John Fletcher - The Maids Tragedy

Amin . Thou art Melantius ;
All love is spoke in that, a sacrifice
To thank the gods, Melantius is return'd
In safety; victory sits on his sword
As she was wont; may she build there and dwell,
And may thy Armour be as it hath been,
Only thy valour and thy innocence.
What endless treasures would our enemies give,
That I might hold thee still thus!

Mel . I am but poor in words, but credit me young man,
Thy Mother could no more but weep, for joy to see thee
After long absence; all the wounds I have,
Fetch not so much away, nor all the cryes
Of Widowed Mothers: but this is peace;
And what was War?

Amin . Pardon thou holy God
Of Marriage bed, and frown not, I am forc't
In answer of such noble tears as those,
To weep upon my Wedding day.

Mel . I fear thou art grown too sick; for I hear
A Lady mourns for thee, men say to death,
Forsaken of thee, on what terms I know not.

Amin . She had my promise, but the King forbad it,
And made me make this worthy change, thy Sister
Accompanied with graces above her,
With whom I long to lose my lusty youth,
And grow old in her arms.

Mel . Be prosperous.

Messen . My Lord, the Maskers rage for you.

Lys . We are gone. Cleon, Strata, Diphilus .

Amin . Wee'l all attend you, we shall trouble you
With our solemnities.

Mel . Not so Amintor .
But if you laugh at my rude carriage
In peace, I'le do as much for you in War
When you come thither: yet I have a Mistress
To bring to your delights; rough though I am,
I have a Mistress, and she has a heart,
She saies, but trust me, it is stone, no better,
There is no place that I can challenge in't.
But you stand still, and here my way lies.

Diag . Why do you swear so my Lord? You know he'l have it here.

Cal . By this light if he be wise he will not.

Diag . And if he will not be wise, you are forsworn.

Diag . My Lord, I will never keep them out.
Pray stay, your looks will terrifie them.

Diag . I mean, because they know you and your Office.

Diag . He's so humourous since his daughter was forsaken:
hark, hark, there, there, so, so, codes, codes.
What now?
[ Within. knock within .

Mel . Open the door.

Diag . Who's there?

Mel . Melantius .

Diag . I hope your Lordship brings no troop with you,
for if you do, I must return them.

Mel . None but this Lady Sir. [ And a Lady .

Diag . The Ladies are all plac'd above, save those that
come in the Kings Troop, the best of Rhodes sit there,
and there's room.

Mel . I thank you Sir: when I have seen you plac'd
Madam, I must attend the King; but the Mask done, I'le
wait on you again.

I pray can you help me to the speech of the Master Cook?

Diag . If I open the door I'le cook some of your Calvesheads. Peace Rogues.—again,—who is't?

Cal . Let him not in.

Diag . O my Lord I must; make room there for my
Lord; is your Lady plac't?

Mel . Yes Sir, I thank you my Lord Calianax : well met,
Your causless hate to me I hope is buried.

Cal . It may be so: who placed the Lady there so near the presence of the King?

Mel . I did.

Cal . My Lord she must not sit there.

Mel . Why?

Cal . The place is kept for women of more worth.

Mel . More worth than she? it mis-becomes your Age
And place to be thus womanish; forbear;
What you have spoke, I am content to think
The Palsey shook your tongue to.

Cal . Why 'tis well if I stand here to place mens wenches.

Cal . Nay, I know you can fight for your Whore.

Diag . Good my Lord!

Mel . Some god pluck threescore years from that fond man,
That I may kill him, and not stain mine honour;
It is the curse of Souldiers, that in peace
They shall be brain'd by such ignoble men,
As (if the Land were troubled) would with tears
And knees beg succour from 'em: would that blood
(That sea of blood) that I have lost in fight,
Were running in thy veins, that it might make thee
Apt to say less, or able to maintain,
Shouldst thou say more,—This Rhodes I see is nought
But a place priviledg'd to do men wrong.

Cal . I, you may say your pleasure.

Amint . What vilde injury
Has stirr'd my worthy friend, who is as slow
To fight with words, as he is quick of hand?