• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

Than all times else can bring me! Is the answer

As pleasing as thyself?

HELVETIUS

Of what, my lord?

TYRANT

Of what? Fie, no! He did not say so, did he?

SOPHONIRUS

Oh, no, my lord, not he spoke no such word.

[Aside] I'll say as he would ha't, for I'd be loath

To have my body used like butcher's meat.

TYRANT

When comes she to our bed?

HELVETIUS

Who, my lord?

TYRANT

Hark!

You heard that plain amongst you?

SOPHONIRUS

Oh, my lord,

As plain as my wife's tongue, that drowns a sance bell.

[Aside] Let me alone to lay about for honour;

I'll shift for one.

TYRANT

When comes the lady, sir,

That Govianus keeps?

HELVETIUS

Why, that's my daughter.

TYRANT

Oh, is it so? Have you unlocked your memory?

What says she to us?

HELVETIUS

Nothing.

TYRANT

How thou tempt'st us!

What didst thou say to her, being sent from us?

HELVETIUS

More than was honest, yet it was but little.

TYRANT

How cruelly thou work'st upon our patience,

Having advantage 'cause thou art her father!

But be not bold too far; if duty leave thee,

Respect will fall from us.

HELVETIUS

Have I kept life

So long till it looks white upon my head,

Been threescore years a courtier, and a flatterer

Not above threescore hours, which time's repented

Amongst my greatest follies, and am I at these days

Fit for no place but bawd to mine own flesh?

You'll prefer all your old courtiers to good services.

If your lust keep but hot some twenty winters,

We are like to have a virtuous world of wives,

Daughters, and sisters, besides kinswomen

And cousin-germans removed up and down

Where'er you please to have 'em! Are white hairs

A colour fit for panders and flesh-brokers,

Which are the honoured ornaments of age,

To which e'en kings owe reverence as they're men

And greater in their goodness than their greatness?

And must I take my pay all in base money?

I was a lord born, set by all court grace,

And am I thrust now to a squire's place?

TYRANT

How comes the moon to change so in this man

That was at full but now in all performance,

And swifter than my wishes? I beshrew that virtue

That busied herself with him. She might have found

Some other work; the man was fit for me

Before she spoiled him. She has wronged my heart in't

And marred me a good workman. Now his art fails him,

What makes the man at court? This is no place

For fellows of no parts; he lives not here

That puts himself from action when we need him.

I take off all thy honours and bestow 'em

On any of this rank that will deserve 'em.

SOPHONIRUS

My lord, that's I. Trouble your grace no further.

I'll undertake to bring her to your bed

With some ten words. Marry, they're special charms:

No lady can withstand 'em; a witch taught me 'em.

If you doubt me, I'll leave my wife in pawn

For my true loyalty, and your majesty

May pass away the time till I return.

I have a care in all things.

TYRANT

That may thrive best

Which the least hope looks after, but, however,

Force shall help nature. I'll be too sure now.

Thy willingness may be fortunate; we employ thee.

SOPHONIRUS

Then I'll go fetch my wife, and take my journey.

TYRANT

Stay, we require no pledge; we think thee honest.

SOPHONIRUS

[Aside] Troth, the worse luck for me; we had both been made by't:

It was the way to make my wife great too.

TYRANT

[To Helvetius] I'll teach thee to be wide and strange to me!

Thou't feel thyself light shortly. I'll not leave thee

A title to put on, but the bare name

That men must call thee by, and know thee miserable.

HELVETIUS

'Tis miserable, king, to be of thy making

And leave a better workman. If thy honours

Only keep life in baseness, take 'em to thee,

And give 'em to the hungry. There's one gapes.

SOPHONIRUS

One that will swallow you, sir, for that jest,

And all your titles after.

HELVETIUS

The devil follow 'em!

There's room enough for him too. Leave me, thou king,

As poor as truth; the gentlewoman I now serve,

And never will forsake her for her plainness:

That shall not alter me!

TYRANT

No? Our guard