Diph.

Yonder has bin such laughing.

Mel. Betwixt whom?

Diph.

Why, our sister and the King;

I thought their spleens would break; they laugh'd 270

us all

Out of the room.

Mel. They must weep, Diphilus.

Diph.
Mel.

Must they?

They must.
Thou art my brother; and, if I did believe
Thou hadst a base thought, I would rip it out,
Lie where it durst.

Diph.

You should not; I would first 275

Mangle myself and find it.

Mel.

That was spoke

According to our strain. Come, join thy hands,
And swear a firmness to what project I

Shall lay before thee.

Diph.

You do wrong us both;

280

People hereafter shall not say, there pass'd
A bond, more than our loves, to tie our lives

And deaths together.

Mel. It is as nobly said as I would wish.

Anon I'll tell you wonders: we are wrong'd.

Diph. But I will tell you now, we'll right ourselves. 285
Mel. Stay not: prepare the armour in my house;

And what friends you can draw unto our side,
Not knowing of the cause, make ready too.
Haste, Diphilus, the time requires it, haste !-
[Exit DIPHILUS.

I hope my cause is just; I know my blood
Tells me it is; and I will credit it.
To take revenge, and lose myself withal,
Were idle; and to scape impossible,
Without I had the fort, which (misery!)
Remaining in the hands of my old enemy
Calianax-but I must have it.

268 bin] beene Q4 to Dyce.

See,

290

295

277 join thy hands] join thy hands to mine Q2 to F., Edd.'78 to Dyce. Theo. followed QI, "perhaps rightly," says Dyce.

Enter CALIANAX.

Where he comes shaking by me!-Good my lord,
Forget your spleen to me; I never wrong'd you,
But would have peace with every man.

'Tis well;

300

Cal.
If I durst fight, your tongue would lie at quiet.
Mel. Y'are touchy without all cause.
Cal.

Mel. By mine honour, I speak truth.
Cal.

Mel. See, what starts you make
Into your idle hatred to my love
And freedom to you.

I come with resolution to obtain
A suit of you.

Cal.

A suit of me!

Do, mock me.

Honour! where is't?

'Tis very like it should be granted, sir.

305

Mel. Nay, go not hence:

'Tis this; you have the keeping of the fort,

310

And I would wish you, by the love you ought
To bear unto me, to deliver it

Into my hands.

Cal. I am in hope thou art mad to talk to me thus.
Mel. But there is a reason to move you to it:

315

I would kill the King, that wrong'd you and your

daughter.

Cal. Out, traitor!

Mel.

Nay, but stay: I cannot scape,

320

The deed once done, without I have this fort.

Cal. And should I help thee?

Now thy treacherous mind betrays itself.
Mel. Come, delay me not;

Give me a sudden answer, or already

Thy last is spoke! refuse not offer'd love,
When it comes clad in secrets.

Cal. [aside.]

If I say

I will not, he will kill me; I do see't
Writ in his looks; and should I say I will,

325

304 love] good love Theo.

304 idle] om. Q2 to F., Edd.'78, Web.
304, 305 to my love And freedom to you] om. QI.
306 I come] I am come QI. 323 Thy] The QI.

323 not] my QI.

He'll run and tell the King.—I do not shun
Your friendship, dear Melantius; but this cause
Is weighty: give me but an hour to think.

Mel. Take it.-[Aside.] I know this goes unto the
King;

But I am arm'd.—

330

[Exit MELANTIUS.

Methinks I feel myself

Cal.
But twenty now again. This fighting fool
Wants policy: I shall revenge my girl,
And make her red again. I pray my legs
Will last that pace that I will carry them:
I shall want breath before I find the King.

335

[Exit.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

The Apartment of EVADNE.

Enter EVADNE and Ladies: to them MELANTIUS. Mel. Save you!

Evad.

Save you, sweet brother!

? Mel. In my blunt eye, methinks, you look Evadne. Evad. Come, you would make me blush.

Mel.

I shall displease my ends else.

I would, Evadne;

Evad. You shall, if you commend me; I am bashful.
Come, sir, how do I look?

Mel. I would not have your women hear me
Break into commendation of you; 'tis not seemly.
Evad. Go wait me in the gallery.— [Exeunt Ladies.

Mel. I'll lock your doors first.
Evad.

5

Now speak.

Why?

ΙΟ

Mel. I will not have your gilded things, that dance In visitation with their Milan skins,

Choke up my business.

Evad. You are strangely disposed, sir.

Mel. Good madam, not to make you merry.

15

Evad. No; if you praise me, 'twill make me sad.

Mel. Such a sad commendation I have for you.

Enter...] Enter Melantius, Evadne and a Lady. Q. F. (Ladies, Web.). Evadne and Ladies discovered. Enter Melantius. Dyce.

2 you look Evadne.] i.e. you look or seem to be Evadne. Dyce remarks that the modern editors [Theo. to Web.], strangely misunderstanding the line, exhibit it thus

"In my blunt eye, methinks, you look, Evadne--"

5 commend] Theo. to Dyce. command] Q. F.

10 your doors] the door Q2 to Dyce.

12 Milan skins] Again in Valentinian II. ii. mention is made of courtiers, who with their "gilded doublets and Milan skins," seemed noble visitants, but were mere court-crabs. Nares (Glossary) supposes Milan skins to be fine gloves manufactured at Milan. 16 'twill it will Theo. to Dyce.

17 commendation] commendations QI-5.

Evad. Brother, the court has made you witty,

And learn to riddle.

Mel. I praise the court for't: has it learnt you 20 nothing?

Evad. Me!

Mel. Ay, Evadne; thou art young and handsome,

A lady of a sweet complexion,

And such a flowing carriage, that it cannot

Choose but inflame a kingdom.

Evad. Gentle brother!

Mel. 'Tis yet in thy repentance, foolish woman, To make me gentle.

Evad.

Mel.

How is this?

'Tis base;

And I could blush, at these years, thorough all
My honour'd scars, to come to such a parley.
Evad. I understand ye not.

Mel.
You dare not, fool!
They that commit thy faults fly the remembrance.
Evad. My faults, sir! I would have you know, I

care not

If they were written here, here in my forehead.
Mel. Thy body is too little for the story;
The lusts of which would fill another woman,
Though she had twins within her.

Evad.
This is saucy:
Look you intrude no more; there lies your way.
Mel. Thou art my way, and I will tread upon thee,
Till I find truth out.

Evad.

25

30

35

What truth is that you look for? 40

Mel. Thy long-lost honour. Would the gods had

set me

Rather to grapple with the plague, or stand

One of their loudest bolts! Come, tell me quickly,
Do it without enforcement, and take heed

You swell me not above my temper.

Evad.

18 has] hath Q6 to Dyce.

How, sir!

20 has it] has QI.

27 repentance] remembrance Q3 to F.

31 ye] you Q2 to Dyce.

45

36 fill] i. e. as a sheet of paper is fill'd or covered with writing: Theo., strangely misunderstanding the passage, read in the next line

"As though sh'ad Twins within her."

38 there lies] theres QI.

42 Rather... stand] om. F.