FIDELIO

So it should: Great Princes Death's but Like a short Eclipse Darken the Orbs they lighted, Till another Spreads his succeeding beams: We have his son, As full of hope as ever promised state A happiness; and now he's risen, we Shall gaze, and glad our selves as cheerfully In his warm favours, as in those, which time So lately dispossessed us of. His temper Is virtuous, Beneventi: He' le admit Of no such practice; and his minion too, The noble Spurio, such a rare example Of a good great man. Wrong not that integrity Of what is real in me. By my Hope's Of a fair memory, there's not a charm In greatness hath the Magic power to sway My reason with affection, but true merit, That binds me. I never couched unto the humours Of any great one yet; or stiled my self Th'admirer of his virtues, if they were not The true steps so his raising. Be not jealous: 'Tis the rude peoples vice. In our pure difference There should be nobler thoughts. Yes Beneventi: can my wishes covet A greater honour The second Scene. Enter Spurio. Th'art too severe And Cynical. This bitterness might move Another spleen: but prithee Beneventi Do not presume on privilege. A friend Shares so much of my self, he cannot suffer But I am sensible by a consent And and affinity of parts. My honoured Lord why thus? (To Spurio. What's the cause? You flow in honours. My friend, my Lord. Pray do not conceal What's your disturbance. By communicating You'll lessen something of the suffering In making me partaker. Report, Perhaps, hath multiplied, and rumour's grown Pregnant withissue, that your noble brother Wants the success we hoped for. Here's the Duke and Duchess, Compose your self. My Lord, (To Spurio in private. I'm lost to all the happiness that ever My Hope's showed me a way to. I much fear Partly of the cause is mine. Prithee be More serious. Why again dejected thus? Would? it's horror. How? for the Duke? Then I have lost— Thou profanest A worth, that bids my justice punish thee. If there be more impart it. So do I your Sister. Mine my Sovereign. My Lord your valiant brother This instant is arrived, enrich the Court With his full glories: all men court his victory With such a praise, it stains his manly cheeks With modest blushes. He expects your visit. How my Lord? your virtue. Will suffer by suspicion if'y express Your self or proud or envious, Are you acquainted with Any events that have relation Unto your brother's melancholy? I obey What ever you command; and hope my services Will shortly be rewarded. To the presence, There is their entertainment. We shall see What different things Courtiers and Soldiers be. Exeunt. My Italian nature Begins to break her prison, and grow violent; I'll force her sir to tell me. Sister are you in health? You slight my question. There's a stain Amanda Thrown on you by suspicion, on your honour; Nothing but blood, or a fair satisfaction Can wash it off. Your confidence Carries the greater show of gilded. This does show more Like The violence of a distempered passion, Than will to satisfy. 'Twas never yet Read in the story of our Ancestors, Any least blemish stuck upon our house. And if you have transgressed, the knowledge of it Will point us out a way to just revenge, Or to and honourable recompense; And so preserve our yet unsullied fame's Clear to post esterity. Not to have some, Indeed were more than wonder: such a Lady As you are sister, pampered with the full ness Of Court delights, not to elect some one Preferred in her esteem, were such a paradox, Not all your learning can maintain. I am glad Your love can give him such a Character. To know him might advance your desires, Provided they be honourable. He the man hath done it? Stay, stay Sister; There's something more: Did not you once pretend You had a powerful interest in his Sister That might command me a success with her? Nothing good Sister, But one thing for another. Enough Good Sister; I am satisfied. Here's Vittorio, And brave Polemici, that are returned With the triumphing Notho. Here's the noble Conqueror. It's and unkindness thus to be reserved, And hide the causes of your discontent: The privilege of friendship should be larger; And not confined to any weak respects That bound its limits. I should not conceal My secretest sins from you, but for the scandal. If any counsel My weak abilities can aid you with May be thought useful— My love would not interpret Neglect or jealousy to be the cause Of these expressions; if you do suspect it, I then may ground a fear you have declined Your wonted purity: and through the gilded Of some foul act makes shame over sway your reason, You do enforce your blushing soul to be the unwilling prison of so vile and evil You dare not give it liberty. I my Lord Think you so far from being vicious, Your scruples scarce allow those virtues in you A merit, which to us might be examples. Believe it, I will not flatter you; for sure you have Some easy faults, that will admit the excuse Of frailty: such as love. Yes, when it burns with a corrupted flame; And lights desire to what is sensual only, Without regard of ought that makes our difference The most refined and perfect in its nature: Beasts have their lust. There is that Magic in your masculine graces, Th'have charmed the beauty of the Court to love you: And it's arrived my knowledge. Amanda sir, And though she be my sister, I do give her No attribute, fame and the general voice Confirm? not to her. That were vainness; And now I must confess you had great cause To be disturbed: profess love to the Duchess, When you had given Amanda such deep earnest. Why should you express This nice unwillingness to be discovered? The knowledge of't as yet is limited To a small number, and the memory Of her dishonour will be quickly lost In a fair recompense. Your self can best interpret, And yet me thinks another name would found More Courtlike; and not have half so much offensive: For though she have the stain, I know she holds That nobleness of spirit, none but such a one As your full self could ever win her to it; And a fair satisfaction vowed withal: Which sure you will perform. This is no satisfaction, I dare believe your innocence; if you Dare urge it solemnly, and thereby give it A confirmation. Enough. You shall not swear; I credit it; and my penitence (Kneels. Humbles me for your pardon. the information Came from Cardente, and her own acknowledgement Of her desires to you. But she shall die, Her shame must not out live her. You'd have her live then! Marry her, And to't again; Till that confirms all lawful, I must forbid more pleasure. You'll be Her Champion too? this zeal of yours confirms That truth which was but doubt. There will not be Much Fallacy. Offer to go. I must not own thee: hence. This trifling smells of cowardice. Pardon me Melissa, I must (though willingly I would not do it) Forget your virtues. This Amanda Believed would bring me peace again. I am confirmed; And ask again your pardon! Yours Amanda I do presume upon. I hope our loves To Melissa. Are grown so ripe, the fasting of our joys Will not be long protracted. 3 Scene. Enter Corvino, Bonardo, and Cardente. Please you Lord Corvino To Corvino, With your consent to perfect what's begun So fairly here; and make our union add Something to this days glory. Confess who 'twas that ordered this vile practice, Or my just anger shall allay it self With that infected blood thou hast, before The poison works more. She would have given poison to me, Of which her self had taken before: but providence Ordered it that my jealousy deferred it, till it appeared to work on her with violence: And so I was preserved. That sentence kills me too. Melissa!