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The house is round beset with armed men

That know their time, when to break in and seize on her.

LADY

My lord!

GOVIANUS

'Tis boldly done to trouble me

When I've such business to dispatch. Within there!

Enter Servant.

[SERVANT]

My lord?

GOVIANUS

Look out, and tell me what thou seest.

[Exit Servant.]

SOPHONIRUS

How quickly now my death will be revenged,

Before the king's first sleep! I depart laughing

To think upon the deed.

[Dies.]

GOVIANUS

'Tis thy banquet.

Down, villain, to thy everlasting weeping,

That canst rejoice so in the rape of virtue,

And sing light tunes in tempests, when near shipwrecked,

And have no plank to save us!

Enter Servant.

Now, sir, quickly.

SERVANT

Which way soe'er I cast mine eye, my lord,

Out of all parts a' th' house, I may see fellows

Gathered in companies and all whispering

Like men for treachery busy--

LADY

'Tis confirmed.

SERVANT

Their eyes still fixed upon the doors and windows.

GOVIANUS

I think thou'st never done; thou lov'st to talk on't.

'Tis fine discourse. Prithee find other business.

SERVANT

Nay, I am gone. I'm a man quickly sneaped.

Exit.

GOVIANUS

H'as flattered me with safety for this hour.

LADY

Have you leisure to stand idle? Why, my lord,

It is for me they come.

GOVIANUS

For thee, my glory,

The riches of my youth, it is for thee.

LADY

Then is your care so cold? Will you be robbed

And have such warning of the thieves? Come on, sir!

Fall to your business; lay your hands about you.

Do not think scorn to work. A resolute captain

Will rather fling the treasure of his bark

Into whales' throats than pirates should be gorged with't.

Be not less man than he. Thou art master yet,

And all's at thy disposing. Take thy time;

Prevent mine enemy. Away with me;

Let me no more be seen. I'm like that treasure

Dangerous to him that keeps it. Rid thy hands on't.

GOVIANUS

I cannot loose thee so.

LADY

Shall I be taken

And lost the cruel'st way? Then wouldst thou curse

That love that sent forth pity to my life,

Too late thou wouldst.

GOVIANUS

Oh, this extremity!

Hast thou no way to scape 'em but in soul?

Must I meet peace in thy destruction

Or will it ne'er come at me?

'Tis a most miserable way to get it.

I had rather be content to live without it

Than pay so dear for't, and yet lose it too.

LADY

Sir, you do nothing; there's no valour in you.

Y'are the worst friend to a lady in affliction

That ever love made his companion.

For honour's sake, dispatch me! Thy own thoughts

Should stir thee to this act more than my weakness.

The sufferer should not do't. I speak thy part,

Dull and forgetful man, and all to help thee!

Is it thy mind to have me seized upon

And borne with violence to the tyrant's bed,

There forced unto the lust of all his days?

GOVIANUS

Oh, no, thou liv'st no longer now I think on't.

I take thee at all hazard.

LADY

Oh, stay! Hold, sir!

GOVIANUS

Lady,

What had you made me done now? You never cease

Till you prepare me cruel 'gainst my heart,

And then you turn 't upon my hand and mock me.

LADY

Cowardly flesh,

Thou show'st thy faintness still; I felt thee shake

E'en when the storm came near thee. Thou'rt the same.

But 'twas not for thy fear I put death by;

I had forgot a chief and worthy business

Whose strange neglect would have made me forgotten

Where I desire to be remembered most.

I will be ready straight, sir.

[Kneels in prayer.]

GOVIANUS

Oh, poor lady,

Why might not she expire now in that prayer,

Since she must die, and never try worse ways?

'Tis not so happy, for we often see

Condemned men sick to death, yet 'tis their fortune

To recover to their execution

And rise again in heath to set in shame!

What if I steal a death unseen of her now,

And close up all my miseries, with mine eyes?

Oh, fie!

And leave her here alone? That were unmanly.

LADY

My lord, be now as sudden as you please, sir.

I am ready to your hand.

GOVIANUS

But that's not ready.

'Tis the hard'st