Evadne—­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.

Amintor—­Sure, I dazzle:  There cannot be a faith in that foul woman, That knows no God more mighty than her mischiefs.  Thou dost still worse, still number on thy faults, To press my poor heart thus.  Can I believe There’s any seed of virtue in that woman Left to shoot up that dares go on in sin Known, and so known as thine is?  O Evadne!  Would there were any safety in thy sex, That I might put a thousand sorrows off, And credit thy repentance! but I must not:  Thou hast brought me to that dull calamity, To that strange misbelief of all the world And all things that are in it, that I fear I shall fall like a tree, and find my grave, Only remembering that I grieve.

Evadne—­My lord, Give me your griefs:  you are an innocent, A soul as white as Heaven; let not my sins Perish your noble youth.  I do not fall here To shadow by dissembling with my tears, (As all say women can,) or to make less What my hot will hath done, which Heaven and you Know to be tougher than the hand of time Can cut from man’s remembrances; no, I do not; I do appear the same, the same Evadne, Drest in the shames I lived in, the same monster.  But these are names of honor to what I am:  I do present myself the foulest creature, Most poisonous, dangerous, and despised of men, Lerna e’er bred, or Nilus.  I am hell, Till you, my dear lord, shoot your light into me, The beams of your forgiveness; I am soul-sick, And wither with the fear of one condemned, Till I have got your pardon.

Amintor—­Rise, Evadne.  Those heavenly powers that put this good into thee Grant a continuance of it!  I forgive thee:  Make thyself worthy of it; and take heed, Take heed, Evadne, this be serious.  Mock not the powers above, that can and dare Give thee a great example of their justice To all ensuing ages, if thou playest With thy repentance, the best sacrifice.

Evadne—­I have done nothing good to win belief, My life hath been so faithless.  All the creatures Made for Heaven’s honors have their ends, and good ones, All but the cozening crocodiles, false women:  They reign here like those plagues, those killing sores, Men pray against; and when they die, like tales Ill told and unbelieved, they pass away, And go to dust forgotten.  But, my lord, Those short days I shall number to my rest (As many must not see me) shall, though too late, Though in my evening, yet perceive a will, Since I can do no good, because a woman, Reach constantly at something that is near it; I will redeem one minute of my age, Or, like another Niobe, I’ll weep, Till I am water.

     Amintor—­I am now dissolved: 
     My frozen soul melts.  May each sin thou hast,
     Find a new mercy!  Rise; I am at peace.