The Maids Tragedy Part 12

_Amint_. But there is nothing.

_Mel_. Worse and worse; farewel; From this time have acquaintance, but no friend.

_Amint_. _Melantius_, stay, you shall know what that is.

_Mel_. See how you play'd with friends.h.i.+p; be advis'd How you give cause unto your self to say, You ha'lost a friend.

_Amint_. Forgive what I have done; For I am so ore-gone with injuries Unheard of, that I lose consideration Of what I ought to do--oh--oh.

_Mel_. Do not weep; what is't?

May I once but know the man Hath turn'd my friend thus?

_Amint_. I had spoke at first, but that.

_Mel_. But what?

_Amint_. I held it most unfit For you to know; faith do not know it yet.

_Mel_. Thou seest my love, that will keep company With thee in tears; hide nothing then from me; For when I know the cause of thy distemper, With mine own armour I'le adorn my self, My resolution, and cut through thy foes, Unto thy quiet, till I place thy heart As peaceable as spotless innocence. What is it?

_Amint_. Why, 'tis this--it is too big To get out, let my tears make way a while.

_Mel_. Punish me strangely heaven, if he escape Of life or fame, that brought this youth to this.

_Amint_. Your Sister.

_Mel_. Well said.

_Amint_. You'l wish't unknown, when you have heard it.

_Mel_. No.

_Amint_. Is much to blame, And to the King has given her honour up, And lives in Wh.o.r.edom with him.

_Mel_. How, this!

Thou art run mad with injury indeed, Thou couldst not utter this else; speak again, For I forgive it freely; tell thy griefs.

_Amint_. She's wanton; I am loth to say a Wh.o.r.e, Though it be true.

_Mel_. Speak yet again, before mine anger grow Up beyond throwing down; what are thy griefs?

_Amint_. By all our friends.h.i.+p, these.

_Mel_. What? am I tame?

After mine actions, shall the name of friend Blot all our family, and strike the brand Of Wh.o.r.e upon my Sister unreveng'd?

My shaking flesh be thou a Witness for me, With what unwillingness I go to scourge This Rayler, whom my folly hath call'd Friend; I will not take thee basely; thy sword Hangs near thy hand, draw it, that I may whip Thy rashness to repentance; draw thy sword.

_Amint_. Not on thee, did thine anger swell as high As the wild surges; thou shouldst do me ease Here, and Eternally, if thy n.o.ble hand Would cut me from my sorrows.

_Mel_. This is base and fearful! they that use to utter lyes, Provide not blows, but words to qualifie The men they wrong'd; thou hast a guilty cause.

_Amint_. Thou pleasest me; for so much more like this, Will raise my anger up above my griefs, Which is a pa.s.sion easier to be born, And I shall then be happy.

_Mel_. Take then more to raise thine anger. 'Tis meer Cowardize makes thee not draw; and I will leave thee dead However; but if thou art so much prest With guilt and fear, as not to dare to fight, I'le make thy memory loath'd, and fix a scandal Upon thy name for ever.

_Amint_. Then I draw, As justly as our Magistrates their Swords, To cut offenders off; I knew before 'Twould grate your ears; but it was base in you To urge a weighty secret from your friend, And then rage at it; I shall be at ease If I be kill'd; and if you fall by me, I shall not long out-live you.

_Mel_. Stay a while.

The name of friend is more than family, Or all the world besides; I was a fool.

Thou searching humane nature, that didst wake To do me wrong, thou art inquisitive, And thrusts me upon questions that will take My sleep away; would I had died ere known This sad dishonour; pardon me my friend; If thou wilt strike, here is a faithful heart, Pierce it, for I will never heave my hand To thine; behold the power thou hast in me!

I do believe my Sister is a Wh.o.r.e, A Leprous one, put up thy sword young man.

_Amint_. How should I bear it then, she being so?

I fear my friend that you will lose me shortly; And I shall do a foul action my self Through these disgraces.

_Mel_. Better half the Land Were buried quick together; no, _Amintor_, Thou shalt have ease: O this Adulterous King That drew her to't! where got he the spirit To wrong me so?

_Amint_. What is it then to me, If it be wrong to you!

_Mel_. Why, not so much: the credit of our house Is thrown away; But from his Iron Den I'le waken death, And hurle him on this King; my honesty Shall steel my sword, and on its horrid point I'le wear my cause, that shall amaze the eyes Of this proud man, and be too glittering For him to look on.

_Amint_. I have quite undone my fame.

_Mel_. Dry up thy watry eyes, And cast a manly look upon my face; For nothing is so wild as I thy friend Till I have freed thee; still this swelling breast; I go thus from thee, and will never cease My vengeance, till I find my heart at peace.

_Amint_. It must not be so; stay, mine eyes would tell How loth I am to this; but love and tears Leave me a while, for I have hazarded All this world calls happy; thou hast wrought A secret from me under name of Friend, Which Art could ne're have found, nor torture wrung From out my bosom; give it me agen, For I will find it, wheresoe're it lies Hid in the mortal'st part; invent a way to give it back.

_Mel_. Why, would you have it back?

I will to death pursue him with revenge.

_Amint_. Therefore I call it back from thee; for I know Thy blood so high, that thou wilt stir in this, and shame me To posterity: take to thy Weapon.

_Mel_. Hear thy friend, that bears more years than thou.

_Amint_. I will not hear: but draw, or I----

_Mel_. _Amintor_.

_Amint_. Draw then, for I am full as resolute As fame and honour can inforce me be; I cannot linger, draw.

_Mel_. I do--but is not My share of credit equal with thine if I do stir?

_Amint_. No; for it will be cal'd Honour in thee to spill thy Sisters blood, If she her birth abuse, and on the King A brave revenge: but on me that have walkt With patience in it, it will fix the name Of fearful Cuckold--O that word! be quick.

_Mel_. Then joyn with me.

_Amint_. I dare not do a sin, or else I would: be speedy.