Philaster Part 14

[_Exeunt omnes_.

_Enter_ Arethusa.

_Are_. Where am I now? Feet find me out a way, Without the counsel of my troubled head, I'le follow you boldly about these woods, O're mountains, thorow brambles, pits, and flouds: Heaven I hope will ease me. I am sick.

_Enter_ Bellario.

_Bell_. Yonder's my Lady; Heaven knows I want nothing; Because I do not wish to live, yet I Will try her Charity. Oh hear, you that have plenty, From that flowing store, drop some on dry ground; see, The lively red is gone to guard her heart; I fear she faints. Madam look up, she breaths not; Open once more those rosie twins, and send Unto my Lord, your latest farewell; Oh, she stirs: How is it Madam? Speak comfort.

_Are_. 'Tis not gently done, To put me in a miserable life, And hold me there; I pray thee let me go, I shall do best without thee; I am well.

_Enter_ Philaster.

_Phil_. I am to blame to be so much in rage, I'le tell her coolely, when and where I heard This killing truth. I will be temperate In speaking, and as just in hearing.

Oh monstrous! Tempt me not ye G.o.ds, good G.o.ds Tempt not a frail man, what's he, that has a heart But he must ease it here?

_Bell_. My Lord, help the Princess.

_Are_. I am well, forbear.

_Phi_. Let me love lightning, let me be embrac'd And kist by Scorpions, or adore the eyes Of Basilisks, rather than trust to tongues, And shrink these veins up; stick me here a stone Lasting to ages in the memory Of this d.a.m.n'd act. Hear me you wicked ones, You have put the hills on fire into this breast, Not to be quench'd with tears, for which may guilt Sit on your bosoms; at your meals, and beds, Despair await you: what, before my face?

Poyson of Aspes between your lips; Diseases Be your best issues; Nature make a Curse And throw it on you.

_Are_. Dear _Philaster_, leave To be enrag'd, and hear me.

_Phi_. I have done; Forgive my pa.s.sion, not the calm'd sea, When _aeolus_ locks up his windy brood, Is less disturb'd than I, I'le make you know it.

Dear _Arethusa_, do but take this sword, And search how temperate a heart I have; Then you and this your boy, may live and raign In l.u.s.t without control; Wilt thou _Bellario_?

I prethee kill me; thou art poor, and maist Nourish ambitious thoughts, when I am dead: This way were freer; Am I raging now?

If I were mad I should desire to live; Sirs, feel my pulse; whether have you known A man in a more equal tune to die?

_Bel_. Alas my Lord, your pulse keeps madmans time, So does your tongue.

_Phi_. You will not kill me then?

_Are_. Kill you?

_Bell_. Not for a world.

_Phi_. I blame not thee, _Bellario_; thou hast done but that, which G.o.ds Would have transform'd themselves to do; be gone, Leave me without reply; this is the last Of all our meeting. Kill me with this sword; Be wise, or worse will follow: we are two Earth cannot bear at once. Resolve to do, or suffer.

_Are_. If my fortunes be so good to let me fall Upon thy hand, I shall have peace in death.

Yet tell me this, will there be no slanders, No jealousies in the other world, no ill there?

_Phi_. No.

_Are_. Shew me then the way.

_Phi_. Then guide My feeble hand, you that have power to do it, For I must perform a piece of justice. If your youth Have any way offended Heaven, let prayers Short and effectual reconcile you to it.

_Are_. I am prepared.

_Enter a_ Country-fellow.

_Coun_. I'le see the King if he be in the Forest, I have hunted him these two hours; if I should come home and not see him my Sisters would laugh at me; I can see nothing but people better horst than my self, that outride me; I can hear nothing but shouting. These Kings had need of good brains, this whooping is able to put a mean man out of his wits. There's a Courtier with his sword drawn, by this hand upon a woman, I think.

_Phi_. Are you at peace?

_Are_. With Heavens and Earth.

_Phi_. May they divide thy soul and body?

_Coun_. Hold dastard, strike a Woman! th'art a craven I warrant thee, thou wouldst be loth to play half a dozen of venies at wasters with a good fellow for a broken head.

_Phi_. Leave us good friend.

_Are_. What ill bred man art thou, to intrude thy self Upon our private sports, our recreations?

_Coun_. G.o.d 'uds, I understand you not, but I know the Rogue has hurt you.

_Phi_. Pursue thy own affairs: it will be ill To multiply bloud upon my head; which thou wilt force me to.

_Coun_. I know not your Rhetorick, but I can lay it on if you touch the woman.

[_They fight_.

_Phi_. Slave, take what thou deservest.

_Are_. Heavens guard my Lord.

_Coun_. Oh do you breath?

_Phi_. I hear the tread of people: I am hurt.

The G.o.ds take part against me, could this Boor Have held me thus else? I must shift for life, Though I do loath it. I would find a course, To lose it, rather by my will than force.

[_Exit_ Phil.

_Coun_. I cannot follow the Rogue. I pray thee wench come and kiss me now.

_Enter_ Phara. Dion, Cle. Thra. _and_ Woodmen.

_Pha_. What art thou?

_Coun_. Almost kil'd I am for a foolish woman; a knave has hurt her.

_Pha_. The Princess Gentlemen! Where's the wound Madam?

Is it dangerous?

_Are_. He has not hurt me.