EnterDecastroand his Army.
Dec.My fortune yet forsakes me not. There's somethingWhispers my soul that, though a storm did cloudMy morning, I shall set the envy ofMy yet prevailing enemy. Had you,My fellow-soldiers, not been three hours' marchFrom aiding us when the Castilian armyMade the assault, we had given their fate a check,And taught them how unsafe it is to courtDangers abroad. I must entreat your courageTo suffer for some moments; a short timeWill bring us the queen's answer; if she yield(As reason may persuade her), we shall spareMuch loss of blood; if not, your valour willHave liberty to show itself. Yet stillRemember, that the city's forc'd t' obeyA stranger; in their votes they fight for us.Did no man see the Lord Ossuna sinceOur fight i' th' morning?Capt.He appear'd not, sinceWe left the city to the enemy;Which hath bred jealousy, my lord, that heChang'd with the present fortune.Dec.Doubt him not:He hath a heart devoted to the greatnessAnd safety of his country. Well, he mayBe lost i' th' number of the slain; but fateCannot enforce him stoop beneath the vowOf rescuing Arragon from foreign arms.
Dec.My fortune yet forsakes me not. There's somethingWhispers my soul that, though a storm did cloudMy morning, I shall set the envy ofMy yet prevailing enemy. Had you,My fellow-soldiers, not been three hours' marchFrom aiding us when the Castilian armyMade the assault, we had given their fate a check,And taught them how unsafe it is to courtDangers abroad. I must entreat your courageTo suffer for some moments; a short timeWill bring us the queen's answer; if she yield(As reason may persuade her), we shall spareMuch loss of blood; if not, your valour willHave liberty to show itself. Yet stillRemember, that the city's forc'd t' obeyA stranger; in their votes they fight for us.Did no man see the Lord Ossuna sinceOur fight i' th' morning?
Capt.He appear'd not, sinceWe left the city to the enemy;Which hath bred jealousy, my lord, that heChang'd with the present fortune.
Dec.Doubt him not:He hath a heart devoted to the greatnessAnd safety of his country. Well, he mayBe lost i' th' number of the slain; but fateCannot enforce him stoop beneath the vowOf rescuing Arragon from foreign arms.
Enter two commonSoldiershalingOssunain as a hermit.
What insolence is this? Unhand the man!Methinks his habit should beget respect.Sol.My lord, we guess he is some spy, he cameSkulking from th' enemy's camp. Pray, guardYour person; mischief often lurks in shapesAs holy.Dec.I allow your care, and thank it:Leave him to me, and for awhile retire.[Exeunt.Oss.Your lordship knows me not?Dec.Ossuna, welcome!Bless'd be thy better angel who preserv'd thee!How happy to the fortune of this warArt thou restor'd! I should have fought unarm'd,Had I not had the fate t' embrace thee thus.How was my friend preserv'd?Oss.By virtue ofThis sacred habit. In the midst of warDisguis'd I thus escap'd, though close pursuedBy some of the queen's faction. To this weedI owe my safety.Dec.Quickly throw it off,And reinvest thy body in that steel,With which thou still hast triumph'd. O my lord,How oft have we, all bath'd in blood and sweat,Through clouds of dust, found out the way to forceBack victory to our side, when Fortune seem'dTo doat on th' enemy! We two have grownLike cedars up together, and made allSeem shrubs to us, no man sleeping secureBut in our shadows.Oss.Yes, we have been happy.Dec.Thou speak'st so hollow, as there were a doubtWe might not be so still.Oss.But there's no faithIn human fate. An emperor[286]did serveAs footstool to the conqueror, and are weBetter assur'd of destiny?Dec.What strangeUnworthy faintness weakens his great soulWho heretofore ne'er understood the languageDanger speaks in? Hath one defeat lost youThat mighty courage, which hath fix'd uponYour name a glorious memory? ReassumeYourself, my lord: let no degenerate fearBenight the lustre of your former acts.Oss.I call yourself and Arragon to witness,My life hath yet been such, the reverend shadesOf my great ancestors need not look pale,Or blush to know my story. To yourself,To whose brave youth I tied my youth a servant,I ever have perform'd all offices,Due to so brave a friendship.Dec.'Tis confess'd.Oss.And here I vow, setting aside those fearsDistract me as a Christian, I could smile,Smile like some wanton mistress upon death,Whatever shape it wears.Dec.My lord, this warIs warranted by casuists for lawful;But they (you'll say) flatter the present state,And make divinity serve human ends.But in itself it's just: a war your judgmentGave approbation to, and urg'd me firstTo undertake. Therefore make good your own,And throw off this unuseful habit.Oss.Never.Dec.What said my friend?Oss.By all things sacred, never.In this I will grow old, and with the weightOf years bend to the earth. In this I'll breatheA happier air than you in all your softAnd varied silks.Dec.Some coward devil, sure,Possesseth him.