The Project Gutenberg eBook of Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (6 of 10):, by Francis Beaumont; John Fletcher.

And crav'd your pardon? you must challenge him,
There's no avoiding: one or both must drop.

On. Exquisite Tutor.

Nean. Crates, I have sought you long, what make you here
Fooling with these three farthings, while the Town
Is all in uproar, and the Prince our Master
(Seis'd by Leonidas, and Agenor) carried
And Prisoner kept i'the Castle, flanckes
The west part of the City, where they vow
To hold him, till your Brother, Lord Euphanes
Be rendr'd to 'em, with his life to satisfie
The Rape, by him suspected to Merione?
The Queen refuses to deliver him,
Pawning her knowledge for his innocency,
And dares 'em do their worst on Prince Theanor,
The whole State's in combustion.

Cra. Fatall Ring.

Unc. What will become of us?

Nea. And she hath given Commission to Euphanes
And Conon (who have leavied men already)
With violence to surprize the Towre, and take 'em.
What will you do?

Cra. Along wi'ye, and prevent
A farther mischief: Gentlemen, our intents
We must defer: you are the Princes followers.

Nea. Will ye walk with us?

Unc. You shall pardon us.

Tut. We are his followers afar off you know.
And are contented to continue so.

Onos. Sir Boy.

Page. Sir Fool? a Challenge to my Lord?
How dar'st thou, or thy ambs-ace here think of him,
Ye Crow-pick'd heads, which your thin shoulders bear
As does the Poles on Corinth Bridge the Traitors:
Why you three Nine-pins you talk of my Lord,
And challenges? you shall not need: come draw,
His Page is able to swindge three such whelpes:
Uncle, why stand ye off: long-man advance.

Onos. S'light, what have we done Tutor?

Tut. He is a Boy,
And we may run away with honour.

Page. That ye shall not,
And being a Boy I am fitter to encounter
A Child in Law as you are, under twenty:
Thou sot, thou three-score Sot, and that's a Child
Again I grant you.

Unc. Nephew, here's an age:
Boyes are turn'd men, and men are Children.

Page. Away you Pezants with your bought Gentry;
Are not you he, when your fellow Passengers,
Your last transportment being assayl'd by a Galley
Hid your self i'the Cabbin: and the Fight done
Peep'd above Hatches, and cry'd, Have we taken,
Or are we tane? Come, I do want a slipper,
But this shall serve: Swear all as I would have you,
Or I will call some dozen brother Pages,
(They are not far off I am sure) and we will blancket
You untill you piss again.

All. Nay, we will swear Sir.

Page. ['Tis] your best course:
First, you shall swear never to name my Lord,
Or hear him nam'd hereafter, but bare-headed.
Next, to begin his health in every place,
And never to refuse to pledge it, though
You surfeit to the death. Lastly, to hold
The poorest, litlest Page in reverence;
To think him valianter, and a better Gentleman
Than you three stamp'd together: and to give him
Wine and Tobacco wheresoe're you meet,
And the best meat if he can stay.

All. We swear it loyally.

Page. Then I dismiss you
True Leigemen to the Pantoffle:
I had more Articles, but I have business
And cannot stay now: so adieu dear Monsieur,
Tres noble & tres puissant.

Unc. Adieu Monsieur.

On. A vostre service & commandement.

Tut. I told you Pupill, you'ld repent this foolery.

On. Who, I repent? you are mistaken Tutor,
I ne're repented any thing yet in my life,
And scorne to begin now: Come, let's be melancholly. [Exeunt.

Scæna Secunda.

Lord. 'Twere better treat with 'em.

Quee. I will no Treaties
With a League-breaker and a Rebell; shall I
Article with a Traitor? be compell'd
To yield an innocent unto their fury
Whom I have prov'd so to you?

Euph. Gracious Queen,
Though your own god-like disposition
Would succor Virtue, and protect the right,
Yet for the publick good, for the dear safety
Of your most Royal only Son, consent
To give me up the sacrifice to their malice,
My life is aym'd at, and 'twere better far
The blood of twenty thousand such as I
Purpled our Seas, [than] that your Princely Son
Should be endanger'd.

Quee. Still well said honest Fool,
Were their demand but one hair from thy head,
By all the gods [I'ld] scorn 'em: were they here,
The Majesty that dwels upon this brow
Should strike 'em on their knees: As for my Son,
Let 'em no more dare than they'l answer, I
An equal Mother to my Countrey, am,
And every virtuous Son of it is Son
Unto my bosome, tender as mine own.

