Mal. Forgive my honest meaning.[Exit.
Gril. 'Tis hatched beneath, a plot upon mine honour;
And thus he lays his baits to catch my soul:—
Ha! but the presence opens; who comes here?
By heaven, my niece! led by Alphonso Corso!
Ha, Malicorn! is't possible? truth from thee!
'Tis plain! and I, in justifying woman,
Have done the devil wrong.
Enter Alphonso Corso, leading in Marmoutiere.
Alph. Madam, the king
(Please you to sit) will instantly attend you.[Exit.
Gril. Death, hell, and furies! ha! she comes to seek him!—
O prostitute!—and, on her prodigal flesh,
055 She has lavished all the diamonds of the Guise,
To set her off, and sell her to the king.
Mar. O heavens! did ever virgin yet attempt
An enterprise like mine? I, that resolved
Never to leave those dear delightful shades,
But act the little part that nature gave me,
On the green carpets of some guiltless grove,
And having finished it, forsake the world;
Unless sometimes my heart might entertain
Some small remembrance of the taking Guise:
But that far, far from any darkening thought,
To cloud my honour, or eclipse my virtue.
Gril. Thou liest! and if thou hadst not glanced aside,
And spied me coming, I had had it all.
Mar. By heaven! by all that's good—
Gril. Thou hast lost thy honour.
Give me this hand, this hand by which I caught thee
From the bold ruffian in the massacre,
That would have stained thy almost infant honour,
With lust, and blood;—dost thou remember it?
Mar. I do, and bless the godlike arm, that saved me.