[Aside.Oss.My lord, I am instructedT' a patience far above your injuries;Nor shall your scorn or anger triumph o'erMy resolution. I'm fix'd here, unmov'dAs is the centre.Dec.I was much to blame:This may be a brave virtue. Pray, my lord,Give me your reasons why you tread this path,So little beaten by the feet of courtiers?I would not have the world mistake your aim,And construe it to fear or melancholy.Oss.That cannot shake me: he who by the cardO' th' world's opinion steers his course, shall harbourIn no safe port. But to your ear, my lord,I give this free account. Seven winters pass'd,When I set sail from Sicily, a stormO'ertook the ship, so powerful, that the pilotGave up the stern to the ordering of the waves,His art and hand grown useless; those kind starsThe sailors used t' invoke were lost i' th' tempest,And nothing but a night, not to be seen,Was seen by us. When every one beganT' advance himself toward death, as men condemn'dTo th' axe, when hope of pardon is shut out;I, spite o' th' envious cloud, look'd up to heaven.And darted my faith thither, vowing toForsake the flatter'd pomp and business ofThe faithless world, if I with safety mightAttain the land.Dec.Was not I there, my lord?Oss.You were.Dec.And made not I the selfsame vow?Oss.Heaven hath recorded that we both did vow it—O' th' sudden, night forsook us, and the loudUnruly winds fled to their unknown dwellings;When a soft breath 'gan whisper to our sails,A calm was to ensue.Dec.My memoryAfflicts me much. But these are feeble vows,Made only by our fears: we ought to haveOur reason undismay'd, whene'er a promiseCan force performance.Oss.I dispute it not—Soon as I reach'd the shore, I courted onThose vanities which had my youth enamour'd,Yet still with some remorse. Honours betray'd meInto a glorious trouble, and I grewProud of my burthen; but if Heaven had beenSevere to my delays in this diseas'dSurfeit of pomp, my soul might have been call'dT' her last account: and, O my lord, where thenHad breach of vow been safe?Dec.These are sad thoughts.Oss.But necessary. When the morning's lossMade me search out a shape for flight, this habitItself presented, and again redeem'd me;And know, I am resolv'd ne'er to forsake it,Till in the vault my earth and it togetherShall wear away to dust.Dec.My lord, you haveGood title to your virtue. Pray, retireInto my tent: this sudden change, if known,May much amaze the soldier, and endangerThe glory of th' attempt. I shall entreatYour prayer, since you deny your arm.Oss.My lord, may Heaven direct you![ExitOssuna.Dec.What have I obtain'dBy all this sweat of business? Like the wind,Prosperous ambition only swell'd my sail,To give me courage to encounter withA tempest. Early cares and midnight frights,Faint hopes and causeless fears, successively,Like billows, have moved in me. What a foolIs human wisdom; what a beggar wealth;How scorn'd a nothing that proud state we doat on!Time laughs us out of greatness, and shuts upOur wide designs in a dark narrow room,Whence, when the valiant monarch shall creep forth,He will, like some poor coward, hide his eyes,And hope to skulk away. But these are thoughts,And now 'tis time for action.
What insolence is this? Unhand the man!Methinks his habit should beget respect.
Sol.My lord, we guess he is some spy, he cameSkulking from th' enemy's camp. Pray, guardYour person; mischief often lurks in shapesAs holy.
Dec.I allow your care, and thank it:Leave him to me, and for awhile retire.[Exeunt.
Oss.Your lordship knows me not?
Dec.Ossuna, welcome!Bless'd be thy better angel who preserv'd thee!How happy to the fortune of this warArt thou restor'd! I should have fought unarm'd,Had I not had the fate t' embrace thee thus.How was my friend preserv'd?
Oss.By virtue ofThis sacred habit. In the midst of warDisguis'd I thus escap'd, though close pursuedBy some of the queen's faction. To this weedI owe my safety.
Dec.Quickly throw it off,And reinvest thy body in that steel,With which thou still hast triumph'd. O my lord,How oft have we, all bath'd in blood and sweat,Through clouds of dust, found out the way to forceBack victory to our side, when Fortune seem'dTo doat on th' enemy! We two have grownLike cedars up together, and made allSeem shrubs to us, no man sleeping secureBut in our shadows.
