Found out with every finger, made the shame
Of all successions, and in this great ruin
Thy brother and thy noble husband broken?
Thou shalt not live thus. Kneel, and swear to help me,
When I shall call thee to it; or, by all

Holy in Heaven and earth, thou shalt not live
To breathe a full hour longer; not a thought!
Come, 'tis a righteous oath. Give me thy hands,
And, both to heaven held up, swear, by that wealth
This lustful thief stole from thee, when I say it,
To let this foul soul out.

"Evad. Here I swear it;

And, all you spirits of abused ladies,
Help me in this performance !

"Mel. Enough. This must be known to none
But you and I, Evadne; not to your lord,
Though he be wise and noble, and a fellow
Dares step as far into a worthy action
As the most daring; ay, as far as justice.
Ask me not why. Farewell.

[Exit MELANTIUS.

"Evad. 'Would I could say so to my black disgrace!
Oh, where have I been all this time? how 'friended,
That I should lose myself thus desperately,
And none for pity shew me how I wandered?

There is not in the compass of the light

A more unhappy creature: Sure, I am monstrous!
For I have done those follies, those mad mischiefs,

Would dare a woman.

Oh, my loaden soul,

Be not so cruel to me; choke not up
The way to my repentance! Oh, my lord!”

There is something precipitate, to say the least of it, in this unexpected repentance of Evadne. That it is sincere, is evinced by her interview with her injured husband, to whom she kneels for pardon, and swears never to repeat the crime. He is slow in believing her; but in the end he does pardon her :

"Amin. I am now dissolved:

My frozen soul melts. May each sin thou hast
Find a new mercy! Rise; I am at peace.
Hadst thou been thus, thus excellently good,
Before that devil king tempted thy frailty,
Sure thou hadst made a star! Give me thy hand.

I have begun a slaughter on my honour,

And I must end it there.-He sleeps. Good heavens!
Why give you peace to this untemperate beast,

That hath so long transgress'd you? I must kill him,
And I will do it bravely: The mere joy
Tells me, I merit in it. Yet I must not
Thus tamely do it, as he sleeps; that were
To rock him to another world: My vengeance
Shall take him waking, and then lay before him
The number of his wrongs and punishments.
I'll shake his sins like furies, till I waken

His evil angel, his sick conscience;

And then I'll strike him dead. King, by your leave :

[Ties his arms to the bed.

I dare not trust your strength. Your grace and I

Must grapple upon even terms no more.
So: If he rail me not from my resolution,

I shall be strong enough. - My lord the king!
My lord! - He sleeps, as if he meant to wake
No more. My lord! Is he not dead already? -
Sir! My lord!

"King. Who's that?

"Evad. Oh, you sleep soundly, sir !

"King. My dear Evadne,

I have been dreaming of thee. Come to bed.

"Evad. I am come at length, sir; but how welcome?

"King. What pretty new device is this, Evadne ?

What, do you tie me to you? By my love,

This is a quaint one.

"Evad. Stay, sir, stay;

You are too hot, and I have brought you physic

To temper your high veins.

I know you have a surfeited foul body;

And you must bleed.

"King. Bleed !

"Evad. Ay, you shall bleed! Lie still; and, if the devil,

Your lust, will give you leave, repent. This steel

Comes to redeem the honour that you stole,

King, my fair name; which nothing but thy death
Can answer to the world.

"King. How's this, Evadne ?

"Evad. I am not she; nor bear I in this breast

So much cold spirit to be call'd a woman.

I am a tyger; I am any thing

That knows not pity. Stir not! If thou dost,