Giov.I am, sir,A novice in my judgment of a lady;But such as 'tis, your grace shall have it freely.I would not speak ill of her, and am sorry,If I keep myself a friend to truth, I cannotReport her as I would, so much I oweHer reverend father: but I'll give you, sir,As near as I can, her character in little.She's of a goodly stature, and her limbsNot disproportion'd; for her face, it isFar from deformity; yet they flatter her,That style it excellent: her manners areSimple and innocent; but her discourseAnd wit deserve my pity, more than praise:At the best, my lord, she is a handsome picture,And, that said, all is spoken.
Coz.I believe you;I ne'er yet found you false.
Giov.Nor ever shall, sir.—Forgive me, matchless Lidia! too much love,And jealous fear to lose thee, do compel me,Against my will, my reason, and my knowledge,To be a poor detractor of that beauty,Which fluent Ovid, if he lived again,Would want words to express.[Aside.
Coz.Pray you, make choice ofThe richest of our furniture for these horses,[ToSanazarro.And take my nephew with you; we in thisWill follow his directions.
Giov.Could I find nowThe princess Fiorinda, and persuade herTo be silent in the suit that I moved to her,All were secure.
Sanaz.In that, my lord, I'll aid you.
Coz.We will be private; leave us.[Exeunt all butCozimo.All my studiesAnd serious meditations aim no furtherThan this young man's good. He was my sister's son,And she was such a sister, when she lived,I could not prize too much; nor can I betterMake known how dear I hold her memory,Than in my cherishing the only issueWhich she hath left behind her. Who's that?
EnterFiorinda.
Fior.Sir.
Coz.My fair charge! you are welcome to us.
Fior.I have found it, sir.
Coz.All things go well in Urbin.
Fior.Your gracious care to me, an orphan, frees meFrom all suspicion that my jealous fearsCan drive into my fancy.
Coz.The next summer,In our own person, we will bring you thither,And seat you in your own.
Fior.When you think fit, sir.But, in the mean time, with your highness' pardon,I am a suitor to you.
Coz.Name it, madam,With confidence to obtain it.
Fior.That you would pleaseTo lay a strict command on Charomonte,To bring his daughter Lidia to the court:And pray you, think, sir, that 'tis not my purposeTo employ her as a servant, but to use herAs a most wish'd companion.
Coz.Ha! your reason?
Fior.The hopeful prince, your nephew, sir, hath given herTo me for such an abstract of perfectionIn all that can be wish'd for in a virgin,As beauty, music, ravishing discourse,Quickness of apprehension, with choice mannersAnd learning too, not usual with women,That I am much ambitious (though I shallAppear but as a foil to set her off)To be by her instructed, and suppliedIn what I am defective.
Coz.Did my nephewSeriously deliver this?
Fior.I assure your grace,With zeal and vehemency; and, even when,With his best words, he strived to set her forth,(Though the rare subject made him eloquent,)He would complain, all he could say came shortOf her deservings.
Coz.Pray you have patience.[Walks aside.This was strangely carried.—Ha! are we trifled with?Dare they do this? Is Cozimo's fury, thatOf late was terrible, grown contemptible?Well; we will clear our brows, and undermineTheir secret works, though they have digg'd like moles,And crush them with the tempest of my wrathWhen I appear most calm. He is unfitTo command others that knows not to use it[77],And with all rigour: yet my stern looks shall notDiscover my intents; for I will strikeWhen I begin to frown.——You are the mistressOf that you did demand.
Fior.I thank your highness;But speed in the performance of the grantDoubles the favour, sir.
Coz.You shall possess itSooner than you expect:——Only be pleased to be ready, when my secretaryWaits on you, to take the fresh air. My nephew,And my bosom friend, so to cheat me! 'tis not fair.[Aside.
Re-enterGiovanniandSanazarro.
Sanaz.Where should this princess be? nor in her lodgings,Nor in the private walks, her own retreat,Which she so much frequented!
Giov.By my life,She's with the duke! and I much more than fearHer forwardness to prefer my suit hath ruin'dWhat with such care we built up.