Oss.Yes, we have been happy.
Dec.Thou speak'st so hollow, as there were a doubtWe might not be so still.
Oss.But there's no faithIn human fate. An emperor[286]did serveAs footstool to the conqueror, and are weBetter assur'd of destiny?
Dec.What strangeUnworthy faintness weakens his great soulWho heretofore ne'er understood the languageDanger speaks in? Hath one defeat lost youThat mighty courage, which hath fix'd uponYour name a glorious memory? ReassumeYourself, my lord: let no degenerate fearBenight the lustre of your former acts.
Oss.I call yourself and Arragon to witness,My life hath yet been such, the reverend shadesOf my great ancestors need not look pale,Or blush to know my story. To yourself,To whose brave youth I tied my youth a servant,I ever have perform'd all offices,Due to so brave a friendship.
Dec.'Tis confess'd.
Oss.And here I vow, setting aside those fearsDistract me as a Christian, I could smile,Smile like some wanton mistress upon death,Whatever shape it wears.
Dec.My lord, this warIs warranted by casuists for lawful;But they (you'll say) flatter the present state,And make divinity serve human ends.But in itself it's just: a war your judgmentGave approbation to, and urg'd me firstTo undertake. Therefore make good your own,And throw off this unuseful habit.
Oss.Never.
Dec.What said my friend?
Oss.By all things sacred, never.In this I will grow old, and with the weightOf years bend to the earth. In this I'll breatheA happier air than you in all your softAnd varied silks.
Dec.Some coward devil, sure,Possesseth him.[Aside.
Oss.My lord, I am instructedT' a patience far above your injuries;Nor shall your scorn or anger triumph o'erMy resolution. I'm fix'd here, unmov'dAs is the centre.
Dec.I was much to blame:This may be a brave virtue. Pray, my lord,Give me your reasons why you tread this path,So little beaten by the feet of courtiers?I would not have the world mistake your aim,And construe it to fear or melancholy.
Oss.That cannot shake me: he who by the cardO' th' world's opinion steers his course, shall harbourIn no safe port. But to your ear, my lord,I give this free account. Seven winters pass'd,When I set sail from Sicily, a stormO'ertook the ship, so powerful, that the pilotGave up the stern to the ordering of the waves,His art and hand grown useless; those kind starsThe sailors used t' invoke were lost i' th' tempest,And nothing but a night, not to be seen,Was seen by us. When every one beganT' advance himself toward death, as men condemn'dTo th' axe, when hope of pardon is shut out;I, spite o' th' envious cloud, look'd up to heaven.And darted my faith thither, vowing toForsake the flatter'd pomp and business ofThe faithless world, if I with safety mightAttain the land.
Dec.Was not I there, my lord?
Oss.You were.
Dec.And made not I the selfsame vow?
Oss.Heaven hath recorded that we both did vow it—O' th' sudden, night forsook us, and the loudUnruly winds fled to their unknown dwellings;When a soft breath 'gan whisper to our sails,A calm was to ensue.
Dec.My memoryAfflicts me much. But these are feeble vows,Made only by our fears: we ought to haveOur reason undismay'd, whene'er a promiseCan force performance.
Oss.I dispute it not—Soon as I reach'd the shore, I courted onThose vanities which had my youth enamour'd,Yet still with some remorse. Honours betray'd meInto a glorious trouble, and I grewProud of my burthen; but if Heaven had beenSevere to my delays in this diseas'dSurfeit of pomp, my soul might have been call'dT' her last account: and, O my lord, where thenHad breach of vow been safe?
Dec.These are sad thoughts.
Oss.But necessary. When the morning's lossMade me search out a shape for flight, this habitItself presented, and again redeem'd me;And know, I am resolv'd ne'er to forsake it,Till in the vault my earth and it togetherShall wear away to dust.
Dec.My lord, you haveGood title to your virtue. Pray, retireInto my tent: this sudden change, if known,May much amaze the soldier, and endangerThe glory of th' attempt. I shall entreatYour prayer, since you deny your arm.
Oss.My lord, may Heaven direct you![ExitOssuna.
Dec.What have I obtain'dBy all this sweat of business? Like the wind,Prosperous ambition only swell'd my sail,To give me courage to encounter withA tempest. Early cares and midnight frights,Faint hopes and causeless fears, successively,Like billows, have moved in me. What a foolIs human wisdom; what a beggar wealth;How scorn'd a nothing that proud state we doat on!Time laughs us out of greatness, and shuts upOur wide designs in a dark narrow room,Whence, when the valiant monarch shall creep forth,He will, like some poor coward, hide his eyes,And hope to skulk away. But these are thoughts,And now 'tis time for action.
