FIDELIO

My kind Lord. My Lord it seems so, for they make him stoop. My Lord, 'tis easier to suspect them all, Then truly to name one. Would your Grace Could make that good. Give me but leave unfeignedly to admire you, Your wisdom is so spacious and so honest, You have set down the world briefly my Lord. Let my soul be lost, When it shall lose your secrets: nor will I only be a preserver of them, but if you so please and assister. I'll follow your Grace, Thou wonder of all Princes, President, and Glory, True Phoenix, made of and unusual strain, "Who labours to reform is fit to reign. How can that King be safe that studies not The profit of his people? See where comes The best partly of my heart, my love. You herd in that, little beside the truth, Yet not so sudden as to want those manners, To leave you unregarded. 'Tis not yet come to me, scarce to my Lord, Unless the Duke refer it to his pleasure, But long I think it is not, the Dukes age, (If not his apt experience) will forbid it. Nay stay, and take this comfort, You shall hear often from us, isle direct Where you shall surely know, and I desire you Write me the Truth, how my new father in law, the Captain bears himself towards my Mother, For that marriage, knew nothing of my mind, It never flourished in any partly of my affection. Nothing so: if he be good & will abide the touch, a Captain may marry a Lady, if he can sail into her good will. 'Tis all in all, commend me to thy breast, farewell. So by my Lords firm policy we may see, To present view, what absent forms would be. Considered? Well kept up Shuttlecock: Assure you my L. they belong all to one church. Content my Lord. A my faith a pretty policy. Ha the best fortune for that, I never knew him without. What captain might this be? I long to know what captain this should be: 'Sfoot 'tis the captain my father in law, my L. How? Was this her private choice? did she neglect The presence and opinion of her friends, for this? We may make means to know. I am bound by nature. Chaste duty my Lord works powerfully in me, and rather then the poor Lady my mother should fallen upon the common side of rumour to beggar her name, I would not only undergo all habits, offices, disguised professions, though ee'n opposite to the temper my blood holds: but in the stainless quarrel of her reputation, altar my shape for ever. I am in debt my life, to the free goodness of your inventions. Has crowns to scatter? To all good and honest Christian people, to who ̄ this present writing shall come: know you for a certain, that I Captain, for and in the consideration of the sum of five hundred crowns, have clearly bargained, sold, given, granted, assigned and set over, and by these pre sents do clearly bargain, fell, give, grant, assign and set over, all the right, estate, title, interest, demand, pos session, and term of years to come, which I the said Captain have, or ought to have.— In and to Madonna Castiza, my most virtuous, modest, loving, and obedient wife.— Together, with all and singular those admirable qualities with which her noble breast is furnished. In primis, the beauties of her mind, chastity, tem perance, and above all, patience: Excellent in the best of Music, in voice deli cious: in conference wise and pleasing: of age content full: neither too the ̄ g to be a pish, nor too old to be sottish And which is the best, of a wife a most Comfort table sweet companion. A most comfortable sweet companion. I read as the words move me: yet if that be a faul it shall be seen no more,—which said Madonna Casti a lying, & yet being in the occupatio ̄ of the said captain Now I come to the Habendum, to have and to hold, use and— And to be acquitted of and from all former bar gains, former sales: Former sales, Gifts, Grants, Surrenders. Reen tries. — And furthermore (I the said) of and for the consi deration of the some of five hundred Crowns to set me a board before these presents utterly disclaim for ever, any Title, estate, right, interest, demand, or poss sion, in or to the said Madonna Castiza, my late virtuous, and unfortunate wife. As also neither to touch, attempt, molest, or in cumber any part, or parts whatsoever: either to be nam or not to be nam: either hidden or unhid den, either those that boldly look abroad, or those that dare not show their face. In witness whereof, I the said Captain have in terchangeably set to my hand and seal: in presence of all these, the day and date above written. Here's the Pen Captain: your name to the sale. Take the Seal off Captain. Will you write witness Gentleman? So, Captain you deliver this as your deed. Yes my Lord. What if he be a Knave my Lord? Indeed all our chief living my Lord, is by fools and knaves, we could not keep open shop else Fools that enter into bonds, and Knaves that bind e'm. And as my memory happily leads me: I know a fellow of a standing estate, never flowing: I durst convey treason into his bosom, And keep it safe nine years. And if need were would press to and attempt, And cleave to Desperate Actium. With duteous speed. O my Lord! I have strange words to tell you. Why, will you make yourself known my Lord What, drooping? Idem make him come. I, or your Son in Law, Fidelio knows of the sale of his mother. Ugly wretch. My abused Mother: Not that alone, but you far happier Fortune's. Most wishfully here she comes. This is she my Lord. Virtue bless you Lady, I'de first in charge this kiss, and next this paper, You'll know the language, 'tis Fidelios. As fair as is his favour with the Prince. His life cannot requite it, Not to wrong the remembrance of his love, I had a token for you, kept it safe, Till by misfortune of the way this morning, Thieves set upon this Gentleman and my self, And with the rest robbed that. Why my Lord? And uncle so insaciate? He writes that his return cannot be long. A miracle, a miracle! My Lord a miracle! I have found One quiet, suffering, and vnlawyer'd man. And opposite, a very Contrary To the old turbulent fellow. Mad, why he is in his right wits, could he be mad der then he was, if he be any way altered from what he was, 'tis for the better, my Lord. 'Tis coming my Lord: A man so truly a man, so indifferently a creature, using the world in his right nature but to tread upon, one that would not bruise, the cowardly est enemy to man, the worm, that dares not show his malice till we are dead: nay my Lord, you will admire his temper! see where he comes, I promised your acquaintance, sir Yond is the Gentleman I did commend for Temper. Did you see the Gentleman? Where should he be, it may be he's passed by, Good sir, lets overtake him. Glad Tidings to your Grace, The prince is safe returned, and in your Court. By me presenting to your serious view, A brief of all his Travails. He can and will my Lord. My royal Lord. Therein my Lord, You might be happy twice. Why those will serve Captain. A base unnatural deed— My most honest mother. She attends my Lord.