+Phil.+ Nay, upon my life, sir, He in your apparel gave the first kick: I saw them fight, And I dare swear the t'other honest gentleman Little thought he had slain anything like the prince, For I heard him swear, but half an hour before, He never saw your grace. +Mil.+ Then he kill'd him fairly? +Phil.+ Upon my life, my lord. +Ven.+ T'other had but his merit then: who dies And seeks his death, seldom wets others' eyes. +Ant.+ Let this persuade you: I believe you noble. I have kept my word with you. +Phil.+ You have outdone me, sir, In this brave exercise of honour: but let me, In mine own person, thank you. +Omnes.+ Philippo! +Phil.+ Unwittingly I did an ill--as't happened, To a good end: that slave I for you kill'd Wanted but time to kill you: read that paper, Which I found with him, I thinking by accident You had intercepted it. We all have happily Been well deceived; you are noble, just, and true; My hate was at your clothes, my heart at you. +Ver.+ An accident more strange hath seldom happen'd. +Lor.+ Philippo, my best friend, 'twixt shame and love, Here let me lay thee now for ever. +Abs.+ Heaven Hath now plan'd all our rough woes smooth and even. +Mil.+ At court [a] large relation in apt form Shall tender pass'd proceedings; but to distinguish, Excellent lady, your unparallel'd praises From those but seem, let this serve: bad women Are nature's clouds, eclipsing her fair shine: The good, all-gracious, saint-like and divine. [_Exeunt +Omnes+._ FOOTNOTES: [164] To _levell at_, or _to hit the white_, were phrases taken from archery, and often used by our ancient writers. _The white_ was _the mark_ at which archers practised when they learned to shoot. So in Massinger's "Emperor of the East," act iv. sc. 3-- "The immortality of my fame _is the white_ I shoot at;" in Beaumont and Fletcher's "Four [Plays in One" (Dyce's edit.), ii. 512]-- "And let your thoughts flee higher; aim them right, Sir, you may hit, you have _the fairest white_;" in Lyly's "Euphues and his England," 1582--"Vertue _is the white_ we shoot at, not vanitie" (p. 11). Again, "He glaunced from the marke Euphues shot at, and hit at last _the white_ which Philautus set up" (p. 18). Again, "An archer saye you, is to be knowen by his aime, not by his arrowe: but your aime is so ill, that if you knewe howe farre wide _from the white_ your shaft sticketh, you would hereafter rather breake your bowe then bend it."--_Ibid._ 57. [165] In this speech are to be found the outlines of the character of _Zanga_, so admirably drawn by Dr Young. The plot of the _Revenge_ is, however, said to have been taken from Mrs Behn's play of "Abdelazar," which was borrowed from "Lust's Dominion; or, The Lascivious Queen." [166] [Old copy, _and_.] [167] So in "Cymbeline," act v. sc. 3--