_Orestes offers to strike her with his Rapier, and is stayed by Phylander_. _Orest_. What meanes, _Phylander_? _Phy_. Oh, forbeare thy stroke; Her pitious mone and gesture might prouoke Hard flint to ruthe. _Orest_. Hast thou forgot thy oath? _Phy_. Forgot it? no! _Or_. Then wherefore doest thou interrupt me so? _Phy_. A sudden terror ouercomes my thought. _Or_. Then suffer me that stands in feare of nought. _Phy_. Oh, hold, _Orestes_; heare my reason first. _Or_. Is all religion of thy vowe forgot? Do as thou wilt, but I forget it not. _Phy_. _Orestes_, if thou standest vpon thine oath, Let me alone to answere for vs both. _Or_. What answer canst thou giue? I wil not stay. _Phy_. Nay, villain; then my sword shall make me way. _Or_. Wilt thou in this against thy conscience striue? _Phy_. I will defend a woman while I liue, A virgin and an innocent beside; Therefore put vp or else thy chaunce abide. _Or_. Ile neuer sheath my sword vnles thou show, Our oath reserued, we may let her go. _Phy_. That will I do, if truth may be of force. _Or_. And then will I be pleasd to graunt remorse. _Eu_. Litle thought I, when out of doore I went, That thus my life should stand on argument. _Phy_. A lawfull oath in an vnlawfull cause Is first dispenc't withall by reasons lawes; Then, next, respect must to the end be had, Because th'intent doth make it good or bad. Now here th'intent is murder as thou seest, Which to perform thou on thy oath reliest; But, since the cause is wicked and vniust, Th'effect must likewise be held odious: We swore to kill, and God forbids to kill; Shall we be rulde by him or by man's will? Beside it is a woman is condemde; And what is he, that is a man indeed, That can endure to see a woman bleed? _Or_. Thou hast preuaild; _Eurymine_, stand vp; I will not touch thee for a world of gold. _Phy_. Why now thou seemst to be of humane mould; But, on our graunt, faire mayd, that you shall liue, Will you to vs your faithfull promise giue Henceforth t'abandon this your Country quite, And neuer more returne into the sight Of fierce _Telemachus_, the angry Duke, Where by we may be voyd of all rebuke? _Eur_. Here do I plight my chaste vnspotted hand, I will abiure this most accursed land: And vow henceforth, what fortune ere betide, Within these woods and desarts to abide. _Phy_. Now wants there nothing but a fit excuse To sooth the Duke in his concern'd abuse; That he may be perswaded she is slaine, And we our wonted fauour still maintaine.