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After tempestuous life, I claim of thee

A mistress, one of the most beauteous sleepers

That ever lay so cold, not yet due to thee

By natural death, but cruelly forced hither

Many a fair year before the world could spare her.

We miss her 'mongst the glories of our court

When they be numbered up. All thy still strength,

Thou grey-eyed monument, shall not keep her from us.

[To Second Soldier] Strike, villain, though the echo rail us all

Into ridiculous deafness! Pierce the jaws

Of this cold, ponderous creature.

SECOND SOLDIER

Sir!

TYRANT

Why strik'st thou not?

SECOND SOLDIER

I shall not hold the axe fast, I'm afraid, sir.

TYRANT

Oh, shame of men! A soldier and so limber?

SECOND SOLDIER

'Tis out of my element to be in a church, sir.

Give me the open field and turn me loose, sir.

TYRANT

True, there thou hast room enough to run away.

[To First Solider] Take thou the axe from him.

FIRST SOLDIER

I beseech your grace,

'Twill come to a worse hand. You'll find us all

Of one mind for the church, I can assure you, sir.

TYRANT

Nor thou?

THIRD SOLDIER

I love not to disquiet ghosts,

Of any people living; that's my humour, sir!

TYRANT

Oh, slaves of one opinion! Give me't from thee,

Thou man made out of fear! [Seizes the axe.]

SECOND SOLDIER

[Aside] By my faith, I'm glad

I'm rid on't. I that was ne'er before in cathedral

And have the batt'ring of a lady's tomb

Lie hard upon my conscience at first coming:

I should get much by that! It shall be a warning to me;

I'll ne'er come here again.

TYRANT

[Striking the tomb] No, wilt not yield?

Art thou so loath to part from her?

FIRST SOLDIER

[Aside] Life, what means he?

Has he no feeling with him? By this light, if I be not afraid to stay any longer, I'm a stone-cutter. Very fear will go nigh to turn me of some religion or other, and so make me forfeit my lieutenantship.

TYRANT

Oh, have we got the mastery? Help, you vassals!

Freeze you in idleness and can see us sweat?

SECOND SOLDIER

We sweat with fear as much as work can make us.

TYRANT

Remove the stone that I may see my mistress.

Set to your hands, you villains, and that nimbly,

Or the same axe shall make you all fly open!

ALL [SOLDIERS]

Oh, good my lord!

TYRANT

I must not be delayed!

FIRST SOLDIER

This is ten thousand times worse than ent'ring upon a breach.

'Tis the first stone that ever I took off

From any lady; marry, I have brought 'em many:

Fair diamonds, sapphires, rubies.

[They remove the stone.]

TYRANT

Oh, blessed object!

I never shall be weary to behold thee;

I could eternally stand thus and see thee.

Why, 'tis not possible death should look so fair;

Life is not more illustrious when health smiles on't.

She's only pale, the colour of the court,

And most attractive; mistresses most strive for't

And their lascivious servants best affect it.

Where be these lazy hands again?

SOLDIERS

My lord!

TYRANT

Take up her body.

FIRST SOLDIER

How, my lord!

TYRANT

Her body!

FIRST SOLDIER

She's dead, my lord!

TYRANT

True; if she were alive,

Such slaves as you should not come near to touch her.

Do't, and with all best reverence; place her here.

FIRST SOLDIER

Not only, sir, with reverence, but with fear.

You shall have more than your own asking once.

I am afraid of nothing but she'll rise

At the first jog, and save us all a labour.

SECOND SOLDIER

Then we were best take her up and never touch her.

FIRST SOLDIER

Life, how can that be? Does fear make thee mad?

I've took up many a woman in my days,

But never with less pleasure, I protest!

TYRANT

Oh, the moon rises! What reflection

Is thrown about this sanctified building

E'en in a twinkling! How the monuments glister,

As if death's palaces were all massy silver

And scorned the name of marble! Art thou cold?

I have no faith in't yet; I believe none.

Madam! 'Tis I, sweet lady. Prithee speak!

'Tis thy love calls on thee, thy king, thy servant.

No? Not a word? All prisoners to pale silence?

I'll prove a kiss.

FIRST SOLIDER

[Aside]