A room in the castle
Enter Zenarchus, Tymethes, Amphridote, and Mazeres [following them].
TYMETHES
We are observ’d.
ZENARCHUS
By whom?
TYMETHES
Mazeres follows us.
AMPHRIDOTE
Oh, he’s my protested servant, your sole rival.
TYMETHES
The devil he is.
AMPHRIDOTE
You’ll make a hot suitor of him anon?
TYMETHES
He may be hot in th’ end; his good parts sue for’t.
ZENARCHUS
He eyes us still.
TYMETHES
He does. You shall depart, lady;
I’ll take my leave on purpose in his presence.
He’s jealous, and a kiss runs through his heart;
I’ll make a thrust at him on your lip.
[He kisses her.]
MAZERES
[Aside] Death! Minute favours? Every step a kiss?
I think they count how the day goes by kissing;
’Tis past four since I met them.
TYMETHES
I have hit him in the gall instead of th’ blood;
He sheds distractions, which are worse than wounds.
ZENARCHUS
But sirrah!
MAZERES
Stays he to prove my rival? Curs’d be th’ hour
Wherein I advis’d the king for his stay here.
I have set slaves t’ entrap him, yet none prosper;
I’ll lay no more my faith upon their works:
Th’are weak and loose, and like a rotten wall,
Leaning on them may hazard my own fall.
I’ll use a swifter course, cut off long journeys
And tedious ways that run my hopes past breath:
I’ll take the plain road and hunt his death.
Exit.
TYMETHES
So, so, he departs with a knit brow. No matter;
When his frown begets earthquakes, haply then
‘Twill shake me too: I shall stand firm till then.
Enter Roxano disguised [as a beggar].
ROXANO
[Aside] Mass, here ‘a walks. I am far enough from myself;
I challenge all disguises except drinking
To hide me better: I give way to that,
For that indeed will thrust a white gentleman
Into a suit of mud. But whist, I begin to be noted.
ZENARCHUS
Ay, he chang’d upon’t.
TYMETHES
I mark’d him.
[Roxano approaches them.]
ROXANO
Good your honours, your most comfortable, charitable relief
And devotion to a poor, star-cross’d gentleman.
TYMETHES
Pox on thee!
ROXANO
I’m bare enough already if it like your honour.
TYMETHES
He did!
ROXANO
[Aside] “Pox on thee?” Your young gallants love to give no alms
But that that will stick by a man, that’s one virtue in them:
He’s not content to have my hat off, but he would have my hair off too. —
Thank your good lordship.
TYMETHES
No, was that his action!
AMPHRIDOTE
It call’d him lord.
ZENARCHUS
Nay, he’s a villain!
ROXANO
Good your honours! I have been a man in my time.
TYMETHES
Why, what art thou now?
ROXANO
Kept goodly beasts, had three wives, two men uprising, three maids down-lying; oh, good your kind honours!
TYMETHES
‘Sfoot, I am a beggar myself.
ROXANO
Perhaps your lordship gets by it.
Good your sweet honour!
TYMETHES
This fellow would be whipp’d.
ROXANO
Your lordship has forgot since you were a beggar.
TYMETHES
[Taking him aside] I’ll give thee somewhat for that jest, in troth!
ROXANO
But now you are in private, shut your purse and open your ear, sir.
TYMETHES
How!
ZENARCHUS
[To Amphridote] He’s dealing his devotion; hinder him not.
ROXANO
I am not literally a beggar, as puritanical as I appear.
The naked truth is you are happily desired —
TYMETHES
Ha?
ROXANO
Of the most sweet, delicate, divine,
Pleasing, ravishing creature —
TYMETHES
Peace, peace, prithee peace.
ROXANO
That ever made man’s wishes perfect.
TYMETHES
Nay, say not so; I saw one creature lately
Exceeds all human form for true perfection:
This may be beauteous.
ROXANO
This for white and red, sir.
Her honour and my oath sue for that pardon;
You must not know her name nor see her face.
TYMETHES
How?
ROXANO
She rather chooseth death in her neglect
Than so to hazard life or lose respect.
TYMETHES
How shall I come at her?
ROXANO
Let your will
Subscribe to the sure means already wrought;
She shall be safely pleas’d, you safely brought.
TYMETHES
Ha! And is this sheer faith, without any trick in’t?
ROXANO
Let me perish in this office else, and I need wish
No more damnation than to die a pander.
TYMETHES
Thou speakest well. When meet we?
ROXANO
Five is the fixed hour, upon tomorrow’s evening.
TYMETHES
So. The place?
ROXANO
Near to the further lodge.
TYMETHES
Go to then. It holds honest all the way?
ROXANO
Else does there live no honesty but in lawyers.
TYMETHES
Enough. Five? And the furthest lodge? I’ll meet thee.
ROXANO
Enjoy the sweetest treasure in a woman.
Exit.
TYMETHES
[Aside] Always excepting and the tyrant’s gem.
ZENARCHUS
What, have you done with the beggar?
TYMETHES
None that lives can say he has done with the beggar.
ZENARCHUS
Hold conference so long with such a fellow?
TYMETHES
How? Are your wits perfect? If one should refuse to talk with every beggar, he might refuse brave company sometimes: gallants, i’faith.
Exeunt.