hot, and cried, my business was a matter that con-
cerned life and death; they answered, so was sleep-
ing, at which their lady was. I urged again, she
had scarce time to be so since last I saw her: they
smiled again, and seemed to instruct me that sleep-
ing was nothing but lying down and winking.
Answers more direct I could not get in short, sir,
I think she is not there.
73

King. 'Tis then no time to dally.-You o' the guard,
Wait at the back door of the prince's lodging,
And see that none pass thence, upon your lives.-
[Exeunt Guards.
Knock, gentlemen; knock loud; louder yet.

[Dion, Cleremont, etc., knock at the door
of Pharamond's lodging.

What, has their pleasure taken off their hearing? I'll break your meditations.-Knock again.— Not yet? I do not think he sleeps, having this 80 Larum by him.-Once more.-Pharamond! prince! [Pharamond appears at a window. Pha. What saucy groom knocks at this dead of night? Where be our waiters? By my vexèd soul,

He meets his death that meets me, for this bold

ness.

King. Prince, prince, you wrong your thoughts; we are your friends:

King.

The same, sir. Come down, sir :

We have cause of present counsel with you.

Enter Pharamond below.

Pha. If your grace please

To use me, I'll attend you to your chamber. King. No, 'tis too late, prince; I'll make bold with

yours.

Pha. I have some private reasons to myself

Makes me unmannerly, and say you cannot.-
Nay, press not forward, gentlemen; he must
Come through my life that comes here.

King. Sir, be resolved I must and will come.-Enter !
Pha. I will not be dishonoured :

He that enters, enters upon his death.

Sir, 'tis a sign you make no stranger of me,
To bring these renegadoes to my chamber
At these unseasoned hours.

King.

Why do you

90

100

Chafe yourself so? you are not wronged nor shall

be;

Only I'll search your lodging, for some cause

To ourself known.-Enter, I say.

Pha. I say, no.

Meg.

[Megra appears at a window. Let 'em enter, prince, let 'em enter; I am up and ready: I know their business; 'Tis the poor breaking of a lady's honour

They hunt so hotly after; let 'em enjoy it.— You have your business, gentlemen; I lay here. Oh, my lord the King, this is not noble in you, To make public the weakness of a woman! King.

Meg. I dare, my lord. clamours,

Come down. IIO Your hootings and your

Your private whispers and your broad fleerings,
Can no more vex my soul than this base carriage :
But I have vengeance yet in store for some

Shall, in the most contempt you can have of me,
Be joy and nourishment.

King.

Will you come down?

Meg. Yes, to laugh at your worst; but I shall wring

you,

If my skill fail me not. [Exit above. King. Sir, I must dearly chide you for this looseness; You have wronged a worthy lady: but, no more.— Conduct him to my lodging and to bed.

121

[Exeunt Pharamond and Attendants. Cle. Get him another wench, and you bring him to bed

indeed.

Dion. 'Tis strange a man cannot ride a stage

Or two, to breathe himself, without a warrant.
If his gear hold, that lodgings be searched thus,
Pray Heaven we may lie with our own wives in
safety,

That they be not by some trick of state mistaken!

Enter Megra below.

King. Now, lady of honour, where's your honour now?
No man can fit your palate but the prince :
Thou most ill-shrouded rottenness, thou piece 130
Made by a painter and a 'pothecary,

Meg.

Thou troubled sea of lust, thou wilderness
Inhabited by wild thoughts, thou swoln cloud
Of infection, thou ripe mine of all diseases,
Thou all-sin, all-hell, and last all-devils, tell me,
Had you none to pull on with your courtesies
But he that must be mine, and wrong my daughter?
By all the gods, all these, and all the pages,

And all the court, shall hoot thee through the

court,

Fling rotten oranges, make ribald rhymes,

And sear thy name with candles upon walls!
Do you laugh, Lady Venus?

140

Faith, sir, you must pardon me;
I cannot choose but laugh to see you merry.
If you do this, O King! nay, if you dare do it,
By all those gods you swore by, and as many
More of my own, I will have fellows, and such
Fellows in it, as shall make noble mirth !

The princess, your dear daughter, shall stand by

me

On walls, and sung in ballads, any thing :

Urge me no more; I know her and her haunts, 150

Her lays, leaps, and outlays, and will discover all ;
Nay, will dishonour her.
I know the boy

She keeps; a handsome boy, about eighteen ;
Know what she does with him, where, and when.
Come, sir, you put me to a woman's madness,
The glory of a fury; and if I do not

King.

Do't to the height

Meg. Alas! gocd-minded things!

What boy is this she raves at?

prince, you know not these

I am loth to reveal 'em. Keep this fault,
As you would keep your health from the hot air
Of the corrupted people, or, by Heaven,
I will not fall alone. What I have known
Shall be as public as a print; all tongues
Shall speak it as they do the language they
Are born in, as free and commonly; I'll set it,
Like a prodigious star, for all to gaze at,

160

And so high and glowing, that other kingdoms far and foreign

Shall read it there, nay, travel with it, till they find No tongue to make it more, nor no more people; And then behold the fall of your fair princess! 170 King. Has she a boy?

Cle. So please your grace, I have seen a boy wait on her,
A fair boy.

King.
Go, get you to your quarter:
For this time I will study to forget you.