Val.  O, that this love may last! ’tis sprung so hie, Like flowers at full growth that grow to die.

    Enter Julia, with a vaile over her head, Otho with
    another, with Officers.

Duke.  What means these sable vailes upon their faces?

Val.  In signe they sorrow for your high displeasure.  For since the houre they were imprisoned, They have liv’d like strangers, hood-winkt together.  You may atchieve great fame, victorious Lord, To save the lives of two such innocents.

Duke.  Tis pretty in thee, my soule lov’d Dutchesse,
To make this Princely motion for thy foes. 
Let it suffice, the’are traitors to the state,
Confederators with those that sought my life,
A kinne to Fredericke, that presumptious boy,
That durst beare armes against his naturall father: 
Are they more deare then he? off with their vailes.

Mon.  O yet be mercifull unto your daughter.

Duke.  You make me mad, headsman; dispatch I say, They are doom’d to die, and this the latest day.

Otho.  Then let him strike, who ever traitors be, I am sure no treason lives in her or me.

Duke.  How now, whats here? Otho and Julia!  Am I deluded? where is Euphrata, And that audacious traitor Constantine?

Otho.  Why, fled.

Duke.  To whom?

Otho.  To safetie, here was none. 
I can resolve you of the circumstance: 
Betwixt the noble Constantine and I,—­
Noble I call him for his virtuous minde—­
There was a league of love so strongly made
That time wants houres, and occasion cause,
To violate the contract of our hearts. 
Yet on my part the breach did first appeare: 
He brought me to behold his beauteous love
The faire Euphrata; her Angel sight
Begate in me the fire of private love: 
I that before did like her for my friend,
Now to deceive him, sought her for my selfe;
But my device was knowne unto my friend,
And worthilie he banisht me his sight.

Duke.  Whats this to their destruction? seeke them forth.

Otho.  They are far enough from suffering such a death. 
I, well considering my unfriendly part,
Bethought me how to reconcile my self
Unto my hearts endeared Constantine;
And seeing him carried to the prison, we
Followed, and found meanes for their libertie.

Duke.  Are they escapt then?

Otho.  Both, in our disguise,
And we stand here to act their tragedies. 
If they have done amisse, on us
Impose the Law.

Julia.  O let our suites prevaile, I ask to dye for my deare Ladies sake.

Otho.  I for my friend.

Duke.  This friendly part doth make
My heart to bleede within me, and my minde
Much perplext that I have beene so unkind. 
What second funerall march is that I heare?