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There's a hot durance. He'll ne'er wish more freedom.

TYRANT

'Tis true; let 'em be both forced back.

Stay, we command you!

Thou talk'st not like a statesman. Had my wrath

Took hold of such extremity at first,

They'd lived suspectful still, warned by their fears;

Where, now that liberty makes 'em more secure,

I'll take 'em at my pleasure. It gives thee

Freer access to play the father for us

And ply her to our will.

HELVETIUS

Mass, so it does,

Let a man think on't twice! Your grace hath happened

Upon a strange way, yet it proves the nearest.

TYRANT

Nay, more, to vex his soul give command straight

They be divided into several rooms,

Where he may only have a sight of her,

To his mind's torment, but his arms and lips

Locked up like felons from her.

HELVETIUS

Now you win me.

I like that cruelty passing well, my lord.

TYRANT

Give order with all speed.

HELVETIUS

Though I be old,

I need no spur, my lord. Honour pricks me.

I do beseech your grace, look cheerfully.

You shall not want content, if it be locked

In any blood of mine: the key's your own;

You shall command the wards.

TYRANT

Say'st thou so, sir?

I were ingrateful, then, should I see thee

Want honour, that provides content for me.

Exeunt. A flourish.

ACT I.ii. Anselmus' house

Enter Lord Anselmus, the deposed king's brother, with his friend Votarius.

VOTARIUS

Pray, sir, confine your thoughts and excuse me.

Methinks the deposed king your brother's sorrow

Should find you business enough.

ANSELMUS

How, Votarius!

Sorrow for him? Weak ignorance talks not like thee.

Why, he was never happier.

VOTARIUS

Pray prove that, sir.

ANSELMUS

H'as lost the kingdom, but his mind's restored.

Which is the larger empire? Prithee tell me.

Dominions have their limits; the whole earth

Is but a prisoner, nor the sea her jailor,

That with a silver hoop locks in her body;

They're fellow prisoners, though the sea look bigger

Because he is in office and pride swells him.

But the unbounded kingdom of the mind

Is as unlimitable as heav'n,

That glorious court of spirits, all honest courtiers.

Sir, if thou lov'st me, turn thine eye to me

And look not after him that needs thee not.

My brother's well attended; peace and pleasure

Are never from his sight. He has his mistress;

She brought those servants and bestowed them on him.

But who brings mine?

VOTARIUS

Had you not both long since

By a kind, worthy lady, your chaste wife?

ANSELMUS

That's it that I take pains with thee to be sure of.

What true report can I send to my soul

Of that I know not? We must only think

Our ladies are good people, and so live with 'em,

A fine security for them! Our own thoughts

Make the best fools of us; next to them, our wives.

But say she's all chaste, yet, is that her goodness?

What labour is't for woman to keep constant

That's never tried or tempted? Where's her fight?

The war's within her breast, her honest anger

Against the impudence of flesh and hell.

So let me know the lady of my rest

Or I shall never sleep well. Give not me

The thing that is thought good, but what's approved so.

So wise men choose. Oh, what a lazy virtue

Is chastity in a woman if no sin

Should lay temptation to't! Prithee set to her,

And bring my peace along with thee.

VOTARIUS

You put to me

A business that will do my words more shame

Than ever they got honour among women.

Lascivious courtings among sinful mistresses

Come ever seasonably, please best.

But let the boldest ruffian touch the ear

Of modest ladies with adulterous sounds,

Their very looks confound him and force grace

Into that cheek where impudence sets her seal.

That work is never undertook with courage

That makes his master blush. However, sir,

What profit can return to you by knowing

That which you do already, with more toil?

Must a man needs, in having a rich diamond,

Put it between a hammer and an anvil

And, not believing the true worth and value,

Break it in pieces to find out the goodness,

And in the finding lose it? Good sir, think on't!