ISABELLA

I feel my body growing by the King, And I am quick although he know it not; Now comes my father's last injunction To my remembrance, which I must fulfil, Although a Queen, I am his daughter still. What's that my Lord? I am only yours. You are my King, and Husband; The first includes allegiance, the next duty, Both these have power above a Father's name, Though as a daughter I could wish it done, Yet since it stands against your Royal pleasure, I have no suit that way. As knowing one so fair, With whom my pale cheek never durst compare: Had you but seen my Sister, you would say, To her the blushing Coral should give way: For her cheek stains it; Lilies to her brow Must yield their Ivory whiteness, and allow Themselves overcome. If ever you saw the sky When it was clearest, it never could come nigh Her Azure veins in colour; she's much clearer, Ey, and her love much to my Father dearer. What I speak is true, So will your self say when she comes in place. He keeps her as his Treasure, locks her safe Within his arms: he only minded me As one he loved not, but thought merely lost. That let mine enemy speak, for in this kind I would be taxed by such. By you was never Lady more beloved, Or wife more constant than I was to him: Have you forgotten your charge, when I perceived My self so grown, I could no longer hide My greatness, I began to speak the beauty's Of my fair Sister, and how much she excelled, And that you sent me thither as a jest, That she was fairest, and you loved her best? Nothing more sure. My joys unspeakable can find no tongue To express my true hearts meaning. Nor in this joy have I the meanest partly, Now does your Grace your inward love express To me, and mine. My royal Liege and Husband, view him well, If your own favour you can call to mind, Behold it in this Infant, limned to'th life; He's yours and mine, no kindred can be nearer. My Liege? My Lord the King commends his love to you In your fair Bride, whom royally conducted He hath sent to be the partner of your bed. Hear me a Daughter for a Father plead. Speak't at once. And so by Heaven will I. It may incense the King. I shall perform your will, and thus resolved To be a Martyr ever a Concubine. But if the King afford me further favour, In my close bosom your last words I'll place. It glads me I am present to a King, Whom I have always herd my father term Royal in all things; virtuous, modest, chaste; And to have one free attribute beside, Which even the greatest Emperor needs not scome, Honest; to you if you be such my Liege, A Virgins love I prostrate, and a heart That wishes you all goodness with the duty Of a true subject, and a noble father; Then mighty Prince report your subject noble, Since all those virtues you receive in me. May I become your vassal and your Handmaid, Titles but equal to my humble birth: But since your Grace a higher title deigns, Envy must needs obey where power compels. Give expeditious order for the Rites Of these our present Nuptials which shall be Done with all State and endue solemnity; And Martial in this business thou shall find Thy self defective, and not us unkind. Die? alas chat's nothing; must nor all men so? And does not Heaven crown martyred innocence? I was afraid my Lord the King had seen To have strumpeted the for oft of your blood: And innocent death my Lord is crown of rest, Then let me die as her whom you love best. Sir we have long been Orphans in the Country, While you still followed your affairs at Court; We herd we had a Father by our Guardian, But scarce till now could we enjoy your sighed. Hold Than sentence him o let me perish rather; I plead for him that's both my son and Father. Father to us. Or Like deer, Your Queen and Sister.