And, if by your sweet mercy not prevented, 25 [Drums. Duke. I hear the drums beat. Enter ARCHAS, THEODORE, Gentlemen, [and] Soldiers. Stand where ye are, sir; Welcome, my worthy friend! Archas. Hon. Archas. This fatal firebrand- He is thy son, of thine own blood. 30 Oh, my brother! Forget not, old man, In these veins 35 Not of a thousand, sir; No treachery e'er harbour'd yet, no mutiny; I ne'er gave life to lewd and headstrong rebels. Archas. Or, were it so, it is a fault so mighty, So strong against the nature of all mercy, His mother, were she living, would not weep for him. I must not, sir, Theod. 40 [Kneels. 45 Do not take from me yet the name of father; with him, I shall grow faint else in my execution. [Aside, and then draws his sword. 26 s.d. Enter Archas, etc.] After stroke in folios and ed. 1778. 33 thy son,] Comma first in F2. 35 lewd] i. e. wicked, vile. 44 I humbly beg] So arranged in Ff. 'Kneels' inserted Weber, 1. 41, here Dyce. 48] s.d. as Dyce. Weber inserted 'Draws' 1. 46 and dash at execution. Come, come, sir, you have seen death; now meet him bravely. Duke. Hold, hold, I say, a little hold! consider, Thou hast no more sons, Archas, to inherit thee. Archas. Yes, sir, I have another and a nobler; No treason shall inherit me; young Archas, 50 A boy as sweet as young; my brother breeds him, Enter PUTSKIE, and YOUNG ARCHAS. Puts. Thou hast no child left, Archas, none to If thou strik'st that stroke now. Behold young Archas! Heave up thy sword, and mine's heaved up; strike, And I'll strike too, as suddenly, as deadly! Duke. 55 бо On your obedience, 65 Take him to ye : [THEOD. rises: Soldiers shout. And, sirrah, be an honest man; ye have reason. Duke. Why was this boy conceal'd thus? 70 Puts. Your grace's pardon : Fearing the vow you made against my brother, And that your anger would not only light This young boy, to preserve from after-danger, 75 56] The stage direction in Ff is 'Enter Putskie (alias Briskie) and Alinda (alias Archas).' 66] s.d. 'Soul. shout' Ff. Dyce prefixed 'Theod. rises.' VOL. III. A A That I might still be ready to all fortunes. The boy your grace took, nobly entertain'd him, And let me look upon him. Duke. Stand away, 80 My young mistress!— Come hither, sister. This is a strange metamorphosis.-Alinda! I dare yet scarce believe mine eyes.-[Aside.] How Dost thou not love this boy well? Olym. It might be thus ? I should lie else, trust me, 85 Didst thou never wish, Olympia, A thousand times. Nay, do not blush; I do not jest; eased now. Here, take him ; No, Archas; Archas. You do me too much honour, sir. Duke. Come hither, Viola: can you love this man? Duke. Seal it, Burris. We'll all to church together instantly; And then a vie for boys! Stay, bring Boroskie : I had almost forgot that lump of mischief. 90 95 The knave to worth; do with him what thou wilt. 100 79 The] F1. F2, Seward That. 84 s.d. Aside] Dyce. Weber put the whole line between dashes. 85 trust me] Printed as part of following line in Ff. 86 sir] Weber chose to print else. 97 a vie] i. e. a wager. To vie (a term in various games at cards) "was to hazard, to put down, a certain sum upon a hand." See Gifford's note on Jonson's Works, i. 106. 97] Stage direction enlarged by Dyce. Ff Enter Boroskie. prayers; Archas. Then, to my sword again, you to your [Kneels. 'Tis too much honour that I perish thus. Archas. Come, are ye ready? Bor. Yes. Archas. And truly penitent, to make your way straight? Bor. Thus I wash off my sins. Archas. Stand up, and live, then, [BOROSKIE rises. And live an honest man; I scorn men's ruins.— Take him again, sir, try him; and believe This thing will be a perfect man. Duke. I take him. Bor. And when I fail those hopes, Heaven's hopes fail me! Duke. You are old: no more wars, father. Theodore, Take you the charge; be general. 105 IIO Theod. All good bless ye! 115 Duke. And, my good father, you dwell in my bosom; From you rise all my good thoughts: when I would think, And examine Time for one that's fairly noble, To joys, and revels, sports! and he that can 101, 103] Stage directions due to Weber. 109 s.d.] Added Dyce. 114 Theodore] Begins the next line in Ff. [Exeunt. 122 revels, sports]" I should read 'revel-sports.'”—Mason. I 20 EPILOGUE THOUGH Something well assured, few here repent To study, as becomes us, your content. 5 10 |