A room in the castle
Enter Tymethes and Zenarchus.
TYMETHES
Nay, did e’er subtly match it?
ZENARCHUS
‘Slight, led to a lady hoodwink’d,
Placed in state, and banqueted in vizards!
TYMETHES
All, by this light! But all this nothing was
To the delicious pleasures of her bed.
ZENARCHUS
Who should this be?
TYMETHES
Nay, enquire not, brother;
I’d give one eye to see her with the other.
Seest thou this jewel? In the midst of night
I slipp’d it from her veil, unfelt of her;
‘T may be so kind unto me as to bring
Her beauty to my knowledge.
ZENARCHUS
Canst not guess at her, nor at the place?
TYMETHES
At neither for my heart; why, I’ll tell thee, man,
’Twas handled with such art, such admir’d cunning,
What with my blindness and their general darkness,
That when mine eyes receiv’d their liberty,
I was ne’er the nearer.
To them in full form I appear’d unshrouded,
But all their lights to me were mask’d and clouded.
Enter tyrant [Armatrites] and Mazeres, observing.
ZENARCHUS
‘Fore heaven, I do admire the cunning of’t!
TYMETHES
Nay, you cannot outvie my admiration:
I had a feeling of’t beyond your passion.
Enter Amphridote.
ZENARCHUS
Well, blow this over; see, our sister comes.
[ARMATRITES]
Art sure, Mazeres, that he courts our daughter?
MAZERES
I’m sure of more, my lord: she favours him.
[ARMATRITES]
That beggar?
MAZERES
Worse, my lord, that villain traitor,
And yet worse, my lord.
[ARMATRITES]
How?
MAZERES
Pardon, my lord; a riper time
Shall bring him forth.
Tymethes kisses her.
Behold him there, my lord.
[ARMATRITES]
Dares she so far forget respect to us
And dim her own lustre to give him grace?
MAZERES
Favours are grown to custom ‘twixt them both:
Letters, close banquets, whisperings, private meetings.
[ARMATRITES]
I’ll make them dangerous meetings.
AMPHRIDOTE
In faith, my lord, I’ll have this jewel.
TYMETHES
’Tis not my gift, lady.
[ARMATRITES]
What’s that, Mazeres?
MAZERES
Marry, my lord, she courtly begs a jewel of him
Which he keeps back as courtly, with fair words.
AMPHRIDOTE
I have sworn, my lord.
TYMETHES
Why, upon that condition
You’ll keep it safe and close from all strange eyes,
Not wronging me, ’tis yours.
AMPHRIDOTE
I swear.
TYMETHES
It shall suffice.
[They kiss. Exit Zenarchus and Amphridote.]
MAZERES
’Tis hers, my lord, at which they part in kisses.
[ARMATRITES]
I’ll make those meetings bitter; both shall rue.
We have found Mazeres to this minute true.
Exit [cum] Mazeres.
TYMETHES
No trick to see this lady? Heart of ill fortune!
The jewel that was begg’d from me too was
The hope I had to gain her, wish’d for knowledge.
Well, here’s a heart within will not be quiet.
The eye is the sweet feeder of the soul
When the taste wants: that keeps the memory whole.
’Tis bad to be in darkness, all know well,
Than not to see what doth it want of hell.
What says the note?
“Unless your life you would forgo,
[Who] we are seek not to know.”
Pish, all idle.
As if she’d suffer death to threaten me
Whom she so bounteously and firmly loves!
No trick? Excellent, ‘twill fit; make use of that.
Enter Mazeres and Roxano.
MAZERES
[Aside to Roxano] Enough; th’art honest. I affect thee much.
Go, train him to his ruin.
ROXANO
[Aside to Mazeres] Let me alone, my lord; doubt not I’ll train him:
Perhaps, sir, I have the art.
Exit [Mazeres].
TYMETHES
Oh, I know thy mind.
ROXANO
The further lodge?
TYMETHES
Enough; I’ll meet thee presently.
ROXANO
[Aside] Why, so. I like one that will make an end of himself at few words. A man that hath a quick perseverance in ill, a leaping spirit, he’ll run through horror’s jaws to catch a sin, but to o’ertake a virtue, he softly paces, like a man that’s sent some tedious, dark, unprofitable journey. Corrupt is nature: she loves nothing more than what she most should hate. There’s nothing springs apace in man but gray hairs, cares, and sins.
Exit.
TYMETHES
I’ll see her, come what can; but what can prove?
She cannot seek my death that seeks my love.
Exit.