Con. Oh, you are heavenly Madam, and the gods
Can suffer nothing pass to injure you:
The life that Conon promis'd, he stands now
Ready to pay with joy.

Quee. Farewell both,
Success attend you: you have Souldiers been,
Tam Marti quam Mercurio: if you bring not peace
Bring me their heads.

Con. I will put fair for one. [Exeunt Quee. Lords.

Euph. Double the Guard upon her Highness Person,
Conon. You must perform a friendly part,
Which I shall counsel you.

Con. I am your servant. [Exeunt.

Scæna Tertia.

Leo. Make good that Fortification, and the Watch
Keep still upon the Battlements; Royall Sir,
Weigh but our injuries, we have told you fully
The manner and the matter hales us thus;
Nor shall this upstart Mushrum bred i'th night,
Sit brooding underneath your Mothers wings
His damn'd impieties.

Ag. For your self brave Prince,
Fear nothing that this face of arms presents:
We ask the Ravisher, and have no means
To win him from your most indulgent Mother
But by this practice.

The. Stout Leonidas,
Princely Agenor, your wrongs cry so loud,
That who so would condemn you is not heard:
I blame you not, who but Euphanes durst
Make Stories like to this? My wrong's as strong
Aske my revengeful arm to strengthen yours:
As for my fear, know you, and Greece throughout.

Our Mother was a Spartan Princess born,
That never taught me to spell such a word.

Con. Sir, you do tempt your life.

Euph. Conon, no more.
Do thus as thou wouldst save it. [Sound Trumpet within.

Ag. What Trumpet's this?

Leo. Beneath I do perceive
Two armed men, single, that [give] us summons
As they would treat.

Ag. Let us descend.

Con. My Lord,
I would you would excuse me, and proceed
According to the Queens directions.

Euph. Friend,
As thou wouldst wear that title after death.

Perform my charge: no Soldier on his life
Approach us nearer.

Con. Safety to both the Princes, Loyalty
To you Lord General, the Queen, your Mistriss
As well as ours, though not to fear, to cut
Civil dissention from her Land, and save
Much guiltless blood, that uprore ever thirsts,
And for the safeguard of her Son, by me
(As you demand) hath sent the Lord Euphanes
To plead his own cause, or to suffer death
As you shall find him worthy; so delivering
The Prince back, I shall leave him to your Guard.

Leo. The Queen is good and gracious: kiss her hand.

Ag. And seal our duties: Sir, depart in peace.

The. Oh Sir, you now perceive, when in the scales
Nature, and fond affection weigh together,
One poizes like a feather, and you know my Lords
What's to be done.

Euph. Your Highness is unarm'd,
Please you to use mine, and to lead the Army
Back to your Mother: Conon, march you with 'em.

Con. I will my Lord: But not so far as not
To bring you help if danger look upon you. [Exit.

Euph. Why do you look so strangely, fearfully,
Or stay your deathful hand, be not so wise
To stop your rage: look how unmov'dly, here
I give my self my Countreys sacrifice,
An innocent sacrifice: Truth laughs at death,
And terrifies the killer more than kill'd;
Integrity thus armless seeks her foes,
And never needs the Target nor the Sword,
Bow, nor invenom'd shafts.

Leo. We are amaz'd,
Not at your eloquence, but impudence,
That dare thus front us.

Ag. Kill him, who knows not
The iron forehead that bold mischief wears.

Leo. Forbear a while Agenor, I do tremble,
And something sits like virtue in his face,
Which the gods keep.

Euph. Agenor, strike Leonidas
You that have purchas'd Fame on certain grounds,
Lose it on supposition? smear your hands
In guiltless blood, laugh at my Martyrdom:
But yet remember, when Posterity
Shall read your Volumes fill'd with virtuous acts,
And shall arrive at this black bloody leaf,
Noting your foolish barbarisms, and my wrong,
(As time shall make it plain) what follows this
Disciphering any noble deed of yours
Shall be quite lost, for men will read no more.

Leo. Why? dare you say you are innocent?

