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42 Thy Brother and thy noble Husband broken? Thou shalt not live thus; kneel, and swear to help me When I shall call thee to it, or by all Holy in Heav'n and Earth, thou shalt not live To breath a full hour longer, not a Thought: Come 'tis a righteous Oath; give me thy Hand, And both to Heav'n held up, swear by that Wealth This lustful Thief stole from thee, when I say it, To let his foul Soul out.

Evad.Here I swear it, And, all you Spirits of abused Ladies Help me in this performance!

Mel.Enough. This must be known to none But you and I, Evadne; not to your lord, Though he be wise and noble, and a fellow Dares step as far into a worthy action As the most daring: ay, as far as justice. Ask me not why. Farewell.

Evad.Would I cou'd say so to my black disgrace! Oh, where have I been all this time? how 'friended, That I should lose myself thus desperately, And none for pity show me how I wandered? There is not in the compass of the light A more unhappy creature: Sure, I am monstrous! For I have done those follies, those mad mischiefs, Would dare a woman. Oh, my loaden soul, Be not so cruel to me; choke not up The way to my Repentance. O my Lord. Amin.How now?

Evad.My much-abused Lord!

Amin.This cannot be.

Evad.I do not kneel to live; I dare not hope it; The wrongs I did are greater. Look upon me, Though I appear with all my faults.

Amin.Stand up, This is a new way to beget more sorrow: Heaven knows I have too many! Do not mock me: Though I am tame, and bred up with my wrongs, Which are my foster-brothers, I may leap, Like a hand-wolf, into my natural wildness, And do an outrage. Pr'ythee, do not mock me.

Evad.My whole Life is so leprous, it infects All my Repentance: I would buy your Pardon Though at the highest set; even with my Life: That slight Contrition, that's no Sacrifice For what I have committed.

Amin.Sure I dazle: There cannot be a Faith in that foul Woman, That knows no God more mighty than her Mischiefs: Thou