EnterSoldier.
Sol.If your lordshipWill please for some few moments to retireInto your tent, her majesty in personWill give you parley here.Dec.In person, sir?The favour bears some omen! She who inThe tempest of misfortune still did spreadHer sails at large, why doth she strike them now,The wind so prosperous? This is a descentBeneath her greatness.Sol.I reach not, my lord,The mysteries of princes; but this messageShe charg'd me to return.Dec.The acts of princesAre govern'd often by as frail a passionAs those are of the vulgar: the same rageThat stirs two footmen to a fray, createsWar between kingdoms; but the zealous subject,Gazing afar on th' actions of the proud,Finds towers and lions in an empty cloud.But I'll obey her leisure. Watch you hereTill you discover her advanc'd this way.[ExitDecastro.
Sol.If your lordshipWill please for some few moments to retireInto your tent, her majesty in personWill give you parley here.
Dec.In person, sir?The favour bears some omen! She who inThe tempest of misfortune still did spreadHer sails at large, why doth she strike them now,The wind so prosperous? This is a descentBeneath her greatness.
Sol.I reach not, my lord,The mysteries of princes; but this messageShe charg'd me to return.
Dec.The acts of princesAre govern'd often by as frail a passionAs those are of the vulgar: the same rageThat stirs two footmen to a fray, createsWar between kingdoms; but the zealous subject,Gazing afar on th' actions of the proud,Finds towers and lions in an empty cloud.But I'll obey her leisure. Watch you hereTill you discover her advanc'd this way.[ExitDecastro.
EnterAscanio,Florentio.
Flo.Sir, you created me, and rais'd me upTo th' state of duke, when I was common dust;And, had not fortune given me interestI' th' favour of the queen, I had continuedIn the worst fate of man, ingratitude.Now I can boast I have restored you backA love rich as the bounty you shower'd on me:'Tis all the stock of my poor life.Asc.Sad fate!That I must wound thee to the heart to cureMy leprosy with thy blood. Florentio, searchI' th' stock of women; there's some other beauty.Flo.O, no! no other.Asc.I'll endow her withThe wealth of all Castile.Flo.Poor empty nothing!Asc.If sovereignty be the idol of thy soul,I will divide my kingdom. Thou shalt reignAs independent as myself.Flo.Great sir,Continue but your favour, and my starsCannot afford a greatness equals it.The treasures of th' ambitious are the scornOf those who seriously contemplate life.My fortune's high enough: and now my thoughtsGrow temperate. Not for the empire of the east,(Which yet retains the treasures man enjoy'dEre he grew black with sin), would I have wantedThis bless'd occasion to express the zealI owe my prince. Here, with as free a soulI give her to your arms as e'er you threwA smile upon my service.Asc.Thanks, dear friend!(That word must speak our loves). By this great giftThou hast redeem'd me from the torture, andPossess'd me of the fairest.Flo.O!Asc.The fairest nature e'er made for wonder.Flo.She is fair.Asc.Enjoying her, thy king shall live, who elseWere desperate beyond cure. He shall be envied;And every year, as age threatens decay,He shall regain new life from her. Florentio,Believe't, there's miracle in such a beauty.Flo.Surely there is.
Flo.Sir, you created me, and rais'd me upTo th' state of duke, when I was common dust;And, had not fortune given me interestI' th' favour of the queen, I had continuedIn the worst fate of man, ingratitude.Now I can boast I have restored you backA love rich as the bounty you shower'd on me:'Tis all the stock of my poor life.
Asc.Sad fate!That I must wound thee to the heart to cureMy leprosy with thy blood. Florentio, searchI' th' stock of women; there's some other beauty.
Flo.O, no! no other.
Asc.I'll endow her withThe wealth of all Castile.
Flo.Poor empty nothing!
Asc.If sovereignty be the idol of thy soul,I will divide my kingdom. Thou shalt reignAs independent as myself.
Flo.Great sir,Continue but your favour, and my starsCannot afford a greatness equals it.The treasures of th' ambitious are the scornOf those who seriously contemplate life.My fortune's high enough: and now my thoughtsGrow temperate. Not for the empire of the east,(Which yet retains the treasures man enjoy'dEre he grew black with sin), would I have wantedThis bless'd occasion to express the zealI owe my prince. Here, with as free a soulI give her to your arms as e'er you threwA smile upon my service.
Asc.Thanks, dear friend!(That word must speak our loves). By this great giftThou hast redeem'd me from the torture, andPossess'd me of the fairest.
