GOV. Ha! where's my sword? I had forgot my business. O, 'tis done, And never was beholding to my hand! Was I so hard to thee? so respectless of thee, To put all this to thee I why, it was more Than I was able to perform myself. With all the courage that I could take to me. It tir'd me; I was fain to fall and rest; And hast thou, valiant woman, overcome Thy honour's en'mies with thine own white hand, Where virgin-victory sits, all without help? Eternal praise go with thee! Spare not now, Make all the haste you can. I'll plant this bawd Against the door, the fittest place for him; That when with ungovern'd weapons they rush in, Blinded with fury, they may take his death Into the purple number of their deeds, And wipe it off from mine;-- [_Places the corpse of_ SOPHONIRUS _against the door_.[465] _Knocking within._ How now, forbear, My lord's at hand! WITHIN. My lord, and ten lords more: I hope the king's officers are above them all. _Enter the_ FELLOWS, _well-weaponed_. GOV. Life! what do you do, take heed! Bless the old man!-- My Lord All-ass, my lord, he's gone! 1ST OFFICER. Farewell he then. We have no eyes to pierce thorough inch boards. 'Twas his own folly; the king must be serv'd, And shall; the best is, we shall ne'er be hang'd for't, There's such a number guilty. GOV. Poor my lord! He went some twice embassador, and behav'd himself So wittily in all his actions. 2D OFFICER. My lord! what's she? GOV. Let me see! What should she be? Now I remember her-- O, she was a worthy creature, Before destruction grew so inward[466] with her! 1ST OFFICER. Well, for her worthiness, that's no work of ours-- You have a lady, sir; the king commands her To court with speed, and we must force her thither. GOV. Alas! she'll never strive with you, she was born E'en with the spirit of meekness; is't for the king? 1ST OFFICER. For his own royal and most gracious lust, Or let me ne'er be trusted. GOV. Take her, then! 2D OFFICER. Spoke like an honest subject, by my troth! I'd do the like myself to serve my prince. Where is she, sir? GOV. Look but upon yon face, Then do but tell me where you think she is? 2D OFFICER. She's not here. GOV. She's yonder. 1ST OFFICER. Faith, she's gone Where we shall ne'er come at her, I see that. GOV. No, nor thy master neither; now I praise Her resolution: 'tis a triumph to me, When I see those about her. 2D OFFICER. How came this, sir? The king must know. GOV. From yon old fellow's prattling All your intents; he reveal'd largely to her, And she was troubled with a foolish pride To stand upon her honour, and so died.