Part 15

206 cum [Montsurry.] Emend. ed.: Qq, cum Beau. See note 30, p. 149.

207 Mort dieu. A; B omits.

210-218 And now . . . hated. A omits, inserting instead:

Buss. How shall I quite your love?

Mons. Be true to the end. I have obtained a kingdome with my friend.

A Room in Montsurry's House.]

Montsur, Tamyra, Beaupre, Pero, Charlotte, Pyrha.

Montsurry. He will have pardon, sure.

Tamyra. Twere pittie else: For though his great spirit something overflow, All faults are still borne, that from greatnesse grow: But such a sudden courtier saw I never.

Beaupre. He was too sudden, which indeed was rudenesse. 5

Tam. True, for it argued his no due conceit Both of the place, and greatnesse of the persons, Nor of our sex: all which (we all being strangers To his encounter) should have made more maners Deserve more welcome.

Mont. All this fault is found 10 Because he lov'd the Duchesse and left you.

Tam. Ahlas, love give her joy! I am so farre From envie of her honour, that I sweare, Had he encounterd me with such proud sleight, I would have put that project face of his 15 To a more test than did her Dutchesship.

Beau. Why (by your leave, my lord) Ile speake it heere, (Although she be my ante) she scarce was modest, When she perceived the Duke, her husband, take Those late exceptions to her servants courtship, 20 To entertaine him.

Tam. I, and stand him still, Letting her husband give her servant place: Though he did manly, she should be a woman.

Enter Guise.

Tam. Stay not, sweet lord. 30

Mont. Be pleased; Ile strait returne. Exit cum Guise.

Tam. Would that would please me!

Beau. Ile leave you, madam, to your passions; I see ther's change of weather in your lookes. Exit cum suis.

Tam. I cannot cloake it; but, as when a fume, Hot, drie, and grosse, within the wombe of earth 35 Or in her superficies begot, When extreame cold hath stroke it to her heart, The more it is comprest, the more it rageth, Exceeds his prisons strength that should containe it, And then it tosseth temples in the aire, 40 All barres made engines to his insolent fury: So, of a sudden, my licentious fancy Riots within me: not my name and house, Nor my religion to this houre observ'd, Can stand above it; I must utter that 45 That will in parting breake more strings in me, Than death when life parts; and that holy man That, from my cradle, counseld for my soule, I now must make an agent for my bloud.

Enter Monsieur.

Monsieur. Yet is my mistresse gratious?

Tam. Yet unanswered? 50

Mons. Pray thee regard thine owne good, if not mine, And cheere my love for that: you doe not know What you may be by me, nor what without me; I may have power t'advance and pull downe any.

Tam. That's not my study. One way I am sure 55 You shall not pull downe me; my husbands height Is crowne to all my hopes, and his retiring To any meane state, shall be my aspiring. Mine honour's in mine owne hands, spite of kings.

Mons. Honour, what's that? your second maydenhead: 60 And what is that? a word: the word is gone, The thing remaines; the rose is pluckt, the stalk Abides: an easie losse where no lack's found. Beleeve it, there's as small lack in the losse As there is paine ith' losing. Archers ever 65 Have two strings to a bow, and shall great Cupid (Archer of archers both in men and women) Be worse provided than a common archer? A husband and a friend all wise wives have.

Tam. Wise wives they are that on such strings depend, 70 With a firme husband joyning a lose friend.