NOTHO

Ambition never touched me. If I have done and act hath gained allowance In popular opinion, let not flattery Court it with too much praife. These ought to share; And every common soldier well as I: I but directed what they executed. Let your rewards sir, smile upon their wants, For sure our victory brought much more honour Then profit home: nor could I think it less Than tyranny to slave men being conquered, And force them buy their liberty; though in policy And custom it's allowed both safe and honourable. Cherish their valour sir, and the example Will (when your needs requires it) arm the hearts Of others with Like forwardness. Both must serve you. They are favours. And Eastern Monarch might be proud of Madam: A Mine could not have made your servant richer In's own esteem. Brother. Sure mine preserves not The least impression of and injury I ever did you, that might justly challenge the acqu intance of that Title. Others look Upon my fortune with respectful smiles; You either scorn or envy it. I would you give me A fuller satisfaction. I know not what Your words imply, unless you'll call me bastard; And that hath danger in't. No privilege Of nature, or respects unto the greatness Favour hath raised you to— Sir, my duty That taught me humble knees, and and obedience Is somewhat staggered; something hath begotten A jealousy within me, that I ought not Pay them to you: but still my virtuous reason Does fight against that sin. My brother sir, or Spurio (for the name Of brother he refuseth) says we are not The issue of one blood. Sir, the knowledge Would settle my disturbances, and make Again that duty perfect, which yet doubts To whom it owes it self. My lawfulness Had then first privilege to take exception: I must not now own him. In that you are Unjust to the deserts of my dead mother; And the Honoured family whence she derived Her blood and virtues. You have awed me, 'Twas not my sin; and thus my duty begs Kneels. The public knowledge may not be my shame. be What fortune oh my reason promp S me to, If warranted for lawful. Forbid it loyalty. If't be my right, There's no attempt that can have danger in't Enough to fright me. Speak it. Did ever father yet command his Children To be incestuous! is your reason perfect? This shows distraction. What fit hath seized him? Polemici I have herd wonders, and your bosoms shall Partake the secret, so you'll keep it safe: It's of high consequence. You'd not envy me If I were Duke. But dare your valours aid me In the design? But say it be my rig You shall know more hereafter; Strange mysteries in Fortune's hidden lie, Cannot be judged of by a common eye. But if Ferrara must Own me her Duke, what progress yet is ordered For my establishment? great actions ought not Want equal means: and sure my single force May not encounter such and opposition As I shall meet. To challenge it my right And not maintain it, renders me the laws: I would not pay my life for a distracted Unwarrantable Actium. If it may Be pleaded or with force, or testimony, I am above all fears. If you'll take from me The scruples that I have about its lawfulness, I'll court her to prevail. By all the virtual powers that make and Oath Sacred, I vow only to wed Melissa; Provided it be lawful. I then am elder son to the late Duke! And only yours supposed: I must acknowledge A large debt to you for my education, Which answered my high birth. But can this have Clear confirmation? I am then a Prince, And you my only Subject: For I know not Who else will pay obedience to me. I have herd She does affect Fidelio, And unless She be diverted—. Have you killed him then? Could you have such a conscience? You have confessed Your self a murderer, 'twas a bade act; And you have added to it: the discovery Hath made me guilty by the knowledge of it. I cannot but with horror now embrace Her love, for which his innocence hath suffered: Nor will I marry her. You have instructed me: all other virtues Depend on Justice; she alone is perfect Without addition in her self. A Prince Cannot deservedly wear the royal title, That order not it, nor is ordered by it. Justice with tyranny may be allowed Rather than partiality, for that Emboldens sin; the other makes it fear. If this day I should not be just (the first Of my uncertain government) a blessing Would not preserve it; for the bade example Would teach bade Subject's (such as thou) to be Presumptuous in their errors. Such a sin as thine Is not allowed the plea of and excuse. Then since thoustand'st convicted by thy self, I thus pronounce thy sentence: thou shalt die. By the hand Of Justice. Thy self, I have no other to command. Doe't with that instrument. Throws him his Dagger. Honour must yield then to necessity: I'll doe't my self. My sword that hath been just Draws. In war, in Peace shall be so. Therefore pray; And if the apprehension of thy death Presents thy guilty conscience with and horror, Meet it with holy thoughts, that thy repentance May bear thy best partly upward. I am loath To kill thy soul. Just Heavens want not Miraculous means. My Justice is too slow, And slies with lazy wings. Therefore be sudden; I cannot give thy preparations A longer time. You cannot trifle me Into new error. I have shaken off That lose and vulgar outside I was dressed in By ignorance; but now I know my self To be a Prince: It's I that have discovered Ambition in thee, and thy practises; To make thy daughter Duchess. But I play Too much with Justice. Take thy punishment For murder. Offers to kill him. 2 Scene. Enter Spurio. draws. I'm Like to have good Subject's, I must beat them Into obedience: think not on defence For that's as vain as if with nothing armed But empty air, thou mett'st a Thunderbolt. A sword thus ordered by the hand of Majesty Will make its way. Darest resist Thy Sovereigns Will and power? It hath a point, I feel it; My royal blood does wast. I fail not yet, my spirits still have force I think that reached you Fight. It's enough, with are both proved mortal. Falis. Why dost thou interpose? Rash man, I do command thee fetch him back, And be his executioner. Art fixed? Obey thy Prince with motion, or I'll turn My rage on thee.