FOSCARI

A kiss, and then 'tis scaled, this she should know Better then the impression, which I made, With the rude signet, 'tis the same she left Upon my lip when I departed from her, And I have kept it warm still, with my breath, That in my prayers hath mentioned her. Dulcino welcome. thou art soon returned, How dost thou Like the City? And how the people? Thy indulgence to my wound, Which owes a cure unto thy pretty Surgery, Hath made thee, too much Prisoner to my Chamber But we shall walk abroad. Noble youth, I thank thee. Enter Sir vant. How now, didst speak with him? Name it no more, I mean another way. I require, Not so much gratitude. He that was your Conduct? From Milan, for so—if I remember You nam a Father, what could he advantage? Your fortune, were he present, more, then with Religious Council? I shall be living, And soon enough present my self her fresh, And active Lower. How? I must thank your love, And counsel, but for this time, disengage Your further stay with me, that Duke may miss you, Pr serve his favour, and forget me in Your conference, I would be still concealed, Let me c nsider on my fate, again I thank you, and dismiss you, This was before the Duke Came thither? And didst thou not Observe her at his presence slack that fervour, H r former passion had begotten of me? Was she not continued tly to him boy? And didst not see a flame hang on her lip, A spirit busy to betray her love, And in a sighs convey it to him? O, Thou canst not read a woman, did he not Woe her to be his Duchess? On never, never, and I will H r lo beyond example, thus Dulc That return. I, I, the Duke, for that's the plot, I must advance. Best, b st of all, Shall I be so ungrateful to Lady, Of such rare merit, when a Prince desires To make her g eat, by my unworthy interest Destroy her blessing , hinder such a fortune From fair Cleona, let her love the Duke, In this I will express the height, and glory Of my best service. Go to the next religious house, and pray, Some Holy Father come and speak with me, But hasten thy return, I dare not look on Exit Serve. My self, least I forget to do her honour, And my heart prove a partial Advocate, I must not entertain with the same thought, Cleona and my Love, least my own passion Betray the resolution, I would made, To make my service famous to all ages, A legend that may startle wanton blood, And strike a chilnesse through the active veins Of noblest Lovers, when they hear, or read, That to advance a Mistress, I have given her From mine own heart, if any shall be so Impious at my memory, to say I could not do this act, and love her too, Some power divine, that knew how much I loved her, Some Angel that hath care to right the dead, Punish that crime for me, and yet me thinks, In such a cause my own enraged Spirit, In pity of my ashes, so profaned, Should nimbly lift my sweating marble up, And leap into my dust, which new inlifen'd Should walk to him, that questioned my honour, And be its own revenger, he is come. Enter Valentio, a religious man. Welcome good Father, I sent to entreat your help, but first, pray tell me, I have no perfect memory, what Saint Gives title to your Order? That I am dead Dulcino? Let it not misinform thee Boy, I'll use no violence to my self, I am Resolved a course, wherein I will not doubt, But thou wilt bear me company? weel enter Into Religion. Th'art my comfort, I have propounded it already, to A Benedictine, by whose means we may Obtain the habit, stay thou and expect him, I must be absent for a little time, To finish something, will conduce, to my Eternal quiet, if th'haft any scruple, He will direct thee, having both made even With earth, weel travail hand, in hand to heaven. Didst thou request His secrecy? So, I'll expect him, thou art sad Dulcino, I prophesy thou shalt have cause, to bless The minute, that first brought us to acquaintance. To me, I prithee speak, It must be something I can deny thee. Whither? Do you call this a way to do me service? Thou shalt not serve me, I Will make thee my companion. No more to cut of all unwelcome motives, I charge thee by thy Love, thy Gratitude, Thy life preserved, which but to stay thee here, I would not name again, urge no consent From me, to thy departure, I have now V e of thy faith, thou wilt not run away I have employment for thee, such a one As shall not only pay my services, But leave m in arrearage to thy love, Receive this letter. Enter Grimund . Let me embrace thee, with a spreading arm, Then I prospered, If I may call it so, for I procured That rumour to be spread, excuse a min to, He tell thee all my Couns ls, I need not, Wast any instructions on thee, Dulcino, For the con yauce of this Paper, let me Commend it to thy care, 'tis to my Mistress, Conceal my lodgings, and do this for him Will study noble recompense, Never, I brought him first To Sav y, having brought him from the Bandetti, in my passage, over the Confines, Is't not a sweet fa ed thing? there are some Ladies, Might change their beauty's with him. N y, oh his shape he has as fine a Soul, Which that perfection. I have skill : my Character, full xcellent excellent sweetness. H S virtue will deserve More praise, he suffers Sir for love, in that He is a Gentleman, for never could Narrow, and earthly minds, be capable Of Loves imp ession, or the injury— He willingly forsook his friends, and Country, Because unkindly for unworthy ends, They would have forced him marry against his heart. He told me so himself, and it were