisper, whilst we point at him, You see he does not.

Cal. Let him hang himself,                 What care I what he does; this he did say.King. Melantius, you cannot easily conceive                 What I have meant; for men that are in fault                 Can subtly apprehend when others aime                 At what they do amiss; but I forgive                 Freely before this man; heaven do so too:                 I will not touch thee so much as with shame                 Of telling it, let it be so no more.Cal. Why this is very fine.Mel. I cannot tell                 What 'tis you mean, but I am apt enough                 Rudely to thrust into ignorant fault,                 But let me know it; happily 'tis nought                 But misconstruction, and where I am clear                 I will not take forgiveness of the gods, much less                of you.King. Nay if you stand so stiff, I shall call back my mercy.

Mel. I want smoothness To thank a man for pardoning of a crime I never knew.

King. Not to instruct your knowledge, but to shew you my ears are every where, you meant to kill me, and get the Fort to scape.

Mel. Pardon me Sir; my bluntness will be pardoned:                 You preserve                 A race of idle people here about you,                 Eaters, and talkers, to defame the worth                 Of those that do things worthy; the man that uttered                 this                 Had perisht without food, be't who it will,                 But for this arm that fenc't him from the foe.                 And if I thought you gave a faith to this,                 The plainness of my nature would speak more;                 Give me a pardon (for you ought to do't)                 To kill him that spake this.Cal. I, that will be the end of all,                 Then I am fairly paid for all my care and service.Mel. That old man who calls me enemy, and of whom I                 (Though I will never match my hate so low)                 Have no good thought, would yet I think excuse me,                 And swear he thought me wrong'd in this.

Cal. Who I, thou shameless fellow! didst thou not speak to me of it thy self?

Mel. O then it came from him.Cal. From me! who should it come from but from me?

Mel. Nay, I believe your malice is enough, But I ha' lost my anger. Sir, I hope you are well satisfied.

King. Lisip. Chear Amintor and his Lady; there's no sound Comes from you; I will come and do't my self.

Amin. You have done already Sir for me, I thank you.

King. Melantius, I do credit this from him, How slight so e're you mak't.

Mel. 'Tis strange you should.Cal. 'Tis strange he should believe an old mans word,                 That never lied in his life.Mel. I talk not to thee;                 Shall the wild words of this distempered man,                 Frantick with age and sorrow, make a breach                 Betwixt your Majesty and me? 'twas wrong                 To hearken to him; but to credit him                 As much, at least, as I have power to bear.                 But pardon me, whilst I speak only truth,                 I may commend my self—I have bestow'd                 My careless blood with you, and should be loth                 To think an action that would make me lose                 That, and my thanks too: when I was a boy,                 I thrust my self into my Countries cause,                 And did a deed that pluckt five years from time,                 And stil'd me man then: And for you my King,                 Your subjects all have fed by vertue of my arm.                 This sword of mine hath plow'd the ground,                 And reapt the fruit in peace;                 And your self have liv'd at home in ease:                 So terrible I grew, that without swords                 My name hath fetcht you conquest, and my heart                 And limbs are still the same; my will is great                 To do you service: let me not be paid                 With such a strange distrust.King. Melantius, I held it great injustice to believe                  Thine Enemy, and did not; if I did,                   I do not, let that satisfie: what struck                  With sadness all? More Wine!Cal. A few fine words have overthrown my truth:                  Ah th'art a Villain.Mel. Why thou wert better let me have the Fort,                  Dotard, I will disgrace thee thus for ever;

[Aside.

                  There shall no credit lie upon thy words;                  Think better and deliver it.

Cal. My Liege, he's at me now agen to do it; speak, Deny it if thou canst; examine him Whilst he's hot, for he'l cool agen, he will forswear it.

King. This is lunacy I hope, Melantius.

Mel. He hath lost himself Much since his Daughter mist the happiness My Sister gain'd; and though he call me Foe, I pity him.

Cal. Pity! a pox upon you.King. Mark his disordered words, and at the Mask.Mel. Diagoras knows he raged, and rail'd at me,                   And cal'd a Lady Whore, so innocent                   She understood him not; but it becomes                   Both you and me too, to forgive distraction,                   Pardon him as I do.Cal. I'le not speak for thee, for all thy cunning, if you                  will be safe chop off his head, for there was never                  known so impudent a Rascal.King. Some that love him, get him to bed: Why, pity                  should not let age make it self contemptible; we must                  be all old, have him away.Mel. Calianax, the King believes you; come, you shall go                 Home, and rest; you ha' done well; you'l give it up                 When I have us'd you thus a moneth I hope.Cal. Now, now, 'tis plain Sir, he does move me still;                 He sayes he knows I'le give him up the Fort,                 When he has us'd me thus a moneth: I am mad,                  Am I not still?Omnes. Ha, ha, ha!Cal. I shall be mad indeed, if you do thus;                  Why would you trust a sturdy fellow there                  (That has no vertue in him, all's in his sword)                  Before me? do but take his weapons from him,                  And he's an Ass, and I am a very fool,                  Both with him, and without him, as you use me.Omnes. Ha, ha, ha!

