SPURIO

Fidelio, welcome to mine eyes; thy presence, Like Sunshine, hath illuminated my dark soul, Clouded with melancholy. O Fidelio, Be not too curious: shouldst thou know my sufferings, Thy Physic cannot cure them. Beneventi! Then mine. My friends must be (To Beneventi. Like Chains, the first link leads on his dependants. Instruct me how, then use me. Would! my Brother! My brother's virtue does command his fortune; The later waits upon the first, as slaves Act their Directors wills. No my Fidelio, A certain knowledge newly's come to Court Of his sure victory, and his arrival Is suddenly expected, that it may Crown this days (yet unperfect) glory. Friend, My joys transport me, that I share in blood With one so worthy: But the peace that waits Upon his Conquest cannot stay the war The third Scene. Flourish. Enter Macario, Infeli ce, Corvino, Me lissa, Ladies. That is within me. Have no fears: She's constant; and I'll soon divert the Duke, Even here in public. Of what sir? Do not mock Your reason into error. You're a Prince And every act of yours concerns a state, Not your mere person only: what you do Must therefore deeply be considered on, Before your will allow it execution. Princes should wed with Princess: where there is And innate Majesty on both sides, that Well mixed, makes up and issue fit for rule, And the successive dignities. Beside, A State is strengthened: by alliance much: It may enlarge your Territories to, By times kind working. We have neighbour Princes, That gladly would bestow their Female heirs Upon your highness; and by such a choice, Your Subject's with your self might gain a happiness. He cannot own A duty worth your cherishing with favour, That will not urge it home. IT would be disadvantage To all that's good within me: For although No policy preserves my Actions Free from suspicion, but their own integrity, And that hath showed them clear without abuse Of favour or of power; yet if I were The brother of the Duchess, I should hardly Escape envy, where I now have love. If you esteem it A virtue in me to suppress desires That bear me higher than the moderate pitch, Cherish it still, and do not with addition Of favours make me loose th'opinion Of being good in my prosperities: Such flatteries may tempt me to aspire; My flight holds even yet. Would! my father! To Fidelio privately. Named he not him Fidelio? Sir 'twas from your example, You urged it not as and ambition; If your desires were humble, mine were so: I prefer safety sir as well as you, Before the flattering dangers that are incident To th'other. How sir! you Marry the Duchess? I have news for thee Fidelio. Thou must not have my Sister. She must be disposed of. My father so resolves it. I love the Duchess. My rival is my father. What Fates are we two subject to? Fidelio, We will consult a little; I have had Grounds for strong Hope's, I'll not be flattered by them; But work with policy. There is within me A war betwixt love and duty: one must be Destroyed to quit and set the other free. Exeunt. How can I discover What I yet know no? you must satisfy Your self, and your own suppositions, Even by yourself. If you have framed conjectures From any outward Characters that may Express and inward perturbation, Propose and i'se reveal it. I have desires, I must confess, but temper them With a discreet respect to their best end: Nor do I suffer any to flame out In violent passion. My breeding and Religion Permit me not to lie: sir it's a truth; And you may call it virtuous if you please: But duty which you challenge from me checks it. I neither dare nor will plead any right Where you are interested. You have sir Breathed a new soul of comfort into me; I'll freely now solicit for my self, And try success. From circumstance I can; but none with which I will be flattered: The honours which she hath conferted upon me Are Arguments she loves me; her salutes Are always deer or dearest. How, will you oppose it? You then are swollen with and unnatural envy. I'll obey. But yet I beg you sir temper your power With mild command, and deep consideration: Think on the Duchess. What of my sister sir? Mine! for what? Defend ye better influences, No such incestuous dream could ever possess My wantonest, slumber. What riddle's this? Give it solution. Good sir leave me not Confounded with amazement: are not you My Father sir? or who must own me? Sister, Is there ought in your knowledge that may satisfy My doubtful thrughts? must I not call you sister? Or what's that greater ineest I would have Committed? Can the Duchess be my mother? And Ant's less then a sister? There's half the riddle 4 Scene. Enter Fidem lio, Beneventi. Unfolded yet. I know no brother. Melissa, I cannot satisfy your father's Will, Though all were cleared that darks the reasons of it: Be still Fidelios. Exit. Your victory And person both are welcome. With me sir? Flourish, Spu. Not. Fid. Been. Vitto. and Polemici remaining. Forget that name; it must be lost To both our memories. I do neither; But there are secrets which my knowledge cannot Yet comprehend, till time makes more discoveries: If it appear then you are not my brother, Say not it was my fault. When I can I will not be reserved. He's here can satisfy. 