Scene II THE SWISS ER ;i

Etm. Oh, must I add a Murther to my faults?

Ariol. A Justice, iniur'd maid, which I must execute Against my Will. Wo'd my owne life wo'd serue! 85

I willingly wo'd pay it; but I must not. That Tirant Honor sayes I must not : I Cannot subsist, vnlesse I pull a cursse Vpon my head, by Murdring of my King.

Is there a man more wretched ? Oh Arioldus ! 90

Thou art vpon the Rack now; beare it brauely. rie to him presently; hee sent to speake wi' mee Just as I mett thee; I'le take this occation. And when I haue by his sad fate giuen ease To thy afflicted Hart, wee'le sett and count 95

Our heauy howers; that when Posteritie Wo'd find a story that deserues a Pittie, It may be cal'd Eurinias, or the Captiues. And I will add some Legends of my owne To make it more. [Calling.] Who's there?

[Enter Seruant.'] Attend this ladie. Exit evrinia.

I had forgott to aske her Parentage — 100

But I am all a sea. a sea of trouble! Exit arioldvs.

SC^NA SECVNDA

[An Apartment in the Palace.]

ANDRVCHO.

Andru. The King hath sent for Arioldus, and I feare hee will preuent mee; hee is noble,

;2 THE SW/SSER Act IV

And will not suffer such a Monstrous Crime To passe vnpunisht. But Tie hinder him.

I shalbe lost elce; 'tis my Right. I'le borrow 5

/ The shelter of this hanging. Hee hides himself.

[Enter] king, servant.

King. Will hee come?

Ser. Hee told mee so, Sir.

Kiitg. When hee enters, see Wee find no interruption.

Ser. [aside.] What should this meane? Exit servant.

King. I haue done ill thus to abuse a stranger, Too late I find it. But are Princes wills 10

Bounded to Rules ? Yett wo'd it were vndon ! But 'tis not to be helpt now.

[Enter] arioldvs.

Arioldus, I sent to speake wi' yee.

Ariol. And I am come.

King. Are you so short wi' mee?

Ariol. Breifnes is best. 14

King. This was not wont to bee. There is more difference Betwixt the Parties.

Ariol. A swords length or soe.

But to the Purpose; I wo'd know the matter.

King. What's this, Arioldus? Am I to be forc't?

Ariol. I am no Rauisher!

King. I can be taunted, And beare it toe. O what a Coward's Guilt? 20

Ariol. I'me sorry, Sir, to vse such words. My Dutie, (When it was firme and not Corrupted thus) Bad mee fall downe before yee, and with Reuerence, As to the Demy-gods; but your strange actions Haue like a Cloud o'respread it, sullied all 25

That beares that Name. I co'd mourne drops of Blood For what you haue no sence of !

King. Yes, I haue.

I haue consider'd all, waigh'd euery Circumstance, And find it but a scape, a heat of youth,

A rash and vncollected Accident; 30

But that which greiues mee most, is the impression That it will strike in thee. I know, I haue Done thee an Iniury; pardon it, Arioldus, Fme very sorry fort.

Ariol. You co'd not vex mee With a worse torment; all the wayes of Death, 35

All at a tyme, could not haue Rackt mee more. (Aside.) I was so hott at first to raise his anger, Hoping it wo'd take fire, that in those flames Hee might haue tum'd to ashes. Now I must Deny my King a Pardon, that hath power 40

To take my life; or I must yeild to him, And haue the Marke of Coward, and the staine Of poore Eurinia printed in my face.

W^hat Medium is there?

74 THE SWISSER Act IV

King. I doe find your trouble, And know your Noblenes; I'le help you out wo't, 45

And to that purpose I did send for yee : I doe acknowledge I haue done an iniurie, And doe propose two things for satisfaction.

Ariol. There is none to be giuen for this offence; Can you recall the Tyme past? and from Age 50

Borrow a Minute? or will Nature bee Brought to her prime and Natiue Puritie While such Corruptions haue predominance? Thinke first by adding one drop to the Sea, You doe restore the flouds that are drain'd thence. 55

No, no, it is impossible.

King. Yett heare mee; You had a temper once.

Ariol. But it is lost Where I shall neuer find it more; I am Just like a weather beaten Vessell, tost

From Rock to rock, from Scilla to Charibdis : 60

My Course is desperate; no s'aile I make In this sad storme can keepe mee vp from sinking.

King. Yett heare what I will say. I haue a sister Of such vnualued Beauty, that the Price

Of Kingdomes onely can make purchase of; 65

And shee loues you, Ariol dus.

Ariol Mee !

King. And Dearely :

I gott it out of her by chance. This Jewell

Shall hang about thy Necke, and clap thy Cheeks,

Fixe her transparent Eyes in thyne, vntill

Your wandring" Soules find an Elizium; 70

There Reuell all your Sences, till Loues Night

(Death) doth deuide you. Is not this sufficient

For one poore fault?

Ariol. Although my greifs distract mee I am not so much absent from my Reason But that I apprehend the height of Honor 75

You wo'd conferr vpon mee. But in this, You add vnto my Miseries; your kindnes, I doe not wish nor looke for; 'tis like daggers To my perplexed Hart. Shoot thunder at mee, That I may answere yee in the same Mettaile; 80

I can not meet your Loue now.

King. This exchange Is not so farr from Reason.

Ariol No ! To sell The Honor of a Virgin (which by oth I was to keepe inuolate) at a Rate;

Sett price vpon your Lust, and purchase Shame, 85

With the sad fall of Vertue; guild my Vices, And make em higher for y® world to gaze at, While the foundation shalbee built vpon The Ruines of all Goodnes ! Noe ! I loath The painted out side of a Rotten Soule. 90

How happy had I bene, if I had rested In the Calme Shade of a retired life,

;6 THE SWISSER Act IV

Which your hott importunity did rob mee of.

My mind held strange Predictions then, and are not

Those Engins now in Motion ? O soft Quiet ! 95

Thou blessed bosome of Content, how farr

Are guilty States from reaching thee?

King. You may Find all agen by this; be sett so hye, That the sharpe tougnes of Mallice dare not reach yee. I wo'd faine buy thy Peace.

Ariol. Nothing can purchase it. 100

Mischeife is broken loose, and like the winds, From the crackt Bowells of the Earth doth rage; There is no shelter from the Tempest of it. The Empire of the World cannot redeeme The peace of my vext sou le.

King. Since this distasts thee, 105

I will propound another.

Ariol. 'Tis in vaine.

You cannot find a Second; if my Hart In theise feirce tumults could haue wisht a Rest, It had bene there; your Sister hath a Breast Soe full of Sweetnes ! But you may aswell no

Collect the falling Dropps the gray-ey'd Morning Payes to the Flowers, and string 'em all like Pearles T'adorne mee like a gaudy Miserie, Till I desolue with 'em; or from the Sun Snatch the high Power of Generation, 115

Till a New Nature doth possesse vs all.