King. 'Tis well Calianax; but if you use This once again, I shall intreat some other To see your Offices be well discharg'd. Be merry Gentlemen, it grows somewhat late. Amintor, thou wouldest be abed again.

Amin. Yes Sir.

King. And you Evadne; let me take thee in my arms, Melantius, and believe thou art as thou deservest to be, my friend still, and for ever. Good Calianax, Sleep soundly, it will bring thee to thy self.

[Exeunt omnes. Manent Mel. and Cal.

Cal. Sleep soundly! I sleep soundly now I hope,                  I could not be thus else. How dar'st thou stay                 Alone with me, knowing how thou hast used me?Mel. You cannot blast me with your tongue,                 And that's the strongest part you have about you.Cal. I do look for some great punishment for this,                 For I begin to forget all my hate,                 And tak't unkindly that mine enemy                 Should use me so extraordinarily scurvily.Mel. I shall melt too, if you begin to take                  Unkindnesses: I never meant you hurt.Cal. Thou'lt anger me again; thou wretched rogue,                  Meant me no hurt! disgrace me with the King;                  Lose all my Offices! this is no hurt,                  Is it? I prethee what dost thou call hurt?Mel. To poyson men because they love me not;                  To call the credit of mens Wives in question;                  To murder children betwixt me and land; this is                  all hurt.Cal. All this thou think'st is sport;                  For mine is worse: but use thy will with me;                  For betwixt grief and anger I could cry.Mel. Be wise then, and be safe; thou may'st revenge.Cal. I o'th' King? I would revenge of thee.Mel. That you must plot your self.Cal. I am a fine plotter.

Mel. The short is, I will hold thee with the King In this perplexity, till peevishness And thy disgrace have laid thee in thy grave: But if thou wilt deliver up the Fort, I'le take thy trembling body in my arms, And bear thee over dangers; thou shalt hold thy wonted state.

Cal. If I should tell the King, can'st thou deny't again?Mel. Try and believe.

Cal. Nay then, thou can'st bring any thing about: Thou shalt have the Fort.

Mel. Why well, here let our hate be buried, and This hand shall right us both; give me thy aged breast to compass.

Cal. Nay, I do not love thee yet:                   I cannot well endure to look on thee:                  And if I thought it were a courtesie,                  Thou should'st not have it: but I am disgrac'd;                  My Offices are to be ta'ne away;                  And if I did but hold this Fort a day,                  I do believe the King would take it from me,                  And give it thee, things are so strangely carried;                  Nere thank me for't; but yet the King shall know                  There was some such thing in't I told him of;                  And that I was an honest man.Mel. Hee'l buy that knowledge very dearly.

[Enter Diphilus.

What news with thee?

Diph. This were a night indeed to do it in; The King hath sent for her.

Mel. She shall perform it then; go Diphilus, And take from this good man, my worthy friend, The Fort; he'l give it thee.

Diph. Ha' you got that?

Cal. Art thou of the same breed? canst thou deny This to the King too?

Diph. With a confidence as great as his.Cal. Faith, like enough.Mel. Away, and use him kindly.

Cal. Touch not me, I hate the whole strain: if thou follow me a great way off, I'le give thee up the Fort; and hang your selves.

Mel. Be gone.Diph. He's finely wrought.

[Exeunt Cal. Diph.

Mel. This is a night in spite of Astronomers To do the deed in; I will wash the stain That rests upon our House, off with his blood.

Enter Amintor.

Amin. Melantius, now assist me if thou beest That which thou say'st, assist me: I have lost All my distempers, and have found a rage so pleasing; help me.

Mel. Who can see him thus, And not swear vengeance? what's the matter friend?

Amin. Out with thy sword; and hand in hand with me Rush to the Chamber of this hated King, And sink him with the weight of all his sins to hell for ever.

Mel. 'Twere a rash attempt,                  Not to be done with safety: let your reason                  Plot your revenge, and not your passion.Amint. If thou refusest me in these extreams,                   Thou art no friend: he sent for her to me;                   By Heaven to me; my self; and I must tell ye                   I love her as a stranger; there is worth                   In that vile woman, worthy things, Melantius;                   And she repents. I'le do't my self alone,                   Though I be slain. Farewell.Mel. He'l overthrow my whole design with madness:                  Amintor, think what thou doest; I dare as much as                  valour;                  But 'tis the King, the King, the King, Amintor,                  With whom thou fightest; I know he's honest,

[Aside.

And this will work with him.

Amint. I cannot tell What thou hast said; but thou hast charm'd my sword Out of my hand, and left me shaking here defenceless.

Mel. I will take it up for thee.

Amint. What a wild beast is uncollected man! The thing that we call Honour, bears us all Headlong unto sin, and yet it self is nothing.

