e mercy.

_Mel_. Sir, will you be gone?

_Cal_. I dare not stay, but I will go home, and beat my
servants all over for this.

[_Exit Calianax_.

_Mel_. This old fellow haunts me,
But the distracted carriage of mine _Amintor_
Takes deeply on me, I will find the cause;
I fear his Conscience cries, he wrong'd _Aspatia_.

_Enter Amintor_.

_Amint_. Mens eyes are not so subtil to perceive
My inward misery; I bear my grief
Hid from the World; how art thou wretched then?
For ought I know, all Husbands are like me;
And every one I talk with of his Wife,
Is but a well dissembler of his woes
As I am; would I knew it, for the rareness afflicts me
now.

_Mel_. _Amintor_, We have not enjoy'd our friendship of late,
for we were wont to charge our souls in talk.

_Amint_. _Melantius_, I can tell thee a good jest of _Strato_ and
a Lady the last day.

_Mel_. How wast?

_Amint_. Why such an odd one.

_Mel_. I have long'd to speak with you, not of an idle jest
that's forc'd, but of matter you are bound to utter
to me.

_Amint_. What is that my friend?

_Mel_. I have observ'd, your words fall from your tongue
Wildly; and all your carriage,
Like one that strove to shew his merry mood,
When he were ill dispos'd: you were not wont
To put such scorn into your speech, or wear
Upon your face ridiculous jollity:
Some sadness sits here, which your cunning would
Cover o're with smiles, and 'twill not be. What is it?

_Amint_. A sadness here! what cause
Can fate provide for me, to make me so?
Am I not lov'd through all this Isle? the King
Rains greatness on me: have I not received
A Lady to my bed, that in her eye
Keeps mounting fire, and on her tender cheeks
Inevitable colour, in her heart
A prison for all vertue? are not you,
Which is above all joyes, my constant friend?
What sadness can I have? no,