KING

I would done. Is all the treasure Is left me sir, but cannot be too rich For your acceptance. How does Montalto Like the Duke? Andrugio— I had forgotten; will you be plea ed to try The pleasures of a Forest. Theodosia, you are not for that exercise Guido. To horse; the morning wasts. Madam though you are So unkind as not to see the court sometime, That court is come to visit you. The Duke of Florence. Her daughter Worth your salute. All things must please here. Wh S the Duke. You may remove a little; You have no fear to trust your self with me. You have the greater innocence at home My intents are fair enough, and you may stand The danger of a question; pray how old are you? And are You not in love. Cupid hath lost his quiver then; he could not Be armed, and let you escape, whose sole captivity Would be more glory then the conquest made As Poets feign upon the gods. But this as ures him blind. Madam you have a heart. Obedience to my will; what if it were My will that you should love. Love with the warm affection of a mistress One I'll present a servant why that blush; The words are not immodest; there did want No blood upon your cheek to make it lovely; Or does it slow in silence to express That which your virgin Language would not be So soon held guilty of, consent. To love by my direction a man Whose worth considered shall deserve thee too, And in the noblest way invite thy freedom Until the holy Priests declare, your hearts Are knit into one blessing; theres no harm In this. Though your mother have Made both her person and your self a stranger To Court, I have had eyes upon your virtues Which waited on by a most ample fortune, I have studied to advance, if you'll accept A husband of a my choice; what say you Madam? She shall think it fortunate Above expe ation; you have not vowed your self To a cold Nunnery. When I shall declare how precious he is To my own bosom. His name is. It was too short. Well his name shall be reserved; but when it open ns It self to your knowledge you will honour it, And thank me Domitilla; ith mean time Let the opinion you have of me Live in your trust, and make room in your heart To meet the husband I shall bring. You understand me Madam? Come, now to hor . Now Madam you are a great partly of my care Depend upon me for a husband. Are they both come to court? 'Tis well, and came they cheerfully? So leave us; I thought to have met him here. She is By my command to wait on thee. Howes that? I meant her a wife for good Montalto, As the reward of his just services; He knows it not, as he is ignorant For whom I have prepared her; Rival? strange I must know more of this; she is in nature Too apprehensive; for although in love Suspicion to men a torment be, There is no Fiend to women's jealousy. My pretty Domitilla, now you are My guest, 'tis fit whom I have made my charge Should live within my eyes, welcome once more to Court. What art thou yet prepared To hear his name, I would declare thy husband. The Duke; this confirms it. Thou shalt have A little patience, while the Duke and I Change some discourse in private. Now my Lord, what Alone, I see you can address your self To a handsome Lady. That rule binds to all. But with distinction to pay, First love to those that best deserves it from us. This granted, there's another Whom though you can forget, my sister Sir Deserves to be remembered. That were only To doubt; I must be plain; Florence has not Been kind to Naples to reward us with Affront for love, and Theodosia must not Be any Princes mockery. I understand not This passion; yet it points upon something That may be dangerous to conclude; Theodosia Is Naples sister, and I must not see Her lost to honour, though my kingdom bleed To rescue her. Are my senses perfect; Be clearer Sir; teach me to understand This prodigy; you do not scorn our sister? How's this? Stay and be advised, And if your doubts by some malicious tongue Framed to abuse my sister, and your self, Have raised this mutiny in your thoughts, I have A power to cure all. Not to court thee for her husband, Wertenberg possessed Of all, over which our Eagle shakes his wings, But to set right her honour; and ere I challenge Thee by thy birth, by all thy Hope's and right To fame, to tell me what seditious breath Has poisoned her; hear what my sister sends By me so late, time is not old in minutes, The word's yet warm with her own breath; pray tell The Duke says she, although I know not from What root his discontents grow, to devote him To Domitilla. Whose beauty has more spell upon his fancy, I did contract my heart, when I thought his Had been no stronger to his tongue, and can Not find within it since, what should divert His princely thoughts from my first innocence; Yet such is my stern fate I must still love him; And though he frame his heart to unkind distance, It hath embracing virtue upon mine, And with his own remove, draws my soul after him; If he forget I am a Princess, pray Let Naples do so too; for my revenge Shall be in prayers, that he may find my wrong But teach him soft repentance, and more faith. Yowl not accuse our sister of dishonour. As thou art Florence speak. I do grow faint with wonder here's enough To blast and app ehension, and shoot A quaking through the valiant soul of man; My sisters blood accused, and her fair name Late chased as trembling snow, whose fleeces cloth Our Alpine hills, sweet as the Roses spirit Or Violets cheek, on which the morning leaves A tear at parting, now begins to wither, As it would haste to death, and be forgotten; This Florence is a Prince that does accuse her; And such men give not faith to every murmur Or S ight intelligence that wounds a Lady In her deer h nou_r_; but she is my sister; Think of that too; credit not all, but ask Of thy own veins what guilty flowings there May tempt thee to believe this accusation. 