Part 61 (1/2)

RIN. Heav'n bless you, sir, what a despair is this?

Because you hate a hangman, you will be Your executioner yourself. Believe me, That which presents so great danger to you, I look upon with joy. There is no subject That loves you or the prince, but must be glad To see the zeal Iberians bear to a true virtue, When bending under an unjust oppression; No doubt their love had been as great to you, Had you been in like danger. Besides, my lord, You are not sure 'tis with the prince's consent, The soldiers do this. My life for yours, you will Be safe, let the worst come. Let us Go meet your fears.

[_They begin to rise, when at the instant_ ANDROMANA _enters undressed, and in a fright_.

AND. Happy am I, my lord,

[_She weeps._

This sudden flight[99] hath rescu'd me from being Made the subject of some villain's l.u.s.t, who With his sword drawn just now was forcing me To lewd embraces; if you command to search the court, He cannot be far hence, for he ran that way.

RIN. O impudence!

That durst attempt a sin darkness and woods Have too many eyes for in the open court.

[PLANGUS _stirs behind the hangings_.

I shall be with you. The devil hath Armour on!

[RINATUS _draws, and runs at him_.

EPH. Drag him to torture----

[_They fetch him out._

My son! why have I liv'd to see this?

Away with him to death; the air will grow infectious.

Why stay you?

SCENE IX.

_Enter_ ZOPIRO _and_ INOPHILUS, _with Soldiers_.

INO. Unhand the prince, or else by heav'n he treads Into his grave that moves a foot to touch him.

Madam, though Plangus' n.o.ble self was blind, And could not see the deep black darkness of Your h.e.l.lish actions, his friends had eyes about them.

Was this your love? this your repentance?

This your advice, your counsel? Had I, I must confess,[100]

And these his n.o.ble friends, been[101] rul'd by him, ere this He'd been a sacrifice to your revenge and you.

Why stand you mute, sir? Want you a tongue to justify Your innocence our swords and we maintain?

And now, my liege, we turn to you, whom we Have serv'd as truly as e'er subjects did Any prince alive; and whilst you're worthy, we Will do so still; but we'll be no man's slaves Alive, much less be his that is another's, While this base witch (for so she is) constrains You to do actions children would blush at, And wise men laugh at, which will after leave you Both to repentance and despair. This beggar, whom T'other day you took up as some lost thing, Gave your honour to, and in that our safety; That knew less to be good than devils do, And hath ills lodged in her that would make h.e.l.l Beyond that the furies dwell in, Banish her hence, send her to some place Where murders, rapines, or sins yet Unheard of do inhabit, and where she can Do us no mischief. Do you betake yourself To your former virtue, and restore the prince To those affections you once had for him.

We then perhaps may live to see Iberia happy.

EPH. Why am I forc'd thus to declare his shame, Which at the bound strikes me, and's made my own?

You know not how well Plangus can dissemble: He is an hypocrite, I need not tell you more, Those three syllables comprehend all ill.

My queen just now 'scaped from his base attempt, Wherein he would have forc'd her to have d.a.m.n'd Herself and him, and dishonoured me.

What meant that armour on, and why so guarded?

Where was a danger threat'ned him? or doth he Think his conscience could not sting him through it?

I wish, my lords,[102] he might live. But, as nature That, as he is my son, bids me preserve him; So honour, which pleads to the king stronger Than nature can, tells me, for that very reason, I can less pardon him than something born A stranger to my blood. But I deserve To die, as well as he. If he be grown A burden to the earth, I am so too, That gave the monster being. Wherefore Let me be drawn to execution too, For fathers are guilty of their children's ills.

INO. Would Plangus then have forc'd Andromana?