University of Virginia Library

SCÆNA 5.

Enter Plangus with his Sword drawn.
Pl.
I bore whilst I could, but no tis grown
Too great to be contain'd in humane breast,
And it shall out, though hoopt with walls of brass.
Are they at it? I stood once a listning at their intreaty,
This time at my own I'le stand and hearken.

Steps aside.
An.
It is impossible.

Lib.
I tell you no, Ile aggravate the injuries,
And tell him how basely poorly it was
For a father to betray his son so.

An.
His piety will never—

Lib.
But his fury shall, Ile stab the King my self, and bring
Those witnesses shall swear 'twas Plangus.

Pl.
Nay then tis time to strike;
There, carry thy intents to hell.

He stabs Libacer.
An.
Help, Murder, Murder, a Rape, a Rape.

Ep.
What dismal note was that?

An.
Sir, there you see your Martyr,
Whose force being too vveak to save my honour,
His fidelity vvas greater, and dy'd a loyal sacrifice
Offerd by the impious hand of that vile man.

Eph.
O heaven! doth not the earth yet gape and svvallovv thee.
Thy life shall be my crime no longer, I gave it thee
And thus resume it with a thousand curses.

He stabs Plangus.
Pl.
Sir, I at length am happy
To the height of all my vvishes,
I am a going suddenly—from all
Faints.
My troubles all your fears—
But I vvill tell my story first—
How you have vvrong'd, and been vvrong'd your self.
This vvoman—to be short—
Hath tvvin'd like Ivy with my naked limbs
Before she marryd you—
—And would—Oh—in spight of death
I will go on—have tempted me to bed her since
—Upon refusal she turnd her love to hate,
And plots my ruine—And—
Next your death—I can no more—
I kill'd the instrument—farewel—
—Forgive me—

Dyes.
Ep.
Can this be true Andromana.

An.
Do you beleeve it?

Ep.
I wish I had not cause—

An.
Sir every syllable was true he told you;
Whose words I thus confirm

She takes Plang. Dagger, flings it at Ephorbas, and kills him.
Ep.
Ime slain, mercy heaven

An.
You should have come a little sooner.

Enter Inoph.
In.
Do I see well? or is the Prince here slain?

An.
He is, and cause you love him,
Carry that token of
Stabs Ino.
My love to him, I know hee'l take it kindly that you take
So long a journey only to see him.

In.
It was the Devil strook sure,
A vvoman could not do it—Plangus Oh—

Dyes.