Euph. By all the gods, as they
Of this foul crime, why Gent. pry clean through my life,
Then weigh these circumstances: think you that he
Which made day night, and men to furies turn'd,
Durst not trust silence, vizors, nor her sence
That suffer'd; but with Charms and Potions
Cast her asleep, (for all this I have enquir'd)
Acted the Fable of Proserpines Rape,
The place (by all description) like to Hell:
And all to perpetrate unknown his Lust,
Would fondly in his person bring a Ring,
And give it a betrothed Wife, i'th' same house
Where the poor injur'd Lady liv'd and groan'd.

Ag. Hell gives us Art to reach the depth of sin,
But leaves us wretched fools, when we are in.

Euph. Had it given me that Art, and left me so,
I would not thus into the Lions jaws
Have thrust my self (defenceless) for your good,
The Princes safety, or the Common-weals:
You know the Queen deny'd me, and sent us
Commanders to surprize you, and to raze
This Tower down, we had power enough to do it,
Or starve you, as you saw, and not to tender
My Person to your wrath, which I have done,
Knowing my heart as pure as infants sleep.

Leo. What think you, Sir?

Ag. No harm I am sure: I weep.

Euph. The gods are just, and mighty: but to give you
Further assurance, and to make your selves
Judges and witnesses of my innocence
Let me demand this question, On what night
Was this foul deed committed?

Ag. On the Eave before our Marriage meant.

Euph. Leonidas,
(Your rage being off, that still drowns memory)
Where was your self and I that very night,
And what our conference?

Leo. By the gods 'tis true:
Both in her Highness Chamber conferring
Even of this Match until an hour of day,
And then came I to call you: we are sham'd.

Ag. Utterly lost, and sham'd.

Euph. Neither be chear'd,
He that could find this out, can pardon it,
And know this Ring was sent me from the Queen,
How she came by it, yet is not enquir'd,
Deeper occurrents hang on't: and pray Heaven
That my suspitions prove as false as yours,
Which (for the World) till I have greater proof
I dare not utter what, nor whom they touch;
Only this build upon, with all my nerves
I'll labour with ye, till time waken truth.

Ag. There are our swords Sir, turn the points on us,

Leo. Punish rebellion, and revenge your wrong,

Euph. Sir, my revenge shall be to make your peace,
Neither was this rebellion, but rash love.

Co. How's this? unarm'd left, now found doubly arm'd?
A[n]d those that would have slain him at his feet?
Oh Truth, thou art a mighty Conqueress:
The Queen (my Lord) perplex'd in care of you,
That, cross to her command, hazard your self
In person, here is come into the Field,
And like a Leader, marches in the head
Of all her Troops, vows that she will demolish
Each stone of this proud Tower be you not safe:
She chafes like storms in Groves, now sighs, now weeps,
And both sometimes, like Rain and Wind commixt,
Abjures her Son for ever, less himself
Do fetch you off in person, that did give
Your self to save him of your own free will,
And swears he must not, nor is [f]it to live.

Euph. Oh she's a Mistriss for the gods.

Ag. And thou a godlike servant fit for her.

Leo. Wide Greece
May boast, because she cannot boast thy like.

Euph. Thus Conon tell her Highness.

Co. My joy flies.

Eup. Let's toward her march: stern Drum speak gentle peace.

Leo. We are prisoners, lead us, ne'r was known
A president like this: one unarm'd man
(Suspected) to captive with golden words
(Truth being his shield) so many arm'd with swords. [Ex.

Enter (at one door) Queen, Theanor, Crates, Conon, Lords, Soldiers, (at another) Euphanes (with two swords) Agenor, Leonidas, Soldiers: Euphanes presents Leonidas on his knees to the Queen: Agenor bare-headed, makes shew of sorrow to the Queen, she stamps, and seems to be angry at the first. Euphanes perswades her, [layes] their swords at her feet, she [kisses him,] gives them their swords again, they kiss her hand and embrace, the Soldiers lift up Euphanes, and shout: Theanor and Crates discovered, Conon whispers with Crates, Euphanes with Agenor, and Leonidas observes it, who seem to promise something, Euphanes directs his Page somewhat.

The. We are not lucky Crates, this great torrent
Bears all before him.

Cra. Such an age as this
Shall ne'r be seen again: virtue grows fat,
And villany pines; the Furies are asleep,
Mischief 'gainst goodness aim'd, is like a stone,
Unnaturally forc'd up an eminent hill
Whose weight falls on our heads and buries us,
We springe our selves, we sink in our own bogs.

The. What's to be done?

Cra. Repent and grow good.

