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Make such a father? Turn a grave old lord

To a white-headed squire? Make him so base

To buy his honours with his daughter's soul

And the perpetual shaming of his blood?

Hast thou the leisure, thou forgetful man,

To think upon advancement at these years?

What wouldst thou do with greatness? Dost thou hope

To fray death with't, or hast thou that conceit

That honour will restore thy youth again?

Thou art but mocked, old fellow: 'tis not so;

Thy hopes abuse thee. Follow thine own business

And list not to the sirens of the world.

Alas, thou hadst more need kneel at an altar

Than to a chair of state,

And search thy conscience for thy sins of youth:

That's work enough for age; it needs no greater.

Thou'rt called within: thy very eyes look inward

To teach thy thoughts the way, and thy affections;

But miserable notes that conscience sings

That cannot truly pray, for flattering kings.

HELVETIUS

This was well searched indeed, and without favouring.

Blessing reward thee! Such a wound as mine

Did need a pitiless surgeon. Smart on, soul;

Thou't feel the less hereafter. Sir, I thank you;

I ever saw my life in a false glass

Until this friendly hour. With what fair faces

My sins would look on me! But now truth shows 'em,

How loathsome and how monstrous are their forms.

[Kneels to Govianus.]

Be you my king and master still; henceforward

My knee shall know no other earthly lord.

Well may I spend this life to do you service,

That sets my soul in her eternal way.

GOVIANUS

Rise, rise, Helvetius!

HELVETIUS

I'll see both your hands

Set to my pardon first.

GOVIANUS

Mine shall bring hers.

LADY

Now, sir, I honour you for your goodness chiefly.

Y'are my most worthy father: you speak like him;

The first voice was not his. My joy and reverence

Strive which should be most seen. [As they raise him] Let our hands, sir,

Raise you from earth thus high, and may it prove

The first ascent of your immortal rising,

Never to fall again.

HELVETIUS

A spring of blessings

Keep ever with thee, and the fruit thy lord's.

GOVIANUS

I ha' lost an enemy and have found a father.

Exeunt.

ACT II.ii. Anselmus' house

Enter Votarius sadly.

VOTARIUS

All's gone; there's nothing but the prodigal left:

I have played away my soul at one short game

Where e'en the winner loses.

Pursuing sin, how often did I shun thee!

How swift art thou afoot, beyond man's goodness,

Which has a lazy pace! So was I catched.

A curse upon the cause! Man in these days

Is not content to have his lady honest,

And so rest pleased with her without more toil,

But he must have her tried, forsooth, and tempted;

And when she proves a quean then he lies quiet,

Like one that has a watch of curious making,

Thinking to be more cunning than the workman,

Never gives over tamp'ring with the wheels

Till either spring be weakened, balance bowed,

Or some wrong pin put in, and so spoils all.

How I could curse myself! Most business else

Delight[s] in the dispatch; that's the best grace to't.

Only this work of blind, repented lust

Hangs shame and sadness on his master's cheek.

Yet wise men take no warning--

Enter Wife.

Nor can I now.

Her very sight strikes my repentance backward;

It cannot stand against her. Chamber thoughts

And words that have sport in 'em, they're for ladies.

WIFE

My best and dearest servant!

VOTARIUS

Worthiest mistress!

Enter Leonella.

[LEONELLA]

Madam!

WIFE

Who's that? My woman? She's myself.

Proceed, sir.

LEONELLA

Not if you love your honour, madam.

I came to give you warning my lord's come.

VOTARIUS

How!

WIFE

My lord!

LEONELLA

[Aside] Alas, poor vessels, how this tempest tosses 'em!

They're driven both asunder in a twinkling;

Down goes the sails here, and main mast yonder.

Here rides a bark with better fortune yet;

I fear no tossing, come what weather will.

I have a trick to hold out water still.

VOTARIUS

[Aside] His very name shoots like a fever through me,

Now hot, now cold. Which cheek shall I turn toward him,

For fear he should read guiltiness