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[Enter
Vortiger] and Castiza.
CASTIZA
My lord, I am resolv'd; tempt me no further:
'Tis all to fruitless purpose.
VORTIGER
Are you well?
CASTIZA
Never so perfect in the truth of health
As at this instant.
VORTIGER
Then I doubt my own,
Or that I am not waking.
CASTIZA
Would you were then;
You would praise my resolution.
VORTIGER
This is wondrous.
Are you not mine by contract?
CASTIZA
'Tis most true, my lord,
And I'm better bless'd in't than I look'd for,
In that I am confin'd in faith so strictly:
I'm bound, my lord, to marry none but you;
You'll grant me that, and you I'll never marry.
VORTIGER
It draws into me violence and hazard!
I saw you kiss the king.
CASTIZA
I grant you so, sir.
Where could I take my leave of the world better?
I wrong'd not you in that; you will acknowledge
A king is the best part on't.
VORTIGER
Oh, my passion!
CASTIZA
I see you somewhat yielding to infirmity, sir;
I take my leave.
VORTIGER
Why, 'tis not possible!
CASTIZA
The fault is in your faith; time I was gone
To give it better strengthening.
VORTIGER
Hark you, lady.
CASTIZA
Send your intent to the next monastery;
There you shall find my answer ever after.
And so with my last duty to your lordship,
For whose perfections I will pray as heartily
As for mine own.
[Bows
and] exit.
VORTIGER
How am I serv'd in this!
I offer a vexation to the king;
He sends it home into my blood with vantage.[1]
I'll put off time no longer. I have wrought him
Into most men's neglect, calling his zeal
A deep pride hallowed over, love of ease [2]
More than devotion or the public benefit,
Which catches many men's beliefs. I am stronger too
In peoples' wishes; their affections point to me.
I lose much time and glory; that redeem'd,
She that now flies returns with joy and wonder:
Greatness and woman's wish never keep asunder.
Exit.
NOTES
[1] sends it home into my blood with
vantage: The image is from tennis; Constantius
returns Vortiger's volley with added force.
[2] A deep pride hallowed over, love of ease:
After this line in L are pen strokes, and what has been
cropped can be supplied by P: Brigs/Robert str/Blackson.
Little or no information is know about these actors,
Robert Briggs, Robert Stratton, and Blackson (spelled
Blaxon in a manuscript of Every Man in His Humour),
and so this does not help to date Hengist. This is
a direction for these actors to prepare to enter in the
dumb show.
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