Part 56 (2/2)

O, I have known Andromana as Ephorbas did last night.----

INO. Why, sir, The sin done by your father is not yours, If you could not help it.----

PLAN. Why, there it is: 'Tis that which gnaws me here.

But I swore by all the G.o.ds that she was As innocent from my unclean embraces as is The new-fall'n snow, or ermines that will meet Ten deaths before one spot: I made my father think The thoughts of angels were less innocent than she.

No, it was I betray'd him; his virtue was too great To[90] have suspected it. How do I look, Inophilus?

INO. Like some bless'd man that, griev'd for others' sins, Could,[91] out of a good nature, part with half His own whiteness to purge the others' stains.

PLAN. Now thou soothest, and, like some flattering gla.s.s, Present'st me to advantage. I am, in short, One born to make Iberia unhappy.

Had I as black a face as is my soul, you would Find in respect of it ?gyptians were snow-white.

Methinks I hear Heaven tell me I am slow, And it is time I had begun revenge.

Ephorbas has done him wrong, who lov'd him More than heaven or his happiness, and would Have run out of the world to have left him Free [to] whatever he would lay claim to, but Andromana-- Nay, she also had been His, so it could have been without a sin.

But she knew the sin she acted, and yet did it; And [yet she] lives free from the stroke of thunder!

Is there such a thing as heaven, or such a one As Justice dwells there? and can I ask the question?

O, the tameness of a conscience loaded with sin.

Which reasons and talks, when it should do!

But I will be reveng'd, and thus I begin. Inophilus,

[_He draws._

Be sure, when I am dead, to meet my ghost, And do as that instructs thee. 'Twill tell all the particulars Of my revenge, who must die first, who last, and What way too. I have my lesson perfect.

[_He leans the pommel on the ground to fall on it_: INOPHILUS _kicks it by with his foot_.

INO. Is this the revenge befits great Plangus?

PLAN. Had this been done two days ago, thou durst As well have met the lightning naked As have opposed my will thus.

[_He draws._

INO. Hear me; Ask me no questions, nor answer me; or if you do, By Heav'n, I'll never speak more. It is revenge You'd have, and 'tis a great one, a very n.o.ble one, To kill yourself! Be confident, your greatest foes Wish nothing more.

When after-ages come to hear your story, What will they say? Just as they did of Cato: He durst not look great Caesar in the face-- So Plangus was afraid, and died.

A very pretty story, and much to a man's credit: For shame, dear Plangus (let friends.h.i.+p use that t.i.tle): Show your great soul the world believes you're master of-- And I dare swear you are in this action.

Nay, rally up yourself, and fight it stoutly.

Shake from your mind revenge, and having laid That pa.s.sion by, put on that virtue the world Admires in you; 'tis now the time to show it.

The sun, broke from a cloud, doubles his light; And fire, the more resisted, flames more bright.

Andromana has injur'd you; scorn her, therefore, As though[92] she had done nothing; I'd not do her the favour To have one thought of her, or could be troubled At that she did. As for your father, sir, Besides the tie of nature, he knows not He hath wrong'd you: or if he doth, 'Tis love that caus'd him; A word that once made an excuse with Plangus For what offence soever.

PLAN. Thou hast wrought upon me, And I am resolved to live a day or two more: But if I like it not--well, I'll go try To sleep a little; perhaps that may--I am Strangely melancholy: prythee, lie down by me, Inophilus, I'm safe while in thy company.

[_Exeunt._

SCENE II.

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