Young For. Men that are easily mov'd are soon remov'd From resolution; but when, with advice

And with foresight we purpose, our intents

Are not without considerate reasons alter'd.

Rains. Thou art resolv'd, and I prepar❜d for thee.
Yet thus much know, thy state is desperate,
And thou art now in danger's throat already
Ev'n half-devour'd. If I subdue thee, know
Thou art a dead man; for this fatal steel,
That search'd thy brother's entrails, is prepar'd
To do as much to thee. If thou survivest,
And I be slain, th'art dead too; my alliance
And greatness in the world will not endure
My slaughter unreveng'd. Come, I am for thee.

Young For. I would my brother liv'd, that this our diff'rence

Might end in an embrace of folded love;

But 'twas Heav'n's will that for some guilt of his
He should be scourg'd by thee; and for the guilt
In scourging him, thou by my vengeance punish'd.
Come; I am both ways arm'd, against thy steel
If I be pierc'd by it, or 'gainst thy greatness

If mine pierce thee.

Rains. Have at thee.

[They fight and pause.

Young For. I will not bid thee hold; but if thy breath

Be as much short as mine, look to thy weakness.

Rains. The breath, thou draw'st but weakly,

Thou now shalt draw no more.

[They fight-FORREST loseth his weapon.

Young For. That Heaven knows.

He guard my body that my spirit owes !

[Guards himself, and puts by with his hat-slipsthe other running, falls over him and FORREST

kills him.

Good. My cousin's fall'n-pursue the murderer.

Fos. But not too near, I pray; you see he's arm'd,

And in this deep amazement may commit

Some desp'rate outrage.

Young For. Had I but known the terror of this deed,
I would have left it done imperfectly,

Rather than in this guilt of conscience
Labour'd so far. But I forget my safety.
The gentleman is dead. My desp'rate life
Will be o'ersway'd by his allies and friends,
And I have now no safety but by flight.
And see where my pursuers come. Away!

Certain destruction hovers o'er my stay.

[Exit.

Good. Come, follow! see he takes towards the city.

You bear the body of my cousin hence,

Unto the neighb❜ring village. I'll still keep

Within the murderer's sight. Raise hue and cry!

He shall not scape our pursuit, tho' he fly.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Old HARDING's Garden. Enter WILLIAM and PHILIP.

Wil. Now, wilt truss me that point, Philip? I could find in my heart to beg thee of my father to wait upon me: but that I am afraid he cannot spare thee from the plough. Besides, I heard him say but the last day, that thou wast more fit to make a hind, than a serving-man.

Phil. Sir, you were once my brother.

Wil. True, but that was when you were a son to my father. Phil. Ay, and my younger brother: I had then priority of birth.

Wil. But now it seems we have got the start of you; for, being but a servant, you are taken a button-hole lower. Phil. When will this tedious night give place to day? Wil. I hope I may command.

Phil. I must obey.

Enter JOHN and SUSAN.

John. My string, Sue! Are these shoes well mundified? Down a your marrowbones, good Sue! I hope you are not so straight-laced but you can stoop. You acknowledge me one of your young masters. If not, 'tis not unknown to you that I know the way to my father.

Sus. Yes, sir; and can tell tales, I know you can; and I have felt the smart on't.

John. Whip me, if you shall not, if you begin once to grow stubborn. Why when?

Sus. As humble as your feet.

[Kneels to tie JOHN's shoe.

Enter Mrs. HARDING.

Mrs. H. Why, how now, maid! is this work fitting you?

And you, sir; you are look'd for in the stable,

And should not loiter here. Will you be gone?

Phil. I am for any service.

[Exit.

[[Exit.

Sus. And I too.

Mrs. H. We shall find other things for you to do.

Will. If you cannot, here be that they can. A drudge! a groom! I'll send him of my errands.

John. And if I do not find work for her, I'll do nothing but take tobacco in every room, because, twice a day, I'll make her clean the house. [Exeunt.

Mrs. H. These think, because I am their stepmother,

Their chiefest torture is my most content,

When I protest, to see them thus afflicted,
It grates my very heartstrings every hour.
For tho' before their father's ruthless eye,
And their remorseless brothers, I seem stern,
Yet privately they taste of my best bounty.
And other of my servants are by me
Hir'd to o'ercome their chiefest drudgery.

(Voices within). Follow, follow, follow!

Enter Young FORREST with his weapon drawn.

Young For. I am pursued; and there's no place of refuge Left to my desp'rate life. But here's a woman!

Oh, if she harbour soft effeminate pity,

She may redeem me from a shameful death.

Mrs. H. A man, thus arm'd, to leap my garden wall! Help, help!

Young For. As you are fair, and should be pitiful ; A woman, therefore, to be mov'd; a Christian,

And therefore one that should be charitable,

Pity a poor distresséd gentleman,

Who gives his desp'rate fortune, life, and freedom,
Into your hand.

Mrs. H. What are you, sir, that, with your weapon drawn, Affright me thus?

Young For. If you protect my life,

Fair creature, I am a free gentleman;
But if betray me, then a poor man doom'd
Unto a shameful death.

Mrs. H. What's your offence,

That such suspicious fear and tim'rous doubt

Waits on your guilty steps?

Young For. I've kill'd a man ; But fairly, as I am a gentleman,

Without all base advantage,

In even trial of both our desp'rate fortunes.

Mrs. H. Fairly?

Young For. And, tho' I say it, valiantly.

Mrs. H. And hand to hand?

Young For. In single opposition.

Mrs. H. In a good quarrel?

Young For. Else let the hope, I have in you of safety,

Turn to my base confusion. Gentle creature,

[A cry within, "Follow," &c.

I cannot now stand to expostulate,

For, hark! the breath of my pursuers blows

A fearful air upon my flying heel,

And I am almost in their fatal gripe.

Say, will you save me?

Mrs. H. I will. Then climb into that hovel.

Young For. Oh, any where.

Mrs. H. Nay, quickly then.

Young For. Your hand, fair lady.!

Mrs. H. Away, leave me to answer for you.

(Sits down to work).

[Exit Young FOR.

Enter Old HARDING, GOODWIN, FOSTER, and Officers.

Old Har. Over my garden-wall! Is't possible?

Good. Over this wall I saw him leap it lightly.

Old Har. That we shall quickly know. See, here's my wife; She can inform us best.

Fos. Saw you not, Mrs. Harding, a young man

Mount o'er this garden-wall with his sword drawn?
Mrs. H. My eyes were stedfast on my work in hand,
And, trust me, I saw none.

Old Har. Perhaps he took down to the neighbour village,

And when he saw my wife, alter'd his course.

Mrs. H. 'Tis very like so, for I heard a bustling

About that hedge; besides a sudden noise

Of some that swiftly ran towards your fields.

Make haste; 'twas now; he cannot be far off.

Old Har. Gentlemen, take my word: I am High Constable.

It is part of my office: I'll be no shelter

For any man that shall offend the law.

If we surprise him, I will send him bound

To the next Justice. Follow you your search.

Good. Farewell, good Mr. Harding.

Fos. Your word's sufficient, without further warrant.