University of Virginia Library

Scena, 8.

The Duke, Dimagoras, Erminia, Cleander, Amynter.
Duk.
There, there she is, do as I've commanded you,
and expect our favour and reward:
I must not be seen in it.

Exit.
Er.
Who's this, do's any know?

Dim.
Pardon Madam my bold intrusion,
I'm a souldier lately return'd from Attica;
have had the honour long to serve ith' wars
under Cleander, our noble General.

Er.
Do you know him Amynter?

Am.
I have often seen him ith' Army Madam.

Er.
Then y'are welcome Sir,
you can tell me news of my Lord perhaps.

Dim.
Alas Madam 'twill be but
unwelcome news that I can tell you.—

Er.
O my divining soul! what is't?

Dim.
I cod wish I had a tongue
in thousand infoldments of sugred speech
cod wrap up my bitter news;—
or whilst I wounded you with grief of it,
with oily words cod cure the wounds I made;
or rather indeed I had no tongue at all
to tell you Cleander's dead.

Er.
Dead!

Dim.
Drown'd in his return from Attica.

Clea.
How's this? this is pretty!

Er.
Cleander drown'd!
my Lord and husband drown'd!
tell me, Oh tell me quickly how! and let
thy fatal tongue finish the deadly work
it has begun, and kill me quite.

Dim.
The treacherous windes
with flattering gales intic't him first from shore
into the midst of the vaste Egean Sea,
e're they declar'd their treacherous intents
of drowning him; when first in soft whispers,
then loud murmurs, they conspir'd to raise
a furious storm:
the abyss, the seas and skies, all mixt in one
dismal Chaos, and horrid confusion,
surrounded with all these horrours,
the fear of death, far worse then death it self;
onely Cleander fearlesly did stand,
beholding death with the same countenance
at sea, he was wont to behold it on the land;
till long struggling against the storm in vain,
at last loudly invoking Erminia's name,
he and the Bark perisht together:
wod I had done so too,
rather then to have been preserv'd alone,
whilst all else perisht, to bring this news I do.

Er.
Ay me! then I have liv'd too long.

(sownds
Am.
Help, help.

Clea.
Ha, ha, ha,
leave her, and she'l soon leave her swooning, no
woman e're swounded when she was alone.

Exit.
Am.
Why Madam, Madam, what mean you?
to dye for a false report: Cleander lives,
upon my life he do's.

Er.
I, in the other world,
whither I'le soon follow him.

Am.
Nay in this;
and if I shew you him not here
alive before next sun, let my life and honour
or whatsoever else I hold most dear
pay for my abusing you.

Dim.
Wod I had had no tongue
rather then t'have bin author of this false report

Er.
Do'nt you delude my grief now,
and flatter me into hope?

Am.
As I hope for life my self,
I tell you true.
and this souldier shall confess as much.—
I had some glimmering of the Duke, and suspect
his hand in this.—Hark ye Dimagoras,
(for so as I remember you are call'd)
I know this news is false, and straitwayes cod
disprove it if I wod; I know too you
were hir'd to't by the Duke, confess the truth,
do like those better witches, who undo
the harms th'ave done;
you see her life's in danger,
which you by timely discovery may save,
and gain far more reward for't, then you have.

Dim.
But shud the Duke know it.—

Am.
Which he shall never do.

Dim,
Besides mine honour.—

Am.
The very thought of that
should prompt you to it.

Dim.
Then with your pardon Madam,
I confess Cleander lives,
& I was hir'd by the Duke to report him dead,
I know not for what intent.

Er.
Neither becomes it you to examine it,
onely know it becomes a Souldier
to do nothing dishonourably,
and nothing can be more, then basely lye;
but you have well repented, and there's for
your confession of the truth,
so honour ever guide you.

Dim.
As it shall
to speak all honour of you.

Exit.
Al.
Oh me! my Lord, my Lord,
Enter Althea.
what shall I do? what shall I do?

Am.
Why, prithy hold thy peace,
and leave thy howling and caterwawling, thou
cryest only for fashion sake now I know, & wod
thou hadst but a glass to see how ill it becomes thee.

Alt.
Wod you shud well know,
I can cry as well as e're a woman in Missena,
so I can.

Am.
Thou must hold thy water
well beforehand then,
but prithy do'nt change thy crying into scolding now.

Alt.
Scold, who scolds?
I scorn it so I do.

Am.
Wilt thou hold thy peace then?

Alt.
Why may'nt one speak I pray?

Am.
Again?
twenty Pies and Jayes taken in lime-twigs,
keep not such a noise and chattering,
as one woman when she sets upon it once.

Er.
The Duke put such tricks on me!
I'm glad I know it yet.

Am.
And see he's here Madam.

Er.
I am prepar'd for him.