University of Virginia Library

Scene II.

A Room in the Palace.
Enter King, Malgodin, and Page.
King.

Did you see her, boy?

Page.

Not without labour, sire.

King.

I say—did you see her?

Page.

I did, sire.

King.

And left those jewels with her?

Page.

No, sire.

King.

How then? how then?

If with the saucy visage of a boy,
And tongue of forwardness, thou didst accost her,
Break the least point of ceremonious bearing
And deepest reverence, knave, I'll set thee up,
A speaking warning to thy fellows. Now!

Page.
Upon my knee, I lowly did accost her,
And in the very shape of true respect
Offered your salutations. She to that
Made answer shortly,—she did humbly thank you,
And would have gone; whereon, with earnest voice,
And in my best of moving eloquence,
I broached your lingering passion, telling her
The royalty of Love had set you down,
And made of one that lately was a king
A trembling subject to a higher power;
Love had discrowned you, Love had broke your rod,
And put you at the bottom of his thralls,
Feeding you only on unfilled desires,
And broken rations of your bursting sighs,
Shutting the visiting slumbers from your eyes,
And steeping them in rain of bitter tears.

King.
You were too cold. You should yourself have wept.

Page.
Why, so I did; more, and much more, I told her,
All of like import; and at every pause
Watered her feet with soft beseeching tears.

King.
When you had made an end, what said she then?

Page.
Sire, with a quiet scorn she answered me,
I was a good ambassador of love,
And bade me lie as well in mine own cause.
I asked an answer for your majesty;
She said, the King hath heard mine answer oft;
Tell him again, I am a maid betrothed,
And that he wastes his idle feigned cares.
Then of your costly gift I made presentment;
At which she not deigned look. I told her then,
King's givings were commands to take. She proudly—
They best obeyed such ill commands that broke them.
And when I would have left the casket there,
She from her window passionately flung it,
To lie in the open street.

Mal.
What! have you brought it?
You should have left it lying. She but waited
Until your back was turned to lift it.

King.
Go, boy,
[Exit Page.
This is the wildest hawk that ever yet
Refused to sit on hand; and her resistance,
Like wind to the fire, blows in me so much heat,
As I will rather lose my herited crown
Than not enjoy those charms. I would gladly welcome
Conquest of half my realm, so I could win by't
The death of her beloved.

Mal.
What if he died
Some other way?

King.
There's murder in thy look.
We're not so base yet. Hoary iniquity,
Show me some easier way.

Mal.
I have already
Whispered abroad, and will yet more completely,
She is your yielded mistress. This being confirmed
On every side, and buzzed about her ears,
Shown in all acts—as you must make the life
Of all your court strictly conform to it—
She thus shall find her valued chasteness leaves her
(If she be a woman) more loved reputation
Not guarded from the stain; and, more than this,
The thought, which now being strange is doubly abhorred,
Shall sound familiar. That vice we think possible
Already's more than probable, when we stand
In junctures that fit with it. Add to this,
The news shall reach her lover, as I'll manage it.
May be he'll break with her, or, at the least,
Even if he disbelieve, show some such anger
As, being unjust, shall rouse a spirit in her,
Since she's quick-tempered, fitter to your attacks.

King.
Subtly contrived, Malgodin. So we'll manage it.

Mal.
And if this fail, there's one way left.

King.
What's that?

Mal.
There's time enough to speak when the time comes.
Something it tastes of hell. You say you'll have her?

King.
Though I should write my soul away, I'll have her.

Mal.
Why, then, you'll have her. Men's souls stick in their way
More than most other things.

King.
I'll visit her now.
This hour, they tell me, she oft walks i' the garden.

[Exit.
Mal.
O my white lady! Good Madam Maidenhood,
We'll see you smutched yet; never doubt it.

Enter Cornelius.
Cor.
Sir, I seek the King: hath he gone hence?

Mal.
The young Cornelius, or I have forgotten
Features worth memory.

Cor.
He, sir; and a soldier.

Mal.
Charged with great news, I warrant, for the King:
The King is in the garden with the Queen.

Cor.
The Queen!

Mal.
For the time being. Pooh! the lady-bird.

Cor.
I take you, sir, and rather than disturb him
Will do my other errand. Can you tell me
Where lodges the high-born Violenzia,
Betrothed of the noble Earl of Felborg?

Mal.
Why,
That's she.

Cor.
That's what?

Mal.
Tush! You are Felborg's friend.
And yet what matter? 'Tis a public thing;
And, as I think, you soldiers least of all men
Hang weight on women's fancies—she's this gardenweed.

Cor.
You speak it lightly!

Mal.
Ay, between ourselves.
Before the King she rules our eyes, our voices—
Is the only fair and honest, and commands
Our sanctimonious reverence. I have seen
Many such toys: soon our great baby breaks them,
And buys himself another—she's fresh yet.

Cor.
Ethel! when thou hear'st this, thy heart will crack.

Mal.
Oh no, sir.

Cor.
How he loved her! Can no love, then,
Buy truth in the hearts of women? Trust them never!

Mal.
It is the old and universal rule;
Yet every woman is her own exception
To some one man that trusts her.
Let it not move you thus.

Cor.
Oh, how he loved her!

Mal.
The sooner he'll forget her.

Cor.
Hapless he
That in the bosom of a faithless woman
Lays up his all of joy; hangs on one string,
That rotten, all his gems of rich affection.
O ruined gamester, on how poor a chance
Didst thou set all thy heart. Forget her? never!

Mal.
You have some news for the King. I have the entry
To the private garden, and will adventure take you.

Cor.
I have a letter for her; I'll go with you;
It is from him. I'll mark her as she reads it,
As I have seen what's penned; if any shame
Inhabit yet her bosom, her hot blushes
Will burn the spendthrift beauty in her cheeks,
Ay, utterly consume her.

Mal.
Come with me.
Yet first we'll search her lodging; it may be
She is not still with the King. How moves the war?

[Exeunt.