Coz.Have you furnish'dThose coursers, as we will'd you?
Sanaz.There's no signOf anger in his looks.
Giov.They are complete, sir.
Coz.'Tis well: to your rest. Soft sleeps wait on you, madam.To-morrow, with the rising of the sun,Be ready to ride with us.—They with more safetyHad trod on fork-tongued adders, than provoked me.[Aside, and exit.
Fior.I come not to be thank'd, sir, for the speedyPerformance of my promise touching Lidia:It is effected.
Sanaz.We are undone.[Aside.
Fior.The dukeNo sooner heard me with my best of languageDescribe her excellencies, as you taught me,But he confirm'd it.—You look sad, as ifYou wish'd it were undone.
Giov.No, gracious madam,I am your servant for 't.
Fior.Be you as carefulFor what I moved to you.—Count Sanazarro,Now I perceive you honour me, in vouchsafingTo wear so slight a favour.
Sanaz.'Tis a graceI am unworthy of.
Fior.You merit more,In prizing so a trifle. Take this diamond;I'll second what I have begun; for know,Your valour hath so won upon me, that'Tis not to be resisted: I have said, sir,And leave you to interpret it.[Exit.
Sanaz.This to meIs wormwood. 'Tis apparent we are takenIn our own noose. What's to be done?
Giov.I know not.And 'tis a punishment justly fallen upon me,For leaving truth, a constant mistress, thatEver protects her servants, to becomeA slave to lies and falsehood. What excuseCan we make to the duke, what mercy hope for,Our packing[78]being laid open?
Sanaz.'Tis not toBe question'd but his purposed journey isTo see fair Lidia.
Giov.And to divert himImpossible.
Sanaz.There's now no looking backward.
Giov.And which way to go on with safety, notTo be imagined.
Sanaz.Give me leave: I haveAn embryon in my brain, which, I despair not,May be brought to form and fashion, providedYou will be open-breasted.
Giov.'Tis no time now,Our dangers being equal, to concealA thought from you.
Sanaz.What power hold you o'er Lidia?Do you think that, with some hazard of her life,She would prevent your ruin?
Giov.I presume so:If, in the undertaking it, she stray notFrom what becomes her innocence; and to that'Tis far from me to press her: I myselfWill rather suffer.
Sanaz.'Tis enough; this nightWrite to her by your servant Calandrino,As I shall give directions; my man
EnterCalandrino,fantastically dressed.
Shall bear him company. See, sir, to my wishHe does appear; but much transform'd from whatHe was when he came hither.
Cal.I confessI am not very wise, and yet I findA fool, so he be parcel knave, in courtMay flourish and grow rich.
Giov.Calandrino.
Cal.Peace!I am in contemplation.
Giov.Do not you know me?
Cal.I tell thee, no; on forfeit of my place,I must not know myself, much less my father,But by petition; that petition lined tooWith golden birds, that sing to the tune of profit,Or I am deaf.
Giov.But you've your sense of feeling.[Offering to strike him.
Sanaz.Nay, pray you, forbear.
Cal.I have all that's requisiteTo the making up of a signior: my spruce ruff,My hooded cloak, long stocking, and paned hose,My case of toothpicks, and my silver fork[79];To convey an olive neatly to my mouth;—And, what is all in all, my pockets ringA golden peal. O that the peasants in the country,My quondam fellows, but saw me as I am,How they would admire and worship me!
Giov.As they shall;For instantly you must thither.
Cal.My grand signior,Vouchsafe a beso las manos[80], and a cringeOf the last edition.
Giov.You must ride post with lettersThis night to Lidia.
Cal.An it please your grace,Shall I use my coach, or footcloth mule?
Sanaz.You widgeon,You are to make all speed; think not of pomp.
Giov.Follow for your instructions, sirrah.
Cal.I haveOne suit to you, my good lord.
Sanaz.What is 't?
Cal.That you would give meA subtile court-charm, to defend me fromThe infectious air of the country.
Giov.What's the reason?