The. Pish,
'Tis not the fashion (fool) till we grow old:
The peoples love to him now scares me more
Than my fond Mothers: both which, like two floods
Bearing Euphanes up; will o'rflow me,
And he is worthy, would he were in Heaven,
But that hereafter: Crates help me now,
And henceforth be at ease.

Cra. Your Will my Lord?

The. Beliza is to marry him forthwith,
I long to have the first touch of her too,
That will a little quiet me.

Cra. Fie Sir,
You'll be the Tyrant to Virginity;
To fall but once is manly, to persevere
Beastly, and desperate.

The. Cross me not, but do't:
Are not the means, the place, the instruments
The very same? I must expect you suddenly. [Exit.

Cra. I must obey you.
Who is in evil once a companion
Can hardly shake him off, but must run on.
Here I appointed Conon to attend
Him, and his sword: he promis'd to come single.

To avoid prevention: he is a man on's word.

Co. You are well met Crates.

Cra. If we part so Conon.

Co. Come, we must do these mutual offices,
We must be our own Seconds, our own Surgeons,
And fairly fight, like men, not on advantage.

Cra. You have an honest bosom.

Co. Yours seems so.

Cra. Let's pair our swords: you are a just Gentleman.

Co. You might be so: now shake hands if you please,
Though't be the cudgel fashion, 'tis a friendly one.

Cra. So, stand off.

Page. That's my cue to beckon 'em. [Exit.

Co. Crates, to expostulate your wrongs to me
Were to doubt of 'em, or wish your excuse
In words, and so return like maiden Knights:
Yet freely thus much I profess, your spleen
And rugged carriage toward your honour'd Brother
Hath much more stirred me up, than min[e] own cause,
For I did ne'r affect these bloody men,
But hold 'em fitter be made publick Hangmen:
Or Butchers call'd, than valiant Gentlemen:
'Tis true stamp'd valour does upon just grounds,
Yet for whom justlier should I expose my life
Than him, unto whose virtue I owe all.

Cra. Conon, you think by this great deed of yours
To insinuate your self a lodging nearer
Unto my Brothers heart: such men as you
Live on their undertakings for their Lords,
And more disable them by answering for 'em
Than if they sate still, make 'em but their whores,
For which end Gallants now adays do fight:
But here we come not to upbraid; what men
Seem, the rash world will judge; but what they are
Heaven knows: and this—Horses, we are descry'd,
One stroke for fear of laughter.

Co. Half a score.

Euph. Hold, hold: on your allegiance hold.

Ag. He that strikes next—

Leo. Falls like a Traitor on our swords.

Euph. Oh Heaven, my Brother bleeds: Conon, thou art
A villain, an unthankful man, and shalt
Pay me thy bloud for his, for his is mine:
Thou wert my friend, but he is still my Brother;
And though a friend sometimes be nearer said
In some gradation it can never be
Where that same Brother can be made a friend,
Which dearest Crates thus low I implore;
What in my poverty I would not seek,
Because I would not burthen you, now here
In all my height of bliss I beg of you,
Your friendship; my advancement, Sir, is yours;
I never held it strange, pray use it so:
We are but two, which Number Nature fram'd
In the most useful faculties of man,
To strengthen mutually and relieve each other:
Two eyes, two ears, two arms, two legs and feet,
That where one faild, the other might supply;
And I, your other eye, ear, your arm and leg,
Tender my service, help and succor to ye.

Ag. Leo. A most divine example.

Euph. For dear Brother,
You have been blind, and lame, and deaf to me,
Now be no more so: in humility
I give ye the duty of a younger Brother,
Which take you as a Brother, not a Father,
And then you'll pay a duty back to me.

Cra. Till now I have not wept these thirty years.

Euph. Discording Brothers, are like mutual legs
Supplanting one another: he that seeks
Aid from a stranger and forsakes his Brother,
Does but like him that madly lops his arm,
And to his body joyns a wooden one:
Cuts off his natural leg, and trusts a Crutch,
Plucks out his eye to see with Spectacles.

Cra. Most dear Euphanes, in this crimson floud
Wash my unkindness out: you have o'rcome me,
Taught me humanity and brotherhood;
Full well knew Nature thou wert fitter far
To be a Ruler o'r me than a Brother,
Which henceforth be: Jove surely did descend
When thou wert gotten in some heavenly shape
And greet my Mother, as the poets tell
Of other Women.

Ag. Be this Holy-day.

Leo. And noted ever with the whitest stone.

