A room in the palace
[Enter Vortiger] and Castiza.
CASTIZA
My lord, I am resolv’d; tempt me no further:
’Tis all to fruitless purpose.
VORTIGER
Are you well?
CASTIZA
Never so perfect in the truth of health
As at this instant.
VORTIGER
Then I doubt my own,
Or that I am not waking.
CASTIZA
Would you were then;
You would praise my resolution.
VORTIGER
This is wondrous.
Are you not mine by contract?
CASTIZA
’Tis most true, my lord,
And I’m better bless’d in’t than I look’d for,
In that I am confin’d in faith so strictly:
I’m bound, my lord, to marry none but you;
You’ll grant me that, and you I’ll never marry.
VORTIGER
It draws into me violence and hazard!
I saw you kiss the king.
CASTIZA
I grant you so, sir.
Where could I take my leave of the world better?
I wrong’d not you in that; you will acknowledge
A king is the best part on’t.
VORTIGER
Oh, my passion!
CASTIZA
I see you somewhat yielding to infirmity, sir;
I take my leave.
VORTIGER
Why, ’tis not possible!
CASTIZA
The fault is in your faith; time I was gone
To give it better strengthening.
VORTIGER
Hark you, lady.
CASTIZA
Send your intent to the next monastery;
There you shall find my answer ever after.
And so with my last duty to your lordship,
For whose perfections I will pray as heartily
As for mine own.
[Bows and] exit.
VORTIGER
How am I serv’d in this!
I offer a vexation to the king;
He sends it home into my blood with vantage.
I’ll put off time no longer. I have wrought him
Into most men’s neglect, calling his zeal
A deep pride hallowed over, love of ease
More than devotion or the public benefit,
Which catches many men’s beliefs. I am stronger too
In peoples’ wishes; their affections point to me.
I lose much time and glory; that redeem’d,
She that now flies returns with joy and wonder:
Greatness and woman’s wish never keep asunder.
[Dumb show II.
Hoboys. Dumb show. Enter two villains, to them Vortiger seeming to solicit them, gives them gold, then swears them. Exit Vortiger. Enter to them Constantius in private meditation; they rudely come to him, strike down his book and draw their swords upon him. He fairly spreads his arms and yields to their furies, at which they seem to be overcome with pity, but looking on the gold kill him as he turns his back and hurry away his body. Enter Vortiger, Devonshire, Stafford in private conference; to them enter the murderers presenting the head to Vortiger. He seems to express much sorrow, and before the astonished lords makes officers lay hold on ‘em, who offering to come towards Vortiger are commanded to be hurried away as to execution. Then the lords, all seeming respect, crown Vortiger; then bring in Castiza, who seems to be brought in unwillingly [by] Devonshire and Stafford who crown her and then give her to Vortiger, she going forth with him with a kind of constrain’d consent. Then enter Aurelius and Uther the two brothers who much astonished seem to fly for their safety.