Mel. Alas, how variable are thy thoughts!Amint. Just like my fortunes: I was run to that                  I purpos'd to have chid thee for.                  Some Plot I did distrust thou hadst against the King                  By that old fellows carriage: but take heed,                  There is not the least limb growing to a King,                  But carries thunder in it.Mel. I have none against him.Amint. Why, come then, and still remember we may not think revenge.Mel. I will remember.

Actus Quintus

Enter Evadne and a Gentleman.

Evad. Sir, is the King abed?Gent. Madam, an hour ago.Evad. Give me the key then, and let none be near;                   'Tis the Kings pleasure.Gent. I understand you Madam, would 'twere mine.                   I must not wish good rest unto your Ladiship.Evad. You talk, you talk.Gent. 'Tis all I dare do, Madam; but the King will wake, and then.Evad. Saving your imagination, pray good night Sir.Gent. A good night be it then, and a long one Madam;                  I am gone.Evad. The night grows horrible, and all about me                   Like my black purpose: O the Conscience                                                            [King abed.                   Of a lost Virgin; whither wilt thou pull me?                   To what things dismal, as the depth of Hell,                   Wilt thou provoke me? Let no [woman] dare                   From this hour be disloyal: if her heart                   Be flesh, if she have blood, and can fear, 'tis a daring                   Above that desperate fool that left his peace,                   And went to Sea to fight: 'tis so many sins                   An age cannot prevent 'em: and so great,                   The gods want mercy for: yet I must through 'em.                   I have begun a slaughter on my honour,                   And I must end it there: he sleeps, good heavens!                   Why give you peace to this untemperate beast                   That hath so long transgressed you? I must kill him,                   And I will do't bravely: the meer joy                   Tells me I merit in it: yet I must not                   Thus tamely do it as he sleeps: that were                   To rock him to another world: my vengeance                   Shall take him waking, and then lay before him                   The number of his wrongs and punishments.                   I'le shake his sins like furies, till I waken                   His evil Angel, his sick Conscience:                   And then I'le strike him dead: King, by your leave:

[Ties his armes to the bed.

                   I dare not trust your strength: your Grace and I                   Must grapple upon even terms no more:                   So, if he rail me not from my resolution,                   I shall be strong enough.                   My Lord the King, my Lord; he sleeps                   As if he meant to wake no more, my Lord;                   Is he not dead already? Sir, my Lord.King. Who's that?Evad. O you sleep soundly Sir!King. My dear Evadne, I have been dreaming of thee; come to bed.Evad. I am come at length Sir, but how welcome?King. What pretty new device is this Evadne?                  What do you tie me to you by my love?                  This is a quaint one: Come my dear and kiss me;                  I'le be thy Mars to bed my Queen of Love:                  Let us be caught together, that the Gods may see,                  And envy our embraces.Evad. Stay Sir, stay,                   You are too hot, and I have brought you Physick                   To temper your high veins.King. Prethee to bed then; let me take it warm,                   There you shall know the state of my body better.Evad. I know you have a surfeited foul body,                  And you must bleed.King. Bleed!Evad. I, you shall bleed: lie still, and if the Devil,                 Your lust will give you leave, repent: this steel                 Comes to redeem the honour that you stole,                 King, my fair name, which nothing but thy death                 Can answer to the world.King. How's this Evadne?Evad. I am not she: nor bear I in this breast                  So much cold Spirit to be call'd a Woman:                  I am a Tyger: I am any thing                  That knows not pity: stir not, if thou dost,                  I'le take thee unprepar'd; thy fears upon thee,                  That make thy sins look double, and so send thee                  (By my revenge I will) to look those torments                  Prepar'd for such black souls.King. Thou dost not mean this: 'tis impossible:                  Thou art too sweet and gentle.Evad. No, I am not:                  I am as foul as thou art, and can number                  As many such hells here: I was once fair,                  Once I was lovely, not a blowing Rose                  More chastly sweet, till tho[u], thou, thou, foul                  Canker,                  (Stir not) didst poyson me: I was a world of vertue,                  Till your curst Court and you (hell bless you for't)                  With your temptations on temptations                  Made me give up mine honour; for which (King)                  I am come to kill thee.King. No.Evad. I am.King. Thou art not.                  I prethee speak not these things; thou art gentle,                  And wert not meant thus rugged.Evad. Peace and hear me.                  Stir nothing but your tongue, and that for mercy                  To those above us; by whose lights I vow,                  Those blessed fires that shot to see our sin,                  If thy hot soul had substance with thy blood,                  I would kill that too, which being past my steel,                  My tongue shall teach: Thou art a shameless Villain,                  A thing out of the overchange of Nature;                  Sent like a thick cloud to disperse a plague                  Upon weak catching women; such a tyrant                  That for his Lust would sell away his Subjects,                  I, all his heaven hereafter.King. Hear Evadne,                  Thou soul of sweetness! hear, I am thy King.Evad. Thou art my shame; lie still, there's none about you,                  Within your cries; all promises of safety                  Are but deluding dreams: thus, thus, thou foul man,                  Thus I begin my vengeance.

[Stabs him.