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Enter Guard.

[GUARD]

My lord?

TYRANT

Bear that old fellow to our castle prisoner.

Give charge he be kept close.

HELVETIUS

Close prisoner?

Why, my heart thanks thee. I shall have more time

And liberty to virtue in one hour

Than all those threescore years I was a courtier.

So by imprisonment I sustain great loss:

Heav'n opens to that man the world keeps close.

Exit [with Guard].

SOPHONIRUS

[Aside] But I'll not go to prison to try that.

Give me the open world; there's a good air.

TYRANT

I would fain send death after him, but I dare not;

He knows I dare not: that would give just cause

Of her unkindness everlasting to me.

His life may thank his daughter. Sophonirus,

Here, take this jewel, bear it as a token

To our heart's saint. 'Twill do thy words no harm.

Speech may do much, but wealth's a greater charm

Than any made of words, and, to be sure,

If one or both should fail, I provide farther.

Call forth those resolute fellows whom our clemency

Saved from a death of shame in time of war

For field offenses. Give 'em charge from us

They arm themselves with speed, beset the house

Of Govianus round, that if thou fail'st,

Or stay'st beyond the time thou leav'st with them,

They may with violence break in themselves

And seize on her for our use.

Exeunt. Manet Sophonirus.

SOPHONIRUS

They're not so saucy

To seize on her for their own, I hope,

As there are many knaves will begin first

And bring their lords the bottom. I have been served so

A hundred times myself, by a scurvy page

That I kept once;

But my wife loved him, and I could not help it.

A flourish. Exit.

ACT III.i. Govianus' house

Enter Govianus with his Lady and a Servant.

GOVIANUS

What is he?

SERVANT

An old lord come from court.

GOVIANUS

He should be wise by's years; he will not dare

To come about such business: 'tis not man's work.

Art sure he desired conference with thy lady?

SERVANT

Sure, sir.

GOVIANUS

Faith, thou'rt mistook; 'tis with me, certain.

Let's do the man no wrong; go, know it truly, sir.

SERVANT

[Aside] This a strange humour, we must know things twice.

Exit.

GOVIANUS

There's no man is so dull but he will weigh

The work he undertakes, and set about it

E'en in the best sobriety of judgment,

With all his senses watchful. Then his guilt

Does equal his for whom 'tis undertaken.

Enter Servant.

What says he now?

SERVANT

E'en as he said at first, sir.

H'as business to my lady from the king.

GOVIANUS

Still from the king! He will not come near, will he?

SERVANT

Yes, when he knows he shall, sir.

GOVIANUS

I cannot think it.

Let him be tried.

SERVANT

Small trial will serve him, I warrant you, sir.

[Exit.]

GOVIANUS

Sure honesty has left man. Has fear forsook him?

Yes, faith, there is no fear where there's no grace.

LADY

What way shall I devise to give him his answer?

Denial is not strong enough to serve, sir.

GOVIANUS

No, 't must have other helps.

Enter Sophonirus.

I see he dares.

Oh, patience, I shall lose a friend of thee!

SOPHONIRUS

I bring thee, precious lady, this dear stone

And commendations from the king my master.

GOVIANUS

[Drawing his sword] I set before thee, panderous lord, this steel,

And much good do't thy heart! Fall to, and spare not!

[Stabs Sophonirus.]

LADY

'Las, what have you done, my lord?

GOVIANUS

Why, sent a bawd

Home to his lodging; nothing else, sweetheart.

SOPHONIRUS

Well, you have killed me, sir, and there's an end;

But you'll get nothing by the hand, my lord,

When all your cards are counted. There be gamesters,

Not far off, will set upon the winner

And make a poor lord on you ere th'ave left you.

I'm fetched in like a fool to pay the reck'ning,

Yet you'll save nothing by't.

GOVIANUS

What riddle's this?

SOPHONIRUS

There she stands by thee now, who yet ere midnight

Must lie by the king's side.

GOVIANUS

Who speaks that lie?

SOPHONIRUS

One hour will make it true: she cannot scape

No more than I from death; y'ave a great gain on't