Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 05 of 10Fletcher, John
General
Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 05 of 10
Fletcher, John
English drama
_Clar._ Hence, repenting Milk-sop. [_Exit_ Leon.
Now 'tis too late. _Lisanders_ sword, I that,
That is the Base I'le build on. So, I'le raise
The house. Help, murther, a most horrid
Murther. Monsieur _Beronte_, noble _Dorilaus_,
All buried in sleep? Aye me a murther,
A most unheard-of murther.
_Enter_ Dorilaus _as from bed._
_Dor._ More lights Knaves;
_Beronte_, _Alcidon_; more lights.
_Enter_ Beronte, Alcidon, _and Servants with lights._
_Clar._ By this I see too much.
_Dor._ My Son _Cleander_ bathing
In his own gore. The Devil, to tell truth, i'th' shape of
An Host!
_Ber._ My Brother?
_Malf._ I have been
I'th' other world, in Hell I think, these Devils
With fire-brands in their paws sent to torment me,
Though I never did the deed, for my lewd purpose
To be a Whore-master.
_Dor._ Who's that?
_Alci._ 'Tis one in Armour. A bloudy sword in his hand.
_Dor. Sans_ question the murtherer.
_Malf._ Who I? you do me wrong,
I never had the heart to kill a Chicken;
Nor do I know this sword.
_Alc._ I do, too well.
_Ber._ I have seen _Lisander_ wear it.
_Clar._ This confirms
What yester-night I whisper'd: let it work,
The circumstance may make it good.
_Malf._ My Lord? and I his murtherer?
_Ber._ Drag the villain hence,
The Rack shall force a free confession from him.
_Malf._ I am struck dumb;
You need not stop my mouth.
_Ber._ Away with him. [_Exit with_ Malfort.
_Enter_ Calista, _and_ Olinda.
_Cal._ Where is my Lord?
_Dor._ All that
Remains of him lies there: look on this object,
And then turn marble.
_Cal._ I am so already,
Made fit to be his Monument: but wherefore
Do you, that have both life and motion left you,
Stand sad spectators of his death.
And not bring forth his murtherer?
_Ber._ That lies in you: you must, and shall produce him.
_Dor._ She, _Beronte_?
_Ber._ None else.
_Dor._ Thou ly'st, I'le prove it on thy head,
Or write it on thy heart.
_Alc._ Forbear, there is
Too much blood shed already.
_Ber._ Let not choler
Stifle your judgment; many an honest Father
Hath got a wicked Daughter. If I prove not
With evident proofs her hand was in the bloud
Of my dear Brother, (too good a Husband for her)
Give your revenge the reins, and spur it forward.
_Dor._ In any circumstance but shew her guilty,
I'le strike the first stroak at her.
_Ber._ Let me ask
A question calmly: do you know this Sword?
Have you not seen _Lisander_ often wear it?
_Dor._ The same with which he rescued me.
_Cal._ I do, what inference from this to make me guilty?
_Ber._ Was he not with you in the house to-night?
_Cal._ No on my soul.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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