Scene III THE SWISSES
And what a Conflict hee indur'd, betwixt His Duty to his Prince, and promise past To a distressed Maid : thinke but of that, And for his sake —
King. Yes, yes! I know it well, You are Arioldus whore; that doth incense mee 105
The more against thee; I must sue for what Y^ou prostitude to him. Am I lese worthy? Suruay mee well, and if thou beest not blinder Then a darke sighted Mole, such earthy thoughts Will not possesse thee long.
Euri. By all the Powers no
That nourish goodnes, hee hath bene to mee Onely a Refuge; and I loue his Vertue, More then my life. Cutt mee in Peeces, Sir, If you be angrie, exercise your Anger, And wound mee, not myne Honor.
King. I ha bene * 115
Baffel'd toe lately by a stubbome faire One, Just such another as thou art : forsake mee All that pertakes of Man, if thou escap'st. I train'd thee purposely from Companie; Heere's none to rescue thee.
Eziri. Y'es, I haue hands, 120
And teeth and tougne shall fight for mee.
King. Thy Cries Cannot be heard, it is in vaine to striue,
66 THE SWISSER Act III
Thou canst bring nothing to thee by this strugling But more contempt.
Euri. \'ett heare mee once agen.
What will the Virgins think? What the graue Matrons? 125 W^hat the sad Soûles of your Progenitors, When such black actions shall putt out the light Of all your Vertues? And what horrid looks Will such foule Crimes putt on to fright Repentance?
King. This bates mee now as much as the warme west wind Th'intemper of the torrid Zone; bid fire 131
To leaue his high and mounting Quallitie ! Or chide prompt Nature that hath taught my blood Thus to rebell; but Fie not stand to talke — [seises her.']
Euri. Help, Help!
King, [aside]. My watchword ! Now they come ! {Enter 2 or J [men] disguiz'd.) Hands heere! 135
Etm. [to the men]. For Heauen sake, help mee !
King. Stop her mouth ! Away !
Exeunt omnes.
ACTVS QVARTVS
SC^NA PRIMA
[A Hall in the House of Arioldus.']
ARiOLDvs meets evrinia with her haire about her eares.
HAT doe I see ? Drop out myne Eyes ! What Obiect Strikes my afflicted Soule?
Euri. The most black Story That the worst times could e're produce. My Lord, I am abus'd, dishonor'd, violated.
The King ! The King !
Ariol. Seaze mee some stupid Spirit, 5
That what I heare and see may passe vnsensibly By my too prompt Imagination, Least that the waight of it be greater then My Reason well can beare. I dare not thinke What I am loth to know.
Euri. The King's a Ravisher! 10
68 THE SWISSER Act IV
Ariol. Thy lookes do speake no lesse. O what am I But a distracted peece of Earth? Where's now The Moderation dull Philosophie Soe much doth boast of ? I am put to the trial 1, And ther's no meane in this. This Spectacle 15
Wo'd make a frostie Patience glow, and burne, Till it looks red with fury. None t'abuse, But a poore innocent and Captiue Maid, Tost in a sea of Suffrings.
Euri. I am come To take my leaue of you.
Ariol Indeed th'ast Reason; 20
For ther's more safety among Saluages Then where such Lust raignes. Yett, I pry thee, stay. That thou maist see the ruines of thyne Honor Repair'd by a Reuenge.
Euri. No, I must goe Where you shall neuer find mee more. Yett, pray, 25
Thinke sometyme of a litle Boy that seru'd you; Did you ne're see him since?
Ariol. Amazement strikes mee !
Euri. 'Twas I, my lord. I now am bold to tell you What I had euer purpos'd to conceale;
I lou'd your Vertues, and I seru'd you truly. 30
WVd I had done so still; then had I ioy'd In what I neuer more shall looke vpon ! But some freinds that I trusted, vrging often What a Dishonor 'twas, neuer left working,
Till they had gott mee from you; but they lookt 35
Not with my Eyes, nor were their thoughts so harmeles;
For Heauen knowes all I wisht for was to bee
A seruant to your Goodnes. In the Battaile
(Where you were Victor) my Prayers still went wi' yee :
And when the Enemie fled, willing to heare 40
Th'assurance of your health, I ventur'd out,
And was seiz'd on by Souldiers, that did tell mee
I should to Lord Arioldus. None more willing
To be a Captiue there, I went with 'em,
And I was truly one. But now —
Ariol. Speake still, 45
And I will stand a Liuing Statue, till Thy su ff rings make mee Marble.
- Euri. Now, farewell.
Farewell for euer. All that I desire Is but your charitable Censure; for I haue paid for my faults.
Ariol. O giue mee tyme 50
To reckon vp my greifs. Heere stands a man Exactly miserable! Was't not enough To haue a stranger Virgin (whose deare innocence Crau'd my protection) rauisht from my hands, But it must proue a freind? A freind, that lou'd mee; 55
With such a Loue, too, as to sleight all dangers. Fortune, or Mallice could deuise. Such Beauty Obscur'd in seruile weeds ! Where were my Eyes ? Haue I a curse to come that can exceede this ?
;o THE SWISSER Act IV
If there bee, show it, fate.
EurL I shall but trouble yee, 60
To tarry longer.
Ariol. Lett mee loose all sence Of what thou su ff 'rest if I part from thee; rie loue thee yett; there is no Recompence Can meet thy merrit elce.
Euri. Oh no, my Lord; Lett some vnspotted Virgin tiaue a Place 65
In your most noble thoughts; while I was soe It was a blessing Heauen denyed mee. Now I am too foule, some black and dismall Caue Shall shroud mee from your Eyes.
Ariol. Thy teares will do't If thou continewst thus. I will mourne wi' thee, 70
And euery Sigh, and drop, like the quick Minutes, Shall wast, and make our equall lines of life (Plum'd with our waighty Sorrowes) find no Rest Till they run out together. Doe not leaue mee !
E?m. I know I shall but greiue your Noble Patience, 75 Which I am loth to doe.
Ariol. Thou art to mee The light of all my actions, and by thee I shall see how to mannage my Reuenge. Had I a hart as cold as feare could make it, A hand as slow to Vengeance as thy wrongs 80
Are quick and crauing : theise disorder'd haires, And theise sad teares wo'd print mee out a way:
