University of Virginia Library

Scena. 3.

Cassandra.
Cas.
Syr Vlrico, if that my vnknowne greefe,
May moue good mindes, to helpe mee to releefe,
Or bytter syghes, of comfort cleane dismayde,
May moue a man, a shiftlesse dame to ayde:
Rue of my teares, from true intent which flowe,
Unto the king, with me, yet once more goe.
See if his grace, my husbands lyfe wyll saue,
If not, with his, death shall my corps ingraue.

Vl.
What shall I doe, her sorrowes to decreace?
Feede her, with hope: fayre dame, this mone surcease,
I see the king to grace is somewhat bent,
We once agayne thy sorrowes wyll present:
Come we wyl wayght for tyme, thy sute to show.

Cas.
Good knight, for time, doe not my sute foreslowe.
Whylst grasse, doth growe ofte sterues the seely steede.

Vl.
Feare not, your Lorde, shal not dye with such speede.

Exeunt.
Enter Andrugio.
An.
Lord God, how am I tormented in thought?
My sisters woe, such rueth in me doth graue:
As fayne I would (if ought saue death I caught)
Bewray my selfe, Lord Promos life to saue.
But lyfe is sweete, and naught but death I eye,
If that I should, my safety now disclose:
So that I chuse, of both the euels, he dye:
Time wyll appease, no dought, Cassandras woes,
And shal, I thus acquite Cassandras loue?
To worke her ioy? and shall I feare to dye?
Whylst, that she lyue, no comforte may remoue
Care from her harte, if that hir husband dye?
Then shall I stycke, to hasard lym? nay life?
To salue hir greefe, since in my cure it rests.
Nay fyrst, I wilbe spoyld, with blooddy knife,
Before, I fayle, her, plunged in distres.
Death, is but death, and all in fyne shall dye
Thus (being dead) my fame, shall liue alway:
Well, to the king, Andrugio now wyll hye,
Hap lyfe, hap death, his safety, to bewray.

Exit.