I am not guilty.

Arch. Tis believed, Cleora ;

And much the rather (our great gods be praised for it),

In that I find, beyond my hopes, no sign
Of riot in my house, but all things ordered
As if I had been present.

Cleora. May that move you

To pity poor Marullo.

Arch. Tis my purpose

To do him all the good I can, Cleora :
But this offence, being against the state,
Must have a public trial. In the mean time,
Be careful of yourself, and stand engaged
No further to Leosthenes, than you may
Come off with honour; for, being once his wife,
You are no more your own, nor mine, but must
Resolve to serve and suffer his commands,
And not dispute them; ere it be too late,
Consider it duly. I must to the senate.

[Exit Arch.
Cleora. I am much distracted; in Leosthenes
I can find nothing justly to accuse,
But this excess of love, which I have studied
To cure with more than common means; yet still
It grows upon him. And, if I may call
His sufferings merit, I stand bound to think on
Marullo's dangers; though I save his life,

His love is unrewarded. I confess,

Both have deserved me; yet of force I must be Unjust to one-such is my destiny.

Enter TIMANDRA.

How now? whence flow these tears?

Timan. I have met, madam,

An object of such cruelty, as would force
A savage to compassion.

Cleora. Speak! What is it?

Timan. Men pity beasts of rapine, if over

matched,

Though baited for their pleasure: but these mon

sters,

Upon a man that can make no resistance,
Are senseless in their tyranny. Let it be granted,
Marullo is a slave; he is still a man;

A capital offender; yet in justice

Not to be tortured, till the judge pronounce
His punishment.

Cleora. Where is he?

Timan. Dragged to prison

With more than barbarous violence; spurned and

Timan. That will bring fuel

To the jealous fires, which burn too hot already In lord Leosthenes.

Cleora. Let them consume him!

I am mistress of myself. Where cruelty reigns, There dwells no love nor honour. [Exit Cleora. Timan. So, it works.

Though hitherto I have run a desperate course To serve my brother's purposes, now 'tis fit

Enter LEOSTHENES and TIMAGOras.

I study mine own ends. They come. Assist me
In these my undertakings, love's great patron,
As my intents are honest.

Leost. 'Tis my fault.

Distrust of others springs, Timagoras,

From diffidence in ourselves. But I will strive,
With the assurance of my worth and merits,
To kill this monster jealousy.

Timag. Tis a guest,

In wisdom, never to be entertained
On trivial probabilities; but when

He does appear in pregnant proofs, not fashioned
By idle doubts and fears, to be received.
They make their own horns that are too secure,
As well as such as give them growth and being
From mere imagination. Though I prize
Cleora's honour equal with mine own;
And know what large additions of power
This match brings to our family, I prefer
Our friendship, and your peace of mind, so far
Above my own respects or hers, that if
She hold not her true value in the test,
'Tis far from my ambition for her cure,
That you should wound yourself.
Timan. This argues for me.

[Aside.

Timag. Why she should be so passionate for a bondman,

Falls not in compass of my understanding,
But for some nearer interest; or he raise
This mutiny, if he loved her (as, you say,
She does confess he did), but to enjoy
By fair or foul play, what he ventured for,
To me is a riddle.

Leost. I pray you, no more; already

I have answered that objection, in my strong
Assurance of her virtue.

Timag. 'Tis unfit, then,

That I should press it farther.

Timan. Now I must

Leost. Who, Cleora?

Timag. Deliver, how. 'Sdeath, be a man, sir! speak.

Timan. Take it, then, in as many sighs as words: My lady

Timag. What of her?

Timan. No sooner heard

Marullo was imprisoned, but she fell
Into a deadly swoon.

Timug. But she recovered?

Say so, or he will sink too: hold, sir! fie,
This is unmanly.

Timan. Brought again to life,

But with much labour, she awhile stood silent,
Yet in that interim vented sighs, as if
They laboured from the prison of her flesh,
To give her grieved soul freedom. On the sudden,
Transported on the wings of rage and sorrow,
She flew out of the house, and, unattended,
Entered the common prison.

Leost. This confirms

What but before I feared.

Timan. There you may find her; And, if you love her as a sisterTimag. Damn her!

Timan. Or you respect her safety, as a lover, Procure Marullo's liberty.

Timag. Impudence Beyond expression!

Leost. Shall I be a bawd

To her lust and my dishonour?
Timan. She will run mad, else,

Or do some violent act upon herself.

My lord, her father, sensible of her sufferings,
Labours to gain his freedom.

Leost. O, the devil!
Has she bewitched him too?

Timag. I will hear no more:

Come, sir, we will follow her; and if no persua

Pis. Could I expire now,

These white and innocent hands closing my eyes thus,

Twere not to die, but in a heavenly dream

To be transported, without the help of Charon,
To the Elysian shades.-You make me bold;
And, but to wish such happiness, I fear,
May give offence-

Chora. No, for believe it, Marullo,
You've won so much upon me, that I know not
That happiness in my gift but you may challenge.
Leost. Are you yet satisfied?

Timag. The base villain

Shall never live to hear it.

[Offers to stab Pisander, Cleora interposes. Cleora. Murder! help! Through me you shall pass to him.

Enter ARCHIDAMUS, DIPHILUS, and officers.
Arch. What's the matter?

On whom is your sword drawn? Are you a judge?
Or else ambitious of the hangman's office
Before it be designed you? You are bold too!
Unhand my daughter.

Leost. She's my valour's prize.

Arch. With her consent, not otherwise. You

Arch. Tis most true;

And, though at first it did appear a fable,
All circumstances meet to give it credit;
Which works so on me, that I am compelled
To be a suitor, not to be denied,
He may have equal hearing.

Cleora. Sir, you graced me

With the title of your mistress: but my fortune
Is so far distant from command, that I
Lay by the power you gave me, and plead hum-
bly

For the preserver of my fame and honour;
And pray you, sir, in charity believe,

That, since I had ability of speech,

My tongue hath been so much inured to truth, I know not how to lie.

Timol. I'll rather doubt

The oracles of the gods, than question what
Your innocence delivers; and, as far
As justice with mine honour can give way,
He shall have favour. Bring him in unbound:
[Exeunt Officers.
And, though Leosthenes may challenge from me,
For his late worthy service, credit to
All things he can alledge in his own cause,
Marullo (so I think you call his name)
Shall find I do reserve an ear for him,

Enter CLEON, ASOTUS, DIPHILUS, OLYMPIA, and CORISCA.

To let in mercy. Sit, and take your places:
The right of this fair virgin first determined,
Your bondmen shall be censured.

Cleon. With all rigour

We do expect—

Cor. Tempered, I say, with mercy.

ness

Supply defects in such a thing, that never
Knew any thing but want and emptiness,
Give him a name, and keep it such, from this
Unequal competition? If my pride,
Or any bold assurance of my worth,
Has plucked this mountain of disgrace upon me,
I'm justly punished, and submit; but if
I have been modest, and esteemed myself
More injured in the tribute of the praise,
Which no desert of mine, prized by self-love,
Ever exacted may this cause and minute
For ever be forgotten. I dwell long
Upon mine anger, and now turn to you,
Ungrateful fair one; and, since you are such,
'Tis lawful for me to proclaim myself,
And what I have deserved.

Cleora. Neglect and scorn
From me, for this proud vaunt.

Leost. You nourish, lady,

Your own dishonour in this harsh reply,
And almost prove, what some hold of your sex,
You're all made up of passion: For, if reason
Or judgment could find entertainment with you,
Or that you would distinguish of the objects
You look on in a true glass, not seduced
By the false light of your too violent will,
I should not need to plead for that which you