The Maids Tragedy Part 17

_King_. I' faith 'twere easie, it becomes us well To get plain dealing men about our selves, Such as you all are here: _Amintor_, to thee And to thy fair _Evadne_.

_Mel_. Have you thought of this _Calianax_?

[_Aside_.

_Cal_. Yes marry have I.

_Mel_. And what's your resolution?

_Cal_. Ye shall have it soundly?

_King_. Reach to _Amintor_, _Strato_.

_Amin_. Here my love, This Wine will do thee wrong, for it will set Blushes upon thy cheeks, and till thou dost a fault, 'twere pity.

_King_. Yet I wonder much Of the strange desperation of these men, That dare attempt such acts here in our State; He could not escape that did it.

_Mel_. Were he known, unpossible.

_King_. It would be known, _Melantius_.

_Mel_. It ought to be, if he got then away He must wear all our lives upon his sword, He need not fly the Island, he must leave no one alive.

_King_. No, I should think no man Could kill me and scape clear, but that old man.

_Cal_. But I! heaven bless me: I, should I my Liege?

_King_. I do not think thou wouldst, but yet thou might'st, For thou hast in thy hands the means to scape, By keeping of the Fort; he has, _Melantius_, and he has kept it well.

_Mel_. From cobwebs Sir, 'Tis clean swept: I can find no other Art In keeping of it now, 'twas ne're besieg'd since he commanded.

_Cal_. I shall be sure of your good word, But I have kept it safe from such as you.

_Mel_. Keep your ill temper in, I speak no malice; had my brother kept it I should ha'

said as much.

_King_. You are not merry, brother; drink wine, Sit you all still! _Calianax_, [_Aside_.

I cannot trust thus: I have thrown out words That would have fetcht warm blood upon the cheeks Of guilty men, and he is never mov'd, he knows no such thing.

_Cal_. Impudence may scape, when feeble vertue is accus'd.

_King_. He must, if he were guilty, feel an alteration At this our whisper, whilst we point at him, You see he does not.

_Cal_. Let him hang himself, What care I what he does; this he did say.

_King_. _Melantius_, you cannot easily conceive What I have meant; for men that are in fault Can subtly apprehend when others aime At what they do amiss; but I forgive Freely before this man; heaven do so too: I will not touch thee so much as with shame Of telling it, let it be so no more.

_Cal_. Why this is very fine.

_Mel_. I cannot tell What 'tis you mean, but I am apt enough Rudely to thrust into ignorant fault, But let me know it; happily 'tis nought But misconstruction, and where I am clear I will not take forgiveness of the G.o.ds, much less of you.

_King_. Nay if you stand so stiff, I shall call back my mercy.

_Mel_. I want smoothness To thank a man for pardoning of a crime I never knew.

_King_. Not to instruct your knowledge, but to shew you my ears are every where, you meant to kill me, and get the Fort to scape.

_Mel_. Pardon me Sir; my bluntness will be pardoned: You preserve A race of idle people here about you, Eaters, and talkers, to defame the worth Of those that do things worthy; the man that uttered this Had perisht without food, be't who it will, But for this arm that fenc't him from the foe.

And if I thought you gave a faith to this, The plainness of my nature would speak more; Give me a pardon (for you ought to do't) To kill him that spake this.

_Cal_. I, that will be the end of all, Then I am fairly paid for all my care and service.

_Mel_. That old man who calls me enemy, and of whom I (Though I will never match my hate so low) Have no good thought, would yet I think excuse me, And swear he thought me wrong'd in this.

_Cal_. Who I, thou shameless fellow! didst thou not speak to me of it thy self?

_Mel_. O then it came from him.

_Cal_. From me! who should it come from but from me?

_Mel_. Nay, I believe your malice is enough, But I ha' lost my anger. Sir, I hope you are well satisfied.

_King_. _Lisip_. Chear _Amintor_ and his Lady; there's no sound Comes from you; I will come and do't my self.

_Amin_. You have done already Sir for me, I thank you.

_King_. _Melantius_, I do credit this from him, How slight so e're you mak't.

_Mel_. 'Tis strange you should.

_Cal_. 'Tis strange he should believe an old mans word, That never lied in his life.

_Mel_. I talk not to thee; Shall the wild words of this distempered man, Frantick with age and sorrow, make a breach Betwixt your Majesty and me? 'twas wrong To hearken to him; but to credit him As much, at least, as I have power to bear.

But pardon me, whilst I speak only truth, I may commend my self--I have bestow'd My careless blood with you, and should be loth To think an action that would make me lose That, and my thanks too: when I was a boy, I thrust my self into my Countries cause, And did a deed that pluckt five years from time, And stil'd me man then: And for you my King, Your subjects all have fed by vertue of my arm.

This sword of mine hath plow'd the ground, And reapt the fruit in peace; And your self have liv'd at home in ease: So terrible I grew, that without swords My name hath fetcht you conquest, and my heart And limbs are still the same; my will is great To do you service: let me not be paid With such a strange distrust.

_King_. _Melantius_, I held it great injustice to believe Thine Enemy, and did not; if I did, I do not, let that satisfie: what struck With sadness all? More Wine!

_Cal_. A few fine words have overthrown my truth: Ah th'art a Villain.

_Mel_. Why thou wert better let me have the Fort, Dotard, I will disgrace thee thus for ever;

[_Aside_.

There shall no credit lie upon thy words; Think better and deliver it.

_Cal_. My Liege, he's at me now agen to do it; speak, Deny it if thou canst; examine him Whilst he's hot, for he'l cool agen, he will forswear it.