I find a better health when thou art present,

Than all times else can bring me :—is the answer
As pleasing as thyself?

Helv. Of what, my lord?

Tyr. Of what? fye 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 loath

To have my body used like butchers' meat.
Tyr. When comes she to our bed?

Helv. 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 sauce bell.

Let me alone to lay about for honour,

I'll shift for one.

Tyr. When comes the lady, sir,

That Govianus keeps?

Helv. Why, that's my daughter!

Tyr. Oh! is it so! Have you unlock'd your memory?

What says she to us?

Helv. Nothing!

Tyr. How thou tempt❜st us !

What didst thou say to her, being sent from us?

Helv. 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,
Respect will fall from us.

Helv. 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 repented
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 pandars 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.

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 charmsNo 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.
Helv. '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.

Helv. 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.

Helv. 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.

Soph. They're not so savage,

[exeunt ;-manet Sophonirus.

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.

ACT III. SCENE I.

Enter GOVIANUS, with his LADY and a Servant.

Govi. What is he?

A Flourish.

Serv. An old lord come from the court.

Govi. He should be wise by's years; he will not dare Το come about such business, 'tis not man's work.

Art sure he desir'd to speak with thy lady.

Serv. Sure, sir.

Govi. 'Faith, thou'rt mistook, 'tis with me certain. Let's do the man no wrong, go, know it truly, sir!