_Fred_. Base cowards, traytors! how am I surprizde, [Bound] with these bonds? I am a Prince by birth, And princely spirits disdaine such clogs of earth. Let goe, you slaves. _Mon_. First know your fathers pleasure. _Fred_. You are too bold. _Mon_. But you shall keepe a measure. _Fred_. Thou blood of common Concubines, must I Be bound by thee, and heir of _Saxony_? _Enter Duke and Valen_. _Duke_. It is our pleasure. _Valen_. Have you caught him so? Now shall you waite the mercy we will shew: I was too base to be your father's wife. _Duke_. But he shall sue to thee to save his life. _Fred_. Perjurde, ungratefull, unnaturall, Is this the pardon given in generall? _Duke_. Wee'l talke of that hereafter; make him fast. _Valen_. Helpe, _Vandermas_, our self will ayding be To keepe in awe such sencelesse trechery. _Duke_. My helpe and all to prison, there till death Remaine in duresse. _Fred_. Rather stop my breath, Strangle me with these cords; prison to me Is twenty deaths, I will have liberty. Now as you are a father, be more kind; You did not find me in so sterne a mind. Are[209] you forgetful of the life I sav'd? Shall a Duke's Sonne by treason thus be slav'd? If you suspect my love, grant me the fight; I dare in single combate any knight, Any adventurer, any pandorus hinde, To proue my faith of an unfained mind. _Duke_. Away with him. _Fred_. I see my death's set downe, And some adulterous heire must weare that Crowne. To intreate a _Rodophe_, I had rather dye Then have my life lodg'd in such infamy: If all my fortunes on her words depend, Let her say kill me, and so make an end. _Duke_. Why stay you? _Vander_. Good my Lord. _Fred_. Peace, untaught Groome, My heart's so great that Ide forerun my doome. There's no release meant, you have vowed I see To dam your soules by wilfull periury. Yet that I am my self, let these words shew: To die is naturall, tis a death I owe, And I will pay it, with a mind as free As I enjoyed in my best libertie. But this assure your self, when all is done, They'l kill the father that will kill the sonne. [_Exit_. _Duke_. What's to be done now? _Mon_. Seale unto his death, Your warrant nere the sooner takes effect: 'Twill be a meanes to make him penitent. Seeing his fault, hee'l taste your mercie best, When now he proudly thinkes he is opprest. _Duke_. A Warrant shall be sign'd, and unto thee I doe commend it; deale not partially; If he be sorry and in true remorse, Cancell the Writ, else let it have full force. Had I ten sonnes, as I have onely this, They should all die, ere thou depriv'd of blisse. So great is my affection, my faire wife, That to save thine Ide frankly give my life. Come, weele about it strait, all time seemes long, Where thou hast found slight cause to feare my wrong. _Valen_. That writ Ile take, and a conclusion trie: If he can love he lives, if hate me die. For howsoere, I seeme to scorne the man, Hee's somewhat deare in my affection.-- Here comes your brothers.