_Lis._ Let not this honourable Court be swaid By false suggestions; that the fault was mine, Appeares as manifest as mid-dayes Sunne, ’Twas I that first attempted, su’d, and prai’d, Vs’d all the subtile engins Art could inuent, Or Nature yeeld, to force affection, Onely to gaine the royall Princesse loue; For what can Women aboue weakenesse act? Or, what Fort’s so strong, but yeelds at length To a continued siege? Th’attempt, I knew, was hard and dangerous: Therefore more honourable in the conquest; Which ere I would haue left, I would ha’ past More dangers then ere _Iason_ vnder-went. Then, since you see (my Lords) the guilt was mine, Pardon the Princesse, Mee to death resigne. _Leo._ Pardon (my Lords) _Lisandro_, let me dye: If euer you’le performe an act of iustice Shall make you truely famous, doe it here, Here vpon me; the guilt alone is mine: ’Twas this alluring face, and tempting smiles, That drew on his affections. Say that Hee Did first commence the suit; the fault was mine In yeelding to it: ’Tis a greater shame For women to consent, then men to aske: And yet, before he spoke, I had ingag’d My heart and loue to him, vnask’d, vnpraid; And then (you know) how soone our eyes discouers The true affection that we beare our Louers: Then since the guilt alone remaines in Mee, Let me be iudg’d, and set _Lisandro_ free. _2. Iudg._ This knot is intricate. _Lis._ ’Tis fallacie. Who can alledge one Article ’gainst her? Th’offence was, breaking of the Kings command, That none, on paine of death, should visit her, Vnlesse appoynted by the King himselfe; And that alone was mine: ’Twas my deuice; I tooke the borrowed shape; I broke the Law, And I must suffer for’t: Then doe not wrong Her spotlesse Chastitie. _4. Iudg._ How, Chastitie? _Lis._ If any here conceiue her otherwise, That very thought will damne him: She’s as chaste As ere your Mothers in their cradles were, For any act committed. _2. Iudg._ Harder still. _1. Iudg._ A confused Labyrinth: we shal ne’r wind out. _Leo._ My Lords, beleeue him not; the guilt lies here: ’Twas I that sent him that deluding shape, In which he got admittance; The offence Rests onely here: And therefore (good my Lords) Let the condemning sentence passe on mee; Or else, I will protest to all the world, You are vniust; And take my death vpon’t. _Lis._ Fie, Madam, how you wrong your innocence! And seeming (Lady) to be pittifull To mee, you are most cruell; for my life Should be a willing sacrifice to death, To expiate the guilt of my offence. Remember what continuall paines I tooke, By messages, intreaties, gifts, and prayers, To win your fauour, deare _Leonida_, Iustice in this will be Impietie, Vnlesse it here be shew’d. I beg it may.