Cal.Why, as this court-air taught me knavish wit,By which I am grown rich, if that againShould turn me fool and honest, vain hopes farewell!For I must die a beggar.
Sanaz.Go to, sirrah,You'll be whipt for this.
Giov.Leave fooling, and attend us.[Exeunt[81].
The Country. A Hall inCharomonte's House.
EnterCharomonteandLidia.
Char.Daughter, I have observed, since the prince left us,(Whose absence I mourn with you,) and the visitCount Sanazarro gave us, you have nourish'dSad and retired thoughts, and parted withThat freedom and alacrity of spiritWith which you used to cheer me.
Lid.For the count, sir,All thought of him does with his person die;But I confess ingenuously, I cannotSo soon forget the choice and chaste delights,The courteous conversation of the prince,And without stain, I hope, afforded me,When he made this house a court.
Char.It is in usTo keep it so without him. Want we know not,And all we can complain of, Heaven be praised for 't,Is too much plenty; and we will make use of
EnterCaponi, Bernardo, Petruchio,and other Servants.
All lawful pleasures.—How now, fellows! whenShall we have this lusty dance?
Cap.In the afternoon, sir.'Tis a device, I wis, of my own making,And such a one, as shall make your signiorship knowI have not been your butler for nothing, butHave crotchets in my head. We'll trip it tightly,And make my sad young mistress merry again,Or I'll forswear the cellar.
Bern.If we hadOur fellow Calandrino here, to danceHis part, we were perfect.
Pet.O! he was a rare fellow;But I fear the court hath spoil'd him.
Cap.When I was young,I could have cut a caper on a pinnacle;But now I am old and wise.—Keep your figure fair,And follow but the sample I shall set you,The duke himself will send for us, and laugh at us;And that were credit.
EnterCalandrino.
Lid.Who have we here?
Cal.I findWhat was brawn in the country, in the court grows tender.The bots on these jolting jades! I am bruised to jelly.A coach for my money!
Char.Calandrino! 'tis he.
Cal.Now to my postures.—Let my hand have the honourTo convey a kiss from my lips to the cover ofYour foot, dear signior.
Char.Fie! you stoop too low, sir.
Cal.The hem of your vestment, lady: your glove is for princes;Nay, I have conn'd my distances.
Lid.'Tis most courtly.
Cap.Fellow Calandrino!
Cal.Signior de Caponi,Grand botelier of the mansion.
Bern.How is 't, man?[Claps him on the shoulder.
Cal.Be not so rustic in your salutations.Signior Bernardo, master of the accounts.Signior Petruchio, may you long continueYour function in the chamber!
Cap.When shall we learnSuch gambols in our villa?
Lid.Sure he's mad.
Char.'Tis not unlike, for most of such mushrooms are so.What news at court?
Cal.Basta!they are mysteries.And not to be reveal'd. With your favour, signior,I am, in private, to confer awhileWith this signora: but I'll pawn my honour,That neither my terse language, nor my habit,Howe'er it may convince, nor my new shrugs,Shall render her enamour'd.
Char.Take your pleasure;A little of these apish tricks may pass,Too much is tedious.[Exit.
Cal.The prince, in this paper,Presents his service. Nay, it is not courtlyTo see the seal broke open; so I leave you.—Signiors of the villa, I'll descend to beFamiliar with you.
Cap.Have you forgot to dance?
Cal.No, I am better'd.
Pet.Will you join with us?
Cal.As I like the project.Let me warm my brains first with the richest grape,And then I'm for you.
Cap.We will want no wine.[Exeunt all butLidia.
Lid.That this comes only from the best of princes,With a kind of adoration does command meTo entertain it; and the sweet contents[Kissing the letter.That are inscribed here by his hand must beMuch more than musical to me. All the serviceOf my life at no part can deserve this favour.O, what a virgin longing I feel on meTo unrip the seal, and read it! yet, to breakWhat he hath fastened, rashly, may appearA saucy rudeness in me.—I must do it,(Nor can I else learn his commands, or serve them,)But with such reverence, as I would openSome holy writ, whose grave instructions beat downRebellious sins, and teach my better partHow to mount upward.—So, [opens the letter] 'tis done, and IWith eagle's eyes will curiously peruse it.[Reads.