5 Scene. Enter Corvino. Never sir; I would you'd clear my doubts. My ignorance And innocence shall then preserve me safe There may be danger in the knowledge of it: Hence forth I'll not be curious. Exeunt Spurio, Fidem. Beneventi. Fidelio, I am lost in such a missed Of doubts and error, all my reasons faculties Cannot instruct my knowledge how to find A way that leads to truth, Urge it not Fidelio; To know and not to remedy increases The suffering more. This is Such and extreme Fidelio, I should rather Admit of flattery then to be taxed thus. Time and your nearness to me might have taught Your knowledge, something by observing me, And how my courses tended: There was never The coursenesse in my humour, that it pleased me To hear my self commended: but the life Of honour being wounded by detraction, Or any false aspersion, 'twere a sin Equal to gilded should I neglect to cure it By any testimony; though it forced me To Praise my self, above all the degrees Of moderation: Therefore good Fidelio Neither be partial to me, nor let weakness Interpret any private act of mine From common rumour: such and even temper Would make our friendship lasting. I meant you no such privilege. Is Love a sin then? I almost understand you, But sure you dare not think me forward that way; Your error were not friendly: neither is there A Lady so neglected: she would court My shallow worth, or yield if she were courted. What's that beauty? Instruct my ignorance. With that name thou hast Charmed me Fidelio thoroughly, and recalled My apoplexi'd thoughts to their first life. Mine eyes were blinded with the Duchess so, I could not see that happiness which now I wish next to my eternity. But give me Assurance good Fidelio. What earnest mean you? yet I never saluted Her ears with a request; or urged the grant Of what you say, her inclination Would freely give me. There's nothing clear To me in this dark mystery, but that The beauty you call sister is a Whore: Is it not so? Thou art a villain; Did my election from a world of men Single thee out to be so much my self; The union of our souls would not admit Of a division, but that interchange And custom taught us read each others thoughts? And can that soul of thine express it self Subject, so easily to be corrupted With jealousy and error? Then let Moralifts Fable hence forth no empty name of friendship, Nor boast there's such a secret: I shall never Wear thee more here. That my pity cannot Deny thy weakness: witness Heaven— Rise and take it: But I would know upon what circumstance This jealousy was grounded. How Fidelio! Mock not thy self out of eternity, By such a sin will Like wise render thee A scorn to memory: her innocence May suffer falsely. It's not supposition, But proof that must condemn her; sure there cannot Be lodged in such a frame as is Amanda's A thought but nobleness: I'd soon take A withered Anchoress into my suspect, As her sweet purity. Why not? to make me happy. What words fallen From thy distraction? darest renew thy gilded By a worse second jealousy? I shall forget The place hath any privilege; but come sir, Since my clear protestations will not satisfy, We'll argue it with these. 2 Scene. Enter Amanda, & Melissa meeting them. Since she is here— Away then. Offer to go again. It's yours Amanda. This hath likewise Restored me to new Hope's: and fair Amanda, If your esteem hath added any worth To my defects that make them seem perfections, Such as may please your chased and free desires; If you'll possess me with the happiness Of blessed union, it's the only one That I would covet. It'll but be A mutual exchange. From a cloud of error To Bonardo. A light is broken that hath made new day In our dark treasons, and directed me To that which yields my being here a happiness, Above any form I could prescribe my wishes: My knowledge learned it from the imperfect motives To your suspicion; without which discovery My ignorance had lost it: but it cannot Be full till crowned with your consent, You'll return To your first error; let not a new jealousy Stagger our fair proceedings: We have climbed Half of our height already: and to fallen From such bright Hope's. It's received As positive a truth as ever came from A Sybills mouth. It's not yet but in attempt. What madness hath possessed thee? Traitor call back that breath, Fight. Which as it does divide the circling air, Poisons it more than fenns from whence the Sun Exhales infectious vapours. Disloyal villain, Thy words have made the cause inspire such valour Into my hand and sword, such a just rage Fight. To punish thee— It's course and sordid. That reached you again. The cause assures me victory. Farewell dearest Master: I die thy loyal Champion. Falls. 3 Scene. Ent. Corv. Infelice. I shall add to't. We shall be Like two neighbour buildings, when A flame proceeding from the one hath seized The others roof, it makes the burning greater. Friend let me suffer, be thou free. How is that Beneventi? Love both?