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Throws her down.

So, the surest way to charm a woman's tongue

Is break her neck: a politician did it.

SON

Mother, mother, I am kill'd, mother!

[The Wife] wakes.

WIFE

Ha, who's that cried? Oh me, my children!

Both, both, both bloody, bloody!

Catches up the youngest.

HUSBAND

Strumpet, let go the boy, let go the beggar!

WIFE

Oh, my sweet husband!

HUSBAND

Filth, harlot!

WIFE

Oh, what will you do, dear husband?

HUSBAND

Give me the bastard!

WIFE

Your own sweet boy!

HUSBAND

There are too many beggars!

WIFE

Good my husband--

HUSBAND

Dost thou prevent me still?

Stabs at the child in her arms.

WIFE

Oh God!

HUSBAND

Have at his heart!

WIFE

Oh, my dear boy!

[The Husband] gets it from her.

HUSBAND

Brat, thou shalt not live to shame thy house!

WIFE

Oh Heaven!

She's hurt and sinks down.

HUSBAND

And perish now, be gone!

There's whores enow, and want would make thee one!

Enter a Lusty Servant.

LUSTY SERVANT

Oh, sir, what deeds are these?

HUSBAND

Base slave, my vassal,

Comest thou between my fury to question me?

LUSTY SERVANT

Were you the devil, I would hold you, sir.

HUSBAND

Hold me? Presumption, I'll undo thee for't!

LUSTY SERVANT

'Sblood, you have undone us all, sir.

HUSBAND

Tug at thy master?

LUSTY SERVANT

Tug at a monster!

HUSBAND

Have I no power? Shall my slave fetter me?

[The Husband wrestles with the Servant.]

LUSTY SERVANT

Nay then, the devil wrastles! I am thrown!

HUSBAND

Oh, villain, now I'll tug thee, now I'll tear thee!

Overcomes him [and kicks him with his spurs].

Set quick spurs to my vassal, bruise him, trample him!

So, I think thou wilt not follow me in haste.

My horse stands ready saddled; away, away!

Now to my brat at nurse, my sucking beggar:

Fates, I'll not leave you one to trample on!

Scene vi. The Husband's house, the room below

[The Husband enters and] the Master meets him.

MASTER

How is't with you, sir?

Methinks you look of a distracted colour.

HUSBAND

Who, I, sir? 'Tis but your fancy.

Please you walk in, sir, and I'll soon resolve you.

I want one small part to make up the sum,

And then my brother shall rest satisfied.

MASTER

I shall be glad to see it, sir. I'll attend you.

Exeunt.

Scene vii. The Husband's house, the room above

LUSTY SERVANT

Oh, I am scarce able to heave up myself:

H'as so bruis'd me with his devilish weight,

And torn my flesh with his blood-hasty spur.

A man before of easy constitution

Till now, Hell's power supplied to his soul's wrong.

Oh, how damnation can make weak men strong!

Enter Master and two Servants.

Oh, the most piteous deed, sir, since you came!

MASTER

A deadly greeting! Has he summ'd up this

To satisfy his brother? Here's another:

And by the bleeding infants, the dead mother!

WIFE

Oh, oh!

MASTER

Surgeons, surgeons! She recovers life!

One of his men all faint and bloodied!

LUSTY SERVANT

Follow; our murderous master has took horse

To kill his child at nurse! Oh, follow quickly!

MASTER

I am the readiest; it shall be my charge

To raise the town upon him!

LUSTY SERVANT

Good sir, do follow him.

Exeunt Master and Servants.

WIFE

Oh, my children!

LUSTY SERVANT

How is it with my most afflicted mistress?

WIFE

Why do I now recover? Why half live?

To see my children bleed before mine eyes,

A sight able to kill a mother's breast

Without an executioner! What, art thou mangled, too?

LUSTY SERVANT

I, thinking to prevent what his quick mischiefs had so soon acted, came and rush'd upon him.

We struggled, but a fouler strength than his

O'erthrew me with his arms; then did he bruise me

And rent my flesh, and robb'd me of my hair

Like a man mad in execution,

Made me unfit to rise and follow him.

WIFE

What is it has beguil'd him of all grace

And stole away humanity from his breast,

To slay his children, purpos'd to kill his wife,

And spoil his servants?

Enter two Servants.

AMBO

Please you, leave this most accursed place;