Chaste Lidia, the favours are so greatOn me by you conferr'd, that to entreatThe least addition to them, in true senseMay argue me of blushless impudence.But, such are my extremes, if you denyA further grace, I must unpitied die.Haste cuts off circumstance. As you're admiredFor beauty; the report of it hath firedThe duke my uncle, and, I fear, you'll prove,Not with a sacred, but unlawful love.If he see you as you are, my hoped-for lightIs changed into an everlasting night;How to prevent it, if your goodness find,You save two lives, and me you ever bind,The honourer of your virtues,Giovanni.
Chaste Lidia, the favours are so greatOn me by you conferr'd, that to entreatThe least addition to them, in true senseMay argue me of blushless impudence.But, such are my extremes, if you denyA further grace, I must unpitied die.Haste cuts off circumstance. As you're admiredFor beauty; the report of it hath firedThe duke my uncle, and, I fear, you'll prove,Not with a sacred, but unlawful love.If he see you as you are, my hoped-for lightIs changed into an everlasting night;How to prevent it, if your goodness find,You save two lives, and me you ever bind,The honourer of your virtues,Giovanni.
Were I more deaf than adders, these sweet charmsWould through my ears find passage to my soul,And soon enchant it. To save such a prince,Who would not perish? Virtue in him must suffer,And piety be forgotten. The duke's passion,Though it raged more than Tarquin's, shall not reach me.All quaint inventions of chaste virgins aid me!My prayers are heard; I have 't. The duke ne'er saw me—Or, if that fail, I am again provided—But for the servants!—They will take what formI please to put upon them. Giovanni,Be safe; thy servant Lidia assures it.Let mountains of afflictions fall on me,Their weight is easy, so I set thee free.[Exit.
Another Room in the same.
EnterCozimo, Giovanni, Sanazarro, Charomonte,and Attendants.
Sanaz.Are you not tired with travel, sir?
Coz.No, no;I am fresh and lusty.
Char.This day shall be everA holiday to me, that brings my princeUnder my humble roof.[Weeps.
Giov.See, sir, my good tutorSheds tears for joy.
Coz.Dry them up, Charomonte;And all forbear the room, while we exchangeSome private words together.
Giov.O, my lord,How grossly have we overshot ourselves!
Sanaz.In what, sir?
Giov.In forgetting to acquaintMy guardian with our purpose: all that LidiaCan do avails us nothing, if the dukeFind out the truth from him.
Sanaz.'Tis now past help,And we must stand the hazard:—hope the best, sir.[ExeuntGiovanni, Sanazarro,and Attendants.
Char.My loyalty doubted, sir!
Coz.'Tis more. Thou hastAbused our trust, and in a high degreeCommitted treason.
Char.Treason! 'Tis a wordMy innocence understands not. Were my breastTransparent, and my thoughts to be discern'd,Not one spot shall be found to taint the candourOf my allegiance: and I must be boldTo tell you, sir, (for he that knows no guiltCan know no fear,) 'tis tyranny to o'erchargeAn honest man; and such, till now, I've lived,And such, my lord, I'll die.
Coz.Sir, do not flatterYourself with hope, these great and glorious words,Which every guilty wretch, as well as you,That's arm'd with impudence, can with ease deliver,And with as full a mouth, can work on us:Nor shall gay flourishes of language clearWhat is in fact apparent.
Char.Fact! what fact?You, that know only what it is, instruct me,For I am ignorant.
Coz.This, then, sir: We gave up,On our assurance of your faith and care,Our nephew Giovanni, nay, our heirIn expectation, to be train'd up by youAs did become a prince.
Char.And I discharged it:Is this the treason?
Coz.Take us with you, sir[82].And, in respect we knew his youth was proneTo women, and that, living in our court,He might make some unworthy choice, beforeHis weaker judgment was confirm'd, we didRemove him from it; constantly presuming,You, with your best endeavours, rather wouldHave quench'd those heats in him, than light a torch,As you have done, to his looseness.
