• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

And force thee from my chamber!

[Thrusts at him with the sword.]

VOTARIUS

How now, lady!

'Ud's life, you prick me, madam!

WIFE

[Aside to him] Prithee peace;

I will not hurt thee.--Will you yet be gone, sir?

LEONELLA

He's upon going, I think.

VOTARIUS

Madam! Heart, you deal false with me! Oh, I feel it!

Y'are a most treacherous lady! This thy glory?

My breast is all afire! Oh!

[Dies.]

LEONELLA

Ha, ha, ha!

ANSELMUS

[Coming from the closet] Ha! I believe her constancy too late,

Confirmed e'en in the blood of my best friend!

[Seizing the sword] Take thou my vengeance, thou bold, perjurious strumpet,

That durst accuse thy virtuous lady falsely!

Kills Leonella. Enter Bellarius [descending from the gallery].

BELLARIUS

[Aside] Oh, deadly poison after a sweet banquet!

What make I here? I had forgot my heart.

I am an actor too, and never thought on't;

The blackness of this season cannot miss me.--

[Drawing a sword] Sirrah, you, lord!

WIFE

Is he there? Welcome, ruin!

BELLARIUS

There is a life due to me in that bosom

For this poor gentlewoman.

ANSELMUS

And art thou then receiver?

I'll pay thee largely, slave, for thy last scape!

They make a dangerous pass at one another. The Wife purposely runs between, and is killed by them both.

WIFE

I come, Votarius!

[Dies.]

ANSELMUS

[To Bellarius] Hold, if manhood guide thee!

[Kneeling beside his Wife] Oh, what has fury done?

BELLARIUS

What has it done now?

Why, killed an honourable whore, that's all.

ANSELMUS

Villain, I'll seal that lie upon thy heart!

A constant lady!

BELLARIUS

To the devil, as could be!

Heart, must I prick you forward? Either up

Or, sir, I'll take my chance. Thou couldst kill her

Without repenting that deserved more pity,

And spend'st thy time and tears upon a quean--

ANSELMUS

Slave!

BELLARIUS

That was deceived once in her own deceit!

[They fight and wound each other mortally.]

As I am now. The poison I prepared

Upon that weapon for mine enemy's bosom

Is bold to take acquaintance of my blood too,

And serves us both to make up death withal.

ANSELMUS

I ask no more of destiny but to fall

Close by the chaste side of my virtuous mistress.

If all the treasure of my weeping strength

Be left so wealthy but to purchase that,

I have the dear wish of a great man's spirit.

[Dragging himself to her] Yet favour me, oh, yet! [Reaching her] I thank thee, fate.

I expire cheerfully and give death a smile.

Anselmus [seemingly] dies.

BELLARIUS

Oh, rage! I pity now mine enemy's flesh.

Enter Govianus with Servants.

GOVIANUS

Where should he be?

FIRST SERVANT

My lady, sir, will tell you.

She's in her chamber here.

SECOND SERVANT

[Seeing the bodies] Oh, my lord!

GOVIANUS

Peace!

My honourable brother, madam, all,

So many dreadful deeds, and not one tongue

Left to proclaim 'em?

BELLARIUS

Yes, here, if a voice

Some minute long may satisfy your ear;

I've that time allowed it.

GOVIANUS

'Tis enough.

Bestow it quickly ere death snatch it from thee.

BELLARIUS

That lord, your brother, made his friend Votarius

To tempt his lady. She was won to lust,

The act revealed here by her serving-woman.

But that wise, close adulteress, stored with art

To prey upon the weakness of that lord,

Dissembled a great rage upon her love

And indeed killed him; which so won her husband,

He slew this right discoverer in his fury,

Who being my mistress, I was moved in heart

To take some pains with him, and h'as paid me for't.

As for the cunning lady, I commend her.

She performed that which never woman tried:

She ran upon two weapons and so died.

Now you have all, I hope I shall sleep quiet.

Dies.

ANSELMUS

Oh, thunder that awakes me e'en from death

And makes me curse my confidence with cold lips!

I feel his words in flames about by soul;

H'as more than killed me.

GOVIANUS

Brother!

ANSELMUS

I repent the smile

That I bestowed on destiny! A whore!

[To Wife] I fling thee thus from my believing breast

With all the strength I have; my rage