He gallop'd empty by; there is some treason:

You, Galatea, rode with her into the wood; why left you her;

Gal. She did command me.

King. You're all cunning to obey us for our hurt; But I will have her.

Run all, disperse yourselves; the man that finds her, Or (if she be kill'd) the traitor; I'll make him great. Pha. Come, let us seek.

King. Each man a several way; here I myself.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Another part of the wood. Enter ARETHUSA.

Are. Where am I now? Feet, find me out a way, Without the counsel of my troubled head;

I'll follow you boldly about these woods,

O'er mountains, thorough brambles, pits, and floods: Heaven, I hope, will ease me. I am sick.

Enter BELLARIO.

Bel. Yonder's my lady; heav'n knows, I want nothing,

Because I do not wish to live; yet I

Will try her charity. O hear, you that have plenty, And from that flowing store, drop some on dry ground: see,

The lively red is gone to guard her heart; [She faints.

I fear, she faints. Madam, look up; she breathes not;

Open once more those rosy twins, and send
Unto my lord, your latest farewell; oh, she stirs :
How is it, madam? Speak some 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.

Phi. I am to blame to be so much in rage:
I'll tell her coolly, when and where I heard
This killing truth. I will be temperate
In speaking, and as just in hearing it.

Oh, monstrous! [Seeing them,] Tempt me not, ye gods! good gods,

Tempt not a frail man! what's he, that has a heart, But he must ease it here?

Bel. My lord, help the princess.

Are. I am well, forbear.

Phi. Let me love lightning, let me be embrac'd And kiss'd by scorpions, or adore the eyes

Of basilisks, rather than trust the tongues

Of hell-bred women! Some good gods look down,
And shrink these veins up; stick me here a stone,
Lasting to ages in the memory

Of this damn'd act! Hear me, you wicked ones!
You have put hills of 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?
Poison of asps 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 passion. Not the calmed sea,
When Æolus locks up his windy brood,

Is less disturb'd than I. I'll 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 reign
In sin, without controul. Wilt thou Bellario?
I pr'ythee, kill me; "thou art poor, and may'st
"Nourish ambitions thoughts, when I am dead:
"This way were freer.”

Are. Kill you!

Bel. Not for a world.

Phi. I blame not thee,

Bellario; thou hast done but that which gods Would have transform'd themselves to do! "Begone, "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. None.

Are. Shew me then the way.

Phi. Then guide

My feeble hand, you that have pow'r to do it!
For must perform a piece of justice. If your youth
Have any way offended Heav'n, let pray'rs
Short and effectual reconcile you to it.

Enter a Country Fellow.

Coun. I'll 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. There's a courtier with his sword drawn, by this hand, upon a woman, I think.

Are. I am prepar'd.

Phi. Are you at peace ?

Are. With Heav'n and earth.

Phi. May they divide thy soul and body!

Coun. Hold, dastard! offer to strike a woman!

Phi. Leave us, good friend.

[Preventing him.

Are. What ill-bred man art thou, thus to intrude

thyself

"Upon our private sports, our recreations ?"

Coun. I understand you not; but I know the knave wou'd have hurt you.

Phi. Pursue thy own affairs; it will be ill

To multiply blood upon my head, which thou wilt force me to.

Coun. I know not your rhetoric; but I cay lay it on, if you offer to touch the woman.

Phi. Slave, take what thou deserv'st. [They fight. Are. Heav'ns guard my lord!

Bel. Unmanner'd boor!-my lord!

[Interposing, is wounded.

Phi. I hear the tread of people: I am hurt. The gods take part against me, cou'd this boor Have held me thus else? I must shift for life, Though I do loath it. [Exit Phil and Bel.

Coun. I cannot follow the rogue.

Enter PHARAMOND, DION, CLERIMONT, THRASILINE, and Woodmen

Pha. What art thou?

Coun. Almost kill'd I am for a foolish woman; a knave would have hurt her.

Pha. The princess, gentlemen!

Dion. 'Tis above wonder! Who should dare do this? Pha. Speak, villain, who would have hurt the prin

cess?

Coun. Is it the princess?

Dion. Ay.

Coun. Then I have seen something yet.

Pha. But who would have hurt her?

Coun. I told you, a rogue; I ne'er saw him before, I.

Pha. Madam, who was it?

Are. Some dishonest wretch;

Alas! I know him not, and do forgive him.