'Tis she; Th'art come Theodosia to my wishes. I have done your message to the Duke, and find He does love Domitilla. What mean you? There is a question of more consequence Thou must resolve; it does concern thee more Then thy own life. Are you honest? I could have used the name of chaste, Or virgin; but they carry the same sense; Put off thy wonder Theodosia, And answer me by both our parents ashes, Which now are frighted in the urn, and scarce Contained beneath their marble, while their same Bleeds in my wounded honour art thou still My sister without sta ne; upon thy chastity Tell me and answer truth, for both our lives. Nay, nay, there is no time for thy amaze; Hast thou not lost thy self and been enjoyed; I blush to name the way. Again. Th'art my virtuous sister. Thou shalt know that hereafter; let thy thoughts Live in their own peace, and dispute not mine. How will Montalto counsel me; I am Wild with the repetition. Domitilla Whom I must tell you I already have Prepared to be thy bride, as and addition To the reward I owe thy services. No more: in this One act, I'll built a monument of my love To thee, and my revenge upon the Duke; Thou instantly shalt marry Domitilla; Her Beauty, Blood and Fortune will deserve thee. 'Tis meant so. What wouldst thou advice me? How? Wise Montalto, I Like thy honest counsel, and obey it; But loose no time. This paper contains wonder; 'tis not possible. The Devil has not art To abuse us so; this will require some counsel; He's here, Montalto; leave us. Is all in thee; hast met with Philoberto? No matter; I have thought upon't, And do conclude it best to let things pass Yet in a dream; choice and enquiry may Awake suspicion upon innocence. I am not Without some fears; I have collected things Since we conferred, that stagger my good thoughts. Yes, yes; we may be all cozened; And therefore let her pass among things desperate; Yet were I c rtaine she were spotted thus, As 'tis but a young Leprosy upon her, I could wish heartily my Sister timely Married, not to the Duke that would betray us, But to some one I know not, who could love Us both, so well as be that rare friend And save our honours. O the Dukes Character had a powerful sense; And who knows but she may be lost by one Not fit to make her reparation; Could any Nobleman be found in Naples To bind her wound up by so great and act Of secrecy and marriage; but some wind May listen and convey, I know not whither, What my sad breath has scattered in the air; Thy Master has no servant that dares take One sorrow from him. Canst thou be so compassionate to loose Thy Hope's of richer beauty, for my sake? Darest thou with all this knowledge hide her stain , And marry her? Th'art a miracle; Teach me but which way I may reward this love; Till now I had no poverty; thy worth Will make me everlastingly in debt; What shall I say? They are all trifles; let me see, Is nothing in thy power to make thee find My gratitude? how barren are we, wealth, Honour. I was inprovident To reserve nothing, or it was a fault In thee to be so prodigal of merit In thy passed services; canst thou think of nothing Worth my addition. I have it, And thank my better genim I have it, Such a reward Montalto that I dare Be modest yet pronounce, never did Prince Exceed it to his friend. In the title, Let Kings peruse the benefit and study And imitation to their best loved creatures; Th'are great as fortune can invent; I'll teach thee A way Montalto, to know all thy friends. And enemies. 'Tis true; and therefore I am pr ud in this that I can teach thee look Into men's souls, to know they fit for scorn, or Thy embraces. Almost 'ith twinkling of and eye too. I seem to frown upon thee. Dost apprehend me; I will counterfeit That I am displeased with thee; do not mistake me, And have it voiced about the Court, thou art Confined, dost mark; at this will all thy enemies Whose hearts thou canst not see, their tongues before By thy great power silen worser, join in faction Complain, discover their whole stock of malice, Tickling their spleens, that thou art out of favour, Whom I shall hear and smile at; then all those Whose honest souls deserve thee, will rise up, The champions of thy same o'th other side And be so many Orators to make Thy faith and honour shine; when this done, The scene is changed, I send for thee; thou comest With a most glorious train; and then I'll smile, Take thee again i'th sighed of all, discover It but a trick, thy friends keep still thy bosom, And thou in triumph shootest a scorn with mine To strike all envy dumb; Is't not a rate one? I cannot do enough for thee Montalto. These sha'not wound thee. I am confident of thy justice and decree, Thy triumph in't; thy goodness thus con cuous Renders thee loved, and fit for Theodosia When she is brightest; the Sun never smi More cheerful upon teeming earth, Then I to find thee perfect; for I do But seem displeased; come, I will have it so; If thou dost love me, no dispute, but let me Pursue my fancy meant to do thee honour. Who waits? Now it begins; Attend my Lord Montalto to his Chamber, Where our will is, he be consin'de until Our pleasure further known. No ceremony Sir; when that's done, We ease you of the trouble too of waiting; You know the way my Lords to your own lodgings, From whence on peril of our anger stir not Until we send for you— Octavio. Good heaven, upon what humane bosom shall We that are made your substitutes on earth Place secure confidence? and yet there may Be malice in complaints; the flourishing Oak For his extent of Branches, stat e, growth, The darling and the Idol of the wood, Whose awful nod the under trees adore, hook by a tempest, and thrown down must needs ubmit his curled head and full grown limbs, oh every common Axe, be patient, while he tortures put to every joint the Saws and engines, making with their very noise he Forests groan and tremble; but not one When it was in his strength and state reviled it, Whom poverty of soul, and envy sends To gather sticks from the trees wished for rheum, The great men Emblem; I did love Montalto, And wed not have him lost if justice would Consent, and be a little of his side; But here are the two plummets weigh him down; His impious practice on the Duke, and base Aspersions on our sister that defame Our whole blood, is a loud, loud accusation. And you Speak here the tragic story of Rivi ro, Whose honest soul for not complying with His power and ends, chosen in a discontent To make himself and exile, ye pursued, And by the practice of Montalto poisoned At Room. 