Flo.O!
Asc.The fairest nature e'er made for wonder.
Flo.She is fair.
Asc.Enjoying her, thy king shall live, who elseWere desperate beyond cure. He shall be envied;And every year, as age threatens decay,He shall regain new life from her. Florentio,Believe't, there's miracle in such a beauty.
Flo.Surely there is.
EnterQueen,Sanmartino,Oniate,Cleantha,Floriana.
And see sh' appears! how like some heavenly vision,That kills with too much glory!Asc.Stand still, and wonder with me.Queen.Cleantha! O, the prodigy! And howWilt thou endure his serious face? Can'st thou,Whom nothing tempted but wit parcel-giltAnd the last fashion, suffer Oniate?Cle.Madam, I undertake him for a penance:Perhaps he was enjoin'd me.Queen.It was LoveYou went to shrift with then. And yet how thatYoung wanton Idleness should counsel youTo this conversion, still is more my riddle.Cle.The court is full of wonders, madam; and'Tis handsome to do things extravagant.Queen.But how, in th' heat of war, your thoughts should beSo apt for Love's impression?Cle.Love will danceAs nimbly to the trumpet, fife, or drum,As to those many violins which playSo loud at court. Moreover, it concern'dMy safety; I so straitly was besieg'd,And by so strong a Cæsar.Queen.O my lord!I am informed with how fierce a spiritYou do assault our ladies.San.Pray, your mercy!And if your majesty will please to banishThe art of making love quite from the court,I'll not be out of fashion.Queen.For your sakeI will contrive it so: and, good my lord,Will you begin th' example, you will seeHow soon the fine young lords will follow you.—Your pardon, sir; had I but seen your highness,I had not lost so much of language fromA most expressive gratitude.Asc.Madam, you pay a trivial debt with too great interest;For how contemn'd a slightness was my lifeUntil employ'd to serve you?Flo.She glanced this way,And love's artillery played from her eye.Unhappy bankrupt, what a kingdom haveI forfeited! So often in a calmSome vessel, rich in freight and proud in sail,Doth spring a sudden leak, and sinks for ever.Asc.But, madam, is there hope your heart can yieldTo an exchange in love? My title's good,Florentio having given up his claim.
And see sh' appears! how like some heavenly vision,That kills with too much glory!
Asc.Stand still, and wonder with me.
Queen.Cleantha! O, the prodigy! And howWilt thou endure his serious face? Can'st thou,Whom nothing tempted but wit parcel-giltAnd the last fashion, suffer Oniate?
Cle.Madam, I undertake him for a penance:Perhaps he was enjoin'd me.
Queen.It was LoveYou went to shrift with then. And yet how thatYoung wanton Idleness should counsel youTo this conversion, still is more my riddle.
Cle.The court is full of wonders, madam; and'Tis handsome to do things extravagant.
Queen.But how, in th' heat of war, your thoughts should beSo apt for Love's impression?
Cle.Love will danceAs nimbly to the trumpet, fife, or drum,As to those many violins which playSo loud at court. Moreover, it concern'dMy safety; I so straitly was besieg'd,And by so strong a Cæsar.
Queen.O my lord!I am informed with how fierce a spiritYou do assault our ladies.
San.Pray, your mercy!And if your majesty will please to banishThe art of making love quite from the court,I'll not be out of fashion.
Queen.For your sakeI will contrive it so: and, good my lord,Will you begin th' example, you will seeHow soon the fine young lords will follow you.—Your pardon, sir; had I but seen your highness,I had not lost so much of language fromA most expressive gratitude.
Asc.Madam, you pay a trivial debt with too great interest;For how contemn'd a slightness was my lifeUntil employ'd to serve you?
Flo.She glanced this way,And love's artillery played from her eye.Unhappy bankrupt, what a kingdom haveI forfeited! So often in a calmSome vessel, rich in freight and proud in sail,Doth spring a sudden leak, and sinks for ever.
Asc.But, madam, is there hope your heart can yieldTo an exchange in love? My title's good,Florentio having given up his claim.
EnterDecastro, &c.