Char.I! my travailIs ill requited, sir; for, by my soul,I was so curious that way, that I grantedAccess to none could tempt him; nor did everOne syllable, or obscene accent, touchHis ear, that might corrupt him.
Coz.No! Why, then,With your allowance, did you give free wayTo all familiar privacy betweenMy nephew and your daughter? Or why did you(Had you no other ends in 't but our service)Read to them, and together, as they had beenScholars of one form, grammar, rhetoric,Philosophy, story[83], and interpret to themThe close temptations of lascivious poets?Or wherefore, for we still had spies upon you,Was she still present, when, by your advice,He was taught the use of his weapon, horsemanship,Nay, wrestling, but to fan a love in her?And then, forsooth, his exercises ended,A fair pretence of recreation for him,(When Lidia was instructed in those gracesThat add to beauty,) he, brought to admire her,Must hear her sing, while to her voice her handMade ravishing music; and, this applauded, danceA light lavolta[84]with her.
Char.Have you endedAll you can charge me with?
Coz.Nor stopt you there,But they must unattended walk intoThe silent groves, and hear the amorous birdsWarbling their wanton notes; here, a sure shadeOf barren sicamores, which the all-seeing sunCould not pierce through; near that, an arbour hungWith spreading eglantine; there, a bubbling springWatering a bank of hyacinths and lilies;With all allurements that could move to love.And could this, Charomonte, (should I grantThey had been equals both in birth and fortune,)Become your gravity? nay, 'tis clear as air,That your ambitious hopes to match your daughterInto our family, gave connivance to it:And this, though not in act, in the intentI call high treason.
Char.Hear my just defence, sir;And, though you are my prince, it will not take fromYour greatness, to acknowledge with a blush,In this my accusation you have beenMore sway'd by spleen, and jealous suppositions,Than certain grounds of reason. You had a father,(Blest be his memory!) that made frequent proofsOf my loyalty and faith, and, would I boastThe dangers I have broke through in his service,I could say more. Nay, you yourself, dread sir,Whenever I was put unto the test,Found me true gold, and not adulterate metal;And am I doubted now?
Coz.This is from the purpose.
Char.I will come to it, sir: Your grace well knew,Before the prince's happy presence madeMy poor house rich, the chiefest blessing whichI gloried in, though now it prove a curse,Was an only daughter. Nor did you command me,As a security to your future fears,To cast her off: which had you done, howe'erShe was the light of my eyes, and comfort ofMy feeble age, so far I prized my dutyAbove affection, she now had beenA stranger to my care. But she is fair!Is that her fault, or mine? Did ever fatherHold beauty in his issue for a blemish?You may, if you think fit, before my face,In recompense of all my watchings for you,With burning corrosives transform her toAn ugly leper. This I will rather suffer, sir,Than live suspected by you.
Coz.Let not passionCarry you beyond your reason.
Char.I am calm, sir;Yet you must give me leave to grieve I findMy actions misinterpreted. Alas! sir,Was Lidia's desire to serve the princeCall'd an offence? or did she practise toSeduce his youth, because with her best zealAnd fervour she endeavour'd to attend him?'Tis a hard construction. Though she be my daughter,I may thus far speak her: from her infancyShe was ever civil, her behaviour nearerSimplicity than craft; and malice dares notAffirm, in one loose gesture, or light language,She gave a sign she was in thought unchaste.I'll fetch her to you, sir; and but look on herWith equal eyes, you must in justice grantThat your suspicion wrongs her.
Coz.It may be;But I must have stronger assurance of itThan passionate words: and, not to trifle time,As we came unexpected to your house,We will prevent all means that may prepare herHow to answer that with which we come to charge her.And howsoever it may be receivedAs a foul breach to hospitable rites,On thy allegiance and boasted faith,Nay, forfeit of thy head, we do confine theeClose prisoner to thy chamber till all doubtsAre clear'd that do concern us.
Char.I obey, sir,And wish your grace had followed my hearseTo my sepulchre, my loyalty unsuspected,Rather than now——But I am silent, sir,And let that speak my duty[85].[Exit.