'Tis his Character. Octavio you come for justice too. Come nearer. Andrugi . You observe—away— We may be just Philoberto, Yet not destroy another attribute, Which shows whose repre sentative we are; Mercy becomes a King; too much can be But thought a sin on the right hand; we are Resolved. Madam you are welcome. Remove For a few minutes. You tell me wonders Madam; las poor Lady, I shall then have enough to reconcile; She was too hasty to interpret me Her lover. No, no, nor I; good heaven how I am troubled How to repair this pretty piece of innocence, Whom I have brought into a waking dream Of passion; something I must do; pray tell me, But tell me truth; I charge thee by thy duty To me, to Naples, and to heaven, or if There be in woman's faith, or thy Religion Any thing else to make it up a full And perfect conjuration. Tell me then, Is Worser mitilla virtuous? Is she exceeding virtuous; is sh e most Divinely chased; can she do more then blush At wanton sounds; will she be'very angry At and immodest offer, and be frighted To hear it named; tell me; does she pray And weep, and wood be torn upon the rack Ere she consent to stain one virgin thought: Or dares she more then Lucrece kill her self To save her honour, or do something more Miraculously then all this to preserve Her white name to posterity. No more; I do believe, and will find out a way To make her satisfaction; 'tis just; Say I desire her presence. There's new trouble. That would rejoice me. My wonder and my joy. Take my bosom. The clouds are now removed. Let Music speak His deer approach; we sent for him. Let me entreat you to obscute your persons A while. My Lord you're welcome to us, very welcome We have kept our word, and find you have not lost Your confidence; what a brave armour is And innocent soul? How Like a ocke it bids Defiance to a storm, against whose ribs The insolent waves, but dash themselves in pieces, And fallen and hide their heads in passion How would a guilty person tremble now, Look pale, and with his eyes to the ground Betray his fear of justice. Where be all his fierce accusets? Call they to his presence, Whom all their envies would destroy. 'Tis well said; but they sha not fly their names; Read there just to our thoughts, they apprehended Thee lost in our displeasure (where our sister) And now they came to be revenged Montalto, Upon our favours. Theres something may concern your want of grace Andrugio, Philoberto. Why does Montalto kneel. Ingrateful man! am I rewarded thus Not only with my faith abused and Subject's, But wounding all our honours. I must not, dare not pardon; it a sin In me of violence to heaven and justice. Take him hence; His life will draw a scorn upon the Kingdom; Expect the censure of oh r laws you gentlemen We only banish from the court. Pray and be honest. My passion would be strong but here is one Come to divert the stream; how is it with My pretty Domitilla; you and I May change some words in private. And since Montalto Is become incapable, I won't marry thee; that a thing too common? But thou shalt be my mistress, a preferment Above my first intention; be wise And entertain it; o the days and nights Weel spend together. Come kiss me Domitilla; kiss me now Before all these; what needs this modesty; Come let us take in one another's soul. So they call me, And if there be a power within that name It shall be thine to make thee glorious, And great above our Queen; there is no title ike unto that our heat and blood creates A mistress Domitilla. Do but thou consent, and I Will give thee such a proof in my embraces Of the delight; they will not follow us; tell thee more i'th bedchamber. This is but to draw More courtship from me. Will she yield? You can. Come this is but the trick of all your sex; We know you can dissemble appetite, As if you were not slesh and blood. How's this? You so brave? to prison with him; We will correct your sauciness. You owe much to His confidence; nor is there any punishment Beyond your love and liking of his boldness; You two should make a marriage with your follies. 'Tis to my desires, and I dare wish you joys; forgive this practice; ay preety Domitilla I did this ut to divert more happily thy thoughts f me, who have not paid yet the full tribute my Cesarias dust; again let me ongratulate thy choice in young Octavio, hose birth and forward virtue will deserve thee; other and sister love, and wish them happiness. Theo. May all joys spring within their hearts. Duke. I must present this gentleman to be more known to you Octav. I hope you are no enemy to this blessing. Sim. I add what does become a most glad mother, blessing to your loves. Noble Riviero. Welcome; 'tis thy life That hath reversed Montaltoes doom, whose sentence Now shall be only banishment; our hearts Are full and sprightly; nothing wants but to Perfect with holy ceremony, what Your hearts have sealed; mirth in each bosom flows, Distraction never had so sweet a close. You show the bounty Of your opinion; my extent in all things Is but to bid you welcome; you had a sister, The envy of the Angels while she lived Our Queen, now made their blessed companion; Should we exempt those fair deserts dwell in you, So much we owe her memory. 'Tis our happiness.