his stain?
Unfit for thy companion! If I be,
Whose fault is that but his, who found me pure
And left me what I am?

_Gycia._ What! dost thou dare
Malign my husband thus? I have known his life
From his own lips, and heard no word of thee.

_Ire._ He did confess he knew me.

_Gycia._ Ay, indeed,
Not that he did thee wrong.

_Ire._ My Lady Gycia,
Did ever man confess he wronged a woman?
If thou believe not me, who am indeed
Disgraced, and by his fault, thou once didst love
My brother Theodorus--send for him.
He is without, and waits me. Ask of him,
Who has long known my secret.

_Gycia._ I will ask him.
Thou wretched woman, since thou art polluted,
Whate'er my love may be, go from my sight,
And send thy brother. Then betake thyself
To a close prison in the haunted Tower,
Till I shall free thee. Out of my sight, I say,
Thou wanton!

[_Exit_ IRENE.

What have I done, how have I sinned, that Heaven
Tortures me thus? How can I doubt this creature
Speaks something of the truth? Did he not say
At first he never knew that wanton's name?
Did he not afterwards betray such knowledge
Of her and of her life as showed the lie
His former words concealed? And yet how doubt
My dear, who by two years of wedded love
Has knit my soul to his? I know how lightly
The world holds manly virtue, but I hold
The laws of honour are not made to bind
Half of the race alone, leaving men licensed
To break them when they will; but dread decrees
Binding on all our kind. But oh, my love,
I will not doubt thee, till conviction bring
Proofs that I dare not doubt!

_Enter_ THEODORUS.

_Theo._ My Lady Gycia,
I come at thy command.

_Gycia._ Good Theodorus,
Thou lovedst me once, I think?

_Theo._ I loved thee _once_!
Oh, heaven!

_Gycia._ I am in great perplexity
And sorrow, and I call upon thy friendship
To succour me, by frank and free confession
Of all thou knowest.

_Theo._ I can refuse thee nothing,
Only I beg that thou wilt ask me nought
That answered may give pain.

_Gycia._ Nay, it is best
That I know all. I could not bear to live
In ignorance, and yet I fear to grieve thee
By what I ask. Thy sister late has left me----

_The