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Yes, faith, sir,

'Twas the best poison I could get for money.

[Removes his disguise.]

TYRANT

Govianus!

GOVIANUS

Oh, thou sacrilegious villain!

Thou thief of rest, robber of monuments!

Cannot the body after funeral

Sleep in the grave for thee? Must it be raised

Only to please the wickedness of thine eye?

Does all things end with death and not thy lust?

Hast thou devised a new way to damnation,

More dreadful than the soul of any sin

Did ever pass yet between earth and hell?

Dost strive to be particularly plagued

Above all ghosts beside? Is thy pride such

Thou scorn'st a partner in thy torments too?

TYRANT

What fury gave thee boldness to attempt

This deed, for which I'll doom thee with a death

Beyond the Frenchman's tortures?

GOVIANUS

I smile at thee.

Draw all the death that ever mankind suffered

Unto one head to help thine own invention,

And make my end as rare as this thy sin

And full as fearful to the eyes of women,

My spirit shall fly singing to his lodging

In midst of that rough weather. Doom me, tyrant.

Had I feared death, I'd never appeared noble

To seal this act upon me, which e'en honours me

Unto my mistress' spirit: it loves me for't.

I told my heart 'twould prove destruction to't,

Who, hearing 'twas for her, charged me to do't.

TYRANT

Thy glories shall be shortened! Who's within there?

Enter the ghost [of the Lady] in the same form as the [body of the] Lady is dress'd in the chair.

I called not thee, thou enemy to firmness,

Mortality's earthquake!

GOVIANUS

Welcome to mine eyes

As is the dayspring from the morning's womb

Unto that wretch whose nights are tedious

As liberty to captives, health to labourers,

And life still to old people, never weary on't,

So welcome art thou to me! The deed's done,

Thou queen of spirits; he has his end upon him.

Thy body shall return to rise again,

For thy abuser falls, and has no pow'r

To vex thee farther now.

[LADY]

My truest love,

Live ever honoured here and blessed above.

[Exit.]

TYRANT

Oh, if there be a hell for flesh and spirit,

'Tis built within this bosom!

Enter Nobles [including Memphonius].

My lords, treason!

GOVIANUS

Now, death, I'm for thee. Welcome!

TYRANT

Your king's poisoned!

MEMPHONIUS

The king of heav'n be praised for't!

TYRANT

Lay hold on him,

On Govianus!

MEMPHONIUS

E'en with the best loves

And truest hearts that ever subjects owed.

TYRANT

How's that? I charge you both, lay hands on him!

MEMPHONIUS

Look you, my lord, your will shall be obeyed.

Enter Helvetius.

Here comes another; we'll have his hand too.

HELVETIUS

You shall have both mine, if that work go forward,

Beside my voice and knee.

TYRANT

Helvetius!

Then my destruction was confirmed amongst 'em;

Premeditation wrought it! Oh, my torments!

ALL [NOBLES]

Live Govianus long our virtuous king!

Flourish.

TYRANT

That thunder strikes me dead.

[Dies.]

GOVIANUS

I cannot better

Reward my joys than with astonished silence,

For all the wealth of words is not of power

To make up thanks for you, my honoured lords!

I'm like a man plucked up from many waters,

That never looked for help, and am here placed

Upon this cheerful mountain where prosperity

Shoots forth her richest beam.

MEMPHONIUS

Long-injured lord,

The tyranny of his actions grew so weighty,

His life so vicious--

HELVETIUS

To which this is witness--

Monster in sin!--this, the disquieted body

Of my too resolute child in honour's war--

MEMPHONIUS

That he become as hateful to our minds--

HELVETIUS

As death's unwelcome to a house of riches,

Or what can more express it.

GOVIANUS

Well, he's gone,

And all the kingdom's evils perish with him.

And since the body of that virtuous lady

Is taken from her rest, in memory

Of her admired mistress, 'tis our will

It receive honour dead, as it took part

With us in all afflictions when it lived.

Here place her in this throne; crown her our queen,

The first and last that ever we make ours,

Her constancy strikes so much firmness in us.

That honour