BIANCA

I shall, in best of Love, Regard the bosom-partner of my Lord. Sister, I should too much bewray my weakness, To give a resolution on a passion I never felt nor feared. My Lord Fernando you encounter fitly, I have a suit t'ee. Since my Lord the Duke Is now disposed to mirth, the time serves well For mediation, that he would be pleased To take the Lord Roseilli to his grace, He is a Noble Gentleman: I dare Engage my credit, loyal to the state: And, Sister, one that ever strove (me thought) By special service, and obsequious care, To win respect from you; it were a partly Of gracious favour, if you pleased to join With us, in being suitors to the Duke For his return to Court. Not needs it, sister? why? I hope you think It's no necessity in me to move it, More then respect of honour. Sister, these words I understand not. I hope so too. If it be so, I am the sorrier, Sir: I'm loath to move my Lord unto offence, Yet I'll adventure chiding. I said as much, my Lord. Good Sir be not so moved. That's your music. Oh, but you are too general. You still mistake me. My sister's gone in anger. I'll see the jolly lover and his glass Take leave of one another. Now, as I live, Here's laughter worthy our presence; I will not loose him so.—— To me, my Lord! My Lord, the time—— Forbear, or I shall— No more; I spare To tell you what you are; and must confess, Do almost hate my judgement, that it once Thought goodness dwelled in you: remember now It is the third time since your treacherous tongue Hath pleaded treason to my care and fame; Yet for the friendship betwixt my Lord and you, I have not voye'd your follies; if you dare To speak a fourth time, you shall rue your lust: 'Tis all no better; learn, and love your self. It's yet but early night, too soon to sleep: Sister, shall's have a mate at Chess? He's a well practised gamester: Well, I care not, how cunning so ere he be, To pass and hour; I'll try your skill, my Lord; Reach here the Chessboard. Well, well, I fear you not, let's too't. Lights for our sister, sirs: Good rest t'ee; I'll but end my game and follow. Colona, attend our sister to her chamber. Play. My Clergy help me; My Queen! and nothing for it but a pawn? Why then the game's lost too; but play. You must needs play well, You are so studious.— Fie vpon't, you study passed patience:— What d'ee dream on? here's demurring Would weary out a statue.—Good now play. What means the man? Am I again betrayed?—bade man. Rise up, we charge you, rise; look on our face. What see you there that may persuade a hope Of lawless love? Know, most unworthy man, So much we would e the baseness of thy lust, As were none living of thy sex but thee, We had much rather prostitute our blood To some envenomed Serpent, then admit Thy bestial dalliance: couldst thou dare to speak Again, when we forbade? no, wretched thing, Take this for answer; If thou henceforth open Thy leprous mouth to tempt our ear again, We shall not only certify our Lord Of thy disease in friendship, but revenge Thy boldness with the forfeit of thy life. Think on't. Good night: Rest in your goodness; lights there; Sir good night. Resolve, and do; it's done, What, are those eyes Which lately were so ouerdrown'd in tears, So easy to take rest? O happy man! How sweetly sleep hath sealed up sorrows here? But I will call him: What? My Lord, my Lord, My Lord Fernando. My Lord, Sleeping or waking? It's I: Have you forgotten my voice? or is your ear But useful to your eye? She, it's she; fit up, Fit up and wonder, while my sorrows swell: The nights are short, and I have much to say. It's possible; Why do you think I come? It's true, you guess aright; fit up and listen. With shame and passion now I must confess, Since first mine eyes beheld you, in my heart You have been only King; if there can be A violence in love, then I have felt That tyranny; be record to my soul, The Justice which I for this folly fear: Fernando, in short words, how ever my tongue Did often chide thy love, each word thou spoke st Was music to my ear; was never poor Poor wretched woman lived, that loved Like me; So truly, so unfeignedly. To witness that I speak is truth,—look here, Thus singly I adventure to thy bed, And do confess my weakness; if thou temptest My bosom to thy pleasures, I will yield. Now hear me out: When first Caraffa, Pavy's Duke, my Lord, Saw me, he loved me; and without respect Of dower, took me to his bed and bosom, Advanced me to the title possess; Not moved by counsel, or removed by greatness, Which to requite, betwixt my soul and heaven, I vowed a vow to live a constant wife; I have done so: nor was there in the world A man created, could have broke that truth For all the glories of the earth, but thou; But thou, Fernando: Do I love thee now? True, I do, Beyond imagination: if no pledge Of love can instance what I speak is true, But lose of my best joys, here, here, Fernando, Be satisfied, and ruin me. To give my body up to thy embraces, A pleasure that I never wished to thrive in, Before this fatal minute: mark me now; If thou dost spoil me of this robe of am, By my best comforts, here I vow again, To thee, to heaven, to the world, to time, Ever yet the morning shall new Christian day, I'll kill my self. I will: Do what thou wilt, it's in thy choice; what say ye? Yes, take it; that, Or what thy heart can wish: I am all thine. Fernando; Jest not at my calamity: I kneel:— By these disheauel'd hairs, these wretched tears, By all that's good, if what I speak, my heart Vows not eternally, then think, my Lord, Was never man sued to me I denied, Think me a common and most cunning whore, And let my sins be written on my graven, My name rest in reproof.