The Husband’s house, the room above
LUSTY SERVANT
Oh, I am scarce able to heave up myself:
H’as so bruis’d me with his devilish weight,
And torn my flesh with his blood-hasty spur.
A man before of easy constitution
Till now, Hell’s power supplied to his soul’s wrong.
Oh, how damnation can make weak men strong!
Enter Master and two Servants.
Oh, the most piteous deed, sir, since you came!
MASTER
A deadly greeting! Has he summ’d up this
To satisfy his brother? Here’s another:
And by the bleeding infants, the dead mother!
WIFE
Oh, oh!
MASTER
Surgeons, surgeons! She recovers life!
One of his men all faint and bloodied!
LUSTY SERVANT
Follow; our murderous master has took horse
To kill his child at nurse! Oh, follow quickly!
MASTER
I am the readiest; it shall be my charge
To raise the town upon him!
LUSTY SERVANT
Good sir, do follow him.
Exeunt Master and Servants.
WIFE
Oh, my children!
LUSTY SERVANT
How is it with my most afflicted mistress?
WIFE
Why do I now recover? Why half live?
To see my children bleed before mine eyes,
A sight able to kill a mother’s breast
Without an executioner! What, art thou mangled, too?
LUSTY SERVANT
I, thinking to prevent what his quick mischiefs had so soon acted, came and rush’d upon him.
We struggled, but a fouler strength than his
O’erthrew me with his arms; then did he bruise me
And rent my flesh, and robb’d me of my hair
Like a man mad in execution,
Made me unfit to rise and follow him.
WIFE
What is it has beguil’d him of all grace
And stole away humanity from his breast,
To slay his children, purpos’d to kill his wife,
And spoil his servants?
Enter two Servants.
AMBO
Please you, leave this most accursed place;
A surgeon waits within.
WIFE
Willing to leave it.
’Tis guilty of sweet blood, innocent blood.
Murder has took this chamber with full hands,
And will ne’er out as long as the house stands.