SCENE II.
Enter the Tyrant with Sophonirus, Memphonius, and other nobles. A flourish.
Tyr. My joys have all false parts, there's nothing true to me,
That's either kind or pleasant. I'm hardly dealt withal;
I must not miss her, I want her sight too long.
Where's this old fellow?
Soph. Here's one, my lord, of threescore and seventeen.
Tyr. Pish! That old limber ass puts in his head still.
Helvetius! where is he?
Mem. Not yet return'd, my lord.
Enter Helvetius.
Tyr. Your lordship lies;
Here comes the kingdom's father. Who amongst you
Dares say this worthy man has not made speed?
I would fain hear that fellow!
Soph. I'll not be he;
I like the standing of my head too well
To have it mended!
Tyr. Thy sight quickens me.
I find a better health when thou art present,
Than all times else can bring me. Is the answer
As pleasing as thyself?
Hel. Of what, my lord?
Tyr. Of what? fie now! He did not say so, did he?
Soph. O, no, my lord, not he; he spoke no such word.
I'll say, as he would have't, for I'd be loth
To have my body used like butchers' meat. [Aside.
Tyr. When comes she to our bed?
Hel. Who, my lord?
Tyr. Hark! You heard that plain amongst you?
Soph. O my lord, as plain as my wife's tongue,
That drowns a saunce bell.[463]
Let me alone to lay about for honour:
I'll shift for one.
Tyr. When comes the lady, sir,
That Govianus keeps?
Hel. Why, that's my daughter!
Tyr. O, is it so! Have you unlock'd your memory?
What says she to us?
Hel. Nothing.
Tyr. How thou tempt'st us!
What didst thou say to her, being sent from us?
Hel. More than was honest, yet it was but little.
Tyr. How cruelly thou work'st upon our patience,
Saving advantage, 'cause thou art her father!
But be not bold too far; if duties leave thee,
Kespect will fall from us.
Hel. Have I kept life
So long, till it looks white upon my head;
Been threescore years a courtier; and a flatterer
Not above threescore hours, which time's reputed
Amongst my greatest follies; and am I at these days
Fit for no place but bawd to mine own flesh?
You'll prefer all your old courtiers to good services.
If your lust keep but hot some twenty winters,
We are like to have a virtuous world of wives,
Daughters and sisters, besides kinswomen
And cousin-germans remov'd up and down,
Where'er you please to have 'em! Are white hairs
A colour fit for panders and flesh-brokers,
Which are the honour'd ornaments of age,
To which e'en kings owe reverence, as they're men.
And greater in their goodness than their greatness?
And must I take my pay all in base money?
I was a lord born, set by all court grace:
And am I thrust now to a squire's place?
Tyr. How comes the moon to change so in this manner.
That was in full, but now, of all performance,
And swifter than our wishes? I beshrew that virtue,
That busied herself with him: she might have found
Some other work. The man was fit for me,
Before she spoil'd him. She has wrong'd my heart in't,
And marr'd me a good workman. Now his art fails him,
What makes the man at court? This is no place
For fellows of no parts; he lives not here,
That puts himself from action, when we need him
[Aside.
I take off all thy honours, and bestow 'em
On any of this rank that will deserve 'em.
Soph. My lord, that's I: trouble your grace no further.
I'll undertake to bring her to your bed
With some ten words. Marry, they're special charms:
No lady can withstand 'em—a witch taught me 'em.
If you doubt me, I'll leave my wife in pawn
For my true loyalty, and your majesty
May pass away the time, till I return.
I have a care in all things.
Tyr. That may thrive best,
Which the least hope looks after; but, however,
Force shall help nature; I'll be so sure now
Thy willingness may be fortunate. We employ thee.
Soph. Then I'll go fetch my wife, and take my journey.
Tyr. Stay! we require no pledge: we think thee honest.
Soph. Troth, the worse luck for me; we had both been made by't;
It was the way to make my wife great too.
Tyr. [to Helvetius.] I'll teach thee to be wide and strange to me—
I'll not leave thee
A title to put on, but the bare name
That man must call thee by, and know thee miserable.
Hel. 'Tis miserable, king, to be of thy making,
And leave a better workman; if thy honours
Only keep life in baseness, take 'em to thee,
And give them to the hungry; there's one gapes.
Soph. One that will swallow you, sir, for that jest,
And all your titles after.
Hel. The devil follow them!
There's room enough for him too. Leave me, thou king,
As poor as Truth, the mistress I now serve,
And never will forsake her for her plainness,
That shall not alter me.
Tyr. No? Our guard within there!
Enter Guard.
Guard. My lord!
Tyr. Bear that old fellow to our castle, prisoner;
Give charge he be kept close.
Hel. Close prisoner!
Why, my heart thanks thee; I shall have more time
And liberty to virtue in one hour,
Than all those threescore years I was a courtier.
So by imprisonment I sustain great loss;
Heav'n opens to that man the world keeps close. [Exit with Guard.
Soph. But I'll not go to prison to try that,
Give me the open world: there's a good air!
Tyr. I would fain send death after him, but I dare not—
He knows I dare not; that would give just cause
Of her unkindness everlasting to me.
His life may thank his daughter. Sophonirus!
Here, take this jewel, bear it as a token
To our heart's saint, 'twill do thy words no harm;
Speech may do much, but wealth's a greater charm
Than any made of words; and to be sure,
If one or both should fail, I provide farther.
Call forth those resolute fellows, whom our clemency
Sav'd from a death of shame in time of war
For field offences: give them charge from us
They arm themselves with speed, beset the house
Of Govianus round; that if thou fail'st,
Or stay'st beyond the time thou leav'st with them,
They may with violence break in themselves,
And seize her for our use.
[Exeunt. Manet Sophonirus.
Soph. They're not so savage
To seize her for their own, I hope,
As there are many knaves will begin first,
And bring their lords the bottom; I have been serv'd so
A hundred times myself by a scurvy page
That I kept once; but my wife lov'd him,
And I could not help it. [Exit.