—Do as you list No by the faith I owe my Bridal vows: But ever hold thee much much dearer far Then all my joys on earth, by this chased kiss. Nay, be thine: Command my power, my bosom; and I'll write This love within the tables of my heart. The latter I new vow—but day comes on, What now we leave unfinished of content, Each hour shall perfect up: Sweet, let's partly. Now good my Lord Fernando further this In any wise, it cannot but content. Perhaps your teeth have bled, wiped with my hand kercher; give me, I'll doo't my self.—Speak, shall I steal a kiss? believe me, my Lord, I long. My Lord, you were best to try a set at Maw; I and your friend, to pass away the time, Will undertake your Highness and your sist er True, my Lord, there's many Who think themselves most wise, that are most fools. My Lord the Duke. My Lord we have a our friend and I. Must join. My Lord! That you will please to set Maurucio At liberty: this Gentle woman here, Hath by agreement made betwixt them two, Obtained him for her husband; good my Lord Let me entreat, I dare engage mine honour He's nnocent in any wilful fault. Yes, do my Lord, bring you the Bridegroom hither, I'll give the Bride my self. Speaks your love, Or ear, my Lord? Mercy protect me, will you murder me? 'Twas, my Lord; Yet but a vision; for did such a gilded Hang on mine honour, 'twere no blame in you If you did stab me to the heart. Alas, what do you mean, Sir? You shall not swear, take off that oath again, Or thus I will enforce it.——— Death; I wish no less: You told me you had dreamed; and, gentle Duke, Unless you be mistook, you are now awaked. For what? to see a weak Faint tremble ng arm advance a leaden blade? Alas good man, put up, put up; thine eyes Are likelier much to weep, then arms to strike: What would you do now, pray? I tell ye, if you needs would be resolved, I held Fernando much the properer man. What ails you? Can you imagine, Sir, the name of Duke Could make a crooked leg, a scambling foot. A tolerable face, a wearish hand, A bloodless lip, or such and untrimmed beard As yours, fit for a Ladies pleasure, no: I wonder you could think 'twere possible, When I had once but looked on your Fernando, I ever could love you again? Fie, fie, Now by my life, I thought that long ago had known it; and been glad you had a friend: Your wife did think so well of. Dare? yes faith, You see I dare: I know what you would say now; You would feign tell me how exceeding much I am beholding to you, that vouchsafed Me, from a simple Gentlewoman's place, The honour of your bed: it's true, you did; But why? 'twas but because you thought I had A spark of beauty more then you had seen. To answer this, my reason is the Like, The self same appetite which led you on To marry me, led me to love your friend: Oh he's a gallant man! if ever yet Mine eyes beheld a miracle, composed Of flesh and blood, Fernando has my voice. I must confess, my Lord, that for a Prince, Handsome enough you are, and no more: But to compare your self with him, trust me You are too much in fault: shall I advise you? Hark in your ear; thank heaven he was so slow As not to wrong your sheets; for as I live, The fault was his, not mine. Look what I said, it's true. For know it now, I must confess I missed no means, no time, To win him to my bosom; but so much, So holily, with such Religion, He kept the laws of friendship, that my suit Was held but, in comparison, a jest; Nor did I ofter urge the violence Of my aflection, but as oft he urged The sacred vows of faith betwixt friend and friend: Yet be assured, my Lord, if ever language Of cunning servile flatteries, entreaties, Or what in me is, could procure his love, I would not blush to speak it. Phew—and you be in these tunes, Sir, I'll leave: You know the best, and worst, and all. I, do; and to the point Of thy sharp sword, with open breast I'll run Half way thus naked: do not shrink, Caraffa, This dants not me: but in the latter act. Of thy R venge, it's all the suit I ask At my last gasp, to spare thy noble friend; For life to me, without him, were a death. Here. It's bravely done; thou hast struck home at once: Live to repent too late: Commend my love To thy true friend, my love to him that owes it, Nigh Tragedy to thee, my heart to—to— Fernand. oo o. We, my Lord, were talking of the horsemanship in France Which, as your friend reports, he thinks exceeds All other Nations. Why shouldst thou not be mine? why should the laws The Iron laws of Ceremony, bar Mutual embraces? what's a vow? a vow? Can there be sin in unity? Could I As well dispense with Conscience, as renounce The outside of my titles, the poor style Of Duchess; I had rather change my life With any waiting-woman in the land, To purchase one nights rest with thee Fernondo, Then be Caraffa's Spouse a thousand years. All mine to thee. Remember this, and think I speak thy words: When I am dead, rip up my heart and read With constant eyes, what now my tongue defines, Fernando's name carved out in bloody lines. Once more good rest, Sweet. Your lip, my Lord!