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Of dignity present?

LADY

Sir, your king did well

'Mongst all his nobles to pick out yourself

And send you with these words. His politic grace

Knew what he did, for well he might imagine

None else should have been heard; they'd had their answer

Before the question had been half way thorough.

But, dearest sir, I owe to you a reverence,

A debt which both begins and ends with life,

Never till then discharged, 'tis so long-lasting.

Yet could you be more precious than a father,

Which, next a husband, is the richest treasure

Mortality can show us, you should pardon me

(And yet confess too that you found me kind)

To hear your words, though I withstood your mind.

HELVETIUS

Say you so, daughter? Troth, I thank you kindly.

I am in hope to rise well by your means,

Or you to raise yourself. We're both beholding to you.

Well, since I cannot win you, I commend you;

I praise your constancy and pardon you.

Take Govianus to you, make the most of him;

Pick out your husband there, so you'll but grant me

One light request that follows.

LADY

Heaven forbid else, sir!

HELVETIUS

Give me the choosing of your friend, that's all.

LADY

How, sir? My friend? A light request indeed.

Somewhat too light, sir, either for my wearing

Or your own gravity, and you look on't well.

HELVETIUS

Push, talk like a courtier, girl, not like a fool!

Thou know'st the end of greatness, and hast wit

Above the flight of twenty feathered mistresses

That glister in the sun of princes' favours.

Thou hast discourse in thee, fit for a king's fellowship,

A princely carriage and astonishing presence.

What should a husband do with all this goodness?

Alas, one end an't is too much for him;

Nor is it fit a subject should be master

Of such a jewel. 'Tis in the king's power

To take it for the forfeit; but I come

To bear thee gently to his bed of honours,

All force forgotten. He commends him to thee

With more than the humility of a servant,

That since thou wilt not yield to be his queen,

Be yet his mistress: he shall be content

With that or nothing; he shall ask no more.

And with what easiness that is performed,

Most of your women know. Having a husband,

That kindness costs thee nothing; y'ave that in

All over and above to your first bargain,

And that's a brave advantage for a woman

If she be wise, as I suspect not thee.

And having youth, and beauty, and a husband,

Thou'st all the wish of woman. Take thy time, then;

Make thy best market.

LADY

Can you assure me, sir,

Whether my father spake this, or some spirit

Of evil-wishing that has for a time

Hired his voice of him, to beguile me that way,

Presuming on his power and my obedience?

I'd gladly know, that I might frame my answer

According to the speaker.

HELVETIUS

How now, baggage!

Am I in question with thee? Does thy scorn cast

So think an ignorance before thine eyes

That I am forgotten too? Who is't speaks to thee

But I thy father?

Enter Govianus discharging a pistol. [Helvetius falls.]

GOVIANUS

The more monstrous he!

Art down but with the bare voice of my fury?

Up, ancient sinner; thou'rt but mocked with death.

I missed thee purposely; thank this dear creature.

Oh, hast thou been anything beside her father

I'd made a fearful separation on thee:

I would have sent thy soul to a darker prison

Than any made of clay, and thy dead body

As a token to the lustful king thy master!

Art thou struck down so soon with the short sound

Of this small earthen instrument, and dost thou

So little fear th' eternal noise of hell?

What's she? Does she not bear thy daughter's name?

How stirs thy blood, sir? Is there a dead feeling

Of all things fatherly and honest in thee?

Say thou couldst be content, for greatness' sake,

To end the last act of thy life in panderism

(As you perhaps will say your betters do),

Must it needs follow that unmanly sin

Can work upon the weakness of no woman

But hers whose name and honour natural love

Bids thee preserve more charily than eyesight,

Health, or thy sense? Can promotion's thirst