Sir, feel my pulse, whether have you known

A man in a more equal tune to die.

Bel. Alas, my lord, your pulse keeps madman's time!

Bellario: thou hast done but that which gods
Would have transformed themselves to do. Be gone,
Leave me without reply; this is the last

60

Of all our meeting-[Exit Bellario.] Kill me with

this sword;

Be wise, or worse will follow: we are two
Earth cannot bear at once.

Or suffer.

Resolve to do,

Are. If my fortune be so good to let me fall
Upon thy hand, I shall have peace in death.
Yet tell me this, there will be no slanders,
No jealousy in the other world; no ill there?
Phi. No.

Are.

Phi.

Show me, then, the way.

Then guide my feeble hand,

You that have power to do it, for I must
Perform a piece of justice !—If your youth
Have any way offended Heaven, let prayers
Short and effectual reconcile you to it.

Are. I am prepared.

70

Enter a Country Fellow.

C. Fell. I'll see the King, if he be in the forest; I have hunted him these two hours; if I should come home and not see him, my sisters would laugh at me. I can see nothing but people better horsed than myself, that out-ride me; I can hear nothing but shouting. These kings had need of good brains; this whooping is able to put a mean man out of his wits. There's a courtier with his sword drawn ; by this hand, upon a woman, I think! 83 Phi. Are you at peace?

Are. With heaven and earth.

Phi. May they divide thy soul and body! [Wounds her,
C. Fell. Hold, dastard! strike a woman! Thou'rt a

craven, I warrant thee: thou wouldst be loth to
play half a dozen venies at wasters with a good
fellow for a broken head.

Phi. Leave us, good friend.

Are. What ill-bred man art thou, to intrude thyself
Upon our private sports, our recreations?

90

C. Fell. God 'uds me, I understand you not; but I know the rogue has hurt you.

Phi. Pursue thy own affairs: it will be ill

To multiply blood upon my head, which thou

Wilt force me to.

C. Fell. I know not your rhetoric; but I can lay it on,

if you touch the woman.

Phi. Slave, take what thou deservest !

100

[They fight.

Are.

C. Fell. Oh, do you breathe?

Heavens guard my lord!

Phi. I hear the tread of people. I am hurt:

The gods take part against me: could this boor
Have held me thus else? I must shift for life,
Though I do loathe it. I would find a course
To lose it rather by my will than force.

[Aside and exit. C. Fell. I cannot follow the rogue. I pray thee, wench,

come and kiss me now.

Enter Pharamond, Dion, Cleremont, Thrasiline,

Pha. What art thou?

and Woodmen.

110

C. Fell. Almost killed I am for a foolish woman; a knave has hurt her.

Pha. The princess, gentlemen!-Where's the wound, madam? Is it dangerous?

Are. He has not hurt me.

C. Fell. By God, she lies; h'as hurt her in the breast; look else.

Pha. O, sacred spring of innocent blood!

Dion. 'Tis above wonder! who should dare this?

Are. I felt it not.

Pha. Speak, villain, who has hurt the princess?

C. Fell. Is it the princess?

120

Dion. Ay.

C. Fell. Then I have seen something yet.

Pha. But who has hurt her?

C. Fell. I told you, a rogue; I ne'er saw him before, I— Pha. Madam, who did it?

Are.

Some dishonest wretch;

Alas, I know him not, and do forgive him!

C. Fell. He's hurt too; he cannot go far; I made my father's old fox fly about his ears.

Pha. How will you have me kill him?

130

Are.

Not at all;

'Tis some distracted fellow.

By this hand,

Pha.

Are.

I'll leave ne'er a piece of him bigger than a nut,
And bring him all to you in my hat.

Nay, good sir,
If you do take him, bring him quick to me,
And I will study for a punishment

Great as his fault.

Pha. I will.

Are.

Pha.

But swear.

By all my love, I will.-
Woodmen, conduct the princess to the King,
And bear that wounded fellow to dressing.-
Come, gentlemen, we'll follow the chase close.
[Exeunt on one side Pharamond, Dion, Cleremont,

140

and Thrasiline; exit on the other Arethusa, attended by the First Woodman.

C. Fell. I pray you, friend, let me see the King.
Second Wood. That you shall, and receive thanks.
C. Fell. If I get clear of this, I'll go to see no more gay

sights.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV

Another part of the Forest.

Enter Bellario.

Bel. A heaviness near death sits on my brow,

And I must sleep.

For ever, if thou wilt.

Bear me, thou gentle bank,
You sweet ones all,

[Lies down.

Let me unworthy press you; I could wish
I rather were a corse strewed o'er with you
Than quick above you. Dulness shuts mine eyes,
And I am giddy: oh that I could take

So sound a sleep that I might never wake! [Sleeps.

Enter Philaster.

Phi. I have done ill; my conscience calls me false,
To strike at her that would not strike at me.
When I did fight, methought I heard her pray
The gods to guard me. She may be abused,
And I a loathed villain : if she be,

She will conceal who hurt her. He has wounds