sin, Not to believe him, but omitting these, How fares the best of Ladies my Cleona? Mine, she is in affection, She is not married. She is in health? There is something in thy looks, I cannot Read by thy own gloss, and make me know, That doubtful text, to whom hath she given up, The hope of my felici j, her heart, Since my too fatal absence? Then I am renewed again, may thy tongue never Know sorrows . I have sent a letter, to Certify, I am still her living Servant. Again thou dost afflict My Soul with jealousy, if she have still The poss ssion of her heart— Did she receive my Letter with such joy? She kissed him, did she not? He did salute her? It were indeed, I am too blame Dulcino, Yet when thou comest to beso ripe, for so Much misery, as to love, thou wilt excuse me, Why can there be Sum pition she will vary, do not changed ke The confidence thou hadst, unsettle not, The faith I have in thee, she c n prove false. Jush, How understandest not What I have pu posed, thou shall presently Go back, and tell Cleona, I am dead. I boy, that I am dead, may mark The I sue. Thou shalt frame something, to take That off, some fine invention may be made, To say 'twas forged, we'll study that anon, In the assurance of my death, which must Be so delivered, as she shall believe the , She may aff ct the Duke. I love her, and can never see her more, Posterity shall learn new piety In love from me, it will become me look on, Cleona a far off, and only mention Her name, as I do Angels in my Prayer, Thus she deserves I should converse with her Thus I most nobly love her. Heaven worser me to it, she shall reign Glorious in power, while I let fallen my beads That she might prosper, be not though and enemy To her and me, I see thouart unwilling To this employment, if th'ast any wish To see me happy, to preserve my life, And honour, which was never more engaged, If I shall think thou art not very wicked, A false, di sembling boy, deny me not This office, use what circumstance thou wilt, To thrive in this report, and thy sad breath, Shall give a fai ed, save a real death. Your Charity Make you still worthy of that reverend habit, I have a great Devotion, to be made A Brother of your sacred institution, What persons of great birth hath it received? No, it is not. There is a Sun ten times more glorious, Then that which riseth in the East, attracts me To feed upon his sweet beams, and become A Bird of Paradise, a religious man To rise from earth, and no more to turn back, But for a burial. Oh still bless the guide What ever, that shall lead this happy way. Do not mistake a piety, I am prepared And can endure your strict mortifications, Good Father then prefer my humble Suit, To your Superior for the habit, and Let me not long expect you, say I am, Noble, but humblest in my thoughts. Now my good boy. But thou seest, I live Dulcino. No my sweet Boy, She thinks not much amiss, I am a man But of and hour or two, my will is made, And now I go, never more cheerfully, To give eternal farewell to my friends. Oh 'tis a Heavenly life, go with me boy, We'll imitate the singing Angels there, Learn how to keep a Choir in Heaven, and scorn Earth's transitory glory, wilt Dulcino? You are a gracious prince, and this high favour Worser ferns my person, and my Sword, when you Vouchsafe so much addition to this honour, To call them to your Service. Have you forgotten this face? The substance Sir, and once more at your feet, Your pardon royal Sir, it will Concern your Highness to permit me walk In some Eclipse. Be but pleased to grant A little freedom to my speech, I shall Demonstrate the necessity of this Actium, I said I had a messuag , I come Sir from Cleona. From her indeed, and in her name, I must Propound a question, to which she prays, You would be just and noble in your answer, Princes cannot stain it, dee you love her? I shall, so soon As you were gone, being alone, and full Of melancholy thoughts. Willing to ease her head upon her couch, Through silence, and some friendship of the dark, She fell asleep, and in a short dream thought, Some Spirit told her softly in her ear, You did but mock her with a smooth pretence Oh Love. And yet Divinity hath oftentimes descended Upon our sl mbers, and the blessed troops Have in the calm, and quiet of the Soul, Conversed with us, taug to men and women happy Ways to prevent a tyrants rage, and lust. Enough, enough, my Lord be pleased to hear, What I have now to say, you have expressed A brave and virtuous Soul, but I must not Carry this message to her, therefore take Your own words back again—I love Cleona With chased, and noble sire, my intents are Fair as her brow, I dare proclaim it Sir, In my devotions, at that minute, when I know a Million of adoring Spirits, Hover about the Altar. Heaven avert so black a thought, Though in my honours cause I can be flame, My blood is frost to treason make me not Belly my heart, for I do love Cleona? And my bold heart tells me, above all height, You can affect her with, no birth or state Can challenge a Prerogative in love; Nay be nor partial, and you shall ascribe To mine loves victory, for though I admit, You valve her above your Dukedom, health, That you would sacrifice your blood, to avert Any mishap should threaten that deer head, All this is but above your self, but I Love her above her self, and while you can But give your life, and all you have, to do Cleona service, I can give away Her self, Cleona's self, in my love to her, I see you are at lose, I'll