Coz.If this manBe false, disguised treachery ne'er put onA shape so near to truth. Within, there!
Re-enterGiovanniandSanazarro,ushering inPetronella. Calandrinoand others setting forth a Banquet.
Sanaz.Sir.
Coz.Bring Lidia forth.
Giov.She comes, sir, of herself,To present her service to you.
Coz.Ha! This personageCannot invite affection.
Sanaz.See you keep state.
Petron.I warrant you.
Coz.The manners of her mindMust be transcendent, if they can defendHer rougher outside. May we with your likingSalute you, lady?
Petron.Let me wipe my mouth, sir,With my cambric handkerchief, and then have at you.
Coz.Can this be possible?
Sanaz.Yes, sir; you will find herSuch as I gave her to you.
Petron.Will your dukeshipSit down and eat some sugar-plums? Here's a castleOf march-pane[86]too; and this quince-marmalade wasOf my own making; all summ'd up together,Did cost the setting on: and here is wine too,As good as e'er was tapp'd. I'll be your taster,For I know the fashion. [Drinks all off.]—Now you must do me right, sir;You shall nor will nor choose.
Giov.She's very simple.
Coz.Simple! 'tis worse. Do you drink thus often, lady?
Petron.Still when I am thirsty, and eat when I am hungry:Such junkets come not every day. Once more to you,With a heart and a half, i' faith.
Coz.Pray you, pause a little.
Petron.Then I'll drink for you.
Coz.I'll find you out a pledgeThat shall supply my place: what think you ofThis complete signior? You are a Juno,And in such state must feast this Jupiter:What think you of him?
Petron.I desire no better.
Coz.And you will undertake this service for me?You are good at the sport.
Cal.Who, I? a piddler, sir.
Coz.Nay, you shall sit enthroned, and eat and drinkAs you were a duke.
Cal.If your grace will have me,I'll eat and drink like an emperor.
Coz.Take your place, then:[Calandrinotakes the duke's chair.We are amazed.
Giov.This is gross; nor can the impostureBut be discover'd.
Sanaz.The duke is too sharp-sightedTo be deluded thus.Cal.Nay, pray you eat fair;Or divide, and I will choose. Cannot you useYour fork, as I do? Gape, and I will feed you.[Feeds her.Gape wider yet; this is courtlike.
Petron.To choke daws with:——I like it not.
Cal.But you like this?
Petron.Let it come, boy.[They drink.
Coz.What a sight is this! We could be angry with you.How much you did belie her when you told usShe was only simple! this is barbarous rudeness,Beyond belief.
Giov.I would not speak her, sir,Worse than she was.
Sanaz.And I, my lord, chose ratherTo deliver her better parted[87]than she is,Than to take from her.
EnterCaponi,with his fellow-servants for the dance.
Cap.Ere I'll lose my dance,I'll speak to the purpose. I am, sir, no prologue;But in plain terms must tell you we are providedOf a lusty hornpipe.
Coz.Prithee let us have it,For we grow dull.
Cap.But to make up the medley,For it is of several colours, we must borrowYour grace's ghost here.
Cal.Pray you, sir, depose me;It will not do else. I am, sir, the engine[Rises, and resigns his chair.By which it moves.
Petron.I will dance with my duke too;I will not out.
Coz.Begin then.—[They dance.]—There's more in thisThan yet I have discover'd. Some ŒdipusResolve this riddle.
Petron.Did I not foot it roundly?[Falls.
Coz.As I live, stark drunk! away with her. We'll reward you[Exeunt Servants withPetronella.When you have cool'd yourselves in the cellar.
Cap.Heaven preserve you!
Coz.We pity Charomonte's wretched fortuneIn a daughter, nay, a monster. Good old man!—The place grows tedious; our remove shall beWith speed: we'll only, in a word or two,Take leave, and comfort him.
Sanaz.'Twill rather, sir,Increase his sorrow, that you know his shame;Your grace may do it by letter.
Coz.Who sign'd youA patent to direct us? Wait our coming,In the garden.
