Philaster Part 16

_Di_. Stay Sir, what are you?

_Bell_. A wretched creature wounded in these Woods By Beasts; relieve me, if your names be men, Or I shall perish.

_Di_. This is he my Lord, Upon my soul that hurt her; 'tis the boy, That wicked boy that serv'd her.

_Pha_. O thou d.a.m.n'd in thy creation!

What cause could'st thou shape to hurt the Princess?

_Bell_. Then I am betrayed.

_Di_. Betrayed! no, apprehended.

_Bell_. I confess; Urge it no more, that big with evil thoughts I set upon her, and did take my aim Her death. For charity let fall at once The punishment you mean, and do not load This weary flesh with tortures.

_Pha_. I will know who hir'd thee to this deed?

_Bell_. Mine own revenge.

_Pha_. Revenge, for what?

_Bell_. It pleas'd her to receive Me as her Page, and when my fortunes ebb'd, That men strid o're them carelesly, she did showr Her welcome graces on me, and did swell My fortunes, till they overflow'd their banks, Threatning the men that crost 'em; when as swift As storms arise at sea, she turn'd her eyes To burning Suns upon me, and did dry The streams she had bestowed, leaving me worse And more contemn'd than other little brooks, Because I had been great: In short, I knew I could not live, and therefore did desire To die reveng'd.

_Pha_. If tortures can be found, Long as thy natural life, resolve to feel The utmost rigour.

[Philaster _creeps out of a bush_.

_Cle_. Help to lead him hence.

_Phi_. Turn back you ravishers of Innocence, Know ye the price of that you bear away so rudely?

_Pha_. Who's that?

_Di_. 'Tis the Lord _Philaster_.

_Phi_. 'Tis not the treasure of all Kings in one, The wealth of _Tagus_, nor the Rocks of Pearl, That pave the Court of _Neptune_, can weigh down That vertue. It was I that hurt the Princess.

Place me, some G.o.d, upon a _Piramis_, Higher than hills of earth, and lend a voice Loud as your Thunder to me, that from thence, I may discourse to all the under-world, The worth that dwells in him.

_Pha_. How's this?

_Bell_. My Lord, some man Weary of life, that would be glad to die.

_Phi_. Leave these untimely courtesies _Bellario_.

_Bell_. Alas he's mad, come will you lead me on?

_Phi_. By all the Oaths that men ought most to keep: And G.o.ds do punish most, when men do break, He toucht her not. Take heed _Bellario_, How thou dost drown the vertues thou hast shown With perjury. By all that's good 'twas I: You know she stood betwixt me and my right.

_Pha_. Thy own tongue be thy judge.

_Cle_. It was _Philaster_.

_Di_. Is't not a brave boy?

Well Sirs, I fear we were all deceived.

_Phi_. Have I no friend here?

_Di_. Yes.

_Phi_. Then shew it; Some good body lend a hand to draw us nearer.

Would you have tears shed for you when you die?

Then lay me gentle on his neck that there I may weep flouds, and breath out my spirit: 'Tis not the wealth of _Plutus_, nor the gold Lockt in the heart of earth, can buy away This arm-full from me, this had been a ransom To have redeem'd the great _Augustus Caesar_, Had he been taken: you hard-hearted men, More stony than these Mountains, can you see Such clear pure bloud drop, and not cut your flesh To stop his life? To bind whose better wounds, Queens ought to tear their hair, and with their tears, Bath 'em. Forgive me, thou that art the wealth of poor _Philaster_.

[_Enter_ King, Arethusa _and a_ Guard.

_King_. Is the villain ta'ne?

_Pha_. Sir, here be two confess the deed; but say it was _Philaster_.

_Phi_. Question it no more, it was.

_King_. The fellow that did fight with him will tell us.

_Are_. Ay me, I know he will.

_King_. Did not you know him?

_Are_. Sir, if it was he, he was disguised.

_Phi_. I was so. Oh my stars! that I should live still.

_King_. Thou ambitious fool; Thou that hast laid a train for thy own life; Now I do mean to do, I'le leave to talk, bear him to prison.

_Are_. Sir, they did plot together to take hence This harmless life; should it pa.s.s unreveng'd, I should to earth go weeping: grant me then (By all the love a Father bears his Child) Their custodies, and that I may appoint Their tortures and their death.

_Di_. Death? soft, our Law will not reach that, for this fault.

_King_. 'Tis granted, take 'em to you, with a Guard.

Come Princely _Pharamond_, this business past, We may with more security go on to your intended match.

_Cle_. I pray that this action lose not _Philaster_ the hearts of the people.

_Di_. Fear it not, their overwise heads will think it but a trick.

[_Exeunt Omnes_.

_Actus Quintus. Scena Prima_.