reconcile All, she is yours, this minute ends my claim, Live, and enjoy her happily, may you Be famous in that beauteous Empire, she Blessed in so great a Lord. Ere you proceed, I must Beseech you hear me out, I am but fresh, Returned from travail, in my absence, she Herd I was sla e, at my return, upon The hearing of these honours you intend her, And which I now believe from your own lip, I found a means, and have wrought her already, Into a firm belief that I am dead, (For I have but pretended I came from her) If for my sake you leave her now, I can Make good her faith and die, it sha'not be said, I lived and C eona's fort ne. If you proceed, as I concerns your happiness, I can secure all fear of me, I am R solved course wherein I will be dead To he , yet live to pray for her, and you, Although I never see you more, will you M R yall Lord? I lou her still, And in that study her advancement Sir, In you. I cannot gium her. We covet not the blaze, which a corrupt, And flimy matter may advance, our thoughts Are slammed with Charity. We desire to know The rules of our obedience, Thou hast art, to move In all things, but in this, change thy desire, And I'll deny thee nothing, do not urge Thy unkind departure, thou hast met perhaps, With some that have deceived thee with a promise, Won with thy pretty looks and presence, but Trust not a great man, most of them dissemble, Pride, and Court cunning hath betrayed their faith, To a secure Idolatry, their soul, Is lighter then a compliment, take heed, They'll flatter thy to young ambition, Feed thee with names, and then Like subtle Chimists Having extracted, drawn thy Spirit up, Laugh, they have made thee miserable. Thou shouldst would watched her changed eke then, there a blush Had cene a gilded indeed, a feeble answer, With half a smile, had been and argument ee had been lost, and the temptation Above her strength, which h worser I known, I could Would slept, and never been disturbed, although I had met her in a dream. Too young To ferve Heaven? Never, never, Oh take heed. Of such excuse. She cannot tell, she hath some fears my Lord, Great men have left examples of their vice, And yet no jealousy of you, but what A miracle does urge, if this be one; If you but once more say you love Cleona, And speak it unto me, and to the Angels, Which in her prayers, she hath invoked to hear you, She will be confident, and tell her dream, She cannot be illuded. Pardon a truth my Lord, I have appareled My own sense with your language. Any man? Still I suspect thy safety? And thou mayest thus deceive me, it may be, Some wanton Lady hath beheld thy face, And from her eyes, shot Cupid's into thine, To abuse that fight, or wrought upon thy frailty, With their smooth language to undo thy self, Trust not the innocence of thy Soul too far, For though their bosoms carry whiteness, think, It is not snow, they dwell in a hight Climate, The Court, where men are but deceitful shadows, The woman n, walking flames; what if this Lady Bestow a wealthy Carkanet upon thee, Another give thee Wardrobes, a third promise A chain of Diamonds, to deck thy youth, 'Tis but to buy thy virtue from thee, and when Thy out idem thrive , upon their treacherous bounty Th'out starve at heart, and lust will leave to y body, Many unpitied ruins, that ouart young— Indeed, I do not, But being my boy so young, and beautiful, Thou art apt to be sedue'd. She's but a woman n. Yet how shall I be able to accuse her, With any Justice, when she thinks me dead, The Duke, I must do something, I am full Of discord, and my thoughts are fighting in me, From our own army must arise ur fear, When love it self is turned a Mutin re. Exit. O Jealousy. I am ashamed— More, that you are fallen from honour, Have taken impious flames into your bosom, That you're a Bird of prey and while she hath No household Lar, to wait upon her three should You would fl e in, and upon her honour. It is not compliment my Lord alone Made me thus bold, I have a private message, Please you command their distance, Nay she would have you pause, and think welle're You give her resolution, for she bade me tell you She has been much afflicted since you left her, About your love. Spare your frowns. This earth weighs not my Spirit down, a fear Would die the paleness of my Father's dust, Into a blush, Sir many are alive, Will swear, I did not tremble at a Canon, When it struck thunder in mine ear, and wrapped My head in her blue mists, it is not breath Can fright a noble truth, nor is there Magic I'th person of a King that plays the Tyrant, But a good Sword can easily uncharm I , And not open That I am lium ng. I am confident, let me but kiss your hand. Ag n, may blessings dwell with you for ever. Good Father. Now I am ready, have you disposed him For such a life. I am b est, Dulcimo, Nay no distinction now, me thinks we move Upon the wings of Cherubins already, 'Tis but a step to heaven, come my sweet boy We climb by a short ladder to our joy We kneel to be received into the number, Oh those religious men that dedicate Themselves to Heaven, i'th habit of St. Bennet, And humbly pray, that you would rectify And teach our weak worser uotion, the way To imitate his life, by giving us The precepts of your order, This is a mystery, Dulcino? Decr' Leonora! Then willingly I dispense with my intention And if the Duke have found another Mistress, It shall be my devotion to pray he re, And my religion to honour thee. Your pardon gracious Princess I did impose too much.