Co. And pardon me my Lord, look you, I bleed
Faster than Crates; what I have done I did
To reconcile your loves, to both a friend,
Which my blood ciment, never to part or end.

Ag. Most worthy Conon.

Leo. Happy rise, this day
Contracts more good than a whole age hath done.

Euph. Royal Agenor, brave Leonidas,
You are main causes, and must share the fame.

Cra. Which in some part this hour shall requite
For I have aim'd my black shafts at white marks,
And now I'll put the clew into your hands
Shall guide ye most perspicuously to the depth
Of this dark Labyrinth, where so long ye were lost
Touching this old Rape, and a new intent.
Wherein your counsel, and your active wit
My dearest Brother will be necessary.

Euph. My Prophesie is come, prove my hopes true
Agenor shall have right, and you no wrong,
Time now will pluck her daughter from her Cave:
Let's hence to prevent rumour; my dear Brother,
Nature's divided streams the highest shelf
Will over-run at last, and flow to it self. [Exeunt.

Actus Quintus. Scæna Prima.

Euph. I Have won the Lady to it, and that good
Which is intended to her, your faith only
And secresie must make perfect; Think not Sir,
I speak as doubting it, for I dare hazard My soul upon the tryal.

Cra. You may safely,
But are Agenor, and Leonidas ready
To rush upon him in the Act, and seize him
In the height of his security?

Euph. At all parts as you could wish them.

Cra. Where's the Lady?

Euph. There
Where you appointed her to stay.

Cra. 'Tis wisely order'd.

Euph. Last, when you have him sure, compel him this way,
For as by accident here I'll bring the Queen
To meet you, 'twill strike greater terror to him,
To be tane unprovided of excuse,
And make more for our purposes. [Exit.

Cra. Come Neanthes, our Fames and all are at the stake.

Nea. 'Tis fit that since relying on your skill, we venture
So much upon one game, you play with cunning.

Or we shall rise such losers as—

Sos. The Prince.

Cra. The plot is laid Sir, howsoe'r I seem'd
A little scrupulous, upon better judgement
I have effected it.

The. 'Tis the last service
Of this foul kind I will employ you in.

Cra. We hope so Sir.

The. And I will so reward it—

Nea. You are bound to that; in every Family
That does write lustful, your fine Bawd gains more
(For like your Broker, he takes fees on both sides)
Than all the Officers of the house.

Sos. For us then
To be a great mans Panders, and live poor,
That were a double fault.

Cra. Come, you lose time Sir,
We will be with you instantly: the deed done,
We have a Mask that you expect not.

The. Thou art ever careful: for Joves Mercury
I would not change thee. [Exit.

Era. There's an honour for you.

Nea. To be compar'd with the celestial Pimp,
Joves smock-sworn Squire, Don Hermes.

Cra. I'll deserve it,
And Gentlemen be assur'd, though what we do now
Will to the Prince Theanor look like Treason
And base disloyalty, yet the end shall prove,
When he's first taught to know himself, then you,
In what he judg'd us false, we were most true. [Exeunt.

Scæna Secunda.

Euph. Only make haste (my Lords) in all things else
You are instructed: you may draw your swords
For shew if you think good, but on my life
You will find no resistance in his servants,
And he's himself unarm'd.

Ag. I would he were not,
My just rage should not then be lost.

Euph. Good Sir,
Have you a care no injury be done
Unto the person of the Prince: but Conon,
Have you an eye on both, it is your trust that I relye on.

Co. Which I will discharge, assure your self most faithfully.

Euph. For the Lady,
I know your best respect will not be wanting:
Then to avoid suspition and discovery,
I hold it requisite, that as soon as ever
The Queen hath seen her, she forsake the place,
And fit her self for that which is projected
For her good, and your honour.

Leo. If this prosper, Believe it you have made a purchase of
My service and my life.

Euph. Your love I aim at.

Leo. Here I shall find you?

Euph. With the Queen.

Co. Enough Sir.

Page. The Queen enquires for you my Lord, I have met
A dozen Messengers in search of you.

Euph. I knew I should be sought for, as I wish'd
She's come her self in person.

Qu. Are you found Sir?
I wonder where you spend your hours, methinks
Since I so love your company, and profess
'Tis the best comfort this life yields me; mine
Should not be tedious to you.