Queen.But, sir, th' estate is still my own; nor haveI need to sell it. But Decastro's here;And if your majesty will deign your presenceUnto the parley, 'twill advance the honourAnd purpose of our meeting.Asc.I'm your servant.Queen.My lord, you see how near the safety ofOur subjects toucheth us: we can stoop thusBeneath our majesty, and enter parleyEven with a rebel.Dec.Madam, 'tis in vainTo hold dispute 'gainst what you will condemn;And it were insolence to boast my powerOr speak my right, now when the hearts of all menConfirm the justice of my taking arms.Cast but your eye on this vast body, whichThe kingdom doth unite in my defence,And see how ruinous is your error, thatMust lean to foreign succours.Queen.'Tis a refugeYour practice forc'd me to.Dec.But would your highnessHad lent a gentler ear to the safe counselOf him who had no crime but too much love!Flo.My lord, that word fell rudely from your tongue,And, I may say, unmannerly: 'tis dutyYou owe the queen.Dec.Right, sir; an humble duty,Ambitious to expose my life to dangers,Greater than any other soul dares fancy.Asc.Pray stay, Florentio: this is now my cause,And I (proud man) will tell you, your great heartDoth want expansion to receive a loveWorthy her scorn.Dec.And I will answer you,Proud monarch of Castile, what mouldSoever nature casts me in, my mindIs vaster than your empire; and I canLove equally with him whose name did conquerKingdoms as large as yours.Asc.Your majestyMust license here my rage, to teach his folly(Presumptuous folly) a submiss repentance.Dec.Sir, here I stand prepar'd.[A shout within.Queen.What noise is that?Oni.The city's all in mutiny, and vowTo perish in the Lord Decastro's cause:They're ready now to lay rude hands uponThe garrisons of Castile. Your majestyShould hinder mischief, if you suddenlyReturn, and by your presence stop their fury.Dec.Pray, Oniate, take this signet: tellThe magistrates her majesty and IAre now accorded, with a due regardTo th' public safety. Take some of my army,To give authority to what you say.Assure them all is well.[ExitOniate.Asc.What means this wonder?Flo.This speaks him noble, even to our envy.Queen.My lord, in this you have oblig'd us. Pray,Inform us of your thoughts, that we may studyTo make this parley happy.Dec.Mighty lady,I find my love hath not been dress'd so smoothTo tempt your liking: and I must confess,My passion (like the spleen of witches) hathBegot whirlwinds and thunder. Would I mightHave found a softer way t' have wrought my ends!For by your beauty (the most sacred oathA lover can swear by) that was the mark,The sole fair mark I aim'd at. For, if prideHad oversway'd my love, I could have stoodO' th' level with that prince, so much your peopleWere vow'd to my devotion.Queen.O my lord,You fairly speak your virtues.Dec.And but viewThe vastness and good order of my camp,Your best towns sworn to run my fortune, andYou'll say 'twas love did beg this interview.Asc.My lord, your language cannot fright us fromThe queen's defence.Dec.Great sir, she needs it not.Down on your knees, my fellow-soldiers, andWith me bow to your sovereign: swear with meNever to lift your arm 'gainst her command.Thus as your subject; as your lover thus—Thus to the earth I fall, and with my lipsSeal my obedience.[Kisseth the ground.Queen.Pray, rise up, my lord.Would I could merit thus much favour; but——Dec.Pardon. I interrupt you—but you cannotFind love to answer mine; nor will I force it.Be happy in your choice, and wheresoe'erYou fix, shine ever glorious. From this hourI'll never more disturb you.Queen.Now beshrew me,Methinks I feel compassion. [Aside.] Good my lord,Write in that blank all your demands, and, byThe honour of a princess, I'll denyNothing you shall insert.[He looks on it, and returns it.Dec.There 'tis again,The paper innocent as when you gave it.Queen.My lord, you have writ nothing.Dec.And 'tis nothing,Now I have miss'd yourself, I can demand.Fortune, contract thy treasure from all nations,And gild it o'er with honour and with beauty,Yet hast thou not the power to force one wish,Now I have lost this lady.Asc.A great spirit!Dec.One humble prayer I have, which must not beDenied: and 'tis, your majesty will giveMe leave ne'er more to see you.Queen.O my lord——Dec.My vow's irrevocable. I shall secureYour kingdom best by absence, and my eyeWill never brook so rich a treasure madeThe purchase[287]of another. To a cave,Some undiscover'd cave, to which no pathDoth lead the wandering lover, I have vowedThe remnant of my days.
Queen.But, sir, th' estate is still my own; nor haveI need to sell it. But Decastro's here;And if your majesty will deign your presenceUnto the parley, 'twill advance the honourAnd purpose of our meeting.
Asc.I'm your servant.
Queen.My lord, you see how near the safety ofOur subjects toucheth us: we can stoop thusBeneath our majesty, and enter parleyEven with a rebel.
Dec.Madam, 'tis in vainTo hold dispute 'gainst what you will condemn;And it were insolence to boast my powerOr speak my right, now when the hearts of all menConfirm the justice of my taking arms.Cast but your eye on this vast body, whichThe kingdom doth unite in my defence,And see how ruinous is your error, thatMust lean to foreign succours.