Giov.All will out.
Sanaz.I more than fear it.[ExeuntGiovanniandSanazarro.
Coz.These are strange chimeras to us: what to judge of 't,Is past our apprehension. One commandCharomonte to attend us.[Exit an Attendant.]Can it beThat Contarino could be so besotted,As to admire this prodigy! or her fatherTo dote upon it! Or does she personate,For some ends unknown to us, this rude behaviour,Which, in the scene presented, would appearRidiculous and impossible?—O, you are welcome.
EnterCharomonte.
We now acknowledge the much wrong we did youIn our unjust suspicion. We have seenThe wonder, sir, your daughter.
Char.And have found herSuch as I did report her. What she wantedIn courtship[88], was, I hope, supplied in civilAnd modest entertainment.
Coz.Pray you, tell us,And truly, we command you—Did you neverObserve she was given to drink?
Char.To drink, sir!
Coz.Dare you trust your own eyes, if you find her nowMore than distemper'd?
Char.I will pull them out, sir,If your grace can make this good. And if you pleaseTo grant me liberty, as she is I'll fetch her,And in a moment.
Coz.Look you do, and fail not,On the peril of your head.
Char.Drunk!—She disdains it.[Exit.
Coz.Such contrarieties were never read of.Charomonte is no fool; nor can I thinkHis confidence built on sand. We are abused,'Tis too apparent.
Re-enterCharomonte,withLidia.
Lid.I am indisposed, sir;And that life you once tender'd, much endanger'dIn forcing me from my chamber.
Char.Here she is, sir;Suddenly sick, I grant; but sure, not drunk:Speak to my lord the duke.
Lid.All is discover'd.[Kneels.
Coz.Is this your only daughter?
Char.And my heir, sir;Nor keep I any woman in my house(Unless for sordid offices) but oneI do maintain, trimm'd up in her cast habits,To make her sport: and she, indeed, loves wine,And will take too much of it; and, perhaps, for mirth,She was presented to you.
Coz.It shall yieldNo sport to the contrivers. 'Tis too plain now.Her presence does confirm what ContarinoDeliver'd of her; nor can sickness dimThe splendour of her beauties: being herself, then,She must exceed his praise.
Lid.Will your grace hear me?I'm faint, and can say little.
Coz.Here are accentsWhose every syllable is musical!Pray you, let me raise you, and awhile rest here.False Sanazarro, treacherous Giovanni!But stand we talking!——
Char.Here's a storm soon raised.
Coz.As thou art our subject, Charomonte, swearTo act what we command.
Char.That is an oathI long since took.
Coz.Then, by that oath we charge thee,Without excuse, denial, or delay,To apprehend, and suddenly, Sanazarro,And our ingrateful nephew. We have said it.Do it without reply, or we pronounce thee,Like them, a traitor to us. See them guardedIn several lodgings, and forbid accessTo all, but when we warrant. Is our willHeard sooner than obey'd?
Char.These are strange turns;But I must not dispute them.[Exit.
Coz.Be severe in 't.—O my abused lenity! from what heightIs my power fall'n!
Lid.O me most miserable!That, being innocent, makes others guilty.Most gracious prince——
Coz.Pray you rise, and then speak to me.
Lid.My knees shall first be rooted in this earth,And, Myrrha-like, I'll grow up to a tree,Dropping perpetual tears of sorrow, whichHarden'd by the rough wind, and turn'd to amber,Unfortunate virgins like myself shall wear,Before I'll make petition to your greatness,But with such reverence, my hands held up thus,As I would do to heaven. You princes areAs gods on earth to us, and to be sued toWith such humility, as his deputiesMay challenge from their vassals.
Coz.Here's that formOf language I expected; pray you, speak:What is your suit?
