The Maids Tragedy | Page 8

Thy natural temper; shall I call
thy maids? Either thy healthful sleep hath left thee long, Or else some
Fever rages in thy blood.
Evad. Neither _Amintor_; think you I am mad, Because I speak the
truth?
Amint. Will you not lie with me to night?

Evad. To night? you talk as if I would hereafter.
Amint. Hereafter? yes, I do.
Evad. You are deceiv'd, put off amazement, and with patience mark
What I shall utter, for the Oracle Knows nothing truer, 'tis not for a
night Or two that I forbear thy bed, but for ever.
Amint. I dream,--awake Amintor!
Evad. You hear right, I sooner will find out the beds of Snakes, And
with my youthful blood warm their cold flesh, Letting them curle
themselves about my Limbs, Than sleep one night with thee; this is not
feign'd, Nor sounds it like the coyness of a Bride.
Amin. Is flesh so earthly to endure all this? Are these the joyes of
Marriage? Hymen keep This story (that will make succeeding youth
Neglect thy Ceremonies) from all ears. Let it not rise up for thy shame
and mine To after ages; we will scorn thy Laws, If thou no better bless
them; touch the heart Of her that thou hast sent me, or the world Shall
know there's not an Altar that will smoak In praise of thee; we will
adopt us Sons; Then vertue shall inherit, and not blood: If we do lust,
we'l take the next we meet, Serving our selves as other Creatures do,
And never take note of the Female more, Nor of her issue. I do rage in
vain, She can but jest; Oh! pardon me my Love; So dear the thoughts
are that I hold of thee, That I must break forth; satisfie my fear: It is a
pain beyond the hand of death, To be in doubt; confirm it with an Oath,
if this be true.
Evad. Do you invent the form: Let there be in it all the binding words
Devils and Conjurers can put together, And I will take it; I have sworn
before, And here by all things holy do again, Never to be acquainted
with thy bed. Is your doubt over now?
Amint. I know too much, would I had doubted still; Was ever such a
marriage night as this! You powers above, if you did ever mean Man
should be us'd thus, you have thought a way How he may bear himself,
and save his honour: Instruct me in it; for to my dull eyes There is no

mean, no moderate course to run, I must live scorn'd, or be a murderer:
Is there a third? why is this night so calm? Why does not Heaven speak
in Thunder to us, And drown her voice?
Evad. This rage will do no good.
Amint. Evadne, hear me, thou hast ta'ne an Oath, But such a rash one,
that to keep it, were Worse than to swear it; call it back to thee; Such
vows as those never ascend the Heaven; A tear or two will wash it quite
away: Have mercy on my youth, my hopeful youth, If thou be pitiful,
for (without boast) This Land was proud of me: what Lady was there
That men call'd fair and vertuous in this Isle, That would have shun'd
my love? It is in thee To make me hold this worth--Oh! we vain men
That trust out all our reputation, To rest upon the weak and yielding
hand Of feeble Women! but thou art not stone; Thy flesh is soft, and in
thine eyes doth dwell The spirit of Love, thy heart cannot be hard.
Come lead me from the bottom of despair, To all the joyes thou hast; I
know thou wilt; And make me careful, lest the sudden change
O're-come my spirits.
Evad. When I call back this Oath, the pains of hell inviron me.
Amin. I sleep, and am too temperate; come to bed, or by Those hairs,
which if thou hast a soul like to thy locks, Were threads for Kings to
wear about their arms.
Evad. Why so perhaps they are.
Amint. I'le drag thee to my bed, and make thy tongue Undo this wicked
Oath, or on thy flesh I'le print a thousand wounds to let out life.
Evad. I fear thee not, do what thou dar'st to me; Every ill-sounding
word, or threatning look Thou shew'st to me, will be reveng'd at full.
Amint. It will not sure Evadne.
Evad. Do not you hazard that.

Amint. Ha'ye your Champions?
Evad. Alas Amintor, thinkst thou I forbear To sleep with thee, because I
have put on A maidens strictness? look upon these cheeks, And thou
shalt find the hot and rising blood Unapt for such a vow;