Queen.'Tis a refugeYour practice forc'd me to.
Dec.But would your highnessHad lent a gentler ear to the safe counselOf him who had no crime but too much love!
Flo.My lord, that word fell rudely from your tongue,And, I may say, unmannerly: 'tis dutyYou owe the queen.
Dec.Right, sir; an humble duty,Ambitious to expose my life to dangers,Greater than any other soul dares fancy.
Asc.Pray stay, Florentio: this is now my cause,And I (proud man) will tell you, your great heartDoth want expansion to receive a loveWorthy her scorn.
Dec.And I will answer you,Proud monarch of Castile, what mouldSoever nature casts me in, my mindIs vaster than your empire; and I canLove equally with him whose name did conquerKingdoms as large as yours.
Asc.Your majestyMust license here my rage, to teach his folly(Presumptuous folly) a submiss repentance.
Dec.Sir, here I stand prepar'd.[A shout within.
Queen.What noise is that?
Oni.The city's all in mutiny, and vowTo perish in the Lord Decastro's cause:They're ready now to lay rude hands uponThe garrisons of Castile. Your majestyShould hinder mischief, if you suddenlyReturn, and by your presence stop their fury.
Dec.Pray, Oniate, take this signet: tellThe magistrates her majesty and IAre now accorded, with a due regardTo th' public safety. Take some of my army,To give authority to what you say.Assure them all is well.[ExitOniate.
Asc.What means this wonder?
Flo.This speaks him noble, even to our envy.
Queen.My lord, in this you have oblig'd us. Pray,Inform us of your thoughts, that we may studyTo make this parley happy.
Dec.Mighty lady,I find my love hath not been dress'd so smoothTo tempt your liking: and I must confess,My passion (like the spleen of witches) hathBegot whirlwinds and thunder. Would I mightHave found a softer way t' have wrought my ends!For by your beauty (the most sacred oathA lover can swear by) that was the mark,The sole fair mark I aim'd at. For, if prideHad oversway'd my love, I could have stoodO' th' level with that prince, so much your peopleWere vow'd to my devotion.
Queen.O my lord,You fairly speak your virtues.
Dec.And but viewThe vastness and good order of my camp,Your best towns sworn to run my fortune, andYou'll say 'twas love did beg this interview.
Asc.My lord, your language cannot fright us fromThe queen's defence.
Dec.Great sir, she needs it not.Down on your knees, my fellow-soldiers, andWith me bow to your sovereign: swear with meNever to lift your arm 'gainst her command.Thus as your subject; as your lover thus—Thus to the earth I fall, and with my lipsSeal my obedience.[Kisseth the ground.
Queen.Pray, rise up, my lord.Would I could merit thus much favour; but——
Dec.Pardon. I interrupt you—but you cannotFind love to answer mine; nor will I force it.Be happy in your choice, and wheresoe'erYou fix, shine ever glorious. From this hourI'll never more disturb you.
Queen.Now beshrew me,Methinks I feel compassion. [Aside.] Good my lord,Write in that blank all your demands, and, byThe honour of a princess, I'll denyNothing you shall insert.[He looks on it, and returns it.
Dec.There 'tis again,The paper innocent as when you gave it.
Queen.My lord, you have writ nothing.
Dec.And 'tis nothing,Now I have miss'd yourself, I can demand.Fortune, contract thy treasure from all nations,And gild it o'er with honour and with beauty,Yet hast thou not the power to force one wish,Now I have lost this lady.
Asc.A great spirit!
Dec.One humble prayer I have, which must not beDenied: and 'tis, your majesty will giveMe leave ne'er more to see you.
Queen.O my lord——
Dec.My vow's irrevocable. I shall secureYour kingdom best by absence, and my eyeWill never brook so rich a treasure madeThe purchase[287]of another. To a cave,Some undiscover'd cave, to which no pathDoth lead the wandering lover, I have vowedThe remnant of my days.
EnterOssuna.
