AND. Then let us stand and outface danger, Since you will have it so; despise report, And contemn scandals into nothing, Which vanish with the breath that utters 'em; Love is above these vanities. Should the Innocent thing my husband take thee here, He could not spite me but by growing jealous; And jealousy's black[est] effect would be a cloister, Perhaps to kill me too: but that's impossible-- I cannot die so long as Plangus loves me. Yet say this piece of earth should play the coward, And fall at some unlucky stroke, Love would transport my better half to its centre [In] Plangus' heart, and I should live in him. But, sir, you have a fame to lose, which should be A prince's only care and darling: which Should have an eternity beyond his life: If he should take that from you, I should be Killed indeed. PLAN. Why dost thou use These arguments to bid me go, Yet chain me to thy tongue, while the angel-like Music of thy voice, ent'ring my thirsty ears, Charms up my fears to immobility? 'Tis more impossible for me to leave thee Than for this carcase to quoit[82] away its gravestone, When it lies destitute of a soul t' inform it. Mariners might with far greater ease Hear whole shoals of Sirens singing, And not leap out to their destruction, Than I forsake so dangerous a sweetness. AND. I will be dumb then. PLAN. I will be deaf first. I have thought a way now, I'll run from hence, and leave my soul behind me. It shall be so--and yet it shall not neither: What! shall a husband banish a prince his house For fear? A husband! 'tis but an airy title; I will command there shall be no such thing, And then Andromana is mine, or his, Or any man's she will herself. These ceremonies Fetter the world, and I was born to free it. Shall man, that noble creature, be afraid Of words, things himself made? Shall sounds, A thing of seven small letters, give check T'a prince's will? AND. Did you not promise me, dear sir? Have you not sworn, too, you would not stay beyond the time? Have oaths no more validity with princes? Let me not think so. PLAN. Come, I will go; thou shalt not ask in vain. But let us kiss at parting; it may be Our last, perhaps-- I cannot now move one foot, though all the furies Should whip me forward with their snakes. Woman, thou stol'st my heart--just now thou stol'st it. A cannon bullet might have kiss'd my lips, And left me as much life. [_The_ KING, _having listened, comes in softly_. Are we betray'd? What art? speak, or resolve to die. KING. A well-wisher of the prince's. PLAN. The king? It cannot be! [_He starts._