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VOTARIUS

I missed you more without. Would you had come sooner, sir!

ANSELMUS

Why, what's the business?

VOTARIUS

You should ha' seen a fellow,

A common bawdy-house ferret, one Bellarius,

Steal through this room, his whorish barren face

Three-quarters muffled. He is somewhere hid

About the house, sir.

ANSELMUS

Which way took the villain,

That marriage felon, one that robs the mind,

Twenty times worse than any highway striker?

Speak, which way took he?

VOTARIUS

Marry, my lord, I think--

Let me see, which way was't now? Up yon stairs.

ANSELMUS

The way to chamb'ring! Did not I say still

All thy temptations were too faint and lazy?

Thou didst not play 'em home.

VOTARIUS

To tell you true, sir,

I found her yielding ere I left her last,

And wavering in her faith.

ANSELMUS

Did not I think so?

VOTARIUS

That makes me suspect him.

ANSELMUS

Why, partial man!

Couldst thou hide this from me, so dearly sought for,

And rather waste thy pity upon her?

Thou'rt not so kind as my heart praised thee to me.

Hark!

VOTARIUS

'Tis his footing, certain.

ANSELMUS

Are you chambered?

I'll fetch you from aloft.

Exit Anselmus.

VOTARIUS

He takes my work

And toils to bring me ease. This use I'll make on him:

His care shall watch to keep all strange thieves out

Whiles I familiarly go in and rob him

Like one that knows the house.

But how has rashness and my jealousy used me!

Out of my vengeance to mine enemy

Confessed her yielding, I have locked myself

From mine own liberty with that key. Revenge

Does no man good but to his greatest harm.

Suspect and malice, like a mingled cup,

Made me soon drunk. I knew not what I spoke,

And that may get me pardon.

Enter Anselmus, a dagger in his hand, with Leonella.

LEONELLA

Why, my lord!

ANSELMUS

Confess, thou mystical panderess! Run, Votarius,

To the back gate; the guilty slave leaped out

And scaped me so. This strumpet locked him up

In her own chamber!

Exit Votarius.

LEONELLA

Hold, my lord! I might;

He is my husband, sir!

ANSELMUS

Oh, soul of cunning!

Came that arch-subtlety from thy lady's counsel

Or thine own sudden craft? Confess to me

How oft thou hast been a bawd to their close actions,

Or all thy light goes out!

LEONELLA

My lord, believe me,

In troth, I love a man too well myself

To bring him to my mistress.

ANSELMUS

Leave thy sporting,

Or my next offer makes thy heart weep blood!

LEONELLA

Oh, spare that strength, my lord, and I'll reveal

A secret that concerns you, for this does not.

ANSELMUS

Back, back, my fury, then:

It shall not touch thy breast. Speak freely. What is't?

LEONELLA

Votarius and my lady are false gamesters;

They use foul play, my lord.

ANSELMUS

Thou liest!

LEONELLA

Reward me then

For all together; if it prove not so,

I'll never bestow time to ask your pity.

ANSELMUS

Votarius and thy lady! 'Twill ask days

Ere it be settled in belief. So, rise;

Go get thee to thy chamber.

Exit.

LEONELLA

A pox on you!

You hindered me of better business, thank you.

H'as frayed a secret from me; would he were whipped!

Faith, from a woman a thing's quickly slipped.

Exit.

ACT II.iii. The court

Enter the Tyrant with Sophonirus, Memphonius, and other Nobles. A flourish.

TYRANT

My joys have all false hearts; there's nothing true to me

That's either kind or pleasant. I'm hardly dealt withal.

I must not miss her; I want her sight too long.

Where's this old fellow?

SOPHONIRUS

Here's one, my lord, of threescore and sev'nteen.

TYRANT

Push, that old limber ass puts in his head still!

Helvetius! Where is he?

MEMPHONIUS

Not yet returned, my lord.

Enter Helvetius.

TYRANT

Your lordship lies.

Here comes the kingdom's father. Who amongst you

Dares say this worthy man has not made speed?

I would fain hear that fellow.

SOPHONIRUS

[Aside] I'll not be he.

I like the standing of my head too well

To have it mended.

TYRANT

[To Helvetius] Thy sight quickens me.

I find a better health when thou art present