Flo.A strange conversion!And 'twill behove my fate to follow him.Dec.My Lord Ossuna here and I have swornOur lives to solitude, which we'll observeReligiously: and since I cannot provePossessor, I'll be conqueror, in love.Asc.Pray stay, my lord. Behold Florentio there,He hath outdone you: he, for love of me,Hath done what you for love of heaven. AllThe interest he had in that bright queenHe hath resign'd to me.Dec.He hath paid you for your favours.Flo.'Tis confess'd: what's mine is yours.Asc.Thanks, my Florentio; for with her my youthMay be still happy, and my age disdainTo know a weakness. From her eyes I mayDraw still new vital heat, and find what foolsHave studied for, th' elixir: in her armsI may be safe 'gainst all invasion fromAbroad, or civil dangers nurs'd at home.Queen.Your highness' pardon. I confess how highYour merits rise in my esteem; but must not,To honour your deserts, myself becomeUnworthy after-story, blemish'd withThat scorn which still defames our sex, register'dA most inconstant woman; or, what's muchMore infamous, one who reserves her loveTo serve her profit, and exposeth itTo the merchant that bids fairest.Asc.Madam, spare that breath to clearThe air, when poison'd by contagion.I know your settled thoughts, and that my powerOr title weighs not in your love. Florentio,I will no longer rack you: though the queenBe th' only fire e'er warm'd this heart, and IDespair ever to love again, I willDisdain to be unjust. I will not beO'ercome in friendship: reassume thy right.Flo.Sir, you undo me. In your injuryI was less wretched: like a bankrupt now,Without all hope of payment, I must owe.Asc.Th' ambition of my service, and disguise,Was to advance your fortune, madam; norCan I attempt you farther, though the conquestWould wreathe my temples with a prouder laurelThan the addition of the world untoMy sceptre. Be safe in your choice, and happy.Queen.This goodness grows even to a miracle.In his behalf, sir, I must vow myselfA subject, and your servant.Asc.O, command;For I have nothing, madam, but obedience.My kingdom shall be proud to share with yoursIn danger, and I'll glory to be styledYour soldier.Flo.I am lost in wonder! Sir,I know not how to entertain this blessing:I fear my joys will be my ruin.Dec.Be both happy;And may time never father that black moment,Which shall appear to you less fortunate!Asc.Join then your hands for ever. He doth liveMighty indeed, who hath power and will to give.[Exeunt.
Flo.A strange conversion!And 'twill behove my fate to follow him.
Dec.My Lord Ossuna here and I have swornOur lives to solitude, which we'll observeReligiously: and since I cannot provePossessor, I'll be conqueror, in love.
Asc.Pray stay, my lord. Behold Florentio there,He hath outdone you: he, for love of me,Hath done what you for love of heaven. AllThe interest he had in that bright queenHe hath resign'd to me.
Dec.He hath paid you for your favours.
Flo.'Tis confess'd: what's mine is yours.
Asc.Thanks, my Florentio; for with her my youthMay be still happy, and my age disdainTo know a weakness. From her eyes I mayDraw still new vital heat, and find what foolsHave studied for, th' elixir: in her armsI may be safe 'gainst all invasion fromAbroad, or civil dangers nurs'd at home.
Queen.Your highness' pardon. I confess how highYour merits rise in my esteem; but must not,To honour your deserts, myself becomeUnworthy after-story, blemish'd withThat scorn which still defames our sex, register'dA most inconstant woman; or, what's muchMore infamous, one who reserves her loveTo serve her profit, and exposeth itTo the merchant that bids fairest.
Asc.Madam, spare that breath to clearThe air, when poison'd by contagion.I know your settled thoughts, and that my powerOr title weighs not in your love. Florentio,I will no longer rack you: though the queenBe th' only fire e'er warm'd this heart, and IDespair ever to love again, I willDisdain to be unjust. I will not beO'ercome in friendship: reassume thy right.
Flo.Sir, you undo me. In your injuryI was less wretched: like a bankrupt now,Without all hope of payment, I must owe.
Asc.Th' ambition of my service, and disguise,Was to advance your fortune, madam; norCan I attempt you farther, though the conquestWould wreathe my temples with a prouder laurelThan the addition of the world untoMy sceptre. Be safe in your choice, and happy.
Queen.This goodness grows even to a miracle.In his behalf, sir, I must vow myselfA subject, and your servant.
Asc.O, command;For I have nothing, madam, but obedience.My kingdom shall be proud to share with yoursIn danger, and I'll glory to be styledYour soldier.
Flo.I am lost in wonder! Sir,I know not how to entertain this blessing:I fear my joys will be my ruin.
Dec.Be both happy;And may time never father that black moment,Which shall appear to you less fortunate!
Asc.Join then your hands for ever. He doth liveMighty indeed, who hath power and will to give.[Exeunt.
FOOTNOTES:[286]Bajazet and Tamerlane.[287][Prize.]
[286]Bajazet and Tamerlane.
[286]Bajazet and Tamerlane.
[287][Prize.]
[287][Prize.]