Playes written by the thrice noble, illustrious and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

Scene 35.

Enter the Lord Melancholy at the Grate, the Curtains open, and appears the Lady Perfection, he takes the Sword out of the sheath.

LOrd Melancholy.

Sweet, heres that will quit us of all trouble.

Lady Perfection.

Indeed life is a trouble, and nothing is at rest but what lyes in the grave.

Lord Melancholy.

Are you not affraid of the sight of a murthering Sword?

Lady Perfection.

No more than you are affraid of the sight of the glo∣rious Sun.

Lord Melancholy.

You seem to have a courage above you Sex.

Lady Perfection.

My love is above Life, as far as my Courage is beyond Fear; I neither fear Death, nor consider Life, but can imbrace the one, and fling away the other for Loves sake.

Lord Melancholy.

Then dear Wife, for so you are, my heart did never own another, I wish our breaths and bloods might intermix together, and as Deaths Ceremonies might joyn our Souls.

Whilst he speaks, he puts one end of the Sword through the Grate; she takes hold of it.

Lady Perfection.

They'r joyned already by love, and Death's sufficient to bring them both together, and our bloods 'tis like will run in trickling streams upon this Sword, to meet and intermix.

Whilst he holds the Sword in one hand, he un∣buttons his Doublet with the other hand, so she unties her Cord about her Gown.

Lord Melancholy.

These Buttons are like troublesome guests at Marriage Nuptials, but are you ready Wife for our second Marriage?

Lady Perfection.

I am now ready to go into the Bed of Earth.

Enter two Fathers which take hold of the Lord Melancholy, and pull him gently from the Grate.

Religious Father.

Hold, and stain not this sacred places with murde∣rers blood. Lady, is this the Devotion profess, wickedly to murther your self?

Lady Perfection.

Father, know I accounted self Death no wickedness, and I will venture on my own belief.

Religious Father.

But the Church hath power to absolve you now, if you desire personly to meet.

Lady Perfection.

Yes, such power as the Laws had to dissolve our Marri∣age; but the Churches absolving can no more acquit my Conscience from my Devoted Vow, than the Laws could from my Marriage Vow.

Religious Father.

Pray give us leave to plead.

Lady Perfection.

Take it.

Religious Father.

You have vowed Chastity, and a retir'd Incloy∣stered life.

Lady Perfection.

I have so.

Religious Father.

Why, then marry this Lord again, and let him make the same Vow, and enter into the same Cloyster, and into the same Religi∣ous Order of Chastity, and being Man and Wife you are but as one person, so that if you be constant and true to your selves, you keep the Vow of Cha∣stity; for what is more Chast than lawfull Marriage, and Virtuous Man and Wife?

Lady Perfection.

Husband, are you willing to make the Vow of Chastity, and to live an Incloystered life?

Lord Melancholy.

I am all will to that Vow and life, for so I shall enjoy thy Soul and Body; and good Father re-marry us, and then I will thank you for Life and Wife.

Religious Father.

First you shall make your Vow, then take a Religious Habit, and then be re-married, and go along with us and we will order you fixt for to enter into this Religious Order of Chastity, and if you be both happy in life, as sure you will, thank your Nurse, who hearing your cruell, and as I may say irreligious design, informed us, and placing us within a Loby, we heard you, and saw you, though you knew not that we did so, for you had barr'd the outward Door, but being within we were ready to come forth and hinder you as we did.

Lord Melancholy.

Well Father, since you have hindered our Deaths, pray make me sit to enjoy Life; my Heaven of Life, or Life of Heaven.

Religious Father.

Come then.

Exeunt.