The Maids Tragedy | Page 7

of maids and perjuries of men.
Evad. Alas, I pity thee. [Exit Evadne.
Omnes. Madam, goodnight.
_1 Lady_. Come, we'l let in the Bridegroom.
Dul. Where's my Lord?
_1 Lady_. Here take this light.
[Enter Amintor.
Dul. You'l find her in the dark.
_1 Lady_. Your Lady's scarce a bed yet, you must help her.
Asp. Go and be happy in your Ladies love; May all the wrongs that you
have done to me, Be utterly forgotten in my death. I'le trouble you no
more, yet I will take A parting kiss, and will not be denied. You'l come
my Lord, and see the Virgins weep When I am laid in earth, though you
your self Can know no pity: thus I wind my self Into this willow
Garland, and am prouder That I was once your Love (though now
refus'd) Than to have had another true to me. So with my prayers I
leave you, and must try Some yet unpractis'd way to grieve and die.

Dul. Come Ladies, will you go? _[Exit Aspatia_.
Om. Goodnight my Lord.
Amin. Much happiness unto you all.
_[Exeunt Ladies_.
I did that Lady wrong; methinks I feel Her grief shoot suddenly through
all my veins; Mine eyes run; this is strange at such a time. It was the
King first mov'd me to't, but he Has not my will in keeping--why do I
Perplex my self thus? something whispers me, Go not to bed; my guilt
is not so great As mine own conscience (too sensible) Would make me
think; I only brake a promise, And 'twas the King that forc't me:
timorous flesh, Why shak'st thou so? away my idle fears.
[Enter Evadne.
Yonder she is, the lustre of whose eye Can blot away the sad
remembrance Of all these things: Oh my Evadne, spare That tender
body, let it not take cold, The vapours of the night will not fall here. To
bed my Love; Hymen will punish us For being slack performers of his
rites. Cam'st thou to call me?
Evad. No.
Amin. Come, come my Love, And let us lose our selves to one another.
Why art thou up so long?
Evad. I am not well.
Amint. To bed then let me wind thee in these arms, Till I have banisht
sickness.
Evad. Good my Lord, I cannot sleep.
Amin. Evadne, we'l watch, I mean no sleeping.
Evad. I'le not go to bed.

Amin. I prethee do.
Evad. I will not for the world.
Amin. Why my dear Love?
Evad. Why? I have sworn I will not.
Amin. Sworn!
Evad. I.
Amint. How? Sworn _Evadne_?
Evad. Yes, Sworn Amintor, and will swear again If you will wish to
hear me. 0 Amin. To whom have you Sworn this?
Evad. If I should name him, the matter were not great.
Amin. Come, this is but the coyness of a Bride.
Evad. The coyness of a Bride?
Amin. How prettily that frown becomes thee!
Evad. Do you like it so?
Amin. Thou canst not dress thy face in such a look But I shall like it.
Evad. What look likes you best?
Amin. Why do you ask?
Evad. That I may shew you one less pleasing to you.
Amin. How's that?
Evad. That I may shew you one less pleasing to you.
Amint. I prethee put thy jests in milder looks. It shews as thou wert

angry.
Evad. So perhaps I am indeed.
Amint. Why, who has done thee wrong? Name me the man, and by thy
self I swear, Thy yet unconquer'd self, I will revenge thee.
Evad. Now I shall try thy truth; if thou dost love me, Thou weigh'st not
any thing compar'd with me; Life, Honour, joyes Eternal, all Delights
This world can yield, or hopeful people feign, Or in the life to come,
are light as Air To a true Lover when his Lady frowns, And bids him
do this: wilt thou kill this man? Swear my Amintor, and I'le kiss the sin
off from thy lips.
Amin. I will not swear sweet Love, Till I do know the cause.
Evad. I would thou wouldst; Why, it is thou that wrongest me, I hate
thee, Thou shouldst have kill'd thy self.
Amint. If I should know that, I should quickly kill The man you hated.
Evad. Know it then, and do't.
Amint. Oh no, what look soe're thou shalt put on, To try my faith, I
shall not think thee false; I cannot find one blemish in thy face, Where
falsehood should abide: leave and to bed; If you have sworn to any of
the Virgins That were your old companions, to preserve Your
Maidenhead a night, it may be done without this means.
Evad. A Maidenhead Amintor at my years?
Amint. Sure she raves, this cannot be