PHY. He sent the summons of her death By her that had betray'd her; the report Did make her spirits throng unto her heart, And (sure) had kill'd it, had not heaven decreed His hand should be as black as his intent. She begg'd some time for prayer, and retir'd; In her own blood did write her tragedy And parting wishes to her dear betroth'd. Now hear the strangest mistook piety, That ever entered in a virgin's breast, She so much lov'd this barbarous homicide, She would not have him guilty of her death; And therefore with her own hands wounds herself, And as she bled, she writ unto her lord-- At last concludes-- They will not let me make them innocent; I'm call'd unto my death, and I repent My wound, because I would not hurt That which I hope you lov'd. This bloody note Was found the next day in her pocket. AGEN. And came it to the Lord Lysicles? PHY. It did; and if you e'er had seen A hundred parents at one time deplore The unexpected deaths of their lost children, The father's sorrow and the mother's tears-- 'Twould emblemise, but not express his grief. Sometimes he shriek'd, as if h' had sent his soul Out in his voice; sometimes stood fix'd, and gaz'd, As if he had no sense of what he saw: Sometimes he'd swoon; and if the memory Of his dear mistress, even i' th' gates of death, Had not pursu'd him, he had certain died. Torment did now give life; at last he drew His sword, and e'er he could be stay'd, did fall Upon the point. This I think did preserve him; For, not[351] being mortal, and he fainting with The loss of blood, had not then strength enough To end himself, until he was persuaded To live, to celebrate her memory; Which nightly he doth do upon her tomb, Whither he now is gone. AGEN. I have not heard Of such a love as this! PHY. Nor ever shall Of such a beauty as did cause it. 'Tis late, and I'll not trouble you with her story: When you're at Court, all tongues will speak her merit To your wonder. I'll bring you to your horse. [_Exit._ [ACT I., SCENE 2.] _The Tomb discovered. Enter_ LYSICLES _with a page_ _and a torch_, [_and then withdraws_.][352] _Enter_ ERGASTO _and_ CLEON. CLE. And will you marry now? ERG. Indeed will I. CLE. And what shall Be done with all those locks of hair you have? ERG. Why, I'll make buttons of 'em, and had they half The value that I swore they had when I did beg 'em, Rich orient diamonds could not equal them: Some came eas'ly, and some I was forc'd to Dig for in th' mine. CLE. And your priz'd liberty-- What shall become of that? You swore you would not marry till there were A law established that married men Might be redeem'd, as slaves are.