Lid.That you look upon meAs an humble thing, that millions of degreesIs placed beneath you: for what am I, dread sir,Or what can fall in the whole course of my life,That may be worth your care, much less your trouble?As the lowly shrub is to the lofty cedar,Or a molehill to Olympus, if compared,I am to you, sir. Or, suppose the prince,(Which cannot find belief in me,) forgettingThe greatness of his birth and hopes, hath thrownAn eye of favour on me, in me punish,That am the cause, the rashness of his youth.Shall the queen of the inhabitants of the air,The eagle, that bears thunder on her wings,In her angry mood destroy her hopeful young,For suffering a wren to perch too near them?Such is our disproportion.
Coz.With what fervourShe pleads against herself!
Lid.For me, poor maid,I know the prince to be so far above me,That my wishes cannot reach him. Yet I amSo much his creature, that, to fix him inYour wonted grace and favour, I'll abjureHis sight for ever, and betake myselfTo a religious life, (where in my prayersI may remember him,) and ne'er see man more,But my ghostly father. Will you trust me, sir?In truth I'll keep my word; or, if this fail,A little more of fear what may befall himWill stop my breath for ever.
Coz.Had you thus argued[Raises her.As you were yourself, and brought as advocatesYour health and beauty to make way for you,No crime of his could put on such a shapeBut I should look with the eyes of mercy on it.What would I give to see this diamondIn her perfect lustre, as she was beforeThe clouds of sickness dimm'd it! Yet, take comfort;And, as you would obtain remission forHis treachery to me, cheer your drooping spirits,And call the blood again into your cheeks,And then plead for him; and in such a habitAs in your highest hopes you would put on,If we were to receive you for our bride.
Lid.I'll do my best, sir.
Coz.And that best will beA crown of all felicity to me.[Exeunt.
The same. An upper Chamber inCharomonte's House.
EnterSanazarro.
Sanaz.'Tis proved in me: the curse of human frailty,Adding to our afflictions, makes us knowWhat's good; and yet our violent passions force usTo follow what is ill. Reason assured meIt was not safe to shave a lion's skin;And that to trifle with a sovereign wasTo play with lightning: yet imperious beauty,Treading upon the neck of understanding,Compell'd me to put off my natural shapeOf loyal duty, to disguise myselfIn the adulterate and cobweb-maskOf disobedient treachery. Where is nowMy borrow'd greatness, or the promised livesOf following courtiers echoing my will?In a moment vanish'd! Power that stands not onIts proper base, which is peculiar onlyTo absolute princes, falls or rises withTheir frown or favour. The great duke, my master,(Who almost changed me to his other self,)No sooner takes his beams of comfort from me,But I, as one unknown, or unregarded,Unpitied suffer. Who makes intercessionTo his mercy for me now? who does rememberThe service I have done him? not a man:And such as spake no language but my lordThe favourite of Tuscany's grand duke,Deride my madness.—Ha! what noise of horses?[He looks out at the back window.A goodly troop! This back part of my prisonAllows me liberty to see and know them.Contarino! yes, 'tis he, and Lodovico[89]:And the duchess Fiorinda, Urbin's heir,A princess I have slighted: yet I wearHer favours; and, to teach me what I am,She whom I scorn'd can only mediate for me.This way she makes, yet speak to her I dare not;And how to make suit to her is a taskOf as much difficulty.—Yes, thou blessed pledge[Takes off the ring.Of her affection, aid me! This suppliesThe want of pen and ink; and this, of paper.[Takes a pane of glass.It must be so; and I in my petitionConcise and pithy.[Exit.
The Court beforeCharomonte's House.
EnterContarino,leading inFiorinda, Alphonso, Hippolito, Hieronimo,andCalaminta.
Fior.'Tis a goodly pile, this.
Hier.But better by the owner.
Alph.But most richIn the great states[90]it covers.
Fior.The duke's pleasureCommands us hither.
Cont.Which was laid on usTo attend you to it.
Hip.Signior Charomonte,To see your excellence his guest, will thinkHimself most happy.
Fior.Tie my shoe.—[The pane falls down.]—What's that?A pane thrown from the window, no wind stirring!
Calam.And at your feet too fall'n:—there's something writ on 't.
Cont.Some courtier, belike, would have it knownHe wore a diamond.
Calam.Ha! it is directedTo the princess Fiorinda.
Fior.We will read it.[Reads.