Euph. Gracious Madam,
To have the happiness to see and hear you,
Which by your bounty is conferr'd upon me,
I hold so great a blessing, that my honours
And wealth compar'd to that, are but as Cyphers
To make that number greater: yet your pardon
For borrowing from my duty so much time
As the provision for my sudden Marriage
Exacted from me.

Qu. I perceive this Marriage
Will keep you often from me: but I'll bear it.
She's a good Lady, and a fair, Euphanes,
Yet by her leave I will share with her in you:
I am pleas'd that in the night she shall enjoy you
And that's sufficient for a Wife: the day-time
I will divorce you from her.

Leo. within. We will force you if you resist.

Qu. What noise is that?

The. within. Base Traytors.

Euph. It moves this way.

Enter Agenor, Leonidas with Theanor, [M]erione like Beliza, Conon, Crates, Neanthes, Sosicles, Eraton, Guard.

Qu. What e'r it be I'll meet it,
I was not born to fear: Who's that Beliza?

Euph. My worthiest, noblest Mistriss. [Exit.

Qu. Stay her, ha?
All of you look as you were rooted here,
And wanted motion: what new Gorgons head
Have you beheld, that you are all turn'd Statues?
This is prodigious: has none a tongue
To speak the cause?

Leo. Could every hair, great Queen
Upon my head yield an articulate sound,
And altogether speak, they could not yet
Express the villany we have discoverd,
And yet, when with a few unwilling words
I have deliver'd what must needs be known,
You'll say I am too eloquent, and wish
I had been born without a tongue.

Qu. Speak boldly,
For I, unmov'd with any loss, will hear.

Leo. Then know, we have found out the Ravisher
Of my poor Sister, and the place, and means
By which th' unfortunate, though fair Beliza
Hath met a second violence.

Euph. This confirms what but before I doubted to my ruine.
My Lady ravish'd.

Qu. Point me out the villain;
That guilty wretched monster that hath done this,
[T]hat I may look on him, and in mine eye
He [read] his Sentence.

Leo. That I truly could
Name any other but the Prince, that heard,
You have it all.

Qu. Wonder not that I shake,
The miracle is greater that I live,
Having endur'd the thunder that thy words
Have thrown upon me: dar'st thou kneel, with hope
Of any favor, but a speedy death,
And that too in the dreadful'st shape that can
Appear to a dispair[i]ng leprous soul,
If thou hast any? no, libidinous beast,
Thy lust hath alter'd so thy former Being,
By Heaven I know thee not.

The. Although unworthy
Yet still I am your Son.

Qu. Thou lyest, lyest falsly,
My whole life never knew but one chaste bed,
Nor e'r desir'd warmth but from lawful fires,
Can I be then the Mother to a Goat,
Whose lust is more insatiate than the grave,
And like infectious air ingenders plagues,
To murder all that's chaste, or good in Woman?
The gods I from my youth have serv'd and fear'd,
Whose holy Temples thou hast made thy Brothels;
Could a Religious Mother then bring forth
So damn'd an Atheist? read but o'r my life,
My actions, manners, and made perfect in them
But look into the story of thy self
As thou art now, not as thou wert Theanor,
And reason will compel thee to confess,
Thou art a stranger to me.

Ag. Note but how heavy
The weight of guilt is: it so low hath sunk him
That he wants power to rise up in defence
Of [his] bad cause.

Qu. Perswade me not Euphanes,
This is no Prince, nor can claim part in me:
My Son was born a Free-man, this a Slave
To beastly passions, a Fugitive,
And run away from virtue: bring bonds for him.
By all the honour that I owe to Justice
He loses me for ever that seeks to save him:
Bind him I say, and 'ts like a wretch that knows
He stands condemn'd before he hears the Sentence,
With his base Agents, from my sight remove him,
And lodge them in the Dungeon: As a Queen
And Patroness to Justice I command it:
Thy tears are like unseasonable showrs,
And in my heart now steel'd can make no entrance:
Thou art cruel to thy self (Fool) 'tis not want
In me of soft compassion; when thou left'st
To be a Son, I ceas'd to be a Mother;
Away with them: The children I will leave
To keep my name, to all posterities,
Shall be the great examples of my Justice,
The government of my Countrey which shall witness
How well I rul'd my self: bid the wrong'd Ladies
Appear in Court to morrow, we will hear them;
And by one Act of our severity
For fear of punishment, or love to virtue,
Teach others to be honest: all will shun
To tempt her Laws, that would not spare her Son. [Ex.