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Exit Sophonirus.

TYRANT

Thy honours with thy daughter's love shall rise;

I shall read thy deservings in her eyes.

HELVETIUS

Oh, may they be eternal books of pleasure,

To show you all delight!

GOVIANUS

The loss of her sits closer to my heart

Than that of kingdom or the whorish pomp

Of this world's titles that with flattery swells us

And makes us die like beasts fat for destruction.

Oh, she's a woman, and her eye will stand

Upon advancement, never weary yonder;

But when she turns her head by chance and sees

The fortunes that are my companions,

She'll snatch her eyes off, and repent the looking.

TYRANT

'Tis well advised. We doom thee, Govianus,

To banishment forever from our kingdom.

GOVIANUS

What could be worse to one whose heart is locked

Up in another's bosom? Banishment!

And why not death? Is that too easy for me?

TYRANT

But that the world would call our way to dignity

A path of blood,

It should be the first act in all our reign.

GOVIANUS

She's lost forever. [To Nobles] Farewell, virtuous men,

Too honest for your greatness! Now y'are mightier

Than when we knew the kingdom, your styles heavier.

Then, ponderous nobility, farewell.

[FIRST] NOBLE

How's that, sir?

GOVIANUS

Weighty and serious. Oh, sir, is it you?

I knew you one and twenty and a lord

When your discretion sucked. Is't come from nurse yet?

You scorn to be a scholar; you were born better.

You have good lands; that's the best grounds of learning.

If you can conster but your doctor's bill,

Pierce your wife's waiting-women, and decline your tenants

Till they're all beggars, with new fines and rackings,

Y'are scholar good enough for a lady's son

That's born to living. If you list to read,

Ride but to th' city and bestow your looks

On the court library, the mercers' books;

They'll quickly furnish you. Do but entertain

A tailor for your tutor, to expound

All the hard stuff to you, by what name and title

Soever they be called.

[FIRST] NOBLE

I thank you, sir.

GOVIANUS

'Tis happy you have learned so much manners,

Since you have so little wit. Fare you well, sir.

TYRANT

Let him be stayed awhile.

[SECOND] NOBLE

Stay!

[FIRST] NOBLE

You must stay, sir.

GOVIANUS

He's not so honest, sure, to change his mind,

Revoke his doom. Hell has more hope on him.

TYRANT

We have not ended yet; the worst part's coming.

Thy banishment were gentle were that all.

But, t'afflict thy soul, before thou goest

Thou shalt behold the heav'n that thou must lose,

In her that must be mine.

Then to be banished, then to be deprived,

Shows the full torment we provide for thee.

GOVIANUS

Here's a right tyrant now; he will not bate me

Th' affliction of my soul; he will have all parts

Suffer together.

Enter [Memphonius and Sophonirus] with the Lady clad in black.

Now I see my loss;

I never shall recover't. My mind's beggared.

TYRANT

Black! Whence risse that cloud? Can such a thing be seen

In honour's glorious day, the sky so clear?

Why mourns the kingdom's mistress? Does she come

To meet advancement in a funeral garment?

Back! She forgot herself. 'Twas too much joy

That bred this error, and we heartily pardon't.

Go, bring me her hither like an illustrious bride

With her best beams about her: let her jewels

Be worth ten cities; that beseems our mistress,

And not a widow's case, a suit to weep in.

LADY

I am not to be altered.

TYRANT

How!

LADY

I have a mind

That must be shifted ere I cast off these,

Or I shall wear strange colours. 'Tis not titles

Nor all the bastard honours of this frame

That I am taken with. I come not hither

To please the eye of glory, but of goodness,

And that concerns not you, sir; you're for greatness.

I dare not deal with you. I have found my match,

And I will never loose him.

GOVIANUS

If there be man

Above a king in fortunes, read my story

And you shall find him there. Farewell, poor kingdom.

[To Tyrant] Take it to help thee; thou hast need on't now.

I see thee in distress, more miserable

Than some thou lay'st taxations