The Maids Tragedy Part 22

_Asp_. When you know me, my Lord, you needs must guess My business! and I am not hard to know; For till the change of War mark'd this smooth face With these few blemishes people would call me My Sisters Picture, and her mine; in short, I am the brother to the wrong'd _Aspatia_.

_Amint_. The wrong'd _Aspatia_! would thou wert so too Unto the wrong'd _Amintor_; let me kiss That hand of thine in honour that I bear Unto the wrong'd _Aspatia_: here I stand That did it; would he could not; gentle youth Leave me, for there is something in thy looks That calls my sins in a most hideous form Into my mind; and I have grief enough Without thy help.

_Asp_. I would I could with credit: Since I was twelve years old I had not seen My Sister till this hour; I now arriv'd; She sent for me to see her Marriage, A woful one: but they that are above, Have ends in every thing; she us'd few words, But yet enough to make me understand The baseness of the injury you did her.

That little training I have had is War; I may behave my self rudely in Peace; I would not though; I shall not need to tell you I am but young; and you would be loth to lose Honour that is not easily gain'd again.

Fairly I mean to deal; the age is strict For single combats, and we shall be stopt If it be publish't: if you like your sword, Use it; if mine appear a better to you, Change; for the ground is this, and this the time To end our difference.

_Amint_. Charitable youth, If thou be'st such, think not I will maintain So strange a wrong; and for thy Sisters sake, Know that I could not think that desperate thing I durst not do; yet to enjoy this world I would not see her; for beholding thee, I am I know not what; if I have ought That may content thee, take it and be gone; For death is not so terrible as thou; Thine eyes shoot guilt into me.

_Asp_. Thus she swore Thou would'st behave thy self, and give me words That would fetch tears into mine eyes, and so Thou dost indeed; but yet she bade me watch, Lest I were cousen'd, and be sure to fight ere I return'd.

_Amint_. That must not be with me; For her I'le die directly, but against her will never hazard it.

_Asp_. You must be urg'd; I do not deal uncivilly with those that Dare to fight; but such a one as you Must be us'd thus.

[_She strikes him_.

_Amint_. Prethee youth take heed; Thy Sister is a thing to me so much Above mine honour, that I can endu[r]e All this; good G.o.ds--a blow I can endure; But stay not, lest thou draw a timely death upon thy self.

_Asp_. Thou art some prating fellow, One that hath studyed out a trick to talk And move soft-hearted people; to be kickt,

[_She kicks him_.

Thus to be kickt--why should he be so slow [_Aside_.

In giving me my death?

_Amint_. A man can bear No more and keep his flesh; forgive me then; I would endure yet if I could; now shew The spirit thou pretendest, and understand Thou hast no honour to live:

[_They fight_.

What dost thou mean? thou canst not fight: The blows thou mak'st at me are quite besides; And those I offer at thee, thou spread'st thine arms, And tak'st upon thy breast, Alas! defenceless.

_Asp_. I have got enough, And my desire; there's no place so fit for me to die as here.

_Enter_ Evadne.

_Evad_. _Amintor_; I am loaden with events That flie to make thee happy; I have joyes

[_Her hands b.l.o.o.d.y with a knife_.

That in a moment can call back thy wrongs, And settle thee in thy free state again; It is _Evadne_ still that follows thee, but not her mischiefs.

_Amint_. Thou canst not fool me to believe agen; But thou hast looks and things so full of news that I am staid.

_Evad_. n.o.ble _Amintor_, put off thy amaze; Let thine eyes loose, and speak, am I not fair?

Looks not _Evadne_ beauteous with these rites now?

Were those hours half so lovely in thine eyes, When our hands met before the holy man?

I was too foul within to look fair then; Since I knew ill, I was not free till now.

_Amint_. There is presage of some important thing About thee, which it seems thy tongue hath lost: Thy hands are b.l.o.o.d.y, and thou hast a knife.

_Evad_. In this consists thy happiness and mine; Joy to _Amintor_, for the King is dead.

_Amint_. Those have most power to hurt us that we love, We lay our sleeping lives within their arms.

Why, thou hast rais'd up mischief to this height, And found out one to out-name thy other faults; Thou hast no intermission of thy sins, But all thy life is a continual ill; Black is thy colour now, disease thy nature.

Joy to _Amintor_! thou hast toucht a life, The very name of which had power to chain Up all my rage, and calm my wildest wrongs.

_Evad_. 'Tis done; and since I could not find a way To meet thy love so clear, as through his life, I cannot now repent it.

_Amint_. Could'st thou procure the G.o.ds to speak to me, To bid me love this woman, and forgive, I think I should fall out with them; behold Here lies a youth whose wounds bleed in my brest, Sent by his violent Fate to fetch his death From my slow hand: and to augment my woe, You now are present stain'd with a Kings blood Violently shed: this keeps night here, And throws an unknown wilderness about me.

_Asp_. Oh, oh, oh!

_Amint_. No more, pursue me not.

_Evad_. Forgive me then, and take me to thy bed.

We may not part.

_Amint_. Forbear, be wise, and let my rage go this way.

_Evad_. 'Tis you that I would stay, not it.

_Amint_. Take heed, it will return with me.

_Evad_. If it must be, I shall not fear to meet it; take me home.

_Amint_. Thou monster of cruelty, forbear.

_Evad_. For heavens sake look more calm; Thine eyes are sharper than thou canst make thy sword.

_Amint_. Away, away, thy knees are more to me than violence.

I am worse than sick to see knees follow me For that I must not grant; for heavens sake stand.

_Evad_. Receive me then._Amint_. I dare not stay thy language; In midst of all my anger and my grief, Thou dost awake something that troubles me, And sayes I lov'd thee once; I dare not stay; There is no end of womens reasoning.

[_Leaves her_.

_Evad_. _Amintor_, thou shalt love me once again; Go, I am calm; farewell; and peace for ever.

_Evadne_ whom thou hat'st will die for thee.

[_Kills her self_.

_Amint_. I have a little humane nature yet That's left for thee, that bids me stay thy hand.

[_Returns_.

_Evad_. Thy hand was welcome, but came too late; Oh I am lost! the heavy sleep makes haste.

[_She dies_.